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3olni  c^^ams 


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N  THE  CUSTODY  Of=  TME 

BOSTON     PUBLIC   LIBRARY, 


^^HELF    N° 


C  O  M  P  L  E  T  E 

HISTORY 

OF         ' 

CONNECTICUT, 

CIVIL  AND  ECCLESIASTICAL, 

FROM  THE 

EMIGRATION  OF  ITS  FIRST  PLANTERS 

FROM 

ENGLAND, 

?N  MDCXXX,  TO  MDGCXIII. 

By  BENJAMIN  TRUMBULL,  D.  D. 

VOL.     I. 

Wr  ,     ,  1    "    ,'■       f  '  oV 

PuSlISBED   IN  CONFORAtlTT   TO  ACT  OF   CoNGRSSf. 

"     '    '-  ■  "'  ,.,,,..-.,.  ,  ^ 

HARTFORD: 


HUDSON  ^  GOODWIN. 


mi 


.**    '-*   ^»-* 


PREFACE. 


J^UTHENTIC  hiftory  Is  of  great  utility  -,  efpeclally, 
to  the  countries  and  people  whofe  affairs  it  relates.  It 
teaches  human  nature,  politics  and  morals  :  forms  the 
head  and  heart  for  ufefulnefs,  and  is  an  important  part 
of  the  in{lru£l;ion  and  literature  of  dates  and  nations. 
While  it  inftru6ts,  it  affords  an  exalted  pleafure.  No 
man  of  genius  and  curiofity  can  read  accounts  of  the  ori- 
gin of  nations,  the  difcovery,  fettlement  and  progrefs  of 
new  countries,  without  a  high  degree  of  entertainment. 
But  in  the  fettlement  of  his  own  country,  in  the  Jives  of 
his  anceftors,  in  their  adventures,  morals,  jurifprudence 
and  heroifm  he  feels  himfelf  particularly  interefted.  He 
at  once  becomes  a  party  in  their  affairs,  and  travels  and 
converfes  with  them,  with  a  kind  of  filial  delight.  While 
he  beholds  them  braving  the  horrors  of  the  defert,  the 
terrors  of  the  favage,  the  diftreffes  of  famine  and  war,  he 
admires  their  courage,  and  is  pleafed  with  all  their  escapes 
from  danger,  and  all  their  progrefs  In  fettlement,  popu- 
lation, opulence,  literature  and  happinefs.  While  he 
contemplates  their  felf-denial  and  perfeverance  in  fur- 
mounting  all  dangers  and  enduring  all  hardfhips  to  form 
new  churches,  and  lay  the  foundations  of  new  colonies 
and  empires,  and  the  immenfely  happy  confequences  of 
their  conduft  in  turning  the  wildernefs  into  gardens  and 
fruitful  fields,  and  in  tranfmitting  liberty  and  religion  to 
pofterity,  he  is  (truck  with  a  pleafing  aflonifhment.  The 
pious  man  views  a  divine  hand  condu6ling  the  whole, 
gives  thanks,  adores  and  loves.  No  hiftory  is  better  cal- 
culated to  produce  thefe  happy  effefts,  than  that  of  New- 
England  and  Conne£l:icut. 

Connecticut  originally  confifting  of  two  colonies,  re- 
plete with  Indians,  and  conntdled  as  it  was  with  the 
neighbouring  colonies,  affords  much  interefting  matter  for 
hiftory.     An  authentic  and  Impartial  account  of  the  af* 


PREFACE. 

fairs  of  the  colony  had  long  been  an  obje£l:  of  the  wiflies 
of  the  legiflature,  and  of  many  gentlemen  of  principal 
character  both  in  church  and  commonwealth. 

In  thefe  views  the  writer,  many  years  fince,  determined 
to  attempt  the  compilation  of  the  hiftory  which  is  pre- 
fented  to  the  public  in  the  following  fheets.  He  wiflied 
for  the  improvement  which  fuch  a  work  might  afford  him, 
and  tor  the  pleafure  of  contributing  his  mite  to  the  fervice 
of  the  community  in  which  he  received  his  birth  and  ed- 
ucation, and  has  enjoyed  fuch  diftinguifhed  liberty  and 
immunities. 

In  purfuartce  of  his  defign,  he  colle61:ed  all  books  and 
manufcripts  from  which  he  could  expert  afflftance.  He 
read  the  records  of  Connedlicut,  New-Haven  and  the 
United  Colonies  ;  and  extra£l:ed  whatever  he  judged  im- 
portant. He  made  a  journey  to  Bofton,  examined  the  col- 
ledlion  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Prince,  and  minuted  every 
thing  which  he  could  find  relative  toConneGicut.  To  him, 
at  the  time  he  was  about  writing  the  Chronological  Hif- 
tory of  New-England,  the  ancient  minifters,  and  other 
principal  gentlemen,  in  Conneclicut,  had  tranfmitted  ac- 
counts of  the  fettlement  of  the  towns  and  churches  to 
which  they  refpeftivcly  belonged.  In  this  colledlion  im- 
portant information  was  found  which  could  have  been 
obtained  from  no  other  fource.  The  author  vifited  mod 
of  the  principal  towns  and  places  of  burial,  and  obtained 
from  records,  monuments  and  men  of  intelligence,  what- 
ever tlrey  could  communicate  on  the  fubje£l.  The  min- 
ifters  and  clerks  of  the  rcfpedlive  towns,  and  other  gen- 
tlemen of  charadler,  aflifted  him  in  his  refearches.  The 
honorable  legiflature  having  been  made  acquainted  with 
his  defign,  pafl'ed  a  generous  refolve  which  gave  him  ac- 
cefs  to  their  records  and  papers  on  file. 

His  excellency  Governor  Trumbull,  than  whom  no 
man  had  a  more  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  hiftory 
of  the  colony,  employed  his  influence  and  friendfhip  for 
his  afliftance,  and  furniflied  him  with  many  important  pa- 
pers. In  a  letter  to  him  on  the  fubje£l  he  exprefles  him- 
felf  in  this  manner,  "  I  wifh  you  fuccefs,  and  to  afford 
♦'  you  all  the  affiftance  in  my  power.  I  imagine  the  ear- 
*<  lieft  times  of  the  colony  will  be  attended  with  the  moft 
"  difficulty,  to  colle£l  the  fa£ts  with  fufficient  certainty. 
«•  Wherein  the  great  excellency  of  a  hiftory  confifts. 
«  Such  an  one  I  have  long  dcfir^d  to  fee.     It  muft  be  ^ 


PREFACE. 

**  work  of  time  and  indefatigable  l^bor  and  induftry,  fmce 
**  it  has  been  fo  long  negiedled,  and  the  materials,  mzhf 
<*  of  them,  almoft  loft,  and  others  fcattered,  and  all  heed 
<'  fo  much  care  in  collecting,  time  in  comparing,  aftd 
**  judgment  in  compiling."  The  truth  of  thefe  obferva* 
tions,  the  author  hath  fully  experienced  ;  how  far  he  hath 
aiSled  upon  them  muft  be  def  rminedby  the  public  opinion. 

The  honorable  George  Wyllys,  Efquire,late  fecretary 
of  the  State  was  fecond  to  none  in  the  afliftance  and  En- 
couragement which  he  afFoixled.  From  thcfe  various 
fources,  the  author,  in  1774,  found  himfelf  pofleiTed  of 
an  ample  and  important  colle£lion  ;  and  determined  to 
Write  the  firft  volume  of  the  hiftory,  as  foon  as  might  hb 
with  convenience.  But  before  he  had  entered  upon  the 
work,  the  war  commenced  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies  and  the  univerfal  attention  was  turned  to  a  very 
different  object.  It  was  conceived  to  be  dangerous  fot 
any  of  the  public  papers  to  be  kept  To  near  the  fea  coaft  as 
the  place  of  his  refidence.  A  great  number  of  papers, 
therefore,  which  he  had  received  from  Governor  Trum- 
bull, others  which  had  been  taken  out  of  the  ofEce,  at 
Hartford,  were  returned  to  their  refpeftive  offices. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the  war,  the  ftate  of  the 
country  was  altogether  unfavorable  for  publications  of 
this  kind.  It  was  neverthelefs  ftill  hoped  that  an  oppor- 
tunity would  prefent  for  the  publication  of  fuch  a  work 
to  advantage,  and  the  defign  of  writing  was  not  wholly 
given  up. 

HowEVEjj,  before  the  writer  had  entered  upon  the 
work,  he  was  invited,  by  a  vote  of  the  General  Aflbciation 
of  the  ftate,  to  compile  a  different  hiftory.  Many  objec- 
tions prefented  themfelves  to  his  mind  againft  engaging 
in  the  work  propofed  by  that  venerable  body.  But  after 
thefe  had  been  fully  communicated,  the  folicitation  was 
renewed.  In  confequence  of  which,  and  the  opinion  and 
advice  of  fome  principal  gentlemen  of  the  legillature,  he 
was  induced  to  undertake  the  writing  of  a  general  hiftory 
of  the  United  States  of  Americ^a,  from  the  firft  difcovery 
of  this  northern  continent  until  the  year  1792,  including 
three  complete  centuries.  In  making  coUeftions  for  this, 
and  in  the  compilation  of  it,  all  the  leifure  hours  which 
he  could  pofTibly  redeem,  by  early  rifmg  and  an  indefa- 
tigable attention  to  bufinefs,  from  the  ftated  labors  of  his 
pffice,  have  been,  for  neatly  ten  years,  employed. 


ti  PREFACE. 

In  the  progrefs  of  this  work  It  became  neceflary  to 
have  frequent  recourfe  to  his  former  colle6lions,  which, 
by  this  time,  had  been  in  a  manner  forgotten.  By  this 
means  the  ideas  of  the  ample  materials  which  had  been 
prepared,  for  the  hiftory  of  Connecticut,  were  revived  in 
his  mind.  When  he  contemplated  the  pains  and  expenfe 
at  which  they  had  been  collected,  the  countenance  which 
he  had  received  from  the  legiflature,  and  the  general  ex- 
peftations  which  had  been  entertained  with  refpedt  to  a 
hiftory  of  Connecticut,  it  appeared  to  him  not  very  con- 
fident with  that  refpeClfuland  generous  treatment  which 
he  owed  more  particularly  to  his  own  ftate,  to  publifh  a 
large  hiftory  of  the  United  States,  while  he  negle£ted 
theirs.  It  alfo  appeared  to  be  a  duty,  which  he  owed  to 
himfelf  and  family,  as  well  as  the  public,  not  to  fufFer  all 
his  former  pains  and  expenfe,  in  his  collections  for  the 
hiftory  of  ConncSticut  to  be  loft.  Upoii  a  mature  view 
of  the  cafe,  and  the  advice  of  a  number  of  his  brethren  in 
the  miniftry,  he  determined  to  fufpend  the  writing  of  the 
hiftory  of  the  United  States,  until  he  fliould  publifh  one 
volume,  at  leaft,  of  the  hiftory  of  Connecticut.  If  this 
fliould  meet  the  public  approbation,  it  might  affift  him  in 
introducing  a  larger  work,  and  render  it  more  extenfively 
ufeful.  If  the  hiftory  of  Connecticut  fhould  be  unpop- 
ular, it  would  give  him  a  profitable  admonition,  and  pre- 
vent a  greater  misfortune,  by  a  larger  find  more  expen- 
five  publication. 

About  the  middle  of  December  1796,  he  began  to 
look  over  and  arrange  his  papers  and  to  compile  the  fol- 
lowing hiftory.  Since  that  time  he  hath  examined  the 
papers  on  file  in  the  fecretary's  office  and  taken  out  fuch 
as  were  neceflary,  compofed  and  copied  off  with  his  own 
hands  the  hiftory  now  publifhed,  befides  preaching  twice 
on  every  Lord's  day,  leCtures  on  proper  occafions,  and 
attending  the  other  duties  of  his  ofhce. 

The  death  of  that  truly  worthy  gentleman,  the  hon- 
orable George  Wyllys,  the  former  fecretary,  confiderably 
retarded  the  work,  as  more  time  has  been  employed  in 
examining  the  files  than  otherwife  would  have  been  ne- 
cefTary. 

In  compiling  the  hiftory  great  pains  have  been  taken 
to  exhibit  the  ftate  of  the  country  when  the  firft  fettle- 
ments  commenced,  to  prefent  every  important  tranfaCtion 
m  a  candid  and  clear  view,  and  to  make  fuch  an  arrange* 


PREFACE.  vii 

ment  of  the  -whole,  as  that  every  preceding  chapter  might 
prepare  the  way  for  the  next,  and  add  perfpicuity  to  the 
ftory. 

As  this  is  the  firft  hiftory  of  the  colony,  and  as  time 
effaces  ancient  records  and  papers,  and  eradicates  from 
the  mind  of  man  the  remembrance  of  former  tranfadl- 
ions,  the  compiler  judged  it  expedient  to  make  it  more 
full  and  particular,  than  otherwife  might  have  been  ne- 
cefl'ary  or  proper.  He  imagined,  that  no  perfon  would, 
probably,  hereafter  have  the  fame  advantages  which  he 
has  had,  nor  take  the  fame  pains  which  he  has  taken,  to 
examine  the  ancient  records,  hiftories  and  manufcripts  of 
the  country.  He  wifhed  to  allift  future  hiflorians,  and 
that  nothing  ufeful  and  important,  refpe<Sling  church  or 
ftate,  might  be  loft.  As  he  has  aimed  at  information  and 
ufefulnefs,  he  has  avoided  all  circumlocutions,  reafonings 
and  opinions  of  his  own,  and  attempted  to  fill  every  page 
with  hiftory.  The  florid  and  pompous  ftyle  has  been 
avoided,  as  unnatural  and  improper  in  hiftoric  writings, 
and  the  eafy  and  familiar  has  been  attempted.  The  com- 
piler has  judged  his  time  too  precious,  and  the  field  of 
ufefulnefs  before  him  too  extenfive,  to  bufy  himfelf  in 
rounding  periods,  and  guarding  againft  every  little  matter 
which  might  afford  bufmefs  for  the  critic.  He  has,  how- 
ever, aimed  at  authenticity,  propriety,  and  perfpicuity. 
He  has  wifhed  to  avoid  the  dull  and  diy  manner,  and  to 
write  with  a  becoming  deference  to  the  public. 

The  account  which  has  been  given  of  the  fources 
whence  the  compiler  has  obtained  his  information,  the 
quotations  in  the  body  of  the  work,  the  references  made 
in  the  marginal  notes  to  authors,  records  and  manufcripts, 
with  the  appendix,  it  is  imagined^  will  be  abundantly  fuf- 
ficient  to  authenticate  what  has  been  written.  Indeed 
very  little  has  been  taken  upon  tradition. 

Had  the  hiftory  been  written  more  leifurely  and  with 
fewer  avocations  it  might  have  been  more  perfe£l ;  but, 
as  it  was  defired  to  m^ake  as  fhort  a  paufe  as  pcfLble  in 
writing  the  hiftory  of  the  United  States,  it  was  judged 
inexpedient  t©  employ  more  time  upon  it. 

The  author  is  undtr  great  difadvantages  for  hiftoric 
writing.  He  can  ccrr  mard  no  tim.e  for  himfelf.  Ihe 
work  of  the  miniftvy,  vhich  is  his  chofen  and  beloved 
employment,  after  all  his  ?pplicaticn,  fo  engrcflcs  his 
time,  that  fometimes  for  weeks  and  months,  after  all  hi& 


viii  PREFACE. 

application,  he  cannot  find  a  fingle  day  for  the  compilatloit 
of  hidory.  When  he  has  attempted  it,  he  has  been  able 
fcarcely  to  write  a  page  without  interruption.  Often  he 
has  been  fo  fatigued  with  other  ftudies,as  to  be  in  circum- 
ftances  not  the  moil  favorable  for  compofition. 

It  may,  poffibly,  be  thought  a  great  negle£l,  or  matter 
of  partiality,  that  no  account  is  given  of  witchcraft  in 
Connedticut.  The  only  reafon  is,  that  after  the  moft 
careful  refearches,  no  jndidlment  of  any  perfon  for  that 
crime,  nor  any  procefs  relative  to  that  affair  can  be  found. 
The  minute  in  GofF's  journal,  publiihcd  by  Governor 
Hutchinfon,  relative  to  the  execution  of  Ann  Coles,  and 
an  obfcure  tradition  that  one  or  two  perfons  were  execu- 
ted at  Stratford  is  all  the  information  to  be  found  relative 
to  that  unhappy  affair. 

The  countenance  and  alTiftance  which  the  honorable 
legiflature  have  given  the  writer,  by  allowing  him  a  free 
accefs  to  the  public  records  and  papers,  is  moft  refpe£t- 
fully  acknowledged. 

The  attention  and  complalfance  with  which  he  has 
been  treated  by  the  fecretaries  of  the  ftate  and  their  ref- 
peftive  families,  while  he  has  had  occafion  to  examine  the 
public  records  and  papers,  challenge  the  warmeft  expref- 
(ions  of  his  gratitude. 

To  his  brethren  in  the  miniftry,  the  gentlemen  of  the 
bar,  and  the  towns  who  have  fo  generoufly  encouraged 
and  fupported  the  fubfcription,  he  returns  his  grateful  ac- 
knowledgements. 

The  labor  of  coUefting  the  materials  for  the  hiftory 
and  complement  has  been  almoft  incredible.  The  ex- 
penfe  of  publication  will  be  great.  However  fhould  it 
meet  a  favorable  reception,  afTift  the  legiflator  or  divine, 
the  gentlemen  of  the  bench  or  of  the  bar ;  Ihould  it  afford 
inftru6lion  and  pleafure  to  the  fons  and  daughters  of  the 
ftate,  and,  in  any  degree,  advance  its  morals  or  literature, 
it  will  be  an  ample  compenfation. 


CONTENTS* 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTION.  The  difcovery  of  North- America  an<i 
New- England.  Captain  Smith's  dijcovery.  The  coun- 
try is  named  New-England.  New-Plimouth  fettled. 
The  great  patent  of  New-England,  and  patent  of  Maffa- 
chufetts.  The  fettlement  of  Salem,  Charlefiown,  Bojion^ 
and  other  towns  in  Maffachufetts.  Mr.  tVarham,  Mr. 
Phillips  and  Mr.  Hooker,  tvith  others  of  the  firji  planters 
df  ConneSiicut,  arrive  and  make  fit  ilements  at  Dorchefler, 
fVatertown,  and  Newtown.  J  heir  churches  are  formed 
tind  they  are  ordained.  -  -  Page  i 

CHAPTER    n. 

The  patent  of  ConneSlicut.  The  fttuation,  extent,  bounda- 
ries and  area  of  the  fettled  part  of  the  colony.  The  difcov- 
ery  of  Connecticut  river  ;  a  defcription  of  it,  and  thefigni- 
f cation  of  its  name.  The  colony  derives  its  name  from  the 
river.  Defcription  of  other  rivers.  Plimouth  and  Dutch 
houfes.     ProfpeElsof  ttade  upon  the  river.  12 

* 

CHAPTER    HI. 

The  fiats  of  the  country  of  ConneBicut  when  thefettle?nent  of 
the  colony  began.  Its  trees  and  fruits.  Its  animals. 
Number,  Jituation,  genius,  manners,  arms,  utenfils  and 
Wars  of  the  Indians.  -  -  2^ 

C  H  A  P  T  E  R    IV. 

The  people  at  Dot  che/ler,  JVatert own  and  Newtown,  finding 
themf elves  fir  aitened  in  the  Maffachufetts,  determine  to  re- 
move t-e  Conne£iicut.  Debates  in  Mafjachufetts  relativ* 
to  their  removal.  The  general  court  at  firfi  prohibited  it, 
but  afterwards  gave  its  confent.  The  people  removed  and 
fettled  the  towns  of  JVindfor,  Hartford  and  Wether sfield^ 
Hardfhips  and  lojfes  of  the  firfi  winters.  -       47 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER    V. 

Thewarzvith  fhe  Pequots.     The  origin  of  It.     The  murder 

of  Captains  Stone  and  Norton,  of  Mr.  Oldham  and  others. 
Mr  Endicot's  expedition  againji  them.  The  Pequots  kill 
a  number  of  the  garrijon  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  bc' 
Jiege  the  fort.  Captain  Majon  is  Jent  down  from  ConneSf- 
icut  with  a  reinforcement.  The  enemy  make  a  defcent  on 
fVeS  hers  field,  torture  and  mock  the  Englijh.  The  court  at 
Connecticut  declares  war  againji  them.  Captain  Mafon 
takes  Mijiic fort.  Saffucus  dejiroys  his  royal fortrejs  and 
flees  to  the  wefiward.  Afecond  expedition  is  undertaken 
ag  inji  the  Pequots  conjointly.,  by  Mafjachufetts  and  Con- 
necticut. The  great  jwamp  fight.  The  Pequots  Jubdued. 
Soffiicus  fiying  to  the  Mohawks  was  beheaded.  The  tap' 
tivated and jurvtving  Pequots,  after  the  ivary  were  given 
to  the  Mohecigans  and  JSarraganJetSy  and  their  name  ex- 
iingu'fhed.  _  -  _  _  ^g 

CHAPTER    VI. 

EffeSls  of  the  war.  Great  fear  city  in  Connecticut  ^  and 
means  taken  to  relieve  the  neceffities  of  the  people.  Settle^ 
ment  of  New  Haven.  Plantation  covenant.  Means  for 
the  defence  of  the  colony.  Captain  Mafon  made  major  gen- 
eral. Civil  conjiitution  of  Connecticut , formed  by  volunta- 
ry compaCl.  Firji  general  election  at  Connecticut.  GoV" 
er'^ors  and  magifirates.  General  rights  of  the  people,  and 
principal  laws  of  the  colony.  Conjiitution  and  lawi  of 
New  Haven.  Purchafe  and Jettlcment  of  feveral  towns 
in  ConneCiicut  and  New  Haven.  -  87 

CHAPTER    VII. 

7he  progrefs  of  purchafe,  fettletnent,  and  law  in  the  colonies 
of  ConneCiicut  and  Nezv  Haven.  The  effeCt  of  the  con- 
queji  of  the  Pequots  on  the  natives,  and  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  treated.  Purchajes  of  them.  Towns 
fettled.  Divifions  at  I'Fethersfield  occajion  the  fettlement 
of  Stamford.  Troubles  with  the  Dutch  and  Indians. 
Capital  laws  of  ConneCiicut .  The  confederation  of  the 
tinned  colonies.  Further  troubles  with  the  Indians. 
Victory  of  Vncas  over  the  Narraganjets,  and  capture  of 
their  jachem  The  advice  of  the  commiffioners  reJpeCiing 
Miantonimoh.  His  execution.  Precautions  of  the  colo- 
nies to  prevent  war.  V  he  Dutch,  harajfcd  by  an  Indian 
war,  apply  to  New-Haven Ji^r  ajfjlance,  \  53 


CONTENTS.  Jtx 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Public  fajis  appointed.  Indians  continue  hojiile,  and  tommit 
murder.  ASls  of  the  commijjloners  rejpe^li^g  them. 
Branf or  d fettled.  Towns  in  Connecticut.  Mejfage  of  the 
commiffioners  to  the  Narraganfets.  Their  agreement  ref- 
peSllng  Uncus.  Long- Ifland  Indians  taken  under  the  pro- 
te£llon  sf  the  United  colonies.  Maffachufetts  claim  part 
of  the  Pequot  country  and  PVaranoke.  Determination  of 
the  commiffioners  refpeSlingf aid  claim.  Agreement  with 
Mr.  Fenwick  relative  to  Say  brook  fort  and  the  adjacent 
country.  Fortifications  advanced.  Extraordinary  meet- 
ing sf  the  commifjioners  tofupprefs  the  outrages  of  the  I\'ar- 
ragdnfets.  War  proclaimed  and  troops  fent  againfi  them. 
They  treat  and  prevent  war.  Fairfield  ohjeci  to  a  jury  of 
fix.  Controverfy  vjith  the  Dutch.  The  Indians  plot  a~ 
gainfi  the  life  of  Governor  Hopkins  and  other  principal  gen- 
tlemen at  Hartford.  Damages  at  fVindfor.  Battie  be- 
tween the  Dutch  and  Indians.  LofJ'es  of  I\ew- Haven. 
Difpute  with  Maffachufetts  relative  to  the  impoft  at  Say- 
trook.  Mr.  fVinthrofs  claim  of  the  Nehantick  country. 
Settlement  of  accounts  between  the  colonies.  141 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Settlement  of  New  London.  Salaries  firft  granted  to  civil 
officers.  Troubles  with  the  Narraganfet  Indians.  Rhode- 
Ifland petitions  to  be  united  with  the  colonies  in  confedera- 
tion. The  Maffachufetts  refume  the  affair  of  the  impofi. 
Mr.  Weflerhoufe  complains  of  the  feizure  of  his  veffel  by 
the  Dutchy  in  the  harbour  of  New-Haven.  Murder^ 
committed  by  the  Indians  ;  refolutions  refpe£iing  the  mur- 
derers. Body  of  laws  compiled.  Debates  relative  to  the 
fettlement  of  Delaware.  The  Pequots  revolt  from  Uncas, 
and  petition  the  Englifh.  Refolution  refpe£iing  them. 
Mr.  JVefierhoufe petitions  to  make  reprifahfrom  the  Dutch, 
.  Letter  to  the  Dutch  governor.  Further  altercations  ref- 
peBing  the  impofi .  Final  iffue  of  that  affair.  J  he  con- 
duct of  the  Maffachufetts  upon  its  decifton,  and  the  aecla- 
ration  of  the  commiffioners  refpe£iing  it.  Their  treatment 
of  ConneSlicut  refpe£iing  the  line  between  the  colonies. 
The  court  at  Connecticut  determine  to  avenge  the  death  of 
John  Whitmofe^  and  detach  men  to  take  the  murderer.  1 73 


CONTENTS, 
CHAPTER    X. 

Court  of  eleSf ion  at  Hartford.  Grants  to  Captain  Mafon, 
The  comm'tfjloners  meet  and  d'ljpatch  Captain  Atherton  to 
the  Narraganjets.  Their  niejfage  to  Ninigrate.  The 
Dutch  governor  arrives  at  Hartford,  and  refers  the  differ- 
ences between  him  and  the  coloniesy  to  arbitrators.  Their 
determination,  and  the  line  is  fixed  between  the  Englifh  and 
Dutch  plantations.  Agreements  with  Mr.  Fenwick  occa- 
fion  general  unenfinefs.  Committees  are  appointed  to  ex- 
plain and  af certain  them.  Toivns  are  invited  to  attend 
the  committeesj  by  their  deputies,  at  Saybrook.  An  aSffor 
the  encouragement  of  Mr.  IVinthrop  infeeking  and  improv- 
ing mines.  Ncrzualk  and  Mattabefeck  fettled  and  made 
toivns.  The  colony  of  New -Haven  make  another  attempt 
to  fettle  at  Delaware.  The  Dutch  governor  feizes  the 
company  and  frujirates  the  defign.  He  purfues  his  former 
line  of  conduSl  towards  the  colonies.  The  refolutions  of 
the  commiffioners  relative  to  his  conduSl,  to  the  Jettlement  of 
Delaware,  and  the  tribute  to  be  paid  by  the  Pequots. 
French  co^nmiffioners from  Canada.  Their  propofals.  Re- 
ply to  them.  The  Dutch  governor  and  Indians  concert  a 
plan  to  extirpate  the  colonies.  The  commiffioners  meet,  and 
difpatch  agents  to  the  Dutch  governor.  They  determine 
vponwar,  unlefs  he  fhould  manifejl  his  imiocence,  and  re- 
drefs  the  grievances  of  the  colmies.  They  determine  on 
the  number  of  men  to  be  raifed,  and  draw  a  declaration  of 
the  reafons  of  thewar.  The  agents  return  unfuccefsful. 
The  commiffioners  meet  again,  and  determine  to  make  war 
upon  the  Dutch  and  Narraganfet  Indians.  The  general 
(ourt  of  Maffachufetts  refutes  to  raife  men,  and  prevents 
the  war.  Altercations  betzveen  that  general  court  and  the 
commiffioners,  and  between  that  and  the  general  courts  of 
Connetlicut  and  New-Haven.  The  alarm  and  diflrefs  of 
the  plantations  in  thefe  colonies.  Their  general  courts  pro- 
tejl  againfl  the  court  of  Maffachufetts,  as  violators  of  the 
articles  of  confederation  ;  and  write  to  Cromwell  and  the 
parliament  for  affiflance.  The  tumultuous  Jlate  cf  the  in- 
habitants in  fever  al  of  the  towns.  -  J  93 

CHAPTER    XI. 

The  death  and  charaBer  of  Governor  Haynts.  The  freemen 
of  ConneSiicut  meet  and  appoint  a  moderator.  Mr.  Lud- 
low removes  to  Virginia.  The  fpirited  conduSl  of  the  peo- 
ple   at  Milfordy  in   recovering  Manning's  veffel,      Thf 


i 


CONTENTS.  *Ji| 

freemen  add  to  the  fundamental  art  ides.  Fleet  arrives  at 
Bojlonfor  the  redu£iion  of  the  Dutch.  The  colonies  agree 
to  raije  men  to  ajftjt  the  armament  from  England.  Peace 
prevents  the  expedition.  The  general  court  at  Neiv-Ha- 
ven,  charge  the  Majjdchvjetls  with  a  breach  of  the  confed- 
eration. They  rejiije  to  joinin  a  war  againjl  ISiini grate ^ 
and  eblige  Connecticut  and  }^€W- Haven  to  provide  for  the 
defence  of  themf elves  and  their  allies.  Ninigrate  continue 
ing  his  hofile  meafures,  the  commijjioners  J  end  mefjengers 
to  him.  His  anjwer  to  them.  They  declare  war,  and 
fend  an  army  againfi  him.  The  art  of  Maffachufetts^  and 
the  deceit  of  Ala  for  PVillard  defeat  the  dejtgned  expedition. 
The  number  of  ratable  polls.,  and  the  amount  of  the  lifi  of 
Con7ieflicut.  The  Pequots  are  taken  under  their  protec- 
tion. Ninigrate  perfijiing  in  his  hofiilities  againfi  the  In- 
dians upon  Long-lfland,  the  general  court  adopt  meafuresy 
for  the  defence  of  the  Indians  and  the  Englifh  inhabitants 
there.  Neiv- Haven  perfect  and  print  their  laws.  The 
anfwer  of  New- Haven  to  the  protector  s  invitation,  that 
they  would  remove  to  famaica.  Reply  of  the  commiffion- 
ers  to  the  Dutch  governor.  Uncas  embroils  the  country. 
Deaths  and  characters  of  Governors  Eaton  and  Hopkins. 
Settlement  of  Stonington.  Mr.  Winthrop  chofen  governor. 
The  third  fundainental  article  is  altered  by  the  freemen. 
Mr.  Fitch  and  his  church  and  people  remove  to  h'orwich. 
Final  Jettlement  of  accounts  with  the  heirs  sf  Mr.  Fen- 
wick.  Deputy  governor  Majon  rejigns  the  Moheagan 
lands  to  the  colony.  -  -  -         22^ 

CHAPTER    XII. 

The  general  caurt  of  Connecticut  declare  their  loyalty  andfub- 
mijjion  to  the  king  ;  determine  to  addrefs  his  majefiy^  and 
apply  for  charter  privileges.  A  petition  to  his  majejiy  is 
prepared,  and  a  letter  addreffed  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal. 
Governor  Winthrop  is  appointed  the  colony's  agent,  to  pre- 
fent  their  petition,  and  folicit  a  patent.  Regicides  con- 
demned. JVhalley  and  Goffe  arrive  at  Boflon,  efcape  t$ 
New-Haven,  and  are  kindly  entertained  and  kept  from 
their purfuers.  NekJb-Havenfalls  into  great  trouble  and 
danger  on  that  account.  New- Haven  excufe  themf  elves  ; 
decline  fending  an  agent  ;  but  join  with  Maffuchujetts,  in 
fupporting  one.  The  king  proclaimed.  Governor  Win- 
throp obtains  the  charter  of  Connecticut.  Firfi  governor 
and  council  under  the  charter.  Reprefcntation  of  the  con- 
fiitution  It  ordains  f  and  the  privileges  it  conveys.     Di^cu/^ 


xiy  CONTENTS. 

fies  of  the  colony  of  Neiu -Haven,  Governor  Leefs  ad- 
drefs.  Charter  of  ConneEiicut  arrives.  Proceedings  of 
ConneElicut  in  confequence  of  the  charter.  They  extend 
their  jurifdiBion  to  all  places  ivithin  the  limits  of  their  pa- 
te nt.^  and  challenge  Neiv-Ha'Den  colony ,  as  under  their  jurif- 
diSiion.  Controverfy  betiveen  the  two  colonies.  Settle- 
ment of  Killingworth.  Patent  of  the  Duke  of  Tork.  Co- 
lonel Nichols  afid  commilJloners  arrive  y  reduce  all  the  Dutch 
fettlements.  Their  extraordinary  powers.  Important 
crifisofConneBicut.  The  general  court  make  a  prcfent  to 
the  commijftoners.  Anfwer  to  the  propofttions  from  his 
majeflyy  and  reply  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  claim  and  pe- 
tition. Boundaries  between  ConneElicut  and  New-York, 
Union  of  Connecticut  and  New-Haven.      -  -     248 

CHAPTER     XIII. 

A  view  of  the  churches  of  ConneElicut  and  New-Haven  ^  from 
their  firfl  fettlemcnty  until  their  union ,  in  166 ^-  Their 
mifiijiers.  The  charaEler  of  the  mniiflers  and  firfl  plan- 
ters. Their  religious  and  political  fentiments .  Gather^ 
ing  of  the  churches  of  New-Haven  and  Milford.  Inflal- 
lationof  Mr.    Davenport .,  and  Mr.  Prudden.      Church 

formed  at  Guilford.  Number  of  miniflers  in  ConneElicut 
and  New-Haven^  before  the  union.  Proportion  of  minif- 
ters  to  the  people  y  before  and  at  the  time  of  the  union.  Har- 
mony between  the  civil  rulers  and  the  clergy .  Influence  of 
the  clergy,  and  the  reafons  of  it.  Their  oppofition  to  An- 
tinomianifm.  Afjlfed  in  the  compilation  of  Cambridge 
Platform.  Eccleftaflical  laws.  Care  to  diffufe  general 
knowledge  ;  its  happy  infuence.  Attempts  to  found  a  col- 
lege at  New-Haven.  No  feElaries  in  ConiieElicul  nor 
New-Haveiiy  until  after  the  union  ;  and  for  twenty  years 
the  churches  generally  enjoyed  great  peace.  Deaths  and 
charaElers  offeveral  of  the  firfl  miniflers.  Great  dijfenfions 
in  the  church  at  Hartford  foon  after  Air.  Hooker's  death  ; 
diffenfions  and  controverftes  in  the  colony  and  churches  in 
general^  relative  to  baptifm^  church-memberfhipy  and  the 
rights  of  the  brethren.  Anew  generation  arifesy  who  had 
not  all  imbibed  thefpirit  of  their  fathers.     Grievances  pre- 

fented  to  the  general  court  of  ConneElicut  y  on  the  account  of 
the  JlriEinefs  of  the  churches  y  and  that  fober  people  we^e  de- 
nied communion  with  themy  and  baptifmfor  their  children. 
Tb^  court  of  ConneElicut  fend  to  the  other  general  courts 


CONTENTS.  Sr 

for  advice.  Laws  aga'injl  the  ^inkers.  Majfachiifeits 
and  ConmB'icut  agree  In  appointing  a  fynod  at  Bojlon, 
General  court  at  New-Haoe7ioppofe  the  meetifig  of  a  fynodf 
and  decline  fending  their  elders.  ^uejlions  propofedfsr 
difcuffton.  TChe  fynod  meets  and  anfivers  them  ;  hut  it  had 
no  good  effeB  on  the  churches.  They  nvoidd  not  comply 
ivith  their  decifwns.  Diffenfions  cofitinued  at  Hartford  ; 
oBs  of  the  general  court  refpeBing  them.  Councils  from . 
jMaffachufetts.  Difficulties  in  fome  meafure  compofed, 
Diviftofis  and  animofities  at  W ether sfield.  AB  ofthege?!' 
eral  court  refpeBing  the  church  there.  Mr.  Ruffel  and 
numbers  remove  from  Wethersfield  and  Hartford^  and  fet- 
tle Hadley.  Mr.  Stow  difmiffcd  from  the  minijlry  at 
Middletowfiy  by  a  committee  of  the  general  court.  Synod 
at  Bofon.  Its  determination  relative  to  baptifm  and  the 
confociation  of  churches.  Divifion  in  the  fynod  and  in  the 
churches  relative  to  thofe  points.  The  court  at  CotineBicut 
fent  no  elders  to  the  council ^  nor  took  any  part  in  the  contro' 
verfyj  until foi7ie  time  afterwards.         -  -  2pi 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

ConduB  of  the  king*s  commiffioners.  Counties  and  county 
courts  regulated.  Governor  Winthrop' s  ef  ate  freed  front 
taxation.  Towns  fettled.  Controverfy  with  Rhode- If" 
and.  The  grounds  of  it.  Courts  appointed  in  the  Nar- 
raganfet  country.  Laws  revifed  and  printed.  War  with 
the  Dutch.  Claims  and  concluB  of  Major  Edmund  An- 
drofsy  governor  ofNew-lTork.  Protefl  aginji  him.  Con- 
duB  of  Captain  Thomas  Bull.  Proclamation  refpeBing 
the  infult  received  from  Major  Androfs.  Philips  s  war. 
Captains  Hutchinfon  and  Lothrop  furprifed  and  flain. 
Treachery  of  the  Springfeld  Indians.  Hadley  attacked 
by  the  enemy.  Ihe  affembly  make  provifion  for  the  defence 
of  ConneBicut.  Expedition  againjl  the  Narraganfet  In- 
dians. The  reafotis  of  it.  The  great  fwamp  fght.  Lofs 
of  men.  Courage  exhibited  and  hardfjips  endured.  Cap- 
tain Pierce  and  his  party  cut  off.  Nanunttenoo  taken, 
Succefs  of  Captains  DeriiJ'on  and  Avery.  Captain  JVadf- 
ivorth  and  his  partyfain.  Death  and  charaBer  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop.  Sue c efs  <f  Major  Talcott.  Attack  up- 
on Hadley.  The  enemy  beaten  and  begin  to  fatter.  They 
are  purfued  to  Houfatonick.  Sachem  of  ^tabaug  and 
Philip  killed.      Number  .of  the  enemy  before  the  war<. 


jvi  CONTENT    S. 

'Their  deJlruB'ton.     Lofs  of  the  colonies.     ConneBicut  hap'' 
pyin  pfefei'ving  its  own  towns  and  ajjtjling  it^  neighbours. 

328 

C  H  A  P  T  E  R    XV. 

Meaftires  adopted  to  difcharge  the  public  debt.,  and  fettle  the 
country  in  peace.  The  reafons  of  the  colonfs  claim  to  Nar^ 
raga/ifet.  The  former  fettlers  and  owners  of  land  there 
apply  to  ConneElicut for  proteEtion.  Major  Treat  goes  t9 
the  upper  towns  upon  ConneElicut  river ^  to  treat  with  the 
Indians.  Fafls  appointed  through  New-England.  AEt 
concerning  the  conquered  lands  in  Narraganfet.  Naviga^ 
tionaB  grievous  to  the  colonies.  Governor  Leet  takes  the 
oath  refpeEliug  trade  and  navigation^  Anfwers  to  queries 
from  the  lords  of  trade  and  plantations,  Protejl  againfi 
Sir  Edmund  Androfs' s  claim  to  Fifhcr  s  If  and.  Char- 
acter of  Governor  Leet.  Commiffioners  appointed.,  by  his 
majefy,  to  examine  and  make  report  concerning  all  claims 
to  the  Narraganfet  couJitry^  or  king  s  province.  They  re- 
port in  favor  of  ConneElicut.  Anfwers  to  the  renenvcd 
claim  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton^  and  opinions  on  the  cafe. 
ConneElicut  congratidate  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Dungafi^ 
governor  of  Neiv-Tork,  and  agree  luith  him^  reJpeEling  the 
boundary  line  between  that  colony  and  ConneElicut.  Peti- 
tion to  King  fames  II.  Settlement  of  IVaterbury.  ^io- 
•warrantos  againfi  the  colony.  The  affembly  petition  his 
inajefy  to  continue  their  charter  privileges.  Sir  Edmund 
Aiidrofs  made  governor  of  New-England.  Arrives  at 
Hartford.,  takes  the  government  by  order  of  his  majejly. 
The  oppreffton  and  cruelty  of  his  admitiif  ration.  Diflreff- 
ed  a7id for  ronvful fate  of  the  people.  -  369 

,      CHAPTER     XVr. 

Revslution  in  New-England.  ConneElicut  refume  their  gov- 
ernment. Addrefy  to  King  William.  Troops  raifed  for 
the  defence  of  the  eafem  fettlements  in  New-Hampfjire 
and  the  province  of  Maine.  French  and  Indian  war. 
ScheneElady  defroyed.  ConneElicut  difpatch  a  reinforce- 
ment to  Albany.  Expedition  againf  Canada.  The  land 
army  retreats,  and  the  enterprife  proves  unfuccefsful. 
Leifers  abufe  of  Major  general  Winthrop.  The  affembly 
ef  ConneElicut  approve  the  general's  conduEi.     Thanks  are 


CONTENTS.  Xyli 

vxturned  to  Mr.  Mather ^  agent  Wbltingy  and  Mr.  Por- 
ter. Opinions  rcfpeBing  the^  charter^  arid  the  legality  of 
ConneBicufs  ajfuming  their  government.  Windham  fet- 
tled. The  Mohaivk  cajiles  are  furprifed  and  the  country 
alartned.  Conne£licut  fend  troops  to  yilbany.  Colonel 
Fletcher y  governor  of  New-Tork,  demands  the  command 
of  the  militia  of  ConneElicut.  The  colony  petition  King 
IVilliam  on  the  fuhjeEl.  Colonel  Fletcher  comes  to  Hart- 
fordt  ondy  in  perfon^  demands  that  the  legiflature  fiibmii 
the  militia  to  his  command ;  hut  they  refufe.  Captain 
Wadfworth  prevents  the  reading  of  his  commiffion,  and  the 
colonel  judges  it  expedient  to  leave  the  colony.  The  cafe  of 
C^nneBicut  relative  to  the  militia  fated.  His  majefy  de- 
termines in  favor  of  the  colo7iy.  Committees  are  appointed 
to  fettle  the  boundary  line  hetnueen  ConneBicut  and  Maffa- 
(^hufetts.  General  Winthrop  returns  and  receives  public 
thanks.  Congratulation  of  the  Earl  of  Bellomont^  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Neiv-Tork  and  Maffachufetts.  Df- 
pute  ivith  Rhode-If  and  continues.  Committee  to  fettle  the 
boundaries.  Expenfes  of  the  war.  Vexatious  conduEl  of 
Governor  Fletcher.     Peace^joy  and  thankfgiving.       39^ 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Qemral  Winthrop  is  eleBed  governor.  The  affembly  divide 
qndform  into  tnvo  houfes.  Purchafe  and fettlement  offev- 
iral  towns.  The  boundary  line  between  CotmeBicut  and 
New-T'ork  furveyed  and  fxed.  Attempts  for  running 
qt}d  eflahlifhing  the  line  between  Maffachufetts  and  Con- 
HeBicut.  Owaneco  and  the  Moheagans  claim  Colchefler 
qnd  other  traBs  in  the  colony.  Attempts  to  compofe  all 
differences  with  them.  Grant  to  the  volunteers.  The  af- 
fembly enaBsy  that  the  fejjiony  in  OBober^  fjally  for  thefu- 
turey  be  in  Neiv-Haven.  An  aB  enlarging  the  bounda- 
ries of  ^etv-London^  and  aBs  relative  to  towns  and  pat- 
ents. Meafures  adopted  for  the  defence  of  the  colony.  Ap- 
pointment  of  king's  attorneys.  Attempts  to  defpoil  Con- 
neBicut  of  its  charter.  Bill  for  re-uniting  the  charter, 
governments  to  the  crown.  Sir  Henry  Afburf  petitions 
qgainjl  and  prevents  the  paffing  of  the  bill.  Governor 
JOudley^  Lord  Cornbury,  and  other  enemies  confpire  againfl 
the  colony.  They  exhibit  grievous  complaints  agalnf  it. 
Sfir  fienry  Afhurfl  defends  the  colony  <?/W  defeats  their  at^ 


aviii  CONTENTS, 

Umpts.  ^takers petition.  Moheagan  cafe.  Survey  and 
bounds  of  the  pretended  Moheagan  country.  Dudlefs  court 
at  Stonington.  The  colony  protejl  againji  it.  Dudley's 
treatment  of  the  colony.  Judgment  againji  it.  Petition 
to  her  rnajejly  on  thefubjeB.  New  commiffions  are  grant-- 
ed.      ASl  in  favor  of  the  clergy.      State  of  the  colony.   419 

CHAPTER     XVIII. 

The  country  is  alarmed.  Means  of  defence.  The  affemhly 
decline  the  affording  of  any  ajfijlance  in  the  expedition  a- 
gainjl  Port  Royal.  Grant  ajjijlance  to  the  frontier  towns. 
New  townjlnps  granted  and  fettled.  The  Rev.  Gurdon 
Saltonjlall  chofen  governor.  AEl  empowering  the  freemen 
to  choofe  the  governor  from  among  themfelves  at  large. 
ABs  relative  to  the  fettlement  of  the  boundary  line  nvith 
Maffachufetts .  Garrifons  ereBed  in  the  tonvns  on  the 
frontiers,  hxpedition  againji  Canada.  Firji  emijfion  of 
paper  money.  Addrefs  to  her  majejly.  Lofs  of  the  colony 
at  Wood  Creek.  Expedition  againji  Port  Royal.  E-xpe- 
ditiofi  againji  Canada  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Walker  and  General  Nicholfon.  Fleet  cajl  away  and  the 
enterprife  defeated.  The  colony  petition  her  majejly y  and 
fend  the  only  pilot  from  ConneBicut^  to  England^  to  repre- 
fent  to  her  majejly  the  lofs  of  the  fleet  truly  as  it  was, 
ABs  refpeBing  the  fuperior  court.  Settlement  of  the  boun- 
dary line  between  MaJJachuJetts  and  ConneBicut.  Rech- 
fons  ivhy  the  colony  confented  tofuch  a  fettlement.  Return 
of  peace.  The  colony  happy  in  the  prefervation  of  their 
frontiers.  Towns  fettled  under  Maffachifetts.  State  of 
the  colony.      Obfervations,  -  -  452 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

A  vieiv  of  the  churches  of  ConneBicuty  from  166  ^y  to  1 714* 
continued  from  chapter  JCIII.  The  general  affembly  ap- 
point a  fynod  to  determine  points  of  religious  controverfy* 
The  minijlevs  decline  meeting  under  the  name  of  a  fynod. 
The  affembly  alter  the  namcy  and  require  them  to  meet  as  a 
general  affembly  of  the  minijlers  and  churches  of  ConneBi- 
cut. Seventeen  quejlions  were  propofed  to  the  affemhly  to 
be  difcuffed  and  anfwered.  The  affembly  of  minijlers  and 
churches  meet  and  difcufs  the  quejlions.  The  legijlature 
declare  J  that  they  had  not  been  decided,  and  give  intima" 


CONTENTS.  »% 

iions  that  they  did  not  deftre^  that  the  minijlers  and  churches 
ef  ConneEiicut  Jhotild  report  their  opinion  upon  them.  They 
exprefs  their  dejtres  of  a  larger  council  from  Majpxchufetts 
and  Nenv-Pli mouth.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Davenport  re- 
moves to  Bofon.  Diffenfion  at  Windfor.  Mr.  Bulkley 
and  Mr.  Fitch  are  appointed  by  the  ajjembly  to  devife  fome 
•way  in  nvhich  the  churches  might  ivalk  together^  notivith- 
Jianding  their  different  opinions  relative  to  the  fubjeBs  of 
baptijm^  church  communion^  and  the  mode  of  church  difci- 
pline.  The  church  at  Hartford  divides^  and  Mr.  Whi- 
ting and  his  adherents  are  allotued  to  praciife  upon  congre- 
gaticnal principles.  The  church  at  Stratford allonved  to  di- 
vide and  hold  difli^iEl  meetings.  Mr.  Walker  and  his 
hearersy  upon  advice,  remove  and  fettle  the  town  of  Wood- 
bury. Deaths  and  charaSfers  of  the  Reverend  Me[fieurs 
jfohn  Davenport  and  John  Warham.  General  attempts 
for  a  reformation  of  manners.  Religious fl  ate  of  the  colony 
in  l6So.  Attempts  for  the  inJlruBion  and  chri/lianizing 
of  the  Indians  in  CotineElicut.  AEl  of  the  legifature  ref- 
peBing  Windfor.  The  people  there  required  peaceably  to 
fettle  arid  fupport  Mr.  Mather.  Owning  or  fubfcribing 
the  covenant  introduced  at  Hartford.  College  founded^ 
end  truflees  incorporated.  Worfhip  according  to  the  mode 
of  the  church  of  England  performed^  in  this  colony,  frfi  at 
Stratford.  Epifcopal  church  gathered  there.  AB  of  af-* 
fembly  requiring  the  miniflers  and  churches  of  ConneBicut 
to  meet  and  form  a  religious  cenflitution.  They  meet  and 
compile  the  Saybrooh  Platform.  Articles  of  difcipline. 
AB  of  the  legifature  adopting  the  Platform.  AffociationSy 
confociations.  General  affociation.  Its  recommendations 
relative  to  the  examination  of  candidates  for  the  miniflry^ 
and  ofpaflors  eleB  previous  to  their  ordination.  Minif- 
iers,  churches y  and  ecclefiaflical  focieties  in  ConneBicut  in 
1713.  Degree  of  inflruBion.  The  whole  number  of 
miniflers  in  the  colony  from  itsfrfi  fettlement  to  that  period. 

489 


THE 

HISTORY 

OF 

CONNECTICUT. 


CHAPTER     I. 


INTRODUCTION.  The  difcavery  of  North  America 
and  New-England.  Captain  Sfnith^s  difcovery.  The 
country  is  named  New-England.  New-Plimouth  Jet~ 
tied.  The  great  patent  of  Ne%v-Englandy  and  patent  of 
Maffachufetts.  The  fettlement  of  Salem ^  Charleflown, 
Bcjhny  and  other  towns  in  Maffachufetts.  Mr.  War- 
ham^  Mr.  Phillips  and  Mr.  Hooker^  with  others  of  the 
frfl  planters  ofCon?ie£licuty  arrive  and  make  fettl erne nts 
at  Dorchefler^  Watertown  and  Newtown.  Their  chur- 
ches are  formed  and  they  are  ordained. 

THE  fettlement  of  New-England,  purely  for  the  Book  I. 
purpofes  of  Religion,  and  the  propagation  of  civ-  K.^yy*^ 
il  and  religious  liberty,  is  an  event  which  has  no  paral- 
lel in  the  hiftory  of  modern  ages.  The  piety,  felf  deni- 
al, fufterings,  patience,  perfeverance  and  magnanimity 
of  the  firft  fettlers  of  the  country  are  without  a  rival. 
The  happy  and  extenfive  confequences  of  the  fettle- 
ments  which  they  made,  and  of  the  fentiments  which 
they  were  careful  to  propagate,  to  their  poflcrity,  to  the 
church  and  to  the  world,  admit  of  no  defcription.  They 
are  flill  increafing,  fpreading  wider  and  wider,'  and  ap- 
pear more  and  more  important. 

The  planters  of  Connedlicut  were  among  the  illuflri- 
ous  characters,  who  firft  fettled  New-England,  and 
twice  made  fettlements,  firft  in  Maffachufetts,  and  then. 

B 


2  T  H  E    HISTORY  Chap.  L 

Book  I.  in  Conne£llcut  on  bare  creation.  In  an  age  when  the 
v.>»VnJ  light  of  freedom  was  but  juft  dawning,  they,  by  volun- 
tary compa£l,  formed  one  of  the  moft  free  and  happy 
conflitutions  of  government  which  mankind  have  ever 
adopted.  Connedicuthas  ever  been  diftinguifhed  by 
the  free  fpirit  of  its  government,  the  mildnefs  of  its 
laws,  and  the  general  diffufion  of  knowledge,  among  all 
clafies  of  its  inhabitants.  They  have  been  no  lefs  dif- 
tinguifhed by  their  induftry,  economy,  purity  of  man- 
ners, population  and  fpirit  of  enterprife.  For  more 
than  a  century  and  half,  they  have  had  no  rival,  as  to 
the  fteadinefs  of  their  government,  their  internal  peace 
and  harmony,  their  love  and  high  enjoyment  of  domef- 
tic,  civil  and  religious  order  and  happinefs-  They  have 
ever  ftood  among  the  mod  illuminated,  firfl  and  boldefl 
defenders  of  the  civil  and  religious  rights  of  mankind. 

The  hiftory  of  fuch  a  people  muft  be  curious,  enter- 
taining and  important.  It  will  exhibit  the  fairelt  mod- 
els of  civil  government,  of  religious  order,  purity  and 
human  happinefs.  It  is  the  defign  of  the  prefent  work 
to  lay  this  hiftory  before  the  public. 

As  the  planters  of  Conne<^icut  were  among  the  iirft 
fettlers  of  New-England,  and  interefted  in  the  firft  pa- 
tents and  fettlements,  Iketches  of  tlxe  difcovery  of  the 
country,  of  the  patents  by  which  it  was  conveyed  and 
divided  to  the  different  colonies,  and  of  the  firft  fettle- 
ments will  be  necelTary  to  ill  uftr ate  the  hiftory  ofCon- 
nedicut  and  be  a  natural  preliminary  to  this  work. 

Odt  12  Christopher  Columbus,  a  Genoefejdifcoveredtlie 

1492.         weftern  ifles,  and  firft  communicated  to  Europe  the  in- 
telligence of  a  new  world  :  but  the  Cabots  had  the  hon- 
or of  difcovcring  the  great  continent  of  North  America* 
•  John    Cabot,    a   Venetian,   born   in  England,  in 
1494.  1494*    difcovcred   Newfoundland    and    the    ifland    of 

St.  Johns.  In  confequence  of  this  difcovery,  king 
Henry  the  feventh  of  England,  in  whofe  fervice  he  was 
employed,  conferred  on  him  the  honor  of  knighthood ; 
and  gave  him  and  his  fons  a  coramiflion  to  make  further 
difcoveries  in  the  new  world.  John  Cabot  died  foon 
after  he  received  this  commiffion.  His  fon  Sebaftian, 
in  1497,  failed  with  the  fleet,  which  had  been  preparing 
for  his  father,  and  direding  his  courfe  by  his  journals, 
proceeded  to  the  67th  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  re- 


Chap.  I.     OFCONNECTICUT.  3 

turning  to  the  fouthward,  fell  in  with  the  continent  in  Book  I. 
the  56th  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  and  thence  explored  k,.^^-->kJ 
the  coaft  as  far  fouth  as  the  Floridas.     From  thefe  dif- 
coveries  originated  the  claims  of  England  to  thefe  parts 
of  the  northern  continent. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gofnold  difcoveredfome  part  ^ 
of  New-England.  He  firft  touched  on  its  eaftern  coaft, 
in  about  43  degrees  of  north  latitude  ;  and,  failing  to 
the  fouthward,  landed  ©n  the  Elizabeth  Iflands.  He 
made  fome  difcoveries  of  the  adjacent  parts  and  gave 
the  name  to  Cape  Cod  and  Marthas  Vineyard. 

Captain  Henry  Hudfon,  commiiTioned  by  King  i^gg. 
James  I.  in  1608,  failed,  in  the  employment  of  feveral 
London  Merchants,  to  North  America.  He  came  up- 
on the  coaft  in  about  40  degrees  ef  north  latitude,  and 
made  a  difcovery  of  Long  Illand  and  Hudfon's  river. 
He  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  43, 
and  called  it  by  his  own  name. 

About  two  years  after  he  made  a  fecond  voyage  to  1610. 
the  river,  in  the  fervice  of  a  number  of  Dutch  mer- 
chants ;  and,  fome  time  after,  made  fale  of  his  right  to 
the  Dutch.  The  right  to  the  country  however  was  an- 
tecedently in  King  James,  by  virtue  of  the  difcovery 
which  Hudfon  had  made  under  his  commiflion.  The 
Englifh  protefted  againft  the  fale ;  but  the  Dutch,  in 
1 614,  under  the  Amfterdam  Weft  India  company, 
built  a  fort  nearly  on  the  fame  ground  where  the  city  of 
Albany  now  is,  which  they  called  fort  Aurania.  Sir 
Thomas  Dale,  governor  of  Virginia,  diredlly  after  dif- 
patched  Captain  Argale  to  difpoflefs  the  Dutch,  and 
they  fubmitted  to  the  king  of  England,  and  under  him 
to  the  governor  of  Virginia.* 

The  fame  year  captain  John  Smith,  who  fome  years  j^j., 
before  had  been  governor  of  Virginia,  made  a  voyage 
to  this  part  of  the  continent.  He  ranged  the  coaft  from 
Penobfcot  to  Cape  Cod  ;  made  a  difcovery  of  the  river 
Pafcataqua,  and  the  Maflachufetts  Iflands.  On  his  re- 
turn to  England,  he  publiftied^a  defcription  of  the  coun- 
try, with  a  map  of  the  fea  coaft,  and  gave  it  the  name 
of  New-England. 

In  1620,  a  number  of  pious  people,  part  of  Mr.  John  New- 
Robinfon's  church  and  congregation,  who,  by  the  vio-  Plimouth 
lence  of  perfecution,  had  been  driven  from  their  pleaf-  fettled 
ant  feats  and   enjoyments  in  England,  arrived  on  the  ^^^^* 

*  Smith's  hiftory  of  New-York,  p,  2. 


4  THEHISTORY  Chap.  I. 

Book  I.    coaft ;  and,  after  braving  every  danger,  and  enduring 
Vw^'VN^  almoll  every  hardfhip  and  diftrefs  of  w^hich  human  na- 
ture Is  capable,  efFedted  a  permanent  fettlement  in  this 
part  of  North  America.     They  gave  It  the  name  of  New 
Pllmouth.     By  voluntary  compa£l  they   formed  them- 
felves  into    a   fmall  commonwealth,  and  had  a    fuc- 
cefTion  of  governors.     They  fettled  all  that  part  of  Maf- 
fachufetts  Included  In  the   county    of  Pllmouth.     By 
making  permanent  fettlements,  to  which  others  might 
refort,  on  their  firft  arrival  In  New-England,    or  after- 
wards in  times  of  diftrefs  ;  by  making  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  by  which  the  peace  of  the  country  was  prefer- 
ved  ;    by  their  knowledge  of  It,  and   the  experience 
"which  they  had  gained,  they  were  of  peculiar  advantage 
to   thofe  who  came   over  and   made  fettlements  after 
them.     They  were  a  pious,  Induftrious  people,  and  ex- 
hibited towards  each  other  the  moft  ftriking  examples 
of  fraternal  afFe£lion.     They  continued  a  diftin£l  colo- 
ny for  about  feventy  years,  until  their  Incorporation,  by 
the  charter  of  William  and  Mary,  In    1691,  with    the 
colony  of  Maflachufettsand  the  province  of  Main. 
Patent  of       November   3d.  1620,  juft  before  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Ntvv-         Robinfon's  people  In    New-England,   King  James  the 
England     firit,  by  letters  patent,  under  the  great  feal  of  England, 
"  *^^^'  ■''      incorporated    the   duke   of  Lenox,    the    marquifes    of 
Buckingham  and   Hamilton,   the  earls  of  Arundel  and 
Warwick,  and  others,  to  the  number  of  forty  noblemen, 
knights  and   gentlemen,  by  the  name   "  of  the  council 
"  eilablifhed  at  Pllmouth  in  the  county   of  Devon,  for 
"  the  planting,  ruling  and  governing  of  New-England 
♦'  in  America" — "  and   granted   unto   them,  and  their 
*'  fucceflbrs  and   afligns,  all  that  part  of  America,  ly- 
"  Ing  and  being  In  breadth  from  forty  degrees  of  north 
"  latitude,  from  the  EquInocStial  line,  to  the  forty  eighth 
*'  degree  of  faid   northerly  latitude  Inclufively,  and  In 
*'  length    of,  and   within    all    the    breadth    aforefald, 
*<  throughout  the   main  lands  from  fea  to  fea."     The 
patent  ordained  that  this  tra^l  of  country  fhould  be  call- 
ed New-England  in  America,  and    by  that  name  have 
continuance  for  ever. 

This  grant  Is  the  broad  bafis  on  which  ftand  all  the 
other  grants  made  to  the  colonies  In  New-England. 
This  prepared  the  way  for  future  grants  and  the  im.me'» 
diate  fettlement  of  New-England. 


Chap.  I.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  5 

On  the  19th  of  March  1628,  the  Plimouth  company  Book  I.' 
granted  unto  Sir   Henry    Rofwell,  Sir   John  Young,  \^y'\'>^ 
knights, ThomasSouthcoat,  John  Humphry,  John  Endi-  Patf  nt   of 
cot  andSimon  AVhitcomb, their  heirs  and  affigns  forever,  MaJlichu- 
all  that  part  of  New-England  in  America  ,which  lies  and  ^^^^ 
extends  between  Merrimack,  river  and  Charles  river,  in  j^.q- 
the  bottom  of  Maflachufetts  bay,  and  three  miles  to  the 
north  and  fouth  of  every  part  of  Charles  river,  and  three 
miles  fouth  of  the  fouthernmofl  part   of  faid   bay,  and 
three  miles  to  the  northv/ard  of  every  part  of  Merrimack 
river,  and  "  all  lands   and  hereditaments   v/hatfoever 
**  lying  within  the  limits  aforefaid  north  and  fouth,  in 
*'  latitude  and  breadth  5  and  in  length' and  longitude, 
"  of  and  within   all  the  breadth  aforefaid  throughout 
**  the  main  lands  there,  from  the  Atlantic  fea  and  ocean 
*'   on  the  eaft  part,  to  the  fouth  fea  on  the  weft  part." 

On  the  4th  of  March  1629,   king  Charles   the    firfi;  con firm- 
confirmed  this   patent  under  the  great  feal  of  England,  ed  March 
This  was  the  patent  of  Mafiachufetts  bay,  under  which  4>  1629. 
the  fettlement  of  that  colony  im.mediately  commenced. 

At  this  time  liberty  of  confcience  could  not   be  en-  j^oliberlv 
joyed  in  the  parent  country.     No  indulgence  was  grant-  of  con- 
ed even  to  the  moft  pious,  loyal,  and  confcientious  peo-  fcience  in 
pie,  who  would  not  ftriftly  conform  to  the  habits,  cer-  England, 
emonies,  and  worfhip  of  the  church  of  England.     All 
non-conformifts  were  cxpofed  to  fines,  imprifonments, 
the   ruin   of  their  families,    fortunes,  and  every  thing 
which  ought  to  be  dear  to  men.     The  moft  learned,  pi- 
ous, orthodox  and  inofFenfive  people,  who  did  not  con- 
form to    the  church  of  England,  were  treated,  by  the 
king  and  his  bifhops,   with    far  greater  feverity,  than 
drunkards,  fabbath  breakers,  or  even  the  moft  notorious 
debauchees.     They  were  condemned,  in  the  fpiritual 
courts,  without  juries,  without  having  the  witnefles  a- 
gainft  them,  brought  into  court,  to  depofe  face  to  face  ; 
and,  fometimes,  without    knowing  the   crime  alledged 
againft  them,    or  who  were  the  witnefles  by  whom  it 
was  to  be  proved.     Many  of  the  pious  people,  in  Eng-  i6:g. 
land,  were    fo  harafl'ed  and  perfecuted,  for  their  non- 
conformity, that  they  determined,  if  pofTible,  rather  to 
make  fettlements  in  a  dreary  wildernefs,  at  the  diftance 
of  three  thoufand  miles  from  their  native  country,  than 
endure  the  perfecution    and  fufi'erings,  to  which  they 
were  conftantly  expofed  from  the  hands  of  thofe,  wlio 


6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  I. 

Book  I.   ought  to  have  cheriflicd  and  defended  them.     This  cruel 
v^>»V>^  treatment  of  our  venerable  anceftors  was  the  caufe  of 
the  fettlement  of  the  New-England  colonies  and  chur- 
ches     It  will  ever  be   the  diflinguifhing  glory  of  thefc 
}    cTf  r^'  c^'^"'^s>  That  they  were  not  originally  formed   for  the 
tied  for      advantages    of  trade  and  worldly  emolument  j  but  for 
the  p'.ir-     the  noble  purpofes  of  religion,  the  enjoyment  of  liberty 
poftsof     of  confcience  in  the  worfhip   and  ordinances  of  God. 
religion,     ^pj^g  pious  fathers  of  thefe  colonies  wifhed  to  enjoy  the 
uncorrupted  gofpcl,  adminiftered  in  all  its  ordinances 
in  purity  and  power  ;  and   to  tranfmit  the  invaluable 
blelfrngs  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  to  their  remoteft 
pofterity.     With  thefe  views  they  left  their  native  coun- 
try, their  pleafant  feats  and  enjoyments  in  Europe,  and 
made  fettlements  in  the  wilds  of  America. 

The  fame  year  in  which  the  patent  of  MafTachufetts 
received  the  royal  confirmation,  Mr.  John  Endicot  was 
fent  over  with  about  three  hundred  people,  by  the  pa- 
tentees to  prepare  the  way  for  the  fettlement  of  a  per- 
Salem  ftt-  manent  colony  in  that  part  of  New-England.     They  ar- 
tltd,  June  xi\'ed   at  Naumkeak  in  June,   and  began  a  fettlement 
^'^*  which  they  named  Salem.     This  was  the  firft  town  in 

'   MafTachufetts  and  the  fecond  in  New-England. 

About  a  hundred  of  the  planters   who   came  over 

Charlef-     with  Mr.  Endicot,  removed  very  foou  to  Mifliawam  and 

town  fet-  began  a  plantation  at  that  place.     Here  they  evecled  a 

tied.  very  fpacious  houfe,  and  made  other  preparations  for 

the  accommodation  of  thofe,  who  were   expe£led  from 

England  the  next  year.     They  called  their  fettlement 

Charleftown. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  company,  for  the  planting  of  the 
Mafl'achufetts,  in  England,  Auguft  29th  it  was  voted. 
That  the  patent  and  government  of  the  plantation  be 
transferred  to  New-England.* 

The  next  year  therefore,  feventeen  fhips  were  pre- 
pared, with  all  neceffaries  for  the  fettlement  of  a  colony. 
.^,Q_  Eleven  or  twelve  of  thefe  ihips  made  a  fafe  arrival  in 
New-England  by  the  middle  of  July,  and  they  all  arri- 
ved before  the  clofe  of  the  yesr.f  In  thefe  came  over 
governor  Wisthrop  and  the  magiftrates  of  the  colony, 
who  had  been  prcvioMfly  chofen  in  England.     With 


*  Prince's  Chron.  p.  192.    f  Ibid,  part  II.  p.  10. 


Chap.  I.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  7 

them  alfo  came  a  number  of  minifters,  to  illuminate  the  Book  I. 
infant  churches  and  preach  in  the  wildernefs  the  glad  v^k^w^ 
tidings  of  falvation. 

On  the  loth,  or  12th  of  July,   governor  "Winthrop 
arrived  at  Charlefhown  v^ith  about  fifteen  hundred  peo-  Gov.WIn- 
ple.     They  encamped  in  cottages,   booths  and  t€nts>  *;Py°P  ^^' 
upon  Charleftown  hill.     Their  place  of  public  worfhip  charlef- 
was  under  a  large,  fpreading  tree.     Here  Meffieurs  Wil-  town  July 
fon  and  Phillips  preached  their  firft  fermons  to  thefc  pi-  i«>« 
ous  pilgrims.l     In  the  fhips  which  arrived  this  year 
there  came  over  about  feventeen  hundred  people.     In 
this  and  the  laft  year  there  came  into  New-  England  two 
thoufand  planters.     Thefe  fettled   about  nine  or  ten  To^-na 
towns  or  villages.     A  confiderable  number   fettled  at  |5J^^!5^ '" 
Bofton  and  Charleftown.     Many  of  the  principal  char-  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^ 
alters   fixed  their  abode  in   thefe   towns.     Governor 
Winthrop  lived  in   the  great   houfe,  which  had  been 
ere6led,  the  preceding  year  at  Charleftown.     Mr.  Ifaac 
Johnfton,  who  married  the  lady  Arabella,  fifter  of  the 
carl  of  Lincoln,  and  who  had  the  beft  eftate  of  any  of 
the  company,  fixed  his  refidence  at  Bofton.     He  was 
the  great  promoter  of  the  fettlcment  of  the  capital  of  the 
*  Maflachufetts.§     Sir  Richard  Saltonftall,  who  was  a- 
nother  of  the  magiftrates,  with  his  company,  fettled  at 
Watertown.     They  made  choice  of   Mr.  Phillips  for 
their  paftor.     Mr.  Pyncheon,  and  another   company, 
began  a  fettlement  at  Roxbury,  and  the  famous  Mr. 
John  Eliot  and  Mr.  Weld,  who  came  into  New-England 
the  next  year,   were  eledled    their  minifters.     Other 
companies  fettled  Medford   and  Weymouth.     Bofton 
and  Charleftown,  the  firft  year,  confidered    themfelves 
as  one  company,  and  chofe  Mr.  Wilfon  for  their  paftor. 

In  one  of  the  firft  fliips,  which  arrived  this  year,  came 
over  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Warham,  Mr.  John  Mav-  "*' 
^srick,  Mr.  Roffiter,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Henry  Wolcott 
and  others  of  Mr.  Warham's  church  and  congregation, 
who  firft  fettled  the  town  of  Windfor  in  Connecticut. 
Mr.  Roftiter  and  Mr.  Ludlow  were  magiftrates.  Mr. 
Wolcott  had  a  fine  eftate,  and  was  a  man  of  fuperior  a- 
bilities.  This  was  an  honourable  company.  Mr. 
Warham  had  been  a  famous  minifter  in  Exeter  the  cap- 
ital of  the  county  of  Devonftiire.      The  people  who 


t   Prince's  Chron.  p.  J4»,    <^  Ibid,  part  II.  ScflJoa  a.  p.  «. 


S  THEHISTORY  Chip.  I. 

Boof;  I.    came  with  him  were  from  the  three  counties  of  Devon- 
v_«^-v>^  fhire,  Dorfetfliire,  and  Somerfetfhire. 

Sometime  before  the  20th  of  March  juft  as  they 
were  about  to  embark  for  New-England,  upon  a  day  of 
folemn  fading  and  prayer  they  were  formed  into  a  con- 
gregational church,  in  the  new  hofpital  at  Plimouth  in 
England.  They  then  made  choice  of  Mr.  Warham  and 
Mr.  Maverick  to  be  their  paftor  and  teacher,  and  they 
were  ordained,  or  reinftalled  to  the  care  of  this  particu- 
lar church.  Tlie  famous  Mr.  White  of  Dorchefter 
preached  and  aflifted  on  this  occafion.jl 

They  failed  from  Plimouth  in  England,  on  the  20th 

Mr.  War-  of  March,  in  the  fliip  Mary  and  John  of  400  tons,  and 

ham  ar-      arrived  at  Nantalket  on  the  Lord's  day,  May  30th.     The 

rives  May  jj^^xt  day  captain  Squeb,  mafter    of  the  {hip,   put  them 

th '  firft  ^  ^^^^  their  goods  on  fliore  at  Nantafket  point,  and  in  this 

fettlers  of  fituation,  left  them  to  fhift  for  themfelves.^     But,  by 

Wiadfor.   the  affillance  of  fome  of  the  old   planters,  they  obtained 

a  boat  and  proceeded  up  Charles  river  to  the  place  fince 

called  Watertown.     Here  they  landed  their  goods  and 

ere£led  a  flicker  to  cover  them  ;  but  as  they  had  many 

cattle,  and  found  a  neck  of  land  afe  Mattapan,  affording 

good  accommodations  for  them,  they  foon  removed  and 

began   a  fettlement  there.      They  named  their  town 

Dorchefter. 

Sir  Richard  Saltonflall's  people,  who  fettled  at  Wa- 
1630.  tertown,  were  the  firfl  fettlers  of  Wethersfield,  in  Con- 

^         nefticut.     Mr.  Phillips,  who  was  ele£led   their  paftor, 
of  Weth-  ^^  Watertown,   had  been   minifter  at  Boxford  in  the 
ersficld.      county  of  Effex.     Moft  of  them  were,  probably,   the 
people  of  his  former  charge,  and  from  the  fame  county. 
The  emigrants  who   came  into  New  England   with 
Mortality  ■^^^'  Endicot  and  governor  Winthrop,    foon  after  their 
and  lofies  arrival,  were  vifited  with  uncommon    ficknefs  and  mor- 
of  the  firft  tality.     Of  the  company  who  came  with  Mr.   Endicot, 
years.         the  laft  year,  eighty  were  in  their  graves,  before  govern- 
or Winthrop  arrived.     He  found  the  colony  in  very  mif- 
erable  circumftances.     Many  of  thofe  who  were  yet  liv- 
ing were  in  a  weak  and  fickly   condition.      The  people 
]jad  fcarcely  a  fufficiency  of  provifion   for  their  fubfift- 
ence  fourteen  days.     Befides,  they  had  fuftained  a  cap- 


il  Prince's  Chron.  p.  200,     H  Ibid.  p.  207.     Captain  Squel» 
was  afterwards  obliged  to  pay  damages  for  this  conduift. 


Chap.  I.    OFCONNECTICUT.  9 

ital  lofs  in  their  fervants.     They  brought  over  with  them  Book  I. 
a  hundred  and   eighty.      Thefe  coft  them  more  than  k..^-y-\J 
three  thoufand  pounds    fterling.      But  they  were  fo 
ftraightened  for  provifions,  that  they  were  neccffitated 
to  give  all  thofe,  who  furvived  the  ficknefs,  their  liberty, 
that  they  might  fliift  for  themfelves.* 

Many  of  the  {hips  which  arrived  this  year  had  a  long 
paflage  of  feventeen  or  eighteen  weeks  ;  in  confequence 
of  which,  numbers  had  tha  fcurvy,  and  came  on  fhore 
in  a  fickly  condition.  By  reafon  of  wet  lodgings,  in  cot- 
tages and  miferable  huts,  for  the  want  of  frefh  food  and 
other  conveniences,  this  ficknefs  increafed.  Other 
difeafes  alfo,  foon  attacked  them  with  violence ;  fo  that 
in  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  the  ficknefs  became  gen- 
eral. In  a  Ihort  time  fo  many  fell  fick,  that  the  well 
were  not  fufficient  properly  to  attend  them,  and  bury 
the  dead.  Great  numbers  died  and  were  buried  on 
Charleftown  hill.f  The  ficknefs  and  mortality  greatly  re- 
tarded the  neceflary  labours  and  affairs  of  the  colony  ;  fo 
that  many  of  the  people  were  obliged  to  lie  in  tents,  or 
miferable  huts  during  the  winter.  By  the  next  fpring  a 
hundred  and  twenty  or  more  were  among  the  dead.  Of  163c. 
this  number  were  Mr.  Johnfon  and  Mr.  Roffiter.  The 
charming  lady  Arabella,  celebrated  for  her  many  virtues, 
died  before  her  hulband.  She  was  fifter  to  the  earl  of 
Lincoln  ;  and,  for  the  fake  of  religion,  came  from  a  para- 
dife  of  eafe,  plenty  and  delight,  in  the  houfe  of  a  re- 
nowned earl,  into  a  wildernefs  of  toil,difafter,and  mifery. 

About  a  hundred  of  the  people  were  difcouraged, 
and  returned  to  England  ;  two  hundred  were  dead, 
and  fome  went  to  Pifcataqua.  About  feventeen  hun- 
dred remained  ;  a  little  more  than  a  hundred  and  eighty 
^erfons,  or  thirty  families,  on  an  average,  to  each  town. 
The  greateft  numbers  fiixed  themfelves  at  Bofton  and 
Watertown.  In  thefe  towns  there  were  probably  nearly 
fixty  families.  In  Charleftown  and  Dorchefter  about 
forty,  and  in  the  other  towns  not  more  than  fifteen  or 
twenty  families.^ 

In  addition  to  all  the  other  calamities  with  which  thefe  Famine 
plantations  had  beenvifited,  they,  this  year,  experienced  *  •2'* 

*  Prince's  Chron.  p.  209,  aio.    f  The  fame  p.  7,^^. 
t  Ibid,  part  II.  p.  I  and  31. 

c 


10  T  11  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  I. 

Book  I.  the  diftrefs  of  famine.  By  the  beguining  of  February, 
*w<v>^^  bread  failed  in  every  houfe,  except  the  governor's,  and 
even  in  this  the  family  were  reduced  to  the  laft  loaves. 
Suchu-cre  the  neceflities  of  the  people,  that  they  fed  on 
clams,  mufcles,  ground-nuts  and  acorns.  Indeed,  in 
the  winter  feafon,  it  was  with  great  difficulty,  that  the 
people  procured  thefe  poor  articles  of  fubfiftence.  The 
governors  forefeeing,  in  the  fall,  that  they  fhould  want 
provifions,  difpatched  a  fhip  to  Ireland  to  procure  thcnx 
a  fupply.  Her  happy  arrival  on  the  5th  of  February 
prevented  their  perifliing  with  famine.  The  return  o£ 
health  in  the  fpring,  the  arrival  of  other  vefl'els  with 
provifions  afterwards,  and  a  plenteous  harveft,  gave  the 
affairs  of  the  colony  a  more  profperous  appearance. 

While  affairs  were  thus  tranfa£ling  in  the  colony, 
the  violent  perfecution  of  the  puritans  in  England,  made 
great  numbers  look  towards  America  as  the  only 
lafe  retreat  from  the  impending  ftorm.  This,  annually, 
occafioncd  a  large  accelRon  of  new  planters,  to  the  fet- 
tlements  in  New-England. 

In  1630,  the  reverend  Mr.  Thomas  Hooker,  a  gen- 
tleman of  great  abilities,  and  a  famous  preacher,  at 
Chelmsford  in  the  county  of  EfTex,  was  filenced  for 
non-conformity.  To  efcape  fines  and  imprifonment  he 
fled  into  Holland.  He  was  held  in  fuch  high  and  uni- 
verfal  efleem  among  his  acquaintance,  that  forty-feven 
miniflei-s  in  his  vicinity  petitioned  the  bifhop  of  London 
in  his  favour.  Thefe  were  all  conformifls,  and  witnefT- 
ed  for  Mr.  Hooker,  That  they  efteemed  him,  and  knew 
him  "  to  be,  for  dodlrinc  orthodox,  for  life  and  con- 
*'  verfation  honeft,  for  difpofition  peaceable  and  no 
'^  wife  turbulent  or  fa6lious.''  However,  as  he  was  a 
non-conformift,  no  perfonal  or  acquired  excellencies,  no 
teflimonials  of  his  good  condu£l:,  nor  prayers  of  his 
friends  could  fave  him  from  profecutions  and  depofi- 
tion. 

He  was  fo  efteemed  as  a  preacher,  that  not  only  his 
own  people,  but  others  from  all  parts  of  the  county  of 
EfTex  flocked  to  hear  him.  The  noble  earl  of  Warwlckj 
though  he  refided  at  a  great  diflance  from  Chelmsford, 
was  fo  delighted  with  his  public  performances,  that  he 
frequently  attended  them.  Great  numbers  not  only 
attended  his  miniflry  but  experienced  its  falutary  efFedls, 
and  found  themfelves  willing  to  emigrate  into  any  part 


Chap.  I.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  ii 

of  the  world  to  enjoy  the  happinefs  of  fuch  a  pafLor.  Book  I. 
No  fooner   therefore  was    he   driven  from  them,   than  s^y^-'^sj 
they  turned   their  eyes  towards  New-England.     They 
hoped  that   if  comfortable  fettlements  could  be  made 
in  this  part  of  America,  they  might  obtain  him  for  theix* 
paftor.     Therefore,  in  1632,  a  large  body  of  them  came 
over  and  fettled  at  Newtown,  fince  called   Cambridge, 
in    Maflachufetts.     Numbers   of  them,  it  feems,  came  i63z. 
over  at  an  earlier  period  and  began  to  fettle  at  Wey- 
mouth, but  this  year  they  all  removed  to  Newtown. 
They  had  exprefled  their  earneft  defircs  to  IVIr.  Hooker, 
that  he  would  come  over  into  New-England,   and  take 
the  pafloral  charge  of  them. 

At  their  defire  he  left  Holland,  and  having  obtained  ,„^  r,    , 

•KIT       n  in  1     (-1  rn  M  •       -VT         1        IVlr.Mook-. 

JVlr.  bamuel  btone,  a  lecturer  at    1  orcelter   m  North-  t-,-  arrives 
amptonfhire,   for  aij  affiftant  in  the  miniflry,  took  his  Sept.  4ih 
paflage  for  America  in  the  Griffin,  a  fhip   of  300  tons,  ^^33« 
and  arrived  at  Bofton  September  4th  1633.     With  him 
came  over   the    famous   Mr.    John   Cotton,  Mr.  John 
Haynes,  afterwards  governor  of  Conne6ticut,  Mr.   GofF 
and  two  hundred  other  paflengers  of  importance  to  the 
colony. 

Mr.  Hooker,  foon  after  his  arrival  at  Bofton,  pro- 
ceeded to  Newtown,  vi'here,  finding  himfelf  in  the  midft  ^"33- 
of  a  joyful  and  affedtionate  people,  he  was  filled  with 
joy  himfelf.  He  embraced  them  with  open  arms  fay- 
ing, in  the  language  of  the  apoftle,  "  Now  I  live  if  ye 
ftand  fall  in  the  Lord."*  Thefe  were  the  pious  people, 
who  afterwards  fettled  the  town  of  Hartford. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Hooker's  arrival  he  was  chofen  paftor,  Meffienrs 
and  Mr.  Stone  teacher  of  the  people  at  Newtown.     On  Hooker  & 
the  1 1 th  of  06lober  the  church  was  gathered,  and   af- Stone  or- 
ter  folemn  fafting  and  prayer,    the    paftor  and   teacher  ^ [["^     .. 
were  ordained  to  their  refpe^tive  offices.      The   church  1633. 
at  Watertown  had  been  gathered  before  on  the  27  th  of 
Auguft  1630,  and  Mr.  Phillips  ordained  paftor.      Thus  jjpsordai- 
the  three  churches  of  Windfor,  Hartford  and  Wethers-  nedat  Wa 
field  were  gathered  antecedently  to  their  fettlement  in  tertown 
Connefticut,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  they  were  ever  '-'V"^*  ^'^^ 
regathered  afterwards.  -  ^30. 


MagHalia  B.  III.    The  life  of  Hooker. 


12 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  IL 


Book  I. 


Old  pat- 
ent ofCon 
tieifticut, 
a6.;i. 


CHAPTER     II. 

The  patent  of  Cow^eciicut.  Thefttuation,  extent,  bounda- 
ries and  area  of  the  fettled  part  of  the  colony.  The  dif" 
covery  of  ConnecHcut  river  ;  a  defcription  of  it^  and  the 
figmfcation  of  its  name.  The  colony  derives  its  name 
from  the  river.  Defcription  of  other  rivers.  PUmouth 
ajid  Dutch  houfes.     ProfpeEts  of  trade  upon  the  river. 


THE  great  PUmouth  coir.pany  wifhed  to  make 
grants  of  their  lands  as  faft  as  they  could  find 
purchasers,  and  conformity  was  fo  prefled  and  the  times 
grew  fo  difficult,  in  England,  that  men  of  quality,  as 
well  as  others,  were  anxious  to  provide,  for  themfelves 
and  their  friends, a  retreat  in  America.  Another  patent 
therefore,  containing  a  large  traft  of  country,  in  New- 
England,  foon  fucceeded  that  of  Maflachufetts. 

On  the  19th  of  March  1631,  Robert  earl  of  "War- 
wick, prefident  of  the  council  of  PUmouth,  under  his 
hand  and  feal,  did  grant  and  confirm  unto  the  honora- 
ble William  Vifcount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert  Lord  Brooks, 
Robert  Lord  Rich,  Charles  Fiennes,  Efquire,  Sir  Na- 
thaniel Rich,  Sir  Richard  Saltonflall  and  others,  to  the 
number  of  eleven,  and  to  their  heirs,  afligns  and  aflbci- 
ates  for  ever,  "  All  that  part  of  New-England  in  Amer- 
ica, which  lies  and  extends  itfelf  from  a  river  there 
called  Narraganfet  river,  the  fpace  of  forty  leagues 
upon  a  flrait  line  near  the  fea  fhore,  towards  the 
fouthweft,  weft  and  by  fouth,  or  wefl  as  the  coafl  li- 
eth  towards  Virginia,  accounting  three  Englifh  milc^ 
to  the  league,  and  all  and  fingular  the  lands  and  here- 
ditaments whatfoever,  lying  and  being  within  the 
lands  aforefaid,  north  and  fouth  in  latitude  and 
breadth,  and  in  length  and  longitude  of,  and  within 
all  the  breadth  aforefaid,  throughout  all  the  main 
lands  there,  from  the  weflcrn  ocean  to  the  fouth  feas  j 
and  all  lands,  grounds,  foil,  wood  and  wood  lands, 
ground,  havens,  ports,  creeks  and  rivers,  waters,  fifh- 
ingsand  hereditaments  whatfoever,  lying  within  the 
faid  fpace,  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof ;  and  al- 
fo  all  iflands  lying  in  America  aforefaid  in  the  faid 
feas,  or  either  of  them  on  the  weflern  or  eaftern  coafts, 
or  parts  of  the  faid  trads  of  land,  by  the  prefents  to 


Chap.  II.     OF     CONNECTICUT.  13 

*'  be  givrn  or  granted."!      The  council  of  Plimouth,  Book  I. 
the  preceding  year,  1630,  granted   this  whole  tract  to  \.^^'y^\J 
the  earl  of  Warwick,  and  it  had  been  confirmed  to  him 
by  a  patent  from  king  Charles  the  firft. 

This  is  the  original  patent  of  Connc£licut.  The  fct- 
tlers  of  the  two  colonies  of  Connefticut  and  New-Ha- 
ven were  the  patentees  of  Vifcount  Say  and  Seal,  Lord 
Brook  and  their  afibciates,  to  whom  the  patent  was  ori- 
ginally given. 

President  Clap   defcribes  the  extent  of  the  tra<Sl 
conveyed  by  this  patent  in  the  words  following,  "  All  Extent  of 
"  that  part  of  New-England  whicli  lies  weft  from  Nar-  J^g^f^y"" 
«  raganfet  river  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles  on  the  fea  patent. 
"  coaft  ;  and  from  thence  in  latitude  and  breadth  afore- 
**  faid  to  the  fouth  fea.     This  grant  extends  from  point 
<*  Judith  to  New-York,  and  from  thence  a  weft  line  to 
*'  the  fouth  fea  :  and  if  we  take  Narraganfet  river  in  its 
<*  whole  length,  this  traft  will  extend  as  far  north  as 
**  Worcefter.     It  comprehends  the  whole  of  the  colony 
*«  of  Connefticut  and  much  more."-}-     Neal,  Douglafs, 
Hutchinfon,§  and  all  ancient  hiftorians  and  writers  have 
reprefented  all  the   New-England    grants  as  extending 
•weft  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  fouth  fea.     Indeed 
the  words  of  the  patent  are  moft  exprefs,  declaring  its  '  ^'' 
extent  to  be  fouth  weft  or  weft,  towards  Virginia  to  be 
in  length  and  longitude  throughput  all  the  main  lands 
to  the  fouth  feas. 

The  colony  of  the  MafTachufetts,  and  the  commif- 
fionersofthe  United  colonies  of  New-England,  under- 
ftood  th.e  patents  in  this  light  and  hence  extended  their 
claims  to  the  weftward  of  the  Dutch  fettlements.  The 
Maflachufetts,  in  the  year  1659  made  a  grant  of  lands, 
oppofite  to  fort  Aurania,  upon  Hudfon's  river,  to  a 
number  of  principal  merchants,  in  the  colony,  who 
were  planning  to  make  fettlements  in  thofe  parts. ||  The 
fame  year,  the  commiflloners  of  the  united  colonies 
aflertcd  their  claim  of  all  the  weftein  lands  to  the  fouth 
fea.     In  a  letter  to  the  Dutch  governor,  September  i  ft 


X  See  this  patent  in  the  appendix  No.  i. 
t  Manufcriptsof  prefident  Clap. 

§  Neal's  hiftory  N.  E.  vol.  I.  p-  148.   Douglafs  vol.  II.  p.  90 
and  160  ;  and  Hutchinfon  vol.  I.  p.  64  and  vol.  II  p.  203. 
II  Hutchinfon  vol.  I.  p.  159. 


14  T  II  E     H  I  5  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  II. 

Bool  I.  1659,  they  write,  "  We  prcfume  you  have  heard  from 
V-^'V^*^  ♦'  your  people,  of  the  fort  of  Aurania,  that  fome  of  our 
*'  people,  the  Englifli,  have  been  lately  in  thofe  parts, 
*'  upon  difcovefy  of  fome  meet  places  for  plantations, 
*'  v/ithin  the  bounds  of  the  patent  of  the  Maffachufetts 
**  colony  ;  which  from  the  latitude  of  42  degrees  and 
**  a  half,  or  42  degrees  and  33  and  a  half  minutes,  and 
**  fo  northerly  extends  itfelf  from  eail  to  weft,  in  lon- 
"  gitude  through  the  main  land  of  America,  from  the 
**  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  fouth  or  weft  fea." 

The  patents  to  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and  Geor- 
gia, have  ever  been  underllood  to  have  the  fame  wef- 
terly  extenfion.  In  the  fame  light  have  they  always 
been  viewed,  by  the  Britifli  kings,  and  have  been  plead- 
ed and  a6led  upon,  in  treaties,  between  the  court  of 
Great  Britain,  and  the  French  and  Spanifli  monarchs. 
By  virtue  of  this  conftruflion  of  patents  and  charters 
of  the  American  colonies,  it  was,  that  all  the  weftern 
territories,  as  far  as  Miffifippi,  were,  in  the  late  peace 
with  Great  Britain,  ceded  to  the  ftates  of  America- 
From  the  fame  conftruclion  of  the  patents,  congrefs 
have  taken  a  formal  furrender  of  the  unappropriated 
weftern  lands  from  particular  ftates,  and  from  Connedl- 
icut  no  lefs  than  from  others. 

The  fituation  of  the  fettled  part  of  Conne£tlcut  is 
J^ihiation    chiefly   from  41    to  42  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and 
"'  ^"i       from  72  to  73  degrees  and   45   minutes  weft  longitude. 
Conntifli-  It  is  bounded  fouth  by  the  fea  fhore  about  90  miles, from 
tut.  Byram  river,  in  the  latitude  of  40  degrees  and  58  min- 

utes, and  longitude  72  degrees  and  21^  minutes,  to  Paw- 
catuck  river,  in  latitude  41  degrees  and  17  minutes,  and 
in  longitude  72  degrees  and  25  minutes  ;  eaft  on  the 
colony  of  Rhodc-Ifland  45  miles  ;  north  on  Maffachu- 
fetts 72  miles,  the  line  running  nearly  in  the  latitude 
of  42  degrees  ;  and  weft  on  New-York  about  73  miles. 
It  contains  4)730  fquare  miles,  and  3,020,000  acres. 
One  twentieth  part  of  the  colony  is  water  and  high- 
ways.f  Exclufive  of  thefe  there  are  2,869,000  acres. 
Of  this  about  2,640,000   are  eftimated   improveable. 


f  To  find  the  quaHtlty  of  water  and  high  ways,  an  accurate 
computation  was  made  of  the  proportion  of  water  and  high 
ways  in  a  particular  town,  which  was  fnppoicd  to  contain  an  a- 

vci  ape  witli  the  towns  in  general. 


Chap.  II.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  15 

The  land  is  excellently  watered  and  liberal  to  the  luff-  Book  I. 
bandman.     Though,   in  fome  places  it  is  mountainous  v-^-y-n.^ 
and  broken,  yet  the  greateft  part  of  this  is  profitable  ei- 
ther for  wood  or  grazing.     There  are  fome  thin  lands, 
but  thefe  are  profitable  with  proper  manuring  and  cul- 
tivation. 

The  prefent   population  Is  more  than  fifty  fouls  to  Degree  of 
every  fquare  mile,  including  land  and  water.     It  is  a-  popula- 
bout  one  perfon  to  every  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  land.      tion- 

The  firft  difcoveries  made  of  this  part  of  New-Eng- 
land were  of  its  principal  river  and  the  fine  meadows 
lying  upon  its  banks.  Whether  the  Dutch  at  New- 
Netherlands,  or  the  people  of  New-Plimouth  were  the 
firfl  difcoverers  of  the  river  is  not  certain.  Both  the 
Englifh  and  Dutch  claimed  to  be  the  firft  difcoverers, 
and  both  purchafed  and  made  a  fettlement  of  the  lands 
upon  it  nearly  at  the  fame  time. 

In  1 63 1,    Wahquimacut,  a  fachem  upon  the  river       .     . 
Connetlicut,  made  a  journey  to  Plimouth  and  Bofton,  ^^  j-^^j^i^, 
earneftly,folici ting  the  governors  of  each  of  the  colo- on  the  riv- 
nies  to  fend   men  to  make  fettlements  upon  the  river,  er , 
He  reprefented  the  exceeding  fruitfulnefs  of  the  coun- 
try, and  promifed  that  he  would  fupply  the  Englifh,  if 
they  would  make  a  fettlement   there,  with  corn  annu- 
ally, and  give  them  eighty  beaver  flcins.     He  urged  that 
two  men  might  be  fent  to  view  the  country.     Had  this 
invitation  been  accepted  it   might  have  prevented  the 
Dutch  claim  to  any  part  of  the  lands  upon  the  river,  and 
opened    an  extenfive  trade,   in   hemp,  furs,    and  deer 
Ikins,  with  all  the  Indians  upon  it,  and  far  into  Canada. 

The  governor  of  Maflachufetts  treated  the  fachem  ig,j, 
and  his  company  with  generofity,  but  paid  no  further 
attention  to  his  propofal.  Mr.  Winflow,  the  governor 
of  Plimouth,  judged  it  worthy  of  mere  attention.  It 
feems,  that  foon  after  he  went  to  Connefticut,  and  dif- 
covered  the  river  and  the  adjacent  parts.  The  com- 
miflioners  of  the  United  colonies,  in  their  declaration 
againft  the  Dutch,  in  1653,  fay,  "  Mr.  Winflow,  one 
"  of  the  commifiioners  for  Plimouth,  difcovered  the 
"  frefla  river  when  the  Dutch  had  neither  trading  houfe 
"  nor  any  pretence  to  a  foot  of  land  there. "f 


t  Records  of  the  United  Colonies. 


16  THEHISTORY  Chap.  IL 

Book  I.        It   very  foon  appeared  that  the  earneftnefs,  with 

^--^/x.^*  which  the  Indian  fachem  folicited  the  Englifh  to  make 

fettlcments  on  the  river,  originated  in  the  diftrefled  ftafe 

of  the  river  Indians.     Pekoath,  at  that  time,  the  great 

fachem  of  the  Pequims,  or  Pequots,  was  conquering 

them,  and  driving  their   fachems  from  that  part  of  the 

country.     The  Indian   king  imagined,  that  if  he  could 

perfuade  the  Englifh  to  make  fettlements  there,  they 

would  defend  him  from  his  too  powerful  enemies.:}: 

The  next  year,  the  people  of  New-Plimouth  made 

1633.         more  particular  difcoveries,  upon  the  river,  and  found 

a  place  near  the  mouth  of  the  little  river,  in  Windfor, 

at  which  they  judged  a  trading  houfe  might  be  eredled, 

which  would  be  advantageous  to  the  colony. 

The  Indians  reprefented  that  the  river  Conncdlicut 
extended  fo  far  north,  and  fo  near  the  great  lake,  'chat 
they  pafl'ed  their  canoes  from  the  lake  into  it ;  and  that 
from  the  great  fwamps  about  the  lake  came  moft  of  the 
beaver  in  which  they  traded. 

One  of  the  branches  of  Onion  river,  in  Vermont,  is 
within  ten  miles  of  Connc£licut  river.  This  was  an- 
ciently called  the  French  river.  The  French  and  In- 
dians from  Canada  came  by  this  river,  and  from  this  in- 
to Connedticut,  when  they  made  their  attacks  on  the 
northern  frontiers  of  New-England  and  Connecticut. 
Connecticut  river  has  its  fource  in  that  grand  ridge 
Dcfcrip-  of  mountains  which  divides  the  waters  of  New-England 
tion  of  jjpf}  Canada,  and  extends  north-eafterly  to  the  gulph  of 
St.  Lawrence.  The  fource  of  its  higheft  branch  is  in 
about  45  degrees  and  a  half,  or  46  degrees  of  north  lat- 
itude. Where  it  enters  New-England,  in  45  degrees 
of  north  latitude,  it  is  ten  rods  in  breadth,  and  in  run- 
ning fixty  miles  further,  it  becomes  twenty-four  rods 
wide.  It  forms  the  boundary  line  between  New- 
Hampfhire  and  Vermont  about  two  hundred  miles. 
Thence  running  through  the  fhates  of  Maflachufetts  and 
Connefticut,  it  difembogues  its  waters  into  Long-Ifland 
found,  between  Saybrook  and  Lime.  It  runs  with  a 
gentle  flow,  as  its  courfe  is,  between  three  and  four 
hundred  miles.  Its  breadth  through  Connecticut,  at  a 
medium  is  between  a  hundred  rods  and  half  a  mile. 
In  the  high  fpring  floods  it  overflows  its  banks,  and  in 


cut  nvcr 


Wintlirop's  Journal  p.  jj. 


Ghat.  It.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  17 

fome  places  is  nearly  two  ihil^i  in  breadth.  As  its  Book  I. 
banks  are  generally  low,  it  forms  and  fertilizes  a  vaft  V5^Sr<i> 
tta^  of  the  fineft  meadow  ;  feafible,  fertile,  and  in 
Mt^hkh  a  ftone  is  fcarcely  to  be  found.  The  general 
Cotorfe  of  this  beautiful  river,  above,  and  between  the 
ftates  of  New-Hampihire  and  Vermont,  is  nearly  fouth 
tJ'eft  ;  thence  it  turns  arid  runs  but  a  few  degrees  weft 
©f  fouth  to  its  mouth.  At  a  fmall  diftance  from  its 
Riouth  is  a  bar  of  fand,  apparently  formed  by  the  con- 
flux of  the  river  and  tide.  Upon  this  there  is  but  ten 
feet  of  water,  at  full  tide.  The  bar  is  at  fuch  a  dif- 
tance from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  that  the  greateft 
floods  do  not  increafe  the  depth  of  the  water.  This  is 
fome  obftru£lion  to  navigation,  but  any  veffel,  which 
ean  pafs  the  bar,  may  proceed,  without  obftruftion  as 
far  as  Middletown,  thirty  miles  from  the  found  ;  and 
t^efiels  of  eighty,  and  a  hundred  tons  go  up  to  Hartford, 
fifty  miles  from  the  river's  mouth.  By  means  of  locks 
s**d  cuts,  at  the  falls  it  is  now  navigable,  for  boats,  more 
flian  three  hundred  miles. 

In  Connefticut,  there  is  one  exception  to  the  lowriefs 
©f  the  river's  banks.  About  three  miles  below  Middle- 
town  the  river  makes  its  way  through  two  mountains^ 
by  which  its  breadth  is  contra£led  to  about  forty  rods. 
This  occafions  the  waters,  fometimes,  in  the  fpring 
flooids,  to  rife,  even  at  Hartford,  twenty  feet  above  the 
Common  furfaee  of  the  rivef.  This,  for  the  length  of" 
its  courfe,  its  gentle  flow,  its  excellent  waters,  the  rich 
and  exteniive  meadovirs  which  it  forms,  and  the  immenfe 
quantities  of  filh,  with  which  it  abounds,  is  one  of  the 
fined  rivers  in  New-England. 

None  of  the  ancient  adventurers,  who  difcovered  the 
great  continent  of  North  America,  or  New-England, 
made  any  difcovery  of  this  river.  It  does  not  appeat 
that  it  was  known  to  any  civilized  nation,  until  fomc" 
years  after  the  fettlement  of  the  Englifh  and  Dutch,  at 
Ffihiouth  and  New-Netherlands. 

FROil  this  fine  river,  which  the  Indiatis  called  Quon-  Conne(ai- 
ehtacut,  or  Gonnedlicut ;  in  Englifh,  the  long  river,  the  cut  named 
colony,  originally  took  its  name.      Indeed  this  is  one  pr°[]l/^^i 
principal  fource  of  its  wealth  and  convenience.  river. 

The  Houfatonick  and  the  little,  orFarmington  river,  Dcfcrip- 
T*cftward  of  it,  and    Pequot  river,  now  called   the  tio"  ofriv- 


i8 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  Il 


OfHoufa 

tenick. 


Book  I-  Thames,  on  the  cafl:  are  alfo  confiuerablfe  fources  of  its 
v.-^'V^^  opulence  and  profperity.  The  Houfatonick,  now  com- 
monly called  Stratford  river,  has  two  principal  branches* 
One  rifes  in  Laneiborough,  and  the  other  in  Windfor, 
in  the  county  of  Berkfhire,  in  MalTachufetts.  Where 
it  enters  Conne£ticut,  between  Sali{bury  and  Canaan, 
it  is  about  fifty  rods  wide,  and  running  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  colony,  it  empties  into  the  found 
between  Mil  ford  and  Stratford.  It  is  navigable  twelve 
miles  to  Derby.  Between  Miiford  and  Stratford  it  is 
about  eighty  rods  wide,  and  there  is  about  four  fathom 
of  water.  Were  it  not  obftru61:ed,  by  a  bar  of  fhells,  at 
the  mouth,  it  would  admit  large  {hips.  Between  Salif- 
bury  and  Canaan  is  a  catara£l  where  the  water  of  the 
whole  river  falls  perpendicularly  fixty  feet.  The  fall 
produces  a  perfectly  white  fheet  of  water  and  a  mift  in 
which  various  floating  rainbows  are  exhibited,  forming 
a  fcene  exquifitely  grand  and  beautiful. 

The  Naugatuck,  or  Waterbury  river,  is  another  con- 
fidcrable  branch  of  the  Houfatonick.  Its  fource  is  in 
Tdrrington,  and  running  through  Harwinton,  Plim- 
outh  and  Waterbury,  it  empties  itfelf  into  faid  river  at 
Derby. 

The  little,  or  Farmlngton  river,  rifes  in   Beckit,  In 

Mafl'achufetts,  crofl'es  the  boundary  line  between  the 

colonies  at  Hartland,  and  palfing  through  Barkhempfted 

and  New-Hartford,  runs    fouth  confiderably  below  the 

centre   of  Farmington     firft   fociety  ;    then,   making 

a  remarkable  turn,  it  runs  back  nearly  a  north  courfe, 

twelve  or  fourteen  miles  into  Symfbury  •,  where  it  turns 

eafterly,  and  running  into  Windfor,  difcharges  its  waters 

into  Conne£licut  river  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 

This  formerly  was  repleniflied  with  all  kinds  of  fifh  in 

as  great  a  profulion  as  Conne£licut.     The  numerous 

dams,  which  more   lately  have  been  erected  upon  it, 

have  very  greatly  obflru£led  their  paflage. 

Of  Pe-  Pequot  river,  or  the  Thames,  empties  into  the  found 

quot.         at  New-London.      It  is  navigable  fourteen   miles  to 

;  Norwich  landing.     Here  it  lofes  its  name,  and  branches 

into  Shetuket  on  the  eaft,  and  Norwich  or  little  river  on 

the  weft. 

Defcnp-         About  a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  little  river  is  a 

cataradat  'remarkably  romantic  catara£t.     A   perpendicular  rock 

l^jrwich,  about  twelve  feet  high  extends  itfelf  acrofs  the  whole 


Of  Nau 
gatuck. 


Of  the  lit- 
tle river. 


Chap. II.    OF    CONNECTICUT. 


19 


channel.  Over  this  the  river  pitches,  in  one  entire  fhect,  Book  I. 
on  to  a  bed  of  rocks.  Here  it  is  comprefled,  by-  a  very  v.^^vv^ 
narrow  and  crooked  paflage,  between  two  craggy  clifFs, 
and  for  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  forces  its  way  over  nume- 
rous pointed  rocks,  with  the  moft  violent  agitation. 
Thence  it  flows  into  a  large  bafon,  which  fpreads  itfelf 
for  its  reception.  The  long  and  conftant  falling  of  the 
waters  have  excavated  the  rocks  even  to  admiration.  In 
fome,  cavities  are  made,  of  a  circular  form,  not  lefs  than 
five  or  fix  feet  deep.  The  fmooth  and  gentle  flow  of 
the  river  above  the  fall,  the  regularity  and  beauty  of  its 
defcent,  the  roughnefs  and  foam  of  the  waters  below, 
and  the  rugged  towering  cliffy  impending  the  whole,  pre- 
fents  the  fpeftator  with  a  fcene  majeftic  and  pleafing  be- 
yond defcription. 

The  Shetucket,  which  name  it  bears  as  far  only,  as 
the  fouthern  boundary  of  Windham,  is  formed  by  the  Of  She- 
Willamantick  and  Quenibaug  rivers.      The   Willaman-  tuket,  Wil 
tick  has  its  fource  in  MaflTachufetts,  enters  Connedlicut  '^ni^ntick 
at  Stafford,  and  is  tlie  boundary  line   between    Tolland  ibaugT 
and  WilUngton,  Coventry  and  Mansfield,  and  pafllng 
by  Windham  loofes  itfelf  in   the  Shetucket.     Queni- 
baug rifes  in  Brimfield,   in  Maffachufetts,  and  pafling 
through  Sturbridge  and  Dudley  crofles  the  line,  between 
that  ftate  and  Connedticut  at  Thompfon,  and  dividing 
Pomfret  from    Killingly,   Canterbury  from  Plainfield, 
and  Lifbon  from  Prefton,  flows  into  Shetucket. 

The  colony  is  watered  and  fertilized  by  numerous 
other  rivers  of  lefs  extent  and  utility. 

As  the  people  at  Plimouth  had  explored  Connefticut 
river,  and  fixed  upon  a  place  convenient  for  building 
and  commerce,  and  found  the  original  proprietors  of 
the  foil  defirous  of  their  making  fettlements  among 
them,  they  judged  it  an  affair  worthy  of  public  and  im- 
mediate attention. 

In  July  1633  Mr.  Winflow  and  Mr.  Bradford  there- 
fore made  a  journey  to  Bolton,  to  confer  with  governor 
Winthrop  and  his  council  on  the  fubje£l:.  Governor 
Winflow  and  Mr.  Bradford  propofed  it  to  them,  to 
join  with  Plimouth,  in  a  trade,  to  Connedlicut  for 
hemp  and  beaver,  and  to  eredl  a  houfe  for  the  purpofes 
of  commerce.  It  was  reprefented,  as  neceffary  to  pre- 
vent the  Dutch  from  taking  poffeffion  of  that  fine  coun- 
try, who  it  vv'as  reported  were  about  to  build  upon  the 


ao 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  II- 


Book  I. 


i6j: 


Septem- 
ber. 


river.  But  governor  Winthrop  declined  the  motion^ 
He  objedled  that  it  was  not  proper  to  make  a  plantation 
there,  becaufe  there  were  three  or  four  thoufand  warlike 
Indians  upon  the  river  ;  and  becaufe  the  bar  at  t\\& 
mouth  of  it  was  fuch  that  fmall  pinances  only  could  en  • 
ter  it,  at  high  water :  and  becaufe  that,  feven  months, 
in  the  year,  no  veflels  could  go  into  it,  by  reafon  of  the 
ice  and  the  violence  of  the  ftream. 

,  The  Plimouth  people  therefore  determined  to  under- 
take the  enterprife  at  their  own  rifle.  Preparations  were 
made  for  erefting  a  trading  houfe  and  eftabliftiing  ^ 
fmall  company  upon  the  river.  In  the  mean  time,  tha 
mailer  of  a  vefTel  from  MafTachufetts,  who  was  trading 
zt  New-Netherlands,  fhewed  to  Gualter  Van  Twilly, 
the  Dutch  governor,  the  commiflion  which  the  Englifli 
had  to  trade  and  fettle  in  New-England  •,  and,  that  his 
majefty  the  king  of  England  had  granted  all  thefe  parts 
to  his  own  fubje£l:s.  He  therefore  defired  that  the 
Dutch  would  not  build  at  Conne£l:icut»  This  appears 
to  have  been  done  at  the  diredtiou  of  governor  Win* 
throp :  for  in  confequence  of  it  the  Dutch  governor 
wrote  a  very  complaifant  letter  to  him,  in  which  he  rep* 
refented,  that  the  lords,  the  States  General,  had  grante4 
the  fame  country  to  the  Weft  India  company.  He  re- 
quefted  therefore,  that  the  Englifh  would  make  no  fet- 
tlements  at  Connefticut,  until  the  affair  fhould  be  den 
termined,  between  the  court  of  England  and  the  States 
General.*  This  appears  to  have  been  a  piece  of  policy, 
in  the  Dutch  governor  to  keep  the  Englifh  ftill,  until 
the  Dutch  had  got  a  firm  footing  upon  the  river. 

Several  vefiels,  tliis  year,  went  into  Connecticut 
river  to  trade.  John  Oldham,  from  Dorchefter,  and 
three  men  with  him,  alfo  travelled  through  the  wilder-? 
nefs  to  Conne£licut,  to  view  the  country  and  trade  with 
the  Indians.  The  fachem  upon  the  river  made  him 
moft  welcome,  and  gave  him  a  prefent  in  beaver.  He 
found  that  the  Indian  hemp  grew  fpontaneoufly  in  the 
meadows,  in  great  abundance.  He  purchafed  a  q\ianti-» 
ty  of  it  i  and,  upon  trial,  it  appeared  much  to  eicpeed 
the  hemp  which  grew  in  England. 

William  Holmes,  of  Plimouth,  with  his  company 
having  prepared  the  frame  of  a  houfe,  with  boards  and 


Winthrop'i  Journal  p.  ss^ 


Chap.  II.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  21 

ipaterials   for  covering  it  immediately,  put    them  on  Book  I, 
board  a  veflel  and  failed  for  Connedlicut.     Holmes  bad  v>^r'>^ 
a  commiffion  from  the  governor  of  Plimouth,  and  a  cho-  1633. 
fen  company  to  accompli fli  his  delign.     When  he  came 
into  the  river  he  found,  that  the  Dutch  had  got  in  be- 
fore him,  made  a  light  fort,  and  planted  two  pieces  of 
cannoij.  This  was  erected  at  the  place  fmce  called  Hart-» 
ford-     The  Dutch  forbid  Holmes's  going  up  the  river, 
ftood  by  their  cannon,  ordered  him  to  flrike  his  colours, 
or  they  would  fire  upon  him.     But  he  was   a  man  of 
fpirit,  aflured  them  that  he  had  a  commiflion  from  the 
governor  of  Plimouth  to  go  up   the  river,  and  that  he 
muft  obey  his  orders.     They  poured  out  their  threats,  pr_(,„»ij 
but  he  proceeded,  and  landing  on  the  weft   fide  of  the  houfe  e- 
river,  ere£led  his  houfe  a  little  below  the  mouth  of  the  reded  at 
little  river,  in  Windfor.*     The  houfe  was  covered  with  Windfor 
the  utmoft  difpatch,  and  fortified  with  pahfadoes.    The  ^^'^^2^' 
Sachems  who  were  the  original  owners  of  the  foil,  had 
been  driven  from  this  part  of  the   country,  by  the  Pe- 
quots  ;  and  were  now  carried  home  on  board  Holmes's 
veflel.     Of  them>  the   Plimouth  people   purchafed  the 
l?^nd,  on  which  they  erefted  their  houfe. f    This,   gov-  Dutch 
ernor  Wolcott  fays,  was  the  firft  houfe  eredled  in  Con-  houfe  at 
nedicut.:}:     The  Dutch  about  the  fame  time  built  a  Hartford, 
tracing  houfe  at  Hartford  which  they  called  tlie  Hirfq 
of  good  hope.§ 

It  was  with  great  difficulty,   that  Holmes  and  his 
<;ompany  erefted  and  fortified  their  houfe,  and   kept  it  Troubles 
afterwards.     The  Indians  were  offended  at  their  bring-  ^""^  ^^^ 
ing  home  the  original  proprietors  and  lords  of  the  coun-  Indians. 
try,  and  the  Dutch,  that   tliey  had  fettled  there,  and 
were  about  to  rival  them,  in  trade  and  in  the  poffeffion 
©f  tliofe  excellent  lands  upon  the  river.     They  were  ob- 
liged therefore  to  combat  both,  ;ind  to  keep  a  conftant 
watch  upon  them. 

The  Dutch,  before  the  Plimouth  people  took  poffef- 
fion of  the  river,  had  invited  them,  in  an  amicable  man- 
ner, to  trade  at  Connedlicut ;  but  when  they  were  ap- 
prized, that  they  were  making  preparations  for  a  fettle.- 

*  Manufcrlpts  of  Gov.  Wolcott. 
t  Prince's  Chron.  part  II.  Sec.  a  p.  94,  95,  96. 
j  InhisManufcrlpts. 

§  Smith  reprefents  this  houfe  as  built  ten  years  before  it 
was.    Hift.  of  New- York  p,  z. 


22  THEMISTORY  Chap.  II 

Book  I.   ment  there,  they  repented  of  the  invitation,  and  fpared 
v..^orx-/  no  exertions  to  prevent  them. 

On  the  8th  of  Jun?  the  Dutch  had  fent  Jacob  Van 
Curter  to  purchafe  lands  upon  the  river  Connedlicut. 
He  made  a  purchafe  of  about  twenty  acres  at  Hartford 

0(^.  2c.     of  Nepuquafh,  a  Pequot  captain.     Of  this  the  Dutch 
took  poffeffion  in  October,  and  on  the  25th  of  the  month 

Dec  i6'?ii  ^"^^^^^  protefted  againft  WilUam  Holmes  the  builder 
"  of  the  Plimouth  houfe.  Some  time  afterwards,  the 
Dutch  governor,  Walter  Van  Twiller,  effort  Amfter- 
dam,  difpatched  a  reinforcement  to  Connecticut,  de- 
fignmg  to  drive  Holmes  and  his  company  from  the  riv- 
er. A  band  of  feventy  men,  under  arms  with  banners 
difplayed,  alTaulted  the  Plimouth  houfe,  but  they  found 
it  fo  well  fortified,  and  the  men,  who  kept  it,  fo  vigi- 
lant and  determined,  that  it  could  not  be  taken  without 
bloodftied.  They  therefore  came  to  a  parley  and  finally 
returned  in  peace. 

The  Dutch  were  always  mere  intruders.  They  had 
no  right  to  any  part  of  this  country.  The  Englifh  ever 
denied  their  right,  and  when  the  Dutch  placed  a  gov- 
ernor at  New-Netherlands,  and  the  court  of  England 
made  complaint  of  it  to  the  States  General,  they  dif- 
owned  the  affair,  and  faid  it  was  only  a  private  under- 
taking of  an  Amfterdam  Weft-India  company.  King 
James  the  firft  commilTioned  Edward  Langdon  to  be 
governor,  at  New-Netherlands,  and  named  the  country 
New-Albion.  The  Dutch  fubmitted  to  the  Englifh 
government,  until  the  troubles  in  England,  under  the 
adminiftrations  of  king  Charles  the  firft  and  the  long 
parliument.f  Taking  the  advantage  of  the  diftradlion 
of  thofe  times,  they  again  ufurped  and  eftablifhed  their 
government,  until  they  were  reduced  by  king  Charles 
the  fecond  in  1 664.  They  gave  great  trouble  to  both 
the  colonies  of  Conneflicut  and  New-Haven. 

The  people  of  New-Plimouth  had  carried  on  a  trade 
upon  Connedlicut  river  for  nearly  two  years  before  they 

Trade  In    eredled  a  trading   houfe.     They  found  the  country  to 

''"''•  be  excellent  and  the  trade  profitable  ;  but  that,  were 

there  a  houfe  and  company  to  receive  the  commodities 
which  were  brought  down  from  the  inland  country, 
the  profits  would  be  much  greater.     The  country  a- 

j-  Doug.  Vol,  II.  p.  32?, 


Chip.  III.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  23 

bounded  with  beaver.     The  Dutch  purchafed  not  lefs  Book  I. 
than  ten  thoufand  fkins  annually.     Plimouth  and  Maf-  v^-vv^ 
fachufetts  people  fometimes,  fent,  in  a  fingle  fhip,  for  1633. 
England,  a  thoufand  pounds  fterling  worth  of  otter  and 
beaver  (kins.     The  extent  of  Connecticut  river,  the 
numerous  Indians  upon  it,  and  the  eafy  communication 
which  they  had  with  the  lakes,  and  natives  of  Canada, 
gave  an  extenfive  opening  for  a  trade  in  furs,  Ikins, 
corn,  hemp   and  all  kinds  of  commodities  which  the 
country  afforded. 

This  was  a  year  of  great  ficknefs  at  Plimouth.  They 
Ipft  twenty  of  their  people.  Some  of  them  were  their 
principal  and  mod  ufeful  inhabitants. 

It  was  a  dreadful  year  to  the  Indians  in  the  Mafla- 
chufetts.     Two  fachems  with  a  great  part  of  their  In-  Mortality 
dians  died.     The  fmall  pox  which  fpread  among  them,  amongthe 
was  the  occafion  of  the  mortality.     The  people  of  Maf-  I'^lians  in 
fachufetts  Ihewed  them  great  kindnefs  in  tJieir  diftrefs.  ^°^" 
Several  towns  received  their  children    to  prevent  their 
taking  the  infection,  and  to  nurfe  and  fave  them  if  they 
had  taken  it ;  but  the  moft  of  them  died  notwithftand- 
ing  all  the  care  and  pains,  which  could  be  exercifed  to- 
wards them.     When  their   own  people  forfook  them, 
the  Englifti,  who  lived  near  them,  went  to  their  wig- 
wams and  miniftred  to  them.     Some  families  fpent  al- 
moft  their  whole  time  with  them.     One  Englilhman 
buried  thirty  of  their  dead  in  one  day.* 


CHAPTER    III. 

^HEjiateofthe  country  of  Conneclicut  luhen  the  fettlement 
of  the  colony  began.  Its  trees  and  f  nuts.  Its  animals. 
Number f  fttuationy  geniusy  mannerSy  armSy  uienftls  and 
ivars  of  the  Indians. 

WHEN  the  Englilh  became  firft  acquainted  with 
that  tradl  comprifed  within  the  fettled  part  of 
Connecticut,  it  was  a  vaft  wildernefs.  There  were  no 
pleafant  fields,  nor  gardens,  no  public  roads,  nor  cleared 
plats.  Except  in  places  where  the  timber  had  been  dc- 
flroyed,  and  its  growth  prevented  by  frequent  fires,  the 

*  Winthrop'8  Journal,  p .  59. 


24  THE    HISTORY         Chap.IIL 

Book  L  groves  were  thiek  and  lofty.  The  Indians  fo  often  bttfn- 
v,^vx^  ed  the  country,  to  take  deer  and  other  wild  game  that  in 
many  of  the  plain,  dry  parts  of  it^there  was  but  little  fmall 
timber.  Where  lands  were  thus  burned  there  grew 
bent  grafs,  or  as  fome  called  it,  thatch,  two,  three,  and. 
four  feet  high,  according  to  the  ftrength  of  the  lafid. 
This  with  other  combuftible  matter,  which  the  fields 

*635.  and  groves  produced,  when  dry,  in  the  fpring  and  fall, 
burned  with  violence  and  killed  all  the  fmall  trees. 
The  large  ones  efcaped  and  generally  grew  to  a  notable 
height  and  magitude.  In  this  manner  the  natives  fo 
thinned  the  groves,  that  they  were  able  to  plant  their 
corn  and  obtain  a  crop. 

The  conftant  fall  of  foliage,  with  the  numerous 
kinds  of  weeds  and  wild  grafs,  which  annually  died  and 
putrified  on  the  lands,  yielded  a  conftant  manure,  and 
exceedingly  enriched  them.  Vegetation  was  rapid  and 
all  the  natural  produ£tions  of  the  country  luxuriant. 

It  abounded  with  the  fineft  oaks  of  all  kinds,  with 
chcfnut,  walnut  and  wild  cherry  trees,  with   all  kinds 

Trees.  ^£  maple,  beech,  birch,  afh  and  elm.  The  buttcrfttit 
tree,  buttonwood,  bafswood,  poplar  and  faffafrae  trees 
were^to  be  found  generally  upon  all  tra£ls  in  Connedti- 
cut.  White,  yellow  and  pitch  pine,  white  and  red  ce- 
dar, hemlock  and  fpruce  grew  plenteoufly  in  many  pla- 
ces. In  the  north  and  north  weftern  p-art  of  the  colony 
were  excellent  groves  of  pine,^  with  fpruce  and  fir  trees. 
The  white  wood  tree  alfo,  notable  for  its  height  and 
magnitude,  making  excellent  boards  and  clapboards,  was 
the  natural  growth  of  the  country.  In  fome  towns 
white  wood  trees  have  grown  in  great  abundance. 
All  other  kinds  of  fmall  trees,  of  lefs  utility,  common  to 
New-England,  fiourifh  in  Connecfiicut. 

The  country  abounded  with  a  great  variety  of  wild 
fruit.     In  the  groves  were  walnuts,  chefnuts,  butfer- 

N.itural  nuts,  hazlenuts  and  acorns  in  great  abundance.  Wild 
cherries,  currants  and  plumbs  were  natural  produiSlions. 
In  the  low  lands,  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  by  the 
brooks  :ind  gutters,  there  was  a  variety  and  plenty  of 
grapes.  The  country  alfo  abounded  with  an  almoft 
endlefs  variety  of  Tjfculent  and  medicinal  berries,  herbs 
and  roots.  Among  the  principal  and  moft  delicious  of 
thefe  v/ere  ftrawberfies,  blackberries  of  various  kinds, 
rafpberries,  dswbsrries,wliortleberries,  bilberriesjbluc- 


Chap.  III.    OFCONNECtlCUT.  25 

berries  and  mulberries.  Cranberries  alfo  grew  plenteoufly  Book  I. 
in  the   meadows,  which  when  well   prepared  furnifti  a  ^^«*^v">w/ 
rich  and  excellent  fauce.    Junipcrberries,  barberries  and  1633. 
bayberries,    which    are   of  the    medicinal    kind    grow 
fpontaneoufly  in  Conne£licut.     The  latter  is  an  excel- 
lent and  ufeful  berry,  producing  a  moft  valuable  tallow. 
It  is  of  a  beautiful  green  and  has  a  fine  perfume.     Be- 
fide  thefe,  there  was  a  profufion  of  various  other  kinds 
of  berries  of  lefs  confideration.     Some  even   of  thefe, 
however,  are  very  ufeful  in  various  kinds,  of  dyes  and 
in  certain  medicinal  applications. 

The  earth  fpontaneoufly  produced  ground  nuts,  ar- 
tichokes, wild  leeks,  onions,  garlicks,  turnips,  wild 
peafe,  plantain,  radiih  and  other  efculent  roots  and 
herbs. 

Among  the  principal  medicinal  vegetables  of   Con- 
nefticut  are  the  blood  root,  feneca  fnakeroot,  liquorifh 
root,  dragon  root,  pleurify  rootf ,  fpikenard,  elecampane, 
folomon's  feal,  farfaparilla,  fenna,  bitterfweet,  ginfeng, 
angelica,  mafterwort,  motherwort,  lungwort,  confump-        ... 
tion  root,:}:  great  and  fmall  canker  weed,  high  and  low  vegeta- 
centaury,  fweet  and  blue  flag,  elder,  maidenhair,   pen-  bles, 
nyroyal,  celandine,  mallow,  marfh  mallow,  flippery  elm, 
adder's  tongue  and  rattlefnakc   weed.     Indeed  a  great 
proportion  of  the  roots  and  plants  of  the  country,  with 
the  bark,  buds  and  roots  of  many  of  the  trees  are  ufed 
medicinally.     There  is  a  great   variety   of  plants  and 
flowers,  the  names  awd  virtues  of  which  are  notknown.§ 
The  country  was  no  lefs  produ£live  of  animals,  than  of 
natural  fruit.    In  the  groves  there  was  a  plenty  of  deer,  -^"'"^^  ^■ 
moofe,  fat  bears,  turkies,  herons,  partridges,  quails,  pi- 
geons and    other  wild  game,   which  were  excellent  for 
food.     There  were  fuch  incredible   multitudes   of  pi-^ 


+  Efclepias  decumbens. 

J  This  is  the  Gcum  Urbanum  of  Linnoens.  It  is  known  in 
Britain  by  the  name  oi  Herb  Be^inety  or  common  A-veiis.  Dr. 
Buchhave,  from  long  experience,  recommends  it  as  much  fu- 
perior  to  the  Peruvian  bark,  in  the  cure  of  periodical  and  other 
difeafes.  Medical  commentaries  by  a  focicty  of  Phyficians  in 
Edinburgh,  vol.  VII.  p.  279  to  a88.  He  reprefents  three  ounces 
of  this  root,  as  equal  to  a  pound  of  the  cortex. 

§  The  roots  and  flowers  of  America  would  be  the  moil  val- 
uable addition  to  the  works  of  the  celebrated  Linnaeus  v/hich 
could  be  made. 

E 


36  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     ChapJ  lit. 

Book  I.  geons,  in  New-England  when  the  Englifh  became  firft 
K.^ry^  acquainted  with  it,  as  filled  them  with  a  kind  of  afton- 
J633.  ifhment.  Such  numerous  and  extenfive  flocks  would  be 
feen  flying  for  fome  hours,  in  the  morning,  that  they 
would  obfcure  the  light.  An  American  hiftorian 
writes,  "  It  paffcth  credit,  if  but  the  truth  fhould  be 
«  written."* 

Connecticut  abounded  in  furs.  Here  were  otters, 
beaver,  the  black*,  grey  and  red  fox,  the  racoon,  mink> 
jmuficrat  and  various  other  animals,  of  the  fur  kind. 
The  wolf,  wild  cat  and  other  animals,  common  in  New- 
England,  were  e(}vially  fo  in  Connecticut.  Wolves 
were  numerous  in  all  parts  of  New-England,  when  the 
fettlemeiits  commenced,  and  did  great  damage  to  the 
planters,  killing  their  fiieep,  calves  and  young  cattle. 

The  country  aflbrded  an  almoft  irrcredible  plenty  of 
watev-fowl.  In  the  bays,  creeks,  rivers  and  ponds  were 
Fowl.  \nriid  geefe,  and  ducks  of  all  kinds,  wigeons,  fheldrapes, 
broadbills,  teel  of  various  forts,  and  other  fowl,  which 
were  both  wholefome  and  palatable.  In  the  waters,  011 
the  fnores,  and  in  the  fands,  were  lobfters,  oyflers,  clam& 
and  all  kinds  of  fliell  fifh  in  abundance.  Mof^  of  thefe 
are  reckoned  among  the  dainties  of  the  table. 

In  the  feas,  bays,  rivers  and  ponds,  there  was  a  variety, 
and  an  innumerable  multitude  of  fifh,  Connecticut 
yiver,  in  particular  was  diilinguifhed  for  that  plenty  and 
variety  which  it  afforded  in  the  proper  feafon  :  efpecially 
for  thofe  e^fcellent  falmon  with  which  its  waters  were 
.repleniflied. 

As  Connecticut  abounded  in  wild  animals,  fo  it  did 
Indians  |^^  ^^.j  |  :j^  ^^^  favage  men.  Jn  rio  part  pf  New- 
numerous  o  ^      ■     r_ 

ill  Con-  England  were  the  Indians  fo  numerous,  in  proportion: 
ncdicut .  to  the  extent  of  territory,  as  in  Connecticut.  The  fea 
coaft,  harbours,  bays,  numerous  ponds  and  ftreams  with 
which  the  country  abounded,  the  almoft  incredible 
plenty  of  fifli  and  fowl  which  itt  afforded,  were  exceed- 
ingly adapted  to  their  convenience  and  mode  of  living. 
The  exceeding  fertility  of  the  meadows,  upon  feveral 
of  its  rivers,  and  in  fome  other  parts  of  it,  the  excellen- 
cy of  its  waters,  and  the  falubrity  of  the  air,  were  all 
circumftances,  which  naturaily  colIeCted  them  in  great 


Fifh. 


■   Prince's  Chron.part  II.  p.  ai. 


Chap.  III.    O  IF    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  27 

nuftibers  to  this  tra£t.     Neither  wars,  nor  ficknefs  had  Book  I. 
fo  depopulated  this,  as  they  had  fome  other  pjirfs  Of  K^if'Sr>^ 
New  England.  1633. 

FftOM  the  accounts  given  of  the  ConnciHricut  Indians, 
they  cannot  be  eftimated  at  lefs  than  twelve  or  fixteen  Their 
thoufands.  They  might  poffibly  amount  to  twenty,  "u-^iber?. 
They  could  rhufter,  at  leaft  three  or  four  thoufand  war- 
riors.* It  was  fuppofed,  in  1633,  that  the  river  Indians 
only  could  bring  this  number  into  the  field  .f  Thefe 
•Were  principally  included  within  the  ancient  limits  of 
Windfor,  Hartford,  Wethersfield  and  Middletown. 
Within  the  town  of  Windfor  onlv,  there  were  ten  dif- 
tinft  tribes,  or  fovereignties.  About  the  year  1670 
their  bowmen  were  reckoned  at  two  thoufands.  At 
that  time  it  was  the  general  opinion,  that  there  were 
nineteen  Indians,  in  that  town,  to  one  Englifhman.  Situation. 
There  was  a  great  body  of  them  in  the  centre  of  the 
town.  They  had  a  large  fort  a  little  north  of  the  plat 
on  which  the  firft  meeting- houfe  was  eredled.  On  the 
caft  fide  of  the  river,  on  the  upper  branches  of  the  Po- 
dunk,  they  were  very  numerous.  There  were  alfo  a 
great  number  in  Hartford  Befides  thofe  on  the  weft 
fide  of  the  river  there  was  a  diftin£l  tribe  in  Eaft-Hart-^ 
ford.  Thefe  were  principally  fituated  upon  the  Po- 
dunkj  from  the  northern  boundary  of  Hartford  to  its 
mouth,  where  it  empties  into  Conne£licut  river.  To- 
tanimo,  their  firft  fachem  with  whom  the  Englifh  had 
any  acquaintance,  commanded  two  hundred  bowmen. 
Thefe  were  called  the  Podunk  Indians. 

At  Mattabefick,  now  Middletown,  was  the  great 
fachem  Sowheag.  His  fort,  or  caftle,  was  on  the  high  Forts, 
ground  facing  the  river,  and  the  adjacent  country  on 
both  fides  of  the  river  was  his  fachemdom.  This  was 
extenfive  comprehending  the  ancient  boundaries  of 
Wethersfield,  then  called  Pyquaug,  as  well  as  Middle- 
town.  Sequin  was  fagamore  at  Pyquaug,  under  Sow- 
heag, when  the  Englifli  began  their  fettlements.  On 
the  eaft  fide  of  the  river,  in  the  traft  fince  called  Chat- 
haijEi  was  a  confiderable  clan  called  the  Wongung  In- 
dians. At  Machemoodus,  now  called  Eaft-Haddam 
was  a  numerous  tribe,  famous  for  their  pav/aws   and 


*  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  51. 
t  Manufcripts  from  Windfor. 


28 


THE    HISTORY     Chap.  III. 


Pequot 
and  Mo- 
heagan 
countiy. 


Pequot 

iachems. 


worfliipping  of  evil  fpirits.:}:  South  of  thefe,  in  the 
eaftermofl  part  of  Lime,  were  the  weftern  Nehanticks. 
Thefe  were  confederate  with  the  Pequots.  South  and 
eaft  of  them,  from  Conne£licut  river  to  the  eaftern 
boundary  Hne  of  the  colony,  and  north  eaft  or  north  to 
its  northern  boundary  line,  lay  the  Pequot,  and  Mohea- 
gan  country.  This  trafh  was  nearly  thirty  miles  fquare, 
including  the  counties  of  New-London,  Windham  and 
the  principal  part  of  the  county  of  Tolland. § 

Historians  have  treated  of  the  Pequots  and  Mohea- 
gans  as  two  diftin<3:  tribes,  and  have  defcribed  the  Pe- 
quot country  as  lying  principally  within  the  three  towns 
of  New-London,  Groton  and  Stonington.  All  the 
tracfl  above  this,  as  far  north  and  eaft  as  has  been  def- 
cribed, they  have  reprefented  as  the  Moheagan  country. 
Moft  of  the  towns  in  this  tra£t,  if  not  all  of  them  hold 
their  lands  by  virtue  of  deeds  from  Uncas,  or  his  fuc- 
ceflbrs,  the  Moheagan  fachems.  It  is  however  much  to 
be  doubted  whether  the  Moheagans  were  a  diftindl  na- 
tion from  the  Pequots.  They  appear  to  have  been  a 
part  of  the  fame  nation,  named  from  the  place  of  their 
fituation.  Uncas  was  evidently  of  the  royal  line  of  the 
Pequots,  both  by  his  father  and  mother  •,  and  his  wife 
was  daughter  of  Tatobam,  one  of  the  Pequot  fachems. |I 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  captain  or  petty  fachem  un- 
der Saflacus  the  great  prince  of  the  nation.  When  the 
Englifh  firft  came  to  Conne6licut,  he  was  in  a  ftate  of 
rebellion  againft  him,  in  confequence  of  fome  mifunder- 
ftanding  between  them  ;  and  of  little  power  or  confe- 
quence among  the  Indians. 

The  Pequots  were  by  far  the  moft  warlike  nation  in 
Connecticut,  or  even  in  New-England.  The  tradition 
is,  that  they  were  originally  an  inland  tribe  ;  but,  by 
their  prowefs,  came  down  and  fettled  themfelves,  in 
that  fine  country  along  the  fea  coaft  from  Nehantick  to 
Narraganfet  bay.  When  the  Englifli  began  their  fettle- 
ments  at  Ccnnc6ticut,  Saflacus  had  twenty-fix  fachems, 
or  principal  war  captains  under  him.  The  next  to  him- 
felf,  in  dignity,  was  Mononottoh.     The  chief  feat  of 


i  Manufctiptsof  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hofmore. 

§  Prefideiit  Clap's  manufcripts  and  Chandler's  map  of  the 
Moheagan  country. 

II  Preface  to  captain  Mafon's  hiflory,  and  genealogy  of  17^- 
C4S  upon  the  records  of  Connecticut. 


Chap.  III.     O  F     C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  29 

thefe  Indians  was  at  New-London  and  Groton.  New- Book  I 
London  was  tlieir  principal  harbor,  and  called  Pequot  v^^^^y"*^ 
harbor.  They  had  another  fmall  harbor  at  the  mouth  1633. 
of  Miftic  river.  Their  principal  fort  was  on  a  comman- 
ding and  moft  beautiful  eminence,  in  the  town  of  Gro-  P^^f^^ 
ton,  a  few  miles  fouth  eaflerly  from  fort  Grifvvold.  It 
commanded  one  of  the  finelt  profpecls  of  the  found 
and  the  adjacent  country,  which  is  to  be  found  upon 
the  coaft.  This  was  the  roval  fortrefs,  where  the  chief 
fachem  had  his  refidence.  Ke  had  another  fort  near 
Miftic  river,  a  few  miles  to  the  eailward  of  this,  called 
Miftic  fort.  This  was  alfo  ereclcd  upon  a  beautiful  hill, 
or  eminence,  gradually  dcfcending  towards  the  fouth 
and  foutheaft.  The  Pequots,Moheagans,  and  Nehan- 
ticks  could,  doubtlefs,  mufter  a  thoufand  bowmen. 
The  Pequots  only  were  eftimated  at  feven  hundred  war- 
riors. Upon  the  loweft  computation  we  therefore  find, 
at  leaft  three  thoufand  warriors  on  the  river  Connecti- 
cut and  in  the  eaftern  part  of  the  colony.  If  we  reckon 
every  third  perfon  a  bowman,  as  fome  have  imagined, 
then  the  whole  number  of  Indians,  in  the  town  and  tradt 
mentioned  would  be  nine  thoufands  •,  but  if  there  were 
but  one  to  four  or  five,  as  is  moft  probable,  then  there 
were  twelve  or  fifteen  thoufands. 

West  of  Connecticut  river  and  the  towns  upon  it, 
there  were  not  only  fcattering  families  in  almoft  every 
part,  but  in  feveral  places  great  bodies  of  Indians.  At 
Symfbury  and  New-Hartford  they  were  numerous  ;  and 
upon  thofe  fine  meadows,  formed  by  the  meanders  of 
the  little  river,  at  Tunxis,  now  Farmington,  and  the 
lands  adjacent  was  another  very  lai-ge  clan.  There  was 
a  fmall  tribe  at  Guilford,  under  the  fachem  fquaw,  or 
queen,  of  Menunkatuck.  At  Brandford  and  Eaft-Haveii 
there  was  another.  They  had  a  famous  burying  ground 
at  Eaft-Haven,  which  they  vifited  and  kept  up,  with 
much  ceremony,  for  many  years  after  the  fettlement  of 
New-Haven. 

At  Milford,   Derby,  Stratford,  Norwalk,  Stamford  Milford 
and  Greenwich  their  numbers  were  formidable.  "  '^"®* 

At  Milford,  the  Indian  name  of  •which  was  Wopowage, 
there  were  great  numbers  ;  not  only  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  but  fouth  of  it,  at  Milford  point.  In  the  fields 
there,  the  fhells  brought  on  by  the  original  inhabitants, 
are  faid  to  be  fo  deep,  that  they  never  have  been  plough- 


30  T  H  E     H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     Chap.  III. 

Book  I.  cd,  or  dug  through  even  to  this  day.  On  the  weft  part 
K^o^-^m^  of  the  town  was  another  party.  They  had  a  ftrong  for- 
i(>33-  trefs  with  flankers  at  the  four  corners,  about  half  a  mile 
north  of  Stratford  ferry.  This  was  built  as  a  defence 
againft  the  Mohawks.  At  Turkey  hill,  in  the  north- 
weft  part  of  Milford,  there  was  another  large  fettle- 
ment. 

In  Derby  there  were  two  large  clans.  There  was 
Pan^ufict  ^"^  ^^  Pauguffet.  This  clan  erefted  a  ftrong  fort  againft 
and  Stiat-  the  Mohawks,  fituated  on  the  bank  of  the  river  nearly  a 
ford  In-  mile  above  Derby  ferry.  At  the  falls  of  Naugatuk  river, 
dians-        fQy^  Qj.  f^yg  miles  above,  M^as  another  tribe. 

At  Stratford  the  Indians  were  equally  if  not  more 
numerous.  In  that  part  of  the  town  only,  which  is 
comprized  v/ithin  the  limits  of  Huntington,  their  war- 
riors after  the  Englifli  had  knowledge  of  them,  were  ef- 
timated  at  three  hundred  ;  and,  before  this  time  they 
had  been  much  wafted  by  the  Mohawks. 

The  Indians  at  Stamford  and  Greenwich,  and  in  that 
vicinity,  probably,  were  not  inferior  in  numbers  to  thofe 
Stnrnford  at  Stratford.  There  were  two  or  three  tribes  of  Indians 
Indians,  jj^  Stamford  when  the  Englifli  began  the  fettlement  of 
the  town.  In  Norwalk  were  two  petty  fachemdoms  j 
fo  that  within  thefe  towns  there  was  a  large  and  dange- 
rous body  of  favages.  Thefe,  with  the  natives  between 
them  and  Hudfon's  river,  gave  extreme  trouble  to  the 
Dutch.  The  Norwalk  and  Stamford  Indians  gave  great 
alarm,  and  occafioned  much  expenfe  to  the  Englifli,  af- 
ter they  made  fettlements  in  that  part  of  the  colony. 

In  the  town  of  Woodbury  there  were  alfo  great 
numbers  of  Indians.  The  moft  numerous  body  of 
them  was  in  that  part  of  the  town,  fince  named  South-- 
Britain. 

It  would  doubtlcfs  be  a  moderate  computation  to 
reckon  all  thefe  diiTerent  clans  at  a  thoufand  warriors, 
or  four  or  five  thoufand  people.  There  muft  therefore 
liave  been  fixtcen,  and  it  may  be  twenty  thoufand  In- 
dians in  Connecticut  when  the  fettlement  of  it  com- 
menced. 

East  of  Connecticut  were  the  Narraganfet  Indians. 

Narra-       Thefe  were  a  numerous   and  powerful  body.     When 

jranfet  In-  ^1-,^  Englifli   fettled   Plimouth  their  fighting  men  were 

reckoned  at  three  or  four  thoufand. f     Fifty  years  aftev 

t  Prince's  Chron.  p.  ii6. 


Chaf.  III.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  31 

this  time,  they  were  eftimated  at  two  thoufand.     The  Book  I. 
Pequots  and   Narraganfets  maintained   perpetual  war,  v.^^-y-^ui 
and  kept  up   an  implacable   animofity  between  them.  1633. 
The  Narraganfets  were  the  only  Indians,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Pequots,  which  they  had  not  conquered.     To 
thefe  their  very  name  was  drendful.     They  faid  "  Saf- 
facus  was  all  one  God  5  no  man  could  kill  him.:|: 

On  the  northeafterly  and  northern  part  of  the  colo- 
ny were  the  Nipmuck  Indians.  Their  principal  feat  Nipmuck 
was  about  the  great  ponds  in  Oxford,  in  Maflachufetts,  indUiio. 
but  their  territory  extended  fouthward  into  Connedli- 
cut  more  than  twenty  miles.  This  was  called  the  Wab- 
bequaffet  and  Whetftone  country  :  and  fometimes,  the 
Moheagan  conquered  country,  as  Uncas  had  conquered 
and  added  it  to  his  fachemdom.§ 

The  Connecticut,   and  indeed  all  the  New-England 
Indians,   were  large,   ftrait,    well    proportioned    men. 
Their  bodies  were  firm  and  a£tive,  capable  of  enduring  Dcfcn'p- 
the  greateft  fatigues  and  hardftiips.     Their  paffive  cour-  ^"^"  of  the 
age  was  almoft  incredible.     When  tortured  in  the  moft 
cruel  manner;  though  flayed  alive,  though  burnt  with  pg/r™ 
fire,  cut  or  torn  limb  from  limb,  they  would  not  groan,  courage, 
nor  fhow  any  figns  of  diftrefs.     Nay  in  fome  inftances 
they  would  glory  over  their  tormentors,  faying  that  their 
hearts  would  never  be  foft  until  they  were  cold,  and  re- 
prefenting  their  torments  as  fweet  as  Englilhmen's  fu- 
gar.||     When  travelling  in  fummer,  or  winter,  they  re- 
garded neither  heat  nor  cold.     They  were  exceedingly 
light  of  foot,  and  would  travel  or  run  a  very  great  dif- 
tanse  in  a  day.     Mr.  Williams  fays,    "  I  have  known 
**  them  run  between  eighty  and  a  hundred  miles  in  a 
*'  fummer's  day  and  back  again  within  two  days."    As 
they  were  accuftomed  to  the  woods,  they  ran  in  them 
nearly  as  well  as  on  plain  ground.     They  were  exceed- 
ingly quick  fighted,  to   difcover  their  enemy,  or   their 
game,  and  equally  artful  to  conceal  themfelves.     Their  p    . 
features  were  tolerably  regular.     Their  faces  are  gene- 
rally full  as  broad  as  thofe  of  the  Englifti,  but  flatter  ; 
they  have  a  fmall,  dark  coloured  good  eye,  coarfe  black 


-^  Major  Mafon's  hiftory  of  the  Pequot  war. 
§  Prelulent  Clap's  maHufcripts,  and  Chandl 


Chandler's  m.ip  of  the 
Moheagan  country. 

Ij  Hubbard's  Narrative  p.  130  and  172. 


32 


THE    HISTORY     Chap.  III. 


Book  I. 


^(>33- 


Genius. 


Trcat- 
3Tient  of 
the  wo- 
men i 


hair,  and  a  fine  white  fet  of  teeth.  The  Indian  chil- 
dren when  born,  are  nearly  as  white,  as  the  Englifti 
children  ;  but  as  they  grow  up  their  fkin  grows  darker 
and  becomes  nearly  of  a  copper  colour.  The  fhapes 
both  of  the  men  and  women,  efpecially  the  latter  are 
excellent.     A  crooked  Indian  is  rarely  if  ever  to  be  feen. 

The  Indians  in  general  were  quick  of  apprehenfion, 
ingenious,  and  when  pleafed  nothing  could  exceed  their 
courtefy  and  friendfhip.  Gravity  and  eloquence  dif- 
tinguiflied  them  in  council,  addrefs  and  bravery  in  war. 
They  were  not  more  eafily  provoked  than  the  Englifli ; 
but  when  once  they  had  received  an  injury,  it  was  never 
forgotten.  In  anger  they  were  not,  like  the  Englifti, 
talkative  and  boiflerous,  butfuUen  and  revengeful.  In- 
deed, when  they  were  exafperated  nothing  could  exceed 
their  revenge  and  cruelty.  When  they  have  fallen  into 
the  power  of  an  enemy,  they  have  not  been  known  to 
beg  for  life,  nor  even  to  accept  it  when  offered  them. 
They  have  feemed  rather  to  court  death.*  They  were 
exceedingly  improvident.  If  they  had  a  fupply  for  the 
prefent,  they  gave  themfelves  no  trouble  for  the  future. 
The  men  declined  rdl  labor,  and  fpent  their  time  in 
hunting,  fifhing,  {hooting,  and  warlike  exercifes.  They 
were  excellent  markfmen,  and  rarely  miffed  their  game 
whether  running  or  flying. 

They  impofed  all  the  drudgery  upon  their  women. 
They  gathered  and  brought  home  their  wood,  planted, 
dreffed  and  gathered  in  their  corn.  They  carried 
home  the  venifon,  fifli  and  fowl,  which  the  men  took 
in  hunting.  When  they  travelled,  the  women  carried 
the  children,  packs  and  provifions.  The  Indian  wom- 
en fubmitted  patiently  to  fuch  treatment,  confidering  it 
as  the  hard  lot  of  the  woman.  This  ungenerous  ufage 
of  their  haughty  lords,  tliey  repaid  with  fmiles  and 
good  humour. 

It  has  Ween  common  among  all  heathen  nations  to 
treat  their  women  as  flaves,  and  their  children  in  infan- 
cy, with  little  tendernefs.  The  Indian  men  cared  little 
for  their  children  when  young,  and  were  fuppofed  at 
certain  times,  to  facrifice  them  to  the  devd.  Chriftian- 
ity  only  provides  for  that   tender  and  honorable  treat- 


*  JeiTVrfon'?  notes  p,  icS,  icq,  and  Hubbard's  Narrative  p. 


Chap.  III.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  33 

ment  of  the  woman,  which  is  due  to  the  fex  formed  of  Book  I. 
man.     This  alone  provides  for  the  tender  care,  nurfing  v«.^v-v> 
and  education  of  her  offspring,  and  is  moft  favorable  to  1633. 
domeftic  happinefs,  to  the  life  and  dignity  of  man. 

The  Indian  women  were  ftrong  and  mafculine  ;  and 
as  they  were  more  inured  to  exercife  and  hardfhip  than 
the  men,  were  even  more  firm  and  capable  of  fatigue 
and  fufferng  than  they.  They  endured  the  pains  of 
child-bearing  without  a  groan.  It  was  not  uncommon 
for  them,  foon  after  labor,  to  take  their  children  upon 
their  backs  and  travel  as  they  had  done  before.f 

The  clothing  of  the  Indians  in  New-England,  was  jj^gfj^ 
the  Ikins  of  wild  beafts.  The  men  threw  a  light  man- 
tle of  (kins  over  them,  and  wore  a  fmall  flap  which  was 
called  Indian  breeches.  They  were  not  very  careful 
however  to  conceal  their  nakednefs.  The  women  were 
much  more  modeft.  They  wore  a  coat  of  Ikins,  girt 
about  their  loins,  which  reached  down  to  their  hams. — 
They  never  put  this  off  in  company.  If  the  hufband 
chofe  to  fell  his  wives  beaver  petticoat,  Ihe  could  not  be 
perfuaded  to  part  with  it,  until  he  had  provided  another 
of  fome  fort. 

In  the  winter,  their  blanket  of  fkins,  which  hung 
loofe  in  the  fummer,  was  tied  or  wrapped  more  clofe- 
ly  about  them.  The  old  men  in  the  fevere  feafons 
alfo  wore  a  fort  of  trowfers  made  of  (kins  and  faftened  to 
their  girdles.  They  wore  fhoes  without  heels,  which 
they  called  mockaffins.  Thefe  were  made  generally  of 
moofe  hide  but  fometimcs  of  buck  Ikin.  They  were 
fhaped  entirely  to  the  foot,  gathered  at  the  toes  and 
round  the  ankles,  and  made  faft  with  firings. 

Their  ornaments  were  pendants  in  their  ears  and  Orna- 
nofe,  carved  of  bone,  fhcUs  and  ftone.  Thefe  were  in  ments. 
the  form  of  birds,  beafts  and  fifties.  They  alfo  wore 
belts  of  wampompeag  upon  their  arms,  over  their  fhouL- 
ders  and  about  their  loins.  They  cut  their  hair  into  va- 
rious antic  forms  and  ftuck  them  with  feathers.  They 
alfo  by  incifions  into  which  they  conveyed  a  black  or 
blue,  unchangeable  ink,  made  on  their  cheeks,  arms, 
and  other  parts  of  their  bodies,  the  figures   of  moofe, 

^  Woods's  profpecl  of  New-England,  Neal  and  Hutchinfon, 
Neal's  Hift.  N.  E.  vol.  I.  p.  45.  Hutchinfon  vol.  I.  p.  46a  to 
467. 

F 


34  T  H  E     H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  ITL 

Book  I.  deer,  bears,  wolves,  hawks,  eagles  and  all  fuch  living 
^^-^''V"'^  creatures  as  were  moft  agreeable  to  their  fancies. — 
i6.3o'  Thete  pidures  were  indelible  and  lafted  during  life. — 
The  fachems,  on  great  days,  when  they  defigned  to  fliow 
thcnilelves  in  the  full  fplendor  of  Majelly,  not  only  cov- 
ered themfelves  with  mantles  of  moofe,  or  deer  fkins, 
with  various  embroideries  of  white  beads,  and  with 
paintings  of  different  kinds  j  but  they  wore  the  Ikin  of  a 
bear,  wild  cat  or  fome  terrible  creature  upon  their 
flioulders  and  arms.  They  had  alfo  necklaces  of  fifh 
bones,  and  painting  themfelves  in  a  frightful  manner, 
made  a  mod  ferocious  and  horrible  appearance.  The 
warriors,  who,  on  public  occafions,  dreffed  themfelves 
in  tlie  moit  wild  and  terriilc  foi-ms  were  confidered  as  the 
be  ft  men. 

The  Indian  houfes  or  wigwams,  were,  at  beft,  but 
Ha'oUa-  poor  fmoky  cells.  They  were  conftru<£led  generally 
tioiis.  i[\^Q  arbours,  of  fmall  young  trees  bent  and  twifted  to- 
gether, and  fo  cui'ioufly  covered  with  mats  or  bark, 
that  they  were  tolerably  dry  and  warm.  The  In- 
dians made  their  fire  in  the  centre  of  the  houfe,  and 
there  was  an  opening  at  the  top,  which  emitted  the 
fmoke.  For  the  convenience  of  wood  and  water,  thefe 
huts  vv'ere  commonly  ere£led  in  groves  ;  near  fome  riv- 
er, brook  or  living  fpring.  When  the  wood  failed  the 
family  removed  to  another  place. 

They  lived  in  a  poor  low  manner.  Their  food  was 
coarfe  and  fimple,  without  any  kind  of  feafoning.  They 
had  neither  fpice,  fait,  nor  bread.  They  had  neither 
Food.  butter,  cheefe,  nor  milk.  They  drank  nothing  better 
than  the  water  which  ran  in  the  brook  or  fpouted  from 
the  fprine-  They  fed  on  the  flefli  and  entrails  of 
moofe,  deer,  bears,  and  all  kinds  of  wild  hearts  and 
fowls  :  on  fill-i,  eels  and  creeping  things.  They  had 
good  ftomachs  and  nothing  came  amifs.  In  the  hunt- 
ing and  fiftiing  feafons,  they  had  venifon,  moofe,  fat 
bears,  racoons,  geefe,  turkies,  ducks,  and  lifli  of  all 
kinds.  In  the  fummer  they  had  green  corn,  beans, 
fquafhes  and  the  various  fruits  which  the  country  nat- 
urally produced.  In  the  winter  they  fubfifted  on  corn, 
beans,  fifli,  nuts,  groundnuts,  acorns,  and  the  very 
gleanings  of  the  grove. 

They  had  no  fet  meals,  but,  like  other  wild  creatures, 
ate  when  they  were  hungry,  and  could  find  any  thing 


Chap.  III.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  35 

to  fatisfy  the  cravings  of  nature.     Sometimes^  they  had  Book  I. 
little  or  nothing,  for  feveral  days  ;  but  when  they  had  v^^-vx^ 
provifions,  they  feafted.     If  they  faded,  for  fome  time,  ^'^SS- 
they  were  fure  at  the  next  meal  to  make  up  for  all  they  „    ^ 
had  loft  before.     They   had  but  little  food   from  the  ^^g^is. 
earth,  except  what  it   fpontaneouily  produced.     Indian 
corn,  beans  and   fqualhes   were  the   only  eatables  for 
which  the   natives  in  New-England    labored.        The 
earth  was  both  their  feat  and  their  table.     With  trench- 
ers, knives,  and  napkins  they  had  no  acquaintance. 

Their  houfehold  furniture  was  of  fmall  value. 
Their  beft  bed  was  a  mat  or  {km  ;  they  had  neither  ■  , ,  5" 
chair  nor  ftool.  They  ever  fat  upon  the  ground,  com-  nituie. 
monly  with  their  elbows  upon  their  knees.  This  is  the 
manner  in  which  their  great  warriors  and  counfellors 
now  fit,  even  in  the  molt  public  txeaties,  wuh  the  Eng- 
]i{h.  A  few  wooden  and  ftone  vefTels  and  inftruments 
ferved  all  the  purpofes  of  domeftic  life.  They  had  no 
fteel  nor  iron  inllrument.  Their  knife  was  a  fliarp  Utcnfilj. 
ftone,  ftiel),  or  kind  of  reed,  which  they  fiiarpened  in 
fuch  a  manner,  as  to  cut  their  hair,  make  their  bows 
and  arrows,  and  ferved  for  all  the  purpofes  of  a  knife. 
They  made  them  axes  of  ftone.  Thefc  they  fliaped 
fomewhat  fimilar  to  our  axes  •,  but  with  this  dilFerejice, 
that  they  were  made  with  a  neck  inftead  of  an  eye,  and 
faftened  with  a  withe,  like  a  blackfmith's  chiffel.  They 
had  mortars,  and  ftone  peftles  and  chifl'els.  Great 
numbers  of  thefe  have  been  found  in  the  country,  and 
kept  by  the  people,  as  curiofities.  They  drefl'ed  their 
corn  with  a  clamflrell,  or  with  a  ftick  made  flat  and 
fharp  at  one  end.  Thefe  were  all  the  utenfils  v/hich 
they  had  either  for  domeftic  ufe,  or  for    hufbandry. 

Their  arts    and  manufa£lures  were    confined  to  a 
very  narrow  compafs.     Their  only  weapons  were  bows  Arts  and 
and  arrows,  the  tomahawk  and  the   wooden    fword  or  rnanulac- 
fpear.     Their  bows  were  of  the  common  conftru61:ion.    "'^^^' 
Their  bowftrings  were  made  of  the  finews    of  deer,    or 
of  the  Indian  hemp.     Their  arrows  were  conftru6led  of 
young  elder  fticks,  or  of  other  ftrait  fticks    and  reeds. 
Thefe  were  headed  with   a  fliarp  flinty  ftone  or   v/ith 
bones.     The  arrow  was  cleft  at  one  end,  and  the  ftone 
or  bone  was  put   in   and   faftened  with  a  fmall  cord. 
The  tomakawk  was  a  ftick  of  two  or  three  feet  in  length, 
with  a  knob   at  the  end.    .  Sometimes  it  wa^  a  ftone 


36 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  III. 


Indian  ca- 
iioes,  con- 
llruaed. 


Kets  and 
hooks. 


Religion 
and  mor- 
als. 


hatchet,  or  a  ftick  with  a  piece  of  dears  horn  at  one  end, 
in  the  form  of  a  pick  axe.  Their  fpear  was  a  ftrait 
piece  of  wood,  fharpened  at  one  end  and  hardened  in 
the  fire,  or  headed  with  bone  or  ftone. 

With  refpefl:  to  navigation  they  had  made  no  im- 
provemetits  beyond  the  conftrudlion  and  management 
of  the  hollow  trough  or  canoe.  They  made  their  ca- 
noes of  the  chefnut,  whitewood  and  pine  trees.  As 
thefe  grew  ftrait  to  a  great  length,  and  were  exceedingly 
large  as  well  as  tall,  they  conftru£ted  fome,  which  would 
carry  fixty  or  eighty  men.*  Thefe  were  firft  rates  ; 
but  commonly  they  were  not  more  than  twenty  feet  in 
length,  and  two  in  breadth.  The  Pequcts  had  many 
of  thefe,  in  which  they  pafled  over  to  the  Iflands,  and 
warred  againft  and  plundered  the  Iflanders.  The  In- 
dians upon  Long-Ifland  had  a  great  number  of  canoes, 
of  the  largeft  kind. 

The  conftruccion  of  thefe,  with  fuch  miferable  tools 
as  the  Indians  polTefled,  was  a  great  curiofity.  The 
manner  was  this.  When  they  had  found  a  tree  to  their 
purpofe ;  to  fell  it  they  made  a  fire  at  the  root,  and 
kept  burning  it  and  cutting  it  with  their  ftone  axe  un- 
til it  fell.  Then  they  kindled  a  fire,  at  fuch  a  diftance 
from  the  butt  as  they  chofe,  and  burned  it  off  again. 
By  burning  and  working  with  their  axe  and  fcraping 
with  {harp  ftones  and  fhells,  they  made  it  hollow  and 
fmooth.  In  the  fame  manner  they  fhaped  the  ends,  and 
finifhed  it  to  their  wifhes. 

They  conftru6led  nets,  twenty  and  thirty  feet  in 
length,  for  filhing  ;  efpecially  for  the  purpofe  of  catch- 
ing fturgeon.  Thefe  were  wrought  with  cords  of  In- 
dian hemp,  twifted  by  the  hands  of  the  women.  They 
had  alfo  hooks  made  of  flexible  bones,  which  they  ufed 
for  fiftiing. 

With  refpetl  to  religion  and  morals,  the  Indians  in 
New-England  were  in  the  moft  deplorable  condition. 
They  believed  that  there  was  a  great  Spirit,  or  God, 
whom  they  called  Kitchtan.  They  imagined  that  he 
dwelt  far  away  in  the  fouthweft,  and  that  he  was  3, 
good  God.  But  they  worfhipped  a  great  variety  of  gods. 
They  paid  homage  to  the  fire  and  water,  thunder  and 
lightning,  and  to  whatever  they  imagined  to  be  fuperi- 


Winthrop*3  Journal  p.  54, 


Chap.  IIL     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  37 

or  to  themfelves,  or  capable  of  doing  them  an  injury. f  Book  I. 
Tliey  paid  their  principal  homage  to  Hobbamocko.  v.^'^v^J 
They  imagined  that  he  was  an  evil  I'pirit  and  did  them  1633. 
mifchief ;  and  fo,  from  fear,  they  worfliipped  him,  to 
keep  him  in  good  humour.  They  appeared  to  have  no 
idea  of  a  fabbath,  and  not  to  regard  any  particular  day 
more  than  another.  But  in  times  of  uncommon  diftrefs, 
by  reafon  of  peftilence,  war  or  famine  j  and  upon  occa- 
fion  of  great  victories  and  triumph,  and  after  the  in- 
gathering of  the  fruits,  they  afiembled  in  gi^eat  numbers, 
for  the  celebration  of  their  fuperilitious  rites. :i;  The 
whole  country,  men  women  and  children  came  together 
upon  thefe  folemnities.  The  manner  of  their  devotion 
was  to  kindle  large  fires  in  their  wigwams,  or  more 
commonly  in  the  open  fields,  and  to  fing  and  dance 
round  them  in  a  wild  and  violent  manner.  Som.etimes 
they  would  all  fhout  aloud  with  the  mofl  antic  and  hid- 
eous notes.  They  made  rattles  of  Ihells  which  they 
(hook,  in  a  wild  and  violent  manner,  to  fill  up  the  con- 
fufed  noife.  « After  the  Englifh  fettled  in  Connefticut, 
and  they  could  purchafe  kettles  of  brafs,  they  ufed  to 
ftrain  fkins  over  them  and  beat  upon  them  to  augment 
their  wretched  mufic.  They  often  continued  thefe 
wild  and  tumultuous  exercifes  inceffantly  for  four  or  five 
hours,  until  they  were  worn  down  and  fpent  with  fa., 
tigue.  Thtir  priefts  or  powaws  led  in  thefe  exercifes. 
They  were  drefled  in  the  mofl  odd  and  furprifing  man- 
ner, with  fiins  of  odious  and  frighful  creatures  about 
their  heads,  faces,  arms  and  bodies.  They  painted 
themfelves  in  the  moil  ugly  forms,  which  could  be  de- 
vifed.  They  fometimes  fang,  and  then  broke  forth  into 
ftrong  invocations,  with  flarts,  and  ftrange  motions  and 
pafTions.  When  thefe  paufed,  the  other  Indians  groan- 
ed, making  wild  and  doleful  founds.  At  thefe  times 
they  facrificed  their  fkins,  Indian  money  and  the  bell  of 
their  treafures.  Thefe  were  taken,  by  the  powaws,  and 
all  cafl  into  the  fires  and  confumed  together.  After 
the  Englifh  came  into  the  country,  and  they  had  hatch-  . 
ets  and  kettles,  they  facrificed  thefe  in  the  fame  manner. 
The  Englifh  were  alfo  perfuaded,  that  they,  at  fome- 
times, facrificed  their  children,  as  well  as  their  moft 


f  Magnalia  B.  III.  p.  192. 
ilbid.    ib. 


38  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  III. 

Book  I.  valuable  commodities.  No  Indians  in  Connecticut  were 
V.>^VN^  more  noted  for  thefe  fuperftitions  than  thofe  of  Wopo- 
j6j3.  wage,  and  Machemoodus.  Milford  people  obferving  an 
Indian  child,  nearly  at  one  of  thefe  times  of  their  devo- 
tion, dreiTed  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  with  all  kinds 
of  Indian  finery,  had  the  curiofity  to  enquire  what  could 
be  the  reafon.  The  Indians  anfwcred,  that  it  was  to 
be  facrificed,  and  the  people  fuppofed,  that  it  was  given 
to  the  devil.  The  evil  fpirit,  v/hich  the  New-England 
Indians  called  Hobbamocko,  the  Virginia  Indians  called 
Okec.  So  deluded  were  thefe  unhappy  people,  that 
they  believed  thefe  barbarous  facrifices  to  be  abfolutely 
iiecelTary.  They  imagined  that  unlefs  they  appeafed 
and  conciliated  their  gods,  in  this  manner,  they  would 
ireither  fuffer  them  to  have  peace,  nor  harveils,  fifh, 
venifon,  fat  bears,  nor  turkeys ;  but  would  vifit  them 
with  a  general  deitrudion. 

With  refpefl  to  morals  they  were  Indeed  miferably 
depraved.  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Callender,  who,  at  an 
Morals.  P'^'^lj  Period  were  acquainted  with  the  Indians,  in 
Rhode-Ifland,  Mr.  Hooker  and  others  have  reprefented 
them  as  funk  into  the  lowcll  ftate  of  moral  turpitude, 
and  as  the  very  dregs  of  human  nature.*  Though  the 
character  which  they  gave  them  was,  in  fome  refpe£ts 
exaggerated  and  abfurd,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied,  that 
they  were  worfliippcrs  of  evil  fpirits,  liars,  thelves  and 
murderers.  They  certainly  were  infidious  and  re- 
vengeful almofl  without  a  parallel  :  and  they  wallowed 
in  all  the  filth  of  wantonnefs.  Great  pains  were  taken 
with  the  Narraganfet  and  ConnetSlicut  Indians  to  civik 
ize  them  and  teach  them  chrillianity  ;  but  the  fachems 
rejedled  the  gofpel  with  indignation  and  contempt. 
They  would  not  fuffer  it  to  be  preached  to  their  fubjedls* 
Indeed  both  made  it  a  public  interell  to  oppofe  its  prop- 
agation among  tlicm.  Their  policy,  religion  and  man- 
ners were  diretlly  oppofcd  to  its  pure  doctrines  and 
morals. 

The  manner  of  their  courtfiiip  and  marriages  manl-t 

P      t-r  •     felled  their   impurity.     When  a  young   Indian  wifhed 

iind  mar-    ^^^  marriage,  he  prefented  the   girl  with  whom  he  was 

riage.         enamoured,  with  bracelets,  belts    and  chains  of  wam-f 

pum.     If  flie  received   liis  prefents  they  cohabited  to- 


Wiliiamb's  majiufciiptf,  r.nd  Mr.  C.illender's  fermon. 


Chap.  III.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  39 

gether,  for  a  time  upon  trial.  If  they  pleafed  each  oth-  Book  I. 
er  they  were  joined  in  marriage  :  but  if  after  a  few  v-«^v">«> 
weeks,  they  were  not  fuited,  the  man,  leaving  his  pre-  1653. 
fcnts,  quitted  the  girl  and  fought  another  miftrefs,  and 
fhe  another  lover.*  In  this  manner  they  courted  until 
two  met  who  were  agreeable  to  each  other.  Before 
marriage  the  confent  of  the  fachem  was  obtained,  and 
he  always  joined  the  hands  of  the  young  pair  in  wedlock. 
-  The  Indians  in  general  kept  many  concubines,  and 
never  thought  they  had  too  many  women.:]:  This  ef- 
pecially  was  the  cafe  with  their  fachems.  They  chofe 
their  concubines  agreeably  to  their  fancy,  and  put  them  ^'"'■^'^y 
away  at  pleafure.  When  a  fachem  grew  weary  of  any 
of  his  women,  he  beftowed  them  upon  forae  of  his  fa- 
vourites, or  cheif  men.  The  Indians  however  had  one 
wife,  who  was  the  governefs  of  the  family,  and  whom 
they  generally  kept  during  life.  In  cafes  of  adultery, 
the  hufband  either  put  away  the  guilty  wife,  or  fatisfied 
himfelf  by  the  infliction  of  fome  fevcre  punifhment. 
Hufbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children,  lived  to- 
gether in  the  fame  wigwams,  without  any  different 
apartment,  and  made  no  great  privacy  of  fuch  a6tions 
as  the  chafter  animals  keep  from  open  view 

The  Indian  government  generally  was  abfolute  mon- 
archy. The  will  of  the  fachem  was  his  law.  The 
lives  and  interefts  of  his  fubjedls  were  at  his  difpofal.  Indian 
But  in  all  important  affairs  he  confulted  his  counfellors.  S^'^tin- 
When  they  had  given  their  opinions,  they  deferred 
the  decifion  of  every  matter  to  him.  Whatever  his  de- 
terminations were,  they  applauded  his  wifdom,  and 
without  hefitation  obeyed  his  commands.  In  council 
the  deportment  of  the  fachems  was  grave  and  majeflic 
to  admiration.  They  appeared  to  be  men  of  great  dif- 
cernment  and  policy.  Their  fpeeches  were  cautious 
and  politic.  The  conduct  of  their  counfellors  and  fer- 
vants  was  profoundly  refpe£lful  and  fubmiffive. 

The  counfellors  of  the   Indian  kings,  in  New-Eng- 
land, were  termed  the   paniefe.     Thefe   were  not  only  '^''^  pani- 
the   wifeft,   but  largeft  and  braveil  men  to   be   found  ^  ^* 
among  their  fubjedls.     They  were  the  immediate  guard 
of  their  refpedlive  fachems,  who  made  neither  war  nor 


*  Hutchinfon  vol.  I.  p.461,  462. 
t  Neal'sHift.  N.  E.p.  j8,  39. 


40 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  III. 


Book  I. 


The 

crown  he- 
reditary. 


Revenues 
of  the 
prince. 


peace,  nor  attempted  any  weighty  affair  without  their 
advice.  In  war  and  all  great  enterprifes,  dangers  and 
fuffcrings,  thefe  difcovered  a  boldnefs,  and  firmnefs  of 
mind  exceeding  all  the  other  warriors. 

To  prefer\'e  this  order  among  the  Indians,  great  pains 
were  taken.  The  ftouteft  and  moil  promifmg  boys 
were  chofen  and  trained  up  with  peculiar  care,  in  the 
obfervation  of  certain  Indian  rites  and  cudoms.  They 
were  kept  from  all  delicious  meats,  trained  to  coarfe 
fare,  and  made  to  drink  the  juice  of  bitter  herbs,  until 
it  occafioned  violent  vomitings.  They  were  beaten  ov- 
er their  legs  and  fhins  with  fticks,  and  made  to  run 
through  brambles,  and  thickets,  to  make  them  hardy : 
and,  as  the  Indians  faid,  to  render  them  more  accepta- 
ble to  Hobbamocko. 

These  paniefe,  or  miniflers  of  ftate,  were  in  league 
with  the  priefts,  or  powaws.  To  keep  the  people  in 
awe,  they  pretended,  as  well  as  the  priefts,  to  have  con- 
verfewiththe  invifible  world  ;  and,  that  Hobbamocko 
often  appeared  to  them. 

Among  the  Conne£licut  Indians,  and  among  all  the 
Indians  in  New-England,  the  crown  was  hereditary  al- 
ways defcending  to  the  eld  eft  fon.  When  there  was  no 
male  ifhie,  the  crown  defcended  to  the  female.  The 
blood  royal  was  held  in  fuch  veneration,  that  no  one 
was  confidcred  as  heir  to  the  crown  but  fuch  as  were 
royally  defcended  on  both  fides.  When  a  female  ac- 
ceded to  the  crown  fhe  was  called  the  funk  fquaw,  or 
queen  fquaw.  There  were  many  petty  Sachems,  tribu- 
tary to  other  princes,  on  whom  they  were  dependent 
for  protection,  and  without  whofe  confent  they  made 
neither  peace,  war,  nor  alliances  with  other  nations. 

The  revenues  of  the  crovi^n  confifted  in  the  contribu- 
tions of  the  people.  They  carried  corn  and  the  firft  fruits 
of  their  harveft  of  all  kinds,beans,  fquafties,  roots,  berries 
and  nuts,  and  prefented  them  to  their  fachem.  They 
made  him  prefents  of  flefh,  fifti,  fowl,  moofe,  bear,  deer, 
beaver  and  other  (kins.  One  of  the  paniefe  was  common- 
ly appointed  to  receive  the  tribute^.  When  the  Indians 
brought  it  he  gave  notice  to  his  fachem,^  who  went  out 
to  them,  and  by  good  words  and  fome  fmall  gifts  ex- 
prefled  his  gratitude.  By  thefe  contributions  his  table 
was  fupplied  •,  fo  that  he  kept  open  houfe  for  all  ftran- 
gers  and  travellers.     Befides,  the  prince  claimed  an  ab- 


Chap.  III.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  41 

fohite  fovereignty  over  the  feas  within  his   dominion.  Book  I. 
Whatever  was  ftranded   on   tlie  coaft,  all  wrecks  and  '^-/'v-sJ 
whales  floating  on  the  fea,  and  taken  were  his.f     In  1633. 
war  the  fpoils  of  the  enemy  and  all  the  women  and 
royalties  of  the  prince  conquered,  belonged  to  him,  who 
made  the  conqueft. 

The  fach^m  was  not  only  examiner,  judge  and  ex- 
ecutioner, in  all  criminal    cafes,  but  in   all   matters  of 
iuftice  between  one  man  and  another.     In  cafes  of  dif-  y"^"^^^ 
honefty  the  Indians  proportioned  the  punifhment  to  the  exccu- 
number  of  times  in   which  the    delinquent   had  been  tioners. 
found  guilty.     For  the  firft  offence,  he  was  reproached 
for  his  villainy  in  the  moft  difgraceful  manner  ;  for  the 
fecond  he  was  beaten  with  a  cudgel  upon  his   naked 
back.     If  he  Hill  perfifted  in  his  dilhoneft  pradlices  and 
was  found  guilty   a   third  time,  he  was  fure,  befides  a 
found  drubbing,  to  have  his  nofe  flit,  that  all  men  might 
know  and  avoid  him.     Murder  was  in  all  cafes  punifhed 
with   death.     The  fachem  whipped  the  delinquent  and 
flit  his  nofe  in  cafes  which  required  thefe  punifhments  ; 
and  he   killed  the  murderer,  unlefs  he  were  at  a  great 
diftance.     In  this  cafe,  in  which  execution  could  not  be 
done  with  his  own    hands,  he  fent  his  knife,  by  which 
it  was  efFe£led.     The  Indians  would   not  receive  anv 
punifhment,  which  was  not  capital,  from  the  hands  of 
any  except  their  fachems.      They   would  neither  be 
beaten,  whipped,  nor  flit  by  an  officer  :  But  their  prince 
might  infli£l  thefe  punifhments  to  the  greateft  extremi- 
ty, and  they  would  neither  run,  cry,  nor  flinch.     Indeed 
neither  the  crimes  nor  the  punifliments  are  efteemed  fo 
infamous,  among  the  Indians,  as  to  groan  or  fhrink  un- 
der fufFering.     The  fachems  were  fo  abfolute  in  their 
government,  that  they  contemned  the  limited  authority 
of  the  Englifli  governors. 

The  Indians  had  no  kind   of  coin  ;  but   they  had  a 
fort  of  money,    which   they  called  wampum,   or  warn-  ^""'*^ 
pumpeag.     It  confifled  of  fmall  beads,  moft  curioufly  ' 

wrought  out  of  fhells,  and  perforated  in  the  centre,  fo 
that  they  might  be  ftrung  on  belts,  in  chains  and  brace- 
lets. Thefe  were  of  feveral  forts.  The  Indians  in 
Connedlicut,  and  in   New-England  in  general,  made 

t  Magnalia  B.  VI.  p.  51. 

G 


42  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  III. 

Book  I.  black,  blue  and  white  wampum.  Six  of  the  white  beads 
\..yy>kj  pr.fled  for  a  penny,  and  three  of  the  black,  or  blue  ones 
163.1.  for  the  fame.  The  five  nations  made  another  fort, 
which  were  of  a  purple  colour.  The  white  beads  were 
wrought  out  of  the  infide  of  the  great  conchs,  and  the 
purple  out  of  the  infide  of  the  liiufcle  Ihell.  They 
were  made  perfedlly  fmooth,  and  the  perforation  was 
done  in  the  neatefl  manner.  Indeed,  confidering  that 
the  Indians  had  neither  knife,  drill,  nor  any  fteel  or  iron 
inftrument,  the  worknianfliip  was  admirable.  After  the 
Englilh  fettled  in  Connefticut,  the  Indians  ftrung  thefe 
beads  on  belts  of  cloth,  in  a  very  curious  manner.  The 
fquaws  made  caps  of  cloth  riimg  to  a  peak,  over  the  top 
of  the  head,  and  the  fore  part  was  beautified  with  wam- 
pum, curioufly  Vvaought  upon  them.  The  fix  nations 
now  weave  and  ftring  them  in  broad  belts,  which  they 
give  in  their  treaties  s  as  a  confirmation  of  their  fpeeches 
and  the  feals  of  their  friendfiiip.* 

The  Indians  of  Connedlicut  and  New-England,  al- 
though confining  of  a  great  number  of  different  nations 
and  clans,  appear  all  to  have  fpoken  radically  the  fame 
language.  From  Pifcataqua  to  Connecticut,  it  was  fo 
Language,  nearly  the  fame,  that  the  different  tribes  could  tolerably 
converfe  togethcr.f  The  Moheagan  or  Pequot  lan- 
guage was  effentially  that  of  all  the  Indians  in  New- 
England,  and  of  a  great  part  of  the  Indians  in  the  Uni- 
ted .States.:}:  The  word  Moheagans  is  a  corruption  of 
Muhhekaneew,  inthe  fingular,  or  of  Muhhekaneok  in 
the  plural  number.  Not  only  the  natives  of  New-Eng- 
land, but  the  Penobfcots,  bordering  on  Nova-Scotia, 
the  Indians  of  St.  Francis,  in  Canada,  the  Delawares, 
in  Pennfylvaaia,  the  Shawanefe  on  the  Ohio,  and  the 
Chippewaus,  at  the  weftward  of  lake  Huron  all  fpoke 
the  fame  radical  language.  The  fame  appears  evident 
alfo  with  refped  to  the  Ottowaus,  Nanticooks,  Mun- 
fees,  Menomonees,  MiiTifaugas,  Saukies,  Ottagaumies, 
Killiftinoes,  Nipegons,  Algonkins,  Winnebagoes  and 
other  Indians.  The  various  tribes,  who  evidently  fpoke 
the  fame  original  language  had  different  dialedls  ;  yet, 
perhaps,  they  differed  little  more  from  each  other,  thaa 

*  Colden's  hiflory  vol.  I.  page  3,  4,  71,  73. 
•)•  Hiitcliinfon  vol,  I.p.ige  479. 

j  Dr.  Edwards's  obfci  vationa  pn  the  language  of  the  Muhhc- 
kance\s^  Indians. 


Chap.  III.     OF    CONNECTICUT. 


43 


the  ftyle  of  a  Londoner  now  docs  from  that  of  his  great  Book  I. 
grandfather.     The  want  of  letters  and   of  a   fufficient  v^^/'v^-/' 
correfpondence  between  the  feveral    nations   may  well  1633. 
account  for  all  the  variations   to   be   found  among  the 
natives  in  New-England,   and  between  them    and   the 
other  tribes    which  have    been   mentioned.       All  the 
New-England    Indians    expreffed  the  pronouns   both 
fubftantive  and  adjedilive  by  prefixes  and  fuffixes,  or  by 
letters  or  fyllables  added  at  the  beginnings  or  ends  of 
their  nouns. §     In  this  refpetl  there  is  a  remarkable  co- 
incidence between  this  and  the  Hebrew  language,  in  an 
inftance  in  which  the  Hebrew  entirely   differs  from  all 
the  ancient  and  modern  languages  of  Europe. 

From  this  affinity  of  the  Indian  language,  with  the 
Hebrew,  from  their  anointing  their  heads  with  oil,  their 
dancing  in  their  devotions,  their  excefiive  bowlings  and  Affinity  of 
mourning  for  their  dead,  their  computing  time  by  nights  t"^Y'^'^" 
and   moons,  their   giving  dowries  to  their    wives,  and  [^y^^  jan- 
caufing  their  women  at  certain  feafons  to  dwell  by  them-  guagc. 
felves,  and  fome  other  circumflances,  the  famous  Mr. 
John  Eliot,  the  Indian  apoftle,  was  led  to  imagine  that 
the  American  Indians  were  the  pofterity  of  the  difper- 
fed  Ifraelites.*     They   ufed  many   figures  and  parables 
in  their  difcourfes,  and  fome  have  reported,  that  at  cer- 
tain feafons,    they  ufed  no  knives,  and  never  brake  the 
bones  of  the  creatures  which  they  eat.     It  has  alfo  been 
reported,  that  in  fome  of  their  fongs  the  word  Hallelu- 
jah might  be  diftinguiihed.f 

The  Indian  language  abounds  with  gutterals  and 
ftrong  afpirationsj  and  their  words  are  generally  of  a 
great  length,:f:  which  render  it  peculiarly  bold  and  fono- 
rous.  The  Indian  fpeeches,  like  thofe  of  the  eaftern 
nations,  generally  were  adorned  with  the  moft  bold  and 
ftriking  figures,  and  have  not  been  inferior  to  any  which 
either  the  Englifh,  or  French  have  been  able  to  make 
to  them.     The  Indians  in  general,  throughout  the  con- 

§  Dr.  Edwardb*  ©bfervations  oti  the  Indian  language. 

*  Magnalia  B.  1(1.  p.  192,  193. 

f  Hutchinfon  Vol.  I.  p.  478. 

j  Nummatchekodtantamo^RganuBonafli  was  a  fingle  word, 
•which,  in  Englifh,  fignifies,  Ourlufts.  Noowomantammoon- 
kanunnonnafli  was  another,  fignifying,  Our  loves.  Kummog- 
kodonattoottummoocliteaongannunnotiani  was  another,  ex- 
prefling  no  more  than,  Our  queftion.    Magnalia  B.  III.  f  •  195« 


44  THEHISTORY         Chap.  HI. 

Book  I.  tinent,  were  much  given  to  fpeech  making.  As  elo- 
v-.<^W>  quence  and  war  were,  with  them,  the  foundations  of 
i(>35'  all  confequence,  the  whole  force  of  their  genius  was 
directed  to  thefe  acquifitions.  In  covmcil,  their  opin- 
ions were  always  given  in  fet  fpeeches  ;  and  to  perfons 
whom  they  highly  refpefted,  it  v/as  not  unufual,  on 
meeting  and  parting,  or  on  matters  of  more  than  com- 
mon importance,  to  addrefs  their  compHments  and  opin- 
ions in  formal  harangues.  The  Indians  commonly 
fpake  with  an  unufual  animation  and  vehemence. 

The  Indians  in  New-England  rarely  if  ever  admitted 
the  letters,   L  and  R  into  their   diale£l  j  but  the  Mo- 
L  and  R    hawks,  whofe  language  was  entirely  different,  ufed  them 
not  ii'ed    both.     Some  of  the  weftern  Indians,  who  fpeak  the 
in  the  In-  f^f^e  language  radically,  with  the  Moheagans,  ufe  the  L. 
lea  of  N    '^^^  Moheagan    language  abounds  with  labials,  but  the 
England.    Mohawk  differs  entirely   from  this,   and  perhaps  from 
every  other,  in  this  refpe£t,  that  It  is  wholly  deftitute 
of  labials.     The  Mohawks  efteemed  it  a  laughable  mat- 
ter indeed  for  men  to  {hut  their  mouths  that  they  might 
fpeak.f 

The  Indians  in  Connedlicut,  and  in  all  parts  of  New- 
England,  made  great  lamentations  at  the  burial  of  their 
dead.  Their  manner  of  burial  was  to  dig  holes  in  the 
Burial  of  ground  with  (lakes  which  were  imade  bread  and  fhar- 
the  dtad.  pened  at  one  end.  Sticks  were  laid  acrofs  the  bottom, 
and  the  corpfe,  which  was  previoully  wrapped  in  flcins 
and  mats,  was  let  down  upon  them.  The  arms,  treaf- 
ures,  utenfdsj  paint  and  ornaments  of  the  dead  were  bu- 
ried with  them,  and  a  mount  of  earth  was  raifed  upon 
the  whole.  In  fome  inflances  the  Indians  appear  to 
have  ufed  a  kind  of  embalming,  by  wrapping  the  corpfe 
in  large  quantities  of  a  ftrong  fcented  red  powder.:}:  In 
fome  parts  of  New-England  the  dead  were  buried  in  a 
fitting  pofture  with  their  faces  towards  the  eaft.  The 
women  on  thefe  occafions  painted  their  faces  with  oil 
and  char-coal,  and  while  the  burial  was  performing, 
Mourning  j^gy^  ^vith  the  relatives  of  the  dead,  made  the  moft  hide- 
ous fiirieks,  bowlings  and  lamentations.  Their  mourn- 
ing continued,  by  turns,  at  night  and  in  the  morning, 
for  feveral  days.  During  this  term  all  the  relatives  uni- 
ted in  bewailing  the  dead. 

+  Coldcn's  hiftory  vol.  1.  p.  i6. 
I  Neal's  hiftory  N.  E.  vol.  I.  p.  39. 


Chap.  III.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  45 

When  the  Englifh  began  the  fettlement  of  Conne£tI-  Book  I- 
cut,  all  the  Indians  both  eaft   and  weft  of  Connedlicut  O'^vx-/ 
river  were  tributaries  except  the  Pequots  and  feme  few  ^  "-V  • 
tribes,  which  were  in  alliance  with  them.      The  Pe-  Connedi- 
quotshad  fpread  thei:  conqueftsover  all  that  part  of  the  cut  tribu- 
ftate  eaft  of  the  river.     They   had   alfo  fubjugated  the  tarics. 
Indians  on  the  fea  coaft  as  far  eaftv/ard   as  Guilford. 
Unca^   therefore,    after  the  Pequots  were  conquered, 
extended  his  claims  as  far  as  Hammonaffet  in  the  eaftern 
part  of  that  townfhip.f      The  Indians  in  thefe  parts 
were  therefore  tributaries  to  the  Pequots. 

The  Mohawks  had  not  only  carried  their  conquefts 
as  far  fouthward  as  Virginia,  but  eaftward,  as  far  as 
Conne£licut  river.  The  Indians  therefore,  in  the  wef- 
tern  parts  of  Conneclicut,  were  their  tributaries.  Two 
old  Mohawks,  every  year  or  two,  might  be  feen  iffuing 
their  orders  and  colle£ting  their  tribute,  with  as  much 
authority  and  haughtinefs  as  a  Roman  dictator. 

It  is  indeed  difiicult  to  defcribe  the  fear  of  this  terri- 
ble nation,  which  had  fallen  on  all  the  Indians  in  the 
weftern  parts  of  Conne£licut.  If  they  neglected  to  pay 
their  tribute,  the  Mohawks  would  come  down  againft 
them,  plunder,  deftroy,  and  carry  them  captive  at  pleaf- 
ure.  When  they  made  their  appearance  in  the  coun- 
try, the  Connecticut  Indians  would  inftantly  raife  a  cry 
from  hill  to  hill,  A  Mohawk  !  A  Mohawk  !  and  fly  like 
Iheep  before  wolves,  without  attempting  the  leaft  refift- 
ance.:j:  The  Mohawks  would  cry  out,  in  the  moft  ter- 
rible manner,  in  their  language,  importing  "  We  are 
come,  we  are  come,  to  fuck  your  blood. "§  When  the 
Connecticut  Indians  could  not  efcape  to  their  forts,  they 
would  immediately  flee  to  the  Englifli  houfes  for  fhelter, 
and  fometimes  the  Mohawks  would  purfue  them  fo 
clofely  as  to  enter  with  them,  and  kill  them  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  the  family.  If  there  was  time  to  fhut  the  doors 
they  never  entered  by  force,  nor  did  they  upon  any  oc- 
cafion,  do  the  leaft  injury  to  the  Englifli. 

When  they  came  into  this  part  of  the  country  for 
war,  they  ufed  their  utmoft  art  to  keep  themfelves  .un- 
difcovered.     They  would  conceal  themfelves  in  fwamps 


■\-  ManHfcripts  of  Mrs.  Ruggles. 
i  Coldcn'shiftory  vol.I.p,  3. 
I  Wood's  profpeft  of  N.  England, 


45  TPIEHISTORY         Chap.  III. 

Book  I.  and  thlclccts,  watching  their  opportunity,  and  all  on  a 
V-<<v-N-/  fudden,  rife  upon  their  enemy  and  kill  or  captivate  them, 
1633.         before  they  had  time  to  make  any  refiftance. 

About  the  time  when  the  fettlement  of  New-Haven 
commenced,  or  not  many  years   after,  they    came  into 
Mohawks  Connecticut,  and  furprifed  the  Indian  fort  at  Pauguffet. 
fiupiile     To  prevent  the    Connedlicut  Indians  from    difcovering 
fct.  them,  and  that  not  fo  much  as  a  track  of  them  might  be 

feen,  they  marched  in  the  moil  fecrct  manner,  and  when 
they  came  near  the  fort  travelled  wholly  in  the  river. — 
Secreting  themfelves  near  the  fort  they  watched  their 
opportunity  and  fuddenly  attacking  it,  with  their  dreadful 
yellings  and  violence,  they  foon  took  it  by  force,  and 
killed  and  captivated  w]>om  they  pleafed.  Having 
plundered  and  deftroyed,  at  their  pleafure,  they  return- 
ed to  their  callles,  weft  of  Albany. 

As  all  the  Indians  in  Connedlicut  were  llaughtered 
and  oppreiTed,  either  by  the  Pequots  or  Mohawks,  they 

Motives     ^,gyg   penerally  friendly  to  the    fettlement  of    the  En- 

inclticiiig       ,.^      ^  Z  -p,/  r»     1    1         1     • 

the  Indi-    glnn  among  them,      i  hey  expected,  by  then- means,  to 

ans  to       be  defended  againft  their  terrible    and  cruel  oppreflbrs. 
permit  the  They  alfo   found  themfelves  benefited  by  trading  with 
Jingliili      them.     They  furniflied   themfelves  with  knives,  hatch- 
iaeiits.       ^*^^J  axes,  hoes,    kettles    and    various  inftruments    and 
utenfils  which  highly  contributed  to  their  convenience. 
They  could,  with  thefe,  perform  more  labor  in  one  hour 
or  dav,  than  they  could  in  many, days  without   them. — 
Befides,  they  found    that    they  could  exchange   an  old 
beaver  coat,  or  blanket,  for  two  or   three  new   ones  of 
Englifh  manufacture.     They  found  a  much  better  mar- 
ket for  their  furs,  corn,  peltry  and  all  their  vendible 
commodities. 

The  Englidi  werealfo  careful  to  treat  them  with  juf- 
tice  and  humanity,  and  to  make  fuch  prefents  to  their 
fachems  and  great  captains,  as  fliould  pleafe  and  keep 
them  in  good  humor. 

By  thefe  means,  the  Englifli  lived  in  tolerable  peace 
with  all  the  Indians  in  Conne£licut,  and  New-England, 
except  the  Pequots,  for  about  forty  years. 

The  Indians  at  their  firft  fettlement  performed  many 

a£l:s  of  kindnefs  towards  them.     They  inftrudted  them 

Indjan        j,^  jj^g  manner  of  plantinjT  and  dreffincr  the  Indian  corn. 

They  carried  them  upon  their  backs,  through  rivers  and 

waters ;  and  as  occafion  required,  ferved  them  in  ftead 


Chap.  IV.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  47 

of  boats  and  bridges.     They  gave  them  much  ufeful  in-  Book  I. 
formation  refpe£ling  the  country,  and  when  the  Englifli  \^^-y>^ 
or  their  children,  were  lofh  in   the  woods,  and  were  hi  1633. 
danger  of  perifhing  with  hunger  or  cold,  they  conduc- 
ed them  to  their  wigwarrs,  fed  them,  and  reftored  tiiem 
to  their    families   and  parents.     By  felling   them  corn, 
when  pinched  with  famine,  they  relieved  their  diftrefles 
and  prevented  their  perilliing  in  a  ftrange  land  and  un- 
cultivated wildernefs. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

7'HE  people  at  Tiorchejler^  Tl^etertowti  and  Neivto-iunjind' 
ittg  ihemfehes  J} rattened  in  the  MaJJachujetts  detennhie 
to  remove  to  ConneSlicnt .  Debates  in  Majfachnfetts  rel^ 
ntive  to  their  removal.  The  general  court  ntjirj}  prohib- 
ited it  ^  hut  aftcrnuards  gave  its  con  fen  t.  The  people  re- 
moved and  fettled  the  toivns  of  JVi?idfory  Hartford  and 
W ether sfield.     Hardfhips  and  lojfcs  of  thefrfl  winters. 

SUCH  numbers  were  conftantly  emigrating  to 
New-England,  in  confequence  of  the  perfecution  16341 
of  the  puritans,  that"  the  people  at  Dorchefter,  Water- 
town  and  Newtown  began  to  be  much  ftraitened,  by 
the  acceffion  of  new  planters.  By  thofe  who  had  been 
at  Conne£licut,  they  had  received  intelligence  of  the 
excellent  meadows  upon  the  river,  they  therefore  detei-- 
mined  to  remove,  and  once  more  brave  the  dangers  and 
hardflaips  of  making  fettlements  in  a  dreary  wildernefs. 

Upon   application  to   the  general  court  for  the  en-  May. 
largement  of  their  boundaries,  or  for  liberty  to  remove, 
they,  at  firft,  obtained  confent  for  the  latter.     However, 
when  it  was  afterwards  difcovered,  that  their  determina- 
tion was   to  plant  a  new  colony    at  Connedlicut,  there 
arofe  a  ftrong  oppofition  j  fo  that  when  the  Court  con- 
vened in  September,  there  was   a  warm  debate  on  the  Septsm- 
fubjeft,  and  a  great  divifion  between  the  houfes.     In-  "'^'"* 
deed  the  whole  colony  was  afFe£led  with  the  difpute. 

Mr.  Hooker,  who  was  more  engaged  in  the  enter- 
prlfe,  than  the  other  minifters,  took  up  the  aiFair  and 
pleaded  for  the  people.  He  urged,  that  they  were  fo 
ftraitened  for  accommodations  for  their  cattle,  that  they 


48  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y         Chap.  IV. 

Book  I.   could  not  fupport  the  mlniftry,  neither  receive,  nor  af- 
v«/'Y'>^  fift  any  more  of  tlieir  friends,  who  might  come  over  to 
1634.         them.     He  infilled  that  the  planting  of  towns  fo  near 
mcnts  for  ^og^*^^^  '^''^s  a  fundamental  error  in   their  policy.     He 
removing  pleaded  tlie  fertility  and  happy  accommodations  of  Con- 
to  Con-      ne£licut :  That  fettlements  upon  the  river  were  necefla- 
iieflicut,    j.y  to   prevent  the   Dutch   and  others  from    pofleffing 
themfelves  of  fo  fruitful  and  important  a  part  of  the 
country  ;  and  tliat  the  minds  of  the  people  were  ftrong- 
ly  inclined  to  plant  themfelves  there,  in  preference  to 
every  other  place,  which  had  come  to  their  knowledge. 
On  the  other  fide  it  was    infilled,   That  in  point    of 
Argu-        confcience  they  ought  not  to  depart,  as  they  were  uni- 
nients  a-     ted  to  the  Mafiachufetts    as  one  body,   and  bound    by 
gainll  it.    oath  to  feek  the  good  of  that  commonwealth  :  and  that 
on  principles  of  policy  it  could  not,  by  any   means,  be 
granted.     It  was  pleaded,  that  as  the  fettlements  in  the 
Maffachufetts  were  new  and  weak,  they  were  in  danger 
of  an  aflault   from  their  enemies  :  That   the  departure 
of  Mr.  Hooker  and  the   people  of  thofe  towns,  would 
not  only  draw  off  many  from  the    Maffachufetts,  but 
prevent  others  from  fettling  in  the  colony.     Befides,  it 
was  fliid,  that  the  removing  of  a  candleflick  was  a  great 
judgment  :  That  by  fuffering  it  they  fhould  expofe  their 
brethren  to  great  danger,  both  from  the  Dutch  and  In- 
dians.    Indeed,  it  was  affirmed  that  they  might  be  ac- 
commodated by  the  enlargements  offered  them  by  th« 
other  tov/ns. 

After  a  long  and  warm  debate,  the  governor,    two 
The  court  affiftants  and  a  majority  of  the  reprefentatives   were   for 
divided,     granting  liberty  for  Mr.  Hooker  and  the  people  totranf- 
plant   themfelves   to    Conne6licut.     The   deputy-gov- 
ernor however  and  fix  of  the  affiftants  were  in  the  neg- 
ative, and  fo  no  vote  could  be  obtained.f 

This  made  a  confiderable  ferment  not  only  in  the 
general  court,  but  in  the  colony,  fo  that  Mr.  Cotton  was 
defired  to  preach  on  the  fubjeti  to  quiet  the  court  and 
the  people  of  the  colony.  This  alfo  retarded  the  com- 
mencement of  the  fettlements  upon  the  river.  Indi- 
viduals however,  were  determined  to  profecute  the  bu- 
finefs,  and  made  preparations  effetlually  to  carry  it  in- 
to execution. 


i'  VVinthrop's  Journal  p.  70. 


Chap.  IV.     OF    CONNECTICUT. 


49 


It  appears,  that  fome  of  the  "Watertown  people  came  Book  I. 
this  year  to  Connecticut,   and    ere6ted   a  few  huts   at  ^..-^vn^ 
Pyquag,  now  Wethersheld,  in  which  a  fmall  number  i'^35- 
of  men  made  a  fhift  to  winter.*  ^  '^^'  ^' 

While  the  colonifts  were  thus  profecuting  the  bufi- 
nefs  of  fettlement,  in  New-England,  the  right  honour- 
able James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  obtained  a  grant  from 
the  council  of  Plimouth,  April  20th,  1635,  of  all  that 
traft  of  country  which  lies  between   Connefticut  river  ' 

and  Narraganfet  river  and  harbour,  and  from  the  mouths 
of  each  of  faid  rivers  northward  fixty  miles  into  the 
country.  However,  by  reafon  of  its  interference  with 
the  grant  to  the  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord  Brook,  &c. 
or  for  fome  other  reafon,  the  deed  was  never  executed. 
The  Marquis  made  no  fettlement  upon  the  land  and 
the  claim  became  obfolete. 

The  next  May  the  Newtown  people  determining  to 
fettle  at  Connedlicut,  renewed  their  application  to  the 
general  court,  and  obtained  liberty  to  remove  to  any 
place  which  they  fhould  choofe,  with  this  provifo,  that 
they  fliould  continue  under  the  jurifdi£lion  of  the  Maf- 
fachufetts.J 

A  NUMBER  of  Mr.  Warham's  people  came  this  funi- 
mer  into  Connedlicut,  and  made  preparations  to  bring 
their  families  and  make  a  permanent  fettlement  on  the 
river.  The  Watertown  people  gradually  removed  and 
profecuted  their  fettlement  at  Wethersfield.  At  the 
fame  time  the  planters  at  Newtown  began  to  make  pre- 
parations for  removing  to  Hartford  the  next  fpring. 

Meanwhile  twenty  men  arrived  in  Maflachufetts, 
fent  over  by  Sir  Richard  Saltonitall,  to  take  poflelFion 
of  a  great  quantity  of  land  in  Connecticut,  and  to  make 
fettlements  under  the  patent  of  Lord  Say  and  Seal, 
with  whom  he  was  a  principal  affbciate.  The  veffel  in 
which  they  came  over,  on  her  return  to  England,  in  the 
fall,  was  call  away  on  the  ille  Sable.f 

As  the  Dorchefter  men  had  now  fet  down  at  Con- 
necticut, near  the  Plimouth   trading  houfe,   governor  Auguft. 

*  This  is  the  tradition,  and  the  Rev,  Mr.  Meeks  of  Wetherf- 
fteld  in  his  manufcripts  fays,  Wethersfield  is  the  eldeft  town 
on  the  river. 

j:  Winthrop'a  Journal  p.  82. 

t  The  fame  p.  8 j  and  89. 

H 


50  THEHISTORY         Chap.  IV. 

Book  I.    Bradford  wrote  to  them  complaining  of  their  conduft, 
K.y^v^U  as  injurious  to  the  people  of  Plimouth,  who  had  made 
163J.         a  fair  purchafe  of  the  Indians,    and   taken  a  prior  pof- 
feffion.* 

The  Dutch  alfo  alarmed  by  the  fettlements  making 
in  Connecticut  wrote  to  Holland  for  inftrucSlions  and 
aid  to  drive  the  Englifli  from  their  iettlements  upon  the 
river.f 

The  people  at  Connecticut  having  made  fuch  pre- 
Qn.f,Vpj.  parations,  as  v/ere  judged  neceflary  to  effeCl  a  perma- 
ii;,tlie  nent  fettlement,  began  to  remove  their  families  and 
planters  property.  On  the  15th  of  06tober  about  fixty  men, 
on  the liv-  women  and  children,  with  their  horfes,  cattle,  and 
er  remove  r^jj-,g  commenced  their  journey  from  the  Maffachu- 
iiics  til  fetts,  through  the  wilder nefs,  to  Connecticut  river. 
Connedi-  After  a  tedious  and  difficult  journey  through  fwamps 
cut.  and  rivers,  over  mountains  and    rough  grounds,  which 

v/ere  paffed  with  great  difficulty  and  fatigue,  they  arri- 
ved fafely  at  the  places  of  their  refpeCtive  deftination. 
They  were  fo  long  on  their  journey  and  fo  much  time 
and  pains  v/ere  fpent  in  paffing  the  river,  and  in  get- 
ting over  their  cattle,  that  after  all  their  exertions,  winter 
came  upon  them  before  they  were  prepared.  This  was 
an  occafion  of  great  didrefs  and  damage  to  the  planta- 
tions. 

Nearly  at  the  fame  time,  Mr.  John  Winthrop,   fon 

of  governor  Winthrop  of  MafTachufetts,  arrived  at  Bof- 

Oiftober     ton,  with  a  commiffion  from  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord 

,'.    ,•      Brook  and  other   noblemen   and  eentlemen    interefted 
Winthrop  .       ,      ^  r^.  or  1  i 

arrives  at  ^"  ^"*^  Connecticut  patent,  to  erect  a  tort  at  the  mouth 

Bolloa.  of  Connecticut  river.  Their  lordfliips  fent  over  men, 
ordnance,  ammunition,  and  ^^2,000  fterling  for  the 
accomplifliment  of  their  defign4 

Mr.  Winthrop  v/as  direCted,  by  his  commiffion,  im- 
iTiediately  on  his  arrival  to  repair  to   Connecticut,  with 

Hi9  com-  jQ^j.y  ^ijj^  men,  and  to  ereCt  the  fortifications  and  to 
build  houfes  for  the  garrifon,  and  for  gentlemen,  who 
might  come  over  into  Connecticut.  They  were  firft 
to  build  houfes  for  their  then  prefent  accommodation, 
and  after  that  fuch  as  fhould  be  fuitable  for  the  recep- 
tion of  men  of  quality.     The  latter  were  to  be  ereCled 


*  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  86. 
+  The  fame  p.  86. 
t  The  fame  p.  88. 


Chaf.  IV.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  51 

within  the  fort.     It  was  required,  that  the  planters,  at  Bcck  I. 
the  beginning,  fhould  fettle  themfelves  near  the    mouth  v— '-v-^j 
of  the  river,  and  fet  down  in  bodies,  that  they  might   be  1635. 
in  a  fituation  for  entrenching  and  defending  themfelves. 
The  commiflion  made  provifion  for  the  refervation  of  a 
thoufand  or  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  good   land  for  the 
maintenance   of  the  fort,  as  nearly   adjoining  to   it    as 
might  be  with  convenience.* 

Mr.  WiNTHROP  having  intelligence,  that  the  Dutch  -^^ov.  9th. 
were  preparing  to  take  poflelTion  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mr.  Win- 
river,  as  foon  as  he  could  engage  twenty  men  and  fur-  throp  dif- 
nifli  them  with  provifions,  difpatched  them,  in  a  fmall  ^^^j^^i^^^ 
veflel  of  about  30  tons,  to  prevent  their  getting  the  Connefti- 
command  of  the  river,  and  to  accomplifh  the  fervice  to  cut. 
which  he  had  been  appointed. 

But  a  few  days  after  the  party,    fentby    Mr.  Win- 
throp,  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the    river,   a  Dutch  vef- Dutch  not 
fel  appeared  ofF  the  harbour,   from  New-Netherlands,  fufieredto 
fent  on  purpofe  to  take   pofleflion  of  the    entrance   of  '^"'^^ 
the  river  and  to  eredl  fortifications.     The  Englifli  had, 
by  this  time,  mounted  two  pieces   of  cannon,  and  pre- 
vented their  landing.f     Thus  providentially,   was    this 
fine  tra£l  of  country  preferved  for  our  venerable  ancef- 
tors  and  their  pofterity. 

Mr.  Winthrop  was  appointed  governor  of  the  river 
Connecticut  and  the  parts  adjacent  for  the  term  of  one 
year.  He  erected  a  fort,  built  houfes  and  made  a  fet- 
tlement  according  to  his  inftruclions.  One  David 
Gardiner  an  expert  engineer  alTifted  in  the  work,  plan- 
ned the  fortifications  and  was  appointed  lieutenant  of 
the  fort. 

Mr  Davenport  and  others,  who  afterwards  fettled 
New-Haven  were  a£live  in  this  affair,  and  hired  Gardi- 
ner, in  behalf  of  their  lordfliips,  to  come  into  New-Eng- 
land and  aflilt  in  this  bufinefs.| 

As  the  fettlement  of  the  three  towns  on  Connecticut  Acree- 
river  was  begun  before  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  mentre- 
the  defign  of  their  lordfhips  to  make  plantations  upon  it  fpeding 
was  known,  it  was  agreed,  that  the  fettlers  on  the  river         pl'in- 
fhould  either  remove,  upon  full  fatisfaClion   made,  by  coimedi- 

cut, 

*  Appendix  No.  11. 

f  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  99,  91, 

j  Manufcripts  of  Gardiner, 


52  THEHISTORY     Chaf.  IV. 

Book  I.  their  lordfliips,  oi  elfe  fufHcient  room  fliould  be  found 
v.^Orv-^  for  theni  and  their  companies  atfome  other  place. ]| 
1635.  The  winter  fet  in  this  year  much  fooner  than  ufual, 

and  the  weather  was  ftormy  and  fevere.  By  the  15th 
of  November,  Connecticut  river  was  frozen  over  and 
the  fnow  was  fo  deep,  and  the  feafon  fo  tempeftu- 
ous,  that  a  coniiderable  number  of  the  cattle- which 
had  been  driven  on  from  the  Maflachufetts  could 
not  be  brought  acrofs  the  river.  The  people  had 
fo  little  time  to  prepare  their  huts  and  houfes,  and 
to  ere£l  fheds  and  Ihelters  for  their  cattle,  that  the 
fufferings  of  man  and  beaft  were  extreme.  Indeed  the 
hardfliips  and  diftrefles  of  the  firfl  planters  of  Connetl- 
icut  fcarcely  admit  of  a  defcription.  To  carry  much 
provifion  or  furniture  through  a  pathlefs  wildernefs  was 
impra6licable.  Their  principal  provifions  amd  houfe- 
hold  furniture  were  therefore  put  on  board  feveral  fmall 
veiTels,  which,  by  reafon  of  delays  and  the  tempeftuouf- 
nefs  of  the  feafon,  were  cither  cafh  away  or  did  not  ar- 
rive. Several  veflels  were  wrecked  on  the  coafts  of 
New-England,  by  the  violence  of  the  fhorms.  Two 
fliallops  laden  with  goods,  from  Bofton  to  Conne£licut, 
in  Oftober,  were  cafl  away  on  Brown's  ifland,  near  the 
Gurnets  nofe  *,  and  the  men,  with  every  thing  on 
Novcm-  board  were  loft.*  A  veflel  with  fix  of  the  Connediicut 
'"^'  •  people  on  board,  which  failed  from   the    river   for  Bof  • 

ton,  early  in  November,  was,  about  the   middle  of  the 
month,  caft  away  in  Manamet  bay.     The  men  got  on 
lliore,  and  after  wandering  ten  days  in  deep  fnow  and 
a  fevere  feafon,  without  meeting  any  human  being,   ar- 
rived, nearly  fpent  with  cold  and  fatigue,  at  New-Plim- 
outh. 
Famine  at      By  the  laft  of  November  or  beginning  of  December 
Conneiii-  provifion  generally  failed  in  the  fettlements  on  the  riv- 
i6th  ^^'  ^"'^  famine  and  death  looked  the  inhabitants   fternly 

arrived  in  i"  the  face.  Some  of  them  driven  by  hunger  attempted 
Maflachu-  their  way,  in  this  fevere  feafon,  through  the  wildernefs, 
fetf-  the  from  Conne£licut  to  Maflachufetts.  Of  thirteen,  in 
*    ^^*  one  company,  who  made  this    attempt,  one  in  pafling 

the  rivers  fell  through  the  ice  and  was  drowned.     The 
other  twelve  were  ten  days  on  their  journey  and  would 


Winthrop's  Journal  p.  88. 
The  fame  p.  87. 


Chap.  IV.    OF    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T. 


53 


all  have  perlflied,  had  it  not  been  for  the  aiuitance  of  Book  I. 
the  Indians.  v.*«-v>0 

Indeed  fuch  was  the  diftiefs  in  general,  that  by  the  1635. 
3d  and  4th  of  December  a  ccnfiderable  part  of  the  new 
fettlers   v/ere    obliged  to     abandon    their  habitations. 
Seventy  perfons,  men,  women  and  children,  were    ne-  December 
ceflitated,  in  the  extremity  of  winter,  to  go  down  to  the  3d  or  4th. 
mouth  of  the  river  to  meet  their  provifions,  as  the  only 
expedient  to  preferve  their  lives.      Not  meeting   with 
the  veflels  which  they  expected,  they  all  went  on  board 
the  Rebecca,  a  veiTel  of  about  60  tons.     This,  two  days 
before,  was  frozen  in  twenty  miles  up  the  river  •,  but  by 
the  falling  of  a  fmall  rain  and  the  influence  of  the  tide, 
the  ice  became  fo  broken  and  was  fo  far  removed,   that 
fhe  made  a  fhift  to  get  out.     She  ran  however  upon  the  December 
bar,  and  the  people  v/erc  forced  to  unlade  her  to  get  her  loth. 
off.     She  was  reladed,  and,  in  five    days,   reached  Bof- 
ton.     Had  it  not  been  for  thefe  providential  circumftan- 
ces  the  people  mull  have  perifhed  with  famine. 

The  people  who  kept  their  ftations  on  the   river  fuf-  The  fet- 
fered  in  an  extreme  degree.     After    all  the  help    they  tiers  ate 
were  able  to  obtain,  by  hunting,  and  from  the  Indians,  ^'^°'""s , 
they  were  obliged  to  fubfifh  on  acorns,  malt  and  grains.f        ^ 

Numbers  of  the  cattle  which  could  not  be  got  over 
the  river  before  winter,  lived  through  without  any  thing 
but  what  they  found  in  the  woods  and  meadows. 
They  wintered  as  well,  or  better  than  thofe  which  were 
brought  over,  and  for  which  all  the  provifion  was  made, 
and  pains  taken  of  which  the  owners  were  capable. 
However,  a  great  number  of  cattle  perifhed.  The  Dor- 
chefter,  or  Windfor  people,  loft  in  this  fmgle  article  a-  -^^ ". '" 
bout  two  hundred  pounds  fterling.  Their  other  loiTes 
were  very  confiderable. 

It  is  difficult  to  defcribe  or  even  to  conceive  the  ap- 
prehenfions  and  diftrelTes  of  a  people,  in  the  circum- 
fiances  of  our  venerable  anceftors,  during  this  doleful 
winter.  All  the  horrors  of  a  dreary  wildernefs  fpread 
themfelves  around  them.  They  were  compafled  with 
numerous,  fierce  and  cruel  tribes  of  wild  and  favage 
men,  who  could  have  fwallowed  up  parents  and  chil- 
dren, at  pleafure,  in  their  feeble  and  diftreffed  condi- 
tion. They  had  neither  bread  for  themfelves,  nor  chil- 
dren, neither  habitations   nor  clothing   convenient  for 

t  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  90,  91,  to  98, 


54 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.  IV. 


Book  I. 


1 6.;  6. 


Firft 
Court  in 
Connc<fli- 
cut  April 
*6. 


People  re- 
turn to 
their  fet- 
tlements. 


them.  Whatever  emergency  might  happen  they  were 
cut  off,  both  by  land  and  water,  from  any  fuccour  or 
retreat.  What  felf-denial,  firmnefs,  and  magnanimity 
are  neceffary  for  fuch  enterprizes  ?  How  diftrefsful,  in 
the  beginning,  was  the  condition  of  thofe  now  fair  and 
opulent  towns  on  Connefticut  river  ! 

For  a  few  years  after  the  fettlements  on  the  river 
commenced,  they  bore  the  fame  name  with  the  towns 
in  the  Maffachufetts  whence  the  firft  fettlers  came. 

The  Conne£licut  planters,  at  firft  fettled  under  the 
general  government  of  the  Maffachufetts,  but  they  held 
courts  of  their  own,  v/hich  confifted  of  two  principal 
men  from  each  town  ;  and,  on  great  and  extraordinary 
occarions,thefe  were  joined  with  committees,  as  they 
were  called,  confifting  of  three  men  from  each  town. 
Thefe  courts  had  power  to  tranfa£t  all  the  common  af- 
fairs of  the  colony,  and  with  their  committees,  had  the 
power  of  making  war  and  peace,  and  treaties  of  alliance 
and  friendfhip  with  the  natives  within  the  colony. 

The  firft.  Court  in  Conne£ticut  was  holden  at  New- 
town, April  26th,  1636.  It  confifted  of  Roger  Ludlow 
Efquire,  Mr.  John  Steel,  Mr.  William  Swain,  Mr. 
William  Phelps,  Mr.  William  Weftwood,  and  Mr.  An- 
drew Ward.  Mr.  Ludlow  had  been  one  of  the  magif- 
trates  of  Maffachufetts  in  1630,  and  in  163 1  had  been 
chofen  lieutenant-governor  of  that  colony.  At  this 
court  it  was  ordered  That  the  inhabitants  fhould  not 
fell  arms,  nor  ammunition  to  the  Indians.  Various 
other  affairs  were  alfo  tranfa(Sled  relative  to  the  good  or- 
der, fettlement  and  defence  of  thcfe  infant  towns.* 

Several  of  the  principal  gentlemen  interefted  in  the 
fettlement  of  Connecticut,  Mr.  John  Haynes,  who  at 
this  time,  was  governor  of  Maffachufetts,  Mr.  Henry 
Wolcott,  Mr.  Welles,  the  minifters  of  the  churches,  and 
others  had  not  yet  removed  into  the  colony.  As  foon 
as  the  fpring  advanced  and  the  travelling  would  admit, 
the  hardy  men  began  to  return  from  the  Maffachufetts 
to  their  habitations  on  the  river.  No  fooner  were  buds, 
leaves  and  grafs  fo  grown,  that  cattle  could  live  in  the 
woods,  and  obftruclions  removed  from  the  river,  fo  that 
veffels  could  go  up  with  provifions  and  furniture,  than 
tlie  people  began  to  return,  in  large  companies,  to  Con- 


*  RecQrds  of  Connedicut, 


Ghaf.  IV.    OF    CONNECTICUT. 


S5 


ne£licut.  Many,  who  had  not  removed  the  laft  year,  Book  I. 
prepared,  with  all  convenient  difpatch,  for  a  journey  to  K^yv'^sJ 
the  new  fettlements  upon  the  river.  1636. 

About   the  beginning  of  June,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr. 
Stone  and  about  a  hundred  men,    women  and  children 
took  their  departure  from  Cambridge  and  travelled  more  Mr.Hoo- 
than  a  hundred  miles,  through  a  hideous  and    tracklefs  ker  re- 
wildernefs  to  Hartford.     They  had  no  guide  but  their  moves  to 
compafs  J  made  their  way  over  mountains,  thro'  fwamps,  *-^""^*-"" 
thickets  and  rivers,  which  were  not  pafTable,  but  with  june. 
great  difficulty.     They  had  no  cover  but  the  heavens, 
nor  any  lodgings  but  thofe  which  fimple  nature  afforded 
them.    They  drove  with  them  a  hundred  and  fixty  head 
of  cattle,  and  by  the  way,  fubfifted  on  the  milk  of  their 
cows.     Mrs.  Hooker  was  borne   through  the    wilder- 
nefs  upon  a  litter.     The   people   generally  carried  their 
packs,  arms  and  fome   utenfils.     They   were  nearly  a 
fortnight  on  their  journey. 

This  adventure  was  the  more  remarkable,  as  many 
of  this  company  were  perfons  of  figure,  who  had  lived, 
in  England,  in  honor,  affluence  and  delicacy,  and  were 
entire  ftrangers  to  fatigue  and  danger. 

The  famous  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard,  who,  with  his 
people,  came  into  New-England  the  laft  fummer,  fuc- 
ceeded  Mr.  Hooker  at  Cambridge.  The  people  of  his 
congregation  purchafed  the  lands  which  Mr.  Hooker 
and  his  company  had  previoufly  poflefled. 

The  removal  of  Dorchefter  people  to  Windfor  is  faid 
to  have  been  difagreeable  to  their  minifters,  but  as  their 
whole  church  and  congregation  removed,  it  was  neceffa-  jvir.  Mav- 
ry  that  they  fhould  go  with  them.     However,  Mr.  Ma^-  erick  died 
crick  died  in  March,  before  preparations  were  made  for  March  3d. 
his  removal.     He   expired  in  the   doth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  chara£l:erized  as  a  man  of  great   meeknefs,  and 
as  laborious  and  faithful  in  promoting  the  v/elfare  both 
of  the  church  and  commonwealth. 

Mr.  Warham  removed  to  Windfor  ia  September, 
but  he  did  not  judge  it  expedient  to  bring  his  family 
until  better  accommodations  could  be  made  for  their  re- 
ception. Soon  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Warham  from 
Dorchefter,  a  new  church  was  gathered  in  that  town, 
and  Mr.    Mather  was  ordained  their  paftor. 

Mr.  Phillips,  paftor  of  the  church  at  Watertown, 
did  not  remove  to  Wethersfield.     Whether  it  was  a- 


56 


THE    HISTORY     Chap.  IV. 


Book   I.  gainft  his  inclination,  or  whether  the  people  did   not 
\.yY^s^  invite  him  does  not  appear.     They  chofe  Mr.  Henry 
1636,         Smith   for  their  minifter,  who  came  from  England  in 
office. 

The  colony  of  New-Plimouth  profefled  themfelves  to 
pj.  ,  be  greatly  aggrieved  at  the  condu6l  of  the  Dorchefter 
people  people,  in  fettling  on  the  lands,  where  they  had  made  a 
aggrieved,  purchafc,  and  where  they  had  defended  themfelves  and 
that  part  of  the  country  againft  the  Dutch.  They  rep- 
refented  that  it  had  been  a  hard  matter  that  the  Dutch 
and  Indians  had  given  them  fo  much  trouble  as  they 
had  done,  but  that  it  was  ftill  more  grievous  to  be  fup- 
plantcd  by  their  profefled  friends.  Mr.  Winllow  of 
Piimouth  made  a  journey  to  Boflon,  in  the  fpring, before 
governor  Haynes  and  feme  other  principal  characters 
removed  to  Conne6licut,  with  a  view  to  obtain  compen- 
fation  for  the  injury  done  to  the  Piimouth  men,  who 
had  built  the  trading  houfe  upon  the  river.  The  Piim- 
outh people  demanded  a  fixteenth  part  of  the  lands  and 
/ico  as  a  compenfation  ;  but  the  Dorchefter  people 
would  not  comply  with  their  demands.f  There  how- 
ever appeared  to  be  fo  much  juftice,  in  making  them 
feme  compenfation,  for  the  purchafe  they  had  made, 
and  the  good  fervices  which  they  had  done,  that  fome- 
time  after,  the  freeholders  of  Windfor  gave  them  ^"50, 
forty  acres  of  meadow  and  a  large  ira£t  of  upland  for 
their  fatisfa£tion.:f: 

At  a  court  holden  at  Dorchefter  it  was  ordered,  that 
every  town  fhouid  keepa  'vatch,and  be  well  fupplied  with 
ammunition.  The  conftables  were  direCted  to  warn  the 
watches  in  their  turns  and  to  make  it  their  care,  that 
they  fliould  be  kept  according  to  the  dire6lion  of  the 
court.  They  alio  were  required  to  take  care,  that  the 
inhabitants  were  well  furnifiied  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  kept  in  a  conftant  ftate  of  defence.  As  thefe 
infant  fettlements  were  filled  and  furrounded  with  nu- 
merous favages,  the  people  conceived  themfelves  in  dan- 
ger when  they  lay  down  and  when  they  rofe  up,  when 
they  went  out  and  when  they  came  in.  Their  circum- 
ftances  were  fuch,  that  it  was  judged  neceflary  for  eve- 
ry man  to  be  a  foldier. 


Court 
June  7th 


f  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  96. 

j  Governor  Wclcott's  manufcripts  compared  with  governor 
Winthrop's  journal. 


Chap.  IV.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  57 

At  a  third  court  therefore,  holden  at  "Watertown,  Book  I. 
an  order  was  given,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  feveral  V-^^-Nrv-/ 
towns  fhould  train  once  a  month,  and  the  officers  were  ^'^36. 
authorized  to  train  thofe  who   appeared  very  unlkilful  Septem- 
more  frequently  as  circumftances  fhould  require.     The  ^^^'  ^^* 
courts  were  holden  at  each  town  by  rotation,  according 
to  its  turn. 

A  SETTLEMENT  was  made,  this  year,  at  Springfield,       . 
by  Mr.  Pyncheon  and  his  company    from    Roxbury.  flg[j"£... 
This  for  about  two  years  was    united   in  government  tied, 
with  the  towns  in  Conne£l:icut.     In  November,    Mr. 
Pyncheon  for  the  firft  time  appears  among  the  members 
of  the  court. 

All    the  powers  of   government,  for  nearly  three  Govem- 
years,  feem  to  have  been  in  the  magiflrates,  of  whom  mcnt  at 
two  were  appointed  in  each  town.     Thefe  gave  all  or-  ^^^' 
ders,  and  directed  all  the  affairs  of  the  plantation.     The 
freemen  appear  to  havehad  no  voicein  making  the  laws, 
or  in  any  part  of  the  government,  exceptin  fome  inftances 
of  general  and  uncom.mon  concern.     In  thefe  inflances 
committees  were  fent  from  the  feveral  towns.     During 
this  termitfeems  that  juries  were  not  employed  in  any 
cafe. 

This  was  a  fummer  and  year  of  ffreat  and  various  la-  -  , 
hours,  demanding  the  utmoft  exertion  and  diligence.  Qf^his 
Many  of  the  planters  had  to  remove  themfelves  and  ef-  year, 
fefts  from  a  diflant  colony.  At  the  fame  time  it  was 
abfolutely  neceflary  that  they  fhould  turn  the  wilder- 
nefs  into  gardens  and  fields,  that  they  fhould  plant  and 
cultivate  the  earth,  and  obtain  fome  tolerable  harv;?fl, 
unlefs  they  would  again  experience  the  diflrefTes  and 
lofTes  of  the  preceding  year.  Thefe  were  too  great,  and 
too  frefh  in  their  memories,  not  to  roufe  all  their  exer- 
tion and  forethought.  It  was  necefTary  to  ere<Sl  and 
fortify  their  houfes,  and  to  make  better  preparations  for 
the  feeding  and  covering  of  their  cattle.  It  was  of  e- 
qual  importance  to  the  planters  not  only  to  make  roads 
for  their  particular  convenience,  but  from  town  to  town ; 
that,  on  any  emergency,  they  might  fly  immediately  to 
each  other's  relief.  It  was  with  great  diiTiculty  that 
thefe  bufineffes  could  be  at  firft  accompliihed.  The 
planters  had  not  been  accuftomed  to  felling  the  groves, 
to  clearing   and  cultivating  new  lands.     They  were 

I 


58  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  IV. 

Book  I.   Grangers  in  the  country,  and  knew  not  what  kinds   of 
^^^^"y^tJ  grain  would  be  moll  congenial  with  the  foil,  and   prO"* 
i(>j(i'         duce  the  greateft  profits,  nor  had  they  any   experience 
how  the  ground  muft  be  cultivated,  that  it  might  yield 
a  plentiful  crop.     They  had  few  oxen,  or  inftruments 
for  hufbandry.     Every  thing  was    to  be    prepared,   or 
brought  from  a  great  diftance,  and  procured   at  a    dear 
rate.     Befides  all  thefe  labours  and   difficulties,    much 
time  wr>s  taken  up  in  conflant  watchings,  trainings   and 
preparations  for  the  defence  of  themfelves  and  children. 
The  Pequots  had  already  murdered  a  number   of  the 
Englifh  •,  fome  of  the  Indians,  inConne£lcut,  were  their 
allies  j  and  they  had  maintained  a  great  influence   over 
them  all.     They  were  a  treacherous  and  defigning  peo- 
ple ;  fo  that  there  could  be  no  fafety  but  in  a  conftant 
preparation  for  any  emergency. 
j,r         r      Some  of  the  principal  characSlers,  who  undertook  this 
Connedi-  gJ'c^t  work  of  fettling  Coimedlicut,  and  were   the    civil 
cut.  and  religious  fathers  of  the  colony  were   Mr.   Haynes, 

Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr.  Warham,  Mr.  Hopkins, 
Mr.  Welles,  Mr.  Wyllys,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Wolcott, 
Mr.  Phelps,  Mr.  Webfter,  and  captain  Mafon,  Thefe 
were  of  the  firft  clafs  of  fettlers,  and  all  except  the  min- 
irters  were  chofen  magiftrates  or  governors  of  the  co- 
lony. Mr.  Swain,  Mr.  Talcott,  Mr.  Steel,  Mr.  Mitchel, 
and  others  were  capital  men.  Mr.  John  Haynes,  Mr. 
Hooker,  Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Stone,  Mr,  George  Wyllys, 
Mr.  Welles,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Thomas  Webfter,  and 
Mr.  John  Talcott,  were  all  of  Hartford.  Mr.  Ludlow, 
Mr  Henry  Wolcott,  Mr.  Warham,  Mr.  William 
Phelps,  and  captain  John  Mafon,  were  fome  of  the  prin- 
cipal planters  of  Windfor.  Mr.  William  Swain,  Mr. 
Thurfton  Reyner,  Mr.  Henry  Smith,  Mr.  Andrew 
Ward,  Mr.  Mitchel  and  Mr.  John  Deming,  were  fome 
of  the  chief  men,  who  fettled  the  town  of  Wethersfield. 
Thefe  were  the  civil  and  religious  fathers  of  the  colony. 
They  formed  its  free  and  happy  conftltution,  were  its 
legiflators,  and  fome  of  the  chief  pillars  of  the  church 
and  commonwealth.  They,  with  many  others  of  the 
fame  excellent  chara£ler,  employed  their  abilities  and 
their  eftates  for  the  profperity  of  the  colony. 

While  the  three  plantations  on  the  river  were  making 
tlic  utmoft  exertions  for  a  permanent  fcttlement,  Mr. 
Winthrop  was  no  lefs  a^Ivje  in   ere(Sting  fortifications 


Chap.  V.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  $9 

and  convenient  buildings  at  its  entrance.  Though  he  Book  I. 
had,  the  laft  year,  fent  on  one  company  after  another,  v,>^,^nJ 
yet  the  feafon  was  fo  far  advanced,  and  the  winter  fet  1636. 
in  fo  early,  and  with  fuch  feverity,  that  little  more  could 
be  done  than  juft  to  keep  the  ftation.  When  the  fpring 
advanced  the  works  were  therefore  prefled  on  with  en- 
gagednefs.  Mr.  Winthrop  and  his  people  were  indu- 
ced, not  only  in  faithfulnefs  to  their  trufl,  but  from 
fears  of  a  vifit  from  the  Dutch,  and  from  the  ftate  of 
that  warlike  people,  the  Pequots  in  the  vicinity,  to  haf- 
ten  and  complete  them,  with  the  utmofl  difpatch.  A 
good  fort  was  ere£led  and  a  number  of  houfes  were 
built.  Some  cattle  were  brought  from  the  Mafiachu- 
fetts  for  the  ufe  of  the  garrifon.  Small  parcels  of  ground 
were  improved,  and  preparations  made  for  a  comforta- 
ble fubfiftence  and  good  defence. 

There  were,  at  the  clofe  of  this  year,  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  in  the  three  towns  on  the  river,  and 
there  were  twenty  men  in  the  garrifon  at  the  entrance 
of  it  under  the  comm^and  of  lieutenant  Gardiner.  The 
whole  confifted,  probably,  of  about  800  perfons,  or  of 
a  hundred  and  fixty  or  feventy  families. 


CHAPTER    V. 

^H£  war  nvith  the  Pequots.  The  origin  of  it.  The  mur- 
der of  Captains  Stone  and  Norton ^  of  Mr.  Oldham  and 
others.  Mr.  Endicot^s  expedition  againfl  them.  The 
Pequots  kill  a  number  of  the  garrifon  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  and  hefiege  the  fort.  Captain  Mafon  is  fent  down 
from  Conneclicut  nvith  a  reinforcement.  The  enemy  make 
a  defcent  on  Wethersfeld^  torture  and  mock  the  Engliffj. 
The  court  at  Conneclicut  declares  ivar  againfl  them. 
Captain  Mafon  takes  Miflic  fort.  Sajfacus  dcjlroys  his 
royal fortrefs  and  fees  to  the  wefward.  A  fccond  expe- 
dition is  undertaken  againfl  the  Pequots  conjointly ^  by 
M-affachifetts  and  ConneElicut.  The  g  r  e  at  fw  amp  fight. 
The  Pequots fubdued.  Sajfacus  fiying  to  the  Mohawks 
•was  beheaded.  The  captivated  and  furviving  PequotSy 
after  the  war,  were  given  to  the  Moheagans  and  Narra- 
ganfettSy  and  their  name  extinguifijed. 

•HE  Indians  in  general  were  ever  jealous  of  the 
Englilh,  from  the  firft  fcttlement  of  New-Eng- 


do  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  land,  and  wifhed  to  drive  tliem  from  the  country.  Va- 
v-^VN^  riou,s  circumftances  however  combined  to  fruftrate  their 
1636.  defigns.  The  Englifii,  on  their  firft  fett'ement,  at  New- 
Piimouth,  entered  into  fuch  friendly  treaties  with  fome 
of  the  principal  tribes,  and  conducled  themfelves  with 
fuch  juitice,  prudence  and  magnanimity  towards  them, 
and  the  Indians  in  general,  as  had  the  moft  happy  in- 
fluence to  preferve  the  peace  of  the  country-  The  ani- 
mofities  of  the  Indians  amonsr  themfelves,  and  their  im- 
placable  hatred  of  each  other,  with  their  various  fepa- 
rate  interefts,  contributed  to  the  fame  purpofe.  Some 
of  them  wifhed  for  the  friendship  and  neighbourhood  of 
the  Englifh,  to  guard  them  from  one  enemy,  and  others 
of  them  to  protect  them  from  another.  All  ^*i{hed  for 
the  benefit  of  their  trade  ;  and  it  is  probable,  that  they 
liad  no  apprehenfions,  at  firft,  that  a  handful  of  people 
would  ever  overrun  and  fill  the  country.  It  was  there- 
fore nearly  fixteen  years  before  thev  commenced  open 
hoftilities  upon  their  EngUfli  neighbours.  But  no 
fooner  had  they  begun  to  trade  and  make  fettlements  at 
Conne6licut,  than  that  great  fpirited  and  warlike  nation, 
the  Pequots,  began  to  murder  and  plunder  them,  and  to 
■wound  and  kill  their  cattle. 

In  1634  a  number  of  Indians,  who  were   not  native 

^V  ;^^r.°  Pequots,  but  in  confederacy  with  them,  murdered   cap- 
captains  .^  ,,      '  ,  •      TvT  •  1       1     •         1     , 

Stone  and  tain  otone  and  captani  JSIorton,  with  their  whole  crew, 
Norton,  confifting  of  eight  men.  They  then  plundered  and 
1634-  funk  the  vcffel.     Captain  Stone  was  from  St.    Chrifto- 

pher's,  in  the  Weil-Indies,  and  came  into  Conne6ticut 
river,  with  a  vie^v  of  ti"ading  at  the  Dutch  houfe.  Af- 
ter he  had  entered  the  river,  he  engaged  a  number  of 
Indians  to  pilot  two  of  his  men  up  the  river  to  the 
Dutch.  But  niglit  coming  on,  they  went  to  fleep,  and 
were  both  murdered  by  their  Indian  guides.  The  vef- 
ic\,  at  night,  was  laid  up  to  the  fliore.  Twelve  of  thofe 
Indians,  who  had  feveral  times  before  been  trading  with 
the  captain,  apparently  in  an  amicable  manner,  were 
onboard.  Watching  their  opportunity,  when  he  was 
aileep  and  feveral  of  the  crew  on  fliore,  they  murdered 
him  fecretly  in  his  cabin,  and  caft  a  covering  over  him, 
to  conceal  it  from  his  men.  They  then  fell  upon  them, 
and  foon  killed  the  whole  company,  except  captain  Nor- 
ton. He  had  taken  the  cook-room,  and  for  a  long  time, 
made  a  moft  brave  and  refolute  defence.     That  he 


Chap.  V.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  6i 

might  load  and  fire  with  the  greateft  expedition,  he  had  Book  I. 
placed  powder  in  an  open  velleljuft  at  hand,  M'hich  in  v.**--,^«»j 
the  hurry  of  the   aftion   took   fire,  and   fo  burned  and  1634. 
bUnded  him  that  he  could  make    no  further  refiflance. 
Thus,  after  all  his  gallantry,   he  fell  with  his  haplefs 
companions.     Part  of  the  plunder  was  received  by  the 
Pequots,  and  another  part  by   the   eaftern  Nehanticks. 
Safiacus   and  Ninigret,   the  fachems  of  thofe  Indians, 
•were  both  privy  to  the  affair  and  fliared  in  the  goods  and 
articles  taken  from  the  veflel.       It  was  fuppofed,   that 
the  Indians  had  pre-concerted  this  mafTacre.* 

The  November  following,  the  Pequots  fent  a  meflen-  ThePe- 
ger  to  Bofton  to  defire  peace   with    the  Englifh.     He  quot&  de- 
made  an  offer  of  a  great  quantity   of  beaver  (kins  and  '^'^  peace, 
wampumpeag,  to  perfuade  the  governor  to  enter  into  a 
league  with  them.     The  governor  anfwered  the  mefTen- 
ger,  that  the  Pequots  mull  fend  men  of  greater   quality 
than  he  was  ;  and  that  he  would  then  treat  with  them. 
The  Pequots  then  fent  two  mellengers  to  the  governor, 
carrying  a  prefent  and  earneftly  foliciting  peace.     The 
governor  affuredthem,  that  the  Englifh  were  willing  to 
be  at  peace  with  them  ;  but  infilled,  that,  as    they  had 
murdered  captain  Stone  and  his  men,  they  mufl  deliji-er 
up  the  murderers  and   make  full  compenfation.     The 
melTengers  pretended,  That  captain  Stone  had  ufed  the 
Indians  ill  and  provoked  them  to  kill  him  :    That   their 
fachem,  who  was  concerned  in  the  affair  had  been  killed 
by  the  Dutch,  and  that  the  Indians  who  perpetrated  the 
murder  were  all  dead  but  two  -,  and,  that  if  they  were 
guilty,  they  would  defire  their  fachem  to  deliver  them 
up  to  juflice.     They  ofTered  to  concede  all  their  right  at 
Conne6licut  river  if  the  Englifh  fhould  defire   to  fettle  Treaty 
there,  and  engaged  to  alTift  them,  as  far  as  was  in   their  with  the 
power,  in  making  their  fettlements.     They  alfo  promi-  °'=4'i°^'' 
fed  that  they  would  give  the  Englifh   four  hundred  fa- 
thom of  wampum,  forty   beaver  and  thirty  otter  fkins. 
After  long  and  mature  deliberation  the  governor  and 
his  council  entered  into  a  treaty  with  them,  on  the  con- 
ditions M^hich  they  had   propofed.     The  Englifh  were 
to  fend  a  veflel  with  cloths  to  trade  with  them  fairly  as 
with  friends  and  allies.f 

*  Mafon's  liiftory,  and  Hubbard's  narrative, 
f  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  75.  compared  with  Hubbard's  nar- 
rative p.  15, 16,17, 


62  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  The  reafons  of  their  fo  earneflly  foliciting  peace,  at 
\.^^V"x^  this  time,  were,  that  the  Narraganfeis  were  making 
J635.  war  furioufly  upon  them  ;  and  the  Dutch,  to  revenge 
the  injuries  done  them,  had  killed  one  of  their  fachems, 
with  feveral  of  their  men,  and  captivated  a  number  more. 
They  wifhed  net  at  this  critical  time  to  increafe  the  num- 
ber of  their  enemies.  They  artfully  fuggefted  to  their 
new  allies,  the  governor  and  council  of  Maflachufetts, 
their  defire,  that  they  would  be  mediators  between  them 
and  the  Narraganfets.  They  alfo  intimated  their  wil- 
lingnefs,  that  part  of  the  prefent  which  they  were  to 
fend,  might  be  given  to  them  for  the  purpofe  of  obtain- 
ing a  reconciliation.  Such  was  the  pride  and  ftoutnefs 
of  their  fpirits,  and  fo  much  did  they  ftand  upon  a  point 
of  honor,  that  though  they  wiflied  for  peace  with  their 
enemy,  yet  they  would  not  directly  offer  any  thing  for 
that  purpofe.  This  treaty  was  figned  by  the  parties, 
but  hoflages  were  not  taken  to  fecure  the  performance 
of  the  articles,  and  the  Pequots  never  performed  one  of 
them.  Whatever  their  defigns  were  at  that  time,  they 
afterwards  became  more  and  more  milchievous,  hoftile 
and  bloody. 

The  next  year  John  Oldham  who  had  been  fairly 
trading  at  Connecticut  was  murdered  near  Block  Ifland. 
He  had  with  him  only  two  boys  and  two  Narraganfet 
Indians.  Thefe  were  taken  and  carried  off.  One  John 
Gallop,  as  he  was  going  from  Connecticut  to  Bofton, 
difcovered  Mr.  Oldham's  vefl'el  full  of  Indians, 
and  he  faw  a  canoe,  having  Indians  on  board,  go  from 
her  laden  with  goods.  Sufpefling  that  they  had  mur- 
dered Mr.  Oldham,  he  hailed  them,  but  received  no  an- 
fwer.  Gallop  was  a  bold  man,  and  though  he  had  with 
him  but  one  man  and  two  boys,  he  immediately  bore 
down  upon  them  and  fired  duckfhot  fo  thick  among  them, 
that  he  foon  cleared  the  deck.  The  Indians  all  got  un- 
der the  hatches.  He  then  flood  off,  and  running  down 
upon  her  quarter  with  a  brifk  gale,  nearly  overfet  her  ; 
and  fo  frighted  the  Indians,  that  fix  of  them  leaped  into 
the  fea,  and  were  drowned.  He  then  fleered  off  again, 
and  running  down  upon  her  a  fecond  time,  bored  her 
with  his  anchor,  and  raked  her  fore  and  aft  with  his 
fliot.  But  the  Indians  kept  themfelves  fo  clofe,  he  got 
loofe  from  her  ;  and  running  down  a  third  time,  upon 
the  velTel,  he  gave  her  fuch  a  ftiock,  that  five  more  leap.- 


Chap.  V.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  63 

cd  overboard,  and  perifhed  as  the  former  had  done.  He  Book  I. 
then  boarded  the  veflel,  and  took  two  of  the  Indians  \^^^'vsj 
and  bound  them.  Two  or  three  others,  armed  with  i6j6, 
fwords,  in  a  little  room  below,  could  not  be  driven  from 
their  retreat.  Mr.  Oldham's  corpfe  was  found  on 
board ;  the  head  fplit  and  the  body  mangled  in  a  barbarous 
manner.  He  was  a  Dorchelter  man,  one  of  Mr.  War- 
ham's  congregation.  In  thefe  circumftances.  Gallop, 
fearing  that  the  Indians  whom  he  had  taken  might  get 
loofe,  efpecially  if  they  were  kept  together,  and  having 
noplace  where ^he  could  keep  them  apart,  threw  one  of 
them  overboard.  Gallop  and  his  company,  then,  as  de- 
cently as  circumftances  would  permit,  put  the  corpfe 
into  the  fea.  They  ftripped  the  veflel,  and  took  her 
rigging,  and  the  goods  which  had  not  been  carried  off, 
on  board  their  own.  She  was  then  taken  in  tow  with 
a  view  to  carry  her  in,  but  the  night  coming  on,  and 
the  wind  rifing,  Gallop  was  obliged  to  let  her  go  adrift, 
and  (he  was  loft.  The  Indians  who  perpetrated  the 
murder,  were  principally  the  Block^Iflanders,  with  a 
number  of  the  Narraganfcts,  to  whom  thefe  Indians,  at 
this  time,  were  fubjedt.  Several  of  the  Narraganfet 
fachems  were  in  the  plot,  and  it  was  fuppofed  that  the 
Indians,  whom  Oldham  had  with  him,  were  in  the  con- 
fpiracy.  Several  of  the  murderers  fled  to  the  Pequots 
and  were  protected  by  them.  They  were  therefore 
confidered  as  abettors  of  the  murder. 

The  governor  and  council  of  Maffichufetts  therefore,  Mr.  End«- 
the  next  year,  difpatched  captain  Endicot  with  ninety  cot's  ex- 
volunteers  to  avenge  thefe  murders,  unlefs  the  Indians  pedition. 
{hould  deliver  up  the  murderers  and  make  reparation  for 
the  injuries  which  they  had  done.  The  Narraganfet 
fachems  fent  home  Mr. Oldham'stwo  boy 3,  and  made fuch 
fatisfa£lion,  and  gave  fuch  afl'urances  of  their  good  con- 
duel,  for  the  future,  as  the  Englilh  accepted  ;  but  the 
other  Indians  made  no  compenfation.  Captain  Endicot 
was  therefore  inftrucSted  to  proceed  to  Block-Ifland  and 
put  the  men  to  the  fword  and  take  poflblTion  of  the  IHand. 
The  women  and  children  were  to  be  fpared.  Thence 
he  was  to  fail  to  the  Pequot  country,  and  demand 
of  the  Pequots  the  murderers  of  captains  Stone  and 
Norton,  and  of  the  other  Englilhmen,  who  were  of 
their  company.  He  was  alfo  to  demand  a  thoufand 
fathom  of  wampum  for  damages,  and  %  number  of 


64  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  V, 

Book  I.  their  children  for  hoftages,  until  the  murderers  fhould 
v->'~w.^.  be  delivered,  and  fatisfa£lion  made.  If  they  refufed  to 
1636.  comply  with  thefe  terms,  he  was  directed  to  take  it  by 
force  of  arms.  He  had  under  him  captains  John  Un- 
derbill and  Nathaniel  Turner.  They  failed  from  Bof- 
Aug.  25.  ton  on  the  25th  of  Auguft.  When  he  arrived  at  Block- 
Ifland,  forty  or  fifty  Indians  appeared  on  the  Ihore  and 
oppofed  his  landing  ;  but  his  men  foon  landed  and  af- 
ter a  little  ikirmilhing  the  Indians  fled  to  the  woods. 
The  Indians  fecreted  themfelvcs  in  fwamps,  thickets 
and  faftneffes,  where  they  could  not  be  found.  There 
were  two  plantations  on  the  ifland  containing  about  fix- 
ty  wigwams,  fome  of  which  were  very  large  and  fair. 
The  Indians  had  alfo  about  two  hundred  acres  of  corn. 
After  the  Englifh  had  fpent  two  days  on  the  Ifland, 
burning  the  wigwams,  deflroying  their  corn,  and  (laving 
their  canoes,  they  failed  for  the  Pequot  country. — 
"When  they  had  arrived  in  Pequot  harbour,  captain  En- 
dicot  acquainted  the  Pequots  with  the  defign  of  his 
coming,  demanded  fatisfa£iion  for  the  murders  which 
they  had  committed  againft  the  Englifli,  and  compenfa- 
tion  for  the  damages  which  they  had  done  them.  In  a 
few  hours  nearly  three  hundred  of  the  Pequots  colledled 
upon  the  fnore,  but  foon  after  they  were  fully  informed 
of  his  bufmefs  they  began  to  withdraw  into  the  woods, 
and  inftead  of  treatiiig  anfwered  him  witli  their  arrows, 
from  the  adjacent  rocks  and  faftneffes.  He  landed  his 
men  on  both  fides  of  the  harbour,  burnt  their  wigwams, 
and  deftroyed  their  canoes  ;  but  made  no  fpirited  at- 
tack upon  them,  nor  purfuit  after  them.  As  their  corn 
was  ftanding  no  pains  were  taken  for  its  deftrudlion. 
They  killed  an  Indian  or  two,  and  then  returned  to  Bof- 
Septem-  ton.  They  all  arrived  on  the  14th  of  September  un- 
ber,  14.  harmed  either  by  ficknefs  or  the  fword.*  Enough  in- 
deed had  been  done  to  exafperate,  but  nothing  to  fub- 
due  a  haughty  and  warlike  enemy. 

Sassacus  and  his  captains  were  men  of  great  and  in- 
Viewsaml  (dependent  fpirits  -,  they  had  conquered  and  governed  the 
feelings  o   j^^f Jqj^5  around   them  without  controul.     They  viewed 
the  Englifii  as  ftrangers  and  mere  intruders,   who  had 
no  right  to  the  country,  nor  to  controul  its  original  pro- 
prietors,  independent  princes  and  fovereigns.     They 

*  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  105,  106,  107. 


Chap.  V.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  65 

had  made  fettlements  at  Connefticut  without  their  con-  Book  I. 
fent,  and  brought  home  the  Indian  kings,  whom  they  v_^w^ 
had  conquered,  and  reftored  to  them  their  authority  and  1636. 
lands.     They  had  built  a  fort,  and  were  making  a  fet- 
tlement,  without  their  approbation,  in  their  very  neigh- 
bourhood.    Indeed  they  had  now  proceeded  to  attack 
and  ravage  their  country.     They  were  now  therefore 
all  kindled  into  refentment  and  rage  ;  they  determined 
upon,  and  breathed  nothing  but  war  and  revenge.  They 
determined  to  extirpate,  or  drive  all  the  Englifla   from 
New-England. 

For  this  purpofe  they  conceived  the  plan  of  uniting  Pq]|^„  gf 
the  Indians  generally   againft  them.     They   fpared  no  ^^e  Pe- 
art nor  pains  to  make  peace  with  the  Narraganfets,  and  quots. 
to  engage  them  in  the  war  againft  the  Englifh.     They 
represented,  that  theEnglifli,  who  were  merely  foreign- 
ers, were  overfpreading  the  country,  and  depriving  the 
original  inhabitants  of  their  ancient  rights   and  poiTelT- 
ions  :  That  unlefs  efFciSlual  meafures  were  immediately 
taken  to  prevent  it,  they  would  foon  entirely  difpoflefs 
the  original  proprietors  and  become  the  lords  of  the 
continent.     They  infifted,  that,  by  a  general  combina- 
tion, they  could  either  deftroy,  or  drive  them  from  the 
country.     With  great  advantage  did  they  reprefent  the 
facility  with   which   it  might  be   efFefted.     They  faid 
there  would  be  no  neceflity  of  coming  to  open  battles  : 
That  by  killing  their  cattle,  firing  their  houfes,  laying 
ambufhes  on  the  roads,  in  the    fields,    and   wherever 
they  could  furprife  and  deftroy  them,   they  might  ac- 
complifh  their  wifhes.     They   reprefented,  that   if  the 
Englifh  fhould  efFeft  the  deftru£lion  of  the  Pequots, 
they  would  alfo   foon    deftroy    the  Narraganfets.     So  gavage  re- 
juft  and  politic  were  thefe  reprefentations,  that  nothing,  vengepre- 
but  that  thirft  for  revenge,  which  inflames  the  favage  yents  un- 
heart,  could  have  refifted  their  influence.    Indeed  it  is  '°"* 
faid,  that  for  a  time  the  Narraganfets  hefitated. 

The  governor  of  Maflachufetts,  to  prevent  an  union 
between  thefe  favage  nations,  and  to  ftrengthen  the 
peace  between  the  Narraganfet  Indians  and  the  colony, 
fcnt  for  Miantonimoh  their  chief  fachem,  inviting  him 
to  come  to  Bofton.  Upon  this  Miantonimoh,  with 
another  of  the  Narraganfet  fachems,  two  of  the  fons  of 
Canonicus,  with  a  number  of  their  men,  went  to  Bof- 
ton and  entered  into  the  following  treaty. 


d5  THEHISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.        That  there  iliould  be  a  firm  peace  between  them  and 

V.>^Y">>^  the   Englifli,  and  their  poftcrity :  That  neither  party 

i6j6.         Hiould  make  peace  with  the  Pequots,  without  the  con- 

Tre^t         ^'^'^^  °^  '■^^  other  :  That   they   fhould  not  harbour  the 

with  the     Pequots,  and    that  they  fliould  return  all  fugitive  fer- 

Narragan-  vants,  and  deliver  over  to  the  Englifli,  or  put  to  death 

fets.  all  murderers.     The  Englifli  were  to  give  them  notice 

when  they  went  out  againft  the  Pequots,  and  they  were 

to  furnifti  them  with  guides.     It  was  alfo    fl:ipulated, 

tliat  a  free  trade  fliould  be   maintained   between   the 

parties. 

Pequots         Captain  Underbill  and  twenty  men  appointed  to  rc- 

flghtin       inforce  the  garrifon  at  Saybrook,  lying  wind  bound  off 

their  own  Pequot  harbour,  after  Mr.  Endicot's  departure,  a  party 

tltfcnce.     of  them    went  on    fhore  to  plunder   the  Pequots  and 

bring  off  their  corn.     After  they  had  plundered  a  fliort 

time  and  brought  off  fome  quantity  of  corn,  the  Pequots 

attacked  them,  and   they  fought  a  confiderable  part  of 

the  afternoon.     At  length  the  enemy  retired  and  they 

returned  to  their  boats.     They  had  one  man  wounded, 

and  imagined  they  killed  and   wounded  fcveral  of  the 

Indians. 

Surprife         About  tlie  beginning  of  October  the  enemy,  conceal- 

the  Eng-     ing  themfelves  in  the  high  grafs,  in  the  meadows,  fur- 

^H^!'  prifed  five  of   the   garrifon  at  Saybrook,  as   they  were 

*"  °  ^^'    carrying  home  their  hay.     One  Butterfield  was   taken 

and  tortured  to  death.     The   reft:   made  their  efcape, 

but  one  of  them  had  five  arrows  fliot  into  him.     From 

this  difafter  the  place  received  the  name  of  Butterfield's 

meadovi'. 

Eight  or  ten  days  after  Jofeph  Tilly,  a  maft:er  of  a 
V  W'jjiy  ,'    fmall  veffel,  was  captivated  by  the   enemy,   as  he   was 
ken  and      goi"S  <-'Own  Connedlicut  river.     He  came   to   anchor 
tortured,    two  or  three  miles  above  the  fort,    and  taking  a  canoe, 
and  one  man  with    him,   went  a  fowling.     No  fooner 
had  he  difcharged  his  piece,  than  ;i  large  number  of  Pe- 
quots arifing  from  their  concealment  took  him,  and  kil- 
led his  companion.     Tilly  was  a  man  of  a  great   fpirit 
and  underftanding,  and  determined  to    fhow  himfelf   a 
man.     The  Indians  ufed  him    in   the  moft:  barbarous 
manner,  firft  cutting  off  his  hands,   and  then   his    feet, 
and  fo  gradually  torturing    him    to  death.     But  as  all 
tlieir  cruelties  could  act  effe(5t  a  groan,  they  pronounced 
him  a  flout  man. 


Chap.  V.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  dy 

The  enemy  now  kept  a  conftant  watch  upon  the  ri-  Book  I. 
ver  and  upon  the  people   at  Saybrook.     A  houfe  had  v-/-v-v^ 
been  ere£led  about  two  miles  from  the  fort,  and  fix  of  ^"^j^- 
the  garrifon  were  fent  to   keep  it.     As  three  of  them 
were  fowling,  at  a  fmall  diftance  from  the   houfe,  they 
were  fuddenly  attacked,  by  nearly  a  hundred  Pequots. 
Two  of  them  were  taken.     The   other   cut  his  way 
through  them,  fword  in  hand,  and  made  his  efcape  ;  but 
he  was  wounded  with  two  arrows. f 

Before  winter,  the  garrifon  were   fo  pre  fled   by  the  jj^^I^q^j 
enemy,  that  they  were  obliged  to  keep  almofl  wholly  is  conipaf- 
within  the  reach  of  their  guns.     The  Pequots  razed  all  fed  with 
the  out  houfes,  burnt  the  ftacks  of  hay,  and  deftroyed  lodians. 
almofl  every  thing    which   was   not  within   the  com.- 
mand  of  the   fort.     The  cattle  which  belonged  to  the 
garrifon   were   killed   and  wounded.     Some  of   them 
came  home  with  the  arrows  of  the   enemy  (licking  in 
them.     Indeed  the  fort  was  but  little  better  than  in  a 
ftate  of  fiege,  a  great   part  of  the    winter.      The  en- 
emy fo  compafled  it  about,  and  watched  all  the  motions 
of  the  garrifon,  that  it  was  dangerous,  at  any  time,  to  go 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  cannon. 

When  the  fpring  came  on  they  became  ftill  more 
mlfchievous  and  troublefome.  They  kept  fuch  a  con- 
ftant watch  upon  the  river  that  men  could  not  pafs  up 
and  down,  vi^ith  any  fafety,  without  a  ftrong  guard. — 
They  waylaid  the  roads  and  fields,  and  kept  Con- 
necticut in  a  ftate  of  conftant  fear  and  alarm. 

In  March  lieutenant  Gardiner,  who  commanded  the  yr   ' . 
fort,  at  Saybrook,  going    out  with   ten  or  twelve  men  jg,^. 
to  burn  the  marfties,  was  waylaid  by  a   narrow  neck  of  Men  killed 
land,  and  as  foon  as  he  had  pafled  the  narrow  part  of  the  at  Say- 
neck,  the  enemy  rofe  upon  him  and  killed  three  of  his  brook, 
men.     The  reft  made  their  efcape  to  the  fort ;  but  one 
of  them  was  mortally  wounded,  fo  that  he  died  the  next 
day.     The  lieutenant  did  not  efcape  without  a   (light 
wound.     The  enemy  purfued  them  in  great  numbers, 
to  the  very  fort,   and  compalTed   it  on  all  fides.     They 
challenged  the  Englilh  to  come  out  and  fight,  and  mock- 
ed them,  in  the  groans,   pious   invocations   and  dying 
language  of  their  friends,  whoni  they  had  captivated 

+  Hubbard's  Narrativct  Winthrop's  journal,  and  Mafon's 
hiftory  ©f  the  Pequot  war. 


68  THEHISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  when  they  were  torturing  them  to  death.     They  boaft- 
v.^'W.^  ed,  That  they  could   kill  Englifh    men  "  all  one  flies.'* 
1637,         The  cannon  loaded  with  grape  fhot  were   fired  upon 
them  and  they  retired. 

Some  time  after,  the  enemy  in  a  number  of  canoes 
Killed  go-  bcfet  a  fhallop,  which  was  going  down  the  river  with 
jng  down  ^Y^^ee  men  on  board.     The  men  fought  bravely,  but 

lllC     river  r-m-^ 

were  overpowered  with  numbers.  The  enemy  fliot  one 
through  the  head  with  an  arrow,  and  he  fell  overboard  •, 
the  other  two  were  taken.  The  Indians  ripped  them 
up,  from  the  bottom  of  their  bellies  to  their  throats, 
and  cleft  them  down  their  backs.  They  then  hung 
them  up  by  their  necks  upon  trees  by  the  fide  of  the  riv- 
er, that  as  tlie  Englilh  pafled  by,  they  might  fee  thofe 
miferable  objecls  of  their  vengeance. 

The  Pequots  tortured  the  captives  to  death  in  the 
mod  cruel  manner.  In  fome,  they  cut  large  gafhes  in 
their  flefh,  and  then  poured  embers  and  live  coals  into 
the  wounds.  When,  in  their  diflrefs,  they  groaned, 
and  in  a  pious  manner  committed  their  departing  fpirits 
to  their  Redeemer,  thefe  barbarians  would  infult  and 
mock  them  in  their  dying  agonies  and  prayers. 

On  the  21ft  of  February,  the  court  met  at  New- 
CourtW"^*  t^"^"'  ^"^  letters  were  written  to  the  governor  of  Maf- 
Hartford.  fachufetts  repreprefenting  the  diflatisfa£tion  of  the  court 
withMr.Endicot's  expedition, the  confequences  of  which 
had  been  fo  diftrefsful  to  Connefticut.  The  court  ex- 
prefled  their  defires  that  the  colony  of  Maflachufetts 
would  more  effedlually  profecute  the  war  with  the  Pe- 
quots.f  It  was  alfo  rcprefented  to  be  the  defign  of 
Ccnnefticut  to  fend  a  force  againft  them. 

At  this  court  it  was  decreed,  That  the  plantation 
called  Newtown  fhould  be  named  Hartford,  and  that 
"Watertown  fliould  be  called  Wethersfield.  It  was  foon 
after  decreed, That  Dorchefler  fhould  be  called  Windfor. 
Hartford  was  named  in  honor  to  Mr.  Stone,  who  was 
born  at  Hartford  in  England. 
March.  Captain  Mafon  was  foon  after  difpatched  with  twen- 

ty men  to  reinforce  the  garrifonatSaybrook,  and  to  keep 
the  enemy  at  a  greater  diftance.  After  his  arrival  at 
the  fort  the  enemy  made  no  more  attacks  upon  it,  but 
appeared  very  much  to  withdraw  from  that  quarter. 

f  Winthrop's  journal  p.  123. 


Chap.    V.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  69 

A  PARTY  of  them  took  a  difFerent  route,  and,  in    A-  Book  I. 

pril,  waylaid  the  people  at  Wethersficld,  as  they  were  \^yv\^ 

going  into  their  fields  to  labour,  and  killed  fix  men  and  ^^37- 

three  women.     Two  maids  were    taken  captive.     Be-  April. 

fides,  thev  killed  twenty  cows,  and  did  other  damages  d^niagc  ?.t 
^      .'.,',.       ^  Wcthers- 

to  the  miiabitants.  p  U 

Soon  after  this  captain  Underhill,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed in  the  fall  preceding  to  keep  garrifon  at  Say- 
brook,  was  fent  from  the  Maflachufetts  with  twenty 
men  to  reinforce  the  garrifon.  Upon  their  arrival  at 
Saybrook,  captain  Mafon  and  his  men  immediately  re- 
turned to  Hartford. 

The  affairs  of  Connecticut,  at  this  time  wore  a  moft 
gloomy  afpefl.  They  had  fuflained  great  loffes  in  cattle  pircum- 
and  goods  in  the  preceding  years,  and  even  this  year  ftances  of 
they  were  unfortunate  witli  refpe£l  to  their  cattle,  thecolo- 
They  had  no  hay  but  what  they  cut  from  the  fpontane-  "y* 
ous  produ£lions  of  an  uncultivated  country.  To  make 
good  Englifh  meadow  was  a  work  of  time.  The  wild, 
coarfe  grafs  which  the  people  cut  was  often  mowed  too 
late  and  but  poorly  made.  They  did  not  always  cut  a 
fufficient  quantity  even  of  this  poor  hay.  They  had  no 
corn  or  provender  with  wh'ch  they  could  feed  them  ; 
andamidfl  the  multiplicity  of  afrairs,  which,  at  their  lirft 
fettlement,  demanded  their  attention,  they  could  not 
provide  fuch  flielters  for  them  as  were  neceflary  during; 
the  long  and  fevere  winters  of  this  northern  climate. 
From  an  union  of  thcfe  circumftances,  fome  of  their  cat- 
tle were  loft,  and  thofe  which  lived  through  winter 
were  commonly  poor,  and  many  of  the  cows  loft  their 
young.  Notwithftanding  all  the  exertions  the  people 
had  made  the  preceding  fummer,  they  had  not  been 
able,  in  the  multiplicity  of  their  affairs,  and  under  their 
inconveniencies,  to  raife  a  fufhciencyofprovifion.  Their 
provifions  were  not  only  very  coarfe,  but  very  dear  and 
fcanty.  The  people  were  not  only  unexperienced  in 
the  hufbandry  of  the  country,  but  they  had  but  few  ox- 
en or  ploughs.f  They  performed  almoft  the  whole  cul- 
ture of  the  earth  with  their  hoes.  This  rendered  it  both 
exceedingly  flow  and  laborious 

f  It  feems  that  at  this  period  there  were  but  thirty  ploughs 
in  the  whole  colony  of  Mairachufetts.     Winthrop's  journal  p. 
114.    It  is  not  probable  that  there  were  ten,  perhaps  rot  five, 
in  Connedicut. 


-70 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.  V, 


Book  I. 


1637. 


Court 


Every  article  bore  a  high  price.  Valuable  as  money 
was,  at  that  day,  a  good  cow  could  not  be  purchafed 
under  ^30,  a  pair  of  bulls  or  oxen  not  under  £^0.  A 
mare  from  England  or  Flanders  fold  at  ^30,  and  In- 
dian corn  at  about  five  fliillings  abufhe-1.  Labour,  and 
other  articles,  bore  a  proportionable  price. 

In  addition  to  all  thefe  difhculties  a  moll  infidious  and 
dreadful  enemy  were  now  deftroying  the  lives  and  prop- 
erty of  the  colonifts,  attempting  to  raife  the  numerous 
Indian  tribes  of  the  country  againft  them,  and  threaten- 
ed the  utter  ruin  of  the  whole  colony.  The  inhabitants 
were  in  a  feeble  ftate  and  few  in  number.  They  want- 
ed all  their  men  at  home,  to  profecute  the  neceflary  bu- 
fmefs  of  the  plantations-  They  had  not  a  fufficiency  of 
provifions  for  themfelves^  there  would  therefore  be  the 
greateft  difficulty  in  furnifhing  a  fmall  army,  with  pro- 
vifions abroad.  They  could  neither  hunt,  fifli,  nor  cul- 
tivate their  fields,  nor  travel  at  home,  or  abroad,  but 
;it  the  peril  of  their  lives.  They  were  obliged  to  keep  a 
conftant  watch  by  night  and  day  ;  to  go  armed  to  their 
daily  labours,  and  to  the  public  worfhip.  They  were 
obliged  to  keep  a  conftant  watch  and  guard  at  their  hou- 
ies  of  worfliip,  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  at  other  feafons, 
whenever  they  convened  for  the  public  worfhip.  They 
lay  down  and  rofe  up  in  fear  and  danger.  If  they  fhould 
raife  a  party  of  men  and  fend  them  to  fight  the  enemy 
on  their  own  ground,  it  would  render  the  fettlements 
proportionably  weak  at  home,  in  cafe  of  an  affault  from 
the  enemy.  Every  thing  indeed  appeared  dark  and 
threatening.  But  nothing  could  difcourage  men,  who 
had  an  uniliaken  confidence  in  the  divine  government, 
and  were  determined  to  facrifice  every  other  confidera- 
tion,  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  uncorrupted  gofpel,  and 
the  propagation  of  religion  and  liberty  in  America. 

In  this  important  crifis,  a  court  was  fummoned,  at 
Hartford,  on  Monday  the  i  ft  of  May.  As  they  were 
to  deliberate  on  matters  in  which  the  lives  of  the  fub- 
jects  and  the  very  exift;ence  of  the  colony  were  concern- 
ed, the  towns  for  the  firfi:  time,  fsnt  committees.  The 
fpirited  meafures  adopted  by  this  court  render  the  names 
of  the  members  worthy  of  perpetuation.  The  magif- 
trates  were  Roger  Ludlow,  Efquire,  Mr.  Welles,,  Mr. 
Swain,  Mr.  Steel,  Mr.  Phelps  and  Mr.  Ward.  The 
committees  were  Mr.   Whiting,   Mr.  Webfter,  Mr. 


Chap.  V.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  71 

Williams,  Mr.  Hull,  Mr.  Chaplin,  Mr.  Talcott,  Mr.  Book  I. 
Geffords,  Mr.  Mitchel  and  Mr.  Sherman.  ^.y^/^O 

The   court  on  mature  deliberation,  confidering  that  1637. 
the  Pequots  had  killed  neai'ly  thirty  of  the  Englifti ;  that 
they  had    tortured  and    infulted  their   captives,  in  the  Deter- 
mofl  horrible  manner  •,  that  they  were    attempting  to  "I'ne  o" 
engage  all  the  Indians  to  unite  for  the  purpofe  of  extir-     •  "l^^u 
pating  the  Englifh  ;  and  the  danger  the  whole  colony  pj-quots 
was  in,  unlefs  fome  capital  blow  could  be  immediately 
given  their  enemies,  determined,   that  an  ofFenfive  war 
(hould  be  carried  on  againft  them,  by  the  three   towns 
of  Windfor,  Hartford  and  Wethersfield.     They  voted, 
that  90  men  fhould  be  raifed  forthwith  -,  42  from  Hart- 
ford,  30   from  Windfor,    and  18  from  Wethersfield. 
Notwithftanding  the  neceffities  and  poverty  of  the  peo- 
ple, all  neceifary  fupplies  were  voted  for  this  little  army.f 
No  fooner  was  this  refolution  adopted,  than  the  people 
profecuted  the  moft  vigorous  meafures,  to  carry  it  into 
immediate  and  efFe6lual  execution. 

The  report  of  the  flaughter  and  horrid  cruelties  prac-  MafTaclm- 
tifed  by  the  Pequots,  againft  the  people  of  Connecticut,  fetts  and 
roufed  the  other  colonies  to  harmonious  and  fpirited  ex-  Plimouth 
crtions  againft  the  common  enemy.     Maffachufetts  de-  ^fri'^p" 
termined  to  fend   200,  and  Plimouth  40  men   to  affift  nedicut. 
Connecticut  in  profecuting  the  war.     Captain  Patrick 
with  40  men,  was  fent  forward,  before  the  other  troops, 
from  Maflachufetts  and   Plimouth,  could  be  ready  to 
march,  with  a  view,  that  he  might   feafonably  form  a 
juHtSlion  with  the  party  from  Connecticut. 

On  Wcdncfday  the    loth   of  May  the  troops   from 
Conne<Slicut  fell  down  the  river,   for  the  fort  at  Say-  ti.,e  troops 
brook.     They    confifted  of  90   Englifhmen  and  about  faH  down 
70  Moheagans  and   river  Indians.     They  embarked  on  the  river, 
board  a  pink,  a   pinnace  and  a  fliallop.     The  Indians 
were  commanded  by  Uncas,  fachem  of  the  Moheagans. 
The  whole  was  commanded  by  captain  John    Mafon, 
who  had  been  bred  a  foldier  in   the  old  countries.     The  May 
Reverend  Mr.  Stone  of  Hartford  went  their  chaplain.  ^5* 
On  Monday  the    15th  the   troops   arrived  at  Saybrook 
fort.     As  the  -water  was  low,  this  little  fleet  feveral 
times  ran  a  ground.     The  Indians  impatient  of  delays, 
defiredto  be  fet  on  ftiore,  promifing  to  join  the  Englifh 

t  Records  of  Connedicut.       '^ 


.7%  T  H  E     H  r  S  T  O  R  Y      Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  at  Snybrook.  'I'he  captain  therefore  granted  their  re- 
v^><-v->w'  quell.  On  their  march,  they  fell  in  with  about  forty 
J6-.-,.  of  the  enemy,  near  the  fort,  killed  feven  and  took  one 
Succefs  of  prifoner. 

Uncas.  The  prifoner  had  been  a  perfidious  villain.     He  had 

,  ,  lived  in  the  fort,  fome  time  before,  and  could  fpeak 
roustieai-  F-^ighfli  well.  But  after  the  Pequots  commenced  hof- 
mentot"  tilities  again  ft  the  Englifli,  he  became  a  conftant  fpy 
hib  piiio-  upon  the  garrifon,  and  acquainted  Safiacus  with  every 
^^^''  thing   he  could  difcover.     He  had  been  prefent   at  the 

flaughter   of  all  the  Englifli,  who   had  been  killed  at 
Saybrook.     Uncas  and  his  men  infifted  upon  executing^ 
him  according  to  the    manner  of  their  anceftors  j  and 
the  Englifh,  in  the   circumitances   in  which  they   then 
were,  did  not  judge  it  prudent  to  interpofe.     The  In- 
dians, kindling  a  large  fire,  violently  tore  him  limb  from 
limb.      Barbaroudy   cutting  his    flefli  in   pieces,  they 
handed  it  round  from  one  to  another,  eating  it,  finging 
and  dancing  round  the  fire,  in  their  violent  and  tumul- 
tuous manner.     The  bones  and  fuch  parts  of  their  cap- 
tive, as  were  not  confumed  in  this  dreadful  repaft,  were 
committed  to  the  flames  and  confumed  to  afhes. 
C    t  Ma-      This  fuccefs  was  matter  of  joy,  not  only  as  it  was 
fon  and      ^  check  upon  the  enemy,  but  as  it  was  an  evidence  of 
his  coun-  the  fidelity  of  Uncas  and  his  Indians,  of  which  the 
cil  divided  Englifh  had  been  before  in   doubt.     There  were  other 
"^°P""°"' circumftances  however  which  more  than  counterbalan- 
ced this  joy.     The    army  lay  wind  bound  until  Friday, 
and  captain  Mafon  and  his  officers  were  entirely  divided 
in  opinion,  with  refpe£l  to  the  manner  of  profecuting 
their  entcrprife.     The  court,  by  the  commiffion  and  in- 
flru6lions  which  it  had  given,  enjoined  the   landing  of 
the  men  at  Pequot  harbour,  and  that  from  thence   they 
fhould  advance  upon  the  enemy.     The  captain  was  for 
Debates  in  paffing  by   them,    and  falling  to  the  Narraganfet  coun- 
the  Coun-  try.     He  M^as  fixed  in  this   opinion,  becaufe  he  found, 
cil  of  war.  that  expelling  the  army  at  Pequot   harbour,  they  kept 
watch  upon  the   river  night  and  day.     Their  number 
of  men  greatly  exceded  his  :  He  was  informed,  at  Say- 
brook,  that  they  had  fixteen  fire  arms  with  powder  and 
fhot.      The  harbour  was    compaflcd    with  rocks   and 
thickets,     affording    the    enemy    every     advantage. — 
They  were  upon  the  land   and  exceedingly  light  of  foot. 
He  \ra5  therefore  of  the  opinion,  that  they  would  rcn- 


Chap.   V.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  73 

der  it  very  difficult  and  dangerous  to  land,  and  that  he  Book  I. 
might  fuftain  fuch  lofs,  as  would  difcourage  his  men  K^fv^-J 
and  fruftrate  the  defign  of  the  expedition.  If  they  1637. 
fhould  make  good  their  landing,  he  was  fure,  that  while 
they  diredled  their  march  through  the  country  to  the  en- 
emies forts,  they  would  waylay  and  attack  them,  with 
their  whole  force,  at  every  difficult  pafs.  Befide,  if 
they  fhould  find  on  trial,  that  they  were  not  able  to  de- 
feat theEnglifh,  they  would  run  oiFto  fwamps  and  faft- 
nefles,  where  they  could  not  be  found  ;  and  they  fliould 
not  be  able  to  effect  any  thing  capital  againlt  them. 
He  was  not  without  hopes,  that  by  going  to  Narraganfet 
he  might  furprife  them.  There  was  alfo  fome  profpedl, 
tliat  the  Narraganfets  would  join  him  in  the  expedition, 
and  that  he  might  fall  in  with  fome  part  of  the  troops 
from  Maflachufetts. 

His  officers  and  men  in  general  were  for  attending 
their  inftru£lions,  and  going  at  all  hazards  diredlly  to 
the  forts.  The  neceffity  of  their  affairs  at  home,  the 
danger  of  the  Indians  attacking  their  families  and  fet- 
tlements,  in  their  abfence,  made  them  wiffi,  at  once  to 
difpatch  the  bufinefs,  on  which  they  had  been  fent. 
They  did  not  relifh  a  long  march  through  the  wilder- 
iiefs.  They  alfo  imagined  that  they  might  be  difcover- 
edjcven  fhould  they  determine  to  march  from  Narragan- 
fet to  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  In  this  divifion  of  opin- 
ion, Mr.  Stone  was  defired  by  the  officers  moft  impor- 
tunately to  pray  for  them,  That  their  way  might  be 
dire<Sled,  and,  that  notwithftanding  the  prefent  embar- 
raffment,  the  enterprife  might  be  crowned  with  fuccefs. 

Mr.  Stone  fpcnt  moft  of  Thurfday  night  in  prayer,  Mr.  Stone 
and  the  next  morning  vifiting  captain  Mafon  affurcd  prays. 
him,  that  he  had  done  as  he  was  defired  ;  adding.  That 
he  was  entirely  fatisfied  with  his  plan.  The  council 
was  again  called,  and  upon  a  full  view  of  all  the  reafons, 
unanimoufly  agreed  to  proceed  to  Narraganfet.  It  was 
alfo  determined,  that  twenty  men  ftiould  be  fent  back  to 
Connecticut,  to  ftrengthen  the  infant  fettlements,  while 
the  reft  of  the  troops  were  employed  in  fervice  agalnft 
the  enemy ;  and,  that  captain  XJnderhiil,  with  nineteen 
men  from  the  garrifon  at  Saybrook  fort  fhould  fuppiy 
their  places. 

L 


74  THEHISTORY     Chap<    V. 

Book  I.  On  Friday,  May  19th  the  captain  failed  for  NarrJt- 
<.,i*"nrvj  ganfet  Bay,  and  arrived  on  Saturday  at  the  defired  port, 
1637.  Upon  Monday  captain  Mafon  and  captain  Underhill 
marched  with  a  guard  to  the  plantation  of  Canonicvisi 
exoedi-  ^  '^'^^  acquainted  him  with  the  defign  of  their  coming. 
tioH  a-  -^  meffenger  was  immediately  difpatched  to  Miantoni- 
gainft  the  moh,  the  chief  fachem  of  the  Narraganfets,  to  acquaint 
Pcquots.  him  alfo  with  the  expedition.  The  next  day  Miantoni- 
nioh  met  them,  with  his  chief  counfellors  and  warriors, 
confiding  of  about  200  men.  Captain  Mafon  certified 
him,  that  the  occafion  of  his  coming  with  armed  men, 
into  his  country,  was  to  avenge  the  intolerable  injuries, 
which  the  Pequots,  hisaswellas  their  enemies,  had 
done  the  Englilh  :  and,  that  he  defired  a  free  paflage  to 
the  Pequot  forts.  After  a  folemn  confultation  in  the 
Indian  manner,  Miantonimoh  anfwered,  That  he  high- 
ly approved  of  the  expedition,  and  that  he  would  fend 
men.  He  obferved  however.  That  the  Englifli  were 
not  fuihcient  in  number  to  fight  v/Ith  the  enemy.  He 
faid  the  Pequots  were  great  captains,  flcilled  in  war, 
and  rather  flighted  the  Englifli.  Captain  Mafon  landed 
his  men  and  marched  juft  at  night  to  the  plantation  of 
Ganonicus,  which  was  appointed  to  be  the  place  of 
general  rendezvcus.  That  night  there  arrived  an  Indian 
runner  in  the  camp,  with  a  letter  from  captain  Patrick, 
who  had  arrived  with  his  party  at  Mr.  Williams's  plan- 
tation in  Providence.  Captain  Patrick  fignified  his  de- 
fire,  that  captain  Mafon  would  wait  until  he  could  join 
him.  Upon  deliberation  it  was  determined  not  to 
wait,  though  a  juncSlion  was  greatly  defired.  The  men 
had  already  been  detained  much  longer  than  was  agree- 
able to  their  wiflies.  When  they  had  abfolutely  refol- 
ved  the  preceding  day  to  march  the  next  morning,  the 
Indians  infifted,  that  they  were  but  in  jefl  •,  That  En- 
gliihmen  talked  much,  but  would  not  fight.  It  was 
therefore  feared,  that  any  delay  would  have  a  bad  effedt 
upon  them.  It  was  alfo  fufpeded,  that  if  they  did  not 
proceed  immediately,  they  fhould  be  difcovered,  as  there 
were  a  number  of  fquaws  who  maintained  an  inter- 
courfe  between  the  Pequot  and  Narraganfet  Indians. 
The  army  therefore,  confifting  of  77  Engliflimen,  60 
Moheagan  and  river  Indians,  and  about  200  Narragan- 
fets, marched  on  Wednesday  morning  and  that  day 
reached  the  eaftern  Nihantick,  about  eighteen  or  twen- 


Chap.  V.      OFCONNECTICUT.  75 

ty  miles,  from  the  place  of  their  rendezvous  the  night  Book  I. 
before.     This  was  a  frontier  to  the  Pequots,  and  was  v.>''v>^ 
the   feat  of  one  of  the   Narraganfet    fachems.     Here  1637. 
the  army  halted,  at    the  clofe  of  the  day.     But  the  fa- "Wcdnef- 
chem  and  his  Indians  conduced  themfelves  in  a  haugh-  day  May 
ty   manner  toward  the  Englifh,  and  would  not   fuffC'T  a4th. 
them  to  enter  within  their  fort.     Captain  Mafon  there- 
fore placed  a  ftrong   guard  round  the  fort  5  and  as  the 
Indians  would  not  fufFer  him  to  enter  it,  he  determined 
that  none  of  them  fhould  come  out.    Knowing  the  perfi- 
dy of  the  Indians  and  that  it  was  cuftomSry  among  them 
to  fufFer  the  neareft  relatives  of  their  greateft  enemies, 
torefidewith  them,  he  judged  it  neceflary  to  prevent 
their  difcovering  him  to  the  enemy. 

In  the  morning  a  confiderable  number  of  Miantoni-  Tluirfday 
moh's  men  came  on  and  joined  the  Englifli.  This  en-  25th. 
couraged  many  of  the  Nihanticks  alfo  to  join  them. 
They  foon  formed  a  circle  and  made  proteftations,  how 
gallantly  they  would  fight,  and  what  numbers  they 
would  kill.  When  the  army  marclied,  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  captain  had  with  him  nearly  500  Indians.  He 
marched  twelve  miles  to  the  ford  in  Pawcatuck  river. 
The  day  was  very  hot  and  the  men,  through  the  great 
heat  and  a  fcarcity  of  provifion,  began  to  faint.  The 
army  therefore  made  a  confiderable  halt,  and  refrefhed 
themfelves.  Here  the  Narraganfet  Indians  began  to 
inanifefl  their  dread  of  the  Pequots,  and  to  enquire  of 
captain  Mafon  with  great  anxiety  what  were  his  real 
defigns.  He  affured  them,  that  it  was  his  defign  to  at- 
tack the  Pequots  in  their  forts.  At  this  they  appeared 
to  be  panic-flruck,  and  filled  with  amazement.  Many 
of  them  drew  ofr  and  returned  to  Narraganfet.  The 
army  marched  on  about  three  miles,  and  came  to  Indian 
corn-fields ;  and  the  captain  imagining  that  he  drew 
near  the  enemy  made  an  halt  ;  called  his  guides  and 
council,  and  demanded  of  the  Indians  how  far  it  was  to 
the  forts.  They  reprefented.  That  it  was  twelve  miles 
to  Safl'acus's  fort,  and  that  both  forts  were  in  a  manner 
impregnable.  Wequafh,  a  Pequot  captain  or  petty  fa- 
chem,  who  had  revolted  from  Saflacus  to  the  Narragan- 
fets,  was  the  principal  guide,  and  he  proved  faithful. 
He  gave  fuch  information  refpeiling  the  diitance  of 
the  forts  from  each  other,  and  the  diftance  which  they 
were  then  at  from  the  chhsf  fachem's,  as  deterrnined  him 


76         ,  THEHISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  and  his  officers  to  alter  the  refolution,  which  they  had 
v.-OT'O  before  adopted  of  attacking  them  both  at  once  ;  and  to 
^^37-  make  a  united  attack  upon  that  at  Miftic.  He  found 
his  men  fo  fatigued,  in  marching  through  a  pathlefs 
wildernefs,  with  their  provifions,  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  fo  afFefted  with  the  heat,  that  this  refolution  ap- 
peared to  be  abfolutely  neceflary.  One  of  captain  Un- 
derhill's  men  became  lame,  at  the  fame  time,  and  began 
to  fail.  The  army  therefore  proceeded  directly  to  Mif- 
tic, and  continuing  their  march  came  to  a  fmall  fwamp 
between  two  hills  juft  at  the  difappearing  of  the  day 
light.  The  ofEcers  fuppofmg  that  they  were  now  near 
the  fort,  pitched  their  little  camp,  between,  or  near  two 
large  rocks,  in  Groton,  fmce  called  Porter's  rocks.  The 
men  were  faint  and  weary,  and  though  the  rocks  were 
their  pillows,  their  reft  was  fweet.  The  guards  and 
fentinels  were  confiderably  advanced,  in  the  front  of  the 
army,  and  heard  the  enemy  finging,  at  the  fort,  and  con- 
tinuing their  rejoicings  even  until  midnight.  They 
had  feen  the  veflels  pafs  the  harbour  fome  days  before, 
and  had  concluded,  that  the  Englifh  were  afraid,  and 
had  not  courage  to  attack  them.  They  were  therefore 
rejoicing,  finging,  dancing,  infulting  them,  and  weary-» 
ing  themfelves  on  this  account. 

The  night  was  ferene  and  towards  morning  the 
moon  fhone  clear.  The  important  crifis  was  now  come 
when  the  very  cxiftence  of  Conne£ticut,  under  provi- 
dence,' was  to  be  determined,  by  the  fword  in  a  fingle  ac- 
tion j  and  to  be  decided  by  the  good  conduct  of  lefs  than 
eighty  brave  men.  The  Indians  who  remained  were 
now  forely  difmayed,  and  though,  at  firft,  they  had  led 
the  van  and  boafted  of  great  feats,  yet  were  now  all 
fallen  back  in  the  rear. 

About  two  hours  before  day   the   men  were  roufed 

Attack  on  ^jj^h  ^11  expedition,  and  briefly  commending  themfelves 

fort  May    ^^^  their  caufe  to  God,  advanced  immediately  towards 

26tli.  the  fort.     After  a  march  of  about  tvv^o  miles,  they  came 

to  the  foot  of  a  large  hill  where  a  fine    country  opened 

before  them.     The  captain  fuppofing  that  the  fort  could 

not  be  far  dift ant,  fent  for  the   Indians  in  the   rear  to 

come  up.     Uncas  and   Wequalli  at   length  appeared. 

He  demanded  of  them  where  the  fort  was.     They   an- 

fwered  on  the  top  of  the  hill.     He  demanded  of  them 

'k  where  were  the  other  Indians  .''  They  anfwered,  that 


Chap.  V.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  77 

they  were  much  afraid.  The  captain  fent  to  them  not  Book  I. 
to  fly,  but  to  furround  the  fort,  at  any  diftance  they  v.^'v^s^ 
pleafed,  and  fee  whether  Enghfhmen  would  fight.  ^637. 
The  day  was  nearly  dawning  and  no  time  was  now  to  be 
loft.  The  men  prefl^ed  on,  in  two  divifions,  captain 
Mafon  to  the  north  eaftern,  and  captain  Underbill  to 
the  weftern  entrance.  As  the  obje£t:  which  they  had 
been  fo  long  feeking  came  into  view,  and  while  they 
refle£ted  they  were  to  fight  not  only  for  themfelves,  but 
their  parents,  wives,  children  and  the  whole  colony, 
the  martial  fpirit  kindled  in  their  bofome,  and  they 
were  wonderfully  animated  and  aflided.  As  captain 
Mafon  adva-nced  within  a  rod  or  two  of  the  fort  a  dog 
barked,  and  an  Indian  roared  out,  Owanux  I  Owanux  ! 
That  is,  Englifhmen  !  Engliflimen  !  The  troops  preiTed 
on  and  as  the  Indians  were  rallying,  poured  in  upon 
them,  through  the  pallifadoes,  a  general  difcharge  of 
their  mufkets,  and  then  wheeling  off  to  the  principal 
entrance  entered  the  fort  fword  in  hand.  Notwithftand- 
ing  the  fuddennefs  of  the  attack,  the  blaze  and  thunder 
of  their  arms,  the  enemy  made  a  manly  and  defperate 
refiftance.  Captain  Mafon  and  his  party  drove  the  In- 
dians in  the  main  ftreet  towards  the  weft  part  of  the 
fort,  where  fome  bold  men,  who  had  forced  their  way 
met  them  and  made  fuch  flaughter  among  them,  that  the 
ftreet  was  foon  clear  of  the  enemy.  They  fecreted 
themfelves  in,  and  behind  their  wigwams,  and  taking 
advantage  of  every  covert,  maintained  ah  obftinate  de- 
fence. The  captain  and  his  men  entered  the  wigwams, 
where  they  were  befet  with  many  Indians,  who  took 
every  advantage  to  (hoot  them  and  lay  hands  upon  them, 
fo  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  they  could  de- 
fend themfelves  with  their  fwords.  After  a  fevere  con- 
fli£l,  in  which  many  of  the  Indians  were  flain,  fome 
of  the  Englifh  killed  and  others  forely  wounded,  the  vic- 
tory ftill  hung  in  fufpenfe.  The  captain  finding  himfelf 
much  exhaufted  and  out  of  breath,' as  well  as  his  men, 
by  the  extraordinary  exertions  which  they  had  made  ; 
in  this  critical  ftate  of  the  action,  had  recourfe  to  a  fuc- 
cefsful  expedient.  He  cries  out  to  his  men.  We  must 
BURN  THEM.  He  immediately  entering  a  wigwam 
took  fire  and  put  it  into  the  mats,  with  which  the  wig-  Fort 
wams  were  covered.  The  fire  inftantly kindling,  fpread  ^^^^' 
with  fuch  violence,  that  all  the  Indian  houfes  were  foon 


78  THEHISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  wrapped  In  one  general  flame.  As  tlie  fire  increafed  the 
V-^V>^  Englifli  retired  without  the  fort,  and  compafled  it  on 
1637.  every  fide.  Uncas  and  his  Indians  with  fuch  of  the 
Narraganfets  as  yet  remained,  took  courage,  from  the 
example  of  the  Englifh,  and  formed  another  cijrcle  in 
the  rear  of  them.  The  enemy  were  now  feized  with 
sfiionifhment,  and  forced,  by  the  flames,  from  their  lurk- 
ing places  into  open  light,  and  became  a  fair  mark  for 
the  Englifti  foldiers.  Some  climbed  the  pallifadoes  and 
were  inftantly  brought  down  by  the  fire  of  the  Englifli 
mulkets.  Others  defperately  fallying  forth  from  their 
burning  cells,  were  fiiot,  or  cut  in  pieces  with  the  fword. 
Such  terror  fell  upon  them,  that  they  would  run  back 
from  the  Englifh  into  the  very  flames.  Great  numbers 
perifhed  in  the  conflagration. 

The  greatnefs  and  violence  of  the  fire,  the  refleftlon 
of  the  light,  the  flafliing  and  roar  of  the  arms,  the  fhrieks 
and  yellings  of  the  men,  women  and   children  in   the 
fort,  and  the  flioutings  of  the  Indians  without,  juft   at 
the  dawning  of  the  morning,  exhibited  a  grand  and  aw- 
ful fcene.     In  a  little  more     than   an  hour   this  whole 
600  In-       work  of  defl:ru£l:ion  was  finiflied.     Seventy  wigwams 
dians  dc-    were  burnt  and  five  or  fix  hundred  Indians  perifhed,   ei- 
Ilrojed.     ther  by  the  fword  or  in  the    flames.f     A  hundred  and 
fifty  warriors  had  been  fent  on  the  evening  before,  who, 
that  very  morning,  were  to  have  gone  forth  againft  the 
Englifh.     Of  thefe,  and  all  M^ho  belonged   to   the    fort, 
feven  only  efcaped,  and  feven  were  made   prifoners.     It 
had  been  previoufly  concluded  not  to  burn  the  fort,  but 
to  deflroy  the  enemy,  and  take   the  plunder  ;  but    the 
captain  afterwards  found  it  the  only  expedient  to  obtain 
the  vi6lory,  and  fave  his  men.     Thus  parents  and  chil- 
dren, the  fannup  and  fquaw,  the  old  man  and  the  babe, 
perifhed  in  promifcuous  ruin. 
_  Though  the   vi£lory  was  complete,  yet    the  army 

and  dif-      ^'cre  in  great  danger  and  diftrcfs.     The  men  had  been 
trefs  of      exceedingly  fatigued,   by  the  heat,  and  long  marches 
the  army,  through   rough   and  difficult  places  ;  and  by  that  con- 
ftant  watch  and  guard  which  they  had  been  obliged  to 
keep.     They  had  now  been  greatly  exhaulled,  by  the 
Iharpnefs  of  the  adlion,  and  the  exertions  which   they 

■|-  Captain  Mafon  in  his  liiftory  fays,  6  or  700.  From  the 
number  of  Wigwams  and  the  reinforcement,  the  probability  is 
t'hat  about  600  were  deftroyed. 


Chap.  V.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  79 

had  been  neceffitated  to  make.     Their   lofs  was  very  Book  I. 
confiderable.      Two  men  were  killed,    nearly  twenty  v.><v>^ 
wounded.     This  was    more  than  one  quarter  of  the  1637. 
Englifh.     Numbers  fainted  by   reafon   of  fatigue,  the 
heat  and  want  of  nectaries.     The  Surgeon,  their  pro- 
vifions,  and  the  articles  neceffary  for' the  wounded  were 
on  board  the  veflels,  which  had  been  ordered  to  fail  from 
Narraganfet  bay,  the  night  before,  for  Pequot  harbour  ; 
but   there  was  no   appearance  of  them  in  the  found. 
They  were  fenfible,  that  by  the  burning  of  the  fort,  and 
the  noife  of  war,  they  had  alarmed  the  country  ;  and 
therefo»e  were  in  conltant  expeftation  of  an  attack,  by 
a  frefh   and  numerous  enemy,  from  the  other  fortrefs, 
and  from  every    quarter  whence  the  Pequots  might  be 
colleded. 

A  NUMBER  of  the  friendly  Indians  had  been  wound- 
ed, and  they  were  fo  diftradled  with  fear,  that  it  was 
difficult  even  to  fpeak  with  their  guide  and  interpreter, 
or  to  know  any  thing  what  they  defigned.  The  Englifh 
were  in  an  enemies  country,  and  entire  ftrangers  to  the 
way,  in  which  they  muft  return.  The  enemy  were  far 
more  numerous  than  themfelves,  and  enraged  to  the 
highefl  degree.  Another  circumftance  rendered  their 
fituation  ftill  more  dangerous,  their  provifions  and  am- 
munition were  both  nearly  expended.  Four  or  five 
men  were  fo  wounded  that  it  was  neceffary  to  carry  them, 
and  they  were  alfo  obliged  to  bear  about  twenty  fire 
arms,  fo  that  not  more  than  forty  men  could  be  fpared 
for  aftion. 

After  an  interval  of  about  an  hour,  while  the  offi- 
cers were  in  coHfultation,  what  courfe  they  fliould  take* 
their  veflcls,  as  though  guided  by  the  hand  of  provi- 
dence, to  ferve  the  neceiuties  of  thefe  brave  men,  came 
full  in  view  ;  and,  under  a  fair  gale,  were  fleering  di- 
rectly into  the  harbour.  This,  in  the  fituation  of  the 
army,  at  that  time,  was  a  molt  joyful  fight. 

Immediately  upon  thedifcoveryof  the  veflels,  about 
three  hundred  Indians  came  on  from   the  other  fort. 
Captain   Mafon,    perceiving  their  approach,  led  out  a      ' 
chofen  party  to  engage  them  and  try  their  temper.     He 
gave  them  luch  a  warm  reception  as  foon  checked  and  The  cne- 
put  them  to  a  {land.     This  gave  him  great  encourage-  "^Y ''^'"P 
ment,  and  he  ordered  the  army  to  march  for  Pequot  har-  ^j^^jj.  ^^^^^ 
hour.      The  enemy,  upon  this,  imediateiy  advanced  to 


8o  THEHISTORY         Chap.  V. 

Book  I.  the  hill  where  the  fort  ftood  j  and  viewing  the  deftruc- 
4^»-Y-*0  tion  which  had  been  made,  flamped  and  tore  theit  hair 
1637.  from  their  heads.  After  a  fhort  paufe,  and  blowing 
themfelves  up  to  the  higheft  tranfport  of  paffion,  they 
F  r{h  leaped  down  the  hill  after  the  army  in  the  mod  violent 
manner,  as  though  they  were  about  to  run  over  the  Eng- 
li(h.  Captain  Underbill,  who,  with  a  number  of  the 
beft  men,  was  ordered  to  defend  the  rear,  foon  checked 
the  eagerncfs  of  their  purfuit,  and  taught  them  to  keep 
at  a  more  refpeftful  dillance.  The  friendly  Indians,  who 
had  not  defcrted  now  kept  clofe  to  the  Englifh,  and  it 
was  believed,  that  after  the  enemy  came  on,  they  were 
afraid  to  leave  them.  The  enemy  purfued  the  army 
nearly  fix  miles,  fometimes  fhooting  at  a  diftance,  from 
behind  rocks  and  trees,  and  at  other  times  preffing  on 
more  violently  and  defperately  hazarding  themfelves  in 
the  open  field. 

That  the  Englifh  might  all  be  enabled  to  fight,  cap- 
tain Mafon  foon  hired  the  Indians  to  carry  the  woun- 
ded men  and  their  arms.  The  Englifh  killed  feveral  of 
the  enemy  while  they  purfued  them  but  fuftained  no 
lofs  themfelves.  When  they  killed  a  Pequot,  the  other 
Indians  would  fhout,  run  and  fetch  his  head.  At  length 
the  enemy  finding,  that  they  could  make  no  impreffion 
upon  the  army,  and  that  wounds  and  death  attended 
their  attempts,  gave  over  the  purfuit. 

The  army  then  marched  to  the  harbour  with  their 
colours  flying,  and  were  received  on  board  the  vefTels 
with  great  mutual  joy  and  congratulation. 

In  about  three  weeks  from  the  time  the  men  embark- 
ed at  Hartford  tjiey  returned  again  to  their  refpedlive 
habitations.  They  were  received  with  the  greatefl  ex- 
ultation. As  the  people  had  been  deeply  affedted  with 
their  danger,  and  full  of  anxiety  for  their  friends,  while 
nearly  half  the  effective  men  in  the  colony  were  in  fer- 
vice,  upon  fo  hazardous  an  enterprife,  fo  fudden  a 
change,  in  the  great  vi£lory  obtained,  and  in  the  fafc 
Conne*Si-  ^^^turn  of  fo  many  of  their  children  and  neighbours,  filled 
cut.  them  with  exceeding  joy   and    thankfulnefs.      Every 

family  and  every  worfliipping  affembly  fpakc  the  lan- 
guage of  praife  and  thankfgiving. 

Several  circumftances  attending  this  enterprife 
were  much  noticed  by  the  foldiers  themfelves,  and  efpe- 
cially  by  all  the  pious  people.      It  was  confidered  a* 


Chap.  V.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  8e 

very  providential,  that  the  army  ftiould  march  nearly  Book  I. 
forty  miles,  and  a  confiderable  part  of  it  in  the  enemies  v,.>'Vs^ 
country,  and  not  be  difcovered  until  the  moment  they  1637. 
were  ready  to  commence  the  attack.     It  was  judged  re-  Utmarka- 
markable,  that  the  veflels  fhould  come  into  the  harbour  ^'^  ^l^' 
at  the  very  hour  in  which  they  were  moil  needed.  The  ^.^g^ 
life  of  captain  Mafon  was  very   fignally  preferved.     As 
he  entered  a  wigwam  for  fire  to  burn  the  fort,  an  Indian 
was  drawing  an  arrow  to  the  very  head  and  would  have 
killed  him  inftantly,  but  Davis,  one  of  his  fergeants,  cut 
the  bowflring,  with  his  cutlafs,  and  prevented  the   fatal 
Ihot.*     Lieutenant  Bull  received  an  afrow  into  a  hard 
piece  of  Cheefe,  which  he  had  in  his  clothes,  and  by  it 
was  faved   harmlefs.      Two  foldiers,  John   Dier  and 
Thomas  Stiles,  both  fervants  of  one  man,  were  fliot  in 
the  knots  of  their  neckcloths^  and  by  them  preferved 
from  inftant  death.;}: 

Few  enterprifes  have  ever  been  achieved  with  more 
perfonal  bravery  or  good  condudl.     In  few  have  fo  great  p  ,,    . 
a  proportion  of  the  efFeftive  men  of  a  whole  colony,  ^^^  cooj 
ftate,  or   nation  been  put  to  fo  great   and   immediate  conduft. 
danger.     In  few,  have  a  people  been  fo  deeply  and  im- 
mediately interefted,  as  the  whole  colony  of   Connedii- 
cut  was  in  this,  in  that  uncommon  crifis.     In  thefe  ref- 
pcfts  even  the  great  armaments  and  battles  of  Europe 
are  comparatively  of  little  importance.     In  this,  under 
the. divine  condudl,  by  feventy-feven  brave   men,  Con- 
nc6licut  was  faved,  and  the  moft  warlike    and  terrible 
Indian  nation,  in  N^w-England,  defeated  and  ruined. 

The  body  of  the  Pequots  returning  from  the  purfuit 
of  captain  Mafon,  repaired  to  Saffacus,  at  the  royal  for-  „ 
trefs,  and  related  the  doleful  ftory  of  their  misfortunes,  deftroy 
They  charged  them  all  to  his  haughtinefs  and  mifcon-  their  fort 
du£l,  and  threatened  him,  and  his,  with  immediate  de»  and  flee. 
ftruftion.     His  friends  and  chief  counfellors  interceded 
for  him  ;  and,  at  their  intreaty,  his  men  fpared  his  life. 
Then  upon  confultation,   they    concluded,   that  they 
could  not,  with  fafety,  remain  any  longer  in  the  coun- 
try.    They  were  indeed  fo  panic  ftruck,  that  burning 
their  wigwams  and  deftroying  their  fort,  they  fled  and 
■  < 

*  Hubbard's  Narrative. 
t  Mafon's  Hiitory. 

M 


8-2  T  H  E    HISTORY  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.   fcattered  into  various  parts  of  the  country.     Saflacusj 
\^yY>»^  Mononotto  and  feventy  or  eighty  of  their  chief  coun- 
io37-         fellers  and  warriors  took  their  route  towards  Hudfon's 
river. 

Just  before  captain  Mafon  went  out  upon  the   expe- 
dition againft  the  Pequots,  the  Dutch  performed  a  very 
Captiva-    neighbourly  office  for  Conneclicut.      The  two   maids, 
redeem-  "  ^^°  ^'^'^  been  captivated  at  Wethersfield,  had   through 
ed.  the  humanity  and   mediation   of  Mononotto's  fquaw, 

been  fpared  from  death,  and  kindly  treated.  The 
Dutch  governor,  receiving  intelligence  of  their  circum- 
ftances,  determined  to  redeem  them,  at  any  rate,  and 
difpatcheda  floop  to  Pequot  harbour  for  that  purpofe. 
Upon  its  arrival,  the  Dutch  made  large  offers  for  their 
redemption,  but  the  Pequots  would  not  accept  them. 
Finally  as  the  Dutch  had  a  number  of  Pequots  on 
board,  whom  they  had  taken,  and  finding  that  they 
could  do  no  better,  they  offered  the  Pequots  fix  of  their 
own  men  for  the  two  maids.*  Thefe  they  accepted 
and  the  Dutch  delivered  the  young  women  at  Saybrook, 
juft  before  captain  Mafon  and  his  party  arrived.  Of 
them  he  received  particular  information  refpefting  the 
enemy. 

An  Indian  runner  difpatched  by  Mr.  Williams,  at 
Providence,  foon  carried  the  news  of  the  fuccefs  of 
Connecticut  againfl  the  Pequots,  to  the  governor  of 
MafTachufctts.  The  governor  and  his  council  judging, 
that  the  Pequots  had  received  a  capital  blow,  fent  for- 
ward but  a  hundred  and  twenty  men.  Thefe  were 
commanded  by  Mr.  Stoughton,  and  the  reverend  Mr. 
Wilfon  of  Bolton  was  fent  his  chaplain. 

This  party  arrived  at  Pequot  harbour  the  latter  part 

June.         of  June.     By  tlie  alfiftance  of  the  Narraganfet  Indians, 

the  party  under  captain  Stoughton  furrounded    a  large 

body  of  Pequots  in  a  fwamp.     They   took   eighty  cap- 

Pequots     tives.     Thirty  were  men ;    the  reft    were    women  and 

talvcn.        children.     The  men,  except  two  fachems,  were    killed, 

but  the  women  and  children  were  faved.f     The  fachems 

promifed  to  condudl  the    Englifli  to  SalTacus,  and  for 

that  purpofe  were  fpared  for  the  prefent. 


*  Winthrcp's  Journal,  p.  ia8. 

t  Hubbard's  Narrative  p.34j  and  Winthrop's  Journal  page 


Chap.  V.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  83 

The  court  at  Conne£licut   ordered  that  forty  men  Book  I. 
Ihould  be  raifed  forthwith  for  the  further  profecution 
of  the  war  againft  the  Pequots,  to  be  commanded  by- 
captain  Mafon. 

The  troops  from  Connefticut  made  a  jun(S^:ion  with 
the  partjr,  under  the  command  of  captain  Stoughton  at 
Pequot.  Mr.  Ludlow,  with  other  principal  gentlemen 
from  Connecticut,  went  alfo  with  the  army,  to  advife 
with  refpe£l  to  the  meafures  to  be  adopted  in  the  fur- 
ther profecution  of  the  war.  Upon  general  confulta- 
tion,  it  was  concluded  to  purfue  the  Pequots,  who  had 
fled  to  the  weftward.  The  army  marched  immediate- 
ly, and  foon  difcovered  the  places,  where  the  enemy 
had  rendezvoufed,  at  their  feveral  removes.  As  tliefe 
were  not  far  diflant  from  each  other,  it  appeared,  that 
they  moved  flowly,  having  their  women  and  children 
with  them.  They  alfo  were  without  provifion,  and 
were  obliged  to  dig  for  clams,  and  to  range  the  gi-oves 
for  fuch  articles  as  they  afforded.  The  Englifh  found 
•fome  fcattering  Pequots,  as  they  fcoured  the  country, 
whom  they  captivated,  and  from  whom  they  obtained 
intelligence  relative  to  the  Pequots  whom  they  were 
purfuing.  But  finding,  that  the  fachems,  whom  they 
had fpared,would  give  them  noinformation, they  beheaded  Origin  of 
them,  on  their  march,  at  a  place  called  Menunkatuch^  achem  $ 
fince  Guilford  ;  from  which  circumftance  the  fpot  on 
which  the  execution  was  done,  bears  the  name  of  fa- 
chem's  head  to  the  prefent  time.  In  three  days  they 
arrived  at  New-Haven  harbour.  The  vefTels  failed  along 
the  fhore  while  the  troops  marched  by  land.  At  New- 
Haven,  then  called  Quinnipiack,  a  great  fmoke,  at  a 
fmall  diftance,  was  difcovered  in  the  woods.  The  of- 
ficers fuppofmg,  that  they  had  now  difcovered  the  ene- 
my, ordered  the  army  immediately  to  advance  upon 
them  ;  but  were  foon  informed  that  they  were  not  in 
that  vicinity.  The  Conne6ti&ut  Indians  had  kindled 
the  fires  whence  the  fmoke  arofe.  The  troops  foon 
embarked  on  board  the  veflels.  After  flaying  feveral 
days  at  New-Haven,  the  officers  received  intelligence 
from  a  Pequot,  whom  they  had  previoufly  fent  to 
make  difcovery,  that  the  enemy  were  at  a  confiderable 
diflance,  in  a  great  fwamp,  to  the  weftward:  Upoii 
this  information,  the  army  marched  with  all  pofTible 
-  4ifpatch  to  a  great  fwamp,  in  Fairfield,  where  were 


«4  THEHISTORT  Chap,  V. 

Book  I.   eighty  or  a  hundred  Pequot  warriors,  and  nearly  two 
v.x-v^O  hundred  other  Indians.     The  fwamp  was  fuch  a  thick- 
1637.         ft,  fo  deep  and  boggy,  that  it  was   difficult  to  enter  it, 
or  make   any  movement  without   fmking  in  the  mire. 
Great        Lieutenant  Davenport  and  others,  rufhing  eagerly    into 
fwamp"     it, were  forely  wounded,and  feveral  were  (bon  fo  deep  in 
fightjuly  the  mud,  that  they  could  not  get  out  without  affiflance, 
jjth.         -piie  enemy  prefled  them   fo  hard,   that  they  were  jufl 
ready  to  leize  them  by  the  hair  of  their  head.     A  num- 
ber of  brave  men  were  obliged  to    refcue  them   fword 
in  hand.     Some  of  the  Indians  were  flain  and  the  men 
were  drawn   out   of  the   mire.     The  fwamp  was   fur- 
rounded,  and  after  a  confiderable  Ikirmifh  the  Indians 
defired  a  parly.     As  the   officers    .vere  not  willing  to 
make  a   promifeuous  deflrudtion  of  men,  women  and 
children,  and  as  the  fachem  and  Indians  of  the  vicinity 
had  iled  into  the  fwamp,  though  they  had  done  the  col- 
onies no  injury,  a  parly  was  granted.     Thomas  Stan- 
ton, a  man  well  acquainted  with  the  manners  and  lan- 
guage of  the  Indians,  was  fent  to  treat  v/ith  them.     He 
was  authorized  to  offer  life  to  all  the  Indians   who  had 
ihed  no   Englifh  blood.     Upon   this  offer,   the  fachent 
of  the  place  came  out  to  the  Englifh,  and  one  company 
of  old  men,  women  and  children  after  another,  to  the 
number  of  about   two  hundred.     The   fachem  of  the 
place  declared  for  himfelf  and  his  Indians,  that  they  had 
neither  fhed  the  blood  of  the  Englifh  nor  done   them 
any  harm.     But  the  Pequot  warriors  had  too  great  a 
fpirit  to  accept  of  the  offer  of  life,  declaring,  that  they 
would  fight  it  out.     They  fliot  their  arrows  at  Stanton, 
and  prefTed  fohard  upon  him,  that  the  foldiers  were  ob- 
liged to  fly  to  his  refcue.f     The  fight  was  then  renew- 
ed, the  foldiers  firing  upon  them  when  ever  an  opportu- 
Divifion     nity  prcfented.     But  by  reafon  of  an  unhappy  divifion 
ameng the  among  the  officers  a  great  part  of  the  enemy  efcaped. 
officers.     Some  were    for  forcing  the  fwamp  immediately,  but 
this  was  oppofed,  as  too  dangerous.     Others  were  for 
cutting  it  down,  as  they  had  taken  many  hatchets,  with 
which  they  were  of  the  opinion  it  might  be  effected. 
Some  others  were  for  making  a  pallifado  and  hedge 
round  it,  but  neither  of  thefe  meafures  could  be  adopt- 
cd.J     As  night  came  on,   the  Englifh  cut  through  ^ 

t  Hubbard's  Narrative,  p.  38. 
t  A-Jafon's  hiftory. 


Chap.  T.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  85 

narrow  part  of  It,  by  which  the  circumference  was  Book  I. 
greatly  Icilenetl ;  fo  that  the  fcldicrs,  at  twelve  feet  dif-  v^^^r*^ 
tance  from  each  other,  were  able  completely  to  com-  1637. 
pafs  the  enemy.  In  this  manner  they  enclofed  and 
watched  them  until  it  was  nearly  morning.  A  thick 
fog  arofe  juft  before  day,  and  it  became  exceedingly- 
dark.  At  this  juncture  the  Indians  took  the  opportu- 
nity to  bi^eak  through  the  Englifli.  They  made  their 
firft  attempt  upon  captain  Patrick's  quarters,  yelling  in 
their  hideous  manner  and  prefTing  on  with  violence, 
but  they  were  feveral  times  driven  back.  As  the  noife 
and  tumult  of  war  increafcd,  captain  Mafon  fent  a  par- 
ty to  affift  captain  Patrick.  Captain  Traflc  alfo  march- 
ed to  reinforce  him.  As  the  battle  greatly  increaf- 
ed,  the  fiege  broke  up.  Captain  Mafon  marched  to 
give  afliftance  in  the  action.  Advancing  to  the  turn 
of  the  fwamp,  he  found  that  the  enemy  were  preffing 
out  upon  him  ;  but  he  gave  them  fo  warm  a  reception, 
that  they  were  foon  glad  to  retire.  While  he  was  ex- 
pecting that  they  would  make  another  attempt  upon 
him,  they  faced  about,  and  falling  violently  en  captain 
Patrick,  broke  through  his  quarters  and  fled.  Thefe  Enemf 
were  their  braveft  warriors,  fixty  or  feventy  of  whom  ^  ^  ^^* 
made  their  efcape.  About  twenty  were  killed,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty  were  taken  prifoners.  The  Eng- 
lifh  alfo  took  hatchets,  wampum,  kettles,  trays  and  oth- 
er Indian  utenfils. 

The  Pequot  women  and  children,  who  had  been  cap-  Captives 
tivated  were  divided  among  the  troops.  Some  were  car-  divided, 
ried  to  Connecticut,  and  others  to  the  MalTachufetts. 
The  people  of  MafTachufetts  fent  a  number  of  the  women 
and  boys  to  the  Weft-Indies,  and  fold  them  for  flaves. 
It  was  fuppofed.  That  about  feven  hundred  Pequots  were 
deftroyed.  The  women  who  were  captivated,  reported, 
that  thirteen  fachems  had  been  flain,  and  that  thirteen 
yet  furvived.  Among  the  latter  were  Saflacus  and  Mo- 
nonotto,  the  two  chief  fachems.  Thefe  with  about 
twenty  of  their  beft  men  fled  to  the  Mohawks.  They 
carried  off  with  them  wampum  to  the  amount  of^50of 
The  Mohawks  furprifed  and  flew  them  all  except  Mor  * 

nonotto.     They  wounded  him,  but  he  made  his  efcape. 
The  fcalp  of  Saflacus  was  fent  to  Connedlicut  in  the  fall. 


t  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  136. 


g6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  V. 

Book  I.   and  Mr-  Ludlow   and  feveral  other  gentlemen,  going 
K,yY^^   into  Maflachufetts,  in  September,  carried  a  lock  of  it  to 
'63 7«         Bofton,  as  a  rare  fight,  and  a  fure  demonftration  of  the 
death  of  tlieir  mortal  enemy4 

Among  the  Pequot  captives  was  the  wife   and  chil- 
S-ichem's  dren  of  Mononotto.     She  was  particularly    noticed,  by- 
wife  and    the  Englifh,  for  her  great  modefty,  humanity  and  good 
children,    fe^fe,     S|^e  made  it  as  her  only  requefljThat  flie  might 
notbeinjured  either  as  to  lieroiFspring  or  perfonal  honor. 
As  a  requital  of  her  kindnefs  to   the  captivated  maids, 
her  life  and  the  lives  of  her  children  were  not  only  fpar- 
ed,  but  they  were  particularly  recommended  to  the  care 
of  governor  Winthrop.     He  gave  charge  for  their  pro- 
te^ion  and  kind  treatment. 

After  the  fwamp-fight  the  Pequots  became  fo  weak 
and  fcattered,  that  the  Narraganfets  and  Moheagans 
conftantly  killed  them,  and  brought  in  their  heads  to 
Windfor  and  Hartford.  Thofe  who  furvived  were  fo 
hunted  and  harafled,  that  a  number  of  their  chief  men 
repaired  to  the  Engliili,  at  Hartford  for  relief.  They 
offered,  if  their  lives  might  be  fpared,  that  they  would 
become  the  fervants  of  the  Englifh  and  be  difpofed  of  at 
their  pleafure.  This  was  granted  and  the  court  in- 
terpofed  for  their  protection. 

Uncas  and  Miantonimoh  with  the  Pequots,  by  the 
Covenant  ^;3-eQ;ion  of  the  magiftrates  of  Connecticut,  met  at 
fp^^"  Hartford  •,  and  it  was  demanded  of  them.    How  many 

Scpicm-  of  the  Pequots  were  yet  living  ?  They  anfwered,  About 
bersift,  tv»''0  hundred  befides  women  and  children.  The 
1^30'  m.agiftrates  then  entered  into  afirm  covenant  wiihthem, 
to  the  following  effe6t,  That  there  fliould  be  perpetual 
peace  between  Miantonimoh  and  Uncas  and  their  ref- 
peClive  Indians,  and  that  all  pafh  injuries  fliould  be  re- 
mitted and  forever  buried  :  That  if  any  injuries  fliould 
be  done,  in  future,  by  one  party  to  the  other,  that  they 
fliould  not  immediately  revenge  it,  but  appeal  to  the 
Englifli  to  do  them  juflice.  It  was  ftipulated,  that 
they  fliould  fubmit  to  their  determination,  and  that  if  ei- 
ther party  fhouldbe  obftmate,  that  then  tliey  might  en- 
force fubmiiTion  to  their  decifions.  It  was  further  a- 
greed.  That  neither  the  Moheagans,  nor  Narraganfetg 
fhould   conceal  or  entertain  any  of  their  enemies  *,  but 


t  Winthrop's  Journal,  p,  1:4,  135,  136. 


Chap.  VI.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  8^7 

deliver  up  or  deftroy  all  fuch  Indians  as  had  murdered  Book  L- 
any  Englifli  man  or  woman.  The  Englifh  then  gave  v.><v^^ 
the  Pequot  Indians  to  the  Narraganfets  and  Moheagans  :  1637. 
eighty  to  Miantonimoh,  twenty  to  Ninnigret  •,  and  the 
other  hundred  to  Uncas  ;  to  be  received  and  treated  as 
their  men.  It  was  alfo  covenanted,  That  the  Pequots 
fhould  never  more  inhabit  their  native  country,  nor  be 
called  Pequots,  but  Narraganfets  and  Moheagans.  It 
was  alfo  further  ftipulated,  That  neither  the  Narragan- 
fets nor  Moheagans  fhould  poflefs  any  part  of  the  Pequot 
country  without  the  confent  of  the  Englifh.  The  Pe- 
quots were  to  pay  a  tribute,  at  Connefticut  annually,  of 
a  fathom  of  wampumpeag  for  every  Sannop,  of  half  a 
fathom  for  every  young  man  and  of  a  hand  for  every  male 
papoofe.  On  thefe  conditions  the  magiftrates,  in  behalf  of 
the  colony,  ftipulated  a  firm  peace  with  all  thefe  Indians.* 

The  conqueft  of  the  Pequots  ftruck  all  the  Indians 
in  New-England  with  terror,  and  they  were  poflefTed 
with  fuch  fear  of  the  difpleafure  and  arms  of  the  Eng- 
lifh, that  they  had  no  open  war  with  them  for  nearly 
forty  years. 

This  happy  event  gave  great  joy  to  the  colonies. 
A  day  of  public  thankfgiving  was  appointed ;  and,  in 
all  the  churches  of  New-England,  devout  and  animated 
praifes  were  addrefled  to  him,  who  giveth  his  people  the 
victory,  and  caufeth  tliem  to  dwell  fately. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Effects  of  the  war.  Great  fcardtj  in  ConneBtcut^ 
and  means  taken  to  relieve  the  necejjities  of  the  people. 
Settlement  of  NeiV'Haven.  Plantation  covenant.  Means 
for  the  defence  of  the  colotty.  Captain  Mafon  made  ma~ 
jor-general.  Civil  coiifiitution  of  Conneciicut^  formed  by 
voluntary  compact.  Firfl  general  eleSiion  at  ConneElicut. 
Governors  and  magijlratcs.  General  rights  of  the  peo~ 
pie  J  and  principal  luius  of  the  colony.  Conjlitution  and 
laws  of  New-Haven.  Fur  chafe  and  fettlement  offeveral 
towns  in  Conneciicut  and  New-Haven. 

•HOUGH  the   war  with  the  Pequots  was  now 
happily  terminated,  yet  the  effects  of  it  were  fe- 

*  Record*  of  Connci^licut. 


«8  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  Vt 

BooK  I.   verely  felt  by  the  inhabitants.     The  confcquences  were 
V>^v-N_^  icarcity  and  a  debt,  which,  in  the  low  ftate  of  the  colo- 
a6j7,         ny,  it  was  exceedingly  difficult   to  pay.     Almoft  every 
article  of  food,  or  clotliing  was  purchafed  at  the  deareit 
rate.     And  the  planters  had  not  yet  reaped  any  confid- 
erable  advantage  from  their  farms.     Such  a  proportion 
of  their  labourers  had  been  employed  in  the  war,  and  the 
country   was    fo   uncultivated,  that   all    the  provifion 
which  had  been  raifed,  or  imported,  was  in  no  meafurc 
proportionate  to  the  wants  of  the  people.  The  winter  was 
uncommonly  fevere,  which  increafed  the  diftrefs  of  the 
colony.f     The  court  at  Connecticut  forefeeing,  that  the 
people  would  be  in  great  want  of  bread,  contra(3:ed  with 
Mr.  Pyncheon  for  five  hundred  bufhels  of  Indian  corn, 
which  he  was  to  purchafe  of  the  Indians,   and  a  greater 
quantity  if  it  could  be  obtained.     The  inhabitants  were 
prohibited  to  bargain  for  it  privately,  and  limited  to  cer- 
tain prices,  left  it  ihouid  raife  the  price,  while  he    was 
making  the  purchafe.     A  committee  was  alfo  appointed 
by  the  court  to  fend  a  vefielto  Narraganfet  to  buy  of  the 
natives  in  that  quarter.^     But    notwithflanding  every 
precaution  which  was  taken,  the  fcarcity  became   fuch. 
Scarcity     that  corn  arofe,  to  the   extraordinary  price    of  twelve 
jii  Con-     fhiUings  bythe  bufhel.*     In  tliis  diflrefsful    fituationa 
committee  was  fent  to  an  Indian  fettlement   called  Po- 
comtock,  fince  Deerfield,  where   they  purchafed   fuch 
Relieved,   quantities,  that  the  Indians  came  down  to  Windfor  and 
Hartford  with  fifty  canoes  at  one  time,  laden  with  .  In- 
dian corn.§     The  good  people  confidered  this  as  a  great 
deliverance.     Thofe,  who,  in  England,  had  fed  on   the 
fineft  of  the  wheat,  in  the  beginning  of  affairs  in    Con- 
nefticut,  were  thankful  for  fuch  coarfe   fare  as   Indian 
bread  for  themfelves  and  children. 

In  this  low  (late  of  the  colony  the  court  found  It  ne- 
cefFary  to  order  the  towns  immediately  to  furnifh  them- 
felves with  magazines  of  powder,  lead  and  (hot,  and  ev- 


t  The  CnoiY  lay  from  the  4th  of  November  until  the  23d  of 
March.  It  was,  at  fometimcs,  three  and  tour  feet  deep.  Once 
ia  the  winter  it  fnowed  for  two  hours  together  [lakes  as  big  a« 
Enclilh  (hillings.    Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  154.  ^ 

t  Records  of  Conne<Sticut.  ^ 

*  Mafon's  Hiftory.  Twelve  fliillings  ftcrling  at  that  time  was- 
doubtlefs  equal  to  eighteen  or  twenty  Ihilling* lawful  money. 

§  Mafon's  Hiftory. 


Chap.  VI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  89 

ery  man  to  be  completely  armed  and  furnifhed  with  am-  Book  I. 
munition.  The  court  were  alfo  obliged  to  impofe  a  tax  of  u.*-\-«vj 
£$$0,  to  be  immediately  coUedled,  to  defray  the  expen-  1638. 
fes  of  the  war.     This  appears  to  have  been  the  firfl  pub- 
lic tax  in  Conneclicut.  Agawam,fince  named  Springfield, 
though  it  fent  no  men  to   the   war,  yet  bore  its  propor- 
tion of  the  expcnfe.f     The  firfl  fecretary  and  treafurer  February 
appears  to  have  been  Mr.  Clement   Chaplin.     He  was  9th. 
authorized  to  ifluehis  warrants  for  gathering  the  tax 
which  had  been  impofed. 

Captain  John  Mafon  was  appointed  major-general 
of  the  militia  of  Conne£licut.  The  reverend  Mr.  Hook- 
er was  defired  to  deliver  him  the  military  ftafF.  This  jviarch 
he  doubtlefs  performed  with  that  propriety  and  dignity,  8th. 
which  was  peculiar  to  himfelf,  and  beft  adapted  to  the 
occafion.  The  general  was  directed  to  call  out  the  mi- 
litia of  each  town,  ten  times  in  a  year,  to  inftrudl  them 
in  military  difcipline.  He  received  out  of  the  public 
treafury /'40.  annually  for  his  fervices. 

As  it  was  of  the  higheft  importance  to  the  colony  to 
cultivate  peace  anda  good  underftanding  with  the  Indians, 
laws  were  enadled  to  prevent  all  perfons  from  offering 
them  the  leaft  private  infult  or  abufe. 

While  the  planters  of  Conne£licut  were  thus  exert- 
ing themfelves  in  profecuting  and  regulating  the  affairs 
of  that  colony,  another  was  projedled  and  fettled  at 
Quinnipiack,!  afterwards  called  New-Haven.  ^^  ^^^  enDort^Jx' 
26th  of  July  1637,  Mr.  John  Davenport,  Mr.  Samuel  rives  at 
Eaton, TheophilusEaton  and  Edward  Hopkins,  Efquires,  Bofton, 
Mr.  Thomas  Gregfon  and  many  others  of  good  charac- 
ters and  fortunes  arrived  at  Bofton.  Mr.  Davenport 
had  been  a  famous  minifter  in  the  city  of  London,  and 
was  a  diflinguifhed  character  for  piety,  learning  and 
good  condu^.  Many  of  his  congregation,  on  the  ac- 
count of  the  efleem  which  they  had  for  his  perfon  and 
miniflry,  followed  him  into  New-England.  Mr.  Eaton 
and  Mr.  Hopkins  had  been  merchants  in  London,  pof- 
fefTed  great  eUates,  and  were  men  of  eminence  for  their 
abilities  and  integrity.     The   fame  of  Mr.  Davenport, 

f  The  tax  was  laid  on  the  Towns  in  the  proportions  follow- 
ing. Agawam  £i6  :  i6  ;o.  Windfor  ^^158  :  i  :  c.  Hartford 
£251 :  a  :  o.    And  Welhersfield/^124  :  o  :  o. 

t  This  is  fometimes  fpelt  Qiiil'ipiack,  and  Q[nnepioke. 
N 


go  THE    HISTORY     Chap.  VL 

Book  I.   the  reputation  and  good  eftates  of  the  principal  gentlemen 
u.»'-Y-»0    of  this  company,  made  the  people  of  the  Maffachufetts 
1638.         exceedingly   defirous  of  their  fettlement  in  that  com- 
monwealth.    Great  pains  were  taken  not  only  by  par- 
Offers  to    ticular  perfons  and  towns,  but  by  the  general   court,  to 
retain  l.im  fix  them  in  the  colony.     Charleflown  made  them  larg^ 
ci  V'4t^"  ^^^^^  ?  ^^^  Newbury  propofed  to  give  up   the  whole 
town  to  them.     The  general  court   offered  them  any 
place  which  they  fliould  choofe.f     But  they   were   de- 
termined to  plant  a  diflindl  colony.     By  the    purfuit  of 
the  Pequots  to  the  weftward,  the   Englifli  became  ac- 
quainted with  that  fine  tra£t  along  the  fliore,  from  Say- 
brook  to  Fairfield,  and   with  its   feveral  harbours.     It 
•was  reprefented  as  fruitful,  and  happily  fituated  for  nav- 
igation and   commerce.     The  company  therefore  pro- 
jelled  a  fettlement  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

In  the  fall  of  1637,  Mr.  Eaton  and  others,  who  were 
of  the  company,  made  a  journey  to  Connecticut,  to  ex- 
plore the  lands  and  harbours  on  the  fea  coaft.  They 
pitched  upon  Quinnipiack  for  the  place  of  their  fettle- 
ment. They  erc6l:ed  a  poor  hut  in  which  a  few  men 
fubfifted  through  the  winter. 

On  the  30th  of  March   1638,   Mr.  Davenport,  Mr. 

Prudden   and  Mr.  Samuel  Eaton,   Theophilus  Jlaton 

Efquire,  with  the  people  of  their  company  failed  from 

Bofton  for  Quinnipiack.     In  about  a  fortnight  they 

.51 J  gjj^  arrived  at  their  defired  port.     On    the    18th    of  April 

the  firft      they  kept  their  fii-ft  Sabbath    in   the   place.     The  peo- 

fabbath      pie  aflembled  under  a  large  fpreading  oak,  and  Mr.  Dav- 

keptat       enport  preached  to  them  from  Matthew  vi.  i.     He  in- 

verT"    ^'   ^'^^^  ^^^  the  temptations  of  the  wildernefs,  made  fucli 

obfervations,  and  gave  fuch  direftions  and  exhortations 

•<\s  were  pertinent  to  the  then  prefent  flate  of  his  hearers. 

He  left  this  remark.  That  he  enjoyed  a  good  day. 

One  of  the  principal  reafons,  which  thefe  colonifls 

afligned  for  their   removing   from   Maffachufetts,  was 

Reafons     that  they  fhould  be  more  out  of  the  way  and  trouble   of 

for  rcmo-  ^  general  Governor  of  New-England,  who  at  tliis  time, 

^'"^'         was  an  obje£l  of  great  fear  in  all  the  plantations.     What 

foundation  there  was  for  the  hope  of  exemption   from 

the  control  of  a  general  governor,  by  this  removal,   had 

one  been  fent,  does  not  appear.     It  is  probable  that  tlie 


t  Winthrcp's  Journal;  p.  151. 


A  Uuoliti/e^c XJiavav 


Chap.  VI.    OF    CONNECTICUT. 


91 


motive  which  had  the  greateft  influence  with  the  prin-  Book  I. 
cipal  men,  was  the  defire  of  being  at  the  head  of  a   new  v.^'-vv^ 
government,  modeled  both  in  civil  and   religious    mat-  1618. 
ters  agreeably  to  their  own  apprehenfions.     It  had  been 
an  obfervation  of  Mr.  Davenport's,  That  whenever  a 
reformation  had  been  effected  in  the  church,  in  any  part 
of  the  world,  it  had  refled  where  it  had  been  left  by   the 
reformers.     It  could  not  be  advanced  another  Itep.     He 
was  now  embarked  in  a  defign  of  forming  a  civil  and  re- 
ligious conftitution,  as  Hear  as  pofTible  to  fcripture  pre- 
cept and  example.     The  principal  gentlemen,  who  had 
followed  him  into  America,   had  the  fame   views.     In 
laying  the  foundations  of  a  new  colony,  there  was  a  fair 
probability,  that  they  might   accommodate    all   matters 
of  church  and  commonwealtli  to  their  own  feelings  and 
fentiments.     But  in  the  Maffachufetts  the  principal  mert 
were  fixed  in  the  chief  feats  of  Government,  which  they 
were  likely  to  keep,  and  their  civil  and   religious  polity 
was  already  formed.     Befides   the  antinomian   contro- 
verfy  and  fentiments,  which  had  taken  fucli  root  at  Bof- 
ton,  were  exceedingly   difagreeable  to  Mr.  Davenport 
and  the  principal  gentlemen  of  his  company.     He  had 
taken  a  decided,  though   prudent,  part  againft   them. 
He,  with  his  leading  men,  might  judge,  that  the  people, 
who  came  with  them,  would  be  much  more  out  of  dan- 
ger of  the  corruption,  and  that  theyfliould  be  more  en- 
tirely free  from  the  trouble,   of   thofe  fentiments,  in  a 
new  plantation,   than    in   the    Maflachufetts.     Thefe 
might  all  unite  their  influence,  with  Mr.  Davenport  and 
others,  to  determine  them  to  remove   and  begin  a  new 
colony. 

Soon  after  they  arrived  at  Quinnipiack,    in  the  clofe 
of  a  day  of  fafting  and  prayer,    they  entered  into  what 
they  termed  a  plantation  covenant.     In  this  they  fol-  P!anta- 
emnly  bound  themfelves,  "  That  as  in  matters,   that  ^'°"  '^°^^* 
«  concern  the  gathering  and  ordering  of  a  church,  fo  Quinipi, 
«  alfo  in  all  public  offices  which  concern  civil  order ;  as  ack. 
"  choice  of  magiftrates  and  officers,  making  and  re- 
"  pealing  laws,  dividing  allotments  of  inheritance,   and 
"  all  things  of  like  nature,  they  would  all  of  them  be 
*«  ordered  by  the  rules,  which  the  fcripture  held  forth 
"  to  them."     This  was  adopted  as  a  general  agreement, 
until  there  fhould  be  time   for  the  people  to   become 
more  intimately  acquainted  with  each  other's  religious 


92  THEHISTORY         Chap.  VI. 

Book  I.  views,  fentiments  and  moral  conduct ;  which  was  fup- 
V^'^V^  pofed  to  be  neceflary  to  prepare  the  way  for  their  cove- 
^^3^-         nanting  together,  as  chriftians,  in  church  ftate. 

The  afpedls  of  providence,  on  the  country,  about 
this  time,  were  very  gloomy  •,  and  efpecially  unfavora- 
ble to  new  plantations.  The  fpring,  after  a  long  and  fe- 
vere  winter,  was  unufually  backward.  Scarcely  any 
thing  grew  for  feveral  weeks.  The  planting  feafon  was 
fo  cold,  that  the  com  rotted  in  the  ground,  and  the  peo- 
ple were  obliged  to  replant  two  or  three  times.*  This 
diftrefled  man  and  beaft,  retarded  all  the  affairs  of 
the  plantations.  It  rendered  the  gloom  and  horrors 
of  the  wildernefs  ftill  more  horrible.  The  colonifts 
had  terrible  apprehenfions  of  fcarcity  and  famine.  But 
at  length  the  warm  feafon  came  on,  and  vegetation  ex- 
ceeded all  their  expedlations. 

On  the  ill  of  June,  between  the  hours  of  three  and 
four  in  the  afternoon,  there  was  a  great  and  memorable 
Great         earthquake,  throughout  New-England.     It  came  with 
earth-        g  report  like    continued  thunder,  or  the  rattling  of  nu- 
June  ill.     onerous  coaches  upon  a  paved  ftreet.     The  fhock  was 
fo  great,  that  in  many  places,  the  tops  of  the  chimnies 
were   thrown    down,   and  the   pewter  fell  from    the 
flielves.     It  fliook  the  waters  and  (hips  in  the  harbours^ 
and  all  the  adjacent  iflands.     The  duration  of  the  found 
and  tremor  was  about  four   minutes.     The  earth,  at 
'  turns,  was  unquiet  for  nearly  twenty  days.     The  wea- 
ther was  clear,  the  wind  wefterly,  and  the  courfe  of  the 
earthquake  from  weft  to  eaft. 

The  planters  at  Qulnnipiack  determined  to  make  an 
extenfive  fettlement ;  and,  if  poffible,  to  maintain  per- 
petual peace  and  friendfhip  with  the  Indians.  They 
therefore  paid  an  early  attention  to  the  making  of  fuch 
purchafes  and  amicable  treaties,  as  might  moft  effectu- 
ally anfwer  their  defigns. 

On  the  24th  of  November  1638,  Theophllus  Eaton 
The  firft  Efquire,  Mr.  Davenport  and  other  Englilh  planters,  en- 
purchale  tered  into  an  agreement  with  Momauguin,  fachem  of 
Haven^*  that  part  of  the  country,  and  his  counfellors  refpefting 
Nov.  24th  the  lands.  The  articles  of  agreement  are  to  this  effeft. 
1638.  That  Momauguin  is  the  fole  fachem  of  Qulnnipi- 

ack, and  had  an  abfolute   power  to  aliene  and  difpofe 

*  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  155.    Ibid.   Seealfo  Morton  and 

Hutchinfon. 


Chaf.  VI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  93 

of  the  fame  :    That   in  confequence  of  the  protedlion  Book  I. 
which  he  had  tafted,  by  the  EngUfli,  from  the  Pequots  v^^/^^vj 
and  Mohawks,*  he  yielded  up  all  his  right,  title  and  in-  1638. 
tereft  to  all  the  land,  rivers,   ponds  and   trees,  with  all 
the  liberties  and  purtcnances  belonging    to  the  fame, 
unto  Theophilus  Eaton,    John  Davenport  and  others, 
their  heirs  and   alTigns  forever.     He  covenanted,  that 
neither  he  nor  his  Indians  would  terrify,  nor  difturb  the 
Englifn,  nor  injure  them  in  any  of  their  interefts  ;  but, 
that,  in  every  refpe£t,  they  would  keep  true    faith  with 
them. 

The  Englifli  covenanted  to  protect  Momauguin  and 
his  Indians,  when  unreafonably  aflaulted  and  terrified, 
by  other  Indians  :  and  that  they  Ibould  always  have  a 
fuilicient  quantity  of  land  to  plant  on,  upon  the  eafh  fide 
of  the  harbour,f  between  that  and  Saybrook  fort. 
They  alfo  covenanted,  that  by  way  of  free  and  thank- 
ful retribution,  they  gave  unto  the  faid  fachem  and  his 
council  and  company,  twelve  coats  of  Englifh  cloth, 
twelve  alchymy  fpoons,  twelve  hatchets,  twelve  hoesy 
two  dozen  of  knives,  twelve  porringers,  and  four  cafes 
o£  French  knives  and  fciflbrs.;}: 

This  agreement  was  figned  and  legally  executed,  by 
Momauguin  and  his  council  on  the  one  part,  and  The- 
ophilus Eaton  and  John  Davenport  on  the  other. 
Thomas  Stanton,  who  was  the  interpreter,  declared  in 
theprefence  of  God,  That  he  had  faithfully  acquainted 
the  Indians  with  the  faid  articles,  and  returned  their  an- 
fwers. 

In  December  following  they  made  another  purchafe  gecond 
of  a  large  traft,  which  lay  principally  north  of  the  for-  purchafe 
mer.     This  was  of  Montowefe,  fon  of  the  great  fachem  Dec.  nth 
at  Mattabefeck.     This   tra£t  was  ten  miles   in  length,  1^38. 
north  and  fouth,  and  thirteen  miles  in  breadth.     It  ex-  ^    «. 
tended  eight  miles  eaft  of  the  river  Quinnipiack,   and  purcha- 
five  miles  weft  of  it  towards  Hudfon's  river.      It  inclu-  fed. 
ded  all  the  lands  within  the  ancient   limits  of  the  old 


*  The  Indians  of  Quinnipiack,  in  this  treaty,  declared,  That 
they  ftill  remembered  the  heavy  taxes  of  the  Pequots  and  Mo- 
hawks ;  and  thatjby  reafoB  of  their  fear  of  them,  they  could 
not  ftay  in  their  own  country  ;  but  had  been  obliged  to  flee. 
By  thefe  powerful  enemies  they  had  been  reduced  to  about 
forty  men. 

+  This  was  in  the  prefent  town  of  Eaft-Haven. 

J  Records  of  Ncw-Havcn. 


94  THEHISTORY     Chap.  VI. 

Book  I.  towns  of  New-Haven,  Branford  and   Wallingford,  and 

v-^^VN^  almoft  the  whole  contained  in  the  prefent  limits  of  thofe 

1638.         towns,  and  of  the  towns  of  Eaft-Haven,  Woodbridge, 

Chefliire,  Hamden   and   North-Haven.*     Thefe  have 

fince  been  made  out  of  the  three  old  towns. 

The  New-Haven  adventurers  were  the  moft  opulent 
company,  which  came  into  New-England  ;  and  they  de- 
figned  to  plant  a  capital  colony.  They  laid  out  their 
town  plat  in  fquares,  defigning  it  for  a  great  and  elegant 
city.  In  the  centre  was  a  large  beautiful  fquare.  This 
was  compaffed  with  others,  making  nine  in  the  whole. 

The  firft  principal  fettlers  were  Theophilus  Eaton, 
Efquire,  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr.  Samuel  Eaton,  Mr. 
Thomas  Gregfon,  Mr.  Robert  Newman,  Mr.  Matthew 
Gilbert,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Turner,  Mr.  Thomas  Fugill, 
Mr.  Francis  Newman,  Mr.  Stephen  Goodyear  and  Mr. 
Jofhua  Atwater. 

Mr.  Eaton  had  been  deputy  governor  of  the  Eaft- 
India  company,  was  three  years  himfelf  in  the  Eaft-In- 
dies.  He  ferved  the  company  fo  well,  that  he  received 
from  them  prefents  of  great  value.  He  had  been  on  an 
embafly  from  the  court  of  England  to  the  king  of  Den- 
mark. He  was  a  London  merchant  who  had  for  many 
years  traded  to  the  Eaft-Indies,  had  obtained  a  great  ef- 
tate,and  brought  over  a  large  fum  of  inoney  into  New- 
England. f  Others  were  merchants  of  fair  eftates,  and 
they  defjgned  to  have  been  a  great  trading  city. 

There  appears  no  a6t  of  civil,  military,  or  ecclefiafli- 
cal  authority  during  the  firft  year  j  nor  is  there  any  ap- 
pearance, that  this  colony  was  ever  ftraitened  for  bread, 
as  the  other  colonies  had  been. 

Mr.  Prudden  and  his  company,  who  came  with 
Mr.  Davenport,  continued  the  firft  fum.mer  at  Quinni- 
piack,  and  were  making  preparations  for  the  fettlement 
of  another  townfliip. 

When  Mr.  Davenport  removed  to  Quinnipiacky  Mr# 

*  For  this  laft  tradt  of  ten  miles  north  and  fouth,  and  thirteen 
caft  and  weft,  the  EngHHi  gave  thirteen  coats,  and  allowed  the 
Indians  ground  to  plant,  and  liberty  to  hunt  within  the  lands, 
fiecords  of  New-Haven. 

+  The  tradition  is  that  he  brought  to  New-Haven  a  very- 
great  cftate,  in  plate  and  money.  The  Eaft-India  company 
made  his  wife  a  prefent  of  a  bafon  and  ewer  double  gilt,  and  cu» 
rjoufly  wrought  with  gold,  weighing  more  than  fixty  pounds. 


Chap.  VI.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  95 

Hopkins  came  to  Hartford,  and  foon  after  Incorporated  Book  L 
with  the  fettlersof  Connedicut.  v^^V^ 

The  inhabitants  of  the  three  towns  tipon  Connefticut  ^^2^' 
river  finding  tliemfelves  without  the  limits  of  the  Mafla- 
chufetts'  patent,  conceived   the  plan  of  forming  them- 
felves,  by  voluntary  compact,  into  a  diflin^t  common- 
wealth. 

On  the  14th  of  January  1639,1  all  ^^^  free  planters 
convened,  at  Hartford,    and,  on  mature  deliberation,  ^^^  °^'|!° 
adopted  a  conftitution  of  government.     They  introduce  mtjon^of' 
their  conftitution  with  a  declaration  to  this  efFeft,  That  Connedi- 
for  the  eftabliihment  of  order  and  government,  they  af-  cut  Jan. 
fociated  and  conjoined  themfelves  to  be  one  public  ftate  14th  1639. 
or  commonwealth  ;  and  did  for  themfelves  and  fuccef- 
fors,  and  fuch  as  Ihould  be,  at  any  time,  joined  to  them, 
confederate  together,  to  maintain  the  liberty  and  purity 
of  the  gofpel,  which  they  profefTed,  and  the  difcipline  of 
the  churches  according  to  its  inftitution  j  and  in  all  civil 
affairs    to  be  governed  according  to  fuch  laws  as  fhould 
be  made  agreeably    to  the  conftitution,   which  they 
were  then  about  to  adopt. 

The  conftitution,  which  then  follows,  ordains,  That 
there   (hall  be  annually  two  general   courts,  or  aflem-  Two  gen- 
blies;  one  on  the  fecond  Thurfday  in    April,  and  the  eralalTem- 
otheron  the  fecond  Thurfday  in  September:  That  the  bliesan- 
firft  Ihall  be  the  court  of  eledlion,  in  which  (hall  be  an-  ^      ^' 
nually  chofen,  at  leaft,  fix  magiftrates,  and  all  other  pub-  How 
\^c  officers.    It  ordains,  that  a  governor  fliould  be  chofen  compof* 
diftinft  from  the  fix  magiftrates,  for  one  year  and  until  ^d. 
another  ftiould  be  chofen  and  fvvorn :  and  thatthe  governor 
and  magiftrates  ftiould  be  fworn  to  a  faithful  execution  of 
the  laws  of  the  colony, and  in  cafes  in  which  there  was  no 
cxprefs  laweftabliftied,  tobe  governed  by  thedivine  word. 
Agreeably  to  the  conftitution,  the  choice  of  thefe  offi- 
cers was  to  be  made  by  the  whole  body  of  the  freemen 
convened  in  general  election.     It  provided  that  all  per- Officers 
Ions,  who  had  been  received  as  members  of  the  feveral  ^^^  ^^^ 
towns,  by  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  and  had  taken  ^^' 

f  This  ftands  on  the  records  of  the  colony,  January  14th, 
1638,  which  is  owing  to  the  manner  of  dating  at  that  time. 
Tte  firft  fettlers  of  the  colony  began  their  year  on  the  25th  of 
March  ;  and  until  this  time,  they  dated  1638  ;  but  it  was  moft 
evidently  1639,  as  tl>c  December  preceding  was  1638,  and  the 
April  following  1639. 


96  THEHISTORY        Chap.  VL 

Book  I    *^^  ^^^^  ^^  fidelity  to  the  commonwealth,  fhould  be  ad- 

^^,^^^    mitted  freemen   of  the    colony.     It  required  that  the 

16^0  governor  and  magiftrates  fhould   be  elected  by  ballot ; 

the  governor  by  the  greateft  number   of  votes,  and  the 

magiftrates  by  a  majority.    However  it  provided,  that  if 

it  Ihould  fo  happen,  at  any  time,  that  fix  fliould  not  have 

a  majority,  that  in  fuch  cafe  thofe  who  had  the  greateft 

number  of  fuffrages,   fhould  fland  as  duly  eledted  for 

that  year.     No  perfon  might  be  governor  unlefs  he  were 

a  member  of  fome  regular  church  and  had  previoufly 

been  a  magiftrate  in  the  colony.     Nor  could  any  man  be 

elected  to  the    office   more    than   once   in  two  years. 

No  one  could  be  chofen  into  the  nragiftracy,  who  was 

not  a  freeman  of  the  colony,  and  had  been  nominated, 

either  by  the  freemen  or  the  general  court.  The  Aflem- 

Governor  ^^Y  were   authorized  to    nominate,  in  cafes,    in  which 

andmcigil-  they  judged  it  expedient.     Neither   the  governor,  nor 

trates  to    magistrates  might  execute  any  part  of  their  office  until 

be  Iworn.  j-i^^gy  \-^^^  been  publicly  fwora  in  the  face  of  the  general 

'     "    AfTembly. 

The  conflitution  alfo  ordained,  that  the  feveral  towns 

AfTerr.blies  fliould  fend  their  refpe^live   deputies  to  the  eledlion  ; 

ird*^"    and  that  when  it  was  finifhed,  they  fhould  proceed  to 

do  any  public  fervice,  as  at  any  other  courts  :  and,  that 

the  alTembly,  in  September,  Ihould   be  for  the  enabling 

of  laws  and  other  public  fervices.     It  authorized   the 

governor  either  by  himfelf  or  his  fecretary,  to  ilTue  his 

warrants  for  calling  the  affemblies,  one  month  at  leaft, 

before  the   time  of  their  appointed  meetings.     Upon 

particular  emergencies,  he  might  convene  them  in  fe- 

Number    venteen  days,  or  even  upon  fhorter  notice,  flating  the 

of  depu-    reafons  in  his  warrant.     Upon  the  reception  of  the  gov- 

ties  to  be   gj-i^Qj-'g  -warrants,  in   April  and  September,  the  confla- 

bles  of  the  refpe£live  towns  were  obliged  to  warn  all  the 

freemen  to  eleCt  and  fend  their  deputies. 

The  conflitution  ordained,  that  the  three  towns  of 
Powers  of  Windfor,  Hartford    and  Wethersficld  fhould  each  of 
^e   ou  e   ^i^Qjy^  j-gj-jj  fQ^,^  deputies   to  every  general  court  ;  and, 
fentatives.  that  the  other  towns,  which  fhould  be  added  to  the  col- 
ony in  future,  fhould  fend  fuch  a  number  as  the  court 
fhould  determine,  proportionate  to  the  body  of  their 
freemen.     The  conflitution  declared,  the  deputies  to 
be  veiled  with  the  whole  power  of  the  refpe£live  towns 
which  they  reprefented.     It  authorized  them  .to  meet 


Chap.  VI.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  97 

feparately  and  determine  their  own  ele£tions,  to  fine  Book  I. 
any   perlbn,  who  ftiould  obtrude   himfelf  upon  them,  V-^*v^s-/ 
when  he  had  not  been  duly  chofen,  and  to  fine  any  of  1639. 
their  members,  for  diforderly  conduct,  when  they  were 
affembled. 

Further,   the   conftitutlon  provided,   that  in  cafe  p     n 
the  governor  and  the  major  part  of  the    magiftrates  (jies  to 
ftiould,  upon  any  urgent  occafion  negleft,  or   refufe  to  convoke  a 
call  an  aifembly,    the  freemen  fhould    petition  them  to  general 
fummon  one  j  and,  if  upon  the  petition   of  a   major  part  ^^^'^"^"  y* 
of  the  freemen  in  the  colony,  they  ftill  refufed  or  neg- 
lected, then  the  conftables  of  the  feveral  towns   fliould, 
upon  the  petition  of  the  major  part  of  the  freemen,  con- 
voke an  affembly.     It   alfo  ordained  that  when  this  af- 
fembly  was  convened,  it  fhould  have  power  of  choofing 
a  moderator,  and  when  it  was  thus  formed  fhould  exer- 
cife  all  the  powers  of  any  other  general  aflembly.     Par- 
ticularly it  was  authorized  to  call  any  court,  magiftrate, 
or  any  other  perfon  before  it,  and  to  difplace,  or  infli£t 
penalties  according  to  the  nature  of  the  offence. 

All  general  afTemblies,  called  by  the  governor,  were 
to  confill  of  the  governor,  four  magiftrates  and  the  ma- 
jor part  of  the  deputies.  When  there  was  an  equal 
vote,  the  governor  had  a  cafting  voice.  The  conftitu- 
tion  alfo  provided,  that  no  general  court  fhould  be  ad- 
journed or  difTolved  without  the  confcnt  of  a  major 
part  of  the  members:  and,  that  whenever  a  tax  was 
laid  upon  the  inhabitants,  the  fum  to  be  paid  by 
each  town  fhould  be  determined  by  a  committee  confift- 
ing  of  an  equal  number  from  each  cf  the  refpe6tive 
towns. 

The  form  of  oaths  to  be  adminiftered  to  the  governor 
and  magiftrates  was  alfo  adopted  in  the  general  conven- 
tion of  the  free  planters.  This,  for  fubftance,  was  the 
original  conftitution  of  Connefticut.* 

With  fuch  wifdom  did  our  venerable  anceftors  pro- 
vide for  the  freedom  and  liberties  of  themfelves  and 
their  pofterity.  Thus  happily  did  they  guard  againft 
every  encroachment  on  the  rights  of  the  fubjeft.  This, , 
probably, is  one  of  the  moft  free  and  happy  conftitutions 
of  civil  gO"ernment  which  has  ever  been  formed.     The 


*  Appendix,  No.  III. 

O 


^8  THEHISTORY         Chap.  VI. 

Book  I.    formatl-on  of  it,   at  fo  early  a  period,   when  the  light 
V->'V>^  of  liberty  was  wholly  darkened   in    moft  parts  of  the 
1639.         earth,  and  the  rights  of  men  were  fo  little  underftood 
in  others,   does  great  honor  to  their  ability,  integrity, 
and  love  to  mankind.     To  pofterity  indeed,  it  exhibited 
a  moft  benevolent  regard.     It  has  continued,   with  lit- 
tle alteration,  to  the  prefent  time.     The  happy  confe- 
quences  of  it,  which,  for  more  than  a  century  and  half, 
the  people  of  Connedticut  have   experienced,  arc  with- 
out defcription. 
General         Agreeably  to  the  conftitution,  the  freemen  conven- 
Elecftion     ed  at  Hartford  on  the   fecond  Thurfday   in  April,  and 
r    A'^L*      eiedled  their  officers  for  the  year  enfuing. 
fecond  JoHN  Haynes,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor,  and 

Thurfday  Roger  Ludlow,  George  Wyllys,  Edward  Hopkins, 
in  April.  Thomas  Welles,  John  Webller  and  William  Phelps, 
Efquires,  were  chofen  magiftrates.  Mr.  Ludlow,  the 
firft  of  the  fix  magiftrates,  was  deputy  governor.  Mr. 
Hopkins  was  chofen  fecretary,  and  Mr.  Welles  treaf- 
urer. 

The  deputies  fent  to  this  firft  general  afTembly,  in 
Connecticut,  were  Mr.  John  Steele,  Mr.  Spencer,  Mr. 
John  Prat,  Mr.  Edward  Stebbins,  Mr.  Gaylord,  Mr. 
Henry  Wolcott,  Mr.  Stoughton,  Mr.  Ford,  Mr.  Thurf-, 
ton  Rayner,  Mr.  James  Boofy,  Mr.  George  Hubbard, 
and  Mr.  Richard  Crab. 

The  general  aflembly  proceeded  as  they  had  leifure, 
IPirft  law,  and  as  occafion  required,  to  ena£l  a  fyftem  of  laws. 
or  bill  of  The  laws  at  firft  were  few,  and  time  was  taken  to  con- 
xighis.  cjo^  a„  J  digeft  them.  The  firft  ftatute  in  the  Connedi:- 
icut  code  is  a  kind  of  declaration,  or  bill  of  rights.  It 
ordains,  That  no  man's  liTe  fhall  be  taken  away  ;  no 
man's  honor  or  good  name  be  ftained,  no  man's  perfon 
iliall  be  arrcfted,  reftrained,  baniflied,  difmembered,  nor 
any  wife  puniftied  :  That  no  man  ftiall  be  deprived  of 
his  wife  or  children  j  no  man's  goods  or  eftate  (hall  be 
taken  away  from  him,  nor  any  wife  endamaged,  under 
colour  of  law,  or  countenance  of  authority,  unlefs  it 
Ihould  be  by  the  virtue  of  fome  exprefs  law  of  the  colony 
warranting  the  fame,  eftablifhed  by  the  general  court, 
and  fufficicntly  publifhed  ;  or  in  cafe  of  the  defeat  of 
fuch  law,  in  any  particular  cafe,  by  fome  clear  and 
plain  rule  of  the  word  of  God,  in  which  the  whelc 


Chap.  VI.    O  F   C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  99 

court  (hall  concur.f     It  was  alfo  ordained  that  all  per-  Book  I. 
fons  in  the  colony,  whether  inhabitants  or  not,  fliould  v,><~v^^ 
CTijoy  the  fame  law  and  juftice  without  partiality  or  de-  1639. 
lay.     Thefe  general  precepts  bore  the  fame  afpedl,  and 
breathed  the  fame  fpirit  of  liberty  and  fafety,  with  ref- 
pe£t  to  the  fubjedls  univerfally,  which  is   exhibited  in 
the  conflitution. 

The  planters  at  Quinnipiack  continued  more  than  a 
year  without  any  civil  or  religious  conflitution,  orcom- 
pa£l  further  than  had  been  exprefled  in  their  plantation 
covenant. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Henry  Whitfield,  "William  Leet, 
Efquire,  Samuel  Delborough,  Robert  Kitchel,  Willianj 
Chittenden  and  others,  who  were  part  of  Mr.  Daven- 
port's and  Mr.  Eaton's  company,  arrived  to  aflifl  them 
in  their  new  fettlement.  Thefe  were  principally  from 
Kent  and  Surrey  in  the  vicinity  of  London.  Mr. 
Whitfield's  people,  like  Mr.  Davenport's,  followed  him 
into  New-England.  There  were  now  three  minifters, 
with  many  of  the  members  of  their  former  churches 
and  congregations,  coUefted  in  this  infant  colony,  and 
combined  in  the  fame  general  agreement. 

On  the  4th  of  June  all  the  free  planters  at  Quinnipi-  June  4th, 
ack  convened  in  a  large  barn  of  Mr.  Newman's,  and,  in  1639  the 
a  very  formal  and  folemn  manner,  proceeded  to  lay  the  P''*"'^^''^  . 
foundations  of  their  civil  and  religious  polity.  piack,af- 

Mr.  Davenport  introduced  the  bufinefs,  by  a  fer-  femble  t9 
monfrom  the  words  of  the  royal  preacher,  **  Wifdom  forma 
hath  builded  her  houfe,  {he  hath  hewn  out  her  feven  conftitu- 
pillars."  His  defign  was  to  (how,  that  the  church,  the 
houfe  of  God,  fhould  be  formed  of  feven  pillars,  or 
principal  brethren,  to  whom  all  the  other  members  of 
the  church  fhould  be  added.  After  a  folemn  invocation 
of  the  Divine  Majesty,  he  proceeded  to  reprefent  to 
the  planters,  that  they  were  met  to  confult  refpe£ling 
the  fettlement  of  civil  government  according  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  for  the  nomination  of  perfons,  who, 
by  univerfal  confent,  were,  in  all  refpe£ls  the  befl  quali- 
fied for  the  foundation  work  of  a  church.  He  enlarged 
on  the  great  importance  of  the  tranfaftions  before  them, 
anddefired,  that  no  man  would  give  his  voice,  in  any 
matter,  until  he  fully  underftood  it ;  and,  that  all  would 

t  Did  code  of  Connciflicut. 


loo  T  H  E    H  I  S  t  O  R  Y         Chap.  VL 

Book  I.   aG,  without  refpe£i  to  any  man,  but   give  their  vote  in 
K.,r'\r>J  the  fear  of  God.     He  then  propofed  a  number  of  quef- 
1639-         tions  in  confequencc  of  vrhich  the  following  refolutions 
were  pafled. 

I.  That  the  fcriptures  hold  forth  a  perfe£l  rule  for 
Its  funda-  ^j^g  dire£lIon  and  government  of  all  men  in  all  duties 
articles       which  they  are  to  perform  to  God  and  men,  as  well  in 

families  and  commonwealth,  as  in  matters  of  the  church. 

II.  That  as  in  matters  which  concerned  the  gather- 
ing and  ordering  of  a  church,  fo  likewife  in  all  public 
offices  which  concern  civil  order,  as.  choice  of  magif- 
trates  and  officers,  making  and  repealing  laws,  dividing 
allotments  of  inheritance,  and  all  things  of  Uke  nature, 
they  would  all  be  governed  by  thofe  rules,  which  the 
fcripture  held  forth  to  them. 

III.  "  That  all  thofe  who  had  defired  to  be  received 
as  free  planters,  had  fettled  in  the  plantation,  with  a 
purpofe,  refolution  and  defire,  that  they  might  be  ad- 
mitted into  church  fellowlhip  according  to  Chrift." 

IV.  "  That  all  the  free  planters  held  tbcmfelves 
bound  to  eftabliffi  fuch  civil  order  as  might  beft  con- 
duce to  the  fecuring  of  the  purity  and  peace  of  the  or- 
dinance to  themfelves  and  their  pofterity  according  to 
God.' 

When  thefe  refolutions  had  been  pafled  and  the  peo- 
ple had  bound  themfelves  to  fettle  civil  government  ac- 
cording to  the  divine  word,  Mr.  Davenport  proceeded 
to  reprefent  unto  them  what  men  they  mull  choofe  for 
civil  rulers  according  to  the  divine  word,  and  that  they 
might  mofl  effectually  fecure  to  them  and  their  pofter- 
ity a  juft,  free  and  peaceable  government.  Time  was 
then  given  to  difcufs  and  deliberate  upon  what  he  had 
propofed.  After  full  difcuffion  and  deliberation  it  was 
determined^ — 

V.  "  That  church  members  only  fhouldbe  free  bur* 
gefles ;  and  that  they  only  fliould  choofe  magiftrates 
among  themfelves,  to  have  power  of  tranfa£ling  all  the 
public  civil  affairs  of  the  plantation  :  Of  making  and  re-* 
pealing  laws,  dividing  inheritances,  deciding  of  differ-.- 
ences,  that  may  arife,  and  doing  all  things  and  bufineffea 
of  like  nature." 

Th  at  civil  officers  might  be  chofen  and  government 
proceed  according  to  thefe  refolutions,  it  M^as  neceffary 
that  a  church  fhould  be  formed.     Without  this  th?rc 


^  Chap.  VI.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  loi 

could  be  neither  free  men  nor  magiftrates.     Mr.    Dav-  Book  I, 
enport  therefore  proceeded  to  make  propofals  relative  to-  K^yy>sJ 
the  formation  of  it,  in  fuch  a  manner,  that   no    blemifh  1639. 
might  be  left  on   the    "  beginnings  of  church   work." 
It  was  then  refolved  to  this  eJiecl 

VI.  «  That  twelve  men  Ihould  be  chofen,  that  their 
fitnefs  for  the  foundation  work  might  be  tried,  and  that 
it  fhouJd  be  in  the  power  of  thofe  twelve  men,  to  ehoofe 
feven  to  begin  the  church." 

It  was  agreed  that  if  fcven  men  could  not  be  found 
among  the  twelve  qualified  for  the  foundation  work, 
that  fuch  other  perfons  (hould  be  taken  into  the  number, 
upon  trial,*  as  fliould  be  judged  moft  fuitable.f  The 
form  of  a  folemn  charge,  or  oath  was  drawn  up  and 
agreed  upon  at  this  meeting  to  be  given  to  all  the  free- 
men. 

Further,  it  was  ordered,  that  all  perfons,  who 
(hould  be  received,  as  free  planters  of  that  corporation, 
fhould  fubmit  to  the  fundamental  agreement  above  rela- 
ted, and  in  teftimony  of  their  fubmiflion  fhould  fubfcribe 
their  names  among  the  freemen.:}:  After  a  proper  term  Anpuft 
of  trial,  Theophilus  Eaton,  Efcjuire,  Mr.  John  Daven-  jjud. 
port,  Robert  Newman,  Matthew  Gilbert,  Thomas  Fu- 
gill,  John  Punderfon  and  Jeremiah  Dixon  were  chofen 
for  the  feven  pillars  of  the  church. 

October  25th,  1639,  the  court,  as  it  is  termed,  con-  General 
filling  of  thefe  feven  perfons  only,  convened,  and  after  a  eledionat 
folemn  addrefs  to  the  Supreme  Majesty,  they  proceed-  Q^iinnipi- 
ed  to  form  the  body  of  freemen  and  to  ele£l:  their   civil  ^^'       . 
officers.     The  manner  was  indeed  fingular  and  curious.  16  jg.       * 

In  the  firft  place,  all  former  trufl,  for  managing    the 
public  affairs  of  the  plantation  was  declared  to  ceafe,  and  Mode  of 
be  utterly  abrogated.     Then  all  thofe  who  had  been  ad-  P'"'^^^^' 
mitted  to  the  church  after  the    gathering  of  it,  in   the 
choice  of  the  feven  pillars,  and  all  the  members  of  other 
approved  churches,  who  defired   it,  and  offered  them- 

*  Apendis  No.  IV. 

•f-  The  twelve  perfons  chofen  for  trial,  out  of  whom  the  feven 
pillars  of  the  houfe  were  chofen,  were  Theophilus  Eaton,  John 
Darenport,  Robert  Newman,  Matthew  Gilbert,  Richard  Mal- 
bon,  Nathaniel  Turner,  Ezckiel  Chevers,  Thomas  Fugill,  John 
Punderfon,  William  Andrews  and  Jeremiah  Dixon. 

|:  Sixty-three  fubfcribed  on  this  4th  day  of  June,  and  there 
^ere  add^d  foon  after  about  fifty  other  names. 


loa  THE    HISTORY         Chap.  VI. 

Book  I.  felvcs,  were  admitted  members  of  the  court.     A  folcmn 
K^yyy^  charge  was  then  publicly  given  them,  to  the   fame  ef- 
Z639.         fedl  as  the  freemen's  charge,  or  oath,  wh'ch  they  had 
previoufly  adopted.     The  purport  of  this  was  nearly  the 
fame,  with  the  oath  of  fidelity,  and  with  the  freemen's 
adminiftered  at  the  prefent  time.     Mr.  Davenport  ex- 
pounded feveral  fcriptures  to  them,  defcribing  the  char- 
acter of  civil  magiftrates  given  in   the  facred  oracles. 
To  this  fucceeded  the  ele<Slion  of  officers.     Theophilus 
Eaton,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor,  Mr.  Robert  New- 
man, Mr.  Matthew  Gilbert,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Turner,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Fugill  were  chofen  magiftrates.     Mr.  Fu- 
gill  was  alfo  chofen  fecretary,  and  Robert  Seely,marfhall. 
Mr.  Davenport  gave  governor  Eaton  a  charge   in 
Gov'^^^  *°  ^^P^"  court,   from   Deut.  i"  16,  17.     -"  And  T  charged 
Eaton.       your  judges  at  that  time,  faying.   Hear  the  caufes   be- 
tweenyourbrethren,andjudge  righteouflybetween  every 
man  and  his  brother,  and  the  ftranger  that  is  with  him. 
Ye  fhall  not  refpe£l  perfons  in  judgment,   but  ye    (hall 
hear  the  fmall  as  well  as  the  great  ;  ye  fhall   not  be  a- 
fraid  of  the  face  of  man  j  for  the  judgment  is  God's: 
and  the  caufe  that  is  too  hard  for  you,  bring  it  unto  me, 
and  I  will  hear  it." 

It  was  decreed,  by  the  freemen,  that  there  ftiould 
be  a  general  court  annually,  in  the  plantation,  on  the  laft 
week  in  October.  This  was  ordained  a  court  of  elec- 
tion in  which  all  the  officers  of  the  colony  were  to  be 
chofen.  This  court  determined,  that  the  word  of 
God  fhould  be  the  only  rule  for  ordering  the  affairs  of 
government  in  that  commonwealth. 

This  was  the  original,  fundamental  conftitution  of  the 
government  of  New-Haven.  All  government  was  ori- 
ginally in  the  church,  and  the  members  of  the  church 
elected  the  governor,  magiflrates  and  all  other  officers. 
The  magiftrates,  at  firft,  were  no  more  than  affiftants  of 
the  governor,  they  might  not  a£l  in  any  fentence  or  de- 
termination of  the  court.f  No  deputy  governor  was 
chofen,  nor  were  any  laws  enabled  except  the  general 
refolutions  which  have  been  noticed  ;  but  as  the  planta- 
tion enlarged,  and  new  towns  were  fettled,  new  orders 
were  given ;  the  general  court  received  a  new  form, 
laws  were  enaded,  and  the  civil  polity  of  this  jurifdic- 

t  Records  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven, 


CHAP.  VT.    OF    CONNECTICUT.  103 

tion  gradually  advanced,  in  its  elTentlal  parts,  to  a  near  Book  I. 
refemblance  of  the  government  of  Connedlicut.  V-^V^^ 

While  thefe  affairs  were  tranfadled  at  Quinnipiacic,  1639. 
plantations  commenced  at  Wopowage,  and  Menunka- 
tuck.  Wopowage  was  purchafed  February  12th,  1639,:!:  Mi'ford 
and  Menunkatuck  the  September  following.    Both  were  and  Guil- 
fettled  this  year.     The    churches  of  Mr.  Prudden  and  ^.^afcd"'^" 
Mr.  Whitfield  were  both  formed  upon  the  plan  of  Mr.  apj  f^^. 
Davenport's;  each  confiding  of  feven  principal  men, or  tied, 
pillars.     1  hey  appear  to  have  been  gathered  at  the  fame 
time.     The  planters   were  in  the   original    agreement  "^"S***"" 
made  in  Mr.  Newman's  barn,  on  the  4th  of  June.     The 
principal  men,  or  pillars  in  the  town  of  Wopowage  were 
Mr.  Peter  Prudden,  William  Fowler,  Edmund  Tapp, 
Zechariah  Whitman,  Robert  Treat,  Alexander  Bryan, 
and  John  Aflwood.     The  principal  planters  of  Menun- 
katuck were  Henry  Whitfield,   Robert   Kitchel,  Wil- 
liam Leet,  Samuel   Delborough,  William  Chittenden, 
John  Bifliop,  and  John  Caffmge.     The  lands  in  Milford 
and  Guilfoid,  as  well  as  in  New-Haven,  were  purcha- 
fed  by  thefe  principal  men,  in  truft,  for  all   the   inhabi- 
tants of  the  refpe£i:ive  towns.     Every  planter  after  pay- 
ing his  proportionable  part  of  the  expenfes,  arifing  from 
laying  out  and  fettling  the  plantation,  drew  a  lot  or  lots 
of  land,  in  proportion  to  the  money  or  eftate  which  he 
had  expended  in  the  general  purchafe,  and  to  the  num- 
ber of  heads  in  his  family.     Thefe  principal  men  were 
judges  in  the  refpe£live  towns,   compofing  a  court,   to 
judge  between  man  and  man,   divide  inheritances    and 
punifh  offences  according  to  the  written  word,   until  a 
body  of  laws  fhould  be  ellablifhed. 

Most  of  the  principal  fettlers  of  Milford  were  from 
Wethersfield.f  They  firft  purchafed  of  the  Indians  all 
that  traft,  which  lies  between  New-Haven  and  Strat- 
ford river,  and  between  the  found  on  the  fouth,  and  a 
ftrcam  called  two  mile  brook  on  the  north,  which  is  the 
boundary  line  between  Milford  and  Derby.  This  tradt 
comprized  all  the  lands  within  the  old  town  of  Milford, 
and  a  fmall  part  of  the  town  of  Woodbridge.  The 
planters  made  other  purchafes  which  included  a  large 

J  On  the  records  it  was  1638.  but  according  to  the  prefent 
mode  of  dating  1639. 

t  Mr.  Prudden  it  fecms  preached  at  Wethcrsficld,  the  fum- 
mcr  bcfpre  the  people  removed  to  Milford. 


104  THEHISTORY  Chap.  VI. 

Book  I.   traft  on  the  weft  fide  of  Stratford  river,  principally  in 
V-^v>w'  the  town  of  Huntington.     In  the  firft  town  meeting  in 
1639.         Milford  the  number  of  free  planters,  or  of  church  mem- 
bers, was  forty  four. 

The  Indians  were  fo  numerous  in  this  plantation, 
that  the  Engliih  judged  it  neceflary  for  their  own  fafety, 
to  compafs  the  whole  town  plat,  including  nearly  a  mile 
fquare,  with  a  fortification.  It  was  fo  clofely  inclo- 
fed  with  ftrong  pallifadoes,  as  entirely  to  exclude 
the  Indians  from  that  part  of  the  town. 

The  purchafers  of  Guilford  agreed  with  the  Indians, 
that  they  fhould  move  off  from  the  lands,  which  they 
had  purchafed.  According  to  agreement  they  foon  all 
removed  from  the  plantation. 

The  number  of  the  firft  free  planters  appears  to  have 
been  about  forty.  They  were  all  hufbandmen.  There 
was  not  a  merchant,  nor  fcarcely  a  mechanic  among 
them.  It  was  at  great  expenfe  and  trouble,  that  they 
obtained  even  a  blackfmith  to  fettle  in  the  plantation.  As 
they  were  from  Surrey  and  Kent,  they  took  much  pains 
to  find"  a  traft  of  land  refembling  that  from  which  they 
had  removed.  They  therefore  finally  pitched  upon 
Guilford,  which,  toward  the  fea,  where  they  made  the 
principal  fettlement,  was  low,  moift,  rich  land,  liberal 
indeed  to  the  hufbandman.  Efpecially  the  great  plain 
fouth  of  the  town.  This  had  been  already  cleared  and 
enriched  by  the  natives.  The  vaft  quantities  of  (hells 
and  manure,  which,  in  a  courfe  of  ages,  they  had 
brought  on  upon  it  from  the  fea,  had  contributed  much 
to  the  natural  riches  of  the  foil.  There  were  alfo  near- 
ly adjoining  to  this,  feveral  necks,  or  points  of  land,  near 
the  fea,  clear,  rich  and  fertile,  prepared  for  immediate 
improvement.  Thefe,  with  the  induftry  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, foon  afforded  them  a  comfortable  fubfiftence.f 

At  the  fame  time  when  thefe  fettlements  commen- 
ced, two  new  ones  were  made  under  the  jurifdiiStion  of 
Connecticut, 
lowancl "  ^^'  Ludlow,  who  went  with  the  troops,  in  purfuit 
others  of  the  Pequots,  to  Safco,:}:  the  great  fwamp  in  Fairfield, 
fettle  was  fo  pleafed  with  that  fine  tradi  of  country,  that  he 
Fairfield.  

^  Manufcriptsof  Mr.  Kiijrgles. 

j  It  has  alfo  been  called  Pequot  fwamp,  on  the  accoUtit  of 
the  memorable  battle  fought  in  this  place  with  the  Pequots. 


Chap.  VI.    OF    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  t.  ioj 

foon  projefled  the  fcheme  of  a  fettlement  in  that  part  Book  I. 
of  the  colony.  This  year,  he,  with  a  number  of  others,  Vv^Vv^/ 
began  a  plantation  at  Unquowa,  which  was  the  Indian  '639. 
name  of  the  town.  At  firft  there  were  but  about  eight 
or  ten  families.  Thefe,  probably,  removed  from  Wind- 
for,  with  Mr.  Ludlow,  who  was  the  principal  planter. 
Very  foon  after,  another  company  came  from  Water- 
town  and  united  with  Mr.  Ludlow  and  the  people  from 
Windfor.  A  third  company  removed  into  the  planta- 
tion from  Concord  ;  fo  that  the  inhabitants  foon  became 
numerous,  and  formed  themfelves  into  a  diftin£l:  town- 
(hip,  under  the  jurifdidlion  of  Connecticut.  The  firft 
adventurers  purchafed  a  large  tra£l  of  land  of  the  na- 
tives, and  foon  after  Connecticut  obtained  charter  priv- 
ileges, the  general  aflembly  gave  them  a  patent.  The 
townfliip  comprifes  the  four  parifhes  of  Fairfield,  Greens- 
farms,  Greenfield  and  Reading  ;  and  part  of  the  parifh 
of  Stratfield.  The  lands  in  this  tra£l  are  excellent,  and 
Bt  an  early  period  the  town  became  wealthy  and  ref- 
peCtable. 

Settlements  commenced  the  fame  year  at  Cup- 
heag  and  Pughquonnuck,  fince  named  Sratford.     That 
part  which  contains  the  town  plat,  and  lies  upon  the  riv- 
er  was  called  Cupheag,  and  the  Weftern  part  bordering        [^ Ir 
on  Fairfield,  Pughquonnuck.     It    appears    that    fet-  Stratford 
tlements  were  made  in   both  thefe   places  at  the  fame  or  Cup- 
time.     Mr.  Fairchild,  who  was  a  principal  planter,  and  heag. 
the  firft  gentleman  in  the  town  vefted  with  civil  author- 
ity, came  diredly  from  England.     Mr.  John  and  Mr. 
William  Curtice,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Hawley,  were  from 
Roxbury,   and  Mr.  Jofeph  Judfon  and  Mr.  Timothy 
Wilcoxfon    from    Concord   in   MafTachufetts.      Thefe 
were  the  firft   principal   gentlemen  in  the  town  and 
church  of  Stratford.     A  few  years  after  the  fettlement 
commenced  Mr.  John  Birdfey  removed  from  Milford, 
and  became    a  man  of  eminence  both  in  the  town  and 
church.     There  were  alfo    feveral  of  the  chief  planters 
from  Bofton,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Welles,  with  his  three 
fons,  John,  Thomas  and  Samuel  from  Wethersfield. 
Mr.  Adam  Blackman,  who  had  been  epifcopally  ordain-' 
ed  in  England,   and  a  preacher  of  fome  note,  firft  at 
Leicefter,  and  afterwards  in  Derbylhire,  was  their  mia- 
ifter,  and  one  of  the  firft  planters.     It  is  faid,  ch?t  h« 
P 


5o6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  T         Chap.  Vt 

Book  I.   was  followed  by  si  number  of  the  faithful  into  this  courti-- 

\s>^v>^  try,  to  whom  he  was  fo   dear,  that  they  faid  to  him  ia 

j6j9^        the  language  of  Ruth,"  Intreat  us  not  to   leave  thee, 

for  whither  thou  goeft  we  will  go,  thy  people  (hall  be 

our  people  and  thy  God  our  God."     Thefe  doubtlefs 

colleiSled  about  him  in  this  infant  fettlement. 

The  whole  townfhip  was  purchafed  of  the  natives  ; 
but,  at  firft,  Cupheag  and  Pughquonnuck  only,  where 
the  fettlements  began.  The  purchafe  was  not  com- 
pleted until  1672.  There  was  a  refervation  of  good 
lands,  at  Pughquonnuck,  Golden  hill  and  another  place, 
called  Coram,  for  the  improvement  of  the  Indians. 

The  town  is  bounded  upon  the  eafl  by  Houfatonick, 
or  Stratford  river,  on  the  fouth  by  the  found,  by  Fair- 
field on  the  weft,  and  Newtown  on  the  north.  It  com- 
prifes  thefe  four  pariflies,  Stratford,  Ripton,  North- 
Stratford  and  New-Stratford  •,  and  a  confiderable  part 
of  Stratiield.  The  lands  in  this  town,  like  thofe  in  Fair- 
field, are  good,  and  its  fituation  is  exceedingly  beautiful 
and  agreeable. 

While  thefe  plantations  were  forming  in  the  foutli 
weftern  part  of  Conne£licut,  another  commenced  oii 
the  weft  fide  of  the  mouth  of  Connetlicut  river.  A 
fort  had  been  built  here  in  1635,  ^^^  i^3^>  ^"^  prepa- 
rations had  been  made  for  the  reception  of  gentlemen  of 
quality  •,  but  the  war  with  the  Pequots,  the  uncultiva- 
ted ftate  of  the  country,  and  the  low  condition  of  the 
colony,  prevented  the  coming  of  any  principal  charac- 
ter, from  England,  to  take  pofleflion  of  a  townfhip  and 
make  fettlements  in  this  traft.  Until  this  time  there 
had  been  only  a  garrifon  of  about  twenty  men  in  the 
place.  They  had  made  fome  fmall  improvement  of  the 
lands,  and  erected  a  few  buildings  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
fort,  but  there  had  been  no  fettlement  of  a  plantation 
with  civil  privileges.  But  about  midfummer,  Mr.. 
George  Fenwick,  with  his  lady  and  family,  arrived  in  a 
fliip  of  250  tons.  Another-  fhip  came  in  company  with 
him.  They  were  both  for  Quinnipiack.  Mr.  Fenwick 
and  others,  came  over  with  a  view  to  take  pofTeflion  of 
a  large  traft  upon  the  river,  inbehalfof  their  lordfhips, 
the  original  patentees,  and  to  plant  a  town  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river.  A  fettlement  was  foon  made  and  named 
Saybrook  in  honour  to  their  lordfhips,  Say  and  Seal  and 
Brook.     Mr.  Fenwick,  Mr.  Thomas  Peters,  who  waSk 


Chap.  VL     OF    CONNECTICUT.  107 

the  firft  minifter  in  the  plantation,  captain  Gardiner,  Book  I. 
Thomas  LefBngwell,  Thomas  Tracy  and  captain  John  v^^'v^^ 
Mafon  were  fome  of  the  principal  planters.  Indeed  the  *<^39' 
Huntingtons,  Baldwins,  Raynolds's,  Backus's,  Blifs's, 
Watermans,  Hides,  Polls,  Smiths,  and  almoft  all  the 
names  afterwards  to  be  found  at  Norwich,  were  among 
the  firft  inhabitants  of  Saybrook.  The  government  of 
the  town  was  entirely  independent  of  Conne£licut,  for 
nearly  ten  years,  until  after  the  purchafe  made  of  Mr. 
Fenwick  in  1644.  It  was  firft  taxed  by  the  colony  in 
the  October  fefllons  1645  >  ^^^  ^^  appears  by  the  tax 
impofed  that  the  proportion  of  the  towns  of  Hartford, 
Windfor  and  Wethersfield  were  to  this,  as  fix  to  one. 
The  plantation  did  not  increafe  to  any  confiderable  de- 
gree until  about  the  year  1646,  when  Mr.  James  Fitch  a 
famous  young  gentleman,  was  ordained  to  the  paftoral 
care  of  the  church  and  congregation  ;  and  a  confidera- 
ble number  of  families,  from  Hartford  and  Windfor  re- 
moved and  made  fettlements  in  the  town.  Its  original 
boundaries  extended  eaftward  five  miles  beyond  the 
river,  and  from  its  mouth  northward  fix  miles  ;  inclu- 
ding a  confiderable  part  of  the  town  of  Lime.  Weft- 
ward  they  extended  to  Hammonaflet,  the  Indian  name 
of  the  tra<S  comprifed  in  the  limits  of  Killingworth, 
and  north  eight  miles  from  the  fea.  Mr.  Fenwick  and 
captain*  Mafon  were  magiftrates  and  had  the  principal 
government  of  the  town. 

Great  difiiculties  had  arifen  the  laft  year,  between 
the  Englifh  at  Pyquaug,  now  Wethersfield,  and  Sow-  Trouble* 
heag  and  his  Indians.     It  was  difcovered,  that  fome  of  a^  Weth- 
the  Indians  at  Pyquaug,  under  Sowheag,  had  been  aid-  ersfield 
ing  the  Pequots  in  the  deftrudlion  which  they  had  made  with  the 
there  the  preceding  year,  and   were  inftrumental   of        '^"'" 
bringing  them  againft  the  town.     Sowheag  entertained 
the  murderers  and  treated  the  people  of  Wethersfield 
with  haughtinefs  and  infult.     The   court  at  Conne£li- 
cut,  on  hearing  the  difi^erences,  determined,  that,  as  the 
Englifli,  at  Wethersfield,  had  been  the  aggreflbrs  and 
gave  the  firft  provocation,  the  injuries  which  Sowheag 
had  done  ftiould  be  forgiven,  and  that  he  ftiould,  on  his 

*  Though  captain  Mafon  was  appointed  major-general  of 
the  militia  of  the  colony,  yet  he  was  always  called  captain  or 
major,  upon  the  records,  in  conformity  Jo  which  I  have  uni' 
formly  giveji  him  thofe  titles. 


io8  THEHISTORY         Chap.  VL 

Book  I.   good  conduct  for  the  future,  be  reftored  to  their  friend- 

k^i^r*^    fliip.     Mr.  Stone  and  Mr.  Goodwin  were   appointed  at 

1639.         committee  to    compromife  all  differences  with    him* 

Court  at    However  as  Sowheag  could  not  by  any  arguments,  ot 

^I"a^   '"  f^ir  means,  be  perfuaded  to  give  up  the  murderers,  but 

Sth  deter-  continued  his  outrages  againft   the  Englifh,  the    courtj 

mines  to    this  year,  determined,  that   a  hundred  men  fhould  be 

dilpatch     feiit  down  to  Mattabefcck  to  take   the    delinquents  by 

t^o  N'Mt"     ^^^^^  "^  arms.     The  court  ordered,  that  their  friends  at 

befcck.       Qu^innipiack  fhould  be  certified  of  this   refolution,   that 

they  might  adopt  the  meafures  neceflary  for  the  defence 

of  the  plantations.      It   was   alfo    determined   to   have 

their  advice  and  confent  in  an  affair  of  fuch  general 

concernment. 

GovEKNOR  Eaton  and  his  council  fully  approved  of 
the  defign  of  bringing  the  delinquents  to   condign  pun- 
ifhment  j  but  they  difapproved  of  the  manner  propofed 
by  Conue£l:ic'ut.     They  feared  that    it  would  be  intro- 
New-Ha-  duiStive  to  a  new  Indian  war.      This  they  reprcfented 
yen  ob-      v^ould  greatly  endanger  the  new  fettlements,  and   be 
^i'iv'  A       many   ways  injurious    and    diflreffing.     They  wanted 
from  the    P^^^e,  all  their  men  and  money,  to  profecute  the  defign 
defign.       of  planting  the  country.     They  repxefented  that  a  new 
war  would  not  only  injure  the  plantations  in  thefe  ref- 
peiSts,  but  would  prevent  the  coming  over  of  new  plan- 
ters, whom  they  expe£ted  from  England.     They  were 
therefore  determinately  againft   feeking    redrefs  by  an 
armed  force.     Conne(^icut,  through  their  influence,  re- 
ceded from  the  refolution  which  they  had  formed  with 
refpecl  to  Sowheag  and  Mattabefeck. 

Nevertheless,  as  the  Pequots  had  violated  their 

covenant,  and    planted  at  Pawcatuck  in  the  Pequot 

_       J.       country,  the  court  difpatched  major  Mafon,  with  forty 

tiona-        nien,  to  drive  them  off,  burn  their  wigwams,  and  bring 

gainft  the   away  their  corn.*     Uncas  with  a  hundred    men  and 

Pequots.    twenty  canoes  affifted  in  the  enterprife.     When  they 

Sept.         arrived  at  Pawcatuck  bay,  major  Mafon  met  with  three 

of  the  Pequot  Indians    and  fent  them  to   inform  the 

others  of  the  defign  of  his  coming,  and  what  he  fhould 

do  unlefs  they  would  peaceably  defert  the  place.     They 

promifedto  give  him  an  immediate  anfwer,  but  never 

returned. 


*  Records  of  Connedicut. 


Chap.  VI.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  109 

The  major  failed  up   a  fmall  river,  landed  and  befet  Book  I. 
the  wigwams  (o  fuddenly,  that  the  Indians  were  unable  K^yy>^ 
to  carry  off  either  their  corn  or  treafures.     Some  of  the  1639. 
old  men  had  not  time  to  make  their  efcape.     As  it  was 
now  Indian  har^'^efl:,  he  found  a  great  plenty  of  corn. 

While  Uncas's  Indians  were  plundering  the  wig- 
wams, about  fixty  others  came  rufhing  down  a  hill  to- 
wards them.  The  Moheagans  flood  perfectly  ftill,  and 
fpake  not  a  word,  until  they  came  within  about  thirty  c"*!.?" 
yards  of  them,  then  fhouting  and  yelling,  in  their  terri- 
ble manner,  they  ran  to  meet  them,  and  fell  upon  them 
ftriking  with  bows  and  cutting  with  knives  and  hatchets, 
in  their  mode  of  fighting.  Indeed  it  fcarcely  deferved 
the  name  of  fighting.  It  however  afforded  fomething 
new  and  amufing  to  the  Englifh,  as  they  were  now 
fpe£lators  of  ^n  Indian  battle.  The  major  made  a  move* 
ment  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  which  they  perceived  and 
inftantly  fled.  As  it  was  not  defired  to  kill,  or  irritate 
the  Indians  more  than  was  abfolutely  neceflary,  the 
Englifh  made  no  fire  upon  them.  Seven  Indians  were 
taken.  They  behaved  fo  outrageoufly,  that  it  was  de- 
figned  to  take  off  their  heads  ;  but  one  Otafli,  a  Narra- 
ganfet  fachem,  brother  to  Miantonimoh,  pleaded  that 
they  might  be  fpared  ;  becaufe  they  were  his  brother's 
men,  who  was  a  friend  to  the  Englifh.  He  offered  to 
deliver  the  heads  of  fo  many  murderers  in  lieu  of  them. 
The  Englifh  confidering  that  no  blood  had  been  fhed, 
and  that  the  propofal  tended  both  to  mercy  and  peace, 
granted  the  requeft.  The  Indians  were  committed  to 
the  care  of  Uncas  until  the  conditions  fhould  be  per- 
formed. 

The  light  of  the  next  morning  no  fooner  appeared, 
than  the  Englifh  difcovered  three  hundred  Indians  in 
arms,  on  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  creek  inwhich  they  lay. 

Upon  this  the  foldiers  immediately  flood  to  their 
arms.  The  Indians  were  alarmed  at  the  appearance  o£ 
the  Englifh  ;  fome  fled  and  others  fecreted  themfelves 
behind  rocks  and  trees  fo  that  a  man  of  them  could  not 
be  feen.  The  Englifh  called  to  them,  reprefenting  their 
defire  of  fpeaking  with  them.  Numbers  of  them  rbfe 
up,  and  major  Mafon  acquainted  them  with  the  Pequots 
breach  of  covenant  with  the  Englifh,  as  they  were  not 
to  fettle  or  plant  in  any  part  of  their  country.  The  In~ 
dians  rephed,  that  the  Pequots  were  good  men,  and 


iio 


THE    HISTORY         Chap.  VT, 


Appre- 
iienlion* 
from  the 
|>utch. 


Attempts 
for  a  gen- 
eral union 


that  they  would  fight  for  them  and  prote£l:  them.  Ma- 
jor Mafon  told  them  it  was  not  far  to  the  head  of  the 
creek,  that  he  would  meet  them  there,  and  they  might 
try  what  they  could  do  at  fighting.  The  Indians  replied 
they  would  not  fight  with  Engli(hmen  ;  for  they  'were 
fpirits  5  but  they  would  fight  with  Uncas.  The  major 
aflured  them,  that  he  fhould  fpend  the  day  in  burning 
wigwams  and  carrying  off  the  corn,  and  they  might 
fight  when  they  had  an  opportunity.  The  Englifli  beat 
up  their  drum  and  fired  their  wigwams,  but  they  dared 
not  to  engage  them.  The  Englifii  loaded  their  bark 
with  Indian  corn,  and  the  Indians  the  twenty  canoes  in 
which  they  pafled  to  Pawcatuck,  and  thirty  more, 
which  they  took  from  the  Indians  there,  with  kettles, 
trays,  mats  and  other  Indian  luggage,  and  returned  in 
fafety.* 

During  thefe  tranfa^tions,  in  Connecticut,  the 
Dutch  at  New-Netherlands  were  increafing  in  numbers 
and  ftrength.  A  new  governor,  William  Kieft,  a  man 
of  ability  and  enterprife,  had  arrived  at  their  feat  of  gov- 
ernment. Kieft  had  prohibited  the  Englifli  trade  at 
the  fort  of  Good  Hope,  in  Hartford,  and  protefl;ed  a- 
gainft  the  fettlement  at  Quinnipiack.f  Thefe  cipcum- 
ftances  gave  fome  alarm  to  the  Englifli  in  Connedticut, 
The  court  at  Hartford  appointed  a  committee  to  go 
down  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  confult  with  Mr. 
Fenwick  relative  to  a  general  confederation  of  the  col- 
onies, for  mutual  offence  and  defence.  The  deputy- 
governor,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Thomas  "Welles,  and  Mr. 
Hooker  went  upon  this  bufinefs.  They  were  alfo  in- 
ftru6ted  to  confer  with  Mr.  Fenwick  relative  to  the  pa- 
tent. The  court  approved  of  the  conduct  of  the  com- 
mittee, and  with  refpe£i  to  the  article  of  confederation, 
.  declared  its  willingnefs  to  enter  into  a  mutual  agreement 
of  offence  and  defence,  and  of  all  offices  of  love  between 
the  colonies.  Mr.  Fenwick  was  in  favor  of  an  union 
of  tlie  New-England  colonies.  With  refpe£l  to  the  pa- 
tent of  the  river,  it  was  agreed  that  the  affair  fhould 
reft  until  the  minds  of  the  noblemen  and  gentlemen 
particularly  interefted  could  be  more  fully  known. 

Governor  Haynes  and  Mr.  Welles  were  appointed 
to  repair  to  Pughquonnuck,  and  adminifler  the  oath  of 

*  Mafon's  Hiftory.    f  Smith's  Hift.  N.  York,  p.  3. 


Chap.  VI.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        nt 

fidelity  to  the  inhabitants,  to  admit  fuch  of  them  as  were  Book  I. 
qualified  to  the  privileges  of  freemen,  and  to  appoint  of-  *^-<''V^s»^ 
iicers  for  the  town  both  civil  and  military.     They  were  ^^-59  • 
alfo  authorifed  to  invite  the  freemen  to  fend  their  depu- 
ties to  the  general  courts  at  Hartford.* 

At  an  adjourned  general  aflembly,  the  court   incor- 
porated the  feveral  towns  in  the  colonies,  vefting  them  ^'^-  ^?^^ 
with  full  powers  to  tranfadl  their  own  affairs.     It  was  conjora-* 
cna£ted,  that  they  fhould  have   power  to  choofe  from  ted. 
among  themfelves  three,  five,  or  feven  of  their  principal 
men  to  be  a  court  for  each  town.     One  of  the  three,  Town 
live  or  feven  was  to  be  chofen  moderator.     The  major  Aituted"^ 
part  of  them,  always  including  him,  conftituted   a  quo- 
rum.    A  cafting  voice  was  allowed  him,  in    cafes,    in 
•which  there  was  an  equal  divifion.     He,  or  any  two  of 
the  court,  were  authorized  to  fummon  the  parties  to  ap- 
pear at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  and   might  grant 
■execution  againft  the  party  offending.     They  were   au- 
thorized to  determine  all  matters    of  trefpafs  or  debt, 
not  exceeding  forty  fhillings.      An   appeal    might   be 
made  from  this  court,  at  any  time,  before  execution  was 
given  out.     This  court  was  appointed   to   fit  once  in 
two  months. 

It  was  ordained,  that  every  town  fhould  keep  a  pub- 
lic ledger,  in  which  every  man's  houfe  and  lands,  with 
the  boundaries  and  quantity,  according  to  the  neareft 
cftimation,  (hould  be  recorded.  All  lands  alfo  granted 
and  meafured  to  any  man  afterwards,  and  all  bargains 
and  mortgages  of  lands  were  to  be  put  on  record.  Un- 
til this  was  done,  they  were  to  be  of  no  validity.  The 
towns  were  alfo  empowered  to  d?fpofe  of  their  own 
lands.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  privileges  of  particu- 
lar towns  in  Connecticut. 

Besides  the  court  in  each  town,  there  was  the  court 
of  magiftrates,  termed  the  particular  court.  This  held 
a  feffion  once  in  three  months.  To  this  lay  all  appeals 
from  the  other  courts.  In  this  were  tried  all  criminal 
caufes  and  adiions  of  debt,  exceeding  forty  {hillings,  and 
all  titles  of  land.     Indeed  this  court  poffeffed  all  the  au- 

*  It  wainot  unufual  for  the  general  aflembly  to  fine  its  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Ludlow  the  deputy-governor  was  fined  forabfence, 
and  for  his  condud:  at  Pughquonnuck.  It  was,  probably,  on 
the  account  of  the  dlfpleafure  of  the  court  towards  him,  that 
this  committee  were  appointed. 


ri2  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  VI* 

Book  I.   thority,  and  did  all  the  bufinefs  now  pofTefled  and  done, 

o-^vO    by  the  county  and  fuperior  courts.     For  a  confiderable 

1639.         time,  they  werevefted  with  fuch  difcrctionary   powers, 

as  none  of  the  courts,  at  this  day  would  venture  to  ex- 

erclfe. 

Nepaupuck,  a  famous  Pequot  captain,  who  had  fre- 
quently ftained  his  hands    in  Englifh  blood,  was  con- 
-.  demned  by  the  general  court  at  Quinnipiack,   for  mur- 

■■^°  '  der.  It  appeared,  that  in  the  year  1637  he  killed  John 
Finch  of  Wethersfield  and  captivated  one  of  Mr.  Swain's 
daughters.  He  had  alfo  aflifted  in  killing  the  three 
men,  who  were  going  down  Conne£ticutriverin  a  fliallop. 
His  head  was  cut  off"  and  fet  upon  a  pole  in  the  market 
place. 

It  will  doubtlefs  hardly  be  granted  in  this  enlightened 
age,  that  the  fubjedts  of  princes  killing  men,  by  their 
orders,  in  war,  ought  to  be  treated  as  murderers. 
Though  the  firft  planters  of  New-England  and  Connec- 
ticut, were  men  of  eminent  piety  and  ftri<ft  morals,  yet 
like  other  good  men  they  were  fubje£l:  to  mifconceptioii 
and  the  influence  of  pafTion.  Their  beheading  fachems 
whom  they  took  in  war,  killing  the  male  captives,  and 
cnflaving  the  women  and  children  of  the  Pequots  after 
it  was  finiflied,  was  treating  them  with  a  feverity, 
which,  on  the  benevolent  principles  of  chriftianity,  it 
will  be  difficult  ever  to  juftify.  The  executing  of  all 
thofe  as  murderers,  who  were  a6live  in  killing  any  of 
the  Englifh  people,  and  obliging  all  the  Indian  nations 
to  bring  in  fuch  perfons,  or  their  heads,  was  an  a£l:  of 
feverity  unpra£lifed,  at  this  day,  by  civilized  and  chrif- 
tian  nations.  The  decapitation  of  their  enemies,  and 
the  fetting  of  their  heads  upon  poles,  was  a  kind  of  bar- 
barous triumph,  too  nearly  fymbolizing  with  the  exam- 
ples of  uncivilized  and  Pagan  nations.  The  further  we 
are  removed  from  every  refemblance  of  thefe,  and  the 
more  deeply  we  imbibe  thofe  divine  precepts,  **  Love 
your  enemies.  Whatfoever  ye  would  that  men  lliould  do 
to  you,  do  ye  even  fo  to  them,"  the  greater  will  be  ouF 
dignity  and  happinefs. 


1640, 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         113 

Book  L 
CHAPTER,    VIL  ^^-vsj 

The pt^greCs  of purchafey  fetflemetit  attdlaiv  in  the  colonies 
of  ConneSlicut  and  New- Haven.  The  effect  of  the  con^ 
quejl  of  the  Pequots  on  the  natives y  and  the  manner  in 
•which  they  ivere  treated.  Purchafes  of  them.  Towns 
fettled.  Divifions  at  Wethersfield  occafion  the Jettlevient 
of  Stamford..  Troubles  with  the  Dutch  and  Indians, 
Capital  laws  of  ConneElicut.  The  corfederaticn  of  the 
United  Colonies..  Further  troubles  with  the  Indians. 
Vi^ory  of  Uncas  over  the  NarraganfetSy  and  capture  of 
t^eir  fachem.  The  advice  of  the  commijjloners  refpc5ling 
JMiantonimoh.  His  execution.  Precautions  of  the  cclo- 
flies  to  prevent  war.  The  Dutch  y  haraffedby  an  Indian 
nvary  apply  to  New-Haven  for  ajjljiance. 

ALTHOUGH  the  conqueft  of  the  Pequots  exten- 
ded the  claim  of  Conne£licut  to  a  great  propor- 
tion of  the  lands  in  the  fettled  part  of  the  colony,  yet, 
to  remove  all  grounds  of  complaint  or  unealinefs,  the 
Englifh  planters  made  fair  purchafes  of  almoft  the 
whole  txzik  of  country,  within  the  fettled  part  of  Con- 
nedlicut. 

After  the  conqueft  of  the  Pequots,  in  confequence  ^,  .        ., 
r  y  ^,        •iTT-^ni7     Claims  of 

of  the  covenant  made  with  Uncas,    m    1638,  and  the  ti^g  j,,. 

gift  of  a  hundred  Pequots  to  him,  he  became  important,  dians,  and 
"A  confiderable  number  of  Indians  colleftcd  to   him,  the  man- 
fo  that  he  became  one  of  the  principal  fachems  in  Con-  "^/-'u  ., 
ne6licut,  and  even  in   New-England.     At  fonie  times  Englifh 
he  was  able  to  raife  four  or  five  hundred  warriors.     As  treated 
the  Pequots  were  now  conquered,  and  as  he  ailifted  in  them. 
the  conqueft,  and  was  a  Pequot  himfelf,  he  laid  claim 
to  all  that  extenfive  tradi  called  the  Moheagan   or   Pe- 
quot country.     Indeed  it  feems  he   claimed  and   was 
allowed  to  fell  fome  part  of  that  trail  which  was  the 
principal  feat  of  the  Pequots.     The  fachems  in  other 
parts  of  Connecticut,  who  had  been  conquered  by  the 
Pequots  and  made  their  allies,  or  tributaries,  confidered 
themfelves,  by  the  conqueft  of  this  haughty  nation,   aS 
reftored  to  their  former  rights.     They  claimed  to  be  in- 
dependent fovereigHs,  and  to  have  a  title  to  all  the  lands 


114  THE    HISTORY  CirAP.Vn. 

Book  I.  which  they  had  at  any  time  before  poflefled.  The  plan- 
^— '"V-s^  ters  therefore,  to  (how  their  jullice  to  the  heathen,  and 
164G,  to  maintain  the  peace  of  the  country,  from  time  to  time, 
purchafed  of  the  refpe£live  fachems  and  their  Indians, 
ylithe  lands  which  they  fettled,  excepting  the  towns  of 
New-London,  Groton  and  Stonington,  which  werecon- 
fidered  as  the  pecuHar  feat  of  the  Pequot  nation.  The 
inhabitants  of  V/indfor,  Hartford,  and  Wethersfield, 
either  at  the  time  of  their  fettlement,  or  foon  after, 
bought  ali  th^fe  extenfive  tra(Sls,  which  they  fettled,  of 
the  native,  original  proprietors  of  the  country.  Indeed 
Con  ne£llcut  planters  generally  made  repeated  purcha* 
fes  of  their  lands.  The  colony  not  only  bought  the 
Moheagan  country  of  Uncas,  but  afterwards  all  the  par- 
ticular towns  were  purchafed  again,  either  of  him  or 
his  fucceflbrs,  when  the  fettlements  in  them  commen- 
ced. Befides,  the  colony  was  often  obliged  to  renew  its 
leagues  with  Uncas  and  his  fucceflbrs,  the  Moheagaa 
fachems  ;  and  to  make  new  prefents  and  take  new  deeds, 
to  keep  frlendfnip  with  the  Indians  and  preferve  the 
peace  of  the  country.  The  colony  was  obliged  to  de- 
fend Uncas  from  his  enemies,  which  was  an  occafion  of 
no  finall  trouble  and  expenfe.  The  laws  obliged  the 
inhabitants  of  the  feveral  towns  to  referve  unto  the 
natives  a  fufficient  quantity  of  planting  ground.  They 
were  allovv'cd  to  hunt  and  fiih  upon  all  the  lands  na 
lefs  than  the  Englifh. 

The  colonies  made  laws  for  their  proteftlon  from  in- 
fult,  fraud  and  violence.*  The  inhabitants  fuffered 
them  to  eredl  wigwams,  and  to  live  on  the  very  lands 
which  they  had  purchafed  of  them  ;  and  to  cut  their 
fire  wood  on  their  uninclofed  lands,  for  more  than  a 
whole  century,  after  the  fettlements  began.  The  lands 
therefore,  though  really  worth  nothing  at  that  time, 
coft  the  planters  very  confiderable  fums,  befides  the 
purchafe  of  their  patents  and  the  right  of  pre-emption. 

In  purchafing  the  lands  and  making  fettlements,  in 
a  wildernefs,  the  firft  planters  of  Connecticut  expended 
great  eltates.  It  has  been  the  opinlonof  the  belt  judges, 
who  have  had  the  mod  perfeil  acquaintance  with  the 
ancient  affairs  of  the  colony,  that  many  of  the   adven- 

^  *  Thefe  fads  are  fiiUy  afccrtained  by  the  records  of  the  cole 
nlcs,  and  of  the  refpeftivc  towns. 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         115 

turers  expended  more,  in  making  fettlements  in    Con- Book  I. 
nc£licut,  than  all  the  lands  and  buildings   were  worth,  v.x-v-N»y 
after  all  the  improvements  which  they  had  made    upon  1640. 
them.* 

At  the  general  eleftion  in  Conneflicut,  this  year,  Eledlon  at 
Mr.  Hopkins  was  chofen  governor,  and  Mr.  llaynes  de-  Ilanford, 
puty  governor.  Mr.  Ludlow  was  chofen  magiilrate  in 
the  place  of  Mr.  Hopkins.  The  other  magiftrates  were 
the  fame  who  were  ele£led  the  laft  year.  The  fame 
governor,  deputy  governor  and  magiftrates,  who  were  in 
office,  at  New-Haven,  the  laft  year,  were  re-elecled  for 
this. 

As  the  colonifts,  both  in  Connefticut  and  New-Ha- 
ven, were  the  patentees  of  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord 
Brook  and  the  other  gentlemen  interelled  in  the  old 
Conneflicut  patent,  and  a.s  that  patent  covered  a  large 
tra£t  of  country,  both  colonies  were  defirous  of  feca- 
ring  the  native  title  to  the  lands,  with  all  convenient  dif- 
patch.  Several  large  purchafes  were  made  this  year 
both  by  Conne£licut  and  New-Haven. 

Connecticut  made  prefents  to  Uncas,  the  Mohea- 
gan  fachem,  to  his  fatisfa£\ion,  and  on  the  ift  of  Sep- 
tember 1 640,  obtained  of  him  a  clear  and  ample  deed 
of  all  his  lands  in  Conne<Slicut,  except  the  lands  which 
were  then  planted.  Thefe  he  refervcd  for  himfelf  and 
the  Moheagans. 

The  fame  year,  GovernorHaynes,  in  behalf  of  Hart- 
ford, made  a  purchafe  of  Tunxis,  including  the  towns 
of  Farmington  and  Southington,  and  extending  weft- 
ward  as  far  as  the  Mohawk  country. 

The  people  of  ConnecSlicut,  about  the  fame  time, 
purchafed  Waranoke  and  foon  began  a  plantation  there, 
fmce  called  Weftfield.  Governor  Hopkins  ere£l;ed  a 
trading  houfe  and  had  a  confiderable  intereftin  the  plan- 
tation. 

Mr.  Ludlow  made  a  purchafe  of  the  eaftern  part 
of  Norwalk,  between  Saugatuck  and  Norwalk  rivers. 
Captain  Patrick  bought  the  middle  part  of  the  town. 
A  few  families  feem  to  have  planted   themfelves  in  the 


*  This  was  the  general  opinion  among  men  of  extenfive 
knowledge,  in  MafTachufetts,  as  well  as  in  Connedlicut.  Gov- 
ernor Hutchinfon,in  a  raanufcript  whicli  he  wrote  againfl  the 
ftamp  aft,  obferved,  that  land  in  Kew-England,  at  the  time  of 
Us  fettlcmcnt,  was  of  bo  value. 


ii<5  THEHISTORY      Chap.  VIL 

Book  I.    town  about  the  time  of  thefe  purchafes,  but  it  was  not 
V-^^'X*'   properly  fettled  until  about  the  year  1651.     The    plan- 
J640.         ters  then  made  a  purchafe   of  the  weftern  part  of  the 
town.* 

About  the  fame  time  Robert  Feaks  and  Daniel  Pa- 
trick bought  Greeitwich.  The  purchafe  was  made  in 
behalf  of  New- Haven,  but  through  the  intrigue  of  the 
Dutch  governor,  and  the  treachery  of  the  purchafers, 
the  nrfl  inhabitants  revolted  to  the  Dutch.  They  were 
incorporated  and  veiled  with  town  privileges  by  Peter 
Stuyvefantj  governor  of  New-Netherlands-  The  inhab- 
itants were  driven  off  by  the  Indians,  in  their  war  with 
the  Dutch  ;  and  made  no  great  progrefs  in  fettlemcnt 
until  after  Connefticut  obtained  the  charter,  and  thejr 
were  taken  under  the  jurifdidlion  of  this  colony. 

Captain  Howe  and  other  Engliftimen,  in  behalf 
of  Connecticut,  purchafed  a  large  tra£l  of  the  Indians, 
the  original  proprietors,  on  Long-lfland.  This  traCt 
extended  from  the  eaftern  part  of  Oyfter  bay  to  the  Wef- 
tern part  of  Howe's  or  Holmes's  bay  to  the  middle  of  the 
great  plain.  It  lay  on  the  northern  part  of  the  ifland  and 
extended  fouthward  about  half  its  breadth.  Settlements 
were  immediately  begun  upon  the  lands  ;  and  by  the 
year  1642,  had  made  confiderable  advancement. 

New-Have'n  made  a  purchafe  of  all  the  lands  at  Rip- 
ofNew-     powams.     This  purchafe  was  made  of  Ponus  and  To- 
Kaven.       quamike,  the  two  fachems  of  that  tra£l,  which  contain- 
ed the  whole  town  of  Stamford.     A  refervation  of  plan- 
ting ground  was  made  for  the  Indians.f 

Another  large  purchafe,  fufficient  for  a  number  of 
plantations,  was  made  by  Captain  Turner,  agent  for 
New-Haven,  on  both  (ides  of  Delaware  bay  or  river. 
Tins  purchafe  was  made  with  a  view  to  trade,  and  forthc 
fettlement  of  churches  in  gofpel  order  and  purity.  The 
colony  of  New-Haven  ereiled  trading  houfes  upon  the 
lands,  and  fent  nearly  fifty  families  to  make  fettlements 
upon  them.     The  fettlements  were  made  under  the  ju- 

*  The  fiift  purchafes  vere  of  the  fachem,  Mamechimoh. 
Mr.  Ludlow'a  deed  bears  date  Feb.  36th,  1640,  and  Capt- Pa- 
trick's April  20th,  1640.  The  weftern  purchafe  was  of  a  fachem 
called  Biickingheage.  It  hence  appears  that  there  were  two  fa- 
chems in  this  town. 

t  The  purchafe  was  made  by  Captain  Nathaniel  Turner,  a- 
gent  for  Kew- Haven,    It  coft  about  thirty  pounds  fterling. 


Chap.  VU.     Q  F    CONNECTICUT.         117 

rifdiction  of  New-Haven,  and  in  clofe  combination  with  Book  I. 
that  colony  in  all  their  fundamental  articles.  v.,-»'V"v^ 

It  alfo  appears,  that  New- Haven,  or  rhcir  confede-  1640. 
rates,  purchafed  and  fettled  Yennycock,  Southhold,  on 
Long-Iiland.  Mv.  John  Youngs,  who  had  been  a  niin- 
ifter  at  Hingham  in  England,  came  over,  with  a  confid- 
crable  part  of  his  church,  and  here  fixed  his  refidence. 
He  gathered  his  church  anew,  on  the  21ft  of  Oilober, 
and  the  planters  united  themfelves  with  New-Haven. 
However  they  foon  departed  from  the  lule  of  appointing 
none  to  office,  or  of  admitting  none  to  be  freemen,  but 
members  of  the  church.  New-?Iaven  infilled  on  this  as 
a  fundamental  article  of  their  conftitution.  They  were 
therefore,  for  a  number  of  years,  obliged  to  conform 
to  this  law  of  the  jurifdiclion.  Some  of  the  principal 
men  were  the  Reverend  Mr.  Youngs,  Mr.  AVilliani 
Welles,  Mr.  Barnabas  Horton,  Thomas  Mapes,  John 
Tuthill  and  Matthias  Cor  win. 

Laws  were  ena^ed,  both  by  Conneclicut  and  New- 
Haven,  prohibiting  all  purchafes  of  the  Indians,  by  pri- 
vate perfons,  or  companies,  •without  the  confent  of  their 
refpe£live  general  courts.  Thefe  were  to  authorize  and 
dire<^  the  manner  of  every  purchafe. 

The  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  this  year,   made 
a  grant  of  Totoket  to  Mr.    Samuel  Eaton,   brother  of  ^'^?*'^'/'' 
Governor  Eaton,  upon  condition  of  his  procuring  a  num- 
ber of  his  friends,  from  England,  to  make  a  fettlement 
in  that  tra6t  of  country. 

At  this  court  it  was  decreed,  that  the  plantation  at 
Quinnipiak  fhould  be  called  New -Haven. 

At  the  general  ele£lion,  this  year,  at  Hartford,  John  General 
Hayncs,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor, and  George  Wyl-  tiedion  at 
lys,  Efquire,  deputy  governor.     Mr.  Hopkins  was  chofen  ^^-^i  a 
magiftrate,  and  the  other  principal  officers  werere-elec-  j^^'j^   * 
ted. 

The  brethren  of  the  church  at  Wethersfield  removed 
without  their  paftor  the  Reverend    Mr.  Phillips  ;  and,  Divifions 
having  no  fettled  minifter  at  firft,  fell  into  unhappy  con-  -it  Weth- 
tcntions  and  animofities.     Thefe  continued  for  a  nura-  ^^'"^'d. 
ber  of  years,  and  divided  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  as 
well  as  the  brethren  of  the   church.     They  were  the 
means  of  fcattering  the  inhabitants,  and  of  the  formation 
of  new  fettlements  and  churches  in  other  places.    Great 
pains  were  taken,  by  the  minifters  on  the  river,  to  com-. 


MS  THEHISTORY     Chap.  VII. 

EooK  I.  pofe  the  differences  and  unite  the  church  and  town  j 
V-.^'->^  but  they  were  unable  to  effe£l  an  union.  Mr.  Davenport 
1641.  and  feme  of  the  brethren  of  the  church  at  New-Haven 
were  fentfor,  to  advife  and  attempt  a  reconciliation. 
Mr.  Davenport  and  his  brethren  gave  advice  fomewhat 
different  from  that  which  had  been  given  by  the  minif- 
ters  and  churches  on  the  river  ;  and,  it  feems,  fuggefted 
the  expediency  of  one  of  the  parties  removing  and  ma- 
king a  new  fettlement,  if  they  could  not,  by  any  means, 
be  united  among  themfelves.  Some  were  pleafed  with 
the  advice,  others  difliked  it,  and  the  parties  could  not 
agree  which  of  them  fhould  remove.  The  church, 
which  confiited  of  feven  members  only, was  divided  three 
againft  four.  The  three  claimed  to  be  the  church,  and 
therefore  pleaded,  that  they  ought  not  to  remove.  The 
four,  ;;s  they  were  the  majority,  infilled  that  it  was 
their  right  to  (lay- 

The  church  at  Watertown,  as  they  had  not  difmiffed 
their  brethren,  at  Wethersfield,  from  their  watch,  judg- 
ed it  their  duty  to  make  them  a  vifit,  and  to  attempt  to 
heal  the  diviiions  which  had  fprung  up  among  them. 
For  this  benevolent  purpofe,  feveral  of  the  brethren 
made  a  journey  to  Connedlicut  ;  but  they  fucceeded  no 
better  in  their  endeavours,  than  thofe  who  had  been 
before  them.  It  now  appeared  to  be  the  opinion,  that 
it  was  expedient  for  one  of  the  parties  to  remove,  but  it 
could  not  be  agreed  which  of  them  fhould  be  obliged 
again  to  make  a  new  fettlement.  At  length  a  number 
of  principal  men,  v/ho  were  the  mod  pleafed  with  the 
ndvice  of  Mr.  Davenport  and  the  New-Haven  brethren, 
iind  to  whom  the  government  of  that  colony  was  moft 
agreeable,  determined  to  remove,  and  fettle  in  combi- 
nation with  New-Haven. 

Therefore,  on  the  30th  of  October  1640,  Mr.  An- 
drew Ward  and  INIr.  Robert  Coe  of  Wethersfield,  in  be- 
half of  themfelves  and  about  twenty  other  planters,  pur- 
chafed  Rippovv^ams  of  New-Haven.  The  whole  number 
obliged  themfelves  to  remove,  with  their  families,  the 
next  year  before  the  laft  of  November.  This  fpring  the 
fettlement  commenced.  The  principal  planters  were  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Richard  Denton,  Mr.  Matthew  MitcheJ, 
Mr.  Thurfton  Rayner,  Mr.  Andrew  Ward,  Mr.  Robert 
Coe,  and  Mr.  Richard  Gilderllcve.  Mr.  Denton  was 
among  the  firft  planters  of  the    town    and   continued 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        119 

their  minifter  about  three    or   four  years.     After  that  Book  I. 
time  he  removed  with  part  of  his  church  and  congvega-  v.*/'v><y 
tion  to  Hempfted.     They  fettled  that  town  about  the  1641. 
year  1643  or  1644. 

At  the  general  eleftioti,  this  year,   in  New-Haten,  Eleaionat 
Theophilus  Eaton,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor,  and  ^.J,^^oa\* 
Mr.  Stephen  Goodyear,  deputy  governor.     The  magif-  j,^  j^^j. 
trates  were    Mr.  Gregfon,   Mr.  Robert  Nev/man,   Mr. 
Matthew  Gilbert  and  Mr.  Wakeman.     Thomas   Fugili 
was  appointed  fecretary,  and  Mr.  Gregfon  treafurer. 

Upon  the  general  eledtion,  this  year,  at  Hartford,  ^j^j, 
there  was  a  confiderable  change,  with  refpedl:  to  civil  of- 
ficets.  George  "Wyllys,  Efquire,  was  eledled  governor,  i-^rtfoid. 
and  Roger  Ludlow,  Efquire,  deputy  governor.  Eight 
magiftrates  were  chofen  for  Connetlicut.  This  is  the 
firft  inftance  of  more  than  fix.  The  magiftrates  weni 
John  Haynes,  Efquire,  Mr.  Phelps,  Mr.  Webfter,  Cap- 
tain Mafon,  Mr.  Welles,  Mr.  Whiting,  Edward  Hop- 
kins, Efquire  and  Mr.  William  Elopkins. 

The  Indians  were  exceedingly  troublefome  this  year.  Theln^ 
It  was  fufpe£led,  that  they  were  forming  a  combination  *',.'mij,ie, 
for  a  general  war.     All  trading    with  them,  in  armsor  iome>. 
any  inftruments  of  iron,  was  exprefsly  prohibited,  both 
by  Conne6licut  and   New-Haven.     Each   colony  con- 
certed all  meafures  of  defence.     A  conftant  watch  was 
kept  in  all  the  plantations.     Upon  the  fabbath  a  ftrong 
guard  was  fet  at  the  places  of  public  worfhip. 

At  this  court,  the  magiftrates  w^ere  defired   to  write  Damages 
to  the  Dutch,  and,  as  far  as  poffible,  to  prevent   their  by  the 
vending  arms  and  ammunition  to  the  natives,  and   to  D'^^'^"* 
fettle  all  difputes  between  them  and  the  colony  with  re- 
fpe£l  to  claims.     But  notwithftanding  all  their  endeav- 
ours, the  Dutch  behaved  vi'ith  great  infolence,  and  did 
much  damage  to  both  the  Englifti  colonies. 

The  Dutch,  at  Hartford,  gave  entertainment  to  fu- 
gitives from  the  Englifli ;  helped  them  when  confined 
to  file  off  their  irons  ;  and  perfuaded  fervants  to  run 
from  their  mafters  and  then  gave  them  entertainment. 
They  purchafed  goods  which  had  been  ftolen  from  the 
Eng]i{h,  and  would  not  return  them.  They  alfo  afliftecl 
criminals  in  breaking  gaol. 

Besides  thefe  mifdemeanors,  at  Hartford,  the 
Dutch  governor,  William  Kieft,  caufed  the  Englifh  fet- 
tlements  on  Long-Ifland,  which  had  now  advanced,  oa 


120  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  VIL 

Book  L   the  lands  purchafed  by  captain  Howe,  as  far  as  Oyfter 

v.^'W^  bay,  to  be  broken  up.     Some  of  the  Englifli   planters 

164a.         were  forcibly  feized  and  imprifoned,  and  others    driven 

from  their  fettlements.     Thefe  were  injuries  done  to 

Conneclic«t. 

To  the  colony  of  New-Haven  the  Dutch  were  ftill 
more  hoftile  and  injurious.  Notwithftanding  the  fair 
purchafes  which  that  colony  had  made,  by  their  agents 
at  Delaware,  Governor  Kieft,  without  any  legal  pi-oteft 
or  warning,  difpatched  an  armed  force,  and  with  great 
hoftility,  burned  the  Engliih  trading  houfes,  violently 
feized  and  for  a  time  detained  their  goods,  and  would 
not  give  them  time  to  take  an  inventory  of  them.  The 
Dutch  alfo  took  the  company's  boat,  and  a  number  of 
the  Englifli  planters,  and  kept  them  as  prifoners.  The 
damages  done  the  Englifli  at  Delaware,  were  eftinaated 
at  a  thoufand  pounds  fterling.* 

The  fame  year  the  Swedifti  governor  and  Dutch  a- 
gent  uniting  in  a  crafty  defign  againft  Mr.  Lamberton, 
a  principal  gentleman  of  Nev/-Haven,  made  an  inju- 
rious attempt  upon  his  life.  They  accufed  him  of  ha- 
ving joined  in  a  plot  with  the  Indians  to  cut  off  the 
Swedes  and  Dutch.  They  attempted,  by  giving  his 
men  ftrong  drink,  and  by  threatenings  and  allurements, 
to  influence  them  to  bear  teftimony  againft  him.  They 
proceeded  fo  far  as  to  imprifon  and  try  him  for  treafon. 
When,  notwithftanding  thefs  unfair  means,  and  that 
they  were  both  his  accufers  and  judges,  they" could  find 
no  evidence  againft  him,  they  arbitrarily  impofed  a  line 
upon  him,  for  trading  at  Delaware,  though  within  tho 
limits  of  the  purchafe  and  jurifditlion  of  New-Haven. 

At  another  time,  when  Mr.  Lamberton  was  occa- 
fionally  at  Manhatoes,  in  the  capacity  of  an  agent  for 
New-Haven,  the  Dutch  governor,  Kieft,  by  force  and 
threatenings,  compelled  him  to  give  an  account  of  all 
his  beaver,  within  the  limits  of  New-Haven,  at  Dela- 
ware, and  to  pay  an  impoft  upon  the  whole.  The 
Dutch  did  other  damages,  and  infulted  the  Englifh  in 
various  other  inftances.  Both  Conne£ticut  and  New- 
Haven,  from  year  to  year,  complained  and  remonftra- 
ted  againft  them,  but  could  obtain  no  redrefs.  ■  ¥■' 
While  the  colonies  were  increafing  in  njtimbers   and 


*  Recnrds  of  the  United  colonice,  and  Smith's  hiftory  of 
New- York  p.  4. 


Chap.  VIL     OF    CONNECTICUt.        I2t 

fettlcments,  progrcfs  in  law  and  jurifprudence,   in  the  Book  I. 
regular  eftablifhment  of  courts  and  the   times  of  their  \^y\r>^ 
feiiions,  was  alfo  neceflary,  for  the  advancement,   order  164*. 
and  happinefs  of  the  refpe6tivejurifdi£lions. 

THis,fo  far  as  the  numerous  affairs  of  the  colonies  would 
permit,  was  an  objedl  of  fpecial  attention.  The  capital 
laws  of  Connedticut  were,  this  year,  nearly  completed, 
and  put  upon  record.  The  feveral  pafHages  of  fcripture 
on  which  they  were  founded  were  particularly  noticed 
in  the  ftatute.  They  were  twelve  in  number,  and  to  the 
following  effe£l. 

If  any  man  or  woman  fhall  have  or  worfhip  any  GoO,  Capital 
but  the  true  God,  he  fhall  be  put  to  death,  Deut.  xiii.  6.  Laws  of 
svii.  21.     Exodus  xxii.  2.  Connefli- 

If  any  perfon  in  this  colony  fliall  blafpheme  the  name  ^^^  61 
of  God  the  father,  son  or  holy  ghost,  with  dirett,    ' 
cxprefe,  prefumptuous  or   high-handed  blafphemy,   or 
ftiall  curfe  in  like  manner,  he  fhall  be  put  to  death,  Le- 
vit.  xxiv.  15,  i6i 

If  arty  man  or  woman  be  a  witch,  that  is  hath  or  con- 
fulteth  with  a  familiar  fpirit,  they  fhall  be  put  to  death, 
Fxodus  xxii*  18.     Levit.  xx.  22.     Deut.  xviii.   10,  11. 

If  any  perfon  fhall  commit  wilful  murder,  upon  ma-; 
lice,  hatred  or  cruelty,  not  in  a  man's  own  defence,  nor 
by  cafualty  againft  his  will,  he  fhall  be  put  to  death. 
Exodus  xxi.   12,  13,  14.     Numb.  xxxv.  30,  31. 

If  any  perfon  fhall  flay  another  through  guile,  either 
by  poifoning,  or  other  fuch  devilifh  pradices,  he  fhall 
be  put  to  death.  Exodus  xxi.  14. 

If  any  man  or  woman  fhall  lie  with  any  beaft  or 
brute  creature,  by  carnal  copulation,  they  fhall  furely 
be  put  to  death,  and  the  beaft  fhall  be  flain  and  buried, 
Levit.  XX.  15, 16. 

If  any  man  lieth  with  mankind  as  he  lieth  with  a 
woman,  both  of  them  have  committed  abomination, 
diey  both  fhall  furely  be  put  to  death,  except  it  appear 
that  one  of  the  parties  was  forced,  or  under  fifteen  years 
of  age,  Levit.  xx.  13. 

If  any  man  lie  with  his  mother,  or  father's  wife,  or 
wife's  mother,  his  daughter  or  daughter  in  law,  having" 
carnal  copulation  with  them,  both  of  them  have  com- 
mitted abomination,  they  fhall  be  put  to  death,  except  it 

R 


127.  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  T        Chap.  ViL 

Book  I.    appear,  that  the  woman  was  forced,  or  under  fourteen 

v-^'V^^  years  of  age,  Levit.  xx.  ii,  i2,'  14.  and  xviii.  7,  8. 

1642.  If  any  man  fhall  forcibly  raviflr  any  maid  or  woman, 

by  cavna!  copulation  againllhev  confent,  he  fhall  be  put 

to  death,  p.rovided  profecution  and  complaint  be    made 

forthwith  upon  the  rape,  Deut.  xxii.  2-5. 

If  any  man  Real  a  man,  or  mankind,,  and  felleth  him, 
or  he  be  found  in  his  hand,  he  ihall  be  put  to  death. 
Exodus,  xxi.  16. 

If  any  perfonrife  upby  falfe  witnefs  wittingly  and 
of  purpofe  to  take  away  man's  life,  he  or  fhe  fhall  be 
put  to  death,  Deut.  xix.   16,   18,   19. 

It  was  alfo  ena'ftcd,  that  if  any  perfon  fliould  con- 
fpire  againfl  the  commonwealdi,  attempt  an  infurrec- 
lion,  invafion  or  rebellion  againft  it,  he  flrould  be  put  to 
death. 

Wilful  arfon,  the  curfing  and  fmiting  of  father 
or  mother,  and  notorious  ftubbornnefs  in  children,  af- 
ter a  certain  age,  were,  foon  after,  made  capital  offen- 
ces, by  the  lav/s  of  the  colony,  and  added  to  the  lift 
of  the  capital  laws.-* 

Before  this  time,  unchaflity  between  fingle  perfonsy 
and  wanton  behaviour  had  been  puniflred  with  whip- 
ping at  the  tail  of  the  cart,  by  fining,  or  obliging  the  de- 
linquents to  marry,  at  the  difcretion  of  the  particular 
courts. 

The  general  court  approved  of  what  the  particular 
courts  had  done,  in  thefe  cafes,  and  authorized  them,  in 
future,  to  punidi  fuch  delinquents  by  fines,  by  commit- 
ting them  to  the  houfe  of  correction,  or  by  corporal 
punifliment,  at  the  difcretion  of  the  court. 

As  fome  loofe   perfons   deferted  the  Englifh  fettle- 

ments,  and  lived  in  a  profane  heathenilh  manner,  a  law 

was  ena£\ed,  that  all  perfons  who  fhould  be  convi6led 

of  this  crime,  fhould  be  punifhcd  with  three   years   im- 

prifonment,  at  leaft,  in  the  houfe  of  corredtion,  with  fine 

or  corporal  puniflmrenr,  as  the  particular   court   flrould 

dirca.f 

Teneral  "^^  ^  general  court  in  New-Haven,  April   5,   1643, 

cixnt  at     confiderablc  progrefs  was  made  in  the  laws    and  gov- 

New-Ha-  . 


-sen,  April       «  Records  of  Connedticut,  and  the  old  Conneaicut  code. 

j,i643'  t  Records  of  Coiinedicut.     When  the     Conncdicut  law» 

were  printed,  in  167a,  this  law  was  altered,  and  the  terni  re- 
duced from  three,  to  one  year's  imprifonmept. 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         113 

crnment  of  that  colony.     Deputies   were  admitted    to  I>ook  I. 
the  court  and  an  addition  was  made  to  the   number  of  v^./'v-^^ 
magiftrates.     Stamford  for  the  firft  time,  fent  Captain  1643. 
John  Underhill  and  Mr.  Richard  Gilderflevc  to   reprj- 
fent  the  town.     Mr.   Mitchel   and    Rlr.   Rayner  were 
nominated  for  magiftrates  in  Stamford.  Mr.  Rayner  was 
appointed  by  the  court.     CaptainUnderhill,  Mr.  Mitch- 
el, Mr.  Andrew  Ward  and  Mr.  Robert  Coe  were   cp- 
pointed  afllftant  judges  to  Mr.   Rayner.     This   court 
was  vefted  with  the  fame  powers  as  the  court  at  New- 
Haven,  and  was  the  firft  inftituted   in   Stamford.     Mr. 
William  Leet  and  Mr.  Defborough  were  admitted  ma- 
giftrates for  Menunkatuck,  aiid  that  plantation  was   na- 
med Guilford. 

This  year  John  Haynes,  Efquire,  was  ele£led  govern-  p^'?^''^'  ^' 
or  and  Mr.  Hopkins,    deputy  governor.     Mr.  Wolcott  jiartford 
and  Mr.  Swain  were  chofen  magiftrates,  and  Mr.  Phelps  April  13, 
and   Mr.  William   Hopkins  were    not  ele61:ed.*     I'lr.  1643. 
Wliiting  was  chofen  treafurer,  and  Mr.  Welles  fecretary. 
It  appears  to  have  been  cuftomary  for  a  number  of  years 
to  choofe  the  fecretary  and  treafurer  among  the    magif- 
trates. 

Juries  appear  to  have  attended  the  particular  courts.  An  zSt  re- 
in Connedlicut,  from  their  firft  inftitution.  They  feem  f^P^i^^'"? 
to  have  been  regularly  enrolled  about  the  year  1641,  or 
1642.  But  the  particular  cotrts  found  great  difficulties 
with  refpe£l  to  their  proceedings.  There  were  no  prin- 
ted laws  for  the  inhabitants  to  ftudy,  and  many  of  the 
common  people  had  attended  very  little  to  law  and  evi- 
dence. The  jury  therefore,  very  often,  would  be  fo  di- 
vided, that  they  could  not  agree  upon  any  verdicl ;  and 
when  they  were  agreed,  it  did  not  always  appear  to  the 
court  that  they  brought  in  a  juft  one.  A  pretty  ex- 
traordinary law  therefore  palled  this  court  regulating  the 
juries.  The  court  decreed,  that  the  jury  (hould  attend 
diligently  to  the  cafe  and  to  the  evidence,  and  if  they 
could  not  all  agree  in  a  verdicl,  they  fliould  offer  their 
reafons  upon  the  cafe  to  the  court,  and  the  court  fhould 
anfwer  them,  and  fend  out  the  jury  again.     If  after  de~ 

*  Mr.  Phelps  I  fuppofe  w.is  now  dead,  as  he  appears  no  more 
upon  the  records.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  planters  of 
Windfor,  and  chefen  into  the  magiftracy  from  the  firft  fettle- 
ment  of  Connedicut,  He  appeal  s  lo  have  been  the  anceftorof 
tJic  Phelpfes  in  this  Ilatc. 


124 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  VIL 


Book  I.  liberating  upon  the  cafe  they  could  not  bring  in  a  joint 
V-'^'V^w/  verdi<Sl:,  it  was  decreed,  that  it  fhould  be  determined 
'^^'  by  a  major  vote ',  and,  that  this  fhouki,  to  all  intents 
and  purpofes,  be  deemed  a  full  and  fufficient  verdidl:  ; 
upon  which  judgment  fliould  be  entered,  and  execution 
and  all  other  proceedings  fliould  be  as  though  there  had 
been  a  joint  verditSl  of  the  jury.  It  was  alfo  provided, 
that  if  the  jury  fliould  be  equally  divided,  fix  and  fix, 
they  fhould  reprefent  the  cafe  to  the  court,  with  their 
reafons,  and  a  fpecial  verdidt  fhould  be  drawn,  and  a 
major  vote  of  the  court,  or  magiftrates,  fhould  deter- 
mine the  caufe,  and  all  matters  refpefting  it  fhould  be  as 
though  there  had  been  ajoint  verdi£l  of  the  jury.* 

At  this  court  it  was  ordained,  that  a  grand  jury  of 
twelve  men  fliould  attend  the  particular  courts,  annu- 
ally, in  May  and  September,  and  as  often  as  the  gov- 
ernor and  court  fhould  judge  expedient.  It  was  alfo 
enabled,  that  the  grand  jury  fhould  be  warned  to  give 
their  attendance.  This  is  the  firft  notice  of  a  grand  ju- 
ry at  any  court. 

A  GENERAL  Confederation  of  the  New-England  co- 
lonies had  been  propofed  and  in  agitation  for  feveral 
years.  In  1638,  articles  of  union,  for  amity,  offence 
and  defence,  mutual  advice  and  afTiflance,  upon  all  ne- 
cefTary  occafions,  were  drawn,  and  for  further  confid- 
eration  referred  to  1639.'  Conne£^icut  and  Mr.  Fen>- 
wick  agreed  to  confederate  for  thefe  purpofes.  From 
this  time  Conneclicut  had  annually  appointed  fome  of  her 
principal  men  to  go  into  the  Maflachufetts  to  com- 
plete the  defigned  confederacy.  Governor  Haynes  and 
Mr.  Hooker,  in  1 639,  were  nearly  a  month  in  MafTachu- 
fetrs,  laboring  to  carry  it  into  effect.  New-Haven 
paid  equal  attention  to  an  affair  fo  important  to  the  co- 
lonies. The  circumflances  of  the  Englifli  nation,  and 
the  ftate  of  the  colonies,  in  New-England,  at  this  time, 
made  it  a  matter  of  urgent  necefi^ity.  For  the  accom- 
modation of  particular  companies,  the  colonies  had  ex- 
tended their  Settlements  upon  the  rivers  and  fea  coafls 
much  farther,  and  had  made  them  in  a  more  fcattering 
manner,  than  was  at  firft  defigned.  No  aid  could  be 
expc£led  from  the  parent  country,  let  emergencies  be 
ever  fo  prelfing.  The  Dutch  had  fo  extended  their 
claims,  and  were  fo  powerful  and  hoftile,  as  to  afford  a 


Grand  ju 
ry  toat- 
terui  the 
courts. 


Propofals 
for  a  gen- 
cral  union 
of  the N. 
England 
colonies. 


Keafons 
lor  the  un- 
ion. 


*  R^CoreJsofConn?<^iCUt. 


Chap.  VII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.         125 

jufl:  ground  of  general  alarm.  Al!  the  plantations  were  Book  I. 
compaiTcd  with  numerous  tribea  of  lavage  men.  The  '^■^yv^sJ 
Karraganfets  appeared  hoftile,  and  there  were  the  ap-  1643. 
pearances  of  a  general  combination  among  the  Indians, 
in  New-England,  to  extirpate  the  Englilh  colonies. 
There  were,  notwithftandtng.  impediments  in  the  way 
of  eifcclingeven  fo  necefliny  and  important  an  union. 
The  MalTachufetts  was  much  more  numerous  and  pow- 
erful than  the  other  colonies.  It  was  in  various  refpefts 
more  refpe£lable  and  important.  It  was  therefore  a 
matter  of  difficulty  to  form  an  union  upon  equal  terms. 
The  other  colonies  were  not  willing  to  unite  upon  fuch 
as  were  unequal.  There  were  alfo  difputes  between 
Connecticut  and  Maflachufctts.  The  colony  of  Mafla- 
chufetts  claimed  part  of  the  Pequot  country,  on  the  ac- 
count of  the  afhftance  which  they  afforded  in  the  Pe- 
quot war.  There  was  alfo  a  difference  with  refpeCl  to 
the  boundary  line  betv/een  Maflachufctts  and  Connecti- 
cut. Both  colonies  claimed  the  towns  of  Springfield 
and  Weftfield.     Thefe  difficulties  retarded  the  union. 

However,  Connecticut,  New-Haven  and   Plimouth 
all  difpatched  commifTioners  to  Boiton,  in    May,  at    the 
time  of  the  feflion  of  the  general  court.     The   commif- 
fioners  from  Connecticut   were  Governor  Haynes  and 
Mr.  Hopkins,  Mr.  Fenwick  from  Saybrook,    Governor 
Eaton  and  Mr.  Gregfon  from  New-Haven,  Mr.  Winf- 
low  and  Mr.  Collier  from  Plimouth.     The  general  court 
of  Maflachufctts    appointed   Governor  Winthrop,  Mr. 
Dudley  and  Mr.  Bradftreet  of  the  magiHrates,  and  of  the 
deputies,  Mr.  Hawthorne,  Mr.  Gibbons  and  Mr.  Tyng. 
There  appeared  at  this  time,  a  fpirrit  of  harmony   and  The  New. 
mutual  condefcenfion    among  the   commifTioners,    and  England 
en  the  19th  of  May,  1643,  ^^^  articles  were   completed  colonie* 
and  figned.     The  commifTioners  were   unanimous  in  confede- 
adopting  them,  but  thofe  from  Plimouth   did  not  ^g"  j^  ^.^  ^^ 
them,  as  they  had  not   been  authorized  by  the  court. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  commifTioners  in  September,  they 
came  veiled  with  plenary  powers  and  figned  them. 

The  commifTioners,  in  the  introductory  part,  declare  y^rticles  of 
with  refpeCt  to  the  four  colonies  of  Maflachufctts,  Pli-  confederal 
mouth,  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  and   the  planta-  tion. 
tions  under  their  refpeCtive  jurlfdiCtions,  that  as   they 
all  came  into  thefe  parts  of  America,  with  one  and  the 
fame  end  and  aim,  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord 


126  THE    HISTORY       Chap.  VIL 

I 

Book  I.  Je«us  Christ,  and  enjoy  the  liberties  of  the  gofpel  in 
U*-Y-vj(  purity  and  peace,  tliey  conceived  it  their  bounden  duty 
164J.  to  enter  into  a  prefent  confederation  among  themfelves, 
for  mutual  help  andftrength  in  all  future  concernments  ; 
that,  as  in  nation  and  religion,  fo  in  other  refpedts  they 
be  and  continue  one,  and  henceforth  be  called  by  the 
name  of  The  United  colonies  of  New-England. 

They  declare.  That  the  fald  United  colonies,  for 
themfelves  and  their  pollerities,  did  jointly  and  feverally 
enter  into  a  firm  and  perpetual  league  of  friendfhip  and 
amity,  of  offence  and  defence,  mutual  aid  and  fuccour, 
upon  all  juft  occafions,  both  for  preferving,  and  propa- 
gating the  truth  and  liberty  of  the  gofpel,  and  for  their 
own  mutual  fafety  and  welfare. 

The  articles  refervedto  each  colony  an  entire  and  dif- 
tinft  jurifdi^lion.  By  them,  no  two  colonies  might  be 
united  in  one,  nor  any  other  colony  be  received  into  the 
confederacy,  without  the  confent  of  the  whole. 

Each  colony  was  authorized  to  fend  two  commif- 
fioners  annually,  always  to  be  church  members,  to  meet 
on  the  firll  Monday  in  September,  lirft  at  Bofton,  then 
at  Hartford,  New-Haven  and  Plimouth.  This  was  to 
be  the  annual  order,exceptthattwo  meetings fucceflively 
were  always  to  be  at  Bofton. 

The  commillloners  when  met  were  authorized  to 
choofe  a  Prefident  from  among  themfelves  for  the  pre- 
fervation  of  order.  They  were  vefted  with  plenary 
powers  for  making  war  and  peace,  laws  and  rules  of  a 
civil  mature  and  of  general  concern.  Efpecially,  to  reg- 
ulate the  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  towards  the  Indians, 
towards  fugitives,  for  the  general  defence  of  the  coun- 
try, and  for  the  encouragement  and  fupport  of  religion. 

The  expenfe  of  all  wars,  offenfive  or  defenfive,  wa$ 
to  be  borne  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  the  male  in- 
habitants in  each  colony,  between  fixteenand  fixty  years 
of  age. 

Upon  notice  from  three  magiftratesof  any  of  the  co- 
lonies of  an  invafion,  the  colonies  were  immediately  tQ 
fend  afTiflance,  the  Maffichufetts  a  hundred,  and  eath 
of  the  other  colonies  forty  five  men.  If  a  greater  num- 
ber was  neceflary  the  commifuoners  were  to  meet  ami 
determine  the  number. 

All  determinations  of  the  commillioners,  in  which 
fix  were  agreed,  were  bindingupon  the  whole.     If  there 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         127 

were  a  majority,  yet  under  fix,  the  affair  was  to  be  re-  Bo:)x  I. 
ferred  to  the  general  court  of  each  colony,  and  could  not  v_xv^s^ 
be  obligatory  unlefs  the  courts  unanimoufly  concurred.    1643, 

No  colony  might  engage  in  a  war,  without  the  con- 
fent  of  the  whole  union,  unlefs  upon  fome  urgent  and 
fudden  occafion.  Even  in  fuch  cafe,  it  was  to  be  avoid- 
ed as  far  as  poffible,  confiftent  v/ith  the  general  fafety. 

If  a  meeting  were  fummoned,  upon  any  extraordina-  ^ 

ry  occafion,  and  the  whole  number  of  commiffiouers 
did  not  attend,  any  four  who  were  met,  might,  in  cafes 
which  admitted  of  no  delay,  determine  upon  a  war,  and 
fend  to  each  colony  for  its  proportion  of  men.  A  num- 
ber liowever  lefs  than  fix  could  not  determine  the  juftice 
of  a  war,  nor  have  power  to  fettle  a  bill  of  charges,  nor 
make  levies. 

If  either  of  the  confederates  fliould  break  any  article 
of  the  confederation,  or  injure  one  of  the  other  colonies, 
the  affair  was  to  be  determined  by  the  commiffioners  o£ 
the  three  other  confederates. 

The  articles  alfo  made  provifion,  that  all  fervants 
running  from  their  mafters,  and  criminals  flying  from 
juftice,  from  one  colony  to  another,  fliould,  upon  de- 
mand and  proper  evidence  of  their  charadler,  as  fugi- 
tives, be  returned  to  their  mafters,  and  to  the  colonies 
whence  they  had  made  their  efcape  ;  that,  in  all  cafes, 
law  and  juflice  might  have  their  courfe. 

This  was  an  union  of  the  higheft  confequence  to  \\\t 
New-England  colonies.  It  made  them  formidable  to  the 
Dutch  i?nd  Indians,  and  refpe<£lable  among  their  French 
neighbours.  It  was  happily  adapted  to  maintain  a  gen- 
eral harmony  among  themfelves,  and  to  fecure  the  peace 
and  rights  of  the  country.  It  was  one  of  the  principal 
means  of  the  prefervation  of  the  Colonies,  during  the 
civil  wars  and  unfettled  ftate  of  affairs  in  England.  It 
was  the  grand  fource  of  mutual  defence  m  Philip's  war, 
and  of  the  mod  eminent  fervice  in  civilizing  the  Indians 
and  propagating  the  gofpel  among  them.  The  union 
fubfifted  more  than  forty  years,  until  the  abrogation  of 
the  diarters  of  the  New- England  colonies,  by  king  James 
the  fecond. 

This  union  was  very  feafonable.  The  Indians  were  The  vexa- 
fo  tumultuous  and  hoflile,  that  its  whole  influence  was  tiouscon- 
neceffary  to  prevent  a  general  war.  The  troubles  ori-  ^.  •  " 
ginated  in  the  ambitious   and   perfidious  condu^  of  moh. 


128  T  II  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  Vlt 

Book  I.  Miantonimch,  chief  fachem  of  the  Narraganfets.  Af- 
v^W>ta/  ter  the  Pequot  war  he  attempted  to  fet  himfelf  up,  as 
J643,  univerfal  fachem,  overall  the  Indians  in  New-England. 
The  old  grudge  and  hatred,  which  had  fubfiiled  between 
him  and  the  Pequots,  he  now  fufFered  to  embitter  and 
enflame  his  rancorous  heart,  againft  Uncas  and  the  Mo- 
lieagans.  Without  any  regard  to  the  league  made  be- 
tween him,  the  Englifliand  the  P('Ioheagans,at  Hartford, 
in  1638,  when  the  Pequots  were  divided  between  him 
and  Uncas,  he  pradlifed  murder  and  war  againil  him. 
At  the  fame  time  he  ufed  all  the  arts  of  which  he  was 
mailer,  byprefents  and  intrigue,  to  inflame  the  Indians 
and  excite  a  general  infurredlion  againft  the  Engliih 
plantations.  The  Indians,  through  his  influence,  had 
been  collecting  arms  and  ammunition.  There  appeared 
among  them  a  general  preparation  for  war.  The  colo- 
iiifts  were  obliged  to  keep  guards  and  watch  every  nighty 
from  the  fctting  to  the  riling  of  the  fun,  and  to  guard 
their  inhabitants,  from  town  to  town,  and  from  one 
place  to  another. 

Connecticut  was  for  making  war  immediately, 
and  fent  prefling  letters  to  the  court  at  Bofton,  urging 
that  a  hundred  men  might  be  fent  to  Saybrook  fort,  to 
afFift  againft  the  enemy,  as  circumltances  might  require. 
But  the  court  of  Maflachufetts  pretended  to  doubt  of  the 
fa£ls  alledged,  and  would  not  confent. 

In  the  mean  time  Mlantonimoh,  in  profecution  of 
his  bloody  defigns,  hired  a  Pequot,  one  of  Uncas's  men, 
to  kill  him.  He  made  an  attempt,  in  the  fpring,  and 
fliot  Uncas  through  his  arm.  He  then  ran  off  to  the 
Narraganfets,  reporting,  through  the  Indian  towns,  that 
he  had  killed  Uncas.  But  when  it  was  known  thatUn- 
cas  was  not  dead,  though  wounded,  Miantonimoh  and 
the  Pequot  contrived  together,  and  reported  that  Uncas 
had  cut  through  his  arm  with  a  flint,  and  then  charged 
the  Pequot  with  flwoting  him.  However,  Miantoni- 
moh foon  after  going  to  Bofton,  in  company  with  the  Pe- 
quot, who  had  wounded  Uncas,  the  governor  and  ma- 
giftrates,  upon  examination,  found  clear  evidence,  that 
the  Pequot  was  guilty  of  the  crime,  with  which  he  had 
been  charged.  They  had  defigns  of  apprehending  him 
and  fending  hira  to  Uncas,  that  he  might  be  punilhcd  j 
but  Miantonimoh  pleaded,  that  he  might  be  fuffered  to 
return  with  him,  and  promifed  that  he  would  fend  him 


Chap.  VII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       129 

to  Uncas.     Indeed  he  fo  exculpated  himfelf,  and  made  Book  h 
fuch  fair  promifes,  that  they  gave  up  their  defigns,   and  'w'-v^^ 
permitted  them  to  depart  in  peace.     About  two   days  1643. 
after,  Miantonimoh  murdered  the  Pequot,on  his  return, 
that  he  might  make  no  further  difcovery  of  his  treache- 
rous condudl.  ' 

About  the  fame  time  much  trouble  arofe  from  Se- 
quaflen,  a  facheni  upon  Conne£licut  river.  Several  of 
his  men  killed  a  principal  Indian  belonging  to  Uncas. 
He,  or  fome  of  his  warriors,  had  alfo  waylaid  Uncas 
himfelf,  ashewas  going  down  the  faid  river,  andfhot  fev- 
eral  arrows  at  him.  Uncas  made  complaint  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  court  at  Conncdlicut,  of  thefe  outrages. 
Governor  Haynes  and  the  court  took  great  pains  to 
make  peace  between  Uncas  and  Sequaflen.  Upon 
hearing  their  feveral  (lories  it  appeared,  that  Uncas  re- 
quired, that  fix  of  SequafTen's  men  Ihould  be  delivered 
to  him,  for  the  murder  of  his  man,  becaufe  he  was  a 
great  man.  Governor  Haynes  and  the  court  laboured 
to  diffuade  Uncas  from  his  demand  of  fix  men  for  one  ; 
and  urged  him  to  be  fatisfied  upon  Sequaflen's  deliver- 
ing up  the  murderer.  At  length,  with  much  perfua- 
fion  and  difficulty,  Uncas  confented  to  accept  of  the 
murderer  only.  But  Sequaflen  would  not  agree  to  de- 
Jiver  him.  He  was  nearly  allied  to  Miantonimoh,  and 
one  of  his  peculiar  favorites.  SequalTen  chofe  rather  to 
fight,  than  to  make  Uncas  any  compenfation,exprefling, 
at  the  fame  time,  his  dependance  on  Miantonimoh  for 
iaffiftance.  It  is  not  improbable,  that  it  was  through  the 
influence  of  Miantonimoh,  that  he  came  to  this  refolu- 
tion.  Uncas  and  Sequaflen  fought.  Sequaflen  was 
overcome.  Uncas  killed  a  number  of  his  men  and 
burned  his  wigwams. 

Miantonimoh,  without  confulting  the  Englifh,  ac-  »..    .     < 
cording  to  agreement,  without  proclaiming  war,  or  giv-  jjjqJj  ^j^. 
ing  Uncas  the  leafl  information,  raifed  an  army  of  nine  ges  war 
hundred,  or  a  thoufand  men,  and  marched  againft  him.  wiihUa. 
Uncas's  fpies  difcovered  the  army  at  fome  difliance  and  ^^^* 
gave  him  intelligence.     He  was  unprepared,   but  rally- 
ing between  four  and   five  hundred  of  his  braveft  men, 
he  told  them  they  muft  by  no  means  fufFer  Miantonimoh 
to  come  into  their  town  ;  but  muft  go  and  fight  him  on 
his  way.     Having  marched  three  or  four  miles,  the  ar- 

s 


I  JO 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  VIL 


Book  I. 

Uncas's 
flratagcm. 


BHantoni- 
moh  de- 
feated and 
taken 
prifoner. 


mies  met  upon  a  large  plain.  When  they  had  advan- 
ced within  fair  bow  fhot  of  each  other,  Uncas  had  re- 
courfe  to  a  ftratagcm,  with  which  he  had  previoufly  ac- 
quainted his  warriors.  He  defired  a  parley,  and  both  ar- 
mies halted  in  the  face  of  each  other.  Uncas,  gallantly 
advancing  in  the  front  of  his  men,  addrefled  Miantoni- 
moh  to  this  efFe6l,  "  You  have  a  number  of  ftout  men 
with  you,  and  fo  hate  I  with  me.  It  is  a  great  pity  that 
fuch  brave  warriors  ftiould  be  killed  in  a  private  quarrel 
between  us  only.  Come  like  a  man,  as  you  profefs  to 
be,  and  let  us  fight  it  oat.  If  you  kill  me,  my  men  {hall 
be  yom'3  *,  but  if  I  kill  you,  your  men  fhall  be  mine.'* 
Miantonimoh  replied,  "  IMy  men  came  to  fight,  and  they 
fliall  fight."  Uncas  falling  inftantly  upon  the  ground, 
his  men  difcharged  a  fliower  of  arrows  upon  the  Narra- 
ganfets ;  and,  without  a  moment's  interval,  rufhing 
upon  them,  in  the  moft  furious  manner,  with  their  hi- 
deous Indian  yell,  put  them  immediately  to  flight.  The 
Moheaganft  purfucd  the  enemy  with  the  fame  fury  and 
eagernefs  with  which  they  commenced  the  adtion.  The 
Narraganfets  were  driven  dovt^n  rocks  and  precipices, 
und  chafed  like  a  doe  by  the  huntfman.  Among  oth- 
ers Miantonimoh  was  exceedingly  preflcd.  Some  of 
Uncas's  braveft  men,  who  were  moft  light  of  foot,  com- 
ing up  with  him,  twitched  him  back,  impeding  his  flight, 
and  pafTed  him,  that  Uncas  might  take  him.  Uncas 
was  a  ftout  man,  and  rufhmg  forward,  like  a  lion  greedy 
of  his  prey,  feized  him  by  his  ftioulder.  He  knew  Un- 
cas, and  faw  that  he  was  now  in  the  power  of  the  man 
whom  he  had  hated,  and  by  alt  means  attempted  to  de- 
ilroy  ;  but  he  fat  down  fullen  and  fpake  not  a  word. 
Uncas  gave  the  Indian  whoop  and  called  up  his  men, 
who  were  behind,  to  his  afliftance.  The  vi£lory  was 
complete.  About  thirty  of  the  Narraganfets  were  flain, 
and  a  much  greater  number  wounded.  Among  the  latter 
v/as  a  brother  of  Miantonimoh  and  two  fons  of  Canoni- 
cus,  a  chief  fachem  of  the  Narraganfet  Indians.  The 
brother  of  Miantonimoh  was  not  only  wounded,  but 
armed  with  a  coat  of  mail,  both  which  retarded  his  flight. 
Two  of  Miantonimoh's  captains,  who  formerly  were 
Uncas's  men,  but  had  treacheroufly  deferted  him,  dif- 
covering  his  fituation,took  him  and  carried  him  to  Un- 
cas, expetling  in  this  way  to  reconcile  themfelves  to 
their  fachem.    But  Uncas  and  his  men  flew  them.     Mi- 


Chap.VII.     of    CONNECTICUT.         131 

«ntonlmoh  made  no  requefl  either  for  himfelf  or  his  Book  I. 
men  j  but  continued  in  the  fame  fullen,  fpeechlefs  mood.  '<^y-y>^ 
Uncas  therefore  demanded  of  him  why  he   -tt'ould  not  1643. 
fpeak.     Said   he,  "  Had  you  taken  me,  I  fliould   have 
befought  you  for  my  life."     Uncas,  for  the  prefent, 
{pared  his  hfe,  though  he  would  not  afk  it,  and  return- 
ed with  great  triumph  to  Moh^^agan,  carrying  the  Nar- 
Taganfet  fachem,  as  an  illuftrious  trophy  of  his  vidlory.f 

The  famous  Samuel  Gorton  and  his  company  had 
purchafcd  lands  of  P*Iiantonimoh,  under  the  jurifdidlion 
of  Maflachufetts  and  Plimouth ;  and  expected  to  be 
vindicated  in  their  claims,  by  him,  againft  thofc  colonies, 
and  againft  the  Maffachufctts  and  Plimouth  fachems, 
who  were  the  original  proprietors.  Therefore  when 
the  news  of  Uncas's  vi6lory  and  of  the  capture  of  Mlan- 
tonimoh  arrited  at  Providence,  they  fent  to  Uncas  to 
deliver  MiantonimoJi,  threatening  him,  that  the  poweK 
of  the  Engliflr  (hould  be  employed  againft  him,  if  he  re- 
fufed  a  compliance.  Uncas  therefore  carried  his  prif-  Tjnca* 
oner  to  Hartford,  to  advife  with  the  Governor  and  Ma-  carries 
giftrates,  with  refpe^t  to  his  condu6l  in  fuch  a  fituation.  him  to 

The  Governor  and  Magiftrates  were  of  the  opinion,  Hartford, 
that  as  there  was  no  open  war  between  them  *ii^d  t^^s  |?"^  ^|.y'" 
Narraganfets,  it  was  not  prudent  for  them  to  intermed-  the  govcr- 
<lle  with  the  quarrel ;  but  advifed,  that  the  whole  aft'air  nor. 
fhould  be  referred  to   the  commiflioners  of  the  United 
colonies  at  their  meeting  in  September. 

How  long  Miantonimoh  continued  fpeechlefs  does  Miantoni- 
not  appear ;  bttt  it  is   certain,   that  when  he   came   to  moh  is 
Hartford,  his  mouth  was  opened.     He  moft  earneftly  kept  at 
pkaded   to  be  left  in  the   cuftody  of  the  Englifli.     He  Hartford, 
probably  expedled  more   fafety  and  better  treatment 
with  them,    than  with  Uncas.      Uncas  confented   to 
leave  him   at  Hartford,  but  infifted  that  he  fhould  be 
kept  as  his  prifoner.      He  was  therefore   kept,  under 
guard,  at  Hartford,  until  the  meeting  of  the  commif- 
fioners. 


f  This  account  is  taken  from  a  manufcript  of  Mr.  Hide  of  Nor- 
which,  from  Goernor  Winthrop's  Journal,  and  from  the  re- 
cords of  the  United  coloniefl,  in  one  or  other  of  which,  all  the 
fads  are  afcertained.  The  manufcript  reprefenta  Miantonimoh 
as  having  900,  and  Uncas  600  men.  The  records  of  the  United 
colonies  rcprefent,  that  Miantonimoh  had  900,  or  a  1000  men, 
and  that  Uncas  had  not  half  fo  many.  Governor  Winthrop's 
account  i«  cffentially  the  fame. 


132  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y         Chap.  VII. 

Book  I.        On  the  ytli  of  September  the  commiffioners  met  at 
V-^'vx^  Boilon.      Governor    Winthrop  and  Thomas   Dudley, 
1643.         Efquires,  were  commiflloners  for  Maflachufetts,  George 
FenwickandEdwardHopkins,Efquires,for  Conne£licut, 
and  rheophilusEaton  and  Thomas  Gregfon,  Efquires,  for 
New-Haven.*     Governor  Winthrop  was  chofen  Prefi- 
dent.    The  whole  affair  of  Uncas  and  Miantonimoh  was 
laid  before  the  commiffioners,  and  the  fa 61  s  already  rela- 
ted were,  in  their  opinion,   fully  proved  ;  not  only  his 
attempts  upon  the  life  of  Uncas,  but  that  he  had  been  the 
principal  author  of  inflaming  and  ftirring  up  the  Indians 
to  a  general  confederacy  againft  all  the  Englifli  planta- 
tions.    It  alfo  appeared,  that  inftead  of  delivering  the 
Pequot,    who  had  fhot  Uncas,  as  he  promifed  in  open 
court,  he  had  murdered  him.  on  the  road  from   Boilon 
to  Narraganfet.     It  v/as  alfo  affirmed  to  the  commiffion- 
ers, that  the  Narraganfets  had  fent  for  the  Mohawks, 
and  that  they  were  come   within  a  day's  journey  of  the 
Englifh  fcTtlements,    and   were  kept  back  only  by  the 
capture  of  Miantonimoh  :  Tha-t  they  were   waiting  for 
his  releafe,  and  then  would  profecute  their  defigns  againft 
the    Englifh,  or  Uncas,  or  againft  both,  as  the  Indians 
fliould  determine.    The  commiffioners,  having  fully  con- 
fidered  the  premifes,  laid  the  affair  before  five  or  fix  of 
the  principal  miniflers  in  Maflachufetts,  and  took  their 
advice   relative  to  the  lawfulnefs  and  juftice  of  putting 
him  to  death.     They  gave  it  as  their  opinion,   that  he 
ought  to  be  put   to  death.     The  commiffioners   finally 
.     refolved,  "  That  as  it  was  evident  that  Uncas  could  not 
nation  "of'  ^'^  ^^^^>  while  Miantonimoh  lived  •,  but    that,  either  by 
the  com-    fecret  treachery  or  open  force,  his  life  would  be  contin- 
jniflioners  ually  in  danger,  he    might  juftly  put  fuch  a  falfe    and 
concern-    blood-thirfty  enemy  to  death."     They  determined  Un- 
ing  Mian-  ^^^  fhould  not  do  it  in  any  of  the    Engliffi    plantations, 
but  in  his  own  jurifdi6lion.     At    the   fame  time    they 
advifed,  that   no  torture  or  cruelty,   but  all  mercy  and 
moderation  be  exercifed  in  the  manner  of  his  execution. 
The  commiffioners  alfo   determined,  that  if  the  Nar- 
raganfets, or  any  other  Indians,  ffiould  unjuftly  affault 
Uncas,  on  the   account  of  the  execution  of   Miantoni- 


*  The  commiflTioners  for  PUmouth  are  not  upon  record  this 
year.  It  is  probable,  that  they  did  not  arrive  until  after  the 
tPininifli oners  had  formed. 


Chap.  VII.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         133 

xnoh,  the   Engliih   fhould,    upon  his   defire,  aflift   him  Book  I. 
againft  fuch  violence.*   ^  v.-y^v'^O 

Governor  Winthrop  writes,  "  It  was  clearly  difcov-  1643. 
ered  to  us,  that  there  was  a  general  confpiracy  among 
the  Indians,  to  cut  off  all  the  Englifh  ;  and  that  Mian- 
tonimoh  was  tlie  head  and  contriver  of  it :  That  he 
was  of  a  turbulent  and  proud  fpirit  and  would  never  be 
at  reft :  and  that  he  had  killed  the  Pequot  contrary  to 
his  promife.''f 

The  commiflioners  had  received  intimations,  that  the 
Narraganfets  had  it  in  contemplation  to  capture  one  or 
more  of  them,  with  a  view  to  the  redemption  of  Mian- 
tbnimoh.  Their  determination,  refpe6ting  his  execu- 
tion, was  therefore  kept  as  a  profound  fecret  until  after 
the  return  of  the  commilTioners  of  Connecticut  and 
New-Haven,  left  it  flibuld  inflame  and  engage  them,  in 
earneft,  to  make  the  attempt. 

Previously  to  the  meeting  of  the  commiflioners,  the  July  20, 
Dutch  governor  had  written  a  letter  to  Governor  Win-  the  Dutch 
throp,  containing  high  congratulations  on  the  union  of  wrote  to 
the  colonies,  and  at  the  fame  time  making  grievous  com-  ryinihroo 
plaints  of  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  as  having  com- 
mitted unfufFerable   injuries   againft  the  Dutch,  and  as 
having  given  mifinformation  refpeCting   them  to   their 
agent  in  Europe.    He  defired  a  categorical  anfwer  from 
Governor  Winthrop,  whether  he  would   aid  or  defert 
them,  that  he  might  know  who  were  his  friends,  and 
"who  were  his  enemies.     The  governor,  after  confulting 
"with  fome  few  of  his  council,  who  were  at  hand,  wrote 
an  anfwer  in  part,  to  the   Dutch  governor,  referving  to  ^1^' 
himfelf  one  more  full,  at  the  fefhon  of  the  general  court,  throp's 
He  reprefented  his  forrow  for  the  differences  which  had  reply, 
arifen  between  the  Dutch  and  his  brethren  at  Hartford, 
fuggefting   that  they  might   be  fettled    by  arbitrators, 
either  in  England,  Holland,  or  America.     He  obferved, 
that  by  the  articles  of  confederation,   each   colony  was 
obliged  to  feek  the  fafety  and  welfare  of  the  other  colo- 
nies, no  lefs  than  its  own.     He   hoped  however,  that 
this  would  not  interrupt  the  friendfhip,  which  had  fub- 
fifted  between  them   and  the  Dutch.     The   governor 
obferved,  that  the  controverfy   at   Hartford  was  for  a 


*'  Records  of  the  United  colonies, 
f  Winthrop's  Journal  p.  305,  306. 


134  THE    HISTORY  Chap.VIL 

Book  I.  fmall  piece  of  hind  only,  whicli,  in  fo  vaft  a  continent 
v.-or>M^  as  this,  was  of  too  little  value  to  make  a  breach  between 
1643.  proteftants  fo  related  in  profeffion  and  religion,  as  the 
Dutch  and  Englifli  were.  He  therefore  earneftly  defi- 
red,  that  each  party  would  carefully  avoid  all  injuries* 
until  the  differences  between  them  fhould  be  amicably 
accommodated,  by  an  impartial  hearing  and  adjudica- 
tion, either  in  Europe  or  America.f 

The  affair  was  now  brought  before  the  commiffion- 
The  inju-  ^^g^  Governor  Eaton  and  Mr.  Gregfon  complained  of 
dudt  of  '^^  outrages  which  the  Dutch  had  committed  againft 
the  Dutch  the  perfons  and  property  of  the  Englilh,  within  the  lim- 
is  laid  be-  its  of  New-Haven,  at  Delaware,  and  in  other  places, 
fore  the  ^^^^  made  proof  of  the  injuries  of  which  they  complain- 
fioners.'  ^*-''  '^^^  condu6l  of  the  Dutch  towards  Connedlicut 
was  alfo  laid  before  the  commilhoners,  by  Governor 
Hopkins  and  Mr.  Fenwick. 
_,.       .  Upon  which  the  prefident   was    direfled  to  write  a 

mand  fat-  letter,  in  the  name  of  the  commiflioners,  to  the  Dutch 
isfadion.  governor,  ftating  the  particular  injuries  which  the  Dutch 
had  done  the  Englifh  colonies,  and  to  demand  fatisfac- 
tion.  It  was  alfo  direfted,  that,  as  Governor  Winthrop 
had  in  part  anfwered  the  Dutch  governor's  letter  ref- 
pe£ling  Conne61:icut,  he  would  now,  in  further  anfwer 
to  it,  particularize  the  injuries  done  both  to  Connecticut 
and  New-Haven,  and  demand  an  anfwer.  He  was  alfo 
•authorized  to  aflure  the  Dutch,  that  as  they  would  not 
wrong  others,  fo  neither  would  they  defert  their  con- 
federates in  a  jull  caufe.* 

The  Indians  at  this  period  were  beginning  to  acquire 
the  ufe  of  fire  arms.  The  French,  Dutch  and  others, 
for  the  fake  of  gain,  were  vending  them  arms  and  am- 
munition. The  Indians  were  in  fuch  a  tumultuous  and 
hoftlle  ftate  as  had  the  appearance  of  a  general  war.  The 
commifiioners  therefore  gave  orders,  that  the  militia,  in 
the  feveral  colonies,  (hould  be  frequently  trained,  and 
completely  furniflied  with  arms  and  ammunition.  All  the 
companies  were  to  be  muftered  and  reviewed  four  times 
inayear.  It  was  ordered,  that  all  the  towns  fliould  prepare 
magazines,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  their  militia;. 
The  commillioncrs,  having  given  the  neceflary  direc- 
tions for  the  execution  of  Miantonimoh,  and  for  the  gen- 


•f-  Wiiithrop's  Journal  p.  303,  304,  2°^. 
*  Records  of  the  United  Colouisis. 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        135 

cral   fafety  of  the  country,  difperfed  and  returned  to  Book  I. 
their  refpedive  colonies.  ^.-'-v-v.i 

Immediately  upon  the  return  of  the  commifTion-  ^^42- 
ers  of  Connedlicut  and  New-Haven^Uncas,  with  a  com- 
petent number  of  his  moft  trufty   men,  was  ordered  to 
repair  forthwith  to  Hartford.     He  was  made  acquainted 
with  the  determination  of  the  commiflioncrs,  and  receiv- 
ing his  prifoncr,  marched  with  him,  to  the  fpot  where 
he  had  been  taken.     At  the  inftant  they  arrived  on  the  j-xecution 
ground,  one  of  Uncas's  men,  who  marched  behind  Mi-  ^f  Mian- 
antonimoh,  fplit  his  head  with  a  hatchet,  killing  him  at  toiaimob. 
a  fingle  ftroke.     He  was  probably   unacquainted    with 
his  fate,  and- knew  not  by  what  means  he  fell.     Uncas 
cut  out  a  large  piece  of  his  fhoulder  and  ate  it  in  favage 
triumph.     He  faid,  "  It  was  the  fweetefl  meat  he   ever 
ate,  it  made  his  heart  llrong." 

The  Moheagans,  by  the  order  of  Uncas,  buried  him  • 
at  the  place  of  his  execution,  and  ere£led  a  great  heap, 
or  pillar  upon  his  grave.  This  memorable  event  gave 
the  place  the  name  of  Sachem's  Plain*.  Two  Englifh- 
men  were  fcnt  with  Uncas,  to  witnefs  that  the  execu- 
tion was  done,  and  to  prevent  all  torture  and  cruelty  in 
the  manner  of  its  performance.  Conne6licut  and  New- 
Haven,  agreeably  to  the  direction  of  the  commiffioners, 
fent  a  party  of  foldiers  to  Moheagan,  to  defend  Uncas 
againft  any  aflault  which  might  be  made  upon  him,  by 
the  Narraganfets,  in  confequence  of  the  execution  of 
their  fachem. 

Governor  "Winthrop  at  the  fame  time,  according  to  jviefTage 
the  orders  which  he  had  received  from  the  commifFion-  to  the 
crs,  difpatched  meflengers  to  Canonicus,  the  Narragan-  NartagarX'. 
fet   fachem,   and  the   Narraganfet    Indians,  to  certify  f^^^* 
them,  that  the  Englilh  had  noticed  their  perfidy  in  vio- 
lating the  league  between  them  and  the  Englifli,  from 
time  to  time,  notAi'ithftanding  the  Englifh   had    treated 
them  with  love  and  integrity.     They  alTured  them,  that 
they  had  difcovered  their  mifchievous  plots,  in  joining 
with  Miantonimoh,    in  purchafing   aid  of  the  Indians, 
and  by  gifts,  threats  and  allurements,  exciting  theiu  to 
a  confederacy  to  root  out  the  whole  body  of  the  Eng- 
lifti.     They  reprefented  to  them  their  treachery  in  wa-  ' 

•  Manufcript  of  Mr.  Hide.    This  plain  is  in  the  eaftern  part 
of  the  town  of  Norwich. 


136 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.  VII. 


Book  I. 


164: 


Eleaion 
at  New- 
Raven, 
0(^.  so. 


Progrcfs 
ot"  law 
and  liber- 
ty at 
New- 
Haven. 


Planta- 
tion 

courts. 


ging  war  with  Uncas,  contrary  to  their  exprefs  cove- 
nant with  him,  and  with  the  Englifli.  They  juftified  the 
execution  of  Miantonimoh,  by  Uncas,  as  he  was  his 
lawful  captive,  and  as  he  had  pra£lif^d  treachery  and 
murder  againfthim  and  his  fubjedls.  They  infilled  that 
it  was  both  juft  and  agreeable  to  the  practice  of  the  In- 
dians in  llmilar  cafes.  It  was  declared  to  be  neceflary 
for  the  fafety  of  Uncas,  the  peace  of  the  country,  and 
even  of  the  Narraganfets  themfelves.  While  they  firm- 
ly and  fully  reprefented  thefe  fatls  to  them,  they,  in  the 
name  of  the  United  colonies,  tendered  them  peace  and 
fafety.  They  aiTured  them,  that  they  would  defend 
Uncas  and  all  their  allies,  w^hether  Englilh  or  Indians, 
in  their  jufl  rights  :  That  if  they  defired  peace,  they 
would  exercife  equal  care  and  friendfhip  towards  them.* 

The  commlflioners  gave  orders,  that  Connediicut 
iliould  provide  for  the  defence  of  Uncas  againft  any  af- 
fault  or  fury  of  the  Narraganfets,  or  any  other  Indians. 

Upon  the  general  election,  at  New-Haven,  in  0£lo- 
ber,  Governor  Eaton  and  Mr.  Stephen  Goodyear  were 
re-eledied  governor  and  deputy-governor.  Mr.  William 
Fowler  and  Mr.  Edward  Tapp  were  elected  magiftrates 
for  Milford,  and  Thurfton  Raynerfor  Stamford.  This 
year,  for  the  firft  time,  the  general  court,  at  New-Ha- 
ven, are  diftin£lly  recorded  and  dillinguifhed  by  the 
names  of  governor,  deputy-governor,  magiftrates  and 
deputies. 

It  appears,  that  the  plantation  at  Yennycock,  had  not 
fully  attended  to  the  fundamental  article  of  admitting 
none  to  be  free  burgefles,  but  mem.bers  of  the  church. 
It  was  therefore,  at  this  general  court,  decreed,  *'  That 
"  none  fliould  be  admitted  free  burgefles  in  any  of  the 
*'  plantations,  but  fuch  as  were  members  of  fome  ap- 
"  proved  church  in  New-England  :  That  fuch  only 
*'  fliould  have  any  vote  in  elections ;  and  that  no  power 
*^  for  ordering  any  civil  affairs  (hould  be  put  into  the 
<*  hands  of  any  but  fuch." 

It  was  enacted,  that  each  town,  in  the  jurifdi£lion, 
^lould  choofe  their  own  judges,  in  ordinary  cafes. 
They  were  authorized  to  judge  in  civil  cafes,  not  ex- 
ceeding twenty  fliillings,  and  in  criminal  cafes,  in  which 
the  punifliment  did  not  exceed   fetting  the  delintjuent 


Records  of  the  United  Colouies. 


Chap.  VII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         137 

in  the  flocks,  whipping  him,  or  fining  not  exceeding  Book  I. 
five  pounds.     If  there  were  a  magiftrate,  or  magiftrates  \^y\r*sJ 
in  the  towns,  in  which  thefe  town  courts  were  holden,  1643. 
then  the  magiftrate,  or   magiftrates  were  to  fit  in  the 
court,  and  judgment  was  to  be  given  with  a  due  refpe6b 
to  their  advice.     From  thefe  courts  there  was  Uberty  of 
appeal  to  the  court  of  magiftrates. 

It  was  granted,  that  all  the  free  burgefleSjin  the  plan-  Privileges 
tations,  Ihould  vote  in  the  choice  of  governors,   magif-  of  '^'^e- 
trates,  fecretary  and  treafurer.     It  was  alfo  granted, that  "^'^"* 
each  town  fhould  have  a  magiftrate,   if  they  defired  it, 
chofen  from  among  their  own  free  burgefles. 

At  this  general  court  a  court  of  magiftrates  was  ap-  Court  of 
pointed,  confifting  of  all  the  magiftrates  in  the  jurifdic-  "^'38'^-. 
tion.     They  were  to  meet  twice  annually  at  New-Ha-  A^u^cd.* 
ven,  on  the  Mondays  preceding    the  general   courts  in 
April  and  October.     This  court  was  authorized  to  re- 
ceive appeals  from  the  plantation  courts,  and   to  try  all 
important  caufes,  civil  and  criminal.     Every  magiftrate 
was  obliged,  on  penalty  of  a  fine,  to  give  his  attendance. 
Four  magiftrates  conftituted  a  quorum.     All  judgments 
of  the   court   were  to  be  determined  by  a  major  vote. 
All  trials  were  decided  by  the  bench.     It  does  not  ap- 
pear that  juries  were  ever  ufed  in  the  colony  of  New- 
Haven. 

The  court  enabled,  that  there  Ihould  be  two  general  A«fl:  ref- 
courts  for  this  colony,  to  meet,  at  New-Haven,  on  the  pedinj: 
firft  Wednefday  in  A4)ril  and  the  laft  in  Oftober  annu-  the  gene- 
ally.     It  was  decreed,  that  the  general  court  ftiould  con-  ^    '"''"'  ^' 
fift  of  a  deputy  governor,  magiftrates,  and  two  deputies 
from  each  town.     In  the  laft  of  thefe  general    courts  a 
governor,  deputy  governor,  magiftrates,  fecretary,  treaf- 
urer and   marfhal,  or  high  fheriff,  were  to  be  annually 
chofen.     The  governor,  or  in  his  abfence,  the    deputy 
governor  had  power  to  call  a  general  court  upon  prelTing 
emergencies  and  whenever  it  might  be  neceflary.     All 
the  members  were  obliged  to    attend,  upon  penalty  of 
twenty  fliillings  fine,  in  cafe  of  default.     It  was  ordain- 
ed, that  in  this  court  fhould  fubfift  the  fupreme  power  of 
the  commonwealth.  General 

It  was  particularly  ordained,  that  the  general  court  court  to 
fhould,  with  all  care  and  diligence,   endeavour  to  main-  Pi'ovide 
tain  the  purity  of  religion,  and  to  fupprefs  all  irreligion,  ^-^^  ^ff^'^' 
T  ligion. 


138  THEHISTORY       Chap.  VII. 

Book  I.  according  to  the  befl:  light  they  could  obtain  from  the 
y^y^TKj,  divine  oracles,  and  by  the  advice  of  the  elders  and 
164J.  churches  in  the  jurifdi£lion,  fo  far  as  it  might  concern 

^,  the  civil  power.* 

Diuch  an-  The  Dutch  were  this  year  exceedingly  harafled  and 
ply  lo  diilrefled  by  the  Indians,  and  made  application  to  Gov- 
Ne.v-IIa-  ernor  Eaton  and  the  general  court,  foliciting  that  a  hund- 
ven  for  ^^j  ^^^^  might  be  raifed  in  the  plantations,  for  their  af- 
gaiiill:  the  fiftance  againft  fuch  barbarous  enemies. 
Indians.  The  war  between  the  Dutch  and    Indians  began  in 

this  manner.     A   drunken    Indian,  in  his  intoxication, 
Occafiftvi    killed  a  Dutchman.     The  Dutch   demanded  the  mur- 
of  the  war  jgi-gr,  but  he  was  not  to  be  found.       They  then  made 
th^^Dutch  ''^ppiication  to  their  governor  to  avenge  the  murder.    He^ 
and  In-'     j"^g'"g  ^^  would  be   unjuft  or  unfafe,  confidering  the 
dians.         numbers  of  the  Indians,  and  the  weak  and  fcattered  ftate 
of   the  Dutch   fettlements,  negledled  to  comply  with 
their  repeated  folicitations.     In  the  mean  time  the  Mo- 
hawks, as  the  report  was,  excited  by  the  Dutch,  fell  fud- 
denly  on  the  Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dutch  fet- 
tlements, and  killed  nearly  thirty  of  them.     Others  fled 
to   the   Dutch  for  protection.     One  Marine,  a  Dutch 
captain,  getting  intelligence  of  their  ftate,  made  applica- 
tion to  the  Dutch  governor,  and  obtained  a  commiiTion 
,  to  kill  as  many  of  them,  as  it   fhould  be  in  his  power, 

Colle£ling  a  company  of  armed  men,  he  fell  fuddenly 
upon  the  Indians,  while  they  were  unapprehenfive  of 
danger,  and  made  a  promifcuous  flaughter  of  men,  wo- 
men and  children,  to  the  number  of  feventy  or  eighty. 
This  inftantly  roufed  the  Indians,  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  to  a  furious,  obftinate  and  bloody  war.  In 
thefpring,and  beginning  of  the  fummer,  they  burnt  the 
Dutch  out-houfes ;  and  driving  their  cattle  into  their 
barns,  they  burned  the  barns  and  cattle  together.  They 
killed  twenty  or  more  of  the  Dutch  people  and  prefled 
fo  hard  upon  them,  that  they  were  obliged  to  take  refuge 
in  their  fort,  and  to  feek  help  of  the  Englifh.  The  In- 
dians upon  Long-Ifland  united  in  the  war  with  thofe  on 
the  main,  and  burned  the  Dutch  houfes  and  barns. 
The  Dutch  governor  in  this  fituation,  invited  Captain 
Underbill  from  Stamford  to  affift  him  in  the  war.  Ma- 
rine, the  Dutch  captain,  was  fo  exafperated  with  this 

*  Records  of  Ncw-Haren,  Folio  Vol.1,  p  73>  74>  75* 


Cmap.  VII.    or    CONNECTICUT.        139 

proceeding  that  he  prefented  his  plftol  at  the  governor,  Book  T. 
and  would  have  fliot  him,  but  was  prevented  by  one  who  V-^^w-/ 
ftood  by  him.     Upon  this  one  of  Marine's  tenants  dif-  1643. 
charged  his  mufket  at  the  governor,  and  the  ball  but  juft 
miffed  him.     The   governor's   lentinel    Ihot  the  tenant 
and  killed  him  on  the  fpot.     The  Dutch,  who  at  firft 
were  (o  forward  for  a  war  with  the  Indians,  were  now, 
when  they  experienced  the  lofs  and   dangers  of  it,  fo  ir- 
ritated at  the    governor,    for  the  orders  which  he  had 
given,  that  he  could  not  truft  himfelf  among  them.    He 
was  obliged  to  keep  a  conftant  guard  of  fifty  Englifln-nen 
about  his  perfon.     In  the  fummer   and   fall  the  Indians 
killed  fifteen  more  of  the  Dutch  people,  and  drove  in  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Englifti  and  Dutch  fettlements, 
weft  of  Stamford. 

In  profecution  of  their  works  of  deftruQion,  they 
made  a  vifit  to  the  neighbourhood  where  Mrs.  Hutchin- 
fon,  who  had  been  fo  famous,  at  Bofton,  for  h6r  Anti- 
nomian  and  familiftical  tenets,  had  made  a  fettlement. 
The  Indians,  at  firft,  appeared  with  the  fame  friendfbip 
with  which  they  ufed  to  frequent  her  houfe  j  but  they 
murdered  her  and  all  her  family,  Mr.  Collins,  her  fon 
in  law,  and  feveral  other  perfons,  belonging  to  other 
families  in  the  neighbourhood.  Eighteen  perfons  were 
killed  in  the  whole.  The  Indians,  with  an  implacable 
fury,  profecuted  the  deftrudlion  of  the  Dutch,  and  of 
their  property,  in  all  that  part  of  the  country.  They 
tilled  and  burned  their  cattle,  horfes  and  barns  without 
refiftance.  Having  deftroyed  the  fettlements  in  the 
country,  they  pafled  over  to  the  Dutch  plantations  on 
Long-Ifland,  doing  all  the  mifchief  of  which  they  were 
capable.  The  Dutch,  who  cfcaped,  were  confined  to 
their  fort,  and  were  obliged  to  kill  and  eat  their  cattle, 
for  their  fubfiftence.  Their  cafe  was  truly  diftrefling.* 
It  demanded  fuccour  as  far  as  it  could  have  been  con- 
fiftently  given. 

Governor  Eaton  and  the  general  court,  having  ma- 
turely confidered  the  purport  of  the  Dutch  governor's 
letter,  rejected  the  propofal  for  raifing  men  and  aflifting 
an  the  war  againft  the  Indians.  Their  principal  reafons 
were,  that  joining  feparately  in  war,  was  prahibited  by 


Winflirop's  Journal,  page  zyz,  »73  and  308. 


I40  THEHISTORY  Chap.  VIL 

Book  I.    the  articles  of  eonfederation  ;  and  that  they  were  not 

v—^v^v^  fatisned  that  the  Dutch  war  M'ith  the  Indians  was  juft. 

1643.  Nevertheless  it  was  determined,  that  if  the  Dutch 

needed  corn  and  provifions  for  men  or  cattle,  by  reafoiv 

of  the   deftru(£lion  which    tlie    Indians  had  made,  the 

court  would  give  them  all  the  afliftance  in  its  power.f 

The  war  continued  feveral  years,  and  was  bloody  and 
deftruftive  both  to  the  Dutch  and  Indians.     Captain 
-  Underbill  had  the  principal  management  of  it,  and  was 

of  great  fervice  to  the  Dutch.  He  colle61:ed  a  flying  ar- 
my of  a  hundred  and  twenty,  and  fometimes  of  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  Englifh  and  Dutch,  by  which  he 
preferved  the  Dutch  fettlements  from  total  deftruflion. 
It  was  fuppofed,  that,  uponLong-Ifland  and  on  the  main, 
he  killed  betv/een  four  and  five  hundred  Indians.^ 

The  Indians  at  Stamford  too  much  caught  the  fpirit 
of  the  weftern  Indians  in  their  vicinity,  who  were  at  war 
with  the  Dutch.  They  appeared  fo  tumultuous  and 
hoftile,  that  the  people  at  Stamford  were  in  great  fear, 
that  they  fliould  foon  fhare  the  fate  of  the  fettlements  at 
the  weflward  of  them.  They  wrote  to  the  general  court 
at  New-Haven,  that  in  their  apprehenfions  there  were 
juft  grounds  of  a  war  with  thofe  Indians,  and  that  if 
their  houfes  {hould  be  burned,  becaufe  the  other  planta- 
tions would  not  confent  to  war,  they  ought  to  bear  the 
damage. 

The  Narraganfet  Indians  were  enraged  at  the  death 
of  their  fachem.  The  Englifli  were  univerfally  armed. 
The  ftrid:e{l  watch  and  guard  was  kept  in  all  the  plan- 
tations. In  Conne£licut,  every  family,  in  which  there 
•was  a  man  capable  of  bearing  arms,  was  obliged  to  fend 
one  complete  in  arms,  every  Lord's-day,  to  defend  the 
places  of  public  worfliip.  Indeed  all  places  wore  the  af-> 
pe6t  of  a  general  war. 


-|-  Records  of  New-Haven. 

j  Dr.  Belknap's  Hilt.  vol.  I.  p.  50. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         141 

CHAPTER     VIII.  Book  I. 

Public  fajls  appointed.  Indians  conUmie  hojlile^  and  com-  1644. 
ftxit  murder.  ABs  of  the  commijftoners  refpeciing  them. 
Branford  feith'd..  Toivns  in  ConneElicut.  MeJJ'age  of 
the  commiffioners  to  the  Narraganfets.  Their  agree^ 
ment  rejpeEiing  TJncas.  Long-IJJand  Indians  taken  un- 
der the  protection  of  the  United  Colonies.  Maffachtfetts 
claim  part  of  the  Pequot  country  and  Waranoke.  Deter- 
vjination  of  the  commiffioners  refpeciing  faid  claim.  A- 
greement  luith  Mr.  Feniuick  relative  to  Saybrookfort  and 
the  adjacent  country.  Fortifications  advanced.  Extra- 
ordinary meeting  of  the  commiffioners  to  fupprefs  the  out- 
rages of  the  Narraganfets.  War  proclaimed  and  troops 
fent  againf  them.  They  treat  and  prevent  ivar.  Fair- 
field objeSl  to  a  jury  of  fix.  Controverfy  ivith  the  Dutch. 
The  Indians  plot  againfi  the  life  of  Governor  Hopkins  and 
other  principal  gentlemen  at  Hartford.  Damages  at 
JVindfor.  Battle  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians. 
Lojfes  of  Neiu- Haven.  Difpute  ivith  Majfachufetts  rel- 
ative to  the  impofl  at  Saybrook.  Mr.  Winthrop* s  claim 
of  the  Nehantick  country.  Settlement  of  accounts  be- 
tween the  colonies. 

THE  affairs  both  of  Old  and  New-England,  wore  Public 
fo  gloomy  an  afpe£l:,  at  this  time,  that  the  pious  farting  ap-. 
people,  in  the  colonies,  judged  extraordinary  fafling  and  P°^"^^^' 
prayer  to  be  their  indifpenfible  duty.  The  flames  of 
civil  difcord  were  kindled  in  England,  and  the  tumultu- 
ous and  hoftile  ftate  of  the  natives,  in  the  United  Colo- 
nies, threatened  them  with  a  bloody  and  mercilefs  In- 
dian war.  The  general  court  of  Connecticut  therefore 
ordained  a  monthly  fall,  through  the  colony,  to  begin 
on  Wednefday  the  6th  of  January.  New-Haven  had 
before  appointed  a  faft,  at  the  fame  time,  in  all  the  plan- 
tations in  that  jurifdiftion.  Indeed  this  was  pra£lifcd, 
throughout  the  United  Colonies,  during  the  civil  wars 
in  England.  The  colonifts  fympathized  with  their 
brethren,  in  their  native  country,  and  conformed  to  them 
in  their  days  of  humiliation  and  prayer. 

The  freemen  of  ConncGicut  and  New-Haven  exhib-  Freemcs 
ited  a  remarkable  example  of  fteadinefs  in  the  ele£l:ion  ftcady. 
of  civil  officers.     Nearly  the  fame  perfons  were  chofen 
annually  into  places  of  principal  trufl  as  long  as  they 


14^  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  T    Chap.  VIIT. 

Book  I.  lived.  This  year  Edward  Hopkins,  Efqulre,  was  chofcn 
'^-^'v^'^  governor,  and  John  Haynes,  Efquire,  deputy  governor. 
1644.  The  other  magiftrates  were  the  fame  as  they  had  been 
the  lafl  ye'-r,  except  Mr.  WilHam  iSwaln,  who  was  cho- 
fen  into  the  magiftracy.  Mr.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Hopkins 
were  generally  ele«Sled,  alternately  governor  and  deputy 
governor,  during  their  relped:ive  lires.  The  reafon  of 
this  annual  change  of  them,  from  governor  to  deputy 
governor,  was  becaufe  the  conflitution  prohibited  the 
choice  of  any  man  governor,  more  than  once  in  two 
years. 

At  New-Haven,  Governor  Eaton  was  annually  elect- 
ed to  the  ofRce  of  governor  during  his  life  ;  and  Mr. 
Steplien  Goodyear  was  generally  chofen  deputy  gov- 
ernor. 

The  Indians  were  no  more  peaceable  tliis  year,  than 
they  were  the  lafl.  Thofe  in  the  weftern  part  of  Con- 
The  Tn-  nc6licut  Hill  conducted  themfelves  in  a  holtile  manner, 
diansc.^m-  ?n  the  fpring  they  mm-dered  a  man  belonging  to  MalTa- 
mit  liiur-  chufetts,  between  Fairheld  and  Stamford.  About  fix 
^^''*  or  eight  weeks  after  the  murder  was  difcovered,  the  In- 

dians promifed  to  deliver  the  muixlerer,  at  Uncoway, 
if  Mr.  Ludlow  would  appoint  men  to  receive  him.  Mr. 
Ludlow  fent  ten  men  for  that  purpofe  ;  but  as  foon  as 
the  Indians  came  within  fight  of  the  town,  they,  by 
general  eonfent,  unbound  tlie  prifoner  and  fuflered  him 
to  efcape.  The  Englifh  were  fo  exafperated  at  this  in- 
fult,  tliat  they  immediately  feized  on  eight  or  ten  of 
the  Indians,  and  committed  them  to  prifon.  There 
was  among  them  not  lefs  than  one  or  two  fachems. 
May  iR.  Upon  this  the  Indians  arofe  in  great  numbers  about  the 
town,  and  exceedingly  alarme<l  the  people,  both  at  Fair- 
field and  Stamford.  Mr.  Ludlow  wrote  to  New-Haven 
for  advice.  The  court  defired  him  to  keep  the  Indians 
in  durance,  and  aflured  him  of  immediate  alfiftance, 
iliould  it  be  neceffary  and  defired.  A  party  of  twenty 
men  were  drauglited  fortliwith,  and  prepared  to  march 
to  Stamford  upon  the  fliortelt  notice.  The  Indians 
were  held  in  cullody  until  four  fachems,  in  thofe  parts> 
appeared  and  interceded  for  them,  promifing,  that  if'the 
Engliih  would  releafe  them,  they  would,  witlnite:  a 
month,  deliver  the  murderer  to  juftice.  .,* 

Not  more  than  a  month  after  their  releafe,  an  Indian 
vent  boldly  into  the  town  of  Stamford,  and  ma4e  a 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       Mj 

murderous  aflault  upon  a  woman  in  her  houfc.      Find-  Book  I. 

ing  no  man  at  home,  he  took  up  a  lathing  hammer,  and  V-y^r-x^ 

approached  her  as  though  lie   were  about  to  put  it  into  l'';^-^ 
i'*^.         11  n  IX        •         1  ^^11        Woman 

her  hand  ;  but,  as  (he  was    ttoopnig  down   to  take   her  ^m,,,^^^^ 

child  from  the   cradle,  he   llruek  her  upon  the  liead.  ,^t  Stam- 
She  fell  inllantly   with  the  blow;  he  then   flruek   her  ford  iu 
twice  with  the  fliarp  part  of  the  hammer,  which  pene-  J""'-'* 
trated  her  Ikull.     Suppofing  her  to  be   dead,   he  plun- 
dered the  houfe,  and  made  his  efeape.     Soon   after  the 
woman  fo   far  recovered  as  to  defcribe  the  Indian  and 
his  manner  of  drefs.     Her  wounds,  which   at  firft  ap- 
peared to  be  mortal,  were  finally  healed  ;  but  her  brain 
was  fo  afFe£led  that  fhs  loft  her  reafon. 

At  the  fame  time  the  Indians  rofe,  in  thofe  parts, 
with  the  moft  tumultuous  and  hoftile  appearanecs- 
They  refufed  to  come  to  the  Englifh,  or  to  have  any  tixa- 
ty  with  them.  They  appeared,  in  a  very  alarming  man- 
ner, about  feveral  of  the  plantations,  firing  their  pieces 
and  exceedingly  terrifying  the  inhabitants.  They  dc- 
ferted  their  wigwams,  and  neglecSed  to  weed  their  corn. 
The  Englifti  had  intelligence  that  the  Indians  defigned 
to  cut  them  off.  '  Moft  of  the  Englifli  judged  it  unfafe 
to  travel  by  land,  and  fome  of  the  plantations  were  ob- 
liged to  keep  a  ftrong  guard  and  watch  night  and  day. 
And  as  they  had  not  numbers  fufiicient  to  defend  them- 
felves,  they  made  application  to  Hartford  and  New-Ha- 
ven for  afliftance.  They  both  fent  aid  to  the  weaker 
parts  of  their  refpe6live  colonies.  New- Haven  fent 
help  to  Fairfield  and  Stamford,  as  they  were  much  near- 
er to  them,  than  to  Connefticut. 

After  a  great  deal  of  alarm  and  trouble  the  Indian  .  .. 
who  had  attempted  the  murder  of  the  the  woman  was  ecuicd. 
delivex'ed  up  and  condemned  to  death.  He  was  execu- 
ted at  New- Haven.  The  executioner  cut  off  his  head 
with  a  falchion  :  but  it  was  cruelly  done.  He  gave  the 
Indian  eight  blows  before  he  effected  the  execution. 
The  Indian  fat  ere£l  and  motionlefs  until  his  head  was 
fevered  from  his  body.* 

Both  the  colonies  of  ConnecSlicut  and  New-Haven. 
were  put  to  great  expenfe,  this  year,  in  defending  them- 
felves,  and  they  were  obliged  to  bear  the  whole  charge, 
as  the  meafures  adopted  for  their  defence,  were  taken 


Records  of  the  colonies,  and  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.jjj. 


144 


THE    HISTORY         Chap.  Vllf 


Book  I.  by  the  order  of  their  refpeftive  legiflatures,  and  not  by 

v*^-Y-«»J    the  dire£lion  of  the  commiirioners. 

1644-  The  unhappy  divifions  wliich  continued  at  Wethers- 

field,  occafioned  another  fettlement  under  the  jurifdiC" 
tion  of  New-Haven.  As  Mr.  Eaton,  to  whomTotoket 
had  been  granted  in  1640,  had  not  performed  the  con- 
ditions of  the  grant,  New-Haven,  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  a  number  of  people  at  Wethersfield,  made  a  falc 
of  it  to  Mr.  William  Swain  and  others  of  that  townw 
They  fold  it  at  the  price  which  it  coft  them,  ftipulating 
with  Mr.  Swain  and  his  company,  that  they  fliould  unite 
with  that  colony  in  all  the  fundamental  articles  of  gov- 
ernment. The  fettlement  of  the  town  immediately 
commenced.  At  the  fame  time  Mr.  Abraham  Pierfon, 
with  a  part  of  his  church  and  congregation,  from 
Southampton,  on  Long-Ifland,  removed  and  united 
with  the  people  of  Wethersfield  in  the  fettlement  of  the 
town.  A  regular  church  was  foon  formed,  and  Mr. 
Pierfon  was  chofen  pallor.  The  town  was  named 
Branford-  Mr.  Swam  was  the  principal  planter,  and  a 
few  years  after,  was  chofen  one  of  the  magiflrates  of  the 
colony  of  New-Haven,  as  he  had  previouily  been  of  the 
colony  of  Conne61icut. 

Sept.  c.  The  meeting  of  the  commiflioners,  this  year,  was  at 

Harcford.  Mr.  Simon  Bradftreet  and  Mr.  William 
Hawthorne  were  commiffioners  from  the  Maflachufctts, 
Mr.  Edward  Winflow  and  Mr.  William  Brown  front 
Plimouth,  Governor  Hopkins  and  Mr.  George  Fenwick 
for  Conneclicut,  and  Governor  Eaton  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Gregfon  from  New-Haven. 

No  fooner  was  the  meeting  opened   than  a  propofal 

Commif-   .was  made  by  the  commiffioners  from  MalTachufetts,  di- 
re£l:ed  by  their  general  court,  that   the    commiffioners 


Maffachu- 
fetts  claim 
prece- 
dence. 


from  that  colony  fhould  always  have  preference  to  the 
commiflioners  of  the  other  colonies,  and  be  allowed  to 
fubfcribe  firft,  in  the  f^ime  order  in  which  the  articles 
of  confederation  had  been  figned. 

Upon  confideration  of  the  propofal,  the  commifTion- 
ers  were  unanimouHy  of  the  opinion,  that  no  fuch  thing 
had  either  been  propofed,  granted  or  pra£l:ifed,  by  thte 
commiflionersof  the  other  jurifdictions,  in  any  of  their 
former  meetings,  though  the  articles  had  been  fubfcri- 
bed  in  the  prefence  of  the  general  court  of  the  MalTa- 
chufetts.    They  refolved,  that  the  commiihon  was  free^ 


CtiAT.  VIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.       145 

and  mi^ht  not  receive  any  thing,  but  what  was  exprelT-  Book  I. 
cd  by  the  articles  of  confederation,  as  impofed  by  any  v.>^/-v/ 
general  court.     Neverthelefs,  they  determined,  that,  on  1644. 
account  of  their  refpett  to  the  Maflachufetts,  they  vviii- 
ingly  granted,  that  their  commtflioners   in    that,  and  in 
all  future  meetings,  fhould  fubfcribe  firft,  after  the  pref- 
ident,  and  the    commiiTioners   of  the   other  colonies  in 
fuch  order  as  they   were  named  in  the  articles  j  viz. 
Plimouth,  Connedbicut  and  New-Haven. 

The  Indians  were  this  year  almoft  every  where  trou- 
blefome  j  and,  in  fome  places,  in  a  high  ftate  of  hoflili- 
ty.  In  Virginia  they  generally  rofe  and  made  a  mod 
horrible  maffacre  of  the  Englifh,f  and  it  was  imagined, 
that  there  was  a  general  combination,  among  the 
fouthern  and  New-England  Indians,  to  deftroy  all  the 
colonies.  The  Narraganfet  Indians,  regardlefs  of  all 
their  covenants  with  the  Englifh  and  with  Uncas,  con- 
tinued in  a£ls  of  conftant  hoflility  againfl  the  latter, 
and  fo  opprefled  the  fachems  and  Indians  under  the  pro- 
te£lion  of  the  Maflachufetts,  that  they  were  obliged  to 
difpatch  a  party  of  men  for  their  defence,  and  affiftance 
in  fortifying  againfl  thefe  oppreflors. 

The  commifTioners  immediately  fent  Thomas  Stan-  Meffage 
ton,  their  interpreter,   and    Nathaniel  Willet  into  the  fro™  the 
Narraganfet  and  Moheagan   countries,  with  particular  p""^'"'  " 
inftru£lions  to    their  refpedlive  fachems.     They  were  jj^^  j^. 
inflru£led  to  acquaint    the  fachems,  that  the  commif-  dians. 
(loners  were   then   met,  at  Hartford,  and   that,  if  they 
would  appear  and  lay  their  refpeclive  grievances  before 
them,  they   would  judge  impartially    between   them  : 
That  the  commifTioners  had  heard  the  report  which  they 
had  fpread  abroad  concerning  Uiicas,  that  he  had  taken 
a  ranfom,  in  part,  for  Miantonimoh,  and  afterwards  had 
put  him  to  death  j  and  that  he  refufed   to  retui'n  the 
ranfom.     They  were  directed  to  afTure  them,  that  Un- 
cas utterly  denied  the  charge  :  That  neverthelefs,  if  they 
would  go  themfelves,  or   fend  fome  of  thtir  principal 
men  to  Hartford,  the  commifTioners  would  impartially 
hear  this,  and  all  other  differences  fubfifting   betv/een 
them  and  the  Moheagans,  and  afTifl  thera  in  the  fettle- 

f  In  two  days  they  maflacred  about  300  Virginians  ;  many 
of  them  were  killed  fo  ftiddenly  and  unexpe«ftedly,  that  they 
knew  neither  the  hand  ngr  wcaoon  by  which  thev  fell, 

u 


f4<5 


THE    HISTORY        Chap,  VIIL 


The  In- 
c!'.  ns  ap- 
pear be- 
fore the 
€ommii- 
lioucfs* 


ment  of  an  amicable  correfpondence  between  the  two 
nations  •,  and  that  the  parties  (hould  have  a  fafe  paflage 
to  and  from  Hartford,  without  any  injury  from  the  Eng- 
hfli.  According  to  their  in{lru£tions,  they  demanded 
of  both  parties,  that  they  fliould  commit  no  a6ls  of  hof- 
tihty  againfl  each  other  in  their  travels  to  Hartford,  nor 
en  their  return  to  their  refpe£live  countries  ;  and  that  all 
hoftilities  againft  each  other's  plantations  ihould  ceafe, 
during  the  hearing  and  treaty  propofed.  If  cither  of  the 
parties  fhould  refufe  to  go  or  fend  to  Hartford,  the  trea- 
ty made  in  1638,  was  to  be  urged  againft  them,  and 
their  engagements  not  to  go  to  war  with  each  other  un- 
til they  had  acquainted  the  Englifh  with  their  grievan- 
ces, and  taken  their  advice.  Dire61:ions  were  given, 
that  it  fliould  be  demanded  of  the  party  refufing,  what"'*ii>'|| 
their  defigns  were  ?  Whether  they  were  for  peace  or  ■ 
war  ?  Whether  they  defigned  to  perform  their  treaties 
made  with  the  Englilh  of  Maflachufetts  and  Connecti- 
cut ?  Or  whether  they  confidered  them  as  all  broken 
and  void  ?  The  interpreter  was  charged  fully  to  ftate  all 
thefe  articles  to  the  Indians,  and  having  taken  their 
anfwers  in  writing,  to  read  them  to  the  fachems,  that 
they  m^ght  underlland  and  acknowledge  them  to  be  the 
very  anfwers  which  they  had  given. 

In  confequence  of  this  meflage  the  Narraganfet  In- 
dians fent  one  of  their  fachems,  with  other  chief  men, 
to  prove  their  charge  againft  Uncas,  and  to  treat  with 
the  Englifli.  They  alfo  bound  themfelves  to  confirm 
what  their  deputies  (hould  do  in  their  name.  Uncas 
iUfo  made  his  appearance,  and  the  commiflioners  went 
into  a  full  hearing  of  all  differences  between  the  parties. 
Upon  hearing  the  cafe  the  commiflioners  found,  that 
there  never  had  been  any  agreement  between  the  Nar- 
raganfets  and  Uncas,  for  the  redemption  of  Miantoni- 
moh,  nor  any  thing  paid,  in  whole  or  in  part,  for  his  ran- 
fom.  Notwithftanding  they  declared,  that  if  the  Nar- 
raganfets  fliould  hereafter  be  able  to  prove  what  they 
had  alledged  againft  Uncas,  that  they  would  order 
him  to  make  full  fatisfaction.  They  alfo  refolved, 
that  neither  the  Narraganfets  nor  Nehanticks  fliould 
make  any  war  or  affault  upon  Uncas,  or  any  of  his  men, 
until  they  (hould  make  proof  of  the  pretended  ranfom, 
and  that  Uncas  had  refufed  to  make  them  fatisfa<Sl:ion. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       147 

The  Narraganfet  fachem  and  his  counfellors,  upon  Book  I. 
confultation  together,  ftlpulated,    in  behalf  of  the  Nar-  v-.<vx^ 
raganfet  and  Nehantick  Indians,  that  no  hoftility  ftiould  ^^'44. 
be  committed  againft  Uncus,  or  any  of  his  Indians,  un-  Agrec- 
til  after  the  next  year's  time  of  planting  corn.     They  al-  '"'-'"^  "f 
fo  covenanted,  that  before  they  began  war,  they  would     ^  ^l' 
give  thirty  days  notice,  either  to  the  governor  of  Mafla-     '^ 
chufetts  or  Connecticut.     Thus,  for  the  prefent,  by  the 
vigorous  and  prudent  exertions  of  the  colonies  and  their 
commiflioners,  an  Indian  war  was  prevented. 

YoNGCHs,  Wiantanfe,  Moughmatow  and  Weenaga-  -pj^^ 
ninim,  fachems  of  Monhaufet  and  its  vicinity,  on  Long-  Long  IQ- 
Ifland,  with  their  companies,  appeared  before  the  com-  and  In- 
milhoners,   and  reprefented,  that  they  and  the  Long-  ^^'^nsta- 
Ifland  Indians  had   been  tributaries  to  the  Englilh  ever  pr"t""-  ^^ 
fmce  the  Pequot  war,  and  that  they  had  never  injured  the  tion  *of 
Englifli  nor  the  Dutch,  but  had  been  friendly  to  both,  the  colo- 
They  therefore   defired  a  certificate  of  their  relation  to  "'^^* 
the  Englifh,  and  to  be  taken  under  the  prote6tion  of  the 
United  colonies.     Upon  this  repi'efentation,  the  com- 
miflioners gave  them  a  certificate,  and  declared,  that  it 
was  their  defire,  while  they  continued  peaceable,  and  did 
not  intermeddle  with  the  quarrels  of  other  Indians,  they 
and  their  companies  might  enjoy  ample  peace,  without 
any  difturbance  from  the  Englifh  or  any  in  connexion 
or  friendfhip  with  them. 

In  this  meeting,  the   commiflioners  of  Maflachufetts  MafTachu- 
laid  claim  to  part    of  the  Pequot  country,  on  the  foot-  fetts 
ing  of  joint  conquefl:.     They  defired,  that  a  divifion  of  ^'^'p* 
the  country  might  be  made,  or  fome  way  prefcribed,  by    ^^^ 
which  the  affair  might  be  compiomifed.  country. 

Mr.  Fenwick,  in  behalf  of  himfelf  and  the  noble- 
men and  gentlemen  in  England,  particularly  interefted 
in  the  lands  in  queftion,  pleaded  that  nothing,  in  their 
abfence,  might  be  determined  againfi:  their  title.  He 
infifl;ed,  that  Pequot  harbour,  and  the  lands  in  the  ad- 
jacent country,  were  of  great  confequence  to  the  gen- 
tlemen intereiled  in  the  Connecticut  patent.  He  faid 
they  had  a  fpecial  refpeft  to  them,  in  their  confultations;, 
relative  to  a  plantation  in  thefe  parts. 

The  commiflioners  judged,  that  a  convenient  time  Determf- 
ought  to  be  given  to  thofe  noble  perfonages  to  plead  "*^'0"  of 
their  right,  and  that  all  patents,  of  equal  authority,  ought  jniffjon-" 

erg. 


148  THE    HISTORY         Chap.  VIII. 

Book  I.  to  have  the  fame  conflruflion,  both  with  reference  to 

K^t^'ys^  propriety  and  )urifdi6lion. 

1644.  The  commiinoners  of  MafTachufetts  alfo  made  claim 

^,  -       r    to  Waranolce,  now  Weftfield,  as  lying  within  the  limits 
Claim  of  .  '  .  '  1     r 

MafTaclm-  ^^  their  patent.     Mr,  renwick,  at  the  lame  time,  claim- 
iettb  to       cd  it  as  covered  by  the  patent  of  Connecticut.  However, 
Wara-        35  jj-  appeared  to   the  commilFioners  that  Mr.   Fenwick 
^°  ^^'         had  promifed,  before  this  meeting,  either  to   clear  his 
title  to  Waranoke,  or  fubmit  to  the  government  of  Maf- 
fachufettci,  they  determined,  that  Waranoke  with    Mr. 
Hopkins's  trading  houfe,  and  the  other  houfes  and  lands 
in  that  plantation,  fhould  be  under    the    jurifdidlion  of 
Maffachufetts,  until  it  fhould  be  made  evident  to  which 
colony  they  belonged  ;  but  that  the  propriety  of  the  land 
fliould  belong  to  the  purchafers,  provided  it  fliould  not 
exceed  two  thoufand  acres. 
Contnbu-       The  reverend  Mr.  Shepard  wrote  to  the  commiffion- 
fTolars^at  ^^^'  reprefenting  the  necelhty  of   further   affiftance  for 
C^m-         ^^'^'^  fupport  of  fcholars  at  Cambridge,    whofe   parents 
biitlge.       wxre  needy,  and  defired  them   to  encourage  a   general 
contribution  through  the  colonies.     The  commifTioners 
approved  the  motion ;  and,   for  the  encouragement  of 
literature,  recomm.ended  it  to  the  general  courts  in  the 
refpeftivc  colonies,  to  take   it  into   their  confideration, 
and  to  give  it  general  encouragement.      The  general 
courts  adopted  the  recommendation,  and  contributions 
of  grr.in  and  provifions  were  annually  made,    through 
the  United  colonics,  for  the  charitable  end  propofed. 

At  this  meeting  a  plan  was  concerted,  by  the  com- 
mifiioners,  for  a  genei'al  trade  with  the  Indians,  by  a 
joint  (lock.  It  was  propofed  to  begin  the  trade  with  a 
llock  of  five  or  fix  thoufand  pounds,  and  to  increafe  it 
to  twenty  thoufand  or  more.  It  was  defigned,  that 
each  general  court  fiiould  approve  and  efi;ablifli  the  trade, 
with  peculiar  privileges,  for  the  term  of  twenty  years. 
"But  it  was  never  adopted.  It  feems  it  did  not  comport 
with  the  views  of  the  general  court  of  MalTachufetts  ; 
and  this,  notwithftanding  the  confederation,  rendered 
all  the  determinations  of  the  commifilioners  void,  which 
were  not  agreeable  to  their  views  and  interefts. 
'  As  the  Indians  were  numerous,  and  began  to  learn 
the  ufe  of  fire  arms,  :«11  trading  with  them,  in  any  of  the 
United  Colonies,  in  guns,  ammunition,  fwords,  or  any 
.  warlike  inftruments,  direflly  or  indire£l:ly,  was  prohibi- 
tcd,  upon  the  penalty  of  a  fine  of  twenty  times  the  value 


Chap.  VIII.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       149 

of  the  articles  thus  unlawfully  fold.     It  was  alfo  recom-  Book  I. 
mended  to  the  feveral  courts  to   prohibit  all  vending  of  '^-•'v'>^ 
arms  and  ammunition  to  the  French  or  Dutch  ;  becaufe  ^^44. 
they  immediately  difpofed  of  them  to  the  Indians.     Ev- 
ery fmith  was  forbidden  to   mend  a  gun  or  any  warlike 
inftrument  for  an  Indian,  upon  a  fevere  penalty. f 

South-Hampton  on  Long-Ifiand  was,  by  the  advice 
of  the  commiflioners,  taken  under  the  jurifdi^lion  of 
Connc£\icut.  This  town. was  fettled  in  1640.  The 
inhabitants  of  Lynn,  in  Maflachufetts,  became  fo  flrait- 
ned  at  home,  that,  about  the  year  1639,  they  contradl- 
ed,  with  the  agent  of  Lord  Sterling,  for  a  trafl;  of  land 
on  the  veil  end  of  Long-Ifland.  They  alfo  made  a 
treaty  v/ith  the  Indians,  and  began  a  fettlement,  but  the 
Dutch  gave  them  fo  much  trouble,  that  they  were  ob- 
liged to  defert  it  and  remove  further  eaflwai'd.  They 
colledled  nearly  a  hundred  families  and  made  a  perma- 
nent fettlement  at  South-Hampton.  By  the  advice  of 
the  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  they  entered  into  a 
combination,  among  themfelves,  to  maintain  civil 
government.  A  number  of  them  regularly  formed 
themfelves  into  church  flate,  before  they  removed  to 
the  illand,  and  called  Mr.  Abraham  Pierfon  to  be  their 
pallor.  He  had  been  a  minifter  in  Yorkfhire  in  Eng- 
land. Upon  his  arrival  in  New-England  he  became  a 
member  of  the  church  at  Bofton,  whence  he  was  called 
to  the  work  of  the  miniftry  at  South-Hampton. |  This 
year  he  removed  with  part  of  his  church  to  Branford. 
It  feems  that  they  were  not  pleafed  that  the  town  had 
put  itfelf  under  the  jurifdi£l:ion  of  Conne6licut. 

This  year  a  committee,   confifting    of  the  govern-  General 
or,  deputy  governor  and  feveral  other  gentlemen,  were  court  in 
appointed,  by  the  general  court  of  Connecticut,  to  treat  April, 
with  George  Fenwick,  Efquire,  relative  to  the  purchafe 
of  Saybrook  fort,  and  of  all  guns,  buildings  and   lands 
in  the  colony,  which  he,   and  the  lords  and  gentlemen 
interefted  in  the  patent  of  Connecticut,  might  claim. 
The  next  December  they  came   to   an  agreement  with 
Mr.  Fenwick  to  the  following  efFeft. 

"   Articles  of  agreement  made  and  concluded  be- 
«  twixt   George  Fenwick,  Efquire,  of  Saybrook  fortj 

+  Records  of  tfee  United  Colonies. 

J.  Magnalia  B.  III.  p.95.  ,  . 


ISO  THEHISTORY       Chap.  VIII. 

Book  I.   «  on  the  oije  part,  and  Edward  Hopkins,  John  Haynes, 

v.>^V"v^  "  John  Mafon,  John  Steele  and  James  Boofy,  for  and  on 

1644.         *'  the  behalf  of  the  jurifdi6lion  of  Conneilicut  river,  on 

Agree-       "  'he  other  part,  the  5th  of  December  1644." 

ment  with      "  The  faid    George  Fenwick,  Efquire,   doth  make 

George      "  over  to  the  ufe  and  behoof  of  the  jurifdidion  of  Con- 

Fenwick    <t  ne£licut  river,  to  be  enjoyed  by  them  forever,  the  fort 

J644,         **  at  Saybrook,  with  the  appurtenances  : — All  the  land 

**  upon  the   river  Connedlicut ;  and  fuch  lands  as  are 

*<  yet  undifpofed  of  fhall  be  ordered  and  given  out  by  a 

**  committee  of  five,  whereof  George  Fenwick,  Efquire, 

"  is  always  to  be  one.     The  faid  George  Fenwick  doth 

**  alfo  promife,  that   all  the  lands  from  Narraganfet 

<*  river  to  the  fort  of  Saybrook,  mentioned  in  a  patent 

**  granted  by  the   Earl   of  Warwick,  to  certain  nobles 

*'  and  gentlemen,  {hall  fall  in  under  the  jurifdi(Slion  of 

**  Connefticut,  if  it  come  into  his  power.''* 

*  About  this  time  died  George  Wyllys,  Efquire,  the  venera- 
ble anceftor  of  the  Wyllyfes  in  Conncfticut.    He  was  poflefled 
of  a  fair  cftate,  at  Knapton  in  the  county  of  Warwick,  worth 
£500  a  year.     In  1636,  he  fent  over  William  Gibbens,  the  ftew- 
ard  of  his  houfe,  with  twenty    men,  to  prepare  him  a  feat  at 
Hartford.    They  purchafed,  and  took  pofleffion  of  a  fine  tradt 
of  laad,  eredled  buildings  aad  planted  a  garden  upon  thatpleaf- 
ant  plat,  which  has  ever  iince  been  the  principal  feat  of  the  fam- 
ily.   In  1638,  became  over  with  his  houfehold  ;  and,  at  the 
cledion  in  1639,  was  chofen  into  the  magiftracy  in  which  he 
continued,  about  five  years,  until  his  death.    In  1641,  he  was 
chofen  deputy  governor,  and  in  1642,  governor  of  the  colony. 
It  appears  from  the  manufcripts  of  the  family,  that  both  he  and 
Mrs.  Wyllys  were  eminently  pious,  living  with  all  the  exadlnefs 
of  the  Puritans  of  that  day.    From  love  to  undefilcd  religion  and 
purity  in  divine  ordinances  and  worfhip  they  exchanged  their 
pleafant  feat  and  eafy  circumftances  in  England,  for  the  dangers 
andhardlhips  of  a  wildernefs  in  America.    He  left  one  fon, 
Samuel,  about  twelve  years  of  age.    He  was  educated  at  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  was  graduated  1653;  and  the  next  year  was 
chofen  one  of  the  magiftrates  for  Connefticut,  at  about  twenty 
two  years  of  age.    It  appears  by  his  manufcripts,  that  he  be- 
came deeply  imprefled  with  the  truths  and  importance  of  reli- 
gion, at  college,  under  the  miniftry  of  Mr.  Shepard  ;    and  the 
fpirit  of  his  pious  parents  defcendsd  upon  him.    He  married 
a  daughter  of  Governor  Haynes,  who  appeared  equally  to  have 
imbibed  thefpirit  of  l.tr  Saviour.    In  his  manufcripts,  he  de- 
fcribesthe  excellent  examples  which  their  parents  had  exhibited, 
and  the  pious  pains  they  employed  in  their  education  ;  teach- 
ing them,  from  childhood,  to  pray  always  in  fecret, private  and 
public  ;  to  venerate  the  fabbath  and  the  divine  word  ;  and  to 
attend  all  chriftian  inftitutions  and  duties. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       151 

On  the  part  of  Connefticut  it  was  ftipulated,  «  That  Book  I. 
the  faid  George  Fenwick,  Efquire,  (hould  enjoy  all  the  v-v^vx^ 
houfingf  belonging  to  the  fort  for  the  fpace  of  ten  years.  *^44' 
— And  that  a  certain  duty  on  corn,  bifcuit,  beaver  and 
cattle,  which  fhould  be  exported  from  the  river  s  mouth, 
fliould  be  paid  to  him  during  the  faid  term." 

Upon  the  4th  of  February  1645,  the  general  court  of  The  gcnc- 
Connefticut  confirmed  this  agreement  with  Mr.  Fen-  ral  court 
wick,  and  pafled  an  a6t  impofing  a  duty  of  two  pence  confirm 
per  bufhel  upon  all  grain,  fix  pence  upon  every  hundred  mp^t  wull 
weight  of  bifcuit,  and  a  fmall  duty  upon    all  beaver  ex-  Mr.  Fen- 
ported  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  during  the  term  of  wick,  Feb. 
ten  years,  from  the  firft  day  of  March  enfuing.     It  was  4>  1645. 
alfo  enaftcd,  that  an  entry  fliould  be   made  of  all  grain 
laden  on  board   any  veflel,  of  the  number  of  bufliels, 
and  of  the  weight  of  bifcuit,  and  that  a  note  of  the  fame 
be  delivered  to  Mr.  Fenwick,  upon  the  penalty  of  for- 
feiting the  one  half  of  all  fuch  grain   and  bifcuit  as 
fhould  be  put  on  board  and  not  thus  certified.     The  col- 
ony, on  the  whole,  paid  Mr.  Fenwick  £iy6oo  fterling, 
merely  for  the  jurifdiftion  right,  or  for  the  old  patent 
of  Conneilicut.     The  general  court,  the  next  July,  or-  July  19th, 
dered  that  a  tax  of  two  hundred  pounds  fliould  be  levied 
on  the  plantations  in  the  colony,  to  defray  the  charge  of 
advancing  the  fortifications  at  Saybrook  fort.     A  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  at  the  fame  time,  to  bargain  with 
Mr.  Griffin  for  that  purpofe,  and  to  make  provifion  for 
the  immediate  completion  of  the  fortifications  in  view. 
A  letter  was   alfo  difpatched,  from  the  court,  to  Mr. 
Fenwick,  defiringhim,  if  his  circumft:ances  would- per- 
mit, to  make  a  voyage  to  England,  to  obtain  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  patent,  and  to   promote  other  interefts  of 
the  colony. 

After  bearing  teftimuny  to  the  great  advantages  of  fuch  an 
education,  and  t«  the  comfort  which  they  had  experienced  in  the 
duties,  in  which  they  had  been  educated,  he  warmly  rccom- 
mends  them  to  his  children  and  their  pofterity. 

The  family  is  ancient,  and  may  be  traced  back  to  the  reign  of 
Edward  the  IV.  more  than  three  centuries.  It  has  well  fup- 
ported  its  dignity  to  the  prefent  time.  Some  of  the  family  hare 
been  magiftrates  or  fecretaries  of  the  colony,  for  more  than  z 
century  and  an  half.  May  the  defccndants  ever  inherit  its  vir- 
tues and  henorg ! 

t  An  old  word,  meaning  the  quantity  of  inhabited  building!. 


1S2 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  VIIL 


Book  I. 


1645- 

Hoflillty 
of  the 
Narragan- 
fets. 


Extraor- 
dinary 
meeting 
of  the 
commif- 
fioners, 
June  aSth 


MtfTen- 
gers,  fcnt 
to  the 
■Narra- 
fanfetfi, 
infiiltsd. 


Notwithstanding  the  unwearied  pains  the  com- 
miffioners  of  the  colonies,  and  the  colonies  themfelvesj 
had  taken  to  prevent  hoftilitie*  among  the  Indians,  and 
to  preferve  the  peace  of  the  country,  the  perfidious  Nar- 
raganfets  were  continually  waging  war.  Peflacus  and 
the  Narraganfet  Indians,  in  violation  of  all  their  treaties, 
had  repeatedly  invaded  the  Moheagan  country  and  af- 
faulted  Uncas  in  his  fort.  They  had  killed  and  taken 
numbers  of  his  men,  and  fo  prefl'ed  him,  that  both  Con- 
nefticut  and  New-Haven  were  obliged  to  difpatch  par- 
ties of  men  to  his  affiftance,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
completely  conquering  him  and  his  country. 

Governor  Winthrop  therefore  called  afpecial  meet- 
ing of  the  commiflioners,  at  Bofton,  on  the  28th  of  June 
1645.  Governor  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Herbert  Pelham 
were  comimiflioners  for  Maflachufetts,  Mr.  Thomas 
Prince  and  Mr.  John  Brown  for  Plymouth,  Edward 
Plopkins  and  George  Fenwick,  Efquires,  for  Connedli- 
cut.  Governor  Eaton  and  Mr.  Stephen  Goodyear  for 
New- Haven. 

Immediately  on  the  meeting  of  the  commiflioners, 
they  difpatched  meflengers  into  the  Narraganfet  and 
Moheagan  countries.  They  were  charged  to  acquaint 
the  fachems  and  Indians  of  the  refpe6live  tribes,  that  if 
they  would  go  to  Bofton,  the  commiflioners  would  im- 
partially hear  and  determine  all  their  diff'erences  ;  and 
that,  however  the  treaty  might  end,  they  fhould  be  al- 
lowed to  go  and  return  in  fafety.  The  fachems,  at  firfl:, 
ieemed  to  give  fome  fair  fpeeches  ;  but  finally  deter- 
mined, that  they  would  neither  go  nor  fend  to  Bofton. 
The  Narraganfets  infulted  and  abufed  the  meflengers, 
and  uttered  haughty  and  threatening  fpeeches  againft: 
the  Englifh.  One  of  the  fachems  declared,  that  he 
would  kill  their  cattle  and  pile  them  in  heaps  j  and  that 
anEnglifliman  fhould  no  fooner  ftep  out  at  his  doors 
than  the  Indians  would  kill  him.  He  declared,  that 
whoever  began  the  war  he  would  continue  it ;  and  that 
nothing  fliould  fatisfy  him  but  the  head  of  Uncas.  On 
the  whole,  the  mefTt-'ngers  were  obliged  to  return  with- 
out efFedling  any  good  purpofe.  By  them  Mr.  Wilhams 
wrote  to  the  commilRoners,  afluring  them,  that  an  In- 
dian war  would  foon  break  out ;  and  that,  as  a  prepara- 
tive, the  Narraganfets  had  concluded  a  neutrality  with 
Providence  and  the  towns  upon  Aquidney  ifland. 


Chaf.  VIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        155 

These  reports  roufed  the  Englifli  fpirlt.     The   com-  Book  I. 
miflioners,  confidering  that  the  Narraganfets  had  viola-  u^-v^O 
ted  all  their  treaties,  killed  a  number  of  the  Moheagans,  1645. 
taken  others    captive,  deftroyed    their  corn,  and,   with 
$freat  armies,  befieged  Uncas  in  his  fort ;  and  befides, 
that  they  had  highly    infulted  the   United  colonies  and 
abufed  their  meffengers,  determined  that  an  immediate 
war  with  them  was  both  juftifiable  and  neceflary. 

However,  a^i.tjiey  wiflied  to  a£l  with  prudence  as 
well  as  fpirit,  and  to  give  general  fatisfaclion  in  an  af- 
fair of  futh  moment,  they  defired  the  advice  of  the  ma- 
giftrates,  elders  and  a  number  of  the  principal  military' 
officers  in  the  MafTachufetts.  Thefe  alTembled,  and 
•were  unanimoufly  of  the  opinion,  that  their  engage- 
ments obliged  them  to  defend  Uncas  and  the  Mohca-r 
gans  :  that  the  defence  which  they  were  obliged  to  give, 
according  to  the  common  acceptation  of  fuch  engage- 
ments, extended  not  barely  to  the  defence  of  Uncas  and 
his  men  in  their  fort,  but  to  his  eftate  and  liberties  ;  and 
that  the  aid  to  be  given  mult  be  immediate,  or  he  would 
be  totally  ruined. 

It  was  therefore  determined,  that  a  war  with  the  •^y.^y  ^,jj^ 
Indians  was  juft,  that  the  cafe  fhould  be  dated  in  fliort,  the  Nar- 
and  war,  with  the  x-eafons  of  it,  be  proclaimed.  A  day  raginfcts 
of  failing  and  prayer  was  appointed  on  the  fourth  of  detfrmm- 
September.  It  was  refolved,  That  three  hundred  men 
fhould  be  forthwith  raifed  and  fent  againfh  the  enemy. 
MafTachufetts  were  to  furnifli  190,  Plimouth  and  Con- 
nedlicut  40  each,  and  New-Haven  30.  As  the  troops 
from  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  who  had  affdled  in 
defending  Uncas,  the  former  part  of  the  fummer,  were 
about  to  return  to  their  refpeclive  colonies,  40  men  were 
imprefl'ed  in  the  Maffachufetts,  and  marched  in  three 
days,  completely  armed  and  victualled.  Thefe  were 
commanded  by  Humphry  Atherton.  Orders  were  dif- 
patched  to  the  troops  to  be  raifed  in  Connecticut  and 
New-Haven  to  join  them  at  Moheagan.  A  commif- 
fion  was  forwarded  to  Captain  Mafon  to  take  the  com- 
mand of  all  the  troops  until  the  whole  army  fhould 
form  a  junction.  The  chief  command  of  the  army  was 
given  to  Major  Edward  Gibbons  of  MafTachufetts.  He 
was  inftruCted  not  only  to  defend  Uncas,  but  to  invade 
and  diftrefs  the  Narraganfets  and  Nehanticks,  with  their 
W 


154  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y       Chap.  VIII. 

Book  I.  confederates.  He  had  inftruftions  to  ofFer  them  peace. 
K^^-^r^^  If  they  would  receive  it  upon  honorable  terms,  he,  with 
1645.  ^^3  officers,  had  power  to  make  a  treaty  with  them.  If 
the  enemy  (hould  flee  from  the  army  and  would  neither 
fight  nor  make  peace,  the  commander  had  orders  to 
build  forts  in  the  Nehantick  and  Narraganfet  country  ; 
to  which  he  might  gather  the  enemy's  corn  and  goods, 
as  far  as  it  fhould  be  in  his-power. 

The  Narraganfets  had  fent  a  prtffent  to  Governor 
Winthrop  of  Bollon,  defiring  that  they  might  have 
peace  with  the  Englifh,  but  wage  war  with  Uncas,  and 
avenge  the  death  of  Miantonimoh.  The  governor  re- 
fufed  to  receive  the  prefent  upon  fuch  terms  •,  but  the 
meflengers,  by  whom  it  was  carried,  urging  that  they 
might  leave  it  until  they  could  confult  their  fachems,  he 
fuffered  it  to  be  left  with  him.  The  commiihoners  order- 
ed,that  it  fhould  be  immediately  returned.  Captain  Hur- 
ding,  Mr.  Wilbore  and  Benedidl  Arnold  were  fent  into 
the  Narraganfet  country,  to  return  the  prefent,  and  to 
alTure  Peflacus,  Canonicus,  Janimo  and  the  other  fa- 
chems of  the  Narraganfet  and  Nehantick  Indians,  that 
they  would  neither  receive  their  prefents,  nor  give  them 
peace,  vmtil  they  fhould  make  fatisfa£tion  for  paft  inju- 
ries, and  give  fecurity  for  their  peaceable  conduct  for 
the  future.  They  were  to  certify  the  Indians,  that  the 
Englifh  were  ready  for  war  ;  and  that  if  war  was  their 
choice,  they  would  dirc£l  their  affairs  for  that  purpofe. 
At  the  fame  time,  they  had  orders  to  afTure  them,  that 
if  they  would  make  fatisfa£lion  for  the  damages  which 
they  had  done,  and  give  fecurity  for  their  peaceable  con- 
duct, in  time  to  come,  they  fliould  know,  that  the  Eng- 
lifh were  as  defirous  of  the  peace,  and  as  tender  of  the 
blood  of  the  Narraganfets,  as  they  had  ever  been. 

The  meiTengers  profecuied  their  journey  with  great 
difpatch  and  brought  back  word,  that  Peffacus,  chief 
fachem  of  the  Narraganfets,  and  others  were  coming  to 
Boflon  forthwith,  vefled  with  full  powers,  to  treat  with 
the  commifTioners.  The  meffengers,  though  fent  on 
purpofe  to  carry  back  the  prefent,  and  to  affure  the  In- 
dians that  the  Englifli  would  not  receive  it,  returned 
with  it  to  Bofcon.  They  alfo  wrote  to  Captain  Mafon 
acquainting  him,  that  there  were  hopes  of  peace  with 
the  Indians. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       155 

The  commiffioners  therefore,   while  they  acknowl-  Book  I. 
edged  the  pains  and  expedition  with  which  they  had  ac-  V-«'"w.^ 
compliflied  their  journey,  cenfured  them,  for  not  atten-  ^^45. 
<ling  to  their  inftru£lions.    Efpecially,  they  judged  them 
worthy  of  cenfure  for  bringing  back   the   prcfent,  and 
for  writing  to  Captain  Mafon.     The  latter  they  imagin- 
ed could   have  no   other  efFe£t  than  to  retard  his  ope- 
rations. 

The  Indians,  finding  that  an  army  was  coming  into 
the  heart  of  their  country,  made  hafte  to  meet  the  com- 
miffioners and  ward  off  the  impending  blow.  A  few 
days  after  the  return  of  their  meflengers,  Peflacus, 
Meekfamo,  the  eldeft  fon  of  Canonicus,  and  Wytowafh, 
three  principal  fachems  of  the  Narraganfets,  and  A- 
wafhequen,  deputy  of  the  Nehanticks,  with  a  large  train, 
arrived  at  Bofton. 

They,  at  firft,  denied  and  excufed  many  particulars 
which  the  commiflioners  charged  upon  them.  They 
infifted  on  the  old  (lory  of  the  ranfom,  and  propofed  to 
make  a  truce  with  Uncas  until  the  next  planting  time, 
or  for  a  year.  The  commiffioners  aflured  them,  that 
matters  were  now  come  to  a  crifis,  and  that  they  would 
accept  of  no  fuch  terms.  They  charged  the  Indian  fa- 
chems with  their  perfidious  breach  of  treaties,  with  the 
injuries  they  had  done  to  Uncas,  with  their  infults  of 
the  Englifh,  and  with  the  great  trouble  and  expenfe  to 
which  they  had  put  them,  to  defend  Uncas  and 
maintain  the  peace  of  the  country.  The  Indians  final- 
ly, though  with  great  relufetance,  acknowledged  their 
breach  of  treaties.  One  of  the  fachems  prefented  the  f  "* 
commiffioners  with  a  ftick,  fignifying,  by  that  token,  ^^^j^j.  j-qj. 
that  he  fubmitted  the  terms  of  war  and  peace  into  their  peace, 
hands,  and  wifhed  to  know  what  they  required  of  the 
Indians. 

The  commiffioners  reprefented  to  them,  that  the 
charge  and  trouble  which  they  had  brought  on  the  col- 
onies was  very  great,  befides  all  the  lofs  and  damages 
which  Uncas  had  fuftained.  They  charged  all  thefe 
upon  their  infra£l:ion  of  the  treaties  which  they  had 
made  with  the  colonies,  and  with  Uncas.  They  affiared 
the  Indians,  that  though  two  thoufand  fathom  of  white 
wampum  would  by  no  means  be  equal  to  the  expenfe  to 
which  they  had  put  the  colonies,  entirely  by  their  vio- 
lation of  their  treaties }  yet,  to  fhow  their  moderatiojj, 


156  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  VIII. 

Book  I.  they  would  accept  of  that  fum  for  all  pail  damages.  It 
V-/^/->^  was  required,  that  they  fnould  reftore  to  Uncas  all  the 
1645.  captives  and  canoes  which  they  had  taken  from  him  ; 
that  they  fliould  fubmit  all  matters  of  controverfy,  be- 
tween them  and  Uncas,  to  tlie  commifRoners,  at  their 
next  meeting ;  and  that  they  Ihould  maintain  perpetual 
peace  with  the  Englifli,  and  all  their  fubjecls  and  allies. 
Finally  hoftages  were  demanded,  as  a  fecurity  for  the 
performance  of  the  treaty.*  Thefe  indeed  were  hard 
terms.  The  Indians  made  many  exceptions  to  them  ; 
but  as  they  knew  the  Englifh  were  gone  into  their  coun- 
try, and  were  fearful  that  hoftilities  would  be  commen- 
ced, ev^en  while  the  treaty  was  pending,  they  fubmltted 
to  them.  Some  abatement  was  made  as  to  the  times  of 
payment,  at  firft  propofed,  and  it  was  agreed,  that  Un- 
cas fliould  reftore  to  the  Narraganfets  all  captives  and 
canoes  which  he  had  taken  from  them.  This  gave  the 
Narraganfets  and  Nehanticks  fome  cafe  ;  but  it  was 
with  great  reluctance  that  they  finally  figned  the  articles. 
Nothing  but  the  neceffity  of  the  cafe  could  have  been  a 
fufficient  inducement. 
Articles  On  the  30th  of  Augufl  the  articles  were  figned,  and 

figned.  the  Indians  left  feveral  of  their  number,  as  hoftages,  un- 
til the  children,  who  had  been  agreed  upon  for  a  per- 
manent fecurity,  fiiould  be  delivered. 

Ti-iE  troops  which  had  been  raifed  were  difbanded, 
and  the  day  appointed  for  a  general  faft,  w^as  celebrated 
as  a  day  of  general  thankfgiving. 

New-Haven,  this  year,  appointed  Mr.  Gregfon  their  . 
u  ^"*  *°  agent  to  the  parliament  in  England,  to  procure  a  pa- 
tents ^^^^^  ^'^^  ^^^^  colony.  The  court  at  New-Haven  voted, 
that  it  was  a  proper  time  to  join  with  Connecticut  in 
procuring  a  patent  from  parliament  for  tliefe  parts.f  It 
appears,  that  both  Connedticut  and  New-Haven,  at  this 
time,  had  it  in  contemplation  to  obtain  charters  from 
parliament,  for  their  refpettive  jurifdi£tions  ;  but  Mr. 
Eenwick  who  had  been  defired  to  undertake  a  voyage, 
for  this  purpofe,  in  behalf  of  Connecticut,  did  not  ac- 
cept the  appointment,  and  Mr.  Gregfon  was  loft  at  fea. 
In  confequence  of  thefe  circumftances,  and  the  ftate  of 
affairs  in  England  afterwards,  the  bufinefs  refted  until 
after  the  reftoration. 


*  Records  of  the  United  Colonics. 
•\  Records  of  Nevz-Hav^n. 


iifkal 


Chap. VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         157 

Tfiis  year  Tunxis  was  named  Farmington.  At  this  Book  I. 
time,  there  were  in  the  colony  of  Connefticiit  eight  v^^^v-v^* 
taxable  towns  ;  Hartford,  Windfor,  Wetb.ersfield,  1645. 
Stratford,  Fairfield,  Saybrook,  South-Hampton  and  Towns  ia 
Farmington.  In  the  colony  of  New-Haven  were  fix  ;  Connedi- 
New-Haven,  Milford,  Guilford,  Southhold,  Stamford  ^ew-Ha- 
and  Branford.  ven. 

In  1646  there  was  an  alteration  in  the  acl  refpetling 
juries.  In  1644  an  avSlpailed  authorizing  tb.e  court  of ''^ 
magiftrates  to  increafe  or  mitigate  the  damages  given 
by  verdidl  of  the  jury.  It  was  now  enafted,  that  what-  April  6. 
ever  alterations  fhould  be  made  of  this  kind,  at  any  time, 
Ihould  be  made  in  open  court,  in  the  prefence  both  of 
the  plaintiff  and  defendant,  or  upon  affidavit  made,  that 
they  had  been  fummoned  to  appear. 

At  this  court  the  town  of  Fairfield  made  objeflions 
to  that  part  of  the  atl  pafled  in  1644  which  admitted  of 
a  jury  of  fix.  They  infifled  on  twelve  jurymen  in  all 
cafes,  triable  by  a  jury  ;  but  confented,  that  eight  out 
of  twelve  (hould  bring  in  a  verdift .  It  does  not  appear, 
that  a  jury  of  fix  was  ever  empannelled,  after  this  time. 
The  laws  were  foon  after  revifed,  and  ordained  a  jury 
of  twelve  in  all  cafes,  which  required  a  jury. 

The  commiffioners  of  the  United  Colonies  met,  this 
year,  at  New-Haven.  The  Dutch  continuing  their  in- 
jurious conduct:  againft  the  Englifli,  complaints  were 
made  to  the  commiflioners,  of  the  recent  and  repeated 
infults  and  damages  which  they  had  received  from  them. 
Inftead  of  making  them  the  leaft  fatisfa6tion  for  pad  in- 
juries, they  proceeded  to  new  inftances  of  infolence  and 
abufc.  Kieft  wrote  a  mofl  imperious  letter  to  Governor  Kitft's 
Eaton,  charging  him,  and  the  people  at  New-Haven,  'etter  and 
with  an  unfatiable  defire  of  pofleffing  that  which  be-  ^ 
longed  to  the  Dutch  nation.  He  aflirmed,  that,  con- 
trary to  ancient  leagues,  between  the  kings  of  England 
and  the  States  General,  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations, 
and  his  proteflations,  they  had,  indire£lly,  entered  upon 
the  limits  of  New-Netherlands.  He  therefore  pi-otef- 
ted  againft  them,  as  breakers  of  the  peace  and  difturbers 
of  the  public  tranquillity.  Indeed  he  proceeded  fo  far 
as  to  threaten,  that  if  the  Englilh,  at  New-Haven,  did 
not  reftore  the  places  which  they  had  ufurped,  and  re- 
pair the  lofles  which  the  Dutch  had  fuftained,  that  they 
would,  by  fuch  means  as   God  ihould  afford,  recover 


'58 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  VIIL 


Governor 

Eiton's 

reply. 


Mifde- 
incanors 
(tf  the 
Dutch  at 
Hartford. 


Com- 
plaint to 
tke  com- 
miiTion- 
ers. 


The  coni- 
miffioners 
write  and 
fend  an 


them.  He  affirmed,  that  the  Dutch  would  not  view  it 
as  inconfiilent  with  the  puhlic  peace,  but  fliould  impute 
all  the  evils,  which  might  enfue,  to  the  Englifh.* 

Governor  Eaton  replied  to  this  letter,  that  the  colo- 
ny under  his  government  had  never  entered  upon  any 
land,  to  which  the  Dutch  had  any  known  title  :  That, 
notwithftanding  all  the  injuries  received  from  the  Dutch, 
and  the  very  unfatisfying  anfwers  which  their  governor 
had  given,  from  time  to  time,  the  colony,  in  his  appre- 
henfions,  had  done  nothing  inconfiftent  with  the  law  of 
God,  the  law  of  nations,  nor  with  the  ancient  leagues 
fubfilling  between  England  and  Holland.  He  therefore 
affured  him,  that  the  colony  would  cheerfully  fubmit  all 
differences,  between  them  and  the  Dutch,  to  an  impar- 
tial hearing  and  adjudication,  either  in  Europe  or  A- 
merica. 

The  Dutch,  at  Hartford,  maintained  a  diftinft  and  in- 
dependent government.  They  refifledthe  laws  of  the  col- 
ony, and  counteracted  the  natural  rights  of  men.  They 
inveigled  an  Indian  woman  who,  having  been  liable  to 
public  punifhment,  fled  from  her  mafter.  It  was  fup- 
pofed,  that  the  Dutch  kept  her  for  the  purpofc  of  wan- 
tonnefs.  Though  her  mafter  demanded  her,  as  his 
property,  and  the  magiftrates,  as  a  criminal,  on  whom 
the  law  ought  to  have  its  courfe,  yet  they  would  not 
reftore  her.  The  Dutch  agent  at  Hartford,  in  the  height 
of  diforder,  refifted  the  guard.  He  drew  his  rapier  upon 
the  foldiers,  and  broke  it  upon  their  arms.  He  tlien  ef- 
caped  to  the  fort,  and  there  defended  himfelf  with  im- 
punity. 

The  commiflioners  of  Connecticut  and  New-Haven 
made  complaint  of  thefe  infults  and  mifdemcanors  to 
the  commifTioners  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  laid  open 
the  whole  conduct  of  the  Dutch  towards  them.  They 
reprefented,  that  in  anfwer  to  their  complaints  of  pall 
injuries,  they  had,  inftead  of  fatisfa£lion,  received  noth- 
ing but  injury  and  abufe. 

The  commiffioners,  upon  a  deliberate  view  of  the 
cafe,  wrote  to  the  Dutch  governor,  ftating  how  they  had 
written  to  him  from  time  to  time  ;  and,  in  confidera.- 
tion  of  the  great  worth  of  peace,  had  attempted  to  com- 


*  Kieft's  letter  to  Governor  Eaton,  on  the  records  of  thj 
United  Colonies. 


Chap.VIII.    of    CONNECTICUT.        159 

promife  the  differences  which  had  fo  long  fubfifted  be-  Book  I. 
tween  the  Dutch  and  their  confederates.     They  obfer-  v.-^-v'x^ 
ved  to  the  governor,  that  he  had  returned  nothing  but  1646. 
an  ignoramus  with  an  offenfive    addition,   which  they  cxprefs  to 
left  to  his  review  and  better  confideration.     They  fta-  ^"^  Dutch 
ted  the  affair  at   Hartford,  and  obferved,   that  had  the 
Dutch  agent  been   ilain,  in  the  haughty  affront  which 
he  had  given,  his  blood  would  have  been  upon  his  own 
head.     They  afllired  him,  that  his  agent  and  the  com- 
pany at  Hartford  had  proceeded  to  an  intolerable  flate 
of  condu61:  :  That  they  had  forcibly  taken   away  their 
cattle  from  authority,  and  made  an  affault  upon  a  man, 
who  had  legally   fought  juftice  for  damages,  which  he 
had  fuftained ;  that  they  flruck  him,   and,  in  a  hoflile 
manner,   took  his  team   and   loading   from  him.     The 
commafhoners  noticed  the  letter  of  the  Dutch  governor 
to  the  colony  of  New-Haven,  and    manifefted  their  ap- 
probation of  the  anfwer  which  Governor  Eaton  had  giv- 
en.    They  expreffed  their  hopes,  that  it  would  give  fat- 
isfa£lion.     They  concluded  by  obferving,  that,  to  pre- 
vent all  inconveniences,  which   might  arife  from  any 
part  of  the  premifes,  they  had  fent  an  cxprefs,  by  whom 
they  wiflied  to  receive  fuchan  anfwer  as  might   fatisfy 
them  of  his  concurrence   with  them,  to  embrace  and 
purfue  righteoufnefs  and  peace. 

Several  of  the  Englifh,  who  had  traded  with  the 
Dutch,  had  not  been  able  to  recover  their  juft  debts, 
and  Governor  Kieft  would  not  afford  them  that  affift- 
ance  which  was  neceffary  for  the  obtaining  of  juftice. 
Mr.  Whiting  of  Connecticut  complained,  That  an  ac- 
tion had  been  carried  againft  him,  at  Manhatoes,  in  his 
abfence,  and  when  he  had  no  agent  to  exhibit  his  evi- 
dence or  plead  his  caufe.  He  alfo  made  complaint, 
that,  upon  demanding  a  juft  debt,  long  fince  due  from 
the  Dutch,  the  governor  negled^ed  to  give  him  that  affift- 
ance  which  was  neceffary  for  the  recovery  of  his  right. 

The  commiffioners  wrote  alfo  to  Governor  Keift  on 
this  fubje£l.  They  defired  him  to  grant  Mr.  Whiting 
a  review  in  the  cafe  fpecified,  and  proper  affiftance  in. 
the  recovery  of  his  debts,  from  the  Dutch.  They  affured 
him,  that  all  the  colonies  would  grant  fimilar  favors  to 
the  Dutch  in  all  their  courts.  n  t  h  1  t 

By  their  cxprefs,  the  commiffioners  received  two  let-  jg^s  and 
ters  from  the  Dutch  governor,  in  anfwer  to  v^hat  they  proteft. 


i6o  T  H  E    H  I  S  TO  R  Y  Chap.  Vlit 

Book  I.  had  written,  exprefled  in  the  fame  haughty  and  ofFen- 
v^'~v'>w^  five  ftrain  as  his  former  letters.  He  denied,  that  the 
1646.  woman,  who  had  been  detained  by  the  Dutch,  at  Hart- 
ford,was  a  fervant,with  many  other  fa£lswhichhad  been 
flated  by  the  commiffioners.  Inftead  of  fubmitting  the 
affairs  in  difpute  to  a  legal  decifion,  either  in  Europe 
or  America,  he  flill  threatened  to  avenge  the  injuries  of 
which  he  complained,  by  force  of  arms.  With  refpedt 
to  other  matters,  of  fpecial  importance,  he  pafled  them 
without  the  lead  notice.  He  compared  the  commif- 
fioners to  eagles  which  foar  aloft,  and  always  defpife  the 
little  fly  ;  but  he  aflured  them,  that  the  Dutch,  by  their 
arms,  would  manfully  purfue  their  rights..  He  then  fin- 
iflied  his  letters  in  this  remarkable  manner.  "  We  pro- 
**  telt  againll  all  you  commifTioners,  met  at  the  red 
*<  mount,f  as  againll  breakers  of  the  common  league, 
"  and  alfo  infringers  of  the  rights  of  the  Lords,  the 
*'  States,  our  fuperiors,  in  that  you  have  dared,  with- 
**  out  our  exprefs  and  fpecial  confent,  to  hold  your  gen- 
*'  eral  meeting  within  the  limits  of  New-Netherlands." 
Tiie  com-  The  commiflioners  made  a  fliort  reply,  alTuring  the 
millioners  Dutch  governor,  that  they  could  prove  the  fa6ls  which 
'^P'y-  they  had  ftated  to  him  in  their  letters-,  and  that  the 
woman,  whom  the  Dutch  had  detained,  was  a  fervant, 
and  an  important  part  of  her  mailer's  property ;  that 
Oic  had  fled  from  civil  juftice,  and,  by  the  confefllon  of 
Mr.  David  Provoft,  Dutch  agent  at  Hartford,  had  been 
defiled.  They  infilled,  that  the  condutl  of  the  Dutch, 
at  Hartford,  was  intolerable,  and  complained,  that  he 
had  given  no  orders  to  redrefs  the  grievances  which  they 
had  mentioned.  They  alfo  complained,  that  he  had 
made  no  reply  to  fo  many  important  articles,  concern- 
ing which  they  had  written  to  him.  With  refpe6l  to 
the  proteft,  with  which  he  had  clofed  his  letter,  they  ob- 
ferved,  that  though  it  was  oftenfive,  yet  it  agreed  with 
the  general  flrain  of  his  writing,  and  that  he  had  no 
more  reafon  to  protefh  againll  their  boldnefs  in  holding 
their  felfion  at  New- Haven,  than  they  had  to  proteft 
againll  his  boldnefs  in  the  proteil  which  he  had  fent 
them.     After  all  the  infult  which  the  commilTioners  re- 


t  The  Dutch  called  New-Haven,  the  Red  Mount,  and  the 
Red  HillH,  from  the  appearance  of  the  rocks  Weft  and  North 
of  the  town. 


ChAf.  VIIL     OF    CONNECTICUT.       i6i 

ceived  from  the  Dutch  governor,  their  replies  were  cool  Book  I.  . 
and  without  threatening.^  ^^.^^r>>J 

This  year  a  horrid  plot  was  concerted  among  the  In-  1646. 
dians,  for  trie  deftruclion  of  a  number  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  of  Hartford.      Sequaflen,    a   petty  fachem  . '"j„*v 
upon  the  river,  hired  one  of  the  Waranoke  Indians  to  GoTcrnof 
kill  Governor   Hopkins,  and    Governor  Haynes,  with  Hopkin«, 
Mr.  Whiting,  one  of  the  magillrates.     Sequaflen's  ha-  Haynes, 
tred  of  Uncas  was  unfatiable,  and  probably  was  direct- 
ed  againfl  thefe  gentlemen   on  the  account  of  the  jull 
and  faithful  prote£lion  which  they   had   afforded  him. 
The  plan  was,  that   the  Waranoke    Indian  fliould    kill 
them,  and  charge  the  murder  upon  Uncas,  and  by  that 
means  engage  the  Englifh  againft.  him  to  his  ruin.     Af- 
ter the  maffacre  of  thefe  gentlemen,  Sequaflen  and  the 
murderer  were  to  make  their   efcape  to  the  Mohawks. 
Watohibrough,  the  Indian  hired  to  perpetrate  the  mur- 
der, after  he  had  received  feveral  girdles  of  wampum» 
as  part  of  his  reward,  confidering  how  Bufhheag,   the 
Indian  who  attempted  to  kill  the  woman  at  Stamford, 
had   been  apprehended   and  executed  at  New-Haven, 
conceived  that  it  would  be   dangerous  to  murder  Eng- 
lifh fachems.     He  alfo  revolved  in  his  mind,  that  if  the 
Englifh  fliould  not  apprehend  and  kill  him,  he  fliould 
always  be  afraid  of  them,  and  have  no   comfort   in  his 
life.     He  alfo  recollected,   that  the  Englifh  gave  a  re- 
ward to  the  Indians  who  difcovered  andbrought  inBufh- 
heag.  He  therefore  determined, it  would  be  bettertodil- 
cover  the  plot  than  to  be  guilty  of  fo  dangerous  and  bloo- 
dy an  a£lion.     In  this  mind  he  came  to  Hartford,  a  few 
days  after  he  had  received  the  girdles,  and  made  known 
the  plot.     Nearly  at  the   fame  time  the  Waranoke  In-  Indiana 
dians  did  much  damage  to  the  people  at  Windfor,  burn-  do  dam^ 
ing  up   their   tar  and   turpentine,  and   deftroying  their  ^^^.  ^^f. 
tools  and  inflruments,  to  the  value  of  a  hundred  pounds 
or  more.     The  magiftrates  at  Hartford  ifTued  a  warrant 
and  apprehended  the  Indian,  whom  they  fuppofed  to  be 
guilty  ',  but  the  Indians  rofe  and  made  an  aflault  upon 
the  officers,  and  refcued  the  criminal  from  juftice. 

Upon  complaint  and  evidence  of  thefe  mifdemea- 
nors,  the  commiffioners  fent  mefTengers  to  Sequafl'en 
demanding  his  appearance  at  New-Haven,  and  they  or" 

t  Records  of  the  United  Goionica. 
X 


i62  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  VIIL 

Book  I.   dered,  that,  if  he  would  not  voluntarily  appear,  all 
v^yVV-/  means,  confident  with  the  prefcrvation  of  his  life,  fhould 
1646.         be  ufed  to  take  him.     Meflengers  were  alfo  fent  to  Wa- 
ranoke,  to  the    Indians  who  had  done  the  mifchief  at' 
Windfor,  with   orders   to   feize  the    delinquents,   and 
bring  them  off,  if  they   judged    they  could  do  it  with 
fafety.     Sequafien  had  art  enough  to  keep  out   of  their 
hands,  and  thofe  who  had   done   the  damage  could  not 
be  found.     The  meflengers  were  infulted  at  Waranoke. 
The  Indians  boafted  of  their  arms,  primed  and  cocked 
their  pieces,  in  their  prefence,  and  threatened,  that,  if  a 
man  mould  be  carried  away,  the  Indians  would  general- 
ly rife  and  fight. 
The  commiflioners,  on  the  whole,  judged  it  not  expe- 
ti^n'^M-     f^i^"t>i"  tbe  ftate  in  which  the  Indians  then  were,  to  pro- 
peding      ceed  any  further  than  to  refolve,   that  if  any  Indian  or 
the  In-       Indians,  of  what  plantation  foever,  fliould  do  any  dam- 
dians.         ^gg  (-q  ^y^Q  Englifh  colonies,  or  to  any  of  their   inhabi- 
tants,  that,    upon  due  proof  of  it,  they   would,  in  a 
peaceable   manner,  demand  fatisfa£lion.      But  if  any 
fixgamore  or  plantation  of  Indians,  fhould  hide,  convey 
away,  entertain,  or  prote£l  fuch  offender  or  offenders, 
that  then  the  Englilb  would  demand  fatisfa^tion  of  fuch 
Indian  fagamore  or  plantation,  and  do  themfelves  juftice, 
as  they  might,  upon  all  fuch  offenders.     At  the  fame 
time,  they  declared,   that  they  would  keep  peace  and 
amity  with  all  other  Indians.     This  refolution  was  to 
be  made  known  to  the  Waranoke  Indians  in  particular. 
The  Indians,   at  particular   times,   were   very   mif. 
chievous,  and  gave  much  trouble  to  all  the  plantations. 
Sometime  after  the  fettlement  of  Milford,  the  Indians 
there  fet  all  the  adjacent  country  on  fire.     It  was  fup- 
pofed  that  their  defign  was  to  burn  the   town.     But  the 
inhabitants  were  fo  fortunate   as  to  ft  op  the  fires  at  the 
fvi^amps  and  brooks  which  furround  it  on  the  weft  and 
north.     By  this  means  the  town  was  preferved. 

The  Mohawks,  though  not  hoftile  to  the  Englifli,.  by 
coming  down,  and  murdering  the  Connecticut  Indians, 
put  the  plantations  in  fear,  and  gave  them  not  a  little 
trouble.  Some  years  after  the  fettlement  of  Milford, 
they  came  into  the  town,  and  fecreted  themfelves  in  a 
fwamp,*  about  half  a  mile  eaft  of  Stratford  ferry,  with 


*  This  is  known  by  the  r.ame  of  Mohawk  fwamp  to  the 
prcftnt  time. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        i€g 

a  view  to  furprife  the  Indians  at  the  fort.  The  Englilh  Book  I. 
accidentally  difcovering  them,  gave  notice  of  it  to  the  v^-oow* 
Milford  Indians.  They  at  once  fet  up  the  war  whoop,  1646. 
and  collecSled  fuch  numbers,  that  they  ventured  to  at- 
tack them.  The  Mohawks  were  overpowered,  and 
feveral  of  them  taken.  One  (lout  captive,  the  Milford 
Indians  determined  to  kill,  by  famine  and  torture. 
'They  ftripped  him  naked  and  tied  him  up  in  the  fait 
meadows  for  the  mofchetoes  to  eat  and  torment  to 
death.  An  Englifliman,  one  Hine,  finding  him  in  this 
piteous  condition,  loofed  and  fed  him,  and  enabled  him 
to  make  his  cfcape.  This  very  much  conciliated  the 
Mohawks  towards  the  Englifh  ;  and  efpecially  towards 
the  family  of  the  Hines,  whom,  it  is  faid,  they  ever  af- 
terwards particularly  noticed,  and  treated  with  uncom- 
mon friendfhip. 

The  Narraganfet  and  Nehantick  Indians  neglected  Perfidy  of 
to  perform  any  part  of  the  treaty  which  they  had  made  the  Nar- 
the  laft  year.  They  neither  paid  the  wampum  ftipula-  I'^ganfets. 
ted,  nor  met  the  commiflioners,  at  New-Haven,  to  fet- 
tle the  differences  between  them  and  Uncas.  They 
neither  reftored  the  captives  nor  canoes  taken  from 
him,  nor  made  him  any  compenfation  for  the  damages 
which  they  had  done  him.  They  had  attempted  to  de- 
ceive the  Englifh  with  refpe£t  to  the  hoftages.  Inftead 
of  the  children  of  their  fachcms  and  chief  men,  whom 
they  agreed  to  deliver,  they  made  an  attempt  to  impofe  up- 
on them  children  of  the  lowed  rank.  Even  to  this  time, 
they  had  not  brought  thofe  whom  they  had  promifed. 
They  were  (till  intriguing  with  the  Mohawks  -,  and,  by 
prefcnts  and  various  arts,  attempting  to  engage  them 
againft  the  Englifh  colonies.  The  commiflioners  judg- 
ed, that  they  had  juft  occafion  to  avenge  the  injuries 
which  they  had  received,  and  to  feek  a  recompence  by 
force  of  arms.  However,  that  they  might  fliow  their 
love  of  peace,  and  their  forbearance  towards  thefe  bar- 
barians, they  difpatched  another  mefTage  to  them.  In 
this  a  full  reprefentation  was  made  of  thefe  particulars. 
They  were  afTured,  that  the  commiffioners  were  appri- 
zed of  their  intrigues,  and  that,  in  the  eyes  of  all  the 
colonies,  they  had  rendered  themfelves  a  perfidious 
people. 

The  war  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians  continu- 
ing, a  great  and  general  battle  was   fought  between 


164 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  VIII. 


Book  I. 


J646. 

Battle  on 

Strick. 

land's 

plain. 

Lofles  of 
New-Ha- 
ven, 


Attempts 
to  re- 
move. 


Ele6^ion 
at  Hart- 
ford , 

5647. 


them  in  that  part  of  Horfeneck  commonly  known  by 
the  name  of  Strickland's  plain.  The  a6l:ion  was  long 
and  fevere,  both  parties  lighting  with  firmnefs  and  ob- 
(linacy.  The  Dutch,  with  much  difficulty,  kept  the 
field,  and  the  Indians  withdrew.  Great  numbers  wei"e 
{lain  on  both  fides,  and  the  graves  of  the  dead,  for  a  cen- 
tury or  more,  appeared  like  a  number  of  fmall  hills.f 

New-Haven,  having  been  exceedingly  difappointcd 
in  trade,  and  fuftained  great  damages  at  Delaware,  and 
the  large  eftates  which  they  brought  into  New-England 
rapidly  declining,  this  year,  made  uncommon  exertions, 
a«  far  as  poffible,  to  retrieve  their  former  loiTes.  Com- 
bining their  money  and  labors,  they  built  a  Ihip,  at 
Rhode-Ifland,  of  150  tons;  and  freighted  her,  for 
England,  with  the  belt  part  of  their  commercial  eftates. 
Mr.  Gregfon,  Captain  Turner,  Mr.  Lamberton  and  five 
or  fix  of  their  principal  men  embarked  on  board.  They 
failed  from  New-Haven  in  January  1647.  They 
were  obliged  to  cut  through  the  ice  to  get  out  of  thfe 
harbour.  The  fliip  foundered  at  fea,  and  was  never 
heard  of  after  flie  failed.  The  lofs  of  this  fhip,  with 
the  former  lofl"es  which  the  company  had  fuftained, broke 
up  all  their  expectation  with  refpe£l  to  trade,  and  as 
they  conceived  themfelves  difadvantageoufly  fituated  for 
huibandry,  they  adopted  the  defign  of  leaving  the  coun- 
try. They  were  invited  to  Jamaica  in  the  Weft-In- 
dies. Tliey  had  alfo  an  invitation  to  Ireland.  It  feems 
they  entered  into  treaties  for  the  city  of  Galloway, 
which  they  defigned  to  have  fettled,  as  a  fmall  province 
for  themfelves/}:  Neverthelels  they  were  difappointed 
with  rcfpe£l  to  all  thefe  defigns.  Their  pofterity,  who 
they  feared  would  be  reduced  to  beggary,  made  refpe£la- 
ble  farmers,  and  flouriflied,  with  refpetl  to  worldly  cir- 
cumftances,  no  Icfs  than  their  neighbours. 

At  the  election,  this  year,  at  Hartford,  nine  magif- 
trates  were  chofen.  Mr.  Cofmore  and  Mr.  Howe  were 
elected  for  the  firft  time.  The  other  magiftrates  were 
the  fame  as  in  the  preceding  years. 

At  this  feflion  of  the  general  court,  an  explanation 
or  addition  was  made  to  the  tenth  fundamental  article. 
By  this  article,  as  it  ftood,  it  was  the  opinion  of  fome, 


f  Manufcripts  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Monfon. 
i  Magnalia  £.  I.  p.  aj,  a6, 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       165 

that  no  particular  court  could  beholden, unkfs  the  gover-  Book  I. 
nor  and  four  m-igiftrates  were  prefent.  It  was  therefore  V-/^v->,^ 
decreed,*  that  the  governor,  or  deputy  governor,  with  ^^'^7- 
two  magiftrates    fliould  have  power  to  keep  a  particular 
court,  according  to  the  laws  eftablUhed  ;  and,  that  in 
cafe  neither  the  governor,  nor  deputy   governor  (hould 
be   prefent,  or  able  to  fit,   if  three   magiftrates  fhould 
meet,  and  choofe    one  of   themfelves    moderator,  they 
might  keep  a  particular  court,  which,  to  all  intents  and 
purpofes,  {hould  be  deemed  as  legal,  as  if  the  governor 
or  deputy  governor  were  prefent.     All  orders  contrary 
to  this  were  repealed. f 

As  tobacco,  about  this  time,  was  coming  into  ufe,  in  . 
the  colony,  a  very  curious  law  was  made  for  its  regula-  again  ft 
tion,  or  fupprefhon.     It  was   ordered,   that    no  perfon  the  ufe  of 
under  twenty  years  of  age,  nor  any  other,  who  had  not  tobacco, 
already  accuftomed  himfelf  to  the  ufe  of  it,  fhould  take 
any  tobacco    until  he  had  obtained  a  certificate  from 
under  the  hand  of  an  approved   phyfician,  that  it  was 
ufeful  for  him,  and  until  he  had  alfo  obtained  a  licence 
from  the  court.     All  others,  who  had  addifted  them- 
felves to  the  ufe  of  it,  were  prohibited  from  taking  it, 
in  any  company,  or  at  their  labors,  or  in  travelling,  un- 
lefs  ten  miles,  at  leaft,  from  any  company  ;  and  though 
not  in  company,  not  more  than  once  a   day,  upon  pain 
of  a  fine  of  fix-pence  for  every  fuch  offence.     One  fub- 
ftantial  witnefs  was  to  be  a  fufficient  proof  of  the  crime. 
The  conftables  of  the  feveral  towns  were  to   make  pre- 
fentment  to  the  particular  courts,  and  it  was  ordered, 
that  the  fine  fhould  be  paid  without  gainfaying.|| 

At  a  court  in  June,  it  was  ordered,  that  the  fort  and  June  z. 
guns  at  Saybrook  fhould  be  delivered  to  Captain  John 
Mafon,  and  that  he  fhould  give  Mr.  Fen  wick  a  receipt 
for  the  premifcs.  At  the  defire  of  the  people  there, 
Captain  Mafon  was  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of 
the  fort ;  and  was  authorized  to  govern  all  the  foldier* 
a,nd  inhabitants  of  the  town  ;  to  call  them  forth  and  put 
them  in  fuch  array,  as  might  be  necefTary  for  the  gen- 
eral defence  of  the  country.     Orders  were  given,  that  , 

*  The  enacting  ftile,  before  the  cliartcr,  was,  It  is  ordered, 
fentenced,  and  decreed.  Sometimes  one  of  the  words  only 
was  Hfed. 

4"  Records  of  Connedicut, Folio  Vol.  I.  p.  i6»,  J63. 

jj  Records  of  Connedicnt.. 


1 66 


THE    HISTORY    Chap.  VIIL 


Book  I. 

1647. 

Soldiers 

may 

choofc 

their 

officers. 

July  56. 

r.xtraor- 

dinary 

meeting 

©f  the 

commif- 

iioners. 


Narra' 
ganftts 
i<nt  for. 


the  fortifications  fliould  be  repaired,  and  that  the  coun- 
try rate  of  Saybrook,  (hould  be  appropriated  to  that 
purpofe. 

This  court  granted  to  the  foldiers  of  the  refpe£live 
train  bands  in  the  colony  the  privilege  of  choofing  their 
own  officers,  to  be  commiffioned  by  the  court. 

The  condu£l:  of  the  Narraganfct  and  Nehantick  In- 
dians was  fo  treacherous  and  hoftile,  that  in  midfum- 
mer,  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  commiffioners  was 
called  at  Boflon.  The  commiffioners  were  Thomas 
Dudley  and  John  Endicot,  Efquires,  from  Mafl'achu- 
fetts,  Mr.  William  Bradford  and  Mr.  John  Brown 
from  Plimouth,  Governor  Hopkins  and  Captain 
John  Mafon  from  Connecticut,  Governor  Eaton  and 
Mr.  Goodyear  from  New-Haven.  Thomas  Dudley 
was  chofen  prefident. 

,The  Narraga'ifet  and  Nehantick  Indians  had  not  on- 
ly neglected  the  performance  of  every  part  of  their  trea- 
ties with  the  Englifii,  but  were,  by  all  their  arts,  plot- 
ting againft  them.  By  their  wampum  they  were  hir- 
ing all  the  Indian  nations  round  about  them  to  combine 
againft  the  colonies.  They  had  fent  melTengers  and 
prefents  to  the  Mohawks  to  engage  them  in  the  general 
confederacy.  As  this  faichlefs  condudl  was  the  occa- 
•fion  of  the  meeting,  the  commiffioners  immediately  dif- 
patched  meilengers  to  PefTacus,  Ninlgrate,  Webeto- 
maug,  and  all  their  confederates,  to  declare  to  them 
their  breacli  of  covenant,  and  to  demand  their  atten- 
dance at  Boilon.  The  mefl'engers  were  inllruClcd  to 
aflure  them,  that  if  they  did  not  appear,  they  would 
fend  to  them  no  more.  Pefl'acus  owned,  that  he  had 
broken  covenant,  and  faid  it  was  the  conftant  ;grief  of 
Iiis  fpirit.  He  pretended  he  would  gladly  go  to  Bofton, 
but  he  was  unwell  and  could  not  travel.  This  was  a 
jnere  pretence,  as  there  were  no  appearances  of  indifpo- 
fition  upon  him.  He  excufed  himl'elf  for  not  keeping 
the  treaty,  bocaufe  he  was  frighted  into  it  by  the  fight 
«f  the  Englifli  army  which  was  about  to  invade  his 
country.  He  reprefented,  that  he  was  in  fear,  if  he  did 
not  make  it,  the  Englilh  would  follow  him  home  and 
kill  him.  He  declared  however,  that  he  would  fend  his 
whole  mind  by  Ninigrate,  and  that  he  would  abide  by 
whatever  he  Ihould  tranfa(St  in  the  affair. 


Chap.  VIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        167 

On  the  3d  of  Auguft,  Ninigrate,  with  two  of  PefTa-  Book  T. 
cus's  men,  and  a  number  of  the  Nehantick  Indians,  ar-  u<^y^»^ 
rived  at  Boflon.  When  Ninigrate  came  before  the  com-  1647. 
miflioners,  he  pretended  great  ignorance  of  the  treaties  Ninigrato 
between  the  EngH(h  and  the  Indians.  He  declared,  appears 
that  he  knew  no  caufe  why  the  Narraganfets  fhould  pay  before  the 
fo  much  wampum.  He  faid  they  owed  nothing  to  the  ^ommil- 
EngHfh.  The  commiflioners  acquainted  him,  that  it 
was  on  account  of  their  breach  of  treaty,  and  the  great 
charge  which,  by  that  means,  they  had  brought  on  the 
colonies,  that  the  Narraganfets  engaged  to  pay  fuch  a 
quantity.  Well  knowing  his  deceit,  they  charged  him 
as  being  the  very  man  who  had  been  the  principal  caufe 
of  all  their  trouble  and  expenfe  relative  to  the  Indians. 
They  declared  to  him,  that  he  was  the  fachem  who  had 
threatened  to  pile  their  cattle  in  heaps,  and  to  kill  every 
Englifliman  who  fliould  flep  out  at  his  doors.  At  fo 
home  a  charge,  which  he  could  not  deny,  he  was  not  a 
little  cliagrined.  However,  he  excufed  the  matter  with 
as  much  art  as  poflible.  With  refpe<£l  to  the  wampum, 
he  declared,  that  the  Narraganfets  had  not  a  fuiliciency 
to  pay  the  fum  required.  The  commiflioners  knew  that 
the  Narraganfets  were  a  great  nation,  and  that  they 
could,  at  any  time,  upon  fhort  notice,  pay  a  greater 
amount  than  they  demanded.  They  confidered  the  de- 
mand not  only  as  their  juft  due,  but  as  matter  of  policy, 
as  far  as  was  confident  with  juftice,  to  ftrip  them  of 
their  v/ampum,  to  prevent  their  hiring  the  Mohawks 
and  other  Indians  to  join  with  them,  in  a  general  war, 
againft  the  colonies.  They  therefore  infifted,  that  the 
whole  fum  fhould  be  paid.  They  declared  to  him,  that 
they  were  not  fatisfied  with  his  anfwers.  Ninigrate,  af- 
ter he  had  taken  time  to  confult  with  his  council,  the 
other  deputies  who  were  with  him,anfweredjthat  he  was 
determined  to  give  the  colonies  full  fatisfa£lion.  He  defi- 
red  ten  days  to  fend  meflengers  to  Narraganfet  to  coUe£t 
the  wampum  due,  and  offered  himfelf  a  hoftage  until 
their  return.  The  meflengers  returned  with  no  more 
than  two  hundred  fathom.  Ninigrate  imputed  this  to  his  - 
abfence.  He  defired  liberty  to  return,  promifing,  that 
if  the  whole  fum  fhould  not  be  paid  by  the  next  fpring, 
the  commiflioners  might  take  his  head  and  feize  his 
country.  The  commilfioners  agreed  with  him,  that  if 
within  twenty  days  he  wovJd  deliver  a  thoufand  fathom 


m 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  VIIL 


Refolu- 
tions  of 
the  court 
of  Mafla- 
ehufctts 
refped- 
ing  the 
impoft. 


of  wampum,  and  the  remainder  which  was  due,  by  the 
next  planting  time,  they  would  difmifs  him.  They  al- 
fo,  for  his  encouragement,  acquainted  him,  that  akhough 
they  might  juftly  put  the  hoftages  to  death,  for  their  de- 
lays and  breach  of  covenant,  yet  they  would  forthwith 
deliver  them  to  him  ;  and  if  they  fhould  find  him  punc- 
tual to  his  engagements,  they  would  charge  former  de- 
feats to  Peflacus.     Thefe  terms  he  gladly  accepted. 

The  commifhoners  from  Connetlicut,  the  laft  year, 
made  complaint,  that  Mr.  Pyncheon  and  the  inhabitants 
at  Springfield  refufed  to  pay  the  impoft  which  had  been 
impofed  by  ConneiSticut  for  the  maintenance  of  the  fort 
at  Saybrook.  The  commiflioners  judged,  that  the  fort 
was  of  great  confequcnce  to  the  towns  on  the  river ; 
but,  as  the  affair  of  the  impoft  had  not  been  laid  before 
the  general  court  of  Mafiachufetts,  and  as  the  commif- 
fioners  of  that  colony  had  no  inftru(£lions  refpedling  it, 
a  full  hearing  had  been  deferred  to  this  meeting. 

Meanwhile  the  general  court  of  the  Maflachufetts 
had  taken  up  tlie  affair,  and  pafTed  a  number  of  refolu- 
tions  refpe6ling  the  impoft.  Thefe  are  a  curiofity,  ex- 
hibiting a  lively  pidlure  of  human  nature,  and  in  the 
courfe  of  conduft  confequent  upon  them,  will  afford  a 
general  fpecimen  of  the  manner  in  which  the  MafTa- 
chufetts  anciently  treated  her  fifter  colonies.  The  ref- 
olutions  were,  at  this  meeting,  laid  before  the  commif- 
fioners,  and  were  to  the  following  efFeil. 

1.  THATthejurifdiction  at  Hartford  had  not  a  legal 
power  to  force  any  inhabitant  of  another  jurifdi£lion, 
to  purchafe  any  fort  or  lands  out  of  their  jurifdi£l:ion. 

2.  That  it  was  injurious  to  require  cuftom  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  fort  which  is  not  ufeful  to  thofe  of 
whom  it  was  demanded. 

3.  That  it  was  unequal  for  Conne£ticut  to  impofe  a 
cuftom  upon  their  friends  and  confederates,  who  have 
no  more  benefit  of  the  river,  by  the  exporting  or  import- 
ing of  goods,  than  ftrangers  of  another  nation,  who, 
though  they  lived  in  Hartford,  paid  none. 

4.  That  the  propounding  and  ftanding  upon  an  im- 
pofition  of  cuftom,  to  be  paid  at  the  river's  -mouth,  by 
I'uch  as  were  of  our  jurifdidtion,  hindered  our  confede- 
ration ten  years,  and  there  was  never  any  paid  to  this 
day,  and  that  now  to  impofe  it  upon  them,  after  theip 
confederation,  would  put  them  upon  iiew  thovights.. 


Chap.  VIIL    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.      i^^ 

5.  That  it  appeared  to  them  very  hard,  that  any  of  Book  I. 
their  junfdidlion  fhould  be  forced  to  fucha  difadvantage,  v.^v>s^ 
as  would  neceflarily  enflave  their  pofterity,  by  impofing  1647. 
fuch  rates  and  cuftoms,  as  would  cither  conflrain  them 

to  depart  their  habitations  or  weaken  their  eftate^  j  ef- 
peciaJly  as  they  were  with  the  firft  who  took  pofTellion 
of  che  river,  and  were  at  great  charge  of  building,  Sec. 
which  if  tliey  had  forefeen,  they  would  not  have  made  a 
plantation  at  that  place. 

6.  If  Hartford  jurifdic^ion  fhall  make  ufc  of  their 
power  over  any  of  ours,  we  have  the  fame  power  to 
imitate  them  in  the  like  kind,  which  they  defired  mighr 
be  forborne  on  both  fides.  Thefe  refolution$  were  fign- 
ed  by  the  fecretary  of  the  colony. 

Mr.  Hopkins  replied,  in  belialf  of  Conneftieut,  that  _ 
the  firft  article  labored  under  a  great  miltake  :  That  Hopkins''9 
the  impofition  was  neither  to  buy  lands  nor  the  fort,  reply  to 
He  obferved  alfo,  that  it  was  not  material  to  what  pur-  the  rcfo- 
pofe  an  impoft  was  applied,  if  it  were  lawful  in  itfelf,  '"^lo"** 
and  did  not  exceed  the  bounds  of  moderation.  With 
refpe6l  to  the  fecond  article,  he  faid,  that  it  impeached 
all  ftatesand  nations  of  injuftice  no  lefs  than  Conn:;ct:i- 
cut  :  That  their  practice,  in  all  fimilar  cafes,  warranted 
the  impoft.  He  urged,  that,  for  twelve  years,  the  fore 
at  Saybrook  had  been  of  fpecial  fervice  to  Springfield  ; 
and  that  it  was  fo  ftill,  and  might  be  for  a  number  of 
years  to  come.  He  therefore  infifted,  that  it  was  ftri6l- 
ly  juft,  that  the  inhabitants  of  that  town  ftiould  pay  the 
impoft.  He  faid  he  was  willing  to  rifk  the  cafe,  and 
have  it  decided,  on  the  principles  of  ftrict  juftice.  The 
third  article,  he  obferved,  was  a  mere  prefumption,  and 
had  no  juft  foundation  ;  befides  if  it  were  founded,  he 
argued,  that  the  comparifon  was  not  equal.  The  whole 
of  the  fourth  article,  he  faid,  was  a  miftake  :  That  the 
confederation  was  completed  in  about  five  years  from 
the  firft  mentioning  of  it,  and  that  it  was  not  retarded 
by  the  means  fuggefted,  nor  were  they  ever  mentioned. 
With  reference  to  the  fifth  article,  he  replied,  that  all 
taxes  weakened  eftates,  and  if  this  were  a  ground  of  ob- 
jection againft  the  impoft,  then  no  tax  or  impoft  could 
ever  be  laid.  He  infifted,  that  the  impoft  was  juft  and 
moderate,  and  therefore  could  Jiot  enflave  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Springfield.   The  towns  in  Conne^icut,  he  ob- 

Y 


J70 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  Vin. 


Detcrmi- 
natioH  of 
the  com- 
miflion- 

ers. 


Mr.  Win- 
throp's 
el  Aim  to 
the  Ne- 
hantick 
coantry. 


ferved,  were  fettled  before  Springfield,  and  that  town 
had  been  at  no  expenfe  in  making  fettlements  more 
than  the  towns  in  Conne<fliGUt.  He  faid,  if  Connefti- 
cut,  at  any  time,  fhould  become  exorbitant  in  its  impofi- 
tions  upon  any  of  the  colonies,  they  would  find  a  rem- 
edy in  the  confederation.  With  reference  to  the  laft 
article,  he  declared  his  willingnefs,  in  all  fimilar  cafes, 
to  fubmit  to  the  like  impofition. 

The  commifiioners,  upon  a  full  hearing,  determined, 
that  it  was  of  weighty  coufideration  to  all  the  planta- 
tions upon  the  river,  that  the  mouth  of  it  fliould  be  fe- 
cured,  and  a  fafe  paffage  for  goods,  up  and  down  the 
river,  be  maintained,  though  at  fomc  expenfe  ;  and, 
that  as  Springfield  enjoyed  tlie  benefit,  the  inhabitants 
iliould  pay  the  impoft  of  two  pence  per  bulhel  for  corn, 
and  a  penny  on  the  pound  for  beaver,  or  twenty  {hil- 
lings upon  every  hogfliead.  Neverthelefs,  out  of  ref- 
pei^  and  tendernefs  to  the  Maflachufetts,  it  was  refol- 
ved,  that  Springfield,  or  the  general  court,  might  have 
the  liberty  of  exhibiting  further  reafons  againft  the  im- 
poft, if  any  fliould  occur. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  John  Winthrop  of  Pcquot  laid 
elaim  to  the  whole  country  of  the  weftern  Nehanticks, 
including  a  confiderable  part  of  the  town  of  Lime.  He 
reprefented,  that  he  obtained  the  title  to  this  large  tra6l, 
partly  by  purchafe  and  partly  by  deed  of  gift,  before  the 
Pequot  war.  He  petitioned  the  commiffioners  to  this 
efi^e£l,  "  Whereas  I  had  the  land  at  Nehantick  by  deed 
w  of  gift  and  purchafe  from  the  fachem,  before  the  Pe- 
**  quot  war,  I  defire  the  commiffioners  would  confirnx 
*<  it  unio  me,  and  clear  it  of  all  claims  of  Englllh  and 
**  Indians,  according  to  the  equity  of  the  cafe."  As 
he  had  na  deed  nor  writing  refpe6ting  the  land,  he  pro- 
duced the  teftimoity  of  three  Nehantick  Indians.  They 
teftified,  that  before  the  Pcquot  war,  Safhions,  their 
fachem,  called  all  his  men  together  and  told  them,  that 
he  was  determined  to  give  his  country  to  the  governor's 
fon,  who  lived  at  Patfaquaffet,*  and  that  his  men  gave 
their  confent :  That  afterwards  he  went  to  Mr.  Win- 
throp, at  PattaquafTet,  and  when  he  came  back,  faid, 
that  he  had  granted  all  his  country  to  the  governor's  fon  ; 

*  This  is  fometimes  fpelt  Pamaquafltt,  and  was,  I  fuppofe, 
tli«  Indian  nanie  of  Saybrook. 


Chap.  VIII.     OFCONNECTICUT.       jyi 

and  a'lfo  that  he  had  received  coats  for  it,  which  they  Book  I. 
faw  him  bring  home.     Three  Enghflimen  alfo  teftified,  v**'-v^O 
that  they  had  heard  the  Indians  report  the   fame  con-  1647. 
cerning  tlie  grant  of  the   Nehantickf  country   to  Mr. 
Winthrop.     Thomas  Stanton  depofed,  that  he  remem- 
bered Safhions,  fachem  of  the  Nehanticks,  did  give  his 
country  to  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  before  the  Pequot  war, 
and  that  he  was  interpreter  in  that  bufinefs. 

The  commiflioners  of  Conne<!:l;icut  pleaded  againfl: 
the  claim  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  that  his  purchafe  bore  no  conneft- 
date,  that  the  tra6J:  pretended  to  be  purchafed  or  given,  icut  to  his 
■was  not  circumfcribed  within  any  limits,  and  that  it  did  claim, 
not  appear,  that  the  Indian,  who  granted  the  lands,  had 
any  right  in  them  :  That  the  grant  was  verbal  and  at 
moft  could  be  but  a  vague  bufinefs.  They  alfo  urged, 
that  it  did  not  appear,  but  that  Mr.  Winthrop  purcha- 
fed the  lands  for  the  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  in  whofe 
fervice  he  was,  at  that  time,  employed ;  and,  that  as 
the  lands  had  been  conquered,  at  the  hazard  and  expenfc 
of  Connecticut,  before  Mr.  Winthrop  made  known  his 
claim,  whatever  it  was,  it  was  then  dormant  and  of  no 
validity.  They  further  infifted,  that,  as  they  were  not 
prepared  to  give  a  full  anfwer,  no  decifion  might  be 
made,  until  Connecticut  (hould  be  fully  heard  with  ref- 
pe£t  to  the  premifes. 

The  commiflioners  declined  any  decifion  of  the  con- 
troverfy  ;  but  it  does  not  appear,  that  Mr.  Winthrop 
ever  after  profecuted  his  claim.  As  it  feems  Mr.  Win- 
throp,  about  this  time,  had  a  defign  of  purchafing  Long.- 
Ifland,  the  commiflioners  took  occafion  to  premonifli 
him,  that  the  Ifland  was  already  under  engagements, 
for  confiderable  fums  of  money,  to  a  number  of  perfons, 
in  Connecticut  and  New-Haven.  They  reprefented  to 
him,  that  any  title,  which  might  be  derived  from  Mr. 
Cope,  would  be  very  precariouj,  as  he  had  confefled  a 
fliort  time  before  his  death.J 

The  commiflioners,  this  year,  brought  in  the  number  gcttle- 
of  polls  in  the  feveral  colonies,  and  made  a  fettlement  ment  of 
of  their  accounts.     The  whole  expenditure  of  the  con-  accountSi 
federates  was^  1043  :  10:0.     There  was  due  to  Con- 
ncCticutj^i55 :  17 :  7,  which  the  colony  had  expended  in 

f  Some  fpeltit  Tsleanticut. 

t  Records  of  the  United  Colsnics. 


i7i  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  VIII. 

Book  I.  the  general  defence,  more  than  its  proportion.  New- 
v^^-Vv./  Haven  had  expended  ^^7:  o:  o  more  than  its  proportion. 
J647.  This  was  exclufive  of  all  the  expenfc,  which  thefe  two 
colonies  had  borne  in  defending  themlelves  againft  the 
Indians  at  Stamford  and  its  vincinity,  and  in  attempting 
to  bring  the  murderers  of  the  Englifli  to  condign  punifli- 
inent.  Maflachufetts  and  Plimouth  paid  the  balance 
to  Conne6licut  and  New-Haven. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  Peter  Stuyvefant,  who  the  laft 
Congrat-    year  had  been  appointed  governor  of  New-Netherlands, 
Tilatory      arrived  at  Manhadoes  and  commenced  his   government 
th"^*^  ^"     *^^  ^^'^  Dutch  fettlements.     The  commiflioners  wrote 
Dutch       bim  a  long  letter  of  congratulation.     They  complained 
governorv  alfo,  that  the  Dutch  fold  arms  and  ammunition  to  the 
Indians,  and  even  in  the  Englifli    plantations.     They 
defircd,  tliat  an  immediate  ftop  might  be  put  to  fo  dan- 
gerous a  trade.     They   made   complaint  alfo,  that  the 
Dutch  had  laid   fo  fevere  an  impoft  upon   all  goods  as 
greatly  difcouraged  trading   with   them,    while  all  tlie 
harbours  in  the  United  colonies  were  open  and  free  to 
them.     As  the  Dutch  alfo  impofed  heavy  fines  or  for- 
feitures for  mifentries,  or  defed^    in    commiflions,    the 
commiflioners  defired  to  bemade  particularly  acquainted 
with  their  cuiloms. 
Saybrook       This  winter,  the  fort  and  buildings  at  Saybrook  un- 
fort  accountably  took  fire,   and,  with   feme  goods,  were  de- 

burnt,  ftroyed.  Captain  Mafon,  with  his  wife  and  child,  naf- 
rov/ly  efcaped  the  conflagration.  The  damage  was  ef- 
timated  at  more  than  a  thoufand  pounds. 


CHAPTER     JX. 

Settlement  of  New-London.  Salaries  Jlrji  grnnted 
to  civil  oficeys.  Troubles  nvith  the  Narraganfet  In- 
dians. Rhode- IJland petitions  to  be  united  avith  the  colo- 
nies in  confederation.  The  Maffachufetts  refuine  the  af- 
fair of  the  impofl.  Mr.  Wejlerhoufe  complains  of  the 
ftizure  of  his  vtfj'el  by  the  Dutch,  in  the  harbour  of  New- 
Haven.  Murders  committed  b\  the  Indians  ;  refolu-' 
lutions  refpcBing  the  murderers.  Body  of  laivs  compiled. 
Debates  relative  to  the  fettlement  of  Delaware.  The 
Peijitois   revolt  from  UncaSy  and  petition   the  Englifh, 


Chap.  IX.      O  F    C  ON  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         173 

Refolutiofi  refpeBing  them.  Mr.  Wefterhouje  petitions  ^^^^  j^ 
to  make  reprijhls  from  the  Dutch.  Letter  to  the  Dutch  ^^_^^*, 
governor.  Further  altercations  rvfpeR'tng  the  imp'Jl. 
Fwaliffue  of  that  affair.  The  conduct  of  the  Majpichu- 
fetts  upon  its  decificny  and  the  declaration  of  the  comtnif- 
Jioners  refpeEli7ig  it.  Their  treatment  of  Connecticut  ref- 
peBing  the  line  betivcen  the  colonies.  The  court  at  Con~ 
neElicut  determine  to  avenge  the  death  of  John  Whitmorcy 
and  detach  men  to  take  the  murderer. 

THE  laft  year  feveral  perfons  began  fettlements  at 
Pequot  harbour.  Lots  were  laid  out  to  them, 
but  part  of  them  were  foon  tlifcouraged,  and  left  the 
plantation.  This  year  Mr.  Richard  Biinman,  who  had 
been  a  minifter  m  England,  removed  from  Gloucefter 
to  this  new  fettlement ;  in  confequencc  of  which  a  con- 
fiderable  addition  was  made  to  the  number  who  had 
kept  their  ftation.  By  the  next  year,  1648,  there  was  Tyj-^^^, 
fuch  an  acceffion,  that  the  inhabitants  confiiled  of  more  London 
than  forty  families.  Some  of  the  principal  men  were  ftttlcd. 
John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Blinman,  ^^A^- 
Thomas  Minot,  Samuel  Lothrop,  Robei't  Aliyn  and 
James  Avery.  For  their  encouragement,  the  general 
court  granted  them  a  three  years  exemption  from  all 
colonial  taxation.  Mr.  Winthrop  was  authorized  to 
fuperintend  the  affairs  of  the  plantation.  The  next 
year  a  court  was  appointed  for  the  trial  of  fmall  caufes. 
The  judges  were  Mr.  Winthrop,  Thomas  Minot  and 
Samuel  Lothrop.  The  Indian  name  of  the  place  was 
Nameaug,  alias  Towawog.  In  1654,  the  whole  tract, 
now  comprifed  within  the  towns  of  New-London  and 
Groton,  was  called  Pequot,  from  the  name  of  the  har- 
bour and  original  inhabitants.  By  this  it  was  known 
for  about  four  years.  On  the  24th  of  March  1658, 
the  affemblv  pafled  an  a£l:  refpefting  it,  which  is  fo  cu- 
rious, and  expreflive  of  the  feelings  of  our  anceftors 
towards  their  native  country,  as  renders  it  worthy  of 
publication. 

*'  Whereas  it  hath  been  the  commendable  pra£lice 
<*  of  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  colonies  of  thefe  parts,  T?*^^? 
**  that  as  this  country  hath  its  denomination  from  our  ^j   ^^f.  ' 
"  dear  native  country  of  England,  and  thence  is  called  pc<5ting 
"  New-England  •,  fo  the  planters,  in  their  firft  fettHng  its  name. 
«  of  moft  new  plantations,  have  given  names  to  thofe 


174  THE    H.I,STORY         Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  «  plantations  of  fome  cities  and  towns  in  England, 
'^-'''Vx.^  «  thereby  intending  to  keep  up,  and  leave  to  pofterity 
3048.  <{  j.j^g  memorial  of  feveral  places  of  note  there,  asBof- 
"  ton,  Hartford,  Windfor,  York,  Ipfwich,  Braintree, 
"  Exeter  •,  this  court  confidering,  that  there  hath  yet 
**  no  place  in  any  of  the  colonics,  been  named  in  mem- 
"  ory  of  the  city  of  London,  there  being  a  new  planta- 
**  tion  within  this  jurifdidlion  of  Conne£l:icut,  fettled 
**  upon  that  fair  river  Mohcagan,  in  the  Pequot  coun- 
"  try,  being  an  excellent  harbour  and  a  fit  and  conven- 
*'  lent  place  for  future  trade,  it  being  alfo  the  only  place 
**  which  the  Englilh  in  thefe  parts  have  poflefled  by  con- 
**  queft,  and  that  upon  a  very  juft  war,  upon  that  great 
*'  and  warlike  people,  the  Pequots,  that  therefore  they 
*<  might  thereby  leave  to  pofterity  the  memory  of  that 
"  renowned  city  of  London,  from  whence  we  had  our 
*<  tranfpovtation,  have  thought  fit,  in  honor  to  that  fa- 
**  mous  city  to  call  the  faid  plantation  New-London." 
The  name  of  the  river  was  alfo  changed  and  called  the 
Thamcs.f 
^j  ,  Until  this  time  the  governors  and  maglftrates  ap- 
thc  Eover-  P^^"'  *°  ^'^^^  fevved  the  people  for  the  honor  of  it,  and 
nor.  '  the  public  good.  The  general  court  took  the  affair  in- 
to their  confideration,  and  granted  the  governor^30  an- 
nually. The  fame  fum  was  alfo  voted  for  the  deputy 
governor,  whohadprefided  the  preceding  year.  Thofe 
appear  to  have  been  the  firft  falaries  given  to  any  civil 
officers  in  the  colony,  and  to  have  been  a  compenfation 
for  the  cxpenfc  of  the  office,  rather  than  for  the  fervice 
performed. 

LTpoN  the  ele£lion  at  Hartford,  Mr.  Hopkins  was 
at  Hart"  chofen  governor  and  Mr.  Ludlow,  deputy  governor. 
ford  M^y  Mr.  Haynes  fupplied  the  vacancy  made  by  the  advancc- 
18.  ment  of  Mr.  Ludlow,  and  Mr.  Cullick  -^vas  clc61ed  ma- 

giftrate  and  fecretary  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Whiting. 
In  September  the  commiffioners  of  the  L^nited  colo- 
Commif-  nies  convened  at  Plimouth.     They  were  John  Endicot 
meet'scp-^"^  Simon   Bradftreet,   from   MafTachufetts ;  WllHam 
tcinbtr  7.  Bradford  and  Jown  Brown  from  Plimouth;  Governor 
Hopkins  and  Roger  Ludlow,  from  Connecticut ;  Gov- 
ernor Eaton  and  William  Aftwood,  from  NewrHaveu. 


-\  Records  of  Connefticut  and  New-London. 


CtfAP.  IX.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         175 

The  Indians,  both  in  the  Nehantick  and  Narragan-  Book  I. 
fet  country,and  in  the  weftcrn  parts  of  Conne6licut,  had  K.y'v^^ 
been  more  perfidious  and  outrageous  this  year  than  at  1648. 
any  time  fince  the  Pequot  war.     The  Narraganfets  and  perfidy  of 
Nehanticks,    inftead   of  performing   the   fair  promifes  the  Nar- 
vhich  they  had  made,    the  laft  year,  and  of  paying  the  raganl'ct 
wampum,  which  had  been  fo   long  due,  hired  the  Mo-  Indians, 
hawks  and  the  Pocomtock  Indians  to  unite  withthem  in 
an  expedition  for  the  total  defl;ru6lion  of  Uncas  and  the 
Moheagans.     The  Pocomtocks   made  preparations  and 
aflembled  for  the  purpofe.     They  waited  feveral  days 
for  the  arrival  of  the  Mohawks  who  were  to  have  join- 
ed them  at  that  place.     The  Narraganfets  and  Nehan- 
ticks removed  their  old  men,  women  and  children  into 
fwamps    and  faftnefTes,    and  prepared  an  army  of  800 
men,  who  were  to  form  a  jun£lion  with  the  Mohawks 
and  Pocomtock  Indians,  in  Conne£licut,  near  the  Mo- 
heagans. 

The  governor  and  council,  apprized  of  their  defignsj 
difpatched  Thomas  Stanton,  their  interpreter,  and  oth- 
ers to  Pocomtock.  They  found  the  Pocomtocks  actu- 
ally met  in  arms,  and  waiting  for  the  arrival  ef  the  Mo^ 
hawks.  It  was  reprefented,  that  the  Mohawks  had 
four  hundred  fire  arms,  and  a  plenty  of  ammunition. 
The  Pocomtocks  acknowledged,  that  they  had  been  hi- 
red by  the  Narraganfets.  Such  a  confederacy  was 
alarming  to  the  colony.  What  fuch  an  army  of  fava- 
ges  might  effecSl  could  not  be  determined.  It  was  dan- 
gerous to  fufFer  them  to  march  through  the  colony  and 
form  a  junction  near  the  plantations.  Several  happy 
circumftances  united  their  influence  to  fruftrate  this 
formidable  combination.  The  early  difcovery  of  the 
defigns  of  the  enemy,  by  the  people  of  Conne£licut, 
and  the  precautions  which  were  taken,  had  a  great  ef- 
fect. The  Pocomtocks  and  Mohawks  were  afTured, 
that  the  EngliGi  would  defend  Uncas  againft  all  his  en- 
emies, and  would  avenge  all  injuries  which  they  fhould 
do  him.  The  Mohawks  had  one  or  two  of  their  fa- 
chems  and  a  number  of  their  men  killed  by  the  French. 
They  therefore  did  not  come  on.  The  Pocomtock  In- 
dians did  not  choofe  to  march  without  them  j  and  the 
Narraganfets,  thus  deferted,  were  afraid  to  proceed. 
Thus  the  expedition  faikd. 


I7<5 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  IX. 


Book  L 

1648, 

Tbcy  har 
rafs  the 
inliabi- 
tants  of 
llhode- 
Ifland, 
who  pe- 
tition for 
admit- 
tance to 
the  con- 
federa- 
tion. 

Reply  of 

the  com- 

miflion- 

crs. 


Mefftn- 
pers  fent 
to  the 
Narra- 
ganfets. 


The  Narraganfets  not  only  plotted  againft  the  United 
colonies,  but  committed  many  outrages  againft  the  peo- 
ple of  Rhode-IIland.  They  made  forcible  entries  into 
their  houfes,  ftruck  and  abufed  the  owners,  ftole  and 
purloined  their  goods.  At  Warwick  efpecially,  they 
were  exceedingly  troublefome.  They  killed,  in  that 
plantation,  about  a  hundred  cattle,  exclufive  of  other 
injuries  which  they  did  to  the  inhabitants.  Indeed  the 
Rhode-Iflanders  were  fo  harrafled,  that  they  made  ap- 
plication, by  their  reprefentatives,  to  the  commiflioners, 
to  be  admitted  to  the  confederation  of  the  United  colo- 


nies. 


Further 

debate 

relative 


The  commifiTioners  replied,  that  they  found  their 
prefent  ftate  to  be  full  of  confufion  and  danger,  and  that 
they  were  defirous  of  giving  them  both  advice  and  help. 
They  however  obferved,  that  as  the  plantation,  made  at 
Rhode- Ifland,  fell  witliin  the  limits  of  the  ancient  patent 
granted  to  the  colony  of  New-Plimouth,  they  could  not 
receive  them  as  a  diftinft  confederate.  They  reprefent- 
ed,  that  it  was  the  defign  of  the  honorable  committee  of 
parliament,  that  the  limits  of  that  colony  fhould  not  be 
abridged  or  infringed.  They  propofed,  that  if  the 
Rhode-Iflanders  would  acknowledge  themfeives  to  be 
within  the  limits  of  Plimouth  colony,  they  would  advifc 
how  they  might  be  received,  on  equitable  terms,  with  a 
tender  regard  for  their  convenience ;  and  that  they 
would  afford  them  the  fame  advice  and  protection, 
which  they  did  the  other  plantations  within  the  United 
colonies.' 

The  commifiioners  fent  mcfTengers  again  to  the  Nar- 
raganfst  and  Nehantick  Indians  to  charge  their  treache- 
ry upon  them,  remonftrate  againft  their  condu6t,  and 
demand  the  arrearages  of  wampum  which  were  yet  un- 
paid. Their  outrages  againft  the  inhabitants  of  Rhode- 
Ifland  were  particularly  noticed,  and  the  fachems  were 
peremptorily  charged  to  keep  their  men  under  better 
government.  The  colonies  wiflied  to  exhibit  all  for- 
bearance towards  the  Indians,  and,  if  pofhble,  to  preferve 
the  peace  of  the  country.  They  chofe  rather  to  reftrain 
the  natives  by  policy  and  the  arts  of  peace,  than  by  the 
fword. 

The  general  court  of  MafTachufetts  was,  by  no  means, 
pleafed  with  the  determination  of  the  commiflioners, 
the  laft  year,  relative  to  the  impoft  to  be  paid  at  Say- 


Chap.  IX.      O  F   C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         177 

brook.       A  committee    was    therefore    appointed    to  Book  I. 
draught  ati  anfwer  to  the  obfervations  and  pleadings  of  K^.f^^"-^ 
Governor  Hopkins  before  the  coramiflioners,  at  their  1648. 
former  fefhons.  ^oft^' ''"* 

The  committee  introduced  their  anfwer  with  a  num-  ^ 
berofqueftions  relative  to  the  articles  of  confederation. 
Some  were  calculated  to  make  nothing  of  them,  and  ex- 
hibit them  in  a  point  of  light  entirely  contemptible. 
Others  related  to  the  power  of  the  commiflionens,  and 
to  the  degree  in  which  obedience  was  due  to  their  de- 
termmations.  They  enquired  whether  a  noncompli- 
ance with  the  orders  of  the  commiffioners  would  be  a 
breach  of  the  articles  of  confederation  ?  They  com- 
plained, that  they  had  not  a  greater  number  of  commif- 
fioners, as  Maflachufetts  was  much  larger  than  the  oth- 
er colonies.  They  propofed,  that  they  fhould  have  the  Arpu- 
privilege  of  fending  three  commiffioners,  and  that  the  ments 
meetings  of  the  confederates  fhould  be  triennial.  They  againft  it* 
then  proceeded  to  a  large  reply  to  the  arguments  of  Gov- 
ernor Hopkins  ;  and  attempted  to  vindicate  the  reafons 
which  they  had  given  before  againft  the  impoft.  In 
addition  to  what  they  had  formerly  offered,  they  endeav- 
oured to  (how,  that  if  Springfield  was  benefitted,  by  the 
fort  at  Saybrook,  and  ought  to  pay  the  impoft  on  that 
account,  that  New-Haven,  Stamford,  and  all  the  towns 
on  that  fide  of  the  river,  ought  to  pay  it  no  lefs  ;  be- 
caufe  they  had  been  already  benefitted  and  might  be 
hereafter.  Since  this  was  the  cafe,  as  they  pleaded, 
they  objected  againft  the  commaffioners  of  New-Haven, 
as  difqualified  to  judge  in  the  caufe.  They  alfo  objeft*- 
cd  againft  the  decifion  of  the  commiffioners,  becaufe  it 
was  made,  as  they  faid,  without  a  fight  of  the  ConneQ:- 
icut  patent.  They  infifted,  that  if  the  patent  had  been 
produced,  there  might  have  been  fome  claufe  which 
would  have  helped  their  cafe.  The  committee  pleaded 
a  priority  of  poffeffion.  They  affirmed,  that  the  firft 
poffeffion  of  Saybrook  fort  was  taken  by  Mr.  John  Win- 
throp,  in  November  1635  ;  and  our  poffeffion  was  be- 
fore that :  for  thofe  who  went  from  Watertown,  Cam- 
bridge, Roxbury  and  Dorchefter,  the  fummer  before, 
took  poffeffion  in  our  name  and  right ;  and  had  a  com- 
miffion  of  government  from  us,  and  fome  ordnance  for 
their  defence.  And  in  this  ftate  they  remained  a  good 
Z 


178  THEHISTORY  Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  fpace.  In  fine  they  urged,  that  if  the  impofl  were 
v.v^V'^/  lawful  it  was  not  expedient ;  that  they  could  view  it  in 
1648.  no  other  light  than  as  a  bone  of  contention,  to  inter- 
rupt their  happy  union  and  brotherly  love.  Indeed 
they  reprefented,  that  it  laid  them  under  temptations 
to  help  themfelves  in  fome  other  way.  This  was  adopt- 
ed by  the  general  court. 

Governor  Hopkins  and  Mr.  Ludlow  infifted  on  the 
Reply  of    anfwers  which  had  been  given,  the  laft  year,  to  the  ar- 
mifTioner-  §^"^^1^*5  of  the   general  court   of   the    MaiTachufetts. 
of  Con-     They  attempted  to    {how,   that,   notwithftanding   all 
Bcdicut.    which  bad  been  urged,  the  arguments  in  favor  of  the 
impoft  remained  unanfwered,  and  in  their  full  force. 
They  obferved,  that  whatever  propofitions   might  have 
been  made,  by  the  Maflaehufetts,  in  1638,  with  refpedt 
to  the  exemption  of  plantations  under  their  government 
from  an  impoft,  nothing  was  ever  granted  upon  that 
head :  That  affairs  were  now  in  a  very  different  flate 
from  what  they  we're  at  the  time  of  the  confederation. 
They  urged,  that  now  the  charge  of  the  fort  and  garri- 
fon,  at  Saybrook,  lay  upon  the  colony ;  which  was  not" 
the  cafe  at  that  time  j  and,  that  nothing  could  be  fairly- 
pleaded  from  the  circumftances  in  which  the  colonies 
confederated. 

With  refpe£l  to  priority  of  right,  and  the  commii*- 
fion  which  had  been  mentioned  they  obferved,  that  the 
commiffion  of  government  was  tzktnfahojure  of  the 
intereft  of  the  gentlemea  who  had  the  patent  of  Con- 
nefticut,  this  commiffion  taking  rife  from  the  defire  of 
the  people  that  removed,  who  judged  it  inexpedient  to 
go  away  without  any  frame  of  government,  not  from 
any  claim  of  the  Maflachufetts  jurifdi£lionover  them  by 
virtue  of  patent. 

With  reference  to  the  decifion  of  the  commiflloners 
without  feeing  the  Connedlicut  patent,  they  obferved, 
that  a  copy  of  it  was  exhibited  at  the  time  of  the  con- 
federation, that  it  had  been  well  known  to  many,  and, 
that  the  Maffachufetts  in  particular  knew,  that  it  had  re- 
cently been  owned  by  the  honorable  committee  of  par- 
liament, and  that  equal  refpedt  and  power  had  been 
given  by  it  to  all  within  its  limits,  as  had  been  either  to 
Maflachufetts  or  Plimouth,  within  the  limits  of  their 
refpe(^ive  patents. 


Chap.  IX.     O  F    C  0  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        179 

As  to  the  inexpediency  of  the  impoft,  as  tending  to  Book  I. 
idifturb  the  peace  and  brotherly  love  fubfifting  between  \.yY'\J 
the  colonies,  they  replied,  that  it  was  their   hope  and  1648. 
earned  defire,  that  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the  confed- 
eration, truth  and  peace  might  embrace  each  other. 
But  they  hififted,  that  pleading  for  truth  and  righteouf- 
nefs  ought,  by  no  means,  to  difturb  peace  or  brotherly 
^iFe(D;ion.     Indeed  they  maintained,  that  things  M'hich 
were  rational,  and  confident  with  truth  and  righteouf- 
nefs,  fhould  never  be  an  occafion  of  offence  to  any. 

The  commiffioners  of  Connecticut,  at  this  time,  pro- 
duced an  authentic  copy  of  their  patent,  and  Governor 
Hopkins  offered  to  atteft  it  upon  oath.  As  this  was  the 
third  year  fmce  the  affair  of  the  impoft  had  been  litiga- 
ted before  the  commiffioners,  it  was  urged,  that  it  might 
have  a  final  iffue,  agreeable  to  truth  and  righteoufnefs. 
Governor  Hopkins  and  Mr.  Ludlow  difputed  the  fouth- 
ern  boundary  of  Maffachufetts,  and  claimed  Springfield 
as  lying  within  the  limits  defcribed  in  the  patent  of 
Conne£licut. 

The  commiffioners  judged,  that  the  obje£tions  offer- 
ed againft  the  gentlemen  from  New-Haven  were  infuf- 
ficient,  and  the  commiffioners  from  Maffachufetts  gave 
them  up.  Upon  the  whole,  after  a  full  hearing  and 
mature  deliberation,  the  former  order,  in  favour  of  Con- 
nefticut,  was  confirmed.* 

Notwithstanding  the  congratulatory  letter,  which  Trouble 
the   commiffioners  addreffed  to  Stuyvefant,  the   Dutch  with  the 
governor,  at  their  laft  feffions,  he  proved  not  the   moft  Dutch, 
comfortable    neighbour.     He    gave   no  anfwer  to  the 
complaints  which  had  been  flated  to  him,  in  their  let- 
ter.    He  tranfmitted  no  account  of  the  cuftoms   laid 
upon  the  Englifh  merchants,  nor  of  the  cafes  in  which 
the  Dutch  made  feizures,  fo  that  it  was  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  know  on  what  terms  they  could  trade,  or  how  to 
efcape  fines,  feizures,  and  confifcations. 

By  Stuyvefant's  order,  the  Dutch  feized  a  veffel  of  Mr.  Wcf- 
Mr.   Wefterhoufe,  a  Dutch  merchant  and  planter  at  tcrhoufe 
New-Haven,  while  riding  at  anchor  within  the  harbour,  complains 
He  preferred  a  complaint  to  the  commiffioners.     He      ^^^ 'ei- 
came  in  from  Virginia,  and  gave  evidence,  that,  when  his  fhip. 
he  failed  thence  he  made  a  full  payment  of  all  the  cuf- 

*  Records  of  the  United  colonics. 


i8o  T  H  E    H  T  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  toms.  The  commiffioners  wrote  to  the  Dutch  gover- 
v,><vx^  nor  on  the  fubjed;,  and  remonllrated  agalnft  fuch  a  fla- 
1648.  grant  infult  to  the  United  colonies,  and  againft  the  in- 
juftice  done  to  Mr.  Wefterhoufe.  They  protefted  againft 
_,,  the  Dutch  claim  to  all  the  lands.rivers,  and  ftreams  from 

miffi-ntrs  ^^P^  Hinlopen  to  Cape  Cod  ;  and  aflerted  their  claim 
remon-  to  all  the  lands  and  plantations  in  the  United  colonies. 
Urate  and  as  anciently  granted  by  tlie  kings  of  England  to  their 
proteft.  fubje£ls ;  and  fmce  purchafed  by  them  of  the  Indians, 
the  original  proprietors. 

At  the  fame  time,  they  aflured  him,  that  they  ex- 
pelled fatisfadlion  both  for  the  injury  and  affront  in 
taking  a  fhip  out  of  one  of  their  harbours,  upon  fuch  a 
challenge  and  title  to  the  place,  unjuftly  claimed  with- 
out purchafe,  poffefTion,  or  any  other  confiderable 
ground.  They  reprefented  to  him  in  ftrong  terms,  the 
abfolute  neceflity  of  a  meeting  for  the  adjuftment  of 
the  differences  between  the  Dutch  and  the  United  col- 
onies. They  profefled  themfelves  to  be  inclined  to  pur- 
fue  all  proper  counfels  for  that  purpofc.  As  his  letters 
to  them,  as  well  as  to  the  governors  of  Maflachufetts 
and  New- Haven,  had  been  expreffed  in  fuch  indeter- 
minate language  on  the  fubje£l:,  they  wilhed  him  to  be 
more  explicit.  They  avowed  their  determination,  that, 
imtilfuch  time  as  the  Dutch  lliould  come  to  an  amica- 
ble fettlement  of  the  points  in  controverfy,  neither  their 
merchants,  nor  mariners  fhould  enjoy  any  privilege,  in 
any  of  the  Englifh  plantations  or  harbours,  either  of  an- 
choring, fearching  or  feizures,  more  than  the  Englilh 
did  at  the  Manhadoes.  They  declared,  that,  if  upon 
fearch  they  (liould  find  arms  and  ammunition  on 
board  any  of  the  Dutch  flaips,  for  that  mifchievous  pur- 
pofc of  vending  them  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
colonies,  to  the  Indians,  they  would  feize  them  until 
further  enquiry  and  fatisfaiStion  lliould  be  made.  In 
fliort,  they  owned  their  purpofe  of  treating  the  Dutch 
mariners  and  merchants  in  the  Englifh  harbours  and 
plantations,  in  the  fame  manner,  in  which  they  treated 
the  Englifli.  They  declared,  that,  if  the  Dutch  fliould 
proceed  to  feize  any  velTel  or  goods,  within  any  of  tlie 
harbours  of  the  United  colonies,  whether  of  Englifh, 
Dutch,  or  any  other  nation,  admitted  to  be  planters  in 
any  of  the  faid  colonies,  they  Ihould  be  necefhtated  to 


Chap.  IX.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        lU 

yindicate  their  rights  and  to  repair  the  damages  by  all  Book  I. 
juft  means.*  -  Vw/'vxj 

Soon  after  the  meeting  of  the  commiflioners,  Mr.  ^<^48. 
John  Whitmore,  of  Stamford,  was  murdered  by  the  In-  Mr.Whit- 
.dians.  He  was  a  peaceable,  worthy  man,  and  one  of  "^^^^^ 
the  reprefentatives  of  the  town,  in  the  general  court  at  ^^  -^^  q^^ 
New-Haven.  He  fell,  as  he  was  feeking  cattle  in  the  tober. 
woods.  The  fachem's  fon  firil  carried  the  news  into 
town,  and  reported,  that  one  Toquattoes  had  killed  him, 
and  had  fome  of  his  clothes,  of  which  he  gave  a  partic- 
ular defcription.  From  this  circumftance,  it  was  fuf- 
pe<9:ed,  that  he  was  either  a  principal  or  an  accomplice 
in  the  crime.  No  fuch  evidence,  however,  could  be 
obtained  as  would  warrant  the  apprehending  of  him. 
The  Englifh  took  great  pains  to  find  the  remains  of  Mr. 
Whitmore  ;  but  could  make  no  difcovery  at  that  time. 
About  two  months  after,  TJncas,  with  feveral  of  his  In- 
dians, went  to  Stamford,  and  making  enquiry  concern- 
ing Mr.  Whitmore 's  body,  the  fachem's  fon  and  one 
Kehoran,  another  of  the  natives,  who  had  been  fufpect- 
ed,  led  Uncas,  with  his  men  and  a  number  of  the  Eng- 
liih,  dire£lly  to  the  place  of  his  remains.  Upon  carry- 
ing them  into  town,  the  fachem's  fon  and  Kehoran  fell 
a  trembling,  and  manifefted  fuch  figns  of  guilt,  that  the 
Moheagans  declared,  that  they  were  guilty.  But  before 
they  could  be  apprehended,  they  made  their  efcape. 
The  Ladians  at  Stamford  and  its  vicinity,  either  through 
fear  of  their  fachem,  or  favor  to  his  fon,  or  from  fome 
other  caufe,  charged  the  murder  upon  Toquattoes.  But 
neither  he,  nor  the  other  fufpe£led  perfonswere  deliv- 
ered up,  nor  could  the  Englilh  bring  them  to  any  exam- 
ination refpefting  the  fubje(5l. 

About  the  fame  time  it  was  reported,  that  the  In-  Murder 
dians,  upon  Long-Ifland,  had,  fome  years  before,   raur-  ^^  Long- 
dered  a  numberof  Englifhmen,  who  were  part  of  the       " 
crew  of  a  vefTel  of  one  Mr.  Cope,  which  had  been   caft 
away  near  the    Ifland.     Thefe   inftances  of  bloodflied 
gave  great  alarm  to  Conne6licut  and  New-Haven  ;  ef- 
pecially  to   Stamford  and  the  towns  in  that  vicinity. 
Mrs.  Whitmore,  by  letters  and  meflengers,  fued  for  juf- 
tice  againft  the  murderers  of  her   hufband.     The   In- 
dians grew  haughty  and  infolent,  and  cenfured  the  con- 


*  Records  of  the  United  colonies. 


i82  THEHISTORY        Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  du£l  of  the  Engllfli.     It  was  dangerous  to   fuffer  fuch 

v-OT'O  crimes  to  be  unpunifhed,  as  it  would  embolden  the  na- 

1048.         tives  to  be  conftantly  maffacring  the  Englifh.     But  as 

nothing  could  be  done,  in  this  cafe,  except  by  an  armed 

force,  it  was  deferred  to  the  confideration  of  the    com- 

miffioners  of  the  United  colonies. 

Ikftion         ^"T*  ^^^  general  ele(slion,in  Connc£licut,  Mr.  Haynes 

May  X7th  waschofengovernor,andMr.  Hopkins,  deputy  governor. 

i649>         Mr.  Ludlow  took  his   place   again    among    the  magif- 

trates.     The  other  officers  were  as  they  had   been  the 

preceding  year. 

In  confequence  of  the  burning  of  the  old  fort  at  Say- 
brook,  a  new  one  was  begun,  the  laft  year,  at  a  place 
called  the  New  fort  hill.  At  this  feffion  of  the  affembly, 
orders  were  given,  for  the  ere61:ing  of  a  new  dwelling 
houfe  in  the  fort,  and  for  completing  the  works  and 
buildings  at  Saybrook.  The  magiftrates  were  empow- 
ered to  imprefs  fuitable  hands  for  carrying  the  buCnefs 
into  effe£l  j  and  appropriations  were  made  for  that 
purpofe. 
Refoln-  Whereas   the  commiflioners  of  Maffachufetts,  in 

tions  of     their  pleadings  before  the  commiflioners  of  the   United 
tbt  gene-  polonies,  at  their  laft  feflions,  had  exprefled  their  doubts, 
in  the        whether  the  a6l  of  Conne£licut,  impofing  a  duty  upont 
May  fef.     certain   articles  exported   from  Conncfticut  river,  had 
fions.         any  refpeft  to  the  inhabitants   of  Springfield,  the  gene- 
ral court  declared,  that  they  had   particular  refpe£t  to 
them,  as  under  the   government  of  the  Maflachufetts. 
They  alfo  refolved,  that,   in   their  beft  apprehenfions, 
nothing  was  impofed  on  them   more  than  was   ftri6tly 
juft,  or  than  had   been  impofed  on    themfelves  ;  and 
that  they  ought  to  fubmit  to  the  impoft.     They  declar- 
ed, that  the  execution  of  the  a£t,  with  refpedl  to  their 
brethren    at  Springfield,  had   been   deferred    only  that 
the  judgment  of  the  commifRoners  of  the  other  colonies 
might  be  had  on  the  premifes.     The  aflembly  alfo   re- 
folved, that  they  were  wholly  unfatisfied,   that  Spring- 
field did  fall  within  the  true  limits  of  Maflachufetts  pa- 
tent.    They  alfo  exprefl"ed  their  earneft  wiflies,  that  the 
line  might  be  fpeedily  and  fully  fettled  in   righteoufnefs 
and  peace.     It  was  ordered,  that  thefe  refolutionsfliould 
be  laid  before  the  commiflTioners  at  their  next   meeting. 
Mr.  Ludlow  had  for  feveral  years  fucceflively  been 
deflred  by  the  general  court  to  make  a  collection  of  th? 


Chap.IX.      of    CONNECTICUT.  183 

laws  which  had  been  ena<9:cd,  and  to  revife,  digefl  and  Book  I. 
prepare  a  body  of  laws  for   the  colony.     He  had  now  v-/^/-'^ 
finifhed  the   work,  and  at  this  fcflion  a  code  was  eftab-  1649. 
lifted. 

.  Until  this  time  punifliments,  in  many  inflances, 
had  been  uncertain  and  arbitrary.  They  had  been  left 
wholly  to  the  difcretion  of  the  court.  Defamation  had 
in  fome  inftances  been  punifhed  by  fine,  repeated  fcourg- 
ing  and  imprifonment.*  For  violation  of  the  fab- 
bath,  there  is  an  inilance  of  imprifonment,  during  the 
pleafure  of  the  court.  Unchaftity  between  fingle  per- 
sons was  fometimes  puniflied  by  fetting  the  delinquent 
in  the  pillory,  and  by  whipping  him  from  one  town  to 
another.  But  from  this  time  the  laws,  in  general,  be- 
came fixed,  and  the  punifhment  of  particular  crimes  was 
fpecified,  fo  that  delinquents  might  know  what  to  es- 
pedl,  when  they  had  the  temerity  to  tranfgrefs. 

The  flatute  now  required  a  jury  of  twelve  men  : 
That  in  cafes  in  which  they  were  doubtful  with  refpe£t 
to  law,  they  fliould  bring  in  a  Non  liquet^  or  fpecial  ver- 
dict ;  and  that  matter  of  law  fhould  be  determined  by 
the  bench,  as  it  is  at  the  prefent  time.  But  if,  after  the 
jury  had  been  fent  out  repeatedly,  the  court  judged  they 
had  miftaken  the  evidence,  and  brought  in  a  wrong  ver- 
di£l,  they  were  authorized,  in  civil  cafes,  to  impannel 
a  new  jury.  The  court  alfo  retained  the  power  of  lef- 
fening  and  increafing  the  damages  given  by  the  jury,  as 
they  judged  mod  equitable.f  All  cafes  of  life,  limb,  or 
banilhment  were  determined  by  a  fpecial  jury  of  twelve 
able  men,  and  a  vcrdi£l  could  not  be  accepted  unlefs  the 
whole  jury  were  agreed.  ConnecSticut  now  had  the 
appearance  of  a  well  regulated  commonwealth. 

An  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  commiffioners  was  Commif- 
holden  this  year  at  Bofton.   The  members  were  Thomas  fioners 
Dudley,  Efquire,  Mr.  Simon  Bradftreet,  William  Brad-  ""ect  Ju. 
ford,  Efquire,  Mr.  John  Brown,    Edward   Hopkins,  ^^  *"^* 

*  In  1646,  one  Robert  Bartlct,  for  defamation,  was  fenten- 
ced  to  ftand  in  the  pillory  during  the  public  Icdtwre,  then  to  be 
whipped,  pay  ;C  5 >  and  fiifFer  fix  months  imprifonment.  This 
year  one  Daniel  Turner,  for  the  fame  crime,  was  fentenced  to 
be  whipped,  and  then  imprifoned  a  month  ;  at  the  month's  end 
to  go  t9  the  poft  again,  ani  then  to  be  bound  to  his  good  bebav. 
ior. 

t  Old  ConDe<fticut  code,  p.  37. 


184  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  Efquire,  Mr.  Thomas  Welles,  Governor  Eaton  and  Mr. 
^^y^r-Kj  John  Aftwood. 

1649,  Governor  Eaton,  in  behalf  of  the  colony  of  New- 

Haven,  propofed  that  efl'e6lual  meafures  might  be  im- 
tlement"     "^£<^^=i^^ly  adopted  for  the  fettlement  of  Delaware-b'ay. 
of  Dela-     The  title  which  a  number  of  merchants,  at  New-Haven^ 
ware  bay   had   to  extcnfive  trails  on  both  fides  of  the  river,   by 
""■g^^a,-       virtue  of  fair  purchafes  from  the  Indians,  was   laid   be- 
fore the  commiffioners.     The   fertility  of  the  foil,  the 
heakhfulnefs  of  the  country,  the  convenience    of  the 
feveral  rivers,  the  great  advantages  of  fettlements,  and  3 
well  regulated  trade  there,  not  only  to  New-Haven,  but 
to  all  the  New-England  colonies,  were  ftrongly  repre- 
fented. 

The  commiflioners,  after  a  full  hearing   and  mature 
deliberation,  were  of  the  opinion,  that  the    circumftan- 
ces  of  the  colonies  were  fuch,  that  it  would  not  be  pru- 
dent, at  that  time,  by  any  public  a6t,  to  encourage    the 
fettlement  of  thofe  tradls.     Befides  the  contefl  with  the 
Dutch  and  the  danger  of  involving  the  colonies  in  war, 
it  was  obferved,  that  they  had  fcarcely  fufficient  numbers 
of  men  at  home  for  their  own  defence,  and  the  profecu- 
tion  of  the  neceflary  affairs  of  their  refpeftive   planta- 
tions. 
Advice  of      ^^  ^^'^^  therefore  recommended  to  the  merchants  and 
th^  cem-    gentlemen  at  New-Haven,  either  to  iettle  or  to   make 
miflion-     fale  of  the  lands  which  they  had,  as  fliould  appear  moft 
rrs  re-        expedient.     The  commiflioners  refolved,  that  if  any  per- 
/P^^'"^''-*  for  s  in  the  United   colonies  {hould  attempt,  without 
their  confent,  to  make  fettlements  on  the  lands,  or  to 
do  any  thing  injurious  to  the  rights  of  the  purchafers, 
that  they  would  neither  own  nor  protect  them  in  their 
.  unjuft  attempts.* 
Refolii-  The  murder  of  Mr.  Whitmore,  and  the   other   mur- 

tionsrc-     ^^^s  which  the  Indians  had  committed  againft  the  Eng-« 
fpc6liiig     lifh,  were  fully   confidered.     The  commiflioners  there- 
Intlian        fore  refolved,  that  the  guilty  Ihould  be    delivered   up; 
r?"'  ^^'    and  if  they  were  not,  that  the  fachem,  at   Stamford,  of 
his  fon,  fliould  be  apprehended  and  kept  in  durance,  un- 
til they  ihould  be  fecured,  and  juftice  have  its  courfe. 
They  ordered,  that  fearch  fliould  be  made  with  refpedt 
to  the  murders,  faid  to  be  committed,  at    Long-Ifland, 

*  Records  of  tbe  United  colonies. 


Cha».  iX.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  1  C  U  T.         t8j 

and,  if  evidence  could  be  obtained,  to  apprehend  the  de*  Book  I. 
linquents  and  bring  them  to  juftice.  v,y^v>^ 

Sometime  before  the  meeting  of  the  commiffionerS,  1649. 
the    Indians  upon  Long-Ifland  perpetrated   murder   at  Murdcrit 
Southhold.     They  rofe,  in  a  hoftile  manner,  for  fevcral  South- 
days  round  the  town.     The  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  hoid-. 
arm  and  (land  upon  their  defence  againft  them  for  a  con- 
fiderable  time  i  and  afterwards  to  keep  a  ftrong  and  vig* 
ilant  guard  by  night.     The  town  was  not  only  exceed- 
ingly alarmed  and  diftrefled,  but  put  to  great  expenfe. 
They  therefore  made  application  to  the  commiflioners 
for  relief.     But  they  would  not  confent,  that  the  coloniet 
in  general  fliould  bear  any  of  the  charge,  in  fuch  inftaa* 
ces.     They  determined  in   this  cafe,  as  they  had  dona 
before  with  refpecl  to  other  towns  in  the  jurifdi£lions  of 
Conne£ricut  and  Ncw*Haven.     The  colonies  and  towns, 
which  had  fufFered,  had  been  obliged  to  bear  all  the  ex* 
penfe  of  defending  Stamford  and  other  places,  Uncas 
and  the  Moheagans,  in  all  inftances  in  which  they  had 
not  been  warranted,  by  the  particular  directions  of  the 
commiflioners. 

The  Narraganfet  and  Nehan|ick  Indians  ftill  perfifted  Narragan^' 
in  their  murderous  defigns  againft  Uncas,  and  in  their  fet»  and 
perfidious  conduct  towards  the  colonies.     The  alarftiing  ^^">- 
afped  of  affairs,  with  refpe£l  to  them,  was  the  occafion  of  tinuc**** 
this  extraordinary  meeting.  their 

An  Indian,  hired  by  the  Narraganfet  and  Nehantick  plots. 
fachems  to  kill  Uncas,  going  on  board  a  vefTel  in  the  Attempt 
Thames,  where  he  was,  ran  him  through  the  bread  with  to  aflaflU 
a  fword.     The  wound,  atfirft,  was  judged  to  be  mortal;  nateUa* 
Uncas  however  finally  recovered.     At  this  meeting,  h6  **'* 
prefented  himfelf  before  the  commiflioners,  and  com- 
plained of  the  aflault  made  upon  him  ;  and  affirmed,  that 
thefe  fachems  had  hired  the  Mohawks  and  other  Indian^ 
againft  him,  as  well  as  an  aflaflln  to  kill  him  fecrctly.    H6 
(Complained  alfo,  that  the  Narraganfets  had  neither  refto- 
ted  his  canoes  nor  his  captives,  as  had  been  exprefsly  de* 
imanded  and  ftipulated.     He  prayed,  that,  as  he  had  ever 
been  friendly  and  faithful  to  the  colonies,  they  would 
provide  for  hij  fafety,  avenge  thefe  outrages,  and  do  hixa 
juftice. 

NiNiGRATE  was  examined  before  the  commifnonerl 
on  thefe  points ;  and  it  was  proved,  by  the  confeflion  of 
the  Mohawks  themfelves,  that  the  Narraganfets  had  hi« 
i«d  them  agaiaft  Uncas.    The  Indianj  -who  had  wound* 


iSd 


THE    HISTORY        Ghap.  IX 


1649. 


Petition 
of  the  Pe 
quots. 


Book  I.  -ed  Uncas,  declared,  tlut  he  had  been  hired  by  Pefiacu;j 
V-«rv>^  and  Ninigrate.  Ninigrate  made  but  a  poor  defence,  ei- 
ther of  himfelf  or  Peffacus.  The  commiflioners  difmilf- 
cd  him,  entirely  unfatisfied,  and  affured  him,  that  milefs 
he  immediately  complied  with  the  terms  on  which  they 
had  formerly  agreed,  they  fliould  leave  him  to  his  own 
counfels. 

The  colonies  were  alarmed  with  the  report,  that  one 
of  the  brothers  of  SaiTacus,  or  his  fon,  was  about  to  mar- 
ry the  daughter  of  Ninigrate  :  and  it  was  conjedlured, 
that  the  Narraganfet  and  Nehantick  Indians  were  con- 
certing a  plan  to  colIe£l:  the  fcattered  remains  of  the  Pe- 
quots,  and  to  fct  them  up  as  a  diftin6l  nation  with  the 
fon,  or  brother  of  Saflacus,  at  their  head.  The  commif- 
fioners  viewed  the  colonies  as  upon  the  commencement 
of  an  Indian  wjir,  and  gave  dire£lions,  that  they  Ihould 
be  immediately  prepared  for  any  emergency. 

The  Pequots,  who  had  been  given  to  Uncas,  had  now" 
for  more  than  two  years  revolted  from  him,  and  lived 
feparately,  as  a  diftlnft  clan.  In  1647,  they  complain- 
ed to  the  commiflioners,  that  Uncas  and  the  Moheagans 
had  abufed  them.  They  reprefented,  that,  though  they 
had  fubmitted  and  been  faithful  to  him,  aflifted  him  in 
his  v/ars,  been  efteemed  his  men,  and  paid  him  tribute, 
he  had  neverthelefs  grofsly  injured  them.  They  faid, 
that  he  had  required  tribute  of  theim,  from  time  to  time, 
Mpon  mere  pi^etences  ;  and  that  fince  they  had  been  put 
under  him,  they  paid  him  wampum  forty  times.  They  al- 
ledged,  that  upon  the  death  of  one  of  his  children,  he 
gave  his  fquaw  prefents,  and  ordered  them  to  comfort 
her  in  the  fame  way  ;  and  that  they  prefented  her  with  a 
hundred  fathom  of  wampum  :  That  Uncas  was  pleafed, 
and  promifed,  that,  for  the  future,  he  would  efteem  and 
treat  them  as  Moheagans.  They  afhrmed,  that  notwith- 
itanding  this  engagement,  the  Moheagans  wronged  them 
in  their  plays,  and  deprived  them  of  their  jufl  rights. 
Obachickquid,  one  of  their  chief  men,  complained  that 
Uncas  had  taken  away  his  wife  and  ufed  her  as  his  own. 
They  proved,  that  Uncas  had  wounded  fome  of  them, 
and  plundered  the  whole  company.  They  prayed,  that 
the  Englifh  would  interpofe  for  their  relief,  and  take 
them  under  their  protection.  The  petition  was  prefent- 
ed in  the  behalf  of  more  than  fixty. 
DetermI-  The  commiflioners  found  thefe  charges  fo  well  fup- 
natioii  up-  ported,  that  they  ordered  Uncas  to  be  reproved,  and  de- 
w  it ;  and  creed,  tliat  he  Ihould  reftore  Obachickquid  his  wife,  and 


Chap.  IX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  187 

pay  damages  for  the  injuries  he  had  done  the  Pequots.  Book  I. 
They  alfo  fined  him  a  hundred  fathom  of  wampum.     Ne-  v«<^'vXi/ 
verthelefs,  as  it  had  been  determined,  by  Connedicut,  ^^^v- 
that  the  name  of  the  Pequots  ihould  be  extinguifhed,  Uncas 
and  that  they  fhould   not  dwell  in   their  own  country,  it  fined, 
was  refolved,  that  they  fliould  return,  and  be  in  fubjec- 
tion  to  Uncas.     He  was  directed  to  receive  them  with- 
out revenge,  and  to  govern  them  with  moderation,  in  all 
xefpefts,  as  he  did  the  Moheagans.     They  did  not  how- 
ever return  to  Uncas  ;  but  aijnually  prefented  their  peti- 
tion to  the  commiflioncrs  to  be  taken  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Englifli,  and  to  become  their  fubjedls.    They 
pleaded,  that   though  their  tribe  had  done  wrong,  and 
■were  juftly  conquered,  yet  that  they  had  killed  no  En- 
glifh  people  ;  and  that  Wequafli  had  promifed  them,  if 
they  jwould  flee  their  country,  and  not  injwre  the  colonies, 
that  they  would  do  them  no  harm.     To  eafe  them,  as 
far  as  might  be  confident  with  former  determinations, 
the  cornmiflloners   recommended   it  to   Conne61:icut  to 
provide  fome  place  for  them,  which  might  not  injure  any- 
particular  town,  where  they  might  plant  and  dwell  to- 
gether.    At  the  fame  time,  they  were  directed  to  be  in 
fubjeftion  to  Uncas  ;  and  it  was  again  enjoined  on  him 
to  govern  them  with  impartiality  and  kindnefs. 

Mr.  Westerhouse  renewed  his  complaint  refpe£ling  Qq^^^ 
the  feizure  of  his  vefi'el,  in  the  harbour  of  New-Haven,  plaint  and 
He  alledged,  that,  befides  the  lofs  of  his  veflel,  and  the  petition 
advantages  of  trading,  the  prime  coft  of  his  goods  was  ^^^' 
j^2,ooo  -,  and    that,    after   repeated   application  to  the  houfe 
Dutch  governor,  he  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  the  leaft 
compenfation.     He  had  therefore  petitioned  the  govern- 
ment of  New-Haven,  that  fome  Dutch  veflel  might  be 
taken  by  way  of  reprifal.     He  now  petitioned  the  com- 
miflioners  for  liberty  to  make  reprifals,  by  way  of  indem- 
nification, until  he  fhould  obtain  fatisfaftion. 

Though  the  commifiloners  declared  againft  the  injuf?  Commif- 
tice  of  the  feizure,  and  regretted  both  the  infult  done  to  fion  of  re- 
tlic  United  colonies,    and  the  damages  fuftained  by  Mr.  P"^^'^ 
'Wefterhoufe,yet  they  declined  granting  him  a  commifiion  "j    B^'^nt- 
to  make  reprifals.      They  judged  it  expedient  firft  to 
negotiate. 

They  therefore  wrote  to  the  Dutch  governor,  that  Commif- 
Mr.  Wefterhoufe  had  applied  to  them  for  a  commiflion  fioners 
to  make  reprifals,  and  that  they  had  not  granted  his  peti-  T"^'^^  *^. 
tion,  as  they  wifhed  firft  to  acquaint  him  with  the  mo-  covanl^ 
doD,  and  to  reprefent  to  him  the  equity  of  making  repri- 


f84 


THE    HISTORY 


CHilP.  IX. 


Rcfolu- 

tion 

agatnft 

vending 

arms  to 

the  n^o 

tives. 


Book  I.  fal«,  unlef?  juftice  fliould  be  done  him  fome  other  way, 
^•VSi^  They  again  avowed  their  claim  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
1649,  tolonies.  They  aflerted  the  right  of  New^Haven  to  DeU 
aware  bay,  and  affured  him,  that  it  would  not  be  given 
up.  They  complained  of  his  letter,  the  lad  year,  that  i^ 
was,  in  various  refpefts,  unfatisfying  ;  and  that  with  re- 
gard to  that  dangerous  trade  of  arms  and  ammunition  car-* 
tied  on  with  the  Indians,  at  fort  Aurania  and  in  the  Eng^ 
lifti  plantations,  it  was  wholly  filent.  They  obferved, 
fhat  all  differences,  between  them  and  the  Dutch,  might 
Jiave  been  amicably  fettled,  had  it  pleafed  him  to  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  commiflioners,  at  Bofton,  according 
to  the  invitation  which  they  had  given  him.  As  that  wa« 
pot  agreeable  to  him,  they  avowed  their  defigns  of  ma- 
king provifion  for  their  own  fafety. 

To  prevent  the  vending  of  arms  and  ammunition  to 
the  Indians  in  the  United  colonies,  they  pafled  the  fol- 
lowing refolve  :  "  That  after  due  publication  hereof,  it 
««  (hall  not  be  lawful  for  any  Frenchman,  Dutchman,  or 
"  perfon  of  any  foreign  nation,  or  any  Englifhman  liv- 
<*  ing  among  them,  or  under  the  government  of  any  of 
•«  them,  to  trade  with  any  Indian  or  Indians  within  this 
<*  jurifdiftion,  either  dirc£lly  or  indiredtly,  by  themfclves 
<«  or  others,  under  the  penalty  of  confifcation  of  all  fuch 
«  goods  and  vcflels,  as  (hall  oe  found  fo  trading,  or  the 
«  true  value  thereof,  upon  jull  proof  of  any  goods  or 
<*  veiTels  fo  traded  or  trading." 
lurther          The  gentlemen  from  Maffachufetts,  at  this  meeting, 
litigation    again  brought  on  the  difpute  between  them  and  Conneft- 
refpedling  jcut  relative  to  the  itnpoft.     They  pretended,  that  Mr. 
tfte  im-       If  enwick,  fome  years  before,  had  promifed  to  join  with 
^°  '  them,  in  running  the  line,  but  that  as  he  had  not  done  it, 

and  it  had  now  been  done  by  them,  at  their  own  expenfe, 
and  to  their  fatisfaftion,  it  ought  to  be  fatisfaftory  to  all 
others,  who  could  make  no  legal  claim  to  the  adjacent 
lands.  This  they  infilled  that  Connecticut  could  not,  be* 
caufe  they  had  no  patent. 

The  commiflioncrs  from  Conne£licut  denied  the  faft? 
which  had  been  ftated.  They  intifted,  that  Mr.  Fen- 
wick  never  had  agreed  to  run  the  line  with  them  •,  and  that 
their  running  the  line,  at  their  own  cxpcnfe,  was  not 
owing  to  any  defe£l  of  his,  nor  on  the  part  of  Connefti- 
cut ;  for  they  ran  the  line  a  year  before  the  difpute  with 
Mr.  Fenwick  refpcfting  Waranoke.  Befides,  they  faid, 
what  he  promifed  at  that  time,  wa$  not  to  run  the  line, 
but  to  clear  his  claim  to  that  plantation.    With  refy e^ 


Objec- 
tiotis  of 
MafTachu- 
fctts. 


Keply  of 
ConneAi- 
cut. 


Chap.  IX.      O  F    G  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  189 

to  the  patent,  they  acknowledged,  they  had    not   indeed  Book  I. 
exhibited  the  original,  but  a  true  copy,  to  the  authenticity  v.^'-v-O 
of  which  Mr.  Hopkins  could  give  oath.     They  obferved,  1649. 
it  was  well  known    that  they    had   a   patent ;    that   the 
original  was  in  England,  and  could  not   then  be  exhibit- 
ed ;  and   that  the  Maflachufetts  infifting    on   this  point 
was  an  entire  bar  to  the  amicable  fettlement  of  the  line 
between  the  colonies.     Mr.  Hopkins  infifted,  that  the 
foutherly  extent  of  the  Maflachufetts  patent  ought  firft 
to  be  mutually  fettled  ;  then  he  propofcd,  that  the  line 
fliould  be  run  by  (kilful  men,  mutually  chofen,  and  at  the 
mutual  expenfe  of  the  colonies.     The  commiflioners  from 
Connefticut  indeed  declared,  that  it  was  evident,  beyond 
all  doubt,  that  Springfield,  at  firft,  was  fettled  in  combi- 
nation with   Conne^icut ;  and,  that    it   had   been   ac- 
knowledged to  be  fo  even  by  the  colony  of  Maflachufetts, 
They  affirmed,  that  when  propofitions  were  fent,  by  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  to  the  plantations  upon  the  river,  In 
1637,  relative  to  a  confederation  of  the    New-England 
colonies,  Mr.  Pyncheon,  in   profecutlon  of  that   defign, 
was,  in  1638,  chofen  and  fent  as  a  commiflioner  froni 
Conne£^icut,  to  aft  in  their  behalf :  That  it  was  at  this 
time,  and  never  before,  he  fuggefted  his   apprehenfions, 
that  Springfield  would  fall  within  the  limits  of  Mafla- 
chufetts j  and  that  this  was  received  as  a   fa<3:  without 
any  evidence   of  what   had   been   alledgcd.     They  ex- 
prcfled  it,  as  their  full  perfuafion,  that  Mr.  Pyncheon's  re- 
prefentatlons  and  motion,  at  that  time,    originated  from 
a  pang  of  difcontent  which  had  overtaken  him,  in  confe- 
qucnce  of  a  cenfurc  laid  upon  him,  by  the  general  court 
of  Connefticut.*     They  concluded  by  exprefling  thfcir 
earneft  wiflies,  that  both  the    government  of  the  Mafl*a- 
chufetts  and   their  commiflioners  would    confider,   that 
they  did  not  comply  with  the  advice  of  the  commiflioner* 
relative  to  the   prefent  difpute  ;  and   that  they  infifted 
upon  what  they  knew  could  not,  at  that  time,  be  obtained. 
They  charged  them,  with  an  unwlllingnefs  to  fubmit  the 
differences,  fubfifting  between  them  and  Connefticut,   to 
the  mature  and  impartial  judgment  of  the  commiflioner* 
of  the  other  colonies,  according  to  the  true  Intent  of  th« 
confederation.     In  a  very  modeft  and  refpeftful  manner, 
they  referred  it  to   the    ferious  confidcration  of  their 
brethren  of  the  Maflachufetts,  whether  their  conduft:  was 
not  direftly  contrary  to  the  articles  and  defignof  the  con-. 

*  It  fecms  the  court  had  blamed  him  for  a  particular  ioftjince 
of  hiicoQ^uA)  in  trading  with  tbe  Indiang. 


190 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  IX. 


Book  I. 

T649, 
Una!  de- 
rifion  of 
the  com- 
niiflion- 
trs. 
Aa  of 

fctts. 


Declara- 
tion ot  tbe 
commif- 
fianers. 


federates,  to  which  they  all  Ought  to  pay  a  confcientious 
regavd.f 

The  commifTioners  finally  decided  the  controverfy  iij 
favor  of  Conne£licut.  iTpon  this  the  gentlemen  from 
MafTachufetts  produced  an  order  of  their  general  court, 
paffed  by  way  of  retaliation,  impofn^g  a  duty  upon  all 
goods  belonging  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  Plimouth, 
Connecticut  or  New-Haven,  imported  \nathin  the  caftle, 
or  exported  from  any  part  of  the  bay.J 

This  was  very  extraordinary  indeed,  as  it  was  contrary 
fo  all  the  arguments  from  juflice,  liberty,  expediency,  or 
brotherly  love,  which  tliey  had  pleaded  againll  their  filler 
colony.  It  was  extravagant  and  unreafonable,  as  it  re- 
fpe£l:edConne61:icut  ;  as  the  impoft  at  Saybrook  affected 
the  inhabitants  of  one  of  their  towns  only  ;  and  that  fole- 
]y  upon  the  export  of  two  or  three  articles  ;  whereas 
their  impoll  was  upon  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  planta- 
tions in  the  colony  •,  and  upon  all  their  imports,  as  well 
as  exports.  With  refpeCl  to  the  other  colonies,  who 
had  laid  no  kind  of  impofitlon  on  any  of  the  inhabitant* 
of  Maflachufetts,  it  was  ftill  more  unjuft  and  cruel. 

The  commiffioners  from  Plimouth,  Conneftlcut  and 
New-Haven,  in  confequence  of  this  extraordinary  a£l, 
drew  up  the  following  declaration  and  remonftrance,  ad- 
drefled  to  the  general  court  of  Maflachufetts. 

"  A  DIFFERENCE  between  the  MafTachufetts  and  Con- 
"  ne£licut,  concerning  an  Impoft  at  Saybrook,  required 
"  of  Springfield,  having  long  depended,  the  commif- 
*<  fioners  hoped,  according  to  the  advice  at  Plimouth, 
<*  might,  at  this  meeting,  have  been  fatisfyingly  iflued  : 
*'  but  upon  the  perufal  of  fome  late  orders  made  by  the 
«*  general  court  of  the  Maflachufetts,  they  find,  that  the 
<*  line  on  the  fouth  fide  of  the  Mafl^Itchufetts  jurifdi6lion 
*<  is  neither  run  ;  nor  the  place  whence  it  fliould  be  run 
"  agreed  :  That  the  original  patent  for  Connefticut,  or 
*'  an  authentic  exemplification  thereof,  (though  Mr. 
"  Hopkins  hath  oflered  upon  oath  to  aflert  the  truth  of 
"  the  copy  by  himfelf  prefented,)  is  now  required  -,  and 
«'  that  a  burdenfome  cuftom,  is,  by  the  Maflachufetts, 
*'  lately  impofed  not  only  upon  ConneClicut,  interefted 
"  in  the  impoft  at  Saybrook,  but  upon  Plimouth  and 
*<  New-Haven  colonies,  whofe  commiflloners,  as  arbi- 
«'  trators,  according  to  an   article  in  the  confederation. 


■f  Recordsof  the  United  colonies. 
;t  HtJtchinfon,  vol.  i>  p.  154,  155. 


Chap.  IX.      OF    CONNECTICUT. 


ipt 


"  have  been  only  exercifed   in  the   queftion,  and   that  Book  L 

"  upon  the  defire  of  the  Maflachufetts,  and  have  impar-  v.>-v>-i 

"  tially,  according  to  their  bed  light,  declared  their    ap-  ^^49- 

"  prehenfions  ;  which  cuftom  and  burden,    (grievous  in 

**  itfelf )  feems  the  more  unfatisfying  and  heavy,  becaufc 

<*  divers  of"  the  Maflachufetts  deputies,  who  had  a  hand. 

<*  in  making  the  law,  acknowledge,  and  the  preface  im- 

"  ports  it,  that  it  is  a   return,   or   retaliation  upon   the 

"  three  colonies  for  Saybrook  :  and  the  law  requires  it  o£ 

*•  no  other  Englifh,  nor  of  any  ftranger  of  what  nation 

"  focver.     How  far  the  premifes  agree  with  the  law   of 

*'  love,  and  with  the  tenor  and  import  of  the  articles  oi^ 

**  confederation,  the  commiflicners  tender  and  recom- 

"  mend  to  the  ferious  confiderfition  of  the  general  court 

*'  for  the  Maflachufetts.     And  in  the  mean  time    defire 

"  to  be  fpared  in  all  future  agitations  refpedling  Spring- 

«  field."t 

Governor  Hutchinfon  obferves,  that  this  law  was 
produced  to  the  difhonor  of  the  colony  :  That  had  the- 
Maflachufetts  impofed  a  duty  upon  goods  from  Conne£l- 
icut  only,  they  might,  at  leail,  have  had  a  colour  to  juf- 
tify  them  ;  but  that  extending  their  refentment  to  the 
other  colonies,  becaufe  their  commiflioners  had  given 
judgment  againft  them,  admitted  of  no  excufe.  It  was  a 
mere  exertion  of  power,  and  a  proof  of  their  great  fupe- 
riority,  which  enabled  them,  in  efFe£l,  to  depart  from  the 
union,  whenever  they  found  it  to  be  for  their  intereft. 
If  it  had  been  done  by  a  Angle  magiftrate,  it  would  have 
been  pronounced  tyrannical  and  oppreflive.  He  ob- 
ferves that,  in  all  ages  and  countries,  communities  of 
men  have  done  that,  of  which  molt  of  the  individuals,  of 
whom  they  confided,  would,  atling  feparately,  have  been 
afhamed.J 

The  Mafl*achufetts  treated   Connedlicut   in   the  fame  jiann^,. 
ungenerous  manner  with  refpedt  to  the  line  between   the  of  MafiTa- 
colonies.    In  1642,  they  employed  one  Nathaniel  Wood-  chufetts 
ward  and  Solomon  SalFery,  whom  Douglafs  calls  two  running 
obfcure  failors,  to  run  the  line  between  them  and   Con-  ^  ^  '"^' 
ne£licut.     They  arbitrarily  fixed  a  boundary,  as  the  ex- 
act point  to  which  three   miles  fouth  of  every   part  of 
Charles  river  would  carry  them.     Thence  by  water  they 
proceeded  up  Connecticut   river,  and  fetting  up  their 
compafs  in  the  fame  latitude,  as  they  fuppofed,  declared, 

■f  Records  of  the  United  colonies, 
t  Hutchinfon  val.  i.  p.  155,  ijS. 


10  THEHISTORY  Chap.  IX. 

Book  I.  tKat  the  line  ftruck  the  chimney  of  one  Biflell's  houfc, 
N->VNJ  the  mod  northern  building  then  in  the  town  of  Windfor. 
x649»  This  was  a  whole  range  of  towns  fouth  of  the  true  line 
between  the  colonies.  Coftne£licut  confidered  the  boun- 
dary fixed,  as  entirely  arbitrary,  and  fix  or  eight  miles 
further  fouth  than  it  ought  to  have  been.  They  ima- 
gined, that  the  error,  at  Windfor,  was  dill  greater,  as  no 
proper  allowance  had  been  made  for  the  variation  of  the 
needle.  They  viewed  the  manner  in  which  this  had 
been  effefted  as  contrary  to  all  the  rules  of  juftice,  and  to 
the  modes  in  which  differences  of  that  magnitude  ought 
to  be  accommodated.  The  utmofl  extent  of  Narraganfet 
river  was  their  north  line,  and  they  were  perfuaded,  that 
this  would  run  fo  far  north  as  to  comprehend  the^  town 
of  Springfield,  and  other  towns  in  the  fame  latitude. 
Therefore,  neither  Connecticut  nor  the  commiflloners  of 
the  United  colonies  confidered  any  boundary  as  properly 
fettled,  whence  the  line  (hould  be  run,  nor  any  line  run 
between  the  colonies. 

Connecticut  wifhed  to  have  the  fouthetn  boundary 
of  Mafl'achufetts  mutually  fettled  and  the  line  run,  at  the 
joint  expenfe  of  the  two  colonies  ;  but  MafFachufetts 
■would  neither  confent  to  this,  nor  even  allow  that  the 
copy  of  the  Connedlicut  patent  was  authentic.  For  near- 
ly feventy  years  they  encroached  upon  this  colony,  and 
fettled  whole  towns  within  its    proper  limits. 

The  general  court  of  Conhc£licut  adopted  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  commiffioners,  with  refpe£l  to  the  pro- 
hibition of  all  trading  of  foreigners  among  the  Indians  of 
the  United  colonies.  They  made  the  penalty  to  be  the 
confifcation  of  all  veflels  and  goods  eniployed  in  fuch  trade. 
The  court  alfo,  after  conferring  with  New-Haven, 
2^  determined  to  avenge  the  blood  of  John  Whitmore  of 

biy's  de-     Stamford ;  and,   confidering  all   its   circumftances,  and 
termina-     the  condu£t  of  the  Indians  in  the  town  and  bordering  up- 
tion  to  ^r-  pn  it,  refolved,  that  it  was  lawful  to  make  war  upon  them, 
reft  mur-    j^  ^^g   ordered,  that  fifty   men  (hould  be  immediately 
draughted,  armed  and  vidlualled  for  the  purpofe  of  bring- 
ing die  murderers  to  condign  punifiiment,  or  of  arrefting 
otheir  Indians  until  the  delinquents   fliould  be  dsllvered 
to  juftice.*     Thefe  fpiritcd  meafures  appear  to  have  had 
the  defired  effedt.     The   Inrlians   at  Stamford,  it  feemsj 
became  peaceable,  and  there  is  nothing  further  upon  the 
records  refpedting  any  trouble  with  them. 


RecorUi  of  Conncdicut. 


Chap.  X.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  ipj 

CHAPTER    X.  Book  I. 

CoURTofeleBion  at  Hartford.     Grants  to  Captain  Mafin,  idj^^ 
The  comniijjioners  meet  and  difpatch  Captain    Atherton  to 
the  Narraganfets .     Their   meffage    ty   Ninigrate.     Th$ 
Dutch  governor  arrives  at  Hartford ^  and  refers  the  differ* 
ences  het-ween  him  and  the  colonies y  to  arbitrators.     Their 
determination  y  and  the  line  is  fixed  betiueen  the  Englifi  and 
Dutch  plantations.     Agreements  nuith  Mr.  Feriwich  occa* 
fion  general  itnenfinefs.      Committees  are  appointed  to  ex» 
plain  and  afcertain  them.     Towns  are  invited  to  attend  tht 
commiite£Sf  by  their  deputies^  at  Saybrook.     An  aSlfor  tht 
encouragement  of  M.r.  Winthrop  infeeking  and  improving 
mines.     Nornvalk  and  Mattabefeck  fettled  and  made  towns. 
The  colony  of  Neiv-Haven  make  another  attempt  to  fettle  at 
Delaware.      The  Dutch  governor feizes  the  companx^  and 
fruflrates  the  defign.     He  pitrfues  his  former   line  of  con-^ 
duel  toivards  the  colonies.     The  refolutions  of  the  com-' 
mifftoners  relative  to  his  conduB^  to   the  fettlement  of  Del- 
aware ^  and  the  tribute  to  be  paid  by  the  Pequots.     French 
commifftoners  from    Canada.     Their  propofals.     Reply  to 
them.      The  Dutch  governor  and  Indians  concert  a  plan  to 
extirpate  the  colonies.    The  commiffoners  meet^  and  difpatcb 
agents  to  the  Dutch  governor.     They  determine  upon  nuar^ 
unlefs  he  fhould   manifefi   his  innocence^   and  redrefs  tht 
grievances  of  the  colonies.     They  determine  on  the  number 
of  men  to  he  raifedy  and  draw  a  declaration  of  the  reafons  cf 
the  war.     The  agents    return   unfuccefsful.     The  com- 
mifftoners  meet  again^  and  determine  to  make  war  upon  the 
Dutch  and  Narraganfet   Indians.     The  general  court  <^ 
M.affachufetti  refufes  to  raife  meny  and  prevents  the  war. 
Altercations  between  that  general  court  and  the  commifjton* 
erSi  and  between  that  and  the  general  courts  of  ConneHicut 
and  New-Haven.     The  alarm  and  diflrefs  of  the  plan» 
rations  in  theje    colonies.      Their  general  courts  protefl  a- 
gainflthe  court  of  MajJschufettSyas  violators  of  the  articles 
cf  confederation  ;     and  write  to  Cromwell  and  the  parlict^ 
tnentfor  afftjlance.     The  tumultuous  Jiate  of  the  inhabi- 
tants in  fever al  of  the  towns, 

UPON  the  eleaion  at  Hartford  Mr.  Hopkins  was  e!^^;^^, 
chofen  governor,  and  Mr.  Haynes,  deputy  gover-  M^y  ,g, 
nor.     Mr.    Clark  was  added  to  the  magiftrates.     The 
court  confifted  of  thirty  two  members  >  the  governor*^ 
Hn  afiiftants,  and  twenty  deputies. 

Bb 


194 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  X. 


Book  I. 

1650. 

Grant  to 
Capt.  Ma- 
I'un. 


Commif- 
fioBcrs 
mctt 
Sept.  5. 


Capt. 
Atherton 
ftnt  to 
Karra- 
ganfct. 


The  court  had  granted  a  thoufand  acres  of  land  to 
Captain  Mafon  for  his  good  fervices  in  the  Pequot  war  j 
five  hundred  to  himfelf,  and  five  hundred  to  be  given  to 
his  five  beft  officers  and  foldiers.  It  was  now  ordered, 
that  the  five  hundred  acres  granted  to  the  fokiiers  fhould 
be  laid  out  for  them  at  Pequot,  or  in  the  Neanticut  coun- 
try. The  next  year  the  court  made  a  grant  of  Chippa- 
chauge  ifland,  in  Miftic  bay,  and  a  hundred  and  ten  acres 
of  land  at  Miftic,  to  the  captain. 

The  commiffioners  met  this  year  at  Hartford.  The 
meeting  confifted  of  Mr.  Simon  Bradftreet  and  Mr. 
William  Hawthorn,  Mr.  Thomas  Prince  and  Mr.  John 
Brown, and  of  Governors  Hopkins  and  Haynes,  Eaton  and 
Goodyear.     Governor  Hopkins  was  chofen  prefident. 

As  the  Narraganfets  ftill  negle£l:ed  to  pay  the  tribute 
which  had  been  fo  many  years  due,  the  commiffioners 
difpatched  Captain  Atherton  of  Maflbchufetts,  with  twen- 
ty men,  to  demand  and  colle£l  the  arrearages.  He  was 
authorized,  if  they  fhould  not  be  paid,  upon  demand,  to 
feize  on  the  beft  articles  he  could  find,  to  the  full  amount 
of  what  was  due;  or  on  Peflacus,  the  chief  fachem,  or 
any  of  his  children,  and  carry  them  off.  Upon  his  arri- 
val among  the  Narraganfets,  he  found  the  fachem  recur- 
ring to  his  former  arts,  putting  him  off  with  deceitful 
and  dilatory  anfwers,  and  not  fuffering  him  to  approach 
his  prefence.  In  the  mean  time  he  was  colle6ling  his 
warriors  about  him.  The  captain  therefore  marched 
diredlly  to  the  door  of  his  wigwam,  where  pofting  his 
•men,  he  entered  himfelf  with  his  piftol  in  his  hand,  and 
feizing  Peffacus,  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  drew  him  from 
the  midft  of  his  attendants,  declaring,  that  if  they  fliould 
-fnzVe  the  leaft  refiftance,  he  would  dTpatch  him  in  an 
•inftant.  This  bold  ftroke  gave  him  fuch  an  alarm,  that 
he  at  once  pa'd  all  the  arrearages. 

NiNiGKATE,  fachem  of  the  Nehanticks,  continuing  his 
perfidious  practices,  began  .to  lay  claim  to  the  Pequot 
•country,  and  appeared  to  be  concerting  a  plan  to  recover 
•it  from  the  Englifln  Captain  Atherton  therefore  made 
him  a  vifit,  and,  according  to  his  inftruftions,  affured 
him,  that  the  commiffioners  were  no  ftrangers  to  his  in- 
trigues, in  marrying  hh  daughter  to  the  brother  of  Saffa- 
cus  ;  in  collecSling  the  Pequots  under  him,  as  though  he 
defigned  to  become  their  head  ;  and  in  his  claims  and 
attempts  refpe£l:ing  the  Pequot  country.  He  remonftra- 
ted  againft  his  conducl,  as  dire£lly  oppofite  to  all  the  cov- 
enants fubfifting  between  him  and  the  Englifli  colonies. 


\ 


C^AP.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  195 

He  protefted  to  him,  that  the  colonies  would  never  fufFer  Book  I.i 
him  to  accomplifli  his  defigns  ;  either  to  poflefs  any  part  v^/'v-^^. 
of  the  country,  which  they  had    conquered,  or  even  to  1650. 
hunt  within  its  limits.     He  demanded  where  the  broth- 
er of  Saflacus  was  ?  What  numbers  he   had  with  him  ? 
And  what  were  his  defigns  ?  He  infifled  upon  categori- 
cal anfwers,  that  the  commifTioners  might  order  their  af- 
fairs accordingly.     Having,  in  this  fpirited   manner,  ac-j 
complifhed  his  bufuiefs,  he  returned  in  fafety.  t 

Meanwhile,  Stuyvefant,   the  Dutch   governor,  arri-  Sept.  n. 
ved  at  Hartford      He  had  been  often  invited  to  attend  ^^"yve- 
the  meeting  of  the  commifTioners,  with  a  view  to  the  ac-  rive». 
commodation  of  the  difficulties  fubfifling  between  him 
and  the  Englifh  colonies.     He  chofe  to  treat  by  writing,  o^ndtnce 
and  on  the  1 3th*  day  of  September  he  introduced  his  cor-  commen- 
refpondence  with  the  commiffioners.     In   his  letter  he  ces. 
complained  of  the  encroachments  made  upon  the  Wefl- 
India  company,  and  the  injuries  done  them  both  by  Con- 
necticut and    New-Haven.      He    pretended,  that   the 
Dutch,  in  behalf  of  faid    company,   had  purchafed  the 
lands  upon  the  river,  of  the  native  Americans,  before  any 
other  nation  had  bought  them,  or  laid  any  claim  to  them. 
He  therefore    demanded  a  full  furrendcr  of   faid  lands, 
and  fuch  compenfation  as  the  nature  of  the  cafe  required. 
He  alfo  complained  of  the  aft  prohibiting  all  foreigners 
to  trade  in  the  Englifli  colonies,  and  that  the  llnglifh  fold 
goods  fo   cheap  to  the  natives,  as  to  ruin    the  trade   for 
other  nations.     He  concluded  with    intimations  of  his 
willingnefs   to  fettle  a  general  provifional  line  between 
the  Dutch  and  Englifla  plantations,  by  a  joint  writing  to 
their  fuperiors  in  England  and  Holland,  or  by  the  decif- 
ion  of  agents,  mutually  chofen  and  empowered  for  that 
purpofe. 

The  commifTioners,   obferving,that  his  letter  was  da-  Difpute 
ted  at  New-Netherlands,  replied,  that   they    would   not  refpetfiing 
treat,  unlcfs  he  would  alter  the  name  of  the  place  where  tlie  place 
he  wrote.     He  anfwered,  that  if  they  would    not  date  at  ®''  dating. 
Hartford,   he   would  not  at    New-Netherlands,  but  at 
Connefticut.     They  confented,  that   he  fhould    date    at 
Conne£licut,  but  claimed  a  right  for  themfelves  to  date  at 
Hartford.     He  gave  up  the  right  of  dating  at  the  Neth- 
erlands, and  the  treaty  proceeded. 

The  commiffioners  replied  to  his   complaints  to   this  Reply  of 
cffeft  i  That  their  title  to  Connefticut  river,  and  the  ad-  the  com- 
miirioiieri 

*  ti  ol3  ftylc  as  he  dated. 


19^ 


THE    Hr STORY 


Ghap.  X. 


Book  I. 

1650. 

to  the 
Dutch 
com- 
plaints. 


StAtfmcnt 
of  their 
own 

grievan- 
ces, 


Arbitra- 
tors cho- 
fen. 


jacent  country,  had  been  often  afierted,  and  made  fufR- 
ciently  evident  both  to  the  Dutch  and  Englifti  ;  and  that 
they  hoped  amply  to  prove  their  title  to  what  they  en- 
joyed, by  patent,  purchafe,  and  pofTeffion.  Confequently 
they  infifted,  that  they  had  made  no  encroachments  on 
the  honorable  Weft-India  company,  nor  done  them  the 
Icaft  injury.  They  affirmed,  that  they  knew  not  what 
the  Dutch  claimed,  nor  upon  what  grounds :  That  at 
fome  times  they  claimed  all  the  lands  upon  the  river,  and 
at  others,  a  part  only  :  That  their  claim  •w-as  founded 
fometimes  upon  one  thing,  and  at  other  times  upon 
another  ;  and  that  it  had  been  fo  various  and  uncertain 
as  to  involve  the  whole  affair  in  obfcurity. 

With  refpe£t  to  trade, they  obferved,  that  they  had  the 
fame  right  to  regulate  it,  within  their  jurifdittion,  which; 
ihe  Dutch,  French  and  other  nations  had  to  regulate  it, 
within  their  refpe£tive  dominions  :  That  their  merchants' 
had  a  right  to  deal  with  the  natives  on  fuch  terms  as  they 
]plcafed  j  and  that  they  prcfunied  they  did  not  trade  to 
their  own  difadvantage.  They  gave  intimations,  that, 
jf  the  then  prefent  treaty  Ihould  fucceed  agreeably  to 
their  wifhes,  they  might  reconfider  the  a£l  of  trade,  and 
lepeal  the  prohibition  refpefting  foreigners. 

They  then  proceeded  to  a  large  and  particular  ftate- 
mcntofthe  grievances  they  fuffcred  from  the  Dutch; 
particularly  reprefenting  thofe  which  have  been  already 
roticed,  in  this  hiftory,  with  feveral  other  more  recent 
injuries,  Efpecially,  that  the  Dutch  agents  had  gone  ofF^ 
from  Hartford,  without  paying  for  the  goods  which  they 
had  taken  up  :  That  their  fucceffors  had  refufed  to  make 
any  fettlem.ent  of  their  accounts  •,  and  that  the  Dutch 
governor  had  not  obliged  them  to  make  payment :  That 
the  Dutch  bought  ftolen  goods,  and  would  make  no  com- 
penfatiort  to  the  Englifh,  whofe  property  they  were: 
And  that  they  had,  not  only  formerly,  helped  criminals 
to  file  off  their  irons  and  make  their  efcape  ;  but  that  they 
had  been  guilty  of  a  recent  inftance  of  fimilar  conduft. 
They  allcdged,  that  a  Dutch  fervant  had,  lately,  aflifted 
a  criminal,  committed  for  a  capital  offence,  to  break 
gaol  and  make  his  efcape  -,  and  that  the  Dutch  called 
hiiti  to  no  account,  for  fo  grofs  a  mifdemeanor. 

Various  letters  paiTed,  and  feveral  days  were  fpent, 
in  thefe  altercations.  At  length  the  commiffioners  chofe 
JVIr.  Bradftreet  of  MafTachufetts  and  Mr.  Prince  of  PH- 
mouth,  as  arbitrators  to  hear  and  compofe  all  differences 
with  refpedt  to  injury  and  damages ;  to  make  provifi^HAl 


Chap.  X.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         I97 

boundaries,  in  all    places  where   their  refpeclive  limits  Book  I. 
were  controverted, and  to  fettle  a  jufl  and  free  correfpond-  «.rf<^v«s«> 
cnce  between  the  parties.     The  Dutch  governor   chofe  i6jo. 
Thomas  Willet  and  George  Baxter  for  the  fame  purpofe. 
Both  parties,  in  the  ampleil  manner, /authorized  the  ar- 
bitrators to  hear  and  determine,  in  the  moft  full  and   ab- 
folute  manner,  all  differences  between  the  two  nations  in 
this  country. 

The  arbitrators,  after  a  full  hearing  of  the  parties, 
came  to  the  following  determination,  whi<ih  they  drew 
up  in  the  form  of  an  agreement. 

*«  Articles  of  an  agreement  made  and  concluded  *t  Determi- 
**  Hartford,  upon   Conne£licut  river,  September  19th,  nation  of 
**   1 6  CO,  betwixt  the  delegates  of  the   honored  commif' *  *;^ 
**  iioners  of  the  United  Englifh  colonies,  and  the  del6* 
**  gates  of  Peter  Stuyvefant,  governor  general  of  New* 
<*  Netherlands. 

I.  **  Upon  a  ferious  confideration  of  the  differences 
«*  and  grievances  propounded  by  the  two  Englifti  colo-^ 
«<  nies  of  Conne£licut  and  New-Haven,  and  die  anlwer 
**  made  by  the  Dutch  governor,  Peter  Stuvvefant, 
**  Efquire,  according  to  the  truft  and  power  committed  t<J 
«  us,  as  arbitrators  and  delegates  betwixt  the  faid  par* 
«  ties  :  We  find  that  moft  of  the  offences  or  grievances 
<*  were  things  done  in  the  time,  or  by  the  order  and 
<*  command  of  Monf.  Kieft,  the  former  governor,  and 
"  that  the  prefent  honorable  governor  is  not  prepared  td 
•*  make  anfwer  to  them ;  we  therefore  think  meet  to 
««  refpite  the  full  confideration  and  judgment  concerning 
**  them,  till  the  prefent  governor  may  acquaint  the  H. 
«*  M.f  States  and  Weft- India  company  with  the  partie* 
«*  ulars,  that  fo  due  reparation  may  accordingly  be  made." 

II.  "  The  commiffioners,  for  New-Haven,  complaiil- 
**  ed  of  feveral  high  and  hoftile  injuries  which  they,  and 
**  others  of  that  jurifdi£lion,  have  received  from  and  by 
•<  order  of  the  aforefaid  Monf.  Kieft,  in  Delaware  bay 
«  and  river,  and  in  their  return  thence,  as  by  their  iot* 
«*  mer  propofitions  and  complaints  may  more  fully  ap* 
**  pear  j  and  befides  the  Englifh  right,  claimed  by  pa* 
<*  tent,  prefented  and  fhowed  feveral  purchafes  they 
**  have  made,  on  both  fides  the  river  and  bay  of  Deli* 
*<  ware,  of  feveral  large  trafts  of  land  unto,  and  fom<S 
**  what  above  the  Dutch  houfe  or  fort  there,  with  the 
<«  confideration  given  to  the  faid  fichenis  and  theiif  cons- 


t  H.M.  High  and  Mighty. 


^c,%  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  X. 

Book  I.  *'  panics  for  tlie  fame,  acknowledged  and  cleared  by  the 
v.^-'-vv^  "  hands  of  the  Indians,  who  they  affirmed  were  the  true 
1650.  "  proprietors;  and  teftified by  many  witnefles.  They 
*'  alfo  ailirmed,  thati  according  to  the  bed  of  their  ap- 
♦'  prehenfions,  they  have  fuflained^iooo  damage  th^re, 
**  partly  by  the  Swedirti  governor,  but  chiefly  by  order 
*.<  from  Monf.  Kieft. — And  therefore  required  due  fat- 
*'  isfa£Hon,  and  a  peaceable  pofl'efnon  of  the  aforefaid 
*'  lands,  to  enjoy  and  improve  according  to  their  juft 
**  rights.  The  Dutch  governor,  by  way  of  anfwer,  af- 
*'  firmed  and  infifled  on  the  title  and  right  to  Delaware, 
«*  or  the  foulh  river,  as  they  call  it,  and  to  the  lands 
**  there,  as  belonging  to  the  H.  M.  States  and  Wefl- 
**  India  company  ;  and  profefled  he  mull  proteft  againft 
««  any  other  claim  ;  but  is  not  provided  to  make  any  fuch 
*'  proof,  as  in  fuch  a  treaty  might  be  expected,  nor  had 
<♦  he  commilhon  to  treat  or  conclude  any  thing  therein. 
.**  Upon  confideration  whereof,  we,  the  faid  arbitrators 
*'  or  delegates,  wanting  fufhcient  light  to  iffue  or  de- 
**  termine  any  thing  in  the  premifes,  are  neceflitated  to 
**  leave  both  parties  i«y?^//«  «jr//i> /);7//j,  to  plead  and  im- 
*'  prove  their  juft  intereft,  at  Delaware,  for  planting  or 
*'  trading,  as  they  ihall  fee  caufe :  Only  we  defire,  that 
**  all  proceedings  there,  as  in  other  places,  may  be  car- 
*'  ried  on  in  love  and  peace,  till  the  right  may  be  further 
*'  confidered  and  juftly  iffued,  either  in  Eui'ope  or  here, 
**  by  the  two  ftates  of  England  and  Holland." 

III.  "  Concerning  the  feizing  of  Mr.  Welterhoufe's 
*<  fhip  and  goods,  about  three  years  fmce,  in  New-Haven 
*«  harbour,  upon  a  claim  to  the  place,  the  honored  gov- 
<«  cruor,  Peter  Stuyvefant,  Efquire,profeffcd,  that  what 
*<  pafTed  in  writing  that  way  was  through  error  of  his 
*'  fecretary,  his  intent  not  being  to  lay  any  claim  to  the 
*'  place,  and  with  all  affirming,  that  he  had  orders  to 
<'  feize  any  Dutch  (liip,  or  veflel,  in  any  of  the  Englifli 
**  colonies  or  harbours,  which  fliould  trade  there  without 
*'  exprefs  licence  or  commilhon.  We  therefore  think 
«<  it  meet,  that  the  commiffioners  of  New-Haven  accept 
*'  and  acquiefce  in  this  anfwer." 

"  Concerning  the  bounds  and  limits  betwixt  the 
"  Englifli  United  colonies,  and  the  Dutch  province  of 
*'  New-Netherlands,  we  agree  as  followeth." 

L  "  That  upon  Long-Ifland,  a  line  run  from  the 
*<  weftermoll  part  of  Oyfter-Bay,  and  fo  a  ftraight  and 
<«  dired  line  to  the  fea,  fliall  be  the  bound's  betwixt  the 


Chap.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  199 

<*  Engllfh  and  the  Dutch  there,  the  eafterly  part  to  be-  Book  I. 
"  long  to  the  EngliOi,  and  the  weftermoft  to  the  Dutch."  K^^^-y^U 

I£.  «  The  bouncis  upon  the  main  to  begin  at  the  weft  ^650. 
««  fide  of  Greenwich  bay,  being  about  four  miles  from 
"  Stamford,  and  fo  to  run  a  northerly  line,  twenty  miles 
*<  up  into  the  country,  and  after,  as  it  fliall  be  agreed,  by 
*'  the  two  governments  of  the  Dutch  and  New-Haven, 
"  provided  the  faid  line  come  not  within  ten  miles  of 
**  Hudfon's  river.  And  it  is  agreed,  that  the  Dutch 
"  fliall  not,  at  any  time  hereafter,  build  any  houfe  or 
"  habitation  within  fix  miles  of  the  faid  line  ;  the  inhab- 
**  itants  of  Greenwich  to  remain  (till  further  confidera- 
"  tion  thereof  be  had)  under  the  government  of  the 
«  Dutch." 

III.  "  The  Dutch  fliall  hold  and  enjoy  all  the  lands 
"  in  Hartford,  that  they  are  adlually  poflefTed  of,  known 
*'  and  fet  out  by  certain  marks  and  bounds,  and  all  the 
*'  remainderof the  faid  land,  on  both  fides  of  Connec- 
"  cut  river,  to  be  and  remain  to  the  Englifh  there." 

**  And  it  is  agreed,  that  the  aforefaid  bounds  and  lim- 
<*  its,  both  upon  the  Ifland  and  main,  fhall  be  obfcrved 
"  and  kept  Inviolable,  both  by  the  Englifh  of  the  United 
"  colonies,  and  all  the  Dutch  nation,  without  any  en- 
**  croachment  or  moleftaticn,  until  a  full  and  final  de- 
"  termination  be  agreed  upon,  in  Europe,  by  the  mutual 
"  confent  of  the  two  ftates  of  England  and  Holland." 

*'  And  in  teftimony  of  our  joint  cpnfent  to  the  feverai 
"  foregoing  conclufions,  we  have  hereunto  fet  our 
"  hands  this  19th  day  of  September,  Anno  Dom, 
«   1650." 

SIMON  BRADSTREET. 
THOMAS  PRINCE. 
THOMAS  WILLET. 
GEORGE  BAXTER. 

The  Dutich  governor  promifed  alfo,  and  his  agents, 
MeflVs.  Willet  and  Baxter,  engaged  for  him,  that  Green- 
wich fliould  be  put  under  the  government  of  New-Ha- 
ven, to  whom  it  originally  belonged.  It  was  alfo  agreed, 
that  the  fame  line  of  condudl  which  had  been  adopted, 
with  refpe6l  to  fugitives,  by  the  United  colonies,  in  the 
eighth  article  of  confederation,  fhould  be  ftridlly  obfen'ed. 
between  them  and  the  Dutch,  in  the  province  of  New- 
Netherlands.  The  Dutch  governor  alfo  acquainted  the 
commiflioners,  that  he  had  orders  from  Europe  to  main- 
tain peace  and  good  neighbourhood  with  the  Englifli  in 
America  ;  and  he  proceeded  fo  far  as  to  make  propofals 


20O 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  X. 


Book  I.  of  a  nearer  unioii  and  friendiliip,  between  the  Dutch  and 
V-^o'W^  the  United  colonics.     The  commiiTioners   declined  a£l- 
1659.         ing    upon  thefe  propofals,  without  confulting  their  con- 
ftituents  ;  and  recommended  the  confideration  of   them 
to  their  refpe(£live  general  courts. 
„        .         While  this  fettlement  with  the  Dutch  fecmed  to  give 
uncafi-       ^  favorable  afpeCt  to  the  affairs  of  the  colonies,   there 
rcfsire-      arofe   a   great  and   general    uneafinefs  in  Conne£licut, 
fpeftinsi     relative  to  the   agreements  which  had  been  made  with 
the  agi  te-  ]^j.  Fenwick,  and  to  the  ftate  of  the   accounts  between 
with  Mr     ^'"^  ^'^^   ^^^^  colony.     By  the    hrft    agreement,  befides 
Feuwick.    the  impoft  on  feveral  articles  exported   from  the    mouth 
of  the  river,  for  ten  years,  the  people  were  obliged  to   pay 
one  fliilling  annually  for  every  milch  cow  and  mare  in 
the  colony,  and  the  fame  fum  for  every   fwine   killed  ei- 
ther for  market  or  private    ufe.     Springfield  refufed  to 
pay  the  impoft  ;  and  it  feems,   that  Conne6licut   was 
obliged,  by  the  conduil   of  Maflachufetts,  to   repeal  the 
aft  relating  to  the   impofjtion.     By   reafon  of  the  con- 
troverfy  which  arofe  between  Connedlicut  and  Mafla- 
chufetts,  and  fome  other  circumftances,  feveral  of  the 
towns,  during  the  two  firfl  years,  paid  but  a   fmall  pro- 
portion of  what  had  been  ftipulated.     The   colony  there- 
fore, on  the  17th  of  February  1646,  made  a  new  agree- 
ment with    Mr.  Fenwick.     This  was  to   the  following 
effea : 

That,  inflead  of  all  former  grants,  he  {hould  receive 
from  the  colony,  annually,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
pounds,  for  ten  years.  He  was  to  colle£l  what  was  due 
from  Springfield,  and  to  enjoy  certain  profits  arifing  from 
the  beaver  trade.  A  hundred  and  feventy  or  eighty 
pounds  was  alfo  to  be  paid  to  him  from  Saybrook  and 
one  or  two  newly  fettled  towns.  The  whole  amount 
appears  to  have  been  more  than  ^2,000,  which  the  co- 
lony paid  for  the  right  of  jurifdi£tion,  the  ordnance, arms 
and  ftores  at  the  fort.*  As  different  apprehenfions  had 
arifen,  rfpefting  thefe  agreements,  and  the  ftate  of  af- 
Feb.  5th,  fairs  between  Mr.  Fenwick  and  the  colony,  the  general 
'6ji.  court  appointed  committees  to  meet  at  Saybrook  to  af- 
certain  them.  To  quiet  the  minds  of  the  people,  notice 
was  given  to  every  town  of  the  time  and  place  of  the 
meeting  of  the  committees,  and  each  was  authorized  to 
fend  reprefentatives  to  hear  the  difputes  and  report  the 
iflue,  with  the  reafons    of  it,   to  their  conftitucnts.     Bv 


Scetbc  agreements  Numbers  Y  and  VI. 


CuAT.    X.      O  F    C  0  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         201 

tiiefe  means  the  inhabitants  obtained  general  fatisfac^ion.  Book  L 

Mr.  John  Winthrop,  at  the  eleftion,  was  chofen  into    v^^v^^ 
the  magiftracy.     The    affembly  confided  of  thirty  four  1651. 
members  i  twelve  magiilrates  and  twenty  two   deputies.  May  15. 

The  colony  of  Rhode-Ifland  gave  great  trouble  to  her  Rhode- 
neighbours,  by  giving  entertainment  to  criminals  and  fu-  llland  en- 
gitives.    Connecticut  found  it  fo  prejudicial  to  the  courfe  tcrtains 
of  juftice  and  to  the  rights  of  individuals,  that  the  court  '«S-'-»^^s. 
refolved  to  recommend  the  confideration  of  the  affair  to 
the  commiflioners  of  the  United  colonies.* 

Mr.  Winthrop  imagined,  that  Conne£lic«t  contained 
mines  and  minerals,  which  might  be  improved  to  great 
advantage  to  individuals,  as  well  as  to  the  public  emolu- 
ment. Upon  a  motion  of  his,  the  aflemfbly  pafled  the 
following  a£V. 

«  Whereas,    in   this  rocky   country,  among  thefe  Ai5\  to  en- 
**  mountains  and  rocky  hills,  there   are   probabilities  of  '^^  ""^^p 
**  mines   of  metals,  the  difcovery  of  which  may   be  of  covery  of 
*<  great   advantage  to  the   country,  in   raifing  a  ftaple  mines. 
««  commodity  ;  and  whereas  John  Winthrop,   Efquire, 
"  doth  intend  to  be  at  charges  and  adventure,  for  the 
"  fearch  and  difcovery  of  fuch  mines  aiid  minerals  ;  for 
"  the  encouragement  thereof,  and  of  any  that  fhall  ad- 
"  venture  with  the  faid  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  in  the 
*'  faid  bufinefs,  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  court,  that 
**  if  the  faid  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  fhall  difcover,  fet 
•*  upon,  and  maintain  fuch  mines  of  lead,  copper  or  tin  j  /• 
**  or  any  minerals,  as  antimony,  vitriol,  black  lead,  al- 
"  lum,  ftone  fait,  fait  fprings,  or  any  other  the  like,  with- 
**  in  this  jurifdi6lion  ;  and  fliall  fet  up  any  work  for  the 
**  digging,  wafhing  and  melting,  or  any  other  operation 
"  about  the  faid  mines  or  minerals,  as  the  nature  thereof 
<«  requireth  •,  that  then,  the  faid  John  Winthrop,  Efquire, 
**  his  heirs,  affociates,  partners  or  affigns,  fliall  enjoy  for- 
**  everfaid  mines,  with  the  lands,  wood,  timber  and  water 
**  within  two  or  three  miles  of  faid  mines,  for  the  necef- 
**  fary  carrying  on  of  the  works,  and  maintaining  of  the 
**  workmen,  and  provifion  of  coal  for  the  fame.     Provi- 
"  ded  it  be  not  within  the  bounds  of  any   town  already 
**  fettled,  or  any  particular  perfon's  property  j  and  pro- 

*  Auguftus  Harritnan.a  Dutch  trader,  wiUi  his  vcffel,  waa 
feizcd  by  the  people  of  Saybrookfor  illicit  trade  with  the  Indiani. 
The  court  fined  him /i4o  and  confifcated  his  vefTel  and  cargo. 
They  alfo  made  him  giveit  in  writing  under  his  band,  that  he  ha<} 
been  well  treated, 

Cc 


aa2 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  X. 


Boo'c  I. 

X651. 

Settle- 
mcnt  of 
Korwalk 


and  M!-.l- 
dletowii. 


Attempt 

toicltle 

Delaware, 


**  vided  It  be  not  in,  or  bordering  upon  any  place,  that 
"  fhall,  or  may,  by  the  court,  be  judged  fit  to  make  a 
**  plantation  of." 

Though  the  eaftern  and  middle  parts  of  Norwalk  had 
been  purchafed  more  than  ten  years,  yet  tlierc  had  been 
only  a  few  fcattering  inhabitants  within  its  limits.  But 
the  lad  year,  upon  the  petition  of  Nathan  Ely  and  Rich- 
ard Olmflead,  the  court  gave  liberty  for  its  fettlement, 
and  ordained,  that  it  fliould  be  a  town,  by  the  name  of 
Norwalk.  The  weftern  part  of  it  was  purchafed  on 
the  15  th  of  February.  The  inhabitants,  at  this  time, 
eonfiiled  of  about  twenty  families.  About  four  years  af- 
ter, the  general  court  veiled  them  with  town  privileges. 
The  fituation  of  the  place  is  very  agreeable  ;  the  harbour 
is  pleafant  and  fafe,  and  the  lands  rich  yielding  plen- 
teoufly.  The  air  is  uncommonly  healthful  and  falu- 
brious.* 

The  fettlement  of  Mattabefeck  commenced  about  the 
fame  time.  The  principal  planters  were  from  England, 
Hartford,  and  Wethersfield.  The  greateft  number  was 
from  Hartford.  There  was  a  confiderable  accefiion  from 
Rowley,  Chelmsford,  and  Woburn,  in  Maflachufetts. 
By  the  clofe  of  this  year,  it  became  confiderably  fettled. 
In  November  1653,  the  general  court  gave  it  the  nanvc 
of  Middletown.  Twenty  years  after,  the  number  of 
fliares  was  fixed  at  fifty  two.  This  was  the  whole  num- 
ber of  the  houfeholders,  at  that  period,  within  the  town. 

The  agreement  made,  the  laft  year,  with  the  Dutch 
governor,  and  his  profeflions  of  amity,  encouraged  tl>e 
Englifli  to  profecute  the  fettlement  of  the  lands,  which 
they  had  purchafed,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dutch. 

Fifty  men  from  New-Haven  and  Totoket,  made 
preparations  to  fettle  their  lands  at  Delaware.  This 
fpring,  they  hired  a  vefiel  to  tranfport  themfelves  and 
their  effects  into  thofe  parts.  They  had  a  commiflion 
from  Governor  Eaton  j  and  he  wrote  an  amicable  letter 
to  the  Du'tch  governor,  acquainting  him  with  their  de- 
fign  i  afluring  him,  that,  according  to  the   agreement  at 


*  From  the  firft  fettlement  of  the  town  to  i7.u»  a  term  of 
more  than  80  yt-ars,  thtre  was  no  general  fickncfs,  except  the 
meafles,  in  the  town.  Fromijij,  to  1719,  tlieie  died  in  that 
large  town  twelve  perfoRs  only.  Out  of  one  train  band,  cou- 
fifttng  of  a  hundred  men,  there  died  not  one  perfon,  from  1716 
to  17.^0  dtiring  the  term  of  fourteen  years.  Mrs,  Hanford,  re- 
lid  of  the  firll:  minifter  oi  the  town,  died  Sept  nth,  17J0,  aged 
109  years.    Manufcripts  of  the  Rct.  Mofcs  Dickinfon. 


Chap.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  5503 

Hartford,  they  would  fettle  upon  their   own  lands   and  Book  I. 
give  no  difturbance  to  their   neighbours.     A   letter,  of  ^.^rs^^-^kj 
the  fame  import,  was  alfo  addrefled  to  him  from  the  gov-  1651. 
crnor  of  Maflachufetts.     But  no    fooner  had   Governor 
Stuyvefant  received  the  letters,  than  he  arrefted  the  bear- 
ers, and  committed  them   clofe  prifoners,  under   guard. 
Then  fending  for  the  mafter  of  the   veflel  to    come  on  New-Hat- 
fliore,  that  he  might  fpeak   with    him,  he  arrefted   and    cnpeo- 
committed  him.     Others,  as  they  came  on  fhore,  to  vifit  ^  Jf^njji 
and  aflift  their  neighbours,  were  confined  with   them,  b-  ^he 
The  Dutch  governor  defired  to   fee  their   commiflion,  Dutcli 
promifing  it  fhould  be  returned  when  he  had  taken  a  copy,  govcinor. 
But  when  it  was  demanded  of  him  he  would  not  return 
it  to  them.     Nor  would  he  releafe  the   men   from   con- 
finement, until  he  had  forced  them  to  give  it  under    their 
hands,  that  they  would  not  profecute  their  voyage  ;  but, 
without  lofs  of  time,  return  to  New-Haven.     He  threatf 
ened,  that,  if  he  (hould  afterwards  find   any  of  them    at 
Delaware,  he  would  not  only  feize  their  goods,  but  fend 
them  prifoners  into  Holland.     He  alfo  caufed  a   confid- 
erable  part  of  the  eftate  of  the  inhabitants  of  Southamp- 
ton to  be  attached,  and  would  not  fufter  them  to  remove 
it  within  the  jurifdi6lion  of  the  Englifli,     Captain  Tap- 
ping, Mr.  Fordham  and  others  therefore  complained  and 
petitioned  to  the  commiflioners  for  redrefs. 

They  met  this  year  at  New-Haven.     The    members  Commif- 
were  Mr.  Bradftreet  and  Captain  John  Hawthorne,   Mr.  ^'°"f  A 
John  Brown  and  Mr.  Timothy  Hatherly,  Governor  Hop-  Nc^- 
kins  and  Mr.  Ludlow,  Governors  Eaton  and    Goodyear.  Haven 
Governor  Eaton  was  chofen  prcfident.  Sept.  14. 

Jasper  Crane  and  William  Tuttle,  in  behalf  of  them-  Petition 
felves  and  many  others,  inhabitants  of  New  Haven  and  relpcding 
Totoket,  prefented  a  petition  to  the  commiffioners,  com-  Delawarcp 
plaining  of  the  treatment  which  they  had  received  from 
the  Dutch  governor,  and  reprefenting,  that  they  had  fuf- 
tained  more  than  three  hundred  pounds  damage,  befides 
the  infult  and  injury  done  to  the  United  colonies.  They 
fhowed,  that  the  Dutch  had  feized,  and  were  about  to 
fortify,  upon  the  very  lands  which  they  had  bought  of 
the  original  proprietors  at  Delaware  :  That,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  injuftice  and  violence  of  the  Dutch,  the 
New-England  colonies  might  have  been  greatly  enlarged, 
by  fettlements  in  thofe  parts  ;  that  the  gofpel  might  have 
been  publiftied  to  the  natives,  and  much  good  done,  not 
only  to  the  colonies,  at  prefent,  but  to  pofterity.  They 
alfo  reprefented,  that  the  Dutch  were,  by  gifts  and  art. 


204 


THE    HISTORY 


Chip.  X. 


The  coir., 
xniflioners 
remon- 
flrate  and 
protcft 

the  Dutch 
governor. 


RefoUi- 
tion  ref- 

the  fettle- 
merit  of 
Delaware. 


enticing  the  Engli{h  to  nriake  fettlements  under  their  ju- 
rifdidlion.  They  infifted,  that  fufFering  them  thus  to  in- 
fultthe  Enghfli,  and  to  feize  on  lands  to  wliich  they 
could  {hew  no  juft  claim,  would  encourage  them  to  drive 
them  from  their  other  fettlements,  and  to  feize  on  their 
lands  and  property,  whenever  they  pleafed  ;  and  that  it 
would  make  them  contemptible  among  the  natives,  as 
well  as  among  all  other  nations.  TheyprclTed  the  com- 
mifConers  therefore  to  adl  with  fpirit,  and  immediately 
to  redrefs  the  injuries  which  had  been  done  to  them  and 
the  colonies. 

The  commiffioners  neverthelefs  declined  adding  againft 
the  Dutch,  without  previoully  writing,  and  attempting  to 
obtain  redrefs  by  negotiation.  They  wrote  to  Stuyve- 
fant,  infifling,  that  he  had  a<Sled  in  dire£l:  contravention 
of  the  agreement  at  Hartford,  and  noticed,  that,  in  a  let- 
ter to  Governor  Eaton,  he  had  threatened  force  of  arms 
and  bloodfhed  to  any,  who  fliould  go  to  make  fettlements 
upon  their  lands,  at  Delaware,  to  which  he  was  unable 
to  Ihow  any  claim.  They  reprefoited  to  him  how  defi- 
cient it  appeared,  at  Hartford,  not  only  to  the  commif- 
fioners, but  even  to  the  arbitrators  of  his  own  choofing. 
They  charge  him  with  a  breach  of  the  engagement  of 
Mr.  Willet  and  Mr.  Baxter,  in  his  behalf,  with  refpedt 
to  the  reftoration  of  Greenwich  to  the  government  of 
New-Haven.  They  remonflrated  againil  his  condu£l: 
in  imprifoning  the  people  of  New-Haven  and  Totoket, 
in  detaining  their  commiflion,  and  fruftrating  their  voy- 
age j  and  alfo  in  beginning  to  ere£l;  fortifications  upon 
the  lands  of  the  New-Haven  people  at  Delaware.  They 
affirmed,  that  they  had  as  good  a  right  to  the  Manha- 
does,  as  the  Dutch  had  to  thofe  lands.  They  declared, 
that  the  colonies  had  juft  caufe  to  vindicate  and  promote 
their  interefts,  and  to  redrefs  the  injuries  which  had  been 
done  to  their  confederates.  They  protcfted,  that  what- 
ever inconveniences  or  mifchief  might  arifc  upon  it  would 
be  wholly  chargeable  to  his  unneighbourly  and  unjuft 
condudi. 

At  the  fame  time,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  peti- 
tioners, they  refolved,  that  if,  at  any  time,  within  twelve 
months,  they  fhould  attempt  the  fettlement  of  their  lands, 
at  Delaware,  and,  at  their  own  charge,  tranfport  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  or  at  leaft  a  hundred  men,  well  armed, 
with  a  good  veflel  or  veflels  for  fuch  an  enterprife,  with 
a  fufficient  quantity  of  ammunition  ;  and  warranted  by  a 
commiffionfrom  the  authority  atKew-Haven,  thattheiij 


Chap.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  205 

if  they  fliould  meet  with  any  oppofition  from  the  Dutch  Book  I. 
or  Swedes,  they  would  afFoi'd  them  a  fufficient  force  for  v,-or>*^ 
their  defence.     They  alfo  refohed,  that  all  Englifliplan-  ^^5^- 
ters,  at  Delaware,  either  from  New-Haven,  or  any  other 
of  the  United  colonies,  fhould  be  under  the  jurifdi£lion 
of  New-Haven. 

The  Pequots  among  the  Moheagans  and  Narragan-  f,.jijy^e 
fets,  and   thofe    who  had  removed  to  Long-Ifland,  had,  (jemamlcd 
to   this  time,  negle(ned  to  pay   any  part  of  the   ti'ibute,  of  the  Pc« 
which    had  been  ilipulated,  at  Hartford,  in  1638,  upon  <l"<>'s. 
condition,  that  the  Englilh  would  fpare  their  lives  and  de- 
fend them  from  their  enemies.     The  general  court  had 
given  orders,  that  it  fhould  be   collected   forthwith,  and 
had  appointed  Captain  Mafon  to  goto  Long-Illand,  and 
demand  it  of  the  Pequots  there,  as  well  as  of  thofe  in  oth- 
er places. 

Uncas,  with  a  number  of  the  Moheagans,  and   of  f  jj^y  j- 
Ninigrate's  men,  therefore  prefented  himfelf  before  the  mand 
eommiffioners  ;  and,  in   behalf  of  the    Pequots,  paid  a  why  it 
tribute  of  about  three  hundred  fatb.om  of  wampum.     He  ^^^*  ^^' 
then,  in  their  name,  demanded,  why  this  tribute  was  re-  ^""^^  ' 
quired  ?  How  long  it  was  to  continue  ?  And  whether  it 
muft  be  paid  by  the  children  yet  unborn  ? 

The  eommiffioners  anfwered,  that,  by  covenant,  it  had  Anfwer 
been  annually  due  ever  fince  the  year  1638  :  That  after  of  the 
a  jufl  war,  in  which  the  Pequots  were  conquered,  the  commif- 
Englifh,  to   fpare,   as  far  as   might  be,  the  blood  of  the  ^^o"^"^** 
guilty,  accepted  of  a  fmall   tribute,  as  expreffed   in  the 
covenant.     They  infifted,  that  they  had  a  right  to  de- 
mand it  as  a  juft  debt.     They  obferved,  that  twelve  years 
tribute  was  now  due,  reckoning  only  to  the  year  16504 
but  that,  to  fhow  their  lenity,  and  encourage  the  Pequots, 
if  they  would  behave  themfelves  well,  and  pay  the  tri- 
bute agreed  upon,  for  ten  years,   reckoning  from  1650, 
they  would  give  them  all  which  was  due  for  paft  years  j 
and  that,  at  the  expiration  of  the  ten  years,  they  and  their 
children  ihould  be  free.     This,  it  feems,   they  thankful- 
ly accepted,  and  afterwards  became  as  faithful  friends  to 
the  Englifli,  as  the  Moheagans.     They  affifted  them   in 
their  wars  with  other  Indians ;  efpecially,  in  that  agairift 
Philip  and  the  Narraganfets. 

While  the  eommiffioners  were  at  New-Haven,  two  _       > 
French  gentlemen,  Monfieur  Godfrey  and  Monficur  Ga-  ^g^^tt 
briel  Druillets,  arrived  in  the  capacity  of  eommiffioners  from  Can- 
from  Canada.     They  had  been  fent  by  the  French  gov-  ada. 
«rnor,  Monfieur  D'Aillebouti  to  treat  with  the  United 


ao6 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  X. 


Book  I. 

1651. 
Picftnt 
their  00:11- 
mifl'ious. 

Sue  for 
aid  Bgainft 
the  lix  na- 
tions. 


Their  ad- 
drtfs. 


I'cply  of 
the  com- 
iniirion- 
ers 


colonies.  They  prefented  three  commiflions,  one  from 
Monficur  D' Aillebout,  another  from  the  council  of  New- 
France,  and  a  third  to  Monfieur  Gabriel  Druillets,  who 
had  been  authorized  to  publifh  the  doO:rine$  and  duties 
of  chriftianity  among  the  Indians. 

In  behalf  of  the  French  in  Canada,  and  the  chrlftiani- 
2ed  Indians  in  Acadia,  they  petitioned  for  aid  againft 
the  Mohawks  and  warriors  of  the  fix  nations.  They  ur- 
ged, that  the  war  was  juft,  as  the  Mohawks  had  violated 
the  m  jft  folemn  leagues,  and  were  perfidious  and  cruel : 
That  it  was  a  holy  war,  as  the  Acadians  were  converted 
Indians,  and  the  Mohawks  treated  them  barbaroufly,  be- 
CAufe  of  their  chriftianity.  They  infifted,  that  it  was  a 
common  concern  to  the  French  and  Englifh  nations,  as 
the  war  with  the  fix  nations  interrupted  the  trade  of  both, 
with  the  Indians  in  general. 

Monsieur  Druillets  appeared  to  be  a  man  of  addrefs. 
He  opened  the  cafe  to  the  befb  advantage,  difplaying  all 
his  art,  and  employing  his  utmoft  ability  to  perfuade  the 
commiirioners  to  engage  in  the  war  againft  the  fix  nations. 
He  urged,  that,  if  they  would  not  confent  to  join  in  the 
wax,  they  would  at  lead,  permit  the  enliftment  of  volun- 
teers, in  the  United  colonies,  for  the  French  fervice ; 
and  grant  them  a  free  paflage  through  the  colonies,  by 
land  or  water,  as  the  cafe  might  require,  to  the  Mohawk 
country.  He  alfo  pleaded,  that  the  cliriftianized  Indians 
might  be  taken  under  the  prote(flion  of  the  United  colo- 
nies. He  made  fairpromifes  of  the  ample  compenfation 
which  the  French  would  make  the  colonies  for  thefe  fer- 
yices.  He  reprefented,  that,  if  tliefe  points  could  be 
gained,  they  would  enter  immediately  upon  a  treaty,  for 
the  eftablifhment  of  a  free  trade  between  the  Frencli  and 
Engliili  in  all  parts  of  America. 

The  reply  of  the  commilTioners  exhibits  policy  and 
prudence  •,  fhowing,  that  they  were  not  ignorant  of 
men,  nor  of  the  arts  of  negotiation.  They  anfwered, 
that  they  looked  upon  fuch  Indians,  as  had  received  the 
yoke  of  Christ,  with  another  eye,  than  upon  thofe  who 
worfliipped  the  devil  :  That  they  pitied  the  Acadians, 
butfaw  noway  to  help  them,  without  expofing  the  Eng- 
lifh colonies,  and  their  own  neighbouring  Indians,  to 
war  :  And  that  fome  of  thofe  Indians  profefTed  chrif- 
tianity no  lefs  than  the  Acadians.  They  obferved,  that 
it  was  their  defire,  by  all  juft  means,  to  keep  peace  with 
all  men  even  with  thefe  barbarians  -,  and  that  they  had 
no  occafion  for  war  with  the  Mohawks  j  who,  in  the  war 


Chap.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         207 

with  the  Pcquots,  had  (hown  a  real  refpeiCl  to  the  Englifh  Book  L 
colonies  ;  and  had  never  fince  committed  any  hoftility  v.>'V'>»^ 
againft  them.  They  declared  their  readinefs  to  perform  1651. 
all  offices  of  righteoufnefs,  peace,  and  good  neighbour- 
hood towards  the  French  colony  ;  yet,  that  they  could 
not  permit  the  enliiling  of  volunteers,  nor  the  marching 
of  the  French  and  their  Indians  through  the  colonies, 
without  giving  grounds  of  offence  and  war  to  the  Mo- 
hawks, and  expofing  both  themfelves  and  the  Indians 
whom  they  ought  to  protect.  They  obferved,  that  the 
Englifh  engaged  in  no  war  until  they  were  fatisfied,  that 
it  was  juft  j  nor  until  peace  had  been  oflered,  on  reafon- 
able  terms,  and  had  been  refufed  :  That  the  Mohawks 
were  neither  in  fubjeclion  to  the  Englifli,  nor  in  league 
with  them  ;  fo  that  they  had  no  means  of  informing 
themfelves  what  they  could  fay  in  their  own  vindica- 
tion. They  alfo  aflured  the  French  ambafladors,  that 
they  were  exceedingly  difTatisficd  with  that  mifchievous 
trade,  which  the  French  and  Dutch  had  carried  on,  and 
ftill  continued  with  the  Indians,  in  vending  them  arms 
jmd  amn\unition,  by  which  they  were  encouraged,  and 
made  infolent,  not  only  againft  the  chriftian  Indiang  and 
catechumens,  but  againft  all  chriftians,  in  Europe,  as 
well  as  America.  But  if  all  other  difficulties  were  re- 
moved, they  reprefented,  they  had  no  fuch  fhort  and 
convenient  pailage,  by  land  or  water,  as  might  be  had 
byHudfon's  river  to  fort  Aurania  and  beyond,  inthepof- 
feffion  of  the  Dutch.  They  concluded,  by  obferving, 
that  the  honored  French  deputies,  as  they  conceived, 
had  full  powers  to  fettle  a  free  trade  between  theEnglifli 
and  French  colonies  -,  but  if,  for  reafons  beft  known  to 
themfelves,  it  was  defigned  to  limit  the  Englifh,  by  the 
fame  reftraints  and  prohibitions  to  which  the  unprivileged 
French  were  fubje6led  ;  not  fuflering  them  to  trade,  un- 
til they  had  obtained  a  particular  licence  from  the  gov- 
ernor and  company  of  New-France,  they  muft  wait  a 
more  favorable  opportunity  for  negotiation.  Such  an 
opportunity,  whenever  it  fliould  offer,  they  intimated 
they  fliould  readily  embrace.* 

The  commiffioners,  apprehending  that  there  was  Ht- Letter  to 
tie  profpetl  of  obtaining  a  rcdrefj  of  their  grievances,  Mr.  Winf- 
from  the  Dutch,  by  remonftrance  and  negotiation,  wrote  '°^* 
to  Mr.  Winflow,  agent  for  Maflachufetts  in  England,  on 
the  fubjecl.     They  reprefented  the  claims  and  rights  of 

*  Records  of  the  United  colonics. 


ao8  THEHISTORY  Chap.  X 

Book  I.  the  colonies,  and  the  injuries  which  they  fuffered  from 
V-.^W*/  the  Dutch.  They  infifted>  that  their  condu£l  was  a 
i(>5^'  high  aiFront,  not  only  to  the  colonies,  but  to  the  honor 
of  the  Englifh  nation.  They  defired  Mr.  Winflow  to 
enquire  how  the  parHament  and  council  of  ftate  efteemed 
the  ancient  patents,  and  how  any  engagements  of  the  co- 
lonies, Qgainft  the  Dutch,  for  the  defence  of  their  rights, 
would  be  viewed  by  the  parliament.  It  was  defired,  that 
he  would  give  them  the  earlieft  information  on  the  fub- 

jea. 

p    J  The  people  at  New-Haven  per  filled  in  their  purpofe 

Mafo'n  in-  of  making,  if  poflible,  a  permanent  fettlement  upon  their 

vited  to      lands  at  Delaware.     They  were  fenfible,   that  fuch  wag 

remove  to  the  fituation  of  their  affairs,  that  a   leader,  who  was  not 

liclaware.  ^^^jy  ^  politician,  but  a  man  of  known  courage,  military 

Ikill  and  experience,  would  be  of  great  importance  to  the 

enterprife.     They  therefore  made  application  to  Captain 

Mafon  to  remove  with  them  to  Delaware,   and  take  on 

him  the  management  of  the  company.     They  made  him 

fuch  offers,   that  it  feems  he  had  a  defign  of  leaving  the 

colony,  and  putting  himfelf  at  the  head  of  the  Englilh 

fettlements  in  thofe  parts.     But  the  general  court,  at 

Connecticut,  would  by  no  means  confent.     They  unan- 

imoufly  defired  him  to  entertain  no  thoughts  of  changing 

his  fituation.     This  appears  to  have  prevented  his  going, 

and  to  have  fruftrated  the  defign. 

The  grand  lift  of  the  colony  appears  this  year,  for  the 
Lift  of  the  fjj^  time,  upon  the  records.     There  are  the  lifts  of  feven 
0<Jt"qth     towns  only.     The  others  either  paid  no  taxes,  or  their 
lifts  were  not  completed  and  returned.     The  amount  of 
the  whole   was  ^^75,492  t  i© :  6.     It   appears  that  the 
towns,  at  this  period,  were  not,  upon  an  average,  more 
than  equal  to  our  common  parifhes  at  this  day. 
Eleflion,         At  the  general  eledion,  in  Connecticut,  in  1652,  the 
Way  20,     former  magiftrates  were  re-ele61:ed. 
*^'5*'  The    commencement  of  hoftilities,   the   laft  year, 

between  England  and  Holland,  the  perfidious  manage- 
ment of  the  Dutch  governor,  with  apprehenfions  of  the 
rifing  of  the  Indians,  fpread  a  general  alarm  through  the 
colony. 
-  ^  .  The  aflembly  convened  on  the  30th  of  June,  and 
"*  '  adopted  feveral  meafures  for  the  common  fafety.  Orders 
were  given,  that  the  cannon  at  Saybrook  fliould  be  well 
mounted  on  carriages  ;  that  the  fort  fhould  be  fuppHed 
with  ammunition  ;  and  that  the  inhabitants,  who  were 
fcattercd  abroad,  fliould  goUe<^  their  families  into  it,  aqd 


CHAP.  X.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  G  U  T.  iop 

hold  themfelves  in  the  beft  Hate  of  readinefs  for  their  Book  I^ 
common  defence.  K^^'\'^^ 

The  Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  thefeveral  plantations,  1653. 
within  the  colony,  were  required  to   give  teflimony  of  Im''ahsre- 
their  friendfliip  and  fidelity  to  the  Englifli,  by  delivering  qu"'«^<^to 
up  their  arms  to  the  governor  and  magiftrates.     Thofe  fhe^rarms 
who  refufed  were  to  be  confidcred  as  enemies.  April 

Stuyvesant,  the  Dutch  governor,  made  no  fatisfac-  1653. 
tion  for  pail  injuries  ;  but  added  new  infults  and  griev- 
ances to  thofe  which  were  paft.  He  again  revived  the 
claims  which  he  had  renounced  at  Hartford  ;  and  though 
he  reftrained  the  Dutch  from  open  hoftility,  yet  he  ufed 
all  his  arts  with  the  Indians  to  engage  them  to  maflacre 
the  Englifh  colonifts. 

A  DISCOVERY  was  made,  in  March,  that  he  was  con- 
federate with  the  Indians,  in  a  plot  for  the  extirpation  of 
the  Englifh  colonies.     An  extraordinary  meeting  of  the 
commilfioners  was  called  upon  the  occafion.     It  confided  j^prli 
of  Governor    Endicot,   Mr.  Wm.  Hawthorne,     Wm.  19th, 
Bradford,  Efquire,  Mr.  John  Brown,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Cap-  Commif. 
tain  Cullick,    Governor  Eaton  and    Captain  John   Aft-  h^ners 
wood.     Governor  Endicot  was  chofen  prefident. 

Upon  a  clofe  attention  to  the  reports  which  had  been 
fpread,  and  a    critical    examination  of  the  evidence,  all 
the  commiHioners,  except   thofe  of  the   Mafl'achufetts, 
were  of  the  opinion,   that  there  had  been  a  horrid  and 
execrable  plot,  concerted  by  the  Dutch  governor  and  the  Plot  of  the 
Indians,  for  the  deftruftion  of   the  Englilh   colonies. —  Dutch 
Ninigrate,  it  appeared,  had  fpentthe  winter,  at  the  Man-  ^P<^I'^- 
hadoes,  with  Stuyvefant,  on  the  bufinefs.     He  had  been 
over  Hudfon's   river,  among  the  weftern   Indians  ;  pro- 
cured a  meeting  of  the  faqjiems  ;  made  ample   declara- 
tiojis  againft  the  Englifli  j  and  folicited  their  aid  againft 
the  colonies .     He  was  brought  back,  in  the  fpring,  in  a 
Dutch  floop,  with  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  Dutch 
governor.      The  Indians,  for  fome   hundreds  of  miles.  Evidence 
appeared  to  be   difaffe£led  and  hoftlle.     Tribes,  which  of  it. 
before  had  been  always  friendly  to  the  Englifh,  became 
inimical ;  and  the  Indians  boafted,  that  they  were  to  have 
goods  from  the   Dutch,  at  half  the   price  for  which  the 
Englifh  fold  them ;  and   powder  as   plenty  as    the  fand. 
The  Long-Ifland  Indians  teftified  to  the  plot.     Nine 
fachems,  who   lived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dutch,  fent 
their  united  teflimony  to  Stamford,  "  that  the  Dutch 
"  governor  had  folicited  them,  by  promifing  them  guns,  March  17 

D  d 


iid  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Cha?.  X. 

Book  I.   "  powder,  fwords,  wampum,  coats,  and  walft-coats,  to 

v.^-v^v-/  "  cut  off  the  Englifli.'*     The  meflcngers,  who  werefentj 

i6jj.         declared,  "  they  were  as    the  m.outh  of  the  nine    faga- 

««  mores  who  ail    fpalce,  they  would  not  lie."     One  of 

the   nine   fachems  afterwards  came    to  Stamford,  with 

other  Indians,    and   teftified   the  fame.     The  plot  wa5 

confelTed  by  a  Wampcag  and  a  Narraganfet  Indian  ;  and 

was  confirmed  by  Indian  teftimonies  from  all  quarters.* 

It  was  expefted,    that  a  Dutch  fleet  would  arrive,   and 

that  ti.e  Dutch  and  Indians  would  unite  in    the  deftruc- 

tion  of  the  Englifh  plantations.      It  was  rumored,  that 

the  time  for    the  maflacre  was  fixed  upon  the  day  of  the 

public   ele£lion,  when   the  freemen  would  be  generally 

from  home. 

Alarm  and      "The  country    was    exceedingly  alarmed ;    efpecially 

diftitfsof  Conne£l:icut    and    New-Haven.      They   were     greatly 

the  colo-     hindered  in  their  ploughing,  fowingj,  planting,  and  in  all 

jiicB.  their    affairs.      They  were  worn 'down  with  conftant 

watching  and  guarding,  and  put  to  great  expenfe  for  the 

\  common  fafety. 

Six  of  the  commiffioners-were  fatisfied,  that  they  had 
juft  grounds  of  war  with  the  Dutch.  They  drew  up  a 
general  declaration  of  their  grievances,  for  the  fatisfadlion 
of  the  people.  They  alfo  ftated  the  evidence  they  had  of 
the  confpiracy,  which  they  fuppofed  was  then  in  hand. 
They  determined  neverthelefs,  before  they  commenced 
hoflilities  againft  the  Dutch,  to  acquaint  the  governor 
with  the  dilcovery  which  they  had  made,  and  to  give  him 
an  opportunity  of  anfwering  for  himfelf. 

In  the  mean  time  letters  arrived  from  the  Dutch 
governor,  in  which  he  appeared,  with  great  confidence, 
abfolutely  to  deny  the  plot  wiiich  had  been  charged  upon 
him.  He  offered  to  go  or  fend  to  Bofton  to  clear  his 
innocence  •,  or  defired  that  fome  perfons  might  be  depu- 
ted and  fent  to  the  Majihadoes,  to  examine  the  charges  and 
receive  his  anfwers.  Other  letters  arrived  at  the  fame 
time  confirming  the  evidence  of  the  confpiracy,  and 
reprefenting,  that  the  Indians  were  haflened  to  carry  it 
into  execution. 
Agents  The  commifTioners  determined  to  fend  agents  to  the 

diffitc*-   governor  J  and   with  the  utmolt- difpatch  made  choice  of 
ci'  to  tl  c    Prancis  Newman,  one  of  the  magiflrates  of  New-Haven, 
eovc^rncr    ^"P^^"^  John  Leveret,  afterwards  governor  of  MalTaChu- 
fetts,  and  Mr.  William  Davis.     They  veiled  tliem  with 


*  Records  of  the  United  colonies. 


Chap.  X.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         aii 

plenary  powers  to  examine  the  whole  affair,  and  to  re-  Book  I. 
celve  the  governor's  anfwer,  according  to  his  own  v.-ons^ 
propofals.   -  1653. 

Stuyvesant,  in   his  letters,  pretended  to  exprefs  his  I-etteis  to 
admiration,  that  the  Englifli  (hould  give  credit  to  Indian  v^."^  ^"^ 
teflimony-     The  commifiioners  therefore,  in  their  reply,  ^.-,1^ 
charged    him   with  making  ufe    of  heathen  teftimony 
^gainfl:    New-Haven  ;     and   obferved,    that    Kieft,     his 
predeceflbr,    had    ufed    Indian    teftimonies   againft   the 
Englifli   in  a  flrange  manner,  in  a   cafe  of  treafon,  and 
life  or  death.     They  alfo  acquainted  him  with  the  bloody 
ufe  which  the  Dutch  governor  and  his  council  had  made 
of  the  confeflion  of  the  Japanefe,  againft  Captain  Tower- 
fon  and  the  Englifli    chriftians  at   Amboyna,  though   it 
was  extorted  by  torture. 

They  wrote  to  Monfieur  Montague  and  Captain 
Newton,  who  were  of  the  Dutch  governor's  council, 
that  his  protellations  of  innocence  gave  them  no  fatisfac- 
tion.  They  charged  the  fifcal,-]-  as  well  as  the  governor, 
with  the  plot.  They  ftated  their  grievances,  demanded 
fatisfaftion  for  paft  injuries,  and  fecurity  for  the  future. 

While  their  agents  wejre  employed  at  the  Manhadoes, 
they  determined  on  the  number  of  men  to  be  raifed,  in  T'^^^f'*.*® 
cafe  of  a  war.  For  the  firfl:  expedition  they  refolved  to 
fend  out  five  hundred  ;  and  appointed  Captain  Leveret 
to  the  chief  command.  They  alfo  determined,  that, 
fhould  they  engage  in  war  with  the  Dutch,  the  commif- 
fioners  of  the  United  colonies  fliould  meet  at  New-Haven, 
to  give  all  necclTary  diredlions  refpedting  the  expedition, 
and  to  order  the  war  in  general. 

Notwithstanding  the  fair   propofals  which   Gov- The 
ernor  Stuyvefant  had   made„he  would  fubmit  to  no  ex- Dutch 
amination,  by  the  aeents,  any  further  than  a  committee  governor 
of  his  own  appointing  fliould  confent.     Two  of  the  com-  amination 
mittee  were  perfons    who  had   been    complained  of  for 
mifdemeanors,  at  Hartford  ;  and  one  of  them   had  been 
laid  under  bonds  for  his  crimes.     The  agents  conceived, 
that  the  very  propofal   of  fuch    perfons  as  a   committee 
was  a  high  affront  to  them,  to  the  United   colonies,   and 
to   the  Englifli  nation.     Befides,  the    Dutch  governor 
would  not  fuffer  the  witneffes  to  fpeak  unlefs  they  were 
previoufly  laid  under  fuch  refl:raints  as  would   prevent  al} 
benefit  from  their  evidence.   The  agents  not  only  obje£k- 
«4   to  the  committee,  and  declined  all  conne(3iioa  with 

t  That  is,  the  treafurer. 


212 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  X. 


Agents 
rtiurn. 


Magif- 
trates  cf 
3SJew-Ha- 
ven. 


Commif- 

fioners 
yntet  a- 
gain. 


Agents 
xnakc  re- 
pot t. 


them,  but  remonftrated  againft  the  reftraints  propofed  to 
be  laid  on  the  witnefles.  Finding,  that  nothing  could 
be  effected  with  refpe61:  to  the  deiign  of  their  agency,  they, 
in  a  fpirited  manner,  demanded  fatibfa£lion  for  infults 
and  injuries  paft,  and  fecurity  againft  future  abufe,  and 
took  leave  of  the  Manhadoes. 

As  they  returned,  they  took  various  tefllmonies  re- 
fpeiling  the  plot  •,  fomc  from  the  Indians,  and  others 
from  the  Englifli,  fworn  before  proper  authority.  Before 
their  return,  the  com mifhoners  were  difperfed,  and  the 
general  ele6tions  were  finifhed.  The  courts  at  Conneft- 
icut  and  New-Haven  voted  their  refpeftive  quotas  of 
men,  appointed  their  officers,  and  gave  orders,  that  all  ne- 
cefTary  preparations  fhould  be  made  for  the  defigned  ex- 
pedition. 

On  the  election  at  Hartford,  the  former  officers  were 
rcchofen.  The  time  of  election,  at  New-Haven,  had 
been  changed  from  October  to  May  ;  and  this  year  was 
on  the  25th  of  the  month.  The  governors  were  the 
fame  as  they  had  been  for  feveral  years,  Eaton  and  Good- 
year. The  magiftrates  were  Mr.  William  Fowler,  Mr. 
John  Aftwood,  William  Leet,  Efquire,  Mr.  Jofhua  At- 
water,  and  Mr.  Francis  Newman.  Mr.  Atwater  was 
treaiurer,  and  Mr.  Newman,  fecretary. 

Immediately  on  the  return  of  the  agents,  from  the 
Manhadoes,  the  general  court  of  Mailachufettsfummoned 
another  extraordinary  meeting  of  the  commiffioners,  at 
Boflon,  about  the  laft  of  May.  The  commiffioners  were 
all  the  fame  who  compofed  the  laft  meeting,  except  Mr. 
Bradftrect  in  the  room  of  Governor  Endicot,  who  was 
obliged  to  attend  the  general  court. 

The  agents  made  report  of  the  treatment  which  they 
had  received  from  the  Dutch,  and  of  fuch  evidence  as 
they  had  taken  of  the  plot  on  tlieir  return.  The  com- 
miffioners were  alfo  certified,  that  the  Indians,  on  Long- 
illand,  had  cliarged  the  fifcal  with  the  plot  j  and  that 
Captain  Underbill,  having  reported  what  the  Indians  de- 
clared, was  feized  and  carried  by  a  guard  of  foldiers  from 
Fluftiing  to  the  Manhadoes,  where  he  was  confined  by 
the  fifcal  until  what  he  had  reportetl  was  affirmed  to  his 
face.  Then  he  was  difmiffed  without  trial,  and  all  his 
charges  borne.  No  fooner  had  the  agents  taken  their  de- 
parture from  the  Manhadoes,  than  the  captain,  becaufe 
he  had  been  a£live  in  exhibiting  the  evidence  of  the 
Dutch  and  Indian  confpiracy,  notwithftanding  all  the  im- 
portant fervices  he  had  rendered  the  Dutch,  was  ordered! 


Chap.X.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  1  C  U  T.  213 

to   depart.     The  commiiTioners  received  a  lettsr   from  Book  I. 
him,   May   24th,   reprefenting   the   extreme   danger  in  K.yY'>J 
which  he  and  all  the  Engliih  were,  alluring  them,  that  as  ^^S3' 
neceflity  had  no  law,  he  had,  like  Jcptha,  put  his  life  in 
his   hand    to    fave    Englifli  blood  ;     and    that    he    was 
waiting  their  orders,  with  loyalty  to  them   and  the   par- 
liament, to    vindicate   the   rights    of   the  nation.     The 
Dutch  demanded,  that  all  the  Englifh  among  them  {hould 
take  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  them.     This,  in    cafe  of  war, 
might  have  obliged  them  to  fight  againfl   their  own  na- 
tion. 

The  people  of  Hempfted,  at  the  fame  time,  repre- 
fented,  that  they  were  in  the  utmoft  danger,  and  wrote, 
in  the  moft  preffing  manner,  for  arms  and  ammunition  to 
defend  themfelves.  Letters  were  alfo  fent  from  Connefti- 
cut  and  New-Haven,  with  intelligence,  that  the  Dutch 
governor,  by  prefents  of  wampum,  coats,  and  other  arti- 
cles, was  exciting  the  Mohawks  and  various  Indian 
tribes  to  rife  and  attack  the  Eng^ilh,  both  onLong-lfland 
and  on  the  main. 

A  LONG  letter  from  the  Dutch  governor  was  alfo  re- 
ceived, in  which,  in  general  terms,  he  excufed  himfelf 
relative  to  the  plot ;  but  he  gave  no  encouragement  of  the 
leaft  fatisfadlion,  in  a  fingle  inftance  j  or  that  the  colo- 
nies fhould  be  more  fafe  from  injury  and  infult  for  the 
future.  Indeed,  he  ftill  infulted  them  j  renewing  the 
claims  both  to  Connedlicut  and  New-Haven,  which  he 
had  given  up  at  Hartford. 

All  the  commiffioners,  excepting  Mr.  Bradftreet,  vo- 
ted for  war  againft  the  Dutch.     He  was  under  the  influ-  The  csm- 
ence  of  the   general  court  of   Maflachufetts,  who   were  miffioners 
ufing  all  their  arts  to  oppofe  the  commiflioners,  and  pre-  ^'^ 
vent  open  hoftility.     The  commiflioners,    however,   fo 
ftrenuoufly  urged  the  juftice  and  neceflity  of  an  immedi- 
ate war  with  the  Dutch,  and  fo  fpiritedly  remonflirated 
againfl:  the  condu£l  of  the  court,  as  violators   of  the  arti« 
cles  of  union,  that  they  appointed  a  committee  of  confer- 
ence with  them.     They  defired,  that  a  ftatement  of  the 
csUe  might  be  made,  and  the  advice  of  the  elders  taken 
on  the  fubje£l.     The  committee  of  the  court  were  Ma- 
jor Denifon  and  Captain  Leveret. 

The  commiflioners  replied,  that  their  former  declara- 
tion, their  letter  to  the  Dutch  governor,  and  the  evi- 
dence before  them,  afforded  clear  and  fufficient  light  in 
the  affair.  Neverthelefs  they  appointed  Captain  Haw- 
thorne, Mr.  Bradford,  and  Governor  Eaton  a  committee 


214  THEHISTORY  Chap.  X. 

Book  I.    to  confer  with  the  gentlemen  appointed  by  the  court. 

«»*<'v*«^     Governor  Eaton  drew  a  ftate  of  the  cafe,  in  behalf  of  ihp 

1653.         committee  of  the  commiiuoners.     The  committee  fron:> 

the  general   court  would  not  confent  to  it,  but  drew  a 

ftatement  of  their  own.      Under  the  influence  of  the 

r  general  court,  and    the  difierent   reprefentation  which 

the  elders,  their  committee  had  made,  the  elders  gave  their  opinion : 

"  That  the  proofs  and  prefumptions  of  the  execrable 

*<  plot,  tending  to  the  deftrudliou  of  fo  many  of  the  dear 

«<  faints  of  God,  imputed  to  the  Dutch  governor  and  the 

«*  fifcal,  v/ere  of  fuch  weight  as  to  induce  them  to  be- 

*<  lieve  the  reality  of  it ;  yet  they  were  not  fo  fully  con- 

«  clufive  as  to   clear  up  a  prefent  proceeding  to  war  be- 

*'  fore  the  world  ;  and  to  bear  up  their  hearts  with  thaj: 

*'  fulnefs  of  pcrfuafion  which  was  meet  in  commending 

«*  the  cafe  to  God,  in  prayer,  and  to  the  people  in  exLor- 

"  tations ;  and  that  it  would  be  fafelt  for    the  colonic? 

<*  to  forbear  the  ufe  of  the  fwcrd  ;  but  advifed  to  be  in  z 

<*  pollure  of  defence  and  readinefs  for  action  until  th? 

*'  mind  of  God  fhould  be  more  clearly    known,  either 

*«  for  a  more  fettled  peace,  or  manifeft  grounds  of  war.'* 

It  feems,  that  the  affair  was  very  partially  referred  tQ 

the  minifters,  whether  the  evidence  of  the  plot  was  fp 

clear  ss  to  warrant  a  war  j  whereas  this  was  but  one  cir- 

cumllance  among  many,  which  might  render  it  juft  an4 

necelTary.     Thefe  ought  to  have  been  confidered  no  lefs 

than  the  other.     The  deputies  of  the  court  concurrei^ 

with  the  clergy. 

In  the  mean  time,   all  the  commiflioners,  except  Mr. 
Governor  Bra^K^reet,  continued  determined    for   war.     Governor 
rcprefcn      Eaton  infilled,  that  the  Dutch  had,  for  many  years,  dur-^ 
tation  of     ing  a   fucceflion    of  governors,    multiplied  hijuries  an4 
the  Dutch  hoftile  affronts,  with  treachery  and  falfehood,  againft  the 
eonduct.    ^^glifh,  to  their  very  great  damage  :  That  thefe  injuries 
had  been  fully  and  repeatedly  reprefented   to  them,  and 
fatisfa£l:ion  demanded  ;  yet  that  nothing  had  been  receiv- 
ed, in  return,  but   dilatory,  falfe,  and   offenfive  anfvvers. 
He  obfcrved,  that  the   governor  and   his  affociates  had 
been  formerly  fufpeiSted   and  accufed  of  inftigating   the 
Indians  againft  the  Englifh  ;  and  that  now  a  treacherojijs 
and  bloody  plot  had  been  difcovered,   and  charged  upon 
him  and  his  fifcal,  by  more  witreffes  than  could  have 
been  expelled  ;  that  by  it  the  peace  of  the  country   had 
been  dilturbed,  their   own  lives,  the  lives   of  their  chil- 
dren and  all  their  connections  had  been  in  conftant  jeopr 
ardy  :  That  though  they  had  allowed    the  Dutch  gover- 
nor a  fair  opportunity  of  clearing  himfelf?  of  making  fat- 


GHAf.  X       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  215 

isfa6liofl>  tnd  feCufing  the  colonics  for  the  future ;  yet  Book  I. 
that,  by  his  condu6t,  he  had  increaftd  tlie  evidence  of  his  v-x-v'>»/ 
guilt  i  and  that  he  bad  given  the  colonies  no  fecuiity  for  1653. 
their  future  peace  and  lafcty  ;  nor  had  they  the  lead  rea- 
fon  to  expedl  them.  He  infilled,  that  the  Englilli,  un- 
der the  jurifdidion  of  the  Dutch,  were  in  the  moft  im- 
mediate danger,  not  only  from  them,  but  the  Indians 
through  their  mftigation  -,  becaufe  they  would  not  fub- 
ftiit  to  an  oath  to  join  with  them  in  fighting  againft  their 
own  nation.  He  urged,  that  the  infolence,  treachery, 
and  bitter  enmity,  which  the  Dutch  had  manifefted 
aga'nft  the  nation  of  England,  and  all  the  Englifh  abroad, 
as  they  had  opportunity,  w*ere  fufficient  to  aflure  them, 
that,  as  foon  as  the  States  General  Ihould  be  able  to  fend 
&  fmall  fleet  to  the  Manhadoes,  the  colonies  could  not  be 
fafe,  either  in  their  perfons  or  property,  by  land  or  fea. 
He  further  infirtcd,  that  the  ftate  of  the  commonwealth 
of  England  and  of  the  colonies  was  fuch  as  called  for  war  ; 
and  that,  if  either  of  the  colonies  (hould  refufe  to  join  in 
it,  againft  the  common  enemy,  and  if  any  of  the  planta- 
tions, through  fuch  refufal,  fhould  be  deftroyed,  the 
guilt  of  fuch  blood  would  lie  upon  them.f 

Some  faithful  people  in  the  Maflachufetts   were  en-  ._    _- 
tirely  oppofed  to  the  cOndutl:  of  their  general  court,  and  ^jg  pleads 
ventured  to  exprefs  their  opinion.     The   Reverend"  Mr.  for  war. 
Norris  of  Salem  fent  a  writing   to  the    commiflioners, 
reprefenting  the  neceffity  of  a  war.    He  urged,  that  if  the 
colonies,  in    their   then    prefcnt  circumftances,  (hould 
negle£l  to  engage  in  it,  it  would  be  a  declaration  of  their 
iieutrality  i:'.  the  conteft  ;  might  be  viewed  in   that  light     ^^  ^*' 
by  the  parliament ;  and  be  of  great  and  general  diflervice 
to  their  interefts  :  That  the  fpending  of  fo  much  time  in 
parlies  and  treaties,  after  all  the  injuries  they  had  received, 
and  while  the  enemy  was  infultingthem,    and  fortifying 
againft  them,  would  make  them  contemptible  among  the 
Indians  :  That  it  wzb  dilhonoring  God,  in   whom   they 
profefled  to  traft,  and    bringing  a    fcandal   upon  them- 
felves.     He  infifted,  that  as  their  brethren  had  fent  their 
moan  to  them,  and  defired  their  afliftance,  if  they  (hould. 
refufe,  the  curfe  of  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  againft  Meroz 
would  come  upon  them.     This,  he  faid,  he  prefented  in 
the  name  of  many  penfive  hearts*  _ 

But  nothing  could  induce  the    Maflachufetts  to  unite  ti^J  '7thc 
xi'ith  their  brethren,  in  a  war  againft  the  Dutch.     The  general 

general  court,  in  dire£l:  violation  of  che  articles  of  con-  cfurt  of 

.,  M^lTichu^ 

+  Records  of  the  United  colonjes.  fcltS. 

*  Kecords  of  the  United  colouieSi 


2t6 


THE    HISTORY 


CSAP.  X. 


Book  I. 
1653. 


Refolu- 
tion  of  the 
General 
court  at 
ConnciSi- 
cut. 
June  ZS' 


Confer 
with 

New-Ha- 
▼cn. 


Cotnmif- 
fioncrs 
meet 
Sept.  II. 


federation,  refolved,  that  no  determination  of  the  com- 
miflioners,  though  they  fhould  all  agree,  (hould  bind  the 
general  court  to  join  in  an  ofFenfive  war,  which  fhould 
appear  to  fuch  general  court  to  be  unjuft.  This  declara- 
tion gave  great  uneafmefs  to  the  commiflioners,  and  to 
the  fifter  colonies.  Indeed  it  nearly  effected  a  difTolu- 
tion  of  their  union. 

The  'CommifFioners,  finding  that  the  Maflachufetts 
would  not  fubmit  to  their  determination,  nor  afford  any 
afhilance  to  her  confederates,  diflblved. 

In  this  important  crifis,  Governor  Haynes  called  a  fpe- 
cial  court,  on  the  25th  of  June.  The  court  refolved, 
that  the  fears  and  diftrefles  of  the  Englifli,  bordering  upon 
the  Dutch,  and  the  damages  which  they  had  fuftained, 
fhould  be  forthwith  reprefented  to  the  magiftrates  in 
Mafl'achufetts  :  That  the  opinion  of  the  court,  refpefting 
the  power  of  the  commiflioners  to  make  war,  and  the  rea- 
fons  of  their  opinion,  fliould  be  communicated.  They 
alfo  determined,  that  their  meflengers  fhould  humbly 
pray,  that  war  might  be  carried  on  againll  the  Dutch,  ac- 
cording to  the  determination  of  the  commiflioners.  The 
meflengers  were  infl:ru£l:ed,  to  ufe  their  influence,  that 
three  magiftrates  might  have  power  to  call  a  meeting  of 
the  CommifFioners,  at  Hartford  or  New-Haven,  to  con- 
du£l  the  affairs  of  the  war,  as  occafion  might  require. 
If  tins  could  not  be  obtained  they  were  to  defire,  that  lib- 
erty might  be  given  to  enlift  volunteers,  in  the  MafTa- 
chufetts,  for  the  defence  of  the  colonies. 

Governor  Haynes  and  Mr.  Ludlow  were  appointed 
to  confer  with  Governor  Eaton  and  his  council  on  the 
fubje6l.  The  court  at  New-Haven  were  no  lefs  clear 
and  unanimous,  in  the  opinion  of  the  power  of  the  com- 
milfloners  to  declare  war  and  make  peace,  than  the  gen- 
eral court  at  Connecticut  j  and  that  all  the  colonies 
were  abfolutely  bound  by  their  determination.  Both 
colonies  united  in  fending  the  meflengers,  and  in  the 
purport  of  their  meffage.  But  nothing  more  could  be 
obtained,  than  the  calling  of  another  meeting  of  the  com- 
miflioners at  Bofton.  t  - 

They  met  on  the  1 1  th  of  September.  The  refolutions 
of  the  general  courts  of  Connedlicut  and  New-Haven 
were  produced,  exprefflng  their  entire  approbation  of 
the  determination  of  the  commiffioners,  and  remonftra- 
ting  againfl  the  declaration  of  the  general  court  of  Maf- 
fachufctts,  and  the  fenfe  which  they  had  put  on  ths  ar- 
ticles of  confederation. 


Chap.  X.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  217 

The  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  returned  an  an-  Book  I. 
fwer  to  this  efFe£t,  th«t  fince  their  brethren  of  the   other  \^^^y>^ 
colonies  had  apprehenfions  different   from    theirs,    they  ^^-53* 
judged  it  might  conduce  mod  to  peace  to  wave  the  point 
in  controverfy.     At  the  fame  time  they   imtimated  they 
had  no  occafion  to  anfwer  them. 

The  commiffioners  refufed  to  accept  this  as  an  anfwer.  Rejeft 
They  infifted,  that  they  had  ample  powers,    from  all    the  the  an- 
other colonies,  to  determine,  in  all  affairs  of  peace   and  v'^'^ 
war  ;  and  that  this  was  confident  with    the  grammatical  eral  court 
and  true  fenfe  of  the   articles  of  confederation.     They  of  Mafla- 
infifted,  that  it  was  totally   inconfiftent,   not  only  with  chufetts. 
the  articles  of  union,  but  with  the  welfare  of  the   colo-  Alterca- 
nies,  that  they  (hould  be  at  fo  much  expenfe  and  trouble  tions  bc- 
to  meet  and  deliberate  on  the   general    interefls   of  the  tween 
confederates,  if  their  determinations  were  to  be  annulled    ^^^' 
by  one  court  and  another. 

The  general  court,  on  their  part,  infilled,  that  the  de- 
terminations of  the  commifTioners  could  not  bind  them 
to  a  war  which  they  could  not  fee  to  be  juft  ;  and  that  it 
was  inconfiftent  with  the  liberties  of  the  colonies,  that 
their  decifipns  fhould  compel  them  to  a£lion. 

The  commilFioners  replied,  that  no  power  could  bind 
men  to  do  that  which  was  abfolutely  unlawful ;  but  that 
their  authority  was  as  abfolute,  with  refpedl  to  war  and 
peace,  as  any  authority  could  be  j  and  that  it  was  their 
province  only  to  judge  of  the  juftice  of  the  caufe.  They 
maintained  that  it  could  be  no  infringement  of  the  rights 
of  the  colonies  to  be  bound  by  the  a£ls  of  their  own  a- 
gents,  vefted  with  plenary  powers  for  thofe  very  a£ls. 
They  reprefented  tlie  religious  and  folemn  manner  in 
which  the  confederation  was  made  ;  that,  by  its  exprefs 
words,  it  was  a  perpetual  league  for  them  and  their  pof- 
terity,  in  which  their  eight  commifTioners,  or  any  fix  of 
them,  fhould  have  full  power  to  determine  all  affairs  of 
war  and  peace,  leagues,  aids,  &c  :  That  every  article  had 
been  examined,  not  only  by  a  committee  of  the  four  gen- 
eral courts,  but  by  the  whole  court  of  MalTachufetts,  at 
the  time  when  it  was  completed  :  That  many  prayers 
were  addreffed  to  heaven,  for  its  accomplifhment,  while 
it  was  under  confideration  ;  and  that  the  carrying  of  it 
into  execution  had  been  an  occafion  of  abundant  thankf- 
giving.  They  faid,  that  after  pra£lifing  upon  it  for  ten 
years,  the  colonies  had  experienced  the  moft  falutary  ef- 
fects, to  the  great  and  general  advantage  of  all  the  con- 

E  c 


2t8 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap..X. 


CotidiKft 

ofNira- 

grate. 


War  de- 
ciai  td  a- 
gainfthim 


Protefta- 

gainll  the 
MaHachu 
fttts. 


federates.  In  tliefe  views,  they  infifted,  that  the  violation 
of  it  would  be  matter  of  great  fin  in  the  prefence  of  God, 
and  of  fcandal  before  men.  They  leferred  it  to  the  fe- 
rious  confideration  of  the  general  court,  whether  they 
would  not,  in  his  fight  who  knew  all  hearts,  be  guilty  o£ 
this  fin  and  fcandal  ? 

The  general  court  earneflly  reque{led,that  they  would 
drop  the  difpute,  and  enter  upon  bufinefs.  Their  com- 
miffioners  alfo  prefled  the  fame.  But,  with  a  fpirit  of 
magnanimity  and  firmnefs,  becoming  their  character, 
they  utterly  refufed  ;  determining,  to  a  man,  after  draw- 
ing a  remonflrance  againft  the  MafTachufetts,  to  return 
to  their  refpe£live  colonies,  and  leave  the  event  with  the 
fupreme  ruler. 

No  fooner  had  the  general  court  intelligence  of  what 
was  tranfa£llng,  than  they  difpatched  a  writing  to  the 
commiflioners,  apparently  retradling  all  which  they  had 
before  ad\'anced  in  oppofitlon  to  them.  It  was  howev- 
er exprefled  artfully  in  doubtful  language.  Upon  the  re^^ 
ceptTon  of  this,  they  proceeded  to  bufihefs. 

NiNiGRATE,  ever  fince  the  Pequot  war,  had  been  the 
common  pell  of  the  colonies.  He  had  violated  all  his 
contra£i:s  with  them  ;  had  fallen  on  the  Long-Ifland  In- 
dians, who  were  in  alliance  with  the  Englifh,  and  flain 
many  of  them  ;  and  carried  others,  men,  women  and 
children  into  captivity.  By  his  hoftillties,  he  gave  alarnri 
and  trouble  to  the  Englifh  plantations,  on  the  Ifland,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Indians.  When  meflengers; 
had  been  fent  to  him,  demanding  that  he  would  return 
the  captives  and  defift  from  war,  he  abfolutely  refufed  ; 
and  would  give  no  account  of  his  conduft.  He  had  now- 
fpent  the  winter  with  the  Dutch  governor,  in  concerting 
meafures  againft  the  Englifli  colonies  ;  and  had  been  be- 
yond Hudfon's  river,  fpirlting  up  the  Indians  there,  aa 
well  as  in  other  quarters,  to  a  general  rifing  againft  them. 
The  commiflioners  therefore  declared  war  againft  him, 
and  appointed  the  number  of  men  and  officers  for  the  fcr- 
vice.  They  alfo  again  refolved  upon  war  againft  the 
Dutch.  All  the  commiffioners  joined  in  thefe  refolu- 
tions,  except  Mr.  Bradftreet.  But  they  were  to  no  pur- 
pofe.  The  general  court  refufed  to  bear  any  part  in  the 
war  againft  either. 

The  commiffioners  protefted  againft  the  members  of 
the  court  of  Maflachufetts  as  violators  of  the  confedera- 
tion. They  prefled  it  as  an  indiip.  nfable  duty  to  avenge 
the  blood  of  innocents,  who  had  depended  on  them  for 


Chap.  X.        OF    CONNECTICUT.         219 

fafetv,  and  had  fufFered  on  the  account  of  their  faithful-  Book  I. 
nefs  to  tlie  colonies  j  to  recover  their  wives  and  children  o»nr«0 
from  captivity;  to  protect  their  friends  from  the   infults  16^3. 
of  barbarous  and  bloody  men  ;  and  to  vindicate  the  hon- 
or of  themfelves  and  of  the  nation.f 

The  MaiTachufetts  neverthelefs  perfifted  in  their  op-  xheyper- 
pofition  to  the  commifhoners,  and  would  bear  no  part  in  fiftinthtir 
the  war.      Their   defertion   of  their    confederates   was  '^ppofi- 
matter  of  great  injury  and  diftrefs  to  them  ;  efpecially  to  [.'^^l^^jf-.^^ 
Connecticut  and  New-Haven.     They  were  not  only  ob-  Sonera. 
liged  to  put  up  with  all  former  infults  and  damages  from 
the  Dutch  ;.  but  after  they  had  been  at  great  expenfc  al- 
ready, in  fortifying  and  guarding  againft  the  Dutch  and 
Indians,  and   had  been   worn    down  with  anxiety  and 
watching  from  the  very  opening  of  the  fpring,  they  were 
llill  left  to  their  fears,  and  obliged  to  combine  together  for 
mutual  defence,  in  the  bell  manner  of  which  they  were 
capable. 

Few  inflances  occur,  in  hiftory,  of  fo  flagrant  and  ob- 
ftinate  a  violation  of  a  covenant,  fo  folemnly  made,  as  this 
of  the  general  court  of  MaiTachufetts  ;  efpecially,  of  a 
covenant  made  between  chriftians  of  the  fam.e  nation, 
and  all  profefled  brethren  in  the  fame  faith.  What  in- 
tereft  the  MaiTachufetts  made  by  thus  favoring  the  Dutch 
is  not  known  ;  but  furely  it  is  painful  to  relate  the  in- 
delible {lain,  which  the  legiflature  of  fo  ancient  and  re- 
fpe£lable  a  colony  have  left,  by  this  condu£l,  upon  their 
honor  as  men,  and  upon  their  morals  as  chriftians. 

The  general  courts  of  Conneclicut  and  New-Haven  . 

■were  convoked  foon  after  the  return  of  the  com miflioners.  o/^.v,''"^^ 
That  at  New-Haven  convened  on  the  12th    of  0£lobei",  cr.i) courts 
and  the  court  at  Connne£licut  on  the  25  th  of  November,  of  Con- 
Both  confidered  the   court  of  MaiTachufetts    as  having  ntxticHt 
wilfully  violated    the  articles  of   union.     The  general  ^t   .f**^^^' 
court  at  New-Haven,  exprefsly  refolved,  "  That  the  Maf- 
fachufetts  had  broken  their  covenant  with  them,  in  a6ling 
dire£lly  contrary  to  the  articles  of  confederation." 

Both  colonies  therefore  determined  to   feek  redrefs  q.,    .    , 
from  the  commonwealth  of  England.     Captain  Aftwood  (ireis  let- 
was  appointed  agent  to  the  Lord    Prote£lor   and  parlia-  ters  to 
ment,  toreprefent  their  ftate,  and  to  folicitfh'ps  and  men  Cromwell 
for  the  redudion  of  the  Dutch.     Connecticut  and  New-  ^"^^^^^^ 
Haven  conferred  together,  by  their  committees,  and  let-  nj  Jntt' 

•]■  Records  of  the  United  colonies,  in  which  this  controverfjr  j? 
recorded  at  large, 


220 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  X. 


Book  I.    ters  were  fent,  in  the  name  of  both   the   general  courts, 
v./'-v-vJ  containing  a  complete  ftatement  of  their  circumftances. 
i6j3.         It  was  agreed,  that  the  addrefs  to  Lord  Cromwell  fhould 
be  concluded  in  the  words  following. 

"  That  unlefs  the  Dutch  be  either  removed,  or  fo 
*'  far,  at  leaft,  fubjedled,  that  the  colonic^  may  be  free 
<*  from  injurious  affronts,  and  fecured  againll  the  dangers 
**  and  mifchievous  efFe6ls,  which  daily  grow  upon  them, 
**  by  their  plotting  with  the  Indians,  and  furniftnng  them 
*'  with  arms  againll  the  Englilh  ;  and  that  the  league 
*'  and  confederation  between  the  four  united  Englifli  co- 
**  lonies  be  confirmed  and  fettled  according  to  the  true 
<*  fcnfe,  and,  till  this  year,  the  continued  interpretation 
«*  of  the  articles,  the  peace  and  comfort  of  thefe  fmaller, 
**  weflern  colonies  will  be  much  hazarded  and  more  and 
**  more  impaired.  But  as  they  conceive  it  their  duty 
**  thus  fully  to  reprefent  tlieir  afflicted  condition  to  your 
"  excellency,  fo  they  humbly  leave  themfelves  with  the 
**  remedies  to  your  confideration  and  wifdom." 

As  Governor  Hopkins  was  now  in  England,  he  was 
defired  to  give  all  afliftance,  in  his  power,  to  the  agent 
whom  they  had  agreed  to  fend.  Connecticut  difpatched 
letters  to  the  parliament,  to  general  Monk,  and  Mr. 
Hopkins. 

As  Stamford  was   a  frontier  town,  a  guard  of  men 
Provide  a   ^^^  difpatched  for  its  defence.     Conne£licut  and  New- 
Vf-^'  ^^^  Haven  provided  a  frigate  of  ten  or  twelve  guns,  with  for- 
fence.         ^Y  ii^^^ii  to  defend  the  coaft  againft  the  Dutch,  and  to  pre- 
vent Ninigrate  and  his  Indians  from  crofhng  the  found, 
in  profecution  of  his  hoflile  defigns  againll  the  Indians 
in  alliance  with  the  colonies.* 

The  towns  bordering  upon  the  Dutch,  on  Long-Illand, 
were  in  great  alarm  and  diftrefs.  Captain  Underbill  fent 
to  his  friends,  at  Rhode-Ifland,  for  afliftance  ;  and  with 
fuch  Engliflimen,  as  he  could  obtain,  made  the  beft  de- 
fence in  his  power.  However,  Hempfted  and  fome 
other  towns  were  continually  harrafled,  and  fufFered  much 
damage  and  infult  from  the  Dutch. 

Indeed  this  was-  a  year  of  uncommon  alarm,  ex- 
penfe,  and  diftrefs  to  Conne£licut  and  New-Haven.  Early 
in  the  fpring  they  were  filled  with  the  moft  terrible  ap- 
prehenfions  of  a  fuddert  and  general  maifacre.  A  great 
proportion  of  time  was  employed,  by  the  magiftrates  and 
principal  men,  in  meetings  of  the  general  courts,  of  the 


*  Records  of  Conne(aicut  and  New-Haven, 


Chap.  X.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  221 

commiffjoiiers,  of  committees  and  officers  to  confult  and  Boofe  I. 
provide  for  the  general  fafety  ;  in  raifing  men   and  ma-  v^^.'V^^ 
king  preparations  for  war.     The  common  people,  at   the  ^^53- 
fame  time,  were  called  oft  from  their  labors    and  worn 
down  with  watching  and  guarding  by  night  and  day. 

The  Dutch,  at  New-Netherlands,  waited   only  for  a  i^xnei^la- 
rsinforGement  from  Holland   to  attack   and  reduce   thetionsofa 
Englifh  colonies.     Of  this,  both  they  and  the  Englifh  D\itch 
were  in  conftant  e:x:peclation.     It  was  reported,  and  fear-  "^^*- 
ed,  that  when  the  fignals  fhould  be  given  from  the  Dutch 
fhips,  the  Indians  would  rife,  fire  t'le  Englifti  buildings, 
and  begin  their  works  of  deftruflion. 

Providence,  however,  combined  a  number  of  circum-  p|,.(.um- 
ftances  for  the  prefervation  of  the  expofed  colonies.     The  ftances 
defeat  of  the  Dutch  fleet  by  the  Englifh,  and    the  fpoil  prefcrving 
which  they  made  upon  their  trade,  prevented  the  arrival  ^^^  colo- 
of  the  expected  reinforcements  ;  the  Indians  could  not  be  "'^^* 
united  ;  many  of  the  fachems  faid,  the  Englifh  had  done 
them  no  injury,  and    they  would  not   fight  them.     The 
early  intelHgence,  received  by  the  colonies,   of  the  plans 
which  they  and  the  Dutch  were  concerting,  and  the  con- 
ftant watch  and  guard  which  the  plantations  maintained- 
difconcerted    them.     By    thefe  means,  a  general  attack 
upon  them  was  prevented. 

Another  mifchef  however  arofe.    Some  ofthe  towns,  j^iftur- 
and  many  of  the  people,  in  the  colonies   of  Connecticut  bance  at 
and  New-Haven,  were  fo  diffatisfied  that  the   war  was  Stamford 
not  profecuted  againft  the  Dutch,  according  to  the  refo-  <i"j^  F^'f* 
lution  of  the  commifTioners,  that   they  were  with  great 
difficulty  reftrained   from   open   mutiny  and    rebellion. 
They  imagined,  that  Connecticut  and  New-Haven  were 
fufficient  to  fubdue   the  Dutch,  and   ought  to  have   un- 
dertaken an  expedition  againfl  them. 

Stamford  and  Fairfield,  in  particular,  became  very 
diforderly.  The  former  complained,  that  the  government 
was  bad,  and  the  charges  unreafonable  j  and  that  they 
were  neglected,  and  deprived  of  their  juft  privileges. 
They  pretended  to  fet  up  for  the  government  of  England, 
for  their  liberties,  as  they  called  them,  in  oppofition.to 
the  government  ofthe  colony.  They  fent  to  the  general 
court  at  New-Haven  defiring  them  to  profecute  the  war 
againft  the  Dutch  ;  refolved  to  raife  a  number  of  men  a- 
mong  themfelves  •,  and  prayed  for  permiffion  to  enlift  vol* 
unteers  in  the  feveral  towns. 

The  town  of  Fairfield  held  a  meeting  on  the  fubje£t, 
and  determined  to  profecute  the  war.    They  appointed 


ai'i  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  X. 

Book  I.  Mr.  Ludlow  commander  in  chief.  He  was  in  the  cen- 
^^^^^"v^sJ  tre  of  the  evidence  againft  the  Dutch;  had  been  one  of 
^6J3'  ti^e  commifhoners,  at  the  feveral  meetings  relative  to  the 
affair ;  had  been  zealous  and  a6live  for  the  war ;  and 
conceiving  himfelf  and  the  town  in  eminent  danger,  un- 
kfs  the  Dutch  could  be  removed  from  the  neighbour- 
hood, too  haftily  accepted  of  the  appointment.  Robert 
Baffet  and  John  Chapman  were  the  heads  of  this  party. 
They  attempted  to  foment  infurreclions,  and,  without 
any  inflruftions  from  authority,  to  raife  volunteers,  for 
an  expedition  againft  the  Netherlands. 

The  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  judged  that  the 
feafon  was  too  far  advanced  to  undertake  the  enterprlfe. 
They  neverthclefs  determined  to  confult  Connedlicut, 
and  to  proceed  or  not,  as  the  council  there  fhould  judge 
moft  expedient. 

It  was  now  the  latter  part  of  November,  and  it  was 
the  general  opinion,  that  Ihips  and  men  could  not  be  fea-» 
fonably  provided. 

Deputy  governor  Goodyear  and  Mr.  Newman  were 
difpatched  to  Stamford  to  compofe  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple. They  called  a  meeting  of  the  town,  and  labored 
to  quiet  them  ;  but  could  make  no  confiderable  imprefT- 
ions  upon  them,  until  they  read  an  order  of  the  commits 
tee  of  parliament,  requiring,  that  the  plantations  fhould 
be  in  fubje6lion  to  the  authority  of  their  refpe6live  ju- 
Tifdi6tions.  This  appeared  to  have  fome  good  effe6l. 
But  as  the  inhabitants  had  been  at  great  expenle,  not  on- 
ly in  watcluiig  and  guarding  the  town,  but  in  erefting 
fortifications  about  the  meeting  houfe,  they  infifted,  that 
the  colony  fhould  bear  apart  of  the  expenfc,  and  provide 
a  guard  during  the  winter. 

The  public  burdens  this  year  were  great.  The  expen- 
fes  of  the  colony  of  J^ew-Haven  were  about  ;^400.  The 
court  m^de  fome  abatements  in  favour  of  Stamford  ;  but 
Baffet  and  Chapman  were  punifhed  for  attempting  to 
make  an  infurrediion  in  the  colony,  and  others  were 
bound,  in  large  bonds,  to  their  good  behaviour.* 


*  Records  of  New-Haven.  The  general  court  of  Conneflt- 
cut,  at  theif  feflions  in  November,  ordered  that  X^ao  fliould  bc 
paid  to  the  fupport  of  a  feliowfliip  in  Cambridge  Colleg«. 


Chap.  XI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         223 
CHAPTER     XI.  Book  I. 

T//£  death  and  charaBer  of  Governor  Haynes.  The  free-  1654. 
men  of  ConneSlicut  meet  and  appoint  a  moderator.  Mr. 
JLudlow  removes  to  Virginia.  The  fpirited  conduSl  of  the 
people  at  Milford^  in  recovering  Mannings  vejfel.  The 
freemen  add  to  the  fundamental  articles.  Fleet  arrives  at 
Boflon  for  the  reduElion  of  the  Dutch.  The  colonies  agree 
to  raife  men  to  affijl  the  armament  from  England.  Peace 
prevents  the  expedition.  The  general  courts  at  New-  Ha- 
ven j  charge  the  Maffachufetts  nuith  a  breach  of  the  confed- 
eration. They  refufe  to  join  in  a  ivar  againfl  Ninigrate^ 
and  oblige  ConneBicut  and  Neiv-Haven  to  provide  for  the 
defence  of  themfelves  and  their  allies.  Ninigrate  continu- 
ing his  hojlile  meafures^  the  commijjtoners  fend  meffengers 
to  him.  His  anfiver  to  them.  They  declare  ivary  and 
fend  an  army  againfi  him.  The  art  of  MaffachifettSy  and, 
the  deceit  of  Major  Willard  defeat  the  deftgned  expedition. 
The  number  of  ratable  polls y  and  the  amount  of  the  lift  of 
Connecticut.  The  Peqiiots  are  taken  under  their  protec- 
tion. Ninigrate  perf/ling  in .  his  hojiilities  againfl  the  In- 
dians upon  Long-lflandy  the  general  court  adopt  meafures^ 
for  the  defence  of  the  Indians  and  the  Englijh  inhabitants 
there.  New-Haven  perfeSf  and  print  their  laws.  The 
anfwer  of  New- Haven  to  the  proteElor's  invitatio/ty  that 
they  would  remove  to  Jamaica.  Reply  of  the  commijjton- 
ers to  the  Dutch  governor,  Uncas  embroils  the  country. 
Deaths  and  characters  of  Governors  Eaton  a>'d  Hopkins, 
Settlement  of  Stonington.  Mr.  Winthr op  cho fen  governor. 
The  third  fundamental  article  is  altered  by  the  freemen. 
Mr.  Fitch  and  his  chur.h  and  people  remove  to  Norwich. 
Final  fettlement  of  accounts  with  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Fen- 
wick.  Deputy  governor  Mafon  refgns  the  Moheagan 
lands  to  the  colony. 

THE  colony  fuftalned  a  great  lofs,  this  year,  in  the 
death  of  Governor  Haynes.     He  had  been  a   fa-  p 
ther  to  it  from  the  beginning,  employed  his  eftate,  coun-  Haynes. 
fels,  and  labors,  for  its  emolument,  and  borne  a  large 
ihare  in  its  hardfhips  and  dangers.     He  was  a  gentleman 
from  the  county  of  Eflex,  in  England,  where  he  had  an  „•     ^ 
elegant   feat,   called   Copford  Hall,    worth  a  thoufand  ajc^er. 
pounds  fterling  a  year.       He  came    into   New-England 
with  the  reverend  Mr.  Hooker,  in  1632,  and  fettled  with 
him,    firft  at   Cambridge  in  Maffachufetts.     His  diftin- 
guilhed  abilities,  prudence,  and  piety,  fo  recommended 


224 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XI. 


Book  I.    him  to  the  people,  that,  irr  1635,  he  was  chofen  governor 
v.>'V^«^  of  Mallachufetts.     He   was  not  confidered,  in  any  tef- 

I0j4.  pe£l;,  inferior  to  Governor  Winthrop.  His  growing 
popularity,  and  the  fame  of  Mr.  Hooker,  who  as  to 
flrength  of  genius,  and  his  lively  and  powerful  manner 
of  preaching,  rivalled  Mr.  Cotton,  were  fuppofed  to  have 
had  no  fmall  influence  upon  the  general  court,  in  their 
granting  liberty  to  Mr.  Hooker  and  his  company  to  re- 
move to  Connecticut.  There,  it  was  judged,  they  would 
not  fo  much  eclipfe  the  fame,  nor  Hand  in  the  way  of  the 
promotion  and  honor  of  themfelves  or  their  friends.  Up- 
on his  removal  to  Connedticut,  he  was  chofen  governor 
of  thi;j  colony.  He  appeared  to  be  a  gentleman  of  emi- 
nent piety,  ftrift  morals,  and  found  judgment.  He  paid 
attention  to  family  government,  inftruftion,  and  religion. 
His  great  integrity  and  wife  management  of  all  affairs, 
in  private  and  public,  fo  raifed  and  fixed  his  charafter, 
in  the  efleem  of  the  people,  that  they  always,  when  the 
conflitution  would  permit,  placed  him  in  the  chief  feat  of 
government,  and  continued  him  in  it  until  his  death.f 
Mr.  Hopkins  was  in  Eagland,  and  the  colony  had  nei- 

February    ther  governor  nor  deputy  governor  prefent,  to  a£l  in  its 

i6tb.  behalf.  The  freemen  therefore,  in  February,  convened, 
at  Hartford,  and  ele£led  Mr.  Thomas  Welles  moderator 
of  the  general  court,  until  a  governor  fhould  be  chofen. 


-}•  The  governor,  by  two  wives,  had  eight  children  ;  five  fons 
and  three  tlfiMghters.  By  his  firft,  he  had  Robert,  Hezekiah, 
John,  Roger,  and  Mary  ;  and  by  his  fecond,  Jofeph,  Ruth,  and 
Mabel  When  he  came  into  New-England,  he  left  his  fons,  Ro- 
bert and  Hezekiah,  and  his  daughter  Mary  at  Copford  Hall. 
Upon  the  commencement  of  the  civil  wars  in  England,  Robert  ef- 
poufed  the  royal  caufe,  but  Wczekiah,  declaring  for  the  parlia- 
ment, was  aftervvardii  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  general,  un- 
der Cromwell.  Upon  the  ruin  of  the  king's  affairs,  Robert  was 
put  under  confineKient  and  died  without  iffue.  Hezekiah  en- 
joyed Gopford  Hall,  under  his  father,  until  his  deceafe.  He  then 
poflcflTed  it  as  a  paternal  inheritance,  and  it  defcended  to  his  heirs. 
John  and  Roger,  v.ho  came  into  this  country  with  their  father, 
fometime  before  his  death,  returned  to  England.  Roger  died  on 
his  paflage,  or  fuon  aff^er  his  arrival  John  fettled  in  the  minif- 
try,at  or  near  Culchefter,  in  the  county  of  Effexin  England, 
where  he  left  ifTue.  Jofeph  was  ordained  paftor  of  the  firft 
church  in  Hirtford.  Mary  married  Mr.  Jofeph  Cook  in  Eng- 
land, Ruth,  Mr.  Samuel  Wyllys  of  Hartford,  and  Mabel,  Mr. 
James  Ruffel  of  Charieftown,  in  Mafrachufetts,andall  had  iffue. 
The  Rev.  hir.  Haynes  of  Hartford  hid  one  fon  John,  a  gentle- 
man of  reputation,  for  fome  years  one  of  the  magiftrates  of  the 
colony.  He  had  fons,  but  they  died  without  iflue,  and  the  name 
became  exttnA  in  this  country. 


Chap.  XI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  1  C  U  T.         i2$ 

About  this  time,  there  happened  a  great  controverfy,  Book  I* 
between  Uncasand  the  inhabitants  of  New-London,  rel-  v.^^"^^ 
ative  to  their  refpeftivc  hmits.     It  feems,  that  the  inhab-  1654. 
itants  carried  the  difpute  fo   far,  as  to  rife  and  take  pof- 
feflion  of  his  forts  and  many  of  his  wigwams.     The  af-  Contro- 
fembly  interpofed,  and  gave  orders,  that  the  Indians  ^'^"7  with 
ihould  not  be  injured,  and  that  the  people  fhould  be  ac- 
countable  for  all  damages  which  they   had  done  them. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  fix  the  boundaries  btween  March  ift. 
New-London  and  Uncas,  and  to  compofe  all  differences 
between  the  parties. 

Nearly  at  the  fame  time,  the  colony  received  an  order  Order  of 
from  the  parliament  requiring,  that  the  Dutch  fliould  be  parlia- 
treated,  in  all  refpe£ls,  as  the   declared  enemies  of  the  n^ent. 
commonwealth  of  England.     In  conformity  to  this  or- 
der, the  general  court  was  convened,  and   an   aft  pafTed  trajjon'of 
fequeflring  the   Dutch  houfe,  lands,  and  property  of  all  the  Dutch 
kinds,  at  Hartford,  for  the  benefit  of  the  commonwealth;  Houfe  at 
and  the  court  alfo  prohibited  all  perfons  whatfoever  from  Hartford, 
improving  the  premifes,  by  virtue  of  any  former  claim,     ^^^        " 
or  title  had,  made,  or  given,  by  any  of  the  Dutch  nation, 
or  any  other  perfon,  without  their  approbation. 

In  the  proclamation  for  a  general  fall  this  fpring,  the 
great  breach  made  in  the  colony,  by  the  death  of  the 
governor,  the  alienation  of  the  colonies,  on  the  account 
of  the  violation  of  the  articles  of  confederation,  the 
fpreadingof  erroneous  opinions  in  the  churches,  the 
mortality  which  had  been  among  the  people  of  MafTa- 
chufetts,  and  the  calamitous  ftate  of  the  Englifh  nation, 
were  particularized  as  matters  of  humiliation. 

The  colony  was,  this  year,   deprived  of  Mr.  Ludlow,  j^j^,  f^, 
one  of  its  chief  magiflrates.     He  was  one   of  the    moft  low  leaves 
zealous  for  profecuting  the  war  againft  the  Dutch,  and  no  thecolo- 
man  was  more  difpleafed,  that  the  colonies  did  not  fol-  "V- 
low  the  determinations  of  the  commiffioners.     He  might 
apprehend  himfelf  to   be   particularly  in  danger  at  Fair-  Rf?^on9 
field.     Befides,  he  had  taken  a  very  hafty  and   unadvifed  °  *  * 
ftep,  in  accepting  the  command  of  men  to  go  againfl  the 
Dwtch,  without  any  legal  appointment.     He  had  doubt- 
lefs,  apprehenfions  of  trouble  on  that  account ;  or  at  leafl, 
that  the  freemen  would  negledl   him.     For  fome  or  all 
of  thefe  reafons,  about  this  time,  he   removed   with  his 
family  to  Virginia.f     He  was  clerk  of  the  town  of  Fair- 

+  By  the  records  of  New-IIaven  it  appears,  that  he  was  fliip* 
ping  his  family  «id  cffc(5ls  on  the  a6th  of  April. 

F  f 


2t6  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XL 

Book  I.  field,  and  carried  ofF  their  records  and  other  public  wri- 
v^'V^^  tings.  He  came  from  the  weft  of  England,  with  Mr, 
i6j4.  Warham  and  his  company.  In  1630,116  was  chofen  in- 
to the  magiftracy  of  the  MafTachufetts  company  ;  and 
in  1634,  deputy  governor  of  that  colony.  He  was  twice 
eledled  deputy  governor  of  Conne^icut,  and  was  every 
year  magiftrate  or  deputy  governor,  from  his  firft  coming 
into  the  colony,  in  1635,  until  the  time  of  his  depar- 
ture. He  appears  to  have  been  diftinguifhed  for  his  abil- 
ities, efpecially  his  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  the  rights 
of  mankind.  He  rendered  moft  eflential  fervices  to  this 
commonwealth  ;  was  a  principal,  in  forming  its  original 
civil  conftitution,  and  the  compiler  of  the  firft  Conne£l- 
icut  code,  printed  at  Cambridge,  in  1672.  For  jurif- 
prudence  he  appears  to  have  been  fecond  to  none,  who 
came  into  New-England,  at  that  time.  Had  he  poflefled 
a  happier  temper,  he  would,  probably,  have  been  the 
idol  of  the  people,  and  (hared  in  all  the  honors  which  fchey 
could  have  given  him. 

Nearly  at  the  fame  time,  an  affair  happened,  in  which 

Captain      the  people  of  Milford  exhibited  a  noble  fpirit  of  zeal  and 

ManRing    gnterprife.     One  Captain  Manning,  mailer  of  a   ten  gun 

^g(j^  fliip)  had   been  apprehended  for  an  unlawful  trade,  with 

the  Dutch,  at   the  Manhadoes.     While  the  affaiT   was 

upon  trial  before  the  court,  at  New-Haven,  his  men  ran 

off  with' the  fiiip,  from    Milford   harbour.     The   people 

completely  armed  and  manned  a  vefTel  with  fo  much  dif- 

patch,  that  they  prefTed  hard  upon    the   fhip   before   fhe 

could  reach  the  Dutch  IHand.     The  men,  perceiving  they 

muft  be  taken,  unlefs  they    immediately   abandoned  the 

fhip,  made  their  efcape  in  their  boat.     The  Ihip,  thus  left 

a  drift,  was  recovered  and  brought  into  Milford  harbour, 

and  with  all  her  goods  condemned  as  a  lawful  prize. 

At  the  general  election,  Mi".  Hopkins,  though  in  Eng- 

Court  of    l^ndj  vvas  chofen  governor.     Mr.   Welles  was  appointed 

tl'"'^'""       deputy  governor.     Mr.  Webfter,  Mr.  Mafon,  Mr.  Win- 

^^  '^'      throp,  Mr.  Cullick,  I\Ir.  Wolcott,  Mr.  Clark,   Mr.  Wyl. 

lys,  fon  of  George  Wyllys,  and  Mr.  John  Talcott,    were 

elected  magiftratcs.     Mr.  Cullick  was  fecretary,  and  Mr. 

Talcott  treafurer. 

At  this  court,  the  freemen  pafled  the  following  refo- 

Addition     lution,   as  an  addition  to  the  fundamentals  of  their  con- 

damcntal    ^itution.     "  That  the  major  part  of  the  magiftrates,    in 

articles.      **  tl^^  abfence  of  the  governor  and  deputy  governor,  fhall 

"  have  power  to  call  a  general  court ;  and  that  any  gen- 

*<  era!  gourt,  being  legally  called  and  met,  the  inajor  part 


Chap.  XI.      O  ?    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  727 

*<  of  the  magiftrates  amd  deputies  then  met,  in  the  ab-  Book  I. 
**  fence  of  the  governor  and  deputy  governor,  fliall  have  v.^'w-/ 
«<  power  to  choofe    unto,  and  from  among  themfclves  a  1654. 
«*  moderator,  which  being  done,  they  fliall  be  deemed  as 
«<  le^al  a  general  Court,  as    if   the   governor  or  deputy 
«'  governor  were  prefent." 

At  the  election  in  New-Haven,  the  only  alteration  m  May  31. 
public  officers,  was  the  addition  of  Mr.  Samuel  Eaton,  '  "^^^'^"^ 
Df  New^-Haven,  to  the  magiftrates,  and  the  choice  of  Mr.  Haven. 
Benjamin  Fenn,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  William  Fowler. 

jAbout  the  fame  time,  in  anfwer  to  the  petitions  of 
Connedlicut  and  New-Haven,  Major  Sedgwick  and  Cap- 
tain Leveret  arrived  at  Bofton,  with  a  fleet  of  three  or 
four  fhips,  and  a  fmall  number  of  land  forces,  fent  by 
Oliver  Cromwell,  Lord  protestor,  for  the  redu^jon  of 
the  Dutch.  On  the  8th  of  June,  Governor  Eaton  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  his  highnefs,  certifying,  that  he  had 
fent  fhips  and  ammunition  for  the  afiiftance  of  the  colo- 
nies. With  this  came  a  letter  from  Major  Sedgwick  and 
Captain  Leveret  requefting,  that  commifFioners  might  be 
fent  immediately  from  each  of  the  governments,  to  con- 
fult  with  them  on  the  objefts  of  the  defigned  expedition.  .  . 

Mr.  William  Leet  and  Mr.  Jordan  were  appointed  com- 
miffioners  for  New-Haven.  They  were  authorized  to 
engage,  in  behalf  of  that  junfdi6lion,  to  furnifh  all  the 
men  and  provifions  which  it  could  fpare.  An  embargo 
was  laid  on  all  provifions,  and  every  meafure  adopted,  that 
the  utmoft'  affiftance  might  be  given,  in  the  enterprife. 
Such  was  the  zeal  of  the  general  court,  that  they  in- 
Itrudled  their  commiffioners  to  engage  the  affiftance  of 
that  colony,  though  no  other,  except  Conne6licut,  ftiould 
join  with  them. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  the  general  court  of  Connefti-  r  .j^ 

cut  convened,  at  Hartford,  and  appointed  Major  John 
Mafon  and  Mr.  Cullick  commiffioners.  They  were  di- 
refted  to  proceed  with  the  utmoft  difpatch  to  Bofton ; 
and,  in  behalf  of  Connecticut,  to  engage  any  number  of 
men,  not  exceeding  two  hundred,  and  rather  than  the 
expedition  ffiould  fail,  four  or  five  hundred. 

The  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  was  convoked  on 
the  pth  of  June,  but  did  not  agree  to  raife  any  men  them- 
felves.  They  granted  liberty,  neverthelefs,  for  Major 
Sedgwick  and  Captain  Leveret  to  raife  five  hundred  vol- 
unteers. The  commiffioners  finally  agreed  upon  800 
inen,  as  fufficient  for  the  enterprife.  The  ftiips  were  to 
furnilh  two  hundred  foldiers ;  three  hundred  volunteers 


§28 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XI. 


Book  I. 

1654. 


Tran  fac- 
tions ref- 
pedHng 
the  con- 
Icdera- 
tian. 


■were  to  be  raifed  in  MalTachufetts  ;  two  hundred  men 
were  to  be  fent  from  Connecticut  •,  and  a  hundred  and 
thirty  three  from  New-Haven.  But  while  preparations 
were  making  with  vigor  and  difpatch,  the  newa  of  peace, 
between  England  and  Holland,  prevented  all  further 
proceedings  relative  to  the  affair. 

The  total  defeat  of  the  Dutch  fleet,  the  lofs  of  Admi- 
ral Tromp  and  a  great  number  of  their  merchantmen, 
made  the  Dutch  in  earned  for  peace  ;  and  it  was  expedi- 
tioufly  concluded,  on  the  5th  of  April.  The  news  of  it 
arrived  in  America,  almoft  as  foon  as  the  fleet.  The 
commander  in  chief  therefore  employed  his  forces,  with 
the  Maflachufetts  volunteers,  in  difpoflefling  the  French 
from  Fenobfcot,  St.  John's,  and  the  adjacent  coaft. 
This  was  doubj:lefs  one  objeft  of  the  expedition,  and  not 
undertaken  without  orders  from  the  prote£lor. 

It  was  not  expelled,  that  there  would  have  been  any 
meeting  of  the  commiflioners  this  year.  Mafl'achufetts 
had  violated  the  articles  of  union,  and  the  colonies  had 
protefted  againft  them,  as  breakers  of  the  mod  folemn 
confederation.  The  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  had 
alfo  reprefcnted,  to  the  othe*  colonies,  that  the  articles 
needed  explanation  and  emendation,  that  they  might  be 
confident  with  the  rights  of  the  feveral  general  courts. 
Indeed,  it  had  propofed  a  meeting  of  the  commiflioners 
for  that  purpofe.  The  other  colonies  viewed  the  articles 
as  perfe<^ly  intelligible,  and  confident  with  the  rights  of 
the  confederates.  They  therefore  rejedled  the  motion. 
The  general  court  of  New-Haven  had  voted,  that  there 
was  no  occafion  for  appointing  commiflioners  that  year. 

But  on  the  5th  of  July,  Governor  Eaton  received  a 
letter  from  the  general  court  of  the  Maflachufetts,  waving 
an  anfwer  to  the  letter  jointly  written  from  the  general 
courts  of  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  and  lamely  ex- 
cufing  their  non-compliance  with  the  refolution  of  the 
commiflioners,  on  the  account  of  their  not  being  able  to 
apprehend  the  judice  of  the  war  with  the  Dutch  and 
Ninigrate.  They  complained  of  the  other  colonies,  for 
treating  them  as  violators  of  the  confederacy.  They 
profefied  themfelves  to  be  pafliionately  defirous  of  its  con- 
tinuance, according  to  the  genuine  condru6lion  of  the 
articles.  They  gave  information,  that  they  had  chofen 
commiflioners,  and  had  determined  to  empower  them  as 
had  been  ufual. 

The  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  replied,  that 
|hey  aad  the  other  colonies  had  juftly  charged  them  with 


Chap.  XL      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  229 

a  violation  of  their  covenant,  and  urged,  that,  according  Book  I. 
to  their  own  interpretation  of  the  articles,  they  ftood  v_,»^v->-/ 
refponfible  to  them  for  the  infra£lion  -,  and  that,  accor-  1654. 
ding  to  the  eleventh  article  of  the  confederation,  they 
were  to  be  treated  by  them  according  to  the  magnitude 
of  their  fault.  They  obferved,  that  her  fifler  colonies 
had  not  only  condemned  their  conduct,  but  had  fent  mef- 
fengers  and  taken  proper  pains  to  inform  them,  and  ad- 
juft  the  difference  between  them ;  but  that  they  had 
treated  .them  in  a  very  difagreeable  manner,  and  their 
endeavours  had  been  to  no  good  purpofe.  They  decla- 
red, neverthelefs,  that,  if  the  combination  might  be  again 
firmly  fettled,  according  to  the  original  intention  and 
grammatical  fenfe  of  the  articles,  they  would,  without 
further  fatisfa£lion,  forgetting  what  was  paft,  cheerful- 
ly renew  their  covenant,  and  fend  their  commifFioners 
to  meet,  at  any  time  and  place,  for  that  end.  This  was 
fubfcribed  by  the  fecretary,  and  fent  to  Hartford  to  be 
fubfcribed  by  the  general  court  of  Connedicut  ;  and  to 
be  tranfmitted,  in  the  name  of  each  of  the  colonies,  to 
the  MaiTachufetts.  This,  it  feems,  was  harmonioufly 
done. 

As  the  general  court  of  the   Maflachufetts  would  not  ^t-  . 
join   with  her  confederates,  againft  Ninigrate,  he  profe-  contin- 
cuted  the   war   againft  the  Long-Ifland    Indians,  and  it  ues  hof- 
was  fuppofed,  that  his  defign  was  to  deftroy   both  thofe  tile. 
Indians  and  the  Moheagans.     For  this  purpofe  he  had  hi- 
red the  Mohawks,   Pocomtocks,   and  Wampanoags,  af- 
terwards called  Phillip's  Indians,  to  afRft  him.     By  a  col- 
le£lion  of  fuch  numbers  of  Indians,  from  the  weflward, 
northward,  and  eaftward,  the  general  peace  of  the  coun-  , 

try  would  have  been  greatly  endangered,  and  the  Long- 
Ifland  Indians,  who  had  put  themfelves  under  the  pro- 
tedlion  of  the  Englifh,  expofed  to  a  total  extirpation. 
They  had  been  obliged  not  only  to  fortify  themfelves, 
and  to  ufe  every  precaution  for  their  own  defence,  but 
to  fufFer  the  lofs  of  many  of  their  people,  who  had  been 
already  either  flain  or  captivated. 

The   deputy  governor  and  council,  at  Connefticut,  Conncft- 
judged  it  an  affair  of  fuch  importance,  to  defend  their  i^ut  and 
allies,  and  provide  for  their  own  fafety,  that  they  deter-  ^^^iHa- 
mined  to  difpatch  Major  Mafon,   with  ammunition  and  afd  to" 
a  number  of  men,  to  the  affiftance  of  the  Indians  upon  Montau- 
the  Ifland.     The   deputy  governor  and   Mr.  Clark  ac-  ket  In« 
quainted  Governor  Eaton  with   their  views   and  deter-  ^'^^s. 
mination,  and  defired  that  the  colony  of  New-Haven 


230 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XI. 


Book  I.   would  fend  Lieutenant   Seely,  with    a   detachment  of 
v.-x'V^O   men,  and  with  fupplies  of  ammunition,  to  fecond  their 
J654.         defign.     The  court  of  New-Haven  complied   with  the 
defn-e  of  Connedlicut.     Lieutenant  Seely   had  orders  to 
join  Major  Mafon  at  Saybrook.     They  were   inftru6led 
to   acquaint   the   Montauket   Indians,   that  the  colonies 
made  them  that  prefent  of  ammunition,  wholly  for  their 
own  defence,  and  not  to  enable  them  to  injure  Ninigrate, 
or  any  other  Indians,  unlefs  they    fhould  make  an    at- 
tack upon  them  j  and  that  while  they  continued  faithful 
to  the  Engllfh,  they  would  be  their  friends.     It  was  or- 
dered, that,  if  Ninigrate   fliould   invade  the  Long-Illand 
Indians,  the  Englifh  ©fficers  fliould  ufe  their  endeavours 
to  perfuade  them  to  peace,  and  to  refer  their  differences 
to  the   decifion  of  tlie  commiffioners.     But  if  he  would 
fight,  they  were  commanded  to  defend  themfelves,  and 
the  Indians  in  alliance  with   the  colonies,  in  the  bed 
manner  they  could.* 
.^       In  September,  the  commiffioners  convened  at  Hartford, 
fioners'  *     ^hey  confided  of  the  following  gentlemen,  Mr.   Simon 
meet  Bradftreet,  Major  Denifon,    Mr.  Thomas  Prince,  Mr. 

Sept.  7.      John  Brown,  Major  Mafon,  Mr.  John  Webfler,   Gover- 
nor Eaton,  and  Mr.  Francis  Newman.    Governor  Eaton 
Send  mtf  was  chofen    prefident.      They   immediately  dilpatched 
fttPgers  to  meffengers  to  Ninigrate,   demanding   his  appearance  at 
iNinigrate.  jj^j-^ford,  and  the  payment  of  the  tribute  fo  long  due  for 
the  Pequots    under  him.     On  the   i8th,    Mr.  Jonathan 
Gilbert  returned,  and  made  a  report  of  Ninigrate's  an- 
fwer,  in  the  words  following. 

"  Concerning  the  Long-Ifland  Indians,  he  anfwered, 
His  an-  *'  Wherefore  fliould  he  acquaint  the  commiffioners,  as 
fwer.  **  the  Long-Ifland  Indians  began  with  him,  and  had  flain 

"  a  fachem'sfon  and  fixty  of  his  men  ;  and  therefore  he 
<'  will  not  make  peace  with  the  Long-Iflanders  ;  but 
*<  doth  defire  that  the  Englifli  will  let  him  alone  ;  and 
"  that  the  commiffioners  would  not  requeft  him  to  go 
<'  to  Hartford  ;  for  he  hath  done  no  hurt.  What  fhould 
<'  he  do  there  ?  If  your  governor's  fon  were  flain  and 
**  feveral  other  men,  would  you  afk  counfel  of  another 
*'  nation,  how  and  when  to  right  yourfelves  .'*  And  ad- 
*'  ded,  that  he  would  neither  go  nor  fend  to  Hartford." 
*'  Concerning  the  upland  Indians  f  his  anfwer  was,  that 
•«  they  were  his  friends  and  came  to  help  him  againft 


*  Records  of  Cormcdticut  and  New-Haven. 

■f  Thus  he  called  the  Pocomtocks  and  Wampanoags. 


Chap.  XL       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         43^ 

«  the  Long-Iflanders,  who  had  killed  feveral  of  his  men.  Book  I. 
"  Wherefore  fliould  he  acquaint  the  commiflioners  with  v.^'vv^ 
"  it  ?  He    did  but   right   his  own  quarrel,    which   the  ^^SA' 
**  Long-Iflanders   began    with  him."     With   refpedl  to 
the  tribute  due  for   the  Pequots,  though  he  had  never 
paid  it,  yet  he  pretended  there  was  none  due. 

The  commiflioners,    confidering  his   perfidious  con- 
du£l,  the  lad  year,  his    prefent  anfwer,   and  that  lenity  Commip. 
and  forbearance  had  been  an  encouragement   of  his  in-  ftoners 
folence  and  barbarity,  ordered  forty  horfemen  and  two  determine 
hundred  and  fevcnty  infantry  to  be  raifed  to  chaftife  his  "»?°,"J|^*'^ 
haughtinefs.     The  Maffachufetts  were  to  raife  the  forty  j^rate, 
horfemen,  and  a  hundred  and  fifty  three  footmen  •,  Con- 
neclicut  forty  five,  and  New-Haven  thirty  one.     Orders 
v.'ere  given,  that  twenty  horfe,  from  MalTachufetts,  twen- 
ty four  men,  from  Connecticut,   and  fixteen  from  New- 
Haven,  fhould  be  immediately  difpatched  into  the  Nehan- 
tick  country.     The  commiifioners  nominated  Major  Gib- 
bons, Major  Denifon,  or  Captain  Atherton,  to  the  chief 
command  ;  leaving   it,  in  complaifance,   to  the  general 
court  of  the  Maflachufetts,  to  appoint  which  of  the  three 
ihould  be  moll  agreeable  to  them.     But  rejecting  thefe, 
who  w  :rc  men  of  known   fpirit  and  cnterprife,  they  ap- 
pointed Major  Wiliard.     The  commiflioners   inflru£ted 
him  to  proceed  with  fuch  troops,  as  Ihould  be  found  at  i.  .1.!!^,j^' 
the  place  of  general  rendezvous,  by  the  r3th  of  October,  Major 
directly  to  Ninigrate's  quarters,  and  demand  of  him  the  Wiliard 
Pequots,  who  had  been  put  under  him,  and   the  tribute  defeat 
which  was  due.     IfNinigrate    ihould  not   deliver  them,  ^^^^"^ 
and  pay   the  tribute,    he  was  required  to  take   them  by 
force.     He  was  inftrutled  to  demand  of  Ninigrate  a  cef- 
fation  from  all  further  hoflilities,  againit  the  Long-Ifl- 
anders.    If  he  would  not  comply  with  thefe  demands,  he 
had  exprefs  orders  to  fubdue  him.     If  a  greater   number 
of  men  fhould  be  found  necefl'ary,  his  inltrucflions  were 
to  fend  for  fuch  a  number,  as  he  fhould  judge  futlicient, 
to  carry  the  expedition  into   efiett.     The  place  of  ren- 
dezvous was   at  Thomas  Stanton's  in  the  Narraganfet 
country.     When  he  arrived  at  the  place  appointed,  he 
found  that  Ninigrate  had  fled  into  a  fwamp,  at  fourteen 
or  fifteen  miles   diflance  from  the  army.     He   had  left 
his  country,  corn,  and  wigwams,  without  defence,  and 
they  might  have  been  laid  wafte,  without  lofs  or  danger. 
Neverthelefs  he  returned,  without  ever  advancing  from 
his  head  quarters,  or  doing  the  enemy  the  leaft  damage. 


Ggn. 


duty. 


asz  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XL 

Book  I.       About  a  hundred  Pequots   took  this  opportunity  to 
v,yVNw/  renounce  the  government  of  Ninigrate,  and  come  off  with 
1654.         the  army.     They  put  themfelves  under   the    protedlion 
and  government  of  the  EngHfli. 

The  commander  pleaded,  in  excufe,  that  his  inftruc- 
Commif.    tlons  were  equivocal,  and  the  feafon  for  marching  unfa- 
•JR^^r*,     vorable.      The    commiflioners  however   were   entirely 
gj         '    unfatisfied.     They  obferved  to  him,  "  That,  while  the 
army  was  in  the  Narraganfet  country,  Ninigrate  had  his 
.  mouth  in  the  dull ;  and  that  he  would  have  fubmitted  to 

jyjjj'jQr  any  I'eafonable  terms,  which  might  have  been  impofed 
Willard  upon  him."  They  charged  the  major  with  negle£ling  an 
with  neg-  opportunity  of  humbling  his  pride  ;  and  they  referred  it 
'f.^.?  to  his  confideration,  what  fatisfacSlion    ought   to  be   ex- 

pected from  him,  and  thofe  of  his  council,  who  advifed 
and  joined  with  him  in  his  meafures.* 

Governor  Hutchinfon  has  obferved,  that  Major  Wil- 
lard was  a  Maflachufetts  man,  and  although  that  colony 
had  fo  far  complied  with  the  reft,  as  to  join  in  fending  out 
the  forces,  yet  they  were  ftill  defirous  of  avoiding  an  open 
war.  This  was  the  fecond  time  of  their  preventing  a 
general  war,  contrary  to  the  minds  of  fix  of  the  commif- 
fioners  of  the  other  colonies.f 

The  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  had  receded  from 
their  explanation  of  the  articles  of  confederation,  and  the 
commiffioners  had  a  moft  amicable  meeting.  They 
were  unanimous  in  the  war  againft  Ninigrate,  and  yet  the 
MalTachufetts,  by  private  intrigue,  defeated  their  defigns. 
In  which  inftance  they  adled  the  moft  honorable  and 
confiftent  part,  when,  by  an  open  infradlion  of  the  arti- 
cles of  union,  they  prevented  a  war,  or  when  tliey  fup- 
planted  their  brethren,  by  fecret  treachery,  the  impartial 
world  will  judge. 

The  whole  number  of  ratable  perfons,  in  the  colony 
of  Connedticut  tliis  year,  was  775,  and  the  grand  lift 
was  £  79,073.1. 


*  Records  of  the  United  colonies. 
+  Hutchinfon  Vol.  I.  p.  186,  187. 

:|:  By  the  number  of  perfons,  and  the  amount  of  the  lifts  in 
each  town,  aa  idea  maybe  formed  oftkeir  proportion  to  each 
other. 

Towns.                      Ptfifons.  Eftat€S. 

Hartford,                           177  £.  19,609 

Windfor,                           165  15*833 

Wethcrfifield,                     11.3  l2,6o» 

Fairfield,                              94  8,634 

Saybrook,                            57  4,4;; 


Chap.  XI.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        ^33 

Upon  the   eledlon,  at   Hartford,  Thomas   Welles,  Book  I. ' 
Efquire,  was  chofen  governor,  and   Mr.  John  Webfter,  K^yy^U 
deputy  governor.      The  magiftrates  eledted  were  Mr.  1655. 
Hopkins,  Mr.  Mafon,  Mr.  Winthrop.,  Mr.  Wolcott,  Mr.  p.,.xv:^„ 
CuUick,  Mr.  Clark,  Mr.  Wyllys,  Mr.  Talcott,  Mr-  John  May  i" 
Cofmore,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Tapping.     Mr.  CuUick  was 
fecretary,  and  Mr.  Talcott  Treafurer. 

At  the   general  eleftion,  in  New'-Haven,  this  year, 
there  was  no  alteration  of  their  officers. 

THEPequotsperfevering,  in  theirpetitions,  tobe  taken  ^,    p 
under  the  protedlion  and  government  of  the  Englifh,  the  qnots  a- 
commilhoners,  this  year,   granted  their  requeft.     Places  ken  under 
of  refidence  were  afterwards  appointed  for  them,  by  the  ^^^  ?"^" 
general  court  of  Conne£licut,  about  Pawcatuck  and  Mif-  pf^f'he" 
tic   rivers.     They  were  allowed  to  hunt  on  die   lands  Englilh. 
well  of   the  latter.     They  were   collected    together   in 
thefe  two  places,  and  an  Indian  governor  was  appointed 
over  them  in  each  place.     General  laws  were   made  for 
their  government.     Blafphemy,  murder,  witchcraft,  and  Laws  for 
confpiracy  againft  the    colonies,  were   prohibited   upon  their  gev- 
pain  of  death.     Sabbath-breaking,  adultery,  and    drunk-  ernment. 
enncfs,  were  prohibited  under  proper  penalties.     He  who 
ftole  was  required,  on  conviction,  to  pay  double  damages. 
They  were  prohibited  to  make  war  with  other  Indians, 
or  to  join  with  them  in  their  wars,  unlefs  it  were  in  their 
own  j  uft  defence,  without  the  confent  of  the    commif- 
fioncrs  of  the  United  Colonies.     They  were  obliged  to 
fubmit  to  the  Indian  governors,  whom  they  fhould  ap- 
point over  them,  and  pay  them  the  fame  tribute  which 
they  had  ftipulated  to  pay  to  the  Englifli.* 

After  the  return  of  Major  Willard  and  the  troops  Nlnlgrate 
under  his  command,  from  the  Narraganfet  country,  Nin-  profe- 
igrate  aflumed  his  former  haughtinefs,  and  continued  the  cutes  the 
war  againft  the  Indians  upon  Long-Ifland.    Mr.  Thomas  ^^^^  » 
James,  minifter  of  Eafthampton,  Captain  Tapping  of  the  Long- 
Southampton,     Captain    Underbill    and  others,    wrote  Iflanders. 
to  the  commiflioners,  that  both  the  Englifh  and  Indians 
oa  the  Ifland  were  in  a  calamitous  and  diftracled   condi- 

5.519 
a»309 


Stratford, 

7» 

Farmington, 

46 

MIddlctown, 

31 

Korwalk, 

24 

775  79j©73 

*  Records  of  the  colonies. 


Gg 


234  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XI. 

Book  I.  tion ;  and  in  imminent  danger,  on  the  account  of  his 
U^v*^  conftant  hoflilitics.  They  affured  them,  that  the  In- 
i6ij.  dians,  upon  the  Ifland,  could  not  hold  out  much  longer, 

but  muft  fubmit  themfelves  and  their  country  to  the  Nar- 
raganfets,  unl:fs  they  (liould  have  fome  fpcedy  afliftance. 
They  intreated  them  to  confult  fome  effectual  meafures 
to  prevent  fuch  calamity. 
J.  P      In  confequence  of  this  intelligence,  they  ordered,  that 

their  de-    ^  veflel,  well  armed  and  manned,  fhould  lie   in  the  road 
feR<:e.        between  Neanticut  and  the  Ifland,  to  watch  the  motions 
of  Ninigrate  ;  and,  if  he  fliould  attempt  to  pafs  the  found, 
to    ftavc  and    deflroy  his  canoes,    and   to  make  all  the 
llaughter  and  deflru£lion  upon  him,  which  fhould  be  in 
their  power.     Captain  John    Youngs  was    appointed  to 
command  this  vefTel  of  obfervation.     He  was  authorized 
to   draught  men   from  Saybrook  and  New-London,   as 
einergencies  might   require.     An   encouraging   mefTage 
was  fent  to  the  Montaukst  fachem,  acquainting  him  with 
the  meafures  the   Englifli  were    taking  for  his  defence. 
The  commiflioncrs   fent  him  a   fupply   of  ammunition. 
Provilion  was  alfo  made,  that  South  and  Eaft-Hampton, 
with  all  the    adjacent  towns,  fliould    be  completely  fur- 
niflied  with  all  articles  ncceffary  for  war.     Orders  were 
given,  that  if  the  Indians  could  not  maintain  their  ground, 
in  any  afTault,  they  fliould  flee  towards  fome  of  the  neigh- 
bouring towns  ;  and,  that  if  the   enemy   fhould   purfue 
them  within  two  miles  of  any  of  the  fettlements,  the   in- 
habitants fliould   immediately  repair  to  their  afliftance. 
Intelligence  of  thefc   refolutions  was   difpatched    to  the 
Narraganfets,   as  well  as  the   Long-Iflanders.     All  the 
United  colonies  were  exceedingly  offended  at  the  con- 
du£l  of  Major  Willard,  except  the  MafTachufetts,  under 
whofe  mfluence  he  was  fuppofed   to  a£l.      The  general 
court  at  New-Haven,  refolved,  that  he  had  not  followed 
his  inflru6tions,   in  the   expedition   againft   Ninigrate  ; 
but  that  they  were  willing  to  fufpend  their  judgment, 
with  refpe£l  to  the  meafures  to  be  taken  with  him,  un- 
til they  fliould  be  certified  of  the  opinions  of   the  other 
confederates.     Whatever  their  opinions  or  wiflies  were. 
Major  Willard  was  fafe  under  the   wing  of   the  MafTa- 
chufetts J  and  Conne£l:icut  and  New-Haven  had  princi- 
pally to  bear  the  unhappy  confequences  of  his  perfidious 
conducl:.     They   were  obliged,  the  next  year,   at  their 
own  expenfe,  to   continue  the  commifTion   of  Captain 
Youngs  to  cruife  between  the  main  and  Long- Ifland,  to 
prevent  the  defigns  of  Ninigrate.    They  alfo  found  it  ne- 


Chap.  XL      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  235 

ceflary  to  furnifli  both  men  and   provifions,  for  the  de-  Book  I. 
fence  of  the  Iflanders.  v-«»^v'>^ 

Governor  Eaton  had  been  defired   to  perfe£l  a  code  1655. 
of  laws  for  the  colony  of  New-Haven.     For  his  afllll- 
ance  in  the  compilation,  he  was  requefled,  by   the  gene-  Governor 
ral  court,  to  confult  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton's  difcourfe  on    ^j^"j„g 
civil  government  in  a  new  plantation,   and   the  laws   of  act)de  for 
MafTachufetts.     Having  accompliflied  the  work,-  and  the  New-Ha- 
laws  having  been  examined  and  approved,  by  the  elders  ^<^"* 
of  the  jurifdidlion,  they   were  prefcnted   to  the   general 
court.     They  ordered,  that  500  copies  (hould  be  printed.  ^"^.^  u'" 
The  copy  was  fent  to  England,  that  the  impreflion  might  ^.^y^,.  q^, 
be   made   under  the  infpe6tion    of  Governor  Hopkins,  jer  them 
He  procured  the  printing  of  the  laws,  at  his  own  expenfe,  to  be 
and  feni.  them  the    number  propofed,   with   fome   other  pi'inted. 
valuable  books,  as  a  prefent.     The  laws  were  diftributed 
to  the  feveral  towns  in  the  jurifditlion. 

THisyear  died  Henry  Wolcott,  Efquire,  in  the  ySthyear  y^     ,     « 
of  his  age.     He  was  the  owner  of  a  good  eftate  in  Som-  Hemy 
erfetfliire  in  England.     His  youth,  it  is  faid,  was  fpent  in  Woicott, 
gaiety  and  country  paftimes  j  but    afterwards,  under  the  Efquire. 
inftrudlions  of  Mr.  Edward  Elton,  his  mind   was  entire-  „.     , 
ly  changed,  and  turned  to  the  fmcerelove  and  pra6lice  of  .^^er. 
religion-     As  the  puritans  were  then  treated  with  great 
leverity,  he  fold   about   8,000  pounds   worth   of  eftate, 
in  England,   and  prepared  for  a  removal   into   America. 
He  came  into  New-England  with  Mr.  Warham,  in  May 
1630,  and  fettled   firft  at   Dorchefter  in   MafTachufetts. 
In  1636,  he  removed   to  Windfor,  and  was  one  of  the 
principal    planters  of  that  town.     He    was    chofen  into 
the  magiftracy   in    1643,  and    continued   in  it    until  his 
death.     He  left  an   eftate  in  England,  which  rented  at 
about  £  60  z  year,  which  tlie   family,  for  fome   time  en- 
joyed; but  it  was  afterwards   fold.     After   his   deceafe, 
fome  one  of  his  defcendanta   was   annually  chofen   into 
the  magiftracy,  for  a  term  of  nearly   eighty  years,  until 
the  year  1754,  when  Governor  Woicott  left  the  chair.* 

*  Man ufcripts  from  Windfor  found  in  the  colle<5lion  of  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Prince  at  Bofton. 

The  family  have  kept  up  the  monument  of  their  anceftor,  and 
prefervrd  their  di^'iiity  to  the  prefent  time.  His  Excellency 
OUver  Woicott,  Efquire,  one  of  the  fons  of  the  former  governor, 
Roger  Wjlcott,  Efquire,  is  the  prefent  governor  of  the  State. 
His  brother,  the  honorable  Eraftus  Woicott,  Efquire,  was  for 
fome  years,  one  of  the  magiftrates  of  Connedticut,  and  after- 
wards, one  of 'he  judges  of  the  fuperior  court. '  Oliver  Woicott, 
jEfquire^  one  of  the  fons  of  the  prefent  Governor  Woicott,  is  fe« 


i$6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  Xt. 

Book  I.  At  the  eledion  in  Conneflicut,  Mr.  John  Webfter 
'^^y^z-'Kj  was  chofen  governor,  and  Mr.  Welles,  deputy  governor. 
xOjb.         Tins  was  the  only  alteration  in  the  magiftracy. 

At  New-Haven  the  former  governors  and  magiftrates 
Ele^ion  ^.vere  rechofen.  Mr.  John  Wakeman  was  appointed 
Haven'"  ^^^^^'-'^^r*  The  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  took  great 
1^1  ay  pains  to  put  the  colony  in  a  ftatc  of  defence.     Orders 

1656.         were  given  for  the  raifing  of  a  troop  of  iixteen  horfe,  in 
May  aS.     *^^  ^^^  towns  upon  the  fea  coaft,   with  complete  arms 
and  furniture.     For  their  encouragement,  they  were  ex- 
empted from  taxation,  and  from  training  with  the  foot. 
Troop  of  and  were  to  enjoy  all  the  privileges  of  troopers  in  Mafla- 
liorfc  ap.    chufetts.     This  was  the  firft  troop  in  any  part  of  Con- 
poiiited.    r.cc^icut.     It  was  ordered,  that  all  the  common  foldiera 
ibould   be    trained  to    (hooting   at   a  mark  ;  that   they 
fliould  be  furniflied  with  ammunition  for  that  purpofe,  at 
the  public  expenfe  ;  and  that  prizes  fnould  be  prepared 
for  the  bed  markfmen.     The   foldiers  were  direiSled  to 
play  at  cudgels,  and  at  the  broad  fword,  that  they  might 
know  how  to  defend  themfelves  and  their  country. 

The  protestor,  Oliver  Cromwell,  having  conquered 
Jamaica,  made  it  a  favorite  objeft  to  remove  the  people 
of  New-England  to  that  Ifland.  He  artfully  reprefented, 
that  they  had  as  clear  a  call  for  tranfporting  themfelves, 
from  New-England  to  Jamaica,  as  they  had  for  emigra- 
ting from  Old  England  to  New,  for  the  advancement  of 
their  interefls  -,  as  the  Lord's  people  were  to  be  the  head 
and  not  the  tail.  He  likewife  reprefented,  that  it  would 
have  i  tendency  to  the  deftrueSlion  of  the  man  of  fin. 
He  wrote  particularly  to  New-Haven  on  the  fubjeft,  and 
fent  them  a  copy  of  his  infl:ru6lions  relative  to  the  af- 
fair. Thefe  he  had  given  to  one  Captain  Gookins,  whom 
he  had  employed  in  the  feveral  plantations,  to  promote 
this,  his  favorite  defign.  He  and  Major  Sedgwick  dif- 
patched  letters  alfo  to  New-Haven  on  the  fame  bufinefs. 
Governor  Eaton  had,  fometime  before  this,  laid  them 
before  the  general  court.  The  feveral  plantations,  in  the 
colony,  had  been  made  acquainted  with  their  contents  ; 
and  the  deputies  had  been  defired  to  return  their  opinion 
to  the  court.  After  a  long  and  ferious  debate,  the  court 
refolved,  "  That  though  they  could  not  but  acknowledge 
«'  the  love,  care,  and  tender  refpedt  of  his  highnefs,  the 

cretary  of  the  treafury  of  the  United  States.  Some  of  the  family 
have  been  raembersof  the  aflembly,  judges  «f  the  fuperior  court, 
or  magiftrates,  from  the  firft  fettlement  of  the  oolony  to  this 
tirocj  during  the  t«rin  of  more  than  a  century  and  a  half. 


M 


Chap.  XI.      O  I?    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         237 

«  Lord  Proted<5r,  to  New-England  in  general,  and  to 
«  this  colony  in  paiticaiar,  yet,  lor  divers  reafons,    they    Book  I. 
«  cannot  conclude,  that  God  calls  them  to  a  prefent  re-  \>>^v>w/ 
«<  move  thither."  i6j6. 

The  governor  was  defired  to  write  to  the  Lord  Pro- 
te£lor,  acknowledging  his  great  care  and  love  tovv^ards  the 
colony. 

The  commifTioners  of  the  United  colonies,  this  year,  „        .- 
held  their  meeting  at  Plimouth.     They  received  a  very  doners 
plaufible  letter  from   Stuyvefant,   the  Dutch  governor,  meet 
He  wrote  with  a  great  fhow  of  religion,  expreffing  his  Sept  4. 
joy,  that  God  had  quenched  the  bloody  war,  between 
the  Dutch  and  the  Englifh,  in  Europe  •,  and  his  warm  de-  I"^**^'*. 
fires,  that  it  might  redound  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  ^°?lj^  ^ 
fubje^ts  of  the  two  nations  in  thefe  remote  parts  of  the  governor, 
earth.     He  folicited  a  nearer   union  between  the  Dutch 
and  the  United  colonies.     At  the    fame  time  he  certifi- 
ed them,  that  he  had  received  a  ratification  of  the  agree- 
ment made,  at  Hartford,  in  i6'5o,  under  the  feal  of  the 
High  and  Mighty  States  of  the  United  Belgick   provin- 
ces J  and  defired  that  time  and  place  might  be  appointed 
for  delivering  and  interchanging  the  ratifications. 

The  governor  was  fo  well  known  to  the  commiflioners, 
that  neither  the  plaufibility  of  his  letter,  nor  the  very 
chriftian  manner  in  which  it  was  written,  made  any  deep 
impreffions  upon  them.  They  replied  in  fhort,  that  the 
peace  was  matter  of  joy  to  them,  and  they  wifhed  the 
continuance  of  it  in  Europe,  and  in  all  the  plantations  a- 
broad.  They  gave  aflurances,  that  the  prefervation  of  it 
ihould  be  their  conftant  endeavour.  Neverthelefs,  they 
gave  no  intimations,  that  they  defired  a  nearer  union,  or 
to  ratify  the  agreement.  The  Dutch  governor  had  not 
obferved  ithimfelf ;  they  confidered  the  Dutch  as  mere 
intruders  ;  and  were  growing  daily  more  able  to  defend 
themfelves  againft  their  encroachments  ;  they  were  there- 
fore determined  to  do  nothing  further  relative  to  the 
affair. 

They  obferved  to  the  governor,  that  he  had  made  no 
reparation  of  the  damages  he  had  done  the  colonies,  and 
that  they  had  not  heard,  that  he  defigned  to  make  any  : 
That  they  heard  he  yet  laid  claim  to  Oyfter  bay,  and  that 
he  had  made  no  proper  refignation  of  Greenwich.  Ther 
defired  him  to  be  explicit  on  thofe  points.* 


*  Records  of  tbc  United  colocies. 


238  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XI. 

Book  I.  The  lafl  year  complaints  were  made  to  the  court,  at 
(L-*^/-»0  New-Haven,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Greenwich  were 
1656.  under  little  government,  and  demeaned  themfelves  in    a 

Cium-         lawlcfa  manner.     They  admitted  of  drunkennefs   among 
plaint         themfelves  and  among  the  Indians,  by    reafon  of  which, 
.tpinft        damages  were  done  to  themfelves  and   to  the  towns  in  the 
Crtcn-       vicinity  ,  and  the  public  peace  was  difturbed.     They  re- 
.    '         ceived  children  and  fervants,  who  fled   from   the  correc- 
tion of  their  parents  and  mailers,  and  unlawfully   joined 
perfons  in  wedlock,  with  other  mifdemeanors. 

Upon  this  the    general  court  aflerted  their  right   t9 
Greenwich,  and    ordered  .  the   inhabitants  to  fubmit  to 
their  jurildi£lion.     But  they  continued  much  in  the  fame 
flate,  and  fent  a   letter  to    the    court,   in  May,  denying 
their  jurifdicStion,  and  refufing  any  fubje£lion  to  the    co- 
lony, unlefs  they  fliould  be  compelled   to  it,  by  the  par- 
liament.    The  court  therefore  refolved,  that,  unlefs  they 
ihould  appear  before  the  court,  and   make   their   fubmif- 
Thcin       fion,  by  the  25th  of  June,  Richard  Crab  and  others,  who 
habitants    •were  the  moll  ftubborn  among  them,  fhould   be  arrefled 
S--da ""  and  puniflicd  according  to  law.     They   therefore,  fome- 
ven.  t-i"'ie  after,  fubjirfted  their  perfons  and  eflates  to  the  gov- 

ernment of  New-Haven. 

Uncas,  though  friendly  to  the  Englifh,  appears  to  have 
been  a  proud  mifchievous  fachem,  who,  by  his  haughty 
carriage  and  provoking  language,  was  often  embroiling 
the  country,  and  bringing  trouble  upon  hinifelf  and  the 
colonies.  He  made  an  aiTault  upon  the  Podunk  Indians, 
at  Hartford.  He,  or  his  brother,  invaded  the  Norwoo- 
tucks.  He  upbraided  the  Narraganfets  of  their  dead  fa- 
chems,  and  challenged  them  to  fight.  Among  other  in- 
ilances  of  mifcondu£l,  he  proved  treacherous  to  the  Mon- 
tauket  fachem,  and  joined  with  Ninigrate,  in  his  perfid- 
ious pradlices.  By  thefe  means  the  country  was  fo  dif- 
quieted,  that  it  was  with  great  diflliculty  the  commiflion- 
ers  maintained  the  general  peace.  They  interpofed,  and 
obliged  Uncas  to  make  reflitution  to  the  Indians,  whom 
he  had  injured.  They  prohibited  his  making  war,  with- 
out their  confent  and  advice.  They  endeavored  to  quiet 
and  conciliate  the  natives  ;  but  they  found  them, 
whether  they  were  friends  or  foes,  to  be  a  troublefome 
people.  After  all  their  precautions,  the  country  was 
fllll  more  alarmed  the  next  year. 

In  April,  the  Indians  committed  a  horrid  Murder  at 
165  :••         Farmlngton,  and  befideg  Mef^pano,  who  was  the  princi- 


Chap.  XI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  239" 

pal  a£^or,  the  Norwootuck  and  Pocomtock  Indians  were  Book  I. 
fuppofed  to  be  accomplices.  v.>''V"^ 

The  Montaukets,  after  all  the    trouble    and  expenfe,  1657. 
which  the  Englifli  had  been  at  for  their  defence,  became 
tumultuous,  and  did  great  damage  to  the    inhabitants    of 
Southampton. 

The  general  court  at  Hartford  gave  orders,    that  the 
Indians,   who   perpetrated  the   murder    at  Farmington,     ^^^  '' 
fliould  be  apprehended,  and  that  the  fachems  of   the    Po- 
comtock and  Norwootuck  Indians  (hould  deliver   up  the 
delinquents  among  them. 

Major  Mafon  was  ordered,  with  a  detachment,  to 
Long-Ifland,  to  bring  the  Indians  there  to  a  jull  and 
peaceable  condu6l,  and  adjuft  affairs  between  them  and 
the  englifli.f 

At  the  general  ele£lion  in  Connefticut,  1657,  Mr. 
John  Winthrop  was  elected  governor,  and  Mr.  Thomas  ^  ^ 
Welles,  deputy  governor.  Mr.  Webfter  was  chofen  the 
firfl;  magiftrate.  The  other  officers  were  the  fame  who 
had  been  appointed  the  laft  year.  The  freemen,  at  the  May  a;, 
election,  in  New-Haven,  made  no  alteration  in  their  ma- 
giftrates. 

The  general  court  at  Hartford,  this  year,  was  uncom- 
monly thin,  confifting  of  twenty  two  members  only.  The 
danger  of  the  plantations,  and  of  particular  families,  from 
the  hoftile  ftate  of  the  Indians,  appears  to  have  been  the  ^^''s 
reafon.      The  Montaukets,   Moheagans,  Narraganfets,  ^ij^^j^^ 
and  Norwootucks,  engaged  in  implacable  wars  with  each  dians. 
other.     They  would  purfue  one  another  into  the  Engliih 
plantations,  and  even  into  their  houfes,  and  kill  each  oth- 
er, in   the  prefence  of  the   families,  to  their  great  alarm 
and  aftoniflmient.     Uncas  was  fo  prefTed,  by  the  Narra- 
ganfets,  that  Connecticut  was  obliged  to  fend  men  to  his 
fortrefs,  to  adift  him  in  defending  himfelf  againft  them. 
The  Narraganfets,    in  leveral  inftances,  threatened  and 
plundered  the  inhabitants  of  Connecticut. 

Therefore,  when  the  commifTioners  met  in  Septem-  seot.  - 
ber,  they  lent  mefiengers  to  them,  demanding,  that  they 
Ihould  ceafe  from  war,  until  their  grievances,  and  the 
grounds  of  their  contentions,  fliould  be  heard.  They  af- 
fured  them,  that  they  would  hear  and  determine  impar- 
tially, without  favoring  any  of  the  parties.  They  repre- 
fented  to  them  the  covenants  which  they  had  made  with 
the  Englifh,  and  the  entire  inconfiftency  of  their  condu^ 

t  Records  of  Comie<iticut,      ^ 


240 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XL 


of  The 
ophilus 
Eaton, 
Efq. 


Book  I.   with  thofe  engagements.     They  alfo  prohibited  all  fight- 
k^^v^kJ  ing  in  the  Englifh  plantations. 

J637.  This  year,  the  colony  of  New-Haven,  and  indeed  all 

D  th  and  *^^  New-England  colonies,  fuftained  a  heavy  lofs  in  the 
charaftei  ^^^th  of  Governor  Eaton.*  He  was  a  minifter's  fon 
born  at  Stony  Stratford,  in  Oxfordfhire  ;  was  educated 
an  Eaft-India  merchant,  and  was  fometime  deputy  gov- 
ernor of  the  company,  trading  to  the  Eaft-Indies.  F©r 
fever.il  years,  he  was  agent  for  the  king  of  England,  at 
the  court  of  Denmark.  After  his  return,  he  was  a  mer- 
chant of  great  bufmefs  and  refpe£tability,  in  the  city  of 
London. 

Upon  the  Laudean  perfecution,  he  left  his  native  coun- 
try, and  came  into  New-England,  with  Mr.  Davenport, 
his  minifter,  in  1637.  He  was  one  of  the  original  pa- 
tentees of  the  Maflachufetts,  and  foon  after  his  arrival,  was 
chofen  one  of  the  magiftrates  of  that  colony.  Upon  the 
fettlement  of  New-Haven,  he  was  chofen  governor  of 
the  colony,  and  was  annually  re-ele£i:ed  until  his  death. 
He  is  reprefented  as  comely  and  perfonable,  and  is  faid 
to  have  appeared  upon  the  bench  with  a  dignity  and  ma- 
jefty,  which  admit  of  no  defcription.  The  impartiality, 
with  which  he  adminiftered  juftice,  was  mofl  exemplary, 
and  his  authority  was  not  to  be  oppofed.  The  wifdom, 
gravity,  and  integrity  of  his  adminifhration,  were  viewed 
with  univerfal  admiration.  In  honor  to  his  memory  and 
the  good  fcrvices  which  he  had  rendered  the  colony,  his 
funeral  charges  were  borne,  and  a  handfome  monument 
eredled,  at  the  public  expenfe.f 


*  He  died  January  7th  1657,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age. 

+  His  private  was  not  lefs  amiable,  than  his  publick  charadler. 
In  converfation,  he  was  affable,  courteous,  and  generally  pleaf- 
ant  ;  but  always  grave  and  cautious.  He  was  pious  and  flridtly 
moral.     His  meeknefs,  patience,  and  fortitude,  were  fingular. 

In  the  conduit  of  his  family  he  was  ftrift,  prudent,  and  happy. 
Though  it  fometimes  confifted  of  not  lefs  than  thirty  perfons, 
yet  they  were  under  the  moft  ptrfe(5l  order  and  government. 
They  were  all  aflembled  morning  and  evening,  and  the  governor, 
after  reading  the  fcriptures,  and  making  devout  and  ufeful  obfer» 
■vations  apon  them,  prayed  with  great  reverence  and  pertinency. 
On  the  fabbath  and  other  days  of  public  devotion,  hcfpentan 
hour  or  two  with  his  family,  in  inftrufting  them  in  the  duties  of 
faith  and  prafticc  ;  and  in  recommending  to  them  the  reading  and 
ftndy  of  the  fcriptures,  fecret  devotion,  the  fan<ftification  of  the 
fabbath,  and  a  devout  and  conftant  attendance  on  all  divine  in- 
ftitutions.  On  thefe  days  he  fang  praifes,  as  well  as  prayed  with 
his  family.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  domcflics  as  well  as 
by  the  commonwealth.  Indeed  there  was  no  man,  among  the 
firft  planters  of  New-England,  who  had  a  more  general  acquaint- 


Chap.  XI.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       441 

Nearly  at  the  fame  time,  died  his  fon  in  law,  Edward  Book  T. 
Hopkins,  Elquire,   for  a  number  of  years  governor  of  ^^y^w^^J 
Conne<Slicut.     He  conducted  the  affairs  of  government  ^''Si- 
with  great  wifdom  and  integrity,  and  was  univerfally  be-  Character 
loved.     He  was  a  gentleman  of  exemplary   piety,  right-  ot  Gov. 
eoufnefs,  and  charity.     In  his  family   and  fecret  devo-  Hopkins. 
tions,  he  followed  the  example  of  Governor  Eaton.     His 
charity  was  great  and  extenfive.     Befides  the    relief  he 
dupenfed  to  the  poor,  with  his  own  hands,  he  gave  con- 
fiderable  fums  of  money  to   others,  to  be  difpofed  of  to 
charitable  purpofes.     When  he  went   into  England,   on 
the  occafion  of  his  brother's  death,  who  had  been  warden 
of  the  Englilh  fleet,  he  defigned  to  return  again  to  his  fam- 
ily and  friends,  in  New-England  ;  but  he  was  very  foon 
particularly  noticed,  and  made  firft  warden  of  the  fleet,  in 
the  room  of  his  brother.     He  was  then  chofen  commif- 
fioner  of  the   admiralty  and  navy  ;  and  finally  member 
of  parliament.     Thefe  unexpc£led  preferments  altered 
his  defigns,  and  determined  him  to  fend  over  for  his  fam-  . 
ily,  and  to  fpend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  his  native 
country.     He  had  been  a  confumptive   man,    attended 
with  a  cough  and  fpitting  of  blood,  for  more  than  thirty 
years.     His  conftitution  was  now  entirely  wafted,  and  he 
died  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age. 

His  laft  will  was  highly  expreiTive  of  that  public  fpirit  . 
and  charity,  which  had  fo  diftinguiflied  him  in  life.  His  Hisdona- 
whole  eftate,  in  New-England,  was  given  away  to  chari- 
table purpofes.  He  manifefted  his  peculiar  friendfhip 
to  the  family  of  Mr.  Hooker,  his  paftor,  at  Hartford,  by 
giving  his  reli£t,  Mrs.  Hooker,  all  the  debts  due  from  the 
family  to  him  i  by  giving  to  Mrs.  Wilfon,  of  Bofton,  Mr. 
Hooker's  eldeft  daughter,  his  farm  at  Farmington,  with 
all  the  houfes,  out  houfes,  and  buildings  upon  it  •,  and  by 
legacies  to  feveral  others  of  his  defcendants.  All  the  re- 
mainder of  his  eftate,  in  New-England,  he  bequeathed  to 
his  "  father,  Theophilus  Eaton,  Efquire,  Mafter  John 
**  Davenport,  Mafter  John  Cullick,  and  Mafter  William 
**  Goodwin,  in  full  afliirance  of  their  truft  and  faithful- 
"  nefs,  in  difpofing  of  it  according  to  the  true  intent  and 

ance  with  public  bufinefs,  or  who  fuftaincd  a  fairer  charadter. 
His  monument  is  kept  up  to  the  prefent  lime.  Upon  it  arc  thefe 
expreflive  lines : 

**  Eaten  fo  meek,  fo  wife,  fo  fam'd,  fo  juft, 

**  The  Phcenix  of  our  world  here  hides  his  duft, 

**  This  name  forget,  New-Eng-land  never  muft." 
H  h 


^41  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XL 

BookI. '"  purpofeof  him,  the  faid  Edward  Hopkins,  which  Was 
v.^^-v/->^  "  to  give  fome  encouragement,  in  thofe  foreign  planta- 
1657.  "  tions,  for  the  breeding  up  of  hopeful  youths,  in  a  way 
**  of  learning,  both  at  the  grammar  fchool  and  college, 
"  for  tlie  public  fervice  of  the  country,  in  future  times." 
He  alfo  made  a  donation  of  five  hundred  pounds  more, 
out  of  his  eftate  in  England,  to  the  faid  truftecs,  in  fur- 
ther profecution  of  the  fame  public  ends,  "  for  the  up- 
"  holding  and  promoting  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Je- 
*<  sus  Christ,  in  thofe  parts  of  tlie  earth."  This  laft 
donation  was  confidercd  as  made  to  Harvard  college,  and 
by  virtue  of  a  decree  in  chancery,  was  paid  in  1 7 1  o.  The 
intereft  given  in  New-England  was  pftimated  at  about 
/^  1,000  fterling  ;  and  was  appropriated  to  the  fupport  of 
the  grammar  fchools  in  New-Haven,  Hartford,  and  Had- 
]ey.  The  money  originally  belonged  to  New-Haven  and 
Hartford  ;  but  as  a  confiderable  number  of  the  people  of 
Hartford  afterwards  removed  to  Hadley,  and  were  prin- 
cipal fettiers  of  that  town,  they  received  their  propor-- 
tron  of  the  donation. 

At  a  general  court,  in  Hartford,  March  nth  1658, 
1^5^*  a  troop  of  thirty  horfemen  was  eftabliflied  in  Conne£li- 
troop  in  ^^*»  ^"^  Richard  Lord  was  appointed  captain.  This 
Conncdi-  was  the  firfl  in  the  colony. 

cut.  This  year,  there  was   a  very  confiderable  alteration 

y.,  „.         with  refpe£l  to  governors  and  the  council,  both  in  Con- 

a't  Hart-     neft icut  and  New-Haven.     At  the  ele£lion,  in  Conne6l- 

ford,  icut,  Thomas  Welles,   Efquire,  was  ele6led  governor. 

May  20.      and  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  deputy  governor.    To  the 

magi{trates  laft  year,  who   were  again  re-chofen,  there 

was  an  addition  of  Mr.  Matthew  Allen,  Mr.  Phelps,  Mr. 

John  Welles,  Mr.   Treat,  Mr.  Baker,  Mr.  Mulford,  and 

Mr.  Alexander  Knowles.     There  appears  to  have  been 

fixteen  magiftrates  and  twenty  fix  deputies  -,  in  the  whole 

forty  two  members. 

On  the  ele£lion  at  New-Haven,  Mr.  Francis  Newman 
was  chofen  governor,  and  Vf  iliiam  Leet,  deputy  gover- 
nor."    Mrt  Jafper  Ci^ane  was  added  to  the   magiftrates, 
and  Mr.  William  Gibbard  was  appointed  fecretary. 
Pawca-  This  year  a  confiderable  fettlement  was  made  between 

terwarUs    Miftic    and   Pawcatuck    rivers.     This   tra6t  was  called 
Pequ'ot,  and  originally  belonged  to  New-London.     The 


*  Mr  Stephen  Goociyear,  who  had  been  deputy  governor, 
with  Governor  Eaton,  through  almoft  his  whole  adminiftralion, 
died  this  year  in  London,  and  was  either  there,  or  on  his  paffage, 
at  this  election.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  worthy  man,  and 
left  a  r£fpe(5table  family. 


Chap.  XL        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.  243 

iirft   man,  who   fettled  upon    this    tracl,   was   William  Book  I. 
Cheefebrough,  from  Rehoboth,  in  1649.     A  complaint  Vw/-\'-v-/ 
was  exhibited  againft  him  for  carrying  on  an  illicit  trade  i6j8. 
with  the  Indians,  for  repairing  their   arms,  and  endan- 
gering the  public  fafety.     The   general   court   of   Con-  o^'"  j  „ 
necticut   declared,  that   they  had  a  clear   title    to   thofe  j^n  fe^, 
lands,  and  fummoned   him   before  them.      They  repri-  tied, 
manded  him  for   fettling  upon  them  m  ithout  their  ap- 
probation j    for   withdrawing    himfelf    from    chriftian  Cheefc- 
fociety  and  ordinances  ;  and  for  unlawfully  trading  with  •^'''tigh 
and  aflifling  the   Indians.     He  confefled  his  faults  ;  but  '^^l^'^'Lj 
pleaded  in  excufe,  that  he  had  been  encouraged  by  Mr. 
Winthrop,  who  claimed  a  right  at  Pawcatuck.     He  gave 
bonds  for  his  goed  conduct,  and  was  allowed  to  contin- 
ue upon  the  land.     The   court  promifed  him,  that  if  he 
would  procure  a  fufficient  number  of  planters,  they  would 
give  them    iill  pr,  per  encouragement,  in   making  a  per- 
manent fettlement.     About  ten    or  twelve   families,  this 
year,  made  fettlements  in  that  quarter  ;  and  finding,  that 
there   was  a  controverfy  between  Conne£licut   and  the 
Mafl'.chufetts,  with  refpe£l  both  t(?  title  and  jurifdi£lion,  ^,       , 
they,  on  the  30th  of  June,  entered  into  a  voluntary  con-  ^^^^  as^ree 
tra£t  to  govern  themfelves,   and  conduct  their  affairs  in  to  govern 
peace,  until  it  fliould  be  determined  to  v/hich  colony  they  them- 
iTiould   fubmit.       The    principal  planters  were    George  *'^'^^*' 
Denifon,  Thomas   Stanton,    Thomas    Shaw,   William, 
tliflia,  and   Samuel  Cheefebrough,  Mofes   and   Walter 
Palmer.     Thefe,  with  fome  others,  were  figners  of  the 
voluntary  compaft. 

At  the  meeting  of  the   commlflioners,  the  Maflachu-  eiaim 
fetts  claimed  that  tra£l  of  country,  by  virtue  of  the  aflift-  of  MaHRi- 
ance  which  they  afforded  Connecticut  in  the  conqueft  of  chufetts. 
the  Pequots.     The  commifTioners  refolved,  "  That  the 
*'  determination  did  arife  only  from  the  feveral  rights  of  Determi- 
*<  conqueft,  which  were  not  greatly  different  ;  yet  that  "^"^i""  or 
*'  being  tender  of  any  inconvenience,  wJiich  might  arife  rniffioners. 
"  to  thole,  who  were  already  pofleffcd,   either  by  com- 
'^  miffion  from  MafTachufetts  or  Connecticut,  in  any  part 
*'  thereof,  fhould   they  be  put  off  their  improvements  j 
*'  alfo  upon  enquiry  finding,  that  the  Pequot  country, 
**  which  extended  from  Nehantick  to   Wekapang,  about 
"  ten  miles  eaftward  from  Miftic  riverj  may  conveniently 
"  accommodate  two  plantations,  did,    refpeCling  things 
*'  as  they  then   ftood,  conclude,  that  Miftic  river  be  the 
*'  bounds  between  them,  as  to  popritty  and  jurifdiftion, 
**  fo  far  as  conqueft  may  give  title.     Always  provided^ 


244  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XI. 

Book  I.    •'  that  fuch  as  are   already  accommodated,  by  commif- 

<-^v-«0     "  fion  of  cither  of  the  faid   governments,  or  have  grants 

16/8.         "  of  any  tradls  of  land  on  either   fide  of  Miftic  river,  be 

«'  not  molefted  in  any  of  their  pofleihons  or  rights,  by 

<*  any  other  grants." 

Upon  the  petition  of  the  planters,  the  general  court 
"jlf  ^'  of  the  Maflachufetts  made  them  a  grant  of  eight  miles 
from  the  mouth  of  Miftic  river  towards  Wekapang, 
and  eight  miles  northward  into  the  country,  and  named 
the  plantation  Southerton.  It  continued  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  Maflachufetts  until  after  Connecticut  obtain- 
ed a  royat  charter. 

This  was  a  year  of  great  ficknefs  and  mortality  in 
Conncdiicut,  and  in  New-England  in  general.  Reli- 
gioiis  controverfies,  at  the  fame  time,  ran  high  and  gave 
great  trouble  to  church  and  commonwealth.  The  In- 
dians continued  their  wars  with  implacable  animofity. 
The  commiiTioners  employed  all  their  wifdom  and  influ- 
ence to  make  peace  ;  but  they  could  not  reconcile  thofe 
blood-thirfty  barbarians.  The  crops  were  light,  and  it 
was  a  year  of  fear,  perplexity,  and  forrow.* 

John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor  of 
^'h^'T  Connedicut  for  the  year  1659,  and  Thomas  Welles, 
ford,  Efquire,  deputy  governor.     Captain  Tapping  and  Mr. 

M'ly  19th  Robert  Bond  were   eleded  magiftrates    in  the   room  of 
l(>59'         Mr.  Knowles  and  Mr.  Mulford. 

At  tlie  election  in  New-Haven,    the    fame  governor 
and  council  were    rechofen.     Indeed  little  alteration  was 
made  with  refpe£t  to  them  until  the  union  of  that  colony 
with  ConnecSticut. 
_^„  .  At  the  Oclober  feflions,  Cromwell  bay,    or  Setauket 

^j},^  on  Long-Ifland,  at  the  defire  of  the  inhabitants,  was  ad- 

mitted as  a  member  of  the  jurifdidion  of  Connedicut. 
In  1660,  Mr.   John   Winthrop   was    rechofen  gover- 
M^    '"-th  ^*^^'     This  was  the  firft  time,  that  any  governor  had  been 
1660.  '      defied  to  that  ofhce  more  than  once  in  two  years.     Ma- 
jor Mafon  was  advanced  to   the  place   of  deputy  gover- 
nor.    The  magiflrates  were  Mr.  Henry  Clark,  Mr.  Wyl^ 
]ys,  Mr.  Phelps,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Treat,  Mr.  Gould,  Mr. 
Tapphig,  Mr.  Ogden,  Mr.  Bond,  Mr  Daniel  Clark,  and 
Mr.  Talcott.     Mr.  Daniel  Clark  was  fecretary,  and  Mr. 
Talcott,  Treafurer. 

*  In  a  proclamation  for  a  general  faft,  the  imtemperate  feafon, 
thin  harveft,  fore  vifitation  by  ficknefs,  and  the  fad,  prolonged 
differences  in  the  churches,  are  particularized  as  matters  of 


humiliation. 


\m 


Chap.  XI.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         245 

Mr.    Webfler  and  Mr.  Welles   appear    now  to  be  Book  I. 
no    more.     They  had  been    annually    chofen   into  the  v_v-v->fc/ 
magiftracy,  for  about    twenty    years,   and  both  had  the  i^^g, 
honor  of  the  chief  feat  of  government.* 

At  this  eletlion,  the  freemen,  having  found  by  long 
experience,  that  the  claufe,  in  the  third  fundamental  ar- 
ticle, incapacitating  any  perfon  to  be  chofen  governor 
more  than  once  in  two  years,  was  prejudicial,  rather  than 
advantageous  to  the  colony,  refolved,  that  there  (hould 
be  liberty  for  the  annual  choice  of  the  fame  perfon  gov- 
ernor, or  of  any  other  whom  they  fhould  judge  bed  quali- 
fied to  fcrve  the  commonwealth. 

During  the.  wars  between  Uncas  and  the  Narragan- 
fets,  they  befieged  his  fort,  near  the  bank  of  the  Thames,  uncas  ^  ° 
until  his  provifions  were  nearly  exhaulled,  and  he  found  '     . 

that  he  and  his  m.en  mull  foon  perifh,  by  famine  or  fword, 
unlefs  he  could  obtain  fpeedy  relief.  In  this  crifis,  he 
found  means  of  communicating  his  danger  to  the  fcouts, 
who  had  been  fent  out  from  Saybrook  fort.  By  his  mef- 
fengers,  he  reprefented  the  great  danger  the  Englilh,  in 
thofe  parts,  would  be  in  immediately,  if  they  fhould  fuf- 
fer  the  Moheagans  to  be  deftroyed. 

Upon  this  intelligence,  one  Thomas  LefHngwell,  an 
enfign  at  Saybrook,  an  enterprifmg,  bold  man,  loaded  a  ^  •  th 
canoe  with  beef,  corn  and  peafe,  and  under  cover  of  the  as  Lef- 
night  paddled  from  Saybrook  into  the  Thames  j  and  fingwell. 
had  the  addrefs  to  get  the  whole  into  the  fort.  The  en- 
emy foon  perceiving,  that  Uncas  was  relieved,  raifed  tlie 
fiege.  For  this  fervice,  Uncas  gave  faid  LelBngwella 
deed  of^  great  part,  if  not  of  the  whole  town  of  Nor- 
wich. In  June  1659,  Uncas,  with  his  two  fons,  Owane- 
co  and  Attawanhood,  by  a  more  formal  and  authentic 
deed,  made  over  unto  faid  Lefhngwell,  John  Mafon, 
Efquire,  the  Rev.  James  Fitch  and  others,  confifting 
of  thirty  five  proprietors,  the  whole  townfhip  of  Nor- 
wich, which  is  about  nine  miles  fquare.  The  company, 
at  this  time,  gave  Uncas  and  his  fons  about  j^yo,  as  a  fur- 
ther compenfation,  for  fo  large  and  fine  a  tradt. 

*  Four  or  five  governors  of  Connedicut,  Governor  HayncB, 
Governor  VVyllys,  Governors  Welles  and  Webftcr,  lie  buried 
at  Hartford,  without  a  monument-  William  Leet,  Efquire, 
governor  of  New-Haven  and  Connedicut,  alfo  lies  interred  there, 
in  the  fame  obfcure  manner.  Confidering  their  many  and  impor- 
tant public  fervices,  this  is  remarkable  ;  but  their  virtues  have 
embalmed  their  names,  and  will  render  them  venerable  to  the  la- 
left  poflerity. 


246 


T  HE    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y 


Chap.  XL 


Book  I. 


Norwich 

fettled. 


Hunting- 
ton rcceiv 
cd. 

Grand  Ju 
ror.  ap- 
pointed. 


Prefarations  were  immediately  made  for  its  fettlc- 
mcnt,  and  this  fpring,  the  Reverend  James  Fitch, 
with  the  principal  part  of  his  church  and  congregation, 
jemoved  from  Sayhrook,  and  planted  the  town  of  Nor- 
Tvich.  Three  or  four  planters  join.ed  tliem  from  New- 
London,  and  two  or  three  fron^.  the  towns  of  Piimouth 
and  Marfhfield  in  MalTachufetts.  In  1663,  tlie  general 
•allembly  ordered,  that  the  deed  Ihould  be  recorded.  The 
limits  were  afterwards  afcertaincd,  and  the  town  i"eceiv- 
ed  a  patent  of  the  whole. 

The  Moheagans  were  a  great  defence,  and  of  efien- 
tial  fervice  to  the  town  for  many  years.  Thev  kept  cue 
their  fcouts  and  fpies,  and  fo  conftantly  watched  their 
enemies,  that  they  gave  the  earliefl:  notice  of  their  ap- 
proach, and  were  a  continual  defence  againft  them.  For 
this  purpofe,  in  times  of  danger,  they  often  moved  and 
pitched  their  v/igwams  near  the  town,  and  were  a  great 
terror  to  the  enemy.  Once  the  hollile  Indians  came 
near  to  tlie  town,  upon  the  iabbath,  with  a  defign  to. 
make  a  defcent  upon  it ;  but  viewing  it,  from  an  emi-^ 
nence,  and  feeing  the  Moheagan  huts,  they  were  intimi-» 
dated  and  went  off  without  doing  the  lead  damage.* 

This  year,  the  town  of  Huntington,  upon  Long-Ifl- 
and,'  was  received  as  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  jurif- 
diClioTi. 

Tnts  general  court  ordered,  that  grand  jurors  fhould 
be  appointed,  in  every  town,  to  make  prefentment  of  all 
breaches  of  law,  in  their  refpeftive  towns.  The  law  re- 
quired that  the  prcfentmcnts  fliould  be  made  to  the  par^^ 
ticular  court,  in  May  and  Oftober. 

The  accounts  with  the  heirs  of  George  Fenwick, 
Efquire,  had  not  been  clofed,  nor  difcharges  given,  rela- 
tive to  the  purchafe  made  of  the  fort  at  Sayhrook,  and  the 
old  patent  of  Conne£licut.  This  was  api  occafion  of 
great  uneafinefs  among  the  people.  The  three  towns  of 
Hartford,  Windfor  and  W'ethersfield,  prefented  petitions 
to  the  general  court,  praying,  that  the  accounts  might  be 
adjufted,  and  the  colony  difcharged.  In  confequence  of 
thefe  a  large  committee  was  appointed  to  make  a  com- 
plete fcttlement  with  the  faid  heirs.  They  having  pre- 
pared the  accounts  for  a  final  adjuftment,  the  general 
court,  at  their  feflions  in  06lober,  authorized  them,  in 
their  behalf,  to  perfect  and  confirm  the  writings.  The 
governor  was  authorized,  in  their  name,  to  affix  the  pub- 


*  Manufcripts  from  Norwich  and  records  of  CoBneAicutc 


Chav.  XL        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         24^ 

lie  feal  of  the  colony  to  thofc,  which  were  to  be  deliver-  Book  I. 
cd  to  Captain  Cullick  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  heirs  of  the  \^y\f^sj 
faid  George   Fenwick,    Eiquire,  and   to  receive  of  them  1660. 
the  writings  to  be  delivered  to  the  court  in  favour  of  the 
colony. 

Accordingly,  en  the  7th  of  Oclcber,  the  colony  dif-  Settle- 
charged  Mr.  John    Cullick  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  their  mcnt  with 
heirs,  &c.  and  the  faid  John  and  Elizabeth  his  wife  gave  ^^^^^"^ 
an  ample  difcharge  to  the  colony   of  Connecticut,   from  pen^^.j^k 
all  funis  of  money  due  to  the  faid  Fenwick,   his  heirs  or  q^,  7. 
afligns,  by  virtue  of  the  agreements  made  with  Mr.  Fen- 
wick, or  purchafe  of  the  river's  mouth.* 

Thus,  after  the  term  of  fixteen  years,  from  the  firft, 
and  fourteen  from  the  fecond  agreement  with  Mr.  Fen- 
wick, the  colony  completed  a  fettlement  rcfpedling  the 
fort  and  lands  holden  by  him  ;  and  became  legally  pof- 
{eiTed  of  tlie  tratt  conveyed  to  the  Lords  and  gentlemen 
feverally  named  in  the  patent. 

Upon  a  final   adjuftment  of  the  accounts,   it  appear-  ;^5oo  due 
cd,  that  Mr.  Cullick  and  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Fenwick  were  to  the  co- 
indebted  ;^500  iterling   to  the  colony,  which  had  been  'ony* 
paid  them,  more  than  what  was  due  according  to  the  ori- 
ginal agreements  with  Mr.  Fenwick. 

John  Mafon,  Efquire,  now  deputy  governor,  had  fome 
time  fmce  been  authorized,  in  behalf  of  the  colony,  to 
purchafe  of  Uncas  all  the  lands,  which  he  had  referved 
for  himfelf  and  the  Moheagans,  in  the  deed  of  1640,  un- 
der the  name  of  pla,nting  grounds.  Having  effefted  the 
purchafe,  he  made  a  furrender  of  the  lands,  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  the  general  court.  The  following  is  a  minute 
of  the  tranfattion. 

"  Hartford,  feflion  of  the  general  court,  Mdrch 
«   14,  i66o.f 

"  The  jurifdi£lion  power  over  that  land,  which  Un-  ^^     w''* 
**  cas  and  Wawequa  have  made  over  to  Major  Mafon,  is  •     ^^^ 
"  by  him  furrendered  to  this  colony.     Neverthelefs,  for  fon  re- 
"  the  laying  out  of  thofe  lands  to  farms,  or  plantations,  l'ign«  the 
"  the  court  doth  leave   it  in  the  hands  of  Major  Mafon.  Mohea- 
*'  It  is  alfo  ordered  and  provided,  with   the  conferit  of  ^ 
**  Major  Mafon,   that  Uncas  and  Wawequa,  and  their 
•*  Indians  and  fucceflbrs,  fhall  be  fupplied  with  fufficient 


*  Mr.  Cullick,  who  for  feveral  years  had  been  one  ofthejna- 
giftratcs  of  Conncdicut,  and  fecrttary  of  the  colony,  had  now 
removed  his  refldence  to  Bofton. 

t  This  according  to  the  prefcnt  mode  of  dating  was  March 
J4j  1661. 


^48  THEHISTORY        Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.  "  planting  ground  at  all  times,  as  the  court  fees  caufe  out 
v.^'Vv^  "  of  that  land.  And  the  major  doth  referve  to  himfeU 
1660.         **  a  competency  to  make  a  farm." 

For  want  of  form,  and  a  more  legal  manner  of  con- 
veyance, with  refpe6l  to  thofe  lands,  originated  the  mem- 
orable Mafon  cafe,  or  controverfy,  as  it  was  called.  It 
continued  about  feventy  years,  and  was  an  occafion  of 
great  trouble  and  expenfe  to  the  colony.  A  ftatement  of 
it  will  be  made  in  the  progrefs  of  this  hiftory. 


CHAPTER     XTI. 

^HE  general  court  of  Comie^lcut  declare  their  loyalty  and 
fiibmijfion  to  the  king  ,-  determine  to  addrefshis  majejly^  and 
apply  for  charter  privileges .  A  petition  to  his  majejiy  is 
prepared,  and  a  letter  addreffed  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal. 
Governor  JVinthrop  is  appointed  the  colony's  agent,  to  pre- 
fent  their  petition,  and  folicit  a  patent.  Regicides  con' 
demned.  iVhalley  and  Goffe  arrive  at  Boflon,  efcape  to 
JN^etU' Haven,  and  are  kindly  entertained,  and  kept  from 
their  piirftiers.  Neiu-Haven  falls  into  great  trouble  and 
danger  on  that  account.  Neiu-Haven  excife  themfelves  ; 
decline  fending  an  agent  ,  but  join  with  Maffachufetts ^ 
in  fupporting  one.  The  King  proclaimed.  Governor 
Winthrop  obtains  the  charter  of  ConneElicut.  Firfl  gov- 
ernor and  council  under  the  charter.  Reprefentation  of  the 
confitution  it  ordains,  and  the  privileges  it  conveys,  l^if- 
ficulties  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven.  Governor  Leefs 
addrefs.  Charter  of  ConneElicut  arrives.  Proceedings  of 
Connecticut  in  confequence  of  the  charter.  'They  extend 
their  jurifdiBion  to  all  places  within  the  limits  of  their  pa- 
tent, a7id  challenge  New-Haven  colony,  as  under  their  ju- 
rijdiclion.  Controverfy  betiveen  the  two  colonics.  Settle- 
ment of  Killingworth.  Patent  of  the  Duke  of  Tork.  Co- 
lonel Nichols  and  commiffionen  arrive,  reduce  all  the  Dutch 
fettletnents.  Their  extraordinary  powers.  Important 
crifisofComieBicut.  The  general  court  make  a prefent  to 
the  commiffioners.  Anfwertothepropofitionsfromhisma" 
jefty,  and  reply  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  claim  and  peti- 
tion. Boundaries  between  Connecticut  and  Ne%u-l!'ork. 
Union  of  Conneciicut  and  New-Haven. 

March  I4«  r  ■  iHE  colony  having  purchafed  the  patent,   and  the 
i      government  of  England  having  been  fettled  in  the 


CttAp.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.         249 

khiff  and   parliament,  the   general  court  determined  to  Book  I. 
make  application  for  a  charter  under  the  royal  fignaturc.  Vw»^v%^ 
They   avowed    their  allegiance    to    his   majefty,  King  ^'^^^• 
Charles  the  fecond  ;  declared  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  xhe  court 
this  colony  were  his   faithful  fubjee^s  ;  and    that  it  was  avow 
neceflary  to  petition  him  for  his  grace,  and    the  continu-  their  alle« 
ance  and  confirmation  of  their  rights  and  privileges.     The  Pj;^"ce  to 
court  refolved,    that  the  ^500  due    from   Mr.  CuUick  ^^"^^l^^jj^ 
(hould  be  appropriated  to  the  profecution  of  their  addrefs, 
and  application  to  his  majefty  for  a  patent. 

At  the  feffions  in  May,  a  petition  to    his  majefty  was 
prefented  by  the  governor,  and  approved  by  the  general  ^''^P?''^  * 
court.     That  it   might,  however,  be   made  as  perfe6t  as  foj.  ^  ^har- 
poflible,  the  governor  and  deputy  governor,  Mr.  Wyllys,  ter. 
Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Warham,  Mr.  Stone,  Mr.  Hooker,'  Mr.  May  16. 
Whiting,  and  the  fecretary,  were  appointed  a  committee 
for  its  emendation.     They  were  authorized  to  methodize 
and  make  all  fuch  alterations,    as  they   fhould  judge  ex- 
pedient,   provided    the  fubftance    of  it   were  retained. 
They  were  diredled  to  write  letters  to  any  noble  perfonages 
in  England,  to  whom  it  might  be  expedient  to  make  ap- 
plication, and  to  tranfa£l:   whatever  might  be  neceflary, 
refpecling  the  petition  and  the  procurement  of  a  patent. 

Governor  Winthrop  was  appointed  agent  to  prefent  Gorernor 
the  petition  to  his  majefty,  and  to  tranfa^   all  affairs  in  Winthrop 
England,  refpedting  the    general  welfare   of  the  colony,  appoiutei 
He  had  particular  inftru£tions  from  the  general  court  for  ^S*^"^* 
the  management  of  the  bufinefs  of  his  agency.     He  was 
efpecially  dire£ted  to  obtain  the  confent,   and  take  the 
advice  of  the    nobles  and  gentlemen,   who  had  been  in- 
terefted  in  the  old  patent  of  Connecticut ;  and  to  engage 
the  friendfhip  and  influence   of  all  thofe,  who  might  be 
adiive  and  ferviceable,  with  refpe61:  to  the  interefts  of  the 
colony. 

In  the  petition  to  his  majefty,  it  was  reprefented,  that  Reprefen-- 
the  greateft  part  of  the  colony  had  been  purchafed  and  tations  iw 
obtained  by  great  and  valuable  confidei-atlons ;  that  fome  thepeti« 
Other  part  thereof  had  been  obtained  by  conqueft  -,  and  ^'°"* 
that  it  had,  with  great  difficulty,  at  the  fole    endeavour^, 
expenfe   and  charges  of  themfelves  and  their  affociates, 
under  whom  they  claimed,  been  fubdued  and  improved, 
and  thereby  become  a  confiderable  enlargement  and  ad- 
dition to  his  majefty's  dominions  and  interefts  in  New- 
Englaad.f     Thefe  were  pleaded  as  reafons,  with  his  ma- 

t  Appendix  No.  VII. 

li 


2  CO 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap,  XIL 


Book  I. 


1661. 

Letter  to 
Lord  Say 
and  Seal. 


Com- 
plaints 
again ft 
Mr.  Fcn- 
wick. 


jefty  to  grant  the  tra£l  and  privileges  for  which  the  peti- 
tioners prayed. 

At  tlie  fame  time,  a  letter  was  addrefled  to  Lord  Say 
and  Seal,  reprefenting  the  encouragements  which  their 
fathers,  and  fome  of  their  furviving  aflbciates,  received 
from  him,  to  tranfplant  themfelves  into  the  inland  parts 
of  this  valt  wildernefs,  and  their  affurances  of  his  patron- 
age and  favor.  They  alfo  complained,  that  Mr.  George 
Fenwick,  feveral  years  after  he  had  taken  poffeflion  of  the 
entrance  of  Connecticut  river,  determining  to  return 
to  England,  propofed  to  fell  the  fort,  at  Saybrook, 
with  all  the  buildings  and  appurtenances  there,  together 
with  all  the  lands  upon  the  river,  as  far  eaftward  as  Nar- 
raganfet  bay,  with  the  right  of  jurifdidlion,  to  the  colony. 
They  represented,  that  this,  at  firft,  was  ftrenuoufly  op- 
pofed,  by  many  of  the  inhabitants,  as  they  imagined  his 
lordfliip,  and  the  other  noble  patentees,  had  very  boun- 
tiful intentions  towards  them ;  and  that  fuch  a  proce- 
dure would  be  extremely  contrary  to  their  defigns.  Nev- 
erthelefs,  that  afterwards,  as  fome  of  thofe  gentlemen, 
v.ho  had  the  greateft  intcreft  in  the  affc6lions  of  their 
lordfaips,  were  removed  by  death  •,  and  as  Mr.  Fenwick 
pretended  to  be  the  only  patentee;  and  threatened,  that 
unlefs  the  colony  would  purchafe  the  lands,  on  his  own 
terms,  he  would  either  impofe  duties  upon  the  people,  or 
fell  tlie  premifes  to  the  Dutch,  they  finally  agreed  with 
him,  and  paid  him  ^1,600  for  them.  They  intimated 
that  this  was  the  only  way  in  which  the  peace  and  fafety 
of  the  community  could  have  been  preferved.  Asa  fur- 
ther matter  of  grievance,  they  complained,  that,  befides 
this  great  abufe,  Mr.  Fenwick  had  given  them  nothing 
under  his  hand,  to  oblige  himfclf  or  his  heirs  to  fulfil  his 
engagements ;  and  that  they  had  nothing  to  fecure  them, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  juft  rights  and  privileges,  as  a 
dillinft  commonwealth.  They  further  made  complaint 
of  encroachments  made  upon  them,  on  the  north  by  the 
Mafiachufetts,  and  by  them  and  others  towards  the  Nar- 
vaganfets  ;  and  that  they  knew  not  how  to  fupport  their 
claims,  ojr  afcertain  their  boundaries,  without  a  patent, 
they  intreat  his  lordfliip  to  confider  their  circumftances,^ 
oouufel  and  affift  their  agent,  and  countenance  their  de- 
figns.* 

The  only  alteration  which  had  been  made,  at  the  elec- 
tion, this  year,   in  Conne£licut,  was  the  choice   of  Mr* 


*  Letter  tg  his  lordfliip,  No  VUL 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        251 

Thurfton  Rayner  into  the  maglftracy  ;  but  at  New-Ha-  Book  I. 
ven,  the  alteration  was  very  confiderable.  v.-^^v'v-/ 

Francis  Newman,  Efquire,  who  had  fucceeded  Gov-  I'^^i. 
crnor  Eaton,  in  the  chief  feat  of  government,  was  now  Governor 
no  more.     He  had  been  for  many  years  fecretary,  under  Newmaa 
the  adminiftration  of  Governor  Eaton,  and  well  acquaint- 
ed  with  the  affairs  of  the  colony.     He  is  reprefented  as 
a  gentleman  of   piety  and   unblemifhed    morals,  happily 
imitating  his  predeceflbr  both  in  public  and  private  life. 

Upon  the  ele£lion,  William  Leet,  Efquire,   was  cho- 
fen  governor,  and  Mr.  Matthew  Gilbert,  deputy  gover-  Eledlion 
nor.     Mr.  Benjamin  Fenn,  Mr.  Robert  Treat,  Mr.  Jaf-  ^^  ^'^w- 
per  Crane,  Mr.  John  Wakeman,  and  Mr.  William  Gib-  "ig^f" 
bard,  were  ele£led  magiflrates.      The  fpirit  of  republi- 
canifm  however  was  fo  high,  at  New-Haven,   that  feve- 
ral  of  them  would  not  accept  their  appointments  and  take 
the  oaths  prefcribed.     Mr.  Wakeman  and  Mr.   Gibbard 
utterly  refufed.     Mr.  Fenn  was  hardly  prevailed  with  to 
accept  his  office.     He  at  laft  took  the  oath,  with  this  pre- 
vious explanation,  that  it  was  only  with  reference  to  ths 
particular  laws  of  that  colony  ;  and  that  if  any  thing  fo- 
reign (hould  prefent,  it  fliould  give  no  offence  if  he  fhould 
decline  adling.     Mr.  James  Bifhop  was  chofen  fecretary, 
and  Mr.  Robert  Allen,  treafurer. 

An  affair  had  happened  at  New-Haven,  a  few  months 
before  this,  which  now  began  to  alarm  the  country,  and 
fbon  gave  great  anxiety  and  trouble  to  that  colony. 

Very  foon  after  the  reftoration,  a  large  number  of  the        .  . , 
judges  of  king  Charles  the  firfl,   commonly  termed  ^^S^'condtmn- 
cides,  were  apprehended  and  brought  upon  their  trials,  cd. 
in  the  Old  Baily.     Thirty  nine   were   condemned,  and 
ten     executed   as  traitors.      Some    others,    apprehen- 
five  of  danger,   fled  out  of  the  kingdom   before  King 
Charles  II.    was  proclaimed.      Colonels   Whalley  and      j^p^^- 
Goffe  made  their  efcape  to  New-England.     They  were  g^  ^ive 
brought  over  by  one  Captain   Gooking,    and  arrived  at  at  Bofton. 
Bofton,  in  July  1660.     Governor  Endicot   and  gentle- 
men of  character,  in  Bofton  and  its  vicinity,  treated  them 
with  peculiar  refpe£l  and  kindnefs.     They  were  gentle- 
men of  lingular  abilities,  and  had  moved  in  an  exalted 
fphere.      Whalley   had  been   a  lieutenant  general,  and 
Goffe,   a  major  general,   in  Cromwell's  army.     Their 
manners  were  elegant,  and  their  appearance  grave  and 
Signified,    commanding  univerfal  refpe£l.      They  foon  Retire  t« 
went  from  Bofton  to  Cambridge,  where  they  refided  un-  Cam- 
til  February.     They  reforted  openly  to  places  of  public  ^^^'^S^'  ■ 


%S%  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Cuat.  XlL 

Book  I.  worfhip  on  the  Lords  day,  and  at  other  times  of  public  de- 
V-^^v^sJ  votion.  They  were  univerfally  eileemed,  by  -all  men  of 
3661.  chara£ler,  both  civil  and  religious.  But  no  fooner  was 
it  known,  that  the  judges  had  been  condemned  as  traitors, 
and  that  thefe  gentlemen  were  excepted  from  the  a61:  of 
pardon,  than  the  principal  gentlemen  in  the  Mallachu- 
fetts  began  to  be  alarmed.  Governor  Endicot  called  a 
court  of  magiftratps  to  confult  m.eafures  for  apprehend- 
ing them.  However  their  friends  were  fo  numerousj, 
tJiat  a  vote  could  not,  at  thattim.ej  be  obtained  to  arreft 
them.  Some  of  the  court  declared,  that  they  would 
ftand  by  them,  others  advifed  them  to  remove  out  of  the 
colony. 

Finding  themfelves  unfafe  at  Cambridge,  th^y  came, 
by  the  afTiflance  of  their  friends,  to  Connecticut.  They 
made  their  route  by  Hartford,  but  went  on  direClly  to 
Arrivc.it  New  Haven.  They  arrived  about  the  27  th  of  March, 
New-IIa-  and  made  Mr.  Davenport's  houfe  the  place  of  their  refi- 
ven  March  dehce.  They  were  treated  with  the  fame  marks  of  efteem 
^'    *  and  generous  friendfhip,  at  New-Haven,  which  they  had 

received  in  the  MaiTachufetts.  The  more  the  people  be-? 
came  acquainted  with  them,  the  more  they  efteemed 
them,  not  only  as  men  of  great  minds,  but  of  unfeigned 
piety  and  religion.  For  fometime,  they  appeared  to  ap- 
prehend themfelves  as  out  of  danger,  and  happily  fitua- 
ted  among  a  number  of  pious  and  agreeable  friends.  But 
it  was  not  long  before  the  news  of  the  king's  proclama- 
tion againft  the  regicides  arrived,  requiring,  that  where- 
over  they  might  be  found,  they  Ihould  be  immediately 
apprehended.  The  governor  of  MaiTachufetts,  in  confe- 
quence  of  the  royal  proclamation,  ifl'ued  his  warrant  to 
Co  to  arreii  them.  As  they  v/ere  certified,  by  their  friends,  of 
Milford.  all  meafures  adopted  refpedling  them,  they  removed  to 
Milford.  There  they  appeared  openly  in  the  day  time, 
but  at  night  often  returned  privately  to  New-Haven,  and 
were  generally  fecreted  at  Mr.  Davenport's,  until  about 
the  laft  of  April. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  governor  of  Maffachufetts  re- 
ceived a  royal  mandate  requiring  him  to  apprehend  them  j 
and  a  more  full  and  circumftantial  account  of  the  con- 
demnation and  execution  of  the  ten  regicides,  and  of  the 
difpofition  of  the  court  towards  them,  and  the  republi- 
cans and  puritans  in  general,  arrived  in  New-England. 
This  gave  a  more  general  and  thorough  alarm  to  the 
whole  country.  A  feigned  fearch  had  been  made  in  the 
XdajT'achufetts,  in   confetjuence  of  the  former  warranty 


Ciuv.  XIL       OF    CONNECTICUT.        253 

for  the  colonels  Whalley    and  GoOe  ;  but  now  the  gov-  Book  I, 
ernor  and  magllLrates  began  to  view  the  afiVar,  in  a  more   v>>-v^*^ 
ferious  point  of  light  ;  and   appear  to   have  been  in  ear-  1661. 
neft  to  fgcure  them.     They  perceived,  that  their  own 
perfonal  fafcty,  and  the   liberties  and  peace  of  the  couji- 
try,  were   concerned  in  tlie  manner  of  their  conducl:   to- 
■wards  thofe  unhappy  men.     They  therefore  immediate- 
ly gave  a  commiffion  to  Thomas   Kellond   and   Thomas 
Kirk,  two  zealous  young  royalills,  to  go  through  the  col-    ^^  ,  °" 
onies,  as  far  as  the  Manhadoes,   and  make  a  careful   and  Kiikcom- 
univerfal  fearch  for  them.     They   purfued    the  judges,  raiffioned 
with  engagcdnefs,  to  Hartford  5  and,  repairing  to  Gov-  ^^  tearch 
ernor  Wiathrop,  were  nobly    entertained.     He   aflured  ^"^'^o""' 
them,  that  the  colonels  made  no  IVay  in  Connetlicut,  but 
went  directly  to  New-Haven.     He  gave  them  a  warrant 
and  inllru£tions  fimilar  to  thofe  which  they  had  received 
fr6m  the  governor  of  MalTachufetts,  and  tranfadled  eve- 
ry thing  relative  to  the  affair  with  difpatch.     The  next 
day  they  arrived  at  Guilford,  and  opened   their  bufinefs  S,°'??f  ^°, 
to  deputy  governor   Leet.      Ihey  acquamted  him  that, 
according  to  the  intelligence  which  they   had  received, 
the   regicides  were  then  at  New-Haven.     They  defired 
immediately  to  be  furniOied  with  powers,  horfes,  and  af- 
fiftance  to  arreft  them. 

But  here  they  were  very  unwelcome  meffengers.  Gov-  ^,     . 
ernor  Leet,  and  the  principal  gentlemen  in  Guilford  and  mentsof 
New-Haven,  had  no  ill  opinion  of  the  judges.     If  they  Governor 
had  done  wrong  in  the  part  they  had  acted,  th'ey  viewed  Leet  and 
it  as  an  error  in  judgment,  and  as  the  fault  of  great  and  '^l.^  coua- 
good  men,  under  peculiar  and  extraordinary  circumftan- 
ces.     They  were  touched  with  companion  and  fympathy, 
and  had  real  fcruples  of   confcience  with  refpedl  to  de- 
livering  up  fuch  men  to  death.     They  viewed   them  as 
the  excellent  in    the  earth,  and   were  afraid   to  betray 
them,  left  they  fhould  be  inftrumental  in  fliedding  inno- 
cent blood.     They  faw  no  advantage  in  putting  them  to 
death.     They  were  not  zealous  therefore  to  aflift  in  ap- 
prehending them.     Governor  Leet  faid,  he  had  not  feen 
them,  in  nine  weeks,  and  that  he  did  not  believe  they  were  T  1'*^^^"" 
at  New-Haven.     He  read  fomc  of  the  papers  relative  to  p'^^ftine " 
the  affair  with  an  audible  voice.     The  purfuivants  obfer-  the  rcgU 
ved  to  him,  that  their  bufinefs  required  more  fecrecy,  than  cides. 
was  confiftent  with  fuch  a  reading  of  their  inftrudions. 
He  delayed  furnifhing  them  with  horfes  until  the  next 
morning,  and  utterly  declined  giving  them  any  powers, 
until  he  bad  confulted  with  his  council,  at  New-Haven, 


254  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.  They  complained,  that  an  Indian  went  off,  from  Guil- 
v-''-v->^  ford  to  New-Haven,  in  the  night,  and  that  the  governor 
1661.  was  fo  dilatory,  the  next  morning,  that  a  meflenger  went 
on  to  New-Haven,  before  they  could  obtain  horfes  for 
their  affiflance.  The  judges  were  apprized  of  every 
tranfa^tion  refpe6ling  them,  and  they,  and  their  friends, 
took  their  meafures  accordingly.  They  changed  their 
quarters,  from  one  place  to  another  in  the  town,  as  cir- 
cumftances  required ;  and  had  faithful  friends  to  give 
them  information,  and  to  conceal  them  from  their  en- 
emies. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  the  purfuivants  came  to  New- 
Haven,  and  Governor  Leet  arrived  in  town,  foon  after 
them,  to  confult  his  council.  They  acquainted  him, 
that,  from  the  information  which  they  had  received,  they 
were  purfuaded,  that  the  judges  were  yet  in  the  town, 
and  prefixed  him  and  the  magiftrates  to  give  them  a  war- . 
rant  and  afhftance,  to  arreft  them,  without  any  further 
delay.  Buc  after  the  governor  and  his  council  had  been 
together  five  or  fix  hours,  they  difperfed,  without  doing 
any  thing  relative  to  the  affair.  The  governor  declared, 
that  they  could  not  a£l:  without  calling  a  general  aflem- 
bly  of  the  freemen.  Kellond  and  Kirk  obferved  to  him, 
that  the  other  governors  had  not  flood  upon  fuch  nice- 
ties ;  that  the  honor  and  jullice  of  his  majefty  were  con- 
cerned, and  that  he  would  highly  refent  the  concealment 
and  abetting  of  fuch  traitors  and  regicides.  They  de- 
jnanded  whether  he  and  his  council  would  own  and 
honor  his  majefty  ?  The  governor  replied  we  do  honor 
his  majefty,  but  have  tender  confciences  5  and  wifli  firfl 
to  know  whether  he  will  own  us.* 

The  tradition  is,  that  the  purfuivants  fearched  Mr. 
Davenport's  houfe,  and  ufed  him  very  ill.  They  al- 
fo  fearched  other  houfes,  where  they  fufpetSled,  that  the 
regicides  were  concealed.  The  report  is,  that  they  went 
into  the  houfe  of  one  Mrs.  Eyers,  where  they  adlually 
were,  but  fhe  conduced  the  aflair  with  fuch  compofure 
and  addrefs,  that  they  imagined  the  judges  had  juft  made 
their  efcape  from  the  houfe,  and  they  went  off  without 
making  any  fearch.  It  is  faid,  that  once,  when  the  pur- 
fuers  paCed  the  neck  bridge,  the  judges  concealed  them- 
felves  under  it.  Several  times  they  narrowly  efcaped, 
but  never  could  be  taken. 


*  Report  of  Kellond  and  Kirk  to  Governor  Endicot ;  to  wrhich 
fchcy  gave  oath,  in  the  prefcncc  of  the  governor  and  his  council. 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        255 

These  zealous  royalifts,  not  finding  the  judges  in  New-  Book  I. 
Haven,  profecuted  their  journey   to  the   Dutch  fettle-  v.^,^vv/ 
ments,  and  made  interefl  with  Stuyvefant,   the  Dutch  i66i. 
governor,  againfl:  them.     He  promifed  them,  that  if  thp 
judges  fliould  be  found  within  his  jurifdidlion,  he   would 
give  them  immediate  intelligence,  and   that  he  would  Kellond 
prohibit   all  {hips  and  veflcls   from  tranfporting    them,  and  Kirk 
Having  thus  zealoufly  profecuted  the  bufmefs  of  their  ''^^""^ 
commifhon,  they  returned  to  Bofton  ;  and  reported    the  ^ort'^^* 
reception,  which  they  had   met  with  at  Guilford  and 
New-Haven. 

Upon  this  report,  a  letter  was  written,  by  fecretary 
Rawfon,  in  the  name  of  the  general  court  of  Maflachu-  f   ^^^^l 
fetts,  to  Governor  Leet  and  his  council,  on   the   fubje^l.  court  of 
It  reprefented,  that  many  complaints  had  been  exhibited,  Malfachu- 
in  England,  againft  the  colonies,    and  that  they  were   in  fetts  to 
gseat  danger.     It  was  obferved,  that  one  great  fource  of  Governoy 
complaint,  was  their   giving  fuch  entertainment  to   the    ^*^  * 
regicides,  and  their  inattention  to  his  majefty's  warrant, 
for  arrefting  them.     This   was  reprefented  as  an  affair 
which  hazarded  the  liberties  of  all  the  colonies,  and  efpe- 
cially  thofe  of  New-Haven.     It  was  intimated,  that   the 
fafety  of  particular  perfons,  no  lefs  than  that  of  the  colo- 
ny, was  in  danger.     It  was  infiftcd,  that  the  only  way  to 
expiate  their  offence,  and  fave  themfelves  harmJefs,  was, 
without  delay,  to  apprehend   the  delinquents.      Indeed 
the  court  urged,  that  not  only  their  own  fafety  and  wel- 
fare, but   the  effential  interefts  of  their  neighbours,  de- 
manded their  indefatigable  exertions  to   exculpate  them-  . 
felves. 

Colonels  Whalley  and-Goffe,  after  the  fearch  which 
had  been  made  for  them,  at  New-Haven,  left  Mr.  Dav-  ^^2'^"^^* 
enport's   and   took   up  their    quarters  at  Mr.   William  their 
Jones's,  fon  in  law   to    Governor  Eaton,  and  afterwards  quarters, 
deputy  governor  of  New-Haven  and  Conne£licut.    There 
they  fecreted  themfelves  until  the  nth  of  May.     Thence 
they  removed  to  a  mill  in  the  environs  of  the  town.     For 
a  fhort  time,   they  made   their   quarters    in  the  woods, 
and  then  fixed  them  in  a  cave  in  the  fide  of  a  hill,  which 
they  named   Providence  Hill.      They   had  fome  other 
places  of  refort,  to  which  they  retired  as  occafion  made  it 
neceffary,  but  this  was,  generally,  the  place  of  their  refi- 
dence  until  the  19th  of  Auguft.*     When  the  weather 

*  About  this  time  they  removed  to  Milford,  where  they  con- 
tinued about  two  years.    Ob  thearrival  of  ^he  king's  commiffioa- 


iS6  THEHISTORY        Chap.  Xll. 

Book  I.    was  baJ  they  lodgecl,  at  night,  in  a  neighbouring  houfe. 
K-^y^v"^^  It  is  not  improbable,   that   fometimes,   when  it  could  be 
1661.         done  with  fafety,  they  made  vifits  to  their  friends  atNew- 
Haven. 

Indeed,  to  prevent  any  damage  to  Mr.  Davenport  or 
They  ap-  the  colony,  they  once,  or  more,  came  into  tlie  town  open- 
peai  open-  jy^  ^^■^^{  offered  to  deliver  up  themfelves  to  fave  their 
H  ^'^■^'^^^"  friends.  It  feems  it  v/as  fully  expelled,  at  that  time,  that 
they  would  have  done  it  voluntarily.  But  their  friends, 
neither  defired,  nor  advifed  them,  by  any  means,  to  a- 
dopt  fo  dangerous  a  meafure.  They  hoped  to  fave  them- 
felves and  the  colony  harmlefs,  without  fuch  a  facrifice. 
The  magiftrates  were  greatly  blamed  for  not  apprehend- 
ing them,  at  this  time  in  particular.  Secretary  Rawfon, 
in  a  letter  of  his  to  Governor  Leet,  writes,  "  How  ill 
*'  this  will  be  taken  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  ;  to  be  fure 
*<  not  well.  Nay  will  not  all  men  condemn  you  as 
**  wanting  to  yourfelves  ?"  The  general  court  ofMafla- 
chufetts,  further  acquainted  Governor  Leet,  that  the  col- 
onies were  criminated  for  snaking  no  application  to  the 
king,  fince  liis  reftoration,  and  for  not  proclaiming  him 
as  their  king.  The  court,  in  their  letter,  obferved,  that 
it  was  highly  neceflary,  that  they  ftiould  fend  an  agent  to 
anfwer  for  them  at  f.he  court  of  England. 

On  the  reception  of  this   intelligence.  Governor  Leet 
Coverncr  convoked  the  general  court,   and  laid  the   letters  before 
Leet  con-  them.     After  much  debate,  it  was  concluded  to  addrefs 
vtne?  the   ^  jetter  to    the    general   court,  exculpating   the  colony. 
[;j,^i.j.\A^y^  With  refpecSt  to  the  regicides,   they  declared,  that   they 
guilift.      had  neither  difowned  nor  flighted  the   king    nor  his  au- 
thority ;  and  that  the  apprehending  of  them  was  not  de- 
feated by  any  delay  of  theirs,  as  they  had  made  their  ef- 
'New-Ha-    Q^ipc  before  the   king's  warrant  •  arrived   in  the  colony, 
vtn  s  ex-    jj-^^y  alledged,  that  the  purfuers  negle£led  the;r  bufinefs, 
to  attend  upon  the  governor  and  hs  council,  for   which 
they  had  no  authority.     BeHdes  they  pleaded  fcruples  of 
confcience,  and   fear   of  unfaithfulnefs    to   the   people, 
who  had  given  them    all   their   power,  and   to  whom 
they  were  bound  by   folemn   oath.     Further,  they  in- 
fiiled,   that  a£ling  upon  the    warrant  would  have  been 
owning  a  general  governor,  and  dangerous  to  the  liberties 


err,  m  New-England,  tbey  retired  again  to  their  cave  for  a  fhort 
time,  and  about  the  i,^th  of  0(ftober  1664  removed  to  Hadley. 
As  the  late  Rev,  Prcfident  Stiles  hns  written  thtir  hiftory,  no  no- 
tice will  be  taken  of  it  in  this  \v®ik,  further  than  it  is  coflnedted 
with  the  affairs  of  the  colony. 


Chap.  XII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        257 

of  the  people.  To  him  they  fald  the  warrarit  was  dlre£l-  Book  I. 
€(],  and  though  other  magiftrates  were  mentioned,  yet  v_<#<V"v^ 
they  were  confidered  only  as  officers  under  him.  1661. 

With  reference  to  the  magiftrates  not  arrefting  the 
judges,  when  they  appeared  openly  in  the  town,  they  faid, 
it  was  owing  to  a  full  perfuafion,  that  they  would  cer- 
tainly furrender  themfelves,  according  to.  their  promife. 
They  affirmed,  that  they  had  ufed  all  diligence  with  thofe, 
who  had  fhown  them  kindnefs,  to  perfuade  them  to  de- 
liver them  up  ;  that  they  were  ignorant  where  they  were, 
and  that  they  did  not  believe  that  they  were  in  the  colo- 
ny. They  promifed,  that  they  would  exert  themfelves 
to  arreft  and  fecure  them,  if  an  opportunity  (hould  pre- 
fent. 

They  excufed  themfelves  for  not  making  an  addrefs 
or  application  to  his  majefty,  becaufe  it  was  to  them  a 
new  and  unprecedented  affair  ;  and  they  were  ignorant 
Cff  the  proper  form.  Indeed  they  faid  they  could  not 
agree  in  one  which  might  be  acceptable.  Thefe  they 
avowed  to  be  the  reafons  of  their  omiffion,  and  not  any 
dilloyalty  to  his  majefty.  As  the  form,  in  which  the  col- 
ony of  Maflachufetts  made  their  fubmiffion  to  the  king, 
had  been  laid  before  them,  they  declared,  that  it  was  to 
their  fatisfadlion,  and  that,  from  their  hearts,  they  ac- 
knowledg«d  and  faid  the  fame.  They  promifed  full  fub- 
je6tion  and  entire  allegiance  to  his  majefty,  King 
Charles  II.  Upon  this  fubmiffion  and  declaration,  they 
fupplicated  for  the  fame  immunities  and  privileges  with 
their  fifter  colonies,  and  declared  their  expectations  of 
the  full  enjoyment  of  them. 

At  the  fame  time,  they  declined  the  making  of  any  par- 
ticular addrefs  to  the   king,  on   the  account  of  their  ina- 
bility to  procure  a  proper  agent  to  prefent  it  to  his  ma- 
jefty.    In  their  great  diftrefs,  they  defired   the   general  j,      „ 
court  of  Maflachufetts,  to  reprefent  them  to  the  king  as  yg^  anite 
cordially  owning  and  complying  with  their  addrefs,  as  in  fending 
though  it  had  been  faid  and  made  by  themfelves.     They  ^  general 
exprefled  their  opinion  of  the  neceffity  of  a  general  agent,  ^2^"^' 
for  New-England,  to  fupplicate  the  royal  favor,  to  defejlt 
tlie  defigns  of  their  enemies,  and  to  procure  for  them  all 
afts  of  indemnity  and  grace.     They  agreed  to  bear  theijr 
proportionable  part  of  the  expenfe.     The  court  immedi- 
ately fent  an  agent  to  Bpfton,  on  this   bufinefs.      One  They  pro- 
great  matter  of  co  ^plaint,  againft  the  colonies,  had  been  claim  the 

their  not  proclaiming  the  king.    But  as  he  had  now  been  '''"?» A"- 
°        j^  J.  guft  sift. 


258  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XIL 

Book  I;  proclaimed  in  all  the  other  colonies,  in  New-England,  the; 
v.-z'W-/  general  court  at  New-Haven  judged  it  expedient  formal- 
1661.         jy  iQ  proclaim  him  there.* 

About  this  time,  it  feems,  Governor  Winthrop  took 

Gsvcrnor  ^^^^  paflage  for  England.     Upon  his  arrival,  he  made  ap- 

Win-         plication  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  and  other  friends  of  the 

throp's      colony,  for  their  countenance  and  afliftance.     Lord  Say 

conduft     njid  Seal,  appears  to  have  been  the  only  nobleman  living, 

land  ^'       ^^^°  '^^^  ^""^  °^  ^^^  original   patentees  of  Connedlicut. 

He  held  the  patent  in  truft,  originally,  for   the  puritanic 

exiles.     He  received  the   addrefs  from  the  colony  moft 

favorably,  and  gave  Governor  Winthrop  all  the  afliftance 

in  his  power.f     The   governor  was    a  man   of  addrefs, 

and  he  arrived  in  England,  at  a  happy  time  for  Connc6li- 

Fricnd-       cut.     Lord  Say  and  Seal,  the  great  friend  of  the  colony, 

fiiipot       i^^^i  been   particularly   inilrumental   of  the  reftoration. 

avA^cJ    This  had  fo  brought  him  into  the  king's  favor,  that  he 

had  heen  made  lord  privy  feal.     The  earl  of  Manchefter, 

another  friend  of  the  puritans,  and   of  the  rights  of  the 

colonies,  was   chamberlain  of  his   majefty's  houfehold. 

He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  and  had 

been  united  with  him   in    defending  the   colonies,  and 

v^^r...  K'^  pleadinjT  for  their  eftabllflrment  and  liberties.     Lord  Say 

circiim-      and  Seal  engaged  hmi  to  give  Mr.  VVmthrop  his  utmoit 

ftanccsun-  afliftance.     Mr.   M''inthrop  had   an  extraordinary  ring, 

dcr  which  y/hich  had  been   given  his  grand  father  by  King  Charles 

tian^was     ^^^  ^^^»  which  he  prefented  to  the  king.     This,  it  is  faid, 

prefenied.  exceedingly  pleafed  his  majefty,  as  it  had  been  oace  the 

*  The  form  was  curious.  It  was  exprcffcd  in  the  following 
words. 

"  Ailhoiigh  we  have  not  received  any  form  of  proclamation, 

Form  of     "  by  order  from  his  ra^ijedy  or  council  of  (late,  for  proclaiming 

proclama-  "  has  majelty  in  this  colony  j  yet,  the  court  taking  eHcourage- 

tion.  "  ment,  from  what  has  been  done  in  the  left  of  the  United  colo- 

*'  nies,  hath  thought  fit  to  declare  publicly,  and  proclaim,  that 

*'  we  do  acknowledge  his  royal   highncfs,   Charles  the  fecond, 

**  king  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  to  be  our  fove- 

*'  reign  lord  and  king  ;  and  that  we  do  acknowledge  ourfelves, 

*'  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony,  to   be  his  mnjefly's  loyal  and 

•'  faithful  fubjeds." 

f  Letter  to  Governor  Winthrop,  in  England  No.  IX.  His 
lordfliip  ever  retained  his  fi  icndlhip  for  the  colonies,  and  not  only 
rendered  great  fervices  to  Count  titicut,  but  to  ihem  all,  in  vindi- 
eating  them  ^gainft  the  complaints,  made  againft  them,  and  in 
conciliating  the  fivor  of  the  king  and  his  court  towards  them. 
In  a  letter  of  his,  to  the  government  of  Maflachufetts,  he  fays,  "  I 
have  not  been  v^anting  both  to  the  king  and  council  to  advance 
yourinterelt ;  more  I  cannot  do,  but  pray  the  Lord  to  Hand 
with  you  aud  for  you." 


Chap. XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.  259 

property  of  a  father  mod  dear  to  hun.  Under  thefe  cir-  Book  I. 
cumftances,  the  petition  of  Connedlicut  was  prefented,  v^^rv^ 
and  was  received  with  uncommon  grace  and  favor.  1662. 

Upon  the  20th  of  April  1662,  his  majelly  granted  the  (-j,^^,^^ 
colony  his  letters  patent,  conveying  the  molt  ample  privi-  cr,ante;'. 
leges,    under  the   great  feal  of  England.     It  confirmed  Tcnitorv 
unto  it  the  wliole    tra£l   of  country,   granted  by  King  c:3nvcycd. 
Charles  the  firfl  unto  the  earl    of  Warwick,  and  wiiicli 
was,  the  next  year,  by  him  configned  unto  Lord  Say  and 
Seal,  Lord  Brook  and  others.     The  patent  granted  the  Reafons 
lands  in  free  and  common  focage.     The  fa£l:s,  dated  and  rccogniz- 
pleaded  in  the  petition,  were  recognized  in  the  charter,  ^''• 
nearly  in  the  fame  form  of  words,  as  reafons  of  the  royal 
grant,  and  of  the  ample  privileges  which  it  conveyed. 

It  ordained,  that  John  Winthrop,  John  Mafon,  Samuel 
Wyllys,  Henry  Clarke,  Matthew  Allen,  John  Tapping, 
Nathan  Gould,  Richard  Treat,  Richard  Lord,  Henry 
Wolcott,  John  Talcott,  Daniel  Clarke,  John  Og'dtn, 
Thomas  Welles,  Obadiah  Brucn,  John  Clarke,  Anthony 
Hawkins,  John  Deming,  and  Matthew  Camfield,  and  all 
fuch  others  as  then  were,  or  fliould  afterwards  be  admit- 
ted and  made  free  of  the  corporation,  fliould  forever  af- 
ter be  one  body  corporate  and  politic,  in  fa6l  and  name, 
by  the  name  of  the  Governor  and  company  of  the 
English  colony  of  Connecticut  in  New-England 
IN  America  j  and  that  by  the  fame  name,  they  and  their 
fucceflbrs  fliould  have  perpetual  fucceflion.  They  were 
capacitated,  as  perfons  in  law,  to  plead  and  be  impleaded, 
to  defend  and  be  defended,  in  all  fuits  whatfoever  :  To 
purchafe,  pofTefs,  leafe,  grant,  demife,  and  fell  lands,  ten- 
ements, and  goods,  in  as  ample  a  manner,  as  any  of  his 
majefty's  fubjetts  or  corporations  in  England.  The  char^ 
ter  ordained,  that  there  fliould  be,  annually,  two  general 
aflemblies  ;  one  holden  on  the  fecond  Thurfday  in  May, 
and  the  other  on  the  fecond  Thurfday  in  Odiober.  This 
was  to  confift  of  the  governor,  deputy  governor,  and 
twelve  afliftants,  with  two  deputies  from  every  town  or 
city.  John  Winthrop  was  appointed  governor,  and 
John  Mafon,  deputy  governor,  and  the  gentlemen  name-d 
above,  magiftrates,  until  a  new  eleftion  fliould  be  made. 

The  company  were  authorized  to  have  a  common 
feal,  to  appoint  judicatories,  make  freemen,  conftitute  of- 
ficers, eftablifli  laws,  impofe  fines,  aflemble  the  inhabi- 
tants in  marflial  array,  for  the  common  defence,  and  to 
exercife  martial  law  in  ail  cafes,  in  wJiich  it  might  be  ne^ 
ecffary. 


260 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIL 


E!f:t5lion 
ill  Con- 

Dfdicut 
May  15. 


Governor 
Ltet's 
conciliato- 
ry fpeech 
May  28th, 


It  was  ordained  by  the  charter,  that  all  the  king's  fub- 
je£ls,  in  the  colony,  fliovild  enjoy  all  the  privileges  of  free 
and  natural  fubjects  within  the  realm  of  England  j  and 
that  the  patent  ftiould  always  have  the  moft  favorable 
conflru^lion  for  the  benefit  of  the  governor  and  compa- 

The  charter  did  not  come  over  until  after  the  elec- 
tion. This  was  on  the  15th  of  May,  and  the  freemen 
made  no  alteration  in  their  officers. 

Many  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven  appear  to  have 
been  exceedingly  oppofed  to  King  Charles,  and  to  the 
royal  inftru^tions  which  they  had  received.  It  had  beea 
with  great  difBculty,  that  the  governor  and  council  had 
managed  the  government  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  keep 
peace  among  the  people,  and  not  incur  the  difpleafure  of 
the  king  and  his  council.  Though  they  had  done  as  lit- 
tle as  poflible,  confiftent  with  loyalty,  in  conforming  to 
his  •  majefly's  orders,  yet  they  had  done  more  than  was 
pleafing  to  all.  There  had  been  fome  infurre£l:ions  and 
tumults,  and  the  authority,  in  fome  inftances,  had  not 
been  well  treated.  Some  complained,  that  they  could 
not  enjoy  their  privileges  more  amply  •,  and  that  none 
but  church  members  could  be  freemen  of  the  corporation. 

Governor  Leet,  therefore,  at  the  court  of  election, 
made  a  pacific  fpeech  to  the  freemen.  He  reprefented 
to  them  the  great  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  year  pad, 
and  the  divine  goodnefs  towards  them,  in  the  continua- 
tion of  their  civil  and  religious  privileges.  He  acknowl- 
edged himfelf  to  be  fubje6l  to  many  imperfections,  yet 
profefled,  that,  in  his  office,  he  had  a£ted  confcientioully> 
qonfultlng  the  common  fafety  and  happinefs.  He  de- 
clared his  readinefs  to  give  the  reafons  of  his  conduct  to 
any  brother,  or  brethren,  who  would  come  to  him,  in  an 
orderly  manner.  He  acknowledged  their  kind  affe<SHon 
and  patience  towards  him,  in  covering  and  paffing  by 
his  infirmities. 

Upon  this,  the  election  proceeded,  and  he  was  chofen 
governor,  and  Matthew  Gilbert,  deputy  governor.  The 
deputy  governor's  not  apprehending  the  regicides,  did 
not,  in  any  meafure,  injure  his  popularity.  No  obje«Sion 
was  made  againft  either  of  the  governors.  Mr.  William 
Jones  and  Mr.  "William  Gibbard  were  chofen  magiftrates, 
for  New-Haven ;  Mr.  Benjamin  Fenn  and  Mr.  Robert 
Treat,  for  Milford  j  and  Mr.  Jafper  Crane,  for  Bran- 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.         261 

ford.  Several  of  the  maglflrates  took  the  oath,  this  year,  Book  I. 
with  the  explanations  and  exceptions,  which  they  had  v^.^-v^s-' 
made  the  lalt.  i66a. 

Before  the   feflions  of  the  general  alTembly  of  Con- 
ne£licut,  in  Odober,  the  charter  was  brought  over;  and 
as  the  governors  and   magiitrates,  appointed  by  his  ma- 
jefty,  were  not  authorized  to  ferve  after  this  time,  a  gen-  General 
cral  elecSlion  was  appointed,   on   the  9th    of  October,  eledion  at 
John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  was  chofen  governor,  and  John  q^     ^^ 
Mafon,  Efquire,    deputy  governor.       The     magillrates  i66i. 
were  Matthew   Allen,   Samuel  Wyllys,  Nathan  Gould, 
Richard  Treat,  John  Ogdcn,  John  Tapping,  John  TaU 
cott,  Henry  Wolcott,  Daniel  Clarke  and  John  Allen,  Ef- 
quires,  Mr.  Baker  and  Mr.  Sherman.     John  Talcott,  Ef- 
quire, was   treafurer,  and  Daniel  Clarke,  Efquire,  fecre- 
tary. 

UlpON  the  day  of  the  eledlion,  the  charter  was  publicly  * 

read  to  the  freemen,  and  declared  to  belong  to  them  and 
their  fucceflbrs.  They  then  proceeded  to  make  choice  of 
Mr.  Wyllys,  Mr.  Talcott,  and  Mr.  Allen  to  receive  the 
charter  into  their  cuftody,  and  to  keep  it  in  behalf  of  the 
colony.  It  was  ordered,  that  an  oath  fhould  be  admin- 
iftered,  by  the  court,  to  the  freemen,  binding  them  to' a 
faithful  difcharge  of  the  truft  committed  to  them. 

The  general  affembly  eftablifhed   all  former  officers,  Aflspaff- 
civil  and  military,  in  their  refpedlive  places  of  truft  •,  and  ^5*  "P°" 
enaded,  that  all  the  laws  of  ithe  colony  {hould  be  contin-  [joVof  the 
uedinfull  force,  except  fuch  as  fhould  be  found  contrary  charter 
to  the  tenor  of  the  charter.     It   was   alio  enaded,  that  Od.  9th, 
the  fame  colony  feal  fliould  be  continued.  !66z. 

The  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Southhold,  feve- 
fal  of  the  people  at  Guilford,  and  of  the  towns  of  Stam- 
ford and  Greenwich,  tendering  their  perfons  and  eftates 
to  Connedlicut,  and  petitioning  to  enjoy  the  protedion 
and  privileges  of  this  commonwealth,  were  accepted  by 
the  aflembly,  and  promifed  the  fame  protedlion  and  free- 
dom, which  was  common  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony 
in  general.  At  the  fame  time,  it  was  enjoined  upon  them, 
to  condud  themfelves  peaceably,  as  became  chriftians, 
towards  their  neighbours,  who  did  not  fubmit  to  the  ju- 
rifdidlion  of  Connedlicut  -,  and  that  they  fliould  pay  all 
taxes  due  to  the  minifters,  with  all  other  public  charges 
then  due.  A  meffage  was  fent  to  the  Dutch  governor, 
certifying  him  of  the  charter,  granted  to  Conne£licut, 
and  defiring  him,  by  no  means,  to  trouble  any  of  his  ma* 


262  THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.  jefty's  fubje6ts,  within  its  limits,  v/ith  impofitions,  or 
v-^y">^  profecutions  from  that  jurifdi6tion. 

i66a.  The  aflembly  gave  notice  to  the  inhabitants  of  Win- 

chefter,  that  they  were  comprehended  within  the  Hmits 
of  Conne£licut  ;  and  ordered,  that,  as  his  majefty  had 
thus  difpofed  of  them,  they  (hould  conduft  themfelvcs  as 
peaceable  fubje6ls. 

The  aflembly  refolved,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Miflic 
^  ';  ?  '  and  Pawcatuck  fliould  no  more  exercife  any  authority,  by 
tend  their  virtue  of  commifTions  from  any  other  colony,  but  fhould 
jiirifdic-  elccl  their  town  officers,  and  manage  all  their  affairs,  ac- 
non  to  cording  to  the  laws  of  Connedlicut.  It  was  alfo  refol- 
I'awca-  ^,g^^^  ^1^^^  ^j^jg^  ^^^  fome  other  towns,  fhould  pay  twenty 
Long-in-  pounds  each,  towards  defraying  the  expenfe  of  procur- 
and.  ing  the  charter.* 

Huntington,  Setauket,  Oyfler-bay,  and  all  the  towns 
upon  Long-Ifland,  were  obliged  to  fubmit  to  the  authori- 
ty, and  govern  themfelves  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  Con- 
)ie£licut.  A  court  was  inftituted  at  Southhold,  confift- 
jng  of  Captain  John  Youngs,  and  the  juflices  of  South 
Tind  Eall-Hampton.  The  aflembly  lefolved,  that  all  the 
towns,  which  fhould  be  received  under  their  jurifdi61:ion, 
Ihould  bear  their  equal  proportion  of  the  charge  of  the 
colony,  in  procuring  the  patent. 
.       .  .  As  the    charter  included  the  colony    of  New- Haven, 

commit-  ^^r.  Mattliew  Allen,  Mr.  Samuel  Wyllys,  and  the  Rev- 
tee  to  erend  Mefheurs  Stone  and  Hooker,  were  appointed  a  com- 
contcr  mittee,  to  proceed  to  New-Haven,  and  to  treat  with  their 
^  jT  friends  there,  refpe£ling  an  amicable  union  of  the  two 
Yen.  colonies.f 

The  committee  proceeded  to  New-Haven,  and  after  a 
conference  with  the  governor,  magiftrates  and  principal 
gentlemen  in  the  colony,  left  the  following  declaration  to 
be  communicated  to  the  freemen. 

*'  We  declare,  that  through  the  providence  of  the  mofl 
Commit-  «  High,  a  large  and  ample  patent,  and  therein  defirable 
lirEti  n  '  "  pJ^J^'^^g^s  and  immunities   from  his  majefl;y,  being 

*  It  appears  from  the  appropriations  made,  and  taxes  impof« 
«<1,  to  pay  the  charges  of  Go%'crnor  Winthrop's  agency,  that  the 
charter  coft  the  colony  about  thirteen  hundred  pounds  ftcrling. 

f  A  Ihankfgiving  was  appointed,  by  this  aflembly,  through 
the  colony,  to  celebrate  the  divine  beneficence;  cfpccially  in 
granting  them  fuch  a  favorable  reception  with  his  majefty,  and 
fuch  ample  civil  and  religious  privileges,  as  had  been  conferred 
by  their  charter  :  and  for  God's  gracious  anfwer  to  the  prayers 
ftf  his  people,  in  abating  the  fickriefs  of  the  country,  and  giving 
them  rain,  in  the  time  of  drought. 


Chap.  XII.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       2^3 

•<  come  to  our  hand,  a  copy  whereof  we  have  left  with  Book  I. " 

*<  you  to  be  confidcred,   and   yourfelves,  upon  the    fea  v>^/-x*/ 

**  coaft,  being  included  and  interefted  therein,  the  king  *^^** 

**  havinci;  united  us  in  one  body  politic,  we,  according  to 

*'  the  conimiflion  wherewith  we  are  intruded,  by  the 

"  general  AfTembly  of  Connecticut,  do  declare,  in  their 

"  name,  that  it  is  both  their  and  our  earned  defire,  that 

**  there  may  be  a  happy  and  comfortable  union  between 

**  yourfelves  and  us,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  char- 

<*  ter  ',  that  inconveniences  and  dangers  may  be  prevent- 

"  ed,   peace   and    truth    ftrengthened   and  eftablilhed, 

**  through  our  fultable  fubjcflion  to  the  terms  of  the  pa- 

**  tent,  and  the  bleffnig  of  God  upon  us  therein." 

The  authority  of  New-Haven   made  the   following 
reply. 

"  We  h:\ve  received  and  perufed  your  writings,  and 
"  heard  the  copy  read  of  his  majefty's  letters  patent  to  ^^w-Ha- 
"  Connecticut  colony  ;  wherein,  though  we  do  not  find  . 
"  the  colony  of  New-Haven  exprefsly  included,  yet  to 
"  fhow  our  defire  that  matters  may  be  iflued  in  the  con- 
v"  ferving  of  peace  and  amity,  with  righteoufnefs  between 
*'  them  and  us,  we  Ihali  communicate  your  writing,  and 
**  a  copy  of  the  patent,  to  cur  freemen,  and  afterwards, 
"  with  convenient  fpeed,  return  their  anfwer.  Only 
"  wc  defire,  that  the  ifTuing  of  matters  may  be  refpited 
<'  until  we  may  receive  fuller  information  from  Mr. 
"  Winthrop,  or  fatisfa6\ion  otherwife  ;  and  that  in  the 
**  mean  time,  this  colony  may  remain  diftinft,  entire, 
"  and  uninterrupted,  as  heretofore  :  which  we  hope  you 
*'  will  fee  caufe  lovingly  to  confent  unto  ;  and  fignify 
**  the  fame  to  us,  with  convenient  fpeed.'* 

On  the  4th  of  November,  the  freemen  of  the  colony  _ 
of  New-Haven  convened,  in  general  court.     The  gover-  mpp^^t 
nor  communicated  the  writings  to  the  court,  and  ordered  New-Ha- 
a  copy  of  the  patent  to  be  read.     After  a  (hort  adjourn-  ven  Nov. 
ment  for  confideration,  in  an  affair  of  fo  much  impor-  4tli« 
tance,  the  freemen  met  again,  and  proceeded  to  a  large 
difcuffion  of  the  fubjedt. 

The  Reverend  Mr,  Davenport  was  entirely  oppofed 
to  an  union  with  Connecticut.     He  proceeded  therefore,  ' 

to  offer  a  number  of  reafons,  why  the  inhabitants  of  New-  oppofes 
Haven  could  not  be  included   in  the  patent  of  that  colo-  the  union, 
ny,  and  for  which  they  ought  by   no  means,  voluntarily 
to  form  an  union.     He  left  his  reafons,  in  writing,  for 
the  confideration  of  the  freemen.    He  obferved,  that  he 


264  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.    fliould  leave  others  to  a£l  according  to  the  light  which 

v^-or^O    they  fhould  receive. 

i66a.  It  was  infifted,  that  New-Haven  had  been  owned  as 

a  diftin£l  government,  not  only  by  her  fifter  colonies,  by 

Keafons  ^Yxq  parliament  and  the  protedlor,  during  their  adminif- 
tration  ;  but  by  his  majefty  King  Charles  the  fccond  : 
That  it  was  againft  the  exprefs  articles  of  confederation, 
by  which  Connecticut  was  no  lefs  bound,  than  the  other 
colonies  :  That  New-Haven  had  never  been  certified  of 
any  fuch  defign,  as  their  incorporation  with  Conne£licut ; 
and  that  they  had  never  been  heard  on  the  fubjeCt.  It 
was  further  urged,  that,  had  it  been  defigned  to  unite 
them  with  Conne£licut,  fome  of  their  names,  at  leaft, 
would  have  been  put  into  the  patent,  with  the  other  pa- 
tentees i  but  none  of  them  were  there.  Hence  it  was 
maintained,  that  it  never  could  have  been  the  defign  of 
his  majefty  to  comprehend  them  within  the  limits  of  the 
charter.  It  was  ajgued,  that  for  thejm  to  confent  to  an 
union  would  be  inconfiftent  with  their  oath,  to  maintain 
that  commonwealth  with  all  its  privileges  civil  and  reli- 
gious. Indeed  it  was  urged,  that  it  would  be  incompati-* 
ble  both  with  their  honor  and  moft  efiential  interefts. 

Governor  Leet  excufed  himfelf  from  fpeaking  on  the 
fubje£l:,  defiring  rather  to  hear  the  freemen  fpeak  their 
minds  freely,  and  to  adl  themfelves,  with  refpedl  to  the 
union. 

After  the  affair  had  been  fully  debated,  the  freemen 
refolved,  that  an  anfwer  to  Connedlicut  fhould  be  drawn 
up  under  the  following  heads. 

1.  "  Bearing  a  proper  teftimony  againft  the  great  fin 
*'  of  Conne£l:icut,  in  afting  fo  contrary  to  righteoufnefs, 
♦*  amity  and  peace." 

2.  '"  Desiring  that  all  further  proceedings,  relative 
**  to  the  affair,  might  be  fufpended,  until  Mr.  Winthrop 
*<  fhould  return,  or  they  might  otherwife  obtain  further 
*'  information  and  fatisfaftion." 

3.  "  To  reprefent,  that  they  could  do  nothing  in  the  af- 
<*  fair,  until  they  had  confulted  the  other  confederates."* 

The  freemen  appointed  all  their  magiftrates  and  el- 
ders, with  Mr.  Law  of  Stamford,  a  committee  to  draw 
up  an  anfwer  to  the  general  aflembly  of  Connefticut. 
They  were  direCled  to  fubjoin  the  weighty  arguments, 
which  they  had  againft  an  union.      If  thefe  fhould  not 


Records  of  New-Haven. 


Ghap.  XII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  ^6$ 

avail,  they  were  directed  to  prepare  an   addrefs  to  his  Book  I. 
majefty,  praying  for  reHef.  v.^/^rxJ 

The  committee  drew  up  a  long  letter,  in  which  they  ^^^** 
declared,  that  they  did  not  find  any  command  in  the  pa- 
tent, to  diflblve  covenants,  and  alter  the  orderly  fettle* 
ment.of  New  England  ;  nor  a  prohibition  againft  their 
continuance  as  a  dillinct  government.  They  reprefent- 
ed,  that  the  conduct  of  Connecticut,  in  a<^in--  ^t  firfl: 
without  them,  confirmed  them  in  thofe  fentiments  •,  and 
that  the  way  was  Hill  open  for  them  to  petition  his  ma- 
jefty, and  obtain  immunities,  fimilarto  thofe  of  Connect- 
icut. They  declared,  that  they  muft  enter  their  appeal 
from  the  conftruclion,  which  Conne(£l;icut  put  upon  the 
patent ;  and  defired  that  they  might  not  be  interrupted^ 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  diftinifl  privileges.  They  foli- 
clted  that  proceedings,  relative  to  an  union,  might  reft 
until  they  might  obtain  further  information,  confult  their 
confederates,  and  know  his  majefty's.pleafure  concerning 
them. 

The  committee  then  proceeded  to  reprefent  the  un- 
reafonable  and  injurious  condu6l:  of  Connecticut  towards 
them,  in  beginning  to  exercife  jurifdidtion,  within  their 
limits,  before  they  had  given  them  any  intimations,  that 
they  were  included  in  their  charter  ;  before  they  had  in- 
vited them  to  an  amicable  union  ;  and  before  they  had 
any  reprefentation  in  their  afTembly,  or  name  in  their  pa- 
tent. They  urged,  that,  in  fuch  a  procedure,  they  had 
encouraged  divifion,  and  given  countenance  to  difafFe6led 
perfons  :  That  they  had  abetted  them  in  flighting  folemn 
covenants  and  oaths,  by  which  the  peace  of  the  towns 
and  churches,  in  that  colony,  was  greatly  difturbed.  Fur* 
ther,  they  infifted,  that,  by  this  means,  his  majefty's  pi- 
ous defigns  were  counteracted,  and  his  interefts  diflerved : 
That  great  fcandal  was  brought  upon  religion  before  the 
natives,  and  the  beauty  of  a  peaceable,  faithful,  and 
brotherly  walking  exceedingly  marred  among  themfelvcs. 
The  committee  alfo  reprefented,  that  thefe  tranfaCtions 
were  entirely  inconfiftent  with  the  engagements  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  ;  contrary  to  his  advice  to  Connecticut; 
and  tended  to  bring  injurious  reflections  and  reproach 
upon  him.  They  earneftly  prayed  for  a  copy  of  all  which 
he  had  written  to  the  deputy  governor  and  company  on 
the  fubjeCt.  On  the  whole,  they  profefTed  themfelvcs 
exceedingly  injured  and  grieved  ;  and  intreated  the  gen- 
eral afTembly  of  Connecticut   to  adopt  fpeedy  and  effec- 


266 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XII. 


Book  I. 

iC6z. 

AfTembly 
at  Con- 
nediciit 
March  ii, 


General 
court  at 
Ncvv- 
Haven 
May  6th. 


Rcmon- 

ftrancc 

againft 

Connedi- 

cut. 


tual  meafures,  to  repair  the  breaches,  which  they  had 
made,  and  to  reflore  them  to  their  former  ftate,  as  a  con- 
federate and  after  colony.* 

CoNNFXTicuT  madc  no  reply  to  this  letter  ;  bat  at  a 
general  aflembly,  holden  JV^arch  1 1th  1663,  appointed  th6 
deputy  governor,  Meflrs.  Matthew  and  John  Allen,  and 
Mr.  John  Talcott,  a  committee  to  treat  with  their  friends 
at  New-Haven,  on  the  fubje£l  of  an  union.  But  the 
hafty  meafures,  which  the  general  aflembly  had  taken,  in 
admitting  the  difaffedled  members  of  the  fevcral  towns, 
under  the  jurifdiiSlion  of  New-Haven,  to  their  protection, 
and  to  the  privileges  of  freemen  of  their  corporation,  and 
in  that  way  beginning  to  difmember  that  colony,  before 
they  had  invited  them  to  incorporate  with  them,  had  fo 
foured  their  minds  and  prejudiced  them,  that  this  com- 
mittee had  no  better  fuccefs  than  the  former. 

In  confequence  of  the  claims  of  Connefticut,  and  of 
what  had  pafled  between  the  two  colonies,  Governor 
Leet  called  a  fpecial  aflembly,  at  New-Haven,  on  the  6th 
of  May.  It  was  then  propofed  to  the  court,  whether, 
confidering  the  prefent  ftate  of  the  colony,  and  the  affairs 
depending  between  them  and  Conne6licut,  any  alteration 
fhould  be  made,  with  refpe£l;  to  the  time  or  manner  of 
their  eledion  ?  The  freemen  refolved,  that  no  alteration 
fliould  be  madc.  They  then  determined  upon  a  remon- 
ftrance,  or  declaration  to  be  fent  to  the  general  aflembly 
of  Connedlicut.  In  this  they  gave  an  hiftorical  account 
of  the  ends  of  their  coming,  with  their  brethren  in  the 
United  colonies,  into  New-England,  and  of  the  folemn 
manner  in  which  thefe  colonies  had  confederated  •,  and  in- 
finuated,  that  the  conduct  of  Conne£licut  towards  them 
was  diredlly  contrary  to  the  defigns  of  the  firft  planters  of 
New-England,  and  to  that  exprefs  article  of  the  confed- 
ei-ation,  that  no  one  colony  ftiould  be  annexed  to  another, 
without  the  confent  of  the  other  colonies.  They  declar- 
ed, that  if,  through  the  contrivance  of  Conne£ticut, 
without  their  knowledge  or  confent,  the  patent  did  cir- 
cumfcribe  that  colony,  it  was,  in  their  opinion,  contrary 
to  brotherly  love,  righteoufnefs,  and  peace.  They  alfo 
declared,  that,  notwithftanding  the  fenfe  which  Conne£l:- 
icut  put  upon  their  patent,  they  could  not  find  one  line 
or  letter  in  it  exprefling  his  majefty's  plcafilre,  that  they 
'  fliould  become  one  with  that  colony.  The  court  affirm- 
ed, that  they  were  neceflltated  to  bear  teftimony  againft 


*  Letter  to  Conncifticut  No.  X. 


Chap.  XII.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         7^7 

the  appointment  of  conftables  and  other  officers,  in  the  Book  I. 
towns  under  their  jurifdi^lion,  and  the  difmcmbering  of  v,xw,^ 
their  colony,  by  receiving  their  difafFedled  people  und^r  1663. 
the  prote6tion  of  a  legiflature  diftind  froni  theirs,  and  in 
which  they  had  no  reprefentation.  They  remonftrated 
9gainft  this,  as  diftra£ling  the  colony,  deftroying  the 
comfort,  and  hazarding  the  lives  and  liberties  of  their 
confederates  ;  as  giving  great  offence  to  their  confciences, 
and  as  matter  of  high  provocation  and  complaint  before 
God  and  man.  All  this  unbrotherly  and  unrighteous 
management,  they  reprefented,  as  exceedingly  aggrava- 
ted, in  that,  notwithftanding  their  former  rcprefentations 
and  intreatics,  in  writing,  notwithftanding  their  appeal 
to  his  majefty,  and  notwithftanding  all  their  paft  diftrefs 
and  fufferingSj  they  were  ftill  purfuing  the  fame  courfe. 
They  ftill  declared,  that  they  appealed  to  his  majefty  ; 
and  that,  exceedingly  grieved  and  affli<Sied,  they,  in  the 
fight  of  God,  angels,  and  men,  teftified  againft  fuch  pro- 
ceedings.* 

While  thefe  affairs  were  tranfa£led  in   the  colonies,  Governor 
the  petition  and  addrefs  of  New-Haven,  to  his  majefty,  Winthrop 
arrived  in  England.     Upon  which  Governor  Winthrop,  write*  to 
who  was  yet  there,  by  the    advice  of  the  friends  6f  both  ^''""^   '' 
colonies,  agreed,  that  no  injury  ftiould  be  done   to  New-  March  3. 
Haven,  and  that  the  union  and  incorporation  of  the  two 
colonies  fhouid  be  voluntary.     Therefore,  on    the  3d  of 
March  1663,  he  wrote  to  the  deputy  governor  and  com- 
pany of  Conne£licut,  certifying  them  of  his  engagements 
to  the  agent  of  New-Haven  ;  and  that,  before  he  took 
out  the  charter,  he  had  given  aflurance  to  their  friends,  \ 

that  their  interefts  and  privileges  fhouid  not  be  injured 
by  the  patent.  He  reprefented,  that  they  were  bound  by 
the  aflurances  he  had  given  ;  and  therefore  wlflied  them 
to  abftain  from  all  further  injury  and  trouble  of  that  col- 
ony. He  Imputed  what  they  had  done  to  their  ignorance 
©f  the  engagements,  which  he  had  made.  At  the  fame 
time,  he  intimated  his  aflurance,  that,  on  his  return,  he 
fliouJd  be  able  to  effect  an  ami<jable  union  of  the  colo- 
nips.f 

At  the  ele£Hon  in  Connedlcut,  Mr.  Howel  and  Mr.  Eig^ij.- 
Jafper  Crane  were  chofen  magiftrates  inftead  of  Mr.  John  at  Hart- 
Allen  and  Mr.  John  Ogden.J     Mr.  John  Allen  was  ap-  ford  May 
pointed  treaXurer.  '^t** 

*  No.  XL  ' 

f  Ooverntu- Winthrop's letter  to  Con7iC(5ticut  No.  XII. 

t  ttr*  Crane  wa«  cbeftn  niagil^atcj  this  year,  in  both  colonies. 


a<58  T  H  E     H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chaf.  XIL 

Book  I.        Connjecticut  now  laid  claim  to  Wefl-Chefter,  and 
v.-i'Y''*-*     fent  one  of  their  magiftrates  to  lead  tKe  inhabitants  to  the 
1663.         choice  of  their  officers,  and  to  adminifter  the  proper  oaths 
July  icth.  *o  ^uch  as  they  iliould  ele£l.     The  colony  alfo  extended 
their  claim  to  the  Namganfet  country,  and  appointed  of- 
ficers for  the  government  of  the  inhabitants  at  Wickford. 
Notwithstanding  the  remonftrance  of  the  court,  at 
Commit-    New-^Haven,  their  appeal  to    King  Charles   the  fecond, 
tee  ap-        ^^^^  ^^^  enpaffements  of  Governor  WinthrOp,  Conne£li- 
aKair.  to      ^"^  purfued  the  affair  of  an  union,  in  the  fame  manner  in 
treat  with  which  it  was  begun.     At  a  feflion  of  the  general  ?flem- 
2Mevv-Ha     blv,  Auguft  19th,  1663,  the  deputy  governor,  Mr.  Wyl- 
vcn  A.iij.    jy^^  Mj..  Daniel  Clarke,  and  Mr.  John   Allen,  were  ap- 
^'    "  ^'    pointed  a  committee  to  treat  with  their  friends  of  New- 
Haven,  Milford,  Guilford  and  Branford,  relative  to  their 
incorporation  with  Conne6licut.     Provided  they   could 
not  effecl  an  union,  by  treaty,  they  were  authorized  to 
read  the  charter  publicly,   at  New-Haven,  and    to  make 
declaration  to  the  people   there,  that  the  aflembly  could 
not  but  refent  their  proceeding,   as  a  di{lin(Sl  jurifdi£lion, 
iince  they  were  evidently  included  within  the  limits  of 
the  charter,  granted   to  the  corporation  of  Conne£licUt. 
They  were  inftruQied  to  proclaim,  that  the  affembly  did 
dcfn-c,  and  could  not  but  expeft,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
New-Haven,   Milford,    Guilford,  Branford   and  Stam- 
ford, would  yield  fubjeflion  to  the  government  of  Con- 
ne'5licut. 
Commif  At  *^he  meeting  of  the   commifTioners,  in  September, 

fioiiers  New-Haven  was  owned  by  the  colonies,  as  a  cHflinfl; 
jAcfet  at  confederate.  Governor  Leet  and  Mr.  Fenn,  who  had 
Bofton  \iQQn  fent  from  that  jurifdidion,  exhibited  a  complaint 
J  65/  "''  againll  Connc£licut,  of  the  injuries  which  they  had  done, 
by  encroaching  upon  their  rights,  receiving  their  mem- 
Com-  ^^^^  under  their  government,  and  encouraging  them  to 
jilaint  of  difown  their  authority,  to  difregard  their  oath  of  allegi- 
Kev/  Ha-  -ance,  and  torefufe  all  attendance  on  their  courts.  They 
vcn,  further  complained,    that    Conne£licut   had   appointed 

cdnftables  in  feveral  of  their  towns,  to  the  great  difquiet 
and  injury  of  the  colony.  They  prayed,  that  effec- 
tual meafures,  might  betaken  to  redrefs  their  grievances, 
to  prevent  further  injuries^  and  fecure  their  rights  as  a 
dillintl:  confederate. 

Governor  Winthrop  and  Mr.  John  Talcottjcommif- 

CoutfeAi-   ^'°"^^^'  ^^'oni  Connedlicut,  replied,  that,  in  their  opinion, 

cut.  New-Haven  had   no  juft  grounds  of  complaint ;  that 

Cpnne^icut  had  never  dcfign^d  them  any  injury  ;  hut 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.         269 

had  made  to  them  the   moft  friendly  propofitions,  invi-  Book  I. 
tine  them  to  ihare  with  them  freely  in  all  the  important  v.>'W^ 
and  diftinguifliing  privileges,  which  they  had  obtained  1663. 
for  themfelyes ;  that  they  had  fent  committees  amicably 
to  treat  with  them  ;   that   they    were    dill  treating,  and 
would  attend  all  juft  and  friendly  means  of  accommoda- 
tion. 

The  commiflioners  of  the  other  colonies,  having  ful- 
ly heard  the  parties,   determined,   that  as  the  colony  of  Detcrmi- 
Jt        it  ill  1    •      1  -1         <-         r    1     nation  ot 

New-Haven  had  been  "  owned,  m  the  articles  01  conted-  ^^^  ^p^, 

"  eration,  as  di{lin£l  from  Connecticut,  and  having  been  miflion- 

"  fo  owned,  by  the   colonies  jointly  in  the  prefent  meet-  ers. 

«  ing,   in  all  their  a<5lings,  they  may  not,  by  any  a£ls  of 

"  violence,  have   their  liberty   of  jurifdi£lion  infringed, 

"  by  any  other  of  the  United  colonies,  without  breach  of 

«  the  articles  of  confederation  •,  and  that  where  any  acl 

**  of  power  hath  been   exerted   againft  their  authority, 

**  that  the  fame  ought  to  be  recalled,  and  their   power 

"  referved  to  them  entire,  until  fuch  time,  as,  in  an  or- 

«<  derly  way,  it  (hall  be  otherwife  difpofed."     With  rcf?  ^ 

pc£t  to  the  particular  grievances,  mentioned  by  the  com-    ^P  '  ^* 

mifiioners  of  New-Haven,  the  confideration  of  them  was 

referred  to  the    next  meeting  of  the    commiflioners  at 

Hartford.* 

The  extending  of  the  claims  of  Connecticut,  to  all  the  rp, 
plantations  upon  Long-Ifland,  to  Weft-Chefter,  and  the  Dutch 
neighbouring  towns,  alarmed  Stuyvefant,  the  Dutch  gov-  governor 
ernor.     He  therefore  appeared  before  the  commiffioners,  cf>r>">pl'iins 
at  Bofton,  and   complained  of  the  infradion  of  the  arti-  ^f ^^"^  3"^^^ 
cles  of  agreement  concluded,  at  Hartford,  between    the  tides  of 
Englifli  and  Dutch,  and  defired  the  commiflioners  to  de-  agreement 
termine,  whether  they  confidered  faid  articles  as  binding  i'*  1650. 
the  parties  or  not. 

As  this  complaint  refpe£led  Connecticut  more  efpe-  Reply  of 
cially.  Governor  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Talcott  replied,  in  ConnedlU 
behalf  of  their  conftituents.     They  pleaded,  that,  as   it  cut. 
was  an  affair  of  great  concernment,  and  as  Connecticut 
had  not  been  certified  of  any  fuch  complaint,  and  they 
had  no  inftructions  relative  to  the  fubjeCt,  the  decifion-of 
it  might  be  deferred,  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  com- 
miflioners. 

The  commiflioners  refolved,  that,  faving  their  allegi-  Detcrmi- 

ance  to  his  majcfl:y,  and  his  claim  to  the  lands  in  contro-  nation  of 

^'erfv,  and  the  right  of  Connetiicut  colony,  by  virtue  of  ^^'^  ^°™" 
'        ^  miffion- 

crs. 
•  Recordi  of  the  United  colonics.  Vol  II. 


270 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XH. 


Book  I.  their  charter,  they  did,  for  themfelves,  efteem  the  arti* 
Ky^'-^J  cles  of  agreement,  in  1650,  to  be  binding,  and  that  they 
i66j.  would  not  countenance  the  violation  of  them.  They 
advifed  the  parties  concerned  to  refer  all  matters,  refi- 
pe6ling  the  fubje6l,  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  commif- 
fioner^.  In  the  mean  time  they  advifed,  that  the  articles 
of  agreement  fhould  be  obferved,and  that  all  perfons  In  the 
places  in  controverfy  fhould  be  acquitted  from  penalties 
and  damages,  on  the  account  of  their  having  refilled  the 
authority  of  the  Dutch.* 

Connecticut  was  now  attacked  from  all  quarters. 
While  the  colony  was  without  a  royal  grant,  its  neigh" 
hours  made  encroachments  with  impunity  ;  and  now, 
when  it  extended  its  claims,  by  virtue  of  regal  authority, 
they  all  complained,  and  took  all  poflible  advantage  of  for- 
mer encroachments  and  decifions,  at  times,  when  they 
could  plead  no  fuch  authority.  As  all  the  United  colo- 
nies, except  Plimouth,  were  effected  by  the  claims  of  the 
colony,  fo  they  were  mutually  interefted  in  oppofing  and 
determining  againft  them. 

As  Connefticut  had  now  claimed  Pawcatuck,  oy 
Southerton,  and  prohibited  the  exercife  of  any  authority 
there,  except  fuch  as  was  derived  from  the  legiflature  of 
that  colony,  the  inhabitants  had  exhibited  three  addrefles 
to  the  general  court  of  Mafl'achufetts,  petitioning  for  re- 
lief and  prote6lion. 

The  commiflioners  from  Maflachufetts,  Mr.  Brad- 
ftreet  and  Mr.  Danforth,  laid  the  coKiplaints  and  petitions 
before  the  commiflioners  of  the  other  colonies,  and  pray- 
"  ed  for  relief,  according  to  the  provifion  made,  in  fuch  ca- 
fes, in  the  articles  of  confederation. 

The  court  of  commiflioners  advifed,  that  the  affair 
Ihould  be  refpited  for  the  prefent ;  that  Connefticut 
(hould  apply  to  the  general  court  of  the  Maflachufetts, 
for  an  amicable  fettlement ;  and  that,  if  this  fhould  not 
be  effected,  the  aggrieved  party  might  make  application 
to  the  commiflioners,  at  their  next  meeting.  In  the 
mean  time,  they  advifed,  that  affairs,  at  Southerton, 
{hould  be  managed  according  to  their  former  decifions. 

When  the  general  aflembly  of  Conne£licut  convened, 
in  06lober,  they  paid  particular  attention  to  thefe  great 
objefts  of  general  concernment.    Notwithftanding  ail 


General 
aflcrably 


Records  of  the  United  colonies  Vol.  IJ. 


©HAF.  Xir.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        171 

which  had  happened  relative  to  New-Haven,  the  follow-  Book  I. 
ing  a£t  pafled.  ^.^"-r-^-^ 

«  This  court  doth  declare,  that  they  can  do  no  lefs,  1663.      ' 
«  for  their  own  indemnity,  than  to  manifeft  their  diflat-  ji^^  rgf. 
"  isfa£lion  with  the  plantations  of  New-Haven,  Milford,  pefting 
<«  Guilford,  Stamford,  and   Branford,  in    their  diftin£t  New-Ha- 
«  {landing  from  us,  in  point  of  government  ;  it  being  di-  ^^°* 
**  re£lly  oppofite  to  the  tenor  of  the  charter,  lately  grant- 
**  ed  to  our  colony  of  Conne6licut,  in  which  thefe  plan- 
"  tations  are  included.     We  do  alfo  expe£l  their  fub- 
**  miflion  to  out   government,  according  to  our  charter 
**  and  his  majefty's  pleafure  therein  exprefled  ;  it  being  a 
**  ftated  conclufion  with  the  commiffioners,  that  jurifdic- 
**  tion  right  goeth  with  patent  :  And  whereas  the  afore- 
**  faid  people  of  New-Haven,  Milford,  Guilford,  Stam- 
**  ford,  and  Branford,  pretend  they   have  power  of  gov- 
"  crnment,  diftinft  from  us,  we  do  hereby  declare,  that 
«*  our  council   will  be  ready  to  attend  them,  or  a  com- 
**  mittee  of  theirs  ;  and  if  they  can   rationally   make  it 
«  appear,  that  they  have  fuch  power,  and  that  we  have 
*<  wronged  them  according  to  their  complaints,  we  ihall 
**  be  ready  to  attend  them  with  due  fatisfa£lion."* 

The  affembly  appointed  a  committee  to  draught  a  let- 
ter to  the  gentlemen  at  New-Haven,  and  to  inclofe  to 
them  the  preceding  refolution. 

Agents  were  fent  to  this  aflcmbly  from  the  Manha-  ^ncnts 
does,  to  treat  with  the  legiflature,  relative   to  the   differ-  from  tht 
ences  fubfifting  between  them  and  the  Dutch.     A  peti-  Dutch, 
tion,  at  the  fame  time,  was   prefented  from  the  Englifli 
plantations  upon   Long-Ifland,  in  the  vicinity   of  the 
Dutch,  praying  for  the  protection  and  privileges   of  the 
corporation  of  Connecticut.     Upon  which  the  aflcmbly 
paffed  the  following  refolve. 

**  That,  as  they  were  folicltous  to  maintain  the  inter- 
**  efts  and  peace  of  his  majefty's  fubjefts,  and  yet  to  at- 
**  tend  all  ways  of  righteoufnefs,  fo  that  they  might  hold 
♦*  a  friendly  correfpondence  with  their  neighbours,  at  the 
"  Manhadoes,  they  would,  for  the  prefent,  forbear  all 
**  adis  of  authority,  towards  the  Englifti  plantations  -oil 
**  the  weft  end  of  Long-Ifland,  provided  the  Dutch. 
**  would  forbear  to  exercife  any  coercive  power  towards 
*«  them  ;  and  this  court  {hall  ceafe  from  further  atten- 
*<  dance  unto  the  premifes,  until  there  be  a  feafonable 
<*  return,  from  the  general  Stevenfon,  to  thofe  propofi- 

*  Records  of  Connefticut. 


272 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIL 


Oflobcr 


0<ft.  22, 
the  gene- 
ral coiirt 
at  New- 
Haven 
writeto 
Conned- 
icut. 


"  tlons  his  meflengers  carried  with  them,  or  until  there 
"  be  ail  iffue  of  the  difference,  between  them  and  us. 
"  And,  in  cafe  the  Dutch  do  unjuilly  molefl:  or  offer  vio- 
*'  lence  unto  them,  we  declare  that  we  (hall  not  be  will- 
**  ing  to  fee  our  countrymen,  his  majefty's  natural  born 
*'  fubje£ts,  and  his  interefts  interrupted  or  molefted,  by 
*'  the  Dutch  or  any  others  ;  but  we  fhall  addrefs  our- 
"  felves,  to  ufe  fuch  juft  and  lawful  means,  as  God  fliall, 
**  in  his  wifdom,  offer  to  our  hands,  for  their  indemnity 
"  and  fafety,  until  his  majefty,  our  fovereign  Lord  the 
"  King,  fliall  pleafc  to  declare  his  royal  plcafure  for  their 
"  future  fettlement." 

As  Governor  Winthrop  was  now  returned  from  Eng- 
land, the  affembly  embraced  the  firft  opportunity  to-prc- 
fent  him  with  the  thanks  of  the  colony,  for  the  great  pains 
he  had  taken,  and  the  fpecial  fervices  he  had  rendered  it, 
in  procuring  the  charter. 

The  legiilature,  determining  to  fccure,  as  far  as  pofli- 
ble,  the  lands  within  the  limits  of  their  charter,  authori- 
zed one  Thomas  Pell  to  purchafe  of  the  Indian  proprie- 
tors all  that  tract  between  Weft-Chefter  and  liudfon's 
river,  and  the  waters  which  made  the  Manhadoes  an  ifl- 
and  ;  and  refolved,  that  it  fliould  be  added  to  Weft- 
CheRer. 

The  towns  on  the  weft  end  of  Long-Ifland  petitioning 
to  be  under  the  government  of  Connecticut,  the  affembly 
declared,  that,  as  the  lines  of  their  patent  extended  to  the 
adjoining  iflands,  they  accepted  thofc  towns  under  their 
jurifdi6lion. 

It  was  refolved,  in  0£lobcr,  that  Hammonaffct  fliould 
be  a  town.  The  fame  month,  twelve  planters,  principal- 
ly from  Hartford,  Windfor,  and  Guilford,  fixed  their  ref- 
idence  there.  It  was  afterwards  named  Killingworth. 
At  the  October  feffions,  1703,  the  affembly  gave  them  a 
patent,  confirming  to  the  proprietors  all  the  lands  within 
the  limits  of  the  town.* 

While  thefe  affairs  were  tranfacled  in  Connedicut^ 
the  colony  of  New-Haven  perfilted  in  their  oppofition  to 
an  incorporation  with  that  government.  On  the  22d  of 
October,  their  general  court  convened,  and  Governor 
Leet  acquainted  the  court,  that,  fince  the  meeting  of  the 
commiffioners,  their  committee  had  written  to  Conne<3:i- 


*  The  n.ime  originally  defipned  was  KenneKvorth,  and  thus  it 
is  written,  for  fome  year?,  on  the  records  of  the  colony,  hut  by 
miftakcit  was  recorded  Killingworth,  Av.d  this  name  finally  pre- 
vailed. 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        273 

cut  to  the  following  efFe£l  :  That  as  the  commiflioners  Book  I. 
had  unanimoufly  eftabliftied  the  confederation,  and  the  V-/^y-K^ 
difl:in(St  and  entire  jurifditlion  of  each  confederate  colo-  1663. 
rxy,  they  judged,  that  it  would  not  be  unacceptable  to 
prefent  to  their  general  aflembly  our  requefl,  that  they 
would  a£t  in  conformity  to  the  advice  of  the  commiffion- 
crs,  and  recal  all  former  a£ls,  inconfiltent  with  their  de- 
terminations. They  infifted,  that  a  compliance  with 
their  wifties  would  be  no  obftruftion  to  an  amicable 
Jf^  treaty  ;  but  that  its  tendency  would  be  fooner  to  efFe£t 
\x.  the  union,  which  they  defired  ;  That  it  could,  by  no 
'  means,  endanger  their  patent,  nor  any  of  their  chartered 
rights  ;  and  that  they  had  the  countenance  of  all  the 
confederates,  to  apologize  for  them  in  their  prefent  re- 
quefl, and  in  maintaining  their  rights,  as  a  diftindt  ju- 
rifdi'ftion.  Governor  Leet  further  certified  the  court, 
that  their  committee  had  defired  an  anfwer  to  their  letter, 
before  the  prefent  feflions  of  their  general  court,  and 
previoufly  to  their  anfwering  the  propofals  made  to  them 
by  Connecticut. 

The  freemen  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven  were  net  'j'{,g  f^ee- 
only  oppofed  to  an  incorporation  with  Conne£licut,  but  men  de- 
even  to  treating  with  them,  under  the  then  prefent  cir-  termine 
cumftances.  *°  '^°'^ 

The  court,  after  a  long  and  ferious  debate,  confider-  treaty 
Ing,  that  the  general  court  of  Connedlicut,  had  not  com-  with  that 
plied  with  their  requeft,  but  ftill  claimed  a  right  of  jurif-  colony, 
didtion  over  them,  and  countenanced    the  malecontents 
in  their  feveral  towns,  were  decidedly  againft  any  fur- 
ther treaty.      The  following  refolution   was    adopted. 
"  That  no  treaty  be  made,  by  this  colony,  with  Connedl- 
«<  icut,  before  fuch  aCIs  of  power,  exerted  by  them,  up- 
<*  on  any  of  our  towns,  be  revoked  and  recalled,  accord- 
<*  Ing  to   the  honorable  Mr.  Winthrop's  1-tter,  enga- 
**  ging  the  fame,  the  commiiBoners'  determination,  and 
<*  our  frequent  defires." 

The  court  ordered,  that  the  maglftrates,  or  other  offi-  Order 
cers,  where  there  were  no  magiftrates,  fliould  iflue  war    that  rates 
rants,  according  to  law,  to  attach  the  perfonal  eftate  of  fhall  be 
thofe  who,  upon  legal  demand,  had  refufed,  or  fhould  re-  diitrainedt 
fufe  to  make  payment  of  their  rates.  ,  It  was  provided, 
that,  in  cafe  of  refiftance   and  forcible  refcue,  violence 
ihould  not  be   ufed  to  the  fhedding  of  blood,  unlefs  it 
were  in  a  man's  own  defence.     The  court  further  deter- 
mined to  make  application  to  his  majeily  for  redrefg? 
M  m 


274 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  Xll. 


Embar- 
rafled 
ftate  of 
New- Ha- 

ven. 


Alarm  at 
Guilford, 
Branford, 
and  New- 
Haven, 
Decjoth, 


The  plan  adopted  by  the  court,  as  circumftances  thert 
were,  was  to  petition  the  king  for  a  bill  of  exemptioit 
from  the  government  of  Conne£licut,  and  to  leave  the 
affair  of  procuring  a  patent,  for  that  colony,  to  the  wif- 
dom  of  their  agents  in  England,  as  they  (liould  judge  to 
be  mofl  expedient. 

A  TAX  of  j^3oo  was  levied  upon  the  colony,  for  the 
purpofe  of  enabling  them  to  profecute  the  affair  before 
his  majefty  in  council. 

A  DAY  of  extraordinary  falling  and  prayer  was  ap- 
pointed to  fupplicate  divine  mercy,  for  the  afllidled  peo- 
ple of  God  univerfally,  and  efpecially  for  themfelves,  that 
they  might  be  directed  to  the  proper  means  of  obtaining 
an  eftablifhed  and  permanent  enjoyment  of  their  juft 
rights  and  privileges. 

The  affairs  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven  were  now*  ex- 
ceedingly embarralTed,  and  approaching  to  an  important 
crifis.  The  colony  was  much  in  debt.  Taxes  had  not 
been  pUn£lually  colIe£led.  Many  were  difaffeiSled  with 
the  government,  and  refufed  to  pay  any  thing  for  its  fup- 
port.  When  the  officers  of  New-Haven  attempted  to 
collect  the  taxes,  which  had  been  impofed,  they  repaired 
to  Conneflicut  for  proteftion  *,  and,  with  too  little  ap- 
pearance of  juflice,  or  brotherly  affedlion,  were  protect- 
ed, by  its  legillature.  Indeed  the  colony  was  fo  reduced, 
that  it  could  not  pay  the  ftated  fabrics  of  its  principal  offi- 
cers. While  the  court  exprefled  their  ardent  defires, 
were  it  in  their  power, to  give  the  governors  the  full  fala- 
ry,  which  had  been  ufual,  yet,  confidering  the  low  ftate 
of  the  colony,  and  the  numbers  withdrawn  from  them, 
they  judged  they  were  not  able  to  give  the  governor 
more  than  forty  pounds,  and  the  deputy  governor  not 
more  than  ten. 

No  fooner  did  the  officer*  begin  to  dillrain  the  ra,tes 
of  thofe  who  refufed  to  pay,  'than  it  produced  the  molt 
alarming  and  dangerous  confequences.  One  John  Rof- 
fiter  of  Guilford,  and  his  fon,  bold  and  diforderly  men, 
who  had  been  punifhed  for  mifdemeanors,by  the  autho- 
rity of  the  colony  of  New-Haven,  made  a  journey  to 
Hartford,  and  obtained  two  of  the  magiftrates  of  Con- 
necticut, a  conflable,  and  feveral  others,  to  come  down 
to  Guilford,  on  tHe  night  of  the  30th  of  December. 
By  firing  a  number  of  guns  in  the  night,  they  greatly 
alarmed  and  difturbed  the  town.  Some  of  the  men, 
from  ConneCticut^^^^were  rough,  and  ufed  high  and  threat- 
ning  language.     In  fuch  a  crifis  Governor  Leet  judged 


Chap.  XII.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       275 

it  expedient  to  fend  Immediately  to  Branford  and  New-  Book  I. 
Haven,  for  afliftance.     Both  the  towns  were    alarmed,  v,>'v>^ 
in  the  dead  time  of  night,  and  forwarded  men  to  the  aid  *^^3« 
of  the  governor.   The  governor  and  magiftrates  condudi- 
ed  affairs  with  fuch  moderation  and  prudence,  that  no 
mifchief  was  done.     The  gentlemen  from  Connedlicut 
remonftrated  againft  colle£ling   taxes  from  thofe,  who 
had  been  taken  under  the  prote£tion  of  that  colony,  and 
defircd  New-Haven  to  fufpcnd  the  affair  for  further  con- 
t^t  fideration. 

\     Governor  Leet  therefore  convoked  a  fpecial  court,  at  General 
*     New-Haven,  on  the  7th  of  January  1664.     He  opened  court  at 
^    the  public  bufinefs,  by  acquainting  the  court,  that  it  was  ^^^" 
the  earneft  defire  of  the  magiftrates  from  Conne£licut,  j^n. -*h 
and  of  Mr.  Rofliter  and  his  fon,  that  the  a£l  of  the  gene-  1664. 
ral  court  of  New-Haven,  relative  to  the  diftraining  of  tax- 
•cs  might  be  fufpended,  until  there  could  be  another  con- 
ference between  the  colonies ;  at  which  they  were  in  ex- 
peftation,  that  all  difficulties  might  be  amicably  fettled. 
He  alfo  laid  before  the  court  the  reprefentations  which 
the  gentlemen  from  Conne6licut  had  made  of  the  great 
danger  there  would  be,  in  carrying  that  adl  into  execu- 
tion, in  dire£l  oppofition  to  the  authority  of  Connedlicut. 
It  was  defired,  that  the  court  would  maturely  confider 
the  affair. 

The  court  Infifted,  that  all  former  treaties  with  Con-  p^yfj^g  ;„ 
nefticuthad  been  without  any  good  effe£l:  •,  and  perfifted  its  rtfolu- 
%n.  the  refolution,   tliat,    until   the   members,  which  had  tion  not 
been  fo  unrighteoufly  taken  from  them,  fhould  be  refto-  ^°}l^^ 
ted,  they  would  hold  no  further  treaty  with  that  colony .f  ^^'1;^,,?"' 
Mr.  Davenport  and  Mr.  Street  were  appointed  to  make 
a  draught  of  their   grievances,  to  be   tranfmitted  to  the 
general  affembly  of  Connedlicut.     It  was  to  be  examin- 
ed and  approved  by  fuch  a  number  of  their  committee, 
as  could  be  convened  upon  the  occafion.  They  drew  up  a 
long  and  fenfibleremonftrance,  which  they  termed  *<  New- 
Haven    CASE    STATED."      The  fubje£l  was  introduced 
with  a  declaration  to  this  efTeft  :  That  it  was   their  deep  ^f^N  "w  "^ 
fenfe  of  the  injuries,  which    the  colony  had  fuffered,  by  jjaven 
the  claims  and  encroachments,  which  had  been  made  up-  cafe, 
on  their  juft  prerogatives  and  privileges,  which  had  in- 
duced them  unanimoufly,  though  with  great  relu£lance, 
to  declare  their  grievances  unto  them.     They  proceeded 
then  to  declare,  that  they  fettled  at  New-Haven,  with  the 


t  Records  «f  New-Haven. 


i-jG  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIL 

Book  I.  confent  of  Conne<5ticut ;  had  purchafcd  the  whole  tra£l- 
^^^^y>kj  of  land,  which  they  had  fettled  upon  the  fea  coaft,  of  the 
J664,  Indians,  the  original  proprietors  of  the  foil;  and  had  qui- 
etly pofl'effed  it  nearly  fix  and  twenty  years :  That  they 
had  expended  great  eftates  in  clearing,  fencing,  and  cul- 
tivating the  lands,  without  any  affiftance  from  Connedli- 
cut ;  and  had  formed  themfelves  by  voluntary  compadl:, 
into  a  diftindl  commonwealth.  They  then  proceeded 
to  flate  a  great  variety  of  inftances  in  which  Conne61:icut, 
the  United  colonies,  the  parliament,  and  prote£tor,  the 
king  and  his  council,  had  owned  them,  as  a  diftincl  col- 
ony. They  infiiled,  that  notwithftanding,  they  had  now 
procured  a  patent  including  New-Haven,  not  only  with- 
out their  concurrence,  but  contrary  to  their  minds,  prc- 
vioully  exprefled  •,  contrary  to  the  exprefs  articles  of  the 
confederation  ;  and  to  their  own  engagements,  not  to 
include  them  in  the  charter.  Further  they  affirmed, 
that  Mr.  Winthrop,  before  his  departure  for  England, 
had,  by  his  letters,  given  aflurance,  that  it  was  not  de- 
figned  to  include  New-Haven  in  the  patent ;  and  that 
tlie  magiftratcs  of  Connefticut  had  agreed,  that,  if  the 
patent  fhould  include  them,  they  fliould  be  at  full  liberty 
to  incorporate  with  them  or  not,  as  fliould  be  moft  agree- 
able to  their  inclinations.  They  alledged,  that,  contrary 
to  all  the  premifcs,  to  juftice,  to  good  faith,  to  brotherly 
V.indnefs,  to  the  peace  and  order  of  church  and  common- 
wealth,Connedlicut,  even  in  their  firfl;  aflembly,  proceed- 
ed tc  the  difmcmberment  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven, 
by  receiving  its  members  from  Stamford,  Guilford,  and 
Southhold  :  That  after  fuch  difmcmberment,  they  had 
prepofleroufly  pretended  to  treat  with  them  relative  to  an 
union  :  And  that,  after  a  conference  with  the  Commit- 
tee from  ConneQicut,  and  the  reading  of  their  charter, 
it  did  not  appear,  that  they  were  fo  much  as  mentioned, 
or  that  it  had  any  reference  to  them.  They  declared 
that,  in  a  full  perfuafion  of  his  majefty's  pleafure,  to  con- 
tinue them  a  diflin£l:  jurifdidlion,  they  had  aflured  the 
committee  of  their  defign  to  appeal  to  him,  and  know  his 
royal  purpofe  :  That  though  they  immediately  fent  their 
appeal ;  yet,  that  out  of  tender  refpe6l  to  the  peace  and 
honor  of  Mr.  Wmthrop,  they  advifed  their  friends,  in 
England,  to  acquaint  him  with  their  papers,  that  he  might 
adopt  fome  efFe6lual  expedient,  to  compromife  the  un- 
happy differences  between  the  two  colonies :  And  that 
it  was  on  the  account  of  Mr.  Winthrop's  engagements 
to  their  friends,  tliat  their  rights  and  interefts  Ihould  aot 


Chat.  XII.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       277 

be  (lifquieted  nor  injured,  that  the  appeal  to  his  majefty  Book  I. 
was  then  fufpended.*     From  a  ftatement  of  thefe,  and  v»>^\^^>^ 
feme  other  fa£ls  and  circumftances,  they  attempted  to  ^^64. 
dcmonftrate  their  rights,  as  a  di{lin£l  colony,  and  the  in- 
jullice,  unfaithfulnefs,  ingratitude,  and  cruelty,  of  Con- 
neiSlicut,  in  their  claims  upon   them,  and  in  the  manner 
of  their  profecuting  them.     Their  beginning  to  difmem- 
ber  their  colony,  by  receiving  and  proteiling  their  fub- 
jefts   and   malecontents,   previous   to  any    tl-eaty  with 
them  j  their  appointing  oflicei-s,  creating  animofities,  and 
Taifing  alarms  in  their  feveral  towns,   were  efpecially  in- 
fifted  on,  as  contrary  to  all  their  covenants,  as   brethren 
and  confederates,  and  contrary  to  all  order,  peace,   and 
jultice. 

The  general  aflembly  of  ConneQicut,  at  their  fcffions  Aflembly 
in  May,  avowed  their  claim  to  Long-Ifland,asone  of  the  at  Con- 
adjoining  iilands  mentioned  in  their  charter,  except  fome  ncdicut 
preceding  right  fliould  appear,   approved  by  his  majefty.  '     ^  '*    ' 
Officers  were  appointed,  by  the   court  at  Hempfted,  Ja- 
maica, Newtown,  Flufliing,  Oyfter-bay,  and  all  the  towns 
upon  the  weft  end  of  the  ifland. 

Upon  the   general  eledlion,  at  New-Haven,  the  free-  General 
men  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  their  civil  officers,  as  had  eltdion 
been  ufual.      Governor  Leet  was  rechofen,   and   Mr.  '^\  ^•ew- 
William  Jones  was  ele<fled  deputy  governor.     Matthew  ^,^     acth. 
Gilbert,  Efquire,  the  former  deputy  governor,  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Fenn,  Mr.  Jafner  Crane,  Mr.  Treat,  and  INIr.  Nafti, 
were  appointed  magiftrates.    The  two  laft  would  not  ac- 
cept the  office.     The  governor  and  deputy  governor  were 
chofen  commiffioners  for  the  next  meeting  at   Hartford. 
The  colony  was  now  become  (o  weak,  and  the  affairs  of 
5t  fo  embarraffed,  by  the  claims  and  proceedings  of  Con- 
neflicut,  that  the  general  court  either  did  nobufmefs,  or 
judged  it  expedient  to  put  nothing  upon  record. 

In  this  fituation  of  affairs,  an  event  took  place,  which 
alarmed  all  the  New-England  colonies,  and  at  once  chan- 
ged the  opinions  of  the  commiflioners,  and  of  New-Ha- 
ven, with  refpe£t  to  their  incorporation  with  Conneflicut. 

King  Charles  the  fecond,  on  the  12th  of  March 
1664,  gave  a  patent  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York 
and  Albany,  of  feveral  extenfive  tradls  of  land.  In  North 
America,  the  boundaries  of  which  are  thus  defcribed. 

"  All  that  part  of  the  main  land  of  New-England,  E^ul^e  of 
"  beginning  at  a  certain  place,  called  and  known  by  the  ^^^^  ^ 

*  Records  of  New-Haven,        " 


J7a  ,       T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIL 

Book  I.  "  name  of  St.  Croix  next  adjoining  to  New-England  in 
K./^'^rKj  *'  America,  and  from  thence  extending  along  the  fea  coaft 
3664.  **  unto  a  certain  place  called  Pemaquie  or  Pemaquid,  and 
**  fo  up  the  river  thereof  to  the  furtheft  head  of  the  fame, 
*'  as  it  tendeth  northward  ;  and  extending  from  thence  to 
««  the  river  Kembequin,  and  fo  upwards  by  the  fhorteft 
*'  courfe  to  the  river  Canada  northward  :  and  alfo  all  that 
**  illand  or  iflands  commonly  called  by  the  general  name 
"  or  names  of  Meitowax,  or  Long-Ifland,  fituate  and 
«*  being  toward  the  weft  of  Cape  Cod,  and  the  narrow 
**  Highganfets,  abutting  upon  the  main  land  between 
**  the  two  rivers  there  called  or  known  by  the  feveral 
*'  names  of  Connecticut  and  Hudfon's  river,  and  all  the 
<*  land  from  the  weft  fide  of  Connetlicut  river  to  the 
"  caft  fide  of  Delaware  bay,  and  alfo  all  thofe  feveral 
<*  iflands  called  or  known  by  the  names  of  Martin' s- 
•*  Vineyard  or  Nantucks,  otherwife  Nantucket :  togeth- 
<'  er,"  &c. 

The  concern  of  the  Duke  of  York  for  his  property, 
the  averfion  both  of  his  majefty  and  the  duke  to  the 
Dutch,  with  the  differences  between  them  and  the  New- 
England  colonies,  made  an  expedition  againft  the  New- 
Netherlands  a  prime  objeft  of  their  attention.     Though 
his  majefty  King  Charles  II.  was  an  indolent  prince,  de- 
voted to  diflipation  and  pleafure,  yet,  under  the  influence 
of  thcfe  motives,  an  armament  was  foon  prepared,  and  a 
en't^for     ^^^^  difpatched  to  New-England,  for  the  redudion  of  the 
the  rcdiic-  Dutch  fettlements,  on  the  continent.     Colonel  Richard 
tion  of  the  Nichols  was  chief  commander  of  the  fleet  and  army. 
Dutch        Colonel  Nichols  had  not  only  a  commiflion,  for  the   re- 
f*        du£lion  of  the   Dutch  plantations,  and  the  government 
of  them,  but  he,  with  George  Cartwrith,  Efquire,  Sir  Ro- 
Commif-    ^^^'  Carr,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  Efquire,  were  appointed 
fioners       commiflTioners,  by  his  majefty,  and  vefted  with  extraor- 
with  ex-     dinary  powers,  for  vifiting  the  New-England  colonies.j 
traordina-  J^earing  and    determining    all  matters  of  complaint  and 
^y^pow-     controverfy  between  them,  and  fettling  the  country  in 
peace.f 

Colonel  Nichols  arrived  at  Bofton,  with  the  fleet  and 
^9^""^^  troops  under  his  command,  on  the  23d  of  July  1664. 
arr*ives  at  ^^^  immediately  communicated  his  commifTion  to  the 
Bofton  colonies,  and  his  majeftys  requifition  of  troops  to  aflTift 
July  %z-  in  the  expedition  againft  the  Dutch.  He  then  failed  for 
the  New-NetherJands,  and  on  the  20th  of  Auguft,  made 


t  Number  XIII.  and  his  Majefty'e  letter  No.  XIV. 


Ghap.  XIL      of    CONNECTICUT.        27^ 

a  demand  of  the  town  and  forts  upon  the  ifland  of  Man-  Book  I. 
hadoes.     He  had  previonfly  fent   letters  to  Governor  (^or-O 
Winthropto  join  him,  at  the  weft  end  of  Long-Ifland.  1664. 
Governor  Winthrop,  with  feveral  of  the  magiftrates  and  Demanda 
principal  gentlemen  of  Connecticut,  joined  him,  accor-  der  o7'the 
ding  to  his  wifhes.  fort  and 

Stuyvesant,  the  Dutch  governor,  was  an  old  foldler,  town  at 
and  had  he  been  better  prepared,  and  the  people  united,  '^^  Man- 
doubtlefs  would  have  made  a  Ijrave  defence.  But  he  "^"*^'» 
had  no  intimations  of  the  defign,  until  the  8th  of  July, 
when  he  received  intelligence,  that  a  fleet  of  three  or  four 
(liips  of  war,  with  three  hundred  and  fifty  foldiers  on 
board,  were  about  to  fail  from  England,  againft  the 
Dutch  fettle ments.  Upon  this,  he  immediately  ordered, 
that  the  forts  Ihould  be  put  into  a  ftate  of  defence,  and 
fent  out  fpies  into  feveral  parts  of  Connecticut,  with  a 
view  of  obtaining  further  information.  Indeed  the  tra- 
dition has  been  that  the  Dutch  governor,  apprehending 
the  danger,  in  which  all  the  Dutch  plantations  would 
immediately  be,  on  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  (hould  the 
colonics  unite  againft  them,  came  to  Hartford  to  nego- 
tiate a  neutrality  with  Connecticut ;  and  that  he  was 
there  when  he  received  the  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  fleet 
at  Bofton.  The  ftory  has  been,  that  he  made  his  de- 
parture in  the  night,  and  returned  with  the  utmoft  expe- 
dition. 

He  was  extremely  oppofed  to  a  furrender   of  the  fort 
and  town.     Inftead  of  fubmitting  to  the  fummons,  at  firft  ^"^^^ 
fent  him,  he  drew  up  a  long  ftatement    of    the   Dutch  opjfoftdT 
claims,  and  their  indubitable  right  to  the  country.     He  to  n  fub- 
infifted,  that  had  the  King  of  England  known  the  jufticc  miflion. 
of  their  claims,  he  never  would  have  adopted  fuch  meaf- 
ures  againft  them.     He  concluded,  by   afliiring  Colonel 
Nichols,  that  he  {hould  not  fubmit  to  his   demands,  nor 
fear  any  evils,  but  fuch  as  God,  in  his  providence  fliould 
inflict  upon  him.f 

Colonel  Nichols,  in  his  firft  fummons,  had,   in  his 

majefty's  name,  given  aflurance,  that    the  Dutch,    upoa 

their  fubmiflion,  (hould  be  fafe,  as   to  life,   liberty,   and 

property.     Governor  Winthrop   alfo  wrote   a  letter  to 

the  governor  and   council,   advifing   them  to  furrender. 

But  they  were  careful  to  fecrete   the  writings   from  the 

people, left  the  eafy  terms  propofed  (hould  induce  them  to  The  peo- 

furrender.  The  burgo-mafters  and  people  defiredtoknow,  P'^  oppofe 
him, 

t  Smith's  Hiftory  of  New- York  p.  ij— 14, 


aSo  THEHISTORY        Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.  of  the  governor,  what  was  the  import  of  the  writings  he 
V,-y^v->^  had  received,  and  efpecially  of  the  letter  from  Governor 
1664.  Winthrop.  The  Dutch  governor  and  his  council  giving 
them  no  intelligence,  they  folicited  it  ftill  more  carneftly. 
The  governor,  irritated  at  this,  in  a  paroxifm  of  anger, 
tore  the  letter  in  pieces.  Upon  which,  the  people  pro- 
tefted  againft  his  condu<Sl  and  all  its  confequences. 

While  the  governor  and  his  council  were  thus  con- 
1  ne  com-  t^j^^jirig  with  the  burgo-niafters  and  people,  in  the  town, 
iflue  a  ^^^^  Englifh  commifhoners  caufed  a  proclamation  to  be 
proclama-  publiflied,  in  the  country,  encouraging  the  inhabitants  to 
tion.  fubmit  to  his  majefty's  government.     This   promifed    to 

all  the  inhabitants,  who  would  become  fubjecSt  to  his 
niajefty,  "  That  they  Ihould  be  prote6led  by  his  majefty's 
*'  laws  and  juftice,  and  peaceably  enjoy  whatever  God's 
"  bleffing,  and  their  honeft  induftry,  had  furtiiflied  them 
*'  with,  and  all  the  other  privileges  with  his  majefty^s 
«  Englilh  fubjeds." 
y.  The  colonel,  finding  that  the  Dutch  governor  was  de- 

Dutch  nt    termined,  if  poflible,  to  keep  his  ftation,  fent  officers   to 
Kew-Am-  Jamaica,  Hempfted,  and  other  towns,  upon  the    Ifland, 
fterdam,     to  beat  up   for  volunteers.     Captain  Hugh  Hide,    who 
toi^t  Or-      commanded  the  fhips,  had  orders  to    proceed  to    the  re- 
Delaware   diit^ioi^  of  the  fort.f     Troops  were  raifed  in  New-Eng- 
fubmit  to   land,  and  ready  to    march    upon  the  firft   notice.     Two 
his  majef-  thirds  of  the    inhabitants    of  Long-Ifland  were   Englifli 
*^^  k'"^  fubje£ls,  and    wlfhed    the  fuccefs  of  his    majefty's   arms, 
come    '      ^Ehey  were  ready,  if  neceflary,  to  afford  their  immediate 
Englifh       affiftance.     In  fuch  circumftances,  oppofition  would  have 
fiibjctfts.     beenmadnefs.     The  Dutch  therefore,   on   the  27th  of 
Auguft,  fubmitted  on  terms  of   capitulation.     The  arti- 
cles fecured  them  in   the    enjoyment  of  liberty    of  con- 
fcience  in  divine  worfliip,  and  their  own   mode   of  difci- 
pline.     The  Dutch  governor  and  people  became   Englilh 
fubje6ls,  enjoyed  their  eftates,  and    all    the   privileges  of 
Engliflimen.     Upon  the  furrender  of  the  town  of  New- 
Amfterdam,  it  was  named  New- York,  in  honor   to   the 
Duke  of  York. 

Part  of  the  armament  immediately  failed  up  the  river, 
under  the  command  of  Carteret,  to  fort  Orange,  or  Au- 
ranla.  This  furrendered,  on  the  24th  of  September. 
This  was  named  Albany,  in  honor  to  the  Duke  of  York 
and  Albany.  Sir  Robert  Carr  proceeded  with  another 
divifion  of  the  fleet  to  Delaware.     He  obliged  the  Dutch 


•j-  Smith's  HiHory  of  New-York  p.  lo—a:;. 


Chap.  XII.     OFCONNECTICUT.         481 

and  Swedes  to  capitulate,  and  deliver  up  their  refpe£live  Book  L 
garrifons,  on  the  ifl   of  Odober.     Upoa  this  day,  the  ^..-^v^O 
whole  of  New-Netherlands  becar.e  fubjedl  to  the  crown  1664. 
of  England.     The  Dutch,  who  before  had  given  fo  much 
trouble  to  the  Englifh  colonifts,    from  this  time,   com* 
menced  their  loyal  and  peaceable  fellow  fubje£ls. 

The  (hort  time  the   commiflioners  tarried  at  Bofton, 
before  they  proceeded  upon  their  expedition  againft  the 
Dutch,  was  fufficient  to  difcovcr  fomething  of  their  ex- 
traordinary powers,  and  fuch  a  tafte  of  the  high  and  ar-» 
bitrary  manner  in  which  they  conducted  as  fpread  a  gen- 
eral alarm,  and  awakened,  in  the  colonies,  ferious  appre- 
henfions  for  their  liberties.     Mr.    Whiting,  who  was  at  n-cws  and 
Bofton,  and  learned  much  of  their  temper,  was  fentback,  advice 
in  hafte,  to  give  information  of  the  danger,  in  which,  it  ^^om  Bof« 
was  apprehended,  the  colonies  all  were  ;  to  advife  New-  '°"' 
Haven  to  incorporate  with  Connedlicut,  without  delay  ; 
and  to  make  a  joint  exertion  for  the  prefervation  of  their 
chartered  rights.     This  was  prefled,  not  only  as  abfolute- 
ly  neceflary  for  New-Haven,  but  for  the  general  lafety 
of  the  country. 

In  confequence  of  this  intelligence,  a  general  court  was 
convened,  at  New-Haven,  on  the  nth  of  Ayguft  1664.  General 
Governor  Leet  communicated  the  intelligence,  which  he  ^ri^^L  1  jV 
had  received  from  their  friends  at  Bofton.     He  acquaint-  yen,  Sept. 
ed  them  that  Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr.  Bull  had  made  a  vifit  nth. 
to  New-Haven,  and  in  their  own  names,  and  in  behalf 
of  the  magiftrates  of  Connecticut,  prefled  their  immediate 
fubjedtion  to  their  government.     Further,  the  court  was 
certified,  that  after   fome  treaty  with  thofe  gentlemen, 
their  committee  had  given  an  anfwer,  purporting,  that,  if 
Conne£licut  would,  in   his   majefty's  name,  aflcrt  their 
claim  to  the  colony  of  New-Haven,  and   fecure  them  in 
tiie  full  enjoyment  of  all  the  immunities,  which  they  had 
propofed,  and  engage  to  make  a  united  exertion,  for  the 
prefervation  of  their  chartered  rights,  they  would   make 
their  fubmifiion.     After  a  long  debate,  the  court  refolved, 
that,  if  Conne<Sticut  ftiould  come  and  aflert  their  claim, 
as  had  been  agreed,  they  would  fubmit  until  the  meeting 
of  the  commiflioners  of  the  United  colonies.     The  magif- 
trates  and  principal  gentlemen  of  the   colony  feem  tOs 
jhave  beeit  lenfible,  not  only  of  the  expediency,  but  ne- 
ccffity  of  an  incorporation  with   Connedicut.     The  op- 
pofition,  however,  was  fo  general  among  the  people,  that 
nothing  further  «ould  be  effedled. 
N  n 


aS2 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XII. 


Book  I. 

1664. 
Com  edi- 
cut  re- 
monftratc 
agaiiift  ihc 
fitting  of 
the  com- 
miffionera 
of  New- 
Haven. 


Court  of 

commif- 
lioneis 
meets 
Sept.  ift. 
Advife  to 
5^fpeedy 
union  of 
Conneifli- 
cut  and 
Ncw-Ha- 


General 
court  at 


The  court  of  commiffioners  was  fo  near  at  hand,  that 
Governor  Winthrop  and  his  council  judged  it  not  expe- 
dient to  make  any  further  demands  upon  New-Haven, 
until  their  advice  could  be  known.  However,  when  the 
general  aflcmbly  met,  early  in  September,  they  paffed  a 
remonftrance  againft  the  fitting  of  Governor  Leet  and 
deputy  governor  Jones  with  the  commiflioners.  In  the 
remonftrance  they  declared,  that  New-Haven  was  not  a 
colony,  but  a  part  of  Connecticut,  and  avowed  their 
claim  to  it  as  fuch.  They  infifted,  that  owning  that  as 
a  colony,  diftincfl  from  Connecticut,  after  his  majefty  had, 
by  his  letters  patent,  incorporated  it  with  that  colony, 
was  inconfiftent  with  the  king's  pleafure  ;  would  endan-^ 
ger  the  rights  of  all  the  colonies,  and  efpecially  the  char- 
ter-rights of  Connecticut.  The  alTembly,  at  the  fame 
time,  declared,  that  they  would  have  a  tender  regard  to 
their  honored  friends  and  brethren,  at  New-Haven,  and 
exert  themfelves  to  accommodate  them,  with  all  the  im- 
munities and  privileges  which  were  conveyed  by  their 
charter. 

On  the  I  ft  of  September,  the  court  of  commiflioners 
met  at  Hartford.  The  commiflioners  from  New-Haven 
were  allowed  their  feats  with  the  other  confederates^ 
The  cafe  of  New-Haven  and  Connecticut  was  fully  heard, 
and  though  the  court  did  not  approve  of  the  manner,  in 
which  Connecticut  had  proceeded,  yet  they  earneftly 
prefl'ed  a  fpeedy  and  amicable  union  of  the  two  eolonieSr 
They  reprefented,  that  the  divine  honor,  and  the  welfare 
of  all  the  colonies,  as  well  as  their  own,  were  greatly 
concerned  in  the  event. 

To  remove  all  obftruCtions  on  their  part,  the  commif- 
fioners recommended  it  to  the  general  courts  of  Mafla- 
chufetts  and  Plimouth,  that,  in  cafe  the  colony  of  New- 
Haven  fhould  incorporate  with  Connecticut,  they  might 
then  be  owned  as  one  colony,  and  fend  two  commiflion- 
ers to  each  meeting  •,  and  that  the  determinations  of  any 
four  of  the  fix,  fhould  be  equally  binding  on  the  confed- 
erates, as  the  conclufions  of  fix  out  of  eight,  had  been 
before..  It  was  alfo  propofed  to  the  court,  that  the  meet- 
ing, which  of  Gourfe  had  been  at  New- Haven,  fhould  be 
at  Hartford.* 

In  compliance  with  the  advice  of  the  commiflioners. 
Governor  Leet  convened  the  general  court  at  New-Ha- 


*  Records  of  the  united  colonies.    It  was  determined,  at  this 
court,  that  their  meetings,  for  the  future,  fliould  be  triennial. 


Chap.  XIT.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        283 

ven,  on  the  14th   of  September,  and  communicated  the  Book  I. 
advice  which  had  been  given,  and  papers  from  the  com-  k^^'v>kJ 
mittee  of  Conne£licut,  advifing  and  urging  them  to  unite.  l^^*\^„ 
They  referred   it  to  their  mod    ferious   confideration,  ^J^^^*  ^** 
whether,  if  the   king's  commiflioners  fliould  vifit  them, 
they  vrould  not  be  much  better  able  to  vindicate  their  lib- 
erty and  juft  rights,  in  union  with  Conne£licut,  under  a 
royal  patent,  than  in    their   then  prefent  circumftances.  j^    ^  t. 
Many  infifted,  notwithftanding,  "  That  to  ftand  as  God  obtained 
*«  had  kept  them  to  that  time  was  their  beft  way."     Oth-  for  an  un- 
ers  were  entirely  of  the  contrary  opinion,  and  after  the  'on. 
fulled    difcuffion    of  the  fubje6l,  no  vote  for  union  or 
treaty  could  be  obtained. 

New-Haven  and  Branford  were   more  fixed  and  ob- 
ftinate  in  their  oppofition  to  an  incorporation  with  Con- 
tie£licut,  than  any  of  the  other    towns  in   that  colony.  „/o"ro(|. 
Mr.  Davenport  and  Mr.  Pierfon  feem  to  have  been  among  tjon  to  an 
its  chief  fupporters.      They,    with  many  of  the  inhabi-  union 
tants  of  the  colony,  were  more  rigid,  with  refpe£l  to  the  "''^^  Con« 
terms  of  church  communion,  than    the   minifters  and  "^*^''^'^^' 
churches  of  Connefticut  generally  were.     The  minifters 
and  churches  in  Conne£licut  were,  a  confidcrable  num- 
ber of  them,  in  favor  of  the  propofitions  of  the  general 
council,  which  met  at  Cambridge,    in    1662,  relative  to 
the  baptifm  of  children,  whofe  parents   were  not  in  full 
communion.     The  minifters  and  churches  of  New-Ha- 
ven were  univerfally  and  utterly  againft  them.     Mr.  Dav- 
enport, and  others  in  this  colony,  were  alfo  ftrong  in  the 
opinion,  that  all   government   fhould  be   in  the  church. 
No  perfon  in  this  colony  could  be  a  freeman,  unlefs  he 
were  a  member  in  full  communion.     But  in  Connefticut, 
all  orderly  perfons,   poflefling    a  freehold  to  a  certain  a- 
mount,  might  be  made  free  of  the  corpoi'ation.     Thofe 
gentlemen,  who  were  fo  ftrong  in  the  oppofition,  were, 
doubtlefs,  jealous   that  an   union  would  mar  the  purity, 
order,  and  beauty  of  their  churches,  and  have  an  ill  influ- 
ence on  the   civil   adminiftrations.     The  removal  of  the 
feat  of  government ;  the  apprehenfion  which  fome  had  of 
lofing  their  places  of  truft  and   general  influence  ;  with 
ftrong  prejudices  and    pafllons  againft  Connecticut,  on 
account  of  the   injuries,  which  it  was  conceived  it  had 
done  the  colony,  all  operated  in  forming  the  oppofition. 
Befides,  it  was  a  painful  reflection,  that,  after  they  had 
been  at  fo  much  pains  and  expenfe  to  form  and  fupport 
themfelves,  as  a  diftin<St  commonwealth,  and  had  been  f« 


284  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XII. 

Book  I.    many  years  owned  as  one,  their  exiftence  muft  ceafe 
i-*wJ     and  their  name  be  obliterated. 

1664.  This  event,  however,  was  haftening,  and  grew  more 

and  more  urgent.  Milford,  at  this  time,  broke  ofF  from 
them,  and  would  no  more  fend  either  magiftrate  or  dep- 
uties to  the  general  court.  Mr.  Richard  Law,  a  princi- 
pal gentleman  at  Stamford,  alfo  defertcd  theno. 

In  this  ftate  of  affairs,  the  general  aflembly  of  Conneft- 
meets    '^    icut  convened,  on   the  13th  of  06lober.     This   was  an 
Od.  ijth.  important  crifis  with  the  colony.     In  few  itlftances,  have 
Import-     fo  many  important  objects  of  con fideration,  at  one  time, 
antcnfM    prefented   themfelves  to  a  legiflature.     Their  liberties 
nedicut.'    ''^ere  not  only  in  equal  danger  with  thofe  of  their  filler 
colonies,  from  the  extraordinary  powers,   and  arbitrary 
difpofitions  and  me^fures  of  the    king's  commifTioners, 
but  the  Duke  of  York,   a   powerful  antagonift,  had   re- 
ceived a  patent,  covering  Long-Ifland  and  all  that  part  of 
the  colony  weft  of  Connecticut  river.   The  Maflachufetts 
were  encroaching  npon  them  on  their  Northern  and  Eaf- 
tern   boundaries.      William   and  Anne,  the  Duke  and 
Dutchefs  of  Hamilton,  had  petitioned  his  majefty  to  ref- 
tore  to  them  the  tra£l  of  country  granted   to  their  father, 
James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  in  the  year  1635  j  and  his 
majefty  had,  on  the  6th  of  May   1664,   referred  the  cafe 
to  the  determination  of  Colonel    Nichols   and   the  other 
commiffioners.*     Befides,  the  ftate  of  affairs  with  New- 
Haven  was  neither  comfortable  nor  fafe. 
-  _      r  In  thefe  circumftances,  the  legiflature  viewed  it  as  a 

the  aflTm-  po"^t  of  capital  importance  to  conciliate  the  commiffion- 
bly,  ref-      ers,  and  obtain  the  good  graces  of  his  majefty.     For  this 
pefting       purpofe,  they  ordered  a  prefent  of  five  hundred   buflie^s 
the  com-    ^^  corn,  to  be   made  to  the  king's  commiffioners.     A 
erl  ^MaV-    ^^^?,^  committee  was   appointed  to  fettle  the  boundaries 
jachufetts  between  Conne£licut  and  the  Duke  of  York.     A   com- 
&  Rhode   mittee,  confiftingofMr.  Allen,  Mr.  Wyllys,  Mr.  Talcott, 
Ifland.        2ind  Mr.  Newbury,  was  alfo  appointed  to  fettle  the  boun- 
dary line  between  this  colony  and  Maflachufetts,  and  be- 
tween Connecticut  and  Rhode-Ifland.     They  were  in- 
ftruCled  not  to  give  away  any  part  of  the  lands,  includc4 
within  the  limits  of  the  charter. 
Ilefpedt-         ■^^-  Sherman,  Mr.  Allen,  and  the  fecretary,  were  au- 
jng  New-   thorized  to  proceed  to  New-Haven,  and,  by  order  of  the 
liaven.       general  affembly,  «  in  his  majefty's  name,  to  require  the 
"  inhabitants  of  New-Haven,  Milford,  Stanford,  GuU» 

*  No,  XV,  '  '' 


Chap.  XII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  285 

*<  ford,  and  Stamford,  to  fubmit  to  the  government  cftab-  Book  I. 
<*  liflied  bv  his  majefty's   gracious  grant  to  this  colony,  v.w>^ 
«  and  to  receive  their  anfwer."     They  had  inflrucHiions  1664. 
to  declare   all  the  freemen,  in  thofe   towns,  free  of  the 
corporation  of  Connedlicut  ;  and  to   make  all  others,  in 
the   refpe£livc  towns   mentioned,  qualified  according  to 
law,  freemen  of  Connecticut.      At  the  fame  time,  they 
were  direftedto  adminifter  to  them  the  freeman's  oath. 

Besides,  they  were  authorized  to  make  declaration, 
that  the  aflembly  did  inveft:  William  Leet  and  William 
Jones,  Efquires,  Mr.  Gilbert,  Mr.  Fenn,  Mr.  Crane,  Mr. 
Treat,  and  Mr.  Law,  with  the  powers  of  magiftracy  ;  to 
govern  their  refpeCtive  plantations  agreeably  to  the  laws 
of  Conne£licut,  or  fuch  of  their  o,wn  laws,  as  were  not 
inconfiilent  with  the  charter,  until  their  feflions  in  May 
next.  It  was  proclaimed  alfo,  that  all  other  officers,  civil 
and  military,  were  eftablifhed  in  their  refpective  places  ; 
and  that  cognizance  fhould  not  be  taken  of  any  cafe 
which  had  been  profecuted,  to  a  final  adjudication,  in  any 
of  the  courts  of  that  colony.* 

The  gentlemen  appointed  to  this  fervice,  on  the  19th 
of  November,  went  to  New-Haven  and  proceeded  ac- 
cording to  their  inftruftions. 

About  the  fame  time.  Governor  Winthrop,  Mr.  Al- 
len, Mr.  Gould,  Mr.  Richards,  and  John  Winthrop,  the 
committee  appointed  to  fettle   the   boundaries  between 
Connecticut  and  New-York,  waited  on  the  commiffion- 
ers  upon  York  Ifland.     After  they  had  been  fully  heard, 
in  behalf  of  Connecticut,  the  commiffioners  determined,  Determi- 
«  That  the  fouthern  bounds   of  his  majefty's  colony  of  jjfj^'^"a°/f. 
**  Connecticut  is  the  fea  ;  and  that  Long-Illand  is  to  be  ty's  com- 
"  under  the  government  of  his  royal  highnefs,  the  Duke  miffioners 
•*  of  York,  as  is  exprefled  by  plain  words  in  the  faid  pa-  Nov.  3otb 
<*  tents  refpeCtively.     We  alfo  order  and  declare,  that 
<*  the  creek  or  river  called  Momoronock,  which  is  repu- 
«<  ted  to  be  about  twelve  miles  to  the  eaft  of  Weft-Chef- 
**  ter,    and  a   line    drawn  from   the  eaft  point  or  fide> 
"  where  the  frefh  waterfalls  into  the  fait,  at  high  water 
**  mark,  north-norweft,  to  the  line  of  Maflachufetts,  be 
«  the  weftern  bounds  of  the  faid  colony  of  Connecticut; 
<*  and  the  plantations  lying  weft  ward   of  that  creek,  and 
«  line  fo  drawn,  to  be  under  his  royal  highnefs's  govern- 
**  ment ;  and  all  plantations  lying  eaftward  of  that  creek 
**  and  line,  to  be  under  the  government  of  ConneCticut.t 


*  Records  of  Conneflicut.  t  No.  XVI. 


i86  THEHISTORY       Chap.  XIL 

Book  T.  In  confequence  of  the  ads  of  Conncdlicut,  and  the 
v,«<^v^^  determination  of  the  commiflioners,  relative  to  the  boun- 
3664.  daries  of  the  colony,  a  general  court  was  called,  at  New- 
General  Haven,  with  the  freemen,  and  as  many  of  the  inhabi- 
court  at  jjjj^jg  q£  jj^g  colony  as  chofe  to  attend,  on  the  13th  of  De- 
Haven  cember  1 664.  The  following  refolutions  were  then  unan- 
Dec.  13th.  imoufly  pafled. 

JRefolves  ^'  **  That,  by  this  zd:  or  vote,  we  be  not  underftood 
ofthe  to  juflify  Connecticut's  former  a£lings,  nor  any  thing 
court.         diforderly  done  by  their  own  people,  on  fuch  accounts.'* 

2.  "  That,  by  it,  we  be  not  apprehended  to  have 
any  hand  in  breaking  or  difTolving  the  confederation." 

3.  "  Yet,  in  loyalty  to  the  king's  majefty,  when  an 
authentic  copy  of  the  determination  of  his  majefly's  com- 
niiffloners  is  publiflied,  to  be  recorded  with  us,  if  thereby 
it  fhall  appear  to  our  committee,  that  we  are,  by  his  ma- 
jefty's  authority,  now  put  under  Connedlicut  patent,  we 
fliall  fubmit,  by  a  nccefhty  brought  upon  us,  by  the 
means  of  Conne£licut  aforefaid  ;  but  with  zfaho  Jure 
of  our  former  rights  and  claims,  as  a  people,  who  have 
not  yet  been  heard  in  point  of  plea.f" 

The  members  of  the  court,  then  prefent,  the  elders  of 
the  colony,   with  Mr.   John   Na(h,   Mr.  James  Bifhop, 
Mr.  Francis  Bell,  Mr.  Robert  Treat,  and  Mr.  Richard 
-Baldwin,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  confummate  an 
union  between  the  colonies. 

Several  letters  pafled  between  the  committees  of  the 
two  colonies,  on  thefubje6i:,  in  which  the  committee  of 
New-Haven  fignified,that  the  officers  in  that  colony  would 
continue  to  a(S  in  their  refpe£live  offices  j  and  exprefied 
their  good  defigns  and  wilhes  towards  Connecticut,  and 
their  loyalty  to  his  majefty.  They  alfo  reprefented  their 
expectations,  that  the  governor  and  company,  according 
to  their  engagements,  would  give  them  all  the  advantages 
and  privileges,  which  they  could  do,  confiftent  with  the 
patent ;  and  their  defires  ftill  to  continue  the  confede- 
ration.* 

The  committee  of  Connecticut,  in  anfwer  to  New- 
Haven,  aflured  them  of  their  willingnefs  to  beftow  on 
them  all  the  privileges  granted  in  their  charter,  prepared 
ready  to  their  hands.  They  acquainted  them,  that  pro- 
vision had  been  made  for  the  continuance  of  the  confcd«- 
cration,  according  to  their  wifhes.  They  pleaded  the 
ncceffity  and  importance  of  their  incorporation  with  Con- 

t  Records  of  Ncw-Haren. 
*  No.  XVII. 


Chap.  XII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        287 

nedicut,  as  they  were  nearly  In  the  centre  of  the  colony,  Book  I. 
as  an  apology  for  the  meafures  which  they  had   taken.  v-/'V">^ 
They  expreiled   their  ftrong   defires   that   New-Haven  1664. 
would  cordially  unite  with   them  ;  and,  by   no  means, 
view   it  as  a  matter  of  conftraint :  That  mutual  candor 
might  be  exercifed  ;  and  that  all  reflexions  and  paft  con- 
du«ft,  difagreeable  to  either  of  them,  be  entirely  buried 
and  forever  forgotten.f 

The  general  aflemljly  of  Connefticut  appointed  no  Sefllonsof 
committee  to  meet  with  that  chofen  by  the  general  court  affembly 
of  New-Haven.     Of  this  their  committee  complain,  in  -^P*"''  *°» 
their  lad   letter.:}:     However,  at  a  felTion  of  theirs,  the  *    ^' 
20th  of  April  1665,  they  pafTed  feveral  refolves,  for  the 
further  completion  of  the  union. 

It  was  refolved,  that  William  Leet  and  William  Jones,  Refolu-' 
Efquires,   Mr.  Benjamin  Fenn,  Mr.  Matthew    Gilbert,  tions  rcf- 
Mr.  Jafper  Crane,  Mr.  Alexander  Briant,  Mr.  Law  and  pcAing 
Mr.  Robert  Treat   fhould  (land  in   the   nomination  for  ^^^* 
magiflrates  at  the  next  ele£lion. 

The  aflembly  alfo  pafled  the  following  declaration, 
«  That  all  adls  of  the  authority  of  New-Haven,  which 
had  been  uncomfortable  to  Conne£l:icut,  fhould  never 
be  called  to  an  account,  but  be  buried  in  perpetual  ob- 
livion."|| 

The  king's  commiflloners  prefented  the  following  pro-  His  ma- 
pofitions,  or  requifitions  from  his  majefty,   to  this  af- J^  .1  ? '^^* 
fembly.  " 

1.  "  That  all  houfeholders,  Inhabiting  this  colony, 
**  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  that  the  adminiftra- 
**  tion  of  juftice  be  in  his  majefty's  name." 

2.  "  That  all  men  of  competent  eftates  and  of  civil 
«  converfation,  though  of  different  judgments,  may  be 
<*  admitted  to  be  freemen,  and  have  liberty  to  choofe,  or 
<*  to  be  chofen  officers,  both  military  and  civil." 

3.  "  That  all  perfons  of  civil  lives,  may  freely  enjoy 
*<  the  liberty  of  their  confciences,  and  the  worfliip  of  Go» 
**  in  that  way  which  they  think  beft  ;  provided  that  this 
**  liberty  tend  not  to  the  difturbance  of  the  public,  nor 
**  to  the  hindrance  of  the  maintenance  of  minifters,  reg- 
«  ularly  chofen,  in  each  refpedlive  parifli  or  townftiip. 

4.  "  That  all  laws,  and  exprefllons  in  laws,  deroga- 
**  tory  to  his  majefty,  if  any  fuch  have  been  made,  in 

f  Letter  of  Connedlicut  to  New-Haven  No.  XVIII. 

t  No.  XIX. 

n  Records  of  Connecticut. 


288 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XII. 


Book  I. 

1665. 

Thean- 
fwer  to 
them. 


Anfwrer 
to  the 
Duke  of 
Hamil- 
ton's pe- 
tition. 


"  thefe  troublefomc  times,  may  be  repealed,  altered,  and 
'  "  taken  off  the  file." 

The  affembly  anfwered  in  the  manner  following. 
I.  "  That  according  to  his  majefty's  pleafure,  ex- 
*'  preffed  in  our  charter,  our  governor  formerly  appoint- 
••  ed  meet  perfons  to  adminifter  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
<*  who  have,  according  to  their  order,  adminiftered  the 
**  faid  oath  to  feveral  perfons  already  j  and  the  adminif- 
"  tration  of  juftice  among  us  hath  been,  is  and  fhallbe, 
«  in  his  majefty's  name." 

2.  "  That  our  order  for  the  admiflion  of  freedom 
**  is  confonant  with  that  propofition." 

3.  «*  We  know  not  of  any  one,  that  hath  been  trou- 
*<  bled,  by  us,  for  attending  his  confcisnce,  provided  he 
**  hath  not  difturbed  the  public." 

4.  "  We  know  not  of  any  law,  or  expreflions  of  law, 
«*  that  are  derogatory  to  his  majefty  among  us  ;  but  if 
<*  any  fuch  be  found,  we  count  it  our  duty  to  repeal,  al- 
*'  ter,  and  take  them  off  the  file  ;  and  this  wc  attended, 
**  upon  the  receipt  of  our  charter." 

About  this  time,  it  feems,  the  council  gave  the  fol- 
lowing anfwer,  for  fubftance,  to  the  commiflioners,  rela- 
tive to  the  claim  and  petition  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  : 
That  the  grant  of  Connedlicut  to  the  nobles  and  gentle- 
men, of  whom  they  purchafed,  was  feveral  years  prior  to 
the  Marquifs  of  Hamilton's :  That  wlthjgreat  difficulty 
they  had  conquered  a  potent  and  barbarous  people,  who 
fpread  over  a  great  part  of  that  tract  of  country,  which 
lie  claimed  ;  and  that  it  was  but  a  fmall  compenfation, 
for  the  blood  and  treafure  which  they  had  expended  in 
conquering  it,  and  defending  it  for  his  majefty's  intereft 
againft  the  Dutch  and  other  foreigners :  That  they  had 
peaceably  enjoyed  that  tra£l  for  about  thirty  years :  That 
they  had  with  great  labor  and  expenfe  cultivated  the 
lands,  to  their  own  and  his  majefty's  intereft  ;  and  that 
his  majefty,  of  his  grace  had  been  pleafed  to  confirm  it 
to  them,  by  his  royal  charter,  in  which  thefe  reafons  had 
been  recognized.* 

They  at  the  fame  time,  folicited  their  honors,  the  com- 
miflioners, to  prefent  their  humble  acknowledgements  to 
his  majefty  for  his  abundant  grace,  in  the  granting  of 
their  charter,  and  for  his  gracious  letter,  fent  them  by 
his  commiffioners,  re-ratifying  their  privileges,  civil  and 
ecclefiaftical. 


*  No.  XX. 


Chap.  XTI.      OF    CONNECTICUT.        28p 

At  the  general  elc£lion,  May  nth,    1665,  when  the  Book  I. 
two  colonies  of  Conne£llcut  and  New-Haven  united  in  V-xvx^ 
one,  the  following  gentlemen  were  chofen  into  office.  ^^^5- 
John  Winthrop,   Efquire,  was  eledted  governor,   John  tkition 
Mafon,  Efquire,  deputy   governor,  and  Matthew  Allen,  ^'^^y  ^^^h 
Samuel  Wyllys,  Nathan    Gould,  John  Talcott,  Henry  colonies 
"Wolcott,  John  Allen,  Samuel  Sherman,  James  Richards,  united  in 
"William  Leet,  William  Jones,  Benjamin  Fenn,   and  Jaf-  oneaflem- 
per  Crane,  Efquires,  magiftrates*     John  Talcott,  Efqairc,  ^'y* 
was  treafurer,  and  Daniel  Clarke,  fecretary. 

A  PROPORTIONABLE  number  of  the  magiftrates  was  of 
the  former  colony  of  New-Haren ;  all  the  towns  fent 
their  deputies  *,  and  the  aflembly  appears  to  have  been 
entirely  harmonious. 

This  aflembly  ena£^ed,  that  Haftings  and  Rye  fhould 
be  one  plantation,  by  the  name  of  Rye. 

By  this  aflembly  county  courts  were  firft  Inftltuted,  „ 
by  that  name.     It  was  enacted,  that  there  fhould  be  two  co'urts^  ' 
county  courts  holden  annually,  in  New-Haven  ;   one  on  tirft  infti- 
the  fecond  Thurfday  in   June,   the  other  on  the  third  tuted 
Thurfday  in  November.     The  court  was  to  confift  of  five  ^^^  ^^^^' 
judges,  two  magiltrates,  and  three  jnftices  of  tlie  quorum. 
A  fimilar  court  was  appointed  at  New-London  ;  and,  the 
next  0£taber,  that  was  made  a  diftin£l  county. 

At  the  fefllons,  in  06lober,  a  county  court  was  ap- 
pointed, at  Hartford,  inftead  of  the  quarterly  courts. 
This  was  to  be  holden  anntially  in  the  months  of  March 
and  September.  The  county  courts  had  cognizance  of 
all  cafes  except  thofe  of  life,  limb,  or  banlfhment.  In 
cafes  of  more  than  twenty  fhillings,  the  law  required  that 
a  jury  (hould  be  impannelled. 

At  the  fame  time,  a  fuperior  court  was  appointed  to  Suoeriox 
be  holden,  at  Hartford,  the  Tuefday  before   the  feffions  court  in- 
of  the  general  afl'embly  in  May  and  0£l:ober.     This  was  ftituted 
to  confift  of  eight  magiftrates,  at  leaft,  and  always  to  be  '^* 

attended  with  a  jury.  In  this  court  were  tried  all  ap- 
peals from  the  feveral  county  courts,  and  all  capital  ac- 
tions, of  life,  limb,  and  baniftiment. 

All  the  towns,   formerly  under  the  jurifdiilion   of  „      -    . 
New-Haven,  were  fatisfied  with  the  union  of  the  colo-  difTatisfi- 
nies,  except  Branford.     But  Mr.  Pierfon   and  alraoft  his  ed  with 
whole  church  and  congregation  were  fo  difpleafed,  that  th.e  union.' 
they  foon  removed  into  Newark,  in  New-Jerfey.     They 
carried  oiFthe  records  of  the  church  and  town,  and  after 
it  had  been  fettled  about  five  and  twenty  years,  left  it  al- 
O  o 


290  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIL 

Book  I.   moft  without  Inhabitanta.     For  move  than  twenty  years 
v,rf.»-v>»«/  from  that  time,  there   was  not  a  church  formed  in  the 
1665.         town.     People,  from  various  parts  of  the   colony,  grad- 
ually moved  into  it,  and  purchafed  the  lands  of   the  firft 
planters,  fo  that,  in  about  twenty  years,  it  became  re-fet- 
tled.    In  1685,  it  was  rc-invefted  with  town  privileges. 

_,  The  union   of  the  colonies  was  2  happy  event.     It 

Tbc  un-  ,  Mil  •  /T.  i_ 

ion  a  hap-  greatly  contributed  to  the  convenience,   Itrength,  peace, 

py  event,    and  welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  both,  and  of  their  pof- 
terity.     Greater  privileges  New-Haven  could   not  have 

Reafons     enjoyed,  had  they  been  fuccefsful  in  their  applications  to 

for  It.  j^jg  niajefty.  This  muft  have  been  very  expenfive,  and, 
after  much  expenfe,  they  might  have  failed  in  their  at- 
tempts and  loft  their  liberties,  or  have  been  joined  to 
Connecticut  at  laft.  Had  they  remained  a  diftinfl  colo- 
.  ny,  the  charges  of  government  would  have  been  greater, 
than  in  their  Rate  of  incorporation.  Their  fituation,  in 
fo  central  a  part  of  the  colony,  would  have  been  extreme- 
ly inconvenient,  efpecially  for  Connecticut.  It  was, 
doubtlefs,  his  majefty's  pleafure,  and  for  his  intereft,  that 

'  the  colonies   fhould  be  one  ;  and   their   friends  on  both 

fides  the  water,  judged  it  moft  expedient.  It  was  what 
their  own  and  the  general  good  demanded.  All  thefe 
circumftances,  Conne£i;icut  could  plead,  as  an  apology 
for  their  conduct.  But  after  all,  it  will  be  difficult,  if 
not  impoffible,  to  reconcile  fome  parts  of  it,  at  leaft,  with 
their  pre-engagements,  the  rules  of  juftice,  and  brotlierly 
affection. 

War  was  proclaimed,  this  year,  in  London,  in  the 
month  of  March,  between  England  and  Holland.  His 
majefty  had  given  intelligence  to  the  colony,  that  De 
Ruyter,  the  Dutch  admiral,  had  orders  to  vifit  New- 
York.  The  colony  was  alarmed,  and  put  into  a  ftate  of 
defence.  But  the  admiral  was  diverted  from  the  enter- 
prife,  and  the  year  paiTed  in  peace. 

In  the  proclamation  for  thankfgiving,  in  November, 
the  people  were  excited  to  praife  the  Supreme  Benefac- 
tor, for  preventing  the  troubles  which'  they  had  feared, 
and  for  the  bleflings  of  Hberty,  health,  peace,  and  plenty.* 

*  It  was  now  thirty  years  fince  the  fettlcment  of  the  colony 
commenced,  yet,  after  the  defalcation  of  Long-inand,  it  confift- 
cd  of  nineteen  towns  only,  which  paid  taxcs^  The  grand  Lift 
lyas  no  more  than  jCi53i62o;  16:  5. 


Chap.  XIII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.      291 

CHAPTER    XIII.  Book  I. 

A  VIEW  of  ihe  churches  of  Comieci'icut  and  Neiu-Hcivefiy 
from  their  firfl  fettle mejit^  until   their  union  ^    in    1665. 
Their  minijlers.     The  character  of  the  minifers  and  firfl 
planters.     Their  religious  and  political fentiments.     Gath- 
ering of  the  churches  of  Neiv-Haven   and  JMilford.     hi' 
flallation  of  Mr.  Davenport  ^  and  Mr.  Prudden.    Church 
formed  at  Guilford.     Number  ef  mini/lers  in  Conne^icut 
And  New-Haven  J  before  the  union.     Proportion  of  minif- 
ters  to  the  people  y  befor'e  and  at  the  time  of  the  union.     Har- 
mony betiveen  the  civil  rulers  and  the  clergy.     Influence  of 
the  clergy,  and  tl^e  reafons  of  it.     Their  cppofttion  to  An- 
iinomianfm.     Affifed  in    the  compilation    of  Cambridge 
Platform.      Eccleftaflical  laws.      Care  to  diffufe   general 
knowledge  ;  its  happy  inf.uence.     Attempts  to  found  a  col- 
lege at   Neiv-Haven.     No  feElaries   in  Conneclicut  nor 
New-Haven^  until  after  the  union  ;  and  for  twenty  years 
the  churches  generally  enjoyed  great  peace.  Deaths  and  char- 
acters of  fever  al  of  the  firfl  minijlers.     Great  diffenfions  in 
the  church  at  Hartford foon  after  Mr.    Hoooker's  death; 
diffenfions  and  controverfies  in  the  colony  and  churches  in  gen- 
eral ^  relative  to  haptifm^  church'jnemberflApy  and  the  rights 
of  the  brethren.     A  new  generation  arifes^    who  had  not 
all  imbibed  the  fpirit  of  their  fathers.     Grievances  prefent- 
id  to  ihe  general   court  of  Conneclicut,  on  the   account  of 
the flriSlnefs  of  the  churches  .^  and  thatfober  people  xuere  de- 
nied communion  with  them^  and  haptifmfor  their  children. 
The  court  of  ConneBlicut  fend  to  ihe  other  general  courts 
for  advice.      Laivs  againfi  the   ^mkers.     Maffachufetts 
and  Connecticut  agree  in   appointing   a  fynod  at  Boflon. 
General  court  at  New-Haven  oppofe  the  meeting  of  a  fy- 
nodj  and  decline  fending  their  elders,      ^ueflions  prapofed 
for  difcuffton.     The  fynod  meets  and  anfwcrs  them  ,•  but 
it  had  no  good  effect  on  the  churches.      Th»y  wsuld  not  coin- 
ply  with  their  deciftons.      Diffenfions  continued  at  Hart- 
ford;  aEls  of  the  general  court  refpeEling  them.      Councils 
from  Maffachufetts.     Difficulties  in  fome  meafure  compo- 
fed.      Diviftons  and  animoftties  at  TVethersfeld.     A51  of 
the  general  court  refpeciing  the  church  there.     Mr.  Ruf- 
fel  and  numbers  remove  from  Welhersfield  ^nd  Hartfordy 
and  fettle  Hadley.     Air,  Stow  difmijfed  from  the  minif- 
try  at  Middletown^  by  a  committee  of  the  gfneral  court. 
Synod  nt  Boflotu      Its  determination  relative  to  baptifm  and 
the  confociation  of  churches.     Divfion  in  the  fynod  and  in 
th*  churches  relative  to  thofe  points.     The  court  at  Con- 


292  THEHISTORY         Chap.  XIU. 

Book  I.         rteclicnt  fent  no  elders  to  the  council.,  nor  took  any  part  in 
K.^'y^sJ       the  controverfyy  until  fome  time  afternvards. 

CONNECTICUT,  no  lefs  than  other  parts  of  New- 
England,  was  fettled  with  a  particular  view  to  re- 
ligion. It  was  the  defign  of  the  firft  planters  to  ere£l 
churches,  in  the  {lri6left  conformity  to  fcripture  exam- 
p  lej  and  to  tranfmit  evangelical  purity,  in  do£lrine,  wor- 
ihip  and  difcipline,  with  civil  and  religious  liberty,  to 
their  pofterity.  The  attention  which  they  paid  to  thefc 
interefting  points  will  be  the  principal  fubje£l:  of  this 
chapter. 

The  firft  churches,  though  their  numbers  were  fmall, 
Firft  min-  and  they  had  to  combat  all  the  hardfhips,  dangers,  and 
ificrs  of  cypenfe,  of  new  fettlements,  commonly  fupported  two 
kn"  and  ^  '  experienced  minifters.  With  the  firft  three  ehur- 
A'cw-  ches,  fettled  in  Connecticut,  there  were,  at  Hartford,  the 
Jiavtn.  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone,  at  Windfor,  Mr.  War- 
ham  and  Mr.Heuct,and  at  Wethersfield,Mr.  Prudden,  in 
1638,  while  his  people  were  making  preparations  to  re- 
move from  New-Haven  to  Milford.  To  the  garrifon,  at 
Saybrook  fort,  Mr.  John  Higginfon,  fon  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Higginfon  of  Salem,  preached  three  or  four  of  the  firft 
years.  At  New-Haven,  at  firft  were  Mr.  Davenport  and 
Mr.  Samuel  Eaton,  brother  to  Governor  Eaton.  At  Mil- 
ford  Mr.  Prudden  was  paftor,  and  the  church  invited 
Mr.  John  Sherman,  afterwards  Minifter  of  Watertown, 
in  MafFachufetts,  to  be  their  teacher  j  but  he  decline4 
their  invitation,  and  that  church  never  hgid  but  one  fet- 
tled minifter  ?..t  the  fame  time.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Whit- 
field was  paftor  of  the  church  at  Guilford,  and  about  the 
year  1641,  Mr.  Higginfon  removed  from  Saybrook,  and 
became  teacher,  as  an  afiiftant  to  Mr.  Whitfield,  in  that 
church.  After  Mr.  Prudden  left  Welhersfield,  Mr. 
Henry  Smith  was  eledled  and  ordained  paftor  of  the 
church  and  congregation  in  that  town.  About  the  time 
that  Mr.  Higginfon  left  Saybrook,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas 
Peters  became  chaplain  to  Colonel  Fenwick  and  the  peo- 
ple there.  Upon  the  removal  of  Mr.  Eaton,  from  New- 
Haven,  Mr.  William  Hook  was  inftalled  teacher,  as  an 
alfiftant  of  Mr.  Davenport.  The  fix  firft  towns  in  Con- 
necticut and  New-Haven  enjoyed  the  conftant  labor  of 
ten  able  minifters.  This  was  as  much  as  one  minifter  to 
about  fifty  families,  or  to  two  hundred  and  fixty  or  feven- 
ty  fouls.  As  other  towns  fettled,  churches  were  gathered, 
•^nd  minifters  inftalled  or  ordained.     Mr.  Jones  was 


Chap.  XIII.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       293 

chofen  paftor  at  Fairfield,  Mr.  Adam  Blackman,  at  Strat-  Book  I. 
fordj  and  Mr,  Richard  Denton,  at  Stamford.  Mr.  Abra-  \.yyr^ 
ham  Picrfon  was  pallor  of  the  church  at  Branford,  and  it 
•  feems  one  Mr.  Brucy  aflifted  him  as  a  teacher  for  fome 
time.  Fourteen  or  fifteen  of  thcfe  miniftcrs  had  been 
cpifcopally  ordained  in  England,  before  they  (.ame  into 
America.  ^ 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Richard  Blynman,  firfl  paftor  of  the 
church  at  New-London,  was  alfo  ordained  in  England. 
After  he  came  into  this  counti^y  he  fettled  firft,  paftor  of 
the  church  at  Gloucefter,  in  Maflachufetts.  From  thence 
he  removed  to  New- London  in  1648. 

From  thefe  reverend  fathers,  the  miniftersof  Connect- 
icut trace  their  ordinations  ;  efpecially,  from  Mr.  Hook- 
er, Mr.  Warham,  Mr.  Davenport,  and  Mr.  Stone.  Some 
or  other  of  thefe  aftifted  in  gathering  the  churches,  and 
ordaining  the  minifters  fettled  in  their  day. 

With  refpecl  to  their  religious  fcHtiments,  and  thofe  -pj^gj^  j.. 
of  their  followers,  they  were  puritans.     This  was  a  name  Hgious 
which  firft  obtained  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  fcoti- 
1 564.     It  was  given  as  a  name  of  reproach,  to  diftinguifh  n^eata* 
and  ftigmatize  thofe  who  did  not  conform  to  the  liturgy, 
ceremonies,  and  difcipline,  of  the  church  of  England. 
Fuller  fays,    **  It  was  improved  to    abufe  pious   people, 
**  who  endeavoured  to  follow  the  minifter  with  a  pure 
**  heart,  and  labored  for  a  life  pure  and  holy.*"     When 
arminianifm  began  to  prevail,  in  the  latter  part   of  the 
reign  of  James  the    firft,  thofe,  who  were  calvimftic, 
were  termed  dodlrinal  puritans. f     It  was  ufed   finally, 
as  a  ftigmafor  all  chriftians,  who  were   ftricl  in  morals,       ^ 
calviniftic  in  fentiment,  and  unconformed  to  the  liturgy, 
ceremonies,  and  difcipline,  of  the  eftabliflied  church.^ 

This  was  truly  the  chara£ler  of  the  firft  minifters  and 
churches  in  this  colony.  They  were  ftriclly  calviniftic, 
agreeing  in  dodlrine  with  their  brethren  of  the  eftablifhed 
church,  and  with  all  the  proteftant  reformed  churches. 
In  difcipline,  they  were  congregationalifts,  and  dilFented 
from  the  national  eftabliftiment.  They  firmly  believed, 
that  it  was  the  folc  prerogative  of  Christ,  aa  king  in 
Zion,  to  dire£l  the  mode  of  worfliip  and  difcipline,  in  his 
own  houfe.  They  were  perfuaded,  that  the  fcriptures 
were  a  perfect  rule,  not  only  of  faith  and  manners,  but  of 


*  Fuller's  ccdefiaftical  hiftory  B.  IX.  p.  76. 
i'  Fuller,  B.  X.  p.  100. 

%  Neal's  Hiftory  of  the  puritans,  preface  to  vol.  I.  p.  7,  and 
tqI.  I.  g.  7a.    §ccoBd  edition  quarto,  London  1754. 


294  THEHISTORY      Chap.    XIII. 

Book  I.  worfiiip  and  difcipline  :  and  that  all  churches  ought  to  be 

v«,^v>w'  formed  entirely  after  the  pattern  exhibited  in  the    New 

Teftament.  . 

Some  of  the  minifters  of  Connefticut  were  diftinguifli- 
^^^t^^A  ^^  ^°^*  literature,  piety,  and  rtiiniflerial  gifts.  Mr. 
mora!*  Hooker,  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr.  Stone,  and  fome  others, 
were  men  of  greiat  learning  and  abilities.  Ihey  were 
all  men  of  the  ftri£left  morals,  ferioue,  experimental 
preachers.  Mr.  Neal,  after  giving  a  catalogue  of  the 
minifters,  who  firft  illuminated  the  churches  of  New- 
England,  bears  this  teftimony  concerning  them.  "  I  will 
*'  not  fay  that  all  the  minifters  mentioned  were  men  of 
«*  the  firft  rate  for  learning,  but  I  can  alTure  the  reader, 
*'  they  had  a  better  fliare  of  it,  than  moft  of  their  neigh- 
*'  bouring  clergy,  at  that  time  ;  they  were  men  of  great 
*'  fobriety  and  virtue,  plain,  ferious,  affectionate  preach- 
*'  ers,  cxacSlly  conformable  to  the  do6trine  of  the  church 
"  of  England,  and  took  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  promote 
*'  a  reformation  of  manners  in  their  feveral  parifties." 
They  were  mighty  and  abundant  in  prayer.  They  not 
only  fafted  and  prayed  frequently  with  their  people,  in 
Their  la-  public,  but  kept  many  days  of  fecret  fafting,  prayer,  and 
bors,  faft-  feif.gxamination,  in  their  ftudies-  Some  of  them,  it 
prayers,  feems,  fafted  and  prayed,  in  this  private  manner,  every 
week.  Befides  the  exercifes  on  the  Lord's  day,  thejr 
preached  le£lures,  not  only  in  public,  but  from  houfe  to 
houfe.  They  were  diligent  and  laborious  in  catechifing 
and  inftru£ling  the  children  and  young  people,  both  in 
public  and  private. 

They  paid  a  conftant  attention  to  the  religion  of  their 
families.  They  read  the  fcriptures  and  prayed  in  them 
daily,  morning  and  evening,  and  inftru(Sl:ed  all  their  do- 
meftics  conftantly  to  attend  the  fecret,  as  well  as  private 
and  public  duties  of  religion.  They  were  attentive  to 
the  religious  ftate  of  all  the  families  and  individuals  of 
their  refpeclive  flocks.*  As  they  had  taken  up  the  crofs, 
forfaken  their  pleafant  feats  and  enjoyments  in  their  na- 
tive country,  and  followed  their  Saviour  into  a  land  not 
fown,  for  the  fake  of  his  holy  religion,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  his  kingdom,  they  facrificed  all  worldly  interefts 
to  thefe  glorious  purpofes. 

The  people,  who  followed  them,  into  the  wildernefs, 
were  their  fpiritual  children,  who  imbibed  the  fame  fpirit 

*  See  an  account  of  the  lives  of  many  of  them,  in  the  Magnal-   . 
ia,  B.  III.    Particular  tracts  and  manufcript*  charaderize  them 
in  the  fame  manner. 


Chap.  XIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        495 

«nd  fentlments,  and  efteemed  them  ns  their  fathers  in  Book  I. 
Christ.     Many  of  them  were  men  of  figure,  as  Haynes,  v.><'V->*^ 
Hopkins,  Wyllys,    Ludlow,  Wolcott,   Eaton,  Gregfon,  ^:^"^J.J* 
Dciborough,  Leet  and  others,  who  were  governors  and  ^^^  ^^^^ 
magiftrates,  in  their  refpedlive  colonies.     Many  of  them,  alG  of  the 
efpecially  their  governors,  magiftrates,  and  leading  men,  people, 
were  not  lefs  pious  and  exemplary  than  their  minifters. 
The  people  in  general  were  pious  and  ftridlly  moral.     In- 
flances  of  intemperance,  wantonnefs,   fabbath-breaking, 
fraud,  or  any  other  grofs    immorality,  for  many  years, 
were  rarely  found  among  them.     If  any  there  were,  they 
were  commonly  found  among  fervants,  or  fome  of  the 
loweft  of  the  people. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  the  principal  divines,  who  firfl  rp,   •  j. 
fettled   New-England   and    Connecticut,  that  in  every  timents 
church,  completely  organized,  there  was  a  paftor,  teach-  relative  to 
er,   ruling  elder,  and   deacons.*     Thefe  diflinft  offices  clmrches, 

they  imagined  were  clearly  taught  in  thofe  paflases,  Ro-  ^^"'■'^^°^ 
■'       ..  °  o     •     u       ••       o         rn-        1         '^  1  fleers  and 

mans  xu.  7,  I  Cormth.  xu.  28,  i  iiiriothy  v.  17,  and  ^ifciplinc. 
Ephefians  iv.  11.  From  thefe  they  argued  the  duty  of 
all  churches,  which  were  able,  to  be  thus  furni(hed.f 
In  this  manner  were  the  churches  of  Hartford,  Windfor, 
New-Haven,  and  other  towns  organized.  The  churches, 
which  were  not  able  to  fupport  a  paftor  and  teacher,  had 
their  ruling  elders  and  deacons.  Their  ruling  elders 
were  ordained  with  no  lefs  folemnity,  than  their  paftors 
and  teachers.  Where  no  teacher  could  be  obtained,  the 
paftor  performed  the  duties  both  of  paftor  and  teacher. 
It  was  the  general  opinion,  that  the  paftor's  work  con- 
fiftcd  principally  in  exhortation,  in  working  upon  the  will 
and  affedtions.  To  this  the  whole  force  of  his  ftudiea 
was  to  be  directed  -,  that,  by  his  judicious,  powerful,  and 
afFe£lionate  addrefles,  he  might  win  his  hearers  to  the 
love  and  practice  of  the  truth.  But  the  teacher  was  doc- 
tor in  ecclefioy  whofe  bufinefs  it  was  to  teach,  explain,  and 
defend,  the  dodlrines  of  chriftianity.  He  was  to  inform 
the  judgment,  and  advance  the  work  of  illumination.:}: 

The  bufinefs  of  the  ruling  elder  was  to  affift  the  paf- 
tor in  the  government  of  the  church.  He  was  particu- 
larly fet  apart  to  watch  over  all  its  members  ;  to  prepare 
and  bring  forward  all  cafes  of  difcipline  \  to  vifit  and 
pray  with  the  fick ;  and,  in  the  abfence  of  the  paftor  and 

*  Hooker's  Survey,  part  II.  page  4  to  ao. 
+  Ibidem,  and  Cambridge  Platform,  chapters  ▼?.  and  vii. 
X  Survey,  part  II.  p.  19,  ao,  %\^  and  Cambridge  Platform 
ckap.  tI. 


296  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  Xllh 

Book  I.   teacher,  to  pray  with  the  congregation  and  expoiind  the 
v-^-nr^O    fcriptures.* 

Tecpaflors  and  churches  of  New-England  maintain- 
ed, with  the  reformed  churches  in  general,  that  bifliops 
and  prefbyters  were  only  different  names  for  the  fame  of- 
fice j  and  that  all  pallors,  regularly  feparated  to  the  gof- 
pel  mlniltry,  were  fcripture  bifliops. f  They  alfo  infified, 
agreeably  to  the  primitive  praclice,  that  the  work  of  every 
paftor  was  confined,  principally,  to  one  particular  church 
and  congregation,  who  could  all  aflemble  at  one  place, 
whom  he  could  infpe£l,  and  who  could  all  unite  together 
in  a£l:s  of  worfhip  and  difcipline.||  Indeed  the  firit  min- 
iftcrs  of  Connecticut  and  New-England  at  firfl  maintain- 
ed, that  all  the  pallor's  office-power  was  confined  to  his 
own  church  and  congregation,  and  that  the  adminiftring 
of  bapcilm  and  the  Lord's  fupper  in  other  churches  was 
irregular.^ 

With  refpe(£l  to  ordination,  they  held,  that  it  did  not 
Caiimjr      conflitute  the  cfTentials  of  the  miniilerial  office  ;  but  the 
nation  of   qualifications  for  office,  the  eledlion  of  the  church,  gui- 
niiiiifteis.  dedby  the  ruleof  Chrift,  and  the  acceptance  of  the  pallor 
eledl.J  '^^ys  ^^-  Hooker,  **  Ordination  is  an  approbation 
of  the  officer,  and  folemn  fetting  and  confirmation  of  him 
in  his  office,  by  prayer  and  laying  on  of  hands."     It  was 
viewed,  by  the   miniflers  ef  New-England,  as  no  more 
tlian  putting  the  paftor  ele6l  into  office,  or  a  folemn  re- 
commending  of  him  and  his  labors    to  the  bleffings  of 
God.     It  was  the  general  opinion,  that  elders   ought  to 
lay  on  hands  in  ordination,  if  there   were   a  prefbytery 
in  the  church,  but  if  there  were   not,  the    church  might 
appoint  fome  other  elders,  or  a  number  of  the  brethren 
to  that  fervice.§ 

It  was  acknowledged  that  fynods  or  general  councils, 

were  an  ordinance  of  Chrift,  and  in  fome  cafes,   expedi- 

Powcrof   ent  and  necefTary  :  That  their  bufinefs  was  to  give   light 

Synods,      and  counfel    in  weighty   concerns,   and  bear  teftimony 

againft  corruption   in  dodlrines  and  morals.      While  it 

was  granted,  that  their  detern.inations  ought  to  be  re- 

'  Hoolvcr's  Survey  part  II.  p.  13— 19»  C.  Plat.  chap.  vii. 

■[  Honker's  Survey  and  Cambridge  Platform. 

!|  Cambridge  Platform  chap.  iii.  and  chap.  ix. 

*t  Hooker's  Survey  part  II.  p.  62 — 68. 

t  The  fime,  part  II.  p.  73  —  78.  Cambridge  plitform  Chap.  JX. 

V  Thefe  ft-ntiments  were  not  peculiar  to  the  firft  miniftera 
and  churches  of  New-England,  j^ugufline,  Chryfoftom,  Zanch, 
Bucer,  Meiaiicthon,  Dr.  Ames,  Dr.  Owen,  and  many  otaer  dU 
vincH  of  £.rc.at  fame,  were  of  the  fame  opinion. 


Chip.  XIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        297 

celved  with  reverence,  and  not  to  be  counterafted,  unlefs  Book  I. 
apparently  repugnant  to  the  fcrlptures,  it  was  infifted,  \^'^v'\J 
that  they  had  no  juridical  power. ||  The  churches  of 
Connedlicut  originally  maintained,  that  the  right  of  choof- 
Ing  and  fettling  their  minifters,  of  exercifmg  difcipllne 
and  performing  all  juridical  afts  was  in  the  church,  when 
properly  organized  ;  and  they  denied  all  external  or  fo- 
reign power  of  prefbyteries,  fynods,  general  councils,  or 
aflemblies.  Hence  they  were  termed  congregational 
churches. 

The  fathers  of  Connecticut,  as  to  politics,  were  repub-  As  to  pel- 
licans.     They  rejected  with  abhorrence  the  do£lrines  of  'tics,  the 

the  divine  right  of  kings,  paflive   obedience,  and  non-re-  ll*^"  ^^' 

.         .  •    tiers  were 

fiftance.     With  Sidney,  Hampden,  and  other  great  wri-  republi- 

ters,  they  believed  that  all  civil  power  and  government  cans, 
was  originally  in  the  people.     Upon  thefe  principles  they 
formed  their  civil  conftitutions. 

1      The  churches  of  New-Haven,  Milford,  and  Guilford,  confef- 
were  formed  firft,  by  the  choigp  of  feven  perfons,  from  fion  of 
among  the  brethren,  who   were    termed   tlic  pillars.     A  faith  and 
confeflion  of  faith  was  drawn  up  to  which  they  all  aflent-  '°'^'^'* 
ed,  as  preparatory  to  their  covenanting  together  in  church  of  cove- 
eftate.     They  then  entered   into   covenant,    firfl:   with  Banting. 
God,  to  be  his  people  in  Christ,  and  then  with  each 
other,  to  walk  together  in   the  ftriCt    and  confcientious 
pradlice  of  all  chriftian  duties,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of 
all  the  ordinances  and  privileges  of  a  church  of  Christ. 
The  confeffions  of  faith  contained  a  fummary  of  chriftian 
do£lrine,  and  were    ftriftly  calviniftic.     The  covenants 
■were  full,  folemn,  and  expreflive,    importing,  that  they 
avouched  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
GHosT,to  be  their  sovereign  Lord  and  supreme  Good; 
and  that  they  gave  themfelves  up  to  him,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  in  the  way  and  on  the  terms  of  the  covenant  of 
grace.     They  covenanted  with  each  other  to  uphold  the 
divine  worfhip  and  ordinances,  in  the  churches  of  which 
they  were  members  ;   to  watch  over  each  other  as  breth- 
ren ;  to  bear  teftimony  againft  all    fin ;    and  to  teach  all 
under  their  care  to  fear  and  ferve  the  Lord.     The  other 
brethren  joined  themfelves  to  the    (even  pillars,  by  ma- 
king the  fame  profeflion  of  faith,  and  covenanting  m  the 
fame  manner.     The  members,  previoufly  to  their  cove- 
nanting with  each  other,  gave  one  another   fotisfadlion 


Hooker's  Survey  part  IV-  p.  4j— 48.  C.Plat.  Chap.  XVI. 


25>8  T  H  E    II  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIIL 

Book  I.    with  rcfpe£l  to  their  repentance,   faith,  and  purpofes  cf 
K.yvKj  liolr  Hving. 

It  appears,  that  the  churches  of  New-Haven  and  Mil- 
Churches  ford  were  gathered  to  the  feven  pillars,  on  the  22d  of  Au- 
ST'  g"^  1^39-*  'T^c  tradition  is,  that  foon  after,  Mr.  Dav- 
and  Mil-  enport  was  chofen  paflor  of  thfe  church,  at  New-Haven  ; 
ford  gitli-  and  that  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone  came  and  affilted  in 
ered  An-    his  inltalbtion. 

giiftjzd,  Mr.  Prudden  was  inftalled  paftor  of  the  ehurch,  at 
Milford,  April  i8th  1640,  upon  a  day  of  folemn  falling 
Inltaiia-  ^^^^  prayer.  Impoution  of  hands  was  performed  by 
Mr  Prud-  Zechariah  Whitman,  William  Fowler,  and  Edmond 
den,  April  Tapp.  They  were  appointed  to  this  fervice  by  the  other 
i8tb,  brethren  of  the  chursph.f     The  inftallation  was  at  New- 

1040.         Haven,  and  it  feems  that  the  hands  of  the  brethren  were 
impofed  in  the  prefence  of  Mr.  Davenport  and  Mr.  Ea- 
ton. ,  ; 
Guilford        Though  the  members  of  Mr.  Whitfield's  church  were 
church       In  the  original  agreemerrt,  at  New-Haven,  and  engaged 
gathered,   to  imbody  into   church  eftate,  in  the  fame   manner   as 
April         New-Haven  and  Milford  ehurdies  did,  yet  they  delayed 
^  '^^'         the    completion  of  the  work   for   a    confiderable   time. 
Probably,  it  was  becaufe  their  company  were  not  yet  all 
arrived.     But  in  April,  1643,  Mr.   Whitfield,  Mr.  Hig- 
glnfon,  Mr.  Samuel  Doiborough,  Mr.  William  Lect,  Mr. 
Jacob  Sheaf,  Mr.  John  Mipham,  and  Mr.    John  Ploadly^ 
were  ele£led  the  feven  pillars.     On  the  19th  of  June,  all 
the  other  church  members  were  gathered  unto  tliefe  fe- 
ren  perfons.     Mr.  Higginfon,  who  had  been  preaching 
about  two  years  at  Guilford,  with  Mr.  Whitfield,  was,  at 
this  time,  ele<Sled  teacher  in  that  church.     Mr.  Whitfield 
had  not  feparated  from  tJie    epifcopal   church,  when  he 
came  into  New-England.      As  he  came  over  in  orders, 
and  his  church  came   generally  with  him,  there   are  no 
intimations  of  his  inllallation. 

The  circumftance  of  the  feven  pillars  in  thefe  three 
churches  appears  to  have  been  peculiar  to  them.  There 
are  no  intimations  of  it  in  the  formation  of  any  other 
churches.  The  churches  in  the  other  town*  were  gath- 
ered, by  fubfcribing  fimilar  confeffions  of  faith,  and  cov- 
enanting together  in  the  fame  folemn  maamer,  upon  days 
of  fafting  and  prayer.  Neighbouring  elders  and  church- 
es were  prefent  on  thofe  occaiions,  allifted  in  the  public 
folemnitles,  and  gave  their  confent.  When  new  mem- 
bers were  admitted  to  full  communion,  in  any  of  the  firft 

*  Milford  church  records.  f  Ibidem, 


Chap.XIII.     of    CONNECTICUT.         299 

churches  of  Conne<5licut,  they  gave  fatIsfa£lion  to  the  Bootc  T. 
brethren  of  their  finccre  repentance  towards  God,  and  \,^^r>^ 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  They  commonly 
made  a  relation  of  their  religious  experiences.  They 
were  then  admitted  to  full  communion,  by  a  public  pro- 
feflion  of  their  faith,  and  by  covenanting  in  the  manner 
which  has  been  reprefented. 

Mr.  Eaton  continued  but  a  fliort  time  at  New-Ha- 
ven, and  then  returned  to  England.  Mr.  William  Hook 
fucceeded  him  as  teacher  in  the  church.  Mr,  Den- 

Mr.  Denton,  after  fpending  three  or   four  years  at  ton  re- 
Stamford,  removed  to  Hempited  on  Long-Iiland.  moves 

Upon  his  removal,  the  church  fent  two  of  their  mem-  Stamford, 
bers  to  feek  them  a  minifter.     They   travelled   on  foot, 
through  the  wildernefs,  to  the  eaftwafd  of  bollon,  where  Mr.  Bifli- 
they  found  Mr.  John  Bifliop,  who  left  England  before  he  "^  I"?", 
had  finifhed  his  academical  fludies,  and  had  completed 
his  education  in  this  country.     They  engaged  him  to  go 
with  them,  to  Stamford.     He  travelled  with  them,  on 
foot,  fo  great  a  dlflance.    The  people  were  united  in  him, 
and  he  labored  with  them,  in  ihe  miniftry,   nearly  fifty 
years. 

Mr.  Peters,  after  preaching  three  or  four  years,  at  ph„rch 
Saybrook,  returned  to  England.     In  1646,  a  church  was  gathered 
formed  in  thai  town,  by  the   dire61:ion  and  affiflance  of  and  Mr. 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Hooker  and  fome  other  minifters.  At  J'^'^^"'^' 
the  fame  time,'Mr.  James  Fitch,  who  had  perfeclred  his  say"b,oofc. 
theological  fludies,  under  the  direftion  of  Mr.   Hooker,  .646. 
was  ordained  their  paftor.     The  tradition  is,  that  though 
Mr.  Hooker  was  prefent,  yet  that  hands  were  impofed  by 
two  or  three  of  the  principal  brethren,  whoin  die  church 
had  appointed  to  that  fervice. 

On  the  1 3th  of  Ottober  1 65  2,  a  church  was  gathered 
at  Farmington,  and  Mr.  Roger  Newton  was  ordained 
paftor. 

The  fame  year,  Mr.  Thomas  Hanford  began  to  preach 
at  Norwalk,  and  fometime  after  a  church  was  formed  in 
the  town,  ayd  Mr.  Hanford  ordained  paftor. 

In  1660,  Mr.  Fitch  and  the  greateft  part  of  his  churcJi 
removed  to  Norwich.  Mr.  Thomas  Buckingham  fuc- 
ceeded him  in  the  miniftry  at  Saybrook.  A  council  of 
minifters  and  churches  afllfted  at  his  ordination,  but  the 
impofition  of  hands  was  perfqrm^d  by  the  brethren,  as  it 
had  been  before  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Fitch.  The 
council  confidered  it  as  an  irregular  proceeding,  but  the 
brethren  we.re  fo  tQuacious  of  wliat  tliev  cfteeraed  tlieir 


50©  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIII. 

Book  I.    right,  that  it  could  not  be   prevented  without   much  iu- 
V.^VV./'  CDnvemence.f 

These  fifteen  churches  were  the  whole  number,  form- 
ed in  the  colony,  and  in  which  minifters  had  been  inftall- 
ed,  or  ordained,  at  the  time  of  the  union.  The  fettle- 
ments  and  churches  upon  Long-Ifland  had  been  adjudg- 
ed to  the  jurifdi6tion  of  New-York.  There  were  feveral 
other  towns  which  paid  taxes,  where  churches  Mt'ere  not 
formed  nor  paflors  ordained.  This  was  the  cafe  v/ith 
Stonington,  Middletown,  Greenwich,  and  Rye.  Nev- 
erthelefs,  at  the  two  former,  there  was  conftant  preach- 
ing. The  general  court  would  not  fufler  any  plantation 
to  be  made  which  would  not  fupport  an  able,  orthodox 
preacher. 

At  Stonington  Mr.  Zechariah  Brigden  officiated  about 
three  years,  until  his  death  in  1663.  To  him  fucceeded 
Mr.  James  Noyes,  the  fame  year,  who  preached  more 
than  fifty-five  years  in  the  town,  but  he  was  not  ordained 
until  more  than  ten  years  after  his  firft  preaching  to  the 
people. 

At  Middletown,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Collins  was  preaching, 
but  not  ordained.  Mr.  Stow  alfo  preached  there  before 
or  with  Mr.  Collins.  Greenwich  and  Rye  were  but  juft 
come  under  the  jurifdi£lion  of  Connefticut,  and  not 
in  circumflances  for  the  fupport  of  minifters.  They  had 
occafional  preaching  only,  for  a  conGderable  time. 

From  this  view,  it  appears,  that  the  firft  towns  and 
lion  of  churches  in  Connedlicut  were  remarkably  inftrufted. 
minifters  Scarcely  in  any  part  of  the  chriftian  church,  have  fo  ma- 
at  the  un-  ny  flars,  of  fuch  diflinguifhed  luftre,  fhone  in  fo  fmall  a 
ion.  firmament.     At  the  time  of  the   union    the  colony  con- 

tained about  1700  families,  eight  or  nine  thoufand  in- 
habit:ints,  and  they  conftantly  enjoyed  the  inftru£tions  of 
about  twenty  minifters.  Upon  an  average,  there  was 
as  much  as  one  minifler  to  every  85  families,  or  to  about 
430  fouls.  In  fome  of  the  new  plantations,  thirty  families 
fupported  a  minifter,  and  commonly  there  were  not 
more  than  forty  when  they  called  and  fettled  a  paflor. 
In  feveral  of  the  firft  churches,  there  were  not  more  than 
eight,  nine,  and  ten  male  members.  Exclufive  of  Hart- 
ford, Windfor,  New-Haven,  and  Guilford,  there  appears 
to  have  been  none,  in  which  there  were  more  than  fix- 
teen  or  feventcen  male  communicants,  at  their  formation. 


t  M^nufcripts  from  Saybrook. 


Chap.  XIII.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T-       301 

That  tlie  firft  churches  and  congregations,  notwith-  Book  I, 
Handing  their  poverty,  hardfliips,  dangers,   and   expenfe  v-/'v>^ 
in  letthng,  in  a  wildernefs,  and  in  defending   themfelves  Word 
againd  the  favages  and  other  enemies,   fliould  maintain  and  ordi- 
fuehii  number  of  minifters,  ftrongly  marks  their  charac-  nances 
ter  as  chriilians,  who   defired   the    fmcere    milk  of  the  P"^^^^""'* 
MTord.     It  affords  a  ftriking  evidence  of  their  zeal  for  re- 
ligion, and  that  the   word  and  ordinances  were  indeed 
precious  in  thofe  days. 

The  mod  perfect  harmony  fubfifted  between  the  le-  Harmony 

giflature  and  the  clergy.     Like  Mofes  and    Aaron,   they  between 

walked  together  in  the  mod  endeared   friendfliip.     The  ,^  'eg''- 
=^         -n     ^  11,-  1    •    /•  •      latureana 

governors,  magiltrates,  and  leading  men  were  their  Ipir-  clerjry. 

itual  children,  and  efteemed  and  venerated  them,  as  their 
fathers  in  Christ.  As  they  had  loved  and  followed 
them  into  the  wildernefs,  they  zealoufly  fupported  their 
influence.  The  clergy  had  the  higheft  veneration  for  them, 
and  fpared  no  pains  to  maintain  their  authority  and  gov- 
ernment. Thus  they  grew  in  each  other's  efteem,  and 
trotherly  affcftion,  and  mutually  fupported  and  increafed 
each  other's  influence  and  ufefulnefs. 

Many  of  the  clergy,  who  firft  came  into  the   country, 
had  good  eftatcs,  and    aflifted    their  poor  brethren  and  ^^  ^^^ 
parifhioners  in  their  ftraits  in  making  new   fettlements.  clergy. 
The  people  were  then  far  more  dependent  on  their  min-        ^ 
liters  than   they  have   been  fmce.     The    proportion  of  ^f  j^^ 
learned  men  was  much  lefs    then,    than  at  the  prefent 
time.     The  clergy  pofl'efled    a  very  great  proportion   of 
the  literature  of  the  colony.     They  were  the   principal 
inIlru£lors  of  the  young  gentlemen,  w^ho  were  liberally 
educated,  before  they  commenced  members  of  college, 
and  they  afTifted  them  in  their  ftudies  afterwards.     They 
inftru£ted  and  furnifhed  others  for  public  ufefulnefs,  who 
had  not  a  public  etlucation.     They  had  given  a   ftriking 
evidence  of  their  integrity  and  felf  denial,  in    emigrating 
into  this  rough  and  diftant  country,  for  the  fake   of  reli- 
gion, and  were  faithful  and  abundant  in  their  labbrs.     By 
their  example,   counfels,  exhortations,  and  money,  they 
aflifted  and  encouraged  the  people.     Befides,  the  people, 
who  came  into  the  country  with  them,  had  a  high  relifh 
for  the  word  and  ordinances.     They  were  exiles  and  fel- 
low fuflPerers  in  a  ftrange  land.     All  thefe  circumftances 
combined  to  give  them  an  uncommon  influence  over  their 
hearers  of  all  ranks  and  characters.     For  many  years  the;^ 
•were  confulted  by  the  legiflature,  in  all  affairs  of  impor- 
tgnce,  giyil  or  rdigio\i».     They  were  appointed  commit- 


302  T  H  E'  H  I  S  T  O  R  Y      Chap.  Xllh 

Book  I.    tecs,  wlih  the  governors  and  maglftratcs,  to  advife,  make 
U-'-w.^    draughts,  and  aflifl:  them  in   the  mofl  delicate  and  intcr- 
cfting  concerns  of  the  commonwealth.     In    no    govern- 
ment have  the  clergy  had  more  influence,  or  been  treat- 
ed with  more  generofity  and  refpe£l:,  by  the    civil    rulers 
and  people  in  general,  than  ift  Conne£licut. 
MInlftera        The  miniflets  and  churches  of  Connecticut   abhorred 
of  Con-      the  Antinomian  herefy,  which   fo  di{lra£led  the  chirrch, 
jfedreiit     ^^  Bofton,  and  fome  others  in  the  Maffachufetts,     In  the 
Antino-      ■^"''^  general  council    in  New-England,  Mr.  Hooker    and 
inianirm     Mr.  Davenport  bore  a  noble    teftimony  againft   the    pre- 
in  1638.     vailing  errors  and  fpirit  of  that  time. 

In  the  next  general  council  in  New-England,  ten  years 
Their  el-  after,  the  minifters  and  churches  of  Connedicut  and 
ders  New-Haven  v/cre  prefent  and  united  in  the  form  of   dif- 

iidopt  cipline  which  it  recommended.  By  this  platform  of  dif- 
f^^'  lat  '-'P^'"-!  ^^^  churches  of  New-England,  in  general,  wal- 
form.^  "  ^''■^^  fof  more  tlian  thirty  years.  This,  with  the  ecclefi- 
aflical  laws,  formed  the  religious  conftitution  of  the  co- 
lonies. 
Opinion  In  the  platform,  it  is  declared  to  be  evident,  "  That 
rdpedling  neceflary  and  fufficent  maintenance  is  due  to  minifters  of 
the  raain-  ^j^^,  word,  from  the  law  of  nature  and  nations,  the  law  of 
of  mi!ilf-  Mofes,  the  equity  thereof,  and  alio  the  rule  of  common 
tcr^.  rcafon  :"  That  it  is  matter  of  indifpenCble  duty,   a  debt 

due,  and  not  an  affair  of  alms  or  free  gift.  <'  That  not 
only  members  of  churches,  but  all  who  are  taught  in  the 
word,  are  to  contribute  unto  him  that  teacheth  in  all 
good  things  :  And  that  the  magiftrate  is  to  fee  that  the 
niiniflry  be  duly  provided  for."* 
Ecclefiaf-  An  e-arly  provifion  was  tliercfore  made,  by  law,  in  Maf- 
tical  laws,  fachufctts  and  Conne£licut,  for  the  fupport  of  the  minif- 
try.  In  Counefticut,  all  perfons  were  obliged,  by  law, 
to  contribute  to  the  fupport  of  the  church,  as  well  as  of 
the  commonwealth.  All  rates,  refpe^ting  the  fupport  of 
minifters,  or  any  ecclefiaftical  affairs,  were  to  be  made  and 
colleded  in  the  iame  manner,  as  the  rates  of  the  refpec- 
tive  towns-i"  Special  care  was  taken,  that  all  perfons 
Ihouldattead  the  means  of  public  inflru£lion.  The  law 
obliged  tliem  to  be  prefent  at  the  public  worfliip  on  the 
Lord's  day,  and  upon  all  days  of  public  fafting  and  pray- 
er, and  of  thankfgiving,  appointed  by  civil  authority,  on 
penalty  of  a  fins  of  five  {hillings  for   every   inftance    of 

*  C.  Platform,  chap.  XI. 

t  Thefirftcod*ofCt)iintircicatp.j;aHd  59. 


Chap.  XIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        303 

ncglefl.*  The  congregational  churches  were  adopted  Book  I. 
and  eftablifhed  by  law  •,  but  provifion  was  made  that  all  \^r^/'>U 
fobcr,  o'rthodox  perfons,  diflenting  from  them,  {hould, 
upon  the  manifeftation  of  it  to  the  general  court,  be  al- 
lowed peaceably  to  worihip  in  their  own  way.§  It  was 
cnadled,  "  That  no  perfons,  within  this  colony,  fhall  in 
*'  any  wife  imbody  themfekes  iiito  church  eflata,  without 
"  confent  of  the  general  court,  and  approbation  of  neigh- 
**  bouring  elders."  The  laws  alfo  prohibited,  that  any 
ciiniftry,  or  church  adminiftration,  fhouJd  be  entertain- 
ed, or  attended,  by  the  inhabitants  of  any  plantation,  in 
the  colony,  dlftin^  and  feparate  from,  and  in  oppofition 
to,  that  which  was  openly  and  publicly  obferved  and  dif- 
penfed,  by  the  approved  miniilcr  of  the  place  ;  except  it 
was  by  the  approbation  of  the  court  and  neighbouring 
churches.f  The  penalty,  for  every  breach  of  this  xO:, 
was  five  pounds-  < 

.The  court  declared,  that  the  civil  authority,  ellablLIhcd 
iai  the  colony,  "  Had  power  and  liberty  to  fee  the  peace, 
«  ordinances,  and  rules  of  Christ,  obferved  in  every 
*'  church,  according  to  bis  word  }  and  alfo  to  deal  witJi 
"  any  church  member,  in  a  way  of  civil  juftice,  notwith- 
**  {landing  any  church  relation,  office,  or  intereft.*'  The 
law  alfo  provided,  that  no  church  cenfure  fhould  degrade 
or  depofe  any  man  from  any  civil  dignity,  office,  or  au- 
thority, which  he  ftiould  fultain  in  the  colony. t 

In  the  grant  of  all  new  towiifliips,  fpecial  care  was  t^-  C^c  t» 
k«n,  by  the  legiflature,  that  the   planters  fhould   not  be  P^opsg^^c. 
without  a  minifter  and  the  ftated  adminiftration  of  gofpel  ^^^ 
ordinances.  and  gooxl 

Every  town,  confifting  of  fifty  falrjilles,  was  obliged,  moraist 
by  the  laws,  to  mantaiu  a  good  fchool,  in  which  reading 
and  writing  lliould  be  well  taught ;  and  in  every  county 
town,  a  good  grammar  fchool  v/as  inftituted.  Large 
trails  of  land  were  given  and  appropriated,  by  the  legif- 
lature, to  afford  them  a  permanent  fupport. 

The  fcle6l  men  of  every  tovim  were  obliged,  by  law,  to 
keep  a  vigilant  eye  upon  all  the  inhabitants,  and  to  take 
care  that  all  the  heads  of  families  fliould  inftru^Sl  theii* 
children  and  fcrvants  to  read  the  Englifli  tongue  well, 
and  that  once  every  week  they  fhould  catechife  them  in 
the  principles  of  religion.      The  penalty  for  every  in- 

'   *  The  firft  code  of  Connedicut,  p.  3;. 
§  Ibidcru  p.  21. 
t  IbideiB,  p.  «i. 
I  Ibidem  p.  2a. 


304  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XMI. 

Book  I.  fiance  of  negle£t,  in  this  refpe£l,  was  twenty  {hillings, 
U»nrsJ  for  any  family  fo  neg letting.  The  feledl  men  were  alfo 
authorized  to  take  care,  that  all  families  fhould  be  well 
furnifhed  with  bibles,  orthodox  catechifms,  and  books  on 
pradlical  godlinefs.  It  was  provided  by  the  legiflature, 
that  the  capital  laws  fliould  be  taught  weekly  in  every 
family.* 

The  colony  of  New-Haven,  from  the  beginning,  made 
provifion  for  the  interefts  of  religion,  learning,  and  the 
good  conducSl  of  the  inhabitants,  with  no  lefs  zeal  than 
Connecticut. 

The  care  and  piety  of  the  firft  planters  did  riot  reft 
here  ;  but  they  were  careful,  as  foon  as  poflible,  in  their 
circumftances,  to  found  public  feminaries,  in  which 
young  men  might  be  inftru£led  in  the  liberal  arts,  prepa- 
red for  the  miniftry  and  all  places  of  importance,  in  civil 
or  religious  life. 

As  Connedlicut  and  New-Haven  were  not  able,  of 
themfelves,  at  firft,  to  ere£^  a  college,  they  united  with 
Maflachufetts,  and  contributed  to  the  fupport  of  that 
at  Cambridge.  Frequent  contributions  were  made,  both 
in  Conne£licut  and  New-Haven,  for  that  purpofe,  and 
money  was  paid  from  the  public  treafury.  For  a  courfc 
of  years^  the  inhabitants  educated  their  fons  at  that  uni- 
verfity. 

By  thefe  means,  knowledge,  at  an  early  period,  was 
efft^U  of  generally  diffufed  among  people  of  all  ranks.  This  abun- 
ihcm.  dant  public  and  private  inftruftion,  and  conftant  atten- 
tion to  the  morals,  ir.duftry,  and  good  conduft  of  the  in- 
habitants, has  been  the  means  of  that  general  illumina- 
tion, whicli  has  always  been  obfexvable  among  the  people 
of  this  colony  ;  and  of  that  high  degree  of  civil,  ecclefi- 
aftical,  and  domeftic  peace  and  order,  which,  for  fo  long  a 
period,  have  rendered  them  eminent,  among  their  neigh- 
bours. This  has  made  it  feafible  to  govern  them  by  that 
free  co4iftitution  and  mild  fyftem  of  laws,  by  which  they 
have  ever  been  diftinguiflied.  To  this  are  owing  the 
wifdom  and  fteadinefs  of  their  ele£lions,  and  the  integri- 
ty and  firmnefs  of  their  public  adminiftrations.  In  this 
way  they  have  been  formed  not  only  to  virtue,  but  to 
induftry,  economy,  and  enterprife.  Indeed  they  have 
been  rendered  one  of  the  happieft  people  upon  the  earth. 
Cambridge  platform,  in  conne(!ftion  with  the  ecclefi- 
aftical  laws,  was  the  religious  conftitution  of  ConneiSli- 


Old  code  of  Conaecticut,  p.  i\j. 


Chap.  XIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        ^6$ 

cut,  for  about  fixty  years,  until  the  compilation  of  the  Book  t. 
Saybrook  agreement.  ^wrv>«/ 

The  colony  of  New-Haven,  fenfible  of  the  Importance  Grammar 
of  public  feminaries,  and  of  the  inconvenience  of  fending  fchool  in- 
their  fons  to  fo  great  a  diftance  as  Cambridge  for  an  cd-  ftituted, 
ucation,  at  an  early  period,  attempted  the  founding  of  a  .^"^  ^'*'" 
coljcge.  A  propoial,  for  this  purpofe,  was  made  to  the  ^f^  ^^ 
general  court  in  1654.  The  next  year,  at  the  fefTions  New- 
in  May,  it  appeared,  that  New-Haven  had  made  a  dona-  Iiaven» 
tion  of  j^3ooj  and  that  Milford  propofed  to  give  ^^  100 
more,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  defigrt*  The  court 
propofed  it  tO  the  deputies  of  the  other  towns  to  enquire, 
and  make  report,  what  they^would  give.  Mr.  Davenport, 
who  was  the  principal  promoter  of  the  affair,  about  tlie 
fame  time,  wrote  to  Governor  Hopkins,  who  was  then 
in  England,  upon  the  fubjedt  i  and  it  feems,  folicited  his 
afllftance.  Soon  after,  fome  lands  were  given,  by  the 
people  of  New-Haven,  for  the  further  encouragement  o£ 
fo  laudable  an  undertaking.  Upon  thefe  favorable  prof- 
pefts,  the  legiflature,  in  1659,  proceeded  to  inftitute  a 
grammar  fchool  at  New-Haven.  It  was  ordered,  that 
^40  annually  (hould  be  paid  out  of  the  public  treafury 
for  its  fupport.  ;^ioo  were  alfo  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
chafing  of  books  for  the  fchool.  In  1660,  the  donation 
of  Governor  Hopkins  having  come  into  the  poiTeflion, 
and  being  at  the  difpofal  of  Mr.  Davenport,  he,  on  the 
30th  of  May,  furrendered  it  into  the  hands  of  the  general 
court,  for  the  purpofe  of  founding  a  college.  He  propo- 
fed, that  this  donation  fhould  be  united  with  the  lands 
which  had  been  already  given  and  with  fuch  other  dona- 
tions as  might  be  made  by  the  legiflature,  for  the  fame 
purpofe.  The  elders  of  the  feveral  churches  in  the  colo- 
ny were  nominated  as  truftees.  As  Mr.  Davenport  was 
the  only  furviving  legatee  of  Governor  Hopkins,  with 
refpe£l:  to  that  part  of  the  donation,  which  had  fallen  to 
the  (hare  of  New-Haven,  he  defired,  that,  for  the  better 
difcharge  of  the  trull,  which  had  been  rcpofed  in  him,  he 
might  have  a  negative  upon  the  corporation,  with  refpe£t 
to  the  difpofal  of  that,  whenever  he  could  exhibit  fub« 
ftantial  reafons,  that  it  was  about  to  be  applied  to  any 
purpofe  contrary  to  the  defign  of  the  donor.  The  refig- 
nation  was  made  in  writing,  in  a  formal  manner,  contain- 
ing valuable  (ketches  of  hiftory,  and  a  complete  plan  of 
the  college  and  grammar  fchool,  which  it  was  defigncd 
to  inftitute.* 

*  Appendix  No.  XXI. 


j-o6 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.   XIII. 


Book  I.  The  general  court  than-kfuUy  accepted  the  donation-, 
V-^V>^  upon  the  terms  on  which  it  hud  been  I'urrendered.  They 
appropriated  the  lands,  which  had  been  given,  at  New- 
Haven,  to  the  fupport  of  the  coJlege  -,  agreed  to  collect 
the  money  given  by  Governor  Hopkins  •,  and  befides  all 
other  grants  previoully  made,  ena£led,  that  a  hundred 
pounds  ftock  flaould  be  paid  in  from  the  treafury  of  the 
colony,  in  fuch  time  and  manner  as  the  court  fhould  or- 
der. The  court  alfo  ordained,  that  both  the  grammar 
fchool  and  college  (hould  be  at  New-Haven.  One  Mr. 
Peck  was  appointed  mailer  of  the  fchool  •,  but  this  and 
the  college  were  of  fhort  continuance.  Tiie  troubles  in 
■which  the  colony,  was  involved  by  the  claims  of  ConnedV- 
icut,  and  the  defection  of  fuch  numbers  of  their  inhabi- 
tants, fo  impoverifhcd  and  weakened  it,  that  a  fupport 
could  not  be  obtained  for  the  inftru(3:or.  He  became  dif- 
couraged,  and  the  court  gave  up  the  fchool.  By  the  fame 
ineans,  the  defign  of  a  college  alfo  mifcarried.  After  the 
union,  the  colony  made  further  provifion  for  a  grammar 
fchool,  and  all  the  lands  and  money,  which  had  been  given 
for  that  and  the  college,  were  appropriated  to  its  fupport. 
The  fchool  revived  and  has  continued  unto  the  prefent 
time. 

For  a  long  courfe  of  years,  there  were  no  fe^laries  in 
Conne£licut.  The  churches,  in  general,  enjoyed  great 
peace  and  harmony,  during  the  continuance  of  the  firft 
mintfters  and  principal  members  of  whom  they  were 
compofed.  But  many  of  thefe  were  confulerably 
advanced  in  life  when  they  came  into  the  country,  and 
In  about  four  or  five  and  twonty  years  after  the  firft  fet- 
tlements,  a  confiderabie  proportion  of  them  were  in  their 
graves,  fome  had  returned  to  England,  and  others  were 
far  advanced  in  years.  Before  the  union  of  the  colonies, 
in  i66^y  almoft  all  the  firft  minifters  were  either  dead, 
or  removed. 

Mr.  Heuet,  teacher  In  the  church  at  Windfor,  died 
September  4th  1 644. 

The  Reverend  Thomas  Hooker,  the  father  and  pillar 
of  the  churches  in  Connecticut,  died  July  7th  1647,  in 
tlie  61  ft  year  of  his  age  f  He  was  born  at  Marfhfield 
in  the  county  of  Leicefter,  1586.  He  appears  to  have 
been  educated  at  Emmanuel  college,  Cambridge,  in  Eng- 
land.    Afterwards  he   was  promoted  to  a  fellowfhip  in 


Pfath 
and  char- 
afltr  of 
Mr. 
Hooker. 


t  He  pofieffed  confiderabie   property.     His  eftate  was  ap* 
praifed  atX^i336;  ij  :  o  .His  library  only,  at /C^oo* 


Chap.  XIII.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      307 

the  fame  college,  where  he  acquitted  himfelf  with  fuch  Book  I. 
ability  and  faithfulnefs,  as  commanded  univerfal  approba-  V^/'VxJ 
tion  and  applaufe.  While  at  college,  in  his  youth,  he 
was  arrefted  with  ftrong  convictions  of  his  Cn  and  mife- 
ry,  and  of  the  dreadfulnefs  of  the  divine  difpleafjirc.  His 
heart  was  afterwards  humbled,  and  fubmitting  to  the 
terms  of  mercy,  he  received  the  fpirit  of  adoption  ;  and 
-was  enabled  to  exhibit  a  life  of  the  moft  exemplary  piety, 
felf-denial,  patience,  and  goodnefs.  He  was  naturally  a 
man  of  ftrong  and  live'y  paffions  ;  but  obtained  a  happy 
government  of  himfelf.  In  his  day,  he  was  one  of  the 
moft  animated  and  powerful  preachers  in  New-England. 
in  his  fermons,  he  infifted  much  on  the  application  of  re- 
demption *,  was  fearching,  experimental,  and  pradlical. 
Another  circumftance,  which  rendered  his  public  perfor- 
mances ftill  more  engaging  and  profitable,  was  his  excel- 
lency in  prayer.  A  fpirit  of  adoption  feemed  to  reft  up- 
on him.  In  converfation  he  was  pleafant  and  entertain- 
ing, but  always  grave.  He  was  exceedingly  prudent  in 
the  management  of  church  difcipline.  He  efteemed  it 
a  neceflary  and  important,  but  an. extremely  difficult,  part 
of  duty.  He  rarely  fuffered  church  affairs  to  be  publicly 
•controverted.  Before  he  brought  any  difficult  matter  be- 
fore the  church,  fpecial  care  was  taken  to  converfe  with 
the  leading  men,  to  fix  them  right,  and  to  prepare  the 
minds  of  the  members  •,  fo  that  they  might  be  h^moni- 
ous,  and  that  there  might  be  no  controverfy  with  ref- 
pecl  to  any  point,  which  he  judged  expedient  for  the 
church  to  adopt.  He  was  affable,  condefcending,  and 
charitable  j  yet  his  appearance  and  conduct  were  with 
fuch  becoming  majefty,  authority,  and  prudence,  that  he 
could  do  more  with  a  word,  or  a  look,  than  other  men 
could  with  a  fevere  difcipline.  It  was  not  an  uncommon 
inftance,  with  him,  to  give  away  five  or  ten  pounds  at  a 
time  to  poor  widows,  orphans,  and  neceffitous  people. 
At  a  certain  time,  when  there  was  a  great  fcarcity,  at 
Southampton,  upon  Long-Illand,  Mr.  Hooker,  with  iome 
friends  who  joined  with  him,  fent  the  people  a  fmall  vef- 
fel,  freighted  with  feveral  hundred  bufhels  of  corn,  for 
their  relief.  In  family  religion  and  government,  he  was 
ftri£l  and  prudent.  In  his  family  was  exhibited  a  lively 
and  fincere  devotion,  and  the  very  power  of  godlinefs. 
Not  only  his  own  children  and  domeftics,  but  ftudents 
and  other  perfons,  who  occa{4onally  refided  in  his  family, 
Vrere  inftru£led  and  edified,  fo  that  their  acquaintance 
with  it  was  matter  of  their  joy  and  devout  thaukfgiving* 


3o8 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIII. 


Book  I. 


Death 
and  char- 
flfler  of 
Mr.  Peter 
|?riiddei). 


Succeed- 
ed by 
Mr.  New- 
ton 1660. 


Mr. 
Hooker 
ordained 
at  Far- 
Wington. 


He  died  of  an  epidemical  fever,  which  prevailed  that  year 
in  the  country.  He  had  for  many  years  enjoyed  a  com- 
fortable aflurance  of  his  renevi^ed  eflate,  and  vi^hen  dying 
faid,  "  I  am  going  to  receive  mercy."  He  clofed  his 
own  eyes,  and  appeared  to  die  with  a  fmile  in  his  coun- 
tenance.* 

Mr.  Henry  Smith,  firft  pallor  of  the  church  at  Weth- 
ersfield,  died  in  1648,  and  was  fucceeded  by  the  Rever- 
end Jonathan  Ruflel. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Prudden  departed  this  life  in  1656, 
in  the  56th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  found  dead  in  a 
fmall  flream,  between  Milford  and  Derby.  It  was  fup- 
pofed,  that  he  fell  from  his  horfe  in  a  fit.  Before  he  came 
into  New-England,  he  was  a  preacher  in  Herefordfhire, 
and  in  the  parts  bordering  upon  Wales.  His  miniftry 
was  attended  with  uncommon  fuccefs ;  and  when  he 
came  into  this  country,  it  feems,  that  many  good  people 
followed  him,  that  they  might  enjoy  his  pious  and  fer- 
vent miniftrations.  He  had  the  character  of  a  moft  zeal- 
ous preacher,  and  of  a  man  of  an  excellent  fpirit.  He 
had  a  fingular  talent  for  reconciling  contending  parties, 
and  maintaining  peace  among  brethren  and  neighbours. 
His  miniftry  was  conduced  with  prudence,  and  his 
church  enjoyed  great  harmony  during  his  life,  and  re- 
joiced in  his  light.f 

He  was  fucceeded  by  Mr.  Roger  Newton,  who  re- 
moved from  Farmington,  and  was  inftalled,  at  Milford, 
Auguft  22d,  1660.  Hands  were  impofed,  at  his  inftal- 
lation,  by  Zechariah  Whitman,  ruling  elder.  Deacon 
John  Aftwood,  and  Robert  Treat,  who  were  appointed 
to  that  fervice  by  the  brotherhood. 

Mr.  Samuel  Hooker,  fon  of  the  famous  Mr.  Hooker 
of  Hartford,  fucceeded  Mr.  Newton  at  Farmington. 
He  was  ordained  in  July  166 1. 

These  deaths  were  all  before  the  charter.  There 
were  alfo  a  number  of  removals  of  fome  of  the  principal 
minifters.     The  Reverend  Mr.  Whitfield,  after  he  had 


*  His  chara«5Ver  may  be  fecn  more  at  large  in  the  Magnalia, 
B.  III.p.58— 68. 

t  His  eftate  in  this  country  was  appraifed  at  £924  :  18  :  6. 
He  left  a  landed  intercft  in  England,  at  Edgton  in  Yorkfliire,  valu- 
ed at  ;Ci30o  fterling,  which  is  ftiil  enjoyed  by  fome  of  his  heirs. 
He  had  two  fons.  One  of  them,  John  Prudden,  was  educated  af- 
ter his  dcceafe,  and  graduated  at  Cambridge,  166S.  He  fettled 
in  the  miniftry,  at  Newark,  in  New- Jcrfey.  The  other  inherited 
the  paternal  eftate  ;  and  their  defcendants  are  Bvmerous,  botb  Hi 
Coaneiticut  aod  Kew-Jerfey. 


Chap.  XIII.      OF    CONNECTICUT.      309 

labored  eleven  years,  with  the  people  at  Guilford,  return-  Book  I. 
ed  again  to  England.      Sometime  in   the  year  1650,  he  v--^y-*0 
took  leave  of  his  flock  and  congregation,  and  embarked  i^^^^^^^^j 
for  his  nati-.-e  country.     He  was  exceedingly  beloved  by    f  1^4^^ 
his  flock,  and  they  accompanied  him  to  the  water's  fide  Whitfield, 
vith  many  tears.     He  had  a  large  family  of  nine  children,  i6jo. 
whom  he  fupported    principally  out  of  his  own  eftate,  as 
moflof  his  people  were  poor.     He  found  that  his  eftate 
was  much  exhaufted,  and  that  he  muft  Itill  labor  under 
many  and  great  inconveniences,  if  he  continued  in  this 
country  ;  and  he  had  numerous  and   prelTing  invitations 
to  return  to  England.     A  combination  of  thefe  circum- 
ftances,  at  length,  prevailed  with  him  to  leave  his  flock. 
He  was  one  of  the  wealthieft  clergymen,  who  came  into  Hischar- 
Connedlicut.     Before  he  came  into   this  country,  he  en-  after, 
joyed  one   of  the   beft    church  livings  at  Okely,  in  the 
county  of  Surrey,  and  had    a    fine  intereft  of  his  own. 
His  charity  was  happily   proportioned  to  his  opu4ence. 
While  he  was  at  Okely,  he  procured   another  pious  and 
able  preacher,  that  he  might  go  abroad  and  give  afliftance 
unto  other  churches  and  poor  people.     While  he  was  in 
England,  his  houfe  was  a  place  of  refort  for  the  diflrefl'ed. 
Though  he  was,  for  twenty  years,  a  conformift,  yet  his 
houfe  was  a  place  of  refrefhment  for    Mr.  Cotton,  Mr. 
Hooker,  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  other  pious    nonconformifts. 
After  he  came  into  New- England,  he  expended  much  of 
his  intereft  in  aflifting  his  poor  people.     He  was  a  capital 
preacher,    delivering   himfelf  with  a  peculiar   dignity, 
beauty,  and  folemnity.     After  his  return  to  England,  he 
appears  to  have  finiflied  his  life,  in    the  miniftry,  at  the 
city  of  Winchefter.* 

Several  of  the  principal  men  returned  to  England 
with  Mr.  Whitfield  ;  particularly  Mr.  Samuel  Deftjor* 
ough,  Mr.  Jordan,  and  others.  Mr.  Deftjorough,  after 
his  return,  was  made  lord  keeper  of  the  great  feal,  and 
one  of  the  feven  counfellors  of  the  kingdom  of  Scotland. 

*  In  confequcnce  of  Mr.  Whitfield's  efiate  and  expenfes,  in 
purchafing  and  fettling  the  plantation,  and  of  Mr.  Fenwick's  gift 
of  the  caftern  part  of  the  townlhip  to  him,  a  large  portion  of  the 
beft  lands  in  the  town  was  allotted  to  him.  On  his  return  to  Eng- 
land, he  offered,  upon  very  low  terms,  to  fell  all  his  lands  t«  the 
town.  But  the  people  were  poor,  and  imagined  they  fhou'd  foon 
follow  their  paftor,  and  negleflcd  to  purchafe-  Mr.  Whitfield 
therefore  fold  them  to  Major  Robert  Thompfon,  in  England,  by 
whofe  heirs  they  hare  been  halden,  to  the  great  damage  of  the 
lowO)  to  tbis  time. 


310 


THE    HISTORY        Chap. XIIL 


Book  I. 


Mr. 

Honk  re- 
moves 
1655. 


Mr  Blyn- 
ni.Tii  re- 
mo^cs 


Divifions 
in  the 
church  at 
Hartlord. 


Mr.  Higginfon  continued  his  miniftry,  as  teacher  In 
the  church  at  Guilford,  until  about  the  year  1659,  when, 
upon  the  'eath  of  his  father,  he  returned  to  Salem,  and 
fucceedcd  him  in  the  paftoral  office,  over  the  church  in 
that  town. 

Mr  William  Hook,  who,  for  about  fourteen  years,  had 
been  teacher  in  the  church  at  New-Haven,  about  the 
year  1655,  returned  to  England.  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr. 
Hook  have  been  reprefented  as  men  of  great  learning  and 
piety,  and  as  poflelting  excellent  pulpit  talents.  A  wri- 
ter of  Mr.  Eaton's  chara£ter  fays,  "  He  was  a  very  holy 
"  man,  a  perfon  of  great  learning  and  judgment,  and  a 
«*  moll  incomparable  preacher."  He  diflented  from  Mr. 
Davenport,  with  refpe£t  to  his  UriCt  terms  and  form  of 
civil  government.  His  brother,  Governor  Eaton,  there- 
fore advifed  him  to  a  removal.  After  his  return,  he  be- 
came paftor  of  a  church  at  Duckenfield,  in  the  parifh  of 
Stockport,  in  Chefliire.  Mr.  Hook,  after  his  return,  was 
fomctime  minifter  at  Axmouth  in  Devonfhire  ;  and  then 
mafter  of  the  Savoy  on  the  Strand,  near  London  ;  and 
chaplain  to  the  greateft  man  then  in  the  nation.  After 
the  reftoration,  he  was  filenced  for  nonconformity.  May 
24th  1662.  On  the  21(1  of  March  1667,  he  died  in  the 
vicinity  of  London.  Mr.  Eaton  was  a  companion  with 
him  in  tribulation  •,  for  foon  after  the  reftoration  of  King 
Charles  the  fecond,  he  was  filenced,  and  fuffered  perfecu- 
tion  for  confcience  fake. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Blynman,  after  he  had  labored  a- 
bout  ten  years  in  the  miniftry  at  New-London,  in  1658, 
reinoved  to  New-Haven.  After  a  fliort  ftay  in  that  town, 
he  took  ftiipping  and  returned  to  England.  He  lived  to 
a  good  old  age ;  and,  at  the  city  of  Briftol,  happily  con- 
cluded a  long  life,  fpent  in  doing  good. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Street  fuccceded  Mr.  Hook,  as  teacher 
in  the  church,  at  New-Haven,  about  the  year  1659. 
And  Mr.  Blynman  was  fucceeded  in  office,  at  New-Lon- 
don, by  Mr.  Gerftiom  Bulkley,  from  Concord  in  Mafla- 
chufetts. 

The  firft  minifters  In  the  colonies  being  thus  dead,  or 
removed,  and  a  new  generation  rifen  up,  who  had  not  all 
imbibed  the  fentimcnts  and  fpirit  of  their  pious  fathers, 
alterations  were  infifted  on  with  refpeit  to  church  mem- 
berftiip,  difcipline,  and  baptifm  ;  and  great  diflenfions 
arofe  in  the  churches.  They  began  firft  in  the  church  at 
Hartford,  not  many  years  after  Mr.  Hooker's  deceafc. 
The  origin  of  them  appears  to  have  been  a  difference  be* 


Chap.  XIII.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.      311 

tween  the  Reverend  Mr.  Stone  and  Mr.  Goodwin,  the  Book  I. 
ruling  elder,  in  the  church,  upon  feme  nice  points  of  con-  v^^v^s-- 
gregationalifm.  It  fcems  that  fome  member  had  been 
adrnitted,  or  baptifm  adminiftered,  which  Elder  Good- 
win conceived  to  be  inconf.ftcnt  with  the  rights  of  the 
brotherhood,  and  the  flridt  principles  of  the  congrega- 
tional churches.  Perhaps  he  imagined  himfelf  not  to 
have  been  properly  confulted  and  regarded.  Not  only 
this  church  be<!ame  divided  and  infiamed  with  the  contro- 
verfy,  but  it  fpread  into  almoft  all  the  neighbouring 
churches.  They  interefted  themfelves  in  the  controver- 
fy,  fome  taking  one  fide,  and  fome  another,  as  their  con- 
nections, prejudices,  and  particular  fentiments  led  them. 
The  whole  colony  became  affe£led  with  the  difpute,  and 
the  general  court  particularly  interefted  themfelves  in  the 
aiFair.  The  brethren  in  the  church,  at  Hartford,  became 
fo  inflamed  and  imbibed  fuch  prejudices  and  uncharitable 
feelings  one  towards  another,  that  it  was  with  great  dif- 
ficulty, they  could  be  perfuaded  to  walk  together.  To 
prevent  an  entire  divifion  of  the  church,  it  appears,  that 
about  the  years  1654  and  1655,  feveral  councils  of  the 
neighbouring  elders  and  churches  were  called,  to  com- 
pofe  the  difierences  between  the  parties.  They  labored 
to  fatisfy  them  with  refpeft  to  the  points  in  controverfy. 
But  the  brethren,  at  Hartford,  imagined,  that  all  the  el- 
ders and  churches,  in  Connecticut  and  New-Haven,  were 
prejudiced  in  favor  of  one  party  or  the  other,  and  there- 
fore they  would  not  hear  their  advice.  For  this  reafon, 
it  was  judged  expedient  to  call  a  council  from  the  othei* 
colonies.  Sometime  in  the  year  1656,  it  feems,  a  num- 
ber of  elders  and  churches  from  MafTachufetts  came  to 
Hartford,  and  gave  their  opinion  and  advice  to  the  church 
and  the  aggrieved  brethren.  But  it  appears,  that,  in  the 
apprehenfion  of  the  aggrieved,  the  church  did  not  com- 
ply with  the  refult.  The  ftate  of  the  church  therefore 
was  no  better  than  it  was  before,  but  the  parties  became 
more  alienated  and  imbittered.  Elder  Goodwin  was 
joined  by  Governor  Webfter,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Cullick, 
and  other  principal  gentlemen,  at  Hartford,  who  were 
leaders,  in  what  they  imagined  to  be  a  defence  of  the  true 
principles  of  congregationalifm. 

Meanwhile  there  was  a  ftrong  party,  in  the  colony 
of  Connecticut,  who  were  for  admitting  all  perfons  of  a 
regular  life  to  full  communion  in  the  churches,  upon 
their  making  a  profeflion  of  i*ie  chriftian  religion,  with- 
put  any  enquiry  with  refpeCt  to  a  change  of  heart  j  and 


312  THEHISTORY        Chap.  XIIL 

Book  I.  for  treating  all  baptized  perfons  as  members  of  the  church. 
V.^'VX-/  Some  carried  the  afFair  ftill  further,  and  infilled,  that  all 
perfons,  who  had  been  members  of  chm-ches,  in  Eng- 
land, or  had  been  members  of  regular  ecclefiailical  parifh- 
es  there,  and  fupported  the  public  worlhip,  ihould  be  al- 
lowed to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  members  in  full  com- 
munion in  the  churches  of  Connecticut.  They  alfo  in- 
filled, that  all  baptized  perfons,  upon  owning  the  cove- 
nant, as  it  was  called,  fhould  have  their  children  baptized^ 
though  they  came  not  to  the  Lord's  table. 

Numbers  of  them  took  this  opportunity  to  introduce 
into  the  ailembly  a  liil  of  grievances,  on  the  account  of 
their  being  denied  their  juft  rights  and  privileges  by  the 
minifters  and  churches.  A  difpute  had  arifcn,  in  the 
churches  and  congregations,  relative  to  the  choice  of  a 
pallor.  It  was  urged,  that  it  did  not  belong  to  the 
churches  folely  to  choofe  the  pallor  for  themfelves  and 
the  congregation  ;  but,  as  the  inhabitants  in  general  had 
an  equal  concern  for  themfelves  and  their  children,  with 
the  members  of  the  church,  in  the  qualifications  of  their 
pallor,  and  as  they  were  obliged  to  contribute  their  pro- 
portion to  his  fupport,  they  had  a  jufl  right  to  give  their 
voice  in  his  eledlion.  The  denying  them  this  right  was 
confidered  as  a  great  grievance.  Many  of  the  churches, 
and  fome  or  other  of  the  members  in  all  of  them,  it  feems, 
maintained,  that  the  choice  of  a  pallor  belonged  to  them 
folely,  exclufive  of  the  congregation  :  That  there  was  no 
fcripture  example  of  any  perfon's  ever  giving  a  fuffrage, 
in  the  choice  of  a  pallor,  but  members  of  the  church  : 
That  pallors  were  ordained  over  the  churches  only,  and 
were  termed  the  elders,  pallors,  and  angels  of  the 
churches.  It  appears,  by  the  a(2s  of  the  alTembly  and 
the  queltions  propofed,  that  thefe,  and  a  number  of  other 
points,  were  now  warmly  agitated  in  the  colony. 

The  general  Hate  of  the  country  was  greatly  altered 
ftatc  of"  froTi  what  it  was  at  its  firll  fettlement.  The  people  then 
the  coua-  were  generally  church  members  and  eminently  pious. 
try.  They  loved  llridl  religion,  and  followed  their  minifters  in- 

to the  wildernefs  for  its  fake.     But  with  many  of  their 
Reafon  of  c^''^''^"*  ^^^  with  others  who  had,  fince  emigrated  into 
the  diflen-  this  country,  it  was   not  fo.     They  had  made  no  open 
fions.         profeflion  of  religion,  and  their  children  were  not  bapti- 
zed.    This  created  uneafinefs  in  them,  in  their  minifters, 
and  others.     They  wiflied  for  the  honors  and  privileges 
of  church  members  for  themfelves,  and  baptifm  for  their 
children,  but  they  were  not  perfuaded  that  they  were  re- 


Chap.  XIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        313 

generated,  and  knew  not  how  to  comply  with  the  rigid  Book  I. 
terms   of  the  congregational  churches.     A  confiderable  v-yw> 
number  of  the  clergy  and  the  churches  in  general  zeal- 
oufly  oppofed  all  innovations,  and  exerted  themfelves  to 
maintain  the  firft   pra£l:ice  and  purity  of  the   churches. 
Hence  the  diflenfions  arofe. 

The  general  court,  it  feems,  with  z  view  to  reconcile  The  court 
the    church   at    Hartford,    and  to   compofe  dilEculties,  ct  Con- 
which  were  generally  rifing  in  the  colony,  at  their  feflions  '"^t^'cut 
in  May  1656,  took  the  affair  into  their  ferious  confidera-  jj^^  other 
tion.     They  appointed  a  committee,  confiding  of  Gover-  general 
nor  Webftcfr,  Deputy  governor  Welles,  Mr.  CuUick,  and  courts  for 
Mr.^alcott,  all  of  Hartford,  to  confult  with  the  elders  of  ^''^^^' 
the  colony,   refpefting    the    grievances  complained  ofj  .^^^/.^^ 
and  to  defire  their  afliftance,  in  making  a  draught  of  the 
heads  of  them,  that  they  might  be  prefented  to  the  gene- 
ral courts  of  the  United  colonies,  for  their  advice.     The 
general  courts  were  defired  to  give  their  anfwers  with  as 
much  expedition  as  polTible. 

While  the  churches  were  thus  divided,  they  were  a- 
larmed  by  the  appearance  of  the  Quakers.     A  number  of 
them  arrived,  at   Bofton,   in  July  and  Auguft,  and  had 
been  committed  to  the  common   gaol.     A  great  number 
of  their  books  had  been  feized  with  a  view  to  burn  them. 
In  confequence  of  their  arrival,  and  the  difturbance  they 
had  made,  at  Bofton,  the  commiHioners  of   the  United  Refolu- 
colonies,  at  their  court  in  September,  recommended  it  to  *'°"  °  .*"*^ 
the  feveral  general  courts,  "  That  all  Quakers,  Ranters,  f,oners ' 
and  other  notorious   heretics,  fhould  be  prohibited  com-  refpc(!ting 
ing  into  the  United  colonies  ;  and  that,  if  any  fhould  the  Qua- 
come,  or  arife  amongft  them,  they  Ihould  be  forthwith  ^^^^' 
fecured,  and  removed  out  of  all  the  jurifdidlions.*** 

In  conformity  to  this  recommendation,  the  general  Law  of 
court  of  Conne£ticut,  in  Odlober,  pafled  the  following  Conncdti- 
a<a.     «  That  no  town,  within  this  jurifdiaion,  fliall  en-  the^Qua- 
"  tertain  any  Quakers,  Ranters,  Adamites,  or  fuch  like  kers/t)(ft. 
**  notorious   heretics,    nor  fufFer  them   to  continue  in  i6j6. 
**  them  above  the  fpace  of  fourteen  days,  upon  the  pen- 
"  alty  of  five  pounds  per  week,  for  any  town   entertaiii- 
**  ing  any  fuch  perfon  :  But  the  townfmen  (hall  give  no- 
**  tice  to  the  two  next  magiftrates,  or  alfiftants,  who  fliall 
**  have  power  to  fend  them  to  prifon,  for  fecuring  them, 
•*  until  they  can  conveniently  be  fent  out  of  the  jurifdic- 

*  Records  of  the  United  co'onies. 
R  r 


2H 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  Xin. 


Book  I.  <<  tlon.  It  is  alfo  ordered,  that  no  mafler  of  a  veffel  fhaH 
V>''V>w/  "  land  any  fuch  heretics  ;  but  if  they  do,  they  fhallbc 
"  compelled  to  tranfport  them  again  out  of  the  colony, 
**  by  any  two  magiftrates  or  aflillants,  at  their  firft  fet- 
"  ting  {ail  from  the  port  where  they  landed  them  ;  du- 
."  ring  which  time,  the  afliftant  or  magiftrate  {hall  fee 
**  them  fecured,  upon  penalty  of  twenty  pounds  for  any 
**  mafter  of  any  vefliel,  that  fhall  not  tranfport  them  as  a- 
«  forefaid."* 

The  court  at  New-Haven  pa{red  a  fimilar  law.  In 
1658  both  courts  made  an  addition  to  this  law,  increafing 
the  penalties  and  prohibiting  all  converfation  of  the  com- 
mon people  with  any  of  thofe  heretics,  and  all  perfons 
from  giving  them  any  entertainment,  upon  the  penalty  of 
five  pounds.  The  law  however  was  of  fliort  continuance, 
and  nothing  of  importance  appears  to  have  been  tranfadt- 
ed  upon  it,  in  either  of  the  colonies. 

Upon  the  reprefentations  made  of  the  headsH)f  griev- 
ance, which  had  been  matter  of  complaint,  to  the  general 
courts  of  the  confederate  colonies,  the  court  of  Maflachu- 
fetts  advifed  to  a  general  council,  and  fent  letters  to  the 
other  courts,  fignifying  their  opinion.  The  general  court 
of  New-Haven  wrote  an  anfwer  to  the  grievances,  and  to 
the  queitions  propofed  refpe6ting  them.  They  fuppofed 
it  fuiheient.  The  general  court  of  Connefticut,  never- 
Fcb.  1657.  thelefs,  on  the  26th  of  February  1657,  determined  to 
have  a  general  council.  They  appointed  Mr.  Warham, 
Mr.  Stone,  Mr.  Blynman,  and  Mr.  Ruflel,  to  meet  the 
ciders,  who  {hould  be  delegated  from  the  other  colonies,, 
at  Bofton,  the  next  June  -,  and  to  a{h{l  in  debating  the 
que{lions  propo{€d  by  the  general  court  of  Connedlicut, 
or  any  of  the  other  courts,  and  report  the  determination 
of  the  council  to  the  general  court. 

The  church  at  Hartford  continuing  their  contentions, 
the  court  dire<fled  the  elders,  who  were  going  to  Bofton, 
to  confer  with  the  feveral  minifiers  in  the  tMafTachufetts, 
who  had  been  of  the  council,  relative  to  the  circumflan- 
ces  of  that  church,  and  to  defire  them  to  come  to  Con- 
ne£licut,  and  give  their  afTiftance  in  council  at  Hartford. 
The  court  alfo  diredled  the  ciiurch  there  to  fend  for  the 
former  council ;  and  with  the  letters  mifTive,  to  flate  the 
particulars,  in  the  advice  of  the  council,  with  which  they 
were  not  fatisfied.  If  this  council  fhould  not  be  fo  hap- 
py as  to  give  thehi  fatisfadfion,  then  they  were  dire<^ed 


MafTarhu- 
I'ettti  and 
Conntdi- 
Gut  ap- 
point a 
general 
council. 


•  Records  of  Conne(5ticut. 


Chap.  XIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        315 

to  invite  Mr.  Sherman  of  Watertown,  and  feveral  other  Book  I. 
minifters  from  the  Maflachufetts,  to  make  a  vifit  at  Hart-   v^-v^s^ 
fortl,  and  attempt  the  healing  of  the  breach  made  in  the 
church  there. 

Governor  "Webfler,  Mr.  Cullick,  and  Mr.  Steel  dif-  Governor 
fentedfrom  the  refolution  of  the  aflcmbly,  and  declared,  WchPer 
in  open  court,  that  it  did  not  appear  to  them,  that  the  ^"'^  ^^^' 
meafures,  adopted  by  the  court,  were  any  where  directed  »''2'''"^"'* 
by  the  divine  word,  or  calculated  to  reftore  peace  to  the 
churches.     They  appear  to  have  been  of   the  aggrieved 
brethren  at  Hartford,   and  fatisficd  with  the  refult  of  the 
former  council,  to  which  the  church,  in  their  apprehen- 
fions,  did  not  fubmit.     They  doubtlefsjudged  it  more  a- 
greeable  to  fcripture  and  reafon,  and  efpecBUy  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  congregational  churches,  to  choofe  a  council  for 
themfelves,  when  they   fhould  judge  it  expedient,  than 
to  have  pne  impofed  upon  them,  by  legiflative  authority. 

The  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  were  utterly  op-  Court  of 
pofed  to  a  general  council ;  and  upon  receiving  a  letter  ^"^^  ^^" 
from  the  Maflacliufetts,  inviting  them  to  fend  a  number  ^'^"^  ^* 
of  their  elders  to  affift  in  the  counci ',  they,  in  a  long  letter,  council, 
remonftrated  againft  it,  and  excufed  themfelves  from 
fending  any  of  their  minifters.  They  reprefented,  that 
the  petition  and  queftions,  exhibited  to  the  general  court 
of  Connedlicut,  were  unwarrantably  procured,  and  of 
dangerous  tendency  :  That  they  heard  the  petitioners 
were  confident,  that  they  (hould  obtain  great  aI1[erations 
both  in  civil  government  and  church  difcipline  i  That 
they  had  engaged  an  agent  to  prove,  "  That  pariflies,  in 
**  England,  confenting  to  and  continuing  meetings  to 
*'  worfhip  God,  were  true  churches,"  and  that  the  mem- 
bers of  thofe  parifhes,  coming  into  New-England,  had  a 
right  to  all  church  privileges  ;  though  they  made  no  pro- 
feflion  of  a  work  of  faith  and  holinefs  upon  their  hearts. 
They  cxprefl'ed  their  apprehenfions,  that  a  general  council, 
at  that  time,  would  endanger  the  peace  and  purity  of  the 
churches.  They  acquainted  the  general  court  ofMafla- 
chufetts,  that  they  had  fent  an  anfwer  to  all  the  quef- 
tions, propofed  to  the  court  of  Connecticut;  and  that  it 
was  their  opinion,  that  the  legiflature  and  elders  of  that 
colony  were  fufficient  to  determine  all  thofc  points  with- 
out any  afliftance  from  abroad.  They  obferved  that,  on 
account  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Whitfield  and  Mr.  Hook, 
and  the  late  death  of  Mr.  Prudden,  their  elders  could  not 
be  fpared.  With  their  letter,  they  fent  the  anfwers, 
which  they  had  given  to  the  queftions  to  be  debated,  and 


3i6 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  Xlli. 


Book  I. 


Qaeftions 

piopoltd 

to  the 

general 

council, 

Juuei657. 


they  intreated  the  court  and  their  elders  ferioufly  to  con- 
fider  them.  They  defired,  that,  as  the  court  had  formed 
their  civil  polity  and  laws  upon  the  divine  word,  and  as 
the  elders  and  churches  had  gathered  and  received  their 
difcipline  from  the  fame,  they  would  exert  themfelves  to 
preferve  them  inviolable.  They  obferved,  that,  confider- 
ing  the  ftate  of  affaire,  in  Connecticut,  unlefs  the  gene- 
ral court  of  Maffachufetts  fhould  firmly  adhere  to  their 
then  conftitution,  and  the  council  (hould  have  the  divine 
prefence  with  them,  their  meeting  might  be  of  the  moll 
unhappy  confequence  to  the  churches.  Confidering 
how  foon  the  church  at  Ephefus,  though  famous  for  her 
firft  love,  declined  and  was  forfaken  of  her  Saviour,  they 
infifted,  that  there  was  great  occafion  of  watchfulnefs 
and  prayer,  left  the  churches  of  New-England  fliould  de- 
cline after  her  example.* 

The  colonies  of  Connecticut  and  Maffachufetts perfift- 
ed  in  calling  a  general  council. 

The  queftionspropofed  for  difcuffion,  as  they  ftand  up- 
on the  records,  are  the  following. 

1.  "Whether  federal  holinefs,  or  covenant  intereft,  be 
not  the  proper  ground  of  baptifm  ? 

2.  Whether  communion  of  churches,  as  fuch,  be 
not  warrantable  by  the  word  of  God.  ? 

3.  Whether  the  adult  feed  of  vifible  believers,  not 
caft  out,  be  not  true  members,  and  fubjeiSts  of  church 
watch  ? 

4.  Whether  mlnifterial  officers  are  not  as  truly 
bound  to  baptize  the  vifible  difciples  pf  Chrift,  providen- 
tially fettled  amongft  them,  as  officially  to  preach  the 
word  .' 

5.  Whether  the  fettled  inhabitants  of  the  country, 
being  members  of  other  churches,  {hould  liave  their  chil- 
dren baptized  amongft  us,  without  themfelves  firft  order- 
ly joining  in  churches  here  ? 

6.  Whether  memberfhip,  in  a  particular  inftituted 
church,  be  not  effentially  requifite,  under  the  gofpel,  to 
entitle  to  baptifm  ? 

7.  Whether  adopted  children  and  fuch  as  are  bought 
with  money  are  covenant  feed  ? 

8.  Whether  things  new  and  weighty  may  be  managed, 
in  a  church,  without  concurrence  of  officers,  and  con- 
fent  of  the  fraternity  of  the  fame  church  ?  And  if  things 


Records  of  Ncw-Havcn, 


Chap.  XIII.      OF    CONNECTICUT,       317 

of  common  concernment,  then  how  far  the   confent  of  Book  I. 
neighbouring  churches  is  to  be  fought  ?  \^,ry>J 

9.  Whether  it  doth  not  belong  to  the  body  of  a 
town,  colle<flively  taken,  jointly  to  call  him  to  be  their 
miniiter,  whom  the  church  fliall  choofe  to  be  their 
officer  ? 

10.  Whether  the  political  and  external  adminiftra- 
tion  of  Abraham's  covenant  be  not  obligatory  to  gofpel 
churches  ? 

11.  Unto  whom  fhall  fuch  perfons  repair,  that  are 
grieved  at  any  church  procefs  or  cenfure  ;  or  whether 
they  muft  acquiefce  in  the  church's  cJenfure  to  which 
they  belong  ? 

12.  Whether  the  laying  on  of  hands  in  ordination 
belong  to  prdfbyters  or  brethren  ? 

13.  Whether  the  church,  her  invitation  and  ele£l:ion 
of  an  officer,  or  preaching  elder,  neceflitates  the  whole 
congregation  to  fit  down  fatisfied,  as  bound  thereby  to 
accept  him  as  their  minifter,  though  invited  and  feftled. 
without  the  town's  confent  ? 

14.  What  is  the  gofpel  way  to  gather  and  fettle 
churches  ? 

15.  From  whom  do  minifters  receive  their  commiffion 
to  baptize  ? 

16.  Whether  a  fynod  hath  a  decifive  power  .? 

17.  Whether  it  be  not  juflifiable,  by  the  word  of 
God,  that  civil  authority  indulge  congregational  and 
prefbyterian  churches,  and  their  difcipline  in  the  church- 
es ?t 

It  appears,  by  the  records,  that  fcveral  other  queftions 
were  propofed,  but  thefe  are  all  which  are  to  be  found 
upon  them.  They  ftand  in  the  fame  order  in  which  they 
are  here  infer  ted. 

The  council  convened  at  Bofton,  June  4th    1657,  and  Conncllat 
after  a  feffion  of  a  little  more  than  a  fortnight,  gave  an  e-  Bofton 
laborate   anfwer  to  twenty-one  queftions.      The  elders  Jnne4th 
from  Connecticut  brought  back  an  authentic  copy  of  the  ^^Sf* 
refult  of  the   council,  and   prefented  it  to  the  general 
court,  at  a  feffion  on  the  1 2th  of  Auguft.     The   court  or- 
dered, that  copies   fliould   be  fent  forthwith  to  all  the 
churches  in  the  colony  ;  and  if  any  of  them  fhould  have 
objeftions  againft  the  anfwers  which  had  been  given,  they 
were  dire£l:ed  to  tranfmit  them  to  the  general  court,  at 
the  feffion  in  Odober. 


i  Records  of  Conse^icut. 


3i8  THEHISTORY      Chap.  XIIL 

Book  I.  The  anfwers  were  afterwards  printed,  in  London,  un- 
y,^^y\J  der  the  title  of  "  A  difputation  concerning  church  mem- 
"  bersand  their  children."  Several  of  the  queftions  in- 
volve each  other.  The  principal  one  was  that  refpedling 
baptifm  and  church  memberihip.  An  anfwer  to  this,  in 
efFedV,  anfwered  a  confiderable  part  of  the  other  queftions. 
With  refpe£l  to  this  they  afierted,  and  learned  pains  were 

.  r  .  taken  to  prove,  "  That  it  was  the  duty  of  infants,  who 
Anfwer  to  ,,         r   T  i  •      i    •  i     ^ 

tlic  quff-         contederated  in  their   parents,  when   grown  up   unto 

tion  itf-  *'  years  of  difcretion,  though  not  fit  for  the  Lord's  fup- 
pec^ing  *t  pg^^  tQ  oxviy  tlie  covenant  they  made  with  their  parents, 
«?'^h  h  **  y  entering  thereinto,  in  their  own  perfons  ;  and  it  is 
member-  *'  ^^^^  '^"^Y  °^  *^^^  churches  to  call  upon  them  for  the  per- 
ftiip.  *'  formance  thereof,  and  if  being  called  upon,  they  fhall 

**  refufe  the  performance  of  this  great  duty,  or  other- 
**  wife  continue  fcandalous  they  are  liable  to  be  cenfured 
**  for  the  fame  by  the  church.  And  in  cafe  they  under- 
*•  ftand  the  ground  of  religion,  and  are  not  fcandalous, 
**  and  folemnlyown  their  covenant  in  their  own  perfons, 
**  wherein  they  give  up  themfelves  and  their  children  un- 
**  to  the  Lord,  and  defire  baptifm  for  them,  we  fee  not 
**  fufficient  caufe  to  deny  baptifm  unto  their  children."* 
The  anfwer  to  this  queftion  was,  in  efFe£l,  an  anfwer 
to  the  other  refpe£ling  the  right  of  towns  to  vote  in  the 
eledlion  of  minifters  ;  for  if  they  were  all  members  of  the 
church  by  baptifm,  and  under  its  difcipline,  they,  doubt- 
lefs,  had  a  right  to  vote  with  the  church  in  the  eleflion  of 
their  paftor.  Indeed  there  was  no  proper  ground  of  dif- 
tindlion  between  them  and  the  church.  Hence,  it  feems, 
the  anfwer  to  that  queftion  was  to  this  efFeft,  "  That 
*'  though  it  was  the  right  of  the  brotherhood  to  choofc 
**  their  paftor,  and  though  it  was  among  the  arts  of  Anti- 
*'  chrift  to  deprive  them  of  this  power,  yet  they  ought  to 
*'  have  a  fpccial  regard  to  the  baptized,  by  the  covenant 
**  of  God,  under  their  watch." 

The  decifions  of  the  council  do  not  appear  to  have  had 
any  influence  to  reconcile,  but  rather  to  inflame  the 
churches. 

A  NUMBER  of  minifters,  and  the  churches  pretty  gen- 
erally, viewed  this  as  a  great  innovation,  and  entirely  in- 
confiftent  with  the  principles  on  which  the  churches  of 
New-England  were  originally  founded,  and  with  the 
principles  of  Congregationalifm. 

''^  M^gnalia,  B.  V.  p.  63, 


CHAf.Xm.     OF    CONNECTICUT.         319 

The  church  at  Hartford,  and  the  aggrieved  brethren,  Book  I. 
Inflcad  of  being  fatisfied  and  reconciled,  appeared  to  be  V-^'-v'O 
thrown  into  a  ftate  of  greater  alienation  and  animoilty. 
The  aggrieved  foon  after  withdrew  from  Mr.  Stone  and 
the  church,  and  were  about  forming  an  union  with  the 
church  at,  Wethersfield.  Among  the  aggrieved  were 
Governor  Webfter,  Mr.  Goodwin,  ruling  elder  in  the 
church,  Mr.  Cullick,  and  Mr.  Bacon,  principal  men  both 
in  the  church  and  town.  Mr.  Stone  and  the  church 
were  proceeding  with  them  in  a  courfe  of  difcipline. 

In  this  ftate  of  their  affairs,  the  general  court,  interpo-  165S. 
fed,  and  pafled  an  a£l,  prohibiting  the  church  at  Hart- 
ford, to  proceed  any  further  in  a  courfcof  difcipline  o£ 
the  members,  who  had  withdrawn  from  their  commun- 
ion, and  thofe  members  to  join  with  the  church  at  Weth- 
ersfield,  or  any  other  church,  until  further  attempts 
fhould  be  made,  for  their  reconciliation  with  their  breth- 
ren. By  the  adl  it  appears,  that  the  churches  in  the  colo- 
ny w?re  generally  affe£led  with  the  difpute,  at  Hartford, 
and  viewed  it  as  a  common  caufe,  with  refpedl  to  all  the 
congregational  churches.  It  exhibits,  in  fo  ftrong  a  point 
of  light,  the  authority,  which  the  general  court  imagined 
they  had  a  right  to  exercife  over  the  churches,  and  the 
fpirit  of  thofe  times,  a3  to  merit  a  place  in  this  hiftory. 
It  is  in  the  following  words. 

"  This  court  orders,  in  reference  to  the  fad  difficul-  A<ft  of  the 
**  tics  that  are  broken  out  in  the  feveral  churches  in  this  g«nera' 
"  colony,  and  in  fpecial,  betwixt  the  church  at  Hartford  p"""^*  ^I 
"  and  the  withdrawers  -,  and  to  prevent  further  troubles  icut 
**  and  fad  confequences,  that  may  enfuefrom  the  premif-  March  11, 
"  es  to  the  whole  commonwealth,  that  there  be,  from  i6j8. 
**  henceforth,  an  utter  ceflatipn  of  all  further  profecution, 
**  either  on  the  church's  part  at  Hartford,  towards    the 
**  withdrawers  from  them  ;  and",  on  the  other  part,  that 
*<  thofe,  that  have  withdrawn  from  the  church,  at  Hart- 
**  ford,  fhall  make  a  ceffation  in  profecuting  their  former 
**  propofitions  to  the  church  at  Wethersfield,  or  any  oth- 
**  cr  church,  in  reference  to  their  joining  there,  in  church 
"  relation,  until  the  matters,  in  controverfy  betwixt  the 
*'  church  at  Hartford  and  the  withdrawn   members,  be 
"  brought  to  ajfiJAuc,  in  that  way  the   court  {hall  de- 
«'  termine." 

The  court,  having  defired  the  elders  of  the  colony  to 
meet  them,  and  aflift  in  adopting  fome  meafuresby  which 
the  divifions  in  the  churches,  and  efpecially  in  that  at 
Hartford;  might  be  healed^  adjourned  about  a  fortnight. 


020  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIIL 

Book  I.        It  met  again  on  the  24th  of  March.     "Whether  the  el- 

v^^v^v^  ders  met  with  them,  or  not,  docs  not  appear ;  but  the 

Advice  of  advice  of  the  aflembly,  at  this  time,  was  that  Mr.  Stone, 

the  court   with    the  church    and  brethren    who  had    withdrawn, 

March  24' ihould  meet  together;  and,   in  a  private   conference,  if 

poflible,  agree  upon  fome  terms  by  which  they  miglit  be 

reconciled.    Governor  Welles  and  deputy  governor  Win- 

throp  were  appointed  to  meet  with  them,  and  employ 

their  wifdom  and  influence  to  make  peace. 

It  feems,  that  the  church  did  not  comply  with  this  ad- 
vice ;  or  if  there  were  any  meeting  of  the  parties,  no- 
thing was  done  to  efFe£t  an  accommodation.  It  appears, 
that  Mr.  Stone  viewed  the  withdrawn  brethren  as  in  the 
May  aoth  }iands  of  the  church  at  Hartford,  and  the  matters  to  be 
■^  *  determined  as  not  lying  before  any  council  or  the  gene- 
ral court.  And  he  would  not  admit,  that  he,  or  the 
church  had  counteradied  the  advice  of  the  former  coun- 
cil. He  therefore,  at  tlie  feflion  in  May,  petitioned, 
that  the  fubfequent  propofitions  might  be  entered  upon 
the  records  of  the  colony,  and  that  the  withdrawn  breth- 
ren, or  fome  perfon  whom  they  fliould  appoint,  would 
difpute  them  with  him  in  the  prefence  of  the  court. 

1.  "  The  former  council,  at  Hartford,  June  56,  is 
*<  utterly  cancelled  and  of  no  force. 

2.  "  There  is  no  violation  of  the  laft  agreement, 
«  (made  when  the  reverend  elders  of  the  MalTachufetts 
*<  were  here,)  either  by  the  church  of  Christ  at  Hart- 
**  ford,  or  their  teacher. 

3.  *'  The  withdrawn  brethren  have  offered  great  vio- 
*'  lence  to  the  forementioned  agreement. 

4.  "  The  withdrawn  brethren  are  members  of  the 
*'  church  of  Christ  at  Hartford. 

5.  "  Their  withdrawing  from  the  church  is  a  fin  ex- 
•*  ceeding  fcandalous  and  dreadful,  and  of  its  own  na- 
<*  ture  deftruftlve  to  this  and  other  churches. 

6.  "  The  controverfy  between  the  church  of  Christ 
**  at  Hartford,  and  the  withdrawn  perfons,  is  not  in  the 
"  hands  of  the  churches,  to  be  determined   by  them."* 

««  Samuel  Stone." 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  court  gave  their  confent, 

that  the  propofitions  fhould  be  dlfputed  before   them,  or 

that  they  enaililed  any  thing,  at  this  court,  refpedling  the 

affairs  of  the  church,  or  the  brethren  who  had  withdrawn. 


*  Records  of  Conncdicmt. 


Chap.  XIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        321 

But  at  a  feflion,  in  Auguft,   they   infilled,    that    the  Book  I. 
church  and  aggrieved  brethren  ihould  meet  together,  ac-  v,>^v-nJ 
cording  to  their  former  advice,  and  debate   their  difficul-  Auguft 
ties  among  themfelves,  and  that  the  points  in  controver-  iSih. 
fy  fhould  be  clearly  ftated. 

At  this  time,  a  complaint  was  exhibited  againft  Gov- 
ernor Webfter,  Mr.  Cullick,  elder  Goodwin  and  others, 
who  had  withdrawn  from  their  brethren.  But  the  court 
would  not  hear  it,  at  that  time.  It  ordered,  that,  if  the 
church  and  brethren  would  not  agree  to  meet  together 
and  debate  their  differences  among  themfelves,  each  par- 
ty {hould  choofe  three  as  indifferent  elders  as  could  be 
found;  who  fhould  afford  all  the  light  and  affiflance  in 
their  power,  towards  fettling  the  differences  according  to 
the  divine  oracles  ;  and  that  both  parties  fliould  peacea- 
bly fubmit  to  their  advice.  If  either  of  the  parties  fhould 
refufe  to  make  choice  of  three  gentlemen,  for  the  defign 
propofed,  the  court  determined  to  choofe  for  them.  The 
church  rejedled  the  propofal,  and  the  court  chofc  Mr. 
Cobbett,  Mr.  Mitchel,  and  Mr.  Danforth  for  them.  For 
a  referve,  if  either  fhould  fail,  Mr.  Brown  was  chofen. 
The  aggrieved  brethren  chofe  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr.  Nor- 
ton, and  Mr.  Fitch  ;  and  as  a  referve,  Mr.  Street.  The 
council  were  to  meet  on  the  17th  of  September. 

The  church,  it  feems,  would  not  fend  for  the  council, 
and  fo  it  did  not  convene. 

At  a  feffion  of  the  general  court,  the  next  year,  March  Refolu- 
9th  1659,  it  was  determined,  that,  as  its  paft  labors,  to  tion  of 
promote  unanimity,  at  Hartford,   had  been  fruflrated,  *^^  <^"".''t 
by  the  non-compliance  of  the   parties,    the    fecretary,  in  j^j-qu^  'm^ 
the  name  of  the  court,  fhould  defire  the  elders,  who  had  March  o 
been  formerly  appointed,  to  meet  at  Hartford  on  the  3d  1659. 
of  June  fucceeding,  and  afford  their  affiflance  in  healing 
the  breach,  which  had  been  made  there.     It  was   alfo  e- 
na£led,  that  the  church,  at  Hartford,  and  the  brethren 
who  had  withdrawn,  fhould  jointly  bear  the  expenfes  of 
the    former  council,   and  of  making  provifion  for  that 
which  had  been  then  appointed. 

The  council  confifled   of  the  elders  and  churches  of  jun^^^ 
Boflon,  Cambridge,  Charleflown,  Ipfwich,  Dedham,  and  1659. 
Sudbury.     They    convened    according   to  appointment.  Council 
and  were  abundant   in    their  labors    to  foften  the  minds  ^^  ^^^^' 
and  conciliate  the  affe£lions  of  the  parties ;  and  though 
they  did  not  effedl  a  reconciliation,  yet  they  brought  the 
brethren  much  nearer  together  than  they  had  been,  aind 

S  s 


322 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XIIL 


Book  I.   left  the  church  and  town  in  a  better  ftate  than  they  had 

V-.i'V^-'  enjoyed  for  years  before. 

On  the  1 5  th  of  June,  the  court  convened,  and  perceiv- 
ing the  gocd  effefts  of  this  council,  defired  the  fame 
gentlemen  to  meet  again,  at  Hartford,  on  the  19th  of 
Auguft.  Upon  the  choice  and  defire  of  the  brethren 
who  had  withdrawn,  the  Reverend  John  Sherman,  and 
the  church  at  Watertown,  and  the  elder  and  church  a£ 
Dorchefter  were  alfo  invited  to  come  with  them. 

The  general  court,  in  this  ftate  of  the  controverfy,  or* 
dered  the  heads  of  the  complaint,  which  had  been  exhib- 
ited againft  the  withdrawn  brethren,  to  be  drawn  up  and 
fcnt  to  them,  and  they  were  required  to  appear  before  the 
court,  in  October,  and  anfwer  to  them.  The  church 
agreed  to  the  whole  council,  and  the  brethren  aggrieved^ 
to  fcven  of  them.  The  general  court  ordered,  that  both 
parties  Ihould  fubmit  to  the  judgment  of  the  council, 
and  that  it  ftiould  be  a  final  iffue. 

The  council  convened  again,  at  Hartford,  and  fo  far 
compofed  the  difficulties  which  had  fo  long  fubfifted,  as 
to  prevent  a  feparation  at  that  time.  Some  of  the  capi- 
tal charaQers  were  foon  removed  into  the  land  of  fileace, 
where  all  animofxties  are  forgotten.  Mr.  Cullick  removed 
to  Bofton,  and  a  confiderable  number  removed  to  Hadley, 
By  thefe  means,  the  church  was  reftored  to  a  tolerable 
ftate  of  peace  and  brotherly  affection  ;  but  it  was  viewed, 
by  fome  of  its  own  members  and  others,  as  having,  in 
fome  degree,  departed  from  the  ftrid:  principles  of  the 
firft  congregational  churches  in  New-England;  and  feemS' 
afterwards,  to  have  divided  nearly  on  the  fame  grounds. 
Doctor  Mather,  in  his  Magnalia,  reprefents,  that  it 

Nature  of  ^gg  Jiffieult,  even  at  the  time  of  the  controverfy,  to  find 

the  con-  ^[lat  were  the  precjfe  points  in  difpute.  Indeed,  what 
the  part'cular  a£l:  or  fentiment  in  Mr.  Stone  or  the  church 
was,  which  gave  elder  Goodwin  difguft,  and  began  the 
diflenfion,  does  not  fully  appear.  Nothing  however  is 
more  evident,  from  the  quellions  propounded,  which  it 
appears  were  drawn  by  the  very  heads  of  the  parties,  and 
by  the  gentlemen  chofen  by  the  difafFefted  brethrer^,  and 
rejected  by  the  church,  than  that  the  whole  controverfy  ref- 
pe£ted  the  qualifications  for  baptifm,  church  memberfliip, 
and  the  rights  of  the  brothtrhood.  Mr.  Stone's  ideas  of 
congregationalifm  appear  to  have  bordered  more  on  pref- 
byterianifm,  and  kfs  on  independence,  than  thofe  of  the 
firlt  minifters  in  the  country  in  general.  His  definition 
of  congregationalifm,  was,  «  That  it  was  a  fpeaking 
Ariltocracy  in  the  face  of  a  filent  Democracy.'' 


Chap.  XIIL    OF    CONNECTICUT.        323 

The  Hartford  controverfy  was,  for  its  circumftances,  Book  I. 
<luration,  and  obftinacy,  the  mod  remarkable   of  any  in  v>.>*\^>-> 
its  day.     It  afFefted  all  the  churches,  and   infinuated  it-  J""^'^. 
felf  into  all  the  aiFairs  of  focieties,  towns,  and  the  whole  ijjrtford 
commonwealth.     Dodlor  Mather,  in  his  figurative  man-  remarka- 
ner  of  defcription,  fays,  "  From   the  fire  of  the  altar,  blc  in  tis 
«  there  ifllied  tlmnderings,  and   lightnings,  and  earth-  ^^"^^ 
"  quakes,  through   the  colony."      This  was  confidered 
as  much  inore  remarkable,  as   the  church,    at  Hartford, 
had  been  famous  for  its  inftru£lion,  light,  gifts,  peace, 
and  brotherly  love.     It  had  been  viewed  as  one  of   the 
principal  churches  in  New-England.    Its  diflenfions  were 
a  ground  of  great  Ibrrow  to   all  the  good  people  in  the 
country.     Extraordinary   were  the  pains  taken,  by   the 
principal  charafters  in  New-England,  to  heal  them. 

The  commiffiouers  of  ths  United  colonies,   in  Sep-  Letter 
tember  1656,  wrote  them  a  friendly  and  pacific  letter  on  from  the 
the  fubjecSt.     They  fay,  "  We  have,  with  mucli  forrow  coramif-  ^ 
of  heart,  heard  of  your  differences,   and  that  the  ^^eans  ^J^^,  m.^^^J 
attended  hitherto,  for  compofing  them,  have  proved  inef-  coloiu  cs. 
fe£tual.     We  cannot  but  be  deeply  fenfible  of  the  fad  ef- 
fefts  and  dreadful  confequences  of  diflenfions,  heighten- 
ed and  increafed  in  a  church  of  fuch  eminence  for  light 
and  love."     They  reprefented  to  them,  that  though  all 
the  churches  fympathized  with  them,  yet  they  themfelves 
would  be  fure,  in  the  firft  place,  to  feel  the  fmart.  They 
moft  earneftly  exhorted  them  not  only  to  be  exceedingly 
cautious  of  all  further  provocations,  but   to  employ   all 
their  wifdom  and  exertions  for  a  reconciliation.     They 
intreated  them,  not  to  fuffer  any  difcouragements  to  pre- 
vail with  them,  to  make  a  feparation  and  fcatter  abroad.* 

The  churches  in  Connedicut  and  New-Haven  labored 
to  harmonize  their  views  and  affections  and  to  make 
peace.  The  minlllers  in  Maffachufetts  were  fo  affefled 
with  their  circumftances,  that  they  offered  to  make  a 
journey  to  Conne£licut,  to  attempt  their  reconciliation. 
The  long  and  repeated  journeys  they  made,  and  the  inde- 
fatigable labors  they  employed  to  compofe  their  difficul- 
ties, exhibited  a  noble  fpirit  of  benevolence,  and  a  zeal 
for  the  peace  and  profperity  of  Zion.  They  not  only 
merited  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  people,  aC 
Hartford,  but  of  the  colony  in  general. 

The  proclamation  for  a  public  thankfgiving,  in  No- 
Ycmber,  recognized  the  fuccefs  of  the  council,  in  compo- 

*  Records  of  the  United  colonics. 


324 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIII. 


Book  I. 


1660. 

Mr.  Ruf- 
fe! te- 
moves  to 
Uadky. 


Mr.  Sam- 
uel Stow 
difmifled, 
from 
Middle- 
town. 


fing  the  difficulties,  at  Hartford,  as  an  event  demanding 
public  joy  and  praife. 

The  church  at  Wethersfield  intereflcd  themfelves  in 
the  difpute  at  Hartford,  and  became  divided  and  conten- 
tious. Some  of  the  brethren  exhibited  a  complaint  to 
the  court  againft  Mr.  Ruflel,  for  joining  with  the  church 
in  excommunicating  one  of  the  brethren,  as  it  veas  al- 
ledged,  without  giving  him  a  copy  of  the  complaint  ex- 
hibited againfl  him,  and  without  acquainting  him  with 
his  crime.  The  general  court  ordered,  that  Mr.  Rufl'el 
ihould  be  reproved,  for  a£ling  contrary  to  the  ufage  of 
the  churches.  The  brethren  were  divided  with  refpeft 
to  their  church  ftate.  Some  infilled,  that  they  were  no 
church,  becaufe  they  had  never  been  gathered  according 
to  gofpel  order  •,  or  if  they  had  been  a  church,  that  the 
members  of  it  had  moved  away  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  had 
deftroyed  its  very  exiftence.  Many  were  inviolably  at- 
tached to  Mr.  Ruflel,  while  others  ftreimoufly  oppofed 
him. 

In  this  flate  of  affairs,  the  general  court  appointed  the 
elders  and  churches  of  Hartford  and  Windfor,  a  council 
to  hear  the  difficulties  which  had  arifen  in  the  church  and 
town.  But  the  parties  could  not  be  reconciled.  Mr. 
Rufiel  removed  to  Hadley,  vihere  he  and  a  number  of  his 
warm  friends,  from  Hartford  and  Wethersfield,  planted 
a  new  town  and  church.  The  general  court  rcfolved, 
that  a  church  had  been  regularly  gathered  at  Wethers- 
field, by  the  confent  of  the  general  court  and  approbation 
of  neighbouring  elders  ;  and  that,  though  divers  of  the 
members  had  removed  to  other  places,  yet  the  brethren 
there  were  the  true  and  undoubted  church  of  Wethers- 
field, and  fo  to  be  accounted,  notwithftanding  any  thing 
which  did  appear.  Thus  terminated  the  controverfy ; 
and  Mr.  Bulkley,  in  1666,  removed  from  New-London, 
and  fucceeded  Mr.  Ruflel  in  the  paftoral  office.  The 
fame  year,  Mr  Simon  Bradftreet,  from  Charleftown, 
came  to  New-London,  and  took  the  paftoral  charge,  of 
the  church  there. 

About  the  time  of  Mr.  RufTel's  removal  fiom  Weth- 
ersfield, the  minds  of  the  people  at  Middletown  became 
alienated  from  Mr.  Stow,  who  appears  to  have  been  the 
firft  minifter  in  that  town.  A  committee  of  minifters 
and  civilians,  appointed  by  the  general  court,  difmifTed 
him,  on  the  account  of  the  evil  temper  of  the  people  to*- 
wards  him. 


Chap.  XIII.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      325 

Many  of  the  minlfters  and  of  the  people  In  the  coun-  Book  I. 
try  were  for  extending  baptifm,  according  to  the  deter-  V-y^vx.^ 
mination  of  the  general  council,  in  1657;  but  the  chur- 
ches were  fo  generally  and  warmly  oppofed  to  it,  that  it 
could  not  be  efFe£led  without  a  fynod.  As  this  and  the 
confociation  of  churches  were  favorite  points,  which  a 
large  number  of  the  clergy  and  principal  civilians,  in  Maf- 
fachufetts  and  Connefticut,  wiflied  to  carry,  the  general 
court  of  Maflachufetts  appointed  a  fynod  of  all  the  min- 
ifters  in  t!iat  colony,  to  deliberate  and  decide  on  thofe 
points.     The  queftions  propofed  were, 

I.  Who  are  the  fubjedls  of  baptifm  ? 

■2.  "Whether,  according  to   the  word  of  God,  there 
ought  to  be  a  confociation  of  churches  ? 

The  council  met  at  Bofton,  in  September  1662.  Their  Synod 

anfwer  to  the  firfl:   queflion   was    fubflantially  the  fame  i66j. 

with  that  given  by  the  council  in  1657. 

They  declared,  "  That  church  members,  who  were  t.      r  ^ 
1     •       I  •  •        ■  1     n       .•  1       1    o   •  -  Its  relolu* 

"  admitted  m    mmority,  underitandmg   the  doctrme  of  tions. 

**  faith  and  publicly  profefTuig  their  afient  thereunto,  not 
*'  fcandalous  in  life,  and  folemnly  owning  the  covenant 
"  before  the  church,  wherein  they  give  up  themfelves  and 
"  children  to  the  Lord,  and  fubjedl  themfelves  to  the 
"  government  of  Christ  in  his  church,  their  children 
*<  are  to  be  baptized."  They  further  refolved,  "  That 
*'  the  members  of  orthodox  churches,  being  found  in  the 
"  faith,  and  not  fcandalous  in  life,  and  prcfenting  due 
*'  teftimony  thereof,  thefe  occafipnally  coming  from 
"  one  church  to  another,  may  have  their  children  bapti- 
"  zed  in  the  church  whither  they  came,  by  virtue  of 
"  communion  of  churches."  They  alfo  gave  their  opin- 
ion in  favor  of  the  confociation  of  churches. 

However  the   council  were  not  unanimous:  feveral  t^, 

1  hey  are 
learned  and  pious  men  protefled  againft  the   determina-  ©ppofed. 

tion  relative  to  baptifm.  The  Reverend  Charles 
Chauncey,  prefident  of  Harvard  college,  Mr.  Increafe 
Mather,  afterwards  Doclor  in  divinity,  Mr.  Mather  of 
Northampton,  and  others,  were  warmly  in  the  op- 
pofition.  Prefident  Chauncey  wrote  a  tra£t  againft 
the  refolution  refpeiSling  baptifm,  entitled  Antifynoda- 
lla.  Mr.  Increafe  Mather  alfo  wrote  in  oppnfition  to 
the  council.  Mr.  Davenport  and  all  the  minifters  in  the 
colony  of  New-Haven,  and  numbers  in  Connecticut, 
were  againft  the  refolutions.  Mr.  Davenport  wrote  a- 
gainft  them.  The  churches  were  more  generally  oppo- 
fed to  ^hep,  than  the  clergy. 


326  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XIII. 

Book  I.  The  general  court  of  Connedicut  took  no  notice  of 
v.^V>^  the  fynod,  nor  of  the  difpute,  but  left  the  elders  and 
churches  at  liberty  to  a6l  their  own  fentiments.  They 
were  attempting  to  form  an  union  with  New-Haven,  and 
as  the  minifters  and  churches  of  that  colony  were  unan- 
imous in  their  oppofition  to  the  fynod,  they,  probably, 
judged  it  impolitic,  at  that  time,  to  a£t  any  thing  relative 
to  thefe  ecclefiaftical  points. 

While  the  churches  were  agitated  with  thefe  difputes, 
Death  of    another  of  tlieir  original    lights  was  extinguifl>ed.     Mr. 
July  20      Stone  expired  July  20th  1663.     He  had  his    education 
i66j.         at  Emmanuel  college,  in  the  Univerfity   of  Cambridge. 
He  was  eminently   pious  and    exemplary  ;  abounded  in 
His  char-   fallings  and  prayer,  and  was  a  molt   ftri£l  obferver  of 
ader.         j}^g  chrillian  fabbath.     Preparatory  to  this  he  labored  to 
compofe  himfelf  on  Saturday  evening,  to  the  moft  heav- 
enly views  and  cxercifcs,   and  was  careful  not  to  fpeak  a 
word,  which  was  not  grave,  ferious,  and  adapted  to   the 
folemnity.     He  fpent  much   time,  on  this  evening,  in 
the    inftru£lion   of  his  family,    commonly   delivering  to 
them  the  fermon  which  he  defigned  to  preach  on    the 
morrow,  or  fome  other,  which  might  be  beft  calculated 
for  their  inftru£tion  and  edification.     His  fermons  were 
dodlrinal,  replete  with  fentiment,  concifely  and   clofely 
applied.     He  was  efleemed  one  of  the  moft  accurate  and 
acute  difputants  of  his  day.     He  was  celebrated  for  his 
great  wit,  pleafantry,  and  good  humour.     His  company 
was  courted  by  all  gentlemen  of  learning  and  ingenuity, 
who  had  the  happinefs  of  an  acquaintance  with  him. 

All  the  minifters,  who  illuminated  the  firft  churches, 
in  Connedicut  and  New-Haven,  except  Mr.  Warham 
and  Mr.  Davenport,  had  now  finifhed  their  courfe,  61 
returned  to  England  •,  and  moft  of  their  brethren,  who 
compofed  the  firft  churches,  flept  with  them  in  the  duft. 
The  firft  governors  and  magiftrates  were  no  more. 

The  next  year,  the  general  court  of  Conneciicut  came 
to  a  refolve,  with  a  view  to  enforce  the  refolution  of  the 
fynod,  upon  the  churches  in  Connedicut.  It  was  in  the 
words  following. 

"  This  court  underftanding,  by  a  writing  prefcntcd  to 
Rcfolve  of  J,  ^i^ern  from  feveral  perfons  of  this  colony,  that  they 
the  gene-  .        ,     ,        f  ■       \    •      -i        i. 

ral  court    "  ^^e  aggrieved,  that  they  are  not  entertamed   m  church 

rt  fpcding  «  fellowfhip,  this  court,  having  duly  confidered  the  fame, 

baptifm      u  defiring,  that  the  rules  of  Christ  may  be  attended,  do 

^"^    h       "  commend  it  to  the  minifters  and  churches  in  this  col- 

«  ony,  to  confider,  whether  it   be  not  their  duty  to  en- 


Chap.  XIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        327 

"  tertain  all  fuch  perfons,  who  are  of  an  honeft  and  god-  Book  I. 

"  ly  converfation,  having  a  competency  of  knowledge  in  v-./'rx-/ 

"  the  principles  of  religion,  and  fliall  defire  to  join  with  member- 

"  them   in    church  fellowlhip,  by  an  explicit  covenant  ;  ^ip* 

"  and  that  they  have  their  children  baptized  :  and  that      }"  ^■^* 

"  all  the  children  of  the  church  be  accepted  and  account- 

"  ed  real  members  of  the  church  ;  and  that  the  church 

*'  exercife  a  due  chrillian   care  and  watch  over  them : 

**  and  that  when  they  are  grown  up,  being  examined  by 

"  the  officer,  in  the  face  of  the  church,  it  appear  in  the 

"  judgment  of  chanty  that  they  be  duly  qualified  to  par- 

**  ticipate  in  that  great  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  fupper, 

**  by  their  being  able  to  examine  themfelves  and  difcerii 

*'  the   Lord's  body,    fuch   perfons   be  admitted  to  full 

<<  communion. 

«'  The  court  defireth  the  feveral  officers  of  the  refpectl- 
*<  ive  churches  would  be  pleafed  to  confider,  whether  it 
<*  be  not  the  duty  of  the  court  to  order  the  churches  to 
"  pra6life  according  to  the  premifes,  if  they  do  not  prac- 
<*  tife  without  fuch  order.  If  any  dilTent  from  the  con- 
**  tents  of  this  writing,  they  are  defired  to  help  the  court, 
«  with  fuch  light  as  is  with  them,  the  next  feffion  of 
«  this  aflembly." 

The  fecretary  was  directed  to  fend  a  copy  of  this  ref- 
olution  to  ail  the  minifters  and  churches  in  the  colony. 

The  elders  and  churches,  who  would  not  comply  with 
the  propofed  innovation,  had  not  only  to  combat  the  ar- 
guments and  influence  of  the  fynod,  but  the  influence  of 
the  uncafy  people  in  the  congregations,  and  of  the  gene- 
ral court ;  but  it  was  but  flowly,  and  with  great  difficul- 
ty, that  the  pradlice  of  owning  the  covenant,  and  baptiz- 
ing the  children  of  parents  who  did  not  enter  into  full 
communion,  and  attend  both  the  facraments,  was  intro- 
duced. But  few  churches,  for  many  years,  admitted  the 
pradlicc,  and  fome  never  did.  It  appears  that,  notwith- 
flanding  the  influence  of  the  general  court  and  the  refo- 
lutions  of  the  fynods,  or  general  councils,  a  majority  of 
the  churches  in  Connedlicut  were  againft  it.  They  im- 
agined, that  fuch  a  latitude  in  bjiptifm,  and  admiffion  of 
members  to  communion,  would  fubvert  the  very  defign 
for  which  the  churches  of  New-England  were  planted. 

THEdifcipIinc  and  ufages  of  the  Connecticut  churches  Difeiplfne- 
continued  yet,  for  fome  time,  nearly  in  the  fame  fituation  continues 
in  which  they  had  been,  from  the  beginning.     The  cler-  "early  the 
gy  and  churches  were  ftri6t  in  the  admiffion  of  members  '*°^** 
to  full  communion.    Thofe  who  were  admitted  general- 


328  THEHISTORY        Chap.  XIIL 

Book  I.  \y  made  a  public  relation  of  their  chriftian  experiences, 
V.yvvJ'  by  which  they  gave  fatisfa£lion  to  the  church  of  their  re- 
pentance, faith,  and  fincere  friendfhip  to  the  Redeemer. 

The  elders  and  churches  were  exceedingly  ftri£t,  with 
refpeft  to  thofe  whom  they  ordained  ;  examining  them 
not  only  in  the  three  learned  languages  and  doctrinal 
points  of  theology,  with  refpedl  to  cafes  of  confcience, 
and  their  ability  to  defend  chriftianity  and  its  dodlrines 
againft  infidels  and  gai.nfayers,  but  with  refpe6l  to  their 
own  experimental,  heart  religion.  All  thofe,  who  were 
to  be  ordained  over  any  church,  previoufly  to  their  fepa- 
tion  to  the  facred  office,  fatisfied  the  brotherhood  of  their 
fpiritual  birth,  and  were  admitted  to  their  communion 
and  fellow{hip.  None  were  ordained,  or  inftalled  over 
any  church,  until  after  they  had  been  admitted  to  its  full 
communion  and  fellowfhip. 

They  were  alfo  ftridl  in  the  formation  of  churches  ; 
none  could  be  formed,  nor  any  minifter  ordained  without 
liberty  from  the  general  court,  and  the  approbation  of 
the  neighbouring  elders  and  churches. 

From  the  preceding  view,  it  appears,  that  before  the 
union  there  were  fifteen  churches  in  Conne61:icut,  exclu- 
five  of  thofe  which  had  been  formed  upon  Long-Ifiand. 
There  had  been  thirty-one  minifters  in  the  colony  ;  of 
whom  about  twenty-five  or  fix  had  been  inftalled  or  or- 
dained. Twenty-one  virere  miniftring  to  the  people  at 
the  time  of  the  union  ;  nineteen  of  whom  had  been  in- 
flalled  or  ordained.  The  other  two,  Mr.  Noyes  and  Mr. 
Collins,  were  afterwards  fettled  in  the  miniftry,  in  the 
towns,  where,  for  fome  years,  they  had  been  laboring. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Conduct  of  the  Vings  comm'ijfioners.  Coimties  and  county 
courts  regulated.  Governor  Witithrop's  ejlate  freed  from 
taxation.  Toivns fettled.  Controverfy  with  Rhode-If- 
ond.  The  grounds  of  it.  Courts  appointed  in  the  Nar- 
raganfet  country.  Laius  revifed  and  printed.  War  ivith 
the  Dutch.  Claims  and  co7idu5l  of  Major  Edmond  An^ 
drofsy  governor  of  Neiv-Tork.  Frotefl  dgainfl  hm.  Con- 
duEl  of  Captain  Thomas  Bull.  Proclamation  refpeEling 
the  infult  received  from  Major  Androfs.  Philips  s  ivar. 
Captains  Hutchinfon  and  Lothrop  furprifed  and  fain. 
Treachery  of  the   Springfield  Indians,     Hadley  attacked 


Chap.XIV.      of    CONNECTICUT.         329 

by  the  enemy.  The  ajfembly  make  provijion  for  the  defence  BooK  t. 
of  ConneB'icut.  Expedition  againjl  the  Nayraganfet  In^  v»>^r>»J 
dians.  The  renfns  of  it.  The  great  fxuampfght.  Lofs 
of  men  Courage  exhibited  and  hardfjips  endured.  Cap-^ 
tain  Pierce  and  his  party  cut  off.  Nanunttenoo  taken, 
Succefs  of  Captains  Denifon  and  Avery.  Captain  Wadf- 
ivorth  and  his  party  flain.  Death  and  charaEler  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop.  Succefs  of  AlnjorTaLott.  Attack  up" 
on  Hadley.  The  enemy  beaten  and  begin  to  fatter.  They 
are  purfued  to  Houfatonick.  Sachem  of  ^uabaug  and 
Philip  killed.  Number  of  the  enemy  before  the  war. 
Their  defruclton.  Lofs  of  the  colonies.  ConneBicut  hap- 
py in  preferving  its  oivn  toions  and  ajffling  its  neighbours. 

AFTER  the  reduction  of  the  Dutch  fettlements,  ^(>(>S' 
Colonel  Nichols  fixed  his  refidence  at  New- York,  ^°[^^^ 
to  manage  the  affairs  of  government.  Sir  Robert  Carr,  jj^invr's 
Cartwrith,  and  Maverick,  the  other  commiflioners,  foon  commif- 
went  to  Bofton,  and  proceeded  upon  the  bufinefs  of  their  fioners. 
commiinon.  After  they  had  communicated  their  in- 
(Irudlions  to  the  general  court,  and  made  a  number  of 
requifitions  inconfiflent  with  the  chartered  rights  of  the 
colony,  and  fome  inconfiftent  with  the  rights  of  con- 
fcicnce  and  of  the  churches,  they  went  from  Bofton  to 
Narraganfet.  They  held  courts  at  Warwick  and  South- 
erton,  and  fpent  a  confiderable  time  in  hearing  the  com- 
plaints of  the  Indians,  in  determining  the  titles  of  the 
Englifh  to  their  lands  ;  and  without  any  color  of  authori- 
ty from  their  commilhon,  undertook  to  make  a  nev/  pro- 
vince. They  determined,  that  the  deed  of  the  Rhode- 
Iflanders,  from  the  Indians,  was  of  no  force.  Captain 
Atherton  and  others  had  made  a  large  purchafe  of  the 
Indians,  in  Narraganfet,  eaft  of  Pawcatuck  river,  and  the 
planters  had  put  themfelves  under  the  government  of 
Connetlicut.  The  commiflioners  determined,  that  Cap- 
tain Atherton's  deed  was  not  legal,  becaufe  there  was  no 
mention  of  the  fum  which  he  had  paid.  However,  as 
it  appeared,  that  confiderable  had  been  paid  the  Indians 
for  the  lands,  the  commiflioners  ordered  the  natives  to 
pay  to  the  purchafers  a  certain  quantity  of  wampum,  and, 
ordered  the  planters  to  move  off  from  the  lands.  As  the 
Narraganfet  fachems  had,  in  1644,  made  their  fubje6tion 
to  the  king  of  England,  acknowledging  themfelves  to  be 
his  fubjecls,  they  declared,  that  the  country  belonged  to 
his  majefty,  and  that,  in  future,  It  {hould  be  called  th^ 

T  t 


330  THE    HISTdRT  Chap.XIV. 

Book  I.  King's  Province.  They  determined,  that  no  perfon^ 
v.-/V>^  of  what  colony  foever,  (hould  prefume  to  exercife  any 
i66s*  authority  within  that  tra£l,  except  thofe  who  (hould  be 
authorized  by  them,  until  his  majtity's  pleafure  fhould  be 
known.  They  further  decreed,  that  the  king's  province 
fhould  extend  weftward  to  the  middle  of  Pawcatuck  river, 
and  northward  as  far  as  the  fouth  line  of  Maflachufetts. 
In  the  plenitude  of  their  power,  they  alfo  ordered,  that 
the  Pequots,  to  whom  the  general  aflembly  of  Connecti- 
cut had,  agreeable  to  a  refolution  of  the  commiflioners 
of  the  United  colonies,  afligned  a  tra£t  of  land  On  the 
eafl:  of  Pawcatuck,  fhould  be  removed  and  fettled  in  fome 
Other  place,  which  the  alTembly  fliould  appoint,  weft  of 
that  river.f  It  appears  that  they  came  to  thefe  important 
dccifions  without  giving  Connecticut  notice,  or  ever 
hearing  what  reafons  the  colony  had  to  offer  againfl.  them. 

When  they  had  finifhed  their  bufinefs  in  Narragan- 
fet,  they  returnedto  Bofton.  There  they  proceeded  in  the 
mod  arbitrary  manner,  giving  the  general  court  of  Mafla- 
chufetts and  the  whole  colony  unfpeakable  trouble.  They 
undertook  the  protection  of  criminals  againft  the  com- 
monwealth ;  and  fummoned  the  members  of  the  general 
court  before  them  to  anfwer  for  judgrnents  which  they 
had  given  in  their  legidative  and  executive  capacity. 
They  received  complaints  againft  the  colony,  from  In- 
dians and  other  difaffeCled  perfons ;  and  undertook  to 
judge  in  cafes  which  had  been  previoully  profecuted  to  a 
final  adjudication,  according  to  law*  Indeed,  they  did 
not  content  themfelves  Math  determining  civil  matters 
only,  they  made  requifitions  refpeCting  the  church. 
They  demanded,  that  all-  perfons  of  orthodox  opinions, 
competent  knowledge,  and  civil  lives,  fhould  be  admitted 
to  the  Lord's  fupper  and  their  children  to  baptifm.ij: 

While  the  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  exprefTed 
entire  loyalty  to  his  majefty,  they  firmly  maintained  their 
charter  rights,  and  remonftrated  againft  the  proceedings 
of  the  commiilioners.  At  this  firm  conduCt,  they  were 
highly  difgufted,  and  made  a  very  unfavorable  reprefenta- 
tion  of  the  colony  to  his  majefty,  much  to  its  difad- 
vantage. 

They  came  to  no  determination  with  refpeCt  to  the 
claim  of  Duke  Hamilton,   but  returned  the    anfwer  of 


+  Records  of  Connefticut,  in  their  book  of  patents,  letters, 
determisations,  &c. 
J  Hutchinfon's  Hift.  Vol.  I.  p- 130— zj6. 


Chap.  XIV.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        331 

Connefticut  to  the  king,  and  made   a  very  friendly  re-  v«xv>^ 
port  to  him  of  the  manner  in  which  they  had   been  re-  Book  I. 
ceived    by   the  colony  of  Conne<Slicut,  and  of  the  loyalty  ^^^S' 
and   attachment  of  the   people  to  his  royal  perfon.     In 
confequence  of  it,  the  king  fent  a  moft  gracious  letter  to 
the  colony.     In  this,  he  fays,  "  We  cannot  but  let  you 
*«  know  how  much  we  are  pleafed.     Although  your  car- 
**  riage  doth  of  itfelf  moft  juftly  deferve  our  praife  and 
'*  approbation,  yet  it  feems  to  be  fet  off  with  more  luftrc, 
"  by  the    contrary  deportment  of  the  colony  of  Maffa- 
**  chufetts.     We  fliall  never  be  unmindful  of  this  your 
**  loyal  and  dutiful  behaviour.''* 

At  the  general  eletlion,  May  i  ith    1666,  the  former  EIc(flion 
governor  and  council  were  re-ele(2:ed.  May  nth 

f  f  L. 

The  general  affembly,  at  thisfeffion,  proceeded  to  af-  ^°"*' 
certain  the  limits  of  the  counties  and  the  bufinefs  of  the  Counties 
county  courts.     It  was  enabled,  that  the  towns  upon  the  "^^de  anil 
river,  from  the  north  bounds  of  Windfor,  with  Farming-  ^    courts 
ton,  to    thirty  miles  ifland,  fhould  be  one  county,   to  be  regulated, 
called  the  county  of  Hartford.     That  from  Pawcatuck 
river,  with  Norwich,  to  the  weft  bounds  of  Hammonaf- 
fet,  fliould  be  one  county,  by  the  name  of  the   county  of 
New-London  ;  and  that  from  the  eaft  bounds  of  Strat- 
ford to  the  weftern  boundary  of  the  colony,  be  another 
county,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  county  of  Fair- 
field.    The  county  courts  were  to  confift  of  one  magif- 
trate,  at  leaft,  and   of  two  juftices  of  the  quorum.     If 
three  magiftrates  were  prefent  they  were  authorized  to 
proceed   to   bufinefs,  though   the  juftices  were  abfent. 
The  probation    of  wills    and   all   teftamentary  matters, 
which  before  had  been  tranfafted  ip  the  court  of  magif- 
trates, were  referred  to  the  county  courts,  with  the  liber- 
ty of  appeal  to  the  fuperior  court. 

In  1667,  no  alteration  was  made  with  refpe(£t  to  the  May  166'-. 
governor  and  council,  but  Governor  Winthrop,  at  firft, 
declined  his  office.  The  aflembly  appointed  a  commit- 
tee, and  defired  to  know  the  reafons  of  his  defire  to  leave 
the  chair.  They  reported  the  reafons  to  the  affembly. 
It  feems  that  the  expenfe  of  his  office  was  fuch,  in  his 
opinion,  that  he  could  not,  confiftently  M'ith  his  duty  to 
himfelf  and  family,  continue  in  it,  without  fome  further 
allowance  from  the  colony.  The  affembly  continued 
their  earneft  defire,  that  he  would  accept  the  truft  to 
which  he  had  been  chofen.     To  enable  him  to  fupport  his 

*  No,  XXII. 


332  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.  ofHce  with  dignity,  the  legiflature  freed  all  his  eftate,  in 
V.>'V>^^  the  colony,  from  taxation,  and  granted  him  a  hundred 
^^^7-  and  ten  pounds  out  of  the  public  treafury.     Upon  thefc 

encouragements,  in  connexion  with  the  defire  and  una- 
nimity of  the  freemen,    he  confented  to    accept  his  ap- 
pointment. 
Lvme  About  the  year  1664,  fettlements  commenced  on  the 

marie  a  ^^ft  fi^e  of  Connefticut  river,  upon  the  tra£l,  on  that 
town  May  fide,  which  originally  belonged  to  the  town  of  Saybroot 
'667.  In  May    1667,  the  inhabitants  were  fo  increafed,  that  the 

affembly   made   them  a  diflin<£t   town  by   the    name  of 
Lyme.     The  Indian  name   for  the   eaflern   part    of  the 
town  was  Nehantick. 
Mav  14th       -^"^  ^^^  election   in   1668,  the   freemen  eleQed,  Mi*. 
1668.  Alexander   Bryant,    Mr.    James    Bifliop,  Mr.  Anthony 

Howkins  and  Mr.  Thomas  Welles,  magiftrates,  inftead 
of  Mr.  Matthew  Allen,  Mr.  Shermanj  Mr.  Crane,  and 
Mr.  Clark. 

In  this  and  the  next  year?,  feveral  new  fettlements  were 
made  and  new  towns  incorporated. 

On  the  20th  of  May    1662,  a  purchafe   was   made  of 

the  Indians,  of  a  townlhip  of  land  termed  thirty  miles  ifl- 

:ind.     The  Indian   name  of  the  tra6t,   eaft  of  the  river, 

fince  called  Eaft-Haddam,  Mas  Machemoodus.     Theori- 

Haddam     ginal  proprietors  were  twenty   eight.     They  began  their 

inadca       fettlements  on  the  weft  fide  of  the  river,  and  the  inhabi- 

r?fl^"  tants  were  fo   increafed   that,  in  the  fcffion   in    0£lober 

1668,  the  plantation  was  vefted  with  town  privileges,  and 

named  Haddam.     The  extent  of  the  town  was  fix  miles 

eaft  and  weft  of  the  river. 

MafTacoe        About  the  fame  time  a  fettlement  was  made  at  Mafla- 

purchi-     eoe.     In  April  1644,  the  general  court    of  Connecticut 

led,  and      gave  liberty  to  Governors  Hopkins  and  Haynes    to  dif- 

made  a       ^^^^  of  the  lands  upon  Tunxis  river,  called  Maflacoe,  to 

thrname    ^^^^''  ^^  ^^^^  inhabitants  of  Windfor  as  they  fhould  judge 

of.Symf-     expedient.     In  1647,  the  court  refolved,   that  Maflacoe 

lury.         {hould  be  purchafed  by  the  country,  and  a  committee  was 

appointed  to  difpofe  of  it  to  fuch  of  the    inhabitants  of 

Windfor    as  they    fhould    choofe.     A  purchafe  of  the 

lands  was  made  of  the  Indians,  and   fettlements   began 

tinder  the  town  of  Windfor.     The   plantation,  at  firft, 

was  confidered  as  an  appendix,  or  part  of  that  town.    In 

the  feflion  in    May  1670,  it  was  enabled,  that  MafTacoc 

fliould  be  a  diftind   town,  by  the  name  of  Symfbury. 

The  limits  granted  were  ten  miles  northward  from  the 


CiiAr.  XIV.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T       333 

north  bounces  of  Farmington,   and  ten    miles  weftward   v.^'-v-v^ 
from  the  weftern  bounds  of  Wlndfor.  Book  I, 

Ar  the  fame  time,  New-Haven  Village  was  incorpora-  1670. 
ted  and  made  a  town,  by  the  name  of  Wallingford.     The  ^Vallinc- 
purchafe  of  the  town  was  made  by  Governor  Eaton,  Mr.  f^rd  in- 
Davenport,  and    other  planters   of  New-Haven,  in  De-  corpora- 
cembcr  1638.     The  fettlenient  was  prcje£led  in  1669.  *^^* 
A  committee  was  appointed,  by  the  town  of  New-Haven, 
.yelled  with  powers  to  manage  the  whole  affair  of  the  fet- 
tlement.     This   committee  held  the  lands  in  truft,  and 
a£lcd  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  town,  as  truftees,  until  May 
1672,  when  they  refigned  their  trufl:  to  the  town. 

At  the  general  eletlion.   May  1670,   William   Leet,  May  lath 
Efquire,  was  chofen  deputy  governor,  and  Major  Mafon,  1670. 
who  for  many  years  had  been  deputy  governor,  was  cho- 
fen the  firft  magiftrate. 

Until  this  time,  the  great  body  of  the  freemen  had  an-  Alteration 
nually  convened  at  Hartford,  upon    the   day   of  eleftion,  of  the 
to  make  choice  of  the  governor,  magiilrates,  and  civil  of-  mo^^f  of 
ficerS;  appointed  by  charter,  to  be  elected  on   that  day.  *^'^*-^'°"* 
But  the  freemen  were  now  become  fo  numerous,    and  It 
had  been  found  to  be  fo  expenfive  and  inconvenient,  that 
it  was  judged  necelTary  to   alter    the    mode   of  ele£l:ion. 
The  afiembly  refolved,  "  That  henceforth  all  the  free- 
**  men  of  this   jurifdidtlon,    without  any  further   fum- 
*'  mons,  from  year  to  year,  (hall  or  may    upon  the  fec- 
*'  ond  Thurfday  in  May  yearly,  in  perfon  or  in  proxy,  at 
*'  Hartford,  attend  nnd  confummate  the  election  of  gov- 
**  ernor,  deputy  governor,  and  afhftants,  and  fuch   other 
*'  public  officers  as  his  majefty  hath  appointed,   by  our 
•'  charter,  then  yearly  to    be   chofen."     A  law  was  then 
made  regulating  the  freemen's  meetings  and  the  mode  of 
cledtion,  for  fubftancc  nearly  the  fame,   with  the  law  re- 
fpe£ling  the  election  at  the  prefenttime. 

While  the  colony  was  thus  extending  its  fettlements, 
and  regulating  its  internal  police,  great  troubles  arofe  re- 
fpe^lingthe  boundaries  between  Connefticut  and  Rhode- 
Ifland.  From  year  to  year  Connefticut  had  appointed 
committees  to  fettle  the  boundary  line  between  the  colo- 
nies, but  all  their  attempts  had  been  unfuccefsful. 

In  1668,   the   afTembly    appointed   Mr.   Wyllys,   and  [);fyu*g 
Mr.  Robert  Thompfon  of  London,  by  petition   or  other-  with 
wife,  to  reprefent  the  affair  to   his  majefty,  and  obtain  a  Rhode 
refolution  refpe£ting  the   boundary   line.     Nothing   de-  ^^^.^  ''^^' 
cifive,  however,  was  effe£led.     Meanwhile    the  condu£l  ^^^^^".^^ 
of  Rhode-Jfland  was  fuch,  that  the  general  aflembly  of  ^ies. 


334  THE     H  I  S  T  O  R  Y       Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.  Connecticut  declared  it  to  be  intolerable,  and  contrary  to 
V->''W^  the  fettlement  made  by  his  majcfly's  comaiinioners.  The 
1670,  affcmbly  therefore,  in  May  1670,  appointed  Mr.  Leet,  the 

deputy  governor,  John  Allen,  and  James  Richards, 
Efquires,  Captain  John  Winthrop,  and  Captain  Benjamin 
Newbury,  a  committee  to  meet  at  New-London,  the  June 
following,  to  treat  with  fuch  gentlemen,  from  Rhode-Ifl- 
and,  as  Ihould  be  fent  properly  authorized  to  a6l  in  the 
aflair  ;  and  concerning  the  injuries,  which  the  inhabitants 
of  that  colony  liad  done  to  the  people  of  Connecticut. 
They  were  not  only  veiled  with  plenary  powers  to  com" 
promife  thefe  dtflicukies  ;  but,  in  cafe  the  commiflioners 
from  Rhode-Ifland  would  not  agree  to  fome  equitable 
mode  of  fettlement,  to  reduce  the  people  of  Squamacuck 
and  Narraganfet  to  obedience  to  this  colony.  They  were 
alfo  authorized  to  hold  courts  in  thePequot  and  Narragan- 
fet country,  and  to  hear  and  determine  all  cafes  of  injury, 
which  had  been  done  to  the  inhabitants  of  Connecticut, 
according  to  law.  InftruClions  were  alfo  given  them 
to  appoint  all  officers,  necelTary  for  the  peaceable  govern- 
ment of  that  part  of  the  colony. 

The  commiffioners  of  the  two  colonies  met  at  New- 
London,  but  could  efl-e6l  no  fettlement  of  the  controver- 
fy.  The  commiflioners  from  Rhode-Ifland  infilled,  that 
Pawcatuck  river  was  their  boundary  according  to  the  ex- 
prefs  words  of  their  charter.  Thofe  from  Connecticut 
infilled,  that  their  charter,  which  was  prior  to  that  of 
Rhode-llland,  bounded  them  eallerly  upon  Narraganfet 
bay  and  river,  and  that  the  Pequot  country,  which  they 
had  conquered,  extended  te»  miles  eaft  ofPawcatuckj 
that  therefore  they  had  a  right  to  that  part  both  by  char- 
ter and  conquell. 

As  no  agreement  could  be  efFeCted,  the  committee 
from  Connecticut,  went  into  the  Narraganfet  country, 
and  read  the  charter  at  Wickford  and  the  plantations 
eaft:  of  Pawcatuck  river,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  general 
aflembly  of  Connecticut,  demanded  the  fubmiflion  and 
obedience  of  the  people  to  its  authority  and  laws.  They 
alfo  appointed  officers  for  the  good  government  of  the 
people. f 

BoTH  colonies  had  fomcthing  plaufible  to  plead.  The 
cafe  truly  Hated  is  this.  The  old  patent  of  Connecticut, 
to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord  Brook  and  their  aflbciates, 
bounded  the  traCt  conveyed  ealtward  by  Narraganfet  bay 

t  Records  of  Connefticut. 


Chap.  XIV.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        335 

and  river.     The  charter   granted   April    1662,  gave  the  v.^-w-/ 

fame  boundaries  as  the  old  patent  in    163 1.     Pawcatuck  Book  I. 

river  was  never  known  by  the  name  of  Narraganfet  river,  1670. 

and  it  made  no  bay  ;  confequently  the    mouth  of  it  and 

the  fca  there  could  not  be  called  Narraganfet  bay.     But 

when  Mr.  John  Clark  was  in  England,  as  agent  for   the 

colony  of  Rhode-Illand  in  1663,  there  arofe   much  diffi-  .       __.. 

culty  between    him  and  Mr.  Winthrop  refpedling  the  throp 

bundaries  between  the  two  colonies.     They  were  advifed,  and  Mr. 

by  their  friends,  to  fubmit  the  controverted  points  to  ar-  Clark  fub- 

bitrators,  in  England  ;  to  which  they   confented.     Wil- "1"*. '-"^'*' 

liam  Breereton,  Efquire,  Major  Robert  Thompfon,  Cap-  ^^^  ^^ 

tain  Richard  Deane,  Captain  John  Brookhaven,  and  Doc-  arbitra* 

tor  Benjamin   Worfeley,  were  mutually  chofen    to  hear  tors. 

and  determine  the  differences  between  them.     They  came 

to  the  following  determination. 

*«  First,  That  a   river  there  commonly  called  and  Their  de- 

«  known  by  Pawcatuck  river  fhall  be  the  certain  bounds  termina- 

"  between  thofe  two  colonies,  which  faid  river   (hall  for  tion, 

<«  the  future,  be  alfo  called  alias  Narraeance   or  Nana-    ?J 

r       •       !j  °  1663. 

"  ganfet  river," 

"  Secondly,  If  any  part  of  that  purchafe  at  Quine- 
**  baug  doth  lie  along  upon  the  eaft  fide  of  the  river,  that 
**  goeth  down  by  Lew-London,  within  fix  miles  of  the  faid 
**  river,  that  then  it  Ihall  wholly  belong  to  Conneflicut 
**  colony,  as  well  as  the  reft  which  lieth  on  the  weftern 
"  fide  of  the  aforefaid  river." 

<*  Thirdly,  That  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants  of 
**  that  land  about  Mr.  Smith's  trading  houfe,  claimed 
"  or  purchafed  by  Major  Atherton,  Captain  Hutchinfon, 
**  Lieutenant  Hudfon,  and  others,  or  given  unto  them 
««  by  Indians,  (hall  have  free  liberty  to  choofe  to  which 
**  of  thofe  colonies  they  will  belong." 

*'  Fourthly,  That  propriety  fhall  not  be  altered  nor 
«  deftroyed,  but  carefully  maintained  through  the  faid 
**  colonies." 

To  this,  the  two  agents,  John  Wintlirop  and  John 
Clark,  Efquires,  interchangeably  fet  their  hands  and  feal*, 
as  an  agreement  ffiially  terminating  the  controverfy  be- 
tween them.  This  was  figned  by  them  on  the  7th  of 
March,  1663. 

In  confequence  of  this  agreement,  the  charter  of 
Rhode-Illand,  granted  July  8th,  1663,  bounded  that 
colony  weftward  by  Pawcatuck  river,  and  ordained  with 
particular  reference  to  the  agreement,  which  is  recognized 
in  the  charter,  that  this  river  fhould  be  called  alias  Nar- 


33<5  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIV. 

v*^-v-sj    ragance  or  Narraganfet  river  j  and  tiiat  the  fame  (hall  be 

Book  I.    holden  by  the  colony  of  Rhode-Ifland,  "  any   grant,  or 

1670.         «'  claufs  in  a  late  grant  to  the  governor  and    company    of 

*'  Conneclicut  colony  in  America,  to  the  contrary  there- 

**  of,  in  any  v/ife  notvi'ithftanding." 

The  proprietors,  mentioned  in  the  agreement,  made 
choice  of  the  government  of  Connefticut,  July  3d,  1663, 
and  were  taken  under  the  jurifdi6lion  and  protc£lion  of 
tliis  colony. 

Connecticut  infilled,  that  Mr.  Winthrop's  agency 
was  finiflied  before  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Clark,  and 
that  he  had  never  received  any  inftru£lions  from  the  co- 
lony, authorizing  him  to  enter  into  any  fucli  compa6l. 
It  wasalfo  pleaded,  that  his  majelly  could  not  re-grant  that, 
which  he  had  previoully  granted  to  Connedlicut.  Rhode- 
Ifland  infilled  on  the  agreement  between  Mr.  Winthrop 
and  Mr.  Clark,  and  on  the  limits  granted  in  the  charter 
of  that  colony.  Hence  arofe  a  controverfy  between  the 
colonies,  which  continued  more  than  fixty  years. 

Governor  Winthrop,  at  the  feihon  in  0(il:ober,  again 
propofed  a  refignation  of  his  office  ;  and  defired  the  con- 
sent and  approbation  of  the  general  aflembly.  The  af- 
fembly  were  utterly  oppofed  to  it,  and  could,  by  no 
means,  be  perfuadcd  to  give  their  confent.  Through  the 
influence  of  the  houfes,  he  was  perfuaded  to  keep  the 
chair,  and  means  were  adopted  to  give  him  fatisfadlion. 
The  aflembly,  at  the  next  feihon,  granted  a  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  falary.  Grants  were  fcveral  times  made  him 
of  valuable  tradls  of  land.  Thefe  confiderations,  with 
the  great  unanimity  andelleem  of  the  freemen,  prevailed 
with  him  to  continue  in  oifice  until  his  death. 
May  1671.  Im  iSji  the  former  officers  were  all  re-chofen. 
settle-  During  the  term  of  eighteen  or  twenty  years,  attempts 

Derby.  had  been  making  to  fettle  a  townfliip  at  Paugafl'et.  A- 
bout  the  year  1653,  it  appears,  that  Governor  Goodyear 
and  feveral  other  gentlemen,  in  New-Haven,  made  ;i 
purchafe  of  a  confiderable  trail  there.  About  the  year 
1654,  it  feems,  that  fome  few  fettlements  were  made. 
1  he  next  year,  at  the  feffion  in  0(5lobe?>,  the  planters  pre- 
fented  a  petition  to  the  general  court,  at  New-Haven,  to 
be  made  a  diftinft  town,  and  to  order  their  affairs  inde- 
pendently of  the  other  towns.  The  court  granted  their 
petition  j  gave  them  liberty  to  purchafe  a  tra6t  fufficient 
for  a  townfliip  ;  releafed  them  from  taxes  ;  and  appointed 
Richard  Baldwin  moderator  to  call  meetings,  and  conduct 
the  affairs  of  the  plantation.     At  the  next   court,  how- 


CkAP.   XIV.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       337 

ever,  Mr.  Prudden,  and  the  people  of  Milford,  made  fuch  Book  L 
flrong  remonftrances  againfl  the  aft,  that  the  court  de-  L-'^y-'O 
termined,  the  people  at  PaugafTer  Ihould  continue,  as  *67i. 
they  had  been,  under  the  town  of  Milford,  unlefs  the  par- 
ties fhouldcome  to  an  agreement,  refpetting  the  incorpo- 
ration of  the  inhabitants  there  into  a  dittin6l  townlhip. 
In  1657  and  1659  a  purchafe  was  made  of  the  lands  of 
the  chief  fagamores,  Wetanamow  and  Ralkenute.  The 
purchafe  appears  to  have  been  confirmed  afterwards  by 
Okenuck,  the  chief  fachem.  Some  of  the  firft  planters 
were  Ed,  Woofter,  Ed.  Riggs,  Richard  Baldwin,  Samuel 
Hopkins,  Thomas  Langdon,  and  Francis  French.  They 
preferred  a  petition  to  the  general  afTembly  of  Connec- 
ticut, praying  for  town  privileges  in  1671  i  The  affem- 
bly  determined,  that  their  fouth  bounds  fliould  be  the 
north  line  of  Milford,  and  that  they  ihould  extend  their 
limits  twelve  miles  northward,  to  a  place  called  the  notch. 
For  their  encouragement,  it  was  promifed,  that,  as  foon  as 
there  fhould  be  thirty  families  in  the  plantation,  they  fhould 
bevelled  with  town  privileges.  About  four  years  after, 
October  1675,  they  renewed  their  application.  They  rep- 
refented,  that  they  then  confifted  of  twelve  families,  and 
that  eleven  more  were  about  moving  dire£l:ly  into  th» 
plantation  :  That  they  had  procured  a  minifter,  built  him 
an  houfe,  and  made  provifion  for  the  enjoyment  of  divine 
ordinances.  Upon  thefe  reprefentitions,  the  aflembly 
made  them  a  town,  by  the  name  of  Derby. 

Major  John  Mafon,  who,  for  many  years,  had  been 
deputy  governor,  and  rendered  fo  many  important  fervi- 
ces  to  the  colony,  being  far  advanced  in  years,  and  vifited 
with  many  infirmities,  about  this  time,  excufed  himfelf 
from  the  fervice  of  the  commonwealth.  At  the  next  gjg^jQji 
cledtion,  May  9th  1672,  Mr.  John  Nafti  was  chofen  ma-  May  9th 
giftrate,  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by  his  rcfignation.*         167a. 

*  John  Mafon,  Efquire,  was  bred  to  arms  in  the  Dutch  Neth- 
eriands,  under  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  ;  he  came  into  New  lingland, 
with  Mr.  Warham  and  his  company,  in  1630.  Five  years  after, 
he  removed  to  Connedicut,  and  was  one  of  the  firft  planters,  of 
Windfor.  In  1643,  he  waschofen  magiftrate,  in  which  office  he 
continued  until  May  1660,  whii-n  he  was  chofen  deputy  govern- 
or. In  this  office  he  continued  ten  years,  until  May  1670.  At 
the  defire  of  the  inhabitants  of  Saybrook,  and  for  tlie  defence  of 
the  colony,  he  removed  to  that  town  in  1647.  From  thence  he 
removed  to  Norwich  in  1659,  where  he  died  in  167a,  or  1673,  in  - 
the  7jd  year  of  his  age.  He  was  tall  and  portly,  tuil  of  martial 
fire,  and  (hunned  no  hardfhips  or  dangers,  in  the  defence  and  fer- 
vice of  the  colony.  He  was  a  gentleman  not  only  of  dtftingniftied 
heroifm,  but  of  ftri<Sl  morals  and  great  prudence. 
Uu 


33S  THE    HISTORY      Chap.   XlV. 

Book  I.       Until  this  time,  the   colony  had  kept  their  laws  in 
V.>'V>>-'  manufcript,  and  had  promulgated  them,  by    fending  co- 
167a.         piss  to  be  publicly  read  in  the  refpe£live  towns.     This 
La    "?         7<^'^'^>  ^^^^  ^^^  '^O'^^  ^^  Connisflicut  was  publifhed.     It  was 
orinted.      printed  at  Cambridge  in  Maffachufetts.     It  confifted  of 
bttween  feventy  and  eighty  pages,  in  fmall  folio,  printed, 
and  of  nearly  the  fame  number  of  blank  pages.     It  is  a 
great  curiofity.     The  preface  is  v/ritten  in  the  moft  reli- 
gious manner,  fufhciently  folemrt  for  an  introdu£liori  ta 
a  body  of  fermons.     It  is  thus  introduced,  "  To  our  be- 
**  loved  brethren  and  neighbours,   the    inhabitants    of 
<*  Connecticut,  the  general  court  of  that  colony  wifb 
*'  grace  and  peace  in  our  Lord  Jesus."     It   recognizes- 
the  defign  of  the  firfl:  planters,  *'  who,"  as  the  court  ex- 
prefs  it,  "  fettled  thefc  foundations,"  the  maintaining  of 
**  religion  according  to  the  gofpel  of  the  Lord  Jesu^  ;" 
which  it  declares  "  ought   to  be    the  endeavours  of'all 
*'  thofe,  that  fliaU  fuceeed,  to  uphold  and  encourage  un- 
^'^  to  all  generations."     The  aflembly  enadted,  that  eve- 
ry family  (hould  have  a  law  book.     In  the  blank  pages, 
aJl  the  laws  enafted  after  1672  were  inferted,  in  writing, 
until  the  year  1699,  when  the /book  was  filled  up. 
Ctourtof         At  the  eledion,  May  8th  1673,  Robert  Treat,  Efquire, 
F.ledion     W-'as  chofen  into  the  magiflracy. 

May  8th  At  this  court,  Richard  Smith  was  appointed  a  com- 
^(>7^  miffioner,  at  Narraganfet,  and  veiled  with  the  powers  of 
magiflracy  through  that  country.  A  court  of  commif- 
fioners  was  inllituted  there,  and  Mr.  Smith  was  appoint- 
ed the  chief  judge.  This  court  had  cognizance  of  alt 
cafes,  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds,  provided  that  all: 
fuch  as  exceeded  forty  fliillings  Ihould  be  tried  by  a  jury, 
A  commifiionerf  was  appointed  at  Pettyquamfcot. 

As  war  bad  been  declared  in  England,  the  laft  year,  »-» 
War  with  gainft  the  Dutch,  the  colony  was  put  into  a  ftate  of  de- 
"  fence.  It  was  ordered,  that  a  troop  of  horfe  fliould  be 
raifed  in  each  county.  This  year,  the  colony  was  more 
thoroughly  alarmed,  and  experienced  the  benefit  of  be- 
ing in  a  good  ftate  of  preparation.  On  the  30th  of  July, 
a  fmall  Dutch  fleet,  under  the  command  of  Commodores 
Cornelius  Everfte  and  Jacob  Benkes,  arrived  at  New- 
York.  One  John  Manning,  who  commanded  the  fort 
and  ifland  there,  treachcroully  delivered  them  up  to  the 
enemy,  without  firing  a  gun,  or  attempting  the  leafl  re- 
fiftance.     The  inhabitants  of  New-York  and  New-Jerfey 

f  CommiSioner  was  a  name  for  a  juftice  of  the  peacci 


Chap.  XIV.      OF    CONNECTICUT.      359 

generally  fubmitted   to  the   Dutch  without-oppofition.  Book  L. 
About  the  fame  time,  the  Dutch  captared  a  veffel  of  Mr.  v,^^v*vy 
Sillick  s  of  this  colony,  near  one  of  the  harbours  of  the  1673. 
weftern  towns. 

Upon   this  emergency,  a  fpecial  aflembly  was  convo- Theaf- 
ked,  at  Hartford,  on  the  7th  of  Augufl.    Orders  \v«ere  im-  fombly 
mediately  iflued,  that  the  refpedive  troops,  in  the  coIo-  jP^^*"' 
ny,   with  five  hundred    dragoons,    fhould  forthwith  be  meflen-    " 
teady  for  fervice  ;  and  that  all  the  train  bands  fhould  be  gers  to 
complete  in   their   arms.     The    fame  day,   Mr.   James  the  Dutch 
Richards  and  Mr.  William  Rofwell   we're  difpaitched,  ^"J"^^"" 
■with  a  letter  from  the  afTembly,  to  the  Dutch   commo- 
dores, to  know  their  further  intentions.     The  aflembly 
remonftrated  againft  their  condudl  in  capturing  Mr.  Sil- 
lick's  veflel,  and  in  demanding  the  fub'miffion  cf  his  ma- 
jefty's  Englilh  fubjefts,  upon  Long-Ifland,  and  that  they 
fhould  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  States  general. 
They  acquainted  the  Dutch  commanders,  that  the  Uni- 
ted colonies  were,  by  his  majefty,  conftituted  the  defend- 
ers of  the  lives  and    liberties  of  Iris  fubjefts,  in   thefe 
parts  of  his  dominions,  and  afliured  them  that  they  would 
be  faithful  to  their  truft. 

The  aflembly  appointed  the  governor,  deputy  gover- 
nor, and  a  number  of  the  council,  a  committee  of  war  to 
z£k  as  emergencies  fhould  require. 

The  Dutch  commanders  returned  a  foldier-like  an- 
fwer  to  the  meflengers  and  letter  from  Conneclicut,  pur- 
porting, that  they  had  a  commiflion  to  do  all  damages, 
in  their  power,  to  their  enemies  by  land  and  fea  ;  that 
they  had  fummoned  the  towns  upon  Long-Jfland  to  fub- 
mit  to  them  *,  and  that  unlefs  they  ftiould  comply,  they 
would  reduce  them  to  their  fubje£lion  by  force  of  arms  : 
that  as  the  vcfl^el  they  had  taken  was  their  enemy's  it  was 
flrange  to  them  that  any  queftions  were  propofed  con- 
cerning it :  and  that  while  they  doubted  not  of  the  faith- 
fulnefs  of  the  United  colonies  in  defending  their  majef- 
ty's  fubje^ls,  they  fhould  not  be  lefs  zealous  and  faithful 
in  the  fervice  of  the  States  General. f 

On  the  1  ith  of  Auguft,  the  committee  of  war  met  at 
Hartford.  They  appear  to  have  apprehended  an  imme- 
diate invafion.  They  gave  orders,  that  the  whole  mili- 
tia of  the  colony  fhould  be  ready  to  march  at  an  hour's 
warning,  to  any  place  which  might  be  attacked.  They 
made  fuch  arrangements  of  the  dragoons,  and  fent  fuch 

t  Letter  on  file. 


meet  Od 


340  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.  afliftance  to  their  friends  upon  Long-Ifland,  as  prevented 
y.yv~Kj  an  invafion  of  any  part  of  the  colony,  and  the  plunder 
1673.         and  deftruQion  of  the  EngUfli  upon  the  ifland. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  alfcmbly,  in  0£tober,  letters 
^^f!"i^'l  were  fent  to  Maflachufetts  and  Plimouth,  to  folicit  their 
united  affiftance  agailift  the  Dutch,  and  to  know  their 
opinion  relative  to  proclaiming  war,  and  engaging  in  of- 
fenfive  operations  againft  them.  Mr.  John  Banks  was 
font  exprefs  to  the  Dutch  commanders,  with  a  fpirited 
remonllrance  againft  the  condudl:  of  the  Dutch,  who  had 
threatened  the  towns  on  the  Ifland  with  deftru(5lion,  by 
fire  and  fword,  unlefsthcy  would  fubmit  and  fwear  alle- 
giance to  the  States  General.  They  haiJ  fent  (hips  and 
an  armed  force  towards  the  eaft  end  of  the  ifland,  to  fub- 
due  the  people  ;  but  had  been  prevented.  The  affembly 
affured  them,  that  they  knew  how  to  avenge  themfelves 
upon  their  plantations,  and  not  only  fo,  but  upon  their 
head  quarters,  if  the  colonies  fhould  rife,  and  warned 
them  of  the  confcquences  of  injuring  the  Englifli  towns 
upon  the  ifla.ul. 

Connecticut,  upon  confidting  their  confederates, 
found  it  to  be  the  general  opinion  to  act  offenfively  a- 
gainft  the  Dutch.  A  fpecial  afl'embly  was  called  on  the 
26th  of  November,  and  war  was  immediately  proclaimed 
againft  them.  It  was  determined,  that  an  expedition 
fliould  be  undertaken  againft  New-York.  This,  it  feems, 
was  in  conjunftion  with  the  other  confederates.  Major 
Treat  was  appointed  to  command  the  troops  from  Con- 
ne<!i!licut. 

The  Dutch  not  only  threatened  the  Englifh  towns  oji 
the  ifland  with  deftru6tion,  but,  it  feems,  made  feveral 
defcents  upon  it  with  a  view  to  attack  them  ;  however, 
by  the  adiftance  of  the  troops  from  Conne6ticut,  they 
were,  in  all  inftances,  repulfed  and  driven  from  the  ifl- 
and.f  Before  fuitable  preparations  could  be  made  for  an 
attack  upon  the  Dutch,  at  their  head  quarters,  the  feafon 
was  too  far  advanced  for  military  operations.  Early  in 
the  fpring,  the  news  of  a  general  pacification  between 
England  and  Holland  prevented  all  further  proceedings 
of  this  kind.  The  whole  militia  of  the  colony,  at  this 
time,  amounted  to  no  more  than  2,070  men.  One  quar- 
ter, it  feems,  were  mounted  as  dragoons,  and  employed 
for  the  defence  of  the  colony  and  of  his  majefty's  Englifh 
fubje(n;s  upon  Long-Ifland. 

t  Records  of  Conne(5ticut  and  letters  on  file. 


Chap.  XIV.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        341 

The  only  alteration  made,  by  the  election  in  1674,  Book  I. 
was  the  choice  of  Thomas  Topping,  Efquire,  inflead  of  v^y^vo 
Mr.  Howkins.  1674. 

As  the  inhabitants  of  Long-Ifland  had  been  protected 
and  governed,  the  latter  part  of  the  laft  year,  by  Connedl- 
icut,  they  made  application,  at  this  aflembly,  for  the  fur- 
ther enjo)ment  of  its  protedtion  and  government.  The 
legiflature  accepted  them,  and  appointed  officers  in  the 
feveral  Englifh  towns,  as  they  had  dene  at  their  feilion 
the  preceding  0£loher. 

Upon  the  application  of  the  town  of  Wickford,  and 
other  plantr.tions  in  Narraganfet,  the  legiflature  took 
them  under  the  government  of  this  colony.  A  court  was 
jnilituted  at  Stonington,  for  the  government  of  the  peo- 
ple in  Narraganfet,  that  they  might  not  live  in  diflblute 
practices,  to  the  dilhonor  of  God,  of  the  king  and  nation, 
and  to  the  fcandalizing  of  the  very  heathens. 

The  legiflature,  in  1672,  granted  liberty  to  Mr.  Sher-  Pompc- 
man,  Mr.  William  Curtice,  and  their  aflbciates,  to  make  rang  fet- 
a  plantation   at  Pomperaug.     Such  a  number  of  fettle-  t'^eti  and 
ments  had  been  made  there,   in  about  two  years,  that  the  Ji^l"^^^, 
aflembly,  in  May  1674,  enadled  that  it  fhould  be  a" town  ^ 
by  the  name  of  Woodbury. 

Scarcely  had  the  colonies  recovered  from  one  calam- 
ity and  danger,  before  new  and  more  terrible  fcenes  of 
alarm  and  de(lru£lion  prefented  themfelves.  Not  only 
Connedlicut  but  all  the  New-England  colonies  were  now 
verging  upon  a  moft  diftrefsful  and  important  peri- 
od, in  which  their  very  exiftence  was  endangered. 

Upon   the  pacification  with  the  Dutch,  the  Duke  of  Major 
York,  to  remove   all    doubt  and   controverfy  refpe£ling  Androfs 
his  property  in  America,  took  out  a  new  patent  from  the  appointed 
king,  June  29th  1674,  granting  the  fame  territory  defcri-  ^TZ^'!^^ 
bed  in  the  former  patent.     Two  days  after,  he  commif-  York, 
fwned   Major,    afterwards    Sir  Edmund    Androfs  to  be 
governor  of  New- York  and  all  his  territories  in  thefc 
parts.     The  major  was  a  mere  tool  of  the  Duke  and  a 
tyrant  over  the  people.      Mr.  Smith,   in  his  hiftory  of 
New- York,  obferves,  "  That  he  knew  no  law  but  the 
*'  will  of  his  mafter,  and  that  Kirk  and  JefFeries  w'erc 
*'  not  fitter  inftrumcnts  than  he  to  execute  the  defpotic 
**  projects  of  James  the  fecond." 

Notwithstanding  the  priority  of  the  patent  of  Con-  Hisdai'ms 
nefticut  to  tlie  Duke  of  York's,  and  the  determination  upon 
of  his  majefty's  commiffioners  about  ten  years  before,  he  ComiedU 
fet  up  the  Duke'6  claim  to  all  that  part  of  the  colony  *^"^  ^^^^' 


342  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XIV.. 

Book  I.   which  lies  to  the  weftward  of  Connefticut  river,  and 
K.yy^*sJ  he  threatened  the  colony  with  an  invafion-. 
1675.  At  the  fame  time,  Philip,  fachem  of  the  Wampanoags, 

.„  .  .  commenced  hoftilities  againft  the  colonies,  and  involved 
Philip.  them  in  a  moil  bloody  and  deftrudiive  war.  It  had 
The  rea-  been  fuppofed,  that  the  Indians  for  feveral  years,  had 
foHs  of  it.  been  concerting  a  general  conspiracy  againft  the  planta- 
tions, in  New-England,  with  a  view  of  extirpating  the 
Englifh  from  the  country.  They  viewed  themfeives  as  a 
free  and  independent  people.  Their  fachcms  were  men 
of  high  and  independent  fpirits.  They  confidered  them- 
feives as  foVereign  princes,  and  claimed  to  be  the  original 
proprietors  and  lords  of  the  land.  They  viewed  the 
Englifh  as  intruders  and  ufurpers.  "While,  therefore, 
they  (nw  them,  in  almoft  every  quarter,  extending  their 
fettlernents  over  the  dominions  of  their  anceftots,  they 
could  not  but  kindle  into  refentment,  and  adopt  counfel» 
to  prevent  the  lofs  of  their  liberties  and  country.  Though 
they  had  entered  into  treaties  with  the  colonies,  and  ac- 
knowledged themfeives  to  be  fubje6l5  of  the  king  of 
England,  yet  it  is  by  no  means  probable,  that,  by  thefe 
treaties  and  acknowledgements,  they  dcfigned  to  give  up 
their  independen.ce,  or  any  of  their  natural  rights.  They 
viewed  themfeives  rather  as  allies,  than  as  fubje£ls  of 
England.  To  be  called  to  an  account  for  their  conduct, 
and  to  be  thwarted  in  their  defigns,  by  the^olonies,  or  to 
be  holden  as  amenable  to  them  for  their  a£lions,  was  a 
treatment  which  their  haughty  fpirits  could  not  brook. 
Thefe  were  general  reafons  for  which  they  might  wifh 
for  the  deflru£lion  of  their  Englifli  neighbours.  But 
befide  thefe,  there  were  others,  which  had  more  imme- 
diate influence  upon  Philip.  John  Saufaman,  a  Chrif- 
tian  Indian,  who  had  once  been  a  fubje£l  of  Philip,  made 
a  difcovery  of  his  plots  againft  the  Engjifh.  Philip,  fi-^ 
red  with  refentment,  procured  the  murder  of  Saufaman. 
The  murderers  were  difcovered,  tried  by  the  Englifli 
laws,  and  executed.  Philip,  enraged  at  the  execution 
of  his  fubje£ls,  confcious  of  his  own  guilt,  and  probably 
apprehenfive  for  his  perfonal  fafety,  armed  his  own  war- 
riors, the  Wampanoags,  and  fuch  Arrange  Indians  as  ht 
could  engage  to  embark  in  his  meafurcs,  and,  with  thd 
moft  hoftile  appearances,  began  to  march  up  and  down 
the  country. 

As  the  colonies,  for  fome  time,  had  been  apprized, 
that  the  Indians  were  forming  defigns  againft  them,  they, 
by  treaties  and  fuch  other  means  as  iippeared  to  be  wjic 


Ch»ip.  XIV.    OF    CONNECTICUT.         343 

and  politic,  had  been  attempting  to  prevent  the  ftorm.  Book  I. 
Notwithftanding,-it  now  burft  upon  them  with  uncom-  v.-^'^w^ 
mnn  fury.     Its  deil;ru6lion  was  wide  and  dreadful.  ^^TS- 

Philip's  numbers  daily  increafing  gave  him  frefh  cour-  T|,e  jjj. 
age,  and  increafed  his  infolence.      Oa  the  20th  June  diana 
1675,  his  Indiana  commenced  hoftilities  upon   Swanzey,  corn- 
one  of  the  frontier  towns  of  New-Plimouth,  borderine  P^^i^.p^.  , 
on  the  territories  01  i  hilip,  whole  chief  leat  was  at  IVSount  j^me  jcth. 
Hope.*     They  infulted  the  Englifti,  rifled  their  houfes, 
and  kilkd  their  cattle.     Four  days  after,  they  killed  nine, 
and  wounded  feven  of  the  inhabitants.     The  troops  of 
that  colony  marched  immediately  to  the  defence    of  the 
town.     In  four  days,  they  were  reinforced   with   feveral 
companies  from  Bollon.     On  the  29th,  the  troops  were 
drawn  forth  againft  the  enemy.     They  inftantly  fled  be- 
fore tlvem,  for  a  mile  or  two,  and  took  refuge  in  a  fvramp. 
The  next  day,  Major  Savage   arrived  with   more  troopa 
and  a  general  command  from  Bofton.     He  marched  the 
army  into  the  Indian  towns,  to  furprife  their  head   quar- 
ters, and  give  them  battle  upon  their  own  grounds.     The 
troops  found  the  eneniy's  towns,  and  even   the    feat   of 
Philip,  deferted  with  marks  of  the    utmoft  precipitation. 
As  the  Indians  fled  they  marked   their   route   with   the 
burning  of  buildings,  the  fcalps,  hands,  and  heads  of  the- 
Englifh,  wliich  they  had  taken  off  and  fixed  upon  poles 
by  the  way  fide.     As  they  could  not  come  up  with  the 
enemy,  they  returned  to  their  hev.d  quarters,  at  Swanzey, 

In  confequence  of  the  war  with   Philip,   the   commif-  Troops 
fioners  of  the  United  colonies  met  at  Bofton,  and    Gov-  difpatchr 
ernor  Winthrop,  who  was  one  of  the  commiflioners  for  ^^  *9 
Connecticut,  was  gone  there,  to  attend  the   bufinefs  of  to°"an5" 
the  country.     Deputy  governor  Leet  and   the    council,  the  fca 
upon  receiving  intelligence  of  the  war,  difpatched  troops  port 
to  Stonington,  to  defend  that  part  of  the  colony  againft  townu 
the  enemy. 

At  the  fiame  time,  It  was  difcovered  that  Major  An- 
drofs  was  about  to  make  a  hoftile  invafion  of  the  colony, 
and  to  demand  a  furrender  of  its  moft  important  polls 
to  the  government  of  the  Duke  of  York.  Detachments 
from  the  militia  were  therefore  fent,  with  the  utmoft  ex- 
pedition, to  New-London  and  Saybrook.  Captain 
Thomas  Bull,  of  Hartford,  commanded  the  party  fent  to 
Saybrook. 


*  Mount  Hope  is  an  cminc«cc  in  the  eaftern  part  of  the  town 
of  Briftol,  in  Rhode-ailai^ 


3.44 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XIV. 


Book  I. 


1675. 

Majcw 
Aiidrofs 
appears 
with  ail 
armed 
force  St 
Say brook 


"Demands 
the  fort. 


Aflembly 
meet  Jii- 
ly.9th. 


Proteft 
againft 
him  July 
icth. 


About  the  8th  or  9th  of  July,  the  people  of  that 
town  were  furprifed  by  the  appearance  of  Major  Androfs, 
with  an  armed  force,  in  the  found,  making  dire£lly  for 
the  fort.  They  had  received  no  intelligence  of  the  af- 
fair, nor  inftrudlions  from  the  p-overnor  and  council  how 
to  condu6l  thcmfelvcs  upon  fuch  an  emergency.  They 
were,  at  firft,  undetermined  whether  to  make  any  refift- 
ance  or  not  ;  but  they  did  not  hefitate  long.  As  the 
danger  approached  and  their  furprife  abated,  the  martial 
fpirit  began  to  enkindle  ;  the  fort  was  manned,  and  the 
militia  of  the  town  drawn  out  for  its  defence*  At  this 
critical  juncture.  Captain  Bull  with  his  company  arrived, 
and  the  moft  vigorous  exertions  were  made  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  fort  and  town.  On  the  nth,  Major  An- 
drofs \\4th  feveral  armed  floops  drew  up  before  the  fort, 
hoifted  the  king's  flag  on  board,  and  demanded  a  furren- 
der  of  the  fortrefs  and  tov/n.  Captain  Bull  raifed  his  ma- 
jefty's  colours  m  the  fort  and  arranged  his  men  in  the 
beft  manner.  They  appeared  with  a  good  countenance, 
determii^ed  and  eager  for  a£l:ion.  The  major  did  not 
like  to  fire  on  the  king's  colours,  and  perceiving,  that 
(hould  he  attempt  to  reduce  the  town  by  force,  it  would 
be  a  bloody  affair,  judged  it  expedient  not  to  fire  upon 
the  troops.  He  neverthelefs  lay  all  that  day,  and  part 
of  the  next,  off  againft  the  fort. 

The  critical  ftate  of  the  colony  had  occafioned  the 
meeting  of  the  affembly,  at  Hartford,  on  the  9th  of  Ju- 
ly. They  immediately  proceeded  to  draw  up  a  declara- 
tion, or  proteft,  againft  the  major,  in  the  words  follow-' 
ing. 

"  WntREAs  we  are  informed,  that  Major  Edmund 
"  Androfs  is  come  with  fomc  confiderable  force  into  this 
"  his  majefly's  colony  of  Conne£licut,  which  might  be 
*'  conflrued  to  be  in  purfuance  of  his  letter  to  us,  to  in- 
"  vade  oT  intrude  upon  the  fame,  or  upon  fome  part  of 
"  our  charter  limits  and  privileges,  and  fo  to  moleft  his 
"  majefly's  good  fubje^ls,  in  this  juncture,  when  the 
"  heathen  rage  againft  the  Englifli,  and  by  fire  and 
*'  fword  have  deflroyed  many  of  his  majefty's  good  fub- 
<*  je£ls,  our  neighbours  of  Plimouth  colony,  and  ftill 
"  are  carrying  their  heads  about  the  country  as  trophies 
*'  of  their  good  fuccefs  ;  and  yet  are  proceeding  further 
"  in  their  cruel  defigns  again'ii  the  Englifli ;  in  faithful- 


*  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buckirfharn  to  the  governor  and 

cenncil  on  thcfubject.  r 


Chap.  XIV.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        345 

**  nefs  to  our  royal  fovereign,    and  in  obedience  to  his  v.^/'vx^ 

**  majefty's  commands,  in  his  gracious  charter  to  this  co-  Book  I. 

♦<  lony,  we  can  do  no  lefs  than  publicly  declare  and  pro-  1675. 

"  teft  againft;  the  faid  Major  Edmund  Androfs,  and  thefe 

"  his  illegal  proceedings,  as  alfo  againft  all  his  aiders  and 

*<  abettors,  as  difturbers  of  the  pea.ce  of  his  majefty's  good  ', 

**  fubje6ls  in  this  colony ;  and  that  his  and  their  actions, 

*<  in  this  jun£lure,  tend  to   the   encouragement   of  the 

"  heathen  to  proceed  in  the  effufion  of  chriftian  blood, 

**  which  may  be  very  like  to  be  the  confequence  of  his 

"  a£lions,  and  which  we    fhall  unavoidably    lay    at  his 

«  door,  and  ufe  our  utmoft  power  and  endeavour,  (expeft- 

"  ing  therein  the  afliftance  of  almighty  God,)  to  defend 

"  the  good  people  of  this   colony  from  the    faid    Major 

**  Androfs  his  attempts  ;  not  doubting  but  his    majefty 

*«  will  countenance  and  approve  our  juft   proceedings 

**  therein,  they  being  according  to  the  commidion  we 

**  have  received  from  his  majefty,  in  his  gracious  charter 

«  to  this  colony  ;  by  which  power  and  truft  fo  commit- 

<*  ted  unto  us,  we  do  again  forewarn  and  advife  the  faid 

«<  Major  Androfs  and  all  his  aiders  and   abettors  to  for- 

«  bear  and  defift  fuch  forenamed  unjuft  and   unwarran- 

<*  table  pra£lices,  as  they  expect  to  anfwcr  the  fame,  with 

**  all  fuch  juft  damages  andcofts  as  may  arife  or  accrue 

"  thereby.     And  we  do  further,  in  his  majefty's  name, 

*<  require  and  command  all  the  good  people,  his  majefty's 

*<  fubje6ts,  of  this   colony    of  Connedlicut,    under  our 

<*  prefent  government,  utterly  to  refufe  to  attend,  coun- 

**  tenance  or  obey  the  faid  Major  Edmund   Androfs,  or 

*<  any  under  him,  in  any  order,  inftru£lion,  orcommand> 

<*  diverfe  from  or  contrary  to  the  laws  and  orders  of  this 

<*  colony  here  eftablifhed,  by  virtue  of  his  majefty's  gra- 

«  cious  charter,  granted   to  this  colony  of  Connedlicut, 

<*  as  they  will  anfwer  the  contrary  at  their  peril." 

"  God  fave  the  King.'* 

This  was  voted  unanimoufly. 

It  was  fent,  by  an  exprefs,  to  Saybrook,  with  inftruc- 
tions  to  Captain  Bull  to  propofe  to  Major  Androfs  the  re- 
ference of  the  affair  indifpute  to  commilTioners,  to  meet 
in  any  place  in  this  colony  which  he  fliould  choofe. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  1 2th  of  July,  the  major  de- 
fired,  that  he  might  have  admittance  on  fhore,  and  an 
interview  with  the  minifters  and  chief  officers.  He 
probably  imagined,  that  if  he  could  read  the  duke's  pa- 
tent and  his  own  commiffion  it  would  make  an  impref* 
W  w 


34^ 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIV. 


Book  T. 


Major 
Androfs 
comes  oil 
fliore.  • 


Is  forbid. 
den  to 
read  his 
com;nif- 
fion. 


Goes  on 
board  and 
fails  for 
Long- in- 
and. 


Declara- 
tion of 
the  gene- 
ral ;)ff<;m- 
bly. 


fion  upon  the  people,  and  that  he  {hould  gain  that  by  art, 
which  he  could  not  by  force  of  arms.     He  was    allowed 
to  come  on  (hore  with  his  fuit.     Meanwhile,  the  exprefs 
arrived  with  the  proteft  and  infcruQions  from  the   aflem- 
bly.     Captain  Bull  and  his  officers,  with  the   officers  and 
gentlemen  of  the  town,  met  the  major,  at  his  landing,  and 
acquainted  him,  that  they  had,  at  that    inftant,  received 
in(tru£l:ionsto  tender  him  a  treaty,  and  to  refer  the  whole 
matter  in  controverfy  to  commiffioners,   capable  of  de- 
termining  it  according  to  law  and  juftice.     The   major 
rejected  the  propofal,  and  forthwith  commanded,  in    his 
majefty's  name,  that  the  duke's  patent,  and    the   commif- 
fion  which  he  had  received  from  his  royal  highnefs,  (hould 
ht  read.     Captain  Bull  commanded  him,  in    his  majef- 
ty's  name,  to  forbear  reading.*     When  his  clerk  attempt- 
ed to  perfifl  in  reading,  the    captain   repeated   his   com- 
mand with  fuch  energy  of  voice  and  meaning  in  his  coun- 
tenance as   convinced   the   major  it  was  not  fafe  to  pro- 
ceed.    '^The  captain   then   acquainted  him,  that  he  had 
an  addrefs  from  the  aflembly  to  him,  and  read  the  proteft. 
Governor  Androfs,  pleafed  with  his  bold  and  foldier  Ijkc 
appearance,   faid  "  What's   your  name  ?'•  He    replied, 
«  My  name  is  Bull,  Sir."     «  Bull,"  faid  the  governor, 
**  it  is  a  pity  that  your  horns  are  not  tipped  with  filver."^ 
Finding  that  he  could  make   no   imprelhon  upon  the  of- 
ficers or  people,  and   that  the  legiilature  of  the  colony 
were  determined  to  defend  themfelves,  in  the   pofleffion 
of  their  chartered  rights,  he  gave  up  his  defign  of  feizing 
the  fort.     He  represented  the  proteft  as  a  (lender  affair, 
and  an  ill  requital  of  his  kindnefs.     He  faid  howev.r,   he 
(hould  do  no  more.     The    militia  of  the    town  guarded 
him  to  his  boat,  and  going  on  board  he   fbou   failed   for 
Long-Ifland. 

The  general  affembly  confidered  this  as  a  great  abufe 
and  infult  of  the  colony,  and,  upon  receiving  an  account 
of  the  major'^s  condu£l,  came  to  the  following  refolution* 

"  This  court  orders,  that  this  declaration  fliall  forth- 
"  with  be  fent  forth  to  the  feveral  plantations,  fealed  with 
**  the  feal  of  the  colony,  and  figned  by  the  fecretary,  tO' 
"  be  there  publilhed." 

"  Forasmuch  as  the  good  people  of  his  majefty'S' 
*'  colony  of  Conne<flicut  have  met  with  much  trouble 
*'  and  moleftation  from  Major  Edmund  Androfs  his 
**  challenge  and  attempts  to  furprife  the  main   part  of 


Captain  Bull's  letter  to  the  affembly. 


Chap.  XTV.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      347 

*<  faid  colonv,  which  they  have  fo  rightfully  obtained,  fo  Bock  L 
long  pofl'efled,   and   defended   againft  all  invafions  of  v,<<'-y-v./ 
Dutch  and  Indians,  to  the  great  grievance  of  his  ma-  1675. 
jelly's  good  fubje£t3   in  their  fettlements,  and  to  def- 
poil  the  happy  government,  by  charter  from  his  ma- 
jefty    granted  to  themfelves,    and  under   which  they 
have  enjoyed  many  halcyon   days  of  peace    and  tran- 
quillity, to  their  great  fatisfadJion,  and  to  tlie  content 
of  his  majefly,  gracioufly  exprelTed  by  letters  to  them, 
fo  greatly  engaging  their  loyalty  and   thankfulnefs,  as 
makes  it  intolerable  to  be  put  off  from  fo  long  and  jult 
fettlement  under  his  majeily'a  government  by  charter. 
Hereupon,  for   the  prevention   of  mifrepreientations 
into  England,  by  the   faid  Major   Androfs  againft   us, 
for  our  refufal,  and   vv^ithftanding  his  attempts,  made 
with  hoftile  appearances  to  furprife   us  at  Saybrook, 
while  we  were  approaching  towards  a   favage  Indian 
enemy  that  had  committed  much  outrage  and  murder, 
by  fire  and  fword,  upon  our  neighbours  about  Plim- 
outh  ;  this  court   have   defired    the  honorable   John 
Winthrop  and  James  Richards,  Efquires,  or  either  of 
them,  (intending  a  voyage  to  England  upon  their  own 
occaGons,)   to  take  with  them  the  narrative  and  co- 
pies of  all  the  tranfailions  betwixt  us,  and  to  give  a 
right   underftanding  for  clearing  our  innocence,  and 
better  fecuring  our  enjoyments  as  occafion  (hall  offer." 
As  the  Narraganfet  Indians  were   confidered   as  abet-  Thear- 
tors    of  Philip,  harbouring    the   old   men   and  women  my 
whom  he  had  fent  off  to  them,  and  as  the  colonies  feared  marches 
that  they    would  proceed    to  open   hoftilities,    unlefs  it  '°  I'-arra- 
could  be  prevented  by   fome  vigorous   meafures,  it  was  ^     ^  * 
determined  to  march  the  army,  which  had  been  rendez- 
voufed  at  Swanzey,  immediately  into  their  country,  and 
to  treat  with  them  fword  in  hand.     Captain  Hutchinfon 
was  difpatched  commiffioner,  from  the   general  court  of 
Maffachufetts,  to  condu£l  the  treaty.f     On  the  15th  of  Treaty 
July,  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  colo-  wth  the 
nies  and  the  fix  Narraganfet  fachems,  and  the  funk  fquaw  ^^rragaa- 
or  old  queen  of  Narraganfet.     Perpetual  peace  was  ftip-  *^  '* 
ulated  between  the  parties.     It  was  alfo  agreed,  that  all 
flolen    goods  fliould  be  returned  :  that  neither  Philip  nor 
any  of  his  fubje£ls  fhould  be  harboured  by  the  Narragan- 
fcts ;  but  if  any  of  themfhouldentcr  upon  their  landsthey 
(hould  kill  and  deftroy  them,  until  a  ceffation  of  hoftilitiefi 

t  Major  Wait  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Richard  Smith  were  com* 
miiQlioneri  from  Connedicut. 


348  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.  fliould  be  concluded  between  Philip  and  the  United  col- 
v.y-vv^  onies  :  that  the  commiflioners  fliould  give  to  any  of  the 
1675,  Narragaufet  Indians,  who  fliould  bring  in  Philip  alive, 

forty  coats,  and  twenty  for  his  head  :  that  two  coats 
fliould  be  given  for  every  fubje£l  of  Philip  delivered  alive 
to  the  Englifli,  and  one  for  his  head.  On  the  part  of 
the  Narraganfets,  hofl:ages  were  delivered,  as  a  fecurity, 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  treaty.  This,  at  bell, 
•was  a  forced  bufaiefs,  rather  calculated  to  irritate,  than 
to  reconcile  a  free  and  haughty  people.  The  conditions 
were  impofed  by  the  army. 
p.  , ,  On  the  17th  of  July,  the  troops  returned  to  Taunton. 

Pocaflct      Upon  intelligence,  that  Philip  and  his  warriors  were  in 
Ntckju-    a  fwanip  at  Pocaflet,   the   Maffichufctts   and    Plimouth 
ly  iSth.      forces  formed  a  jundlion,  and  on  the  i8th  attacked  them 
with  hrmnefs  and  refolution.     The  enemy  had  chofen  an 
advantageous  retreat.     As  the  army  entered  the  fwamp, 
they  retired  deeper  and  deeper  into  it,  until  the  troops 
were  led  into  fuch  an  hideous  thicket,  that  it    was  im- 
poflible  for  them  to  keep  their  order.     It  was  fo  thick 
And  dark,  as  the  night  approached,  that  the  men  were  in 
danger,  not  only  from  the  enemy,  but  from  one  another. 
They  fired  at  every  bufli  which  appeared  to  fliake.     The 
a£\ion  was  continued  until  night,   when  the  Englifli  re- 
treated.    The    attempt   was    unhappy.     Sixteen   brave 
men  were  killed,  and  Philip  and  his  men,  after  they  had 
been  reduced  to  the  greateft  difl;refs,  and   were  upon  the 
point  of   furrendering    themfelves,    made    their  efcape. 
A  fine  army   was  colleGed.     Philip  was  enclofed  in  a 
fwamp  and  neck  of  land,  and  could  not  at  that  time,  have 
made  his  efcape,  by  any  other  means  than  by  defeating, 
or  fighting  his  way  through   the  army,  had  the  Englifh 
conducted  with  prudence   and    fortitude.     They   might 
have  renewed    the    attack  upon  him  next  morning,  and 
had  the  day  befoi'e   them  to  finifti  their   work,  and  put 
an  end  to  the    war  j  but,   inftead  of  this,  they   left   a 
few  companies  to  guard  the  fwamp,  which  was  upon 
Pocaflet   neck,  and  fl:arve  out  the  enemy.    Philip,  about 
fix  or  eight  days  after,  found  means  to  rid  himfelf  from 
the  danger.     He  either  waded  acrofs  an  arm  of  the  fea, 
at  low  water,  or  pafled  over  it  with  his  warriors  upon 
rafts.     He  and  his  warriors  triumphed,  and  were  blown 
up  with  ft:ill  greater  courage  and  infolence.    The  Indians 
in  general  were  encouraged,  fo  that  foon  after  there  was 
■a.  general  rifirig   of  them  againft:  the  Englifli  throughout 
New-England,  for  an  extent  of  nearly  three  hundred  milci. 


Chap.  XIV.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.      349 

As  the  Indians  had  lived  promifcuoufly  with  the  Eng-  Book  T. 
llfli,  in  all  part^  of  the  country,  they  M-ere    generally  as  v,yVN«/ 
well  acquainted  with  their  dwellings,  fields,  and  places  of  ^^'5- 
worfhip,  as  themfelves.     They  were  perfedtly  acquaint-  ^^^yanta- 
ed  with  their  roads,  times,  and   places  of  refort.     They  ge^  of  the 
were  at  hand  to  watch  all  their  motions,  to  attack  them  Indians. 
at  every  dilhcult  pafs,   and  in  every  unguarded  moment. 
Except  fome  of  the  thickefl;  fettlements  and  the  centre 
of  the  towns,  the  country  was  a  vaft  wildernefs.     This 
enabled  the    enemy,  not  only  in  fmali   flculking   parties, 
but  in  great  bodies,  to  make  their  approaches  undiscover- 
ed, almoft  into  the  very    midfl:  of  them  j  and   under  the 
covert  of  the  night,  to  creep   into  their   barns,   gardens, 
and  out  houfes  j  to  conceal  themfelves  behind  their  fen- 
cee,  and  lie  in  wait  for  them  on  the  roads  and  in  their 
fields.     Sometimes    they    concealed    themfelves   before 
their  very  doors.     No  fooner  did  they  open  them,  in  the 
morning,  than  they  were  inftantly  fliot  dead.     From  al- 
moft every  quarter,  they  were   ready  to  rife  upon  them. 
At  midnight,  in  the  morning,  or  whenever   they  could 
obtain  an  advantage,   they   were  ready  to  attack  them. 
While  the  Englifli  were  hunting  them  in  one  place,  they 
would  be  flaying  the    inhabitants,    and    plundering  and 
burning  in  another.     In  a  fhort  time  they  would  plunder 
and  burn  a  town,  kill  and  captivate  the  inhabitants,  and 
retire  into  fwamps  and  faftnelTes,   where  it  was  dange- 
rous to  purfue,  difficult  to  difcover,  and  impoffible  to  at- 
tack them  but  at  the  greateft  difadvantage. 

Notwithstanding  every  precaution  and  exertion  of  Danger 
the  colonies,    they  continued    plundering,  burning,  kill-  and  dif- 
ing,  and  captivating,  in  one  place  and  another,  and  kept  *?"'''  ^ 
the  whole  country  in  continual  fear  and   alarm.     There     ■'t 
was  no  fafe;y  to  man,  woman,  nor  child  •,  to  him  who 
went  out,  nor  to  him  who  came  in.     Whether  they  were 
afleep   or  awake,  whether  they  journeyed,  labored,  or 
worshipped,  they  were  in  continual  jeopardy.      The  in- 
habitants of  Maflachufetts,  Plimouth,  and  Rhode-Ifland 
cfpecially,  were  killed,  plundered,    and  their  towns  and 
buildings  burned  in  a  moft  diftreffing  and  terrible  manner. 

Beside  oth^r  damages,   not  fo  confiderable.  Captain  9/^^V!^ 
Hutchinfon,  who  had  been  fent  with  a  party  of  horfe  to  f^^  f^^^/ 
treat  with  the  Nipmuck  Indians,  was  drawn  into  an  am-  prifed, 
bufli,  near  Brookfield,  and  i^nortally  wounded.    Sixteen  of  and 
his  company  were  killed.     The   enemy    then  rufhed  in  ^'^PP''* 
upon  the  town,  and  burnt  all  the  dwelling  houfes,  except  burnt. 
•ncj  which  vas  defended  by  the  garrifon  until  it  was  re-  Aug.  and. 


350  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y         Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.   inforced,  two  days  after,  by  Major   Willard.     The  ene- 

V-^V*^  rny  then  drew  off,  having  burned  twenty  dwelling  houfes, 

^675.         with  all  the  barns  and  out  houfes,  and  killed   all  the  cat- 

Hadlcy,     tie   and  horfes  which   they  could   find.     In  September, 

Deei  field,  Hadley,  Deerfield,  and  Northfield,  on  Connefticut  river, 

Korth-      were  attacked,   and   numbers  of  the  inhabitants  killed 

field  and  wounded.     Moft  of  the  buildings,  in  Deerfield,  were 

attacked,   burnt,  and  Northfield  was  foon  after  abandoned   to  the 

enemy.     There  were  a  number  of  fkirmifhes,  about  the 

fame  time,  in  that  part  of  the  country,  in  which  the  Eng- 

lifh,  on  the  whole,  were  loofers. 

CaptaiH  Captain  Beers  was  furprifed,   near  Northfield,  by  a 

Betrs  and  large  body  of  the  enemy,  and  he  and  twenty  of  his  party 

his  party    were  killed. 

killtd,  'pj^g  officers,  who  commanded  in  that  quarter,  finding 

S3tb.*         that  by  fending  out  parties  they   fuftained  continual    lofs 
and  difappointmcnt,  and  eftc^led  nothing  of  importance, 
determined  to  colle£l  a  magazine  at  Hadley,  and   garri-' 
fon  the  town.     At  Deerfield,  there  were   about  three 
thoufand  bulhels  of  wheat  in  ftack.     It   was  refolved  to 
thrafh  this  out,  and  bring   it   down   to  Hadley.     While 
Captain  Lothrop,  with  a  chofen  corps  of  young  men,  the 
flower  of  the  county  of  Eflex,  was   guarding   the  teams, 
employed  in  this  fervice,  feven  or  eight  hundred  Indians 
fuddenly  attacked  him.     Though  he  fought  with    great 
Captain      bravery,  yet  he  fell  with  nearly  his  whole  party.     Many 
^'®1^V-  P     of  the  teamfters  were  alfo  cut  off.     Ninety  or   an  hun- 
party  kill-  ^^^^  ^^^  were  killed  on  the  fpot.     Captain  Mofely,  who 
cd,  Sept.   was  ftationed  at  Deerfield,  marched   to  reinforce   Cap- 
i$tb.  tain  Lothrop,  but  he  arrived  too  late    for  his  afliftance. 

Captain  Mofely  was  then  obliged  to  fight  the  whole  bo- 
dy of  the  enemy,  for  feveral  hours,  until  the  brave  Major 
Treat  of  Connefticut,  with  about  a  hundred  and  fixty 
Englifhmen  and  Moheagan  Indians,  marched  up  to  his 
afliftance,  and.  put  the  enemy  to  flight.*  The  fall  of 
Captain  Lothrop  and  fuch  a  fine  body  of  men,  was  a 
heavy  lofs  to  the  country  ;  efpecially  to  the  county  of 
Eflex,  filling  it  with  great  and  univerfal  lamentation. 

*  The  commiffioners,  about  the  middle  of  September,  order- 
ed 1000  men  to  be  raifed  fer  tt>e  general  defence.  Of  thefc  500 
were  to  be  dragoons,  with  long  arms.  Connedicnt  were  requir- 
ed to  raife  315  men  for  their  proportion.  A  confiderable  p«rt 
of  this  force  was  employed  by  Connedticut,  under  Major  Treat, 
for  the  defence  of  the  upper  towns.  Captain  Watti  bad  been 
feat  v/iih  a  company  to  Deerfield  feme  time  before. 


Chap.XIV.      of    CONNECTICUT.        3J1 


During  the  term  of  about  forty  years,  the   Indians, 
in  the  vicinity   of  Springfield,   had  Hved  in   the  greateft  Book  I. 
harmony  with  the  Englifh,  and    ftili    made  the  ftongefl  1675. 
profeflions  of  friendfhip  ;  yet,  about  this  time,  they  con-  .    .. 
fpired  with  Philip's  warriors  for  the    deftru£lion  of  that  Xrcacha* 
town.     At  the  diftance  of  about  a  mile  from  it  they  had  ry. 
a  fort.     The  evening  before  they   made  their  aflault, 
they  received  into  it  about  three  hundred  of  Philip's  war- 
riors.    The  fame  evening,  one  Toto,  a  Windfor  Indian, 
difcovered  the  plot,   and  difpatches   were  immediately 
fent  off,  from  Windfor  to  Springfield,   and  to    Major 
Treat,  who  lay  at  Weflifield,  with  the  Conne£licut  troops, 
to  apprize  them  of  the  danger.     But  the  people  at  Spring- 
field were  fo  ftrongly  perfuadcd  of  the  friendfhip  of  thofe 
Indians,  that  they  would    not   credit   the   report.     One 
Lieutenant  Cooper,  who  commanded  there,  was  fo  infat- 
uated, that  as  foon  as  the  morning  appeared,   inftead  o£ 
collecting  his  men  and  preparing  for  the  defence  of  the 
town,  he  with  another  bold  man  rode  out,  with  a  defign 
to  go  to  the  fort,  and  difcover  how  the  matter  was.     He 
foon  met  the  enemy,  who  killed  his    companion,  by  his 
fide,  and  (hot  feveral  balls  through  his  body.     As  he  was 
a  man  of  great  ftrength  and  courage,  he   kept   his  horfc, 
though  mortally  wounded,  until  he  reached  the  firfl  garri- 
foned  houfe, and  gave  the  alarm.     The  enemy  immediate-  Sprin^- 
ly  commenced  a  furious  attack  upon  the  town,   and  be-  ^^^'^  *^* 
gan  to  fet  fire  to  the  buildings.     The  inhabitants  were  in  I^d    art- 
the  utmoft  conilernation.     They  had  none  to  command  ly  burned, 
them,  and  muft  foon  have  all  fallen  a  bloody  facrifice  to  a 
mercilefs  foe,  had  not  Major  Treat  appeared  for  their  re- 
lief.    Upon  receiving  intelligence    of  the  defigns  of  the 
enemy,  he  marched,  without  lofs  of  time  ;  but  meeting 
with  confiderable  hindrance  in  crofllng  the  river,  for  want 
of  boats,  his  arrival  was  not  in  fuch  feafon  as  to  prevent 
the  attack.     He  foon  drove  off  the  enemy,  faved  the    in- 
habitants, and  a  confiderable  part  of  the  town.     Great 
damage,  however,  was  done  in  a  very  fhort  time.     Thir- 
ty dwelling  houfes,  befides  barns   and    out  houfes  were 
burned.     Major  Pyncheon   and  Mr.  Purchas    fuftained 
each  the  lofs  of  a  thoufand  pounds.*     Mr.  Pelatiah  Glov- 


*  Major  Pyncheon  was  at  Hadlcy,  but  did  not  come  down 
with  the  troops  there,  in  feafon  to  prevent  this  great  damage. 
He  had,  until  this  time,  the  chief  command,  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  but  he  foon  after  refigned  it  that  he  might  take  care  of 
bis  owB  aifairs. 


352  THEHISTORY      Chap.  XIV. 

K.^y\^  er,  minifter  of  the  town,  loft  his  houfe  with  a  large  and 
Book  1.   excellent  library. 

1675.  Ijj  this  ftageof  the  war,  the  general  aflembly  of  Con- 

ne6ticut  convened,  Oftober  14th.  The  court,  fenfible 
of  the  good  condu£l  of  Major  Treat,  in  defending  the  co- 
lony and  the  towns  on  Long-Tfland  againft  the  Dutch, 
and  in  relieving  Captain  Mofely  and  Springfield,  return- 
ed him  public  thanks,  appointed  him  to  the  command  of 
all  the  troops  to  be  raifed  in  the  colony,  to  aft  againft 
the  enemy,  and  defired  his  acceptance  of  the  fervice. 

Upon  intelligence  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fitch,  that 
a  large  body  of  the  enemy  were  approaching  the  town 
of  Norwich,  Major  Treat  was  direfled  to  march  forth- 
with for  the  defence  of  that  part  of  the  colony.  But  foon 
after,  his  orders  were  countermanded,  and  he  marched 
for  Northampton.  Here  he  arrived  in  feafon  to  render 
his  country  another  piece  of  important  fervice.  The 
A  ff*  enemy  had  been  fo  elated   with  their  various  fuccefles, 

iiDi'n         that,  having  collected  about  eight  hundred  of  their  war- 
Hadlcy       riors,  they  made  a  furious  attack  upon   Hadley.     Almoft 
0&..  19th.  every  part  of  the  town  was  affaulted  at  the  fame  inftant. 
But  the  town  was  defended  by  officers  and  men   of  vig- 
ilance and  fpirit,  fo  that  the  enemy  every  where  met  with 
a  warm  reception.     Several  parties  of  the   Maflachufetts 
troops,  who  were  in  the  neighbouring  garrifons,  flew   to 
their  affiftancc,  and  Major  Treat,  advancing  with  his  ufu- 
The  enc-    ^j  dlfpatch  from  Northampton,  foon  attacked  them,  with 
^     ^^  '   his   whole   force,  and  they   were  put  to    a  total  flight. 
Rcndez-     They  fuftained  fuch  lofs  and  were  fo  dilheartened,  that, 
voiis  in       from  this  time,  the  main  body  of  them  left  that  part  of 
]sj,irra.       the  country,  and  held  their  general  rendezvous   in  Narra- 
^'  '^     '       ganfet.       Small    numbers    however     remained,    doing 
damage  as  they  had  opportunity,  and  keeping  the  people 
in  conftant  fear  and  alarm. 
The  af-  From   the  intelligence  communicated  to   the   general 

fembly       aflembly  of  Connc£ticut,  during  the  Odlober   fefhoa,  it 
adopt         appeared,  that  the  enemy  had  defigns  upon  almoft  all  the 
meaAires    fi-Qntier  towns  in  the  colony.     Each  county  was   there- 
common    ^°^^  required  to  raife  fixty    dragoons,  complete  in  arms, 
fatcty.       horfes,  and  ammunition,  for  the    immediate  defence  of 
the  colony,   wherever  their   fervice  might  be  necelTary. 
Captain  Avery  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  forty 
Englifhmen  from  the  towns  of  New-London,   Stoning- 
ton,   and  Lime,   with  fuch  a   number  of  Pequots  as  he 
ifliould  judge  expedient,  for  the  defence   of  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  the  annoyance  of  the  enemy,  as  occa- 


Chap.  XIV.      OF    CONJ^ECTICUT. 


353 


(ion  fhould  prefent.  Captain  John  Mafon  was  appoint-  Book  I. 
cd  to  command  another  party  of  twenty  Engliflimen  and  <^y^/^sj 
the  Mohcagan  Indians.  Thefe  parties  were  ordered  to  1675. 
port:  themfeives  in  the  heft  manner  to  guard  the  eaftern 
towns,  and  to  aG  conjointly  or  feparately,  as  emergen- 
cies {hould  require.  An  army  of  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty dragoons  was  appointed  to  a£l  againft  the  enemy,  un- 
der tile  command  of  Major  Treat.  It  was  ordered,  tiiat 
all  the  towns  fliould  be  fortified,  and  that  every  town 
fhould  provide  the  bed  places  of  defence,  of  which  it  was 
capable,  for  t  e  fccurity  of  the  women  and  children,  who 
weredire(fted  to  repair  to  them  upon  the  firfl  intimations  of 
danger.  The  inhabitants  of  the  towns  on  the  frontiers, 
who  were  few  in  number,  and  molt  expofed,  were  advi- 
fed  to  remove  their  befl:efFe£ts,and  people  unable  to  defend 
the.s'felves,  into  the  more  populous  parts  of  the  colony, 
where  they  might  be  in  a  more  probable  ftate  of  fafety. 

The  Narraganfets,    in    dire£l   violation  of  the  treaty,  yhe  Nar- 
which  they  had  made  with  the  colonics,  gave  a  friendly  raganfets 
reception  to   Philip's   men  and    other  hoftile   Indians,  trtachc- 
The  commillioners  of  the  United  colonies  were  fatisfied,  ^°"^' 
that  fomc  of  them  had  been  in  atSbual  fervice,  in   the  af- 
faults  which  had  been   made  upon  the   Englifii.     Their  Dp,rong(.p 
young  men  had  returned  wounded  to  Narraganfet.     Ittheexpe- 
was  fuppofed,  that  the   Narraganfet  fachems  could  muf-  dition  a- 
ter  two  thoufand  warriors,  and  that  they  had  a  thoufand  g^'"^ 
muflcets.     It  was  judged,  that  if  they  fhould  all  engage,  '■"*'^* 
in  the  fpring,  in   open  hoflilities,    and  fcatter,  as   they 
might,  into  all  parts  of  the  country,   all  the  force,  which 
fhe  colonies  could  bring  into  the  field,  would  not  be  fuf- 
ficient  to  defend  the  plantations  againil   the  united  exer- 
tions of  the  enemy.     In  the  fummer   and  fall  pafl,  one 
conipany  of  brave  men  after   another  had  been  cut  off, 
and  future    profpe£ts  were  not    more    favorable.     The 
commiflioners  of  the  United  colonies  therefore  refolved, 
that  an   army  of  a  thoufand  men  flioald  be  raifed,  for  a  ^umber 
•winter  campaign,  to  attack  the  enemy  at  their  head  quar- 
ters, in  the  Narraganfet  country.     The  colony  of  Maffa- 
chufetts  furnifhed  a  corps  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-fev- 
en  men,  confiding  of  fix  companies  of  foot  and  a  troop  o£ 
horfe,  commanded  by  Major  Appleton.  Pllmouth  furnifh- 
ed onehundred  and  fifty-eight  men,confiftingof  twocom- 
panies,  under  the  command  of  Major  Bradford  and  Captain 
Gorham.      The    proportion   of  Connedlicut  was  three 
hundred  and   fifteen  men,  but   they  fertt  into  the  field 

Xx 


3^4 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XIV, 


exp 
dition. 


Book  I.    three  hundred  Engllfh  men  and  150  Molieagan  and  Pe- 
v...>'W^  quot  Indians.     Thefe  were    divided  into  five  companies, 
16 7 J.         commanded  by  Captains  Seely,   Gallop,   Mafon,  Watts, 
and   Marfliall.     This  corps   was  commanded  by  Major 
Treat.     The   honorable  Joiiah  Winfio'i',  Efquire,  gov- 
ernor of  New-Plimouth,   was  appointed  commander  in 
chief.     The  orders  of  the  commiflioners  to  Conne6licuC 
were  iffued  at  Bofton,  the  1 2th  of  November.     They  re- 
quired, that  the  bed  officers  and  firmed  men  fhould  be 
appointed,  and  armed    and   clothed   in  thebeft  manner. 
It   was    required,  that  the  troops  fhould  rendezvous  at 
New-London,  Norwich,  and  Stonington,  by  the  loth  of 
December,  ready  to  receive  orders  from  the  commander 
in  chief. 
_  e      The  commiflioners  were  fenfible,  that  an  expedition, 

the  expe-  ^^  ^^'^  feafon,  woidd  be  mod  dillrefsful  and  hazardous. 
Such  is  the  extremity  of  the  weather,  in  this  climate,  that 
they  were  not  without  apprehenfions,  the  whole  army 
might  perifli,  fliould  the  troops  be  obliged  to  lie  uncovered 
a  angle  night  in  the  open  field.  It  did  not  efcape  their 
deliberations,  that  the  fnow  often  fell  fo  deep,  that  it 
would  be  extremely  difficult,  if  not  impoflible,  to  fend 
any  fuccours  to  the  army,  in  cafe  of  any  misfortune  ; 
but  they  confidered  this  as  the  only  probable  expedient  of 
defeating  the  enemy,  and  preventing  the  defolating  of  the 
country.  They  obferved,  "  It  was  a  humbling  provi- 
*<  dence  of  God,  that  put  his  poor  people  to  be  medita- 
**  ting  a  matter  of  war  at  fuch  a  feafon."  They  ap- 
pointed the  fecond  of  December  to  be  obferved  as  a  fol- 
emn  faft  to  feek  the  divine  aid.* 

The  Conne£licut  troops  arrived  at  Pettyqiiamfcot,  on 
the  1 7th  of  December.  Here  had  been  a  number  of 
buildings,  in  which  the  troops  expected  to  have  been 
covered  and  kindly  entertained,  but  the  enemy,  a  day  of 
two  before,  had  killed  ten  men  and  five  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  burned  all  the  houfes  and  barns.  The  next 
day,  they  formed  a  jun^iion  with  the  Maflachufetts  and 
Plimouth  forces.  Though  the  evening  was  cold  and 
flormy,  the  troops  were  obliged  to  remain  uncovered  in 
the  open  field.  The  next  morning,  at  the  dawning  of 
the  day,  they  commenced  tlieir  march  towards  the  ene- 
my, who  were  in  a  fwamp  at  about  fifteen  miles  diftance. 
The  troops  from  Maflachufetts,  headed  by  Captains 
Mofely  and   Davenport,  led   the   van  j    their  rear  wa$ 


Saturday 
Dec.  iS. 


Line  of 
mnrch, 
Lord's 
day,  Dec. 
19- 


*  Letters  of  the  cortimiirionevs  to  Connedicut. 


Chap.  XIV.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       355 

trought  up  by  Major  Appleton  and  Captain  Oliver.    Gen-  Book  I, 
eral  Winilow,  with  the    Plimouth  companies,  formed  in  u^-^v^-.^ 
the  centre  ;  and  che  troops  of  Conne£licut  formed  in  the  1675. 
rear  of  the  whole,  brought  up   by  Major  Treat.     This 
was  theUne  of  march.* 

The  troops  proceeded  with  great  fpirit,  wading 
through  the  fnow,  in  a  fevcre  feaion,  until  nearly  one 
o'clock,  without  fire  to  warm  or  food  to  refrefh  them, 
except  what  had  been  taken  on  the  way.  At  this  time, 
they  had  arrived  juft  upon  the  feat  of  the  enemy.  This  Situation 
was  upon  a  rifing  ground,  in  the  centre  of  a  large  fwamp.  °  '  ^  ^"^" 
It  was  fortified  with  palifades,  and  compailed  with  a 
hedge  without,  nearly  of  a  rod  s  thicknefs.  The  only  en- 
trance, which  appeared  pradicable,  was  over  a  log  or  tree, 
which  lay  up  five  or  fix  feet  from  the  ground.  This 
opening  was  commanded  in  front  by  a  kind  of  log  houfe, 
and  on  the  left  by  a  flanker.  As  foon  as  the  troops  en- 
tered the  fkirts  of  the  fwamp,  they  difcovered  an  advan- 
ced partyof  the  enemy,  upon  whom  they  immediately  fired. 
The  enemy  returned  the  fire,  and  retired  before  them, 
until  they  were  led  to  the  very  entrance  by  the  block- 
houfe.  Without  reconnoitering  the  fort,  or  waiting  for  A|*3rt 
the  army  to  march  up  and  form  for  the  attack,  the  Maf-  ypyj,  ^^c 
fachufetts  troops,  led  on  by  their  officers,  with  great  tort, 
courage,  mounted  the  tree  and  entered  the  fort ;  but 
they  were  fo  galled  from  the  block-houfe,  and  received 
fuch  a  furious  and  well  directed  fire  from  almoft  every 
quarter,  that,  after  every  exertion  of  fkill  and  courage,  of 
which  they  were  capable,  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  out 
of  the  fort.  The  whole  army  prefTed  forward  with  the 
iitmoft  courage  and  exertion,  but  fuch  were  the  obftruc- 
tions  from  the  fwamp  and  the  fnow,  that  it  was  a  confid- 
erable  time  before  the  men  could  all  be  brought  up  to  ac- 
tion. By  reafon  of  this,  and  the  ftiarpnefs  of  the  fire 
from  the  flanker  and  block-houfe,  a  fuflicient  number  of 
men  were  not  able  to  enter  the  fort  to  fupport  thofe  brave 
officers  and  men,  who  fo  courageoufly  began  the  afl~ault. 
Captains  Johnfon  and  Davenport,  and  many  brave  men 
of  the  Maflachufetts,  were  killed.  The  Connetticut  ■Qg« 
troops,  who  formed  in  the  rear,  coming  up  to  the  charge, 
mounted  over  the  log  before  the  block-houfe,  the  captains 
leading  and  fpiriting  up  the  men  in  the  mofl  undaunted 
manner.  About  the  fame  time  that  the  main  body  of 
the  Conne£licut  troops   were  forcing  their  way  by  tlie 

*  Hubbard's  Narrative,  p.  104. 


3S« 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIV. 


The  ene- 
iTi>  defeat' 
^d  and 
their  wig 
warns 
burnt. 


March  to 
Jiead  quaf' 
tcrs. 


block-houfe,  a  few  bold  men  ran  round  ♦•o  the  oppofite 
part  of  the  fort,  where  they  found  a  narrow  fpot  where 
there  were  no  paUfades,  but  a  high  and  thick  hedge  of 
trees  and  brufli.  1  he  (harpnefs  of  the  a6lion  in  the  front 
had  drawn  off  the  enemy  from  this  part,  and  cHmbing 
over  unobferved,  they  ran  down  between  the  wigwams, 
and  poured  a  heavy  and  well  directed  fire  upon  the  backs 
of  the  enemy,  who  lay  wholly  expofed  to  their  fhot.* 
Thusaffualted,  in  front  and  rear,  they  were  driven  from 
the  flanker  and  block-houfe.  The  captains  crying  out, 
they  run,  they  run,  the  men  preffed  fo  furioufly  upon 
them,  that  they  were  forced  from  that  part  of  the  fort. 
The  fildiers  without  ruflied  in,  with  great  fpirit,  and  the 
enemy  were  driven  from  one  covert  and  hiding  place  to 
another,  until  the  middle  of  the  fort  was  gained  •,  and  af- 
ter a  long  and  bloody  a£lion  they  were  totally  routed  and 
fled  into  the  wildernefs.  As  they  retired,  the  foldiers 
fet  fire  to  the  wigwams,  about  fix  hundred  of  which  were 
inftantly  confumed.  The  enemy's  corn,  ftores,  and 
utenfils,  M'ith  many  of  their  old  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren,perifhed  in  the  conflagration.  It  was  fuppofed,that 
three  hundred  warriors  were  flain,  befides  many  wound- 
ed, who  afterwards  died  of  their  wounds  and  with  the 
cold.  Nearly  the  fame  number  were  taken,  with  three 
hundred  women  and  children.  From  the  number  of 
■wigwams  in  the  fort,  it  is  probable  that  the  whole  num- 
ber of  the  Indians  was  nearly  four  thoufands.  Thofc 
■who  were  net  killed  in  battle,  or  did  not  perilh  in  the 
fiames,  fled  to  a  cedar  fwamp,  where  they  fpent  the  night, 
without  food,  fire,  or  covering. 

It  was  neverthelefs  a  dearly  bought  victory.  Six 
brave  captains  fell  in  the  adlion,  and  eighty  men  were 
killed  or  mortally  wounded.  A  hundred  and  fifty  were 
wounded  who  afterwards  recovered.  After  the  fatiguing 
march  and  hard  fought  battle,  of  three  hours,  in  which 
the  troops  had  been  exercifcd,  the  army,  juft  at  the  fet- 
tingof  the  fun,  having  burnt  and  deftroyed  all  in  their 
power,  left  the  enemy's  ground,  and,  carrying  about 
two  hundred  dead  and  wounded  men,  marched  back,  fix- 
teen  or  eighteen  miles,  to  head- quarters.  The  night 
was  very  cold  and  ilormy.      The  fnow  fell  deep,  and  it 


*  Manufcripts  of  theRev.  Mr.  Ruggles.  He  obfcrves,  "It  is 
"  apity  things  fo  curious  and  remarkable,  and  wherein  the  hand 
**  of  Providence  fo  evidently  appeared  as  in  taking  the  fort  at 
*'  N^rraganfet,  ftiould  be  loft.  They  defervc  to  be  recorded  ii^ 
"  hiftory/' 


Chaf.  XIV.      OF    CONNECTICUT.         357 

was  not  until  midnight,   or  after,  that  the  army  got  in.  Book  I. 
Many  of  the  wounded,  who  otherwife  might  have  recov-  >^^*'wJ 
ered,  died  with  the  cold,  and  the  fatigue    and   inconve-  1675. 
niences  of  fuch  a  diftrefling  march. f  After  lying  the  pre- 
ceding night  in  the  open  held,  and  after  all  the  exertion 
of  fo  long  and  fharp  an  a£lion,  the  army  marched,  through 
fnow  ;ind  a  pathlefs  wildernefs,  in    lefs  than  twenty-four 
hours,  more  than  thirty    miles.     The   courage  exhibited 
by  every  part  of  the  army,  the  invincible  heroifm  of  the  ^"[^^^j 
officers,  the  tirmnefs  and  refolution  of  the  foldiers,  when  j,,^j  hard, 
they  faw  their  captains  falling  before  them,  and  the  hard-  iliipo  en- 
Ihips  endured,  are  hardly  credible,  and  rarely  find  a  par-  durcd. 
allel  in  ancient  or  modern  ages.     The  cold  was  extreme, 
and  the  fnow  fell  fo  deep  that  night,  that  it  was  difficult, 
the  next  day,  for  the  army  to  move.     Many  of  the  fold-  state  of 
iers  were    frozen,  and   their  limbs  exceedingly  fwollen.  thf  arni7 
Four  hundred  were  difabled    and    unfit   for  duty.     TheO"^^c 
Connecticut  troops  were  more  difabled  than  thofe  of  the  * 
other  colonies.     They  had  endured  a  tedious  march  from 
Stonington  to  Pettyquamfcot ;  and  as  the  buildings  there 
were  all  deflroyed,  they  endured  great   hardfliips  before 
their  junction  with  the  troops  of  the  other   colonies. 
They  had  fuftained  a  much  greater  lofs,  in  the  aftion,  in 
proportion  to  their  numbers,  than  the  troops  of  the  other 
colonies.*      Of  the  five  Connecticut   captains,   three. 


f  It  appears,  by  the  letters  from  the  army,  that  twenty  men 
only  were  killed  in  the  adion.  This  was  the  whole  number 
dead  when  tlie  army  began  their  march  for  head  quarters.  Eight 
were  left  on  the  ground,  and  twelve  carried  off  by  the  army. 
Tenor  twelve  died  on  the  march,  and  fevcral  next  morning,  fo 
that  on  the  20th  of  December, thirty-four  were  I  uried  in  a  grave. 
Four  died  the  next  day,  and  two  the  day  after.  Forty  only  were 
dead  on  the  2ad.  Though  the  beft  fnrgeons,  which  the  country 
could  furnifh,  were  provided,  yet  the  feafon  was  fo  fcvere,  and 
the  accommodatiens,  after  all  the  exertions  which  could  be  made, 
fo  poor,  that,  by  the  end  of  January,  twenty  more  were  in  their 
graves.  The  number  mentioned,  as  killed,  in  the  ancient  hillo- 
rics,  included  all  who  were  killed  or  died  afterwards  of  their 
wounds. 

*  The  whole  number  killed  and  wounded  \ras  about  two  hund- 
red. From  the  returns  and  letters  before  me,  it  appears,  that  of 
the  Maflachufetts  there  were  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded, 
of  whom  thirty-one  were  kil'ed  or  died  of  their  wounds.  A- 
mong  thcfe  were  Captains  Johnfon,  Davenport,  and  Gardiner. 
They  had  alio  a  Lieutenant  Upham  mortally  wounded,  who  died 
afterwards  at  Bofton.  Plimouth  fuftained  the  lofs  of  twenty 
killed  and  wounded  ;  eight  or  nine,  it  feems,  were  killed  or  died 
of  their  wounds  afterwards.  Of  the  three  hundred  Englifhmerj 
from  Connecticut  eighty  were  killed  and  wounded,  twenty  ia 
CaptsiiH  Seely's,  twenty  in  Captain  Callop'g,  fevcnteeu  in  Captain 


358  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIV. 

Book  I.  Seely,  Gallop,  and  Marfliall,  were  killed,  and  Captain 
^w-y^v^*  Malon  received  a  wound,  of  which  he  died  about  nine 
1675.  months  after.  Marihall  was  killed  as  he  afcended  the 
tree  before  the  log-houfe.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  was 
dreadful,  when  the  Conne^licut  men  were  entering  and 
after  they  firft  entered  the  fort,  until  the  men,  who  came 
in  upon  the  backs  of  them,  began  to  fire  their  large  muf- 
kets  loaded  with  piftol  bullets  upon  them,  where  they 
flood  together  in  the  clofeft  manner.  This  at  once  dif- 
concerted  them,  and  checked  their  fire,  in  that  quarter. 
Gallop  and  Seely,  leading  and  animating  their  men,  in 
this  dreadful  moment,  foon  fell.  The  enemy  made  an 
obftinate  del'ence,  after  the  men  gained  the  fort  the  fecond 
time,  taking  the  advantage  of  their  block-houfes,  wig- 
wams, and  every  covert,  of  which  they  could  avail  them- 
felves.  Some  of  the  foldiers  expended  all  their  ammu- 
nition before  the  a6bion  was  terminated,  and  were  obliged 
to  feck  new  fupplies. 

The  troops  from  ConneiSlicut  had  fuftained  fuch  a  lofs 
of  oiHcers,  and  were  fo  difabled,  that  Major  Treat  judged 
it  abfolutely  neceflary  to  return  to  Connecticut,  where  he 


Watts's,  nine  in  Captain  Mafon's,  and  14  in  Captain  Marfhall'3 
company.  Of  thefe  about  40  were  killed  or  died  of  tlieir  wounds. 
About  half  the  iofs,  in  this  bloody  adion,  fell  upon  Conne(fticut. 
The  legillature  of  the  colony,  in  a  reprtfentation  of  the  fervices 
they  had  performed  in  the  war,  fay,  "  In  that  fignal  fervice,  the 
"  fort  fight,  in  Narraganfet,  a$  we  had  our  full  number,  in  pro- 
*'  portion  with  the  other  confederates,  fo  all  fay  they  did  their 
*'  full  proportion  of  fervice.  Three  noble  foidiers,  Seely,  cour- 
*'  ageoiis  Marfliall,  and  bold  Gallop,  died  in  the  bed  of  honsr  ; 
*'  and  valiant  Mafon,  a  fourth  captain,  had  his  death's  wound, 
•'  There  died  many  brave  officers,  and  fentinels,  whofe  memory 
*'  is  blefTed  ;  and  whofe  death  redeemed  oar  live?.  The  bitter 
*'  cold,  the  tarled  fwamp,  the  tedious  march,  the  ftrong  fort,  the 
*'  numerous  and  ftubborn  enemy  they  contended  with,  for  their 
*'  God,  king,  and  country,  be  their  trophies  over  death.  He 
*'  that  commanded  our  forces  then,  and  now  us,  made  no  lefg 
*'  than  fcventeeH  fair  fhots  at  the  enemy,  and  was  thereby  as  oft 
**  a  fair  mark  for  them.  Our  mourners,  over  all  the  colony,  wit- 
**  nefs  for  our  men,  that  they  were  not  unfaithful  in  that  day.'* 
It  is  the  tradition  that  Major,  afterwards  Governor  Treat,  re- 
ceived a  ball  through  the  brim  of  his  hat,  that  he  was  the  laft  man 
who  left  the  fort,  in  the  duilc  of  the  evening,  commanding  the 
rear  of  the  army.  The  burning  the  wigwams,  the  flirieks  and 
cries  of  the  women  and  children,  and  the  yelling  of  the  warriors 
exhibited  a  moft  horrible  and  affcding  fcene,  fo  that  it  greatly 
moved  fomeofthe  foldiers.  They  were  in  mach  doubt  then, 
and  afterwards,  often  ferioudy  enquired,  whether  burning  their 
enemies  alive  could  be  confiltent  with  humanity,  and  the  benev- 
olent principles  of  the  gofpel.  Manufcripts  of  the  ReV.  Mr. 
Thomas  Ruggles. 


\ 


Chap.  XIV.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        350^ 

might  recruit  them,  and  cover  them  with  more  conve-  Book  I. 
nience  than   could  pofllbly  be   done    in  that  part  of  the  K^y^-^^J 
country.     The  wounded  men,  who  were    not  able  to  167J. 
travel,  were  put  on  board  veflels  and  carried  to  Rhode- 
Ifland.     The    Connecticut   troops,   in  their  march  from 
Stonincjton  to  Peityquamfcot,  killed  fix   and  captivated 
feven  of  the  enemy.     On  their  return  home,  they  killed 
and  captivated  about  thirty  more. 

The  Maflachuletts  and  Plimouth  troops  kept  the  field 
the  greateft  part  of  the  winter,  ranged  the  country,  cap- 
tivated numbers  of  the  enemy,  brought  in  confiderablc 
quantities  of  corn  and  beans,  and  burned  more  than  200 
wigwams  ;  but  achieved  nothing  brilliant  or  decifive. 
In  the  whole,  in  the  fort  and  in  the  country,  the  Englifh 
burned  between  eight  and  nine  hundred  wigwams,  and 
deftroyed  almoft  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  provifions. 
This  was  much  more  dillrefling,  and  had  a  greater  influ- 
ence in  their  total  ruin,  than  was  at  firft  imagined. 

Meanwhile  much  pains  were  taken  to  make  peace, 
and  various  meffages  pafTed  between  the  Engli{h  and  the 
Indians, on  thatfubjeft;  but  they  would  not  accept  of  any 
overtures  which  the  colonies  thought  proper  to  make  to 
them. 

As  the  enemy  had  loft  their  dwellings  and  principal 
ftores,  in  Narraganfet,  the  great  body  of  their  warriors 
moved  off  to  the  northward,   to  the  Nipmuck  country, 
and  into  die  wildernefs,  north  of  Brookfield.     They  were 
not  however  idle.     The  latter  part  of  January  they  drove  1676* 
off,  from  one  man,  at  Warwick,  as  they   took  leave   of 
their  country,   fixteen  horfes,  fifty  neat  cattle,  and  two 
hundred  fheep.     In  February,  the  Narraganfet  and  Nip-  Lancafter 
muck  Indians   fell  upon  Lancafter,  and  plundered  and  burnt 
burned  the  greateft  part  of  the  town.     They  either  killed  15^;/*^% 
or  captivated  forty  of  the  inhabitants-!     Some  days  after,  aff^uited 
they  made  an  affault  on  Medfield,  killed  twenty  men,  and  Feb.  ao. 
laid  nearly  half  of  the  town  in  afties. 

March  was  a  month  of  ftill  greater  difafters.  The 
towns  of  Northampton  and  Springfield,  of  Chelmsford, 
Groton,  Sudbury,  and  Marlborough,  in  Maffachufetts, 
and  of  Warwick  and  Providence,  in  Rhode-Ifland,  Vi^ere 
affaulted  •,  and  fome  of  them  partly,  and  others  entirely, 
deftroyed.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and 
others  led  away  into  a  miferable  captivity. 

■j-  The  enemy  fet  fire"  to  the  garrifon  houfe,  and  the  women 
and  children  were  all  captivated,  among  w  i)em  was  the  wife  and 
family  of  Mr.  Rowlandfon,  miniller  of  the  town. 


360 


THE    HISTORY      ChAp.   XIV. 


Book  I. 

1676. 
Captain 
Pierce 
killed 
Miirch  a6 


Captain 
Wadf- 
wortii 
killed. 


Corine(!ti- 
cut  volun- 
teers. 


Their  fjc- 
ceHes. 


Captain  Pierce,  about  the  fame  time,  with  fifty  En- 
gliflimen  and  twenty  friendly  Indians,  was  drawn  into  an 
ambufli,  and  furrounded  by  a  great  body  of  the  enemy, 
who  flew  every  Englifhman,  and  the  greateft  part  of  the 
Indians.  This  was  a  great  lofs  to  fo  fmall  a  colony  as 
Plimouth,  to  whom  Captain  Pierce  and  his  company  be- 
longed. Two  days  after,  the  enemy  fell  upon  Rehoboth, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Swanzcy,  where  hoftilities  tirft  began, 
and  burned  forty  dwelling-houfes,  befides  barns  and  out- 
houfes. 

Captain  Wadfworth,  a  brave  officer,  with  fifty  men, 
marching,  ten  days  before,  to  the  relief  of  Sudbury,  was 
furrounded  by  a  numerous  body  of  the  enemy,  and  fell 
with  his  whole  party.  Maffachufetts,  at  this  time,  was 
in  great  diftrefs  and  forrow.  It  was  feared  by  many, 
that  the  whole  colony  would  be  depopulated.  But  it 
was  now  full  tide  with  the  enemy,  they  foon  received  an 
important  check,  and  began  rapidly  to  decline. 

In  February  1676,  a  number  of  volunteers  from  Con- 
ne6licut,  belonging  principally  to  New-London,  Nor- 
wich, and  Stonington,  formed  themfelves  into  companies 
under  Major  Palms,  Captain  George  Denifon,  Captain 
James  Avery,  and  Captain  John  Stanton,  for  the  annoy- 
ance of  the  enemy.  They  engaged  a  number  of  Mohea- 
gans,  Pequots,  and  Narraganfets  to  be  aflbciates  with 
them,  for  the  fake  of  plunder  and  other  confiderations. 
The  Moheagans  were  commanded  by  Onecho,  one  of  the 
fons  of  Uncas  ;  the  Pequots  by  CafTafinamon  their  chief ; 
and  the  Narraganfets,  confiding  of  about  twenty  men,  by 
Catapazet.  Thefe  latter  were  Ninigrate's  men,  who  in 
time  pad  had  given  the  colonies  fo  much  trouble  ;  but 
ftt  this  time  they  remained  quiet,  and  would  not  join  the 
other  Narraganfet  fachems.| 

These  companies  began  to  range  the  Narraganfet 
country,  and  harvafs  the  enemy,  the  latter  part  of  Febru- 
ary, and  continued  making  their  Incurfions  from  that 
time  until  the  enemy  were  driven  from  thofe  quarters. 
As  foon  as  one  company  returned  another  went  out  im- 
mediately, fo  as  to  keep  the  enemy  in  continual  alarm. 
Their  fuccefs  was  admirable. 

Captain  Denifon  of  Stonington, on  the  27th  of  March, 
began  a  very  fuccefsful  incurfion  into  the  country. 

t  The  principal  feat  of  Ninigraie  was  at  Wcfterly,  which  for- 
merly belonged  to  Stonington.  He  pat  himfe!f  under  the  En- 
glifli,  and  he,  and  his  Indians  were  the  only  ones,  who  were  ne$ 
deftroyed,  or  driven  fiom  that  part  ot  the  country. 


Chap.  XIV.     OF    CONNECTICUT.        361 

Nanunttenoo,  or  Canoncliet,  the  head  fachem  of  all  Book  I. 
the  Narraganfets,  fon  of  Miantoiiimuh,  inheritor  of  all  v,.^-v-n> 
his  pride,  and  of  his  infolence  and  hatred  towards  the  1676. 
Englifli,  had  ventured  down  from  the  northern  wilder- 
Jiefs  to  Seaconk,  near  the  feat  of  Philip,  to  procure  feed 
corn  to  plant  the  towns,  which  the  Englilh  had  deferted 
upon  Connefclicut  river.  He  had  been  aiding  in  the 
flaughter  of  Captain  Pierce  and  his  men  juft  before.  Af- 
ter Captain  Denifon  and  his  party  had  wearied  them- 
felves  for  feveral  days,  in  hunting  the  enemy,  they  came 
upon  their  tracks  near  Blackfton's  river,  and  foon  difcov- 
ered,  by  a  fquav/  whom  they  took,  that  Nanunttanoo  was 
in  a  wigwam  not  far  diftant.  The  Captain  made  dif- 
pofitions  immediately  to  furprlfe  him.  While  he  was 
boafting  of  that  great  feat  of  cutting  off  Captain  Pierce,  N'anunttC' 
and  diverting  himfelf  with  the  (lory,  the  Englifli  came  noo  Tur- 
upon  him.  Some  of  his  party,  difcovering  them,  ran  off  prifed  and 
with  great  precipitation  j  but  one  more  faithful  than  the  ^*'^^"* 
refl:  entered  the  wigwam,  and  acquainted  him  with  his 
danger.  He  inftantly  fled  with  all  his  might.  Catapa- 
zet,  from  the  manner  of  his  running,  fufpe6ling  it  was 
Nanunttenoo,  gave  chafe  with  as  much  eagernefs  as  he 
fled.  The  other  Indians,  who  were  moft  light  of  foot, 
joined  in  the  purfuit.  They  preffed  him  {b  hard,  that  h« 
foon  threw  off  his  blanket,  and  then  his  filverlaced  coat, 
which  had  been  given  him  at  Bofton.  The  purfuers, 
perceiving  that  they  v/ere  not  miftaken  with  refpecl  to 
the  perfon,  employed  their  utmofl  exertions  to  feizchim. 
At  length,  plunging  through  the  river,  his  foot  flipped, 
upon  a  fmooth  (lone,  and  he  fell  and  wet  his  gun.  One 
Monopoide,  a  Pequot,  outrunning  the  other  Indians, 
leaped  through  the  river  after  him,  and  foon  laid  hold 
lipon  him.  Though  he  was  a  man  of  a  goodly  ftature, 
and  of  great  ftrength  and  courage,  yet  he  made  no  refift- 
ance.  One  Robert  Stanton,  a  young  man,  was  the  firlt 
Englifliman  who  came  up  to  him.  He  alked  him  feveral 
queftions ;  but  this  haughty  fachem,  looking,  with  dif- 
dain  upon  his  youthful  countenance,  replied,  in  broken 
Englifli,  "  You  too  much  child,  no  underftand  matters 
**  of  war.  Let  your  captain  come,  him  I  will  anfwer." 
This  party,  in  about  fixteen  days,  killed  and  took  nearly 
fifty  of  the  enemy,  without  the  lofs  of  a  fingle  man. 
This  fuccefs  was  much  greater  on  the  account  of  the  cap- 
ture of  the  chief  fachem,  and  a  number  of  counfellors 
and  war  captains. 


^6t  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Gha*.  XIV. 

Book  I.  Nanunttenoo  would  not  accept  of  life  when  ofFered 
Vy'VVi^  upon  the  condition,  that  he  would  make  peace  with  the 
1676.  Englifli  •,  nor  would  he  To  much  as  fend  one  of  his  coun- 
ft-ilors  to  make  a  fingle  propofal  for  that  purpofe.  When 
he  was  made  acquainted,  tliat  it  was  determined  to  put 
him  to  death,  he  laid,  "  He  liked  it  well ;  that  he  fhould 
**  die  before  his  heart  was  foft,  or  he  had  fpoken  any 
*'  thing  unworthy  of  himfelf."  The  Moheagan  fachem, 
his  counfeliors,  and  the  principal  Pequots  fhot  him  at 
Stonington.  Thofe  brave  volunteer  captains  and  their 
flying  parties  hadi  at  this  time,  killed  and  captivated  for- 
ty-four of  the  enemy,  and  before  the  end  of  April,  fev- 
enty-fix  more,  about  a  hundred  and  twenty  in  one  month. 
Among  thefe  was  another  fachem,  a  grandfon  of  Pom- 
ham,  who  was  efteemed  the  beft  foldier  and  mod  warlike 
of  all  the  Narraganfet  fachems.  They  made,  in  the  fpring, 
fummer,  and  fall,  ten  or  twelve  expeditions,  in  which 
they  killed  and  captivated  two  hundred  and  thirty  of  the 
enemy,  took  fifty  mufkets,  and  brought  in  one  hundred' 
and  fixty  bufliels  of  their  corn.  They  drove  all  the  Nar- 
]faganfet  Indians  out  of  their  country,  except  thofe  at 
Wefterly  under  Ninigrate.*  In  all  thefe  expeditions  they 
had  not  one  man  killed  or  wounded.f  Governor  Hutch- 
infon  obferves,  that "  the  brave  actions  of  the  Connefti- 
*<  cut  volunteers  have  not  been  enough  applauded.  Den- 
**  ifon's  name  ought  to  be  perpetuated." 

While  Connecticut  had  the  honor  and  happinefs  of 

giving  a  check  to  the  war,  the   colony  fuftained  a  heavy 

lofs  in  the  death  of  Governor  Winthrop.     He  had  been 

chofen  one  of  the  commiffioners  from  Connefticut,  the 

May  preceding,  to  the  court  of  the  commifBoners  of  the 

Death  of   United  colonies.     Upon  the  meeting  of  this  court,  early 

Governor  j^  the  fpring,  he  went  to  Bofton,  where  he  was  taken  fick 

"^'".|''''°P  and  died,  April  5th,   1676,  in   the    7 1 ft  year  of  his  age. 

^"  ^  ^'  He  was  honorably  interred,  at  Bofton,  in  the  fame  tomb 

with  his  father. 

He  \**as  the  eldeft  fon  of  the  honorable  John  Win- 
His  cliar-  throp,  Efquire,  the  firft  governor  of  Maflachufetts.  His 
^  birth  was  at  Groton  in  England,  1605.     His  father  gave 

him  a  liberal  education,  at  the  Univerfity  of  Cambridge,, 
in  England  -,  and  afterwards  fupported  him  fome  years 
at  the  Univerfity  of  Dublin,  in  Ireland.  As  travelling 
was  confidered  a  great  accompliftiment  to  a  young  gen* 

*  Declaration  of  the  volunteer?,  fworn  before  Governor  Sal- 
tonfta'l 

t  Hubbard's  Narrative,  from  p.  laj,  to  131. 


Chap.  XIV.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       363 

tleman,  h^  travelled  into  France,  Holland,  Germany,  It-  Book  I. 
aly,  and  Turkey.  With  thefe  advantages  he  returned  to  K.y^'^*^ 
England,  not  only  a  great  fcholar,  rich  in  experience  and  1676. 
literature,  but  a  moft  accompliftied  gentleman.  While 
he  collected  the  literature  and  excellencies  of  the  various 
nations  and  countries  through  which  he  pafled,  he  cau- 
tioufly  avoided  their  errors  and  vices.  He  vi'as  a  puritan 
of  diftinguifhed  piety  and  morals.  After  his  return  from 
his  travels,  he  came  into  New-England,  with  his  fathers 
family,  in  1631,  and  was  chofen  one  of  the  magiftrates 
of  the  colony  of  Maflachufetts.  He  afterwards  went  in- 
to England;  and  in  1635,  returned  with  a  commilhon 
to  ere£l  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  river,  and  to 
be  governor  of  that  part  of  the  country.  In  1651,  he 
was  chosen  one  of  the  magiftrates  of  Connecticut.  In 
1657,  he  was  elected  governor,  and  the  next  year  deputy 
governor.  In  1659,  he  was  again  chofen  governor ;  from 
which  time  he  was  annually  re-chofen  to  that  office,  un- 
til his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  greateft  chymifts  and 
phyficians  of  his  age,  a  member  of  the  royal  fociety  of 
philofophical  trant'adtions,  and  one  of  the  moft  diftin- 
guifhcd  characters  in  New-England. .  He  rendered  many 
important  fervices  to  the  colony,  was  exceedingly  beloved 
in  life,  and  died  greatly  and  univerfally  lamented. 

At  the   eledtion  May    nth,  William  Leet,  Efquire,  E'e(ftioii 
was  chofen  governor,  and  Robert  Treat,  Efquire,  deputy  '"^yiJth, 
governor.     Captain  John  Mafon  was   chofen  magiftrate  ]^et'^Efq 
to  fill  the  vacancy  made   by  the   advancement  of  Major  chofen 
Treat,  to  the  office  of  deputy  governor.     No  alteration  governor, 
was  made  with  refpe£t  to  the  other  officers. 

The  aflembly  voted  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  who.  The  aC 
wlth  the  friendly  Indians,  were  to  be  a  ftanding  army,  ft-mbly 
to  defend  the  country   and  harrafs  the   enemy.     Major  ^^'^^  ^" 
John  Talcott  was  appointed  to  the  chief  command.     The  ^^'^^' 
Reverend  Gerfhom  Bulkley,  of  Wethersfield,  was    ap- 
pointed furgeon,  and  Mr.   James  Fitch,  chaplain.     Mr. 
Bulkley  was  viewed  as  one  of  the  greateft  phyficians  and 
furgeons  then  in   Conne£ticut      The  aflembly  ordered 
that  the  furgeon  and  chaplam  ihould  be  of  the  council  of 
war. 

Major  Talcott,  on  his  appointment  to  the  com-  Major 
niand  of  the  army,  refigned  the  office  of  treafurer,  and  Talcott 
William  Pitkiu,  Efquire,  wa*  appointed  to  that  office,  by  ^°'"'"*»* 
the  aflembly.  ^  *^''^- 

The  firft  general  rendezvous  of  the  army,  this  year,  ' 

wd6  at  Norwich.     From  thence  Major  Jalcott  marched. 


3<54  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIV. 

the  beginning  of  June,  with  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
Englifh  foldiers  and  two  hundred  Moheagans  and  Pe- 
quot  Indians,  up  towards  the  Wabaquaffet  country, 
fcouring  the  woods  through  that  long  tratt.  They  found 
the  country  every  wliere  deferted.  The  fort  and  wig- 
wams at  WobaquafTet  were  deferted.  Nothing  more 
could  be  done  there,  than  demolifii  the  Indian  fortrefs 
and  deftroy  about  fifty  acres  of  corn  which  the  enemy  had 
plar.ted.  On  the  5th  of  June,  the  army  marched  to 
Chanagongum,  in  the  Nipmuck  country.  There  they 
killed  nineteen  Indians,  and  took  thirty-three  captives.* 
The  army  then  marched  to  Quaboug,  or  Brookfield,  and 
thence  to  Northampton.  This  was  a  long  march,  in 
which  the  troops  fuffered  greatly  for  want  of  provifions. 
It  has  ever  fince,  in  Cohne£licut,  been  known  by  the 
Hungry  name  of  the  long  and  hungry  march.  Major  Talcott 
march.  expe£led  to  have  met  with  the  Maffachufetts  forces  at 
Brookfield,  or  in  that  vicinity,  but  they  did  not  arrive. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  four  days  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Conneclicut  troops  at  Northampton, about  feven  hundred 
Indians  made  a  furious  attack  upon  Hadley  ;  but  Major 
Talcott,  with  his  party,  foon  appeared  for  the  relief  of 
the  garrifon,  and  drove  off  the  enemy.  His  feafonable 
arrival  was  providentially  a  happy  circumibancc,  which 
probably  faved  Hadley  and  other  towns  upon  the  river. 

Sometime  after  the  Maflachufetts  forces  arrived,  and 
in  conjunction  with  Major  Ta'cott  and  his  foldiers,  fcour- 
ed  the  woods  on  both  fides  the  river,  as  far  as  the  falls 
at  Deerfield.  The  enemy  by  tliis  time,  had  made  their 
efcape  from  that  part  of  the  country.  The  army  broke 
up  their  fifheries,  deflroyed  their  fifl*  and  other  ftores, 
recovered  fom.e  flolen  goods,  and  returned  without  efFe£l- 
ing  any  thing  very  important. 

After  Major  Talcott  had  fpent  about  three  weeks  in 
fervice  upon  the  river,  he  left  that  quarter,  and  marched 
through  the  wildernefs  towards  Providence  and  the  Nar- 
raganfet  country.  On  the  ifl  of  July,  the  army  came 
_  ,  ,  near  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  and  took  four.  Two 
days  after,  Major  Talcott  furprifed  the  main  body  of  them, 
by  the  fide  of  a  large  cedar  fwamp.  He  made  fuch  a 
difpofition  of  his  men,  and  attacked  them  fo  fuddenly, 
that  a  confiderable  number  were  killed  and  taken  on  the 
fpot ;  others  efcaped  to  the  fwamp.  The  tnops  com- 
paffed  the  fwamp,  and  after  an   action  of  two  or  three 

*  Major  Talcott's  letter  to  the  committee  of  war,  June  8, 1676. 


Chap.  XIV.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       365 

Lours,  killed  nnd  took  171.     Thirty-four  warriors  were  Book  I. 
killed  in  the  action,  and  alfo  Magnus,  the  (unk  fquaw  or  ^^^vx^ 
old  queen  of  Narraganfet,  poof  the  captives  were  killed,  ^^7^' 
and  between  40  and  50  women  and  children  preferved 
alive. 

Tiir,  fame  day,  the  troops  marched  to  Providence  and 
compaficd  the  neck  there,  and  afterwards,  Warwick 
neck  ;  in  which  places  they  killed  and  captured  67. 
Eighteen  were  killed.  In  thefe  feveral  rencounters,  238 
were  killed  and  taken  with  about  30  arms.* 

About  the  5th  of  Julv,  the  army  returned  to  Con- 
nefticut.  In  their  rout  they  took  60  more  of  the  enemy. 
From  about  the  beginning  of  April  to  the  6th  of  July, 
the  Conneflicut  volunteers,  and  the  troops  under  Major 
Talcott,  killed  and  captivated  about  420  of  the  enemy.f 

The  enemy,  about  this  time,  fell  into  a  ftate  of  divif- 
ion,  fear,  and  aftonifliment.  They  found  that  by  at- 
tempting to  deflroy  their  Englifh  neighbours,  they  had 
utterly  ruined  themfelves.  A  complication  of  evils  con- 
fpired  for  their  deftrudtion.  The  deftru6lion  of  their 
fort  and  principal  ftores,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  the  burn- 
ing of  their  wigwams,  and  bringing  off  their  corn  and 
beans,  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  put  them  to  inexpref-  Diftrfffcd 
fibie  hardfhips  and  diftrcffes.  They  had  been  able  to  ^^f  ^^^  ^.j^. 
plant  but  little,  in  the  fpring  ',  what  they  had  planted,  emy. 
the  Englifh  had  deftroycd  -,  they  had  been  dr'ven  from 
the  fea  and  rivers,  and  cut  off  from  almoft  every  kind  of 
fubfiftence.  They  had  been  obliged  to  lie  in  fwamps  and 
marflies ;  to  feed  on  horfe  flefh  and  other  unwholefome 
food  ;  all  which  gendered  infirmity  and  death ;  fo 
that  they  became  debilitated  and  diflieartened  by  fatigue, 
famine,  difeafe,  and  mortality. J  They  could  not  keep 
i. together,  in  any  confiderable  bodies,  for  want  of  fufte- 
nance.  They  were  purfued  and  hunted  from  fwamp  to 
fwamp,  and  from  one  lurking  place  to  another ;  fo  that, 
in  July  and  Auguft,  they  began  to  come  in  to  the  Eng- 
lifh, in  large  bodies,  and  furrender  themfelves  to  the 
mercy  of  their  conquerors. 

Major  Talcott,  after  his  return  from  Narraganfet,- ha-  xhe  enc- 

ving  recruited   his    men,   a  Ihort  time    in  Connecticut,  my  flv  to 

took  his  ftation  at   Weftfield.     While   he    lay  there,  a  t'le  wtft- 
ward. 

*  Major  Talcott's  letter  to  the  council  of  war,  July  4!h,  1676. 

t  Habbard's  Narrative  p.  131,  164,  x66.  Hutchinfon'shiftory 
Vol.  I.  p.  305,  306. 

t  Some  of  the  captives  reported,  that  more  died  by  ficknefiS, 
t-hia  the  fword. 


/ 


366 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIV. 


1676. 

M.ijor 

Talcott 

pHiiut* 

and  fiir- 

prifes 

tbetn. 


Book  I.    large  body  of  the  enemy  was  difcovered  fleeing  to  the 
Vw-^VN^  weft  ward.      Major  Talcott  purfued    them,  and  on  the 
third  day,  about  half  way  between  Weftfield  and  Albany, 
difcovered  them  lying  on  the  weft  fide  of  Houfatonick 
river  entirely  fecure.     It  was  judged  too  late  in  the  day 
to  attack  them  to  any  purpofe.     The  army   therefore  re- 
treated and  lay  upon  their  arms,  in  great  filence,  during 
the  night.     Towards  morning,  the  troops  were  formed 
in  two  divifions.     One  was  ordered  to  pafs  the  river  be-' 
low  the  enemy,  and  to  advance  and  compafs  them  in  on 
that  fide.     The  other  party,  creeping   filently  up   to  the 
eaft  bank  of  the  river,  were    to   lie   prepared  inftantly  to 
fire,  when  they  fiiould  receive  the  fignal  from  the   other 
divifion,  who  when  they  had  reached  their  ground,  were 
to  fire  a  fingle  gun.     But  this  well  contrived  plan  was  in 
fome   meafure   difconcerted.      An  Indian    had   left  his 
companions,  in   a   dead  fleep,  and  proceeded  down  the 
river  to  catch  fifti.     As  tlxe  divifion,  on  the  weft   fide  of 
the  river,  was  advancing  to  furround  the  enemy,  he  dif- 
covered them,  and  roared  out,    "  Awannux,  Awannux." 
Upon  this,  one  of  the  party  fired  and  killed  him  on  the 
fpot.     The  other  divifion,  on  the  eaft  bank  of  the  river, 
fuppofing  this  to  be  the  fignal  gun,  difcharged  upon  the 
enemy,  as  they  were  rifing  in   furprife,    or  lay  upon  the 
ground,  and  killed  and  wounded  a  great  number  of  them. 
Thofe  who  were  not  killed,  or  difablcd  by   wounds,  in- 
ftantly fled,  leaving  their  camp,  baggage,  provifions,  and 
many  of  their  arms.     As  the  divifion  on  the  weft  fide, 
had  not  advanced  to    the  ground    defigned,  before  the 
alarm  was  given,  the  enemy  made  their  efcape,  with 
much  lefs  damage,  than  otherwife  they  could  have  done. 
The  troops  purfued  them  fome  diftance,   but  the  woods 
were  fo  extremely  thick,  that  they  focwr  difappeared,  and, 
w'^^t'fi  M  ^^^^  army  returned.     The  fachem  of  Quabaug,  or  Brook- 
field,  was  killed,  and  44  other  Indians   were  killed  and 
taken.     Among  the  killed  were  25  warriors. f 

Several  brave  captains  and  officers  in  the  Mafiachu- 
fetts,  in  July  and  Auguft,  were  very  fuccefsful.  Cap- 
tain Church  of  Plimouth,  afterwards  Major  Church,  a  fa- 
mous partifan,  took  feveral  fmall  parties  of  the  enemy. 
The  Indians,  who  were  taken  or  came  in  to  the  Englifli 
to  fave  their  own  lives,  betrayed  their  friends,  and  led 
the  Englilh  captains  to  their  haunts  and  hiding  places. 


SacTitm  of 


kUled, 


^  Manufcripts  of  the  Reverend  Thomas  RiJggl«6  and  Hub- 
bard's Narrative. 


Chap.  XIV.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      361 

Thus   afTifted,  the  Maflachufetts  and  PHmouth  foldiers  Book  I. 
hunted  Philip  from  week  to  week,and  from  place  to  place.   v«.^w^ 
They  killed  and  captured  his  brother,  his  counfellors  and  1676. 
chief  men,  his  wife  and  family  ;  but  his  mind  continued 
firm  and  unbroken.     In  the  midfl  of  all  this  misfortune 
and  diftrefs,  he  would  hear  no    propofals   of  peace.     At 
length,  on  the  1 2th  of  Auguft,   Captain  Church,  led  by 
one  of  Philip's  men,  whom  he  had  difaffcded,  by  (hoot- 
ing his  brother,  only  for  propofing  to  him  to  make  peace 
with  the  colonies,  furpvifed  this   famous  fachem,  in  a 
fwamp,  near  Mount  Hope.     As   he  was  flying  to  make  phUip  \\\. 
his  efcape,  the  Indian  who  had  been  guide  to  the  party,  led,  Aug. 
fhot  him  through  the  heart.     Thus  fell  a  brave  enemy,  i*^^' 
who  had  defended  himfelf  and  his  country,  and  what  he 
imagined  to  be  his  own,  and  the  juft  rights  of  his   coun- 
trymen, to  the  lafl  extremity. 

The  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  country  now  generally 
fubmitted  to  the  Englifh,  or  fled  and  incorporated  with 
diftant  and  ftrange  nations.  After  this  time,  very  little 
damage  was  done. 

Connecticut  offered  the  fame  conditions  to  the  ene- 
my, upon  their  fubmifllon,  which  had  been  given  to  the 
Pequots  :  That  they  fhould  have  life,  liberty,  prote£iion, 
and  ground  to  plant.  Some  principal  incendiaries  and 
murderers  however  were  excepted.  They  difdained  to 
accept  the  terms,  and  generally  fled  their  country.  The 
Nipmucks,  Nafhawas,  Pocomtocks,  the  Hadley  and 
Springfield  Indians,  fled  to  the  French  and  their  Indiana 
in  Canada.  About  200  of  them,  after  their  fuvprife  at 
Houfatonick  river,  fled  to  the  Moheaganders  upon  Hud- 
fon's  river,  incorporated  and  became  one  w'ith  them. 

When  Philip  began  the  war,  he  and  his  kinfwoman, 
Wetamoe,  had  about  500  warriors,  and  the  Narraganfets 
nearly  2,000.  The  Nipmuck,  Nafhawa,  Pocomtock, 
Hadley,  and  Springfield  Indians,  were  confiderably  nu- 
merous. It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  there  were  about 
3,000  warriors  combined  for  the  deftrudlion  of  the  New- 
England  colonies,  exclufive  of  the  eaftern  Indians.  The 
war  terminated  in  thir  entire  conqueft  and  almoft  total 
rxtin£tion.  At  the  fame  time,  it  opened  a  wide  door  to 
cxtenfive  fettlement  and  population. 

This  however,  in  its  connexion    with  the  war  with 
the  eaftern  Indians,  which    commenced  about  the  fame  LofTea  in 
time,  was  the  moft  impovcrifhing  and  diftreflfing  of  any      "^war. 
which  New- England  has  ever  experienced  from  its  firft 
fettlement  to  the  prefent  time.      The  war  with  the  caf- 


368  THEHISTORY  Ghap.XIV. 

Book  I.    tern  Indians  continued  until  the  fpring  of  the  year  167S. 

v.^^/-v-^  The  enemy  killed    and   captivated  great  numbers  of  the 

1676,         people,  captured  nearly  twenty  fifliing  veflels  with  their 

crews,  and  rioted  in  plunder  and  dcvaltation,   until  mod 

of  the  fettlements  in   thofe  parts    were  fwept  away,  and 

the  country  was  reduced  to  their  domination.* 

About  600  of  the  inhabitants  of  New-England,  the 
grcateft  part  of  whom  were  the  flower  and  ftrength  of 
the  country,  either  fell  in  battle,  or  were  murdered  by 
the  enemy.  A  great  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try were  in  deep  mourning.  There  were  few  families 
or  individuals  who  had  not  loft  fome  near  relative  or 
friend.  .  Twelve  or  thirteen  towns,  in  Maflachufetts, 
Plimouth,  and  Rhode-Ifland,  were  utterly  deftroyed,  and 
others  greatly  damaged.  About  600  buildings,  chiefly 
dwelling  houfes,  were  confumed  with  fire.f  An  almoflh 
infuperable  debt  was  contra£led,  by  the  colonies,  when 
their  numbers,  dwellings,  goods,  cattle  and  all  their  re- 
fources  were  greatly  diminiflitd. 

Connecticut  indeed  had  fufllired  nothing,  in  com- 
parifon  with  her  filler  colonies.  Her  towns  and  inhab- 
itants had  been  preferved  from  the  ravages  of  the  enemy  ; 
but  about  a  feventh  part  of  the  v/hole  militia  was  out  up- 

'*  Dr.  Belknap's  hift.  vol.  I.  p,  157,  159. 

-{-  This  ftatenient  ot  the  !of)i  of  lives,  towns,  and  buildings,  is 
made  from  an  accurate  tnumeration  of  the  various  numbers  men- 
tioned, in  the  ancient  hiltories,  of  the  lives  lof,  and  of  the  towns 
and  building;;  burned.  But  aa  there  were  doubtiefb  many  perfons 
killed,  and  others  who  died  of  their  wounds,  not  mentioned  in 
thofe  accounts,  they  muft  have  exceeded  the  number  here  ftated. 
Tiie  hiiloiies  of  thofc  troubles  rarely  mention  the  barns,  ftores, 
and  out- houfes  burned;  and  fometimes  there  is  notice  of  the 
burning  of  part  of  a  town,  and  of  the  buildings  in  fuch  a  tr^icft, 
without  any  fpecification  of  the  number.  All  the  buildings  in 
Narraganfet,  from  Providence  to  Stonington,  a  traift  of  about  fif- 
ty milci,  were  burned,  or  otherwife  deftroyed,  by  the  enemy,  but 
the  number  is  pot  mentioned.  Thelofa  of  buildings  muft  there- 
fore h.i7e  been  much  greater  ti..an  has  been  mentioned. 

The  militia  of  Gonnedicut,  in  1675,  amounted  to  2,250  m£n. 
Ofthtfe,  the  commiflioners  ree^uired  ^15,  a6  their  proportion  of 
the  1,000  men  then  to  be  raifed. 

If  the  proportion  wasjuft,  there  were  about  7,150  of  the  mili- 
tia of  the  United  colonies.  Reckoning  every  fifth  man  a  foldier, 
and  five  perfons  to  every  family,  there  were  7,150  families  and 
35,750  inhabitants,  at  that  time  in  the  United  colonies.  Accord- 
ing to  this  eftimation,  about  one  fenciblc  man  in  clevc-n  was  kill- 
ed, and  every  eleventh  fami  y  was  burnt  out  ;  or  an  eleventh  part 
ofthe  whole  militia,  and  of  all  the  buildings  of  the  United  colo- 
nics were  fwept  away  by  this  predatory  war.  Thisgreat'y  ex- 
ceeded the  !ofs  in  the  late  war  With  (Jreat  Britain,  in  proportion 
to  the  Burabtra  and  weallh  of  the  United  States. 


Chap. XIV.       OF    CONNECTICUT.        3^9 

on  conftant  fervice,  befides  the  volunteers.  A  large  pro-  Book  I. 
portion  was  obliged  to  watch  and  guard  the  towns  at  v.^/'v^*^ 
home.  The  particular  towns  were  necelRtated  to  fortify  1676. 
themfelves,  with  anenclofureof  palifades,  and  to  prepare 
and  fortify  particular  dwellings  for  garrifon  houfes, 
which  might,  in  the  bed  manner,  command  the  refpec- 
tive  towns  ;  and  to  which  the  aged  people,  women,  and 
children  might  repair,  and  be  in  fafety,  in  the  time  of 
danger.  For  three  years  after  the  war  commenced,  the 
hihabitants  paid  eleven  pence  on  the  pound,  upon  the 
grand  lift,  exclufive  of  all  town  and  purilh  taxes.  After 
the  war  was  finifhed,  they  had  a  confiderablc  debt  to  dii- 
charge.  The  colony,  neverthelefs,  was  highly  dlftinguifh- 
cd  and  favored  in  many  refpeds.  The  numerous  In- 
dians within  it  were  not  only  peaceable,  but  the  Mohea- 
gans  and  Pequots  were  of  great  fervice  in  the  war.  They 
were  not  only  a  defence  to  the  eaftern  towns,  but  efpe- 
cially  advantageous  in  difcovering  and  harraffing  the  ene- 
my, and  in  preventing  a  furprife  by  them.  Connedlicut 
had  not  one  party  of  men  furprifcd  and  cut  off  during 
the  war  ;  nor  did  the  colony  fuitain  any  confiderable  lofs 
of  men,  at  any  time,  except  in  taking  the  fort  in  Narra- 
ganfet.  At  the  fame  time,  the  legiflature  and  people 
were  happy,  in  giving  feafonable  and  powerful  affiftance 
to  their  confederates,  and  in  repeatedly  refculng  whole 
towns  and  parties,  when  in  the  moft  imminent  danger. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Measures  adopted  to  difcharge  the  public  debt  J  and  fettle  tht 
country  in  peace.  The  renfons  of  the  colony's  claim  to  Nar- 
raganfet.  The  former  fettlers  and  owners  of  land  there 
upply  to  ConneBicut  for  protection.  Major  Treat  goes  to 
the  upper  towns  upon  ConneBicut  river ^  to  treat  with  the 
Indians.  Fafls  appointed  through  New-England.  A51 
concerning  the  conquered  lands  in  Narraganfet.  Naviga- 
tion a£l  grievous  to  the  colonies.  Governor  Leet  takes  the 
oath  refpeBing  trade  and  navigation,  Anfwers  to  queries 
from  the  lords  of  trade  and  plantations.  Frotejl  againjl 
Sir  Edmund  Androfs' s  claim  to  Fi/her's  Ifland.  Charac- 
ter of  Governor  Leet.  Commijfioners  appointed^  by  his 
majeflyy  to  examine  and  make  report  concerning  all  claims 
-Jo  th$  Narraganfet  country ,  or  k.ng's  province.     They  re- 


370  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XV, 

Book  I.  port  in  favor  of  Conneclicut.  Anfivin  to  the  renewed 
Si^W./       claun  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton^  and  opmiofis  on  the  cafe. 

^^7^*  CcnneHicut  congratulate  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Dungan^ 

governor  of  New-Torh,  and  agree  ivith  him,  refpeBing  the 
boundary  line  betiveen  that  colony  and  ConneBicut.  Petu- 
iion  to  King  James  11.  Settlement  of  Waterbury.  ^ua- 
ivarrantos  againji  the  colony.  The  ajfembly  petition  his 
majejly  to  continue  their  charter  privileges.  Sir  Edmund 
And"  of s  made  governor  of  New -England.  Arrives  at 
Hartfordy  takes  the  government  by  order  of  his  majefly, 
The  oppreffton  and  cruelty  of  his  adminiflration.  Difrejfed 
»nd  forronvful  fate  of  the  people. 

CONNECTICUT  had  now  conquered  the  Narragan- 
fet  country,    and  in  conjunclion  with  the  other 
confederates,"  terminated   the   war,  in  this  part  of  New- 
England.     The  legiilature  therefore  addrefled  themfelvcs 
^*      to  difchargc  the  public  debt,  to  fettle  the  friendly  Indians 
in  a  ft^te  of  peace  among  themfelves,  and  with   the  colo*- 
nies,  and  to  extend  their  fettlements  in  the  Narraganfet 
country,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  their  jurifdi£tion. 
To  difcharge  the  public  dtbt,  they  levied  a  tax  of  eight 
pence  on  the  pound,  upon  the  whole  lift  of  the  colony, 
in  0£lober  annually  during  the  term  of  two  years.  They 
appointed  a  committee  to  hear  all  affairs,  which  the  Mo- 
lieagans,  Pequots,  and  Nai-raganfets,  under  Ninigrate,  or 
Ninicraft,  had    to    lay  before  them,  and  to  do  whatever 
they  Ihould  judge  expedient   to  promote   peace  among 
them,  and  to  preferve  their  friendfliip  and  attachment  to 
the  Englifli.     For   their  encouragement,  the  legiilature 
granted  liberty  for  them  to  hunt,  in  all  the  conquered 
lands,  during  their  pleafurc.     They  were  alfo  authorized 
to  kill  and  deftroy  any  of  the  enemy,  who  fhould  return 
to  their  country,  without  fubmitting  to  the  colony  and 
-  accepting  the  terms  which  had  been  offered  them. 
Court  of         "^^  '^^'^  eledlion,  in  May  1677,  there  was  no  alteration 
eledion      i'"*  t^^^  legiflature,  excepting  the  choice  of  Andrew  Leet, 
May  10,     Efquire,  into  the  raagiftracy,   inftead  of  Captain   John 
1677.  Mafon,  who  died,   the  September  before,  of  the  wounds 

he  had  received  in  taking  the  Narraganfet  fort.  The 
fame  governor,  deputy  governor,  and  magiftrates  were 
re-ele£l:ed  for  feveral  years  fucceffively.  A  committee 
was  appointed,  by  the  affembly,  to  fettle  all  affairs  of  gov- 
ernment in  the  Narraganfet  country,  and  to  report  what 
places  there  were  there  adapted  to  the  purpofc  of  plant- 
ing new  towns. 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        371 

As  the  Rhode-Iflandcrs  had  deferted  the  country,  in  Book  I. 
the  war,  and  had  done  nothinji^   in  the  defence  of  it,  and  k^^y^sJ 
as  the  Conne£licut  volunteers  had  driven  the  enemy  en-  1677. 
tirely  from  that  extenfive  tra£V,  the  legiflaturc  determined  Dctciml- 
to  plant  and  govern  it,  as  part  of  this  colony.  Conneai* 

For  various  reafons  they  viewed  the  a£l  of  his  majef-  ^^^  (^  fg^. 
ty's  commiflloners,   determining  that  Rhode-Ifland  and  tk  and 
Narraganfet  (hould  be  a  province  for  the  king,  as  a  mere  govern 
nullity.     Their  commiflion  gave  them  no  power  to  make  ^"ragan- 
new  colonies.     It  required  that  Colonel  Nichols  (liould  K^iifons  of 
always  be  one  of  the  council,  that  any  of  its  a6ts  might  their  de- 
be  valid ;  but  he  was  not  prefent  at  that  determination,  termlna- 
Further,  Colonel  Nichols,  with  two  or  three  of  his  coun-  ^'°"* 
cil,  afterwards  reverfed  that  judgment. 

In  the  fame  point  of  light  they  viewed  the  agreement 
with  Mr.  Clark,  as  it  was  after  Mr.  Winthrop  had  ob- 
tained the  Conne£licut  charter,  and  fent  it  to  the  colony, 
at  which  time  his  agency  vssis  terminated.  Further,  that 
agreement  was  entirely  alien  from  thebufinefs  of  his 
agency,  and  without  any  inftrudlions  or  authority  from 
the  colony.  The  agreement  with  Mr.  Clark  was  confid- 
cred  as  a  nullity,  in  another  point  of  light,  as  the  charter 
to  Rhode-Xfland  recognized  and  had  reference  to  one  ar- 
ticle of  the  agreement  only,  and  as  Rliode-Ifland  had 
never  fabmitted  to  one  of  the  other  articles.  In  direct 
contravention  of  them,  they  had  invaded  the  property  of 
the  fettlers  named  in  it,  wantonly  carried  off  the  produc- 
tions of  their  lands  and  fruits  of  their  labors,  driven  off 
their  cattle,  forced  the  inhabitants  from  their  pofleflions, 
burned  their  fences,  and  even  pulled  down  their  houfes.* 
They  had  claimed  jurifdiilion  over  them,  after  they  had, 
in  the  year  1663,  chofen  to  belong  to  Connecticut,  and 
formally  put  themfelves  under  the  government  of  that 
colony.  They  had  not  regarded  the  agreement  even 
with  refpe£l  to  the  boundaries,  but  attempted  to  extend 
their  limits  beyond  what  was  exprefled  in  the  charter. 
Befides,  when  his  majefty  had  prcvioufly  granted  that 
traft  to  Connefticut,  there  remained,  in  law  and  reafon, 
no  further  right  in  him  to  that  country.  He  had  noth- 
ing there  further  to  grant.  Therefore  he  could  grant 
nothing  there  to  Rhode-Ifland.  Connefticut  well  knew 
that  Pawcatuck  never  was  called  Narraganfet  river,  and 
that  the  Narraganfets  never  extended  their  claims  fo  far 
weftward  j  but  that  Pawcatuck,  and  the   country  fome* 

•  Prayer  erf  the  inhabitantsi  to  the  general  court  of  Connedi- 
CHt,  on  Ble,  reprefcnting  the  outrages  of  the  Rhodc-IHaaders, 


372  THEHTSTORY        Chap.  XV. 

Book  I.  miles  to  the  eaft  of  it,  belonged  to  the  Pequots.*  For 
^-*«^/^s-»  thcfe  reafons,  the  legiflature  confidered  their  title  and 
J  67  7.  claim  to  this  part  of  the  colony  as  clear  and  juft,  as  to  any 

other  part  of  it  whatever. 
Mr.    _  Elisha   Hutchinfon,  William  Hudfon,    and    others^ 

Hutcnin-  fjjeij-  aflbciates,  claiming  a  large  tra£t  in  the  Pequot  and 
others  dc  Narraganfet  country,f  applied  to  the  general  alTembly 
titinn  for  for  their  afiiftance  and  proted^ion,  againft  Rhode-Illand, 
protec-  in  the  re-fettlement  of  their  lands.  The  aflembly  deter- 
tion.  mined  to  extend  their  protection   and   government  to 

them. 

At  tlie  feflion  in  0£lober,  the  upper  towns,  upon 
Oct.  n.  Conneclicut  river,  fent  meflengers  to  the  aflembly,  ac- 
quninting  them,  that  there  were  confiderable  bodies  of 
Indians  colIe6t:ed  together  in  their  vicinity  j  and  that 
they  made  propofals  of  peace.  The  meflengers  folicited 
the  aU'embly  to  fend  Major  Treat,  the  deputy  governor, 
■with  a  detachment  of  forty  men,  to  Northampton,  to 
treat  with  them,  or  to  defend  thofe  towns,  as  occafion 
might  require.  The  aflembly  complied  with  the  requeft, 
and  the  deputy  governor  proceeded  immediately  to  North- 
••imptoii.  He  was  in{lru£led,  in  the  firft  place,  to  ufe 
his  utmofl  endeavours  for  the  redemption  of  the  captives, 
with  nTioney,  goods,  or  by  any  other  means  in  his  power. 
The  terms  of  peace,  which  he  was  authorized  to  propofe, 
were  life  and  liberty,  upon  the  fubmiflion  of  the  Indians 
to  the  Englifli,  in  the  fcveral  places  where  they  fhould  be 
fettled.  He  was  dIreCled  to  aflure  the  Indians  of  pro- 
tedflion  and  fafety  during  the  treaty.  It  does  not  appear, 
that  many  of  the  northern  Indians  accepted  the  term& 
propofed,  or  ever  returned  to  their  former  places  of  abode. 
Little  more  appears  to  have  been  efi^e<Sted  by  the  treaty, 
than  the  redemption  of  fomc  of  the  captives. 
j6,g_  The  colonies,  at  this  time,  had  many  enemies,  and  the 

moft  injurious  complaints  and  unfavorable  reprefentations 
were  made  of  them  in  England.  Edward  Randolph,  cf- 
pecially,  whom  the  people  of  New-England  reprefented 
as  going  about  to  dcftroy  them,  was  indefatigable  in  his 

*  Cafe  wfConnedicut,  with  refpeft  to  Narraganfet,  ftattd,  ia 
which  thefe  articles  are  largely  infittcd  on. 

t  It  appears,  by  the  report  of  the  cominittee,  appointed  to 
view  and  make  report  conceriiipf  the  ftite  of  Narraganfct,  that 
the  gentlemen  mentioned  above,  Major  Athcrton,  and  their  af- 
fociates,  owned  a  trad  of  more  than  5,000  acres,  only  on  what 
was  called  Boftoii  neck,  and  that  large  trads  were  owned  by  other 
purchafers.  Indeed  the  principal  part  of  Narraganfct  was  owned 
by  them. 


CHAr.  XV.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        373 

complaints  againfl  them,  and  in  aggravating  what  ever  he  Book  I. 
imagined  might  ferve  to  the  r  difadvantage.  He  came  v^/^v^*^ 
over  to  Bofton,  in  1676,  and  annually,  in  perfon  or  by  1678. 
writing,  made  complaints  againit  them.  He  generally 
returned  to  England  in  the  fall,  and  in  the  fpring  or 
fummer,  came  over  fraught  with  new  niifchief.  He  bu.- 
fied  himfelf,  among  other  affairs,  in  complaining  of  the 
colonies  for  their  oppofition  to  the  acts  of  trade  and  nav- 
igation. Unhappily  for  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies, 
they  were  fuffering  under  an  arbitrary  prince,  inimical  to 
the  civil  and  religious  rights  of  hia  fubjefts.  His  ear  was 
open  to  complaints  againfl;  thofe,  who  did  not  cheerfully 
fubmit  to  his  d.:fpotic  impofitions  ;  and  he  readily  pro- 
moted tliofe  who  made  them.  The  colonies  knew  how 
affairs  were  conducted  in  England,  and  were  deeply  ap- 
prehenfive,  of  the  danger  they  were  in,  of  a  total  de^^ri- 
vation  of  their  liberties. 

The  commiflioners  of  the  United  colonies,  in  tliefc 
views,  recommended  a  general  faftto  theconfederate  colo- 
nies, to  humble  themfelves  for  their  offences,  and  to  pray 
for  the  divine  favor,  in  the  continuation  of  their  jult 
rights  and  privileges. 

In  confequence  of  this  recommendation,  the  general  Nov.  ai. 
aflembly  of  Conne61:icut  appointed  the  third  Tuefday  in 
November  a  public  fad,  in  union  with  their  confederates, 
to  humble  themfelves,  and  pray  for  the  purpcfes  recom- 
mended. 

The  general  aflembly,  at  their  fefhon  in  May  1679,  May  1679. 
to  prevent  the  people  of  Rhode-Ifland,  and  other  intru- 
ders, from  taking  up  lands  in  Narraganfet,  enacted,  that 
none  of  the  conquered  lands  fliould  be  taken  up,  or  laid 
out  into  farms,  without  fpecial  and  exprefs  order  from 
them.* 

The  Rhodc-Iflanders,  in  the  time  of  danger,  deferted 
the  country  and  bore  no  part  in  the  war.  However,  as 
foon  as  the  inhabitants,  who  had  fettled  under  Connecti- 
cut, began  to  return  to  their  former  fettlements,  to  build 
upon  their  lands,  and  cultivate  their  farms,  under  the 
government  of  this  colony,  the  legiflature  of  Rhode-lfland 
began  to  ufurp  authority  and  pra£life  their  farmer  vexa- 
tions. 

John  Cranston,  Efquire,  governor  of  Rhode-Ifland, 
held  a  court  in  Narraganfet,  in  September,  and  made  at- 
tempts to  introduce  the  authority  and  officer*  of  Rhod««. 

*  Records  of  Conneflicut. 


374  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XV. 

Book  I.    Iflaiid,  into  that  part  of  Conne£ticut.     The  general  af- 
v.^'vx^   fembly  therefore,  in  0£lober,  protefted  againft  his  ufur- 
i679.         pation,  and  declared  his  a£i:s  to  be  utterly  void.     They 
alfo  prohibited  all   the  inhabitants  to  receive  any  office 
from  the  legiflature  of  Rhode-Iiland,  or  to  yield  obedi- 
ence to  its  authority.f 

The  a^hs  of  trade  and   navigation  were  exceedingly 

grievous  to  the  colonies.     They  v  ewcd  them  as  utterly 

incoiififtent  with  their  chartered  rights.     This  made  them 

extremely  unwilling  to  fubmit  to  them.     Maflachufetts 

never  would  fully  fubmit ;  but  as  it  was  matter  of  great 

J,  and  continual  complaint  againft  the  colonies,  and  as  his 

j5go  majefty  infifted  on  the  refpe<Slive  governors  taking  the 

Governor  oath,  refpeiSling  trade  and  navigation,  it  was  judged  ex- 

Lcct  took  pedient,  that  Governor  Leet  (hould  take  it,  in  the  pref- 

the  navj-    ^^^^^  ^£  ^^^q  aflembly.     It  was  accordingly  admimftered  to 

oath.  him,  at  the  feflion  in  May  1680. 

This  aflembly  ordered,  that  a  letter  Ihould  be  written 
to  the  general  court  of  Maffachufetts,  defiring  their  con- 
currence in  mutually  fettling  the  line  between  that  colo- 
ny and  Connedlicut.     It  was  requefted,   that  the  court 
would  appoint  a  committee  fully  authorized  for  that  pur- 
pofe,  to  join  with  one  from  Connecticut  vefted  with  fiml- 
lar  powers.     If  the   general  court  of  the  Maflachufctts 
(hould  refufe  to  comply  with  this  propofal,  then  the  gov- 
ernor and  his  council,  with  fuch  as  they  ihould  appoint 
to  that  fervice,  were  authorized  to  run  the  line  without 
them. 
Anfwers         '^"^  Lords  of  trade  and  plantations  having  tranfmitted 
t'l  fineries  a  number  of  queries  to  the  governor  and   company,  the 
July  15,      governor  and  council  were  defired  to  anfwcr  them.     By 
iOJSc.  their  anfwers  it  appears,  that  there  were  twenty- fix  towns 

in  the  colony  :;{:  That  the  militia.  Including  horfe  and 
foot,  confifted,  in  1679,  of  2,507  men  :  That  the  annual 
exports  were  about  ^9,000  :  That  there  were  in  the  co- 
lony about  twenty  fmall  merchants,  trading  to  Bofton, 
New-York,  Newfoundland,  and  the  Weft-Indies :  And, 
that  its  fhipping  confifted  of  four  (hips,  three  pinks,  eight 
floops,  and  other  fmall  veflels,  amounting  in  the  whole 
to  twenty  feven,  the  tonnage  of  which  was  only  1,050. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  is  not  mentioned,  but,  from 
the  number  of  the  militia,  It  muft  have  been  nearly 
1 2,000.     To  one  of  the  enquiries,  the  following  anf-rcr 

+  Records  of  Connecticut. 

J  Rye  and  Bedford  appear  to  have  been  included  is  this  num- 
ber. 


Chap.   XV.        O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T        375 

)s  given,  **  If  fo  be  Hartford,   New-London,  New-Ha-  Book  L' 
«  ven,  and  Fairfield,  might  be  made  free    ports,  for   fif-  v.^V"«^ 
«*  teen  or   twenty  years^   it  would  be  a  means  to  bring  ^*^'^'^* 
<*  trade  there,    and  much    increafc  the  navigation  and 
«  wealth  of  this  poor  colony.''^ 

About  this  time.  Sir  Edmund   Androfs,  governor  of  sir  Ed- 
New-York,  aflerted  his  right  of  jurifdiilion  over  Fifher's  mund  An- 
Ifland,  as  included  in  the  Duke  of  York's  patent.  drof* 

Upon  this  claim,  the  legillature  of  the  colony  aflerted,  pi({^'^*>g 
"  That  the  faid  Ifland  was  a  part  and   member  of  this  ifiand. 
«  co'.onyof  Connetlicut,  andunderthegovernmentthere-  Conne(f\i- 
**  of,  and  that  they  have   ever  exercifed,   and  fhall  and  cutproted 
"  will  exercife  government   there  as  occafion   fhall   re-  ^f^^^    '^ 
"  quire  ;  and  do  hereby  declare  and  proteft   againft  Sir 
*<  Edmund  Androfs  and  all  other   perfons,   their  claims 
"  or  exercife  of  any  authority  or  government  on,  or  over 
"  the  faid  ifland." 

At  the  election  1683,  Major  Robert  Treat  was  chofen  ^.  „. 
governor,  and  Samuel  Bifliop,  deputy  governor.  The  for-  j^g,. 
mer  magiftrates  were  generally  re-chofen  ;  but,  by  reafon 
of  feveral  vacancies  which  had  been  made,  Captain  Rob- 
ert Chapman,  Captain  James  Fitch,  Mr.  Samuel  Mafon, 
and  Mr.  Jofeph  Whiting,  were  eledted  magiftrates.  The 
change  of  governors  was  occaGoned  by  the  death  of  Go\'- 
crnor  Leet,  who  after  faithfully  ferving  the  colonies,  for 
many  years,  had  now  finiihed  his  courfe.f 

t  Connefticut  book  of  patents,  letters,  &c. 

•j-  The  gavcrnor,  William  Leet,  Efqiiire,  was  bred  a  lawyer  in 
England,  and  was,  for  a  confiderable  time,  clerk  of  a  biihop's  Charader 
court.  In  this  fervice  he  became  acquainted  with  the  conduct  of  Govcr- 
of  l+i€  btfhops  towards  the  puritans,  with  the  pleas  and  ferious  nor  Leet. 
converfation  and  condiidt  of  the  latter,  when  arraigned  before 
them.  H<  obfcrved  the  great  feverity  which  the  court  exercifed 
toward  them,  f&r  going  to  hear  good  fermons  in  the  neijihbeur- 
hig  parifhes,  when  they  had  none  at  home, and  what  light  mat- 
ters they  ™  jdc  of  wantonncfs  and  other  inftanccs  of  grofs  fin,  and 
how  much  betttr  perfons  guilty  of  fuch  crimes  were  treated,  than 
the  puritans.  This  brought  him  to  a  ferious  confidcration  of 
the  affair,  and  to  acquaint  himfelf  more  thoroughly  with  the  doc- 
trines and  difcipline  of  the  puritans.  In  confequence  of  this. he 
became  a  puritan,  left  the  bifhop's  court,  and,  in  1638,  came  into 
Ktw-England,  with  Mr.  Whitfield  and  his  company.  He  was 
oneof  the  fcven  pillars  of  his  church.  In  1643,  he  was  chofen 
mapiftrate  for  the  colony  of  Isiew-Haven,  and  was  annually  re- 
eledled,  until  May  1658.  He  vras  then  chofen  deputy  governor 
•f  that  colony,  in  which  office  he  continued  until  he  was  elefted 
governerin  i66t.  He  continued  chief  magifttate  ef  that  colony, 
until  the  union  in  1665.  He  was  then  chofen  one  of  the  magil- 
trates  of  Connt<fticut.  In  1669,  he  was  elcded  deputy  govc^nor, 
and  was  annually  re-elefted  until  1676,  when  he  was  ch«fcn  gov- 


376  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XV. 

Book  I.        As  there  had  been  longdifputes  relative  to  the  Narra- 
V-^W^  ganfet  country,  and  as  the  king,  in   confequence  of  the 
i68j.         act  of  his  commiiTioners,  in  1665,  claimed  it  as    ^'S    pro- 
vince, commillioners  were  appointed  to  hear    and    deter- 
mine all  titles  and  claims  refpecfling  that  tra£l.     On  the 
Commlf-     7^^  of  April  1683,  his  majelty  King  Charles   II.  granted 
lion  to       a  commilnon  to   Edward   Cranfield,  Efquire,   lieutenant 
Edward      governor  of  New-Hampfliire,  William  Stoughton,  Jofeph 
Cranfitld,  ^Jurfiey,  Edward   Randolph,   Samuel   Shrimpton,  John 
j^g^"^      Fitz  Winthrop,  Edward    Palms,    Nathaniel  Saltonftall, 
and  John  Pyncheon,  junior,  Efquires,orany  three  of  them, 
of  whom  Edward  Cranfield   or  Edward   Randolph   was 
to  be  of  the  quorum,  «<  to  examine  and  enquire    into  the 
*<  refpeclive  claims  and  titles,  as  well  of  his  majefty  as  of 
"  all  perfons  and  corporations  v/hatfoever,  to  the  imme- 
*<  diatejurifdi£fion,  government,  or  propriety  of  the  foil 
<*  of  a  certain  tra£t  of  land,  within  his  majefty's   domirip- 
«  ion  of  New-England,  called    the  King's   province,   or 
*'  Narraganfet  country  •,  and  to  call  before  them  any  per- 
<'  fon  or  perfons,  and  to  fearch  records,  as  they  (hall  find 
*'  requifite,  and  the  proceedings  therein,  with  the    opin- 
*'  ions  upon  the  matters  that  {hall  be  examined  by  them, 
**  to  (late,  and  with  all  convenient  fpeed  report  thereof  to 
<*  make  tx)  his  majefty." 

The  commiflioners  convened,  on  the  22d  of  Auguft 
1 683,  at  the  houfe  of  Richard  Smith,  in  the  Narraganfet 
country.  They  fummoned  all  perfons  and  corporations, 
in  whatever  place,  who  were  concerned  in  the  title  or 
government  of  that  country,  to  appear  before  them,  and 
to  produce  all  charters,  deeds,  records,  letters,  and  orders, 
from  his  majefty  and  council,  or  of  any  of  his  commif- 
fioners,  to  the  refpe6llve  colonies,  governors,  or  govern- 
ments, which  might  give  information  on  the  fubje6l.  At 
the  time  and  place  appointed,  the  records  reprefent, 
"  That  there  was  the  greateft  appearance  of  the  moft  an- 
"  cietitEnglifliand  Indians  then  living,  to  teftify  the 
"  truth  of  their  knowledge,"  refpedling  the  matters  then 
to  be  determined. 


ernor  of  Cotinedticut.  During  the  term  of  forty  years,  he  was 
magiftrate,  deputy  governor,  or  governor  of  one  or  other  of  the 
colonies.  In  both  colonics  he  prcfided  in  times  ofllie  greateft 
difficulty,  yet  always  condu<flcd  himfelf  with  fuch  integrity  and 
wifdom,as  to  meet  the  public  approbation.  Affer  he  was  choftn 
governor  of  Connecticut,  he  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he  died 
full  of  years  and  go®d  works.  Me  left  a  numerous  oifspring. 
One  of  his  Cons,  Andrew  Lcet,  EO]  uire,  was  fome  year?  one  of 
tie  tnagittrates  cf  the  colony. 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  G  U  T.        377 

The  commiflioners,  having  fully  heard  every  thing  re-  Book  L 
fpe^ling  the  claims  and  title  to  that  part  of  New-England,  \.^^/'^\J 
adjourned  to  Bofton,  and  there  made  a  report  to  his  ma-  1683. 
jefty,  in  an  ample  manner  declaring,  that  the  government 
of  it  belonged  to  Connedicut.     The  report,  fo  far  as  it  re- 
fpeds  this  colony,  and  can  refled  light  on   the   fubje£V> 
is  jts  followeth. 

"  In  humble  obedience  to  your  majefly's   commandsj 
**  we  your  majefly's  commilHoners,   have  fe.rioufly  con- ^^P*!""' 
*«  fidered  the   feveral  claims  before  us.     We   find,  that  ^jj^  Narra- 
**  your  majefly,  by  your  letters  patents,  dated    at  Weft- ganfct 
<<  minfter^  the  three  and  tw^entieth  of  April,  in  the  four- country 
**  teenth  year  of  your  majefty's  reign,  granted  to  the  gov-  ^^\  *'^* 
**  ernor  and  company  of  Connecticut,   and   their  fucccf-        '^* 
**  fors,  all  that  part  of  your  dominions  in  New-England j 
"  bounded  on  the  eaft  by  Narraganfet-bay,  where  th* 
**  faid  river  falls  into  the  fea,  and  on  the  north  by  the  line 
*<  of  the  Maflachufetts  plantation,  and  on  the  fouth  by 
«  the  fea." 

"  We  havealfo  had  information,  thatfome  time  after 
**  your  majefty's  grant,  and  faid  patent  wassfent  to  your 
**  colony  of  Connecticut,  the  faid  country  of  the  Narra- 
•*  ganfet  was  likewife,  by  patent,  granted  by  your  majef- 
*'  ty  to  the  governor  and  company  of  Rhode-Ifland  plan* 
**  tation,  and  is  by  charter,  bounded  by  a  river  called 
"  Pa.wcatuck,  which,  by  faid  charter,  is  forever  to  be 
<*  accounted  and  called  the  Narraganfet  river  :  And  this 
"  latter  grant  of  your  majefty,  to  Rhode- Ifland,  feems  to 
•'  be  founded  upon  advice  fubmitted  to  by  John  Win- 
*'  throp,  Efquire,  faid  to  be  agent  for  ConneClicut  colo- 
**  ny,  and  Mr.  John  Clark,  agent  for  Rhode-Ifland  ;  to 
•*  which  Connecticut  plead,  that  Mr.  Winthrop's  agency 
**  for  them  ceaftd,  when  he  had  obtained  and  fent  the 
"  patent  to  them,  and  that  no  fubmiffion  or  a£l  of  his 
*'  could  invalidate,  or  deprive  them  of  any  of  the  benefits 
«<  gracioufly  granted  by  your  majefty's  charter  :  and  that 
**  notwithftanding  the  feeming  boundaries,  fet  by  faid  ar- 
**  tides,  figned  by  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Clark,  it  is  in 
«'  the  fame  articles  provided,  that  the  proprietors  and  in- 
«*  habitants  of  the  Narraganfet  country  {hould  choofe  to 
"  which  of  the  two  governments  to  belong,  and  that  they 
*«  unanimoufly  chofc  and  fubjeCted  to  the  government  o# 
«  Conncfticut."^ 

A  a  a 


2']S  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  0  R  Y         Chap.  XV. 

Book  I.       "  With  humble  fubmlffion,  we  cannot  fee  any  caufe 
to  judge,  that  the  faidPawcatuck  river   anciently   was^ 
"  or  ought  to  be  called  or  accounted  the  Narraganfet  riv- 
«  er. 

I.  "  Because  it  lies  fome  miles  within  the  Pequot 
"  country,  a  nation,  till  extirpated  by  the  Englifh,  often 
«<  or  always  at  war  with  the  Narraganfets,  and  to  which 
*<  territories  the  Narraganfets,  never  pretended." 

II.  **  Because  Pawcatuck  river  falls  into  the  fea  ma- 
<•  ny  miles  weflward  of  any  part  of  Narraganfet-bay^ 
"  which  is  the  river  anciently  called  Narraganfet  river, 
"  both  becaufe  it,  on  the  eaftward,  wafhes  and  bounds  the 
<*  whole  length  of  the  Narraganfet  country  ;  and  foir 
*<  that  Pllmouth  colony,  which  hath  now  been  planted 
*'  near  threefcore  years,  have  ever  fince  bounded  them- 
**  felves,  according  to  the  fenfe  and  meaning,  or  limitation 
**  of  their  patent,  by  the  fame  bay,  called  Narraganfet  riv- 
"  er  towards  the  fouth." 

*'  Thus  after  mod  ftrlft  and  impartial  enquiry  and 
*f  examination,  having  dated,  wc  n  oft  humbly  lay  be- 
"  fore  your  majefly  the  fevcral  original  claims  and  pre- 
*'  tennons  offered  to  us  with  refpec^  to  the  propriety  both 
•'  of  jurifdi£lion  andfoil,in  your  majefty's  province  or 
«  Narraganfet  country  •,  and,  in  further  obedience  td 
**  your  faid  commiffion,  have  ferioufly  weighed  and  con- 
"  fidered  all  evidences,  pleas,  proofs,  and  allegation*,  &c^ 
**  and  with  moft  humble  fubmiffion  and  refervation  of 
"  your  majefty's  right,  offer  our  opinions,  that  by  virtue 
*'  of  your  faid  letters  patents,  granted  to  Connecticut, 
<'  jurifdi£tion  in,  and  through  the  faid  province,  or  Nar- 
**  raganfet  country,  of  right  belongs  to  the  colony  of  Con- 
*'  ne£licut,  and  that  propriety  of  foil,  as  derived  from 
*'  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Major  Atherton,  is  vefted  upon  the 
*<  heirs  and  affigns  of  faid  Mr.  Winthrop,  the  heirs  of 
*<  Thomas  Chiffinch,  Efquire,  Major  Atherton,  Mr. 
<«  Richard  Smith,  Mr.  Simon  Lynde,  Mr.  Eliflia  Hutch- 
<*  infon,  Mr.  John  Baffin,  Mr.  Richard  Wharton,  and 
*'  partners." 

"  Finally,  we  hold  It  our  duty  humbly  to  infortfi 
**  your  majefty,  that  fo  long  as  the  pretcniions  of  the 
•*  Rhode -lilanders  to  the  government  of  the  faid  pro- 
**  vince  continue,  it  will  much  difcourage  the  fettlement 
*'  and  improvement  thereof  j  It  being  very  improbable, 
**  that  either  the  aforenamed  claimers,  or  others  of  like 
•*  reputation  and  condition,  will  remove  their  families 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         379 

«  or  expend  their  eftates  under  fo  loofe  and  weak  a  gov-  Book  I. 
**  crnment.  v_*or>i^ 

«  Your  majefty's  moft  loyal  and  obedient  fubjects.  ^^"^i- 
"  Bofton,  Oa.  20th,  1683." 

EDWARD  CRANFIELD, 
WILLIAM  STOUGHTON, 
SAMUEL  SHRIMPTON, 
JOHN  PYNCHEON,  jun. 
NATHANIEL  SALTONSTALL. 

Connecticut  had  no  fooner  gained  their  point  againft 
the  claims   of  his  majefty   and  Rhode-Illand,  than  they 
■were  obliged  to  anfwer  to  a  tiew   antagonift.     Edward  Edwa.d 
Randolph,  Efquire,  on  the  30th  of  June  1683,  had  re-  |j"^j°^P^» 
ceived  a  power  of  attorney  from  William  and  Ann,  Duke  ^\^^^^* 
and  Dutchefs   of   Hamilton,  and  James,  Earl  of   Aran,  Ouke 
fon  and  heir  of  William  and  Ann,  and  grandfon  of  James,  HamiU 
Marquis  of  Hamilton,  to  fue  for  and  recover  their  right  ^""  * 
and  intereft  in  lands,  iilands,  Iioufes,  and   tenements,  in    ^"  '* 
New-England.     He  appeared  before  the  commilTioners, 
at  Bofton,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  faid    duke,    dutchefs, 
and  earl,  claimed  the  lands,   which  they  fuppofed,  had 
been  granted  to  their  anceftor,  in  the  deed  of  1635. 

This  renewed  claim,  of  that  tra£t  of  country,  occa- 
fioned  anfvvers  from  the  proprietors  of  the  lands,  and 
from  Connedlicut,  with  feveral  opinions  on  the  cafe. 

It  may  be  proper  to  communicate  the  fubftance  of 
thefe  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Saffin,  in  November,  gave  the  following  anfwer, 
in  behalf  of  the  proprietors. 

<*  The  ends  aimed  at    and  propounded  in  the  king's  Mr.  Saf- 
<«  charter  to  the  great  council  of  Plimouth  was  the  prop-  ^"  ^^^' 
*'  agation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  heathen,  and  the  en- 
*'  largement  of  his  majeily's  empire,  by  plantation  ;  and 
"  whatfoever  grants  were  made  by  faid  council,  were 
"  founded  upon  thofe  confiderations ;  which  being  not 
**  purfued,  rendereth  all  grants  of  land  void.     Qui  fen  tit 
**  commodum,    incommodum    fentire  debet  et  onus.*     •• 
"   And    it  doth  not  appear,  that  his  grace,   (as  other  pa- 
*'  tentees,)  did  tranfport  any  perfon,  or  plant  any  colony, 
**  nor  ufed  any  other  means,  either  to  inftrudt  the  na- 
'*  fives  or  purchafe  their  right  in  the  lands,  or  appointed 
"  any    agent   to    take    pofleflion,   in    order   to  the  im- 
"  provement  of  the  fame.     But  it  is  probable,  that  the 
'*  duke,  underltanding  a  former  patent  was  granted,  by 

*  He  who  enjoys  the  benefit  of  a  grapt  ought  to  bear  it«  difad* 
▼antage  and  burden. 


:^8o  THE    HISTORY      Chap.   XV. 

Book  I.  "  the  council  of  Devon,  to  the  Lords  Say  and  Brook, 
^w-'-v^^  "  &c.  in  and  about  the  year  1631,  and  purchafed  and 
jeSj.  <j  improved  by  the  colony  of  Connedicut,  mighc  divert 
<*  him  from  any  procedure  therein. ,  The  copy  of  faid  pa- 
'<  tent,  as  we  have  been  informed,  vi^hen  exhibited  by 
<*  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  before  the  king  in  council, 
**  the  then  Lord  Chancellor,  Hide  declared,  the  Lords 
•*  Say  and  Brook's  title  to  be  good  and  unqueftionable ; 
f  *  and  upon  that  intereft,  we  prefume,  it  was,  that  Con- 
*'  ne£licut  made  application  to  his  majefty,  and  that 
**  their  charter  was  granted  ;  the  Lords  Say  and  Brook, 
<'  and  partners  having  expended  nine  thoufand  pounds 
*'  in  fettlcment  of  the  lands  claimed  by  his  grace  *,  and 
*'  had  made  confiderahle  improvements  and  fortifications 
*'  upon  the  lands,  in  feveral  places,  divers  years  befora 
**  the  date  of  Duke  Hamilton's  grant. 

**  Our  prefent  gracious  fovereign,  &c.  hath  by  his 
**  royal  letters  manifefted  his  approbation  of  the  pur- 
**  chafe,  pofleihon  and  improvement  of  his  loyal  fubjedts, 
*'  the  proprietors  here.  The  faid  proprietors  have  been 
5'  neceiTarily  engaged  in  a  bloody  war  with  the  Indians 
**  in  theh-  late  rebellion. 
;  "  We  further  humbly  offer,  that,  in  regard,  that  the 

•  *'  copy  of  the  duke's  deed,  prefented  by  Mr.  Randolph, 

**  in  behalf  of  his  grace,  feems  to  have  no  fignification 
^*  of  any  hand  or  feal  aflixed  to  it,  nor  mention  made  of 
**  any  witnclTcs,  faid  to  be  the  original  inftrument,  (yet 
*'  affirmed  to  be  a  true  copy  thereof,)  it  may  be  prefu- 
**  med  the  faid  original  deed  M'as  never  completed  ac- 
*'  cording  to  law.'' 

The  governor  and  council  of  Connciflicut  anfwered, 
December  i3ih,  1683,  in  the  manner  fallowing. 

"  As  to  the  fubftance  of  the  dukes  claim,  fo  far  as 
^.^  ly  "  it  concerns  UP,  it  is  preceded,  fome  years,  by  a  grant 
cut  to  **  from  the  right  honorable,  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick, 
Duke  "  to  the  Lord  Say  and  other  perfons  of  honor  and  credit, 

Hamilton.  *'  March  19th  1631,  v/hcreas  his  grace's  deed  was  made 
"  four  years  after,  viz.  on  the  20th  of  April,  1635. 

«•  By  virtue  of  his  majefly's  grant  to  Loi'ds  Say,Brook, 
<•  &c.  they  and  their  afligns,  our  predeceflbrs,  did,  at 
^*  their  own  proper  charge,  about  the  year  1634,  begin 
"  to  enter  upon  the  faid  lands,  and  fo  have  continued 
•*  ever  fmce,  in  aflual  pofleflion  and  improvement 
f*  thereof,  without  challenge  or  claim  from  Duke  Ham- 
<*  ikon  :  which  improvement  hath  been  with  great  coft, 
f*  hazard  and  labor  of  his  majefty'sfubjeds  5  yet  by  th^ 


Chap.  XV.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       381 

"  blefiiiig  of  God,  and  his   majefty's  grace,  hath,  In  a  Book  I. 
*f  good  meafure,  anfwered   the  ends  of  thofe  grants  or  v^<<w.- 
*<  patents ;  as    the   propagating  the  chriltian    religion,  1683, 
<«  and  the  increafe,   and  enlargement    of  his  majefty's 
**  empire :  of  all   which,  his   grace,  Duke    Hamilton, 
"  hath,  in  thefe  parts,  done  nothing  that  we  know  of." 

**  His  prefent  majefty,  underftanding  the  condition 
"  of  his  fubjeds,  in  this  colony,  upon  our  humble  ad- 
*<  drefs,  April  23d,  1662,  was  gracioufly  pleafed  to  grant 
**  us  a  charter,  for  holding  the  lands  therein  granted 
<'  firm  to  us  and  our  fucceflbrs  forever  ;  and  in  his  let- 
**  ters  dated  April  23d,  1664,  fent  to  us  by  his  majef- 
**  ty's  honorable  commiflioners,  he  is  pleafed  to  call  his 
**  grant  a  renewing  of  our  charter,  which  muft  relate  to 
<*  that  grant  made,  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  in  the  year 
<*  163 1  ;  for  we  had  no  other,  before  his  majefty's  grant 
**  and  confirmation  aforefaid. 

<*  Under  thefe  fecurities  and  encouragements,  we 
"  laid  out  our  eftates,  labors,  &c.  and  fuddenly  after  our 
<•  firft  fettling  we  were  engaged  in  a  bloody  war,  anno 
*'  37,  with  the  Pequots,  which  was  exceeding  chargea- 
"  ble  and  expenfive  to  us.  Alfo,  in  the  year  1675,  a 
**  great  people,  who  inhabited  the  Narraganfet  country, 
*'  rofe  up  againft  his  majeily's  fubjeils,  who  were  plant- 
**  ed  in  thefe  parts,  flew  many  of  them,  burnt  their 
*'  houfes,  and  deftroyed  their  cattle,  whereby  we  were 
**  engaged  in  another  bloody  war,  which  was  the  caufe 
**  of  great  expenfe  of  blood  and  treafure,  (his  grace 
"  Duke  Hamilton  being  no  partaker  with  us  in  any  of 
*<  thofe  expenfes,  or  helper  of  us  therein,)  and  by  the  af- 
*<  fiftance  of  Almighty  God,  and  countenance  of  his  ma- 
**  jefty,  in  both  thefe  forementioned  wars,  we  overcame 
**  our  enemies,  that  rofe  up  againft  us,  without  which 
«  all  our  grants  would  have  been  of  little  benefit  to  us. 

"  It  is  required  by  his  majefty's  good  laws,  as  in  the 
*'  twenty-one  of  King  James,  16th,  that  the  duke,  and 
*'  all  others,  ftiould  have  fued  out  his  claims  :  The  rea- 
**  fon  of  which  law,  as  it  is  very  great,  fo  it  is  pleadable 
**  on  our  account ;  for  it  being  latent  unto  us,  for  near 
"  fifty  years,  would  prove  our  ruin,  if  thereupon  our 
**  property  be  altered.  Had  the  duke's  grace,  or  his 
*'  predecefTors  timeoufly  fet  his  claim,  in  competition 
<<  with  Lord  Say's  patent,  that  we  had  purchafed,  the 
"  people  had  known  how  to  have  applied  themfelves  ; 
?<  but  after  half  a  century's  fettlement,  as  aforef«i,id,  we 


S82 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XV. 


Book  I. 

3683. 


Sir  Fran- 
cis Pcm- 
bcrton's 
opinion. 


Opinion 
of  Mr, 
Trevor. 


*'  hope  his  majefty  will  be  pleafed  to  fecure  the  fame  to 
"  his  good  fubjefls  here. 

"We  defire,  that  we  may  have  a  more  fit  opportunity 
«'  to  make  a  more  full  anfwer,  and  to  prefent  our  proofs. 
"  Per  order  of  the  governor  and  council, 
"  figned  per  me, 
"  JOHN  ALLEN,  fecretary." 

Some  years  after,  feveral  opinions,  by  gentlemen  learn- 
ed in  the  law,  were  given  on  the  cafe,  both  as  it  refpefted 
the  Duke  of  Hamilton  and  the  colony  of  Rhode-Illand. 

Sir  Francis  Pemberton,  having  largely  ftated  the  cafe 
between  Connecticut  and  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  fays, 
"  Marquis  Hamilton,  nor  his  heirs,  or  any  deriving  from 
«*  him,  have  ever  had  pofleffion  or  laid  out  any  thing 
**  upon  the  premifes,  nor  made  any  claim,  in  faid  coun- 
«'  try,  until  the  year  1683,  which  was  about  forty-eight 
«<  years  after  faid  grant,  the  faid  heir  by  his  attorney, 
*'  claimed  the  faid  lands,  at  Bofton,  in  New-England, 
"  which  is  above  feventy  miles  from  the  premifes,  and  in 
**  "another  country." 

"  The  heir  of  faid  Marquis  Harrtilton,  after  thrcefcorc 
"  and  two  years,  demands  the  faid  premifes,  or  a  quit" 
"  rent.  I  am  of  the  opinion,  that  the  heir  of  M.  H.  af- 
"  ter  fuch  purchafesand  fo  long  quiet  enjoyment  of  them, 
**  &c.  ought  not  to  recover  any  of  the  lands  or  grounds 
"  or  quit-rents  out  of  them. 

«  1  AM  of  opinion,  that  thefe  purchafers,  by  virtue  of 
"  their  purchafes,  and  fo  long  and  uninterrupted  poflef- 
<'  fion  under  them,  have  an  undoubted  right  and  title  to 
<'  thefe  grounds  and  lands,  and  the  buildings  and  im- 
"  provement  of  them,  and  ought  not  now,  after  fo  much 
<'  money  laid  out  upon  them,  and  fuch  enjoyment  of 
«'  them,  be  difturbed  in  their  pofleflTion  of  them." 

FRANCIS  PEMBERTON. 

Mr.  Trevor,  having  ftated  the  cafe  between  Con- 
nefticut  and  Rhode-Iiland,  gives  his  opinion  to  the  lords 
of  trade  and  plantations,  in  the  words  following,  "  1  am 
"  humbly  of  opinion,  that  this  grant  to  Rhode-Ifland  Is 
«*  void  in  /aw,  becaufe  the  country  of  Narraganfet-bay 
'*  was  granted  before  to  Conne£licut,  and  that  therefore 
*'  the  government  of  Narraganfet-bay  doth,  of  right,  be- 
"  long  to  Conne6licut,  and  not  to  Rhode-Ifland  :  all 
«*  which  is  humbly  fubmitted  to  your  honor's  great  wif- 
«  dom."  «  THOMAS  TREVOR." 

«  Oaober  28,  K596." 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T        383 

The  afpec^s  of  Providence  upon  the  colony,  this  year,  Book  I. 
were  exceedingly  gloomy.     Befides  the   dangers  which  v.-otn^ 
threatened  them,  with  refpe£l  to  their  civil  and  religious  *^^3« 
privileges,  the  people  were  vilited  with  great  ficknefs  and 
mortality.    The  inftances  of  death  among  the  clergy  were 
uncommonly  numerous,  and  many  churches  were  made 
to  fit  in  widowhood.     The  fruits  of  the   field  were  alfo 
diminiflied,  and  the  inhabitants  various  waysimpoverifhed 
and  diftreffed. 

The  general  aflembly,  in  0£lober,  confidered  the  di- 
vine difpenfations  fo  afflldive  as  to  demand  their  deepeft 
humiUation.  A  general  fad  was  appointed,  and  the 
people  called  upon  to  repent  and  humble  themfelves.* 

Colonel  Dungan  having  lately  arrived  at  New-York,  Commit- 
the  aflembly,  in    November,  appointed  Major  Nathan  ^f^  tocon* 
Gould,  Captain  John  Allen,   and  Mr.  William  Pitkin,  a  fjf  ^IffJ^'e 
committee,  to  congratulate  him    upon    his  arrival  at  his  governar, 
feat  of  government  ;  and  to  agree   with  him  upon  a  fet-  and  to  a- 
tlement  of  boundaries  between  the  colonies.     The  com-  gree  upon 
•mittee  were  inftru6led    not  to   exceed   his  demands  of  ^""^q^^ 
twenty  miles   eaft    of  Hudfon's  river  :  To  examine  his  j^^ 
powers  to  treat,  and  if  they  were  only  conditional,  to 
treat    with   him  upon  the  fame  terms.     They  were  di- 
rected to  infift  upon  this,  that  there  was  no  miftake  with 
refpeCl  to  the  rife  of  the  line  at  Memoronock.     If  they 
fhould  be  obliged,  to  give  up   jurifdi£tion   at  any  place> 
they  were  inftructed  to  preferve  property  inviolably  to  the 
proprietors  •,  and  to    iniift    on  the  former  line,  unlefs  it 
(hould,  in  any  place,  approach   nearer  to  Hudfon's  river 
than  the   diftance   of  twenty  miles.     In  fine,  they  were 
required  to  make  his  honor  fenfible,  that  the  former  lino 
was  legal  and  firm,  and  that  the  prefert  fettlement  was 
folely  for  the  purpofe  of  promoting  peace  and  a  good  cor- 
refpondence  between  his  majefty's  colony  of  Conne£licut 
and  the  duke's  territories,  and  their  fucceflive  governors. 

*  The  proclamation  i^  introduced  in  thefe  words,  "Whereas 
it  is  evident  to  all  who  obferve  the  footfteps  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, that  the  difpenfations  of  Gon,  towards  his  poor  wilder- 
nefs  people  have  been  very  folemn,  awful,  and  fpcaking,  for  many 
years  pad  ;  and  particularly  towards  ourfelves  in  this  colony, 
this  prefent  year,  by  occalion  of  general  ficknefs  in  moft  places, 
and  more  than  ordinary  mortality  in  fome,  as  alfo  cxctflive  rains 
and  floods  in  fevera!  plantations,fhortening  us  in  nur  enjoyments  ; 
a"d  con  fidcring  alfo  the  holy  hand  of  GoD,  in  bereaving  fo  many 
churches  and  congregatioHs  of  a  fettled  miniflry,  whereby  they 
are  left,  and  have  been,  fome  of  them,  along  time,  as  Ibcep  w  ith- 
©Bt  a  (hepherd,  as  if  the  Lord  intended,  for  our  finsi  to  quench 
the  light  of  our  Ifrad." 


384  THEHISTORY  Cmap.  XV. 

Book  I.        As  the  colony  had  been  certified,  by  letters  from  his 

K^^'\'-^     maiefty,  of  a  confpiracy  againft  himfelf  and  the  Duke  of 

1683.  York,  the  aflembly  addreffed  him  on  the  fubjedl.     They 

AddrcfsSc  declared,  in  the  flrongeft  terms,  their  utmoft  abhorrence 

p«ti  'O'y  ^f  ^]}   plots  againft   his   royal  perfon  and  government : 

ty, Charles  '^  hat  they  prayed  for  kings  and  all  men,  and  efpecially  for 

11.  his  majefty,  and  all   in  authority  under  him  :  That  they 

feared  God   and   honored  the  king.     In  fuch  fuppliant 

language  as  follows,  they  prayed  for  the  continuance  of 

their  chartered  rights. 

*'  Most  dread  fovereign,  we  humbly  pray  the  contin- 

"  uance  of  your  grace  and  favor  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 

*'  thofe  former  privileges  and  liberties    you  have,  out  of 

*'  your  princely  grace  and  bounty,  beftowed   upon  us, 

**  in  your  royal  charter,   granted   this    corporation,  that 

<*  our  poor  beginnings  may  profper,  under  your  fhadow, 

*'  to  the  glory  of  GoD,and  the  enlargement  of  your  ma- 

*'  jelly's  dominions."* 

The  committee  appointed  to  agree  with  Colonel  Dun- 

gan,  with  refpefl  to  the  line  of  partition    between  Con- 

nedUcut  and  New-York,  came  to  an  agreement  refpe£l- 

Agree-       J'"'g  if>    November  28th,  1683.      It  was  agreed,  "  That 

nitnt  re!a-  "  the  line  fliould  begin  at  Byram   river,  where   it  falleth 

tive  tatht  K  jj^j(3  ^Ijj.  found,  at  a  point  called  Lyon's  point,  to  go  as 

r^""k-.^'^  "  the  faid  river  runnetli  to  the  place  where  the  common 
line  be-  r'  _        , 

twfccii         *'  road,   or  wadmg   place,    over    the  laid  nver  is  ;  and 
C«nne6li-  **  from  the  faid  road  or  wading  place,  to  go  north  north- 
cut  and      i(  \vG9i  into  the  country,  as   far    as  will  be  eight  Englifh 
Y  ^y."         "  miles  from  the  forefaid  Lyon's  point  ;  and   that  aline 
Kov\  28.    *'  °^  twelve  miles,  being  meafured  from   the  faid  Lyon's 
\iSi.         "  point,  according  to    the   line   or  general  eourfe  of  the 
"  found  eaflward  :  where  the  faid  twelve  miles  endeth, 
"^  another  line  fliall  be  run  from   the  found,  eight  miles 
*«  into  the  country,  north    north-weft,  and  alfo,  that  a 
"  fourth  line  be  run,  (that  is  to  fay,)   from  tlie  norther- 
«<  moft  end  of  the  eight  miies  line,  being   the  third  men- 
*<  tioned  line,  which  fourth  line,  with  the  firft  mentioned 
<'  line,  fliall  be  the  bounds  where  they  fliall  fall  to  run  ^ 
*'  and  that  from  the  eaftermoft   end  of  the  fourth  men- 
**  tioned  line,  (which  is  to  be  twelve  miles  in  length,}  a 
*«  line  parallel  to  Hudfon's  river,  in  every   place  twenty 
*'  miles  diftant  from  Hudfon's  river,  fliall  be  the  bounds 
**  there,  between  the  faid  territories  or  province  of  New- 
«*  York,  and  the  faid  colony  of  Connedicut,  fofaraa 

*  Thenumber  of  pevfons  giving  in  their  lifts,  061..  1683*  wa% 
2)735;  »»'i  t^-  grand  lift  was  £iS9!2^S' 


CMiip.  XV.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        385 

*«  Connefticut  colony  doth  extend  northwards;  that  is  Book  L" 

*'  to  the  fouth  Hne  of  the  Maflachufetts  colony  :  only  it  v^»'-v>^ 

**  is  provided,  that  in  cafe  the  line   from  Byram  brook's  1683. 

"  mouth,   north  north-wefl   eight  miles,  and   the  line, 

*<  that  is  then  to  run  twelve  miles  to  the  end  of  the  third 

**  forementioned  line  of  eight  miles,  do  di'minifh  or  take 

"  away  land  within  twenty  miles  of  Hudfon's  river,  that 

**  then  fo  much  as  is  in  land  diminiflied  of  twenty  miles 

"  of  Hudfon's  river  thereby,  iliall  be  added  out  of  Con- 

"  ne6licut  bounds  untd  the  line  aforementioned,  paral- 

**  lei  to  Hudfon's  river,  and  twenty  miles  diftant  from  it  j 

"  the  addition  to  be  made  the  whole  length  of  the  faid 

'*  parallel  line,  and  in  fuch  breadth,  as   will  make  up 

**  quantity  for  quantity,  what  Ihall  be   diminiflied  as  a- 

««  forefaid." 

The  aflembly,  in    the  feffion  of  May  1684,  approved  m^vS 
of  this  agreement,  and  appointed  Major  Nathan  Gould,  i68'4. 
Mr.  Jehu  Burr,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Silleck,  to  lay  out  the 
lines  according  to  the  ftipulation.     The  lines  according- 
ly were  run,  and  on  the  24th   of  February   1685,  were 
fatified  by  Governor  Dungan  and  Governor  Treat. 

Great  complaints  had  been  made,  in  England,  againft  Law  made 
the  colonies  for  harbouring  pirates  ;  and  that  no  laws  had  againft  pi- 
been  made  againft  them.     A  letter  had  been   written   to  ''^^^s  July 
the  governor  and  company,  by  Lyonel  Jenkins,  Efquire,  ^*  i"S4. 
complaining  of  this  neglect,  and  demanding,  in  his    ma- 
jefty's  name,  that  a  law  Ihould  forthwith  be  made  againft 
piracy.     A  fpecial  aflembly  was  confequently  called   on 
the  5  th  of  July,  and  a  law  enadled  againft  it,  and  a  copy 
of  it  forwarded  immediately  to  his  majefty's  fecretary  of 
ftate. 

At  the  ele^ion,  1^85,  Giles  Hamlin  was  chofen  into  jvjay  14 
the  magiftracy,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Topping,  who  feems  1685. 
now  to  have  been  dead. 

The  legiflature  at  this  feflion  addrefled  a  letter  of  con-  .  , 
dolence  to  his  majefty  King  James  II.  on  the  account  of  ^q  ]^\^^„ 
the  demife  of  his  brother  King  Charles  II.  and  congratu-  James, 
lating  him  on  his  peaceful  acceffion  to  the   throne  of  his 
anceftoTS.     They  prefented  him  with  the   ftrongeft  aflli- 
rances  of  their  loyalty  and  attachment  to  his  royal  perfon 
and  government.     At  the   fame   time,    fenfible  of  their 
danger,  under  a  prince  of  his  charadler,  they  moft  hum- 
bly befought  him  to  continue  to  them  their  civil  and  re- 
ligious privileges,  and  that  he  would  prefcrve  to  them  th« 
peaceable  enjoyment  of  their  property. 
Bbb 


3«<J  THEHISTORY  Chap.XV. 

Book  I.       Upon  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
v.^'W^  Farmington,  prefented  to  the  affembly  in  1673,  a  com- 

1685.  mittce  was  appointed  to  view  Mattatock,  and  report  to 
the  aflembly,  whether  a  plantation  might  not  be  made  in 
that  tra6t.  In  May  1674,  the  committee  reported,  that 
Mattatock  was  a  place  fufficient  to  accommodate  thirty 
families.  Upon  this  report,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  fettle  a  plantation  there.  Sometime  after  the  fettle- 
ment  commenced.  The  number  of  fharers  was  about 
twenty-eight.  May  13th,  1686,  they  appear  to  have  been 
veiled  with  town  privileges,  by  the  name  of  Waterbury.* 

In  the  laft  years  of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  fec- 
ond,  the  rights  of  the  nation  were  viofated,  and  a  great 
number  of  corporations  in  England  and  Wales  were  ob- 
liged to  refign  their  charters.  Indeed  he  and  his  officers 
feemed  to  fport  with  the  liberty,  property,  and  lives  of 
his  fubjefts.  King  James  the  fecond  began  his  reign  in 
the  moil  flagrant  violation  of  the  laws  of  his  three 
kingdoms.  His  reign  grew  more  intolerable,  from 
year  to  year,  until  he  became  the  general  abhorrence  of 
the  nation.  He  proceeded  in  the  fame  lawlefs  and  cruel 
manner  with  the  colonies,  vacating  their  charters,  and 
governing  them  by  the  worft  meafures  and  the  word 
men. 

In  July  1685,  a  Quo-warranto  was  ifTued  againft  the 
Quo-vi'ar-  governor  and  company  of  Conrtefticut,  requiring  their 
y^"  ?g  '  appearance  before  him,  within  eigh>days  of  St.  Martin's, 
to  {how  by  what  warrant  they  exercifed  certain  powers 
and  privileges. 
Special  af-  The  governor,  having  received  intelligence  of  the 
fembly  meafures  adopted  againft  the  colony,  on  the  6th  of  July 
July  6,  

1686.  #  Several  misfortunes  attended  the  plantation  which  very 
greatly  impoveriilicd  it,  and  prevented  its  population.  In  Feb- 
ruary 169 1,  the  t^wn  was  nearlv  ruined  by  an  inundation.  The 
rain  fell  in  great  abundance,  and  the  froft  came  out  of  the  ground 
very  fuddenly,  which  readcrcd  it  uncommonly  foft.  At  the 
fame  time,  the  river  rofe  to  an  unufual  height,  overflowed  the 
meadows,  and  ran  with  fuch  rapidity  and  violence,  that  it  tore 
away  a  great  part  of  them.  Other  parts  were  covered  with  earth 
and  ftonc  fo  .15  to  be  greatly  damaged.  Numbers  of  the  inhabi- 
tants were  fo  difceu raged,  that  they  left  the  town,  and  it  did  not 
recover  it«  former  ftate  for  fome  years. 

In  171a,  on  the  15th  of  O<ftober,  began  a  great-  ficknefs  in  the 
town,  which  continued  until  the  12th  of  September  1713,  and 
was  fo  genera]  that  there  were  fcarcely  a  fufficient  number  weil 
to  tend  the  fick,  and  bury  the  dead.  Between  twenty  and  thirty 
pcrfoEB  died  of  the  ficknefs.    Manufcripts  of  Mr.  Sputhmaid. 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T        387 

1686,  called  a  fpecial aflembly,  toconfult  what  nvlght  be  Book  L 
done  for  the  prefervation  of  the  juft  rights  of  the  colony,  v^w^ 

The  aflembly,  after  mod  ferious  deliberation,  addreff-  i636. 
cd  a  letter,  in  the  molt   fuppliant  terms,  to  his  majefty,  The  af- 
befeechine  him  to  pardon  their  faults  in  government,  and  'f ™?Y- 
contmue  them  a  diitiiKtt  colony,  in  the  tull  enjoyment  01  majefty, 
their  civil  and  religious  privileges.     Efpecially,  they  be-  July  6. 
fought  him  to  recal    the  writ  of  Quo-warranto,  which 
they  heard  had  been  iflued   againft  them,  though  it  had 
not  yet  arrived.     They  plended   the  charter  which  they 
received  of  his  royal  brother,   and  his  commendation  of 
them,  for  their  loy.ilty,  in  his  gracious  letters,  and  his  af- 
furances  of  the  continuance  of  their  civil  and  religious 
rights.     They  made  the  ftrongeft  profeflions  of  loyalty, 
and  of  their  conftant  fupplications  to  the  Supreme  Ru- 
tER,  that  he  would  fave  and  blefs  his  majefty. 

On  the  2  ift  of  July  1686,  two  writs  of  QuO-warranto  Quo-war- 
were  delivered   to  Governor  Treat.      They  had   been  rantos  ar- 
brought  over  by  Edward  Randolph,  that  indefatigable  en-  rive  July 
cmy  of  the  colonies.     The  time  of  appearance,  before  his  *'* 
majefty,  was  paft  before  the  writs  arrived. 

Upon  the  reception  of  the  writs,  and  a  letter  from  Special  af- 
Richard  Normanfel,  one  of  the  (heriffs  of  London,  the  fembly  Ju- 
governor  immediately  convoked  another  fpecial  aflembly,   ^  * 
which  met  on  the  28th  of  July.     The  aflembly  appoint- 
ed Mr.  Whiting  to  be  their  agent,  to  prefcnt  their  peti-  Mr.Whit- 
tion  to  the  king.     He  was  inftru6led  to  acquaint  his  ma-  pj^^'^j  a- 
jefty  with  the   time  of  the   colony's  receiving  the  Quo-  gent. 
warrantos,  and  of  the  impoflibility  of  its  making  its  ap- 
pearance before  his  majefty,  at  the  time  appointed  :  ful- 
ly to  reprefent  the  great  injury  which  the  col onifts  would 
fuftain,  by  the  fufpending  their  charter   rights  ;  and  ef- 
pecially by  a   divifion   of   the  colony.     If  Connefticut 
could  not  be  continued  a  diftin£l:  government,  he  was  in- 
ftru(Sted  to  fuppUcate   his  majefty  to  continue  to  them 
the  enjoyment  of  their  property,  their  houfes  and  lands, 
and  efpecially  their  religious  privileges. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  another  writ  of  Quo-war-  .      . 
ranto  was  ferved  on  the  governor  and  company,  bearing  Qiio-war- 
date  0£tober  23d,  requiring  their   appearance  before  his  ranto  De- 
niajefty  within   eight  days   of  the  purification  of  the  cemberaS. 
blefl'cd  Virgin.     Though  the  writs  gave  no  proper  time 
for  the  appearance  of  the  colony,   and  confequently  no 
time  at  all  ;  yet  they  declared  all  its  chartered  rights  va- 
cated, upon  its  not  appearing,  at  time  and  place.     The 
defign  of  the  long  and  his  corrupt  court  was  to  re-unitc 


a 


83  T  H  E    H  I  5  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XV. 


Book  I.    all  the  colonies  to  the  crown.     James  the  fecond  was  an 
V.*''V>^  obdinate,  cruel  tyrant,  and  a  bigoted    Roman  Catholic  5 

1686.  dellitute  of  all  the  principles  of  true  honor,  faith,  juftice, 
or  humanity.  He  wantonly  trampled  on  the  conftitu- 
tion,  laws,  and  liberties  of  the  nation  ;  and  with  his  min- 
iftcrs  and  officers,  in  an  unrighteous  and  mercilefs  man- 
ner, fhed  the  blood  of  his  fubje£ls,  and  wreaked  his  ven- 
geance on  all  who  made  the  leaft  oppofition  to  his  law- 
lefs  proceedings.  The  mod  humble  petitions,  arguments 
from  reafon,  charters,  the  mod  folemn  compacts  and  roy- 
al promifcs,  from  juftice,  humanity,  or  any  other  confid- 
eration,  which  a  fubje£l  could  plead,  had  no  weight  or 
influence  with  him.  Nearly  fifty  corporations  in  Eng- 
land had  been  deprived  of  their  charters.  The  city  of 
London  and  the  corporation  of  Bermudas  had  ftood  triai 
with  his  majefty,  and  their  charters  had  been  taken  from 
them.  The  charter  of  MafTachufetts  had  been  vacated, 
tmd  Rhode-Ifland  had  fubmitted  to  his  majefty.  A  gen- 
eral government  had  been  appointed  over  all  New-Eng-^' 
land,  except  Connetlicut.  By  the  commiflion,  inftitut- 
ing  this  general  government,  Conne£licut  was  totally  exi- 
cluded  from  all  jurifdi6lion  in  the  Narraganfet  country 
or  king's  province.* 

The  governor  and  company  of  ConneQicut,  however, 
in  thefe  difcouraging  circumftances,  fpared  no  pains,  nor 
omitted  any  probable  means  for  the  prefervation  of  their 
chartered  rights. 
_      -1    r        A  SPECIAL  affembly  was  called,  on  the  26th  ofjanu-^ 
fembly     *  ary  1687,   after  the  reception  of  the  third  writ  of  Quo- 
Jan.  26,       warranto,  to  deliberate  on  the  meafures  to  be   adopted, 

1687.  in  the  then  prcfent  circumftances  of  the  colony.  Little 
more  however  was  done,  than  to  dcfire  the  governor  and 
council  to  tranfa61:  all  bufinefs,  which  they  Ihould  judge 
neceftary  and  expedient,  further  to  be  done  for  the  pref- 
ervation of  their  privileges. 

-.  The  eledion,  in  May,  proceeded  regularly,  but  the  af- 

fembly  did  nothing  important.     Fear  and  hefitation  ap-. 

*  This  gf:neral  commifTion  was  :,ranted,  by  King  James  II.  in 
thefirft  yearof  liis  reign,  Odtober  8th,  1685.  Jofeph  Dudley, 
r.iquire,  was  appointed  prefident  of  the  commiflioners.  Ob  the 
28th  of  May  1686,  the  prefidentiflued  a  ptoclamation,  difcharg- 
ing  all  the  inhabitants  of  Rhode-Ifland,  and  the  Narraganfet  coun- 
try, from  all  obedience  either  to  Connedticut  or  Rhode-Ifland; 
and  prohibiting  all  governmeat  of  either  m  the  king's  province. 
At  the  fanie  time,  the  prefident  required  the  entire  fubmifljonof 
all  the  inhabitants  to  the  commiflioners,  and  the  offioers  whoiH 
they  fhovM  appoint.    Proclamation  on  file 


Chap.  XV.       OF    CONNECTICUT       389 

pear  to  have  attended  the  legiflature.     They   knew  not  Book  I. 
what  courfe  to»fteer,  with  fafety,  either  to  themfelves,  or  v.^'V^^ 
their  conftituents.     They,  with   the  colony  in   general,  1687. 
were  in  great  fear  and  diilrefs,  left,  after  all  their  expenfe,  F^r  and 
hardfhips,  and  dangers,  in  fettling    and   defending  the  fjlj^^^^^^Q. 
country,  and  all   their  felf-denial    and  fufFerings  for  the  ^y^ 
fake  of  enjoying  the  worlhip  and  ordinances  of  Christ, 
according  to  the  gofpel,  they  fhould  not  only  be  deprived 
of  all  their  civil  and  religious  liberties,  but  even  of  their 
houfes  and  lands.     There  wa?  no  fecurity  for  any  thing 
under  a  prince  like  James  the  fccond.     He  had  indeed, 
in  his  letters,  promlfed  them*  the  prefervation  of  all  their 
liberties  ;  yet,    without  any  fault  on  their  part,  he   was 
arbitrarily    wrefting  them  from  their  hands.     It  is  diffi- 
cult to  conceive,  and  much  more  to  exprefs,  the  anxiety 
of  our  venerable  anceftors  in  this  terrible  crifis  of  their 
affairs. 

Mr.  Whiting  exerted   himfelf.  In  England,  to  pro- 
cure  all  the   influence,  and  make   all  the  oppofition,  he 
poffibly  could  againfh  a  general  governor  of  the  colonies, 
and  efpecially  to  prevent  the  fufpenfion    of  the  govern- 
ment of  Connecticut,  according  to  charter  •,  but  he  found 
his  utmoft  exertions  to  be  in   vain.     He  wrote  to  the  Agent 
governor,  January  15th,  1687,  that  if  the  governor  and  Whiting 
council  would  defend  their    charter   at  law,    they  muft  to^h^sov- 
fend  over  one  or  more  from  among  themfelves.     A  fpe-  emor. 
cial  affembly  was  called  upon  the  reception  of  the  agent's  Special  af- 
letter,  which   convened  on  the  15th  of  June,  to  delibe-  fembly 
rate  on  the  expediency  of  fending  another  agent.     The  jv"^ing* 
profpecls  appeared  fo  unfavorable,  that  it  was  determined  fending 
not  to  fend  another.     Mr.  Whiting  was  thanked  for  his  another 
fervices,  in  favor  of  the  colony,  and  defired  to  continue  agent* 
them. 

Mr.  Dudley,  while  prefident  of  the  commiflioners, 
had  written  to  the  governor  and  company,  advifing  them 
to  refign  the  charter  into  the  hands  of  his  majefty,  and 
promifmg  to  ufe  his  influence  in  favor  of  the  colony. 
Mr.  Dudley's  commiflion  was  fuperfeded  by  a  commif- 

*  In  his  letter  to  Governor  Treat,  June  26th,  1685,  he  fays  : 
*'  As  we  cannot  doubt  of  the  ready  and  dutiful  aflurances  and 
•'  cxprefiions  cf  loyalty  and  obedience,  from  our  good  fubjedts 
**  under  your  government,  fince  our  acceflion  to  the*crown,  fo 
*•  (hall  we,  at  all  times,  extend  our  royal  care  and  proteftion  t» 
•*  thetn,  in  the  prefervation  of  their  rights,  and  in  the  defence 
**  and  fecurity  of  their  perfons  and  eftates  ;  which  we  think  fit, 
•*  that  you  fignify  unto  the  inhabitants  of  that  our  coloiiy." 
letter  of  King  James  II.  on  file. 


39^ 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XV. 


Book  I.  fion  to  Sir  Edmund  Androfs  to  be  governor  of  New-Eng- 
v-.x'V^w^  land.  He  arrived  at  Bolton,  on  the  ipth-  of  December 
^'^'^T'  1686.  The  next  day,  his  commiffion  was  pubhlhed,  and 
he  took  on  him  the  adminiftration  of  government.  Soon 
after  his  arrival,  he  wrote  to  the  governor  and  company, 
that  he  had  a  commiflion,  from  his  majelly,  to  receive 
their  charter,  if  they  would  refign  it ;  and  he  prefled 
them,  in  obedience  to  the  king,  and  as  they  would  give 
him  an  opportunity  to  ferve  them,  to  refign  it  to  his 
pleafure.  At  this  fefiion  of  the  aflembly,  the  governor 
received  another  letter  from  liim,  acquainting  him,  that 
he  was  aflurcd,  by  the  advice  which  he  had  received  from 
England,  that  judgment  was,  by  that  time,  entered  upon 
the  Quo-warranto  againfl  their  charter,  and  that  he  foon 
expected  to  receive  his  majeily's  commands  rcfpe6ting 
them.  He  urged  them,  as  he  reprefented  it,  that  he 
might  not  be  wanting  in  ferving  their  welfare,  to  accept 
his  majefly's  favor  fo  gracioufly  offered  them,  in  a  pref- 
cnt  compliance  and  furrender.  Colonel  Dungan  alfo 
ufed  his  inlluence  to  perfuade  them  to  refign,  and  put 
themfelvcs  under  his  government.f  But  the  colony  in- 
fifted  on  their  charter  rights,  and  on  the  promife  of  King 
James,  as  well  as  of  his  royal  brother,  to  defend  and  fe- 
cure  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  privileges  and  ef- 
tates  ;  and  would  not  furrender  their  charter  to  either. 
However,  in  their  petition  to  the  king,  in  which  they 
prayed  for  the  continuance  of  their  chartered  rights,  they 
defired,  if  this  could  not  be  obtained,  but  it  (hould  be 
refolved  to  put  them  under  another  government,  that  it 
might  be  under  Sir  Edmund's,  as  the  Maffachufetts  had 
been  their  former  correfpondents  and  confederates,  and 
as  they  were  acquainted  with  their  principles  and  man- 
ners. This  was  conllrued  into  a  refign ation,  though 
nothing  could  be  further  from  the  defign  of  the  colony. 
jij,  v^\.  The  aflembly  met  as  ufual,  in  0£lober,  and  the  gov- 

jrimiclAn-  ernm.ent  continued  according  to  charter    until  the  laft  of 
drofg  the  month.     About  this  time,  Sir  Edmund,  with  his  fuit, 

K  "tr  ^d    ^"^  "^*^^^  ^^"^^  ^^^'^^'  r'^g"^^^  troops,  came  to  Hartford, 

an({  cle-      ^vhen  the  affembly  were   fitting,   demanded  the  charter, 

mauds  the  and  declared  the  government   under   it   to  be  diffolved. 

cliarier.     The  aflembly  were   extremely    reludlant  and  flow  with 

refpecb  to  any  refolve  to  furrender  the  charter,  or  with 

refpe6t  to  any  motion  to  bring  it  forth.      The  tradition 

is,  that  Governor  Treat  ftrongly  reprefented  thegrtat 


t  Lcttcrj  of  Dudley,  Androfs,  and  Dungan,  on  file. 


Chap.  XV.      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         391 

cxpenfe  and  hardfliips  of  the  colonifts,  In  planting  the  Book  L 
country,    the    blood     and    treafure    which   they   had  O'-n-^o 
expended  in    defending  it,    both    againft    the   favages  1687. 
and  foreigners  ;  to  what  hardfhips  and  dangers  he  him-  Governof 
fclfhad  been  expofed  for  tjiat  purpofe -,    and  that  it  was  j„[j^^*,^  "^^^ 
like  giving  up  his  life,  now  to  furrendcr   the  patent  and  ftrntes  a- 
privileges,  fo  dearly  bought  and  fo  long  enjoyed.     The  gain  ft  fur- 
important  affair  was  debated  and  kept  in   fufpenfe  until  Rendering 
the  evening,  when  the  charter  was  brought  and  laid  upon  '  " 
the  table,  where  the  affembly  were  fitting.     By  this  time, 
great  numbers  of  people  were  afl'emblcd,   and   men  fuf- 
ficiently  bold  to  enterprife   whatever   might  be  neceffary 
or  expedient.     The    lights  were  inftantly   extinguiihed, 
and  one  Captain  Wadfworth,  of  Hartford,   in  the  moll  it  is  carrl' 
filent  and  fecret  manner,   carried  off  the  charter,  and  fe-  cd  off  by 
creted  it  In  a  large  hollow  tree,  fronting  the  houfe  of  the  Captain 
Honorable  Samuel  Wyllys,  then  one  of   the  magiftrates^^j.^!^ 
of  the  colony.     The  people   appeared   all  peaceable  and 
orderly.     The  candles  were  olRcioufly  relighted,  but  the 
patent  was  gone,  and  no  difcovery  could  be    made  of  it, 
or  of  the  perfon,    who   had  conveyed  it  away.     Sir  Ed- 
mund affumed  the  government,   and   the  records  of  the 
colony  were  clofed  in  the  following  words. 

"  At  a  general  court  at  Hartford,  Odlober  31ft,  1687, 
**  His  excellency  Sir  Edmund  Androfs,  knight,  and  cap- 
**  tain  general  and  governor  of  his  majefty's  territories 
*<  and  dominions  in  New-England,  by  order  from  his 
«  majefty,  James  the  II.  king  of  England,  Scotland, 
««  France,  and  Ireland,  the  3111  of  October  1687,  took 
*'  into  his  hand,  the  government  of  the  colony  of  Con- 
«*  neillcut,  it  being,  by  his  majeity,  annexed  to  Mafla- 
«*  chufetts  and  other  colonies  under  his  excellency's  gov- 
**  ernment." 

«  FINIS." 

Sir  Edmund    appointed  officers  civil  and   military,  Sir-Ed- 
through  the  colony,  according  to  his  pleafure.     He  had  a  "^""d  a^ 
council,  at  lirft,  confiding  of  about  forty  perfons,  and  J^'^/rn-  * 
afterwards,  of  nearly  fifty.     Four  of  this  number.  Gov-  mcnt. 
ernor  Treat,  John  Fitz  Winthrop,  Wait  Winthrop,  and 
John  Allen,  Efquires,  were  of  Connecticut. 

Sir  Edmund  began  his  government,  with  the  molt 
flattering  profeflions  of  his  regard  to  the  public  fafety 
and  happinefs.  He  inftruCled  the  judges  to  adminlfler 
juftlce,  as  far  as  might  be  confident  with  the  new  regula- 
tions, according  to  the  former  laws  and  cuftoms.  It  i« 
howcTcr  well  obferved,  by  Governor  Hutchinfon,  tha? 


392  THEHISTORY       Chap.  XV. 

Book  I.   **  Nero  concealed  his  tyrannical  difpofition  more  years 
V.xv>%</  "  than  Sir  Edmund  and  his  creatures  did  months.''    He 
1687.         foonlaid  a  reftraint  upon  the  liberty  of  the  prefs  j  and 
The  op-      then  one  far  more  grievous   upon   marriage.     This  was 
premve      prohibited,  unlefs  bonds  were  previoufly  given  with  fure- 
mcnt  of     *^^^  ^°  ^^^^  governor.     Thefe  were  to  be  forfeited,  in  cafe 
Sir  Ed-       it  Ihculd  afterwards  appear,   that  there  was  any  lawful 
mund  An-  impediment  to  the  marriage.     Magiflirates  only  were  al- 
•rois.         lowed  to  join  people  in  the  bands  of  wedlock.     The  gov- 
ernor not  only  deprived  the  clergy  of  the  perqulfite  from 
marriages,  but  foon  fufpended  the  laws  for  their  fupport, 
and  would  not  fuffer  any  perfoii  to  be  obliged  to  pay  any 
thing  to  his  minifter.     Nay  he  menaced  the  people,  that, 
if  they  rcfiftcd  his  will,    their   meeting  houfes  fhouldbe 
taken  from  them,  and  that  any   perfon  who  fhould    give 
two  pence  to  a  non-conformift  minifter   (hould  be  pun- 
ilhed. 

The  fees  of  all  officers,  under  this  new  adminiftration, 
were  exorbitant.  The  common  fee  for  the  probate  of  a 
will  was  fifty  flnllings.  The  widow  and  fatherlefs,  how 
diftant  foever,  were  obliged  to  appear  at  Bofton,  to  tranf- 
a£l  all  bufmefs  relative  to  the  fettlement  of  eftates.* 
This  was  a  grievous  oppreffion  of  the  poor  people  j  efpe- 
cially,  of  the  fatherlefs  and  widow. 

Sir  Edmund,  without  an  alTembly,  nay  without  a  ma- 
jority of  his  council,  taxed  the  people  at  pleafure.  He 
and  Randolph,  with  four  or  five  others  of  his  creatures, 
who  were  fufficiently  wicked  to  join  with  him,  in  all  his 
oppreffive  defigns,  managed  the  affairs  of  government,  as- 
they  pleafed.  But  thefe  were  but  the  be;Tinnings  of  op- 
preffion  and  forrow.  They  were  foon  greatly  increafed 
and  more  extenfively  fpread. 

In  1688,  Sir  Edmund  was  made  governor  of  New- 
York,  as  well  as  of  New-England,  and  the  fame  kind  of 
government  was  exercifed  in  that  department.f  As  the 
charters  were  now  either  vacated,  furrendered,  or  the 
government  under  them  fufpended,  it  was  declared,  that 
the  titles  of  the  colonifts  to  their  lands  were  of  no  value. 
Sir  Edmund  declared,  that  Indian  deeds  were  no  better 
than  "  the  fcratch  of  a  bear's  paw."  Not  the  faireft 
purchafes  and  moft  ample  conveyances  from  the  natives, 
no   dangers,  difburfements  nor  labors,  in  cultivating  a 

*  Hutchinfon'sHift.  Vol.  I.  p.  358. 

t  The  lame,  p.  371.  It  is  ftraiige,  that  Mr.  Smith,  in  his  hif- 
tory  of  New- York,  takes  no  notice  of  this,  nor  givts  any  accousi 
of  Sir  Edrauud'?  .admiiiiftrsition. 


Chap.  XV.      OF    CONNECTICUT. 


393 


wlldernefs,  and  turning  it  into  orchards,  gardens,  and  Book  L 
pleafant  fields,  no  grants  by  charter,  nor  by  legiflatures  v.>-v-n* 
conflituted  by  them,  no  declarations  of  preceding  kings,  1688. 
nor  of  his  then  prefent  majefty,  promifing  them  the  quiet 
enjoyment  of  their  houfes  and  lands,  nor  fifty  or  fixty 
years  undiflurbed  pofleflion,  were  pleas  of  any  validity  or 
confideration  with  Sir  Edmund  and  his  minions.  The 
purchafers  and  cultivators,  after  fifty  and  fixty  years  im- 
provement, were  obliged  to  take  out  patents  for  their  ef- 
tates.  For  thefe,  in  fome  inftances,  a  fee  of  fifty  pounds 
was  dema,nded.  "Writs  of  intrufion  were  iilued  agaiirft 
perfons  of  principal  chara£ter,  who  would  iK)t  fubmit  to 
fuch  impofitions,  and  their  lands  were  patented  to 
others.  Governor  Hutchinfon  obferves,  with  refpe£t  to 
Maflachufetts,  that  "  men's  titles  were  not  all  queftioned 
«<  at  once.  Had  this  been  the  cafe,  according  to  the 
**  computation  then  made,  all  the  perfonal  eftate  in  the 
**  colony  would  not  have  paid  the  charge  of  the  new  pa- 
«  tents."t 

The  governor,  and  a  fmaU  number  of  his  council,  ia 
the  mod  arbitrary  manner,  fined  and  irnprifoned  num- 
bers of  the  inhabitants  of  Maflachufetts,  and  denied  theni 
the  benefit  of  the  acl  of  habeas  corpus.  All  town  meet- 
ings were  prohibited,  except  one  in  the  Month  of  May, 
for  the  eleftion  of  town  officers,  to  prevent  the  people 
from  confulting  meafurcs  for  the  redrefs  of  their  griev- 
ances. No  perfon  indeed  was  fuffered  to  go  out  of  the 
country,  without  leave  from  the  governor,  leaft  com- 
plaints fhould  be  carried  to  England  againffc  his  admin- 
iftration.  At  the  fame  time,  he  fo  well  knew  the  temper 
and  views  of  his  royal  mafter,  that  he  feared  little  from 
him,  even  though  complaints  fhould  be  carried  over  a- 
gainft  him.  Hence  he  and  his  dependants  opprefled  the 
people,  and  enriched  themfelves  without  reftraint. 

The  mofl  humble  petitions  were  prefented  to  his  ma- 
jefty, from  corporations  of  various  defcriptions,  befeech- 
ing  him,  that  the  governor's  council  might  confift  o£ 
none  but  men  of  confiderable  property  in  lands  ;  that 
no  a6t  might  be  pafled  to  bind  the  people,  but  by  a  ma- 
jority of  the  council ;  and  that  he  would  quiet  his  good 
fubje£ls  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  property  in  houfes  and 
lands.*     But,  in  the  reign  of  James  the  fecond,  petitions 

+  Hutchinfon's  Hift.  vol.  I.  p.  359* 

*  Sir  Edmund,  with  all  his  vigilance,  could  not  prevent  the 
•arrying  over  of  complaints  apninft  hira.    Mr.  Increafe  Mather 
Ccc 


394  THE    HISTORY  ChAp.  X% 

Book  I.  fo  reafonable  and  juft  could  not  be  heard.     The  prince, 

V.^'V^^  at  home,  and  his  officers  abroad,  Hke  greedy  harpies, 

1688.         preyed  upon  the  people  without  control.     Randolph  was- 

not  afhamed  to  make  his  boall,  in  his  letters,  with  refpedt 

to  Governor  Aadrofs  and  his  council,  "  that  they  were 

**  as  arbitrary  as  the    great  Turk."     All  New-England 

groaned  under  their  opprefTion.  The  heavieft  fhare  of  it, 

J       however,  fell  upon  the  inhabitants  of  MafTachufetts   and 

New-Plimouth.     Connecticut  had  been  lefs  obnoxious 

to  government,  than  Maflachufetts,  and  as  it  was  further 

removed  from  the  feat  of  government,  was  lefs» under  the 

notice  and  influence  of  thofe  oppreflbrs. 

Governor  Treat  was  a  father  to  the  people,  and  felt 
for  them,  in  their  diflrcfled  circumftances.  The  other 
gentlemen,  who  were  of  the  council,  and  had  the  princi- 
pal management  of  affairs,  in  Conne£licut,  were  men  of 
principle,  lovers  of  juflice  and  of  their  fellow  fubjecSls. 
They  took  advantage  of  Sir  Edmund's  firfl  inftru6tions, 
and  as  far  as  they  poffibly  could,  confillently  with  the 
new  regulations,  governed  the  colony  according  to  the 
former  laws  and  cuftoms.  The  people  were  patient  and 
peaceable,  though  in  great  fear  and  defpondency.  They 
wereno  ilrangers  to  what  was  tranfa6led  in  the  neigh- 
bouring colonies,  and  expelled  foon  fully  to  fliare  with 
them,  in  all  their  miferies.  It  was  generally  believed,^ 
that  Androfs  was  a  papift ;  that  he  had  employed  the  In- 
dians to  ravage  the  frontiers,  and  fupplied  them  with  am- 
munition ;  and  that  he  was  making  preparations  to  deliv- 
er the  country  into  the  hands,  of  the  French.  All  the 
motives  to  great  actions,  to  induftry,  economy,  enter- 
prife,  wealth,  and  pt)pulation,  were  in  a  manner  annihi- 
lated. A  general  inactivity  and  languiflmient  pervaded 
the  whole  public  body.  Liberty,  property,  and  every 
thing,  which  ought  to  be  dear  to  men,  every  day,  grew 
more  and  more  infecure.  The  colonies  were  in  a  ftate  of 
general  defpondency,  with  refpedl:  to  the  relloration  of 
their  privileges,  and  the  truth  of  that  divine  maxim, 
"  when  the  wicked  bcrtreth  rule  the  people  mourn,"  wasy 
in  a  ftriking  manner,  every  where  exemplified. 

got  on  board  a  fliip,  and  failed  to  England,  for  this  very  purpoff, 
and  delivered  tlie  cymplaiiite,  which  he.  carried  over,  into  hij 
majefty's  bands. 


Chap.XVI.      of    CONNECTICUT. 


Re  VOL  LOTION  in  Ne^v^ England.  Connenicut  rcfinne  their 
government.  Addrefs  to  King  JVilliarn.  'Troops  raiftd 
for  the  defence  of  the  eojlern  fettlements  in^eiu-JHampfliire 
and  the  province  of  Maine.  French  and  Indian  war. 
ScheneBady  dejtroyed.  Conne5licut  difpatch  a  reitforce- 
ment  to  Albany.  Expedition  againfl  Canada.  The  land 
army  retreatSj  and  the  enterprife  proves  tinfuccefsful. 
Leifler's  abufe  of  Major  general  Winthrop.  The  affeuihly 
of  Conneciicut  approve  the  general* s  condutf.  Thanks  are 
returned  to  Mr.  Mather y  agent  Whitingy  and  Mr.  Por^ 
ter.  Opinions  refpeciing  the  charter^  and  the  legality  of 
Connetlicid s  afuniing  their  government.  Windham  fet- 
tled. The  Mohaivh  caflcs  are  furprifed  and  the  country 
alarmed.  Connecticut  fend  troops  to  Albany.  Colonel 
Fletcher^  goverficr  of  Neiv-Yorky  demands  the  ccmmand 
efthe  militia  of  Conruclicut.  The  colony  petition  King 
JVilliarn  on  the  fubjeB.  Colonel  Fletcher  comes  to  Hart- 
fordy  andy  in  per  fan  y  demands  that  the  legiflature  fubmii 
the  militia  to  his  command  ;  but  they  refufc.  Captain 
Wadfivorth  prevents  the  reading  of  his  commifjlony  and  the 
colonel  judges  it  expedient  to  leave  the  colony.  The  cafe  of 
ConneBicut  relative  to  the  militia  fated.  His  majefy  de- 
termines in  favor  of  the  colony.  Committees  are  appointed 
to  fettle  the  boundary  line  betiueeti  ConneBiciit  and  Majfa- 
chufetts.  General  IVinthrop  returns  and  receives  public 
thanks.  Congratulation  of  the  Earl  of  Bellomorit.  ap- 
pointed governor  of  Nenv-Tork  and  Majfachufetts.  Dif- 
pute  nvith  Rhode-Ifand  continues.  Committee  to  fettle  the 
boundaries.  Expenfes  of  the  nvar.  Vexatious  conduB  of 
Governor  Fletcher.     Peace y  joy  and  thankfgiving. 

SCARCELY  any  thing  could  be  more  gloomj''  and  1689. 
diftrefsful,  than  the  Hate  of  public  affairs,  in  New- 
England,  at  the  beginning  of  this  year.     But  in  the  midfl 
of  darknefs  light  arofe.     While  the  people  had  prayed 
in  vain  t©  an  earthly  monarch,  their   petitions  had  been 
more  fuccefsfolly  prefentcd  to  a   higher  throne.     Provi- 
dence wrought  glorioufly  for  their  and   the  nation's  de- 
liverance.    On  the  5th  of  November  1688,  the  Prince 
of  Orange  landed   at  Torbay  in  England.     He  immedi-  ^      , 
ately  publifhed  a  declaration  of  his  defign,  in  vifitin^the  ^Jq^,  ;„ 
kingdom.     A  copy  of  this  was    received  at   Boflon,  by  New-Eng- 
one  Mr.  Winflow,  a  gentleman  from  Virginia,  in  April  land. 
\  $89,     Governor  Androfs  and  his  council  were  fo  alarm- 


Gevern- 


39«  THEHISTORY         Chap.  XVI. 

ed  with  this  rlews,  that  they  ordered  Mr.  Winflow  to  be 
arrefled  and  committed  to  gaol  for  bringing  a  falfe  and 
traiterous  libel  into  the  country.  They  alfo  iflued  a 
proclamation  commanding  all  the  officers  and  people  to 
be  in  readinefs  to  prevent  the  landing  of  any  forces,  which 
the  Prince  of  Orange  might  fend  into  that  part  of  Amer- 
ica. But  the  people,  who  fighed  under  their  burdens, 
fecretly  wifhed  and  prayed  for  fuccefs  to  his  glorious  un- 
dertaking. The  leaders  in  the  country  determined  qui- 
etly to  wait  the  event ;  but  the  great  body  of  the  inhabi- 
tants had  lefs  patience.  Stung  with  pad  injuries,  and 
encouraged  at  the  firft  intimations  of  relief,  the  fire  of 
liberty  re-kindled,  and  the  flame,  which,  for  a  long  time, 
had  been  fmothered  in  their  bofoms,  burft  forth  with  ir- 
refiflible  violence. 

On  the  i8th  of  April,  the  inhabitants  of  Bofton  and 
the  adjacent  towns  rofe  in  arms,  made  themfelves  mailers 
of  the  caftle,  feized  Sir  Edmund  Androfs  and  his  coun- 
cil, and  perfuaded  the  old  governor  and  council,  at  Bof- 
ton, to  refume  the  government. 

On  the  9th  of  May    1689,  Governor   Robert  Treat, 
ineiu  re-    Deputy  governor  James  Bifliop,  and  the  former  magif- 
airumed     tratcs,  at  the  defire  of  the  freemen,  refumed  the  govern- 
at  Con-      ment  of  Con^iedlicut.     Major   general   John  Winthrop 
reeticut     ^^g^  ^j.  jjjg  fame    time,  chofen  into   the  magiftracy   to 
1689.  '       complete  the  number  appointed  by  charter.      The  free- 
men voted,  that,   for  the  prefent  fafety  of  that  part  of 
New-England  called  Conne£licut,  the  ncceflity  of  its  cir- 
cumftances  fo  requiring,  «  they  would  re-eftablifh  gov- 
**  ernmcnt,  as  it  was  before,   and  at  the  time,  when  Sir 
«.'  Edmund  Androfs  took  it,  and  fo  have  it  proceed,  as  it 
<*  did  before  that  time,  according  to   charter  ;    engag- 
*<  ing  themfelves  to  fubmit  to  it  accordingly,  until   there 
<*  {liould  be  a  legal  eftablifhment  among  them." 

The  aflembly  having  formed,  came  to  the  following 
refolution  :  *'  That  whereas  this  court  hath  been  inter- 
♦'  rupted,  in  the  management  of  the  government  in  this 
♦*  colony  of  Connecticut,  for  nineteen  months  paft,  it  is 
<<  now  enadled,  ordered,  and  declared,  that  all  the  laws 
**  of  this  colony,  made  according  to  charter,  and  courts 
«<  conftituted  for  the  adminiftration  of  government,  as 
**  they  were  before  the  late  interruption,  fliall  be  of  full 
*'  force  and  virtue,  for  the  future,  and  until  this  court 
«'  fhall  fee  caufe  to  make  further  and  other  alterations, 
<*  according  to  charter."  The  aflembly  then  confirmed 
all  military  ofBcers  in  their  rcfpedlivc  pofts,  and  procee^J"* 


Chap.  XVI.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.     397 

ed  to  appoint  their  civil  officers,  as  had  been  cuftomary  at  Book  I. 
the  May  feffion.  ^.^vx-/ 

It  was  expeded,  that  it  might  foon  be  neceflary  to  ^^J^]"^^  ^^ 
tranfaft  matters  of  the  higheft  importance,  refpeflirig  the  ^^^  ^^p^. 
moft  eilential  rights  of  the  colony.     The  deputies  there-  tic». 
fore  refolved,  that  if  occafion  fhould  require  any  thing  to 
i)c  a6led,  refpe£ling  the  charter,  the  governor  fhould  call 
the  afTembly,  and  not  leave  the  affair  with  the  council. 

Upon  the  26th  of  May,  afliip  arrived  at  Bofton  with 
advice  that  "William  and  Mary  were  proclaimed  King  and 
Queen  of  England.  The  joyful  news  foon  reached  Con- 
necticut. A  fpecial  aflembly  was  called,  which  conven- 
ed on  the  13th  of  June.  On  the  fame  day,  William  and 
Mary,  Prince  and  Princefs  of  Orange,  were  proclaimed 
with  great  ceremony  and  joy.  Never  was  there  greater 
or  more  general  joy  in  New-England,  than  upon  the  ac- 
ceffion  of  William  and  Mary  to  the  throne  of  Great-Bri- 
tain. The  bands  of  oppreffion  were  now  loofed,  the 
fears  of  the  people  diflipated,  and  joy  brightened  in  every 
countenance. 

The  legiflature  addrefled  his  majefly,  in  the  moll  loyal  ^ddrefsto 
and  dutiful  manner.  They  reprcfented,  that  the  Lord,  his  majef- 
who  fitteth  king  upon  the  floods,  had  feparated  his  ene-  ty  King 
mies  from  him,  as  he  divided  the  waters  of  Jordan  before  William, 
his  chofen  people ;  and  that,  by  the  great  atlions  which 
he  had  performed,  in  refcuing  the  nation  from  popery 
and  defpotifm,  God  had  begun  to  magnify  him,  as  he 
did  Jofhua,  in  the  fight  of  all  Ifrael.  In  ftrong  terms, 
they  declared,  that  it  was  becaufe  the  Lord  loved  his 
people,  that  he  had  exalted  him  to  be  king  over  them,  to 
execute  juftice  and  judgment.  They  moft  humbly  pre- 
fented  their  grateful  acknowledgements  to  him,  for  his 
zeal  for  the  welfare  of  the  nation,  and  for  the  proteftant 
intereft.  At  the  fame  time,  they  reprefented  to  his  ma- 
jefty  the  charter  privileges,  which  they  had  obtained,  and 
the  manner  in  which  Sir  Edmund  Androfs  had  fupprelP- 
ed  their  government  by  charter  :  That  they  had  never 
furrendered  it,  and  that  there  had  been  no  enrolment  of 
any  furrender  of  it,  or  a£l,  in  law,  againft  it:  And  that  to 
avoid  the  inconveniences  of  having  no  government,  and 
for  their  defence  againft  their  enemies,  they  had,  at  the 
defire  of  the  freemen,  refumed  the  government  according 
to  their  ancient  form.  They  humbly  prayed  for  his  ma-' 
jefty's  dired^ions,  and  his  gracious  confirmation  of  theiy 


398  THE    HISTORY      Chap.   XVI. 

Book  I.   charter  rights.*     The  court  ordered,  that  Mr.  Whiting 
\.yv>s^  fhould  prefent  their  addrcfs  to  his  majefty. 
3689.  Meanwhile    a  revolution  had    been  made  at  New- 

RevolH-  York.  One  Captain  Jacob  Leifler  li?d  affiimed  the  gov- 
tion  at  crnmentof  that  province,  and  kept  the  fort  and  city  in 
Yoik.  behalf  of  King  WilHam.  He  had  written  to  Conne£ki- 
cut  and  foHcited  afliltance  in  defending  the  pi'ovincCf 
The  affembly  appointed  Major  Gould  and  Captain  James 
Fitch  to.  proceed  to  New- York,  and  confer  with  Leif- 
ler and  his  council  relative  to  the  defence  of  the  fron- 
tiers. The  committee,  with  Captain  Leifler,  were  au- 
thorized to  determine  the  number  of  men  to  be  employed 
and  the  meafurcs  to  be  adopted  for  that  purpofe.  In 
confcquence  of  their  determination,  the  governor  and 
council  difpatched  Captain  Bull,  with  a  company,  to  Al- 
bany, fpr  the  defence  of  that  part  of  the  country,  and  to 
aflili  in  a  treaty  with  the  Five  nations,  with  a  view  to  fe- 
cure  their  friendftiip  and  attachmicnt,  as  far  as  pofTible,  to 
the  Englilh  colonies.  Conne£licut  alfo  fent  a  detach- 
iiicnt  of  men  to  affiil  Captain  Leifler  in  the  defence  of 
the  fort  and  city  of  New-York. 

While  the  French  and  Indians  were  threatening  the 
northern  frontiers,  the  eaftern  Indians  were  carrying  on 
their  depredations  in  th.e  eaftern  parts  of  New-England. 
In  September,  a  fpecial  aflembly  was  called  en  that  acr 
count.  Commiflioners  were  appointed  to  co'nfult  with 
the  commiffioners  of  the  other  colonies,  relative  to  the 
.war  in  thofe  parts.  As  it  was  miagined  the  Indians 
there  had  been  injured,  by  Governor  Androfs  and  his  of- 
ficers, the  commilhoners  were  inftru£l:ed  to  enquire  into 
the  grounds  of  the  war  with  them  ;  and  if  it  {hould  ap- 
pear, that  they  had  been  injured,  to  ufe  their  utmofl  in- 
fluence, that  juftice  might  be  done  them,  and  the  country 
quieted  in  that  way.  But  if  they  found  the  war  to  be  juft 
and  ncceffary,  they  were  authorized  to  engage  the  colo- 
ny's full  proportion  of  men,  unlefs  it  fiiould  amount  to 
more  than  two  hundred.  Two  companies  were  after-r 
wards  appointed  to  that  fervice,  under  the  command  of 
Captains  George  Denifon  and  Ebenezer  Johnfon. 

At  the  feflion  in  October,  it  was  refolved,  that  by  rea^ 
0£t.  10.     ^^^^  of  the  great  expenfeof  the  colony,  in  defending  his 
majefty's  fubje«i"ts,   in  other   parts,  it  was   neceflary  te 
withdraw  the  aid  which  they  had  fent  to  New- York. 


*  Appendix  No.  XXIJk 


Chap.  XVI.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        39^ 

At  this  general  court,  the  law  refpe£l:ing  the  choice  of  Book  I. 
the  governors  and  magillratcs  was  ena<Sl:ed  nearly  in  the  v^-'V^^./ 
words  in  which  it  now  Hands  ;  but  it  inftituted  a  mode  *^^9' 
of  nomination  different  from  the  prefent.     This  was  to 
be  made  on  the  third   Tuefday   in  March  annually,  and 
the  votes  were  to  be  carried  to  Hartford  by  the  confta- 
bles  of  the  county  towns,  and  on  the  laft  Tuefday  in  the 
month  were,  by  them,  to  be  forted  and  counted  in  the 
council  chamber.     The  nomination  was  then  tranfmitted 
to  the  feveral  towns. 

While  the  revolution  delivered  the  nation  from  vaf- 
falage  and  popery,  it  involved  it  in  an  immediate  war 
with  France,  and  the  colonies  in  a  French  and  Indian 
war.     A  large  number  of  troops  and  a  confiderable  fleet  ' 

were  fen t  from  France,  in  1689,  with  a  fpecial  viev/  td 
the  reduction  of  New-York.  The  enterprife  vras  fruf- 
tratedby  the  diftrefled  condition  to  which  the  incurfions 
of  the  Mohawks  had  reduced  Canada. 

Count  Frontenac,  to  ralle  the  dcprefled  fpirits  of  the 
Canadians,  fent  out  feveral  parties  of  French  and  Indians 
againft  the  fettlements  in  New- York  and  New-England. 
A  detachment  of  between  tv/o  and  three  hundred  French 
and  Indians,  under  the  command  of  D'Aillebout,  De 
Mantel,  and  Le  Moyn,  were  dlfpatched  from  Montreal 
againfl:  the  frontiers  of  New- York.  They  were  furniih- 
ed  with  every  thing  necefiary  for  a  winter's  campaign. 
After  a  march  of  two  and  twenty  days,  in  the  dead  of 
winter,  they  reached  Schcnedady,  on  Saturday  the  8th 
of  February  1690.  They  had  been  reduced  to  fuch 
ft  raits  that  they  had  thoughts  of  furrendering  themfelves  Deflruc- 
prifoners  of  war.  But  their  fcouts,  who  had  been  a  day  ^'""  "*" 
or  two  in  the  village,  entirely  unfufpedled,  returned  with  tady'Sb-. 
fuch  accounts  of  the  fecurity  of  the  inhabitants,  asde- g  16*90. 
termined  them  to  make  an  attack  upon  them.  They 
iound  the  gates  open  and  unguarded.  They  entered 
them  about  eleven  o'clock,  and  that  they  might  invert: 
every  houfe,  at  the  fame  time,  they  divided  into  fmall 
parties  of  fix  or  feven  men.  The  inhabitants  were  in  a 
profound  fleep,  and  unalarmed  until  the  enemy  had  bro- 
ken open  their  doors,  and  they  were  on  the  verge  of  de- 
ftruQion.  Never  were  a  poor  people  more  dreadfully 
furprifed.  Before  they  had  time  to  rife  from  their  beds, 
the  enemy  began  the  perpetration  of  the  moft  inhuman 
barbarities.  No  tongue,  fays  Colonel  Schuyler,  in  his 
letter  to  the  colonies,  can  exprefs  the  cruelties  which  " 
were  committed.    The  inhabitants  were  inftantly  {lain, 


400  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  CHav.  XVL 

Book  I.  and  the  whole  village  was  in  flames.  Pregnant  women 
\,>'V>w'  were  ripped  open,  and  their  infants  call  into  the  flames 
1690.  or  dafhed  againft  the  pofts  of  the  doors.  Sixty  perfons 
periftied  in  the  maflaci'e,  and  twenty  were  captivated. 
The  refl  of  the  inhabitants  efcaped  in  their  fliirts,  in  a. 
nioft  ftormy  and  fevere  night,  and  through  a  deep  fnow, 
which  fell  at  the  fame  time.  Twenty  five  of  the  fugitives 
loft  their  limbs,  in  the  flight,  through  the  fharpnefs  of  the 
froft.  Captain  Bull's  lieutenant,  one  of  his  fergeants, 
and  three  other  men  were  killed,  and  five  captivated. 
The  enemy  killed  all  the  cattle  and  horfes,  which  they 
could  find,  except  about  fifty  of  the  beft  horfes,  which 
they  carried  ofi^,  loaded  with  the  plunder  of  the  village. 

When  the  news  of  this  deftrudion  reached  Albany^ 
the  next  morning,  an  univerfal  fear  *and  confternation 
feizcd  the  inhabitants.  The  country  became  panick 
llruck,  and  many  entertained  thoughts  of  deftroying  the 
town  and  abandoning  that  part  of  the  country  to  the  ene- 
my. Indeed,  the  whole  province  of  New-York  was  in 
deplorable  circumftanccs.  Lieflcr,  wlio  had  aflumed  the 
government,  was  a  weak,  imprudent  man,  and  there  was 
a  violent  oppofition  both  to  him  and  his  meafurcs,  efpe- 
cially  at  Albany.  Government  was  nearly  diflTolved* 
The  people  would  not  fufter  the  officers,  pofted  at  Alba- 
ny and  Schenedlady,  to  keep  a  regular  watch,  or  to  main- 
tain any  kind  of  military  order.  Captain  Bull  had  re- 
monftrated  againft  their  condu£l,  and  threatened  to  with- 
draw his  troops,  unlefs  they  would  fubmit  to  order.  The 
bad  weather  only  had  prevented  him  from  withdrawing 
the  detachment  from  Schenedady.  The  people  had 
been  warned  of  their  danger,  and  that  an  expedition  had 
been  undertaken  by  the  enemy  againft  that  part  of  the 
country  ;  but  they  imagined,  that  it  was  impracticable 
for  any  men  to  march  hundreds  of  miles,  with  their  arms 
and  provifions,  through  the  fnow,  in  the  depth  of  winter. 
This  infatuation  and  diforder  was  the  occafion  of  their 
dcftruclion.f 

A  SECOND  party  of  the  enemy,  which  Count  Fron- 
tion  oT"  tcnac  hud  detached  from  the  three  rivers,  under  the  com- 
.Salmon  mand  of  the  Sieur  Hartcl,  an  ollicer  of  diftinguiflied  char- 
Falls  after  in  Canada,  on  the  1  8th  of  March,  fell  upon  Sal- 
March  i2,  j^q,-^  r^lls.  This  was  a  plantation  on  tlie  river  which 
'  ^°'  divides  New-Hampfliire,  from  the  province  of  Maine, 
This  party  confifted  of  about  fifty  men,  nearly  half  In- 


t  ColoJid  Schuyler's  and  Captain  Bull's  letters  on  fik= 


Chap.  XVI.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  401 

diahs.     They  commenced  the  attack,  at  break  of  day,  in  Book  I . 
three  different  places.     Though  the  people  were    furpri-  ^<^^y>^ 
fed,  yet  they  flew  to  their  arms  and  defended   themfelves  1690. 
with   a    bravery  which    even    their  enemies  applauded. 
But  they  were  finally  overpowered  by  numbers,  and   the 
whole  fettlernent   was   pillaged   and  burned.     Six   and 
thirty  men  were  killed,  and  fifty  four,  principally  women 
and  children,  carried  into  captivity. 

These  depredations  filled  the  country    with  fear   and 
alarm.     The  mofl  preffmg  letters  were  fent  to  Connec- 
ticut for  immediate  afliftance.     A  fpecial   aflembly  was  special  af- 
called  on  the  I  ith  of  April.     Letters   were  laid  before  fcmbly, 
the  aflembly,  from  Maflachufetts,  foliciting,  that   foldiers  April 
might  be  fent  from  Connedlicut  to  guard  the  upper  towns  ^^^"' 
upon  Connedlicut  riV^er  ;  and  that  there  might  be  a  gen- 
eral meeting  of  commiflioners  from  thefeveral  colonies, 
at  Rhode-Ifiand,  to  confult  the  common  defence.     There 
were  alfo  letters    from    Captain  Liefler,  at   New- York, 
and  from  Colonel  Schuyler  and  other  principal  gentlemen, 
at  Albany,  urging,  that   Captain   Bull  and   the  foldiers 
there  might  be  continued,  and  that  reinforcements  might 
be  forwarded  for  the  defence  of  that  place  and  the  adja- 
cent country.     It   was   alfo    urged,    that    Connefticut 
would  unite  with  the  other  colonics,  in  raifing   an  army 
for  the  reduction  of  Canada. 

The  affembly  determined,  that  there  was  a   ncceflity  Relnforce- 
of  their  utmoft  exertions  to  prevent  the  fettlernent  of  the  mcnt  fent 
French  at  Albany.     It  was  refolved,  that  two  companies,  toAlbany. 
of  a  hundred  men  each,  fhould  be  raifed   and    fent   for- 
ward for  that  purpofe.     The  colony  alfo  gave   afliftance 
t©  the  frontier  towns  of  Maflachufetts  upon  the  river. 

For  the  defence  of  Conne£licut,  it  was  ordered,   that  Provifion 
a  conftant  watch  Ihould  be  kept  in  the  feveral  towns,  and  f°r  ^^^ 
that  all  the  males  in  the  colony,  except  the  aged  and  in-  '^*^^'y  °f 
firm,  {hould  keep  watch  in  their  turns.     If  the  aged  and  py, 
infirm  were  more  than  fifty  pounds  in  the  lift,  they  were 
obliged  to  procure  a  man^  in  their  turns,    to  watch  and 
guard  in  their  ftcad. 

Though  the  colony  had  received  no  inftru£lion$  from  Court  of 
King  William,  confirming  their  charter,  or  directing  the  eledion, 
mode  of  government,  yet  at   the  general  election,    the  May  8th. 
freemen  proceeded,  as  had  been  ufual,   to  the  choice  of 
their  officers.     Robert   Treat,   Efquire,  was  re-chofen 
governor,  and  James  Bilhop,  Efquire,  deputy  governor. 
Samuel  Wyllys,  Nathan  Gould,  William  Tones,  John 
D  d  d 


402 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XVI. 


Book  I.  Allen,  Andrew  Leet,  James  Fitch,  Samuel  Mafon,  Sam- 
v,>»'>"^s«/  uelTalcott,  Joun  Burr,  William  Pitkin,  Nathaniel  Stan- 
1690.         ley,  and  Daniel  Witheiel,  Efquircs,  were  chofen    magif- 

trates. 
Glaften-         At  this  feflion  of  the  aflembly,  that   part  of  Wetherf- 
buryma^^e  field,  which  lay  on  the  eall  fide  of  Connedlicut  river,  was 
a  difiiniit    rnadc  a  diftin^l  town,  by  the  name  of  Glaftenbury. 
own.  The  propofed  meeting  of  comniiflioners  was  holden 

at  New-York,  inftead  of  Rhode-Ifland,  on  the     ift  of 
May,  1690.     The  commifTioners  from  Connefticut  were 
Nathan  Gould  and  William  Pitkin,  Efquires.     It  appears, 
that,  at  this  meeting,  the  comniiflioners    conceived   the 
plan  of  an  expedition    againft   Canada.     They    ordered, 
that  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men  fhould  be  railed  for  that 
purpofe.     The  quotas  of  the  fevcral  colonies  were  fixed, 
and  general  rules  adopted,  for  the  management  of  the  ar- 
my.    A  fmall  vcfl'el  was  fent  exprefs  to  England,  the  be- 
ginning of  April,  carrying   a  reprefentation  of  the   ex- 
pofed  Rate  of  the  colonies  and  of  the  neceflity  of  the   re- 
du£lion  of  Canada.     A  prayer- was  alfo  fent  to  his   ma- 
jefty,  for  a  fupply  of  arms,  aniraunition,  and  a   number 
of  frigates  to  attack  the  enemy  by  water,  while  the  colo- 
Ji'ial  troops  made  an  invafion  by  land.     But  the  affairs  of 
the  nation  were    fuch,  at  that  time,  that  no   afliftance 
could  be  given  to  the  colonies.     New-York  and  the  New- 
England  colonies,  however,  determined  to  profecute  their 
original  plan  of  attacking  Canada.     It  was  propofed,  with 
about  eight  or  nine  hundred  EngUflimen,  and    five  or  fix 
hundred  Indians,  to  make    an  attack    upon  Montreal,f 
while  a  fleet  and  army,  of  eighteen  hundred  or  two  thou- 
fand  men,  were  to  proceed  up  St.  Lawrence,  and,  at  the 
fame  time,  make  an  attack  upon  Quebec.     It  was  hoped, 
by  this  means,  to  to  diltra^l  and  divide  the  enemy,  that 
the  whole  country  might  be  reduced  to  his  majefliy's  gov- 
frnment.     It  was  expected,  that  a  powerful  afliftance 
would  be  given  by  the  Five  nations,  who  had,  but  a  few 
years  before,  fo  exceedingly  harafled  and   diltrefled   the 
whole  French  colony.     Jacob  Milborn,   fon   in   law  to 
Liefler,  was  commiflliry,  and  it  was  expected,  that  New- 
York  would  furnifli  provifions,  and    make  preparation* 
for  the  army  to  pafs  the  waters  to  Montreal. 
General  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  was  appointed  major  g«n- 

\Vinthrop  eral  and  commander  in  chief  of  the  land  army.     He   arri- 


srnves 


t  Determinatlonofthecffliumifljoners,  at  NewYork,  and  Ce- 
lone!  Schuyler',  letter  on  file. 


Chap.  XVI.       OF    CONNECTICUT,      403 

ved,  with  the  troops  under  his  command,  near   the   falls  Book  I. 
at  the  head  of  Wood  Creek,  early  in  the  month  of  Au-  v.^v<v^ 
guft.     About  the  fame  time,  the    fleet  failed  from  Nan-  1690. 
taltet  for  Quebec.     It  con  filled  of  between  thirty  and^'i'lithe 
forty  veflcls  great  and  fmall.     The  largcfl  carried  44  guns  ''1"^,^^*'  "1^ 
and  two  hundred  men.     Sir  William  Phips,  governor  of  (3,^^^, 
MafTachufetts,  had  the  chief  command.     The  fleet  had  a 
Jong  paflage,  and  did  not  arrive  before  Quebec,  until  the 
5th  of  0£lober. 

When  the  land  army  arrived  at  the  place  appointed 
for  the  rendezvous  of  the  Indians,  from  the  Five  nations, 
inflead  of  finding  that  powerful  body,  which  they  expe£l- 
ed,  and  which  the  Indians  had  promifed,  there  were  no 
more  than  feventy  warriors,  from  the  Mohawks  and  O- 
neydas.  A  meflenger  was  fent  to  the  other  nations  to 
know  what  tliey  defigned  ;  whether  they  would  join  the 
army  and  go  forward  or  not.  The  mdTenger  returned 
and  reported,  that  they  wifhed  for  fome  delay  ;  and  they 
never  came  on  to  join  the  army.  When  the  general  had 
advanced  about  an  hundred  miles,  he  found  that  there 
were  not  canoes  provided  fuificient  to  tranfport  one  half 
of  the  Englifh  foldiers  acrofs  the  lake.  Upon  reprefent- 
ing  to  the  Indians,  that  the  army  could  not  pafs  into  Can- 
ada, without  a  much  greater  number  of  canoes,  they  re- 
plied, that  it  was  then  too  late  in  the  feafon  to  make  ca- 
noes, as  the  bark  would  not  peel.  In  fliort,  they  artfully 
evaded  every  propofal,  which  the  council  of  war  made 
for  thefervice  ;  and  finally  told  the  general  and  his  offi- 
cers, that  they  looked  too  high,  and  advifed  them  only  to 
attack  Chambly  and  the  out  fettlements  on  this  fide  of 
St.  Lawrence.f  There  was  another  infuperable  diffi- 
culty arofe.  Milborn,  commiflary  of  the  army,  had  not 
made  a  fufficient  provifion  for  the  carrying  on  and  fup- 
piyiug  of  provifions  for  the  army,  fo  that  it  was  neceffita- 
ted  to  retreat  to  Albany  for  fubfiftence.  This  was  de-  uy'^^t "* 
termined  by  a  council  of  war.  At  the  fame  time,  about  a  retreat. 
hundred  and  forty  of  the  fprightlieft  young  men,  Engliffi 
and  Indians,  were  difpatched  into  Canada,  to  make  all 
the  diverfion  poffible  in  favor  of  tlie  fleet.  However  the  Means  of 
retreat  of  the  army  and  the  late  arrival  of  the  armament  defeating 
before  Quebec  defeated  the  expedition.  the  enter- 

Count  Frontenac,  who  had  advanced  with  all  his 
force  to  Montreal,  to  defend  the  country  againft  the  ar- 


f  Prbpofals  made  to  the  Indians  and  their  anfwers,  with  Colo- 
nel Schuylcr'j  and  the  recorder  of  Albany's  letter,  on  file. 


4C4  "iT  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XVI. 

I>ooK  T.  niy  advancing  towards  the  lake,  no  fooner  received  intel- 
^^-''W^  ligence,  by  his  fcouts,  that  it  vi^as  retreating,  than  he  re- 
1690.  turned,  with  all  poflible  difpatch,  to  Quebec.  Though 
but  two  or  three  days  before  Sir  "William  Phips  arrived, 
before  the  town,  there  were  not  more  than  200  French- 
men in  the  city,  and,  according  to  their  ov/n  hiftorians, 
it  would  have  furrendcred  upon  the  firft  fummons,  vet 
afterwards  the  count  was  able  to  employ  his  whole  force 
in  its  defence. 

On  the  8th  of  0£lobcr,  the  troops  landed  and  advan- 
ced towards  the  town.  The  fhips,  the  next  day,  were 
drawn  up  before  it,  and  cannonaded  it  with  all  their 
force  }  but  they  were  not  able  to  do  any  great  injury  to 
the  town,  while  they  were  confiderably  damaged  by  the 
enemy's  fire  from  their  batteries.  On  the  1 1  th,  the 
•  troops  were  re-embarked.  Though  they  had  advanced 
and  maintained  their  ground  with  fpirit,  yet  they  receiv- 
ed fuch  accounts  of  the  ftrength  of  the  enemy,  as  very 
much  difcouraged  them.  Soon  after,  tempeftuous. 
weather  came  on,  the  fhips  were  driven  from  their  an- 
chors, and  the  whole  fleet  fcattered.  Thus,  for  want  of 
?.  fufficient  preparation  for  the  advancing  of  the  land  ar- 
my, and  in  confequence  of  the  too  late  failing  of  the  fleet, 
an  otherwife  well  concerted  plan  was  defeated. 

Though  General  Winthrop  had  a£t:ed  inperfeft  con- 
formity to  the  agreement  of  the  commifFioners,  at  New« 
York,  and  to  the  inftrucVions  which  had  been  given  him» 
and  though  he  had  retreated  and  taken  all  his  meafures 
by  the  advice  of  his  oflicers,  in  repeated  councils  of  war, 
yet  Liefler,  Milborn,  and    their    party,  were   filled  with 
Leifiet's     the  utmoft  rage  and  madnefs  at  the  retreat.     It  was  or.- 
roadnefs     dained  by  the  commiffioners,  that  in  all  matters  of  great 
and  aim fe    importance,  the  general  Ihould  be  governed  by  a   council 
1  w'^      of  war,  confifting  of  himfelf  and  his  oflicers ;  and  Liefler 
throp.  '     "^^^  *^^  ^^"^  figner  to  the  infhru<E^ions  and  orders  given. 
It  was  impoflible  to  pafs  the  lake  without  boats  and  ca- 
noes.    It  would  have  been  madnefs  to  have  crofled  it,  if 
there  had  been  canoes,  when  they  had  found,  that,  by  all 
the  means  and  exertions  in  their  power,  they  could  not 
procure  provifions  for  the   army  on  this  fide  of  the  lake. 
Liefler  however  took  the  advantage  of  the  general,  after 
the  army  had  crofled  Hudfon's  river,  and   lay  encamped 
on  this  fide  of  it,  to  arreft  and  confine  him,  that  he  might 
try  him  by  a  court  martial  of  his  own  appointment.     He 
He  is  ref-   '^^^   ^°^^   ^^Y^  under  the    arrefl:.     But  when  he  was 
cued  by     brought  upon  trial,  the  Mohawks,  who  were  in  the  camp, 


CiiAr.  XVI.     OF    CONNECTICUT.  405 

crofFjcl  the  river  and  brought  him  off,  with  great  triumph,  Book  I, 
and  to  the  univerfal  joy  of  the  army.      Llellcr,  ^lilborn,  v-^'v^O 
and  their  party,  were  fo  enraged  with  fome  of  the  prin-  1690. 
cipal  gentlemen  in  Albany,   who  were   of  the    general's  |^^  ^^' 
council,  tliat  they  were  obliged  to  flee  to  Conne£licut  for 
fafety.     Mr.  Livingfton  and  others  refided  fome  time  at 
Hartford.     Liefler  confined  the   commlfiary  of  the  Con- 
ncdlicut  troops,  fo  that  the  army  fuffei-ed  for  want  of  his 
afiiftance. 

This  was  viewed,  by  Connecticut,  as  an  entirely  law- 
lefs  proceeding  ;  not  only  highly   injurious    to  General 
Winthrop  and  the  colony,  but  to  all  New-England.    Tiie 
governor  and  council  remonftrated    againfl;  his  condudl:,  Thegov- 
and  demanded  the  releafe  of  General  Winthrop  and  their  go?,^'lfi" 
commiflary.     They  certified  him,  that  it  belonged  not  to  remon- 
him  to  judge  of  the  general's  conduct,  but  to  the  colonies  ftrate  a- 
in  general ;  that   it    was   inconfiftent  with  the  very  in-  g^irft  ^ 
ftructions  which  he  had  fubfcribed  with  his  own  hand;  ^.1^ a^x^ 
and  that  if  he  proceeded  in   his  unprecedented  and  vio- 
lent meafures,  they  would  leave  him  and  New- York  to 
themfelves,  without  any  further  aid  from    Connecticut, 
let  the  confequences  be  what    they  might.*     They  ob- 
ferved,  that  he   needed   friends  and  afiiftance,  but  was 
purfuing  meafures  not  only  to  make  the  powerful  friends 
of  General  Winthrop,  but  all  New-England,  his  enemies  ; 
and  that  the  chara£ler  of  the  general  was    too  good,  and 
too  well  known,  to  be  drawn    into  queflion  or  difrepute 
by  his  conduit  towards  him. 

At  the  general  court,  in  October,  a  narrative  of  the  Oct.  oth. 
conduct  of  the  general  was  exhibited,  attcfted  by  the  of- 
ficers of  the  army  and  by  numbers  of  the   principal  gen- 
tlemen of  Albany.     Attefted  anfwers   of  the   Indians  to 
the  feveral  councils  of  war,  with  fuch  other  evidence  as 
the  afTembly  judged  proper   to   examine,    were  heard. 
Upon  a  full  examination  of  the  affair,  the  afTembly  refol- 
vcd  :  "  That  the  general's  conduct,  in  the  expedition,  ^f"*^ 
«  had  been  with  good   fidelity  to  his  majefty's  intereft,  throp's 
*«  and  that  his  confinement,    at  Albany,  on  the  account  condnft 
«*  thereof,  deferved  a  timely  vindication,    as    being  very  ^PP'ovcd> 
*<  injurious  and  difhonorable  to  himfelf  and  the  coloniei 
"  of  New-England,  at  whofe  inftance  he  undertook  that 
*'  difficult  fervice."     The  court  appointed  twoof  the  ma- 
giltrates  in  their  name,  "  To   thank   the  general  for  hi« 
*'  good  fervice  to  their  majefties  and  to  this  colony,  and 


Appendix  No.  XXIV. 


40(5  THEHISTORY      Chap.  XVI. 

Book  I.   "  afiure  him,  that,  on  all  feafonable  occafions,  they  would 

v,>V^^  "  be  ready  to  raanifeft  their  good  fentiments  of  his  fidel-. 

1690.  **  ity,  valor  and  prudence. "f  The  affembly  made  him 
a  grant  of  forty  pounds,  as  a  prefent,  which  tliey  defired 
him  to  accept,  as  a  further  teftimonial  of  their  entire  ap- 
probation'of  his  fervices. 

Besides  the  troops  employed  in  the  expedition  againft 
Canada,  Conne6licut  maintained  a  company  upon  the 
river,  for  the  defence  of  the  towns  in  the  county  of 
Hampfnire.  Upon  an  alarm  in  the  winter,  the  governor 
and  council  difpatched  a  company  to  Deerfield,  for  the 
prottftion  of  that  and  the  neighbouring  towns. 

At  the  eleftion,  May    1691,  all  the  former   officers 

May  T4th.         g  i-e-eleaed. 

1691. 

On  the  account  of  the  death  of  the  deputy  governor, 

James  Bifliop,  Efquire,|  a  fpecial  aflembly  was  convened, 
on  the  9th  of  July  1691  ;  when  William  Jones,  Efquire, 
was  chofen  deputy  governor,  and  Captain  Caleb  Stanley 
magiftrate. 

The  Reverend  Increafe  Mather,  of  Bofton,  was  a  moft 
faithful  friend  to  the  liberties  of  his  country  ;  and  though 
he  was  agent  for  the  MaiTachufetts,  yet  he  was  indefati- 
gable in  his  labors,  and,  as  opportunity  prcfented,  per- 
formed eflential  fervices  for  the  other  colonies.  At  the 
acceffion  of  William  and  Mary  he  liad  prevented  the  bill 
for  eftablifhing  the  former  governors  of  New- England. 
He  had  united  all  his  influpnce  with  Mr.  Whiting  for  the 
benefit  of  Connedlicut.  One  Mr.  James  Porter,  who 
was  in  London,  had  been  very  ferviceable  to  the  colony. 
The  affembly  therefore  ordered,  that  a  letter  of  thanks 
fhould  be  addrefled  to  thofe  gentlemen,  for  the  good  fer- 
vices which  they  had  rendered  the  colony.  They  were 
alfo  defired  to  ufe  their  influence  to  obtain,  from  his  raa- 


+  Records  of  the  colony. 

j  James  Bifliop,  Efquire,  died  June  azH,  1691.  He  appearsto 
have  been  a  gentleman  of  good  ability  and  diftingiiilhed  morals. 
The  time  of  his  coming  over  to  America  is  uncertain.  His  firft 
appearance,  upon  the  public  records,  was  about  the  year  1648. 
In  1661,  he  was  chofen  fccretary  of  the  colony  of  New-Haven  J 
in  which  office  he  continued  until  the  union  of  the  colonies  of 
Conncdicut  and  New-Haven.  In  May  1668,  he  was  chofen  one 
of  the  magiftratesof  Connedicut,  in  which  office  he  continued 
until  May  loth,  1683,  when  he  was  eledcd  deputy  governor. 
To  this  office  he  was  annually  re-ele<5ted  until  his  death.  His 
family  has  continued  refpeiflable  to  the  prefent  time.  Samuel 
Bifhop,  Efquire,  chief  judge  of  the  court  of  common  picas,  for 
the  county  of  New  Haven,  and  Mayor  of  the  city^is  one  of  his 
defcendants. 


Chap.  XVI.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        407 

jcfty,  a  letter  approving  of  their  adminiflration,  of  gov- Book  I. 
ernment,  according  to  charter,  as  legal  •,  and  expreffing  v.^'-vn^ 
his  determination  to  proteft  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  1691. 
their  civil  and  religious  privileges. 

The  violation  of  the  charters,  in  England,  had  been 
declared  illegal  and  arbitrary.  The  charter  of  the  city  of 
London,  and  thofe  of  other  corporations,  in  Great-Brit- 
ain, had  been  reftored.  The  cafe  of  Conneclicut,  refpec- 
ting  their  charter,  had  been  Itated,  and  the  opinions  of 
gentlemen,  learned  in  the  law,  had  been  given  relative  to 
the  legality  of  the  government  affumed  by  the  colony. 
They  are  thus  exprefled. 

"  Query,  Whether  the  charter  belonging  to  Connec-  Opinions 
**  ticut,  in  New-England,  is,  by  means  of  their  involun-  relative  to 
*'  tarr  fubmiflion  to  Sir  Edmund  Androfs's  government,  [g^  of^"^' 
"  void  in  law,  fo  as  that  the  king  may  fend  a  governor  to  Connec- 
"  them,  contrary  to  their  charter  privileges,  when  there  ticut. 
"  has  been  no  judgment  entered  againft  their  charter, nor 
**  any  furrender  thereof  upon  record  ?'' 

"  I  AM  of  opinion,  that  fuch  fubmiflion,  as  is  put,  in 
«  this  cafe,  doth  not  invalidate  the  charter,  or  any  of  the 
**  powers  therein,  which  were  granted  under  the  great 
*<  leal  }  and  that  the  charter  not  being  furrendered  un- 
»<  der  the  common  feal,  and  that  furrender  duly  enrolled 
<«  of  record,  nor  any  judgment  of  record  entered  againft 
♦*  it,  the  fame  remains  good  and  valid  in  law  ;  and  the 
**  faid  corporation  may  lawfully  execute  the  powers  and 
*<  privileges  thereby  granted,  notwithftanding  fuch  fub- 
**  miflion,  and  appointment  of  a  governor  as  aforefaid. 

EDWARD  WARD. 

«'  2nd.  Auguft  1690." 

«  I  AM  of  the  fame  opinion.  J.  SOMERS. 

"  I  AM  of  the  fame  opinion  ;  and  as  this  matter  Is 
«  ftated  there  is  no  ground  of  doubt. 

"  GEO.  TREBY." 

The  people  at  the  eaftward,inNew-Hampfhire  and  the  DlftrefTed 
province  of  Maine,  had  been  extremely  diftrefled  by  the  circum- 
war,  and  a  very  great  proportion  of  them  driven   from  ^^"f^*    c 
their  fettlements.     It  had  alfo  been  found   exceedingly  ^g^^  peo-" 
difhcult    to    perfuade   men  to    keep  garrifon  for  the  de-  pie. 
fence  of  that  part  of  the   country.     The  general    court  ^Qn^fl^y. 
of  Connecticut,  therefore,   appointed    a    contribution,  tion  for 
through  the  colony,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  fol-  their  re- 
diers,  who  (hould  keep  garrifon  there,  and  for  the  relief  ^''^*'* 
of  poor  families,  which  had  kept  their  ftatlons,  or  been 
driven  fjom  them  by  the  ravages  of  the  enemy.    The 


40  3; 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XVL 


Book  I. 


369a. 
Court  of 
clcdtion, 
May. 


The 

French 

make  a 

tic  fee  nt 

upon 

Block-in- 

and. 


Seltle- 
ment  of 
the  town 
of  Wind- 
1-1  am  May 
12,  1691. 


clergy  were  dirc£led  to  exhort  the  people  to  liberal  con- 
tributions for  thefe  charitable  purpofes.f 

At  the  eleftion,  May  1692,  William  Jones,  Efquire, 
was  chofen  deputy  governor  by  the  freemen.  Mr.  Caleb 
Stanley  and  Mr.  Mofes  Mansfield  were  chofen  magif- 
trates.  Governor  Winthrop  and  the  other  magiftrates 
were  the  fame  they  had  been  the  year  before. 

The  French,  the  laft  year,  while  the  troops  were  em- 
ployed in  the  expedition  againll  Canada,  made  a  defcent 
upon  Block-Illand,  plundered  the  houfes,  and  captivated 
mod  of  the  inhabitants.  This  grcady  alarmed  the  peo- 
ple of  New-London,  Stonington,  and  Saybrook.  De- 
tachments of  the  militia  were  fent  to  the  fcaport  towns 
for  their  defence.  The  aflembly  therefore,  about  this 
time  ordered,  that  New-London  fliould  be  fortified  ;  and 
that  the  fortifications  at  Saybrook  fliould  be  repaired. 

The  country  had  been  alarmed  with  reports,  that  a 
large  body  of  French  and  Indians  were  about  to  crofs  the 
lakes  and  come  down  upon  the  frontiers.  Confequently 
it  was  ordered,  that  fcouts,  from  the  feveral  counties 
fliould  range  the  country,  and  make  difcovery  of  the  ene- 
my as  they  made  their  approach.  Officers  were  alfo  ap- 
pointed to  command  fuch  parts  of  the  militia  as  it  might 
be  necciTary  to  detach,  in  cafe  of  an  invafion. 

Upon  the  29th  of  February  1675,  Jofhua,  fachem  of 
the  Mohcagans,  fon  of  Uncas,  by  his  lafl;  will,  gave  unto 
Captain  John  Mafon,  James  Fitch,  and  others,  to  the 
number  of  fourteen,  commonly  called  Jofhua's  legatees, 
the  tra£t  containing  the  town  of  Windham.  It  was, 
the  next  year,  furveyed  and  laid  out  into  diflindl  lots.  In 
May  1692,  it  was  veiled  v/ith  town  privileges.  By  Jofli- 
ua's  will,  the  lands  in  the  town  of  Mansfield,  no  lefs  than 
thofe  in  Windham,  were  given.  The  fettlements,  at 
both  places,  conunenced  about  1686,  nearly  at  the  fame 
time.  Canterbury  originally  belonged  to  the  town  of 
Windham,  though  it  was  fome  years  after  made  a  dif- 
t'lnCt  town.  The  townfliip  of  Windham  comprifcs  a  fine 
traflofland,  nearly  ten  miles  fquare.  Its  fituation  is 
pleafant,  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  principal  towns  in  the 
ftatc* 


t  The  number  of  p^rfonK,  this  year,  ratable  in  the  colony  was 
3,109,  and  the  grand  lift  /Ci83,i59. 

*  Mti.  John  Gate?,  one  of  the  fird  planters  a  gentltman  from 
England,  who  died  July  i6th,  1697,  by  his  laft  will,  gave  agencr- 
OHS  legncy,  in  plate,  to  the  chnrcli.  He  alfo  gave  two  hundred 
acre*  of  l.md  for  the  ufe  of  a  fchool,  and  two  hundred  more 


.   Chap.  XVI.       OF    CONNECTICUT       409 

Count  Frontenac,  finding  that  he  could  not,  with  Book  L 
all  his  arts,  accomplifh  a  peace  with  the  five  nations,  de-  v-^V^s^ 
termined  on  the  deftru£lion  of  the  Mohawks,  who>  of  all  1693. 
the  Indians,  had  been  by  far  the  moll  deftruclive  to  the  Itntcrprife 
fettlements  in  Canada.  He  collected  an  army  of  fix  or  ^^^'"'^  ^^^ 
fevcn  hundred  French  and  Indians,  and,  having  fupplicd  ^afiles. 
them  with  every  thing  ncceflary  for  a  winter  campaign, 
fcnt  them  againft  the  Mohawk  caftlcs.  They  began 
their  march  from  Montreal,  on  the  15th  of  January 
1693.  After  fufFering  incredible  hardfhips,  they  fell  in 
with  the  firft  Mohawk  caftle,  about  the  6th  of  February. 
The  Mohawks  were  entirely  fecure,  not  having  the  lead 
intimation  of  their  approach.  The  enemy  took  about 
four  or  five  men  at  this  caftle,  and  proceeded  to  the 
fecondi  At  this  they  were  equally  fuccefsfuL  A  great 
part  of  the  inhabitants  Were  at  SchenerSlady,  and  the  reft 
were  perfectly  fecure.  When  they  advanced  to  the 
third  caftle,  they  found  about  forty  warriors,  collected  at 
a  war  dance,  as  they  defigned  the  next  day  to  go  upon  an 
cnterprife  againft  their  enemies.  A  conflitt  enfued  in 
which  the  French,  after  lofing  about  thirty  men,  were 
victorious,  and  the  third  Caftle  was  taken.  The 
French,  in  this  defcent,  captivated  nearly  three  hundred 
of  the  allied  Indians,  principally  wornen  and  children. 
The  brate  Colonel  Schuyler,  of  Albany,  at  the  head  of  a 
party  of  volunteers,  of  about  two  hundred  Englifh  and 
Dutch,  purfued  them.  On  the  15th  of  February,  he  was 
joined  with  about  three  hundred  Indians,  and  with  this 
force  he  fell  in  with  the  enemy,  whom  he  found  in  a  for- 
tified camp.  They  made  three  fucceflive  fallies  upon  the 
colonel,  and  were  as  often  repulfed.  He  kept  his  ground^ 
waiting  for  provifions  and  a  reinforcement  from  Albany. 
Meanwhile  the  enemy,  taking  advantage  of  a  fevere  fnow^ 
ftorm,  on  the  night  of  the  1 8th,  marched  oft'  for  Canada. 
The  next  day.  Captain  Sims,  with  eighty  regular  troops, 
arrived  with  provifions  for  the  army,  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing, the  colonel  refumed  the  purfuit.  The  French^ 
towever,  luckily  finding  a  cake  of  ice  acrofs  the  north 
branch  of  Hudfon's  river,  made  their  efcapc.  Never- 
tholefs  they  were  fo  prefled  that  they  fuffcred  moft  o£ 
their  captives  to  efcape.  They  all  except  nine  or  ten  re- 
turned.    Colonel   Schuyler  loft  eight  of  his  party,  fous 

for  the  ufe  of  the  poor  of  the  town  forever,  Windham  was 
made  a  county  town  in  May  1716,  the  grand  lift,  in  1768,  wa-s 
about  ^io,ooo  and  Xhe  n«nabcr  of  inhabitants  3?jcc. 


4f  o  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XVt 

Book  I.    Chriftians  an4  four  Indians.     He  Iiaid  fourteen  wounded. 

\-/'V>>rf'  According  to  the  report  of  the  captives,  the  enemy  loft 

1693.         forty  men,  three  of  whom  were  French  ofhcers,  and  twO' 

were  Indian  leaders  ;    and   they   liad  thirty  wounded. 

The  Indians  found  about  thirty  corpfes    of  the  enemy, 

whom  they  fcalped,  and  afterwards  roafted  and  ate  them, 

as  they  were  exceedingly  pinched  for  want  of  provifions.* 

While  thefe  affairs  were  tranfafting,  difpatches  were 

fent  to  Conne<fJticut   acquainting  Governor  Treat,   that 

^he  French  had   invaded    his   majefty's  territories  and 

taken  the  fortrefies  of  his  allies.     A    demand  was   made 

of  two  hundred  men,   complete  in  their  arms,  to  march 

forthwith  to  Albany. 

Special  af-      A  special  aflembly  was  called  on  the  2 1  ft  of  February 

femb'iy        i'^93>   ^ritl  it  was  ordered,  that  one   hundred    and  fifty 

Icb.  iift.  j^^j^  {hould  be  fent  immediately  to  Albany,  or  any  other 

place  where  the  governor  fliould  judge  to  be  moft  for  his 

majefty's  intereft.     Fifty  of  the  troops  marched  for  Al» 

bany,  the  next  day. 

Scarcely    had  the  aiTemhly  difperfed  before  another 
exprcfs  arrived,    from  Sir  William  Phips,  requiring    a 
corps  of  a  hundred  Englilh  men  and  fifty  Indians,  to  af- 
fift  in  the  defence  of  the  eaftern  fettlements,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Maine  and   Maflachufetts.     On  the  6th  of  Marcb 
S-Dccial  af'  another  fpecial    affcmbly   vyas  convened,  and  the  legifla* 
lemWy       ture  granted   a  captain's    company  of  fixty   Englifti  men 
March       and  about  forty  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
^^'  William  Whiting. 

Major  General  Fit?  John  Winthrop  was  chofen  mag- 
Eiecflion     i{];i-ate  at  the  eletlipn,  which  was  the  only  alteration  made 
^   *    ■  among  the  magiflrates  this  year. 

The  general  court  ordered  a  letteioiobe  addrefled  to 
the  governor  of  MaiTachufetts,  'once   more  defiring  him 
and  that  colony    amicably  to  join  with  Conne£licut  in 
running  the  paitition  line   between   the   two    colonies. 
William  Pitkin,  Efquire,  Mr.  Samuel  Chefter,  and  Cap- 
tain William  Whiting  were  appointed  a  committee  to  run 
the  line.     They  had  inftruclions  to  begin,  according  ta 
the  exprcfs  words  of  the  patent  of  Maffachufetts,   three 
miles  fouth  of  every  part  of  Cliarles  river,   and  tlienceto 
run  to  the  weftermoft  bounds  of  Symlbury. 
Colonel         Colonel  Benjamin  Fletcher,  governor  of  NewYorky 
Fletcher     who  had  arrived  at  the  feat  of  his  government,  Auguft 
4;halleB£es  29th  1692,  had  received  acommiflion  entirely  inconfift- 

*  Governor  Fletcher's  letter,  oa  ^!c. 


Cha*.  XVI.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T        411 

ent  with  the  charter  rights  arid  f\ifety  of  the  colonies.  Book  I. 
He  was  veftcct  with  plenary  powers  of  commanding  the  v^-«r»<-^ 
whole  militia  of  Connecticut  and  the  neighbouring  prov-  iC^J- 
inccs.     He  infilled   on  the  command  of  the  militia:   of  ^^^  '^°"\' 
Connefticut.     As  this  was  exprefsly  given  to  the  colony,  Ih^'^iii. 
by  charter,  the  legiflature  would  riot  fubmit  to  his  requi-  tia. 
fition.     They,   however,  judged  it  expedient  to   refer  ft  The  legif- 
to  the  freemen,  whether  they  would  addrefs  a  petition  to  lat^i''ere- 
his  majefty  praying  for  the   continuance  of  the  militia  in  fu^Xiitth- 
the  power  of  the  colony,  according  to  their  charter,  and  militia  to 
for  the   continuance  and  prefervation  of  all  their  char- his  com- 
tered  rights   arid  privileges.     There  were  2,180  perfons  niand. 
01?  fuiFrages  for  addrefling  his  majefty,  and  the  freemen 
dtfClared,  that  they    would  bear   th^ir    proportionable 
charge  with  the  reft  of  t-he  colony,- in   profecuting   the 
affaif  to  a  finaliffue. 

At  afpecial  afiembly,  September  ill  1693,  ^^^^    court  pft;^;^^ 
if^pointeda  petitk>n  to  be  draughted,  to  be  prefented  to  hismajer- 
hr*  rriajefty  King  William',  on  thefubjccl.     Major  Gen-  t/,  and 
cril  Fkz  John  Winthrop  was  appointed  agent  to  prefent  ^ppo'nt 
the  petition,   and  employ  his  beft   endeavours  for  the  ^"*^^" 
confirmation  of  all  the  chartered  privileges  of  the  colony". 
He  was  defired,  as  foon  as   pofFible,  to    take  his   paflage 
t&  England,    and   upon  his  arrival  there,  to  lay  the  bufi- 
aeife,  as  expeditioufly  as  might  be^  before  his  majefty,  and 
profecute    the    affair  to  an  iffuef  with    all    convenient 
cfi^atch.  .  .    >  , 

He  was  inftruCted  to  make  a  full  reprefcntatiori' of  thfi  Inflruc- 
great  hardfhlps,  expenfe,  and  diangers  of  the  inhabitants,  tions  to 
in  plaruting  and  defending  the  colony;  and  that  thefe  ^^"^''Scnt. 
had  been  borne  wholly  by  themfelves,  without  any  af- 
iiftance  frorti  the  parent  country  :  That  it  would  endan- 
ger and  ruin  the  colony,  if  the  militia  fhould  be  taken 
from  it,  and  commanded  by  ftrangers  at  the  diftance  of 
New-York  and  Bofton  :  That  it  would  wholly  incapaci- 
tate them  to  defend  themfelves,  their  wives,  and  children  : 
That  before  they  could  obtain  inftru6lions,  from  fiich  a 
diftance,  upon  any  fudden  emergency,  the  colony  might 
be  depopulated  and  ruined  :  That  a  ftranger,  at  a  dif- 
tance, might  not  agree  with  the  governor  and  council 
in  en?ipl'oyiTig  the  militia  for  the  defence  of  the  property. 
Jives,  and  liberties  of  the  fubje£t:s  ;  and  that  the  life  and 
fupport  of  the  laws,  and  the  veryexiftence  of  their  civil 
conftitution  depended  on  the  militia.  He  was  alfo  in- 
ftrudted  further  toreprefent  the  ftateofthe  militiaofCon- 
ne^cut,  with  refpe^  to  its  difference  from  that  of  the 


4r2  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XVI. 

Book  I.  militia  of  Enghnd  :  That  from  the  fcattcred  ftatc  and 
V_-<w^  fmall  number  of  the  inhabitants,  it  had  been  neceflary, 
j69>  tliat  all  males,  from  fixtecn  years  of  age,  fliould  belong 
to  the  militia,  and  be  made  foldiers,  fo  that  if  the  mili- 
tia were  taken  from  the  colony,  there  would  be  none  left 
but  fnagiftrates,  minifters,  phyficians,  aged  and  infirro 
people,  to  defend  their  extenfive  fea  coalls  and  frontiers » 
and  that  giving  the  command  of  the  militia  to  the  gov-* 
crnor  of  another  colony  was,  in  cfFecTr,  to  put  their  pev- 
fons,  intcrcfts,  and  liberties  entirely  into  his  power.  The 
agent  was  alfo  direcivled  to  reprefent  the  entire  fatisfa£lion 
of  the  colony  with  the  prefent  government,  and  the  great 
advantages  refulting  from  it :  That  giving  the  command 
of  the  militia  to  the  governor  of  another  province  would 
exceedingly  endanger,  if  not  entirely  deftroy,  that  gen- 
eral contentment,  and  all  the  advantages  thence  arifing  to 
his  majefby  and  his  fubjefSts  :  That  out  of  three  thoufand 
freemen,  in  the  colony,  two  thoufand  and  two  hundred 
adlually  met  and  gave  their  fufFrages  for  the  prefent  ad- 
drcfs,  and  that  the  greatefl;  part  of  the  other  eight  hun- 
dred were  for  it,  but  were,  by  their  particular  occaCons, 
prevented  from  attending  at  the  refpe6live  meetings, 
when  the  fufFrages  were  taken  :  That  the  inhabitant* 
were  univerfally  for  the  revolution  ;  and  that,  in  the 
whole  colony,  there  were  not  more  than  four  or  five 
malecontcnts.  The  agent  was  charged  to  afiure  his  ma- 
jefly,  that  the  militia  Ihould  be  improved,  with  the  ut- 
moil  prudence  and  faithfulncfs,  for  his  majcfty's  fervice, 
in  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  Maffachufetts  and  Ncwt 
York  ;  and  to  lay  before  him  what  the  colony  had  al- 
ready done  ;  cfpecially  for  the  province  of  New- York  in 
their  late  diilreflcd  condition  :  That  for  its  defence,  and 
the  fecuring  of  the  Five  nations,  in  his  majefly's  intereft, 
they  had  expended  more  than  three  thoufand  pounds, 
and  loft  a  number  of  their  men.  Further,  General  Win- 
throp  was  directed,  fo  far  as  might  be  judged  expedient, 
to  plead  the  rights  granted  in  the  charter,  efpecially  that 
of  commandipg  the  militia,  and  the  common  ufage  ever 
fmce  the  grant  of  the  charter,  for  a  long  courfe  of  years. 
Sir  William  Phipc,  governor  of  Maffachufetts,  had, 
on  his  appointrnent  to  that  office,  received  a  commiflion 
of  tlie  fame  tenor  of  Governor  Fletcher's.  As  the  colony 
had  not  fully  complied  with  his  requifitions,  it  was  ex- 
pe<fted  that  the  agent  would  be  interrogated  upon  that 
head.  He  was  inflrudied  in  that  cafe,  to  reply,  that  Sir 
"\VilH3rn  never  came  into  the  colony,  nor  adted  upon  his 


CHAr.  XVI.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       413 

commiflion  any  further,  than  to  ;;ivc  a  copy  of  it,  and  to  Book  I, 
enquire  who  were  the  oihcers  of  the   militia  :  That   the  v,./^v*n-^ 
governor  and  company  had  a  prior  commifiion,  by  char-  1693. 
ter,  and  that  they  c  uld  by  no  means  give  it  up  until  the 
affair  had  been  Jaid  before  his  majefty. 

The  colony  wiflicd  to  ferve  his  majefly's  interefl:,  and  i^-^jj^y- 
as  far  as  poflible,  eonfiftently  with  their  chartered  rights,  od.  i*. 
to  maintain  a  good  underftanding  with  Governor  Fletch- 
er. William  Pitkin,  Efquire,  was  therefore  fent  to  New- 
York,  to  treat  and  make  terms  with  him  refpe£ling  the 
militia,  until  his  majefly's  pleafurc  fliould  be  further 
known.  But  no  terms  could  be  made  with  him  fliort  of 
an  explicit  fubmiiTion  of  the  militia  to  his  command. 

On  the  a6th   of  Oftober,  he  came  to  Hartford,   while  ^  ,      . 
the  aflembly  were  fitting,  and,  in  his  majefly's  name,  de-t  Fletclier 
rnanded  their  fubmiffion  of  the  militia    to  his  command,  comes  to 
as  they  would  anfwer  it   to  his    majefly  ;  and   that  they  Hartford 
M'ould  give  him  a  fpeedy  anfwer  in    two    words.  Yes,  or  ■^"    ff^Ii, 
No.     He  fubfcribed  himfelf  his  majefly's  lieutenant  and  command 
commander  in  chief  of  the  militia,  and  of  all    the  forces  of  the  mi* 
by  fea  or  land,  and  of  all  the  forts  and  places  of  flrength  ''^'*'  ^^' 
in  the  colony  of  Conne£licut.*     He  ordered  the  militia 
of  Hartford  under  arms,  that  he  might  beat  up  for   voir 
unteers.     It  was  judged  expedient  to  call  the  train  bands 
in  Hartford  together  ;  but  the  aiTembly  infifled,  that  the 
command  of  the  militia  was  exprefsly  vefled,  by  charter, 
in  tJje  governor  and  company  ;  and  that  they  could,  by  no 
means,  confifiently     with     their    juil    rights   and   the 
common  fafety,  refign  it  into    any  other   hands.     They 
infmuated,  that  his  demands  were  an  invafion  of  their  ef- 
fential  privileges  and  fubverfive  of  their  conftitution. 

Upon  this.  Colonel  Bayard,  by  liis  excellency's  com- 
j(nand,  fent  a  letter  into  the  affembly    declaring,    that  his  Ip'^clara- 
excellency  had  no  defign  upon  the  civil  rights  of  the  colo-  ^°?  ^j 
ny  ;  but  would  leave  them,  in   all  refpedls,  as  he  found  jjayard. 
them.     In  the  name  of  his   excellency,    he  tendered  d, 
commiflion  to  Governor  Treat  empowering  him  to  com- 
mand the  militia  of  the  colony.     He  declared,   that   his 
excellency  infilled,  that   they  fhould  acknowledge  it  an 
cfTential  right  inherent  in  his  majefty   to  command  the 
militia  ;  and  that  he  was  determined  not  to  fet   his  foot 
out  of  the  colony  until  he  had  feen  his  majefty's  commif- 
fipn  obeyed  :  That  he  would  ifTue  his  proclamation,  Ihow- 
jng  the  means  he  had  taken  to  give  csifc  and  fatisfa£lio8 


*  GoYcrnei  Fletcher  "I  letter  on  file. 


4f4 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.   XVf. 


The  af- 
fcnibly 
decline  re- 
figningthe 
militia. 


Bodif  I.   tolils  majefty's  fubjeds  of  Connecticut,  and  that  he 
Vj^VS*/  •would  diltinguifli  the  diiloyal  from  the  reil.f 

The  allembly,  neverthclefs,  would  not  give  up  the 
Command  of  the  mihtia  ;  nor  woidd  Governor  Treat  re- 
ceive a  connniiffion  from  Colonel  Fletcher. 

The  trainbands  of  Hartford  aftembled,  and  as  ih6  tra- 
dition is,  while  Captain   "W^tlfworth,  the  fenior  officer, 
Militia  of    was  walking  in  the  front  of  the  companies,  and   dxercif- 
^Itr^'^^'^t   "'^  ^^^^  foldiers,  Colonel  Fletcher  ordered  his  commiffiort 
iip'iritcd   '  *nd  inllrudlions  to    be  read.     Captain  Wadfwortli   in- 
tondiidof  f'tantly  commanded,  "  Beat  the  drums  •,"  and  thefe  was 
Captain      fuch  a  roaring  of  them  that  nothing  elCe  could  be  heard, 
Wadf-        Colonel  Fletcher  commanded  filence.     But  no  fooner  had 
I    '        Bayatd  made  an  attempt  to  read  again,  than  Wadfworth 
commands,  "  Drum,  drttm,  I  fay."     The  drummers-  iSn- 
derftood  their  biifinefe,  arid  inftantly  beat  up  with  aWthd 
art  in'd  life  of  which   they  v/ere  mailers.     "  Silencej  fi- 
knce,''  fays  the  colonel.     No  fooner   was  thel'e  at  pa!uf(*, 
than  Wadfwo-i'th  fpeakswit!h>re'at  earneitnefs,  "  Drum, 
•  <lrum,  I  fay 'j"^  and  turning  to-  his'  excellency,  faid,  « If 
I  am  interrupted  again  I  will  niake  tli€  fun  fhine  through 
you  iri  a  moment."     He  fpcliS   with  fueh  energy  in   bis 
voice  arid  meaning  in  hiij'''d0»nt'Cn'ancej  that  no  fu-i'ther 
attempts  were  made  to  react  6f  enlift  riien.     Such  nurfi- 
feers  of  peoplfecdlledted  together,  arid  their  fpirits  appear- 
ed fo  high,  that  the  governor  aiid  his  furit  judged   it  expe- 
dient, foon  to  leave  the  town  and  return  to  New- York*  f'^ 
'    TK'E  alTemMy  granted  £  coo,  to  fupport   Major  Gf€ff* 
eifal  Wmthrop  in  his  agency  it-  the-  eowt   of  Grcat-Btfit-> 
ain.  cbn;.:--:;: 

On  th^-^fh  of  February  idp^y  a^  fpecial  afl^mbly  wa» 
calFed,  in"^  eonfequenec  of  a  letter  from  King  Wilfem 
rehitive  to  the  fortifying  of  Albarty.  In  compUan-ce  yfiiih 
his  rriaj-efty's  requifiti-on,  the  ailembly  granted  ^600,  to 
be  paid  into  the  hands  of  Colonel  Fletcher  for  the  defence 
of  Albany.  A  rate  of  one  peimy  on  the  pound  Was  levied 
ro  raife  the' money.* 

For  the  defence  of  the  plantations  in  New-York,  and 
the  towns  upon  the  river,  in  the  eour.ty  of  Hampfliire, 
the  aflembly  ordered,  that  the  commiffioned  officers,  whdi 
were  the  nearelt  to  the  pfeces,  which  fliould,  at  any  tiittdj 
be  attacked,,  fhould  difpatch  immediate  fuccours  to  the'fti. 
Provifron  was  alfo  made  tliat  the  feveral  detachments  of 


/iTembly 
Feb.  7-,  . 


•f-  Colonel  Bayard's  letter  on  ftle. 

*  The  lalabk  polls  in   the  colony  wcrtfj,  at  this  time,  ab«ut 

s,547,  and  tUe  grand  liftXi  137,646. 


Chip.  XVI.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         4^5 

the  militia  iliould  be  furnifhed  with  all  articles  neccflary  Book  I. 
for  their  marching,  in  any  emergency  upon  the  iliorteft  V-/-w-/ 
notice.  '^94. 

Major  General  Winthrop  made  afafe  arrival  in  Eng-  statement 
land,  and  prefented  the  petition,  with  which  he  had  been  of  the 
entrufted,  to  his  majefly.     A  ftatement  of  the  cafe  of  cafe  of 
Connecticut  was  drawn  and  laid   before    the  king.     In  Connccli- 
this,  befides  the  fads  ftated   in  the    inftrudions  of  Mr.  p"<c^'ifig 
Winthrop,  it  was  allcdged,that  in  the  charter, granted  by  the  conv. 
King  Charles,  the  command  of  the  militia  was,   in   the  mand  of 
moll  exprefs  and  ample  manner,  given  to   the  colony ;  ^^"^  "^'^*' 
and  that  the  governor  had  always  commanded  it  for   the 
common  fafety  :  That  in  the  charter  there  was  a  claufe 
for  the  moll  beneficial  conflrufllon  of  ic  for  the   corpo- 
ration ;  and  another  of  Non  obftante  to    all  ftatutes  re- 
pugnant to  laid  grant. ^    It  was  dated,  that  whoever  com- 
manded the  perfons   in  a  colony   would   alfo   command 
their  purfe,  and  be  the  governor  of  that  colony:  That 
there  was  fuch  a  conneclion  betv/ecn  the  civil  authority 
and  the  command  of  the  militia,  that  one  could  not  fub- 
fjft  without  the  other  :  That  it  was  defigned  to   govern 
the  colonies,  in  America,  as  nearly  as  might  be,  In   con- 
formity to  the  laws  of  England.     And  that  the  king  and 
his   lieutenants   could   not  draw  out  all  the  militia  of  a 
county ;  but  a    certain  part  only,  in   proportion   to  its 
numbers  and  wealth.     It   was  therefore    pleaded,  that 
Governor  Fletcher's  commiflion  ought  to  be   conftrued 
with    the     fame     reftri£lion   :    That     were    not     the 
command  of  the  king  and  his   lieutenants  reftridled,  by 
a£ls  of  parliament,  the  fubje£ls  could  not   be  free  ;  and 
that  for  the  fame  reafon,  Governor  Fletchers  command 
ought  to  be  rellrained,  by  the  laws  of  Conne£licut,  fo  far 
as  they  were  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England.     Ic 
was  further  dated,  that  it  was  impoflible  for  Governor 
Fletcher  fo  well  to  judge  of  the  difpofitions   and  abilities 
of  each  town  and  divifion  in  Connedlicut,  or  be  fo  much 
mader  of  the  afFe(Slions  of  the  people,  in  time  of  need,    as 
thofe  who  dwelt  among    them  and   had  been  chofen  to 
command  them  ;  and  therefore  he  could  not  be  fo  well 
qualified  for  the  local  and  ordinary  command  of  the   mi- 
litia ;  nor  fcrve  the  intereds  of  his  majedy,  or  the    colo- 
ny, in  that  refpe£l,  fo  fatisfadlorily  and  ededually  as  its 
own  officersf 

His  majedy's  attorney  and  folicitor  general,  gave  their 

t  Statement  on  file. 


4i6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XVI. 

Book  I,   opinion  in  favor  of  Conneflicut's  commanding  the  mili- 
V-yv^^  tia  ;  and  on  the  19th  of  April  1694,1113  majcftyin  coun- 
i<j'i-i-         cil  determined  according   to  the    report  which  they  had 
made.:}:     The  quota  of  Conne£licut,  during  the  war,  was 
fixed  at  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  to  be   at  the  com- 
jnand  of  Governor  Fletcher,  and  the  reit  of  the  militia  to 
be  commanded,  as  had  been  ufual,  by  the  governor  of 
ConneQicut. 
Agents  Upon  the  folicitations  of  Governor   Fletcher  and  Sir 

fciit  to  _     William  Phips,  agents,  and  a   number  of  troops,  were 
^I'l'^r;-^ '^    fent  to  attend  a  treaty  with  the  Five   nations.     The   ex- 
rations,     pcri^'^  of  it  to  the  colony  was  about  ^400. 
Commit-        A  COMMITTEE  was  appointed  again,  in  the  May  fef- 
tcttorun  fion,  to  run  the  partition  line  between  Conne£ticut  and 
the  line       Maffachufetts.     Maflachufetts  were  invited  to   join  with 
Conncdti-  t^^^"''>  ^"^  as  the  court  refufed,  the  committee   of  Con- 
ciit  and      neclicut,  by  the  direction  of  the  aflembly,   ran  the  line 
Maflachu-  without  them.     In  October  1695,  the    general  aflembly 
^^'*r.         renewed  their  application  to  the  general  court  of  Mafla- 
tion  tothe  chufetts,  intreating  them  to  unite    amicably  in  running 
general       the  boundary  line,  or  to  agree  to  it,  as  it  had  been  run  by 
court  of     Connecticut.     They  acquainted  them  how  it  ran,  what 
Mairachu-  ©ncroachmenta  they  had  made  upon  the  colony,  and  how 
',       ■  they  injured  it,  by  declining  a  mutual   and  friendly  fet- 
tlement  of  the  line.     However  they  infifted  upon  the  old 
line,  run  by  Woodward  and  Saffery,  and  would   take   no 
meafures  to  accommodate  the  difference. 

At  the  court  of  eledion,  May  1696,  Eleazar  Kimber- 
'J696.  ]y  ^.jg  chofen  fecretary.  Upon  the  requifition  of  Gov- 
ernor Fletcher,  a  company  of  fixty  men  were  ordered  to 
Albany,  under  the  command  of  Captain  William  Whi- 
ting. Forty  dragoons  were  alfo  forwarded  to  the  county 
of  Hampfliire,  for  the  fecurity  of  the  inhabitants  in  that 
part  of  Maffachufetts. 

About  this  time,  the  town  of  Danbury  was   incorpo- 
rated.    The  whole  number  of  families  was  twenty  four. 
General  At  the  general  court,  May  1697,   Colonel  Hutchin- 

court  fon  and  Captain  Byfield  were  fent  from  Bofton,  to  foli- 
W'"!/  rj,  cit  the  raifing  of  fucha  number  of  troops  as  fliould  ena- 
*^97.  ble  the  Maflachufetts  to  attack  the  eaftern  enemy,  at  their 
head  quartcBS.  The  legiflaturc  judged  themfelves  una- 
ble to  f urnifli  fuch  a  numhier,  as  would  be  neccflary  for 
that  purpofe,  in  addition  to  the  troops  they  mud  raife 
for  the  defence  of  their  own  frontiers,  of  New-York,  and 

t  Appendix  No.  XXIV, 


Chap.  XVI.      O  ?    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        417 

the  county  of  Hampfhire.     The  court  agreed  to  furnlfh  Book  !» 
a  party  of  about  fixty  Engliflimen  and  forty    Indians,   to  v.^'vx-/ 
range  the  woods,  near  the  walk  of  the  enemy,  and  to  de-  ^^9^- 
fend  the  frontiers  of  the  county  of  Hampfhire. 

At  a  general  aflembly,  January  22d,   1698,    an  alter-  January 
ation  was  made  in  the  conRitution  of  the   county    court,  ^ad,  1698* 
It  was  enacted,  that  it  (hould  confift    of  one   chief  judge 
and  four  juflices  of  the  quorum,  in  each  county,  appoint- 
ed by  the  aflembly. 

Major  General   Fitz    John  Winthrop,    having  re-  Major 
turned  from  his  fuccefsful  agency,  at  the  court  of  Great-  ^^."^''^^ 
Britain,  was  received  with  great  joy,  by  the  legiilature  and  thrtin 
the  people  in  general.     The  aflembly  prefented  him  with  his  return, 
their  thanks,  for  the  good  fervices  he  had  rendered  to  the  receives 
government;  and  as  a  further   teftimonial  of  the    high  thcthanka 
fenfe  which  they  entertained  of  his   merit,  fidelity,   and  ^ipj^ture' 
labors  for  the  public,  they  voted  him  a  gratuity   of  three 
hundred  pounds. 

On  the  i8th  of  June  1697,  Richard,  Earl  of  Bello-  Earl  of 
mont,  received  his  commiflion  to  be    governor  of  New-  Bellomcnt 
York  and  Maflachufetts  ;  and  was,    at  this  time,   every  ^PP^'nt- 
day  expe£l:ed  at  New-York.     The  general  court  of  Con-  ernoi°of 
ne£ticut  were  defirous  of  honoring  his  majefty,    by  an  MafTacha- 
eshibitiori  of  all  proper  refpeft  and   complaifance  to  his  fetts  and 
governor  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,    they  wifhed  to    con-  New- 
ciliate  the  good  graces  of  fo  important  a  chara£l:er.     They     ^''  ' 
therefore  appointed  General  Winthrop,  Major   Jonathan 
SilUck,  and  the  Reverend  Gurdon  Saltonftall,  upon    the 
firft  notice  of  his  arrival  at  New- York,  to  wait  upon  him, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  general  aflembly  of  Connedlicut", 
to  congratulate  his  excellency,  upon  his  fafe  arrival  at  the 
feat  of  government.     The  earl  arrived  at  New-York,  the  Congratu- 
2d  of  April  1698.     The  committee,   appointed  to  wait  lated  by 
on  him,  were  gentlemen  of  a  good  appearance  and  ele-  Connedi» 
gant  manners  ;  and  they  prefented  their  congratulations  ^^^^' 
with  fuch  dignity  and  addrefs,  as  not  only  did  honor   to 
themfelves  and  the  colony,  but  highly  pleafed  his    excel-  ^ 

lency.  Mr.  Saltonftall,  was  particularly  noticed,  by  the 
earl,  as  appearing  the  moft  like  a  nobleman  of  any  perfon 
he  had  ever  feen  before  in  America. 

Notwithstanding  the  determination  of  Lieutenant 
governor  Cranfield  and  his  majefty's  commifhoners,  and 
the  report  to  his  rnajefty  concerning  the  right  of  Con- 
nefticut  to  the  Narraganfet  country,  the  controverfy  be- 
tween Conne^icut  and  Rhode-Ifland  Hill  continued.  It 
F  f  f 


4i8  T  H  E    H  I  S  t  O  R  Y  Ghap.  XVt. 

Book  I,    v/as  not  the  king's  pleafure  to  confirm  the  judgment  and 
v«x^/-v^  report    of    his    commiflioners.     The    Rhode-lllanders, 
169S.         though  they  had  violated  every  article  of  the   agreement 
between  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Clark,  yet  were    ready 
to  plead  it  againft  Conne£licut,  whenever  it   would  fuit 
their  turn.     A  letter  from  the  Lords  of  trade  and  planta- 
tions was  laid  before  theafTembly,    advifing  Connedlicut 
to  a  fettlcment  of  boundaries  with    that    colony.     Upon 
.       this  recommendation,  the  general  court  appointed  Major 
j^^g"  James  Fitch,  Captain  Daniel  Witherel,  and  the  Reverend 

appointed  James  Noyes,  commiihoners  to  treat  with  Rhode-llland, 
to  fettle  and,  by  all  means  in  their  power,  to  attem.pt  an  amicable 
boiinda-      fettlement. 

The  peace  of  Rifwick,  September   nth,    1697,  once 
Peace.        more  delivered  Great-Britain  and  her  colonies   from   the 
.    calamities  of  war.     The  Americans  rejoiced  at  the  re- 
turn of  peace.     Conne6ticut  had  been  happy  in  the    pre- 
fervation   of  her  frontiers,  in  the  lofs  of  few  men,  and  in 
the  effectual  aid  which  Ihe  had  given  to  her  filter  colonies. 
Etoenfe     Ncverthelefs  the  war  had  been  very  expenfive  and  exceed- 
siu'l  vexa-    ingly  vexatious.     The  whole  amount  of  taxes,  during  the 
ttons  of      war,  was  about  twenty  pence   on   the   pound.     By   the 
ll.ev/ar.      clofe  of  the  year  1695,  the  Colony  had   expended  ^7,000 
in  the  defence  of  Albany  and  the  frontiers  of  the  county 
of  Hampfhire  inMaflachufetts  ;  exclufive  of  the   expedi- 
tion againft    Canada,  under  Major   General  Winthrop. 
This  coft  the  colony  more  than   ^3,000.     The   expenfc 
of  the  troops,  fent  to  the  call  ward,  to  the  defence  of  that 
part  of  New-England,  is  alfo  excluded.     It  is  probable 
that  the  remaining  years    of  the  war  coft    about  ^2,000. 
The  whole  expence  of  the  war  probably  confiderably  ex- 
ceeded ^^  12,000. f 

The  expenfe  of  Mr.  Winthrop's  agency,  and  the  trou- 
ble refpefling  the  militia  were  very  confiderable. 

Governor  Fletcher  made  the  colony  much  unnecef- 
fary  trouble  and  expenfe.  Upon  almoft  every  rumor 
of  danger,  he  would  fend  on  his  exprefles  to  Connedti- 
cut  ;  and  the  governor  and  council,  and  fometimes  the 
aflembly,  were  obliged  to  meet,  and  difpatch  troops  to 
one  place  and  another.  Often,  by  the  time  they  had 
marched,  orders  would  come  to  recal  them.  By  the  time 
they  vi-^ere  returned,   fome    new  and  groundlefs  alarm 

+  The  accounts,  to  the  clofe  of  the  year  ninety  fiv^e,''are  par- 
ticularly ftated.  After  that  time,  they  do  not  appear  to  be  afccr- 
tained. 


Chap.  XVII.     OF    CONNECTICUT. 


4^9 


•would  be  made,  and  prefling  orders   fent   on  for   them  Book  h 

forthwith  to  march  again.     In  this   manner,  he  almoft  v^«^/-'^/ 

wore  out  the   governor  and  council  with  meetings,  and  169S. 

beyond  meafure  harafled  the  militia,  andoccafioned  great 

trouble  and  cxpenfe  of  time  and  money  both   to  the   fol- 

diers  and  oflicers.     The  whole  colony  was   fo   troubled 

with  his  vexatious  management,  that  the  governor  wrote 

to  Mr.  Winthrop,  while  he  was  in  England,  defiring  him 

to  reprefent  his  condudt  to  his  majefty,  and  pr?.y    for  re^ 

lief. 

But  the  clouds  were  now  diflipated.  The  fuccefsful 
agency  of  General  Winthrop,  his  fafe  return  to  the  arms 
of  his  country,  the  bleffings  of  peace,  and  the  appoint- 
ment and  arrival  of  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  to  the  govern- 
ment of  the  neighbouring  provinces,  united  their  influ- 
ence to  difFufe  univerfal  joy.  The  legiflature  appointed 
a  day  of  public  thankfgiving,  and  the  people,  with  ,glad 
hearts  and  voices,  celebrated  the  beneficence  and  glories 
of  their  Common  Benefactor. 


CHAPTER    XVir. 

QmnERAL  Winthrop  is  ekHed  governor .  The  affemhly 
divide  and  form  itito  two  hoiifeS'  Purchafe  and  fettlement 
sffeveral  toivns.  The  boundary  line  between  Connecticut 
and  New-Tork  furveyed  and  fixed.  Attempts  for  running 
end  eflablifnng  the  line  between  Majfachufetts  and  Con^ 
tieBicut.  Owaneco  and  the  M.-oheagans  claim  Colchefter 
end  other  traBs  in  the  colony.  Attempts  to  compofe  all 
differences  with  them.  Grant  to  the  volunteers.  The  af 
fembly  enaBs^  that  thefejjion,  in  October,  fjjally  for  the  fu- 
turey  be  in  New-Haven.  An  aB  enlarging  the  bounda- 
ries of  New-London^  and  aEls  relative  to  towns  and  pat" 
ents.  Meafures  adopted  for  the  defence  of  the  colony.  Ap' 
f  ointment  of  king's  attorneys.  Attempts  to  defpoil  Con- 
neBicut  of  its  charter.  Bill  for  re-uniting  the  charter 
governments  to  the  crown.  Sir  Henry  Afhurfl  petitions 
againfl  and  prevents  the  pafftng  of  the  bill.  Governor 
T)udleyf  Lord  Cor7iburyy  and  other  enemies  confpire  agoinji 
the  colony.  They  exhibit  grievous  complaints  againjl  it. 
Sir  Henry  Afhur/l  defends  the  colony  and  dejeats  their  at- 
tttnpts.  ^uakfrs  petition.  Moheagan  cafe.  Survey  and 
bounds  of  the  pretended  Moheagan  country.  Dudley  s  court 
«/  Stonington.     The  colony  froteji  againfl  it,     Dudlefi 


A^a 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.  XVH. 


Book  I.  treatment  of  the  colony.  Judgment  ogainjl  it.  PetitioH 
K.y>r^^  t°  ^^^  fnaje^fty  on  the  JubjeEl.  New  commijftons  art 
1698.  granted.     AEl  in  favor  of  the  clergy.     State  of  the  colony. 

Couftof        '\  T  the  ele£lion,  in  1698,  there  was   a  confuierablc 
eleaion        /~\.  alteration  in  the  legifiature.     Major  General  Fitz 
May  i3th,  John  Winthrop)  by  his  acidrefs  and  the   faccefs  of  his 
3<^9S.          agency  in  England,  had  rendered  himfelf  fc  popular,  that 
he  was  elefted  governor.     The  former  governor,  Treat, 
who  had,  for  many  years,  prefided,  and  who  had  grown 
old  in  the  fervice  of  the  colony,  was  elefted  deputy  gov- 
ernor ;  Wihiam   Jones,  Efquire,  who,  for  a  number  of 
years,  had  been  deputy   governor,   was   left    out  of  the 
council.*     Mr.  Jofeph  Curtis  was   chofen  magiftrate  to 
fill  the  vacancy  made  by  the  preferment  of  General  Win- 
throp. 

Until  the  fefiion  in  Oclobev  1698,  the  afTembly  con* 
0(!l:.  r.'itli,;  fjfted  of  but  one  hbufe,  and  the  magiftrates  and  deputies 
-^fPmbf'^    appear  to  have  a6led  together.     But,  at  this  time,  it  was 
'm;uJc  two  ena£l:ed,  that  the  General  Afiembly  fiiould  confiil  of  two 
iioulcs.       houfes  :  That  the  governor,  or,  in  his  abfence,  the  depu- 
ty governor   and  magiftrates,  {hould   compofe   the  firft, 
which  fhculd  be  called  the  upper  houfe  :  That  the  other 
fhould  confift  of  the  deputies,  regularly  returned  from 
the  feveral  towns  in  the  colony,  which  fhould  be  called 
the  lower  houfe.     This  houfe  was  authorized  to  choofe 
a  fpeaker  to  prefide,  and  wl:en  formed,  to  make  fuch  of- 
ficers and  rules  as   they  fhould  judge  necefiary  for  their 
own  regulation.     It  was  alfo  enabled,  that  no  a£l  fhould 
be  paffed  into  a  law  of  this  colony,  nor  any  law,  already 

*  Deputy  Gcvernor  Jones  was  fon  in  law  to  Governor  Eaton. 
He  brought  over  a  good  eftate,  from  England,  and  made  a  fettle- 
ment  at  New- Haven.  He  was,  f>>r  the  term  of  about  fix  and 
thirty  yens,  either  mngiftrate  or  deputy  governor  of  the  ctjlony 
of  New-Haven  or  Connedicut.  In  i66a,  he  was  chofen  magif- 
trate tor  the  colony  ofNew-Havtn.  Two  years  afier,  he  was 
elefted  deputy  governor.  Upon  the  union,  in  1665,  he  was  cho- 
fen one  of  the  magiftrates  of  Conncdticut,  in  which  office  he  ftr- 
veduRtil  July  9th, 1691, when  theaflembly  clefledhim  deputy  gov* 
crnor.  InMay  1662, hewasch'^fentothef.tme  officeby  the  frtcmen. 
He  was  annually  re  chofen  until  May  12th,  1698.  At  that  peri- 
<r>d  he  was  about  74  years  of  age,  and  retired  from  public  bufinefs. 
He  died  October  17th,  1706,  aged  82  years.  The  general  aflem- 
bly  was  fitting  at  New-Haven,  at  the  time  of  his  deceafe,  and  vo- 
ted, "  That  in  confideration  of  the  many  good  fervices,  for  many 
*'  years  done  by  that  honored  and  religious  gentlcnnan,  Mr.  Will- 
*♦  iam  Jones  then  deceafed,  afum  fliould  be  paid  out  of  tbc  trcaC'. 
'•  ury  towards  defraying  the  charges  of  hie  funeral." 


Chap.  XVII.     OF    CONNECTICUT        421 

enabled,  be  repealed,  nor  any  other  acl,  proper  to  this  Book  I. 
general  alTembly,  be  palled  except  by  the  confent  of  both  V^.'-w.^ 
houfes.  1698. 

At  the  general  court,  in  06lober,  an  a6i  pafled,  reg- 
ulating the  county  court.  It  ordained,  that  it  fliould 
confift  of  one  chief  judge  and  two  jutlices  of  the  quorum. 

In  1699,  the  governor  and  deputy  governor  were  re-  May  nth, 
elecled.     Richard  Chrillophers  was  chofen  into  the  ma-  1699. 
giftracy,  and  Captain  Jofeph  Whiting,  treafurer. 

At  this  felFion,  the  lower  houfe,  for  the  firft  time,  for- 
med feparately,  and  .chofe  Mr.  John  Chefter  fpeaker  and 
Captain  William  Whiting,  clerk.  This  aflembly  pafled 
an  aft  exempting  the  clergy  from  taxation.  Several  a£ls 
were  alfo  pafled  relative  to  the  fettlement  of  new  town- 
fhips. 

In  June  1659,  Governor  Winthi'op  obtained  liberty  of  Purchafe 
the  aflembly,   to  purchafe   a  large  tratl   at  Quimbaug.  ^"^  fettle- 
Soon  after  he  made  a  purchafe  of  Allups,  alias  Hyemps  PMinfit id 
and  Maftiaufhawit,  the  native  proprietors,  of  the  lands 
comprifed  in  the  townfliips  of  Plainfield  and  Canterbury> 
lying  on  both  fides  of  Quinibaug  river.     There  were  a 
fmall  number  of  families,  on  the  lands,  at  the  time  of  the 
purchafe  j  but  the  planters  were  few  until  the  year  1689, 
when  a  number  of  people,   chiefly  from   Maflachufetts, 
made  a  purchafe  of  the  heirs  of  Governor  Winthrop,  and 
began  fettlements  in  the  northern  part  of  the  tra6l.     At 
their  feflion,  in  May  1699,  the   general  afl^embly  vefl:ed 
the  inhabitants  with  town  privileges.     The  next  year,  it 
was  named  Plainfield. 

The  legiflature,   in  the  0£l:ober  feflion,  1698,  ena£t-  Grant  and 
ed,  that  a  new  plantation  fliould  be  made  at  Jeremy's  fettlement 
farm.     It  was  determined,   that  it  (hould  be  bounded  "^  J^' 
foutherly  on  Lyme,  wefterly  on  Middletown,  and  eafter- 
ly  on  Norwich  and  Lebanon.     This  was  mofl;  commonly 
termed  the  plantation  at  twenty  mile  river.     The  fettle- 
ment began  about  1701.     In    1703,  the   afl'embly   gave 
them  a  patent  confirming  to  them  the  whole  tradl.  Some 
of  the  principal  planters  were  the  Reverend  John  Bulkley, 
Samuel  Gilbert,  Michael  Tainter,  Samuel  Northam,  John 
Adams,  Jofeph  Pomeroy,  and  John  Loomis. 

At  the   fame  feflion,  a  plantation  was  granted,  upon  Coging. 
the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Guilford,  at  a  place  cal-  S!*^  Y' 
led  Cogingchaug.     It  was  bounded  northerly  on  Middle-  prante d*& 
town,  eafterly  on  Haddam,  wefl:erly  on  Wallingford,  tnd  fettled, 
foutherly  on  Guilford.     The  petitioners  were  thirty  one, 
littt  few  o£  tbem  t^oved  on  to  the  lands.    For  this  reafoni 


421  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y         Chap.  XVIL 

Book  I.  the  fettlement  went  on  very  flowiy.  The  two  firft  plan- 
V-^W^  ters  were  Caleb  Seward  and  David  Robinfon,  from  Guil- 
1699,  ford.  Some  others  afterward  removed  from  the  fame 
town  and  made  fettlements  there.  May  nth,  1704,11 
was  named  Durham.  But  the  whole  number  of  inhab- 
itants was  very  fmall.  In  1707,  the  number  of  families 
was  no  more  than  fifteen.  The  inhabitants  held  meet- 
ings and  a£led  as  a  town,  but  were  not  incorporated  with 
town  privileges  until  May  1708.  After  this  time,  the 
plantation  increafed  rapidly.  There  was  a  great  accefP 
ion  of  inhabitants  from  Northampton,  Stratford,  Milford 
and  other  towns. 

Committees  were  agahi  appointed,  at  the  feflion  In 
0£lober,  to  attempt  a  fettlement  of  the  boundaries  be- 
tween MafTachufetts  and  Connecticut,  and  between  this 
colony   aijd   Rhode-lfland.     However,  like   all  former 
ones,  they  were  unfuccefsful. 
Kir.^Wil-      March    28th,    1700,  his  majefty,  King  William,  In 
Jiameftab-  council,  was  pleafed  to  confirm  the  agreement  made  be- 
lilTies  the    tween   Conneflicut  and  New- York,  in  1683,  refpeding 
fS<^^^^^n^  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  colonies.     New- York 
neglected,  however,  to  run  the  line.     Connecticut,  there- 
,  fore,  about  twelve  years  after,  applied  to  Governor  Hun^ 
tcr  to  appoint  commifiioners  to  complete  the  running  of 
the  line,  and  mark  it  with  proper   bounds.     He  laid  the 
affair  before  the  legiflature  of  New- York.     But  as  they 
would  adopt  no  meafures  for  that  purpofe  j  and,  as  there 
was  no  appearance   that   they  defigned  it,  Connedlicut 
prefented  a  petition  to  his  majefty  King  George  the  firft, 
praying  that  he  would  ilTue  his  royal  commands  to  his 
government  of  New-Y^'ork,  that  they  flioul  A  forthwith  ap- 
point commiffioners,  in  concert   with   Connecticut,  to 
complet:  the  running  of  the  line,  and  the  ereCting  of 
proper  monuments.     In  confequence  of  this,  the  legifla- 
ture of  New- York,  in  1 7 19,  pafled  an  a£l  empowering 
their  governor  to  appoint  commiflioners,  to  run  the  line 
parallel  to  Hudfon's  river,  to  re-furvey  the  former  lines 
The  line    and  to  diftinguifh  the  boundary.     In  May  1 725,  the  com- 
between     miffioners   and  furveyors    of  the  two  colonies    met  at 
Connem-   Greenwich, and  having  agreed  upon  the  manner  in  which 
jsjg^_         the  work  fihould  be  accomplifhed,  the  furvey  was  exccu- 
York  run   ted,  in  part,  immediately,  and  a  report  of  what  they  had 
and  fixed,  done  was  made  to  the  refpecflive  legiflatures  of  Connecti- 
cut and  New- York.     On  the  14th  of  May  173 1,  a  com- 
plete fettlement  was  made.     By  the  partition  line,  finally 
eftabliftied,  Connecticut  ceded  to  New- York  a  tract  of 


Chap.  XVII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.       423 

60,000  acres,  as  an  equivalent  for  lands  which  New-  Book  T. 
York  had   furrendered  to  Connecticut,  lying  upon  the  v.>^v^^ 
found.     This   trad  from  its  figure  has  been  called  the  1700. 
Oblong. 

In  1700  the  governor  and  council  were  all  re-elefted.  Court  of 

Many  a6ts  of  violence,  fincc  the  laft  feffion  of  the  af-  ^f  *^'°" 
fembly,  had  been  committed  agaihlt  the  inhabitants  of  ^^V^/'^®* 
Windfor  and  Symfbury,  by  the  people  of  Enfield  and  Suf- 
field.  They  had  made  encroachments,  two  miles,  upon 
the  land  of  thofe  towns,  beyond  all  former  inftances. 
Great  animofities  fubfilled  between  ihofe  towns  on  the 
account  of  the  encroachments  and  damages,  which  the 
inhabitants  of  Connecticut  fufFered  by  them. 

To  compofe  thefe  difficulties,  if  poffible,  the  afTembly  Attempt* 
appointed    William  Pitkin,  Efquire,  Mr.  John  Chefter,  ^°  '"f^^^^'= 
and   Mr.    William  Whiting    a  committee,  wit^  plenary  jj^^^^^j, 
powers,  to    addrefs  the  general  court  of  Maflachufetts,  Maflacku- 
and  to  reprefent  to  them  the  readinefs  of  the  legiflature  fettsand 
of  Connecticut,  to  join  with  them,  in  any  juft  meafures,  Conne^i- 
for  an  amicable   fettlement  of  "the  boundary  line.     The  ^"'* 
court  of  Maflachufetts   appointed  Colonel  Hutchinfon, 
Mr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Anthrum,  and  Mr.  Prout  a  committee, 
but  with  limited  powers,  to  find  the  fouthermoft  line  of 
Maflachufetts,  run  by  Nathaniel  Woodward  and  Solo- 
mon  Saffery.     The    general   court  alfo,   on  the  5th  of 
June,  pafl^ed  an   aCt  in  anfwer  to  the  propofal  made  by 
Connecticut,  in   which  they  infilled  on  the  line  run  by 
Woodward  and  SatFery.     Thefe  were  termed  fkilful  and 
approved  artifts.     The  court  alfo,   in  their  aCt,  infifted, 
that   all    grants,    made  by  them  to  the    inhabitants  of 
Woodftock,  or  of  any  other  place,  fliould  remain  good 
and  valid  to  the   grantees,   though  the  places  (hould  be 
found  fouth  of  the  line  of  Maflachufetts.     To  thefe  hard 
terms  the  committee  conceded,  upon  the  condition,  that 
all  the  grants  made  by  Connecticut  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Windfor  and  Symlbury,  fliould  be  acknowledged  as  val- 
id, and  the  land   granted  be  referved  to  the  proprietors. 
But  the  court  of  MalTachufetts  would  not  concede  even 
this.     No  accommodation  could  therefore  be  effeCted. 

The  general  court  of  Maflachufetts  determined  to  re- 
ly upon  and  maintain  the  line  run  by  their  failors,  in 
1642.  They  infifl;cd,  that  it  had  been  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  colonies,  for  nearly  fixty  years  :  That  the  col- 
ony of  Connecticut  was  bounded  on  the  fouth  line  of 
MaflTaclufetts,  which  they  faid  was  not  an  imaginary,  but 
well  known  line.    They  pleaded,  that  Mr.  Winthrop, 


424  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XVII. 

Book  I.   when  he  procured  the  charter,  knew  that  to  be  the  line, 

V-^'-y^te^  and  that  no  other  could  be  intended. 

1700.  Connecticut,  on    the  other  hand,  maintained,  that 

the  fouth  line  of  MalTachufetts,  according  to  the  exprefs 
words  of  their  charter,  was  a  line  running  due  weft  from 
a  point',  or  flation,  three  miles  fouth  of  every  part  of 
Charles  river ;  and  that  the!  flation  fixed  by  Woodward 
and  SafFery  was  too  far  fouth.  It  was  alfo  infifted,  that, 
even  allowing  Woodwards  and  Saffery's  flation  to  be 
right,  a  due  wed  line  from  it  would  run  far  north  of 
BifTells  ferry  houfe  at  Windfor.  The  committee,  ap- 
pointed by  the  court  of  Maffachufetts,  reported,  that  the 
line  would  run  north  of  Biirell's  houfe  j  yet  the  court  of 
MalTachufetts  would  not  run  the  line  nor  come  to  any 
accommodation  •,  but  infifled  on  the  line,  as  it  had  been 
run  by  them,  in  1642,  and  on  Connedlicufs  ceding  their 
rights  to  all  the  lands  which  they  had  granted,  whetljer 
they  lay  north  or  fouth  of  faid  line.* 

Though  Colchefter  held  their  lands  from  the  colony, 
which  claimed  by  virtue  of  Uncas's  deed  in  1640,  Major 
Mafon's  purchafe,  in  behalf  of  the  colony,  and  furrender 
of  the  lands  in  the  prefence  of  the  general  afTembly,  and 
by  virtue  of  Jofhua's  will  j  and  though  the  inhabitants 
had  deeds  from  Owaneco  and  the  Moheagan  fachems, 
covering  the  whole  tra6l,  yet  they  met  with  great  diffi- 
culties, in  the  fettlement  of  the  town,  from  Owaneco 
and  the  Moheagans,  who  were  made  uneafy,  and  flirred 
up  to  mifchief,  by  defigning  men.  The  Mafons,  Daniel 
Clark,  Nicholas  Hallam,  Major  Palms,  Major  Fitch  and 
others,  about  this  time,  conceived  the  plan  of  obtaining  a 
large  tra6l  of  land,  comprifing  Colcheiler,  part  of  Lyme 
and  New-London,  Plainlield,  Canterbury,  and  Wind- 
ham, for  themfelves.  They  imagined,  that  the  furrender 
of  Major  Mafon,  in  the  general  afTembly,  was  not  legal, 
and  that  the  circumflances  of  thofe  early  tranfa£lions 
were  fo  far  obliterated  from  the  memory  of  the  living, 
that  they  fhould  be  able  to  recover,  in  law,  all  the  lands" 
made  over,  by  Uncas,  to  Major  Mafon,  a6ling  as  agent 
of  the  colony  in  1659. 

The  legiflature,  though  they  viewed  their  title  to  the 
lands  in  the  colony  legal  and  indubitable,  yet  judged  it 
expedient,  rather  than  to  have  any  difficulty  with  the 
Indians,  to  treat  with  them,  and  make  them  eafy. 

*  Records  of  Conneaicut,  a<Jts  and  letters  on  file. 


Chap.  XVII.      OF    CONNECTICUT       425 

The  governor  and  council  were  appointed  a  commit-  Book  I. 
tee  for  thefe  purpofes.     They  were  inflru£ted  to  obtain  v.-^'w/ 
a  quit  claim  of  the  Indians  upon  reafonable  terms,  and  to  1700. 
advife  the  inhabitants,  with  refpedl  to  their  fettlements. 
Captain  Samuel  Mafon,  who  was  one  of  the  magiftrates, 
was  particularly  defired  to  ufe  his  influence  with  the  In- 
dians to  promote  the  defign  and  quiet  the  planters. 

From  the  firll  fcttlement  of  the  colony  it  had  been 
cuftomary  to  make  grants  of  land  to  officers,  foldiers  and 
others,  who  had  been  fpeclally  ferviceable  to  the  colony. 
Grants  had  been  made  to  Major  Mafon,  to  his  officers 
and  foldiers  in  the  Pequot  war.  This  encouraged  the 
volunteers,  who  had  performed  fuch  fignal  feats  in  the 
Narraganfet  war,  to  make  application  to  the  aflembly,  for 
the  grant  of  a  new  townfhip,  as  an  acknowledgement  of 
their  good  fervices.  Upon  the  petition  of  CaptainThomas 
Leffingwell,  of  Norwich,  and  Mr.  John  Frink,  of  Stoii-  Grant  df 
ington,  in  behalf  of  themfelves  and  other  volunteers,  the  ^^o'""^' 
general  aflembly,  in  06lober  1696,  granted  thera  a  town- 
(hip  of  fix  miles  fquare,  to  be  taken  up  in  the  conquered  OA.  loth^ 
lands.  A  committee  having  furveyed  the  lands  and  made  i7oo» 
their  report  to  the  aflembly,  four  years  after,  a  townfhip 
■was  confirmed  to  the  petitioners,  by  the  name  of  Volun- 
town.  It  was  bounded  by  a  due  north  line,  from  the  pond 
at  the  head  of  Pawcatuck  river,  to  Greenwich  path, 
thence  weft  to  the  bounds  of  Prefton,  thence  bounded  by 
Prefton  and  Stonington  to  Pawcatuck  river,  and  thence 
by  the  river  to  the  pond,  the  firft  mentioned  bounds* 
Nineteen  years  after,  the  afl'embly  granted  an  addition  of 
a  confiderable  tra£t  on  the  north  part  of  the  townfhip. 

In   1701,  Governor  Winthrop  and  Deputy  Governor  Court  of 
Treat  were  re-chofen.     The  magiftrates  were  Andrew  eleftion 
Leet,  James  Fitch,  Samuel  Mafon,  Daniel  Witherel,  Na-  *^^y  ^th, 
thaniel  Stanley,  Mofes  Mansfield,  John  Hamlin,  Nathan  ^7®'* 
Gould,  William  Pitkin,  Jofeph  Curtis,  John  Chefter,  and 
Jofiah  Rofiter,  Efquires.     Jofeph  Whiting,  Efqulre,  was 
re-ele61ed  treafurer,  and  Eleazar  KImberly,  fecretary. 

Ever  fince  the  union  of  the  colonies,  the  afTembly  had 
convened  at  Hartford,  both  In  May  and  Oilober;  but, 
at  this  feffion,  an  adl  pafTed,  that  the  afTembly,  in  Ofto- 
ber,  fliould  be  holden,  at  the  ufual  time,  in  New-Haven. 
It  was  alfo  enabled,  that  the  court  of  magiftrates,  which 
had  been  commonly  holden  at  Hartford,  in  Odlober, 
Ihould,  for  the  future,  be  holden  at  New-Haven,  on  the 
firfl  Tuefday  of  the  fame  month.     A  refpe^lable  commiti- 


426 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XVII. 


Book  I. 


May  14th, 

17=3- 

Kancf5eld 
made  a 
town. 


Cnntury 
made  a 
town. 


Oft.  8th. 


Eleftlon 
May  13th, 

X70J. 


Afl  rela- 
tive to  the 
patented 
towns. 


tee  was  appointed  again,  this  year,  to  make  a  fettlemeni 
of  the  boundary  line  with  Rhode-Ifland,  and  gommittees 
v/ere  appointed,  from  year  to  year,  for  the  fame  purpofe, 
but  all  attempts,  for  a  long  time,  were  unfuccefsful. 

The  cledlion  in  1702,  made  no  alteration  in  the  legifla- 
ture. 

The  inhabitants  of  Windham  having  agreed  upon  a 
divifion  of  that  town,  on  the  30th  of  January  1700,  the 
aflembly,  at  this  feffion,  confirmed  the  agreement,  and 
enabled  that  Windham  fhould  be  divided  into  twt>  towns, 
and  that  the  town  at  the  north  end,  fhould  be  called 
Mansfield.  The  next  May,  the  aflembly  vefted  them 
with  diflinft  town  privileges.  Patents  were  granted,  at 
the  fame  time,  to  both  tovt^nfhips.  The  Indian  name  of 
Mansfield  was  Nawbefetuck.  Settlements  were  made 
here  foon  after  they  commenced  at  Windham. 

Danbury  had  been  furveyed  for  a  town  in  1693,  foo» 
after  a  plantation  was  made  upon  the  lands.  Some  of 
the  principal  planters  were  James  Beebe,  Thomas  Tay- 
lor, Samuel  and  James  Benedi£l,  John  Hoit,  and  Jofiah 
Starr.  The  general  court,  at  this  feffion,  gave  them  it 
patent,  granting  them  a  townfhip  extending  eight  miles 
in  length,  north  and  fouth,  and  fix  miles  in  breadth,  ac- 
cording to  the  original  furvey. 

In  0£lober,  the  general  aiTembly  was  holdeft  at  New- 
Haven. 

The  colony  having  received  intelligence  of  the  demife 
of  King  William,  and  a  gracious  letter  from  Queen  Anne, 
voted,  that  a  letter  fliOuld  be  addreffed  to  her  majefly, 
congratulating  her  upon  her  happy  acceflion  to  the  throne 
of  her  anceftors,  and  expreffing  their  thanks  for  the  fa- 
vorable notice  Ihe  had  taken  of  the  colony. 

The  only  alteration  made,  by  the  ele£lion,  in  May 
1 703,  was  the  choice  of  Peter  Burr,  Efquire,  into  the  ma- 
giftracy. 

At  this  afTembly,  an  addition  was  made  to  the  town 
of  New-London  of  all  that  tra6l,  lying  north  of  the  for- 
mer bounds,  included  in  a  line  drawn  from  the  northeaft- 
ern  corner  of  Lyme,  to  the  fouthweftern  corner  of  Nor- 
wich, as  it  goes  down  to  trading  cove.  A  patent  was,  at 
the  fame  time,  given  to  the  inhabitants,  confirming  this 
and  all  other  parts  of  the  town  to  them  forever. 

At  the  fame  feffion,  it  was  ena£led,  that  all  the  town- 
fhips  in  this  colony,  to  which  the  afTembly  had  given  pa- 
tents, fhould  remain  a  full  and  clear  eflate,  with  all  the 
privilegco  and  immuj;iitie8  therein  granted,  in  fee  fimplc 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        427 

to  the  proprietors,  their  heirs  and  afllgns  for  ever.     It  was  Book  !.'• 
alfo  enafted,  that  all  lands  fequeftered,and  given  to  pub-  v.-^v'vJ 
lie  or  private  ufes,  fliould  remain  forever,  for  the  ends  1703. 
for  u'hich  they  had  been  given. 

Queen  Anne,  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  the  States 
General,  in  May  1702,  declared  war  agalnft  France  and 
Spain.  Confequently  the  American  colonies  were  again 
involved  in  a  French  and  Indian  war.  The  legiflature, 
in  the  feflion  in  Odlober,  found  it  neceflary  to  adopt  meaf-  ^  ^^  ■* 
ures  for  the  fafety  of  the  country.  A  requifition  was  ' 
made,  by  Governor  Dudley,  and  the  general  court  of 
MafTachufctts,  of  a  detachment  of  a  hundred  men,  to  aflifl 
them  in  the  war  againft  the  eaftern  Indians.  Soldiers 
were  detached  and  fent  forth  for  the  defence  of  the  weft- 
em  towns  in  Conne£licut.  A  committee  of  war  was  ap- 
pointed to  fend  troops  into  the  county  of  Hampfhire,  in 
MafTachufctts,  and  to  the  frontier  towns  in  this  colony, 
as  emergencies  fhould  require. 

At  this  aflembly,  it  was  enabled,  that  the  town  of 
Plainficld  (hould  be  divided,  and  that  the  inhabitants  on 
the  weft  fide  of  the  river  fhould  be  a  diftin£l  town,  by  the 
name  of  Canterbury.  It  feems,  that  the  fetrlement  of  Canterbu- 
this  tra£t  commenced  about  the  year  1690.  The  princi-  J^^^^^ 
pal  fettlers,  from  Conne6):icut,  were  Major  James  Fitch 
and  Mr.  Solomon  Tracy,  from  Norwich,  Mr.  Tixhall  Elf- 
worth  and  Mr.  Samuel  Afhley,  from  Hartford  ;  but  much 
the  greateft  number  was  from  Newtown,  Woborn,  Dor- 
chefter,  Barnftable,and  Medfield,  in  MafTachufetts.  A- 
mong  thefe  were  John,  Richard,  and  Jofeph  Woodward, 
William,  Obadiah,  and  Jofeph  Johnfon,  Jofiah  and  Sam- 
uel Cleaveland,  Elifba  Pain,  Paul  Davenport,  and  Henry- 
Adams. 

On  the  15th  of  March   1704,  a  fpecial  afTembly  was  Spccia! 
convened  to  provide  for  the  common  fafety.     To  prevent  L'^^u  ^ 
mifchicf  from  the  friendly  Indians,  and  preferve  them  15111,1704 
from  being  corrupted  and  drawn  away  by  the  enemy,  both 
the  civil  and  military  officers,  in  the  refpeftive  towns, 
were  directed  to  take  fpecial  care  of  them ;  to  keep  them  Orders 
within  their  own  limits,   and  not  to    fufFer  them,  upon  for  the 
their  peril,  to    remove  from  ^he  places  which  fhould  be  commoa 
affigned  them,  nor  to  hold  any  correfpondence  with   the  ^^^'^^Y' 
enemy  or  any  foreign  Indians,  nor  by  any  means  to  har- 
bour them.     A  premium  often  pounds  was  propofed,  as 
an  encouragement  to  every   friendly  Indian,  who  (hould 
bring  in  and  deliver  up  one  who  was  an  enemy. 


429  THE    HISTORY      Chap.  XVII. 

Book  I.  Orders  were  given,  requiring  every  particular  town, 
v_«»'-v>w^  in  the  colony,  to  convene  and  determine  upon  the  man- 
J7P4.  ner  of  fortifying  and  defending  themfelves.  In  cafe  of 
any  fudden  attack  or  iiivafion,  the  commlflioned  officers, 
in  the  feveral  towns,  were  authorized  to  detach  and  fend 
forth  any  number  of  foldiers,  not  exceeding  half  the  mili- 
tia, to  repel  and  purfue  the  enemy.  It  was  refolved,  that 
a  grand  fcout  fhould  be  employed  by  the  comrairtec  of 
war,  upon  the  frontiers,  for  the  difcovery  and  annoyance 
of  the  enemy.  Until  this  could  be  fent  forth,  it  was  de- 
termined, that  fmall  fcouts,from  the  frontier  towns, fhould 
be  conftantly  kept  out,  to  difcover  and  give  notice  of  the 
motions  of  the  enemy.  It  was  ordered,  that  the  hun- 
dred men,  folicited  by  the  MafTacaufetts,  (hould  be  raifed 
forthwith,  to  a(5l  agalnft  the  eaftern  Indians,  and  that 
Governor  Dudley  fhould  be  requefled  to  call  them  out 
immediately.  A  detachment  of  fixty  men  was  ordered 
for  the  public  fervicc,  principally  with  a  view  to  the  de- 
fence of  the  county  of  Hamp{hn*e.  Thefe  were  to  be 
under  the  command  of  the  committee  of  war  in  Con- 
ne£licut  and  the  commanding  officer  in  that  county. 
Ekaion  "^^  ^^^  court  of  ele£llon,  May    1 704,  the  former  gov- 

iWay  iitb,  ernors  and  magiftrates  were  re-chofen.     John  Allen,  EC- 
J704,         quire,  was  chofen  magiftrate,  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by 
the  death  of  Mofes  Mansfield,  Efquire. 

Committees  were  appointed  in  the  feveral  counties 
to  meet  together,  to  confult  and  determine  upon  thcbeft 
ZJieafures  for  the  general  defence  and  fafety. 

Asthedeferting  orgivingup  of  any  place  would  encour- 
age the  enemy,  difTerve'her  majefty's  interefls  and  the 
welfare  of  the  colony,  it  was  enafled,  that  if  any  perfons 
or  families,  in  any  of  the  frontier  towns,  Ihould  defert 
their  habitations  or  places  of  refidence,  without  leave 
from  the  afTembly,  they  fhould  forfeit  their  freehold  of 
lands  and  tenements  in  that  place.  It  was  further  en- 
a£ted,  that  if  any  male  perfon,  of  the  age  of  fixtecn  years, 
{hould  fo  remove  from  any  frontier  town,  he  ihould  pay 
a  fine  of  ten  pounds,  and  that  the  fine  fhould  be  applied 
to  the  defence  of  the  town  from  which  he  had  removed. 
Good  policy  required,  that  as  great  a  number  of  the 
friendly  Indians,  as  poflible,  fhould  be  employed  in  the 
public  fervlce.  Gentlemen  were  therefore  appointed  to 
cnlift  them  as  volunteers.  Good  encouragements  were 
given  for  this  purpofe.  Indians  were  the  beft  troops  to 
fcout  and  range  the  woods,  and  in  proportion  as  they  of* 


Chap.XVII.      of    CONNECTICUT,      419 

fered  themfelves,  Engliflimen,  whofe  labors  were  much  Book  I. 
more  ufeful,  were  kept  at  home.  \^^'>r>^ 

Besides  the  hundred  men  difpatched  to  the  eaftward,  1704. 
four  hundred  were  raifed  for  the  defence  of  this  colony 
and  of  the  county  of  Hampfhire.  They  were  required 
to  be  always  ready.  That  they  might  be  completely  ready, 
both  in  fummer  and  winter,  to  march  immediately,  upon 
any  emergency,  it  was  ordered,  that  they  {hould  be  fur- 
nilhed  with  fnow  (hoes,  that  they  might  travel  and  run 
upon  the  fnow.  A  number  of  men  in  every  town  were 
obliged  to  prepare  themfelves  in  this  manner.* 

For  the  maintenance  of  good  morals,  the  fupprefllon  Appotnt- 

of  vicious  and  diforderly  praftices,  and  the  prefervation  !"^"'  °:. 

r  t  <^/^i,i        11,       rL       king  s  at- 

01  the  common  peace,  the  aflembly  ordered,  that  a  lober  torneys. 

religious  man,  be  appointed,  by  the  county  court,  in  each 

of  the  counties,  to  be  an  attorney  for  her  majefty,  to  prof- 

ccute  all  criminal  offenders. 

The  colony,  at  this  time,  was  in  the  moft  critical  fitu  •  9"^'*'*^?  . 
T..  .      1    •     J  J      x^  *.         ftateofthe 

ation.      It  was  not  only  m  danger,  and  put  to  great  ex-  ^-qIquv. 

penfe,  by  reafon  of  the  war,  to  defend  itfelf,  but  to  ftill 
greater,  to  defend  the  neighbouring  colonies  of  Maflachu- 
fctts  and  New-York.  It  was  continually  haraff-d  by 
the  demands  of  Jofeph  Dudley,  Efquire,  governor  of 
Maflachufetts,  and  of  Lord  Cornbury,  governor  of  New- 
York  and  the  Jerfies,  for  men  and  money,  as  they  pre- 
tended for  the  defence  of  their  refpe£tive  governments. 

At  the  fame  time  the  colony  had  a  number  of  power-  Arts  of  its 
ful  enemies,  who  by  mifreprefentation  and  every  other  enemies 
artifice  in  their  power  were  feeking  to  deprive  them  both  ?"  u^ 
of  their  lands  and  all  their  chartered  rights  and  privileges. 
Governor  Dudley,  Lord  Cornbury,  and  their  inftruments, 
combined  together  to  defpoil  the  colony  of  its  charter, 
and  fubje<r  it  entirely  to  their  government.  It  appears, 
from  the  letters  and  afts  on  file,  that  Dudley  wifhed  to 
unite  all  New-England  under  his  own  government.  At 
the  fame  time,  it  feems  that  he  flattered  Lord  Cornbury, 
that,  if  they  could  efFeft  the  re-union  of  all  the  charter 
governments  to  the  crown,  he  fhould  not  only  have  the 
government  of  the  fouthern  colonies,  but  of  Conne£licut. 
Dudley  was  a  man  of  great  intrigue  and  duplicity,  well 
verfed  in  court  affairs,  and  had  powerful  conneflions  in 
England.  He  had  been  conne«Sled  with  Sir  Edmund 
Androfs  in  the  government  of  New-England,  and  was  an 
enemy  to  all  the  chartered  rights  of  the  colonies.    While 

•  Records  of  the  colony. 


43« 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XVII. 


Book  I. 
1704. 


Attempts 
to  vacate 
the  char- 
ter. 

Bill  for  re- 
uniting it 
to  the 
crown. 


Petition 

againflthe 

bill. 


he  was  foliclting  the  government  of  Maflachufetts,  he 
had  a  view  to  the  government  of  all  New-England.  A$ 
he  had  conceived  this  plan,  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of 
the  reign  of  King  William,  he  oppofed  whatever  he  fuf- 
pected  would  operate  againft  it,  and  prevent  the  fufpen-? 
fion  of  all  government  by  charter.  When  he  found, 
therefore,  that  Sir  Henry  Aftiurft  was  appointed  agent 
for  Connedlicut,  about  the  beginning  of  the  prefent  cen- 
tury, he  oppofed  his  undertaking  the  agency  with  all  hi* 
influence,  becaufe  he  knew  his  friend  (hip  to  the  colonics, 
and  that  he  was  a  powerful  man.  He  united  all  his  in- 
fluence with  the  court  party,  and  the  enemies  to  the  lib- 
erties of  the  colonies,  to  vacate  all  the  charters  in  Amer- 
ica. He  fo  far  fucceeded,  that,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
reign  of  King  William,  a  bill  was  prepared  for  re-uniting 
all  the  charter  governments  to  the  crown.  Early  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne,  it  was  brought  into  parliament. 
It  imported,  that  the  charters  given  to  the  feveral  colonies 
in  New-England,  to  Eafl  and  Weft  New-Jerfey,  Penn- 
fylvania,  Maryland,  Carolina,  the  Bahama  and  Lucay 
illands,  were  prejudicial  and  repugnant  to  the  trade  of 
the  kingdom  and  the  v/elfare  of  his  majefty's  fubje6ls  in 
the  other  plantations,  and  to  his  majefty's  revenue  arifmg 
from  the  cuftoms.  It  alfo  further  alledged,  that  irregu-r 
larities,  piracies,  and  unlawful  trade  were  countenanced 
and  encouraged  by  the  authority  in  the  chartered  colo- 
nies. It  therefore  ena6led,  "  That  all  and  fingular,  the 
**  claufesi  matters,  and  things,  contained  in  any  charters, 
**  or  letters  patents,  granted  by  the  great  feal  of  England, 
*«  by  any  of  his  royal  predeceflbrs,  by  his  prefent  majef- 
**  ty,  or  the  late  Queen,  to  any  of  the  faid  plantations, 
**  or  to  any  perfons  in  them,ftiould  be  utterly  void  and  of 
<<  none  effetl.  It  further  enafted,  that  all  fuch  power, 
**  authority,  privileges,  and  jurifdi£l:ions  ftiould  be  and 
<«  were  re-united,  annexed  to,  and  vefted  in  his  majefty, 
*f  his  heirs  and  fucceffors,  in  right  of  the  crown  of  Eng- 
<*  land,  to  all  intents  and  purpofes,  as  though  no  fuch 
**  charters  or  letters  patent  had  been  had  or  made.* 

Sir  Henry  Aftiurft,  viewing  the  aft  as  unjuft,  and  fub* 
verfive  of  the  civil  and  religious  rights  of  the  colony,  pre- 
ferred a  petition  to  the  Lords  fpiritual  and  temporal  in 
parliament  affembled,  reprefenting  that  faid  bill  would  dp 
great  injuftice  to  the  inhabitants  of  Connedicut :  That  it 
would  make  void  the  charter  granted  to  the  colony  hj 


*  Copy  of  the  bill  on  file. 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        431 

King  Charles  the  fecond  :  That  the  government  was  by  Book  I. 
faid  charter  granted  to  them,  and  was  fo  interwoven  with  v,^.^*y"x^ 
their  property,  that  it  could  not  be  taken  away,  without  i704« 
expofing  them  to  the  utmoft  confufion,  if  not  to  utter-ru- 
in :  That  the  inhabitants  had  never  been  accufed  of  male- 
adminiflration,  piratical  or  unlawful  trade,  and  that  their 
cafe  was  different  from  his  majefty's  other  plantations  in 
America.     He  therefore  humbly  prayed  to  be  heard,  by 
his  council,  at  the  bar  of  the  houfe,  in  their  behalf.*     In 
confequence  of  this,  it  was  granted,  May  3d,  1701,  that 
the  petitioner  fliould  be  heard  againft  the  bill. 

Sir  Henry  was  a  faithful  man,  had  honorable  connex- 
ions, and  his  influence  at  court  was  very  confiderable.  He 
raifed  all  the  oppofition  to  the  palling  of  the  bill  in  his 
power.  Reprcfentations  were  made  not  only  of  the  am-  Reafons 
^le  rights  and  privileges  granted  to  Conneflicut,  by  char-  againft  its 
"ter,  but  that  they  were  granted  for  important  confidera-  P''  '"*' 
lions,  and  particular  fervices  performed :  That  the  inhabi- 
tants, at  great  expenfe  and  danger, had  purchafedjfubdued, 
and  planted  an  extenfive  country,  had  defended  it  againft 
"the  Dutch,  French,  and  other  enemies  of  the  nation,  had 
enlarged  his  majefty's  dominions,  and  increafed  com- 
merce :  That  the  charter  not  only  gave  the  inhabitants 
powers  of  government,  but  fecured  the  title  of  their  lands 
and  tenements ;  and  that,  in  thefe  views,  the  pafiing  of 
the  bill  would  be  an  a£l  of  great  injuftice,  would  be  ruin- 
ous to  the  colony  and  prejudicial  to  the  general  intereft. 
It  was  infifted,  that  it  would  be  ftill  more  arbitrary  and 
iinjuft,  as  the  colony  had  not  been  even  accufed  of  male- 
adminiftration,  piratical  or  illegal  pra£lices,  or  fo  much 
^s  heard  on  the  fubjedl.  It  was  pleaded,  that  the  colony 
had  ever  been  loyal  and  obedient,  and  if  any  irregularities, 
or  inadvertencies  fhould  finally  be  found  in  the  govern- 
jnent,  it  would,  on  the  firft  notice  of  it,  undoubtedly  be 
reformed.  At  the  fame  time,  the  taking  away  of  fo  many 
charters  was,  at  once,  calculated  to  deftroy  all  confidence 
in  the  crown,  in  royal  patents  and  promifes,  to  difcour- 
age  all  further  enterprife,  in  fettling  and  defending  the 
country,  to  create  univerfal  difcontent  and  difafFe£lion  in 
the  colonies,  and  to  produce  effeds  much  more  prejudi- 
cial to  the  nation  than  any  of  thofe,  which  were  then  mat- 
ter of  complaint.  It  would  alio  afford  a  precedent  mofl  jt  mifcsr- 
iilarming  to  all  the  chartered  corporations  in  England,  ries. 
'^hefe  various  coafidcrations  operated  fo  powerfully  «• 

*  Petition  on  file. 


432  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XVIL 

Book  I.  gainft  the  bill,  that  it  could  not  be  carried  through  the 
V>'Vx^  houfes. 

'704.  Governor  Dudley  and  Lord   Cornbury  however. 

Enemies  were  not  difcouraged.  They  determined  to  make  a  more 
of  the  col- open  and  powerful  oppofition  to  the  charter  rights  of 
J j"^  "^  Conne(£licut.  And  they  determined,  as  much  had  been 
gcd.  made  of  this  argument,  that  Conne£licuthad  never  been 

accufed  of  male-adminiftration,  piracy  or  any  illegal  trade, 
to  remove  it  out  of  the  way,  by  a  direct  impeachment  of 
_,,  the  colony  of  high  mifdemeanors.     They  were  both  pow- 

Bowerful.  ^^^^^  enemies.  Governor  Dudley  was  not  only  a  man 
of  great  intrigue,  but  had  a  party  at  court,  who  were  men 
of  art  and  influence.  Lord  Cornbury  was  nearly  related 
to  her  majefty,  Queen  Anne,  and  had  many  noble  con- 
nexions, whofe  weight,  with  her  royal  perfon  and  the 
court,  was  not  inconfiderable.  Exclufive  of  thefe,  the 
colony  had  enemies  among  themfelves.  Nicholas  Hal- 
lam,  Major  Palms,  Captain  Mafon,  Daniel  Clark,  and 
others,  had  either  appealed  to  England  againft  the  colo- 
ny, or  were  fcheming  to  poffefs  themfelves  of  large  tra£ls 
of  land,  and  for  that  purpofe  were  encouraging  the  Mo- 
heagan  controverfy.  Hall  am  had  appealed  to  England 
againft  the  colony  and  loft  his  cafe.  The  king  in  coun- 
cil had  eftablifhed  the  judgment  given  againft  him  m  the 
courts  of  Conne6licut.  Major  Palms,  who  had  married 
the  daughter  of  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  the  firft  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut,  under  the  charter,  had  imagined 
himfelf  injured  by  the  adminiftrators  on  the  governor's 
eftate,  and  had  brought  an  action  againft  them.  Lofing 
his  cafe  before  the  courts  in  this  colony,  he  had  appealed 
to  England.  He  was  particularly  irritated  againft  the 
colony,  and  againft  his  brother  in  law,  Fitz  John  "Win- 
|,  .  throp,  Efquire,  then  governor   of  the   colony.     Thefe 

their influ.  nialecontents  all  united  their  influence,  by  the  grofl^eft 
«nice  a.  mifreprefentations,  and  all  other  means  in  their  power, 
2^inft  the    to  mjure  the  colony  in  its  moft  efl'ential  interefts. 

Lord  Cornbury  was  poor,  and  not  unwilling,  by  any 
means,  to  get  money.  He  had  made  a  demand  of  four 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  upon  the  colony,  for  the  de- 
fence of  New- York.  Connecticut  judged,  that  it  was 
not  their  duty  to  comply  with  his  demand,  as  their  expen- 
fes  already  were  as  great  as  the  colony  was  able  to  bear. 

Dudley  and  Cornbury,  therefore,  proceeded  to  draw 
up  articles  of  complaint,  againft  the  colony.  Dudley 
employed  one  Bulkley  to  write  againft  the  government. 
He  drew  up  a  large  folio  book,  which  he  termed  the 


:olonv. 


Chap.XVII.    of    CONNECTICUT. 


433 


Doom  or  Miseries  of  Conne£licut.     In  this,  he  not  on-  Book  I. 
ly  exceedingly  mifreprefented  and  criminated  the  colony,  v-0(^xJ 
but  expatiated  on  the  advantages  of  a  general  governor  *7°4. 
of  New-England,  and  highly  recommended  the  govern*- 
aient  of  Sir  Edmund  Androfs.* 

Among  other  complaints,  the  principal  articles  partic-  Com- 
ularly  charged  were,  fummarily,  thcfe  :  That  the  govern-  ^^^'"(^^t^g 
or  did  not  obferve  the  a£ls  of  trade  and  navigation,  colony, 
but  encouraged  illegal  commerce  and  piracy :  That  the 
colony  was  a  receptacle  of  pirates,  encouraged  aixd  har- 
boured by  the  government :  That  the  government  har- 
boured and  prote£led  foldiers,  feamen,  fervants,  and 
malefadlors,  who  made  their  efcape  from  other  parts,  and 
would  not  deliver  them  up  Mdien  demanded.  It  was  alfo 
charged  againft  the  colony,  that  it  harboured  great  num- 
bers of  young  men,  from  Maflachufetts  and  New- York, 
where  they  were  obliged  to  pay  taxes  for  the  expenfes  of 
the  war,  and  induced  them  to  fettle  there,  principally,  be- 
caufe  it  impofed  no  taxes  for  that  purpofe  :  That  the 
colony  would  not  furnifli  their  quota  for  the  fortification 
©f  Albany  and  New-York,  and  the  afliftance  of  Maflachu- 
fetts Bay,  againfl  the  French  and  Indians :  And,  that  if 
any  of  her  majefty's  fubjefts,  of  the  other  colonies,  fued 
for  debt,  in  any  of  the  courts  of  the  colony,  no  juftice 
could  be  done  them,  if  the  debt  were  againfl:  any  of  its 
inhabitants.  It  was  alfo  charged,  that  Connecticut,  un- 
der the  colour  of  their  charter,  made  capital  laws,  tried 
murders,  robberies,  and  other  crimes,  and  puniflied  with 
death  and  banifliment;  and  that  their  courts  of  judica- 
ture were  arbitrary  and  unjuft  :  That  the  legiflature  would 
not  fuffer  the  laws  of  England  to  be  pleaded  in  their 
courts,  unlefs  it  were  to  ferve  a  turn  for  themfelves  :  That 
they  had  refufed  to  grant  appeals  to  her  majefl:y  in  coun- 
cil, and  had  given  great  vexation  to  thofe,  who  had  de- 
manded them  :  That  the  government  had  refufed  to  fub- 
mit  to  her  majefl:y,  and  to  his  royal  highnefs's  commif^ 
{ion  of  vice-admiralty,  and  for  commanding  its  mili- 
tia -,  and  had  defeated  the  powers,  which  had  been  given 
to  the  governors  of  her  majefl:y's  neighbouring  colonies, 
for  that  purpofe.  Finally,  it  was  charged,  that  the  legif- 
lature had  made  a  law,  that  chrifliians,  who  were  not  of 
their  comaiunion,  fhould  not  meet  to  worftiip  God,  with- 
out licence  from  their  aflembly,  which  law  extended  even 

*  Letter  of  Sir  Henry  Afhuril,  on  file. 

';•  Hhh 


424  THEHI5T0RY         Chap.  XVII, 

Boox  I.    to  the  church  of  England,  as  well  as  to  chriftians  of  other 

•..^'-vO     denominations  tolerated  in  England. 

J 704.  While  Governor  Dudley  was  thus  attempting  the 

ruin  of  the  colony,  in  the  court  of  England,  he  kept  up 
the  appearance  of  the  moft  e:itire  friendfhip  towards  it, 
in  this  country  •,  and  in  a  letter,  of  about  the  fame  data 
with  his  complaints,  thanked  the  legiflature  for  the  great 
fupplies  which  tPiey  had  given  him  and  the  colony. 

_-  ,  The  general  aflembly  had  appointed  the  moft  refpeft- 

affair  ^^^^  committees,  and  taken  great  pains  to  compromife  all 

difficulties  with  Owaneco  and  the  Moheagans ;  and  tho* 
they  had,  made  repeated  purchafes  and  obtained  ample 
deeds  of  their  lands,  yet,  rather  than  have  any  uneafmefs 
among  the  Indians,  they  offered  Owaneco  fuch  a  fum  of 
money,  to  make  him  eafy,  as  was  entirely  fatisfa£lory  to 
him  ;  but  Mafon  and  the  other  malecontents,  who  wiflied 
to  poflcfs  the  Indian  lands,  would  not  fuffer  him  to  ac- 
cept it,  and  fruftrated  all  attempts  for  an  accommodation. 
While  Mafon  and  other  enemies  were  pra£lifing  their 
arts,  in  Connedlicut,  Hallam,  affifted  by  Dudley  and  his 
party,  with  other  malecontents,  on  both  fides  of  the  wa- 
ter, was  making  grievous  complaints,  in  England,  of  the 
injuftice  and  cruelty  of  the  colony  towards  Owaneco,  in 
driving  him  from  his  lands,  and  depriving  the  Moheagans 
even  of  their  planting  grounds.  It  was  pretended,  that, 
in  the  late  grant  and  patent  to  the  town  of  New-London, 
the  legillature  had  conveyed  away  all  his  lands  in  that 
quarter,  whereas  particular  care  was  taken,  both  in  the 
grant  and  patent,  to  fecure  all  the  property  and  privileges 
of  the  Moheagans.  The  aflcmbly  had  taken  the  mofl 
faithful  and  tender  care  of  them,  from  the  firft  fettlement 
of  the  colony  to  that  time.  According  to  their  agree- 
ment with  Major  Mafon,  then  deputy  governor  of  the 
colony,  when  he  refigned  the  Moheagan  laud  to  the  af- 
fembly,  they  granted  him  a  farm  of  five  hundred  acres, 
and  it  was  laid  out  to  him  at  a  place  called,  by  the  Indians, 
Pomakuk.  They  had  alfo  referved  a  fine  tradt  of  land, 
of  between  four  and  five  thoufand  acres,  to  the  Mohea- 
gans to  plant  on,  which  was  much  more  than  fufficient 
for  that  purpofe.  But  the  reprefentations,  which  thefc 
evil  minded  men  were  conilantly  making  to  Owaneco 
and  his  people,  at  fome  times,  made  them  uneafy,  and 
fome  of  them  probably  imagined,  that  they  were  really 
injured.  At  the  fame  time,  the  afl'air  was  fo  reprefented 
in  England,  as  made  impreffions  on  the  minds  of  imnj 
?ery  unfavorable  to  the  colony. 


Chap.  XVIT.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.        43$ 

In  this  fituatlon  of  affairs,  Hallam,  afTifted  by  the  male-  Book  I. 
contents  in  England  and  America,  preferred  a  complaint  v.-^"vxJ 
and  petition  to  her  majefty,  Queen  Anne,  reprefenting,  1/°^: 
that  the  fachems  of  the  Moheagan  tribe  of  Indians  were  ^^  j^^^  ^3, 
the  original  and  chief  proprietors  of  all  the  lands  in  the  jefty  in  fa- 
colony  :  That  they  were  a  great  people,  and  had  received  vor  of  the 
and  treated  the  firft  planters  in  a  peaceable  and  friendly  Mohca- 
manner  :  That,  for  an  inconfiderable  value,  they  had  2^"8« 
granted  their  lands  to  them,  referving  to  themfelves  a 
fmall  parcel  only  for  planting  ground  j  and  that  the  gen- 
eral aflembly  of  Connecticut  had  pafled  an  adl:  by  which 
they  had  taken  that  from  them,  which,  until  that  time, 
they  had  always  enjoyed.     For  thcfe  reafons,  it  was  pray- 
ed, that  her  majefty  would  appoint  commiflloners  to  ex- 
amine into  all  thefe  matters,  and  into  all  the  other  inju- 
ries and  violences  which  had  been  done  to  the  Mohea- 
gans,  and  to  determine  refpedling  them  according  to  c- 

Her  majefty,  impofed  upon  and  deceived  by  thefe  re-  y^^  "'*• 
prefentations,  and  not  waiting  to  give  the  colony  an  op-  {^oilts^* 
portunity  to  be  heard,  on  the  19th  of  July  1704,  granted  commif- 
a  commiflion  to  Jofeph  Dudley,  Efquire,  the  great  ene-  fionersto 
my  of  the  colony,  Thomas  Povey,  Efquire,  lieutenant  ^^^^  ^^^ 
governor  of  Maflachufetts,  Major  Edward  Palms,,  and  ^^  ^* 
others,  to  the  number  of  twelve,  authorizing  them   to 
hear  and  determine  the  whole  affair,  referving  liberty  to 
either  to  appeal  to  her  majefty  in  council. 

At  the  feflion  in  May,  a  refpe£l:able  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, with  ample  powers,  to  examine  into  all  the  com- 
plaints of  Owaneco  and  the  Moheagan  Indians,  and  to 
report  to  the  affembly  in  Odlober.  The  committee  ap- 
pointed time  and  place,  and  attempted  to  accomplilh  the 
bufinefs,  for  which  they  had  been  appointed  ;  but  Cap- 
tain Mafon,  whom  Owaneco  had  chofen  for  his  guardian, 
had  art  enough  to  fruftrate  the  defign.  He  made  a  jour- 
ney to  Bofton,  at  the  very  time,  and  Owaneco  would  do 
nothing  without  him.  In  the  mean  time,  the  commif- 
fion  was  granted  by  the  Queen,  and  the  colony  were  un- 
happily drawn  into  a  long  and  expenfive  controverfy. 

The  Mafons  claimed  the  lands  purchased  by  their  an* 
ceftor.  Deputy  Governor  John  Mafon,by  virtue  of  a  deed 
given  to  him,  by  Uncas,  in  1659,  while  he  a6ted  as  agent 
of  the  colony,  and  denied  the  legality  of  the  farrender 
which  he  made  of  them,  in  the  general  affembly,  the  next 
year.  They  infifted,  that  it  refpefted  nothing  more  than 
the  jurl.fdi^ion  rlght^  »nd  thsit  the  title  to  the  foil  vras 


43<5  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  y         Chap.  XVIt. 

Book  I.  vcfted  in  their  family,  as  guardians  or  overfeers  of  the  In- 
\^yv>J  dians.      While  they  pretended  great  concern  for  the  In- 
^7°4'         dians,  their  fole  ohje£l  was  to  hold  all  thofe  lands,  inclu- 
»•  ded  in  faid  deed,  for  themfelves  and  others,  who  had  uni- 

ted with  them  in  profecution  of  the  affair  again  ft  the  colony. 
Sir  Henry  Afliurft,  wifliing  to  preferve  the  important 
privileges  of  the  colony,  had  taken  pains  to  poftpoue  the 
hearing  of  the  complaints  againft  it,  as  far  as  pofTible,  that 
the  governor  and  company  might  have  intelligence  con- 
Hearing     cerning  them,  and  fend  their  anfwer;  but,  on  the  12th 
oftUc         pf  February  1705,  the  hearing  came  on,  before  her  ma- 
*^""^'          jcfty  ii^  council.     Governor  Dudley  and  Lord  Cornbury 
Katnit^  ^"  ^^^  fpared  no  pains  to  carry  their  point  before  her  majeC- 
Conncdi    ^Y'     ^^'^^^Y  had  been  careful  to  procure  and  lay  before 
cut  be:.. re  her  an  opinion  of  the  attorney  general,  in  King  William's 
lit;r  majtf-  reign,  "  that  he  might  fend  a  governor  to  Connecticut." 
*y»i705'    Further,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  decifion  wliich  h« 
wiflied,  he  procured  another  opinion  of  the  attorney  and 
folicitor  general,  refpe£ling  the  cafe  of  Connecticut,  as  it 
•then  appeared,  "  that  if  it  were  as  Governor  Dudley  had 
^'  reprefented,  there  was  a  defeCt  in  the  governments 
**  That  the  colony  was  not  able  to  defend  itfelf,  and  in 
*'  imminent  danger  of  being  poflefled  by  the  queen's  ene- 
<'  mies  :  And  that,  in  fuch  cafe,  the  queen  might  fend  a 
"  governor,  for  civil  and  military  government  j  but  not 
**  to  alter  the  laws  and  cuftomg," 

Her  majefty  had  direfted  Sir  Henry  to  appear  and 
fhow  reafons,  if  any  he  had,  why  fhc  fhould  not  appoint 
a  governor  oyer  the  colony.  He  confidered  every  thing 
dear  to  it  at  ftake,  and  therefore  made  erertions  in  fome 
meafure  proportionate  to  the  magnitude  of  the  caufe. 
JiOrd  Paget,  a  man  of  great  influence,  was  his  brother  by 
marriage,  and  he  was  ixlated  to,  or  intimately  conne£led 
with  other  principal  charaftcrs  at  court.  He  made  all 
the  intereft,  and  obtained  all  the  influence  which  he  pof« 
fibly  could,  either  by  himfelfor  his  connections,  in  favor 
of  the  colony.  He  obtained  two  of  the  beft  council  in 
England  ;  both  parliament  men,  and  poflefling  an  eftate 
of  a  thoufand  pounds  a  year.  He  ftood  firm  againft  all 
the  charges  of  Dudley,  Lord  Cornbury,  Congrave,  and 
others,  againft  the  colony,  and  by  his  council,  for  an 
hour  and  an  half,  defended  it  againft  all  the  art  and  in- 
trigue of  its  adverfaries,  and  all  the  law  learning,  and 
eloquence  of  the  attorney  and  folicitor  general.* 

*  JL,etter  of  Sir  Henry  Afhurft,  February  15th  17051  on  fik^ 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       43) 

As  Connefticut  was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  charges  Book  I, 
brought  againfl  it,  and  no  informntion  or  evidence  could  V>V"x^ 
be  thence  obtained,  Sir  Henry  and  his  council  were  ne-  i^'^'J- 
ceflitated  to  employ  fuch  means  as  were  in  their  power,  in  v^!,^ca. 
They  amply  ftated  the  rights  and  privileges  granted  by  tionofthe 
tlie  royal  charter,  the  territory  it  conveyed,  and  the  pow-  colony. 
crs  with  which  it  veiled  the  governor  and  company. 
They  fliowed,  that  thefe  patents  were  confirmed  by  a 
9tcn  objlantey  and  always  to  be  conftrued  in  the  mod  fa- 
vorable light  for  the  grantees.  It  was  demonllrated,  that 
the  legiflature  were  veiled  with  ample  powers  to  make 
laws,  criminal  and  capital,  as  well  as  civil ;  to  infli6k 
banifliment,  death,  and  all  other  capital  punifl:ments,  in 
all  capital  cafes,  no  lefs  than  in  others.  It  was  alfo  re- 
prefented,  that  the  governors,  or  commanders  in  chief, 
were,  by  charter,  veiled  with  plenary  powers  to  affemble 
in  martial  array,  and  put  in  warlike  pollure  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  colony,  for  their  defence,  and  to  commiflion 
©thers,  for  the  like  purpofcs.  It  was  alfo  clearly  Ihown, 
that,  by  charter,  they  had  the  fame  right  to  fifh,  trade, 
and  do  all  other  bufinefs,  and  enjoy  all  other  privileges, 
by  land  and  fea,  which  any  other  of  her  majefty's  fub- 
je<Sls  had  a  right  to  do,  or  enjoy.  It  was  therefore  ur- 
ged, that  all  thofe  matters,  charged  againfl  the  colony, 
refpe£ling  their  making  capital  laws  and  infli£ling  capital 
punifhments,  whether  death  or  banifhment,  were  no 
crimes  -,  but  things  which  the  legiflature  not  only  had  a 
light,  but  were  bound  in  faithfulnefs  to  do,  as  circum- 
ftances  might  require.  For  the  fame  reafon  it  was  alfo 
infilled,  that  the  colony's  claiming  a  right  to  command 
their  own  militia,  and  defeating  the  defigns  of  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  other  colonies,  who  wifhed  to  command  it, 
were  no  crimes.  It  was  infilled,  that  doing  them  was 
no  more  than  defending  themfelves  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  legal  rights. 

With  refpe£l  to  the  Irregularity  and  injuftlce  of  the 
courts  in  Connedlicut,  it  was  obferved,j  that  general 
charges  deferved  no  reply  :  That  it  did  nqt  appear,  that 
what  was  charged  was  any  thing  more  than  mere  hearfay 
and  clamor.  But  it  was  pleaded,  that,  on  the  contrary, 
they  had  fubflantial  evidence  of  the  juflicc  of  the  courts 
in  Connedlicut.  That  feveral  appeals  had  been  made, 
to  her  majefly,  from  the  judgment  of  thofe  courts  :  That 
they  had  been  different  cafes,  and  in  every  inflance,  the 
judgments  given  by  the  courts  in  Conne<Slicut,  had  been 
approved  by  her  majeily  and  the  lords  committee  cf 


438  THEHISTORY         Chap.  XVIL 

BaoK  I.  council.    This  it  was  faid,  was  a  notable  evidence  of 
i^'vxiJ    their  juflice  ;  and  that,  fo   far  as  appeared,  there  had 
1705.        been  no  injuftice  or  irregularity  in  any  one  court  in  thd- 
colony. 

With  refpeft  to  Governor  Dudley's  compblnt,  that 
Connecticut  did  not  furnifh  the  men  which  he  demand- 
ed, and  that  of  Lord  Cornbury,  that  it  did  not  comply 
with  his  demands  for  money,  it  was  anfwered,  that  it  did 
not  appear,  from  the  charter,  that  the  colony  was  obliged 
to  comply  with  thofe  requifitions  :  That  the  governor* 
of  other  colonies  had  no  right  to  command  the  Icgiflature 
and  people  of  Connedlicut :  and  that  they  were  under  no 
obligations  to  obey  them,  any  further  than  it  ftiould  be 
required  by  her  majefty.  It  was  further  obfervcd,  with 
tefpedl  to  the  money,  that  it  appeared  from  his  lordfliip's 
letter,  that  the  general  afl'embly  of  Connedticut  had  taken 
the  requifition  into  their  confideration,  and  had  determin- 
ed to  know  her  majefty's  pleafure  before  they  gave  away 
their  money.  It  was  aflirmcd,  that  there  was  nothing 
difloyal  in  fuch  a  determination  :  That  the  colony  had  a 
right  to  grant,  or  not  to  grant  their  money,  as  they  judg- 
ed it  expedient  or  not :  That  they  had  a  right  to  know 
the  purpofe  for  which  they  granted  it ;  and  that  their  re- 
ferring it  to  her  majefty's  pleafure,  was  an  implication  of 
their  obedience  to  it,  whenever  it  fhould  be  known. 

With  reference  to  Connedlicut's  harbouring  defert- 
crs,  malefa£l:ors,  pirates,  and  the  like,  it  was  obferved, 
that  it  was  a  general  charge  of  little  weight,  and  deferved 
no  anfwer.  It  was  affirmed  to  be  a  common  thing,  even 
in  England,  for  foldiers  and  others  to  go  from  one  court- 
try  into  another,  and  not  to  be  found  j  yet  it  might  not 
be  any  crime  or  fault  in  the  country  where  they  fecreted 
themfelves.  As  to  Captain  Matthews  finding  two  folf 
diers  at  Stamford,  and  fending  for  Major  Silleck  to  fe- 
cure  them,  it  did  not  appear,  that  there  was  the  leafl  fault 
in  the  major.  It  was  evident,  from  his  lordlhip's  letter, 
that  he  went  to  Stamford,  that  the  foldiers  were  brought} 
and  that  Whil6'  the  major  and  Matthews  were  converfing 
together,  in  a  private  room,  they  made  their  efcape.  It 
was  faid,  it  might  be  more  the  fault  of  Matthews  than  of 
Silleck  ;  for  it  did  not  appear  that  Matthews  was  kept 
there  by  any  force  or  conilraint,  but  was  examining  into 
the  affair,  or  talking  generally  upon  the  fubjedl. 

^  With  relation  to  the  complaint  of  Lord  Cornbury  in 
his  letter  of  June  1703,  "  that  he  labored  under  great 
««  misfortunes,  in  relation  to  the  neighbouring  provineei  i 


Chap. XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       439 

«*  That  the  coaft  of  Connedlcut  Is  oppofite  to  two  thirds  Book  I. 
"  of  Long-Ifland  ;  by  which  means,  they  filled  all  that  v^vn,/ 
«<  part  of  the  illand  with  European  goods,  cheaper  than  1705. 
"  their  merchants  could,  becaufe  they  paid  duties,  and 
«  thofe  of  Conne£licut  paid  none  i  nor  would  they  be 
«<  fubjeft  to  the  afts  of  navigation  j  by  which  means 
««  there  had  been  no  trade  hetween  the  city  of  New- York 
*f  and  the   eaft  end  of  Long-Ifland,  from  whence  the 
"  greateft  part  of  the  whale  oil  came  j  and  that  it  was 
«<  difficult  to  perfuade  thofe  people  that  they  belonged  to 
<*  that  province,"  it  was  replied,  that  there  appeared  to 
be  no  fault  in  Connetfticut  in  this  refpedl.     It  was  main- 
tained, that  the  inhabitants  had  a  right  to  trade  where 
they  pleafed,  if  ic  were  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  Eng- 
land.    It  alfo  was  pleaded,  that  there  was  no  evidence,    , 
that  they  had  been  guilty  of  any  illegal  trade  or  practices  i 
and  that  they  were  a  poor  people  and  carried  on  little 
trade. 

In  a  letter  of  the  fame  date,  with  the  former,  his  lord- 
ihip  had  obferved,  "  that  he  was  fatisfied  this  vaft  conti- 
"  nent,  which  might  be  made  very  ufeful  to  England,  i£ 
**  right  meafures  were  taken,  would  never  be  fo  till  all 
<*  the  propriety  and  charter  governments  were  brought 
*'  under  the  crown.'*  To  this  it  was  replied,  that  this 
might,  or  it  might  not  be  the  cafe  :  That  the  fame,  as 
circumftances  might  be,  might  be  faid  of  all  the  charters 
in  England.  It  was  however  infifted,  that  the  words 
founded  harfli  and  had  an  ill  relifh. 

It  was,  however,  much  infifted  on,  that  the  attorney 
and  folicitor  general  had  reported,  "  That  her  majefty 
might  appoint  a  governor  for  Conriefticut.'*  To  this, 
the  council  for  the  colony  anfwered,  that  the  report  was 
hypotlietical,  founded  on  the  fuppofition,  that  the  colony 
was  not  able  to  defend  itfelf,  and  was  In  danger  of  falling 
into  the  hands  of  her  majefty's  enemies  ;  but  that  there 
was  no  evidence  of  thefe  fafts.  It  did  not  appear,  they 
faid,  that  Connefticut  was  in  a  more  defencelefs  ftate,  or 
in  greater  danger  of  becoming  a  prey  to  her  majefty's 
enemies,  than  any  of  the  other  colonies.  It  was  plead- 
ed, that  the  attorney  and  folicitor  general  had  not  report- 
ed that  either  of  thefe  was  the  cafe,  and  therefore  their 
opinion  could  not  be  made  a  plea  for  fending  a  governor 
to  Connecticut. 

Further,  It  was  ftrenuoufly  maintained,  that  it  wa* 
an  eflential  right  of  every  individual  and  corporation  to 
be  heard  before  they  were  condemned  j  and  that  the 


44« 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XVIt 


Book  I.  governor  and  company  of  Connecticut  ought  to  be  heard 
V..^-vx^  upon  the  articles,  exhibited  againft  them,  before  any 
ijos*  judgment  be  formed  refpe£ling  them.  It  \ras  obferved, 
that  governors,  who,  by  enlarging  their  own  territories, 
might  increafe  their  honors  and  profits,  were  apt  to  com- 
plain :  That  they  were  under  peculiar  temptations,  efpe- 
ciallyat  fuch  a  diflance,  where  it  was  fo  difficult  to  make 
enquiry  and  obtain  the  truth  :  That  there  was  more  rea- 
fon  to  fufpecl  the  governors  complaining,  than  the  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut,  who  a£l:ed  with  a  council  and  an 
aflembly.  It  was  therefore  affirmed,  that  there  was  every 
reafon,  that  the  colony  flioukl  be  heard  in  its  own  de- 
fence. If  either  the  governor  of  New-England  or  New- 
York  were  impeached,  and  the  fame  complaints  made  a- 
gainft  them,  faid  the  council,  which  they  have  brought 
againft  Connecticut,  her  majefty  would  do  nothing,  with 
refpeCl  to  them,  until  they  had  been  heard.  It  would 
be  contrary  to  all  law  and  reafon  ;  much  more  fo,  to  treat 
a  whole  colony  in  this  manner,  in  a  cafe  in  which  their 
charter  might  be  forfeited  and  their  fortunes  ruined.  It 
\vas  obferved,  that  governors  appointed  during  pleafurc 
often  committed  barbarous  aCts  to  enrich  themfelves  ; 
and  that  they  had  nothing  to  lofe  but  their  office  ;  where- 
as the  colony  of  Connecticut  was  of  great  fubftance,  and 
had  every  thing  to  lofe  :  That  even  in  ordinary  cafes,  in 
•which  the  property  and  charaCler  of  one  man  only  were 
concerned,  nothing  was  determined  but  upon  fufficient 
evidence,  given  upon  oath,  and  that  it  could  never  be  rea- 
fonable  to  condemn  a  colony  upon  mere  fuggeftions : 
That  it  might  appear  upon  a  full  examination,  that  the 
governor  of  Connecticut  was  much  better  qualified  to 
govern,  than  the  governc-r  of  New-York  or  MaiTachu- 
fetts.  It  was  therefore  pleaded,  that  the  articles  of  com- 
plaint might  be  fent  to  the  governor  and  company  of 
ConneClicut,  and  that  they  might  have  an  opportunity  to 
anfwer  for  themfelves  :  That  there  could  be  no  danger  in 
this  ;  and  if  any  irregularities  fhould  be  found,  in  the 
management  of  their  government,  they  would  moft  cer- 
tainly reform  and  obey  her  majefty 's  commands.* 
jT  Upon   this  full  hearing,  it  was  determined,  that  the 

jefty's  de-  lords  of  trade  fliould  draw  out  the  principal  articles  of 
termina-  complaint,  and  fend  a  copy  of  them  to  the  governor  of 
tion  ref-     Connecticut,   and   to  the   two  principal   complainants, 

*  Cafe  of  ConneiSicut  ftated,  and  pleadings  before  her  majefty, 
February  ijth,  iroj,  on  file. 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT       441 

Governor  Dudley  and  Lord  Cornbury,  and  that  Connect-  Book  I. 

icut  (liould  fend  their  anfwer  with    evidence  refpedling  v^i^w^ 

the  feveral  articles,  legally  taken  and  fealed  with  the  pub-  r^oj. 

lie  feal   of  the   colony.       Governor  Dudley  and  Lord  pecfting  _ 

Cornbury  were  alfo  direfted  to  tranfmit  their  evidence  of  ^°"'J5'^v'' 

the  articles  charged  publicly  and  legally  taken.  13/1705*. 

By  this  means  Dudley,  Cornbury,  and  their  abettors 

were  caught  in  their  own  fnare,  their  felfiflmefs  and  du-  K'^ "!  r  ^^^ 

,.   .         o  ,  •         n  •         n-    1       thedengns 

plicity  were  made  to  appear,    m  a  Itrong  pomt  oi  light,  of  Dudley 

and  their  whole  fcheme  at  once  totally  ruined.     They  and  Corn* 
were  totally  unable  to    fupport  the  charges  which  they  bury, 
had  brought  againft  the  colony.      At  the  fame  time,  the 
legiflature  of  Connecticut  were  able  to  produce  the  moft 
fubftantial  evidence,  that  the  very  reverfe  of  wVat  had 
been  pretended   was  true.     They  had  the  laft  and  this  _ 

year  between  five  and  fix  hundred  men  in  adlual  fervice.  *^fp  J^  * 
Four  hundred  of  this  number  had  been  employed,  prin- ths  colo- 
cipally,  in  the  defence  of  Maflachufetts  and  New-York.  ny. 
The  committee  of  war,  confifting  of  the  governor,  moit 
of  the  council,  and  other  principal  men  in  the  colony, 
had  met  with  officers  and  commiffioners  from  Maflachu-  . 
fetts,  and  moft  harmonioufly  united  with  them  in  opin- 
ion, and  meafures  for  the  common  defence.  The  legif- 
lature were  not  only  able  to  prove  thefe  fa£l;s  from  the 
records  of  the  colony  and  from  the  refolutions  of  the 
committee  of  war,  but,  what  was  ftill  more  confounding 
to  Governor  Dudley,  to  produce  a  letter  of  his,  under 
his  own  hand  and  fignature,  acknowledging  their  gene- 
rous and  prompt  affillance  in  the  war,  and  thanking  them 
for  the  aid  which  they  had  given  him.f  They  produced 
fubftantial  evidence,  that  when  they  had  fcarcely  two 
thoufand  pounds,  in  circulating  medium,  in  the  whole 
colony,  they  had,  in  three  years,  expended  more  than 
that  fum,  in  the  defence  of  her  majefty's  provinces  of 
Maflachufetts  and  New-York.  They  were  able  to  evince, 
that  they  had  ftiewn  the  utmoft  loyalty  and  attachment 
to  the  queen  •,  been  punftual  in  their  obfervance  of  the 
a£ls  of  trade  and  navigation  •,  had  not  been  pirates  them- 
felves,  nor,  at  any  time,  harboured  pirates,  deferters,  fer- 
vants,  or  criminals,  among  them. 

With  refpeft  to  appeals  to  her  majcfty,  the  legifla- 
ture aflirmed,  they  had  not  refufed  to  admit  them  only 

f  They  were  able  to  produce  letters  of  thanks,  from  the  com* 
mandtng  officers,  miniflers,  and  principal  gentlemen  in  the  coun*^ 
ty  of  Hampftiire,  far  the  affillance  which  they  had  given  them- 
Thofe  letters  are  now  on  file. 

I  i  i 


44-^  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XVII. 

Book  I.  in  cafes  in  which  proper  fecurity  or  fufficient  bondfmcn 
^^^V^"*^  liad  not  been  offered.  In  the  appeals  of  Major  Palms, 
i70i.  which  feem  to  have  been  the  only  inflances  of  which 
complaint  had  been  made,  the  court  judged,  that  the 
fecurity  offered  was  infufficient.  The  men,  who  offered 
themfelves  to  be  bound,  appeared  to  have  little  or  no 
property.  As  to  the  vexations  complained  of,  thefe  re- 
fpe6ted  the  obtaining  of  copies  of  the  judgments  of  the 
courts  in  his  cafe.  It  feems  he  applied  to  the  affembly 
for  them  -,  but  the  afl'embly  declined  giving  them,  infift- 
ing,  that  it  was  not  their  province  to  give  copies  of  the 
doings  of  other  courts.  He  was  therefore  referred  to 
the  courts  in  which  the  judgments  had  been  given. 

In  the  appeals  of  Major  Palms,  and  in  all  other  inflan- 
ces, the  judgments  of  the  courts  in  Connefticut  were 
fmally  eflabliflied.  Upon  a  full  examination  of  the  com- 
plaints, they  appeared  not  only  groundlefs  but  invidious. 
The  loyalty,  juflice,  and  honor  of  the  colony  appeared 
more  confpicuous  than  they  had  done  before.  But  it  was 
fome  time  before  the  evidence  of  the  true  flate  of  the 
cafe  could  be  colledled  and  tranfmitted  to  England. 

Meanwhile  Dudley  and  Cornbury  never  lofl  fight 
of  their  obje^l,  but  vigoroully  profecuted  the  defign  of 
fubverting  the  government.  There  had  been,  nearly 
fifty  years  before,  a  law  enacted  againfl  the  quakers,  but 
it  does  not  appear,  that  it  had  ever  been  a£led  upon,  in 
Conne£licut,  and  was,  at  that  time,  become  obfolcte. 
It  appears,  by  a  letter  of  the  governor's,  to  Sir  Henry 
Afliurft,  that  he  did  not  know  of  one  perfon,  then  in 
the  colony,  who  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  quaker.  But 
Governor  Dudley,  by  fome  means,  obtained  a  copy  of 
the  law,  and  procured  a  publication  of  it  in  Boflon.  The 
knowledge  of  it  was  communicated  to  the  quakers  in 
England,  and  they  were  fpirited  up  to  petition  for  a  re- 
peal of  the  law  of  Conne£licut  againfl  the  quakers.  A 
Qnakers  petition,  about  the  beginning  of  April,  was  preferred  to 
hei  maid-  ^^^  majefly,  on  the  fubjedl,  reciting  faid  law,  and  repre- 
ty.  fenting,  that  it  was  calculated  to  extirpate  their  friends 

from  that  part  of  her  majefty's  dominion,  and  praying 
that  flie  would  difallow  the  faid  law.  Sir  Henry  Afliurfl 
prefented  a  petition  to  the  lords  of  trade  and  plantation, 
to  whom  the  petition  of  the  quakers  had  been  referred, 
praying  them  to  advife  her  majcfty  to  come  to  no  deter- 
mination on  the  fubje6l,  until  the  colony  fliould  have 
notice  of  the  petition,  and  have  time  to  fend  their  an- 
swer.    He  reprefented,  tliat  the  law  was  made  againil 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       445 

Adamites  and  Ranters :  That  it  was  become  obfolete.  Book  I. 
and  quakers  lived  as  peaceably  in  Connedicut,  as  in  any  K.^^\^sj 
of  her  majefty's  plantations.  He  reprefented  to  their  i-joj. 
lordlhips,  that  there  had  been  more  complaints  exhibited 
againft  this  poor  colony,  in  three  or  four  years,  without 
any  crime  proved,  than  had  been  before  from  the  time 
of  its  firft  fettlement,  which  made  him  believe,  that  there 
were  difafFefted  perfons,  who  were  attempting,  by  all 
means,  to  make  them  weary  of  their  charter  government : 
That  before  the  appointment  of  a  certain  governor  for 
New-England,  the  colony  had  enjoyed  uninterrupted 
peace,  for  many  years,  and  would  have  done  to  that  time, 
had  it  not  been  for  his  mifreprefentations.  He  aflured 
them,  that  he  had  been  informed,  that  Governor  Dudley 
had,  about  two  years  before,  ordered  the  a£l  againft  the 
quakers  to  be  printed,  in  Bofton,  on  purpofe,  that  the 
quakers,  in  England,  might  join  with  his  other  inftru- 
ments  in  clamors  againft  Connecticut,  to  deprive  it  of  its 
charter  privileges.* 

Her  majefty,  upon  the  advice  of  the  lords  of  trade  and  ^^^  ''*' 
plantation,  declared  the  aft  againft  the  quakers  null  and.  ^^^  af^ainft 
void,  without  giving  the  colony  a  hearing.  tham. 

Sir  Henry  Aftiurft,  writing  to  the  colony  foon  after, 
fays,  "  You  fee  how  you  are  every  way  attacked." 

The  enemies  of  the  colony  in  Connecticut  and  New- 
England  were  no  lefs  a<£llve  than  thofe  on  the  other  fide 
ef  the   water.     As  they   had  obtained  a  commiffion  for 
the  trial  of  the  cafe  between  Connecticut  and  the  Mo- 
heagans,  they  fpared  no  pains  to  carry  their  point.     On 
the  5th  of  July  1705,  Captain  John  Chandler,  in  behalf  fi^J" ^1°^ 
of  Owaneco,   Captain  Samuel  Mafon,  Hallam,  and  oth-  heaean 
ers,  who   interefted  themfelves  in  recovering  the   lands  conntry. 
from  the  colony,  began  the  furvey  of  the  Moheagan  coun- 
try, and  having  accompliftied  the  work  drew  a  map  of  it, 
with  a  view  to  the  trial,  before  Dudley's  court,  which 
was  approaching.     The  governor  fent  an  officer  and  pro- 
hibited his  entering  upon  the  furvey  j  but  the  party  gave 
large  bonds  to  indemnify  him,  and  he  proceeded  not- 
withftanding.     The  boundaries,  as  furveyed  and  report- 
ed by  Chandler,  Captain  John  Parke,  Edward  Culver, 
and  Samuel  Sterry,  who  aflifted  him,  were,  on  the  fouth, 
from  a  large  rock,  in  Connecticut  river,  near  eight  mile  ^ounda- 
ifland  in  the  bounds  of  Lyme,  eaftward,  through  Lyme,  '^'^** 
New-London,  and    Groton,  to  Ah-yo-fup-fuck,  a  pondt 
in  the  northeaftern  part  of  Stonington  i  on  the  eaft,  from 

f  PftitioB  on  file. 


444 


THE    HISTORY      Chap.  XVII. 


Book  I. 


Puclley's 
Court,Au- 


Ynftruc- 
tions  to 
the  colo- 
jiy's  com- 
mittee. 


this  pond  northward,  to  Mah- man-fuck,  another  pond, 
thence  to  Egunk-fank-a-poug,  whetftone  hills  j  from 
thence  to  Man-hum-fqueeg,  the  whetftone  country. 
From  this  boundary,  the  line  ran  fouthweft,  a  few  miles, 
to  Acquiunk,  the  upper  falls  in  Qulnibaug  river.  Thence 
the  line  ran,  a  little  north  of  weft,  through  Pomfret, 
Aftiford,  Willington,  and  Tolland,  to  Mo-fiie-nup-fuck, 
the  notch  of  the  mountain,  now  known  to  be  the  notch 
in  Bolton  mountain.  From  thence  the  line  ran  fouth- 
erly,  through  Bolton,  Hebron,  and  Eaft-Haddam,  to  the 
iirft  mentioned  bounds.  This,  it  appears,  was  the  Pe- 
quot  country,  to  the  whole  of  which  the  Moheagans  laid 
claim,  after  the  conqueft  of  the  Pequot  nation,  except 
fome  part  of  New-London,  Groton,  and  Stouington, 
■which  had  been  the  chief  feat  of  that  warlike  tribe.  The 
Moheagans  claimed  tliis  tra£l  as  their  hereditary  country, 
and  the  Wabbequafict  territory,  which  lay  north  of  it, 
they  claimed  by  virtue  of  ccnqueft. 

On  the  23d  of  Auguft  1705,  the  court  of  commiflion- 
ers,  appointed  by  her  majefty,  to  examine  into  the  affair 
of  the  Moheagan  lands,  convened  at  Stouington.  Writs 
had  been  previoully  iflued,  fummoning  the  governor  and 
company,  with  the  claimers  of  lands  in  controverfy,  and 
all  parties  concerned,  to  attend  at  time  and  place.  The 
court  confifted  of  Jofeph  Dudley,  Efquire,  prefident,  Ed- 
ward Palms,  Giles  Sylvefter,  Jahleel  Brenton,  Nathaniel 
Byfield,  Thomas  Hooker,  James  Avery,  John  Avery, 
John  Morgan,  and  Thomas  Leffingwell. 

It  feems  that  the  governor  and  general  aflembly  of 
Connecticut  had  not  been  ferved  Math  a  copy  of  the  com- 
miflion,  by  vv'hich  the  court  was  inftituted,  and  viewed  it 
as  a  court  of  enquiry  only,  to  examine  and  make  report 
to  her  majefty,  and  not  to  try  and  determine  the  title  of 
the  lands  in  difpute.  The  committee,  appointed  by  the 
aflembly,  to  appear  before  the  court,  were  conditionally 
inftru£led.  Provided  the  court  was  inftituted  for  enqui- 
ry only,  they  were  to  anfwer  and  (how  the  unreafonable* 
nefs  of  the  Moheagan  claims,  and  the  falfe  light  in  which 
the  affair  had  been  reprefented ;  but  if  the  defign  was  to 
determine  with  refpe£l  to  the  title  of  the  colony,  they 
were  directed  to  enter  their  proteft  againft  the  court, 
and  withdraw.  All  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  perfonally 
interefted  in  any  of  the  lands  in  controverfy,  were  for- 
bidden to  plead  or  make  any  anfwer  before  the  court. 

Governor  Winthrop  addrefled  the  following  letter  t« 
the  prefident. 


Chap.  XVII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.      445 

*f  New-London,  Auguft  21ft,  1705.      Book  I. 
•»  Sir,  v.^v>w> 

«  I  UNDERSTAND,  by  your  excellency's  letter  of  July  1705 
*<  30th,  your  intentions  to  be  at  Stonington,  on  the  23d  Governor 
«  inflant,   to  hear  the   complaints  of  Owaneco  againft  jj^^'"  >g 
**  this  government.     I  hav .  therefore,  in  obedience  to  i^-jter  to 
«  her  majefty's   commands,  diredted  and  empowered  the  court, 
«  William  Pitkin,  John  Chefter,  Eleazar  Kimberly,  Ef- 
*«  quires,  Major  William  Whiting,  Mr.  John  Eliot,  and 
«  Mr.  Richard  Lord  to  wait  on  your  excellency,  and 
•*  fhow  the   unreafonablenefs  of  thofe  complaints,  and 
«  the  unpardonable  affront  put  upon  her  majefty,  by 
«<  that  falfe  reprcfentadon,  and  the  great  trouble  to  your  • 
**  felf  thereby  -,  and  I  conclude,  in  a  {hort  hearing,  your 
*<  excellency  will  be   able  to  reprefent  to  her  majefty, 
*«  that  thofe  complaints  are  altogether  groundlefs.     The 
«  gentlemen  Ihall  aflift  your  excellency's  enquiry,  in 
**  fummoning  fuch  perfons  as  you  fhall  pleafe  to  defire, 
"  and  all  things  elfe,  referving  the  honor  and  privileges 
«  of  the  government." 

When  the  committee  came  before  the  court  they  per- 
ceived, that  they  determined  to  try  the  title  of  the  colony 
to  the  lands,  and  judicially  to  decide  the  whole  contro- 
verfy.  They  refolved  therefore,  not  to  make  any  anfwer 
or  plea  before  them,  but  to  proteft  againft  their  proceed-, 
ings.     The  proteft  is  entered  as  followeth, 

"  To  his  Excellency  Jofeph  Dudley,  Efqulre,  captain 
"  general  and  governor  in  chief  of  her  majefty's 
*'  colony  of  Maflachufetts  Bay,  &c. 

**  We,  the  commiflioners  of  her  majefty's  colony  of  Protcft 
**  Connefticut,  are  obliged,  by  our  inftru6lions  from  this  againft  the 
"  government,  to  certify  your  excellency,  that,  in  obe-  proceed- 
<*  dience  to  her  majefty's  commands  to  this  colony,  we '"^^  ° 
**  are  ready  to  Ihow  the  injuftice  of  thofe  complaints  a- 
**  gainft   the   government,  made  by  Owaneco,  to  her 
<*  majefty  in   council,  if  your  excellency  fees  good  that 
**  the  complaints  be  produced,  (provided  the  commif- 
<*  fioners,  mentioned  in  her  majefty's  commiffion,  with 
«*  your  excellency,  be  qualified  to  aft  as  members  of  the 
**  court  of  enquiry  conftituted  thereby)  that  fo  your  ex- 
**  cellency  and   commiflioners   may,  upon   enquiry,  be 
«*  enabled  to  make  fuch  a   true  and  juft  report  of  the 
<*  matters  of  fadl,  mentioned   in  faid  complaints  to  her 
<*  majefty,  as  you  fhall  fee  meet.     But  if  your  excel- 
**  lency  (as   appears  to  us)  does   conftrue  any  expref- 
^*  £oQS  in  the  faid  commiiTionj  fo  as  to  empower  the 


44^  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XVIL 

Book  I.  "  faid  commlfiioners,  by  themfelves  to  enquire  and  ju« 
K.^'yxj  "  dicially  determine  concerning  the  matter  in  contro- 
1705.  **  verfy,  mentioned  in  the  faid  complaint,  concerning  the 
<*  title  of  land  or  trefpafs,  and  do  refolve  to  proceed  ac- 
**  cordingly,  as  we  cannot  but  judge  it  to  be  contrary  to 
*'  her  majefty's  moft  juft  and  legal  intentions,  in  faid 
"  commiffion  5  fo  we  mufl  declare  againft  and  prohibit 
♦*  all  fuch  proceedings,  as  contrary  to  law  and  to  the  let- 
"  ters  patent  under  the  great  feal  of  England,  granted 
*'  to  this  her  majefty'g  colony,  and  contrary  to  her  raa- 
"  jefty's  order  to  this  government,  concerning  the  faid 
♦'  commiffion  and  complaint,  as  well  as  to  the  known 
*'  rights  of  her  majefty's  fubje6ts,  throughout  all  her  do- 
*'  minions,  and  fuch  as  we  cannot  allow  of.  We  only 
«<  add,  that  it  feems  ftrange  to  us,  that  your  excellency 
«*  fhould  proceed  in  fuch  a  manner,  without  firft  com- 
**  municating  your  commiffion  to  the  general  affembly 
•*  of  this  her  majefty's  colony." 

«  WILLIAM  PITKIN,  &c." 
<*  Auguft  24th,  1705." 

The  inhabitants  who  had  deeds  of  the  lands  in  con- 
troverfy  made  default,  as  well  as  the  colony  ;  but  the 
court  proceeded  to  an  ex  parte  hearing.  Owaneco,  Ma- 
fon,  Hallam,  and  their  council  produced  fuch  papers  and 
evidence,  and  made  fuch  reprefentations,  as  they  pleafed^ 
without  any  perfon  to  confront  them.  After  fuch  a  par- 
tial hearing,  of  one  day  only,  the  court  determined  againft 
Judgment  ^-^^^  colony,  and  adiudeed  to  Owaneco  and  the  Mohea- 
and  pro-  ■'Art       1       1?    1  ht   n'  1    •        •        1 

ceedinga     gans  a  tratt  ot  land  called  Mallapeag,  lymg  m  the  town 

of  the  of  New-London  ;  and  another  tra£l,  of  about  eleven 
court.  hundred  acres,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  which 
the  aflembly  had  granted  as  an  addition  to  that  townftiip, 
in  1703.  The  court  alfo  adjudged  to  them  a  tra£l,  in 
the  town  of  Lyme,  two  miles  in  breadth  and  nine  miles 
in  length,  with  the  whole  tra6l  contained  in  the  town  of 
Colchefter.  The  court  ordered  Conne£llcut  immediate- 
ly to  reftore  all  thofe  lands  to  Owaneco,  and  filed  a  bill 
of  coft  againft  the  colony  of  ^"573  :  12  :  8.*  Thus  a 
caufe  of  fuch  magnitude,  in  which  the  eflential  interefts 
of  a  whole  colony,  and  the  fortunes  of  hundreds  of  in- 
dividuals were  concerned,  was  carried  wholly  by  intrigue 
and  the  grofleft  mifreprefentations.  The  comniiffion 
was  granted,  by   her  majefty,  wholly  upon  an  ex parU 

-5*  Mohcagan  cafe  in  print. 


Chap.  XVII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        447 

hearing,  upon  the  reprefentation  of  the  enemies  of  the  Book  I, 
colony  ;  and  the  men  who  carried  on  the  intrigue  were  y^^'^r"^ 
appointed  judges  in  their  own  cafe.  Without  hearing  */°-J' 
the  cafe,  contrary  to  all  reafon  and  juftice,  they  gave 
judgment  againft  the  colony,  and  hundreds  of  individu- 
als. They  gave  away  lands  holden  by  conqucft,  pur- 
chafe,  ancient  deeds  from  the  original  proprietors,  well 
executed  and  recorded,  by  charter,  acts  and  patents  from 
the  aflembly,  and  by  long  poflefiion.  The  chief  judge 
had  been  ufmg  all  his  art  and  influence  to  ruin  the  colo- 
ny, and  was  now  fuppofed  to  be  fcheming  for  a  portion 
of  its  lands,  as  well  as  for  the  government.  Major  Palms 
had  been  a  long  time  in  controverfy  with  the  colony, 
was  exceedingly  embittered  againft  it  and  againft  the 
governor,  his  brother  in  law.  Others  of  the  commiflion-^ 
crs  were  fuppofed  to  be  confederate  with  Mafon  and 
Clarke,  and  interefted  in  the  lands  in  controverfy.  Hal- 
lam,  Clarke,  and  feveral  of  the  commiiFioners  were  wit- 
nefles  in  the  cafe.  They  were  witnefles  and  judges  in 
their  own  caufe,  heard  themfelves  and  no  others.  Owa- 
neco  was  placed,  in  ftate,  on  the  right  hand  of  the  prefi- 
dent,  and  the  colony  were  treated  worfe  than  criminals, 
with  diftionor  and  contempt.*  • 

After  the  court  had  given  judgment  againft  the  col- 
ony, on  the  24th  of  Auguft,  they  fpent  three  days,  in 
hearing  fuch  complaints,  as  Owaneco,  Mafon,  and  other 
perfons  interefted  in  the  lands,  or  inimical  to  the  colony, 
were  pleafed  to  make.  When  they  had  heard  all  the 
complaints  and  mifreprefentations  which  they  had  to 
make,  they  reprefented  to  her  majefty,  that  Owaneco 
complained  he  wasdiflelfed  of  a  tradl  of  land,  containing 
about  feven  thoufand  acres,  called  Mamaquaog,  lying 
northward  of  Windham  ;  of  another  tra6l  called  Plain- 
field,  and  confiderable  fkirts  and  parcels  of  land,  en- 
croached upon  and  taken  in,  by  the  towns  of  Lebanon, 
Windham,  and  Canterbury.  The  court  prohibited  all 
her  majefty's  fubje£ls  from  entering  upon,  or  improving 
any  of  thofe  lands,  until  a  further  hearing  and  determi- 
nation of  the  cafe.  Further,  in  the  plenitude  of  their 
power,  they  appointed  Captain  John  Mafon  to  be  truftec 
or  guardian  to  Owaneco  and  his  people,  and  to  manage 
all  their  affairs.  They  reprefented,  from  the  evidence  of 
Major  James  Fitch  and  Captain  John  Mafon,  that  the 
colony  had  left  the  Indians  no  land  to  plant  on,  and  that 

*  Petition  to  her  majefty  printed  in  Mohcagan  trial. 


448  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XVII. 

Book  T.  they  confifted  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  warriors,  one  hun- 
v^'VS-/  dred  of  whom  had  been  in  the  actual  fervice  of  the  coun- 
1 705.         try  that  very  year.f 

These  Indians  were  enlifted  and  fent  out  by  the  colo- 
ny of  Conne£licut,  and  went  as  cheerfully  into  fervice, 
this  year,  as  they  had  done  at  any  time  before.  This 
gave  demonftrative  evidence,  that  there  was  no  general 
uneafinefs  among  the  Moheagans.  Had  there  been,  two 
thirds  of  their  warriors  would  not  have  enlifted  into  the 
fervice  of  the  government.  Indeed,  Owaneco  himfelf 
was  not  uneafy  only  at  turns,  when  the  Mafons,  Clarke, 
Fitch,  Hallam,  and  others  made  him  fo  ;  who  were 
fcheming  to  deprive  him  and  the  Moheagans  of  their 
lands. 

So  far  was  it  from  being  true,  that  Connecticut  had 
injured  them,  or  taken  their  lands  from  them,  that  they 
had  treated  them  with  great  kindnefs,  defended  them, 
by  their  arms  and  at  their  own  expenfe,  and  prevented 
their  being  fwallowed  up  by  their  enemies.  They  had 
left  them  a  fine  traft  of  land,  of  between  four  and  five, 
thoufand  acres,  between  New-London  and  Norwich  ; 
and  both  in  the  grant  and  patent  to  New-London,  there 
was  an  exprefs  refervation  of  all  the  rights  and  property 
of  the  Indians.*  The  colony  had  not  only  referved 
lands  for  the  Moheagans,  but  for  all  other  Indians  in  it, 
to  plant  upon.  They  fufFered  them  to  hunt,  fifh,  and 
fowl,  in  all  parts  of  it,  and  even  to  build  their  wigwams, 
and  cut  fuch  wood  and  timber,  as  they  needed  in  any  of 
their  uninclofed  lands. 

Dudley's  court,  having  finifhed  fuch  bufinefs  as  was 

agreeable  to  its  wifhes,  adjourned  until  the  next  May  ; 

but  it  never  met  again.     Before   that  time,  the  intrigue 

and  duplicity  of  Governor  Dudley  and  the   malecontents 

became  fo  evident,  that  all  their  defigns  were  fruftrated. 

The  aflembly,  at  their  fellion  in  October,  appointed  a 

Ttrr.hw'      committee,  to  examine  into  all  matters  refpedling  the  In- 

appoint      dians,  and  the  complaints  which  had  been  n  ade  againfl: 

a  commit-  the  colony,  and,  as  foon  as  poffible,  to  tranfmit  a  particu- 

tce  to  re-    j^j.  ^^^^  fyji  anfwer  to  their  agent.     They  were  inftru£led 

The  affair    ^^^'T  *°  acquaint  him  with  a  true  flatement  of  the  Mohea- 

to  tlieir      gan  cafe,  and  of  the  whole  management  of  Dudley  and 

agent.        his  court.     They  were  to  reprefent,  that  Dudley,  Palms, 

and  others  of  the  commiflioners  were  intereftcd,  and  par- 


t  Proceedings  and  judgment  of  the  court  in  print,  Moheagan 
cafe,  p.  26^067. 
*  Records  of  the  colony  and  Mobeagan  cafe  in  print. 


Chap.  XVII;      O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  Tj      449 

ties  in  thecaufe,  and  to  infift,  that  the  manner  in  which  Book  I. 
the  qommiflion  was  procured  to  Governor  Dudley,  Major  v^*»vx^ 
Palms,  and  others,  was  matter  of  intrigue,  and  the  whole  1705. 
procefs  arbitrary  and  illegal. 

Sir  Henry  Afhurft,  on  receiving  the  papers  relative  to  Sir  Henry 
the  cafe,  prefented  a  petition  to  her  majefty,  reprefenting  Afhurft  ■ 
the  title  of  the  colony  to  all  the  lands  in  controverfy,  by  P^^'^'o"* 
conquefl,  purchafe,  royal  charter,  long  poffeffion  and  im-  jefty, 
provement :  That  Uncas,  when  the  Engliih  became  firfl: 
acquainted  with  him,  was  a  revolted  Pequot,  expelled 
his  country,  and  had  not  a  fufEcient  number  of  men  to 
make  a  hunt  j  and  that  the  lands  referved  to  him,  were 
not  referved  to  him  in  confequence  of  any  right  of  his,  but 
was  a  matter  of  mere  permiffion  :  That  Jofeph  Dudley, 
Efquire,  Hallam,  Palms,  the  Averys,  Morgan,  and  Lef- 
iingwell,  had  grants  of  feveral  parts  of  the  controverted, 
lands,  and  in  their  own  names,  or  in  the  name  of  John 
Mafon,  were  attempting  to  fet  up  their  titles  to  them  : 
That  Dudley  and  Hallam,  by  mifreprefentation,  had  ob- 
tained a  commiiTion  from  her  majefty,  by  furprife,  under 
the  great  feal  of  England,  directed  to  the  faid  Dudley, 
Palms,  the  iwo  Averys,  Morgan,  Leffingwell,  and  others, 
moft  of  whom  were  of  Dudley's  and  Hallam's  denomina- 
tion, and  under  his  influence  ;  and  that  in  the  court,  thus 
inftituted,  they  were  the  accufers,  parties,  and  judges  : 
That  they  had  aflumed  to  themfelves  jurifdidlion,  in  a 
fummary  way,to  try  her  majefty's  petitioners'  titles  to  their 
lands,  and  to  evi6l  and  difleife  them  of  their  freeholds, 
properties,  and  ancient  poflelTions,  without  any  legal  pro.?  .  . 
cefs,  or  fo  much  as  the  form  of  a  trial.  This,  it  was  rep- 
refented,  tended  to  the  deftru£tion  of  all  the  rights  of  the 
colony,  and  was  directly  conti'ary  to  divers  afts  of  parlia- 
ment made  and  provided  in  fuch  cafes.  The  agent  there- 
fore, in  behalf  of  the  colony,  appealed  from  the  judg- 
ment of  faid  court  to  her  majefty  in  council,  and  prayed 
that  the  cafe  might  be  heard  before  her.* 

In  confequence  of  this  petition,  her  majefty,  fometime  Connedl- 
after,  appointed  a  commifTion  of  review.     The  affair  was  cut  always 
kept  in  agitation   nearly   feventy    years.     It  was  always,  8^'  their 
upon  a  legal  hearing,  determined  in  favor  of  the   colony.  ^ 
The  final  declfion  was  by  King  George  the  III.  in  council. 

The  commiiTioners  of  review,  in  1743,  not  only  deter-  Adjudica- 
mined  the  title  of  the  lands  to  be  in  the  colony  of  Con-  tionofthc 

*  Petition  in  print,  Moheagan  cafe,  p.  153— 157. 
Kkk 


45©  T  H  E    H  I  S  f  O  R  Y      Ghap.  XVir. 

Book  I.  ne£i;Icut,  but,  "  That  the  governor  and  company  had 
'  treated  the  faid  Indians  with  much  humanity,  at  all 
<  times,  and  had,  at  all  times,  provided  them  with  a  fuf- 
'  ficiency,  at  leaft,  of  lands  to  plant  on  •,  and  that  no  a£t 
'  or  thing  appeared  either  before  the  judgment  of  Jofeph. 
'  Dudley,  Kfquire,  or  fince,  by  which  they,  the  faid  gov- 
"  ernor  and  company,  had  taken  from  the  Indians,  or 
**  from  their  fachem,  any  tracts  of  land,  to  which  the 
"  Indians  or  their  fachem  had  any  right,  by  refervation 
*'  or  otherwife,  either  in  law  or  equity. "f  The  pro- 
ceedings of  the  feveral  courts  of  review,  and  the  plead- 
ings before  them  and  his  majefty  in  council,  will  moft 
properly  be  noticed  in  the  time  of  them,  and  will  not  be 
anticipated  in  this  volume. 

The  agent  of  the  colony  petitioned  her  majefty,  in  its 
behalf,  to  hear  the  complaints  exhibited  by  Governor 
Dudley  and  his  accomplices,  that  it  might  have  an  op- 
portunity of  demonftrating  how  falfe  and  groundlefs  they 
■were.  He  alfo  prayed,  that  as  Dudley  had  furprifed  her, 
to  grant  a  commiflion  of  high  powers  to  the  fubverfion  of 
the  rights  of  her  loyal  fubje£ls,  and  contrary  to  her  gra- 
cious intentions  towards  them,  and  had  abufed  her  name 
and  authority  to  ferve  his  own  dark  defigns,  that  her  ma- 
jefty would, in  fome  exemplary  manner,  difcountenance  the 
faid  Dudley  and  his  abettors. 

However,  it  does  not  appear,  that  Dudley  or  Lord 
Cornbury  were  ever  obliged  to  bring  forward  any  evi- 
dence in  fupport  of  the  charges  which  they  had  exhibited, 
or  that  her  majefty,  by  any  public  a£l:,  difcountenanced 
their  intrigue  and  falfehood.  They  had  fuch  powerful 
friends  at  court,  that  they  feem  to  have  palliated  and 
kept  the  affair,  as  far  as  poffible,  out  of  public  view  ;  and 
it  feems  to  have  been  pafled  by  without  any  further  ex- 
amination. 
May  1 706.  There  was  no  alteration  made  in  the  legiflature,  at 
the  ele6lion  in  1706. 

The  affembly  adopted  the  fame  meafures,  for  the  de- 
fence of  Conneftlcut  and  the  neighbouring  colonies, 
which  they  had  done  the  y?ar  preceding.  The  fame  of- 
ficers were  appointed,  and  the  fame  number  of  men  fent 
into  the  field. 

The  colony  had  affurances,  from  their  agent.  Sir  Hen- 
ry Aftiurft,  that  they  had  a  clear  right  to  command  their 
own  militia  j  that  the  governors  of  the  neighbouring  col- 

■f-  Judgment  in  print,  Moheagan  cafe,  p.  i40« 


Chap.XVII.       of    CONNECTICUT.      451 

onles  had  no  right  to  command   their  men,  or  money  ;  Book  I. 
and  that  this  was  the  opinion  of  the   bed   council  in  the  '^.^'v-n^ 
nation.     He  aflured  them,  that  they  were  under  no  obli-  ^T^(>' 
gations  to  them,  to  do  any  thing  more,  than  to  furnifh 
luch  quotas  as  her  majefty  fhould  require. 

Connecticut  had  done  much  more  than  this,  both 
in  the  reign  of  King  William  and  Q^een  Anne.  Never- 
thelefs,  notwithftanding  the  abufive  treatment  of  Gov- 
ernor Dudley,  Lord  Cornbury,  and  their  aflbciates  in 
jnifchief,  and  the  great  expenfe  which  had  been  brought 
Vpon  them,  not  only  by  the  war,  but  in  confequence  of 
the  defence  which  their  agent  had  been  obliged  to  make 
for  them,  in  England,  fuch  was  their  zeal  for  her  majef- 
ty's  fervice,  and  their  concern  and  good  will  for  their  fif. 
tcr  colonies,  that  they  exerted  themfelves  no  lefs  for  their 
defence,  than  if  they  had  been  under  the  command  of 
their  refpe£tive  governors.  It  was  declared  to  her  ma- 
jefty, that  had  this  been  the  cafe  they  could  have  done  no 
znore. 

At  the  feflion  in  Oftober,  the  aflembly  pafled  the  fol-  ^^  ^^^ 
lowing  atit  in  favor  of  the  clergy,  "  That  all  the  minif-  the  en- 
ters of  the  gofpel  that  now  are,  or  hereafter  fliall  be  fet-  courage- 
tied  in  this  colony,  during  the  continuance  of  their  pub-  '"^"^  ^^ 
lie  fervice  in  the  gofpel  miniftry,  (hall  have  their  eftates,  Qa!^/7o6* 
lying  in  the   fame  town  where  they   dwell,  and  all  the 
polls  belonging  to  their  feveral  families  exempted,  and 
they  are  hereby  exempted  and  freed  from  being  entered 
an  the  public  lifts  and  payment  of  rates."     By  virtue  of 
this  a£l,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  clergy  of  this  colo- 
ny, they  have  always,  from  that  to  the  prefent  time,  been 
exempted  from  taxation.* 

The  colony,  at  this  period,  was  in  very  low  circum- 
flances.  Its  whole  circulating  calh  amounted  only  to  a- 
bout  two  thoufand  pounds.  Such  had  been  its  expenfe 
in  the  war,  and  in  defending  itfelf  againft  the  attempts 
of  its  enemies,  in  England  and  America,  that  the  legifla- 
ture  had  been  obliged  to  levy  a  tax,  in  about  three  years, 
of  more  than  two  fhillings  on  the  pound,  on  the  whole 
lift  of  the  colony.  The  taxes  were  laid  and  colletted  in 
grain,  pork,  beef,  and  other  articles  of  country  produce. 
Thefe  commodities  were  tranfported  to  Bofton  and  the 
"Weft-Indies,  and  by  this  means  money  and  bills  of  ex- 
change were  obtained,  to  pay  the  bills  drawn  upon  the 

*  The  legiflature  had  before  re  leafed  their  perfons  from  tag* 
ation,but  not  their  families  and  eftates. 


4?2  T  H  i:    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XVIII. 

Book  I.  colony,  in  England,  and  to  difcharge  its  debts  at  home. 
v^x-v'N.y  Thefe  lowcircumftances,tliefemifreprefentations,  abufe, 
S706.  and  dangers,  from  their  enemies,  our  venerable  anceftors 
endured  with  an  exemplary  patience  and  magnanimity. 
Under  the  prefTure  of  all  this  expenfe  and  danger,  they 
cheerfully  fupported  the  gofpel  miniftry  and  ordinances, 
in  their  refpe6l'ive  towns  and  parilhes.  They  contem- 
plated their  dangers  and  deliverances  with  wonder  and 
thankfgiving, rejoiced  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  privileges, 
and  in  the  divine  care  and  beneficence. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 

^HE  country  is  alarmed.     Means  of  defence.      The  ajfembly 
decline  the  affording  of  any    ajfifance  in   the  expedition  a- 
gainfl  Port  Royal.      Grant  ajjtfatice  to  the  frontier  ioivns, 
'  New  toivnfjips  granted  and  fettled.       The   Rev.  Gurdon 

Saltonfall  chofe?i  governor.  A51  empowering  the  freemen 
to  choofe  the  governor  from  among  themfelves  at  large. 
ASls  relative  to  the  fettlement  of  the  boundary  line  with 
M.affachufetts.  Garrifo7is  ereEicd  in  the  towns  on  the 
frontiers.  Expedition  againfl  Canada.  Firfl  emijfion  of 
paper  money.  Addrefs  to  her  majefly.  Lofs  of  the  colony 
at  Wood  Creek.  Expedition  againfl  Port  Royal.  Expe-' 
dition  againfl  Canada  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
IValker  and  General  Nicholfon.  Fleet  cafl  aivay  and  the 
enterprife  defeated.  The  colony  petition  her  majefy^  arid 
fend  the  only  pilot  from  ConneBicut,  to  England^  to  reprC" 
fcnt  to  her  majejly  the  lofs  of  the  fleet  truly  as  it  ivas. 
Acls  refpeBing  the  fuperior  court.  Settlemefit  of  the  boun^ 
dary  line  between  Majfachufetts  and  ConneBicut.  Rea~ 
fons  why  the  colony  confented  to  fuch  a  fettlement.  Return 
V  of  peace.  The  colony  happy  in  the  prefervation  of  their 
frontiers.  Towns  fettled  under  Majfachufetts.  State  of 
the  colony.     Obfervations. 

Reports  O  UCH  reports  of  the  preparations  of  the  French  and 
of  an  ex-  ||[^  Indians,  to  make  a  defcent  uponfome  part  of  New- 
pedition  England,  were  fpread  abroad,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
ada  alarm  Y^^""  ''V^?'  ^^  g^^^  ^  general  alarm  to  the  country.  On 
thecoun  the  6th  of  February  1707,  a  council  of  war,  confifting  of 
try.  the  governor,  moll  of  the   council,  and  a  confiderable 

number  of  the  chief  military  officers  in  the  colony,  con- 
vened at  Hartford.     A  letter  was  received  from  JDeputy 


Chap.  XVIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.      4^3 

Governor  Treat,  and   auotlier  from  Major  Schuyler  at  Book  I. 
Albany,  giving  intelligence,  that  the  French,  and  Indians  ^.^^-^^ 
in  their  intereft,  were   about  to  make    a  defcent  upon  i7°7- 
New-En2;land.      Information  was  alfo  communicated, 
thatfufpicions  were  entertained,  that  the  Pohtatuck  and 
Owiantuck  Indians  defigned  to  join  the  French  and  In- 
dians from  Canada. 

The   committee  refolved,  that  the  weftern  frontier  ^jeafures 
towns,  Symfbury,  Waterbury,  Woodbury,  and  Danbu-  adopted 
ry,  (hould  be  fortified  with  all  poflible  difpatch.     As  Wa-  for  the 
terbury  had  fuftained  great  lofles,  by  inundations,   it  was  common 
refolved,  for  their  encouragement  to  fortify  their  houfes         ^* 
well,  that  the  governor  and  council  would  ufe  their  influ- 
ence with  the  aflembly,  that  their  country  rates  fliould  be 
abated.     It  was  refolved,  that  each  of  thefe  four  towns 
jfhould  keep  a  fcout  of  two  faithful  men,  to  be  fent  out  ev- 
ery day,  to  difcover  the  dehgns  of  the  enemy,  and  give 
intelligence  fliould  they  make  their  appearance  near  the 
frontier  towns. 

To  prevent  damages  from  the  Pohtatuck  and  Owian- 
tuck Indians,  Captain  John  Minor  and  Mr.  John  Sher- 
man were  appointed  to  remove  them  to  Stratford  and 
Fairfield.  If  by  reafon  of  ficknefs  or  any  other  caufe 
they  Gould  not  be  removed,  it  was  ordered,  that  a  num- 
ber of  their  chief  men  fhould  be  carried  down  to  thofe 
towns,  and  kept  as  hoftages  to  fecure  the  fidelity  of  the 
reft. 

On  the  fecond  of  April,  a  fpecial  aflembly  was  conven-  Special  af- 
cd  in  confequcnce  of  letters  from  Governor  Dudley.    He  fembly,A- 
had  propofed  to  fend  an  army  of  a  thoufand  men  againfl:  ^^^  ^^  ' 
L' Acadia,  and  requefl;ed  Connecticut  to  join  with  Mafla- 
chufetts  in  the  expedition. 

After  the  afi^air  had  been  maturely  confidered,  the  af-  'phg  gf- 
fembly  determined  not  to  comply  with  the  propofal.   The  fembly 
reafons  given  were,  that  they  had  not  been  confulted,  nor  w'j^  po* 
had  opportunity  to  confent  to  the  expedition  :  That  they  J"^'"  'j"^^* 
did  not  underfl:and  that  the  neighbouring  colonies,  who  j-joj,  t^ 
were  equally  interefl:ed  in  the  expedition,  with  themfeives,  L'Acadia. 
were  called  upon,  nor  had  confented  to  do  any  thing  ; 
and,  that  the  vafl;  expenfe    of  defending  the  county  of 
Hampfliire  and  their  own  frontiers,  incapacitated  them  to 
join  in  the  enterprife. 

At  the  general   eledion  this  year,  the  governor  and  g]°^^on 
council  were  all  re-el eded.  M;iy  g,  * 

Upon  the  petition  of  John  Prat,  Robert  Chapman,  1707. 
John  Clark,  and  Stephen  Pofl,  appointed  a  committee 


'454 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XVIII. 


Book  I. 


1707. 

Hebron 
made  a 
town. 


0(ft.  9th. 


Special  af- 
fembly, 
Dec.  17th 

1707. 


In  behalf  of  the  legatees  of  Jofliua  Uncas,*  the  aflembly 
granted  a  townlhip  which  they  named  Hebron.  The 
fettlement  of  the  town  began  in  June  1704.  The  firft 
people  who  made  fettlements  in  the  town  were  William 
Shipman,  Timothy  Phelps,  Samuel  Filer,  Caleb  Jones, 
Stephen  Poll,  Jacob  Root,  Samuel  Curtis,  Edward  Saw- 
yer, Jofeph  Youngs,  and  Benoni  Trumbull.  They  were 
from  Windfor,  Saybrook,  Long-Ifland,  and  Northamp- 
ton. The  fettlement,  at  firft,  went  on  but  flowly  ;  part- 
ly, by  reafon  of  oppofition  made  by  Mafon  and  the  Mo- 
heagans,  and  partly,  by  reafon  of  the  extenfive  tra£ls 
claimed  by  proprietors,  who  made  no  fettlements.  Sev- 
eral zCis  of  the  aflembly  were  made,  and  committees  ap- 
pointed to  encourage  and  aflift  the  planters.  By  thefc 
means  they  fo  encreafed  in  numbers  and  wealth  that  in 
about  fix  or  feven  years  they  were  enabled  to  erecSl  a 
meeting-houfe  and  fettle  a  minifter  among  them. 

At  the  fefllon  in  Odlober,  the  aflembly  granted  a  town- 
fliip  to  Nathan  Gould,  Peter  Burr,  Captain  John  Wake- 
man,  Jonathan  Sturges,  and  other  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Fairfield,  bounded  foutherly  on  Danbury,  eaft- 
erly  on  New-Milford,  and  wefterly  upon  the  colony  line. 
It  extended  fourteen  miles  northward  from  Danbury. 
It  was  afterwards  named  New-Fairfield.  The  war,  for 
feveral  years,  prevented  all  attempts  for  the  fettlement  of 
this  traft. 

As  the  frontier  towns  had  exhibited  much  zeal  in  for- 
tifying themfelves  agreeably  to  the  directions  of  the  gov- 
ernor and  council,  the  aflembly  made  them  a  liberal  com- 
penfation. 

About  this  time  the  colony  fuftained  a  great  lofs  in 
the  death  of  the  honorable  Fitz  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,f 
and  a  fpecial  aflembly  was  convoked  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, by  Deputy  Governor  Treat,  at  New-Haven,  for 

*  By  the  laft  Will  of  faid  Uncas,  all  the  lands  in  Hebron  were 
bequeathed  to  Thomas  Buckingham,  Efquire,  William  Shipman 
and  others,  called  the  Saybrook  legatees,  except  about  2,600  a- 
crea  at  the  northeaft  corner,  and  about  4,000  acre?  at  the  fouth 
end  of  the  town  There  were  alf  1  about  700  within  the  parifti  of 
Marlborough.     Thefe  lands  were  claimed  by  Mafon. 

•{-  He  was  the  fon  of  the  honorable  John  Winthrop,  Efquire, 
the  firft  governor  of  Connecticut,  under  the  charter.  His  birth 
was  at  Ipfwich,  in  Maffachufetts,  1638.  Upon  the  alFumptioa 
of  the  charter,  May  i65?9,  he  was  chnfen  into  the  magiftracy.  In 
1690,  he  was  appointed  major  general  of  the  land  army  defigned 
againft  Canada.  On  the  difpute  relative  to  the  command  of  the 
militia  he  was  fent  apent,  for  the  colony,  to  the  Britifh  court, 
S694'*    After  his  returo,  May  1698,  be  was  cbofen  governor,  an4 


-i.lJ,jv/i/tieSr..Y.U- 


Chap.XVIII.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       455 

the  purpofe  of  ele£ling  another  governor.     The  aflembly  Book  T. 
ordered,  that  the  votes  of  both  houfes  fhould  be  mixed  Ui^v"«0 
before  they  were  forted  and   counted,  and  that  the  ma-  1707. 
jority  of  votes  fhould  determine  the  choice.    Upon  count-  "^^  ^^^* 
ing  the  votes,  the  Reverend  Gurdon  Saltonftall  was  de-  tonftal/' 
dared  to  be  chofen  governor.  chofen 

Four  of  the  magiflrates,  the  fpeaker  of  the  houfe,  with  governor 
three  of  the  other  deputies,  were  appointed  a  committee  Dec.  17th, 
to  acquaint  him  with  the  choice,  and  foHcit  his  accept- 
ance of  the  important  truft  to  which  he  had  been  chofen. 
A  letter  was  addrefled  to  him,  by  the  aflembly,  defiring 
him  to  accept  of  the  choice  which  they  had  made,  and 
with  the  committee,  appointed  to  wait  on  him,  to  an- 
fwer  the  letters  of  their  agent  and  tranfadl  whatever  the 
exigv^nclcs  of  the  government  might  require.  A  letter 
was  alfo  addrefled  to  his  church  and  congregation  at  New- 
London,  acquainting  them  with  the  call,  which  the  af- 
fembly  imagined  Mr.  Saltonftall  had  to  leave  the  min- 
iftry,  and  to  difpofe  them  to  fubmit  to  fuch  a  difpenfation. 

The  magiftrates,  upon  Mr.  Saltonftall's  acceptance  of 
the  truft  to  which  he  had  been  chofen,  were  directed  to 
adminifter  to  him  the  oath  of  the  governor,  and  the  oath 
refpe£ling  trade  and  navigation. 

On  the  firft  of  January  1708,  Governor  Saltonftall  aC'  January 
cepted  of  his  office,  and  took  the  oaths  appointed  by  law.  ift  1708- 

This  aflTembly  repealed  the  law  which  required,  that 
the  governor  fhould  always  be  chofen  from  among  the 
magiftrates  in  nomination,  and  gave  liberty  for  the  free- 
men to  ele£t  him  from  among  themfelves  at  large. 

At  the  ele6lion  May  13th,  1708,  Governor  Saltonftall  Elcdion 
was  chofen  governor  by  the   freemen-     Nathan  Gould,  Mayijihj 
Efquire,  was  eleded   deputy  governor.*     The  former  ^^°^' 

was  annually  re-chofen  during  his  life.  He  died  November  a7th 
J  707,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age. 

He  appears  to  have  been  a  popular  gentleman,  and  to  have  fuf- 
tained  a  charafter  without  bicmifh. 

*  The  honorable  Robert  Treat,  Efquire,  being,  at  this  period, 
eighty  fix  years  of  age,  retired  fkom  the  fcene  of  public  afiion. 
He  had  been  three  years  a  magiflrate,  and  thirty  two  years  gov- 
ernor, or  deputy  governor  of  the  colony.  He  was  tledted  ma- 
giftrate  May  1673,  deputy  governor  1676,  and  governor  in  1683. 
To  this  office  he  was  annually  elefled,  fifteen  years,  until  1698. 
He  was  then  chofen  deputy  governor  until  the  year  1708.  He 
died  about  two  years  afier,  July  12th  1710,  in  the  89th  year  of 
his  age  Few  men  have  fuftained  ^  fairer  charafter,  or  rendered 
the  public  more  important  ferviccs.  He  was  an  excellent  mili- 
tary officer:  A  man  of  firigular  courage  and  refolution,  tempered 
with  caution  and  prudence.    His  adrainiftration  of  government 


556  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chap.  XVIII. 

BboK  I,  rrtaglflrates  were  re-chofen,  and  Mr.  John  Haynes,  for 
v.>nrXii/  the  firfl  tiifne,  was  ele£led  one  of  the  comicil.  The  for-. 
J708.         mer  treafurer  and  fecretary  were  re-chofen. 

A  TOWNSHIP  was  granted,  in  the  courfe  of  this  feffioni 
at  Pohtatuck,  afterwards  nartied  Newtown. 

Connecticut,  for  a  long  courfe  of  years,  had  been 
ciuiettne  '^^  great  trouble  and  expenfe,  in  attempting  the  fettlement 
the  inhab-  of  the  boundary  line  between  this  colony  and  Maflachu- 
itants  of  fetts.  The  inhabitants  of  Wind  for  and  Syoifbury  had 
Windfor  {jgen  often  exceedingly  injured,  in  their  perfons  and  prop- 
fieid  and  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  people  of  Siiffield  and  Enfield,  efpecially  by 
fixing  the  the  former.  They  had  not  only  encroached  upon  their 
line  be-  lands  and  cut  down  their  timber,  but  often  feized  upon 
tween  their  tar  and  turpentine,  and  even  upon  their  perfons  and 
Maflachu-  foj-^ibly  carried  them  off  to  SufEeld.  In  confequence  of 
fetts  and      ,     --     '  •       r.-       1     1       -j-       1  1 

Connefti-  thele  outrages,  great  animoiities  had  anlen  between  yie 

cut.  May  inhabitants  of  thofe  towns,  and  many  lawfuits  had  bee» 
13th  1 708.  commenced.  The  aflembly,  as  far  as  poffible,to  prevent 
and  terminate  thefe  evils,  enabled,  that  commiffioners 
ihould  be  appointed  with  full  powers  to  run  the  line,  with 
fuchcommiffioners  asMaffachufetts  (houldappoint  forthat 
purpofe.  ,.They  were  directed  to  take  care  that  the  line 
ihould  be  run  by  fkilful  artifts,  with  good  inftruments ; 
and  to  take  their  ftation  three  miles  fouth  of  every  part 
of  Charles  river,  whence  Mr.  James  Taylor  and  the  com- 
rniflioners  of  this  colony  ran  the  line  in  1 702.  They 
were  infi;ru6led  to  run  a  due  weft  line  from  that  ftation, 
and  to  make  and  fet  up  fair  marks  and  monuments  in  the 
line  between  the  colonies.  And  to  prevent  all  further 
Contention,  it  was  enabled,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Wind- 
,  for,  Symfljury,  Suffield,  and  Enfield,  fliould  not  make  any 
improvement  on  the  contefted  lands  until  the  line  fhould 
be  run  and  fettled.  It  was  alfo  ena£l:ed,  that  all  fuits 
ihould  continue  and  reft,  until  the  county  court  at  Hart- 
ford, in  O£lober,  and  then  to  ceafe.  It  was  provided 
heverthelefs,  that  the  court  of  Maffachufetts  ftiould  give 
the  fame  orders  to  the  people  of  that  province,  who 
claimed  upon  the  line,  and  fliould  immediately  unite 
with  Conne£licut  in  fettling  the  boundary  between  the 
colonies.  Otherwife,  it  was  determined,  that  all  caufes, 
bonds,  and  the  like  fliould  be  and  remain  as  though  this 
aft  never  had  been  paffed. 


Was  with  wifdom,  flrmnefs  and  integrity.  He  was  eftcemed 
courageous,  wife,  and  pious.  He  was  exceedingly  beloved  and 
Venerated  by  the  people  in  general,  and  efpecially,  by  hia  neigh* 
i)ours,  at  Milford,  where  he  jcfided. 


Chap.  XVTIT.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       4^7 

Further,  it  w^s  enafted,  that  upon  running  the  line,  Book  L 
all  the  mofi:   ancient  grants,  made  to  the  proprietors,  by  ^^o-v-^O 
either  government,  fhould  give  title  and  property  to   the  1708. 
fettlers  on  either  fide   of  the   line.     It  was  determined, 
that  unlefs  the  courtofMaflachufetts  would  agree  to  the 
running  of  the  line  in  this  manner,  a  petition  fliould  be 
addrefled  to  her  majefty,  praying  her  to  give  orders,  that 
the  divifional  line  might  be  run. 

The   aflembly,    at    this  feflion,  ordered,  that  a  town-  KilUnglf 
fliip  fliouId  be  laid  out  eaft  of  Woodllock,  eight  miles  in  made  a 
length  and  fix  in  breadth.     The  inhabitants  were  vefled  ^°^"' 
with  the  privileges  of  a  diflindt  town,  by  the  name  of 
Killingly.* 

The  affairs  of  the  war  were  conducted  this  year  In  the 
fame  manner  as  they  had  been  the  preceding.  Colonel 
William  Whiting  commanded  a  body  of  horfe  and  in- 
fantry in  the  county  of  Hampfhire,  and  fcouting  parties 
and  garrifons  were  maintained  on  the  frontiers  of  the 
colony. 

At  the  feflion  In  0£tober,  It  was  enabled,  that  two 
garrifons  fliould  be  maintained,  at  the  public  expenfe,  at 
Symfljury,  and  two  at  Waterbury.  Garrifons  were  to 
be  kept  at  Woodbury  and  Danbury,  as  the  council  of 
war  fliould  judge  expedient. 

At  the  election  in  1709,  Mr.  Saltonft:all  was  re-chofen  Court  of 
governor,  and   Nathan   Gould,   deputy  governor.     The  Election 
magiftrates  were  Daniel  Witherel,    Nathaniel    Stanley,       "^  "**'** 
John  Hamlin,    William    Pitkin,    John    Chefter,  Jofeph 
Curtis,  Jofiah  Rofliter,  Richard  Chrifl:ophers,  Peter  Burr, 
John  Allen,  John  Haynes,  and   Samuel  Eells,   Efquires. 
Captain  Jofeph  Whiting  was  treafurer,  and    Caleb  Stan- 
ley fecretary. 

A  letter  was  laid  before  this  aflembly  from  her  ma-  Expedl- 
jefty,  relative  to  an  expedition  againft  the  enemy.     The  tion  a- 
defign  was  the  redu6lion  of  the  French  in  Canada,  Aca-  |^'""^'^e 
dia,  and  Newfoundland.      The  letters  from  the  earl  of 
Sunderland,  advifing  that  her  majefty    would    difpatch  a 
fquadron  of  fliips  to  Bofton,  by  the  middle  of  May,  with 
five  regiments  of  regular   troops,  required  Connefticut 


*  At  this  fcffion,  the  afltmbly  ordered,  "  That  the  minifters 
**  of  the  gofpel  preach  a  itrmon  to  the  freemen,  on  the  day  ap- 
"  pointed  by  law  to  choofc  their  civil  rulers,  in  the  towns  where 
**  they  meet,  proper  for  their  dire«5tion  in  the  work  before  them.'* 
This  feems  to  have  been  the  origin  of  preaching  freemen's  meet- 
ing fermons  ia  Connecticut. 

Lll 


458  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y         Chap.  XVIII. 

Book  I.  toraife  350  men.  The  governments  eaftward  of  Con- 
v^.'^v-x^  nefticut  were  required  to  raife  1200  men,  and  furnifh 
2709.  them  with   tranfports,  flat  bottomed   boats,  pilots,  and 

provifions  for  three  months  fervice.  With  this  force,  it 
was  defigned  to  make  an  attack  upon  Quebec.  At  the 
fame  time,  it  was  propofed  to  raife  1500  men  in  the  gov- 
ernments of  Connedlicut,  New- York,  New-Jerfey,  and 
the  fou-thern  colonies.  This  corps  was  to  proceed  by  th6 
way  of  the  lakes,  and  make  a  defcent  upon  the  ifland  of 
Montreal. 

The  legiflature  of  Conne6ticut  voted  and  raifed  their 
<5[uota,  with  cheerfulnefs  and  expedition.  Colonel  Whi- 
ting was  appointed  to  command  them.  The  aflembly  alfd 
voted  an  addrefs  of  thanks  to  her  majefty  for  her  royal  care 
and  favor  to  the  colonies,  in  devifing  means  for  the  re- 
moval of  an  enemy  by  whom  the  colonies  had  been  fo 
great  and  repeated  fufFerers. 

All  the  colonies  except  Pennfylvania  furnifhed  their 
quotas.  The  troops  with  provifions,  tranfports,  and  ar- 
ticles neceffary  for  the  enterprife,  were  ready  in  feafon. 
The  provincials,  from  the  eallern  colonies,  were  ready 
to  fail  for  Quebec  by  the  20th  of  May.  Francis  Nichol- 
fon,  who  had  been  lieutenant  governor  of  New- York,  un- 
der Androfs,  and  afterwards  lieutenant  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  appointed  to  command  the  troops  by  land, 
and  inarch  as  far  as  Wood  Creek.  There  he  was  to 
wait  until  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  expe6led  at  Bofton,  and 
then  to  advance,  fo  that  the  attack  upon  Quebec  and 
Misntreal  might  be  made  at  the  fame  time.  The  colo- 
nies made  great  exertions  for  the  public  fervice.  Befides 
their  quotas,  independent  companies  were  raifed  and  fent 
on  to  the  army.  More  than  a  hundred  battoes,  and  an 
equal  number  of  birch  canoes,  were  con{lru6led  for 
croflTmg  the  lake.  Three  forts,  feveral  block  houfes,  and 
ftores  for  provifions  were  ere£led.  But  the  armament 
expe£led  from  England  did  not  arrive.  The  defeat  of 
the  Portuguefe  and  the  ftraits  to  which  the  allies  were 
reduced,  occafioned  the  failing  of  the  fleet,  defigned  for 
America,  to  Portugal,  and  the  expedition  was  defeated. 
No  intelligence  arriving  from  England,  and  a  great  mor- 
tality prevailing  among  the  troops,  General  Nicholfon, 
early  In  the  fall,  returned  to  Albany.  This  fruitlefs  un- 
dertaking was  a  capital  lofs  and  expenfe  to  the  colonies. 
One  quarter  or  more  of  the  troops  died.  Connedicut 
only  fullained  the  lofs  of  ninety  men. 


Chap.XVIII.    of    CONNECTICUT. 


459 


This  expedition  occafioncd  the  firfl  emifllon  of  paper  Book  I. 
nioney  in  Connefticut.  ^w^z-v^ 

At  a  fpecial  aflembly,  on  the  8th   of  June,  it  was  e-  1709. 
nafted,  «'  That  to  affiit  in  the  expedition,  for  want  of  Firflemif. 
•*  money  otherwife  to  carry  it  on,  there  be  forthwith  im-  '\°"  ^^ 
*«  printed  a  certain  number  of  bills  of  credit  on  the  col-       !-^ 
."  ony,  in  fuitable  fums  from  two  ihillings  to  five  pounds,  June  1709. 
*'  which,   in   the    whole,   fliall  amount    to    the  fum   of 
*<  j^8,ooo  pounds  and  no  more."     It  was  enabled,  that 
the  bills  fhould  be  iiTued  from  the  treafury  as  money,  but 
fliould  be    received  in  payments  at  one   fliilling  on  the 
pound  better   than   money.     One    half  only  was  to   be 
figned  and   ifTued  at  firft,  and  the  other  was  to  remain 
unfigned  until  it  fhould  be  found  neceffary  to  put  it  into 
circulation.     Taxes  were  impofed    for  the   calling  in  of 
one  half  of  it  within  the  term  of  one  year,  and  the  other 
at  the  expiration  of  two  years. 

The  expe£lations  of  the  people,  in  the  fpring,  had  Expedla- 
been  wrought  up  to  a  high  degree  of  aflurance,  that  Can-  tionsof 
«ida  would  be  reduced  before  the  clofe  of  the  campaign,  the  coun- 
Joy  brightened  in  every  countenance,  with  the  pleafmg  ^"^X  '^"^P" 
profped^,  that  a  period  would   immediately  be  put  to  all  ^"' 
the    encroachments  and   ravages  of  a  mercilefs  enemy. 
Every   heart  was    gladdened   at  the  profpeft    of  the  en- 
largement of   the  Britifli   einpire  and  the   augmentation 
of  the  national  commerce.     When  therefore,  from  fuch 
harmonious  and  general  exertion,  and  fuch  uncommon 
expenfe,  they  experienced   nothing  but   lofs  and  difap- 
pointment,  the  chagrin  and  depreilion  were  proportion- 
ably  great. 

However,  the  importance  of  driving  the  French  from 
Canada,  and  the  necefhty  of  immediate  exertions  to  pre- 
ferve  the  friendfhip  and  keep  up  the  fpirit  of  the  five  na- 
tions, without  which  the  frontiers  would  become  a  fieI4 
pf  blood,  induced  the  colonies  to  keep  the  obje£l  ftill  in 
view.     A  congrefs  of  governors  was  appointed  and  met  Conven- 
at  Rehoboth,  the  beginning  of  Odlober,  to  deliberate  on  ^'"•'^  "^ 
the  fubjea.     General  Nicholfon,    Colonel  Vetch,   and  So^^'^"°"' 
Others  met  with  them.     An  addrefs  was  agreed  upon  to 
her  majefty,  reprefenting  the  great  harmony  and  exer- 
tions of  the   colonies,  in  her  majefty's  fervice,  the  im- 
portance of  reducing  the  French  in  North   America  19 
her  majefty's  obedience,  praying  her  majefty  to  grant  the 
colonies  an  surmament,  with  their  afBftance,  adequate  t9 
th«  d^fign. 


46o  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XVIII. 

Book  I.        When  the   general  aflembly  convened,  in   0£lober, 

W-^'V^w^    Governor  Saltonftall  communicated  the  tranfaOions  of 

j^''°9-  the  governors  of  the  feveral  colonies,  and  the  ackircfs, 

0«fl.  lUh    ■^'^I'ch  they  had  prepared,  to  her  majefty.     The  aflembly 

J 709.  approved  the  addrefs,  and  determined  on  a  fimilar  one 

themfelves.     Governor  Saltonflall   was  appointed  agent 

to  make  a  voyage  to  England,  and  prefent  it  in  perfon  to 

her  majefly.     Provifion  was   alfo  made  for  the  experife 

of  his  agency. 

Notwithstanding  the  war,  the  colony  made  pro- 
grefs  in  fettlement.      In    1708,   John    Belden,   Samuel 
Keeler,  Matthew  Seymour,  Matthias  St.  John,  and  other 
inhabitants  of  Norwalk,   to  the  number  of   twenty-five, 
purchafed  a  large  tra61:,  between  that  town,  and  Danbnry, 
bounded  weft  on  the  partition  line  between  Conne£licut 
RIdecfield  ^"^  New-York.     The  purchafe  was  made  of  Catoonah, 
purchafed  the  chief  f\\chem,  and  other  Indians,  who  v/ere  the  pro- 
a.nd  made    prietors   of  that  part   of  the  country.     The  deed  bears 
a  town.       (Jate  September  30th,  1708.      At  this  feffion,  it  was  or- 
dained, that  it  {hould  be  a  diftinCl  townfliip,  by  the  name 
of  Ridgeneld. 
Elcflion  The  only  alteration  made,  by  the  election,  in  17 10, 

May  sith,  was  the  choice  of  Matthew  Allen,  Efquire,  in  the  place 
'?^**  of  Daniel  Witherel,  Efquire. 

New-York,  as  well  as    Conneflicut  and  the   other 

New-England  colonies,  had    made  great  exertions,    the 

laft  campaign,  for  the  reduction  of  Canada.     New-York, 

by  means  of  the  great  influence  of  Colonel  Schuyler,  had 

been  able  to    bring    fix  hundred  of  the   Indians   of  the 

Meafiires    Eive  nations  into  the  field.      The  colonel  was  extremely 

adopted      difcontented  at  the   late  difappointment.     No   man  had 

to  obtain     niore  extenfive  views  of  the  importance  of  expelling  the 

an  arma-     f  ^(^nch  from   this  northern  continent,   and  more  zeal  in 

irienttrom     ,  r        ^  i  o  r   1  i        •    a 

England,  ^he  cauie  than  he.  00  powerrui  was  the  iniluence, 
which  the  afl^ir  had  upon  his  mind, that  he  determined  to 
make  a  voyage  to  England,  at  his  own  private  expenfe, 
and  to  carry  with  him  five  fachems  of  the  Five  nations, 
that  by  their  reprefentations,  the  more  fenfible  impref- 
fions  might  be  made  upon  her  majefty  and  the  Britifli 
court.  The  afl'embly  of  New- York  had  determined  to 
addrefs  her  majefty  on  the  fubjedl:  ;  and  no  foonerwas 
the  houfe  apprized  of  his  defign,  than  they  unanimoufly 
refolved,  that  he  fhould  pirefent  their  addrefs  to  her  fa- 
cred  majefty.  Accordingly  Colonel  Schuyler  went  to 
England,  and  prefented  the  addrefs.  The  Indian  fachems 
Vf^X^  alfo  introduced  to  the  Queen.     They  repi-efente^ 


Chap.  XVIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.      461 

their  long  war,  in  conjundllon  with  her  children,  againfl:  booK  I. 
her  enemies,  the  French  :  That  they  had  been  a  fliong  u*«-v*nJ 
wall  of  defence  to  her  colonies,  to  the  lofs  of  their  beft.  171-^- 
warriors;  and   that  they   mightily  rejoiced  when   they  Addrefsof 
heard  their  great  Queen  had  refolved  to  fend  an  army  to  jj^^,.J^  ^q 
Canada.     They  faid,   that,  in  token  of  their  friendfhlp,  Queen 
they  had,  with  one  confent,  hung  up  the  kettle  and  taken  Anne, 
up  the  hatchet  and  aflifted  General  Nlcholfon  ;  but  when 
fhey  found,  that  their   great  Queen,  by  fome  important 
affairs,  had   been  diverted  from  her  defign  of  fubduing 
the  French,  it  made  them  forrowtul,  left  the  enemy,  who 
hitherto  had  dreaded  them,fhould  now  Imagine, they  were 
unable  to  make  war  upon  them.     They  reprefented,  that 
the  reduction  of  Canada  was  of  great   weight   to  them, 
that  they  might  hunt  freely.     They  infifted,  that  if  their 
great  Queen  fhould  be  unmindful  of  them,  they  and  their 
families  muft  forfake  their  country  and  feek  other  habit- 
ations, or  they  muft  ftand  neuter  ;  neither  of  which  fuited 
their  inclinations.     In  hope  of  their  great  Queen's  favor 
they  referred  the  affair  to  her  gracious  confideration. 

General  Nlcholfon  went  to  England,  in  the  fall  of 
1709,  on  the  fame  bufinefs,  to  follcit  a  force  agalnft  Can- 
ada. Governor  Saltonftall,  for  fome  reafon,  did  not  ac- 
cept of  the  agency  to  which  he  had  been  appointed.  The 
addrefs  of  Connedlicut,  it  feems,  was  fent  to  be  prefented 
by  another  hand.  In  confequence  of  thefe  united  appli- 
cations, great  encouragements  were  given,  that  an  expe- 
dition would  be  again  undertaken  agalnft  Canada.  In 
July,  advice  arrived  in  New-England,  that  Lord  Shan- 
non, with  a  fleet  deftined  for  that  fervice,  was  under  fail- 
ing orders.  Nlcholfon,  who  failed  with  feveral  fhlps  of 
force  and  fome  tranfports  from  England,  in  the  fpring, 
came  over  with  that  expedlatlon.  However  it  finally 
proved,  that  the  redudlion  of  Port  Royal  and  Nova  Sco- 
tia was  the  only  objedl. 

In  confequence  of  a  letter  from  her  majefty,  requiring  Special  af- 
thc  afliftance  of  her  fubjedls,  in  this  colony,  in  the  expe-  fembly 
dition,  a  fpecial  afl'embly  was  convoked,  on  the  14th  of  Aug. 14th. 
Auguft.     Befide  the  lofs  of  lives  the  laft  year,  many  of 
the  foldiers  then  in  fervice  remained  in  a  fickly  and  weak 
condition.     The  enemy  infulted  the  frontier  towns,  and 
the  colony  was  obliged  to  keep  a  large  number  of  men  in 
pay  for  their  defence.     Neverthclefs,  fuch  was  the  obe- 
dience of  the  legiflature  to  her  majefty's  commands,  and 
their  zeal  for  her  fervice,  that  they  cheerfully  voted  three 
hundred  men  for  tlje  expedition.     Veflels  and  failors 


A^2 


THE    HISTORY 


CHip.  xviir. 


Book  I, 
1710. 

Kxpedi- 
tion  a- 
gainftPort 
Koyal. 


It  fiirren- 
ders  Oa. 


Jure  8th, 

J7iJ' 


Junei4th. 
Fleet  ar- 
rives. 


were  procured,  and  all  neceflary  provlfion  was  made  for 
the  tranfportation  and  fupport  of  the  troops.  In  about 
a  month  they  were  raifed  and  traufported  to  Bofton. 

On  the  1 8th  of  September,  a  fleet  of  thirty-fix  fhips 
of  war  and  tranfports  failed  from  Nantaflfet  for  Port 
Royal.  There  were  fourteen  tranfports  in  the  pay  of 
Maflachufetts,  five  in  the  pay  of  Connetlicuc,  two  of 
New-Hampfliire,  and  three  of  Rhode-Ifland.  The  chief 
command  was  given  to  General  Nicholfon.  On  the  24th, 
the  fleet  and  army  arrived  at  Port  Royal.  The  troops 
landed  without  oppofition  and  made  an  eafy  conqueft. 
On  the  2 1  ft  of  O^ober,  the  engineers  opened  three  bat- 
teries of  two  mortars  and  twenty  four  eohorns  in  the 
whole.  At  the  fame  time,  a  bomb  fhip,  called  the  Star 
bomb,  plied  the  enemy  with  her  lliells.  The  next  day 
Monfieur  Subercafe  capitulated,  furrendering  the  fort  and 
country  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 

General  Nicholfon  left  a  fufficient  garrifon  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Vetch,  his  adjutant  general, 
who  had  been  appointed  to  the  government  of  the  coun- 
try. In  this  expedition,  the  Mary  Galley,  commanded 
by  Captain  Taye,  a  traufport  in  the  fervice  of  Connecti- 
cut, ran  aground  and  was  loft.  Twenty-fix  men  were 
drowned.*  Fourteen  or  fifteen  were  loft  in  the  expedi- 
tion, while  the  troops  were  invefting  and  befieging  the 
fort.  This  was  the  whole  Lofs  fuftained  in  the  enterprife. 
From  this  time  the  name  was  changed,  and  the  port  wa* 
named  Aimapolis  Royal. 

General  Nicholfon,  animated  with  his  late  fuccefs, 
in  the  fall,  made  a  fecond  voyage  to  England,  to  folicit 
another  expedition  againft  Canada. 

The  country  in  general  had  no  expeftations,  that  he 
would  fucceed  in  his  defign.  They  could  not  imagine, 
that  Queen  Anne's  tory  miniftry  would  attempt  any 
thing  of  this  nature  for  New-England.  Contrary,  how- 
ever, to  all  expe£lation,  the  aiFair  was  refumed.  In  June, 
General  Nicholfon  arrived,  at  Bofton,  with  the  news, 
that  a  fleet  might  foon  be  expected  from  England,  and 
with  her  majefty's  orders  that  the  feveral  governments 
of  New-England,  New-York,  New-Jerfey,  and  Pennfyl- 
vania  ihould  have  their  refpeClive  quotas  in  immediate 
readinefs  for  the  expedition. 

CoNSEQjJENTLT  z  general  meeting  of  the  governors  of 
the  feveral  colonies  was  immediately  appointed  at  New- 

*  This  tranfport  was  hired  Dtone  Mr.  Vryling,  of  Bofton,  and 
the  colony  paid  him  abovit  jCi;Goq  for  the  loftf  of  his  veflcl. 


CrtAP.XVIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        453 

London.     Sixteen  days  after  the  arrival  of  General  Nich-  Book  I. 
olfon,  the  fleet  arrived  at  Boflon.     But  it  was  very  ex-  v^^vx-/ 
traordinary  that  the  fleet  had  neither  pilots  nor  provifions.  1711. 
Ten  weeks  provifions  were  demanded  for  the  army.     It 
had  been   fufpefted  before  this,  that  the  redudion  of  Sufpicions 
Canada  was  not  really  defigned  by  the  miniftry.     Thefe  of  tlie 
circumftances  increnfed    the    ufpicion.     It  was   much  ^°^^"^''y* 
doubted,  whether,  in  the  then  l\ate  of  the   country,  it 
were  pofiible,  in  fo  fliort  a  time,  as  was  neceflary,  to  pro- 
cure fuch  a  quantity  of  provifions,  as  had  been  demand- 
ed.    There  was,   at  the  fame  time,   a  ftrong  fufpicion, 
that  if  the  expedition  (hould  mifcarry,  it  was  defigned  to 
throw  the  whole  blame  upon  New-England.     Whether 
thefe  fufpicions  were  well  grounded  or  not,  it  is  certain, 
that  they  had  great  influence,  together  with  the    zeal 
which  the  colonies  had  for  the  fervice,  to  draw  forth 
their  utmoft  exertions. 

When  the  fleet  arrived  at  Bofton  the  governors  were 
met  in  convention,  at  New-London,   concerting  meaf- 
ures  for  profecuting  the  expedition  with  the  utmoft  har- 
mony and  difpatch.     The  general  courts  of  Mafl^achufettS 
and  Connecticut  were  in    a£lual   feflfion.     The  general  Conduft 
affembly  of  Connefticur  convene'd  on  the  19th  of  June.  ?    uf      „ 
A  letter  was  communicated  from  her  majefty  and  another  fpefting 
from  General  Nicholfon  refpe£ling  the  expedition.    The  the  expe- 
aflembly  refolved,  that  three  hundred    and   fixty   men  dition, 
fhould  be    raifed  forthwith,  as  the  quota  of  this  colony  J""^ '9th> 
in  the  expedition.     It  was  alfo  refolved,  that  four  months 
provifions  fhould  be  immediately   procured,   and  that  a 
fuitable  veflel   fhould  be   provided  to  tranfport  them  to 
Albany,  and  to  accommodate  the  fick  and  convey  them 
back  to  Conned\icut. 

The  aflembly  alfo  addrefled  a  letter  to  her  majefty, 
returning  her  their  moft  humble  and  dutiful  acknowl- 
edgements,  for  that  great  exprefiion  of  her  royal  care  for 
her  colonies  and  their  peace  and  welfare,  which  ftie  had 
manifefted  in  the  appointment  of  the  prefent  expedition 
agfeinft  the  common  enemy.  They  particularly  thanked 
her  majefty  for  her  royal  bounty  towards  the  colony,  in 
farnifliing  the  troops  with  clothing,  arms,  and  ammuni- 
tion, by  which  they  were  better  enabled  to  bear  the  an- 
fiual  expenfes  of  the  war.  They  reprefented  to  her  ma- 
jefty, in  a  ftrong  point  of  light,  the  horrible  manner  in 
which  the  enemy  carried  on  the  war ;  lying  in  ambufti, 
killing  and  fcalping  fmgle  perfons,  upon  the  frontiers, 
furprifing  and  Cutting  off  f aaiilies;  ftealing  captives,  tor- 


4<54 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XVIIL 


Book  I. 
1711 


Univerfal 
harmony 
and  exer- 
tion. 


The  ar- 
nnment 
fails  from 
Boaon 
July  30th, 


turlng  and  enflaving  them.  They  promifed  a  hearty 
concurrence  with  the  royal  requifitions,  and  a  zealous 
performance  of  whatever  might  contribute  to  the  fuccefs 
of  the  expedition. 

To  animate  the  general,  and  ingratiate  themfelves  with 
him,  the  legiflature  appointed  a  committee  to  return  him 
their  thanks,  for  the  good  fervices  he  had  rendered  to 
her  majefty's  plantations  in  North  America ;  and  efpe- 
cially  to  Conne£l:icut,  in  his  former  good  conduct  of  the 
troops  under  his  command.  They  thanked  him,  not 
only  for  his  important  fervices  in  the  redu6lion  of  Port 
Royal  and  Nova  Scotia,  but  for  the  great  pains  he  had 
taken  fince,  in  making  a  voyage  to  England,  and  repre- 
fenting  to  her  majefty  the  true  flate  and  intereft  of  the 
colonies,  and  by  that  means  obtaining  her  orders  for  the 
then  prefent  expedition. 

A  PUNCTUAL  compliance  with  her  majefty's  orders  was 
univerfally  recommended  by  the  governors  in  convention 
and  by  the  feveral  legiflatures.  Nottnly  the  feveral  col- 
onies but  individuals  exerted  themfelves  beyond  what  had 
been  known  upon  any  other  occafion. 

In  a  little  more  than  a  month,  from  the  arrival  of  the 
fleet,  the  new  levies  and  provifions,  for  that  and  the  ar- 
my, were  ready.  Upon  the  30th  of  July,  the  whole  ar- 
mament failed  from  Bofton  for  Canada.  It  confifted  of 
fifteen  men  of  war,  twelve  direcSlly  from  England,  and 
three  which  had  before  been  itationed  in  America  ;  forty 
tranfports,  fix  ftore  fhips,  and  a  fine  train  of  artillery 
with  all  kinds  of  warlike  ftores.  The  land  army  on 
board  confifted  of  five  regiments  from  England  and  Flan- 
ders, and  two  regiments  raifed  in  Maffachufetts,  Rhode- 
Ifland,  and  New-Hampfhire  ;  amounting  in  the  whole 
to  nearly  feven  thoufand  men.  The  fleet  was  com- 
manded by  Sir  Hovenden  Walker  ;  and  the  army  by 
Brigadier  Hill,  brother  to  Mrs.  Maftiam,  then  the  Queen's 
favorite.  The  land  force  was  about  equal  to  that  which, 
under  General  Wolf,  afterward  reduced  Quebec,  though 
at  that  time  it  was  not  half  fo  ftrong,  as  when  it  was  re- 
duced by  that  famous  general. 

Upon  the  fame  day,  on  which  the  fleet  failed  from 
Bofton,  General  Nicholfon  began  his  journey  for  Alba- 
ny, where,  a  few  days  after,  he  appeared  at  the  head  of 
four  thoufand  men,  from  the  colonies  of  Connefticut, 
New- York,  and  New-Jerfey.  The  troops  from  Con- 
nedlicut  were  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Whiting, 
who  was  an  experienced  officer,  and  had  commanded 


Chap.  XVIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.     45^.. 

them  the  lafl  year,  at  Port  Royal.     The  New- York  and  Book  I. 
New-Jerfey  troops  were  commanded  by  Colonels  Schuy-  v.x'V">i^ 
ler  and  Ingoldfby.     Connecticut,   befides  viftualiing  its  1711. 
own  troops,  furniftied  New-York  with  two  hundred  fat 
cattle  and  fix  hundred  (heep.     Thus,  in  abouc  five  weeks, 
the  colonies  had  raifed  two  confiderable  armies  and  fur- 
nifhed  them  with  provifions.     More  than  this  could  not 
have  been  expelled. 

Admiral  Walker  arrived  in  the  mouth  of  St.  Law-* 
rence,  on  the  14th  of  Auguft.  That  he  might  not  lofe 
the  company  of  the  tranfports,  as  was  pretended,  he  put 
into  the  bay  of  Gafpee,  on  the  18th,  where  he  continued 
until  the  20th  of  the  month.  On  the  22d,  two  days  af- 
ter he  failed  from  the  bay,  the  fleet  appeared  to  be  in 
the  moft  hazardous  circumftances.  It  was  without 
foundings,  without  fight  of  land ;  the  (ky  was  darkened 
with  a  thick  fog,  and  the  wind  high  at  eaft  fouth  eaft. 
In  this  fituation  the  fhips  brought  to,  with  their  heads 
to  the  fouthward.  This  was  done  with  an  expectation 
that  the  wind  would  drive  them  into  the  midft  of  the 
channel.  But  inftead  of  this,  about  midnight,  the  fea- 
men  difcovered  that  they  were  driven  upon  the  north 
{hore  among  rocks  and  iflands,  upon  the  verge  of  a  total 
fhipwreck.  Eight  or  nine  of  the  Britifh  tranfports  were 
call  away,  onboard  of  which  were  about  feventeen  hun- 
dred  officers  and  foldiers.  Nearly  a  thoufand  men  were  *"'P" 
loft.  The  admiral  and  general  were  in  the  moft  immi-  Aug.aa. 
nent  danger,  and  faved  themfelves  by  anchoring.  Such 
was  the  violence  of  the  ftorm  that  they  loft  feveral  an- 
chors. Upon  this  difafter,  the  admiral  bore  away  for 
Spanlfti  river  bay  •,  but  the  wind  ftiifting  to  the  eaft  it 
was  eight  days  before  all  the  tranfports  arrived.  In  the 
fame  time,  as  the  wind  was,  they  might  have  eafily  arri- 
ved at  Quebec.  It  was  there  determined,  by  a  council 
of  land  and  naval  officers,  that  as  they  had  but  ten  weeks 
provifion,  and  could  not  expe£l  a  fupply  from  New-Eng- 
land, to  make  no  further  attempt.  The  admiral  failed 
directly  for  En  /"-nd,  and  arrived  at  Portfmouth  on  the 
9th  of  Odlober.  Here  the  fleet  fufi^ered  another  furpri- 
fmg  calamity.  The  Edgar,  a  70  gun  ftiip,  blew  up,  ha- 
ving on  board  four  hundred  men,  befides  many  perfons 
who  were  juft  come  on  board  to  vifit  their  friends.  As 
the  caufe  of  this  event  was  wholly  unknown,  jealous 
minds  were  not  without  fuggeftions,  that  even  this,  as 
well  as  the  other  difafter,  was  the  efie<^  of  horrid  defign. 
M  m  m 


466  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y      Chap.  XVIII. 

Book  I.        The  admiral  and  Englifli  officers,  to  exculpate  them- 
y.,^^/-^  felves,  laid  the  blame  wholly  upon  the  colonies,  that  they 
1711.         were  delayed  folong  for  provifion  and  the  raifing  of  the 
TheWime  provincials,  and  that  they  had  fuch  unfkilful  pilots.   The 
imputed     aclmiral  declared,  that  it  was  the  advice  of  the  pilots  that 
«nies.         ^^^  ^^^*  fliouid  come  to  in  the  manner  it  did,  but  the  pi- 
lots, from  New-England,  declared,  upon  oath,  that  they 
gave  no  fuch  advice.     If  any  fuch  was  given  it  mull  have 
been  by  the  French  pilots  on  board,  either  through  mif- 
take  or  upon  defign.      Charlevoix    reprcfents,  that  the 
French  pilots  warned  the  admiral  of  his  danger,  but  that 
he  did  not  fufficiently  regard  them. 

The  whigs,  in  England,  generally  cenfured  the  mlnif- 
try  for  their  conduct  refpe£ling  the  expedition.  Lord 
Harley  reprefented  the  whole  affair  as  a  contrivance  of 
Bolingbroke,  More,  and  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Harcourt, 
to  cheat  the  public  out  of  twenty  thoufand  pounds. 
Lord  Harcourt  was  pleafed  to  fay,  "  No  government  was 
**  worth  ferving,  that  would  not  admit  of  fuch  jobs." 
Another  Englifh  writer  obferves,  *<  That  if  the  minifbry 
**  were  fincere  in  the  profecution  of  the  war,  they  were 
"  certainly  the  mod  confummate  blunderers  that  ever 
**  undertook  the  government  of  aftate.''* 

General  Nicholfon  had  not  advanced  far  before  he 
received  intelligence  of  the  lofs  fuilained  by  the  fleet,  and 
the  army  foon  after  returned. 
,;  The  Marquis  De  Vaudreuil,  governor  of  Canada,  re- 

ceived intelligence  of  the"  arrival  of  the  fleet  from  Eng- 
land, and  of  the  preparations  making  in  the  colonies  for 
the  invafion  of  Canada,  and  had  omitted  nothing  in  his 
power  to  put  it  into  a  ftate  of  defence.  No  fooner  was 
he  apprized  of  fo  many  Ihips  wrecked  and  fo  many  bodies 
with  red  coats  driven  on  fliore,  and  that  the  river  was 
clear  of  Ihips,  than  he  ordered  the  whole  ilrength  of  Can- 
ada towards  Montreal  and  lake  Champlain.  At  Cham- 
bly  he  formed  a  camp  of  three  thoufand  men  to  oppofe 
General  Nicholfon.  Had  the  general  crofled  the  lake  it 
might  have  been  difficult  for  him  to  have  returned  in 
fafety. 

Very  providential  it  was,  that  all  the  provincial  tranf- 
ports,  except  a  fmall  vI61:ualler,  were  preferved.  The 
crew  of  the  victualler  were  faved,  and  not  a  provincial 
loft.  The  lofs  and  difappointment,  neverthelefs,  were 
exceedingly  grievous  to  the  colonies.     Many  pious  peo- 


Rider's  Hift.  of  England,  vol.  XXXII.  p.  189, 190. 


Chap.  XVIII.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.      467 

pie,  after  fo  many  attempts  had  been  blafted,  gave  up  all  Book  I. 
expe(Slations  of  the  conquefl  of  Canada.     They  imagin-  v«/^v-\^ 
edit  was  not  the  defign  of  providence,  that  this  northern  ^7^^- 
continent  (hould  ever  wholly  belong  to  any  one  nation. f 

Upon  the  return  of  General  Nicholfon's  army,  and 
the  report  of  Vaudreuil's  force,  the  country  were  not 
only  chagrined  with  difappointment,  but  alarmed  with 
fear.  They  were  apprehenfive,  that  the  enemy,  in  dif- 
ferent parties,  by  different  routes,  would,  with  redoubled 
fury,  harafs  and  defolate  the  country. 

To  return  to  the  affairs  of  Conneclicut,  the  hiftory  of 
which  has  been   in   fome  meafure  interrupted   with  the 
general  account  of  the  war,  it  fhould  be  obferved,  that  Jo- 
feph  Talcotc  was  this  year   chofen  into  the  magiftracy  in 
the  (lead  of  Jofiah  Rofiter,  Efquire.     An  important   al- 
teration was  alfo  made,  at  the  feffion  in  May,  refpe£ling 
the  fuperior  court.     Until  this   time,  it  had  been  holden 
at  two  places  only,  Hartford  and  New-Haven,  and  at  two  Superior 
terms  annually.     This  was  found  to  be  an   affair  of  ex-  court  ^ 
penfe    and  inconvenience.     It   was   therefore  refolved,  cularMa'y 
that  the  fuperior  court  fhould  lit  twice  annually,  in  each  1711. 
of  the  counties,  and  that  all  a£lions  (hould  be  tried  in  the 
county  in  which  they  originated. 

When  the  affembly  met  in  October,   an  addrefs  was  Otfl.  nth. 
prepared  to  be  prefented  to  her  raajefty  reprefenting  the 
exertions  of  the  colony  in  her  fervice,    condoling  her  on 
the  difappointment  with  refpe£l:  to  the  expedition,  and 
praying  for  the  continuance  of  her  favor  to  the  colony. 

At  the  feffion  in  May  1 708,  the  affembly  mxade  a  grant  Newtown 
of  a  townfliip  at  a  place  called  Pohtatuck,  from  a  river  of  '"corpo- 
that  name  upon  which  part  of  it  lies.     At   this  feffion  it 
was  incorporated  and  named  Newtown. 

A  TOWNSHIP  had  been  given,  feveral  years  before  this 
time,  by  Jofhua,  fachem  of  the  Moheagans,  lying  north  Coventry 
of  Lebanon  and  weft  of  Mansfield,  to  certain  honorable  fettledand 
legatees  in  Hartford.     The   donation  was  approved  by  l.^fpd^°' 
the  affembly.     The  legatees  conveyed  their  right  to  Wil- 
liam Pitkin,  Jofeph  Talcott,  William  Whiting,  and  Rich- 
ard Lord,  to  be  a  committee  to  lay  out  faid  townffiip  and 
make   fettlements   on  the   lands.      On  the  9th  of  May 
1 706,  the  general  affembly  authorized  thofe  gentlemen  to 
a6l  as  a  committee  for  thofe  purpofes.     October  1 1  th, 
171 1,  this  committee  was  re-appointed,  with  one  Na- 
thaniel Ruft,  who  had  already  fettled  upon  the  lands, 

t  Hutchinfon  Voi.  II.  p.  193 — 196.    Smith's  Hift.  of  Nevr? 
York,  p,  130, 131. 


468 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XVI:I. 


X711. 


Special  af- 
fembly 
Nov.  3d, 
X71I. 


Book  I.  more  effe£lually  to  carry  into  execution  the  defign  of 
their  former  appointment.  The  townfliip,  at  the  fame 
feflion,  was  named  Coventry.  Nathaniel  Ruft  and  fome 
others  fettled  in  the  town  about  the  year  lyco  ;  but  the 
fettlement  of  it  has  generally  been  dated  from  1 709.  In 
the  fpring  of  this  year,  a  number  of  good  houfeholders, 
from  Northampton  and  other  places,  moved  into  the 
town,  and  the  inhabitants  were  fo  increafed,  in  about  two 
years,  that  they  were  incorporated  with  the  privileges  of 
other  towns.  The  planters  were  from  a  great  variety  of 
places,  but  principally  from  Northampton  and  Hartford. 
In  confequence  of  letters  from  Governor  Dudley,  of 
Bofton,and  from  General  Nicholfon,  relative  to  the  un- 
fuccefsfulnefs  of  the  late  expedition,  a  fpecial  affembly 
was  called,  November  3d,  171 1.  The  defign  of  it  was 
to  confult  the  beft  means  of  acquainting  her  majefly  tru- 
ly how  the  affair  was  ;  what  exertions  the  colonies  had 
made,  and  that  it  was  not  through  any  fault  of  theirs  that 
the  enterprife  was  fruftrated.  It  was  judged  beft,  that 
the  colonies  fhouldmake  a  joint  reprefentation,  and  that 
the  pilots  fhould  be  fent  to  England,  to  be  examined  and 
declare  before  her  majefty  what  they  knew  concerning 
the  {hipwreck.  The  affembly  determined,  that  the  af- 
fair M^as  of  great  importance  to  the  colonies  j  and  that 
John  Mayhew,  of  New-London,  who  was  the  only  pilot 
from  Connecticut,  fliould,  forthwith,  proceed  to  Great 
Britain,  with  the  pilots  from  Maflachufetts.  It  was  alfo 
refolved  jointly,  with  the  other  colonies,  to  petition  her 
majefty  for  another  armament, in  the  fpring,  to  aflift  them 
in  the  reduction  of  Canada.  In  the  petition  from  Con- 
jie£i:icut,  the  legiflature  lamented  the  mifcarriage  of  the 
expedition,  and  the  fatal  confequences  of  it  to  thefe  colo- 
nies. They  reprefented  it  would  put  them  to  great  ex- 
penfe  to  employ  fuch  a  number  of  men  as  were  neceflary 
to  defend  fuch  extenfive  frontiers  as  theirs  were ;:  and 
that,  after  all  their  exertions,  one  family  and  town  after 
another  would  be  fwept  away  by  the  enemy.  They  ex- 
preffed  their  apprehenfions,  that  unlefs  another  expedi- 
tion fhould  be  undertaken  againft  the  enemy,  they  would, 
in  the  fp'  ing,  fend  out  a  greater  number  of  fcalping  and 
plundering  parties,  than  they  had  done  in  the  preceding 
years  of  the  war  •,  and  that  her  majefty's  fubjecSts  would 
be  greatly  diftreiled.  It  was  alfo  fuggefted,  that  there 
was  danger  that  the  enemy  would  draw  off  many  of  the 
Indians  v/ho  dwelt  among  them,  as  well  as  the  Indians 
of  the  Five  nations,  and  engage  them  againft  the  colo- 


Chap.  XVIII.    OF    CONNECTICUT.       469 

nies.     It  was  alfo  urged,  that  the  colonies  were  of  great  Book  I. 
importance  to  her  majefty's    intereft,    and  that  it  would  v^/v^s^ 
be  impolitic  to  fuffer  the  enemy  to  poflefs  fo  large  a  pro-  1711. 
portion  of  her  majefty's  dominions  in  North  America,  as 
they  a£lually  inhabited    and    claimed.     It  was  infifted, 
that,  by  the  Imiles  of  providence  on  her  majefty's  arms, 
the  fettlements  in  Canada  night  be  eafily  reduced  to  her 
majefty's  obedience.     They  prayed  her  to  revive  the  ex- 
pedition, and  promifed  a  cheerful  obedience  to  her  com- 
mands in  contributing  their  proportion  to  the  common 
fervice.* 

The  petitions  were  fent  over  feafonably,  and  the  pilots 
were  a  confiderable  time  in  London,  waiting  to  be^ex* 
amined  and  give  information,  relative  to  the  lofs  of  the 
tranfports,  and  the  mifcarriage  of  the  expedition.  How- 
ever no  examination  was  ever  made  concerning  the  fail- 
ure of  the  enterprife.  It  did  not  appear,  that  much  had 
been  expefted  from  it,  in  England,  nor  that  people  were 
difcontentedatthe  iflue,orintereftedthemfelvesvery  great- 
ly in  the  affair.  The  court  fhewed  no  difpofition  to 
make  any  further  attempt  upon  Canada. 

The  election  in  1 7 1 2  made  little  or  no  alteration  with  Eietfiion 
refpe£l  to   public    officers.     Nothing   very  material  ap-  May  8tli, 
pears  to  have  been  tranfadled  this  year.     The  legiflature  171a. 
made  the  ufual  provifion   for  the   defence  of  this  colony 
and  the  county  of  Hampfhire. 

Nathan  Gould,  Efquire,  the  deputy  governor,  was  T>e„„]3. 
appointed  chief  judge  of  the   fuperior  court.     William  ^jon  of  the 
Pitkin,   Richard  Chriftophers,  Peter  Burr,  and  Samuel  fuperior 
Eells,  Efquires,  were  appointed  affiftant  judges.     In  the  courtMay 
abfence  of  the  deputy  governor,  William  Pitkin  was  ap-  •^7i»« 
pointed  chief  judge  ;  and  in  cafeeither  of  the  other  judges 
were  abfent,  any  one  of  the   magiftrates  was  authorized 
to  fit  in  his  ftead.     Until  this  time,  the  judges  of  the  fu- 
perior court  had   been  allowed  nothing  more  than  the 
fees  of  it.     An  aft  was  therefore  pafTed,  at  the  Oftober 
feflion,  that  the  judges,  for  the  time  being,  upon  laying 
their  accounts  before  the  afl'emby,  fliould  be  allowed  an 
honorable  compenfation  for  their  expenfes  and  fervices. 

About  this  time,  the  inhabitants  of  New-Milford  were  New-Mll- 
incorporated  and  vefted  with  town  privileges.-}-  fordincor 

..  porated 

*  Petition  on  file.  Oft.  9th. 

f  About  this  time,  William  Patridge,  Efquire,  of  Newbury, 
and  Jonathan  Belcher,  of  Bofton,  opened  a  copper  mine  at  Simf- 
bury  ;  and  for  their  encouragement  the  aflembly  exempted  the 
ninerst  operators  and  laborerf  from  military  duties^  for  the  term 
of  four  years. 


47a  THEHISTORY         Chap.  XVIII, 

Book  I.  At  the  eIe£lion  in  May  1713,  Mr.  John  Sherman, 
V^-VX-/  who  had  been  fome  time  fpeaker  of  the  lower  houfe,  was 
1713.         chofen  into^the  magifliracy. 

InO£lober  1687,  a  grant  of  lands,  commonly  called 
Pomfret     f]^g  Malhamoquet  purchafe,  was  made,  by  the  general  af- 
ratedMav  f^mbly,  to  Major  James  Fitch,  Lieutenant  William  Rug- 
1713.         gles,Mr.  John  Gore,  Mr.  John  Pierpont, Mr.  John  Chand- 
ler, Mr.  BenjaminSabin,  Mr.  Samuel  Craft,  Mr.  John  Grof-^ 
venor,  Mr.Jofeph  Griffin,  Mr.  Samuel  and  John  Ruggles, 
and  Mr.  Nathan  Wilfon.  The  moft  of  thefe planters  were 
fromRoxbury  inMaflachufetts.    Some  of  them  moved  on 
to  the  lands  in  1686,  before  the  grant  was  made.     At  the 
feflion  in  May    1713,   the  inhabitants  were  incorporated 
and  veiled  with  town  privileges.     The  name  was  changed 
from  Mafhamoquet  to  Promfret. 

In  1 708,  the  aflembly  of  Connecticut  determined,  that. 
Settle-  unlefs  the  province  of  MalTachufctts  would  accept  of  the 
mentor  terms  which  they  had  propofed,  relative  to  the  line  be- 
with  Maf-  t^^^"^  them,  they  would  make  application  to  her  majefty, 
fachu-  defiring  that  orders  might  be  given,  that  Maflachufetts 
fetts.  forthwith  (hould  mutually  join  with  Connetlicut  in  run^ 

ning  and  fettling  the  boundary  line  between  the  colonies. 
Maflachufetts,  at  that  time,  would  not  confent  to  run  the 
line,  as  it  had  been  propofed.     They  would  not  grant, 
that  there  had  been  any  miftake  in  running  it ;  but  if 
there  had  been,  they  infifted,  that,   as  it  was  run  fo  long 
before  the  charter  granted  to  Connecticut,  and  they  had 
been  in  pofTeffion  of  the  lands  in  controverfy  for  fixty  fix 
years,  and  feveral  towns  and  plantations  had  been  fettled 
upon  them,  it  was  not  then  reafonable  to  draw  it  into 
queftion.     The  aflembly  of  Connecticut  therefore,   in 
1709,  approved  a  letter,  addrefljid  to  the  Lords  of  trade, 
giving  reafons  why  the  line  run  by  Woodward  and  Safl^e- 
ry  ought  not  to  be  efl;abli{l-ied  ;  and  it  feems  to  have  been 
the  determination  of  the  legiflature  to  have  appealed  to 
Reafonsof  her  majeft:y  with  refpe£l  to  the  partition  line  j  but  feve- 
fettling  it  ral  circumftances  finally  prevented.     Governor  Dudley, 
without     j^}iQ  ^as  a  man  of  uncommon  intrigue  and  duplicity,  had 
to  her  ma-  ^^ny  friends  and  great  influence  at  court.     Connedlicut 
jefty.         had  no  fuch  friends  or  influence  with  the  court  party. 
Sir  Henry  Afhurft,  their  agent  for  many  years,  appears 
now  to  have  been  no  more  ;    and  they  had  not  yet  fufli- 
cient  time  to  fix  upon  and  have  proof  of  the  fidelity  and 
ability  of  another  in  his  place.     The  colony  was  poor, 
and  had  been  put  to  great  expenfe   in  defending  itfelf  a- 
gainft  the  complaints  of  Governor  Dudley,  Lord  Cora» 


€HAr.  XVIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT.      471 

biiry,  and  other  enemies,  and  agalnft  the  claims  of  Mafon  Book  I. 
and  his  party.     The  miniftry  were  high  tories,  and  in-  v.>'V%^ 
imical  to  all  charter  governments.     The  legiflature  were  ^7*3« 
apprehenfive  that  their  enemies   were  again  concerting 
meafures  to  deprive  them  of  all  the  privileges,  which  they 
had  fo  dearly  bought.     Maflachufetts  alfo,  in  fome  good 
meafure,  agreed  to  part  of  the  terms  propofed  in  1708. 
It  was  therefore,  in  full  view  of  thefe  circumflances, 
judged  moft  expedient  to  make  the  belt  fettlement  which 
could  be  obtained,  without  an  appeal  to  her  majefty. 

Upon  the  13th  of  July  1713,  commiiTioners,  fullyem-  Settlc- 
powered  from   each   of  the  colonies,  came  to  an  agree-  ment  of 
ment   which  was  adopted  by  each  court.     They  were  bounda- 
both  careful  to  fecure  the  property  to  the  perfons  to  whom  MaVTchu- 
they  had  made  grants  of  lands,  and  to  maintain  the  ju-  fetts. 
rifdi£lion   over  the  towns  which   they  had  refpeflively 
fettled.     It  was  therefore  cxprefsly  flipulated,  as  a  pre- 
liminary, that  the   towns  fhould  remain  to  the  govern- 
ments, by  which  they  had  been  fettled  ;  and   that  the 
property  of  as  many  acres  as  ihould  appear  to  be  gained, 
by  one  colony  from  the  other,  Ihould  be  conveyed  out  of 
other  unimproved  land,  as  a  fatisfadlion  or  equivalent. 
With  refpedl:  to  about  two  miles,  claimed  by  Windfor 
upon  the   town   of  Suffield,  concerning   the  validity  of 
which  there  had  been  a  long  contefl,  it  was  agreed,  that, 
if  the  tract  fell  within  the  line,  it  fliould  belong  to  Con- 
ne6licut. 

On  running  the  line  it  was  found,  at  Connedlicut 
river,  to  run  ninety  rods  north  of  the  northeaft  bounds  of 
Suffield  j  and  it  appeared,  that  Maflachufetts  had  en- 
croached upon  Connedlicut  107,793  ^cres,  running  a 
due  weft  line  from  Woodv/ard's  and  SaiFery's  ftation. 
Maflachufetts  made  a  grant  of  fuch  a  quantity  of  land  to 
Conne6licTJt,  and  it  was  accepted  as  equivalent.  The 
whole  was  fold,  in  fixteen  fliares,  in  1716,  for  the  fum 
of  ^^683  New-England  currency.*  The  money  was  ap- 
plied to  the  ufc  of  the  college. 

Notwithstanding  the   long  and  expenfive  contrc-  With 
verfy  of  Connedticut  with  the  colony  of  Rhode-Ifland,  Rhede-Ifl* 
relative  to  the  Narraganfet  country,  and  notwithftanding  ^^^' 
the  king's  commiflloners,  and  attornies  of  the  greateft 

*  This  was  a  little  more  than  a  farthing  per  acre,  and  ftiows  of 
what  fmall  value  land  was  efteemcd  at  that  day.  It  affords  alfo  a 
ftrikingdemonftration,  that  confidering  the  txpenfe  of  purcha- 
lingthem  of  the  natives,  and  of  defending  thtm,  they  coll  our 
jtnceftors  five,  if  not  ten  times  their  vdlue. 


472 


THE    HISTORY        Chap.  XVIII. 


Book  I.  fame,  determined,  that  the  title  was  undoubtedly  in  the 
V^W^  governor  and  company  of  this  colony,  yet  it  was  judged 
5 713'  expedient  to  give  up  the  claim.  Lands  were  of  fo  little 
value,  and  controverfies  before  king  and  council  fo  expen- 
iive,  and  the  event  fo  uncertain,  that  the  Ifgiflature  de- 
termined rather  to  comply  with  Governor  Winthrop's  and 
Clark's  agreement,  than  to  prolong  the  controverfy. 
The  court  party  both  in  King  WilUam's  and  Queen 
Anne's  reign,  appeared  relu£lant  to  eftablifh  the  charter 
limits  of  Connetticut,  at  Narraganfet  river  and  bay,  oth- 
erwife  they  would  have  advifed  to  eftablifh  the  judgment 
of  the  king's  commiflioners  •,  and  the  king,  or  queen 
would  have  adopted  the  fame  opinion,  and  eftabliftied 
the  boundary  according  to  the  charter.  The  court  prob- 
ably were  influenced  by  political  principles.  The  eftab- 
lifhment  of  the  eaftern  boundary  of  Connefticut,  at  Nar- 
raganfet river  and  bay,  would  have  ruined  Rhode-Ifland, 
by  reducing  them  to  limits  too  fmall  for  a  colony.  Con- 
ne£licut  was  doubtlefs  fully  fenfible  of  thefe  difpofitions 
of  the  fovereigns  and  court  of  Great  Britain,  and  it  prob- 
ably operated  as  a  ftrong  motive  to  induce  them  to  give 
up  their  claim. 

In  O£lober  1702,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  make 
a  complete  fettlement  of  the  boundary  line  between  the 
colonies,  referving  to  all  perfons  concerned  their  entire 
property  in  lands  and  buildings,  according  to  the  agree- 
ment of  Governor  Winthrop  and  Mr.  Clark.  On  the 
1 2th  of  May  1703,  the  committees  from  the  two  colonies 
agreed,  "  That  the  middle  channel  of  Pawcatuck  river, 
alias  Narraganfet  river,  as  it  extends  from  the  fait  wa- 
ter upwards,  till  it  come  to  the  mouth  of  Alhaway 
river,  where  it  falls  into  the  faid  Pawcatuck  river,  and 
from  thence  to  run  a  (traight  line  till  it  meet  with  the 
fouthweft  bounds  or  corner  of  Warwick  grand  pur- 
chafe,  which  extends  twenty  miles  due  weft  from  a 
certain  rock  lying  at  the  out  moft  point  of  Warwick 
neck,  which  is  the  foutheafterly  bounds  of  faid  pur- 
chafe  ;  and  from  the  faid  fouthweft  bounds,  or  corner 
of  faid  purchafe,  to  run  upon  a  due  north  line  till  it 
meet  with  the  fouth  line  of  the  province  of  Maflachu- 
fetts  Bay  in  New-England :  This  to  be,  and  forever 
remain  to  be  the  fixed  and  ftated  line  between  the  faid 
colonies  of  Connedlicut  and  Rhode-Ifland.  Always 
provided,  and  it  is  hereby  intended,  that  nothing  in 
the  aforementioned  agreement,  or  any  claufe  thereof, 
Ihall  be  taken  or  deemed  to  be  the  breach  or  making 


C«AP.  XVIII.    O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       473 

**  void  of  the  fourth  article  in  the  agreement  made  be-  BdoK  I. 

"  tween  the  agents  of  the  faid  colonies  of  Conne6licut   ^.-x^''>^ 

<f  and  Rhode- Ifland,  viz.  John  Winthrop,  Efquire,  and  17 13. 

"  Mr.  Daniel  Clark,  for  maintaining  property,  dated  A- 

**  pril  7th,  1663,  but   that   the   fame  fhall  be  kept  and 

«'  juftly  performed,   according  to  the  true    intent  and 

*'  meaning  thereof;  and  that  all  former  grants  and  pur- 

"  chafes,  granted  by,  or  made  within  either  of  the  colo- 

**  nies  and  all  other  ancient  grants  confirmed  by  the  au- 

*^  thority  of  Conne£licut  colony  within  the  townfliip  of 

**  Weflerly,  in  the  colony  of  Rhode-Ifland,  fhall  be  duly 

"  preferved  and  maintained,  as  fully   and  amply,  to  all 

"  intents  and  purpofes,  as  if  they  were  lying  or  contin- 

"  ued  within  the  bounds  of  the  colony,  by  the  authotity 

*'  of  which  it  was  granted  or  purchafed.'  * 

Notwithstanding  this  agreement,  Rhode-Ifland^ 
about  this  time,  difowned  its  authenticity,  pretending 
that  their  commiflioners  were  not  empovv'ered  to  conclude 
fully  and  finally  upon  fuch  fettlement.  The  caufe  was 
heard  by  the  king  in  council,  fome  years  after,  and  de- 
cided according  to  the  agreement  of  the  commiflioners 
as  dated  above. 

September  27th,  1728,  the  line  was  finally  afcertained 
and  diftinguiflied  by  proper  monuments  and  boundaries. 
Roger  Wolcott,  James  Wadfworth,  and  Daniel  Palmer, 
on  the  part  of  Connecticut,  and  William  Wanton,  Ben- 
jamin EUery,  and  William  Jenckes,  in  behalf  of  Rhode- 
Ifland,  were  the  committees  for  the  running  and  final 
fixing  of  the  line. 

No  colony,  perhaps,   had  ever  a  better  right  to   the  Connedti- 
lands  comprifed  in  its  original  patent  than  Conne6licut,  ^"^  u"for- 
yet  none   has  been  more  unfortunate  with  refpe£l  to  the  ^-^g  i^fg  ^^ 
lofs  of  territory.     King  Charles    the  fecond,  in  favor  of  territory, 
his  brother  the  Duke  of  York,  granted  a  great  part  of  the 
lands  contained  within  its  original  limits  to  him,  and  the 
legiflature,  for  fear  of  ofFending  thofe  royal   perfonages 
and  lofing  their  charter,  gave  up  Long-Ifland  and  agreed 
to  the   fettlement  of  the  boundary    line  with  the  king's 
commiflioners.     For  the   reafons  which  have  been  fug- 
gefted  they  lofl:  a  confiderable  tract  on  the  north  and  on 
the  eafl:.     Indeed,  confidering  the  enemies  and  difficul- 
ties with  which  they  had  to  combat,  it  is  admirable  that 


*  Agreement  on  file,  figncd  with  the  hands  of  the  commiffion- 
crs  and  fealed  with  nine  feals 

N  n  n 


474  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y      ^  Chap.XVIII 

Book  I.    they  retained  fo  much  territory,  and  to  nobly  defended 
u<-y*«0     their  juft  rights  and  liberties. 

1713..  The  peace  of  Utrecht  was  figned  by  the  plenipoten- 

tiaries of  Great  Britain  and  France   March  30th,  1713. 
Official  accounts  of  the  pacification  and  orders  for  imme- 
diately proclaiming  the  peace  were  received  by  the  gov- 
ernor of  Connedlicut,  on  the  22d  of  Auguft.     The  gov- 
Feacepro-  gyj^^^  having  called  together   the  deputy  governor  and 
Aug. 36th    council,  they,  on  the  26th,  made  a  formal  proclamation 
?7ij.  of  peace  between  the  two  nations. 

Upon  the  pacification  with  France,  the  Indians  buried 
the  hatchet,  and  peace,  with  her  olive  branch,  once  more 
gladdened  the  colonies. 

Connecticut  had  not  been  lefs  fortunate  in  this, 
than  in  former  wars.  A  fmgle  town  had  not  been  loft, 
nor  hnd  any  confiderable  number  of  the  inhabitants  fallen 
by  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  In  Philip's,  King  William's, 
and  Queen  Anne's  wars,  Connecticut  loft  only  the  buil- 
dings and  part  of  the  effefts  of  one  town.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Symfbury,  when  confiding  of  about  forty  fami- 
lies, as  the  tradition  is,  fuppofing  themfelves  in  danger 
of  a  furprife,  by  the  enemy,  buried  a  confiderable  part  of 
tht;ir  effecSls,  and  generally  removed  back  to  Windfor. 
The  enemy,  finding  the  town  nearly  deferted,  fell  upon 
it,  burned  the  buildings  and  captivated  feveral  of  the  in- 
habitants. When  the  people  moved  back,  fuch  an  alter- 
ation had  been  made,  by  the  burning  of  the  buildings  and 
the  growth  of  weeds  and  bullies,  that  the  particular  fpot 
in  which  they  had  buried  their  effedts  could  not  be  found 
and  they  were  never  recovered.  This  moft  probably  was 
in  the  fpring  of  1676,  when  the  Narraganfet  and  other 
Indians  appeared  in  ftrong  parties  upon  the  river  above. 
^tat'  of  The  expenfe  of  this  war  was  very  confiderable.    Some 

thecolony  years  the  colony  paid  a  tax  of  about  fevzn  pence  and  eight 
at  the  pence  on  the  pound,  on  the  whole  lift  of  the  colony, 
com-  Befides,  it  was  found  neceflary  to  emit,  at  feveral  times, 

imen"of  ffom  June  1709,  to  October  1713,  ;^33)5oo  in  bills  of 
peace.  credit.  Provifion  had  been  made,  by  acts  of  affembly, 
Amovmt  for  the  calling  in  of  the  whole,  within  the  term  of  about 
!?,^'^''1*°  feven  years  from  the  termination  of  the  war.  Twenty 
thoufand  pounds  only  were  in  circulation  in  0£lober 
1 7 13.  The  emifiions  were  all  in  the  fame  form,  and,  by 
a  law  of  the  colony,  the  bills  of  each  were  to  be  received 
in  all  payments,  at  the  treafury,  at  five  per  cent,  better 
than  money,  or  more  than  exprefled  on  the  face  of  the 
bill.    In  all  other  paymsnts,  it  was  ena^ed,  that  they 


credit. 


Chap.  XVIII.     OF    CONNECTICUT,      471 


fliould  be  received  as  money.     So  fmall   was  the  fum,  Book  I. 
and  fuch  was  the  advance  at  which  the  bills  were  recelv-  v.^w.y 
ed  at  the  treafury,  that  they  appear  to  have  fufFered  little  1713. 
or  no  depreciation.     As  fome  of  the  fmall  bills  had  been 
altered,  and  the  fum  exprefled  made  greater  than  in  the 
original  ones,  the  aflembly  pafled  an  a(Sl  for  calling  them 
all  In,  and  emitting  j^ 20,000  in  new   bills,  which   the 
treafurer  was  directed  to  iflue. 

After  puifuing  the  hiftory  of  the  colony  nearly  eighty 
years,  from  the  commencement  of  its  firft  fettlcments,  it 
appears  that,  notwithftanding  the  many  wars,  numerous 
hardfliips,  and  difficulties  with  which  it  had  almoft  con- 
tinually to  combat,  its  progrefs  in  numbers,  plantations, 
hufbandry,  wealth,  and  commerce  were  confiderable. 

Within  the  colony,  and  under  its  jurifdi£lion,  were 
thirty  eight  taxable  towns,  and  forty  fent  deputies. 
Counties  and  Towns  October  8th,  1713. 
County  of 

Hartford. 

Hartford 

Wethersfield 

Windfor 

Farmington 

Middletown 

Symfbury 

Haddam 

Glaftenbury  made  a 

town 
Waterbury 
Windham 
Plainfield 
Eaft-Haddam 
Canterbury 
Mansfield 
Colcheller 
Hebron 
KiUiugly 
Coventry 

County  of 
N£JV-LONDON. 
New-London 
Saybrook 
Norwich 
Lyme 
Stonington 
KlUlHgworth 
Prefton 


Time  of 

Lebanon  Incorpora- 

Number 

Settlement. 

ted 

1097 

of  towns, 

1 60  c 

Voluntown 

1700 

and  the 

1634 

Pomfret  incorpora- 

time of 
fettlement 

1^35 

ted 

1713, 

or  incor. 

1644 

County  of 

Time  oj 

poration. 

1 65 1 

Nejv-Hafea 

\     Settlement. 

1670 

New-Haven 

1638 

1668 

Milford 

1639 

e  a 

Guilford 

1639 

1690 

Bran  ford 

1644 

1686 

Walllngford 

1670 

1692 

Eaft-Haven 

1607 

^ 

1689 

Derby 

1675 

1713   1 

Durham 

1699 

1703   1 

New-Milford 

1713* 

1703* 

County  of 

Time  of 

2^99 

Fairfield. 

Settlement. 

1704* 

Fairfield 

1639 

1708* 

Stratford 

1639 

1709* 

Greenwich 

1644 

Time  of 

Stamford 

1 64 1 

Settlement. 

Norwalk 

1651 

1648 

Woodbury  inc 

:orpo- 

1639 

rated 

1674 

1660 

Danbury 

1693 

1667 

New-Town  in 

icorpo- 

1658 

rated 

1711* 

1663 

Ridgefield  in( 

;orpo- 

1686 

rated 

1709" 

476  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XVIII. 

Book  I.  It  was  cuftomary  with  the  affembly,from  the  firft.  fet- 
C^^/-*0  tlement  of  the  colony,  to  releafe  the  infant  towns  two, 
S71J.  three,  or  four  years,  at  firft,  from  all  taxes  to  the  com- 
monwealth ;  and  cfpecially  this  was  the  li-niverfal  prac- 
tice while  tliey  were  building  meeting-houfes  and  fettling 
iTiinifters.  For  thefe  reafons,  the  eiglit  towns  marked 
with  afterlfms,  at  this  time,  appear  to  have  been  releafed 
from  public  taxation. 

Attempts  had  bgen  made  for  the  fettlement  of  Afh- 
ford,  two  families  moved  on  to  the  lands    in    1710  and 
began    fettlements,  but  it  was   not    incorporated    until 
Oftober  1714.     The  aflembly  had  alfo  appointed  com- 
mittees and  paiTed  feveral  a£ls  refpefting   the  fettlement 
of  New-Fairlield  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been  in» 
corporated  at  this  time.     Exclufive  of  the  towns  on  Long- 
Ifland,  and  fome  others  in  New- York,  and   the  town  of 
Wefteriy  in  Rhode-Iiland,  Connedticut  had  fettled  forty 
iive  towns  under  its    own  jurifdi£tion.     Forty   of  them 
fent  deputies.     The  houfe  of  reprefentatives,  when  full 
confifted  of  eighty  members. 
J.iflofthe       The  grand  lift  of  the  colony  was  ^281,083.     The 
colony,       militia  confifted  of  a  regiment  in  each  county,    and  a- 
puraberof  mounted  to  nearly  four  thoufand   effe6tiv'e   men.     The 
iiihabi-        number  or  inhabitants  was  about  leventeen  thouland. 
taiits.  The  fliipping    confifted  'of    tvi'o   brigantines,    about 

Shipping,    twenty  fioops,  and  fome  other  fmall  veflels.     The  num- 
ber of  feamen  did  not  exceed  a  hundred  and  twenty. 
rpQ^^,j^^  There  were  three   confiderable   towns    in  the  colony 

granted  8c  under  the  government  of  MalTachufetts,  Suffield,  Enfield, 
fct.tlt.1  by  and  Woodftock.  Sufiield  and  Enfield  were  part  of 
M^fTachu-  Springfield,  which  was  purchafed  by  Mr.  Pyncheon  and 
his  company  of  the  natives,  the  original  proprietors  of 
the  foil.  This  townfhip,  like  Windfor,  was  of  great  ex- 
tent. At  firft  it  was  fuppofed  to  belong  to  Connediicut, 
and  it  always  would  have  done  had  not  the  boundary 
line  been  fixed  contrary  to  the  expcciations  of  the  firft 
planters.  In  1670  a  grant  of  Suffield  was  made  to  Ma- 
jor John  Pyncheon,  Mr.  Elizur  Holyokc,  Mr.  Thomas  _ 
Cooper,  Mr.  Benjamin  Cooly,  George  Cotton,  and  Row- 
land Thomas,  by  the  general  court  of  Maffachufetts,  as  a 
committed  to  lay  it  out  and  plant  a  townfhip.  And 
about  that  time  it  was  fettled,  and  incorporated  with 
town  privileges. 

Enfield  was  fettled  by  people  from  Maffachufetts,  a- 
boiit  the  year  168 1.  A  grant  of  the  townfhip,  which  is 
fix  miles  fquare,  was  made  to  feveral  planters  about  two 


Chap.  XVIII.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.      477 

years  before.     The  planters  came  on  with  numbers  and  Book  I. 
ftrength.     They  brought   with  them  two  young  gentle-  \^^v>^ 
men,  one  Mr.   Whittenton  for  a   fchoolmaller,  and  Mr.  ^7^3- 
Welch  a  candidate  for  the  miniftry  to  be  their  preacher. 
In  the  year  1769,  the  number  of  families  in  the  town  was 
2 14, and  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  1,380.  The  town 
was  named  after  one  of  the  fame  name  in  England.* 

Courts  in  Conne£licut. 

The  general  court,  or  aflembly  in  INIay  and  Otlober.  Courts  & 
The  feffions,  at  this  period,  generally,  did  not  exceed  ten  judges. 
or  twelve  days.  The  expenfe  of  government  was  very 
inconfiderable.  The  expenfe  of  the  two  feflions  annu- 
ally hardly  amounted  to  ^400.  The  falary  of  the  gov- 
ernor was  ;^2oo,  and  that  of  the  deputy  governor  £50. 
The  whole  expenfe  of  government,  probably  did  not  ex- 
ceed eight  hundred  pounds  annually.-j- 

The  Superior  court,  which  was  made  circular  in  1 7 1 1 . 
At  the  May  feflion,  17 11,  it  was  enaded,  that  there 
fliould  be  one  fuperiorjQourt  of  judicature  over  the  whole 
colony  :  That  this  court'fhould  be  holden  annually,  within 
and  for  the  county  of  Hartford  on  the  third  Tuefdays  in 
March  and  September  :  Within  and  for  the  county  of 
New-Haven  on  the  fecond  Tuefdays  in  March  and  Sep- 
tember :  Within  and  for  the  county  of  Fairfield,  at  Fair- 
field, on  the  firft  Tuefdays  in  March  and  September  ;  and 
within  and  for  the  county  of  New-London  on  the  fourth 
Tuefdays  in  faid  months. 

This  court  confifted  of  one  chief  judge  and  four  other 
judges,  three  of  whom  made  a  quorum.  The  judges  of 
the  court  were  all  magiftrates.  William  Pitkin,  Efquire, 
was  chief  judge.  Richard  Chriftophers,  Peter  Burr, 
Samuel  Eells,  and  John  Haynes,  Efquires,  were  afliftant 
judges.  The  wages  of  the  chief  judge  was  ten  fhillings 
a  day,  while  on  the  public  fervice.  The  other  judges 
were  allowed  the  fees,  by  law,  payable  to  the  bench. 

The  inferior,  or  county  courts.  At  the  feflion  in 
May  1665,  counties  were  firft  made.  From  that  time 
each  county  had  a  court  of  its  own.  This,  after  a  few 
years,  from  its  firft  inftitution,  confifted  of  a  chief  judge 
and  four  juftices  of  the  quorum.  The  bufinefs  of  thefe 
courts  has  been  already  fufficiently  noticed. 

*  With  refpeft  to  Woodftock  there  arc  no  records  or 
minutes.  ' 

f  The  expenfe  of  government  in  Conncdlicut  did  not  generally 
amount  to  the  falary  of  a  king's  governor. 


478  THE     HISTORY  Chap.  XVIIL 

Book  I.  In  each  county  there  was  a  court  of  probates,  confifl;- 
v^>>-^/->^  nig  of  one  judge  and  a  clerk.  In  this  all  teftamentary 
1 7 13.  affairs  were  managed.  From  this  court  appeals  might 
be  had  to  the  county  court.  One  of  the  magiftrates  of 
the  county  was  commonly  judge  of  this  court.  It  met 
frequently,  bufmefs  was  done  witheafe  and  difpatch,  and 
with  little  expenfe  to  the  fatherlefe  and  widow. 

Themanufa^turesof  Connecticut  at  this  time,  were  very 
inconfiderable.  There  was  but  one  clothier  in  the  colony. 
The  mofl  he  could  do  was  to  full  the  cloth  which  was 
made.  A  great  proportion  of  it  was  worn  without  {hear- 
ing or  prefling.* 

The  trade  of  the  colony  was  not  confiderable.  Its 
foreign  commirce  was  indeed  next  to  nothing.  The  on- 
ly articles  exported  direCtly  from  it  to  Great  Britain  were 
turpentine,  pitch,  tar,  and  fur.  But  thefe  more  general- 
ly were  fent  diredtly  to  Bofton  or  New- York,  and  were 
traded  for  fuch  European  goods  as  were  confumed  in  the 
colony.  Its  principal  trade  was  with  Bofton,  New- York, 
and  the  Weft-Indies.  To  the  two  former  they  traded  in 
.  the  produce  of  the  colony,  wheat,  rye,  barley,  Indian 
corn,  peas,  pork,  beef,  and  fat  cattle. 

To  the  Weft-Indies  the  merchants  exported  horfes, 
'  flaves,  hoops,  pork,  beef,  and  cattle.     In  return  they  re- 

ceived rum,  fugar,  molafles,  cotton  wool,  bills  of  ex- 
change, and  fometimes  fmall  fums  of  money.  But  little 
more  was  imported,  than  was  found  neceffary  for  home 
confumption. 

At  this  period  there  was  not  a  printer  in  the  colony. 
For  this  reafon  a  great  proportion  of  the  laws  were  only 
in  manufcinpt.  The  aflembly  had  now  defired  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  to  procure  a  printer  to  fettle  in  the 
colony.  It  was  determined  foon  to  revife  and  print  the 
laws  which  made  the  affembly  more  urgent  in  the  affair 
at  that  time  The  council  obtained  Mr.  Timothy  Green, 
a  defcendant  of  Mr.  Samuel  Green  of  Cambridge  in  Maf- 
fachufetts,  the  firft  printer  in  North- America.  The  af- 
fembly for  his  encouragement  agreed  that  he  fhould  be 
printer  to  the  governor  and  company  and  that  he  fhould 
have  fifty  pounds,  the  falary  of  the  deputy  governor,  an- 
nually. He  was  obliged  to  print  the  ele£lion  fermons, 
the  proclamations  for  fafts  and  thankfgivings,  and  laws 
which  were  enabled  at  the  feveralfefhonsof  the  affembly. 
Jn  i'/i4,  he  came  into  Connedicut,  and  fixed  his  refi- 


*  Anfwer  to  queftions  from  the  lords  of  trade  and  plantationSj 

S719. 


Chap.XVIII.    of    CONNECTICUT.        479 

dence  at  New-London.     He  and  his  defcendants  were,  Book  I. 
for  a  great  number  of  years,  printers  to  the  governor  and  v,i*»^v-<0 
company  of  Connecticut.*     At  the  period  to  which  the  1713. 
hiftory  is  brought  down,  almoft  all  that  part  of  the  colony 
on  the   eaft  fide  of  Connecticut  was  fettled.     Afhford, 
Tolland,  Stafford,  Bolton,  and  two  or  three  other  towns 
have  been  fettled  in  that  part  of  the  colony,  and  the  great- 
eft  part   of  the  county  of  Litchfield  fince.     The  fettle- 
mcnt  of  thefe  has  been  attended  with  little  difficulty  in 
comparifon  with  what  was  experienced  in  the  planting 
and  defending  of  the  former. 

Who  can  contemplate  the  hardfliips,  labors,  and  dan- 
gers of  our  anceftors,  their  felf-denialj  magnanimity,  firm- 
nefs,  and  perfeverance,  in  defending  their  juft  rights,  and 
the  great  expenfe,  though  they  were  poor,  at  which  they 
maintained  and  tranfmitted  the  faireft  inheritance  to  us, 
and  not  highly  efteem  and  venerate  their  charaClers  ?  I£ 
they  had  fonie  imperfections,  yet  had  they  not  more  ex- 
cellencies, and  did  they  not  cffeft  greater  things,  for  them- 
felves  and  pofterity,  than  men  have  generally  done  ?  Is 
it  poffible  to  review  the  fufFerings,  dangers,  expenfe  of 
blood  and  treafure,  with  which  our  invaluable  liberties, 
civil  and  religious,  have  been  tranfmitted  to  us,  and  not 
efteem  them  precious  ?  Not  moft  vigilantly  and  vigoroully 
defend  them  ?  Shall  we  not  at  all  hazards,  maintain  and 
perpetuate  them  ?  Can  we  contemplate  the  fobriety,  wif- 
dom,  integrity,  induftry,  economy,  public  fpirit,  peace- 
ablenefs,  good  order,  and  other  virtues,  by  which  this  re- 
public hath  arifen  from  the  fmalleft  beginnings,  to  its 
prefent  ftrength,  opulence,  beauty,  and  refpeClability  and 
not  admire  thofe  virtues  ?  Net  be  convinced  of  their  high 
importance  to  fociety  ?  Shall  we  not  make  them  our  own  ? 
And  by  the  conftant  praCtice  of  them  hand  down  our 
diftinguiflied  liberties,  dignity  and  happinefs  to  the  lateft 
ages  ? 


*  The  firft  printer  in  this  colony  was  Thomas  Short.  He  was 
recommended  to  the  co)oHy  by  Mr.  Green.  He  came  to  New'- 
London  about  the  year  1709.-  In  1710,  he  printed  SaybrookPlat- 
form,  and  foon  after  died. 


THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  CHAPTER     XIX. 

^^^^'^'^  A  VIEW  of  ihe  churches  of  ComieEilcuty  from  \66x^^to  17 14, 
continued  from  chapter  XIIL  The  general  ajjembly  ap- 
■po'uit  a  fynod  to  determine  points  of  religious  controverjy. 
The  miniflers  decline  meeting  under  the  name  of  a  fynod. 
The  afemhly  alter  the  naincy  and  require  them  to  meet  as  a 
general  affemhly  of  the  minfers  and  churches  of  ConneEli' 
cut.  Seventeen  quefions  lucre  prop  fed  to  the  afembly  to  » 
he  dif cuffed  and  aifivered.  The  affemhly  of  minifers  and 
churches  meet  and  difcufs  the  queflions.  The  legifature 
declare.,  that  they  had  not  been  decided^  and  give  intima~ 
tions  that  they  did  not  deftre^  that  the  miniflers  and  churches 
of  ConneElicut  fiould  report  their  opinion  upon  them.  They 
exprefs  their  deftres  of  a  larger  council  frovi  Maffachufetts 
and  Neiv-Plimouth.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Davenport  re^ 
moves  to  Boflon.  Difj'enfton  at  Windfor.  Mr.  Bulkley 
and  Mr.  Fitch  are  appointed  by  the  affembly  to  devife  fome 
ivay  in  ivhich  the  churches  might  nvalk  together y  notwith- 
ftafiding  their  different  opinions  relative  to  the  fubjecls  of 
haptifniy  church  cowm union,  and  the  mode  of  church  dfci- 
plinc.  The  chunh  at  Hartford  divides,  and  Mr.  Whi- 
ting and  his  adherents  arc  alloiued  to  praciife  upon  congre- 
gational principles.  The  church  at  Stratford  allo^ved  to  di- 
vide and  hold  diflinB  meetings.  Mr.  Walker  and  his 
hearers,  upon  advice,  rf-niove  and  fettle  the  town  oflVood- 
bury.  Deaths  and  characters  of  the  Reverend  Mejfieurs 
fohn  Davenport  and  'John  Warham.  General  attempts 
for  a  reformation  of  manners.  Religious  fate  of  the  colony 
in  1680.  Attempts  for  the  infruBion  and  chrifiani-zing 
of  the  Indians  in  ConneBicut.  Act  of  the  legifature  ref- 
pecling  Windfor.  The  people  there  required  peaceably  to 
fettle  and  fupport  Mr,  Mather.  Oivning  or  fubfcribing 
the  covenajit  introduced  at  Hartford.  College  foundedy 
and  truftees  incorporated.  Worfhip  according  to  the  mode 
of  the  church  of  Rngland  performed,  in  this  colony,  firfl  at 
Stratford.  Epf copal  church  gathered  there.  AEi  of  af 
fembly  requiring  the  minifers  and  churches  of  Go  nne  Eli  cut 
to  meet  and  form  a  religious  confitution.  They  meet  and 
compile  the  Saybrook  Platform.  Articles  of  difcipline, 
Acl  of  the  legifature  adopting  the  Platform.  Affociations, 
conjociations.  General  affociation.  Its  recommendations 
relative  to  the  examination  of  candidates  for  the  minflry, 
and  of  pafors  eleEl  previous  ts  their  ordination.  Minif- 
ters,  churches,  and  ecclefafical focietii's  in  ConneBicut  in .  ^ 
17 1 3.  Degree  of  infruBion.  The  whole  number  of 
minifers  in  the  colony  from  itsfirffettlement  to  that  periods 


CH1P.X13C    O  F    C  O  K  N  E  C  T  I  C  tJ  T.        ^U 

ALTHOUfGH  the  legillature  of  Conn^6ti€ut,  during  Book  h  - 
ih^    contifoveTfy    refpe^Stijig   the    union    of  the  v«,«^*v-s»^ 
colonies,    judged  it  expedient,   to  tranfain:    nothing  rel- 1666. 
ativeto  the   religious  controveriies   then  in  the  country^ 
yet,  as  foon  as  the  union  was  well   eftablifhed,   they  en- 
tered ferioufly  upon  meafures  to  bring  them  to  a   final  if- 
fue.     For  this  purpofe  they  pafled  the  following  aft.         0(5t  litti* 

**  This  court  doth  conclude  to  confider  of  fome  way  1666. 
«  or  means  to  bring  thofe  ecclefiaflical  matters,  that  are  ^^  ^p. 
"  in  difference  it.  the  feveral  plantations,  to  an  ifrue,by  pointing  d 
"  dating  fome  fuitable   accommodation    and  expedient  iynod. 
**  thereunto.     And  do  therefore  order,  that  a  fynod  be 
<*  called />  confider  and  debate  thofe  matters;  and  that 
<*  the  queftions  prefented   to  the    elders  and  miniftersj 
**  that  are  called  to  this  fynod,  fhall  be  publicly  difputed 
•*  to  an  iffue.     And  this  court  doth  confer  power  to  this 
«*  fynod,  being  met  and    conftituted,  to  order  and  me- 
<'  thodize  the  difputation,  fo  as   may   moft  conduce,  in 
♦<  their  apprehenfion,  to  attain  a  regular  iflue  of  theii? 
<*  debates." 

The  court  ordered,  that  all  the  preaching  elders,  or 
Bilnifters  who  were  or  fhould  be  fettled  in  this  colony, 
»t  the  time  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the  fynod, 
fhould  be  fent  to,  to  attend  as  members  of  it.  It  was 
alfo  ordered  by  the  legillature,  that  Mr.  Mitchel,  Mr* 
Brown,  Mr.  Sherman,  and  Mr.  Glover,  of  MaflachufettSj 
fhouM  be  invited  to  affift  as  members  of  the  fynod.  It 
was  alfo  ordered,  that  upon  the  meeting  of  a  majority  o£ 
the  preaching  elders  in  the  colony,  they  fliould  proceed 
as  a  fynod.  Further,  it  was  enabled,  that  the  queftions 
propofed  by  this  aflembly,  fhould  be  the  queftions  to  be 
difputed  by  the  fynod.  The  meeting  of  the  fynod  wag 
appointed  on  the  third  Wednefday  in  May  1667.  '^he 
Secretary  was  dircfted  to  tranfmit  to  all  the  minifters  in 
this  colony,  and  thofe  invited  from  the  Maflachufetts,  a 
copy  of  this  a6t  of  aflembly  and  of  the  queftions  to  be 
difputed. 

It  feems,  that  the  minifters  had  objeftions  to  meeting 
•s  a  fynod,  and  to  the  order  of  the  affembly  vefting  them 
\irith  fynodical  powers.     Numbers  of  the  minifters  and 
churches  appear  to  have  been  too  jealous  for  their  liber- 
ties to  admit  of  the  authority  of  fynods  appointed  by  the  Name  of 
aiTembly.     The  legiflature,  to  eafe  this  difficulty,  in  their  the  coun- 
May  feffion,  judged  it  expedient  to  alter  the  name  of  the  cil  altered, 
council,  and  to  call  it  an  aflembly  of  the  minifters  of  J^^^,^^''* 

O  Q  O 


482 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIX. 


Book  I. 

1667, 

Theaf. 
fembly  of 
miniftcrs 
meet. 


Defign  of 

inviting 

xninifters 

from  the 

Maflachu- 

fetts. 


Refolu- 
lion  of  the 
com  mi  f- 
fionc'is 
Sept. 
1667. 


Connecticut,  called  together  by  the  general  court,  for 
the  difcufling  of  the  queftions  dated  accoiding  to  their 
former  order. 

The  aflembly  of  minifters  convened  at  the  time  ap» 
pointed,  and  having  converfed  on  the  queftions,  and  voted 
not  to  difpute  them  publicly,  adjourned  until  the  fall, 
determining  then  to  meet  again,  and  make  their  report, 
fhould  it  be  the  defire  of  the  legiflature.  The  qucftionj 
were  the  fame  which  had  been  exhibited  ten  years  be- 
fore.* The  fame  points  of  controverfy  ftill  iubfifted. 
The  churches  continued  in  their  former  ftri£l  method  of 
admitting  members  to  their  communion,  and  maintained 
their  right  to  choofe  their  minifters,  without  any  control 
from  the  town*  or  parifhes  of  which  they  were  a  part. 
It  does  not  appear,  that  one  church  in  the  colony  had 
yet  confented  to  the  baptifm  of  children  upon  their  pa- 
rents owning  the  covenant,  cs  it  was  then  called.  It  was 
infifted,  as  neceflary  to  the  baptifm  of  children,  that  one 
of  the  parents,  at  leaft  ihould  be  a  member  in  full  com- 
munion with  the  chuich,  and  in  regular  ftanding. 

It  feems,  that  the  aflemblys  particularly  inviting  the 
gentlemen  from  the  MafTachufetts,  in  their  name,  to  at- 
tend the  general  aflembly  of  minifters  and  churches,  was 
to  enlighten  and  foften  the  minds  of  the  minifters  of 
Connecticut  in  thofe  points,  and  to  obtain  a  majority  in 
the  aflembly  for  a  lefs  rigid  mode  of  proceeding.  Mr. 
Mitchel  was  the  moft  powerful  difputant  of  his  day,  in 
New-England,  in  favor  of  the  baptifm  of  children  upon 
their  parents  owning  the  covenant,  though  they  negleCl- 
ed  to  obey  and  honor  Chrift  in  attending  the  facrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  appeared,  however,  that  this 
party  were  not  able  to  carry  any  point  in  the  afl^embly, 
and  that  the  queftions  were  not  likely  to  be  determined 
according  to  the  wiflies  of  the  majority  of  the  legiflature. 
Meafures  were  therefore  adopted  to  prevent  the  meeting 
and  refult  of  the  aflembly,  at  their  adjournment  in  the 
fall. 

In  September,  the  commiflioners  of  the  United  colo- 
nies met  at  Hartford,  and  they  interpofed  in  the  affair^ 
They  refolved,  "  That  when  queftions  of  pubHc  concern* 
"  ment,  about  matters  of  faith  and  order,  do  arife  in  any" 
"  colony,  that  the  decifion  thereof  (hould  be  referred  to 
"  a  fynod,  or  council  of  meflengers  of  churches,  indif- 
"  ferently  called  out  of  the  United  colonies,  by  an  orderly 


^  See  chapter  XIII.  p.  316,  317. 


Chap.XIX.     O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.         483 

"  agreement  of  all  the  general  courts ;  and  that  the  place  Book  I.- 
*<  of  meeting  be  at  or  near    Boflon."     This  vote  was  v^-^vv.^ 
doubtlcfs  obtained  by  the  art  of  thofe  gentlemen,  among  1667. 
the  civilians   and    minifters,  who  wiflied  to  prevent  the 
meeting  of  the  aflembly  of  minifters  and  their  refulting 
upon  the  queftions. 

The  Reverend  elders  Warham,  Hooker,  and  Whiting,  Appllca- 
in  a  writing  under  their  hands,  reprefented  to  the  aflem-  tion  of 
bly,  at  their  feflion  in  October,  that  it  was  the  defire  of  ^^^^f"* 
the  aflembly  of  minifters,    that  there   might  be  a  more  HoJ^er  & 
general  meeting  of  minifters  from  Maflachufetts,  to  affift  Whiting. 
in  the  confideration  and  decifion  of  the  queftions  propO- 
fed.     It  was  alfo  reprefented  to  the  aflembly,  that  though 
they  and  others  were  for  difputing  the  queftions  publicly, 
and  offered  to  do  it,  yet  the  major  part  of  the  aflembly 
refufed  the  offer. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Bulkley  and  Mr.  Haynes,  on  the  Repre- 
other  hand,  in  a  letter  addrefTed  by  them  to  the  :^frembly,  ftntatioRj 
reprefented,  that  the  afTembly  had  authorized  a  major  part  "*"  MeflVg. 
of  the  minifters  to  methodize  the  proceedings  of  the  af-  ^  "^  ^ 
fembiy,  and  that  a  majority  were  againft  a  public  dif- 
putation  of  the  queftions  :  That  it  was  viewed  as  what 
would  difhonor  God,  dilTerve  the  peace  and  edification  of 
the  churches  and  the  general  interefts  of  religion,  and  it 
was  judged  moft  expedient  to  deliberate  upon  and  decide 
the  queftions  among  themfelves,  as  was  ufual  in  councils, 
without  a  public  diiputation.  They  therefore  obferved, 
that  whatever  fair  offers  were  made  them  to  difpute  the 
queftions  publicly,  they  could  not  confiftently  do  it,  as  it 
was  contrary  to  a  major  vote  of  the  aflembly  of  the  min- 
ifters, and  in  their  opinion  would  difTerve  the  intereft  of 
the  churches.  With  refpedt  to  the  prefent  application 
made  by  MefTrs.  Warham,  Hooker,  and  Whiting,  they 
obferved,  that  it  appeared  ftrange  to  them,  as  a  confider- 
able  number  of  the  minifters  were  pofitively  againft  it, 
and  others  were  neuter  and  not  in  the  vote  for  a  more 
general  council,  and  that  it  was  the  vote  of  the  afTembly 
of  minifters  to  meet  again  on  the  third  Wednefday  in  Oc-« 
tober.  They  afTured  the  legiflature,that  they  were  ready 
and  determined  to  obey  all  their  lawful  commands,  and 
they  defired  information  from  them,  whether  the  afTem- 
bly of  minifters  (hould  meet  again,  according  to  adjourn- 
hient,  or  not  ?  The  general  afTembly  voted,  that  the  quef- 
tions had  not  been  decided,  and  defired  thefeveral  churches 
and  plantations  in  the  colony  to  fend  their  teaching  el- 
tiers,  at  their  own  expenfe,  to  fit  in  council)  with  fuch  oC 


484  T  H  E    H  I  ST  O  R  y        CuiY.  XIX. 

Book  I.    the  elders  of  Maffachufebts  and  PlimOuth  as  Ihould  be  ap- 

V"V>i«/    pointed,  to  confider  and  determine  the  pbints  in  contro* 

$667.         verfy.     The   alTcmbly  defired,  that  the  general  coutt  of 

Maliachufetts  might  be  certified  of  the  affair,  aod  would 

appoint  time  and  place  for  the  meeting  of  a  fynod,  if  they 

Ihould  judge  it  expedient.  •     ; ,    . 

V/hether  the  aflembly  really  wifhed  to  have;  a  gene- 
ral council,  or  whether  this  was  only  a  matter  of  policy  to 
prevent  a  determination  of  the  queftions  contrary  to  their 
xvifhes,  is  not  certain.  No  general  council  however  was 
called  ;  nor  dees  it  appear,  that  any  motion  was  made  af- 
terwards for  that  purpofe.  Indeed  the  legiflarure  feem 
to  have  fallen  under  the  conviction,  that  the  clergy  and 
churches  would  not  give  up  their  private  opinions^  in 
faith  and  practice,  to  the  decifions  of  councils  ;  that  hon- 
ed men  would  think  differently,  and  that  they  could  not 
be  convinced  and  made  of  one  mind  by  difputing.  No 
further  attempts  were  ever  made  by  them,  to  Jiring  thofe 
points  to  a  public  difcuffion.  i'j'b;!.-.' 

While  thefe  affairs  were  tra>nfa£Hng  m  CorinecSkicut, 
a  remarkable  tranfaftion  took  place  in  the  firft  church 
at  Bollon,  and  the  moft  confiderable  in  New-England, 
Their  paftor,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wilfon,  was  one  of  the 
fynod  in  1662,  and  one  who  adopted  its  determinations 
relative  to  the  fubjedis  of  baptifra.  His  church  alfo  ap- 
peared to  have  confented  to  the  praiSlice  of  admitting 
perfons  to  own  their  covenant  and  bring  their  children 
^^'^  to    baptifm.     Neverthelefs,  after    Mr.  Wilfon's  deceafe, 

g,„j,^        they  eledled  the  Reverend  Mr.  Davenport  of  New-Ha* 
p  o  fe        ven  for  their  paftor,  as  the  only  gentleman  worthy  to  fac- 
^^r  Dav.    peed  the  diftinguifhed  lights,  which  had  illuminated  that 
eiipurt  or  g<3i4en  candleftick.     He  had  publicly  written  agaiuft  the 
tor.       "    ^y"o^>  s"cl  was  one  ofthemoft  ftridl  awd  rigid  mi«ifters^ 
with  refpeft   to   the  admiffion  of  members  to  full  com- 
munion, the  fubje£ls  of  baptifm,   and   with  refpe£l  to 
church  difcipline,  in  New-England.     He  had  now  arri- 
ved nearly  to  feventy  years  of  age,  yet,  in  1667,  upon  the 
application  of  the  church  and  congregation  at  Bofton  h«; 
He  rc»        accepted  their  invitation  and   the  next  year  removed  ta 
Boitoi/^    that  capital.     He  had  been  about  thirty  years  minifterat 
New-Haven,  had   been  greatly  efteemed  and  beloved  by 
his  floclc.     This  circumftance,  with  his  advanced  period 
of  life,  made  his  removal  very  remarkable.     His  church 
and  people  were  exceedingly  unwilling  that   he   {hould 
Jeave  them,  and  it  feems,  never  formally  gave  their  con- 
'  feat.    The  affair,  on  the  whde,  was  unhapp j^^    It  occa* 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       485 

iioned  a  reparation  from  the  firft  church  in  Boflon  ;  and  Book  I. 
the   church  and  congregation,  at  New-Haven,  for  many  K^^^y^J 
years,  remained  in  an  uncomfortable  itate  unable  to  unite  1667. 
in  the  choice  of  any  perfon  to  take  the  paftoral  charge  of 
them. 

The  town  of  Windfor  had,  for   many  years,  been  al-  Contcn- 
moft  in  perpetual  controverfy,  relative  to  the  fettiement  ^"^/r- 
of  a  minifter.     After  Mr.  Warham  bf  came  advanced  in 
years,  he  wilhed  for  a  colleague,  tp  afliit  him  in  minifte- 
rial  labors.     Various  young,.gentlemen  were  invited  to 
preach  in  the  town  ;  but  fuch  as  one  part  of  the  people 
chofe  for  the  minifter,  the  other  would  violently  oppofe. 
Sometimes  one  party  would  appear  with  great   zeal  for 
one  candidate,  and  the  other  would  ftrive  with  equal  en- 
gagednefs  for  another.       In  fuch  cafe  advice   had  been 
given,  that  both  the  perfons,  for  whom  they   were  thus 
contending,  fhould  leave  the  town,  and  that   application 
fhouid  be  made  to    fome  other   candidate.     Much  heat 
and  obftinacy,  however,  continued  between   the  parties, 
and  all  attempts  to  unite  them  were   unfuccefsful.     It 
feems,  that  their  paflipns  were  fo  inflamed,  that,  upon 
occafion  of  their  meetings,  their  language  and  deportment 
were  unbrotherly  and  irritating.     One  Mr.  Chauncy  was 
now  preaching  in  the  town,  and  parties  were  warmly  en- 
gaged for  and  againft  him.      The  general  aflembly,  in  *A_p.f, 
this  ftate  of  their  affairs,  ena£^ed,  "  That  all  the  freemen  f^^'-ly  re- 
«'  and  houfeholders  in  Windfor  and  MafTacoe  fhould  meet  fpc(5ting 
<<  at  the  meetinghoufe,  on  Monday   morning  next,  by  the  inhab- 
<<  fun  an  hour  high,  and   bring  in  their  votes  for  a  min-  'I?^^*'   . 
«,*  ifter,  to  Mr.  Henry  Wo'cott :  That   thofe  who  were  j^g-^^    * 
«  for  Mr.  Chauncy  to  be  the  fettled  minifter  of  "Wind- 
*'  for,  bring  in  a  written  paper,  and  thofe  who  were  not 
<*  for  him  to  give  in  a  paper  without  any  writing  upon  it : 
'f  That  the  inhabitants  during  the  meeting   forbear  all 
**  difcourfe  and  agitation  of  any  matter,  which  may  fervc 
"  to  provoke  and  difturb  each  other's  fpirits,  and  when 
**  the  meeting  is  over  return  to  their  feveral  occafions.'* 

Mr.  Wolcott  reported  to  the  aflembly  the  ftate  of  the 
town,  that  there  were  eighty  fix  votes  for  Mr.  Chauncy 
and  fifty  five  againft  him.  The  alTembly,  upen  the  peti- 
tion of  the  minor  party,  and  a  full  view  of  the  ftate  of  the 
town,  gave  them  liberty  to  fettle  an  orthodox  minifter  a- 
jnong  themfelves,  and  to  the  church  and  majority  of  the 
town  to  fettle  Mr.  Chauncy,  if  they  judged  it  expedient. 
It  was  enadled,  that  the  minority  fliould  pay  Mr.  Chaun» 
cy  wnul  they  (hould  obtain  another  minifter  to  preach  an4 


4^6  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I     refide  in  the  town.     Mr.  Chauncy  was  not  finally  ordain-* 
v.y-vx^  ed,  but  the  affair  was  carried  fo  far  that  a  feparation  was 
1667.         foon  after  nude  in  the  church,  and  a  didindt  church  was 
formed  by  the  minority.     The  town  continued  in  an  un- 
happy llate  of  divifion,  for  about  fixteen  years  from  this 
time. 
, ,,  The  legislature,  having  given  over  all  further  attempts 

to  compofe  the  divifions  in  the  colony,  by  public  difputa- 
Attemot    tion  and  the  decifions  of  general  councils,  determined    to 
for  a  plan   purfue  a  different  courfe.     They  conceived  the  defign    of 
u"'on     u^jtifig  tiie   churches   in   fome  general  plan    of  church 
churciicfc.  communion  and  difcipline,  by  which  they    might  walk, 
notwithftanding  their  different  fentiments,  in  points   of 
lefs  importance.     With  this  view,  an  a6t  pafTed  authoriz-^ 
ing  the  Reverend  MefTieurs  James  Fitch,  Gerfhom  Bulk- 
ley,  Jofeph  Eliot,  and  Samuel  Wakeman  to  meet  at  Say- 
brook,  and  devife  a  way  in  which  this    defirable  purpofe 
might  be  effc£ted.     This  appears  to  have  been  the  firft 
ftep  towards  forming  a  religious  conftitution.     From  this 
time  it  became  more  and  more  a  general  obje£l  of  defirc 
and  purfuit,  though  many  years  elapfed  before  the  work 
could  be  accomplifhed. 

Notwithstanding   the  divifions  in  ths  church  at 
E^'"^^^  A    Hartford,  fome  years  fince,  had  been  fo  far  compofed  and 
divided      healed,  that  it  had  been  kept  together  until  this  time,   yet 
into  two     there  were  really  different  fentiments  among  the  breth- 
churches.   ren  and  between  the  minifters,  relative   to  the  qualifica- 
tions of  church  members,  the  fubjefts  of  baptifm,  and 
the  mode  of  difcipline.     Mr.   Whiting    and  part  of  the 
church  were  zealous  for  the  ftri£lly  congregational  way, 
as   it  has   been  called,  praftifed  by   the  minifters  and 
churches,    at  their  firfl:  coming  into  New-England.     Mr. 
Kaynes  and  a  majority  of  the  congregation  were  not  lefs 
engaged  againft  it.     The  difference  became  fo  great,  that 
it  was  judged  expedient,  both  by  an  ecclefiaftical  councii 
and  the  allembly,  that  the  church  and  town  fliould  be  di- 
vided.    An  ecclefiaftical  council  having  firft  advifed  to  a- 
divifion,  the  general  affembly,  in  Oclober  1669,  pafled 
the  following  ail. 

*'  Upon  the  petition  prefentedby  Jofeph  Whiting,  &c. 

AA  of  af-   "  ^o  this  court,  for  a  diftin£l:  walking  in  congregational 

fcmbvre-  "  church  order,  as   hath  been  fettled  according  to  the 

fpeftisgit.  «  council  of  the  elders,  the  court  doth  commend  it  to 

"  the  church  at  Hartford  to  take  fome   effedual  courfe, 

«  that  Mr.  Whiting,  &c.  may  praftife  the  congregational 

fj  way,  without  difturbance,  either  from  preaching  qf 


Chap.  XIX.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      487 

**  praftice,  divcrfely  to  their  juft  offence  •,  or  elfe  to  grant  Book  I. 
«<  their  loving  confent  to  their  brethren  to  walk  diftinft,  ^•VS^ 
•*  according  to  fuch  their    congregational    principles  j  1669. 
"  which  this  court  allows  liberty  in  Hartford  to  be  done. 
•*  But  if  both   thefe  be   refufed  and  negledled  by  the 
".  church,  then  thefe  brethren  may,  in  any  regular  way^ 
<'  relieve  themfclves  without  offence  to  this  court."* 

The  next  February,  Mr.  Whiting  and  his  adherents  jg.^^ '" 
refolved  and  covenanted  in  the  manner  following,  and 
formed  the  fecond  church  in  Hartford, 

"  Having    had  the  confent  and  countenance  of  the  Dcclara- 
**  general  court,  and  the  advice  of  an  ecclefiaftical  coun-  tion  ofthe 
"  cil  to  encourage  us  in  embodying  as  a  church  by  our-  fprmine 
"  felves,  accordingly  upon  the  day  of  completing  our  dif-  the  fecond 
"  tin£l  flate,  (viz.  February    12th,    i669-|-)  this  paper  church. 
"  was  read  before  the  meffengers  of  the  churches  and 
**  confented  to  by  ourfelves.     Viz. 

"  The  holy  providence  of  the  Most  High  fo  difpof- 
**  ing,  that  public  oppofition  and  diflurbance  hath,  of  late 
"  years,  been  given,  both  by  preaching  and  pra£lice,  to 
**  the  congregational  way  of  church  order,  by  all  man- 
"  ner  of  orderly  eflablifhments  fettled,  and  for  along 
**  time  unanimouily  approved  and  peaceably  praftifed  in 
**  this  place,  all  endeavours  alfo  (both  among  ourfelves 
"  and  from  abroad)  with  due  patience  therein,  proving 
**  fruitlcfs  and  unfucccfsful  to  the  removing  of  that  dif- 
"  turbance  ;  We,  whofe  names  are  after  mentiontd,be- 
"  ingadvifedby  a  council  cf  the  neighbouring  churches, 
"  and  allowed  alfo  by  the  honorable  general  court,  to 
**  difpofe  ourfelves  into  a  capacity  of  diflin£l  walking,  in 
".  order  to  a  peaceable  and  edifying  enjoyment  of  all 
'**  God's  holy  ordinances.  Do  declare,  that  according  to 
**  the  light  we  have  hitherto  received,  the  forcmentioned 
**  congregational  way  (for  the  fubflance  of  it]  as  former- 
*<  ly  fettled,  profcfled  and  praf^ifed  under  the  guidarce 
**  of  the  firft  leaders  of  this  church  of  Hartford,  is  the 
**  way  of  Chrifl ;  and  that  as  fuch  we  are  bound  in  c  uty 
"  carefully  to  obferve  and  attend  it,  until  fuch  further 
**  light,  (about  any  particular  points  of  it)  fhail  appear  to 
**  us,  from  the  fcripture,  as  may  lead  us,  witl  joint  or 
*'  general  fatisfadticn,  to  be  oiherwife  perfuaded.     Some 


*  Parties  ran  high  at  this  tin.t  w  the  crlory  ;  frur  afliftartsand 
fourteen  depHtiesdiflented,  and  dtfired  tbtir  cifitit  and  ru^mes 
to  be  recorded. 

f  This,  according  to  the  prcfcnt  mcdc  of  dating,  was  Itbiua*^ 
rf  1670. 


^4^8 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIX. 


**  of  church  order  are  thofe  that  follow.     Viz. 

"   I.  That  vilible   faints  are  the  only  fit  matter,  and 


Book  I.    **  mainheadsor  principles  of  which  congregational  way 

1670. 

**  confederation  the  only  form  of  a  vifible  church. 

"  2.  That  a  competent  number  of  vifible  faints,  (with 

*'  their  feed)  embodied  by   a   particular  covenant  are   a 

**  true,  diflindl,  and  entire  church  of  Christ. 

<*  3.  That  fuch  a  particular  church,    being  organized, 

"  or  having  furniflied  itfelf  with  thofe  officers   which 

**  Chrift  hath  appointed,  hath  all  power  and  privileges  of 

<*  a  church  belonging  to  it. 
««  Infpecial, 

**   I.  To  admit  or  recieve  members. 
*<  2.  To  deal  with,  and  if  need  be,  reject  ofFenders. 
"  3.  To  adminifter  and  enjoy  all  other  ecclefiafti- 
»<  cal  ordinances  within  itfelf. 
"^  4.  That  the  power  of  guidance,  or  leading,  belongs 

«  only  to  the  elderftiip,    and   the   power  of  judgment, 

«  confent  or  privilege  belongs  to  the  fraternity,  or  breth- 

"  ren  in  full  communion. 

«  5.  That  communion  is  carefully  to  be   maintained 

««  between  the  churches  of  Christ  according  to  his  or- 

«  der. 

"  6.  That  counfel,  in  cafes  of  difficulty,  is  to  be  fought 

««  and  fubmitted  to  according  to  God." 

Having  made  this  declaration  the  brethren  proceeded 

to  covenant  in  the  following  manner. 

"  Since  it  hath  pleafed  God,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  to 
manifefl  himfelf  willing  to  take  unworthy  finners  near 
unto  himfelf,  even  into  covenant  relation  to  and  inter- 
eft  in  him,  to  become  a  God  to  them,  and  avouch 
them  to  be  his  people,  and  accordingly  to  command 
and  encourage  them  to  give  up  themfelves  and  their 
children  alfo  to  him  ; 

*<  We  do  therefore,  this  day,  in  the  prefene  of  GoD,hh 
holy  angels  and  this  aflembly,  avouch  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah, the  true  and  living  GoD,even  God  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  our  God,  and 
give  up  ourfelves  and  ours  alfo  unto  him,  to  be  his  fub- 
je£ts,  and  fervants  ;  promifing  through  grace  and 
ftrength  in  Christ  (without  whom  we  can  do  nothing) 
to  walk  in  profefled  fubje6Hon  to  him  as  our  Lord 
and  Lawgiver,  yielding  univerfal  obedience  to  his 
blefled  will,  according  to  what  difcoveries  he  hath 
made,  or  {hall  hereafter  make,  of  the  fame  to  us ;  in 
fpecial,  that  we  will  feek  him  in  all  his  holy  ordip 


Chap.  XIX.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      489 

"  nances,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  gofpel,fubmitting  Book  L 
«*  to  his  government  in  this  particular  church,  and  walk-  v-*^/^^ 
"  ing  together  therein,  with  all   brotherly   love  and  mu-  1670. 
*<  tual  watchfulnefs,  to  the  building  up  of  one  another  in 
"  faith  and  love  unto  his  praife.     All  which  we  promife 
«  to  perform,  the  Lord  helping  us,  through  his  grace  ia 
"  Jesus  Christ." 

Nearly  at  the  fame  time,  when  the  contentions  com- 
menced in  the  church  at  Hartford,   the  people  at  Strat-  ^  j.p''"' j 
ford  fell  into  the  fame  unhappy  ftate  of  controverfy  and  divifion  in 
divifion.     During  the  adminiftrations  of  Mr.  Blackman,  thechurch 
their  firft  pallor,  the   church   and  town  enjoyed  great  ^t  Strat- 
peace,  and  condudled  their  ecclefiaftical  affairs   with  ex-  *°'^"* 
emplary  harmony.      However  he  was  far  advanced  in 
years,  and  about  the  year  1663  became  very  infirm,  and 
unable  to  perform   his    minifterial  labors.     The  church 
therefore  applied  to  Mr.  Tfrael  Chauncy,  fon  of  the  prefi- 
dent  Charles  Chauncy  of  Cambridge,  to    make  them  a  Mr. 
vifit  and  preach  among  them.     A  majority  of  the  church  Chauncy' 
and  town  chofe  him  for  their  pallor,  and  in  1665  he  was  ordained, 
ordained.f     But   a  large   and   refpeflable   part   of  the 
church  and  town  were  oppofed   to  his  ordination.     To 
make  them  eafy,  it  was  agreed,  that  if,  after  hearing  Mr. 
Chauncy  a  certain  time,  they  fhould  continue  diflatisfied 
■with  his  miniftry,  they  fhould  have  liberty  to  call  and  fet- 
tle another  miniflier,  and  have  the  fame  privileges   in  the 
meeting  houfe  as   the  other  party.      Accordingly,  after 
hearing  Mr.   Chauncy,  the    time  agreed  upon,  and  not 
being  fatisfied  with  his  minifterial  performances,  they  in- 
vited Mr.  Zecharlah  Walker  to  preach  to  them,   and  fi- 
nally chofe  him  for  their   paftor.      He  was   ordained  to  Mr. 
the  paftoral  office  in  a  regular  manner,  by  the   Reverend  Walker 
Mr.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Whiting,   the    minlfters  of  Hart-  ordained, 
ford,  fometlme   about  the  year    1667,  or  1668.     Both 
minlfters  performed  public  worfhip  in  the  fame  houfe, 
Mr.  Chauncy  performed  his  fervices  at  the  ufual  hours, 
and  Mr.  Walker  was  allowed  two  hours   in   the  middle 
of  the  day.     But  after  fome  time,  it   fo   happened,  that 
Mr.    Walker  continued  his   fervlce  longer  than  ufual. 
Mr.  Chauncy  and  his  people  coming  to   the  houfe  and 

■f  His  ordination  was  in  the  independent  mode.  It  has  been 
the  tradition,  that  Elder  Brinfmaid  laid  on  hands  vrith  a  leathern 
mitten.  Hence  it  has  been  termed  the  leathern  mitten  ordina- 
tion. 

PPP 


490  THEHISTORY        "    Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  finding  that  Mr.  Walker's  excrcifes  were  not  finifhed, 
K,y^V<J  retired  to  a  private  houfe,  and  there  performed  their  af- 
1670.  ternoon  devotions.     They  were  however    fo   much  dif- 

pleafed,  that  the  next  day  they  went  over  to  Fairfield  and 
exhibited  a  complaint  to  Major  Gould,  one  of  the  magif- 
trates,  againft  Mr.  Walker.  The  major,  upon  hearing 
the  cafe,  advifed  to  pacific  meafures,  and  that  Mr.  Walk- 
er (hould  be  alloM'ed  three  hours  for  the  time  of  his  pub- 
lic exercifes. 

In  May  1669,  the  general  affembly  advifed  the  town 
to  grantMr.  Walker  full  three  hours  for  his  exercifes,  un- 
til the  next  affembly  in  0£lober.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
parties  were  dire6ted  to  call  an  able  council  to  give  them 
advice  and  afliftance,  and  if  poflible  to  reconcile  them. ' 
All  attempts  for  a  reconciliation,  however,  were  unfuc- 
cefsful.  The  parties  became  more  fixed  in  their  oppofi- 
tion  to  each  other,  and  their  feelings  and  condudl  more 
and  more  unbrotherly.  At  length  Mr.  Chauncy  and  the 
majority  excluded  Mr.  Walker  and  his  hearers  the  meet- 
ing houfe,  and  they  convened  and  worfhipped  in  a  pri- 
vate dwelling. 

Governor  Winthrop,  affe6ted  with  the  unhappy  con- 
troverfy  and  animofities  fubfifting  in    the  town,  advifed, 
that  Mr.  Walker  and  his  church   and   people    fliould  re- 
35-j,  move,  and  that  a  tra£l  of  land,  for  the   fettleraent    of  a 

new  townfhip,  fhould  be  granted  for  their  encourage- 
ment and  accommodation.  Accordingly  Mr.  John 
Sherman,-|-  Mr.  William  Curtis,  and  their  aflbciates,  were 
authorized  to  begin  a  plantation  at  Pomperaug.  Confe- 
quently,  Mr.  Walker  and  his  people  I'emoved  and  fettled 
the  town  of  Woodbury,  about  the  years  1673,  and  1674. 
This  gave  peace  to  the  town  of  Stratford,,  and  Mr. 
Walker  and  his  church  and  congregation  walked  in  har- 
mony among  themfelves  and  with  their  fifter  churches. 

The  tradition  is,  that  Mr.  Walker  and  his  church 
were  not  fo  independent,  in  their  principles,  as  the  church 
of  Stratford  j  and,  that  Mr.  Walker  was  a  more  experi- 
mental, pungent  preacher  than  Mr.  Chauncy.  Mr. 
Chauncy  was  learned  and  judicious.  They  both  became 
fenfible  that  their  couduft  towards  each  other,  during 
the  controverfy  at  Stratford,  had  not,  in    all  inftances. 


■f  Mr.  Sherman  v/a*?  fon  of  the  Reverend  John  Sherman  of 
Watertown,  he  was  fume  years  fpeaker  of  the  lower  houfe,  and 
afterwards  one  of  the  n-ir.giltrates  of  this  colony.  He  was  one  of 
Mr.  Walker's  principal  hearera. 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       491 

been  brotherly,  and,  after  fome  time,  made  conceflions  to  Book  I. 
each  other,  became  perfectly  reconciled,  and  condudled  v^y'w^ 
towards  each  other  with  brotlierly  afFedlion.  1670. 

During  thefe  tranfa6lions,  thofe  venerable  fathers, 
who  had  been  Angularly  inilrumental  in  planting,  and  ^^^  /" 
had  long  illuminated  the  churches  of  Connedlicut  and  ofMr. 
New-England,  the  Reverend  John  Davenport  and  the  Daven- 
Reverend  John  Warham,  finifhcd  their  courfe.  Mr.  port. 
Davenport  died,  at  Bofton,  of  an  apoplexy,  March  15th,  ^^T°' . 
1670,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Coventry,  in  Warwickfhire,  1597.  His  father 
"was  mayor  of  the  city.  At  about  fourteen  years  of  age, 
he  was  fuppofed  to  become  truly  pious,  and  was  admit- 
ted into  Brafen-Nofe  college  in  the  univerfity  at  Oxford. 
When  he  was  nineteen,  he  became  a  conftant  preacher 
in  the  city  of  London.  He  appears,  from  his  early  life, 
to  have  been  a  man  of  public  fpirit,  planning  and  at- 
tempting to  ferve  the  general  welfare  of  the  church. 
About  the  year  1626,  he  united  with  Dr.  Gouge,  Dr. 
Sibs,  and  Mr.  Offspring,  the  Lord  mayor  of  London,  the 
king's  fergeant  at  law,  and  with  feveral  other  attorneys 
and  citizens,  in  a  defign  of  purchafing  impropriations, 
and  with  the  profits  of  them  to  maintain  a  conftant,  able, 
and  laborious  miniftry,  in  thofe  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
■where  the  poor  people  were  deftitute  of  the  word  and  or- 
dinances, and  fuch  a  miniftry  was  moft  needed  and  would 
be  of  the  greateft  utility.  Such  incredible  progrefs  was 
made  in  this  charitable  defign,  that  all  the  church  lands, 
in  the  hands  of  laymen,  would  have  been  .foon  honeftly 
recovered  to  the  immediate  fervice  of  the  reformed  reli- 
gion. But  Biftiop  Laud,  viewing  the  undertaking  with 
a  jealous  eye,  left  it  might  ferve  the  caufe  of  non-con- 
formity, caufed  a  bill  to  be  exhibited  in  the  exchequer 
chamber,  by  the  king's  attorney  general,  againft  the  feo- 
fees,  who  had  the  management  of  the  affair.  By  this 
means  an  a£l  of  court  was  procured  condemning  the 
proceedings,  as  dangerous  to  the  church  and  ftate.  The 
feofments  and  contrivances  made  to  the  charitable  de- 
fign were  declared  to  be  illegal,  the  company  was  diffol- 
ved  and  the  money  was  confifcated  to  the  ufe  of  his  ma- 
jefty.  But  as  the  affair  met  with  general  approbation, 
and  multitudes  of  wife  and  devout  people  extremely  re- 
fented  the  conduct  of  the  court,  the  crime  was  never  prof- 
ecuted.  Laud  however  watched  Mr.  Davenport  with  a 
jealous  eye,  and  as  he  foon  after  difcovered  inclinations 
to  non-con.forniity,  he  marked  him  out  as  an  obje(5l  of  his 


49Z  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XTX. 

Book  I.  vengeance.  Mr.  Davenport  therefore,  to  avoid  the 
v-'^vx*^  ftorm,  by  the  confent  of  his  people,  refigned  his  paftoral 
3670.  charge,  in  Colcmanflreet.  He  hoped,  by  this  means,  to 
enjoy  a  quiet  life  ;  but  he  found  his  expe6lations  fadly 
difappointed.  He  was  fo  conftantly  harafled  by  one  bufy 
and  furious  purfuivant  after  another,  that  he  was  obliged 
to  leave  the  kingdom  and  retire  into  Holland.  In  1633 
he  arrived  at  Amfterdam,  and  at  the  defire  of  the  people, 
who  met  him  on  his  way,  became  colleague  pallor  with 
the  aged  Mr.  Paget.  After  about  two  years,  finding  tliat 
he  could  not  confcientioufly  adminifter  baptifm  in  that 
loofe  way  to  all  forts  of  children,  pradlifed  in  the  Dutch 
churches,  he  de filled  from  his  miniftry  at  Amfterdam. 
While  he  was  in  this  city,  he  received  letters  from  Mr. 
Cotton,  at  Bollon,  acquainting  him,  that  the  order  of 
the  churches  and  commonwealth  was  then  fo  fettled,  in 
New-England,  by  common  confent,  that  it  brought  into 
his  mind  the  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth,  wherein 
dwelleth  righteoufnefs.  He  therefore  returned  to  Lon- 
don, and  having  fhipped  himfelf,  with  a  number  of  pious 
people,  came  into  New-England  ;  and,  as  has  been  rela- 
ted, fettled  at  New-Haven.  He  was  a  preacher  of  the 
gofpel  about  fifty  four  years,  nearly  thirty  of  which  were 
fpent  at  New-Haven.  He  was  eminently  pious,  given 
to  devotion  in  fecret  and  private ;  and  it  was  fuppofed 
that  he  was  abundantly  in  ejaculatory  prayer.  He  is 
chara6lerized  as  a  hard  fludent  and  univcrfal  fcholar  ;  as 
a  laborious, prudent,  exemplary  miniller  ;  as  an  excellent 
preacher,  fpeaking  with  a  gravity,  energy,  and  agreea- 
blenefs,  of  which  few  of  his  brethren  were  capable.  It 
is  faid  he  was  acquainted  with  great  men,  and  great 
things,  and  was  great  himfelf.* 

The  Reverend  John  Warham  furvived  Mr.  Daven- 
port but  a  fhort  time.  He  expired  on  the  ift  of  April 
1670.  He  was  about  forty  years  minifter  in  New-Eng- 
land ;  fix  at  Dorchefter,  and  thirty  four  at  Windfor.  He 
was  diflinguifhed  for  piety  and  the  ftridleft  morals ;  yet, 
at  times,  was  fubje£l  to  great  gloominefs  and  religious 
melancholy.  Such  were  his  doubts  and  fears,  at  fome 
times,  that  when  he  adminiftered  the  Lord's  Supper  tq 
his  brethren,  he  did  not  participate  with  them,  fearing 
that  the  feals  of  the  covenant  did  not  belong  to  him.     It 

*  Magnalia  B.  III.  p.  51—57.  He  left  a  refpcdtable  family, 
and  his  defcendants  have  fuppoi  ted  its  dignity  to  the  prefent 
time.  Someof  them  have  been  in  the  miniftry,  and  others  ma-i 
giftrates  of  this  colony. 


Chap.  XIX.       OF    CONNECTICUT.      493 

is  faid,  he  was  the  firft  minifter   in  New-England,  who  Book  I. 
ufed  notes   in  preaching,  yet  he  was  applauded   by  his   v..>^<^<v^ 
hearers,  as  one  of  the  moll  animated  and  energetic  preach-  1670. 
ers  of  his  day.     He  was  confidered  as  one  of  the  princi- 
pal fathers  and  pillars  of  the  churches  of  Connecticut. 

After  the  clofe  of  the  war  with  Philip  and  the  Nar-  od.1676. 
raganfet  Indians,  the   general  aflembly  recommended  it  Recom- 
to  the  minifters  through  the  colony  to  take  fpecial  pains  menda- 
to  inftru6l  the  people  in  the  duties  of  religion,  and  to  (lir  ^'°f"rm^- 
up  and  awaken  them  to  repentance  and  a  general  reform-  jj^j,  q{  . 
ation  of  manners.     They  alfo  appointed  a  day  of  folemn  manners    - 
failing  and  prayer,  to  fupplicate  the  divine  aid,  that  they 
might  be   enabled  to    repent  and  fincerely  amend  their 
ways      The  fame   meafures  were  recommended,  at  the 
May  feflion,  the  next  year,  and  the  people  were  called  to 
humiliation  and  prayer,  under  a  deep  fenfe  of  the  abound- 
ing of  fin  and  the  dark.afpe£ts  of  providence. 

The  general    court,   about  three  years  after,  for  the  May  1680 
more  cfFe6lual   prefervation  and  propagation  of  religion  Catechil- 
to  pofterity,  recommended  it  to  the  miniftry  of  this  col-  ingiecom- 
ony,  upon  the  Lord's  day,  to  catechife  all  the  youth  in  "'-^"'l^^' 
their  refpe£live  congregations,  under  twenty  years  of  age, 
in  the  aflembly  of  divines,  or  fome  other  orthodox  cate- 
chifm.     To  continue  and  increafe  unity  in  religious  fen- 
timents  among  the  people,  and  that  they  might  have  the 
advantage  of  participating  in  the   variety  of   minifterial  County 
gifts,  it  was  alfo  recommended  to  the  minifters  to  attend  ledtures 
a  weekly  le£lure  in   each  county,  on  Wednefday,  in  fuch  lecom- 
nianner  as  they  fhould  judge   moft  fubfervient  to  thefe  "^^""^"* 
purpofes.f 

The  religious  ftate  of  the  colony,  at  this  time,  is  given 
in  an  anfwer  to  the  queries  of  the  lords  of  trade  and  plan- 
tations.    It  is  to  the  following  effect. 

"  Our  people,  in  this  colony,  are  fome  of  them  flri£t  Religious 
**  congregational  men,  others  more  large  congregational  ftate  of  the 
**  men,  and  fome  moderate  prefbyterians.     The  congre-  colony. 
"  gational  men  of  both  forts  are  the  greateft  part  of  the 
**  people  in  the  colony.     There  are  four  or  five  feventh 
*'  day  men,  and  about  fo  many  more  quakers." 

"  Great  care  is  taken  for  the  inftrudion  of  the  peo- 
**  pie  in  the  chriftian  religion,  by  minifters  catechifing  of 
**  them  and  preaching  to  them  twice  every  fabbath  day, 
**  and  fome  times  on  lecture  days  ;  and  by  mafters  of 
<*  families  inftru<Sting  and  catechifing  their  children  and 


i  Records  of  the  colony. 


494  THEHISTORY         Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  «  fervants,  which  they  are  required  to  do  by  law.  In 
v.>'-v->w'  "  our  corporation  are  twenty  fix  towns,  and  twenty  one 
1680.  **  churches.  There  is  in  every  town  in  the  colony  a 
**  fettled  niinifter,  except  in  two  towns  newly  begun." 
In  fome  towns  there  were  two  minifters ;  fo  that  there 
were,  on  the  whole,  then  about  the  fanie  number  of  min- 
ifters as  of  towns.  There  was  about  one  minifter,  upon 
an  average,  to  every  four  hundred  and  fixty  perfons,  or 
to  about  ninety  families. 

While  fettlements  and  churches  were  forming  in  va- 
to  c^hTif-  ^  ^ious  parts  of  the  colony,  and  the  Englifh  inhabitants  were 
tiaiiizethe  providing  for  their  own  inftru£lion,  fome  pains  were  ta- 
Indians.      ken  to  inftru6l  and  chriftianize  the  Conne6licut  Indians. 
A  law  was  made  obliging  thofe  under  the  protection  of 
the  government  to  keep  the  chriftian  fabbath.     The  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Fitch  was  particularly  defired  to  teach  Uncas 
and  his  family  chridianity.     A   hrge  Bible,   printed   in 
the  Indian  language,  was  provided  and  given  to  the  Mo- 
heagan  fachems,   that   they  might  read   the  fcriptures. 
When  the  council  of  minifters  met,  at  Hartford,  in  1657, 
the  famous  Mr.  Eliot,   hearing   of  the  Podunk  Indians, 
defired,  that  the  tribe  might  be  aflembled,  that  he  might 
have  an  opportunity  of  offering  Christ  to  them  for  their 
Saviour. 

By  the  influence  of  fome  principal  gentlemen,  they 
were  perfuaded  to  come  together,  at  Hartford,  and  Mr. 
Eliot  preached  to  them  in  their  own  language,  and  labor- 
ed to  inftru6l  them  concerning  their  Creator  and  Re- 
deemer. When  he  had  finilhed  his  fermon,  and  ex- 
plained the  matter  to  them,  he  defired  an  anfwer  from 
them,  whether  they  would  accept  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
their  Saviour,  as  he  had  been  offered  to  the  .;  ?  But  their 
chief  men,  with  gi-eat  fcorn  and  refentment,  utterly  re- 
fufed.  They  faid  the  Englifti  had  taken  away  their  lands 
and  were  attempting  now  to  make  them  fervants. 

Mr. Stone  and  Mr. Newton,  before  this  time,  had  both 
been  employed,  at  the  defire  of  the  colony,  to  teach  the 
Indians  in  Hartford,  Windfor,  Farmington  and  that  vi- 
cinity ;  and  one  Johti  Minor  was  employed  as  an  inter- 
preter, and  was  taken  into  Mr.  Stone's  family,  that  he 
might  be  further  inftru6led  and  prepared  for  that  fervice. 
Catechifms  were  prepared  by  Mr.  Eliot  and  others,  in  the 
Indian  language,  and  fpread  among  the  Indians.  The 
Reverend  Mr.  Pierfon,  it  feems  learned  the  Indian  lan- 
guage and  preached  to  the  Connecticut  Indians.  A  con- 
^derabie  fum  was  allov/ed  him  by  the  commiffioners  of 


Chap.  XIX.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       49; 

the  United  colones  ;  and  a  fum  was  alfo  granted  by  them,  Book  I. 
for  the  in{lru£lion  of  the  Indians  in  the  county  of  New-  *s^^v^»j 
Haven.J  The  minifters  of  the  feveral  towns,  where  In-  1680. 
dians  Hved,  inftru£led  them,  as  they  had  opportunity  ; 
but  all  attempts  for  chriftianizing  the  Indians,  in  Connedl- 
icut,  were  attended  with  little  fuccefs.  They  were  enga- 
ged, a  great  part  of  their  time,  in  fuch  implacable  wars 
among  themfelves,  were  fo  totally  ignorant  of  letters  and 
the  Englifh  language,  and  the  Englifh  minifters,  in  gene- 
ral, were  fo  entirely  ignorant  of  their  dialedl,  that  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  teach  them.  Not  one  Indian  church 
was  ever  gathered,  by  the  Englifh  minifters,  in  Connedt- 
icut.  Several  Indians  however,  in  one  town  and  another, 
became  chriftians,  and  were  baptized  and  admitted  to  full 
communion  in  the  Englifh  churches.  Some  few  were 
admitted  into  the  church  at  Farmington,§  and  fome  into 
the  church  at  Derby.  ^One  of  the  fachems  of  the  Indians 
at  Naugatuck  falls,  was  a  member  of  the  church  at  Derby, 
and  it  has  been  faid  that  he  was  a  fober  well  condu6led 
man.  Some  few  of  the  Moheagans  have  profefTed  chrif- 
tianity,  and  been,  many  years  fince,  admitted  to  full  com- 
munion in  the  north  church  in  New-London. 

The  gofpel  however  hath  had  by  far  the  moft  happy 
efFedl  upon  the  Quinibaug,  or  Plainfield  Indians  of  any 
in  Connecticut.  They  ever  lived  peaceably  with  the 
Englifh,  and  about  the  year  1 745,  in  the  time  of  the  great 
awakening  and  reformation  in  New-England,  they  be- 
came greatly  afre6led  with  the  truths  of  the  gofpel,  pro- 
fefled  chriftianity,  and  gave  the  ftrongeft  evidence  of  a 
real  converfion  to  God.  They  were  filled  with  the  knowl- 
edge of  falvation,  and  exprefled  it  to  admiration.  They 
were  entirely  reformed  as  to  their  manner  of  living.  They 
became  temperate,  and  abftained  from  drinking  toexcefs, 
which  it  had  before  been  found  utterly  impoffible  to  efFedt 
by  any  other  means.  They  held  religious  meetings,  and 
numbers  of  them  formed  into  church  ftate  and  had  the 
facraments  adminiftered  to  them.|l 

Upon  the  aflembly's  granting  liberty  to  the  minor  party 
in  Windfor  to  call  and  fettle  an  orthodox  minifter,  they 

i  Records  of  the  United  colonics. 

§  There  was  an  Indian  fchool  formerly  kept  in  this  town,  at  the 
exotiife  of  tht  fociety  for  propagating  chriftian  knowledge  among 
the  Indians.  The  number  ot  Indian  fcholars  was  fometiraes  fif- 
teen or  fixteen 

11  Mai'ufcripts  from  Plainfield.  Thefe  Indians  were  numerous, 
*t  the  time  when  the  town  was  fettled,  amounting  to  4,  or  joo. 


'4p6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        €hap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  i  mmediately  called  one  Mr.  Woodbridge  to  preach  among 
V_y~v-^  them.  Mr.  Chauncy  and  Mr.  Woodbridge  continued  to 
1680.  preach,  one  to  one  party,  and  the  other  to  the  other,  from 

1667  to  1680.     Several  councils  had  been  called  to  advife 
and  unite  the  parties,  but  it  leems  none  had  judged  it  ex- 
pedient to  ordain  either  of  the  gentlemen  ;  but  after  a 
1  reparation  of  abt  ut  ten  years,  a  council  advifed,  that  both 

minifters  Ihould  leave  the  town,  and  that  the  churches  and 
parties  (hould  unite,  and  call  and  fettle  one  minifter  over 
the  whole.  As  the  parties  did  not  fubmit  to  this  advice, 
it  feems,  that  another  council  was  called  three  years  aftei- 
wards.  May  1680,  which  gave  the  fame  advice,  but  the 
parties  did  not  comply.  The  general  aflembly  therefore 
interpofed  and  pafled  the  following  aft. 
Aft  of  af-  "  This  court,  having  confidered  the  petition  of  fome 
fembly  "  of  Windfor  people  and  the  forrowful  condition  of  the 
relative  to  «  good  people  there,  and  finding,  that  notwithftanding 
Windfor,  «  ^jj  jr^gjing  of  healing  afforded  them,  they  do  remain  in 
1680.  ^  '  "  a  bleeding  ftate  and  condition,  do  find  it  neceflary  for 
**  this  court  to  exert  their  authority  towards  ifluing  or 
■<*  putting  a  Hop  to  the  prcfent  troubles  there  ;  and  this 
<«  court  do  hereby  declare,  that  they  find  all  the  good 
**  people  of  Windfor  obliged  to  (land  to,  and  reft  fatisfi- 
*'  ed  with  the  advice  and  iffue  of  the  council  they  chofe 
"  to  hear  and  iffue  their  matters  j  which  advice  being 
<*  given  and  now  prefented  to  the  court,  dated  January 
~"  1677,  this  court  doth  confirm  the  fame,  and  order  that 
<*  there  be  a  feafOnabl'e  uniting  of  the  fecond  fociety  in 
*'  Windfor  with  the  firft,  according  to  order  of  council, 
"  by  an  orderly  preparation  for  their  admiflion  ;  and  if 
«*  there  be  objeftion  againft  the  life  or  knowledge  of  any, 
«'  then  it  be  according  to  the  council's  advice  heard  and 
<*  iffued  by  Mr.  Hooker  and  the  other  moderator's  fuc- 
"  ceffor  ;  and  that  both  the  former  minifters  be  releafed  : 
"  And  that  the  committee  appointed  to  feek  out  for  a 
«*  minifter,  with  the  advice  of  the  church  and  town  col- 
**  leftively,  by  their  major  vote,  do  vigoroufly  purfue 
"the  procuring  of  an  able,  orthodox  minifter,  qualified 
*'  according  to  the  advice  of  the  governor  and  council, 
**  and  minifters.  May  laft  ;  and  all  the  good  people  of 
"  Windfor  are  hereby  required  to  be  aiding  and  affifting 
*'  therein,  and  not  in  the  leaft  to  oppofe  and  hinder  the 
**  fame,  as  they  will  anfwer  the  contrary  at  their  peril."* 
In  confequence  of  this  aft,  Mr.  Sam.uel  Mather  was 
invited  to  preach  to  the  people,  and  about  two  years  afterj 

*  Records  of  the  colony. 


Chap. XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.         497 

was  ordained  to  the  paftoral  office  over  the  whole  town.  Bock  I. 
The   two   parties  were  generally  united  in  him,  and  to  u*^r»*j» 
complete  the  union  of  che  town  and  churches,  the  aflem-  i68z. 
bly  enafted,  "  That  the  people  at  Windfor  (hould  quiet- 
"  ly  fettle  Mr.  Mather  and  communcate  to  his  fupport :  A&  ofaf- 
"  That  fuch  as,  on  examination,  fhould  fatisfy  Mr.   Ma-  femblyre- 
«  ther  of  their  experimental    knowledge,  {hould,  upon  l?r   i?-^ 
"  proper  teftimony  of  their  good  converfation,  be  admit-  j^^gy  i^gj, 
**  ted  on  their  return  from  the  fecond  church."* 

Both  churches,  and  the  whole  town  were  united  un- 
der Mr.  Mather,  and  their  ecclefiaftical  affairs  were,  under 
his  miniftry,  conducted  with  harmony  and  brotherly  af- 
fe£lion. 

Notwithstanding  the  refult  of  the  fynod,  in  1662, 
and  the  various  attempts  which  had  been  made  to  intro- 
duce the  practice  of  what  has  been  generally  termed  own- 
ing the  covenant,  it  does  not  appear  to  have  obtained  in 
the  churches  of  this  colony  until  the  year  1696.  It  ap- 
pears firft  to  have  been  introduced  by  Mr.  Woodbridge 
at  Hartford.  The  covenant  propofed,  bearing  date  Feb- 
ruary 1696,  is  for  fubftance  as  follows, 

*'  We  do  foleranly,   in  the  prefence  of  God  and  this  p  ^ 

"  congregation,  avouch  God,  in  Jesus  Christ,  to  be  owned 
"  our  God,  one  God  in  three  perfons,  the  Father,  the  Feb.  1696. 
"  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  ;  and  that  we  are  by  na- 
"  ture  children  of  wrath,  and  that  our  hope  of  mercy 
"  with  God,  is  only  through  the  righteoufnefs  of  Jesus 
"  Christ,  apprehended  by  faith  ;  and  we  do  freely  give 
"  up  ourfelves  to  the  LorD;  to  walk  in  communion  with 
"  him,  in  the  ordinances  appointed  in  his  holy  word,  and 
**  to  yield  obedience  to  all  his  commandments,  and  fub- 
"  mit  to  his  government.  And  whereas,  to  the  great 
**  diflionor  of  God,  fcandal  of  religion,  and  hazard  of 
"  the  damnation  of  many  fouls,  drunkennefs  and  un- 
"  cleannefs  are  prevailing  amongfl:  us,  we  do  folemnly  en- 
"  gage  before  God,  this  day,  through  his  grace,  faithful- 
"  ly  and  confcientioufly  to  ftrive  againft  thefe  evils  and 
"  the  temptations  leading  therunto." 

Sixty  nine  perfons,  male  and  female,  fubfcribed  this 
in  February  ;  on  the  8th  of  March,  one  fortnight  after, 
eighty  three  more  fubfcribed.  In  about  a  month,  the 
number  of  fubfcribers  amounted  to  one  hundred  and 
ninety  two  ;  which  appears  to  have  been  nearly  the  whole 
body  of  young  people  in  that  congregation. 

*  Records  of  the  colony. 


498  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  T.       The  like  practice  was,  about  the  fame  time,  or  not  ma- 

u«*-v"*0    ny  years  after,  introduced  into  the  other  church,  and  the 

1696.         practice  of  owning  the  covenant,  by  people  and  offering 

their  children  to  baptifm,  was  gradually  introduced  into 

other  churches. 

The  pra£lice  of  the  minifters  and  churches  at  Hart- 
ford, in  fome  refpedls,  was  different  from  that  in  other 
churches.  The  minifters,  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Mr. 
Buckingham,  with  their  deacons,  went  round  among  the 
young  people  and  warned  them,  once  every  year,  to  come 
and  publicly  fubfcribe,  or  own  the  covenant.  When  fuch 
perfons  as  had  owned  or  fubfcribed'  it  came  into  family 
ilate,  they  prefented  their  children  to  baptifm,  though 
they  made  no  other  profeffion  of  religion,  and  negledled 
the  facrament  of  the  Lord's  fupper  and  other  duties  pe- 
culiar to  members  in  full  communion.  In  other  church- 
es, the  covenant  was  owned  by  perfons,  fometimes  before 
marriage,  but  more  generally  not  until  they  became  pa- 
rents, and  wiflied  to  have  baptifm  adminiftered  to  their 
children. 

The  practice  of  making  a  relation  of  chriftian  experi- 
ences, and  of  admitting  none  to  full  communion,  but  fuch 
as  appeared  to  be  chriftians  indeed,  yet  prevailed ;  and 
the  number  of  church  members,  in  full  communion,  was 
generally  fmall.     In  thofe  churches  where  the  owning  of 
the  covenant  was  not  prailifed,  great  numbers   of  chil- 
dren were  unbaptized. 
J-.  r       c       "While  tlie  inhabitants  and  churches,  in  ConnecSticut, 
foundinpa  were  conftantly  increaHng,  and  the  calls  for  a  learned 
college  in    miniftry,  to  fupply  the  churches,  became  more  and  more 
Conne(5li-  urgent,  a  number  of  the  minifters  conceived  the   purpofe 
cut,  1698.  ^j£  founding  a  college  in  Connecticut.     By  this  means, 
Reafons     they  might  educate  young  men,  from  among  themfelves, 
for  it.        for  the   facred  miniftry,  and  lor  various   departments  in 
civil  life,  and  diffufe  literature  and  piety  more  generally 
among  the  people.     The  clergy,   and  people  in  general, 
by  long  experience,  found  the  great  inconvenience  of  ed- 
ucating their  fons   at  fo  great  a  diflance  as  Cambridge, 
and  in  carrying  fo  much  money  out  of  the  colony,  which 
otherwife  might  be  a  confiderable  emolument  to  this  com- 
monwealth.    A  well    found-ed   college  might  not  only 
ferve  the  interefts  of  the  churches  in  this  government,  but 
in  the   neighbouring  colonies,  where  there   were  no  col- 
leges erected ;  might   not  only  prevent  a  large  fum   of 
money  annually  from  being  carried   abroad,  but   bring 
fomething  confiderable  into  it,  from  the  extenfive  country 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT,       4^^ 

around  them.     Colleges  had  been  anciently  confidered  as  Book  I. 
the  fchools  of  the  church  ;  and  not  only  the  prophets  had  u^'-vrsj 
been  encouragers  and  heads  of  them  j  but  the  apoftles  and  1 698. 
their  immediate  fucceflbrs  had  taken  great  care  to  efhablilh 
fchools,  wherever  the  gofpel  had  been  preached,  for  the 
propagation  of  the  truth,  and  to  tranfmit  the  religion  of 
fhe  Redeemer  to  all  fucceeding   ages.     The  miniflers 
therefore  conceived  it  to  be  entirely  in  chara£ler,  and  as 
happily   correfponding  with  the  great  defign   of  the   firfl 
fettlement  of  New-England  and  Conne£licut,  for  them 
to  be  the  planners  and  founders  of  a  college. 

The  defig;n  was  firft  concerted,  in  1698,  by  the  Rev- 
erend Meflieurs  Pierpont  of  New-Haven,  Andrew  of 
Milford,  and  Ruffel  of  Branford.     Thefe  were  the  moft 
forward  and  a£live,  in  carrying  the  affair  into  immediate 
execution.     The  defign  was  mentioned  to  principal  gen- 
tlemen and  miniflers  in  private  converfation,  at  occafional 
meetings  of  the  clergy,  and  in  councils.     In  this  way  the 
affair  was  fo  far  ripened,  that  ten   of  the  principal  minif- 
ters  in  the  colony  were  nominated  and  agreed  upon  to 
ftand  as  truftees,  to  found,  ere6l,  and  govern  a  college. 
The  gentlemen  thus   agreed  upon  were   the  Reverend 
Meffieurs  James  Noyes  of  Stonington,  Ifrael  Chauncy  of  ^    /jp_ 
Stratford,  Thomas  Buckingham  of  Saybrook,  Abraham  nig^  nom- 
Pierfon  of  Killingworth,  Samuel  Mather   of  Windfor,  inated  for 
Samuel    Andrew  of  Milford,  Timothy  Woodbridge   of  truftees. 
Hartford,  James  Pierpont  of  New-Haven,  Noadiah  Ruf- 
fel  of  Middletown,  and  Joieph  Webb  of  Fairfield. 

In   1700,  thefe  gentlemen   convened  at  New-PIaven,  (-•„]]„„. 
and  formed  thcmfelves  into  a  body  or  fociety,  to  confift  founded 
of  eleven  minifters  including    a  re£lor,  and  determined  1700. 
to  found  a  college  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut.     They 
had  another  meeting,  the  fame  year,  at  Branford,  and  then 
founded  the  univerfity  of  Yale  college.     The  tranfa£lion 
was  in  this  manner.     Each  gentleman  gave  a  number  of 
books,  and  laying  them  upon  a  table,  pronounced  words 
to  this  effe£l  "  I  give  thefe  books  for  the  founding  of  a 
college  in   this  colony."     About    forty  volumes  in  folio 
were  thus  given.     The  truftees  took  poffeffion  of  them, 
and  appointed  Mr.   Ruffel  of  Branford  to  be  keeper  of  . 

their  library.  j 

Various  other  donations,  both  of  books  and  money^  J 

were  foon  after  made  by  which  a  good  foundation  was 
laid  for  a  public  feminary.  But  doubts  arifmg  whether 
the  truftees  were  vefted  with  a  legal  capacity  for  the 
holding  of  lands,  and  whether  private  donations  and  coni? 


500  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  tributions  would  be  fufficient  to  eiFe£\:  the  great  defign 
K^^r>sj  which  they  had  in  view,  it  was,  upon  the  beft  advice  and 
J  700.  mature  deliberation,  determined  to  make  application  to 
the  legiflature  for  a  charter  of  incorporation.  1  he  draught 
was  made  by  the  honorable  judge  Sewall  and  Mr.  fecre- 
tary  Addington  of  Bofton.  This  was  prefented  to  the 
general  affembly  with  a  petition  figned  by  a  large  number 
of  niinifters  and  other  principal  chara£ters  in  the  colony 
praying  for  a  charter.  The  petition  reprefented,  "That 
♦*  from  a  fincere  regard  to,  and  zeal  for,  upholding  tlic 
*'  Proteflant  religion,  by  a  fucceiTion  of  learned  and  or- 
*«  thodox  men,  they  had  propofed  that  a  collegiate  fchool 
**  fhould  be  erefted  in  tliis  colony,  wherein  youth  fliould 
"  be  inftrutted  in  ail  parts  of  learning,  to  qualify  them 
*'  for  public  employments  in  church  and  civil  ftate  ;  and 
*'  that  they  had  nominated  ten  minilters  to  be  truf- 
**  tees,  partners  or  undertakers  for  the  founding,  endow- 
"  ing  and  ordering  the  faid  fchool."  The  gentlemen 
were  particularly  named,  and  it  was  defired,  that  full  lib- 
erty and  privilege  might  be  granted  to  them  for  that  end. 
To  facilitate  the  defign,  the  honorable  James  Fitch, 
Efquire,  of  Norwich,  one  of  the  council,  before  the  pe- 
tition was  heard  made  a  formal  donation  under  his  hand, 
predicated  on  "  the  great  pains  and  charge  the  minifters 
*'  had  been  at  in  fetting  up  a  collegiate  fchool  ;  and 
**  therefore  to  encourage  a  work  fo  pleafing  to  God,  and 
«'  beneficial  to  pofterity,  he  gave  a  tra£l  of  land,  in  Kil- 
*'  lingly,  of  about  600  acres  -,  and  all  the  glafs  and  nails 
"  which  fliould  be  neceffary  to  build  a  college  houfe  and 
«  hall." 

The  general  affembly,  at  their  feflion  in  0(£^ober  1 701, 
ders  or  ' "  incorporated  the  truftees  nominated,  granting  them  a 
college  in  charter,  and  veiling  them  with  all  powers  and  privileges 
corpora  neceffary  for  the  government  of  a  college,  the  holding  of 
ted  by  ad  ]and?;,  and  the  employment  of  all  money  and  eftates  which 
biv  O'l  iifiight  be  given  for  the  benefit  of  the  college.  The  char- 
1701.  ter  ordained  that  the  corporation  fliould  confift  of  minif- 
ters only,  and  that  none  fhould  be  chofen  truftees  under 
the  age  of  forty  years.  Their  number  was  not,  at  any 
time,  to  exceed  eleven  nor  be  lefs  than  feven.  The  af* 
Nov  iitii  fcmbly  made  them  an  annual  grant  of  one  hundred  and 
firft  nieti  twenty  pounds,  equ^l  to  about  fixty  pounds  fterling. 
ing  of  the  The  truftees,  animated  with  their  charter  privileges 
coi  para-  ^nd  the  countenance  of  the  legiflature,  met  the  next  No- 
Rcftor  vember,  at  Saybrook,  and  chofe  the  Reverend  Abraham 
chofen,      Pierfon  of  Killingworth  redlor  of  the  college,  and  the 


Chap. XIX.     OF    CONNECTICUT.         501 

Reverend  Samuel  Ruflel  was  chofen  a  truftee  to  complete  Book  I. 
the  number  of  the  corporation.     They  alfo  made  rules  K^^^r^ 
for  the  general  government  and  initru£lion  of  the   colle-  1701. 
giate  fchool. 

It  was  ordered,  "  That  the  rcdlor  take  fpecial  care,  Orders 
*«  as  of  the  mcral  behaviour  of  the  ftudents  at  all  times,  -efpe<5ting 
"  fo,  with  induftry,  to  inflrudl  and  ground  them  well  in  J^*^  ^°^" 
<*  theoretical  divinity  •,  and  to  that   end,  fliall  neither  by  ^^^' 
"  himfelf,  nor  by  any  other  perfon  whomfoever,  allow 
**  them  to  beindrufted  in  any  other  fyftem  or  fynopfis 
"  of  divinity,  than  fuch  as  the  trullees  do  order  and  ap- 
**  point :  But  Ihall  take  effectual  care,  that  faid  ftudents 
"  be  weekly  (at  fuch  feafons  as  he  fliall  fee  caufe  to  ap- 
**  point)  caufed  memoriter  to  recite  the  affembly's  cate- 
"  chifm  in  Latin,  and  Dr.   Ames's  Theological  Thefes, 
"  of  which,  as  alfo  Ames's  Cafes  of  Confclence,  he  (hall 
**  make,  or  caufe  to  be  made,  from  time  to  time,  fuch  ex- 
**  planations  as  may,  through  the  blefling  of  God,  be 
**  moft  conducive  to  their  eftabiifhment  in  the  principles 
"  of  the  Chriftian  Proteftant  religion." 

"  The  re<Slcr  fliall  alfo  caufe  the  fcriptures  daily,  ex- 
«*  cept  on  the  fabbath,  morning  and  evening,  to  be  read  . 
<*  by  the  ftudents  at  the  times  of  prayer  in  the  fchool, 
**  according  to  the  laudable  order  and  ufage  of  Harvard 
"  college,  making  expofitions  upon  the  fame  :  And  upon 
*«  the  fabbath,  fliall  ^  xpound  pradical  theology,  or  caufe 
**  the  non  graduated  ftudents  to  repeat  fermons  :  And  in 
"  all  other  ways,  according  to  the  beft  of  his  difcretion, 
"  fhall,  at  all  times,  ftudioufly  endeavour,  in  the  educa- 
"  tion  of  the  ftudents,  to  promote  the  power  and  purity 
<'  of  religion,  and  the  beft  edification  of  thefe  New-Eng- 
*'  land  churches.'' 

At  this  meeting,  it  was  debated  M'here  to  fix  the  col-  colle'*c 
lege.     Though  the  truftees  were  not  fully  fatisfied  or  a-  appofnted 
greed  on  the  moft  convenient  place,  yet  they  fixed  upon  to  be  at 
Saybrook,  until,  upon  further   confideration,  they  fhould  Saybrook, 
have  fufhcient  reafon   to  alter  their  opinion.     They  de-  ^^(ttor 
fired  the  reftor  to  remove   himfelf  and  family   to    Say- docs  not 
brook.     Until  that  could  be  effected,  they  ordered,  that  remove, 
the  fcholars  fhould  be  inftrudled,  at  or    near  the  redtor's 
houfe,  in  Killingworth.     The  corporation  made  various 
attempts  to  remove  the  re£tor  to  Saybrook,  but  his  people 
were  entirely  oppofed  to  it,  and  fuch   other  impediments 
were  in  the  way  that  it  was  not   efFe£led.     The  ftudents 
fpntinued  at  Killingworth  during  his  life.     The  libiary. 


502  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  for  that  reafon,  was  removed  from  Branford  to  the  rec- 
v.^'W*'  tor's  houfe. 

1701.^  The  minifters  had  been  feveral  years  In  efFefting  their 

plan  and  a  number  of  young  men  had  been  preparing  for 
college,  under  the  inftru£lions  of  one  and  another  of  the 
truflees.  As  foon  as  tiie  college  became  furnilhed  with  a 
re61;or  and  tutor,  eight  of  them  were  admitted  and  put  in- 
to different  claffes,  according  to  the  proficiency  which 
they  had  refpedlively  made.  Some,  in  a  year  or  two,  be- 
came qualified  for  a  degree. 
jyo3.  The  firil  commencement  was  at  Saybrook,  September 

Firftcom-  13th,  1702.  The  following  gentlemen  appear,  at  this 
mence-  time,  to  have  received  the  degree  of  mailer  of  arts,  Ste- 
Conne^i-  P^-^"  Buckingham,  Salmon  Treat,  Jofeph  Coit,  Jofeph 
cut.  Mofs,  Nathaniel  Chauncy,  and  Jofeph  Morgan.     Four 

of  them  had  been  previoufly  graduated  at  Cambridge. 
They  all  became  minifters  of  thegofpel,and  three  of  them, 
Mr.  Buckingham,  Mr.  Mofs,  and  Mr.  Chauncy  were  af- 
terwards fellows  of  the  college. 

To  avoid  charge  and  other  inconveniences,  for  fome 
years  at  firft,  the  commencements  were  private.  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Lynde  of  Saybrook,  was  pleafed  generoufly  to 
give  a  houfe  and  land  for  the  ufe  of  the  college,  fo  long 
as  it  fhould  be  continued  in  that  town.  For  the  further 
encouragement  and  accommodation,  in  1703,  there  was 
a  general  contribution  through  the  colony,  to  build  a 
college  houfe  at  Saybrook,  or  any  other  place  wherever 
it  fliould  finally  be  judged  moft  convenient  to  fix  the 
college.* 

*  This  year,  that  venerable  man,  the  Reverend  James 
Fitch,  paft(9r  of  the  church  in  Norwich,  finifhed  his  courfe,  at 
Lebanon,  in  the  80th  year  of  his  age,  His  hiftery  and  charaftcr 
are  given  in  the  infcription  upon  his  monumental  ftohe. 

In  hoc  Sepnlchrn  depofila;funt  Re'iqiiias  Viri  vere  Reverendi  • 
D.  Jac;:bi  Fitch  ;  natus  fuit  apud  Bokmg,  in  Comitatu  Eflexias, 
in  Anglia,  Anno  Domini  1622,  Decern.  24.  Qni,  poftqiiam  Lin- 
guis  literatis  optime  inftruflus  fuiflct,  in  l>Jov-Angliam  venit, 
JEtate  16  ;  etdeinde  Vitam  degit,  Hartfordise,  per  Septennium, 
fubInfl:rm5lioneVirorumceleberrimorum  D.Hooker  &;D.Stonb. 
Poftea  Munere  paftorali  ftinsftus  eft  apnd  Say -Brook  per  Annos 
14.  mine  cum  Ecclefiae  majori  Parte  Norvicum  migravit ;  et  ibi 
cscteros Vitas  Vnnostranfegit  in  Opere  Evangelico.  In  Sene<5lute, 
vero,  pras  Corporis  infi rmitatc  necefT^rieceffabit  ab  Opere  publi- 
co ;  tandemquc  recefllt  Liberis,  apud  Lebanon;  ubi  Semianno 
fere  ex.a<5lo  obdormivit  in  Jefu,  Anno  1702,  Novembris  18 
^tat.  80. 

Vir  Ingenii  Acumine,  Pondere  Judicii,  Prudentia,  Charitate, 
fanftis  Laboribus,  et  omni  moda  Vits  faH<5litate,  Pcritia  quoque 
Ct  Vi  concionandi  nullifecundus. 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       503 

During  the  term  of  about  feventy  years  from  the  fet-  Book  I. 
tlement  of  Connedlicut,  the  congregational  had  been  the  v.^vx»^ 
only  mode  of  worlhip,  in   the   colony.     But  the  fociety  1706* 
for  propagating  thegofpel  in  foreign  parts,  in  1604,  fixed 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Muirfon  as  a  miflionary  at  Rye.  Some  , 

of  the  people   at    Stratford  had   been  educated  in  the  ^jQ^Qf^j'^ 
church  of  England  mode  of  worfnip  and  adminiftering  of  church  of 
the  ordinances,    and  others   were  not  pleafed  with  the  EnglaKd 
rigid   doctrines  and    difcipline     of   the     New-England  intoCon- 
churches,  and  they  made  an  earned  application  to  Mr.  "^ 
Muirfon  to  make  a   vifit    at  Stratford,  and  preach  and 
baptize  among  them.     About  the  year  1706,  upon  their 
invitation,  he  came  to  Stratford,  accompanied  with  Co- 
lonel Heathcote,  a  gentleman  zealoully   engaged  in  pro- 
moting the  epifcopal  church.     The  minifters  and  people 
in  that,  and  the  adjacent  towns,  it  feems,  were   alarmed 
at  his  coming,  and  took  pains  to  prevent  their  neighbours 
and  families  from  hearing  him.   However,  the  novelty  of 
the  affair,  and  other  circumftances,   brought   together  a 
confiderable  affembly  ;    and  Mr.  Muirfon  baptized  five 
and  twenty  perfons,  principally  adults.     This  was  the 
firft  ftep  towards  introducing  the    church  vi'orfhip   into 
this  colony.     In  April    1707,  he    made  another  vifit  to 
Stratford.     Colonel  Heathcote  was  pleafed  to  honor  him 
with  his  company,  as  he  had  done  before.    He  preached, 
at  this  time,  at  Fairfield  as  well  as  Stratford  ;  and  in  both 
towns  baptized  a  number  of  children  and   adult  perfons. 
Both  the  magiftrates  and  minifters  oppofed  the  introduc- 
tion of  epifcopacy,  and  advifed  the  people  not  to  attend 

In  Englilhtothiseffeft, 

In  this  grave  are  dcpofited  the  remainsef  that  trvily  reverend 
man,  Mr.  James  Fitch.  He  was  born  at  Boking,  in  the  county 
of  Eflex,  in  England,  the  24th  of  December,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1633.  Who,  af;er  he  had  been  moft  excellently  taught  the 
learned  languages,  came  into  New-England,  at  theageof  fixteen  ; . 
and  then  fpent  feven  ytars  under  the  inftrudlion  of  thofe  very  fa- 
mous men,  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr.  Stone.  Afterwards,  he  difchar- 
gcd  the  pafloral  office,  fourteen  years,  at  Saybronk.  Thence  he 
removed,  with  the  major  part  of  his  church  to  Norwich;  where 
he  fpent  the  other  years  of  his  life  in  the  work  of  the  gofpel.  In 
his  old  age,  indeed,  he  was  obliged  to  ceafe  from  his  public  la- 
bors, by  reafon  of  bodily  indifpolition  ;  and  at  length  retired  to 
his  children,  at  Lebanon  ;  where,  after  fpending  nearly  half  a 
year,  he  flept  in  Jefus,  in  the  year  1703,  on  the  i8lh  of  Novem- 
ber, in  the  8oth  year  of  his  a.^e. 

He  was  a  man,  as  to  the  fmartnefs  of  his  genius,  the  folidity  of 
his  judgment,  his  charity,  holy  labors,  and  tvery  kind  of  purity 
©f  life,  and  alfo  as  to  his  Ikiil  and  energy  of  preaching,  inferior  to 
none. 


504  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  the  preaching  of  the  church  miffionaries  ;  but  the  oppo- 
\^yv>k^  fition  only  Increafed  the  zeal  of  the  church  people.  Mr. 
J706.  Muirfon,  after  this,  made  feveral  journies  to  Connefticut, 
and  itinerated  among  the  people.  But  there  was  no 
mifllonary,  from  the  fociety,  fixed  in  Conne£licut,  until 
the  year  1722,  when  Mr.  Pigot  was  appointed  miflionary, 
at  Stratford.  The  churchmen  at  firil,  in  that  town,  con- 
fiiled  of  about  fifteen  families,  among  whom  were  a  few 
hufbandmen,  but  much  the  greateft  number  were  tradef- 
men,  who  had  been  born  in  England,  and  came  and  fet- 
tled there.  Some  of  their  neighbours  joined  them,  fo 
that  Mr.  Pigot  had  twenty  communicants  and  about  a 
hundrtd  and  fifty  hearers.  In  1723  Christ  Church 
in  Stratford  v.as  founded,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Johnfon, 
afterwards  Dr.  Johnfon,  was  appointed  to  fucceed  Mr. 
Pigot.* 
Original  The  firft  plan  of  the  college  was  very  formal  and  mi- 
plan  of  nute,  drawn  in  imitation  of  the  ancient  Proteftant  col- 
soliege.  leges  and  univerfities  in  France.  It  was  propofed,  that 
it  fliould  be  ere£led  by  a  general  fynodofthe  confociated 
churches  of  Connecticut.  It  was  defigned,  that  it  fhould 
be  under  the  government  of  a  prefident  and  ten  truftees, 
feven  of  whom  were  to  be  a  quorum  :  That  the  fynod 
fliould  have  the  nomination  of  the  firft  prefident  and 
truftees,  and  have  a  kind  of  general  Influence  in  all  future 
elections,  that  the  governors  might  be  preferved  in  ortho- 
dox fentiments.  It  was  defigned  alfo,  that  the  fynod 
fhould  agree  upon  a  confeflion  of  faith  to  which  the  pre- 
fident, truftees,  and  tutors  fhould,  upon  their  appoint- 
ment to  office,  be  required  to  give  their  confent ;  and  that 
the  college  fliould  be  called  the  fchool  of  the  church. 
Indeed  it  was  propofed  that  the  churches  fliould  contri- 
bute to  its  fupport. 

Though  this  plan  was  not  formally  purfued,  yet  at  a 
forTgene-  "^^^"^'"g  of  the  truftees,  at  Guilford,  March  17th,  1703, 
ral  fyno(d  they  wrote  a  circular  letter  to  the  minifters,  propofing 
1703.  *<  to  have  a  general  fynod  of  all  the  churches  in  the  col- 

"  ony  of  Conneclicut,  to  give  their  joint  confent  to  the 
"  confeffion  of  faith,  after  the  example  of  the  fynod  in 
"  Bofton,  in  1680."  As  this  propofal  was  univerfally 
acceptable,  the  churches  and  minifters  of  the  feveval  coun- 
ties met  in  a  confociated  council,  and  gave  their  aflent 
to  the  Weftminfter  and  Savoy  confeffions  of  faith.  It 
feems,that  they  alfo  drew  up  cerfain  rules  of  ecclefiaftical 

*  Manufcriptsfronn  Stratford,  and  Dr.  Humphrey's  Hiftory  of 
tfee  Incorporated  Society's  midionaries. 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       505 

union  in  difcipline,  as  preparatory  to    a  general  fynod,  Book  I. 
which  they  had  flill  in  contemplation.  \^yy>^ 

The  Cambridge  platform,  which,  for  about  fixty  years,  ^/Oi- 
had  been  the  general  plan  of  difcipline  and  church   fel-  Cuftoma. 
lowfhip  in  New-England,  made  no  provifion  for  the  gen-  ry  meet- 
eral  meeting  of  miniflers,  or  for  their  union   in  aflbcia-  •"^"^."' 
tions  or  in  confociations,  yet,  at  an  early  period,  they  had  "^^"^ 
a  general  meeting,  both  in   Connedlicut   and  Maflachu- 
fetts,  and  began  to  form  into  aflbciations.     Their  annual 
meetings  were   at  the   times,  of  the   general  ele<Slion  at 
Bofton  and  Hartford.     At  this  time,  they  had  handfome 
entertainments  made  for  them  at  the    public   expenfe.* 
In  thefe  general  meetings,   they  went  into  confultations 
refpefling  the  general  welfare  of  the  churches,  the  fup- 
plying  them   with   miniflers,  providing  for   their  dated 
enjoyment  of  divine  ordinances,  and  the  prefervation  o£ 
their  peace  and  order.     The  general   intereits  of  litera- 
ture were  confulted,  and  advice  given  In  c<ifes  In  which 
it  was  requifite.     Sometimes  meafures  were  adopted  to 
aflift   the  poor  and    affli£led.  In  particular  Inftances  of 
diftrefs.     The  affair  of  civilizing  and  chriflianizing  the 
Indians  came  under  their  ferious  deliberations.     Some- 
times they  confulted   meafures,  and  gave  general  dire£l- 
ions  refpefting  candidates  for  the   minlftry,  and  the  or- 
derly manner  of  introducing  them  Into  the  churches. 

The  miniflers  of  particular  neighbourhoods,  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  held  frequent  meetings,  for  their 
mutual  affiftance,  and  to  inftruQ  and  advlfe  the  chuichcs 
and  people  as  circumflanccs  required.  This  particularly 
was  the  praftlce  in  Connedllcut. 

The  venerable  Mr.  Hooker  was  a  great  friend  to  the  Mr.Hook. 
meeting  and  confociation  of  mJnIfters  and  churches,  as  a  er's  con- 
grand  mean  of  promoting  purity,  union,  and  brotherly  dufland 
affection,    among  the  minifters  and  churches.     During  *^P'"^°"' 
his  life  the    miniflers,  in   the  vicinity  of  Hartford,  had 
frequent  meetings  at  his  houfe.     About  a  week  before 
his  death,  he  obferved,   with  great  earneftnefs,   "  We 
**  muft  agree  upon  conflant  meetings  of  miniflers,  and 
**  fettle  the  confociation  of  churches,  or  elfc  we  are  un- 
*'  done."     Soon  after  his  deceafe,  miniflers,  in  various 
parts  of  New-England,  and  efpecially  in  Connedicut,  be* 

^  *  The  legiflature  havt  continued  this  generofity  to  the  prcfent 
time.  A  genteel  entertainraent  is  made  not  only  for  tlie  clergy  of 
Connc(!ticut,  but  of  the  neighbouring  colonics,  who  are  prefent 
•n  the  occafion. 

R  r  r 


$o6  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y        Chip.  XIX. 

"Book  I.  gan  to  eftablifli  conftant  meetings,  or  aflbciations,  in  par- 
v.>^/-sw/  ticular  vicinities,  and  agreed  on  the  bufinefs  to  be  done, 
170J.          and  the  manner  in  which  they  would  proceed. 

They  did  not  however  all  adopt  the  fame  mode.  Some 
of  the  meetings,  or  aflbciations,  failed  and  prayed,  and 
difcufled  quellions  of  importance  for  mutual  inftru£lion 
and  edification.  A  moderator  was  chofen  to  condu£l  the 
buiinefs  of  the  meetings  with  order  and  decency,  to  re- 
ceive all  communications  which  might  be  made  from  the 
churches,  or  other  fimilar  meetings,  and  to  call  the  alTo- 
ciated  brethren  together  on  particular  emergencies. 
Thefe  meetings  were  always  opened  and  concluded  with 
prayer. 

Some  of  the  aflbciations  were  very  formal  and  partic- 
ular in  covenanting  together,  in  fixing  the  bufinefs  which, 
fliould  be  tranfa£led  by  them.  They  covenanted  to  fub- 
mit  to  the  counfels,  reproofs,  and  cenfures  of  the  aflbcia- 
ted  brotherhood  ;  and  that  they  would  not  forfake  the 
aflbciation,  nor  negle6l  the  appointed  meetings,  without 
fufficient  reafons.  They  engaged,  that  in  the  meetings 
they  would  debate  queftions  immediately  refpe£ling  them- 
selves and  their  conduit  :  That  they  would  hear  and  con- 
fider  all  cafes  propofed  to  them  from  neighbouring 
churches  or  individuals  •,  anfwer  letters  directed  to  them 
from  particular  churches  or  perfons  ;  and  difcufs  any 
queflion,  which  had  been  propofed  at  a  preceding  meet- 
ing. In  fome  of  thefe  afl'ociations,  it  was  agreed  to  meet 
ilatedly  cnce  in  fix  weeks  or  two  months.*  As  the  de- 
fign  was  for  their  own  mutual  improvement  and  the  ad- 
vancement of  chriftianity  in  general,  the  aflbciations  at- 
tended a  lecture  in  the  pariflies  in  which  they  convened 
for  the  inllruftion  and  edification  of  the  people.  In  Con- 
ne£l:icut,  after  the  refolution  of  the  aflbmbly,  in  1680,  the 
iTiinifl:ers  had  county  meetings  every  week. 

But  thefe  aflbciations  and  meetings  were  merely  vol- 
untary, countenanced  by  no  ecclefiaftical  conftitution,  at- 
tended only  by  fuch  minifters,  in  one  place  and  another, 
as  were  willing  to  aflbciate,  and  could  bind  none  but 
themfelves.  The  churches  might  advife  with  them  if 
they  chofe  it,  or  negle<ft  it  at  pleafure.  There  was  no 
regular  way  of  introducing  candidates  to  the  improvement 
of  the  churches,  by  the  general  confent  either  of  them- 
felves or  the  elders.  When  they  had  finiflied  their  col- 
legiate fludies,  if  they  imagined  themfelves  qualifiedj  and 

*  Magnalia  B.  V.  p.  58.  "" 


Chap. XIX.    OF    CONNECTICUT.        507 

could  find  fome  friendly  gentleman  in  the  miniflry  to  in-  Book  I. 
troduce  them,  they  began  to  preach,  without  an   exam-  v,>»-w,^ 
ination  or  recommendation  from  any  body  of  min.ifters  or  1703. 
churches.     If  they  ftudied  a  time  with   any  particular 
minifter  or  minifters,  after  they  had  received  the  honors 
of  college,  that  minifler,  or  thofe  minifters  introduced 
them  into  the  pulpit  at  pleafure,  without  the  general  con- 
fent  and  approbation  of  their  brethren.     Many  judged 
this  to  be  too  loofe  a  practice,  in  a  matter  of  fuch  im- 
menfe  impostance  to  the  divine  honor,  the  reputation  of 
the  miniftry,  and  the  peace  and  edification  of  the  church- 
es.    Degrees  at  college  were  efteemed  no  fufficient  evi- 
dence of  men's  piety,  knowledge  of  theology,  or  minifte- 
rial  gifts  and  qualifications. 

Besides,  it  was  generally  conceded,  that  the  ftate  of 
the  churches  was  lamentable,  with  refpedl:  to  their  gene- 
ral order,  government,  and  difcipline.  That  for  the  want 
of  a  more  general  and  energetic  governmiCnt,  many  chur- 
ches ran  into  confufion  ;  that  councils  were  not  fufficient 
to  relieve  the  aggrieved  and  reftore  peace.  As  there  was 
no  general  rule  for  the  calling  of  councils,  council  was 
called  againft  council,  and  oppofite  refults  were  given 
upon  the  fame  cafes,  to  the  reproach  of  councils  and  the 
wounding  of  religion.  Aggrieved  churches  and  breth- 
ren were  difcouraged,  as  in  this  way  their  cafe  feemed  to 
be  without  remedy.  There  was  no  fuch  thing,  in  this 
way,  as  bringing  their  difficulties  to  a  final  iflue.* 

For  the  relieving  of  thefe  inconveniences,  there  were 
many,  in  tlie  New-England  churches,  not  only  among 
the  clergy  but  other  gentlemen  of  principal  charadlers, 
who  earneftly  wifhed  for  a  nearer  union  among  the 
churches.  A  great  majority  of  the  legiflature  and  cler- 
gy in  Connefticut  were  for  the  aflbciation  of  minifters 
and  the  confociation  of  churches.  The  fynod,  in  1662, 
had  given  their  opinion  fully  in  favor  of  the  confociation 
of  churches.  The  heads  of  agreement  drawn  up  and  af- 
fented  to  by  the  united  minifters,  in  England,  called  pref- 
byterian  and  congregational,  in  1 692,  had  made  their  ap- 
pearance on  this  fide  ©f  the  Atlantic  ;  and,  in  general, 
were  highly  approved.  The  VII.  article  of  agreement, 
under  the  head  of  the  miniftry  makes  exprefs  provifion 
for  the  regular  introduQion  of  candidates  for  the  minif- 
try. The  united  brethren  fay,  "  It  is  expedient,  that 
**  they  who  enter  on  the  work  of  preaching  the  gofpel^ 

*  Wi^6'8  vindication,  p  165,  Bofton  edition  177^. 


5o8 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIX. 


Book  I.  '*  be  not  only  qualified  for  the  communion  of  faints  ; 
v.>»vv^  "  but  alfo,  that  except  in  cafes  extraordinary,  they  give 
170^.  *'  proof  of  their  gifts  and  fitnefs  for  the  faid  work,  unto 
«'  the  paftors  of  the  churches  of  knov/n  abihties  to  dif- 
f  ceru  and  judge  of  their  quahfications  •,  that  they  may 
«*  be  fent  forth  with  folemn  approbation  and  prayer ; 
«*  which  we  judge  needful,  that  no  doubt  may  remain 
?'  coiicerning  their  being  called  unto  the  work  •,  and  for 
*'  preventing,  as  much  as  in  us  lieth,  ignorant  and  rafli 
*<  intruders."  In  thefe  articles,  it  is  alfo  agreed, 
**  that  in  fo  great  and  weighty  a  matter  as  the  calling 
**  and  choofing  a  paftor,  we  judge  it  ordinarily  requifite, 
^«  that  every  fuch  church  confult  and  advife  with  the  paf- 
**  tors  of  the  neighbouring  congregations." 

In  this  flate  of  the  churches,  the  legiflature  pafled  an 
aft,  at  their  fefllon  in  May  1708,  requiring  the  miniilers 
and  churches  to  meet  and  form  an  ecclefiaftlcal  conflitu- 
tion.  The  apprehenfions  and  wiflies  of  the  afiembly  will, 
in  the  beft  manner,  be  difcovered  by  their  own  a£l,  which 
in  the  words  followiner. 

*'  This  aflcmbly,  from  their  own  obfervation,  and  the 
complaint  of  many  others,  being  made  fenfible  of  the 
defers  of  the  difcipline  of  the  churches  of  this  govern- 
ment, arifing  from  the  want  of  a  more  explicit  aflert- 
ing  of  the  rules  given  for  that  end  in  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures  ;  from  which  would  arife  a  permanent  eftablifli' 
ment  among  ourfelves,  a  good  and  regular  iJTue  in 
cafes  fubjeft  to  ecclcfiaftical difcipline, glory  toCHRisT, 
our  head,  and  edification  to  his  members  ;  hath  feen 
fit  to  ordain  and  require,  and  it  is  by  the  authority  of 
the  fame  ordained  and  required,  that  the  minifters  of 
the  feveral  counties  in  this  government  fhall  meet  to- 
gether, at  their  refpeftive  county  towns,  with  fuch 
meflengers  as  the  churches,  to  which  they  belong,  fhall 
fee  caufe  to  fend  with  them,  on  the  laft  Monday  in 
June  next  ;  there  to  confider  and  agree  upon  thofe 
methods  and  rules  for  the  management  of  ecclefiaftl- 
cal difcipline,  which  by  them  ftiall  be  judged  agreeably 
and  conformable  to  the  word  of  God,  and  fliall  at  thp 
fame  meeting  appoint  two  or  more  of  their  number  tp 
be  their  delegates,  who  fhall  all  meet  together  at  Say- 
brook,  at  the  next  commencement  to  be  held  there  ; 
where  they  fhall  compare  the  refultsof  the  minifters  of 
the  feveral  counties,and  outof  and  from  them, to  draw  a 
form  of  ecclefiaftical  difcipline,  which,  by  two  or  more 
perfons  delegated  by  them,  {hd.ll  be  offered  to  this 


Aa  ap- 
pointing 
a  fynofi, 
May  i3lh, 
1708. 


Chap  XIX.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  C  T  I  C  U  T.       509 


«  court,  at  their  feffion,  at  New-Haven,  in  06lober  next.  Book  I. 
"  to  be  confidered  of  and  confirmed  by  them  :  And  the  v.-/-v-n^ 
*'  expenfe  of  the  above  mentioned  meetings  fhall  be  de-  1708. 
"  frayed  out  of  the  public  treafury  of  this  colony." 
<*  A  true  copy  of  the  record, 

««  Teft.         ELEAZAR  KIMBERLY,  Secretary. 

According  to  the  aft  of  affembly,  the  minifters  and 
churches  of  the  feveral  counties  convened,  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed, and  made  their  refpeclive  draughts  for  difcipUne, 
and  chofe  their  delegates  for  the  general  meeting  at  Say- 
brook  in  September. 

The  minifters  and  meflengers  chofen  for  this  council 
and  its  refult  will  appear  from  their  minutes. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  the  councils  of  the 
feveral  counties  of  ConneO.'.cut  colony,  in  Ne\\-England 
in  America,  at  Saybrook,  Sept.  9th,  1708. 
PRESENT, 


From  the  coucii  of  Hartford 
county. 


The 
Rev 


Timothv  Woodbrtdgey 
NoadiaJj  Riijfellt 
^  Stephen  Mix. 
Meflenger, 
John  Haynesy  Efquire. 
From  the  council    in  Fair- 
field county. 
The    C  Charles  C/muncyy 
Rev.  ^  John  Davenport. 
Meflenger, 
Deacon  Samuel  Hoit. 


From  the  council   in  Nevr- 


The 
Rev. 


London  county. 

{James  NoyeSy 
'Thomas  Buckinghamy 
Mofes  Noyesj 
J  no   Woodward. 
Meflengers, 
Robert  Chapman^        , 
Deacon  Wm.  Parker. 
Fi'om  the   council  of  New- 
Haven  county. 
Samuel  AndreiUy 
James  Pierponty 
Samuel  Rujfel. 
"  The  Rev.  James  Noyes  and    1  homas  Buckingham 
being  chofen  moderators.     The  Rev.  Stephen  Mix   and 
Jno.  Woodward  being  chofen  fcribes. 

"  In  compliance  with  unorder  of  the  general  a  flTembly, 
May  13th,  1708,  after  humble  addrefles  to  the  throne  of 
grace  for  the  divine  prefence,  afliftance,  and  blefling  up- 
on us,  having  our  eyes  upon  the  word  of  God  and  the  con- 
ftitution  of  our  churches,  We  agree  that  the  confeflion 
of  faith  owned  and  affented  unto  by  the  elders  and  mef- 
fengers  aflembled  at  Bofton,  in  New-England,  May  12th, 
1680,  being  the  fecond  feflion  of  that  fynod,  be  recom- 
mended to  the  honorable  general  nflembly  of  this  colony, 
at  the  next  feflion,  for  their  public  teftimony  thereunto, 
as  the  Faith  of  the  churches  of  this  colony."* 

f  This  was  the  Savoy  conteifion,  with  lome  fmall  alterations* 


Names  of 
the  fynod 
Sept. 9th, 
1708. 


510  THEHISTORY  Chap.  XIX 

*'  We  agree  alfo  that  the  heads  of  agreement  afTentcd  to 
by  the  united  minifters,  formerly  called  prefbyterian  and 
congregational,  be  obferved  by  the  churches  throughout 
this  colony." 

*'  And  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  adminiftration 
of  church  difcipliiie,  in  relation  to  all  cafes  ecclefiaftical, 
both  In  particular  churches  and  councils,  to  the  full  de- 
termining and  executing  the  rules  in  all  fuch  cafes,  it  is 
agreed," 

**  I.  That  the  elder,  or  elders  of  a  particular  church, 
with  the  confent  of  the  brethren  of  the  fame,  have  power 
and  ought  to  exercife  church  difcipline,  according  to  the 
rule  of  God's  word,  in  relation  to  all  fcandals,  that  fall 
out  within  the  fame.  And  it  may  be  meet,  in  all  cafes 
of  difficulty,  for  the  refpedlivc  paftors  of  particular 
churches,  to  take  advice  of  the  elders  of  the  churches  In 
the  neighbourhood,  before  they  proceed  to  cenfure  in 
fuch  cafes" 

"  II.  That  the  churches  which  are  neighbouring  each  to 
other,  fliall  confociate  for  mutual  affording  to  each  other 
fuch  affiflance,  as  may  be  requifite,  upon  all  occafions  ec- 
clefiaftical. And  that  the  particular  paftors  and  churches, 
within  the  refpe<9:ive  counties  in  this  government,  {hall 
be  one  confociation  (or  more  if  they  fliall  judge  meet) 
for  the  end  aforefaid.'' 

«'  III.  That  all  cafes  of  fcandal,  that  fall  out  within 
the  circuit  of  any  of  the  aforefaid  confociations  ftiall  be 
brought  to  a  council  of  the  elders,  and  alfo  meflengers  of 
the  churches  within  the  faid  circuit,  i.  e.  the  churches  of 
one  confociation,  if  they  fee  caufe  to  fend  meflengers, 
when  there  fliall  be  need  of  a  council  for  the  determina- 
tion of  them." 

«  IV.  That,  according  to  the  common  practice  of  our 
churches,  nothing  fliall  be  deemed  an  zd:  or  judgment  of 
any  council,  which  hath  not  the  a£lof  the  major  part  of  the 
ciders  prefent  concurring,  and  fuch  a  number  of  the  mef- 
fengers  prefent, as  makes  the  majorltyof  the  council :  pro- 
vided that  if  any  fuch  church  fhall  not  fee  caufe  to  fend 
any  mefliengers  to  the  council,  or  the  perfons  chofen  by 
ihem  fliall  not  attend,  neither  of  thefe  fhall  be  any  ob- 
ftru£tion  to  the  proceedings  of  the  council,  or  invalidate 
any  of  their  a£ls." 

"  V.  That  when  any  cafe  is  orderly  brought  before 
any  council  of  the  churches,  it  fliall  there  be  heard  and 
determined,  which  (unlefs  orderly  removed  from  thence) 
ftiall  be  a  final  ifllie  •,  and  all   parties .  therein  concerned 


Chap.  XIX.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       51E 

fliall  fit  down   and  be  determined  thereby.     And  the  Book  L 
council  fo  hearing,  and   giving   the    refult  or  final  ifl'ue,  v.>"y"v> 
in  the  faid  cafe  as  aforefaid,  fhall  fee  their  determination,  ^7°^* 
or  judgment,  duly  executed  and  attended,  in  fuch   way 
or  manner,  as  fhall  in  their  judgment   be    moft   fuitable 
and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God." 

"  VI.  That  if  any  paflor  and  church  doth  obflinatc- 
ly  refufe  a  due  attendance  and  conformity  to  the  deter- 
mination of  the  council,  that  hath  the  cognizance  of  the 
cafe,  and  determineth  it  as  above,  after  due  patience  ufed, 
they  fhall  be  reputed  guilty  of  fcandalous  contempt  and 
dealt  with  as  the  rule  of  God's  word  in  fuch  cafe  doth 
provide,  and  the  fentence  of  non-communion  fliall  be  de- 
clared againft  fuch  paftor  and  church.  And  the  chur- 
ches are  to  approve  of  the  faid  fentence,  by  withdrawing 
from  the  communion  of  the  paftor  and  church,  which  fo 
refufed  to  be  healed." 

*<  VII.  That,  in  cafe  any  difhculties  fhall  arife  in  any 
of  the  churches  in  this  colony,  which  cannot  be  ifTued 
without  confiderable  difquiet,  that  church,  in  which  they 
arife  (or  that  minifter  or  member  aggrieved  with  them,) 
fliall  apply  themfelves  to  the  council  of  the  confociated 
churches  of  the  circuit,  to  which  the  faid  church  belongs, 
who,  if  they  fee  caufe  fhall  thereupon  convene,  hear  and 
determine  fuch  cafes  of  difficulty,  unlefs  the  matter 
brought  before  them,  fhall  be  judged  fo  great  in  the  na- 
ture of  it,  or  fo  doubtful  in  the  ifTue,  or  of  fuch  general 
concern,  that  the  f  id  council  fliall  judge  beft  that  it  be 
referred  to  a  fuller  council,  confifting  of  the  churches  o£ 
the  other  confociation  within  the  fame  county,  (or  of  the 
next  adjoining  confociation  of  another  county,  if  there 
be  not  two  confociations  in  the  county  where  the  diffi- 
culty arifeth)  who,  together  with  themfelves,  fhall  hear, 
judge,  determine,  and  finally  ifiue  fuch  cafe  according  to 
the  word  of  God." 

"  VIII.  That  a  particular  church,  in  which  any  dif- 
ficulty doth  arife,  may,  if  they  fee  caufe,  call  a  council'of 
the  confociated  churches  of  the  circuit,  to  which  the 
church  belongs,  before  they  proceed  to  fentence  therein, 
but  there  is  not  the  fame  liberty  to  an  offending  brother, 
to  call  the  council,  before  the  church  to  which  he  be- 
longs, proceed  to  excommunication  in  the  faid  cafe,  un- 
lefs with  the  confent  of  the  church." 

**  IX.  That  all  the  churches  of  the  refpe^live  confo- 
ciations fhall  choofe,  if  they  fee  caufe,  one  or  two  mem- 
bers of  each  church,  to  reprefent  them,  ia  the  council? 


512  THE    HISTORY  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.    oftKefaiJ  churches,  as  occafion  may  call  for  them,  who 
y..ysr\J   Ihall  ftand  in   that  capacity,  till  new  be  chofen   for  the 
i/oS.         fame  fervice,  unlefs   any  church  fliall   incline  to  choofe 
their  meflengers  anew,  upon  the  convening  of  fuch  coun- 
cils." 

*'  X.  That  the  minifter  or  minifters  of  the  county 
towns,  or  where  there  are  no  minifters  in  fuch  towns,  the 
two  next  minifters  to  the  faid  town,  fliall,  as  foon  as  con- 
veniently may  be,  appoint  time  and  place,  for  the  meet- 
ing of  the  elders  and  meflengers  of  the  churches  in  faid 
county,  in  order  to  their  forming  themfelves  into  one 
or  more  confociations,  and  notify  the  time  and  place  to 
the  elders  and  churches  of  that  county  who  fhall  attend 
at  the  fame,  the  elders  m  their  perfons,  and  the  churches 
by  their  meflengers,  if  they  fee  caufe  to  fend  them. 
Which  elders  and  meflengers  fo  afl'ernbled  in  council,  as 
alfo  any  other  council  hereby  allowed  of,  fliall  have  pow- 
er to  adjourn  themfelves,  as  need  fhall  be,  for  the  fpace  of 
one  year,  after  the  beginning  or  firft  feffion  of  the  faid 
council,  and  no  longer.  And  that  minifter  who  was 
chofen  at  the  laft  feffion  of  any  council,  to  be  modera- 
tor, fhall,  with  the  advice  and  confent  of  two  more  el- 
ders (or  in  cafe  of  the  moderator's  death,  any  two  elders 
of  the  fame  confociation)  call  another  council  within  the 
circuit  when  they  fhall  judge  there  is  need  thereof.  And 
all  councils  may  prefcribe  rules,  as  occafion  may  require, 
and  whatever  they  judge  needful  within  their  circuit, 
for  the  v/ell  performing  and  orderly  managing  the  fev- 
cral  acls,  to  be  attended  by  them,  or  matters  that  come 
under  their  cognizance." 

"  XL  That  if  any'perfon  or  perfons,  orderly  com- 
plained of  to  a  council,  or  that  are  witneflles  to  fuch  com- 
plaints, (having  regular  notification  to  appear)  ihall  re- 
fufe,  or  negled:  fo  to  do,  in  the  place,  and  at  the  time  fpe- 
cified  in  the  warning  given,  except  they  or  he  giv  fome 
fatisfying  reafon  thereof  to  the  faid  council,  they  ftiall  be 
judged  guilty  of  fcandalous  contempt." 

•'  XII.  That  the  teaching  elders  of  each  county  Ihall 
be  one  aflbciation,  (or  more  if  they  fee  caufe,)  which  af- 
fociation  or  aflbciations  ftiall  afl!emble  twice  a  year,  at 
leaft,  at  fuch  time  and  place,  as  they  fhall  appoint,  to 
confult  the  duties  of  their  office,  and  the  common  intereft 
of  the  churches,  who  fhall  confider  and  refolve  queftions 
and  cafes  of  importance  which  ftiall  be  offered    by  any  a-  j 

mong  themfelves  or  others  ;  who  alfo  Ihall  have  power  of  j 


Chap. XIX.     OF    CONNECTICUT. 


sn 


examining  and  recommending  the  candidates  of  the  min-  Book  L 
iftry  to  the  work  thereof."  \,.^>r>J 

«'  XIII.  That  the  faid  afibciated  paftors  fhall  take  no- ^'^'^^' 
tice  of  any  among  themfelves,  that  may  be  accufed  of 
fcandal  or  herefy,  unto  or  cognizable  by  them,  examine 
the  matter  carefully,  and  if  they  find  juft  occafion  fhall  di- 
re£l:  to  the  calling  of  the  council,  where  fuch  offenders 
fhall  be  duly  proceeded  againft." 

"  XIV.  That  the  afTociated  paflors  fhall  alfo  be  con- 
fulted  by  bereaved  churches,  belonging  to  their  alTocia- 
tion,  and  recommend  to  fuch  churches  fuch  perfons,  as 
may  be  fit  to  be  called  and  fettied  in  the  work  of  the  goC- 
pel  miniftry  among  them  And  if  fuch  bereaved  chur- 
ches fhall  not  feafonably  call  and  fettle  a  minifter  among 
them,  the  faid  afTociated  paflors  fhall  lay  the  ftate  of  fuch 
bereaved  church  before  the  general  affembly  of  this  cclo^* 
ny,  that  they  may  take  order  concerning  them,  as  fhall 
be  found  necefTary  for  their  peace  and  edification." 

"  XV.  That  it  be  recommended  as  expedient,  that  all 
the  afTociations  in  this  colony  do  meet  in  a  general  afTo- 
ciation,  by  their  refpe6live  delegates,  one  or  more  out  of 
each  afTociation,  once  a  year,  the  firfl  meeting  to  be  at 
Hartford,  at  the  general  ele£lion  next  enfuing  the  date 
hereof,  and  fo  annually  in  all  the  counties  fucceffively,  at 
fuch  time  and  place,  as  they  the  faid  delegates  fliall  in 
their  annual  meetings  appoint." 

The  confefhon  of  faith,  heads  of  agreement,  and  thefe 
articles  of  difcipline  having  unanimoully  pafTed,  and  been 
figned  by  the  fcribes,  were  prefented  to  the  legiflaturc 
the  fucceeding  October,  for  their  approbation  and  eftab* 
lifhment.  Upon  which  they  paffed  the  following  adop- 
ting a£l. 

At  a  general  court  holden  at  New-Haven  0£l:ober 
1708. 

'*  The  reverend  miniflers,  delegates  from  the  elders  ^d  of  af- 
*«  and  mcfTengers  of  this  government,  met  at  Saybrook  fembly  a- 
"  September  9th  1708,  having  prefented   to  this  afleni-  dopting 
«  bly  a  Confefhon  of  Faith,  and  Heads  of  Agreement,  J^^^  ^^'^' 
"  and  regulations  in  the  adminiflration  of  church  difci-  platform 
"  pline,  as  unanimoully  agreed  and  confented  to  by  the  0<a.  1708. 
**  elders  and  churches  in  this  government ;  this  affembly 
"  doth  declare  their  great  approbation  of  fuch  an  happy 
*<  agreement,  and  do  ordain,  that  all  the  churches  within 
**  this  government,  that  are,  or  fhall  be,  thus  united  In 
"  doftrine,  worfhip,  and  difcipline  be,  and  for  the  fu» 
S  f  f 


'5i4  THE    HiSfORir  Chap.  XlX. 

Book  I.  "  ture  fhall  be  owned  and  acknowledged  eftablifhed  by 
\^r^ii^  "  law ;  provided  always,  that  nothing  herein  fliall  be  in- 
3  70S.  "  tended  or  conftrued  to  hinder  or  prevent  any  fociety  or 
**  church,  that  is  or  Ihall  be  allowed  by  the  laws  of  this 
"  go*c*rnment,  who  foberly  differ  or  diflent  from  the 
**  united  churches  hereby  eftablilhed,  from  exercifi'ng 
•*  worlhip  and  difcipline,  in  their  own  way,  according  to 
*'  their  confciences." 

"  A  true  copy,  Teft, 
«  ELEAZAR  KIMBERLY,  Secretary.'^ 

Though  the  council  were  unanimous  in  paffing  the 
platform  of  difcipline,  yet  they  were  not  all  of  one  opin- 
ion. Some  were  for  high  confociational  government, 
and  in  their  feritiments  nearly  prefbyterians,  others  were 
much  more  moderate  and  rather  verging  on  independen- 
cy ;  but  exceedingly  defirous  of  keeping  the  unity  of  the 
fpirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,  they  exercifed  great  diriftian 
condefcenfion  and  amicablcnefs  towards  each  other. 

As  it  was  ftipulated,  that  the  heads  of  agreement 
iliould  be  obferved  through  the  colony,  this  was  an  im- 
portant mean  of  reconciling  numbers  to  the  conftitution, 
as  thefe  did  not  carry  points  fo  far  as  the  articles  of  dif- 
cipline. Thefe  did  not  make  the  judgments  of  councils 
tiecifive,  in  all  cafes  ;  but  only  maintained,  that  particti- 
lar  churches  ought  to  have  a  reverential  regard  to  their 
judgment,  and  not  to  diffent  from  it  without  apparent 
■grounds  from  the  word  of  God.  Neither  did  thefe  give 
^he  elders  a  negative  in  councils  over  the  churches  ;  and 
in  fome  other  inftances  they  gave  more  latitude  than  the 
articles  of  difcipline.  Thefe  thei-efore  ferved  to  recon- 
cile fuch  elders  and  churches,  as  were  not  for  a  rigid  con- 
fociational government,  and  to  gain  their  confent.  Some- 
what different  confl:ru£lions  were  put  upon  the  conftitu- 
•  tion.  Thofe  who  were  for  a  high  confociational  govern- 
tnent,  conftrued  it  rigidly  according  to  the  articles  of 
difcipline,  and  others  by  the  heads  of  agreement ;  or,  at 
leaft,  they  were  for  foftening  down  the  more  rigid  arti- 
rles,  by  conftruing  them  agreeably  to  thofe  heads  of 
union. 

Notwithstanding  the  Savoy  confefllon  was  adopted, 
as  the  faith  of  the  Connefticut  churches,  yet,  by  adopt- 
ing the  heads  of  agreement,  it  was  agreed,  that  with're- 
fpefl  to  foundnefs  of  judgment  in  matters  of  faith,  it  was 
Sufficient,  «  That  a  church  acknowledge  the  fcrfptures  to 
<<  be  the  word  of  God,  the  perfe61:  and  only  rule  of  faith 
«<  and  prat^ice,  and  own  either  the  do^rinal  part  of  thofe 


Chap.  XIX.       O  F    C  O  N  N  E  Q  T  I  C  U  T.      515 

«  commonly  called  the  articles  of  the  church  of  England,  Book  I. 
«  or  the  confeflion  or  catechifms,  fhorter  or  longer,  com-  v,-/'v"x-/ 
<'  piled  by  the  aflemby  at  Weftminfter,  or  the  conftflion  ^1°^' 
<«  agreed  on  at  the  Savoy,  to  be  agreeable  to  the  faid  rule." 

The  Saybrook  platiorm,  thus  unanimoully  recommen- 
ded by  the  elders  and  meflengers  of  the  churches,  and 
adopted  by  the  legiflature,  as  the  religious  conftitution 
of  the  colony,  met  with  a  general  reception,  though  fome 
of  the  churches  were  extremely  oppofed  to  it.* 

The  elders  and  meflengers  of  the  county  of  Hartford  Feb.  iflr, 

met  in  council,  at  Hartford,  the  next  February,  and  for-  ^709« 

med  into  two  diftin£l  confociations  and  aflbciations  for 

the  purpofes  exprefl^ed    in  the  conftitution.     The  minif-  Aflocia- 

ters  and  churches  of  the  other  three  counties  afterwards  confocia- 

formed   themfelves  into   confociations  and   aflbciations.  tiorib  for- 

There  were  therefore,  foon  after,  five  confociations  and  mfd. 

the  fame  number  of  aflbciations  in  the  colony.     The  af-  ^         , 
r    ■     •  11      1  11-  r^  ,  .         General 

lociations  met  annually,  by  a  delegation    of   two  elders  anbcia- 

from  each  afllbciation,  in  a  general  aflbciation.  This  has  tion. 
a  general  advifory  fuperintendency  over  all  the  minifters 
and  churches  in  the  colony.  Its  advice  has  generally- 
been  acceptable  to  the  minifters  and  churches,  and  cheer- 
fully carried  into  execution.  The  meeting  of  the  gene- 
ral aflbciation  was  anciently  in  September  ;  but  the  time 
of  meeting,  after  fome  years,  was  altered,  and  for  more 
than  fixty  years  has  been  on  the  third  Tuefday  in  June. 

The  corporation  of  college  having  now  obtained  a 
confeflTion  of  faith,  adopted  by  the  churches  and  legifla- 
ture of  the  colony,  adopted  it  for  college,  and  the  truftees 
and  oflScers  of  college,  upon  their  introduftion  to  ofllice, 
were  required  to  give  their  aflent  to  it,  and  to  the  Weft- 
minfter confeflion  and  catechifms. 

But  before  this  could   be   efl'edled  Mr.  Pierfon,  the  Deafh  & 
prefident,  was  no  more.     He  died  on  the   5th  of  March  charadler 
1704,  to  the  unfpeakable  lofs  and    affli£l:ion  both  of  the  ^^^'^' 
college  and  the  people  of  his  charge.     He  had  his  educa-  j-^"     '^'^' 
tion  at  Harvard  college,  where  he  was  graduated   166S. 
He  appears  firft  to  have  fettled  in  the  miniftry  at  New- 

*  Though  Meffieurit  Andrew,  Pierpont,  and  Ruflell  were  in- 
fluential charafters,  yet  it  is  obfervable,  that  the  churches,  in  that 
county,  fent  no  mefTengers  to  the  fynod  ;  and  the  tradition  is 
that  the  church  and  people  of  Norwich  were  fo  offended  with 
their  minifter,  Mr.  John  Woodward,  for  confenting  to  it,  that 
4thf  y  never  would  forgive  him  and  be  reconciled  ;  but  made  fuch 
oppofition  t»  his  miniftry,  that,  by  the  advice  of  council,  he  rC'? 
fj|;neditand  left  the  town. 


■^^« 


THE    HISTORY 


Chap.  XIX. 


Book  I. 

.1709. 


Students 
removed 
to  Say. 
brook. 


6ept. 

57IJ. 


pircc- 
tions  ref- 
pe<5ting 
candi- 
date? for 
the  minif- 

iry* 


ark  in  New-Jerfey.  Thence  he  came  to  Killingworth 
and  was  inftalled  in  1694.  He  had  the  character  of  a 
hard  ftudent,  good  fcholar,  and  great  divine.  In  his 
whole  condudt,  he  was  wife,  fteady,  and  amiable.  He 
was  greatly  refpe£ted  as  a  paftor,  and  he  inftru£led  and 
governed  college  with  general  approbation. 

Upon  the  death  of  Re£lor  Pierfon,  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Andrew  was  chofen  reftor  pro  tempore.  The  fenior 
clafs  were  removed  to  Milford  to  be  under  his  immediate 
infhru(Iil:ion,  until  the  commencement.  The  other  ftu- 
dents  were  removed  to  Saybrook,  and  put  under  the,  care 
and  in{lru£lions  of  two  tutors.  Mr.  Andrew  moderated 
at  the  commencements  and  gave  general  dire6tions  to  the 
tutors.  Mr.  Buckingham  alfo,  who  was  one  of  the 
truftees  and  refided  at  Saybrook,  during  his  life,  had  a 
kind  of  direclion  and  infpe£lion  over  the  college.  In 
this  flate  it  continued,  without  any  material  alteration, 
until  about  the  year  1715. 

The  minifters  of  Connecticut  were  exceedingly  atten- 
tive to  the  morals  and  qualifications  of  thofe,  whom  they 
recommended  to  the  improvement  of  the  churches,  or 
ordained  to  the  paftoral  office.  The  general  aflbciation, 
in  1 7 12,  at  a  meeting  of  theirs,  at  Fairfield,  agreed  upon 
the  following  rules  and  recommended  them  to  the  con- 
fideration  of  the  feveral  aflbciations  for  their  approbation 
and  concurrence. 

«  Rules  agreed  upon  for  the  examination  of  Candi- 
dates for  the  miniftry." 

**  Agreed  upon,  that  the  perfon  to  be  examined  con- 
cerning his  qualifications  for  the  evangelical  miniflry, 
ihall  be  dealt  with,  in  his  examinations,  with  all  candor 
and  gentlenefs.'' 

"  1.  That  he  be  able  to  give  fatisfaftion,  to  the  aflbci- 
ation examining  him,  of  his  Ikill  in  the  Hebrew,  Greek, 
and  Latin  tongues." 

«  2.  That  he  be  able  to  give  fatisfadlion,  to  the  aflbci- 
ation examining  him,  of  his  flcill  in  Logic  and  Philofo- 
phy." 

"  3.  He  fhall  be  examined  what  authors,  in  divinity, 
he  hath  read  ;  and  alfo  concerning  the  main  grounds  or 
principlesof  the  chrifl;ian  religion  ;  and  (hall  therein  of- 
fer jult  matter  of  fatisfadion  to  the  aflbciation  examining 
him  •,  and  fhall  give  his  afl'ent  to  the  confeflion  of  faith 
publicly  owned  and  declared  to  be  the  confeffion  of  the 
hith  of  the  united  churches  of  t?.is  colony." 


Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICUT.       517 

*<  4.  That  if  the  life  and  converfation  of  the  perfon  to  Book  I. 
be  examined  be  not  well  known  to  the  aflbciation  exam-  o<v>«.y 
ininghim,  then  faid  perfon  fliall  offer  fufficient  evidence  '7^*' 
to  faid  aflbciation  of  his  fober  and  religious  converfation.'' 

«  5.  That  the  perfon  to  be  examined  fhall  publicly 
pray,  and  alfo  preach,  in  the  prefence  of  the  aflbciaticn 
examining  him,  from  fome  text  of  fcripture  which  flail 
be  given  him  by  faid  affociation,  and  at  fuch  time  and 
place  as  they  fhall  appoint,  in  order  to  prove  his  gifts 
for  the  minifterial  work."    ' 

*'  Rules  relating  to  the  ordination  of  a  perfon  to  the 
work  of  the  miniftry." 

**  Agreed,    i.  In  cafe  of  ordination,  thofe  who   are  Refpedt- 

to  ordain  ought  to  be  fatisfied,  that  the  perfon    to  be  or-  ing  minif- 

dained  is  apt  to  teach,  and  of  his  inclination  to  the  work  ^^""^  }^  ^ 
r^i         •    -n.      J,  ordained. 

01  the  mmiitry. 

**  2.  That  they  fhall  be  fatisfied  with  his  prudence 
and  fitnefs  for  the  management  of  fo  great  a  truft,  as  that 
of  the  work  of  the  miniftry." 

**  3.  The  perfons  to  ordain  fhall  be  fatisfied,  that  his 
preaching  and  converfation  be  acceptable  to  the  people 
over  whom  he  is  to  be  ordained." 

**  4.  That  he  fhall  be  able  to  explain  fuch  texts  of 
fcripture  as  fhall  be  propofed  to  him." 

"  5.  That  he  fliall  be  able  to  refolve  fuch  practical 
cafes  of  confcience  as  fhall  be  propofed  to  him." 

"  6.  That  he  fhall  fliew,  to  the  fatisfa6lion  of  the  paf- 
tors  to  ordain  him,  his  competent  ability  to  refute  danger- 
ous errors,  and  defend  the  truth  againft  gainfayers." 

"  7.  That  he  fhall  give  his  confent  to  the  church  dif- 
cipline  of  this  colony  as  eflabliflied  by  law  ;  yet  the  paf- 
tors  to  ordain  are  not  to  be  too  fevere  and  ftri£l  with  him 
to  be  ordained,  upon  his  fober  diflent  from  fome  particu- 
lars in  faid  difcipline." 

Such  has  been  the  pious  care  of  the  venerable  fathers 
of  the  churches  in  Conne£licut,  to  preferve  in  them  a 
learned,  orthodox,  experimental  miniftry.  The  aflbcia- 
tions  have  examined  all  candidates  for  the  miniftry  and 
recommended  them  to  the  churches  previoufly  to  their 
preaching  in  them.  In  their  examinations,  they  have 
carefully  enquired  into  their  knowledge  in  divinity,  their 
experimental  acquaintance  with  religion,  their  minifterial 
gifts  and  qualifications,  and  have  paid  a  fpecial  attention 
to  their  morals,  and  good  chara£l:er.  Hence  thefe 
churches  have  been  diftinguiftied  and  Angularly  happy  in 
^  learned,  pious,  laborious,  and  prudent  miniftry. 


5;iS  T  H  E    H  I  S  T  O  k  Y  Chap.  XIX. 

Book  I.  About  this  time  a  very  valuable  addition  of  books  was 
K^,^-\r>^  made  to  the  college  library,  at  Saybrook.  In  1713,  Sir 
1713.  Jo^fi  Davie,  of  Groton,  w^ho  had  an  eftate  defcended  to 
Dona-  him  in  England,  with  the  title  of  baronet,  gave  a  good 
tions  colle(Slion.     The  next  year  a  much  greater  donation  was 

colleae  ni^de  by  the  generofity  and  procurement  of  Jeremiah 
Dummer,  Efquire,  of  Boflon.  He  was  then  in  London, 
in  the  capacity  of  an  agent  for  feveral  of  the  New-Eng- 
land colonies.  He  feiit  over  above  800  volumes.  About 
120  of  them  were  procured  at  his  own  charge.  The  reft 
were  from  principal  gentlemen  in  England,  through  his 
folicitation  and  influence.  Particularly  from  Sir  Ifaac 
Newton,  Sir  Richard  Blackmore,  Sir  Richard  Steel, 
Dodors,  Brumet,  lialley,  Bently,  Kennet,  Calamy,  and 
Edwards  j  and  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Henry  and  Mr. 
Whifton.  Thefe  feverally  gave  a  collection  of  their  own 
works,  and  Governor  Yale  put  in  about  40  volumes. 
The  library  now  conhfted  of  about  nine  hundred  volumes, 
"^'nmber  Erom  1 702  to  1 7 13  inclufively,  forty  fix  young  gentle- 

graduated  ""'^J^  were  graduated,  at  Saybrook.     Of  thefe,  thirty  four 
at  college    became  minifters  of  the  gofpel,  and  two   were   ele£led 
before  the  magiltrates.     Notwithftanding   the   infant    ftate    of  the 
yeari7i4.  g^^Uggg^  numbers  of  them,  through  their  native  ftrengtli 
of  genius  and  the   inftru^lions  of  thofe  excellent  tutors, 
Mr.  John  Hart  and  Mr.  Phineas  Filk,  became   excellent 
fcholars,  and  flione  not  only  as  diftinguifhed  lights  in  the 
churches,   but  made   a  figure  in  the  repubUc   of  letters. 
Seven  of  them  afterwards  were  fellows  of  the  college,  at 
New-Haven  ;  and  another  of  them  was  that    excellent 
man,  the  Reverend  Jonathan  Dickinfon,  prefident  of  the 
college  in  New-Jerfey. 

The  number  of  ordained  minifters  in  the  colony,  this 

of"ordain-  Y^*^"^*  ^^clufive  of  thofe  in  the  towns  under  the  govern-r 

cd  minif-    ment  of  Maflachufetts,  was  forty  three.     Upon  the  low- 

tcrs  in        eft  computation  there  was  as  much  as  one  ordained  min- 

»7i3'  ifter  to  every  four  hundred  perfons,   or  to  every   eighty 

families.     It  does  not  appear,  that  there  was  one  bereaved 

church  in  the  colony.     Befides  there  were  a  confiderable 

number  of  candidates  preaching  in   the  new  towns  and 

parifti'es,  in  which   churches  were  not  yet  formed.     At 

or  about  this  time,  Mr.  Thomas  Towfey,  began  to  preach 

at  Newtown,   Mr,   Jofeph  Meacham  at   Coventry,  Mr. 

John  Blifs  at  Hebron,  and  Mr.  John  Filk  at  Killingly,  at 

which  places  churches  were  fqon  after  gathered  and  thofe 

gentlemen   ordained.      Several   other   candidates!   wer^ 

preaching  in  other  places. 


4t:Mp.  XIX.       OF    CONNECTICUT.       5*9 

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Chap. XIX.     OF    CONNECTICUT. 


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Chap.  XIX.      OF    CONNECTICU  T 


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APPENDIX. 

Original  papers  illujtrating  the  preceding  Hijlory. 
NUMBER    L 

m 

The  old  patent  of  ConneElkut  1 63 1 . 

To  all  people,  unto  whom  this  prefent  writing  fhall 
come,  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  fendeth  greeting,  in 
our  Lord  God  everlafting. 

KNOW  ye,  that  the  faid  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick, 
for  divers  good  caufes  and  confiderations  him  there- 
unto moving,  hath  given,  granted,  bargained,  fold,  enfe- 
offed, aliened,  and  confirmed,  and  by  thefe  prefents  doth 
give,  grant,  bargain,  fell,  enfeoff,  aliene,  and  confirm, 
unto  the  right  honorable  William,  Vifcount  Say  and  Seal, 
the  right  honorable  Robert,  Lord  Brook,  the  right  hon- 
orable Lord  Rich,  and  the  honorable  Charles  Fieruies, 
Efq.  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  Knt.  Sir  Richard  Saltonftall 
Knt.  Richard  Knightly,  Efq.  John  Pym,  Efq.  John 
Hampden,  Efq.  John  Humphrey,  Efq.  and  Herbert  Pel- 
lam,  Efq.  their  heirs  and  affigns,  and  their  affociates  for- 
ever, all  that  part  of  New- England,  in  America,  which 
lies  and  extends  itfelf  from  a  river  there  called  Narragan- 
fet  river,  the  fpace  of  forty  leagues  upon  a  ftraight  line 
near  the  fea  Ihore  towards  the  fouthweft,  weft  and  by 
fouth,  or  weft,  as  the  coaft  lleth  towards  Virginia,  ac- 
counting three  Englifli  miles  to  the  league  ;  and  alfo  all 
and  fingular  the  lands  and  hereditaments  whatfoever,  ly- 
ing and  being  within  the  lands  aforefaid,  north  and  fouth 
in  latitude  and  breadth,  and  in  length  and  longitude  of 
and  within,  all  the  breadth  aforefaid,  throughout  the 
main  lands  there,  from  the  weftern  ocean  to  the  fouth 
fea,  and  all  lands  and  grounds,  place  and  places,  foil, 
wood,  and  woods,  grounds,  havens,  ports,  creeks  and 
rJvers,  waters,  fifhings,  and  hereditaments  whatfoever, 
lying  within  the  faid  fpace,  and  every  part  and  parcel 


1631. 


525  APPENDIX. 

thereof.  And  alfo  all  iflands  lying  in  America  aforefaid, 
in  the  fald  feas,  or  either  of  them, on  the  weftern  or  eaf- 
tern  coafts,  or  parts  of  the  faid  tracts  of  lands,  by  thefc 
prefents  mentioned  to  be  given,  granted,  bargained,  fold, 
enfeoffed,  aliened,  and  confirmed,  and  alfo  all  mines  and 
minerals,  as  well,  royal  mines  of  gold  and  filver,  as  other 
mines  and  minerals  whatfoever,  In  the  faid  land  and 
premifes,  or  any  part  thereof,  and  alfo  the  feveral  rivers 
within  the  faid  limits,  by  what  name  or  names  foever 
called  or  known,  and  all  jurifdi£tioas,  i"ights,  and  royal- 
ties, liberties,  freedoms,  immunities,  powers,  privileges, 
franchifes,  preemincncies,  and  commodities  whatfoever, 
which  the  faid  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  now  hath  or 
had,  or  might  ufe,  exercife,  or  enjoy,  in  or  within  any 
part  or  parcel  thereof,  excepting  and  referving  to  his  ma- 
jelly,  his  heirs,  and  fucceflbrs  the  fifth  part  of  all  gold 
:ind  filver  ore,  that  fliall  be  found  within  the  faid  prem- 
ifes, or  any  part  or  parcel  thereof  :  To  have  and  to  hold 
the  faid  part  of  New-England  in  America,  which  lies  and 
extends  and  is  abutted  as  aforefaid.  And  the  faid  fev- 
eral rivers  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof,  and  all  the 
faid  iHands,  rivers,  ports,  havens,  waters,  fifhings,  mines, 
minerals,  jurifdiclions,  powers,  franchifes,  royalties,  lib- 
erties, privileges,  commodities,  hereditaments  and  prem- 
ifes, whatfoever  with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  faid 
William,  Vifcount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert,  Lord  Brook, 
Robert,  Lord  Rich,  Charles  Fiennes,  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich, 
(Sir  Richard  Saltonftall,  Richard  Knightly,  John  Pym, 
John  Hampden,  John  Humphrey  and  Herbert  Pellam, 
their  heirs  and  alRgns  and  their  aflTociates,  to  the  only  pro- 
per and  abfoluce  ufe  and  behoof  of  them  the  faid  William, 
Vifcount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert,  Lord  Brook,  Robert, 
Lord  Rich,  Charles  Fiennes,  Sir  Nathaniel  Rich,  Sir 
Richard  Saltonftall,  Richard  Knightly,  John  Pym,  John 
Hampden,  John  Humphrey,  and  Herbert  Pellam,  their 
heirs  and  affigns,  and  their  affociates  for  ever  more.  In 
witnefs  whereof  the  faid  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  hath 
hereunto  fet  his  hand  and  feal,  the  nineteenth  day  of 
March,  in  the  feventh  year  of  the  reign  of  our  fovereign 
Lord  Charles,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of  England, 
•Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  defender  of  the  faith  &c. 
Annoq.  Domini  1631. 

Signed  fealed  and  delivered^  in  the  prefence  of 

Walter  Williams. 

Xhomas  Howson. 

Robert  Warwick.  A  Sec4, 


APPENDIX.  5^7 

NUMBER    II. 

MH.   WlNTHROfSccv.vvJfiCn  to  ereSl  afort  at    the  mouth 

dJ  Connefiicut  river ^  nvith  articles    of  agreement   betiveen  1635. 
himcnatkeir  loroJJ.ips  Soy  and  Sea/,  Brock,  i^c.  1635. 

KNOW  all  men,  by  thefe  pvefents,  that  we  Arthur 
Haflelring,  Bart.  Sir  Richard  Saltonftall,  Knt.  Henry- 
Lawrence,  Henry  Darly,  and  George  Fenwick,  Efquires ; 
in  our  own  names  and  in  the  nrme  of  the  right  honora- 
ble Vifcount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert,  Lord  Brook  and  the 
reft  of  our  company,  Do  ordain  and  conftitute  John 
"Winthrop,  Efquire,  the  younger,  governor  of  the  river 
Connecticut,  with  the  places  adjoining  thereunto,  for 
and  during  the  fpace  of  one  whole  y!_ar,  after  his  arrival 
there,  giving  him,  from  and  under  us,  full  power  and 
authority,  to  do  and  execute  any  fuch  lawful  a£l  and 
thing,  both  in  refpe£t  of  the  place  and  people,  as  alfo  of 
the  affairs  we  have  or  fliall  have  there,  as  to  the  dignity  or 
office  of  a  governor  doth  or  may  appertain.  In  witnefs 
whereof,  we  have  hereunto  put  our  hands  and  feals,  this 
18th  day  of  July,  1635. 
Richard  Saltonstall,  Arthur  Hasselring, 
Henry  Lawrence,  George  Fenwick, 

Henry  Darley, 
Five  feals  appendant  imprefled  in  one  large  piece  of  Wax. 

Articles  made  betni'een  the  right  hcmrahle  the  Lord  Vif- 
count Say  and  Sea/,  Sir  Arthur  HaJJ'e/ring,  Baronet,  Sir 
Ri(  hard  Saltonfo//,  Knight,  Henry  Laivrence,  Henr^ 
Dar/ey,and  George  Fenivick,  EJquirey,  on  the  one  part ^ 
and  John  Winthrop,  Ejq.  the  younger,  of  the  other,  the  "ith 
Ju/y  1635. 

First,  Ihat  we,  in  our  names,  and  the  reft  of  the 
company,  do  by  thefe  prefents  appoint  John  Winthrop 
the  younger,  governor  of  the  river  Connedlicut  in  New- 
England,  and  of  the  harbour  and  places  adjoining,  for 
the  fpace  of  one  year,  from  his  arrival  there.  And  the 
faid  John  Winthrop  doth  undertake  and  covenant  for  his 
part,  that  he  will,  with  all  convenient  fpeed,  repair  to 
thofe  places,  and  there  abide  as  aforefaid  for  the  beft  ad- 
vanctment  of  the  company's  fervice. 

Secondly,  That  fo  foon  as  he  comes  to  the  bay,  he 
fliall  endeavour  to  provide  able  men  to  the  number  of 
fitty,  at  the  leaft,  for  mal  ing  of  fortifications  and  build- 
ing of  houfes  at  the  river  ConiK^Ugutp  and  the  haibour 


|28  APPENDIX. 

adjoining,  firft  for  their  own  prefent  accommodations, 
and  then  fuch  houfes*as  may  receive  men  of  quaHty, 
which  latter  houfcs  we  would  have  to  be  builded  within 
the  fort. 

Thirdly,  That  he  fliall  employ  thofe  men,  according 
to  his  beft  ability,  for  the  advancement  of  the  company's 
fervice,  efpecially  in  the  particulars  abovementioned,  du- 
ring the  time  of  his  government,  and  fliall  alfo  give  a 
true  and  juft  account  of  all  the  monies  and  goods  com- 
mitted to  his  managing. 

Fourthly,  That  for  fuch  as  fhall  plant  there  now,  in 
the  beginning,  he  fhall  take  care  that  they  plant  them- 
felves  either  at  the  harbour  or  near  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  that  thefe  places  may  be  the  better  ftrengthened  for 
their  own  fafety,  and  to  that  end,  that  they  alfo  fet  down 
in  fuch  bodies  together,  as  they  may  be  moft  capable  of  an 
entrenchment,  provided  that  there  be  referved  unto  the 
fort,  for  the  maintenance  of  it,  one  thoufand  or  fifteen 
hundred  acres,  at  leaft,  of  good  ground  as  near  adjoining 
thereunto  as  may  be. 

Fifthly,  That  forafmuch  as  the  fervice  will  take 
him  off  from  his  own  employment,  the  company  do  en- 
gage themfelves,  to  give  him  a  juft  and  due  confideration 
for  the  fame.  In  witnefs  whereof  we  have  interchange- 
ably hereunto  fubfcribed  our  names. 

W.  Say  and  Seal,  George  Fenwick, 

Henry  Lawrence,  Arthur  Hasselring, 

Richard  Saltonstall,     Henry  Darley. 

NUMBER     III. 

T HE  original  conjlitution  of  ConneBicut,  formed  by  volunta- 
April,  ry  compaBy  1 63 9. 

1639. 

FORASMUCH  as  it  hath  pleafed  the  Almighty  God, 
by  the  wife  difpofition  of  his  Divine  Providence,  fo  to  or- 
der and  difpofe  of  things,  that  we  the  inhabitants  and 
refidents  of  Windfor;  Hartford,  and  Wethersfield,  are 
now  cohabiting  and  dwelling  in  and  upon  the  river  of 
Conne£ticut  and  tlie  lands  thereunto  adjoining,  and  well 
knowing  where  a  people  are  gathered  together  the  word 
of  God  rcquireth  that,  to  maintain  the  peace  and  union 
of  fuch  a  people,  there  fhould  be  an  orderly  and  decent 
government  eftabliflied  according  to  God,  to  order  and 
difpofe  of  the  affairs  of  the  people  at  all  feafons,  as  occa- 
fion  Ihould  require  ;  do  therefore  afTociate   and  conjoin 


APPENDi:^,  Ji^ 

ourfelves  to  beas  one  public  State  or  Commonwealth; 
and  do,  for  ourfelvts  and  our  fucceflbrs,  and  fuch  as  (hall 
be  adjoined  to  us  at  any  time  hereafter,  enter  into  com- 
bination and  confederation  together,  to  maintain  and  pre- 
fervc  the  libertv  and  parity  of  the  gofpel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus,  which  we  now  profefs,  as  alfo  the  difcipline  o£ 
the  churches,  which,  according  to  the  truth  of  faid  gof- 
pel, is  now  pra£lifed  amongft  us  ;  as  alfo  in  our  civil  af- 
fairs to  be  guided  and  governed  according  to  fuch  laws, 
rules,  orders,  and  decrees,  as  fhall  be  made,  ordered,  and 
decreed,  as  followeth. 

I.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  there 
fhall  be  yearly  two  general  affemblics  or  courts,  the  one 
on  the  fecond  Thurfday  of  April,  the  other  the  fecond 
Thurfday  of  September  following  :  The  firft  fhall  be 
called  the  Court  of  Election,  wherein  fhall  be  yearly 
chofen,  from  time  to  time,  fo  many  magiflrates  and  other 
public  officers  as  fhall  be  found  requifite,  whereof  one 
to  be  chofen  governor  for  the  year  enfuing,  and  until  a- 
nother  be  chofen,  and  no  other  magiftrate  to  be  ch6fen 
for  more  than  one  year  •,  provided  always  there  be  fix 
chofen  befides  the  governor,  wliich  being  chofen  and 
fworn  according  to  an  oath  recorded  for  that  purpofe, 
fhall  have  power  to  adminifter  juftice  according  to  the 
laws  here  efl:ablifhed,  and  for  want  thereof  according  trj 
the  rule  of  the  word  of  God  ;  which  choice  fhall  be  made 
by  all  that  are  admitted  freemen  and  have  taken  the  oath 
of  fidelity,  and  do  cohabit  within  this  jurifdi6tion,  having 
been  admitted  inhabitants  by  the  major  part  of  the  town 
where  they  live,  or  the  major  part  of  fuch  as  fhall  be  then 
prefent. 

II.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  the  e- 
le£tion  of  the  aforefaid  magiftrates  fhall  be  on  this  man- 
ner ;  every  perfon  prefent  and  qualified  for  choice  fhall 
bring  in  (to  the  perfons  deputed  to  receive  them)  one  fin- 
gle  paper,  with  the  name  of  him  written  on  it  whom  he 
dcfires  to  have  governor,  and  he  that  hath  the  greatefl 
number  of  papers  fhall  be  governor  for  that  year  :  And 
the  reft  of  the  magiftrates  or  public  officers  to  be  chofen 
in  this  manner  ;  the  fecretary  for  the  time  being  fhall 
firft  read  the  names  of  all  that  are  to  be  put  to  choice, 
and  then  fliall  feverally  nominate  them  diftindlly,  and  ev- 
ery one  that  would  have  the  perfon  nominated  to  be  cho- 
fen fhall  bring  in  one  fingle  paper  writteii  upon,  and  he 
that  would  not  have  him  chofen  (hall  bring  in  a  blankj 

U  u  u 


j3«  APPENDIX, 

and  every  one  that  has  more  written  papers  than  blanks 
fhall  be  a  magiflrate  for  that  year,  which  papers  fhall  be 
received  and  told  by  one  or  more  that  fhall  be  then  cho- 
fen,  by  the  court,  and  fworn  to  be  faithful  therein  ;  but 
in  cafe  there  ihould  not  befixperfons  as  aforefaid  befides 
the  governor  outof  thofe  which  are  nominated,  then  he, 
or  they  which  liave  the  moft  written  papers  (hall  be  a  ma- 
^iilrate,  or  magiftrates  for  the  enfuing  year,  to  make  up 
the  aforefaid  number. 

HI.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  the 
fecretary  fhall  not  norrinate  any  perfon  new,  nor  (hall 
any  perfon  be  chofen  newly  into  the  magiflracy,  which 
was  not  propounded  in  fome  general  court  before,  to  be 
nominated  the  next  election  :  And  to  that  end  it  fhall  be 
lawful  for  each  of  the  towns  aforefaid,  by  their  deputies, 
to  nominate  any  two  whom  they  conceive  fit  to  be  put  to 
£le<Slion,  and  the  court  may  add  fo  many  more  as  they 
judge  requifite. 

IV.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  no 
perfon  be  chofen  governor  above  once  in  two  years,  and 
that  the  governor  be  always  a  member  of  fome  approved 
congregation,  and  formerly  of  the  magiflracy  within  this 
jurifdidiion,  and  all  the  magiftrates  freemen  of  this  com- 
monwealth ;  and  that  no  magiftrate  or  other  public 
officer  fliall  execute  any  part  of  his  or  their  ofBce  before 
they  are  feveraliy  fworn,  which  fliali  be  done  in  the  face 
of  the  court  if  they  be  prefent,  and  in  cafe  of  abfence  by 
fome  deputed  for  that  pui^pofe. 

V.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  to  the 
aforefaid  court  of  election,  the  feveral  towns  fhall  fend 
their  deputies,  and  when  the  elections  are  ended  they 
may  proceed  in  any  public  fervice,  as  at  other  courts  ; 
alfo  the  other  general  court  in  September  fhall  be  for  ma- 
king of  laws  and  any  other  public  occafion  which  con- 
cerns the  good  of  the  commonwealth. 

VI.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  the 
governor  fiaall,  either  by  himfelf  or  by  the  fecretary,  fend 
out  fummonfes  to  the  conftables  of  every  town,  for  the 
calling  of  thofe  two  ftanding  courts,  one  month  at  lealt 
before  their  feveral  times  •,  and  alfo  if  the  governor  and 
the  greateft  part  of  the  magiftrates  fee  caufe,  upon  any 
fpecial  occafion,  to  call  a  general  court,  they  may  give  or- 
der to  the  fecretary  fo  to  do  within  fourteen  days  warn- 
ing ;  and  if  urgent  necefTity  fo  require,  upon  a  fhorter  no- 
tice, giving  fuflicient  grounds  for  it  to  the  deputies  when 
they  meet,  or  elfe  be  queltioned  for  the  fame.     And  if 


APPENDIX.  53< 

the  governor,  or  major  part  of  the  magiftrates  fliall  either 
neglt:6l  or  refufe  to  call  the  two  general  {landing  courts, 
or  either  of  them,  as  alfo  at  other  times  when  the  occa- 
(ions  of  the  commonwealth  require,  the  freemen  thereof, 
or  the  major  part  of  them  (hail  petition  to  them  fo  to  do ; 
if  then  it  be  either  denied  or  negledled,  tlie  faid  freemen, 
or  the  major  part  of  them,  fhall  have  power  to  give  order 
to  the  conftables  of  the  feveral  towns  to  do  the  fame,  and 
fo  may  meet  together  and  choofe  to  tliemfelves  a  mode- 
rator, and  may  proceed  to  do  any  adl  of  power  which 
any  other  general  courts  may. 

VII.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  after 
there  are  warrants  given  out  for  any  of  the  faid  general 
courts,  the  conftable  or  conftables  of  each  town  fhall 
forthwith  give  notice  diftin£lly  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
fame,  infome  public  aflembly,  or  by  going  or  fending 
from  houfe  to  houfe,  that  at  a  place  and  time  by  him  or 
them  limited  and  fet,  they  meet  and  aflcmble  themfelves 
together,  to  eledl  and  choofe  certain  deputies  to  be  at  the 
general  court  then  following,  to  agitate  the  affairs  of  the 
commonwealth,  which  faid  deputies  fhall  be  chofen  by 
all  that  are  admitted  inhabitants  in  the  feveral  towns,  and 
have  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  -,  provided,  that  none  be 
chofen  a  deputy  for  any  general  court  which  is  not  a  free- 
man of  this  commonwealth  :  The  aforefaid  deputy  fhall 
be  chofen  in  manner  following  ;  every  perfon  that  is  pre- 
fent  and  qualified,  as  before  expreiled,  fliall  bring  the 
names  of  fuch,  written  on  feveral  papers,  as  they  defire 
to  ha>'e  chofen,  for  that  employment  ;  and  chofe  three 
or  four,  more  or  lefs,  being  the  number  agreed  on  to  be 
chofen,  for  that  time,  that  have  the  greateft  number  of 
papers  written  for  them,  fhall  be  deputies  for  that  court  ; 
whofe  names  fhall  be  is  dor  fed  on  the  back  fide  of  the 
warrant,  and  returned  into  the  court  with  the  conftable 
or  conftables  hand  unto  the  fame. 

VIII.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that 
Windfor,  Hertford,  and  Wethersfield  fhall  have  power, 
each  town,  to  fend  four  of  their  freemen  as  t  leir  deputies, 
to  every  general  court  ;  and  whatfoevcr  other  towns  fhall 
be  hereafter  added  to  this  jurifdi6lion,  they  fliall  fend  fo 
many  deputies  as  the  court  fhall  judge  meet  ;  a  reafon- 
able  proportion  to  the  number  of  freemen  that  are  in  faid 
towns,  being  to  be  attended  therein  ;  which  deputies  fhall 
have  the  power  of  the  whole  town  to  give  their  votes, 
?ind  allowance  to  all  fuch  laws  and  orders,  as  may  be  for 


534  APPENDIX. 

the  public  good,  and  unto  which  the  faid  towns  are  to  be 
bound. 

"    IX.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,   and  decreed,  that  the 
deputies,  thus  chofcn,  {hall  have   power   and   liberty   to 
appoint  a  time  and  a  place  of  meeting  together,  before 
any  general  court,  to  advife  and  confult  of  all  fuch  things 
as  may  concern  the  good  of  the  public  ;  as  alfo  to  exam- 
ine their  own  eledtions,  whether  according  to  the  order  5 
and  if  they  ©r  the  greatefl  part  of  them  find  any  ele£lion 
to  be  illegal,  they  may  feclude  fuch  for  the  prefent  from 
their  meeting,  and  return  the  fame  and   their  reafons  to 
the  court ;  and  if  it  prove    true  the    court  may  fine  the 
party  or  parties  fo  intruding,  upon  the  town,  if  they   fee 
caufe,  and  give  out  a  warrant  to  go  to   a  new  eleftion  in 
a  legal  way,  either  in  part  or  in  whole  •,  alfo  the  faid  dep- 
uties fliall  have  power  to  fine  any  that  fhall  be  diforderly 
at  their  meeting,  or  for  not  coming  in  due  time  or  place, 
according  to  appointment ;  and   they   m.ay  return   faid 
fine    into  the  court,  if  it  be  refufed   to  be  paid,    and  the 
treafurer  to  take  notice  of  it,  and  to  eftreat   or   levy   the 
fame  as  he  doth  other  fines. 

X.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decreed,  that  every 
general  court  (except  fuch  as,  through  negledt  of  the 
governor  and  the  greatefl  part  of  the  magiflrates,  the 
freemen  themfclves  do  call,)  fhall  confifl  of  the  governor, 
or  fome  one  chofen  to  moderate  the  court,  and  four  oth- 
er magiftrates  at  leaft,  with  the  major  part  of  the  depu- 
ties of  the  feveral  towns  legally  chofen  ;  and  in  cafe  the 
freemen,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  through  negle£t 
or  refufil  of  the  governor  and  major  part  of  the  magif- 
trates,{hall  call  a  court, that  fhall  confiil  of  the  major  part 
of  the  freemen  that  are  prefent,  or  their  deputies,  with  a 
jnoderator  chofen  by  them  ;  in  which  faid  general  court 
{hall  confift  the  Supreme  Power  of  the  Common- 
'  WEALTH,  and  they  only  fhall  have  power  to  MAKE  LAWS 
or  repeal  them^  to  grant  levieSy  io  admit  freemen^  to  dtfpofe  of 
lands  tmdijpofed  oj\  to  feveval  towns  or  perfons,  and  alfo 
fhall  have  power  to  f«// other  courts,  or  raagiflrate,  or 
any  other  perfon  whatfoever,  into  queftion  for  any  mlf- 
demeanor  ;  arid  may  for  jufl  caufes  difplace  or  deal  oth- 
erwife,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  offence  •,  and  alfo 
may  deal  in  any  other  matter  that  concerns  the  good  of 
this  commonwealth,  except  eleftion  of  magiflrates, 
which  fhall  be  done  by  the  whole  body  of  freemen  ;  in 
■which  court  the  governor  or  moderator  fhall  have  power 
to  order  the  court,  to  give  liberty  of  fpeech,  and  filence 


APPENDIX.  533 

unreafonable  and  diforderly  fpeaking,  to  put  all  things  to 
vote,  and  in  cafe  the  vote  be  equal  to  have  a  calling  voice; 
but  none  of  thefe  courts  fhall  be  adjourned  or  diHolved 
without  the  confent  of  the  major  part  of  the  court. 

XI.  It  is  ordered,  fentenced,  and  decred,  that  when 
any  general  court,  upon  the  occafions  of  the  common- 
wealth, have  agreed  upon  any  fum  cr  fums  of  money  to 
be  levied  upon  the  feveral  towns  within  this  jurifdi£lion, 
that  a  committee  be  chofen  to  fee  out  and  appoint  what 
fliall  be  the  proportion  of  every  town  to  pay,  of  the  faid  levy, 
provided  the  committee  be  made  up  of  an  equal  number 
out  of  each  town.     1 4th  January   1 63  8.* 

NUMBER    IV. 

^HL  fundamental  articles  y  or  original  cotTJl'tutionofthe  colo- 
ny cf  NeiV'Havenj  June  /\thy  K539. 

The  4th  day  of  the  4th  month,  called  June,  1639,  all  ^""^  ^th, 
the  free  planters  allembled  together  in  a  general  meet  U'^,  '  ^^' 
to  confult  about  fettling  civil  government,  accordiiig  to 
God,  -and  the  nomination  of  perfons  that  might  be  found, 
by  confent  of  all,  fitted  in  all  refpe6ls  for  the  foundation 
work  of  a  church,  which  was  intended  to  be  gathered  in 
Q^inipiack.  After  folemn  invocation  of  the  name  of 
God,  in  prayer  for  the  prefence  and  help  of  his  fpirit 
and  grace,  in  thofe  weighty  bufincffes,  they  were  remin- 
ded of  the  bufinefs  whereabout  they  met,  (viz. '  for  the 
eftablifhment  of  fuch  civil  order  as  might  be  mod  pleaf- 
ing  unto  God,  and  for  the  choofing  the  fitted  men  for 
the  foundation  work  of  a  church  to  be  gathered.  For 
the  better  enabling  them  to  difcern  the  mind  of  God, 
and  to  agree  accordingly  concerning  the  edablifhment  of 
civil  order,  Mr.  John  Davenport  propounded  divers  que- 
ries to  them  publicly,  praying  them  to  confider  ferioufly 
in  the  prefence  and  fear  of  God,  the  weight  of  the  bu- 
finefs they  met  about,  and  not  to  be  rafh  or  flight  in  giv- 
ing their  votes  to  things  they  undcrdood  not ;  but  to  di- 
ged  fully  and  thoroughly  what  fhould  be  propounded  to 
them,  and  without  refpeft  to  men,  as  they  ihould  be  fat- 
isfied  and  pferfuaded  in  their  own  minds,  to  give  their  an- 
fwers  in  fuch  fort  as  they  would  be  willing  fhould  dand 
upon  record  for  poderity. 

This   being   earncdly  prefled  by  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr. 
Robert  Newman  was  intreated  to  write,  in   chara^ers, 

*  This  as  we  now  date  was  1639, 


534  APPENDIX. 

and  to  read  dlftinftly  and  audibly  in  the  hearing  of  all 
the  people,  what  was  propounded  and  accorded  on,  that 
it  might  appear,  that  all  confented  to  matters  propoun- 
ded, according  to  words  written  by  him. 

^lery  I.  WtiETHER  the  fcriptures  do  hold  forth  2 
perfe6l  rule  for  the  direction  and  governmenf  of  all  men 
in  all  duties  which  they  are  to  perform  to  God  and  men, 
as  well  in  families  and  commonwealth,  as  in  matters  of 
the  church  ?  This  was  aflented  unto  by  all,  no  man  dif- 
fenting,  as  was  exprefled  by  holding  up  of  hands.  After- 
wards it  was  read  over  to  them,  that  they  might  fee  in 
what  words  their  vote  was  exprefled.  They  again  expref- 
fed  their  confent  by  holding  up  their  hands,  no  man  dif- 
fenting. 

^lery  II.  Whereas  there  was  a  covenant  folemnly 
made  by  the  whole  aflembly  of  free  planters  of  this  plan- 
tation, the  firfi;  day  of  extraordinary  humiliation,  which 
we  had  after  we  came  together,  that  as  in  matters  that 
concern  the  gathering  and  ordering  of  a  church,  fo  like- 
wife  in  all  public  officers  which  concern  civil  order,  as 
choice  of  magiilrates  and  officers,  making  and  repealing 
laws,  dividing  allotments  of  inheritance,  and  all  things  of 
like  nature,  we  v/ould  all  of  us  be  ordered  by  thofe  rules 
which  the  fcripture  holds  forth  to  us  ;  this  covenant  was 
called  a  plantation  covenant,  to  diflinguifli  it  from  a 
church  covenant,  which  could  not  at  that  time  be  made, 
a  church  not  being  then  gathered,  but  was  deferred  till  a 
church  might  be  gathered,  according  to  God  :  It  was 
demanded  whether  all  the  free  planters  do  hold  themfelves 
bound  by  that  covenant,  in  all  bufinefles  of  that  nature 
which  are  expreffi^d  in  the  covenant,  to  fubmit  themfelves 
to  be  ordered  by  the  rules  held  forth  in  the  fcripture  .'' 

This  alfo  was  aflented  unto  by  all,  and  no  man  gain- 
fayed  it  ;  and  they  did  teftify  the  fame  by  holding  up 
their  hands,  both  when  it  was  firll  propounded,  and  con- 
lirmed  the  fame  by  holding  up  their  hands  when  it  was 
.  read  unto  them  in  public.  John  Clark  being  abfent, 
when  the  covenant  was  made,  doth  now  manifefl  his  con- 
fent to  it.  Alfo  Richard  Beach,  Andrew  Law,  Good- 
man Banifter,  Arthur  Halbridge,  John  Potter,  Robert 
Hill,  John  Brocket,  and  John  Johnfon,  thefe  perfons, 
being  not  admitted  planters  when  the  covenant  was  made, 
do  now  exprefs  their  confent  to  it. 

^lery  HI.  Those  who  have  defired  to  be  received  as 
free  planters,  and  are  fettled  in  the  plantation,  with^a 
purpofe,  refolwtion  and  defjre,  that  they  may  be  admittQ^ 


APPENDIX.  53J 

into  church  fellowfhip,  according  to  Christ,  as  foon  as 
God  fliall  fit  them  thereunto,  were  defired  to  exprefs  it 
by  holding  up  hands.  Accordingly  all  did  exprefs  this 
to  be  their  delire  and  purpofe  by  holding  up  their  hands 
twice  (viz.)  at  the  proposal  of  it,  and  after  when  thefe 
written  words  were  read  unto  them. 

^iery  IV.  All  the  free  planters  were  called  upon 
to  exprefs,  whether  they  held  themfelves  bound  to  eftab- 
lifli  fuch  civil  order  as  might  befl:  conduce  to  the  fecur- 
ing  of  the  purity  and  peace  of  the  ordinance  to  themfelves 
and  their  pofterity  according  to  God  ?  In  anfwer  here- 
unto they  exprefled  by  holding  up  their  hands  twice  as 
before,  that  they  held  themfelves  bound  to  ellablifh  fuch 
civil  order  as  might  beil  conduce  to  the  ends  aforefaid. 

Then  Mr.  Davenport  declared  unto  them,  by  the  fcrip- 
ture,  what  kind  of  perfons  might  beft  be  trufted  with 
matters  of  government ;  and  by  fundry  arguments  from 
fcripture  proved  that  fuch  men  as  were  defcribed  in  Exod. 
xviii.  2,  Deut.  i.  13,  with  Deut.  xvii.  15,  and  i  Cor.  vi. 
'>  6,  7,  ought  to  be  intrufted  by  them,  feeing  they  were 
free  to  caft  themfelves  into  that  mould  and  form  of  com- 
monwealth which  appeared  beft  for  them  in  reference  to 
the  fecuring  the  peace  and  peaceable  improvement  of  all 
Christ  his  ordinances  in  the  church  according  to  God, 
whereunto  they  have  bound  themfelves,  as  hath  been  ac- 
knowledged. 

Having  thus  faid  he  fat  down  praying  the  company 
freely  to  confider,  whether  they  would  have  it  voted  at 
this  time  or  not.  After  fome  fpace  of  filence,  Mr.  The- 
ophilus  Eaton  anfwered,  it  might  be  voted,  and  fome  oth- 
ers alfo  fpake  to  the  fame  purpofe,  none  at  all  oppofing  it. 
Then  it  was  propounded  to  vote. 

^lery  V.  Whether  free  burgefles  fhall  be  chofeii 
out  of  the  church  members,  they  that  are  in  the  founda- 
tion work  of  the  church  being  actually  free  burgefles,  and 
to  choofe  to  themfelves  out  of  the  like  eftate  of  church 
fellowfhip,  and  the  power  of  choofing  magiftrates  and  of- 
ficers from  among  themfelves,  and  the  power  of  making 
and  repealing  laws,  according  to  the  word,  and  the  divi- 
ding of  inheritances,  and  deciding  of  difi^erences  that 
may  arife,  and  all  the  bufinefles  of  like  nature  are  to  be 
tranfafted  by  thofe  free  burgefles  ?  This  was  put  to  vote 
and  agreed  unto  by  lifting  up  of  hands  twice,  as  in  the 
former  it  was  done.  Then  one  man  flood  up  and  expref- 
fed  his  difl"enting  from  the  reft  in  part  ;  yet  granting, 
I.  That  magiftrates  ftiouldbe  men  fearing  God.  2.  That 


^36  APPENDIX. 

the  church  Is  the  company  where,  ordinarily,  fuch  mea 
may  be  expedled.  3.  That  they  that  choofe  them  ought 
to  be  men  fearing  God  ;  only  at  this  he  ftuck,  that  free 
planters  ought  not  to  give  this  power  out  of  their  hands. 
Another  flood  up  and  anfvvered,  that  nothing  was  done, 
but  with  their  confent.  The  former  anfwered,  that  all 
the  free  planters  ought  to  refume  this  power  into  their 
own  hands  again,  if  things  wer  ;  not  orderly  carried.  Mr. 
Theophilus  Eaton  anfwered,  that  in  all  places  they  choofe 
committees  in  like  manner.  The  companies  in  London 
choofe  the  liveries  by  whom  the  public  magiftrates  are 
chofen.  In  this  the  reft  are  not  wronged,  becaufe  they 
cxpcdi,  in  time,  to  be  of  the  livery  themfelves,  and  to 
have  the  fame  power.  Some  others  intreated  the  former 
to  give  his  arguments  and  reafons  whereupon  he  diflented. 
Herefufed  to  do  it,  and  faid,  they  might  not  rationally  de- 
mand it,  feeing  he  let  the  vote  pafs  on  freely  and  did  not 
fpeak  till  after  it  was  paft,  becaufe  he  would  not  hinder 
what  they  agreed  upon.  Then  Mr.  Davenport,  after  a 
fhort  relation  of  fome  former  paffages  between  them  two 
about  this  queftion,  prayed  the  company  that  nothing 
might  be  concluded  by  them  on  this  weighty  queftion, 
but  what  themfelves  were  perfuaded  to  be  agreeing  with 
the  mind  of  God,  and  they  had  heard  what  had  been 
faid  fince  the  voting  ;  he  intreated  them  again  to  confider 
of  it,  and  put  it  again  to  vote  as  before.  Again  all  of 
them,  by  holding  up  their  hands,  did  fliow  their  confent 
as  before.  And  fome  of  them  confefled  that,  whereas 
they  did  waver  before  they  came  to  the  affembly,  they 
■were  now  fully  convinced,  that  it  is  the  mind  of  God. 
One  of  them  faid  that  in  the  morning  before  he  came 
reading  Deut.  xvii.  15,  he  was  convinced  at  home.  A- 
nother  faid,  that  he  came  doubting  to  the  aflembly,  but 
he  bleffed  God,  by  what  had  been  faid,  he  was  now  fully 
fatisfied,  that  the  choice  of  burgefles  out  of  church  mem- 
bers, and  to  intruft  thofe  with  the  power  before  fpoken 
of  is  according  to  the  mind  of  God  revealed  in  the  fcrip- 
tures.  All  having  fpoken  their  apprehenfions  it  was  a- 
greed  upon,  and  Mr.  Robert  Newman  was  defired  to 
write  it  as  an  order  whereunto  every  one,  that  hereafter 
Ihould  be  admitted  here  as  planters,  fhould  fubmit,  and 
teftify  the  fame  by  fubfcribing  their  names  to  the  order : 
Namely,  thr^t  church  member^  only  fliall  be  free  burgefles, 
and  that  they  only  (hall  choofe  magiftrates  and  officers 
among  themfelves,  to  have  power  of  tranfa (fling  all  the 
public  civil  affairs  of  this  plantation  5  of  making  and  re- 


A    P    F    E    N    D    I    X.  sol^ 

pealing  laws,  dividing  of  inheritances,  deciding  of  differ- 
ences that  may  arift,  and  doing  all  things  and  bufineffcs 
of  like  nature. 

This  being  thus  fettled,  as  a  fundamental  agreement 
concerning  civil  government,  Mr.  Davenport  proceeded 
to  propound  fomcthing  to  confideration  about  the  gath- 
ering of  a  church,  and  to  prevent  the  blemilhing  of  the 
fivlt  beginnings  of  the  church  work,  Mr.  Davenport  ad- 
vifcd,  that  the  names  of  fuch  as  were  to  be  admitted 
might  be  publicly  propounded,  to  the  end  that  they  who 
were  moft  approved  might  be  chofen  ;  for  the  town  be- 
ing call  into  feveral  private  meetings,  wherein  they  that 
lived  neareil  together  gave  their  accounts  one  to  another 
of  God's  gracious  work  upon  them,  and  prayed  together 
and  conferred  to  their  mutual  edification,  fundry  of  them 
had  knowledge  one  of  another  ;  and  in  every  meeting 
fome  one  was  more  approved  of  all  than  any  other ;  for 
this  reafon  and  to  prevent  fcandals,  the  whole  company 
was  intreated  to  confider  whom  they  found  fitteft  to  nom- 
inate for  this  work. 

^cry  VI.  Whether  are  you  all  willing  and  do  a- 
gree  in  this,  that  twelve  men  be  chofen,  that  their  fitnefs 
for  the  foundation  work  may  be  tried  •,  however  there 
may  be  more  named  yet  it  may  be  in  their  power  who 
are  chofen  to  reduce  them  to  twelve,  and  that  it  be  in 
the  power  of  thofe  twelve  to  choofe  out  of  themfelves 
feven,  that  fhall  be  moft  approved  of  by  the  major  part, 
to  begin  the  church  ? 

This  was  agreed  upon  by  confent  of  all,  as  was  ex- 
prefied  by  holding  up  of  hands,  and  that  fo  many  as 
(hould  be  thought  fit  for  the  foundation  work  of  the 
church,  Ihall  be  propounded  by  the  plantation,  and  writ- 
ten down  and  pafs  without  exception,  unlefs  they  had 
given  public  fcandal  or  offence.  Yet  fo  as  in  cafe  of  pub- 
lic fcandal  or  offence,  every  one  (hould  have  liberty  to 
propound  their  exception,  at  that  time,  publicly  againft 
any  man,  that  Ihould  be  nominated,  when  all  their  names 
Ihould  be  writ  down.  But  if  the  offence  were  private, 
that  mens  names  might  be  tendered,  fo  many  as  were 
offended  were  intreated  to  deal  with  the  offender  pri- 
vately, and  if  he  gave  not  fatisfa^lion  to  bring  the  matter 
to  the  twelve,  that  they  might  confider  of  it  impartially 
and  in  the  fear  of  God. 

W  w  \? 


$3&  A    P    P    E    N    D    I    Xi 

NUMBER    V. 

THEJirJi  agreement  nvith  George  Fenivtchy  Efquire^  I  ^44^' 

x(i»,\,     '   Articles  of  agreement  made   and  concluded  betwixt 
George  Fenwick,  Efq.    of  Saybrook  fort,  on  the  one 
part,  and  Edward  Hopkins,  John   Haynes,  John  Ma- 
ibn,  John  Steele  and  James  Boofy,  for  and  on  the  be- 
half of  the  jurifdi£Hon   of  Conne£ticut   river,  on  the 
other  part,  the  5  th  of  December  1644. 
THE  faid  George  Fenwick,  Efq.  doth,  by  thefe  pref- 
«nts,  convey  and  make  over  to  the  ufe  and  for  the  behoof 
of  the  jurifdi£tion  of  Connetlieut  river  aforefaid,  the  fort 
at  Saybrook,  with  the  appurtenances  hereafter  mention- 
ed, to  be  enjoyed  by  them  forever.     Two  demiculvering 
caft  pieces,  with  all  the  fliot  thereunto  appertaining^  ex- 
cept fifty,   which  are  referved  for   his  own  ufe  ;    two 
long  faker  caft  pieces  with  all  the  (hot  thereunto  belong- 
ing j  one  murderer  with  two   chambers   and  two  ham- 
mered pieces  ;  two  barrels   of  gun  powder,    forty  muf- 
kets,  with  bandoleers  and  refts,  as  alfo   four  carabines, 
fwords,  and  fuch  irons   as  are  there  for  a  draw  bridge  j 
one  fov/  of  lead,  and  irons  for  the  carriages  of  ordinance, 
and  all  the  houfing  within  the  pallifado. 

It  is  alfo  provided  and  agreed,  betwixt  the  faid  parties^ 
that  all  the  land  upon  the  river  of  Connecticut  fliall  be- 
long to  the  faid  jurifdiftion  of  Connefticut,  and  fuch 
lands  as  are  yet  undifpofed  of  fliall  be  ordered  and  given 
out  by  a  committee  of  five,  whereof  George  Fenwick, 
Efq.  aforefaid  is  always  to  be  one. 

It  is  further  provided  and  agreed,  that  the  town  of 
Saybrook  fhall  be  carried  on  according  to  fuch  agree- 
ments, and  in  that  way  which  is  already  followed  there, 
and  attended  betwixt  Mr.  Fenwick  and  the  inhabitants 
there. 

It  is  alfo  provided  and  agreed,  betwixt  the  faid  par- 
ties, that  George  Fenwick,  Efq.  Avail  have  liberty  to 
dwell  in,  or  make  ufe  of  any  or  all  the  houfing  belonging 
to  the  faid  fort,  for  the  fpace  of  ten  years  -,  he  keeping 
thofe  which  he  makes  ufe  of  in  fnfficient  repair  (extraor- 
dinary cafualties  excepted  -,)  and  in  cafe  he  remove  his 
dwelling  to  any  other  place  that  he  fhould  give  half  a 
year's  warning  thereof,  that  provifion  may  be  made  ac- 
cordingly ;  only  it  is  agreed  that  there  fliall  be  fome  con- 
venient part  of  the  houfing  referved  for  a  gunner,  and 


APPENDIX.  559 

his  family  to  live  in,  if  the  jurifdi£lion  fee  fit  to  fettle  one 
there. 

It  is  further  provided  and  agreed,  betwixt  the  faid 
parties,  that  George  Fenwick,  Efq.  (hall  enjoy  to  his  own 
proper  ufe,  thefe  particulars  following. 

I  ft.  The  houfe  near  adjoining  to  the  wharf,  with  the 
wharf  and  an  acre  of  ground  thereunto  belonging  ;  pro- 
vided that  the  faid  acre  of  ground  take  not  up  above  eight 
rods  in  breadth  by  the  water  fide. 

2d.  The  point  of  land  and  the  marfli  lying  under  the 
bam  already  built  by  the  faid  George  Fenwick. 

3d.  The  ifland  commonly  called  fix  mile  ifland,  with 
the  meadow  thereunto  adjoining,  on  the  eaft  fide  the 
river. 

4th.  The  ground  adjoining  to  the  town  field  which  is 
already  taken  ofFand  inclofed  with  three  rails,  by  the  faid 
George  Fenwick  j  only  there  is  liberty  granted  to  the 
faid  jurifdiftion,  if  they  fee  fit,  to  build  a  fort  upon  the 
weftern  point,  whereunto  there  (hall  be  allowed  an  acre 
of  ground  for  a  houfe  lot. 

5th.  It  is  alfo  provided  and  agreed,  that  the  faid  George 
Fenwick,  Efq.  fhall  have  free  warren  in  his  own  land, 
and  liberty  for  a  floater  for  his  own  occafions ;  as  alfo 
the  like  liberty  is  referved  for  any  others  of  the  adventu- 
rers, that  may  come  unto  thefe  parts,  with  a  double  houfe 
lot  in  fuch  place  where  they  make  choice  to  fettle  their 
abode. 

All  the  forementioned  grants  (except  before  excepted) 
the  faid  George  Fenwick,  Efq.  doth  engage  himfelf  to 
make  good  to  the  jurifdi£tion  aforefaid,  againft  all  claims 
that  may  be  made,  by  any  other  to  the  premifes  by  reafon 
of  any  difburfements  made  upon  the  place. 

The  faid  George  Fenwick  doth  alfo  promife,  that  all 
the  lands  from  Narraganfet  river  to  the  fort  of  Saybrook, 
mentioned  in  a  patent  granted  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick 
to  certain  nobles  and  gentlemen,  (hall  fall  in  under  the 
jurifdiftion  of  Connefticut,  if  it  come  into  his  power. 
For  and  in  regard  of  the  premifes,  and  other  good  con fid- 
erations,  the  faid  Edward  Hopkins,  John  Haynes,  John 
Mafon,John  Steele,  and  James  Boofy,  authorized  thereun- 
to, by  the  general  court  for  the  jurifdiftion  of  Connedti- 
cut,  do,  in  behalf  of  the  faid  jurifdidtion,  promife  and  a- 
gree,  to  and  with  the  faid  George  Fenwick,  Efq.  tliat  fqr 
and  during  the  fpace  of  ten  full  and  complete  years,  to 
begin  from  the  firft  of  March  next  enfuing  the  date  of 
Aefe  prefftnts,  there  (hall  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the  faid 


^40  APPENDIX. 

George  Fenwick  or  his  afTigns,  the  particular  fums  here^ 
after  folIoMang. 

ift.  Each  buHiel  of  corn,  of  all  forts,  or  meal  that 
Hiall  pafs  out  of  the  river's  mouth,  {hall  pay  two  peace 
per  bufliel. 

2d.  Every  hundred  of  bifcuit  that  fliall  in  like  man- 
ner pafs  out  of  the  river's  mouth  fliall  pay  fix  pence. 

3do  Each  milk  cow,  and  mare  of  three  years  or  up- 
wards, vi^ithin  any  of  the  towns  or  farms  upon  the  river, 
{hall  pay  twelve  pence  per  annum  during  the  forefaid 
term. 

4th.  Each  hog  or  fow,  that  is  killed  by  any  particular 
perfon,  within  the  limits  of  the  river  and  the  jurifdiclion 
aforefaid,  to  be  improved  either  for  his  own  particular 
ufe,  or  to  make  market  of,  fhall  in  like  manner  pay 
twelve  pence  per  annum. 

5th.  Each  hogfhead  of  beaver,  traded  out  of  this  ju- 
rifdidlion,  and  palled  by  water  down  the  river,  Ihall  pay 
twenty  fniilings. 

6th.  Each  pound  of  beaver,  traded  within  the  limits 
of  the  river,  ihall  pay  two  pence.  Only  it  is  provided, 
that  in  cafe  the  general  trade  with  the  Indians,  now  in 
agitation,  proceed,  this  tax  upon  beaver,  mentioned  in 
this  and  the  foregoing  articles,  ihall  fall, 

7th.  The  faid  committee,  by  the  power  aforefaid, 
confent  and  agree,  to  and  with  the  faid  George  Fenwick, 
Efq.  that  he,  the  faid  George  Fenwick,  and  his  heirs, 
fhall  be  free  of  any  impofitions  or  cuftoms,  that  m^y 
hereafter,  by  the  jurifdiclion,  be  impofed  at  the  fort. 

It  is  agreed,  that  the  aforefaid  payments  fliall  be  made 
In  manner  following.  What  fliall  be  due  from  the  grain 
that  is  exported  fliall  be  paid  in  grain,  according  to  the 
proportion  of  the  feveral  kinds  of  grain  that  do  pafs  away 
at  the  common  current  price ;  neither  attending  fuch 
prices  on  the  one  hand,  that  the  court  may  fet  *,  nor  yet 
on  the  other  hand,  fuch  as  corn  may  be  fold  at,  through 
the  necefTities  of  men.  And  in  cafe  of  any  difference, 
then  the  price  fliall  be  fet  by  two  good  men,  the  one  cho- 
fen  by  Mr.  Fenwick,  and  the  other  by  the  court.  What 
{hall  be  due  otherwife  fhall  be  paid  in  beaver,  wampum, 
barley,  wheat  or  peafe  ;  the  former  confideration  for 
the  price,  to  be  herein  aifo  attended.  And  it  is  provided 
and  agreed,  that  a  ftri(5l  order  and  courfe  fhall  be  taken 
jn  obferving  what  grain  is  put  a  board  any  vefTel  that  go- 
eth  down  the  river,  from  any  of  the  towns.  And  due 
notice  being  taken  thereof,  every  boat   pr  veiTei  fliali  b^ 


APPENDIX.  54t 

enjoined  to  take  a  note  of  feme  perfon  deputed  by  the 
court  in  each  town,  what  quantities  and  kinds  of  grain 
are  aboard  the  faid  veflel :  And  to  deliver  to  Mr.  Fen- 
wick,  or  his  afligns,  at  Saybrook,  fo  much  as  will  be  due 
to  him  according  to  the  forementioned  agreements. 
And  hkewife,  for  the  other  payments,  due  care  {hall  be 
taken,  that  they  be  made  at  the  place  aforefaid,  in  as 
convenient  a  way  as  may  comfortably  be  attended,  and 
that  all  indiredl  courfes  be  prevented,  whereby  the  true 
intent  and  meaning  of  thefe  agreements  may  be  evaded. 
In  witnefs  whereof  the  parties  before  mentioned  have 
hereunto  put  their  hands,  the  day  and  year  abovefaid. 

Edward  Hopkins. 

John  Haykts. 
George  Fenwick.  John  Mason. 

John  Steele. 

James  Boosy.* 

N  U  M  B  E  R    VI. 


J.  II Efecond agreement  ivith  George  Fenwick j  Efqulre^  Feb' 
ruary  i  'jib^  1646. 

IT  was  agreed  betwixt  Edward  Hopkins,  on  the  be- 
half of  George  Fenwack,  Efq.  and  John  CuUick,  John 
Talcott,  John  Porter,  and  Henry  Clark,  James  Boofy, 
and  Samuel  Smith,  on  the  behalf  of  the  jurifdi£lion  of 
Connecticut,  that  the  agreement  formerly  made  with 
Mr.  Fenwick,  (liall  be  afterwards,  and  what  was  tc  be 
received  by  him  according  to  that,  reduced  to  the  terms 
hereafter  exprefled.  Viz.  There  fhall  yeaily,  for  ten 
years,  be  paid  to  Mr.  Fenwick,  or  his  afligns,  one  hund- 
red and  eighty  pounds  per  annum,  to  be  paid  every  year 
before  the  laft  of  June,  as  it  fhall  be  required  by  t'  e  af- 
figns  of  the  faid  George  Fenwick,  either  to  fuch  velTels  as 
fhall  be  appointed,  or  to  fuchhoufe  or  houfes,  in  Weth- 
er^field  or  Hartford,  as  he  fhall  dire£l:  and  order.  To 
be  paid  one  third  in  good  wheat,  at  4/per  brfhel,  one 
third  in  peafe  at  3/" per  bufhel,  one  third  in  rye  or  barley 
at  3/per  bufhel  :  And  if  rye  or  barley  be  not  paid,  then 
to  pay  it  in  wheat  and  peafe,  in  an  equal  proportion  ;  and 
this  prefent  year  feme  Indian  corn  fhall  be  accepted  ; 
but  as  little  as  maybe.     Alfo  there  is  to  be  received  by 


Feb.  17th., 
1646. 


*  Records  of  the  colony  ot  Ccnr.edicut.    Folio  Vol.  II.  pagj 
i9}6o,  61,  and  6%. 


$42  APPENDIX. 

the  faid  George  Fenwick  what  is  due  from  Springfield, 
for  the  forefaid  term  of  ten  years.  As  alfo  what  elfc 
may  be  due  upon  the  beaver  trade,  according  to  the  for- 
mer agreement  with  him.  Alfo  whereas  the  town  of 
Saybrook  is  to  pay  in  this  fum  of  ;^i8o,  for  this  year, 
^*io,  w^ien  that  town  increafeth,  fo  as  they  pay  a  greater 
proportion  in  other  rates  in  reference  to  what  thefe 
towns,  Windfor,  Hartford,  Wethersfield,  and  Farming- 
ton  do  pay,  they  fhall  increafe  their  pay  to  Mr.  Fenwick 
accordingly.  Alfo  whereas  Mattabeefeck  may  hereafter 
be  planted,  they  {hall  pay  unto  Mr.  Fenwick  in  the  fame 
proportion  they  pay  other  rates,  to  thefc  towns.  Thefe 
four  towns  being  accounted  at  one  hundred  and  feventy 
pounds.* 

Edward  Hopkins.  John  Talcot.t, 

JohnCullick. 

NUMBER     VII. 


x66i. 


Petition  to  his  majejiyy  King  Charles  II.  l66l,for  char- 
ter privileges. 

The  humble  petition  of  the  general  court,  at  Hartford 
upon  Conneflicut,  in  New-England,  to  the  high 
and  mighty  Prince  Charles  the  fecond,  humbly  {hew- 
ing. 

THAT  whereas  your  petitioners  have  not  had,  for  ma- 
ny years  paft,  fmcc  their  pofTefllon  and  inhabiting  thefe 
weftern  and  inland  parts  of  this  wildernefs,  any  oppor- 
tunity, by  reafon  of  the  calamities  of  the  late  fad  times, 
to  feek  for,  and  obtain  fuch  grants,  by  letters  patents  from 
your  excellent  majefty,  their  fovereign  lord  and  king,  as 
might  alTure  them  of  fuch  liberties  and  privileges,  and 
fufficient  powers,  as  might  encourage  them  to  go  on 
through  all  difficulties,  hazards  and  expenfes,  in  fo  great 
a  work  of  plantation,  in  a  place  fo  remote  from  the  chrif- 
tian  world,  and  a  defert  fo  difficultly  fubdued,  and  no 
way  improveable  for  fubfiftence,  but  by  great  co{t  and 
hard  labor,  with  much  patience  and  cares. 

And  whereas  befides  the  great  charge  that  hath  been 

expended  by  our  fathers  and   fome  of  their  aiTociates  yet 

furviving,  about  the  purchafes,  building,  fortifying,  and 

V  other  matters,  ofculturing  and  improving  to  a  condition 

of  fafety  and  fubfiftence,  in  the  places  of  our  prefent  a- 


*  Records  of  the  colony  of  Conneifticut,  Fol.VoI.  II.  p.  64  ^ 


APPENDIX.  545' 

bode,  among  the  heathen,  whereby  there  is  a  confidera- 
ble  and  real  addition  to  the  honor  and  enlargement  of  his 
majefty's  dominion,  by  the  fole  difburfements  of  his  ma- 
jefty's  fubje£ts  here  ;  of  their  own  proper  eftates,  they 
have  laid  out  a  very  great  fum  for  the  purchafing  a  jurif- 
di^tion  right  of  Mr.  George  Fenwick,  which  they  were 
given  to  underftand  was  derived  from  true  royal  author- 
ity,by  letters  patent,to  certain  lords  and  gentlemen  there- 
in nominated,  a  copy  whereof  was  produced  before  the 
commiflioners  of  the  colonies,  and  approved  by  them,  as 
appears  by  their  records,  a  copy  whereof  is  ready  to  be 
prefented  at  your  majefty's  command,  though,  either  by 
fire  at  an  houfe  where  it  had  been  fometimes  kept,  or 
fome  other  accident,  is  now  loft,  with  which  your  poor 
fubje£ls,  were  rather  willing  to  have  contented  them- 
felves,  in  thofe  afflifting  times,  than  to  feek  for  power 
or  privileges,  from  any  other  than  their  lawful  prince  and 
fovereign. 

May  it  therefore  pleafe  your  moft  gracious  and  excel- 
lent majefty,  to  confer  upon  your  humble  petitioners, 
who  unanimoufly  do  implore  your  highnefs's  favor  and 
grace  therein,  thofe  liberties,  rights,  authorities,  and  priv- 
ileges, which  were  granted  by  the  aforementioned  letters 
patent,  to  certain  lords  and  gentlemen  fo  purchafed  as  a- 
forefaid,  or  which  were  enjoyed  from  thofe  letters  pa- 
tent, granted  to  the  Maflachufetts  plantation,  by  our  fa- 
thers, and  fome  of  us  yet  furviving,  when  there,  in  out 
beginning  inhabiting  ;  and  upon  which  thofe  large  en- 
couragements, liberties,  and  privileges,  fo  great  a  tranf- 
plantation  from  our  dear  England  was  undertaken,  and 
fuppofed  to  be  yet  our  inheritance,  till  the  running  of 
that  weftern  line,  the  bounded  limits  of  thofe  letters  pa- 
tent, did  fince  our  removal  thence,  determine  our  lot  to 
be  fallen  without  the  limits  of  that  fo  bounded  authority. 

Mat  it  pleafe  your  majefty  gracioufly  to  beftow  upon 
your  humble  fupplicants,  fuch  royal  munificence,  accor- 
ding to  the  tenor  of  a  draft  or  inftrument,  which  is  ready 
here  to  be  tendered  at  your  gracious  order. 

And  whereas,  befides  thofe  many  other  great  difburfe- 
ments as  aforefaid,  in  profecution  of  this  wildernefs  work, 
your  poor  petitioners  were  forced  to  maintain  a  war  a- 
gainft  one  nation  of  the  heathens,  that  did  much  inter- 
rupt the  beginnings  of  your  fervants,by  many  bloody  and 
hoftile  ads,  whereby  divers  of  our  dear  countrymen  were 
treacheroully  deftroyed,  and  have  alfo  been  ever  fince, 
and  are  ftill,  ^t  much  charge  in  keeping  fuch  a  corref- 


^44  APPENDIX. 

pondence  of  p;ace  and  amity  with  the  divers  forts  of  the 
heathen  nations,  that  are  round  about  your  plantations 
thus  far  extended  into  the  bowels  of  the  country,  befides 
the  maintenance  of  all  public  charges  for  church  and 
civil  affairs,  which  are  very  great  in  refpe6t  of  our  great 
poverty. 

May  it  pleafe  your  moll;  excellent  majefty,  out  of  your 
princely  bounty,  to  grant  fuch  an  immunity  from  cuftoms 
as  may  encourage  the  mercliants  to  fupply  our  neceflities 
in  fuch  commodities  as  may  be  wanting  here,  for  which 
we  have  neither  filver  nor  gold  to  pay,  but  the  fupply  in 
that  kind  may  enable,  in  due  time,  to  fearch  the  bowels 
of  the  earth  for  fame  good  minerals,  whereof  there  feems 
to  be  fair  probabilities,  or  produce  fome  fuch  other  ftaple 
commodities,  as  may  in  future  time  appear  to  be  good  ef- 
fe£l;s  of  your  majelly's  goodnefs  and  bounty.  If  your 
poor  colony  may  find  this  gracious  asceptancc  with  your 
majefty,  as  to  grant  their  humble  defire,  whereby  they 
may  be  encouraged  to  go  on  cheerfully  and  ftrenuoufly  irx 
thtir  plantation  bufmefs,  in  hope  of  a  comfortable  fettle- 
ment  for  themfelves  and  their  poflerity,  that  under  your 
royal  protection  they  may  profper  in  this  defert ;  they 
fhall,  as  is  their  acknowledged  duty,  ever  pray  for  your 
great  tranquillity  and  perpetual  happinefs  ;  and  humbly 
craving  leave  they  fubfcribe  themfelves  your  majefty's 
loyal  fubje£ls  and  fervants  the  general  court  of  the  colony 
of  Connecticut  in  New-England,  per  their  order  figned.* 
Daniel  Clark,  Secretary. 

January  7th,  1661. 

NUMBER     Vlir. 

The  letter  of  Conneclicut  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  June  7 , 1 66 1 , 

1661. 

Right  Honorable, 

THE  former  encouragements  that  our  fathers,  and 
fome  of  their  yet  furviving  aifociates,  received  from  your 
honor  to  tranfplant  themfelves  and  families  into  thefe  in- 
land parts  of  this  vaft  wildernefs,  where  (as  we  have  been 
given  to  underftand)  your  honor  was,  and  as  we  conceive 
and  hope  are  ftill  interefted,  by  virtue  of  patent  power 
and  authority,  doth  not  only  perfuade  us,  but  aflure  us 
of  your  patronage  and  favor,  in  that  which  may  come 
within  your  power,  wherein  our  comfort  and  fettlement, 

*  Oicl  Book  of  Patents,  Letterg,  &c.  p.  i»— 14. 


APPENDIX.  S4$ 

smd  the  well  being  of  ©ur  pofterity  and  the  whole  colony, 
both  in  civil  and  ecclefiaftical  policy,  is  fo  deeply  con- 
cerned :  Honorable  Sir,  not  long  after  that  fome  perfons 
of  note  amongft  us,  and  well  known  to  yourfelf,  whofe 
names  in  that  refpe6l  we  forbear  to  write,  had  fettled 
upon  this  river  of  Connecticut,  and  fome  plantations  up 
the  river  were  poflefled,  and  in  fome  meafure  improved, 
Mr.  George  Fenwick  took  poffefllon  of  Saybrook  fort, 
there  refiding  for  certain   or  feveral  years  •,  at  length  he 
was  moved   for  ends  beft  known  to  himfclf,  to  return  to 
England,  and  thereupon  propounded  by  hlmfelf,  our  a- 
gent,  the  fale  of  the  fort,  with  the  houfing  there,  and 
feveral  appurtenances,  together  with  all  the  lands  on  the 
river,  and  fo  to  the  Narraganfett  Bay,  with  jurifdi6lion 
power  to  this  colony,which  was  exceedingly  oppofed  by 
feveral  amongft  us,  whom  fome  of  us  have  heard  to  affirm 
that  fuch  a  thing  would  be  very  diftafteful  to  your  honor, 
with  the  reft  of  the  noble  patentees,  who  had  very  boun- 
tiful intentions  to  this  colony  ;  neverthelefs,  though  there 
was  a  ftop  for  the  prefent,  yet  in  fome  fhort  time  (God 
removing    fome  from  us   by   death,   that     were  inte- 
refted  in  the  hearts  and  alFedtions  of  feveral  of  thofc  no- 
bles and  gentlemen  the  patentees  in  England)  the  bufi- 
nefs  of  purchafe  was  revived  by  Mr.  Fenwick  and  ex- 
preffions  to  this  purpofe  given  out  by  him,  or  his  agents 
or  both  ;  that  he  had  power  to  difpofe  of  the  premifes, 
the  reft  of  the  patentees  deferting,  it  fell  into  his  hands 
by  agreement,  and  in  cafe  the  towns  on  the  river  refufed 
to  comply  with  fuch  terms  as  he  propofed  for  the  pur-^ 
chafing  of  the  faid  fort,   &c.  it  was  frequently  reported 
that  he  purpofed  either  to  impofe  cuftoms  on  the  river 
or  make  fale  thereof  to  theDutch  our  noxious  neighbours; 
at  laft  for  our  peace,  and  fettlement,  and  fecurity,  (as 
we  hoped)  we  made,  by  our  committee,   an  agreement 
with  the  faid  Mr.  Fenwick,  a  copy  whereof  is  ready  to  be 
prefented  unto  your  honor,  which  coft    this  river  one 
thoufand   fix  hundred  pounds  or  thereabouts,  wherein 
your  honor  may  fee  the  great  abufe  that  we  received  at 
Mr.  Fenwick's  hands,  he  receiving  a  vaft  fum  from  a  poor 
people,  and  we  fcarcely  at   all  advantaged  thereby,  nay 
we  judge  our  condition  worfe  than  if  we  had  contented 
ourfelves  with  the  patronage  of  the  grand  patentees,  for 
we  have  not  fo  much  as  a  copy  of  a  patent  to  fecure  our 
Handing  as  a  commonwealth,  nor  to  enfure  us  of  the  con- 
tinuance of  our  rights  and  privileges  and  immunities 
X  X  X 


i;46  appendix; 

which  we  thought  the  jurifdi£lion  power  and  authority, 
which  Mr.  Fenwick  had  engaged  to  us,  and  we  pard-for 
at  a  dear  rate,  nor  any  thing  under  his  hand  to  engage 
him  and  his  heirs,  to  the  performance  of  that  which  was 
aimed  at  and  intended  in  our  purchafe  :  the  lands  up  the 
river,  for  a  long  tradl,  the  Maflachufetts  colony  doth 
challenge,  and  have  run  the  line,  which  as  they  fay,  falls 
into  one  of  our  towns  ;  on  the  other  fide  towards  Narra- 
ganfet,  we  know  not  how  to  claim  being  deflitute  of  pa- 
tent and  a  copy  to  decide  the  bounds.  Be  pleafed,  noble 
fir,  to  confider  our  condition,  who  have  taken  upon  us 
this  boldiiefs  to  addrefs  to  his  majefty,  our  fovereign 
Lord,  and  to  petition  his  grace  and  favor  towards  us,  in 
granting  us  the  continuance  of  his  prote£lion  and  the 
continuance  ofiihofe  privileges  and  immunities,  that  we 
have  hitherto  enjoyed  in  this  remote  weftern  part  of  the 
world  ;  and  likewife  for  a  patent  whereby  we  may  be  en- 
couraged and  flrengthened  in  our  proceedings.  Right 
honorable,  our  humble  requeft  to  yourfelf  is,  that  you 
would  be  pleafed  to  countenance  our  enterprifc,  and  fo 
far  to  favor  us  as  to  counfel  and  advife  our  agent  who  is 
to  reprefent  this  poor  colony,  and  to  a£l  in  our  behalf, 
John  Winthrop,  Efq.  our  honored  governor,  whom  we 
have  commiffioned  and  alfo  dire£l:ed  to  await  your  hon- 
or's pleafure  for  advice  and  counfel,  both  refpe^ling  our 
petition  to  the  king's  majefty,  as  alfo  refpedling  the  cafe 
forementioned,  that  if  there  be  any  relief  for  us,  we  may 
not  lofe  fuch  a  confiderable  fum  of  money,  and  be  expo- 
fed  to  further  expenfe  for  the  obtaining  a  patent.  If  we 
Kiay  find  this  favor  with  your  honor  to  afford  your  advice 
and  counfel,  and  helpfulnefs  to  bring  to  pafs  our  defires, 
we  ftall  flill  acknowledge  your  enlarged  bounty  and  fa- 
vorable refpe(St  to  us  and  ours,  and  ever  pray  an  inunda- 
tion of  mercies  may  flow  in  upon  your  lordfhip  from  the 
AUTHOR  and  FOUNTAIN  of  bleffmg.  With  all  due  ref- 
pe£i:s,  we  fubfcribe,  fir  your  lordfhip's  humble  fervants, 
the  general  aflembly  of  the  colony  of  Connefticut.  Per 
their  order  figned. 

Per  Daniel  Clark,  Secretary* 


*  Old  book  of  letters,  &c.  p.  9— ii. 


APPENDIX.  UT 

NUMBER    IX. 

LETTEJi  of  Lord  Say  and  Seal  to  Governor  Winthropj   De-  December 
cember  nth,  i66i.  -'-»    ^^^i* 

Mr.  Winthrop, 
I  RECEIVED  your  letter,  by  Mr.  Richards,  and  I 
would  have  been  glad  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  be- 
ing at  London  myfelf,  to  have  done  you  and  my  good 
friends,  in  New-England,  the  beft  fervice  I  could  -,  but 
my  vt^eaknefs  hath  been  fuch,  and  my  old  difeafe  of  the 
gout  falling  upon  me,  I  did  defire  leave  not  to  come  up 
this  winter,  but  I  have  wrote  to  the  Earl  of  Manchefter, 
lord  chamberlain  of  his  majefty's  houfehold,  to  give  you 
the  beft  afliftance  he  may  ;  and  indeed  he  is  a  noble  and 
a  worthy  lord,  and  one  that  loves  thofe  that  are  godly. 
And  he  and  I  did  join  together,  that  our  godly  friends  of 
New-England  might  enjoy  their  juft  rights  and  liberties  ; 
and  this  Colonel  Crowne,  who,  I  hear,  is  ftill  in  London, 
can  fully  inform  you.  Concerning  that  of  Connecticut, 
I  am  not  able  to  remember  all  th?  particulars  •,  but  I  have 
■written  to  my  lord  chamberlain,  that  when  you  fliall  at- 
tend him,  (which  I  think  will  be  beft  for  you  to  do,  and 
therefore  I  have  inclofed  a  letter  to  him,  in  yours)  that 
you  may  deliver  it,  and  I  have  defired  him  to  acquaint 
you  where  you  may  fpeak  with  Mr.  Jefup,  who,  when 
we  had  the  patent,  was  our  clerk,  and  he  I  believe,  is  a- 
ble  to  inform  you  beft  about  it,  and  I  have  defired  my 
lord  to  wifh  him  fo  to  do.  I  do  think  he  is  novv^  in 
London.  My  love  remembered  unto  you,  I  fhall  remain, 
Your  very  loving  friend, 

W.  Say  and  Seal. 

NUMBER     X. 

Letter  of  New-Haven  to  ConneSlkuty  November  ^th,  1 662,  Nov.  5, 

i66a. 

Honored  Gent. 
WE  have  heard  both  the  patent  and  that  writing  read, 
which  thofe  gentlemen  (who  faid  they  were  fent  from 
your  general  aflembly)  left  with  our  committee,  and  have 
confidered  the  contents  according  to  our  capacities.  By 
the  one  we  take  notice  of  their  declared  fenfe  of  the  pa- 
tent, and  aho  of  your  defire  of  our  uniting  with  your- 
felves  upon  that  account,  by  the  other,  we  underftand, 
^at  his  majefty  hath  been  gracioufly  pleafed  (at  your 


APPENDIX, 

earneft  petition)to  grant  liberty  to  the  colony  of  Connefl- 
icut,  to  acquire,  have,  poflcfs,  purchafe,  &c.  whatever 
lands,  &c.  you  have  gained  or  {hall  gain  by  lawful  means 
within  the  precin61:s  or  lines  therein  mentioned  ;  And  al- 
fo,  of  his  abundant  grace,  to  allow  and  eftablilh  you  to 
be  one  body  politick  for  managing  all  your  public  affairs 
imd  government,  in  a  rehgiousand  peaceable  manner,  to 
the  intents  and  purpofes  by  his  majefty,  and  the  adven- 
turers therein  profefied,  over  all  perfons,  matters  and 
things  fo  gained  by  purchafe  or  conqueft  at  your  own 
proper  cofts  and  charges,  according  as  yourfelves  inform- 
ed you  had  already  done.  Now  whatever  is  fo  yours  we 
have  neither  purpofe  nor  defire  to  oppofe,  hurt  or  hinder 
in  the  leaft  ;  But  what  ourfelves  (by  like  lawful  means) 
have  attained  as  to  inheritances,  or  jurifdi£lion,  as  a  dif- 
tin<Sl;  colony,  upon  our  mod  folemn  and  rehgious  cove- 
nants, fo  well  known  to  his  majelly,  and  to  all,  we  muft 
iay  that  v/e  do  not  find  in  the  patent  any  command  given 
to  you,  nor  prohibition  to  us,  to  diffolve  covenants,  or 
niter  the  orderly  fetllements  of  New-England,  nor  any 
fuificient  reafon,  wliy  v/c  may  not  fo  remain  to  be  as  for- 
merly J  alfo  your  beginning  to  procure,  and  proceeding 
to  improve  the  patent  without  us,  doth  confirm  this  be- 
lief;  but  rather  it  feems  that  a  way  is  left  open  to  us  to 
petition  for  the  like  favor,  and  to  enter  our  appeal  from 
your  declared  fenfe  of  the  patent,  and  fignify  our  griev- 
ances. Yet  if  it  {hall  appear  (after  a  due  and  full  infor- 
ination  of  our  flate)  to  havebeen  his  majefty's  pleafure 
fo  to  unite  us,  as  you  under{tand  the  patent,  we  muft 
fubmit  according  to  God  -,  but,  for  the  prefent,  wc  can- 
not anfwer  otherwife  than  our  committee  hath  done,  and 
likewife  to  make  the  fame  requefl  unto  you,  that  we 
jnay  remain  diftimSt  as  formerly,  and  may  be  fuccoured 
by  you  as  confederates  ;  at  leaft,  that  none  occafion  be 
given  by  yourfelves  for  any  to  diflurb  us  in  our  ancient 
fettlements,  until  that,  either  by  the  honored  Mr.  Win- 
throp,  by  our  other  confederates,  or  from  his  majefty  we 
may  be  refolved  herein  :  All  which  means  are  in  our 
thoughts  to  ufe,  except  you  prevent,  for  the  gaining  of  a 
right  underftanding,  and  to  bring  a  peaceable  ilfue  or  re- 
concilement of  this  matter  ;  and  we  wifli  you  had  better 
confidered  than  to  a6l  fo  fuddenly,  to  feclude  us  from  pa- 
tent privileges  at  firft,  if  we  are  included,  as  you  fay,  and 
to  have  fo  proceeded  fmce,  as  may  feem  to  give  advantage 
unto  difa{Fe6led  perfons  to  flight  or  difregard  oaths  and 
4;pv?nants,and  therebj^  to  rend  and  make  divifion,  manage 


APPENDIX.  549 

contention  and  troubles  in  the  townfliips  and  focietics  of 
this  colony,  and  that  about  religious  woifliips,  *s  the  in- 
clofed  complaint  may  declare,  which  feems  to  us  a  great 
fcandal  to  religion  before  the  natives,   and   prejudicial  to  • 

his  majcfty's  pious  intention,  as  alfo  to  hold  forth  a  feries 
of  means  very  oppofitc  to  the  end  pretended,  and  very 
much  obfcured  from  the  beauty  of  fuch  a  religious  and 
peaceable  walking  among  Englifli  brethren,  as  may  either 
invite  the  natives  to  the  chriftian  faith  or  unite  our  fpir- 
its  in  this  jundlure  ;  and  this  occafion  given  before  any 
conviiSlion  tendered,  or  publication  of  the  patent  among 
us,  or  fo  much  as  a  treaty  with  us  in  a  chriftian,  neigh- 
bourly way.  No  pretence  for  our  diflblution  of  govern- 
ment till  then  could  rationally  be  imagined.  Such  car- 
riage may  fee  m  to  be  againft  the  advice  and  mind  of  his 
iviajefty  in  the  patent ;  as  alfo  of  your  honored  governor, 
and  to  caft  refle6lion  upon  him,  when  we  compare  thefc 
things  with  his  letters  to  fome  here,  for  the  avoiding 
whereof  we  earneilly  requeft  that  the  whole  of  what  he 
hath  written  to  yourfelves,  fo  far  as  it  may  refpe£l  us  in 
this  bufmefs,  may  be  fully  communicated  to  our  view  in 
a  true  copy  or  tranfcript  of  the  fame.  We  muft  pro- 
fefs  ourfelves  grieved  hereat,  and  muft  defire  and  expe£t 
your  effe^.ual  endeavours  to  repair  thefe  breaches,  and 
reftore  us  to  our  former  condition  as  confederates,  until 
that  by  all,  or  fome  of  thefe  ways  intimated  we  may  at- 
tain a  clear  refolution  in  this  matcer.  Unto  what  we 
have  herein  propounded  we  fhall  add,  that  we  do  not  in 
the  leaft  intend  any  dillike  to  his  majefty's  a£t,  but  fliow 
our  fenfe  of  your  adbings  firft  and  laft  fo  much  to  our 
detrimenc,  and  to  manlfeft  the  confequent  effects  to 
God's  diflionor,  as  alfo  to  give  you  to  know  how  wc  un- 
derftand  the  patent,  hoping  that  you  will  both  candidly 
conftrue,  and  friendly  comply,  with  our  deCres  herein, 
and  fo  remove  the  caufe  of  our  diftraftion  and  fad  afflic- 
tion, that  you  have  brought  upon  this  poor  colony  ;  then 
{hall  we  forbear  to  give  you  further  trouble,  and  fhall 
pray  to  the  God  of  fpirits  to  grant  us  all  humility,  and  to 
guide  us  by  his  heavenly  wifdom  to  a  happy  Lflue  of  this 
affair  in  love  and  peace.     Refting 

Gent,  your  very  loving  friends  and  neighbours, 
The  freemen  of  the  colony  of  New-  Haven. 
Per  James  Bifliop,  Secretary,  In  the  name  and  by  order 

and  confentof  the  committee  and  freemen  of  New-Ha^ 

yen  colony. 


S5<^  APPENDIX. 

NUMBER     XL 

May  6,      New-Hafen^ S  retnonjlrance aga'injl  ConneB'icuty  May  6th, 
1663.  1*563. 

Gent. 

THE  profeffcd  grounds  and  ends  of  your  and  our  com- 
ing into  thefe  parts  are  not  unknown,  being  plainly  ex- 
prefTed  in  the  prologue  to  that  folemn  confederation  en- 
tered into  by  the  four  colonies  of  New-England,  printed 
and  publifhed  to  the  world,  viz.  to  advance  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  enjoy  the  liberties  of 
the  gofpel  in  purity  with  peace,  for  which  v/e  left  our 
dear  native  country,  and  were  willing  to  undergo  the 
difficulties  we  have  fince  met  with,  in  this  wildernefs, 
yet  frefh  in  our  remembrance  j  being  the  only  ends  we 
flill  purfue,  having  hitherto  found  by  experience  fo  much 
of  the  prefence  of  God  with  us,  and  of  his  goodnefs  and 
compaflion  towards  us  in  fo  doing,  for  thefe  many  years. 
Yet  confidering  how  unanfwerable  our  returns  have  been 
to  God,  how  mifruitful,  unthankful,  and  unholy  under 
fo  much  means  of  grace,  and,  fucli  liberties  we  cannot  but 
lament  the  fame,  judge  ourfeives,  and  juftify  God,  fhould 
he  now  at  lafi:  (after  fo  long  patience  towards  us)  bring 
defolating  judgments  upon  us,  and  make  us  drink  of  the 
dregs  of  that  cup  of  indignation,  he  hath  put  into  the 
hands  of  his  people  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  or  fuffer 
fuch  contentions  (in  juft  difpleafure)  to  arife  among  us, 
as  may  haften  our  calamity,  and  increafe  our  wo  •,  which 
we  pray  the  Lord  in  mercy  to  prevent.  And  whereas 
in  the  purfuance  of  the  faid  ends,  and  upon  other  reli- 
gious and  civil  confiderations,  as  the  fecurity  of  the  inte- 
rell  of  each  colony,  within  itfelf  in  ways  of  righteoufnefs 
and  peace,  and  all,  and  every  of  the  faid  colonies  from 
the  Indians  and  other  enemies,  they  did  judge  it  to  be 
their  bounden  duty,  for  mutual  ftrength  and  helpfulnefs, 
for  the  future  in  all  their  faid  concernments  to  enter  into 
a  confociation  among  themfelves,  thereupon  fully  agreed 
and  concluded  by  and  between  the  parties  or  jurifdiclions, 
in  divers  and  fundry  articles,  and  at  laft  ratified  as  a  per- 
petual confederation  by  their  feveral  fubfcriptions : 
Whereunto  we  conceived  ourfeives  bound  to  adhere  un- 
til with  fatisfa61:ion  to  our  judgments  and  confciences,  we 
fee  our  duty,  with  the  unanimous  confent  of  the  confed- 
erates orderly  to  recede  leaving  the  iflue  unto  the  moft 
^yife  and  righteous  Gop.     As  for  the  patent,  upon  your 


APPENDIX.  j5i; 

petition,  granted  to  you  by  his  majefty,  as  Connefllcut 
colony,  i'o  far  and  in  that  fenfe  we  obje£t  not  againft  it, 
much  lefs  againft  his  majefty's  a£l  in  lo  doing,  the  fame 
being  a  real  encouragement  to  other  of  his  fubje£ls  to 
obtain  the  like  favor,  upon  their  humble  petition  to  his 
royal  highnefs,  in  the  prote£tion  of  their  perfons  and 
purchafed  rights  and  interefts,  is  alfo  a  ground  of  hope 
tons.  But  if  the  line  of  your  patent  doth  circumfcribe 
this  colony  by  your  contrivement,  without  our  cognizance 
or  confent,  or  regard  to  the  faid  confederation,  on  your 
parts,  we  have,  and  muft  ftill  teftify  againft  it,  as  not  con- 
fiftent  (in  our  judgment)  with  brotherly  love,  righteouf- 
nefs  and  peace  :  And  that  this  colony  (for  fo  long  time 
a  confederate  jurifdi(Slion,  diftin<5l  from  yours  and  the 
other  colonies)  is  takeninimder  the  adminiftration  of  the 
faid  patent,  in  ycur  hands,  and  fo  its  former  being  diflbl- 
ved  and  diftindlion  ceafing,  there  being  no  one  line  or 
letter,  in  the  patent,  exprefling  his  majefty's  pleafure  that 
way.  Although  it  is  your  fenfe  of  it,  yet  we  cannot  fo 
apprehend  ;  of  which  we  having  already  giyen  our  grounds 
at  large  in  writing,  we  fhall  not  need  to  fay  much  more ; 
nor  have  we  met  with  any  argumentative  or  rational  con- 
victions from  you,  nor  do  we  yet  fee  caufe  to  be  of  a- 
nother  mind. 

As  for  your  proceedings  upon  pretence  of  the  patent 
towards  us,  or  rather  againft  us,  in  taking  in  fundry  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  colony  under  your  protefliion  and 
government,  who,  as  you  fay,  offered  themfelves,  frona 
which  a  good  confcience,  and  the  obligation  under  which 
moft  of  them  ftood  to  this  colony,  Ihould  have  reftrained 
them,  without  the  confent  of  the  body  of  this  colony  firft 
had,  and  in  concurrence  with  them,  upon  mature  delibe- 
ration and  convi£lion  of  duty  yet  wanting,  we  cannot  but 
again  teftify  againft  as  diforderly  in  them,  and  which  ad- 
miflion,  on  your  parts,  we  conceive,  your  chriftian  pru- 
dence might  have  eafily  fufpended,  for  prevention  of  that 
great  offence  to  the  confciences  of  your  confederate  breth- 
ren, and  thofe  fad  confequences  which  have  iollowed, 
difturbing  the  peace  of  our  towns,  deftroying  our  com- 
forts, hazard  of  our  lives  and  liberties,  by  their  frequent 
threats  and  unfufferable  provoctions,  hath  been,  and  is 
with  us,matter  of  complaint  both  to  God  and  m.an  ;  efpe- 
cially  when  we  confider,  that  thus  you  at^mitted  them 
and  put  power  into  their  hands,  before  you  had  made 
any  overture  to  us,  or  had  any  treaty  with  us,  about  fo 


5P  APPENDIX, 

weighty  a  bufinefs,  as  if  you  were  In  hafte  to  mate  US 
miferable,  as  indeed,  in  thefe  things,  we  are  at  this  day. 

And  feeing  upon  the  anfwer  returned  to  your  propofi- 
tions  made  by  you  afterwards,  of  joining  with  you  in 
your  government,  finding  ourfelves  fo  already  difmem- 
bered,  and  the  weighty  grounds  and  reafons  we  then 
prefented  to  you,  we  could  not  prevail  fo  far  with  you, 
as  to  procure  a  refpite  of  your  further  proceedings  until 
Mr.  Winthrop's  return  from  England,  or  the  grant  of 
any  time  that  way,  which  was  thought  but  reafonable  by 
fome  of  yourfeives,  and  the  like  feldom  denied  in  war  to 
very  enemies,  we  faw  it  then  high  time  and  neceflary 
(fearing  thefe  beginnings)  to  appeal  unto  his  majefty,  and 
fo  we  did,  concluding  according  to  the  law  of  appeals,  in 
all  cafes  and  among  all  nations,  that  the  fame,  upon  your 
allegiance  to  his  majefty,  would  have  obliged  you  to  for- 
bear all  further  procefs  in  this  bufinefs ;  for  our  own 
parts  refolving  (notwithftanding  all  that  we  had  formerly 
fuftered)  to  fit  down  patient  under  the  fame,  waiting  up- 
on God  for  the  iflue  of  our  faid  appeal.  But  feeng  that 
notwithftanding  all  that  we  had  prefented  to  you  by  word 
and  writing,  notwithftanding  our  appeal  to  his  majefty, 
notwithftanding  all  that  we  have  fufFered  (by  means  of 
that  power  you  have  fet  up,  viz.  a  conftable  at  Stamford) 
of  which  informations  have  been  given  you,  yet  you  have 
gone  further,  to  place  a  conftable  at  Guilford  in  like 
manner,  over  a  party  there  to  the  further  difturbance  of 
our  peace  and  quiet,  a  narrative  whereof,  and  of  the  prov- 
ocations and  wrongs  we  have  met  with  at  Stamford,  we 
have  received,  attefted  to  us  by  divers  witnefles,  honeft 
men.  We  cannot  but  on  behalf  of  our  appeal  to  his  ma- 
jefty, whofe  honor  is  highly  concerned  therein,  and  of 
our  juft  rights,  but  (as  men  exceedingly  afflicted  and 
grieved)  teftify  in  the  fight  of  God,  angels,  and  men  a- 
gainft  thefe  things.  Our  end  therein  being  not  to  pro- 
voke or  further  any  offence,  but  rather  as  a  difcharge  of 
duty,  on  our  parts,  as  brethren  and  chriftian  confederates, 
to  call  upon  you,  to  take  fome  effecSlual  courfe  to  eafe  and 
right  us  in  a  due  redrefs  of  the  grievances  you  have  cauf- 
ed  by  thefe  proceedings  ;  and  that  after  you  had  com- 
plimented us  with  large  offers  of  patent  privileges,  with 
defire  of  a  treaty  with  us  for  union  of  our  colonies,  and 
you  know  as  your  good  words  were  kindly  accepted,  fo 
your  motion  was  fairly  anfwered  by  our  committee. 
That  in  regard  we  were  under  an  appeal  to  his  majefty, 
^  that  being  limited  by  our  freemen,  not  to  conclude  any 


APPENDIX.,  553 

tiling  for  altering  our  dlftinO:  colony  (late  and  govern- 
ment without  their  confent,  and  without  the  approbation 
of  the  other  confederate  colonies,  they  were  not  in  pref- 
ent  capacity  fo  to  treat ;  but  did  little  fufpedl  fuch  a  de- 
fign  on  foot  againft  us,  the  efFe6l:  whereof  quickly  ap- 
peared at  Guilford,  before  mentioned. 

But  we  fhall  fay  no  more  at  this  time,  only  tell  you, 
whatever  we  fuffer  by  your  means,  we  pray  the  Lord 
would  help  us  tochoofe'it,rather  than  to  fin  againft  our  con- 
fciences,  hoping  tjie  righteous  God  will  in  due  time,  look 
upon  our  affli£lion  and  incline  his  ftiajefty's  heart  to  favor 
our  righteous  caufe. 

Subfcribed  in  the  name  and  by  order  of 
the  general  court  of  New-Haven  colony. 
Per  James  Bishop,  Sea-eiaryi 

New-Haven,  May  6th,  1663. 

NUMBER     XII. 

Governor  WiNTHROP's  letter  to   ConneBlcut,  March  March  3d» 

3  J,  1663.  ^66a, 

Gentlemen, 
I  AM  informed  by  fome  gentlemen,  (who  are  author- 
ized to  feek  remedy  here)  that  fince  you  had  the  late  pa- 
tent, there  hath  been  injury  done  to  the  government  of 
New-Haven,  and  in  particular  at  Guilford  and  Stamford, 
in  admitting  of  feveral  of  the  inhabitants  there  unto  free- 
dom with  you,  and  appointing  officers,  which  hath  caufed 
divifions  in  the  faid  towns  which  may  prove  of  danger- 
ous confequence,  if  not  timely  prevented  ;  though  I  do 
hope  the  rife  of  it  is  from  mifunderftanding  and  not  in  de- 
fign  of  prejudice  to  that  colony,  for  whom  I  gave  aflu- 
rahce  to  their  friends  that  their  rights  and  interefts 
fhould  not  be  difquieted,  or  prejudiced  by  the  patent,  but 
if  both  governments  would  with  unanimous  agreement 
unite  in  one,  their  friends  judged  it  for  advantage  to 
both  :  And  further  I  muft  let  you  know,  that  teftimony 
here  doth  affirm,  that  I  gave  affiirance  before  authority 
here,  that  it  was  not  intended  to  meddle  with  any  town 
or  plantation  that  was  fettled  under  any  other  govern- 
ment j  had  it  been  any  otherwife  intended,  or  declared, 
it  had  been  injurious  in  taking  out  the  patent,  not  to  have 
inferted  a  proportionable  number  of  their  names  in  it. 
Now,  upon  the  whole,  having  had  ferious  conference 
Yyy 


554  A    P    P    E    N    D    I    %. 

with  their  friends,  authorized  by  them,  and  with  othefs 
who  are  friends  to  both,  to  prevent  a  tedious  and  charge- 
able trial,  and  uncertain  event  here,  I  promifed  them,  to 
give  you  fpeedily  this  reprefentation,  how  far  you  are 
engaged.  If  any  injury  have  been  done,  by  admitting  of 
freemen,  or  appointing  officers,  orotherunjuft  intermed- 
dling with  New-Haven  colony,  in  one  kind  or  other, 
without  the  approbation  of  the  government,  that  it  be 
forthwith  recalled,  and  that,  for  the  future,  there  will  be 
no  impofing  in  any  kind uponthem,  nor  admitting  of  any 
members  without  mutual  confent  -,  but  that  ail  things  be 
a61:ed  as  loving  neighbouring  colonies,  as  before  fuch  pa- 
tent granted,  and  unto  this  I  judge  you  are  obliged,  I 
having  engaged  to  their  agent  here,  that  this  will  be  by 
you  performed,  and  they  have  thereupon  forborn  to  give 
you  or  me  any  trouble  ;  but  they  do  not  doubt,  but  upon 
future  confideration,  there  may  be  fuch  a  right  under- 
llanding  between  both  governments,  that  an  union  and 
friendly  joining  may  be  ellablifhed  to  the  fatisfaftion  of 
all  ;  which  at  my  arrival  I  fliall  alfo  endeavour  (Go© 
willing)  to  promote.  Not  having  more  at  prefent  in  this 
cafe  I  reft,  Your  humble  fervant, 

John  Winthrop. 
London,  March  3d,  1662.* 

NUMBER    Xlir. 

illS  7najefty  s comm'tjfion  to  Colonel  "Nichols y  Sir  Robert  Carr, 
-     •,    ,  V        hnighty    a7id  othersy  for  the  Jettkraent  of  boimdarieSf  ^c, 

ml         Jprdi6th,xeM- 

CHARLES     R. 

Charles  the  fecond,  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  France,  and  L'eland,  defender  of  the 
faith,  &c. 

To  all  to  whom  thefe  prefents  fliall  come,  greeting. 
WHEREAS  we  have  received  feveral  addrefles  from 
our  fubjefts  of  feveral  colonies  of  New-England,  all  full 
of  duty  and  afFetlion,  and  expreffions  of  loyalty  and  alle- 
giance to  us,  with  their  humble  defires  to  us,  that  we 
would  renew  their  feveral  charters,  and  receive  them  into 
our  favorable  opinion  and  protection  :  And  feveral  of 
our  colonies  there,  and  other  our  loving  fubjecSls,  have 


^66^. 


This  according  to  the  prefent  way  ©f  dating  was  March  3d, 


A    P    1*    E    N    D    I    X.  }s$ 

Kkewlfe  complained  of  differences  and  difputes  arifen 
npon  the  limits  andbounds  of  their  feveral  charters  and ju- 
rifdiiStions,  whereby  unneighbourly, and  unbrotherly  con- 
tentions have  and  may  arife,  to  the  damage  and  difcredit 
of  the  Englifh  intereft  ;  and  that  all  our  good  fubjecls 
refiding  there  and  being  planters  within  the  feveral  colo- 
nies do  not  enjoy  the  liberties  and  privileges  granted  un- 
to them  by  our  feveral  charters,  upon  confidence  and  af" 
furance  of  which  they  tranfported  themfelves  and  their 
eftates  into  thofe  parts  :  And  we  having  received  fome 
addreffes  from  the  great  men  and  natives  of  thofe  coun- 
tries, in  which  they  complain  of  breach  of  faith,  and  a6ls 
of  violence  and  injuftice,  which  they  have  been  forced  to 
undergo  from  our  fubjc6ls,  whereby  not  only  our  gov- 
ernment is  traduced,  but  the  reputation  and  credit  of  the 
chriftian  religion  brought  into  prejudice  and  reproach, 
with  the  Gentiles  and  inhabitants  of  thofe  countries,  who 
know  not  God,  the  reduction  of  whom  to  the  true  kno'vl- 
edge  and  fear  of  God  is  the  moft  woTthy  and  glorious 
end  of  thefe  plantations.  Upon  all  which  motives,  and 
as  an  evidence  and  manifeftation  of  our  fatherly  affec^^ 
tion  towards  all  our  fubjedls  in  thofe  feveral  colonies  of 
New.  England  fthat  is  to  fay,)  of  the  Maffachufetts,  Con- 
nefticut,  New-Plymoth,  Rhode-Ifland,  and  Providence 
plantations,  and  all  other  plantations  which  are  in  that 
tra^  of  land  known  under  the  appellation  of  New-Eng- 
land, and  to  the  end  that  we  may  be  truly  informed  of  the 
Hate  and  condition  of  our  good  fubjetls  there,  that  fo  wc 
may  the  better  know  how  to  contribute  to  the  further 
improvement  of  their  happinefs  and  profperity  : 

Know  ye  therefore, that  we,  repofingefpecial  trufl:  and 
confidence  in  the  fidelity,  wifdom  and  circumfpection  of 
our  trufty  and  well  beloved  Colonel  Richard  Nichols, 
Sir  Robert  Carr,  knight,  George  Cartwright,  Efq.  and 
Samuel  Maverick,  Efq.  of  our  efpecial  grace,  certain 
knowledge,  and  mere  motion,  have  made,  ordained,  con- 
ftituted,  and  appointed,  and  do  by  thefe  prefents  make, or- 
dain, conftitute, and  appoint  the  faid  Colonel  Richard  Nich- 
ols, Sir  Robert  Carr,knight, George  Cartwright, and  Sam- 
uel Maverick  Efqrs.  our  commiffioners  ;  and  do  hereby 
give  and  grant  unto  them  or  any  three  or  two  of  them, 
or  of  the  furvivors  of  them,  (of  whom  we  will  the  faid 
Colonel  Richard  Nichols,  during  his  life  fhall  be  always 
one,  and  upon  equal  divifion  of  opinions,  to  have  the  caft- 
ing  and  decifive  voice,)  in  our  name,  to  vifit  all  and  ever 
jry  the  feveral  colonies  aforefaid,  and  alfo  full  power  t^ 


hear  and  receive,  and  to  examine  and  determine  all  corn* 
plaints  and  appeals  in  all  caufes  and  matters  as  well  mili- 
tary as  criminal  and  civil,  and  proceed  in  all  things  for 
the  providing  for  and  fettling  the  peace  and  fecurity  of 
the  faid  country,  according  to  their  good  and  found  dif- 
cretions,  and  to  fuch  inftruflions  as  they  or  the  furvivors 
of  them  have,  or  fhall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  us 
in  that  behalf,  and  from  time  to  time  as  they  (hall  find 
expedient,  to  certify  us  or  our  privy  council  of  their  abl- 
ings or  proceedings  touching  the  premifes,  and  for  the  do- 
ing thereof,  or  any  other  matter  or  thing  relating  there- 
unto, thefe  prefcnts,  or  the  enrolment  thereof  {hall  be  un- 
to them,  and  every  of  them  a  fufhcient  warrant  and  dif- 
charge  in  that  behalf.  In  witnefs  whereof  we  have  cauf- 
ed  thefe  our  letters  to  be  made  patent.  Given  at  the 
court  at  Whitehall  the  26th  day  of  April  1664,  and  in  the 
fixteenth  year  of  our  reign.  Barker. 

NUMBER     XIV. 

His  niajejly's  gracious  letter^  to  the  governor  and  company 
fipxWz^diy  of  Conjiecl'icut^  accompanying  the  comm'i]Ji07i^  April  2^)^^ 
1664.  1664. 

C  H  A  R  L  E  S  R. 
TRUSTY  and  well-beloved,  we  greet  you  well,  ha- 
ving, according  to  the  refolution  we  declared  to  Mr. 
John  Winthrop,  at  the  time  when  we  renewed  your 
charter,  now  fent  thefe  perfons  of  known  abilities  and 
afFe6lions  to  us,  that  is  to  fay,  Colonel  Richard  Nichols, 
Sir  Robert  Carr,  knight,  George  Cartwright,  Efq.  and 
Samuel  Maverick,  Efq.  our  commiffioners,  to  vifit  thofe 
our  feveral  colonies  and  plantations  in  New-England,  to 
the  end  that  we  may  be  the  better  informed  of  the  flate 
and  welfare  of  our  goed  fubje6bs,  whofe  profperity  i» 
very  dear  to  us  ;  we  can  make  no  queftion  but  that  they 
fhall  find  that  reception  from  you  which  may  teftjfy  your 
refpeCl  to  us,  from  whom  they  are  fent  for  your  good. 
We  need  not  tell  you  how  careful  we  are  of  your  liber- 
ties and  privileges,  whether  ecclefiaftical  or  civil,  which 
we  will  not  fuffer  to  be  violated  in  the  leaft  degree  ;  and 
that  they  may  not  be  is  the  principal  bufinefs  of  our  faid 
commifiioners,  as  likewife  to  take  care  that  the  bounds 
and  jurifdicSlions  of  our  feveral  colonies  there  may  be 
clearly  agreed  Upon  5  that  every  one  may  enjoy  what  of 
?i^ht  belongeth  unto  them,  without  ftrife  or  contentioi^  \ 


APPENDIX..  557 


V 


and  efpecially  that  the  natives  of  that  country,  who  are 
wilHug  to  live  peaceably  and  neighbourly  with  our  Eng- 
liih  fubje£ls,  may  receive  fuch  jullice  and  civil  treatment 
from  them,  as  may  make  them  the  more  in  love  with 
their  religion  and  manners  •,  fo  not  doubting  of  your  full 
compliance  and  fubmilT.on  to  ourdclire,  we  bid  youiare- 
wel.  Given  at  our  court  at  Whitehall,  the  231!  day  of 
i^pril  1664,  in  the  fixteenth  year  of  our  reign. 

By  his  majefty's  command. 

Henry  Bennit. 

NUMBER     XV. 

The  Duhe  and  But  chefs   of  Hamilton  s  petition   to  King 

Charles  fecond ;  and  his    majefys  reference  of  the  cafe  to  jUay  gtjj, 
his  commifftoners^  May  6th j  1664.  1664. 

To  the  King's  mofl  excellent  majefty. 
The  humble  petition  of  William,  Duke  Hamilton,  and 
Anne,  Dutchefs  of  Hamilton ;  Sheweth, 

THAT  whereas  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the  reign  of 
your  royal  father,  of  ever  blefled  memory,  the  council 
cftabliflied  at  Plymouth  in  the  county  of  Devon,  for 
planting,  ordering  and  governing  of  New-England  in  A- 
merica  (according  to  the  pov/er  given  them  in  the  eigh- 
teenth year  of  the  reign  of  the  late  king  James,  by  his 
letters  patent,  bearing  date  the  third  day  of  November) 
did  for  a  competent  fum  of  money  and  other  valuable 
conriderations,bargain  and  fell  unto  the  petitioners' father, 
by  the  name  of  James,  Marquifs  Hamilton,  his  heirs  and 
afligns,  all  that  part  and  portion  of  themainlandsinNew- 
England,  lying  and  beginning,  at  the  middle  part  of  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Conne£licut,  to  proceed  along  the  fea 
coaft  to  be  accounted  about  fixty  miles,  and  fo  up  to  the 
weftward  arm  of  the  river  intotheland  northweftward  till 
fixty  miles  be  finiftied,  and  fo  to  crofs  fouthweftw;  rd  till 
fixty  miles,  all  which  part  and  portion  of  lands  were  to 
be  called  by  the  name  of  the  county  of  New-Cambridge, 
with  feveral  other  lands  and  privileges  as  by  the  faid  deed 
of  feoffment  doth  more  fully  appear,  a  copy  whereof  is 
hereunto  annexed.  Since  which  time  and  by  reafon  of 
the  late  unhappy  war  feveral  perfons  have  poflefied  them-r 
felves  of  the  be  ft  and  moft  confiderable  parts  of  the  faid 
lands,  without  any  acknowledgement  of  your  petitioners' 
right.  Your,  petitioners  therefore  moft  humbly  pray, 
iJiat  your  majefty  will  be  gracioufly  pleafed  to  recommend 


558  appendix:. 

i 

the  premlfes  to  your  majefly's  commiflloners  for  New- 
England,  and  that  care  may  be  taken  that  your  petitioners 
may  be  reltored  to  their  juft  right,  and  that  nothing  be 
done  to  their  prejudice. 

At  the  court  at  Whitehall  the  6th  Alay,  1664. 
His  majefty  is  gracioufly  pleafed  to  refer  this  petltioti 
to  the  commiffioners  now  employed  by  his  majefty  to 
fettle  the  affairs  of  New-England,  who  are  to  examine 
the  allegations  thereof,  and  upon  due  confideration  had, 
to  preferve  and  reftore  to  the  petitioners  their  juft  right 
and  intereft,  or  otherwife  to  report  their  opinions  there- 
upon to  his  majefty,  who  will  then  declare  his  further 
pleafure,  for  the  honorable  petitioners'  juft  fatisfa6lion.* 

Henry  Bennit. 

NUMBER    XVI. 

The  determination  of  his  majejlf  s  commijfionevs .^  relative  it 
Nov.3oth,  flj£  boundaries'  of  his  royal  highnefs  the  Duke  of  TorF  s  pat- 
*  ^'  ent  and  of  the  patent  of  Connetlicuty  November  ^&th,  1664. 

BY  virtue  of  his  majefty's  commiffion,  we  have  heard 
the  differences  about  the  boilnds  of  the  patents  granted  to 
his  royal  highnefs  the  Duke  of  York,  and  his  majefty's 
colony  of  Conne6licut — and  having  deliberately  conlid- 
cred  all  the  reafons  alledged  by  Mr.  Allen,  fenior,  Mr. 
Gould,  Mr.  Richards,  and  Capt.  Winthrop,  appointed  by 
the  affembly  held  at  Hartford,  the  13th  day  of  0£lober, 
1664,  to  accompany  John  Winthrop,  Efq.  the  governor 
of  his  majefty's  colony  of  Conne£licut,  to  New-York, 
and  by  Mr.  Howell  and  Capt.  Young  of  Long-Illand,  why 
the  faid  Long-Ifland  (hould  be  under  the  government  of 
Connecticut ;  which  are  too  long  here  to  be  recited  :  We 
do  declare  and  order,  that  the  fouthern  bounds  of  his 
majefty's  colony  of  Connecticut,  is  the  fea  j  and  that 
Long-Ifland  is  to  be  under  the  government  of  his  royal 
highnefs  the  Duke  of  York ;  as  is  expreffed  by  plain 
■words  in  the  faid  patents  refpeClively.  And  alfo  by  vir- 
tue of  his  majefty's  commilTion  and  by  the  confent  of  both 
the  governor  and  the  gentlemen  above  named,  we  alfo 
order  and  declare,  that  the  creek  or  river  called  Momo- 
Tonock,  which  is  reputed  to  be  about  twelve  miles  to  the 
eaft  of  Weft-Chefter,  and  a  line  drawn  from  the  eaft 
point  or  fide,  where  the  frefti  water  falls  into  the  fait,  at 


*  Old  Book  of  Letters,  &c.  p.  138. 


APPENDIX  559 

Kighwater  mark,  north-northweft,  t6  the  line  of  the  Mai^ 
fachufetts,  be  the  weftern  bounds  of  the  fald  colony  of 
Connecticut,  and  the  plantations  lying  weftw  ard  of  that 
creek,  and  line  fo  dra-wn  to  be  under  his  royal  highnefs's 
government  ;  and  all  plantations  lying  eaftward  of  thaC 
creek  and  line  to  be  under  the  government  of  Connecti- 
cut. Given  under  our  hands  at  Fort  James,  in  New- 
York,  on  Manhattans  Ifland,  this  30th  day  of  Nov.  1664. 

Richard  Nichols, 
George  Cartvvright, 
Samuel  Maverick. 
We  underwritten,  on  behalf  of  the  colony  of  Conned- 
icut,  have  aflented  unto  this  determination  of  his  majef- 
ty's  commiflioners,  in  relation  to  the  bounds  and  limits 
of  his  royal  highnefs  the  duke's  patent,  and  the  patent  of 
Connecticut.* 

John  Winthrop, 
Matthew  Allen, 
Nathan  Gould, 
James  Richards, 
John  Winthrop. 
November  30,  1664. 

NUMBER    XVII. 

Letter  ofNeiju-HaventoConmBicutyDecemher  14,  166^.  ^/f-  '*> 

Honored  Gentlemen, 
WE  have  been  filent  hitherto,  as  to  the  making  of  any 
grievance  known  unto  the  king's  commiflioners,  notwith- 
ftanding  what  may  be  with  us  of  fuch  nature,  from  the 
feveral  tran factions  that  have  been  among  us,  and  are  de- 
firous  fo  to  continue  the  managing  of  thefe  afiairs  in  ways 
confident  with  the  ancient  confederation  of  the  united 
colonies,  choofing  rather  to  fufFer,  than  to  begin  any  mo- 
tion hazardful  to  New-England  fettlements  j  in  purfu- 
ancc  whereof  (accordmg  to  our  promife  to  your  gentle- 
men, fent  lately  to  dem.and  our  fubmiflion,  though  in  a 
divided  if  not  dividing  way,  within  our  towns,  feverally 
feeking  to  bring  us  under  the  government  of  yourfe!ves 
already  fettled,  wherein  we  have  had  no  hand  to  fettle  the 
fame, and  before  we  had  cleared  to  our  conviCtion,  the 
certain  limits  cf  your  charter,  M'hich  may  iuftly  increafc 
the  fcruple  of  too  much  hafle  in  that  and  former  actings 


*  Old  Book,  &c.  p.  a. 


k\. 


00  APPENDIX. 

upon  us)  the  generality  of  our  undivided  people  have  or- 
derly met  this  13th  of  the  tenth  month  (64)  and  by  the 
vote  endorfed,  have  prepared  for  this  anfwer  to  be  given 
of  our  fubmiflion,  w^hich  being  done  by  us,  then  for  the 
accommodation  of  matters  betwixt  us  in  an  amicable 
way,  by  a  committee  impow^ered  to  ilTue  M'ith  you  on 
their  behalf,  and  in  the  behalf  of  all  concerned,  according 
to  inftrudlions  given  to  the  faid  committee.  We  never 
did,  nor  even  do  intend  to  damnify  your  moral  rights  or 
jufl  privileges,  confiftent  with  ourlike  honeft  enjoyments, 
and  we  would  hope  that  you  have  no  further  ftep  towards 
us,  not  to  violate  our  government  intereft,  but  to  accom- 
modate us  with  that  we  fhall  defire,  and  the  patent  bear, 
as  hath  been  often  faid  you  would  do  ;  and  furely  you 
have  the  more  reafon  to  be  full  with  us  herein,  feeing  that 
your  fuccefs  for  patent  bounds  with  thofe  gentlemen 
now  obtained,  feems  to  be  debtor  unto  our  filence  before 
them,  when  as  you  thus  by  fingle  application  and  audi- 
ence iflued  that  matter :  you  thus  performing  to  fatisfac- 
tion,  we  may  ftill  reft  filent,  and  according  to  profefTion, 
by  a  ftudious  and  cordial  endeavour  with  us  to  advance 
the  intereft  of  Chrift  in  this  wildernefs,  and  by  the 
Lord's  blefhng  thereupon,  love  and  union  between  us 
may  be  greatly  confirmed,  and  all  our  comforts  enlarged, 
which  is  the  earneft  prayer  of,  gentlemen,  your  loving 
friends  and  neighbours  the  committee,  appointed  by  the 
freemen  and  inhabitants  of  New-Haven  colony,  now  af- 
fembled. 

James  Bishop,  Secretary. 
New-Haven,  Dec.  14,  1664. 

NUMBER     XVIII. 

Dec.  2ift,  Letter  of  ConneBicut  to  New-Havetiy  in  an/nver  to  the 
1664.  preceding  letter y  December  2i/?,  l66/\, 

Hartfordf  December  1\Jiy  1664. 
Honored  Gentlemen, 
WE  have  received  yours,  dated  the  14th  of  this  inftant, 
figned  by  James  Bifnop,  &c.  wherein  you  are  pleafed  to 
mention  your  filence  hitherto,  as  to  the  making  any  griev- 
ance known  to  his  majefty's  commifTioners,  notwithftand- 
ing  what  may  be  with  you,  &c.  we  can  fay  the  fame, 
tho'  we  had  fair  opportunities  to  prefent  any  thing  ot 
that  nature  ;  as  for  your  defire  to  manage  affairs  confift- 
ent with  the  confederation,   the  prefent  motion  will,  w« 


APPENDIX.  ?5f 

hope,  upon  a  candid  review,  not  appear  any  ways  diflbnant 
therefrom  ;  for  befides  the  provifion  made  in  one  of  the 
articles  of  confederation  for  two  colonies  uniting  in  one, 
there  was  fpecial  provifion,  as  you  well  know,  made  at 
the  laft  feffion  of  the  commiffioners  to  that  purpofe,  con- 
joined with  pathetical  advice  and  counfel,  to  an  amica- 
ble union.  Our  too  much  forwardnefs,  with  New-Ha- 
ven, &c.  is  not  fo  clear,  feeing  thofe  plantations  you  in- 
habit are  much  about  the  center  of  our  patent,  which 
our  charter  limits,  as  alfo  the  inclofed  determination  of 
his  majefty's  honorable  commiflioners,  will,  to  your  con- 
viction, be  apparent  •,  that  our  fuccefs  for  patent  bounds 
with  the  king's  commiflioners  is  debtor  to  your  filence, 
feems  to  us  ftrange,  when  your  non-compliance  was  fo 
abundantly  known  to  thofe  gentlemen,  yea,  the  news  o£ 
your  motions,  when  Mr.  Jofeph  Allen  was  laft  with  you, 
was  at  New-York,  before  our  governor's  departure 
thence  ;  notwithftanding  your  filence,  and  yet  fo  good 
an  iflue  obtained,  wc  dcfire  fuch  reflexions  may  be  buri- 
ed in  perpetual  filence,  which  only  yourfelves  neceflita- 
ting  thereunto,  (hall  revive  them,  being  willing  to  purfue 
truth  and  peace  as  much  as  may  be  with  all  men,  efpe- 
gially  with  our  dear  brethren  in  the  fellowfliip  of  the  gof- 
pcl,  and  fellow-members  of  the  fame  civil  corporation, 
accommodated  with  fo  many  choice  privileges,  which  we 
are  willing,  after  all  is  prepared  to  your  hands,  to  confer 
upon  you  equal  with  ourfelves,  which  we  wifta  may  at 
laft  produce  the  long  defired  effe£l  of  your  free  and  cor- 
dial clofure  with  us,  not  attributing  any  necefllty  impofed 
by  us,  further  than  the  fituation  of  thofe  plantations  in 
the  heart  of  our  colony,  and  therein  the  peace  of  pofter- 
ity  in  thefe  parts  of  the  country  is  neceflarily  included, 
and  that  after  fo  long  liberty  to  prefent  your  plea  when 
you  have  feen  meet.  Gentlemen  we  defire  a  full  anfwer 
as  fpeedily  as  may  be,  whether  thofe  lately  empowered, 
accept  to  govern  according  to  their  commiflion,  if  not, 
other  meet  perfons  to  govern  may  by  us  be  empowered 
in  their  room  •,  thus  defiring  the  Lord  to  unite  our 
hearts  and  fpirits  in  ways  well  pleafing  in  his  fight,  which 
is  the  prayer  of  your  very  loving  friends,  the  council  of 
the  colony  of  Connefticut. 

Signed  by  their  order,  by  me, 

John  Allen,  Secretary. 

Z  z  z 


5^a  appendix:. 

NUMBER    XIX. 

fan.  ctk  The  final  reply  of  New 'Haven   to   ConneElicut. 

New-Haven,  January  5,  1664-5. 
Honored  Gentlemen, 
WHEREAS  by  yours,  dated  December  21ft  1664, 
you  pieafe  to  fay,  that  you  did  the  fame  as  we,  not  ma- 
king any  grievances  known  to  the  commiffioners,  &c. 
unto  tliat  may  be  returned,  that  you  had  not  the  fame 
caufe  fo  to  do  from  any  pretence  of  injury,  by  our  inter- 
meddling with  your  colony  or  government  intereft,  unta 
which  we  refer  that  paffage  for  our  expreffing  defires  to 
manage  all  our  matters  in  confederacy  with  the  confede- 
ration, we  hope  you  will  not  blame  us.  How  dilTonant 
or  ccnfonant  your  a£lings  with  us  have  been,  we  leave  to 
the  confederation  to  judge,  as  their  records  may  fhow — 
that  article,  which  allows  two  colonies  to  join,  doth  alfo, 
with  others,  aflert  the  juftnefs  of  each  colony's  difl:in£t 
yights,  until  joined  to  mutual  fatisfaclion,  and  the  provif- 
ion  made  in  fuch  cafe  the  lafl  feflion,  we  gainfay  not, 
when  the  union  is  fo  completed,  and  a  new  fettlement 
of  the  confederation,  by  the  refpe£live  general  courts, 
^ccompliflied.  Their  pathetical  advice  for  an  amicable 
union,  we  wifh  may  be  fo  attended— in  order  thereunto, 
we  gave  you  notice  of  a  committee  prepared  to  treat  with 
you,  for  fuch  an  accommodation,  unto  which  you  gave 
us  no  anfwer,  but  inftead  thereof,  fent  forth  your  edi£t 
from  authority  upon  us,  before  our  convidlion  for  fub- 
miffion  was  declared  to  you.  The  argument  from  our 
intermixt  fituation,  is  the  fame  now  as  it  was  before  our 
confederating  and  ever  fince,  and  affords  no  more  ground 
now  to  difannul  the  government  than  before.  We 
might  marvel  at  your  ftrange,  why  we  fliould  think  your 
fuccefs  fliould  be  debtor  to  our  filence,  and  that  becaufe 
the  news  of  our  non-compliance  was  with  the  commif- 
fioners, as  if  the  mere  news  of  fuch  a  thing  contained  die 
ftrengthof  all  we  had  to  fay  or  plead.  Gentlemen,  wc 
intreat  you  to  confider,  that  there  is  more  in  it  than  fo, 
yea,  that  ftill  v/e  have  to  alledge  things  of  weight,  and 
know  where  and  how,  if  we  chofe  not  rather  to  abate  and 
fuff'er,  than  by  ftriving  to  hazard  the  hurting  yourfelves 
or  the  common  caufe.  We  fcope  not  at  reflections,  but 
convidion  and  confcience  fatisfadion,  that  fo  brethren 
in  the  fellowfliip  of  the  gofpel  might  come  to  a  cordial 
and  regular  clofure,  and  fo  to  walk  together  in  love  an4 


APPENDIX.  5(5* 

peace,  to  advance  Christ  his  intereft  among  them, 
which  is  all  our  defign  :  But  how  thofe  high  and  holy 
ends  are  like  fo  to  be  promoved  between  us,  without  a 
treaty  for  accommodation  we  have  caufe  to  doubt ;  yet 
that  we  may  not  fail  m  the  lead  to  perform  whatever  we 
have  faid,  we  now  fignify,  that  having  feen  the  copy  of 
his  majesty's  commiilioners*  determination  (deciding  the 
bounds  betwixt  his  highnefsthe  Duke  of  York,  and  Con- 
ne£licut  charter)  we  do  declare  fubmilhon  thereunto  ac- 
cording  to  the  true  intent  of  our  vote,  unto  which  we  re- 
fer you.  As  to  that  part  of  yours  concerning  our  magif- 
trates  and  officers  acceptance,  their  anfwer  is,  that  they 
having  been  chofen  by  the  people  here  to  fuch  truft  and 
fworn  thereunto,  for  the  year  enfuing,  and  until  new  be 
orderly  chofen,  and  being  again  defired  to  continue  that 
truft,  they  fhall  go  on  in  due  obfervance  thereof  accor- 
ding to  the  declaration  left  with  us  by  Mr.  John  Allen 
and  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman,  bearing  date  November  19th 
1664  J  in  hopes  to  find  that  in  a  loving  treaty  for  accom- 
modating matters  to  the  ends  profeiTed  by  you ;  unto 
which  our  committee  ftands  ready  to  attend,  upon  notice 
from  you  ;  that  fo  truth  and  peace  may  be  maintained. 
So  fhall  we  not  give  you  further  trouble,  but  remain,  gen- 
tlemen, your  very  loving  friends  and  neighbours,  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  freemen  and  inhabitants  of 
Uew-Haven  colony. 

Signed  per  their  order,  per  me, 

James  Bishop,  Secretary, 

NUMBER     XX. 

The  anjiver  of  ConncElicut   to    the  claim  and  petition  of  the  y[^^^\^  ^. 
Duke  and  Dtttchefs  of  Hamilton^  March  2^th,  1 66^ .        1665 . 

THE  king's  commiflioners  had  written  to  the  colony 
requefting,  "  That  they  might  have  fomething  in  writing 
"  to  return  to  the  king,  concerning  the  grant  of  fixty 
*<  miles  fquare  on  the  eaftern  fide  of  Connedlicut  river, 
**  to  James  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  from  the  council  of 
*'  Plimouth  in  Devon  1631,  and  to  know  in  what  par- 
*'  ticulars  it  was  defired,  that  they  fhould  be  folicitors  to 
**  his  majefty  for  the  advantage  of  the  colony,"  which 
they  declared  they  would  cordially  endeavour. 

In  confequence  of  which  the  following  anfwer  wag 
gjven. 


,^64  APPENDIX. 

To  the  Honorable  Sir  Robert  Carr,  knight,  George  Cart- 
wright,  Efquire,  and  Samuel   Maverick,  Efquire,  his 
majefty's  honorable  commiffioners. 
IN  anfvver  to  Duke  Hamilton's  petition,  refpe£ling  a 

grant  of  land  of  fixty   miles  fquare,  on   the  eaft  fide  the 

river  Converticu. 

1 .  We  are  wholly  ignorant  of  any  river  within  the  ex- 
tent of  our  charter,  that  is  known  under  fuch  an  appella- 
tion, and  therefore  catuiot  conceive  that  any  part  or  tra£t 
of  land,  under  this  government,  is  concerned  in  this  de- 
mand. 

2.  Yet  upon  fuppofition  that  it  may  be  conceived  to 
intend  Conne6licut  river,  we  humbly  conceive  that  the  o- 
riginal  patent  grant,  from  royal  authority  to  the  Lord 
Say  and  other  nobles  and  gentlemen,  which  we  purchafed 
at  a  dear  rate,  is  lately  ratified  and  confirmed  by  our  gra- 
cious fovereign,  under  the  broad  feal  of  England  i^the 
moll  abfolute  and  unqueftionable  fecurity  of  the  Englifb 
fubje61:s)  in  which  grants  the  lands  forementioned  are 
comprifed.  The  grant  to  Conne6licut  was  precedent  to 
that  of  Duke  Hamilton's  feveral  years,  which  gives  us  to 
conclude  that  priority  of  title  will  be  fettled  by  priority  of 
grant. 

3.  A  confiderable  tra£l:  of  this  land  which  the  duke's 
petition  refers  to  (if  as  before  fuppofed,  it  be  determined 
Conne<Slicut)  was  poflefTed  by  a  people  mofk  malignantly 
fpirited  againft  his  majefty's  Englifh  fubjedls,  and  at  our 
firft  fettling  here,  when  we  were  weak  and  few,  they 
grew  very  infolent  againft  us,  making  invafion  upon  us^ 
murdering  many  of  our  people,  thereby  neceflitating  us 
to  a  hazardous  undertaking,  to  caft  ourfelves  into  the 
arms  of  God's  providence,  in  endeavouring  to  fupprefs 
thofe  bloody  heathen  ;  and  through  divine  benedidlion 
we  found  a  good  fuccefs  ;  and  though  that  wildernefs 
land  would  not  afford  any  confiderable  recompence  for 
the  lofs  of  lives  and  great  expenfes,  yet  our  peace  attained 
by  that  conqueft  did  greatly  rejoice  us. 

4.  We  have  had  peaceable  poffefllon  this  thirty  years, 
free  from  the  leaft  claim  of  any  tther,  that  we  heard  of, 
to  this  day  ;  which  perfuades  us  that  if  the  duke's  high- 
nefs  had  ever  reafon,  by  virtue  of  his  grant,  to  make 
claim,  yet  that  right  pretended  is  extin£l  in  law  many 
years  fince. 

His  majefty,  our  gracious  fovereign,  was  pleafed  of  his 
abundant  favor  and  grace,  to  his  fubje£ts  of  this  colony,  fo 
far  to  declare  his  free  reception  of  the  reafons  foremen- 


A    P    P    E    N    D    I    3t.  $6$ 

tioned,  of  our  purchafe  made,  and  conqueft  recovered, 
and  likewife  of  our  improvement  and  labor  beftowed  up- 
on thofe  lands,  as  to  infert  them  as  motives  to  that  late 
renewal  of  our  charter. 

We  humbly  crave,  that  as  it  hath  been  his  majefty's 
royal  pleafurc  to  manifeft  his  tender  affection  to,  and 
care  of  his  fubje6ts'  welfare  in  thefehis  colonies  of  New- 
England,  in  fending  over  his  honorable  commifEoners  to 
compofe  and  iflue  thofe  things  that  might  be  of  ill  confe- 
quence  between  the  feveral  colonies,  fo  likewife  that  it  b^ 
well  pleafing  to  his  majefty,  that  this  his  colony  of  Con- 
ne£licut  miglitbe  freed  from  further  trouble  or  inconven- 
ience by  this  claim,  that  we  underftand  hath  been  pre- 
fented  by  the  Marquis  Hamilton. 

And  whereas  your  honors  are  pleafed  fo  far  to  exer- 
cife  your  thoughts  about  the  promotion  of  the  welfare  of 
his  majefty's  fubje6ls  in  this  his  colony,  as  to  vouchfafe 
us  fo  favorable  a  tender  to  be  folicitcrs  in  our  behalf  to 
his  majefty  our  gracious  fovereign,  in  any  particulars 
wherein  we  may  be  advantaged,  we  crave  your  honors'  af- 
fiftance  as  followeth. 

I.  That  his  majefty  would  be  gracioufly  pleafed  to  fi- 
lence  the  claim  of  Duke  Hamilton,  if  any  be  by  him  pre- 
tended or  prefented,  to  any  tra£l:  of  land  lying  or  being 
within  the  precindls  of  our  charter  (renev  ed  and  eftab- 
Hfhed  to  us  by  our  royal  fovereign)  and  pofiefTed  and  im- 
proved by  feveral  poor  people,  whofe  progrefs  in  their  la- 
bors and  endeavours  for  their  fubfiftence  (at  the  beft  very 
mean)  will  be  impeded  and  obftru£led  through  fear  of  the 
event  of  fuch  claims. 

2.  Whereas  the  colony  is  at  a  very  low  ebb  in  refpe£l 
of  traffick,  and  although,  out  of  a  refpedl  to  our  relation  to 
the  Englifti  nation,  and  that  we  might  be  accounted  a 
people  under  the  fovercignty  and  protedlion  of  his  majefty 
the  King  of  England,  we  prefumed  to  put  the  name  or  ap- 
pellation of  New-London  upon  one  of  our  towns,  which 
nature  hath  furniflied  with  a  fafe  and  commodious  har- 
bour, though  but  a  poor  people  and  difcapacitated  in  fev- 
eral refpe^ls  to  promote  traffick  ;  we  humbly  crave  of 
our  gracious  fovereign,  that  he  would  be  pleafed  out  of 
his  princely  bounty,  to  grant  it  be  a  place  of  free  trade 
for  feven,  ten,  or  twelve  years,  as  his  royal  heart  fliall  in- 
cline to  confer  as  a  boon  upon  his  poor,  yet  loyal  fub- 
jedls. 

3.  We  requeft  of  your  honors,  i.  That  you  wUl  pleafe 
tp  reprefent  unto  his  majefty  our  allegiance,  with  our  rea« 


S66  APPENDIX. 

dy  acknowledgement  of  his  princely  grace  in  the  late  re- 
newal of  our  charter.  2.  His  more  abundant  grace  in 
re-ratifying  our  privileges  both  civil  and  ecclefiaftic,  ia 
his  late  gracious  letter  fent  to  us  by  your  honors.  3.  Our 
ready  compliance  with  his  majefty's  royal  will  and  pleaf- 
ure  therein  exprelTed.  4.  Our  chrlftian  moderation  to 
men  of  different  perfuafions.  5.  We  humbly  implore 
the  continuance  of  the  (hines  of  his  royal  favor  upon  our 
mean  beginnings,  that  fo  we  may  flouriih  under  the  be- 
nign afpect  of  our  Lord  the  King.* 

NUMBER    'XXI. 

1  HE  Retierend  Mr.  John  Davenporfs  refignation  of  Gov- 
May  4th  ernsr  Hopkins^ s  donation  to  the  general  court  of  New-Ha- 

«66o.  ven.  May  /^th,  1660. 

Qu^od  fellx  fauftumque  fit  ! 

ON  the  4th  day  of  the  4th  month  1660,  John  Daven- 
port paftor  of  the  church  of  Christ  at  New-Haven, 
prefented  to  the  honorable  general  court  at  New-Haven, 
as  followeth  ; 

Memorandum, 

T.  That,  fundry  years  pad,  it  was  conckided  by  the 
faid  general  court,  that  a  fmall  college,  fuch  as  the  da  y 
of  fmall  things  will  permit,  (hould  be  fettled  in  New- 
Haven,  for  the  educatdon  of  youth  in  good  literature,  to 
lit  them  for  public  fervices,  la  church  and  commonwealth, 
as  it  will  appear  in  the  public  records. 

II.  Thereupon  the  faid  John  Davenport  wrote  unto 
our  honored  friend  Edward  Hopkins,  Efquire,  then  living 
in  London,  the  refult  of  thofe  confultations.  In  anfwer 
whereunto,  the  faid  Edward  Hopkins  wrote  unto  the  faid 
John  Davenport  a  letter,  dated  the  30th  of  the  2d  month, 
called  April,  1656,  beginning  with  thefe  words, 
Most  Dear  Sir, 

The  long  continued  refpe£l:s  I  have  received  from  you, 
but  efpecially,  the  fpeakings  of  the  Lord  to  my  heart,  by 
you,  have  put  me  under  deep  obligations  to  love  and  a 
return  of  thanks  beyond  what  I  have  or  can  exprefs,  &c. 
Then  after  other  paffages  (which  being  fecrets  hinder  me 
from  (hewing  his  letters)  he  added  a  declaration  of  his 
purpofe  in  reference  to   the  college  about  which  I  wrote 


*  This  is  an  attefted  copy,  in  the  old  letter  book,  p.  ia8,  lagj 
530. 


A    P    P   :e    N    D    I    X,  557 

unto  him,  That  which  the  Lord  hath  given  mc  in  thbfe 
parts,  I  ever  defigned^  the  greateft  part  of  it  for  the  fur- 
therance of  the  work  of  Christ  in  thofe  ends  of  the 
earth,  and  if  I  underftand  that  a  college  is  begun  and  like 
to  be  carried  on,  at  New-Haven,  for  the  good  of  pofter- 
ity,  I  (hall  give  feme  encouragement  thereunto.  Thefe 
are  the  very  words  of  his  letter.     But, 

III.  Before  Mr.  Hopkins  could  return  an  anfwer  to  my 
next  letter  it  pleafed  God  to  finifh  his  days  in  this  world  : 
Therefore,  by  his  laft  will  and  teftament  (as  the  copy 
thereof  tranlcribed  and  attefted,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Yale, 
doth  ftiew)  he  committed  the  whole  truft  of  difpofing  his 
cftate  in  thefe  countries  (after  fome  perfonal  legaciee  were 
paid  out)  unto  the  public  ufes  mentioned,  and  bequeathed 
it  to  our  late  honored  governor,  Thcophilus  Eaton,  Efq. 
his  father  in  law,  and  to  the  aforefaid  John  Davenport, 
and  joined  with  them,  in  the  fame  truft,  Captain  John 
Cullick,  and  Mr.  William  Goodwin. 

IV.  It  having  pleafed  the  moft  high  to  afBi£l:  this  col- 
ony greatly  by  taking  from  it  to  himfelf,  our  former  ever 
honored  governor,  Mr.  Eaton,  the  furviving  truftees  and 
legatees  met  together,  to  confider  what  courfe  they  fliould 
take  for  the  dilcharge  of  their  truft,  and  agreed  that  each 
of  them  fhould  have  an  inventory  of  the  aforefaid  tefta- 
tor's  eft  ate  in  New-England,  in  houfes  and  goods  and 
lands,  (which  were  prized  by  fome  in  Hartford  intrufted 
by  Captain  Cullick  and  Mr.  Goodwin)  and  in  debts,  for 
the  gathering  in  whereof  fome  attorneys  were  conftitu- 
ted,  empowered  and  employed  by  the  three  furviving 
truftees,  as  the  writing  in  the  magiftrates'  hand  will  fhew. 

V.  Afterwards,  at  another  meeting  of  the  faid  truftees, 
they  confidering  that  by  the  will  of  the  dead,  they  are  join- 
ed together  in  one  common  truft,  agreed  to  aft  together, 
with  mutual  confent,  in  preformance  thereof ;  and  con- 
fidering, that  by  the  will  of  the  teftator,  two  of  New- 
Haven  were  joined  with  two  of  Hartford,  and  that  Mr. 
Hopkins  had  declared  his  purpofe  to  further  the  college 
intended  at  New-Haven,  they  agreed  that  one  half  of 
that  eftate  which  ftiould  be  gathered  in,  fhould  be  paid 
unto  Mr.  Davenport  for  New-Haven,  the  other  half  to 
Captain  Cullick  and  Mr.  Goodwin,  to  be  improved  for 
the  ufes  and  ends  fore  noted  where  they  fhould  have 
power  to  perform  their  truft,  which,  becaufe  they  would 
not  expeft  to  have  at  Hartford,  they  concluded  it  would 
be  beft  done  by  them  in  that  new  plantation  unto  which 
fundry  of  Hartford  were  to  remove,  and  were  now  gone  : 


568  APPENDIX; 

yet  they  agreed  that  out  of  the  whole  ;^ioo  (hould  be 
given  to  the  college  at  Cambridge,  in  the  Bay ;  the  eflate 
being  ^  I  coo  as  Captain  Cullick  believed  it  would  be, 
which  we  now  fee  caufe  to  doubt,  by  reafon  of  the  fe^ 
queftrations  laid  upon  that  cftate,  and  ftill  continued  by 
the  general  court  at  Hartford,  whereupon  fome  refufe  to 
pay  their  debts  and  others  forfake  the  purchafes  they  had 
made,  to  their  great  hindrance  of  performing  the  wdl  o£ 
the  deceafed,  according  to  the  truft  committed  to  them, 
and  to  the  great  endamagement  of  the  eftate. 

VI.  The  faid  John  Davenport  acquainted  the  other 
two  truftees  with  his  purpofe  to  intereft  the  honored  ma- 
giftrates  and  elders  of  this  colony  in  the  difpofal  of  that 
part  of  the  eftate,  that  was  by  their  agreement  to  be  paid 
thereunto,  for  the  promoving  the  college  work  in  a  grad- 
ual way,  for  the  education  of  youth  in  good  literature,  fo 
far  as  he  might,  with  preferving  in  himfelf,  the  power 
committed  to  him  for  the  difcharge  of  his  truft  :  they 
confented  thereunto.  Accordingly  on  the  election  day 
it  being  the  30th  day  of  the  third  month,  he  delivered  up 
unto  the  hands  of  the  honored  governor  and  magiftrates 
the  writings  that  concern  this  bufinefs :  (viz.  the  copy 
of  Mr.  Hopkins  his  laft  will  and  teftament,  and  the  in- 
ventory of  his  eftate  in  New-England,  and  the  appraife- 
ment  of  his  goods,  and  the  writings  figned  by  the  furvi- 
vlng  truftees  for  their  attornies,  and  fome  letters  between 
the  other  truftees  and  himfelfj  adding  alfo  his  defire  of 
fome  particulars  for  the  well  performing  the  truft  as  fol- 
loweth. 

I .  He  defireth  of  New-Haven  town, 

Firjly  That  the  rent  of  the  oyfter  fliell  fields,  formerly 
feparated  and  referved  for  the  ufe  and  benefit  of  a  college 
be  paid  from  this  time  forward  towards  the  making  of 
fome  ftock  for  diftjurfements  of  neceflary  charges  towards 
the  college  till  it  be  fet  up,  and  afterwards  to  continue 
for  a  yearly  rent  as  belonging  to  it,  under  the  name  and 
title  of  college  land. 

Seco7tdly,  That  if  no  place  can  be  found  more  covenient 
Mrs.  Eldred's  lot  be  given  for  the  ufe  of  the  college,  and 
of  the  colony  grammar  fchool,  if  it  be  in  this  town,  elfe 
only  for  the  college. 

Thirdly^  That  pai*ents  will  keep  fuch  of  their  fons  con-' 
ftantly  to  learning  in  the  fchools,  whom  they  intend  to 
train  up  for  public  ferviceablenefs,  and  that  all  their  fons 
may  learn  at  leaft  to  write  and  caft  up  accounts  competent- 
ly, and  may  make  fome  entrance  into  the  Latin  tongue. 


APPENDIX.  5^9 

Fourthly^  That  if  the  colony  fettle  ^^40  per  annum, 
for  a  common  fchool,  and  fhall  add  £100  to  be  paid  to- 
wards the  building  or  buying  of  a  fchool  houfe  and  libra- 
ry in  this  town,  feeing  thereby  this  town  will  be  freed 
from  the  charges  which  they  have  been  at  hitherto  to 
maintain  a  town  fchool,  they  would  confidcr  what  part 
of  their  former  falary  may  be  flill  continued  for  future 
fupplies  towards  a  ftock  for  neceflary  expenfes  about  thd 
college  or  fchool. 

2.  He  humbly  defireth  the  honored  general  court  of 
the  colony  of  New-Haven, 

Firjly  That  the  ^^40  per  annum  formerly  agreed  upon, 
to  be  paid  by  the  feveral  plantations,  for  a  common  gram- 
mar fchool,  be  now  fettled ,  in  one  of  the  plantations 
which  they  (hall  judge  fitted,  and  that  a  fchool  mafler 
may  forthwith  be  provided  to  teach  the  three  languages, 
Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  fo  far  as  fhall  be  neceflary  to 
prepare  them  for  the  college,  and  that  if  it  can  be  accom- 
plifhed,  that  fuch  a  fchool  mailer  be  fettled  by  the  end 
of  this  fummer,  or  the  beginning  of  winter.  The  pay- 
ments from  the  feveral  plantations  may  begin  from  this 
time. 

Secondlyy  That  if  the  common  fchool  be  fettled  in  this 
town,  the  honored  governor,  magiflrates,  elders,  and  de- 
puties, v/ould  folemnly  and  together  vifit  the  grammar 
fchool  once  every  year,  at  the  court  for  eledlions,  to  ex- 
amine the  fcholars'  proficiency  in  learning. 

Thirdly^  That  for  the  payments  to  be  made  by  the 
plantations,  for  the  fchool,  or  out  of  Mr.  Hopkins'  ef- 
tate,  towards  the  college,  one  be  chofenby  themfelves, 
under  the  name  and  title  of  ftev/ard,  or  receiver,  for  the 
fchool  and  college,  to  whom  fuch  payments  may  be  made 
with  full  power  given  him  by  the  court  to  demand  what 
is  due,  and  to  profecute  in  cafe  of  negledl,  and  to  give 
acquittances  in  cafe  of  due  payments  received,  and  to  give 
his  account  yearly  to  the  court,  and  to  difpofe  of  what 
he  receiveth  in  fuch  provifions  as  cannot  be  well  kept,  in 
the  beft  way  for  the  aforefaid  ufes  according  to  advice. 

Fourthly.,  That  unto  that  end  a  committee  of  church 
members  be  chofen  to  meet  together  and  confult  and  ad- 
vife,  in  emergent  difficult  cafes,  that  may  concern  the 
fchool  or  college,  and  which  cannot  be  well  delayed  till 
the  meeting  of  the  general  court,  the  governor  being  al- 
ways the  chief  of  that  committee. 
A  a  a  a 


57®  APPENDIX. 

Fifthly^  The  faid  John  Davenport  defireth,  that  while? 
it  may  pleafe  God  to  continue  his  life,  and  abode  in  this 
place,  (to  the  end  that  he  may  thfi  better  perform  his 
trufl)  in  reference  to  the  college,  that  he  be  always  con- 
fulted  in  difficult  cafes,  and  have  the  power  of  a  negative 
vote,  to  hinder  any  thing  from  being  a£led  which  he  fhall 
prove  by  good  realon  to  be  prejudicial  to  the  true  intend- 
ment of  the  teftator,  and  to  the  true  end  of  this  work. 

Sixthly,  That  certain  orders  be  fpeedily  made  for  the 
fchool,  and  when  the  college  fhall  proceed  for  it  alfo  ; 
that  the  education  of  youth  may  be  carried  on  fuitably  to 
Christ's  ends,  by  the  counfel  of  the  teaching  elders  in 
this  colony  ;  and  that  what  they  fhall  conclude  with 
confent,  being  approved  by  the  honored  magiftrates,  be 
ratified  by  the  general  court. 

Seventhly,  Becaufe  it  is  requifite  that  the  writingswhich 
concern  Mr.  Hopkins  his  eitate  be  fafely  kept,  in  order 
thereunto,  the  faid  John  Davenport'  defireth  that  a  con- 
venient cheft  be  made  with  two  locks  and  two  keys,  and 
be  placed  in  the  houfe  of  the  governor,  or  of  the  fteward, 
in  fome  fafe  room  ;  till  a  more  public  place  (as  a  library 
or  the  like)  may  be  prepared  ;  and  that  one  key  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  governor,  the  other  in  the  fteward's  hands. 
That  in  this  cheft  all  the  writings  now  delivered  by  him 
to  the  magiftrates  may  be  kept,  and  all  other  bills,  bonds, 
acquittances,  orders  or  whatfoever  writings  that  may 
concern  this  bufinefs  be  put  and  kept  there,  and  that  fome 
place  may  be  agreed  on  where  the  fleward  or  receiver 
may  lay  up  fuch  provifions  as  may  be  paid  in  till  they 
may  be  difpofed  of  for  the  good  of  the  fchool  or  college. 

Eighthly,  Becaufe  our  fight  is  narrow  and  weak,  in 
viewing  and  difcerning  the  compafs  of  things  that  are  be- 
fore us,  much  more  in  forefeeing  future  contingencies, 
he  further  craveth  liberty  for  himfelf  and  other  elders  of 
this  colony,  to  propound  to  the  honored  governor  and 
magiftrates,  what  hereafter  may  be  found  to  be  conduci- 
ve to  the  M'ell  carrying  on  of  this  truft,  according  to  the 
ends  propofed,  and  that  fuch  propofals  may  be  added  un- 
to thefe,  under  the  name  and  title  of  useful  addition- 
ALS  ;  and  confirmed  by  the  general  coui"t. 

Lnjlly,  He  hopeth  he  fliall  not  need  to  add,  what  he 
cxpreffed  by  word  of  mouth,  that  the  honored  general 
court  will  not  fulTer  this  gift  to  be  loft  from  the  colony, 
but  as  it  becometh  fathers  of  the  commonwealth  will  ufe 
all  good  endeavours  to  get  it  into  their  hands  and  to  af- 
fert  their  right  in  it  (or  the  common  good  j  that  pofterity 


A    P    P    E    N    D    I    X.  571 

ttiay  reap  the  good  fruit  of  their  labors,  and  wifdom,  and 
faithfulnefs,  and  that  Jesus  Christ  may  have  the  fervice 
and  honor  of  fuch  provifion  made  for  his  people  *,  in 
whom  I  reft. 

John  Davenport. 

NUMBER     XXII. 

Letter    of  his  majejiy  King  Charles  11.   to    ConneEliciit  .     .. 

April  \othj  1666.  itll.^^* 

CHARLES     R. 

TRUSTY  and  well-beloved,  we  greet  you  well,  ha- 
ving received  fo  full  and  fatisfadtory  an  account  from  our 
commiflioners  both  of  the  good  reception  you  have  given 
them,  and  alfo  of  your  dutifulnefs  and  obedience  to  us, 
•we  cannot  but  let  you  know  how  much  we  are  pleafed 
therewith,  judging  that  refpecEl  of  yours  towards  our  offi- 
cers to  be  the  true  and  natural  fruit  which  demonfbrates  what 
fidelity  and  affection  towards  us  is  rooted  in  your  hearts, 
and  although  your  carriage  doth  of  itfelf  moft  juftly  de- 
ferve  our  praife  and  approbation,  yet  it  feems  to  be  fet  off 
with  the  more  luftrc  by  the  contrary  deportment  of  the 
colony  of  the  Maffachufetts,  as  if  by  their  refraclorinefs 
they  had  defigned  to  recommend  and  heighten  the  merit 
of  your  compliance  with  our  directions  for  the  peaceable 
and  good  government  of  our  fubje£ls  in  thofe  parts  ;  you 
may  therefore  aflurc  y  our  fc  Ives  that  we  {hall  never  be  un- 
mindful of  this  your  loyal  and  dutiful  behavior,  but  {hall, 
upon  all  occafions,  take  notice  of  it  to  your  advantage, 
promifing  you  our  conftant  protection  and  royal  favor, 
in  all  things  that  may  concern  your  fafety,  peace  and 
welfare  ;  and  fo  we  bid  you  farewel.  Given  at  our  court 
atWhitehall  the  loth  day  of  April  1666,  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  our  reign.     By  nis  maje{ly's  command, 

William  Morrice, 
Superfcribed  to  our  trufty  and  well-beloved 

the  governor  and  council  of  the  colony  of 

Connecticut,  in  New-England. 


Sjt  APPENDIX 

NUMBER    XXIII. 

An  addrefs  to  King  WiUiantj  June  iph^  l68^. 


June  rj, 
i68q. 


To  the  king's  moft  excellent  majefly. 
The  humble  addrefs  of  your  majefty's  dutiful  and  loyal 
fubjedts,  the  governor  and  company  of  your  majefty's 
colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New- England. 

Great  Sovereign, 
GREAT  was  that  day  when  the  Lord,  who  futeth  up- 
on the  floods,  and  fitteth  king  forever,  did  divide  his  and 
your  adverfaries  from  one  another  like  the  vvaters  of  Jor- 
dan foixed  to  ftand  upon  an  heap,  and  did  begin  to  mag- 
nify ycu  like  Jofhua,  in  the  fight  of  all  Ifrael,  by  thofe 
great  acflions  that  were  fo  much  for  the  honor  of  God 
and  the  deliverance  of  the  Englifli  dominions  from  po- 
pery and  Ijavery,  and  all  this  feparated  from  thofe  forrows, 
that  ufually  attend  the  introducing  of  a  peaceable  fettle- 
ment  in  any  troubled  ftate  ;  all  which  doth  afFetl  us  with 
VI  fenfe  of  our  duty  to  return  the  higheft  praife  unto  the 
King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Hosts,  and  blcfs  him,  who 
hath  delighted  in  you,  to  fet  you  on  the  throne  of  his  If- 
rael, and  to  fay  becaufe  the  Lord  loved  Israel  forever, 
therefore  hath  he  made  you  king  to  do  juftice  and  judg- 
ment, &c.  alfo  humble  and  hearty  acknowledgment  for 
that  great  zeal,  that  by  your  majefty  hath  been  expreffed 
in  thole  hazards,  you  have  put  your  royal  perfon  to,  and 
in  the  expenfe  of  fo  great  treafure,  in  the  defence  of  the, 
proteflant  interefl.  In  the  confideration  of  all  which^ 
we,  your  majefty's  dutiful  and  loyal  fubjecls,  of  your  faid 
colony,  are  encouraged  humbly  to  intimate  that  we,  with 
much  favor,  obtained  a  charter  of  King  Charles  the  II. 
of  happy  memory,  bearing  date  April  23d,  1662,  in  the 
14th  year  of  his  reign,  granted  to  the  goveroor  and  com- 
pany of  his  majefty's  colony  of  Connecticut,  the  advan- 
tages and  privileges  v/hereof  made  us  indeed  a  very  hap- 
py people,  and  by  the  blefiliag  of  God  upon  our  endeav- 
ours, we  have  made  a  confiderable  improvement  of  your 
dominions  here,  which,  with  the  defence  of  ourfelves 
from  the  force  of  both  foreign  and  inteftine  enemies,  has 
coft  us  much  expenfe  of  treafure  and  blood  j  yet  in  the 
2d  year  of  the  reign  of  his  late  majefty.  King  James  the 
n.  we  had  a  quo-ivnrranto  ferved  upon  us,  by  Edward 
Randolph,  requiring  our  appearance  before  his  majefty's 
court,  in  England  ;  and  although  the  time  of  our  appear- 
ance was  elapfed  before   the  ferving   the   faid  quo-war-^ 


APPENDIX.  572 

roMto^  yet  we  humbly  petitioned  his  majefty  for  his  favor, 
and  the  continuance  of  our  charter  with  the  privileges 
thereof;  but  we  received  no  other  favor  but  a  2d  quo- 
•ivarrarilOy  and  we  well  obferving  that  the  charter  of  Lon-« 
don  and  other  confiderable  cities  in  England  were  con-, 
demned,  and  that  the  charter  of  the  Mafiachufetts  had 
undergone  the  like  fate  plainly  faw  what  we  might  ex-» 
peft,  yet  we  not  judging  it  good  or  lawful  to  be  adlive 
in  furrendering  what  had  cod  us  fo  dear,  nor  to  be  alto-* 
gether  filent  we  impowered  an  attorney  to  appear  on  our 
behalf  and  to  prefer  our  humble  addrefs  to  his  majefty  to 
entreat  his  favor  quickly  upon  it  ;  but  as  Sir  Edmund 
Androfs  informed  us  he  was  impowered  by  his  majefty 
to  regain  the  furrender  of  our  charter,  if  we  faw  me^et  fo 
to  do,  and  to  take  ourfelves  under  his  government,  alfo 
Col.  Thomas  Dungan,  his  majefty's  governor  of  New- 
York,  labored  to  gain  us  over  to  his  government ;  we 
withftood  all  thefe  motions  and  in  our  reiterated  addrefles, 
we  petitioned  his  majefty  to  continue  us  in  the  full  and 
free  enjoyment  of  our  liberties  and  property,  civil  andfa- 
cred,  according  to  our  charter.  We  alfo  petitioned,  that 
if  his  majefty  fliould  not  fee  meet  to  continue  us  as  we 
were,  but  was  refolved  to  annex  us  to  fome  other  gov-, 
ernment,  we  then  defired,  that  (in  as  much  as  Bofton 
had  been  our  old  correfpondents  and  people  whofe  princi- 
ples and  manners  we  had  been  acquainted  with)  we 
might  be  annexed  rather  to  Sir  Edmund  Androfs  his  gov- 
ernment than  to  Col.Dungan's  which  choice  of  ours  was 
taken  for  a  refignation  of  our  government,  though  that 
was  never  intended  by  us  for  fuch,  nor  had  it  the  formal- 
ities in  law  to  make  it  a  refignation,  as  we  humbly  con- 
ceive, yet  Sir  Edmund  Androfs  was  commiflioned,  by 
his  majefty,  to  take  us  under  his  government ;  purfuarit 
to  which  about  the  end  of  0£i:ober  1687,  he  with  a  com- 
pany of  gentlemen  and  grenadiers,  to  the  number  of  fixty 
or  upwards  came  to  Hartford  (the  chief  feat  of  this  gov«r. 
ernment)  caufed  his  ccmmifllon  to  be  read  and  declared 
our  government  to  be  diflblved,  and  put  into  commiflion 
both  civil  and  military  officers  through  our  colony,  as  he 
pleafed,  where  he  pafled  through  the  principal  parts 
thereof.  The  good  people  of  the  colony,  though  they 
were  under  a  great  fenfe  of  the  injuries  they  fuftained 
hereby,  yet  chofe  rather  to  be  filent  and  patient  than  to 
cppofe,  being  indeed  furprifed  into  an  involuntary  fub- 
miffion  to  an  arbitary  power,  but  when  the  government 
we  were  thus  put  under,  feemed  to  us,  to  be  determinedj 


574  APPENDIX. 

and  we  being  in  daily  fear  and  hazard  of  tliofc  many  in- 
conveniences, that  will  arife  from  a  people  in  want  of 
government,  being  alfo  in  continual  danger  of  our  lives 
by  reafon  of  the  natives  being  at  war  with  us,  with  whom 
we  had  jufh  fears  of  our  neighbouring  French  to  join,  not 
receiving  any  order  or  direction  what  method  to  take  for 
our  fecurity,  ^e  were  necefTitated  to  put  ourfelves  into 
fome  form  of  government,  and  there  being  none  fo  fa- 
miliar to  us  as  that  of  our  charter,  nor  what  we  could 
make  fo  effedlual  for  the  gaining  the  univerfal  compliance 
of  the  people,  and  having  never  received  any  intimation 
of  an  enrolment  of  that,  which  was  interpreted  a  refigna- 
tion  of  our  charter,  we  have  prefumed,  by  the  confent  of 
the  major  part  of  the  freemen,  alTembled  for  that  end, 
May  9th,  1 689,  to  refume  our  government,  according  ta 
therules  of  our  charter  and  this  to  continue  till  further  or- 
der, yet  as  we  have  thus  prefumed  to  difpofe  ourfelves,  not 
waiting  orders  from  your  majefty  we  humbly  fubmit  our- 
felves herein,  intreating  your  majefly's  mod  gracious  par- 
don, and  that  what  our  urgent  neceffity  hath  put  upon 
Xis,  may  no  ways  interrupt  your  majefty's  grace  and  favor 
towards  us,  your  mod  humble  and  dutiful  fubje6ls,  but 
that  in  your  clemency,  you  would  be  pleafed  to  grant  us 
fuch  direcStions  as  to  your  princely  wifdom  may  feem 
meet,  with  fuch  ratifications  and  confirmations  of  our 
charter,  in  the  full  and  free  enjoyment  of  all  our  prop- 
erties, privileges,  and  liberties  both  civil  and  facred,  as 
therein  granted  to  us,  by  your  royal  predeceffbr.  King 
Charles  the  II.  which  may  yet  further  enfure  it  an  inher- 
itance to  us  and  our  pofterities  after  us,  with  what  far- 
ther grace  and  favor  your  royal  and  enlarged  heart  may 
be  moved  to  confer  upon  us  ;  which,  we  truft,  we  fhall 
not  forget  nor  be  unprofitable  under  ;  but  as  we  have 
this  day  with  the  greateft  exprefiions  of  joy  proclaimed 
your  majefty  and  royal  confort  King  and  Q^een  of  Eng- 
land, France,  and  Ireland  with  the  dominions  thereto  be- 
longing, fo  we  fhall  ever  pray,  that  God  would  grant 
your  majefties  long  to  live,  and  profperoufly  to  reign 
over  all  your  dominions,  and  that  great  and  happy  work 
you  have  begun  may  be  profpered  here  and  gracioufly 
rewarded  with  a  crown  of  glory  hereafter. 

Robert  Treat,  Governor. 
Per  order  of  the  general  court  of  Connecticut  figned, 

John  Allen,  Secretary, 


A    P    P    E    N    D    I'  Xi  575 

NUMBER     XXIV. 

Letter  to  Governor  Ltejler^  requiring  the  releafe  of  Major  g^pt.  j^ 
general  Winthrop J  ts'c.  September  iji^  1690.  1690. 

Hartford,  Sept.  ift,  1690. 
Honorable  Sir, 
BY  an  exprefs  from  our  captains,  at  Albany,  of  the 
27th  Augufl  laft,  we  are  certified,  that  Major  general 
Winthrop  is  made  a  prifoner,  and  that  on  our  officers'  re- 
queft  to  the  commander  of  the  fort  for  his  liberty  to  offi- 
ciate in  the  army,  yourfelf  being  prefent  at  Albany,  their 
anfwer  was,  that  if  they  would  fpeak  with  the  general, 
they  might  go  to  York,  alfo  tha<-  our  commiffary  is  under 
reftraint  j  thefe  are  very  unexpe£led  and  furprifing  as 
well  as  grievous  tidings  to  us,  and  put  us  upon  fignifying 
to  you,  that  it  was  upon  a  certain  knowledge  of  Major 
Winthrop's  fidelity,  prudence,  and  valor  that  we  did  foll- 
cit  him  to  undertake  this  fervice,  and  ufed  our  intereft  in 
the  Maflachufetts  gentlemen  to  prevail  with  hira  therein, 
who  having  the  fame  confidence  in  his  virtues  did  fo,  and 
we  thereon  recommended  him  to  you  who  gave  us  to  un- 
derftand  as  great  a  value  of  him,  and  therefore  defired  his 
acceptance,  which  his  honor  accepting,  though  he  were 
worthy  of  a  tenfold  greater  command,  he  waited  on  y  oil 
and  his  country  ;  fir,  thefe  things  are  fo  radicated  in  all 
New-England,  that  your  thus  dealing  cannot  raife  a  jeal" 
oufy  in  us  of  any  thing  unworthy  fo  generous  a  foul,  as  is 
this  gentleman,  and  though  in  honor  to  you,  in  your  pre- 
fent capacity  we  will  fufpend  any  cenfures  which  we 
might  make  on  your  unadvifednefs  in  this  a£lion,  yet  we 
muil  in  juftice  remember  you  of  that  article  concluded 
by  the  commiffioners  at  York  whereof  you  were  one, 
namely,  what  was  referred  to  the  commander  in  chief 
and  his  council  of  war,  which  you  in  particular  are  not  ta 
overrule  5  if  the  return  from  Wood-Creek  done  by  a  coun- 
cil of  war  be  the  matter  which  offends  you,  as  it  is  gene- 
rally faid  to  be,  confider  how  far  that  article,  and  the  irea- 
fon  it  is  grounded  on,  lead  to  it ;  alfo  that  the  army  being 
confederate,  if  you  be  concerned  fo  are  we,  and  the  reft, 
and  that  you  alone  fhould  judge  upon  the  general's  and 
council  of  war's  a6lIons  will  infringe  our  liberty  ;  but 
that  which  is  worft  In  event,  is  that  fuch  aftions  will  ren- 
der our  friendly  correfpondence  too  weak,  to  join  in  fu- 
ture attempts,  which  we  may  have  but  too  much 
occafionfor  j  for  if  our  fending  our  beft  friends  tojoiw 


57^  APPENDIX. 

with  you  prove  a  pitfall  to  them,  it  will  neceflitate  our  fu- 
ture forbearance,  whatever  the  confequence  be. 

And  fir,  you  neceflitate  us  to  tell  you,  that  a  prlfon  is 
not  a  catholicon  for  all  ftate  maladies  though  fo  much 
ufed  by  you,  nor  are  you  incapable  of  need  of,  nor  aid 
from  their  majefty's  fubjedls  in  New-England  j  nor  could 
you  in  any  one  adlion  have  more  difobliged  all  New- 
England,  and  if  you  fliall  proceed  in  this  way  you  will  cer- 
tainly put  all  that  gentleman's  friends  on  his  vindication, 
be  the  matter  controverted  what  it  will,  he  is  of  fuch  ef- 
tate  and  repute,  as  could  not  fhun  a  juft  trial,  and  if  your 
adherence  to  Mr.  Milborn  (whofe  fpirit  we  have  fufficient 
teftimony  of)  and  other  emulators  of  the  major's  honor  be 
greater  than  to  ourfelves  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  bay, 
you  may  boaft  of  the  exchange,  by  what  profit  you  find. 
Sir  you  cannot  expe£l  but  we  fliall  be  warm  with  thefe 
matters,  unlcfs  you  prevent  us  by  a  timely  and  honorable 
releafe  of  the  major,  which  is  the  thing  we  advife  unto, 
and  defire  to  hear  from  you  with  all  fpeed,  what  our  ex- 
pectations maybe  on  this  account.  We  are  giving  ac- 
count of  this  matter  to  the  governor  and  council  of  Maf- 
fachufetts,  it  is  jufl:ly  expe£l:ed  that  your  declaration  to 
us  all  of  the  grounds  of  this  your  a£lion  fhould  have  been 
as  forward  as  the  thing  itfelf.  We  alfo  move  you  to  fet 
our  commiflary  at  liberty,  fince  he  is  of  fuch  ufe  to  our 
foldiers  as  he  cannot  be  (pared. 

NUMBER     XXV. 

^HE  determinatioJt  of  the  king,  in  council,  relative  tothemili' 
tin  of  Conneclicut,  April  i^th,  1694. 

1^94.  ^''  A  PETITION  having  been  prefented  to  his  majefty  by 
Major  General  Fitz  John  Winthrop,  agent  for  the  Eng- 
liflr  colony  of  Conne£licut  in  New-England  in  America, 
in  behalf  of  the  faid  colony,  by  the  name  of  the  governor 
and  company  of  theEnglifh  colony  of  Connedicut  inNew- 
England  in  America,  fetting  forth  that  the  petitioners  by 
letters  patents  under  the  great  feal  of  England,  in  the 
fourteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  late  King  Charles  the 
fecond,  were  incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  governor 
and  company  of  the  Englifh  colony  of  Connecticut  in 
America,  with  powers  as  well  for  the  civil  adminiftration 
of  affairs,  as  the  lieutenancy  for  the  ordering,  arraying, 
modelling, and  conducting  the  militia,  for  the  fpecial  de- 
fence of  the  colony  ;  that  from  the  date  of  the  faid  grant 
until  the  month  of  OCtober  laft,  they  have  enjoyed  the 
faid  liberties  and  privileges,  without  forfeiture  or  moleft- 


APPENDIX.  S77 

ation,  except  fome  interruption  they  received  in  the  teign 
of  King  'James  the  fecond  ;  that  Colonel  Fletcher,  gov- 
ernor of  New- York,  in  Odlober  laft,  by  colour  of  his  ma- 
jefly's  commiflion,  whereby  for  the  uniting  the  forces  of 
the  faid  province  and  colony  he  was  created  commander 
in  chief  of  the  militia  of  the  faid  colony,  did  demand 
of  the  petitioners  not  only  to  fubmit  to  him,  as  lieutenant 
general  and  commander  in  chief  over  the  full  quota  of 
the  militia  of  that  colony,  in  conjunction  with  thofe  of 
New- York  and  the  adjacent  governments,  but  likewife 
the  particular  lieutenancy  of  the  faid  colony  and  the  power 
of  afleffing,  modelling,  and  effcablilhing  the  [militia  there- 
of, the  petitioners  therefore  humbly  praying  the  faid  com- 
miflion may  receive  fuch  explanation  and  reftriCtion, 
as  to  his  majefty  in  his  royal  juftice  and  wifdom  fhall 
feem  meet ;  and  his  majefty  having  been  pleafed  to  refer 
the  faid  petition  to  the  right  honorable  the  lords  of  the 
committee  of  trade  and  plantations  to  confider  the  matter 
of  the  faid  petition,  and  to  report  what  they  conceive  fit 
for  his  majefty  to  do  therein ;  and  the  lords  of  the  com- 
mittee having  received  the  report  of  their  majefty's  attor- 
ney general  and  folicitor  general  upon  the  matter  of  the 
faid  petition,  together  with  the  addrefs  of  the  colony  of 
Rhode-  Ifland,  and  touching  the  uniting  the  ftrength  of 
thofe  colonies  againft  the  French,  which  report  is  in  the 
words  following, 

May  it  pleafe  your  lordfhips, 
In  obedience  to  your  lordftiips'  commands  fignified  to 
us  by  Mr.  Blathwait,  the  2d  of  January  and  the  3d  of 
February  laft,  by  which  we  were  to  confider  the  feveral 
charters  of  Conne£licut  and  Rhode-Ifland,  and  the  grants 
of  eaft  and  weft  New-Jerfey,  and  to  report  our  opinion 
Upon  the  whole  matter  what  may  be  done  for  the  uniting 
the  ftrength  of  thofe  colonies  and  New-York  under  a 
chief  commander,  to  be  commilfioned  by  their  majefties 
for  the  defence  of  their  majefties'  fubjedts  in  thofe  parts 
againft  the  French,  and  alfo  to  confider  the  annexed  copy 
of  the  petition  of  the  governor  and  company  of  Connedl:- 
icut,  and  to  report  our  opinion  thereupon,  we  have  con- 
fidered  the  matter  to  us  referred,  and  do  find  that  King 
Charles  the  II.  by  his  charter  dated  the  23d  of  April  in 
the  14th  year  of  his  reign,  did  incorporate  John  Win- 
throp  and  feveral  other  perfons  therein  named  and  all 
others  who  then  were  or  after  Ihould  be  admitted  and 
made  free  of  the  company,  to  be  a  corporation  by  the 
aame  of  the  governor  and  company  of  the  Englifti  colony 
B  b  b  b 


578  APPENDIX. 

of  Connedlicut  in  New-England  In  America,  with  fuch 
powers,  privileges  and  capacities,  as  are  ufually  granted 
to  corporations  of  like  nature,  and  to  have  continuance 
and  fuccelhon  forever,  and  therein  the  bounds  of  the  col- 
ony are  defcribed  and  a  grant  thereby  made  to  the  cor- 
poration of  all  land,  foil,  ground,  hnvens,  ports,  jurifdic- 
tions,  royalties,  privileges,  franchifes  and  hereditaments, 
within  the  fame  or  thereunto  belonging,  to  be  holden 
to  the  corporation  and  their  fucceflbrs  in  truft  for  the 
benefit  of  themfelves  and  their  aflbciates,  freemen  of  that 
colony,  their  heirs  and  affigns  of  the  kings  of  England  as 
of  the  manor  of  Eaft-Greenwich,  by  the  5th  part  of  the 
oar  of  gold  and  filver  there  found,  with  power  to  the 
corporation  to  make  laws,  ele6l  governors,  deputy  gov- 
ernors and  affiftants,  eretSl  judicatures  and  courts,  and 
choofe  officers  for  the  civil  government,  and  thereby  alfo 
power  is  granted  to  the  chief  commanders, governors  and 
'  officers  of  the  company  and  others  inhabiting  there,  by 
their  leave  or  dire£lion  for  their  fpecial  defence  and  fafe- 
ty,  to  aflemble,  martial  array  and  put  in  warlike  poflure 
the  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  and  to  commiffion  fuch 
perfons  as  they  fhould  think  fit  to  lead  and  condu6l  the 
inhabitants  and  to  encounter,  refill,  kill  and  flay  all  that 
fhould  attempt  or  interpofe  the  invafion  or  annoyance  of 
the  inhabitants  or  plantations,  and  to  exercife  martial  laws 
and  take  and  furprife  the  invaders  or  attemptors  of  the 
plantation  or  hurt  of  the  company  and  inhabitants,  and, 
on  juft  occafion,  to  invade  and  deflroy  the  natives  or  other 
enemies  of  the  colony. 

We  alfo  find  that  King  Charles  the  II.  in  the  15th  year  • 
of  his  reign  did  incorporate  divers  perfons  by  name,  and 
fuch  others  as  then  were,  or  after  fliould  be  admitted  and 
free  of  the  company  by  the  name  of  the  governor  and 
company  of  the  Englifli  colony  of  Rhode-Ifland  and 
Providence  plantation,  in  New-England  in  America,  and 
granted  them  in  effe£t  the  like  powers  and  authorities  both 
civil  and  military,  as  are  before  mentioned  to  be  granted 
to  Conne6licut. 

We  find  that  the  civil  government.  In  thofe  plantations 
or  colonies,  executed  the  military  powers  conferred  by 
the  charters  ;  but  that  their  majefties,in  the  third  year  of 
their  reign,  by  their  commiffion  conflituted  Sir  William 
Phips  lieutenant  and  commander  in  chief  of  the  militia 
and  of  the  forces  by  fea  and  land  within  the  colonies  of 
Connefticut,  Rhode-Ifland  and  Providence  plantation. 
King's  province  and  province  of  New-Hampfliire,  and  all 


APPENDIX.  579 

forts  and  places  of  ftrength  in  the  fame  with  feveral  pow- 
ers and  authoritiesj  and  that  their  maj efties by  their  com- 
miflion  under  the  great  feal  dated  the  loth  of  June  1693, 
revoked  fo  much  of  Sir   WiUiam  Phips  his  commiffion 
and  powers  as  related  to  the  colony   of  Connecticut  and 
by  the  fame  commiffion  conftituted  Benjamin  Fletcher, 
Efquire,  their  majefties'  captain  general  and  commander 
in  chief  of  New-York,  Pennfylvania,  New-Caftle,  and  the 
territories  and  tra£ls  of  land  depending  thereupon,  to  be 
the  commander  in  chief  of  the  militia  and  of  all  the  forces 
by  fea  and  land  within  the  colony  of  Connecticut  and  of 
all   forts  and  places  of  ftrength  within  the  fame,  with 
power  to  levy,  arm,  mufter,  command,  or  employ  the 
militia  of  the  faid  colony,  and  upon  any  neceflary  and  ur- 
gent occafion,  during  this  war,  to  transfer  to  the  province 
of  New-York  and  frontiers  of  the  fame  for  re fi (ling  and 
withftanding  enemies, pirates  and  rebels  both  at  land  and 
fea,  and  defence  of  that  province  and  colony,  of  which 
commiffion  and  the  large  powers  therein  contained  as  to 
Connecticut,  the  colony  of  Connetlicut  by  their  annexed 
petition  do  complain  and  pray  redrefs  againft  the  exercife 
of  it,  in  fuch  manner  over  the  whole  militia,  and  therein 
ihew  their  reafons  againft  it.     We  have   heard   Colonel 
Winthrop  and  his  council,  on  the  behalf  of  the  colony  of 
Connecticut,  and  Mr.  Almey  and  his  council,  on  the  be- 
half of  Rhode-Ifland  and  Providence  plantation,  and  Dr. 
Cox  appeared  on  the  behalf  of  eaft  and  weft  New-Jerfey, 
and  produced  fome  writings,  fhewing  how  the  fame  were 
granted  out  from  the  crown  to  the  Duke  of  York,  and  by 
the  Duke  of  York  to  others,  but  the  Dr.  not  claiming  any 
title  to  himfelf  it  doth  not  appear  to  us  in  whom  the  eftate 
in  law  of  thofe  places  or  of  the  government  thereof  civil 
or  military  doth  now  refide,  nor  how  the  fame  is  exercifed. 
But  having:  read   the  annexed   eftimate  from  Mr.  Blath- 
wait  we  communicated  the  fame  to  the  agents  for  Con- 
necticut, Rhode-Ifland  and   Providence  plantation,  who 
declared  their  readinefs  during  times  of  danger  to  provide 
theirrcfpeCtive  quotas  therein  contained,  and  in  cafe  of  in- 
creafe  of  danger,  or  other  neceflary  occafionsjduringthecon- 
tinuance  thereof,  their  refpeCtive  quotas  to  be  proportion- 
ably  increafed  with  other  colonies;  but  astotheremaining 
militia  beyond  the  quotas  (which  it  feems  in  thofe  coun- 
tries conGfts  of  all  males  between  fixteen  and  fixty  years 
of  age)  they  humbly  defire  that  it  may  remam  under  the 
ordinary  and  ufual  government  and  command  of  the  colo- 
nies according  to  their  charters,  and  not  to  be  commanded 


58o  APPENDIX. 

out,  unlefs  in  times  of  aftual  invafion  or  imminent  dan- 
ger, for  the  necelTary  prefervation  of  fome  of  the  colonies, 
and  at  fuch  times  only  when  fuch  of  the  colonies  where- 
cut  the  forces  (hall  be  drawn,  are  not  in  danger,  and  that 
at  all  times  a  fufficient  power  of  the  militia  may  be  al- 
ways kept  in  each  colony  under  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment of  it,  for  the  fafetyand  neceflary  prefervation  thereof. 

We  are  humbly  of  opinion  that  the  charters  and  grants 
of  thofe  colonies  do  give  the  ordinary  power  of  the  mi- 
litia to  the  refpe£live  governments  thereof  ;  but  do  alfo 
conceive  that  their  majefties  may  conftitute  a  chief  com^ 
mander,  who  may  have  authority,  at  all  times,  to  com- 
mand or  order  fuch  proportion  of  the  forces  of  fuch  col- 
ony or  plantation,  as  their  majefties  fliall  think  fit ;  and 
farther,  in  times  of  invafion  and  approach  of  the  enemy, 
with  the  advice  and  affiftance  of  the  governors  of  the  col- 
onies, to  conduct  and  command  the  reft  of  the  forces  for 
the  prefervation  and  defence  of  fuch  of  thofe  colonies  as 
fhall  moft  ftand  in  need  thereof,  not  leaving  the  reft  un- 
provided of  a  competent  force  for  their  defence  and  fafe- 
ty  ;  but  in  time  of  peace,  and  when  the  danger  is  over, 
the  militia  within  each  of  the  faid  provinces  ought,  as  we 
humbly  conceive,  to  be  under  the  government  and  difpo- 
fitions  of  the  refpeftive  governors  of  the  faid  colonies  ac- 
cording to  their  charters. 

All  which,  neverthelefs.  Is  moft  humbly  fubmitted  to 
your  iQrdfhips' great  wifdoni. 

Edward  Ward, 
Thomas  Treves. 
2d  April,  1694. 

And  the  lords  of  the  committee  having  prefented  to 
his  majefty's  council  the  report  of  Mr.  attorney  and  Mr. 
folicitor  general  upon  the  matters  above  mentioned,  his 
majefty,  in  council,  is  pleafed  to  approve  the  faid  report, 
and  to  fignify  his  pleafure,  that  the  quota,  not  exceeding 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  be  the  meafure  of  the  af- 
fiftance to  be  given  by  the  colony  of  Connedlicut,  and 
all  times  during  war  to  be  commanded  by  the  governor 
of  New-York  ;  and  the  right  honorable  Sir  John  Tren- 
chard,  his  majefty's  principal  fecretary  of  ftatc,  is  to  pre- 
pare letters  for  his  majefty's  royal  fignature,  for  the  fig- 
nification  of  his  majefty's  pleafure  herein  to  the  governor 
oi  New-York  and  Connedicut  accordingly. 

■^ILUAM    BriDGEMAN^ 


NAMES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS. 


SENATORS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

1  HEODORE  FOSTER,  Rhode-Ifland. 
Aaron  Burr,  New- York,  2  copies. 
John  Rutherford,  New-Jerfey. 
William  Bingham,  Pennfylvania. 
Henry  Latimer,  Delaware. 
John  Henry,  Maryland. 
Henry  Tazewell,  Virginia. 
Alexander  Martin,  North-Carolina. 
Jacob  Reed,  South-Carolina. 
Jofiah  Tattnall,  Georgia. 

Oliver  Wolcott,  Efquire,  Secretary  of  the  Trcafiiry 
of  the  United  States,  PhOadelphia. 


STATE  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

His  Excellency  Oliver  Wolcott,  Efquire,  Governor. 
The  Honorable  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Efquire,  Lieutenant-governor* 

The  Honorable  COUNSELLORS. 

William  Willaims, 

Jofeph  Piatt  Cook, 

John  Treadwell, 
^  Roger  Newbury, 
'  Jonathan  Ingerlol,         ^Efquires. 

Thomas  Grofvenor, 

Aaron  Auftin, 

Jeremiah  Wadfworth, 

David  Daggett, 

Andrew  Kingfbury,  Elqulre,  Treafurer. 

John  Porter,  Efquire,  Comptroller. 

Samuel  WylJys,  Efquire,  Secretary. 

REPRESENTATIVES  in  CONGRESS. 


f'l 


Chauncy  Goodrich, 
James  Davenport 
John  Allen, 

Capt.  Saul  Alvord,  Bolton. 

Jafon  Allen,  Montville. 

Elifha  Andrews,  Bolton. 

Jere.  Atwater,  Y.  College  Mr.  Tutor. 

Jeremiah  Atwater,  New-Haven. 

Rev.  Charles  Backus,  Somers. 

Sylvanus  Backus,  Pomfret. 

Simeon  Baldwin,  Attorney  N.  Haven. 

Timothy  Baldvvio,  Guilford. 


Efquires. 

Capt.  Jolhua  Barns,  North-Have«. 
Jared  Barns,  do. 

William  Barton,  jun.  Hartford. 
Rev.  Amos  Baflett,  Hebron. 
Mofes  Bartlit,  Chatham. 
Jofeph  BafTett,  North-Haven. 
Rev.  David  L.  Beebe,  Woodbridgc, 
Col.  Miles  Beach,  Hartford. 


S82 


NAMES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Ifaac  Beers,  Stationer,  New-Haven  la 

copies. 
Elias  Beers,  Merchant,  do. 
Rev.  Jofhua  Belden,  Wethersfield. 
Thomas  Belden,  Norwalk. 
Col.  Samuel  Bellamy,  Himden. 

David  Bellamy,  Ei'q.  Bethlem,  for  the 
public  Library  in    do.  z  copies. 

Rev.  Joel  Benedict,  Plaintield. 

Jonathan  Bird,  Canaan. 

Thaddeus  Birdfey,  Stratford. 

Ifaac  Birge,  Bolton. 

Samuel  Bi[hop,Efq.  Chief  Judge  of  the 
County  Court,  and  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  New-Haven. 

David  BilTell,  jun.Eall-W'ndfor. 

Hezekiah  BilTel),  Efq.  Judi^e  of  Hart- 
,  ford  County  Court,  and  Treafurer. 

Jofeph  Blague,  jun.  Chatham. 

Nathaniel  Blake,  Hartford. 

Rev.  Solomon  Blakflee,  E.  Haddam. 

Oliver  Blakflee,  North  Haven. 

Rev.  SaTiuel  Blatchford,  Fairfield. 

Rev.  Pubiius  V.  Booge,  Winchefter. 
For  Library  do.  i. 

Daniel  Bradley,  Hamden. 

Aner  Bradley,  Watertown. 

Rev.  Thomas  W.  Bray,  Guilford. 

Oliver  Bray,  A.  B.  do. 

John  Brewfter,  Hampton. 

Daniel  N.  Brinfmade,  Waihington. 

Simeon  Briftol,  Efq.  Ham  len,  Judge 
of  the  County  Court  in  New-Haven. 

Ilaiah  Brocket,  North-Haven. 

Do(5l.  Heman  P.  Brooks,  Branford. 

Rev.  David  Brownfon,  Derby. 

Jofiah  Brownfon,  jun.  Waterbury. 

Rev.  William  Brown,  Glaftenbary. 

Daniel  Brown,  Efq.  Hebron. 

Jonathan  Brown,  Chatham. 

Gideon  Buckingham,  Efq.  Milford, 
Judge  of  the  County  Court  in  New- 
Haven. 

Daniel  Bukingham,  Milford. 

Ephraim  Buckingham,  do. 

David  Buel,  Litchfield. 

William  Ball,  do. 

Doft.  Ifaac  Bull,  Hartford. 

Jeremiah  Bull,  Milford. 

Rev.  Piatt  Buffet,  Greenwich. 

Daniel  Bulkley,  Colchefter. 

David  Bunce,  New-Haven. 

Capt.  Abel  Burritt,  New-Haven. 

Timothy  Burr,  jun.  Hartford. 

Daniel  Butler,  do. 

Norman  Butler,         do. 

Charles  Butler,  Branford. 


John  Caldwell,  Hartford. 

Elnathan  Camp,  Durham. 

Allen  Campbell,  Voluntown. 

Samuel  Canfield,  Sharon. 

Judion  Canfield,  Attorney,  Sharoi*, 

Sylvefter  Carver,  Bolton. 

Elias  Carrington,  Milford. 

Abel  Catlin,  Litchfield. 

Rev.  Henry  Channing,  New-London. 

Rev.  Calvin  Chapin,  Wethersfield. 

Doi5t.  Elifha  Chapman,  North-Haven. 

Charles  Chauncy,  Efq.  New-Haven. 

John  Chenevard,  Hartford. 

Penvil  Cheney,  Windham. 

Hon.  John   Chcfter,  Efq.  Judge   of 

Hartford  County  Court. 
Levi  Chcfter,  Montville. 
Rev.  Aaron  Church,  Hartland. 
Jonah  Clark,  Efq.Narthford,  a  copies. 
John  C'ark,  Lebanon. 
Thaddeus  Clark,  do. 
Timothy  Clark,  Waterbury. 
AbriUiam  Clark,  Milford. 
Capt.  Simon  Clark,  Hartford. 
Elifiia  Coe,  Midtlletown. 
Capt.  William  Coggfiiall,  Milford. 
Rev.  James  Cogfwell.D.D.  Windham. 
Dov.^.  Mafon  F.  Cogfwell,  Hartford. 
Rev.  George  Colton,  Bolton. 
Jonathan  Colton,        do. 
Abijah  Colton,  Hartford. 
Elifha  Colt,         do. 
Maj.  Samuel  Comftock,  Norwalk. 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Comftock,  Montville. 
Jared  Cone,  jun.  Merchant,  Bolton. 
Rev.  Rofwell  Cook,  Montville. 
James  Cooper,  North-Haven. 
Rev.  Giles  H.  Cowles,  Briftol. 
Samuel  Cowles,  Norfolk. 
John  Crocker,  Montville. 
Maj.  Giles  Curtifs,  BerHn. 
Joel  Curtifs,  Stratford. 
Rev.  James  Dana,  D.  D.  New-Haven. 
Jofeph  Darling,  Efq.        do. 
Thomas  Darling,  Efq.  Woodbridge. 
John  Davenport,  jun.  Efq.  Stamford. 
Edward  Danforth,  Hartford. 
Abraham  V.  H.  Dewitt,  Att.  Milford. 
Hezekiah  Dickerman,  Hamden. 
John  Dodd,  jun.  Hartford. 
John  Dolebcar,  Montville. 
Samuel  Dolebear,  do. 
Amos  Doolittle,  New-Haven. 
Henricus  Dow,  Attorney,  Afhford. 
Selah  Dudley,  Guilfard. 
Sylvefter  Duhinion,  P.lilford., 
Fifh  Durand?  do^  ■ 


NAMES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS. 


553 


Do<?t.  Ofce  Dutton,  Derby. 
Hubbard  Dutton,  Lefeanon. 
Rev.Timothy  DwightjD.D.Prefident 

of  Yale  College  in  New-Haven. 
Theodore  Dwight,  Attor.  Hartford. 
Docft.  Nathaniel  Dwight,     do. 
Hon.  Eliphalet  Dyer,  Eib.  Windham. 
Capt.  Peter  Eaftman,  North- Haven. 
Villiam  Edmond,  Attor.  Newtown. 
Rev.  Jon.  Edwards,  D.  D.  Colbrook. 
Mifs  Sally  Edwards,  NeM'- Haven. 
George  Egglefton,  Haitford. 
William  Eldridge,  Groton. 
Rev.  Andrew  EJiot,  Fairfield. 
Nathan  Eliot,  Hartford. 
Rev.  Samuel  Eells,  Branford. 
Rev.  Ozias  Eells,  Barkhtmfted. 
John  Eliworth,  Chatham. 
Rev.  David  Ely,  Huntington. 
Rev.  Zebulon  Ely,  Lebanon. 
Benjamin  Ely,         do. 
Rev.  Nathan  Fenn,  Berlin. 
Benjamin  Fenn,  Milford. 
Doft.  Eliakim  Fifli,  S.  A.  S.  Hartford. 
Samuel  Flagg,  Efq.  Eaft-Hartford. 
Do<5l.  Jofeph  Foot,  North-Haven. 
Abifhai  Forbes,  Symfbury. 
John  Forbes,  Canaan. 
Rev.  Abraham  Fowler,  Waterbury. 
Jonah  Fowler,  jun.  Branford. 
Levi  Fowler,  do. 

Capt.  Samuel  Fox,  Montville. 
Jacob  Fox,  Bolten. 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Gay,  Suffield. 
Rev.  Maltby  Gelfton,  New-Fairfield. 
Col.  Samuel  Gilbert,  Hebron,  chief 

judge  of  Tolland  county  court. 
Sylvefter  Gilbert,  Attor.  Hebron. 
Rev.  Alexander  Gillet,  Torrington. 
George  Gillet,  Hebron. 
Nathan  Gillum,  Chatham. 
Chauncy  Gleafon,  Hartford. 
Calvin  Gcddard,  Attor.  Plainfield. 
Rev.  Elizur  Goodrich, D.D.Durham. 
Elizur  Goodrich,  Attor.  New-Haven. 
Charles  Gooc'rich,  Durham. 
David  Goodwin,  Hartford. 
Levi  Goodwin,  Eaft-Hartford. 
James  Gordon,  Plainfield. 
Gideon  Granger,  Attorney,  Suffield. 
Ambrus  Grant,  Litchfield. 
Rev.  William  Graves,  Woodftock. 
Jofeph  Gray,  Stamford. 
Daniel  Gregory,  Norwalk. 
Rev.  Uriel  Gridly,  Watertewn. 
His  Excellency  Matthe-w  Grifwold, 

Efq.  Lyme. 


Maj.Shubael  Grifwold, Eaft-Hartford* 
G.  Grifwold,  Hartford. 
Elihu. Grifwold,  Wirdfor. 
Rev.  iJavid  Hale,  Lifbon. 
Nathan  Kale,  Attorney,  Canaan. 
Jehiel  Hale,  Glaftenbury. 
,  Jcel  Hall,  jun.  Chatham. 
San.uel  HaJl,  2d.  do. 
Doa.  Timothy  Hall,  Eaft-Hartford. 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Hallock,  S\mfbury. 
Capt.  Willianj  Hamlin,  Middletown, 
Eli  Hammond,  Bolton. 
Nathaniel  Hanmiond,  do. 
Rev.  Levi  Hart,  Preftcn,  2  copies. 
Matthew  Hart,  jun.  Berlin. 
Mrs.  Abigail  Hart,  do. 
William  S.  Hart,  Attorney,  Norwich* 
Rev.  Rufus  Hawley,  Farmington. 
Seth  Hawley,  Middletown. 
Eca.  Aiiftin  Hayden,  Si^ffield. 
John  Heatcn,  Merchant,  New-Haveo, 
Ifaac  Keminway,  Woodbridge. 
Dc6l.  JcfhuaHtmpfted,  Hartford. 
Samuel  Higley,  Milford. 
Rev.  David  Higgins,  Lyme. 
William  Hillhoule,  Attor.  New-Haven* 
John  Hillhoufe,  Efq.  Montville. 
Capt.  Thomas  Hillhoufe,  do. 
Aaron  Hine,  jtin.  Milford. 
Daniel  Hinfdale,  Hartford. 
Wenfley  Hobby,  Middletown,  6copie5» 
Eliphalet  Holmes,  Eaft-Haddam. 
Ebenezer  Holmes,  do. 
Appleton  Holifter,  Bolton. 
Jonas  Hoit,  Stamford. 
Rev.  Afahel  Hooker,  Gofhen. 
Ira  Hooker,  Briftol. 
Edmund  Haughton,  Bolton. 
Amos  Hosford,  Efq.  Berlin. 
J?m.esHofmer,  Hartford. 
Jofeph    Hopkins,    Efq.    Waterbury^ 
judge  of  New-Haven  county  court. 
Afa  Hopkins,  Hartford. 
Theodore  Hopkins,  do. 
Daniel  Hopkins,  do. 
Gideon  Hotchkifs,  Waterbury. 
Dofl.  Enfign  Hough,  Wallirgford, 
Rev.  Bela  Hubbard,  New-Haven. 
George  Hubbard,  Berlin. 
Richard  Hubbard,  do. 
Nathaniel  Hubbard,  Bolton. 
Nathaniel  Hubbard, Greenwich, 2 cop, 
Mifs  Lucretia  Hubbard,  New-Haven. 
Nehemiah  Hubbard,  jun.  Middleto-wn. 
Col.  Jonathan  Humphrey,  Symifbury, 
Reuben  Humphrey,  do. 

Caniel  Hull,  Nortli-Havea. 


S84 


NAMES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS. 


Lebbeus  Hungerford,  Berlin. 

Rev.  Lynde  Huntington,  Branford. 

Enoch  Huntington,  Att.  Middl^town. 

Dan  Huntington,  Mr.  Tutor,  Y.  (?o]. 

Hezekiah  Huntington,  Attor.  Suffield. 

Eliflia  Hyde,  Attorney,  Norwich. 

Jofcph  Ilham,  Elq.  Colchefter. 

John  Ifham,  Eiq.         do. 

Ephraira  Ifham,  Merchant,  Bolton. 

Capt.  Noah  Ives,  North-Haven. 

Stephen  Jacobs,         do. 

Doft.  Daniel  H.  Jewett,  Montville. 

Samuel  W.  Johnfon,  Attor.  Stratford. 

John  Johnfon,  Durham. 

Do(5l.  Abner  Johnfon,  Waterbury. 

Timothy  Jones,  Efq.  Alderman,  New- 
Haven. 

Ifrad  Jones,  Efq.  Barkhemfted. 

Daniel  Jones,  Hartford. 

Richard  L.  Jones,  do. 

Pixley  Judfon,  Stratford. 

Benajah  Kent,  Suffield. 

Silas  Kimberley,  New-Haven. 

Rev,  Aaron  Kinne,  Groton,  3  copies 
for  Groton  library. 

.Rev.  Walter  King,  Norwich. 

Do6t.  Alexander  King,  SuiHeld. 

Salmon  King,  Bolton. 

Allen  Kingfbury,  Andover. 

John  Kinfbury,  Attor.  Waterbury. 

Apollos  Kinfley,   Hartford. 

Ephraim  Kirby,  Attorney,  Litchfield. 

Rev.  Elijah  Lathrop,  Hebron. 

Jonathan  Law,  Milford. 

Thaddeus  Leavitt,  Efq.  Suflield. 

Jofeph  Leffingweli,  Stratford. 

George  Lewis,  do. 

Rev.  Ilaac  Lewis,  D.  D.  Wefl-Grecn- 
wich. 

Zechariah  Lewis,  Mr.  Tutor,  Y.  Col. 

Naboth  Lewis,  Middletown. 

George  Lewis,  Chatham. 

Elilha  Lewis,  Hartford. 

John  Linfley,  Branford. 

Capt.  Abner  Loomis,  Bolton. 

David  Loomis,  do. 

David  Loomis,  Wethersfield. 

Hubbard  Lutten,  Lebanon. 

Doft.  David  Lyman,  Hebron. 

David  Lyman,  Middletown. 

Rev.  Walter  Lyon,  Pomfret. 

William  Lyon,  jun.  New-Haven. 

Lewis  Mallet,  Efq.  Milford. 

Jonathan  Maltby,  A.  M.  Merchant, 
Branford. 

Gamaliel  Manning,  Windham. 

Rev.AchiilesMansfield.Killingwortb. 


Richard  Mansfield,  North-Haveif, 

David  Man  waring,  jun.  Hartford. 

Rev.  John  Marlh,  Wethersfield. 

Ebenezer  Grant  Marfh,  A.  B.  do. 

John  Marfhall,  Milford. 

John  Marfhall,  Bolton. 

Raphael  Marfliall,  Torn'ngton. 

Jeremiah  Mafbn,  Lebanon. 

William  Mather,  Merchant,  Symfbury, 

Oliver  Mather,  Efq.  Windfor. 

Doi5t.  Samuel  Mather  Lyme. 

Shadrach  Mead,  Greenwich. 

Amos  Mead,  Efq.      do. 

Abraham  Mead,         do. 

Henry  Mead,  do. 

Joliah  Meigs,  Efq.  ProfefTor  of  math- 
ematics and  natural  philofophy, 
Yale  College,  New-Haven. 

Andrew  Metcaif,  Lebanon. 

Samuel  Middlebrook,  Mer.  Narwalk. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Miller,  Briftol. 

Hezekiah  Miller,  Middletov/n. 

John  M'Clellan,  Attor.  Woodilock. 

Ilaac  Mills,  Attorney,  New-Haven. 

Rev.  Thomas  Minor,  Middletown. 

Thomas  Minor,  A.  B.     do. 

Rev.  Julius  Mitchell,  Norwalk. 

Samuel  Mix,  Efq.  North-Haven. 

Doiff.  Eneas  Monfon,  do.  Prefident 
of  the  Connedicut  medical  fociety. 

Dodt.  Walter  Monfon,  New-Haven. 

Elias  Morgan,  Hartford. 

Solomon  Morgan,  Canterbury. 

William  Mofeley,  Attorney,  Hartford, 

Jon.  O.  Mofeley,  Efq.  Eafl'-Haddam. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Murdock,  Norwich. 

Col.  Matthias  Nicoll,  Stratford. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Northcy,  Middletown. 

Rev.  Samuel  Nott,  Franklin. 

Rev.  John  Noyes,  Wefton. 

Rev.  James  Noyes,  Wallingford. 

Rev.  Matthew  Noyes,  Branford. 

Shadrach  Ofborn,  Efq.  Southbury. 

Nathaniel  Otio,  Montville. 

Benjamin  Page,  Branford. 

Capt,  Thomas  Painter,  New-Haven. 

Samuel  Palmer,  Montville. 

John  Parifh,  Brooklyn. 

Thaddeus  Parker,  Hebron. 

Rev.  Elijah  Parfons,  Eaft-Haddam. 

George  JafFrey  Patten,  Hartford. 

Eliflia  Paine,  Attorney,  Canterbury. 

Ephraim  Peck,  Milford. 

JefTe  Peck,  Berlin. 

Rev.  Nathan  Perkins,  Hartford. 

Do«5t.  Caleb  Perkins,     do, 

Doa.  Elifha  Perkins,  Plainfield, 


NAMES  0?  THE  SUBSCRIBERS. 


585 


John  Thompfon  Peters,  Att.  Hebron. 
John  Pettibone,  Hartford. 
Jofeph  Pierpont,  Efq.  North-Haven. 
Giles  Pierpont,  do. 

Eliada  Pierpont,  do. 

James  Pineo,  Efq.  Lebanon. 
Rev.  Bezaleel  Pineo,  Milford. 
George  Pitkin,  Efq.   Eaft-Hartford, 

Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court. 
Samuel  Pitkin,  do. 

Timothy  Pitkin,  Attor.  Farmington. 
Capt.  Charles  Pond,  Milford. 
Samuel  Porter,  3d,  Berlin. 
Samuel  Porter,  ad,    do. 
James  Potter,  M.  D.  Ncw-Fairfield, 

Vice-Prelident  of  the  Connedicut 

M.  S. 
Nathan  Prefton,  Efq.  Woodbury. 
Rev.  Nehemiah  Prudden,  Enfield. 
William  Punderfon,  Watertown. 
Col.  John  Raymond,  Montville. 
David  Ranney,  Chatham. 
Ilrael  Reeves,  Lyme. 
James  Richardfon,  Hampton. 
Roger  Riley,  Efq.  Berlin. 
Thomas  Rindge,  Bolton. 
Rev.  Hezekiah  Ripley,  Fairfield. 
Gamaliel  Ripley,  Windham. 
Levi  Rifley,  Eaft-Hartford. 
A.  Robbins,  Granby. 
Adrian  W.  Robinlon,  Lifbon. 
Eber  Robinfon,  Somers. 
Abner  Robinfoa,  Windham. 
Noadiah  Rockwell,  Middletown. 
Noah  Rockwell,  Eaft-Windfor. 
Rev.  Medad  Rogers,  New-Fairfield. 
Capt.  Thomas  Rogers,  Montville. 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Rogers,  do. 
Honorable  JefTe  Root,  Efq.  Coventry, 

Judge  of  the  Superior  Court. 
Ephraim  Root,  Attorney,  Hartford. 
John  Root,  Granby. 
Dod.  JofiaJi  Root,  Hamden. 
Juftus  Rofe,  Branford. 
Andrew  Rowland,  Fairfield. 
William  Rudd,  Windham. 
Jonathan  Rudd,  do. 
Matthew  T.  Ruflell,  Att.  Middletown. 
Maj.  Daniel  Sackett,  Milford. 
Peleg  Sanford,  Hartford. 
Eliada  Sanford,  North-Haven. 
Jacob  Sargeant,  Hartford. 
Reuben  Scofield,  Efq.  Stamford. 
Benjamin  Scofield,        do. 
Eliphalet  St.  John,  A.  M.  Norwalk. 
Kev,  Charles  Seabury  New-London. 

cc 


Rev.  David  Selden,  Chatham. 
Capt.  Charles  Seymour,  Hartford. 
Mofes  Seymour,  Litchfield. 
Daniel  Shepard,  jun.  Chatham. 
Roger  M.  Sherman,  Attor.  Norwalki 
Richard  Skinner,  jun.  Eaft-Hartford. 
EJdad  Skinner,  Bolton. 
Normand  Smith,  Hartford. 
Aaron  Smith,  Attorney,  Litchfield. 
John  C.  Smith,  Attorney,  Sharon. 
Elnathan  Smith,  Berlin. 
Einathan  Smith,  jun.  Attorney,  do. 
Nathan  Smith,  Attorney, New-Haven* 
Nehemiah  Smith,  Elq.      do. 
Thomas  Smith,  North-Haven. 
John  Smith,        do. 
Conftant  Southworth,  Efq.  Mansfield* 
Judge  of  Windham  County  Court. 
Samuel  Southmaid,  Watertown. 
Elihu  Spencer,  for  Salem  Library. 
Ifrael  Spencer,  Lyme. 
Nathaniel  Spencer,  New-Hartford. 
Jenathan  Stanley,  jun.  Eaft-Hartford* 
Jofiah  Starr,  Efq.  New-Milford. 
Rev.  Stephen  W.  Stebbins,  Stratford* 
Rev.  Samuel  Stebbnis,  Symfbury. 
Rufus  Stebbins,  Afhford. 
Samuel  Stebbins,  Hartland. 
David  Stevens,  Stamford. 
Ifaac  Clark  Stiles,  North-Haven. 
Timothy  Stone,  jun.  Lebanon. 
Jofhua  Stowe,  Middletown. 
Rev.  Nicholas  Street,  Eaft-Haven* 
Rev.  Cyprian  Strong,  Chatham. 
Ephraim  Strong,  Efq.  Milford. 
Elijah  Stute,  jun.  Cornwall. 
Wait  Swift,  Watertown. 
Ifaac  Tainter,  Branford. 
Jofliua  Taleott,  Bolton. 
Col.  Benjamin  Talmage,  Litchfield. 
David  Tallman,  Woodbury. 
John  Taylor,  Coventry. 
William  Taylor,  W.  Symfbury. 
Nathaniel  Terry,  Attorney,  Hartford* 
Henry  Terry,  Enfield. 
Peter  Thatcher,  Lebanon. 
John  Thompfon,  Stratford* 
Jofeph  Thompfon,  do. 
James  Thompfon,  Milford. 
Samuel  Thompfon,  Hartford. 
Daniel  Tilden,  Lebanon, 
Thomas  Tifdall,  Hartford. 
Ehos  Todd,  North-Haven, 
Jabez  H.  Tomlinfon,  Efq.  Stratford. 
Uriah  Tracy,  Norwich. 
Zebulon  Tracy,  Windham, 


585 


NAMES  OF  THE  SUBSCRIBERS* 


John  Trumbull,  Attorney,  Hartford 
Capt.  Aiaph  Trumbull,  Hebron. 
Calvin  Tugalls,  A.  M.  Union. 
Rev.  David  TuHar,  Milford. 
liaiah  Tuttlc,  Barkhenrpfted. 
Jonathan  Tutde,  North-Haven. 
Rev.  Lemuel  Tyler,  Prellon,  3  copies. 
Rev.  Bcnoni  Upfon,  Berlin. 
Capt.  Afa  Uplbn,  Briilol. 
Jofeph  Utley,  Haitford. 
Rev.  Joieph  Vail,  Eaft-Haddam. 
Hon.  James  Wadfworth,  Durham. 
Daniel  Wadlworth,  Hartford. 
Ij/d&vM.  Wales,  Attor.  New-Haven. 
Jacob  Walter,  iSTorth-Haven. 
Abraham  Waring,  Stamford. 
Hezron  Waring,       do. 
Dodt.  Ichabod  Warner,  Bolton* 
Selden  Warner,  Lyme. 
Nehemiah  Waterman,  Norwich. 
John  Watrous,  Colcheftcr. 
Eben.  Waifon,  Merch.  Eaft-Windfor. 
John  Watfun,  do. 

John  W  iifon,  jun.  do. 

James  Watfon. 
Aj/liai  Weed,  Sfaniford* 
Jonaihan  Weed,  do. 
William  Weed,    do. 
Seth  Weed,  jun.  do. 
Samuel  Weller,  Woodbury. 
SoloiYion  Welle?,  Efq.  Wethersfield. 
James  A.  Welles,  Hartford. 
T'  at.  Jan'ies  Welles,  Berlin. 
LtCi  Welles,  jun.  Ellington. 
Aihb'el  Welles  }un.  Hartford. 
Stephen  Wclkb,  Stratford. 
Samuel  Welles,  jun.  Glaflenbury. 


Jonathan  Welles,  Eaft-Hartford. 
Rev.  Joel  Weft,  Chatham. 
Viftory  Wetmore,  Stratford.- 
Jonathan  Whaley,  Montville.  ^ 
Amos  Wheeler,  Efq.  Brookfield. 
Ebenezer  White,  Chatham. 
Jofiah  White,        do. 
Capt.  Jofeph  Whiting,  Milford. 
Nathan  H.  Whidng,  Efq.  Hartford. 
Elijah  White,  Merchant,  BoltoB. 
Chauncy  Whittelfey,  New-Haven. 
Rev.  John  Willard,  Stafford. 
Samuel  Willard,        do. 
Rev.  John  Willard,  Wallingford. 
Jofiah  Willard  Wethersfield. 
Rev.  Eliphalet  Williams,  D.  D.  Eaft^ 

Hartford. 
Re  V.Nathan  Williams,  D.D.Tolland. 
Ezekiel  WiUiams,  Wethersfield. 
Jofiah  Williams,      do. 
John  Williams,  Attorney,  do. 
Ezra  Williams,  Hartford. 
Jofeph  Williams,  Norwich. 
Rev.  Noah  Willifton,  New-Haven. 
Ezra  Witter,  A. M.Candi.Canterbury. 
Frederick  Wolcott,  Attor.  Litchfield, 
Guy  Wolcott,  Torrington.     [Haven. 
Thomas  Goodfell  Wolcott,   North- 
Jofeph  Woodbridge,  Hartford. 
Ward  Woodbridge,  do. 
Nathaniel  S.  Woodbridge,  Lyme. 
Rev.  Aaron  Woodward,  Norwalk, 
Dudley  Wright,  2d.  Colchefler. 
William  Wyllys,  Hartford. 
John  Wyles,  Eafi -Hartford. 
Jofeph  Wyles,  Voluntown. 
Thomas  Young,  Lebanon.- 


M^iSSACHUSETTS. 


Rev.  Joel  Baker,  Granville. 
Rtv.  Mofes  Baldwin,  Palmer. 
Rev.  Aai'on  J.  Booge,  Granville. 
Thomas  Lratde,  Cambridge. 
Rev.  Jacob  CatIin,Ncw-Marlborough. 
R6v,  Timothy  M.  Cooley,  Granville. 
Joel  Deniing,  SandersfieJd. 
Daniel  Dewey,  Wiiliamftov/n. 
Timothy  Edwaids,  Efq.  Stockbridge. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  Franklin. 
Maj.  Ezra  Fellows,  Sheffield. 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Fitch,    Prefident    of 

William's  College,  2  copies. 
Vinfon  Gould,  William's  College. 
Rev.  Enoch  Hale,  Wefthampton. 
Jadies  Hamilton,  Gianville. 
Rev.  Abiel  Holmes,  Cambridge,  a  cop. 

Rev.  Thomas  Holt,  H^idwick. 


Henry  Howard,  Pittsfield. 

Col.  Thomas  Ives,  Great-Barrington, 

I  copy,  and  i  for  the  Library. 
Jonathan  Judd,  jun.  Southampton. 
Samuel  Lathrop,  Attor.  Springfield. 
Rev.  Edmund  Mills,  Sutton. 
William  Matthew^',  Weftfield. 
David  Noble,  Williamllown. 
Deodatus  Noble,  do. 
Rev.  Jofeph  Ruftell,  Princetown. 
Thompfon  Skinner,  Williamftown. 
Ebenezer  Smith,  New-Marlborough 
Rev.  Seth  Swift,     do. 
Col.  Jofeph  Ward,  NeWtoWn. 
Rev.  Payfon  Willifton, No rthampton'.r 
William  Worthington,Looningburghjf 
Rev.  Eliphalet  Gillet,  HoHowell,  Pro* 

vince  of  Maine. 


NAMES  OF  THP  SUBSCRIBERS. 


58? 


NEW-YORK. 


John  FrankJin,  Athens,  couaty  of  Lu- 
zerne. 

Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin,  Freehold. 

Capt.  Lfrriuel  Hoichkiis,      do. 

Robert  C.  Johnfon,  New- York. 

George  Merrills,  do. 

Dodt.  Nathan  Rofe,  Freehold. 

Nehemiah  Spencer,        do. 

Dirck  Tenbroeck,  Efq.  Albany,  Spea- 
ker of  the  Houfe  of  Aflembly. 


Hon.  Stephen  Van  Renflelaer,  Efq, 
do.  Lieut.  Governor,  2  copies. 

Philip  S.  Van  Renffelaer,  Efq.  do. 

Charles  R.  &  G.  Webfter,  Printers 
and  Bookfellers,  6  copies. 

Francis-B.  Winthrop,Efq.New-York» 

William  W^inthrop,  Merchant,  do. 

William  W.  Woolfey,  do. 

E.  Watlbn,  do% 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

Theophilus  Cazenore,  Philadelphia, 
GEORGIA. 


James  Cantley,  A.  B. 


Phinehas  Miller. 
VERMONT. 


Rev.  Heman  Ball,  Rutland. 
Nathan  Brufli,  Bennington. 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Chipman,  L.  L.  D. 
Rutland. 


Rev.  Job.  Swift,  Bennington* 
Noah  Smith,  do. 


ERRATA. 

THE  diftance  of  the  author  from  the  prefs  has  prerented  lus  corrctSliflg  any 
fart  of  the  preceding  hiflory  while  it  -was  printing.  Several  errors  have  been  ob« 
lervcd  which  the  reader  is  defirtd  to  corredb 

Page  3,  line  15  from  the  bottom,  for  Argale  read  Argall.  P.  14,  L  i*  from  the 
l)ottom,  after  longitude  r.  74  degrees  10  minutes.  P.  25,  L  10  from  the  top,  dele 
the  comma  after  kinds  and  read  it  after  dyes.  P.  29,1.  21  from  the  top,  for  /ow* 
read  to-wns.  P.  45,  marginal  note,  for  Mrs.  read  Mr.  before  Ruggles.  P.  78,  1.  8 
At\t  andhtiore:  became.  ¥.()<)  znA  102,  ioT  Delborougb  Itzdi  De/borough.  P.  147,  for 
Yeiigcbs  read  Tcncho.  p.  180, 1.  8  from  the  bottom,  for  cwned  read  a-votved.  P.  204, 
1.  23,  for  charge  read  charged.  P.  243  and  244,  for  JVek.pang  read  Wekafaug.  P.28l» 
in  the  fide  note  for  Sept.  read  Augujl.  P.  285,  for  miii:efivtzd.  iwrtb-wefl.  P.  343,  L 
5  read  o/before  Jure.  P.  421, 1.  10,  from  the  bottom,  for  them  read  the  planters.  P. 
427, 1.  9  for  in  read  at  before  the  feffion.  P.  478,  L  21  for  they  read  the  mtrchantit 
p.  518, 1.  14.  fcr  Bntmetf  read  Burnet. 


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