USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts, for two hundred years: from the year 1620 to 1820 > Part 5
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The first serious danger to which the people and govern- ment of Massachusetts were exposed, from the Indians, was in 1637, when the cruelties and injuries committed by the Pequot tribe were so great, that war was formally undertaken against them ; in which those of Plymouth and Connecticut united. This tribe resided between the Thames and Connecticut rivers, and at and near the present site of New London. They had attacked and slain several of the English, who were trading in their vicinity ; but it is probable the persons slain had pre- viously done some injury to the natives. The English de- manded satisfaction without effect; and the conduct of the Pequots was so unjust and menacing,. that it was believed the safety of the colonies required that they should be subdued. An attempt was first made, in 1636, to bring them to submis- sion, and Endicot was sent with eighty men for that purpose. The Indians made evasive answers, and he returned without
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effecting a negotiation. His force was too small to reduce them. The natives near Boston were few, and no indications had appeared of their hostility, to cause very anxious fears to the government. At a distance, they were more numerous. Besides the eastern tribes, there were the Pautucketts, on the higher parts of the Merrimac River; the Nipmucks, to the west and southwest; the Pocanoketts, at Mount Hope, and extending through the colony of Plymouth ; the Narragansetts, the Nianticks, the Pequots, and the Mohegans, in the south- west parts of Rhode Island, and the adjoining territory of Con- necticut. Of these, the most formidable and savage were the Narragansetts and Pequots. After it was determined to make an attack on this hostile tribe, and in their own country, the three colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut, agreed to furnish men for the war. The attack was made on the Pequots, by the Connecticut troops alone, before those from the other colonies arrived. Major Mason, who had been a soldier in the continental wars in Europe, and like Standish, of Plymouth, was considered an able military character, had the command of them. His attack was very bravely and skilfully conducted. He came on them by surprise, though they knew he was on his march against them. The sachems and chiefs made a desperate defence, for some hours ; but the panic and confusion were so great, on account of the unexpected assault, when it took place, that they were completely routed with great slaughter. The remnant of the tribe was soon after pur- sued to a distance by the Massachusetts troops, which had come up, and wholly routed and dispersed. The Narragan- setts, Nianticks, Mohegans and Nipmucks, (except that a dis- pute among themselves involved the colonies in a degree) were subsequently peaceable and submissive, till the attempts made by Philip, in 1675, to destroy all the English in the country.
During the year 1637, an unhappy dispute arose, as to the nature of faith and justification, which agitated the whole com- munity. Some extravagant and dangerous opinions were ad- vanced, tending to licentiousness, under pretence of glorifying the sovereign grace of God. The sentiments were justly op- posed and reprobated, but the deluded people were treated with undue severity. Several persons were banished, or chose to leave the colony, rather than submit to the censures and restraints imposed on them. The settlement on Rhode Island was begun, at this time, under Coddington, Coggeshall, and others, who had been banished on a charge of erroneous and dangerous sentiments. A large minority of the freeholders were implicated in this alarming heresy ; and the govern-
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ment considered it so dangerous to social order and good morals, that the supporters of it were disarmed. Rev. Mr. Cotton of Boston, and Governor Vane, favored the opinions of these fanatics, for some time, before they proceeded so far as to re- quire the interference of the civil government. Their apology was, that divine grace was magnified by their creed. But it is probable, that the deluded persons withheld their opinions from Mr. Cotton, to the extent which they confessed them to others. Their opinions tended to the most revolting antinomianism ; and all that was required by them to be a christian and a spirit- ual person, was a feeling and a belief of justification by a sovereign act of the Deity. Governor Winthrop, Rev. Mr. Wilson, and most others of the clergy, opposed and censured this opinion, as dangerous to the purity of the churches, and directly contrary to the plain declarations of the gospel. These were therefore denounced as legal preachers, while Mr. Cotton, and few others, were said to preach the doctrines of grace. When Mr. Bulkley was settled at Concord, in 1636, he was condemned by these high spiritual professors, as teaching a covenant of works, and some declined assisting in his instalment on that account ; and yet he was the writer of a pamphlet en- titled, " The Gospel Covenant of Grace." The Rev. Mr. Hooker exerted a salutary influence at this time. He expressed doubts of the benefits of a synod, to settle religious disputes, from an apprehension that party feeling and prejudice would have an undue influence in the decision. And Governor Win- throp insisted, that the appeal should be to the scriptures ; and his prudence and firmness maintained a good degree of order and peace. Indeed, the Bible was professedly made the stand- ard by all ; but each sect claimed to decide what it taught, and condemned such as differed from them.
The men, who first settled Plymouth and Massachusetts, were friends of human learning, and early made provision for the education of youth. Of the Massachusetts company, a great portion were well educated men, and they considered human knowledge essential, or highly important for the public teach- ers of religion. The number of learned men among them was as great, in proportion to the whole population, as in any part of England, at that period. It was only a few fanatical per- sons, and those not among the men of influence, who supposed that religion did not need able and learned advocates.
In 1636, the general court granted £400 for the support of the school at Cambridge ; and in 1638, Rev. Mr. Harvard, of Charlestown, bequeathed half of his estate, being about £800, to the same seminary. It soon after received the name of Harvard
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College ; and the government frequently afforded it pecuniary aid, to induce men of learning to become teachers, and to qualify youthi to maintain the peace and honor of the colony. At a later period, provision was made, at the college, for giving a classical education to such of the Indian youth as were dis- posed to receive it. Nor was it long (1646) before laws were enacted for the support of public schools in all the towns within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts.
By the provident care of the government, an order was early made for arming the freemen, and training them for military service. A laudable spirit prevailed, in this respect, among the most eminent characters. An artillery corps was formed in 1638, composed of men of property and influence in the colony, which has been continued, under the name of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. There was an application for an act of incorporation of the company in 1639, but it was not granted ; yet it had the approbation and support of the government. In 1639 two regiments of militia, of five hundred men each, were formed, and paraded with great show ; one of which was commanded by the governor, and the other by the deputy governor, in person.
There was early a jealousy, on the part of the parent gov- ernment, of the growing power of Massachusetts ; and it was often pretended, that the colony had assumed authority incom- patible with a due subjection to England. Evidences of this disposition have already been noticed. In 1638, at the instance of the attorney general, urged, no doubt, by those particularly inimical to the colony, or the advocates for arbitrary power in the parent state, a writ of quo warranto was issued, by order of the Lord Commissioners for foreign plantations ; requiring the proprietors, or patentees, of Massachusetts Bay, to surrender their charter, on the plea of having exceeded the powers granted, and of abusing the royal grace. Those who were in England appeared, and judgment was rendered against them .. Governor Winthrop was served with a similar process ; but he did not appear nor answer, except that the general court, through his influence, probably, forwarded a petition to his majesty; in which they referred to the powers granted by their charter, which they alleged they had not abused nor exceeded ; that the colony would be greatly injured, and the people deprived of the rights and privileges of Englishmen, if the charter were resigned, and the arbitrary will of officers in England were to govern ; and praying the forbearance and clemency of his majesty. Either the Lords Commissioners were satisfied with the statement, or the political disputes and divisions in England,
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at the time, prevented further proceedings on this subject. Some clauses in the royal charter for a government in Massa- chusetts, as before stated, gave large powers; and the rulers of the colony were always ready to exercise them to the full extent. The object of the English government, invariably, was to prevent the exercise of powers not clearly given, and even to interpret the charter more unfavorably to the authority to the colony than the people here admitted; or to recall the first charter, and substitute another calculated to keep the col- onists in entire subjection, and under the constant control of Parliament; or, perhaps, to allow no charter ; leaving the inhab- itants to the capricious will and pleasure of the favorites of the crown.
The colonists claimed all power proper for an entirely sep- arate government, except that their laws should not be repugnant to England, and a recognition of dependence on the crown ; which, as they construed it, seemed not to prevent their exercise of the highest civil powers ; while the political charac- ters in the parent country admitted the power, only to make ne- cessary local regulations, and insisted on the right of appeal in all cases, to the decision of the king or parliament. This differ- ence of opinion, and this contest, continued for nearly ten years, when the disputes in England, between the friends of royalty and the advocates for civil liberty, prevented much attention to the conduct of the colonies .* The opposers of Charles I. were generally friendly to the government and leading men in Massachusetts. Yet, in 1650, when some of them advised the governor and assistants to solicit political favors of the parliament, they declined ; from the considera- tion, that, if they put themselves under the protection of the British government, it might become necessary to be subject, in all cases, to such laws as it might afterwards impose ; which, in the end, would probably prove highly prejudicial to the rights of the colony. There was a constant assertion, from an early period of the settlement of Massachusetts, of a right to the liberties of Englishmen, and of political authority, as granted in their charter, for self government.
Within the first ten years of the settlement, by Winthrop and his company, the colony was well supplied with mechanics and artificers; and cattle were so numerous, as to be sold for less than half the sum demanded in the three years 1630- 1633. The manufacture of linen and woollen cloths was
* The dispute was soon after revived, however, in time of Charles I. and his successors ; nor did it in fact long sleep at any future period ; but broke out with more power and effect in 1770.
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encouraged by the General Court, at this period. The breed of sheep was also an object of attention ; flax was grown in many parts of the colony, and cotton was imported from the W. Indies. In the same period, there were eighteen churches formed in the colony, and nine in Plymouth; and were sup- plied with able and learned pastors.
In the early days of the colony, the clergy had great influ- ence, even in political affairs ; but it was used, most frequently, only at the request of the civil authority, instead of being exerted in opposition to, or in derogation of it. Their literary and moral character entitled them to consideration, even in political concerns ; and they proved themselves the friends of social order and civil liberty. If they sometimes assumed to control the laity in matters of religion, it was from mistaken rather than ambitious views; believing that they had discov- ered the whole truth of God's word, they felt themselves bound to teach and maintain it. Mr Cotton, of Boston, was often consulted on political subjects, and seems to have been ready always to give his advice, and exert his influence. He was requested to assist in preparing a code of laws for the colony ; and with the aid of Sir Henry Vane, while he was governor, a system was drawn up, but not published till several years after. Capital punishments were provided for many crimes ; and the levitical law was made the basis of the code.
The first printing press in Massachusetts was put in opera- tion in Cambridge, in 1639. It was the property of the widow and heirs of Rev. Mr. Glover, who had been engaged by Governor Winslow, of Plymouth, for a religious teacher in that place. Glover died while preparing for, or on the passage from England, and the press was worked by one Day, for the benefit of his family. The press, soon after, passed into the- hands of Samuel Greene ; and among the first books or pamph- lets printed, were an almanac for New England, and a metrical version of the Psalms of David.
As the colonists had prepared no formal constitution of civil government, and the charter contained only general expressions of a grant of power to the company, it is not to be wondered, that, for some time, there were disputes, as to the division and distribution of power, among the magistrates, and the people. The company was, indeed, organized in England ; for its members were too wise to attempt any acts of a corporation or society, without a compact, and some general rules and regula- tions. How they proceeded, for several years, after the first set- tlement of the colony, has been briefly narrated. For three years, the governor and assistants exercised both legislative
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and judicial authority ; the people using no power but that of the election of those rulers. In 1634, the people not only chose the assistants and the governor, but selected some of their number, in every town, to form a legislative assembly, in conjunction with the others. They soon assumed to control the assistants, by requiring them to yield to their wishes and proposals, and claimed authority to sit as a judicial tribunal. This was resisted, not only by the assistants, but by most of the clergy, and many others who were the most discreet char- acters among the laity. Notwithstanding the claims of the freemen, or of their deputies, rather, the small body of assistants with the governor had the power to give a negative to any bill from the house of representatives ; so that no law or order was perfect without their concurrence .* . It was also settled, that the representatives should have no power as a judicial tribunal, except in so far, as their own privileges were concerned, or to act on petitions for new trials. t .
While Vane was governor, there was a proposition for a standing or permanent council, to consist of the governor and two members of the board of assistants. Mr. Cotton favored the proposition ; probably from his great regard for Vane. No evil had resulted from this measure for three years. But it was not agreeable to all the deputies of the people ; and yet the only peculiar authority they possessed, was to act as an exec- utive body, when the board was not in session. The assistants yielded so far, as to explain, " that it was intended the standing council should be chosen from the assistants, and that no member of that council was to have power as a magistrate, unless also annually chosen into the board of assistants." The assistants took part, with the deputies, in all acts of legislation ; and they also constituted the courts of law; though some discreet and intelligent men were appointed, in all the large towns, to act as justices or judges, in the origin of most disputes.
Mr. Dudley, who had been governor one year, and generally, the deputy governor, was again elected chief magistrate in 1640; and Mr. Bellingham was chosen the deputy. Dudley was a man of great integrity and piety, but bigoted and intolerant
* It would appear, by this dispute, that the board of assistants and the deputies set in separate apartments ; but it was not till 1644, that they held their meetings in different rooms ; and yet it is evident that they must have. acted as two distinct bodies.
t Lechford, who complained of the magistrates and clergy in Massachu- setts, in 1640, as severe and intolerant, says, " wiser men than they, going into a wilderness to set up a government different from that established in England, would probably have fallen into greater errors than they have done.'
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in his theological views. Bellingham had a more cultivated · mind, and much legal information ; but he, too, was rigid and exclusive in his opinions, according to the spirit of the times. Winthrop was passed by, not from any disesteem, or want of confidence of the people ; but to relieve him of the cares of government, and probably, in accordance with the republican maxim, of rotation in office. 'The towns were now restricted to two deputies, an order to that effect having been passed in 1639. There were some objections to this restriction, but they were not available.
The colony was not much increased this year, by emigration from England. The state of the kingdom was such, as to engage the attention of the opposers of arbitrary power, and to excite a hope that they should soon enjoy civil and religious liberty in their own country. The estimate of the number of people in Massachusetts, at this time, (or in 1641,) was 21,000. The number of ships, in which they were transported, has been differently stated ; it could not have been less than two hundred, which would require only one hundred in a ship ; and some brought a greater number. The condition of the colony was now very prosperous; and those who had known it in the first three or four years after the settlements began, called it the golden age of New England. The land was culti- vated to advantage, cattle much increased, and were purchased at reduced prices. The people were industrious, and of great sobriety of manners. Produce was sent to the West Indies, and trade extended to the Wine Islands : fish, lumber, and furs, were the articles exported ; and the proceeds carried to England to purchase manufactures wanted in the colony. Protection was granted to the fisheries, by exemption from taxes, and military trainings.
. In 1641, Mr. Bellingham was elected governor, and Mr. Endicot, the deputy. The same assistants, with few changes, were chosen for many years. It is an honorable record to the character of Bellingham, " that he was one who hated bribes." But this testimony was not given, to distinguish him from many others in this respect. None of the public men in the colony were then charged with dishonesty or selfishness. Winthrop always proved himself to be upright and faithful, as well in public as private life. For some years, when the colony was small and poor, he had no salary granted for his support; and it was the practice to make him, as well as the clergymen, presents. But he soon declined receiving them, through a fear, that he might possibly be influenced by them, in his offi- cial conduct.
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On account of regulations on trade, which extended to, or were particularly designed for the colonies, and which operated heavily on the merchants, agents were sent to England, to obtain relief. The friends of the crown were not disposed to favor the colonies, by remitting the customs or duties : but the parliament, then opposed to the measures of the king, were more ready to grant indulgence ; especially, as the settlements had been made without expense to the government of England, and the colonists were desirous of spreading the gospel among the heathen : another reason might be, that the political opin- ions of the rulers in Massachusetts were agreeable to most members of parliament. A resolve passed the House of Com- mons favorable to the petition from the colony, and granting an exemption from the former duties, which was transmitted to Governor Winthrop; but it does not appear, that the House of Lords concurred in it.
The north line of Massachusetts was ordered to be run, in 1641, and the construction put on the words of the patent was such, that the river Merrimac was followed up to its source, and thence a line drawn easterly, which included all the north- ern and eastern part of New Hampshire, and part of Maine, within its jurisdiction. And thereupon, Portsmouth, Exeter, and Dover, put themselves under the government of Massachu- setts. This construction of the charter was decided, afterward, to be erroneous.
The increase of the anti-episcopal party in England, led to a convocation or assembly of divines, at Westminster, in 1642, to agree on a creed and a form of church government. Rev. Messrs. Cotton, of Boston, Hooker, of Hartford, and Daven- port, of New Haven, were invited to attend as representatives of the churches in New England. Cotton and Davenport were disposed to accept the invitation, but Hooker declined ; and the others were persuaded from attending. Hooker was de- cidedly in favor of independency, or congregationalism, and he feared that the presbyterian form of government might be adopted by the assembly in England ..
Some serious disputes between the inhabitants of Hartford and New Haven, and the Dutch about Hudson River, together with the hostile movements and reported designs of the Narra- gansett and Niantick tribes of Indians, against the English, in- duced the four colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecti- cut, and New Haven, (the two latter being then distinct juris- dictions,) to form a confederacy, in 1643, for mutual defence, and for the protection and defence of all. The people in Rhode Island were then in such an unsettled state, as not to
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be invited or allowed to belong to the union. A proposition was made, three years previously, for such a confederacy, by the people of Hartford ; and now the measure was adopted through the urgent request of that colony and New Haven, who were the most exposed, both to the Dutch and to the Indians. Massachusetts was reluctant in joining the confederation, as it felt able to protect itself; and as its authority and influence, in all matters, to be decided by the united council thus formed, would be on a level with the other colonies, which were all far less populous and powerful. And in some of the proceedings, under the confederacy, complaints were made, " that Massachu- setts grasped at an undue share of power." This compact provided that every colony might have two commissioners in the general meetings, or congress ; and that the charges of war, and other expenses, for the protection of the whole, should be levied on the colonies according to their respective population. In many emergencies which arose, this union was found bene- ficial ; and it served to keep up a spirit of harmony between all the English in New England. The meetings of the com- missioners were held in rotation in each of the colonies thus united, and were continued, with little interruption, till 1686. The object was similar to that of a temporary congress in 1754, and of the more memorable one of 1774. The colonies respectively retained and exercised all the power of making internal laws and regulations, as before the union. At that period, Massachusetts contained about as many inhabitants as all the other colonies. It was to furnish one hundred men, in the event of a war ; and the others forty-five each. The settle- ments had been so much extended in Massachusetts, that the following year four counties were formed, viz. Suffolk, Essex, . Middlesex, and Norfolk, which contained the towns on the north of Merrimac River. Besides Springfield, the inland towns settled, at this period, (1643) were Concord, Sudbury, Woburn, Dedham, and Reading.
CHAPTER III.
Treatment of the Indians-Gorton-Episcopalians-French in Acadie- Shipping-Militia-Slavery-Baptists and Quakers persecuted-Iron Works-Magistrates direct in Religion-Economy and Sobriety -- Troubles in England-Synod-Publication of Laws-Witchcraft-Death of Gov. Winthrop-Maine-State of Plymouth Colony-Great Powers exercised by the Colony-Dispute with Connecticut about duties-Canada pro- poses an Alliance-Disputes in Great Britain-Gov. Winslow Agent- Dutch at New York troublesome-Mrs. Hibbins executed for a Witch- Maine-Trade of Massachusetts-Cromwell proposes a removal of the People of New England to Jamaica-Leverett Agent in England-Treat- ment of Quakers and Baptists-Government of England forbid their per- secution-Efforts to improve Indians-Ecclesiastical Affairs in hands of Magistrates as well as Clergy-Pynchon-Dr. Owen-Youth of Massa- chusetts-Number of Towns and Churches-Population-College.
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