ADDITIONAL NOTICES. Many other particulars respecting the personal history of Davenport might be gathered from the records; but though such details have always a charm for the antiquarian, they might seem to the general reader, tedious and trifling. One incident however may be given here, as it is an additional illustration of his public spirit. On the 11th of August, 1662, Mr. Davenport informed the town, "that he having occasion by the providence of God to go into the Bay, and understanding that there are two merchants that are lately come from England, who have a desire to come to these parts,"” wished to be authorized by the town to make them some such proposals as might induce them to come to this place. "They are very godly men," he said, "and belong to a Church in England, and so have a desire to have a place to sit down together (as Brother Alsop reported, and Mr. Rutherford;) they only desire home lots, and it may be, some out lots." After some discussion it was suggested that the neck" might be "the fittest place for them." Mr. Davenport then proposed the question whether the town would give up that tract of land to these strangers, on condition of their settling here. "For his own part, he had some land there himself, and he should willingly resign up his." He argued that these merchants "would bring shipping yearly from England hither, and so cause manufacture, which is necessary if we long subsist together." The proposal being favorably received, he "further propounded whether we should not consider them as coming from London, and not knowing the state of a wilderness condition, and therefore extend our thoughts farther than their desires, so as to accommodate them with land and meadow for cows, and also liberty for cutting fire wood, and timber for building, equal with others of the planters, which may be a great encouragement to them when they should hear our thoughts extend beyond their desires. All which he purposed to acquaint them withal when he understood the town's mind herein." The result was a formal offer of "the neck," a tract of about six hundred acres, and of the other accommodations and privileges proposed. One of those merchants, a Mr. Bache, appears to have carried on business here for many years. He purchased of the town, the house in which Gov. Winthrop, and afterwards Gov. Newman, had resided. Of the other, I have discovered no traces. It may be that they were both of that class for whom it was safest, after the restoration, to leave England. By the kindness of that diligent and accurate investigator, Rev. Joseph B. Felt, of Boston, I have been favored with a copy of the "inventory of the goods and chattels" of Mr. Davenport, taken by James Penn, Anthony Stoddard, and Thomas Clark, on "the 22d of the 5th mo. 1670." In this inventory, the property which the deceased left in New Haven has no place. The total of the inventory, as summed up on the record, including dwelling house and land, valued at £400, and "one servant boy, £10" is £1240 18 101. The rooms named, are the hall, the study, the upper chamber, the kitchen chamber, the garret, the parlor, the kitchen, and the cellar. The plate is estimated at £50. "Cheny [china] and earthern ware" at £5. "Pewter and tin ware" in the kitchen, £20. Every apartment named, except the study, the garret, the kitchen, and the cellar, has a bed in it. The inventory of things in the study is worth copying. "Books prized by Mr. John Oxenbridge, our pastor, and by Mr. James Allen, our teacher, as appeared to us by a note under their hands to the value of A clock, with appurtenances, 7 high chairs, 3 stools, a low chair, A skreen, four curtain rods, four boxes, £233 17 5.00 3. 00 2.00 1 05"* More than a thousand dollars worth of books, will seem like a large library, when it is recollected that New England was then far more of a new country than the western frontier is now. These books descended to the only son of the only son, the Rev. John Davenport of Stamford. One of the volumes, at least, which Davenport * The inventory of Mr. Street's estate on the New Haven probate records, shows a style of housekeeping quite inferior to his colleague's. The entire estate, including £136 17 5, which belonged to his wife, (he had married the relict of Gov. Newman,) and which by the will was to be hers exclusively, was only £463 16. His books were valued at £46. His plate, including the "silver drinking bowl" and the "silver wine bowl," mentioned in his will, amounted, at 6s. per ounce, to £6 9. From the catalogue of his household chattels as distinct from what were his wife's, it might be imagined that he escaped from the Plymouth colony in a somewhat impoverished condition. It is as likely, however, that some part of his property had been previously distributed among his married children. The £71 12 6 in hard money which he had by him in those hard times, was a somewhat rare accumulation. must have got in Holland, is in the library of Yale College. Some, I believe, still remain at the seat of the family in Stamford.* * The following catalogue of Davenport's published works is made out by comparing Wood, (Athenæ Oxon.,) Mather, Allen, and Emerson, (Hist. of First Church in Boston,) and corrected in some instances by an inspection of the works themselves. A Royal Edict for Military Exercises, published in a Sermon preached to the captains and gentlemen that exercise arms in the Artillery Garden, at their general meeting in Saint Andrew's Undershaft in London. London, 1629. A copy of this is in the Atheneum Library, Boston. Letter to the Dutch Classis, containing a just complaint against an unjust doer, &c., 1634, quarto. This is a complaint against Mr. Paget's proceedings in the English Church at Amsterdam. Certain Instructions delivered to the Elders of the English Church deputed, which are to be propounded to the pastors of the Dutch Church in Amsterdam, 1634. Wood calls it a quarto paper. 1. A Report of some passages or proceedings about his calling to the English Church in Amsterdam, against John Paget. Quarto. 2. Allegations of Scripture against the baptizing of some kind of infants. Quarto. 3. Protestation about the publishing of his writings. Quarto. These three “little scripts,” as Wood calls them, were all printed at Amsterdam in 1634. An Apologetical Reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of W. B.' &c., quarto. Rotterdam, 1636. A copy of this is among the books deposited by the Old South Church in the Library of the Mass. Historical Society. Profession of Faith made publicly before the Congregation at his admission into one of the Churches of New England; containing twenty several heads. 1. Concerning the Scriptures, &c. London, 1642. One sheet, quarto. The Messiah is already come. A sermon on Acts ii, 36. London, 1653. Quarto. I suspect that this is the same with the work next named. The Knowledge of Christ, &c., wherein the types, prophecies, genealogies, miracles, humiliation, &c. of Christ are opened and applied. Quarto, printed in 1658, or before. Catechism containing the chief heads of the Christian religion. London, 1659. Octavo. Published at the desire and for the use of the Church of Christ in New Haven. Wood says that Mr. Hooke had a hand in this work. The Saints' Anchor-hold, in all storms and tempests, preached in sundry sermons, and published for the support and comfort of God's people in all times of trial. London, 1661. Duodecimo. See p. 128. Another Essay for investigation of the truth, in answer to two questions, &c. Cambridge, 1663. Quarto. The only copy of this work which I have been able to find, belongs to the library of the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., of Rochester, Mass., to whom I am much indebted for the use of it. Election Sermon, at Boston, 1669. God's call to his people to turn unto him, &c., in two sermons on two public fasting days in New England. London, 1670. Quarto. The power of Congregational Churches asserted and vindicated; in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget's, entitled, 'The Defense of Church Government exercised in Classes and Synods.' London, 1672. Duodecimo. A copy of this is found in the Library of Harvard University. A Discourse about Civil Government in a new plantation whose design is religion. Cambridge, 1673. Quarto. He was also the author of a Latin Epistle to John Dury on the Union of Protestant Churches. A long letter from him to Major General, afterwards Governor, Leverett of Boston, is among the documents published by Hutchinson in his third volume. He also wrote several commendatory prefaces to other men's works, among which, Mather mentions an epistle before Scudder's Daily Walk, as worthy to be reckoned itself a book. He also left ready for publication an Exposition of the Canticles, which was never published, though arrangements for printing it were commenced in London. No. XII. MADAM NOYES. THE following sketch is from "a Sermon, occasioned by the death of Mrs. ABIGAIL NOVES, relict of the late Rev. Joseph Noyes," &c., "delivered, the Lord's day after her decease by Chauncey Whittelsey," &c. "She was truly a gentlewoman of distinguished eminence among us; the people of this place, especially of this Church and society, almost universally knew her worth, and justly esteemed her one of the best of women. She was descended from very reputable and worthy ancestors, and had an advantageous education, and it pleased the Father of mercies, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, to endow her with superior talents and accomplishments. Her knowledge, especially in the Scriptures, and in the doctrines of the Christian religion, was very extensive and accurate. She had a delicate mind, and in wisdom and prudence she excelled; but her richest, brightest ornament, was a Christian spirit, and an exemplary Christian walk and conversation. "The things of God and religion lay with the greatest weight upon her mind; this appeared from the whole tenor of her conversation, and particularly under the sore trials which she underwent when much overborne, (as she repeatedly was,) with religious melancholy. For when at such times she questioned her own integrity, she discovered the deepest concern, and was at seasons in mere anguish of spirit, not so much because of her own dangerous estate, as from an apprehension of the dishonor she did or might do to God, and to the Redeemer. "The interest of Christ's kingdom lay near her heart, the advancement of which she attempted, not only by prayer to the God of all grace, but also by her serious, instructive discourse, managed with admirable pertinency and discretion, according to the condition and character of different persons; and by many little projections, judiciously formed and executed. For to do good appeared to be her study and delight. Who among us but could testify of her savory, religious conversation, when 'she opened her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue was the law of kindness?' |