A. D. 1624. associates, that they of the corporation under color of planting a colony were pursuing their own private gains, regardless of the public interest, and the good of the community; and, though he, as a gentleman of worth and honor, had their respect, all personal considerations must yield to the common weal; and he must without delay deliver the patent to the House. Gorges' fence. de Measures of the P. Coun Gorges' defence was able, though the Commons thought it not satisfactory. He said "he had no power to deliver the patent without the consent of the Council; nor was it in fact in his custody. Never had they transcended their rights; and he knew not how their enterprizes could be considered a public grievance, since they were undertaken for the increase of trade, the advancement of religion, and the enlargement of national empire. No monopoly had been exercised or enjoyed for the purposes of private gain; for (said he,) the losses of the adventurers have been so heavy, that they themselves had grown weary, and others were fearful to engage. At no time, had the fishery been, by design, or in fact, converted to private uses, as the offers made to all the maritime cities in the western part of the kingdom, would abundantly evince. Nay, the exclusive privileges in the charter itself, were nothing more than the necessary favors granted to the company, for the management of their prudential concerns-privileges possessed by lords of manors without a jealous thought.* However, when the grievances of the nation were presented cil checked. to the king by the parliament, the patent was the first on the list. Apprehending this, and knowing the facts, king James, out of respect to his prerogative and to Gorges, would not recal it.† Still the discussion and issue gave a great, though temporary check, to the measures adopted for colonizing the country and the Plymouth Council in deference to the voice of the nation,‡ suspended their plans and expeditions, and concluded to call home Gorges, the governor, in about a year subsequent to his arrival. After looking therefore to his father's affairs eastward, * 1 Belk. Biog. 369. In 1621, James is reported to have said, " America is not annexed to the realm, nor within the jurisdiction of Parliament," and they have no right to interfere.'-1 Holmes' A. Ann. 237. After this, the Plymouth Council granted only two or three patents, till A. D. 1629. he returned; and this, the first essay made to establish a general A. D, 1624. government in New-England, was wholly unsuccessful. ainenticus. Gorges, meeting with these crosses in the general system of First PaAmerican affairs, determined to plant a small colony at his own tont of Agexpense. He had been informed of a short salt-water river, ad- [York.] mitting vessels to a safe harbour and good anchorage at and above its mouth, called Agamenticus ;* its situation being nearly equidistant from a mountain of that name and the river Piscataqua.Pleased with the description of the place, he procured from the Plymouth Council, a patent of 24,000 acres,—namely, 12,000 on each side of Agamenticus [York] river, and made provision for settling it. He entrusted the immediate management of its affairs to Ferdinando Gorges, his grandson, a young gentleman of rank and ambition, and to Francis Norton, who having risen, by his own merits, from a common soldier to a Lieut. Colonel, was desirous to perpetuate his fortune. In this company of emigrants were several artificers, who were to be employed in building vessels and saw-mills. The others were laborers, furnished with oxen and means, partly for clearing and cultivating the ground, though principally for getting lumber of different kinds. A settlement was commenced on the eastern side of the river near the sea, and afterwards no other plantation of Gorges had so constantly and so fully his patronage and favor.† About this time, a demise of the crown happened, which was followed by an event alike unpropitious to the Plymouth Council, A stipulato Sir William Alexander, to Gorges, and to this country. This sign Acadia was the intermarriage of Charles, the new King, with Henrietta to France. Maria, a French Princess and a Catholic. By the marriage treaty, negociated some months prior to her arrival, in May, 1625, it was stipulated to cede or resign generally the jurisdiction of Acadia to France.† This, in view of all Englishmen interested, cast a deep shade upon their American affairs; and brought their rights into an unhappy collision with the engagements of the * Called also "Accomenticus"—Gorges' Hist. The precise time wheu Agamenticus [York] was first settled is not quite certain. Gorges Hist. 16, 27, says, it was about the time N. Plymouth was settled.-1 Belk. Biog. 377-8 gives this settlement a place, in order of time, before, though the same year (1623) with that of Piscataqua. Capt. Champernoon and the cousin of Sir F. Gorges had charge of the plantations about Agamenticus.-Hubbard's N. E. 224. J. Palairet, p. 18, 19, tion to A. D. 162 5 crown. Gorges' de fence. The King and Council saw it; and when the French ambassador came to urge his master's claim to the territory, they summoned Gorges before them to defend, explain or surrender, according to what might appear best adapted to circumstances. Gorges appeared and defended the rights of the Plymouth company with so much ability and force, as to affect a postponement of the concession.* It was perceived however, that the French were in a fair way to acquire a considerable part of the long coveted country, in spite of all opposition. Sir William Sir W. Al. Alexander well knowing their wishes and his own liabilities to exander's loss, procured of king Charles, July 12th, a confirmation of July. Charter. Feb, 1626. Monhegan sold to El Aldsworth. his grant, described and sanctioned with much particularity :†— and this, followed by a war with France two years afterwards, kept Nova Scotia, or Acadia, from the French, till the treaty of St. Germains.‡ But no sooner was the French claim put to rest, than the Commons renewed their calls upon the Plymouth Council, to grant a free fishery within their patent, and upon refusal, moved the king to vacate the charter. Thus assailed from different quarters, their rights were only preserved by Charles; he like his father, refused to yield a little of his prerogative, even at the solicitations of Parliament. These measures and the controversies between king and people; bridge and the apprehensions of a war with France, and other anticipated difficulties, so alarmed the English merchants, that those of Plymouth, who were proprietors of the plantation at Monhegan, made sale of it to Giles Elbridge and Robert Aldsworth, for £50 sterling. They also sold to the Plymouth colonists and Piscataqua settlers whatever else they owned, consisting of goats, Biscay blankets, and sundry mercantile commodities to the amount of £900; and withdrew from the concern. It is said, that under the late purchasers, the Island was occupied and improved by resident families to the first Indian war.|| 1 Belk. Biog. 375. See this patent in Latin. 1 Haz. Coll, 206–224. Namely A. D.1632, though there was peace in 1629. The articles had belonged to the cargo of a French ship cast away at Sagadahock; and were obtained by the Monhegan Islanders. Prince's Ann. 153. 161.-Abraham Jennings sold the Island and delivered the patent to Abraham Shurte, agent to the purchasers, Shurte lived at Pemaquid. See his Depo. Com. Rep. Aldsworth was an "Alderman." || Sullivan, New-Plymouth trade beck and These overtures probably increased the population upon the A. D. 1626. shores, and promoted trade with the natives. The New-Plymouth Colonists of colonists, by a little barter, from year to year at Monhegan and Damariscove for provisions, had now become acquainted with the to Kennecertain gains arising from the fishery and fur-trade in this quar- Penobscot. ter; and began to make trips hither solely for these purposes. After harvest the last year, they sent a shallop loaded with corn "up Kennebeck river," in exchange for which, they received "700 lbs. of beaver besides other furs."* The present year, they erected a trading house at Penobscot, and commenced a traffic with the Tarratine Indians; being the first English establishment of the kind in these waters,† To secure unto themselves the exclusive trade of the Kenne- 1627. Their 1st Kennebeck, Mr. Allerton, their agent, applied to the Plymouth Council, beck Patent, in 1627, for a patent, which was readily granted; but its limits and the privileges it contained, were altogether too indefinite, to render it of any advantage, till it was renewed and enlarged.‡ Our country, at this time, appeared in the eyes of Europeans to considerable advantage. The settlers and natives were living in good neighbourhood; and no doubts were now entertained but that the waters, wilderness, and soil, would afford to an industrious people an abundant livelihood. The troubles were in England, springing principally from the state of parties; and this country began to be considered an inviting asylum for the oppressed, especially for ministers who had been silenced, and other scrúpulous dissenters; many finding a removal necessary for the preservation of their lives. To provide, therefore, for the retreat and comfort of the persecuted, a patent was obtained of the Plymouth sets Patent Council, March 19, 1627, by Roswell and five others, embracing er. the country between the lines, a league southerly of the river Charles and northerly of the Merrimack; which appeared to be most eligibly situated for the benevolent purpose. Under this patent, Roswell and his fellows associated to themselves Sir Richard Saltonstall and 19 others; all of whom, being 26 in number, became equal co-proprietors therein. There were now † Mass. Letter Book, p. 107. * Prince's Ann. p. 156—7. Prince's Ann. p. 169-New-Plymouth established a trading house on the Kennebeck river in 1628, perhaps near the mouth, possibly above Merrymeeting bay. Massachu and Chare A D. 1627. within the limits of the patent only five small settlements;* and to superintend them and plant another at Naumkeag, (Salem,) John Endicott, one of the patentees, was sent over by the proprietors, well furnished with necessary supplies. To give full effect to the patent, a Royal Charter was obtained, March 4, A. D. 1628. 1628,† by which it was erected into a COLONY, under the name of MASSACHUSETTS BAY; and an administration of civil government was soon established. Firearms In the first settlement of this country, the judicious managekept from the Natives ment of the natives was an art of great importance. Canada taken by The French, by a condescension and familiarity peculiar to their character, seem to have attained it early, and in an eminent degree. Firearms and gunpowder made the savage, their better ally. With Englishmen, especially the settlers, it was otherwise. Froin the first, they carefully withheld the gun and pistol from the Indians. To meet them armed, always excited alarm; and six years since, a royal proclamation forbade the sale of all such articles to the natives. Yet this, as well as all principles of public policy, one Morton had the hardihood wholly to disregard; and for the sake of a lucrative trade, such as he understood the French and fishermen had improved at the eastward; he sold the Indians arms and taught them their use. But his conduct aroused all the settlements upon the coast; and he was arrested and sent to England. It would have been the height of good policy for the plantathe Kirks. tions, never to have been partakers with the parent State in any of her wars. But unfortunately from first to last, the reverse has been too true; and a waste of blood and treasure, and almost every shape of misery, have followed in train. In the second year of the war between England and France, (1628) Sir David Kirk, and his kinsmen, Louis and Thomas, were commis * These were 1. Wessagusset, [Weymouth] begun in A. D. 1622. 3. Nantasket, [Hull] 66 66 1621. See authorities-Prince's Ann. p. 119, 147, 151-7, 176.-1 Hutchinson's As the year at this period ended March 24th; ought not the above era to be" 1629 ?" |