See note, P. 53 above. Antichristian, and not only so, but he withdrew all private religious Communion from any that would hold Communion with the Church there, insomuch as he would not pray nor give thanks at meals with his own wife nor any of his family, because they went to the Church Assemblies . . . which the prudent Magistrates understanding, and seeing things grow more and more towards a general division and disturbance, after all other means used in vain, they passed a sentence of Banishment against him out of the Massachusets Colony, as against a disturber of the peace, both of the Church and Common-wealth. After which Mr. Williams sat down in a place called Providence, out of the Massachusets Jurisdiction, and was followed by many of the members of the Church of Salem, who did zealously adhere to him, and who cried out of the Persecution that was against him: some others also resorted to him from other parts. They had not been long there together, but from rigid separation they fell to Anabaptistry, renouncing the Baptism which they had received in their Infancy, and taking up another Baptism, and so began a Church in that way; but Mr. Williams stopped not there long, for after some time he told the people that had followed him, and joyned with him in a new Baptism, that he was out of the way himself, and had mis-led them, for he did not finde that there was any upon earth that could administer Baptism, and therefore their last Baptism was a nullity, as This princi- well as their first; and therefore they must lay down all, and wait for the coming of new Apostles and so they dissolved themselves, and turned Seekers, keeping that one Principle, by the colony That every one should have liberty to Worship God according to the Light of their own Consciences; but otherwise not owning any Churches or Ordinances of God any where upon Earth. ple of com plete tolera tion was not adhered to in the later years of its history. Nathaniel Morton, New-Englands Memoriall (Cambridge, 1669), 78-81 passim. 21. Foundation of New Hampshire (1637-1639) a By GovERNOR JOHN WINTHROP (1588-1649), lawyer, magistrate, landed pro to exercise first governor his functions in Massa chusetts Bay. His journal is a most record of the early history vince. For other extracts throp, see authentic of the prov from Win Old South Leaflets, Nos. 50, 66; Contemporaries, I, Nos. 107, 118. Hampshire, For New [March 9, 1637.] the members of Boston, preachMR R. WHEELWRIGHT, one of prietor, and ing at the last fast, inveighed against all that walked in covenant of works, as he described it to be, viz., such as maintain sanctification as an evidence of justification, etc. and called them antichrists, and stirred up the people against them with much bitterness and vehemency. For this he was called into the court, and his sermon being produced, he justified it, and confessed he did mean all that walk in such a way. Whereupon the elders of the rest of the churches were called, and asked whether they, in their ministry, did walk in such a way. They all acknowledged they did. So, after much debate, the court adjudged him guilty of sedition, and also of contempt, for that the court had appointed the fast as a means of reconciliation of the differences, etc., and he purposely set himself to kindle and increase them. The governour and some few more (who dissented) tendered a protestation, which, because it wholly justified Mr. Wheelwright, and condemned the proceedings of the court, was rejected. The church of Boston also tendered a petition in his behalf, justifying Mr. Wheelwright's sermon. The court deferred sentence till the next court, and advised with the ministers, etc., whether they might enjoin his silence, etc. They answered, that they were not clear in that point, but desired rather, that he might be commended to the church of Boston to take care of him, etc., which accordingly was done, and he enjoined to appear at the next court. Much heat of contention was [in] this court between the opposite parties . . . [Nov. 1, 1637.] There was great hope that the late gen-wished in Janeral assembly would have had some good effect in pacifying uary, 1637. see Contem- of the church the antino ished.- See ries, I, No. 108. The sermon pub the troubles and dissensions about matters of religion; but it fell out otherwise. For though Mr. Wheelwright and those of his party had been clearly confuted and confounded in the assembly, yet they persisted in their opinions, and were as busy in nourishing contentions (the principal of them) as before. Whereupon the general court, being assembled in 9th month," the 2 [second] of the 9th month, and finding, upon consultaOld Style, tion, that two so opposite parties could not contain [continue] in the same body, without apparent hazard of ruin to the whole, agreed to send away some of the principal was Novem ber. I.e. a formal record. An island in Bay. Piscataqua, now Exeter. Then the court sent for Mr. Wheelwright, and, he persisting to justify his sermon, and his whole practice and opinions, and refusing to leave either the place or his public exercisings, he was disfranchised and banished. Upon which he appealed to the king, but neither called witnesses, nor desired any act to be made of it. The court told him, that an appeal did not lie; for by the king's grant we had power to hear and determine without any reservation, etc. So he relinquished his appeal, and the court gave him leave to go to his house, upon his promise, that, if he were not gone out of our jurisdiction within fourteen days, he would render himself to one of the magistrates. [Dec. 13, 1638.] Those who were gone with Mrs. Hutchinson to Aquiday fell into new errors daily. One Nicholas Easton, a tanner, taught, that gifts and graces were that antichrist mentioned [in] Thess[alonians], and that which withheld, etc., was the preaching of the law; and that every [one] of the elect had the Holy Ghost and also the devil indwelling. Another, one Herne, taught, that women had no souls, and that Adam was not created in true holiness, etc., for then he could not have lost it. Those who went to the falls at Pascataquack, gathered a church, and wrote to our church to desire us to dismiss Mr. Wheelwright to them for an officer; but, because he desired. it not himself, the elders did not propound it. Soon after came his own letter, with theirs, for his dismission, which thereupon was granted. Others likewise (upon their request) were also dismissed thither. . . [March, 1639.] Another plantation was begun upon the north side of Merrimack, called Sarisbury, now Colchester; another at Winicowett, called Hampton, which gave occasion of some difference between us and some of Pascataquack, which grew thus: Mr. Wheelwright, being banished from us, gathered a company and sat down by the falls of Pascataquack, and called their town Exeter; and for their enlargement they dealt with an Indian there, and bought of him Winicowett, etc., and then wrote to us what they had done, and that they intended to lot out all these lands in farms, except we could show a better title. They wrote also to those whom we had sent to plant Winicowett to have them desist, etc. These letters coming to the general court, they returned answer, that they looked at this their dealing as against good neighborhood, religion, and common honesty; that, knowing we claimed Winicowett as within our patent, or as vacuum domicilium, and had taken posses- "No man's sion thereof by building an house there above two years since, they should now go and purchase an unknown title, and then come to inquire of our right. It was in the same letter also manifestly proved, that the Indians having only Having, i.e. a natural right to so much land as they had or could improve, so as the rest of the country lay open to any that could and would improve it, as by the said letter more at large doth appear. John Winthrop, The History of New England from 1630 to 1649 (edited by James Savage, Boston, 1853), I, 256–349 passim. land." had. By GovERNOR SIR EDMUND ANDROS (1637-1714), soldier, and governor of New York, New England, and Virginia successively; arbitrary in method, but an able administrator. This account is from an official report in answer to inquiries from the English gov ernment. in New Eng- New York is of Represent atives was held under Governor Dongan in 1683. - For New York, see Contem CHAPTER IV-SECOND ERA OF COLONIZATION 22. An Account of New York (1678) A I. NSWERS to the Inquiries of Plantacôns for New The Governo is to have a Councell not exceeding tenn, wth whose advice to act for the saf[e]ty & good of the country, & in every towne, Village or parish a Petty Court, & Courts of Sessions in the severall precincts being three, on Long Island, & Townes of New Yorke, Albany & Esopus, & some smale or poore Islands & out places; And the Generall Court of Assizes composed of the Governor & Councell & all the Justices & Magistrates att New Yorke once a yeare, the Petty Courts Judge of fiue pounds, & then may appeale to Sessions, they to twenty pounds & then may appeale to Assizes to ye King, all sa [said] courts as by Law. 2. The Court of Admiralty hath been by speciall Comission or by the Court of Mayor & Aldermen att New Yorke. 3. The cheife Legislatiue power there is in the Governor with advice of the Councell the executive power of Judgemts giuen by ye Courts is in the sheriffs & other civill officers. 4. The law booke in force was made by the Governor & Assembly att Hempsted in 1665 and since confirmed by his Royall Highnesse. 5. The Militia is about 2000 of weh about 140 horse in three troopes the foote formed into companyes most under 100 men each all indifferently armed with fire armes of all sizes, ordered & exercised according to Law, and are goodfire men; one standing company of Souldiers with gunners |