especially deserving notice. It consisted of an entire congregation, accompanied by their pastor, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, and his assistant, the Rev. Samuel Stone. Many of them belonged to highly respectable and wealthy families in England, having left their friends and estates at home, that they might enjoy unmolested the rights of conscience in America. This party numbered about one hundred persons, men, women, and children. Many of them were loaded with packs, besides carrying their arms, ammunition, utensils, &c.; and they took with them about one hundred and twenty head of cattle. Having decided on removing to Connecticut, they had disposed of their property in Cambridge to a number of English families which had arrived the year before, belonging to the congregation of the Rev. Thomas Shepherd, a man distinguished for his zeal and ability.

Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone set out with their people without any guide. This appears somewhat singular, as, no doubt, Indians acquainted with the country might have been found. They probably concluded, however, that the savages would be but poorly qualified to choose the best route for so large a party of white men, accompanied by their cattle; the Indians being content with paths which admit of their passage in single file. Mrs. Hooker was carried in a litter. Nearly a fortnight was spent in the journey, at the end o which they safely reached their destination.

Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone were both ordained on the 11th of October, 1633, and continued associated in the pastoral care of the first church in Hartford from 1636 to July, 1647, when Mr. Hook

46

DANGER FROM THE INDIANS.

[1636.

er died. Mr. Stone died on the 20th July, 1663. He was succeeded by Joseph Haynes, who died in 1679; after which Samuel Whiting, Mr. Foster, and Timothy Woodbridge were successively the pastors of this church from 1685 to 1732.

The party which emigrated from Dorchester to Windsor left their pastor, Mr. Maverick, behind, he being disinclined to the removal, though he afterward determined to follow his people. He died, however, on the 3d of March, and was succeeded by Mr. Warham. Some of the principal men from that town were Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Henry Wolcott, Mr. William Phelps, and Captain John Mason.

Those who went to Wethersfield also left behind them their pastor, Mr. Phillips; and his place was supplied by Mr. Henry Smith, lately arrived from England.

The people of Plymouth Colony now began to complain, that the territory on the Connecticut, which they considered as belonging to them, and which, through their exertions, had been prevented from falling into the hands of the Dutch, had been occupied by their friends of Massachusetts. Mr. Winslow accordingly went to Boston to claim some remuneration, and demanded a sixteenth part of the lands, and one hundred pounds in money. In this, however, he was unsuccessful; though he afterward received fifty pounds, forty acres of meadow-land, and some upland from the people of Windsor, being what they considered a reasonable compensation.

The infant settlements were exposed to continual dangers from the Indians, who were accustomed

frequently to change their abodes, as their convenience required, in procuring game, planting, fish. ing, &c. Although they were for the most part peaceable and friendly, being ignorant pagans and easily excited, they were not to be trusted, and might be induced at any time to attack the feeble settlements of the white people, which were not in a condition to defend themselves with much prospect of success, should they be suddenly and unexpectedly assailed. It was therefore necessary that the colonists should be constantly on their guard. On the 7th of June in this year, another court was held at Dorchester (Windsor), and a law was passed requiring each town to maintain a vigilant watch, to provide themselves with arms and ammunition, and to have their men organized and constantly ready for defence.

The third court was held at Watertown (Wethersfield) on the 1st of September following, when the able-bodied male inhabitants throughout the settlements were ordered to be trained every month, and those who were not skilled in the use of arms, still more frequently.

The settlement of Springfield was begun this year by a company from Roxbury, led by Mr. Pyncheon, and was united in government with the other towns. During the first three years, the people generally had no immediate hand in the management of public affairs.

It may be readily supposed that the colonists took special care to prevent a repetition of the calamities to which they had been exposed during the preceding winter. To effect this, they were obliged to labour incessantly in the erection of

48

SAYBROOK FORT STRENGTHENED. [1636.

houses for themselves and barns for their cattle, in clearing and planting their lands, and in gathering in their crops. Their dwellings were required to be so constructed as to be capable of defence; and the solidity with which they were built is shown by the great length of time which many of them lasted. That the inhabitants of the different towns might have a more ready communication with one another in times of danger, they early began to construct roads, which was a most laborious undertaking at that period. Trees were to be cut down, and obstacles of various kinds removed. For the multiplied labours imposed on them the colonists were but poorly prepared. Many of them were not accustomed to hard work; the cli. mate and soil were new to them; and it was only by experience, and after repeated disappointments and losses, that they were enabled to acquire a knowledge of the plants best adapted to the country, and the proper management of their crops and cattle.

But probably the severest trials they had to endure were their constant watchings, and the state of alarm in which they were kept through fear of the Indians. It is said that several watch stations were erected in the main street in Hartford, from which signals could be made to the most distant parts of the town; and that a similar communication was afterward kept up between the Wyllis mansion and the house of the Rev. Mr. Hooker.

Early in this year, the construction of the buildings and fortifications at Saybrook was resumed with great activity, as Mr. Winthrop had grounds for apprehension from both the Dutch and the Pe

quods. Twenty men were employed there during the whole season; and, before the approach of winter, the fort was completed, several houses were built, and a quantity of land was brought into a state fit for cultivation. Some cattle had also been sent on from Boston.

The whole number of white people at that time on Connecticut River was probably about 800, or from 160 to 170 families.

CHAPTER V.

Hostile Movements of the Pequods.-They attack Wethersfield. -They kill Captain Stone on Connecticut River, and Captain Oldham at Block Island.-They beset Saybrook Fort.-Others killed by them.

A

We now approach a period in the history of Connecticut, in which its little colonies were threat. ened with most imminent danger. The Pequods had become very bold and active, and their movements seemed plainly to indicate that they had formed a resolution to destroy the settlers. glance at the map will enable the reader to perceive how critical was their situation. Windsor, Hartford, Wethersfield, Middletown, and Saybrook were the only places occupied by the colonists; and their number at each one of these points was very small. It is true there were several thousand friendly Indians scattered over the intermediate and surrounding country; but they appear to have been E