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 13
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Sept. 8.
Original MISS in the files.
183
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
The danger was but imaginary, and the 1685. peace continued about four years.
Though Mafon'was hitherto difappointed 1686. in his views of recovering the inhabited part of the province, he endeavored to lay a foun- dation for realizing his claim to the wafte , lands. A purchafe having been made from the Indians, by Jonathan Tyng and nineteen others, of a tract of land on both fides the river Merrimack, fix miles in breadth, from Souhegan river to Winnipifeogee lake ; Ma- fon by deed confirmed the fame, referving to himfelf and his heirs the yearly rent of April 16. ten fhillings. This was called the million acre purchafe. About the fame time he. Douglas, vol. 1. p. farmed out to Hezekiah Ufher and his heirs, 419. the mines, minerals, and ores within the lim- May 15. its of New-Hampfhire, for the term of one thoufand years ; referving to himfelf one quarter part of the royal ores, and one fev- enteenth of the bafer forts ; and having put his affairs here in the beft order that the times would admit, he failed for England, to attend the hearing of Vaughan's appeal to the king.
Records of Deeds.
1
184
HISTORY OF
CH A P. IX.
The administration of Dudley as President, and Androsse as governor of New-England .- Mason's farther attempt -His disappointment and death .- Revolution,-Sale to Allen .- His commission for the government.
HEN an arbitrary government is determined to infringe the liberty of the people, it is eafy to find pretences to fupport the moft unrighteous claims. King Charles the fecond in the latter part of his reign was making large ftrides toward defpotifm. Char- ters, which obftructed his pernicious views, were by a perverfion of the law decreed for- feited. The city of London, and moft of the corporations in England, either fuffered the execution of thefe fentences, or tamely fur- rendered their franchifes to the all-grafping hand of power. It could not be expected that in this general wreck of privileges the colonies of New-England could efcape. The people of Maffachufetts had long been view- ed with a jealous eye. Though the king had repeatedly affured them of his protection, and folemnly confirmed their charter privileges ; yet their fpirit and principles were fo totally diffonant to the corrupt views of the court, that intriguing men found eafy accefs to the royal ear, with complaints againft them. Of thefe the moft inveterate and indefatigable was Randolph, who made no lefs than eight voyages in nine years acrof's the Atlantic, on this mifchievous bufinefs. They were ac- cufed of extending their jurifdiction beyond the bounds of their patent ; of invading the
Hutch. col. pap. page 377.
Hutch. vol. 1. page 329.
185
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
prerogative by coining money ; of not al- lowing appeals to the king from their courts ; and, of obftructing the execution of the nav- igation and trade laws. By the king's com- mand agents were fent over to anfwer to thefe complaints. They found the prejudice a- gainft the colony fo ftrong, that it was in vain to withitand it ; and folicited inftruc- tions whether to fubmit to the king's pleafure, or to let the proceedings againft them be if- fued in form of law. A folemn confultation being held, at which the clergy affifted, it was determined " to die by the hands of others " rather than by their own." Upon notice of this, the agents quitted England; and Randolph, as the angel of death foon follow- ed them, bringing a writ of quo warranto from the king's bench ; but the fcire facias which iffued from the chancery did not ar- rive till the time fixed for their appearance was elapfed : This however was deemed too trivial an error to ftop the proceedings ; judg- ment was entered againft them, and the char- ter declared forfeited.
The king died before a new form of gov- 1685. ernment was fettled ; but there could be no Feb. 0. hope of favor from his fucceffor, who inher- ited the arbitrary principles of his brother, and was publicly known to be a bigoted papift.
The intended alteration in the government was introduced in the fame gradual manner as it had been in New-Hampshire. A com- miffion was iffued, in which Jofeph Dudley, efquire, was appointed prefident of his maj- efty's territory and dominion of New-Eng- land ; William Stoughton, deputy prefident ;
1683. October.
186
HISTORY OF
1685. Simon Bradftreet, Robert Mafon, John Fitz Winthrop, John Pynchon, Peter Bulkley, Edward Randolph, Wait Winthrop, Richard Warton, John Ufher, Nathaniel Saltonftall, Bartholomew Gedney, Jonathan Tyng, Dud- ley Bradftreet, John Hinckes, and Edward Tyng, counfellors. Their jurifdiction ex- tended over Maffachufetts, New-Hampfhire, Maine and the Narrhaganfet or King's prov- ince. Thefe gentlemen were moftly natives of the country, fome of them had been mag- iftrates, and one of them governor under the charter. No houfe of deputies was mention- ed in the commiffion.
I686.
The new form of government took place on the twenty fifth day of May ; and on the tenth of June an order of council was iffued for fettling the county courts, which confift- ed of fuch members of the council as refided in each county, and any others of them who might be prefent ; with fuch juftices as were commiffioned for the purpofc. Thefe courts had the power of trying and iffuing all civil caufes, and all criminal matters under life or limb ; from them an appeal was allowed to a fuperior court held three times in the year at Bofton, for the whole territory ; and from thence appeals, in certain cafes, might be had to the king in council. Juries were pricked by the marfhal and one juftice of each coun- ty, in a lift given them by the felectmen of the towns. A probate court was held at Bofton, by the prefident, and "in the other " provinces and remote counties" by a judge and clerk appointed by the prefident. The territory was divided into four counties, viz. Suffolk, Middlefex, Effex and Hampfhire ;
Julian
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
and three provinces, viz. New-Hampfhire, 1686. Maine, and King's province. By another Or- Printed or- ders in the
der of the fame date, town-taxes could not be files. affeffed but by allowance of two juftices ; and the members of the council were exempt- ed from paying any part thereof.
-
Things were conducted with tolerable de- cency, and the innovations were rendered as little grievous as poffible ; that the people might be induced more readily to fubmit to the long meditated introduction of a gover- nor-general.
Dec. 30.
In December following, Sir Edmund An- droffe who had been governor of New-York, arrived at Bofton with a commiffion, appoint- ing him captain-general and governor in chief of the territory and dominion of New- England, in which the colony of Plymouth was now included. By this commiffion, the governor with his council, five of whom were a quorum, were impowered to make fuch laws, impofe fuch taxes, and apply them to fuch purpofes as they fhould think proper. They were alfo empowered to grant lands on fuch terms, and fubject to fuch quit-rents, as of the Com- MS Copy fhould be appointed by the king. Invefted mission. with fuch powers, thefe men were capable of the moft extravagant actions. Though An- droffe, like his mafter, began his adminiftra- tion with the faireft profeffions, yet like him, he foon violated them, and proved himfelf a fit inftrument for accomplifhing the moft exe- crable defigns. Thofe of his council who were backward in aiding his rapacious intentions were neglected. Seven being fufficient for a full board, he felected fuch only as were de- yoted to him, and with their concurrence did.
£
188
HISTORY OF
1686.
Hutchin. vol. 1. p. 344. Collect. pap. p. 564.
what he pleafed. Randolph and Mafon were at firft among his confidants ; but afterward when New-York was annexed to his govern- ment, the members from that quarter were moft in his favour.
1687.
To particularize the many inftances of ty- ranny and oppreffion which the country fuf- fered from thefe men, is not within the de- fign of this work. Let it fuffice to obferve, that the prefs was reitrained ; liberty of con- fcience infringed ; exorbitant fees and taxes demanded, without the voice or confent of the people, who had no privilege of reprefen- tation. The charter being vacated, it was pretended that all titles to land were annul- led ; and as to Indian deeds, Androffe declar- ed them no better than "the fcratch of a
Revolution in New- England justified, p. 21.
I. Mather's Ife, p 107.
bear's paw." Landholders were obliged to: take out patents for their eftates which they had poifeffed forty or fifty years ; for thefe patents extravagant fees were exacted, and thofe who would not fubmit to this impofi- tion had writs of intrufion brought againft them, and their land patented to others. To hinder the people from confulting about the redrefs of their grievances, town-meetings were prohibited, except one in the month of May for the choice of town officers ; and to prevent complaints being carried to England, no perfon was permitted to go out of the country without exprefs leave from the gov- ernor, But notwithftanding all the vigilance of the governor, his emiffaries and his guards, the refolute and indefatigable Increafe Math- er, minifter of the fecond church in Bofton, and prefident of the college, got on board a. fhip and failed for England, with complaints
189
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
in the name of the people againft the gover- 1687. nor, which he delivered with his own hand to the king ; but finding no hope of redrefs, he waited the event of the revolution which was then expected.
1688.
When the people groaned under fo many real grievances, it is no wonder that their fears and jealoufies fuggefted fome that were im- aginary. They believed Androffe to be a pa- pift ; that he had hired the Indians, and fup- plied them with ammunition to deftroy their frontier fettlements ; and that he was prepar- justified, F: Revolution ing to betray the country into the hands of 29, 40. the French. At the fame time, the large ftrides that King James the fecond was mak- ing toward the eftablifhment of popery and defpotifm, raifed the moft terrible apprehen- fions ; fo that the report of the landing of the Prince of Orange in England was received here with the greateft joy. Androffe was fo alarmed at the news, that he imprifoned the man who brought a copy of the prince's de- claration, and publifhed a proclamation com- manding all perfons to be in readinefs to op- pofe "any invafion from Holland," which met with as much difregard as one he had if- fued before, appointing a day of thankfgiv . ing for the birth of a Prince of Wales.
The people had now borne thefe innova- tions and impofitions for about three years : Their patience was worn out, and their na- tive love of freedom kindled at the profpect of deliverance. The news of a complete revo- lution in England had not reached them ; yet fo fanguine were their expectations, fo eager were they to prove that they were animated by the fame ipirit with their brethren at home,
1689.
一
190
HISTORY OF
1689. that upon the rumour of an intended maffa. cre in the town of Bofton by the governor's guards, they were wrought up to a degree of fury. On the morning of the eighteenth of April the town was in arms, and the country flocking in to their affiftance. The governor, and thofe who had fled with him to the fort, were feized and committed to prifon. The gentlemen who had been magiftrates under the charter, with Bradftreet, the late gover- nor, at their head, affumed the name of a council of fafety, and kept up a form of gov- ernment, in the exigency of affairs, till or- ders arrived from England ; when Androffe and his accomplices were fent home as prif- oners of ftate, to be difpofed of according to the king's pleafure.
The people of New-Hampfhire had their fhare of fufferings under this rapacious ad- miniftration ; and Mafon himfelf did not efcape. Having attended the hearing of- Vaughan's appeal to the king which was de- cided in Mafon's favour ; the judgment ob- tained here, being affirmed ; and having now the faireft profpect of realizi. ; his claim, he returned hither in the fpring of 1687, but found his views obftructed in a manner which he little expected. The government was in the hands of a fet of hungry harpies, who looked with envy on the large fhare of territory which Mafon claimed, and were for parceling it out among themfelves. The new judges delayed iffuing executions on the judgments which he had formerly recovered, and the attorney-general, Graham, would not allow that he had power to grant lands by leafes. This confirmed the people in
Nov. 6, 1686.
Hutchin. Col. papers, p. 564.
.
1
191
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
their opinion of the invalidity of his claim, 1689. and rendered them (if poffible) more averfe from him than ever they had been. At length, MS in Sup however, he obtained from Dudley the chief Court files juftice, a writ of certiorari, directed to the late judges of New-Hampfhire, by which his caufes were to be removed to the fupreme July 18. court of the whole territory, then held at 1688. Bofton ; but before this could be done, death put an end to his hopes and relieved the peo- ple for a time of their fears. Being one of Aug. or Sir Edmund's council, and attending him on a journey from New-York to Albany ; he di- Hutchin. ed at Efopus, in the fifty ninth year of his 865. vol. 1, p. age ; leaving two fons, John and Robert, the Collect. heirs of his claim and controverfy. papers, p. 566.
Sept. 1688.
The revolution at Bofton, though extreme- ly pleafing to the people of New-Hampfhire, left them in an unfettled ftate. They waited the arrival of orders from England ; but none arriving, and the people's minds being un- eafy, it was propofed by fome of the princi- pal gentlemen, that a convention of deputies from each of the towns fhould confider what was beft to be done. The convention-par- liament in England was a fufficient precedent to authorize this proceeding. Deputies were accordingly chofen* and inftructed to refolve
The members of this convention were,
For Portsmouth.
John Tuttle,
Major William Vaughan,
John Roberts,
Richard Waldron,
Thomas Edgerly,
Nathaniel Fryer,
Nicholas Follet. For Exeter.
Robert Eliot,
Thomas Cobbett,
Robert Wadley,
Capt. John Pickering. For Dover.
Samuel Leavitt.
Capt. John Woodman,
[Portsmouth, Dover and Exeter Records.]
Capt. John Gerrish,
William More,
It does not appear from Hampton records whether they joined in this con- tention, or returned immediately to the government of Massachusetts.
192
HISTORY OF
1690.
January. Massa. Rec. Portsmou.
upon fome method of government. At their firft meeting they came to no conclufion ; but afterward they thought it beft to return to
Dover and their ancient union with Maffachufetts, A Exeter Re- cords. petition for this purpofe being prefented, they were readily admitted ; till the king's pleaf- March 12. ure fhould be known and members were fent to the general court which met there in this and the two following years. The gentlemen who had formerly been in commiffion for the peace, the militia and the civil offices, were by town votes, approved by the general court, reftored to their places, and ancient laws and cuftoms continued to be obferved.
1691.
Had the inclination of the people been confulted, they would gladly have been an-
I. Mather's
life, page 136.
Hutchin.
vol. 1, p. 412.
April 27.
nexed to that government. This was well known to Mather and the other agents, who when foliciting for a new charter, earneftly requefted that New-Hampfhire might be in- cluded in it. But it was anfwered that the people had expreffed an averfion from it and defired to be under a diftinct government. This could be founded only on the reports which had been made by the commiffioners in 1665, and by Randolph in his narrative. The true reafon for denying the requeft was ; that Mafon's two heirs had fold their title to the lands in New-Hampfhire to Samuel Al- len of London, merchant ; for feven hundred and fifty pounds, the entail having been pre- MS in Sup. vioufly docked by a fine and recovery in the Court files. court of king's bench ; and Allen was now foliciting a recognition of his title from the crown, and a commiffion for the government of the province. When the inhabitants were informed of what was doing, they again af-
1
193
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
fembled by deputies in convention, and fent 1691. over a petition to the king, praying that they might be annexed to Maffachufetts. The pe- tition was prefented by Sir Henry Afhurft, and they were amufed with fome equivocal promifes of fuccefs by the earl of Notting- vol. 2. p. 6. Hutchinson ham ; but Allen's importunity coinciding with the king's inclination, effectually fruf- trated their attempt. The claim which Al- len had to the lands from Naumkeag to three miles northward of Merrimack, was noticed 1692. March 1. in the Maffachufetts charter ; and he obtain- ed a commiffion for the government of New- Hampfhire, in which his fon in law John Ufher, then in London, was appointed lieu- tenant governor, with power to execute the commiffion in Allen's abfence. The counfel- lors named in the governor's inftructions were John Ufher, lieutenant governor, John Hinckes, Nathaniel Fryer, Thomas Graffort, Peter Coffin, Henry Green, Robert Eliot, John Gerrifh, John Walford and John Love. The governor was inftructed to fend to the fecretary of ftate the names of fix other perfons fuitable for counfellors. Three were a quo- rum, but the inftructions were that nothing fhould be done unlefs five were prefent ex- cept in extraordinary emergencies. Major Vaughan, Nathaniel Weare and Richard MS Copy Waldron were afterward added to the number.
The council was compofed of men who, in general, had the confidence of the people ; but Ufher was very difagreeable, not only as he had an intereft in Allen's claim to the lands, but as he had been one of Sir Edmund.
1
of Com. &c: Council minutes ..
A
1
194
HISTORY OF
Council minutes.
1692. Androffe's adherents, and an active inftru- ment in the late oppreffive government. He arrived with the commiffion and took upon him the command, on the thirteenth day of Auguft. The people again fubmitted, with extreme reluctance, to the unavoidable necef- fity of being under a government diftinct from Maffachufetts.
The year 1692 was remarkable for a great mortality in Portfmouth and Greenland by the fmall pox. The infection was brought in bags of cotton from the Weft-Indies, and there being but few people who were ac- MS Letter. quainted with it, the patients fuffered great- ly, and but few recovered. -
195
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CH A. P. X .. read:
The war with the French and Indians, commonly called King William's war.
IT was the misfortune of this country to have enemies of different kinds to contend with at the fame time. While the changes above related were taking place in their government, a frefh war broke out on their frontiers, which, though afcribed to divers caufes, was really kindled by the rafh- nefs of the fame perfons who were making havock of their liberties.
The lands from Penobfcot to Nova-Scotia had been ceded to the French, by the treaty of Breda, in exchange for the ifland of St. Chriftopher. On thefe lands the Baron de coll. pap. Hutchin. St. Caftine had for many years refided, and p. 54% carried on a large trade with the Indians ; with whom he was intimately connected ; having feveral of their women, befide a daugh- ter of the fachem Madokawando, for his wives. The lands which had been granted by the crown of England to the duke of York (now King James the fecond) interfer- ed with Caftine's plantation, as the duke claimed to the river St. Croix. A fort had been built by his order at Pemaquid, and a garrifon ftationed there to prevent any intru- fion on his property. In 1686 a fhip belong- ing to Pafcataqua landed fome wines at Pe- nobfcot, fuppofing it to be within the French territory. Palmer and Weft, the duke's agents af Pemaquid, went and feized the wines ;
L
النار
196
HISTORY OF
1688.
Hutchin. coll. pap. p. 562.
but by the influence of the French ambaffa- dor in England, an order was obtained for the reftoration of them. Hereupon a new line was run which took Caftine's plantation into the duke's territory. In the fpring of 1688, Androffe went in the Rofe frigate, and plundered Caftine's houfe and fort ; leaving only the Ornaments of his chapel to confole him for the lofs of his arms and goods. This bafe action provoked Caftine to excite the Indians to a new war, pretences for which were not wanting on their part. They complained that the tribute of corn which had been promifed by the treaty of 1678, had boon withheld ; that the fifhery of the river Saco had been obftructed by feines ; that their fandting corn had been devoured by cattle belonging to the Englifh ; that their lands at Pemaquid had been patented with- sout their confent; and that they had been Ifraudulently dealt with in trade. Some of :thefe complaints were doubtlefs well ground- ¿ed; but none of them were ever enquired ihto orsredtreffed.s .: ai :
cil They began to make reprifals at North WYarmouth by killing cattle. Juftice Black- man ordored fixteen of them to be feized and kept under guard at Falmouth ; but others continued to rob and captivate the inhabi- tants. Androffe, who pretended to treat the Indians with mildnefs, commanded thofc whom Blackman had feized to be fet at lib- erty. But this mildnefs had not the defired effect ; the Indians kept their prifoners, and murdered fome of them in their barbarous frolicks. Androffe then changed his meaf- nres, and thought to frighten them, with an
-
197
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
army of feven hundred men, which he led 1688. into their country in the month of Novem- ber. The rigor of the feafon proved fatal to fome of his men ; but he never faw an In- dian in his whole march. The enemy were quiet during the winter.
After the revolution, the gentlemen who 1689. affumed the government took fome precau- tions to prevent the renewal of hoftilities. They fent meffengers and prefents to feveral tribes of Indians, who anfwered them with fair promifes ; but their prejudice againft the Englifh was too inveterate to be allayed by fuch means as thefe.
Hutchinson Neal and Mather.
4,9:Thirteen years had almoft elapfed fince the feizure of the four hundred Indians, at Co- checho, by Major Waldron ; during all which time an inextinguifhable thirft of revenge had been cherifhed among them, which nev- fer till now found opportunity for gratifica- tion *. Wonolanfet, one of the fachems of "Penacook, who was difmiffed with his people at the time of the feizure, always obferved his father's dying charge not to quarrel with the Englifh ; but Hagkins, another fachem, who had been treated with neglect by Cran- field, was more ready to liften to the feduc- ing invitations of Caftine's emiffaries. Some of thofe Indians, who were then feized and fold into flavery abroad, had found their way home, and could not reft till they had revenge. Accordingly a confederacy being formed be-
* The inveteracy of their hatred to Major Waldron on account of that transaction, appears from what is related by Mr. Williams in the narrative of his captivity, which happened in 1704. When he was in Canada, a jesu- it discoursing with him on the causes of their wars with New-England, " justified the Indians in what they did against us ; rehearsing some things "done by Major Waldron above 30 years ago, and how justly God retaliated " them." Page 18.
.198
HISTORY OF
1689. tween the tribes of Penacook and Pigwacker, and the ftrange Indians (as they were called) who were incorporated with them, it was de- termined to furprife the major and his neigh- bours, among whom they had all this time been peaceably converfant.
In that part of the town of Dover which lies about the firft falls in the river Cochecho, were five garrifoned houfes ; three on the North fide, viz. Waldron's Otis' and Heard's ; and two on the fouth fide, viz. Peter Coffin's and his fon's. Thefe houfes were furround- ed with timber-walls, the gates of which, as well as the houfe doors, were fecured with bolts and bars. The neighbouring families retired to thefe houfes by night ; but by ian .unaccountable negligence, no watch was kept. The Indians who were daily paffing through the town vifiting and trading with the in- habitants, as ufual in time of peace, viewed their fituation with an attentive eye. Some hints of a mifchievous defign had been given out by their fquaws ; but in fuch dark and ambiguous terms that no one could compre- hend their meaning. Some of the people -were uneafy ; but Waldron who, from a long courfe of experience, was intimately acquaint- ed with the Indians, and on other occafions had been ready enough to fufpect them, was now fo thoroughly fecure, that when fome of the people hinted their fears to him, he mer- rily bad them to go and plant their pump- kins, faying that he would tell them when the Indians would break out. The very evening before the mifchief was done, being told by a young man that the town was full of Indians and the people were much con-
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