administration of Andros had emptied the treasury; an Indian A. D. 1690. war, which had now raged more than two years in Maine, had filled that Province with embarrassments, and Massachusetts with perplexities; and the late disasters, without booty or glory, were lying with oppressive weight upon the government. Nay, though "ten single rates" had been levied and assessed the preceding spring, there was no money in the public chest, to pay the soldiery; and it is said, there was considerable danger of a mutiny. money In this extremity, the General Court of Massachusetts, Dec. First paper 10, laid upon the people a tax of £40,000; and in anticipation of payment issued "Bills of Credit," or public notes, as a substitute for money, differing in amount from 2s. to £10.;-the first ever sent into circulation by any of the colonies. These, paid out in discharge of public debts, it was expected, would be collected by the tax-gatherers and shortly returned into the treasury. Such is the origin of paper money; till which, the colonial currency was sterling. It soon depreciated in value, so that four dollars in the bills could be purchased by three in specie; though it was afterwards equal to gold and silver, and so continued while the sums issued from year to year were not large.* Last Gen colony char At the May-election, in 1691, the government was organized, May, 1691under the declining shades of the colonial charter, for the last eral Court time. Bradstreet was re-elected Governor, and Danforth, Deputy- under the Governor and President of Maine; the present being the twelfth ter. year, since Danforth's first appointment or election, to that office. Though his residence was in Cambridge, he was often in the Province, frequently consulted with his Council, and at stipulated times, met them and the General Assembly of Councillors and Deputies, under the provisions of the charter to Gorges. He had rendered himself highly acceptable to the Provincials, by his republican politics, his rigid virtues and his untiring exertions to promote their best interests, and to preserve the people from the ravages of the Indians. Among his official labors, the current spring, one was an endeavor to negotiate peace with some of the tribes; and another was an examination of the garrisons. 1 Hutch. Hist. p. 357.-Wheat was set at 5s.; rye 4s; corn 3s. 6d.; oats 18. 6d. per bushel.-5 Mass Rec. p. 122. A. D. 1691. The people of Massachusetts were so strongly attached to the colonial charter, that they sent three agents to England and employed Sir Henry Ashurst of the realm, for two years, to urge their pleas before the king in council, for its restoration, with some additional privileges. But their arguments and solicitations were pressed in vain. A new draft was reported, June 8th, by a committee of Council, and shewn to the agents, who presented written objections to several of its particulars; and hence a decision was delayed three months, owing, however, principally to the king's absence in Flanders.* In the meantime, its provisions were fully considered and discussed by the committee and the agents; and October 7. after his return, the important instrument, denominated the CHARTER OF WILLIAM AND MARY, or the PROVINCIAL CHARTER, passand Mary ed the seals, October 7th, 1691, and received the royal sanction. Charter of granted. The Prov inces and Islands it It was the celebrated Prescript, which was afterwards, for 89 years, The Province of Maine, in consequence of the purchase, was made a constituent part without objection, according to the bounembraces. daries in the charter to Gorges,† together with the five northerly Isles of Shoals, as originally belonging to his patent. The country, situated 'between the river Sagadahock [or Kennebeck] and Nova Scotia,' and extending northward to the river of Canada,'‡ or 48th degree of latitude, was inserted in the charter without any specific name, though usually called the Province of Sagadahock,-now so much enlarged, beyond what primarily bore the same territorial name. It embraced the second principality in the twelve great Divisions of 1635,§ lying between Kennebeck and Pemaquid, and between the coast and a northern line running westerly from the head of the latter river to Swan Island, in the Kennebeck ;-also, the ducal province of James II., being the residue of the whole territory between the last mentioned river, and St. Croix,|| Schoodic or Nova Scotia, whose province had reverted to the crown on his abdication. Moreover, * 1 Math. Mag. p. 179, 181.-9 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 273-4. See ante, A. D. 1635. 1 Doug. Sum. p. 382. So many have been the changes as to the governments within the present State of Maine, prior to the charter of William and Mary, that it to prevent the French from having a repossession of Acadia, or A. D. 1691. Nova Scotia, which, though it were resigned to them under the treaty of Breda, (1667,) had been lately captured by Phips;— becomes expedient, for the sake of perspicuity and reference to give a synopsis of them in this place-as it respects, I. the Province of Maine; and, II. Sagadahock, as divided by the Penobscot, into two great sections, the Western and Eastern.-I. As to the Province of Maine,-1. Sir Ferdinando taking the 3d and 4th of the 12 divisions, in 1635, which he called New-Somersetshire, formed a government therein under William Gorges. -2. His charter of Maine and administration, in 1639-40.—3. The division of the Province by the river Kennebunk, under Rigby's claim, and his rule of Lygonia, after 1646, by Cleaves.-4. Massachusetts, in 1652-3, assumes to govern Gorges' part; and, in 1658, Rigby's part also.-5. The king's three commissioners, in 1665, took command of the whole.-6. Massachusetts, in 1668, resumed the government of the entire Province, and in 1677, purchased it.-7. An administration, in 1679–80, is established under the executive trust of President Danforth.-8. In 1686, President Dudley, and, after him, Governor Andros, were commissioned to govern it and other Provinces.-9. Massachusetts, in 1689, ousted Andros of his power, and soon recommitted the government to Danforth.-II. (First,) Western Sagadahock, was-1. after 1631, principally under the rule of the Pemaquid proprietors.-2. James, the Duke of York, in 1664, took his patent; and the king's three Commissioners, the next year, assumed the government within it.-3. Massachusetts, in 1674, established there, the county of Devonshire; and the same year the Duke took a new patent; Andros being ducal Governor, who assumed possession in 1680. In 1683, Governor Dungan succeeded him, who managed it by his agents, Palmer and West.-4. Andros, in 1686, was commissioned Governor of NewEngland, including Maine and Sagadahock.-5. In May, 1689, Massachusetts took the government from him.-(Secondly,) Eastern Sagadahock, was, 1. embraced by the New-England patent, of 1620.-2. After the treaty of St. Germains, in 1632, it was claimed by the French, as a part of Nova Scotia.-3. The whole, in 1654, was reduced to the possession of the English, by Major Sedgwick, under Lord Cromwell, and the government of it given to Col. Temple.-4. Under the treaty of Breda, concluded in 1667, it was claimed and possessed by France, as a part of Nova Scotia.-5. In 1688, Penobscot was seized upon by Governor Andros, and the repossession of it completed by the English arms, under Phips, in 1690. -6. The charter of William and Mary, in 1691, embraces it.-7. It was claimed by the French, as a part of Nova Scotia, under the treaty of Ryswick, 1697.-8. Possession of Nova Scotia was recovered by the English forces under Nicholson, in 1710;-and the charter of William and Mary, ever after made effectual, as far east as St. Croix-the original extent of jurisdiction claimed. A. D. 1691. that Province was also inserted in the charter.* Remarks. In a few years, however, it was conceded by the Province of Massachusetts, to the entire exclusive dominion of the English crown. NewHampshire, according to the wishes of her inhabitants, would have been put into the same charter, had it not been recently purchased of Mason's heirs, by Samuel Allen of London, who prevented its insertion.† In fine, the charter also included "all "Islands and inlets lying within ten leagues directly opposite the "main land within the said bounds;" reserving to the crown, admiralty-jurisdiction and one fifth of all gold and silver ore and precious stones found therein; and to all English subjects, a common right of fishery upon the seacoast, or "in any arms of the sea, or salt water rivers." By the union of these colonial territories, a collective strength and importance were given to the Province, which might be considered a counterbalance to some abridegment of privilege. Though the charter on its arrival was encountered by several strong objections, it met with general acceptance; there being great solicitude for the establishment of a stable government. The last General Court of the colonial administration closed its session, May 6, 1692;‡ when all the public offices in the constituent sections of the new Province became extinct ; and, * 40 Univ. Hist. p. 62.-The Chevalier Villebon hoisted the French flag at Port-Royal, Nov. 26, 1691; having arrived from France to assume the command of Nova Scotia. † 1 Belk. N. H. p. 192. The whole number of Deputies in the Massachusetts General Court, was now only 29.-The last Court holden at York, July 15th, 1690, under the administration of President Danforth, consisted of Major John Davis, Deputy-President, Captain Francis Hook, Major Charles Frost, and Captain John Wincoln, magistrates, or justices; when they "ordered," that if any ordinary or tavern-keeper should sell any rum, flip or other strong liquor to an inhabitant of his town, except in case of sickness or other necessity, or more than one gill to a stranger, he should forfeit his license. It is said, that during this contest, about the old and the new charter, originated, in Massachusetts, the two great political parties, Republicans and Loyalists. Their politics, though assuming, subsequently, new appellations, continued unchanged to the Revolution. The warm adherents to the democratic principles in the old charter, were very highly esteemed by the people, as liberty-men; their opponents, professing to be more loyal subjects,-enjoying, also, more of the king's favor, were denominated royalists, or prerogative-men. the returning prospect of political quiet and prosperity, was only A. D. 1691. darkened by a storm of savage warfare in the eastern region, which was already oppressing the inhabitants with intermingled bloodshed and distress. Note 1.-Form of an old-tenor bill. This indented bill of pounds, ' due from Massachusetts colony to the possessor, shall be in value equal to money; and shall be accordingly accepted by the Treasurer, and Receivers 'subordinate to him, in all public payments, and for any stock at any time in the Treasury. Boston, in New-England, February the third, 1690 ;—By • order of the General Court.' Note 2.-Abraham Shurte, Esq. died at Pemaquid, about 1680. "The deposition of Abraham Shurte, aged fourscore years, or thereabouts, saith "That in the year 1626, Alderman Alsworth and Mr. Giles Elbridge of Bristol, merchants, sent over this deponent for their agent, and gave power to him to buy Monhegan, which then belonged to Mr. Abraham Jennings of Plymouth, who they understood was willing to sell it; and having conference with his agent, about the price thereof; agreed to fifty pounds, and the patent to be delivered up; and gave him a bill upon Alderman Alsworth; which bill being presented, was paid, as the aforesaid wrote me. The deponent further saith, that about the year 1629, was sent over unto him by the aforenamed Alderman Alsworth and Mr. Elbridge, a patent granted by the patentees, for twelve thousand acres of land at Pemaquid, with all Islands, islets adjacent, within three leagues; and for the delivery, was appointed Capt. Walter Neale, who gave me possession thereof; and bounded the twelve thousand acres for the use above named, from the head of the river of Damariscotta, to the head of the river of Muscongus, and between it to the sea. Moreover, it was granted by the same patent; that every servant, that they, Alderman Alsworth and Mr. Elbridge did send over, one hundred acres of land, and to every one there born, fifty acres of land, for the term of the first seven years; and to be added to the former twelve thousand acres-Likewise this deponent saith, that Damariscove was included, and belonging to Pemaquid; it being an Island, situate and lying within three leagues of Pemaquid point; and some years after, Mr. Thomas Elbridge coming to Pemaquid, to whom the patent by possession did belong and appertain, called a Court, unto which divers of the then inhabitants of Monhegan and Damariscove repaired, and continued their fishing, paying a certain acknowledgement-and farther saith not." "Sworn to, the 25th December, 1662, by Abraham Shurte. "Before me, RICHARD RUSSELL, Magistrate. "Boston, March 28, 1774, recorded in the Secretary's Office, in the Book of Patents, fol. 169. J. WILLARD, Secretary." |