Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/270

 258 MASSACHUSETTS they had a plentiful harvest, the colony en- dured many privations, and were often near famishing. In that year some changes were made in the system of labor, and the plan of common property was abandoned. During this time the colony received accessions from abroad, and other settlements were attempted. A new patent was obtained in 1622 by Mr. Weston of London, formerly connected with the Plymouth colonists, under which he de- spatched an expedition to settle for him a plan- tation in Massachusetts bay. They were hos- pitably received at Plymouth, and commenced a plantation at Wessagusset, now Weymouth. All efforts to obtain a patent from the crown were unavailing, and the Plymouth colonists were thus obliged to carry on their government without the royal sanction. They quietly as- sumed all the necessary powers and discharged all the functions of the state. A governor, with a council at first of five and afterward of seven assistants, and a legislature consisting at first of the " whole body of the male inhab- itants," made and administered the laws by which the state was ruled. In 1628 an expe- dition commanded by John Endicott reached Salem, having been organized by an English company which had obtained a grant of ter- ritory lying between the Atlantic and the Pa- cific, and extending 3 m. S. of the river Charles and Massachusetts bay and 3 m. K of every part of the river Merrimack. Endicott's safe arrival excited renewed interest, new associates joined, and a royal patent was at last obtained for the company of the Massachusetts Bay. The charter established a corporation, and the associates were constituted a body politic. Its officers were a governor, deputy, and 18 assis- tants, to be annually elected. A general as- sembly of the freemen, to be held four times a year or oftener if required, was intrusted with legislative powers. The question of re- ligious liberty was avoided in the instrument, but the making of laws contrary to those of England was strictly forbidden. In 1629 a re- enforcement was despatched, consisting of 300 men, 80 women, and 26 children, with victuals, arms, tools, cattle, and goats ; and in the same year it was determined to transfer the govern- ment and patent of the company from London to New England. The old officers resigned, and new officers were appointed from among those who intended to emigrate, John Win- throp being made governor. A new emigra- tion was thus promoted, and soon the colony received an accession of about 1,000 persons, who had been conveyed in 17 vessels. Sites for settlements were promptly selected; and the names of Charlestown, Boston, Watertown, Dorchester, Roxbury, Salem, Mystic, Saugus (Lynn), and others, occur in the history of this period. This colony suffered great hardships. Many died, and others returned disheartened to England. The Massachusetts company con- tinued to receive additions from England, and in the exercise of their political and religious privileges manifested a jealous and vigilant in- terest. Intolerance led to the banishment of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson in the early years of the settlement, as it did later to the persecution of the Quakers. Issues were made between the magistrates and people on the construction of the charter in reference to legislation and representation, the mode of voting was changed from the show of hands to the ballot, and a law against arbitrary tax- ation was passed; while from 1634 to 1644 a dispute continued concerning the relative powers of the assistants and deputies. The Massachusetts colonists for four years after their settlement had been left to bear their burdens and work out their own way with- out the interference of England. But the in- creasing emigration from the latter country, and a suspicion on the part of the crown that the colony desired to be independent, led to an attempt to annul the charter, and the ap- pointment of a special commission for its gov- ernment, at the head of which was Archbishop Laud. The colony received an order, which they evaded, to deliver up their charter, and at a meeting of the general court measures were taken for the fortification of Boston harbor, Charlestown, and Dorchester, and arrange- ments made for drilling troops. The political agitations of the mother country preserved the colony from the dangers which threatened her from that quarter. A disturbance with the Pequots led to the Pequot war (1637), the brunt of which was borne by the settlers in Connecticut. On the restoration of the Stuarts new troubles threatened Massachusetts. Its protest against the injustice of being subject to the laws of parliament, acquiesced in by the long parliament, was disregarded by the judges under the restoration, and it was declared to be under the legislative supremacy of parlia- ment without restriction. The colony had ad- dressed the king on his return, praying for the continuance of civil and religious liberties ; and Leverett, the agent in London, was urged to support their application. Much controversy ensued, and at length in 1662 a commission sent to England obtained a confirmation of the charter from the king, and a conditional prom- ise of an amnesty for all offences during the late troubles ; but the king maintained his right to interfere in the domestic concerns of the colony, demanded the repeal of all laws de- rogatory to his authority, the taking of the oath of allegiance, the administration of justice in his name, the complete toleration of the church of England, and a concession of the elective franchise to every inhabitant possess- ing a competent estate. These demands were strongly opposed by one portion of the com- munity, while the other was willing to yield for the sake of quiet. Commissioners charged to investigate the affairs of the colony arrived in 1664. Massachusetts published an order prohibiting complaints to them, and a remon- strance was addressed to the king. After an