1680. State of cut. State of R. Connecticut contained, at this time, 26 small towns, in which there were 21 churches; and in every one, excepting two newly planted, there was a settled minister. The value of its annual exports was judged to be £9000. It owned 24 small vessels. There were in the colony 20 merchants, some of whom traded to Boston; and some to the West Indies and to other colonies. There were few servants, and not more than 30 slaves. The militia amounted to 2507.1 The militia of Rhode Island colony consisted principally of ten companies of foot. There were "nine towns or divisions" in the colony. The principal place of trade was Newport, where the buildings were generally of wood, and small. The principal exports were horses and provisions. The imports where chiefly the productions of Barbadoes.2 good consistency of the order of these churches, with civil government and order, together with loyalty to kingly government and authority, and the tranquillity of this colony, with the propagating of religion among sundry of the poor native Indians" &c.-In 1683 they transmitted a new Address to king Charles, "praying for what it was already determined should never be granted." This address was signed by "Tho. Hinkley, governor, in the name of the general court." Ib. 1 Chalmers, b. 1. 307-310, where are answers of the assembly to the Inquiries of the lords of the committee of colonies, which disclose a variety of curious particulars of the State of Connecticut at the end of 44 years. The date is 15 July, 1680. Some other articles are subjoined. "We have, for the present, only one troop, which consists of about 60 horse; but we are upon raising three more. Our forces are train bands: In each county there is a major, who commands its militia, under the general. In Hartford county there are 835, New London 509, New Haven 623, Fairfield 540. The whole militia, 2507. The number of our planters is included in our trainbands, which consist of all from 16 to 60 years of age. We have one small fort at the mouth of Connecticut river. As for our Indian neighbours, we compute them to be about 500 fighting men. We are strangers to the French, and know nothing of their strength or commerce. There are but few servants, and fewer slaves; not above 30 in the colony. There come sometimes three or four blacks from Barbadoes, which are sold for £22 each. The increase [of inhabitants] is as follows: The numbers of men, in the year 1671, were 2050; in 1676, were 2303; in 1677, were 2362; in 1678, were 2490; in 1679, were 2507. Our buildings are generally of wood; some are of stone and brick; and some of them are of good strength, and comely, for a wilderness. The commodities of the country are provisions, lumber and horses. The property of the whole corporation doth not amount to £110,788 sterling. There are no duties on goods, exported or imported, except on wines and liquors; which, though inconsiderable, are appropriated to maintain free-schools. The people are strict congregationalists; a few more large congregationalists; and some moderate presbyterians. There are about 4 or 5 seven day men, and about as many quakers. Great care is taken of the instruction of the people in the Christian religion, by ministers catechizing and preaching twice every sabbath, and sometimes on lecture-days; and also by masters of families instructing their children and servants, which the law commands them to do. Every town maintains its own poor: But there is seldom any want, because labour is dear; being from 2s. to 2s. 6d. a day for a labourer; because provisions are cheap; wheat is 4s. a bushel Winchester, pease 3s. Indian corn 2s. 6d pork 3d. a pound, beef 2d.1-2 a pound, butter 6d. and so other matters in proportion. Beggars and vagabonds are not suffered; but when discovered, they are bound out to service; vagabonds, who pass up and down, are punished by law." 2 Chalmers, b. 1. 282-284, where are answers of the governor and council of Rhode Island to the same inquiries, as those mentioned in the last note. 397 nor arrives at Virginia. Lord Culpeper, who, upon the decease of Sir William Berke- 1680. ley, had been appointed governor of Virginia, arrived there in May. He immediately convoked the assembly, and laid before New gover it the several bills that had been framed in England, and transmitted under the great seal. The assembly passed an act of free and general pardon, indemnity, and oblivion, in reference to Acts of inthe late rebellion, with the exception of its principal authors and demnity, promoters. To promote the more speedy population of the colony, and to give all possible encouragement to persons of different nations to transport themselves, their families, and stock, naturalizato settle there, the assembly empowered the governor, by an ininstrument under the great seal, to declare any alien, on taking tion, the oath of allegiance, to be completely naturalized. Nothing in this act, however, was to be construed to give power to any foreigner to do, what he was laid under a disability of doing by acts made in England concerning his majesty's plantations. The same act, alleging that, during the licentiousness of late times ill disposed persons had taken upon them to asperse the government, and defame the governor and chief magistrates of the colony, subjected those, who should maliciously excite the people against deto a dislike of the governor, or who should, by words or writing, defame the administration of the colony, to fine and imprisonment. For the prevention of the frequent meetings of negro slaves, under pretence of feasts and burials, which were thought for preventto be of dangerous consequence, the assembly of Virginia passed ing Vgro an act "for preventing Negroes Insurrections."2 The half arm- tions. A few more articles are here subjoined. upon the bay of Fundy, are a considerable number; as we judge, about 2000 : "The French, seated at Canada, and But as for the Indians that were inhabitants of this colony, they are generally cut off by the late war. We have several men, who deal in buying and selling, though they cannot be properly called merchants; and, for planters, we conceive there are above 500, and about 500 men besides. We have no shipping belonging to the colony, but only a few sloops. As for goods, exported or imported, there are very few; and there is no custom imposed. We have lately had few or no new-comers, either of English, Scotch, Irish, or foreigners; only a few blacks imported. There may be, of whites and blacks, about 200 born in a year. have 50 marriages a year. The burials for the last 7 years, according to compuWe tation, amount to 455. Those people who go under the name of Baptists and Quakers are the most that congregate together; but there are others of divers persuasions and principles, all which, together with them, enjoy their liberty according to his majesty's gracious charter. We leave every man to walk as God shall persuade their hearts, and do actively or passively yield obedience to the civil magistrate. As for beggars and vagabonds, we have none among us." 1 Laws of Virginia. Beverly, b. 1. c. 4. Chalmers, b. 1. 316, 341, 353. Similar laws against "the propagation of false news" occur among the early acts of assembly of all the colonies. See particularly, Ordinances of New England, and Laws of Pennsylvania and Maryland. "Thou shalt not raise a false report," was a precept of Moses, acting under a divine commission. A law of Alfred, the admirable founder of the jurisprudence of England, declared, "whosoever spreads a false report among the vulgar shall have his tongue cut out." Chalmers. 2 Laws of Virginia. famation, insurrec 1680. ed trainbands in Virginia, at this time, amounted to 8568; 1300 of which were horse.1 Charlestown, the founded. "The Oyster point," delightfully formed by the confluence of the rivers Ashley and Cooper, being found a more eligible place capital of for settlement, than that on the banks of the Ashley chosen by S. Carolina, the first settlers of Carolina, the proprietaries encouraged the inclination of the inhabitants to remove to it. The preceding year a removal had commenced; but it was in this year that the foundation of the new town was laid. It received the name of the old settlement, Charlestown; and was immediately declared the port for the various purposes of traffic, and the capital for the general administration of government. In one year 30 houses were built. Though the proprietaries had given early instructhe natives. tions to cultivate the good will of the natives, and more recent orders to prohibit all trade with them for seven years; yet a war commenced in the beginning of this year with the Westoes, a powerful tribe on the southern boundary of Carolina, and endangered the ruin of "that hopeful settlement." A peace, however, was concluded the next year; and, to prevent the return of similar mischiefs, commissioners were appointed by the proprietaries, to decide all complaints between the contending parties.3 War with W. Jersey restored to its rights. The proprietors of West Jersey having importuned the duke of York to be restored to the rights which they derived from his grant of 1664, their pretensions were at length referred to Sir William Jones, in compliance with whose judgment the duke confirmed West Jersey to the proprietors. Thus that province, after being ruled for some time as a conquered country, was re 1 Chalmers, b. 1. 357, "from actual returns, 7268 foot, 1300 horse. Virg. Pap." 2 Chalmers, b. 1. 541. Carolina, by T. A. 1682. Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. i. 2. See A. D. 1671. Ashley and Cooper rivers were "so named in honour of the right honourable the earl of Shaftsbury, a great patron of the affairs of Carolina." Description of Carolina, 1682. The author of this " Description says, that Charlestown was removed" by express order from the lord proprietors;" and that "Old Charlestown lay about a league higher from Ashley river." Upon the removal of the town, the augmentation of the colony appears to have been rapid; for the same writer says: "At our being there, was judged in the country a 1000 or 2000 souls; but the great number of families from England, Ireland, Barbadoes, Jamaica, and the Caribees, which daily transport themselves thither, have more than doubled that number." 3 Chalmers, b. 1. 542. "The cause of hostilities may be found in injuries, which had been for some years mutually given and received." Ib. and Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. i. 153. Whatever individual exceptions there may have been, a very honourable testimony is given by a contemporary writer to the conduct of the inhabitants and of the government of Carolina toward the Indians. "The Indians have hitherto lived in good correspondence and amity with the English, who by their just and equitable carriage have extreamly winned and obliged them; justice, being exactly and impartially administered, prevents jealousies, and maintains between them a good understanding, that the neighbouring Indians are very kind and serviceable, doing our nation such civilities and good turns as lie in their power." Carolina, 1682. 1 399 instated in its former privileges. The customs at the Hoarkills, 1680. which had been complained of as a hardship from the beginning, were taken off this year. About this time, a watermill was built near Rankokas creek, and another at Trenton. The inhabitants of West Jersey had hitherto either pounded their corn, or ground it with hand mills.2 A number of families removed from Windsor in Connecticut E. Windsor to the east side of the river, and began the settlement of East settled. Windsor.3 M. de la Sale, having undertaken a farther discovery of the Fort CreveMississippi, had, the preceding year, built a fort on the river cœur. Illinois, which, on account of trouble he met with there, he called Crevecœur. He now sent out M. Dacan with father Hennepin, to trace the Mississippi, if possible, from its confluence with the Illinois up to its source. These two voyagers left fort Crevecœur on the 28th of February, and ascended the Mississippi to the 46th degree of north latitude; where they were stopped by a fall in the river, to which Hennepin gave the name of the Fall of St. Anthony.4 Fall of St. Anthony. A remarkable comet was seen in New England, and excited Comet, terror on both sides of the Atlantic.5 1 Chalmers, 618, 619. The various taxes, imposed by the governor and council of New York on that province in 1678, were at the same time extended to Jersey. Carteret endeavoured in vain to establish there a free port; for the governor of New York seized and condemned the vessels trading thither; however unjust, this measure was decisive, because it was supported by superior power.' Ibid. 2 Smith, N. Jersey, 114-124. and, 3 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. v. 169. Fifteen years they passed the river in boats, to attend public worship on the west side. 4 Hennepin, c. 34, 44. Charlevoix, Nouv. France, i. 460; ib. Fastes, Chron. 35. Harris, Voy. ii. 900. Du Pratz, Louisiane, i. 5. 5 Mather on Comets, 123. Hutchinson, i. 348. It was seen in New England from 18 November to 10 February. It was also seen in Europe; and Henault [ii. 192.] says, that it was the largest comet which had ever been seen; and that this phenomenon struck a great terror into the minds of the people in France; "but," he justly remarks, "we are too much astonished at uncommon events, and not enough at those which happen every day." It was by observations on this comet, that the great Sir Isaac Newton ascertained the parabolic form of the trajectory of comets; and demonstrated their regular revolutions round the sun. This admirable discovery, while it made a new epoch in astronomy, contributed to the removal of those terrors, which the appearance of a comet had always excited. This phenomenon, in all ages, and among all nations, had been previously viewed as a presage of some direful event. as a constituent part of an august system, which, whether examined by vulgar It has since been considered or by philosophic eyes, ought to lead man to " wonder and adore." The learned professor Winthrop [On Comets, Lect. 11. p. 44.] says, "No comet has threatened the earth with a nearer approach than that of 1680; which, had it come down to the sun a month later, would have passed as near the earth as the moon is." They, who are curious to know what opinions learned men of ancient times entertained concerning comets, are referred to Aristotle, Mirgo cap. v, vi, vii; Seneca, Natur. Quæst. lib. vii; and Travels of Anacharsis, not forbear to subjoin the following remark of Seneca on this subject: because 135, 196. I can 1680. Death of J. R. Conant, Mount Hope territory, containing about 7000 acres, was granted by the crown to the colony of Plymouth, for its services and sufferings in the war.1 2 Josiah Winslow, governor of Plymouth, died, in the 52d year Winslow, of his age. Roger Conant, who had the early care of the set& J. Wheel- tlement of Cape Ann, died.3 John Wheelwright, the founder of wright. the town of Exeter, died, at an advanced age. it has been so exactly verified, by the discovery of Newton: "Veniet tempus, quo ista quæ nunc latent, in lucem dies extrahat, et longioris ævi diligentia. Ad inquisitionem tantorum ætas una non sufficit, ut tota cœlo vacet. Veniet tempus, quo posteri nostri tam aperta nos nescisse mirentur." 1 Morton, Edit. Note, p. 469. Callender, 79. Mount Hope Territory was sold soon afterward, by Plymouth, for £300. The colony, in 1679, received a letter from the king, inquiring the value of Mount Hope Neck, "which was begged of the king" by John Crown "the poet."-The recess where Philip was surprised, is too strongly marked, to be ever mistaken, or forgotten. From minutes made on the spot, in 1810, is selected the following description. It is about a mile and a half east of Bristol, and very near Mount Hope bay. The rock where king Philip seated himself is nearly perpendicular for 30 or 40 feet from the base, above which height the ascent is gradual to the summit of the mount. The access to Philip's seat is by the north end of the hill. The seat itself is formed by a natural excavation in the rock 6 or 8 feet from the bottom. Though one seat was shown us, as designated for the monarch, the excavation would admit his chief men to sit by him. When seated in Philip's place, you have an extensive view of Mount Hope bay, which lies full before you. Beneath your feet is a spring of water, issuing from the foot of the rock, and running into the bay. The space of ground between the rock and the bay was formerly a swamp-the swamp into which Philip ran, when he was surprised in his quarters by captain Church; and in the edge of this swamp he was shot down dead. The ground is now cleared up, and is covered with grass; scattering trees are standing upon it; and many large stumps still remain. We drank the water of the spring, which is excellent.-Had this been a poet's residence, an epic poem might have been expected. To the contemplative visitant, associating the sublime and beautiful with the last act of a deep tragedy, it will always present an interesting and impressive train of moral and religious reflections. 2 Morton's Memorial and Supplement, 207. "He was a worthy and well accomplished gentleman, deservedly beloved by the people, being a true friend to their liberties, generous, affable, and sincere; qualities incident to the family.” Ibid. He was the son of governor Edward Winslow; and the first governor, born in New England. His discretion as a civil magistrate, and his bravery asa military commander, procured him much respect in both offices. Mather, Magnal. b. 2. 7. 3 Hubbard, c. 18. See A. D. 1625. 4 Belknap, N. Hamp. i. c. 1. After the plantation of Exeter at Squamscot falls, upon the admission of that town under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, Mr. Wheelwright, who was still under sentence of banishment, with those of his church who resolved to adhere to him, removed into the Province of Maine, and settled Wells. See A. D. 1638 and 1643. Upon a slight acknowledgment, he was soon after restored to the freedom of the colony, and removed to Hampton, and was minister of the church there for many years. He was in England in the time of Cromwell, with whom he was in favour; but, after the Restoration, he returned and settled in Salisbury, where he died. He left children who were highly respectable for their character and stations. His son, grandson, and great grandson, were counsellors of Massachusetts. Eliot, Biog. Dict. |