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 25
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But above all our menester lyes in prisson, and a fammin of the word of God cominge upon us. No public worship, no preachinge of the word, what ignoranse, profanes and misery must needes ensue ! By the premises you see what need there is you should be vigoros and speedy as you maye aboute your busness to doe what may be to the preventinge of uter ruin.
My imprisonment is a presente stop to the getinge what evedenses is needful, and it's like we shall not make anny further attempt here, but with what conveniente expedytyon will be done what is needful and necessary. Mr. Martin was sued at the courte in two actyones, one by Mr. Mason for fines and forfetures collected and received by him as treasurer from seven- ty nine to eighty two, and another actyon by the governor for fines, &c. .from April eighty two. He is caste in both actyones to the valew of a- bout seventy pounds, although hee pleded that what hee received was dis. posed by order of the authority which made him treasurer, and had as good comityon from his magestie as that was in beinge, neither did it legally
1 appeare that ether Mr. Masson or the governor have anny righte to fines and forfetures, the kinge appointinge all publicke money to be disposed or improved for the supporte of the government ; however it is but aske and have, there demands in any case have the force of an executyon.
10th. The sabbath is come but no prechinge at the Banke, por anny al- lowed to com to us ; we had noone but the fameley with us, the pore pe-
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ple wantinge for lake of bred. Motyones have been made that Mr. Moo- dy may goe up and prech on the Lord's daye, tho' hee com downe to prisson at night, or that naibor ministers might be permitted to con and prech, or that the peple might com downe to the prisson and here as ma- ny as could, but nothing will doc ; an unparraleled example amongst christians to have a menester putt oute and no other waye found to sup- ply his plase by one menes or other. Mr. Frier was severely threthed for refuseinge to subscribe Mr. Moody's commitment, but hath obtayned fairly a dismityon from all publike offices. Justis Edgerly also caishered, and bound over to the quarter sessiones. It is said that Justis Greene is much afflicted for what he has done, but Roby not. Peter Coffin can scarse show his hed in anny company *.
14th. Nuse came from the fourte at Casco that there was greate dan- ger of the Indyanes risinge, which hath occatyoned a meetinge of the counscil and some discourse, but here no more since and hope it may van- ish.
15th. Good Mrs. Martin was buried, being not able to live above one saboth after the shutting up the dores of the sanctuary. Somebody hath said that the imprisoninge of the minister is noone of his worke, hee did but constitute the courte, they did it themselves, tho' also hath said hee would have don it himselfe if they had not.
17th. Another sad saboth.
18th. Came Mr. Mason, Barefoot and secretary, with Thurton, who swore against mee a false oath, of which have inclosed a copia. Thurton said he was sent for on purpose to give in his testimony against mee ;-- they went away, and soon after came the inclosed mittimos directed to Mr. Raines hoo is shereff and marshal in Mr. Sheerlock's roome that have bin out of favor of late, tho' now it is said in favor but not in plase againe. Mr. Estwicke is also put oute of all offis. Noote, that when I wente to him for takeinge oathes, hee said all oathes should be taken be- fore the governor and counsell,but now could send to justises todoe it. We had for som nightes our key taken away from the chamber dore about 8 or 9 at nighte but have sinse left off that trade. Sowell of Exeter is ded. Severall overtures were made this week to John Partridge and William Cotten by Raines to come out of prisson hee giveinge them 3 monthes time to provide mony or anny other currante paye, tho' they tendered fish, planke, &c. before they ware put in, they refused to accept.
24th. This saboth our wives, children and servants came downe and spent the day with us in our chamber, and wee yet nere nothing said against it.
25th. The marshall goes and levies upon John the Greek's sheep and cattle for the exec. tyon, for which he had laine about three weeks in prisson, and then came and ordered him to goe about his busnesse, 15
" Mr. Moody in the church records remarks thus on his judges : " Not long after " Green repented and made his acknowledgement to the pastor who frank ly forgave him. " Robie was excommunicated out of Hampton church for a common drunkard and died " excommunicate, and was by his friends thrown into a hole near his house for fear of an " arrest of his carcase. Barefoote fell into a languishing distemper whereof he died .--- " Coffin was taken by the Indians, (at Cochecho 1689) his house and mill burnt, him-
" self not being slain but dismissed ; The Lord give him repentance, though no signs of " it have yet appeared."
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sheepe, sundry lambes, and two haifers sezed for six pounds od mony .--- This day also Mr. Jaffery having had sundery warnings the week before to clere his house becase Mr. Masson would com and take possession of it, wente never the les to the Banke upon busness ; mene while came Mr. Mason with the marshall and turned all his servants out of dores, set another locke on the dore, and at night when his servants came home wett they would not suffer them to com in, but there lodged Mathews and Thurton all nighte. Mr. Mason said while aboute his worke that he was sorry Wire had no more of this nuse to carry hoome with him.
The govenor haveinge sente to Mr. Cotton, that when he had prepa- red his soule hee would com and demand the sacrament of him as hee had done at Portsmouth alredy. Mr. Cotton the latter end of the weeke before laste went to Boston and has bin oute two Lord's days already ; all is well with yours there, soe far as I can learn, I cannot goe to sce else might have given them a visite.
One worde more about my busnes. I am under imprisonment aboute Thurton's busness, being seized by the marshall and comited when in prisson before for not giveinge bond for the good behaviour, tho' noth- inge charged upon me any more than before, which you well know. I know nothing but they intend to keep me here endlessly ; it's saide I muste paye one hundred pounds for strikeinge one of the king's oficers and must have my name returned into the exchequer and must lyc in prisson till the mony be paid and I am discharged from the exchequer. The designe you may esely see is to ruine mec, and how vaine my ples will be you may esely guesse. Tho' I have manny thinges to saie, viz. that Thurton was either no officer or at leste not knowne to be so, how- ever not sworne, nor did I strike him in the hyewaye as hee sweares, nor is there anny proofe but his own single testimony, which how far it av- ailes in such a case would be considered ; it's also worthy of inquire whether ever that law was intended for us, here beinge no customs to be gathered, no exchequer to be applied to, and therefore how these meth- ods can be observed is not intellegable. You may esely imagen how things will be if I am forsed to complye with there humors. Pray con- sult, consider, and see if somethinge may not be done to putt a stop to such arbetrary proseedings, a triall on the plase by indifferente uncon- serned judges and jurors if at leste there can anny such be found hoo will not be forsed into what some will have done, but I shall not need to in- struct you ; there you have better counsell than I can give you, and of your fedelyty to inquire and remitte by the firste what is needful on this accounte 1 doute not.
I have given you but a taste, wee that see it know more then can pos- sibly bee understood by those that only here ; in a word such is the huith of there heat und raidge that there is no livinge for us long in this condi- tyon. Butt wee hope God will bee seene in the mounte.
I should have inserted what fell oute after the disolvinge of the rebel !- yous assembly, there was discourse of constables, and instead of the free- men's chusinge as formerly they tooke a shorte and cheper course, and at the quarter sessions constables were chosen and to begin with Mr. Speker, he has the honner to be constable for Portsmouth, Capt. Gerrish, Lt. Nutter and John Woodman for Dover, Smith the cooper for Hamp- ton, John Foulsham at Exeter. Whether Mr. Speker shall serve or fine is not yet determined. And now I am spekinge of the general as- sembly, must hinte what was formerly forgotten, yz. that they convened
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on the Mondaye and the choice of the speker (there ould one) in words hily approved and hec complemented alamode. Then a bill was sente them downe (of which if I can get it being now in prisson shall inclose a copia) which they talked a littel of and then brake up for the nighte and wente up to the Banke to lodge (the tide serving very well to goe and com), the reporte of which highly disgusted, and the next morning the answer to the bill vehemently urged, which was in fine a negative .- Hereopon in a grete raidge telling them they had bin up to consult with Moody an uter enemy to church and coman welth with much of like na- ture, hee diosolved them, which was done on the Tuesdaye, after which hee came up to the Banke and gave order for a sacrament on the next Lord's daye as you have herd and since the assembly men pricked for constables.
By the premises you will see how the governor is makeinge good his word, he came for mony and mony he will gete, and if hee get it you know hoo must loose it, and how miserable muste our condityon quickly be if there be no remedy quickly provided. Hee contrives and cutts out work and finds evill instrewments to make it up, and these som among our- selves, Thus wee are cloven by our owne limbes.
28th. Sinse Mr. Jaffery was dispossessed, Raines offered him for five shillings per annum quit-rent to Mr. Mason, he should have his house againe, provided hee would owne him proprietor, but hee refuseinge it is saide hee shall never have it againe. The talke is that his house must be court-house and prisson booth, and standinge so nere the governor it is judged sutable for booth those ends, that hee may have the shorter jour- ney to courte and the prisoners may bee alwaies under his eye.
29th. John the Greeke haveinge laine som weekes in prisson upon ex- ecutyon, his goods haveinge been levied upon (as above), was by Raines locked oute of the prisson and bidden to be gon, but he would not, keepes his quarters still with the other two. This daye his goods was sold by the marshall and bought by Thurton.
Mr. Cotton is com bom from Boston. Grete offence taken here at a sermon hee preched in Boston on Acts xii. v. tho' plesinge to the hear- ers.
March 2d. This day Mr. Jeffery's goods were all turned oute of dores by the sheriff, &c. his man received and disposed of them. Againste Jaf- fery there are two oathes taken, single oathes, but beinge for the king will passe, and orders are given for warrants to apprehend him, he ap- peres not.
March 5. It is said that they are goinge this day to Major Waldrone's to serve bim as they have done Mr. Jaffery, and it is given oute that the reste will be treted in like manner; the courte was adjourned yesterdaye to the next month pbably that they might levey the executyons that are in Banke before they cutt oute anny more worke. Justis Greene seems something troubled for sendinge the menester to prisson, and saithe hee will never doe such a thinge againe, but Peter Coffin saithe it is a nine dayes wonder and will soon be forgotten, but others think otherwise. If they goc on thus wee are utterly ruined, must goc away or starve if at leste wee bee not so confined that we cannot goe away nether. I quest- yon whether annic aidge can parralell such actyones.
In my laste I sente you a letter to Sir JOSIAH CHILD my master, of which also you have another copia herewith. My designe is that you
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carry the letter yourselfe, waite on him while hee reades it, and if hee will plese to here you (as I hope hee maye) that you ampiytie matters, inform him what further intelligens you have and attende his directyou, if God move his hearte to doe ought for us. This daye the governor ยท sente us word by the marshall that wee must remove to Ar. Jafferey's house to morro, which house is made the prisson. Wee hope the nuse of the risinge of the Indyans will faule to nothinge.
Ditto. 5th. Thus far was sent you by the waye of Barbados. It fal- lowes. The governor did saie to a Salem man that Moody might goe out of the prisson, if hee would goe out of the proyinse, butt wee here no more sinse.
James Robinson under grete rauth and in much danger only for speak- ing something to Thurton (of his being a pitiful fello, &c.) while said Thurton was active in turning out Mr. Jaffery's gox s
6th. Matthews and Thurton hunted for Mr. Jaffery, searched in Mrs. Cutt's house, went into every room above and below staires, searched un der her bed where she lay sick in it but found him not. They carried it very rudely and basely in their worke. Matthews said he would caitch him or have his harte blud, but hee was not there. Mr. Jafferey's goods were c nie I to the o her side by nighte.
It is s .id that our imprisonment has much [alarmed ] the hoole coun- trey and made then more fond of their liberties. This nighte Matthews was beten at Mersore's (som fudlinge boute its like), but its made a mity thing on, saide to be a deepe plot, deeper than Gove's, managed by strong heds, and abundanse of that nature, and because the persons conserned ware under the infleweuse of Vaughan and Moody they should suffer for it, for not techinge thein better, Tho' we know no more of it than you, nor is their ought in it worth notis, but thus wee are treated. The gov- ernor wente up to the Banke and made grete inquiries aboute it. Capt. Pickeringe and others that ware in the fraic are bound over.
7th. They had six pounds five shillings of Obadia Mors by waye of cx ecutyon. Raines was discarded being put oute of beinge sheriffe, &c. tho' he had his comityon under the seale but the other daye. Matthews is made provost marshall (at leste) in his roome and Thurton marshall's deputy. Good bunds for such offises. Lord have mercy upon us. They had also cighiteen shillings from Sam Case, the reste is deferred, and he has put awave his goods and intends to remove or goc to prisson, and soe wee muste all.
11th. The Indyan nuse occatyoned an order to the trustecs to get aminityon, they came down and pleded their time was up, it was said you shall keepe in during my pleasure. They said they had no mony of the townes in their hands, nor could anny be raised withoute a general as- sembly. Then laye out your own mony or else woe to you ; and this they are faine to comply with.
Hee said and swore that if Masson would not acknowledge a judgment nexte courte of six hundred pounds, bce would take all his bushes from him and sew in his own name. Hee swore hee would turn oute that rooge Ellet who is as bad as anny other.
Mr. Waldron beinge sente for by warrant to com before the justices to take the constables oath, appered before Mr. Masson and Capt Bare- foct, but excuseinge it and giveinge good reason was dismissed upon pay- inge five pounds ; but poor Capt. Barefoote was most ferefully rutted af
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jur his labor, many oathes sworne that Waldron should either take the path or either take up with a goale. The next daye (tho' the justices hoose busnes it is, had fairely dismissed him ; he was convented againe, the oath tendered, hee thretned with a prisson immedyately, butt tould them hee knew the law better than soe, then they tooke his one bond to answer it at quarter sessiones and so far of that matter as yet. Another constable is chosen, viz. Capt. Pickeringe, tho' hee have as yet waved the oath, haveinge lately served in that place, and pieding his being bound to good behaviour for that laste fraye. He taulks much of friggets to scare the pore peple.
14th. Counsell sat and could not agree aboute raisinge mony, which hily provoked somebody. They said the general assembly only could raise mony.
The governor tould Mr. Jaffery's negro hee might goe from his mas- ter, hee would clere him under hande and sele, so the fello no more at-, tends his master's consernes.
15th. This day the secretary was in a grete raidge turned out of all his offises exepte secretary to the counsell, (an emptie name little profit) and the bookes sente for oute of his hands. Hee is much conserned and dejected.
I am credible informed and you may beleeve it, that the governor did in the open counsell yesterdaye saye and sware dredfully, that hee would put the provinces into the gretest confusion and distractyen hee could possible and then goe away and leve then soe, and then the devell take them all. Hee also then said that Mr. Misson said hee would drive them into a second rebellyon, but himselfe wound doc it before ; and I wonder he has not, such actings are the redy way, but God hath kepte us heth- erto and I hope they will do soe still. Hee also said and swore that anny person that should have anny manner of converse with us or anny of our mind, he would counte them as utter enemies and carry toward them as such.
17th. The governor haveinge formerly prohibited the prisoners from makeing shingles wente himselfe this day to the prisson and prohibited John Partridge from makeinge shoes, bad the marshall throw them into the sea.
This day Raines beinge not willinge to give up a warrante that he had executed chunringe the shorte time of beinge sheriffe, was sent for by the governor, and not apperinge, the governor came to his chamber and did bete him dredfully, and bad the marshall carry the rouge to gaile .- Hee remaines out of favour still. The governor also wente over to capt. Hooke's and got him to give warrants to the constables on the other side to serch all houses for Mr. Jaffery and bring him over, but they found him not, nor is he yet found, tho' proclamatyon was made at Wells cort, for his sesure tho' not yet done.
MARCH 18 This morninge came Matthews to our chamber and said the governor sente him to carry ince to the prisson, where I am where I still iy ; being put in only for Thurton's actyon and kepte in tho' I offered security to respond it. I think they have let fall the other aboute the good behaviour, seeinge they can make nothinge of it, and before my cominge in John the Greeke's bed, &c. was turned out of prisson and hee forsed away, whoo would not depart before.
21st. Mr. Martin came to discorse about the mony he was caste for,.
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which they have not yet levied upon him, but intend to laye it upon all the ould counsell equally that each maye bare his share ; at same time the governor tould Mr. Martin that hee would send his executyon. Said Mr. Martin, you know it is not my dew to paye the mony. No matter (said . he), I want mony and I will have it. But I have none, said hee ; then I will take your house. Hec added also to Mr. Martin, that hee was a church member and hee would watch him and all such, and be sure to paye them off if hee could caitch them.
22d. The sorrest storm and the hieste tide that ever was knowne. Ma- ny thousands of pounds damidge in Boston and much here. The bridge to the Grete Island broaken of in the middle to the grete joy of manny.
24th. The governor wente to Boston in Foxe's sloop, intending thense to New-Yorke, pretendinge to discorse Colonali Dungham and bringe downe two hundred Mohawkes to kill the estward Indyanes. What is at the botham or will be the isshuc God knowes. Hee had a could trete at Boston, staidd not a nighte in towne. Sinse his goipge we have had litt- tel nuse worthy of your notis, but all things have bin very quiet hith- erto.
I have not inlarged upon these particulars to my master CHILD, but if hee will take any notis of the thinge and be conserned about it hee will then give you opportunyty of discourseing him, and you may informe what is further neidful.
31st. This month passed oute and the other came in withoute anny noise, unles the grete joye that was at the Banke by Mr. Moodye's going up thither and my goinge onse or twise after with our keepers, by Mr. Masson's permityon who presides in the governor's absence ; but wee soone returned to the plase from whense wee came.
April 8. Nath. Fox who married Mrs. Stileman's dafter sente Mat- thews to arreste Capt. Stileman for his wifes portyon (tho' it was often ten- dered him in such paye as the courte ordered it, but he would have it in mony). Capt Stileman gave his own house and all that was in it for se- curity to answer the actyon, but Matthews bringinge Thurton with him at his instegaiyon, who was terrebly insolente, they arrested the wooman Mrs. Stileman and carried her to prisson with much violense and course usadge, tho' her husband had given security. Shee was carried in the evening. Capt. Stileman wrote to Mr. Masson, he protested against it and wrote to the marshall, it would not doc. Hec wente againe and Mr. Masson wroote againe, but to no purpose, they kept her there till the next morninge ; a thinge not to be paraleled in the English nation ! Complainte hath been made but no remedy. Abbot beinge up at the banke with mec Thurton took the key of the prisson, and when Abbot came would not permitt him to goe in, but turned him awayc. Brave doinges ! No tunge can tell the horrible imperyousness and domanereinge carridge of that wretch. The nexte morninge Mr. Masson (much a doc) got Mrs. Stile- man oute and the gaillor into his plase againe.
Mr. Masson gave leve for anny minister to com and pretch at the bank, so that wee got Mr. Phillops for two Lord's dayes, viz. 13 & 20th, have- inge bin nine Lord's dayes without a sermonc.
April 14th. Came HI. Greene to Mr. Moody's chamber and made a confession of his faulte and begged his pardon for putting him in prisson and saide hee would git him oute quarter sessiones, &c. Good words, butt .. Capt. Barefoote wente to the prisson and tould John Par-
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tridge that if hee would give an order to allow so much as his charges came to oute of what the provinces owed him about Gove, for the soul- dyers, &c. hee should come oute of prisson, and they would paye him the remainder, the hoole beinge about therty pounds, but hee was not forward leste hee should in so doinge quitt them of false imprissoninge him ; but if they would doe it themselves, stop so they mighte. Nothinge is done in it.
15th. Matthews and Thurton ware sente to Hamton to levie cx ccu- tyones and serve attachments and warne jewreymen for the courte in May.
They arrested seaven, among which Capten Shourborne one, warned the ould jewreymen, executed upon Wm. Sanborne, tooke foure oxen which ware redeemed by mony, drove away seven cowes from Nath. Batchelor, wente to your house, met your son Peter goinge with his four oxen into the woods, commanded him to turne the oxen hoome, he would not ; they cursed, swore, drew upon him, thretned to run him through, beete him, but he did not strike againe. They came to your house, ware shutt oute, your wife ferefully scared for ferc of her son who was oute with them. At length she lett them in, laid three pounds on the table which they tooke and then levied on severall young cattel but released and lefte them. Your son came hether to advise, but complaininge is bootless, such a dismal case are wee in. They tooke away two bedds from ould Perkins, but his son offered his person and they tooke it and quitted the other ; what more they did there wee as yet here not.
Capt. Gerish, John Woodman, Liften. Nutter and Nath. Batchelor are sworne constables.
17th. I wente to Mr. Masson at Capt. Barefoote's house and had sev- erall witnesses with mee, and desired him to take deposityones that I might sende them home, about my case and the reste of the cases, butt hee refused. The governor had putt mee in prisson when I asked him, and now in his absents the deputy governor denies to grant them. I hope this will be matter of juste complainte, that wee should be hindered from applyinge to his majesty for relefe under our oppressiones. You will have evidense of his denial sente home, sworne before som of the Baye magestrates : wee can doe no more unless the Baye should assiste us, which they are loath to doc and wee are loath to put them upon as mat- ters are surcomstansed with them ; but wee thinke it should be taken very hainously by all that love justis and willing to administer it, that his ma- gesties subjects should be thus treated. Surely they are afraid or asha- med of there actyones (and they may be boath) else they would not be so shye of having them knowne.
This is what offers here, what more neidfull coz Waldron will advise from Boston.
With dew respects remainc, Your assured friend and servant.
For MR. NATH. WIRE, in London.
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