USA > Massachusetts > History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888, Vol. I > Part 6
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Capt. Underhill (1637), after his restoration to church communion and the removal of the penalty of banishment, removed to Stamford, Conn., where he was appointed an assistant justice, and was a delegate from that town to the General Court which met at New Haven in 1643.
On the breaking out of the war between the Indians and the New Netherlands, Capt. Underhill (1637), whose former residence in Holland had made him familiar with the Dutch language, was appointed to command a military force, which distinguished itself by its bravery and by its barbarities, reviving at Greenwich, in February, 1644, the horrors of the Pequot massacre.
Capt. Underhill (1637) next removed to Flushing, on Long Island, where, in 1653, he had some agency in detecting and exposing the intrigues of the Dutch
John Underhill (1637). AUTHORITIES: Sav- age's Edition of Winthrop's Hist. of New Eng .; Savage's Gen. Dict .; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1892; Mem. Hist. of Boston; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842; Wood Sketch of Long Island.
He wrote a " Short Story " of his services in the Pequot War, entitled " News from America," which was printed in London in 1638 and reprinted in 3 Mass. Flist. Coll. VI.
1 In 1638, Capt. Underhill (1637) succeeded Burdett as " governor" at Dover, who in turn was succeeded by Thomas Roberts, the emigrant, of Dover, the ancestor of the Roberts family in New England.
2 The particulars of Capt. Underhill's offences, trial, etc., are given in Winthrop's History; in Farmer's Belknap, p. 23, et seq., and a long extract therefrom is given in Whitman's IIist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842, p. 47, et seq.
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treasurer. In 1665, he was a delegate from the town of Oyster Bay to the Assembly, holden at Hampstead by Gov. Nicholls, who appointed Underhill (1637) under- sheriff of the North Riding of Yorkshire, or Queen's County. " In 1667, Matinenoc Indians gave him one hundred and fifty acres of land, which have remained in the family ever since and are now in possession of one of his descendants that bears his name." Capt. Underhill is supposed to have died at Oyster Bay, in the year 1672.
Nathaniel Turner (1637), the twelfth signer of the original muster-roll of the Artillery Company, lived on Nahant Street, Lynn, and owned the whole of the Sagamore Hill. He applied to be admitted a freeman, Oct. 19, 1630, but did not take the oath until July 3, 1632. He was a representative from Lynn in the first seven sessions of the General Court ; was a member of the first County Court at Salem, in 1636, and was appointed, in 1633, captain of the Saugus train-band, which he commanded during the Pequot War in 1636-7. His house took fire from a defective oven-flue, on the night of Jan. 10, 1636, and, with its contents, was destroyed.'
In 1638, Capt. Turner (1637) sold his land on Sagamore Hill to Mr. Edward Holyoke, and removed, with other Massachusetts Bay families, to Quinnipiac, in Con- necticut, where the settlement of New Haven was founded. He was one of the seven members who organized the first church there, and he was appointed in 1639, in connection with Rev. Mr. Davenport and four others, to "have the disposing of all house lotts, yet undisposed of about this towne, to such persons as they shall judge meete for the good of the plantation ; and that none come to dwell as planters here without their consent and allowance, whether they come in by purchase or otherwise."
In 1640, Capt. Turner (1637), as agent for New Haven, made a large purchase of land on both sides of the Delaware River, sufficient for a number of plantations. The purchase was made chiefly with a view to trade, though the establishment of Puritan churches was also an end much desired. Trading houses were erected, and nearly fifty families were sent out. In all fundamental matters, the Delaware colonies were to be under the jurisdiction of New Haven. In the same year, he made the purchase for the town, from the Indian Sagamore, Ponus, of the tract of land which is now the town of Stamford. He gave for the whole, " twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve hatchets, twelve knives, two kettles and four fathom of white wampum." In a sale to the people of Wethersfield, a short time after, the tract was valued at thirty pounds sterling.
Neither the land speculations at New Haven nor the trade upon the Delaware were successful, and the Dutch at New Netherlands menaced the Connecticut colony. Hoping to retrieve their fortunes by foreign trade, the colonists sent to Rhode Island, and had a ship built, which, when completed, they freighted and placed under the command of Capt. Lamberton. Capt. Turner (1637), with five other citizens, sailed for England in this vessel in January, 1647, and she- was never heard of afterward. Gov. Winthrop informed us that, in June, 1648, the apparition of a ship was seen under full sail moving up the harbor of New Haven, a little before sunset, on a pleasant
Nathaniel Turner (1637). AUTHORITIES: Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1885, P. 777; Savage's Gen. Dict ; Savage's Winthrop; Lewis's Hist. of Lynn; 250th Anniversary of the Settlement of Lynn; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 18.42.
'II mo. 10, 1636, "Capt. Turner's house in Sagus took fire by an oven about midnight and was burned down, with all that was in it, save the persons." - Savage's Winthrop, Vol. I., p. 254.
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afternoon, and, as it approached the shore, it slowly vanished. This was thought to have a reference to the fate of Capt. Lamberton's ship. The following epitaph was written in memory of Capt. Turner (1637) : -
" Deep in Atlantic cave his body sleeps, While the dark sea its ceaseless motion keeps, While phantom ships are wrecked along the shore, To warn his friends that he will come no more ! But He, who governs all with impulse free, Can bring from Bashan and the deepest sea, And when He calls our Turner must return, Though now his ashes fill no sacred urn."
William Jennison (1637), of Watertown, was the thirteenth signer of the original roll of the Artillery Company. He had been a resident of Bermuda. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631, and was one of the first planters who located under Sir Richard Saltonstall at Watertown, a frontier settlement, whose train-band was placed by the General Court under the command of Capt. Patrick, who had served in the Netherlands in the Prince of Orange's guard, and received a salary for drilling the company weekly. The captain, not being able to accommodate himself to the strict manners of the Puritan school, soon removed from its strict discipline to Greenwich, Conn., where he had an altercation with a Dutchman, who drew a pistol and shot the captain dead on the spot. William Jennison (1637) was, in 1631, appointed ensign in Capt. Patrick's company, and on the return of the former from an expedition against the Pequot Indians, in 1636, to avenge the murder of a settler named Oldham, he was appointed captain. He was selectman, 1635 to 1642, and 1644 ; representative to the General Court, 1634 to 1642, and 1645, and therefore was a deputy, a colleague of Capt. Keayne (1637) when the charter of the Artillery Company was granted. He was dismissed from the General Court, Oct. 2, 1645, " being to goe for Virginia."
Capt. Jennison (1637) was probably at heart loyal to the King, during the Civil War. At the meeting of the court, held in July, 1644, "Capt Jenyson, Captain of the military company in Watertown, an able man, who had been there from the first settling of that town, having a year before, (being then a Deputy) in private conference, questioned the lawfulness of the Parliament's proceeding in England, was sent for by the Deputies, and examined about it, and afterward before the magistrates. He ingenuously confessed his scruple, but took offence, that being a church member, and in public office, he should be openly produced merely for matter of judgment, not having been first dealt with in private, either in a church way or by some of the magistrates, which seemed to some of the Court to have been a failing. The Court was unwilling to turn him out of place, having been a very useful man, &c., yet not seeing
William Jennison (1637). AUTHORITIES : Savage's Edition of Winthrop's Hist. of New Eng .; Savage's Gen. Dict .; Bond's Watertown; Hist. A. and H. A. Company, by Whitman.
"Oct. 17, 1633, Ensign Jennison went as pilot in the 'Thunder' to Bermuda, and returned June 1, 1634." - Savage's Winthrop.
1 John Oldham, of Watertown, " ' became a dis- tinguished trader among the Indians, and in 1636 was sent to traffic with them at Block Island. The Indians got possession of Oldham's vessel, and
murdered him in a most barbarous manner.' In August following, ninety men were sent off to find and punish the savages. One of the commanders was William Jennison. He acquired glory enough from that campaign to he made a captain, the next month of March." - Hist. of Middlesex Co., by D. Hamilton Hurd, Vol. III., p. 380.
In the testimony concerning the will of John Loveran, the justice's name is spelled both ways - William Jennings and William Jennison. - See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1849, p. 79.
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how he might be trusted, being of that judgment, yet professing that he was assured that those of the Parliament side were the more godly and honest part of the kingdom, and that though, if he were in England, he should be doubtful whether he might take their part against their prince, yet, if the King or any party from him should attempt any thing against this Commonwealth, he should make no scruple to spend estate and life and all in our defence against them; he was dismissed to further consideration ; and the Court being broken up, he came soon after to some of the magistrates, and told them that this questioning in the Court had occasioned him to search further into the point, and he was now satisfied that the Parliament's cause was good, and if he were in England he would assist in defence of it."
In 1645, Capt. Jennison (1637) sold his fifty-acre homestead, in Watertown, on the north side of Mount Auburn Street, between Common and School streets, to Rev. John Knowles, and in 1651 returned to England. Robert Jennison, brother of William (1637), acting as attorney for the latter, conveyed, in 1657, "estate of William Jennison," of Colchester, Essex Co., England.
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Richard Morris (1637), of Roxbury, whose name was the fourteenth on the original roll of the Artillery Company, is supposed to have been baptized in Waltham Holy Cross Abbey in England, on the 8th of December, 1595, and to have served in the English army in the Low Countries. He came over in the company of Gov. Winthrop, and took the oath of a freeman May 18, 1631. "Richard Maurice [1637] and his wife Leonora" were recorded as members of the First Church, Aug. 27, 1630. He was representative from Roxbury to the General Court in 1634 and 1635. Richard Morris (1637) was appointed ensign in the Boston train-band, commanded by Capt. Underhill (1637), March 4, 1632. Winthrop states that, in November of the same year, Morris, " taking some distaste to his office, requested the magistrates that he might be dis- charged of it, and so was, whereby he gave offence to the congregation of Boston, so as, being questioned and convinced of sin in forsaking his calling, he did acknowledge his fault, and, at the request of the people, was by the magistrates chosen Lieutenant to the same Company, for he was a very stout man and an experienced soldier."
In March, 1635, he became lieutenant-commander of the fort which had been erected on Castle Island, for the seaward defence of Boston, succeeding Capts. Nicolas Simpkins (1650) and Edward Gibbons (1638). It was agreed, however, that he should " receive ten pounds a year from Roxbury as long as he lay at the Castle and did service to the town of Roxbury"; he therefore continued to drill the train-band of that town.
About two months after Lieut. Morris (1637) took command of the Castle, an incident occurred which troubled the Massachusetts authorities as much as the cutting of the cross from the King's colors by Endicott. "The ship 'St. Patrick,'" writes Mr. J. F. Morris, of Hartford, Conn., a descendant of Lieut. Morris, " came into Boston harbor, flying the King's colors. Lieut. Morris, who presumably reasoned that if it was unlawful to use the cross in ensigns on land, it could not be lawful on the water, brought the 'St. Patrick' to, and made her strike her colors. Capt. Palmer, her master, complained to the authorities of the act of the commander of the Castle as a flagrant
Richard Morris (1637). AUTHORITIES: Sav- age's Edition of Winthrop's Hist. of New Eng .; Drake's Hist. of Roxbury; Savage's Gen. Dict .;
Whitman's Hist. A. and A. Company, Ed. 1842; Records of Rhode Island. .
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insult to his flag and country. The 'St. Patrick' belonged to Sir Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, Lord Deputy of Ireland, once an advocate of the liberal cause, but which he had deserted, becoming a companion of Archbishop Laud and a strong supporter of the absolutism of King Charles. Arbitrary and despotic as he was known to be, policy dictated the necessity of avoiding the enmity of one so high in influence with the King, and the complying with any demand which Capt. Palmer might make as amends for the alleged insult to his flag and country. Lieut. Morris [1637] was summoned before the magistrates, and in the presence of Capt. Palmer was told that he had no authority to do as he had done (as the fort showed no flag), and was ordered to make such atonement as Capt. Palmer should demand. The captain was lenient, and only required of the lieutenant an acknowledgment of the error on his ship, 'that so all the ship's company might receive satisfaction, and lest Lord Deputy Wentworth should be informed that we had offered discourtesy to his ship which we had never offered to any before.' Lieut. Morris [1637] submitted to this demand and all parties became quieted.
"In about a fortnight after this event, the ship 'Hector,' Capt. Ferne, arrived in Boston. Some Boston people went on board. The mate of the ship, one Miller, who probably had heard of the event just related, not seeing the King's colors hoisted at the fort, denounced all the people as rebels and traitors. Henry Vane had just been elected governor. He sent for the captain of the ship and informed him of the matter. The captain promised to deliver the mate to the authorities. The marshal and four sergeants were sent to the ship for him, but the captain not being on board the crew would not deliver him up. The captain himself then went and brought the mate to the Court, where his language was proved by two witnesses, and he was committed. The matter so excited the crew of the ship that the captain, in order to pacify them, requested the release of the mate and promised to bring him before the Court again. The next day his request was granted and at the appointed time the mate was produced in court. Then in the presence of the captains of all the ships in the harbor, the mate acknowledged his offence and signed a paper to that effect, and was discharged. These occurrences troubled the authorities lest reports should be carried to England that they had rebelled, and that the contempt shown to the King's colors was positive proof of the charge. In order to counteract such representations, Gov. Vane called together the fifteen captains and asked them to frankly state their feelings and opinions in regard to the matter, and if they were offended, to state what satisfaction they required. They answered that if, on their return to England they should be enquired of as to what colors they saw here, they should state the facts, and that they should like to see the King's colors flying at the fort.
"Gov. Vane was scarcely twenty-three years of age when he arrived in this country. He early became popular, and before he had been a year in the Colony was chosen governor. His father at this time was comptroller of the King's household and possessed power and influence. At the time of his election there were fifteen large English ships in Boston Harbor, which joined in the congratulations of the people by firing salutes. New regulations for the shipping were necessary, and the governor had been conferred with as to their necessity and the way to bring them about. The gov- ernor, though young in years, was old in the art of diplomacy. He had accompanied his father on missions to foreign courts, and become an adept in managing men. He invited the captains to dine with him, and, at the table, skilfully obtained their com-
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pliance with the needed regulations. This was only a few days before the affair of the mate of the 'Hector.' When the governor called the captains together for the purpose of getting their views in regard to the colors, their memories of the dinner had not yet passed away and they were still in an amiable mood and were disposed to allow the matter to pass off as smoothly as possible. When they advised that the King's colors should be hoisted at the Castle, they were told that the authorities had no King's colors. Two of the captains then agreed to present them to the fort. The authorities, unwilling to give up their prejudices, yet seeing the necessity of compliance, replied, that for their part they were fully persuaded that the cross in the ensign was idolatrous, and for that reason, they might not use it in their ensign, but as the fort was the King's, and main- tained in his name, his own colors might be spread there. The governor accepted the colors from Capt. Palmer of the 'St. Patrick' and promised that they should be set up at Castle Island.
"A conference had been held the day before the meeting with the captains, in which the point of difference had been discussed. The standing council, consisting of the governor, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Winthrop, was present and also Mr. Cotton. The governor, Mr Cotton and Mr. Dudley expressed the opinion that the colors might be used on the fort. Mr. Winthrop and others did not concur in the distinction. Mr. Winthrop, in his account of the matter, says, 'The governor and Mr. Dudley being two of the council, being persuaded of the lawful use of the colors, might use their authority to set them up. Yet others not being so persuaded and being doubtful, could not join in the act; yet would not oppose it.' On the 16th of June, Gov. Vane, with Mr. Dudley's consent, gave orders to Lieut. Morris [1637] to hoist the King's colors on Castle Island, when the ships passed by, doubtless the same colors which he ordered to be struck when the 'St. Patrick' entered the harbor.
"'The reason given for allowing the flag to fly on the Castle - that 'the fort was the King's, and maintained in his name,' was singular in view of the fact that its erection was ordered by the Court for the express purpose of defence against the King's measures which they feared. In March, 1637, Winthrop states ' the Castle Island being found to be very changeable to maintain the garrison there, and of little use, but only to have command of ships which would come hither with passengers, etc., there was a committee appointed to dispose of the ammunition there.' This shows that the colony continued to manage the affairs of the fort without reference to the King."
When that gifted and strong-minded woman, Mrs. Hutchinson, appeared on the stage of Massachusetts politics and shook the young colony to its base, Lieut. Morris (1637) favored her principles and cause, and signed the famous petition. The consequence was that he, with his associates in belief, was publicly disarmed on the 20th of November, 1637 ; but he recanted and was permitted to become one of the founders of the Artillery Company. On the 6th of September, 1638, " he had leave to depart " the Colony Records say, " (having offended in subscribing the petition of remon- strance), being advised to forbear meddling with our people in the matters of opinion, lest he be further dealt with, and was advised not to sit down within our limits, and was wished to warn the rest not to sit down within our limits."
Lieut Morris (1637), thus gently expelled from the colonial limits, retreated in June, 1639, to Exeter, N. H., where he joined Mr. Wheelwright, Mrs. Hutchinson's brother, and on the 4th of October, 1639, he signed what is known as the Exeter compact. In the division of the land, he received thirty-three acres, the largest
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quantity any of the company received, except Mr. Wheelwright ; but his stay in Exeter was short, for, in 1641, he went to Rhode Island and was admitted a freeman at Aquiday, afterward Aquidneck.
In 1642, Lieut. Morris (1637) was chosen captain of the train-band at Portsmouth, R. I. Although he had been banished from Massachusetts, the authorities of this colony appear to have had confidence in him, because when the Aquidneck people sent to Boston for a barrel of powder, they were told they could have it " provided Lieut. Morris [1637] gave caution that it should be used for the defence of the island by advice of the Governor and Deputies."
In 1659, Lieut. Morris (1637) removed from Portsmouth, across the river to Pocasset, in Plymouth Colony, the General Court of that colony having granted him a neck of land called Nunnaquaquatt, upon condition that he should submit himself to that colony, and be ready to do such duty as would be required of him as an inhabitant, and that " he should have no contention with the Indians and resign to the Court all other lands which he has purchased or lodged claims to, and shall have no interest in any other land." His stay in Plymouth Colony was very brief, for the next year he was back at Portsmouth again, and in October of the same year was chosen commissioner to the General Court for Portsmouth.
July 2, 1647, the General Court met at Newport, and it was voted, " Whereas Captain Richard Morris presented a petition to this court of the great charges he hath been at in house, rooms and findings of ffyre and candles for the Gen. Court for many years past, and finding that for about four or five years he hath had no satisfaction, being to the end of this present Court doe order, that he shall have Tenn pounds paid him of the Gen. Treasury." It seems from the above that when the court assembled in Portsmouth it met at Lieut. Morris's (1637) house. He probably moved to Newport, for the record of the General Court states: "June, 1672. The Gen. Court met at Captain Morris [1637] house in Newport."
Edward Gibbons (1637), whose name was the fifteenth on the original roll of the Artillery Company, was one of the youngest members of the immigration in 1630, and he first settled in Charlestown. It was not long, however, before he found his way to Mount Wollaston, now Quincy, which a London lawyer, named Morton, had called Merry Mount. The latter set up there a May-pole, on which occasion he broached a cask of wine and a hogshead of ale, and held a high revel. Scottow tells us that young Gibbons was not vicious, although he had but little taste for the Puritan austerities. He had heard much about the formation of the church at Salem, and attended its service. On this occasion, the historian continues, " The testimony which the Lord of all the earth bore unto it was sufficiently memorable, by a saving work upon a young gentleman of quality, who afterwards was the chieftain and flower of the New England Militia, and an eminent instrument both in church and commonwealth." Mather says, "He was a
Edward Gibbons (1637). AUTHORITIES: Sav- age's Winthrop; Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842; Mather's Magnalia; Sav- age's Gen. Dict .; Report of Boston Rec. Com., 1634-1660; Drake's Hist. of Boston; Mem. Hist. of Boston; New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1854, for inventory of his estate; Johnson's Wonder-Work- ing Providence; Suffolk Deeds, Lib. I., p. 7; Mel- rose, Mass., Reporter, May 23, 1890.
1654. " Another such like Providence befell us this year, upon the 9th of December, at two o'clock in the morning, - the death of Major- Gen Edward Gibbons; a man of an excellent spirit for the public good and the crown of the military affairs in this Commonwealth." - John Hull's Diary.
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very gay young gentleman," but nevertheless he was so affected by the ordination services of Rev. Messrs. Higginson and Shelton that he wished then and there to unite with the Salem church. Mr. Higginson and his colleague, " who were well pleased with the relation which he gave [of] himself, advised that he should defer his wish for a time." He afterwards located himself in Boston, where he was admitted a member of the First Church, and engaged in mercantile pursuits with great success. He was admitted a freeman, Oct. 19, 1631, and served the town in various offices, becoming very popular. He was made lieutenant of the train-band in Boston, when it was organized in 1636, and succeeded Capt. Underhill (1637) as its commander. His dwelling-house and stores were on the corner of the present Washington Street and Adams Square. He was one of the most enterprising merchants of his day in Boston, trading in furs with the French posts in Acadia. It is also noticeable that he was never implicated in the heated controversies and angry schism of his time, thus securing public favor and escaping popular censure. He was the predecessor of Richard Morris (1637) in command at Castle Island ; was selectman of Boston from 1639 to 1647 ; a deputy to the General Court, 1634, 1636, from 1638 to 1645 inclusive, and 1647, and an assistant from May, 1650, until his death in 1654.
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