USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the colonial period. 1492-1692 v. I > Part 29
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1652.
Meanwhile, as royalty was prostrate, both the Pilgrims and the Puritans moved steadily on in the course they had marked out for themselves, legislating for their own in- terests, and striving, by all means in their power, to build up and strengthen their infant commonwealths. The former established its council of war; 5 and the latter, to make its bullion available, and to protect itself against a fraudu- lent currency from abroad, established a mint, which sent forth shillings, and sixpences, and a few coins of a smaller denomination, to be circulated among the people. 6 Yet their relations to the neighboring colonies were not alto- gether friendly ; and especially with the Dutch, difficulties
1 Hutch. Coll., 233, 236.
2 N. E. Gen. Reg., 1. 349. June 9. 1655, supplies were voted for the forces in the W. Indies, and pro- visions were made for sending the same. Maritime Papers, vol. 1. fols. 79-82.
$ Hutchinson, 1. 175-7; Mass. Rec's.
4 Hutch. Coll., 235 ; N. E. Gen. Reg., 1. 377.
5 Plym. Col. Rec's.
6 Mass. Rec's., 3. 261, et seq. ; Hutchinson, 1. 164; 2 M. H. Coll., 2. 274; Drake's Boston, chap. 34 .- John Hull was the mint-master ; and that his office was a profitable one, may be gathered from the statement that out of his perquisites, of 15d.
for every 20s. coined, he accumu- lated such a fortune as to be able to settle upon his only daughter, who married Judge Samuel Sewall, a dowry of £30,000. The establish- ment of this mint by Massachusetts, was a fruitful source of difficulty after the Restoration, and is speci- fied as a prominent charge against the colony, in the instrument by which the charter was dissolved, in 1684. It was regarded by the gov- ernment as a virtual assumption of independence, and as an encroach- ment upon the prerogative of the King. But the mint, it should be observed, was set up under the Com- monwealth, and the date upon the coins was never altered.
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345
TROUBLES WITH THE DUTCH.
had long existed, which were still in an unsettled state. CHAP. When war was declared, however, between England and XII. Holland, no disposition was manifested to commence hostili- Oct., ties in America. The Dutch colony at Manhattan, though 1651. it did not lack the disposition, was itself too feeble seri- ously to annoy the settlers of New England ; and the mer- chants of Boston carried on too profitable a trade in those parts, to desire at once to break it up. Hence, in an address from the General Court to Cromwell, 1 the pacific intentions of the people were frankly avowed; nor was it until rumors were circulated by the Indians, that the Dutch 1653. Governor was privately soliciting them to a general con- federacy to extirpate the English, that alarm spread through all the colonies. But even then, the evidences of the con- spiracy were not deemed sufficient to warrant a war. The Dutch disclaimed any sinister intentions, and the elders, to whom the subject was referred, advised that it would be " safest for the colonies " to forbear the use of the sword, but to "be in a posture of defense, and readiness for action, until the mind of God should be more clearly known. " 2
Upon the repetition of these rumors, the Connecticut May 26. colonies were earnest for war; and letters were sent to the Commissioners urging its commencement ; petitions to the same effect were presented from towns in Massachu- setts;3 and the Commissioners themselves, all but one, were in favor of complying ; but the General Court of Massachu- setts interfered, and declared, that "no determination of the Commissioners, though they should all agree, should bind them to join in an offensive war, which should appear to be unjust." This declaration led to an altercation, which seriously threatened the dissolution of the Confede- racy ; but Massachusetts was firm ; the other colonies were
1 Hutchinson, 1. 452.
2 Mass. Rec's., 3. 208; Hutchin- son, 1. 167.
3 Hutchinson, 1. 167.
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346
INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.
CHAP. weak ; and though passion urged resistance, prudence dic- XII. tated submission. Yet, though compelled by dispropor- tionate strength to yield, the other colonies were not inac- tive, but sent agents to England for aid ; Cromwell ordered three ships to be despatched to assist in the reduction of the Dutch ; and Massachusetts was recommended to join in June 9, the enterprise. Immediately, the Court was convened, and 1653. permission was given to Major Robert Sedgwick, and Capt. John Leverett, who had been commissioned for that purpose by Cromwell, to raise five hundred volunteers, provided " the persons might be free from lawful engagements." But before the expedition could set out, news arrived that Apr. 5. a peace had been concluded with Holland, and bloodshed was prevented. 1 The troops which had been raised, there- fore, instead of being employed against Manhattan, were sent to dislodge the French from Penobscot and St. Johns, of which, for many years, they had held possession ; and without much resistance that object was accomplished. 2 The peace with the Dutch, and the " hopeful establishment of government in England," led to an order for a general Sep. 20. thanksgiving, which was celebrated throughout the colony with the customary rejoicing. 3
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1653.
Pending the disputes with the Dutch, new Indian diffi- culties arose, with the Narraganset tribe, who attacked the Indians at Long Island, under the protection of the English. This act, with the conspiracy of Ninigret, was thought to be sufficient ground for a war; and a resolution was passed, that two hundred and fifty men should be raised in the several colonies for that purpose ; but Massachusetts, still stubborn, refused to raise her quota. For over a year these hostilities continued ; and many "upland Indians" being collected together, a messenger was sent to Ninigret, who
1654.
1 Mass. Rec's., 3. 311-16, 323-9; : Hutchinson, 1. 169. Hutchinson, 1. 169; 4 M. H. Coll., 2. 230-2.
3 Hutchinson, 1. 169.
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347
EXPEDITION TO NIANTICK.
returned an answer vindicating his conduct, and asserting CHAP.
that he " did but right his own quarrel, which the Long XII. Islanders begun with him." Upon the receipt of this Sep- 18. answer, the Commissioners were once more clamorous for war, and agreed to raise two hundred and seventy foot, and forty horse, out of the several colonies, and gave a commission to Major Simon Willard to command them, Sep. 27. with instructions "to take all the forces at the appointed rendezvous, at Thomas Stanton's, by the 13th of October, and thence march to Ninigret, and demand the surrender of all the Pequots under him."
Furnished with these instructions, Major Willard set out for the Niantick country ; but finding Ninigret and his men Oct. 9. had withdrawn to the fastnesses of the swamps, it was judged unadvisable to attack him, and the troops returned, with about a hundred Pequots, who had been left with the Oct. 24. Narragansets as prisoners, and for whom an annual bounty was to have been paid.1 With this demonstration the war ceased; and though there were some disturbances in the colony, which called for the exercise of the utmost vigilance, the condition of the people was generally prosperous, and the affairs of the government were conducted with prudence. Secure in the protection which Cromwell extended to them, sympathizing heartily with the success of the Common- wealth, and anxious for the diffusion of the blessings of the gospel, the Puritans of Massachusetts directed their ener- gies to strengthen the churches which had sprung up amongst them, and to foster the interests of religion and learning. Happy for them had a more generous spirit prevailed in their councils! Happy for them had they better understood the position they occcupied ! Happy for them had they listened more attentively to the counsels of the moderate ! Then should we have been spared the necessity of present-
1 Hutchinson, 1. 172, and Coll., 261.
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348
SPIRIT OF THE PURITANS.
CHAP. ing a picture of the intolerant spirit, which yet reigned XII. supreme, which persecuted others who dissented from their faith, and which filled many hearts and homes with sorrow.
Yet there is much which we can consistently applaud in their conduct. If a persecuting spirit prevailed in Mas- sachusetts, the same spirit prevailed also in all other parts of the world. Behind all this, there were implanted in the minds of the people the principles of liberty, which needed only to be guided aright to lead to the noblest and most beneficent results. And there were not wanting men, in advance of the age, who were destined to be instruments in effecting this change. In a government so popular as was ours at that time, no course subversive of the welfare of all could be adopted, without awakening jealousy and mistrust. Hence the people were cautious whom they . placed in authority. The wisest and the best were selected for counsellors. And, as the power of the magistrates was subject to their control, excesses were speedily and effectu- ally checked. Only the most worthy could be sure of sup- port. The factious and turbulent could expect no encour- agement. There was vigor and manliness, therefore, in the management of public affairs. The interests of the people were carefully secured ; and the growth of liberality, though slow, was certain.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE PRAYING INDIANS. THE QUAKERS.
ONE avowed purpose of the Massachusetts Colonists, in CIAP. forsaking their native land and settling upon these shores, XIII. n was to propagate the gospel among its ignorant inhabitants. The Charter itself takes notice of this purpose; it is alluded to in the carlier letters of the Company ; and, although several years elapsed before much was accom- plished, and the Indians, as well as others, inquired into the causes of this neglect, the difficulties to be encountered in acquiring the language of the country, the struggles of the emigrants for the means of subsistence, the annoyances to which they were exposed at home and abroad, and the care which their own churches required, in the infancy of their settlement, may be urged in palliation of this neglect, if indeed it requires an apology; and the candid will doubt- less acknowledge that, under such circumstances, much could not be expected, nor could much be attained. But, when the severity of their carliest trials was over, and they were at liberty to look around them, to attempt the conversion of these "wrecks of humanity," and to win them to industrious habits, and the arts of civilized life, there was no reluctance to engage in the work, nor were there wanting individuals filled with the spirit which prompted them to undertake it.
It must not, however, be inferred, that nothing had been done towards converting the Indians. Squantum and Ho- bomok, the allies of the Pilgrims, were taught to adore the " God of the English;" John, the Sagamore of Lynn, with
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350
LABORS OF ROGER WILLIAMS.
CHAP. his expiring breath commended his son to the care of Mr. XIII. Wilson to be religiously instructed ; Wequash, the Pequot, was of the "first fruits " of the conversion of his race ; and a few in other parts were beginning to inquire into the faith of the white man. 1
Nor should the labors of Roger Williams be forgotten in this connection, for the "Key" of this excellent inan was the first attempt to unlock the mysteries of savage lifc. Day and night, summer and winter, he labored to acquaint himself with the language of the red race. "Many solemn discourses," says he, "I have had with all sorts, from one end of the country to another. I know there is no small preparation in the hearts of multitudes of them. I know their many solemn confessions to myself, and one to another, of their lost, wandering condition. I know strong convic- tions upon the consciences of many of them, and their desires uttered that way. I know not with how little knowledge and grace of Christ, the Lord may save, and therefore neither will despair, nor report much."2
The submission of divers sachems to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, opened the way for the action of that gov- ernment ; and, as some of these had expressed the desire ".as opportunity will serve, and English live among them, to suffer their children to learn to read God's word, to know God aright, and to worship him in his own way," an Nor.13, order was passed, that the county courts should " take care 1614. that the Indians residing in the several shires, should be civilized, and instructed in the knowledge and worship of God." 3
John Eliot, of Roxbury, is usually considered as "the morning star of missionary enterprise," and to him has been awarded the appropriate title of the " Apostle to the
1 New England's First Fruits, 8 Mass. Rec's., 2. 55-6, 84: 3. 6, 7, under date June 10, 1644, and 2 1 M. H. Coll., 3. 206. p. 57, under date Oct. 18, 1645.
ed. 1643, pp. 2-8.
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351
MAYHEW OF NANTUCKET.
Indians." Yet Mayhew, of Nantucket, the " young New CHAP. England scholar," preceeded him in the field ; and though XIII. n his labors did not spread over so wide a region, they are none the less entitled to the commendation of the philan- thropist. We have three letters from the son, giving an account of the progress of the gospel on the island which his father had selected for his abode; and from these it appears, that the year after their arrival, Hiacoomes was 1613. converted, and became a preacher to his brethren. En- couraged by this beginning, the younger Mayhew was led to "endeavor the good of these heathen by discourse ; " and, through his labors, and those of Hiacoomes, others 1615. became religiously impressed ; in the short space of five years, thirty-nine men, besides women, had joined his meet- Sept. 7, ings ; the next year, the number was increased to "one Oct. 16, 1650. hundred and ninety-nine, men, women and children ; " and 1651. in the following year, two hundred and eighty-three per- Oct. 22, sons, exclusive of children, had "renounced their false 16.52. gods ; " a school was established, which was attended by thirty children ; a town was projected, to " carry on things in a Civil and Religious way the better ; " and a covenant of faith had been drawn up and adopted.1
Encouraged in the prosecution of his labors by the Soci- ety in England for Propagating the Gospel, Mr. Mayhew continued to cultivate the Vineyard to which he was sent, " sparing not his body by night nor day ; lodging in their houses ; and solving their scruples and objections ; " but business calling him at length to cross the Atlantic, the vessel in which he sailed was lost, and he " ended his days, 1657. and finished his work." Severe as was this blow to his aged father, he resolved that the good seed which had been scattered by his son should not wholly perish; and, "striking in with his best strength and skill," a church was gathered, 1659.
1 3 M. H. Coll., 4. 109, 111, 116, 188, 203, 207, 208; Mather, Mag., 2. 372.
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352
LABORS OF THE MAYHEWS.
CHAP. and the number of communicants multiplied so rapidly XIII. that, before the breaking out of Philip's War, six praying Sep. 14, towns were established ; two churches were organized, hav- 1674.
ing fifty communicants, over which pastors and teachers were ordained ; and connected with these meetings were " the major part of the three hundred families on the Island, and ten Indian preachers of good knowledge and holy conversation." At Nantucket, also, where were a like number of families, a church was gathered, having thirty communicants ; forty children and youth had been baptized ; and there were three places of worship, and four native teachers. Upon both islands, attention had been paid to the interests of education ; some had been taught to read and write Indian; the two grandsons of Mayhew had entered upon the work of teaching the natives ; and pro- gress had been made in the arts of civilized life, the men engaging in agricultural pursuits, and the women having learned to " spin and knit."1
Such were the results of the labors of the Mayhews, which were among the first fruits of benevolent effort for the conversion of the Indians. These converts remained faithful during the struggle with Phillip ; and, though their numbers afterwards diminished, as the white settlements progressed, there is yet a feeble remnant of these original " lords of the soil," dwelling at Gay Head, and at other places in that vicinity, so changed in their habits, however, and in their manners and customs, that they would hardly be recognized by their ancestors of the seventeenth cen- tury, and would probably be regarded as a degenerate race.2
Turning now to the Massachusetts Colony, we may re- mark, that, soon after the passage of the Order of 1644,
1 Gookin, in 1 M. H. Coll., 1. 204-8; Mather, Mag., 2. 373-4.
" For more particulars, see May-
hew's Narr., Noyes's Election Ser-
mon, for 1698, Backus, and the Re- ports to the Mass. Leg., 1848, Sen. 135.
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353
JOHN ELIOT.
the " renowned John Eliot," the minister of Roxbury, and CHAP. " a person justly famous in the church of God, not only~ XIII. as an eminent Christian, and an excellent minister among the English, but also as a memorable evangelist among the Indians of New England," entered with enthusiasm upon that work, to the advancement of which more than forty years of his life were devoted, and which was pros- ecuted with such success, that his labors have been not only applauded in Europe, but his name is mentioned every- where with uncommon respect, and " all, who contemplate his active services, his benevolent zeal, his prudence, his upright conduct, and his charity, are ready to declare his memory precious." 1
. It was in the fall of 1646, that this excellent man held Oct. 28, his first meeting and preached his first Sermon, on the 1616. high grounds East of Newton Corner, afterwards called "Nonantum," or "the place of rejoicing ; "2 and three other meetings being held in that vicinity before winter closed, an account of the same was sent to England and published ; and Mr. Winslow, the agent of the Colony, immediately engaged in soliciting subscriptions for the fur- therance of the work.3
The field once entered, it was diligently cultivated ; meetings were held at Neponset and Concord ; at the latter place a "body of laws " was adopted, and request was made for land for a town ; and at the next annual Court, May Co, one or more magistrates were appointed to hold quarterly 1617. courts " where the Indians do ordinarily assemble to hear the word of God ;" the sachems were empowered to hold monthly courts, for the trial of small cases ; and all fines imposed in these courts were to be devoted to the erection
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1 Life of Eliot, by Mather, Eliot, and Moore.
2 The government immediately approved his course. Mass. Rec's., 3. 100.
3 3 M. H. Coll., 4. 8, 17, 22 ; 1 M. H. Coll., 5. 265 ; Hutchinson, 1. 153 ; Jackson's Hist. Newton, 79,&c.
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354
CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIANS.
CHAP. of a meeting house, or the education of poor children, or XIII.
other public uses among the natives themselves. 1
It being the conviction of Mr. Eliot that the civilization of the Indians was an essential prerequisite to their chris- tianization, his earlier efforts were directed to this end ; and with such success, that, aided by Gookin, his con- stant, persevering and pious companion, those to whom he ministered began to forsake their former habits, and dress like the English ; to engage in agricultural pursuits ; to build better houses ; to catechise their children, and open schools for their instruction ; to pray in their families, morning and evening, and give thanks at their meals ; to sanctify the Sabbath, and imitate the English generally ; and, though idleness seemed to have become second nature; and extreme difficulty was experienced in instilling fixed habits of sobriety and industry, by patience and persever- ance a measure of success was attained, though the seeds of indolence were too deeply rooted to be wholly erad- icated. 2
Yet the minds of these sons of the forest were far from being destitute of natural vigor; and the questions pro- pounded by them to their spiritual guides, not only evince shrewdness, and deep penetration, but many of them are of such a character that Eliot must have been sadly puzzled at times to give satisfactory answers. "Suppose," asked one, "a man should be inclosed in iron a foot thick, and then cast into the fire, what would become of his soul, could it escape or not ?" " Which was made first," was the query of another, " the devil or man ?" The doctrine of innate depravity they could not comprehend. " Why did not God give all men good hearts, that they might be
1 Gookin, in 1. M. II. Coll., 1.
Hist. Natick ; Shattuck's Concord, 169, 177; Mass. Rec's., 2. 188-9; 24, &c.
3. 105; 1 M. HI. Coll., 8. 15; 3 M. 2 3 M. H. Coll., 4. 15, 88; 1. M. H. Coll., 4. 38-41, 49; Biglow, H. Coll., 1. 178, and 3. 178.
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355
SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL.
good ? "-" Why did not God kill the Devil that made all CHAP. men so bad, he having all power ?" Nor was the doctrine
XIII. that infants were to perish eternally more comprehensible. " Where do children go when they die, seeing they have not sinned ?" " Why does God punish in hell forever ? man doth not so, but after a time lets them out of prison again. And if they repent in hell, why will not God let them out again ?" " Seeing the body sinneth, why should the soul be punished ?" And " if all the world be burnt up, where shall hell be ?"
Their cases in casuistry were equally shrewd. "Suppose a man, before he knew God, hath had two wives, the first barren and childless, and the second fruitful, bearing him many sweet children, which of the two is he to put away ?" " Suppose a man marry a squaw, and she deserts and flies from her husband, and commits adultery with other remote Indians, but afterwarfls, hearing the word, and sorry for what she hath done, she desires to come to her husband again, who remains still unmarried, shall he receive her or not ? " " If a man be wise and his sachem weak, must he yet obey him ? "1
The exertions of Mr. Winslow led to the formation of a Society for Propagating the Gospel in New England ; July 19, the ministers of the mother country stirred up their congre- 1649. gations to contribute liberally to its funds ; a correspond- ence was held with the Commissioners of the United Colo- nies, who were employed as the agents of the Company ; and in a short time, a sum yielding £600 per annum was raised, and the proceeds of the same were regularly for- warded for the purchase of clothing, the education of children, the publication of books, the maintenance of teachers, and such other expenses as were incident to the
1 Tracts, in 3 M. II. Coll., 4. 46, 47, 55, 63, 84, 85, 91, 129, 130, 132, &c.
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356
NATICK SETTLED.
CHAP. mission ; and these funds were faithfully husbanded, and XIII.
sacredly disbursed for the purposes intended.1
Meanwhile Mr. Eliot continued his labors at Nonantum and Neponset, and occasionally at Concord and other places ; and, after three years thus spent, the inhabitants of Dedham, at his request, and with the sanction of the Court, granted to the Indians a township of about six thousand acres, ten miles Southwest of Nonantum, receiv- ing, in exchange, the present township of Deerfield; at the new settlement, afterwards called Natick, the "place of hills," the praying Indians of that vicinity, including some of Concord, were gathered ; there their Courts were held; a town was laid out, having three principal streets, two on the North of Charles river, and one on the South ; a circular fort was built, palisaded with trees, and a meet- ing house, fifty feet long, twenty-five feet wide, and twelve feet high, " wel sawen and framed " by the Indians them- selves ; an arched footbridge was thrown over the river, supported by abutments of stone ; a form of civil govern- ment, modelled upon the Old Testament, was adopted ; large quantities of ground were enclosed and improved for agricultural purposes ; schools were established ; sev- eral of the most promising youths were placed under able masters, and made considerable proficiency in the English, the Latin, and the Greek tongues; and at a subsequent date, one was graduated at Cambridge, with the usual honors. 2
The women as well as the men were interested in these improvements, and soon learned to spin, and to collect articles for sale. "In the winter, they disposed of brooms,
1 Morton's Mem., 131-2; 3 M. H. Coll., 1. 180, 181, and 5. 259, H. Coll., 4. 162; 1 M. H. Coll., 1. 212, 218, and 3. 177, &c .; Hazard, 1. 635; Hutchinson, 1. 153-6, and Coll., 256-60.
2 Mass. Rec's., 3. 246, 301; 1 M.
263; 3. M. HI. Coll., 4. 62, 81, 138, 177, 190-1, 227; Biglow's Hist. Natick, 21, 23; Worthington's Ded- ham, 24-5; Shattuck's Concord, 26, &c., &c.
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THE INDIAN BIBLE.
staves, baskets, and turkies; in the spring, cranberries, CHAP. strawberries, and fish; in the summer, whortleberries, XIII. grapes, and fish ; and several of them worked with the English in hay time and harvest."1 These were the palmy days of the settlement ; the days of youthful promise. Im- aginative minds saw Satan hurled from his throne, and the Indians forever delivered from his dominion; though the cooler and more sceptical doubted the permanence of these impressions, and the stability of the converts.2 Yet there is much to commend in these carnest and sincere attempts to improve so degraded a race ; and the candid will give due credit to those who engaged in them.
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