Jan. 26.-There was a tremendous earthquake in the northern parts of America. It was felt throughout New England.See Judge Davis's note on Morton, p. 289, 294.

This year the ministerial house was built in Plymouth, and £60 voted to finish it. Half the payment in tar and corn; the tar to be twelve pence in the barrel cheaper than at Boston; the other half in wheat, barley, peas, butter, or money. This parsonage house was erected on the north side of First street, (Leyden street) just below the present precinct house, but not on the same lot. The house, erected in 1832, by Mr. James Bartlett, Jr., and that on the west side of it, now occupy the place. The lot on which stands the present precinct mansion house, was given to the First Church of Christ in Plymouth, by Bridget Fuller and Samuel Fuller, the worthy widow and son of Dr. Samuel Fuller.

1664.-In 1664, king Charles II. issued a commission empowering Col. Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, Esquires, 'to hear and determine complaints and appeals in all cases, as well military as criminal and civil,' within New England, and to proceed in all things for settling the peace and security of the country. His majesty caused letters to be addressed to the government of New Plymouth, in which are many expressions of royal grace and favor, promising to preserve all their liberties and privileges, both ecclesiastical and civil, without the least violation; and enjoining loyalty, affection and obedience on the part of his New-England subjects.

Thomas Willet was chosen to confer with the commissioners in behalf of the Plymouth colony, making respectful professions of fidelity and allegiance.

1665. The following are the propositions made by his majesty's commissioners to the general court of New Plymouth, held at Plymouth, for the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, the twenty-second of February, Ann. Dom. 1665.

1. That all householders inhabiting in the colony take the oath of allegiance; and the administration of justice be in his majesty's name.

2. That all men of competent estates and civil conversation, though of different judgments, may be admitted to be freemen, and have liberty to choose and be chosen officers, both civil and military.

3. That all men and women of orthodox opinions, competent knowledge, and civil lives, (not scandalous,) may be admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and their children to baptism, if they desire it: either by admitting them into the congregations already gathered, or permitting them to gather

themselves into such congregations, where they may have the benefit of the sacrament.

4. That all laws and expressions in laws, derogatory to his majesty, if any such have been made in these late troublesome times, may be repealed, altered, or taken off from the file.

The Court's Answer. 1. To the first we consent, it having been the practice of this court, in the first place, to insert in the oath of fidelity required of every householder, to be truly loyal to our sovereign lord, the king, his heirs, and successors. Also, to administer all acts of justice in his majesty's name.

2. To the second we also consent, it having been our constant practice to admit men of competent estates and civil conversation, though of different judgments, yet being otherwise orthodox, to be freemen, and to have liberty, to choose and be chosen officers, both civil and military.

3. To the third we cannot, but acknowledge it to be a high favor from God and from our sovereign that we may enjoy our conscience in point of God's worship, (the main end of transplanting ourselves into these remote corners of the earth,) and should most heartily rejoice, that all our neighbors, so qualified as in that proposition, would adjoin themselves to our societies, according to the order of the gospel, for enjoyment of the sacraments to themselves and theirs; but if, through different persuasions respecting church government, it cannot be obtained, we would not deny a liberty to any, according to the proposition, that are truly conscientious, although differing from us, especially where his majesty commands it, they maintaining an able preaching ministry for the carrying on of public sabbath worship, which, we doubt not, is his majesty's intent, and withdraw not from paying their due proportion of maintenance to such ministers as are orderly settled in the places where they live, until they have one of their own, and that in such places as are capable of maintaining the worship of God in two distinct congregations. We being greatly encouraged by his majesty's gracious expressions in his letter to us, and your honor's further assurance of his Royal purpose, to continue our liberties, that where places, by reason of our paucity and poverty, are incapable of two, it is not intended that such congregations as are already in being should be rooted out, but their liberties preserved, there being other places to accommodate men of different persuasions in societies by themselves, which, by our known experience, tends most to the preservation of peace and charity.

4. To the fourth we consent that all laws and expressions in laws derogatory to his majesty, if any such shall be formed

amongst us, which at present we are not conscious of, shall be repealed, altered, and taken off from the file. By order of the general court for the jurisdiction of New Plymouth. Per me,

}

NATHANIEL MORTON,
Secretary.

The conditions expressed in the answer to the third proposition appeared so reasonable to the commissioners, that when they afterwards met the general assembly of Connecticut, in April, 1665, their third proposition is qualified in substance, conformably to the Plymouth reply.-Judge Davis's Ed. Mem.

So favorable was the report of the Royal commissioners respecting the affairs and proceedings of the Plymouth colony, that in 1666 his majesty addressed a second letter to that government, in which the Royal approbation and praise are expressed in exalted terms, presuming that the fidelity and affection for their sovereign are rooted in their hearts.' · Although,' says the letter, 'your carriage of itself must justly deserve our praise and approbation, yet it seems to be set off with more lustre by the contrary deportment of the colony of Massachusetts, as if by their refractoriness they had designed to recommend and heighten the merit of your compliance with our directions for the peaceable and good government of our subjects in those parts. You may, therefore, assure yourselves, that we shall never be unmindful of this your loyal and dutiful behavior, but shall upon all occasions take notice of it to your advantage, promising you our constant protection and royal favor in all things that may concern your safety, peace, and welfare. And so we bid you farewell."

At the general court of magistrates and deputies assembled at Plymouth in October, 1665, it was deemed indispensably necessary that Governor Prince should remove his residence. from Eastham to Plymouth, for the more convenient administration of justice, and he having complied with the requisition, the court therefore ordered that his salary should be £50 per annum. And as he resided in a place which had been purchased by the colony ' for that end,' it was further ordered, in case of his decease, his family should be permitted to remain in the place for a year; or if he should not be re-elected, he should be at liberty to remain in the government house a year. With respect to the assistants, it was enacted that the old magistrates should be allowed £20 per annum, and that the charge of their table should be defrayed, and those who were newly elected should be allowed the charge of their table only.

In July, 1667, £50 annual salary was allowed to all the assistants, and the charge of their table. It was also enacted, that such as were chosen to the office, and should refuse to serve, should be fined £5 for the use of the colony.

1666. This year,' says Morton, the author of the New England Memorial, much of the wheat is destroyed by blasting and mildew;' and it appears that this evil so frequently attended the attempts to cultivate that valuable grain on the seacoast, that the inhabitants became discouraged and relinquished further trials.

This year, it was enacted that only three courts in the year should be holden for the trial of causes by jury, viz. on the first Tuesday of March and July, and the last Tuesday in October, but that it should be lawful, on special occasions, for any citizen of the colony, or others, to purchase special courts in the interim, to be composed of the governor and three of the magistrates at least. Subsequently, the governor and two assistants were empowered to authorize the purchase of a court, in the interim between the courts, to be holden by the governor and three assistants at least, and to be at the expense of the applicants.

The office and duties of Selectmen. This office was fraught with responsibleness, and required men of good intelligence and information. They were constituted a court for the trial of small causes, being empowered to hear and determine all debts and differences arising betwixt person and person, not exceeding thirty shillings, and also to hear and determine all differences arising betwixt any Indians and English of their respective townships, &c. In 1666, their powers were enlarged; they might determine cases where the damages were laid at 40s., the right of appeal being preserved. They were also empowered to administer oaths and to issue executions. They were also required to take notice of all who came into the government without the approbation of the governor and two assistants. The court ordered the selectmen to require an account of all whom they should suppose to have neglected public worship, from profanity or slothfulness, and if they were not satisfied to return their names to the court. The selectmen were required to take an oath for the just and faithful discharge of the duties of their office.

1667.-The town agreed to send for Mr. John Cotton, minister, and bear the charge of the transportation of him, and his family and goods from Martha's Vineyard to Plymouth, and to allow him the sum of £50 for the present year.

The Royal commissioners having made a special request to

the court, that a grant of land might be made to Peregrine White, in respect that he was the first of the English born in these parts, the court granted him 200 acres in Bridgewater, adjoining Massachusetts. In August of this year, the squaw sachem of Pocasset, named Weetamore, in attempting to escape from her pursuers, by crossing Tetticut river on a raft, was drowned. "She was," says Dr. Mather, "next unto Philip in respect of the mischief that hath been done. Some of Taunton, finding an Indian squaw in Mattepoiset, newly dead, cut off her head, and it happened to be Weetamore, i. e. squaw sachem, her head. When it was set upon a pole in Taunton, the Indians who were prisoners there, knew it presently, and made a most horrid and diabolical lamentation, crying out that it was their queen's head." Was not this an inhuman act?

A

1668. At a town-meeting in October, it was ordered, that the selectmen have full power to require of any that shall receive strangers into their houses to give security, to save the town from charge; and also ordered, that John Everson be forthwith warned to depart from the town. It was ordered, February 5th, that only such be reputed townsmen as were inhabitants and freeholders thereof at the time when the court allowed it to be a town, and their successors, and that it be at their liberty to admit such others as are house-keepers of honest life, and are like to approve themselves so as they may be beneficial to the commonwealth, according to their capacity and abilities.

It was this year, in town-meeting, ordered, that all persons. shall bring in true bills of their estate to the raters, and if any neglect, it is left to the raters to rate them as they shall in their discretion see cause, and if any one bring in a false bill, the raters, suspecting it, shall present it to the town at a meeting, and, if proved false, the person is to forfeit 12 pence on the pound for whatever rateable goods he hath omitted. The rateable property is then enumerated, and its value stated. All lands, upland and meadow. All stock, as neat cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. All single men, who have not presented above 18 pounds stock, shall notwithstanding be rated to that amount. Weavers were rated for their looms. Tailors for their faculty, to be valued at 20 pounds stock. Those in public office, receiving salaries, were rated. All those who are engaged about fishing to be valued at 20 pounds estate. Edward Gray stood the highest for stock in trade, being six score pounds. Serjeant Harlow, for his faculty, being a Cooper, Joseph Bartlett

Samuel Rider,

£40

Cooper,

£30

Cooper,

£30