Chapter II.

MAINE, NEWHAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT, CONNECTICUT, AND RHODE-ISLAND.

Ineffectual attempt to settle Maine-Charter to Gorges-separation from Massachusetts proper-First settlement of Newhampshire-Settlement of Exeter-Separation from Massachusetts-Union with, and subsequent separation from Massachusetts-Offensive and defensive union of the New-England States-Indian war---defence of Number Four---Internal commotions----Dartmouth College---King Phillip's war-Alliance with the Naragansetts-General rising of the Indians throughout New-England-Defeat of the Naragansetts-Defeat of the Indians and death of Phillip-Forfeiture of the charter of Massachusetts-Arrival of Andros-Andros seized-Charter resumed-Nev charter granted-Attack and surrender of Louisburg-Disappointment of a Fench fleet-Insurrection in Massachusetts-Its suppression→→→ Settlement of Connecticut-Arrival of Winthrop-War with the Pequots Their defeat-New-Haven colony-Forms of governmentCharter of Charles the second-Secretion of the charter from Andros→→→→ Yale College-Territorial disputes---Roger Williams moves to RhodeIsland-settles Providence--Settlement of Newport---Religious toleration---Charter granted the Earl of Warwick---Charter of Charles the second---Rhode-Island deprived of its charter--Charter re-assumed--Brown University.

MAINE.

THE first attempt to make any settlement in the State of Maine was in 1607. Two ships, with a hundred men and provisions, were sent from England by Sir John Popham. They landed in August, at the mouth of the Kennebeck, or Sagadahock. A store-house was built and fortified: and in December the ships departed, leaving behind forty-five persons.

When visited, the next year, by ships bringing them supplies, they determined, with one consent, to return; considering the country a cold, barren, mountainous des

art ;" where they could find nothing but "extreme extremities."

The Plymouth colonists obtained a patent for Kennebeck in 1628; and erected a house for trade. Some scatiered settlements were made in the province some years after; when the first began under Gorges and Mason in NewHampshire.

1639. A distinct charter was granted to Sir Ferdinand. Gorges, of all the land from Piscataqua to Sagadahock ; and the territory was called The Province of Maine. In this province he established a government, and incorporated a city, near the mountain Agamenticus,in York, and called it Gorgeana.

A general court was held at Saco, in 1640. In 1652 the Province was taken under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, by their own request. Commissioners were sent to York to receive their submission. The Province was made a county, and called Yorkshire; the towns sending deputies to the general court at Boston.

Massachusetts also claimed this Province as lying within her charter of 1628. Sir F. Gorges being dead, and his estate in the province falling to his son, who, through despair or inability, paid little attention to it; and for some time the inhabitants "managed their own affairs in their own way; more attentive to the profits of lumber, than to the advantages of agriculture. Falmouth, (now Portland.) was incorporated in 1718; several towns of minor importance having been previously settled.

The settlers of the Province, as well as those of NewHampshire, had been long distressed by the Indians; till (1726,) a treaty was made between them and the government of Massachusetts, from which resulted a long peace. Hostilities afterwards arose; and the inhabitants suffered much, till the conclusion (1749) of another treaty, founded on the principles of that of 1726.

It were useless here, and much beyond the province of our intentions, to examine the different grants of territory,

and endeavor to ascertain the boundaries, of the State of Maine. On this subject, as on all subjects in which the history of the District is concerned, almost all that can be known, of importance, may be acquired by a perusal of Gov. Sullivan's History of the District.

Maine was incorporated with Massachusetts in 1691. In 1786, 1787. 1802 and 1816, attempts were made to separate from Massachusetts Proper; to which separation a majority of the inhabitants were averse. In 1819, numer. ous petitions for separation were presented to the legisląture; and an act was passed for obtaining the full sentiments of the inhabitants: a due majority appearing in favor of forming Maine into a new State, a convention was to be called, and a constitution formed.

A vast majority appearing in favor of separation, the Convention met in Portland, and framed a Constitution, which they submitted to the inhabitants of the District. The Constitution was adopted almost unanimously; and the District of Maine, by an act of Congress of March 3, 1820, became an independent State.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Capt. John Smith, of whom we have already spoken, ranging along the shore from Penobscot to Cape Cod, in the year 1614, discovered the river Piscataqua, which he found to be a safe harbor with a rocky shore. On his return to England. he published a description of the country he had examined, together with a map.

Capt. John Mason, one of the council of the Plymouth Company (1621) procured a grant of all the land from the river of Naumkeak (now Salem) round Cape Ann, to the river Merrimac ; up each of those rivers to the farthest head; then to cross from one head to the other. The next year a grant was made to Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges of all the lands between Merrimac and Sagadahock, and back to Canada.

In 1623, a settlement was begun at Piscataqua. In 1629, the Indians granted to John Whelewrith and others a vast tract. The same year a new grant was made by the Plymouth Company to Mason, from the middle of Piscataqua river to its head, thence northwestward until 60 miles from the mouth of the harbor were finished: also through Merrimac river to its head, thence westward till 60 miles were finished; thence to cross over land to the end of 60 miles accounted from Piscataqua river. This tract was called New Hampshire.

The towns of Portsmouth, Dover, Hampton and Exeter, were laid out in 1633, and before 1640, settlements made in all of them. Soon after the patent holders of the lands lying north of the Piscataqua agreed to assign all their interests of jurisdiction to Massachusetts.

New Hampshire continued under the jurisdiction of Mas sachusetts till, in 1679, a commission passed the great seal of England inhibiting the jurisdiction of Massachusetts over all lands extending from three miles north of the Merrimac, to the province of Maine, constituting a President and Council to govern the Province, establishing a general form of government, with an assembly, &c. The Assembly to be chosen by the people; the President and Council to be appointed by the crown.

The first Assembly met at Portsmouth, March 16th, 1680, This Assembly consisted of eleven members: from Portsmouth 3; from Dover 3; from Hampton 3, and from Exeter 2; the whole number of voters being 209,

Mason, grandson of the Mason before mentioned, arriv ed the next year, and assumed the title of lord proprietor; which assumption was considered a usurpation of royal authority. To prevent being apprehended, under a warrant for that purpose, he quitted the colony and returned to Europe..

In 1685, a commission was issued to Joseph Dudley, appointing him President of his Majesty's Territory of To him succeeded Sir Edmund Andros,

New England.

D

under whose tyrannical and oppressive government the people of New-England greatly suffered.

Andros having been seized and imprisoned by the people of Boston, New Hampshire remained a short time in an unsettled state. A convention was called in 1680; and it was determined that New-Hampshire should unite with Massachusetts. Three years after, Allen obtained a commission from the crown for the government of New-Hampshire, and his son in law, Usher, was appointed lieutenant Governor.

About this time commenced a war with the Indians, which continued with little interruption till 1713. It would be a transgression on our limits to relate the particulars of the cruelties or successes of the savages, or of the sufferings and final triumph of the colonists.

During the latter part of this war the enemy perpetrated the greatest barbarities which had ever been known in NewEngland. Some of the captives were roasted alive-others mangled and tortured to death. No pity was shown to the aged and infirm; and children of both sexes were murdered without mercy. "In one instance an infant was tied to the corpse of its parent, and left to perish sucking the breast of its dead mother."* Terrible was the condition of those who fared the best, subject as they were to the hardships of travelling, half naked and barefoot, through pathless desarts and craggy mountains.

The story of the capture of Mrs. Johnson, is probably familiar to most of my young readers, as also the affecting account of the surprise of the fort in Hinsdale, in 1755, and the capture of Mrs. Howe, with 18 other persons, who were taken to Canada, and suffered hardships almost in credible. I cannot resist the impulse which prompts me to give at length, from Belknap's history of New-Hampshire, the interesting account of the defence of the fort at Namber Four.

*Col. Church's History.