USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 2
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CONTENTS.
Charges against the Federalists and Republicans-Jay's treaty-Its reception in Massachusetts-Denounced by the Republicans-Ratified by the senate-Riotous pro- Page 291 ceedings
CHAPTER XXII.
Politics of Massachusetts-Increase of the federal party-Dif- ficulties with France-Conduct of the French Directory- Return of Pinckney-Decree against American seamen- New envoys despatched to France-Negotiations abandon- ed by Pinckney and Marshall-Indignation in America- Preparations for war-Popularity of the federal party- Progress of Massachusetts-" Quasi" war with France- Buonaparte first consul-Treaty of peace-Secessions from the federal party-Alien and sedition laws-Denounced by Kentucky and Virginia-Defended by Massachusetts- Election of Jefferson to the presidential chair-Rapid de- cline of the federal party-Foreign relations-English ag- gressions-Unsuccessful mission of Monroe and Pinckney -Berlin decree and order in council-Their effect upon American commerce-Affair of the Chesapeake and Leo- pard-Adoption of the embargo-Revival of the federal party-The embargo denounced in Massachusetts-Address of Governor Lincoln-Response of the general court-In- crease of the democratic party in Massachusetts-Efforts of the federalists
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CHAPTER XXIII.
Declaration of war against Great Britain-Opposition and adverse resolutions of Massachusetts-Governor Strong's defence of state rights-Difficulties between the state and national authorities-Strength of the peace party in Massa- chusetts-Distress of the people along the sea-coast-Cla- mour against the national administration-Massachusetts charged with desiring to secede from the Union-Appro- priations for defence of the state-The war denounced-The manufacture of woollen and cotton goods-Embargo Act passed by congress-Excitement against it in Massachu- setts-Massachusetts supports Vermont in defence of state rights-Concession made to the federal authorities-East- port, Castine, and Belfast captured by the enemy-Sloop- of-war Adams burned-Machias taken-Additional appro- priations made by the general court-Hartford convention -Measures advised by that body-Subsequent action of congress-Impoverished condition of Massachusetts- Treaty of peace-Separation from Maine-Convention to amend the state constitution
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315
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPTER I.
Early voyages to the New World-Bartholomew Gosnuld- Exploration of the northern coasts of America-Attempt to found a colony in Buzzard's Bay-Its failure-Voyage of Pring-The harbours of Kennebunk, York, and Piscataqua discovered-Voyage of Weymouth-Five Indians kidnapped and sent to England-Formation of the Plymouth and London companies-Voyages to the coast-The Sagadahoc settlement -Its abandonment-Voyage of Smith to the northern coast-His successful traffic with the natives-His map of the country-Names it New England-Reanima- tion of the rival companies-Smith's second voyage-Is encountered by a pirate-Is pursued by a French vessel of war-Discontent of the crew-Smith's resolute behaviour- Is hemmed in by the French fleet-Liberation of his vessel- Treachery of his crew-Smith detained a French prisoner- Escapes in a storm-Reaches England-Punishment of the mutineers-His appeal to the western gentry in behalf of colonial settlements.
IN the year 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, an old and experienced mariner, sailed from Eng- land on a trading voyage to the New World. Pursuing a more direct course than was cus- tomary at that period, he first made land between the forty-second and forty-third degrees of north latitude. Not finding a suitable harbour, he sailed to the southward, and, disembarking on
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20
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1602.
the semi-circular tongue of land, which forms the south-eastern entrance to Massachusetts Bay, named the promontory Cape Cod. After a brief examination of the country, Gosnold continued his course to the southward, passed by Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and, enter- ing Buzzard's Bay, landed on the westernmost of a group of small islands, to which, in honour of his aged sovereign, he gave the name of Elizabeth.
Here, attracted by the luxuriant vegetation, and by the fragrant softness of the summer air, he determined to lay the foundation of a settle- ment. Selecting a rocky islet in the midst of a pond, for the protection of those whom he de- signed to leave behind him, he built a fort and storehouse upon it; keeping, at the same time, a portion of the ship's company busily em- ployed in trading with the neighbouring Indians for fur, or in gathering sassafras, an article which, at that period, was held in great esteem for its medicinal virtues. When, however, the lading of his small bark was completed, the men who at first had been willing to remain, began to reflect more seriously upon the danger to which so small a company would be exposed, and finally concluded to return to England.
The success which attended the voyage of Gosnold induced a few English merchants and gentlemen adventurers to fit out two ships, for
21
PRING'S VOYAGE.
1603.]
the purpose of collecting sassafras, and of trad- ing with the Indians for peltry. The command of these vessels was given to Martin Pring. He set sail from England on the 10th of April, 1603, and crossing the Atlantic without meeting any disaster, anchored in the Bay of Penobscot. Sailing thence southward, in search of sassafras, he discovered the harbours of Kennebunk, York, and Piscataqua ; but being still unsuccessful in the object of his voyage, he continued his course south, until he reached Martha's Vineyard. Freighting one of his ships with sassafras, and the other with fur, he returned to England after a prosperous voyage of six months.
The cheering accounts given by Gosnold and Pring of the country along which they had re- spectively coasted, stimulated other merchants and adventurers to fit out vessels for purposes of exploration and commerce. Notwithstand- ing the failure of repeated attempts to find a shorter passage to the East Indies, there were yet some ardent minds who believed such a dis- covery possible. Among those who still enter- tained a sanguine hope of reaching India by a north-west route, were the Earls of Arundel and Southampton ; the former a nobleman of an enterprising spirit, and the latter better known as the patron of Shakspeare. Under the auspices of these noblemen an expedition was organized, the command of which was given to Captain
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1606.
George Weymouth, a mariner of experience, who had already explored the bleak coast of Labrador." Sailing again from England in 1605, he entered the Penobscot Bay, and discovering the noble river of the same name which flows into it, ascended its western branch as far as Belfast Bay.
Returning soon after, Weymouth carried with him five of the natives of those regions, three of whom he presented to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the governor of Plymouth, a gentleman less known as the friend of Sir Walter Raleigh, than as an ardent adventurer who subsequently ex- pended large sums of money in attempting to found settlements upon the continent.
In 1606, three years after the accession of James I. to the English throne, that monarch granted to two rival companies twelve degrees of latitude on the American coast. The region of country embraced within this patent ex- tended from Cape Fear to Halifax. The first of these companies consisted of noblemen and others, residing in and around London, and was thence called the London Company. The second, known as the Plymouth Company, was composed of adventurers whose abode was in the west of England, but who were principally citizens of Bristol or Plymouth. The region patented was divided by the grant into three equal parts. The London adventurers were to occupy the
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1609.] SETTLEMENT ON THE KENNEBEC.
country lying between the thirty-fourth and thirty-eighth degrees of latitude; or, in other words, between Cape Fear and the southern limit of Maryland; while the Plymouth Com- pany were empowered to found settlements be- tween the forty-first and forty-fifth degrees of latitudes,-the space between being left open to the competition of both.
The most prominent members of the Plymouth Company were Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of England, and Sir Ferdinando Gorges. In 1606, a small vessel sent by this company on a voyage of exploration, being driven by stress of weather to the West Indies, was seized by the Spaniards; but another ship, fitted out at the sole expense of Sir John Popham, and com- manded by Martin Pring, returned with such favourable accounts of the country that a settle- ment was at once resolved upon.
In 1609, two vessels, having on board about one hundred colonists, and two of the, Indians previously taken to England by Weymouth, set sail for America, and commenced a settlement on an island at the mouth of the Kennebec, or, as it was then called, the Sagadahoc River.
Over this small colony, which had been or- ganized rather under an impression' of its pros- pective greatness than in accordance with its present numbers, George Popham had been ap- pointed president, and Raleigh Gilbert admiral.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
- [1609.
A fort, a storehouse, and several rude dwellings were speedily erected for the accommodation of the settlers; and, on the 5th of December, the ships returned to England, leaving behind them forty-five of the company. The usual disasters soon followed. During the winter, which was one of unusual severity, the president died. The storehouse taking fire was burned to the ground. Chief Justice Popham and Sir John Gilbert, two of the principal members of the Plymouth Company, dying in England about the same time, Raleigh Gilbert, the admiral, became heir to his brother's estate. Already disheart- ened by the unexpected severity of the climate, and deprived of those comforts to which they had been accustomed at home, the colonists gladly seized upon these losses as an excuse for abandoning the plantation.
1
An attempt to found a plantation at Nova Scotia, in 1609, was attended with similar results. The trade with the Indians was, however, still kept up; and fishing voyages to the coast of Maine were found sufficiently lucrative to en- courage their continuance.
For some years no farther efforts at settle- ment were made. Disheartened by the accounts of those who, to shield their own conduct from the reproach of timidity, had represented the country as a " cold, barren, mountainous, rocky desert," the Plymouth Company appeared re-
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SMITH'S VOYAGE.
1614.]
luctant to expend more money upon enterprises which had hitherto turned out so untowardly. Private individuals were still less able to afford the necessary outlay. Two ardent adventurers, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain Mason, had each of them expended twenty thousand - pounds in their endeavours to found a colony, and both "thought it advisable to give over their designs, and put up with their loss."
In 1614 the hopes of the Plymouth Company experienced a temporary revival. Captain John Smith, disgusted with the conduct of the London Company, in whose service in Virginia he had displayed such signal ability, undertook a trading adventure to that part of North America em- braced within the northern patent. While the sailors fished, himself, with eight others, in a small boat, ranged the coast from Penobscot Bay to Cape Cod. By trafficking with the Indians as he went along, he succeeded in obtaining, in exchange for attractive trifles of an inexpensive character, nearly eleven thousand beaver skins, one hundred martin skins, and as many of the otter. The remainder of the freight was made up of fish and train-oil. Returning to England in October, he disposed of his cargo at an im- mense profit. Nor was this the least valuable result of his enterprising spirit. With that fore- thought and sagacity which was so characteristic of the man, he had employed a portion of his
3
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1615.
time in making a map of the coast, naming the country "New England." Other adventurers still persisting in calling it Canada, Smith pro- cured an interview with Prince Charles, to whom he presented the map he had drawn, and obtained from him a confirmation of the title.
Reanimated by the success of Smith, the Plymouth Company sought him out on his re- turn to England, and, by means of magnificent promises, succeeded in engaging his services. In the mean time, the London or Virginia Company were not inactive. Seizing advantage of the profitable traffic thus opened with the Indians at the north, they immediately despatched four ships to New England. The Plymouth Com- pany had as yet made no provision for Smith, though they continued to feed his hopes with promises of founding a settlement at an early day, over which he was to exercise the chief control during his life. They had also agreed to furnish him with four ships by the 25th of December 1615; but, after many delays, he was obliged to be content with two only ; a ship of two hundred tons burden, and a bark of fifty. Mis- fortune attended him from the outset. He had scarcely sailed more than a hundred and twenty leagues before the masts of his ship went by the board; and she became so leaky, that it was only by dint of keeping his men constantly at the pumps he was enabled to return to Plymouth.
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1616.]
MISFORTUNES OF SMITH.
Exchanging his ship of two hundred tons for one of sixty, he again set sail; but, being over- taken by a pirate, he resolved to sink his small vessel, rather than not obtain honourable terms at their hands. Surprised that a bark of sixty tons, and mounting but four small cannon, should prepare to resist a vessel of one hundred and forty tons, having a crew of eighty expert sea- men, and armed with thirty-six pieces of artil- lery, the pirates called a parley, and demanded the name of the commander. When they learned it was Smith, he was suffered to pass free; many of the lawless crew being composed of soldiers who had formerly seen service under him. Not- withstanding this fortunate escape, his troubles rapidly thickened. The master, mate, pilot, and a portion of the crew became mutinous, and on being chased by two French ships, refused to fight until Smith threatened to blow up the ship rather than yield before his powder was ex- pended. After a running fight they got clear of their pursuers, but found themselves, soon .after, in the midst of the French fleet. Smith, finding all attempt at escape to be useless, went on board the admiral's ship to exhibit his com- mission. He was detained a prisoner. His men were seized and dispersed among the fleet ; while his vessel, after being rifled of its pro- visions, was placed in charge of a French crew. From some cause, now unknown, the French
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1616.
admiral finally concluded to restore the vessel to Smith, and to make good all the losses which he had sustained. The crew and provisions were accordingly returned; and, after an ani- mated debate, whether they should continue the voyage or return to England, a majority of the company entertaining similar views with the captain, it was determined to proceed.
An act of the basest treachery alone prevented the prosecution of the enterprise. When on the eve of his departure, Smith, being sent for by the French admiral, went to visit him in the boat despatched by the latter for that purpose. While he was absent, the French fleet being dispersed in chase of a strange sail, the muti- neers seized the opportunity of escaping with the bark, and returned to England.
After a cruise of two months the admiral re- turned to France, bearing Smith with him. The fleet becoming separated in a storm, the small prize ship on board of which Smith had been detained was among the first to approach the port of Rochelle. Finding his captors were bent upon justifying the illegality of their con- duct toward him, by charging him with having devastated the colony of New France, Smith daringly resolved to effect his escape. In the midst of a heavy storm he seized a small boat belonging to the ship, and, after being tossed about in the tempest for the space of twelve
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SMITH REACHES ENGLAND.
1616.]
hours, succeeded in landing upon a small island, from whence he bribed some fishermen to carry him to Rochelle. His escape, which had threat- ened to terminate disastrously, was perhaps after all a most fortunate one. The vessel he had so desperately quitted was driven ashore during the storm, and dashed to pieces. The captain and half of the crew were drowned. The remainder of the mariners on reaching Rochelle were arrested at the instance of Smith, who had promptly laid his complaint before the judge of the Admiralty, and demanded an award of damages. As soon as the examination of the witnesses had been concluded, Smith, leav- ing the further prosecution of his claim in the hands of the English ambassador, departed for Plymouth, where the mutineers belonging to his own vessel had not only reported him dead, but, to shield themselves from censure, had vilified his character. These men he speedily caused to be imprisoned, making their treachery ap- parent by the testimony of others belonging to the ship's company, who had refused to join in the conspiracy.
Nothing daunted by his recent misfortunes, Smith, after publishing his description and map of New England, determined to make its merits more fully known to the gentry and merchants of Cornwall and Devonshire, by travelling among them, and explaining to them personally 3*
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1616.
the numerous advantages which the newly ex- plored country possessed for those who would properly undertake and judiciously foster a colony in that region. He told them he should consider it unjust to himself, to his king, his country, and his friends, to offer any induce- ments to a farther prosecution of those voyages of adventure if he was not satisfied of their profitable character. He pictured, in colours exalted by his own enthusiasm, the delights of the new land, where nature and liberty afforded those luxuries for nothing which in England were only procurable at great cost. He dilated on the pleasure of planting vines, fruits, and herbs with their own hands; and in beautifying their own grounds in such a manner as might best accord with the taste or fancy of the possessor. He dwelt upon the sense of free- dom the colonists would experience descending to the ocean beach, embarking in a boat of their own, and pursuing the sport of angling with a certainty of success, and an equal surety of profit. "Is it not a pretty sport," exclaimed the brave enthusiast, "to pull up twopence, six- pence, and twelvepence as fast as you can haul and shift a line ? He is a very bad fisher who cannot take one, two, or three hundred cod a day, which dressed and dried, even if sold upon the coast at ten shillings a hundred, one-half the price they will bring in England, both the colo-
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NEW CHARTER GRANTED.
1620.]
nist and the merchant may be well contented with their respective gains. And what sport," he added, "yields a more pleasing content than angling with a hook, and crossing the sweet air, from isle to isle, over the silent streams of a calm sea ?"
These glowing representations were not with- out their effect. A new and distinct grant having been issued to the Virginia Company, the Plymouth Company applied for one of a similar character ; and, notwithstanding the op- position which was raised by those who desired to retain the freedom of the New England fisheries, they succeeded in obtaining, on the 3d of November, 1620, a patent of singular com- prehensiveness and liberality.
To forty persons, incorporated as "The Coun- cil established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, and ordering of New England in America," James I. grant- ed a territory, extending in breadth from the forty-fourth to the forty-eighth degree of north latitude, and in length from the Atlantic to the Pacific, excepting only such territory as was at that time "actually possessed by any other Christian prince or people." This extensive region, comprising upward of a million of square miles, was granted absolutely to the company, " with exclusive rights of jurisdiction, settlement, and traffic."
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1600.
But it was neither from the exertions of Smith, nor the grasping disposition of the Plymouth Com- pany, that New England was to receive its first band of permanent colonists.
CHAPTER II.
Struggles of Puritanism-Accession of James I .- Petition for redress of ecclesiastical grievances-Puritans ordered to con- form-Oppressive conduct toward them-Their separation and dispersal-Congregation of Mr. Robinson-Take refuge in Amsterdam-Remove to Leyden-Their steadfastness and probity-A colony in America contemplated-Negotiation with the Virginia Company-Petition to the king-The patent accepted-A partnership formed with London mer- chants-Embarkation at Delft Haven-Junction with the Mayflower at Southampton-Accident to the Speedwell- The Mayflower sails alone-Arrival in Cape Cod harbour- Mutual compact drawn up-Explorations by land and water -Sufferings of the exploring parties-A child born-Final expedition under Governor Carver-The camp surprised by Indians-A bloodless victory-The cruise continued-A dangerous storm-Disembarkation on Clark's Island-Ex- amination of Plymouth harbour-Landing of the Pilgrims.
PURITANISM, having its origin in the Reforma- tion, but dating its absolute birth from the reign of Edward VI., suffered greatly during the reign of the bigoted Mary, and was scarcely in less danger under the Protestant rule of Eliza- beth, who, from the force of early associations, had a lingering affection for many of the cere- monial observances adopted by the Catholic
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STRUGGLES OF THE PURITANS.
1604.]
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church. Much, however, was hoped, by those of the Nonconformist faith, from the accession of James I. to the English throne. He was known to be attached to Protestantism, and while only king of Scotland, had declared himself
favourable to the principles of Puritanism.
The
death of Elizabeth, in 1603, put his professions to the proof. In the course of his journey to London, he was met by a petition from seven hundred Puritans, praying " for a redress of ecclesiastical grievances." Increase of dignity and power had, however, already effected a change in the Scottish monarch's opinions, yet, desirous rather of exhibiting his own contro- versial powers, than of yielding those conces- sions which the sagacious Bacon advocated, he appointed a conference to be held at Hampton Court.
At this meeting, which took place on the 16th of January, 1604, the Puritans found the pe- dantic monarch firmly fixed in his determination to support the hierarchy of the English church, as necessary to the safety of his throne. They were admonished to conform, or he "would harry them out of the land." But the Puritans, strong in numbers, and earnest in the faith they had adopted, were not disposed to succumb so rea- dily. Their friends in parliament boldly asserted the right of every man to enjoy liberty of con- science, and so pertinaciously demanded a recog-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1604.
nition of religious freedom, that the timid, pe- dantic king began to entertain a vehement hatred toward those whose consciences he found it im- possible to control.
The regular clergy, well knowing that the tenure of their own power depended upon the suppression of these dangerous sects, fostered the prejudices of the king through the medium of his inordinate vanity, and even, at length, went so far as to hardily maintain his supremacy over the parliament and the laws.
In the mean time, it had been determined that, after a set period, all persons should conform to the established religion. Those who refused were to be dealt with. Growing in popularity under oppression, the Puritans, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, pursued with undeviating steadiness the even tenor of their way. The laws, enforced by zealous bigotry, they submitted to without a murmur, rejoicing that by their sufferings they could evince their faith. Though numbers of their ministers were harassed continually by the interference of lawless officials, and though many of those who persevered in preaching to the multitude in spite of ecclesiastical denunciation, were hunted from place to place, rudely insulted, maltreated, and imprisoned, very few were known to waver in the cause they had espoused ; but continued, through good and evil report, steadfastly to
-
35
1608.] DISPERSION OF THE PURITANS.
deny the authority of the prelates, and to main- tain their right «to walk in all the ways which God had made known, or should make known to them."
Most of the congregations over which these ministers had presided, consisted of persons in the middle and lower walks of life. Persecuted with unrelenting severity by the Court of High Commission, the members were at length greatly dispersed, some into hiding, and some into exile, while those who yet clung together ventured only to meet for worship in remote or secret places.
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