JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL,* &c. AT A MEETING OF THE GOUERNO AND ASSISTANTS IN HARTFord, JULY 1, 1675. John Winthrop Esq., Gou'. Mr. James Richards. The people of Stoneington and New London haueing informed of the outrageousnes of the Indians, of their destroying the English by fyre and sword in Plimoth Pattent, and allso what danger they are in by reason of the enemie, earnestly beging of ayde ; It is ordered, that there be thirty dragoones and ten troopers forthwth raysed and sent to Stoneington and New London, to ayd and secure the good people of those townes against the Indians; to be raysed, out of Windsor, ten dragoones and fiue troopers; out of Hartford, ten dragoones and fiue troopers; and out of Wethersfeild, eight dragoones and two troopers. Corp" Sam" Martin to be one of them. It is allso ordered, that the seuerall plantations be ordered forthwith to prepare and set themselues in a posture of defence, and to suit themselues with armes and amunition according to law. The manuscript Journal of the Council (originally constituting a separate volume, of about eighty closely written foolscap pages,) has been recently bound up with the first volume of Documents relating to War. Its first pages record the proceedings of the Governor and Assistants, during the interval between the General Courts of May and July, 1675, and prior to the establishment of the standing Council, by the order of July 9th, (page 261, ante.) The first meeting of the Council appears to have been held on the 14th of July; with the record of which their Journal properly commences. Copies or abstracts of numerous documents referred to in the Journal or which have seemed necessary for its explanation, have been incorporated with it, as here published. These are in all cases printed in a different type from that used for the Journal itself; and a reference to the manuscript volume in which the original is to be found, is usually prefixed. Abstracts and partial copies are always included between brackets. A great number of the Documents thus introduced or referred to, are now bound together in the same volume, (WAR, Vol. I.) It has not been thought necessary in every instance, to repeat the title of this volume, and the number only, of the Document referred to, is sometimes given. [The following letter, (of which a copy is preserved in "War," Vol. I. Doc. 4, a.) appears to have been forwarded to the magistrates of New Haven and the south-western towns.] Hartford, July 1, 1675. Honord Sirs: We have recd inteligence by letters post, from Stoneington & New London, that the Indians are up in arms in Plimoth & in the Narrogancett Country, that they have assaulted the English, slayn about thirty, burnt some houses, & still are engageing the Indians rownd about by sending locks of some English they haue slayne from one place to another. The people of Stoneington & New London send for ayd, and accordingly we purposs to send them forty-two men, to-morrow, & haue given order to ye several plantations here to put themselves in a posture of defence speedily; & these lines are to moue yourselves forthwith to see that the same care be taken in your parts for your securety, and that all the plantations haue notice hereof, both Guilford and so onward to Rye, that they allso be compleat in their armes, with ammunition according to law. Here is inclosed coppys of some letters we haue receiued from Stoneington, &c. Please to peruse them, & hasten the posting of the letter to Governour Andross. Liuetenant Nicholas Olmsteed is appoynted the Lat of this company that now is to be sent forth, and was commissioned accordingly. [A copy of the commission to Lieut. Olmsted, to command a company of dragoons, to go forthwith to Norwich and thence to Stonington, for the defence of those towns,-is in War, Vol. I. Doc. 4, a.] Vpon the intelligence of Major John Winthrop's being sick, Capt. Wayte Winthrope, in the absence of Major Palmes in this exigency, is appoynted to command the forces of New London County and allso to defend the plantations of that County from the assault of the enemie. The Commissioners and com" officers are appoynted his council, or so many as can conveen upon any exigency; and he was accordingly commissioned. Liueten' Tho: Tracey was appoynted the commissary or quarter master to prouide for this company and designe, and was commissioned accordingly. AT A MEETING OF THE MAGISTRATES, JULY 6th, 1675. Mr. Sam" Willys, John Griffen was confirmed Sarj' of Simsbury Traine Band, and is impowered to command the Traine Band there upon all occasions, and especially in case of any exigency by the assault of an enemie. AT A MEETING OF THE GOUERNO & ASSIS" IN HARTFORD, JULY 7, John Winthrop Esq. Gov'; 1675. Whereas there appeares by the intelligence we haue that there is a generall conspiracy of the heathen against the English, and we haue thereupon sent forces to secure the smale plantations upon the sea-coast and frontiers; and the smale plantations of Lyme, Say. brook and Kellingworth being not farr from some Indians whoe we understand by other Indians were in priuate consultations at Podunck not long since, all night, and suddainly wthdrew themselues, to the wonder of the other Indians that took notice of it; and it is not known but that they may be in conspiracy with the other Indians now in war with the English; we haue therefore thought fitt to impower and commissionate you, Capt. Tho: Bull, forthwith to repayre to those plantations, with such others as shall accompany you out of these plantations, for the speciall defence and safety of those places or either of them, to martiall, array and put in warlike posture the inhabitants of those plantations and such other forces as shall com there, and allso if need be for their more convenient quartering and supply of provissions to call back those forces lately sent from the sea-side to New London and Stoneington, to Saybrooke; there to quarter till farther order from the Gen" Court or other authority of this Colony. And you are to giue an acco' of your motions, and what occurrances shall fall in upon all occasions, as oft as you can Wth any conuenience. This commission is ordered to be signed by the Secret'y p' order of the Gou and Assistants present. : Instructions for Captain Thomas Bull :Capt. Bull; In case when you com to Saybrook or places adjacent, you judg it necessary to call back those forces from New London or Stoneington, that came from the sea-side, you are to send post presently for them, and you are hereby impowered accordingly. And if so be, there be want of any prouissions for them, you are to require the constable to seiz such prouission as may be necessary for them, whoe is hereby required to attend your order therein. And you are desired to be very carefull of keeping such watches and wardes as you shall find necessary for the discouerie of an enemie. And if by the approach of an enemie you should be forced to mayntayn your station there by force of armes, you are to doe it in the best way you can to preserue the liues and limbes of your souldiers and to offend the enemie; and the commission officers both ciuill and millitary of those plantations with the commanders in cheife of the sea-side forces that shall be present and can be conveened upon any exigencie, you are to take as your councill. This ordered to be signed by the Secret'y p' order of the Gouernor and Assis p'sent. AT A MEETING OF THE GOVERNO' AND COUNCILL, IN HARTFord, JULY 8th, 1675. John Winthrop Esq. Gov', In answer to a letter receiued from Mr. Rob' Chapman, this followeing answer was returned: Hartford, July 8, 1675. Mr. Rob' Chapman, & Capt. Tho: Bull: We have just now from your towne receiued the intelligence of two sloopes arriued from New Yorke, in which sloopes are som forces com wth Major Andross whoe is come to giue you a vissit and to lend ayd if there be any need against the Indians. You may please to inform Major Andross that the authority here hath taken the best care they can sufficiently to defend the plantations in this Colony from the insolencies of the Indians, and if Major Andross pleas to despatch his forces towards Seacunck for the releife of the good people there whoe are in distresse (as we are credibly informed,) it may be acceptable; for there is the seat of warr. If Major Andross pleas to com on shoare himselfe with any of his Gent" for their refreshment, you are to treate him wth all due respects; and we command that you take speciall care that those soldiers now in Say. brooke under your command carry it warily and prudently and avoyd giueing any just provocation. And if so be those forces on board should endeauour to land at Saybrooke, you are in his Maties name to forbid their landing. Yet if they should offer to land, you are to wayt their landing and to command them to leaue their arms on boarde, and then you may giue them leaue to land for necessary refreshing, peaceably, but so as that they return on boarde againe in convenient time. And you are to keep the King's Collours standing there, vnder his Maties Lt, the Gouerno of Conecticutt; and if any other colloures be set up there you are not to suffer them to stand. And in generall, whatsoeuer shall be done or attempted in opposition to the Gouerment here established by his Mat, you are to declare against, oppose and undoe the same, viz., if they make any proclamation you are to protest against them; if they command the people to yeild obedience to them, you are to forbid it, and to command them to continue in obedience to his Matie and his Gouerment here established; and if they should endeauoure to set up any thing, you may pull it down; and if they dig up any trenches, you are to fill them up; if they say they take possession, you are to say you keep possession for his Matie. But you are in his Maties name required to avoyd strikeing the first blow; but if they begin, then you are to defend yourselues and doe your best to secure his Maties interest and the peace of the whole Colony of Conecticott in of possession. And if farther ayd be needed you are to send to the neighbour plantations for the same. And you may represent to Major Andross how |