Connecticut Historical Collections

Andross began his go\crnment with the most llattering professions of regard to the ha}qiiness and welfare of tlie people. JMit he soon threw ofl' the mask, and exercised arbitrary antl despotic power, in the most unlimited maimer. As all the charter governments were either vacated or suspended, it was declared that the title of the colonists to tlier lands was of no value. Andross declared that Indian deeds were no better than " the scratch of a bear's paw." The proprietors of lands, after fifty and sixty years' improvement of the soil, were obliged in many in- stances to take out new ])atent3 for their estates, for which a heavy fee was demanded. This, with numerous other proceedings, e(|ually arbi- trary, made the people indeed to feel the weight of o])pression. Hap- pily the reign of the " tyrant of New England," was of short duration. King James, liis royal master, had rendered himself so odious in Eng- land, that he was obliged to tlee from the kingdom. William, Prince of Orange, landed in England, Nov. 5th, ICSS, and delivered the na- tion. Upon the news of the revolution, on the IStli of April, 1G89, the inhabitants of 15oston and its \'icinity rose in arms, made themselves masters of the Castle, arrested Sir Edmund Andross aiul his council, O U T r. 1 i\ K H I S T O li V . 23 and persuaded the old governor and council to resume the governnient, Conneciicut obtained, Ironi the most able lawyers in England, an o))in- ion that the colony, not having surrendered the charter under seal, and no judgment being entered on record, the charter was not invalidated; the former government was, therefore, re-established. About this period, great comjdainls were made in England, against the colonies, for harboring pirates; and that no laws had been made against them. A letter had been written to the governor and conijiany by Lyonel Jenkins, Esq. complaining of this neglect, and demanding in his niajesty's name that a law should forthwith be made against pi- racy. A special Assembly was conscfjuenfjy called, on the 5th of July, 1G81, and a law enacteil against it, and a copy of it immediately for- warded to his majesty's secretary of state."** In August, 1(){)2, Col. IJcnjamin Fletcher, governor of New York, arrived at the seat of his appointment, having a commission authorizing liim to take command of the militia of Connecticut and the neighboring colonies. As this power was expressly given to the colony of Con- * The memory of tlint noted piiate, Capt. KukI, is slill )ield in remembrance in all parts of Connecticut, from the belief by ^ume tli;U he buned lar^'e siinw cif money ((n the coast or near llie banks of riv'ers. Tlie following cireumstaniial aeconnt of Kidd's visit lo Gardiner's Island was recentiv communicated to the anthor of this M'orlc, by John G. Gardiner, Esq. of Gardiner's Island. "We have," says Mr. Gardiner, "a small piece, a .sample of cli^th if s;iild, which my lather received irom Mrs. Wetmore, mother of the wife of Capt. Mather, fcom- mander of the Revenue Cutler,) New London. I send you an extract Irom her letter, giving an account of Capt. Kidd's living on this inland.'" " 1 remember vhen very young, bearing my mother say that her grandmother wa.s wife to Lord Gardiner when the piiate (Kidd) came to Gardiner's Jsland. The Caj)- lain wanted Mrs. Gardiner to roast liim a jiig; she being afiahl to relifse him, cooUeel it very nice, and he was much pleased witliTt; he then made her a present of this silk, which she gave to her two daughters. AVhere the other went or whether it is in being I know not— but this was handed down (o me; it has been kept \eiy nice, and I believe is iiuw as good as when first given, wliicli must be npward.i of a handled vears," &e. &c. I'lie Ibllowing is an extract from an account we have of Tiionei i v helonymg lo Kidd. notion, Xiir J:n-lau<l, Juli, -J.'), Um. " A true aecoimt of all such gold, silver, jewels ami merchandize, late in the posses- sion of Capt. William Ividd, which have been seized and secured by us, under writ- ten persuant to an order Irom his e.\cellency, Richard li^arl of Bellmr)nt, Caplain General and Governor in Chief, in and over her majesty's pruvince of tlie ^tassachtf- setls Hay, &e. beaiing date July 7, UVJ'J. " Then Ibllows a list of valuables found in possession of Captain Kidd at the time of his capture, and others with wliom lie liad ju'obably deposited goods as with Mr. Gai diner. Received the I7lh instant, of Mi'. John Gardiner, viz: Omirrs. IVo. 1. One bag dust gold, bd:] " 2. One bag coined gold, - - - - - It And in sih'er, ------ 1-J/ " .'?. One bag dust gold, - . - - . :^>|.-j " 4. One bag silver rings and sundry precious slone.s, - .IJ " 5. One bag unjiolished stones, - - - - lo^ '' tj. One piece ciystal. Cornelian rings, lu'o small ngals, two am- aihisls, all in the same bag. " 7. One bag silver buttons and lamps. " «. One bag bnd:eii siher, - - - . 17:1^ " 1). One bag gold bars, ----- S.'nJ.J " 10. One bag gold bars, . - . . . SAH^ " IJ. One bag dust gold, ----- :,[)i " 1','. One bag silver bars, - - - - - 30U 24 O U T I. 1 N i: U J S T O II V . necticut by iheir cliarler, the Legislatme would not submit to his requi- sition, and at a special session in September, 1G93, the Court appointed a petition to be drafted, and Major General Fitz John Winthrop was appointed to present it to his majesty King Wilhani, and use his best endeavors tor the preservation of their chartered rights. The colony also sent W^illiam Pitkin, Esq. to New York, to endeavor to make terms with Governor Fletcher respecting the mihtia, until his majesty's pleas- ure should be further known. No terms, however, could be made, short of an entire submission of the militia to his command. " On the SGth of October, he came to Hartford, while the Assembly were sitting, and, in his majesty's name demanded their submission of the militia to his command, as they would answer it to his majesty ; and that they would give him a speedy answer in two words, yes, or no. lie subscribed himself his majesty's lieutenant and commander in chief of the militia, and of all the forces by sea or land, and of all the forts and i^laces of strength in the colony of Connecticut.* He ordered the militia of Hartford under arms, that he might beat up for volunteers. It was judged expedient to call the train bands in Harif(Mfl together; but the Assembly insisted, that the conniiand of the militia was expressly vested, by charter, in the go\ernor and company ; and that they could by no means, consistently with their just rights anil the common safety, resign it into any other hands. They insinuated, that his demands were an invasion of their essential privileges, and subversive of their constitution. "Upon this. Colonel Bayaid, by liis excellency's command, sent a letter into the Assembly, declaring, that his excellency had no d(!sign upon the civil rights of the colony ; but would leave th.em, in all re- spects as he found them. In the name of his excellency, he tendered a conmiission to Gevernor Treat, empowering him to command the mi- litia of the colony. He declared, that his excellency insisted, that they should acknowledge it an e-^scntial right inherent in \i\> iiiaje--ly to com- mand the militia; and that ho \\a> diterininLM! nut io.-lI his foot out of the colony until he had seen his majesl)'s commission obeyed : That he would issue his proclamation, showing the means he had taken to "Cnpt. IVillinm (iiol Robert, as the song; {^i;oes) Kiild, was coininander of the sloop Antonio; leceivod a commission to cruise as a privalt-cr, turned piiate, was guiliy of jniirder — was taken, and carried into Boston ; was trietl, condemned, and executcti — nnt as a pirate — but a.'j a murderer. Ue was here with his accomplices a sliurt time before he was taken; how lonj; lie remained on this island I know nnt. Wliile here, he told Mr. Gardiner where he had deposited the iron clusls which eoiilaincd the treasure above described, and left it in his care, with the injuaction, ''that he mud an- swcrjor it v:ith his head." I'lie chests were buried in a swamj), the west si'.le of this island. "After Kidd's capture, the governor o( iVIassachusetls sent and claimed the property of Mr. Gardiner, who was very unwillincr to part with it — informed the Governor's rnessenj^ers U))on what conditions it was intrusted to his care; and if Kidd should ever call for it his life must be the forfeiture. They however assured him that there was no danger from tliat source, as llidd was secureil, and he delivered it «// up to ihem. " There has been much digging here upon this island for Kidd's money, even within half a dozen years, all along the coast. Rut I think it doubtful whether there was ever any buried except that which was buried here.' ♦ Governor Fletcher's letlei on file. OUTLINE HISTORY. ^O give ease and satisfaction to his majesty's subjects of Connecticut, and tliat he would distinguisli the (hsloyal from the rest,* "The Assembly, nevertheless, would not give up the command of llie militia ; nor would Governor Treat receive a commission from Co- lonel Fletcher.