A history of the United States of America, with a geographical appendix, and a chronological table of contents: for the use of families and schools

Front matter

HISTORT

©F THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICit,

Preface

The author has added, at the close of each part, remarks upon the manners and customs, religion, trade and commerce, arts and manufactures, agriculture, education, and wars, of that particular period.

The work closes with an appendix, containing the declaration of independence, the old confederation, the new federal constitution, president Washington's farewell address, a brief geographical view of the United States, and a chronological table of contents.

The author is fully persuaded that this is the only plan upon which a clear and perspicuous view of the history of the United States can be exhibited ; and in the execution of his plan, he has endeavored to avoid all party interest, and to br governed entirely by the principles of candor and truth.

In collecting and arranging the mateiials of this work, the author has endeavored to iSx as strong an impression upon the wise and virtuous institutions of our forefathers, civil religious and literary, as the nature of things'would fairly warrant, in order to enforce upon the minds of the rismg generation, the necessity and importance of cultivating and preserving pure religion and morals, so long as they wish to enjoy the benefits of free education and free government. The author has been the more urgent in this, because the work is designed immediately for the use of families and schools, to the heads of which, he begs leave to address himself, by saying, let the rising generation have every possible advantage to acquire a knowledge of history, that they may learn the principles upon which our free institutions are founded ; remembering that they are to become the guardians of all those pre eminent privileges that we enjoy, and that to them will b^ committed the destinies of this great and rising nation,

Introduction

The discovery of Aoierica, may be considered as one of tl.ie most important events in the annals of man. It will ultimately be productive of the j^reatest consequences to the world.

In 1492, (,ibout two whole centuries 'after Goya had unfolded the secrets of magnetism, and taught the use ot the mariner's compass,) Christopher Columbus traversed the vast ocean of the Atlantic, and opened a new world to the family of man. This Genoese pilot was well skilled in the science of navigation, and well versed in the sciences of astronomy and geography, for that age ; and fully persuaded in his own mind, that a largo body of land must be situated in the recfions of the west, in order to give the earth that balance, which was absolutely necessary, to preserve that equable motion, which marked her ^diurnal rotation. To ascertain this fact, he formed the plan of exploring the Atlantic ocean, in quest of this unknown continent. To effect this, it became necessary to obtain ships, men, and money, and to procure them, he offered his services, iirst to the republic of Genoa, (his own country) where his scheme was treated as visionary, and disregarded ; he next offered his services to Portugal, but without success ; next to Spain, but without success ; he next sent his brother Bartholomew to tender his services to the king of England ; but his brother was shipwrecked on his iiassage, which delayed the application for several years ; and when application was made to the king, (then Henry VII.) he gave no countenance to the adventure.

Ferdinand, king of Spain, was deaf to the views of Columbus ; but Isabella, his queen, listened to his overture ; her capacious mind saw the force of his reasoning, caught the spirit of the enterprise, and gave Columbus a gracious reception ; she pawned her jewels to raise money for the occasion, and thus with the assistance of her husband, fitted out three small vessels ; gave Columbus the command ; and he set sail into the unknown regions of the west. To recount the perils of the voyage, the dangers of the seas, the mutiny of the sailors, their conflicting passions, that threatened his life, and pressed him to return ; the fatigues of anxious cares, sleepless

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vt INTRODUCTION.

nights, and constant vvatchings, that distressed his mind, ami wasted his health, upon this long, this interesting voyage, would exceed the limits of this work. All these he endured with a steady eye to the great object before him ; and on the 1 1th of October, 1492, he discovered land, that proved to be OQe of the Bahama islands, which he called San Salvador, (in allusion to his wonderful preservation) and after visiting the island of Hispaniola, he shipped on board several of the natives ; planted a little colony in the island, and returned to Spain.

To relate the perils and distresses he endured, when overtaken by a violent storm, on his return to Spain ; to express the anxiety he felt, lest the knowledge of the new world should be buried with him, forever, in the tempestuous deep : or recount the joy that greeted his return to Spain, the honors bestowed upon him by his benefiictress, and her illustrious piince, will exceed our limits ; suffice it to say, that the modesty with which Columbus disclosed his adventures, the riches of the west, and the character of the natives, drew upon himself universrd admiration and applause.

The outlines of the further adventures, which led to the discovery and settlement of the several parts of the New World, are given in a concise manner, in the following chronological form : —

tJolunbus made a second voyage, which proved unsuccessful, " A. D. ]49;>

Made a third voyage, and discovered South America, 149S

Americus Yespucius, under the patronage of the merchants of Seville, followed the track of Columbus ; touched upon the continent of South America ; returned ; pub lished a pompous account of his- voyage and discoveries, and gave his name to the continent of America, 1499

John Cabot, a Venecian, obtained a grant from Henry VII. of England, for foreign discoveries ; explored the coast of North America ; touched upon the coast of Labrador, and returned to England, 1496

The next year he explored the whole extent of the American coast, from Davis' strait to Florida ; discovered Newfoundland, and returned to England, 1497

Sebastian Cabot, (son of John Cabot) under Henry VII. pursued the adventures of his father ; visited Newfoundland, and carried several natives to England, 1502

Alvarez de Cabral, on his passage to India from Lisbon, (Portugal) discovered Brazil, 1500

INTRODUCTION. vii

Juan Leon, an adventurer from Porto Ricg, discovered Florida, gave it its name, and attempted a settlement, 161.3

Terra Firma, (on tlie continent of South America,) was settled by Spain, 152(^

Cortez, the Spanish adventurer, conquered Mexico, 1521-

The next adventurer was Stephen Gomez, a Spaniard, who explored the coast trom Florida to cape Race, latitude 46 degrees nortli, in search of a north-west passage to India, 152^.

Pizarro, another Spanish adventurer, conquered Peru, 1540'

Ferdinand de Soto, who had served under Cortes, in the conquest of i\lexico, sailed from the island of Cuba, with a mditary force of 900 men, and landed in Florida, in quest of the wealth of anotiier city of Mexico, 1539.'.

He traversed the interior, through the Chickasaw country, crossed the Missij^sippi, and proceeded up Red river, a very considerable distance, where he died, at the end of three years. His troops returned to the Mississippi, constructed such shipping as would convey them down the river, and thus returned to Cuba, under Alverdo, their leader, 1541;;-

The Portuguese settled Brazil, 1549

Francis I. king of France, made some efforts for discoveries in the n«w world, by John Verezano, a Florentine ; but he was lost in his second a(!venture, 1524

Ten years after this, Francis I. made another effort, by James Q,uartier, vv'ho touched at Newfoundland ; discovered and gave name to the gulf of St. Lawrence, and made an unsuccessful attempt to lind a j)assage to China, 1534

The next year he explored the St. Lawrence, up to the rapids ; wintered in the country, at a fort which he built on the isle of Orleans, and in the spring, carried several of the natives to France, 1630

James Q,uartier pursued his adventures under the same patronage, to complete a settlement in Canada, or New-France, where he remained, at a place which he named Charlebdurg, about two years, and then retire(^ to Newfoundland, 154()r

Francis I. sent out other adventurers to strengthen the settlements in Canada ; but they all fiiled, 1545

About this time began the Newfoundland fisheries, which have since proved so profitable to the world.

via mTRODtJCTIO>r

The French, under Chittillon, made some further discoveries in East Florida, and attempted a settlement, irhich failed, 15^^

About this time, several French adventurers visited the coast, in quest of a passage to India, and returned to France. Commodore Ilibault was despatched from France, by the admiral Coligni, with two ships, to plant a colony in North America. He touched at Port Royal, (South Carolina) landed his men, built a fort, and called it Charles, where he left a colony of twenty or thirty men, under captain Albert and returned to France, 1564

Commodore Loudonnier was sent out from France, with three ships, to plant a colony in Florida, and in June he built a fort on the river May, or St. Mary, where he }>lanted a colony of 100 men, and called it Carolina, in honor of Charles IX. 15t;6

In Auo-ust folUwins;, commodore Rrbault arrived with a colony of French Huguenots, to strengthen the colony at Port Royal ; but they had mutined and butchered their captain, Albert, and were gone.

In September of the same year, Pedro Melanges, a Spaniard, with six ships, by order of Philip H. his master, pursued Ribault, with his little colony, up the river, landed a strong force of 200 soldiers and 2600 planters, look his fort and colony, and put all to the sword, or hung ihem upon the trees.

The next adventurer who visited the coast, was captain Frobisher, who sailed from England m quest of a north-west passage to Irvdia ; but being obstructed by the ice, he abandoned the enterprise, and returned to England, 157G

This year sir Francis Drake doubled cape Horn, and discovered New Albion, upon the western coast, north of California.

Queen Elizabeth granted letters patent to sir Humphrey Gilbert, for foreign discoveries, and in his adventures he touched at Newfoundland, and from thence to the continent, and took possession for the crown of England. He was lost in a storm, 15§3

The coast of Virginia was discovered ; named after the virgin queen, and settled by 107 persons, near Roanoke, by sir Walter Raleigh, who sailed ander a commissien from queen Elizabeth. 1585

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INTRODUCTION. *a

The same year, this colony returned to E^ngland, with sir Francis Drake, ]58ti

Sir Walter Raleigh sent out seven ships, with another colony, to the same settlement on the Koanoke, where they endured extreme hardships, and were in their turn, conveyed back to England, by sir Francis Drake, 158 7

Sir Walter sent out governor White with a colony, to strengthen the rormer colony at Roanoke, with a charter, and a regular form of government ; but they were gone, and governor White left a colony of 1 15 at Koanoke, antl returned, 1500

Governor White came over again, to recruit the little colony in Virgin!;^ ; but alas ! they had ail shared the fate of his former colony, and not a vestige of them remained, 1590

With this colony, came out Manteo and I'owaye, two natives, who had been carried to England by former adventurers. The former was baptised in August, which is not only the first convert among the natives, but the first notice of any religious rite in all these numerous adventures. At the same time, a daughter was born in the colony, of a Mrs. Dare, whom she called Virginia. This was the first christian birth in North America.

A Spanish expedition under Juan de Fuca, was sent out from Mexico, to explore a north-west passage, who discovered the strait that bears his name, latitude 48 north, and returned. 159"

In the reign of Henry IV. of France, an expedition sailed under De la Loche, consisting of convicts, to conquer and settle Canada. De la Loche landed forty on the isle of Sables, where they languished seven years, and then twelve returned to France, where they were pardoned, and received fifty crowns each, from the king, to recompense their sufferings, 1599

This year, cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Elizabeth Island, and Dover Cliff, were discovered by Bartholomew Gosnold, and thirty-tivo adventurers, who made an attempt to settle on Elizabeth Island ; but failed, and returned to England, JCQ^

At this time not one solitary English, French, or Dutch settlement had been permanently made, on the whole coast of North America, through the long period ©f adventures, for 110 years.

The English made two adventures to Virginia, and no|

X INTRODUCTION.

finding the third colony at Roanoke, and being roughly handled by the natives, they all returned to England, 160c^

The French began their settlement at Port Royal, on the bay of Fundy, -- 1604

The English, under captain Weymouth, explored the coast of the Province oi' Maine ; made no settlement, but carried off several natives, and returned, 1605

This year James I. divided Virginia into two colonies or districts, (for there was not a settlement in either) the southern was bounded on the 34th and 41st degrees of north latitude, and styled the first colony, and granted to ihe London Company. The northern or second colony, was included within the 38th and 45th degrees of north latitude, and granted to the Plymouth company, 1606

Each of these companies consisted of a president and twelve assistants, to govern the affairs of the colonies ; with express prohibitions to settle within 100 miles of each other.

The next year another colony commenced the settlement of Jamestown, on James river, under captain Newport, 1607

This was the first permanent settlement planted in North America.

The Plymouth company sent out admiral sir Rawley Gilbert, with 100 planters, to North Virginia, with captain George Popham for their president. Admiral Gilbert^touched at Sagadahoc (Kennebec) river ; landed forty-five men, with their president, and the rest returned to England. At the same time a company from St. Maloes, in France, founded Quebec, 1607

The sufferings of the Sagadahoc colony ; the loss of their store-house, by fire, and of their president, induced them to return to England, the next season, 1608

The same year Ja nestown was burnt.

This year the London company sent out supplies and a recruit of two hundred persons, to strengthen the colony at Jamestown, which now amounted to 500, 1608 — 9+

Admiral Somers, on his passage to America, with a part of this little fleet, was wrecked on one of the Bahama islands, and lost his ship ; but the crew and passengers

t The same year the Rov. John Robinson removed with his flock, to Holland.

INTRODUCTION. _ xi

were ail saved, and remained there until the next year^ when they were taken off by lord Delaware, on his passage to Virginia.!

The colony at Jamestown was now reduced to sixty, and had all embarked for England ; but meeting his lordship at the entrance of the bay, they were induced toreturn with him and resume their settlement at Jamestown, June 10th, 1610

Here commences the history of Virginia.

This year sir Thomas Dale and sir Thomas Gates, sent out each 300 men, with cattle, swine, &c.^forthe settlement, 1611

In the year 1607 — 8, captain Henry Hudson received a commission from king James I. for foreign adventure, and in the service of the East-India company, sailed in quest of a north- west passage, 1607 — 8

In 1609, he left this service in disgust, and prosecuted his advtintures in the service of the Dutch. He entered North river, which he called by his own name, 1609

This adventure gave rise to the Dutch settlement at New-Netherlands, 1613

Conception bay, in the island of Newfoundland, was settled by John Gray, under a patent from king James, 1613

This 3'ear captain Smith, with two ships, sailed to the coast of North Virginia, and took out wiih him, Tantum or Squantum, an Indian formerly carried to England, by captain Weymouth, in 1605. Captain Smith landed Tantum at cape Cod, and explored the Massachusetts bay, and returned to England m one vessel ; but left the other with captain Hunt, who touched at Sagadahoc river, and decoyed on board twenty Indians, and carried them to Spain, where he sold them for j£2() each, as slaves, 1614

This perfidious act proved highly prejudicial to the trade, hereafter.

When captain Smith returned to England, he drew a chart of this coast, and called it New-England, which still continues. >.j-

This year William Baffin, in search of a north-west %{j

passage, discovered the bay that bears his name, 1616

t By some it is understood that they built a vessel aod sailed for Jamestown, without the assistance «f lord Pelawait.

xPi INTRODUCTION.

About this time, a sweeping sickness among the natives, desolated the coast about Massachusetts bay, and the tribe of Patuxet was wholly destroyed. This prepared the way for the settlement of the Puritan colonv at New- Pi vmouth, * 1^^30

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STA TESo