USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 22
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The assemblies of most of the colonies were for many years allowed to exercise the power of the highest courts in all civil cases : but in 1680 the king and council claimed the right of hearing ap- peals. Connecticut denied this claim till 1701, when the royal demand was very peremptory. The Lords of Trade called this a " humour ;" and spoke of the " independency" which the colonies " thirsted after" as " now notorious." On account of this spirit, a bill was brought into Parliament in 1701, to reunite the government in the crown. In 1702 .the controversy began with Connecticut about the law on female heirs to estates, which was confirmed.
Some of the colonies also insisted on the right of appropriating their own money ; and Massachu- setts had a long contest, beginning in Governor Shute's time, and lasting thirty years, in which the representatives insisted on the right of determining the governor's salary. The question was at length yielded by the king : but the authority was again
322 AN AMERICAN NOBILITY PROPOSED. [1761.
claimed by Parliament in 1773, and this step was one of those which brought on the Revolution.
The colonies had long consented to pay external taxes, as they were regarded as designed for the regulation of the commerce of the British empire. But they had resisted internal taxes, or those intend- ed for raising revenue. Walpole and Pitt, in turn, the greatest statesmen of England, had refused to force the latter upon them. Walpole had said that he was too great a friend of commerce to try it, and intimated that he should fear the result. Pitt de- clared that it could never be effected unless by an overwhelming force ; and it would be ungenerous to attempt it so. Pitkin remarks, that England would not have dared to attempt it before the pow- er of France was humbled in America. In 1760, however, the custom-house officers received orders to enforce the acts of trade, by seizing goods im- ported contrary to them, and even to enter stores, &c., in search of them, and to apply to the supe- rior courts for " writs of assistance," to enable them to accomplish the object. These writs were opposed in Massachusetts with great zeal, and were restricted in their use. In Connecticut it does not appear that they were ever taken out, though they were threatened by the Board of Trade.
. In 1762 it was declared that an important change was intended to be made in the government of the colonies ; and several persons came from England to travel about the country, and give their opinions on the measures by which it might best be effected. Governor Bernard, of Massachusetts, proposed that an hereditary nobility should be created by the king, and that American representatives should
323
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1765.]
be admitted into Parliament as a favour, not as a right. In 1764 Lord Grenville, prime minister, informed the agents of the colonies in London that the king was determined to raise money in America to increase the revenue of Great Britain, and that he proposed to do it by a Stamp Act. The plan was, that all public and official documents should be required by law to be written on paper with a royal stamp, and that this paper should be sold at high prices by the government, according to the practice now pursued in many countries of Europe. Lord Grenville, at the same time, in- quired whether any preferable measure could be proposed for the same object by the colonics. Parliament soon declared the duties which had been laid to be perpetual, and made naval commanders on the eastern coast custom-house officers, that they might seize vessels engaged in forbidden trade.
Petitions were sent to the king and Parliament by several of the colonies, including Connecticut ; and, in 1765, Dr. Franklin and Mr. Ingersoll, agents of Pennsylvania and Connecticut in London, with Mr. Garth, of South Carolina, and Mr. Jack- son, besought the council, if they must have money from the colonies, to leave it to the people to raise it. The petitions were not read in Parliament, and the Stamp Act was passed, after much opposi- tion, by a large vote ; and now a tax was to be paid for almost every paper used in law cases, by merchants in trading with each other, every news- paper and pamphlet except almanacs, and two pounds for every diploma received at a college. It was presumed that the people might not peace- ably submit to all this, and another act was passed
324
THE FIRST CONGRESS.
[1765.
to compel them by force, by sending soldiers to the principal towns, whom the colonies were re- quired to supply with provisions and other neces- saries.
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CHAPTER XXXIX. 1765.
The first General Congress of the Colonies .- Declaration of Rights .- The Sons of Liberty .- The Stamp Act disregarded. -Taxes .- Riots .- Governor Gage sends troops to Boston to enforce the Acts of Parliament .- The Taxes repealed, ex- cept that on Tea .- Commerce with Boston forbidden .- The Government of Massachusetts overthrown .- General Gage Governor of that Colony .- Second Congress .- Boston Neck fortified .- Preparations for Defence .- First shedding of Blood at Concord .- Troops assemble around Boston.
VIRGINIA passed resolutions against the Stamp Act ; the people of many parts of Connecticut expressed great opposition to it ; and Massachu- setts invited a Congress, which met in October at New-York, and was attended by commissioners from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New- York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina. There was much difference of opinion on the measure in the coun- try : some of the rulers as well as others thinking opposition to be treasonable. The Congress (which was the first designed to be a general one) publish- ed a Declaration of Rights, and sent an address to the king and petitions to Parliament. Connecticut had only authorized her commissioners to report ;
325
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1765.]
and the Assembly approved of these proceedings .* The merchants of New-York and Philadelphia agreed to import no goods from England until the Stamp Act should be repealed ; and some of the people of Connecticut and New-York formed a so- ciety called the Sons of Liberty. They promised to march at once for the defence of places which might be in danger from opposition to the unpopu- lar law, which they declared to be subversive of the principles of the British Constitution. Numer. ous publications appeared in favour of resistance.
The Stamp Act was probably as unpopular in Connecticut as in any of the colonies. On the 1st of November, the day on which it went into force, the inhabitants of Middletown muffled the bell and tolled it till night, colours flew at half mast before the townhouse and on the shipping, and minute. guns were fired. Toasts were drunk like the fol. lowing : "Liberty, property, and no stamps." "Confusion to all enemies of liberty." Figures were borne about in the evening by a procession of 800, with inscriptions, and shouts in favour of " King George, Pitt, Conway, Barre, and all friends of liberty."
Mr. Ingersoll, distributor of stamps, published an address " to the good people of Connecticut" on the 24th of August, 1765, in which he informed them that he " meant a service" to them in accept. ing his office : " but, since it gives you some unea- siness, you may be assured, if I find (after the act takes place, which is the 1st of November) that you shall not incline to purchase or make use of
* Extracts from many of the documents and speeches of those days will be found in Pitkin's History of the United States.
E E
326
THE STAMP ACT.
[1766,
any stamped paper, I shall not force it upon you, nor think it worth my while to trouble you or myself with any exercise of my office." He closed with this remark, which strongly indicates the state of public feeling. "I cannot but wish you would think more how to get rid of the Stamp Act than of the officers who are to supply you with the paper, and that you had learned more of the nature of my office before you began to be so very angry at it."
On the 1st of November there was a general suspension of all business in the harbours, courts, &c., throughout the country. That was the day when the Stamp Act was to take effect ; and ev- ery man refused to comply with it. Officers had declined, or resigned, or found nothing to do. It was, however, soon decided that business should proceed without regard to the law ; and merchants, lawyers, judges, &c., were seen engaged in their customary employments, boldly using unstamped paper. In some of the cities the people became excited, and mobs were formed, by which property was destroyed, and some respectable citizens gross- ly abused. In short, the country was already ripe for revolution.
Parliament, in January, 1766, devoted several days to the consideration of these proceedings ; and even Mr. Pitt joined in insisting on the right of taxing the colonies, though he thought it expe- dient not to exercise it. Resolutions were passed asserting that claim, and declaring that persons who had suffered for the Stamp Act should be pro- tected, and have their property restored by the col- onies. Benjamin Franklin was asked whether the
1766.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
327
assemblies would erase from their records their ex. pressions against taxation ; and replied, only if forced by arms.
A bill asserting the right of taxation, and an. other repealing the Stamp Act, were passed. The former declared the opposing acts of the colonies to be null. The repeal of the latter caused great rejoicing in the colonies.
The news of the repeal of the Stamp Act was received with general satisfaction in Connecticut. The General Assembly, which was in session at Hartford, appointed the next Friday a day of gen- eral rejoicing, when bells were rung, flags display- ed by the vessels, and a salute of 21 guns was fired. While preparations were going on for the firing of small arms by two companies of militia, a most melancholy accident occurred, which turned the day into one of mourning. The brick school- house was blown up, and about thirty persons were killed or wounded.
Although a new ministry was formed by Mr. Pitt in 1766, a bill laying a tax on several articles was carried while he was absent. A new board of customs was established in the colonies. New- York was forbidden to pass any act until she should make the required provision for the soldiers. Mas. sachusetts was again the first to protest ; and the Boston collector and other officers were ill-treated by a mob, so that they retreated to the Castle, and Governor Bernard sent for troops. The merchants of that colony, Connecticut, and New-York, again agreed to make no importations ; and the citizens of Boston armed themselves. In September, Gen- cral Gage, having received secret orders from Eng.
328
GENERAL GAGE AT BOSTON.
[1773,
land, sent to Boston two regiments, under Colonel Dalrymple ; and soon after orders came from Eng. land to punish persons engaged in the disturbances. In 1769, when the Massachusetts legislature met, their hall was surrounded by troops.
In 1770, during Lord North's administration, Parliament repealed all the taxes laid on the colo- nies, except that on tea. Excitement, however, still continued, especially in Boston, where the governor, who was still paid by the king, had a body of British troops. A party of these, hav- ing been provoked by some of the citizens, fired among them, and killed and wounded eleven per- sons. The people demanded the immediate re- moval of the soldiers "at all hazards ;" and they were sent to the Castle, which was on an island in the harbour.
In June, 1772, a spirited party of Rhode Island, ers seized and burned a British revenue guardship, the Gaspee, which had been stationed in Provi. dence River to enforce the obnoxious laws. In 1773 the famous cargo of tea was thrown into the harbour of Boston by disguised citizens ; and, so violent had the members of Parliament now be- come, that in March following they forbade all commercial intercourse with that town. In May they authorized the king to appoint the council, and the governor to appoint and remove the judges of most of the courts ; and also forbade the as. sembling of town meetings, and empowered sher- iff's to select jurors. They also allowed the gov- ernor to send to England for trial persons com- plained of for acts done under the revenue laws.
In May General Gage arrived at Boston as gov,
329
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1775.]
ernor of Massachusetts. The succeeding months produced many expressions of sympathy, and pe- cuniary contributions to the Bostonians from other colonies, who considered them'as suffering for the common cause.
The second general Congress was held in Sep- tember, 1774, at Philadelphia, and sat with closed doors and under promise of secrecy. They drew a declaration of the rights of their constituents, and of the unjust and oppressive acts of the British gov- ernment, including the extension of the province of Canada, and the establishment of the existing religion and a tyrannical government there. They also agreed that their constituents should form an association not to use goods imported from Eng- land and British possessions ; and, in case the op- pressive laws should not be repealed in Septem- ber, 1775, to export to them nothing except rice. They also sent addresses to the colonies, Parlia- ment, and Quebec. General Gage began to for- tify Boston Neck, that he might at pleasure shut up the town ; and Mr. Quincy was sent to Eng- land to remonstrate against this and other meas- ures. In January, 1775, Parliament was impor- tunately urged by Mr. Pitt to prevent the loss of America to the kingdom : but his powerful elo- quence was unavailing, and they persevered in dri- ving Massachusetts to desperation, and forced the country into war.
Parliament petitioned the king to reduce the Americans by force, representing them as bent on rebellion, and the time as favourable for crushing the monster, Revolution, in its birth. Some had said in debate that the colonists were cowards, E E 2
330
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
[1775.
incapable of military discipline, and easy to be overcome. The king replied that he was resolved to follow their advice, and wished an increase of force. Parliament then restricted the commerce of all the colonies except New-York and North Carolina, and deprived New-England of the fish- eries, expecting to starve them into submission. Dr. Franklin proposed to some of the ministry a plan of reconciliation, which was not agreed to ; after which Lord North proposed another, in or- der, as he said, to try whether the Americans were sincere.
In the mean time, delegates were appointed for the proposed third Congress; and the ferment of feeling was strong throughout the country, espe- cially in Massachusetts, which was evidently mark- ed out as the first point of assault. On the 26th of October they had directed that one fourth of the militia should be armed, equipped, and stand ready for action at a moment's warning, whence they were denominated " minute men." It was re- solved that the Americans should not be the ag- gressors : but that the people should not be unpre- pared for defence; and large supplies of arms and provisions were collected at Worcester and Con- cord. News soon arrived in Connecticut which caused the deepest sensation.
In every village the people were called out by the beating of drums, which was the manner in which an "alarm" was spread in those days, or an "alarum," as it was popularly called ; and they were informed that General Gage, on the 18th of April, had sent a detachment of 800 soldiers to destroy the stores at Concord, fired on a few men assem-
山
331
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1775.]
bled to prevent them, and returned to Boston with heavy loss. This report of "the first shedding of blood" roused the feelings of all ; and hundreds of men were immediately to be seen on the roads leading from Connecticut to Massachusetts, with their muskets on their shoulders.
When the news reached Brooklyn, Connecticut, General Israel Putnam was at work in his field; and, as soon as he heard it, he unyoked his cattle, left the plough in the furrow, mounted his horse, and set off for Boston, without waiting even to change his clothes. He soon returned, raised a regiment, and marched it to Cambridge.
He was born at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1718, and was distinguished by his plain manners and personal strength in his youth. He removed to Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1739, where he cultivated a large farm.
CHAPTER XL. 1775.
Surprise of Ticonderoga and Crown Point .- Re-enforcements arrive at Boston from England .- The Battle of Breed's or Bunker's Hill .- Militia sent from the neighbouring Colonies. -- General Wooster marches, with 2000 Connecticut Militia, to protect New-York .- Congress order the raising of an Ar- my .- They appoint Washington Commander-in-chief .- Con- dition of Boston on his Arrival .- Expedition to Quebec .- Marauding in Long Island Sound.
WHEN the news of the battle of Lexington reached New-Haven, the governor's guards were called out by Captain Benedict Arnold (afterward
332
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
[1775.
a distinguished officer, and finally a traitor), and invited to march to the scene of action. About 40 of them consented, and he applied to the select- men for powder. The next morning he obtained a supply by threatening to take it by force, and marched. He halted that night at Wethersfield, where they were hospitably received, and then proceeded to Massachusetts. Arnold's men so much excelled the other troops in uniform and dis- cipline, that they were selected to deliver to the British the body of one of their deceased offi- cers, and were much complimented by the enemy. About one quarter of these men afterward accom- panied Arnold to Canada : but the others returned home in about three weeks.
The Connecticut soldiers who had flocked to the scene of excitement soon placed themselves under the command of Putnam, whose athletic frame, bold and active mind, prompt and determined air, added to his experience in military affairs and ar- dent patriotism, marked him at once as the man best qualified to direct and lead them. From the heights which they ascended, the Americans could overlook Boston and overawe the enemy, who had already shut themselves up closely within its nar- row peninsula. Putnam, having served in the French war under General Gage, well knew his character and abilities; and, considering the amount of force which he had at his command, our officers thought best to send home all their own, ex- cepting a limited number of troops, in the existing state of things. Roxbury Neck was kept strongly guarded, being the only way by which the enemy could leave the town by land ; and thus things re- mained for a time without material alteration.
.
333
1775.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
In this interval, however, an important enter- prise was undertaken in another part of the coun- try.
Several gentlemen in Connecticut, at this im- portant juncture, conceived the design of seizing the fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. As they were occupied by feeble garrisons, it was thought that they might easily be seized without bloodshed : but, if allowed to remain much longer in the hands of the British, they would soon be filled with troops, to the great injury of the coun. try. The suggestion was immediately acted upon by the government of the colony. They secretly despatched 40 men under the patriotic officers Dean, Wooster, and Parsons. . These communicated with Ethan Allen, a native of Litchfield, but for some time a leader of the Green Mountain Boys, in their opposition to the New-York claimants of land in the present state of Vermont. He engaged in the enterprise with the greatest zeal, and, with Captain Warner, collected 230 men. In the mean time, Benedict Arnold had conceived a similar scheme, and received authority from the Massachusetts government to raise 400 men to seize those for- tresses. Being unsuccessful in finding volunteers, he proceeded to Lake Champlain, accompanied only by his servant, and joined the expedition.
Having collected all the boats they could find, they prepared to embark at Shoreham in the night ; but only eighty men were able to cross together ; and these, proceeding with muffled oars, soon reach- ed the gate of the fort. A sentinel hailed them, and snapped his musket on receiving no answer : but he was seized, and the assailants, in a mo-
334 SURPRISE OF TICONDEROGA, ETC. [1775.
ment, were in the midst of the fortress, in the pa- rade, loudly demanding a surrender. The English commander soon appeared at an upper window ; and, finding that resistance would be vain, gave up the place. With what joy did the patriotic little band survey the massive gates and solid walls, re- doubts, and bastions, with all their artillery, am- munition, and stores, which, by the favour of Prov- idence, were now placed in their charge, to be held as one of the chief bulwarks of their native country !
Captain Warner hastened off, at the head of a detachment, to seize upon the sister fortress of Crown Point, similarly situated a few miles down the lake, and was equally successful in taking it by surprise, and without the loss of life. Skeenes. borough, now Whitehall, also fell into the hands of these resolute men ; and Arnold, embarking in a schooner, proceeded to Canada, and captured a British sloop-of-war at the outlet of Lake Cham- plain.
Measures were soon taken by Connecticut to garrison these posts ; and it was agreed that New- York should supply them with provisions. This was so promptly done, that General Schuyler, in a return made to General Washington on the 15th of July, of the troops under his command in the northern department. stated the Connecticut troops under General Wooster at 1505, and those at Ti- conderoga, Crown Point, and Fort George at 973 ; while only 205 New- York men were in Fort George, and 174 from Massachusetts in all those forts.
Thus the principal route to Canada was brought
335
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1775.]
·
into the possession of the Americans, with every advantage for assault or defence in that quarter. Still the Congress were expecting and desiring an accommodation of the dispute with England ; and, on hearing of this success, they recommended that a faithful inventory should be taken of all the king's property captured, that it might be restored when existing difficulties should be removed.
This wish, however, was not to be gratified; for the king and his ministers, stimulated by pride, and blinded by passion and ignorance, had resolved to subdue the spirit of the Americans by force ; and, in the spring, large re-enforcements arrived at Boston, under Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne. Pardon having been offered to all the " rebels" except Hancock and Adams, General Gage prepared to march into the country; and a large body of militia having again assembled, their generals determined to occupy Bunker's Hill, on Charlestown Neck, very near Boston. Captain Knowlton, of Connecticut, was sent in the night of the 16th of June, 1775, to occupy it, with Colonel Prescot, of Massachusetts, and Colonel Stark, of New-Hampshire. In the darkness they mistook the spot, and began to fortify Breed's Hill, an inferi- or eminence, and a spur of Bunker's Hill, still near. er to Boston. The particulars of the battle of the 17th, which here opened the first campaign of the Revolutionary War, need not be given here. Though finally driven from the ground after three charges by 3000 regular troops, just double their number ; though they had 453 killed and wounded, their resolution and efficiency were so great, that this action had a great influence on subsequent
336
BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. [1775.
events. In this celebrated battle Connecticut had her full share of labour and suffering. Captain Knowlton, from that colony, was one of the most forward, while Putnam was as prompt in assuming the command as his numerous friends were in yielding him ready obedience, when there was no authority to appoint a leader or to call out the people.
Immediately after the battle, the British main body began to intrench themselves on Bunker's Hill; and, not thinking proper to pursue the patri- ots, left them to fortify themselves on the opposite side of Mystic River. The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts immediately ordered 15,000 men to be raised, and sent an urgent request to the other New-England colonies to furnish an equal number. Governor Trumbull,* of Connecticut, though already at an advanced age, exerted himself with the zcal, intelligence, and success which at. tended that devoted and distinguished patriot to the end of the war.
The General Assembly of Connecticut imme- diately ordered that an army should be raised for their defence, which was put under the command of
1 * Jonathan Trumbull resided at Lebanon, where his house remains, as well as the building in which the public business under his direction, during the war, was transacted. It was call- ed the War Office; and bears the marks of that plainness and simplicity which characterized the state of society in those times. An ancestor of Governor Trumbull emigrated from England, and settled at Ipswich in 1645. His son John lived in Suffield, and had three sons: John, Joseph, and Benoni. Joseph settled in Lebanon, and had but one son, who was the governor. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1727, and became a mer- chant. The numerous papers which he left, most of which are preserved by the Historical Society of Connecticut, were filed and preserved with the greatest care ..
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