USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Norwich jubilee. A report of the celebration at Norwich, Connecticut, on the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town, September 7th and 8th, 1859. With an appendix, containing historical documents of local interest > Part 14
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There was no remedy but by a sudden, sharp and terrible vengeance, severely to punish this band of pirates, and destroy them in their den. Any half way measures would have only exasperated this desperate foe. As soon would I sympathize with the Sepoys of India in their barbarities, and deplore the severity of the British, as join in the silly and senseless sentimentalities over the hard fate of the Pequots and their bloody and treacherous leader.
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The terror with which Sassacus and his followers had inspired the other tribes of Indians, was transferred to Mason. Prince says that "He soon became the equal dread of the most numerous nations, from Narragansett to Hudson's river."
The result of this war, in connection with the temperate and judicious management of Indian affairs, which were almost entirely committed to the charge of major Mason, was an uninterrupted peace with the Indians for forty years in this and other colonies.
Who, then, shall say that our ancestors did not act wisely and humanely, as they did courageously and vigorously in this brief and bloody contest?
In the several narratives of this war, both cotemporaneous and subsequent, not a word is said to the disparagement of Mason, but those that differed as to the merits and claims of others all con- curred in their expression of admiration of the ability and cour- age of the leader. The cotemporaneous sentiment was also one of approbation of the course pursued.
Gardiner, indeed, in his narrative of the Pequot war, complains that the merits of major Mason had not been sufficiently appre- ciated elsewhere. He says-" One New England twelve penny chronicle is stuffed with a catalogue of the names of some as if they had deserved immortal fame, but the right New England military worthies are left out for want of room; as major Mason, captain Underhill, lieutenant Seeley, &c., who undertook the des- perate way and design of Mystick fort," &c.
Underhill, in his history, says-"Captain Mason and myself entering into the wigwams, he was shot and received many arrows against his head piece. God preserved him from many wounds."
P. Vincent, in a relation of the battle, published in London in 1638, vindicates the severity, and he says -- " Mercy mars all some- times. Severe justice must now and then take place. The long forbearance and too much lenity of the English towards the Vir- ginian savages had like to have been the destruction of the whole plantation."
" Time would fail," says the reverend Samuel Niles, in his sum- mary historical narrative of the wars in New England, "to enu- merate the many instances of divine direction, manuduction, suc- cesses and salvation granted to this small handful of men in this conflict and enterprise." After speaking of Miles Standish, he
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says-"The other renowned commander I aim at was the victorious captain John Mason, of whose heroic conquests we have just been speaking. Though he was bred to arms, as before remarked, yet he did not equip himself with arms and the weapons of war till it was absolutely necessary, and in the defense of a small people, then in their beginnings, who otherwise, according to all rational probability, must quickly have been entirely cut off."
He adds-"I have the rather and indeed longer insisted on the topic relating to these honorable first commanders in the country, with the intent that their memories may be impressed on the minds of posterity, with a grateful sense of the mercy of God shining illustriously in them, and their names and deeds, though they themselves are long since dead, yet they live in the memory of ages yet to come, and with embellished figures in the annals of New England."
Roger Wolcott, in a poem called "a brief account of the agency of the honorable John Winthrop, esq., in the court of king Charles the second, 1662," gives a very full and heroic account of the Pequot war and of major Mason. He says-
" The army now drawn up. To be their head Our valiant Mason was commissioned ; Whose name is never mentioned by me, Without a special note of dignity."
The poem concludes with the answer of the king to the applica- tion of Winthrop :-
"Be it so then, and we ourself decree Connecticut shall be a colony,
Enfranchised with such ample liberties, As thou, their friend, shall best for them devise; And further know our royal pleasure thus, And so it is determined by us, Chief in the patent, Winthrop, thou shalt stand, And valiant Mason place at thy next hand."
Dr. Dwight, speaking of this Pequot war, says-"Few efforts made by man have been more strongly marked with wisdom in the projection, or with superior courage and conduct in the execu- tion. Every step appears to have been directed by that spirit and prudence which mankind have with one voice regarded with ad- miration and applause in the statesman and the hero."
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And the venerable Roger Williams said to him-" When the Lord drew the bow of the Pequot war against the country," "the Lord made yourself and others a blessed instrument of peace to all New England."
Major Mason indulged in no indiscriminate hostility to the In- dians. He was as just and moderate and discriminating, as he was vigorous and firm in his dealings with them.
We have heard what he said of Uncas in his attack of the Pe- quots. In another place he adds-" All our Indians except Un- cas deserted us." This courageous and faithful chief, with all his tribe, remained ever friendly and constant to his engagements. He found in major Mason a warm friend during his whole life. This however did not prevent the major, at a subsequent period, when he apprehended a combination among the Indian tribes, from adopting the course which he thought prudence required. He recommended the disarming of the so called friendly Indians, and commenced with the Mohegans. Owaneco readily complied with his request, and as Mason says, "never stuck at it, but consented at the first motion."
In the same letter he recommends that the suspected Indians be "thoroughly examined, and as matters shall be, thoroughly dealt with ; not as if we were afraid of them or of the French." " "T is good to kill such birds in the egg," &c.
Roger Williams, in a letter to John Winthrop, jr., written in 1649, says-" Last night one of the Pequots brought me very pri- vately letters from captain Mason." * * * " The letters are kind to myself, acknowledging loving letters (and tokens upon the burning of his house) he had received from me,"
* * " but terrible to all the natives and especially to the sachems," &c.
Although terrible to the Indians, he was never guilty of acts of cruelty or injustice toward them.
Time will allow us to add in relation to the military services of major Mason but a few words more.
On the 8th of March, 1637, an order was passed by the general court at Hartford that captain Mason should be " a public military officer of the plantations of Connecticut," with a salary of £40 per annum. This position he occupied until within two years of his death, a period of about 35 years. He continued during the whole period the highest military officer in the colony. He had
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no high sounding title; at first it was that of captain, and after- ward that of major, and so continued; and as he was the only major in the colony, he was often named in the public acts of the court as "the major," no other designation being necessary to dis- tinguish him.
All the male inhabitants above the age of 16, with the exception of the commissioners and church officers, were obliged, by law, to bear arms, and were placed under the orders of Mason, who was authorized to train them ten days in the year. It was thus almost literally true that every man was a soldier, and under the training of so strict a disciplinarian and so competent a leader, there were no better soldiers. But not only had he, under these modest titles, the highest and most ample military authority, but on some occasions the general court, usually slow in granting dis- cretionary powers to any one, conferred upon him almost the authority of a dictator.
As the post of most importance and greatest danger, he removed to Saybrook, and by order of the court his pay was continued. It was also ordered by the general court in June, 1647, " that cap- tain Mason should, for the peace, safety and good assurance of this commonwealth, have the command of all soldiers and inhabitants of Saybrook, and in case of alarm or danger by approach of our enemy, to draw forth a part of the said soldiers and inhabitants in such posture for the defense of the place as to him shall seem best."
Similar orders were given in the year 1652, in which they em- powered captain Mason, for the defense of Saybrook, "to call forth men and means suitable, and upon refusal, to press such hands and other means as shall be necessary," &c.
Thus substantially and in fact, although not in form, the habeas corpus act was suspended, martial law was declared, and an abso- lute discretionary dictatorial authority for the time conferred upon captain Mason.
Our time will not permit us to give in detail the numerous and diversified military duties to which he was called during his long period of service.
It may be safely said that there was no man in the colony who could not have been better spared, and whose place could not have been more easily supplied. Nor were the general court
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unmindful of these services, or of the importance of major Mason to the infant commonwealth. Application having been made to him by some persons in the New Haven colony, to take charge of an enterprise for forming a colony on the Delaware, the following entry appears on the journal of the general court of the 9th of October, 1651.
" A letter being received from captain Mason, wherein he de- sires, among other things, the advice of the court, touching a mo- tion propounded by some of New Haven interested in Delaware design, for his assistance of them in that business, with some en- couragements for his settling there :"
" The court ordered that answer be returned in reference to the foregoing particular to the following purposes : That it is much in the desires of the whole court, that he would not entertain thoughts of removing his abode out of this colony, whereunto they can not give the least allowance or approbation, yet if his own desire be for the present service of that place, and their importu- nities continue for his employment there, the court can not wholly deny him or them; the work being that which they are willing to promote; but are content he shall attend the service for three months, provided he will engage himself to return within that time and continue his abode as formerly."
The general respect for him is also shown in a letter from the court to the commissioners of the united colonies, complaining of the Narragansetts having fired eleven bullets into a house, "in hopes, as they boasted, to have slain him whom we have cause to honor, whose safety we can not but take ourselves bound to pro- tect, our deputy governor, major Mason."
It would seem, too, that the major was much less careful of his own safety than the general court. The last of the instructions to him, when sent as the head of an expedition to Long Island, was, "we do not judge it convenient that you should in your own person make after any Indians in the woods," &c.
As a further testimony of their appreciation of Mason's services, and gratitude for them, the general court made him, at different times, grants of considerable tracts of land, to two of which only 'can we refer.
On the 5th of June, 1641, it was ordered "that captain Mason shall have 500 acres of ground for him and his heirs, about Pe-
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quot country, and the dispose of 500 more to such soldiers as joined with him in the service when they conquered the Indians there." And on the 11th of September, 1651, the following minute appears :-
" Also the island commonly called Chippachauge (now Mason's island) in Mystic bay, is given to captain John Mason, as also 100 acres of upland and 10 acres near Mystic, where he shall make choice." A portion of this island is still owned and occupied by the descendants of Mason.
But not only were the military affairs and the Indian affairs of the colony almost entirely entrusted to the charge of major Mason, or governed by his counsel. For a series of years he was a magis- trate and member of the general court. He was repeatedly elected and served as lieutenant governor, and for two years, during the absence of governor Winthrop in England, he was the acting governor of the colony. He was also one of the commis- sioners of the united colonies for the years 1647, '54, '55, '56, '57 and '61.
In all the important questions which arose during his long pub- lic life affecting the foreign relations of the colony, including its intercourse with its neighbors, as well as its most important inter- nal arrangements, I believe, without an exception, major Mason was called upon to perform an active part.
He was one of a committee to settle the boundary with Massa- chusetts, also the southern boundary of the colony, and in relation to the earnest controversy which arose with Roger Williams as to the eastern boundary. On the 9th of October, 1662, the general court ordered "that the inhabitants at Mystick and Paukatuck, shall from henceforth forbear to exercise authority by virtue of commis- sioners from any other colony, and in case of any differences that may arise, they repair to our worshipful deputy governor for help, and that they choose a constable for the year ensuing; and the constable to repair to our worshipful deputy governor for his oath."
It is evident that the general court considered " our worshipful deputy" as a host in himself, and, with one constable quite ade- quate to resist the encroachments of all Rhode Island, with the' venerable Roger Williams at their head.
The character of this controversy, which was violent and pro-
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tracted, may be seen by the correspondence, which is very volu- minous, and has been to a great extent preserved.
In 1670, major Mason, in a letter to the commissioners for Con- necticut, encloses some writings received from Roger Williams. In one of these letters, dated June 22d, 1670, Mr. Williams re- proaches the people and colony of Connecticut for "an unneigh- borly and unchristian intrusion," to which they were led "by their depraved appetites after the great vanities, dreams and shadows of this vanishing life, great portions of land in the wilderness," &c.
Mason, in his letter, recommends moderation. He says-".I am apt to think the proper right of Narragansett country belongs to Connecticut. But there seems notwithstanding so many twistings in the matter, and how they may be interpreted is doubtful and uncertain, besides the many hazzards that may attend the man- agement of this affair to a full issue, possibly to the effusion of blood, if not so already ; besides many other disasters which are not yet discovered. 'Tis also possible the toll may prove to be more than the grist. A wise man reckons the cost before he builds his house. Truly I am of that mind that the charge in recovering what is aimed at, if it should be gained, will amount in reason to more than the whole country, as it is now stated, will be worth, for it is barren in the general," &c.
He seems to think also no better of the people than of the land. He proceeds-" We must erect a government over a people that will come under no government, neither civil nor ecclesiastic, they being already in dispersed corners like the Swedes, so that there is no likelihood of any tolerable christianlike society to be settled amongst them." "And therefore for us to take so much pains, to run so great hazzard, and to be at so much trouble and charge upon so great uncertainty, to procure a nothing, nay, truly, that which is worse than nothing, in my conception," &c. "I speak not this that we may be dastardly cheated and befooled out of our rights, but that there may be a due and provident care so to de- mean ourselves that we may prevent after inconveniences." * * " I shall only commend this at present to your serious considera- tion, for matters of moment, you know, should be handled with ripe advice, poised consultation, and solid conclusions."
On the 5th of December, 1644, George Fenwick, esq., executed an agreement to transfer to the colony of Connecticut, the fort at
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Saybrook with its appurtenances. Major Mason was one of the parties to this important arrangement, acting as one of a com- mittee for the commonwealth; and subsequently the guns and other property at the fort were placed under his charge by the general court.
During the important and delicate negotiations connected with the union with the New Haven colony, major Mason was deputy governor, and on the 11th March, 1662, was appointed the chair- man of a committee, who were instructed "to go down to New Haven to treat with our honored and loving friends about settling their union and incorporation with this colony of Connecticut," &c. And at a general assembly on the 19th August, 1663, another committee was appointed, of which major Mason was the chair- man, by a resolution which assumed a higher tone, and conferred ampler authority upon the committee. The result of the wise and prudent arrangements thus made was the cordial union of the two colonies.
A letter having been received from Oliver Cromwell in relation to the formation of a martial force to conduct an expedition against the Dutch at New Netherlands, and major Robert Sedg- wick and captain John Sewitt having come to America with a com- mission from the lord protector to carry the enterprise into effect, the officers of the colony with the utmost alacrity promised their concurrence. A commission was issued to major Mason and cap- tain John Cullick, and full instructions given them under date of 13th June, 1654. They were instructed-" If you find the Massa- chusetts colony shall join with their due proportions of men with the other colonies, you may engage our meet proportion with them of men as near as you can, in order to the design according to the articles of confederation, provided the whole number from England and all the colonies exceed not 1,500. If the Massachusetts colony shall refuse to join in proportion in the aforesaid service, and upon debate it appears the other colonies, or those of them that shall join, may or are able to carry on the design with hopeful fruit of success, without the Massachusetts, you may engage this colony to join therein, provided the number of men to go out from us ex- ceed not 200, wherein you are to avoid volunteers what you may, but rather than the design shall fail, you may admit 400 or 500, provided they all engage to be under the command and at the dis- pose of such commanders as you shall appoint," &c.
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The result of this effort was that Massachusetts granted leave to raise 500 volunteers within its jurisdiction, and the Plymouth commissioners returned home for further instructions. " Under these circumstances the two commissioners for Cromwell, major John Mason and captain John Cullick for Connecticut, Mr. Lute and Mr. Jordan for New Haven, 'considering the necessity of expedition in that undertaking, did agree to sit as a council, and proceeded to treaty.' They found on inquiry that not more than 300 men could be relied on from Massachusetts, and considering that as yet it was uncertain how many Plymouth would supply, the commissioners from Connecticut and New Haven agreed with the rest to undertake the work with such force by sea and land as were in view, if no more could be procured ; hoping that (although the number should not rise to such a full or competent fitness for such an expedition as were to be desired, yet) we may rest upon the Lord for the blessing of success, whereas he now calls to the work and doth deny further means of help."
By the time the expedition was in readiness, peace was made between England and the United Provinces, and it was of course abandoned.
The courage and self-reliance manifested by the commissioners of the two Connecticut colonies are quite characteristic of major Mason and his associates, and were fully appreciated and sustained by those whom they represented.
It must be acknowledged, however, that this bold and warlike policy toward the Dutch was not unaccompanied at an earlier period by one of a more powerful character, and more in accord- ance with the recommendations in a letter of sir William Boswell, English embassador to the states general, dated Jan. 22, 1641-2, in which he advises-" That in the mean time the English there do not forbear to put forward their plantations and crowd on, crowding the Dutch out of those places where they have occupied, but without hostility or any act of violence."
Our worthy neighbors at New Netherlands have not ceased to complain not only that our forefathers crowded them out of their possessions on Connecticut river, but that this process of crowding has been continued to the present time, and has been manifested in
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every part of their acknowledged territory, and most of all in the great city of New York.
There was one subject, however, upon which major Mason did not seem to be informed, and so far as we see from the colonial records, the only one in the management of which he seems to have called for assistance, and that was the subject of witchcraft.
On the 15th of June, 1659, is the following entry on the records of the general court :- " Mr. Willis is requested to go down to Saybrook to assist the major in examining the suspicion about witchery, and to act therein as may be requested."
As we hear nothing more of the matter, and as the course pur- . sued with the witches was usually more mild and less bloody than in the neighboring colony, we may infer that the major manifested his usual moderation and good sense.
He also kept clear of all those heated ecclesiastical controversies which so much abounded in the colonies, and from which Connecti- cut did not escape. It was in relation to these controversies, doubt- less, that in one of the letters above referred to, he says :- " I have only one word or two to present: first that we look up to God to help us to see our evil and great folly in our needless strife and contention, and that we unfeignedly and heartily repent and speedily reform."
In relation to the connection of major Mason with the town of Norwich, I shall be very brief.
In 1645, while captain Mason was in command of the fort at Saybrook, the Mohegans were attacked by a large force of the Narragansetts, who surrounded them in their fort at Shawtok point, on the Thames, in order to reduce them by famine. It was then that Thomas Leffingwell, of Saybrook, devised and executed, doubtless under the sanction of captain Mason, the plan for the re- lief of the Mohegans, so well known, and so well described by Miss Caulkins in her history of Norwich.
It has been often stated that as a reward for this service, a deed was executed by Uncas to Leffingwell, of " a great part, if not the whole, of the town of Norwich." That this statement is not cor- rect is manifest from various considerations, and among others from the statements made by Mr. Leffingwell, in a petition to the general court, in May, 1667, seven years after the settlement of Norwich, in which, after referring to the hazard of his "outward comforts,"
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and the damage in his "outward estate," by the aid which he had furnished to Uncas, he says-" Upon these, and such like reasons, Uncas hath several times offered me some land for my recompense and just satisfaction, and hath expressed the same to the major, who is acquainted with the truth of these things," &c.
This petition was allowed, and 400 acres of land in Preston was granted to Mr. Leffingwell.
Captain Mason, as is well known, was by far the most promi- nent person in the company that removed from Saybrook and formed the town of Norwich. Since the Pequot war, he had, for most of the time, had the charge of the Mohegans, and was the friend and adviser of Uncas.
The deed of the town, which was executed on the 6th of June, 1659, by Uncas, Owaneco and Attawanhood, and of which a du- plicate original, with slight variations, was recorded by the secre- tary of the commonwealth, on the 20th of August, 1663, was exe- cuted in the presence of John Mason and Thomas Tracy.
This was the third town in Connecticut of which major Mason had been the founder. The other two were Windsor and Say- brook. And he was also one of the early and influential settlers of Dorchester, in Massachusetts.
During his residence in Norwich he filled the most important public offices in the colony. He was deputy governor and acting governor, one of the commissioners of the united colonies, the leading military officer of the colony, and discharged the numer- ous other important trusts to which we have had occasion to refer. The local affairs and offices of the town do not seem much to have engaged his attention, and so far as his acts are interwoven with the history of the town, they pertain to a province which has been assigned to the more ardent research and the more accurate inves- tigations of another.
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