1639]

SETTLEMENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

87

In 1639, Newport was founded on the southern part of the island, near an old

stone tower. This curious structure, twenty-four feet high, was evidently of great antiquity, but the Indians could give no information respecting its origin.

The same principles that prevailed at Providence were car

ried out in the Rhode Island col

ony, though at first they were hitys independent of each other. It

was not till 1644 that they received a charter and were united under the name of the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

128. In 1622, Sir Ferdinand Gorges [gor'-jes] and John Mason obtained a grant of land extending from the St. Lawrence to the Kennebec and Merrimac, and named the tract Laconia. Two fishing colonies were soon established at Portsmouth and Dover. In 1629, Exeter was founded, and the name of the colony was changed to NEW HAMPSHIRE. Trading-posts were established at various points on the coast, but they were mostly unimportant.

129 In 1641, the feeble settlements of New Hampshire asked to be received into the colony of Massachusetts Bay. Their request was granted, and the union continued till 1680, when they were separated by the king and again made an independent province under the name of New Hampshire.

place was founded? What object of interest is near it? What principles prevailed in the colony of Rhode Island? When and under what name were the Providence and Rhode Islan colonies united? 128. Give the history of the first settlements in New Hampshire 129. What was their subsequent history?

CHAPTER VIII.

SETTLEMENT OF CONNECTICUT.-PEQUOD WAR.

130. THE Connecticut, so called from its Indian name, which means long river, was discovered in 1614 by the Dutch. They established a trading-post near the place where Hartford now stands, and for a time enjoyed undisputed possession of the country. At length, reports of the fruitfulness and beauty of this inviting region reached England; and in 1630 it was granted to the Earl of Warwick [vor'-rik], who transferred it to Lord Say-and-Seal and Lord Brooke. In their honor the name of Saybrook was given to a fort erected at the mouth of the river in 1635. [See Map, p. 91.]

131. Meanwhile, settlements had been made from both of the Massachusetts colonies. The Dutch had tried to prevent the first comers from sailing up the Connecticut, but without success. In the autumn of 1635, a company from Massachusetts Bay made the journey by land; but when they arrived the river was frozen, their cattle perished, and they were reduced to the greatest extremities for food. Another party started from Boston the following summer. Traversing the wilderness with the aid of the compass and driving their cattle before them, they finally reached the site of Hartford, and settled on lands bought from the Indians.

132. Difficulties with the natives soon arose. The Pequods, a warlike tribe east of the Connecticut, regarded the whites with distrust; and the latter, apprehensive of attack, only waited for an opportunity to inflict such vengeance on the savages as would forever prevent their aggressions.

130. When and by whom was the Connecticut discovered? What is the meaning of the name? Where did the Dutch settle? Who soon heard of this fruitful region? To whom was it granted, and transferred? Where and when was Saybrook built? [See Map, p. 91. On which side of the Connecticut is Saybrook? Near what other water is it? On which bank of the Connecticut is Hartford? What Indians lived just east of the Connecticut? What tribe lived on the banks of the Thames?] 131. Whom did the Dutch soon find settling in the valley of the Connecticut? What took place in 1685? What, the following summer? 182. With whom did difficulties arise? In

1636]

THE PEQUOD WAR.

89

This opportunity soon occurred. The captain of a trading vessel, named Oldham, was murdered without provocation by the natives of Block Island. As soon as the news reached Boston, Endicott, with a suitable force, set out to avenge the injury. The Indians had abandoned the island, but he de stroyed their wigwams and crops. Crossing to the main land, he demanded from the Pequods damages for various injuries sustained at their hands, and some of their children as hostages. These being refused, he laid waste part of their country. The flame of revenge was thus kindled in the breasts of the Pequods. All the wiles and cruelties of Indian warfare were now experienced on the frontier. Solitary houses were attacked; stragglers were surprised and scalped; men were shot down while working in the fields; women and children were murdered round the fireside. Messengers were sent by the Pequods to the neighboring tribes, urging them to unite in exterminating the Connecticut settlers.

133. Roger Williams learned that proposals of this kind were being made to the Narragansetts; and, in order to save some of those very men who had banished him from Massachusetts, he resolved to defeat the plans of the Pequods. Setting out alone in a fearful storm, he paddled many a weary mile to the Narragansett village. The Pequod ambassadors were there, and Williams nearly lost his life by interfering; but he pleaded his cause boldly, and after four days' hesitation the Narragansetts refused to join the Pequod league.

134. On the 1st of May, 1637, the authorities of Connec ticut declared war against the Pequods); and, in a few days, about 80 settlers, and 60 Mohegans under the friendly Uncas, started against the foe. (Captain John Mason, who had served as a soldier in Flanders, commanded the expedition ;)

what did they originate? How did the settlers punish the Indians for the murder of Oldham? What followed on the part of the Pequods? What did they solicit the neighboring nations to do? 133. To what tribe in particular did the Pequods appeal? Who heard of this? Tell what he did to prevent it, and the result. 134. In 1637, what was done by the authorities of Connecticut? How large a force was raised? Who commanded it? Where did they first sail, and for what purpose? How were they re

and, expecting aid from the Narragansetts, he sailed directly for their villages. The Narragansetts received him as a friend, but were discouraged from accompanying him by the smallness of his force. "Your design is good," said the chief, "but your numbers are too weak to brave the Pequods, who have mighty chieftains and are skilful in battle." Though disappointed, Mason resolved to carry out the enterprise alone. (The Pequod confederacy consisted of 26 tribes, numbering over 2,000 men.) Their principal villages were on what is now called the Thames [tamez] River [sec Map, p. 91.] When they saw the English sail past on their way to Narragansett Bay, they supposed that the attack was given up through fear, and uttered cries of defiance and exultation that were plainly heard by their enemies. On the 26th of May, just before sunrise, Mason's party, who had landed a little east of their village, cautiously approached the huts of the sleeping savages. An Indian dog gave the alarm; and the Pequods, though thus taken by surprise, defended themselves with great bravery. The battle was still doubtful, when Mason, crying "We must burn them !", threw a blazing brand among the mats with which one of the wigwams was covered, and thus decided the fortunes of the day. The English and their red allies formed a circle round the burning huts, and slew their enemies without mercy as the fire drove them into sight. Six hundred Peし quods, men, women, and children, perished in an hour, while but two of the English were lost.)

The next morning, a body of 300 Pequods arrived from another village; and, though they fought with desperation on seeing the destruction of their homes and relatives, they too were defeated. The remnants of the tribe were driven from place to place, and butchered by their Indian enemies as well as by the English. At last 200 of the survivors surrendered in despair to the English. (They were either sold

ceived? How many tribes and warriors composed the Pequod confederacy? Where were their principal villages? [See Map, p. 91.-Where is the Thames River? What place is near its mouth?] What did they suppose when the English sailed past? Give an account of the attack.

How many Pequods and how many English were lost?

1637]

NEW HAVEN FOUNDED.

91

into slavery or incorporated among the friendly tribes; and the name of Pequod was no longer heard.)

66

135. After the first victory, the Narragansetts had joined the English; but the latter afterwards made a poor return to their chief Mi-an-to-no'-moh for his services. A war having broken out between the Narragansetts and the Mohegans, Miantonomoh, then an old man, was captured. "Let him be delivered," said the ungrateful men of Connecticut, to his old enemy, Uncas." The cruel Mohegan took him to a solitary place, and there in the presence of two of the settlers tomahawked his victim, and cutting a piece of quivering flesh from his shoulder ate it, declaring it the most delicious morsel that had ever passed his lips.

136. In 1638, the colony of New Haven was founded by John Davenport, Theodore Eaton, and their followers, on land bought from the Indians. The rights of voting and holding office were confined to church members, and the Bible was adopted as the only basis of law and rule of public action.

Suffield

Windson

HARTFORD

Wethersfield

Middletown

NEW

NEW

Eindsor

Haddam

Colchester

HAVEN

Guilfordo
HAVEN

Say brook

NLat.

Windham

Norwich

Greten

SOUND

SETTLEMENTS IN CONNECTIOUT.

The next morning, what happened? What became of the remainder of the tribe? 135. What course did the Narragansetts take after the first battle? How did the English repay their chief? Describe the death of Miantonomoh. 186. By whom was New Haven founded? [See Map.-Near what water is New Haven? What two towns between it and the Connecticut?] Whom alone did the colonists allow to vote and hold ffice? What did they adopt as their only basis of law?