1687. THE attorney general received orders from king James, in Quo warApril, to issue a writ of quo warranto against the charter of the ranto a proprietor of Maryland; but no judgment was ever obtained.1 ryland. gainst Ma of Connec Sir Edmund Andros went, in October, with his suite and more Andros asthan 60 regular troops, to Hartford, where the assembly of Con- sumes the necticut was then sitting; demanded the charter; and declared government the government to be dissolved. The assembly, extremely re- ticut. luctant and slow to surrender or to produce the charter, kept the subject in debate and suspense until evening; when the charter was brought and laid on the table, where the assembly was convened. The lights were now instantly extinguished. There was no appearance, however, of disorder. The candles were relighted; but the patent was gone. Sir Edmund assumed the government; and the records of the colony were closed. The charter, in due time, came to light. Captain Wadsworth of Hartford silently carried it off, and secreted it in a large hollow oak tree, which, to this day, is regarded with veneration, as the preserver of the constitution of the colony.2 of the pillars of the Old South church at this very time. In his Diary are the following entries. [1686] "Aug. William Harrison, the boddice maker is buried, which is the first that I know of buried with the Common Prayer Book in Boston. He was formerly Mr. Randolph's landlord." August 21. Mr. Randolph and Mr. Bullivant were here. Mr. Randolph mentioned a contribution toward building them a church, and seemed to goe away displeased because I spake not up to it." Judge Sewall, having mentioned that the governor and counsellors took the oaths at the Town House (remarking, that the "governour stood with his hat on when oaths given to counsellors"), writes: "It seems [he] speaks to the ministers in the Library about accommodation as to a meeting house, that might so contrive the time, as one house might serve two assemblies." "Dec. 21. There is a meeting at Mr. Allen's of the Ministers and four of each Congregation, to consider what answer to give the Governour; and it was agreed, that could not with a good conscience consent that our meeting houses should be made use for the Common Prayer worship." "March 22, 1686-7. This day his Excellency views the three meeting houses. 23. The Governour sends Mr. Randolph for the keys of our meeting house [Old South], that may say prayers there. Mr. Eliot, Frary, Oliver, Savage, Davis, and myself wait on his excellency, show that the land and house is ours, and that we can't consent to part with it to such use; exhibit an extract of Mrs. Norton's deed, and how 'twas built by particular persons, as Hull, Oliver, £100 apiece &c." "Friday, March 25, 1687. The Governour has service in the South meetinghouse. Goodm. Needham, tho' had resolved to the contrary, was prevailed upon to ring the bell and open the door at the Governour's command, one Smith and Hill, joiner and shoemaker, being very busy about it." 1 Chalmers, 371. 2 Chalmers, 298. Trumbull, Conn. i. 371, 372. Dummer, N. Eng. Charters, 2. Gov. Wolcott, MS. Memoir. In this Memoir the governor writes: "And now Sir Edmund being in town, and the Charters gone, the Secretary closed the Colony Records with the word Finis, and all departed."-The venerable Oak, in which the Charter was concealed, stood in front of the house of the honourable Samuel Wyllys then one of the magistrates of the colony. It still remains 1687. Indian churches in Mass. and An order was transmitted from England to the governor of New York, to permit vessels to pass, without interruption, to East Jersey, on paying the same customs as at New York.1 There were in Massachusetts, at this time, beside the principal church at Natick, four Indian assemblies of religious worshippers. In Plymouth colony, beside the principal church at Mashpee, there were five assemblies in that vicinity, and a large congregation at Saconet. Between Saconet and Cape Cod there were six societies, with an Indian teacher to each; one church at Nantucket; and three at Martha's Vineyard.2 Expedition James II. detached Sir Robert Holmes, with a small fleet, for suppres- and an extraordinary commission, for suppressing pirates in the in the West West Indies. The governor and council of Carolina received Indies. orders to show an example of submission to his powers, and to sing pirates Death of La afford every assistance to his armament. This judicious project proved successful; "till new causes not long after gave rise to piratical adventures, which required all the continued energy of William and Mary to suppress.' 993 M. de la Sale, the discoverer of Louisiana, returning from an enterprise for the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi, was shot, in a mutiny, by one of his own men.* within the enclosure of the old family mansion; and is in little danger of injury, except from time, while under the auspicious care of the Wyllys family. In reply to an inquiry concerning this tree before I had seen it, a daughter of the late Secretary Wyllys of Connecticut wrote to me, from Hartford: "That venerable Tree, which concealed the Charter of our rights, stands at the foot of Wyllys Hill. The first inhabitant of that name found it standing in the height of its glory. Age seems to have curtailed its branches, yet it is not exceeded in the height of its colouring or richness of its foliage. The trunk measures 21 feet in circumference, and near 7 in diameter. The cavity, which was the asylum of our Charter, was near the roots, and large enough to admit a child. Within the space of eight years, that cavity has closed, as if it had fulfilled the divine purpose for which it had been reared." 1 Chalmers, 622. The Jerseys were, not long after, annexed to New England. 2 Mather, Magnal. b. 3. 194, 195. Neal, N. Eng. i. c. 6. "There are 6 churches of baptized Indians, and 18 assemblies of catachumens, professing the name of Christ. Of the Indians there are 24, who are preachers of the Word of God; and beside these there are four English ministers, who preach the gospel in the Indian tongue." Ibid. Letter of I. Mather to Professor Leusden of Utrecht. Referring to the 5 assemblies of Indians "not far distant from Masshippaug [Mashpee], which have Indian preachers," Dr. I. Mather says: "John Cotton, pastor of the church at Plymouth, son of my venerable father in law John Cotton the famous teacher of the church at Boston, has made very great progress in learning the Indian tongue, and is very skilful in it: he preaches in their own language to the five mentioned congregations every week." Ib. 3 Chalmers, 546, 547. Univ. Hist. xli. 361, 362. Hume says of James II, that "his application to naval affairs was successful, his encouragement of trade judicious, his jealousy of national honour laudable." Hist. Eng. James II, c. ii. Henault says, the public are indebted to this prince, when only duke of York, for the contrivance of signals on board a fleet, by the means of flags and streamers. Hist. France, ii. 200. 4 Univ. Hist. xl. 260. After his discovery in 1682, he went to France, and obtained leave of the king to discover the mouth of the Mississippi, and to make BRITISH COLONIES. tilities. The French court aimed a blow, which threatened to destroy 1687. all the British interest in North America.1 M. de Denonville, succeeding M. de la Barre, took the field with 1500 French French hosand 500 Indians. The Senecas had absolutely refused to meet M. de la Barre at the late treaty, and were known to be most firmly attached to the English; it was therefore determined to extirpate or humble them, and to make them examples of French M. Denonville commenced June 23. Denonville resentment to all the other Indians. his march from Cataracui fort on the 23d of June. When marches the army had reached the foot of a hill, about a quarter of a against the league from the chief village of the Senecas, the Indians, who Senecas. lay in ambush, suddenly raised the war shout, with a discharge. of fire arms. This surprise threw the French into confusion, of which the Senecas took instant advantage, and fell on them with great fury; but the French Indians rallied at length, and repulsed them. In this action, 100 Frenchmen, 10 French Indians, and The next day, Denonville about 80 Senecas were killed. marched forward with the intention of burning the village, but found it in ashes. The Senecas had burned it, and fled. Nothing was left to employ the valour of the soldiers, but the corn in the fields, which they effectually destroyed. Before Denonville returned to Canada, he built a fort of four bastions at Niagara, and left in it 100 men, with provisions; but it was soon after abandoned.4 a settlement there. He sailed in 1684 from Rochelle, with 4 vessels, 100 soldiers, and a number of people for settlement. Arriving at a large bay, he took it to be the right branch of the Mississippi, and called it St. Louis. This was the bay of St. Bernard, at the distance of 100 leagues westward of the Mississippi. Here he built a fort, and put 100 men in it. He made war on the natives; and travelled along the coast, to find the true mouth of the great river, which at length he imagined he had discovered; and built a second fort. Returning to his first fort, and finding that his frigate, and most of the men, goods, and provisions were lost; he took a few men with him, and travelled through the country, to find out the Illinois, purposing by that river to return to Canada. On this journey he was killed. The rest of the party proceeded by the way of the Illinois to Quebec. The Clamcoets, an Indian tribe, which had been ill treated by some of the new settlers, no sooner heard of Sale's death, than they surprised the inhabitants of St. Louis, and murdered them all, with the exception of four or five persons, whom they carried to their village. Univ. Hist. xl. 250 -269. Hennepin, in Harris' Voy, ii. 911-915. Du Pratz, i, 6. Encyclop. Methodique, Commerce, Art. COMPAGNIE DU MISSISSIPPI, ou DE LA LOUAtlas Geog. America, v. 681. ISIANE. 1 "The war was undertaken, chiefly to put a stop to the English trade, which now began to extend itself far into the continent, and would in its consequence ruin theirs." Colden, 78. 2 The scouts had advanced before the army as far as the corn of the villages without seeing a single Indian; though they passed within pistol shot of 500 Senecas, who lay on their bellies, and let them pass and repass, without disturbing them. Ib. 3 Two old men only were found in the castle, who were cut into pieces and boiled, to make Soup for the French allies. Ib. 4 Colden, 77-79. Univ. Hist. xl. 37-39. 516-518. Charlevoix, Nouv. France, i. 1687. Printing at A provisional treaty concerning America was made between the king of France and the king of England, at Whitehall on the 16th of December.1 Printing was begun near Philadelphia by William Bradford. Philadel- Pennsylvania was the second colony in North America, in which a press was established.2 phia. Publications. A "Narrative of the Miseries of New England, by reason of an arbitrary Government;" and "New England vindicated from unjust Aspersions," were published, this year, at London.3 An ing in Penn- Almanack for this year was printed by William Bradford, the first sylvania. printer who settled in Pennsylvania. This was the first thing printed in that province.* Deaths. John Alden, who came from England with the first settlers of Plymouth, died at Duxbury, in the 89th year of his age.5 Daniel Gookin, of Cambridge, died, aged 75 years; and Elijah Corlet, of Cambridge, in the 77th year of his age.7 1 Memoires de l'Amerique, ii. 89-92; iii. 156. Depôt des affaires étrangêres. 2 Thomas, Hist. Printing, i. 149. 3 Bibliotheca Americ. 106. The first was in 4to. ; the last, 8vo. 66 4 Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylv. i. 105. The Almanack was by Daniel Leeds, Student in Agriculture." 5 Prince, 172. He was one of the original signers of the compact in 1620. He was a very worthy, useful, and exemplary man; and was an assistant in the administration of every governor of Plymouth colony for 67 years. Allen and Eliot, Biog. Dict. Alden, Epitaphs, iii. 620. Morton, Davis' edit. 100. 6 Major general Gookin was born in the county of Kent in England. In early life he came with his father to Virginia, and settled at Newport News. In 1644 he removed with his family to New England, and settled at Cambridge. He had become so attached to the preaching of the ministers who visited Virginia two years before, that he removed soon after their return, to enjoy the privilege of the ordinances of the gospel in their purity. In 1652 he was elected assistant, and four years after, was appointed by the general court superintendant of all the Indians who had submitted to the government of Massachusetts;an office which he performed through the remainder of his life with great fidelity. In 1656 he visited England, and had an interview with Cromwell; who commissioned him to invite the people of Massachusetts to transport themselves to Jamaica, then recently conquered from the Spaniards. He wrote " Historical Collections of the Indians in New England," first published in the first volume, of the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society; also, "The History of New England, especially of the Colony of Massachusetts, in Eight Books." This MS. History, which was in the hands of the Rev. Daniel Gookin of Sherburn, was burnt with his house. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 228. Farmer and Moore, Coll. ii. 368. 7 Mr. Corlet was an eminent classical instructer, who began his labours at Cambridge not long after its first settlement, and was master of the Grammar school in that town between 40 and 50 years. Under his instruction, many of the most worthy men of the country were prepared for their entrance into college. He taught the Indian scholars who were designed for the college, and was compensated for that service by the Society in England for propagating the gospel. He is recorded in the Magnalia as distinguished for his usefulness, and for learning and piety. Ib. b. 3. 68. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 242; vii. 22. A MS. book in the hand writing of Rev. Mr. Mitchel (penes me), found in the Prince Collection, has a "List of members in the Church of Christ in Cambridge," in which the name of Elijah Corlet appears 1688. dros meets THE governor of New England, Sir Edmund Andros, with Administrahis council, made laws, and levied taxes at their pleasure. With- tion of Anout an assembly they raised a penny on the pound on all the with oppoestates in the country, and another penny on all imported goods, sition. beside twenty pence per head as poll money, and an immoderate excise on wine, rum, and other liquors. The inhabitants of several towns in the county of Essex, in Massachusetts, refused to levy the assessments, without which the taxes could not be collected. "The feeble but magnanimous efforts of expiring freedom" were considered as seditious; and punishments were inflicted, proportioned to the aggravations of the supposed crime. The Selectmen of Ipswich having voted, "That inasmuch Selectmen as it is against the privilege of English subjects to have money of Ipswich raised without their own consent in an assembly or parliament, therefore they will petition the king for liberty of an assembly, before they make any rates;" Sir Edmund caused them to be imprisoned and fined, some £20, some £30, and some £50, imprisoned. as the judges, by him instructed, should see fit to determine.2 So great already were the oppressions of his government, that some of the principal colonists sent Mr. Increase Mather, one of An agent the ministers of Boston, to England, as an agent to represent land. their grievances to the king.3 pass a vote; are fined & sent to Eng solicitations King James was making daily advances toward despotism in Agency and England; and there seems to have been but little ground to hope of no avail. for success to the cause of the colonies. A report was at first agreed upon by the committee of foreign plantations, in which an assembly was mentioned; but lord Sunderland struck out that clause with his own hand, before the petition was presented. Mr. Hinckley, the late governor of Plymouth, petitioned in behalf of that colony, and the inhabitants of Cambridge made a particular among other names of distinction. Of these names are: Captain Daniel Gookin, Charles Chauncy, "president of the College," Edward Collins, deacon of the church [father of the eminent ministers John and Nathaniel Collins], Edmund Angier, and his wife Ruth, "the daughter of that famous light, Dr. Ames," Edward Oakes, who was father of Urian, " now [1658] minister of the word in England," Thomas Belcher [father of governor Belcher], whose children were "all baptized in this church," Stephen Day, admitted in 1661. 1 Dummer's Defence of N. Eng. Charters, 22. This able advocate for the colonies ascribes these arbitrary measures to "the governor of New England, with four or five strangers of his council, men of desperate fortunes, and bad if any principles." 2 Chalmers, 422. Hutchinson, i. 365. Mr. Appleton who had been an assistant, and Mr. Wise the minister of Ipswich, were imprisoned. 3 Hutchinson, i. 366. Randolph, having failed in one action of defamation against Mr. Mather, was bringing forward a new action against him. To avoid the service of the writ, he kept concealed; and some of his church carried him aboard ship in the night, in disguise. Ib. |