No. VI.

JOHN WINTHROP, OF CONNECTICUT.

I ASK pardon, not of the reader, but of the author, for transferring to these pages Mr. Bancroft's admirable picture of the younger Winthrop.

"In the younger Winthrop, the qualities of human excellence were mingled in such happy proportions, that, while he always wore an air of contentment, no enterprise in which he engaged seemed too lofty for his powers. Even as a child, he had been the pride of his father's house; he had received the best instruction which Cambridge and Dublin could afford; and had perfected his education by visiting, in part at least, in the public service, not Holland and France only, in the days of Prince Maurice and Richelieu, but Venice and Constantinople. From boyhood his manners had been spotless; and the purity of his soul added luster and beauty to the gifts of nature and industry; as he traveled through Europe, he sought the society of men eminent for learning. Returning to England in the bloom of life, with every promise of preferment which genius, gentleness of temper, and influence at court, could inspire, he preferred to follow his father to the new world; regarding 'diversities of countries but as so many inns,' alike conducting to the journey's end.' When his father, the father of Massachusetts, became impoverished by his expenses in planting the colony, the pious son, unsolicited and without recompense, relinquished his large inheritance, that it might be spent in furthering the great work' in Massachusetts; himself, single-handed and without wealth, engaging in the enterprise of planting Connecticut. Care for posterity seemed the motive to his actions. His vast and elevated mind had, moreover, that largeness, that he respected learning, and virtue, and genius, in whatever sect they might be found. No narrow bigotry limited his affections or his esteem; and when Quakers had become the objects of persecution, he was earnest and unremitting in argument and entreaty, to prevent the effusion of blood. Master over his own mind, he never regretted the brilliant prospects he had resigned, nor complained of the comparative solitude of New London; a large library furnished employment to his mind; the study of nature, according to the principles of the philosophy of Bacon, was his delight; for ' he had a gift in understanding and art;' and his home was endeared

by a happy marriage, and 'many sweet children.' His knowledge of human nature was as remarkable as his virtues. He never attempted impracticable things; but, understanding the springs of action, and the principles that control affairs, he calmly and noiselessly succeeded in all that he undertook. The new world was full of his praises; Puritans, and Quakers, and the freemen of Rhode Island, were alike his eulogists; the Dutch at New York, not less than all New England, had confidence in his integrity; Clarendon and Milton, Newton and Robert Boyle, became his correspondents. If he had faults, they are forgotten. In history he appears, by unanimous testimony, from early life, without a blemish; and it is the beautiful testimony of his own father, that 'God gave him favor in the eyes of all with whom he had to do.' In his interview with Charles II., there is reason to believe, he was able to inspire that naturally benevolent monarch with curiosity; perhaps he amused him with accounts of Indian warfare, and descriptions of the marvels of a virgin world. A favorable recollection of Charles I., who had been a friend to his father's father, and who gave to his family an hereditary claim on the Stuarts, was effectually revived. His personal merits, sympathy for his family, his exertions, the petition of the colony, and, as I believe, the real good will of Clarendon,-for we must not reject all faith in generous feeling,-easily prevailed to obtain for Connecticut an ample patent. The courtiers of King Charles, who themselves had an eye to possessions in America, suggested no limitations; and perhaps it was believed, that Connecticut would serve to balance the power of Massachusetts.

"The charter, disregarding the hesitancy of New Haven, the rights of the colony of New Belgium, and the claims of Spain on the Pacific, connected New Haven with Hartford in one colony, of which the limits were extended from the Narragansett River to the Pacific Ocean. How strange is the connection of events! Winthrop not only secured to his state a peaceful century of colonial existence, but prepared the claim for western lands. Under his wise direction, the careless benevolence of Charles II. provided in advance the school fund of Connecticut.

"With regard to powers of government, the charter was still more extraordinary. It conferred on the colonists unqualified power to govern themselves. They were allowed to elect all their own officers, to enact their own laws, to administer justice without appeals to England, to inflict punishments, to confer pardons, and in a word, to exercise every power, deliberative and active. The king, far

from reserving a negative on the acts of the colony, did not even require that the laws should be transmitted for his inspection; and no provision was made for the interference of the English government in any event whatever. Connecticut was independent except in name. Charles II. and Clarendon thought they had created a close corporation, and they had really sanctioned a democracy. To the younger Winthrop, probably because he had preserved a loyal spirit in Connecticut, Charles II. had written, 'the world shall take notice of the sense I have of your kindness, and how great an instrument you have been in promoting the happiness of your country;' and the disinterested man asked favors only for the community of which he was a member.

"After his successful negotiations, and efficient concert in founding the Royal Society, Winthrop returned to America, bringing with him a name which England honored, and which his country should never forget, and resumed his tranquil life in rural retirement. The amalgamation of the two colonies could not be effected without collision; and New Haven had been unwilling to merge itself in the larger colony; the wise moderation of Winthrop was able to reconcile the jarrings, and blend the interests of the united colonies. The universal approbation of Connecticut followed him throughout all the remainder of his life; for twice seven years he continued to be annually elected to the office of her chief magistrate."

Governor Winthrop's first and principal residence in Connecticut, was at Pequot, afterwards called New London. Great efforts were made by Mr. Davenport and Gov. Eaton, to induce him to fix his residence in New Haven. In October, 1654, the General Court of the colony requested the Governor to write to Mr. Winthrop in the name of the Court, "inviting him to come and live at New Haven if he do remove from Pequot." For a year or more, soon afterwards, he resided here, in the house which had been Capt. Malbon's, on the west side of State street, near where it is now intersected by Court street. The town bought that house for his accommodation, offering it to him as a gratuity. He refused to come under any such obligation as would be imposed by his acceptance of such a gift. Accordingly he bought of the town the house and lot, "with all the accommodations belonging thereto,"* for £100, to be paid according to the tenor of the following engagement.

* As illustrating the value of real estate in New Haven at that time, it is worth while to observe how much was sold for £100. The house was one of the best in the town, distinguished as it was for "fair and stately houses."

"These are to testify that I do owe and am indebted to the townsmen of New Haven, selected by the said town for the carrying on the prudential affairs of the same, the full sum of one hundred pounds for the house wherein I now live with the lands to it, to be paid in goats, the one half at any time between this or October next, upon Fisher's Island, whensoever they shall send a vessel to demand and carry away the same, and the other half the next summer at the same place, when they shall likewise send a vessel to demand and fetch them away, any time before that winter, to be delivered by my servants there. Witness my hand: July 7th, 1657.

"Witness, FRANCIS NEWMAN."

"JOHN WINTHROP.

Mr. Winthrop appears not have resided here longer than two years. The house was bought back by the town in 1659; and the use of it was given to Gov. Newman for his lifetime, and that of his wife if she should survive him.

One reason for the great zeal of the town to induce Mr. Winthrop to reside here, was his medical knowledge and skill. See Prof. Knight's Introductory Lecture; which contains the history of the medical profession in New Haven.*

The lot extended in front about fourteen rods, as measured on Col. Lyon's map, and in depth half way to Church street. Beside the house and lot, there was the housing upon it," (which must have included stable, &c.,) and "all the accommodations belonging thereunto, which in the book where men's accommodations are entered, appear to be thirty five acres of the first division within the two miles, and six and twenty rods; thirty four acres of meadow, and a half; one hundred and seventy eight acres of the second division; and twenty acres and a quarter, sixteen rods, in the Neck."

Mr. Thomas Pell, who in Dr. Knight's Lecture is mentioned as probably a physician, and as going away in 1650, was surgeon to the Saybrook Fort, under Lyon Gardner, in 1636, and was sent in that capacity with Capt. Underhill to the Pequot war in 1637. (III, Mass. Hist. Coll. III, 149.) His first appearance on the New Haven records is in Sept. 1642; but it is doubtful whether he was at that time residing here. His name is not among the freemen or the planters, or among those who took the oath of fidelity to the jurisdiction. In 1647, he appears again, and soon after married the widow of Francis Brewster, a lady who was rather an untoward subject of the jurisdiction. After considerable difficulty about the payment of a fine which had been imposed upon his wife before the marriage, and for which the court held him responsible after the marriage, he was called upon to take the oath of fidelity, which he refused to do. His going away was a few months afterwards. He seems to have removed from this place to Fairfield. His wife and her daughters were witnesses in the case of Staplies against Ludlow. See Kingsley, 101.

No. VII.

EDWARD TENCH'S WILL AND INVENTORY.

THE records in the Probate office begin in the year 1647. But in the town clerk's office I find a solitary record of a will and inventory, dated-before New Haven had an English name-in Feb. 1639– 40. The manner and provisions of the will, as well as its being probably the first will ever written in New Haven, make it worth publishing. I subjoin to the will, the first part of the inventory, which exhibits the titles of all the books which made up the library of one of the planters of New Haven.

The record is somewhat mutilated by time. The reader will see that the hiatus is filled up with such words as seem to be demanded by the context.

"I, Edward Tench, planter in Quinnypiocke, being at present weak in body, but of perfect memory, and having my dear wife, Sarah Tench, lying in the house with me, dangerously sick, and near to death by a consumption, so that in the judgment of man, she draweth near her change; do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following. First, I commit my spirit, &c.—and my body to be buried in a comely and decent manner, according to the course of this place ;-and my debts first paid, funeral expenses discharged, and certain small legacies, part of which are given by my wife, and by me now confirmed, and part by myself now added, all contained in a note and schedule hereunto annexed, I give and bequeath to my forenamed dear wife, the one half of the remainder of my whole estate, whether it be here or in old England, if God please to recover her and preserve her life. The other half of my estate, I give and bequeath to my only son, Nathaniel Tench, now about five years of age, desiring my said wife, to whom I commit him, if God spares her life, to be careful in his education, and to improve his portion for him, till he attain the full age of one and twenty years. But if it shall please God, by death, to take away my dear wife before me, it is my will and mind, and I freely give and bequeath to my forenamed son, Nathaniel Tench, my whole estate; my debts and former legacies being first paid, and funerals discharged; and of this my last Will and Testa