TRANSACTIONS

1913–1914

TRANSACTIONS OF THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS

MARCH MEETING, 1913

A Stated Meeting of The Society was held at the house of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, No. 28 Newbury Street, Boston, on Thursday, 27 March, 1913, at three o’clock in the afternoon, Vice-President Andrew McFarland Davis, A. M., in the chair.

The Records of the last Stated Meeting were read and approved.

The Corresponding Secretary reported that a letter had been received from the Hon. Charles Grenfill Washburn accepting Resident Membership.

Mr. George Fox Tucker gave an account of Paul Cuffee (1759–1817), son of an African negro slave, who was born on the Island of Cuttyhunk, became prominent and had a remarkable career in Dartmouth, New Bedford, and in foreign lands as shipbuilder, navigator, merchant, philanthropist, and public spirited citizen. In 1808 he joined the Society of Friends. He was a deeply religious man and was universally respected. A monument to his memory is to be erected next June at Central Village, Westport, by H. P. Howard of New York, a great-grandson.1

Mr. Albert Matthews made the following communication:

NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681–1775 2

Volume II of the Society’s Publications, soon to be issued, contains, besides the Province Charter (1691) and the Explanatory Charter (1725), the extant Commissions of the President of the Council for New England (1685); of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Secretary of the Territory and Dominion of New England (1686–1688); of the Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, and Secretaries of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay (1691–1774); and of the Collector, Surveyor, and Searcher of Customs in the Colonies of New England (1681). It also contains three Commissions not alluded to in these Notes — namely, Lord Willoughby’s Commission (1667) as Vice-Admiral of Barbados, etc., and two Commissions (1727–1728) issued to Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London. The following six Commissions, mentioned in these Notes, are not printed in Volume II because no copies are known to be in existence:

1678	July3	Edward Randolph	Collector, etc.
1691	Dec.4	William Stoughton	Lieutenant-Governor
1691	Dec.5	Isaac Addington	Secretary
17116		William Tailer	Lieutenant-Governor
1715	April 287	William Tailer	Lieutenant-Governor
17168		William Dummer	Lieutenant-Governor

In preparing Volume II for the press, it seemed desirable, indeed necessary, to compile a List of Officials, 1685–1775, giving the date of each Commission, the date of taking office, and the date of leaving office. In the course of compiling the List,9 a mass of data was collected that seemed of sufficient value — sine it was largely obtained from manuscript sources, or from printed sources not easily accessible — to be put into convenient shape for consultation and reference. Hence these Notes. They are divided into the following six sections:

I Council for New England, 1685–1686
II Territory and Dominion of New England, 1686–1689
III Period from April 18, 1689, to May 16, 1692
IV Members of the Council, 1685–1691
V Province of the Massachusetts Bay, 1691–1775
VI Lists

It will be remembered that on June 27, 1683, a quo warranto10 was issued against the Massachusetts Colony Charter which had been granted by Charles I on March 4, 1629. Edward Randolph reached Boston on October 26, 1683,11 and on November 7 —

At the opening of this Court the Governo^r12 acquainted the Court, that since the last sitting of this Court Edward Randolph Esq̄, arrived, & had presented him w^th his maj^tjes councils act, & his maj^tjes declaration & proclamation, w^th the quo warranto issued out ag^t the Goūno^r & Company, &c13

The Colony Charter was vacated by a decree in the Court of Chancery and judgment entered against it in October, 1684.14 At a General Court held on January 28, 1685,—

At the opening of this Court the Gouerno^r15 declard it, y^t on the certeine or generall rumo^rs in M^r Jenner, lately arrived, y^t o^r charter was condemned, & judgment entred vp, &c, they lookt at it as an incumbent duty to acquaint the Court w^th it, & leaue the consideration of what was or might be necessary to them, &c.16

On May 12, 1686, “At a Generall Court for Elections,”—

Symon Bradstreet, Esq̄, was chosen Goūno^r for y^e yeare ensuing, & tooke his oath y^e same day.

Thomas Danforth, Esq̄, was also chosen Dep^t Goū, & tooke his oath at y^e Goūno^r house y^e same day . . . .

Edward Rawson was chosen Secret̄, & tooke his oath 13 May.17

On May 14 Randolph reached Boston,18 bringing with him an Exemplification of the Judgment against the Charter19 and Dudley’s Commission (dated October 8, 1685)20 as President of the Council for New England. On May 17 Dudley made a speech21 to the Court and left with it “a true coppy of his maj^tjes commission,”22 and on May 20 the Court sent its reply to “Joseph Dudley, Esq̄, & the rest of the gentⁿ named in his maj^tyes com̄ission.”23 On May 21 the Court met for the last time, the final entry in the record being, “This day the whole Court mett at the Goūo^rs house, & there the Court was adjourned to the seccond Wednesday in October next, at eight of the clocke in y^e morning.”24

I COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND, 1685–1686

President

Joseph Dudley was commissioned President by James II on October 8, 1685. The government created by this Commission included the Massachusetts Bay, Maine, New Hampshire, and the Narragansett Country or King’s Province. On May 25, 1686:

The President and Councill being assembled, the Exemplification of the Judgment against the Charter of the late Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England publickly (in open Court where were present divers of the eminent Ministers, Gentlemen, and Inhabitants of the Town and Country) was Read, with an audible voice.

Then His Majesties Commission of Government directed to the President and Councill was likewise read in open Court.

The President then proceeded and took the Oath of Allegiance and also the Oath conteined in that Commission, which were administered to all the Members of the Councill then present.25

On June 11:

Then the President took the following Oath in Councill to observe the Acts of Trade & Navigation:

You shall swear that you will to the best of your skill and power so long as you shall continue in the Government or Command of this territory & Plantation well and truly execute and perform, and cause to be executed and performed all matters and things which by the Statute made in the twelvth year of his late Maj^tys Reigne intituled an Act for the incourageing and increasing of shipping and Navigation, & by the other Statute made in the fifteenth year of his s^d Ma^tys reigne, Intituled: an Act for the encouragem^t of Trade; you are required as President or Commander of this Territory and Dominion to be sworn to the performance of. So help you God.26

Dudley was President from May 25 to December 20, 1686.

Deputy-President

William Stoughton was appointed Deputy-President by President Dudley on May 26, 1686:

The President in full Councill declared William Stoughton Esq^r to be Deputy President, which he accordingly accepted, to the great satisfaction of the whole Councill.27

Stoughton was Deputy-President from May 26 to December 20, 1686.

II TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND, 1686–1689

Governor

Sir Edmund Andros was commissioned Governor by James II on June 3, 1686. The government created by this Commission included the Massachusetts Bay, Maine, New Plymouth, New Hampshire, and the Narragansett Country or King’s Province. Reaching Nantasket December 19, 1686,28 Andros came to Boston December 20 and was sworn that day:

His Ex^ce29 S^r Edmond Andros Kn^t Governour being landed, repaired forthwith to Towne house attended hither by a great number of Merchants and others with all the Militia and Foot.

His Ex^ce in a short Speech acquainted the Councill that his Maj^tie by his Letters Patents dated the third day of June in the second year of his Maj^tys Reigne, appointed him to be Capitaine Generall, Governour in Chief &c of New England which were then published in a full assembly.

The Members of the Councill then present administred to his Ex^ce the oath of Allegience with the oath enjoyned to be taken, by his Maj^tys said Commission.30

On December 30, 1686, “His Ex^ce took the oath for the observeing the Acts of Trade and Navigation.”31 On February 4, 1687,—

His Ex^ce then took the Oath for executing and performing all matters and things w^ch by the Statute made in the 12^th year of his Late Ma^tys Reigne Intituled an Act for the Encourageing and Increaseinge of Shipping and Navigac̄on and by the Act made in the 15^th year of his Said Ma^tys reigne Intituled an Act for the Encouragem^t of trade required to be taken by all Governors and Com̄anders in Chief of his Ma^tys fforeign Plantacons.32

Andros was again commissioned Governor by James II on April 7, 1688. In this Commission the government included the Massachusetts Bay, Maine, New Plymouth, New Hampshire, the Narragansett Country or King’s Province, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and East and West Jersey. As already stated,33 no regular records of Council meeting after December 29, 1687, were kept, or at least are not know to be extant. But that Andros’s second Commission was published on July 19; 1688, is made certain by what Sewall wrote on that day and on July 24:

Eight Companies in Arms, and Sir Edmund’s Com̄ission is published, extending his Authority from the remotest eastern parts so as to take in East and West Jersey.34

There was a Gallery erected last Thursday, at the east end of the Town House, from where His Excellency’s new Com̄ission was published, 8 Companys being in Arms.35

Andros was Governor from December 20, 1686, to his overthrow on April 18, 1689.

Lieutenant-Governor

Francis Nicholson was commission Lieutenant-Governor by James II on April 20, 1688. No record of his taking office is extant, but presumably he was sworn on the day when Andros’s second commission was published –– namely, July 19, 1688.36

When Andros left Boston for New York late in July, 1688, Nicholson accompanied him as far as New London, when he sent back to Boston by Andros.37 Later in the year Nicholson went to New York,38 where he was when the overthrow of Andros occurred in Boston on April 18, 1689. Nicholson left New York June 11 and sailed on June 24, 1689.39

Secretary

Edward Randolph was recommended, on May 16, 1678, “to bee imployed as Collector of His Ma^ties Customes in New-England.”40 On May 31 the Lord High Treasurer41 urged the appointment, Charles II gave his approbation, and a Commission was directed “to bee issued forth vnto him [Randolph] accordingly.”42 Randolph was appointed June 12,43 and was commissioned on or before July 9.44 No copy of this Commission is extant.

Randolph was commission Collector, Surveyor, and Searcher of Customs in New England by Charles II on October 15, 1681.45

Randolph was commission Secretary and Register of the Territory and Dominion of New England by James II on September 21, 1685.46 He was also named as a Councillor in Dudley’s Commission as President, dated October 8, 1685. Randolph reached Boston May 14, 1686,47 and, when the Council met on May 25, immediately took his seat as a Councillor. But it was until July 1 that he was sworn:

The Secretary sworn and tooke the Oath following:

Whereas you are by his Maj^tys Commission appointed Secretary and Register of this his Maj^tys Territory and Dominion of New England, you shall swear that you will faithfully and Lawfully manage and perform the same service as Secretary and Register, keeping true Records of all things proper for your Office, & fairly writing and fileing all such copies and papers as are committed to you, and you are to demean your selfe according to the charge and duty of your place, to the best of your skill and knowledge.48

On March 5, 1687, —

The Sec̄ry p^rsented a bill to be passed for a Gen^ll Registry as in Jamaica and read his Maj^ties Commission appointeing him Sec̄ry and Sole Reg^r of this his Maj^ties Territory and Dom. etc.

It was p^rposed that the Clerks of the Severall County Courts should Register all Deeds Mortgages etc. and be accountable to be Sec̄ry but his Ex^ce say’d that was makeing the Sec̄ry and Reg^r an inferior officer to y^e Clerks of a County Courts and was besides the end of his Maj^ties Grant to the Sec̄ry.

It was Ordered and Assented to That the Sec̄ry is the Register of the Government, and do appoint his Depu^ties and to have fees according to his Commission.49

On May 3, 1687, Randolph leased his office to John West.50 On May 4 ––

M^r Randolph Secr: acquainted the Councill, that hee had deputed John West in his Offices of Secretary & Register, which was approved & allowed of; and the oath of allegiance and that for the faithful Discharge of said Offices was administred, to the said John West accordingly.51

On August 9, 1687, Randolph petitioned James II “to Grant him a Commission to bee Secretary and Sole Register of y^r Ma^ties Territory & Dominion of New England as now vnited and Setled.”52 The desired Commission was granted April 25, 1688.53 It has just been show that Randolph made John West Deputy-Secretary on May 3 and that West took his oath on May 4, 1687. At Randolph’s request, West was again sworn on July 20, 1688:

Whereas yo^u are by an Indenture made by Edward Randolph Esqr^e his Ma^ties Sec͞r͞y & Sole Register of his territory & Dominion of New England beareing date y^e 3^rd day of May 1687 Authorized & Appointed to be Deputy Sec̄ry & Register yo^u doe Sweare that yo^u will faithfully & Carefully manage & p^rforme y^e s^d office as Deputy Sec͞r͞y & Register Keepeing the records of all thing proper to y^e s^d office & fairly fileing & Coppying all such Records and paper as are Committed to yo^u & in all thing to demeane yo^r self according to y^e Charge & Duty of yo^r place after yo^r best skill & Knowledge & pursuant to y^e s^d Indenture & deputac̄on giuen yo^u.

John West took y^e aboue Oath in Council y^e 20^th July 1688 upon y^e Desire of y^e sd Ed. Randolph.

Ed. Randolph Sec̄ry.54

Randolph was Secretary from July 1, 1686, to the overthrow of Andros’s government on April 18, 1689.55

III PERIOD FROM APRIL 18, 1689, TO MAY 16, 1692

Andros’s government was overthrown April 18, 1689, on which day the following “Letter to Gov^r Andros requesting his surrendering the government Fortifications” was sent:

At the Town House Boston 18^th April 1689

S^R

Our Selves as well as many others the Inhabitants of this Town and Place adjacent being Surprised with the Peoples Sudden taking to Arms; In the first motion whereof we were wholly Ignorant; are driven by the present Exigence and necessity to Acquaint your Excellency, That for the quieting, and Security of the People inhabiting this Countrey from the imminent dangers they many ways lye open and exposed unto; And for your own Safety, We judge it necessary, That you forthwith Surrender, and deliver up the Government, and Fortification to be preserved to be disposed according to Order and direction from the Crown of England; which is Suddenly expected may arrive; promising all Security from Violence to your self; Or any other of your Gentlemen and Souldiers in person or Estate. Or else we are assured they will endeavour the taking of the Fortifications by Storm, it any Opposition be made

To S^r Edmund Andros Kn^t:

	S: Bradstreet	Wait Winthrop
William Stoughton	John Richards	Sam^l Shrimpton
Tho^s Danforth	Elisha Cook	W^m Browne
	Is^a Addington	Barth^a Gedney
	John Forster
	Peter Sergent
	David Waterhouse
	Adam Winthrop
	Jn° Nelson

Thursday April 18^th 1689 Sent by M^r Nath^l Oliver and M^r John Eyre56

On April 19 a “Letter to Ensign John Pipon to give up the Castle, now under his command,” was sent.57 On April 19 a. “Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace” was appointed, as follows:

April 20^th 1689

A Council Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace

Pursuant to the Advice given unto S^r Edmund Andros Whereupon the Fortification and Government were Surrendred, And also being constreined by the Military Forces now in Arms

Council of Safety appointed

It is Agreed that the Gentlemen that are present and Subscribed that Advice together with such other of the old Magistrates Or such other Gentlemen as they shall Judge meet to Associate to them, are entrusted with the Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace untill there be a farther and more Orderly Settlement. And Simon Bradstreet Esqȝ is Chosen to Preside

		Wait Winthrop
Simon Bradstreet		Sam Shrimpton
William Stoughton	Tho^S Danforth	W^M Browne
John Richards	Elisha Cooke	Barth^O Gedney
John Foster	as declared
Peter Sergeant
David Waterhouse
Isa: Addington
Adam Winthrop
J Nelson58

On the same day (April 20) “M^r Isaac Addington is nominated and appointed Clerk of the Council, and to officiate as such.”59

On May 1 the doing of the Council for Safety on April 20 were approved:

Ja Russell & or̄s approving the doings of the Council of Safety

We whose Names are underwritten being invited by the Gentlemen above named to be added unto them of the Council Do consent to approve of, what was done by the said Gentlemen in their Advice given unto S^r Edmund Andros, And do Accept of the Said Invitation and will give our Assistance therein

Ja Russell	John Joyliffe	Rich^D Sprague
John Phillips	Ed^M Hutchinson	Jer̄ Dummer
Penn Townsend	Nath Oliver	W^M Johnson
Joseph Lynde	John Eyre	John Hathorne
James Parker Sen^r	Dudley Bradstreet	Andrew Belchee
Nath Saltonstall		John Smith
Rich^D Dummer		Edmund Quincey
Rob^T Pike		Will^M Bond60
Daniel Peirce

May 1^st

On the same day (May 1) —

There being some agitation in Council of the Necessity of Settling some forms of Government, and Several Gentlemen appearing, out of the Country moveing the Same thing, the father debate there abouts is deferred until the Morrow; and Signification was dispatched to some other Gentlemen of the Council at Salem &c: to desire their Company61

Council invited to attend on public business

On May 2, “At the Council for Safety of the people and Conservation of the Peace:”

Agreed undo a paper representing the necessity of a farther consultation and Advice of the People for the directing to the exercise of that Power and Authority which is necessary in the present exigence. Signifying the expedience of the Several Towns of this Colony respectively to meet, and Choose one or more able, discreet person (not exceeding two for one town) to convene at Boston upon Thursday the Ninth instant at two a Clock afternoon, (such as then can reach it, the other Town as soon as they can) fully impow’red then and there to consult, advise, Join and give their Assistance with the Council now Sitting

Inhabitants of the several town directed to send Deputies to advise on the present occasion.

Ordered to be directed to the Captain and Select Men of the Several Towns, printed and dispersed Boston to send four62

At the same time a fast was appointed for May 7. But on May 3,—

At the Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace . . .

Upon farther Consideration, Ordered, that the Signification agreed upon Yesterday, to be sent out to the Several Towns for sending down their Representatives, Also the Recommendation referring to a Fast, be Stopt from any more of them going out

Afterwards the Sending out the Signification of Representatives was Representatives was Reinforced, & Ordered, that they should go out63

On May 8 “The President and Council met at the Council Chamber, where were present most of those who met Yesterday, and divers Others, waiting if any Thing might be presented by the people.”64 On May 9 “Representatives appeared from the Severall Towns and Villages hereafter Named.”65 On May 10 the Representatives drew up a declaration to the effect that the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Assistants chosen in May, 1686, were to constitute the government. To this the Council replied that the returns from the towns and villages had been inadequate, and that it was necessary for the people to signify their minds more fully and expressly. Whereupon May 22 was appointed the day for the meeting of the Representatives, and the Representatives declared that the present Council was continued until that date. The proceedings on May 10 were as follows:

Boston May 10^th 1689

At the Council for Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace

Sixty Six persons as Representatives of Forty four Towns and Villages in the Massachusets Colony before Named were also present, and presented the following petition

Boston May 10^th 1689

We the Representatives of the Severall Towns of the Massachusets Colony in New England

The Declaration of the Represen^s that the Gov^r Dept Gov^r, and Assistants chosen in May 1686 be the Government

Do hereby declare in behalf of our Selves, and the Several Towns, which we appear for, Viz^t That for the ensuing part of this Year, The Governour deputy Governour and Assistants chosen and Sworn in May one Thousand Six hundred Eighty Six according to our Charter Rights, And the deputies then sent by the Freemen of the Several Town’s to be the Government now Setled in our abovesaid Colony. And that Major Wait Winthrop is Major General of our Forces in New England until the Freemen renew their Choice And that if the present Government do desire more Assistants; having enlarged the Freemen, there shall be a Supply im̄ediately made according to Charter for the Remaining part of the Year, upon the Day that the General Court shall appoint; Hoping that all people will rest Satisfied till we have Confirmation from the Crown of England which we daily hope for

Declaration of the House of Representatives

Voted at the Chamber of the Countrey Representatives, as attest, Clerk of s^d Company

Ebenezer Prout

The Representatives applying themselves particularly to the President, and the former Magistrates; After a Considerable Debate they Returned them an Answer in Writing as followth Viz^t

Boston May 10^th 1689

In Answer to a declaration drawn up and Signed by Ebenezer Prout as Clerk to the Company of Representatives of the Several Towns of the Massachusets Colony dated at Boston the day, and Year abovenamed, Declaring that the Governour, Deputy Governour, and Assistants chosen and Sworn in May One thousand Six Hundred Eighty Six according to Charter Rights and the deputies then sent by the Freemen of the Several Town, to be the Government now Setled in the Abovesaid Colony

Answer to the above declaration by the members present

There Appearing onely Sixty Six persons, as the Representatives of Forty four Towns and Villages within the said Colony, And the Returns of some of the Said Towns and places being defective, and incertain in a full Representation of the Mind of the People thereabouts We think it Necessary that the People of the Said Several Towns, and Villages do more fully and expresly Signify their Minds in that Matter, And that the Other Towns, and Places, within the Said Colony (having no knowledge of the Said Declaration), be Notified to Convene their Respective Inhabitants to manifest their minds relating to the Same; And three of the Late Assistants resident in the Colony, being absent, that there be Oppertunity to Consult them; And the whole Number (if together) being but Thirteen, That the People by themselves or Ripresentatives, chuse such and so many as they shall think Convenient to Join, with them for the Common Safety and Conservation of the Peace, And the Exercise of Such farther Acts of Authority as shall be Necessary according to any Emergency until there can be a more Orderly Settlement of Government

Signed

John Richards	Sam^l Appleton	Sim: Bradstreet
Elisha Cooke	W^m Johnson	Tho^s Danforth
Is^a Addington	John Smith	John Hathorne

Major Pyke was present at the agreeing of this Answer, but gone Home before Signing

Agreed that Thursday next the Sixteenth of May Instant be Set apart for a Day of Fasting and Prayer throughout this whole Colony

Day of Humiliation and prayer 16^th May

And Wednesday the twenty Second of May Instant to be the Day for the Meeting of the Representatives of the Several Towns and Villages of the Colony, at Boston at two a Clock

The Representatives declared they Continued the present Council for Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace in the same Station until Wednesday the Twenty Second of May Instant At which time they Have Agreed to Convene at Boston66

Rulers to be continued for the present

On May 20 “The Humble Address of the President and Council for Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace” to the King and Queen was drawn up, “read and unanimously agreed to.”67 On May 22 “The Representatives of the Several Town’s and Villages to the Number of fifty four Places, appeared with the Returns from their Several Towns and Villages.”68 On May 23 and 24 the following proceedings took place:

23^d May

Upon perusal of the Returns from the Several Towns and Villages and Divers debates, and Conferences between the President, and Council, and the Representatives of the Tenth of May Instant, for the Settlement of Civil Government, as well this Day as the Day foregoing Viz^t the 22^d Instant and Several Proposals offered to them

Upon the 24^th of the Same May 1689. The following paper was presented unto them Viz^t

Boston May 24th 1689

Upon the Occasion the Revolution of the Late Government under S^r Edmund Andros; And at the Instance and Repeated desires or Demand of most of the Towns, and Villages, within the Massachusets Colony, manifested in their Respective Places, and Sent to us by their Representatives. Places, and Sent to us by their Respective Places, and Sent to us by their Representatives. We who are of the Persons chosen Sworn Governour, Deputy Governour, and Assistants (according to Charter) in the Year One thousand Six Hundred Eighty Six. From the present Necessity, and for Satisfaction of the people do Consent and Accept the Care and Government of the People of this Colony, according to the Rules of the Charter; For the Conservation of the Peace and Safety of the People, and putting forth such farther Acts of Authority Civil, and Military as shall be necessary according to any Emergency until by Direction from England there be an Orderly Settlement of Government.

Proceedings of the present Rulers approved of

Provided such Addition be made of Fit Persons to Assist us as hath been desired; And farther consent that the Respective Town’s and their Representatives for our Assistance so farr as they may be Concerned therein; and as need shall require Expecting that all Encouragement be given by the due and Ready Obedience of the People, And that what hath been Acted by the Council for the Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace respecting the Management of the Publick Affairs be allowed, and the Present Stewards be Reimbursed in Convenient Time.

Signed 24^th Abovesaid

John Richards	Sim: Bradstreet
Elisha Cooke	Tho Danforth
W^m Johnson	Na: Saltonstall
John Hathorne	Ja^s Russell
Is^a Addington	Pe: Tilton
Jn^O Smith	Sam Appleton

Voted: This was accepted cheerfully by the Representatives as an Answer for Settling Civil Govern^t with the Massachusets Colony in New England as attest

Eben^r Prout

Clerk to the Representatives

Written on the other Side

Upon the Publication here of it was declared by the Gentlemen Subscribing that they do not intend an Assumption of Charter Government; nor Would be so Understood. Being Ordered to Read the Within written Declaration; was also Ordered to publish what Above written, Which I accordingly did at the Same time 24^th May 1689

Joseph Webb69

On May 25 “Simon Bradstreet Esqȝ is desired, and Appointed to be President of this Council,” and “M^r Isaac Addington is Nominated, and appointed Clerk of the Council, and is Ordered to Officiate as such.”70 On the same day the following paper was presented:

Boston the 25^th May 1689

Gentlemen

We being greatly Sensible of the Necessity of Joyning every Good Mans Assistance to Your Present, and future Endeavours for the preservation of the peace, of this place, in this dangerous Conjuncture; And Relying on the Integrity of Your Verbal, and printed promises by Inviolably preserving this people, and place in Obedience, unto the direction we expect from the Crown of England; And good Treatment to the persons of all, and Severally the Gentlemen, as was by us Signifyed in Our Advice to S^r Edmund Andros, upon the delivery of the Fort. And to take off all Disatisfactions that may have Risen from any Disputes, or Arguments, We shall Endeavour to the pacify the Disatisfied in our Regards, and promote the Publick Tranquility, as far as in us Lyes

Directed to the Council for Safety of the People & Conservation of the Peace

And^r Belcher	Dav Waterhouse	Pet^r Sergeant
Jer Dum̄er	Rich^d Sprague	Wait Winthrop
Penn Townsend	John Foster	Sam Shrimpton
Nath Oliver	Adⁿ Winthrop
John Eyre	Jn^O Nelson71

On May 29 William and Mary were proclaimed in Boston.72

On June 5, “At the Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace,” “The Representatives also from the Several Towns, according to the Signification Sent. Met,”73 and “M^r Thomas Oaked, was Chosen Speaker.”74 On June 6, “At the Council, and Convention of the Representatives,” “The Humble Address, and Petition of the Governour, and Council, and Convention of Representatives of the People of Your Majesties Colony of the Massachusets in New England” was “drawn up Read and agreed to be Sent” to the King and Queen.75

On June 7 the following proceedings occurred:

To the Honourable Simon Bradstreet Governour, Tho^s Danforth Deputy Govern^r, and Assistants now Sitting

The Declaration of the Representatives of the Several Towns in the Massachusets Colony

Humbly Sheweth.

That whereas your Honours in the Answer to the Declaration given in, to You by the Representatives of the Several Towns, the 24^th May 1689 did Consent to Accept the Care, and Government of the People of this Colony, according to the Rules of this Charter, and putting forth such farther Acts of Authority Civil, and Military, as were Necessary Untill by Direction from England there be an Orderly Setlement of Government, And upon publication there of, were pleased to Declare you did not, intend Assumption of Charter Government; We do now humbly pray Considering the present Circumstances of this Colony you would be pleased by Vertue of the Authority devolved on You, by us the Representatives of the Several Towns in this Colony to Accept Government according to our Charter Rules by the Names of Govern^r and Council for the Massachusets Colony, And exercise such Authority in the Said Colony, as was formally Used by the Laws made by our Charter Government (excepting such as may be Judged repugnant to the Laws of England) until farther Orders from England; And that the Major General, and five Assistants lately Chosen take their Respective Oaths, And pray there may be no Delay in this Matter We cannot proceed in any thing until this foundation be Setled.

Declaration of the Representatives from the several towns.

7 June 1689 Voted in the Affirmative

attest Eb: Prout Cl

Accepted by the Govern^r & Council

ꝑ Order Thomas Danforth

The following Oath was Adminstred unto the Govern^r by Tho^s Danforth Esqȝ Deputy Govern^r before the whole Assembly

Whereas you S.B. are chosen to the Place of Governour over this Jurisdiction of the Massachusets for the Remaining Part of this Year, and till a New be Chosen, and sworn Or until there be a Setlement of Government here from the Crown of England, do Swear Accordingly by the Great and Dreadful Name of the Ever living God that you will be faithful, and bear true Alegiance to their Majesty’s King William and Queen Mary, and that You will in all Things Concerning Your Place, according to Your best Power & Skill Carry, & Demean Yourself for the Said Time of Your Government, according to the Laws of God, and the Advancement of His Gospell, the Laws of this Land, and the Good of the People of this Juresdiction, You shall do Justice, to all Men without Partiality, as much as in You Lyeth, You shall not exceed the Limitations of a Governour in your Place, So help you God

form of the oath taken by the Gov^r & Lieut Gov^r

The Like Oath Mutatis Mutandis by Simon Bradstreet Esqȝ Govern^r unto Tho^s Danforth Esqȝ Deputy Govern^r76

On June 11 “M^r Isaac Addington is Chosen Secretary;”77 and on June 13 —

M^r Isaac Addington took his Oath, as Secretary as followth Viz^t

Whereas You I: A: are Chosen Secretary for the Remaining part of this Year, Or Until there be a Setlement of Government here by Direction from the Crown of England. You do Swear by the Ever living God; That You will in all Things faithfully Demean Yourself in the Said Office That You will truely, and faithfully According to Your Best Skill and Wisdom frame, all Acts, and Instruments of Public Concernment referring to Your Office, duely Observing such Directions, as Shall from Time, to time be given Unto You by the Government; here; and fairly Record, and Safely Keep the Same. That you will not disclose their Consultations, where you shall have express Charge of Secrecy, That You will Without Delay, Impart to the Governour or Council, Whatever, Letter, or Information shall Come to Your Hands referring to Your Office and of Publick Concernment; That You will not Wittingly or Willingly exceed the Limits of Your Place. — So help You God in Our Lord Jesus Christ78

On June 22, “At the Convention of the Govern^r and Council and Representatives,”—

It is Declared that all the Law’s made by the Governour and Company of Said Colony that were in force on the Twelfth Day of May One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Six (Except any that are Repugnant to the Law’s of England) are the Law’s of this Colony, and Continue in force until farther Setlement; To which all Inhabit^ts and Residents here are to Give due Obedience79

Declaration to enforce y^e Laws

On November 9 the Convention “Adjourned to the Second Wednesday of Dec^r next at two a Clock afternoon;”80 but a letter from King William dated August 12 was read “At the Convention of the Govern^r and Council, and Representatives of the Massachusets Colony, in Boston, Tuesday the third of December 1689 convened by Order of the Govern^r and Council upon the Arrival of a Ship from London.”81 The letter is in part as follows:

And whereas You give us to Understand, that you have taken upon You the Present Care of the Government until you should receive Our Orders therein; We do hereby Authorise and Impower you to Continue in our Name your Care in the Administration thereof, and Preservation of the Peace, Until We shall have taken such Resolutions, and given such Direction, for the more Orderly Setlem^t of the Said Governm^t as shall most conduce to Our Service, and the Security and Satisfaction of our Subjects within that Our Colony, . . . the 12^th day of August 1689 . . .

By His Majesties Command

Shrewsbury

Superscribed

To such as for the time being take Care of Preserving the Peace and Administring the Laws in Our Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England82

On December 16 it was declared, in reference to the King’s letter of August 12, that “All their Maj^ties Subjects as well Officers Civil, and Military; & all Inhabitants and Strangers residing within this Colony are therefore hereby required to take notice there of, and to Yeild Obedience unto the Said Governm^t accordingly as they will Answer the Contrary.”83

On January 24, 1690, it is “Agreed that this Convention be Henceforth termed a General Court, and be Accounted such in all Respects.”84

On May 28, 1690,—

Election was made of Governour, Deputy Gov^r Assistants, and other Publick Officers, as follow Viz^t

Simon Bradstreet Esq^r Govern^r — and Sworn.
Thomas Danforth Esq^r Deputy Gover^r and Sworn. . . .
Isaac Ad̄ington Secretary Sworn.85

On May 20, 1691, —

Simon Bradstreet Esq^r was Chosen Gov^r & Sworn

Tho^s Danforth Esqr was Chosen dep^y Gov^r & Sworn . . .
Isaac Addington was chosen Secretary Jur^t86

On May 4, 1692, —

Simon Bradstreet Esq^r was chosen Govern^r, and tooke the Oath of Allegiance, and the Oath of His, Place, or Office, for this Year, Or until there be a Settlement of Government from the Crown of England.

Thomas Danforth Esq^r was chosen Dep^ty Gov^r . . .
Isaac Addington Esq^r was chosen Secretary Jur:87

The Court met for the last time on May 6, 1692, when it “Adjourn’d unto Tuesday the 24th of May Curr^t at one a Clock Afternoon;”88 but before that day came, Sir William Phips had arrived with the Province charter.

The events from April 18, 1689, to May 6, 1692, are given in the following —

Summary

1689	April 18	Andros’s government overthrown
	April 20	Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace appointed, with Simon Bradstreet as President and Isaac Addington as Clerk
	May 1	Doings of the Council for Safety on April 20 approved
	May 9	Representatives meet
	May 10	A fuller representation declared necessary
	May 22	Representatives meet
	May 24	Government settled as of May, 1686, but no assumption of Charter government is intended
	May 25	Bradstreet appointed President and Addington Clerk
	June 5	Representatives meet
	June 7	Charter government assumed, Bradstreet and Danforth being sworn as Governor and Deputy-Governor
	June 11	Addington chosen Secretary
	June 13	Addington sworn as Secretary
1689	Aug. 12	The government approved by William III
1690	Jan. 24	The Convention declared a General Court
	May 28	Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected
1691	May 20	Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected
1692	May 4	Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected
	May 6	Last meeting of the Court89

IV MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, 1685–1691

A Dudley’s Council, 1685–1686

In Dudley’s Commission (October 8, 1685) as President of the Council for New England, Dudley himself was nominated and appointed “to be first President of the said Councell and to continue in the said Office vntill we our Heires or Successors shall otherwise direct;” While the following seventeen persons were nominated and appointed “to be of our Councell:”90

Bradstreet, Dudley	Mason, Robert	Tyng, Jonathan
Bradstreet, Simon	Pynchon, John	Usher, John
Bulkely, Peter	Randolph, Edward	Wharton, Richard
Champernoon, Francis	Saltonstall, Nathaniel	Winthrop, Fitz John
Gedney, Bartholomew	Stoughton, William	Winthrop, Wait
Hinckes, John	Tyng, Edward

The only provision in Dudley’s Commission for the replacing of a Councillor was in case of death, as follows:

And if any of the members of the said Councell shall happen to dy Our Will & pleasure is and Wee do hereby direct & appoint the President of our Councell for the time being to elect some other person to be a member of the said Councell for that time, and to send over the name of such person soe chosen, and the names of two more Whom our said President shall judge fittly qualified for the said trust that We our heires & successors may nominate & appoint which of the three shall be the member in the place of the member so dying91

This provision proved unsatisfactory, since at the very beginning a difficulty arose because three members declined to serve, while a fourth member was incapacitated from serving. In a letter to Blathwayt dated May 29, Randolph said:

This acquaints you that the 25 following the pres^dt and 1492 of the Councill mett at Boston and taking the taking the oathes were entred vpon the Gom^t M^r Champernoon: was so much indisposed that twas not possible for him to come to Boston: Butt old M^r Bradstreet and his son wholy refused to accept the Commission as a thing contriued to abridge them of their libertye and indeed against Magna Chart: and Mr Saltenstall also diserted vs: in whose places are very proper to bee inserted: Richard Smith of Narragansett: M^r William Brown Junior: the third I leaue to M^r Masons nomination who is coming ouer vpon the next ship which will in a short tyme sayle from hence.93

On June 1 the President and Council drew up a letter to the Committee which contained the following paragraph:

Wee may not omitt humbly to represent to your Lordshipps, that there being no direction for a supply of Members into his Maj^tys Councill except only in the case of death, whereas by the removal, constant sickness, or other avoidance of any of the Members, His Majestyes Councill may sometimes faile of a Quorum or more full appearance, needfull for his Maj^tys service; it is therefore humbly offered, that in such cases wherein there appeares an impossibilitie or refusall of service, His Maj^ty would graciously grant that a supply of Members may be appointed as in case of Death.94

On June 19 the President and Council wrote to the Committee as follows:

Wee cannot avoid to lay before your Lords^pps the inconvenience hapning by y^e indispositions & refusall of Severall persons nominated in his Ma^ties most Gracious Commission: & the great distance of others from his Ma^ties town of Boston the vsuall place of meeting.

ffor avoiding therefore any obstruction in prosecuting his Ma^ties seuerall commands in that Commission to us directed

Its humbly proposed as very necessary for his Ma^ties Seruice, and wee do accordingly nominate eight persons, whose names are herevnto annexed to Supply those vacancyes, Submitting in all duty & obedience their choice & appointment to his Ma^tie, and waite his Ma^ties gracious answeare So Soon as it Shall please your Lords^ps to report the Same vnto his Ma^tie

They then said that “M^r Bradstreet Major Saltenstall Dudley Bradstreet do not accept y^e Commission;” that “M^r Champernoon weak & vnable to act in that Commission;” and gave these ––

Names of persons to Supply their vacancyes

Samuell Shrimpton:	Wilƚ Brown ju.
James Russell	Sam. Sewall
Symon Linds	tho: Graues
Nicholas paige	Ric^d Smith95

As a matter of fact, no new members were added to Dudley’s Council.96

B Andros’s Council, 1686–1688

In Andros’s first Commission (June 3, 1686) as Governor of the Territory and Dominion of New England, no persons were named for the Council; but in the Instructions issued to him on September 12, 1686, he was directed upon his arrival in Boston “forthwith to call together the members of Our Councill for that Our Territory and Dominion,” and the following twenty-seven persons were named:97

Albro, John	Greene, John	Smith, Daniel
Arnold, Richard	Hinckes, John	Stoughton, William
Bradford, William	Hinckley, Thomas	Tyng, Edward
Bulkley, Peter	Lothrop, Barnabas	Tyng, Jonathan
Clarke, Nathaniel	Mason, Robert	Usher, John
Clarke, Walter	Newbury, Walter	Walley, John
Coggeshall, John	Pynchon, John	Wharton, Richard
Dudley, Joseph	Randolph, Edward	Winthrop, Fitz John
Gedney, Bartholomew	Sanford, John	Winthrop, Wait

Article 6 of the same Instructions reads as follows:

And that Wee may alwayes be informed of the names of persons fit to supply the Vacancies of Our Councill you are to transmit unto Us by One of Our principal Secretaries of State, and to the Lords of Our Privy Councill appointed a Committee for Trade and Forrein Plantations, with all convenient speed the names and characters of twelve persons Inhabitants of Our said Territory, whom you shall esteem the best qualified for that Trust and so from time to time when any of them shall dye, depart out of Our said Territory or become otherwise unfit, you are to supply the first number of twelve Persons by nominating others to Us in their stead.98

Accordingly, on March 25, 1687, the following “Names of persons best qualified to fill vacancies in Council” were transmitted:99

Brinley, Francis100	Lidgett, Charles	Sanford, Peleg101
Browne, William, Jr.	Luscombe, Humphrey102	Sheafe, Sampson
Curwin, Jonathan	Lynde, Simon	Shrimpton, Samuel
Hutchinson, Eliakim103	Russell, James	Smith, Richard

Before the date of Andro’s second Commission (April 7, 1688), at least seven persons had been nominated to the Council of whom four were among the twelve recommended above. On April 25, 1687, Andros was directed “forthwith upon receipt hereof” to cause “Captain Francis Nicholson to be sworne of Our Councill of that Our Colony of New England.”104 on August 24 following, ––

Pursuant to his Majestyes Command Captaine Francis Nicholson was this day sworne of his Majestyes Councill in this his Territory and Dominion of New England and tooke his place accordingly.105

On June 18, 1687, Robert Treat and John Allyn were nominated to the Council;106 and on June 27 Andros was directed to the “Cause Our Trusty and welbeloved Robert Treat Esq^re the present Governor, and John Allen Esq^re the present Secretary of Conecticutt to be Sworn of Our Councill in New England,”107 On November 1 following the Council met at Hartford, when, after Connecticut had been “annexed to the Dominion of New England,” ––

Pursuant to his Majestyes Commands Rob^t Treat Esq^r late Gov^r of Connecticott and John Allen Esq^r the late Secr^ty were sworne of his Maj^tyes Councill.108

On November 4, 1687, Samuel Shrimpton, William Browne, Jr., Simon Lynde, and Richard Smith were nominated to the Council;109 and on November 10 Andros was directed to cause those four persons “to be sworn of Our Councill of that Our Colony of New England.”110 Lynde did not serve, as he died November 22.111 It is not known exactly when Browne, Shrimpton, and Smith were sworn, since, as already stated,112 no regular Council records after December 29, 1687, are extant; but it must have been at least as early as February 3, 1688, for on that day Browne and Shrimpton were present at a Council meeting.113

C Andros’s Council, 1688–1689

In Andros’s second Commission (April 7, 1688) as Governor of the Territory and Dominion of New England, no persons were named for the Council; but in the Instructions issued to him on April 16, 1688, he was directed “with all convenient speed” to “call togeather” the following forty-two “Members of the Councill:”114

Albro, John	Gedney, Bartholomew	Shrimpton, Samuel
Allyn, John	Greene, John	Smith, Daniel
Arnold, Richard	Hinckes, John	Smith, Richard
Baxter, Jarvis	Hinckley, Thomas	Spragg, John
Bayard, Nicholas	Lothrop, Barnabas	Stoughton, William
Bradford, William	Lynde, Simon	Treat, Robert
Brockholes, Anthony	Mason, Robert	Tyng, Edward
Browne, William, Jr.	Newbury, Walter	Tyng, Jonathan
Bulkley, Peter	Nicholson, Francis	Usher, John
Clarke, Nathaniel	Palmer, John	Walley, John
Clarke, Walter	Philipse, Frederick	Wharton, Richard
Coggeshall, John	Pynchon, John	Winthrop, Fitz John
Cortlandt, Stephen van	Randolph, Edward	Winthrop, Wait
Dudley, Joseph	Sanford, John	Youngs, John

D First Council under the Province Charter, 1691

In the Province Charter (October 7, 1691) the following twenty-eight persons were named for the Council:115

Alcock, Job	Hawthorn, John	Pike, Robert
Appleton, Samuel	Hayman, Samuel	Richards, John
Bradford, William	Hinckley, Thomas	Russell, James
Bradstreet, Simon	Hutchinson, Elisha116	Saltonstall, Nathaniel
Curwin, Jonathan	Joyliffe, John	Sergeant, Peter
Davis, Silvanus	Lothrop, Barnabas	Sewall, Samuel
Donnell, Samuel	Lynde, Joseph	Walley, John
Foster, John	Mason, Stephen	Winthrop, Adam
Gedney, Bartholomew	Middlecott, Richard	Winthrop, Wait
	Phillips, John

In the following list these names are brought together under a single alphabet, thus making it possible to tell at a glance to which Council each belonged. Variations in the spelling of names, where important, are noted in footnotes;117 and to the name of each person is added the colony to which he belonged. The abbreviations here used are obvious, with the possible exception of the letters “N. C.” and “N. P.,” which indicate respectively the Narragansett Country and the New Plymouth Colony.

List of Councillors, 1685–1691

A = Named in Commission to Dudley, Oct. 8, 1685118

B = Named in Instructions to Andros, Sept. 12, 1686119

C = Named in Instructions to Andros, April 16, 1688120

D = Named in Province Charter, Oct. 7, 1691121

	B			C			Albro,122 John. R. I. Died 1712.123
					D		Alcock,124 Job. Me. Died about 1716.125
				C			Allyn, John. Ct. Died 1696.126
					D		Appleton, Samuel. Mass. Died May 15, 1696.127
	B			C			Arnold, Richard. R. I. Died April 22, 1710.128
				C			Baxter, Jarvis. N. Y.
				C			Bayard, Nicholas.129 N. Y.
	B			C	D		Bradford, William. N. P. Died Feb. 20, 1704.130



A							Bradstreet, Dudley. Mass. Did not accept. Died Nov. 13, 1702.131
A					D		Bradstreet, Simon. Mass. Did not accept. Died March 27, 1697.132
				C			Brockholes, Anthony.133 N. Y.
				C			Browne, William, Jr. Mass. Died Feb. 23, 1716.134
A	B			C			Bulkley,135 Peter. Mass. H. C. 1660; died May 25, 1688.136
A							Champernoon, Francis. Me. Did not serve. Died before May 21, 1687.137
	B			C			Clarke, Nathaniel. N. P. Died Jan. 31, 1717.138
	B			C			Clarke, Walter. R. I. Died May 23, 1714.139
	B			C			Coggeshall,140 John. R. I. Died Oct. 1, 1708.141
				C			Cortlandt, Stephen van.142 N. Y. Died Nov. 25, 1700.143
					D		Curwin, Jonathan. Mass. Died June 9, 1718.144
					D		Davis, Silvanus. Me. Died in 1703.145
					D		Donnell,146 Samuel. Me. Died March 9, 1718.147
A	B			C			Dudley, Joseph. Mass. H. C. 1665; died April 2, 1720.148
					D		Foster, John. Mass. Died in February, 1711.149
A	B			C	D		Gedney, Bartholomew. Me. Died March 1, 1698.150
	B			C			Greene, John. R. I. Died Nov. 27, 1708.151
					D		Hawthorn, John. Mass. Died in May, 1717.152
					D		Hayman, Samuel. Mass.153 Died Dec. 14, 1712.154
A		B	C					Hinckes, John.155 N. H.
		B	C			D		Hinckley, Thomas. N. P. Did not serve in D. Died April 16, 1705.156
						D		Hutchinson, Elisha. Mass. Died Dec. 10, 1717.157
						D		Joyliffe,158 John. Mass. Died Nov. 23, 1701.159
		B	C			D		Lothrop, Barnabas.160 N. P. Died in 1715.161
						D		Lynde, Joseph. Mass. Died Jan. 29, 1727.162
			C					Lydne, Simon. Mass. Did not serve. Died Nov. 22, 1687.163
A		B	C					Mason, Robert. N. H. Died Sept. 6, 1688.164
						D		Mason, Stephen. Mass. Did not serve.165
						D		Middlecott, Richard. Mass. Died June. 13, 1704.166
		B	C					Newbury, Walter. R. I. Died Aug. 6, 1697.167
			C					Nicholson, Francis.168 Mass. Died March 5, 1728.
			C					Palmer, John. N. Y.
			C					Philipse,169 Frederick. N. Y. Died Nov. 6, 1702.170
						D		Phillips, John. Mass. Died March 21, 1725.171
						D		Pike, Robert. Mass. Died Dec., 1706.172
A		B	C					Pynchon, John. Mass. Died Jan. 17, 1703.173
A		B	C					Randolph, Edward. Mass. Died in April, 1703.174
						D		Richards, John. Mass. Died April 2, 1694.175
						D		Russell, James. Mass. Died April 28, 1709.176
A						D		Saltonstall, Nathaniel. Mass. Died not accept A. H. C. 1659; died May 21, 1707.177
		B	C					Sanford John R. I. Did not serve.178 Died before May 21, 1687.179
						D		Sergeant, Peter. Mass. Died Feb. 8, 1714.180
						D		Sewall, Samuel. Mass. H. C. 1671; died Jan. 1, 1703.181
			C					Shrimpton, Samuel. Mass. Died Feb. 8, 1698.182
			B			C		Smith, Daniel. N. P. Died April 28, 1692.183
						C		Smith, Richard. N. C. Died about 1692.184
			C					Spragg, John. N. Y. Did not Serve.185
A		B	C					Stoughton, William. Mass. H. C. 1650; died July 7, 1701.186
			C					Treat, Robert. Ct. Died July 12, 1710.187
A		B	C					Tyng, Edward. Me. Died about 1701.188
A		B	C					Tyng, Jonathan. Mass. Died Jan. 19, 1724.189
A		B	C					Usher, John. Mass. Died Sept. 1, 1726.190
		B	C			D		Walley, John. N. P. Died Jan. 11, 1714.191
A		B	C					Wharton, Richard. Mass. Died May 14, 1689.192
						D		Winthrop, Adam. Mass. Died Aug. 3, 1700.193
A		B	C					Winthrop, Fitz John. Ct. Died Nov. 27, 1707.194
A		B	C			D		Winthrop, Wait. Mass. Died Nov. 7, 1717.195
			C					Youngs,196 John. N. Y. Died about 1698.197

V PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY, 1691–1775

Governors

Sir William Phips was commissioned Governor by William and Mary on December 12, 1691. Arriving in Boston on May 14, 1692, he was sworn on May 16. Sewall writes:

May 14^th 1692. Sir William arrives in the Nonsuch Frigat: Candles are lighted before He gets into Town-house. Eight Companies wait on Him to his house, and then on Mr. [Increase] Mather to his. Made no volleys because ’twas Satterday night. . . .

Monday, May 16. Eight Companies and two from Charlestown guard Sir William and his Councillors to the Townhouse, where the Com̄issions were read out and Oaths taken.198

The following extracts are from the Council Records of May 16th:

Their Majesties Royal Charter for the Erecting Uniting and Incorporating of their Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England, and for settling of Government within the said Province, under the great seal of England, was read and published.

Their Majesties Letters Pattents under the great seal of England, for constituting and appointing S^r William Phips kn^t to be Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over their Maj^ties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England; as also for the Constituting and appointing of the said S^r William Phips to be their Maj^ties Lieutenant and Commander in Chief of the Militia Forces, Forts and places of strength within their Maj^ties several Colonies of Connecticutt, Rhode Island & Providence Planta the Narragansett Country or Kings Province, & the Province of New Hampshire, was read and published.

Their Majesties Letters Patents under the great seal of the Supreme Court of Admiralty of England granting unto S^r William Phips kn^t the Office of Vice Admiral within the Province and Territory of the Massachusetts Bay, and the sea parts belonging and adjoyning thereto whatsoever, was also shewn forth and published. . . .

His Excellency the Gov^r tooke his oath for the due & faithful performance of his Office or place of Governour; as also the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament made in the first year of their present Maj^ties Reign, Entituled an Act for the abrogating of all the Oaths of Supremacy & Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths, being administred unto him, by William Stoughton Esq^re L^t Governour. . . .

The Members of the Council then present: viz^t John Richards Wait Winthrop, John Phillips, James Russell, John Joyliffe, Adam Winthrop, Rich^d Middlecutt, John Foster, Peter Sergeant, Joseph Lynde, Samuel Hayman, & Silvanus Davis Esq^rs each one severally for himselfe tooke his Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Office or place of a Councellor or Assistant, and the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy. Before the Governour & L^t Governour.199

The oath taken by the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, and Councillors is as follows:

We S^r William Phips K^nt Governo^r &c^a of their Maj^ties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England William Stoughton Esq^r Lieutenant Governour And the Councellors Assistants of their Ma^ties said Province, and Secretary, Each one particularly and severally for Our Selves, Do make, repeat and subscribe the following Declaration in the words thereof, — Mutatis Nominibus Viz^t

I, William Phips, do solemnly and sincerly in the presence of God, profess, Testify and declare. That I do believe, That in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, there is not any Transubstantiation of the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever, and that the Invocation or Adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other Saint, and the Sacrifice of the Mass as they are now used in the Church of Rome are Superstitious and Idolatrous. And I do solemnly in the presence of God profess, testify and declare, That I do make this Declaration and every part thereof in the plain and Ordinary Sense of the words read unto me, as they are commonly understood by English Protestants, without any Evasion, Equivocation or Mental Reservation whatsoever, And with-out any dispensation already granted me for this purpose by the Pope, or any Authority, or Person whatsoever, Or without any hope of any such dispensation from any Person, or Authority whatsoever, Or without thinking that I am or can be Acquitted before God or man, Or absolved of this Declaration, Or any part thereof, Although the Pope, or any other person or persons whatsoever should dispense with, or annul the same, Or declare that it was Null and void from the begining.

Isaac Addington200	John Hathorne	John Richards
Job Alcock	Samuel Hayman	James Russell
Sam^ll Appleton	Elisha Hutchinson	Nath: Saltonstall
William Bradford	John Joyliffe	Peter Sergeant
Jonathan Corwin	Barnabas Lathrop	Samuel Sewall
Silvanus Davis	Joseph Lynde	William Stoughton
Samuel Donnell	Richard Middlecutt	John Walley
John Foster	John Phillips	Adam Winthrop
Barth° Gedney	William Phips	Wait Winthrop201
	Rob^t Pike

On November 15, 1694, —

Upon the motion of his Excell^cy the Governour that he had some things material to offer, relating to the complaints exhibited against him by M^r Brenton & Capt. Short, whereof he was not before advised, several papers and affidavits were presented by M^r Benjamin Jackson on that occasion, and sworn unto by him.202

On November 17th, —

The Lieut^t Gov^r and the members of the Council then in Town waited upon his Ex^cy at his house & accompanied him to the Waterside, who embarqued, and that evening set saile onwards of his Voyage to England.203

Thus Phips’s term of office lasted only two and a half years—from May 16, 1692, to November 17, 1694, as he did not return to Boston and died suddenly in London on February 18, 1695.204

Upon the departure of Phips, Lieutenant-Governor William Stoughton205 became Acting Governor on December 4, 1694, on which day the following proceedings took place in Council:

This being the first sitting of the Council since the Gov^r’s departure, the Lieu^t Gov^r proposed to have the opinion of the Council, whether it be necessary, that he be sworne to see to the observance of the Acts of Trade relating to the Plantations as the Act of the 12^th of King Charles the Second directs that all Governours of the Plantations be.

The Council Advised it as necessary, whereupon the L^t Gov^r was sworn to do his utmost to see to the observance thereof.206

On October 20, 1698, —

His Maj^ty’s Commission under the Great Seal of England appointing of sundry Gent: therein named, to administer unto the Governour or Commander in Chief of the Province of the Massachusetts, the Oath appointed by an Act of Parliament made in the seventh and eighth year of his present Maj^ty’s Reign, Entituled an Act for preventing Frauds and Regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, to be taken by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any English Colonies or Plantations, and the forme of the oath in s^d Commission contained were read, and the said oath accordingly administred unto the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq^re Lieut^t Gov^r, and the present Commander in Chief of the said Province of the Massachusetts Bay, at the Council Board, before Peter Sergeant, Elisha Hutchinson, John Phillips, Nathaniel Byfield, Benjamin Bullivant and Lawrence Hammond Esq^rs six of the Commissioners therein named.207

Stoughton was Acting Governor from December 4, 1694, to May 26, 1699.

The Earl of Bellomont was commissioned Governor by William III on June 18, 1697; but did not take office until May 26, 1699,208 on which day —

His Excellency the Earle of Bellomont arriving this day at Boston, his Majesty’s Royal Commission, constituting and appointing him Captain General and Governour in Chief of this his Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts Bay, was read and published.

And his Excellency tooke the Oaths appointed, by Act of Parliament made in the first yeare of the reign of his M^ty and the late Queen Mary, to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and made, repeated and subscribed the Declaration in said Act mentioned, and also tooke an Oath for the due and faithfull performance of his duty in the Office and place of Governour of the s^d Province; before the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq^r L^t Gov^r.

And then tooke the oath appointed by an Act of Parliament made in in the seventh and eighth year of his present Maj^ty’s reign entituled: An Act for preventing frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, to be taken by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any English Colonies or Plantations, Before Tho^s Danforth, James Russell, Elisha Cooke, Jonathan Corwin, Peter Sergeant and Lawrence Hammond Esq^rs six of the Commissioners appointed to administer the same by his Maj^ty’s Commission under the Great Seal of England.

His Excellency also subscribed the Association lately Established by Act of Parliament.209

On July 16, 1700, “His Excellency acquainted the Council of his purpose to embarque to morrow for his Government of the Prov^ce of New York;” and on July 17th, “His Excellency embarqued upon his Maj^ty’s Ship the Arundel and set saile therein towards his Government of the Province of New York.”210

Upon the departure of Bellomont, who never returned and died suddenly in New York on March 5, 1701,211 the government again devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Stoughton,212 who remained Acting Governor until his death on July 7, 1701.213

By the death of Stoughton, the government devolved, for the first time, upon the Council. The following proceedings took place in Council on July 10, 1701:

The Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq^re his Maj^ty’s Lieut^t Governour & Commander in Chief of this Province being lately deceased, and there being no person within this Province Commissionated by his Maj^ty to be Governour within the same.

Resolved and Ordered. That a Proclamation be forthwith emitted for the continuance of all Military Commission Officers until further Order.

And a Proclamation being accordingly drawn up was signed by the Members present at the Board and published.214

A Letter to the Right Hon^ble M^r Secretary Vernon to give notice of the death of the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq^re his Maj^ty’s Lieut^t Gov^r of this Province; and another letter of like import to the Right Hon^ble the Lords Commiss^rs of the Council for Trade and Plantations; being drawn up, were agreed to, and signed by all the members of the Council present at the Board.215

And on July 11th, —

For the more easy and ready dispatch of the affairs of the Government.

Resolved. That there be a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon every Wednesday in each week weekly, to meet at ten a clock in the morning, and that all the members of the Council now absent be notified of the said stated time for the Councils sitting, that so they may afford their presence there for his Maj^ty’s service accordingly without expecting further notice.216

That the Council felt uneasy in its assumption of power is sufficiently shown by a letter it wrote to Secretary Vernon on July 10th, and by an address sent to King William by the Council and House on August 7th. The letter is in part as follows:

R^T Hono^BLE

We lay hold of this first Conveyance to transmit to your Honour the sorrowful tidings of the death of the Hono^ble William Stoughton Esq^r his Ma^ties L^t Governo^r and Commander in Chief of this Province, who departed this Life on the Seventh instant in the Evening . . . . whereby the Affaires thereof [i. e. of the government] are embarrassed and cannot be managed without greater difficulty . . . . And in the meanwhile we shall Endeavour to observe his Ma^ties Commands and Directions in his Royal Charter for Administring of the Government.217

The address of August 7th, in which some of the language employed in the letter of July 10th is practically repeated, is in part as follows:

To the Kings most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Address of the Council and Representatives of your Maj^ties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England in General Court assembled.

Most Gracious & Dread Soveraign.

We crave leave in all humility to express the deep sorrow wherewith we are very sensibly affected under the awful dispensation of Divine Soveraignty towards us. First in the death of the truely Noble Earl of Bellomont your Ma^ties late Captain General and Governour in Chief of this yo^r Province and soon after in the death of the Hon^ble William Stoughton Esq^r your Maj^ties late L^t Governour and Commander in Chief of the same: Deploring our great unhappiness in being deprived of the conduct of two such Worthy persons — more especially at a time when the present conjuncture makes us stand in the greatest need of all that wisdom skill and prudence for directing the Affairs of the Government which we had large experience of in them.

Our Trust under God is nextly on your Ma^tys Grace towards us. Hopeing That the same Royal Goodness which inclined yo^r sacred Majesty to be favourable to your good subjects here in the appointing of persons so worthy and desirable to the chief places of Government over us will still dispose your Majesty to have the like Princely care of and Regard to us.218

The government was administered by the Council from July 10, 1701, until the arrival of Governor Dudley on June 11, 1702.219

Joseph Dudley was commissioned Governor by William III on February 13, 1702;220 but this Commission becoming void on the death of the King on March 8th following, he was again commissioned by Anne on April 1, 1702. He reached Boston June 11th, on which day the following proceedings took place in Council:

The Gentlemen of the Council receiving Intelligence this morning by an Express from Marblehead of his Excell^cies arrival there yester evening in his Maj^ty’s Ship the Centurion. And the said Ship being now in sight in her way from thence towards this place; Samuel Sewall, El^m Hutchinson & Nath^l Byfield Esq^rs with the Secretary were desired, and directed forthwith to repair on board her, In the name of the Council to congratulate his Escell^cys happy arrival, & to wait upon him to Town — And the said Gentlemen accordingly attended that service.

The said Ship anchoring about noon in Nantasket Road, his Excell^cy and the Hon^ble the Lieut^t Gov^r soon after left her, being saluted at their coming off with the discharge of several Canon on board said Ship, and in their passage up to Town by her Maj^ty’s Castle, were again saluted from thence by the discharge of the Canon there, as also by her Maj^ty’s Ship and Merchant Ships in the Port as they passed by them, and by the Forts in the Town.

Upon the landing of his Excellency & the Lieut^t Gov^r they were received and attended by her Maj^ty’s Council, the Representatives, Ministers, Justices and other Gentlemen, with the Troop of Guards and Regiment of Militia in Armes, from the water side to the Council Chamber; from whence his Excellency, the Council and Representatives removed into the Court Chamber, and being there seated in their places the doors set open and the Gentⁿ and other the Company admitted in. Proclamation was made to command silence, and her Maj^ty’s Royal Commission or Letters Patent, Dated at Westminster the first day of April, in the first year of her Maj^ty’s reign, constituting his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq^re to be her Majesty’s Captⁿ General and Governour in Chief in and over her Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, as also Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Militia & of all the Forces by Sea and Land within the Colonys of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation and the Narraganset Countrey or Kings Province and of all Forts and places of strength within the same, was read and published.

Then his Excell^cy tooke the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament passed in the first year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance & Supremacy, unto her present Maj^ty Queen Anne, and repeated & subscribed the Declaration appointed by the same Act. Also tooke an oath for the due & faithful performance of his duty in the Office and place of Gov^r of the s^d Province, and the oath by an Act of Parliament made in the seventh and eighth year of the Reign of King William the Third Intituled An act for preventing Frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, appointed to be taken by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any English Colony or Plantations.

His Excell^cy’s Commission221 of Vice Admiral, granted by the Right Hon^ble Thomas Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Lord high Admiral of England and Ireland, under the great Seal of the Hight Court of Admiralty of England bearing date the twenty sixth day of February 1701. was also shewn forth and published . . . .

His Excellency further proposed, that her Majesty’s Letters Patent to himselfe as Governour, and his Commissⁿ for vice Admiral and the Hon^ble the Lieut^t Gov^rs Commission might be made of Record.

Which the Council advised accordingly.222

Early in 1715 a controversy took place between Governor Dudley and the Council as to who should administer the government.223 When Anne ascended the throne in 1702, a commission became void upon the demise of the Crown. In 1705 the British Parliament passed “An Act for the better Security of her Majesty’s Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of England in the Protestant Line” (4 Anne, Chapter VIII). This provided —

VIII . . . . nor shall any Office, Place or Imployment, civil or military, within the Kingdoms of England or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, or any of her Majesty’s Plantations, become void, by Reason of the Demise or Death of her present Majesty, her Heirs or Successors, Queens or Kings of this Realm; but . . . every other Person and Persons in any of the Offices, Places and Imployments aforesaid, shall continue in their respective Offices, Places and Imployments, for the Space of six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner removed and discharged by the next in Succession, as aforesaid.224

In 1707 another Act (6 Anne, Chapter VII) of a like tenor was passed.225 Anne died August 1, 1714; the news of her death reached Boston September 15;226 and George I was proclaimed in Boston September 22.227 On November 22 George I issued “A Proclamation Declaring His Majesties Pleasure for Continuing the Officers in His Majesties Plantations, till his Majesties Pleasure shall be further Declared;”228 but this proclamation did not reach Boston until March 19, 1715.229 Meanwhile, however, the six months specified in the Act of 6 Anne Chapter VII had expired on February 1, 1715. The following proceedings took place in Council on February 3:

Whereas upon the first of this instant, the following message was sent to His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq^r by Samuel Sewall Joseph Lynde Addington Davenport & Thomas Hutchinson Esq^rs of His Majestys Council, from the Members of the Council then present: which were twelve in number being so many as could be at that time assembled the s^d message being in these words. That is to say.

May it please your Excell^cy

Whereas the six months given by the Parliament of Great Britain for continu^g persons in their civil & military offices do expire this day; these are humbly to inquire whither your Excell^cy has received orders from our Sovereign Lord King George enabling you to sustain the place of Govern^r of this Province longer

To which his Excellency was pleased to answer, I have received no orders

Which Message with the answer being now communicated to the Council, & debated & consider^d the Question was then put, Whither the Government be devolved on His Majestys Council, according to the Powers granted in the Charter

Which was voted in the affirmative

Whereupon Elisha Hutchinson E^m Hutchinson Penn Townsend & Isaac Winslow Esq^rs were im̄ediately sent to wait upon His Excellency & acquaint him therew^th

The Council adjourned unto tomorrow at nine in the morning.230

On February 4 —

Pursuant to a Vote pass’d yesterday That the Governm^t is devolved on His Majestys Council according to the powers granted by the Charter

A Proclamation was drawn up in the following words, That is to say.

By the Honourable the Council of His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England

A Proclamation

Whereas in the Royall Charter granted by King William & Queen Mary for incorporating their subjects of the Colonies enumerated in the s^d Charter into one real Province of the name of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, provision is made for the devolution of the Governm^t upon the Council in these words, That is to say. And we do by these presents for us our heirs & successors constitute and ordain that when & as often as the Gov^r and Lieut^t or Deputy Governour of our s^d Province or Territory, for the time being shall happen to dye or be displaced by us, our heirs or successors or be absent from our s^d Province & that there shall be no person within the s^d Province commissionated by us our heirs or successors to be Governour within the same, Then & in every of the s^d cases, the Council or Assistants of our s^d Province shall have full Power and Authority; & we do hereby give & grant unto the said Council or Assistants of our s^d Province for the time being or the major part of them, full power and authority to do & execute all and every such Acts Matters & things which the s^d governour or Lieutenant or Deputy Governour of our s^d Province or Territory for the time being might or could lawfully do or exercise if they or either of them were personally present until the return of the Governour or Lieut^t or Deputy Governour so absent, or arrival or constitution of such other Governour or lieut^t or deputy Governour as shall & may be appointed by us our heirs & successors from time to time.

And Whereas the six months from the demise of Her late Majesty Queen Anne limited by the Parliament of Great Britain, for continuing civil & military officers in their respective offices places & imployments, expired the first day of this instant February. And Whereas by reason that there is no person within the s^d Province com̄issionat^d by our Soveraign Lord King George, to be Governor within the same; the Government is now devolved upon the Council, & they are obliged to undertake the administration thereof in obedience to the constitution of the s^d Charter, & for the welfare & safety of His Majestys subjects within this Province until His Majestys further pleasure be known.

Pursuant therefore unto the power & authority to us granted as aforesaid We have thought fit & necessary to issue & publish this Proclamation & We do in His Majestys name require all officers civil & military within this Province, that have qualified themselves by taking the Oaths appointed in & by the aforesaid Act of Parliament, to attend the duty, & use & exercise the powers & authorities to their respective offices places & employments belonging

Until further order, And all His Majestys loving subjects are required in His Matys behalfe to be aiding helping & assisting at the commandment of the s^d officers in the discharge of the duty of their respective places & employments, as they & every of them tender His Majest^ys displeasure and will answer their neglect at their peril

Given at the Council Chamber in Boston the fourth day of February in the first year of the reign of our Soveraign Lord George, by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith &^ca annoque Domini 1714

W^m Tailer		Elisha Hutchinson
Edward Bromfield		Samll Sewa^ƚƚ
Sam^ƚƚ Appleton		Joseph Lynde
Benj^a Lynde		E^m Hutchinson
John Clarke	Esq^rs	Penn Townsend	Esq^rs
A Davenport		John Appleton
Isaac Winslow		John Higginson
Tho^s Hutchinson		Andrew Belcher
Wait Winthrop

By order of the Council

Isaac Addington Sec͞r͞y

God save the King231

Wait Winthrop Esq^r took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Declaration, & took the oath of Abjuration & then administered the same to the rest of the Councellours present at the Board

After which at the motion of the Secretary upon the question put, The Council declared their opinion that the Secretarys Commission remained in force, having been so accepted during all the last reign & ordered him to countersign the Proclamatⁿ and the s^d Proclamation was then published by beat of Drum sent to the Press & ordered to be dispersed into the several parts

An Oath being digested of the Tenour following was taken by all the Members present this day at the Board absent then only Andrew Belcher Esq^r That is to say.

Whereas for the present untill His Majestys pleasure be further known by the devolution of the Government according to the Royall Charter, full power & authority is granted to the Council of this His Majestys Province to do & execute all & every such Acts Matters & things which the Governour of this Province for the time being might or could lawfully do or execute, if he were personally present

You swear that you will well and truly discharge that trust accordingly, to the utmost of your power

So help you God232

The King’s proclamation of November 22, 1714, having, as already stated,233 reached Boston on March 19, 1715, on March 21—

His Excellency communicated to the Council a Proclamation by the King for continuing of all officers Civil & Military in being at the time of the demise of the late Queen, in their respective offices places & imployments till further order which was first read in the Council Chamber a great number of the principle Gentlemen of the Country being present and then His Excellency the Governour, the Lieutenant Governour & Council removing into the Balcony of the Council Chamber the same was again read there the Governours Guard & three other Troops of Horse of Suffolk & Middlesex & a great concourse of people attending immediately after ending the Proclamation the People gave three Huzzas, the Troops discharged three volleys & the Cannon at His Majesty’s Castle William, at the Town Batterie & on board His Matys Ships Pheenix were also discharged234

The government, thus reassumed by Dudley, was retained by him until November 9, 1715, though not without a challenge from Lieutenant-Governor Tailer, as will presently be seen.

Elizeus Burges was commissioned Governor by George I on March 17, 1715.235 The news of his appointment reached Boston April 21.236 On April 28 a new Commission was issued to Tailer as Lieutenant-Governor. On June 29 Burges wrote to the Council a letter in which he said:

The K. has done me the Honor to make me his Governour of the Provinces of the Massachusets Bay, and N-Hampshire in N. England, and I think I can̄ot find a fitter opportunity than this to acquaints you with His Maj’s Goodness to me . . . . I propose to leave this place the latter end of the next Moneth, and hope to be with you before the end of September. While I continue here, I will do all I can for your Service; and when I have the Honor to see you at Boston, I will give you all the Assurances you your selves can desire, that I have nothing so much at heart, as the Good of the people, and the Glory of GOD.237

On September 6 Burges wrote a second letter, saying:

I had the Honor to write to you by Mr. Secretary Woodward, and told you then that I had hopes of seeing you at Boston before the end of this Moneth; but since my Affairs in this Country are like to keep me here most part of the Winter, and I am not to be so happy so soon as I expected, It is fit I should let you know it; and beg you will send me your Commands, that I may not be altogether useless to you, though I’m from you; but may do you all the Service I can here, as an Earnest of what I intend when I have the honor to be among you. I have sent you over an Exemplification of my Commission, by which you will see that Col. Dudley’s Commission is vacated, and that the Government does necessarily devolve upon Colonel Tailer during my absence. Thus I understand it; but leave it to your greater Wisdom to determin that matter, as you shall see fitting, and think most for His Majesties Honor, and the Interest of your Country.238

On September 22 Samuel Woodward, the new Secretary, reached Boston,239 bringing with him Burges’s letter of June 29, his own Commission as Secretary, and the Commission of Tailer as Lieutenant-Governor. On September 24 —

Upon reading His Majestys Com̄ission to Lieut^t Governour Tailer dated the 28^th day of April 1715 put to the Question, Whither the Council are of opinion that the Governm^t of this Province be thereby devolved upon him, the Commission and Instructions given by His Majesty to His Excellency Col° Burges being not here nor any copy thereof yet arrived in this Province by which the Government is to be administered

Pass’d in the Negative unanimously.240

On November 9 Nathaniel Byfield, who had been in England, reached Boston,241 bringing with him the Exemplification of Burges’s Commission which Burges, in his letter of September 6, said had been sent. Thereupon, the same day, —

An Exemplification242 of His Majestys most gracious Letters Patents constituting & appointing Elizeus Burges Esq^r Captⁿ General & Governour in chief in & over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England being presented was ordered to be forthwith read & published which was done accordingly

And the Hon^ble William Tailer Esq^r his Commission as Lieut^t Gov^r was again read & publish’d and he took the oath referring to the Colonies and Plantations as directed by Act of Parliament he having taken all the other oaths at the former publication of his Commission & the Councellors present were all duly sworn &

Advised & consented That a Proclamatⁿ for continuing all officers civil & military in their respective offices till further order should be forthw^th printed & published which was signed in Council accordingly.243

Thus the purpose of sending over the Exemplification of Burges’s Commission was accomplished, and Dudley’s long term of office came to an end.

Lieutenant-Governor Tailer was acting Governor from November 9, 1715, to October 5, 1716.

In spite of repeated rumors244 of his being about to sail, Colonel Burges resigned his Commission and never came to this country.

Samuel Shute was commissioned Governor by George I on June 15, 1716.245 He reached Boston Harbor October 4,246 and was sworn October 5. As the Council Records from September 11, 1716, to September 5, 1717, both included, are not extant,247 the following account of the proceedings is taken from the Boston News Letter of October 8, 1716:

Boston, ON Thursday last in the Evening (to the very great Joy and Satisfaction of all His Majesty’s Good Subjects here) Arrived His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Esq; Captain General and Governour in Chief, in and over His Majesties Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire in New-England, &c. on Board the Lusitania, and was first met and welcomed by the Honourable William Dummer, Esq; with other Gentlemen in Company, and quickly afterwards waited on by the Representatives of the Town of Boston, and several other Gentlemen: but it being late at Night, and the Ship at some distance from the Town, His Excellency was pleas’d to defer his Landing till the next Morning; proving a pleasant fair Day, when His Excellency was early attended by a Committee of the General Assembly, consisting of several Members of His Majesties Council, and the House of Representatives, with several other Gentlemen & Officers. About Nine a Clock His Excellency in coming up to Town was first Saluted by His Majesties Castle William, and afterwards by His Majesty’s Ship of War the Rose, the Batteries of the Town, the Ships and Vessels in the Harbour, by the Discharge of a great Number of Guns, and their Enseigns displayed. About Ten of the Clock His Excellency Landed at the End of the Pier or Wharff at King-Street, where the Hon. Col. William Tailer, Esq; the late Lieutenant Governour, &c. with a Number of His Majesty’s Council, Justices of the Peace, and other Gentlemen and Merchants, received His Excellency, and attended him thro’ a great Concourse of People, up to the End of King-Street, where His Excellency was received and Saluted by his own Troop of Guards, and after that by the Regiment of the Town, under their Arms, and at the Town-House Stairs the Honourable the late Governour Dudley, being attended by the President248 of Harvard-Colledge in Cambridge, with the Ministers of the Town of Boston, and the Neighbouring Towns, Congratulated His Excellency’s safe Arrival, and accompanied him up to the Council-Chamber, where His Majesty’s Royal Commission to His Excellency for the Government of this Province, (As also a Commission to the Honourable William Dummer Esq; for Lieut. Governour) was Published and Solemnized with great Acclamations of Joy, and the Regiments Discharge of Three Volleys. Upon this happy Occasion, there came in also a Troop of Horse, and Five Companies of Foot, belonging to the South Regiment of Suffolk, and a greater Number had attended, but that His Excellency was pleased to signify his Pleasure against it. Between One and Two a Clock His Excellency was Publickly Entertained at Dinner, in Company with His Majesty’s Council, with the Speaker249 and many of the House of Representatives, and a great Number of other Gentlemen, Officers, &c. The Joy and Satisfaction of His Majesty’s good People of this Country was so much the greater upon this Occasion, because of some Fears we had been under; a Ship being Arrived Ten Days ago from London, that came out Sixteen Days after His Excellency: Besides some Advice from the Eastward of Wrecks upon the Coast. Soon after the Publishing His Excellency’s Commission, a Proclamation as usual, was Issued for the Continuation of all Officers both Civil and Military, till further Order. His Excellency was pleased to take his Lodgings at Mr. Dudley’s till the Province House could be fitted for his Reception, which will be in a few Days (p. 2/1).

Late in 1722 Shute determined to go to England. The following proceedings took place in the House on December 28:

A Message by Samuel Sewall, Penn Townsend, and Addington Davenport Esqrs; viz. His Honour the Lieut. Governour having by his Excellency’s direction acquainted the Board, That His Excellency the Governour is Embarked on board His Majesty’s Ship Sea-Horse Capt. Durell Commander at Nantasket, and designs to return early in the Fall. And the Board thinking it a Matter of Importance, have sent to inform the Honourable House thereof.250

Post Meridiem.

Ordered, That Mr. Remington, Mr. Fullam, and Mr. Dudley go up to the Board, and Desire of His Honour the Lieut Governour, that if he has any Advice from His Excellency, of his intended Voyage, he would be pleased to communicate it to the House.

A Message by Mr. Secretary, His Honour the Lieut. Governour has ordered me to acquaint this Honourable House, That he has no farther Advice of His Excellency’s intended Voyage, than that he is embarked on Board His Majesty’s Ship Sea-Horse, and that he designs, if GOD please, to return early in the Fall.251

The House being Informed this Morning in a Message by Samuel Sewall, Penn Townsend and Addington Davenport, Esqrs; That His Honour the Lieut. Governour having by His Excellency’s Direction acquainted the Board, that His Excellency the Governour is embarked on Board His Majesty’s Ship Sea-Horse, Capt. Durell Commander at Nantasket, and designs to return early in the Fall. And the Board thinking it a matter of Importance, sent to inform the Honourable House thereof. Which is a very great surprize, and gives this House just ground to suppose, That upon His Excellency’s Arrival at the Court of Great-Britain, (if bound there) he may endeavour to Charge this House in attempting to encroach upon the Royal Prerogative, or coming into some things they had not a Right to, by their present happy Constitution. Therefore,

Resolved, That Mr. Cooke, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Wainwright, be a Committee forthwith to prepare and lay before this House, what they think proper in this critical Juncture for the House to do, in their Just and necessary Vindication at the Court at Home.252

The following notice appeared in the Boston Gazette of December 31:

His Excellency our Governour having been pleased to Communicate to the Honourable Lieutenant Governour, His Majesty’s Leave of Absence, and delivered over to him all His Majesty’s Royal Instructions for the management of the Government agreeable to the Royal Charter, and wrote the Lieutenant Governour a Letter to be Communicated to His Majesty’s Council; His Excellency imbark’d On Thursday last on board His Majesty’s Ship Sea-horse at Nantascot in order to pass by way of the West Indies to Great Britain, but the Weather not inviting to Sail, the Owners of the Ship Ann, Capt. Finch Master (bound for Great Britain) got the said Ship ready with all possible dispatch, and ordering her yesterday from this Harbour to Nantascot, waited on His Excellency and prayed Him to take his passage on board her, which His Excellency kindly accepted, and Sails the first Wind, designing (by GOD’s permission) to return to Us Early the next Fall (p. 2/2).253

On the Departure of Governor Shute on January 1, 1723,254 the government devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Dummer; and on January 2 —

His Honour William Dummer Esq^r L^t Gov^r having the Government devolved upon him by the Absence of His Excellency Samuel Shute Esq^r Was Sworn to a faithfull discharge of his office of Lieu^t Gov^r & Command^r in Cheif of this his Majesties Province, and likewise took an Oath, that he would do the Utmost in his Power, That all & every the Clauses Matters & things, Contained, in an Act pass’d the Twelfth Year of King Charles the Second Entituled an Act, for the Encouraging & Increasing Shipping and Navigation, & in all other Acts since made & now in force, Relating to this Colony or Plantation, & more particularly in an Act made & pass’d in the Seventh & Eighth Year of King William the third, Entituled An Act for preventing Frauds and Regulating Abuses in the Plantation trade be punctually & Bona fide Observed according to the true Intent & Meaning thereof.255

Lieutenant-Governor Dummer was Acting Governor from January 2, 1723, to July 19, 1728;256 for, in spite of frequent rumors257 of his intended return, Shute never came back.

William Burnet was commissioned Governor by George II on March 7, 1728. He reached Boston July 19 and was sworn the same day:

This Day his Excellency William Burnet Esq^r arrived at Boston, . . . And His Excellency being come to the council Chamber the Doors were set open And Proclamation was made that all Persons keep silence whilst His Majesty’s Commission is in reading. And then the Attorney General with an audible voice and258 His Majestys Commission or Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster the seventh day of March in the first year of His Majestys Reign constituting & appointing His Exc^y William Burnet Esq^r Captⁿ Gen^l & Governour in Cheif in and over His Majestys Province of y^e Massachusetts Bay, after which the Secretary in y^e presence of y^e Lieut. Governour administered to His Excell^cy the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy & he repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration contained in the said Act, together with y^e Oath of Abjuration as also an oath for the true and faithful discharge of his s^d Office of Captain General &c.259

On August 12, 1728, —

This Day His Majestys Commission bearing date the 14^th day of March in the first year of His Majestys Reign, appointing His Excellency W^m Burnet Esq^r Vice Admiral of y^e Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay & New Hampshire & y^e Colony of Rhode Island was published in Council the Doors being opened.

And the Secretary directed to record it.260

Burnet was Governor from July 19, 1728, to his death on September 7, 1729,261 when the government again devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Dummer. On September 10 the following proceedings took place in Council:

The Government of this Province being by the death of His Excellency William Burnet Esq^r late Governour deceas^d devolved upon the Hon^ble William Dummer Esq^r Lieut^t Governour, as Commander in Chief, His Honor did this day before His Majestys Council, take the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated and subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act contained together with the Oath of Abjuration & took an Oath for the faithful discharge of his office of Lieut^t Governor & Commander in Chief of this Province — His Honour likewise took an Oath that he would do the utmost in his power, that all and every the clauses matters & things contain^d in an Act of Parliam^t passed in the twelfth year of the Reign of King Charles the second, entituled, “An Act for the encouraging & encreasing of Shipping & Navigation & in all other Acts since made & now in force relating to this Colony or Plantation more particularly in an act made & passed in y^e seventh and eighth years of the Reign of King William the third Entituled an Act for preventing of Frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, be punctualling262 & Bona Fide observed according to the true intent & meaning thereof.263

Dummer remained Acting Governor from September 10, 1729, to June 11, 1730, when he was superseded by Lieutenant-Governor Tailer, who was sworn June 11, 1730:

The Hon^ble W^m Tailer Esq^r having received His Majestys Commission bearing date at St. James’s the fifteenth day of April 1730, appointing him Lieut^t Governor of this His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in the room of the Hon^ble W^m Dummer Esq^r Which being laid before the Members of His Majestys Council, they together with y^e Gentlemen that had been of the Council, His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, the officers of y^e Militia & other Officers & Gentlemen attended His Honour from the House of Col° Nathan^l Byfield to the Council Chamber, And the door being set open and Proclamation made that all Persons keep silence, His Majestys s^d Com̄issⁿ was publickly read; And the s^d Will^m Tailer Esq^r in the presence of His Majestys Council took y^e oaths appointed by act of Parliam^t to be taken instead of the oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, Repeated & Subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act, together with the Oath of Abjuration and took an Oath for the faithful discharge of the said Office of Lieutenant Governour.

His Honour likewise took an oath that he would do the utmost in his power, that all and every the clauses matters & things contained in an Act of Parliam^t pass^d in the twelfth year of the reign of King Charles the second, entituled An Act for encouraging & increasing shipping & navigation & in all Acts since made & now in force relating to this Colony or Plantation, more particularly in an Act made and pass’d in the seventh & eighth years of King William the third entituled, An Act for preventing of Frauds & regulating of Abuses in y^e Plantation Trade be punctually and bone fide observed according to the true intent and mean^g thereof.264

Tailer was Acting Governor from June 11 to August 10, 1730.

Jonathan Belcher was commissioned Governor by George II on January 28, 1730. He reached Boston Harbor August 8,265 and on August 10 the following proceedings took place in Council:

The Signal being given at the Castle on Saturday Evening last that His Excellency Jon^a Belcher Esq^r was arrived at the entrance of Boston Harbour, divers Gentlemen . . . waited on him on Board . . . the Blanford, and this morning . . . attended His Excellency on board . . . said ship . . .

His Excellency with the other Gentlemen being entered the Council Chamber & the Doors set open, Proclamation was made that all Persons keep silence while His Majestys Commissions are in reading.

And then the Secretary with an audible voice read His Majestys Commission or Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the 1730 appointing His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq^r Captain Gen^l & Gov^r in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay, as also His Majestys Commission dated in London the 1730, appointing His said Excellency Vice Admiral of the s^d Province of the Massachusetts Bay & New Hampshire.

His Excellency thereupon took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act together with the Oath of Abjuration, & took an Oath for the true and faithfull discharge of his said Office of Captⁿ General and Gov^r in Chief of the s^d Province of the Massachusetts Bay.

His Excellency likewise took an oath that he would do the utmost in his power that all & every the clauses matters & things contained in an Act of Parliam^t pass’d in the twelfth year of King Charles the second, entituled an Act for encouraging and increasing shipping & navigation & in all other Acts since made and now in force relating to this Colony or Plantation, more particularly in an act made and passed in the seventh & eighth years of the reign of King William the third entituled An Act for prevent^g of frauds & regulating of abuses in the Plantation Trade be punctually & Bonâ Fide observed accordg. to the true intent & meaning thereof. which Oaths were taken in the presence of y^e Hon^ble y^e Lieutt Govr & Council.266

Belcher was Governor from August 10, 1730, to August 14, 1741.

William Shirley was commissioned Governor by George II on May 25, 1741. The following extract is taken from the Boston News Letter of August 13:

This Morning Capt. Tyng, in our Province Snow, return’d hither from a Cruize; Yesterday Evening he came up with the Mast-Ship, Capt. Noble, off of Boon-Island, bound in to Piscataqua: The said Ship having on board His Majesty’s Royal Commission constituting and appointing the Hon. William Shirley, Esq; Captain General and Governour in and over this Province, the said Commission was put on board Capt. Tyng, by whom it was brought hither. And we hear it will be publickly open’d to-morrow, when the Militia of this Town are to be under Arms: And Preparations are making for celebrating the Day in a loyal manner, suitable to the high Occasion (p. 2/2).

On August 14 the following proceedings took place in Council:

Memorandum — Upon Thursday the thirteenth of August 1741, His Majestys Com̄ission appointing William Shirley Esq^r Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay being arrived from Great Britain, And

Fryday the 14^th of said month being appointed for the Publication thereof — About eleven aclock in the Fore Noon, he was attended at his own house in Boston by the Members of both Houses of Assembly, His Majestys Justices and a number of other Officers and gentlemen, and with them he went a foot towards the Court House, the Town Regiment of Militia and the Troop of Guards being drawn up between the Province House and the Court House, And as he passed by the Gate to the Province House, His Excell^cy Jon^a Belcher Esq^r & the Hon^ble Spencer Phips Esq^r the Lieut^t Governor joined him, and they walked together, attended by the Members of both Houses, Officers and Gentlemen, as above mentioned, to the Court House, the Regiment and Troop of Guards saluting the new appointed Governor as he pass’d, and being entered into the Council Chamber,

At a Council there held upon Fryday the 14^th of August 1741.

Present

His Excell^cy Jon^a Belcher Esq^r Gov^r

The Hon^ble Spencer Phips Esq^r Lt. Gov^r

The Doors were set open; And Proclamatⁿ was made that all Persons keep silence while His Majestys Commission is in Reading;

And then the Secretary with an audible voice, read His Majestys Commission or Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster the 25^th day of May 1741. appointing His Excell^cy William Shirley Esq^r Captain General and Gov^r in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay.

Present in Council.

His Excell^cy William Shirley Esq^r Governor

The Hon^ble the Lieut^t Gov^r

His Excell^cys Commission being read as above mentioned, he took the Oaths appointed to be taken by an act pass’d in the first year of His late Majestys Reign, entituled an Act for y^e further Security of His Majestys Person and Government & the succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants, and for extinguish^g the Hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales & his open and secret Abettors; And he also made & subscribed the Declaration mentioned in an Act of Parliament made in y^e year of the Reign of King Charles the Second, entitled An Act for preventing dangers wh^ch may happen from Popish Recusants; and likewise took an Oath for the due execution of the Office and trust of His Majestys Captain General & Governor in Chief in and over the said Province, as well with regard to the due administration of Justice as otherwise, And His Excell^cy likewise took an oath that he would do y^e utmost in his Power that all and every the clauses, matt^rs, and things contained in an act of Parliam^t passed in the twelfth year of the Reign of King Charles y^e Second, entitled An Act for encouraging & increasing shipping and Navigation & in all other Acts since made and now in force relating to this Colony or Plantation, more particularly in an Act made and pass’d in the seventh and eighth years of the Reign of King William y^e Third, entitled An Act for preventing of Frauds and regulating of abuses in the Plantation Trade, be punctually and Bonâ Fide observed, according to the true intent and meaning thereof; Which Oaths were taken in the Presence of the Hon^ble the Lieut^t Governor and Council.

And then His Excell^cy with the Advice of y^e Council issued a Proclamation for the continuance of all Officers Civil and Military in the exercise of their respective Offices until further Order.

Which Proclamation was published out of the Balcony of the Council Chamber, & was followed with the discharge of the Cannon at the Castles, Batteries and Ships, & Volleys from the Regiment & Troop of Guards under arms:

After which His Escell^cy dined in Publick w^th the late Governor, Lieut^t Gov^r and Council, and the other Officers and Gentlemen, An Entertainm^t having been provided by order of the Governm^t267

Upon the departure of Governor Shirley for England on September 11, 1749, the government devolved on Lieutenant-Governor Spencer Phips; and on September 15 —

His Excellency William Shirley Esq^r Captain General & Governour in Chief of his268 Province, having on Monday last Embarked for Great Britain, & the Administration of the Government thereupon devolving upon the Hon^ble Spencer Phips Esq^r as Lieuten^t Governour & Commander in Chief in the Governour’s Absence.

His Honour this Day in the presence of his Majesty’s Council, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliam^t to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act contain’d, together with the Oath of Abjuration, & took an Oath for the faithful Discharge of his Office of Lieuten^t Governour & Commander in Chief of this Province, And also took an Oath that he would do the utmost in his Power, that all & every the Clauses, Matters & Things contained in Act of Parliament pass’d in the twelfth Year of the Reign of King Charles the second, entitled an Act for the encouraging & increasing Shipping & Navigation, & in all others Acts since made & now in Force relating to the Colony & Plantation, & more particularly, An Act pass’d in the seventh & eighth Year of the Reign of King William the Third, entitled an Act for preventing Frauds & regulating Abuses in the Plantations, be punctually & bonâ Fide observed, according to the true Intent & Meaning thereof.269

Phips was Acting Governor from September 15, 1749, to August 7, 1753, when Governor Shirley returned.270 Having been recalled to England, Shirley left Boston on September 25, 1756, and never came back as Governor. The following extract is taken from the Boston Gazette of September 27, 1756:

Last Saturday at 12 o’Clock, his Excellency William Shirley, Esq; went from the Council Chamber to the End of the Long Wharfe, where the Castle Barge was waiting to receive him — His Excellency preceeded by the Company of Cadets, and the Officers of the Militia, and followed by such of the Gentlemen of the Council and House as were then in Town, together with a Number of Gentlemen of Distinction — After receiving the Compliments of the Company, the Barge put off from the Wharfe, when He was saluted by a Discharge of the Guns of the several Batteries in this Town and Charlestown, and with the Castle Guns as he past by it; and in a short Time the Barge was along Side of the Mermaid Man of War, in which His Excellency embarks for England. A fair Wind offer’d for her Sailing Yesterday, but we cannot yet presume to determine when she will Sail, having been so often out in Times past on that Head (p. 2/1).271

Once more the government devolved on Lieutenant-Governor Phips, who remained Acting Governor from September 25, 1756, to his death on April 4, 1757.272

By the death of Phips the government, for the third and last time in the history of the Province, devolved upon the Council. On April 5 the Council took the following action:

Whereas it hath pleased God in his holy Providence to remove the Honourable Spencer Phips Esq^r late Lieutenant Governour and Commander in chief of this Province, by Death, & thereupon the Administration of this Government is devolved on his Majesty’s Council in virtue of the Royal Charter —

The Council issued a Proclamation for establishing all Military Officers in their posts until further Order.273

The proclamation thus issued was as follows, copied from the Boston Evening Post of April 11, 1757 (p. 1/2):

Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.

By the Honourable

His Majesty’s Council for the Province aforesaid.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS it hath pleased GOD in his holy Providence to remove the Honourable SPENCER PHIPS, Esq; late Lieutenant Governour and Commander in Chief of said Province, by Death; and thereupon the administration of this Government is devolved on His Majesty’s Council in Virtue of the Royal Charter;

WE have therefore thought fit (in Council) to issue this Proclamation; hereby establishing all military Commissions heretofore issued by Lawful Authority, and which have at no Time since been revoked or superceded; and they are hereby established and confirmed to all Intents and Purposes, until further Order; and all Persons commissioned as aforesaid, and all others concern’d, are to govern themselves accordingly.

Given under our Hands at the Council-Chamber in Boston, the fifth Day of April 1757, in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD, of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

		Wm. Pepperrell
By Order of the Council,		J. Osborne
A. Oliver, Secr.	Tho. Hutchinson	Jacob Wendell
	Stephen Sewall	Benja. Lynde
	Joseph Pynchon	S. Danforth
	Isaac Royall	Sam. Watts
	Benja. Lincoln	John Hill
	John Erving	J. Chandler
	Rich. Cutt	James Minot
	Wm. Brattle.	John Otis
		A. Oliver

GOD Save the KING.

On April 8 the Council wrote the following letter:

Boston 8^th April 1757

May it Please Your Lordships

It is our duty to take the earliest opportunity to advise your Lordships of the Death of the Hon^ble Spencer Phips Esq^r Lieutenant Governour of the Province who died the 4 Instant

The Governour being at this time out of the Province, a greater share of the Government is now devolved on the Council. We are very sensible that his Majestys Service requires the utmost attention at this important Juncture; and we shall apply ourselves to discharge the duties of your Trust with an answerable Zeal and Diligence

We have the Honour to be with very great Respect

Your Lordships

Most obedient and most humble servants

John Chandler	Richard Cutt
Ezekiel Cheever	John Osborne
Andrew Oliver	Jacob Wendell
Joseph Pynchon	Benjamin Lynde
John Otis	John Cushing
Thomas Hutchinson	Daniel Russell
Stephen Sewall	Samuel Watts
Benjamin Lincoln	John Hill
John Erving

The Right Hon^ble the Lords Commissioners for Trade and the Plantations274

The Council administered the government from April 5 to August 3, 1757.

Thomas Pownall was commissioned Governor by George II on February 25, 1757. He reached Boston Harbor August 2,275 and came to Boston and was sworn on August 3:

This Day his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq^r Arrived in the province with his Majesty’s Royal Commission appointing him Captain General and Governour in chief of the said Province; And another Commission appointing him Vice Admiral of the same, which were duly published in the Council Chamber; After which his Excellency took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration, An Oath to do his utmost to Observe and cause to be Observed the several Acts of Parliament now in Force for regulating Trade in the plantations, and an Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Offices.276

Pownall was Governor from August 3, 1757, to June 3, 1760, on which day the following proceedings took place in the House:

THE Committee appointed to prepare a Resolve respecting the attending his Excellency, upon his Departure, Reported.

Resolve relative to his Excellency’s Departure, &c.

Read and accepted, and the following Resolve passed, viz.

Whereas the two Houses are informed that his Excellency Governor Pownall, designs this Day to embark for Great Britain:

Resolved, That as a Testimony of their Respect to his Excellency upon his Departure, they wait upon him from the Court-House to the End of the Long Wharffe, and take Leave of him there.

Resolved also, That the Gentlemen of both Houses wait upon his Honour the Lieutenant Governour, upon his Return to the Court House, in order to take the Chair of Government.

Sent up for Concurrence by Col. Clap, Col. Williams, Col. Jones, Mr. Stone, and Col. Waldo.277 . . .

Mr. Speaker278 and the House, agreable to the Resolve of this Morning, waited upon his Excellency Governor Pownall, to the End of the Long Wharffe and after Leave taken —

The House attend his Excellency Governor Pownall, &c.

Mr. Speaker and the House attended his Honour the Lieut. Governour to the Chair.

Who was pleased to make a SPEECH to both Houses: of which Mr. Speaker obtain’d a Copy: And then with the House returned to their own Chamber.

His Honour’s SPEECH to both Houses, is as follows, viz.

Gentlemen of the Council, and House of Representatives,

“HIS Excellency Governor Pownall, having embarked for Great-Britain, and the Administration being devolved upon me, by virtue of his Majesty’s Commission for Lieut. Governor, I shall endeavour to improve what Opportunity may be allowed me, in promoting his Majesty’s Service and the Interest of the Province:279 . . .

Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson was Acting Governor from June 3 to August 2, 1760.

Francis Bernard was commissioned Governor by George II on January 14, 1760; and was again commissioned Governor by George III on April 4, 1761.280 He reached Boston August 2, 1760, on which day he was sworn:

Province of the Massachusetts Bay Aug^t 2. 1760

His Excell^y Francis Bernard Esqȝ took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & Subscribed the Test or Declaration therein Contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and an Oath for the due Observance of the several Laws and Statutes now in force for the regulating Trade & navigation in America, likewise the Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Duty in the respective offices to which he is appointed. Which Oaths were administred by the Lieu^t Gov^r Before his Majesty’s Council and the House of Representatives

Attest A Oliver Sec^y281

Bernard was Governor from August 2, 1760,282 to August 1, 1769. The Boston Evening Post of August 7, 1769, said:

On Monday last His Excellency Governor Bernard left his Seat at Roxbury and went to Castle William. The next Morning about Nine o’Clock he embarked on board His Majesty’s Ship Rippon, then lying in King-Road. The Wind being fair the Ship came the283 sail, but soon after the Wind shifting to the East, she anchored again a Mile or two below her former Moorings, where she lay till Friday Morning, when she came to sail again and went out with a fair Wind (p. 3/1).284

With the departure of Governor Bernard, the government again devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson; and on August 2 —

His Excellency Sir Francis Bernard Bar^t Governor of this Province having embarked for Great Britain, His Honor the Lieutenant Governor came into the Council Chamber, and in the presence of the Council took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken, instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or Declaration therein contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration, as also an Oath that he would do his utmost that all clauses matters and things contained in the Acts of Parliament passed as well since as before the enacting of the Act of the 7^th and 8^th of William the Third and at this time in force, relating to the Colonies and Plantations, and that all and every the clauses contained in the said Act intitled “An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade” be punctually and bona fide observed, according to the true intent and meaning thereof: And that he would faithfully perform the duties of his Office of Commander in chief of said Province, according to the; best of his judgment and skill. After which His Honor took the chair.285

Hutchinson was Acting Governor from August 2, 1769, to March 14, 1771, when he became actual Governor.

Thomas Hutchinson was commissioned Governor by George III on November 28, 1770. On March 11, 1771, —

The Lieutenant Governor acquainted the Board that he had received His Majesty’s Commission, appointing him Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Province, and had received orders therwith to cause his Commission to be published in the usual form. That it had been usual on such occasions to have the Regiment of the Town of Boston in Arms, but that as the Streets are at this time full of Snow and water, he thinks it would be very inconvenient to assemble such a body of men, as their health must be much exposed by being so long on foot in the Streets at such a time. He therefore thought it would be sufficient to be attended only by the Troop of Guards and a Company made up of Non-Commissioned Officers of the Regiment, together with a Detachment of the Train of Artillery, which under the present circumstances, he apprehended might answer all the purposes of a Military appearance on this occasion: — Upon which the Board expressed their intire approbation of the proposal, and His Honor signified that he should give orders accordingly.

His Honor likewise proposed that instead of having a Publick Dinner on the day when the Commission should be opened, there should be the usual preparation made as when the King’s health is drank, in the Council Chamber, for entertaining the Company that may be then present. To which His Majesty’s Council did Advise and Consent. And further Advised, that Thursday next, be appointed for observing the Ceremony aforesaid.286

Accordingly, on March 14 Hutchinson was sworn:

Province of the Massachusetts Bay March 14. 1771.

His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson Esq^r having published his Comⁿ from his present Majesty to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Province of Mass^a Bay, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration; and an Oath that he would do his utmost that all the Clauses, matters and things contained in the Acts of Parliament passed as well since as before the enacting of the Act of the 7 and 8 of William the third and at this time in force relating to the Colonies & Plantations, and that all and every the Clauses contained in the said Act intituled “An Act for preventing frauds and regulating the abuses in the Plantation Trade” be punctually and bona fide observed according to the true intent and meaning thereof: and that he would faithfully perform the duties of the office of Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province aforesaid according to the best of his Judgment and skill;

Before us

S Danforth		Members of his
Jn° Erving		Majesty’s Council287
William Brattle

Hutchinson was Governor from March 14, 1771, to May 17, 1774.288

Thomas Gage was commissioned Governor by George III on April 7, 1774. He reached Boston May 13,289 and on May 14 —

His Excellency the Governor introduced the Council to General Gage, who arrived from England the preceding day, and acquainted them that His Majesty had been pleased to appoint him Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province, & that the General proposed to open his Commission as soon as might be. Whereupon they Advised that the Commission be published at the Council Chamber in Boston, on Tuesday the 17^th Instant, and that His Excellency the Governor order the Regiment of the Militia of the Town, the Company of Cadets, and the Troop of Horse Guards to appear in arms: — that a public dinner be provided and a list of the Company proposed to be invited to dine on this occasion, be prepared for his approbation: and the Councellors present were appointed a Committee to see that suitable provision be made accordingly.290

Accordingly, Gage was sworn on May 17:

Province of Massachusetts Bay Boston May 17^th 1774

His Excellency Thomas Gage Esq^r having published his Commission from his present Majesty, to be Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Province aforesaid, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and an Oath that he would do his utmost that all the clauses, matters and things contained in the Acts of Parliament passed as well since as before the enacting of the 7 & 8 of William the third and at this time in force relating to the Colonies and plantations, and that all and every the clauses contained in the said Act intitled “An Act for preventing frauds and regulating the abuses in the plantation Trade,” be punctually and bona fide observed according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And that he would faithfully perform the duties of his office of Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province aforesaid according to the best of his Judgment and skill

Before us

Samuel Danforth		Members of his Majesty’s Council291
John Erving
James Bowdoin

General Gage, the last Royal Governor, left Boston on October 10, 1775.292

Lieutenant-Governors

William Stoughton was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by William and Mary, doubtless late in 1691, though the exact date is not known. On May 16, 1692, —

His Maj^ties Commission, Constituting & appointing William Stoughton Esq^r to be their Maj^ties Lieutenant Governour of the Massachusetts Bay, and their Deputy Lieutenant of the Militia within their whole Territory and Dominion of New England in America, was read and published. . . .

William Stoughton Esq^re Lieut Gov^r tooke his Oath for the due and faithfull performance of his Office or place of Lieutenant or Deputy Governour & the Oaths appointed by said Act of Parliament made in the first year of their present Maj^ties Reign, to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy — Before his Excellency the Governour.293

Stoughton was Lieutenant-Governor from May 16, 1692, to his death on July 7, 1701.294 He was Acting Governor from December 4, 1694, to May 26, 1699; and again from July 22, 1700, to July 7, 1701.295

Thomas Povey296 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by Anne on April 11, 1702. He reached Boston June 11 and took office the same day:

Then Her Maj^ty’s Royal Commission of the eleventh of April past, constituting and appointing the Hon^ble Thomas Povey Esq^re Captⁿ in her Maj^ty’s own Regiment of Foot Guards to be Lieut^t Gov^r of the Province & Territoryes of the Massachusets Bay was read and published, and he tooke the Oaths afores^d appointed to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and Supremacy unto her present Maj^ty and repeated and subscribed the Declaratⁿ.297

His last appearance at the Council was on January 28, 1706, when —

His Ex^cy acquainting the Council, that his honour the L^t Gov^r had obtained leave to return into England. And that he designed to rake passage by the way of Lisboa, upon a ship at Piscataqua, near ready to saile thither.

Advised and Consented. That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer298 to pay the sum of twenty five pounds to the s^d Thomas Povey Esq^re for three Months service as Commander of her Maj^ty’s Castle William, commencing from the Thirty first of October last past to which time the Muster Rolls of that Garrison were last made up and pass’d.299

The exact date of Povey’s departure is not known, but it was doubtless within a few days after the announcement of his going away.300

William Tailer301 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by Anne in 1711, but the precise date is not known. He reached Boston October 3, and was sworn October 4th:

Her Majestys Commission constituting the Hon^ble William Tailer Esq^re Lieu^t Governor of this Province who arrived from Great Britain the last night was opened & read arid his Honor took the Oath appointed by the Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy repeated and subscribed the Declaration.302

Tailer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George I on April 28, 1715, and took the oaths on September 24th:

A Commission to William Tailer Esq^r from His Majesty King George, dated the 28^th of April for Lieut^t Gov^r & a Commission to Samuel Woodward Esq^r for Secretary of this Province were severally read at the Board.

The Hon^ble William Tailer Esq^r Lt. Gov^r and Samuel Woodward Esq^r Secretary severally took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration, took the Oath of Abjuration & an oath for the faithfull discharge of their respective offices.303

Upon reading this Commission, Tailer propounded to the Council whether it did not make him Acting Governor, but the Council unanimously decided in the negative.304 When, however, an Exemplification of Burges’s Commission as Governor reached Boston on November 9, Tailer’s Commission was again read in Council and he became Acting Governor.305

Tailer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on April 15, 1730, and took the oaths June 11.306

Tailer was Lieutenant-Governor from October 4, 1711, to October 5, 1716; and from June 11, 1730, to his death on March 1, 1732.307 He was Acting Governor from November 9, 1715, to October 5, 1716; and again from June 11 to August 10, 1730.308

William Dummer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George I in 1716, but the exact date is unknown.309 He was sworn October 5.310

Dummer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on October 17, 1727, and was sworn on May 19, 1728:

The Hon^ble W^m Dummer Esq^r having rec^d His Majestys Commission, bearing date y^e 17^th Oct^r 1727, continuing him Lieut^t Governour of this His Majestys Province of y^e Massachusetts Bay, y^e same was published at the Board, and then His Honour took the Oaths appointed by act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaratⁿ together with the Oath of Abjuration & took an oath for the true & faithfull discharge of his said Office, as also the usual oath to take due care that y^e sever^l Acts referring to Navigation be observed.311

Dummer was Lieutenant-Governor from October 5, 1716, to June 11, 1730. He was Acting Governor from January 2, 1723, to July 19, 1728; and again from September 10, 1729, to June 11, 1730.312

Spencer Phips313 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on April 29, 1732, and was sworn August 8:

The Hon^ble Spencer Phipps Esq^r having received his Majesty’s Commission bearing date at S^t James’s the twenty ninth day of April 1732 appointing him Lieutenant Governour of this Province in the room of the late Hon^ble William Taylor Dec^d his Excellency ordered the same to be this day published in Council. Which was done in the manner following.

The Drums beat and the Trumpets sounded about the Court House, and the Doors of the Council Chamber being set open, the Justices and Military Officers and other Gentlemen attended and the Commission was publicly read at the Board; and then His Honour took the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration and the Oath of abjuration, and took an oath for the faithfull discharge of his said Office of Lieut^t Governour.314

Phips was Lieutenant-Governor from August 8, 1732, to his death on April 4, 1757.315 He was Acting Governor from September 15, 1749, to August 7, 1753; and again from September 25, 1756, to April 4, 1757.316

Thomas Hutchinson was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on February 10, 1758, and was sworn on June 1st.317 The following extract is from the Boston Gazette of June 5th:

Thursday last, a Commission appointing the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson Esq; Lieutenant-Governour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, was publickly read at the Council-Chamber, before his Excellency the Governor, the Honourable his Majesty’s Council, and the Honourable House of Representatives.

As was also, at the same Time and Place, a Commission appointing the Hon. Andrew Oliver, Esq; Secretary of said Province (p. 3/1).

Hutchinson was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on March 13, 1761, and was sworn November 26:

Prov: of Mass^a Bay Nov^r 26: 1761

Thomas Hutchinson Esq^r appointed by his Majesty to be Lieutenant Governor, and Andrew Oliver Esq^r appointed to be Secretary of the Province aforesaid severally took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy repeated and Subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration and an Oath that they would respectively faithfully perform the Duties of the respective offices to which they are appointed as aforesaid according to the best of their Skill and Judgment.

before me

Fra Bernard318

Hutchinson was Lieutenant-Governor from June 1, 1758, to March 14, 1771. He was Acting Governor from June 3 to August 2, 1760; and again from August 2, 1769, to March 14, 1771.319

Andrew Oliver was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on October 19, 1770, and was sworn March 14, 1771:

Province of Mass^a Bay March 14. 1771

Andrew Oliver Esq^r appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province aforesaid, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and also an oath that he would faithfully perform the duties of the office aforesaid according to the best of his skill & Judgment

Before

T. Hutchinson320

Andrew Oliver was Lieutenant-Governor from March 14, 1771, to his death on March 3, 1774.321

Thomas Oliver was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on May 28, 1774.322 He was sworn August 8, as appears from the following extract taken from the Boston Evening Post of August 15 (p. 3/1):

Province of Massachusetts-Bay, Salem, August 8, 1774.

HIS Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Hon. Thomas Oliver, Esq; to be Lieutenant Governor of this Province; his Honor’s Commission was accordingly this Day published in the Council Chamber, and the several Oaths administred to him, by his Excellency the Governor.323 After which the following Gentlemen took the Oaths necessary to qualify themselves for a Seat in the Council, being appointed by Mandamus from his Majesty.

Hon. Thomas Oliver, Esq; Lieut. Governor.

Thomas Flucker, Esq;	William Brown, Esq;
Foster Hutchinson, Esq;	James Boutineau, Esq;
Harrison Gray, Esq;	Joshua Loring, Esq;
Joseph Lee, Esq;	William Pepperrell, Esq;
Isaac Winslow, Esq;	John Erving, jun. Esq;

Thomas Oliver was the last Royal Lieutenant-Governor, and retired to Halifax when the British fleet left Boston in March, 1776.324

Secretaries

In the Province Charter it was provided that “there shall be one Governour One Leivten^t or Deputy Governour and One Secretary of Our said Province or Territory to be from time to time appointed and Commissionated by Vs Our Heires and Successors,” and “Wee doe further by these presents Constitute and appoint Our Trusty and Welbeloved Isaac Addington Esquier to be Our first and present Secretary of Our said Province during Our Pleasure.”325 Of those three officials, Isaac Addington was the only one to be mentioned by name in the Charter. The facts that he was so named, that no copy of his Commission is extant, and that his Commission was not read when the Province government was inaugurated on May 16, 1692, have apparently given rise to the notion that no Commission was issued to him. It is obvious, however, that Addington must have received a commission from William and Mary; and if proof of this statement were needed, it is furnished by the following Instructions issued to him on December 11, 1691:

To the Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay for Quarterly Accounts

After Our hearty Commendations His Majesty having been Graciously pleased, by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to Grant unto you the Office and Place of Secretary of their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. These are in his Majesties name and by his Majesties Express Commands, to direct and require you and the Secretary of Their Majesties said Province for the time being, to send unto Us a particular Account of all things that shall pass or be Transacted within Your said Office of Secretary. And Coppies of all such Laws Acts of Governm^t and Publick Orders as shall be made from time to time, together with Copies of the Journals of y^e Councill and of all such papers as are or ought to be Entred and Register’d in your said Office, to the end We whom his Majesty hath appointed a Committee of his Privy Councill for Trade and Forreign Plantation, may be the better Enabled to perform the duty incumbent on Us, which Accounts and Copies are to be Transmitted by you unto Us Quarterly, or at such times in the Year as any Oppertunity shall Offer, as also Duplicates thereof, by the next succeeding Conveyance.

And that you and others whom it may Concern may at all times give due Obedience hereunto, you are to make an Entry of this Our Letter in the Books belonging to the said Office of Secretary. Whereof yon are not to fail. And so We bid you farewell from the Councill Chamber at Whitehall this Eleventh day of December 1691.

Your loving Friends

Carmarthen Presid^t

John Lowther

H: Powle

H. Goodrick

To Our Loving Friend

Isaac Addington Esq^r Secretary of Their Maj^ts Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in America.326

Hence Addington must have been commissioned on or before December 11, 1691. On May 16, 1692, —

Isaac Addington Secretary tooke his Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Office or place of Secretary, and the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; before the Gov^r and L^t Governour.327

It is noteworthy that on the accession of Anne in 1702, no new Commission was issued to Addington; and perhaps this is explained by the fact that Addington was named in the Charter itself. In the controversy that took place early in 1715 as to who should administer the government,328 on a motion put by Addington himself on February 4th, “The Council declared their opinion that the Secretarys Commission remained in force, having been so accepted during all the last reign & ordered him to countersign the Proclamatⁿ and the said Proclamation was then published by beat of Drum sent to the Press & ordered to be dispersed into the several parts.”329

Addington was Secretary from May 16, 1692, until his death on March 19, 1715.330

Governor Dudley having reassumed the government on March 21, 1715, on March 26th —

The Governour acquainted the Council that he was purposed to give order to Addington Davenport & Paul Dudley Esq^rs to take care of the Seals and the office of the Secretary Isaac Addington Esq^r lately deceased until His Majestys pleasure be known therein.331

The order appointing Addington Davenport and Paul Dudley, also dated March 26, 1715, is as follows:

Province of the Massachusetts Bay By His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq^r Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England

By Virtue of Her late Majesty’s Commission for the Government of this Province, and the further Continuance thereof by His present Majesty’s Most Gracious Proclamation to me Directed I do hereby appoint and Direct Addington Davenport Esq^r and Paul Dudley Esq^r Com̄issioners to keep His Majesty’s Seal of this Province under two locks each of them a key, and to put the Seal to all such Instruments of Publick or other Concern by Warrant under my hand, and no other, upon any pretence whatsoever And they shall further forthwith by the Service and Assistance of Joseph Hiller sworn Clerk of the Council, make out and draw forth a particular Accompt of all Books of Record and minute Books files and Records Utensills and other things belonging & appertaining to His Majesty’s Secretarys Office late in the hands and possession of the Honourable Isaac Addington Esq^r deceased, and shew the said Accompt to the Governour and Council as soon as may be And this Order to continue until His Majesty’s Pleasure may arrive, or other Order taken therein

Given under my hand and Seal at Boston this Twenty sixth day of March Anno Domini 1715 And in the first year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord King George over Great Britain &c

J Dudley

Boston 29^th of March 1715

The above named A: Davenport, P: Dudley Esq^rs and J Hiller Gen^t were sworne to the faithfull Discharge of the Trust Committed to thē respectively in Pursuance of the Warrant above written

before me

J Dudley332

Samuel Woodward was commissioned Secretary by George; I on June 23, 1715. He reached Boston September 22,333 and on September 23d —

A Letter334 from His Excellency Col° Burges (appointed Governour of this Province) to the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay brought by Sam^ƚƚ Woodward Esq^r appointed Secretary of this Province was read at the Board & M^r Secretary Woodward producing his Commission under the Broad Seal for Secretary of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay the Governour not being present

Voted That Andrew Belcher & Addington Davenport Esq^rs be desired to wait on His Excellency at Roxbury & desire His Excellencys presence or directions on the affair in the afternoon.335

Woodward’s commission was read in Council and he was sworn on September 24, 1715.336 On October 3, —

An Inventory of all the Books Papers and Records Seals & Utensils belonging to the Secretary’s Office made & taken by the Hon^ble Addington Davenport Paul Dudley & Samuel Woodward Esq^rs was read & signed by the s^d M^r Secretary Woodward & the keys of the s^d office with the aboves^d particulars were delivered by the Governour to the s^d M^r Secretary Woodward in Council Pursuant to His Majestys command in the Commission to him given under the Great Seal of Great Britain of Record in the s^d Office.

Andrew Belcher & Addington Davenport Esq^rs are appointed a Committee to give directions about a convenient place in one of the upper rooms in the Town House for the lodging of Files of Papers &^ca which incumber the Secretarys office.337

On May 10, 1716, —

Samuel Woodward Esq^r Secretary of this Province humbly moved to the Hon^ble Lieut^t Gov^r and Council That the business of the office was so far behind hand & so much dayly encreasing that he could not even with his utmost application and endeavour bring up the same without further assistance, and that according to the powers grant^d in His Majestys Letters Patents to him for Secretary of this Province, he proposed to depute M^r Joseph Marion to be deputy Secretary of the said Province to which the Hon^ble Lieut^t Governour & Council unanimously agreed &

Ordered That the s^d Deputation should be read at the Board & put in the Secretarys office & s^d Joseph Marion took the oaths appointed by act of Parliam^t to be taken instead of the oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated & subscribed the Declaration, took the oath of Abjuratⁿ and an oath for the true & faithfull discharge of his office as Deputy Secretary.338

On July 12, 1716, —

Samuel Woodward Esq^r Secretary of this His Majestys Province produced His Majestys Licence to absent himselfe from the s^d Province for & during the term of twelve months which was read at the Board. And the Secretary signified to the Hon^ble Lieutenant Governour & Council that he should very speedily leave the Province & that he was ready to receive their commands home.339

Woodward was present at a Council meeting on August 3, 1716,340 after which his name disappears, and no doubt he sailed for England on or immediately after that date.341

Josiah Willard was commissioned Secretary by George I on June 17, 1717. He reached Boston on the 2d or 3d of December, 1717,342 and took office on the 4th:

His Majestys Commission or Letters Pattents dated at Westminster the seventeenth day of June in the third year of His Majestys reign constitut^g Joseph343 Willard Esq^r Secretary of this His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay was read & publish^d Then M^r Secretary took the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament passed in the first year of the reign of King William & Queen Mary to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremcay unto his present Majesty King George, & repeated & subscribed the Declaration by the same Act appointed, also took an oath for the due & faithfull performance of his duty in the office & place of Secretary of the s^d Province, And the Council advised to the making His Majestys s^d Letters Patent of publick record accordingly

Ordered That Joseph Marion Deputy Secretary to Sam^l Woodward Esq^r late Secretary of this Province, with all convenient speed make delivery of all publick records books & records of the Council & Assembly with the Seal of the Province, enrowlment of the Laws and Files of Papers & all utensils &^ca of & belonging to the s^d Secretarys Office

And that the s^d M^r Secretary Willard pass a receipt therefore in discharge to the s^d M^r Marion accordingly.344

Willard was commissioned Secretary by George II on March 28, 1728, and was sworn on June 18:

Josiah Willard Esq^r haveing His Majestys Letters Patents, under the Great Seal of G^t Britain bearing date at Westminster the twenty eighth of March 1728, constituting him Secretary to His Maty^s Province of the Massachusetts Bay, His Majesty’s Commission was read at the Board. And then the s^d Josiah Willard took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliam^t to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in y^e said Act, together with the Oath of abjuration and likewise took an oath for the true and faithful performance of his said office of Secretary of this Province.345

Willard was Secretary from December 4, 1717, until his death on December 7, 1756.346

On December 7, 1756, the Council took the following action:

It having pleased Almighty God in his Holy Providence to remove the Hon^ble Josiah Willard Esq^r the late Worthy and Faithfull Secretary of this Province by Death, whereby that Office is become Vacant, and it being necessary that some meet Person be appointed to officiate as Clerk of the Council until his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint & Commissionate some person to the Office of Secretary agreeable to the Royal Charter Therefore

Ordered that M^r Thomas Clarke347 be appointed Clerk of his Majestys Council until a Secretary be appointed as aforesaid or until the further order of this Board, and that he be Impowered & directed forthwith to take into his Custody & care as well the Publick Seal of the Province as the public Records & Papers, and to do & Transact the Business proper to such Office of Clerk of Council, & to be under the Obligation of an Oath for the faithfull Discharge of said Trust.

By Order of Council

Francis Foxcroft

Consented to

S Phips348

On December 13th Lieutenant-Governor Phips, then Acting Governor, appointed Andrew Oliver Secretary:

His Honour the Lieutenant Governour appointed the Hon^ble Andrew Oliver Esq^r to be Secretary of the Province in the Room of the late Hon^ble Josiah Willard Esq^r de͞c͞ed until his Majestys pleasure should be known.349

And on December 15 Andrew Oliver took the oaths of office:

The Hon^ble Andrew Oliver Esq^r Secretary of the Province took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be Taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy Repeated and Subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration, and an Oath appointed by a Law of the Province respecting the Recieving & paying the Bills of Publick Credit of the neighbouring Governments within this Province350 & entered into the Execution of his Office after having taken an Oath for the faithfull Discharge of the same.351

Andrew Oliver was commissioned Secretary by George II on March 2, 1758, and was sworn June 1st.352 He was commissioned Secretary by George III on April 10, 1761, and was sworn November 26th.353 He retained the office of Secretary until March 11, 1771.

Thomas Flucker was commissioned Secretary by George III on November 12, 1770, and was sworn March 11, 1771:

Province of Massa^s Bay Boston 11^th March 1771

Thomas Flucker Esq^r within named took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of alligiance & supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration therein contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration; and also an Oath, that he would faithfully discharge the Duties of the Office of Secretary of the said Province354

Flucker was the last Royal Secretary, and left Boston with General Gage on October 10, 1775.355

VI LISTS

In this section the material is summarized in the following lists:

A Chronological List of Commissions, 1681–1774
B Alphabetical List of Commissions, 1681–1774
C List of Officials, 1685–1775
D Sovereigns of England, 1603–1776

A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COMMISSIONS 1681–1774

date		name	office
1685	Sept. 21	Edward Randolph	Secretary, etc.
1685	Oct. 8	Joseph Dudley	President
1685	Nov. 13	Joseph Dudley	Vice-Admiral
1686	June 3	Sir Edmund Andros	Governor
1686		Sir Edmund Andros	Vice-Admiral
1688	April 7	Sir Edmund Andros	Governor
1688	April 20	Francis Nicholson	Lieutenant-Governor
1688	April 25	Edward Randolph	Secretary, etc.
1688	April 30	Sir Edmund Andros	Vice-Admiral
1691	Dec. 12	Sir William Phips	Governor
1691	Dec. 29	Sir William Phips	Vice-Admiral
1691	Dec.	William Stoughton	Lieutenant-Governor
1691	Dec.	Isaac Addington	Secretary
1697	June 18	Earl of Bellomont	Governor
1698	Oct. 10	Earl of Bellomont	Vice-Admiral
1702	Feb. 13	Joseph Dudley	Governor
1702	Feb. 26	Joseph Dudley	Vice-Admiral
1702	April 1	Joseph Dudley	Governor
1702	April 11	Thomas Povey	Lieutenant-Governor
1711		William Tailer	Lieutenant-Governor
1715	March 17	Elizeus Burges	Governor
1715	March 22	Elizeus Burges	Vice-Admiral
1715	April 28	William Tailer	Lieutenant-Governor
1715	June 23	Samuel Woodward	Secretary
1716	June 13	Samuel Shute	Vice-Admiral
1716	June 15	Samuel Shute	Governor
1716		William Dummer	Lieutenant-Governor
1717	June 17	Josiah Willard	Secretary
1727	Oct. 17	William Dummer	Lieutenant-Governor
1728	March 7	William Burnet	Governor
1728	March 14	William Burnet	Vice-Admiral
1728	March 28	Josiah Willard	Secretary
1730	Jan. 28	Jonathan Belcher	Governor
1730	March 2	Jonathan Belcher	Vice-Admiral
1730	April 15	William Tailer	Lieutenant-Governor
1732	April 29	Spencer Phips	Lieutenant-Governor
1741	May 25	William Shirley	Governor
1741	Aug. 21	William Shirley	Vice-Admiral
1757	Feb. 25	Thomas Pownall	Governor
1757	Feb. 28	Thomas Pownall	Vice-Admiral
1758	Feb. 10	Thomas Hutchinson	Lieutenant-Governor
1758	March 2	Andrew Oliver	Secretary
1760	Jan. 14	Francis Bernard	Governor
1760	Feb. 12	Francis Bernard	Vice-Admiral
1761	March 13	Thomas Hutchinson	Lieutenant-Governor
1761	April 4	Francis Bernard	Governor
1761	April 10	Andrew Oliver	Secretary
1761	May 18	Francis Bernard	Vice-Admiral
1770	Oct. 19	Andrew Oliver	Lieutenant-Governor
1770	Nov. 12	Thomas Flucker	Secretary
1770	Nov. 28	Thomas Hutchinson	Governor
1771	Jan. 4	Thomas Hutchinson	Vice-Admiral
1774	April 5	Thomas Gage	Vice-Admiral
1774	April 7	Thomas Gage	Governor
1774	May 28	Thomas Oliver	Lieutenant-Governor

B ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COMMISSIONS 1681–1774

name	office	date
Addington, Isaac	Secretary	1691	Dec.
Andros, Sir Edmund	Governor	1686	June 3
	Vice-Admiral	1686
	Governor	1688	April 7
	Vice-Admiral	1688	April 30
Belcher, Jonathan	Governor	1730	Jan. 28
	Vice-Admiral	1730	March 2
Bellomont, Earl of	Governor	1697	June 18
	Vice-Admiral	1698	Oct. 10
Bernard, Francis	Governor	1760	Jan. 14
	Vice-Admiral	1760	Feb. 12
	Governor	1761	April 4
	Vice-Admiral	1761	May 18
Burges, Elizeus	Governor	1715	March 17
	Vice Admiral	1715	March 22
Burnet, William	Governor	1728	March 7
	Vice-Admiral	1728	March 14
Dudley, Joseph	President	1685	Oct. 8
	Vice-Admiral	1685	Nov. 13
	Governor	1702	Feb. 13
	Vice-Admiral	1702	Feb. 26
	Governor	1702	April 1
Dummer, William	Lieutenant-Governor	1716
	Lieutenant-Governor	1727	Oct. 17
Flucker, Thomas	Secretary	1770	Nov. 12
Gage, Thomas	Vice-Admiral	1774	April 5
	Governor	1774	April 7
Hutchinson, Thomas	Lieutenant-Governor	1758	Feb. 10
	Lieutenant-Governor	1761	March 13
	Governor	1770	Nov. 28
	Vice-Admiral	1771	Jan. 4
Nicholson, Francis	Lieutenant-Governor	1688	April 20
Oliver, Andrew	Secretary	1758	March 2
	Secretary	1761	April 10
	Lieutenant-Governor	1770	Oct. 19
Oliver, Thomas	Lieutenant-Governor	1774	May 28
Phips, Spencer	Lieutenant-Governor	1732	April 29
Phips, Sir William	Governor	1691	Dec. 12
	Vice-Admiral	1691	Dec. 29
Povey, Thomas	Lieutenant-Governor	1702	April 11
Pownall, Thomas	Governor	1757	Feb. 25
	Vice-Admiral	1757	Feb. 28
Randolph, Edward	Collector, etc.	1681	Oct. 15
	Secretary, etc.	1685	Sept. 21
	Secretary, etc.	1688	April 25
Shirley, William	Governor	1741	May 25
	Vice-Admiral	1741	Aug. 21
Shute, Samuel	Vice-Admiral	1716	June 13
	Governor	1716	June 15
Stoughton, William	Lieutenant-Governor	1691	Dec.
Tailer, William	Lieutenant-Governor	1711
	Lieutenant-Governor	1715	April 28
	Lieutenant-Governor	1730	April 15
Willard, Josiah	Secretary	1717	June 17
	Secretary	1728	March 28
Woodward, Samuel	Secretary	1715	June 23

C LIST OF OFFICIALS 1685–1775

COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND, 1685–1686

President
NAME	COMMISSIONED	TOOK OFFICE	LEFT OFFICE
Joseph Dudley	1685 Oct. 8	1686 May 25	1686 Dec. 20
Deputy-President
William Stoughton		1686 May 26	1686 Dec. 20

TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND, 1686–1689

Governor
Sir Edmund Andros	1686 June 3	1686 Dec. 20
	1688 April 7
Lieutenant-Governor
Francis Nicholson	1688 April 20	1688 July 19
Secretary
Edward Randolph	1685 Sept. 21	1686 July 1
	1688 April 25

PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY, 1691–1775

Lieutenant-Governors
Governors
Sir William Phips	1691 Dec. 12	1692 May 16	1694 Nov. 17
William Stoughton		1694 Dec. 4	1699 May 26
Earl of Bellomont	1697 June 18	1699 May 26	1700 July 17
William Stoughton		1700 July 22	1701 July 7
The Council		1701 July 10	1702 June 11
Joseph Dudley	1702 April 1	1702 June 11	1715 Feb. 4
The Council		1715 Feb. 4	1715 March 21
Elizeus Burges	1715 March 17
Joseph Dudley		1715 March 21	1715 Nov. 9
William Tailer		1715 Nov. 9	1716 Oct. 5
Samuel Shute	1716 June 15	1716 Oct. 5	1723 Jan. 1
William Dummer		1723 Jan. 2	1728 July 19
William Burnet	1728 March 7	1728 July 19	1729 Sept. 7
William Dummer		1729 Sept. 10	1730 June 11
William Tailer		1730 June 11	1730 Aug. 10
Jonathan Belcher	1730 Jan. 28	1730 Aug. 10	1741 Aug. 14
William Shirley	1741 May 25	1741 Aug. 14	1749 Sept. 11
Spencer Phips		1749 Sept. 15	1753 Aug. 7
William Shirley		1753 Aug. 7	1756 Sept. 25
Spencer Phips		1756 Sept. 25	1757 April 4
The Council		1757 April 5	1757 Aug. 3
Thomas Pownall	1757 Feb. 25	1757 Aug. 3	1760 June 3
Thomas Hutchinson		1760 June 3	1760 Aug. 2
Francis Bernard	1760 Jan. 14	1760 Aug. 2
	1761 April 4		1769 Aug. 1
Thomas Hutchinson		1769 Aug. 2	1771 March 14
Thomas Hutchinson	1770 Nov. 28	1771 March 14	1774 May 17
Thomas Gage	1774 April 7	1774 May 17
William Stoughton	1691 Dec.	1692 May 16	1701 July 7
Thomas Povey	1702 April 11	1702 June 11	1706 Jan. 28
William Tailer	1711	1711 Oct. 4
	1715 April 28		1716 Oct. 5
William Dummer	1716	1716 Oct. 5
	1727 Oct. 17		1730 June 11
William Tailer	1730 April 15	1730. June 11	1732 March 1
Spencer Phips	1732 April 29	1732 Aug. 8	1757 April 4
Thomas Hutchinson	1758 Feb. 10	1758 June 1
	1761 March 13		1771 March 14
Andrew Oliver	1770 Oct. 19	1771 March 14	1774 March 3
Thomas Oliver	1774 May 28	1774 Aug. 8
Secretaries
Isaac Addington	1691 Dec.	1692 May 16	1715 March 19
Samuel Woodward	1715 June 23	1715 Sept. 24	1716 Aug. 3
Josiah Willard	1717 June 17	1717 Dec. 4
	1728 March 28		1756 Dec. 7
Andrew Oliver	1758 March 2	1756 Dec. 15
	1761 April 10		1771 March 11
Thomas Flucker	1770 Nov. 12	1771 March 11

D SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND, 1603–1776

James I	succeeded	1603 March 24
	died	1625 March 27
Charles I	succeeded	1625 March 27
	executed	1649 Jan. 30
Charles II	proclaimed in Edinburgh	1649 Feb. 5
	“in Westminster Hall	1660 May 8
	“in Plymouth	1661 June 5356
	“in Boston	1661 Aug. 8357
	died	1685 Feb. 6
James II	succeeded	1685 Feb. 6
	proclaimed in Boston	1685 April 20358
	“in Plymouth	1685 April 24359
	fled from Whitehall	1688 Dec. 11
	left England	1688 Dec. 23
	died	1701 Sept. 6
William III and Mary II accepted the crown		1689 Feb. 13
	proclaimed in Boston	1689 May 29360
	William landed in England	1688 Nov. 5
	Mary II died	1694 Dec. 28
	William III died	1702 March 8
Anne	succeeded	1702 March 8
	proclaimed in Boston	1702 May 29361
	died	1714 Aug. 1
George I	succeeded	1714 Aug. 1
	proclaimed in Boston	1714 Sept. 22362
	died	1727 June 11
George II	succeeded	1727 June 11
	proclaimed in Boston	1727 Aug. 16363
	died	1760 Oct. 25
George III	succeeded	1760 Oct. 25
	proclaimed in Boston	1760 Dec. 30364
	died	1820 Jan. 29

On behalf of Mr. Julius H. Tuttle a photograph was exhibited of a map “Copied out of an Original lent by M^r Stoughton & Bulkeley Agents of Boston,” now in the possession of the John Carter Brown Library; and the following paper was communicated:

EARLY MANUSCRIPT MAPS OF NEW ENGLAND

In the material preserved to us, from colonial days, only a few manuscript maps of New England, or some of its parts, among those known to have been made before Philip’s War, can be found. Entries in town and in our Colony records show the existence at the time of maps, as well as plans of grants by the General Court, most of which have long since disappeared. These records have also saved for us the names of many surveyors, or artists, who eked out their livelihood by measuring lands and making draughts or plots of their work.

An interesting paper relating to a map of the country by one of their number, of which the following is a copy, is on file in the State Archives:

Boston Januarij y^e ii^th 1676

M Rawson

S^r these are to request your Care to procure me Satisfaction for Drawing a Draft or plott of y^e Country that I drew from that w^ch you Brought me being y^e Coppie thereof and so you will oblidge yo^r Servant to Com̄ and

James Taylor

11: January 1676

It is ordered y^t the Treasurer pay unto M^r James Taylor tenn shillings mony for his drawing a Copie of draft or plott of the Country w^ch y^e Com̄ission^rs sent to his Majtie had w^th them past

E R S^c

[Endorsed]

Council Act as to paying James Taylor 10s

for copy of Map 11 Janu^ry 1676

Ent.365

Savage says, “James [Taylor], Reading, may have been that surveyor, much employ, in 1671 and 2, d. at R. 1703.”366 In 1676, there was a James Taylor, living in Springfield, who may have been the same person, and perhaps the artist mentioned above as well as the one who assisted Mr. Pynchon, of Springfield, in the survey given below. On April 19, 1671, Mr. Taylor laid out land near the Plymouth line, granted by the General Court to William Holloway.367 Under date of May 15, 1672, Major John Pynchon makes a report in pursuance of an order of the General Court, May 31, 1671, to run the south line of the patent, in which he says: “I went from Springfeild to Windsor the 31, day of October, 1671, having M^r James Taylor with me for the artist.”368 The Court in approving the return thanks Major Pynchon “for his great pajnes therein, and that the artist, M^r James Taylor, be desired to make a plat of what he hath donne in parchment, protracting the ljne formerly draune by Nathaniel Woodward & Solomon Saffery.”369 None of the handiwork of Mr. Taylor, identified as his, has come to light.

Nearest in date to the Taylor map of the country is one by Cotton Mather. Nathaniel Mather, his uncle, in a letter to Increase Mather, dated at Dublin February 26, 1676, writes:

I much rejoyce in God’s great mercy begun in your son Cotton. I heartily thank him for his map of New England It helps mee much in understanding your & other narratives. One defect or two I observe in it, there is wanting a scale of miles & a compass, & if I have not forgotten (which it is like I may) the Blew hills are misplaced, for hee placeth them south from Dorchester, whereas according to my defaced idea of the Countrey, they were rather northward from it.370

Cotton Mather at this time was only fourteen years of age, and then in his sophomore year at Harvard College. No trace of this map has been found. In the same letter Nathaniel Mather thanks Increase for “3 of your historyes of the late war with the Indians,” which but a short time before had been issued from the press of John Foster. In the same month William Hubbard signed the dedication of his forthcoming “Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians” (Boston, 1677), printed by John Foster also, which contained a map of New England, the first here cut. The three maps — Taylor’s map of the country, the bill for which was rendered January 11, 1676–7; the Cotton Mather map, a copy of which was received in Dublin by February 26, 1676–7; and the so-called Foster-Hubbard map, engraved a few months later — were made at so nearly the same time that the question is naturally raised as to the probable connection between them.

There is among the Blathwayt Papers in the John Carter Brown Library a manuscript map which “was copied out of an Original Cut by M^r Stoughton & Bulkeley Agents of Boston,” said on the back of the parchment to be “exactly Copied about 1678 from an Original Cut S^r Robert Southwell by M^r Stoughton and M^r Buckley.” It shows the “Northmost Paralel Line” of the Bay Colony, at 43° 44′, crossing Lake Winnepesaukee, and the “Southermost Paralel Line,” at 41° 55, making the coast line run from the mouth of the Kennebec River to the southern part of Plymouth Harbor. The map also indicates the settlements on the Connecticut River, the Charles, the Merrimac, and along the coast from Stamford, Connecticut, to the mouth of the Kennebec. William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley were chosen agents of the Colony in September, 1676, to go to England to defend our interests against the claims of Gorges and Mason. Can this be a copy from the Taylor map of 1676, or from the original from which he made his copy?371

An earlier map372 than these, presumably of a good part of New England, was made in 1665. It was requested by the Commissioners, Colonel Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, who arrived in Boston on July 23, 1664, under orders from the King, one of whose objects was to settle all differences “which are arisen betwixt our seueral colonjes vpon the bounds & limits of their seueral provinces.”373 In a letter374 dated at Newport May 15, 1664, they say:

That wee may prevent all mistakes in the King’s business, through Colonell Niccolls in July, & ourselues in February last, desired that a map of your jurisdiction & ljmits might be made ready, wee now send you our desires & the Kings instructions to vs in that particcular vnder our hands. Wee hope to be w^th you in the beginig of May at the furthest, (if God blesse vs,) against w^ch time wee desire the map of yo^r limitts may be ready. We shall not trouble yow to send any to shew us yo^r southerne bounds, they being vncontrouerted, & at so great a distance from you. [In a postscript] This mapp or draught w^thin mentioned wee desire may be made with all exactnes possible, & w^th all speed convenient deliuered to us.

Edward Rawson, Secretary, in his reply, May 5, 1665, says of the map:

For a mapp of the ljmitts of our jurisdiction, vpon first notice of yo^r desires first made knoune to the Gouerno^r & council by y^r letter from Road Island, dated March 13, 1664, care was then taken, & now such further provision is made by this Court, that wee doubt not that you will spedily receive satisfaction therein.375

On May 24, 1665, Rawson writes to the Commissioners: “Wee haue sent heerewith sent yow a map of the lands wee conceive to be granted vs by our charter.”376 Hutchinson says that before the General Court had an opportunity to answer the King’s instructions, the Commissioners acquainted the Deputy-Governor and the rest that a map of the Colony must be laid before the Commissioners, “that they might hear and determine all claims made by such as bordered upon it.”377 This map has not been found.

Two earlier manuscript maps of a part of New-England are extant: one in 1642, made by Woodward and Saffrey, of that part of the southern boundary line of the Bay Colony from the angle tree near the present north-eastern corner of Rhode Island to Windsor, Connecticut, in the State Archives; and the other the so-called Waters-Winthrop Map, made a few years earlier, in the Sloane Collection in the British Museum. Of the latter, Mr. Justin Winsor, in 1890, said after a careful examination of the map that the paper has no water-mark, that there is written on the back in Governor John Winthrop’s hand, “Massachusetts in N: Englande,” and that the paper shows the creases, which indicate that it was folded to be enclosed in a letter.378 This is the earliest manuscript map extant, following the settlement of the Bay Colony.

Mr. Frederick L. Gay spoke as follows:

Robert F. Roden in his Bibliographical List of the Issues of the Cambridge Press mentions, under the year 1643, the title “Capital Laws of Massachusetts Bay. Cambridge, Stephen Daye, 1643.” In his note to this issue he says:

This is the “Body of Liberties,” the first Code, prepared by Nathaniel Ward. The Cambridge edition is referred to in the preface of “New England’s Jonas,” London, 1647; but no copy is extant.379

Roden errs in calling it the “Body of Liberties.”380 It was simply the Capital Laws. On June 14, 1642, “It is ordered, that such lawes as make any offence to bee capitall shall fourthw^th bee imprinted & published, of w^ch lawes the Secretary is to send a coppey to the printer, when it hath bene examined by the Gov^rnor or M^r Bellingha^m w^th himselfe, & the Treasurer to pay for the printing of them.”381

Hitherto we were forced to rely on the reprint of these Capital Laws that is found in Major John Child’s New-Englands Jonas Cast up at London, printed in London in 1647. They were introduced in the body of the text, and there was no way to determine the extent and limits of Day’s original edition. This uncertainty, however, is removed by the discovery of an earlier London reprint. It is in the form of a single-sheet, and is entitled “The Capital Lawes of New England, as they stand now in force in the Common-Wealth . . . . Printed first in New-England, and re-printed in London. for Ben. Allen in Popes-head Alley 1643.” This early single-sheet reprint confirms the correctness of the Capital Laws as given in New-Englands Jonas, and reproduces Day’s original edition, perhaps in the same outward form.

A transcript of Thomason Tracts 669. f. 6. (99.), in the British Museum, is submitted for comparison.

The Capitall Lawes of New-England, as they stand now in force in the Common-Wealth.

By the Covrt

In the Years 1641. 1642.

Capitall Lawes, Established within the Jurisdiction of Massachusets.

1 If any man after legall conviction, shall have or worship any other God, but the Lord God, he shall be put to death. Deut. 13. 6, &c and 17. 2 &c. Exodus 22. 20.
2 If any man or woman be a Witch, that is, hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. Exod. 22. 18. Lev. 20. 27. Deut 18. 10, 11.
3 If any person shall blaspheme the Name of God the Father, Sonne, or Holy Ghost, with direct, expresse, presumptuous, or high-handed blasphemy, or shall curse God in the like manner, he shall be put to death. Lev. 24. 15, 16.
4 If any person shall commit any wilfull murther, which is manslaughter, committed upon premeditate malice, hatred, or cruelty, not in a mans necessary and just defence, nor by meer casualtie, against his will; he shall be put to death. Exod. 21. 12, 13, 14. Num. 35, 30, 31.
5 If any person slayeth another suddenly in his anger, or cruelty of passion, he shall be put to death. Num 35. 20, 21. Lev. 24. 17.
6 If any person shall slay another through guile, either by poysonings, or other such divilish practice; he shall be put to death. Exod. 21. 14.
7 If a man or woman shall lye with any beast, or bruit creature, by carnall copulation, they shall surely be put to death; and the beast shall be slaine, and buried. Lev 20. 15, 16.
8 If a man lyeth with mankinde, as he lyeth with a woman, both of them have committed abomination, they both shall surely be put to death. Lev 20. 13.
9 If any person committeth adultery with a married, or espoused wife, the Adulterer, and the Adulteresse, shall surely be put to death. Lev 20. 10 and 18. 20. Deut 22. 23, 24.
10 If any man shall unlawfully have carnall copulation with any woman-childe under ten yeares old, either with, or without her consent, he shall be put to death.382
11 If any man shall forcibly, and without consent, ravish any maid or woman that is lawfully contracted or married, he shall be put to death. Deut. 22. 25 &c.
12 If any man shall ravish any maid or single woman (committing carnall copulation with her by force, against her will) that is above the age of ten yeares; he shall be either punished with death, or with some other grievous punishment, according to circumstances, at the discretion of the Judges: and this Law to continue till the Court take further order.
13 If any man stealeth a man, or man-kinde, he shall surely be put to death. Exod 21. 16.
14 If any man rise up by false witnesse wittingly, and of purpose to take away any mans life, he shall be put to death. Deut. 19. 16, 18, 19.
15 If any man shall conspire, or attempt any invasion, insurrection, or publick rebellion against our Common-wealth, or shall indeavour to surprize any Towne or Townes, Fort or Forts therein: or shall treacherously or perfidiously attempt the alteration and subversion of our frame of pollity, or government fundamentally he shall be put to death. Num. 16. 2 Sam: 3 & 18 & 20.383

Per exemplar Incre, Nowel, Secret.

Printed first in New-England, and re-printed in London.

for Ben. Allen in Popes-head Allen 1643.

On behalf of Mr. Clarence S. Brigham a copy was exhibited of “Some Observations upon the French Tongue . . . . Boston in New England: Printed by B. Green, 1724.”384

Mr. Matthews spoke as follows:

Early this month Mr. Brigham sent me this pamphlet which, he wrote, “seems to have been hitherto unnoticed by bibliographers,” and asked, “Does a reading of it convince you that it is an American production?” He added that a short search had not revealed the name of the author. Though not important in itself, the pamphlet is of interest as being, so far as is known, the second book on the subject to be published in this country.385 An examination of the pamphlet indicates, though it does not prove, that it was written in this country,386 and if so, it is a natural presumption that the author was some one living in Boston or its neighborhood. The only clue lies in the dedication, which reads as follows:

To my Dear Brother

Mr. William Scott,387

Professor in the Greek Tongue, in the University of Edinburgh.

Dear Brother,

I RECEIVED last Fall the Latin, English and French Grammar388 that you have composed, and sent to me: I thank you heartily for that Present that I have Read with pleasure; and which is indeed excellent in it’s Kind.

I send you as a return of Love, this short Treatise, which contains, as well as yours, several things relating to the French Language: And I Dedicate it to you as to a Person near related to me, whom I do greatly esteem, and who is a very competent Judge, as well as a great Admirer of the French Tongue.

I have more endeavoured to be Short and Clear (as you your self have done) than to make a great shew of Learning. For I have not made this Book for those who are Learned already, but for the use of those who have a mind to Learn: And not only for those who may have a mind to Learn French; but even for those who have neither Will or Opportunity to do it. For I thought in such a Time as this, when the French Language is so famous, and so much used, there is hardly any Body but that would be glad to have at least some general Notions of it.

I pray you to accept of this small Present as a token of my esteem and affection to you.

THAT Almighty GOD be pleased to pour down his most precious Blessings upon your self, your Spouse and Children; That you may bring them up for his Glory, and the Service and Ornament of his Church, is the Wish and Prayer of,

Dear Brother,

Your humble Servant, and Affectionate Brother,

A. L. M.

It occurs to me that the author may well have been the Rev. Andrew Le Mercier, who came to this country in 1715 to become pastor of the French Protestant Church in Boston and died here in 1764. The dedication to his Church History of Geneva, Boston, 1732, is signed “A. L. M.,” and the dedication to his Treatise against Detraction, Boston, 1733, is signed “A. Le Mercier,” though his name appears in full on the title-page of each of those volumes.389

Mr. Lindsay Swift spoke as follows:

Mr. Tuttle’s paper brings to mind an interesting copy of Edward Winslow’s Good Nevves from New England (London, 1624), that I first saw thirty years ago, when I had the pleasure of arranging and cataloguing the Library of John Adams, then deposited in the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy. It is the first of five or six pamphlets of the same date bound into a stout little quarto volume, and on the verso of the title-page is the following manuscript note:

At a Court of Commiss^rs for Setting Adjusting and Determining the Boundary of y^e Colony of Rhode Island Eastward towards the province of the Massachusets Baye.

This Book was produced in Court by the agents for the province [Massachusetts] to the End they might give Several passages therein Contained as Evidence. But the agent for the Colony [Rhode Island] Opposed and the Court Rejected the same

Dated at y^e Court of Com̄iss^rs Sitting in Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island The Twentithird day of June Anno Dom. 1741

Attest

Will Sam Ballard

I do not intend to enter this controversy over the boundaries of these two States — a controversy that was still going on in the sixties of the nineteenth century. It is enough to say that the commissioners appointed for settling the boundary line between the Province of Massachusetts Bay and the Colony of Rhode Island published “An exact plan” (Providence, 1741) that was republished in facsimile (Boston, 1848) by the Massachusetts commissioners on the boundary between the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in their Reports to the Governor and Council. The original map is in the Public Record Office, London.

I do, however, feel an interest in a book that was offered in evidence before the first commission a hundred and twenty years after its issuance and was thrown out, as good evidence sometimes is. Another feature of this particular copy is that it bears the autograph and many marginal notes of Thomas Prince, its owner, and yet I first saw it peacefully resting in the library of John Adams, along with several other volumes that once belonged to the Prince Collection. Now how did it come to pass that John Adams should be in possession of some of Thomas Prince’s books? In the appendix to C. F. Adams’s Life of John Adams is a reprint from the Boston Patriot of October 23, 1811, in which the first of the Adamses says:

I mounted up to the balcony of Dr. Sewall’s church, where were assembled a collection which Mr. Prince had devoted himself to make from the twentieth year of his age. The loss of this library of books and papers, in print and in manuscript, can never be sufficiently regretted. Such a treasure never existed anywhere else, and can never again be made. He had endeavored, and with great success, to collect every history, pamphlet, and paper which could throw light on the Reformation, the rise and progress of the Puritans, and the persecutions which drove our ancestors over to this wild and unknown world.390

Adams was at this time (1773) preparing, with James Bowdoin, a report to the two houses of the Massachusetts Legislature containing “a statement of the title of the Province to certain lands to which the legislature of New York had asserted a claim.” There was good reason then why John Adams, who wrote the report alone, should frequent the balcony of the Old South Meeting House and should borrow therefrom such a book as Winslow’s Good Nevves. That he never returned it, shows that John Adams was, in this respect, pretty much like the rest of us, great man as he surely was. But time brings its satisfactions as well as its revenges. The Old South Church in course of time moved to the corner of Dartmouth and Boylston Streets, but without its precious Prince Collection, which before this moving had been conveyed in trust to the Boston Public Library, then on Boylston Street, but minus the few books that John Adams had borrowed so many years before. In 1894 the Public Library established itself on the corner opposite the New Old South, and the Prince books were within a few feet of their former guardian church. Meanwhile the Public Library had received in trust from the City of Quincy the John Adams Library, formerly deeded to and held by the Church and Temple Fund of that place. So at last the missing books are within a few feet of where they rightfully belong, and Thomas Prince’s books and his beloved church are no longer widely divorced, but simply enjoying a separate maintenance.

1 A long account of Paul Cuffee, with a description of the memorial, was printed in the New Bedford Sunday Standard of March 9, 1913.

2 All dates in these Notes, except in some of the quoted passages, are New Style.

3 This date is approximate: see p. 10 note 6, below.

4 This date is approximate: see p. 88, below.

5 This date is approximate: see p. 97, below.

6 This Commission of Tailer was presumably issued in the summer of 1711, as he was sworn on October 4: see p. 90, below.

7 The exact date of this Commission has been recovered: see p. 91, below.

8 Dummer’s Commission was presumably issued in the summer of 1716, as he was sworn on October 5: see pp. 65, 92, below.

9 The reason for undertaking these Notes was the fact that previous lists (such as those in Palfrey’s History of New England, in Whitmore’s Massachusetts Civil List, and in the Massachusetts Court Manual) were found to be both incomplete and inaccurate. Innumerable discrepancies occur between these Notes and previous lists, but, except occasionally, it has not been thought worth while to point out the differences.

10 It is printed in Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 421–422.

11 On February 14, 1684, Randolph wrote to Sir Lionel Jenkins: “I arriued in Boston vpon y^e 26 of Oct^ber late at night and found their Gen^ll Court that afternoon broake vp” (Toppan’s Randolph, iii. 272). For the sake of convenience, the seven volumes of “Edward Randolph” published by the Prince Society are referred to in these Notes as “Toppan’s Randolph,” though the last two volumes were edited by the Rev. A. T. S. Goodrick.

12 Simon Bradstreet.

13 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 421.

14 See Toppan’s Randolph, i. 242 note 425, iv. 189.

15 Simon Bradstreet. James II was proclaimed in Boston on April 20, 1685 (Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 473–474), and in Plymouth on April 24 (Plymouth Colony Records, vi. 160).

16 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 465. A copy of the judgment reached Boston July 1, 1685 (Sewall’s Diary, i. 85), and was placed in Secretary Rawson’s hands on July 2 (Toppan’s Randolph, i. 243 note 428, 256; 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, v. 142).

17 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 513.

18 See p. 11 note 3, below.

19 This Exemplification is printed in 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, ii. 246–278.

20 A copy of Dudley’s Commission had reached Boston more than two months before Randolph’s arrival. On March 3, 1686, Sewall wrote: “Mr. Stoughton calls at night and shews me the Names of the Persons in the Commission, telling me that a Copy of the Commission is come to Town. Comes by Eldridge, who bore away to Montserrat” (Diary, i. 123–124). On March 8 Wait Winthrop wrote to Fitz John Winthrop: “Here is little new since my last to you, only Jo. Eldrige, who came out in company with Gen̄er from England and was blowne off to the Leward Islands, is arrived. By him came a coppye of the com̄issiō for the Government of this Collony, the Prouince of Maine, New Hampsheir, and Kings Prouince or Narrogansett country, which was taken out of the Chancery and sent to M^r Dudley by a friend. The originall was on bord the Rose frigatt with M^r Randolph, and not yet ariued, but expected every day. The com̄ission is to M^r Dudley, as President till the cheife Govern^r come, and to the rest named as of Counsell, whereof you are one” (5 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 459–460).

21 Dudley also made a speech when the Council met on May 25. His two speeches were printed in a broadside and were reprinted in 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, vii. 487–489, 489–490. The speech of May 25 is in the Conucil Records (ii. 2–4) and is printed in the Dudley Records, pp. 226–227.

22 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 515.

23 v. 516.

24 v. 517. The date there given for the final meeting is May 20, but our late associate Mr. Toppan pointed out that the true date was May 21 (Publications of this Society, vi. 81–82).

25 Council Records, ii. 1. (In these Notes the marginal entries found in the Council Records, Court Records, House Journals, etc., are sometimes omitted.) Cf. Dudley Records, p. 226. The records here cited as “Dudley Records” are those printed in November, 1899, by Robert N. Toppan in 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xiii. 266–286. They were copied by Mr. Toppan from the Council Records and from the Massachusetts Archives at the State House, Boston.

The following notice appeared in the London Gazette of July 29, 1686:

Whitehall, July 25. The Letters from New-England give an Account, That on the 14th of the last Month [an error for May] arrived at Boston Mr. Randolph, Secretary of that Colony, in His Majesties Frigat The Rose, with an Exemplification of the Judgment given upon a Scire Facias in the High Court of Chancery here against their Charter, and with His Majesties Commission to Joseph Dudley Eqs; as President, and divers other Gentlemen of those Parts to be of His Majesties Council for the Government of that Territory, until the Arrival of Sir Edmund Andross Governor in chief of New-England. Whereupon His Majesties Commission had been published by Proclamation with great Solemnity and Demonstration of Joy, and the President and Council had already appointed Justices of the Peace and other Officers throughout the Government, and setled the Militia in His Majesties Name, all things being performed according to His Majesties Directions. There has also been presented to His Majesty by the hands of Robert Mason Esq; One of His Majesties Council there, a very Loyal Address from New-England, expressing their due Sense and Acknowledgments of His Majesties Grace and Favour in receiving them under His immediate Protection and Government (p. 2/2).

26 Council Records, ii. 36. Cf. Dudley Records, pp. 247–248.

27 Council Records, ii. 9. Cf. Dudley Records, p. 231. Writing in 1765 Hutchinson said:

Mr. Dudley’s commission made him president of the council for Massachusetts Bay, New-Hampshire and Main, and the Naraganset country, or King’s province, Stoughton was named deputy president, Simon Bradstreet, . . . and Edward Tyng were named of the council, not by separate warrants, or by mandamus, but all in one commission (History of Massachusetts, London, 1765, i. 351 note).

And Palfrey, writing in 1864, said that “Dudley was appointed President, and Stoughton Deputy-President;” though he added in a footnote, “I have not been able to find the commission,” except in part (History of New England, iii. 485 and note). As a matter of fact, however, no Deputy-President was named in Dudley’s Commission, which provided “that the said Joseph Dudley and every succeeding President of the said Councell shall & may nominate & appoint any one of the members of the said Councell for the time being to be his Deputy and to preside in his absence” (Publications of this Society, ii. 38).

28 Sewall wrote on December 19 that “Tho. Banker told me Sir Edmund was below;” and on December 20: “Governour Andros came up in the Pin̄ace, touches at the Castle, Lands at Gov^r Leveret’s wharf about 2 P. M. where the President, &c. meet him and so march up through the Guards of the 8 Companyes to the Town House, where part of the Com̄ission read” (Diary, i. 159–161). On December 20 Wait Winthrop wrote: “Yesterday morning, being Sabboth-day, S^r Edmond Andros arrived at Nantasket. We ware some of us downe in the afternoone to know his com̄ands, and are prepareing to receive his Excellency in as sutable man̄er as may be. . . . He intends to be here about noone this day” (5 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 471).

The following notices appeared in the London Gazette of October 25, 1686, and February 14, 1687:

Deale, Octob. 20. Yesterday sailed out of the Downes the King-Fisher, having on Board Sir Edmund Andros His Majesties Governor of New-England (October 25, 1686, p. 2).

Boston in New-England, Decemb. 27. The 20th Instant arrived here Sir Edmund Andros His Majesties Governor in chief on New-England, having been received with all Expressions of Joy and Respect. The Governor, and the Members of the Council being sworn, an Order was published to continue all Officers Civil and Military; And a general Council is appointed to be held here the 30th of this Month, of which Notice has been given to the Neighbouring Colonies (p. 2/1).

29 It is perhaps worth noting that this is apparently the first appearance in Massachusetts of the time-honored title “His Excellence” — or, as the from soon became, “His Excellency.”

30 Council Records, ii. 105. The Andros Records read:

His Ma^tys Commission for Government directed to his Excell: S^r Edmond Andros Knight was published and the Oath of Allegiance was administered to his Ex^ce by Joseph Dudley and the members then present together with the Oath for the due execution of Justice by his Ma^tys said commission enjoyned to be taken (p. 240).

The records here cited as “Andros Records” are those printed in October, 1899, by Robert N. Toppan in Proceeding American Antiquarian Society, New Series, xiii. 239–268. They were copied by Mr. Toppan from the original minutes in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society. The Andros Records extend from December 20, 1689, to April 25, 1687, both included. The records under Andros’s government at the State House (Council Records, ii. 105–161) extend from December 20, 1686, to December 29, 1687, both included; but several meetings recorded in the Andros Records are not in the Council Records; and the records of a few meeting — both before April 25, 1687, and after December 29, 1687 — are found only in the Massachusetts Archives.

31 Council Records, ii. 107. Cf. Andros Records, p. 242.

32 Andros Records, p. 249. There is no record of this meeting in the Council Records.

33 See note 1, above.

34 July 19, 1688 (Diary, i. 220). Andros’s proclamation to continue civil and military officers, dated July 19, 1688, is in Massachusetts Archives, cxix. 72.

35 July 24, 1688 (4 Massachusetts Historical Collections viii. 518).

36 See note 1, above. Though not named a Councillor in the Instruction issued to Andros on September 12, 1686, yet Nicholson was appointed to the Council on to April 25, 1687, and he had sat in the Council since August 24, 1687: see p. 33, below. On July 5, 1688, Sewall wrote: “This day Foy arrives, brings a Com̄ission for Capt. Nicholson to be Lieut. Governuor: New-York to be an̄exed to this Government. Mr. Randolph, a new Com̄ission to be Secretary of the whole Dominion” (Diary i. 219).

37 On July 28, 1688, Randolph said that “I am now going to N:York where Cap^t Nicholson also goes and is to Continue vpon the place” (Toppan’s Randolph, vi. 257). But in a letter dated “Boston August the 31^st 1688,” Nicholson wrote: “His Ex^cy began his journey from [error for “to”] New York on the last of July and I went w^th him to New London (about one hundred and twenty miles from hence) butt . . . From New London his Ex^cy sent me backe” (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 550). On July 30, 1688, Sewall wrote: “With many others I went to Dedham to accompany his Excellency in his way to New-York and Jersy” (Diary i. 221).

38 Nicholson was apparently still in Boston on August 27 (Toppan’s Randolph, vi. 263), but was in New York by October 7 (vi. 270), from which place he wrote letters on October 21, November 15, and December 3, 1688 (iv. 246, 252, 255).

39 On June 10, 1689, the Council of New York declared that “We have therefore thought it adviseable that the Lieut^t Governor Captⁿ Francis Nicholson doe depart by the first ship for England to render an account of the present deplorable state of affairs here” (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 585). On June 11 Nicholas Bayard said that “This Day the L^t Govern^r departed from this Citty in order for his transportation for England” (iii. 599). On July 9 Stephen van Cortlandt wrote: “Cap^t Nicholson . . . departed very privately to the Nethersincks thinking to go for England in the Brigantine with Coll Dongan who was gone to sea, but being hard weather and Coll. Dongan sea sick Resolved to saile back againe chusing rather to dy on shoare then at sea, and came in again just at the time Capt. Nicholson arrived at Cap^t Browne’s, and neither John Selike, M^r Wadland, nor Heathcott being willing to carry Cap^t Nicholson for England He Resolved to buy ⅓ part of said Brigantine which he unloaden and did send for 25 tunns of Log wood which he took on board and so sailed out the 24^th day of June” (iii. 595).

40 Toppan’s Randolph, iii. 4.

41 Sir Thomas Osborne, first Earl of Danby.

42 Toppan’s Randolph, iii. 4. The direction in regard to the issuing of a Commission occurs as a “Mem^dum” to the main paper printed by Toppan. From a passage in Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, i. 782, it appears that the King’s approbation and direction were given May 31.

43 On June 20, 1679, the Privy Council approved a report of the Committee in which it was said of Randolph that “from the time of his Arrival out of New England which was on the 10th of September 1676, untill the 12th of June 1678, when he was appointed Collector of your Majestie’s Customes in those parts he has remained altogether unrewarded by your Majestie for his great pains and attendance” (Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, i. 844).

44 That the commission must have been issued on or before July 9, 1678, is proved by the “Instruction . . . to Edward Randolph Esq^r Collector Surveyor and Searcher of his Ma^ties Customs in New England.” These, dated July 9, 1678, being: “Whereas in pursuance of an Act of Parliament made in the 25 Year of his Ma^ties Reign . . . We haue Deputed you to be Collecto^r Survey^r and Searcher of all the Rates Duties and Imposicons.” These Instruction are in the Massachusetts Archives, lxi. 168–177, and also xx. 2–11; and are printed in Toppan’s Randolph, iii. 19–30. Palfrey says: “Randolph’s instruction, as Collector, from the Commission of the Customs (George Downing and two others), dated July 9, 1678, are in Mass. Arch., LXI. 168–177. His commission, of the same date, is printed in Mass. Hist. Colls., XXVII. 129” (History of New England, iii. 318 note). Palfrey was in error as to the Commission, sine what is printed in 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, vii. 129–138, is not the Commission but the Instruction of July 9, 1678.

45 This Commission in printed in Publication of this Society, ii. 333–337. Attention may be called to a slight error in Toppan’s Randolph, where a draft in Randolph’s handwriting is made to read: “Whereas his Maj^tie by his Lett^rs Patent under y^e Great Seale of England bearing date at Westminster the 14 day of October in the 33 yeare of his Raigne hath erected an office of Collector Surveyor & Searcher of his Maj^ties Customes” (iii. 120). In the draft itself, copied by Toppan from the Massachusetts Archives (lxi. 249), the date clearly reads “the 15^th day of October in ye 33 yeare of his Raigne,” though “15” might easily be mistaken for “14.”

46 This Commission (which is printed in Publications of this Society ii. 311–312) might have been considered in section I, but Commission did not, as did Dudley’s, terminate with the arrival of Andros on December 20, 1689; and it seemed best to bring together in section II all the data relating to Randolph.

47 On May 14 Sewall wrote: “The Rose-Frigot arrives at Nantasket, Mr. Randolph up at Town about 8 mane” (Diary, i. 137).

48 Council Records, ii. 45. Cf. Dudley Records, pp. 252–253.

49 Andros Records, p. 260. There is no record of this meeting in the Council Records.

50 The lease is printed in Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 155–158.

51 Council Records ii. 117.

52 Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 165–167.

53 The Commission is printed in Publications of this Society, ii. 313–314. On April 25, 1688, John Povey wrote to Randolph:

This accompanies Yo^r Patent for y^e Sec^rs office of of New England which bearing date after the annexing New York & the Jerseys with the others Colonies of New England Makes You Sec^ry of the whole Governm^t of New England in its p^rsent Extent But M^r Sptagg will have an Order for You make him a Deputation of so much as he held before (Massachusetts Archives, cxxviii. 186; printed in Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 221, where “Spragg” and “Deputation” are wrongly printed “Spraug” and “dignitatem.” Cf. Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 217, vi. 269, 270.).

54 Massachusetts Archives, cxxix. 90; printed in Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 231.

55 Randolph had great difficulty in obtaining possession of the records pertaining to his office. In a letter to the Committee dated August 23, 1686, he said:

His Ma^tie hauing been Graciously pleased to grant me the Office of Secretary & Register of this Gom^t I demanded the Records of the Generall Count & other Bookes of publick Concern, which ought to be lodged in my Office; and had an Order to that purpose; but some of y^e Councill & others looking vpon me as y^e Onely enemy of their Country haue encouraged the former Sec̄ry to keepe them in his Custody (Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 116).

In a letter to the Lord Treasurerr (the Earl of Rochester) of the same date (August 23, 1686), Randolph said:

His Majestie hath been graciously pleased to make me Secretary of his Councill here, but y^e accounts of y^e Late Treasurers & w^tever else relater to y^e discover of his Maj^ties Revennue is kept from my knowledge: The publick Records & all y^e Grants & Settlement of Lands in this Country ought to be lodged in my office are otherwise disposed of, not being willing to entrust them with me, who have been, & (as they say) am still y^e Grand enemy of their Country (Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 66–67. Cf. Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 121, 123–124).

The order referred to in the first of these letters was given June 13, 1686. The record of the Council meeting held that day states that Joseph Dudley, William Stoughton, Edward Randolph, and John Usher were the only members present; and then continues (Council Records, ii. 39–40; cf. Dudley Records, p. 250):

Who not makeing a full Councill (no business was done that day) only a letter writt by the Presid^t to Edward Rawson Esq^re late Secr: of the Massachusetts Colony and accordingly sent (a Copie whereof follows)

Whereas it hath pleased his Maj^ty in the settlem^t of the Governments of this His Maj^tys Territory & Dominion to appoint and Commissionate Edward Randolph Esq^re to be the Secretary and Register of this his Maj^tys said Governm^t and Dominion.

These are therefore in his Maj^ty’s name to order & require you to deliver into the said M^r Randolphs hands, the Books, Records, Files and other utensells belonging to the said Office of Secretary late exercised by yourself, that they may be safely disposed and managed for his Maj^ty’s service according to the direction that are or may be given unto said Edw: Randolph, and hereof you may fail not.

J. Dudley P.

On September 24 it was “Ordered. That M^r Rawson deliver up the Keys of the Records to M^r Addington and M^r Benjⁿ Bullivant” (Council Records, ii. 77; cf. Dudley Records, p. 271). On October 21 it was “Ordered: That M^r Addington & M^r Bullivant attended M^r Rawson on Saturday next, to assort, take an account and receive the Records of the late Governm^t and deliver to the Secretary” (Council Records, ii. 80; cf. Dudley Records, p. 273). On December 8 it was ––

Ordered: That Wait Winthrope Esq^re Symon Lynd Esq^re Benjamin Bullivant, M^r Isaac Addington & M^r Daniell Allen, be a Committee with the Secretary, to receive and sort and form the Records of the Country, (now in the hands of M^r Edward Rawson late Secretary) that so they may be apt and ready for service, and that the persons above named be all sworn to the faithfull discharge of their trust in this matter, and to the end it may be forthwith proceded in, M^r Lynd and M^r Bullivant are empowered and hereby ordered to take the same from M^r Rawson to, morrow and to remove them in the posture they are now in, into the Library Chamber, and that there go forth a strict Warrant to M^r Rawson to deliver them accordingly; and it is further Ordered; that two locks be put upon the Office where such paper shall be lodged, and that M^r Bullivant, or such other person as M^r Randolph shall depute to that service, shall keep the key of one of the Locks, and Capⁿ Winthrop M^r Lynd or M^r Addington the other (Council Records, ii. 94–95; cf. Dudley Records, p. 281).

On February 4, 1687, ––

His Ex^ce Seeing the great necessities of haveing the Records of the Country removed from the dwelling house of M^r Rawson late Sec̄ry

It was Ordered that the persons Impowered by an order of the late President and Councill of the 8^th of December last doe effectually persue the same and that the Office in the Court House in Boston be forthwith enlarged and prepared to receive them accordingly (Andros Records, pp. 249–250. Cf. Toppan’s Randolph, vi. 181, 210).

In a draft in the Massachusetts Archives this reads:

Whereas by a order of the late President & Councill dated the 8^th day of December last It was ordered That Wait Winthrop, Simon Lynds Esq^rs Benjamin Bulliuent, m^r Isaac Addington, & m^r Daniel Allin be a Com^tee with Secretary to receiue sort and form the Records of the Country (now in the hands of m^r Rawson late Secretary,) that they may be ready for Seruice, Enjoyning the s^d Com^tee to be Sworn for the faithfull discharge of their trust impowering, & ordering, m^r Lynd & m^r Bulliuent to take the same from m^r Rawson the next day following, & to remove the same, (in the posture they find them) into the Liberary Chamber. In pursuance whereof it is hereby Ordered That the s^d Com^tee do forthwith enter upon the effectual execusion thereof, bringing them to ye Office provided for them & M^r Rawson late Sec̄ry to be assisting in sorting & disposing accordingly (cxxvi. 255).

A year went by when, on February 3, 1688, another order was issued (Massachusetts Archives, cxxviii. 36):

Att a Councill help at the Councill Chamber in Boston

y^e 3^d day of february 1687.

Present

His Exc̄ye S^r Edmund Andros Kn^t &c:

Joseph Dudley		John Hincks
W^m Stoughton		Nath: Clarke
Rob^t Mason		Edw^d Randolph
Tho: Hinckley	Esqrs	ffranc: Nicholson	Esqrs
John Usher		Sam^ll Shrimpton
Barth: Gidney		W^m Browne

Forasmuch as the severall Orders formerly made for taking an account of the publiqȝ Records of the late Massachusetts Collony have not been attended that the same might be putt into the Sec͞r͞yes Custody and all persons have recourse to them as Occasion Ordered that M^r Isaac Addington and M^r John Herbert Coward be and are hereby desired and authorized in the presence of M^r Edward Randolph Sec͞ry and M^r Edward Rawson the late Sec͞ry or some one on [altered from “in,” or “in” altered from “on”] his behalf to take an account in writeing of all the said Record and that they begin the same on Tuesday next and continue day by day about the same till compleated and that then the said Records be delivered into the hands of the said Sec͞ry and the account thereof by them taken forthwith returned to his board under their hands

By Order in Council &c

John West D Sec͞ry

What is perhaps the final allusion to this matter occurs in the following document (Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 238) under date of March 6, 1688:

Att a Councill help att y^e Councill Chamber in Boston

on Tuesday ye 6^th day of March 1687.

p^resent

His Exceƚƚ^y S^r Edm^d Andros Kn^t &c

Joseph Dudley		Jn° Lathrop
W^m Stoughton		Nath^ƚƚ Clarke
Jn° Winthrop	Esq^rs	Rich^d Arnold	Esq^rs
Waite Winthrop		Edw^d Randolph
Jn° Usher		ffranc Nicholson

Upon Reading this day in Councill ye Report made by Edw^d Randolph Sec̄ry Edw^d Rawson Isaack Addington & Jn° Herbert Coward togather with ye account by them taken of publigue Records of ye late Massachusetts Collony –– pursuant to an Ord^r of this Board beareing Date ye 3^d of ffebruary past Ordered that ye s^d Records be forthwith taken into ye Custody & Charge of ye Sec̄ry & Kept with ye other Records of this Dominion in the Sec̄rys office where all ꝑsons may haue recourse to them as occasion & that ye Key heitherto Kept by m^r Rawson of ye place where ye s^d Records are be forthwith to ye s^d Sec̄ry

By Order in Councill

56 Court Records, vi. 1.

57 vi. 1–2. By error this letter is dated “19^th April 1690.” The letter to Andros of April 18 was signed by fifteen persons, of whom three –– William Browne, Bartholomew Gedney, and John Nelson –– did not sign the letter of April 19 to Pipon. The letter to Pipon of April 19 was signed by fourteen persons, of whom two –– William Johnson and James Russell –– did not sign the letter to Andros of April 18.

58 Court Records, vi. 2.

59 vi. 3.

60 Court Records, vi. 2–3.

61 vi. 11.

62 vi. 12.

63 Court Records, vi. 12.

64 vi. 15.

65 vi. 15.

66 Court Records, vi. 16–18.

67 vi. 22–24.

68 Court Records, vi. 25.

69 Court Records, vi. 26–27.

70 vi. 28.

71 Court Records, vi. 28.

72 In an address to William and Mary dated May 20, signed by “Simon Bradstreet in the Name and behalf of the Council,” it was declared that “We heartily congratulate Your Maj^ties happy accession to the Crown” (vi. 24); and in another address drawn up June 6, signed by “Simon Bradstreet in the Name, and behalf of the Council and Convention,” it was stated: “Your Majesties happy Accession to the Royall Throne was most Joyfully Congratulated by Your Subjects in this Colony, and the proclamation there of there of here performed upon the Nine, and Twenty’th Day of May last past, with all the Decency, and Solemnity, the Place is Capable of Affording, and all Imaginable expressions of Joy” (vi. 32–33).

73 vi. 30.

74 vi. 31.

75 vi. 32–34.

76 Court Records, vi. 34–35.

77 vi. 37.

78 vi. 38–39.

79 vi. 47.

80 vi. 88.

81 vi. 88.

82 vi. 90.

83 vi. 97.

84 vi. 105.

85 vi. 133.

86 Court Records, vi. 183.

87 vi. 214.

88 vi. 217.

89 As already stated (p. 7, above) the Plymouth Colony was included in the Territory and Dominion of New England created by Andros’s Commission of June 3, 1686. A General Court was held at Plymouth in June 1686, and Courts of Assistants were held in June, July, and October, 1686 (Plymouth Colony Records, vi. 184–204, vii. 299–304). At the General Court held in June, 1686, Thomas Hinckley, William Bradford, and Samuel Sprague were chosen respectively Governer, Deputy-Governer, and Secretary (vi. 185). No Court was held between October 5, 1686, and June, 1689 when Thomas Hinckley, William Bradford, and Samuel Sprague were chosen respectively Governer, Deputy-Governer, and Secretary (vi. 205); and the following proceedings took place:

At their Ma^ties General Court of Election held at Plimouth, for the Colony of New Plimouth, on the first Tuesday in June, 1689.

Whereas, through the great changes divine Providence hath ordered out, both in England and in this countrey, we, the loyall subjects of the crown of England, are left in an unsetled estate, destitute of gover̄ment, and exposed to the ill consequents thereof; and having heretofore enjoyed a quiet settlement of gover̄ment in this their ma^ties colony of New Plimouth for more than threescore and six years without any interruption; having also been by the late Kings of England from time to time, by their royall letters, graciously owned and acknowledged therein, whereby notwithstanding our late unjust interruption and suspention therefrom by the illegal arbitrary power of S^r Edmond Andros, now ceased, the General Court held here in the name of their Present ma^ties, William and Marry, King and Queen of England, &c., together with the encouragement given by their said ma^ties gracious declaretions, and in humble confidence of their s^d ma^ties good liking, doe, therefore, hereby resume and declare their reassuming of their said former way of gover̄ment, according to such wholesome constitutions, rules, and orders as were here in force in June, 1686, our title therto being warranted by prescription and otherwise as aforesaid, and expect a reddy submission thereunto by all their ma^ties good subjects of this colony, untill their ma^ties or this Court shall otherwise order.

And that all our Courts be hereafter held, and all warrants directed, and officers sworne, in the name of their ma^ties, William and Mary, King and Queen of England, &c. (vi. 208–209).

The last General Court appears to have been held on July 7, 1691 (vi. 268–269), though a Court of Assistants was held on April 5, 1692, the final record being:

The Court . . . adjourn to Thursday y^e 9^th day of June next, and all proces and bonds continued to s^d adjournm^t, & parties ordered to attend the same (vii. 312).

90 Publications of this Society, ii. 38. A list, sent Randolph to the Committee on September 2, 1685, of “The Names of Persons well disposed & humbly offered to be of his Ma^ties Council in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay & the Provisions in New Eng^d to consist of One president one Deputy-President & 18 to be of y^e Councill,” will be found in Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 43–47.

91 Publications of this Society, ii. 43.

92 According to the Council Records (ii. 1; cf. Dudley Records, p. 226), only the President and eleven members of the Council were present on May 25; yet in their letter to the Committee of June 1 the President and Council stated that “Joseph Dudley Esq^re President haveing first taken the Oathes in his Maj^tys Commission required, did administer the same Oathes unto fourteen of the Members of his Maj^tys Councill then present and entred upon the exercise of the Government” (Council Records, ii. 23; cf. Dudley Records, pp. 239–240). The two members of the council not recorded in the Council Records (ii. 1) as present on May 25 were Janothan Tyng and John Usher. There are curious discrepancies in the records. Thus twelve persons are recorded as present in Council on June 1 (Council Records, ii. 19; Dudley Records, p. 237), yet the letter to the Committee drawn up that day was signed by eleven members (Toppan’s Randolph, iv 82), while the address to the King also drawn up June 1 was signed by fourteen members (iv. 85).

93 Toppan’s Randolph, vi. 171–172.

94 Council Records, ii. 23–24. Cf. Dudley Records, p. 240.

95 Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 85–86.

96 Randolph is at times strangely confused as to the Council. Thus in a letter to Archbishop Sancroft dated July 7, 1686, he said: “Of a president and eighteen members of the councell, there is onely myselfe, since Mr. Mason’s departure for England, that is of the church of England” (Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 89). Dudley’s government consisted of a President and saventeen members of the Council.

97 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, pp. 283–296) in the possession of the Editor.

98 Ibid.

99 Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685–1688, No 1197 1, p. 351.

100 Printed “Francis Brenley” in the Calendar.

101 Printed “Peter(?) Sandforth” in the Calendar. Miss Lucy Drucker of London, who has examined the original at my request, informs me that the name is clearly “Peleg Sandforth,” or Peleg Sanford, sometime Governor of Rhode Island. It is stated in the Rhode Island Historical Magazine that on “March 25, 1687, he was appointed one of the Andros Council, but would not serve” (vii. 296–297). This is a mistake, the passage in the text showing that Peleg Sanford’s name was merely transmitted as one of the persons “best qualified to fill vacancies in Council.” Peleg Sanford was a brother of John Sanford, a member of Andros’s Council in 1688: See p. 41 note 11, below.

102 Printed “Humphery Lusamb” in the Calendar.

103 Printed “Eliakim Hutchison” in the Calendar.

104 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 389, Vol. 9, p. 434) in the possession of the Editor.

105 Council Records, ii. 134. Sewall writes: “Tuesday, Augt. 23. Balston arrives and brings Gazetts to June 13, and a Privy Seal whereby Capt. Nicholson is added to the Council, being sworn” (Diary, i. 186).

106 Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 811.

107 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, pp. 353–354) in the possession of the Editor.

108 Council Records, ii. 150.

109 Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 817.

110 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, p. 365) in the possession of the Editor.

111 See p. 40, below.

112 See p. 8 note 1, above.

113 See p. 15 note, above.

114 From a transcript (Public Record office, Colonial office, Class 5, Vol. 855, No. 95) in the possession of the Editor.

115 Publications of this Society, ii. 18.

116 On September 18, 1691, Sir Henry Ashurst and Increase Mather submitted “names of persons . . . as Governor, Deputy-Governor and Assistants for Massachusetts. Governor, Sir William Phips. Deputy-Governor, William Stoughton. Assistants,” then follow the names of twenty-seven persons only, that of Elisha Hutchinson not being included (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1689–1692, No. 1, 772, p. 545). In the same work appears, under date of October 7, 1691: “Charter of Massachusetts. Herein the Council or Assistants are named as in No. 1,772, and Isaac Addington is named Secretary” (No. 1,806, p. 550). Hutchinson’s name was inadvertently omitted in the printed Calendar, Miss Drucker informing me that it occurs in the original of No. 1,772.

117 The form given in the text is more or less arbitrary. Trifling differences — like “Brown” or “Browne,” “Clark” or “Clarke” or “Clerk,” “Gedney” or “Gidney,” “Winthrop” or “Winthorp” — are not noted.

118 See p. 30 note 1, above.

119 See p. 32 note 3, above.

120 See p. 35 note 1, above.

121 See p. 35 note 2, above.

122 “Alborough” (B, C).

123 The date is variously given as November 1 (J. N. Arnold, Vital Record of Rhode Island, Newport, iv. 49), November 14 (Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, i. 20), and December 14 (J. O. Austin, One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families, p. 1).

124 “Alcott” (D).

125 His will, dated December 2, 1712, was proved in 1716 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxxvi. 401–402).

126 Savage says he died November 6, 1696 (Genealogical Dictionary, i. 43). On February 24, 1697, Wait Winthrop wrote: “I forgot in the other letter to tell you that Coll. Allyn is dead this winter at Hartford” (5 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 525).

127 Ipswich Vital Records, ii. 483.

128 Savage, i. 66.

129 His will, dated May 9, 1707, was proved April 19, 1711 (Collections New York Historical Society for 1893, pp. 68–69).

130 “Febr. 20 [1704]. Major William Bradford dies in the 80^th of his Age: He was a Right New-England Christian” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 95).

131 Andover Vital Records, ii. 397. He was a son of Gov. Simon Bradstreet.

132 “About 10. at night Gov^r Bradstreet dyes; which we are told of March, 29^th at Cambridge” (Sewall, March 27, 1697, Diary, i. 450–451).

In saying that “The list of councillors [under Andros] in Palfrey’s New England, ed. of 1890, vol. 3, p. 604, includes Simon Bradstreet, Dudley Bradstreet, Nathaniel Saltonstall and Francis Champernowne” (Laws of New Hampshire, 1904, i. 144 note), Mr. A. S. Batchellor is in error. Palfrey gives a list of the Councillors under Dudley, and then says: “In Andros’s first Commission all the above-named Counsellors were included, except the two Bradstreets, Saltonstall, and Champernoon, who had not accepted the trust; and the following were added.” This statement is correct, except that the members of Andros’s first Council were named not in his Commission but in his Instructions.

133 An extract from a letter written by Randolph on May 21, 1687, reads: “His Excell, has to do with a perverse people. Here is none of the council at hand, Except Mr Mason, & myself, & M^r B.[rockholt] & M^r Usher, who appear lively for his Majesty’s Interest” (4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 531). Brockholes was not a member of the Council at that time, hence a mistake was made in expanding “B.” into “B.[rockholt].” Randolph’s letter is printed in full in Toppan’s Randolph, where we read: “his Excellence has to do with a perverse people here is none of the Councill at hand except M^r Mason and my selfe who and M^r Bulkley and M^r Vsher appeare liuely for his Ma^ties interest: Maj Bulkley and M^r Hinks are remote and come seldome” (vi. 221).

134 “Febr. 23,17¹⁵/₁₆. The hon^ble William Brown esqr. died in his house at Salem” (Sewall, Diary, iii. 74).

135 “Bulkley” (A), “Buckly” (B), “Buckley” (C).

136 “May 25^th 1688. Col. Peter Bulkley of Concord dies, having languished for a long time. Died this Friday about eleven aclock” (Sewall, Diary, i. 215).

137 On May 21, 1687, Randolph wrote: “Twill be for his Majestyes service to putt Mr. Shrimpton in the place of Capt. Champernoon and Mr. Luscombe in the place of Mr. Jo. Sandford of Rhoad Island, both dead” (Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 163). Owing to indisposition, Champernoon did not serve in Dudley’s Council (see p. 31, above), and was not a member of Andros’s first Council; hence C. W. Tuttle was mistaken in saying that Champernoon “was continued in this office under Sir Edmund Andros, the successor of Dudley, and held it until his death in 1687” (Historical Papers, p. 120).

138 Savage, i. 399.

139 “Rhode-Island, May 28. Last Lord’s Day Dyed here Walter Clarke Esq; Deputy Governour of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations, in the Seventy Seventh Year of his Age” (Boston News Letter, May 31, 1714, p.2/2). A document dated June 7, 1714, says that “it hath pleased God, after a long and tedious sickness to take our hon’d father, Walter Clarke out of this world by that fatal messenger, death, on ye 23d day of May, 1714” (Newport Historical Magazine, iii. 140).

140 “Coxshell” (B), “Coxhill” (C).

141 Newport Historical Magazine, iii. 186. He was the son of John Coggeshall, first President of Rhode Island, who died November 27, 1647 (ibid.).

142 “Stephen Courtland” (C).

143 Bellomont wrote: “P. S. 26^th Nov. 1700. I intended you Collonel Courtland’s Quarterly Book of Entries and Clearings of ships which he was providing, but he fell sick about 8 days since and dyed yesterday” (New York Colonial Documents, iv. 779).

144 “June, 9 [1718]. Mr. Corwin dies about 9. m.” (Sewall, Diary, iii. 186).

145 Collections Maine Historical Society, i. 309; Suffolk Probate Files, No. 2806.

146 “Daniell” (D).

147 Savage, ii. 59; Collections Maine Historical Society, i. 310; Maine Wills, pp. 199–200.

148 “Boston, On Saturday the 2d Currant Dyed the very Honourable JOSEPH DUDLEY, Esq; at his Seat in Roxbury, in the 73d Year of his Age, being born September 23d 1647” (Boston News Letter, April 11, 1720, p. 2/1). The letter “A” is placed against Dudley’s name for convenience, though it is perhaps a question whether, strictly speaking, he was or was not a member of that Council.

149 “Febr. 9 [1711]. Seventh-day, between 11 and 12 m. Col. John Foster expires. His place at the Council Board and Court will hardly be filled up. I have lost a good Left-hand man. The Lrd save New-England! Now just half the Counsellours mention’d in the Charter, are dead; The Lord prepare the rest, and me especially to follow after” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 300). Sewall has made a mistake either in the day of the month or in the day of week, since February 9 was Friday, not Saturday.

150 “March, 1 [1698]. Col. Barthol, Gedney dies” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 8*).

151 O. P. Fuller, History of Warwick (1875), pp. 30–31, 69; H. E. Turner, Greenes of Warwick in Colonial History (1877), p. 44; The Greene Family in England and America with Pedigrees (1901), pp. 43–44. “During the administration of Sir Edmond Andros,” writes H. E. Turner, “the name of John Greene does not appear on the record. He appears as one of those named of the council, but he, probably, never took the engagement, and as the Narragansett petitioners say, sometime in 1686 he was about going to England, probably he was absent a part of that time” (Greenes of Warwick in Colonial History, p. 44). On July 3, 1686, an address from Rhode Island to James II was drawn up (Rhode Island Colonial Records, iii. 193–194); in two documents without precise date it is stated that Greene “is gone to attend your Majesty” (iv. 208, 209); and Greene was certainly in England in January, 1687 (iv. 221–222). Hence it is probable that he carried the address to England. The following extract is taken from the London Gazette of September 16, 1686:

Windsor, Sept. 13. His Majesty has Graciously received the Address of the Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation in New England, Humbly Representing, that upon the Signification of a Writ of Quo Warranto against their Charter, They had resolved, in general Assembly, not to stand Suit with His Majesty, but wholly to submit to His Royal Pleasure themselves and their Charter; whereof His Majesty has thought fit to accept the Surrender (p.2/2).

Greene and Mason were back in Boston by May 21, 1687, on which day “Robert Mason and John Greene Esq^rs tooke the Oathes of Allegiance, and that for performing the duty of Councellors, being both lately arrived from England” (Council Records, ii. 120).

152 “May, 13.2 [1717]. Set out for Salem . . . Went to the Funeral of Col. Hathorne” (Sewall, Diary, iii. 130).

153 In the Massachusetts Province Laws, Hayman, Alcock, and Donnell are assigned to the Province of Maine, While Davis is assigned as “Of the inhabitants of, or proprietors of, land within the territory lying between the river of the Sagadahoc and Nova Scotia” (vii. 6). But in the list of Councillors furnished by Mather and Ashurst on September 18, 1691 (see p. 35 note 3, above), Hayman is assigned to Massachusetts, and Alcock, Davis, and Donnell to Maine.

154 “Dec^r 18 [1712]. After Lecture, and Din̄er I go to the Funeral of Capt. Sam^l Hayman, aged 70. years. . . . He was at Boston Lecture this day Sen̄ight, and died on the Lords-day night. He was a Lover of New-England” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 369).

155 For a Sketch of Hinckes, see Collections New Hampshire Historical Society, viii. 360–364.

156 “Barnstable, April 25. On Monday the 16th Currant, Dyed suddenly here, Thomas Hinkley, Esqr. formerly Governour of Plimouth-Colony: Aged about 86 Years” (Boston News Letter, April 30, 1705, p. 2/2).

157 “Boston, On Tuesday last the tenth Currant Died here the Honourable Col. Elisha Hutchinson, Esq; aged Seventy six Years, a true lover of his Country, of an Exemplary conversation, a true friend to pure Religion, a Gentleman whose deserts raised [him] to some of the highest Posts in the Government for many Years, he was Colonel of the Regiment, Chief Judge of the Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, and one of His Majesty’s Council for this Province” (Boston News Letter, December 16, 1717).

158 “Jolliffe” (D).

159 “Nov^r 23. 1701. John Joyliffe Esqr. dies. He had been blind, and laboured under many Infirmities for a long time” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 48).

160 “Barnaby Lathrop” (B, C), “Barnabas Lothrop” (D).

161 Savage, iii. 119.

162 “On the last Lord’s Day the 29th of January past, Dyed at Charlestown the Honourable Joseph Lynde, Esq; Aged 90 Years, born in that place, formerly one of His Majesty’s Council of this Province” (Boston News Letter, February 2, 1727, p. 2/2).

163 “Tuesday, Nov. 22 [1687]. I goe to Hog-Island . . . on Wednesday came home and hear of Justice Lynde’s death yesterday about noon” (Sewall, Diary, i. 195). See p. 34, above.

164 “I . . . send this . . . which serves onely to acquaint you of ye Death of my Cousin Mason. who dyed the 6 instant was buried at Kingstone vpon this riuer” (Randolph to Blathwayt, September 12, 1688, Massachusetts Archives, cxxix. 181; cf. Toppan’s Randolph, iv. 235).

165 “Mason was a merchant in London, a zealous man in the cause of New England, and I suppose his name was inserted in the charter from mere respect and gratitude, for he never came over to New England” (Hutchison, History of Massachusetts, Boston, 1767, ii. 15 note). On this Savage comments as follows: “At the first elect. [in 1693] our people were not prevented by respect or gratitude from leav. him out, as they did sev. others of the creatures of Mather” (Genealogical Dictionary, iii. 170). The fact that Mason was not resident in Massachusetts in 1693 is sufficient to account for his being left out that year. Allusions to him will be found in Sewell’s Diary and Letter-Book. It has been asserted, but perhaps on inadequate evidence, that he was in Massachusetts in 1686: see Massachusetts Province Laws, vii. 5 note; Z. G. Whitman, History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1842), p. 220; O. A. Roberts, History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1895), i. 276, 277, 286; C. Robbins, History of the Second Church (1852), p. 263.

166 W. H. Whitmore, Genealogy of the Payne and Gore Families (Prince Society) p. 12; Suffolk Probate Flies, No. 2883.

167 J. O. Austin, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, p. 137.

168 “John Nicholson” (C). Born November 12, 1655, Francis Nicholson was commissioned an Ensign on January 16, 1678, and on July 30, 1686, Captain of a Company of Foot for the Colony of New England. He came over in December, 1686, the first allusion to him here by name apparently being an entry in Sewall’s Diary for May 17, 1687 (i. 177). He was never knighted. See C. Dalton, English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661–1714, i. 221, 269, 323, ii. 27, 83, vi. 20, 184, 191, 287, 399–400; Dalton, George the First’s Army, 1714–1727, ii. 55–62; Notes and Queries, September 12, 1903, Ninth Series, xii. 201–202; Nation, xcvii. 32. He is sometimes assigned to New York, but he did not go to New York until long after his arrival at Boston. His death was noted in the New England Weekly Journal of April 29, 1728, p. 2/2.

169 “Phillips” (C). The name is found in over a dozen different forms.

170 E. H. Hall, Philipse Manor at Yonkers (1912), pp. 38–39; Collections New York Historical Society for 1892, pp. 369–374.

171 “On the last Lord’s Day died at Charlestown the Honourable John Phillips, Esq; formerly of His Majesty’s Council in this Province, Aged 90 odd Years” (Boston News Letter, March 25, 1725, p. 2/2).

172 “Salisbury; Major Robert pike Esq. was Interr’d here on Thursday the 19th. of December last; the Foot Company of the Town, and Troop, being in Arms. He died in the 92 year of his Age” (Boston News Letter, January 6, 1707, p. 4/2).

173 “Col. John Pynchon died Jan^y 17. 170⅔, about Sun-Rise, as Mr. Holyoke tells me Sabbath-Day” (Sewall, Diary, February 6, ii. 73).

174 Toppan’s Randolph, ii. 182.

175 “April 2, 1694. Monday. . . . In the Afternoon, all the Town is filled with the discourse of Major Richards’s Death, which was extraordinarily suddain; was abroad on the Sabbath, din’d very well on Monday, and after falling into an angry passion with his Servant Richard Frame, presently after, fell probably into a Fit of Apoplexy, and died” (Sewall, Diary, i. 389–390).

176 “Thorsday, April, 28 [1709]. Mr. Russell dies about 11. a.m̄. He was a good Christian, and right New-England Man; is I think the last of them chosen in the year 1680: about 68. years old” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 253).

177 “May, 22 [1707]. Thorsday, . . . Bro^r Tapin tells me of the death of Col. Saltonstall on Wednesday after Lecture” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 187). Cf. Haverhill Vital Records, ii. 466.

178 At least, he is not recorded as present at any meeting of the Council.

179 Rhode Island Historical Magazine, vii. 294–295. In a letter dated May 21, 1687, Randolph said that Sanford was dead (see p. 37 note 7, above). He is sometimes confused with his father, also John Sanford, who was President of Rhode Island in 1653 and died between June 22 and November 16 of that year (Rhode Island Historical Magazine, vii. 293–294).

180 “Boston, On Monday last dyed here the Honourable Peter Sargent Esqr. of Her Majesty’s Councill for this Province” (Boston News Letter, February 15, 1714, p. 2/2).

181 “This Morning about half an hour after Five Died here the very Honourable Samuel Sewall, Esq; in the 78th Year of his Age” (Boston News Letter, January 1, 1730, p. 2/2).

182 “Febr. 9 [1698]. Col. S. Shrimpton dies of an Apoplexy” (Sewall, Diary, ii. 8*). This entry is apparently wrong, as Sewall elsewhere writes: “Fourth-day, Febr. 9. Last night, about nine of the clock, Col. Shrimpton dyes of an Apoplexy” (Diary, i. 470). And on February 9 Wait Winthrop wrote: “I fear the post will be gon, so must end by giueing you the bad news that Coll. Shrimpton dyed about nine of the clock the last night haueing not bin sick aboue two or three days, tho something indisposed as he use to be longer” (5 Massachusetts Historical Collections viii. 528).

183 J. N. Arnold, Vital Records of Rehoboth, p. 876.

184 His will, dated March 16, 1691, was proved July 12, 1692 (Savage, iv. 131; Suffolk Probate Flies, No. 1970).

185 Though in the Instructions to Andros the name clearly reads “John Spragg,” it has hitherto been assumed that “Spragg” was a variant of “Sprague,” and John Sprague has been assigned sometimes to Rhode Island (A. S. Batchellor, Laws of New Hampshire, 1904, i. 144), and sometimes — on the authority of an old list printed by Hutchinson — to Plymouth Colony (Hutchison, History of Massachusetts, London, 1765, i. 354; Baylies, Historical Memoir of New Plymouth, vol. ii. pt. iv p. 43; Batchellor, Laws of New Hampshire, i. 830 and note 1. Cf. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, iv. 153–154, who challenged this identification). The person was unquestionably John Spragg (Sprag, Spragge), who lived in New York from 1683 to 1687. On January 27, 1683, Spragg was commissioned by the Duke of York Secretary of New York and reached there the following summer or autumn (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1681–1685, Nos. 919, 1415, pp. 378, 555). On August 11, 1685, Governor Dongan wrote Blathwayt that “Mr Sprag the Secretary of this place will goe for England this winter and carry the Laws” (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 364). The Instructions to Dongan issued May 29, 1686, contained this clause: “Whereupon you are forthwith to call together the members of our Council for that our Province, by name Anthony Brockholes, Frederick Philips, Stephanus van Courtland, Lucas Santen, John Spragg, Jervas Baxter, and John Young Esquires” (ibid. iii. 369). On September 13, 1686, Spragg wrote Blathwayt, “I hope to be myself the bearer of the quarterly returns required by the Lords of Trade and Plantations” (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685–1688, No. 861, p. 242). On September 14 “Governor Dongan took the oaths on receiving his new Commission and Instructions. Anthony Brockholes, Frederick Flipson, Stephanus van Cortlandt, John Spragge, and Gervis Baxter were sworn of the Council. Agreed that Mr. Santen be not sworn yet” (ibid. No. 862, p. 242). On February 22, 1687, Dongan wrote that “The Council thought fit not give M^r Santen his Oath, as appears by the Minutes of Council. John Young had his oath given him, but hee lives 150 miles from this, and has noe estate of his own and very old, that it is a thing impossible for him to serve” (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 416). (Notwithstanding this statement, John Youngs did serve and was present at several Council meetings.) On the same day (February 22, 1687), “Names of the new Councillors recommended by Governor Dongan in the letter; with an intimation that he has already appointed Judge Palmer and Nicholas Bayard to the Council” (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685–1688, No. 11401, p. 322). On March 2, 1687, Dongan wrote to the King, “I send Captⁿ Baxter and M^r Spragg and humbly beg your Mat^y will discourse them” (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 423). Spragg must have sailed about that time, since various documents were endorsed as “Recd. 9 May 1687, per Mr. J. Spragg” (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685–1688, pp. 322, 335). As stated in the text, Spragg was named a Councillor in the Instructions to Andros of April 16, 1688. In a document dated December, 1689, we read: “List of the Council of New York, with comments against the names. Anthony Brockholes (papist); Frederick Flypse; Gervais Baxter (a papist); Stephan van Cortlandt; John Sprag (in England); Nicholas Bayard: John Palmer (in custody at Boston)” (ibid. 1689–1692, No. 667, p. 197). This is the last allusion I find to Spragg, and his name is not included as a Councillor in the Instructions to Governor Sloughter issued January 31, 1690 (ibid. No. 750, p. 215), it may be assumed that he died in London late in 1689. (Many other references to Spragg are in the Calendars of State Papers, America and West Indies; New York Colonial Documents; Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, 1866, pt. ii. pp. 104, 106, 112, 114, 132, 133, 144, 146, 154, 155, 162; and Journal of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New York, 1861, vol. i. pp. xii, xiv, xv, xvii).

186 See p. 50, below.

187 H. R. Stiles, History of Ancient Wethersfield (1904), ii. 713.

188 Savage, iv. 357; Suffolk Probate Flies, No. 2653.

189 “Wooburn; Lord’s Day, January 19th. We were here entertain’d with a very loud Memento Mori: The Honourable Col. Jonathan Tyng Esq; Walking to the place of Publick Worship in the Afternoon, expired as soon as he got into his seat, during the time of the first Prayer, and was carried out dead, Ætatis 81. His Faith and Holiness were so apparent that we are perswaded he was convey’d to the Assembly of the First-born in Heaven, to bear a part with them in glorifying their Creator and Redeemer” (Boston News Letter, January 23, 1724, p. 2/2). In the News England Courant of January 27, 1724, the date by an obvious misprint is given as “Sunday the 29th Instant” (p. 2/2).

190 “And on the 1st Instant, died at his Seat near Medford, the Honourable John Usher Esq; sometime since Lieut. Governour of the Province of New-Hampshire, in the 79 Year of his Age, & was Honourably Interr’d here on Monday last” (Boston News Letter, September 8, 1726, p. 2/2).

191 “Boston. On Friday the Eleventh Currant, Dyed here the Honourable John Walley Esq; of Her Majesty’s Council, and one of the Judges of the Superiour Court of this Province, in the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age” (Boston News Letter, January 14, 1712, p. 2/2).

192 “Tuesday, May 14^th [1689], Mr. Richard Wharton dyes about 10 post merid” (Sewall’s Diary, i. 255).

193 “Aug^t 3 [1700]. . . . About 2 post merid, Mr. Adam Winthrop dies” (Sewall, Diary, i. 255).

194 “Boston, Nov. 27. About four a Clock this morning the Honourable John Winthrop Esqr. Governour of Her Majesties Colony of Connecticut, Departed this Life in the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age; being Born at Ipswich in New England the 14th day of March, Anno 1638” (Boston News Letter, December 1, 1707, p. 2/1). He was the son of Gov. John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut.

195 “Boston, On Thursday the 7th Currant died here the Honourable Major General WAIT WINTHROP Esq; Aged 76 Years, Justly Dear to his Country for his Honourable Descent . . . but dearer yet for his personal Character and Vertues” (Boston News Letter, November 18, 1717). He was the son of Gov. John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut

196 “Young” (C).

197 His will, dated February 20, 1697, was proved May 28, 1698 (Collections New York Historical Society for 1892, pp. 292–293). On October 17, 1700, Bellomont wrote: “To instance in some of those false articles, I am accus’d of having remov’d Coll. Young with others from the Council, and Coll: Young was dead two years before my coming into this country” (New York Colonial Documents, iv. 726). Bellomont reached New York April 2, 1698 (see p. 49 note 2, below).

198 Diary, i. 360.

199 Council Records, ii. 166–168.

200 For convenience these names are arranged alphabetically.

201 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 785, p. 172. (A copy is in Council Records, ii. 165–166.) The signatures to this document are not autographs, as I am informed by Miss Lucy Drucker, who also says that “the original ought to be among the Oath Rolls (Chancery Petty Bag), of which however very few have been preserved, and I have found none of the various colonies among them.” Nor is the original at the Boston State House. Phips’s Commission was approved December 3, and he himself took the oaths in London on December 31, 1691 (Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 799). Many oaths, however, have been preserved at the State House. The oath taken by the Representatives on June 8, 1692 (Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 188), is written and is like the oath printed in the text. The oaths taken by the Councillors in May, 1693, are printed on a broadside to which the signatures are attached, and read as follows (Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 212):

A TRUE COPY OF THE OATHS

That are appointed by Act of Parliament, made in the First Year of Their present Majesties Reign; to be Taken instead of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the Declaration appointed to be made, Repeated and Subscribed

I A. B. do sincerely Promise and Swear, That I will be Faithful, and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties, King WILLIAM and Queen MARY.

So help me God, &c.

I A. B. do Swear, That I do from my Heart Abhor, Detest, and Abjure, as Impious and Heretical, that Damnable Doctrine and Position, That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects, or any other whatsoever.

And I do Declare, That no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath, or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiority, Preeminence, or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm.

So help me God, &c.

Then follows the Declaration — “I A. B. do solemnly and sincerely. . . null and void from the beginning” — as printed in the text.

To these oaths were added in May, 1699, what was called the Association, which in that year was written (Massachusetts Archives, cvi. 450). This, taken from a printed broadside, signed in 1700, reads as follows (Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 317):

Association.

Whereas there has been a horrid and detestable Conspiracy formed and carried on by Papists and other wicked and traiterous persons for Assassinating His Majesties Royal Person, in order to encourage an Invasion from France, to subvert our Religion, Laws and Liberty. We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, Do heartily, sincerely and solemnly profess, testify and declare, That His present Majesty KING WILLIAM is rightful and lawful KING of the Realms of England, Scotland and Ireland: And we do mutually promise and engage to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our power, in the support and defence of His Majesties most Sacred Person and Government, against the late King James and all his Adherents. And in case His Majesty come to any violent or untimely Death (which GOD forbid) We do hereby further freely and unanimously oblige our selves, to unite associate and stand by each other in revenging the same upon His Enemies and their Adherents, and in supporting and defending the Succession of the Crown, according to an Act made in the first year of the Reign of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY, Intituled, An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and settling the Succession of the Crown. (Cf. Publications of this Society, x. 384–386, xiii. 119–126.)

It will be observed that the oath in the text has twenty-eight signatures attached — those of the three Crown officials and of twenty-five Councillors. There were, however, twenty-eight Councillors named in the Province Charter (p. 35, above). Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Hinckley, and Stephen Mason, the remaining three Councillors, do not appear to have qualified.

202 Council Records, ii. 293.

203 ii. 293.

204 On May 5, 1695, Sewall wrote: “About 3 hours News comes to Town of the death of Sir William Phips, Feb. 18^th at which people are generally sad” (Diary, i. 404).

205 The names of Acting Governors are printed in italics.

206 Council Records, ii. 294.

207 Council Records, ii. 561.

208 Bellomont arrived in New York on April 2, 1698. In a letter dated August 8 he said: “In my letter of the eighth of January last I gave your Lordships an account of my arrival at Barbadoes. On the ninth of March I left that Island, and on the second of April I landed at the City of New York, and entered on the Govern^t” (New York Colonial Documents, iv. 306). In a letter dated “New-Yorke the 4^th of Aprill 1698,” Benjamin Jackson wrote: “His Excellency the Earle of Bellamont, being arrived from Barbadoes, came on shoar at this place, and was Sworne on Saturday Last” (Massachusetts Archives, cvi. 421). Cf. Sewall, Diary, i. 476.

209 Council Records, iii. 20–21.

210 iii. 137.

211 On March 15, 1701, Sewall wrote: “The Town is fill’d with the News of my Ld Bellomont’s death, last Wednesday was sen̄ight” (Diary, ii. 33).

212 There was no meeting of the Council between July 17 and July 22, 1700, and on neither day did Stoughton take any new oaths — no doubt for the reason that, as he had received no new Commission, those which he had previously taken were regarded as sufficient.

213 On July 7, 1701, Sewall wrote: “About the time got thither the L^t Gov^r died” (Diary, ii. 38).

214 The proclamation was not entered in the Council Records or in the Court Records, and, if printed, apparently no copy has survived.

215 Council Records, iii. 216–217.

216 iii. 217–218.

217 Massachusetts Archives, li. 132.

218 Massachusetts Archives, xx. 59.

219 William III died March 8, 1702. On May 28 “the London Gazette and several other Prints, Papers and letters,” brought by Capt. Thomas Burrington, reached Boston confirming “the sorrowful and awful tidings . . . which had been more uncertainly reported several days since from divers parts beyond sea,” and it was “Ordered therefore. That the several persons newly chosen Councellors or Assistants for this Province do take the oath of Allegiance to her Said Maj^ty Queen Anne” and that Anne be proclaimed on the following day (Council Records, iii. 311, 313, 315). This extract is from the London Gazette of July 23:

Boston in New-England, June 8.

On the 28th of May last we received Advice of the Death of His late Majesty, and of Her present Majesty’s happy Succession to the Throne: The Council and the General Assembly were then sitting, and the Members of the Council immediately took the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty. The next day the Council, attended by the Representatives in the General Assembly, the Ministers, Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Inhabitants, Proclaimed Her Majesty, the Troop of Guards and the Militia being in Arms, who, when the Proclamation was ended, fired three Volleys, which were followed with Huzza’s, and loud Acclamations of God save Queen Anne, and the Cannon of the Castle and Forts, and of Her Majesty’s Ship the Gosport, and the Merchants Ships then in our Port, was discharged. In the evening the Company was entertained at the Town-House, and other Places, and all other Demonstrations of Joy were given suitable to the Occasion. The 31st, the Representatives took the Oath of Allegiance. The 4th Instant, the Members of the Council and other Gentlemen of the Town went into Mourning for the Death of His late Majesty. The Bells were tolled from 8 till 10 in the morning, and from 2 till 4 in the afternoon; Funeral Sermons were preached in all the Churches, and the Guns of the Castle and Forts, and of the Ships in our Port, were all discharged (p. 1/1).

The above passages prove that certain news of the death of William reached Boston May 28, and that Anne was proclaimed on May 29. In Sewall’s Diary, under date of May 28, is a long entry which reads in part as follows: “Burrington from New-found-Land brings Prints of the King’s death March, 8. at 8 m . . . . Then we resolv’d to proclaim her Majesty here: Which was done accordingly below the Town-house . . . . Proclamation was made between 3 and 4. At 5 p.m. Madam Bellingham dies” (ii. 56–57). Most of this entry must have been written on May 29; and an examination of the original Diary shows that in the margin, opposite the words “At 5 p.m.,” Sewall wrote “May 29,” which date is omitted in the printed Diary. Cf. p. 63 note 2, below.

220 Dudley’s Commission had been approved as early as June 28, 1701 (Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 799); and on December 11, 1701, Constantine Phipps wrote to the Massachusetts Council and Assembly that “pursuant to yo^r direcc͞ons I was to wait on Coƚƚ Dudley who hath his Ma^ties warr^t to be y^r Governor” (Massachusetts Archives, li. 137).

An Exemplification of Burges’s Commission of March 17, 1715, is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and in Vol. ii of this Society’s Publications it is stated that this Exemplification “is the only document of the sort (among the Commissions printed in this volume) that is now known to be extant” (p. 100 note 1). Since writing that note, I have ascertained that the originals of two other Commissions are in the Harvard College Library, both of which eluded my previous search because neither is entered in the card catalogue under “Manuscripts in this Library.” One is Dudley’s Commission as Vice-Admiral of February 26, 1701, which is written on a single piece of parchment and signed “Orlando Gee Reg^us.” The seal which formerly appended is now missing. It was given to the College Library in 1854 by William Johnston, who graduated in that year. The other is Shute’s Commission as Governor of June 15, 1716: see p. 63 note 1, below.

221 See p. 53 note 1, above.

222 Council Records, iii. 322–324, 325.

223 For an exhaustive treatment of this controversy, see our associate Mr. Worthington C. Ford’s “The Governor and Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, August, 1714 — March, 1715” (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xv. 327–362). See also Mr. Ford’s Preface to his reprint (1902) of the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1715.

224 Statutes at Large (1735), iv. 11–12.

225 Statutes at Large, iv. 110. In some editions of the Statutes, this Act is 6 Anne, Chapter XLI.

226 Boston News Letter, September 20, p. 2/2. The London Gazette of August 3, which contained an account of the death of Anne, reached Boston September 17, and was communicated to the Council by Dudley the same day (Council Records, vi. 251). (A copy of that issue is in a file of the Boston News Letter owned by the Boston Athenaeum, between the issues of September 20 and 27.)

227 Boston News Letter, September 27, p. 2/2; printed by Mr. Ford in 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xv. 330–332). The following account is taken from the Council Records:

According to the Appointment made upon Friday last the 17. Currant The High & Mighty Prince George Elector of Brunswick Lunenburgh was solemnly proclaimed King of Great Britain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &^ca with loud acclamations & the utmost demonstrations of Joy His Excellency the Governour the Lieut^t Gov^r and Council being in the Balcony of the Council Chamber which was hung with Scarlet Cloath The Regiment of the Town & another Regiment of Foot being drawn up under armes on the Parade before the Town House with the Troop of Guards and another Troop of Horse many of the Representatives of the General Assembly, Justices of the Peace, Ministers Gentlemen & Merchants (besides a very great concourse of People) in token of their Joyfull Subjection & Allegiance to His Majesty Im̄ediately after ending the Proclamation the two troops & the regiments of Foot discharged three volleys and on a signal given the Cannon at His Matys Castle William at the Town Batteries & on board the ships & vessells in the Harbour were also discharged, & after a Public Dinner the Governour & Council with a number of Gentlemen & Officers returned in the evening to the Council Chamber & drank a health to His Majestys the Prince all the Royal Family & the Regency &^ca The Town House & particular Houses in several principal streets being finely illuminated.

His Excellency took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament, to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Declaration & took the Oath of Abjuration being administred by the Hon^ble Wait Winthrop in presence of the Lieut^t Governour after which His Excellency administred the same oaths Declaration & Abjuration to his Honour the Lieut^t Governour & the other Twenty Councellours present at the Board (vi. 256–257).

228 Printed in British Royal Proclamations relating to America, 1603–1783 (Transactions and Collections of the American Antiquarian Society, 1911, xii. 174–175), and in the Boston News Letter of March 28, 1715, p. 1/1.

229 “On the 19th Currant by the Post from New York His Excellency the Governour receiv’d His Majesty’s Proclamation for the Continuation of Officers &c. in the Plantations” (Boston News Letter, March 28, 1715, p. 2/2).

230 Council Records, vi. 308–309.

231 This proclamation was issued as a printed broadside and was reproduced in facsimile by Mr. Ford (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xv. 326–327).

232 Council Records, vi. 309–313.

233 See p. 56, above.

234 Council Records vi. 334.

235 For a sketch of Burges, about whom little is known, see Publications of this Society, xiv. 360–372, 389 note 1. For the following information, received too late for insertion at the above reference, I am indebted to Mr. Horatio F. Brown of Venice. The dates of Burges’s services as “Secretary Resident” are: First, date of credentials, May 8–9, 1719; arrival in Venice, October, 1719; letter of recall, October 31, 1721; departure from Venice, March, 1722. Second, date of credentials, October 25, 1727; arrival in Venice, December 18, 1728. Among the “Inscriptions to English Families in the Old Protestant Cemetery near San Niccolo del Lido, Venice,” is the following (Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Second Series, 1885, i. 347):

Elizaevs Bvrges

a Georgio Primo et Secundo

Britanniæ Regibvs

Apud Venetos

obiit xviii kal. decembris

mdccxxxvi

Vixit Annos lxix.

Arms: A chevron between three crescents.

236 Sewall’s Diary, iii. 46.

237 Sewall’s Letter-Book, ii. 48–49. Cf. the next note.

238 Sewall’s Letter-Book, ii. 49–50. The originals of these two letters have not been preserved, but Sewall copied them on November 25, 1715.

239 See p. 100, below.

240 Council Records, vi. 379–380.

241 Sewall’s Diary, iii. 65; Boston News Letter, November 14, p. 2/2.

242 This Exemplification is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society: see Publications of this Society, ii. 100 note 1. Cf. p. 53 note 1, above.

243 Council Records, vi. 389–390.

244 As late as May 31, 1716, in a speech to the House, Lieutenant-Governor Tailer said he believed that Burges “would before this Time have happily Arrived among us, and I am well assured he may be daily expected” (House Journal, p. 3). The news of Shute’s appointment, which was made in April, reached Boston June 5 (Sewall’s Diary, iii. 85). The following notice appeared in the Boston News Letter of June 11:

By Letters from London of April 12th we are informed that His Excellency Col. Elizeus Burges Esq; Governour of this Province had resign’d his Office.

And by Letters and Prints we are also inform’d that His Majesty has been pleased to appoint His Excellency Col. Samuel Shute, Esq; a very worthy Gentleman, and Brother to Mr. Barrington Shute Esq; Member of Parliament for Berwick, to be Governour of New-England (p. 2/1).

The following letter written by J. Dummer to J. White, but signed by Dummer and Belcher, is copied from the original in the Massachusetts Historical Society (161.J.16):

Dear S^R

I am now Sitting on one Side of his Excell^cy Col^o Shute, & M^r Belcher on the Other side with all the Principal Merch^ts & Traders to New England at the Table. We have din’d, & are now drinking a Sober glass to the Prosperity of New England, & the Worthy Gentlemen there, & you may be Sure you can’t be forgot among them, especially when M^r Belcher & I are present. Every Merchant is pleas’d with your New Governour, & you’l certainly be the happyest people in the World under his Easy Administration I cant enlarge for the reason above. I am Y^r Very humble ser^t

Jer Dummer

Jon^a Belcher

London

30^th Apr: 1716

245 The original of Shute’s Commission of June 15, 1716, is in the Harvard College Library (Cab.E.Dr.1). It is written on two sheets of parchment and has the seal appended, though this is now broken and a part missing, and is enclosed in a wooden box covered with stamped leather. It came to the College Library in 1862 as a bequest from Gen. William H. Sumner of the Class of 1799. A portion is reproduced in facsimile in the Memorial History of Boston, ii. 50. Cf. p. 53 note 1, above.

On the back of the Commission is the following entry:

Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England		Entred in the Secretary’s Office in Boston October the 5^th 1716.
		ꝑ Jos: Marion Den^ty Sec^ry

This entry confirms a statement made by the present writer that there was formerly a volume of Crown Commissions which was burned in 1747 (Publications of this Society, vol. ii. p. xviii and note 4; xiv. 397–398 note 1). See also p. 55, above, and pp. 70, 81 note 1, 101, below.

246 Under date of “Octob^r 3,” 1716, Sewall wrote: “. . . while they were here, just about Sunset, we hear a Gun which proves a Signal of the Governour’s being come” (Diary, iii. 105). A careful examination of the entry under this date shows that it must have been written on “lecture-day” — that is, on Thursday, October 4. As Sewall is so often relied on for exact dates, I have in several cases pointed out errors, some due (as in this case) to his own carelessness, some due to the fact that entries were actually written later than the dates assigned, and some due (as on p. 53 note, above) to the carelessness of his editors. See Publications of this Society, xiv. 361 note 2, for an instance where Sewall wrote “Feb. 13,” 1716, when he meant to write “April 13.”

247 The original Council Records from 1692 to 1747 were practically all destroyed in the fire which devastated the Boston Town House on December 9, 1747 (see Publications of this Society, vol. ii. p. xix note 1), and the Records for those years now at the State House are copies obtained from London. But even in London there are no copies of the Records for the period specified in the text — September 11, 1716, to September 5, 1717; Miss Drucker informing me that “32 pages are missing in the volume which should contain them at that date.” A copy of the following letter is in the Council Records (xi. 765–766):

Boston November 1. 1748.

Sir

By William Shirley Jun^r Esquire, who embarks for Great Britain on board one of the Mast ships now bound home, I send you Copies of the Proceedings of the General Court, from the beginning of March 1746, to the end of the Session begun and held May 25. 1748; with the Acts pass’d in those Sessions, certified under the Seal of the Province; as also Copies of the Minutes of Council from December 1747 to the end of August 1748. The Minutes of the Assembly, and the Laws, are a continuation of what were sent you home by his Maj^ty’s Ship the Mermaid in the Summer 1747, without any interruption, the General Court Book for that time being accidentally saved out of the Fire when the Court House was burnt; but the Council Book being then destroyed, the Minutes of Council, now sent you, begin after the time of that fire. You will please to lay these Papers before the Lords Commissioners as usual. I shall acknowledge it as a great favour if you will please to send me one line to let me know of your receiving these Papers when they come to your hands.

I am, with due respect

Sir

Your very humble Servant

(signed) Josiah Willard.

(Superscribed)

On His Majestys Service.

To Thomas Hill Esq^r

Secretary to the Right Hon^ble

The Lords Commissioners for Trade

and Plantations.

Whitehall.

248 John Leverett.

249 John Burrill.

250 House Journal, p. 54.

251 P. 55.

252 House Journal, p. 55.

253 The following letter was printed in the New England Courant of January 14 1723 (p. 2):

Praestat esse Prometheus quam Epimetheus.

To the Author of the New-England Courant.

SIR,

THe unprecedented and extraordinary Manner of Governour Shute’s absenting himself from this Government, and embarking for England, has occasion’d much Discourse and various Sentiments, which we shall not now go about to recapitulate, but shall only mention what we conceive must be naturally concluded, viz. That any Governour departing from a Government with so much Privacy and Displeasure, can’t reasonably be supposed to promote the Interest of that Government, when he arrives at the British Court: And therefore we may venture to say, that in general it is the opinion of the Freeholders, &c. of this Province, That it is essentially necessary for the Good and Welfare of the People here, at this critical Juncture, that two Gentlemen at least, Persons born among us, of known Abilities and Address, be, as soon as possible, sent to the Court of Great Britain, altho’ this Province should be at the Charge of hiring a small Vessel on purpose, (seeing Delays are dangerous,) there to vindicate the Proceedings of the Honourable House of Representatives from time to time, since the Misunderstandings that have arisen betwixt that Honourable House and Governour Shute: Which being done we hope it can’t but be thought very expedient for one of those two Gentlemen to reside at the British Court, there to give their Attendance, in solliciting and negotiating the Affairs of this Province: For sure it is, that no Man of Knowledge and Experience can believe, that an Agent appointed, who is a Resident in England, and was never in this Country, can be a suitable Person to apear at Court for it, since he must be ignorant of the Springs and Motives upon which the original Misunderstandings were grounded, as well as of the Laws, Customs, Trade, and Temper of the People, &c. Besides, who can imagine, that an utter Stranger, and a Person that has no Interest here, will so heartily lay forth himself to serve this Country, as one that is born here, and that has an Interest among us. There is some here that have seen (when in England) great Damage accrue to some Plantations, for want of their Agents knowing the true Interest of the Places they appeared for. We shall conclude this Letter with a Passage out of a learned Author, who has sometime since wrote concerning the Affairs of Barbadoes. Says he, No prudent Man can think, that a Gentleman, who is not bred up in the Business, and has no Interest in the Island, can be fit to make an Agent, nor even a Merchant, who has many Commissions; for there is no kind of Affairs that makes a Man so busie, and keeps him in such a continual Hurry as Factorage. ’Tis without doubt proper, the Agent should fully understand the true Interest of Barbadoes; that he should have full Leisure to carry on his Agency, be a Man of Sense and Honour, and one that needs not make use of a borrowed Pen, to set forth its Grievances, and petition for Redress.

We are, Yours, &c.

Quœre, Whether (pursuant to the Charter) the Ministers of this Province, ought now to pray for Samuel Shute Esq; as our immediate Governour, and at the same time pray for the Lieut. Governour as Commander in Chief? Or, Whether their praying for his Success in his Voyage, if he designs to hurt the Province (as some suppose) be not in Effect to pray for our Destruction?

Monday. Jan. 7, 1723.

254 “On Tuesday Morning last the first Instant, His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE, Esq; Our Governour, set sail in the Ship Ann, Capt. Finch Commander from Nantasket for Great Britain; as then also did His Majesty’s Ship Sea-Horse Capt. Durrel Commander, for Barbadoes” (Boston News Letter, January 7, 1723, p. 2/1).

The following notice had appeared in the Boston Gazette of October 15, 1722:

MR. John Boydell Secretary to His Excellency the Governour designing for London by Capt. Lethred, Desires that if any Persons have any Demand on him (or His Excellency) they would forthwith call at his Office in His Excellency’s House in order to be paid (p. 4/2).

255 Court Records, xi. 467.

256 During Dummer’s term of office as Acting Governor, the Explanatory Charter of 1725 was accepted: see Publications of this Society, xiv. 389–400.

In 1727 the accession of George I was celebrated in Boston on August 1 (New England Weekly Journal, August 7, p. 2/1). The news of his death, which occurred June 11, reached Boston August 14 (Council Records, viii. 579), and the Council ordered George II to be proclaimed August 16th. At ten o’clock on the morning of the 16th Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, being “confined to his House by a sickness,” sent a draft of a proclamation to the Council, which approved it; it was then sent to Dummer, who signed it and returned it to the Council; and at 1 o’clock George II was proclaimed from the Town House. The Council Records then proceed to say:

After the Proclamation was ended & the loud & joyful acclamations that succeeded it, The Regiments & Troops fired three Volleys, and (upon a signal given) the Cannon at His Majesty’s Castle W^m at the Town Battery & on Board the Ships & Vessels in the Harbour were discharged, and the Council Ministers, Representatives & other Gentlemen were entertained with a Public Dinner provided this Occasion.

After Dinner the Members of His Maty’s Council being returned to the Council Chamber, W^m Tailer, Nath^l Byfield & Addington Davenport Esq^rs (Members of y^e Council) waited on His Honour the Lieut^t Govenour at his house to administer to him the oaths of fidelity to His present Majesty King George the second.

And in the presence of the s^d Gentlemen His Honour the Lieut^t Govenour took the Oath appoint^d by Act of Parliam^t to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, & repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act with the Oath of Abjuration (xviii. 582).

257 “On Monday last the 23d. arrived here Capt. John Ruggles from London, by whom we have Advice that His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Esq; Governour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, &c. intends for his Government early in the Spring. In whom came the Reverend Dr. Timothy Cutler and the Reverend Mr. Johnson, as also John Boydell Esq; with his Family, Gillam Phillips Esq; and Mr. John Checkley” (Boston Gazette, September 20, 1723, p. 4/1).

“London, Nov. 25. Samuel Shute Esq; Governour of New England & New-Hampshire in America, is preparing to set out for that Government” (Boston News Letter, February 3, 1726, p. 2/2).

In a letter to E. Quincy dated May 25, 1727, Jeremiah Dummer said:

Col° Shute is expecting a Man of War to transport him to his Government, which [he] may probably now obtain, there being Pacification made between the Powers of Europe which will bring home our Fleets. It looks to me as if Our Assembly would hardly come into his demands, but whatever turn that takes, I depend upon your wisdom & moderation, & the influence You have in both Houses to keep things from coming to an extremity (Massachusetts Historical Society, 81. 1. 28).

258 Error for “read.”

259 Council Records, ix. 79–80.

260 ix. 83.

261 The New England Weekly Journal of September 15 said:

This Town was excedingly surpriz’d on Monday last with the sad News of the Death of His Excellency our Governour WILLIAM BURNET Esq;

He had been very ill all the Week before, but on Fryday the symptoms grew threatning; after which he very little recover’d any Use of his Understanding.

He expir’d about Eleven of the Clock the Lords-day Night; a teaching and monitory Instance to us of the Vanity of Humane Life and Greatness (P. 4/1).

262 Error for “punctually.”

263 Council Records, ix. 165–166.

264 Council Records, ix. 215–216.

265 ix. 227–228. The following notice appeared in the New England Weekly Journal of February 9, 1730:

By a Letter from a Gentleman in London, Dated London, November 28th 1729. we have the following Advice.

This is just to tell you, That Yesterday His Majesty in Council appointed Mr. Belcher Governour of New-England, and to Morrow he is to kiss the KING’s Hand on that Occasion, attended with several of us. I reckon it will be Matter of great Surprize, and hope and believe will be very happy for New-England (p. 2/1).

The same paper of April 14, 1730 contained this rumor:

By Capt. Homans from London, we are informed that His Majesty has been pleased to confer the Honour of Knighthood on His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq; who is appointed Govenour and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty’s Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire, in New-England; and that His Excellency intended speedily to proceed for his Government in one of His Majesty’s Ships of War (p. 2/2).

The same paper of August 11 said:

On Saturday last, about the middle of the Afternoon, we were notified by a Signal from Castle William, of the near Approach of His Excellency Governour BELCHER, in His Majesties Ship of War, appointed for his Transportation; which could reach no further that Night, than the Mouth or Entrance of the Narrows . . . . The usual Services of the Sabbath were attended by his Excellency at the Castle, . . . At the opening of the following Day, was the Town of Boston in a voluntary Alarm, . . . (p. 1/1).

266 Council Records, ix. 227–228.

267 Council Records, x. 533–536.

268 Error for “this” or “his Majesty’s.”

269 Council Records, xii. 122.

270 The following extracts are taken from the Boston Gazette of Tuesday, August 14 and September 11, 1753:

On Tuesday last, in the Afternoon, his Excellency our Governor arrived from England, in his Majesty’s Ship Port-Mahon, under the Command of Capt. Montague, . . . About five o’Clock his Excellency went . . . to Castle William, . . . The Day following his Excellency remained at the Castle; and on Thursday he came up in the Castle Barge (August 14, p. 3/1).

On Saturday last His Excellency the Govenour did the Proprietors of Pullin-Point the Honour of dining with them at the said Point, where a very elegant Entertainment was prepar’d for him; . . . The Proprietors, after taking Leave from His Excellency, gave it the Name of Paint-Shirley (September 11, p. 3/2).

271 “Thursday last arrived here from Halifax, his Majesty’s Ship Mermaid, the Hon. Washington Shirley Esq; Commander” (Boston News Letter, August 19, 1756, p. 4/1).

“His Majesty’s Ship Mermaid, Captain Washington Shirley, still abides in our Harbour” (Boston Gazette, September 20, p. 2/1).

“On Saturday last His Excellency embarked on board His Majesty’s Ship Mermaid, Washington Shirley, Esq; Commander . . . . And,

“About four o’Clock in the Afternoon on Monday last the Mermaid (as also the Schooner employed as a Tender) got under Sail, when she saluted Castle-William, which was returned by the Discharge of the Cannon there, and then proceeded on her Voyage with a fair Wind; which has continued ever since” (Boston News Letter, September 30, p. 1/2).

“Monday last, in the Afternoon, his Majesty’s Ship Mermaid, (on board of which is his Excellency Governor Shirley) sail’d from this Port for England. As soon as she got under Sail, his Excellency was saluted with a Discharge of 15 Cannon at Castle William, which was answer’d by a like Number of the Mermaid’s Guns” (Boston Evening Post, October 4, p. 1/2).

“Tuesday Morning last His Majesty’s Ship Mermaid sail’d from hence for England” (Boston Gazette October 4, p. 2/1).

272 “Last Monday Night died at his Seat in Cambridge, after a few days Illness, the Honourable SPENCER PHIPS, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief of this Province, in the 74th Year of his Age; and on Saturday his Corps was very honourably interred, . . .” (Boston Evening Post, April 11, 1757, p. 4/1).

273 Council Records, xiii. 212.

274 Massachusetts Archives, lvi. 50.

275 “Tuesday last, in the Afternoon, arrived in Nantasket-Road, from Halifax, his Majesty’s Ship Nightingale, Capt. Campbell; in which ship came his Excellency THOMAS POWNALL, Esq; with his Majesty’s Royal Commission to be Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over this his Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; as also a Commission from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty, to be Vice-Admiral of the same, &c. His Excellecncy is also Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New-Jersey, and Agent for His Majesty’s General Affair under the Command of Lord LOUDOUN. . . .” (Boston News Letter, August 4, 1757, p. 2/1).

276 Council Records, xiii. 283. Cf. Crown Commissions, 1628–1663, p. 155. For an account of the two volumes labelled “Crown Commissions, 1628–1663” and “Crown Commissions, 1677–1774,” see Publications of this Society, vol. ii. p. xvii note 5, p. xviii note 4; and cf. xiv. 397 note.

277 House Journal, p. 17.

278 James Otis.

279 House Journal, p. 20. Presumably Hutchinson, on becoming Acting Governor, took the oaths, but no mention of them is made in the Council Records, nor in the Court Records, nor in the Massachusetts Archives. The following extract is taken from the Boston Evening Post of June 9, 1760 (p. 3/1):

LAST Tuesday, about Noon, His Excellency Governor POWNALL, attended by His Honor the Lieut. Governor, the Honorable Gentlemen of His Majesty’s Council and House of Representatives, and a great Number of Civil and Military Officers, and other Gentlemen, set out from the Court-House in this Town, and being escorted by the Company of Cadets, under Arms, walk’d in Procession, thro’ King-Street, down the Long-Wharf, where the Castle-Barge lay ready for the Reception of His Excellency: And after receiving the most respectful Salutations, upon his Departure from us, His Excellency was received into the Barge; . . .

After His Excellency’s Departure, his Honor the Lieutenant Governor made the following Speech to both Houses, viz. . . .

280 Rumors of the death of George II, which occurred October 25, 1760, reached Boston December 25 and were confirmed December 27. On the latter day Governor Bernard communicated the news to the Council, which “Advised that his Excellency cause his most sacred Majesty King George the Third to be proclaimed on Tuesday the 30^th day of December Instant at 12 o’clock at Noon” (Council Records, xiv. 298). On December 29 the House of Representatives was ordered to attend in the Council Chamber, Bernard made a speech, and the; committee appointed “to consider what is proper to be done, on that Occasion” made the following report:

The Committee appointed on his Excellency’s Speech of this Afternoon, relative to the Accession of his majesty King George the Third, are of Opinion that his Honour the late Lieutenant Governor Dummer, all officers Civil and Military, who belong to the Town or may be in it; all the Gentlemen of the Clergy, and merchants as aforesaid; all the Kings Officers, and Officers of the Customs as aforesaid the Gentlemen of the Law, and other Gentlemen of Distinction be invited to be present, at the Proclaiming of his majesty to morrow. noon And that Provision be made for his Excellency the Governor, his Honour the Lieutenant Governor, the Gentlemen that are, or have been of his Majesty’s Council, the members of the House of Representatives, and the Gentlemen before mentioned, to drink the Kings Health at Faneuil Hall, in the Evening. And that the Court House be illuminated on the Occasion (Court Records, xxiii. 505).

The following account appeared in the Boston News Letter of January 1, 1761:

BOSTON, January 1. 1761.

LAST Thursday we had a Report from Europe of the Death of His Britannick Majesty King GEORGE the Second; which Report was confirmed on the Saturday following by the public Prints brought by the Race-Horse, Captain Samuel Partridge, who arrived here that Day from London, but in 40 Days from Portsmouth: —. . .

Tuesday in the Forenoon, His Honour the Lieut. Governor, the Honourable his Majesty’s Council and House of Representatives, and a Number of other Gentlemen, waited upon his Excellency the Governor at the Province House; from whence they walked in Procession to the Council-Chamber, being escorted by the Company of Cadets, commanded by Colonel Jarvis: The Regiment of Militia, commanded by Colonel Phillips, were mustered on the Occasion, and appeared under Arms in King-Street. — About XII o’clock the Proclamation (which follows in the next Column) was read, and repeated with a loud Voice from the Balcony of the Court-House; and on finishing with GOD save the KING, three Huzzas were given by a vast Concourse of People of all Ranks, assembled on this Occasion; which was followed by three Vollies from the Regiment of Militia and Company of Cadets: And upon a Signal given, 63 Pieces of Cannon were discharged at Castle William, and also a Round at each of the Batteries in this Town and at Charlestown. — In the Evening there were publick Illuminations, and a handsome Entertainment provided at Faneuil-Hall, where the Health of his Majesty King GEORGE the Third, the Royal Family, and many other loyal Healths were drank. — The whole Ceremony was carried on and concluded with great Decency and good Decorum (p. 1/1).

281 Crown Commissions, 1628–1663, p. 184.

282 The Boston Evening Post of August 4, 1760, said (p. 3/1):

Saturday last about one o’clock, came to Town by land from Providence, his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; with his Majesty’s Royal Commission to be Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; as also a Commission from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty, to be Vice-Admiral of the same, &c.

283 Error for “to.”

284 The same paper of August 7, 1769, said:

His Excellency upon his embarking, having delivered the Province Seal to the Lieutenant Governor, Wednesday last His Honor in Council took the Oaths appointed by Acts of Parliament in order to take upon him the Administration of the Province (p. 3/1).

285 Council Records, xvi. 431.

286 Council Records, xvi. 532–533.

287 Crown Commissions, 1677–1774, p. 124.

288 The following extract is from the Boston Evening Post of May 16, 1774:

WHITEHALL, April 2.

THOMAS HUTCHINSON, Esq; Governor of the Province of the Massachusets Bay, in North-America, having humbly requested his Majesty’s leave to come to England, the King has been graciously pleased to comply therewith, and to appoint THOMAS GAGE, Esq. Lieutenant-General of his Majesty’s forces, to be Captain-General and Governor in Chief of the said Province, and Vice-Admiral of the same, during his Majesty’s pleasure (p. 1/3).

Hutchinson himself left Boston June 1. The Boston Gazette of June 6 said: “Thomas Hutchinson, Esq; sailed Wednesday Morning with Capt. Callahan for London. Jonah laid three days in the Whale’s Belly, on his Passage to Nineveh, that great City” (p. 1/1).

289 “Friday last arrived here his Majesty’s Ship Lively, Capt. Bishop, in 26 Days from England, in whom came his Excellency General GAGE” (Boston Evening Post, May 16, p. 2/3).

290 Council Records, xvi. 794.

291 Crown Commissions, 1677–1774, p. 143.

292 The following paragraph appeared in the Boston News Letter of Friday, October 13, 1775:

Last Tuesday, at 12 o’clock, His Excellency General GAGE, accompanied by the principal Officers of the Army and Navy, and a large Number of the most respectable Inhabitants of this Town, proceeded to the Long-Wharf, where he embarked for England, having received his Majesty’s Orders to repair thither to lay before his Majesty the State of Affairs in this Province. That kind and humane Disposition which his Excellency has discovered through the whole of his Administration, has made his Departure universally regretted. — He is accompanied by the Hon. Thomas Flucker, Esq; Secretary to the Province, Stephen Kemble, Esq; Secretary to his Excellency, and the Captains Donkin and Rooke, his Aid de Camps (p. 2/2).

Cf. p. 105 note 6, below.

293 Council Records, ii. 167–168.

294 See p. 50 note 5, above. An editorial note in the Massachusetts Province Laws, appended to a list of “Councillors or Assistants” for 1692–1693, says that “For this year the Lieutenant-Governor sat and acted with the Council as a member, ex officio: in subsequent years, he was regularly elected a councillor” (vii. 5 note). If by “Lieutenant-Governor” is meant Stoughton, the statement is correct, as he was elected each year from 1693 to 1701, both in cluded. But if by “Lieutenant-Governor” is meant subsequent holders of that office, the statement is erroneous. Povey was never elected to the Council. Neither Spencer Phips nor Andrew Oliver was once elected to the Council during the years they were Lieutenant-Governors. Tailer, Dummer, and Hutchinson sometimes were, sometimes were not, elected to the Council during their terms of office as Lieutenant-Governor. See Whitmore’s Massachusetts Civil List, pp. 46–63.

295 See pp. 48, 49, 50, above.

296 Little is known of Povey. On June 11, 1702, Sewall wrote: “I was startled at 2 or 3 things; viz. The L^t Governour a stranger, sent, whom we knew nor heard anything of before: When the Gov^r first mention’d it, I understood him of Mr. Addington” (Diary, ii. 58). In a letter to Fitz John Winthrop dated Boston, June 21, 1702, the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge said: “Y^e Leit: Governer is one Capt Tho: Povey, cousin to one of that name knoune to your self; he is a souldier, was nine years in y^e army in Flanders” (6 Massachusetts Historical Collections, iii. 99). If by “one of that name” is meant a Thomas Povey, probably the reference is to Thomas Povey, F.R.S., the friend of Evelyn and Pepys. Or the reference may be to John Povey, Clerk of the Privy Council. In a notice of Thomas Povey, F.R.S., the writer says that “A half-brother John, who was clerk of the privy council, and commissioner for the sick and wounded under William III, died in June 1705” (Dictionary of National Biography, 1909, xvi. 236), and cites Luttrell as his authority. What Luttrell wrote, however, is as follows: “Captain Thomas Savoury is made treasurer to the commissioners for the sick and wounded, in the room of Mr. Povey, deceased” (Brief Relation, v. 564). Luttrell’s “Mr. Povey” was not John Povey, but Richard Povey. A “Letter from the Com^rs for sick and wounded,” dated June 5, 1705, mentions “Mr. Povey, their treasurer, being dead” (Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1702–1707, p. 351). John Povey did not die until 1715: “John Povey Esq; one of the Clerks of the Privy-Council, died Apr. 1715” (J. Le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana, 1717, v. 304). Under date of October 30, 1718, is a reference to a “petition of Thomas Povey, son of John Povey, Esq., late Clerk of the Privy Council” (Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1714–1719, p. 408). F. B. Relton thinks that John Povey was “probably” a half-brother of Thomas Povey, F.R.S. (Account of the Fire Insurance Companies, 1893, p. 452). The late Rev. A. T. S. Goodrick asserted, but without stating his authority, that John Povey was a son of William Povey (Toppan’s Randolph, vi. 146 note 266). An editorial note in the Massachusetts Province Laws declares that Lt.-Gov. Povey was “a brother of John Povey, clerk of the Privy Council” (vii. 331 note). The genealogy of the Povey family is at present a hopeless tangle. For Povey’s military career, see Dalton’s English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661–1714, iii. 237, 238, 306, 307, v. 155, 159.

297 Council Records, iii. 323.

298 Harrison Gray.

299 Council Records, iv. 261–262.

300 The following extracts are from the Boston News Letter for 1706:

Boston, Coasters Cleared Outwards, Samuel Dutch in Sloop Nightingal, for Piscataqua (February 11, p. 2/2).

Piscataqua, Febr. 15. On Monday 11 Currant arrived here Samuel Dutch in a Sloop from Boston, having on Board the Hon. Col. Tho. Povey Esqr. Lieut. Gov. of Her Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, who intends on Thursday next to Imbark on Board Capt. Jarvenin for Lisbon, and so to England (February 18, p. 2/2).

Piscataqua, March 1. On Friday the 15th of February last, Capt. Jarvenin Sailed from hence to Lisbon (March 4, p. 4/2).

301 The following letter is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society (C. 71. I. 67):

Whitehall May 22^th 1711

S^R

The Queen having been pleased to constitute Colonell William Tailer Lieutenant Governor of the Province of the Massachuset’s Bay in New England and the Territorys depending thereon, with all the Rights and Advantages thereunto belonging, I must recommend him to your Favour and Assistance, if there be occasion, that he may receive the benefit of Her Maj^ty’s Gracious Intention to him, in as full & ample manner as any of his predecessors have done. Though his personal Interest and Merit will be a sufficient Recommendation of him to you and to the Assembly there yet upon the Character I have received of the Services he has performed and of his Zeale and Loyalty in what may occurre for the future, I can not but add mine; and take this Opportunity to acknowledge the Receipt of the Letter which I received from you by him. I am

Your most humble Servant

Dartmouthe

Colonell Dudley

On June 5, 1711, Jeremiah Dummer wrote to Governor Dudley as follows

This Pacquett goes by Coll° Tayler who has the Queen’s Commission for Leiutenn^t Governour of the Province. Coll° Nicholson’s recommendation of him to My Lord Dartmouth, & His own putting in a Memorial that He had rais’d a regiment at his own expence for Her Majestie’s service at Port Royall, & had receiv’d no pay, was what procur’d him this honour. He never imparted his Design to me till it was almost done, & then I told him I could doe nothing in it, having no instructions about it (Massachusetts Historical Society, C. 71. I. 68).

Under the heading “Colonel Wm. Taylor’s Regt. of Foot,” C. Dalton states that a commission was issued April 1, 1710, to “Wm. Taylor to be Colonel of a Regt. of Foot to be forthwith raised for her Majesty’s Service in the West Indies (sic),” and adds this note: “A Colonial. Was sent by Genl. Nicholson to summon the French Commander to surrender Port Royal to the British 1 Oct. 1710. Not noticed in Appleton’s American Biography. Genl. Fras. Nicholson in his will dated 4 Mar. 1728 left Col. Wm. Taylor a mourning ring” (English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661–1714), vi. 285. Dalton has failed to identify “Wm. Taylor” as our Lieutenant-Governor Tailer.

302 Council Records, v. 456.

“On Wednesday arrived here Her Majesty’s Ship Norwich, Capt. Studly Commander from Great Britain with the Mast Fleet, but last from Lisbon, in whom came the Honourable Col. Tailer, Lieut. Governout of this Province” (Boston News Letter, October 8, 1711, p. 2/2).

303 Council Records, vi. 379. The Boston News Letter of October 17 said:

Boston, His Majesty has been pleas’d to Commissionate the Honourable William Tailer Esq; Lieutenant Govermour of this Province, under His Excellency Col. Elizeus Burgess Esq; whose Commission bears Date the 17th of March last, and the Lieutenant Governour’s Commission being presented to His Excellency Col Dudley and the Council, was read at the Council Board the 24th of last Month, and he had the proper Oaths administred him, whereby he might be qualified to Act accordingly; which was omitted in our Publick News-Letter of the 26th of September past (p. 2/1).

304 See pp. 61–62, above.

305 See p. 62, above.

306 See pp. 71–72, above.

307 “Yesterday in the Afternoon died at his Seat in Dorchester, the Honourable William Tailer, Esq; Lieut. Governour of this Province. Aged 55 Years, wanting 6 Days” (Boston News Letter, March 2, 1732, p. 2/2).

308 See pp. 62, 71, , above.

309 In the following announcements, the name of Jeremiah Dummer is of course an error for William Dummer:

August 5. About this Time Jeremiah Dummer, Esq; was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New-England (Historical Register, 1716, i. 359).

Not many Days after [the beginning of August], his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, was pleased to appoint Jeremiah Dummer Esq; to be Lieutenant Governor of New-England (Political State of Great Britain, August, 1716, xii. 156).

310 See pp. 64–66, above.

311 Council Records, ix. 37–38.

312 See pp. 68, p. 71, above. The following extracts are taken from the originals in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society:

I am of your mind that some Gentlemen who set up for the onely Patriots, are far from being so, & it is my firm beleif that in the present Situation of Our Affairs the Governour’s friends are the true friends of the Countrey. You’l see by my Publick letter that I have not conceal’d these sentiments, notwithstanding I beleive that my free expressing them will procure my Quietus this next session; especially if I may beleive Col° Tayler, that M^r Cook is the great Darling of his Countrey, & carries what points he pleases in the Assembly. . . . Col° Tayler is putting in for my Brother’s Commission, & by one method or another has rais’d a very considerable interest, yet I think I shall be able to defeat him. I can’t think it proper that a man who does not so much as profess the least respect for our Excellent Governour, should be his Lieutenant (J. Dummer to E. Quincy, April 25, 1721, 91. M. 9).

I have by every Ship given you an account of the State of your affairs here, & M^r Belcher, who is just on the point of sailing, will write you from Boston how it now stands. . . .

As for М^r Belcher, I have not convers’d with him lately, because He Join’d with my Lord Cobham a Relation to Col° Tayler in Boston, to get him into my Brother’s place. I took no measures to oppose him, having my Brother’s letter, wherein he Assur’d me He would not hold his Commission a minute after Belcher’s arrival. And therefore I thought it improper to give my friends & my selfe trouble to no purpose. However I could not but resent the injury (J. Dummer to J. Talcott, May 19, 1730, 81. 1. 34).

313 On June 19, 1716, the House granted the petition of Spencer Bennet to change his name to Spencer Phips, and a bill to that effect was passed June 23: see Massachusetts House Journals, June 19, 22, 23, pp. 19, 23, 24; Massachusetts Province Laws, ii. 66, ix. 476.

314 Council Records, ix. 374. August 8, 1734, is also the date given in Crown Commissions, 1628–1663, p. 35: see Publications of this Society, ii. 300. On the other hand there is in the Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 498–499, a printed form containing (on inside pages) the oaths, which bears the autograph signature of “Spen^r Phips” and the endorsement “Sworn the 11^th Day of August 1732. Before me J Belcher,” Belcher’s signature being in autograph, while the other words are in the hand of Secretary Willard.

315 See p. 78 note 1, above.

316 See pp. 76, p. 77, above.

317 See Publications of this Society, ii. 302. In the Council Records (xiii. 404) for June 1, 1758, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Hutchinson.

318 Crown Commissions, 1628–1663, pp. 209–210.

319 See pp. 81–82, p. 84–85, above.

320 Crown Commissions, 1677–1774, pp. 124–125.

321 “Last Thursday Morning died here the Honorable Andrew Oliver, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, in the 68th Year of his Age. — His Funeral is to be attended To-Morrow Afternoon, at Half past Three o’clock, if the Weather permits” (Boston Evening Post, March 7, 1774, p. 3/1).

322 The following extract is taken from the Essex Gazette of January 10, 1775:

LONDON, October 25.

MR. Thomas Oliver of Boston, was appointed Lieut. Governor of that Province in consequence of Richard Oliver giving the casting vote last year against Mr. Wilkes being Lord Mayor (p. 2/1).

323 Appended to Thomas Oliver’s Commission as Lieutenant-Governor is the following (Crown Commissions 1677–1774, p. 156):

Province of Mass^a Bay

Sworn before me in Council this 8 day of August 1774

Tho^S Gage Governor.

324 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xviii. 266.

325 See Publications of this Society, ii. 18.

326 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Volume 906, p. 404.

327 Council Records, ii. 168.

328 See pp. 55–60, above.

329 Council Records, vi. 312. Cf. p. 59, above.

330 “On Saturday last the 19th Currant, Died here about Eleven a dock in the Forenoon, the truly Honourable and Very Worthy Isaac Addington, Esq; Secretary for His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England, who had with great Wisdom, Honour and Faithfulness served his Generation by the Will of GOD, in that Office for above Twenty years, being appointed thereto by the Late King William and Queen Mary of Glorious Memory, in their Royal Charter. He was born in New-England, and a great Honour to his Country; he Dyed in the Seventy-first Year of his Age” (Boston News Letter, March 21, 1715, p. 2/2).

331 Council Records, vi. 335–336.

332 Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 427. The appointment of Davenport and Dudley was noted in the Boston News Letter of April 18, 1715 (p. 2/2).

333 The Boston News Letter of September 26th said:

Boston, On Thursday last . . . arrived in Capt. Parnell from London, Samuel Woodward, Esq; with a Commission from His Majesty, for the Secretary’s Office of this Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; And on Saturday last, His Excellency the Governour came to Town, and in Council Administred the Oaths to him accordingly (p. 2/2).

334 In this letter (printed in Sewall’s Letter-Book, ii. 48–49), dated June 29, 1715, Colonel Burges said:

Mr. Woodward, who gives you this, is ap̄ointed your Secretary: I take the Liberty to recommend him most earnestly to you, because I know he is a very honest Gentleman, and very capable of doing you Service; and will do all he can to deserve your Friendship, and have your Favour.

335 Council Records, vi. 378–379.

336 See p. 91, above.

337 Council Records, vi. 380.

338 Council Records, vi. 448. The following extract is from the Boston News Letter of May 14, 1716:

Boston, On Thursday the 10th of May Currant, by & with the Approbation and Consent of the Hon. Lieut. Governour, and Council, and by Vertue of the Power and Authority Granted by His Majesty King GEORGE to Mr. Secretary Woodward. Mr. Joseph Marion was by him appointed Deputy Secretary of this Province; and his Deputation was read at the Council Board, and Ordered to be Recorded; and he then took the Oaths appointed by the Act of Parliament, as also an Oath for the true and faithful Discharge of his Duty in that Office (p. 2/2). (The deputation is not extant.)

339 Council Records, vi. 486–487. In a letter to J. White dated May 9, 1716, Jeremiah Dummer said: “If your Secretary comes over (to whom the King’s leave is gone by the last ships) pray tell me who is the fittest man for the Post among you, seeing you are resolved not to accept it yourself” (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, iv. 193).

340 Council Records, vi. 494–495.

341 The exact date of his sailing is not recorded in Sewall’s Diary or in the Boston News Letter. He took messages from the Lieutenant-Governor to the House, and appeared before the House, on August 3; but the announcement of the prorogation of the House on that day was made to the House by Marion (Massachusetts House Journals, August 3, pp. 31–32); a proclamation issued by Lieutenant-Governor Tailer on August 3 was signed “Joseph Marion, Dep. Seer.” (Boston News Letter, August 13, p. 1/1); and a proclamation issued by Tailer on September 5 was signed “Jos^h Marion Dep Sec͞r͞y” (Court Records, x. 91). Many vessels sailed from Boston to London during August and September, but it seems not unlikely that Woodward went by the Dorothy:

“Cleared Outwards, . . . The Ship Dorothy, Capt. Josiah Thwaites Commander for London” (Boston News Letter, August 6, p. 2/2).

“Marblehead, Aug. 18. A Fishing Shallop is come in here who brought Letters from Capt. Thwaites bound from Boston to London: The Shallop met him 75 Leagues off” (Boston News Letter, August 20, p. 2/2).

342 The Boston News Letter of December 9, 1717, stated that “On Thursday last arrived here Capt. John Osborne in the Ship Patience and Judeth about Seven Weeks from London, in whom came Josiah Willard Esq; with a Commission from His Majesty for the Secretary’s Office of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay: unto whom in Council before His Excellency the Governour, the Oaths for the said Post have accordingly been Administred” (p. 2/2). “Thursday last” was December 5th, and hence an error on the part of the news-writer for “Tuesday last,” or possibly “Monday last.” Under date of December 3d Sewall writes: “Visit Mr. Secretary Willard, who came to Town last night from Cape-Anne, where he arriv’d on the Lord’s Day, 7. Weeks from the Downs” (Diary, ii. 151).

343 Error for “Josiah.”

344 Council Records, vi. 526–527.

345 ix. 58.

346 “Last Tuesday Morning died here to the great Loss of this Town and Province, in the 76th Year of his Age, that extraordinary, accomplished, pious and publick-spirited Gentleman, the Honourable JOSIAH WILLARD Esq; Secretary to this Province near 40 Years, and late Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, which, on account of his other growing, weighty and laborious Business, he earnestly resigned some Years since; as also his Place at the Council-Board the last Year, on account of his advanc’d Age, to the Reluctance of his Country: . . .” (Boston Gazette, December 13, 1756, p. 2/1).

347 Thomas Clarke was Deputy-Secretary.

348 Council Records, xiii. 143.

349 Council Records, xiii. 145. The following extract is from the Boston Evening Post of December 20, 1756:

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor hath, by virtue of his Majesty’s Royal Commission, appointed and commissioned the Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Esq; to be Secretary of this Province in the room and stead of the Hon. JOSIAH WILLARD, Esq.; deceas’d, until his Majesty shall be pleased otherwise to order and appoint; or until the further Order of the Commander in Chief of this Province for the Time being (p. 2/1).

350 An Act for the effectual preventing the Currency of the Bills of Credit of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, within this Province, passed December 27, 1753, published January 26, 1754 (Massachusetts Province Laws, iii. 714–716).

351 Council Records, xiii. 145–146.

352 In the Council Records (xiii. 404) for June 1, 1758, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Oliver. Appended to Oliver’s Commission as Secretary (Crown Commissions, 1628–1663, p. 166) is the following:

Province of Mass^a Bay — June 1. 1758

Sworn in Council

Before T. Pownall Gov^r

353 See p. 95, above. In the Council Records (xv. 66) for November 26, 1761, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Oliver.

354 Crown Commissions, 1677–1774, p. 118. In the Council Records (xvi. 532–534) for March 11, 1771, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Flucker.

355 Cf. p. 87 note 1, above. The following paragraph appeared in the Boston Gazette of October 23, 1775:

THOM. GAGE, on the Third Instant (5 or 6 Days before his Departure for England,) issued a Proclamation, offering a Reward of TEN GUINEAS, to any one who shall discover the Thief or Thieves, that some Time in the Month of September last stole from the Council Chamber in Boston, the Public SEAL, his private SEAL, and the SEAL of the Supreme Court of Probate of the Province. — Quere, Whether as he carried his Secretary, T. Flucker, with him, ’tis not as likely that he might have carried them off, as any one else? (p. 3/2).

356 Plymouth Colony Records, xi. 129, 144.

357 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. pp. 30–31; Diary of John Hull, Transactions and Collections American Antiquarian Society (1857), iii. 203–204; 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, i. 52–53.

358 See p. 4 note 1, above.

359 See p. 4 note 1, above.

360 See p. 24 note 2, above.

361 See p. 52 note 2, above.

362 See p. 56 note 2, above.

363 See p. 69 note 2, above.

364 See p. 82 note 2, above.

365 Massachusetts Archives, lviii. 92a.

366 Genealogical Dictionary, iv. 281; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, ii. 48.

367 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 494.

368 P. 517.

369 P. 519.

370 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 9.

371 I am indebted to our associate Mr. Frederick L. Gay for the reference to this map.

372 My attention was called to this by Mr. John H. Edmonds.

373 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. pp. 157, 159.

374 P. 183.

375 P. 187.

376 P. 214.

377 History of Massachusetts, i. 236.

378 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, vi. 259, 260.

379 The Cambridge Press, 1638–1692 (1905), p. 146.

380 The Body of Liberties was first printed, from a manuscript owned by the Boston Athenaeum, in 1856 in 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 191–237; and the same manuscript was reproduced in facsimile in 1890 by W. H. Whitmore in his Bibliographical Sketch of the Laws of the Massachusetts Colony From 1630 to 1686, pp. 32–61. Of the one hundred Liberties constituting the Body of Liberties, the Capital Laws form the 94th. Originally there were only twelve Capital Laws, and twelve only are found in the above-mentioned manuscript (p. 54 of Whitmore’s facsimile) and in New-Englands Jonas Cast up at London (pp. 9–11). Three others were added on June 14, 1642 (Massachusetts Colony Records, ii. 21–22).

381 Massachusetts Colony Records, ii. 22.

382 Laws 10, 11, and 12 are not in the Body of Liberties, but were added June 14, 1642: see p. 116 note 2, above.

383 Laws 13, 14, and 15 in this reprint of 1643 are numbered 10, 11, and 12 in the Body of Liberties.

384 The tract consists of twenty-four pages: Title, 1 leaf; Dedication, pp. i–ii; Observations, pp. 1–20. A search through the accessible Boston newspaper of 1724 has failed to yield an allusion to the pamphlet. On the title-page is written in ink, “Elias Nason’s from Chas. Whipple 1847 — Made similar observations to my Class in 1847.”

385 The first was Thomas Blair’s Some Short and Easy Rules Teaching The true Pronunciation of the French Language, the colophon of which reads, “Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland, MDCCXX.”

386 There are allusions to America (p. 1), to the East and West Indies (p. 11), and to the New and Old World (p. 11).

387 This William Scott was Regent of the University of Edinburgh in 1695; was made Professor of Greek on June 16, 1708; became Professor of Moral Philosophy on February 26, 1729; and died in 1735. “AUG . . . . 9. Mr. William Scot, late Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh” (Gentleman’s Magazine, August, 1735, v. 500). His son, called William Scott Secundus, became Professor of Greek on February 26, 1729, and died the following December. “Dec . . . . 29 . . . . Dy’d Mr. William Scot, Greek-Professor at the University of Edinburgh” (Historical Register, 1730, xv, Chronological Diary, p. 4). See Sir A. Grant’s Story of the University of Edinburgh (1884), i. 233, 239, 242, 260–262, ii. 322–323, 336; Catalogue of the Graduates of the University of Edinburgh (1854), pp. xii. xv, xvi. Curiously enough in the Catalogue (p. xvi) it is the son, instead of the father, who is stated to have been made Professor of Moral Philosophy on February 26, 1729.

388 This work is apparently not in Watt, Lowndes, or the British Museum Catalogue.

389 Our knowledge of Le Mercier apparently comes wholly from the sketch of him in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xiii. 315–324, where we are told that he was “probably educated at the University of Geneva,” though no authority is given for the statement. The exact connotation of the words “brother,” “cousin,” etc., as used in the eighteenth century is often difficult to determine; but from the dedication to the pamphlet it is fair to assume that “A. L. M.” and William Scott were brothers-in-law.

390 Works of J. Adams, i. 667.

391 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 217.

392 New Englands First Fruits, p. 18.

393 P. 17.

394 Massachusetts Colony Records, ii. 30.

395 William Prynne, Canterburies Doome, London, 1646, p. 421.

396 Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, New Series, xii. 90.

397 Harvard Graduates, i. 26.

398 The third Part of Gangræna, or, A new and higher Discovery of the Errors, Heresies, Blasphemies, and insolent Proceedings of the Sectaries of these times; with some Animadversions by way of Confutation upon many of the Errors and Heresies named, London, 1646, pp. 81–82.

399 See Publications of this Society, viii. 333–334.

400 Massachusetts Colony Records, ii. 203.

401 Records of the Town of Cambridge, p. 77.

402 See the terms “free school,” “grammar school,” and “public school” in the Oxford English Dictionary.

403 Paige’s History of Cambridge, pp. 370–372.

404 Records of the Town of Cambridge, pp. 106, 138, 153, 182.

405 Plymouth Colony Records, x. 206, 219, 246, 263.

406 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 6.

407 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 284.

408 P. 406.

409 “Last night Mr. Elijah Corlett, School-master of Cambridge, died” (Sewall, February 25, 1686–7, Diary, i. 68).

410 Perhaps “our.”

411 Massachusetts Archives, lviii. 40. Cf. Massachusetts Colony Records (November 12, 1659), vol. iv. pt. i. p. 397.

412 October, 1913, xix. 157–158. Professor Andrews says:

The first volume containing the commissions is now before us and the second, which will contain the royal instructions issued during the same period, is already provided for. With the completion of this work an undertaking of first importance will have been finished, constituting not only the most important publication of this active society, but the first presentation in print of a complete series, as far as obtainable, of the commissions and instructions issued to a royal governor in any of the colonies. We can only wish that an effort of this kind would arouse the state of Massacusetts to atone for a long and not very creditable neglect by printing its colonial records for the period after 1686. It stands now with the state of South Carolina as the only two of the thirteen original colonies that have failed to fulfil this duty to themselves and to colonial history.

413 Though not mentioned by him, it was of course known to him. The introductory note to Professor Andrews’s “Guide to the Materials for American History, to 1783, in the Public Record Office of Great Britain. Volume I. The State Papers,” was dated October 15, 1912. The volume reached Boston last January, at which time the Preface and text of Volume II were cast, so that, unfortunately, in preparing the Preface I could not avail myself of the information found in Mr. Andrews’s volume. Nor does that volume contain a list of the Commissions or Instructions, though Mr. Andrews writes:

To treat the subject from the standpoint of British policy demands, however, that the student have before him a complete collection of all the commissions, instructions, and additional instructions issued to the British colonial governors, Canadian, American, and West Indian, from the earliest times to 1784. A list of all such documents is printed in the Report of the American Historical Association for 1911 (p. 110, note).

The list referred to, compiled by Mr. Andrews himself, fills pp. 396–528 of Volume I of the Report for 1911. This volume, however, has only just been published and my copy reached me one week ago to-day. Hence it was not available in preparing Volume II.

414 This was issued on or before December 11, 1691: see p. 97, above.

415 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 324, Vol. 22, pp. 409–110.

416 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 324, Vol. 32, pp. 68–69. There is also a copy of this Commission in Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 389, Vol. 42, pp. 65–66.

417 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 190, p. 258.

418 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 190, pp. 356–357.

419 The letter is printed in 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xi. 304–306.

420 See Publications of this Society, viii. 202, x. 356.

421 For Jacob T. Slade (1778–1854), the father of our late associate Dr. Daniel D. Slade, see Publications of this Society, vi. 216.

422 Harrison Gray Otis (1765–1848), whose Life and Letters have recently been published by our associate Mr. Samuel E. Morison, graduated from Harvard College in 1783; Harrison Gray Otis, Jr. (1792–1827) graduated in 1811. The latter’s marriage to Miss Eliza Henderson Boardman took place in Boston on May 6, 1817 (Columbian Centinel, May, 10, p. 2/3).

423 On May 13, 1819, he married Miss Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Daniel Denison and Elizabeth (Bromfield) Rogers.

424 Alexis Eustaphieve.

425 John Jenks was born in Medford December 6, 1751, and died in Salem October 11, 1817.

426 This Diary is in continuation of two Diaries — one extending from September 27 to December 31, 1785, the other extending from January 1 to April 30, 1786 — communicated by Mr. Ford in February, 1901, and March, 1902 (Publications, vii. 127–181, 341–398).

427 For a sketch of Col. William Washington (1752–1810), see Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography, vi. 384. In an earlier volume of our Publications (vii. 271 note 1) it was wrongly stated that he was “probably” William Augustine Washington, son of Washington’s half-brother Augustine Washington.

428 Pecan nuts. Writing to Francis Hopkinson on December 12, 1786, Jefferson said: “The paccan-nut is, as you conjecture, the Illinois nut” (Writings, 1853, ii. 74).

429 Col. Richard Kidder Meade.

430 George Augustine Washington, son of Washington’s brother, Charles Washington.

431 Col. William Fitzhugh.

432 John Augustine Washington.

433 Martha Washington.

434 Frances (Bassett) Washington, the wife of George Augustine Washington.

435 William Shaw served as Washington’s secretary from July 26, 1785, until the arrival of Tobias Lear on May 29, 1786.

436 Dr. David Stuart.

437 Tobias Lear was born at Portsmouth and had graduated from Harvard College in 1783.

438 See p. 180 note, below.

439 An English farmer from Gloucestershire, who had arrived on April 21 (vii. 394).

440 Dr. Daniel Jenifer.

441 Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis, children of Martha Washington’s son, John Parke Custis.

442 Robert Hanson Harrison.

443 James Rumsey (1743–1792).

444 André Michaux (1746–1802), who, with his son François André Michaux (1770–1855), had recently arrived in New York. “In 1824,” writes R. G. Thwaites, “the younger Michaux presented to the American Philosophical Society . . . the note-books containing the diary of his father’s travels in America — all save those covering the first two years (1785–87), which were lost in the shipwreck on the coast of Holland” (Early Western Travels, iii. 15). André Michaux’s Journal is printed in the original French in Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 1889, pp. 91–101, 114–140; and in an English translation in Thwaites’s Early Western Travels, iii. 27–104.

445 Judge Bushrod Washington (d. 1829), son of John Augustine Washington.

446 Col. Francis Deakins.

447 Richardson Stewart.

448 James Smith.

449 For information in regard to the Potomac Company, see J. Pickell, New Chapter in the early Life of Washington (1856); and Corra Bacon-Foster, Early Chapters in the Development of the Patomac Route to the West (1912).

450 Stuart had married Eleanor (Calvert) Custis, the widow of John Parke Custis.

451 Elizabeth Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, daughters of John Parke Custis.

452 David Humphreys (1752–1818).

453 Thomas Marshall (1730–1802), father of Chief-Justice John Marshall.

454 See pp. 150–155, above.

455 Some words tom away are conjecturally supplied within square brackets.

456 See Sewall’s Diary, i. 365.

457 Chaucer’s Frere will be recalled, whose “purchas was wel bettre than his rente.” Later, the word came to be applied particularly to booty, spoil, plunder. “Capt. Low went into Port, upon the Coast, . . . getting Provisions, and what Necessaries the Crew wanted, and then sailed for Purchase, (as they call it) steering their Course towards Marblehead” (Capt. C. Johnson’s General History of the Pyrates, 4th edition, London, 1726, p. 369).

458 I am greatly indebted to Mr. Frederick L. Gay for assistance in the preparation of this brief paper; and to Mr. George E. Littlefield for his helpful suggestions. Cf. the latter’s communication, pp. 131–140, above.

459 Dedham Records, ii. 7; these extracts are copied from the original MS.

460 Dedham Records, ii. 8: the words in italics are underscored in the original by John Allin.

461 Essex Institute Historical Collections, iv. 93, ix. 16.

462 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 263.

463 Publications of this Society, xiv. 63–66.

464 Venn, Book of Matriculations and Degrees, Cambridge, 1913, p. 527.

465 Cf. Publications of this Society, xiii. 273–277.

466 xii. 136–163.

467 Essex Institute Historical Collections, ix. 77.

468 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 253, 271.

469 This entry is crossed out in the original MS volume now in possession of the Shepard Memorial Church, Cambridge.

470 There is another entry which gives the date of the purchase of the volume containing these records as in the early part of December, 1638.

471 History of Cambridge, pp. 255, 256.

472 Paige’s Cambridge, p. 627.

473 Cambridge Town Records, p. 105.

474 Cambridge Town Records, p. 109.

475 Essex Institute Historical Collections, ix. 98.

476 Dedham Records, ii. 23.

477 Dedham Records, ii. 37.

478 5 Massachusetts Historical Collections, i. 490.

479 P. 208, above.

480 P. 119 note 1, above.

481 It contains 16 pages: Title-page, 1 leaf; Dedication, pp. i–ii; Text, pp. 1–12. The Colophon reads: “Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland, MDCCXX.”

482 C. E. Banks, History of Martha’s Vineyard, ii, Annals of Chilmark, p. 69 note 3.

483 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xlviii. 451, 1. 158. Blair was a very unusual name in New England in the early days, and the passages quoted in the text are, I think, the only references before 1800 to a Thomas Blair to be found in the Register.

484 This statement needs modification, since Langloiserie’s permission to teach was granted not by the Corporation but by the President and Tutors. See also p. 225 note 2, below. Also, Blair’s permission was granted by the President alone.

485 This Bible at one time belonged to Richard Dana, who graduated in 1718, then to his son Francis Dana, who graduated in 1762, and is now owned by their descendant Mr. Richard H. Dana of Cambridge, who has no idea how the note came to be in it. The note is not in the hand of Richard or Francis Dana, but may be in that of Langloiserie, who possibly owned the Bible and sold it to Richard Dana. For information in regard to the Bible, I am indebted to the late William H. Tillinghast, to whom I communicated in 1911 my identification of “M. Longloisserie” as Louis Langloiserie, and to Miss Elizabeth E. Dana of Cambridge.

486 Tanguay (Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Canadiennes, i. 488: cf. vi. 375) says:

1691, (15 août) Sorel.

I. — PIOT dit l’Angloiserie, Charles-Gaspard, capitaine, chevalier de St. Louis, b 1655 fils de Martin et d’Anne Petit, de Haniou, êvêche de Chartres; s 21 fév. 1715, dans l’église, à Québec.

Du Gué, Marie-Thérèse, . . .

Louis-Hector, b 3 avril 1695. — . . . Louis, b 7 Sept. 1697. — . . . Louis, b 7 et s 25 janv. 1705. . . .

487 This reads in part as follows:

WHEREAS the Fishery of Porpoises will tend to the Benefit of Trade in this Colony and enable the Inhabitants thereof to make Considerable returns for Great Britain by their own Industry.

AND WHEREAS the said Lovis Hector Piot De Langloiserie by his Petition to the General Assembly of this Colony, has Set forth that by an Exact observation of the Methods Used and Practiced in other Countrys, he has obtained a perfect knowledge of Catching and Taking Porpoises in an Effectual manner. . . . BE it therefore Enacted . . . That no Person or Persons whatsoever from and after the Publication of this Act, shall Undertake or presume to Carry on the ffishery of Porpoises in the Same manner and Methods as the said Petitioner shall make Use off, in the Seas Harbours, Rivers and other Waters within this Colony for and during the Term of Ten Years, but he the said Lovis Hector Piot De Langloiserie . . . ALWAYS PROVIDED . . . That in Case the Said Lovis Hector Piot De Langloiserie . . . do not within the time of Eighteen Months from the Publication hereof, put the said taking and Catching of Porpoises in Effectual practice and Execution or that he . . . Shall afterwards Discontinue the Same for the Space of Two wholl Summer Seasons during the Continuation of this Act, Then it Shall and may be Lawfull for any other Person or Persons to Undertake and Carry on the said Fishery (Colonial Laws of New York, ii. 311–312).

Cf. New York Colonial Documents, v. 783, ix. 829, 832; Journal of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New York, i. 536; Journal of the Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly of New York (1764), i. 531, 531–532, 532, 544 (April 8, 13, 14, 15, 19, June 17, 1726). In 1714 Garret De Graeuw had been granted a similar privilege, but for seven years (Colonial Laws of New York, i. 839–840).

488 See p. 70, above.

489 Hutchinson was in the Class of 1727.

490 Rev. Andrew Le Mercier. The doubt cast in a previous note (p. 120, above) on the statement that he was “probably educated at the University of Geneva,” can now be removed. His Church History of Geneva was not published until 1732, but the following advertisement was printed in the New England Weekly Journal of June 2, 1729 (p. 2/2):

There is prepared for the Press.

The Church-History of GENEVA, written by the Rev. Mr. Andrew Le Mercier, Pastor of the French Church in Boston, who formerly hived & Studied there, . . .

Also, his name appears in the year 1712, under the heading “Theologies candidati,” as “Andreas Le Mercier Cadomensis in Neustria 2 Junii” (Le Livre dv Rectevr: Catalogve des Étudiantes de l’Académie de Genève de 1559 à 1859, Geneva, 1860, p. 208). That Le Mercier was a native of Caen has not, I think, before been noted.

491 This name has evidently puzzled P. O. Hutchinson, the editor, for he adds in a footnote, “Or Langloise in.”

492 John Henry Lydius, of whom a notice will be found in H. Hall’s History of Vermont, pp. 169, 495–497.

493 Peter Chardon, father of Peter Chardon (H. C. 1757).

494 Jeremiah Gridley (H. C. 1725).

495 Probably Joseph Green (H. C. 1726).

496 John Lovell (H. C. 1728).

497 Diary and Letters, i. 47.

498 New England Weekly Journal, September 15, 1729, p. 4/1.

499 Political State of Great Britain, 1729, xxxviii. 542.

500 Rev. William Burnet (H. C. 1741). See note 9, below.

501 Mary Burnet married William Browne (H. C. 1727).

502 Political State of Great Britain, xxxviii. 423, 543. This occurs in an “Extract of a Letter from Boston dated September 15. 1729. giving a full Account of the Particulars of the Sickness and Decease of his Excellency William Burnet, Esq; late Governor of the Massachusetts Colony in New-England.” Undoubtedly it is taken from the Boston Gazette of September 15, 1729, which I have not seen since the only known copy is at Madison, Wisconsin. The account in the New England Weekly Journal of the same date does not mention Langloiserie.

Gov. Burnet was twice married: first, to Mary, daughter of the Rev. George Stanhope, Dean of Canterbury, who died in 1714; secondly, to Mary, daughter of Abraham Vanhorne of New York. The mother of Gilbert Burnet was the Governor’s first wife. Gov. Burnet is briefly noticed at the end of the sketch of his father Bishop Burnet in the Dictionary of National Biography, but his second wife is not mentioned. His marriage to Miss Vanhorne took place in the spring or early summer of 1721. (Cf. Memorial History of New York, ii. 155, 175; Historical Magazine, viii. 398, ix. 34, 129; New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vi. 6.) The following notice appeared in the American Weekly Mercury (Philadelphia) of April 26, 1722: “New-York, April 21. About three in the Morning Mrs. Burnet, our Governor’s Lady, was delivered of a Son, upon which all our Vessels in the Road displayed their Ensigns, Pendants, etc.” (p. 2/1). The child — William — then born graduated at Harvard College in 1741, his residence at entrance being given as New York and the date of his birth as April 21, 1722 (Faculty Records, i. 104). On June 23, 1738, William Burnet, “a minor aged about sixteen years,” appointed his brother-in-law William Browne of Salem his guardian (Suffolk Probate Files, no. 7166). A son was born to Mrs. Burnet on August 7, 1727, but both mother and child died between that date and December 6. In his will, dated December 6, 1727, Gov. Burnet speaks of “my children, William, Mary and Thomas, by my late dearest wife Mary Vanhorn” (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xlvii. 124). Among the deaths said to have occurred in December, 1727, as recorded in the Historical Register for 1728, is that of “Mrs. Burnet, Wife of William Burnet, Esq; Governor of New-York” (xiii, Chronological Diary, p. 3). In the New England Weekly Journal of January 8, 1728, was printed “An Elegy upon Mrs. Burknett,” preceded by this note: “The following lines being publish’d, in the New-York Gazette, on the death of the Vertuous Consort of His Excellency Governour BURNETT, we take Leave to insert them here” (p. 2/1).

503 This advertisement was repeated in the issue of October 6, p. 2/2.

504 Boston Record Commissioners’ Reports, xiii. 201.

505 This was repeated in the issues of November 2, 9, and 16.

506 Faculty Records, i. 56. Though these volumes are labelled on the back of the covers “Records of the College Faculty,” it should be pointed out that the binding is not old and that the word “Faculty,” was not used at Harvard until 1825. On the recto of the first leaf in vol. i is written: “A booke for Recording the Acts & Agreem^ts of The President & Tut^rs in Harv. College 1725.” Cf. Publications of this Society, xiv. 315–316.

507 July 15, 1734, p. 2/3; repeated in the issues of July 22, 29, and August 12.

508 College Book, iv. 179; Publications of this Society, xvi. 632.

509 Ezekiel Lewis (H. C. 1695).

510 Secretary Josiah Willard (H. C. 1698).

511 Jacob Wendell. He was baptized August 5, 1691 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxxvi. 246); and his death, the date of which has apparently not hitherto been noted, occurred on September 7, 1761 (Boston Gazette of September 14, 1761, p. 3/1).

512 Rev. Joseph Sewall (H. C. 1707).

513 Rev. John Webb (H. C. 1708).

514 Rev. William Cooper (H. C. 1712).

515 Rev. Joshua Gee (H. C. 1717).

516 Overseers’ Records, i. 33.

517 Rev. Daniel Rogers (H. C. 1725; d. 1785).

518 Notwithstanding this assertion, in later years the President and Tutors again exercised this power, for on February 4, 1761, the Faculty voted:

2. That S^r Toppan be allow’d, according to his Petition to therefor, Leave To keep a French School in the Evenings, till the next Commencement, to teach such Schollars as are desirous to learn that Language, their Parents manifesting there consent thereto (ii. 126).

S^r Toppan. Leave to keep a French School

519 Francis Foxcroft (H. C. 1712).

520 Overseers’ Records, i. 142–143.

521 Testimony of the President, etc., p. 4.

522 Dan. 9. 13, 14.

523 Longed to suffer Persecution.

524 Is it possible that this is an allusion to Tutor Rogers?

525 Letter To the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield, etc., pp. 3, 6–8. This Letter is advertised as “This Day Published” in the Boston News Letter of May 30, 1745, p. 2/2.

526 Dr. Edward Augustus Holyoke (H. C. 1746), a son of President Holyoke.

527 Benjamin Dearborn (H. C. 1746).

528 Andrew Oliver (H. C. 1749).

529 Holyoke Diaries, pp. 37, 38.

530 John Holyoke (H. C. 1751), also a son of President Holyoke.

531 Samuel Epes (H. C. 1751).

532 Holyoke Diaries, p. 45.

533 These were: Rev. Andrew Gardner (H. C. 1712), the date of whose death is unknown; Rev. John Gardner (H. C. 1715); Samuel Gardner (H. C. 1732); Rev. Joseph Gardner (H. C. 1732); and Nathaniel Gardner (H. C. 1739).

534 College Book, iv. 212, 221, 284, 289, 302; Publications of this Society, xvi. 683, 693, 781, 788, 804.

535 The following notice appeared in the Boston Evening Post of Monday, March 31, 1760:

Last Wednesday morning died here, after a very short illness with a fever, Nathaniel Gardner, jun., M.A. Several years usher to the South Grammar School in this town. His remains were decently interred on Friday last (p. 3/2).

On August 27, 1750, the Selectmen “Voted, That m^r. Nathaniel Gardner, jun^r. be appointed usher of the said [South Grammar] School, until further orders” (Boston Record Commissioners’ Reports, xvii. 246).

536 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, viii. 9.

537 There is an error in this figure, which should be exactly 50 less, or 269, the number actually graduated. It seems to be a printer’s error: CCCXIX should be CCLXIX.

538 To this point, the title to the third edition (1724) is identical with the title to the fourth, except that in the former the word “Families” is on the same line with the words “to utter Ruin.” Beyond this point, the title to the third edition reads:

The Third Edition, with a Preface, and a Song / compos’d by Sir Richard, immediately after his / Discharge, not in the former Editions. / [Rule] / Non per Jovem potum boni sed Demonis. / [Rule] / Printed in the Year 1724.

539 It is an octavo and has 24 pages, including the title.

540 With the alteration of “This Day is publish’d” to “Just Publish’d,” this advertisement is repeated in the issues of March 23 and 30.

541 The fourth edition is practically a line for line reprint of the third, a few differences in the title and in the preface being specified on p. 234 note 2, above, and p. 235 note 3, below.

542 The Preface to the third edition is identical with that to the fourth, except that the concluding words in the first paragraph in the third edition read: “went off in little more than a Fortnights Time, and so gave Birth to this Third Edition.”

543 An obvious misprint for Bumper, correctly given in the third edition.

544 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, x. 89; S. G. Drake, History and Antiquities of Boston, p. 634.

545 There is a copy in the Boston Public Library.

546 There is a copy in the Boston Athenæum.

547 This is advertised on the last page of Cotton Mather’s Companion for Communicants, Boston, 1690, of which there is a copy in the Boston Public Library.

548 ii. 18.

549 ii. 65.

550 ii. 198.

551 i. 169.

552 Capt. George Steuart, who was killed a few weeks later. He was the father of Sir John Steuart (H. C. 1734).

553 New England Weekly Journal, March 17, 1741, p. 1/3.

554 Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

555 Sometimes the name appears in full, as in the Farmer’s Almanack for 1816:

“Our good or bad fortune depends greatly on the choice we make of our friends.” I never knew Sir Richard Rum’s friendship worth preserving. He is warm and very cordial at first, but he is sure to lead you into difficulty in the end (in Kittredge, Old Farmer and his Almanack, p. 274).

556 It is of course possible that the author of the pamphlet used a name already familiar; but I know of no example of “Sir Richard” before 1724, and until such example is produced it must be assumed that “Sir Richard” was derived from the pamphlet. No doubt “Richard” was selected for the alliteration.

557 See the Oxford Dictionary under “kill-devil,” “rum,” “rumbullion,” and “rumbustion.”

558 See p. 239, above.

559 Travels through the Middle Settlements in North-America, London, 1775, pp. 82–83; second edition, London, 1775, pp. 143–144.

560 From 1773 to 1775 many amusing passages relating to this person are found in American newspapers, letters, and diaries. Her name was Sarah Wilson, she lived in the family of the Hon. Caroline Vernon, committed theft, was transported, was a convict servant in Maryland, made her escape, assumed various high titles, travelled in style in the northern colonies, proved a great enigma to the good people of New England, and even took a hand in the political controversies of the day.

561 New Hampshire Gazette, January 14, 1774, p. 3/2. On July 4, 1787, the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, then travelling through Connecticut, wrote:

The landlord . . . is a genuine Connecticut tavern-keeper — before your horse’s bits are out of his mouth, the usual questions are asked: What’s your name? Where did you come from? Where are you going? And, what’s your business? Answer these questions, and his curiosity is completely satisfied; nor does he wish to know a syllable more about you, only that you will take care to pay your bill (Life, Journals, and Correspondence, i. 223–224).

562 Quoted by our associate Mr. Kittredge in his Old Farmer and his Almanack, p. 268.

563 Possibly Andrew Burnaby, who did not die until 1812 (Dictionary of National Biography).

564 Publications of this Society, ix. 456.

565 A. H. Smyth’s Writings of Franklin, i. 260, x. 153.

566 Dedham Records, iii. 33.

567 Savage’s Winthrop, i. 227–229.

568 Coffin’s Newbury (1845), p. 23.

569 Savage’s Winthrop, i. 237.

570 Dedham Records, iii. 35.

571 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 216.

572 Savage’s Winthrop, i. 484.

573 Rev. Samuel Eaton.

574 Savage’s Winthrop, i. 259.

575 Savage’s Winthrop, i. 259.

576 Report of the American Historical Association for 1893, p. 199.

577 Massachusetts Archives, xxxvi. 150.

578 Massachusetts Colony Records, ii. 122.

579 Ibid. vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 439; Massachusetts Archives, cvii. 160–161.

580 See, for example, Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 79; Green, Groton during the Indian Wars, p. 39; L. K. Mathews, Expansion of New England, p. 58.

581 Massachusetts Archives, lxviii. 174–176.

582 Osgood, American Colonies in the Seventeenth Century, i. 501, and citations: cf. Publications of this Society, xii. 38–39.

583 Hening, Statutes at Large, iii. 204: cf. 1 Massachusetts Historical Collections, v. 129, for influence of the example of the New England town. On Virginia frontier conditions see Alvord and Bidgood, First Explorations of the Trans-Allegheny Region, pp. 23–34, 93–95. P. A. Bruce, Institutional History of Virginia, ii. 97, discusses frontier defence in the seventeenth century.

584 Massachusetts Archives, lxx. 240; Massachusetts Province Laws, i. 194, 293.

585 In a petition (read March 3, 1692–3) of settlers “in Sundry Farms granted in those Remote Lands Scituate and Lyeing between Sudbury, Concord, Marlbury, Natick and Sherburne & Westerly is the Wilderness,” the petitioners ask easement of taxes and extension into the Natick region in order to have means to provide for the worship of God, and say:

Wee are not Ignorant that by reason of the present Distressed Condition of those that dwell in these Frontier Towns, divers are meditating to remove themselves into such places where they have not hitherto been conserned in the present Warr and desolation thereby made, as also that thereby they may be freed from that great burthen of public taxes necessarily accruing thereby, Some haveing already removed themselves. Butt knowing for our parts that wee cannot run from the hand of a Jealous God, doe account it our duty to take such Measures as may inable us to the performance of that duty wee owe to God, the King, & our Familyes (Massachusetts Archives, cxiii. 1).

586 In a petition of 1658 Andover speaks of itself as “a remote upland plantation” (Massachusetts Archives, cxii. 99).

587 Massachusetts Province Laws, i. 402.

588 Convenient maps of settlement, 1660–1700, are in E. Channing, History of the United States, i. 510–511, ii. end; Avery, History of the United States and its People, ii. 398. A useful contemporaneous map for conditions at the close of King Philip’s War is Hubbard’s map of New England in his Narrative published in Boston, 1677. See also L. K. Mathews, Expansion of New England, pp. 56–57, 70.

589 Turner, Significance of the Frontier in American History, 1. c. pp. 208–211.

590 Weeden, Economic and Social History of New England, pp. 90, 95, 129–132; F J Turner, Indian Trade in Wisconsin, p. 13; McIlwain, Wraxall’s Abridgement, introduction (in press): the town histories abound in evidence of the significance of the early Indian traders’ posts, transition to Indian land cessions, and then to town grants.

591 Weeden, loc. cit. pp. 64–67; M. Egleston, New England Land System, pp. 31–32; Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 37, 206, 267–268; Connecticut Colonial Records, vii. 111, illustrations of cattle brands in 1727.

592 Hutchinson, History (1795), ii. 129 note, relates such a case of a Groton man; see also Parkman, Half-Century, vol. i. ch. iv, citing Maurault, Histoire des Abenakis, p. 377.

593 Massachusetts Archives, lxxi. 4, 84, 85, 87, 88.

594 Hoosatonic.

595 Connecticut Records, iv. 463, 464.

596 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 72; Massachusetts Province Laws, i. 176, 211, 292, 558, 594, 600; Massachusetts Archives, lxxi. 7, 89, 102. Cf. Publications of this Society, vii. 275–278.

597 Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 290.

598 Judd, Hadley, p. 272; 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, ii. 235.

599 Farmer and Moore, Collections, iii. 64–66. The frontier woman of the farther west found no more extreme representative than Hannah Dustin of Haverhill, with her trophy of ten scalps, for which she received a bounty of £50 (Parkman, Frontenac, 1898, p. 407 note).

600 For illustrations of resentment against those who protected the Christian Indians, see F. W. Gookin, Daniel Gookin, pp. 145–155.

601 For example, Massachusetts Archives, lxx. 261; Bailey, Andover, p. 179; Metcalf, Annals of Mendon, p. 63; Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xliii. 504–519. Parkman, Frontenac (Boston, 1898), p. 390, and Half-Century of Conflict (Boston, 1898), i. 55, sketches the frontier defence.

602 Massachusetts Archives, cvii. 155.

603 cvii. 230; cf. 230 a.

604 Massachusetts Archives, lxviii. 156.

605 Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 189.

606 Massachusetts Archives, lxxi. 46–48, 131, 134, 135 et passim.

607 Massachusetts Archives, lxxi. 107: cf. Metcalf, Mendon, p. 130; Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 288. The frontier of Virginia in 1755 and 1774 showed similar conditions: see, for example, the citations to Washington’s Writings in Thwaites, France in America, pp. 193–195; and frontier letters in Thwaites and Kellogg, Dunmore’s War, pp. 227, 228 et passim. The following petition to Governor Gooch of Virginia, dated July 30, 1742, affords a basis for comparison with a Scotch-Irish frontier:

We your pittionours humbly sheweth that we your Honours Loly and Dutifull Subganckes hath ventred our Lives & all that we have In settling ye back parts of Virginia which was a veri Great Hassirt & Dengrous, for it is the Hathins [heathens] Road to ware, which has proved hortfull to severil of ous that were ye first settlers of these back woods & wee your Honibill pittionors some time a goo pittioned your Honnour for to have Commisioned men amungst ous which we your Honnours most Duttifull subjects thought properist men & men that had Hart and Curidg to hed us yn time of [war] & to defend your Contray & your poor Sogbacks Intrist from ye voilince of ye Haithen — But yet agine we Humbly persume to poot your Honnour yn mind of our Great want of them in hopes that your Honner will Grant a Captins’ Commission to John McDowell, with foilring ofishers, and your Honnours’ Complyence in this will be Great settisfiction to your most Duttifull and Humbil pittioners — and we as in Duty bond shall Ever pray . . . (Calendar of Virginia State Papers, i. 235).

608 But there is a note of deference in southern frontier petitions to the Continental Congress — to be discounted, however, by the remoteness of that body. See F. J. Turner, Western State-Making in the Revolutionary Era (American Historical Review, i. 70, 251). The demand for remission of taxes is a common feature of the petitions there quoted.

609 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xliii. 506 ff.

610 xliii. 518.

611 Connecticut Colonial Records, iv. 67.

612 In a petition of February 22, 1693–4, Deerfield calls itself the “most Utmost Frontere Town in the County of West Hampshire” (Massachusetts Archives, cxiii. 57 a).

613 Judd, Hadley, 249.

614 W. D. Schuyler-Lighthall, Glorious Enterprise, p. 16.

615 Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 405.

616 “I want to have your warriours come and see me,” wrote Allen to the Indians of Canada in 1775, “and help me fight the King’s Regular Troops. You know they stand all close together, rank and file, and my men fight so as Indians do, and I want your warriours to join with me and my warriours, like brothers, and ambush the Regulars: if you will, I will give you money, blankets, tomahawks, knives, paint, and any thing that there is in the army, just like brothers; and I will go with you into the woods to scout; and my men and your men will sleep together, and eat and drink together, and fight Regulars, because they first killed our brothers” (American Archives, 4th Series, ii. 714).

617 Compare A. McF. Davis, The Shays Rebellion a Political Aftermath (Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, xxi. 58, 62, 75–79).

618 Land System of the New England Colonies, p. 30.

619 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 167.

620 Compare Weeden, Economic and Social History of New England, i. 270–271; Gookin, Daniel Gookin, pp. 106–161; and the histories of Worcester for illustrations of how the various factors noted above could be combined in a single town.

621 J. Merrill, Amesbury, pp. 5, 50.

622 B. L. Mirick, Haverhill, pp. 9, 10.

623 Green, Early Records of Groton, pp. 49, 70 (90).

624 Ibid.

625 Worcester County History, i. 2, 3.

626 J. G. Metcalf, Annals of Mendon, p. 85.

627 P. 96. Compare the Kentucky petition of 1780 given in Roosevelt, Winning of the West, ii. 398, and the letter from that frontier cited in Turner, Western State-Making (American Historical Review, i. 262), attacking the Virginia “Nabobs,” who hold absentee land titles. “Let the great men,” say they, “whom the land belongs to come and defend it.”

628 Sheldon, Deerfield, i. 188–189.

629 These facts are stated on the authority of E. Washburn, Leicester, pp. 5–15: compare Major Stephen Sewall to Jeremiah Dummer, 1717, quoted in Weeden, Economic and Social History of New England, ii. 505 note 4.

630 Compare the Virginia system, Bruce, Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century, ii. 42, 43.

631 For this item I am indebted to our associate Mr. Andrew McF. Davis: see his Colonial Currency Reprints, i. 335–349.

632 Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts (1768), ii. 331, 332, has an instructive comment. A. C. Ford, Colonial Precedents of Our National Land System, p. 84; L. K. Mathews, Expansion of New England, pp. 82 ff.

633 J. G. Holland, Western Massachusetts, p. 197.

634 Jos. Schafer, Origin of the System of Land Grants for Education, pp. 25–33.

635 D. H. Hurd (ed.), History of Worcester County, i. 6. The italics are mine.

636 Egleston, Land System of the New England Colonies, pp. 39–41.

637 P. 41.

638 T. Dwight, Travels (1821), ii. 459–463.

639 These lists are in the Faculty Records. Cf. Publications of this Society, xiv. 315 note 3.

640 The names of such students, however, generally after 1760, and sometimes before that date, were recorded in the Faculty Records at the time of their entrance.

641 For this information I am indebted to the Recorder, Mr. George W. Cram.

642 Faculty Records, iii. 72. The square brackets are in the original.

643 A word should be added in regard to the spelling of certain names. Where there is no doubt about the identity of a student, his name is spelled in the usual form; but where uncertainty exists — as, for instance, in the cases of Mutie, Swineoke, etc. — the original spelling is followed.

644 Among these are at least two Indians — Eleazar, of the Class of 1679; and Benjamin Larnel, of the Class of 1716. It would be of interest to recover the names of other Indians who were students in the seventeenth century, of whom there must have been several, though only one graduated (Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, in the Class of 1665). So far as the writer is aware, Larnel, who died while an undergraduate, was the only Indian student at College after 1700.

645 In the Harvard Alumni Bulletin of January 14, 1914 (xvi. 265–266), the writer suggested “the urgent need of a volume . . . which . . . should include not merely every graduate, but every person who was ever a student at Harvard.” Other colleges and universities, both in Europe and in this country, have published catalogues of the kind indicated; and Harvard University ought to have done so long ago.

646 At an adjourned meeting of the Council held on 19 November, 1914, the following minute was unanimously adopted:

The Council has learned with deep regret of Dr. Lefavour’s decision not to be a candidate for re-election to the Presidency of the Society at its approaching Annual Meeting. During the seven years of his service he has been brought into more intimate relations with this Board than with the Society at large, and its members have therefore been able the better to appreciate those qualities of mind and heart which he brought to his work, and which have endeared him to us all. Dr. Lefavour’s devotion to the Society’s every interest and the dignity with which he has presided over our deliberations have been exceeded only by his uniform courtesy and urbanity. In taking leave of him in this special relation, we cherish the hope that his interest in the Society and its work will persist, and that we shall often enjoy his presence and hearty greeting at the meetings of the Society. In retiring from the office he has adorned he will carry with him the respect of every member of the Council and their earnest wish for the long continuance of his career of usefulness in many fields of public service.

647 Boston Evening Transcript, August 20, 1907, p. 1/7. An editorial note in the Boston Evening Transcript of August 23, 1907, reads:

The Springfield Republican says: “It is as much popular impression that the Pilgrims were Puritans as that the witches of Salem were burned at the stake.” If so, it is a good thing the mistake has been publicly made in high circles. It will tend to dispel a gross popular error (p. 8/2).

This paragraph is so awkwardly expressed as to leave its precise meaning somewhat uncertain, but apparently the “gross popular error” is the belief that the Pilgrim Fathers were Puritans.

The following skit appeared in the New York Sun of September 10, 1907, p. 4/6:

THE REVISED CONSTITUTION.

I, the President of the United States, in order to form a more decent government, provide for the common regulation, promote the welfare of desirable citizens and secure the blessings of My Policies to posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America: . . .

article vi.

Section 1 — The “Pilgrims” shall be called “Puritans” after this date.

648 I refer to and quote from the speech as actually delivered and given to the press by Mr. Roosevelt. It appears, however, that the two following remarks were made by the President as an extemporaneous introductory to his oration:

Men and women of Massachusetts: Let me at the outset ask to be excused for one error in my speech of which I was unaware until I read it to a Massachusetts man. I have mixed up the Pilgrim and the Puritan.

Out in a remote region like New York we tend to confound men. I ask your pardon for not having appreciated the difference between them. When, therefore, I speak of the Puritan, I speak in the large generic sense that takes the Pilgrim in (Boston Herald, August 21, 1907, p. 31).

And in the speech as afterwards (1911) printed in E. J. Carpenter’s The Pilgrims and their Monument, the first sentence quoted in the text was altered so as to read as follows: “The coming hither of the Pilgrims three hundred years ago, followed in far larger numbers by their sterner kinsmen, the Puritans, shaped the destinies of this continent, and therefore profoundly affected the destiny of the whole world” (pp. 74–75).

649 The word “compact” was first applied to this document, as I am informed by Mr. George E. Bowman, in 1793 (1 Massachusetts Historical Collections, ii. 6 note). A few earlier terms may be given: “an Association and Agreement,” 1622 (Mourt’s Relation, in Arber’s Story of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 409); “a combination,” 1630, Bradford (History of Plymouth Plantation, ed. Ford, i. 189), and 1636 (Plymouth Colony Records, xi. 6, 74); “a Solemn Contract,” 1736 (T. Prince, Chronological History of New-England, i. 73; “the covenant,” 1773 (C. Turner, Sermon, 1774, p. 21 note); “a solemn contract,” 1793 (C. Robbins, Sermon, 1794, p. 33). The exaggerated language usually applied to the compact apparently originated with John Quincy Adams in 1802 (Oration, 1803, pp. 17–18, 20), before which time little attention was paid to it.

650 These historic words headed an editorial note in the Columbian Centinel of July 12, 1817, beginning: “During the late Presidential Jubilee many persons have met at festive boards, in pleasant converse, whom party politics had long severed. We recur with pleasure to all the circumstances which attended the demonstrations of good feelings” (p. 2/3).

651 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, iii. 389. The Records of the Old Colony Club are printed in this volume, pp. 381–444. References in this paper to these Records are to that volume.

652 The Mayflower passengers who landed at Provincetown on November 11–21 landed from the Mayflower itself. The popular notion that those who landed at Plymouth on December 11–21 also landed from the Mayflower is a mistake. There were three expeditions — or “discoveries,” as the term then was — from the Mayflower. The first, consisting of Standish and sixteen men, was a land expedition and lasted from November 15–25 to November 17–27. The second, consisting of thirty-four men, was in the shallop, and lasted from November 27–December 7 to November 30–December 10. The third, consisting of seventeen men (of whom John Alden was not one), also in the shallop, started on December 6–16; reached Clark’s Island on Friday, December 8–18; landed at Plymouth on Monday, December 11–21; and returned on December 12–22 to the Mayflower, which reached Plymouth on Saturday, December 16–26. (Narrative and Critical History of America, iii. 270–272 and note.) Hence those traditions are without foundation which state that the first person to land on Plymouth Rock was either Mary Chilton or John Alden. The landing from the Mayflower, it may be added, was not completed until about March 21–31, 1621: see Mourt’s Relation, ed. Dexter, p. 90.

653 Thomas Southworth Howland.

654 Records, p. 400.

655 The legal change in England and the American colonies from Old Style to New Style took place in September, 1752, there then being a difference of eleven days. The members of the Old Colony Club, all of whom were young men, were probably not aware of the fact that in the seventeenth century the difference was ten days, not eleven. Hence the error in the date of celebrating Forefathers’ Day. In a sermon delivered in Boston December 22, 1820, the Rev. James Sabine said: “The reader must bear in mind, that all the dates and events, in relation to our Fathers, are Old Style, an allowance of eleven days therefore must be made; as, for instance, the Fathers landed the 11th. December, which in New Style, is the 22d” (The Fathers of New England, 1821, p. 31). The error was apparently first pointed out in 1832 by Dr. James Thacher in his History of the Town of Plymouth (pp. 15 note, 25 note). In his Discourse (p. 53) delivered at Plymouth December 22, 1832, the Rev. Convers Francis also called attention to the error, citing Thacher. On December 15, 1849, the Pilgrim Society appointed a committee “to consider the expediency of celebrating in future the Landing of the Pilgrims, on the twentyfirst day of December, instead of the twentysecond;” in 1850 the committee made its Report (see p. 390, below, for full title); and on May 27, 1850, the Pilgrim Society “Voted, That this Society will hereafter regard the twentyfirst day of December, as the true anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims” (Report, p. 2; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, iv. 350). In a discourse delivered at Dedham December 21, 1851, the Rev. Alvan Lamson (The Memory of John Robinson, 1852, pp. 4–5, 39–40) noted the old error, citing Thacher.

The practice of the Pilgrim Society has been somewhat erratic. In October, 1862, the New England Historical and Genealogical Register remarked: “We believe, however, that the force of habit has proved stronger than the love of truth, and that the Pilgrim Society has rescinded its vote [of May 27, 1850], and again celebrates the 22d of December” (xvi. 347–348). In July, 1871, the same journal said: “The Pilgrim Society have lately again given their sanction to the celebration of the true day, the last anniversary . . . having been commemorated by them on the 21st of December, 1870” (xxv. 302–303 note). But on May 29, 1882, the Pilgrim Society voted: “While we recognize the historical fact that the passengers on the shallop of the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock on the 11th of December, 1620, and that the twenty-first of the new style corresponds to the day of landing, yet in view of the fact that the twenty-second has been hallowed by an observance during a period of over one hundred years, and consecrated by the words of Winslow, Webster, Everett, Adams, Seward and many other great orators of our land, it is hereby resolved that hereafter the twenty-second of December be observed by the Pilgrim Society as the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims” (Register, xxxvi. 327). This vote led the Register to remark: “This action is surprising. It seems that the anniversary henceforth to be celebrated at Plymouth is not that of the landing of the Pilgrims, but of the orations of their eloquent eulogists.” A singular error occurs in the vote of the Pilgrim Society: Seward’s oration in 1855 was delivered on December 21st, not the 22d. By 1895, however, the Pilgrim Society had returned to its vote of May 27, 1850, and December 21st is now the anniversary day.

656 Succotash as made at Plymouth is a soup. For the following recipe I am indebted to Miss Catherine E. Russell:

Boil two fowls in a large kettle of water. At the same time boil in another kettle one-half pound of lean pork and two quarts of common white beans, until like soup. When the fowls are boiled, skim off the fat and add a small piece of corned beef, one-half of a turnip sliced and cut small, and five or six potatoes sliced thin. When cooked tender, take out the fowls and keep them in the oven with the pork. The soup of beans and pork should be added to the water the fowls and beef were boiled in. Add salt and pepper. Four quarts of hulled corn having been boiled soft are added to the soup. Before serving, add the meat of one fowl. The second fowl should be served separately, as also the corned beef and pork.

657 Folio editions of the Plymouth Colony Laws were printed in 1672 and 1685.

658 Peleg Wadsworth (H. C. 1769) taught a private school in Plymouth.

659 This was apparently John Dickinson’s famous Liberty Song, written in 1768. “The song was recently discovered among the papers of the late Benjamin M. Watson, Esq. of this town, with a memo. appended, stating it to have been sung at the first public celebration of the anniversary, by the O. C. Club, Dec. 22d, 1769” (W. S. Russell, Airs of the Pilgrims, appended to his Guide to Plymouth, 1846, p. 14)

660 Nathaniel Morton came in the Anne in 1623.

661 Robert Cushman arrived in the Fortune in November, 1621, and, though a layman, preached a sermon on December 9–19 following which was printed in London in 1622. The statement that this was “the first sermon preached in New England,” though often made, is a mistake. On Sunday, August 9, and again on August 19, 1607, the Rev. Richard Seymour preached sermons at St. George’s Island, Maine, to the Popham colony. (Collections Maine Historical Society, 1853, iii. 298, 301.) In 1820 the Rev. J. Sabine expressed the opinion that the 1620 sermon was written by Brewster, not Cushman (The Fathers of New England, 1821, pp. 10–11, 31).

662 Records, pp. 400–405. This account, substantially as given in the text, was printed in the Boston Gazette of January 22, 1770, p. 2/1; and in the Boston News Letter of January 25, 1770, p. 1/1.

663 This was the only year between 1769 and 1780 that the 22d fell on a Saturday. In 1798 it again fell on a Saturday, and that day the celebration took place in Plymouth. In 1804 it once more fell on a Saturday, but in that year the celebration occurred on the 21st — presumably because the 22d was Saturday. I am informed that as late as about 1840 Saturday evening was regarded at Plymouth as part of the Sabbath. In 1804 the Boston celebration was held on Saturday, and gave rise to criticism: cf. p. 345, below.

664 Records, pp. 413, 414–415, 416. Edward Winslow, Jr., was in the Harvard class of 1765, and Alexander Scammell in that of 1769.

665 Exactly what “the Old Colony song” was I have been unable to ascertain Possibly it was “Our Forefather’s SONG. Composed about the year 1630” which was first printed, so far as I am aware, in the Massachusetts Magazine for January, 1791, iii. 52–53, where a note says: “The above, was taken memoriter, from the lips of an old Lady, at the advanced age of 92.” The first two lines read:

THE place where we live is a wilderness wood,

Where grass is much wanting that’s fruitful and good.

It was again printed in 1838 m 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, vii. 29–30, where a note says: “Composed about 1630, author unknown; taken memoriter, in 1785, from the lips of an old Lady, at the advanced period of 96.” It was also printed in 1846 by W. S. Russell in his Airs of the Pilgrims pp 1–3, where likewise appears a letter dated December 15, 1817, in which Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse says: “Who the author was I know not; nor do I when it was written; neither have I been informed who the old lady was who repeated these verses in 1767, when 94 years of age.”

666 See Rev. A. W. H. Eaton’s Famous Mather Byles (1914), p. 110.

667 Records, pp. 421–422, 424, 434–435.

668 Here follows Psalms, lxxviii. 5–7.

669 The same notice also appeared in the Boston News Letter of January 7, 1773, Supplement, p. 1/2.

670 Records, p. 444.

671 The dedication reads: “To the ancient and respectable town of Plymouth, To all the descendants from the first Planters of the Old Plymouth Colony, and To his native Country, The following Sermon is inscribed By their assured Friend, and very humble Servant, C. TURNER.”

672 Boston Gazette, January 2, 1775, p. 2/3.

673 The only celebrations previous to 1797 of which I have found accounts in the newspapers are those of 1769, 1772, 1775, and 1794.

674 Federal Orrery, December 25, 1794, p. 2/2.

675 Much confusion exists in regard to this ode, which is variously said to have been written in 1792, 1793, 1794, or 1799. The statement in the text would seem to be decisive in favor of 1794. It was printed not only in the Federal Orrery of December 25, but also in the Columbian Centinel of December 27, 1794 (p. 4/1), and very likely in other newspapers. It was also printed in the New England Palladium of December 25, 1801 (p. 1/2), under the heading “Native Poetry” and with this introductory note: “☞ The following chaste and elegant production we believe has never been published. It deserves to be handed down with the memory of the interesting occasion which gave it birth.” The “interesting occasion” is said to have been “the celebration of the Festival of the Sons of the Pilgrims, at Plymouth, 1793;” but Judge Davis’s name is not attached to the ode. Neither Pilgrim nor Pilgrim Fathers occurs in the ode, which consists of eight stanzas, the first and sixth as follows (as printed in the Federal Orrery):

AN ODE,

for the 22d of december, the anniversary of our

ancestors’ landing at Plymouth, 1620; —

JOHN DAVIS, ESQUIRE:

sung by

CAPTAIN J. THOMAS.

SONS of renowned sires,

Join in harmonious choirs,

Swell your loud songs: —

Daughters of peerless dames,

Come with your soft acclaims;

Let their revered names

Dwell on your tongues!

Columbia, child of heaven —

The best of blessings, given,

Rest on thy head:

Beneath thy peaceful skies,

While prosperous tides arise,

Here turn thy grateful eyes —

Revere the dead!

In every version of the ode I have seen from 1794 down to 1835, when it was included in the second edition of Thacher’s History of the Town of Plymouth (pp. 342–343), the sixth stanza reads as printed above. But in Airs of the Pilgrims, appended to W. S. Russell’s Guide to Plymouth, 1846, pp. 20–22, the sixth stanza reads as follows:

Columbia, child of heaven,

The best of blessings given,

Be thine to greet;

Hailing this votive day,

Looking with fond survey,

Upon the weary way,

Of Pilgrim feet.

Russell adds the following —

Note. This copy has received the revisal of the venerable author of the composition, and is entirely conformable to the original, excepting in the fifth [error for sixth] verse, in which a variation has been introduced by him (p. 22).

It thus appears that the word Pilgrim was introduced into the ode at some time between 1835 and 1846. In 1871 the late William T. Davis prepared for the press the “Proceedings of the Celebration by the Pilgrim Society at Plymouth, December 21, 1870.” In this volume (pp. 17–18) Judge Davis’s ode is printed, as it appears in Russell’s Airs of the Pilgrims (1846). At p. 198 Mr. Davis says: “The ode of Hon. John Davis is here printed as revised and corrected by its author about fifty years after it was written;” and then proceeds to give the sixth stanza as originally written. This statement, made by Mr. Davis himself in 1871, had, not unnaturally, completely gone from his mind by 1906, in which year he published his Plymouth Memories of an Octogenarian, for in this work he said (p. 28): “The word Pilgrim, as applied to the Plymouth settlers, was never used, as far as I can learn, for more than a hundred and seventy years after the landing. They were called ‘first-comers’ or ‘forefathers’ until 1794, when Judge John Davis, in his ode written for the anniversary celebration in that year first used the word ‘Pilgrim’ in the following verse.” Mr. Davis then quotes the revised version of the sixth stanza of the ode.

Judge John Davis graduated from Harvard College in 1781.

676 Columbian Centinel, December 27, 1797, p. 2/4.

677 Of these two “favorite songs,” one was famous in its day and the other remains so. The following advertisement appeared in Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) of April 25, 1798:

New Theatre. MR. FOX’s NIGHT. This Evening, April 25, BY DESIRE. Will be presented, . . . The Italian Monk. . . . After which, an intire new song, (written by a Citizen of Philadelphia) to the tune of the “President’s March.” Will be sung by Mr. Fox; accompanied by the full band, and a grand chorus (p. 3/1).

In the same paper of April 27 we read:

NEW THEATRE. Mrs. Francis’s Night. THIS EVENING, April 27, Will be presented a new Comedy, . . . called TIT FOR TAT. . . . In the course of the Comedy Mr. Fox will, for the second time and by particular desire, sing a new Song (written by a Citizen of Philadelphia) to the tune of the PRESIDENT’S MARCH (p. 3/3).

Under the title of “SONG,” the words were printed in the same paper of Saturday, April 28 (p. 1/2), and in the same issue it was stated that “On Monday afternoon will be published At Carr’s Musical Repository, The very favourite New Federal Song As sung by Mr. Fox at the New Theatre, written by J. Hopkinson, Esq — adapted for the voice, piano forte, flute, violin, guittar and clarinet, and ornamented with a very elegant Portrait of the President Price 25 cents” (p. 2/2). Under the title of “NEW SONG,” Hail Columbia was printed in the Columbian Centinel of May 2, preceded by this note: “The following has been sung on the boards of Philadelphia. Every man of the least musical talents, ought to learn it, and sing it to his fellow citizens” (p. 3/1).

The following advertisement appeared in the Columbian Centinel of Wednesday, May 30, 1798:

Adams and Liberty. ON FRIDAY Morning will be published from the press of Thomas and Andrews, and sold at all the Book-stores, The BOSTON PATRIOTIC SONG, Called, ADAMS & LIBERTY. Written by Thomas Paine, a. m. To be sung at the Anniversary Meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, on that day (p. 3/2).

The same paper of June 2 stated:

CHARITABLE FIRE SOCIETY. Yesterday, at the Anniversary of the Charitable Fire Society, an excellent and well adapted Oration was delivered by Judge Tudor, to the most numerous and brilliant Assembly we have seen on any similar occasion. The Boston patriotic song of “Adams and Liberty,” written by Mr. Paine, was sung and re-echoed amidst the loudest reiterated plaudits. Dr. Fay did great justice to its merits (p. 2/4).

In the same paper of June 2 (p. 3/2) Mr. Barrett announced that he would sing the song at his benefit on June 4, and it was printed in the same paper of June 9 (p. 1/3). Dr. Nahum Fay (H. C. 1790) and Giles Leonard Barrett are the persons alluded to.

678 Stevens Thomson Mason, United States Senator from Virginia; Matthew Lyon, Member of Congress from Vermont. The following toast was offered at the celebration of Washington’s birthday at Concert Hall: “May the Lion of the Green Mountains be considered by every good citizen as the meanest reptile in creation: — the pismire of America” (Columbian Centinel, February 24, 1798, p. 2/4).

679 Columbian Centinel, January 5, 1799, p. 1/3.

680 Independent Chronicle, January 7, 1799, p. 3/2.

681 T. M. Harris’s Discourse (1808), p. 32.

682 This word appeared for the first time at Plymouth in the oration delivered that day by Judge Davis, who said: “Driven by storms, or deceived by their ship master, instead of their place of destination, this spot is selected for settlement, and this day completes one hundred and eighty years, since your soil was first impressed by the weary feet of those illustrious pilgrims” (in J. Morse and E. Parish, Compendious History of New England, 1804, p. 375).

683 Increase Sumner, Governor of Massachusetts; James Bowdoin, Governor of Massachusetts; Jonathan Trumbull (H. C. 1759), Governor of Connecticut; John Taylor Gilman, Governor of New Hampshire.

684 Presumably the reference is to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln.

685 Though called the “Boston pilgrim society,” I do not understand that those who celebrated Forefathers’ Day in Boston had a regular organization.

686 Columbian Centinel, December 31, 1800, p. 1.

687 In a book just published Ralph Davol says:

A procession through the streets of floats, on which historic occasions are rigidly impersonated by “live people trying to look like dead ones,” is commonly called a pageant in America, for example at Philadelphia, or the Hudson-Fulton celebration. . . . Research as to the beginning of modern American Pageants indicates that the spirit was manifest as early as 1627 at the Merry Mount revels. The Meschianza given by British soldiers at Philadelphia in the Revolution was an old English pageant. The first use of the name “pageant” the writer has been able to find applied to a community festival in America was at Marietta, Ohio, (1888). This was before modern pageants became the rage in England (Handbook of American Pageantry, 1914, pp. 27, 31).

Mr. Davol does not say when the procession of floats at Philadelphia took place, but perhaps he refers to the one that occurred there on July 4, 1788, of which a description, beginning as follows, will be found in the Columbian Magazine for July, 1788:

ON Friday the fourth day of July, 1788, the citizens of Philadelphia, in commemoration of the great event of American Independence, and in honour of the ratification of the Federal Constitution by Ten of the United States, presented the most brilliant and interesting spectacle that ever occurred in the annals of the new world, and which has scarcely been surpassed by the splendor of the ancient or modern triumphs of Asia or of Europe (ii. 391–400).

Fifty-eight trades and professions were represented, and “The number of persons in the procession has been calculated (but we think too low) at 5000, and it is likewise said that there were about 17,000 on Union Green” (ii. 400). This, however, was not the earliest procession of the sort. The Federal Constitution was ratified by the Massachusetts Convention on February 6, 1788, and on February 8th a huge procession of trades took place in Boston. This, declared the Massachusetts Centinel of February 9th, was “an exhibition, to which America has never witnessed an equal; and which has exceeded any thing of the kind, Europe can boast of” (viii. 169. See also the issue of February 13th, viii. 174). “The Processions in our Capitals,” said the Massachusetts Spy of August 7, 1788, “have hitherto been novelties in this country. That at Boston, on account of the State’s adopting the Federal Constitution, was the first — since which almost every capital town in the United States, among other demonstrations of joy for the Federal Constitution, have produced a Procession” (p. 1/4).

The word “pageant,” which Mr. Davol has not found in this country earlier than 1888, was employed in a somewhat unexpected quarter in 1852, when Lieutenant John W. Gunnison described under that name the dedication by the Mormons of their temple at Nauvoo just before being driven from that place in 1846, and “the presentation” at Salt Lake City, a few years later, “to the governor of Deserét of the Constitution of the United States, and their own, for his and his successors’ guardian care” (The Mormons, or, Latter-Day Saints, pp. 132, 138). The word also occurs, applied to celebrations on Pope Night, as early as 1752 (Massachusetts Archives, xlvii. 357).

688 Columbian Centinel, December 30, 1801, pp. 2–3.

689 The allusions here are to the English Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson.

690 Caleb Strong, Governor of Massachusetts; Isaac Tichenor, Governor of Vermont.

691 The earliest example of chowder quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary is under date of 1762. Versified “Directions for making a Chouder” were printed in the Boston Evening Post of September 23, 1751, p. 2/1.

692 Rev. Jeremy Belknap; Samuel Phillips (H. C. 1771), Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts; John Lowell (H. C. 1760); George Richards Minot (H. C. 1778).

693 New England Palladium, December 28, 1802, pp. 2–3.

694 For this term, rarely met with at Plymouth, see p. 327, below.

695 See Judge Davis’s ode, p. 306 note 3, above. The allusion at the close of the toast is of course to Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1759–1797).

696 New England Palladium, December 30, 1803, p. 2/5.

697 Judge Samuel Chase was impeached.

698 John Randolph of Roanoke.

699 Columbian Centinel, December 29, 1804, p. 2/4.

700 Independent Chronicle, January 3, 1805, p. 2/4.

701 Columbian Centinel, January 7, 1807, p. 2/3.

702 Columbian Centinel, December 28, 1816, p. 2/3.

703 Columbian Centinel, December 27, 1817, p. 2/3.

704 Coomer Weston.

705 Columbian Centinel, December 30, 1818, p. 2/3.

706 Columbian Centinel, December 29, 1819, p. 2/2.

707 In 1832 Thacher said: “1820. — As the present year closes the second century since the pilgrim fathers first landed on our shores, a respectable number of inhabitants of this town, impelled by a sense of duty and pious gratitude to divine Providence, have instituted a society, which was by our legislature incorporated February 24th, by the name of Pilgrim Society” (p. 246). In 1847 a writer stated that “a society was formed, November 9, 1819, by the name of the ‘Old Colony Pilgrim Society,’ and immediately went into operation. . . . On February 24, 1820, the Society was incorporated and made a body politic, by the name of the ‘Pilgrim Society.’ . . . The ‘Landing of our Forefathers’ was first celebrated by the Pilgrim Society December 22, 1820, that being the completion of the second century since the settlement of New England, or the landing of the Pilgrims” (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, i. 119).

The following is a correct statement of what occurred. The first entry in the records of the Pilgrim Society states that at a meeting of certain citizens of Plymouth at the house of Joshua Thomas on November 9, 1819, it was voted “To form a society for the above purpose (to commemorate the Landing of the Fathers in the Town of Plymouth).” The next entry is, “Voted, That the name of the society be the Old Colony Pilgrim Society.” A committee was then appointed to obtain an act of incorporation at the next session of the General Court, which began on January 12, 1820; and “An Act to incorporate the Pilgrim Society” was passed, and was approved by the Governor on January (not February) 24, 1820. The first section enacted “That John Watson, Joshua Thomas, Beza Hayward, William Davis, and Barnabas Hedge, . . . be, and they hereby are incorporated into a society, by the name of the Pilgrim Society,” etc. The second section enacted “That the time and place, for holding the first meeting of said society, may be appointed by any three of the aforementioned persons, by giving their notice thereof, in the Columbian Centinel, printed in Boston,” etc. (Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1822, pp. 309–310; Private and Special Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1823, v. 334). Accordingly, the following notice was inserted in the Columbian Centinel of May 10, 1820 (p. 3/1):

PILGRIM SOCIETY.

THE Subscribers being authorized by an act, entitled, an act “to incorporate the Pilgrim Society,” to appoint the time and place for the holding the first meeting of said Society; hereby give notice, that a meeting of said Society will be held at the Court-House, in Plymouth, on THURSDAY, eighteenth day of May instant, ten of the clock, A.M. for the purpose of choosing such Officers as may be deemed expedient; of establishing such bye-laws, as may be necessary to regulate said Society, and of acting and doing all other matters and things, requisite to carry the objects of the association into effect.

JOHN WATSON,

JOSHUA THOMAS,

BEZA HAYWARD,

WILLIAM DAVIS,

BARNABAS HEDGE.

Plymouth, May 5, 1820.

No meeting of the Society was held between November 9, 1819, and May 18, 1820; and the records of the Society state that the latter meeting was “To organize the Society under the act of incorporation.” Hence it is impossible to say exactly when the committee appointed to obtain an act of incorporation concluded to alter the name from the Old Colony Pilgrim Society to the Pilgrim Society; but the passage quoted in the text shows that the change must have taken place before December 22, 1819. A notice, beginning as follows, was printed in the Columbian Centinel of June 21, 1820 (p. 2/3):

PILGRIM SOCIETY.

The Anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in the month of December, 1620, has been publicly celebrated in that ancient town for a series of years. Considerations connected with that memorable event, have given rise to the “Pilgrim Society.” . . .

The following officers of the Society were chosen the 29th May: . . .

708 Mr. Watson’s address and the reply of Ensign Randall are printed in the Columbian Centinel of December 29, 1819, p. 2.

709 Columbian Centinel, December 27, 1820, p. 2/5–6.

710 Lady Arbella Johnson, daughter of Thomas Clinton (alias Fiennes), third Earl of Lincoln, and her husband Isaac Johnson came with Winthrop in 1630, the admiral (or most considerable ship) of his fleet having received her name. Both she and her husband died shortly after their arrival.

711 For a bibliography of the Plymouth discourses, see pp. 384–391, below.

712 I am indebted to our associate Mr. Worthington C. Ford for suggesting that something might be found in Eliot’s interleaved almanacs, but unfortunately there was nothing in them relating to the meeting said to have taken place in 1797.

713 Those who sympathized with France were so called by the Federalists.

714 In 1645 Winthrop said: “For the other point concerning liberty, I observe a great mistake in the country about that. There is a twofold liberty, natural (I mean as our nature is now corrupt) and civil or federal” (Journal, 1908, ii. 238).

715 John Oldham, who came in the Anne in 1623; and the notorious Thomas Morton of Merrymount.

716 Bradford. The “present” came early in 1622 from Canonicus, the great sachem of the Narragansetts: see Bradford’s History (ed. Ford), i. 240–241.

717 John Adams.

718 Washington had accepted the position of Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-Chief on July 13, 1798.

719 Francis Dana (H. C. 1762).

720 Secretary of the Treasury.

721 An allusion to the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by Congress in 1798.

722 In 1797 John Marshall, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Elbridge Gerry had been sent on an unsuccessful mission — commonly known as the “XYZ Mission” — to France to treat with Talleyrand. It was then that Pinckney used an expression that has become famous: “‘Millions for defence,’” said the Independent Chronicle of January 28, 1799, “‘but not a cent for tribute.’ This has been the language of those who are in favor of War [with France]” (p. 2/3).

723 Massachusetts Mercury, December 28, 1798, p. 2/4. Thomas Paine (H. C. 1792), who afterwards (March 8, 1803) changed his name to Robert Treat Paine, was the son of Robert Treat Paine (H. C. 1749) the Signer.

724 See p. 310 note, above.

725 Massachusetts Mercury, December 28, 1798, p. 4/1.

726 The Boston celebration perhaps received this name (see p. 347, below) in allusion to the shell-fish so often mentioned in early days. It should be pointed out, however, that the expressions “the shells of the feast,” “the shells of joy,” “the shell of feasts,” “to rejoice in the shell,” “the hall of shells,” “the feast of shells,” occur in the Ossianic poems; Macpherson explaining that “To rejoice in the shell, is a phrase for feasting sumptuously, and drinking freely;” and further says: “The ancient Scots, as well as the present Highlanders, drunk in shells; hence it is that we so often meet, in the old poetry, with the chief of shells, and the halls of shells.” See Poems of Ossian, London, 1805, ii. 154, 161 note, 201 note, 235 and note, 297 and note, iii. 6–7. Cf. Notes and Queries, 11th Series, ix. 108, 175. Oscar and Malvina, a pantomime “taken from the Poems of Ossian,” was given at the Boston Theatre on March 14, 1796. “At the opening of the Piece the Theatre represents the Hall of Fingal at the Feast of Shells” (Oscar & Malvina, Hamburg, 1795, p. 6).

At all events, the Boston celebration was not called the Feast of Shells in reference to the scallop-shell as a pilgrim’s badge. In 1896 W. T. Davis said:

The corner stone of the canopy over the Rock was laid on the 2d of August, 1859, and the structure was completed in 1867. . . .The use of scallop shells on its top was suggested by the fact that this shell was the emblem worn by the Pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. . . . The first use of the scallop shell associated with the Plymouth Pilgrims was at the anniversary celebration in 1820, when at the ball in the evening some young ladies hung a shell suitably decorated on the breast of Mr. Webster, the orator of the day (Plymouth Memories of an Octogenarian, pp. 27, 28).

727 In E. C. Stedman and Ellen M. Hutchinson’s Library of American Literature (1888, iii. 185) are quoted, under the heading “To the Heirs of the Pilgrims,” twenty-six lines from a poem written by Dr. Benjamin Church in 1765. The lines are correctly quoted from pp. 7–8 of “The Times. A Poem. By an American” (1765), but the heading under which they appear in the work cited is of course due to the editors.

728 In a letter to Sir Robert Naunton dated November 28, 1619, Sir Dudley Carleton, referring to Thomas Brewer, who had charge of the Pilgrim press (cf. p. 384 note 1, below) at Leyden (though he did not come to this country), said:

The states fleet now prepared against the pirates could not possibly put to sea until this day; which is the first easterly wind we have had for these six weeks past. I hope it will carry over sir William Zouche with mr. Brewer to your honour, who have lain long together at Flushing; and his fellow Brownists at Leyden are somewhat scandalized, because they hear sir William hath taught him to drink healths (Letters from and to Sir Dudley Carleton, 1775, p. 423).

729 The reference is to Hamilton’s Observations on Certain Documents, etc., 1797, usually known as the “Reynolds Pamphlet,” in which he explained his public conduct at the expense of his private character. In the Independent Chronicle of January 27, 1803, there is an allusion to “Maria’s financier” (p. 2/4).

730 In the same paper of January 10, 1799, “Propriety” again wrote: “The Salem Gazette contains the celebration of the Feast of shells, and the printer has honoured himself by shewing his regard to Propriety, in leaving out the exceptionable toasts, given at that feast” (p. 2/4).

731 Born November 28, 1743; died November 22, 1828. In his Life and Letters of Stephen Higginson (1907), the late Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson gave a brief account (pp. 219–229) of the celebrations in 1801–1804, drawn from notes furnished by the present writer. Oddly enough, “No allusions to these festive occasions are apparently to be found in Stephen Higginson’s correspondence” (p. 229).

732 Mr. Grenville H. Norcross writes me: “When the Massachusetts Historical Society began, it had a Natural History attachment, the remains of which, consisting of two pairs of horns and two big ‘oyster’ shells, remained down to my time as Cabinet Keeper. We offered the horns and shells to the Boston Society of Natural History, but they were declined.” Later, they were all given to Dr. Edwin H. Brigham, who informs me that they are at his house at South Hanover, that “one shell is much the larger,” that it weighs two hundred pounds, and that its capacity is “at least a bushel, perhaps more.”

733 An error for 1794: see p. 306 note 3, above.

734 See p. 326, above.

735 Columbian Centinel, December 25, 1799, p. 3.

736 For a memoir of Samuel Davis, who was a brother of Judge John Davis, see 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, v. 253–255. As there has been confusion in regard to Judge Davis’s ode of 1794, so too has there been with respect to Samuel Davis’s ode of 1799. An account of the 1845 celebration at Plymouth, written by the Rev. John Pierce, is printed in 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, x. 393–403. “Then the choir,” wrote Mr. Pierce, “sung the ode by Judge Davis, written in 1799” (p. 396). An editorial note says, “Here follows the well-known ode, written by the Hon. Judge Davis, third President of the Historical Society, beginning ‘Sons of renowned sires.’” This editorial statement is correct, though Mr. Pierce gave the year 1799 instead of 1794 (see p. 306 note 3, above). Mr. Pierce continued: “The hymn then for 22 December, written by Judge Davis, was sung to Old 100.” An editorial note says, “Here follows Judge Davis’s scarcely less familiar hymn, beginning ‘Hail, pilgrim fathers of our race!’” The attribution of this hymn to Judge Davis was a mistake.

737 Increase Sumner died while in office June 7, 1799.

738 William Vans Murray, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Richardson Davie.

739 Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee had been admitted into the Union in 1791, 1792, and 1796 respectively.

740 Columbian Centinel, December 24, 1800, p. 2/3. In the presidential election of 1800, Jefferson and Burr received each 73 electoral votes, the election thus being thrown into the House of Representatives, where Jefferson was successful.

741 Possibly Stephen Higginson.

742 Columbian Centinel, December 23, 1801, p. 2/4. Broadsides containing songs to be sung at the Boston celebrations were sometimes printed. Professor Kittredge calls my attention to one (owned by the Massachusetts Historical Society) that was evidently prepared for the celebration in 1801. It is headed “FESTIVAL of the SONS of the PILGRIMS,” and contains four songs: that of Judge Davis in 1794 (wrongly dated 1793), that of Samuel Davis in 1799 (without date or name of the author), that of Paine in 1798 (wrongly dated 1800), and that “Composed for the Festival at Plymouth, 1800.” The last was printed in the New England Palladium of January 27, 1801, p. 3/2, and is stated in W. S. Russell’s Airs of the Pilgrims (1846, p. 39) to have been written by Samuel Davis. The Boston Public Library also owns a mutilated copy of the same broadside, on which is written in pencil “Four odes and hymns for the anniv. festival at Plymouth.” But clearly the broadside was printed for the Boston celebration. The Boston Public Library also owns a broadside that was evidently prepared for the celebration in 1802. It is headed “FESTIVAL of the SONS of the PILGRIMS,” and contains five songs: the above four, and in addition an ode “Composed for the Anniversary Festival of the Sons of the PILGRIMS, 1801.” This last was printed in the New England Palladium of December 29, 1801, p. 1/2.

743 In later years John Adams was also called Duke of Braintree and Old Brimborion (Columbian Centinel, November 4, 1812, p. 2/4; October 28, 1812, p. 1/4). In a former communication to the Society I inadvertently stated that “the sobriquet of ‘the Duke of Quincy’ was sometimes applied to John Adams” (Publications, x. 180). For a curious collection of nicknames current early in the nineteenth century, see Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, xix. 23–29.

744 Edward Hutchinson Robbins.

745 Probably Thomas Dwight (H. C. 1778), and Elijah Brigham (Dartmouth College 1778).

746 This is the earliest allusion I have found to Henry Sargent’s painting, now called The Landing of the Pilgrims. A very long advertisement appeared in the Columbian Centinel of March 4, 1815 (p. 3/1), which begins as follows:

Landing of the Fathers.

THIS celebrated Painting by H. Sargent, Esq. is now exhibiting near the corner of Walnut and Beacon Streets, back of the unfurnished buildings belonging to Mr. Cotting. The doors will be open every day for a few weeks, Sundays excepted, from the hour of 9 in the morning, until 4 in the afternoon. — ☞ Admittance 25 Cents. Free Tickets of Admission, ($1 each,) will admit the bearer at all times when exhibiting; to be had at the room. . . .

In the same paper of June 21, 1815 (p. 2/3) was advertised —

Col. Sargent’s New Painting.

Our FATHERS intend speedily, we are informed, to visit the Southern States. — They hold their levee however, at the accustomed dwelling for a few days. . . .

In the same paper of July 8, 1815 (p. 2/1) is an advertisement headed “Close of the Exhibition of the Fathers.” But in September following the picture was here again. In his Discourse on December 22 of that year, the Rev. James Flint suggested that the picture should be bought and placed in Plymouth, adding, “It would gratify many sons of the pilgrims, to see measures taking to carry this suggestion into effect” (p. 22). Presumably Sargent was unable to sell his picture, for in 1834 he himself presented it to the Pilgrim Society (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1850, iv. 193). For notices of the picture, taken from Boston newspapers of 1815, see 2 Massachusetts Historical Collections, iii. 225–232. Mr. Lord calls my attention to a letter written March 9, 1830, by G. C. Verplanck to Washington Allston: “But does our ante-revolutionary history present no subject? The ‘Landing of the Pilgrims,’ a threadbare subject in some respects, has never been viewed with a poet’s and painter’s eye.” On March 29th Allston replied: “To the first subject you propose, ‘The Landing of the Pilgrims’ (not unpicturesque), I have a personal objection. It has already been painted by an old friend of mine, Colonel Sargent, a high-minded, honorable man, to whom I would on no account give pain; which I could not avoid doing were I to encroach on what, at the expense of several years’ labor, he has a fair right to consider as his ground. I do not like rivalry in any shape, and my picture on the same subject would seem like it” (J. B. Flagg’s Life and Letters of W. Allston, pp. 235, 236).

747 Elder William Brewster of Plymouth; Rev. John Cotton, Rev. John Norton of Boston; Rev. Francis Higginson of Salem; Rev. John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians.

748 The framers of the Constitution avoided the use of the word slaves. Hence Article i, section 2, reads: “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the Number of Free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”

749 Robert Treat Paine, the Signer: cf. p. 326 note 2, above.

750 Independent Chronicle, December 27, 1802, p. 3/1.

751 Ibid. January 6, 1803, p. 1/4.

752 Ibid. January 6, 1803, p. 2/1.

753 National Ægis, quoted in the Independent Chronicle of January 27, 1803 p. 2/1.

754 An allusion to the Writings of Laco, attacking John Hancock, attributed to Stephen Higginson. They appeared in the Massachusetts Centinel in February and March, 1789, and were reprinted in a pamphlet in the same year.

755 Rev. Samuel Parker, rector of Trinity Church, later Bishop.

756 Rev. John Sylvester John Gardiner, then assistant of Dr. Parker at Trinity Church.

757 Independent Chronicle, December 30, 1802, pp. 1–2.

758 New England Palladium, December 27, 1803, p. 1/5.

759 January 9, 1804, p. 4/1. In the same paper of December 26, 1803, a writer remarked (p. 2/4):

Among the guests who attended the feast of shells are said to be, the judges of the Supreme Court! — Quere, if they can find time to attend at Vila’s, why cannot they fulfil the duties of their office? . . . Oh! the rare sons of the pilgrims! eating and carousing to celebrate the hardships, toils, and dangers of their forefathers! Carver and Standish, we believe, were more respected by these young pilgrims for their appropriate names to a dissected wild fowle, and a haunch of venison than for their political principles. . . .

760 The two volumes of Belknap’s American Biography (1794, 1798) contain the lives of many early explorers and settlers, among the latter Carver, Bradford, Brewster, Cushman, Winslow, Standish, John Winthrop, and John Winthrop, Jr.

761 Gilbert Fox and John Bernard, the noted English actor. The latter had made his first appearance in Boston a year before, as appears from an advertisement in the Columbian Centinel of November 5, 1805:

On Monday Evening, Nov. 7, will be presented for the first time these four years, a Play in 3 acts, (interspersed with Singing,) called, The Battle of Hexham;— or Days of Old. Written by Colman, the Younger. Gondibert, Mr. Barratt; Gregory Gubbins, Mr. Bernard; (his first appearance in Boston) From the Theatres of Philadelphia and Baltimore (p. 3/1).

Of the twelve who formed the Old Colony Club in 1769, five were graduates of Harvard College: Oakes Angier, 1764; John Thomas and Edward Winslow, Jr., 1765; John Watson, 1766; and Alexander Scammell, 1769. Plays were acted by the students, sometimes with the sanction of the college authorities, as early as 1758 (Nation, March 19, 1914, xcviii. 295); and some if not all of the above five may well have taken part in them. At all events, though the Boston Theatre was first opened on February 3, 1794, it is interesting to note that on February 8, 1770, “This evening was read at the Hall the ‘Provoked Husband,’ a comedy, by M^r M. A. Warwel, to a company of about forty gentlemen and ladies, by invitation of the Club” (Records, p. 407). Among the guests of the Club present on July 29 and August 5, 1772, was Joseph Croswell, “a shop-keeper in Plymouth” (Records, pp. 430–431, 431 note). In later years Croswell wrote a play entitled: “A New World Planted; or, the Adventures of the Forefathers of New-England; who landed in Plymouth, December 22, 1620. An Historical Drama — in Five Acts. By Joseph Croswell. Boston: . . . 1802.” A notice in the Boston Weekly Magazine of Saturday, December 18, states that “On Monday next, will be published . . . an Historical Drama, . . . By Joseph Croswell” (i. 31). The play, which is the earliest known to me on the subject of the Pilgrims, deals chiefly with the conspiracy of John Lyford and John Oldham; but among the characters are Pocahonte, a daughter of Massasoit, and “Hampden, a young gentleman, who came to view the country, in love with Pocahonte.” So far as I am aware, Croswell’s play was never acted.

It was stated in the Columbian Centinel of December 21, 1808, that “A new Melo Drama, entitled ‘The Pilgrims,’ is in rehearsal, and will speedily be brought forward” (p. 3/3) at the Boston Theatre. It was given on December 23d, 1808; on December 26th “for the second time;” and on January 2, 1809, “for the 3d and last time this season. . . (with alterations).” Among the Indians are Massasoit, Squanto, Samoset, Chickatawbut, and “Yankee, an Indian Woman;” and among the “English Pilgrims” are Governor Carver, Capt. Standish, “Boatswain Blunder,” Mr. Winslow, Mr. Cushman, and Juliana. Also, the “Genius of Columbia.” Among the performers who played “Other Pilgrims” occurs the name of “Mrs Poe,” who, seventeen days after the last performance, became the mother of Edgar Allan Poe. I have been unable to ascertain who the author of this play was, or whether it was ever published. The following description is taken from a copy of the play-bill owned by the Boston Public Library:

The Pilgrims, a new Melo Drama, never performed.

On FRIDAY EVENING, Dec. 23, 1808,

Will be presented, Tobin’s celebrated Play, in 3 Acts, called the

CURFEW:

OR, THE DANISH BANDITTI.

To which will be added, a new Melo Drama, written by a gentleman of Boston, in 3 acts, called

THE PILGRIMS,

Or, the Landing of our Forefathers at

PLYMOUTH ROCK.

In the course of the Melo Drama, the following Scenery, Incidents, &c.

A View of the Rock and Plymouth Bay, and the landing of the Pilgrims. The whole scene represents Winter, with a snow storm. After returning thanks; to Heaven for their safe arrival, Carver orders one of the Pilgrims to cut on the Rock, DECEMBER 22d, 1620, the day of their landing.

An alarm of Indians; the Pilgrims place themselves in an attitude of defence; Squanto and Samoset enter, and by the friendly disposition of the former, an arrangement is made; the Indians are loaded with presents and depart well satisfied.

A comic scene between an Irish Boatswain and an Indian Woman. The perilous situation of Juliana through the treachery of one of the Pilgrims. The act concludes with a GLEE and CHORUS.

In act II — Scene 1st Represents, several half finished Houses, at the end the Store House, with the Standard fixed — a shell sounds to announce the arrival of Massasoit. A Grand INDIAN MARCH. A Treaty of Peace and Amity made and confirmed between Carver and Massasoit. The treachery of Samoset, who attempts to carry off the person of Juliana. She struggles and seizes his Tomahawk and pursues him — he implores her pardon –– which she grants — he wrests the Tomahawk from her and aims a dreadful blow, when Winslow rushes in to her rescue — his gun misses fire he draws his sword and a combat ensues — in the mean time Juliana takes the gun and fires at Samoset without effect — Winslow is wounded, and Samoset pursues Juliana — who is seen ascending a rock — she reaches the summit, and as Samoset is following, she strikes him with the fuzee, and he falls headlong down the precipice. Juliana is at length rescued by Massasoit.

THE INDIAN METHOD OF LYING IN AMBUSH.

And the act concludes with a Procession of Indians, carrying

Winslow and Juliana on their boughs.

In act 3, The Indians preparing to sacrifice one of the Pilgrims. Scene 2d, A dreadful Combat with Clubs and Shields, between Samoset and Squanto.

Scene last — A View of an Indian Encampment. A Marriage and Nuptial Dance.

after which,

The Genius of Columbia descends in a Magnificent Temple, surrounded with Clouds.

762 New England Palladium, December 25, 1804, p. 2/5; Columbian Centinel, December 26, 1804, pp. 1–2.

763 Independent Chronicle, December 24, 1804, p. 3/1.

764 Ibid. December 27, 1804, p. 2/4. Cf. p. 301 note 1, above.

765 Columbian Centinel, December 25, 1805, p. 2/3.

766 Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805.

767 Perhaps an allusion to Stephen Higginson.

768 “Q. What is the chief end of Federalism? A. Federalism’s chief end is to glorify the Pope and enjoy him in a free land” (The Federal Catechism Metamorphosed: or, the Natural Spirit of Federalism Exposed, from the Works of their Federal Holiness, 1805, p. 3. On the same page is an allusion to “the reign of John Adams”).

769 Columbian Centinel, January 4, 1806, p. 2/4.

770 In 1806 the celebration was duly recorded in the Columbian Centinel of December 24, p. 2/3. The same paper of December 19, 1807, contented itself with remarking that “The anniversary will also be noticed in this town by the Descendants of the Pilgrim fathers” (p. 2/3). There is no notice of a celebration in 1808. The Centinel of December 27, 1809, merely stated that “The above anniversary was respectfully noticed by a number of the Sons of the Pilgrims, in this town: — who partook of an excellent dinner in the Exchange Coffee-House” (p. 2/3). This was apparently the last of the Boston celebrations, except that in 1813. The following advertisement appeared in the Columbian Centinel of December 22, 1824:

LANDING of the PILGRIMS.

THE Columbian and City-Museum, Common-street, (late Tremont) will be brilliantly illuminated in good style, in commemoration of this Anniversary, THIS EVENING. Music on different Instruments (p. 3/4).

771 Columbian Centinel, December 22, 1813, p. 2/4. A proposal to make the anniversary permanent failed (1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, i. 235–236, 237, 239). Judge Davis’s oration was printed in 1814 in 2 Massachusetts Historical Collections, vol. i. pp. i–xxxi; and also separately with the following title: “A Discourse before the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, December 22, 1813. At their anniversary commemoration of the first Landing of our Ancestors at Plymouth, in 1620 . . . Boston: . . . 1814.”

772 Probably Rev. John Rodgers (1727–1811), and Rev. Abraham Beach (1740–1828).

773 Independent Chronicle, January 2, 1806, p. 2/1. The New England Society of Charleston was founded January 6, 1819, and incorporated December 20, 1820; and discourses were annually delivered from 1819 to 1835, both included (p. 61 of “An Oration delivered on the anniversary of the New-England Society, Charleston, S. C. December 22. 1835; in commemoration of the Landing of the Pilgrims upon the Rock of Plymouth, December 22d. 1620. By Joshua Barker Whitridge, A.M., M.D. . . . Charleston: . . . 1836.”) Apparently the third New England Society to be formed outside of New England was that in Philadelphia. (Discourse before the Society of the Sons of New England of the City and County of Philadelphia, on the History of the early settlement of their country; being their first anniversary. Delivered December 21, 1844, by their President, Samuel Breck. Philadelphia: . . . 1845.) The “Address delivered before the New England Society of Michigan, December 22, 1848,” by Lewis Cass, was printed at Detroit in 1849. The “Address delivered before the New England Society of San Francisco, at the American Theatre, on the twenty-second day of December, A. D. 1852. By Rev. T. Dwight Hunt. Pastor of the New England Church,” was printed at San Francisco in 1853.

774 Though not recorded at Plymouth until 1800, it is possible that the word Pilgrim was employed in the “spirited song composed by B. Seymour” in 1797 (p. 308, above), which does not appear to have been printed. Previous to 1798, apparently the only poems written for these occasions were those by A. Scammell in 1770 (p. 301, above), by J. Davis in 1794 (p. 306, above), and by B. Seymour in 1797. A poem entitled “Thanksgiving Hymn. Deo Optim. Maxim. Composed for December 11th,” and dated “Boston, December, 1783,” was printed in the Boston Magazine for December, 1783, i. 70–71. Poems on the subject of the Pilgrims will be found in Thacher’s History of the Town of Plymouth (pp. 373–382 of the 1832 edition, pp. 341–352 of the 1835 edition); in Airs of the Pilgrims, appended to W. S. Russell’s Guide to Plymouth (1846); and in Zilpha H. Spooner’s Poems of the Pilgrims (1881). The most famous of these poems is of course that written by Mrs. Hemans, about which Moncure D. Conway related the following anecdote in his Autobiography (1904):

“When the elder Channing visited Europe he went to see Mrs. Hemans, whose poems were popular in America, in her home near Windermere. He spoke of her hymn on ‘The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in New England,’ and told her that he had heard it sung by a great multitude on the spot where the Pilgrims landed. But when, in answer to her questions, he was compelled to inform her that the coast described in her hymn as ‘stern and rock-bound’ was without any rocks, she burst into tears” (i. 161). The following advertisment was printed in the Columbian Centinel of December 20, 1826 (p. 3/4):

PILGRIM FATHERS.

A SONG written by Mrs. Hemans, and set to Music by her sister, Miss Browne — is This Day published by C. BRADLEE, and for sale by S. H. PARKER, 164, Washington-street.

The profits arising from the sale of the above will be appropriated for the benefit of the author, Mrs. Hemans.

775 These definitions, and the dates of early use, are taken (except in sense 4) from the Oxford English Dictionary.

776 The present investigation was undertaken for the Dictionary at the request of Sir James Murray in 1905. At the meeting held in December of that year, the tentative results then reached were placed before the Society (Publications, x. 180).

777 Marked “U. S. and Colonial,” the two earliest extracts (1851, 1865) being from New Zealand sources. The third extract is the following from L. Swinburne’s article on The Bucolic Dialect of the Plains in Scribner’s Magazine for October, 1887:

“Pilgrim” and “tenderfoot” were formerly applied almost exclusively to newly imported cattle, but by a natural transference they are usually used to designate all new-comers, tourists and business-men (ii. 508).

This is putting the cart before the horse as regards pilgrim certainly, and probably as regards tenderfoot also. At all events, the example is a belated one, and so a few other extracts are cited. In 1841 the Rev. William L. McCalla probably meant by the word a wanderer, but as his use of the word is the earliest known to me in the West, I give his sentence:

After such an address from a citizen of that calumniated country [Texas] to a shattered old pilgrim, I took the liberty of withdrawing to another apartment, to enjoy in secret the luxury of weeping, and communing with home and with heaven (Adventures in Texas, p. 46).

In 1852 Captain Howard Stansbury, speaking of Salt Lake City, but not referring to the Mormons in particular, wrote:

The studding, therefore, of this beautiful city with noble trees, will render it, by contrast with the surrounding regions, a second “Diamond of the Desert,” in whose welcome shade, like the solitary Sir Kenneth and the princely Ilderim, the pilgrim, wayworn and faint, may repose his jaded limbs and dream of the purling brooks and waving woodlands he has left a thousand miles behind him (Exploration and Survey of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, p. 129).

In a letter dated Fort Kearney, Nebraska Territory, June 11, 1866, Col. James F. Meline said he had “ascertained from the officer on duty there that since May 15, emigrant trains have gone west from Kearney City at the rate of eighty wagons and one hundred and sixty people (men, women, and children) per day,” and inserted “an extract from the Kearney City paper giving the departures for two days,” June 5 and 6. This is headed “list of freighters’ and pilgrims’ trains organized at and PASSING west of Kearney.” Meline adds this note:

The term Pilgrims for emigrants first came into use at the period of the heavy Mormon travel — the Mormons styling themselves “Pilgrims to the promised land of Utah.” The word has been retained on the Plains, and applied indiscriminately to all emigrants (Two Thousand Miles on Horseback, Santa Fé and Back, 1867, p. 22 and note).

In 1869 Dr. Ferdinand V. Hayden wrote:

During the gold excitement in the San Juan Mountains, west of the Rio Grade del Norte, in 1862, a large number of miners, or, as they were called in those days, “pilgrims,” crossed the Sangre de Christo Pass, and camped for rest after a long journey from Idaho, Montana, and Northern Colorado, on Placiere Creek (Preliminary Field Report of the United States Geological Survey of Colorado and New Mexico, p. 73).

In 1873 the Rev. James D. Butler remarked:

Many pioneers leave their families in the old home, until they have prepared the new ones. Few can leave their farms and go for them, but westward trains are full of wives carrying children to their husbands. Sixteen babies have been counted in a single car on this pilgrimage — Japhets in search of their Fathers (Nebraska: its Characteristics and Prospects, p. 17).

In a letter to the writer dated Unity, Montana, December 27, 1905, Mr. C. W. Cook said:

In 1868 I was interested in placer mining in Diamond City, at that time quite a noted mining camp. A gentleman from Chicago spent a few days with me. He was quite an extensive traveler and a writer of some standing. To him I expressed a great desire to explore the upper valley of the Yellowstone. It seemed to interest him as something new in the line of travel, and he proposed to join me. But after due deliberation I decided it was too late in the season to take a trip into unexplored mountains with a “pilgrim” not inured to hardship, so the matter was dropped.

Mention should also be made of the fact that there once existed in this country a fanatical sect called the Pilgrims. The only allusion I have found to them occurs under date of January 21, 1820, when Thomas Nuttall, then at the junction of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, wrote:

Not far from this place, a few days ago were encamped, the miserable remnant of what are called the Pilgrims, a band of fanatics, originally about 60 in number. They commenced their pilgrimage from the borders of Canada, and wandered about with their wives and children through the vast wilderness of the western states, like vagabonds, without ever fixing upon any residence. They looked up to accident and charity alone for support; imposed upon themselves rigid fasts, never washed their skin, or cut or combed their hair, and like the Dunkards wore their beards. Settling nowhere, they were consequently deprived of every comfort which arises from the efforts of industry. Desertion, famine, and sickness, soon reduced their numbers, and they were every where treated with harshness and neglect, as the gypsies of modern civilized society. Passing through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, they at length found their way down the Mississippi to the outlet of White river and the Arkansa. Thus ever flying from society by whom they were despised, and by whom they had been punished as vagabonds, blinded by fanatic zeal, they lingered out their miserable lives in famine and wretchedness, and have now nearly all perished or disappeared. Two days after my arrival in the territory, one of them was found dead in the road which leads from the Mississippi to Arkansas. If I am correctly informed, there now exists of them only one man, three women, and two children. Two other children were taken from them in compassion for their miserable situation, and the man was but the other day seized by a boat’s crew descending the river, and forcibly shaved, washed, and dressed (Journal of Travels into the Arkansa Territory, 1821, pp. 226–227).

778 The English Hexapla (1841). It will be of interest to give, from the same source, five other versions previous to 1620:

Wiclif, 1380: bi feith alle these ben deed, whanne the biheestis weren not takun but thei behilden hem afer, and gretynge hem wel: and knowlechiden that thei weren pilgryms, & herborid men on the erthe.

Tyndale, 1534: And they all dyed in fayth and receaved not the promyses: but sawe them a farre of and beleved them and saluted them: and confessed that they were straungers and pilgrems on the erthe.

Cranmer, 1539: These all dyed accordynge to fayth, whan they had not receaued the promyses: but sawe them a farre of, and beleued them, and saluted them, and confessed, that they were straungers and pilgrems on the erthe.

Rheims, 1582: According to faith died al these, not hauing receiued the promises, but beholding them a farre of, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrimes and strangers vpon the earth.

Authorized, 1611: These all died in faith, not hauing receiued the promises, but hauing seene them afarre off, and were perswaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

As printed in the 1856 edition of Bradford’s History (p. 59), the marginal reference to “Heb. 11” was placed in a footnote and so easily overlooked. Some writers have apparently not been aware that Bradford was quoting from the Bible. Thus John A. Goodwin, remarking that “Bradford never wrote a finer sentence than this, which ends his story of the departure,” quotes the passage in the text (Pilgrim Republic, 1888, p. 49).

779 “And beyond that place they were enioyned not to goe, whereupon, a Company was chosen to goe out vppon a third discoverie: whilest some were imployed in this discovery, it pleased God that Mistris White was brought to bed of a Sonne, which was called Peregrine” (Mourt’s Relation, 1622, p. 15). The exact date of his birth on the Mayflower is not known, but the late Dr. Dexter (in his edition of Mourt’s Relation, 1865, p. 42 note) put it between December 7 and 10, 1620 (New Style). He was the son of William and Susanna (Fuller) White; was brought up by Edward Winslow, who married his mother Susanna; and died July 20, 1704. In the Massachusetts Magazine for September, 1790, appeared the following:

Newengland, for salubrity of air and temperature of climate, has been much and very justly celebrated. Frequent instances of longevity confirm this opinion. There is a woman now living in Marshfield, County of Plymouth, in the ninety fifth year of her age. Although Newengland has been settled almost an hundred and seventy years, yet she perfectly remembers Peregrine White, the first child born after the arrival of our ancestors, and has several times attended publick worship with him. This woman is now in very good health (ii. 575).

780 History of the Plimoth Plantation (facsimile edition, 1896), p. 36; Ford’s edition, i. 124. In his New England’s Memorial (1669, pp. 144–145), Morton printed “Certain Verses left by the Honoured William Bradford Esq; . . . penned by his own hand.” These begin as follows:

FROM my years young in dayes of Youth,

God did make known to me his Truth,

And call’d me from my Native place

For to enjoy the Means of Grace.

In Wilderness he did me guide,

And in strange Lands for me provide.

In Fears and Wants, through Weal and Woe,

As Pilgrim past I to and fro.

781 New England’s Memorial (1669), p. 5. In his Epistle Dedicatory “To the Right Worshipful, Thomas Prince Esq;” Morton declares that the Governor’s acceptance “shall ever oblige me to answerable returning of gratitude, and administer to me further cause of thankfulness, That God hath given me an Habitation under your just and prudent Administrations; and wish for a Succession of such as may be skilfull to lead our Israel in this their peregrination.”

782 Magnalia, bk. i. ch. ii. § 4, p. 6.

783 Ibid. bk. i. ch. ii. § 10, p. 9.

784 Ibid. bk. ii. ch. i. § 1, p. 3.

785 History of Massachusetts, Boston, ii. 451–452 and note.

786 Sermon (1776), pp. 9–11, 16, 21–22.

787 Sermon (1794), pp. 17–18, 29–30.

788 Collections concerning the Early History of the Founders of New Plymouth, the First Colonists of New England, London, 1849, p. 1.

789 Collections concerning the Founders of New-Plymouth, London, 1854, p. 5 and note.

790 Daily Evening Traveller, November 21, 1870, p. 1/4–5. The article is without signature, but was attributed to Mr. Hazewell, the editor of the Traveller, by John Ward Dean (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1871, xxv. 90).

791 Pp. 352–359, above.

792 After quoting the passage from Bradford, J. A. Goodwin says: “The hypercritics who query why these people should be called ‘Pilgrims’ will see that they applied it to themselves” (Pilgrim Republic, p. 49 note). This statement is misleading.

793 About 1800, too, while the term Pilgrim Fathers was of course applied only to the early settlers, the meaning of the word Pilgrims was extended to include living persons who participated in the celebrations. This special meaning is now rarely encountered.

794 In the following passages the term is applied either to the Massachusetts settlers only, or to the Plymouth and the Massachusetts settlers jointly (it often being difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish between the two): 1820, Rev. G. Spring, A Tribute to New England, in New England Society Orations (1901), i. 18, 21; 1822, Rev. P. M. Whelpley, The Memory of the Just is Blessed, in New England Society Orations, i. 133, 135 (William Stoughton); 1828, Rev. S. Green, Discourse (1829), pp. 14, 16; 1830, “The Pilgrim Fathers, or the Lives of some of the First Settlers of New England. Designed for Sabbath School Libraries” (contains lives of Robinson, Carver, Bradford, Winslow, and John Winthrop); 1836, Rev. J. Hawes, A Tribute to the Memory of the Pilgrims (second edition), pp. 93–118, 175; 1841, C. B. Hadduck, The Elements of National Greatness, in New England Society Orations, i. 280; 1844, Rev. J. A. Albro, The Fathers of New England (1845), p. 20; 1845, Rev. J. Pierce, 2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, x. 398; 1846, C. W. Upham, The Spirit of the Day and its Lessons, in New England Society Orations, i. 446 (Roger Clap); 1856, T. Bridgman, The Pilgrims of Boston and their Descendants (title); 1867, Rev. S. G. Buckingham, Memorial of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 35; 1874, W. Winters, The Pilgrim Fathers of Nazing, in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxviii. 140; 1881, Epochs and Episodes of History, p. 591 (Roger Williams); 1882, W. Winters, “Memorials of the Pilgrim Fathers. John Eliot and his Friends, of Nazing and Waltham Abbey” (title); 1893, J. P. Rylands, in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxxix. 39 (Richard Mather); 1909, Rev. A. Whyte, Thomas Shepard, Pilgrim Father and Founder of Harvard (title); 1913, W. E. A. Axon, in Nation, xcvi. 149 (John Endicott).

795 Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 88 note.

796 Discourse (Boston, 1849), p. 6 and note. In the first edition of the Discourse (Salem, 1849) the footnote reads: “Those who came to Plymouth are properly called ‘The Pilgrims’; — because they had sojourned in Holland” (p. 6 note).

797 The Memory of John Robinson: A Discourse (1852), p. 16.

798 The Pilgrim Fathers neither Puritans nor Persecutors (second edition, 1869), p. 5.

799 Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 352 note.

800 The Pilgrim Fathers, in History of the Puritans in England, and the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 441.

801 Pilgrim Republic (1888), p. 244.

802 Story of the Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 355–356.

803 The Pilgrims in their Three Homes, p. 161.

804 Hakluyt’s Voyages (1904), xi. 46.

805 R. G. Marsden, English Ships in the Reign of James I, in Transactions of the Royal Historical Society (1905), New Series, xix. 328.

806 Suffolk Deeds, iii. 245.

807 Hakluyt’s Voyages (1904), vii. 44, 49.

808 Purchas His Pilgrimes (1906), xvi. 18.

809 R. G. Marsden: cf. note 2, above.

810 Massachusetts Colony Records, i. 400, 404. Late in the eighteenth century there is mention of several ships of this name. “We hear the Pilgrim has taken a ship of upwards of 500 tons burthen, laden with dry goods” (Independent Chronicle, August 20, 1781, p. 2/3). On November 5, 1781, Franklin wrote: “The Admiralty there will not accept any English [prisoners] in exchange, but such as have been taken by Americans, and absolutely refuse to allow any of the paroles given to our privateers by English prisoners discharged at sea, except in one instance, that of fifty-three men taken in the Snake sloop, by the Pilgrim and Rambler, which was a case attended, as they say, with some particular circumstances” (Works, 1888, vii. 306). “Last Monday,” said the Boston Gazette of June 24, 1782, “the Prize Brig Neptune, of about 100 tons burthen, laden with Lumber, arrived in a safe Port. She was taken on her passage from Halifax to Antigua, by the Privateer Ship Pilgrim, Capt. Robinson, of Beverly” (p. 3/2). The sloop Filgrim was among the port entries noted in the Massachusetts Centinel of December 8, 1784 (p. 3/3). And in the same paper of December 22, 1784 (p. 4/2), is this advertisement:

To be SOLD,

(If applied for immediately),

THE good Sloop PILGRIM, British built, burthen about 90 tons, as she now lies at the south side of the Long-Wharf. She is a fast sailing vessel, well found, and exceedingly well calculated for the Southern Trade

811 Wonder-working Providence (1654), pp. 60–61, 193, 216. The references in the first two paragraphs are to the church gathered at Cambridge in 1633 and to Harvard College.

812 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, vii. 518. There are allusions (1666–1687) to Pilgrims’ Harbor in the Connecticut Colonial Records (ii. 53, 127, iii. 235), and also (1660–1742) in C. H. S. Davis’s History of Wallingford, etc. (1870), pp. 128–130. Referring to the regicides Whalley and Goffe, on July 18, 1785, President Stiles wrote: “After the Restor^a of Charles II. 1660 these holy Pilgrims came first to Boston. But being hunted there they fled to New Haven, . . . It being still dangerous here, they removed to & resided near a Rivulet in Meriden 20 M. fr. N. Haven at a place known to this day by the name of Pilgrims Harbor;” and on May 8, 1793: “To Hartfd, . . . Tradition at Meriden & about here Pilgrim’s Harbor so named from two men stopt here till could make a float. Afterw^ds Public built a shed for Pilgrims caught here by high Freshes” (Literary Diary, iii. 170, 494). In the next year (1794) Stiles published his History of Three of the Judges of King Charles I, and then, after stating that Whalley and Goffe arrived at Boston on July 27, 1660, and at New Haven on March 7, 1661, said: “On the 13th of October, 1664, they left Milford, and proceeded in this excursion. I shall suppose that the first night they came over to New-Haven to their friend Jones, though of this there is no tradition, as there is of their making a lodgment at Pilgrims Harbor, so called from them, being twenty miles from New-Haven, at a place since called Meriden, half-way between New-Haven and Hartford. . . . But of this I find no tradition, saving only, that in their rout to Hadley they made one station at Pilgrims Harbor” (pp. 22, 44, 108). As the letter quoted in the text was written four years before the regicides are alleged to have taken shelter at Pilgrims’ Harbor, obviously Stiles’s theory that it received its name from that fact is erroneous. “If the regicides ever made use of it,” says E. E. Atwater, “it was after this letter was written. It was not, as President Stiles suggests, called Pilgrims’ Harbor because the regicides lodged in it” (History of the Colony of New Haven, 1881, p. 447 note).

I am indebted to our associate Professor Franklin B. Dexter for the references to Atwater, to Davis, and to Stiles’s History.

813 E. E. Atwater, History of the Colony of New Haven, p. 447 note.

814 New England’s Vindication (Gorges Society, 1884), p. 37.

815 Narrative, 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, iv. 297.

816 Magnalia, bk. i. ch. iv. § 4, pp. 16–17. In his Discourse delivered at Plymouth in 1828, the Rev. Samuel Green said:

Sons of the Pilgrims, look at these beacons, as they rise around you, and beware of forsaking the God of your fathers. Their graves are before you. This occasion rolls back the light of then doctrines, and the light of their example. “It is reported of the Scythians,” says Cotton Mather, “that in battles, when they came to stand upon the graves of their dead fathers, they would stand there immoveable till they died on the spot: and, thought I, why may not such a method now engage the children of the Pilgrims, to stand fast in their faith, and their order, and in the power of godliness? I will show them the graves of their dead fathers; and if any of them do retreat unto the errors of another Gospel, they shall undergo the irresistible rebukes of their progenitors, here brought from the dead for their admonition” (pp. 31–32).

No reference for this quotation is given. It is conceivable that Mather might have used the expression “children of the Pilgrims,” and if so it would be interesting to know whether in reference to the Plymouth or to the Massachusetts settlers. It turns out, however, that Mr. Green’s memory was at fault. On the few occasions when Mather quoted Paradise Lost, he did so inaccurately, once changing Milton’s “Chariot and charioteer” to “Salvage and Sagamore.” In the present instance the tables were turned against Mather, for what he actually wrote is as follows:

It is reported of the Scythians, who were, doubtless, the Ancestors of the Indians first inhabiting these Regions, that in Battels, when they came to stand upon the Graves of their dead Fathers, they would there stand immovable, ’till they dy’d upon the spot: And, thought I, why may not such a Method now effectually engage the English in these Regions, to stand fast in their Faith and their Order, and in the Power of Godliness? I’ll shew them, the Graves of their dead Fathers; and if any of them do retreat unto a Contempt or Neglect of Learning, or unto the Errors of another Gospel, or unto the Superstitions of Will-Worship, or unto a worldly, a selfish, a little Conversation, they shall undergo the irresistible Rebukes of their Progenitors, here fetch’d from the dead, for their Admonition; and I’ll therewithal advertise my New-Englanders, that if a Grand-child of a Moses becomes an Idolater, he shall, [as the Jews remark upon Judg. 18. 30.] be destroy’d, as if not a Moses, but a Manasseh, had been his Father. Besides, Plus Vivitur Exemplis quam Prœceptis! (Magnalia, 1702, bk. iii. pt. i., To the Reader, § 2, p. 11.)

817 Boston Magazine, 1786, iii. 397.

818 P. 4/1. Presumably it was at Concord, Massachusetts, that this Pilgrim Society existed; but no other allusion to it has been found. John Richardson was born at Watertown July 11, 1758; went to Concord in 1778, opened an inn there in 1789, but moved away in 1804; became a member of the Social Circle in 1782; on March 7, 1790, was married to Anna Bemis of Watertown, who died July 14, 1796; on December 29, 1801, was married to Hannah Bemis of Watertown, a sister of his first wife; had several children by both wives; and died at Newton May 3, 1837. (Memoirs of the Social Circle in Concord, i. 52, 159, 163, ii. p. ix; Concord Registers, pp. 323, 387; Watertown Records, iii. 140, 178, 230, iv, 159; H. Bond, Genealogies of Watertown, pp. 25, 412; Newton Vital Records, p. 495.) The early history of the Social Circle in Concord is somewhat obscure, but apparently there was no connection between it and the Pilgrim Society. In “A Topographical Description of the Town of Concord, August 20th, 1792. Presented by Mr. William Jones, student of Harvard College,” it is stated that “An association is established called the Social Club, who meet once a week at each other’s houses. The club is founded upon principles, and governed by rules, that are admirably promotive of the social affections and useful improvements” (1 Massachusetts Historical Collections, i. 239).

819 See p. 366 note 2, above. This use of the word pilgrim, without reference to the Pilgrims of Plymouth, is of course occasionally met with after 1798. Thus a poem printed in the Independent Chronicle of January 21, 1799 (p. 4/1), began as follows:

Wachusett’s true can boast of many trees

Who patriot like, display their niches:

But the pilgrim as he’s passing, sees

Contemptuous thorns and ugly bushes.

A novel entitled “Love’s Pilgrimage; A Story founded on facts” was advertised in the Columbian Centinel of January 8, 1800 (p. 4/1); but whether English or American, I do not know. The following lines occur in a political skit published in 1820 entitled “The Pilgrims of Hope: An Oratorio For the Clintonian celebration of the New Year” (p. 19):

See from the shores of subjugated France,

G*n*t and Adancourt, lead up the dance

Of foreign Pilgrims, who, in devious maze,

Like Shaking Quakers, rigadoon their praise.

820 The following appeared in the Columbian Centinel of January 20, 1802 (p. 4/1):

mr. russell.

sir — THE following lines were addressed to our late excellent fellow-citizen, G. R. MINOT, Esquire, while he was composing the 1st Volume of his History of Massachusetts, by a sincere admirer of his character — ANALASKI.

Then follows a poem in sixteen stanzas, the last reading:

Yes, ere the fabled Tale is wrought,

While yet the features are imprest,

Shall thy discriminating thought,

Pourtray the Pilgrims of the West.

The first volume of Minot’s Continuation of the History of the Province of Massachusetts Bay bears on its title-page the date “Feb. 1798.” If the above lines were written before that date, then their author probably was not influenced by the Plymouth and Boston celebrations.

821 Historical View of the Government of Maryland, i. 195, 197, 198 note.

822 Uncas and Miantonomoh, p. 143.

823 “Civic and Religious Equality. An Oration delivered at the fourth commemoration of the Pilgrims of Maryland, celebrated May 15, 1855. Under the auspices of the Philodemic Society of Georgetown College. . . . To which is prefixed a notice of the proceedings at the Celebration. Philadelphia: . . . 1855,” pp. 5, 23, 30, 42, 45, 53, 54. Mr. Chandler’s “Address . . . at the celebration of the Landing of the Pilgrims of Maryland, at the site of St. Mary’s City, May 15th, 1855,” was also printed at Baltimore. The same use of the terms will be found in New England Historical and Genealogical Register (1877), xxxi. 224; J. W. Thomas, Chronicles of Colonial Maryland (1900), p. 19; Rev. W. T. Russell, Maryland; the Land of Sanctuary (1907), pp. 76–77, 84, 197 note.

824 Complete Poetical Works (Cambridge edition, 1894), pp. 103–112, 519–520. The term is also occasionally used in a figurative sense. Thus on October 18, 1906, Life said: “The early efforts of Josh Billings and Artemus Ward, the Pilgrim Fathers of Phonetics, to introduce their Sound System of Spelling were not taken seriously; these fanatics of funetics were laughed at, and in time spelling as a branch of humor died out” (xlviii. 431). At the Boston celebration in 1804 was sung a song called New-England, “written for the occasion, (by a gentleman in a neighbouring State),” which contained the following lines (Columbian Centinel, December 26, 1804, p. 4/1):

From Discord, oppression, injustice and strife,

Here FREEDOM, the PILGRIM a refuge shall find,

A covert secure from the tempest of life

The Wonder, Example, and Pride of Mankind.

825 Anniversary Sermon (1777), pp. 14–15.

826 Anniversary Sermon (1778), p. 38.

827 American Biography, i. 46: cf. ii. 151. The following is taken from the Massachusetts Magazine for May, 1794:

Account of an Ancient and Curious Staff.

DEACON Joseph White, of Yarmouth, in the County of Barnstable, great grandson of Peregrine,* has in his possession a Staff, which is valuable for its great antiquity. It had conveyance, agreeably to well authenticated tradition, in the first ship which came to New England in 1620. When those venerable puritanic sages landed at Plymouth, one of their company walked with this Staff. It is three feet in length; and is a striking instance of that noble simplicity, which so eminently dignified the character of those primitive, and justly celebrated fathers of this country.

* Peregrine White was the first born of English parents in New England (vi. 288).

828 Sermon (1820), p. 6. The term “Puritan Pilgrims” occurs again on p. 7 of this Sermon, and is also employed by the following writers: 1835, P. Sprague, Speech (1836), pp. 5, 32; 1849, D. Wilson, in History of the Puritans in England, and the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 480; 1851, J. Banvard, Plymouth and the Pilgrims, pp. 25, 33; 1885, G. W. Curtis, Oration, in New England Society Orations, ii. 417–418.

829 Discourse (1821), p. 23.

830 Discourse (1829), p. 12: cf. pp. 28, p. 32 note.

831 The Age of the Pilgrims the heroic period of our History, in New England Society Orations (1901), i. 346: cf. i. 332, 338.

832 Niles’ Register (1844), lxv. 295; New England Society Orations, i. 361, 366.

833 Address delivered before the New England Society of Michigan (1849), p. 33. The term “Pilgrim Puritans” was also employed in 1849 by the Rev. N. Cleaveland in his Address (1850), p. 22.

834 Plymouth and the Pilgrims, p. 273.

835 Ecclesiastical History of New England, i. 38.

836 Sermon (1865), p. 8.

837 Among the writers who maintain that the early Plymouth settlers were Puritans are the following: 1801, Rev. J. Allyn, Sermon (1802), pp. 9–10; 1803, Rev. J. Strong, Sermon (1804), p. 5; 1804, Rev. J. Morse and Rev. E. Parish, Compendious History of New England, pp. 24, 36; 1806, Rev. A. Holmes, Discourse, pp. 9, 12, 19–20; 1809, Rev. A. Abbot, Discourse (1810), pp. 7, 8; 1815, Rev. J. Flint, Discourse (1816), p. 23; 1820, Rev. A. Holmes, Two Discourses (1821), p. 16; 1820, Rev. H. Humphrey, The character and sufferings of the Pilgrims (1821), pp. 7, 8, 10; 1820, Rev. G. Spring, Tribute to New England, in New England Society Orations, i. 14, 15 note; 1820, Rev. J. Woodbridge, The Jubilee of New England (1821), pp. 3, 4; 1829, S. L. Knapp, Address, in New England Society Orations, i. 150; 1829, W. Sullivan, Discourse (1830), p. 12; 1830, Rev. B. B. Wisner, Influence of Religion on Liberty (1831), pp. 24, 25; 1831, Rev. J. Codman, Faith of the Pilgrims (1832), pp. 7, 21; 1835, J. B. Whitridge, Oration (1836), p. 15; 1835, A. Bradford, History of Massachusetts, pp. 15, 16; 1836, Rev. J. Hawes, Tribute to the Memory of the Pilgrims (second edition), p. 57; 1842, Rev. G. B. Cheever, Elements of National Greatness, in New England Society Orations, i. 292, 293; 1844, G. P. Marsh, Address, in New England Society Orations, i. 387 and note; 1845, Rev. J. Dyer, Discourse (1846), p. 3; 1845, Rev. O. W. B. Peabody, Discourse (1846), p. 8; 1845, J. R. Chandler, The Pilgrims of the Rock (1846), p. 11; 1846, Rev. M. Hopkins, Sermon (1847), pp. 5, 31; 1846, Rev. M. A. H. Niles, Distinctive Characteristics of the Pilgrims, p. 3; 1846, C. W. Upham, The Spirit of the Day and its Lessons, in New England Society Orations, i. 433; 1847, W. H. Dillingham, Oration (1847), pp. 13, 22, 28; 1850, Rev. W. DeL. Love, Obedience in Rulers (1851), pp. 11, 12, 16; 1851, G. S. Hillard, The Past and the Future, in New England Society Orations, ii. 141, 145–146, 149; 1851, A. C. Spooner, Speech, pp. 3, 6; 1852, Rev. R. Ashton, 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, i. 112; 1852, Rev. T. D. Hunt, Address (1853), p. 9; 1853, Rev. H. Brown, The Pilgrim Fathers, pp. 14, 46; 1853, Rev. T. Raffles, Lecture on the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 8; 1853, R. Yeadon, Speech, p. 2; 1854, W. M. Evarts, Heritage of the Pilgrims, in New England Society Orations, ii. 241, 245, 250; 1854, J. W. Thornton, The Landing at Cape Anne, p. 24; 1855, O. W. Holmes, Oration, in New England Society Orations, ii. 280; 1855, W. H. Seward, Oration (1856), pp. 7, 8; 1856, Rev. J. A. Copp, The Old Ways (1857), p. 11; 1856, Rev. J. Cordner, Vision of the Pilgrim Fathers (1857), p. 14; 1857, Rev. A. D. Smith, The Puritan Character (1858), pp. 7, 23; 1857, Rev. R. S. Storrs, The Puritan Scheme of National Growth, in New England Society Orations, ii. 334; 1859, Rev. J. Hawes, One Soweth and another Reapeth, pp. 3, 6, 7, 9, 18, 19; 1867, Rev. S. G. Buckingham, Memorial of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 5; 1883, J. T. Morse, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, p. 3; 1896, Rev. C. H. Pope, in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1. 234; 1907, Rev. F. A. Noble, The Pilgrims, p. 3.

838 Of course, this difference had been remarked on much earlier. Thus about 1680 Hubbard spoke of “some religious and well affected persons, that were lately [about 1626] removed out of New Plymouth out of dislike of their principles of rigid separation” (History of New England, p. 106). In 1813 Judge Davis wrote: “The first planters of Massachusetts, though puritans, had not, like Mr. Robinson’s society, separated from the Church of England before their arrival in this country. As soon as they were at liberty to pursue, unimpeded, their own ideas of ecclesiastical order, they adopted, with little variation, the practice of the Plymouth settlers” (Discourse, 1814, p. 9). In 1908 Mr. Andrew McF. Davis called attention to the open letter which on April 7, 1630, Winthrop and others addressed “to the rest of their brethren in and of the Church of England,” and to what Winthrop said about the laying of hands on the Rev. John Wilson (Publications, xii. 11, 12).

839 Oration (1847), p. 22.

840 Discourse (1852), p. 16.

841 A Finger-Point from Plymouth Rock, p. 7.

842 Pictures of the Olden Time, as shown in the fortunes of a Family of the Pilgrims, p. 324. “It would be difficult to say,” the author well remarks, “to what class of literature the following work properly belongs. It is neither romance nor pure history” (p. v). Some will be disposed to see more romance than history in the work.

843 Track of the Hidden Church; or, the Springs of the Pilgrim Movement (1863), p. 38.

844 Obviously, confusion could not have arisen between two terms one of which did not come into existence until 1798. J. A. Goodwin asserted that “The Pilgrim Fathers, the founders of our Plymouth, the pioneer Colony of New England, were not Puritans. They never were called by that name, either by themselves or their contemporaries” (Pilgrim Republic, 1888, p. 1). Even if the Pilgrims did not call themselves by the name of Puritans, that fact would have no significance, since the word Puritan — like Quaker, Whig, Tory, and a host of other terms — was originally one of reproach, and so might have been objected to on that ground. Indeed, Bradford twice expresses his dislike to the word for that reason. “And to cast contempte the more upon the sincere servants of God,” he says in one place, “they opprobriously and most injuriously, gave unto, and imposed upon them, that name of Puritans; which [it] is said the Novatians (out of prid) did assume and take unto themselves” (History of Plymouth, ed. Ford, i. 12–13). And in another place he says: “The name of Brownists is but a nickname, as Puritan and Huguenot, &c., and therefore they do not amiss to decline the odium of it in what they may” (Dialogue, in Young’s Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, 1841, pp. 416–417).

845 The Pilgrim Fathers neither Puritans nor Persecutors (1869), pp. 5–6.

846 J. W. Dean, in New England Historical and Genealogical Register (1871), xxv. 301–303.

847 The Pilgrim Fathers (Rockford, Illinois), pp. 7, 8. In a note on p. 8 Scott’s lecture is referred to.

848 “Pilgrim Jubilee. Celebration in Providence, R. I., of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Congregationalism in this country, October 11th 1870,” pp. 34–35.

849 It is to be noted that Hunter himself made no such distinction between the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Puritans of Massachusetts. “Those who followed Governor Winthrop,” he wrote in 1847, “from his own country may not improperly be designated the Second Puritan Emigration, — the First being formed of those who had been of Mr. Robinson’s church, and founded Plymouth, and the emigrants from Dorchester” (3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, x. 171).

850 Oration (1871), pp. 10, 42–43, 45.

851 Genesis of the New England Churches, pp. ix–x.

852 The Pilgrim Fathers (1877), pp. 15, 16. See p. 377 note 2, above.

853 “The Pilgrims and Puritans: or, Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay,” in Collections of the Old Colony Historical Society (1879), No. 1, p. 28. Tarbox quotes Scott’s lecture at length.

854 Discourse (1887), p. 8.

855 In Proceedings, etc. (1896), pp. 14–15, 42.

856 Discourse (1814), p. 8.

857 Bradford’s History (1912), vol. i. p. xv.

858 Plymouth Colony Records, xi. 12, 95, 172. In the Book of the General Laws, etc., 1672, p. 4; and in the Book of the General Laws, etc., 1685, p. 10, the law read as follows:

8. If any Christian (so-called) be a Witch, that is, hath, or consulteth with a Familiar Spirit; he or they shall be put to Death.

Witchcraft.

859 Plymouth Colony Records, iii. 111, 123, 167, xi. 101, 121. Mr. Scott can acquit the Pilgrim Fathers of persecuting the Quakers only by strictly limiting that term to the Mayflower passengers (see p. 377, above) and then by killing them off before some of them actually died. “In 1656,” he says, “every leader of that party, whose name history has recorded, was in his grave” (p. 34), including Governor Bradford. As a matter of fact Bradford did not die until May 9, 1657. The first legislation against the Quakers was at a Court of Assistants on February 3, 1657, at which Bradford was himself present as Governor. At that time John Alden was Treasurer and also an Assistant, and John Cooke and John Howland were Deputies: hence four of the Mayflower passengers were concerned in the earliest legislation against the Quakers. It is not of course my intention to dispute the generally accepted view that the sway of Plymouth was milder and more tolerant than was that of Massachusetts, but clearly some of Mr. Scott’s statements are open to criticism. The popular notion as to the treatment of the Quakers by the Plymouth Colony is singularly at fault. Thus in 1870 Emerson said: “It is the honorable distinction of that first colony of Plymouth, of the Pilgrims, not of the Puritans, that they did not persecute; that those same persons who were driven out of Massachusetts then were received in Plymouth. They did not banish the Quakers” (in New England Society Orations, ii. 388). As a matter of fact, Quakers in the Plymouth Colony were not only, as stated in the text, apprehended, banished, and disfranchized, but were imprisoned, sent to the house of correction, put in stocks or cage, whipped, fined for attending their meetings, and others were fined for harboring or encouraging them, etc. (See Plymouth Colony Records, vols, iii, xi.)

860 An instance may be given. “I think the first Puritans,” wrote the Rev. Thomas Robbins on February 5, 1807, “discovered something of a separatical spirit” (Diary, i. 316). To this remark, the Rev. I. N. Tarbox, who edited the Diary, appends this note:

The Pilgrims who came to Plymouth in 1620 were open and avowed Separatists. Mr. Robbins seems to imply that some of the Puritans who came to the Massachusetts Bay in 1629 and 1630 had something of the same idea, though they disowned the name of Separatists. He grounds his remark probably on what took place at Salem in 1629, in the organization of the first church in the Massachusetts Bay.

Robbins’s remark stands by itself, without context. So obsessed was Dr. Tarbox with the notion that the word Pilgrims could be applied only to the early Plymouth settlers, while the word Puritans could mean only the early Massachusetts settlers, that, finding Robbins using the word Puritans, he inferred that Robbins must refer to the early Massachusetts settlers. Had he consulted Robbins’s Historical View of the First Planters of New-England, published in 1815, he would have seen that Robbins frequently speaks of the early Plymouth settlers as Puritans; and that the distinction between the Pilgrims and the Puritans, upon which he himself insisted so strongly (see p. 380, above), was quite unknown to Robbins. It is possible that when he made his remark, Robbins had in mind the early Massachusetts settlers; but it is far more probable that by “the first Puritans” he meant those who preceded both the Plymouth and the Massachusetts settlers.

An amusing episode, thoroughly characteristic of Boston, occurred in 1907, when certain persons petitioned for the incorporation of the Pilgrim Trust Company of Boston. Objection to the name was raised by the counsel for the Puritan Trust Company, a distinguished citizen of Massachusetts, who said: “The name ‘Puritan Trust Company’ is valuable. There is a confusion in the public mind as to the Puritans and Pilgrims, and there would be sure to be confusion if there were two trust companies bearing such similar designations. The Pilgrims were a tolerant people who were not addicted to the burning of witches.” To this the opposing counsel replied, “But the Puritans have been out of the witch burning business for some time.” The persistency with which the erroneous notion that persons were burned in Massachusetts for witchcraft is adhered to and repeated by those who ought to know better, is extraordinary. (See the Boston Evening Transcript of July 31, 1907, p. 1/6).

861 The expressions “Pilgrim martyr,” referring to John Penry, who was executed in 1593; “Pilgrim church,” meaning Robinson’s church at Scrooby, England, afterwards removed to Amsterdam and then to Leyden; “Pilgrim press,” in allusion to the press managed by Brewster and Brewer at Leyden; and other similar expressions are convenient and are now in frequent use, but are liable to misinterpretation unless the fact stated in the text is kept constantly in mind.

862 For the sake of completeness, list B includes the titles not only of all printed discourses, but also of the volumes containing the proceedings at various celebrations — those held on August 1 in commemoration of the embarkation from Delft Haven as well as those on Forefathers’ Day; and likewise of the Report, published in 1850, relating to the correct date of Forefathers’ Day.

863 Lists have been printed in Harris’s Discourse (1808), p. 32; in Webster’s Discourse (1821), pp. 10–104; in Thacher’s History of the Town of Plymouth, pp. 369–371 of the 1832 edition, pp. 339–340 of the 1835 edition; in W. S. Russell’s Guide to Plymouth (1846), pp. 280–283; and in W. T. Davis’s Plymouth Town Records (1903), iii. 457–458; and cf. Sullivan’s Discourse (1830), p. 42. None of these lists, however, is either complete or wholly accurate. The present lists owe what completeness and accuracy they may have largely to our associate Mr. Arthur Lord, who owns a complete set of the printed discourses and has furnished several titles that otherwise would have escaped me. I am also indebted to Mr. Lord for information derived from the records of the Pilgrim Society (p. 320 note 2, above).

It is curious that the word Pilgrims first occurs in these titles in 1826 (R. S. Storrs), and the term Pilgrim Fathers in 1828 (S. Green).

864 It was stated in the last note that the lists hitherto printed have not been wholly accurate. All such lists (except that of W. T. Davis, 1903) state that Alden Bradford’s Sermon was delivered in 1805. This is an error for 1804, in which year December 22d fell on Saturday and the celebration took place on the 21st: see p. 301 note 1, above. All such lists also contain this entry: “1804. (Lord’s day) Rev. Mr. Kendall preached from Heb. xi. 13*,” the asterisk denoting that the sermon was not printed. But it was in 1805 that December 22 fell on Sunday. Clearly, therefore, the previous lists have transposed the discourses delivered in 1804 and 1805.

865 See p. 388 note 2, below.

866 Mr. Lord informs me that the discourses of the Rev. B. B. Wisner in 1830 and the Rev. J. Codman in 1831 were delivered before the Third Church as well as the Pilgrim Association, and that the Pilgrim Association was apparently composed of members of the Third Church, though the Pilgrim Association only is mentioned in the discourses themselves. This notion is borne out by an entry made by the Rev. Thomas Robbins on December 22, 1831:

Anniversary. . . . Attended the exercises in Mr. Kendall’s meeting-house. Mr. Brazier, of Salem, had a very good sermon, excepting its Unitarianism. . . . Went to Mr. Freeman’s and sat awhile with the Pilgrim Association. Mr. Codman preached today in his meeting-house (Diary, 1887, ii. 247).

The Rev. Frederick Freeman was pastor of the Third Church. The sermon preached by the Rev. John Brazer in the First Church was not printed.

867 See p. 388 note 1, below.

868 The celebration on August 1, 1853, was to commemorate the embarkation from Delft Haven. At least three of the speeches then delivered were printed separately: see E. Everett, C. Sumner, R. Yeadon.

869 The celebration of August 1, 1889, was to commemorate the completion of the National Monument to the Pilgrims at Plymouth.

870 Of the speeches delivered on this occasion, at least three were printed separately: see E. Everett, C. Sumner, R. Yeadon.

871 On Dec. 22, 1831, the Rev. Thomas Robbins noted that “A new society has lately been formed here by the division of Mr. Freeman’s” (Diary, ii. 247), and W. T. Davis states that the Third Church was “the parent of three children,” one being the “Robinson Church organized in 1830” (Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, 1883, pp. 102–103). The half-title of Mr. Cobb’s sermon reads: “Rev. Mr. Cobb’s Pilgrim Sermon.”

872 The date in the title-page is December 20. At the close of his Discourse Mr. Green says that “The little island on which they kept their first Sabbath, 208 years ago yesterday, still stands as a modest remembrancer of our fathers’ piety,” and adds this note:

A small Island in Plymouth harbor, called Clark’s Island, seen from the shore, on which an exploring party landed on Saturday evening, supposing it to be the main land. Here they rested on the holy Sabbath, devoting the day to the worship of God, and on Monday morning came on shore at Plymouth. This discourse was delivered on Monday, the same day of the week, as well as of the month, on which our fathers landed on the Plymouth rock (p. 36 and note).

It thus appears that Mr. Green’s Discourse was delivered Monday, but in 1828 Monday was December 22; hence the date December 20 in the title-page is a typographical error for December 22. Mr. Green was mistaken in supposing that his Discourse was delivered on the same day of the month, though it was the same day of the week, as that on which the Pilgrims landed, for that day was Monday, December 21, 1620: see p. 297 note 2, above.

873 Cf. p. 386 note 1, above.

874 In his Discourse (pp. 18–19) of 1848, the Rev. Samuel M. Worcester quoted “the late amiable and accomplished Dr. Kirkland, in his discourse delivered at Plymouth, forty-five years since.” The passage quoted occurs at p. 383 of the work cited in the text.

875 The oration delivered in 1870 was separately printed: see R. C. Winthrop.

876 The oration delivered in 1895 was separately printed: see G. F. Hoar.

877 This title is added for the sake of completeness.

878 In his sermon on December 23, 1776, the Rev. S. Conant said: “The most noted historical facts, relative to the coming over of our fore-fathers, have been named in the first public Sermon on this occasion, from Psalm lxxviii. 5, 6, 7” (Anniversary Sermon, 1777, p. 6). In 1815 a writer, referring to Robbins’s sermon of 1772, stated (2 Massachusetts Historical Collections, iii. 176–177) that “This discourse was printed at their request” — that is, at the request of the Old Colony Club. What the Old Colony Club did was to appoint a committee on January 6, 1773, to “write a letter of thanks to the rev^d M^r Robbins for his sermon on the 22d ult., and request a copy thereof.” Mr. Robbins took the matter under consideration, and, having decided to accede to the request, on February 23, 1773, wrote a letter in which he said, “I now present you a copy of said sermon, with liberty to make what use of it you shall think proper;” and this letter, “together with the Anniversary sermon in manuscript,” was received by the Club on February 24 (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, iii. 435, 436–437, 439). But the sermon was never printed.

879 Seward’s Oration was also among the “Documents published by the Republican Association of Washington City,” 1856, it being issued in a sixteen-page pamphlet without title-page, the heading on p. 1 reading, “Oration by William H. Seward, at Plymouth, December 21, 1855”

880 Another edition has this title: “New England’s Glory and Crown. A Discourse, delivered at Plymouth, Mass., December 22, 1848. . . . Second Edition. Boston: . . . 1849.”

881 The corner-stone of the monument erected at Provincetown was laid August 20, 1907 (see p. 293, above), and the monument was dedicated August 20, 1910. The proceedings on both occasions were printed in a book bearing the following title: “The Pilgrims and their Monument By Edmund J. Carpenter, Litt.D. . . . Illustrated . . . New York MCMXI”

882 Publications, viii. 7–12.

883 viii. 326–333.

884 xiii. 273–277.

TRANSACTIONS

1913–1914

MARCH MEETING, 1913

NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681–17752

I COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND, 1685–1686

President

Deputy-President

II TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND, 1686–1689

Governor

Lieutenant-Governor

Secretary

III PERIOD FROM APRIL 18, 1689, TO MAY 16, 1692

IV MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, 1685–1691

A Dudley’s Council, 1685–1686

B Andros’s Council, 1686–1688

C Andros’s Council, 1688–1689

D First Council under the Province Charter, 1691

V PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY, 1691–1775

Governors

Lieutenant-Governors

Secretaries

VI LISTS

EARLY MANUSCRIPT MAPS OF NEW ENGLAND

NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681–1775 2