1652.

The first mint was erected in New England for First coin- coining money.*

age of money.

To encourage the staple commodity of Virginia, Act about the English parliament passed an act, which gave tobacco. legal force to the injunctions of James and Charles against planting tobacco in England.

Parliament

assumes

2

The government of Maryland was taken out of the hands of lord Baltimore, for disloyalty to the ruling powers in England, and settled in the hands Maryland. of the parliament.3

the govern

ment of

Rhode Isl

and.

Death of *J. Cotton.

By an order of the council of state for the commonwealth of England, the government of Rhode Island was suspended; but that colony, taking advantage of the distractions, which soon after ensued in England, resumed its government, and enjoyed it, without farther interruption, until the Restoration.*

John Cotton, minister of the first church in Boston, who has been styled the patriarch of New England, died, in the sixty eighth year of his age.

1653). The villages, lying still farther eastward, appear not to have surrendered their independence until 1658. Chalmers, i. 480, 499, 501.

1 Hutchinson,i. 178. Chalmers, i. 182. The money coined was in shillings, six pences, and three pences. The law enacted, that " Massachusetts and a tree in the centre be on the one side; and New England and the year of our Lord, and the figure XII, VI, III, according to the value of each piece, be on the other side." Massachusetts Laws. The several coins had N. E. on one side, and the number denoting the number of pence, with the year 1652, on the other. This date was never altered, though more coin was stamped annually for 30 years. Hutchinson Coll. 480.

2 Keith, 148. Robertson, book ix. 112,

3 Hazard Coll. i. 626. In 1654 it was settled in the hands of the Protector. Ibid. For the reasons of this procedure, with evidences, that "the province of Maryland had more need of reducing than any plantation in America," see ibid. 621-630.

4 Chalmers, i. 274. Douglass, ii. 8r.

5 Mather Magnal. book iii. 14-31. Hutchinson, i. 179. He is described by Hubbard [MS. N. Eng. chap. Ixi.], as a man "of excellent learning, profound judgment, eminent gravity, Christian candour, and sweet temper of spirit."

1653.

I

359

war with

The commissioners of the United Colonies, ap- Preparaprehensive of hostilities with the Dutch, concluded tions for provisionally, that five hundred men should be the the Dutch. number raised out of the four jurisdictions. On this occasion, Plymouth colony appointed a council of war, and agreed on several military orders. In May, the council of war issued warrants, in the name of the state of England, for pressing sixty men, the number required of that colony, on condition of the need of them, to be taken out of the several towns within the jurisdiction of Plymouth; and Miles Standish was appointed their captain.*

3

War with

Ninnigret

The commissioners of the colonies, finding it ne- Sept. 20. cessary to make war with Ninnigret the Niantick sachem, concluded on that measure; and voted, that two hundred and fifty foot soldiers, officers and commanders included, be immediately raised by the several colonies. +

I Hazard Coll. ii. 231.

Massachusetts was to send (commanders included)

Plymouth

Connecticut

New Haven

333

60

65

42

500

"All the commissioners, excepting those of Massachusetts, were of the opinion, that there had been a horrid and execrable plot, concerted by the Dutch governor and the Indians, for the destruction of the English colonies." Trumbull, i. 209.

2 Hazard Coll. i. 580, 581. The towns in Plymouth jurisdiction were to raise men in the following proportions :

Plymouth

Duxborough

Scituate

Sandwich

Taunton

6

6

6

6

3

3 It appeared, that he had spent the winter at Manhattan, with Stuyvesant, on the business of the conspiracy. Trumbull, i. 209.

4 Hazard Coll. ii. 293, 295. The 250 men were to be raised by the colonies in a due proportion, as was agreed on at the first meeting of the commissioners at Boston this year.

1653.

of Massa

chusetts.

To clear the title of Massachusetts to the province North line of Maine, skilful mathematicians were ordered to run the north line of the Massachusetts patent according to the late interpretation of its bounds; and it was run, agreeably to that order, in October.' The first fire in Boston, recorded by the early historians, was in this year.

Fire in
Boston.
Montreal.

Death of

2

The incursions of the Iroquois having obliged M. de Maisonneuve, governor of Montreal, to repair to France for fresh recruits; he returned with one hundred men. Margaret Bourgeois, a respectable lady, who afterward instituted the order of the Daughters of the Congregation, now came with him to Montreal. 3

Thomas Dudley, formerly governor of Massachu T. Dudley. setts, and a principal founder of that colony, died, aged seventy seven years."

Massachusetts, not satisfied with the reasons for the war, declined raising her quota. The general court of that colony resolved, that no determina tion of the commissioners, though they should all agree, should bind the general court to join in an offensive war, which should appear to such court to be unjust. This declaration gave great uneasiness to the sister colonies, and nearly effected a dissolution of their union. Trumbull, i. 215. 216. See Hazard Coll. ii. 288—295; Hutchinson, i. 179-182.

1 Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. Iviii

Hazard Coll. i. 591.

2 Coll. Hist. Soc. iii. 269. Josselyn [Voy. 267, N. Eng. Rar. 111.] calls it "the great fire;" but no particulars of it can be found.

3 Charlevoix Nouv. France, i. 312, 313. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 454. Char levoix estimates M. Bourgeois as a greater acquisition to the colony, than all the soldiers. "Mais la plus heureuse acquisition, qu'il fit dans ce voyage, fut celle d'une vertueuse Fille &c... qui a depuis rendu son nom cher et respectable a toute la colonie par ses éminentes vertus &c."

4 Morton, 150. Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. lxi. Hutchinson, i. 183. Coll. Hist. Soc. vii. II. On Mr. Hooker's removal to Hartford, Mr. Dud ley removed from Newtown to Ipswich; and afterward to Roxbury, where he died. He was a man of sound judgment, of inflexible integrity, of pub. lic spirit, and of strict and exemplary piety. His intolerance toward religious sectaries derives some apology from the age, in which he lived; an age, not thoroughly acquainted with the true principles of civil and relig ions liberty. With strong passions, he was still placable and generous. One fact is at once illustrative of these traits of his character, and of the patriarchal kind of government, exercised in Massachusetts, during the infancy of that colony. Governor Winthrop having led deputy governor Dudley to expect, that he would settle with him at Newtown [See p. 262 of this volume.]; his removal to Boston gave Dudley great dissatisfaction. "The ministers," being appealed to on this occasion," for an end of the difference ordered, that the governor should procure them a minister at

1654.

house and

The colony of Connecticut receiving an order April 6. from the parliament, requiring, that the Dutch Dutch should be treated, in all respects, as the declared en- land at emies of England; the general court of that colony Hartford passed an act, sequestring the Dutch house, lands and property of all kinds, at Hartford, for the benefit of the commonwealth.*

sequester

ed.

Although the colony of New Haven could not New Ha ven colony effectually engage the confederate colonies in a war obtains against the Dutch; yet some of the principal per- help from sons of the colony, going this year to England, pre- England. vailed so far with those in power there, as to obtain a commission for certain ships and soldiers, to seize the Dutch plantation at New Netherlands, for the use of the English. A fleet sailed from England for that purpose; but the voyage was long, and news Peace be of a peace, concluded between the States of Holland tween Ho and the powers in England, reached America before land and England. the arrival of the fleet. The commander in chief, hence induced to turn his forces, with those raised in Massachusetts, into another direction, attacked the French forts about St. John's river, and reduced them, and the adjacent places, under the power of the English. The peace with the Dutch, with

Newtown, and contribute some to his maintenance for a time; or if he could not by the spring effect that, then to give the deputy towards his charges in building there £20." The governor promised compliance; but, on making payment of that sum, Dudley returned it to him, with strong professions of personal estimation. Winthrop Journ. 43. Coll. Hist. Soc. vii. II.

1 Trumbull, i. 225. Coll. Hist. Soc. vii. A point of land, which form ed a part of their possessions, is still called Dutch Point. Ibid.

66

2 Penobscot &c. The English " met with no great resistance." Hutthinson, i. 183. All the country from Penobscot to Port Royal was con quered at this time. Sullivan, 158. Port Royal capitulated in August. Chalmers, i. 187. The French pretended, that they had purchased the English right at the price of £5000; a price, which, if there was such an agreement, was never paid. The conquered country was confirmed to England the following year. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 256.

3 Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. lix. Intelligence of the peace, signed 5 April, was received 23 June. Hazard Coll. i. 589. A short time before this intelligence arrived, Massachusetts had consented to the raising of

Ddd

1654. "the hopeful establishment of government in Eng Thanks land," occasioned a public thanksgiving in Massagiving. chusetts.'

September.

Commis

Massachusetts not joining her confederates in a sioners of war against Ninnigret, that sachem prosecuted his U. Colonies war with the Long Island Indians, who had put themselves under the protection of the English." Ninnigret. The commissioners in September sent a messenger

send for

on a war

with him.

to him, demanding his appearance at Hartford, where they were convened, and the payment of triBute long due, for the Pequots under him; but he refused to appear, and sent them a spirited, indeDetermine pendent answer. Determining therefore on a war with him, they ordered two hundred and seventy infantry, and forty horsemen, to be raised. Orders were given, that twenty horse from Massachusetts, twenty four men from Connecticut, and sixteen from New Haven, should be immediately dispatched into the Nehantick country. The commissioners nominated three men to the chief command, leaving the appointment to Massachusetts; but the general court of that colony, disregarding the nomination, appointed major Simon Willard. The commission

troops for an expedition against the Dutch; but it was not until Cromwell, Lord Protector, had signified to them his pleasure that it should be done. The general court, having received a letter from his highness" declare (9 June), that though they understand that this colony is not in such a capacity as may be apprehended to send forth such numbers of men, as might vigorously assist in that undertaking, yet do freely consent and give liberty to his Highness's commissioners major Robert Sedgwick and captain John Leveret to raise within our jurisdiction the number of 500 volunteers furnished with all necessary accommodations to assist them in their enterprize against the Dutch; provided the persons be free from legal engagements." Hazard, i. 587. By "legal engagements," Hutchinson [i. 183.] suppos es, must be intended "apprenticeship and other servitude, as well as processes from courts" &c. For "Proceedings of the council of war at Ply mouth," on the same subject, see Hazard Coll. i. 587-590.

1 Hutchinson, i. 183. The thanksgiving was 20 September.

2 Trumbull, i. 220. He had hired as auxiliaries, the Mohawks, Pocom➡ tocks, and Wampanoags. It was supposed, that his design was, to destroy the Long Island Indians, and the Moheagans; but a collection of such a number of Indians from various quarters would have endangered the genesal peace of the country. Ib.

3 Massachusetts was to raise the 40 horsemen, and 153 footmen; Cons necticut, 45; and New Haven, 31. Trumbull, i. 231.