USA > North Carolina > The history of North Carolina from the earliest period, Volume I > Part 8
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THE FIFTH.
1644]
met at Boston. The vicinity of the French, Dutch, and Swedes, the hostile attitude taken by the Indian tribes near them ; the civil dissentions in England, which obstructing commerce, rendered a communication with the mother country difficult, and consequently pre- vented the means of obtaining supply or relief on urgent occasions.
The parties to this instrument declare, that as in na- tion and religion, so in other respects, they be and con- tinue one. and henceforth be called the United Colonies of New-England. The united colonies were to form a body, with regard to their common concern, but the private concerns of each were to be managed by its own court and magistrates; in case of need, the force to be raised by the union, was to be, in the proportion of one hundred men in the colony of Massachusetts, and forty- five in each of the others. This union subsisted until the abrogation of the charter of the New-England colonies, by James II. in 1684.
The earl of Warwick was this year appointed, in pur- suance of an ordinance of parliament, governor in chief and admiral of the American colonies; a council was given him, composed of five peers and twelve com- moners ; with it he was empowered to examine the state of the colonies, to send for persons and papers, to re- move governors and officers and appoint others in their places, and to assign to those such part of the powers that were there granted, as he should think proper.
One of the first acts of the new governor in chief was a charter of incorporation of the towns of Providence, Newport and Portsmouth, with the power of governing themselves, but agreeably to the laws of England.
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CHAPTER [1645
Duparquet of Martinico this year took possession of the island of St. Lucia, in the name of Louis XIV. who had ascended the French throne two years before."
The legislature of Virginia prohibited trade by barter, and established the piece of eight or six shillings, as the standard of currency for the colony.
A rebellion now broke out in Maryland, at the head of which were William Clayborne and Richard Ingle, who not only forced governor Calvert to fly for aid and protection into Virginia, but took possession of the public records, and for a long time prevented the exercise of the powers of government.
By an ordinance of the lords and commons of King- land, all merchandize, goods and necessaries, for the American plantations, were exempted from duty for three years, on condition that no ship or vessel in any of the colonial ports, be suffered to load any goods of the growth of the plantations, and carry them to foreign parts, except in English bottoms. This was the foundation of the navigation acts.
The French, in Canada, finding it difficult to contend with the Iroquois, a very powerful nation of Indians, solicited aid from the province of Massachusetts, and offered liberal compensation : but no succor was given, it being thought, those Indians would be a powerful bulwark between the English and French, in case of a war breaking out between them.
The commissioners of the united colonies sent an agent to the governor and council of Canada, to project an agreement, by which, in case of war between the two nations, the French and English colonies should re- main in peace. Monsieur d'Ailleboust, the governor,
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THE FIFTH.
1648}
as well as his council, received the proposition with great eagerness, and appointed father Dreuillettes to go to Boston to make the necessary arrangements, on con- dition that the English would aid the French against the Iroquois : but the same reasons, that had induced the re- jection of this measure last year, prevailed, and nothing was done.
The year 1648 is remarkable for the peace of Westphalia.
The French, under the auspices of Monsieur de Poincy, governor of St. Christopher, began their settle- ments in the island of St. Bartholomew.
During the extreme distress of the royal party in Eng- land, this year, the territory between the Rappahannock and the Potomac, was granted to lords Hopton, Beverly, Culpepper, and other cavaliers, who probably wished to make Virginia an asylum.
On the 30th of January, Charles I. was beheaded at Whitehall, in the fifty-first year of his age, and the twenty-sixth of his reign.
At the demise of this monarch, the whole centre coast of the northern continent of North America, was either settled or had been granted away, from the province of Meine to the river St. Matheo. The settlements of the French, in Canada, were in a considerable progress.
The foundation of the whole of the New-England colonies was laid; the Dutch possessed the present states of New- York and New-Jersey, and part of that of Con- necticut, and had plantations much higher than Albany ; the Swedes occupied the hores of the present states of Pennsylvania and Delaware; the colony of Maryland, owing to its late commotion, was still in its infancy ; that of Virginia was in a prosperous state; the country
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CHAPTER
[1648
now covered by the states of North and South Carolina, and Georgia, was claimed by the assignees of Sir Robert Heath, who till now had made no advances towards the occupation of it.
The Spaniards had made no improvements in Florida; they still kept, as during the reigns of the two predeces- sors of Charles I., a few soldiers in some forts on the coast.
We have seen, that part of the island of St. Christo- pher had been occupied by the English, and another by the French; these two nations still kept their possessions.
The English, during Charles's reign, had occupied, in the West Indies, the island of Barbadoes.
The French had settled colonies in Martinico, St. Lucia, St. Christopher, and claimed the island of Gre- nada, but the establishments were of so little importance, that in the year 1651, Duparquet purchased from the West India company, the islands of Martinico, St. Lucia, Grenada, and the Grenadines, for fifty thousand livres, of the value of little more than ten thousand dol- lars. Seven years after, the progress of colonization in the West Indies had been so very great, that he sold the single island of Grenada, for thirty thousand crowns, of the value of about eighteen thousand dollars.
The successes of the English, in the predatory incur- sions upon Spanish America, during the reign of Eliza- beth, had never been forgotten : and from that period downward, the exploits of Drake and Raleigh were imi- tated, upon a smaller scale indeed, but with equally des. perate valour, by small bands of pirates, gathered froni all nations, but chiefly French and English. The en- grossing policy of the Spaniards tended greatly to ex- tend the number of these freebooters, from whom their
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colonies suffered in the issue dreadful calamity. The windward islands, which the Spaniards did not deem worthy their own occupation, had been gradually settled by adventurers of the English and French nations ; but Frederick of Toledo, who was despatched in 1630 with a powerful fleet against the Dutch, had orders from the court of Madrid to destroy these colonies, whose vicinity at once offended the pride, and excited the jealous suspi- cions, of their Spanish neighbors. This order the Span- ish admiral executed, with sufficient rigour : but the only consequence was, that the planters, being rendered desperate by persecution, began, under the well known name of buccaneers, a retaliation so horribly savage, that the perusal makes the reader shudder. When they car- ried on these depredations at sea, they boarded, without respect to disparity of number, every Spanish vessel that came in their way, and demeaning themselves both in the battle and after the conquest, more like demons than human beings, they succeeded in impressing their enemies with a sort of superstitious terror, which ren- dered them incapable of offering effectual resistance ; from piracy at sea, they advanced to making predatory descents on the Spanish territories, in which they dis- played the same furious and irresistible valour, the same thirst of spoil, and the same brutal inhumanity to their captives ; the large treasure which they acquired in their adventures, they dissipated in the most unbounded licen- tiousness, in gaming, women, wie, and debauchery of every species ; when their spoils were thus wasted, they entered into some new association, and undertook new adventures.
Smith-Stith -- Beverly-Keith-Marshall.
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CHAPTER VI.
IN the month of June, 1650, Charles II. sent from Breda, a new commission to Sir William Berkely, as governor of Virginia, declaring his intention of ruling and ordering the colony, according to the laws and statutes of England. His authority continued to be ac- knowledged in Virginia, and several of the West India islands. This induced parliament to prohibit, by an ordinance, all trade with Virginia, Barbadoes. Bermu- das and A tigue; and in the following year, the legisla- ture of Massachusetts passed an act, forbidding all trade with these colonies, till their submission to the common- wealth, or the further orders of the general court.
This year, the French established a colony on the island of Grenada, and the English on that of Anguilla.
The Dutch, navigating their ships at a much cheaper rate than their neighbors, and carrying, consequently, goods for a much less freight, had engrossed a consider- able portion of the carrying trade ; they were even em- ploved to convey American produce to England, This evil had arisen to so high a degree, that English seamen finding it difficult to find occupation, on board of the vessels of their own nation, sought it on board of those of the Dutch. This, and a desire of adopting the most effectual mode of retaining the colonies in dependence on the parent state, and of securing to it the benefit of their
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1651]
CHAPTER. 109
increasing commerce, induced parliament to pass an act, forbidding the importation of merchandise from Asia, Africa, or America, (including the English plan- tations there) into England, in any but English built ships, and belonging either to English, or English plantation subjects, navigated by an English commander, and a crew, of which three fourths should be Eng- lish; excepting such merchandise, as should be import- ed directly from the original place of their growth or manufacture, in Europe solely ; and that no fish should, thenceforward, be imported into England or Ireland, nor exported thence to foreign ports, nor even from one of their own home ports, but what should be caught by their own ships.
The house of commons, who had assumed the go- vernment of England, issued a proclamation, for the re- duction of the colonies to a dependence on the mother country. This paper states, that as the colonies were settled at the expense of the mother country, they were dependent on it, and owed obedience to its laws. A considerable fleet was accordingly put under the com- mand of Sir George Ayscue, and he was directed to pro- ceed to America, to endeavor, by peaceable means, to reduce the colonies to obedience, and if these failed, to reduce them by force.
Sir George Ayscue reached the island of Barbadoes, on the 16th of October, and with some difficulty suc- ceeded in bringing the islandto capitulate: the other Eng- lish islands recognized the power of the commonwealth. This being effected, Sir George despatched captain Den- nis, with a small squadron of men of war, to reduce the colony of Virginia, to the rule of the protector.
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CHAPTER [1652
Governor Berkely, who had timely notice of the ap- proach of the men of war, made preparations to defend the country. There happened to be before Jamestown, seven Dutch ships, the masters of which, apprehend- ing they might be considered as pursuing a forbidden trade, were easily persuaded to lend their assistance, in repelling the squadron of the commonwealth. The cargoes of these ships were landed, cannon was put on board, and they were filled with armed men : a line of them was formed, moored close to shore, with their broadsides to the enemy : several pieces of ord- nance were placed, so as to support the line formed by the ships, flanked by a number of troops, covering the shores of the river as far as the eye could reach.
The commander of the English fleet, whose force was much weakened by the fatigues the troops had experi- enced, and the shortness of the supply of provisions, was much disappointed in encountering, when he ima- gined he touched the end of his labors, an enemy so well prepared to resist him; he determined on an attempt to attain by negotiation, what appeared so difficult to effect by arms ; flags of truce passed between him and the governor.
One circumstance was calculated to facilitate the sub- mission of the colony. There were on board of the fleet, large quantities of merchandise belonging to two members of the council, who were not long without understanding, that the restoration or loss of their pro- perty depended on their conduct, or the eventual suc- cess of the negotiation. Beverly, a historian of the day, imagines that the unanimity, which heretofore head pre- vailed in the councils was, on this account, destroyed
1653]
THE SIXTH.
3
and perplexed; the idea of resistance was abandoned, and the efforts of the council, were confined to obtaining favorable terms for the surrender of Virginia.
In this they met with no difficulty : the English com- mander consented, that neither the governor nor any of the council, should be obliged to take any oath or en- gagement to the commonwealth, for twelve months ; nor confined for praying for, or speaking well of, the king, in their private homes or neighbourly conference, during that time.
That governor Berkely might, at his own expense, send a person to give an account to the king, of the sur- render of the colonv.
That the governor and members of the council, should have their lands, horses, goods, and debts pro- tected, and liberty to remove themselves with their property.
That all persons in the colony, who had served the king in it or in England, should be free from prosecu- tion therefor, and that the commissioners of the protec- tor should issue, immediately on the surrender of the colony, an act of oblivion and indemnity, under their hands and seals : these preliminaries having been arrang- ed, articles were agreed on for the surrender of the colony.
It was stipulated, that the plantations of Virginia and its whole lands, should be and remain, in due obedience and submission to the commonwealth of England, and enjoy the same freedom and privileges, as the freeborn people of England.
That the general assembly should convene, and trans- act business, as had been theretofore used ; but that
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nothing should be acted or done, contrary to the go- vernment of the commonwealth, and the laws then established.
That there should be a total remission and indemnity, of every thing done or spoken against the parliament.
That the ancient limits of the colony should be con- firmed ; as well as all the patents for land, granted by any of the preceding governors; and the privilege, of fifty acres of land to new comers, should be continued.
That there should be as free a trade from Virginia, as from any English plantation in America.
That Virginia should pay no taxes, not imposed by the general assembly, and that no fort or garrison should be erected or maintained, without its consent, and no charge should be made against them for the present expedition.
That such colonists, as might refuse to take an oath of fidelity to the commonwealth, might, within one year, withdraw themselves and property.
That the use of the prayer book, changing what re- lates to the sovereign, should continue ; that the minis- ters should remain in their functions for one year.
That the grant of the quit rents for seven years, should be confirmed.
On the 30th of April, it was agreed, in a general as- sembly, composed of the commissioners and representa- tives of the people, that Richard Bennett should be go- vernor for one year, or until the pleasure of the council of state should be known. William Clayborne was ap- pointed secretary of the colony ; and a council of thir- teen was, at the same time, appointed to advise the go- vernor; and these executive officers were directed to
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THE SIXTH
1633]
act from time to time, and to have such power and au- thorities as, by the house of assembly, shall be appointed and granted, to their several places.
To encourage the staple commodity of Virginia, the English parliament, this year, passed an act which gave legal power to the ordinances of James and Charles, for- bid.ling the planting of tobacco in England.
The inhabitants of the province of Maine were, at their own request, taken under the protection of the col. ony of Massachusetts, to which they have remained uni- ted in government, till within a few years. Muissa- chusetts claimed the jurisdiction of that province, as lying within the limits of its charter of 1628.
The government of Maryland was taken out of the hands of Lord Baltimore, for disloyalty to the ruling power in England, and settled in the hands of parlia- ment; two years after, it was vested in those of the protector.
By an order of the council of state for England, the government of Rhode Island was suspended, but the colonists, taking advantage of the distraction which soon after ensued in England, resumed its government, and continued without interruption till the restoration.
This year is noted for the first coinage in the Eng- lish colonies. A mint being established in Boston, the money coined was in pieces of one pound, six shillings and three pence.
The law enacted, that the legend, Massachusetts, and a tree in the centre, be on one side of the coin, and New England, the year of our Lord, and the figures XX, VI, and III, according to the value of the piece, be on the other side; the date, 1652, was never altered N. CARO. 15
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[1683
although more coin was stamped annually, for thirty years.
This year was executed, at Hartford, in Connecticut, M.s. Green mith, the first witch heard of in North America : she was accused, in the indictment, of prac. tising ( vi' things on the body of Ann Cole, which did not appear to be true. The Rev. Mr. Stone and other ministers, swore that Mrs. Greensmith had confessed to them, that the devil had had carnal knowledge of her. The court then ordered her to be hanged on the indict- ment.
Sir William Berkely representing, that he had been pre- vented, by the war between the protector and the Dutch, from leaving the colony, and the time allowed him to stay, by the articles of capitulation, having expired, a de- lay of eight months was allowed him by the general assembly.
The settlement on Albemarle sound continued to in- crease ; and in 1653, the legislature of Virginia, on the application of Roger Greene and others, inhabitants of Nansemond river, ordered, that ten thousand acres of land, be granted to the first one hundred individuals, who might settle on Moratuck or Roanoke rivers, and on the south side of Chowan river and its branches. It was required they should settle by each other, and be supplied with arms and ammunition. One hundred acres were granted to Greene, next to those formerly granted, as a reward.
In the year 1654, Edward Digges succeeded Richard- Bennett, as governor of Virginia.
Preparations were made, this year, in New England, for the conquest of the settlement on Manhattan island and Hudson river, from the Dutch. But, Oliver
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THE SIXTH.
Cromwell, desirous that the two sister republics might be well together, made a sudden peice, which put an end to the hostile intentions of New England, and left the Dutch, for a few years longer, in possession of New Netherlands.
Colonel Woods, who dwelt at the falls of James river, sent suitable persons, on a journey of discovery to the westward; they crossed the Allegheny mountains, and reached the banks of the Ohio, and other rivers empty- ing into the Mississippi.
Towards the close of this year, the protector sent vice-admiral Penn, with a fleet of thirty sail, on board of which was a considerable number of land forces, un- der general Venables, to take the island of Jamaica. After taking a reinforcement of three thousand five hun. dred soldiers, in the island of Barbadoes, the fleet arrived before Jamaica on the 13th of April, and soon after be. gan the attack ; but the Spaniards made so rigorous a de- fence, that the general was obliged to re-imbark his men. The army landed before. and began the siege of St. Yago de la Vega, the capital of this island ; on the 2d of May, on the fall of the city, the whole island was reduced, and annexed to the dominions of England, of which it has to this day made a part.
The Dutch now drove away the Swedes, from their possession on the Delaware, which was added to New Netherlands. It will be remembered, that the Swedes had first landed on the banks of the Delaware, in the year 1627. During a period of about thirty years, they extended their settlements along the shore, as high up as the spot, on which the town of New: Castlenow stands; there they had a fort, called fort .Casimir, the name of which, the Dutch altered to Ninser Amstel; they had
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[1656
another fort, called fort Christina, on the stream which to this day retains that name.
The city of New Amsterdam (now New York) was in the following year, laid out into streets, on the origi- nal plan, which has since been improved to so great an advantage.
Governor Digges was succeeded in the chief magis- tray of the colony, in the year 1656, by Samuel Ma- thews, The new governor did not long hold the reins. He was, soon after his election, requested to join his two predecessors, who had been sent to England, as agents of the colony, to solicit the ratification by the pro- tector, of the articles on which Virginia had been sur- rendered, as well as a favorable settlement of a dispute respecting boundaries, which had for several years, ex- isted between the colonies of Maryland and Virginia, to remove unfavorable impressions, which the mind of the protector had received, on account of her protracted at- tachment to the royal cause; and a report which prevail- ed in England, that she supported lord Baltimore against the interests and the wishes of the people; a report which derived credit from the circumstance of Philip Calvert, the governor of Maryland, having found an asylum in Virginia, when expelled from his govern- ment, during the insurrection headed by William Clay- borne, in 1645.
After the departure of governor Mathews, the powers of government devolved on the president of the council.
The adventurers from New England, who had medi- tated a removal, and settlement on Hudson river, being disappointed by the late peace with Holland, turned their views towards the southward, and came to cape Fear
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THE SIXTH.
1658]
river, on the shores of which, they established grazing farms; the country affording, in their judgment, a plen- tiful winter pasture for cattle. The protector made an unsuccessful attempt to induce these people to settle . still more southerly, and increase the population of Jamaica, lately added to the dominions of England.
But, the lands affording no encouragement to agri- culture, and the settlers not finding the convenience of a fishery, to which they had been accustomed in New England, they soon grew tired of their new abode: they imprudently neglected to secure the good will of the Indians. The settlement did not thrive ; and, although it afterwards received some aid from the legislature of Massachusetts, it subsisted but a few years.
Cromwell granted, under the great seal of England, to Charles St. Etienne, William Crown, and Thomas Temple, for ever, the territory called Acadia, and part of the country, commonly called Nova Scotia, extend. ing along the coast of Pentagoet, to the river St. George; it was erected into a province independent of New England, and the grantees were appointed as hereditary governors.
An insurrection was raised in Maryland, by Fendal. a man of a restless disposition. It greatly distressed the province.
During the government of the commonwealth, in or- der to punish the inhabitants of Barbadoes, for their attachment to Charles 1. and for resisting its force and authorities, in 1651, and also to distress the Dutch, who carried on a lucrative trade with the colony, the parliament resolved to alter the whole system of com- merce of Barbadoes, by prohibiting all foreign ships from trading with the English plantations, and not suf-
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[1659
fering any goods to be imported into England, but in English bottoms, or in ships of the European nations, of which the merchandise imported was the genuine produce and manufacture.
The affairs of Maryland continuing in a distracted state, the government of that province was surrendered, by the commissioners of the protector, to Fendal, who had been appointed governor by the proprietor.
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