USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 7
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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
There was difficulty this year with the Pequods,
87
1639.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
who, in violation of their agreement, had planted fields with corn in their former country, at what is now New.London; and Captain Mason was sent, with forty men, to dislodge them and to bring off their crop. Uncas joined him with twenty canoes and 100 men. Mason sent a warn- ing to the Pequods from Pawcatuck Bay, but re- ceived no answer. He suddenly attacked their wigwams and drove the Indians away; and while Uncas's men were carrying off the corn, about sixty Pequods rushed upon them from a hill. The Eng- lish, who had never seen an Indian-fight, had now an opportunity, and were struck with their peculiar mode of making and repelling an assault. The Mohegans stood perfectly still as their enemies ap- proached, until they were within about thirty yards, and then set up a yell and fell upon them, striking with bows and knives. The English marched to cut off the retreat of the Pequods, but would not fire upon them ; and they fled, leaving seven pris- oners. These men behaved with such violence that some wished to kill them : but, at the request of Otash, the brother of Miontonimoh, who offered to give up the heads of seven murderers, they were delivered to Uncas, to be exchanged in that manner. The next morning 300 Indians appeared, with some threatening language : but they declined fighting with the English, who, they said, were spirits ; and Mason having, according to the orders of the court, burned the wigwams and carried off the corn and twenty canoes, with the help of the Mo- hegans, brought back his men in safety. We can- not but think that, if milder measures had first been
88
EXECUTION OF NEPAUTUCK.
[1639.
tried, and a kind remonstrance made to these poor Indians, the effects might have been better.
These were not the only things that gave the new colonies serious apprehensions this year. The leading Dutchmen at Manahadoes (New- York), who, being from a Protestant country, ought to have sympathized deeply with them, had come to America for trade, and not for religious purposes, and were influenced by the changing re- lations between Holland and England. The peo- ple at Hartford received notice that they would be no longer permitted to trade with the Dutch at Fort Good Hope; and, at the same time, Kieft, the new and energetic governor of Manahadoes, protested against the settlement of New-Haven. The court therefore sent a committee to confer with Mr. Fenwick about a confederation of all the colonies for mutual offence and defence, and found him favourable to it.
The several towns of the colony were incorpo- rated this year, and authorized to form courts of their own, of three, five, or seven men, for the de- cision of all cases of trespass and debt not exceed- ing forty shillings, and were ordered to keep pub- lic legers for the record of all houses, lands, and transfers thereof, which transfers could not be valid until so recorded. This was the origin of the privileges of particular towns. The new towns had also particular courts of magistrates, to meet once a quarter, for the trial of appeals, and all land titles and larger causes : having the jurisdiction of the present county and superior courts, and discre- tionary powers not allowed at the present day.
On the 30th of October, Nepautuck, a noted
89
1639.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Pequod sachem, was executed at NewHaven. In his trial it had been proved that he killed John Finch of Wethersfield, took prisoner one of Mr. Swain's daughters, and aided in the death of three men in a shallop on the river. His head was cut off by an executioner so inexpert, that he gave sev- eral blows at his neck before he succeeded, the In- dian sitting upright. The head, according to the barbarous custom still prevalent in Italy, was stuck up in the market-place.
The planters of Connecticut proved by their con- duct that they did not seek to obtain undue advan- tage over the Indians. Even the Pequod war was not undertaken for the purpose of increasing their territory, but only in self-defence ; for they did not need their lands, nor did they use them for a con- siderable time. If they had wished for them, they would have preferred to pay several times their value. They allowed the other tribes all the land they claimed after the destruction of the Pequods, and took none without paying a satisfactory price. Indeed, in most cases they bought the land in large tracts, and afterward paid for it again in smaller ones, when they wished to occupy it. In some in- stances, they thus purchased land thrice, and, with the repeated presents made to the sachems, the sums they spent were very large. It was admitted by good judges at the time, that they paid more than the land was worth, even after the improve- ments were made ; and large estates were expend- ed by some of the settlers in buying land at such prices as should prevent any dissatisfaction among the natives. At the same time, they allowed them the right of hunting and fishing on the ground they
H 2
90
NEW SETTLEMENTS.
[1640.
had sold, as freely as the English, and to dwell and ' cut wood on it for more than a century ; and re- quired the towns, by law, to reserve proper tracts for the Indians to cultivate. Laws were made to protect them from injury and insult ; and the col- onists were at much expense to protect some of them (Uncas and the Mohegans especially) from their enemies.
Uncas sold to Connecticut all his land, except what his people planted, on the 1st of September, 1640 ; and Westfield (then Waranoke) was pur- chased and occupied. Governor Haynes bought Farmington (or Tunxis), with its beautiful meadow, for Hartford; and Governor Hopkins built a tra. ding-house there. In 1610, also, part of Norwalk was purchased, but only a few families occupied it until 1651, when the western part of it was obtain- ed. About the same time, New-Haven purchased Greenwich (now the southwestern town in the state) ; but the settlers of it revolted to the Dutch, and Governor Stuyvesandt incorporated it. Other purchases were made by New-Haven : first, of Stamford (or Rippowams), from the sachems Po- nus and Toquamske, for thirty pounds ; second, Southold (Yennycock), on Long Island ; and, third, a large tract on Delaware Bay and River, where trading-houses were erected, and about fifty fam- ilies sent to settle. Connecticut also made a pur- chase of land on Long Island. It extended from Oyster Bay to Holmes's Bay, and back to the mid- dle of the great plain, and settlements were begun.
Stamford was settled by families from Wethers- field, a division in sentiment having unhappily aris- en among the members of the church there, who
91
1641.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
had come without their pastor, and long suffered from discord. The churches of the other towns and colonies exerted themselves to restore har- mony, and removal was at length agreed on by some of the Wethersfield people. Some of the principal of these were the Rev. Richard Denton, Messrs. Matthew Mitchel, Thurston Rayner, An- drew Ward, Richard Coe, and Richard Gilder- sleve. In 1633 or 1634, Mr. Denton, with a part of his congregation, settled Hempstead, on Long Isl- and.
CHAPTER XI.
Fears of an Indian War .-- Precautions .- The ten Capital Laws of Connecticut .- The Confederation of the New-England Colonies formed in 1645 .- Its Objects and History .- The Preamble and Provisions .- Results .- Miantonimoh makes War on Uncas .- The Battle of Sachem's Field .- Miantoni- moh made Prisoner .- Taken to Hartford .- Killed by Uncas.
IN the year 1641, an Indian war was apprehended, and orders were given for all the men to be pre- pared for defence. A careful watch was kept, and on the Sabbath there was a strong guard posted in every place of public worship. The Court of Con- necticut sent to request the Dutch to sell no more arms and ammunition to the Indians, and to pro- pose to settle all disputes : but were treated with insolence. At this the Dutch in Fort Good Hope, at Hartford, received runaways from justice and their masters, purchased stolen goods, and assisted
92
CAPITAL LAWS.
[1641.
criminals in breaking jail. The Dutch governor of New- York also imprisoned some of the Connecti- cut settlers on Long Island, and broke up the col- onies there as far as Oyster Bay, as well as those made by Now-Haven on the Delaware, injuring them to the value of £1000. Mr. Lambertson, one of the principal men of New-Haven, who was trading in Delaware, was falsely accused by the Dutch and Swedish agent, and arbitrarily fined ; and he was afterward ill-treated by Governor Kieft at Manahadoes (New-York). Indeed, the Dutch for several years injured the colonists in different ways, and gave them no satisfaction, though they repeatedly remonstrated.
In the course of the same year, Connecticut formed ten capital laws, which were recorded, with passages of Scripture on which they were founded. The crimes which were to be punished with death were : the worship of any but the true God (Deut. xiii., 6, and xvii., 21; Ex. xxii., 2); blasphemy (Lev. xxiv., 15, 16) ; to be a witch, which was defined as one that " hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit" (Ex. xxii., 18; Lev. xx., 22; Deut. xviii., 10, 11) ; murder with malice (Ex. xxi., 12-14; Numb. xxxv., 30, 31) ; slay- ing through guile, as "by poison or other such devilish practices" (Ex. xxi., 14) (unnatural and incestuous crimes, &c., were among the number) ; man-stealing (Ex. xxi., 16) ; false witness to take away life (Deut. xix., 16, 18, 19); conspiracy, rebellion, and invasion. Afterward the follow- ing crimes were made capital : arson, cursing or smiting a parent, and notorious stubbornness in children after a specified age. Persons deserting
93
1643.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
the settlements, and living in a heathenish manner among the Indians, were to suffer three years' im- prisonment, or corporal punishment.
An invitation was received by Mr. Hooker of Hartford, in 1642, to attend the Assembly of Di- vines at Westminster, to settle the church govern- ment. Mr. Davenport of New-Haven and Mr. Cotton of Boston were likewise invited : but they all declined the invitation.
A General Court met at New-Haven for that colony on the 5th of April, 1643. Several deputies from other towns were present : Captain John Un- derhill and Mr. Richard Gildersleve, deputies from Stamford. Messrs. Mitchel, Rayner, Underhill, Ward, and Coe were appointed judges of the court in Stamford, which had the same powers as that of New-Haven. Guilford (or Menunkatuck) was first represented by Mr. William Leet and Mr. Des- borough.
A law was passed, which indicates that the peo- ple were less acquainted with public affairs than was necessary. It required jurors to attend dili- gently to their cases ; and, if they should not agree, to offer their reasons, which the court were to an- swer, and send them out again. After this a ma- jority might give a verdict. In case of an equal division, the court or magistrates might determine. The first notice of a grand jury is found this year, when it was ordained that one should attend each court.
In 1643 a most important measure was adopted, viz., a confederation of all the NewEngland Col- onies excepting Rhode Island. It was natural for the people and their rulers to desire such a union,
-
94
THE CONFEDERATION.
[1643.
as they had all felt the advantage of co-operation, and had common enemies and dangers against which they ought to guard, as they had then no aid to hope for from England. A confederation had been contemplated for several years ; and ar- ticles of union had been drawn up and proposed in 1638, and deferred a year for consideration. Ever since 1639, Connecticut had annually sent a com- mittee to Massachusetts to promote the plan ; and New-Haven also had it much at heart. With Mr. Fenwick, the governor of the fort and colony of Saybrook, Connecticut had already a connexion of this nature.
In 1643 the colonies of Plymouth, Connecticut, and New-Haven sent commissioners to Boston, where they held a meeting with others appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts; and on the 19th of May they signed articles of confedera- tion, which greatly contributed to the strength, pro- tection, and prosperity of the country, until it was terminated by the abitrary interference of the Eng- lish kings. The distinguished men to whom this important measure was committed were Governor Haynes and Mr. Hopkins of Connecticut, Mr. Fen- wick of Saybrook, Governor Eaton and Mr. Greg- son of New-Haven, Mr. Winslow and Mr. Collier of Plymouth, and from Massachusetts, Governor Winthrop, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Bradstreet, magis- trates, and Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Tyng, deputies.
The preamble of the articles of confederation states, in the true and distinguishing spirit of the people of the colonies, that, as "they all came into these parts of America with one and the same end
95
1643.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
and aim, to advance the kingdom of our Lord Je- sus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace, they conceived it their bound- en duty to enter into a present confederation among themselves, for mutual help and strength in all fu- ture concernments, that, as in nation and religion, so in other respects they be and continue one, and henceforth be called by the name of THE UNITED COLONIES OF NEW-ENGLAND." They therefore did, jointly and severally, for themselves and their posterity, enter into a firm and perpetual league of friendship and amity, of offence and defence, mu- tual aid and succour, upon all just occasions, both for preserving and propagating the truth and lib. erty of the gospel, and for their own mutual safety and welfare.
- The colonies were to have distinct jurisdictions, and to send two commissioners, church members, to meet annually on September 1st at Boston, Hart- ford, New-Haven, and Plymouth in turn, but twice successively at Boston. They were to have power to make war, peace, laws and rules relating to the Indians, general defence, and the encouragement and support of religion ; and war expenses were to be paid in proportion to the number of males be. tween sixteen and sixty years of age. On news of an invasion, Massachusetts was to send one hundred men, and the other colonies forty-five each. The commissioners might send more. A vote of six of them was to bind all. The vote of a majority less than six must be confirmed by all the general courts to be binding. Questions of the violation of the articles by either colony were to
96
TREACHERY OF MIANTONIMOII. [1643.
be determined by the commissioners of the others. Fugitives were to be restored.
This union strengthened the colonies in fact, and in their own view as well as their neighbours', some of whom were benefited by its aid. It prob- ably was the means of their preservation in the succeeding dangers and wars ; and it formed, to a great degree, the model, while it gave the idea of subsequent confederations, and finally of the union of our states. The principle and objects were the same, and our New-England ancestors had the intelligence, virtue, and perseverance to devise and try the plan, which nothing but experi- ment could properly test and recommend to the confidence of their successors.
This combination of power was formed just in season to prevent the evils of an Indian war. Mi- antonimoh, chief sachem of the Narragansets, had been relieved from his greatest rivals by the de- struction of the Pequods ; and now Uncas was the only one who remained. He perfidiously broke his treaty with him and the colonies, by inciting the Indians to an insurrection, and by several at- tempts on the life of Uncas, whose faithfulness had acquired the confidence of the whites in a degree which may have excited his jealousy. It was found that many Indians were collecting arms and ammu- nition ; and the towns instituted the strictest watch at night, to prevent surprise.
Connecticut urged that one hundred men might be sent forthwith to Saybrook. to act when required : but Massachusetts doubted the necessity of such a measure. Miantonimoh, however, showed his feel- ings by hiring one of Uncas's men, who was a Pe-
97
1643.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT,
quod, to kill him. He wounded him in the arm in the spring of this year, and fled, spreading the re- port, on his way to Narraganset, that Uncas was dead. Miantonimoh pretended that Uncas had cut his own arm with a flint, to impose on the English ; and when he visited Boston with the assassin, in- stead of removing suspicions, he only confirmed them, and was able to save the Pequod from being sent to Uncas only by fair promises. On their way home, however, he killed him, probably to prevent him from testifying.
One day, as Uncas was going down Connecticut River, several arrows were shot at him by the sa- chem Sequassen or his men, who had killed one of Uncas's principal Indians. Uncas having com- plained, Governor Haynes tried in vain to accom- modate the difficulty. Sequassen insisted on fight- ing, and was overcome and killed by the Mohegan chief.
Miantonimoh was now suddenly reported to be on his march against Uncas, with 900 or 1000 men. He intended to take him by surprise, and crush him at a blow. But Uncas had spies suffi- ciently watchful and trustworthy to give him timely information ; and, although he was not prepared for war, trusting, doubtless, to Miantonimoh's re- gard for his treaty with him and the colonies, he promptly marched to meet him, with such warri- ors as he could collect, without loss of time : a force of between 400 and 500 men. With his char- acteristic coolness and sagacity, after acquainting his men with his designs, and having proposed a parley, he advanced alone towards the enemy, and thus addressed Miantonimoh : " You have a num-
I
98
CAPTURE OF MIANTONIMOII. [1643.
ber of stout men with you, and so have I. It is a pity that such brave warriors should be killed in a private quarrel between us only. Come, like a man, as you profess to be, and let us fight it out. If you kill me, my men shall be yours ; but if I kill you, your men shall be mine."
This challenge, though fairly made, and which Uncas, no doubt, was ready to adhere to, he did not expect Miantonimoh would accept. He prob- ably knew him to be at heart less valiant than him- self. Miantonimoh replied, "My men came to fight, and they shall fight." Uncas, on receiving the expected answer, threw himself on the ground ; and his men, pouring in a cloud of arrows, rushed on with their horrible yells, and put their enemies to instant flight. Those who are acquainted with the region where this fight took place, may ima- gine the difficulties it presented to a flying army ignorant of its surface. It is that irregular piece of ground in the eastern part of Norwich, just be- yond " Sachem's Plain," broken with many rocks and ledges ; and at that time, numerous trees, stand- ing and fallen, must have added to the other im- pediments. The Narragansets were driven down precipices, and about thirty of them killed and many wounded. Miantonimoh was soon overtaken by the foremost of the Mohegans : but they thought their chief sachem would prefer to make him his captive, and neither killed nor seized him, only checking his course with their hands as they pass- ed him, one after another. until Uncas came up.
When Miantonimoh saw that he was in the power of the more noble man whom he had in- jured, he offered neither to resist nor to escape,
99
1643.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
but sullenly sat down, and would not answer a word. Uncas gave a whoop, which the Mohe- gans understood; and, leaving the pursuit, they as- sembled around him. Among the wounded were two sons of Canonicus, the second Narraganset sachem, and Miantonimoh's brother. He was brought a prisoner to Uncas by two of the con- quered chiefs, who had found him disabled by his wound and a suit of mail which he wore. Being Mohegans who had deserted to Miantonimoh, they hoped they would be forgiven for bringing in such a prisoner : but Uncas and his men put them to death. Miantonimoh would not make any request nor utter a single word, though Uncas said to him, " If you had taken me, I should have besought you for my life." He was then led to Mohegan in tri- umph.
Uncas soon received a message from Samuel Gorton and his company, who had settled on lands under the jurisdiction of Plymouth and Massachu- setts, threatening him if he should not release his prisoner. Those men wished Miantonimoh to be at liberty, because they claimed the lands on a deed from him. Uncas therefore took Miantonimoh to Hartford, where he begged earnestly to be kept under the protection of the English. Uncas left him with them under guard, but insisted that he should be regarded as his prisoner. The govern- or and magistrates thought it not proper to inter- fere, as the quarrel was a private one, but advised that the matter should be referred to the commis- sioners, who decided in September that he de- served death, and gave him to Uncas to be exe- cuted out of their territory, advising that no cruelty
100
LAWS OF NEW.HAVEN. [1643.
should be permitted. Governor Winthrop, presi- dent of the commissioners, says it was clearly proved that Miantonimoh had formed an extensive conspiracy for the extermination of the colonists.
Uncas and a party of his warriors took Mianto. nimoh back to the ground on which he had been captured, and, without giving him any warning, one of them killed him with a blow of a hatchet, which split his scull. Uncas then showed more of a savage disposition than in any other case on record. He cut a large piece of flesh from the shoulder of the corpse and ate it, declaring that it was the sweetest meat he had ever eaten ; it made his heart strong. Hle then gave orders for the in- terment of the body on the spot, which was done, and a heap of stones was placed upon it. This was performed in the presence of two Englishmen, who had been sent as witnesses, and to prevent any cruelty. Soldiers were then stationed at Mo- hegan to protect Uncas from the Narragansets, and messengers were sent by the commissioners to Canonicus, saving that they had ascertained the treachery of the Narragansets, but strongly desired peace, and offered it to them in the name of the United Colonies, with assurances of protection.
The General Court of New. Haven this year de- creed, " That none should be admitted free bur- gesses in any of the plantations but such as were members of some approved church in New-Eng. land ; that such only should have any vote in elec- tions ; and that no power for ordering any civil af- fairs should be put into the hands of any but such." Free burgesses might vote for governor, magis- trates, secretary, and treasurer. The towns, in
1643.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
101
ordinary cases, were to choose their own judges, which were to have jurisdiction in civil cases not exceeding twenty shillings, and in criminal cases not exceeding the punishment of the stocks, whip- ping, or fining five pounds.
A Court of Magistrates was also appointed for the colony of New-Haven, consisting of all the ma- gistrates, to meet twice a year, on the Mondays preceding the General Courts in April and Octo- ber, to determine, by a majority of votes, appeals and important causes. Non-attendance was to be punished by a fine ; four magistrates would form a quorum, but juries were not provided for. The General Court was also established at this time, and was to meet at New-Haven on the first Wed- nesday of April and the last of October, consisting of the deputy-governor, magistrates, and two dep- uties from each town. At the latter session, an- nually, a governor, deputy-governor, magistrates, secretary, treasurer, and marshal or high sheriff were to be chosen. This court was invested with the supreme power of the commonwealth.
I 2
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
102
DUTCH AND INDIAN WAR.
[1643.
CHAPTER XII.
Letter of Congratulation and Complaint from the Dutch Gov. ernor .- The Indian and Dutch War injurious to Connecticut and New-Haven .- Uncas pressed by the Narragansets .- Aid sent to him .- The Narragansets meet the Commissioners at Hartford .- Annual Contributions commenced in the Colony for the Support of indigent Students in Cambridge College. -Southampton taken under Jurisdiction .- Renewed Appre- hensions of an Indian War .- Difficulty with Governor Kieft of New-York.
SOME weeks before this, the Governor of Mana- hadoes wrote to Governor Winthrop, expressing great pleasure at the union of the English colo- nies, but complaining of Connecticut and New. Haven for insufferable injuries, and for having sent misinformation against the Dutch to their agent in Europe. An amicable letter was sent in reply ; and the commissioners soon afterward, having considered the subject, directed their presi- dent to write, demanding satisfaction for injuries done to Connecticut and New-Haven, and decla- ring that, while they would wrong no one, they would never desert their confederates in so just a cause. Both parties had now expressed a desire for that state of friendship and harmony which would have been so becoming the colonies of two Protestant nations ; and the situation of one of them soon compelled it earnestly to ask help of the other.
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.