USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > 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 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Thus stood the subject of the Common until May 1660, when 'upon motion of some the inhabitants of Boston, the General Court ordered, that the selectmen of the town from time to time shall, and are hereby empowered to order the improvement and feeding of their commons, within the neck of land, by such cattle as they shall deem meet, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.'
It seemed expedient to throw these materials together in this place, in order that the reader might acquire some idea of the manner in which the town and individuals obtained their title to their several estates. We leave the after history of the Common to be introduced in another place.
CHRONOLOGICAL ITEMS.
Continued from p. 40.
1632. July. The congregation, i. e. the church at Boston wrote to the elders and brethren of the other churches for their advice on these questions, to wit, whether one person might be a civil magistrate and a ruling elder at the same time ? if not, then which should he lay down ? and whether there might be divers pastors in the same church ? The first was agreed by all negatively ; the second, doubtful ; the third, doubtful also. In consequence of this decision, Mr ..
63
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Nowell, who was then an Elder in the Boston church, relin- quished that office and devoted himself to the duties of a ci- vilian.
Aug. 20. Gov. Winthrop has a son born, who is baptized by the name of William. The Governour himself held the child, as others in the congregation did use. William (saith he) signifies a common man .*
Sept. 4. Court at Boston. Order a man to be severely whipt for cursing, swearing, justifying the same, and glorying in it.
Oct. 3. Every one shall pay a penny sterling for every time of taking tobacco in any place.
18. Capt. Camock and Mr. Vesy, a merchant from Pisca- taqua, bring sixteen hogsheads of corn to the windmill at Boston.
1638. March 4. Roxbury, Watertown, and Newtown are assessed six pounds, and Boston only five pounds, of a tax ¿ of £30.
The first notorious thief in Massachusetts is censured thus : all his estate forfeited ; out of which double restitution shall be made to those whom he hath wronged ; shall be whipt, and bound as a servant to any that will retain him for three years, and after to be disposed of by the court, as they shall think meet.
May. We had sent forth a pinnace after the pirate Dixey Bull, but when she had been gone two weeks, she came home, having not found him.
Aug. 220 persons had joined Boston church : men 130.
Sept. Every hand, except magistrates and ministers, is to assist in finishing the fort at Boston.
Mr. Cotton desired baptism for his son, born on their pas- sage, whom he therefore named Seaborn.
Oct. 2. The bark Blessing which had been sent to the Southward returned : she had been at Long Island.
Nov. A small ship of about sixty tons was built at Med- ford and called the Rebecca.
Mr. Wilson, by leave of the congregation of Boston, went to Agawam (Ipswich) to teach the people of that plantation.
Chicatabot dies, and many of his people. This chief used frequently to come to Boston, and was on very friendly terms with Gov. Winthrop. At one time he came with his sannops and squaws, and presented the governour with a bushel of corn. After taking some refreshments, and having each a
* Journal. Prince, under date Oct. 29, 1630, says, 'The first recorded as baptized in the Boston church are said to be baptized in said church in this month, and are only three, namely, Joy and Recompence, daughters of Br. John Milles ; and Pitie, daughter of our brother Wm. Baulstone.
64
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
cup of sack, with a taste of tobacco, he ordered the whole party away in a thunder storm. Only himself with one squaw and sannop staid over night, and the Governour allow- ed him to sit at his table, where he behaved himself as sober- ly as an Englishman. He sometimes wore English clothes, and as his best dress had become rather the worse for age, be applied to the Governour, in honest simplicity, to sell him a suit. The Governour, assuming the dignity of his office, told him that English sagamores did not use to truck; and calling his tailor he ordered him to make a full suit for Chica- tabot. They were to be ready in three days, and he engag- ed to come for them : but as he had no wish to be under an obligation, he left two good skins of beaver as a present for the Governour. He returned at the time appointed, and his regimentals were in readiness. They suited him finely and he was mightily pleased. The Governour complimented him farther with a collation, 'but he would not eat till the Gover- nour had given thanks, and after meal he desired him to do the like, and so departed.' In this he exhibited more polite- ness than some of his brother chiefs, who while on a visit here were invited to attend a sermon ; for they got weary of the service, and went out and broke into a neighbouring house, and without ceremony satisfied their hungry appetites with the best they could find.
This year a water mill was built at Roxbury.
1634. March. Boston and Roxbury disagree about their bounds.
4. A man that had often been punished for drunkenness, is now ordered to wear a red D about his neck for a year.
There was stirred up a spirit of jealousy between Mr. James the pastor of Charlestown and many of his people, so as Mr. Nowell, and some others who had been dismissed from Boston, began to question the fact of breaking from Bos- ton, and it grew to such a scruple of conscience among them, that the advice of the other ministers was taken in it, who after two meetings could not agree about their continuance or return.
April 3. Gov. Winthrop went on foot to Agawam, and because the people there wanted for a minister, spent the sabbath with them, and exercised by way of prophecy.
20. John Coggeshall, gent. being dismissed from the church of Roxbury to Boston, though he were well known and ap- proved, yet was not received but by confession of his faith.
May. By this time the fort at Boston was in defence, and divers pieces of ordnance mounted in it.
The week the court was, there arrived six ships with store of passengers and cattle.
-
i
65
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Nov. The Rebecca came from Narraganset with 500 bush- els of corn.
1635. Jun. 13. The church of Boston kept a day of hu- miliation, for the absence of their pastor and other brethren gone to England, and like to be troubled and detained there, and for that the Lord had made a breach upon them (by the drowning of two men and two boys a short time previous.) Mr. Cotton preached out of Numbers xxxv. 13, and one of the members taught from these words, Wherefore doth a living man complain ?
March 23. Whereas the wood upon the neck of land toward Roxbury gate, this last winter, hath been disorderly cut off and wasted, whereby the poor inhabitants are disap- pointed of relief they might have had there, in after and needful times, now it is generally agreed that Mr. Treasurer [Coddington], Mr. Bellingham, and Mr. Wm. Hutchinson, with the three deacons, shall consider who have been faulty herein, and set down what restitution of wood unto the poor such shall make, according to their several proportions, allot- ted by the major part of these six.
Item. That whosoever at any publique meeting shall 0 fall into any private conference to ye hindring of ye publique businesses, shall forfeit for every such offence twelve pence to be paid into ye constable's hand for publique uses.
May 6. A general court was held at Newtown, when John Haynes, Esq. (of Newtown) was chosen Gov. and Richard Bellingham, Esq. (of Boston) Dep. Gov. The Governour and Deputy were elected by papers wherein their names were written, but the Assistants were chosen by papers with- out names ; thus the Governour propounded one to the peo- ple, when they all went out, and came in at one door, and every man delivered a paper into a hat-such as voted for the party named, gave in a paper with some figure or scroll on it, others gave in a blank.
A BEACON is to be set on the Sentry hill at Boston, to give notice to the country of any danger ; to be guarded by one man stationed near, and fired as occasion may be.
Boston differs with Dorchester about their bounds at Mt. Wolaston, and with Charlestown concerning Romney Marsh. These matters are considered in General Court.
Absence from church meetings on the Lord's day is com- plained of, and the subject submitted to cognizance of two Assistants, who may correct offenders at discretion, by fine not to exceed 10s. or by imprisonment.
It is worthy of note here, that hitherto the punishments in- flicted for crimes had been in most cases ex post facto, and some of them pretty severe, putting in jeopardy both life and
9
1 1
1
66
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
limb : branding with a hot iron, and clipping off the ears were very common things. But now 'the deputies having conceived greater danger to our state, in regard that our ma- gistrates, for want of positive laws in many cases, might pro- ceed according to their discretions, it was agreed that some men should be appointed to frame a body of grounds of laws, in resemblance to a Magna Charta, which being allowed by some of the ministers and the General Court, should be receiv- ed for fundamental laws.' Messrs. Cotton and Bellingham were members of the commission for this important purpose, and had the greatest share in the work.
1
CHIAPTER XIII.
" My father was as brave a lord As ever Europe might afford ; My mother was a lady bright."
ON the sixth of October, 1635, there arrived at Boston two ships, the Defence and the Abigail. Mr. Wilson the pastor of Boston church was one of the passengers, and Mr. Henry Vane was another. The fame acquired by the latter in the course of his life, renders his character and history while here peculiarly interesting. Gov. Winthrop thus intro- duces him : ' one Mr. Henry Vane (son and heir to Sir Henry Vane, comptroller of the King's house,) a young gentleman of excellent parts, who had been employed by his father, when he was embassador, in foreign affairs, yet being called to the obedience of the gospel, forsook the honours and pre- ferment of the court to enjoy the ordinances of Christ in their purity here. His father, being very averse to this way, would hardly have consented to his coming hither; but that on acquainting the King with his son's disposition and desire, he commanded him to send him hither, and gave him license to stay three years.'
English authors represent him as a man of profound dissim- ulation, and of quick conception : very eloquent, ready, sharp and weighty in his expressions : of a pleasant wit, and great understanding, piercing into and discerning the pur- poses of other men with wonderful sagacity, whilst he had himself a true vultum clausum, such a singular countenance that no man could guess from it what he intended.
At the time of his arrival here, Mr. Vane was but twenty- three years of age : he made great professions of religion,
67
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
was enthusiastick, and conformed to the peculiar scruples of the day. The people of Boston very soon became attached to him. He was admitted into the church on the first of No- vember, and on the 30th of that month we find his name in the following important regulation, adopted in a general town- meeting :
'None of the members of this congregation, or inhabitants amongst us, shall sue one another at the law, before that Mr. Henry Vane and the two elders, Mr. Thomas Oliver and Thomas Leverett, have had the hearing and deciding of the cause, if they can.'
It does not appear that it was found expedient to renew this order, in any future year.
The next notice we find of Mr. Vane is that he united with Hugh Peters, also a famous man afterwards, in endeavours to procure a reconciliation between the magistrates and some other 'persons of quality.' There was not indeed any pub- lick or notorious disagreement existing, that required this interference, but there was evidently some alienation of affec- tion, and the result of it had been that factions were beginning to rise among the people, some adhering more to Winthrop and some more to Dudley, of whom the former was thought to be too lenient and the latter too severe. At the meeting now procured by Vane and Peters, explanations were made on all sides, and harmony restored on terms which were sat- isfactory to all.
It is not strange that the man whom the people of Boston had thought worthy of their highest confidence, and who had shown so good a faculty at regulating magistrates themselves, should be thought worthy to be himself elected to some office. Accordingly, having been admitted a freeman on the third of March, Mr. Vane was at the next Election, in May 1636, chosen Governour of the colony .* Mr. Winthrop was at the same time chosen Dep. Governour. On this occasion Hutch- inson remarks, that Gov. Haynes who seemed to stand most in the way of Mr. Winthrop had left the colony, and was set- tled in Connecticut; and Mr. Winthrop would have had a good prospect of recovering his former share of the people's regard, if Mr. Vane's solemn, grave deportment had not en- gaged almost the whole colony in his favour.
Gov. Vane had great respect shown to him at first, and took more state upon him than any Governour had ever done before. ('Because he was son and heir to a privy counsellor in England') the ships in the harbour, which were 15 in num- ber, congratulated his election with a salute ; and the next
* Roger Williams had previously to this received sentence of banishment, on account of bis sentiments, and left this jurisdiction in January 1636.
68
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
week he invited all the masters to dinner. This was the first entertainment of the kind in Boston. Mr. Vane took advan- tage of the good feelings occasioned, and brought the cap- tains to enter into some engagements respecting their trade and conduct here, which promised much utility, but which were never effectually carried into execution. His adminis- tration for several months met with much applause, but towards the end of the year the people grew discontented and he perceived it, and grew weary of the government. Hc received letters from his friends in London urging his return home : Messrs. Winthrop and Dudley, to whom as members with himself of the standing council he first communicated them, were agreed that the occasion would justify his compli- ance with the request. He therefore called a meeting of the general court, and made known to them the necessity there was for his departure, and of course for his quitting the ad- ministration. The court took time till the next morning to consider the subject, and when they mnet, one of the Assist- ants so pathetically lamented the loss of such a governour, at a period of so much danger, both from the French and the Indians, that Mr. Vane burst into tears, and avowed, that notwithstanding the occasion on which he proposed to leave the country involved the utter ruin of his estate in England, he would yet have hazarded all that, rather than have left them at such a crisis, if other things had not pressed him more. He alluded to the inevitable danger of the judgments which he feared were coming upon them, for the differences and dissensions which he saw among them, and the scandalous imputations brought upon himself, as if he were the cause of all : therefore he thought it was best for him to give place for a time. The addition of the last reasons displeased the court, but upon his acknowledgment, that the expression of them slipped from him out of passion, the court silently con- sented to his departure. But some of the church of Boston, being loth to part with the Governour, had a meeting and agreed that they did not apprehend the necessity of the Gov- ernour's leaving, for the reasons alleged, and sent some of their number to signify as much to the court. The Govern- our thereupon expressed himself to be an obedient child of the church, and therefore, notwithstanding the license of the court, he durst not go away contrary to her expressed will.
The differences and dissensions to which the Governour referred, originated in the Boston church, which it will be recollected at that time composed the great body of the peo- ple of the town. The members of the church had been ac- customed to meet once a week, to repeat the sermons they had heard on the Lord's day, and to debate upon the doc- trines that had been delivered. These meetings being pecu-
69
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
liar to the men, at least none of the other sex being allowed to take part in the debates, some of the zealous women thought it might be useful for them to have such meetings among themselves. Accordingly, Mrs. Ann, wife of Mr. William Hutchinson, a woman of a bold and masculine spirit, of ready talents and great flow of speech, established one at her house.
Mr. Hutchinson was a man of fair estate and sustained a good reputation in England. His wife, as Mr. Cotton says, was also highly esteemed, and people of piety cultivated her acquaintance. After she came to Boston, which was on the 18th September 1634, she was treated with respect. Much notice was taken of her by Mr. Cotton, and particularly by Mr. Vane. Her husband served in the General Court on several elections as a representative for Boston, until he was excused at the desire of the church. So much attention seems to have increased Mrs. Hutchinson's natural vanity, and produced too much self-confidence.
The novelty of the thing and the fame of Mrs. H. quickly gained her a numerous audience at her meetings. They were kept every week, and from sixty to eighty women would usually attend. Mrs. H. took the lead in prayer and in the repetition of Mr. Cotton's sermons, and afterwards made reflections of her own. She grounded her practice on the injunction given by Paul, that the elder women should teach the younger. At first these meetings were generally approved, but after some time it appeared that Mrs. HI. was in the habit of making an invidious distinction between the ministers in the colony : two or three of them she allowed to be sound men, under the covenant of grace; the rest she con- demned as under the covenant of works.
Mr. John Wheelwright, a brother-in-law to Mrs. Hutchin- son, a minister of character for learning and piety, joined with her in sentiment. To their fault of classing the clergy under so exceptionable a distinction, as was that of grace and works in those days, they added the propagation of two tenets, which were deemed to be dangerous errours : 1. That the person of the Holy Ghost dwells in a justified person. 2. That sanctification is no proof of justification. And Mrs. H. maintained the belief, that individuals might, as herself had been, be favoured with immediate revelations equally infal- lible with the scriptures.
It was not long before it was found, that the far greater part of the Boston church, with Mr. Cotton and Gov. Vane (whom Mr. Winthrop yet styles a wise and godly gentleman, when he records the fact in his journal) held to the doctrine of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost : but Mr. Vane went so far before the rest as to maintain the idea of a personal
70
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
union. Mr. Winthrop, with Mr. Wilson the pastor, and four or five other members, denied both. The parties discussed their different opinions in writing, and came to this conclu- sion ; that they all agreed in the chief matter of substance, namely, that the Holy Ghost is God, and doth dwell in the believer, as the Father and Son are both said also to do; but as the scriptures do not declare the manner of this union, and as the mention of the person of the Holy Ghost is not found in them, nor in the writings of the primitive churches for the three first centuries, it was earnestly desired, and one would think must have been agreed, that the word person should be forborne, as tending only to doubtful disputation.
Such were some of the notions that turned the city upside down, as they are unintelligibly communicated to us. Had the trouble ended here, as it ought to have done, we should probably have known still less about it. But opinions had been expressed too freely, and some persons retained too much attachment to their own notions to let the matter rest. On the contrary, affairs were so managed that the Boston church became embroiled in its own private concerns, and before the close of the difficulty, found herself opposed to all the other churches in the country, and ministers and magis- trates in all quarters arrayed against her.
Some members of this church were strongly inclined to have Mr. Wheelwright settled as a colleague with Messrs. Wil- son and Cotton. It was proposed on a Lord's day, and another day appointed for deciding on the measure. When the question was introduced, one of the members, probably Mr. Winthrop, rose and declared that he could not give his consent. The reason be assigned was, that he considered the church already furnished with able ministers, with whose sentiments and dispositions they were well acquainted, and whose services had been highly blessed : he saw no urgent necessity for the proposed step, and therefore doubted the propriety of putting the welfare of the church to the least hazard, by calling in another man who was known to hold obnoxious sentiments. Gov. Vane expressed his surprise at such objections, as Mr. Cotton had lately approved Mr. Wheelwright's doctrines. Mr. C. did not precisely recollect, and desired Mr. Wheelwright to explain some expressions attributed to him. He did so, and in such a manner that the first mentioned member was obliged to say he thought it quite likely that he and Mr. Wheelwright might agree ; but still, not- withstanding he allowed him to be a very good man and very capable minister, he could not consent to choose him for a teacher here, for he was at best too apt to raise 'doubtful dis- putations.' On the whole, the church concluded to give way, with the understanding that Mr. Wheelwright might be called
71
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
to a new church about to be formed at Mount Wolaston. Thus the influence of one reasonable man, who obstinately dares to do his duty, may oftentimes prevent his friends from injuring themselves. Mr. Winthrop, however, was not ' for- given for this opposition to the wishes of so many, until he offered an apology for the manner in which he made it.
The ministers in the other towns could not be inactive wit- nesses of what was taking place in Boston : indeed the Boston ideas had crept into some of their churches. They had re- paired hither, to examine the case in a private and friendly way, soon after the obnoxious doctrines were broached. On the subject of sanctification, they could not find much difference between themselves and Messrs. Cotton and Wheelwright, but on the other subject of the personal union, they could not agree. The Court at last in a more formal way called in the aid of the clergy, and so a joint meeting of ministers and magistrates was held to exterminate heresy.
In the course of this conference Mr. Peters took occasion to ' tell Governour Vane that within less than two years since, the churches were in peace ; and besought him to consider his short experience, and to beware of hasty and peremptory conclu- sions, which he perceived him to be very liable to. The bear- ing of these kind hints could not be misunderstood. Mr. Wilson 'made a very sad speech on the condition of the churches, and on the unavoidable danger of a separation, if the differences and alienations were not speedily remedied; and he laid the blame of all the trouble at the door of the new opinionists. All the magistrates except Gov. Vane and two others, (probably Messrs. Coddington & Dummer) and all the ministers except two, confirmed his declaration.
This speech of Mr. Wilson was taken so ill by Mr. Cotton and others of his church, that they called on him to obtain satisfaction. But Mr. Wilson, and some others considered that the call of the court made the case a special one, and left him at liberty, indeed made it his duty, to speak freely. In regard to any allusion to particular churches, he assured them that he meant not the Boston church or its members more than others. This explanation would not satisfy, and he was called to answer publickly for his offence, on Lord's day, Dec. 31, 1636. There Mr. Vane pressed it violently against him, and so did all the church, except Mr. Winthrop and one or two others. It was strange, says the Governour's journal, ' to see how such as had known Mr. Wilson so long, and known what good he had done for that church, should fall upon him with such bitterness for justifying himself in a good cause ; for he was a very holy and upright man, and for faith and love inferior to none in the country, and most dear to all men.' Mr. Cotton joined with the church in their
72
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
judgment of him, not without some appearance of prejudice, yet with much wisdom and moderation. They were eager to proceed to present censure ; but Mr. Cotton dissuaded them from that, on the ground that ' it might not be done be- cause some opposed it :' so he gave him a grave exhortation. Mr. Cotton was three years older than Mr. Wilson, and two years older than Gov. Winthrop. Notwithstanding the ad- monition, Mr. Wilson preached on the next Lord's day, and acquitted himself so satisfactorily that Gov. Vane himself, as was the custom in those days, 'gave publick witness to himn.'
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.