90

NEW SETTLEMENTS.

[1640.

had sold, as freely as the English, and to dwell and cut wood on it for more than a century; and required the towns, by law, to reserve proper tracts for the Indians to cultivate. Laws were made to protect them from injury and insult; and the colonists were at much expense to protect some of them (Uncas and the Mohegans especially) from their enemies.

Uncas sold to Connecticut all his land, except what his people planted, on the 1st of September, 1640; and Westfield (then Waranoke) was purchased and occupied. Governor Haynes bought Farmington (or Tunxis), with its beautiful meadow, for Hartford; and Governor Hopkins built a trading-house there. In 1640, also, part of Norwalk was purchased, but only a few families occupied it until 1651, when the western part of it was obtained. About the same time, New-Haven purchased Greenwich (now the southwestern town in the state); but the settlers of it revolted to the Dutch, and Governor Stuyvesandt incorporated it. Other purchases were made by New-Haven: first, of Stamford (or Rippo wams), from the sachems Ponus and Toquamske, for thirty pounds; second, Southold (Yennycock), on Long Island; and, third, a large tract on Delaware Bay and River, where trading-houses were erected, and about fifty families sent to settle. Connecticut also made a purchase of land on Long Island. It extended from Oyster Bay to Holmes's Bay, and back to the middle of the great plain, and settlements were begun.

Stamford was settled by families from Wethersfield, a division in sentiment having unhappily arisen among the members of the church there, who

had come without their pastor, and long suffered from discord. The churches of the other towns and colonies exerted themselves to restore har mony, and removal was at length agreed on by some of the Wethersfield people. Some of the principal of these were the Rev. Richard Denton, Messrs. Matthew Mitchel, Thurston Rayner, Andrew Ward, Richard Coe, and Richard Gilder. sleve. In 1633 or 1634, Mr. Denton, with a part of his congregation, settled Hempstead, on Long Island.

CHAPTER XI.

Fears of an Indian War.-Precautions.-The ten Capital Laws of Connecticut.-The Confederation of the New-England Colonies formed in 1645.-Its Objects and History.-The Preamble and Provisions.--Results.-Miantonimoh makes War on Uncas.-The Battle of Sachem's Field.-Miantonimoh made Prisoner.-Taken to Hartford.-Killed by Uncas.

In the year 1641, an Indian war was apprehended, and orders were given for all the men to be prepared for defence. A careful watch was kept, and on the Sabbath there was a strong guard posted in every place of public worship. The Court of Connecticut sent to request the Dutch to sell no more arms and ammunition to the Indians, and to propose to settle all disputes: but were treated with insolence. At this the Dutch in Fort Good Hope, at Hartford, received runaways from justice and their masters, purchased stolen goods, and assisted

92

CAPITAL LAWS.

[1641.

criminals in breaking jail. The Dutch governor of New-York also imprisoned some of the Connecticut settlers on Long Island, and broke up the colonies there as far as Oyster Bay, as well as those made by New-Haven on the Delaware, injuring them to the value of £1000. Mr. Lambertson, one of the principal men of New-Haven, who was trading in Delaware, was falsely accused by the Dutch and Swedish agent, and arbitrarily fined; and he was afterward ill-treated by Governor Kieft at Manahadoes (New-York). Indeed, the Dutch for several years injured the colonists in different ways, and gave them no satisfaction, though they repeatedly remonstrated.

In the course of the same year, Connecticut formed ten capital laws, which were recorded, with passages of Scripture on which they were founded. The crimes which were to be punished with death were: the worship of any but the true God (Deut. xiii., 6, and xvii., 21; Ex. xxii., 2); blasphemy (Lev. xxiv., 15, 16); to be a witch, which was defined as one that "hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit" (Ex. xxii., 18; Lev. xx., 22; Deut. xviii., 10, 11); murder with malice (Ex. xxi., 12-14; Numb. xxxv., 30, 31); slaying through guile, as "by poison or other such devilish practices" (Ex. xxi., 14) (unnatural and incestuous crimes, &c., were among the number); man-stealing (Ex. xxi., 16); false witness to take away life (Deut. xix., 16, 18, 19); conspiracy, rebellion, and invasion. Afterward the follow. ing crimes were made capital: arson, cursing or smiting a parent, and notorious stubbornness in children after a specified age. Persons deserting

the settlements, and living in a heathenish manner among the Indians, were to suffer three years' imprisonment, or corporal punishment.

An invitation was received by Mr. Hooker of Hartford, in 1642, to attend the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, to settle the church government. Mr. Davenport of New-Haven and Mr. Cotton of Boston were likewise invited: but they all declined the invitation.

A General Court met at New-Haven for that colony on the 5th of April, 1643. Several deputies from other towns were present: Captain John Underhill and Mr. Richard Gildersleve, deputies from Stamford. Messrs. Mitchel, Rayner, Underhill, Ward, and Coe were appointed judges of the court in Stamford, which had the same powers as that of New-Haven. Guilford (or Menunkatuck) was first represented by Mr. William Leet and Mr. Desborough.

A law was passed, which indicates that the people were less acquainted with public affairs than was necessary. It required jurors to attend dili. gently to their cases; and, if they should not agree, to offer their reasons, which the court were to answer, and send them out again. After this a majority might give a verdict. In case of an equal division, the court or magistrates might determine. The first notice of a grand jury is found this year, when it was ordained that one should attend each court.

In 1643 a most important measure was adopted, viz., a confederation of all the New-England Col. onies excepting Rhode Island. It was natural for the people and their rulers to desire such a union,

94

THE CONFEDERATION.

[1643.

as they had all felt the advantage of co-operation, and had common enemies and dangers against which they ought to guard, as they had then no aid to hope for from England. A confederation had been contemplated for several years; and articles of union had been drawn up and proposed in 1638, and deferred a year for consideration. Ever since 1639, Connecticut had annually sent a committee to Massachusetts to promote the plan; and New-Haven also had it much at heart. With Mr. Fenwick, the governor of the fort and colony of Saybrook, Connecticut had already a connexion of this nature.

In 1643 the colonies of Plymouth, Connecticut, and New-Haven sent commissioners to Boston, where they held a meeting with others appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts; and on the 19th of May they signed articles of confederation, which greatly contributed to the strength, pro- . tection, and prosperity of the country, until it was terminated by the abitrary interference of the English kings. The distinguished men to whom this important measure was committed were Governor Haynes and Mr. Hopkins of Connecticut, Mr. Fenwick of Saybrook, Governor Eaton and Mr. Gregson of New-Haven, Mr. Winslow and Mr. Collier of Plymouth, and from Massachusetts, Governor Winthrop, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Bradstreet, magistrates, and Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Tyng, deputies.

The preamble of the articles of confederation states, in the true and distinguishing spirit of the people of the colonies, that, as "they all came into these parts of America with one and the same end