amongst & over all those Indians who had beene put under him formerly, and that Daniel shall be his second or cheife counsellor, to assist him in well gouerning of them. In like manner shall Herman Garrett be principal officer over those so put under him, and Momohow shall be his second or cheife counsellor. And their law full commands are duely to be obeyed and observed by all the Indians respectively. And for their encouragement & support in their faythfull discharge of their duty and trust, each Indian man aboue sixteen yeares of age shall yearely pay vnto the principall officer to which he belongs, the sume of five shillings in currant Indian pay. But Daniel shall have a third part of Robin's rate, and Momohow such part of Harmon Garret's rate. 2. That their shall be two constables in each respectiue place or township of Indians where the principle officer dwells, and there to be the place of all the Indians settled residence and habitation, vnless for some time about their necessary occasions for fishing, planting, or hunting, they may be absent and remove their wigwams in the proper season for those occasions; and then return againe to dwell in the Town to which they doe belong. Such constables are to be chosen by the principall officer and his Councill (consisting of three or foure of the most sober & discreet men of the Towne, chosen with the approbation of those appoynted by the Court to counsell them ;) and being so chosen a stafe shall be deliuered to him as the signe of his office & power, and to giue notice to the people to obey & assist him in the execution of his office; whose office is to attend all the law full commands of their respectiue principalls in prosecution of justice against d[ebto]rs or delinquents by disorder or miscarriage; so also he is to attend the commands or warrants from any of our English Magistrates. He is likewise required & impowered of himselfe to keep the peace & good order and prevent the contrary in all cases and vpon all occasions so farr as it comes to his knowledg or can find out. LAWS FOR THE SAYD INDIANS TO observe. 1. That whosoever shall oppose or speake against the onely liuing & true God, the creator & ruler of all things, shall be brought to some English court to be punished as the nature of the offence may require. 2. That whosoever shall powau or vse witchcraft or any worship to the divill or any fals god shall be convented & punished. 3. That whosoeuer shall prophane the holy Saboth day by servill worke or play, such as chopping or fetching home of wood, fishing, fowleing, hunting &c. shall pay as a fine tenn shillings, halfe to the cheife officers & the other halfe to the constable & informer, or be sharply whipt for euery such offence. 4. Whosoever shall committ murder or manslaughter shall be brought to Hartford goale & be tryed by this Government, according to the English law, which punisheth by death. 5. Whosoever shall committ Adultery by lying with another man's wife, or to haue or keep her from her husband, shall be im prisoned & tryed & punished with a fine of forty shillings for every offence. So in the case of the Adulteresse. The sayd fine to be distributed, as before.. 6. Whosoever shall steale shall restore double to his neighboure for what he hath taken, when convict before theire officer & councill, and pay the constable two shillings sixpence for his paynes about executing the law. 7. Whosoeuer shall appeare and be proved to be drunck amongst them, shall pay tenn shillings or be whipt, as the officers shall see meete; and the fine divided as before, in the law about Sabboth breakeing. In like manner shall it be done to such Indians as doe bring the liquors or strong drinke amongst them. 8. It is ordered that a ready & comely attendance be given to heare the word of God preached by Mr. Fitch, or any other minister sent amongst them. The cheife officers & constables are to gather the people as they may. And if any be refractory & refuse, or doe misbehave themselve vndecently, such shall be punished with a fine of five shillings, or be corporally punished, as the officers shall see most meet. 9. If the officers shall neglect in any of the premises, to doe their duty, they shall receive double punishment when convict thereof in any of our English Courts. 10. But whosoeuer shall either affront the principall officer, or refuse to assist the constable in the due execution of his office, shall pay for each affront so given ten shillings, and for such refuseall to assist the constable five shillings. Mr. Thomas Stanton Sen' & Lieutenant James Avery were appoynted and desired to giue theire advice and help in all cases of difficulty for the well management of their trust and affayres; to whome they are in all such cases to repayre. Dated in Hartford, Wm. Leete, Dept. Govern". John Tallcott, Assist. John Allyn, Assist. James Richards, Assist. The aboue written is a true coppy of the originall, being examined & compared therewith this 11: June: 1675; p John Allyn, Secret'y. To Hermon Garrett to cause to be published to the people of his plantation, and the rest under his Goverment. The tenn Articles were faythfully published to Robin, Harmon's son, to Momohoe, the Naragansett sunk squaw and her councell being present, at a great concourse amongst the Pequitts. The forepart, which respects Robin's own intrest, was earnestly desired by Robin not to bee published as yett. Published the 24th of Januarie, 1678, p' John Stanton. Capt. Avery and Lieutenant Minor being p'sent, as witness their hands, James Avery, Tho: Minor. No. XVIII. (p. 258.) STONINGTON PETITION; 1675. "This declaration and application of the Inhabitants of Stoningtown," sets forth, in decided but respectful language, the grievances suffered by the petitioners, and strongly protests against certain "acts, orders, or laws, passed by Authoritie in the Collony, the which wee, in our weake apprehentions, humbly conceive to be prejudiciall vnto our peace and privileges, and expose our Liberties vnto greater hazard" praying the Court to grant relief, "either by a disannulling such orders as may be found prejuditiall to our Common Liberties,' or "a clear discovery of the rule and reason upon which such acts are grounded," &c.; "for a forced Christian, and blindfold obedience, is seldom good." The orders or acts complained of, are, (1st.) "the constraining us to pay to the Charter, when severall plantations as much involved as ourselves, (and who have received much more benefitt thereby) were excused;" (2d,) "denying us the benefitt of the choyce of our own officers, to witt, Comitioners for our town, which is a privilege in the Bay and was ingaged wee should injoy the same vnder this government;" (3d,)" in denying us the common liberties of towns granted them by law; (to witt) the disposal of our own lands, and the admition of persons into our town;" (4th,) "the pressing of our trained men for souldiers, and transporting them out of the Colony," (together with "our best armes and choycest, with amunition,")" in a time of eminent danger;' ;"* and further, the laying out of the Massachusetts grants, by surveyors under authority of the General Court, in such a manner as seriously to interfere with the rights of the Stonington proprietors. "These things wee thought meet to mention and putt you in minde of, leaving them unto your wise and prudent consideration and determination, for our comfort and benefit;" * * "for wee have noe disposition to contend with any, (however wee may bee rendered by some,) much less with your Honoured selves, whome we desire to honour in the Lord, who are by Divine P'vidence of God constituted the Defenders of our liberties under God and our gracious Soveraign, (the which is indeed our all,) and all we humbly crave at your hands: and vnto which end we are redily prest to contribute, according to our mites, tribute unto whome trib. nte is due, honour to whome honour, fear to whome feare, according as God hath required of us in his word, to render vnto every one theire dve; and that not for feare or wrath, but for conscience sake; the which hath been, is, and wee hope shall continue to bee our standing rule vnto our dyeing day." • The nature of the service for which these men and arms were pressed does not appear from the petition; but it is probable that they were employed in the expedition to Long Island, under Major Winthrop, for the protection of the English inhabitants there against the Dutch, 1673-4. See Appendix XIV. "Wee come to such orders, as wee rather feare the consequence of, [than] for any effect thereof that wee have felt:" 1st. The order of October, 1674, for an additional tax of one penny on the pound, to satisfy Country Debts. As a tax of one penny would have sufficed to pay all actual debts, "wee cannot yet understand what the other penny should be for, vnless it bee a gratuity to the Honoured Governor, for wee understand it is intended or pretended for him; which if it bee a gift or gratuitie, wee cannot see reason it should bee levied by force, but rather by a voluntary contribution ; if it bee a debt, and soe made appeare, we must bee content." "If it be sayd, it is not properly a debt, but consequentially," [growing out of losses incurred by Gov. Winthrop, on former pay. ments for his expenses in procuring the Charter,] "to that we answer, y' if wee are bound to bee responsall for all the consequences, wee know nott when wee shall have done; for the consequences, for ought wee know, are and may bee successive, and may come every year or three-quarters; which wee shall not bee willing to contrib ute unto, but desier every man may bee left vnto his libertie." * "Upon these and such like considerations, wee have at present suspended our observance of that order, untill wee inquier, and bee in reason satisfied from yourselves, of the Law, Reason or Equitie of the same; wee being (as wee trust you are,) very tender of our law. full liberties." "As to the second order (to witt) the seazing of our estates and selling them at an out crie, for the paying of this with other Rates, the which is soe strange and unheard of in any of our Christian Governments, that it brings us to an amazement, to consider what the intent and consequence thereof will bee; for if this Law stand (with the former) wee plainly discern that by law our all is come to nothing; and wee, our estates, liberties and persons subject unto servitude, although never soe ready to pay, if divine providence deny us the specie which you require; the which wee neither now have nor these many yeares could rayse; which caused us to request that such estate as is rateable might alsoe bee payable to those rates, which request wee deemed but rationall: and that this act should bee our best answer, is to us matter of wonderment. Yet are wee willing to bee confident that you will not assume unto your selves more power than Law, Reason and Religion will give, neither, wee hope, any thing which may curtelize or infringe our just liberties," &c. Mr. John Stanton was constituted the Agent of the town, to present and manage this petition,-which was signed, in the name and by order of the town, by the selectmen, (namely,) Thomas Stanton, George Denison, Nath. Chesebrough, Samuel Mason and John Denison. No. XIX. (p. 260, 335.) GOV. ANDROSS AT SAYBROOK. Upon receiving intelligence of the breaking out of the Indian war in Plymouth Colony, and of anticipated hostilities with the Narragansetts, on the eastern frontier of Connecticut, the Governor and Council (July 1st, 1675,) sent an express, with the news, to Gov. Andross at New York, transmitting copies of letters they had that day received from New London and Stonington. By the return express, Gov. A. despatched the following reply: Sr; [Col. Boundaries, II. 29.] This morning about three a Clock I received yors of the first instant, together with severall Copies of Letters of the Indyans being in Armes in Plimouth Colony, and their having destroyed severall Christians to the Eastward of you as neare as Narrogansett, & apprehension of their tending further to you wards. I am very much troubled at the Christyans' misfortunes & hard disasters in those parts, being so over-powered by such Heathen. Hereupon I have hastened my coming to yor parts, and added a force to bee ready to take such Resolutions as may bee fitt for mee upon this extraordinary occasion, with which I intend, God willing, to sett out this evening, and to make the best of my way to Conecticutt River, his Royall Highnesse bounds there, where at my Arrivall you shall heare further from, Yo' most humble serv1, New Yorke, July ye 4th, 1675. [Superscribed,] For the Honble John Winthrop Esqr, Governour of his Maties Colony of Conecticutt, These, At Hartford; With care & speed, to bee sent forward. The above letter was received (as appears from its endorsement,) on the 7th of July. The same day, the Council despatched Capt. Bull to Saybrook. His instructions were so framed that while they had ostensible reference only to the protection of the sea-board against the Indians, they authorized him to repel aggression from any quarter and to maintain possession of the fort, if necessary, by force of arms. (See Jour. of Council, p. 333, ante.) On the morning of the 8th, Gov. Andross arrived off Saybrook ; and during the day addressed the following letter to the Governor and Magistrates at Hartford: Honble Gentlemen; [Col. Boundaries, II. Doc. 30.] Saybrooke, July ye 8th, 1675. I writte to you at large the 28th past, by Mr. John Collyer; and also by another, the 4th instant, in the morning, by returne of yor Expresse, upon yor notice of the Indyans' rebellion & barbarisme, did give you account of my intent this way and to this place, where I am now arrived. But finding no occasion here upon the Indyan account, I am sending a small vessel further eastward for intelligence, and doe send this by Expresse to you, in his Maties & Royall Highnesse behalfe, to desire your direct and effectual answer to my fores letter, which I here attend in discharge of my duty accordingly; In the mean time remaine, Honble Gent", Yor affectionate friend & humble Servant, * Of this letter no copy has been preserved. |