the Massachusetts as one body, and bound by oath to seek Book I. the good of that commonwealth: and that on principles of policy it could not, by any means, be granted. It was 1634. pleaded, that as the settlements in the Massachusetts were new and weak, they were in danger of an assault from their enemies That the departure of Mr. Hooker and the people of those towns, would not only draw off many from the Massachusetts, but prevent others from settling in the colony. Besides, it was said, that the removing of a candlestick was a great judgment: That by suffering it they should expose their brethren to great danger, both from the Dutch and Indians. Indeed, it was affirmed that they might be accommodated by the enlargements offered them by the other towns. divided. After a long and warm debate, the governor, two assist- The court apts, and a majority of the representatives, were for granting liberty for Mr. Hooker and the people to transplant themselves to Connecticut. The deputy-governor however and six of the assistants were in the negative, and so no vote could be obtained.* This made a considerable ferment, not only in the general court, but in the colony, so that Mr. Cotton was desired to preach on the subject to quiet the court and the people of the colony. This also retarded the commencement of the settlements upon the river. Individuals, however, were determined to prosecute the business, and made preparations effectually to carry it into execution. It appears, that some of the Watertown people came this year to Connecticut, and erected a few huts at Pyquag, now Weathersfield, in which a small number of men made a shift to winter. 1635. While the colonists were thus prosecuting the business May 3, of settlement, in New-England, the right honourable James, Marquis of Hamilton, obtained a grant from the council of Plymouth, April 20th, 1635, of all that tract of country which lies between Connecticut river and Narraganset river and harbour, and from the mouths of each of said rivers northward sixty miles into the country. However, by reason of its interference with the grant to the lord Say and Seal, lord Brook, &c. or for some other reason, the deed was never executed. The Marquis made no settlement upon the land and the claim became obsolete. The next May, the Newtown people, determining to settle at Connecticut, renewed their application to the gene * Winthrop's Journal, p. 70. This is the tradition, and the Rev. Mr. Meeks of Weathersfield in his manuscripts says, Weathersfield is the oldest town on the river. DORCHESTE Book I. ral court, and obtained liberty to remove to any place which they should choose, with this proviso, that they 1635. should continue under the jurisdiction of the Massachu August. setts. A number of Mr. Warham's people came this summer into Connecticut, and made preparations to bring their families, and make a permanent settlement on the river. The Watertown people gradually removed, and prosecuted their settlement at Weathersfield. At the same time, the planters at Newtown began to make preparations for removing to Hartford the next spring. Meanwhile, twenty men arrived in Massachusetts, sent over by Sir Richard Saltonstall, to take possession of a great quantity of land in Connecticut, and to make settlements under the patent of lord Say and Seal, with whom he was a principal associate. The vessel in which they came over, on her return to England, in the fall, was cast away on the isle Sable.f As the Dorchester men had now set down at Connecticut, near the Plymouth trading house, governor Bradford wrote to them, complaining of their conduct, as injurious to the people of Plymouth, who had made a fair purchase of the Indians, and taken a prior possession.* The Dutch also, alarmed by the settlements making in Connecticut, wrote to Holland for instructions and aid, to drive the English from their settlements upon the river.† The people at Connecticut having made such prepara-` Oct. 15th, tions as were judged necessary to effect a permanent setthe plan- tlement, began to remove their families and property. On ters on the the fifteenth of October, about sixty men, women, and chil move their dren, with their horses, cattle, and swine, commenced their families to journey from the Massachusetts, through the wilderness, Connecti- to Connecticut river. After a tedious and difficult jour river 're cut. Oct. 8th, throp ar ney, through swamps and rivers, over mountains and rough ground, which were passed with great difficulty and fatigue, they arrived safely at the places of their respective destination. They were so long on their journey, and so much time and pains were spent in passing the river, and in getting over their cattle, that, after all their exertions, winter came upon them before they were prepared. This was an occasion of great distress and damage to the plantations. Nearly at the same time, Mr. John Winthrop, son of Mr. Win- governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts, arrived at Boston, with a commission from lord Say and Seal, lord Brook, + Winthrop's Journal, p. 83 and 89. The same, p. 86. rives at Winthrop's Journal, p. 82. and other noblemen and gentlemen interested in the Con- Book I. necticut patent, to erect a fort at the mouth of Connecticut river. Their lordships sent over men, ordnance, ammuni- 1635. tion, and 2000 pounds sterling, for the accomplishment of their design.‡ Mr. Winthrop was directed, by his commission, immedi- His comately on his arrival, to repair to Connecticut, with fifty able mission. men, and to erect the fortifications, and to build houses for the garrison, and for gentlemen who might come over into Connecticut. They were first to build houses for their then present accommodation, and after that, such as should be suitable for the reception of men of quality. The latter were to be erected within the fort. It was required that the planters, at the beginning, should settle themselves near the mouth of the river, and set down in bodies, that they might be in a situation for entrenching and defending themselves. The commission made provision for the reservation of a thousand or fifteen hundred acres of good land, for the maintenance of the fort, as nearly adjoining to it as might be with convenience.* Mr. Winthrop, having intelligence that the Dutch were Nov. 9th, preparing to take possession of the mouth of the river, as Mr. Winsoon as he could engage twenty men, and furnish them throp diswith provisions, dispatched them in a small vessel, of about patched a thirty tons, to prevent their getting the command of the vessel to river, and to accomplish the service to which he had been cut. appointed. Connecti But a few days after the party, sent by Mr. Winthrop, arrived at the mouth of the river, a Dutch vessel appeared off the harbor, from New-Netherlands, sent on purpose to take possession of the entrance of the river, and to erect Dutch not fortifications. The English had, by this time, mounted two suffered to pieces of cannon, and prevented their landing. providentially, was this fine tract of country preserved for our venerable ancestors, and their posterity. Thus, Mr. Winthrop was appointed governor of the river Connecticut, and the parts adjacent, for the term of one year. He erected a fort, built houses, and made a settlement, according to his instructions. One David Gardiner, an expert engineer, assisted in the work, planned the fortifications, and was appointed lieutenant of the fort. Mr. Davenport and others, who afterwards settled NewHaven, were active in this affair, and hired Gardiner, in behalf of their lordships, to come into New-England, and assist in this business.‡ Winthrop's Journal, p. 88. Appendix, No. II. Manuscripts of Gardiner, land. Боок І. As the settlement of the three towns on Connecticut river was begun before the arrival of Mr. Winthrop, and the de1635. sign of their lordships to make plantations upon it was Agreement known, it was agreed, that the settlers on the river should respecting either remove, upon full satisfaction made, by their lordthe planters in Con- ships, or else sufficient room should be found for them and necticut,, their companies at some other place.† November. cut, the 16th. Massa the 26th. The winter set in this year much sooner than usual, and the weather was stormy and severe. By the 15th of November, Connecticut river was frozen over, and the snow was so deep, and the season so tempestuous, that a considerable number of the cattle, which had been driven on from the Massachusetts, could not be brought across the river. The people had so little time to prepare their huts and houses, and to erect sheds and shelters for their cattle, that the sufferings of man and beast were extreme. Indeed, the hardships and distresses of the first planters of Connecticut scarcely admit of a description. To carry much provision or furniture through a pathless wilderness, was impracticable. Their principal provisions and household furniture were, therefore, put on board several small vessels, which, by reason of delays and the tempestuousness of the season, were either cast away or did not arrive. Several vessels were wrecked on the coasts of New-England, by the violence of the storms. Two shallops laden with goods, from Boston to Connecticut, in October, were cast away on Brown's island, near the Gurnet's nose; and the men, with every thing on board, were lost. A vessel, with six of the Connecticut people on board, which sailed from the river for Boston, early in November, was, about the middle of the month, cast away in Manamet bay. The men got on shore, and, after wandering ten days in deep snow and a severe season, without meeting with any human being, arrived, nearly spent with cold and fatigue, at New-Plymouth. Famine in By the last of November, or beginning of December, Connecti- provisions generally failed in the settlements on the river, and famine and death looked the inhabitants sternly in the Arrived in face. Some of them, driven by hunger, attempted their way, in this severe season, through the wilderness, from chusetts, Connecticut to Massachusetts. Of thirteen, in one company, who made this attempt, one, in passing the rivers, fell through the ice, and was drowned. The other twelve were ten days on their journey, and would all have perished, had it not been for the assistance of the Indians. Indeed, such was the distress in general that, by the 3d Winthrop's Journal, p, 88. The same, p. 87. and 4th of December, a considerable part of the new set- Book I. tlers were obliged to abandon their habitations. Seventy persons, men, women, and children, were necessitated, in 1635. the extremity of winter, to go down to the mouth of the December river, to meet their provisions, as the only expedient to 3d or 4th. preserve their lives. Not meeting with the vessels which they expected, they all went on board the Rebecca, a vessel of about 60 tons. This, two days before, was frozen in twenty miles up the river; but by the falling of a small rain and the influence of the tide, the ice became so broken and was so far removed, that she made a shift to get out. She ran, however, upon the bar, and the people were forced Dec. 10th. to unlade her, to get her off. She was reladen, and, in five days, reached Boston. Had it not been for these providential circumstances, the people must have perished with famine. The people who kept their stations on the river suffer- The seted in an extreme degree. After all the help they were able to obtain, by hunting, and from the Indians, they were obliged to subsist on acorns, malt and grains.* tlers ate acorns and grains. Numbers of the cattle, which could not be got over the river before winter, lived through without any thing but what they found in the woods and meadows. They wintered as well, or better, than those which were brought over, and for which all the provision was made, and pains taken, of which the owners were capable. However, a great number of cattle perished. The Dorchester, or Wind- Loss in sor people lost, in this single article, about two hundred cattles pounds sterling. Their other losses were very considerable. It is difficult to describe, or even to conceive, the apprehensions and distresses of a people, in the circumstances of our venerable ancestors, during this doleful winter. All the horrors of a dreary wilderness spread themselves around them. They were encompassed with numerous, fierce and cruel tribes of wild and savage men, who could have swallowed up parents and children, at pleasure, in their feeble and distressed condition. They had neither bread for themselves, nor children; neither habitations nor clothing convenient for them. Whatever emergency might happen, they were cut off, both by land and water, from any succour or retreat. What self-denial, firmness, and magnanimity are necessary for such enterprises! How distressful, in the beginning, was the condition of those now fair and opulent towns on Connecticut river! For a few years after the settlements on the river com* Winthrop's Journal, p. 90, 91, to 98. |