a vote passed in 1656, the depositions of witnesses, in trials at Law, for which he was allowed a stated price, as were also the magistrates and constable. Their trials were sometimes, with a Jury, but mostly without. From 1650 to 1664, about the time they came under Gov. Nicoll, there are about 50 or 60 cases at law on record. They were mostly for small debts & for defama tion. By law, no one could recover more than £5 for defamation. In 165- Geo: Lee attorney to-prosecuted "Lieut Lion Gardiner of the Isle of Wight in behalf of himself and the States of England for five hundred pounds Stg" before the Magistrates in E. Hampton. It appears from the very lengthy depositions " that a Southampton man had hired a Dutchman to bring a freight (cargo) to that place from Manhadoes, & that the vessel was taken from the Dutchman & brought to the Isle of Wight to the Lieftenant who retook her for the Dutch owner" and was prosecuted by the original captors.

This affair was referred to the General Court at Hartford by the East Hampton Magistrates & both parties were bound to appear there. Lee obliged himself, if he did not prosecute the case there, it should be dropped. This was likely the result. This is the most important case on record where property was concerned.

"The three men were to meet the first second day of every month for the tryall of any cause according to an Order and to consider of those things that may concern the publick good of the place & whosoever of those Three men do not attend the day at 8 o'clock in the morning shall be liable to pay 5s."

"John Mulford, Robert Bone & Thos Baker chosen by this Court for the execution of those Orders, complied with their trust for this year. Ralph Dayton, Constable and Benjn Price, Recorder." Done at a General Court holden October 7, 1651.

The first General Court was in March 1650.

It was decreed October 1652 that "if any man be aggrieved with any thing that is done by the men that are in authoritie, that he shall have liberty to make his appeal to the next General Court, or when the freemen are assembled together for their publique occasions."

Their town Meetings were frequent and became burdensome on

the people, but being their own law makers they made a multiplicity of laws for regulating the fences to fields pastured in common; for division of lands; making highways; building a mill or meeting house & this took up much of their time. The business of killing whales was regulated by law, and every one [was] obliged to take his turn to look out for them on the shore." Their houses were thatched and liable to take fire. Every man was obliged by law to provide himself with a ladder that should reach to the top of his house, and a man was appointed to see that the chimneys were well plaistered and swept. Severe laws were made against selling any Indians, guns, swords, powder, lead, flints, or any more than two drams of strong water at one time." Many of the laws appear curious, but in general they are mild, and the penalties not very severe. There are only three or four cases of corporal punishment and none of capital.

In the year 1653 the Indians were somewhat troublesome. Powder & shot were sent for to the mouth of the Connecticut River, and a watch by night of two, and a ward by day of one man was ordered to be kept by the Inhabitants in town. " April 26, 1653, It is ordered that no Indians shall come to the town unless it be upon special occasion, & none come armed, because that the Dutch hath hired Indians against the English, & we not knowing Indians by face cannot distinguish friends from enemies: &, because the Indians hath cast off their Sachem &c orders were given to shoot any Indian on third call or if they ran away." "Every man was obliged to go armed to the meeting house every Lords day, under penaltie of 12 pence," and four assistants were added to the three Townsmen It does not appear by the Records that any battle was fought. Probably the Indians who were then numerous had not learned the use of Fire Arms. This was at the time Oliver Cromwell was at war with the Dutch Nation and an opinion prevailed through this country that the Dutch at Manhadoes supplied the Indians with arms, and urged them to destroy the English settlements. From the histories of those times, it is evident something was designed against the English by the Dutch & Indians. Oliver Cromwell about this time called on all the Colonies to assist in an expedition against the Dutch at Manhadoes,

particularly New Haven and Connecticut, who were nighest the Dutch. Major Sedgewick of Massachusetts was to have the command of the men that were to be sent from each Colony in a certain proportion. The following extract from the E. Hampton records probably refers to this:

"June 29 1654. Having considered the letters that come from Connecticut wherein men are required to assist the power of England against the Dutch, we do think ourselves called to assist the said power."

The expedition did not take place, probably on account of Peace having been made soon after between the two Nations." Very little more is said about the Indians till the Great Indian war which threatened all this country in 1675, when the people' were again on their guard. But it does not appear that any lives were lost.

This was the most formidable combination of Indians that ever happened. Gov: Andross sent an armed Sloop to Gardiner's Island to protect it against the Indians. The English & the Indians were probably both on their guard against a surprise, but by 1675 the East end of Long Island had so many English settled that there was no great danger. The Five Nations joined this confederacy.

"Oct. 3. 1654. It is ordered that there shall be a copie of the Connecticut combination drawn forth as [soon as] is convenient for us and all men shall sett to their hands."

This combination was signed Oct 24, 1654, by about 40 and is now on Record by each on the Book. All excepting 3 or 4 write a plain legible hand for those days. These sign by making their mark.

"This Combination is to maintain & preserve the libertie and puritie of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus which we now profess as alsoe the Discipline of the Church which according to the said Gospell is now practised among US. As alsoe in our civill affaires to be guided & governed according to such laws and orders as shall be made according to God and which by vote of the Major Part shall be of force among Us &c &c"

This Combination is similar to the one entered into in 163-by

the 3 Towns of Hartford, Windsor & Wethersfield, and is a copy preamble of that as recorded in Hazards Coll: of State papers, p.-"

"March 19. 1657. It is ordered and by a Major vote of the Inhabitants of this Towne agreed upon, that Thomas Baker & John Hand is to go into Keniticut for to bring us under their government according to the terms as Southampton is, and alsoe. to carry Goodwife Garlick that she may be delivered up unto the authorities there for the triall of the cause of Witchcraft which she is suspected for." It was afterwards agreed upon by the town "that Mr Gardiner shall be intrusted with the same power with Ths Baker and John Hand for coming under Government."

In the Record the word is "interested." It doubtless should be intrusted.

It is evident from the Record that soon after this they were under the jurisdiction of that Colony, or rather composed a part of it, altho' nothing is said of their men's returning. Probably the General Court at Hartford did not pay any attention to the latter part of the business on which Baker & Hand were sent. This poor woman had a trial in E. Hampton for Witchcraft, but nothing was done. It was referred to the Gen1 Court at Hartford. "At this day it appears surprising that not only those who settled in the American Wilderness should be so infatuated about Witches and Witchcraft but that King James I., Lord Justice Holt and some of the first characters in the English Nation should be so carried away with notions of this kind. If the affair of witches has made more noise in this country than it has in some Countries of Europe, it is not owing to their having been more executed for that supposed crime here: for I have no doubt there has been, during the same time, as many executed in England only, as there have been in all New England & Virginia, for it was not confined to New England but prevailed also in other parts. In Europe, the execution of a few individuals would be effaced from the page of History by more important events that were continually taking place during the last century. But in this country it was a singular affair, & has been handed down by our own writers, and dwelt upon, with wonder, by European writers who have endeavoured to account for it from the enthusiastic ideas of the

Inhabitants here, not considering that they acquired these ideas in Europe from books published by men of character & information. It is to be hoped this infatuation is done away among the Citizens of both sides of the Atlantic but it is not justice for one side to suppose that this infatuation prevailed only on the other. If King James, Lord Holt and others of information, who believed in witchcraft, are excusable, certainly those persecuted exiles who fled to a savage wilderness are equally clear of blame. Perhaps the law of Moses by which in many cases the first settlers were governed, was a Mean of urging them on in the belief of Witchcraft and its evils.

"November 29. 1662. It is jointly & fully agreed that Mr. T. Baker, Mr Thos James, & Mr Lion Gardiner, Mr Robert Bond, Mr John Mulford, Tho Tomson and Tho Chatfield shall go to Southampton the next second day to compound a difference between Us & Capt. John Scott Esq' and Mr John Ogden about Meantaquit, and do hereby engage to ratifie and confirm what our committee shall conclude upon : & also we do empower this our Committee to joyne with Southampton and Southold about a Patten grant."

To whom they proposed to apply for a Patent I dont know. New York was then in the hands of the Dutch. It was either to King Charles 2nd or to the Government of Connecticut.

"Novemb: 23 1663. A committee was appointed to Join Southampton & Southold Committees and if they see cause, to establish laws for settling government among us, And what our Committee or a Major part of them shall doe herein we engage ourselves to stand unto."

It was, doubtless in contemplation to have the three towns join in one government as other towns on this continent have done.

"February 23. 1663. [o. s.] It was agreed that Muntauk shall pay Fifty pounds of the 150 that is to purchase the pattent right."

March 25. At a Town Meeting, after long debate, it was agreed to that the Purchase of Pattent right should be borne by all the Inhabitants according to the land every Man Possesses.

April 26. 1664. At a Town Meeting the Town doth desire those men, that doe goe to Hartford, to debate together with the