1640, these people, and those who had planted themselves at Portsmouth, under Williams, formed themselves into a body politic.

Four distinct governments, including one at Kittery, north of the river, were now formed on the branches of the Piscataqua. These combinations being only voluntary agree. ments, liable to be broken or subdivided on the first popular discontent, there could be no confidence in their continuance. The distractions in England, at this time, had cut off all hope of the royal attention, and the people of the several settlements were too much divided in their opinions to form any general plan of government, which could afford a prospect of permanent utility. The more considerate persons among them, therefore, thought it best to treat with Massachusetts, about taking them under their protection. That government was glad of an opportunity, to realize the construction, which they had put upon the clause, of their charter, in which their northern limits are defined; for a line drawn from east to west at the distance of "three miles to the northward of Merrimac river, and of any and every part thereof," which would take in the greater part of NewHampshire, and Maine, so that Mason and Gorges' patents must have been vacated. They had already intimated their intention to run this east and west line, and presuming on the justice of their claim, they readily entered into a negociation with the principal settlers of Piscataqua respecting their incorporation with them. The affair was more than a year in agitation, and was at length concluded by an instrument subscribed in the presence of the general court, by George Wyllys, Robert Saltonstall, William Whiting, Edward Holiock, and Thomas Makepeace, in behalf of themselves and the other partners of the two patents; by which instru ment they resigned the jurisdiction of the whole to Massachusetts, on condition that the inhabitants should enjoy the

same liberties with their own people, and have a court of justice erected among them. The property of the whole patent of Portsmouth, and of one third part of that of Dover, and of all their improved lands, was reserved to the lords and gentlemen proprietors, and to their heirs forever.*

Thus New-Hampshire ceased to be a separate province. Each of the associations beforementioned dissolved their respective compacts, which had been productive of much contention and anarchy, and peaceably submitted to Massachusetts.

CHAP. X.

Settlement of Connecticut; character of Reverend Mr. Davenport.

THE present territory of Connecticut, at the first arrival of the English, was possessed by the Pequot, the Mohegan, Podunk, and many other smaller tribes of Indians.

The Pequots were numerous and warlike. Their country extended along the seacoast from Paucatuck to Connecticut river. About the year 1630, this powerful tribe extended their conquests over a considerable part of Connecticut, over all Long Island and part of Narraganset. SASSACUS, was the grand monarch. The seat of his dominion was at New-London; the ancient Indian name of which, was Pequot.

The Mohegans were a numerous tribe, and their territory extensive. Their ancient claim comprehended most of New-London county, almost the whole county of Windham, and a part of the counties of Tolland and Hartford. UNCUs,

Belknap.

distinguished for his friendship to the English, was the sachem of this tribe.

The Podunks inhabited East Hartford, and the circumjacent country. The first sachem of this tribe, of whom the English had any knowledge, was Tatanimoo. He was able to bring into the field more than 200 bowmen.

The first grant of Connecticut was made by the Plymouth council, to the earl of Warwick,in 1630, and confirmed by his majesty in council the same year. This grant comprehended "all that part of New England which lies west from Narraganset river, 120 miles on the seacoast." The year following, the earl assigned this grant to lord Say and Seal, lord Brook, and nine others, who held it in trust for the Puritan emigrants from England.

In the year 163 1, Wahquimacut, a sachem of a tribe on Connecticut river, visited the governors of Massachusetts and Plymouth, and earnestly besought them to make a settlement upon that river. Wahquimacut was induced to make this request from a hope that the English might protect him and his nation against the Pequots, who, from their number and power, threatened to exterminate the river tribes. To persuade the English to comply with his request, he represented to them the fertility of the country, and its advantages for trade, and promised to give them eighty beaver skins, and an annual supply of corn. Winthrop, the governor of Massachusetts, was not inclined to accept the offer. Mr. Winslow, the governor of Plym outh, thought it worthy of consideration, and, that he might judge of the sachem's representations, visited the river the latter part of this year.

Mr.

The next year a more particular examination of the river and adjoining territories was made by the people of Plymouth, with design to fix the proper site for a trading house. Having done this, they endeavoured to engage governor

Winthrop and his council to unite with them in this new settlement; but not having succeeded in this attempt, they resolved to undertake it by themselves. Accordingly, in Oct. 1653, William Holmes of Plymouth, with a small company of men, sailed up the Connecticut, and erected a trading house a short distance below the mouth of the little river in Windsor. This was the first house that was erected in Connecticut. The English, thus established, treated the Indians with justice and kindness; and the Indians in return testified, in every possible manner, their affection and good will. The fierce and high spirited Pequots were the only people, who refused this interchange of good offices, and who thus early manifested a deep animosity toward the English.

The same year, a little before the arrival of the English, a company of Dutch traders came to Hartford, and built a house which they called the Hirse of Good Hope, and erected a small fort, in which they planted two cannon. The remains of this settlement are still visible on the bank of the river. They erected another fort among the Indians at Totoket, now Branford. These were the only settlements of the Dutch in Connecticut in those times. The Dutch, and after them the province of New-York, for a long time, claimed as far east as the western bank of Connecticut river.

In 1634, lord Say and Seal, &c. sent over a small number of men, who built a fort at Saybrook, and held a treaty with the Pequot Indians, who, in a formal manner, gave to the English their right to Connecticut river and the adjacent country.

The same year the inhabitants of Dorchester, Watertown' and Newtown, applied to the general court of Massachu setts for permission to remove to Connecticut. After warm and long debates, this permission was refused. Neverthe

less, the body of the people of Dorchester, and the towns of Newtown, Cambridge, and Watertown, concluded to re

move.

In the summer of 1635 many of them performed the dangerous and laborious journey across the wilderness to Connecticut river. At the time of their removal, the Dutch had extended their claim to the river, and made a settlement a few miles below Windsor. About one hundred men, women and children took their departure from the three towns mentioned,to travel through an unexplored wilderness. They were fourteen days performing the tedious journey. The forests, through which they passed, for the first time resounded with the praises of God. They prayed, and sang psalms and hymns, as they marched along; the Indians following them in silent admiration.

They arrived at this river, the object of their ardent expectation, near the mouth of Scantic river in East Windsor, The Dorchester people, with Mr. Wareham for their minister, began the settlement of Windsor on the west side of the river; they suffered great hardships the first winter, and their cattle perished for want of food; to carry much provision or furniture through a pathless wilderness was impracticable. Their principal provisions and household furniture had been put on board several small vessels, which, by reason of delays, and the tempestuous season, were either cast away, or did not arrive. Several vessels were wrecked on the shore of New-England, by the violence of the storms. Every resource appeared to fail, and the people were under the dreadful apprehensions of perishing by famine. They supported themselves in this distressing period with that heroic firmness and magnanimity, for which the first settlers of New-England had been se eminently distinguished.*

Trumbull.