Winisimet

Public tax.

Thomas Williams having undertaken to set up a 1631. ferry between Winisimet and Charlestown, the gen- ferry estab eral court established the rate of the ferry between lished. those two places, and between Winisimet and Boston.' An order of the court of assistants at Bos- July 5. ton, for levying thirty pounds on the several plantations, for clearing a creek, and opening a passage from Charles river to the new town, shows that this town was yet destined for the benefit of the colony at large; and marks the progress of the several towns Oct. 18. in the colony. The court of assistants ordered, Corn made that corn should pass for payment of all debts at a legal tenthe usual rate, at which it was sold, unless money or beaver were expressly named. 3

der.

The small pox, breaking out among the natives Small pox. at Saugus, swept away the aboriginal inhabitants of whole towns. 4

ware.

The Swedes built a fort on the west of the Dela- Swedes setware, and called it Christeen. Peter Lindstrom, tle at Delatheir engineer, having at this place laid out a small town, they here made their first settlement."

follow Prince, who had reviewed those authors, and would not have varied from both, without special cause. Whichever was the true number, there were, to use the language of Hubbard, " enough for a foundation."

1 Prince, ii. 29. The court enacted, that he should have 3d. a person from Winisimet to Charlestown, and 4d. from Winisimet to Boston. Ibid. 2 Ibid. 30, 31. The order was, that there be levied from Winisimet Wessagusset Saugus [Lynn] 1.

Nantasket

- 2.

£o. 155.

IÓ.

Boston
Dorchester
Roxbury
Salem
Charlestown

£5.

4. 10.

3.

Watertown 5.

The passage from Charles river is still open.

a

3 Prince, ii. 35. Chalmers. i. 154. In 1630, corn was 10 shillings strike;" and beaver, 6 shillings a pound. "We made laws," says Dudley, "to restrain selling corn to the Indians; and to leave the price of beaver at tiberty, which was presently sold for 10s. and 20s. a pound." Prince, ii. 1. A milch cow, in 1631, was valued from £25 to £30 sterl. Hutchinson, i. 27. 4 I. Mather N. Eng. 23. When Dr. I. Mather wrote, there were living some old planters, who, on that occasion, helped to bury whole families of the natives at once. In one of the wigwams they found an infant sucking at the breast of its dead mother; every Indian of the place being dead. Ibid. Many, when seized with the disease, were deserted by their relations, and "died helpless," unless relieved by the English, who visited their wigwams, and contributed all in their power to their assistance. Wonderwork. Providence, 51. 5 Smith N. Jersey, 22.

L. Fox.

1631. After a long relaxation of the spirit of enterprise, Voyage of Lucas Fox made a voyage to the northern parts of America, in search of a northwest passage to India. Toward this enterprise Charles I furnished one ship, completely fitted, and victualled for eighteen month's; and, when Fox was presented to him, gave him a map, containing all the discoveries, made by his decessors, with instructions, and a letter to the Japanese emperor, if he should reach Japan. Near Discoveries the main land on the west side of Hudson's Bay, about Hud- Fox discovered an island, which he named Sir Thomson's Bay. as Roe's Welcome; and afterward discovered and

Voyage of
T. Janes.

pre

named Brook Cobham Island (now called Marble Island), Dun Fox Island, and a cluster of islands, which he called Briggs's Mathematics. He also discovered king Charles's Promontory, Cape Ma ria, Trinity Islands, Cook's Isle, lord Weston's Portland, and the land, stretching to the southeast of this last promontory, which he called Fox's Farthest. On his return, he gave names to every point of land on that coast, and to every inlet, and adjacent island."

Thomas James, sent near the same time on the same voyage of discovery, visited Hudson's Bay; came to a promontory, which he named Henrietta Maria; and ran his ship aground on an island, which he afterward called Charleston Island; where he remained with his crew during the winter. His discoveries were beyond those of Hudson, Baffin, and other navigators.*

Foster Voy. 359-367.

2 Forster Voy. 367-375. Harris Voy. i. 634. Univ. Hist. xli. 102. For their shelter, they made huts of pieces of wood, which they placed in an inclined posture around a tree, and covered with boughs of trees and with their sails; but they all became frozen in their limbs. After suffering extreme hardships, they returned, in 1632, to England. Ibid.

1632.

Nova Sco

stored

France.

Charles I, by the treaty of St. Germain, resigned March 17. the right, which he had claimed to New France, A- tia and cadie, and Canada, as the property of England, to Canada re Lewis XIII, king of France. Chalmers says, the red to signal event of the capture of Quebec was unknown, when peace was reestablished in April, 1629; and assigns this as the reason why king Charles, at that treaty, absolutely restored to France, those territories generally and without limits; and particularly Port Royal, Quebec, and Cape Breton. From the restitution of these territories to France, may be dated the commencement of a long train of ills to the colonies and to England. To this transaction, in the judgment of the able historian, last quoted, may be fairly traced back the colonial disputes of later times, and the American revolution.*

Soon after this restitution, the French king granted to De Razilly the lands around the bay and river of St. Croix. 3

Patent of

The patent, designed for George Calvert, lord June 20. Baltimore, was, on his decease, filled up to his son Maryland. Cecilius Calvert, lord Baltimore. When king Charles signed the patent, he gave to the new province the name of Maryland, in honour of his queen Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry the great, king of France. Lord Baltimore held it of the crown of England, paying yearly forever two Indian arrows.*

Order of

The king of England, " informed of great dis- Jan. 19. traction and disorder in the plantations in New Eng- the privy land," referred the subject to the consideration of council in

favour of

1 Chalmers, i. 93. Brit. America, book xiv. 246. Hazard Coll. i. 319. N. England.

2 Chalmers, i. 112.

3 Ibid. i. 186. This grant was made in 1633. Charlevoix Nouv. France, i. 178. Hutchinson [Massachus. i. 128.] says, it gave 12 leagues on the sea, and 20 leagues into the land;" but he mistakes in saying, that the grant was made to La Tour,if Chalmers and the French historians are correct. 4 Univ. Hist. xl. 466. It was originally included in the patent of the South Virginia company, and considered as a part of Virginia; but, on the dissolution of that company, the king made this grant to lord Baltimore. Ib.

Q q

1632. his privy council. The council, after examination, passed a resolution, that the appearances were so fair, and hopes so great, that the country would prove beneficial to the kingdom, and profitable to the settlers, as that the adventurers "had cause to go on cheerfully with their undertakings ;" with an assurance that, if things were conducted according to the design of the patent, his majesty would not only maintain the liberties and privileges heretofore granted, but supply any thing farther, which might tend to the good government, prosperity, and comfort of his people in those plantations.'

Feb. 3.
Tax for

The court of assistants in Massachusetts ordered, fortifying that sixty pounds be levied out of the several planNewtown; tations, toward making a palisade about Newtown.* The first considerable accession of inhabitants to that town was made this year by a company, which had recently arrived from England, and had begun to settle at Mount Wollaston; but which removed to Newtown, in August, by order of court. 3

which now becomes settled.

Freemen choose magistrates.

The choice of magistrates in the colony of Massachusetts was, for the first time, made by the free

I Hutchinson Massachus. i. 31, 32, and Coll. 52—54; Hazard Coll. i. 324, 325; Morton, 96; where is the order of council. The information of the king was derived from a Petition of Sir Christopher Gardiner, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, apt. Mason, and others, exhibited against the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts. "The conclusion," says governor Bradford, "was, against all men's expectation, an order for our incouragement, and much blame and disgrace upon the adversaries." Ibid. Gardiner was a high papist, who came to New England; but for some miscarriages left the country. Ibid.

2 Prince, ii. 56, 57. The proportion was as follows:

I. Watertown

2. The New-town

3. Charlestown

£8

7. Salem

£4. 109.

II. Wessagusset 5

12. Winisimet 1. 10.

The reason for renewing the design of a fortified town is not assigned. It

was probably on account of new dangers. Hutchinson [Massachus. 27.]
says: "They were frequently alarmed this year by the Indians." The for-
tification was doubtless made. A fosse, dug around the New Town [Cam

bridge], is, in some places, visible to this day. Coll. Hist. Soc. vii. 9.
"These were Mr. Hooker's company."

3. Winthrop Journ. 42.

men, whose number was now increased by the ad- 1632. dition of about fifty three.'

Fortifica

A fortification on the Corn hill, in Boston, was May 24begun; and the people from Charlestown, Roxbu- tion in ry, and Dorchester, worked on it in rotation.*

Boston.

Island,

Conant's island, in Boston harbour, was demised Governor's to governor Winthrop, and was hence denominated Governor's Garden; but it is now called Governor's Island. 3

church

The first church at Boston was begun to be built August. by the congregation of Boston and Charlestown. First The greater part of the members of the church hav- built at ing early removed from Charlestown to Boston, and Boston. the entire number of members being now one hun- Oct. 14. dred and fifty one, they amicably divided themselves Two into two distinct churches. The church in Boston churches retained Mr. Wilson for its pastor; the church in Charlestown invited Mr. Thomas James to its pastoral care."

formed.

The court of assistants ordered, that there be a October. house of correction, and a house for the beadle, House of built at Boston with speed. It also ordered, that no person should take any tobacco publicly; and

I Wonderworking Providence, p. 53.

2 Winthrop Journ. 36. Prince [ii. 61.] supposes this to be what is now called Fort Hill. Coll. Hist. Soc. iii. 243.

3 Coll. Hist. Soc. iii. 299. It has continued in governor Winthrop's family to the present time; and is now in the possession of the Honourable James Winthrop, esquire, of Cambridge.

4 Winthrop Journ. 42. It had mud walls and a thatched roof; and stood on the south side of State Street, a little below the place, where the old State house now stands. Coll. Hist. Soc. iv. 189.

5 Hubbard MS. N. Eng. chap. xxv. Prince, 250. The number of memhers, who asked a dismission from the church at Boston, in order to form a new church at Charlestown, was 33. They were dismissed 14 October; and embodied into a distinct congregational church 2 November, at which time Mr. James, who had recently arrived from England, was ordained their pastor. Mr. Wilson, who had been previously ordained their teacher (not pastor, as was stated p. 267 from Mr. Prince), was chosen and ordained pastor at Boston 22 November. Winthrop Journ. 46. Prince, ii. 69-73. If the first church at Boston be considered as translated, in its organized state, from Charlestown to Shawmut, it was the second church, gathered in Massachusetts; if, as a new and distinct church from the time of its division, it was the seventh. The order of the first churches, as stated in Coll. Hist. Soc. vii. 15, was given in reli ance on Johnson (Wonderwork Prov.); but it is not entirely accurate.