USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 6
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The Governor was desired, in the name of the General Oct. Sting Assembly, to write to the agents Dummer and Belcher, that 1729. they were unwilling to surrender their charter : for they accounted it the choicest part of their inheritance, and that agents. they should not upon any terms be persuaded to part with it ; and that they would therefore avoid all occasion of haz- arding it. He was particularly to represent to them, that they were greatly concerned respecting the conduct of the
Instruc- tions to the
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Book II. Assembly of Massachusetts, fearing that it would have an ill influence on their affairs if it should be brought into the 1799. parliament. Therefore to instruct the agents to use their utmost caution that they should not be, in the least degree, involved with the Massachusetts, when their affairs should be brought into parliament. The Governor was further to instruct the agents, that if upon mature consideration they should judge that the charter would be endangered by their going into parliament, that then they should suspend the affair for the present, and until they should have fur- ther instructions from the Assembly. But if the agents should be of the opinion, that the colony might with safety petition the parliament to continue their ancient law, that then they should pray for the same : or if they should judge that the parliament would be more easily induced to enact that the descent of their lands should be to the sons only ; to the eldest a double portion, and to the younger single shares, then that this should be matter of the petition. But if nothing further could be obtained than a confirmation of what their courts of probate had already done, that they should pray for that only. This they judged must be left to the fidelity and prudence of their agents .*
The agents conducted the affairs of the colony with such wisdom and success that the charter was preserved and the colony were allowed to proceed in their former practice with respect to intestate estates. The agents were the next year both dismissed from the service of the colony. Mr. Dummer was dismissed on account of his ill state of health, which obliged him to retire into the country. The colony returned him their thanks, for his many good ser- vices. Mr. Belcher, on the death of governor Burnet, was appointed Governor of Massachusetts, and arrived at Boston, the seat of his government, the beginning of Au- gust 1730.
May 1700.
At the session of the Assembly in May 1730, it was ex- pected that governor Belcher would assume his government before the session of the next Assembly, and Roger Wol- cott and James Wadsworth, Esquires, were appointed a committee to wait on his Excellency on the first notice of his arrival at Boston, and in the name and behalf of the Assembly, to congratulate him on his safe arrival at his seat of government ; and to render the thanks of the Assem- bly to him, for his great care and pains in his agency in behalf of the colony. They were also particularly to en- quire of him relative to the state of their affairs at the court of Great Britain.
Records of the Colony, volume v. under the years 1728 and 1729.
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At the session in October, Francis Wilkes, Esq. of the Book II. city of London, was appointed agent for the colony.
The favourable turn which their affairs had taken in the court of Great Britain, relieved the general anxiety rela- tive to the charter, and the dividing of inheritances, and gave peace and joy to the people.
CHAPTER V.
War with the Eastern Indians. Attempts to quiet them by treaty. The attack and plunder of Canso. A treaty with them is promised, but prevented by the measures of the house. Letter of the Indians to the governor. Death of Toxus. A new Sachem, and change of affairs. Attempt on Norridgewock. The Indians revenge the insult, cap- tivate a number of the English and burn Brunswick. War is proclaimed against them. Governors Shute and Bur- net apply to Connecticut for assistance in the war. The enemy surprise Canso and other harbors, and take a num- ber of fishing vessels. Elliot's and Robinson's success in attacking them. Remarkable deliverance of the captives. Attack on Arowsick Island. Westbrook's and Harman's expedition. Attempts of the English to engage the six na -. tions in the war against the Eastern, Indians. They send delegates to Boston: Coleby's action with the enemy. Attack on Scarborough, Falmouth and other places. Reso- lutions of the legislature of Connecticut relative to the war. Men killed in various places. Captain Winslow and his men killed, shallops and schooner taken. The English take and destroy Norridgewock. Numbers of men sur- prised and killed in various places. Application is made again to Connecticut for assistance. The reasons why the legislature would not join in offensive war. Captain Lov- ell's fight. Peace is made. Observations.
THOUGH a profound peace had been settled between Difficul- the two crowns of Great Britain and France, and it ties with was hoped that in consequence of it there would have been . 1 ans. the Indi- a long peace between the Indians and the English colo- nies, yet within a few years, there appeared to be consid- erable uneasiness and complaints among the Eastern In- dians. They had always been under French influence, and by them instigated to war against the English. Espe- HI
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Book II. cially, father Ralle, a French jesuit, who was minister to the Indians at Norridgewock, where he had gathered a. church, had great influence over them, and constantly em- ployed it in making them discontented, and in stirring them up to insult and annoy the English settlers. He was a man of great art and intrigue, and insinuated to the In- dians in that part of the country, that the English had en- croached on their lands ; that they had obtained them un- justly ; that the English traders among them, defrauded them, and that by vending strong liquors among them they- debauched their morals, and prevented the good work he was carrying on among them. It was therefore judged ex- pedient to treat with them to remove all matters of uneasi- ness, and to conciliate and confirm their friendship with the English. It was designed also, if possible, to draw" them off from the Roman catholic to the protestant reli- gion. For these purposes, governor Shute, the summer after his arrival at the seat of government, in Massachu- setts, met the Indians at Arowsick Island, accompanied by a number of the council of Massachusetts and New- Hampshire, and other gentlemen.
Treaty August 1717.
The governor opened the conference by presenting the with them, Indian's with a bible in English and Indian. He acquaint- ed them that this contained the religion of the English. Hle recommended to them Mr. Baxter, a minister, who went with them as a missionary, who, he represented to them, would explain the bible and instruct them in the principles and duties of religion. They readily replied, " That they loved their own ministers, and as to the bible they wished to be excused from keeping it : That God had given them teaching, and that if they should go from that they should displease God."
The Governor then proceeded to hear their complaints. They complained of encroachments upon their lands, and that so many forts were built. They alledged that, in a treaty at Canso, they understood that no more forts should be erected. They said they should be pleased with king George if no forts were built in the Eastern country. They acknowledged the title of the English to the lands on the west side of Kennebeck river; but said they were surc. that they had sold nothing on the east side of it. The Governor produced one of the original deeds given by their sachems. He assured them that the English would not part with an inch of land which belonged to them.
The Indians were so offended at this that they rose im- mediately, went to their canoes, apparently with great resentment, and passed to their head quarters upon another
CHAP. V.
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island. They left behind them an English flag, which the Book II. Governor had given them. In the evening several of them returned, with a letter from Ralle to the Governor, 1717. acquainting him that the French king did not allow that in any treaty he had given away the lands of the Indians to the English, and that he would protect the Indians against the English encroachments. The Governor acquainted them that he highly resented the insolence of the jesuit in intermeddling in the business. The Governor concluded that the treaty was at an end, and determined to return in the morning. But the old men were afraid of war. They were unwilling to leave their villages and accommodations at Norridgewock and Penobscot, and encamp in the woods ; or what was worse, depend on the French, who, when it would serve their interest, would flatter and cajole them ; but they said, treated them as dogs, when they had no im- mediate occasion for their services. These considerations induced them in the morning to send two messengers to the Governor, acknowledging that they had been rude and unmannerly in their yesterday's conference, and earnest- ly requesting to see him again. He assured them that he would see them upon no other terms than their renouncing their pretentions to the lands which belonged to the Eng- lish. The messengers promised that this should be done ; and in evidence of their desires to treat, expressed their wishes that the English colours which they had slighted might be returned. The Indians came again to the trea- ty, chose a new speaker, and expressed their willingness that the English should settle where their predecessors had. They confessed that some of their inconsiderate young men had violated the treaty made at Portsmouth in 1713. But they said they desired to live in peace, and to be supplied with such articles in trade, as were neces- sary and convenient for them. The governor assured them, that as the English would not part with their land, so they would not take any of the Indians' lands : That the forts were not built for their injury, but for the protec- tion both of the English and themselves : They renewed the treaty of 1713, and the conference ended.
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Notwithstanding this renewal of the former treaty, the Indians, were not quiet, but often insulting and menacing the inhabitants of the Eastern frontiers. They kept the frontiers in such a state of fear and alarm, that very little progress had been made in their settlement for about seven years after the general pacification. Within about three years after the renewal of the treaty at Arowsick, the na- tives became so troublesome, that most of the frontier set.
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Book II. tlements which had been made after the peace, were de- serted, and a new war with them was daily expected. The 1717. governor was for pacific measures. He wished that pres- ents might be made them, and that trading houses might be erected to supply them with all such things as were necessary and convenient. But such were the contentions between him and the house of representatives, that they prevented the measures which might otherwise have been adopted for the peace of the country. The house were so overheated with their controversy with him, that they seem to have done nothing coolly ; but they obstinately thwarted him in all his measures, however wise and pa- cific. The Indians therefore, under the influence of the French, and the frauds and impositions of the private English traders, became more and more exasperated, inso- lent and daring.
Canso sur- prised, Aug. 7th, 1720.
A party of them in 1720 fell upon Canso, within the pro- vince of Nova-Scotia, and killed three or four of the in- habitants, and plundered the settlement. They surprised the English in their beds and stripped them of every thing they could find. A number of Frenchmen, from Cape Breton, were in confederacy with them. They claimed the lands, and said they would carry off whatever they found upon them. The Frenchmen came the next night in their vessels and carried off the plunder. Among other articles, they carried off about two thousand quintals of fish. A sloop arriving the next day, the Captain offered his service to pursue them and make reprisals. He was soon furnished with men and with two or three small ves- sels. They overtook the French, and brought in six or seven small vessels which all had English property on , board. But the English were supposed to sustain a loss of twenty thousand pounds in the currency of that day, which was nearly as good as lawful money. Canso, in the summer was peopled in a great measure from Massa- chusetts, so that much of the damage was done to them. Complaints were made to the French governor at Louis- burg ; but he excused himself from intermeddling with In- dian affairs. He alledged that they were not French sub- jects, and no redress could be obtained.
The surprising of Canso alarmed the people in the Eas- tern part of Massachusetts, and Colonel Wanton was dis- patched with a party of soldiers for the defence of that part of the country. But the Indians continued their in- sults, killing the cattle of the inhabitants, and threatening the lives of the owners. But as the governor was yet, if possible, for preserving the peace of the country, hes
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with the advice of his council, gave orders to Colonel Book II. Wanton to acquaint the Indians that commissioners should be appointed to treat with them. The Indians appeared 1790. pleased with the proposal of a treaty, and agreed to attend. But before the time appointed for the treaty, the General Court were convoked. The house, when they came to- gether, resolved, that an hundred and fifty men, with suita- ble officers, should forthwith be ordered to march to Nor- ridgewock, and compel the Indians who should be there, or in those parts, to make full satisfaction to the English for the damages which they had done, by killing their swine and sheep, or by stealing provisions and clothing, or by injuries which they had otherwise done them. They also resolved that the sheriff of the county of York should have a warrant for seizing Ralle, the jesuit, and bring him to Boston. If he could not be found, the Indians were to be commanded to bring him in, and resign him to the sheriff. If the Indians should refuse a compliance with these demands, the commanding officer was directed to take the most effectual measures to apprehend the Indians. who should refuse and bring them to Boston.
Governor Shute considered this, in effect, a declaration of war, and an invasion of his prerogative as commander in chief, and as a measure which would prevent the treaty on which he had agreed with the Indians. He foresaw that a new war would certainly be the consequence. He was therefore totally opposed to the resolution. The council also, as they wished for peace, refused to concur with the house.
This conduct of the house prevented the treaty. The Indians continued their insults, but yet there was no open war.
. The next year about two hundred Indians, with two Aug. 1721. French jesuits, under French colors, came to Georgetown, the Gov- Letter to on Arowsick Island, and left a letter for the governor, ernor. containing heavy charges against the English. It com- plained of them for unjustly invading their property, and taking away from them the country which God had given them. Mr. Ralle, their spiritual father, was their patron also in these affairs. But either from a consciousness that they had conveyed the lands to the English, or from a de- sire of peace, perhaps under the influence of both, they seemed averse to war. But through the influence of Mr. Ralle and other Frenchmen, they would seem at turns to be filled with a high degree of resentment ; and would ap- pear on the very point of waging war, and yet they would cool down again and seem as though they would be quiet.
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BOOK II.
1721.
In this state of affairs, Toxus, sachem of the Norridge- wocks, died. The old men who were averse to the war, pitched upon Quikoniroumenit, to supply his place, who had always been of the pacific party. In consequence of this choice and the influence of the old men, hostages were sent to Boston, as sureties for their good behaviour and for the payment of the damages which the Indians had done.
French at- tempt to excite the Indians to srar.
Nothing could have been more disagreeable to father Ralle than these measures. He immediately wrote letters to the governor of Canada, acquainting him with the disa- greeable measures adopted by the Norridgewocks. The governor was alarmed at these proceedings of the Indians at Norridgewock, and with father Ralle spared no pains to rouse them to war. Vaudreuille disapproved of the choice which they had made of their sachem, and of their sending hostages to the English. He represented that they had betrayed the interest of their tribe, and that the utmost care should be taken to prevent so great a misfor- tune as the submission of the Norridgewocks to the Eng- lish. He went immediately, on the reception of the news of the change among the Norridgewocks, for Montreal, St. Francois and Besancour, and prevailed with the In- dians in those several places vigorously to support their brethren at Norridgewock, and to send messengers to let the English know, that if they continued their injuries, they should not have to contend with the Norridgewocks alone. He and the intendant wrote a letter to father Le Chase, a jesuit, to take a journey to Norridgewock, and Penobscot, to engage the Indians in those parts to be firm, and to support the cause in which they were engaged. 'They gave notice that it was determined to supply them with ammunition .* Massachusetts made heavy com- plaints of the French governor for instigating the Indians to war in a time of profound peace, between the two crowns, and for supporting them in their warfare. But he was able to justify himself to his master.
Ralle was considered by the English as an infamous vil- lain. His intrepid courage, his fervent zeal for the Roman Catholic religion, and for the interests of his sove- reign, were the principal causes of the prejudices of the In- dians. He contemned and often insulted the English. The French governor Vaudreuille, and Charlevoix, the French historian, seem to suppose, that the English settlers were mere intruders, and that the English nation were guilty of great injustice in dispossessing the aborigines of their country. But in this they were under a great mistake. * Gov. Hutchinson, II vol. p. 262, 263.
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The first settlers of Plymouth and Massachusetts made Book II. conscience of paying the Indians to their satisfaction for all parts of the territory which they settled, unless it were 1721. such as had been depopulated, deserted and left without a claimer.
The English charged the Indians with perfidy and breach of the most solemn engagements. The jesuit de- nied it and justified the Indians. He pretended that the Indians had been under duress in their treatics, and that the bargains made with them for their lands were unjust.
In this state of affairs the General Court came together, August 23. and resolved that three hundred men should be sent to the head-quarters of the Indians, and that proclamation should be made, commanding them, on pain of being prosecuted with the utmost severity, to deliver up the jesuits and the other heads and fomenters of their rebellion, and to make satisfaction for the damage they had done : and that if they refused to comply, as many of their principal men as the commanding officer should judge necessary, should be seized, together with Ralle, or any other jesuit, and sent to Boston; and that if any opposition should be made, force should be opposed to force. The council concurred, and the governor was persuaded to give his consent. Judge Sewall scrupled the lawfulness of the resolution, and en- tered his protest against it.
The governor, though he had consented to the resolu- tion, yet as the hostages were still in the hands of the le- gislature, and as he wished to preserve the peace of the country, gave no orders for raising the men. But the hostages not long after making their escape from the cas- tle where they had been kept, he considered war then as inevitable, and gave orders for raising the men. The hostages were taken and sent back, and the orders were countermanded. The governor had promised the Indians that trading houses should be erected, that smiths and ar- mourers should be sent down at the expense of the pro- vince, and that they should be supplied with clothes, pro- visions and other necessary articles, in exchange for their furs and skins. Though this seems to have been a pacific and judicious measure, yet as the house would not approve of it, and the general court, on whom he depended to ena- ble him to fulfil his engagements, would not assist him, nothing of that nature could be done.
When the General Court met again in November, the General house expressed their dissatisfaction, that the governor had not carried into execution, the resolution of the whole court, with respect to the Indians, and resolved, That the
Court, Nov. 1721.
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Book Il. government had sufficient reason for prosecuting them for' their many breaches of covenant. The council, after some explanations of the resolution, concurred. The conse- quence was the sending of a party of men to Norridgewock. 'The Indians it seems, had been apprised of their coming, and had taken care of their spiritual father, and fled with him into the woods. No Indians were to be found, and the party effected nothing more than plundering father Ralle of a number of his books and papers.
This insult on one of the chief towns of the Indians, and the plundering of their beloved father Ralle, they did not suffer to remain long unrevenged. 'They did no mischief for several months, but were meditating revenge, and pre- paring to give the blow. The next year, they went with about sixty men in twenty canoes into Merry Meeting Bay, and took nine families prisoners ; but they left no Bay. June marks of their usual rage and barbarity. Some of the prisoners they released immediately and others soon after. They were careful however to retain a sufficient number to make sure the return of their hostages.
. Another party made an attack upon a fishing vessel from Ipswich, as she lay in one of the Eastern harbours ; but as the fishermen were armed, they defended themselves .: They killed two or three of the party, and the rest re- treated.
About the same time the collector of the customs at An- napolis Royal, Mr. Newton, with John Adams, son to ond of the council for Nova-Scotia, as they were going thence with Captain Blin, went ashore at one of the Passimaquo- dies, and were all taken prisoners, with a number of other passengers, by a party of French and Indians. The peo-' ple who were left on board the sloop cut the cables and made their escape to Boston.
Another party of Indians burned a sloop at St. Georges river. They took a number of prisoners, and attempted to surprise the fort.
Intelligence of these hostilities came to Boston while the General Court were in session ; but instead of that rage for war which had so remarkably appeared in the house before, under far less provocations, nothing more was proposed than sending the hostages, which the Indians had given, back to the Eastward, to be set at liberty upon the restoration of the English captives ; and sending a message to the Norridgewocks, demanding the reasons of their conduct, the restoration of captives and satisfaction for damages.
The friends of the English, who had been captivated,
Prisoners taken at Merry Mecting 1722.
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were importunate with the government to take effectual Book II. measures for their restoration. With a view to this, it is probable that a declaration of war was so long delayed. 1722. While the General Court were sitting, or soon after, the Indians burnt Brunswick, a village between Casco bay and Kennebeck. Captain Harman, who was posted on the frontiers, with part of his forces pursued them, killed a number, and took fifteen of their guns. On the arrival of Declara- this news at Boston, the governor immediately, by the ad- tion of war vice of his council, published a declaration of war.
July 25th, 1722.
The General Court had been prorogued until August. Aug. 8ths. When it came together the governor represented the ne- cessity of laying aside all animosities, private piques and self interest, that there might be an unanimous and vigo- rous prosecution of the weighty affairs which were before them. He particularly remarked, that he feared if his hands and the council's were not left at greater liberty than they had lately been, affairs would be carried on with little or no spirit. The house approved of the governor's proclamation of war, and promised all necessary and cheerful assistance. It was determined that three hun- dred men should be selected and sent on an expedition to Penobscot, and that the rest of the troops should be sta- tioned at different posts on the frontiers. But notwith- standing the arrangements which had been made, the ene- my found means to surprise several parts of the country and to do much damage.
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