USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 8
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A drunken Indian, some time previously, had
103
1643.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
killed a Dutchman, and this would probably have caused a war but for the prudence of the gov- ernor. Some of the people, it was said, induced the Mohawks to massacre about thirty Indians living near the Dutch, which drove the survivors to them for protection. Captain Marine, with the governor's permission, then suddenly attack- ed them, and destroyed seventy or eighty men, women, and children. This brought on a war ; and in the spring of this year many Dutch houses and barns were burned, some of the latter after the cattle had been driven into them; and about twenty persons were killed. The Indians on Long Island having committed similar acts, the govern- or invited Captain Underhill to come to his assist. ance from Stamford. This so exasperated Captain Marine that he attempted to shoot the governor ; who, as other symptons of irritation appeared, kept a guard of fifty Englishmen in constant attend- ance on his person. In the summer and autumn the Indians killed fifteen of the Dutch ; and all the English and Dutch settlers west of Stamford deserted their houses for fear. Among others, the celebrated Mrs. Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, and her family, were murdered by some Indians, who came with professions of peace and friend- ship. Eighteen persons fell in the same treach. erous massacre, including her son-in-law, Mr. Col- lins, and his family. After breaking up the Dutch settlements in that region, the Indians crossed to Long Island and proceeded in like manner, dri- ving all the people away except the few who were in the fort.
In the midst of these dangers and sufferings, the
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CIVIL WAR IN ENGLAND.
[1644.
Dutch requested of the New-Haven Court 100 soldiers : but this was declined, partly on the ground that their cause might not be just, and partly because each colony was bound to abstain from war. They, however, offered to assist them with provisions in case of need. This war be- tween the Dutch and Indians lasted several years. Captain Underhill had the chief command, and was very active and successful at the head of a company of. Dutch and English, from 120 to 150 in number, with whom he destroyed between 400 and 500 Indians.
This state of things, added to the enmity of the Narragansets, kept up a constant alarm, so that in Connecticut, every man able to bear arms was required, while attending church, to be prepared for resistance. In Hartford the bell was rung every morning an hour before day. Even such a state of danger, however, did not forbid the proper at- tention to the education of the youth, as it is men- tioned on the records of Hartford that Mr. An- drews, the teacher of the town school, was paid £16 as his salary.
The year 1644 thus opened with melancholy prospects ; and, as England was involved in a civil war, the results of which must prove highly impor- tant on this side of the Atlantic, a general monthly fast was proclaimed, to begin on the 4th of January. As the struggle in England was considered as be- ing based on questions of civil and religious freedom, our ancestors sympathized warmly with the oppo- nents of the king, and conformed with them in the observance of fasts and prayers on the same days through the war.
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1644.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Few, if any, cases have existed in history in which officers have been as long and constantly re- 'elected as the chief magistrates of Connecticut and New-Haven. Mr. Hayne and Mr. Hopkins were elected governor and deputy-governor alternately as long as they lived : the constitution forbidding any greater regularity. Mr. Eaton was governor till the end of his life, and Mr. Stephen Goodyear generally held the office of lieutenant-governor.
A man from Massachusetts was murdered by the Indians in the spring between Fairfield and Stamford; and when the murderer had been brought bound, to be delivered to men sent to take him, his guards released him, and he escaped. The Eng- lish then made prisoners of eight or ten Indians, which caused a rising among the savages in that quarter on the 1st of May; and, relying on the promises of four sachems, they released them. About a month afterward, an Indian named Bus- heag wounded a woman in Stamford with a ham- mer, in an attempt to kill her, so that she never afterward had her reason. The Indians then as- sumed a most threatening attitude, and so alarmed the distant and weaker plantations in the west, that it was thought dangerous to travel by land, and they asked and received help from the chief towns. The Indian offender was at length given up, tried at New-Haven, and beheaded. The executioner must have been inexpert, as, in attempting to cut off his head with a falchion or broadsword, he gave not less than eight blows before he could succeed. The Indian, with characteristic hardihood, sat up- right till the last.
The expenses which Connecticut and New-
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[1644.
THE NARRAGANSETS PACIFIED.
Haven incurred during this war they alone had to pay, because the commissioners had not ordered their defensive measures.
Branford (then called Totoket) was settled this year by some people from Wethersfield (where dissensions still continued), with part of the con- gregation of Mr. Pierson of Southampton, Long Island, who was chosen pastor of the new town.
The Narraganset Indians were still as hostile as ever against the Mohegans, and the Indians who were under the protection of Massachusetts. That colony, therefore, sent men to aid Uncas in fortifying for his defence. Messages were de- spatched by the commissioners to say they were sitting at Hartford, and ready to listen to any com- plaints from them, and to give an impartial judg- ment. The interpreters sent to the Narragansets were charged to set down in writing, and then to submit to them for correction, the answers return- ed by the Indians to the questions : Are your de- signs for war? Will you perform the treaty or not ? Promises were also made that, whoever should be sent by the Narragansets, they should be safely restored to their homes. A sachem there- fore attended, with several chief's, and endeavour- ed to prove that Uncas (who also was present) had received a ransom in part for the life of Miantoni. moh, and refused to return it after his death. The commissioners found this to be a false accusation : yet they told the Narragansets that, if they ever should be able to prove it. Uncas should make res. titution. The Narragansets then agreed that nei- ther they nor the Nehanties should make war on Un-
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1644.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
cas before the next year's planting season, nor then without giving thirty days' notice to the English.
The Indians then returned ; and thus the com- missioners, by their moderation, prudence, and humanity, appear to have prevented a threatening Indian war. Before this time intelligence had been received of a dreadful massacre of 200 persons in Virginia, which led to the belief that a general plot had been laid for the destruction of all the colonies.
The aspect of affairs was rendered still more peaceful by the appearance of a number of In- dians from Monhauset, on Long Island, and its vicinity. Four sachems came with their chief men to request the commissioners to take them under their protection, saying that they had been tributary to the English ever since the Pequod war. This was agreed to, and a certificate was given them, declaring their good standing and connexion with the colonies.
Both Massachusetts and Mr. Fenwick laid claim to Westfield ; and it was resolved that it should be under the jurisdiction of the former until ultimately disposed of : the property of the land, however, was to belong to the proprietors if it should exceed 2000 acres.
On an application from Mr. Shepard for aid to support indigent students at Cambridge College, the commissioners recommended the subject to the general courts ; and from that time contributions of grain and provisions were furnished every year from the colonies. A plan was considered for a joint-stock company to trade with the Indians : but, in consequence of the opposition of Massa- chusetts, it was never adopted. To prevent the
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SAYBROOK FORT TRANSFERRED. [1644.
Indians from being supplied with firearms, so dan. gerous in their hands, all persons were forbidden to sell arms and ammunition to an Indian, on pen- alty of twenty times the value ; and smiths were prohibited from mending guns for Indians. At the same time it was recommended to the courts to forbid the sale of arms and ammunition to the Dutch and French, because they disposed of them to the savages.
Southampton, on Long Island, was taken under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, on the recommen- dation of the commissioners. It was settled by people from Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1630, who had obtained a tract of land in 1639, on the west- ern end of that island, from Lord Stirling, with the consent of the Indians. The interference of the Dutch, however, compelled them to remove farther eastward ; and, with nearly 100 families, they built Southampton, with the Rev. Mr. Pierson for their pastor. They established their own civil govern- ment, at the advice of Massachusetts. On the ad- mission of the town into the jurisdiction of Con- necticut this year, Mr. Pierson and some of his people removed to Branford, as the change was not agreeable to them.
Mr. Fenwick being willing to place Saybrook fort under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, the gov- ernor, deputy-governor, and several other persons were appointed a committee to confer with him : the agreement was made on the 5th of December, 1644, Mr. Fenwick being secured for ten years in the use of all the "housings" (buildings) in the fort, and a certain duty on the corn, biscuit, bea- ver, and cattle exported from the mouth of the river.
1645.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
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This was confirmed by the commissioners on the 4th of February, 1645, who laid a duty of two- pence a bushel on grain, sixpence a hundred- weight on biscuit, and a small sum on the beaver to be exported from the mouth of the Connecticut for ten years. The entire value of what was thus paid to Mr. Fenwick for the old Connecticut pat- ent was 1600 pounds sterling. The court ordered, on July 19th, that the fortifications should be in- creased ; and a tax of 200 pounds was laid on the plantations to pay the expense. The court also wrote to Mr. Fenwick, requesting him to go to England to get the patent enlarged, and in other ways to promote the interests of the colony.
The restless Narragansets soon began again to invade the territory of Uncas ; and, in repeated at- tacks on his fort,* led by their sachem Pessacus, they killed and captured numbers, and so annoyed the Mohegans that an extraordinary meeting of the commissioners assembled on the 28th of June, who sent messengers to Narraganset and Mohegan, with the usual proposals to hear their complaints, determine righteously, and give safe conduct. The Narraganset sachems at first listened favourably, but did not accede ; and some of them insulted and threatened the messengers, while one told them the war should be continued at all events, and that the English should be shot at their own doors, and their cattle killed and piled in heaps. Mr. Williams wrote to the commissioners from Providence, that the Narragansets were preparing for war against
* Some remains of this fort may still be seen near the little church on the highest hill in the Mohegan reservation, on the west side of the road between Norwich and New-London.
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WAR WITH THE NARRAGANSETS. [1645.
the colonies, and had already formed a treaty of neutrality with that town and those on Aquidney . Island. The commissioners therefore agreed that war was both justifiable and necessary : but chose, before declaring it, to take the advice of the magis- trates and elders, and some of the military officers of Massachusetts. Their opinion was unanimous in favour of war. It was therefore determined that the treaty required them to interfere promptly for the defence of Uncas, or he would be destroyed ; and that the fair import of their obligations would justify not merely the defence of Uncas in Mohe- gan, but the invasion of Narraganset.
The 4th of September was therefore observed as a day of fasting and prayer. Three hundred men were ordered to be raised : one hundred and ninety in Massachusetts, forty in Connecticut, forty in Plymouth, and thirty in New-Haven. Forty men were immediately raised in Massachusetts by impressment, and in three days marched for Mo- hegan, to take the places of the Connecticut and New-Haven troops who had kept garrison for Un- cas. Major Edward Gibbons was appointed to take the chief command when the army should be collected, and Captain Mason in the interim. Ma- jor Gibbons was instructed to defend Uncas, and invade and distress the Narragansets, Nehantics, and their confederates ; to offer peace, and make a treaty if possible : but if they should only flee, to build forts in their country, and store in them their corn, &c. The Narragansets had before this sent a present to Governor Winthrop, with a request to have peace with the English, but to be permitted to revenge on Uncas the death of Miantonimoh.
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1645.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
The present was declined, but retained tempora- rily at the messenger's request ; and Captain Har. ding, Mr. Wilbore, and Benedict Arnold were sent to tell them they must first give satisfaction for the past and security for the future, and that they would then find the English tender of their blood. Sev- eral of their sachems visited Boston ; and, after making some false excuses, being pressed to come to a lasting arrangement, one of them presented a stick to the commissioners, saying they submitted to them the decision of peace and war, and asked what they desired. The reply was, that, for the great expense and trouble which their faithlessness had caused the English, they would be content with the small sum of 2000 fathoms of wampum : but that the canoes and captives taken from Uncas must be restored, their complaints against him should be submitted to the commissioners at the next meeting, peace should be kept by them, and hostages given. The Narragansets and Nehan- tics were reluctant : but, after the times of payment had been extended, and it had been added that Un- cas should restore his captives and canoes, on the 30th of August they signed the treaty, because they knew the army had entered their territory, and that nothing else would save it. Several of the Indians remained, to await the arrival of the children who were designated for permanent hos- tages ; the English troops were recalled ; and the day appointed as a fast was converted into a thanks- giving-day, in gratitude to the Great Preserver, to whom the colonies so habitually and devoutly look- ed as the bestower of every benefit. The preser- vation of peace at this time was an inestimable blessing.
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SEQUASSEN S PLOT.
[1645.
But difficulties again arose with the Dutch. The garrison of the fort at Hartford set at defiance the laws of the colony, and resisted the officers; and Governor Kieft wrote an imperious letter to Gov. ernor Eaton, charging the English with encroach- ments, and threatening war. The commissioners soon addressed him a letter, complaining of his conduct, approving Governor Eaton's answer, in which an offer was made to refer to arbitration in Europe or America, and asserting that they had committed nothing inconsistent with the law of God, the law of nations, or the treaties subsisting between England and Holland. Kieft returned a gasconading answer, threatening war : but the com- missioners replied with moderation and dignity.
CHAPTER XIII.
Difficulties with Indians .- Injury done to them by supplying them with Ardent Spirits .- Instances of their Perfidy .- Ca- lamities suffered by New-Haven .- Law against the Use of Tobacco in Connecticut .- Ninigrate's artful Conduct .- Mr. Winthrop's Claim .- Saybrook Fort burned .- Settlement of New-London .- Indian War threatened .- An Alliance with Canada proposed.
THIS year was near being marked by the assas- sination of Governor Hopkins, Governor Haynes, and Mr. Whiting, one of the magistrates of Con- necticut. A petty sachem, living on the river's banks, named Sequassen, whom we have before mentioned, appears to have cherished a violent ha-
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1646.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
tred against those gentlemen, on account of the protection they had afforded Uncas ; and he hired Watchibrough, a Waronoke (or Windsor) Indian, to kill them, intending to charge Uncas with the crime, and then to escape with him to the Mohawks. But the Windsor Indian remembered the execution of Busheag at New-Haven, and thought the crime would be punished, or, at least, keep him in fear all his life. He preferred, therefore, to take such a reward as the informers against Busheag had ob- tained. After he had received several wampum belts, he therefore went to Hartford and made known this plot. But Sequassen was never taken.
The Indians of Windsor were in a very hostile state at this time. They burned a quantity of tar and turpentine, rescued by force one whom the of- ficers had seized, and threatened messengers after- ward sent to them : but the commissioners of the United Colonies thought it best only to warn them against future misconduct of the kind.
These acts of hostility may serve as specimens of some of the various modes in which the colonies were long harassed. On their part, the Indians suffered some severe evils from the neighbourhood of the whites, especially through the introduction of spirituous liquors, which were then generally believed by civilized nations to be among the ne- cessaries of life, or, at least, highly useful to the health in many cases. They ought to have learn- cd an opposite lesson from observing the experi- ence of the Indians. They were entirely ignorant of all drink except water, and suffered no evil from that which was good ; but, from the moment when they began to drink the "strong waters" which K 2
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CRUELTY OF THE INDIANS.
[1646.
the Europeans introduced among them, their ruin may be said to have been sealed. In this they erred, and fatally for the Indians and thousands of their own descendants, who after them were hastened to the grave by intemperance. At the same time it may be said, that, by not taking measures to prevent the use of ardent spirits, they left their civil, religious, and literary institutions in extreme danger of overthrow : for intemperance is a deadly enemy of the present as well as of the future welfare of mankind.
Several years after Milford was first settled, the English discovered a party of Mohawks concealed in a swamp about half' a mile east from Stratford Ferry, which is still called the Mohawk Swamp. They gave notice to the friendly Indians in their fort, knowing that the enemy's design was to cap- ture it. The friendly Indians were bold enough to rout them and take several prisoners. One of these they exposed to a slow and most distressing death, without the knowledge of the English, as it would seem. They left him in the salt meadows, stripped and bound, to be bitten by the moschetoes, and to die without food and water. He was hap- pily found in that condition by a Mr. Hine, who released him, and, having given him food, enabled him to escape. The Mohawks were much concil- iated towards the English by this act of humanity, and, it is said, afterward treated the family of the Hines with particular marks of friendship.
Much has been said of Indian gratitude ; and there have been many striking and affecting in- stances of it recorded in our early as well as our later historics. But, like other races of men, the
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1646.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Indians are capable of ingratitude and perfidy. Of this the commissioners had melancholy proofs this year, as the Narragansets and Nehantics had not performed any of the stipulations of the treaty ; and, while pretending to give as hostages children of chiefs, they had brought only those of the lowest rank. Besides, they had endeavoured to engage the Mohawks against the colonies by presents and otherwise. To all this the commissioners answer. ed only by remonstrances.
The Dutch and Indians had a bloody battle this year, on Strickland's Plain, in the present town of Horseneck, after which the former with difficulty kept the field.
Some of the most wealthy inhabitants of New- Haven this year began to make arrangements for a voyage to England, expecting, by establishing commerce with their native land, to retrieve the pecuniary losses which they had suffered since they had embarked their estates in the settlement of the colony. They contributed money, built a ship of 150 tons, freighted her, and embarked : but were never heard from again. Among those who were thus lost were Mr. Gregson, Captain Turner. Mr. Lamberton, and five or six leading men of the col. ony. This loss so far affected the survivors. that the principal men determined to abandon the coun- try, and to remove either to Jamaica or to Ireland, having invitations to go to both. They proposed to settle Galloway as a colony of their own. Prov- idence, however, so directed events that they re- mained at home, contrary to their wishes, and, although they believed the land of the colony un- favourable to agriculture, their posterity became flourishing farmers.
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CONDUCT OF NINIGRATE. [1646.
Tobacco appears to be regarded by many per- sons, and even by some nations at the present day, as one of the necessaries of life ; and, although it is noxious in every form and in almost every case in which it is used, it forms one of the great arti- cles of commerce between several countries. Yet, up to the period to which we have arrived, it had been almost unknown; and most judicious men would probably now say that it were well if it had continued so. The law which was passed by the Connecticut Assembly this year, to prevent the use of tobacco from becoming fashionable, was more ridiculed some years ago than it now is, since the injurious influences of that poisonous plant on the health and the mind have become more generally understood. The law forbade any person under twenty years of age, and any one not already ac- customed to it, to take tobacco, without having a certificate from a physician recommending it, and a license from the court ; and any one already ad- dicted to it was forbidden to use it, unless removed ten miles from any company, and then more than once a day, under a penalty of sixpence for each offence.
This year power was first given to the soldiers of train-bands to choose their own officers, who were to be commissioned by the court. Saybrook Fort was transferred to Captain Mason by Mr. Fenwick ; and he was appointed to the command of it, and to govern the inhabitants of the town. The county-rate of Saybrook was also appropria- ted to the repairing of the fortifications.
An extraordinary meeting of the commissioners was held on the 26th of July, to consider the con-
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1647.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
duct of the Narragansets and Nehantics ; and an urgent request was sent to the sachems that they would appear, with a declaration that it would be the last call if neglected. Ninigrate presented himself on the 3d of August, and at first pretended great ignorance of their charges and demands : but, when assured that his former deceit and his former threats were known, he promised, in the name of his companions, to give full satisfaction, and sent for the wampum while he remained as a hostage. As only 100 fathoms were returned instead of 2000, and he pretended that this was owing to his absence, the commissioners released him, saying that if 1000 should not be paid within 20 days, and the rest before planting time, they would blame him instead of Pessacus, whom he charged with the delay.
The General Court of Massachusetts objected to the requisition made on Springfield to pay their part of the money for the purchase of Saybrook Fort. Mr. Hopkins replied for Connecticut with substantial reasons, proposing to submit the sub. ject to the commissioners ; and they decided that Springfield should pay twopence on every bushel of corn going up and down the river, and a penny a pound on beaver-skins, or twenty shill- ings a hogshead : but, out of respect and tender- ness to Massachusetts, it was added that she would be at liberty to show farther reasons. The next year the decision was confirmed.
The Western Nehantic country was claimed at this session of the commissioners by Mr. John Winthrop, son of Governor Winthrop. He brought Mr. Stanton and several Nehantic Indians to prove
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[1648.
SETTLEMENT OF NEW-LONDON.
that the sachem Sashions had given him a verbal deed of it before the Pequod war: but the com- missioners from Connecticut questioned its validity, and it appears never to have been revived.
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