USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 16
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1697-
1698.
1699. J Januar. 7.
Mag. lib. 7. P· 94.
282
HISTORY OF
females, were detained ; who, mingling with the Indians, contributed to a fuccef- fion of enemies in future wars againft their own country.
A general view of an Indian war will give a juft idea of thefe diftreffing times, and be a proper clofe to this narration.
The Indians were feldom or never feen before they did execution. They appear- ed not in the open field, nor gave proofs of a truly mafculine courage ; but did their exploits by furprize, chiefly in the morn- ing, keeping themfelves hid behind logs and bufhes, near the paths in the woods, or the fences contiguous to the doors of houfes ; and their lurking holes could be known only by the report of their guns, which was indeed but feeble, as they were fparing of ammunition, and as near as poffible to their object before they fired. They rarely affaulted an houfe unlefs they knew there would be but little refiftance, and it has been afterward known that they have lain in ambufh for days together, watching the motions of the people at their work, without daring to difcover themfelves. One of their chiefs who had got a woman's riding-hood among his plunder would put it on, in an evening, and walk into the ftreets of Portfmouth,
looking
1699. Hutchin. vol. 2. p.
283
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
looking into the windows of houfes and liftening to the converfation of the people.
Their cruelty was chiefly exercifed upon children, and fuch aged, infirm, or cor- pulent perfons as could not bear the hard- fhips of a journey through the wildernefs. If they took a woman far advanced in pregnancy their knives were plunged into her bowels. An infant when it became troublefome had its brains dafhed out a- gainft the next tree or ftone. Sometimes to torment the wretched mother, they would whip and beat the child till almoft dead, or hold it under water till its breath was juft gone, and then throw it to her to comfort and quiet it. If the mother could not readily ftill its weeping, the hatchet was buried in its fkull. A captive weari- ed with a burden laid on his fhoulders was often fent to reft the fame way. If any one proved refractory, or was known to have been inftrumental of the death of an Indian, or related to one who had been fo, he was tortured with a lingering punifh- ment, generally at the ftake, whilft the other captives were infulted with the fight of his miferies. Sometimes a fire would be kindled and a threatening given out againft one or more, though there was no intention of facrificing them, only to make fport
2.84
HISTORY OF
fport of their terrors. The young Indians often finalized their cruelty in treat- ing captives inhumanly out of fight of the elder, and when inquiry was made into the matter, the infulted captive muft either be filent or put the beft face on it, to pre- vent worfe treatment for the future. If a captive appeared fad and dejected he was fure to meet with infult ; but if he could fing and dance and laugh with his mafters, he, was careffed as a brother. They had a firong averfion to negroes, and generally killed them when they fell into their hands.
Famine was a common attendant on thefe doleful captivities ; the Indians when they caught any game devoured it all at one fitting, and then girding themfelves round the waift, travelled without fuften- ance till chance threw more in their way. 'The captives, unufed to fuch canine re- pafts and abftinances, could not fupport the furfeit of the one nor the craving of the other. A change of mafters, though it fometimes proved a relief from mifery, yet rendered the profpect of a return to their home more diftant. If an Indian had loft a relative, a prifoner bought for a gun, a hatchet, or a few fkins, muft fupply the place of the deceafed, and be the father, brother, or fon of the purchafer ; and thofe who
285
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
who could accommodate themfelves to fuch barbarous adoption, were treated with the fame kindnefs as the perfons in whofe place they were fubftituted. A fale among the French of Canada was the moft hap- py event to a captive, efpecially if he be- came a fervant in a family ; though fome- times even there a prifon was their lot, till opportunity prefented for their redemp- tion ; whilft the priefts employed every fe- ducing art to pervert them to the popith religion, and induce them to abandon their country. Thefe circumftances, joined with the more obvious hardfhips of travelling half naked and barefoot through pathlefs defarts, over craggy mountains and deep fwamps, through froft, rain and fnow, expofed by day and night to the inclemency of the weather, and in fummer to the ven- omous ftings of thofe numberlefs infects with which the woods abound ; the reft- lefs anxiety of mind, the retrofpect of paft fcenes of pleafure, the remembrance of diftant friends, the bereavements experi- enced at the beginning or during the pro- grefs of the captivity, and the daily ap -. prehenfion of death either by famine or the favage enemy ; thefe were the horrors of an Indian captivity.
On
286
HISTORY OF
On the other hand, it muft be acknow- ledged that there have been inftances of juftice, generofity and tendernefs during thefe wars, which would have done honor to a civilized people. A kindnefs fhewn to an Indian was remembered as long as an injury ; and perfons have had their lives fpared for acts of humanity done to the anceftors of thofe Indians into whofe hands they have fallen *. They would fometimes " carry children on their arms and fhoul- " ders, feed their prifoners with the beft " of their provision, and pinch themfelves " rather than their captives fhould want " food." When fick or wounded they would afford them proper means for their recovery, which they were very well able to do by their knowledge of fimples. In thus preferving the lives and health of their prifoners, they doubtlefs had a view of gain. But the moft remarkably fa- vourable circumftance in an Indian captiv- ity, was their decent behaviour to women. I have never read, nor heard, nor could find by inquiry, that any woman who fell into
+ Several initances to this purpose have been cceafionally mer .- tioned in the courfe of this narrative. The following additional one is taken from Capt. Hammond's MS Journal. " April 13, " 1677. The Indians Simon, Andrew and Peter burnt the houfe " of Edward Weymouth at Sturgeon creek. They plundered the " houfe of one Crawley but did not kill him, because of fome kind- " neffes done to Simon's grandmother.
287
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
into their hands was ever treated with the leaft immodefty ; but teftimonies to the contrary are very frequent *. Whether this negative virtue is to be afcribed to a natural frigidity of conftitution, let phi- lofophers inquire : The fact is certain ; and it was a moft happy circumftance for our female captives, that in the midft of all their diftreffes, they had no reafon to fear from a favage foe, the perpetration of a crime, which has too frequently dif- graced, not only the perfonal, but the na- tional character of thofe, who make large pretences to civilization and humanity.
* Mary Rowlandfon who was captured at Lancafter, in 1675, has this paffage in her narrative, (p. 55.) "I have been in the midft of thefe roaring lions and favage bears, that fearel neither God nor man nor the devil, by day and night, alone and in con- pany ; fleeping all forts together, and yet not one of them ever offered me the leaft abule of unchaftity in word or aftion."
Elizabeth Hanfon who was taken from Dover in 1-24, teflifies in her narrative, (p. 23.) that " the Indians are very civil toward their captive women, not offering any incivility by any indecent carriage."
William Fleming, who was taken in Pennfylvania, in 1735, fays the Indians told him " he need not be afraid of their abusing his wife, for they would not do it, for fear of offenling their God (pointing their hands toward heaven; wfor the man that affron s his God will furely be killed when he goes to war." He Farther fays, that one of them gave his wife a fait and petticoat which he had among his plunder, and though he was alone with her, yet '. he turned his back, and went to fome diftance whilst fle puc them on." (p. 10.)
Charlevoix in his account of the Indians of Cinala, favs, liette- ; ) " There is no example that any have ever taken che leatt 1 .. berty with the French wwinen, even when they were their pri- forers. "
CHAP.
188
HISTORY OF
CHA P. XI.
The civil affairs of the province during the adminiftrations of Ujher, Partridge, Allen, the Earlof Bellamount and Dudley, comprehending the whole controverfy with Allen and his heirs.
J OHN Ufher, Efquire, was a native of Bofton, and by profeffion a ftationer. He was poffeffed of an handfome fortune, and fuftained a fair character in trade. He had been employed by the Maffachufetts government, when in England, to nego- ciate the purchafe of the province of Maine, from the heirs of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and had thereby got a tafte for fpeculating in landed intereft. He was one of the partners in the million purchafe, and had fanguine expectations of gain from that quarter. He had rendered himfelf unpop- ular among his countrymen, by accepting the office of treafurer, under Sir Edmund Androffe, and joining with apparent zeal in the meafures of that adminiftration, and he continued a friendly connexion with that party, after they were difplaced.
Ufher's papers.
Though not illnatured, but rather of an open and generous difpofition, yet he wanted
C
Province files.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
wanted thofe accomplifhments which he might haveacquired by a learned and polite education. He had but little of the ftatef- man, and lefs of the courtier. Inftead of an engaging affability he affected a feveri- ty in his deportment, was loud in conver- fation, and ftern in command. Fond of prefiding in government, he frequently journied into the province, (though his refidence was at Bofton, where he carried on his bufinefs as ufual,) and often fum- moned the council when he had little or nothing to lay before them. He gave or- ders, and found fault like one who felt himfelf independent, and was determined to be obeyed. He had an high idea of his authority and the dignity of his com- miffion, and when oppofed and infulted, as he fometimes was, he treated the of- fenders with a feverity which he would not relax till he had brought them to fub- miffion. His public fpecches were al- ways incorrect, and fometimes coarfe and reproachful.
He feems, however, to have taken as much care for the intereft and prefervation of the province as one in his circumftanc- es could have done. He began his ad- miniftration in the height of a war which greatly diftreffed and impoverifhed the
country .
HISTORY OF
country, yet his views from the beginning were lucrative *. The people perceived thefe views, and were aware of the danger. The transfer of the title from Mafon to Allen was only a change of names : They expected a repetition of the fame difficul- ties under a new claimant. After the op- pofition they had hitherto made, it could not be thought ftrange that men whofe pulfe beat high for freedom, fhould refufe to fubmit to vaffalage ; nor, whilft they were on one fide defending their poffeffions againft a favage enemy, could it be ex- pected, that on the other, they fhould tamely fuffer the intrufion of a landlord. Ufher's intereft was united with theirs in providing for the defence of the country, and contending with the enemy ; but when the propriety of the foil was in quef- tion, they ftood on oppofite fides ; and as both thefe controverfies were carried on at the fame time, the conduct of the pco- ple toward him varied according to the exigency
¥ In a letter to George Dorrington and John Taylor in London, nie writes thus ; " Jan. 29, 1692-3. In cafe yourfelves are concern- "ed in the province of New- Hampthire, with prudent manage - "ment it may be worth money, the people only pying 4d and " 21 per acre. The reafon why the commonalty of the people do " not agree is because 3 or 4 of the great landed men difluade " them from it. The people have petitioned the king to be an- " nexed to Bolton government, but it will not be fæ the propri :- " tor's interett to admit of that unless the king falls a gene;y: " governor over all. "
291
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
exigency of the cafe ; they fometimes vot- ed him thanks for his fervices, and at other times complained of his abufing and op- preffing them.
Some of them would have been content to have held their eftates under Allen's title+, but the greater part, including the principal men were refolved to oppofe it to the laft extremity. They had an aver- fion not only to the proprietary claim on their lands, but their feparation from the Maffachufetts government, underwhich they had formerly enjoyed fo much free- dom and peace. They had petitioned to be re-annexed to them, at the time of the revolution ; and they were always very fond of applying to them for help in their difficulties, that it might appear how un- able they were to fubfift alone. They knew alfo that the Maffachufetts people were as averfe as themfelves to Allen's claim, which extended to a great part of their lands, and was particularly noticed in their new charter.
Soon after Ufher's arrival, he made en- quiry for the papers which contained the tranfactions relative to Mafon's fuits. Du- xing the fufpenfion of government in 1 699, U 2 Captain
+ " I have 40 hands in Eveter who defre to take patents fc: "ands tror you, and master other town ."
Withmy to Allra. Office 160;
292
HISTORY OF
Captain John Pickering, a man of a rough and adventurous fpirit, and a lawyer, had gone with a company of armed men to the houfe of Chamberlayne, the late fecre- tary and clerk, and demanded the records and files which were in his poffeffion. Chamberlayne refufed to deliver them without fome legal warrant or fecurity ; but Pickering took them by force, and conveyed them over the river to Kittery. Pickering was fummoned before the gov- ernor, threatened and imprifoned, but for fometime would neither deliver the books, nor difcover the place of their conceal- ment, unlefs by order of the affembly and to fome perfon by them appointed to re- ceive them. At length, however, he was conftrained to deliver them, and they were put into the hands of the fecretary, by the lieutenant-governor's order.
Another favourite point with Uther was to have the boundary between New- Hampfhire and Maffachufetts afcertained : There were reafons which induced fome of the people to fall in with this defire. The general idea was, that New-Hampfhire began at the end of three miles north of the river Merrimack ; which imaginary line was alfo the boundary of the adjoin- ing townfhips on cach fide. The people who
1693.
293
NEWHAMPSHIRE.
who lived, and owned lands near thefe li- mits, pretended to belong to either pro- vince, as beft fuited their conveniency ; which caufed a difficulty in the collecting of taxes, and cutting of timber. The town of Hampton was fenfibly affected with thefe difficulties, and petitioned the council that the line might be run. The council ap- pointed a committee of Hampton men to do it, and gave notice to Maffachufetts of their intention ; defiring them to join in the affair. They difliked it and declin- ed to act. Upon which the lieutenant- governor and council of New-Hampfhire caufed the boundary line to be run from the fea-thore three miles northward of Merrimack, and parallel to the river, as far as any fettlements had been made, or lands occupied.
The only attempt made to extend the fettlement of the lands during thefe times, was, that in the spring of the year 1694, whilft there was a truce with the Indians, Ufher granted a charter for the townfhip of Kingfton, to about twenty petitioners from Hampton. They were foon dif- couraged by the dangers and difficulties of the fucceeding hoftilities, and many of them returned home within two years. After the war they refumed their enter-
1693.
1695. 4 October 12.
Prov. files,
Brief of the cale of N. Hamp. and Miffachu. ftated by Strange & Hollings, 1738, P. 3.
prize ;
294
HISTORY OF
1695. prize ; but it was not till the year 1725, that they were able to obtain the fettlement of a minifter. No alterations took place in the old towns, except the fepara- 1693. tion of Great Ifland, Little Harbour, and Sandy Beach, from Portfmouth, and their erection into a town by the name of New- caftle ; together with the annexation of that part of Squamfcot patent which now bears the name of Stretham, to Exeter, it having before been connected with Hampton.
Prov. files.
The lieutenant-governor was very for ward in thefe tranfactions, thinking them circumftances favourable to his views, and being willing to recommend himfelf to the people, by feconding their wifhes, as faras was confiftent with the intereft he meaned to ferve. The people, however, regarded the fettling and dividing of townfhips,and the running of lines, only as matters of general convenience, and continued to be difgufted with his administration. His re- peated calls upon them for money were anfwered by repeated pleas of poverty, und requefts for affiftance from the neigh- bouring province. Uther ufed all his in- fluence with that government to obtain a fupply of men to garrifon the frontiers ; and when they wanted provifions for the garrifons,
295
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
garrifons, and could not readily raife the money, he would advance it out of his own purfe and wait till the treafury could reimburfe it.
During the two or three firft years of his administration the public charges were provided for as they had been before, by an excife on wines and other fpirituous liquors, and an impoft on merchandife. Thefe duties being laid only from year to year, Uther vehemently urged upon the affembly a renewal of the act, and an cx- tenfion of the duty to articles of export ; and that a part of the money fo raifed might be applied to the fupport of govern- ment. The anfwer he obtained was, that ' confidering the expofed ftate of the prov- ' ince, they were obliged to apply all the 6 money they could raife to their defence ; ' and therefore they were not capable of ' doing any thing for the fupport of gov- ' ernment, though they were fentible ' his honour had been at confiderable ex- ' pence : They begged that he would join « with the council in reprefenting to the ' king the poverty and danger of the prov- ' ince, that fuch methods might be taken $ for their fupport and prefervation as to ' the royal wifdom fhould feem meet. Being further preffed upon the fubject,
1693.
1695. Nov. 7 and 9.
296
HISTORY OF
1 695. -
they paffed a vote to lay the propofed du- ties for one year, 'provided he and the ' council would join with them in peti- ' tioning the king to annex them to Maf- ' fachufetts.'
He had the mortification of being difap- pointed in his expectations of gain, not only from the people, but from his employer. Allen had promifed him two hundred and fifty pounds per annum for executing his commiffion ; and when at the end of the third year, Ufher drew on him for the payment of this fum, his bill came back protefted *. This was the more mortify- ing, as he had affiduoufly and faithfully attended to Allen's intereft, and acquaint- ed him from time to time with the means he had ufed, the difficulties he had en- countered, the pleas he had urged, the time he had fpent, and the expence he had incurred in defence and fupport of his claim. He now defired him to come over and affume the government himfelf, or get a fucceffor to him appointed in the of- fice of lieutenant-governor. He did not know that the people were before hand of him in this latter requeft.
Uher's let- ter to A !- Jen, Jely and Octo. 1695.
On
* It is probable that Allen was not able to comply with this demand. The purchafe of the province from the Malons had been made " with other men's money."
Letter of Ufher to Sir Matthew Dudley, Sept. 1,18.
297
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
On a pretence of difloyalty he had re- moved Hinckes, Waldron, and Vaughan from their feats in the council. The form- er of thefe was a man who could change with the times ; the two latter were fteadv oppofers of the proprietary claim. Their fufpenfion irritated the people, who, by their influence, privately agreed to recom- mend William Partridge, Efq. as a prop- er perfon for their lieutenant governor in Ufher's ftead. Partridge was a native of Portfmouth, a fhipwright, of an extra- ordinary mechanical genius, of a politic turn of mind, and a popular man. He was treafurer of the province, and had been ill ufed by Ufher. Being largely concerned in trade he was well known in England, having fupplied the navy with mafts and timber. His fudden departure for England was very furprifing to Ufher, who could not imagine he had any other bufinefs than to fettle his accounts. But the furprife was greatly increafed when he returned with a commiffion appointing him lieutenant-governor and commander in chief in Allen's abfence. It was obtain- cd of the lords juftices in the king's ab- fence, by the intereft of Sir Henry Athurft, and was dated June 6, 1696.
Immediately
1695.
1697: January.
Afhartt'e letter. in files,
295 1697.
June 8. MIS. Lows.
Kobra. 20.
HISTORY OF
Immediately on his arrival, his appomt- ment was publickly notified to the people ; though, either from the delay of making out his inftructions, or for want of the form of an oath neceffary to be taken, the commiffion was not publithed in the ufu- al manner : But the party in oppofition to Ufber triumphed. The fufpended counfellors refumed their feats, Pickering was made king's attorney, and Hinckes as prefident of the council, opened the af- fembly with a fpeech. This affembly or- dered the records which had been taken from Pickering to be depofited in the hands of Major Vaughan, who was ap- pointed recorder : In confequence of which they have been kept in that office ever fince.
Ufher being at Bofton when this altera- tion took place, wrote to them, declaring that no commiffion could fuperfede his till duly publifhed ; and intimated his inten- tion of coming hither " if he could be fafe "' with his life." He alfo difpatched his fecretary, Charles Story, to England, with an account of this tranfaction, which in one of his private letters he ftyles " the " Pafcataquarebellion ;" adding, that " the " militia were raifed, and forty horfe fent " to feize bim ; " and intimating that the confufion
299
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
confufion was fo great, that " if but three " French fhips were to appear, he belicv- " ed they would furrender on the firft " fummons." The extreme imprudence of fending fuch a letter acrois the Atlan- tic in time of war, was ftill heightened by an apprehenfion which then prevailed, that the French were preparing an armament to invade the country, and that " they " particularly defigned for Pafcataqua "' river."
In anfwer to his complaint, the lords of trade directed him to continue in the place oflieutenant-governor, till Partridge fhould qualify himfelf, or till Richard, Earl of Bellomont, fhould arrive ; who was com- miffioned to thegovernment of New- York, Mafiachufetts Bay and New-Hampshire ; but had not yet departed from England. Ufher received the letter from the lords together with the articles of peace which had been concluded at Ryfwick, and im- mediately fet off for New-Hampthire, (where he had not been for a year) pro- claimed the peace, and published the or- ders he had received, and having proceed- ed thus far, " thought all well and quiet." But his oppofers having held a confuita- tion at night, Partridge's commiffion was the next day publithe l in form ; he took
1697. Uther's Letter s.
Lt Gov. Stongli- ton's letter ot Feb. 24, in fries.
August 3.
Decem. To
Decem. 13.
Decem. !!
the
300 1697. Uther's pa.
Council files.
1698. January 3.
HISTORY OF
the oaths, and entered on the adminiftra- tion of government, to the complete vex- ation and difappointment of Ufher who had been fo elated with the confirmation of his commiffion, that as he paffed through Hampton, he had forbidden the minifter of that place to obferve a thankfgiving day, which had been appointed by Prefider.t Hinckes.
An affembly being called, one of their firft acts was to write to the lords of trade, ' acknowledging the favour of the king ' in appointing one of their own inhabi- ' tants to the command of the province, ' complaining of Ufher, and alleging that « there had been no difturbances but what ' he himfelf had made; declaring that ' thofe counfellors whom he had fufpend- ' ed were loyal fubjects, and capable of " ferving the king ; and informing their ' lordfhips that Partridge had now quali- ' fied himfelf, and that they were waiting ' the arrival of the Earl of Bellomont.'
They alfo deputed Ichabod Plaifted to wait on the earl at New-York, and com- pliment him on his arrival. 'If he fhould ' find his lordfhip high, and referved, and ' not eafy of accefs, he was inftructed to ‘ employ fome gentleman who was in his ' confidence to manage the bufinefs ; but
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