Book I. justify Connecticut's former actings, nor any thing disorderly done by their own people, on such accounts."

1664. 2. "That, by it, we be not apprehended to have any Resolves hand in breaking or dissolving the confederation."

of the court.

Session of

3. "Yet, in loyalty to the king's majesty, when an authentic copy of the determination of his majesty's commissioners is published, to be recorded with us, if thereby it shall appear to our committee, that we are, by his majesty's authority, now put under Connecticut patent, we shall submit, by a necessity brought upon us, by the means of Connecticut aforesaid; but with a salvo jure of our former rights and claims, as a people, who have not yet been heard in point of plea."*'

The members of the court, then present, the elders of the colony, with Mr. John Nash, Mr. James Bishop, Mr. Francis Bell, Mr. Robert Treat, and Mr. Richard Baldwin, were appointed a committee to consummate an union between the colonies.

Several letters passed between the committees of the two colonies, on the subject, in which the committee of New-Haven signified, that the officers in that colony would continue to act in their respective offices, and expressed their good designs and wishes towards Connecticut, and their loyalty to his majesty. They also represented their expectations, that the governor and company, according to their engagements, would give them all the advantages and privileges which they could do, consistent with the patent, and their desires still to continue the confederation.t

The committee of Connecticut, in answer to New-Haven, assured them of their willingness to bestow on them all the privileges granted in their charter, prepared ready to their hands. They acquainted them, that provision had been made for the continuance of the confederation, according to their wishes. They pleaded the necessity and importance of their incorporation with Connecticut, as they were nearly in the centre of the colony, as an apology for the measures which they had taken. They expressed their strong desires that New-Haven would cordially unite with them, and, by no means, view it as a matter of constraint: that mutual candour might be exercised; and that all reflections and past conduct, disagreeable to either of them, be entirely buried and for ever forgotten.‡

The general assembly of Connecticut appointed no comassembly, mittee to meet with that chosen by the general court of April 20th, New-Haven. Of this their committee complain, in their

1065.

* Records of New-Haven.

+ No. XVII.

Letter of Connecticut to New-Haven, No. XVIII.

*

last letter. However, at a session of theirs, the 20th of Book I. April, 1665, they passed several resolves, for the further completion of the union.

1665.

It was resolved, that William Leet and William Jones, ResoluEsquires, Mr. Benjamin Fenn, Mr. Matthew Gilbert, Mr. tions respecting Jasper Crane, Mr. Alexander Bryan, Mr. Law, and Mr. NewRobert Treat, should stand in the nomination for magis- Haven. trates at the next election.

The assembly, also, passed the following declaration : "That all acts of the authority of New-Haven, which had been uncomfortable to Connecticut, should never be called to an account, but be buried in perpetual oblivion."t

The king's commissioners presented the following pro- His majes positions, or requisitions, from his majesty, to this assem-ty's requi bly.

1. "That all householders, inhabiting this colony, take the oath of allegiance, and that the administration of justice be in his majesty's name."

2. "That all men of competent estates and of civil conversation, though of different judgments, may be admitted to be freemen, and have liberty to choose, or to be chosen officers, both military and civil."

3. "That all persons, of civil lives, may freely enjoy the liberty of their consciences, and the worship of God in that way which they think best; provided that this liberty tend not to the disturbance of the public, nor to the hindrance of the maintenance of ministers, regularly chosen, in each respective parish or township."

4. "That all laws, and expressions in laws, derogatory to his majesty, if any such have been made, in these troublesome times, may be repealed, altered, and taken off the file."

sitions.

swer to

them.

The assembly answered in the manner following. 1. "That according to his majesty's pleasure, expressed The anin our charter, our governor formerly appointed meet persons to administer the oath of allegiance, who have, according to their order, administered the said oath to several persons already; and the administration of justice among us hath been, is, and shall be, in his majesty's

name."

2. "That our order for the admission of freemen is consonant with that proposition."

3. "We know not of any one that hath been troubled, by us, for attending his conscience, provided he hath not disturbed the public."

4. "We know not of any law, or expressions of law,

Book I. that are derogatory to his majesty among us; but if any such be found, we count it our duty to repeal, alter, and 1665. take them off the file; and this we attended, upon the receipt of our charter."

Answer to the duke of

Hamil

tion.

About this time, it seems, the council gave the following answer, for substance, to the commissioners, relative to ton's peti- the claim and petition of the duke of Hamilton: That the grant of Connecticut to the nobles and gentlemen, of whom they purchased, was several years prior to the marquis of Hamilton's That with great difficulty they had conquered a potent and barbarous people, who spread over a great part of that tract of country, which he claimed; and that it was but a small compensation, for the blood and treasure which they had expended in conquering it, and defending it for his majesty's interest against the Dutch and other foreigners: That they had peaceably enjoyed that tract for about thirty years: That they had with great labor and expense cultivated the lands, to their own and his majesty's interest; and that his majesty, of his grace, had been pleased to confirm it to them, by his royal charter, in which these reasons had been recognized.*

united in

They at the same time, solicited their honors, the commissioners, to present their humble acknowledgments to his majesty for his abundant grace, in the granting of their charter, and for his gracious letter, sent them by his commissioners, re-ratifying their privileges, civil and ecclesiastical.

Election, At the general election, May 11th, 1665, when the two May 11th. colonies of Connecticut and New-Haven united in one, the following gentlemen were chosen into office. John WinColonies throp, Esq. was elected governor, John Mason, Esq. deone assem-puty governor, and Matthew Allen, Samuel Wyllys, Nathan Gould, John Talcott, Henry Wolcott, John Allen, Samuel Sherman, James Richards, William Leet, William Jones, Benjamin Fenn, and Jasper Crane, Esquires, magistrates. John Talcott, Esq. was treasurer, and Daniel Clark secretary.

bly.

A proportionable number of the magistrates were of the former colony of New-Haven; all the towns sent their deputies; and the assembly appears to have been entirely harmonious.

This assembly enacted, that Hastings and Rye should be one plantation, by the name of Rye.

By this assembly county courts were first instituted, by that name. It was enacted, that there should be two councourts holden annually, in New-Haven; one on the sec

County courts first instituted, May 11th. ty

* No. XX.

ond Thursday in June, the other on the third Thursday in Book I. November. The court was to consist of five judges, two magistrates, and three justices of the quorum. A similar 1665. court was appointed at New-London; nd, the next October, that was made a distinct county.

At the session in October, a county court was appointed, at Hartford, instead of the quarterly courts. This was to be holden annually in the months of March and September. The county courts had cognizance of all cases except those of life, limb, or banishment. In cases of more than twenty shillings, the law required that a jury should be impannelled.

At the same time, a superior court was appointed to be Superior holden, at Hartford, the Tuesday before the session of the court instituted, general assembly in May and October. This was to con- Oct. 12. sist of eight magistrates, at least, and always to be attended with a jury. In this court were tried all appeals from the several county courts, and all capital actions, of life, limb, and banishment.

fied with

All the towns, formerly under the jurisdiction of New- Branford Haven, were satisfied with the union of the colonies, ex- dissatiscept Branford. But Mr. Pierson and almost his whole the union. church and congregation were so displeased, that they soon removed into Newark, in New-Jersey. They carried off the records of the church and town, and after it had been settled about five and twenty years, left it almost without inhabitants. For more than twenty years from that time, there was not a church formed in the town. People, from various parts of the colony, gradually moved into it, and purchased the lands of the first planters, so that, in about twenty years, it became re-settled. In 1685, it was re-invested with town privileges.

it.

The union of the colonies was a happy event. It great- The unly contributed to the convenience, strength, peace, and ion a hapwelfare of the inhabitants of both, and of their posterity. Py event. Greater privileges New-Haven could not have enjoyed, Reasons had they been successful in their applications to his ma- fo jesty. This must have been very expensive, and after much expense, they might have failed in their attempts and lost their liberties, or have been joined to Connecticut at last. Had they remained a distinct colony, the charges of government would have been greater than in their state of incorporation. Their situation, in so central a part of the colony, would have been extremely inconvenient, especially for Connecticut. It was, doubtless, his majesty's pleasure, and for his interest, that the colonies should be one; and their friends on both sides the water judged it

Book I. most expedient. It was what their own and the general good demanded. All these circumstances, Connecticut 1665. could plead, as an apology for their conduct. But after all, it will be difficut, if not impossible, to reconcile some parts of it, at least, with their pre-engagements, the rules of justice, and brotherly affection.

War was proclaimed, this year, in London, in the month of March, between England and Holland. His majesty had given intelligence to the colony, that De Ruyter, the Dutch admiral, had orders to visit New-York. The colony was alarmed, and put into a state of defence. But the admiral was diverted from the enterprise, and the year passed in peace.

In the proclamation for thanksgiving, in November, the people were excited to praise the SUPREME BENEFACTOR, for preventing the troubles which they had feared, and for the blessings of liberty, health, peace, and plenty.*

ters.

CHAPTER XIII.

A view of the churches of Connecticut and New-Haven, from their first settlement, until their union, in 1665. Their ministers. The character of the ministers and first planTheir religious and political sentiments. Gathering of the churches of New-Haven and Milford. Installation of Mr. Davenport and Mr. Prudden. Church formed at Guilford. Number of ministers in Connecticut and New-Haven, before the union. Proportion of ministers to the people, before and at the time of the union. Harmony between the civil rulers and the clergy. Influence of the clergy, and the reasons of it. Their opposition to Antinomianism. Assisted in the compilation of Cambridge Platform. Ecclesiastical laws. Care to diffuse general knowledge; its happy influence. Attempts to found a college at New-Haven. No sectaries in Connecticut nor New-Haven, until after the union. Deaths and characters of several of the first ministers. Great dissensions in the church at Hartford, soon after Mr. Hooker's death; dissensions and controversies in the colony, and churches in general, relative to baptism, church

* It was now thirty years since the settlement of the colony commenced, yet, after the defalcation of Long-Island, it consisted of nineteen towns only, which paid taxes. The grand list was no more than £153,620:16:5.