USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol I > Part 1
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Gc 974.2 B41h v.1 1784638
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 3040
840
THE HISTORY
OF
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
COMPREHENDING
The Events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety.
CONTAINING ALSO, A GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE,
WITH SKETCHES OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY, PRODUCTIONS, IMPROVEMENTS, AND PRESENT STATE OF SOCIETY AND MANNERS, LAWS, AND GOVERNMENT.
BY JEREMY BELKNAP, D.D. Member of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia, for pro- moting useful knowledge, aud of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Massachusetts.
THE SECOND EDITION,
WITH LARGE ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLISHED FROM THE AUTHOR'S LAST MANUSCRIPT.
ILLUSTRATED BY A MAP.
Tempus edar rerum, tuque invidiosa vetustas Omnia destruitis : vititaque dentibus œvi Paulatim lenta consumitis omnia morte. liec perstant. OVID.
Vals
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
VOL. I.
BOSTON : PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD AND READ. 1813.
840
.11.
F 842.09
1784638
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT :
District Clerk's Office.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eighteenth day of June, A D. 1813, and in the thirty-seventh year of the Independence of the United States of Amer- ica, BRADFORD & READ, of the said District, have deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit :
The History of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the river Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety. Containing also, a geographical description of the State, with sketches of its natural history, productions, im- provements, and present state of society and manners, laws, and government. By JEREMY BELKNAP, D.D. member of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia, for promoting useful knowledge, and of the Academy of arts and sciences in Massachusetts. The second edition, with large additions and improvements, published from the author's last manuscript. Illustrated by a map. Tempus edas rerum, tuque invidiosa vetustas Omnia destruitis : vititaque dentibns œvi Paulatim lenta consumitis omnia morte. læc perstant. OFID.
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "Au Act for the encouragement of Learning by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitied, an Act for the encour gement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the thines therein mentioned ; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints "
WILLIAM S. SHAW,
Clerk of the District S of Massachusetts.
6682
PREFACE.
HEN a new publication appears, some pre- fatory account of the reasons which led to it, and the manner in which it has been conducted, is generally expected.
The compiler of this history was early impelled by his natur- al curiosity to enquire into the original settlement, progress, and improvement of the country which gave him birth. When he took up his residence in New-Hampshire his enquiries were more particularly directed to that part of it. Having met with some valuable manuscripts which were but little known, he be- gan to catact and methodize the principal things in them ; and this employment was (toptan in one with die celebrated mind- ern anthor) his " hobby horse."
The work, crude as it was, being communicated to some gentlemen, to whose judgment he paid much deference, he was persuaded and encouraged to go on with his collection, until the thing became generally known, and a publication could not decently be refused.
He owns himself particularly obliged to the public officers both in this and the neighbouring state of Massachusetts, under the former as well as the present constitutions, for their oblig- ing attention in favouring him with the use of the public records
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PREFACE.
or extracts from them. He is under equal obligation to a num- ber of private gent:emen, who have either admitted him to their own collections of original papers or procured such for him. In the course of his enquiry he has frequently had reason to la- ment the loss of many valuable materials by fire and other acci- dents : But what has pained him more severely is the inatten. tion of some persons in whose hands original papers have been deposited, and who have suffered them to be wasted and de- stroyed as things of no value. The very great utility of a pub- lic repository for such papers un 'er proper regulations, has ap- peared to him in the strongest light, and he is persuaded that it is an object worthy the attention of an enlightened legislature.
The late accurate and indefatigable Mr. PRINCE of Boston, (under whose ministry the author was educated and whose memory he shall always revere) began such a collection in his youth and continued it for above fifty years. By his will he left it to the care of the Old South Church, of which he was pastor, and it was deposited with a library of ancient books in an apart- ment of their meeting-house. To this collection, the public are obliged for some material hints in the present work, the author having had frequent access to that library before the commence- ment of the late war. But the use which the British troops in 1775 made of that elegant building having proved fatal to this noble collection of manuscripts ; the friends of science and ot America must deplore the irretrievable loss. Had we suffered it by the hands of Sansorys the Grief had been less poignant !
Historians have mentioned the affairs of New-Hampshire on- ly in a loose and general manner. Neale and Douglas, though frequently erroneous, have given some hints, which by the help of original records and other manuscripts, have in this work been carefully and largely pursued. Hutchinson has said many things which the others have omitted ; his knowledge of the anti qui- ties of the country was extensive and accurate, and the public are much obliged by the publication of his history ; but he knew more than he thought proper to relate. The few publi- cations concerning New-Hampshire are fugitive pieces dictated by party or interest. No regular historical deduction has ever
PREFACE.
appeared. The late Mr. FITCH of Portsmouth made a begin- ning of this sort about the year 1723 : From his papers some things have been collected which have not been met with else- where. The authorities from which information is derived are carefully noted in the margin. Where no written testimonies could be obtained, recourse has been had to the most authentic tradition, selected and compared with a scrupulous attention, and with proper allowance for the imperfection of human mem- ory. After all, the critical reader will doubtless find some chasms which in such a work it would be improper to fill by the help of imagination and conjecture.
The author makes no merit of his regard to truth. To have disguised or misrepresented facts would have been abusing the reader. No person can take more pleasure in detecting mis- takes than the author in correcting them if he should have op- portunity. In tracing the progress of controversy it is impos- sible not to take a side, though we are ever so remote from any personal interest in it : Censure or applause will naturally follow the opinion we adopt. If the reader should happen to entertain different feelings from the writer, he has an equal right to indulge them ; but not at the expence of candor.
The Masonian controversy lay so directly in the way that it could not be avoided. The rancour shewn on both sides in the early stages of it has now subsided. The present settlement is so materially connected with the general peace and welfare of the people, that no wise man ur friend to the country can at this day wish to overthrow it.
Mr. HUBBARD, Dr. MATHER and Mr. PENHALLOW have published narratives of the several Indian wars : These have been compared with the public records, with ancient manu" scripts, with CHARLEVOIX's history of New-France, and with the verbal traditions of the immediate sufferers or their de- scendants. The particular incidents of these wars may be tedious to strangers, but will be read with avidity by the posteri- ty of those whose misfortunes and bravery were so conspicuous. As the character of a people must be collected from such a
PREFACE.
minute series, it would have been improper to have been less particular.
The writer has had it in view not barely to relate facts, but to delincate the characters, the passions, the interests and tem- pers of the persons who are the subjects of his narration, and to describe the most striking features of the times in which they lived. How far he has succeeded, or wherein he is defective, must be left to the judgment of every candid reader, to which this work is most respectfully submitted.
Dover, June 1, 1784.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
DISCOVERY of the country. Eftablifh- ment of the council of Plymouth. Their grants to Mafon and others. Beginning of the fettlements at Portfmouth and Dover. Whelewright's Indian purchafe. Neale's adventures. Difcouragements. Diffolution of the council. Mafon's death. Caufes of the failure of his enterprize. Page 9.
II. Troubles at Dover. Settlements of Exe-
ter and Hampton. Story of Underhill. Defertion of Mafon's tenants. Combina- tions at Portfmouth and Dover. Union of New-Hampfhire with Maffachufetts. 32. III. Obfervations on the principles and con- duct of the firft planters of New-England. Caufe of their removal. Their religious fentiments. Fortitude. Care of their pof- · terity. Juftice. Laws. Principles of gov- ernment. Theocratic prejudices. Intoler- ance and perfecutions. 54.
IV. Mode of government under Maffachu- fetts. Mafon's efforts to recover the pro- perty of his anceftor. Tranfactions of the king's commiffioners. Oppofition to them. Internal tranfactions. Mafon difcouraged. 85.
V. Remarks on the temper and manners of
37100
viii.
CONTENTS.
the Indians. The firft general war with them, called Philip's war. 100. VI. Mafon's renewed efforts. Randolph'. miffion and tranfactions. Attempts for the trial of Mafon's title. New-Hampfhire feparated from Maffachufetts and made a royal province. Abftract of the commif- fion. Remarks on it. 184.
VII. The adminiftration of the firft council. Mafon's arrival. Oppofition to him. His departure. State of trade and navigation. 143.
VIII. The adminiftration of Cranfield. Vio-
lent meafures. Infurrections. Mafon's fuits. Profecution of Moody and Vaughan. Arbitrary meafures. Complaints.
Tu- mults. Weare's agency in England. Cran- field's removal. Barefoote's adminiftra- tion. 153.
IX. Adminiftration of Dudley as prefident, and Androffe as governor of New-England. Mafon's further attempts. His difappoint- ment and death. Revolution. Sale to Al- len. His commiffion for the government. 184.
X. The war with the French and Indians, commonly called King William's war. 195. XI. The civil affairs of the province during the adminiftrations of Ufher, Partridge, Al- len, the Earl of Bellamont and Dudley, comprehending the whole controverfy with Allen and his heirs. 231.
XII. The war with the French and Indians, called Queen Anne's war. Conclufion of Dudley's and Ufher's administration. 263.
.
.
THE
HISTORY
0 F
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CHAP. I.
Discovery of the country .- Establishment of the Council of Plymouth .- Their grants to Mason and others .- Beginning of the settlements at Portsmouth and Dover .- Whelewright's Indian purchase .- Neul's adventures .- Discouragements .-- Dissolution of the Council .- Mason's death .- Causes of the failure of his enterfrize.
IT is happy for America' that its dif- covery and fettlement by the Europeans hap- pened at a time when they were emerging from a long period of ignorance and darknefs. The difcovery of the magnetic needle, the in- vention of printing, the revival of literature and the reformation of religion, had caufed a vaft alteration in their views, and taught them the true ufe of their rational and active pow- ers. To this concurrence of favourable cauf- es we are indebted for the precifion with which we are able to fix the beginning of this great American empire : An advantage of which the hiftorians of other countries almoft univerfally are deftitute; their firft æras being either difguifed by fiction and romance, or involved in impenetrable obfcurity.
Mankind do not eafily relinquifh ancient and eftablifhed prejudices, or adopt new fyf- tems of conduct, without fome powerful at-
B
10
HISTORY OF
1496.
Prince's 1
Annais,
.
tractive. The profpect of immenfe wealth, from the mines of Mexico and Peru, fired the Spaniards to a rapid conqueft of thofe re- gions and the deftruction of their numerous inhabitants ; but the northern continent, pre- fenting no fuch glittering charms, was ne- glected by the European princes for more than a century after its difcovery. No ef- fectual care was taken to fecure to themfelves the poffeflion of fo extenfive a territory, or the advantage of a friendly traffic with its na- tives, or of the fifhery on its coafts ; till pri- vate adventurers at a vaft expence, with infi- nite hazard and perfevering zeal, eftablifhed fettlements for themfelves, and thereby en- larged the dominions of their fovereigns.
1614.
Smith's Voyage.
Of the voyagers who vifited the northern coaft of America, for the fake of its furs and fith, one of the moft remarkable was Captain John Smith ; who ranged the thore from Pe- nobfcot to Cape Cod, and in this route dif- covered the river Pafcataqua ; which he found to be a fate harbour with a rocky thore. He returned to England in one of his hips, and there publithed a defcription of the country, with a map of the fea-coaft, which he prefent- ed to Prince Charles, who gave it the name of NEW-ENGLAND. The other fhip he left be- hind under the care of Thomas Hunt, who decoyed about twenty of the natives on board and fold them for flaves at Malaga. This perfidious action excited a violent jealoufy in the natives, and bitterly enraged them againft fuccecding adventurers. Two of thofe fav- ages having found their way back as far as Newfoundland, then under the government of Captain John Mafon, were reftored to their
11
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
: native country by his friendly interpofition, 1614. and reported the ftrong difapprobation, which the Englith in general entertained of the mif- chievous plot by which they had been car- ried off. By this means, together with the prudent endeavours of Captain Thomas Der- mer, and afterward of the Plymouth fettlers, printed tranquility was re-eftablifhed between the Indians and the adventurers, which was tol- erably preferved for many years. However 8. fond we may have been of accufing the In- dians of treachery and infidelity, it muft be confeffed that the example was firft fet them by the Europeans. Had we always treated them with that juftice and humanity which our religion inculcates, and our true intereft at all times required, we might have lived in as much harmony with them, as with any . other people on the globe.
The importance of the country now be- 1620. gan to appear greater than before, and fome meafures were taken to promote its fettle- ment. A patent had been granted by King James in 1606, limiting the dominion of Vir- ginia, from the thirty-fourth, to the forty- fourth degree, of northern latitude ; which extent of territory had been divided into two parts, called North and South Virginia. The latter was affigned to certain noblemen, knights and gentlemen of London, the for- mer to others in Briftol, Exeter and Plym- outh. Thofe who were interested in the Gorges' northern colony, finding that the patent did not fecure them from the intrufions of oth- ers, petitioned for an enlargement and con- firmation of their privileges. After fome time, the ling, by his fole authority, confti- Nov. 3.
Hubbard's
Narrative of the troub- les with the Indians, p.
Narrative.
12
HISTORY OF
MS Copy in Super. Court files.
1620. tuted a council, confifting of forty noblemen, knights and gentlemen*, by the name of " The council eftablifhed at Plymouth, in the " county of Devon, for the planting, ruling " and governing of New-England, in Ameri- ".ca." They were a corporation with perpet- ual fucceffion, by election of the majority ; and their territories extended from the for- tieth to the forty-eighth degree of northern latitude. This patent, or charter, is the foun- dation of all the grants that were made of the country of New-England. But either from the jarring interefts of the members, or their indiftinct knowledge of the country, or their inattention to bufinefs, or fome other caufe which does not fully appear, their affairs were tranfacted in a confufed manner from the beginning ; and the grants which they made were fo inaccurately defcribed, and in- terfered fo much with each other, as to oc- cafion difficulties and controverfies, fome of which are not yet ended.
Two of the moft active members of this council were Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mafon. Gorges had been an
* The Duke of Lenox, Marquis of Buckingham,
--- John Brooks,
----- Thomas Gates,
-- Hamilton,
- Richard Hawkins,
Richard Edgecombe. -
Earl of Pembroke, Arundel,
- Allen Apsley,
-Batlı,
Warwick Heal,
-Southampton,
Richard Cotchmay,
-- Salisbury,
Jolin Bourgchiere,
·Warwick,
Nathaniel Rich,
Viscount Haddington,
-- Edward Ciles,
Lord Zouche,
- Giles Mompesson,
Sheffield,
- Thomas Wroth; Knights. - Matthew Sutcliffe, Robert Heath,
Sir Edward Seymour,
- Robert Mansel,
Henry Bourgchiere,
Edward Zouche,
Jolin Drake,
Dudley Digges,
Rawley Gilbert,
- Thomas Roc,
Ferdinando Gorges,
George Chudley, "Thomas Hammond, John Argel, Esquirs:
Francis Pophan,
-
Gorges,
18
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
officer in the navy of Queen Elizabeth, inti- 1620. mately connected with Sir Walter Raleigh, Hume. of whofe adventurous fpirit he had a large fhare. After the peace which King James made in 1604, he was appointed governor of the fort and ifland of Plymouth in Devon- fhire. « While he refided there, Captain Wey- mouth, who had been employed by Lord Arundel in fearch of a northweft paffage, but had fallen fhort of his courfe and put in at Pemaquid, brought from thence into the har- bour of Plymouth, five natives of America, three of whom were eagerly feized by Gor- ges, and retained in his fervice for three years: Finding them of a tractable and communi- cative difpofition, and having won their af- fections by gentle treatment, he learned from them many particulars concerning their country, its rivers, harbours, iflands, fifheries and other products ; and the numbers, force, difpofition and government of the natives ; and from this information he conceived fan- guine hopes of indulging his genius, and mak- ing his fortune, by a thorough difcovery of the country. For this purpofe he, in con- junction with others, ventured feveral fhips, whereof fome met with peculiar misfortunes ; and others brought home accounts, which, though difcouraging to fome of his affociates, made him determine upon farther attempts, wherein his refolution and perfeverance were more confpicuous than any folid gain. Thefe tranfactions were previous to the eftablifh- inent of the council ; in foliciting which, Gorges was fo extremely active, that he was appointed their prefident, and had a principal share in all their tranfactions. Mafon was a
Gorges' Narrative.
L
mru
1
14
HISTORY OF
1621.
March 9.
1620. merchant of London, but became a fea-officer, and, after the peace, governor of Newfound- land, where he acquired a knowledge of America, which led him, on his return to England, into a clofe attachment to thofe who were engaged in its difcovery; and upon fome vacancy in the council, he was elected a member and became their fecretary ; being alfo governor of Portfmouth in Hampfhire. He procured a grant from the council, of all the land from the river of Naumkeag, [now Salem ] round Cape Anne, to the river Mer- rimack ; and up each of thofe rivers to the fartheft head thereof ; then to crof's over from the head of the one to the head of the other ; with all the iflands lying within three miles of the coaft. This diftrict was called MA- RIANA. The next year another grant was made, to Gorges and Mafon jointly, of all the lands between the rivers Merrimack and Sagadehock, extending back to the great lakes and river of Canada, and this was called LACONIA.
1622. Aug. 10.
1623. +
Under the authority of this grant, Gorges and Mafon, in conjunction with feveral mer- chants of London, Briftol, Exeter, Plymouth, Shrewfbury and Dorchefter, who ftyled them- felves " The company of Laconia," attempted the eftablifhment of a colony and fithery at the river Pafcataqua ; and in the fpring of the following year fent over David Thomp- fon, a Scotfman, Edward and William Ilil- ton, fifhmongers of London, with a number of other people, in two divifions, furnifhed with all neceffaries to carry on their defign. One of thefe companies landed on the fouth. ern fhore of the river, at its mouth, and call,
15
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
ed the place Little-Harbour : Here they 1623. erected falt-works, and built an houfe which was afterward called Mafon-Hall ; but the Hiltons fet up their flages eight miles fur- ther up the river toward the northweft, on a neck of land which the Indians called Win- nichahannat, but they named Northam, and afterward Dover. Thompfon not being pleaf- ed with his fituation, removed the next fpring 1624. to an ifland in the bay of Maffachufetts ; this the General Court afterward confirmed to Prince's him and ftill bears his name. Annals.
Thefe fettlements went on but flowly for feveral years, but the natives being peaceable and feveral other fmall beginnings being made along the coaft as far as Plymouth, a neigh- bourly intercourfe was kept up among them, each following their refpective employments of fifhing, trading and planting, till the dif- orderly behaviour of one Morton, at Mount Wollafton in the Bay of Maffachufetts, cauf- ed an alarm among the fcattered fettlements as far as Pafcataqua. This man had, in de- fiance of the king's proclamation, made a practice of felling arms and ammunition to the Indians, whom he employed in hunting and fowling for him ; fo that the Englifh, feeing the Indians armed in the woods, be- gan to be in terror. They alfo apprehended danger of another kind ; for Morton's plan- tation was a receptacle for difcontented fer- vants, whofe defertion weakened the fettle- ments, and who, being there without law, were more formidable than the favages them- felves. . The principal perfons of Pafcataqua therefore readily united with their neigh- bours, in making application to the colony
Hubbard's MS.
1628,
Prince's Annals.
16
HISTORY OF'
1628, .
1629.
May 17.
1
of Plymouth, which was of more force than all the reft, to put a ftop to this growing mif chief ; which they happily effected by feiz- ing Morton and fending him prifoner to England.
Some of the fcattered planters in the Bay of Maffachufetts, being defirous of making a fettlement in the neighbourhood of Pafcata qua, and following the example of thofe at Plymouth, who had purchafed their lands of the . Indians, which they confcientioufly thought neceffary to give them a juft title, pro- cured a general meeting of Indians, at Squam- fcot falls, where they obtained a deed from Paffaconaway Sagamore of Penacook, Run- naawitt of Pantucket, Wahangnonawit of Squamfcot, and Rowls of Newichwannock wherein they express their 'defire to have ' the Englifh come and fettle among them as 'among their countrymen in Maffachufetts, ' whereby they hope to be ftrengthened 'againft their enemies the Tarrateens ; and 'accordingly with the univerfal confent of their 'Subjects, for what they deemed a valuable con- ' fideration in coats, fhirts and kettles, fell to ' John Whelewright of the Maffachufetts Bay, ' late of England, minifter of the gofpel, Au- ' guftine Story [or Storer ] Thomas Wight, ' William Wentworth, and Thomas Leavit, " all that part of the main Land bounded by " the river Pafcataqua and the river Merri- " mack, to begin at Newichwannock falls in " Pafcataqua river aforefaid, and down faid "river to the fea ; and along the fea-fhore to " Merrimack river ; and up faid river to the " falls at Pantucket; and from thence upon a "northweft line, twenty Englith miles into
17
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
"" the woods ; and from thence upon a ftrait 1629. "line northeaft, till it meet with the main "rivers that run down to Pantucket falls, "and Newichwannock falls aforefaid *; the " faid rivers to be the bounds from the thwart " or head line to the aforefaid falls, and from " thence the main channel of each river to " the fea to be the fide bounds ; together with "all the iflands within the faid bounds ; as "alfo the ifles of fhoals fo called."" The con- ditions of this grant were, ' that Whelewright " fhould within ten years, begin a plantation 'at Squamfcot falls ; that other inhabitants ' fhould have the fame privileges with him ; ' that no plantation fhould exceed ten miles 'fquare ; that no lands fhould be granted 'but in townfhips ; and that thefe fhould be ' fubject to the government of the Maffa- ' chufetts colony, until they fhould have fettled government among them- ' felves ; that for each townfhip there fhould ' be paid an annual acknowledgment of " one " coat of trucking cloth," to Paffaconaway the ' chief Sagamore or his fucceffors, and two ' bufhels of Indian corn to Whelewright and 'his heirs. The Indians referved to them- ' felves free liberty of fifhing, fowling, hunt-
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