First col

lector of

that colony there were, at this time, one thousand four hundred and thirty nine praying Indians.'

The commerce of Charlestown, the capital of CaCharles rolina, began to attract notice in England, and the first collector was established for that port.'

town.

Charles

The assembly of Carolina passed an act for cleartown S. C. ing the lots and streets of Charlestown, and for setregulated. tling and regulating a nightly watch in the town.3 The town of Branford, in Connecticut, after a resettled. long period of desertion, became resettled, and reinvested with town privileges. *

Branford

Population

The inhabitants of Canada amounted to seventeen of Canada. thousand; three thousand of whom were supposed to be capable of bearing arms. 5

1686.

The Spaniards at St. Augustine, suspecting that Port Royal the English colonists inflamed the natives against broken up them, invaded the southernmost frontiers of Caroliby the Spaniards. na, and laid waste the feeble settlements of Port Royal. A writ of quo warranto was issued, about this time against the patent of Carolina."

Beside boys and girls under 12 years old, who were supposed to be more than three times that number. Ib.

2 Chalmers, i. 548. Drayton, 3. Carol. 160.

3 Drayton S. Carol. 201. The "first known act" for that purpose.

4 Trumbull, i. 289, 290. Mr. Pierson, minister of Branford, and almost his whole church and congregation, were so dissatisfied with the union of New Haven and Connecticut in 1665, that they soon removed into New ark, in New Jersey. People from various parts of the colony gradually moved into the deserted town.

5 Chalm. i. 609. "An accurate account taken by order of the governor." 6 Chalmers, i. 537, 548. The Carolinians prepared to attack St. Augus tine; but were restrained by the remonstrance of the proprietaries, and relinquished the project. Hewet [i. 89.] says, no attempts were afterward made for many years toward establishing a colony in that quarter.

7 Chalmers, i. 549. "The proprietaries, prudently bending before >

1686.

ranto a

gainst E.&

The attorney general of England was ordered to prosecute writs of quo warranto against East and Quo warWest Jersey with effect. Several persons in East Jersey having received abuses, and been put in great fear by quarrels and challenges, a law was made for their suppression.*

W. Jersey.

city of N,

King James, determining to establish the same State of the arbitrary rule in New York, as he designed for New province & England, deprived that colony of its immunities. York. Dongan, whose commission was now renewed, was instructed, among other articles, " to allow no printing press." Deprived, at the same time, of the assembly, New York was reduced to the condition of a conquered province. There were now in that province four thousand foot, three hundred horse, and one company of dragoons. The shipping, belonging to the city of New York, had increased to nine or ten three mast vessels, of about eighty or ninety tons; two or three hundred ketches or barks, of about forty tons; and about twenty sloops, of twenty five tons. The city was now first regularAlbany, on the

ly incorporated by a charter. Hudson, was incorporated this year.

storm, which it seemed vain to resist, eluded the force of a blast, that had laid the charters and governments of New England in ruins." They offered a treaty of surrender. See ibid. 564-566. Carolina had as yet no commodity fit for the markets of Europe, but a few skins, and a little cedar; both of which did not amount yearly to £2000. Ib.

I Chalmers, i. 622. The proprietaries now represented to king James, that they had paid for this province £12,000, and that they had already sent to it several hundreds of people from Scotland.

2 Smith N. Jersey, 195. The law declared, that none, by word or message, shall make a challenge upon pain of six months imprisonment, without bail or mainprize, and a £10 fine; that whoever accepts or conceals, the challenge shall also forfeit £10; that no person shall wear any pocket pistols, skeins, stilladers, daggers or dirks, or other unnsual weapons, upon pain of £5 forfeiture for the first offence, and for the second to be committed; and, on conviction, imprisoned for 6 months and to pay a fine of £10. No person might go armed with sword, pistol, or dagger, on penalty of £5. Ibid.

3 Chalmers, i. 588, 601. 4 Smith N. York, 195. a mayor and aldermen in tion. See that year.

New York was put under the government of 1665; which Smith denominated an incorpora5 Ibid. 198.

Albany.

1686. Dec. 20. Andros arrives at Boston.

Assumes

ment of R.

Sir Edmund Andros arrived at Boston on the twentieth of December, with a commission from king James for the government of New England.' He was instructed to appoint no one of the council, or any to other offices, but those of the best estates and characters, and to displace none without sufficient cause; to continue the former laws of the coun try, so far as they were not inconsistent with his commission or instructions, until other regulations were established by the governor and council; to allow no printing press; to give universal toleration in religion, but encouragement to the church of Engfand; to execute the laws of trade, and prevent frauds in the customs, To support a government, that could not be submitted to from choice, a small military establishment, consisting of two companies of soldiers, was formed, and military stores were transported, *

Before the expiration of the month, Andros, agree, thegovern- ably to his orders, dissolved the government of Island. Rhode Island; broke its seal; admitted five of its inhabitants into his legislative council; and assumed the administration.3

Grant of Woodstock.

S. Lee comes to

Many of the inhabitants of Roxbury, in Massachusetts, received from the government the grant of a tract of land, in the southern part of the colony, for a settlement, which was named Woodstock.*

Samuel Lee, a dissenting minister of London, of N.England. great learning and reputation, came to New England, 5

1 Sewall's MS, Diary. Chalmers [i. 419.] says, he was appointed captain general and vice admiral of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Plymouth, Pemaquid, and Narraganset, during pleasure." He was received with a satisfaction in proportion only as he was less dreaded than Kirk." Ib. 421. Hume (Hist. Eng.] calls Kirk" a barbarian." See an account of him ib. 2 Chalmers, i. 420, 421. Judge Sewall, who lived in Boston, and was there when Andros arrived, writes in his Diary: "Dec. 24. About 60 redcoats are brought to town, landed at Mr. Pool's wharf, where drew up, and so marched to Mr. Gibbs's house at Fort Hill."

3 Ibid. 279. When Andros demanded the Charter of Clarke,the late governor of R. Island, he promised to deliver it" at a fitter season." lb.421. 4 Hutchinson, ii. 204. Bounded south by Woodward and Saffery's line, 5 Sewall MS. Diary, He was settled in the ministry at Bristol, not long

The first episcopal society was formed in Boston; 1686. and the service of the Common Prayer book intro- First epis duced.'

copal socie tyin Boston.

Boston for

A small brick church was built in School street, Church in Boston, by some French protestants; who, on the built in revocation of the edict of Nantz, sought an asylum French in New England.*

after his arrival; but he did not continue there" much above three years." Soon after the Revolution, he embarked for England; but the ship, in which he took passage, was taken by a French privateer, and carried into St. Maloes in France. His family being sent thence into England, without his knowledge, and he, by the king's order, detained; he fell into a fever, and died in a few days, Etat. LXIV. He well understood the learned languages; spoke Latin fluently and elegantly; was well versed in all the liberal arts and sciences; "was a great master in physic and alchymy; and no stranger to any part of polite or useful learning." Calamy's Con

tinuation of Account of Ejected Ministers, i. 53-56. Among the MSS. preserved in the British Museum, there is one of Samuel Lee, entitled, "Answer to many Queries relative to America, chiefly to the Natural Productions and Diseases. 1690." Biblioth. Americ, 30.

1 Coll. Hist. Soc. iii. 259. The service was introduced before the arrival of Andros. Randolph was active in promoting it. Judge Sewall writes in his Diary: " August 5 [1686]. William Harrison the boddice maker is buried, which is the first that I know of buried with the Common Prayer Book in Boston. He was formerly Mr. Randolph's landlord." August

21.

Mr. Randolph and Mr. Bullivant were here. Mr. Randolph mentioned a contribution toward building them a church, and seemed to goe away displeased because I spake not up to it." Andros, on the day of his arrival, applied for the use of one of the churches in Boston. Judge Sewall (ib.) having mentioned, that the governor and counsellors took the oaths at the Town house (remarking, that the "governour stood with his hat on when oaths given to counsellors"), writes: "It seems [he] speaks to the ministers in the Library about accommodation as to a meeting house, that might so contrive the time, as one house might serve two assemblies." "Dec. 21. There is a meeting at Mr. Allen's of the Ministers and four of each Congregation, to consider what answer to give the Governour; and it was agreed, that could not with a good conscience consent that our meeting houses should be made use of for the Common Prayer worship." March 22, 1686-7. This day his Excellency views the three meeting houses. 23. The Governour sends Mr. Randolph for the keys of our meeting house [Old South], that may say prayers there. Mr. Eliot, Frary, Oliver, Savage, Davis, and myself wait on his excellency, show that the land and house is ours, and that we can't consent to part with it to such use; exhibit an extract of Mrs. Norton's deed, and how 'twas built by particular persons, as Hull, Oliver, £100 apiece &c." Friday, March 25, 1687. The Governour has service in the South meetinghouse. Goodm. Needham, tho' had resolved to the contrary, was prevailed upon to ring the bell and open the door at the Governour's command, one Smith and Hill, joiner and shoemaker, being very busy about it."

2 Ibid. 264. There was a contribution in New England for their relief. In Salem £26 were contributed in September. "The greater part went to the southern states, particularly to South Carolina." Ibid. vi. 265.

protestants..

Quo war

ranto or

dered a

1687.

The attorney general received orders from king James, in April, to issue a writ of quo warranto against Ma- gainst the charter of the proprietor of Maryland; ryland. but no judgment was ever obtained.'

Andros as

sumes the

govern

out.

Sir Edmund Andros went, in October, with his suite and more than sixty regular troops, to Hartment of ford, where the assembly of Connecticut was then Connecti- sitting; demanded the charter; and declared the government to be dissolved. The assembly, extremely reluctant and slow to surrender, or to produce, the charter, kept the subject in debate and suspense until evening; when the charter was brought and laid on the table, where the assembly was convened. The lights were now instantly extinguished. There was no appearance however of disorder. The candles were relighted; but the patent was gone. Sir Edmund assumed the government; and the records of the colony were closed.*

Order res

pecting E. Jersey.

An order was transmitted from England to the governor of New York, to permit vessels to pass, without interruption, to East Jersey, on paying the same customs as at New York,

I Chalmers, i. 371.

2 Chalmers, i. 298. Trumbull, i. 390, 391. Captain Wadsworth of Hartford silently carried off the charter, and secreted it in a large hollow tree, which, to this day, is regarded with veneration, as the preserver of the constitution of the colony. Trumbull, ibid. The venerable oak stood in front of the house of the honourable Samuel Wyllys, esquire, then one of the magistrates of the colony. It still remains within the enclosure of the old family mansion; and is in little danger of injury, except from time, while under the auspicious care of the Wyllys family. In reply to an inquiry concerning this tree, a daughter of the present Secretary Wyllys of Connecticut wrote to me, from Hartford: "That venerable Tree, which concealed the Charter of our rights, stands at the foot of Wyllys Hill. The first inhabitant of that name found it standing in the height of its glory, Age seems to have curtailed its branches, yet it is not exceeded in the height of its colouring or richness of its foliage. The trunk measures 21 feet in circumference, and near 7 in diameter. The cavity, which was the asylum of our Charter, was near the roots, and large enough to admit a child. Within the space of eight years, that cavity has closed, as if it had fulfilled the divine purpose for which it had been reared.”

3 Ibid. 624. The Jerseys were, not long after, annexed to N. England,