A Briefe Discription Of New England And The Severall Townes Therein Part 2

_Fishers Island._--Before the Pequate River lyes Fishers Island, on which some people live, and there are store of Catle. This Pequat Plantation will in time produce Iron, And in the country about this is a Myne of Black Lead, and supposed there will be found better if not already by y^{e} industry of that ingenious Gentleman M^{r} John Winthrop. It hath a very good Harbour, farr Surpa.s.sing all there about Connecticot River mouth to Pequate it is about eight Leagues.

_Saybrooke._--On the South-west side of the entrance of this River stands Saybrooke and Saybrooke Fort, a handsome place and some Gunns in the Fort.

_Metaboseck._--Fifteene Leagues up the River on the same side is the Plantation of Metaboseck, a very good place for Corne and Catle.

_Witherfeild._--From Metaboseck to Withersfeild a large & Populous Towne, it is about 9 miles.

_Hartford._--From Withersfield to Hartford the Metropolis of the Goverment, it is about 3 Miles, it is a gallant Towne, and many rich men in it.

_Windsor._--From Hartford to Windsor 9 Miles, this was the first Towne on this River, settled first by people issueing from Dorchester in the Ma.s.sachusetts Bay about the year 1636.

_Springfeild._--From Windsor to Springfield about 12 miles, and the first falles on Connecticot River are betweene these two Townes, This is the Ma.s.sachusetts bounds.

And above Springfeild 8 Miles is another Towne at first Intended but for a tradeing house with the Indians, but the gallant Land about it hath invited men to make it a Toune. This Connecticott River is a great River before y^{e} Towne bigger then the Thames above bridge, This Towne is also in the Ma.s.sachusetts bounds and under its Goverment although 8 Miles from it.

_Guilford._--Now we must returne to the Mouth of the River and so along by the sea side; and first from Saybrooke to Guilford 12 Miles.

_Tocott._--From Guilford to Tocott 9 Miles. These two Townes are under Newhaven Goverment.

_Newhaven._--From Tocott to Newhaven it is 7 Miles. This Towne is the Metropolis of that Goverment, and the Goverment tooke its Name from this Towne; which was the first built in those parts, many stately and costly houses were erected the Streete layd out in a Gallant forme, a very stately Church; but y^{e} Harbour proveing not Comodious, the land very barren, the Merchants either dead or come away, the rest gotten to their Farmes, The Towne is not so glorious as once it was.

_Milford._--From Newhaven to Milford it is about 10 Miles, This Towne is gotten into some way of Tradeing to Newfoundland, Barbados, Virginia, So also hath some other Townes in this Goverment.

Now in Course comes in againe some Townes in Connecticott Goverment

_Stratford._--From Milford to Stratford about 4 Miles.

_Fairfeild._--From Stratford to Fairfeild about 8 Miles.

_Norwock._--From ffairfeild to Norwock about 14 Miles and this Towne with those last named are in Connecticott Goverment. I suppose this skipped over Newhaven, being they came from those Townes in Connecticott River.

_Stamford._--From Norwock to Stamford 8 Miles.

_Greenwich._--From Stamford to Greenwich { } miles, these two last Townes are under Newhaven Goverment, and there was another place begunn and much done in it, but the Dutch came and tooke it by force, and since the people of this Towne call it New Chester,

There are some Townes on Long Island which have come some under the Goverment of Connecticot, and some of Newhaven; We are now come about 25 Miles within the Dutch plantation, which before I speake of I shall runn over ye plantations on Long Island, and shew under what Goverment they are begining at the west end. The Island conteanes in Lenth about 150 Miles, and lyes not farr from the Mayne, especialy at the west end where it is very narrow, The plantationes are all on the inside, the Sea board syde being a dangerous Coast and no Harbour at all on that syde.

Within a few Miles of the West end over against Manhata, which is the Dutch's Chiefe Towne is seated Gravesend, most English, the Lady Moody being the first Setler, Some Dutch there are, and all under the Dutch Goverment.

Then Mis.p.a.ch kell } Then Midleburgh as New Towne } These Townes are Then Vlis.h.i.+ng } under y^{e} Dutch Then Hempsteed } Government Then another Towne by the Dutch name }

Then follow to the Northward

First Oyster Bay under Newhaven Goverment Huntington not submitting to any Goverment } These Townes Then Sotocot Likewayes Submitting to none } belong to Nex^{t} Southampton under Newhaven Goverment } y^{e} English.

Nex^{t} South-hole also under Newhaven }

Then crossing a Bay but 12 Miles (but to round it, it is much more) is Northampton. This Towne is under Connecticott Goverment. And then Easthampton under no Goverment.

I suppose these two Goverments of Connecticott, and Newhaven, are only by Combination, I never heard of any Patent they have, and they are also in Confederacie with the Ma.s.sachusetts, and New Plymouth, each of these 4 Goverments annually choosen two Comissioners to meet and Consult as occasion may serve; their power lasting for one yeare. These meettings prove chargeable, and as it is conceived of many of no great use.

Tis well knowen the Dutch plantation had been taken by those two Southerne Collonies helpe, and the English on Long Island when Majo^{r} Sedgwick was sent to take it who putting back for Fyall news came by one of his Fleet that his designe was for that place; These afforsaid Co[=m]issioners mett at Boston, where some weeks were spent in Contest betweene the Commissioners of the two Southerne and Northern Collonies.

Those of the South Colonies were for proceeding with expedition on the designe, The Co[=m]issioners of the North were dayly crying out for Orders or leave to goe on. But those of Plymouth being Mungrell Dutch, and some of the Grandees amongst them haveing a sweet trade with the Dutch or debts oweing to them, from them; And those of the Ma.s.sachusetts haveing some other by-reason for it so long held out the dispute till it was to late the peace being concluded.

There lye between this Long Island and the Mayne severall Islands, the most Considerable is Shelter-Island, about 8 miles in lenth and three in breadth, This belongs to Collonell Thomas Midleton and M^{r} Silvester, on which they have some people & store of Catle.

Another considerable Island lyes by it of about 6 Miles in Lenth, and three in Breadth.

Now before I come to speak of Hudsons River, I shall most humbly desire the Hon^{ble} Councill to take it in consideration the great benefits and profitts, which may redound to the English by these Westerne Colonies if well managed. Of their present condition I have given a breife accompt in my foregoing Relation, being my observations which for severall years I have spent in America, even from the year 1624 till within these two yeares last past:

For Newfoundland, it is well known what a great Number of s.h.i.+pps and Seamen have been there imployed annually I dare averr it hath bredd more Seamen then any Trade the English ever medled withall & what profitts the Owners and Merchants have gott by that Trade is unvaluable, And if a course were taken we might now have salt from the English Collonies in the West Indies, and provision from New England to carry on a greatt part of the designe, and on better termes then out of Europe.

On all the Coasts of Canada from Cape Britton to Cape Sable is Excellent fis.h.i.+ng and full of good Harbours.

On the Coast within Cape Sable, as in Nova Scotia, Port Royall, and those other fforts now in possession of Collonel Temple is mutch Beaver & other Peltry gotten, and more might be if fully Stocked.

And for the Southern part of New-England, It is incredible what hath been done there.

In the yeare 1626 or thereabouts there was not a Neat Beast Horse or sheepe in the Countrey and a very few Goats or hoggs, and now it is a wonder to see the great herds of Catle belonging to every Towne I have mentioned, The braue Flocks of sheepe, The great number of Horses besides those many sent to Barbados and the other Carribe Islands, And withall to consider how many thousand Neate Beasts and Hoggs are yearly killed, and soe have been for many yeares past for Provision in the Countrey and sent abroad to supply Newfoundland, Barbados, Jamaica, @ other places, As also to victuall in whole or in part most s.h.i.+pes which comes there.

Betweene the years 1626 and 1633, Indian Corne was usually sold at 10^{s} or 12^{s} the Bush.e.l.l, now not esteemed worth 2^{s}, Beefe and Porke then Brought from England and Irland sold at excessive rates.

At that time all the Houses there, except three or fower at New Plymouth, and those which I had could not be valued worth 200^{lb}, and now to behold the handsome Houses & Churches in so many Townes as I have named is a wonder, And the place in which Boston (the Metropolis) is seated, I knew then for some yeares to be a Swamp and Pound, now a great Towne, two Churches, a Gallant Statehouse & more to make it compleate, then can be expected in a place so late a wilderness.

And wheras about the time before mentioned wee could not make in all three Hundred men in the whole Countrey, those scattered a hundred and ffiftie Miles a.s.sunder, Now almost every Towne which I have named is able to bring into the feild a full Company of Foote and some Horse, some Townes two or three Companyes compleate with Horse proportionable and Boston more.

And the great abundance of English Fruite, as Apples, Pears, Apric.o.c.ks, Plumbs, Cherries Musk-Mellons, Water-Mellons &c. is not to be beleeved but by those that have seene it.

And about those times also there were not within the now Great Government of the Ma.s.sachusetts above three Shallops and a few Cannoes, Now it is wonderfull to see the many Vessels belonging to the Country of all sorts and seizes, from s.h.i.+pps of some reasonable burthen to Skiffes and Cannoes, many other great s.h.i.+pps of Burthen from 350 Tunns to 150 have been built there, and many more in time may be, And I am confident there hath not in any place out of so small a number of People been raised so many able Seamen and Commanders as there hath been.

Now we returne to Hudsons River, in the mouth of which lyeth y^{e} Island Mahatas, on which stands now Amsterdam in the Lat.i.tude of 41 degrees and about 41 Leagues up the River is their Fort Oranja in the Lat.i.tude of 42 & 1/2 or thereabouts.

I have alwayes understood that the first Setlement of the Dutch there was about the yeare 1618, @ were then a very considerable Number, and long after. And this was as I conceive some yeares after King James had granted all the lands and Islands betweene the Lat.i.tude of 40 degrees to 48 North Lat.i.tude, unto a Company established at Plymouth in Devon then nameing it New-England, so that Mahatas lyes a full degree within y^{e} bounds of New England; and Fort Oranja their prin^{l} place both for Trade with the Indians @ for Husbandry it lyeth two full degrees and an halfe within the bounds of New England.

And about the year 1629 or 1630 Theire t.i.tle to it being in question a rich s.h.i.+p comeing from thence was seized on at Plymouth, as some now here can testify, which s.h.i.+pp and goods (as they say) was delivered up on the Dutch relinquishment of any t.i.tle they had or might have to the said Hudsones River And this seemes to be true, for in or about the year 1632 or 1634, a s.h.i.+pp set out from hence by M^{r} Clobery & Dellabar and others for New England, with pa.s.sengers & goods & had also a Commission from his Mat^{ies}: Royall Father to saile unto Mahatas @ as farr up into the River towards Fort Oranja as they could goe, and there trade with the Natives; which they did without any opposition, as the Masters yet liveing can testifie.

From the uttermost part of Hudsons River to the North Cape of Delaware Bay, is somewhat above 20 leagues, and from this Cape to the entrance of the River is about 12 Leagues.

Here the Sweedes some yeares since built a Fort and five Leauges above that a Sconce, and three Leagues above that another Fort, and 2 Leagues above that another.

And hereabout the River trends away so much easterly that betweene that @ Hudsons River it is not above 30 Miles. In this River hath been seated some English Familes, but outed by the Dutch or Swedes.

For this place there was some yeares since a Patent granted to S^{r} Edmund Ploydon, but by whom I know not, nor what is become of him or his Patent.

The entrance of this River is in 40 degrees. And now I am come to the utmost Southwest bounds of New England which is a Country wherein the Rivers and Pounds affords variety of Fish and Beaver in Great abundance, The earth brings forth plentifully all sorts of Graynes, also Hemp @ fflax, The Woods affords store of good Timber for building of s.h.i.+pps Masts, Also Pitch and Tarre, The bowels of the earth yeilds excellent Iron Oare, and no doubt other Metalls if searched after.