USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 3
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30
HISTORY OF
1635. -
but the thorough difcovery of the coun- try ; wherein he went fo far ( with the help of his affociates) as to open the way for others to make their gain. 3. He never went in perfon to overfee the people whom he employed. 4. There was no fettled government to punifh offenders, or mifpenders of their mafters goods. Two other things contributed to the difap- pointment in as great, if not a greater de- gree than what he has affigned. The one was that inftead of applying themfelves chiefly to hufbandry, the original fource of wealth and independence in fuch a country as this ; he and his affociates, being merchants, were rather intent on trade and fifhery as their primary objects. Thefe cannot be profitable in a new country, until the foundation is laid in the cultivation of the lands. If the lum- ber trade and fifhery can not now be car- ried on to advantage, without the conftant aid of hufbandry in their neighbourhood, how could a colony of traders and fifher- men make profitable returns to their em- ployers, when the hufbandry neceffary for their fupport was at the diftance of Virginia or England ? The other miftake which thefe adventurers fell into was the idea of lordfhip, and the granting of lands
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NEWHAMPSHIRE.
not as freeholds, but by leafes fubject to quit rents. To fettle a colony of tenants in a climate fo far northward, where the charges of fubfiftence and improvement were much greater than the value of the lands, after the improvements were made ; efpecially in the neighbourhood of fo re- fpectable and growing a colony as that of Maffachufetts, was indeed a chimerical project ; and had not the wifer people among them fought an union with Maf- fachufetts, in all probability the fettle- ments muft have been deferted.
3ª
1635
CHAP.
32
HISTORY OF
C H A P. I.
Troubles at Dover. Settlements of Exeter and Hampton. Ruin of Mafon'sintereft. Story of Underhill. Combinations at Portfmouth and Dover. Union of Newe- Hampfire with Mafachufetts.
W HILST the lower plantation on theriver Pafcataqua lay under dif- couragement by the death of its principal patron, the upper fettlement, though car- ried on with more fuccefs, had peculiar difficulties to ftruggle with. Two thirds of this patent belonged to fome merchants of Briftol, the other third to fome of Shrewfbury ; and there was an agreement that the divifion fhould be made by indif- ferent men. Captain Wiggen who was fent over to fuperintend their affairs, af- ter about one year's refidence in the coun- try made a voyage to England, to pro- cure more ample means for carrying on the plantation. In the mean time thofe of Briftol had fold their intereft to the lords Say and Broke, George Willys and William Whiting, who continued Wig- gen in the agency, and procured a con- fiderable number of families in the Weft of England, fome of whom were of good eftates,
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
eftates, and " of fome account for relig- "' ion," to come over and increafe the col- ony. It appears from ancient records that Wiggen had a power of granting lands to the fettlers ; but, as trade was their principal object, they took up fmall lots, intending to build a compact town on Dover Neck, which lies between two branches of the river, and is a fine, dry, and healthy fituation ; fo high as to com- mand all the neighbouring fhores, and af- ford a very extenfive and delightful prof- pect. On the moft inviting part of this eminence they built a meetinghoufe, which was afterwards furrounded with an en- trenchment and flankarts, the remains of which are ftill vifible. Wiggen alfo brought over William Leverich a worthy and able puritan minifter ; but his allowance from the adventurers proving too fmall for his fupport in a new country, where all the neceffaries of life were fcarce and dear, he was obliged to remove to the fouthward ; and fettled at Sandwich in the colony of Plymouth. This proved an unhappy event to the people, who, being left def- :itute of regular inftruction, were expofed to the intrufions of artful impoftors.
The firft of thefe was one Burdet. He had been a minifter at Yarmouth in Eng- land ; but either really or pretendedly tak- D ing
1633. L Hubbard's MS Hift. Dover Re- cords.
1634 Hubbard's MS Hift.
34 1634.
1636.
ing offence at the extravagancies of the bifhops and fpiritual courts, came over to New-England, and joined with the church in Salem, who employed him for a year or two as a preacher, being a good fchol- ar and plaufible in his behaviour. But, difgufted with the ftrictnefs of their dif- cipline, he removed to Dover ; and con- tinued for fome time in good efteem with the people as a preacher ; till by artful infinuations he raifed fuch a jealoufy in their minds againft Wiggen their gover- nor, that they deprived him of his office, and elected Burdet in his place.
1637.
1638.
HISTORY OF
During his refidence here, he carried on a correfpondence with Archbifhop Laud to the difadvantage of the Maffachufetts colony, reprefenting them as hypocritical and difaffected, and that under pretence of greater purity and difcipline in matters of religion, they were aiming at indepen- dent fovereignty : it being accounted per- jury and treafon by their general court, to fpeak of appeals to the king. The pre- late thanked him for his zeal in the king's fervice, and affured him that care fhould be taken to redrefs thofe diforders when leifure from their other concerns would permit. This letter of the arch- bifhop was intercepted, and fhewn to the governor of Maffachufetts. Burdet's vil-
lainy
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NEW HAMPSHIRE.
lainy was confidered as the more atro- cious, becaufe he had been admitted a free- man of their corporation, and had taken the oath of fidelity. A copy of his own let- ter was afterward found in his clofet.
About this time, the Antinomian con- troverfy at Bofton having occafioned the banifhment of the principal perfons of that fect, feveral of them retired to this fettle- ment, being without the jurifdiction of Maffachufetts. When this was known, Governor Winthrop wrote to Wiggen, Burdet and others of this plantation, ' that " as there had hitherto been a good corre- « fpondence between them it would be ' much refented if they fhould receive the ' exiles ; and intimating the intention of " the general court to furvey the utmoft ' limits of their patent, and make ufe of ' them.' To this Burdet returned a fcornful anfwer, refufing to give the gov- ernor his title. The governor thought of citing him to court to anfwer for his contempt ; but was diffuaded from it by Dudley, the deputy-governor, who judg- ed it imprudent to exafperate him, left he. fhould avenge himfelf by farther accufing them to their enemies in England. The governor contented himfelf with fending ro Hilton an account of Burdet's behavi-
D 2
1638.
36
HISTORY OF
1638. our, inclofing a copy of his letter, and cautioning the people not to put them- felves too far under his power. His true character did not long remain fecret ; for being detected in fome lewd actions he made a precipitate removal to Agamenti- cus [now York ] in the province of Maine, where he alfo affumed to rule, and contin- ued a courfe of injuftice and adultery till the arrival of Thomas Gorges, their gov- ernor, [1640] who had laid a fine on him, and feized his cattle for the payment of it *. He appealed to the king, but his appeal not being admitted, he departed for Eng- land full of enmity againft thefe planta- tions. When he arrived, he found all in confufion ; and falling in with the royal- ifts was taken and imprifoned by the par- liamen'tary party, which is the laft account we have of him.
One of the exiles on account of the An- tinomian controverfy, was John Whele- wright, brother to the famous Anne Hutch- infon. He had been a preacher at Brain- tree, which was then part of Bofton, and was a gentleman of learning, piety and zeal. Having engaged to make a fettle- ment within ten years, on the lands he had
* The records of the court mention him as "a man of ill name " and fame, infamous for incontinency." Lib. A. Sept. Stk:, 'otg !
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
had purchafed of the Indians at Squam- fcot falls, he with a number of his adher- ents began a plantation there, which ac- cording to the agreement made with Ma- fon's agents they called Exeter. Having obtained a difmiffion from the church in Bofton*, they formed themfelves into a church ; and judging themfelves without the jurifdiction of Maffachufetts, they combined into a feparate body politic, and chofe rulers and affiftants, who were fworn to the due difcharge of their office, and the people were as folemnly fworn to obey them. Their rulers were Ifaac Groffe, Nicholas Needham, and Thomas Wilfon ; cach of whom continued in of- fice the fpace of a year, having two affift- ants. The laws were made in a popular affembly, and formally confented to by the rulers. Treafon, and rebellion againft the king (who is ftyled " the Lord's anoint- ed") or the country, were made capital crimes ; and fedition was punifhable by a fine of ten pounds, or otherwife, at the difcretion of the court. This combina- tion fubfifted three years.
About
* The names of thofe who were thus difmiffed were, John Whelewright, Richard Merrys, Richard Bulgar, Philemon Purmot, Ifaac Groffe,
Chriftopher Marthall, George Baytes, Thomas Wardell, William Wardell. {Bolton Chh. Records.)
1638.
Exeter Re- cords.
38
1638. ر
Maffa. R.c. scadb.
Callender's Century Sermon, 93.
MIS of Mr. Cookin.
Maffa. Re- ords, Sep. 2, 1638.
HISTORY OF
About the fame time a plantation was formed at Winnicumet, which was called Hampton. The principal inducement to the making this fettlement was the very extenfive falt-marfh, which was extreme- ly valuable, as the uplands were not cul- tivated fo as to produce a fufficiency of hay for the fupport of cattle. With a view to fecure thefe meadows, the general court of Maffachufetts had [in 1636] em- powered Mr. Dummer of Newbury, with John Spencer, to build an houfe there at the expence of the colony, which was to be refunded by thofe who fhould fettle there. Accordingly an houfe was built, and commonly called the Bound-houfe ; though it was intended as a mark of pof- feffion rather than of limits. The archi- tect was Nicholas Eafton, who foon after removed to Rhode-Ifland, and built the firft Englifh houfe in Newport.
This entrance being made, a petition was prefented to the court by a number of perfons, chiefly from Norfolk in Eng- land, praying for liberty to fettle there, which was granted them. They began the fettlement by laying out a townthip in one hundred and forty-feven fhares ; and having formed a church, chofe Ste- phen Batchelor for their minifter, with whom
39
NEWHAMPSHIRE.
whom Timothy Dalton was foon after affociated. The number of the firft in- habitants was fifty-fix *.
The authority of Maffachufetts having eftablithed this fettlement, they, from the beginning, confidered it as belonging to their colony. Though the agent of Ma- fon's eftate made fome objection to their proceeding, yet no legal method being taken to controvert this extenfion of their claim, the way was prepared for one ftill greater, which many circumftances con- curred to eftablifh.
After the death of Captain Mafon, his widow and executrix fent over Francis Norton as her "general attorney;" to whom the committed the whole management of the eftate. But the expence fo far exceed- ed the income, and the fervants grew fo impatient for their arrears, that he was obliged to relinquifh the care of the plan- tation, and tell the fervants that they muft fhift for themfelves. Upon which they fhared the goods and cattle. Norton drove above an hundred oxen to Bofton, and
1638.
MS Depo- fition in Sup. Court files.
Anne Ma . fon's Let. ters, and MS Depo . fitions in Sup. Court files.
there
* Some of their names are mentioned in the Court Records, viz. Stephen Batchelor, Thomas Molton, Chriftopher Huffey, William Eftow, William Palmer, Mary Huffey, widow .. Thomas Cromwell, William Sergeant, Richard Swayne, William Sanders, Samuel Skullard, John Ofgood, Samuel Greenfield. Robert Tucke. Tohr. Crois John Moltore
40
HISTORY OF
1638. there fold them for twenty-five pounds fterling per head, which it is faid was the current price of the beft cattle in New- England at that time. Thefe were of a large breed, imported from Denmark, from whence Mafon had alfo procured a number of men fkilled in fawing planks and making potafhes. Having fhared the ftock and other materials, fome of the peo- ple quitted the plantation ; others of them tarried, keeping poffeffion of the buildings and improvements, which they claimed as their own ; the houfes at Newichwan- nock were burned: and thus Mafon's eftate was ruined. Thefe events hap- pened between 1638 and 1644.
Hubbard's MS Hift.
Prince's Annals, MS.
Among the Antinomians who were ba- nifhed from Bofton, and took refuge in thefe plantations, was Captain John Un- derhill, in whofe ftory will appear fome very ftrong characteriftics of the fpirit of thefe times. He had been a foldier in the Netherlands, and was brought over to New-England by Governor Winthrop, to train the people in military difcipline. He ferved the country in the Pequod war, and was in fuch reputation in the town of Bofton, that they had chofen him one of their deputies. Deeply tinctured with Antinomian principles, and poffeffed of
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
an high degree of enthufiafm, he made a capital figure in the controverfy ; being one of the fubfcribers. to a petition in which the court was cenfured, with an indecent feverity, for their proceedings againft Whelewright. For this offence he was disfranchifed. He then made a voyage to England ; and upon his return petitioned the court for thre hundred acres of land which had been promifed him for his form- er fervices, intending to remove after Whelewright. In his petition heacknowl- edged his offence in condemning the court, and declared " that the Lord had brought " him to a fenfe of his fin in that refpect, "' fo that he had been in great trouble on " account thereof." On this occafion the court thought proper to queftion him concerning an offenfive expreffion, which he had uttered on board the fhip in which he came from England, " that the gov- " ernment at Bofton were as zealous as " the fcribes and Pharifees, and as Paul " before his converfion." He denied the charge, and it was proved to his face by a woman who was paffenger with him, and whom he had endeavoured to feduce to his opinions. He was alfo queftioned for what he had faid to her concerning the manner of his receiv- ing
41
1638.
Nov. 15th, 1637.
42
HISTORY OF
1638. ing affurance, which was, " that having " long lain under a fpirit of bondage, he " could get no affurance ; till at length as " he was taking a pipe of tobacco, the " fpirit fet home upon him an abfolute " promife of free grace, with fuch affurance " and joy that he had never fince doubt- " ed of his good eftate, neither fhould he, " whatever fins he might fall into." This he would neither own nor deny ; but ob- jected to the fufficiency of a fingle tefti-
mony. The court committed him for abufing them with a pretended retraction, and the next day paffed the fentence of banifhment upon him. Being allowed the liberty of attending public worfhip, his enthufiaftic zeal broke out in a fpeech in which he endeavoured to prove " that " as the Lord was pleafed to convert Saul " while he was perfecuting, fo he might " manifeft himfelf to him while making a " moderate ufe of the good creature to- " bacco ; profeffing withal that he knew " not wherein he had deferved the cen- " fure of the court." The elders reprov- ed him for this inconfiderate fpeech ; and Mr. Cotton told him, " that though God " often laid a man under a fpirit of bon- " dage while walking in fin, as was the " cafe with Paul. vet he never fent a fpir- "' it
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NEWHAMPSHIRE.
" of comfort but in an ordinance, as he " did to Paul by the miniftry of Anani- " as; and therefore exhorted him to ex- " amine carefully the revelation and joy " to which he pretended." The fame week he was privately dealt with on fuf- picion of adultery, which he difregarded ; and therefore on the next fabbath was queftioned for it before the church ; but the evidence not being fufficient to con- viết him, the church could only admon- ifh him.
Thefe proceedings, civil and ecclefiafti- cal, being finifhed, he removed out of their jurifdiction ; and after a while came to Dover, where he procured the place of governor in the room of Burdet. Gover- nor Winthrop hearing of this, wrote to Hilton and others of this plantation, in- forming them of his character. Under- hill intercepted the letter, and returned a bitter anfwer to Mr. Cotton ; and wrote another letter full of reproaches againft the governor to a gentleman of his family, whilft he addreffed the governor himfelf in a fawning obfequious ftrain, begging an obliteration of former mifcarriages, and a bearing with human infirmities. 'Thefe letters were all fent back to Hilton ; but too late to prevent his advancement.
Being
1638.
44 1639.
HISTORY OF
Being fettled in his government, he pro- cured a church to be gathered at Dover who chofe Hanferd Knollys for their min- ifter. He had come over from England the year before ; but being an Anabapt- ift of the Antinomian caft, was not well received in Maffachufetts, and came hither while Burdet was in office, who for- bad his preaching ; but Underhill, agree- ing better with him, prevailed to have him chofen their minifter. To ingratiate him- felf with his new patron, Knollys wrote in his favour to the church in Bofton ; ftyling him " The right worfhipful their honoured governor." Notwithftanding which they cited him again to appear be- fore them ; the court granting him fafe conduct. At the fame time complaint was made to the chief inhabitants on the river, of the breach of friendfhip in ad- vancing Underhill after his rejection ; and a copy of Knollys's letter was returned, wherein he had written that " Underhill " was an inftrument of God for their " ruin," and it was inquired whether that letter was written by the defire or confent of the people. The principal per- fons of Portfmouth and Dover difclaimed his mifcarriages, and expreffed their read- inefs to call him to account when a pro-
per
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
1639.
per information fhould be prefented ; but begged that no force might be fent againft him. By his inftigation Knollys had al- fo written to his friends in England, a ca- lumnious letter againft the Maffachufetts planters, reprefenting them as more arbi- trary than the high commiffion court, and that there was no real religion in the coun- try. A copy of this letter being fent from England to Governor Winthrop, Knollys was fo afhamed at the difcovery, that ob- taining a licence, he went to Bofton ; and at the public lecture before the governor, magiftrates, minifters and the congrega- tion, made confeffion of his fault, and wrote a retraction to his friends in Eng- land, which he left with the governor to be fent to them.
Underhill was fo affected with his friend's humiliation, and the difaffection of the peo- ple of Pafcataqua to him, that he refolved to retrieve his character in the fame way. Having obtained fafe conduct, he went to Bofton, and in the fame public manner ac- knowledged his adultery, his difrefpect to the government and the juftice of their proceedings againft him : But his confef- fion was mixed with fo many excufes and extenuations that it gave no fatisfaction ; and the evidence of his fcandalous deport .
ment
46
HISTORY OF
1639.
ment being now undeniable, the church paffed the fentence of excommunication, to which he feemed to fubmit, and appear- ed much dejected whilft he remained there.
Upon his return, to pleafe fome difaf- fected perfons at the mouth of the river, he fent thirteen armed men to Exeter to refcue out of the officer's hand one Fifh, who had been taken into cuftody for fpeaking againft the king. The people of Dover forbad his coming into their court till they had confidered his crimes and he promifed to refign his place if they fhould difapprove his conduct ; but hear_ ing that they were determined to remove him, he rufhed into court in a paffion, took his feat, ordered one of the magif- trates to prifon for faying that he would not fit with an adulterer, and refufed to receive his difmiffion, when they voted it. But they proceeded to choofe another governor, Roberts, and fent back the prifoner to Exeter.
A new fcene of difficulty now arofe. Thomas Larkham, a native of Lyme in Dorfetfhire and formerly a minifter at Northam near Barnftable, who had come over to New-England, and not favour- ing the doctrine, nor willing to fubmit to the difcipline of the churches in Maffa- chufetts,
1 640.
47
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
1640,
chufetts, came to Dover ; and being a preacher of good talents, eclipfed Knollys, and raifed a party who determined to re- move him. He therefore gave way to the popular prejudice, and fuffered Larkham to take his place ; who foon difcovered his li- centious principles by receiving into the church perfons of immoral characters, and affuming, like Burdet, the civil as well as ecclefiaftical authority. The better fort of the people were difpleafed and reftored Knollys to his office who excommunicated Larkham. This bred a riot in which Lark- ham laid hands on Knollys taking away his hat on pretence that he had not paid for it ; but he was civil enough afterward to return it. Some of the magiftrates joined with Larkham, and forming a court, fummoned Underhill, who was of Knollys's party to appear before them, and anfwer to a new crime which they had to alledge againft him. Underhill collected his adherents ; Knollys was armed with a piftol, and another had a bible mounted on an halbert for an en- fign. In this ridiculous parade they marched againft Larkham and his party, who prudently declined a combat, and fent down the river to Williams the gov- ernor, at Porfmouth, for affiftance,
He
48
1640. -
HISTORY OF
He came up in a boat with an armed party, befet Knollys's houfe where Under- hill was, guarded it night and day till a court was fummoned, and then, Williams fitting as judge, Underhill and his company were found guilty of a riot, and after be- ing fined, were banifhed the plantation. The new crime which Larkham's party alledged againft Underhill was that he had been fecretly endeavouring to per- fuade the inhabitants to offer themfelves to the government of Maffachufetts, whofe favor he was defirous to purchafe, by thefe means, as he knew that their view was to extend their jurifdiction as far as they imagined their limits reached, when- ever they fhould find a favourable oppor- tunity. The fame policy led him with his party to fend a petition to Bofton praying for the interpofition of the govern- ment in their cafe : In confequence of which the governor and affiftants com- miffioned Simon Bradftrect, Efq. with the famous Hugh Peters, then minifter of Salem, and Timothy Dalton of Hampton, to enquire into the matter, and effect a reconciliation,or certify the ftate of things to them. Thefe gentlemen travelled on foot to Dover, and finding both fides in fault, brought the matter to this iffue, that
49
NEW- HAMPSHIRE.
that the one party revoked the excom- munication, and the other the fines and banithment.
In the heat of thefe difputes, a difcovery was made of Knollys's failure in point of chaftity . Heacknowledged his crime before the church ; but they difmiffed him and he returned to England, where he fuffered by the feverity of the long parliament in 1644; and being forbidden to preach in the churches, opened a feparate meet- ing in Great St. Helen's, from which he was foon diflodged, and his followers dif- perfed. He alfo fuffered in the caufe of non-conformity in the reign of King Charles the fecond, and at length (as it is faid) died " a good man in a good old " age. (September 19, 1691, Æt. 93.)
Underhill having finifhed his career in thefe parts obtained leave to return to Bofton, and finding honefty to be the beft policy, did in a large affembly, at the public lecture, and during the fitting of the court, make a full confeffion of his adultery and hypocrify, his pride and contempt of authority, juftifying the church and court in all that they had done againft him, de- claring that his pretended affurance had failed him, and that the terror of his mind had at fome times been fo great, that he had E drawn
1640.
Neal's Hift. Puritans, 4to vol. II. P. 113.
Neal's Hift. N. Engld. vol. I. p. 216.
Mather's Magnal. lib. 3. P. 7.
50
HISTORY OF
1640.
Prince's Annals.
Hubbard's MS Hift.
drawn his fword to put an end to his life. The church being now fatisfied, reftored him to their communion. The court, af- ter waiting fix months for evidence of his good behaviour, took off his fentence of banifhment, and releafed him from the punifhment of his adultery : The law which made it capital having been enact- ed after the crime was committed, could not touch his life. Some offers being made him by the Dutch at Hudfon's riv- er, whofe language was familiar to him, the church of Bofton hired a veffel to tranf- port him and his family thither, furnifh- ing them with all neceffaries for the voy- age. The Dutch governor gave him the command of a company of an hundred and twenty men, and he was very fervice- able in the wars which that colony had with the Indians, having, it is faid, killed one hundred and fifty on Long-Ifland, and three hundred on the Main. He con- tinued in their fervice till his death.
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