yor Councell to abate more of yor men prportionably, to the number of 20 to be left, and the rest to returne to yr respectiue townes, to attend yr occasions in this very needfull time of harvest &c. When you come to further vnderstanding or intelligence respecting this affaire or the Indian war, you shall doe well to giue vs notice thereof by ye first. Those 20 or 30 men, together wth the traineband of the Towne, in a readynes at an houres warneing vpon a signe, may be competent vnder yor command to defend the place; and if there be occasion for farther help, you must call in help from the next plantations, who must attend your call. The Treasurer sends the corn to-morrow by John Plumbe, if he sayles, for the supply of the gentn soldiers. We have not to ad but or respects & thankes for your good service hitherto, and or prayers to the Lord to continue his protecting blessing presence to you and us and all his people, as the matter may require, and are your affectionate friends, the Dept Govt & Councill; signed pr their order, JOHN ALLYN, Secy. Or respects to all ye officers and soldiers. As for Mr. Haines & Mr. Buckley, we expect them home before this comes to you. Mr. Bulkeley and Mr. Haynes returned to Hartford on the 16th, and the same day the Council wrote to Capt. Bull to march forthwith from Saybrook, with as many men as could be spared, towards Stonington, New London and Norwich, to guard the frontiers of the Colony against danger from the Narragansetts. (Col. Boundaries, II. 37.) The following extract from a letter written by Rev. Thomas Buckingham, to the Council, some weeks after the repulse of Andross, supplies some additional particulars respecting the proceedings at Saybrook, before Capt. Bull's arrival there. The letter is in Col. Boundaries, II. 40. "It was not a small matter to us, (if or weaknesse make little things great, pardon us,) that when yo'selves had such full and seasonable notice of Major Androes his intentions, that wee should bee so farre from haueing commission to defend his Majesties, yors and or interest, that wee could not haue soe much as any intelligence of or danger untill in or about the houre in which wee saw it; and the information that wee then had was meerly by the providence of God. Some of ors, and not a few, began to doubt what to doe, because noe order from yo'selves; some others of us, (it may bee too presumptuous) endeavored to wave that obiection and to quicken unto all meet endeavors for the defence; and had it not been meerly by the providence of God, I have reason to believe here might not have been five men within call of the Towne platte when the sloopes came in, and soe or persons, or estates and or consciences might have been made a prey unto men; wee are bold to say, ours, for however small we are yet wee humbly crave a share in yo1 protection. It was by some (I dare not say altogether without ground) accounted noe small hazard for us to appear to make opposition, without any commission. I say without any commission, for Major Androes had time enough, and had not meer providence presented him with discourageing strength in the towne, noe doubt hee would have done his errand before Capt,, Bull came to us. But some of us prevailed to lay aside those obiections and perswaded to a universal appearance of or Towne, to stand in defence of yor honours and our libertyes, It was noe small charge and disadvantage to or people to bee in armes day after day and night after night, at such a season of ye year. Or people noe doubt will feele the smart of it, ye year about. Not yt wee would crave commendation for what wee have done. Wee hope for the generality wee did it as duty to God, ye King, and yo'selves: yet alwayes promising to o'selves (gentlemen from yo'selves alsoe concurring with us) that if wee could but stand out that shocke, care would bee taken that wee should bee under better advantage to defend o'selves." No. XX. (p. 380, 487.) THE KING'S LETTER RESPECTING WILLIAM HARRIS ;* &C. Charles Trusty and Well beloved, We greet you well. Whereas Our subject, William Harris, planter, in the Colony of Rhode Island, did by his humble petition presented to us in Councill set forth, that he and twelve others his partners neare forty years since purchased from certain Indians a parcel of land called Patuxet, & peaceably enjoyed the same for severall yeares, till they were disturbed by some of Our English subjects of the towne of Providence, but that the difference between them being put to an award, the determination was giuen in favor of the Pet", and they accordingly remained in quiet possession and held the same for severall yeares, untill it hapned that three of the said partners having a mind to breed disturbance, and pretending title to the said land in vertue of another purchase we they made from Indians who had more right, as they alleadged, then the former; these men impleaded the Pet' in Our Colony of the Massachusets; but upon a faire tryall by jury, he had a verdict given in his fauour, and did accordingly for some yeares * Mr. William Harris was one of the first settlers and original proprietors of Providence, About 1657, he incurred the displeasure of Roger Williams, and was presented by the latter to the General Court, on a charge of high treason.—having (as the Court declared,) “much bowed the scriptures, to maintain" his doctrine that "he that can say, it is his conscience, ought not to yield subjection to any human order amongst men." This charge, although it was never prosecuted to effect, seems to have laid the foundation of the long and bitter controversy between Mr. Williams and himself, which lasted many years, and divided the inhabitants of the Colony into parties. Mr. H., as the agent for the proprietors of Pawtuxet, made a voyage to England, in 1674 or '5, to petition the King for the appointment of commissioners to hear and determine the differences between himself and partners, and the town of Providence, respecting the Pawtuxet lands. Respecting the origin and history of this controversy, and the points at issue between the parties, see Staples's Annals of Providence, (R. L. Hist. Coll. Vol. 3,) pp. 576 589. after remaine in quiet possession: That after this, the said three persons, being restlesse and of unquiet spirits, did bring on fresh troubles to the Pet' on the same accompt, so that the matter being put to an award, & arbitrators being equally chosen out of the Colony of the Massachusetts & y' of Rhode Island, for the greater solemnity of the determination, the Pet' and his partners did againe receive a solemne award in their favour; & they did accordingly remaine in quiet possession of the premises for above twenty yeares after; but about the yeare 1663, one John Harrud & two others who had fled from the province of Conecticut, coming with pretence that they had made a purchase of the Pet" land from some Indians who had right to sell, they entred on a great part of the Pet" lands by force, and the Pet' impleading them at law, and hauing obtained against them a verdict and judgm', it yet soe hapned, by meanes of seuerall factions & parties wh they have made to withstand justice, that they resisted the execution of that judgement; and for pretence onely, alleadged that Our Com" being then there did promise them to reheare all the matter in difference, when they returned into the said Colony; wch our Com" never did. The Pet' hath also further set forth, that besides all the said molestations, he had been frequently disquieted, sometime by the pretensions of the Towne of Warwick, sometime by the Towne of Providence, in the Colony of Rhode Island; sometimes by two parties of men belonging to the Colony of the Massachusetts; and lastly, by a party of men belonging to the Colony of New Plymouth; all of them in severall times pretending purchases made from different Indians who had right to sell; Whereas the Pet' sets forth that he and his partners were the first purchasers and took care to derive their title from the Chief Indians who were then in actual possession of the premises, soe he remained quiet in his purchase for about seven yeares after, till the improvements made by him and his partners on the premises, more then any foundation of right, tempted others to desire & invade their possessions. Vpon all which representation of troubles, the Pet' haveing implored Our Royall Protection, and that Wee would order the Governors of each of those Colonies wch are bounding wth Rhode Island and whose inhabitants contribute to this disturbance, to give their aide and assistance towards the quieting of this matter; and that the Governors might in pursuance of Our Royall orders, agree among themselves to depute some able, honest and indifferent persons to heare all differences, and to appoint a Jury equally chosen out of the respective Colonies, in order to quiet them in the possession of their said lands of Patuxet, if in justice they appeare to have right thereunto. And We hauing referred the examination of this matter to Our Committee of Trade and Plantations; and they, after examination of the matter, haueing reported to Vs that the Pet' and his partners are very fit objects of Our Royall care and protection, We are therefore, in compassion to their long and many sufferings, graciously inclined to order them redresse in the most speedy & ef. fectuall way that can be proposed. And Our will and pleasure is, and We doe hereby command You, the Governor of Our Colony of Conecticut, to appoint some able, honest and indifferent persons to joyne with such others as shall be appointed by the other respective Governors of Our said Colonies, to whom We shall also send Our commands in this behalfe; and that you give them full and suffi. cient authority to cause the differences and troubles arising to the Pet and his partners concerning the lands of Patuxet, to be brought to a faire tryall; and that by a just, indifferent and upright jury, to be in like manner appointed, all may be finally determined according to justice, and without delay: And of your proceedings herein, to send Vs an account, with all convenient speede. And so We bid you Farewell. Given at Our Court at Hampton Court, the 4th day of August, 1675, in the seven & twentieth yeare of Our Reigne. [Superscribed,] By his Majes comand, J. WILLIAMSON. To Our Trusty and Welbeloved John Winthrop Esq', Governour of Our Colony of Conecticut, and to Our Governour or Governours there for the time being. Feb. 24th, 1675-6, Gov. Winthrop writes from Boston, to Mr. Leete and the Council, that he had not yet heard any thing from the Governors of Massachusetts or Plymouth respecting Mr. Harris's business; that they perhaps awaited "Mr. Harris his further motion, who was willing to defer untill those troubles with the Indians were somewhat over, especially in those parts; where I suppose there will not be so much striving for land for a while." Gov. W. advises the appointment, by the Council, of commissioners to meet with those from the other colonies, so as to be ready when desired. [Col. Boundaries, I. 106.] "A coppy of the Governors' letters, of the four colonyes, concerning Mr. Harris his business," [Ibid. Doc. 119,] includes one from Gov. Leete, of July 6th," testifying his ready compliance," &c, and naming Hon. James Richards and Major Edw. Palmes as the commissioners on the part of Connecticut. Mr. John Allyn was afterwards substituted in the place of Mr. Richards. Their commission is dated Aug. 16th, 1677. A meeting of the commissioners was held at Pautuxet, Aug. 22d, Credentials were presented and read, and jurors designated, from Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut. But no commissioners being present from Rhode Island, it was decided that no further proceedings could be had; and the meeting was dissolved. [Ibid. Doc. 123.] At a second meeting, convened at Providence, on the third of October following, (Mr. Daniel Wetherell and Capt. Geo. Denison appearing from Connecticut,) the commissioners "instated themselves into court order," impannelled a jury, and proceeded to hear and determine the several matters in controversy between Mr. Harris and the occupants or claimants of lands at and near Pawtuxet. The record of their proceedings, with the verdicts of the jury in the sev eral cases presented, the demurrer of the Rhode Island Commissioners, and the decision of the court,-in Col. Boundaries, Vol. I. Doc. 125.* No. XXI. (p. 316.) "REPORT OF A COMMITTEE ABOUT NARRAGANSett, June, 1677.” [Col. Boundaries, L. 117.] June 16, 1677. According to ord' of the Gen" Court, we the subscribers made of way into the Narraganset Country, on the eleventh of the same instant, 1677; and have taken a view of that part of the Country as time would permit, and shall present this as of return for a more perticuller sattisfaction of this Honoured Gen" Assembly. Imp. From Qantacuntauge allias Mr. Thomas Stanton senior his farme, west to Poynt Judah and to the River called by the Indians Massagagtuckuck in the common road, as the passage runs towerds Mr. Jeremiah Bull's east, and down to the sea south, and into the woods north, to the north end of the great pond called Quebaqauge, wee esteeme the land to be very good and suiteing for husbandry, both for corn and grass, and a suffitiency for entertayning two plantations, one hundred familyes at lest for a plantation. 2. From Masagatuckuck at the sayd common road west, and to the mill pond at Petaquamscutt east, and all Poynt Judah, upon the sea south, and into the woods northerly or northwest; from the east or south east side of Petaquamscutt Hill three miles, upon o' best estimation we judg there is a suffitiencye of good land to accommodate one hundred familyes; and for those three forementioned tracts of land are harbours for smal craft to enter upon the mayne. 3. From the foresayd mills pond at Petaquamscutt westerly, takeing in all Boston Neck, and to the brook by Capt. William Hudson's house east, and all the land belonging to his house lott, we conclude is fully suited with good land both for corn and grass, to accommodate one hundred familyes at least, to run northerly to Suger Loaf Hill. 4. From Boston Neck and the brook by Capt. Hudson's house on the west, to Acqeednesit Mil brooke, to the place where the Mil doeth stand that belongeth to one Swet, north-east, or east of the north, and on the sea south-east, and from thence into the woods north-west, or bearing to the north, up to the great playn, all which we haue viewed, and conceive there is good land enough to give enterteynment to four score familyes, this place being suited with sundry places for harbours. 5. From the former place and tract of land up to the old Sunk Squa's land, with a playn adjacent taken in with it, we apprehend * An abstract of these proceedings, and of the subsequent doings of the commissioner", is given in Staples's Ann. of Prov. pp. 583-5. The verdict of the jury, and its acceptance by the Court, did not finally determine the controversy. |