Connecticut Historical Collections

New Haven having Ijeen excectiingly disappointed in trade, and sus- tained great damages at Delaware, and tlie large estates wliicli they brought into New England rapidly declining, this year made uncommon exertion, as far as possible to retrieve their former losses. Comhininf ilieir money and labors, they buih a ship at Rhode Island, ol' 150 tons; and freighted her for England, with the best part of their commercial estates. Mr. Gregson, Capt. Turner, ]Mr. Lamberton, and five or six of their principal men embarked on board. They sailed from I\ew Haven in January, 16 17. They were obliged to cut through the ice to get out of the harbor. The ship foundered at sea, and was never heard of after she sailed. According to the belief of the inhabitants at that period, this ship was seen in the aii- after she was lost. We take the following account as we find it in J\lather's JNIagnalia. Mather, hearing of the circumstances, wrote to his friend, the Kcv. Mr. Pierpont, for information, and received from that gentleman the following answer : — Hevcrend and Dear Sir — In compliance wilh your desires, I now give you the relaiion of iluil apparUion of a. ship ill the u'u\ which I have received from theiiiost credible, judicious nud curious surviving observeus olit. In the year 1(317, besides much otlier lading, a far more rich treasine of passengers, (five or SIX of which were persiins ul'cliief note and worth in New Haven,) put theifi- selves on board anew sliip, built at Rhode Inland, of about 150 tuns; but so v/aliy, that Ihe master (Lamberton) often said she would prove their grave. In the mnntli of Jan- uary, cutting their way through much ice, on which tliey were accompanied with the Reverend Air. Davenport, besides many other friends, wilh many tears, as well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport, in |irayer, with an observable ernjiha- sib', used these words : Lord if it be thij pleasure to bunj i/icsc our friends in the Ijoltuiii of the sea, theij arc thine ; suce them! Tlie spring following no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships from England; New Haven's heart began to lail her. this put the gondly pe()))le on mucii ])iaver, both publick and private, that the Lord voi/ld (if it vas his pleasure') let thriii hear 'ichat he kail dnne with their dear friends, and. prepare them mith a siiitalAe .sidnnission to his IIuij Will. \\\ June next en-iiiiiL', .1 -xto-m thun- der storm arLise out of the noflh wc-«l ; alte'r which (ihe heini.^pher.- tiniiL' -■■icnc) about an hour before sun-set, a ship ol' like ilinicn>inns with the afoiesaid, wiili h-T CLiinas;; and colors abroad, (ihou:,'h the wind iiorthei niv,) appeared m the air e.'ihiiiu' u|i Imm our haibour's inouili, which 1\ es .voiilliwaid lioni the town, .M'cminglv \\\\\\ her sails filled under u fresh gale, holding her course north, and conliiuiiiig tiiider observation, sailing against the wind for the .space of hall' an hour. Many were drawn to behold this great work of God; yea, the very children cryed out, There's a brave ship! At length, crouding up as far as there is usually watersuf- ficient for such a vessel, and so near some of the spectators, as that the)' imagined a man might hurl a stone on board her, her main-top seemed to be blown off, but left hanging in the shrouds; then her mizen-top; then all her nnisting seemed blown away by the board: quickly after Ihe hulk brought unto a careen, she overset, and so vanished into a sinoaky cloud, which in some time dissipated, leaving, as every where else, a clear air. The admiring spectators could distinguish the several eolouis of each part, the princijial rigging, and such proportions as caused not only the general- ity of persons to say, 77((.s ints the rimuld of their shiv, and this iras her tra'.'iek end : but Mr. Davenport also in publiek declared to this ellect : That (lod had condescended, for the fju Ittini: of thiir aj/licled spirits, this cctraordinanj accou nt of his sovereign dis- 2>osal oj those for whuni so manij feneiil jiraiiers were made coat in i:,illtj. Thus I am. Sir, your buinli'le servant, Ja.mi;s Pii'hi'ONT. The loss of this ship, with the former losses which the company had sustained, broke u|) all their expectation with respect to trade, ami as they conceived themselves disadvantageously situated for husbandry, they adopted the design of leaving the country. Accordingly tbey en- tered into treaties for the city of CJalloway in Iicland, wliich they dc- 162 NEW HAVEN. signed to liave settled, as a small province for themselves. They were however chsappointed with respect to all these desi^ais,.and their pos- terity, who they feared would be rechiced to hegyary, made respectable farmers, and flourished no less tlian their neighbors. It appears that the fust planters had no written code of laws. The court determined all dilferences, fiic, according to their views of justice and propriety, as occasion required. The following extracts are taken from the ancient Records of New Haven during this period. At a Court held at \cw Jfivcn, A. D. 1613. — Andrew Low, jiin., for breaking into Mr. Laing'.s house, where he brake open a. cupboard and look from thence some strong '\Valer, and Gr/. in money, and raiisackt the house (roni roome lo roome, and left open the doors, for which fact being commiited to prison, broke lorlh and escaped, and still Temait)s horrible obstinate and rebellious agrunsi lus parents, and incorrigible under all the means that have been used to reclaim him. Whereuiion it was orderd tiia* lie shall be as severely vvhipi as the rule will bear, and work with his lather as a pris- oner, with a lock upon his leg so that he may not escape. December 'M, 1G5I. — It was propounded that some safer way mipht be foumi out to Coiineciicote, that the danger of East River may be avoyded. Tlie uvx waye was desired to be viewed again, as William Bradley otfered tolend his canuo\v to lie lu the East River, if the town will find ropes to draw it to and agayne. A Cinirt htddcn Zd November, IGI!!). — It was ordered that Mr. Hopkins sliall liave two hogsheads of lime for his present use, and as much mure as will finish Wi^ house as he now intends itt, he thinking that two hogsheads more will serve. It is ordered, that a meeting-house shall be built forthwith, fifty foole square; and 8hat the carpenters shall fall timber where they can find it, till allotment be layed out, and men know their proprietyes. It is ordered that Mr. Gregson and Mr. Evance shall have fowerdayes liberty after this day to square their timber, before the Ibrmer order shall take hold of theni. It is oideied, that Mr. Eaton, Mr. Davenport, Robert Newman, Mathew Gilbert, Capt. Turner and Thomas Ffugill, shall from henceforward have the disposing of all house lotts, yeit undisposed ot about this lowne, to such persons as they shall judge meete lor the gooct of the plantation ; and thatt none come to dwell as planters here without their consent and allowance, whether they come in by purchase or otheiw ise. It is ordereil, that every one that bares arines shall be completely furnished wiih arms, (viz ) a muskett, a sword, bandaleers, a rest, a pound of powder ; 'JO bullets til- ted to their muskeu, or 4 pound of pistoll shott, or swan sholi at least, and be ready to show them in the market pi, ice upon Monday ilie Kiili of this monthe, before Captaine 'I'lirner and Lieutenant Seeley, under the penally 'JO.s-. iiue tor every default ur absence, Atk of December, 1G:!'.).— It is oidercd, that Thomas Saiile shall agree with Goodman S|)innage before the next Court, or else the Court will delentiiiie the dill'erence be- tween them. Roger Diihursland James Stewart are cnjoyned to make double rcslitulion lo John Coekerill for five pound and seventeen shillings which they stole out of bis chist on the Isold's day in the meeting time, and they being servants to the said Coekerill, for which atcgravalion they were whipped also. Thomas Manchester, servant to Mr. Perry, being accused by his master for being drunclce. and for giving his master uncomely language, for which his master having given him some correction, the Court (onely) caused him to be set in the stocks for a certain time. Nicholas Tamer, servant to the said Mr. Perry, for drunkenness and abusing his masierin wordes was whipped. A General Court, ALh January, 1639. — It is agreed by the towne anil accordingly ordered by the Court, that the Neck shall be planted ur sow en for the tearme ofsenvrn yeares, and thatt John Erockett shall goe about laying it out, lor which and all dillcr- enees betwixt paity and party aboule ground formerly broke up aiid planted by Eng- lish there, shall be arbitrated by indifl'erent rnen, which shall be chosen to that end. It is ordered, that some speedy course shall be taken to keepe hogs out of the neck. It is ordered, that a convenient way to the Hay-place be left common for all the towne. It is ordered, that no cattell belonging to this towne £hall goe without a keeper after the first of May next. N E W II A V E N . 1 63 A Court, kfllden Fehniary bth, 1C39. — It is ordered, that brother Andrews, bro. Kimberley, Win. Eves, and Seii^'eanl Beckloy, shall assist Mr. Ling lo ripen Good- man Trap's busines.^ against llie next Courte, concerning his demaiinds lor cerinine moneyes which Jie disbursed lor bringing caliell Iroia tlie l>ay, appertaining to divers persons. It is ordered, that brother AMrews shall delaine so much of Robert Campion, his wages in his hands, as may secure a debt of £'i which Mr. Mouland demands of the said Robert. It is ordered, thit Mr. Mouland shall pay lo Mr. Perry 205. which he owes lo him. It is oniered, tiiat Mr. Wilks shall pay five busheils and a half of Indian corne lo Thomas Jiuckinghain, for corne destroyed by iVlr. Wilks his hugs. Isaiah, Captain Turner's man, fined £5 lor being drunk on the Lord's day. "Win. Bronilield, Mr. Malbon's man, was sett in the slocks for propiianing the Lord's day and stealing wine I'roin his master, which he drunk and gave to others. Ellice, JNIr. Eaton's boy, was whipped for stealing a sow ar^d a goale from liis master and selling ihein.