USA > Rhode Island > Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. Printed by order of the General Assembly, Vol. III pt 1 > Part 7
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64
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND,
[1679.
Letter from New Plymouth to the King, relative to the Narragan- sett Country and Mount Hope.
New Plymouth, July 1st, 1679.
Dread Soveraigne: Wee have very lately received your Majesty's commands by letter given given from your Court, at Whitehall, bearing date Febr. the 12th, 1678-9, one-and-thirtieth year of your gracefull reigne, signifying your Royall plea- sure respecting the claimes and claimors of lands in the Narragansett and Niantick Country, or King's Province, and have made it fully known to such of this your Colony as pretend to any interest there, by virtue of purchase made by Major Atherton, &c., who declare their humble submission to your Majesty's com- mands and orders respecting that matter, still hoping they shall obtaine your just favour in enjoyment and settlement in their right to lands in those parts.
By the same letter your Majesty is graciously pleased to tell us how that Mr. John Crowne hath petitioned your Majesty to grant him the lands of Mount-hope, in New England, in compensation of losse his father sustained by rendition of Nova Scotia to the French, and that your princely wisdom and justice guided your Maj- esty not only to commend it to consideration of the Lords of the Committee of your Privy Councill for Foreign Plantations, but also to lay your commands on us and give us opportunity to informe your Majesty what right or title wee suppose wee have to that country, with the true extent, value and propriety of the said lands of Mount-hope, with the grounds and evidences of our claime; that your Majesty may thereupon bee enabled to give such further direction and order, as may suit with your Royall justice and bounty. May it therefore please your sacred Majesty, af- ter our humble acknowledgement of that favour, to give us leave to make this free and plaine declaration of the matter according to truth.
The lands of Mount-hope (as their Lordships righty informed), did belong to Sa- chim Philip, the grand rebell to your Majesty, and first and principall disturber of the peace of these your Colonies, and is clearly and unquestionably within the Pa- tent Grant made by your Royall predecessors to this your most ancient Colony of New Plymouth (within which, none might purchase or any way obtaine lands of the natives, but ourselves, or such as the authority of this Collony allowed), and these lands with some others, were (as their Honours also reported) conquered by the joint forces of your subjects of the Massachusetts, Connectient and New Ply- mouth, by the expense of more than one hundred thousand pounds, besides an in- estimable damage sustained by particular plantations and persons, and which was yett of greater value by the losse of the lives of many hundreds of our brethren, children and choice friends. The profitts of the warr (excepting a few prisoners taken in the latter end thereof ) was only land, and this Colony haveing borne their full proportion both in forees and charge, and being the seat of the warr, suffered more in proportion than any had; Mount-hope, with a small ragged neck of land, more adjoining to it for our part of profit by agreement of the Confederate Colo- nys, wee allowing them one thousand pounds, because our lands were judged more valuable than theirs, and Mount-hope with its appurtenances by farr the better part of all our conquest lands, wee have putt to sale for three thousand pounds, but have not yett found our Chapmen. The quantity of Mount-hope, wee estimate to hee seven thousand acres at the most; part of it good soyle, and much of it rocky, mountainous and barren. But that which commends it, and canseth us highly to esteem it, and earnestly to begg that by your Majesty's justice and favour, wee may
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1679.]
enjoy and not bee deprived of it, is not only because wee have fought for it and paid for it, and many of us bled for it, but because this Colony for want of good har- bours could never yet make any considerable improvement of the sea ; but these places are well accommodated for the settlement of a sea port town or two ; where- by wee hope wee may in a few yeares bce more serviceable to your Majesty and live more happily.
Having given your Majesty this short, but wee hope satisfactory account con- cerning those lands, wee would in the next place humbly offer this word of answer to that which your Majesty is pleased to blame us for, and which were indeed an inexcusable fact, if so, that in all this time wee had not given your Majesty an ac- count of the warr and successe of it. Wee now plainly perceive, that wee have been greatly abused by miscarriage of letters directed to your Majesty, both from the Colony, and particularly from your servant our Governour, bearing date the 12th of June, 1677, coppys whereof wee are bold to transmitt with these, and hope wee shall find out the originalls themselves, and small present of our Governor's therein mentioned, too small, hee acknowledgeth, to bee directed to so great a Prince, yet the best hee could obtaine, and was a reall testimony of his loyalty and cordial respect. Wee know they came safe to London, and hope to have them pre- sented (though very untimely) to your Majesty's view; and wee earnestly begg your Royall and favourable consideration, whither of the letters themselves or copys that come to your princely hand, that this poor Colony, that made the first settle_ ment in this wilderness with great hazard and through many difficulties to spread the gospell and enlarge the dominion of our King, and who have at all times given such testimonys of our loyalty and good affection to your Majesty's person and in- terest, as wec had opportunity for, and a poor people were capable of; may not by misinformation of any evill minded persons our neighbours or others, bee deprived of that little wee have to live upon ; our whole Pattent is but a very narrow strip of land, and generally very mean ; and your people here by God's goodnesse greatly increased, and should wee bee eaten out by cur neighbours of Rhode Island, unto whom wee have in a sense given being (as is hintel in our former letter), it would argue high ingratitude in them, and wee should account it the worst of deaths, not to tire your Majesty with prolixitie, wee would only add, that having written to your Majesty about two years since, which untill now wee doubted not were re- ceived, wee did believe your Majesty had been thereby fully satisfyed, and did thereupon presume to dispose of some of those conquered lands, in order to a settle- ment ; which should your Majesty, by donation or grant to any others reverse, it would reduce us to great straits and plunges, wee having the thousand pounds above-mentioned to pay, and many lame souldiers, widdows and orphans to provide for. Wee shall cheerfully wayte and hope from your princely justice and elemen- cy, to obtaine a favorable answer, and humbly crave to receive it as speedily as may stand with your Majesty's conveniency and good pleasure; for that it is of great importance to us, and will we hope in short time appeere to bee your Majesty's in- terest also, that wee make speedy settlement of trading plantations there.
According to your Majesty's command, our Governour was carefull the last year, to give your Majesty an account of the tryall of the controversy between Mr. Har- ris, of Patuxet, and his neighbours, but meet an unhappy disappointment therein also. For not knowing but that Sec'r. Williamson kad proved still faithfull to your Majesty's service and held his place, hee writt to him and enclosed the whole trans- action of that affaire by him to bee communicated to your Majesty ; but before his
VOL. III, 5
66
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND,
[1679.
letters arrived at London, hee was dismissed from that trust, and so the letters and papers were sent back, and by this first apportunity are herewith presented.
Craving your Majesty's pardon for a gracious acceptation of these unpolished lines, heartily blessing God for his protection of your sacred Majesty from the plotts and attempts of those worst of men, and praying dayly on our bended knees, that Almighty God will still bless your Majesty and make you a long lifed blessing to the Nation, wee crave leave to subscribe-
Great Sir, your unworthy supplyants and humble and most loyall subjects of your Colony of New Plymouth.
NATH: MORTON, Secr., By order of the Generall Court.
Letter from the King to the Collony of New Plymouth.
At the Court at Whitehall, the 2d July, 1679. Present. The King's most Excellent Majesty in Councill.
There being this day presented to the Board a Report from the Honorable the Lords of the Committee for Trade and Plantations in the words following, viz. :
May it please your Majesty : Wee have received your Majesty's reference in Councill of the 23d of May last, concerning the pretensions of William Harris, of Patuxet, in New England, and in obedience thereunto, wee humbly report that the petitioner did, by his petition presented to your Majesty in Councill, on the 11th of June, 1673, sett forth the great wrong done him and his partners, by severall per- sons who detained the lands which they had purchased from the Indians; whereup- on your Majesty was pleased to command by your Royall letters, the Governors of the severall Colonies, in New England, to appoint some able, honest and indifferent persons to bee joined together with full and sufficient authority to cause the differ- ences and troubles arising to the petitioner and his partners, concerning the lands of Patuxet to bee brought to a fair tryall, and that by an indifferent and upright jury, all might be finally determined according to justice. In pursuance whereof, the said Commissioners having mett, and the jury appointed by them having given five verdiets in favour of the petitioner and his partners, a statement of those pro- ceedings, signed by severall of the Commissioners, was returned to your Majesty by the Governors of your Collonies of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island, for your Majesty's determination upon that whole affair. But at the same time, a petition was offered unto your Majesty by Randall Holden and John Greene, in be- halfe of themselves and other your subjects, the inhabitants of the town of War- wick, and of other adjacent places belonging to your Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, complaining of the injustice of the second verdict given against them and other inhabitants of the town of Warwick, and in consideration of the complainants' humble appeal unto your Majesty, together with the reasons and evidences alleged by them in justification of their right in the lands possessed by them as not appearing to bee any part of the lands of Patuxet, which only by your Majesty's commisssion were to bee brought to a tryall, your Majesty was pleased to order on the 2d of January last, that the inhabitants of the town of War- wick should not bee disturbed in the quiet possession of the said lands, and that all things relating thereunto should remain in the state they were in before the meet- ing of the said Commissioners, untill William Harris and partners should before your Majesty in Councill, make out a sufficient title thereunto. And whereas the
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1679.]
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said Holden and Greene were no sooner departed, but the petitioner William Har- ris, hath made his appearance, beseeching your Majesty to take such course as might finally determine the matters complained of by him.
Wee are humbly of opinion that by reason of the distance of places, and absence of parties, it will bee a matter of too great difficulty for your Majesty to give such judgment therein as may equally decide their respective pretensions.
And whereas, the said Holden and Greene did offer their exceptions against the Colonys of the Massachusetts and Connecticut, upon divers past differences between them, and that on the other side the petitioner, William Harris, thinks hee has just cause to except against the Colony of Rhode Island as being particularly interested in the present controversy.
Wee therefore humbly offer, that your Majesty's Royall commands be again sent to the Governor and Magistrates of your Colony of New Plymouth, authorizing and requiring them to call before them the said Randolph Holden and John Green e, and other persons in whose behalfe they have lately appealed unto your Majesty, and having in due manner examined the pretensions of the said Harris unto lands possessed by them, do returne unto your Majesty a particular statement thereof, and their opinions thereupon, with all convenient speed.
And whereas, your Majesty hath already thought fitt to order that the said Wm. Harris and partners, bee peaceably and quietly possessed of the lands of Patuxet, and adjudged uuto them by the first and three last verdicts, given in pursuance of your Majesty's late Commission. We further offer, that the Governor and Magis- trates of the Colony of Rhode Island, to whose jurisdiction the said lands apper- taine, bee strictly charged to putt the said William Harris and partners into the quiet possession thereof, and to take care that execution bee given for their damage and costs allowed by the said verdicts within the space of three months at furthest after the receipt of your Majesty's commands : and that in default thereof, sufficient powers may be sent unto the neighbouring Colony of New Plymouth to cause the same to be duly executed without delay.
All which, &c. Councill Chamber, 19 June, 1679.
SHAFTSBURY PR. BRIDGWATER, FAUCONBERG, THO: DOLMAN.
Which Report having been this day read at the Board and approved of, their Lordships were pleased to order, That one of his Majesty's Principall Secretarys of State doe prepare letters for his Majesty's Royall signature, as well to the Governor and Magistrates of his Majesty's Colony of New Plymouth to examine the preten- sion of the said William Harris unto the lands possessed by Randall Holden, John Greene, and others, and to returne a particular statement thereof, with their opin- ions, to his Majesty, with all convenient speed, as to the Governor and Magistrates of the Colony of Rhode Island, to putt him, the said Harris and partners in the peaceable and quiet possession of the lands of Patuxet, adjudged to them by the first and three last verdicts, given in pursuance of his Majesty's late Commission, together with the costs and damages, according to the tenour of the above-mentioned Report. JOHN NICHOLAS.
[The foregoing documents are from the Manuscript Collection of State Papers in the Library of J. Carter Brown, Esq.]
68
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, [1679.
At a Court held in his Majesty's name, and under his authority, at the towne of Westerly, in the King's Province, the 17th of Sep- tember, 1679.
There being present, Major John Cranston, Governor.
ASSISTANTS.
Mr. Thomas Greene.
Mr. Caleb Carr,
SECRETARY.
Mr. Joseph Clarke,
John Sanford.
Capt'n Arthur Fenner,
GENERAL SERGEANT.
John Sanford,
Edmund Calverly.
Capt'n Samuel Gorton,
Proclamation openly made of the Court's being and sittinge.
The Suncksquaw, Ninecraft's daughter, appearing in this Court, and complaining about some injury done her by Har- man Garrett's claiminge part of her lands, she produced some writeings in Court, to evince her complaint, this Court doe or- der, that the Secretary take copys thereof.
The inhabitants of Westerly being by warrant required to appeare at this Court to give the oath of allegiance to his Maj- esty, and of fidellity to his Majesty's authority, for this Collony, these persons here under named appeared, and gave oath, viz. :
Mr. Tobias Saunders,
Gersham Cotterill,
Robert Burdick,
Henry Hall, Sen'r,
Edward Larkin,
William Champion,
John Fairfield,
James Crandall,
John Randall,
Peter Crandall,
John Macoone,
John Lewis,
Daniell Crome,
Christopher Champion,
James Badcock,
Henry Hall, Jun'r,
Joseph Clarke,
Jonathan Lewis,
Capt'n James Pemblton,
Thomas Burdick,
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1679.]
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
Mr. Thomas Wells, Sen'r,
John Balmiter,
John Badcocke,
John Wells,
George Lampheare,
Thomas Wells, Jun'r,
Jeffery Champion,
Richard Parssmore,
Nicholas Cotterill,
Joseph Pemblton,
Job Badcocke,
John Parner.
Richard Swaight,
The oath given by the above written persons was in these followinge words :
I doe truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify and declare in my conscience before God and the world, that our Soverreign Lord, King Charles, is lawfull and rightfull King of the Realm of England, and of all other his dominions and coun- tries ; and that the Pope, neither of himselfe, nor by any au- thority of the Church, or See of Rome, or by any other meanes with any other, hath any power or authority to depose the King, or to dispose of his Majesty's kingdoms or dominions, or to authorize any forreigne prince to invade, or annoy him, or his country, or to discharge any of his subjects from their alle- giance and obedience to his Majesty ; or to give licence or leave to any of them to beare armes, raise tumults, or offer any violence or hurt to his Majesty's Royall person, State or Gov- ernment, or to any of his Majesty's subjects within his Majes- ty's dominions. Alsoe I doe sweare from my heart, that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of excommunica- tion, or deprivation, made or granted, or to be made or granted by the Pope or his successors, or by any authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his See against the said King, his heires or successors, or any absolution of the said subjects from their obedience, I will beare faith and true alle- giance to his Majesty, his hcires and successors, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all con- spiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their persons, their Crowne and dignity, by reason or clause of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise, and will doe my best endeavour to disclose, and make knowne unto his Majesty, his heires and successors, all treasons and traiter-
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, [1679. -
ous conspiracies, which I shall know or hear of, to be against him or any of them. And I doe further sweare, that I doe from my heart, abhor, detest and abjure as impious and herriti- cal, this damnable doctrine and position, that princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, may be deposed or murthered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever. And I doe believe and in my conscience am resolved, that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever, hath power to absolve me of this oath, or any part thereof, which I acknowledge by good and full authority to bee ministered unto me; and doe renounce all pardons and dispensations to the contrary. And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and sweare ac- cording to these express words by me spoken, according to the plaine and common sense and understandinge of the same words, without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secrett reserva - tion whatsoever. And further, I doe here solemnly engage all true and loyall obedience unto his Majesty's authority placed and established in this his Collony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations, and King's Province. And I doe make this recognition heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a Christian. So help me God.
Ordered, That the commission and power formerly granted to Mr. Tobias Saunders and Mr. John Crandall, by the Gov- ernor and Councill, bearinge date the 21st of May, 1669, is continued, and placed on [record]. Mr. Tobias Saunders and the Governour are empowered to signe the same ; the said Mr. Saunders haveing in this Court given his engagement.
Whereas, this Court have received a paper from a Court at New London, signed William Leete, Governour, called a Pro- test," it is ordered, That an answer from this Court bee made.
* Letter from Connecticut to Rhode Island.
New London, Sept. 16, 1679.
Gent. :- Not having intelligence vntill now, at New London, of your rash and presumptius motions to come and keep an affronting Court within the limits of Ston- ington, while we are keeping Court here for that county, and some of those mnhab-
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1679.]
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
A true Copy of the Answer.
Westerly, one of the frontier townes in the
King's Majesty's Province, the 17th of September, 1679, at a Court then and there held in his Majesty's name.
Gentlemen : Wee received some lines, bearing date Septem- ber 16th, 1679, in an open pamphlett, by the hands of Mr. Thomas Minor, the 17th instant, in the eveining, said by him to be sent to us by yourselves, the truth whereof wee very much questioned.
1. Because the superscription is directed not mentioninge the Governour's name nor the Collony he belongs to.
2. Because the lines doe import untrue charges, together with threats of violence, which if wee were certaine the lines were written from your selfe to us, yett neither flattery nor threats can withdraw us from our loyalty ; nor deterr us from executinge the King's business in his Province, according to his Royall commands ; into which upon all occasions your
itants are under summons hitherto to be responsible ; but doe not appeare, as is supposed, by your interruption, &c., or occasion taken from this intrusion of yours. These things look vpon vs more like incendiary actings than a peaceable carriage of loueing neighbours, liveing in a juneture of great troubles in England, which may retarde an issue of our applications thither ; where the matter betwixt yourselves and vs depending, in obedience to his Majesty's orders vnto all the Colony's respec- tively ; being the same (for substance) as we are informed, whereupon we have been willing to sit silent for the interim : and loth to vse violence to repell ineroachments, although you doe continue thus to be vrgeing vs therevnto. But we cannot now in duty omit hereby to send, and make protestations against this and all other your illegall and irregular vsurpations of authority and ineroachments, within our just and knowne Pattent limits ; and therefore your pretenses haue had an indifferent bearing and determination in England.
Gent., we would request you not to be too hasty to drive on commotions, so im- mediately after our late troubles with barbarians; to begin intestine vexations amongst Christian neighbours. Yet haueing thus friendly giuen notice and made protest, we take leaue and subscribe ourselves,
Your loueing ffriends and neigbours, WILLIAM LEETE, Gov'r,
With consent of the County Court assembled.
To the Honoured Governour and other authority of Rhode Island, if present, at Squamacuck.
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RECORDS OF THIE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND,
[1679.
ยท selves have striven to intrude, notwithstandinge [the] decision of the matter in our Pattent, as alsoe his Majesty's Honorable Commissioners' orders ; as if you violate their actions in con- tempt of his Majesty, which said orders are mentioned to you in his Majesty's late letter, which cannot be deemed but as a justification of our proceedings and the contrary to you. And whereas you say the matter is depending in England, you know wee have severall times according to our Pattent, signi- fyed our appeale to his Majesty, unto you, by our letters, whereunto you have refused to answer, as by your letters may be made to appearc.
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Furthermore, bee it knowe to you, wee come hither only to continue the jurisdiction of his Majesty's Province, as wee have formerly done, and not to sett up a new one ; although you, by your violent intrusion, have compelled the inhabitants to the contrary, which wee hope for the future you will forbeare. Therein you will give occasion for us remaine your friends and neighbours.
JOHN CRANSTON, Governor of his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and King's Province.
To the Honoured William Leete, Governor at New London, if there, or elsewhere. These,
Per THOMAS MINOR.
Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 30th day of October, 1679.
The Governor chosen Moderator.
The Recorder chosen Clerke.
Voted, Arthur Cooke is admitted a freeman of this Collony.
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1679.]
Voted, This Assembly is adjourned untill Monday, the 10th of November next.
November 10th.
The Assembly called and satt.
Voted, That Henry Straite, petitioning this Assembly there- in haveing represented that he beinge by one of the inhabitants of East Greenwich, viz .: Henry Brightman, desired and em- ployed to build on his land at said Greenwich, and soe doinge, the said Brightman haveing surrendered his right to the said lands, the petitioner, Henry Straite, is accepted into the privi- ledges of Henry Brightman, in and to the said lands at Greenwich.
Voted, Upon a petition presented by the towne of Westerly, for the running the Westerly line of this Collony, and the en- largement of the towne of Westerly.
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