USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire > Part 2
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In that other book, a body of laws is recorded, in the same hand writing, viz. of Stileman the Secretary, which bears the following title ; ' The general ' laws and liberties of the Province of New-Hampshire, made by the general ' Assembly in Portsmouth, the 16th day of March, 1679-80, and approved by ' the President and Council.' .
It appears from the books, that this Assembly held four sessions within the year, viz. on the 16th of March, the 7th of June, the 12th of October, and the 7th of December. As there is not a particular date to each law, but the whole
xi
PREFACE.
code bears the date of the first session in March ; it may fairly be inferred, that the business was begun in the first session, and continued through the other three ; and when completed, was immediately sent to England ; for Mr. Chalners himself tells us, that ' the laws which they transmitted, in conform- ' ity to their Constitution, had not the good fortune to please, and were disap- ' proved of, by the Lords of the Committee of Plantations, in December, 1G81.'
From this statement it may be concluded, that they were not slower in ' es- ' saying their legislative talents,' than the necessity of proceeding with due deliberation required ; and that there was no just cause for the reproach which he has cast upon them.
In page 494, he gives this account of the character of the people of New- Hampshire. ' When CRANFIED arrived, he found the Province containing ' four thousand inhabitants, extremely poor from the devastation of the Indian ' war. But when he spoke contemptuously of the country which he had been ' sent to rule, he seems not to have reflected, that all colonies had once known ' the like paucity of numbers, the same weakness, and the same poverty ; ' animated only by a dissimilar spirit from that of New-Hampshire, which ' now disdained that independence on her neighbors, that other provinces had ' contended for with enthusiasm. And other plantations, actuated by very ' different maxims, had not complained, even in their weakest days, of their ' inability to defend their frontiers, against the attacks of a foe, that has never ' proved dangerous, except to the effeminate, the factious, or the cowardly. ' When New-Plymouth consisted only of two hundred persons, of all ages ' and sexes, it repulsed its enemies and secured its borders, with a gallantry ' worthy of its parent country ; because it stood alone, in the desert, without ' hope of aid.'
That the people of New-Hampshire ever deserved the character of cffem- inate or cowardly, can by no means be admitted. Innumerable facts evince the contrary beyond a doubt. Had this anthor ever resided among them, espe- cially in time of war, he would have thought quite otherwise of them. That the native savages have ' never proved a dangerous foe, to any but the effem- ' inate, the factious and the cowardly,' is an assertion totally unfounded .- Their manner of attacking was always by surprise, and the bravest and best men may sometimes be deficient in vigilance, where no suspicion of danger exists.
If the people of New-Hampshire 'disdained independence,' let it be con- sidered, that they had been, for about 40 years, connected with Massachusetts, to their mutual satisfaction ; and the proposed ' independence' which he means was but another name for subjection to a landlord. When independence, in its genuine meaning, became necessary, in 1776, they freely joined with their brethren in asserting it, and in bravely defending it.
Without any disparagement to the first settlers of Plymouth, who, from the year 1643, were protected by a confederacy of the four New-England colo- nies, it may with truth be said, that the people of New-Hampshire were nev- er behind them, in vigorous exertions for their own defence, when they were conducted by officers in whom they could place confidence ; but in Cranfield's time, there was no war with the Indians ; though he attempted to frighten them into an apprehension of danger, from the Indians, to serve his own pur- poses.
The account which Mr. Chalmers gives of Cranfield's administration differs not very materially from mine, except in one instance.
He represents ' the ministers as very attentive to him, because they deen- ' ed him gained over to the Independents.' I have met with no evidence of this ; the deception, if any, must have been very short lived.
Mr. Chahners says nothing of the prosecution of Moodey, and of Cran- field's endeavors to ruin him, for his non-conformity to the Church of Eng- land ; but tells us that he ' deemed it unsafe, to remain any longer among the 'ministers, who ruled an enthusiastic people, with the same sway as did the ' popish clergy during the darkest ages ;' and that in his letters to England, he ' gave warning that while the clergy were allowed to preach, no true alle- ' giance would be found in those parts.' This may be considered as a corrob- orating evidence of his bigotry and intolerance. Truth obliges me to add, that his opponents were not deficient in those unhappy qualities, which were too much in fashion among all parties in that age.
xii
PREFACE.
Mr. Chalmers concludes his account of New-Hampshire in these words :- ' Being excluded from the charter granted to Massachusetts, it has continued ' to the present time, a different, though inconsiderable settlement ; ||irregular ' and factious in its economy, affording no precedents that may be of exem- ' plary use to other colonies.'|* What justice there is in this remark, the reader will be able to determine, from the following portion of its history, which, after much unavoidable delay, is now submitted to his perusal.
Boston, August 1, 1791.
* [The words between parallels appear to be quoted by Chalmers. After " irregular," the words, " ae we are assured," occur in Chalmers, but are omitted by Dr. Belknap.]
CONTENTS.
-
CHAPTER I .- Discovery of the country. Establishment of the council of Plymouth. Their grants to Mason and others. Beginning of the settlements at Portsmouth and Dover. Wheelwright's Indian purchase. Neal's adventures. Discouragements. Dissolution of the council .- Mason's death. Causes of the failure of his enterprise. Page 1
CHAPTER II .- Troubles at Dover. Settlements of Exeter and Hampton. Story of Underhill. Desertion of Mason's tenants. Combinations at Portsmouth and Dover. Union of New-Hampshire with Massachu- setts. 17
CHAPTER III .- Observations on the principles and conduct of the first planters of New-England. Cause of their removal. Their religious sentiments. Fortitude. Care of their posterity. Justice. Laws .- Principles of government. Theocratic prejudices. Intolerance and per- secutions. 34
CHAPTER IV .- Mode of government under Massachusetts. Mason's ef- forts to recover the property of his ancestors. Transactions of the king's commissioners. Opposition to them. Internal transactions. Mason discouraged. 53
CHAPTER V .- Remarks on the temper and manners of the Indians. The first general war with them, called Philip's war. 65
CHAPTER VI .- Mason's renewed efforts. Randolph's mission and trans- actions. Attempts for the trial of Mason's title. New-Hampshire sep- arated from Massachusetts and made a royal province. Abstract of the commission. Remarks on it. 85
CHAPTER VII .- The administration of the first council. Mason's arrival. Opposition to him. His departure. State of trade and navigation. 90
CHAPTER VIII .- The administration of Cranfield. Violent measures .- Insurrections. Mason's suits. Prosecution of Moodey and Vaughan. Arbitrary measures. Complaints. Tumults. Weare's agency in Eng- land. Cranfield's removal. Barefoote's administration. 96
CHAPTER IX .- Administration of Dudley as president, and Andros as governor of New-England. Mason's further attempts. His disappoint- ment and death. Revolution. Sale to Allen. His commission for the government. 117
CHAPTER X .- The war with the French and Indians, commonly called King William's war. 124
xiv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI .- The civil affairs of the province during the administra- tions of Usher, Partridge, Allen, the Earl of Bellomont and Dudley, comprehending the whole controversy with Allen and his heirs. 148
CHAPTER XII .- The war with the French and Indians, called Queen Anne's war. Conclusion of Dudley's and Usher's administration. 166
CHAPTER XIII .- The administration of Governor Shute, and his lieuten- ants, Vaughan and Wentworth. 184
CHAPTER XIV .- The fourth Indian war, commonly called the three years' war, or Lovewell's war. 197
CHAPTER XV .- Wentworth's administration continued. Burnet's short administration. Belcher succeeds him. Wentworth's death and char- acter. 218
CHAPTER XVI .- Dunbar's lieutenancy and enmity to Belcher. Efforts to settle the boundary lines. Divisions. Riot. Trade. Episcopal Church. Throat distemper. 226
CHAPTER XVII .- State of parties. Controversy about lines. Commis- sioner's appointed. Their session and result. Appeals. Complaints. 237
CHAPTER XVIII .- Revival of Mason's claim. Accusations against Bel- cher, real and forged. Royal censure. Final establishment of the lines. Spanish war. Belcher's zeal and fidelity. His removal. Examination of lis character. 251
CHAPTER XIX .- The beginning of Benning Wentworth's administration. War opened in Nova-Scotia. Expedition to Cape-Breton ; its plan, con- duct and success, with a description of the island, and the city of Louis- burg. 262
CHAPTER XX .- Projected expedition to Canada. Alarm of the French fleet. State of the frontiers. Peace. 281
CHAPTER XXI .- Purchase of Mason's claim. Controversy about repre- sentation. Plan of extending the settlements. Jealousy and resentment of the savages. 296
CHAPTER XXII .- The last French and Indian war, which terminated in the conquest of Canada. Controversy concerning the lands westward of Connecticut river. 308
CHAPTER XXIII .- Beginning of the controversy with Great Britain .- Stamp act. Resignation of Benning Wentworth. 326
CHAPTER XXIV .- Administration of John Wentworth the second. New attempt to force a revenue from America. Establishment of Dartmouth college. Division of the province into counties. Death of Benning Wentworth. Complaint of Peter Livius against the governor. Its issue. Progress of the controversy with Great Britain. War. Dissolution of British government in New-Hampshire. 339
CHAPTER XXV .- War with Britain. Change of government. Tempo- rary constitution. Independence. Military exertions. Stark's expe- dition. Employment of troops during the war. 358
CHAPTER XXVI .- Paper money. Confiscations. State constitution .- Controversy with Vermont. 378
XV
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII .- Popular discontent. Efforts for paper currency .-- Tender acts. Insurrection. Dignity and lenity of government. Fed- eral constitution. 395
APPENDIX.
LIST OF PAPERS IN THE APPENDIX.
NOTE. Those papers to which a star is prefixed were not published in the former editions.
No. Titles.
Dates.
Page.
1. Copy of a deed from four Indian sagamores to Rev. John Wheelwright and others,
17 May,
1629. 422
2. Letter from Thomas Eyre to Ambrose Gibbins,
May,
1631. 422
3. Letter from the company of Laconia to Gibbins,
5 Dec.
1632. 423
4. Letter from Gibbins to the company,
24 June,
1633. 424
5. Letter from the same to the same,
13 July,
1633. 425
6. Letter from Neal and Wiggin to the company, re- lating to the division of lands at Pascataqua,
13 Aug.
1633. 426
7. Letter from Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John Mason to Warnerton and Gibbins,
5 May,
1634.
428
8. Letter from Mason to Gibbins,
5 May,
1634.
423
9. Letter in answer to the foregoing,
6 Aug.
1634. 429
10. Letter from George Vaughan to Gibbins,
20 Aug.
1634. 431
11. Letter from the same to the same,
10 April, 1636.
431
4 Oct.
1639.
432
13. * Combination for government at Dover,
22 Oct.
1640.
433
14. * Petition of the inhabitants of Portsmouth,
. May,
1653. 433
15. * Declaration of John Allen, Nicholas Shapleigh and Thomas Lake,
Nov.
1654. 435
16. Report of a committee of reference on the petition of Robert Mason, Edward Godfrey and others, to the king,
1661. 436
17. * Commission granted by the general court of Mas- sachusetts, for settling disturbances occasioned by king's commissioners,
1665. 437
18. * Address of the town of Dover to the general court of Massachusetts,
10 Oct.
1665.
438
19. * Address from Portsmouth to the same,
9 Oct.
1665.
439
20. * Rev. Samuel Dudley's certificate,
10 Oct.
1665. 439
21. * Address of the town of Portsmouth relating to Harvard college,
1669.
439
22. Petition of Robert Mason to the king,
1675.
440
23. Answer of Massachusetts to Mason and Gorges' complaint,
1676. 444
24. Report of the lords' chief justices, and the king's confirmation thereof,
1677.
449
25. Extract from that part of President Cutt's com- mission, in which the claim of Mason is recited,
1679.
452
26. * General laws and liberties of the province,
1680.
453
29 Mar.
1680.
455
28. Address from the same to the same,
11 June,
1680.
456
29. Robert Mason's mandamus as counsellor,
30 Dec.
1680. 457
30. "The order of the council and general assembly for a tax,
Mar. 1681.
458
31. Answer to the claim of Mason,
1682.
459
32. Elias Stileman's answer to Mason's claim,
1682.
461
33. * Letter from Edward Randolph to the lords of trade and plantations,
1683. 463
27. Address of the general court of New-Hampshire to the king,
12. * Combination for government at Exeter, with forms of oaths for rulers and people,
xvi
CONTENTS.
34. * Letter from Edward Gove to the court of sessions,
35. Cranfield's order for the administration of the sa- crament according to the liturgy,
10 Dec.
1683. 467
36. Information against Joshua Moodey,
6 Feb.
1684. 468
38. Warrant and mittimus against the same,
6 Feb.
1684. 469
39. Cranfield's order for raising money without an assembly,
14 Feb.
1684. 469
40. Letter from the council to Governor Dungan, of New-York,
21 Mar.
1684. 470
41. Address and petition of the inhabitants of Exeter, Hampton, Portsmouth and Dover against Cran- field,
1684. 471
42. The deposition of Peter Coffin, relating to Cran- field's conduct towards Vaughan,
6 Feb.
1684. 474
43. The warrant and mittimus to commit Vaughan to prison,
6 Feb.
1684. 475
44. Vaughan's letter and journal in prison,
45. Letter from Cranfield and his council to the lords of trade,
23 May,
1684. 487
47. Nath'l Weare's first complaint against Cranfield,
1684. 488
48. Reference of the same to the lords of trade,
11 July,
1684. 490
23 July,
1684. 491
50. * A brief of the affidavits, objections and replies in the case of Weare against Cranfield, before the lords of trade and plantations,
10 Mar. 1685. 492
51. * A brief of Cranfield's commission, and of the evi- dence in support of the complaint and againstit,
1685. 496
52. Report of the lords of trade against Cranfield, and the king's order,
53. * King's order for hearing Vaughan's appeal,
54. Letter of lords of trade to Cranfield,
29 April, 1685.
503
22 May, 1685. 505
57. Decision of King James II. against Vaughan,
19 Nov. 1686. 507
58. Four letters from Hogkins, sachem at Penacook, to the governor, 15 and 16 May, 1685. 508
59. Capt. Francis Hooke's letter, advising of danger from the Indians,
13 Aug. 1685. 509
60. Report of persons sent to inquire into the above,
(No date.) 510
61. Articles of peace with the Indians, inhabiting New- Hampshire and Maine,
62. Petition of William Houchins, for aid to obtain a cure of the king's evil,
7 Sept. 1687. 511
63, Letter from Secretary Addington to Major Waldron, warning him of danger from the Indians,
Jan. 1683. 467
8 April, 1685. 502
29 April, 1685. 503
55. Letter from the same to the same respecting Vaughan's appeal,
56. Petition of the inhabitants against Mason,
1685. 505
8 Sept. 1685. 510
27 June, 1689. 512
Feb. 1684. 476
46. Letter from Cranfield to Sir Leoline Jenkins,
23 May, 1684. 488
49. Letter from the lords of trade to Cranfield,
1683. 467
37. Second information against the same,
HISTORY
OF
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER I.
Discovery of the country. Establishment of the Council of Plymouth. Their grants to Mason and others. Beginning of the settlements at Portsmouth and Dover. Wheelwright's Indian purchase. Neal's adventures. Dis- couragements. Dissolution of the Council. Mason's death. Causes of the failure of his enterprise.
IT is happy for America that its discovery and settlement by the Europeans happened at a time, when they were emerging from a long period of ignorance and darkness. The discovery of the magnetic needle, the invention of printing, the revival of literature and the reformation of religion, had caused a vast alter- ation in their views, and taught them the true use of their rational and active powers. To this concurrence of favorable causes, we are indebted for the precision with which we are able to fix the beginning of this great American empire ; an advantage of which the historians of other countries almost universally are destitute ; their first eras being either disguised by fiction and romance, or involved in impenetrable obscurity.
Mankind do not easily relinquish ancient and established preju- dices or adopt new systems of conduct, without some powerful attractive. The prospect of immense wealth, from the mines of Mexico and Peru, fired the Spaniards to a rapid conquest of those regions and the destruction of their numerous inhabitants ; but the northern continent, presenting no such glittering charms, was neglected by the European princes for more than a century after its discovery.1 No effectual care was taken to secure to them- selves the possession of so extensive a territory, or the advantage of a friendly traffic with its natives, or of the fishery on its coasts ; till private adventurers at a vast expense, with infinite hazard and persevering zeal, established settlements for themselves, and there- by enlarged the dominions of their sovereigns.
(1) Prince's Annals.
-
3
2
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1614.
Of the voyagers who visited the northern coast of America, for the sake of its furs and fish, one of the most remarkable was Captain John Smith, who ranged the shore from Penobscot to Cape Cod, and, in this route, discovered the river Pascataqua ; which he found to be a safe harbor, with a rocky shore. He re- turned to England in one of his ships, and there published a de- scription of the country, with a map of the sea-coast, which he presented to Prince Charles, who gave it the name of NEW-
ENGLAND.1 The other ship, he left behind under the care of Thomas Hunt, who decoyed about twenty of the natives on board and sold them for slaves at Malaga. This perfidious action ex- cited a violent jealousy in the natives, and bitterly enraged them against succeeding adventurers. Two of those savages having found their way back as far as Newfoundland, then under the government of Captain John Mason, were restored to their native country by his friendly interposition, and reported the strong dis- approbation, which the English in general entertained of the mis- chievous plot, by which they had been carried off. By this means, together with the prudent endeavors of Captain Thomas Dermer,* and afterward of the Plymouth settlers, tranquillity was re-estab- lished between the Indians and the adventurers, which was toler- ably preserved for many years.2 However fond we may have been of accusing the Indians of treachery and infidelity, it must be confessed that the example was first set them by the Europe- ans. Had we always treated them with that justice and humani- ty which our religion inculcates, and our true interest at all times required, we might have lived in as much harmony with them, as with any other people on the globe.
The importance of the country now began to appear greater than before, and some measures were taken to promote its settle- ment. A patent had been granted by King James in 1606, lim- iting the dominion of Virginia, from the thirty-fourth, to the forty- fourth degree of northern latitude ; which extent of territory had been divided into two parts, called North and South Virginia. The latter was assigned to certain noblemen, knights and gentle- men of London; the former to others in Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth.3 Those who were interested in the northern colo- ny, finding that the patent did not secure them from the intrusions of others, petitioned for an enlargement and confirmation of their privileges. After some time, the king, by his sole authority, con-
(1) Smith's Voyage. (2) Hubbard's printedNarrative of the troubles with the [Eastern] Indians, p. 6, 7. (3) Gorges' Narrative.
* [This industrious and prudent gentleman having spent almost two years in searching the coast between New-England and Virginia, the fruit of whose labors and hazards many others afterwards reaped, was at the last, on his re- turn to Virginia, set upon by some malicious savages in some parts beyond Cape Cod, from whom he received fourteen or fifteen wounds, upon which oc- casion, retiring to Virginia, he there ended his days, about the year 1621 .- Hubbard, Ilist. New-England, 40.]
3
GRANTS AND SETTLEMENTS.
1620.]
stituted a council, consisting of forty noblemen, knights and gen- tlemen,* by the name of "The council established at Plymouth, "in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing "of New-England, in America."1" They were a corporation with perpetual succession, by election of the majority ; and their territories extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of northern latitude. This patent, or charter, is the foundation of all the grants that were made of the country of New-England. But either from the jarring interests of the members, or their in- distinct knowledge of the country, or their inattention to business, or some other cause which does not fully appear, their affairs were transacted in a confused manner from the beginning ; and the grants which they made were so inaccurately described, and in- terfered so much with each other, as to occasion difficulties and controversies, some of which are not yet ended.
Two of the most active members of this council were Sir Fer- dinando Gorges and Captain John Mason. Gorges had been an officer in the navy of Queen Elizabeth, intimately connected with Sir Walter Raleigh, of whose adventurous spirit he had a large share.2 After the peace which King James made in 1604, he was appointed governor of the fort and island of Plymouth in De- vonshire. Whilst he resided there, Captain Weymouth, who had been employed by Lord Arundel in search of a northwest passage, but had fallen short of his course and put in at Pemaquid, brought from thence into the harbor of Plymouth, five natives of America, three of whom were eagerly seized by Gorges, and retained in his service for three years. Finding them of a tractable and con- municative disposition, and having won their affections by gentle treatment, he learned from them many particulars concerning their
(1) Ms. copy in Superior Court files. [Hubbard, Hist. New-England, 80, 217. Hazard, Coll. i. 103-118. Trumbull, Hist. Connecticut, Appx.]- <2) Hume.
* [Lodowick] Duke of Lenox,
[George] Marquis of Buckingham, [James] Marquis of Hamilton,
Sir Richard Hawkins,
William] Earl of Pembroke,
Sir Richard Edgecombe,
[Thomas] Earl of Arundel, William] Earl of Bath,
Sir Allen Apsley,
[Henry] Earl of Southampton,
[William] Earl of Salisbury,
[Robert] Earl of Warwick,
Sir Nathaniel Rich,
[John] Viscount Haddington,
Sir Edward Giles,
[Edward] Lord Zouche,
Sir Giles Mompesson,
Edmund] Lord Sheffield,
Sir Thomas Wroth, Knights, Matthew Sutcliffe, [dean of Exeter]
[Edward] Lord Gorges,
Robert Heath, [recorder of London ] Henry Bourchier,
Sir Edward Zouche,
Sir Dudley Digges,
Rawley Gilbert,
Sir Thomas Roe,
George Chudley,
Thomas Haymon,
Sir Francis Popham,
Sir John Brookes, Sir Thomas Gates,
Sir Warwick Heale,
Sir Richard Catchmay,
Sir John Bourchier,
Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Robert Mansell,
John Drake,
Sir Ferdinando Gorges,
John Argall, Esquires.
[There is a copy of this Patent entire in Hazard's Collections, i. 103-116.]
4
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1620.
country, its rivers, harbors, islands, fisheries and other produc- tions ; and the numbers, force, disposition and government of the natives ; and from this information, he conceived sanguine hopes of indulging his genius, and making his fortune, by a thorough discovery of the country.1 For this purpose, he, in conjunc- tion with others, ventured several ships, wherefore some met with peculiar misfortunes ; and others brought home accounts, which, though discouraging to some of his associates, made him deter- mine upon farther attempts, wherein his resolution and perseverance were more conspicuous than any solid gain. These transactions were previous to the establishment of the council; in soliciting which, Gorges was so extremely active, that he was appointed their president, and had a principal share in all their transactions. Mason was a merchant of London, but became a sea-officer, and, after the peace, governor of Newfoundland, where he acquired a knowledge of America, which led him, on his return to England, into a close attachment to those who were engaged in its discove- ry ; and upon some vacancy in the council, he was elected a mem- 1621. ber and became their secretary ; being also governor of Portsmouth in Hampshire. He procured a grant from the council, of all the land from the river of Naumkeag, now Salem, round Cape Anne, to the river Merrimack ; and up each of those rivers to the farthest head thereof ; then to cross over from the head of the one to the head of the other ; with all the islands lying with- in three miles of the coast. This district was called MARIANA. The next year, another grant was made to Gorges and Mason jointly, of all the lands between the rivers Merrimack and Saga- dehock, extending back to the great lakes and river of Canada, and this was called LACONIA.
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