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that accident, amongst which, as to the particular case, these seemed to be very obvious to wise men: First, There was not that due care taken to pay for it, which ought, the debt being of divers years standing. Secondly, The overruling party in the Court had denied a supply to some of their neighbors' not long before, in some distress, which is not according to our Savior's rule, who requires that he that hath two coats should give, or lend, to him that hath none. Thirdly, Some were apt to think it was a great oversight to place their powder and ammunition so far out of the centre of the country, (if any exigent should have fallen out that should have required a present supply of ammunition,) and more confidence, possibly, was put in the officer than he deserved to be betrusted with such a charge, he having never really approved himself of more fidelity or ability than other men, to discharge the trust committed to him.

Much hurt was about the same time done by fire in other places, as at Mr. Downing's farm, at Salem. That which was most remarkable happened in the journey of some of Hingham towards Seakonk, to make preparation for a new Plantation there. The place was not long before concluded by the Commissioners to belong to Plymouth, yet was it granted to some of the Massachusetts, with their consent, for a Plantation. Mr. Peck,2 and three others of said Hingham, were removing thither, and making their stage in an Indian wigwam by the way, by some occasion or other it took fire, and though they were four there present, and labored to the utmost to prevent the damage of the fire, yet were three of their horses consumed thereby, and the value of £50 in goods.

In the year 1645,3 the Swedes' fort at Delaware was burnt down, with all the buildings in it, and all their powder and goods blown up. It happened in the night, by the negligence of a servant, who fell asleep leaving a candle burning. At Hartford and at Hingham, also, were houses burnt down that year.

' In Plymouth, and also in Virginia. Sav. Win. ii. 211.—a.
Mr. Joseph Peck died at Rehoboth, Dec. 22, 1663.-H.
In the winter, says Winthrop.-н.

CHAP. L.'

The Colonies of Connecticut and New Haven disturbed by the Dutch, at Manhatoes, and the Swedes, at Delaware Bay, during this lustre, from 1641 to 1645.

THE Dutch, who had seated themselves upon Hudson's River, about the same time that the English began to plant at Patuxet or Plymouth, were the first that discovered the River of Connecticut, and gave some intimation thereof to their friends at Plymouth, but it being neglected by them, they took possession of it themselves, which they were not willing to quit to the use of the Massachusetts, although they had made no other use thereof, but for a place whereon to build an house for trading with the Indians. On that occasion, in June, 1641, letters came from the Governor of Connecticut to the Massachusetts to advise about the difference between them and the Dutch. The Dutch Governor3 had pressed them hard for his interest in all Hartford, &c., to which he could lay no other claim but by the law of possession, or primer seisin; at least he demanded so much as one could see from their trading-house, alleging they had purchased so much of the Pequots, and threatened force of arms to make it good. They of the river alleged their purchase of other Indians, the true owners of the place, with other arguments of Patents, both of Saybrook and of the Massachusetts, &c.

The Governor1 and Council returned answer without determining the case on either side, but advising to a more moderate way, viz. of yielding more land to the Dutch house, for they had left them but thirty acres. But the Dutch would not be satisfied, but prepared to send soldiers to be billeted at their house there. But it pleased the Lord to disappoint their purpose at that time, for the Indians falling out with them, killed some of their men at the Fort of Aurania, whereby they were forced to keep their soldiers at home to defend themselves. And a gentleman at that time going for England, that

XLIX in the MS.-H.
Bellingham.-H.

2 John Haynes.-H.

• Rev. Hugh Peter. Sav. Win. ii. 32; see page 371.—н.

Kieft.-
.-H.

pretended to be well acquainted with the West India Company in Holland, undertook to pacify the matter, but he not carrying over a commission with him from Hartford, the said Company would not treat with them, by which means the controversy still remained, and their claim was pursued as earnestly as before, though it was for the present, on the forementioned occasion, not so effectually carried on as else it might have been.

But July 22, 1643, a Dutch sloop arrived at Boston, with letters written in Latin, and signed by the Secretary there in the name and by the command of the Governor and Senate, directed to the Governor and Senate [of'] R. P.2 of New England, wherein, first, he congratulates their late confederation, then he complains of unsufferable wrongs done to their people at Connecticut, and more of late than formerly, and of misinformation given by some of the Massachusetts to the States' ambassadors in London, and desires to know by a categorical answer, whether they will aid or desert them of Hartford, that so they may know their friends from their enemies, &c. To which answer was returned by the Governor,3 and as many of the magistrates as could on the sudden be called together, that they desired the continuance of that good correspondency which had been betwixt them, ever since their arrival in those parts, and that their chief Council, to which their letters were directed, being far distant, they that were then present could return no other answer at that time, which they might look upon rather as a declaration of their particular conceptions, than any determination from the chief authority of the place, from which they should receive further answer in time convenient; intimating also their grief for the difference there was between them and their brethren at Hartford, which they conceived ́might be composed by arbitrators, either in England, or in Holland, or here, as those of Hartford had offered; and that, by their confederations, they were bound to seek the good and safety of each other as their own, which they hoped need not hinder the continuance of the wonted amity between themselves and those of the Manhatoes;

1

Supplied from Winthrop.-H.

so that

In Winthrop these letters are

U. P., (which is, undoubtedly, the correct reading,) standing, as I sup

pose, for United Provinces.-H.

[blocks in formation]

and that the ground of the difference, being only a small parcel' of land, was a matter of so little value in this vast continent, as not worthy to cause a breach between two people so nearly related, both in profession of the same Protestant religion, and otherwise; therefore they would seriously request them, as they would also do the other, that, until the justice of the cause might be decided by one of the ways forenamed, there might be an abstaining, on both sides, from injury and provocation; and if any should happen on their part, that it might be duly examined, and they were assured, (being a people that feared God, &c., they durst not allow themselves in any unrighteous course,) they should receive equal satisfaction. The Commissioners also of the United Colonies did, about the same time, write letters to the Dutch Governor concerning some injuries which his agent at Delaware River had done to the people of New Haven, in burning down their trading-house, and in joining with the Swedes against them.

But the General Court did, at their next meeting, return an answer to the letters of the Dutch Governor, wherein they declared the complaints, which had been made by their confederates of Hartford and New Haven of injuries done to their agents in both places, as also their opinion of the justice of the cause of Hartford, in respect of title to the land in question between them, which they could not alter, without more light than yet had appeared about the title which the Dutch insisted on; nor might they desert either of their confederates in a righteous cause.

The Dutch in their next answer still continued their complaint of injuries done, and maintained their title to the land at Hartford; this was sent in the end of the year 1643. In July following the General Court of the Massachusetts gave order, at their breaking up, that an answer should be returned to this effect; first, by way of gratulation, of his respect and correspondency with them, and manifestation of their good will to him, with desire of continuance of all friendly intercourse, &c., acknowledg

the

Thus originally written; the word has been tampered with by a later hand.- -H. Feb. 11. 1643-4. Sav. Win. ii. 173.-H.

ing that they had largely and prudently discoursed of the matters in difference; but they were also to attend the allegations on the other part. But seeing proofs were not yet heard on either side, he could expect no further answer than before, but if he would please to send commissioners to Hartford, to treat with the Commissioners there for the Colonies, it would be very acceptable, and an hopeful means to propound for a good issue. Yet, notwithstanding all these overtures of amity and good correspondency, the Dutch Governor carried always a secret prejudice against the English at New Haven and Hartford all his time, and left the quarrel with Hartford men to be pursued by his successor, Peter Stuyvesant, under whose government there was an issue put unto it by the interposition of the Commissioners of the United Colonies within a few years after, although at the first he seemed to make as great, or greater, bluster than the former Governor, as sometimes wise men will speak most where they intend to do least. For the said Stuyvesant, coming to the Governor's place, at Manhatoes, about the year 1647,1 soon after sent his secretary to Boston with letters to the Governors there full of all courtesy, and tender of good correspondency, yet laying claim to all between Connecticut and Delaware, and withal taking notice of the differences between them and Connecticut, offering to have them referred to friends here, not to determine, but to prepare for an hearing and determination in Europe. The Commissioners of the United Colonies were then at Boston, and upon advice with them, answer was returned according to the inclination of the Commissioners of New Haven and Connecticut Colonies, so as might be most for their advantage, (who supposing best for their purpose to stand a little upon terms of distance,) wherein they did only in the general take notice of his offer, and shewed a readiness to give him a meeting in time and place convenient; so leaving matters at the present to continue as they were before. But at the same time an accident fell out that carried a contrary appearance to the friendship, which the Dutch Governor had pretended in his letters. 1 May 27, 1647. He was commissioned July 26, 1646. See Thompson's Long Island, i. 107.-H. Winthrop.-X.

In August. Sav. Win. ii. 314.-H.

3

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