USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 7
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The office of governor was again confided to Winthrop during the year 1643; but the colony was not destined to remain long at one time isturbed by religious differences. One Samuel Gorton, by advocating heterodox prin- ciples, had drawn around him a number of fol- lowers. Being called upon to explain his doctrines, he was so far successful in defending himself before his judges as to escape condemna- tion. Removing soon after to Plymouth, he was seized by order of the authorities of that colony,
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1643.
tried, found guilty, and publicly whipped. Un- able to find sureties for his good behaviour, he removed to Rhode Island, where he speedily ex- perienced similar treatment, with the addition of imprisonment. At Providence the humane Roger Williams gave him shelter for a time. At length, he sought to establish himself and his followers at Patuxet ; but when the inhabitants of that place, in order to be relieved of his presence, petitioned to be brought under the protection of Massachusetts, he purchased, in conjunction with eleven others, a tract of land called Showamet and removed thither. Over this tract Plymouth speedily claimed jurisdiction. Two inferior chiefs, however, asserting their rightful ownership in the land, went to Boston and acknowledged themselves subjects of Massa- chusetts.
By virtue of the authority thus delegated, Gorton and his followers were required, under guaranty of safe conduct, to appear before the general court to answer the complaints against them. On their refusal to do so, they were ar- rested and carried to Boston, where, they re- mained imprisoned. Being brought to trial, they were convicted of heresy and contempt, and sentenced to be imprisoned, to be put in irons, and kept at labour. At the same time they were admonished that if they attempted to escape, or sought by speech or writing to pro-
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UNION OF THE COLONIES.
1643.]
mulgate their heretical opinions, they would render themselves amenable to the penalty of death. To add to the cruelty of this sentence, their cattle were ordered to be seized and sold to defray the expenses of their arrest, trial, and imprisonment. After suffering during the winter the penalty which had been awarded against them, they were released and banished from the colony. Gorton returned to England, where he succeeded in obtaining from the commissioners for the plantations an order for the restoration of his lands in Narraganset Bay ; but through the counter representations of the Massachusetts authorities, the claim was never made good.
For some years the proximity of the Dutch settlement at New Netherlands, and that of the French at Acadia and in Canada, had been creating an indefinite sense of uneasiness. Con- scious of the necessity of uniting for purposes of mutual protection, the four colonies of Massa- chusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, under the style of the United Colonies of New England, subscribed to "a perpetual league, offensive and defensive." By this cove- nant each colony bound itself, in case of war, to furnish its quota of men in proportion to the number of male inhabitants between the ages of sixteen and sixty ; and agreed to certain articles by which the conduct of each plantation, in all cases of emergency, should be regulated. This,
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1644.
the first English confederacy in America, con- tinued in force for twenty-three years, and was only then dissolved in consequence of the colonial charters being annulled by James the Second.
Mr. Endicott was chosen governor in 1644. The enmity which had for some time existed be- tween the Narragansets and Mohegans broke out this year into open war. Uncas, the sachem of the latter tribe, having already proved him- self the fast friend of the English, Massachusetts garrisoned the country of those sachems who had acknowledged themselves subjects of the colony, while the colonial commissioners sought to put an end to the war by offering to mediate between the belligerents.
In the mean time, however, Miantinomo had fallen into the hands of Uncas, and, by the ad- vice of the commissioners, had been put to death. Exasperated by the loss of their sachem, the Narragansets continued to prosecute the war notwithstanding the colonies had commanded them to desist. Unable to put an end to hos- tilities by quiet means, the colonies finally deter- mined to protect their allies the Mohegans by a resort to force. A voluntary enlistment of three hundred men was called for, but proving a fail- ure, a resort was had to impressment, the com- mand of the levies thus vigorously raised being given to Major Gibbons.
Fully aware of their inability to withstand a
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DEATH OF WINTHROP.
1649.]
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force of this character, especially when supported by the Mohegans, the Narragansets sent de- puties to Boston with offers of submission, and finally were brought to agree to the terms of peace dictated by the colonial commissioners. During the three following years, Winthrop held office as governor.
In 1648, Massachusetts set the first example among the American provinces of an execution for witchcraft. The victim in this instance was Margaret Jones, who was gravely charged with having "a malignant touch." After she had suffered death, a portion of her evil reputation still clung to her husband. Having embarked for Barbadoes, the ship in which he sailed chanc- ing to careen over in a somewhat sudden and unusual manner, the effect of this movement was superstitiously charged upon the poor man. He
was accordingly seized and kept in strict con- finement. It was subsequently asserted by credulous persons on board, that from the mo- ment he was incarcerated, the ship righted her- self and ceased to roll about any more.
The year 1649 became one of sorrowful re- membrance, not only to many of the better class of colonists, but to all who could appreciate true piety and unselfish benevolence of heart. Early in March, Governor Winthrop died. For nine- teen years, through sickness and privation, in the midst of dangers from without and civil dis-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1646.
sensions within, he had remained firm and stead- fast to the best interests of the colony. Spending his wealth lavishly to advance its prosperity, he devoted his own personal efforts to maintain in their purity the religious tenets he had espoused, and regarded all labour as light that was con- ducive to the general good.
CHAPTER VIII.
Civil war in England-Neutrality of Massachusetts-Its charter endangered-Death of Charles I .- Parliament asserts its supremacy over the colonies-Massachusetts remonstrates - War declared between England and Holland-The colo- nies called upon to render assistance-Action of Massachu- setts-Capture of Acadia by the English fleet-Executions for witchcraft-Oliver Cromwell-His proposition to transfer the Puritan commonwealth to Ireland-His second proposi- tion-Their reasons for declining to emigrate-Persecution of the Quakers-Their origin-Fanaticism and spirit of proselytism-Perrot's journey to Rome-Mission to the Turkish Sultan-Arrival of the Quakers in Massachusetts- Their arrest, imprisonment, and banishment-New laws passed against the Quakers-The exiles return to invite persecution-Arrival of Mary Clarke-Her special mission- Fanatical conduct of the sect-Made amenable to death on returning from banishment-Execution of Marmaduke Stephenson, William Robinson, Mary Dyer, and William Leddra-Arrival of Wenlock-His arrest and condemnation -Release of the imprisoned Quakers.
DURING the progress of the civil war in England, Massachusetts preserved a prudent neutrality. When the attempt was made by parliament in 1646 to assert its jurisdiction over
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1651.] SUPREMACY OF THE PARLIAMENT.
the colonies, the authorities of Massachusetts firmly protested against the innovation as an in- fringement of their charter. A spirited remon- strance being warmly supported by Sir Henry Vane and other influential friends, it was so far successful at the time as to induce parliament not to interfere with any privileges which the colonists had hitherto rightfully enjoyed.
After the execution of Charles the First, which took place in 1649, parliament again vaguely asserted its supremacy. It suggested the issue of new patents, giving to the Council of State the power to appoint governors over the Ame- rican colonies, and proposed that courts should be held and warrants issued in its name. The people of Massachusetts at once took the alarm, and pleaded through their agent, Mr. Winslow, their right to live under laws of their own mak- ing, and to be ruled by authorities chosen by themselves. The unsettled condition of affairs in England prevented any action being taken upon a project so full of danger to the independ- ence of the American provinces. In 1651, war having been declared between England and Hol- land, Massachusetts, in common with the other colonies, was called upon to take up arms against the people of New Netherlands. The general court declined entering upon active hostilities, considering it " safest for the colonies to forbear the use of the sword, but to be in a posture of 10*
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1655.
defence." Finally, however, they evinced a disposition to yield to the wishes of Cromwell, whose favour they enjoyed, and joined with the other New England provinces in organizing an expedition against Long Island, over one half of which the Dutch of Manhattan exercised jurisdiction. The command of the united forces was intrusted to Major Willard; but owing to his incapacity, the enterprise proved unsuccessful. On his return, Willard incurred the censure of the general court.
. Peace being proclaimed in 1654, the colonial troops were disbanded; but the fleet which had been sent from England to co-operate in the reduction of New Netherlands, being prevented from doing so by the unexpected renewal of pacific relations, sailed north against the French of Acadia, and took forcible possession of that country, although no war existed at the time between France and England.
Another execution for witchcraft took place . in 1655. This unfortunate victim of a credulity common to the period was a poor widow woman, originally occupying a respectable station in society. Her husband, Mr. Hubbins, had been at one time possessed of a good estate, and had held offices of trust and honour in the colony. Having suffered greatly by pecuniary losses, he died in poverty, leaving his widow to endure the sad change in her lot with such patience and
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1656.]
CROMWELL'S PROPOSALS.
humility as she might. . Unfortunately, the con- solation to be derived from the exercise of these Christian virtues was rejected by the forlorn woman. She could not bear that lowly grade to which she was reduced without indulging in ceaseless complaints and splenetic outbursts against her better-conditioned neighbours. These annoyances became at length so great as pro- bably to produce in the persons assailed a sense of fear as well as of aversion. Being accused of witchcraft, she was found guilty of the charge and executed.
The ascendency of Cromwell at this period tended greatly to enhance the security of the New England colonies. The people of Massa- chusetts were in an especial manner objects of his esteem. He had already proposed for them to remove from the sterile soil upon which they had settled, and offered them a fairer and more fertile home in Ireland, then newly subjected to his arms. This offer the colonists had gratefully declined, asking nothing but his countenance in their behalf with the English parliament, which was again meditating the assertion of its supre- macy. Continuing still desirous of promoting their welfare, Cromwell, after the conquest of Jamaica in 1656, endeavoured to prevail upon the people of Massachusetts to emigrate to that fine island; but their attachment to the rugged land where they had endured so much poverty
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1656
and suffering, and possibly some fear of being curbed in the exercise of their present political and religious freedom, prevented them from ac- cepting the liberal proposals of their powerful but not wholly disinterested friend.
Having forsaken the comforts of their English homes-having voluntarily torn themselves from the embraces of beloved friends and endeared kindred, in order that they might enjoy in peace that system of religious belief to which their judgment inclined ; and having at length suc- ceeded in founding, at their own expense, amid many cares and sorrows, a populous and not wholly unprosperous colony in the American wilderness, it is scarcely surprising that they should have regarded all other sectarians as ' schismatics and innovators, and endeavoured by stringent laws to rigidly repress them.
The persecution which a small congregation of Anabaptists had met with in 1651, and their subsequent banishment beyond the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, only encouraged zealots of other denominations to brave a similar punish- ment. The most insubordinate of these were the Quakers, a sect that, taking its rise in Eng- land about the year 1644, soon became as re- markable for the deep and sincere piety which distinguished many of its members as for the wild and reckless enthusiasm by which a smaller portion of them were animated.
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1656.]
PERSECUTION OF QUAKERS.
The doctrines of Quakerism, first promulgated at a time when the religious sentiment was struggling to release itself from the thraldom of past ages, soon found advocates and supporters, many of whom mistook the blind suggestions of their own unregulated thoughts for direct com- munications. from the Holy Spirit. Among these, as might have been expected, were a number of enthusiastic visionaries, who believed themselves especially called upon to denounce all sects but their own, and to testify in unmea- sured language against obnoxious religious ob- servances. Inflamed with the desire to prose- lytize the world, one John Perrot undertook a journey to Rome to enlighten the pope, while others travelled to Constantinople to convert the Turkish sultan. The former was confined as a lunatic. Of the latter, all were placed under arrest, and one was bastinadoed.
In July, 1656, several Quakers arrived in Massachusetts from Barbadoes, two of whom were women. Fully aware of the contemptuous disregard for existing ordinances indulged in by the more zealous of the sect in England, the ma- gistrates of Boston brought the law against heresy to bear upon the intruders, and ordered their immediate arrest. After their persons had been examined for those marks which were sup- posed at that period to indicate such as dealt in witchcraft, no satanic signs being discovered,
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1657.
their trunks were rifled, and the books found therein ordered to be publicly burned. A brief imprisonment was imposed upon them, but they were finally released and banished the colony. Several others who arrived subsequently were sent back to England by the vessels in which they came. About the same time a law was passed to prevent their introduction into the colony, and imposing the penalty of stripes and coercive labour upon all Quakers that should in- fringe it. Undeterred by this enactment, but rather glorying in braving the penalty it threat- ened, some of those who had been banished returned to Massachusetts in 1657; and one woman, Mary Clarke, leaving her husband and a large family in London, came over charged, as she declared, with a special mission to rebuke the magistrates for their intolerance and oppres- sion. These people, spreading themselves among the towns and villages, inveighed loudly against the doctrines of the Puritans, and treated the laws established by the colonial government with the most contemptuous disdain.
After repeated attempts had failed to put an end to their phrensied declamation, and the im- modest actions by which they were sometimes accompanied, the authorities unhappily resorted to personal violence. Some of the women were whipped, and several of the men condemned to lose an ear. Persecution did but increase the
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QUAKER FANATICISM.
1657.]
evil. Those who had been exiled the colony re- turned to it the first opportunity ; and although more stringent laws were now enacted to restrain Quakers from intruding within the limits of the Massachusetts jurisdiction, numbers of them at once determined to force their way into the colony and to brave the utmost rigour of the law. When seized, they offered no resistance. Sen- tenced to be flogged, they yielded with entire satisfaction their backs to the executioner. Mulcted in pecuniary fines, they quietly declined to pay them; and when ordered to do labour in prison, they refused to work. To a resolution so firm and unyielding, they united a perseverance in seeking proselytes which often approached the verge of insanity, and sometimes overstepped it. Bold in their defiance of the enactments imposed to restrain them, they hurled upon those whom they characterized as oppressors the most vigorous epithets the language could boast. They denounced the religion of the Puritans as a wor- ship of the carnal Christ, and prophesied the most fearful calamities would befall them unless they abandoned their long-cherished creed. They proclaimed everywhere the absolute necessity of spiritual light, as a guide to religious truth, and asserted that all who denied it were blind beasts and liars. "Thus will the Lord break you into pieces," exclaimed a Quaker, shivering two bottles into fragments in the face of a con-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1659.
gregation. Another, named Fauborg, attempted to imitate the sacrifice of Abraham, and was only restrained by the neighbours, who were roused to interfere by the cries of the child. The fanaticism of the women Quakers, pure- .minded and modest as they are acknowledged to have been, was carried to the most shameless and disreputable lengths. These various acts and enormities finally aroused public indignation to such a pitch, that, at the close of the year 1658, a law was passed banishing the Quakers from the United Colonies of New England, and forbidding their return under pain of death. This sanguinary and unjustifiable enactment was carried by one vote only. Various staunch friends of the government strongly protested against it, not only as cruel, but as liable to in- vite the persecution it sought to avoid. The result soon proved how well-grounded was the fear. Marmaduke Stephenson, William Robin- son, and Mary Dyer courted the danger to which they were exposed, and quietly awaited the operation of the law. In September, 1659, they were seized, and, after trial, condemned to be hanged. The sentence was carried into effect upon Robinson and Stephenson, but Mary Dyer was reprieved upon the scaffold, and again thrust from the colony. Resolute in seeking a martyr's death, she returned soon after, and was publicly executed on Boston Common.
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1659.]
WENLOCK'S ADDRESS.
Popular compassion now began to evince itself so strongly in favour of those Quakers who yet remained in prison, that the magistrates found it necessary to publish a vindication of their proceedings. The trial of William Leddra took place at this period. He also suffered death at the hands of the hangman, having refused to accept of freedom on the condition of leaving the colony for ever. ,
While Leddra was upon his trial, Wenlock Christisson, another exile, calmly entered the court, and rebuked the magistrates for shedding innocent blood. This bold infraction of the law cost him also his liberty. When put upon his trial, he demanded by what authoity the ma- gistrates presumed to act in opposition to the laws of England, by which alone he claimed to be tried. The governor referred to the English laws against Jesuits, whose return from banish- ment involved the penalty of death. Christisson denied the relevancy of the application; but he was found guilty. "I deny all guilt," he ex- claimed ; "my conscience is clear toward God." Sentence of death was pronounced against him. "Consider what you gain," said he. "For the last man put to death, here are five come in his room ; and if you have power to take my life from me, God can raise up the same principle of life in ten of his servants, and send them among you in my stead."
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1659.
Struck by the force of his argument, the ma- gistrates hesitated to carry their sentence into effect. The voice of the people also inclining to mercy, Christisson and the whole of his impri- soned associates, to the number of twenty-seven, were soon after released from prison and sent out of the colony. From this period no Quakers suf- fered death on account of their religion, although they still occasionally underwent the penalty of whipping and imprisonment, for repeatedly re- turning from that banishment to which they were as constantly doomed.
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GOVERNORS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
1659.]
CHAPTER IX.
Governors of Massachusetts-Restoration of Charles II .- Ar- rival of Whalley and Goffe-Their arrest ordered-Charges preferred against the colony-Project for a governor-general of the New England provinces-Action of the general court -Agents appointed to proceed to London-Response of the king-Change required in the Massachusetts government- -Additional complaints-Appointment of royal commis- sioners-Their arrival at Boston-Embark for New York- Capture of that province from the Dutch-Return of the commissioners -Their arbitrary proceedings-Difficulties with the general court-Report to the king-Deputies ordered to be sent to London-Prosperity of Massachusetts -King Philip's war __ Christian Indians-The Wampanoag and Narraganset tribes-Cause of the war-Massacre at Swanzey-Mount Hope taken-Narragansets constrained to remain neutral-Progress of the war_Brookfield attacked- Deerfield burned-Northfield abandoned-Attempt on Hat- field- Alarm in Massachusetts -Extraordinary levies- Slaughter of the Narragansets-Lancaster burned-Groton Chelmsford-Medfield attacked-Warwick and Providence devastated-Massacres in Plymouth colony-Activity of the colonists-Capture and execution of Canonicus-Pursuit of Philip-His death.
AFTER the death of Winthrop in 1649, Dudley and Endicott became alternately governor and deputy-governor of Massachusetts until the death of the former in 1653. During twelve of the subsequent twenty years, Endicott was continued in the office of chief magistrate, and at his de- cease Bellingham was chosen governor at eight successive annual elections.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1660.
During the period of the civil wars in Eng- land, and the subsequent protectorate of Crom- well, Massachusetts gradually increased in wealth and population ; but upon the death of Cromwell the prospects of the New England provinces were overclouded. Anticipating the restoration of Charles II. to the English throne, they prudently refrained from acknowledging the supremacy either of Richard Cromwell or of the Long Par- liament.
By the same vessels which, in July, 1660, brought the first tidings of the restoration of the monarchy, came over Whalley and Goffe, two of the regicides, whose lives were endangered by the altered condition of affairs in England. They were well-received by Endicott, and treat- ed by other prominent persons in the colony with great attention and respect.
The news of the re-establishment of the Stuart dynasty met with but dubious credence; and it was not until the information was authenticated by fresh arrivals during the month of the follow- ing December, that the general court agreed upon addresses to the king and parliament. Having embodied in their address to the king a petition for the preservation of their civil and religious liberties, the prompt response of Charles was so favourable, that, upon the receipt of his reply, a day of thanksgiving was specially set apart. But, in the midst of the general joy, an
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RUMOURED CHANGES.
1661.]
order, which arrived at the same time, for the arrest of Whalley and Goffe, created great anx- iety for the safety of the fugitives. In obedience to the royal mandate, the magistrates caused the proclamation against the regicide judges to be promptly published; and lent, unwillingly, such aid to the officers of the law as they were called upon to give. Various and repeated efforts were made to secure the persons of the fugitives; but there is little doubt that the latter were enabled to evade the search by timely information re- ceived secretly from persons occupying promi- nent official stations in the colony.
Charges having been almost immediately pre- ferred against the colony, of intolerance against the Quakers, and of usurping powers not autho- rized by the charter, an answer to the com- plaints was demanded by the king. At the same time it was rumoured that the unrestricted com- merce heretofore carried on by the New England provinces with Virginia and the West Indies was to be prohibited, and that the arbitrary in- tentions of the king were foreshadowed in the revival of the project for a governor-general in America.
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