Curiosities of History: Boston, September Seventeenth, 1630-1880

[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 19th, and 20th October, 1744, the first in relation to a “heinous riot,” the second a bloody declaration of war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.]

BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS

In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, on the 2d of November, 1744, came forth another proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody character, against the Indians, as follows:—

By His Excellency

WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.;

Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief, in and over His Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England

A PROCLAMATION

For the Encouragement of Voluntiers to prosecute the War against the St. John’s and Cape Sable’s Indians

WHEREAS the Indians of the Cape-Sable’s and St. John’s Tribes have by their Violation of their solemn Treaties with His Majesty’s Governours, and their open Hostilities committed against His Majesty’s Subjects of this Province and the Province of Nova-Scotia, obliged me, with the unanimous Advice of His Majesty’s Council, to declare war against them; In Consequence of which the General Assembly of this Province have “Voted, That there be granted, to be paid out of the publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, of His Majesty’s Subjects, belonging to and residing within this Province, who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper Cost and Charge, go out and kill a male Indian of the Age of Twelve Years or upwards, of the Tribe of St. Johns or Cape-Sables, after the Twenty-sixth Day of October last past, and before the last Day of June Anno Domini, One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that Term as the War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a Line, to be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty’s Council of this Province, somewhere to the Eastward of Penobscot, and produce his Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of one Hundred Pounds in Bills of Credit of this Province of the new Tenor, and the Sum of one Hundred & Five Pounds in said Bills for any Male of the like Age who shall be taken Captive, and delivered to the Order of the Captain-General, to be at the Disposal and for the Use of the Government; and the Sum of Fifty Pounds, in said Bills, for women; and the like Sum for Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in Fight; and Fifty-five Pounds for such of them as shall be taken Prisoners, together with the Plunder: Provided no Payment be made as aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, until Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour and Council;”

AND whereas, since the passing of the said Vote of the General Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty’s Council determined, That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward of which the said Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, shall begin on the Sea-Shore at Three Leagues Distance from Eastermost Part of the Mouth of Passamaquoddy River, and from thence to run North into the Country thro’ the Province of Nova-Scotia, to the River of St. Lawrence;

Ihave therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty’s Council, to issue this Proclamation for giving public notice of the Encouragement granted by the General Court of all Persons who may be disposed to serve their King and Country in the Prosecution of the War against the said Cape-Sable’s and St. John’s Tribes, in the manner above-mentioned, upon their own charge; as also to give Notice to the several Tribes of the Eastern Indians, who are still in Amity with us, of the Boundary-Line aforesaid; assuring them that this Government have determined to treat as Enemies all such Indians as live beyond the said Line.

Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, on Friday the Second Day of November, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

    W. SHIRLEY.

By order of the Governour, with

the Advice of the Council,

J. Willard, Secr.

GOD save the KING.

No mention is made of either of these remarkable proclamations in any history of Boston, or other work that we have seen; and it can scarcely be generally known that Massachusetts indorsed the proclamation of the King of England, declaring war against “the French King,” or that the colony, without regard to the King and his government, declared war, including the most desperate and bloody conditions, against the St. John’s and Cape Sable’s Indians, a hundred years after the settlement of the colony, and something more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It will be noticed that the sum of five pounds additional is offered in each case for man, woman, or child, if brought in alive; but considering the expense, danger, and trouble of doing so, it could hardly have been expected that any thing beyond the scalps of the victims, even of children, would be brought in; and it would seem, if any considerable number were killed or brought in, that the debt incurred would be likely to become somewhat burdensome upon the colony. The terms of the proclamation were based upon the votes and orders of the General Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The records of Boston show that in 1756, January, £50 were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be hoped this was the only payment ever made for such a purchase.

FAST DAY

This threatening proclamation was followed by another, on the 18th February, for a general fast, as at this time the expedition to Louisbourg, which soon followed, was in preparation:—

“Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his holy and sovereign Providence, to involve His Majesty’s Dominions in War, which, notwithstanding the many instances of success, which, through Divine favor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his allies, ought to be regarded as an effect of the anger of God against us; and, whereas, this government have, upon mature consideration, determined by the Divine permission, to prosecute an expedition against His Majesty’s enemies, upon the success of which, the prosperity of His Majesty’s subjects in North America, and more especially in this Province, does under God, much depend,” &c., &c., therefore the 28th day of February instant, is appointed for a general fast, to be observed with fervent prayers and supplications, and all labor and recreation are strictly forbidden. “Given at the Province House, in Boston, the 18th day of February, 1744.”

[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at Canso, under Col. Pepperell, on the 4th of April, having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The fort and city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up on the 17th of June; and two East India ships and one South Sea ship, worth £600,000, were captured at the mouth of the harbor.]

ANOTHER FAST

On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues another proclamation for a general fast, on Thursday, 4th day of April. The expedition for Cape Breton had just embarked and “taken their departure from this place,” and this was deemed, in addition to the usual custom, occasion for a fast. The favor of Divine Providence was implored for the success of the expedition which the government had, at “great expense and labor, raised and fitted out with a large body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an expedition against the French at Cape Breton,” &c.

THANKSGIVING REJOICING

News of the success of the expedition was received in Boston, on the 2d of July, 1745, and there were great rejoicings and illuminations in the town in consequence; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his proclamation for a general thanksgiving, it having pleased God, as he elaborately expressed it, “by a wonderful series of successes to bring this great affair to a happy issue in the reduction of the city and fortress of Louisbourg.” There was added, “All servile labor is forbidden on said day,” and the bar against recreations is omitted; but all persons are called upon to preserve order.

GOV. PHIPS’S PROCLAMATIONS

In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his lady were absent on a visit to Louisbourg, the scene of the late success of his expedition, Spencer Phips, acting governor, issued three proclamations in the following three months: on the 6th of September, for a public fast, partly on account of the war with the Indians, and among other things “that His Excellency the Governor may be directed and succeeded in the important affairs he is transacting at Louisbourg and returned in safety.” Signed S. Phips. By order of the honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the Council. J. Willard, Secretary.

The second was issued on the twenty-second day of November, 1745, on account of some disorders in Boston, committed by divers officers and seamen, belonging to His Majesty’s ship “Wager,” and other seamen belonging to the sloop “Resolution,” late in His Majesty’s service, by which two persons lost their lives. The constables and authorities of Boston and Charlestown are called upon to search for them in any justly suspected houses, &c. By order of the Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the Council.

The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips was issued on the 25th of November, 1745, for a general thanksgiving, in “consideration of the manifold and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards our nation and land in the course of the past year, which (though mixed with various rebukes of Providence manifesting the righteous discipline of God toward us for our sins) demand our publick and thankful acknowledgments.” Signed, S. Phips. By His Honor’s command, with the advice of the Council.

Besides the above there were two or three other proclamations, calling for troops and other objects. The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, so far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and the first in the Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, soon after Winthrop’s arrival.

XI.

POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE

AN EARTHQUAKE IN BOSTON

On the Lord’s day, June 3, 1744, between ten and eleven o’clock, there was experienced at Boston, a violent earthquake, “which was felt for above an hundred of miles.” The matter, naturally somewhat startling and impressive, called forth from some unknown author, an elaborate poem, the purpose and spirit of which will be readily understood by a few extracts. It is printed on a sheet, about 12 by 20 inches, in three columns, and was “sold by Benjamin Gray, in Milk Street, 1744.” The first portion and some other parts of the poem are missing from the copy we have. Somewhere near the middle of the first column our quotations commence:—

“Again the Lord did shake the Earth,
While Christ was in the Tomb,
When from the glorious Heavenly World
A glorious Angel came.
Behold there was at that same Time
An Earthquake strong and great,
Which made the Watchmen at the Tomb
To tremble, shake and quake.
Again when Paul and Silas was
Once into Prison cast,
And cruelly the Keeper had
In stocks made their feet fast,
Like the dear Children of the Lord,
They to their Father sing,
They praises sing unto the Lord
Till all the Prison did ring.
When lo! immediately there was
A terrible Earthquake,
Which made the whole foundation of
The Prison-House to shake.
The Doors fly open by its Power
And now wide open stand,
’Till these dear Prisoners of the Lord
Are loosed from their Bands.
And thus we see in very Truth,
This wondrous Work is done,
By none but the eternal God,
And Israel’s holy One.
And that they’re tokens of his Wrath,