Pequods, that they no longer made a stand against the 1637. English. They scattered in every direction; straggling parties were hunted and shot down like deer in the woods; their Sachem, Sassacus, was murdered by the Mohawks, to whom he fled for protection; their territory was laid waste; their settlements were burned, and about two hundred survivors, the sole remnant of the Pequod nation, surrendering in despair, were enslaved by the English, or incorporated among their Indian allies. The vigor with which the war had been prosecuted, struck terror into the other tribes of New England, and secured to the settlements a succession of many years of peace. III. NEW HAVEN COLONY.-1. "The pursuit of the Pequods westward of the Connecticut, made the English acquainted with the coast from Saybrook to Fairfield ;* and late in the year, a few men from Boston explored the country, and, erecting a hut at New Haven,† there passed the winter. 1 Effect of other tribes. the war on 2. Discovery ment of New and settle Haven. a. Note, page 209. 2. In the spring of the following year, a Puritan colony, 1638. under the guidance of Theophilus Eaton, and the Rev. John Davenport, who had recently arrived from Europe, left Boston for the new settlement at New Haven. "They passed their first Sabbath under a spreading oak, and Mr. Davenport explained to the people, with much counsel adapted to their situation, how the Son of Man was led into the wilderness to be tempted. b. April 9. bath at New 3. First Sab Haven. c. April 28. ment of the colony. 3. The settlers of New Haven established a govern- 4.The govern ment upon strictly religious principles, making the Bible their law-book, and church-members the only freemen. Mr. Eaton, who was a merchant of great wealth, and who had been deputy-governor of the British East India Company, was annually chosen governor of New Haven colony during twenty years, until his death. "The colo- 5. Its prosny quickly assumed a flourishing condition. The settlements extended rapidly along the Sound, and, in all cases, the lands were honorably purchased of the natives. perity. 1639. IV. CONNECTICUT UNDER HER OWN CONSTITUTION.— 6. Important 1. "In 1639 the inhabitants of the three towns on the Con- events in 1639. Fairfield borders on the Sound, fifty miles S. W. from the mouth of the Connecticut. Some of the Pequods were pursued to a great swamp in this town. Some were slain, and about 200 surrendered. The town was first settled by a Mr. Ludlow and others in 1639. † New Haven, now one of the capitals of Connecticut, called by the Indians Quinipiac, lies at the head of a harbor which sets up four miles from Long Island Sound. It is about seventy-five miles N.E. from New York, and thirty-four S. W. from Hartford. The city is on a beautiful plain, bounded on the west by West River, and on the east by Wallingford, or Quinipiac River. Yale College is located at New Haven. (See Map.) This tree stood near the corner of George and College streets. a. Jan. 24. stitution of ANALYSIS. necticut, who had hitherto acknowledged the authority of Massachusetts, assembled at Hartford, and formed a 1. First con- separate government for themselves. The constitution Connecticut. Was one of unexampled liberality, guarding with jealous care against every encroachment on the rights of the people. The governor and legislature were to be chosen annually by the freemen, who were required to take an oath of allegiance to the commonwealth, instead of the English monarch; and in the general court alone was 2. Separate vested the power of making and repealing laws. At Connecticut. this time three separate colonies existed within the limits of the present state of Connecticut. colonies in 3. Disputes with the Dutch. 1644. 2. "The Connecticut colonies were early involved in disputes with the Dutch of New Netherlands, who claimed the soil as far eastward as the Connecticut River. The fear of an attack from that quarter, was one of the causes which, in 1643, led to the confederation of the New England colonies for mutual defence. 'In 1644 4. Purchase of Saybrook was purchased of George Fenwick, one of the proprietors, and permanently annexed to the Connecticut 5. Treaty colony. In 1650 Governor Stuyvesant visited Hartford, where a treaty was concluded, determining the line of partition between New Netherlands and Connecticut. Saybrook. with the Dutch. 1651. tween England and Holland vented a roar 3. In 1651 war broke out between England and HolWar be land, and although their colonies in America had agreed to remain at peace, the governor of New Netherlands was accused of uniting with the Indians, in plotting the 7. What pre- destruction of the English. "The commissioners of the in America United Colonies decided in favor of commencing hostilib1653. ties against the Dutch and Indians, but Massachusetts refused to furnish her quota of men, and thus prevented 8. What colo- the war. "Connecticut and New Haven then applied to to Cromwell, Cromwell for assistance, who promptly despatched a fleet and the for the reduction of New Netherlands; but while the 1654. colonies were making preparations to co-operate with the naval force, the news of peace in Europe arrested the expedition. nies applied result. Connecticut. 1660. V. CONNECTICUT UNDER THE ROYAL CHARTER.-1. Loyalty of When Charles II. was restored to the throne of his and. May. cestors, Connecticut declared her loyalty, and submission 20. The royal to the king, and applied for a royal charter. "The aged Character. Lord Say-and-Seal, the early friend of the emigrants, 1662. now exerted his influence in their favor; while the charter-its younger Winthrop, then governor of the colony, went to England as its agent. When he appeared before the king with his petition, he presented him a favorite ring which Charles I. had given to Winthrop's grandfather. This trifling token, recalling to the king the memory of a. May 30. his own unfortunate father, readily won his favor, and 1662. Connecticut thereby obtained a charter, the most liberal that had yet been granted, and confirming, in every particular, the constitution which the people themselves had adopted. 'New embraced by 2. New Haven. 1665. 2. 'The royal charter, embracing the territory from the 1. Territory Narragansett Bay and River westward to the Pacific the charter. Ocean, included, within its limits, the New Haven colony, and most of the present state of Rhode Island. Haven reluctantly united with Connecticut in 1665. The year after the grant of the Connecticut charter, 3. The Rhode Rhode Island received one which extended her western limits to the Pawcatuck* River, thus including a portion b. July 18, of the territory granted to Connecticut, and causing a controversy between the two colonies, which continued more than sixty years. Island charter. 1663. 4. Connecti King Phil 5. Usurpa tp's war. 3. During King Philip's war, which began in 1675, 1675. Connecticut suffered less, in her own territory, than any of her sister colonies, but she furnished her proportion of troops for the common defence. At the same time, however, she was threatened with a greater calamity, in the loss of her liberties, by the usurpations of Andros, then governor of New York, who attempted to extend his arbitrary authority over the country as far east as the Connecticut River. 4. In July, Andros, with a small naval force, proceeded to the mouth of the Connecticut, and hoisting the king's flag, demanded the surrender of the fort; but Captain Bull, the commander, likewise showing his majesty's colors, expressed his determination to defend it. Being permitted to land, Andros attempted to read his commission to the people, but, in the king's name, he was sternly commanded to desist. He finally returned to New York without accomplishing his object. tions of Andros. Expedition cut, and its to Connecti result. c. July 21. 7. Second necticut. 5. Twelve years later, Andros again appeared in 1687. Connecticut, with a commission from King James, ap-onpointing him royal governor of all New England. Pro- dros to Conceeding to Hartford, he found the assembly in session, and demanded the surrender of the charter. A discus- d Nov. 10. sion arose, which was prolonged until evening. The charter was then brought in and laid on the table. While the discussion was proceeding, and the house was thronged with citizens, suddenly the lights were extinguished. The utmost decorum prevailed, but when the candles The Pawcatuck, formed by the junction of Wood and Charles Rivers in Washington County, Rhode Island, is still, in the lower part of its course, the dividing line between Connecticut and Rhode Island. ANALYSIS. were re-lighted, the charter was missing, and could no where be found. 1. The charter preserved. 6. 'A Captain Wadsworth had secreted it in a hollow tree, which is still standing, and which retains the ven 2. What then erated name of the Charter Oak. "Andros, however, was done by assumed the government, which was administered in his name until the revolution in England deprived James of a See p. 197. his throne, and restored the liberties of the people. Andros. 1689. 3 Events during William's war. b. 1689-1697 7. During King William's war, which immediately followed the English revolution, the people of Connecticut were again called to resist an encroachment on their 4 Fletcher's rights. 'Colonel Fletcher, governor of New York, had commission received a commission vesting in him the command of the militia of Connecticut. "This was a power which the charter of Connecticut had reserved to the colony itself, and the legislature refused to comply with the requisition. Fletcher then repaired to Hartford, and ordered the militia under arms. 5. What course 10as taken by the legislature, and that by Fletcher. 1693. Nov. 6. 6 Fletcher's visit to Hartford. 1700. ment of Yale College. 8. "The Hartford companies, under Captain Wadsworth, appeared, and Fletcher ordered his commission and instructions to be read to them. Upon this, Captain Wadsworth commanded the drums to be beaten. Colonel Fletcher commanded silence, but no sooner was the reading commenced a second time, than the drums, at the command of Wadsworth, were again beaten with more spirit than ever. But silence was again commanded, when Wadsworth, with great earnestnes, ordered the drums to be beaten, and turning to Fletcher said, with spirit and meaning in his looks,. "If I am interrupted again I will make the sun shine through you in a moment." Governor Fletcher made no farther attempts to read his commission, and soon judged it expedient to return to New York. 9. In the year 1700, several clergymen assembled at 7. Establish Branford,* and each, producing a few books, laid them on the table, with these words: "I give these books for the founding of a college in this colony." Such was the beginning of Yale College, now one of the most honored institutions of learning in the land. It was first established at Saybrook, and was afterwards removed to New Haven. It derived its name from Elihu Yale, one of its most liberal patrons. c 1702. d 1717. 8. Remaining history of 10. The remaining portion of the colonial history of Connecticut. Connecticut is not marked by events of sufficient interest to require any farther notice than they may gain in the Branford is a town in Connecticut, bordering on the Sound, seven miles E. from New Haven. more general history of the colonies. The laws, customs, manners, and religious notions of the people, were similar to those which prevailed in the neighboring colony of Massachusetts, and, generally, throughout New England. 1717. 1 Laws, cus toms, mannere, &c. CHAPTER V. RHODE ISLAND.* 1. After Roger Williams had been banished from Massachusetts, he repaired to the country of the Narragansetts, who inhabited nearly all the territory which now forms the state of Rhode Island. By the sachems of that tribe he was kindly received, and during fourteen weeks he found a shelter in their wigwams from the severity of winter. On the opening of spring he proceeded to Seekonk,† on the north of Narragansett Bay, and having been joined by a few faithful friends from Massachusetts, he obtained a grant of land from an Indían chief, and made preparations for a settlement. 5 Whither vised to re he was ad move, and why. of Provi dence. 2. 'Soon after, finding that he was within the limits of the Plymouth colony, and being advised by Mr. Winslow, the governor, to remove to the other side of the water, where he might live unmolested, he resolved to comply with the friendly advice. "Embarking with five com- Settlement panions in a frail Indian canoe, he passed down the Narragansett Rivers to Moshassuck, which he selected as the place of settlement, purchased the land of the chiefs of the Narragansetts, and, with unshaken confidence in the mercies of Heaven, named the place Providence. settlement was called Providence Plantation. b. June. The Name of the settle ment. RHODE ISLAND, the smallest state in the Union, contains an area, separate from the waters of Narragansett Bay, of about 1225 square miles. In the northwestern part of the state the surface of the country is hilly, and the soil poor. In the south and west the country is generally level, and in the vicinity of Narragansett Bay, and on the islands which it contains, the soil is very fertile. 1 The town of Seekonk, the western part of the early Rehoboth, lies cast of, and adjoining the northern part of Narragansett Bay. The village is on Ten Mile River, three or four miles east from Providence. (See Map) ‡ Narragansett Bay is in the eastern part of the state of Rhode Island, and is twenty-eight miles long from N. to S., and from eight to twelve broad. The N.E. arm of the bay is called Mount Hope Bay; the northern, Providence Bay; and the N. Western, Greenwich Bay. It contains a number of beautiful and fertile islands, the principal of which are Rhode Island, Conanicut, and Prudence. (See Map.) The northern part of Narragansett Bay was often called Narragansett River. Providence, one of the capitals of Rhode Island, is in the northern part of the state, at the head of Narragansett Bay, and on both sides of Providence River, which is, properly, a small Seekonk Swansey Tiverton |