USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 14
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To decide the question concerning the king's right to the Narraganset country as his colony, a commission met there on the 22d of August, 1683, consisting of Edward Cranfield, Esq., lieutenant- R 2
198 COL. DUGAN GOVERNOR OF N. YORK. 1683.
governor of New-Hampshire, and Messrs. Stough- ton, Dudley, Randolph, Shrimpton, Winthrop, Palms, Saltonstall, and Pyncheon, appointed by his majesty. After obtaining testimony from " the most ancient English and Indians then living," they made a full report, declaring that it belonged to Connecticut.
In the mean time, another difficulty arose con- cerning the same territory. Edward Randolph, Esq., laid before the commissioners at Boston the Marquis of Hamilton's claim to the Narraganset lands, having a power of attorney from the duke and duchess and the Earl of Arran, to sue for them for what they supposed had been granted to their ancestor in 1635. Answers were returned by the proprietors and the colony ; and, some years after, the opinions of several learned lawyers were ob- tained, adverse to the claim.
Connecticut was much afflicted by sickness this year, and a large number of parishes were depri- ved of their ministers by death. The harvest also was scanty ; and, with a desire to acknowledge the hand of God in this misfortune, a fast was appoint- ed, and the people were called upon to humble themselves before him. The proclamation says, " the dispensations of God towards his poor wilder- ness people have been very solemn, and awful, and speaking for many years past," and particularly at that time, in general sickness in most places, ex- cessive rains and floods in several plantations.
About this time a new governor had been sent from England to New-York. This was Colonel Dugan, on whose arrival the Assembly of Con- necticut sent a committee to congratulate him, and
199
1685.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
to settle the boundaries between the two colonies. This question was arranged on the 28th of Novem- ber, though the committee was not appointed before the 14th ; and the line was begun at Lyon's Point, at the mouth of Byram River, up that stream to " the wading-place," thence north and northwest eight miles from Lyon's Point, and thence to the line of Massachusetts, by a course to be laid down from other lines to be drawn. This was approved at the May session following ; the line was run in 1685 by Major Gould, Mr. Burr, and Mr. Selleck, and ratified by both parties.
The Assembly were informed, by letters from the king in 1683, that a conspiracy had been plan- ned against his majesty and the Duke of York ; and sent a letter expressing their abhorrence of such plots, saying they feared God and honoured the king.
A law against pirates was passed in 1684, in consequence of a letter from Lyonel Jenkins, Esq., demanding it in the king's name.
James II. having come to the throne in 1685, the Assembly addressed him a letter of condolence and congratulation, and praying the continuance of their civil and religious privileges.
But James was too little a friend to his subjects and his duty to regard the leading champions of freedom with favour. Having trampled on the rights of Englishmen at home with as little scruple as his predecessor had done in his later years, he soon began to oppress his subjects in America. Charters were disregarded by both monarchs, and those of the colonics were soon questioned by James. On the 6th of July, 1686, the Assembly
200
SCHEMES OF JAMES II.
[1686.
met at the governor's special call, in consequence of having heard of a writ of quo warranto, issued in the preceding year, summoning the governor and company of Connecticut to show by what war- rant they exercised certain privileges. The As. sembly addressed a letter to the king; and soon after Mr. Randolph arrived, with writs, when Mr. Whiting was appointed agent, with instructions to request the king that, in case the colony should be divided, the people might be secured in their prop- erty and privileges.
Another writ was presented on the 28th of De- cember, requiring appearance "within eight days of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin." Still, although that would have been impossible, the char- tered rights of the colony were again declared va- cated in case of non-appearance. The prospect was now very gloomy for Connecticut, as well as for the rest of New-England, whose charters were in danger of the same unceremonious and unjust violation by which nearly fifty corporations had been destroyed in England. How could a small colony expect to preserve its rights, when not only the corporation of Bermudas, but the city of Lon- don, had been robbed of their charters, after a trial in courts overawed by the king ?
And now, under the authority of the monarch, who was considered as bound by his creed to seek the overthrow of Protestantism, a new and general government had been formed for New-England ex- cept Connecticut. This was designed to subvert the whole system of the colonies, and to counteract and disappoint the philanthropic and noble designs of their founders. The commissioners were made
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1687.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
the ruling body, and Mr. Dudley was made their president by the king. The old charters were to be recalled, and the "King's Colony" was to be recognised, so that the Narraganset country would be lost to Connecticut. At the same time, new principles must be brought into action, of a charac- ter the opposite of those which had governed be- fore ; and what evils might not be apprehended ? Massachusetts had already resigned her charter, and Rhode Island had submitted to the king's wish- es. Here, then, was a period of peculiar trial for the people of Connecticut.
A third special meeting of the Assembly, held in January, 1687, committed the management of af- fairs to the governor and council ; and in June an- other met, on the receipt of a letter of a gloomy character from Mr. Whiting, in England.
The king had seen that, by directing the com- missioners, he might control the colonies ; and Mr. Dudley must obey, or soon leave his office. He went so far as to write to Connecticut that she had better resign her charter: but this she had not seen fit to do. Probably Mr. Dudley was too unwilling to injure the colonies to render him a fa- vourite with the king; and Sir Edmund Andross was ere long invested with the chief power, by being made governor of New-England, while Mr. Dudley was deprived of his office. The change was soon made : for Andross arrived at Boston on the 19th of December, 1685, and began to act as governor the next day. Two letters were sent by him to Connecticut, urging that the charter might be given up; and Colonel Dugan seconded the request. The Assembly, however, seemed re- solved to insist upon the rights of the colony.
202
THE CHARTER OAK.
[1687.
They had another meeting in October, and pro- ceeded in the usual manner, in obedience to the charter ; when a body of English regular troops, amounting to above sixty, came marching into Hartford, escorting Andross and his party. He came with the peremptory authority of his tyran- nical master, demanded the charter of the col- ony, and declared the Assembly dissolved. It is said that Governor Treat remonstrated and ar- gued at length, and that much time was occupied in debating what course to pursue, till evening ar- rived, and the discussion was continued by the Assembly in the presence of the imperious An- dross. It is reported by tradition that the meet- ing was held in a house which stood on a spot nearly opposite the present Middle Church; that the evening was warm, the front windows low and open, and crowded by spectators in the street. . The char- ter, which was so dearly cherished by all the peo- ple, had been produced, and lay on the table. At a signal given, several men in the street pulled off their light jackets, wound them in bundles, and threw them at the candles, which were instantly extinguished. They were soon relighted : but the contested document was gone, and all inquiry for it proved fruitless. Search was made, but no trace of it could be discovered ; and at length Andross, after taking the government on himself, was forced to return to Boston with his troops, entirely baffled in his nefarious project.
It was long before the charter came again to light. After King James's death, and when dan- ger had ceased, it was found concealed in the hol- low of a noble old oak-tree in front of the mansion
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1687.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
of the Hon. Samuel Wyllys, where it had been de- posited, in entire secrecy, by the patriotic and res- olute Captain Wadsworth, whose name will not fail to be remembered with respect and gratitude. The oak is flourishing still, although it was left on account of its great size when the forest was first cleared away ; and the charter is still preserved, with the case in which it was originally placed, in the office of the secretary of state.
CHAPTER XXV. 1687.
The Government of Connecticut dissolved by Andross .- His Council .- His oppressive Measures .- He denies Indian Deeds, and gives Patents for Estates .- Restrictions on Public Rights and Personal Liberty .- Condition and Prospects of the Peo- ple .- An important Change in their favour brought about by that Providence in which they trusted. - William made King of England .- Andross seized by the People of Boston .- The legal Government restored in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
THE loss of the charter did not prevent Andross from overthrowing the government ; and the As- sembly was dissolved, leaving only this record in the journal :
" At a General Court at Hartford, October 31st, 1687, his excellency Sir Edmund Andross, knight, and captain general and governor of his majesty's territories and dominions in New-England, by or- der from his majesty, James the Second, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, the 31st of October, 1687, took into his hands the govern-
204
HOPE IN ADVERSITY.
[1687.
ment of the colony of Connecticut, it being by his majesty annexed to Massachusetts, and other colo- nies under his excellency's government.
" FINIS."
We may imagine the melancholy feelings with which these words were written. The labours, self-denial, and perseverance of the planters of Connecticut were now apparently rendered entire- ly fruitless ; the exertions of two generations of devoted men to form a state on principles far more sound, pure, and philanthropic than any before ac- knowledged in a government, now seemed to have been in vain; and what hope could there be of their revival? An overthrow might have been looked for in Europe : but it had been hoped that, at such a distance and in such a wilderness, per- secution would not seek her victim. But there was nothing too obscure or remote to escape the hand of the foreign oppressors, where they had the power to extend it. It has always been so where tyrants have had power. It is not to be ima- gined, however, that the statesmen of Connecticut, even in such a time of gloom and foreboding, for- got the Rock in which their fathers had placed their trust. Christianity kindles an inextinguish- able hope in the soul, while it springs from an en- tire confidence in the Almighty which nothing can overthrow. Those pious men constantly practised on that humble but ennobling principle of the Gos- pel, which leads man to regard all events as under the control of his Heavenly Father, and every trial as a thing designed to encourage him in duty, and not to dishearten him.
Probably the leading statesmen of the colonies
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1687.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
had an understanding with each other, and agreed that they should retain all the influence which they honestly might, to prevent as much evil as possible. Andross, on his part, probably found that he could not at once proceed with all his meditated measures, and that the countenance of men of influence was necessary to him, at least for a time. He formed a council of about forty men, which he afterward increased to nearly fifty. Among them were four from Connecticut, viz., Governor Treat, John Fitz Winthrop, Wait Winthrop, and John Allen, Esqs.
Andross made the fairest promises, to quiet the fears of the people : but soon began to exercise the unlimited and irresponsible power which the king had given him. He would not allow truths dis- pleasing to him to be published, allowed none but magistrates to join persons in marriage, and sus- pended the laws made for the support of ministers. Finding that the people were opposed to such mcas- ures, he threatened to deprive them of their meet- ing-houses, and to punish any person who should give even twopence to a nonconformist minister. He greatly oppressed the poor, and the widows and orphans especially, by requiring all business rela- ting to wills to be settled at Boston, and raising the fee for the probate of a will to fifty shillings. Such measures he adopted without regard to his council, if they withheld their consent. Randolph and a few other subservient men, whom he had raised to it for his own purposes, adhered to him; and the people had no resort for relief. It was evident that arguments and petitions were as unavailing with the king, as those of the Waldenses and Al- bigenses had been with the popes.
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[1688.
OPPRESSIVE ACTS OF ANDROSS.
This is a period in the history of the colonies which the people will always have reason to re- gard with peculiar seriousness. The state to which they were reduced was one which seemcd to threaten the final destruction of liberty, civil and religious ; and there was no remedy within the power of man while the king retained his throne and disposition, and had unprincipled favourites to place over this country. Divine Providence was pleased to bring those afflictions to an end, though not until they had continued some time longer, and had been increased by several aggravations. The enemies of the colonies were not permitted to ob- tain a complete and permanent triumph : otherwise the inhabitants of New-England might have been to this day ignorant, superstitious, degraded, and op- pressed. The men of those times clearly under- stood their rights, and manfully sustained them ; and if their descendants wish to see from what condition they were saved by the intelligence and virtue of their ancestors, let them look at the mis- erable nations of Spain and Italy, and thank God that they have a different ancestry.
The year 1688 saw the people reduced to the lowest state of depression. Sir Edmund Andross was then made governor of New- York as well as of New-England ; and his domineering, tyrannical spirit displayed itself in a manner which led Hutch- inson to compare him with Nero. The charters having been now put out of the way, he began to think of seizing the property of the colonies. He declared that an Indian treaty was of no more value than " the scratch of a bear's paw ;" and gave notice that proprictors of estates must take out patents
207
16SS.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
for them. For these he sometimes required the payment of £50 a piece. This was so glaringly unjust and oppressive, that some of the principal men refused to submit to it ; and the consequence was, that their lands were given to others. Gov- ernor Hutchinson says, that the whole property of Massachusetts would not have been sufficient to pay for the patents, if this tax had been levied on all at once. Numbers of the people of that colony were imprisoned, and denied the privilege of Habeas Corpus ; only one town meeting was allowed in a year ; people were forbidden to go out of the coun- try without the governor's permission, so that they were restricted, as many European nations are / now; remonstrances and petitions to the king had no effect ; and Andross proved himself to be, in the words of his favourite, Randolph, " as arbitrary as the Grand Turk." In spite of danger, however, Mr. Increase Mather boldly took ship and sailed for England, presented himself before the king, and delivered to him a list of complaints which he had carried from Massachusetts : but it was all in vain.
Connecticut suffered less than some of the other colonies from the arbitrary and high-handed meas- ures of the governor : but her liberty and the prop- erty of her citizens were in continual danger. The people judged, from what they saw and heard, that Andross was in heart attached to Rome, and had excited and engaged the Indians to invade the col- onies. It was rumoured, and extensively believed, that he had furnished them with ammunition, and was prepared to deliver up the country to the French, and the descendants of the Pilgrims to
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208 CHARTER GOVERNMENT RESTORED. [1688.
such persecutions as the Huguenots had suffered in France. The people and their legitimate ru- lers, however, in the midst of these dangers, re- tained their trust in God; and deliverance came at length, perhaps from a source which few of them had expected.
A vessel arrived at Boston in May, bringing the most welcome tidings : the King of England, whom the colonists regarded as the author of their troub. les, had been driven from the throne ; William, prince of Orange, the chief supporter of the Prot- estant cause in Europe, having been invited to come from Holland, and totally defeated the royal army. This was sad intelligence for Andross and his friends ; and, while they were dreading the conse- quence, the tidings were joyfully carried to Con- necticut.
The magistrates in Massachusetts seemed at first in doubt what to do : but the people of Bos- ton and that vicinity could not long suppress their impatience ; and on the 18th of April they rose in arms, took the castle, seized Andross and his councillors, stripped him of power, but were too magnanimous to insult or injure him. They then requested the governor and council to assemble and assume the government as before his interference ; , and thus everything was soon peacefully restored to the former state. In Connecticut, the people, having no enemies to subdue, desired that the old system might be re-established ; and, on the 9th of May, Governor Treat and Lieutenant-governor Bishop resumed their offices, and the magistracy was made complete by the choice of Major-gen- eral John Winthrop. All was done, as customary in Connecticut, according to order and law.
209
1688.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
The freemen had met and voted that, for the present safety of that part of New-England called Connecticut, the necessity of its circumstances so requiring, they " would re-establish government as it was before, and at the time when Sir Edmund Andross took it, and so have it proceed, as it did before that time, according to charter ; engaging themselves to submit to it accordingly, until there should be a legal establishment among them."
The Assembly were not slow in meeting ; and they resolved, " That whereas this court hath been interrupted in the management of the government in this colony of Connecticut for nineteen months past, it is now enacted, ordered, and declared, that all the laws of the colony, made according to char- ter, and courts constituted for the administration of government, as they were before the late in- terruption, shall be of full force and virtue for the future, and until this court shall see cause to make farther and other alterations, according to charter." S 2
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210
BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.
[1689.
CHAPTER XXVI. 1689.
A French Fleet is sent against New-York, but called to Canada, to protect that Country from the Five Nations .- The Burning and Massacre of Schenectady .- Measures for protecting the Frontiers .- The Northern Colonies engage in a Land and Sea Expedition against Canada .- New-York and the Five Nations fail to perform their parts: and General Winthrop returns from Lake Champlain with his Army .- Governor Phipps makes an unsuccessful Attempt against Quebec .- Leisler's Treatment of General Winthrop .- Vote of Thanks to Mr. Mather .- Defensive Measures .- The Invasion of the Five Nations by the French .- Colonel Fletcher demands the Mili- tia of Connecticut to be placed at his Orders .- He is refused. -The Boldness of Captain Wadsworth.
THE colonies, after having been delivered from enemies at home, were now seriously . threatened by a very formidable foe from abroad. The King of France despatched a fleet across the Atlantic to capture New-York ; and the apprehensions of the country were greatly and justly excited on re- ceiving the news. Before it had time to accom- plish its object, however, the commander received an urgent call from Canada, which induced him at once to renounce his design, and to proceed for the defence of that country : for the Five Nations were carrying on a war with the Canadians, which greatly distressed them. Thus the danger was re- moved.
Count Frontenac, determined to do what harm he could against the colonies, in January, 1690, sent out more than 200 French and Indians to fall on the frontiers. Schenectady (15 miles west from Albany) was at that time the most western settle-
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1690.]
ment in New- York ; and Captain Bull was spend. ing the winter there in garrison with his little troop, but in such circumstances that he could do them but little good. The people of that colony were much opposed to Governor Leisler, and would not allow the troops in Albany and Schenectady to do duty, although Captain Bull had threatened to march away. The inhabitants of . Schenectady saw no room for fear, thinking it impossible that the enc- my could perform a march from Canada in the dead of winter. A hostile force, however, was then near them, which was Frontenac's expedition, in a reduced condition, after a 28 days' march. Several Indian scouts came in from it to spy out the state of the town, with serious thoughts of surrender : but they made such a report that, on the 8th of February, the whole body came suddenly on, in the silence of night. There being no watch nor sentinel posted, they proceeded in small par- ties to all the houses at once, and began a merci- less and indiscriminate massacre, while they burn- ed the dwellings. Sixty persons were slaughtered, and 20 taken captive, while the rest escaped in their night-clothes, 25 of whom lost limbs by freez- ing. Among the killed were Captain Bull's lieu- tenant, a sergeant, and three of his men ; and five more were made prisoners. The news caused a panic at Albany, so that the citizens were about to desert and burn the town.
Not long after this (viz., on the 18th of March), the village of Salmon Falls was taken by about 50 French and Indians, under a French officer named Hurtel. They attacked it in the morning in three divisions, and were bravely resisted, but were vic-
212
ADDRESS TO KING WILLIAM.
[1690.
torious, killing 36 men, and taking 54 captives to Canada, chiefly women and children.
A special meeting of the Assembly was held on the 11th of April, and troops were sent to the Mas. sachusetts towns on the Connecticut, as well as to Albany, in consequence of urgent requests for aid from the two colonies. A strict watch was order- ed to be kept in all the towns by all the males in turn ; and aged and infirm men having more than £50 on the list were to hire substitutes.
All the military officers were then confirmed, and appointments were made of civil officers, as formerly. The Assembly also made provision for the calling of another meeting, in case of impor- tant business. We may imagine something of the change of feelings which the king's overthrow pro- duced in the country, and of the new joy caused by the arrival of a vessel at Boston on the 26th of May, which brought the news of the coronation of William and Mary. The throne was now de- cidedly in favour of the people of New-England ; and the difference between its friendship and its enmity they were able to realize. The Assembly were called together again on the 13th of June ; and the king and queen were proclaimed on that day, with universal satisfaction.
An address was sent to the king through Mr. Whiting, saying that God had magnified him, like Joshua, by the great deeds he had done in rescuing the nation ; and thanking him for his zeal for the people and the Protestant interest. They told him of their claims to their charter, which they had never surrendered, and desired him to confirm to them its privileges.
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1690.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
A request had been received from Captain John Leisler, at New-York, that troops might be sent to aid him in keeping the fort and city, as he had as- sumed the government on hearing the news from England. Major Gould and Captain James Fitch were sent to consult with him ; and troops were marched to New-York and Albany, under an ap- prehension that the French designed to make an invasion by both sea and land. The force sent to Albany was commanded by Captain Bull, with orders to assist in a treaty with the Five Nations, and to defend that region against the French and Canada Indians. Two companies were also sent against the Eastern Indians, who continued to give trouble to Massachusetts. Captain Bull afterward greatly distinguished himself by his activity, judg- ment, and success in the military operations in New- York.
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