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Connecticut and New Haven, which, in 1665, were formed into one, under a royal charter granted by Charles II., King of England.

Other Events in New England

28. Union of the New England Colonies. The first union of any of the American colonies took place in 1643. In that year, Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven agreed to unite in order to protect themselves against the hostilities of the Dutch and the French, and the attacks of the Indians. Rhode Island being claimed by Plymouth was not admitted into this union. It lasted for nearly fifty years.

29. The New England colonies prized very highly the charters which they had received, and were in constant anxiety lest the English king should take them away. When James II. came to the throne, he took measures to bring all these colonies under the royal authority. With this purpose, he appointed Sir Edmund Andros governor of all New England, and afterward of New York and New Jersey.

30. Andros landed in Boston in 1686, bringing with him two companies of English soldiers, the first sent to New England. He at once assumed the government of the colonies and annexed Plymouth and Rhode Island to Massachusetts. He soon afterward appeared, with a company

28. What was the first union of American colonies? What was its object? What colony was not admitted? Why? How long did the union last? 29. What caused anxiety to the New England colonies? What did James II. do? What appointment did he make? 30. State the proceedings of Andros. What took place at Hartford ?

of troops, before the Connecticut Assembly at Hartford, and demanded that the charter of the colony should be given up.

31. A discussion arose, which was continued to nightfall, the

when

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charter was

brought in and

THE CHARTER OAK

laid on the table. Andros stepped forward to take it, when instantly the lights were put out; and when the candles were relight

ed, the charter

had disap

peared. It had been carried away and hidden in the hollow of a large oak tree, which was afterward called the Charter Oak (November 10, 1687).

32. The people suffered very much from the tyranny of Andros and his officers, until King William of Orange came to the throne of England, when they seized their hateful governor and some of his associates, and sent them to England to answer for their misdeeds. The colonies then resumed their former modes of government; and the

31. How was the charter taken away? Where was it concealed? 32. How were the people released from the government of Andros? What took place afterward?

charter of Connecticut was taken from its hiding-place in the hollow oak.

33. King Philip's War.-About forty years after the

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Pequod War, another fierce Indian war broke out in New England, known as King Philip's War. King Philip, as he was called by the English, was the son and successor of Massasoit, who had been the fast friend of the colonists. But the whites had now greatly increased in number, the

whole population in New England being about sixty thousand, while the Indians were only half that number.*

34. Between Narragansett Bay and Plymouth were the Wam-pa-no'-ags, of which tribe Philip was the chief; and the farms and villages of the whites were rapidly encroaching upon the hunting-grounds of this tribe. Philip had expressed a desire to check this; and a converted Indian, who had lived for a time among the tribe, told the colonists of his hostile designs. This man was afterward , found murdered, and three of Philip's men were seized, and hanged for the crime.

35. Philip and his men, thirsting for revenge, at once commenced the war (1675), and burned Swanzey, one of the Plymouth towns. The alarm was given, and he was pursued by a force from Plymouth and Boston, as far as his home at Mount Hope, which he was forced to abandon, seeking safety in a swamp. The savages becoming desperate, then burnt village after village, and carried death and desolation throughout the country.f

* The Indians were much more to be feared than in the time of the Pequods; for many of them had guns and ammunition instead of bows and arrows, and hatchets and knives of steel instead of the rude weapons made of stone or bone which they formerly used. Many of them had become skillful marksmen.

The colonists led a fearful life during this war. No house was safe from an attack, and no person could walk out without danger of being murdered. Often, as the farmer opened his door in the morning, he was shot dead by a savage lurking behind the fence or the barn, and his family were either tomahawked and scalped, or carried away captives into the wilderness, where they suffered the most dreadful hardships. Many singular stories are told of an almost miraculous escape from massacre by villages and households. One Sabbath morning, while the people of Hadley were at worship in the village church, a tall and venerable man, a stranger to them, appeared, and told them that the savages were coming. He then put himself at the head

33. When did another Indian war break out? Its cause? What was the population of New England at the time? 34. Where did the Wampanoags dwell? What caused ill-feeling among them? What brought on the war? 35. What were the first events of the war?

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