USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
The first grant from the crown of England, under which settlements were made in New England and Virginia, was dated April 10, 1606. By this charter, obtained by Sir Thomas Gates and associates, James I. granted them all the land in America lying between 34 and 45 degrees of north latitude. The patentees were divided into two compa- nies, called the London and Plymouth companies, to the for- mer of which were assigned the southern part of the territory, and to the latter the northern. These divisions were denom- inated North and South Virginia.
The people who first settled New England were dissenters from the church of England and of the sect denominated Pu-
.
.
.
15
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
ritans. This name was given them from their professing a purer way of worship, i. e., more Calvinistic than the establish. ed church. The sect had existed for more than half a cen- tury. They being rigidly persecuted during the reign of James I., and their ministers silenced, many of them fled to the continent, that they might enjoy in peace their religious principles and worship. Mr. John Robinson and congrega- tion left the north of England, in the spring of 1608, and took up their abode in Amsterdam. But on account of some dif- ference with another congregation, under Mr. Smith, they re- moved to Leyden. Here they lived in harmony, and were unmolested ; but thinking their posterity would be lost among the Dutch, they resolved to remove to America. These ad- venturers attempted to procure a patent under the Virginia company, but found it very difficult on account of their reli. gious opinions. They finally otained one in the name of John Wincob; but he failing to remove to America, it was of no use, and they resolved to remove without one.
The first colony, consisting of only a part of Mr. Robin. son's congregation, sailed from Holland on the 12th of July, 1620, in the Speedwell, for Southampton, in England, where they joined the Mayflower, a ship of 180 tons, which they chartered for the enterprise. They left that port on the 5th of August ; but the Speedwell being very leaky, they were obliged twice to put back for harbor. Condemning her as unseaworthy, they all embarked in the Mayflower, and sailed from Plymouth on the 6th of September. After a long and boisterous passage, they made land at daybreak, November 9, 1620, (O. S.) which proved to be Cape Cod. It was their intention to have landed at Hudson river, but the captain, Jones, was bribed by the Dutch to take them northward of their destination. Their patent being useless, they, on the 11th, formed themselves into a body politic, and drew a con- stitution, or compact, which was signed by 41 persons .* Mr. John Carver was chosen governor for one year. After ex- ploring the country for a number of days, on the 11th of De- cember, they found a good harbor, where, on the 20th, they landed and began their settlement, giving it the name of PLYMOUTH, after the name of the town which they last left in England. The whole number of persons in the colony was
* The 22d of December is annually celebrated at Plymouth as the . "forefather's day," which corresponds to the 11th, Old Style.
.
16
HISTORY OF THE
101, who were divided into 19 families, each of whom built their own cottage. They suffered so severely from colds, and the want of suitable provisions, that in less than four months one half of their number were dead. Under such in- auspicious circumstances was commenced the first English colony in New England. It continued a separate govern- ment for 72 years, till annexed to Massachusetts, in 1692.
Colonization thus commenced, though attended with diffi- culties and great mortality, other settlements soon followed. The towns of Dover and Little Harbor, on the Piscataqua, were begun in 1623, the first settled towns in New Hamp- shire ; Salem, in 1627, the first permanent town in Massachu- setts colony. The settlement of Charlestown was commen- ced in 1629, by 100 persons, who removed from Salem. Early in July, 1630, a fleet of twelve ships arrived at Charles- town, with 840 passengers, some of whom were from the west of England, but mostly from the vicinity of London. In this fleet came Governor Winthrop, Deputy-Governor Dudley, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and other men of wealth and influence, and many of the people who were eventually some of the first settlers of Milford, Branford, and Stamford. It was the intention of the company to have settled at Charles- town; but an epidemic sickness prevailing there at the time, they scattered and settled in various places. Mr. Warham and congregation located themselves at Matapan, afterwards called Dorchester. Sir Richard Saltonstall, with Mr. Philips and people, "ascended Charles river and settled at a well- watered place," hence it was called Watertown. Mr. Philips was from Boxford, county of Essex, and most of these plant- ers were from the same county. Their church was gathered August 27, 1630. Others settled at Shawmut, which they called Trimountain, from the contiguous hills, afterwards ex- changed for Boston. To this place Gov. Winthrop and most of his assistants soon after removed their families. Mr. Pyn- cheon and others settled Roxbury. The next year the Boston people began the plantation of Newtown, afterwards called Cambridge.
Colonization now began to progress with unexampled ra- pidity. The established settlements received large accessions and new plantations were begun. The opposition which yet continued in England towards the dissenters,-the silencing of their clergy,-the fines and imprisonments to which they were subjected, caused thousands to flee to America. Emi-
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN. * 17
gration had become so general, that in April, 1637, the king issued a proclamation to restrain the disorderly transportation of his subjects to the American colonies. It commanded that no license should be given them without a certificate that they had taken the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, and conformed to the discipline of the established church. A fleet of eight ships was soon after stopped, which were lying in the Thames and ready to sail. In one of these ships were actually embarked Oliver Cromwell, Sir Arthur Hazlerig, John Hampden, John Lambert, and others who afterwards figured under the commonwealth. Charles little suspected, that by this arbitrary measure he was detaining men destined to overturn his throne, and to terminate his days by a violent death. But notwithstanding the royal order, great numbers yearly reached New England.
The first settlements in Connecticut were commenced in 1635, by Massachusetts people. The colonies of Water- town, Dorchester, and Newtown, had become crowded by the accession of new planters, whereupon many thought it advi- sable to leave, and commence new plantations. Having ob- tained a knowledge of the rich alluvion tract on the river Con- necticut, and that the uplands were of good quality, they resolved to remove there. The people from Watertown took up a tract of fine natural meadow, at a place called by the Indians Pauquiaug, where they laid out their plantation, which was afterwards named Wethersfield, after a town of that name in England. Here a few Watertown men, the year before, erected two or three huts and remained during the winter. Thus it appears that this is the oldest town in Connecticut. Sir Richard Saltonstall was a particular patron of the settle- ment, and is said to have visited it in 1637 or 8.
The people from Dorchester began a plantation at Matta- neaug, near where the Plymouth men, the year before, had erected a trading-house. This displeased the Plymouth people, who considered their prior occupancy as giving them just title to the lands. But the difficulty was eventually set- tled by a fair remuneration. This settlement received the name of Windsor. A few people from Newtown made preparations this season for a settlement at Suckiaug, which was the beginning of the city of Hartford.
In October, a company of sixty men, women, and children, with their cattle, traveled by land to Connecticut, to join the plantations. Their goods and provisions were put on board 2*
HISTORY OF THE
of two small vessels, to go round by water. These vessels were wrecked on Brown's island, near Plymouth, and all on board perished. The people waited for their provisions till they were threatened with famine, and then most of them, about the first of December, went down the river, hoping to meet their expected supplies. Being disappointed, they em- barked in a vessel which they found lying at the mouth of the river, and after much suffering arrived at Boston. Some others went back to Massachusetts by land. Those who re- mained suffered severely, and were at times obliged to subsist on acorns.
In November of that year, John Winthrop, son of the gov- ernor of Massachusetts, built a fort and commenced a settle- ment on the west bank, at the mouth of the Connecticut river, under commission from Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook, and others, who held a patent of this tract of country from the earl of Warwick, one of the Plymouth company. This settlement was named Saybrook. Connecticut, in 1644, purchased the patent, with the fort and appurtenances, for the sum of £1600 sterling. During the year 1635, twenty sail of vessels arrived at New England, bringing 3000 passengers.
Early in the spring of 1636, the settlements on Connecticut river were prosecuted with energy. The people who had been there the fall before and returned again, went on accom- panied by many others. About the beginning of June, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, ministers at Newtown, now Cam- bridge, with their congregation, left that place and trav- eled to Connecticut, driving one hundred and sixty cattle through the wilderness. They settled at Suckiaug, now Hartford. At the close of the year, 1636, there were in the three towns of Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford, about 250 men, and 800 persons in the whole. These towns, at the first, bore the same names as those in Massachusetts, from which the settlers came. Their powers of government they at first derived from Massachusetts ; but finding they were beyond the limits of their patent, they formed themselves into a distinct commonwealth. Upon their purchase of Say- brook, and the patent held by Lord Say and Seal and others, they considered themselves invested with the full authority of a colonial government ; and this was the principal end for "which the purchase was made. In 1636, Roger Williams, being expelled from Massachusetts for his religious tenets, began a plantation at Mooshausick, which he named Provi-
-
.
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
$ 19
dence .* The settlements at Connecticut, had hardly been made a year, before they were troubled by the Pequot Indians, a powerful tribe located on the tract lying for some miles on each side of the Thames. The harbor of New London was formerly called Pequot harbor.
In April, 1637, a party of these Indians went up the Con -. necticut in canoes, and surprising a number of persons mn Wethersfield, as they were going into the field, killed. six men and three women.' They took two young women pris- oners, daughters of Mr. William Swaim, and killed twenty cows. Previous to this these Indians, at various places, had murdered a number of the English, and committed many depredations on their property ; and Massachusetts, the year before, had made a hostile excursion against them, under-Capt. Endicott, without much effect. This expedition gave dissat- isfaction to the settlers at Plymouth and Connecticut, who complained to the governor of Massachusetts, that it would exasperate the savages, without being of any use towards subduing them. Such proved to be the case, and the contin- ued murders committed by this warlike tribe, induced all the colonies to unite in an expedition against them.
After the murder at Wethersfield, the Connecticut people. sent letters to the government of Massachusetts, urging the continuation of the war to a more decisive conclusion. Prep- arations were accordingly made in that colony and Plymouth. But as it was, Connecticut was foremost in executing the de- sign, for on Wednesday, the tenth of May, Capt. Mason, with ninety men from Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, near half the effective men in the colony, went down the river, being joined by Capt. Underhill at Saybrook, and by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, the enemy of the Pequots. Sailing around to the Narraganset shore, they landed, and being joined by 500 Indians of that tribe, who wished to see the Pequots exterminated, they marched by moonlight to the Pe- quot fort, and arriving just at dawn of day, attacked it by surprise. Capt. Mason entered and set fire to the wigwams, and killed or took prisoners most of the Indians, amounting to six or seven hundred, with the loss of only two men. Sas-
+ Religious intolerance was soon found in America, and those very persons who had suffered greatly in England for their religious opinions, soon as they were settled began to persecute other sects, and all of their own who differed from them in any of their pecu- liar tenets.
·
.
20
HISTORY OF THE
sacus, the sachem, and the Indians of the tribe who were in another fort when the massacre took place, being panic struck, destroyed their fortifications, fled and took refuge in a swamp at Sasco, now Fairfield, near the village of Southport. A body of men being joined by the troops from Massachusetts, under Capt. Stoughton, pursued them, killed some and took others; a few only of the bravest, and Sassacus one of them, escaping, fled to the Mohawks. They met with an unfavora- ble reception from that tribe, who killed them and sent the scalp of Sassacus to Connecticut. The few Pequots who es- caped destruction were divided between the Narragansets and Mohegans, and their existence as a distinct tribe was for- ever annihilated.
This was the first contest with the Indians in New England. Whether the proceedings of the colonists were reconcilable with the principles of justice, it is not necessary to discuss ; but humanity demands a tear on the extinction of a valiant tribe, which preferred death to what they might naturally ex- pect from the progress of the English settlements,-subjuga- tion or expulsion. In the view of the colonists, the example of the Jews dispossessing and slaying the Canaanites, settled all doubts respecting the moral equity of killing Indians, or selling them in the West Indies for slaves ; "for the earth is the Lord's," and "the saints shall inherit the earth."
By pursuing the Pequots to the westward, the English be- came acquainted with the tract of country along the seacoast from Saybrook to Fairfield. It was reported to be a very fine region. This favorable report, and the consideration that they would be out of the jurisdiction of the other colo- nists, induced Mr. Eaton and his company, who emigrated from London to Massachusetts in 1637, to think of this part of the country as the place of their settlement. Accordingly, on the 30th of March, 1638, they sailed from Boston for Quinnipiac, and began the flourishing colony of New Haven.
At the time of the settlement of the colony, the Indians were quite numerous. At Guilford was a tribe under a sa- chem squaw. At Branford and East Haven was another. At East Haven was a famous burying ground, which they visited, and kept up many years. At Milford, Derby, Strat- ford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich, their numbers were formidable. At Derby were two large clans; at Paugusset one of them had a strong fort for defense against the Mohawks, on the bank of the Housatonic river, near a mile
·
-
21
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
above the ferry. At Naugatuck Falls was another tribe. In Stamford were two or three tribes, who gave great alarm, trouble, and expense, to the English, numbering about 5000 people, of which 1000 were warriors. These Indians were tributaries to the Mohawks as far east as Branford. Two old Mohawks, every year, came to collect tribute, with as much authority and haughtiness as a Roman dictator. If they re- fused or neglected to pay tribute, the Mohawks would plun- der, destroy, and carry captive at will. When they came, the tributaries would raise the cry of " A Mohawk ! A Mo- hawk !" and flee like sheep before wolves, while the Mo- hawks would exclaim, " We are come to suck your blood !" When they could not reach their forts, they would enter the English houses for shelter, and, if they had time to shut the door, they were safe; but the pursuers would often follow so close as to enter with them, and slay them before the family. About the time of the settlement of Milford, the Mohawks surprised the fort at Paugusset. When nearly arrived, for the greater secrecy, they traveled in the river. After killing and taking captive whom they would, they returned to their castles above Albany. Being harassed, oppressed, and slaugh- tered by the Mohawks and Pequots, the Indians along by the sea were friendly to the settlement of the English, expecting their protection. They were subject to the Mohawks as far eastward as New Haven, and beyond that to the Pequots.
The old jurisdiction of New Haven consisted of the fol- lowing towns, viz :- New Haven, Milford, Guilford, Bran- ford, Stamford, and Southhold, on Long Island. Some of these towns, at their first settlements, were separate judiciary bodies, and independent of each other ; but, prompted by the motive of self-preservation, that they might more efficiently defend themselves from the assaults of the Indians, they uni- ted in a general government .. The confederation was about five years in forming. Stamford and Southhold, probably at their first settlement, considered themselves as belonging to New Haven. Guilford was the next member of the confed- eracy. At a general court in April 5th, 1643, it appears that considerable progress was made in the laws and govern- ment of the colony. Deputies were admitted to the court, and addition was made to the number of magistrates. Stam. ford, for the first time, sent representatives,-Capt. John Un- derhill and Mr. Richard Gildersleeve. Mr. Raynor was ap- pointed a magistrate by the court for Stamford, and Mr. Des-
.
22
HISTORY OF THE
borough for Guilford. In that year, Milford joined the confed- eration. This plantation met with some difficulty and delay in gaining admission, as appears by the following curious doc- ument, copied from New Haven colony records, lib. 1, page 71 :-
A Generall Court held at New Haven the 23rd of October, 1643. Whereas this Plantation att first with generall ande full consent layde their foundations thatt none butt members of aproved Churches should be accounted free Burgesses, nor should any else have any vote in any Election, or power or trust in ordering of Civill affayres, in wch. way we have constantly proceeded hitherto in our whole Court wth. much comfortable fruite through God's Blessing. And whereas Stamforde, Guilforde, Yennicock, (Southhold,) have upon ye same foundations and ingagements, Entred into Combination wth. vs .- This Court was now informed thatt of late there have beene some meetings and treatyes between some of Milforde ande Mr. Eaton about a Combination by which it appeareth thatt Mil- forde hath formerly taken in as free Burgesses, six Planters who are nott in Church ffellowship, wch. hath bred some difficulty in the passages of this treaty ; butt att present it stands thus,-The Depu- ties for Milforde have offered in the name both of the Church ande Towne, First-thatt the present six free Burgesses who are nott Church members shall nott at any time hereafter be chosen either Deputies or into any Public trust for the Combination. Secondly, thatt they shall neither personally nor by Proxie vote att any time in the Election of Magistrates. Ande Thirdly, thatt none shall be admitted ffreemen or free Burgesses hereafter att Milforde butt Church members, according to the practice of New Haven; Thus farr they granted, butt in two perticulars, they ande the said six ffreemen desire Liberty. First yt. the said six ffreemen being already admitted by them, may continue to act in all proper perticular towne business wherein the Combination is nott interested, ande Secondly thatt they may vote in the Election of Deputies to be sent to the Generall Courte for the Combination or Jurisdiction wch. soe to be chosen ande sent shall alwayes be Church members. The Premises being seriously considered by the whole Courte, the Breth- ren did express themselves as one man clearly ande fully thatt in the foundation layde for Civill government they have attended their Lights, ande should have failed in their dutye had they done other- wise ande professed themselves carefull and resolved nott to shake the said Groundworks by any change for any respect-and Ordered thatt this their understanding of their way and Resolution to main- taine itt should be entred wth. their vote in this business as a Lasting Record. But not foreseeing any danger in yielding to Milforde wth. the forementioned Cautions, itt was by Generall Consent and vote ordered thatt the Consociation proceed in all things according to the premises.
The government for the whole jurisdiction appears to have been fully organized in 1643. This year, for the first time, the general court at New Haven are distinctly recorded, and
1
COLONY OF NEW HAVEN.
distinguished by the names of governor, deputy-governor, magistrates, and deputies. At the court which convened on the 26th of October, Mr. William Fowler and Edmund Tapp, of Milford, were chosen magistrates, and on the succeeding day the Articles of Confederation for the jurisdiction were drawn and passed. The record of which is as follows :
A Generall Court held at New Haven for the Jurisdiction, the 87th of October, 1643.
PRESENT.
Magistrates.
Deputies.
Theophilus Eaton, Governor.
George Lamberton ?
Stephen Goodyear, Deputy.
N. H.
Nathaniel Turner
Thomas Gregson.
John Astwood }
pr Milford.
William Fowler. ( M.
John Sherman S
Edmund Tapp.
William Leete
Thurston Raynor, S.
Samuel Disbrough
pr Guilford.
Thomas Fugill, Sec.
N. H.
Richard Gildersleve
Tho. Kimberly, Marshall. S
John Whitmore. pr Stamford.
I. It was agreed and concluded as a fundamental order not to be disputed or questioned hereafter thatt none shall be admitted to be free Burgesses in any of the Plantations within this Jurisdiction for the future, but such Planters as are members of some or other of the approved Churches in New England; nor shall any but such free Burgesses have any vote in any Election (the six present freemen att Milforde enjoying the Liberty with the Cautions agreed.) Nor shall any power or trust in the ordering of any Civill Affayres be att any time putt into the hands of any other than such Church mem- bers; though as free Planters all have right to their Inheritance and to commerce according to such Grants, Orders and Lawes as shall be made concerning the same.
II. All such free Burgesses shall have power in each Town ande Plantation within this Jurisdiction to chuse fitt and able men from amongst themselves (being Church members as expressed before) to be the Ordinary Judges to heare and determine all inferiour Causes, wther. Civill or Criminal; provided thatt no Civill Cause to be tryed in any of the Plantation Courts in valne exceed 20s. ande that the punishment of such Criminals according to the minde of God revealed in his word touching such offences deo not exceed Stocking and Whipping, or if the fine be pecuniary thatt it exceed not five pounds, in wch. Court the magistrate or magistrates, if any be chosen by the free Burgesses of the Jurisdiction for thatt Plan- tation, shall sitt and assist with due respect to their place, ande sen- tence shall pass according to the vote of the major parte of each such Courte, onely if the partyes or any of them be nott satisfyed wth. the Justice of such sentences or Executions, appeals or com- playnts may be made from ande agaynst these Courts to the Courts of Magistrates for the whole Jurisdiction.
III. All free Burgesses in the Jurisdiction shall have a vote in the Election of Magistrates, whether Governour, Deputy Governour or other Magistrates, with a vote for Treasurer, Secretary and Mar- shall, &c. for the Jurisdiction, and for the case of such Burgesses, ande especially in remote plantations they may vote by proxi by
25
pr New Haven.
.
24
. HISTORY OF THE
sending in their votes, which votes shall be sealed in the presence of the free Burgesses, and the free Burgesses may chuse for each plantation as many magistrates as the situation of affayres may require, and no plantation shall be left destitute of Magistrates if they desire one chosen out of those in church fellowship with them.
IV. All the Magistrates for the whole Jurisdiction shall meete twice a yeare att New Haven, on the Monday immediately before the sitting of the two fixed Generall Courts hereafter mentioned to keep a Court called a Court of Magistracy for the tryal of weighty ande capitall causes whether civill or criminall above those sub- mitted to the ordinary Judges in the particular plantations, and to receive and try appeals brought to them from the Plantation Courts, and to call the Inhabitants, whether free Burgesses, free Planters or others to account for the breach of any Laws established ande for other misdemeanors, and to censure them according to their offence. Less than four Magistrates shall nott compose a Court-but it is required and expected all the Magistrates to attend of the Jurisdic- tion. If not present they shall be liable to a fine of 20s. unless excused on account of God's Providence preventing. Appeals and complaints can be made from this to the Generall Court as the last resort.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.