1700. seduce the Indians from their due obedience to his majesty, and excite them to sedition, rebellion, and open hostility against his majesty's government. The act required every ecclesiastical person, receiving his ordination from any authority derived from the Pope or See of Rome, now residing within this province, to depart out of it before the first day of November. The legis of Massa lature of Mssachusetts passed an act against Jesuits and Popish priests; requiring them to depart, from the province by the 10th of September. This legislature also passed an act for the erection of prisons in each county town in the province.3 chusetts against Jesuits. Maryland The general assembly of Maryland passed an act for the church act. service of Almighty God, and establishment of religion in this province according to the church of England.4 Population Boston, at this time, contained about 1000 houses, and above of Boston. 7000 souls.5 Settlement removed. Voluntown. The white inhabitants of Carolina were 5500. The French fort of Naxoat, on St. John's river in Acadie, was abandoned by the French; and the entire settlement transferred to Port Royal.7 A township that had been granted by the legislature of Connecticut to petitioners, was confirmed to them by the name of Voluntown.8 1 Trott, Laws of N. York, No. 12. Smith, N. York, 47. 2 Massachusetts Laws. The reason assigned for this law is similar to that for the like law in New York. Such Jesuits and Popish priests, "as have lately come, or for some time have had their residence in the remote parts of this province, and other adjacent territories, have endeavoured to seduce the Indians from their obedience to the king of England, and to excite them to hostilities against his government." 3 Ibid. 4 Trott, Laws Brit. Plantations, Art. MARYLAND. This act was confirmed in 1702. It is similar to the Church Act of South Carolina. 5 Mather, Magnal. b. 1. 31, 32. The language of Dr. Mather is: "The small pox has four times been a great plague upon us. . . In one twelve month, about one thousand of our neighbours have one way or other been carried unto their long home; and yet we are, after all, many more than 7000 souls of us at this hour living on the spot. Ten times has the fire made notable ruins among us; but the ruins have mostly and quickly been rebuilt. I suppose, that many more than a thousand houses are to be seen on this little piece of ground." 6 Drayton, S. Carolina, 103. 7 Charlevoix, Nouv. France, ii. 254. Univ. Hist. xl. 135. The reasons assigned by Charlevoix for this measure are, that the fort of Naxoat was inadequate to the defence of the French settlements on St. John's river; and those of Acadie could receive no other succours; that the frequent overflowing of the river St. John did not permit any fixed settlements there; that the mouth of that river was of very difficult access, on account of the variety of winds and the violence of currents; and that the port was so small, that three ships could not conveniently anchor there. 8 Trumbull, i. 403, 404. On the petition of captain Thomas Leffingwell of Norwich, and Mr. John Frink of Stonington, in behalf of themselves and others, the general assembly had, in 1696, granted them a township of six miles square, to be taken up in the conquered lands. This township, having been surveyed, was now confirmed. 1700. service in Though the Swedes and Dutch, settled in Pennsylvania, had some ministers settled among them, the English had none until this year; when the rev. Mr. Evans was sent from England to Episcopal Philadelphia by bishop Compton. This therefore is the epoch troduced of the introduction of the episcopal service into that colony. into PennAfter that service began to be performed, a numerous congre- sylvania. gation attended the public worship. It was composed chiefly of persons, who, a few years before, had separated from the Foxian Quakers, and who now joined entirely with the episcopal church.1 sion anew Iberville, returning early this year, took possession anew of The French the Mississippi, and constructed upon the margin of the river a take possessmall fort, in which he placed 4 pieces of cannon, and left about of the Mis40 men, and committed it to the care of M. Bienville, his sissippi. brother. The reasons assigned for renewing the act of possession were, that M. d' Iberville learned, on his return from France, than an English corvette of 12 guns had entered the Mississippi in September of the preceding year, and that M. Bienville, in sounding the mouths of that river, had met this vessel 20 leagues from the sea, and threatened the commander if he did not withdraw, to compel him; that the menace produced the proper effect, but that the English, as they withdrew, said, they would return with stronger forces, that it was more than 50 years since they had discovered that country, and that they had a greater right to it than the French. Iberville was informed, at the same time, that other Englishmen had been among the Chickasaws, with whom they had had trade in peltry and slaves, and that, through their solicitation, those Indians had killed a French ecclesiastic.3 their pro The principal design of the French, in this projected settle- Design of ment, is supposed to have been, to open a communication from jected setthe mouth of the Mississippi to their colony in Canada, and thus tlement hem in the English colonies, so as to engross the whole Indian there. trade to themselves. France being about this time engaged in 1 Humphreys, Hist. Account, 146. Stiles, Lit. Diary. In two years' time, above 500 persons frequented the Church. They petitioned king William for some stipend for their minister; and his majesty allowed him £50 sterling, and £30 to a schoolmaster at Philadelphia. The schism among the Quakers was made by George Keith, one of their speakers, about 1691. See an account of it in Proud, i. c. xi. The people of Chester county built an episcopal church in 1702, "at the sole expence of private subscription of the church members." It was 66 a very good brick fabric, one of the neatest on the continent." Humph. 2 Hence called Detour aux Anglois. 3 Charlevoix, ii. 257-260. Coxe, Carolana, 31, 115. Coxe says, that Iberville afterwards returned to France for farther reinforcements, but on his third voyage back to Biloxi he died. 4 Anderson, A. D. 1698; who says, this was their " principal intention, as has since plainly appeared." Du Pratz [i. 8.] says, the first colony that settled there was almost entirely composed of Canadians. Univ. Hist. [xl. 282.] says, 1700. Quotas assigned to the colo Ries. New char sylvania. a war with the English and their confederates in Europe, this and another small settlement in the same quarter, for want of seasonable and necessary supplies, were deserted.1 Apprehensions being entertained, that the province of New York was still liable to incursions from the French and Indians, quotas of men were assigned to be furnished from the several colonies as far south as Virginia, in case of an attack.2 The meeting house of the Friends, or quakers, was built at Newport.3 The first church in Windham, and the first in Lebanon, Connecticut, were gathered.* 1701. WILLIAM PENN, the proprietary of Pennsylvania, returned to ter of Penn- England. The charter of Pennsylvania having been surrendered to him by the assembly the preceding year, he, just before his departure, presented to the province their last charter of privileges; which was accepted by the assembly.5 He also gave a charter of privileges to the inhabitants of Philadelphia. Philadelphia. all the buildings which the French had at this time in Canada consisted of a few straggling houses, belonging to some French Canadians, who had been settled among the Illinois; the fort at the mouth of the Mississippi; and another fort, which was their head quarters, on the Bay of Biloxi. The authors of the Encyclopedie Methodique represent the settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi as designed merely to insure possession: "Le Mississippi fut reconnu ; les premiers fondemens d'une colonie jettés sur ses bords, et un fort bâti pour en assurer la possession aux François." Encyc. Meth. Commerce, Art. ComPAGNIE DU MISSISSIPPI OU DE LA LOUISIANE. In Jefferys' map of the Mississippi, "Ruins of Fort la Boylage, the First Settlement made in 1700," are placed on the river, below Detour Anglois. 1 Coxe, Carolana, 31. Univ. Hist. [xl. 283.] says, that Iberville returned for a third time to Louisiana in 1702, and began a settlement upon the Mobile, of which Bienville was commandant; and that he abandoned the post at Biloxi, carrying to the new settlement all its inhabitants. 2 Belknap, N. Hamp. i. 307. "There was, however, no opportunity for affording this assistance, as the New Yorkers took care to maintain a good understanding with the French and Indians, for the benefit of trade.” Ibid. See TABLES. 3 Adams, N. Eng. 188. Their yearly meeting, until governor Coddington's death, in 1678, was holden at his house; and he died a member of that body. 4 Pr. Stiles' MS. Trumbull, Conn. ii. 136. 5 Proud, ii. 443-450; Colden, P. ii. 275-282; where this charter is inserted entire. See also Franklin's Pennsylvania. The charter was presented on the day of its date, 28 October, 1701; "the Council, the Assembly of the Province, and several of the principal inhabitants of Philadelphia, attending." Having been "distinctly read in Assembly, and the whole and every part thereof, approved of, and agreed to," it was "thankfully" received the same day. It was rejected, however, by the territories. See A. D. 1703. By this charter "no person inhabiting this province or territories, who shall confess and acknowledge one Almighty God, the Creator, Upholder, and Ruler of the world; and profess himself obliged to live quietly under civil government, shall be in any case molested or prejudiced in his person or estate, because of his conscientious persuasion or practice: And all persons, who profess to believe in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, shall be capable to serve this government in any capacity, promising, when lawfully required, allegiance to the king &c." 6 Proud, i. 451, 452. Belknap, Biog. ii. 443. By this charter Philadelphia The assembly of Virginia passed an act for better strengthen- 1701. ing the frontiers, and discovering the approaches of an enemy. By this act encouragements were given to cohabitations upon the land frontiers within this government. The act provided, that Act of Virthere should be granted to every certain number of men, who gina. should enter into societies and agree to undertake such cohabitations, any quantity of land, not under the quantity of 10,000 acres, nor exceeding 30,000, upon any of the frontiers within this government, wherever it shall be found, not legally taken up or possessed by any of his majesty's subjects.1 Carolina. The assembly of Carolina imposed a duty of three farthings a A duty imskin, exported by residents, but double, if sent out in English posed by vessels; but the commissioners of plantations remonstrated to the proprietaries of the province against it, as a great discouragement to the trade of England.2 The churches in Connecticut having become numerous, and Yale Colthe calls for a learned ministry urgent, and great inconvenience lege is founded; attending the education of youths at the distant college in Cambridge; a number of ministers had, for some time, entertained the design of founding a college in their own colony. In pursuance of this design, ten of the principal ministers in Connecticut, having been nominated and agreed on to stand as trustees, to found, erect, and govern a college, had, the preceding year, formed themselves into a body, and founded the projected seminary. Doubts arising, whether the trustees were vested with a legal capacity for the holding of lands, and whether private donations and contributions would be adequate to the purpose, application was made to the general assembly for a charter of incorporation. The petition represented, "that from a sincere regard to, and zeal for, upholding the Protestant religion, by a succession of learned and orthodox men, they had proposed that a collegiate school should be erected in this colony, wherein youth should be instructed in all parts of learning, to qualify them for public employments in church and civil state." The assembly, at their session in October this year, prompt to encourage the laudable and pious design, incorporated the trustees nominated, granting them a charter, and vesting them with all receives a the requisite powers and privileges; and made them an annual grant of £120. Strengthened by the powers of their charter, and animated by the countenance of the legislature, the trustees was constituted a city, the government of which was committed to a Mayor and Recorder, 8 Aldermen, and 12 Common Council men; and endowed with divers privileges and immunities, for its regulation and government. It is inserted in Proud, Appendix, No. vi, and in Colden, P. ii. 262-274. Colden [ib. 199-283.] has preserved "A collection of Charters, and other Public Acts relating to the Province of Pennsylvania." 1 Laws of Virginia, 209-212. 2 Chalmers, 354. charter; 1701. to be at Saybrook. Population of the colo nies. The Five Nations put tion of the English. met at Saybrook in November; and chose the Rev. Abraham Pierson, of Killingworth, rector of the college; made rules for its general government and instruction; and, for the present, appointed it to be at Saybrook.1 The number of inhabitants in the English American colonies, about the commencement of this century, was estimated at 262,000.2 The Five Nations put all their hunting lands under the prolands under tection of the English. The assembly of New York, premising, the protec- that it would be to the honour of God and the welfare of the province, that the Five Nations of Indians should be instructed in the Protestant Religion, passed an act, granting £60 a year to Bernardus Freeman, minister of the gospel at Schenectady, as his salary for instructing those Indians, and £15 a year for his charge and expense.4 Ministers. Newfound The number of ministers in New England was about 120.5 The Newfoundland fishery employed, this year, 121 vessels, land fishery collectively amounting to nearly 8000 tons burden. Congress at A provisional treaty having been signed the preceding year, a congress of French and Indians was holden on the 4th of August at Montreal, and a treaty of peace was concluded.7 1 President Clap, Hist. Yale College. Trumbull, i. b. 1. c. 19. The design of founding a college was first concerted in 1698, by Rev. Messrs. Pierpoint of New Haven, Andrew of Milford, and Russel of Branford. The ministers nominated as trustees were, James Noyes of Stonington, Israel Chauncy of Stratford, Thomas Buckingham of Saybrook, Abraham Pierson of Killingworth, Samuel Mather of Windsor, Samuel Andrew of Milford, Timothy Woodbridge of Hartford, James Pierpoint of New Haven, Noadiah Russel of Middletown, and Joseph Webb of Fairfield. The form of laying the foundation was this: Each of the ten ministers gave a number of books, and, laying them on a table, pronounced words to this effect: "I give these books for the founding of a college in this colony." About 40 volumes in folio were thus given. Several other donations, both of books and money, were soon after made. Before the petition for a charter was heard by the assembly, the Hon. James Fitch of Norwich, one of the council, gave a tract of land in Killingly, of about 600 acres, and all the glass and nails that should be necessary to build a college house and hall. The annual grant of the assembly was equal to about £60 sterling. See 1717. 2 Humphreys, Hist. Account, 41-43. See TABLES. 3 Pownall, Administration of the Colonies, 169. 4 Trott, Laws of N. York, No. 7. The preamble, referring to Mr. Freeman, states, that he had for some time made "and does still make it his great study to instruct them therein." 5 Trumbull, Century Sermon, 15. New Hampshire contained 4 ministers ; Province of Maine, 1; Massachusetts, 86; Connecticut, 28. 6 Brit. Emp. i. 158. The statement is, 121 ships and vessels of 7,991 tons burden; 2,727 men on board; 993 boats, belonging to the ships and to the inhabitants; the returns, 216,320 quintals of fish, and 3798 hogsheads of train or liver oil. The number of fishing stages was 544; the number of men, women, children, and servants, employed in curing the fish, was 3581. 7 Charlevoix, Nouv. France, ii. 270–283. Univ. Hist. xl. 142, 143. Wynne, i. 480, 481. On a plain without the city there was erected, on this occasion, a theatre, 128 feet long and 72 broad, at the end of which was raised a large covered box [une sale couverte] for the ladies and all people of fashion in the city. De Callieres, attended by all his principal officers, and 1300 Indians, were |