USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > Thirteen historical discourses, on the completion of two hundred years : from the beginning of the First Church in New Haven, with an appendix > Part 34
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XIII.
Honored Sir,-Yesterday, Mr. Gilbert and Deacon Myles brought unto me a letter written by yourself to sergeant Whitehead, about your house, which, it seems, was an answer to a letter sent by I know not whom, nor when, to yourself, in the name of the towns- men, and with their consent, that they might purchase the house for the town. From Brother Herriman's discourse with my wife, L'un- derstand that himself and Brother Wakeman had speech with you, to promove that motion. All this was done and written without my knowledge and my wife's and son's. They did not, nor any from or for them, make it known unto me in the least, that such a letter or message should be sent unto you. Two of the brethren who were not townsmen, spake with me formerly about their fear of losing the governor for want of an house, and propounded yours, concluding from your own words that you would not dwell here, though if there had been any ground of hope of the contrary, they would not have propounded it. This I add, that I may do them right. My advice was, that they would not send to you about it; and to stay them from so doing, I told them that I heard you purposed to come hither shortly, (for so Daniel your man had reported,) and did think that they would wait for that. These things I thus particularly relate, that you may see that I had not the least hand in what they have done, nor consent to it, nor knowledge of it. When the forenamed showed me your letter, and enquired what I would do in reference to the power and trust you was pleased to commit to me about alienating your house, I told them, as I had said unto yourself be- fore, that I must desire to be excused from acting in that business, and did refuse it, and do still pray you to wave me in that employ- ment, who shall in other things deny you nothing that I am fit to do, if I may really pleasure you thereby. My son also hath refused to act in that matter. Had a letter been brought to us to subscribe, for inviting you to bring your family when you shall find a conven- ient time, and to come and dwell in your house, and the sooner the welcomer, &c., we should have signed that with both our hands. What is done I have not yet heard, therefore cannot give you ac- count of it.
While I paused a little, having written thus far, I hear that the two mentioned in the first line have alienated your house. If it be so, I am heartily sorry, that what we have so many years desired and
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hoped for, we shall be thus deprived of, viz. your neighborhood, which we do highly value, and therefore cannot but look upon our loss as exceeding great. My wife received Mrs. Winthrop's loving token, the sugar loaf she was pleased to send her, for which she re- turneth her many thanks, yet is sorry to have it from her, to whom she accounteth herself obliged otherwise rather to send unto her. With mine, my wife's and son's humble services to you both, and respectful and affectionate salutations to your daughters, commend- ing you both, and yours, unto the everlasting arms, I rest, Sir,
Yours, exceedingly obliged,
JOHN DAVENPORT.
The 5th d. of the 2d. m. [April,] 1660.
We desire to receive some intelligence of your and Mrs. Winthrop's coming to us, whose house shall be as your own ; and you will much cheer us if you say we shall enjoy you here shortly.
To the right worshipful JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., Governor of Con- necticut colony, these present in HARTFORD.
XIV.
Honored Sir,-I received yours by Brother Benham, whom God preserved from being drowned in his journey homeward. The river by Mr. Yale's farm was swollen high; his wife was fearful of riding through it. God provided an help for her at the instant, by a pas- senger who traveled from Windsor to Branford to Mr. Crane's, whose daughter he had married. He helped Sister Benham over a tree. But her husband adventuring to ride through, a foot of his horse slipped ; so he fell into the water, and his horse, as he thinketh, fell upon him or struck him with his foot, for he had a blow on his head. But through the mercy of God he is now well. This day, Mr. At- . water, being at our lecture, speaks of a letter newly received from his wife, who writes her fears that she shall never see him again, doubting that he was cast away the last storm, whereby, she saith, sundry vessels about Boston have suffered much hurt, and some persons were cast away, and a ship also, if I mistake not, at Cape Cod. But God ordered things so, by his good provi- dence, that Mr. Atwater was then at New London in a safe harbor. Even now, Major Hawthorne and Mr. Richards are come from the Dutch. They are gone into the town to despatch some business, but will return to sup and lodge at my house. I do not yet know whether they purpose to return to Boston by land or sea, yet prepare
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these lines, in omnem eventum, to send by them if they go by land, or by some other conveyance if I can hear of any.
Sir, I thank you for my sight of Mr. Knowles' letter to Mr. Joanes. That which he speaks of a parliament in Scotland, I cannot receive. For I suppose England will not suffer it. I still hope that things in England are in an hopeful way. The Lord Jesus dwell with you in peace ! Mine, my wife's and son's humble services are affection- ately presented to yourself and Mrs. Winthrop, with our salutations to your daughters. Having other letters to write, in answer to friends in the Bay, I am compelled to take off my pen, but shall always remain, Sir,
Your exceedingly obliged,
JOIN DAVENPORT. New Haven, the 13th of the 2d, [April,] 1660.
Mr. Price, of Salem, and his wife, present their services to your- self and Mrs. Winthrop, in a Jetter brought to me by Major Haw- thorne. They are importunately desirous to stay Mr. Higginson with them at Salem, for continuance, and in way of office.
[Superscription torn off.]
XV.
Honored Sir,-This is the first opportunity presented to me of returning an answer to the two last letters I received from you. Brother Benham indeed (whose good and sweet-spirited wife the Lord hath taken from him since his return,-and a young child of one of his sons is since dead in his house, where also one of his son's wife lieth very weak) went to Hartford, but gave no notice of it beforehand that I might prepare a letter for him. Brother Myles, at his return from the Bay, comforted me with hope of your recor- ering strength. For he told us that you looked better when he re- turned, than you did when he went to the Bay. Our desire is fer- vent to see you and Mis. Winthrop here, by the will of God, as soon as may be. I hope the change of air would hasten your recovery, aad the perfecting of your strength, by the blessing of God. For we are by the sea-side, and my house shall be as your own for your use. And to us it will be a singular refreshment and contentment to enjoy your presence and abode with us, as long as your occasions will per- mit. Be pleased to accept this serious and hearty invitation, and to answer it really, in coming to us and staying with us, that you may be refreshed with the sea-air, and we with your sweet and much de-
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sired fellowship. If you fear that you shall burthen us, be assured of the contrary, that we shall look upon it as a real testimony of your love and confidence in us, and in our love which is unfeigned towards both you and all yours, and as a most acceptable gratifi- cation of our earnest desire to enjoy you with us as long as we may. Myself, wife, and son, had been with you before this time, if I durst have ventured upon such a journey, which yet I should have done, though with some hazard, if my coming might have been of any ne- cessary beneficial use to you. One day in the spring, I rode forth with our governor, to stir my body, and take the air, but when I re- turned home, though we had been out but an hour or two, [a detailed account of symptoms, in the course of which the writer says, " hot weather weakens and almost prostrates my spirits when it is extreme" -is omitted.]
Sir, I humbly thank you for the intelligences I received in your letters, and for the two weekly intelligences which Brother Myles brought me, I think, from yourself, and which I return enclosed, by this bearer with many thanks. I did hope that we might have re- ceived our letters by Capt. Pierce before this time. But we have no news lately from the Bay. Brother Rutherford and Brother Alsop are both there; so also is our teacher, Mr. Street. The two former I hope will return sometime the next week. Then probably we shall have some further news. The Lord fit us to receive it as we ought whatever it may be. Sir, I long to hear of your perfect recovery of health and strength, and to understand from you, that your purpose is to be with us shortly, and when we may expect your coming to us with Mrs. Winthrop, &c. In the mean time, and ever, the Lord Jesus dwell with you in mercy, and peace, and loving-kindness; in whom I rest, Sir,
Yours, exceedingly obliged, JOHN DAVENPORT.
New Haven, the 20th d. of the 5th m. [July,] 1660 .*
To the right worshipful JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., governor of Con- necticut colony, these present in HARTFORD.
* " On the 27th of July, [1660,] Capt. Pierce, a noted shipmaster in the trade between England and the colony, [of Massachusetts,] arrived and brought the news of the king's being proclaimed." Hutch. I, 210. Whalley and Goffe, the fugitive judges, arrived at Boston in Capt. Pierce's vessel. Well might Davenport say in reference to the news which that ship might bring, " The Lord prepare us to receive it as we ought, whatever it may be."
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XVI.
Honored Sir,-I perceive you have received from others the sad intelligence of the decease of our honored governor, my very dear and precious friend .* We hoped that he was in a good way of recov- ery from his former sickness, and were comforted with his presence in the assembly two Lord's days, and at one meeting of the Church on a week day, without any sensible inconvenience. And on the morning of the day of public thanksgiving, he found himself encour- aged to come to the public assembly. But after the morning sermon, he told me that he found himself exceedingly cold from head to toc, yet, having dined, he was refreshed, and came to the meeting again in the afternoon, the day continuing very cold. That night he was very ill ; yet he did not complain of any relapse into his former disease, but of inward cold, which he and we hoped might be removed by his keeping warm and using other suitable means. I believe he did not think that the time of his departure was so near, or that he should die of this distemper, though he was always prepared for his great change. The last day of the week he desired my son to come to him the next morning to write a bill for him to be prayed for, according to his direction. My son went to him after the beating of the first drum ; but finding himself not fit to speak much, he prayed him to write for him what he thought fit. When the second drum beat, I was sent for to him. But before I came, though I made haste, his precious immortal soul was departed from its house of clay unto the souls of just men made perfect. We were not worthy of him, a true Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed who served God in Christ, in sincerity and truth. He honored God in his personal conversa- tion, and in his administration of chief magistracy in this colony ; and God hath given him honor in the hearts of his people. My loss and my son's, who took great contentment in his company, as he also did in his, is very great, and our grief answerable. But the public loss is far greater ; and answerably it is generally bewailed, God recompensing his faithfulness with his living desired, and dying lamented. It becomes us to lay our hands upon our mouths, yea, to put our mouths in the dust, remembering whose doing this is. Yet, in respect of means, I could wish two things ; first, that in his former sickness, he had wholly and only followed your directions; secondly, that he had forborne coming forth that cold day. But God's coun-
* The governor here spoken of, is Governor Newman.
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sels shall stand, whose will is the first and best cause of all things ; and the very errors of men shall serve to accomplish his purposes, who is holy in all his ways and righteous in all his works.
Sir, what I wrote in my former letter concerning Mrs. Coglien, I had from Anthony Elcock, who received it in the Bay, viz. that she was discontented that she had no suitors, and that she had encoura- ged her farmer, a mean man, to make a motion to her for marriage, which accordingly he propounded, prosecuted, and proceeded in it so far that afterwards, when she reflected upon what she had done, and what a change of her outward condition she was bringing herself into, she was discontented, despaired, and took a great quantity of ratsbane, and so died. Fides sit penes auctorem. Sir, I humbly thank you for the intelligence you was pleased to give me of an op- portunity of transmitting a letter for London, which is a thing that I earnestly desire, and do make bold to commit it to your own care, seeing you are pleased to give me that liberty, and hearing that the vessel is yet at Hartford. The letter is of great importance. The safe and speedy handing of it to Mr. Robert Newman will be a real advantage to me, and the miscarriage of it no small disadvantage. In which respect, if you conceive it will be more speedily and cer- tainly conveyed to him by this way than by the ship at Boston, I de- sire it may be sent accordingly with the more engagement for com- mitting it to a sure hand at Barbadoes, to be delivered to Mr. New- man in London, as the matter is of more consequence ; that an an- swer may be returned from him, by the first ship from London to Boston in the spring. Having thus opened the case, I crave leave to commit it wholly to yourself to take that course with it which you shall judge most suitable. I shall not add, but mine, my wife's and son's humble service to yourself and Mrs. Winthrop with our respect- ful and affectionate salutation to your son and daughters, praying the Lord to continue your life unto them, and theirs unto you, and to multiply his favors and blessings upon you and them through Jesus Christ ; in whom I rest, Sir,
Yours, ever obliged,
JOHN DAVENPORT.
- New Haven, this 27th d. of the 9th m. [November,] 1660.
The miscarriage of a letter which I formerly sent to London by way of Barbadoes, makes me so desirous that this may not miscarry.
To the right worshipful JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., governor of Con- necticut colony, these present in [HARTFORD. ]
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ADDITIONAL NOTICES.
Many other particulars respecting the personal history of Daven- port might be gathered from the records; but though such details have always a charm for the antiquarian, they might seem to the general reader, tedious and trifling. One incident however may be given liere, as it is an additional illustration of his public spirit.
On the 11th of August, 1662, Mr. Davenport informed the town, " that he having occasion by the providence of God to go into the Bay, and understanding that there are two merchants that are lately come from England, who have a desire to come to these parts," wished to be authorized by the town to make them some such pro- posals as might induce them to come to this place. "They are very godly men," he said, "and belong to a Church in England, and so have a desire to have a place to sit down together (as Brother Alsop reported, and Mr. Rutherford;) they only desire home lots, and it may be, some out lots." After some discussion it was suggested that " the neck" might be " the fittest place for them." Mr. Davenport then proposed the question whether the town would give up that tract of land to these strangers, on condition of their settling here. " For his own part, he had some land there himself, and lie should willingly resign up his." He argued that these merchants " would bring shipping yearly from England hither, and so cause manufac- ture, which is necessary if we long subsist together." The proposal being favorably received, he " further propounded whether we should not consider them as coming from London, and not knowing the state of a wilderness condition, and therefore extend our thoughts farther than their desires, so as to accommodate them with land and meadow for cows, and also liberty for cutting fire wood, and timber for building, equal with others of the planters, which may be a great encouragement to them when they should hear our thoughts extend beyond their desires. All which he purposed to acquaint them withal when he understood the town's mind herein." The re- sult was a formal offer of "the neck," a tract of about six hundred acres, and of the other accommodations and privileges proposed.
One of those merchants, a Mr. Bache, appears to have carried on business here for many years. He purchased of the town, the house in which Gov. Winthrop, and afterwards Gov. Newman, had resided. Of the other, I have discovered no traces. It may be that they were both of that class for whom it was safest, after the restoration, to leave England.
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By the kindness of that diligent and accurate investigator, Rev. Joseph B. Felt, of Boston, I have been favored with a copy of the "inventory of the goods and chattels" of Mr. Davenport, taken by James Penn, Anthony Stoddard, and Thomas Clark, on " the 22d of the 5th mo. 1670." In this inventory, the property which the deceased left in New Haven has no place. The total of the inven- tory, as summed up on the record, including dwelling house and land, valued at &400, and "one servant boy, £10" is £1240 18 10}. The rooms named, are the hall, the study, the upper chamber, the kitchen chamber, the garret, the parlor, the kitchen, and the cellar. The plate is estimated at £50. "Cheny [china] and earthern ware" at £5. "Pewter and tin ware" in the kitchen, £20. Every apart- ment named, except the study, the garret, the kitchen, and the cel- lar, has a bed in it. The inventory of things in the study is worth copying.
"Books prized by Mr. John Oxenbridge, our pastor, and by Mr. James Allen, our teacher, as appeared to us by a note under their hands to the value of - £233 17
- - 5 00 A clock, with appurtenances, - -
7 high chairs, 3 stools, a low chair, - - - - 3 00
A skreen, four curtain rods, four boxes, - 2 00
For wt. sugar, a little trunk, a box, - 1 05"*
More than a thousand dollars worth of books, will seem like a large library, when it is recollected that New England was then far more of a new country than the western frontier is now. These books descended to the only son of the only son, the Rev. John Dav- enport of Stamford. One of the volumes, at least, which Davenport
* The inventory of Mr. Street's estate on the New Haven probate records, shows a style of housekeeping quite inferior to his colleague's. The entire estate, including £136 17 5, which belonged to his wife, (he had married the reliet of Gov. Newman,) and which by the will was to be hers exclu- sively, was only £463 16. His books were valued at £46. His plate, in- cluding the " silver drinking bowl" and the "silver wine bowl," mentioned in his will, amounted, at 6s. per ounce, to £6 9. From the catalogue of his household chattels as distinct from what were his wife's, it might be imagined that he escaped from the Plymouth colony in a somewhat impoverished con- dition. It is as likely, however, that some part of his property had been pre- viously distributed among his married children. The £71 12 6 in hard money which he had by him in those hard times, was a somewhat rare accumulation.
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must have got in Holland, is in the library of Yale College. Some, I believe, still remain at the seat of the family in Stamford .*
* The following catalogue of Davenport's published works is made out by comparing Wood, (Athena Oxon.,) Mather, Allen, and Emerson, (Hist. of First Church in Boston,) and corrected in some instances by an inspec- tion of the works themselves.
A Royal Edict for Military Excreises, published in a Sermon preached to the captains and gentlemen that exercise arms in the Artillery Garden, at their general meeting in Saint Andrew's Undershaft in London. London, 1629. A copy of this is in the Atheneum Library, Boston.
Letter to the Dutch Classis, containing a just complaint against an unjust doer, &e., 1634, quarto. This is a complaint against Mr. Paget's proceed- ings in the English Church at Amsterdam.
Certain Instructions delivered to the Elders of the English Church deputed, which are to be propounded to the pastors of the Dutch Church in Amsterdam, 1634. Wood calls it a quarto paper.
1. A Report of some passages or proceedings about his calling to the English Church in Amsterdam, against John Paget. Quarto. 2. Allegations of Scrip- ture against the baptizing of some kind of infants. Quarto. 3. Protestation about the publishing of his writings. Quarto. These three " little scripts," as Wood calls them, were all printed at Amsterdam in 1634.
An Apologetical Reply to a book called ' an answer to the unjust complaint of W. B.' &c., quarto. Rotterdam, 1636. A copy of this is among the books deposited by the Old South Church in the Library of the Mass. Ilis- torical Society.
Profession of Faith made publicly before the Congregation at his admission into one of the Churches of New England ; containing twenty several leads. 1. Concerning the Scriptures, &e. London, 1642. One sheet, quarto.
The Messiah is already come. A sermon on Acts ii, 36. London, 1653. Quarto. I suspect that this is the same with the work next named.
The Knowledge of Christ, &c., wherein the types, prophecies, genealogies, miracles, humiliation, &e. of Christ are opened and applied. Quarto, printed in 1658, or before.
Catechism containing the chief heads of the Christian religion. London, 1659. Octavo. Published at the desire and for the use of the Church of Christ in New Haven. Wood says that Mr. Hooke had a hand in this work.
The Saints' Anchor-hold, in all storms and tempests, preached in sundry ser- mons, and published for the support and comfort of God's people in all times of trial. London, 1661. Duodecimo. See p. 123.
Another Essay for investigation of the truth, in answer to two questions, &c. Cambridge, 1663. Quarto. The only copy of this work which I have been able to find, belongs to the library of the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. I)., of Rochester, Mass., to whom I am mueh indebted for the use of it.
Election Sermon, at Boston, 1669.
God's call to his people to turn unto him, &c., in two sermons on two pub- lic fasting days in New England. London, 1670. Quarto.
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The power of Congregational Churches asserted and vindicated ; in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget's, entitled, ' The Defense of Church Government exercised in Classes and Synods.' London, 1672. Duodecimo. A copy of this is found in the Library of Harvard University.
A Discourse about Civil Government in a new plantation whose design is religion. Cambridge, 1673. Quarto.
He was also the author of a Latin Epistle to John Dury on the Union of Protestant Churches.
A long letter from him to Major General, afterwards Governor, Leverett of Boston, is among the documents published by Hutchinson in his third volume.
He also wrote several commendatory prefaces to other men's works, among which, Mather mentions an epistle before Scudder's Daily Walk, as worthy to be reckoned itself a book.
He also left ready for publication an Exposition of the Canticles, which was never published, though arrangements for printing it were commenced in London.
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No. XII.
MADAM NOYES.
THE following sketch is from "a Sermon, occasioned by the death of Mrs. ABIGAIL NOYES, relict of the late Rev. Joseph Noyes," &c., " delivered, the Lord's day after her decease by Chauncey Whit- telsey," &c.
"She was truly a gentlewoman of distinguished eminence among us ; the people of this place, especially of this Church and society, almost universally knew her worth, and justly esteemed her one of the best of women. She was descended from very reputable and worthy ancestors, and had an advantageous education, and it pleased the Father of mercies, from whom comes every good and per- fect gift, to endow her with superior talents and accomplishments. Her knowledge, especially in the Scriptures, and in the doctrines of the Christian religion, was very extensive and accurate. She had a delicate mind, and in wisdom and prudence she cxcelled ; but her richest, brightest ornament, was a Christian spirit, and an exemplary Christian walk and conversation.
" The things of God and religion lay with the greatest weight upon her mind ; this appeared from the whole tenor of her conversation, and particularly under the sore trials which she underwent when much overborne, (as she repeatedly was,) with religious melancholy. For when at such times she questioned her own integrity, she discov- ered the deepest concern, and was at seasons in mere anguish of spirit, not so much because of her own dangerous estate, as from an apprehension of the dishonor she did or might do to God, and to the Redeemer.
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