grants. ANALYSIS. 12. 'Severe were the sufferings of the emigrants during the first winter. Some of them returned, through the 1636. Sufferings snow, in a famishing state; and those who remained subof the emi sisted on acorns, malt, and grains; but, during the summer following, new emigrants came in larger companies, 2. Remarks and several settlements were firmly established. "The enterprise. display of Puritan fortitude, enterprise, and resolution, exhibited in the planting of the Connecticut colony, are distinguishing traits of New England character. From that day to the present the hardy sons of New England have been foremost among the bold pioneers of western emigration. upon this 3. Other reli gious dissen Soon after the of Williams. 13. Soon after the banishment of Roger Williams, sions other religious dissensions arose, which again disturbed which arose the quiet of the colony. It was customary for the membanishment bers of each congregation to assemble in weekly meetings, and there debate the doctrines they had heard the previous Sunday, for the purpose of extending their sacred influence through the week. As women were debarred the privilege of taking part in these debates, a Mrs. Hutchinson, a woman of eloquence and ability, established meetings for those of her own sex, in which her zeal and talent soon procured her a numerous and admiring audience. 4. Course Hutchinson. she was supported. 14. This woman, from being an expounder of the doctaken trines of others, soon began to teach new ones; she assumed the right of deciding upon the religious faith of the clergy and the people, and, finally, of censuring and condemning those who rejected, or professed themselves un5. By whom able to understand her peculiar tenets. 'She was supported by Sir Henry Vane the governor, by several of the magistrates, and men of learning, and by a majority of the people of Boston. 'She was opposed by most of the clergy, and by the sedate and more judicious men of the colony. At length, in a general synods of the churches, the new opinions were condemned as erroneous and heretical, and the general court soon after issued a decree of banishment against Mrs. Hutchinson and several of her followers. 1637. 6. By whom 7. Her banish opposed. ment. a. Aug. 8. Pequod var. 15. During the same year occurred an Indian ward in Connecticut, with the Pequods, the most warlike of the 9. The Narra New England tribes. "The Narragansetts of Rhode b. See p. 209. gansetts. Island, hereditary enemies of the Pequods, were invited to unite with them in exterminating the invaders of their country; but, through the influence of Roger Williams, they rejected the proposals, and, lured by the hope of gratifying their revenge for former injuries, they determined to assist the English in the prosecution of the war. 10. Result of 10The result of the brief contest was the total destruction of the Pequod nation. The impression made upon the the contest. e See p. 211. other tribes secured a long tranquillity to the English 1637. settlements. 16. The persecutions which the Puritans in England suffered, during this period, induced large numbers of them to remove to New England. But the jealousy of he English monarch, and of the English bishop, was at ength aroused by the rapid growth of a Puritan colony, in which sentiments adverse to the claims of the established church and the prerogatives of royalty were ardently cherished; and repeated attempts were made to put a stop to farther emigration. As early as 1633, a proclamation to that effect was issued, but the vacillating policy of the king neglected to enforce it. 2 in England to prevent 1. Attempts emigration. 1638. Events that occurred in 1638. 3 Assertions relation to and Crom made in Hampden 17. In 1638 a fleet of eight ships, on board of which were some of the most eminent Puritan leaders and patriots, was forbidden to sail, by order of the king's council; but the restraint was finally removed, and the ships proceeded on their intended voyage. 'It has been asserted, and generally believed, that the distinguished patriots John Hampden and Oliver Cromwell were on board of this fleet, but were detained by special order or the king. 'If the assertion be correct, this assumption of arbitrary power said of this by the king was a fatal error; for the exertions of Hampden and Cromwell, in opposing the encroachments of kingly authority, afterwards contributed greatly to the furtherance of those measures which deprived Charles I. of his crown, and finally brought him to the scaffold. In well. 4. What is assertion. 5. Education land; found in New Enging of Har vard College, 18. The settlers of Massachusetts had early turned their attention to the subject of education, wisely judging that learning and religion would be the best safeguards of the commonwealth. In 1636 the general court appropriated about a thousand dollars for the purpose of founding a public school or college, and, in the following year, directed that it should be established at Newtown. 1638, John Harvard, a worthy minister, dying at Charlestown,* left to the institution upwards of three thousand dollars. In honor of this pious benefactor the general court gave to the school the name of Harvard College; and, in memory of the place where many of the settlers of New England had received their education, that part a Note and of Newtown in which the college was located, received the name of Cambridge. IV. UNION OF THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES.-1. In the New Eng Map, p. 184. 1643. 6. Union of land colonies. Charlestown is situated on a peninsula, north of and about half as large as that of Boston, formed by Mystic River on the N., and an inlet from Charles River on the S. The channel between Charlestown and Boston is less than half a mile across, over which bridges have been thrown The United States Navy Yard, located at Charlestown, covers about 60 acres of land It is one of the best naval depôts in the Union. (See Map, p. 184, and also Map, p. 349.) for this union. ANALYSIS. 1643 the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ply mouth, and New Haven, formed themselves into one confederacy, by the name of THE UNITED COLONIES OF NEW a. May 29.* ENGLAND. The reasons assigned for this union were, 1. The reasons the dispersed state of the colonies; the dangers apprehended from the Dutch, the French, and the Indians; the commencement of civil contests in the parent country; and the difficulty of obtaining aid from that quarter, in any 2 Why Rhode emergency. A few years later Rhode Island petitioned not admitted to be admitted into the confederacy, but was refused, because she was unwilling to consent to what was required of her, an incorporation with the Plymouth colony. Island rous b. 1648. 3 Terms of the confedeTacy. 2. By the terms of the confederacy, which existed more than forty years, each colony was to retain its separate existence, but was to contribute its proportion of men and money for the common defence; which, with all matters relating to the common interest, was to be decided in an annual assembly composed of two commissioners from Nature of each colony. "This transaction of the colonies was an assumption of the powers of sovereignty, and doubtless contributed to the formation of that public sentiment which prepared the way for American Independence. this transaction. 5. Early laws and customs. mental law of Massachusetts. V. EARLY LAWS AND CUSTOMS.-1. 'As the laws and customs of a people denote the prevailing sentiments and opinions, the peculiarities of early New England legisla 6. A funda- tion should not be wholly overlooked. By a fundamental law of Massachusetts it was enacted that all strangers professing the Christian religion, and fleeing to the country, from the tyranny of their persecutors, should be supported at the public charge till other provisions could be made for them. "Yet this toleration did not extend to Jesuits and popish priests, who were subjected to banishment; and, in case of their return, to death. 7. How limited. 8. " War," ties." "Money 2. Defensive war only was considered justifiable; "blasphemy," blasphemy, idolatry, and witchcraft were punishable with 4.c. death; all gaming was prohibited; intemperance, and all "Immorali immoralities, were severely punished; persons were forbidden to receive interest for money lent, and to wear expensive apparel unsuitable to their estates; parents were "Instruction commanded to instruct and catechise their children and servants; and, in all cases in which the laws were found defective, the Bible was made the ultimate tribunal of appeal. loaned." of children." "The Bible." . Comparison observed here. 3. Like the tribes of Israel, the colonists of New England had forsaken their native land after a long and severe NOTE.-The Plymouth commissioners, for want of authority from their general court, did not sign the articies until Sept. 17th. MASSACHUSETTS. 189 1. What the cherish, and how. bondage, and journeyed into the wilderness for the sake 1643. of religion. "They endeavored to cherish a resemblance of condition so honorable, and so fraught with incitements colonists ento piety, by cultivating a conformity between their laws deavored to and-customs, and those which had distinguished the people of God. Hence arose some of the peculiarities which 2. What pecu have been observed in their legislative code; and hence hence arose. arose also the practice of commencing their sabbatical observances on Saturday evening, and of counting every evening the commencement of the ensuing day. liarities children. 4. "The same predilection for Jewish customs begat, or 3. Names of at least promoted, among them, the habit of bestowing sig. nificant names on children; of whom, the first three that were baptized in Boston church, received the names of Joy, Recompense, and Pity.' This custom prevailed to a great extent, and such names as Faith, Hope, Charity, Patience, &c., and others of a similar character, were long prevalent throughout New England. SECTION II. MASSACHUSETTS, FROM THE UNION OF THE NEW ENGLAND Subject of Section II. Section II. DIVISIONS.-1. Events from the "Union" to King Philip's War.- Divisions of 11. King Philip's War-III. Controversies and Royal Tyranny.IV. Massachusetts during King William's War. government in 1644. adjusted. I. EVENTS FROM THE "UNION" TO KING PHILIP'S 4. Change in WAR.-1. 'In 1644 an important change took place in the government of Massachusetts. were first chosen, they sat and voted in the same room When representatives with the governor's council; but it was now ordained that the governor and his council should sit apart; and thence commenced the separate existence of the democratic branch of the legislature, or house of representatives. 'During the same year the disputes which had long 5. Disputes existed between the inhabitants of New England and the French settlers in Acadia were adjusted by treaty." 2. During the civil war which occurred in England, the New England colonies were ardently attached to the cause of the Parliament, but yet they had so far forgotten their own wrongs, as sincerely to lament the tragical fate of the king. After the abolition of royalty, a requisition was made upon Massachusetts for the return of her char. After the ter, that a new one might be taken out under the auabolition of thorities which then held the reins of government. Probably through the influence of Cromwell the requisi b. a. Oct. 18. Note, p. 173. setts during in England. 6. Massachu the civil war c. 1651. royalty ANALYSIS. tion was not enforced. 'When the supreme authority devolved upon Cromwell, as Protector of the Common. Common- wealth of England, the New England colonies found in him an ardent friend, and a protector of their liberties. 1. During the wealth. 1652. tory of Maine. 3. In 1652 the province of Maine* was taken under 2. Early his the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. As early as 1626 a few feeble settlements were commenced along the coast of Maine, but hardly had they gained a permanent existence, before the whole territory, from the Piscataqua† to the Penobscot, was granted away by the Plymouth Company, by a succession of conflicting patents, which were afterwards the occasion of long-continued and bitter controversies. a. April 13. and government. b. 1652. 1656. 4. In 1639 Ferdinand Gorges, a member of the 3. Gorges, Plymouth Company, obtained a royal charter, constituscheme of ting him Lord Proprietor of the country. The stately scheme of government which he attempted to establish was poorly suited to the circumstances of the people; and they finally sought a refuge from anarchy, and the contentions of opposing claimants to their territory, by taking into their own hands the powers of government, and placing themselves under the protection of a sister colony. 5. In 1656 occurred the first arrival of Quakers in Massachusetts, a sect which had recently arisen in EngThe report of their peculiar sentiments and actions had preceded them, and they were sent back by the vessels in which they came. "The four united colonies then concurred in a law prohibiting the introduction of Quakers, but still they continued to arrive in increasing numbers, although the rigor of the law was increased against them. At length, in 1658, by the advice of the commissioners of the four colonies, the legislature of Massachusetts, after a long discussion, and by a majority of a single vote, denounced the punishment of death upon all Quakers returning from banishment. 4 First ar Belts. 5. Laws against them. c. 1657. 1658. 6. Avowed object of the 6. "The avowed object of the law was not to persecute law of 1659. the Quakers, but to exclude them; and it was thought 7. Its effect. that its severity would be effectual. 'But the fear of death had no influence over men who believed they were *MAINE, the northeastern of the United States, is supposed to contain an area of nearly 35,000 square miles. In the north and northwest the country is mountainous, and has a poor soil. Throughout the interior it is generally hilly, and the land rises so rapidly from the seacoast, that the tide in the numerous rivers flows but a short distance inland. The best land in the state is between the Penobscot and Kennebec rivers, where it is excellent. The coast is lined with islands, and indented with numerous bays and inlets, which furnish more good harbora than are found in any other state in the Union. The Piscataqua rises between Maine and New Hampshire, and throughout its whole course, of forty miles, constitutes the boundary between the two states. That part of the stream above Berwick Falls is called Salmon Falls River. Great Bay, with its tributaries, Lamprey, Exe ter, Oyster River, and other streams, unites with it on the south, five miles above Portsmouth, (See Map, p. 206.) |