Capt. Francis Champernowne, The Dutch conquest of Acadie, and other historical papers

Table Of Contents

Page

List of Illustrations ix

Preface xi-x\i

Appendix

Page

No. I. Combinations for Local Government in New

Hampshire 329-335

On the Lower Pascataqua 329

At Exeter ZZ^

In the Hilton Patent m

No. 2. Francis Champernowne's Will 335-^33^

No. 3. The Cutt, Elliot, and Elliott Families .... 338-340 No. 4. The King's Letter to Massachusetts, announcing

War with the United Provinces, 3 April, 1672 . 341-343 No. 5. Action of the Governor and Council on Receipt OF the King's Letter in Regard to the Dutch

No. 6. Letters of Count Frontenac 345-349

Count Frontenac's Report to M. Colbert 345-347

Count Frontenac's Letter of Safe-Conduct to M. Norman-

Count Frontenac's Letter to the Magistrates at Boston . 348-349 No. 7. John Freake's Complaint of Injuries to his Vessel 349-350

No. 8. Order of the Governor and Council to stop all

Vessels going to the eastward from Boston . 350-352 Captain Mosley ordered with a Naval Force against depredators on Massachusetts Shipping 351

Instructions for Captain Mosley 35^-352

No. 9. Deposition of George Manning 352-355

No. 10. Examination of the Prisoners captured by Captain Mosley 355-357

No. II. Indictment and Sentence in the Case of Peter

Roderigo and of John Rhoade 358-359

No. 12. Defence of the Prisoners charged with Piracy 360-376 No. 13. The Commissions from the Dutch West India Company to John Rhoade and Cornelis Steen- WYCK 376-381

Table of Contents. vii

Page No. 14. Letter from the Dutch Ambassador to the King

OF Great Britain respecting the Prisoners

held at Boston, 5 August, 1675 382

No. 15. Orders in Council on the Dutch Ambassador's

Memorial, ii February, 1676 383

The King's Letter to the Governor and Council of

Massachusetts, 18 February, 1676 384

No. 16. Answer of the Governor and Council of Massachusetts TO the Dutch Ambassador's Memorial, 5 October, 1676 385-388

No. 17. Correspondence between the States-General and THE English Court respecting the Arrest and Trial of Rhoade and others as Pirates, etc. . 389-399

The Dutch Ambassador's Letter to the States-General,

Memorial of the Dutch Ambassador to the King of Great

Letter from the Dutch West India Company to the States- General, 1679 391-393

Letter from the Dutch Ambassador to the States-General, 22 August, 1679, enclosing the King's Reply to the Memorial of the, Dutch Ambassador, 8 August, 1679 393-394

Letter from the Dutch Ambassador to the States-General,

3 October, 1679, with enclosures 394— 39^

Letter from the Dutch West India Company to the States- General 398-399

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

/ Page

Portrait of Charles Wesley Tutti,e to face Titlepage.

^ Dartmouth, Devon to face 64

^ Dartington House, Devon (ancient view) to face 69

^ Dartington House (modern view) to face 70

r^ Portrait of Gawen Champernowne to face 72

/ Entrance to Fulford House, Devon to face 78

V Fulford House ^oface 79

^ Site of Francis Champernowne's House, Greenland,

New Hampshire ^^face 104

^ Map of Pascataqua to face 11 1

y Facsimile of Signatures to Francis Champernowne's

Will to face 121

/ Francis Champernowne's Grave, Champernowne's Island,

KiTTERV, Maine ^^face 124

Preface

/^HARLES WESLEY TUTTLE was my intimate friend and companion, and his death is a source of abiding sorrow. By all who duly appreciated his character, ability, and attainments, his decease was greatly mourned. Speaking after the manner of men, he seems to have been cut off in the midst of his years, and before he had accomplished his most cherished purposes.

Mr. Tuttle contemplated an historical work of larger scope than anything he gave to the press, or anything he left in manuscript. His studies and many of his writings were but preliminary to this more elaborate undertaking. It will continue to be a matter of regret that this intent was not realized.

In his addresses and papers read before historical societies, in his contributions to the public press, and especially in his Life of Captain John Mason, the founder of New Hampshire, — a work completed and edited since the xii Preface.

author's death by John Ward Dean, A.M., with acknowledged abiHty and learning, — Mr. Tuttle gave ample evidence that he possessed in a large measure the qualifications for writing authentic and authoritative history.

First of all, he was indefatigable and thorough in research, even to the minutest details. But, what is of the highest importance, he estimated facts in their proper relation and due proportion. To this it is to be added that he was singularly free from the bias of place, of party, and of early education. He had in a rare degree the judicial faculty as applied to historical events and characters. Having reached his conclusions, he was fearless in expression, — fearing nothing save the danger of falling into error.

Born and bred in New England, and a life-long student of her history, he was proud of the stock from which he grew, — a stock having its root in the civilization of Old England, — the men and the women who colonized this northern wilderness, and, under extraordinary hazards and difficulties, laid the foundations for prosperous commonwealths of self-governing peoples. A history of New England colonization and of New England affairs in the seventeenth century was suited to his trained faculties and large information. Had he accomplished this, as he designed, the result could not have failed to be valuable.

Mr. Tuttle left a considerable number of papers on historical subjects which, it is evident, he intended to enlarge

Preface. xiii

and complete for publication in a durable form. These papers were carefully arranged and preserved by his widow and her father, the late Honorable John C. Park. Pursuant to the testamentary direction of Mrs. Tuttle, — as more fully appears on the fifty-eighth page of this volume, in the graceful sketch of her life by Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spofford, her intimate friend, — a selection from these papers has been made for the press. They constitute the chief portion of this collection of Historical Papers.

Having been asked to edit these Papers, I have endeavored to discharge the duty committed to me in such a manner as not to detract from the author's justly earned reputation. An effort has been made to verify every material statement by a careful reference to the authorities cited by the author and to other original sources of information. This has required much time and labor. Only such additions have been made as were necessary to complete the narrative of events, and only such corrections as were required in the light of facts discovered since the author's death. In no instance has any alteration been made which would in the slightest degree change his expressed opinions, judgments, or criticisms. These represent his deliberate conclusions, for which he was willino; to be responsible.

Notes and other historical illustrations have been added by the editor where it seemed necessary or desirable. The most extended of these notes relate to Edward Randolph, xiv Preface.

and are intended to be illustrative of Mr. Tuttle's paper which precedes them. These notes contain much new matter pertaining to one of the most remarkable characters in the early history of New England.

The volume is enriched with portraits, views of historical scenes and places, and other illustrations. For the views of houses and scenes in Devonshire, the editor is indebted to the Reverend Richard Champernowne, M.A., the venerable Rector of Dartington, England, and to his nephew, the late Arthur Champernowne, Esquire, of Dartington Hall. To the Reverend Mr. Champernowne I am indebted also for the portrait of one of his most distinguished ancestors. He informs me that it is the portrait of Gawen Champernowne, grandfather of Captain Francis Champernowne. It is still preserved at the Hall, and bears the date of 1590. In the upper right-hand corner is the following inscription : " II donne tout qui donne soimeme." This may properly be understood as referring to the valiant service in arms rendered by Gawen Champernowne to the Huguenots of France under one of their most eminent leaders, the Count Montgomery, whose daughter Gawen Champernowne married, as is related by Mr. Tuttle in the following pages.

The Appendix includes a considerable number of interesting papers and documents, obtained in part from foreign archives, and now for the first time printed. In the Paper (No. i) entitled "Combinations for Local Gov-

Preface. xv

ernment in New Hampshire," the editor has stated all that is known, as he believes, of the history and character of those early attempts at self-government.

Since Mr. Tuttle's death several of his most valued foreign correspondents have passed away. Among his English correspondents were the late Reverend Frederick Brown, M.A. ; Arthur Champernowne, Esquire, already named ; and Colonel Joseph L. Chester, D.C.L. Their warm interest in the author's researches entitles their names to this mention. Among the living, to whom the editor is much indebted, is Edmund Randolph, Esquire, of the Isle of Wight.

From John Ward Dean, A.M., the learned editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, I have received valuable aid. The multitude of persons who for the space of twoscore years have profited by his remarkable knowledge of New England history will appreciate how serviceable that aid has been.

My acknowledgments are likewise due to John S. H. Fogg, M.D., of Boston, whose rich collection of original papers was always open to Mr. Tuttle, as it has been to the editor. I am also indebted to the Honorable Andrew M. Haines, of Galena, Illinois, not only for the use of his correspondence with Mr. Tutde respecting the early history of Greenland, New Hampshire, but also for information on the same subject kindly communicated to me. Mention should also be made of assistance in my xvi Preface.

researches from the Honorable Charles Levi Woodbury, of Boston ; from Mr. Edward F. Safford and Mrs. H. S. Hinman, both of Kittery, Maine ; from J. Hamilton Shapley, Esquire, of Exeter, New Hampshire ; from Mr. J. Clement Weeks and Charles W. Pickering, A.M., both of Greenland; and from Mr. Nathaniel J. Herrick, of Portland, Maine. My thanks are also due to Abner C. Goodell, Jr., Esquire, of Salem, for the generous loan of his copies of certain papers in the archives of the State. I should be remiss did I not acknowledge my obligations to the Honorable John J. Currier, of Newburyport, the executor of Mrs. Tuttle's Will, for his lively interest in the preparation of this volume, and for his wise counsel.

I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to return my thanks to Messrs. John Wilson & Son, University Press, Cambridge, and to their very excellent proof-readers and printers, who have so faithfully and successfully co-operated in the work of giving a fitting typographical dress to this volume. All here named have thus helped in various ways to carry into execution in a worthy manner the last Will and Testament of Mrs. Tuttle, in this final expression of her respect for the memory of her lamented husband.

A. H. H.

Boston, i6 Marlborough Street, 20 September, 1889.

BY JOHN WARD DEAN.

MEMOIR.

r^HARLES WESLEY TUTTLE was born in New- ^ field, Maine, Nov. i, 1829. His father, Mr. Moses Tuttle, was a descendant in the sixth generation from John Tuttle, who settled at Dover, N. H., previous to 1640. His mother, Mary, daughter of Lieut. Joseph Merrow, was the fifth in descent from Dr. Samuel Merrow, or Merry, who was an inhabitant of Dover as early as 1720. The subject of this Memoir numbered among his ancestors many of the early settlers of New Hampshire, and was allied by blood to some of the most distinguished personages in the history of that State.^

His boyhood was passed with his parents at Newfield, and the rudiments of his education were obtained in the schools there. From an early age he was an ardent admirer of the works of Nature, and, having a keen eye and an observing spirit, he soon became familiar with every flower, tree, bird, and animal in his neighborhood. He delighted

^ For Mr. Tuttle's paternal and ma- vol. xxi. pp. 132-140; and the Hon. ternal ancestry, see the New England John Wentworth's Wentworth Gene- Historical and Genealogical Register, alogy, Boston, 1878, vol. ii. p. 284.

in studying their peculiarities and habits. But his chief attraction was found in the sky above him. Night after night he watched with wonder and awe the myriad stars in the heavens, studying their motions when he had no help except that furnished him by a common almanac.

He availed himself of every source of information bearing upon his favorite study. When from twelve to fourteen years old, while attending the district school at Newiield, then taught by Mr. Eben Hurd, afterwards a physician, one of the scholars, Hannah Cranch Bond, some three or four years older than himself, had a copy of Elijah H. Burritt's book. The Geography of the Heavens, which she was studying. A schoolmate, Mrs. Hannah Drew Hutchings, now residing at Kittery Depot, Maine, who furnishes this information, writes to me that she remembers when Miss Bond, Charles, and herself were returning from spelling-schools in the evening. Miss Bond would often talk about astronomy, and point out the different stars and constellations ; and she recollects that her schoolmate, at subsequent meetings, frequently expressed surprise at the judgment shown by Charles in his observations. Miss Bond was a niece of William Cranch Bond the astronomer, and a second cousin to Charles.

His mother died Aug. 23, 1845. Charles was the eldest child of the family which she left. Besides him there were four sons and one daughter,^ all of whom are now dead, with the exception of three sons, — Freeman, residing at Cambridge, Mass. ; Horace Parnell, attached to the Naval

1 See Wentworth Genealogy, 1878, vol. ii. pp. 284-286, for their names and the events in their lives.

Observatory at Washington, a distinguished astronomer, the discoverer of Tuttle's Comet, and of two planets, Maia and Clytia; and Lieutenant Francis, of Oakland, Cal., an officer of the United States Revenue Marine. Charles, who at the death of his mother was nearly sixteen years old, was placed in the family of his uncle, Mr. John W. Tuttle, of Dover, N. H. Mr. Tuttle's wife was a sister, and he was a cousin, of Charles's father. In religion they were Methodists, as were also — as might be inferred from the Christian names they gave to him, their eldest son — Charles's parents. Under the influences of this denomination Charles was brought up. Later in life his views inclined to Unitarianism, to which denomination his wife and her family belonged. His father and uncle were Democrats in politics, and Charles acted with this party during his life.

At Dover, Charles attended the town schools, and made good progress in his studies. An intimate friend of later years, the Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D.D., who had charge temporarily of a school which he attended, has described him to me as a bright and studious scholar, and very quick of apprehension. When the time arrived for him to select an occupation for life, he chose that of a printer, and pleaded hard that he might be apprenticed to it; but his uncle would not comply with his wishes, thinking it better that he should be taught his own trade, that of a carpenter. As an apprentice he was industrious and skilful, faithfully discharging all his duties. The time not required for work, however, was devoted to study, and this was often protracted to the hour of midnight. His passion for astronomy and mathematics continued, and books that taught him these subjects had a preference, though his reading made him familiar with belles-lettres, history, and general literature. He would sit with the household about him, with callers coming and going, and would know nothing of what occurred, so intent was he on the book before him. The neighbors made inquiries, too, as to who was at the Tuttles', for there was a light from one window all night long. His aunt, a sister of his father, sympathized with the lad, and to her he confided his plans of life. He said to her, " I mean to do something worth living for." This, it has been well said, was " the key-note of his single-minded and faithful spirit." His fondness for astronomy has been mentioned. " The sublime phenomena of the starry heavens made a deep impression on his youthful mind long before he could understand the science. The impressive phenomenon of an eclipse of the sun in 1836," when he was six years old, "forever fixed his interest in astronomy. The great comet of 1843, so grand and mysterious, also made a deep and lasting impression on him. While still a boy he constructed with his own hands the first telescope he ever saw, and was delighted to see in it all the wonderful celestial phenomena discovered by Galileo." ^

This telescope is still preserved, and those who have seen it are surprised that so perfect a piece of mechanism should have been constructed, considering the disadvantages under which he labored. The telescope is now the property of Mr. James G. Shute, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., who was an apprentice in the same shop that Charles's uncle occu-

* Unpublished Memoir of Mr. Tuttle, author unknown.

pied when the telescope was constructed. Mr. Shute informs me that Charles could not wait to make a tripod on which to mount it before he tried it, but the two friends fastened it to a stake in a fence against a snow-drift, and took a look through it at the stars. It was on a very cold night, and Mr. Shute thinks it was in December. As neither of them had looked through a telescope before, they were both of course very much excited ; but Mr Shute does not remember which looked through the telescope first. The friends had similar tastes, and Mr. Shute, who had a small library, loaned a number of books to his friend, among them Shakspeare's works, and a set of the writings of Thomas Dick, LL.D., whose books on astronomy were then very popular. It was the Practical Astronomy of Dr. Dick that suggested to the youth the construction of a telescope, and furnished directions for making it.

At one time Charles heard that Dr. Dick was coming to this country, and inquired about it of Dr. Robert Thompson, of Dover, a gentleman of literary and scientific tastes. Dr. Thompson was a native of Scotland and a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons, and had recently settled at Dover. The conversation which followed, and the thirst for knowledge shown by the boy, caused the doctor, who had a large library, to say, " Charles, my library is always free to you." It is needless to state that the privilege was appreciated and gladly accepted. Young Tuttle found here many books on scientific as well as other subjects, the contents of which he eagerly devoured. Another place where he found food for his mind was the bookstore of Deacon Edmund J. Lane, who was often surprised by his inquiries for books that the veteran bookseller had never seen, and sometimes had never heard of.

He had heard of the Observatory, then recently established at Cambridge, and had an ardent desire to visit it. Availing himself of a holiday, he repaired to Cambridge. Without any introduction he presented himself at the Observatory and asked permission of Prof. William Cranch Bond, the Director, to examine the telescope. He was at first refused ; but a remark which he made, as he was going away, struck Professor Bond with surprise, and he granted him permission. This was the first telescope, except the small one he had himself constructed, that he had ever seen.

In 1849 his father, who had the previous year married again, removed to Cambridge, Mass., and Charles went with him. It is said that Charles had some influence with his step-mother and his father in selecting Cambridge as their residence. Not long after their removal to that city Charles made the acquaintance of Truman Henry Safford, a youth of thirteen years, whose wonderful achievements in mathematics and astronomy were then astonishing the learned world. Young Safford, who was preparing to enter Harvard College, and was a frequent visitor at the Observatory, obtained the consent of Professor Bond to invite Mr. Tuttle to accompany him in his visits, — a privilege which was much guarded. The professor was struck with Mr. Tuttle's interest in and knowledge of astronomy. The result was that the latter was invited to accept a position there. Mr. Tuttle gladly availed himself of the opportunity. In July, 1850, three years after the Observatory had been established, he entered it as a student with a small stipend. Here he spent a few months in studying practical astronomy, and the use of astronomical instruments. The acquaintance with astronomy which he showed, — an acquaintance which he had derived solely from the study of books, and from sweeping the heavens nightly with his small telescope, — surprised Professor Bond.

Mr. Tuttle made such rapid progress in his astronomical studies, that in the following October he was elected by the College Corporation as Second Assistant Observer, and this election was unanimously confirmed by the Overseers, Feb. 7, 185 1. He now had a larger salary, and entered with zeal upon his chosen profession, which he ardently hoped, and had good reason to believe, would be his life labor. His pursuit of astronomy, and particularly of practical astronomy, was rewarded with gratifying success.

Less than six months after he entered the Observatory as a student, and the month after his appointment as an observer, he was able to make an important addition to scientific knowledge. A series of observations on the planet Saturn and its rings had, since 1847, been made at the Observatory.^ In one of these observations Professor Bond discovered new and interesting phenomena in connection with the rings of Saturn. On the 15th of November, 1850, Mr. Tuttle's observations led him to furnish a satisfactory scientific explanation of these phenomena by show-

^ These observations were begun in printed in the Annals of the Astronomithe summer of 1847, and ended in the cal Observatory of Harvard College, spring of 1857. An account of them is vol. ii. pt. i., 1857, pp. 1-136.

lo Memoir of the Author.

ing the existence of a new interior ring, now known as the Dusky Ring of Saturn. Mr, Tuttle's record of his observations on that night is as follows: —

Saturn looks remarkably distinct, its belts are easily seen, and the division of the ring is quite conspicuous. I notice that dark penumbral light, on the inside of the interior ring at its greatest apparent elongation from the ball, which I have seen several times before on good nights. It resembles very much the unilluminated part of the disc of the moon just before and after conjunction with the sun. It is similar on either side of the planet. Its estimated width is about the same as that of the outer ring, or a little less. The greatest width of this dark ring is at a point on each side of the planet, in a line with the axis major of the other rings. From this point it diminishes as it passes behind and in front of the planet, where it appears as a dark line on the disc. Close to the inner edge of the interior ring, the inside of this dark ring is very sharply defined, but I cannot see that it is detached from it. A dark band of considerable width, the shadow of the ring on the disc of the planet, is seen below.^

Prof. William C. Bond appends the following note to the record as printed : —

On the evening of the 15th the idea was first suggested by Mr. Tuttle of explaining the penumbral light bordering the interior edge of the bright ring outside of the ball, as well as the dusky line crossing the disc on the side of the ring opposite to that where its shadow was projected on the ball, by referring both phenomena to the existence of an interior dusky ring, now first recognized as forming part of the system of Saturn. This explanation needed only to be proposed, to insure its immediate acceptance as the true and only satisfactory solution of the singular appearances which the view of

^ Annals of the Astronomical Observatory, vol. ii. p. 48.

Saturn had presented during the past season, and which we had previously been unable to account for.^

In 1852 Mr. Tuttle, being worn out with long and uninterrupted application to his duties at the Harvard College Observatory, was advised to go into New Hampshire and there rest. " Upon this," he writes, " I resolved to visit the White Mountains, and satisfy a youthful longing and ambition. Taking a few scientific instruments for my amusement while absent, I set out for Dover, where I remained several weeks. While there I made an excursion to the Isles of Shoals, and stayed a few days at the Appledore House.^ On my return to Dover I was so far recovered as to undertake my journey to the Mountains." He left Dover, July 13, and in two days reached Gibbs's hotel, and on the next morning, July 15, on horseback, began the ascent of Mt. Washington, reaching the summit at half-past twelve, after a ride from the hotel of three hours and forty minutes. His "chief purpose, a long cherished one, was to compare the lustre of the stars and planets, seen from that great height, with their lustre at the sea-level, and also to witness the sublime phenomena of a sunset and sunrise."

He found at the summit men engaged in building the first house erected on the top of that mountain. " It was a structure," he says, " whose walls were of rough stone, — quarried on the site, as I was informed, — one story high and of considerable length, with a wooden roof kept down to the walls by strong cables of rope thrown over the ridge

^ Annals of the Astronomical Obser- 1852, from Appledore House, Isles of vatory, vol, ii. p. 48. Shoals, was printed in the Dover Ga-

2 A letter from him, dated July 7, zette about that time.

and fastened to rocks. Workmen were just finishing the southern gable, while others were employed inside." A straggling party of tourists followed him, but they returned about two o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Tuttle asked permission to pass the night in the building, but was told that it was not ready. On explaining the object of his visit, he was told that he could stay if he would put up with their fare. Before sunset the summit of the mountain became enveloped in a thick cloud, shutting out the view of the heavens and the landscape on all sides. " A nightcap had been set," he writes, " on the head of Mt. Washington, and there remained till break of day, when it was silently and quietly withdrawn, to give me, what I much longed for, a sunrise, the most magnificent spectacle that I ever expect to witness. My disappointment in not seeing the stars and planets was much lessened on seeing the sun rise over so vast a region of territory. I did not cease to deplore my failure to see the midnight heavens. The workmen expressed their sympathy for me, but seemed to agree that I ought to be satisfied with having seen a sunrise, and with being the first traveller to sleep in a house on Mt. Washington."^

In the following autumn he took a voyage to Philadelphia, leaving Boston on the 25th of September, and arriving

1 Three accounts of Mr. Tattle's first dated Oct. 15, 1879, appeared in The

ascent of Mt. Washington, in July. 1852, State Press, Dover, N. H., on the 24th

written by himself, have been printed, of that month. The third account, date

Tlie first, a letter from Gibbs's Hotel, unknown, was printed one year after his

White Mountains, dated July 16, 1852, death, in Burt's Among the Clouds, —

the day of his return from the summit, a newspaper printed on the summit of

appeared soon after in the Dover Ga- Mt. Washington, — July 14, 1S82. zette. The second, a letter from Boston, at Philadelphia on the morning of the 27th. A diary of this voyage is preserved among Mr. Tuttle's papers. He visited various places of interest in that historic city, and wrote two descriptive letters to the editor of the Dover Gazette, who printed them in his newspaper.^

On the evening of Thursday, March 8, 1853, at about nine o'clock, Mr. Tuttle discovered a telescopic comet in the constellation Eridanus, about five degrees south, preceding the bright star Rigel, and computed the elements of its orbit and an ephemeris of its course. This comet revolves around the sun in not less than sixteen hundred years. In a newspaper article by Mr. Tuttle, published in 1858, relating to fourteen comets which had then been discovered at the Harvard College Observatory, — nine by Mr. George P. Bond, one by himself, and four by his brother, Mr. Horace P. Tuttle, — the difficulties attending the discovery of telescopic comets are thus described : —

Few persons are aware of the patience and labor exercised by the astronomer in making discoveries of this kind. It requires several years' study and practice, to qualify one to discover a telescopic comet. It is undoubtedly very easy to look at a comet, already visible to the naked eye in the heavens ; but when it is required to discover an unknown one, wandering in its " long travel of a thousand years " in the profound abyss of space, the labor then becomes truly prodigious. The amount of physical suffering, occasioned by exposure to all kinds of temperature, the bending and twisting of the body when examining near the zenith, and the constant strain of the eye, cannot be fully understood and appreciated by one unacquainted with an astronomer's life.