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RESEARCH LIBRARY OF COLONIAL AMERICANA
LEN
J ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY L
3 1833 02212 6509
Gc 974.2 B41H v. 1 BELKNAP, JEREMY, 1744-1798. THE HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
RESEARCH LIBRARY OF COLONIAL AMERICANA
RESEARCH LIBRARY OF COLONIAL AMERICANA
General Editor RICHARD C. ROBEY Columbia University
Advisory Editors JACK P. GREENE Johns Hopkins University
EDMUND S. MORGAN Yale University
ALDEN T. VAUGHAN Columbia University
THE
HI S T O R Y
NEW-HAMPSHIRE
VOLUME I
BY JEREMY BELKNAP, A. M.
NYT
ARNO PRESS A New York Times Company New York - 1972
Reprint Edition 1972 by Arno Press Inc. Reprinted from a copy in The State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library
LC# 73-141081 ISBN 0-405-03272-2
Research Library of Colonial Americana ISBN for complete set: 0-405-03270-6 See last pages of this volume for titles.
Manufactured in the United States of America
THE
HI ST O RY
OF
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
VOLUME I.
COMPREHENDING THE EVENTS OF ONE COMPLETE CENTURY FROM THE DIS- COVERY OF THE RIVER PASCATAQUA.
BY JEREMY BELKNAP, A. M. Member of the American Philofophical Society held at Philadelphia for promoting ufeful Knowledge.
Tempus edax rerum, tuque invidiofa vetuftas Omnia deftruitis : vitiataque dentibus @vi Paulatim lenta confumitis omnia morte. Hæc perflant. OVID,
BOSTON: RE-PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, M. DCC. XCII. [ Publifhed according to Aft of Congrefs. ]
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
( iii )
PREFACE.
W HEN a new publication appears, fome prefatory account of the reafons which lead to it, and the manner in which it has been conducted, is generally expected.
The compiler of this hiftory was carly impel- icd by his natural curiofity to inquire into the original fettlement, progrefs, and improvement of the country which gave him birth. When he took up his refidence in New-Hampfhire his in- quiries were more particularly directed to that part of it. Having met with fome valuable man- ufcripts which were but little known, he began to extract and methodize the principal things in them ; and this employment was (to fpeak in the ftyle of a celebrated modern author) his " hobby " horfc."
The work, crude as it was, being communicated to fome gentlemen, to whofe judgment he paid much deference, he was perfuaded and encouraged to go on with his collection, until the thing he- came generally known, and a publication could not decently be refufed.
Hle owns himfelf particularly obliged to the public officers both in this and the neighbouring fate of Maffachufetts, under the former as well as the prefent conftitutions, for their obliging at- tention in favouring him with the ufc of the pub- lic records or extracts from them. He is under equal
iv
PREFACE.
equal obligation to a number of private gentlemen, who have either admitted him to their own col- lections of original papers or procured fuch for Fim. In the courfe of his inquiry he has fre- quently had reafon to lament the lofs of many valuable materials by fire and other accidents : But what has pained him more feverely is the in- attention of fome perfons in whofe hands original papers have been depofited, and who have fuffer- ed them to be wafted and deftroyed as things of no value. The very great utility of a public re- pofitory for fuch papers under proper regulations, has appeared to him in the ftrongeft light, and he is perfuaded that it is an object worthy the atten- tion of an enlightened legiflature.
The late accurate and indefatigable Mr. PRINCE. of Bofton, (under whofe miniftry the author was educated and whofe memory he fhall always re- vere) began fuch 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 paftor, and it was depofited with a library of ancient books in an apartment of their meeting-houfe. To this collection the public are obliged for fome material hints in the pre- fent work, the author having had frequent accefs to that library before the commencement of the late war. But the ufe which the British troops in 1775 made of that elegant building having proved fatal to this noble collection of manufcripts ; the friends of fcience and of America muft de- plore the irretrievable lofs. Had we fuffered it by the hands of SARACENS, the grief had been lefs poignant !
Hiftorians have mentioned the affairs of New- Hampfhire only in a loofe and general manner.
Neale
V
PREFACE.
Neale and Douglas, though frequently, erroneous, have given fome hints, which by the help of orig- inal records and other manufcripts, have in this work been carefully and largely purfued. Hutch- infon has faid many things which the others have omitted ; his knowledge of the antiquities of the country was extenfive and accurate, and the pub- lic are much obliged by the publication of his hiftory ; but he knew more than he thought prop- er to relate. The few publications concerning New-Hampfhire are fugiitve pieces dictated by party or intereft. No regular hiftorical deduc- tion has ever appeared. The late Mr. FITCH of Portfmouth made a beginning of this fort about the year 1728 : From his papers fome things have been collected which have not been met with elfe- where. The authorities from which information is derived are carefully noted in the margin. Where no written teftimonies could be obtained, recourfe has been had to the moft authentic tra- dition, fele&ted and compared with a fcrupulous attention, and with proper allowance for the im- perfection of human memory. After all, the critical reader will doubtlefs find fome chafms which in fuch 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 difguifed or mifreprefented facts would have been abufing the reader. No perfon can take more pleafure in detecting miftakes than the author in correcting them if he fhould have opportunity. In tracing the progrefs of contro- verfy it is impoffible not to take a fide, though we are ever fo remote from any perfonal intereft in it : Cenfure or applaufe will naturally follow the opinion we adopt. If the reader fhould hap- pen
vi
PREFACE.
pen to entertain different feelings from the writer, he has an equal right to indulge them ; but not at the expence of candor.
The Mafonian controverfy lay fo directly in the way that it could not be avoided. The rantour fhewn on both fides in the early ftages of it has now fubfided. The prefent fettlement is fo ma- terially connected with the general peace and wel- fare of the people, that no wife man or friend to the country can at this day wifh to overthrow it
Mr. HUBBARD, Dr. MATHER and Mr. PEN- HALLOW have published narratives of the feveral Indian wars : Thefe have been compared with the public records, with ancient manufcripts, with CHARLEVOIX's hiftory of New-France, and with the verbal traditions of the immediate fufferers or their defcendants. The particular incidents of thefe wars may be tedious to ftrangers, but will be read with avidity by the pofterity of thofe whofe misfortunes and bravery were fo confpicu- ous. As the character of. a people muft be col- lected from fuch a minute feries, it would have been improper to have been lefs particular.
The writer has had it in view not barely to re- iate facts, but to delineate the characters, the paf- fions, the interefts and tempers of the perfons who are the fubjects of his narration, and to defcribe the moft ftriking features of the times in which they lived. How far he has succeeded, or where- in he is defective, muft be left to the judgment of every candid reader, to which this work is mot refpectfully fubmitted.
Dover, June 1, 1784.
CON-
(vii)
CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
DISCOVERY of the country. Fftablishment of the council of Plymouth. Their grants to Majon and others. Beginning of the fettlements at Portfmouth and Dover. Whelewright's In- dian purchafe. Neale's adventures. Difcourage- ments. Difolution of the council. Mafon's death. Caufes of the failure of his enterprize.
Page I
II. Troubles at Dover. Settlements of Exeter and Hampton. Story of Underhill. Defertion of Ma- Jon's tenants. Combinations at Portfmouth and Dover. Union of New-Hampshire with Mafachu- fetts. 32
III. Obfervations on the principles and conduct of the first planters of New England. Caufe of their removal. Their religious fentiments. Fortitude. Care of their pofterity. Justice. Laws. Princi- ples of government. Theocratic prejudices. Intol- erance and perfecutions. 60
IV. Mode of government under Maffachufetts. Ma- fon's efforts to recover the property of his ancef- tor. Tranfactions of the King's commifioners. Op. position to them. Internal tranfactions. Mafon difcouraged. 100
V. Remarks
viii
CONTENTS.
V. Remarks on the temper and manners of the In- dians. The first general war with them called. Phil. ip's war. 120
VI. Mafon's renewed efforts. Randolph's miffion and tranfactions. Attempts for the trial of Mafon's title. New-Hampshire feparated from Maffachu- fetts and made a royal province. Abftract of the commifion. Remarks on it. 164
VII. The administration of the first council. Mafon's arrival. Opposition to him. His departure. State of trade and navigation. 175
VIII. The administration of Cranfield. Violent mea- fures. Infurrections. Mafon's. fuits. Profecution of Moody and Vaughan. Arbitrary meafures. Com- plaints. Tumults. Weare's agency in England. Cranfield's removal. Barefoote's administration.
¥88
IX. Administration of Dudley as prefident, and An- droffe as governor of New-England. Mafon's fur- ther attempts. His difappointment and death. Re- volution. Sale to Allen. His commifion for the government. 228
X. The war with the French and Indians, common- ly called King William's war. 242
XI. The civil afairs of the province during the administrations of Ufber, Partridge, Allen, the Earl of Bellomont and Dudley, comprehending the whole controverfy with Allen and his heirs. 288
XII. The war with the French and Indians called Queen Anne's war. Conclufion of Dudley's and Ufher's administration. 329 Appendix.
CHAP.
CHAP. 1.
Discovery of the country. Establishment of the Councilof Plymouth. Their Grants to Mafon and others. Beginning of the Settlements at Portfmouth and Dover. Whelewright's Indian purchafe. Neal's adventures. Difcouragements. Diffo- lution of the Council. Mafon's death. Caufes of the failure of his enterprize.
TT is happy for America that its difcov- ery and fettlement by the Europeans happened at a time, when they were emerging from a long period of ignorance and darknefs. The difcovery of the mag- netic needle, the invention of printing, the revival of literature and the reforma- tion of religion, had caufed a vaft altera- tion in their views, and taught them the true ufe of their rational and active pow- ers. To this concurrence of favourable caufes we are indebted for the precifion with which we are able to fix the begin- ning 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
2
1496. L
ر Prince's Annals.
1614.
HISTORY OF
fiction and romance, or involved in im- penetrable obfcurity.
Mankind do not eafily relinquifh an- cient and eftablithed prejudices, or adopt new fyftems of conduct, without fome powerful attractive. The profpect of im- menfe wealth, from the mines of Mexico and Peru, fired the Spaniards to a rapid conqueft of thofe regions and the deftruc- tion of their numerous inhabitants ; but the northern continent, prefenting no fuch glittering charms, was neglected by the European princes for more than a century after its difcovery. No effectual care was taken to fecure to themfelves the poffef- fion of fo extenfive a territory, or the ad- vantage of a friendly traffic with its na- tives, or of the fifhery on its coafts ; till private adventurers at a vaft expence, with infinite hazard and perfevering zeal, eftab- lifhed fettlements for themfelves, and thereby enlarged the dominions of their fovereigns.
Of the voyagers who vifited the north- ern coaft of America, for the fake of its furs and fifh, one of the moft remarkable was Captain John Smith ; who ranged the fhore from Penobfcot to Cape Cod, and in this route difcovered the river Pafcataqua ; which he found to be a fafe harbour with a rocky
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
a rocky fhore. He returned to England 1614. in one of his fhips, and there publithed a defcription of the country, with a map of the fea-coaft, which he prefented to Prince Charles, who gave it the name of NEW- Smith's Voyage. 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 Ma- laga. This perfidious action excited a vi- olent jealoufy in the natives and bitter- ly enraged them againft fucceeding ad- venturers. Two of thofe favages having found their way back as far as Newfound- land, then under the government of Cap- tain John Mafon, were reftored to their native country by his friendly interpoli- tion, and reported the ftrong difapproba- tion, which the Englifh in general enter- tained of the mifchievous plot by which they had been carried off. By this means, together with the prudent endeavours of Captain Thomas Dermer, and afterward of the Plymouth fettlers, tranquillity was re-eftablifhed between the Indians and the adventurers, which was tolerably preferv- ed for many years. However fond we may have been of accufing the Indians of treachery and infidelity, it muft be con- feffed that the example was firft fet them B 2
3
Hubbard's printed Narrative ot the trad- bics with the Indians, P. 3.
by
4
HISTORY OF
1614. - by the Europeans. Had we always treat- ed 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.
1620.
The importance of the country now began to appear greater than before, and fome meafures were taken to promote its fettlement. A patent had been granted by King James in 1606, limiting the do- minion of Virginia, from the thirty-fourth, to the forty-fourth degree of northern la- titude ; which extent of territory had been divided into two parts, called North and South Virginia. The latter was affigned to certain noblemen, knights, and gentle- men of London, the former to others in Briftol, Exeter and Plymouth. Thofe who were interefted in the northern colony, finding that the patent did not fecure them from the intrufions of others, petitioned for an enlargement and confirmation of their privileges. After fome time, the king, by his fole authority, conftituted a council, confifting of forty noblemen, knights and gentlemen*, by the name of " The Earl of Arundel,
Gorges's Narrative.
Nov. 3.
# The Duke of Lenox, Marquis of Buckingham, -- Hamilton, Earl of Pembroke,
Bath,
Southampton,
Salifbury,
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
5
1 620.
MS Copy in Super. Court files.
" The council eftablifhed at Plymouth, in " the county of Devon, for the planting, " ruling and governing of New-England, " in America." They were a corpora- tion with perpetual fucceffion, by election of the majority ; and their territories ex- tended from the fortieth to the forty- eighth degree of northern latitude. This patent, or charter, is the foundation 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 man- ner from the begining ; and the grants which they made were fo inaccurately de- fcribed, and interfered fo much with each other, as to occafion difficulties and con- troverfies,
Earl of Warwick,
Sir Allen Apfley;
Vifcount Haddington, Lord Zouche,
Richard Cotchmay,
- Sheffield,
John Bourgchiere,
- Gorges,
Nathaniel Rich,
Sir Edward Seymour,
Edward Giles,
Robert Manfel,
Giles Mompeffon.
-- Edward Zouche,
- Dudley Digges
Matthew Sutcliffe,
- Thomas Roe
Robert Heath,
Ferdinando Gorges,
Henry Bourgchiere,
Francis Popham,
John Drake,
John Brooks
Rawley Gilbert,
Thomas Gates,
George Chudley,
Richard Hawkins,
Thomas Hammond,
- - Richard Edgecombe,
John Argall, Efquire,
Warwick Heal,
Thomas Wroth, Knights,
6
HISTORY OF
1620.
Hume.
troverfies, 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 officer in the navy of Queen Elizabeth, intimately connected with Sir Walter Ra- leigh, of whofe adventurous fpirit he had a large ihare. After the peace which King James made in 1604, he was appointed governor of the fort and ifland of Ply- mouth in Devonfhire. Whilft he refided there, Captain Weymouth, 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 harbour of Plymouth, five natives of America, three of whom were eagerly feized by Georges, and re- tained in his fervice for three years. Find- ing them of a tractable and communicative difpofition, and having won their affcc- tions by gentle treatment, he learned from them many particulars concerning their country, its rivers, harbours, iflands, fifh- eries and other productions ; and the num- bers, force, difpofition and government of the natives ; and from this information he conceived fanguine hopes of indulging his genius, and making his fortune, by a tho- rough
7
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
rough difcovery of the country. For this purpofe he, in conjunction 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 eftablifhment of the council ; in foliciting which, Gorges was fo extremely active, that he was appointed their prefident, and had a principal fhare in all their tranfac- tions. Mafon was a merchant of London, but became a fea-officer, and, after the peace, governor of Newfoundland, where heacquired a knowledge of America, which led him, on his return to England, into a clofe attachment to thofe who were en- gaged in its difcovery ; and upon fome vacancy in the council, he was elected a member and became their fecretary ; be- ing alfo governor of Portfmouth in Hamp- fhire. He procured a grant from the coun- cil, of all the land from the river Naum- keag [now Salem] round Cape Anne, to the river Merrimack; and up each of thofe rivers to the fartheft head thereof ; then to crofs over from the head of the one
1620. Gorges's Narrative.
1621. March 9.
to
8
HISTORY OF
1621. L
1 622. Aug. 10.
to the head of the other ; with all the iflands lying within three miles of the coaft. This diftrict was called MARIANA. 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.
1623.
Under the authority of this grant, Gorges and Mafon, in conjunction with feveral merchants of London, Briftol, Exeter, Plymouth, Shrewfbury and Dor- chefter, who ftyled themfelves " 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 Hilton, 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 fouthern fhore of the river, at its mouth, and called the place Little- Harbour : Here they erected falt-works, and built an houfe which was afterward called Mafon-Hall ; but the Hiltons fet up their ftages eight miles further up the river toward the northweft, on a neck of
land
9
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
land which the Indians called Winnicha- hannat, but they named Northam, and afterward Dover. Thompfon, not being pleafed with his fituation, removed the next fpring to an ifland in the Bay of Maffachufetts ; this the General Court afterward confirmed to him, and it ftill bears his name.
Thefe fettlements went on flowly for feveral years, but the natives being peace- able and feveral other fmall beginnings being made along the coaft as far as Ply- mouth, a neighbourly intercourfe was kept up among them, each following their refpective employments of fithing, trading and planting, till the diforderly behaviour of one Morton, at Mount Wollafton in the Bay of Maffachufetts, caufed an alarm among the fcattered fet- tlements as far as Pafcataqua. This man had, in defiance of the king's proclama- tion, made a practice of felling arms and aminunition to the Indians, whom he employed in huntingand fowling for him; fo that the Englifh, feeing the Indians armed in the woods, began to be in terror. They alfo apprehended danger of another kind ; for Morton's plantation was a re- ceptacle for difcontented fervants, whofe defertion weakened the fettlements, and who,
1623. Hubbard's MS.
1624.
L
-
Prince's Annalı.
1628.
10
HISTORY OF
1628. J L who, being there without law, were more formidable than the favages themfelves. The principal perfons of Pafcataqua therefore readily united with their neigh- bours, in making application to the col- ony of Plymouth, which was of more force than all the reft, to put a ftop to this growing mifchief ; which they hap- pily effected by feizing Morton and fending him prifoner to England.
Brince's Annals.
1629
May 17.
Some of the fcattered planters in the Bay of Maffachufetts, being defirous of making a fettlement in the neighbour- hood of Pafcataqua, and following theex- ample of thofe at Plymouth, who had purchafed their lands of the Indians, which they confcientioufly thought necef- fary to give them a juft title, procured a general meeting of Indians, at Squamfco't falls, where they obtained a deed from Paffaconaway Sagamore of Penacook, Runnaawitt of Pantucket, Wahangnona- witt of Squamfcot, and Rowls of New- ichwannock : Wherein they exprefs their " defire to have the Englifh come and « fettle among them as among their coun- ' trymen in Maffachufetts, whereby they ' hope to be ftiengthened againft their ' enemies the Tarrateens ; and according- ' ly with the universal confent of their ' Subjects,
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
' Subjects, for what they deemed a valua- 1629.
' ble confideration in coats, fhirts and
' kettles, fell to John Whelewright of the ' Maffachufetts Bay, late of England, min-
' ifter of the gofpel, Auguftine Story (or ' Storer) Thomas Wight, William Went- ' worth, 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 Englifh miles into the woods ; " and from thence upon a ftrait line north- " eaft, 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 chan- " nel 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
* The NW' line here deferibed will end within the townfhip of Amherft ; and the NE line from thence will crof- the river Merri- mack about Amufkeeg falls ; and patting through Cheffer, Noi- tingham, Barrington and Rocheßer will Arike Newichwanneck rive: about ten alles above the Salmon falls.
12
HISTORY OF
1 629.
" of fhoals fo called." The conditions of this grant were, ' that Whelewright ' fhould within ten years, begin a plan- ' tation at Squamicot falls ; that other in- ' habitants fhould have the fame privile- ' ges 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 govern- ' ment of the Maffachufetts colony, until ' they fhould have a fettled government ' among themfelves ; that for each town- ' fhip there fhould be paid an annual ac- " knowledgement of " one coat of trucking " cloth," to Paffaconaway the chief Sag- ' amore or his fucceffors, and two bufh- ' els of Indian corn to Whelewright and ' his heirs. The Indians referved to them- ' felves free liberty of fifhing, fowling, ' hunting and planting within thefelimits.' The principal perfons of Pafcataqua and the province of Maine were witneffes to the fubfcribing of this inftrument, and giving poffeffion of the lands.
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