" rather a village, than a town;" consisting of no more than 20 1638. or 30 houses.1

in N. Eng

There was a great earthquake in New England on the first June 1. day of June. The earth shook with such violence, that, in some Earthquake places, the people could not stand, without difficulty, in the land. streets; and most moveable articles in their houses were thrown down. This phenomenon formed a memorable epoch in the annals of New England.2

This summer, arrived at Massachusetts 20 ships, and at least Accession 3000 persons. So great was the accession to the number of to Massasettlers, as to oblige them to look out for new plantations.3

chusetts.

Uncas, sachem of the Moheagans, having given umbrage by Friendship entertaining some of the hostile Pequots, went to Boston in June, of Uncas. with 37 men; tendered the governor a present of 20 fathom of wampom; and promised to submit to the order of the English respecting the Pequot prisoners in his hands, and the differences between him and the Narragansets. The present was accepted by the government; and Uncas was ever afterward faithful to their interests.4 In September, articles of agreement were made between him and the colonists of Connecticut.5

The government of Plymouth colony caused three Englishmen Murder of to be put to death, for the murder of an Indian near Providence. 6 an Indian

1 Josselyn, Voyages, 20, 173. Josselyn brought "from Francis Quarles the poet," the translation of several Psalms "into English metre," and delivered them to Mr. Cotton, minister of Boston, " for his approbation." He says, there were two licensed inns then in Boston, "An officer visits them" whenever a stranger goes into them; and "if he calls for more drink than the officer thinks in his judgment he can soberly bear away," he countermands it, and " appoints the proportion, beyond which he cannot get one drop."

2 Winthrop, i. 265. Josselyn, N. Eng. Rarities, 109. Johnson, c. 12. Hutchinson, i. 90. Trumbull, Conn. i. 98. Professor Winthrop, Lecture on Earthquakes, 16. Memoirs of American Academy, i. 262. Brit. Emp. i. 276. The earthquake was between the hours of 3 and 4 р. м. The weather was clear and warm, and the wind westerly. "It came with a noise like a continued thunder, or the rattling of coaches in London, but was presently gone." It was felt at Massachusetts, Connecticut, Narraganset, Pascataqua, and all the circumjacent parts. It shook the ships, which rode in Boston harbour, and all the islands. "The noise and the shakings continued about four minutes. The earth was unquiet 20 days after, by times." Winthrop. A solemn entry of this occurrence is made in the Town Records of Newbury. The inhabitants "being assembled to treat and consult about the well ordering of the affaires of the towne, the sunn shining faire, it pleased God to raise a vehement and terrible earthquake, with a still clap of thunder, which shook the earth and the foundations of the house in a very violent manner, to our great amazement and wonder; wherefore taking notice of so great and strange an hand of God's providence, we were desirous of leaving it on record to the view of after ages, to the intent that all might take notice of the power of Almighty God and feare his name." Farmer and Moore's Collections, ii. 101.

.3 Winthrop, i. 268.

4 Winthrop, i. 265, 266. Hubbard, c. 34; Ind. Wars, 40, 41. In 1640, Uncas

conveyed his lands to Connecticut.

5 Gov. Trumbull, MS. State and Origin of Connecticut.

6 Hubbard, c. 76. Morton, 207.

punished.

1638.

Remon

strance of the Dutch.

Laws of the

A Swedish factory, conducted by Minuitz, having reared habitations for shelter on the eastern banks of the Delaware, near its confluence; Kieft, the governor of New Netherlands, transmitted a remonstrance against the proceeding; laying claim to the whole South river, as the property of the Dutch. Minuitz, however, retained possession.1

The assembly of Maryland prepared a collection of regulalegislature tions. The province was divided into baronies and manors, the of Maryland. privileges of which were carefully regulated. Bills were passed for settling the glebe; for the liberties of the people; for swearing allegiance to their sovereign; and for securing titles to their estates. The law for civil causes and for crimes was ascertained. Laws were passed for the payment of tobacco, and for the planting of corn; and various other regulations of domestic economy and of commerce were established. The acts of this asseinbly are the first, of which any record appears in the province.2

Jan. 14.

Roger Harlakenden, one of the assistants in the government of Massachusetts, died at Cambridge.3

1639.

THE inhabitants of the three towns on Connecticut river, Original Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, finding themselves without of Connect- the limits of the Massachusetts patent, conceived the plan of

constitution

icut.

forming themselves, by voluntary compact, into a distinct commonwealth. All the free planters convened at Hartford on the 14th of January; and, after mature deliberation, adopted a constitution of government. The preamble states, that they, the

1 Chalmers, b. 1. 571, 572, 631. Kieft asserted, "that the whole South river of New Netherlands had been in the Dutch possession many years, above and below beset with forts, and sealed with their blood." Disputes arose. A bloodless war ensued. The Dutch dictated the terms of peace. At the treaty of Stockholm, in 1640, "Sweden and Holland prudently passed over in silence colonial squabbles, and American territory; for the pretensions of neither party could have been supported by fair and accurate discussion." Chalmers. Smith, N. York, 3, 4. South river was the Dutch name of the Delaware; North river, the name of the Hudson: In the Dutch language Zuyd rivier, and Noordt rivier. See Laet, Nov. Orb. Map, 62.

2 Chalmers, b. 1. 211, 232. It was from the Virginia Papers in England, that notice was obtained of the proceedings of an assembly holden at St. Mary's in 1635. Ibid.

3 Winthrop, i. 277. "He was a very godly man, and of good use both in the commonwealth and in the church. He was buried with military honour, because he was lieutenant colonel. He died in great peace, and left a sweet memorial behind him of his piety and virtue." His death was caused by the small pox, "about 30 years of age." Mr. Savage says, he had an estate in England, called "Colne Park;" and believes he was a cousin of lord Roper, and had probably been brought up under the ministry of Mr. Shepard in his native country; to enjoy whose ministry, "he purchased Dudley's estate at Newtown" [Cambridge].

inhabitants and residents of those towns, well knowing, that, 1639. where a people are gathered together, the Word of God requireth, that, to maintain the peace and union of such a people, there should be an orderly and decent government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of the people at all seasons, as occasion should require, do therefore associate and conjoin themselves to be as one public State or Commonwealth. The constitution provided, that there should be annually two general courts or assemblies; one on the second Thursday of April, and the other, on the second Thursday of September; that at the first, called the Court of Election, there should be annually chosen a governor and six magistrates, who, being sworn according to an oath recorded for that purpose, should have power to administer justice according to the laws here established, and, in defect of a law, according to the rule of the Word of God; and that as many other officers and magistrates might be chosen, as should be found requisite; that all should have the right of election, who were admitted freemen, had taken the oath of fidelity, and lived within this jurisdiction, having been admitted inhabitants by the town where they live; and that no person might be chosen governor more than once in two years. The towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield were severally authorized to send four of their freemen, as their deputies to every general court; and it was provided, that such other towns, as should afterwards be formed and admitted into the body politic, should send as many as the court, upon the principle of apportioning the number of deputies to the number of freemen, should judge meet. In this body was vested the supreme power of the commonwealth, executive, legislative, and judicial.1

This constitution has been thought to be one of the most free and happy constitutions of civil government, ever formed. Its formation, at a period when the light of liberty was extinguished in most parts of the earth, and the rights of men were, in others, so little understood, does great honour to the colonists by whom it was framed. It continued, with little alteration, to our own day; and the liberty, peace, and prosperity, which it secured to the people of Connecticut for nearly two centuries, are seldom, if ever, found in the history of nations. 2

Agreeably to the constitution, the deputies chosen by the free- April. men convened at Hartford in April, and elected their officers for First genethe ensuing year. John Haynes was chosen governor; and at Hartford.

1 Trumbull, Conn. i. c. 6. and Appendix, No. 111; and Hazard, i. 437-441, where the Constitution is inserted. Day, Hist. Judiciary of Connecticut. Though dated 14 January 1638, it was, according to New Style, 1639.

ral election

1639. Roger Ludlow, deputy governor. The general assembly proceed gradually to enact a system of laws. The first statute in the code of Connecticut is a declaration or bill of rights. The assembly ordained, that all persons in the colony, whether inhabitants or not, should enjoy the same law and justice without partiality or delay. The general precepts breathe the same spirit of universal liberty aud safety, which is exhibited in the constitution. At an adjourned session of the general court, in October, the several towns under its jurisdiction were vested with the principal powers and privileges, which they have since enjoyed as bodies corporate.3

June 4.

The plant

ers at Quin

nipiack

form a con

stitution,

and a church.

The planters of Quinnipiack bad continued more than a year without any other constitution, than their plantation covenant. Having received a respectable accession to their number, by the arrival of the reverend Henry Whitfield, William Leet, esquire, and others, they were now prepared for a more systematic combination. All the free planters in the settlement convened on the 4th of June, and proceeded to lay the foundations of their civil and religious polity. Among othe resolutions, they resolved, that they would all be governed by the rules of Scripture. Having bound themselves to settle civil government according to the divine word, they determined, that church members only should be free burgesses; and that they only should choose magistrates, and have power to transact all the civil affairs of the plantation. They also resolved, that 12 men should be chosen, who should be empowered to choose seven, to begin the church. After a proper term of trial, seven men were chosen for the seven pillars. The court, consisting of those seven persons only, convened on the 25th of October; and, after a solemn address to the Supreme Being, proceeded to form the body of freemen, and to elect civil officers. Theophilus Eaton was chosen governor; and to him, at the close of the election, Mr. Davenport gave a charge in open court. The freemen now decreed, that there should be a general court annually in the plantation.5

1 Roger Ludlow, George Wyllys, Edward Hopkins, Thomas Welles, John Webster, and William Phelps, were chosen magistrates; and the first of the six was chosen deputy governor.

2 Trumbull, i. 103, where are the names of the first deputies to the general assembly.

3 Day, Hist. Judiciary of Connecticut.

4 They were a part of Mr. Davenport and Eaton's company; and were principally from Kent and Surry, in the vicinity of London Trumbull.

5 N. Haven MS. Records in Pres. Stiles' Itinerary. Trumbull, Conn.i. 104107. The persons, chosen for trial, from whom the 7 pillars were selected, were Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Richard Malbon, Nathaniel Turner, Ezekiel Cheevers, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson, William Andrews, and Jeremiah Dixon. This fundamental agreement was signed by 63 persons 4 June; and there were soon after added 50 other names.

† designates the 7 pillars.

tled.

The reverend Peter Prudden, with a company from Wethers- 1639. field, purchased Wopowage of the natives, and there commenced a settlement, which was afterward called Milford. A church Milford setwas gathered there on the 22d of August. In the first town meeting, the number of free planters, or church members, was 44. The Indians at this place were so numerous, that it was judged necessary to enclose and fortify the town. Some of the first adventurers, who came to Quinnipiack, purchased Menunkatuck of the natives on the 29th of September; and, in commemoration of the place in Surry, from which they chiefly emigrated, called it Guilford. As soon as their purchase was Guilford, completed, they removed from New Haven, and settled there. Mr. Henry Whitfield led forth this little flock into the wilderness, and was its first pastor. William Leet, then a young man, afterward governor of New Haven, accompanied the settlers to Guilford. Cupheag and Pughquonnuck were purchased of the natives; and a settlement was begun at Cupheag, since named Stratford. A settlement was begun at Unquowa, and named Stratford, Fairfield. Mr. Ludlow, who went with the troops in pursuit of Fairfield, the Pequots to Sasco, the great swamp where the battle was fought, was so pleased with that fine tract of country, that he soon projected a settlement there. This year, he with a number of others began the plantation. At first there were but 8 or 10 families, which are supposed to have removed from Windsor with Mr. Ludlow; very soon after, another company from

1 Trumbull, i. 107, 108, 285. Hubbard [c. 42.] says, the company of settlers was from Hartford and its vicinity. Mr. Prudden was installed their pastor 18 April 1640. Trumbull.

2 Rev. Thomas Ruggles, MS. Hist. of Guilford in Pres. Stiles' MS. Coll. Hubbard, c. 42. Trumbull, i. 103. It was "almost winter" when these resolute people removed. They now chose four of the principal planters for civil government, "whose power was to continue until the church was formed, or rather appeared in form, when their power was to end. So soon as their wilderness state would admit," in April 1643, "they formed themselves into a Congregational church;" when " the purchasers of the lands, and those persons in whose hands the civil power had been intrusted, did actually in a formal manner in writing resign all their rights and authority unto the church." In imitation of Mr. Davenport's procedure, the church was formed by covenant on seven pillars. Ruggles, MS. Hist. ut supra. Mr. Whitfield was a well bred man, a good scholar, a great divine, and an excellent preacher; and he was the father of the plantation. Previous to his departure from England, he enjoyed one of the best church livings at Okely, in the county of Surry, beside a large personal estate. After continuing 11 years in the ministry at Guilford, he returned in 1650, during the protectorate of Cromwell, to his native country. A large handsome stone house, built at Guilford at his own expense, and " which served as a fort for himself and many of the inhabitants," was seen standing by President Stiles, who visited it in 1768. Trumbull, i. c. 6. See Coll. Hist. Soc. iv. 182-188, where Mr. Ruggles' History of Guilford is preserved. Mather, Magnal. b. 3. 217, 218.

3 Trumbull, i. 105. Pughquonnuck was the western part of the purchase, bordering on Fairfield.