Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

chusetts if it seemed that the colonies were scattered.

All the rich lands about the Bay had been taken.

There was in the Boston Colony too much theological controversy. Davenport feared the fatal doctrine of the Antinomions might lead his flock astray. In discussing this point, he said "The dangers of the wilderness. will not unsettle men's minds as to sanctification and justification." 1

The idea from the first was an independent government based on civil and religious freedom. To settle in Massachusetts would be fatal to this project.

Finally we may add that Davenport and Eaton, as has been stated, were men of integrity and ability and of Godly belief. Their ideas of government were unlike those of Massachusetts and the Bay Colony. They had a purpose and a plan of their own from the very beginning. It is true, as we shall later see that Davenport and Eaton did not have the same visitor. but the vision of each, though unlike, was different than the vision of the leaders of the Bay Colony. When Davenport and Eaton with their company were thrown upon the hospitality of Massachusetts, it behooved them to be friendly and agreeable to be interested in her kindly offers-to appear to consider them. Also it was policy to find reasons for not accepting if it seemed that any better place could be found. So when Winthrop Jr. reported Pequod (New London) "is scarce worthy much cost," and Captain Underhill reported of "Queenpiak,”—“It hath a fair river, fit for the harboring of ships, and abounds with rich and goodly meadows," the decision was made in the mid of Davenport and Eaton at once.

1

Joseph Felt endeavors to give reasons for passing Pequod with its extensive harbor in the Thames which must have appealed to Eaton commercially. There is no evidence that Eaton took any note of it or visited it. Quinnipiack was reported as being the better. It was farther removed from Massachu

1 Joseph Felt, Vol. I, p. 357. 2 Joseph Felt, Vol. I, p. 358.

setts and hence less liable to be influenced by her views. Davenport and Eaton would build their city beyond the influence of Antinomions, where no doubts should harry the minds of men. Better the whispering winds through the branches of giant oaks and pines, better were the "virgin lands beyond the Connecticut"; better were the companionships of the dusky children of the forests than the discontent of religious differences. These they had crossed the sea to escape.

THE VOYAGE

Davenport and Eaton had no arguments with the people of the Bay on theological questions, but went peacfully away and made no enemies as did Roger Williams.

"A vestal state, which power could not subdue,

Nor promise win,-like her own eagle's nest,

Sacred-the San Marino of the West." Halleck.

The spring of 1638 was melting the ice from Boston Harbor when the earnest party which came in the Hector and her consort almost a year before began to make preparations for the voyage to Quinnipiack. In the original party there were some two hundred and fifty women and children, but Davenport and Eaton had so won the confidence of people that many more joined them till they numbered over three hundred. 1 Many friendships had been made in Boston Bay Colony, and as the party filed down to the boats there was sorrow among the people of the Bay.

"(It was on Friday that) Davenport and his company sailed out of Boston Harbor in the bright days of April,sailed on an even keel and with gentle breezes past the long beeches of the Bay; past the white strands and sand hills of Cape Cod; past the islands of the southern coast of New England where the warm current of the Gulf Stream with a westward sweep tempers the waters and the air; and so at

1 Bryant, Vol. II, p. 27.

[merged small][ocr errors]

All these went forth with the "Godspeed and good wishes" of the brethren of Massachusetts because Davenport sought to keep his council and go away to do as he wished.

In this band was Ezekiel Cheever

[blocks in formation]

Thus we have the scene- -the baythe surrounding trees-the sentinel hills-the rugged oak-the company at worship-the "So-Big-Study-Man" as the Indians called Davenport. Grad

"the father of Connecticut school- ually the shadows lengthened toward

masters."

After two weeks' sailing they entered the broad harbor and beheld the land of their dreams. Yonder Rodenbergh stood guard giving the place the name of Red Mount, according to the Dutch. 2

The next day was the Sabbath and true to all that they held sacred divine service was held under a spreading oak. Let us look at the scene the grim old oak (at the corner of College and George Streets)-the buds are just opening. The gnarled branches The gnarled branches stretch out between them and the April sky. A sky darkened at times by flitting clouds. Near at hand are the blushing maples-the brown trunks of willows, farther away the dingy cedar, and over in the distance a bald, red rock looming to meet the sky; to the east another with a tuft of pines on its seamy forehead. Near at hand, Near at hand, dancing on the blue of the bay, two small vessels with reefed sails. Here the Calvinistic band of Puritans gathered-two Eatons, one in the robe of the English church; Davenport in Canonicals-opposite them their wives as was the custom. And this was the first Sabbath in New Haven. Though almost three hundred years have sped away and those brave forms with the oak have passed away, still loom the guarding hills, still dance the waters in

1 Bryant, U. S. Hist., Vol. II, p. 38.
2 G. H. Hollister, Vol. I, chap. 5, p. 93.

evening. The sun sank. Darkness settled over the meadows and the Bay. The first Sabbath in New Haven was ended and Davenport recorded in his journal that he "enjoyed a good day."

THE PLANTATION COVENANT

A few days later the company met in "extraordinary humiliation" and mutually promised that in all matters, civil and religious, public and private, they would all be ordered by those rules which the Scripture holds forth. ' This little declaration called the Plantation Covenant was short and simple in form, indeed it was almost a declaration of independence.

For over a year there was no other civil or ecclesiastical organization or code of laws than the Bible. And, indeed, what better code could there be than that book of books, a copy of which was in every man's hand and from which every man read daily to his family? 2

Then the work of planting and building began. The season was backward and the corn rotted in the ground and had to be planted the third time. Later the days grew soft and warm and the corps grew beyond all expectations. At the same time the city was being laid out four square and each man assigned a building lot according to his rank, and "fair and stately" houses began to rise. For this, as has

2 E. E. Atwater, p. 73.

1 G. H. Hollister, Vol. I, chap. 5. p. 94.

1 Benjamin Trumbull, Hist. of Conn., Vol. I,

p. 97; John W. Barber, p. 154.

2 Elroy M. Avery, Hist. of the U. S., Vol. II. p. 331.

been said, was the most opulent company which came to New England, and they would not live in less state than had been their custom in England. They were planting a capital colony. New Haven was to be a great and elegant city, with a beautiful green in the center. The house of Theophilus Eaton was so large as to have nineteen fireplaces and Davenport's house on the opposite side of the street had thirteen fireplaces. No other houses in New England were as elegant as those of New Haven and when the political events in England checked the tide of emigration a few years later, New Haven people lamented that so much of their estate had been thus spent. 1

The Puritans, like the Israelites of old, believed themselves the instruments of divine wrath in freeing the land of the idolatrous hords of Indians. 2

The Pequod War had cleared New England of one of the fiercest tribes and opened Connecticut to settlement. As peace had been declared Davenport and Eaton deemed it the wise way to purchase the land about New Haven of the Indians who might "pretend some title thereunto." Accordingly on November 24th, 1638, a treaty of mutual protection was made with Momaugguin, sachem of southern Connecticut. At the same time a purchase of the land lying between the present New York boundary and the Connecticut River was made.

Momauguin in this sale stated that he "yielded up all his right, title, and interest to all the land, rivers, ponds, and trees, with all the liberties and appurtenances belonging to the same, unto Theophilus Eaton, John Daven

1 E. E. Atwater, p. 80 2 S. A. Drake, p. 204.

[blocks in formation]

Joseph B. Felt, however, states that they were glad to be on friendly terms with people "who needed their guidance in revealed truth, and to whom they were desirous to impart its light and benefit." It is doubtful if we can accept this statement when we find that during the twenty-seven years of New Haven supremacy she converted one Indian, Wequash, and him under doubtful circumstances. He had conceived the English God to be but a "mosquito or a fly," but when he beheld the English slay 450 Pequods in an hour, he concluded their God must be a "most dreadful God." Accordingly he at length decided to worship him.

New Haven at all times treated the Indian with seeming justice and kindness. This was matter of wise foresight, as New Haven wanted peace and all her men and money to carry on the planting and building of her colony.5

This land title given by the Indians was all the title New Haven ever had, and here in the wilderness, beyond the boundaries of any provincial jurisdiction she planned to build her fair city based on the Union of Church and State."

1 Benjamin Trumbull, Hist. of Conn., Vol. 1, p. 99; John W. Barber, p. 156. Also Johnston, pp. 85-87; James Grahame, p. 172.

2 E. M. Avery, Vol. II, p. 204. 3 J. B. Felt, Vol. I, p. 404.

4 E. E. Atwater, pp. 316-347.

5 E. E. Atwater, p. 326.
6 James Grahame, p. 172.

(To be continued)

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

IN NEW

THE REVIVAL OF AGRICULTURE ENGLAND AND THE EASTERN STATES EXHIBITION

B

old, but well thought out, plans have culminated in a movement the first tangible results of which appear in the announcement that the Chicago National Dairy Show Association will hold its Fall exhibition at Springfield Massachusetts, October twelfth to twenty-first, inclusive.

Here will gather the royalty of the cattle world, and for their princely accomodation-well, look what Spring field is doing! A One-hundred and sixty-six acre tract in West Sprngfield is to be improved with every facility and every adornment at a cost of more than half a million dollars. Furthermore, this plant is intended to be a permanent centre for the Agricultural interests of New England, and a corporation known as the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial

Exposition has been organized to carry on the enterprise. There are twentyeight sound reasons for believing in the success of this broad-visioned movement: they constitute a Board of Directors, and their names are,

Joseph A, Skinner and Frank Metcalf of Holyoke, Daniel F. Doherty and Edgar L. Gellett of Westfield, Frank L. Worthy of West Springfield, Nathaniel I. Bowditch of Framingham, Wilson H. Lee of New Haven, Alvin B. Ricker of South Poland, Me., Frank P. Newkirk of Easthampton, Theodore N. Vail of Lyndonville, Vt., and New York, Frederick G. Crane of Dalton, M. D. Munn of St. Paul, and the following of Springfield: Herbert Myrick, George M. Hendree, Horace A. Moses, George A. MacDonald, Daniel E. Burbank, Frank H. Page, Harry G.

[graphic]

JOSHUA L. BROOKS, ESQ., PRESIDENT EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION

Fisk, Adolph W. Gilbert, Henry L. Bowles, Albert Steiger, Charles P. Chase, Charles T. Shean, Harry S. Baldwin, Herbert L. Handy, Charles B. Whitney and Joshua L. Brooks. The officers of the corporation are, President Joshua L. Brooks; vice-presidents, Joseph A. Skinner, Theodore

N. Vail, and Wilson H. Lee; treasurer, Eliphalet T. Tifft; clerk, John C. Rob

inson.

The executive committee includes Messrs. Crane, Brooks, Moses, Whitney, Gillett, Handy, Baldwin, Fisk, Page, Burbank and MacDonald.

In other words, the people of New

« AnteriorContinuar »