Produced by Steven Gibbs, Linda Cantoni, and the Online
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[Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors have been corrected
without note. In the original, Andros's will contains no punctuation,
and new sentences are indicated with large spaces, which are
represented here by long dashes.]
MEMOIR
OF
SIR EDMUND ANDROS.
[Illustration]
A
MEMOIR
OF
SIR EDMUND ANDROS, KNT.,
GOVERNOR OF NEW ENGLAND, NEW YORK AND VIRGINIA, &c., &c.
WITH A PORTRAIT.
BY WILLIAM HENRY WHITMORE, A.M.
Reprinted from the "Andros Tracts," published by the Prince Society of
Boston, N.E.
Boston:
PRINTED BY T.R. MARVIN & SON.
1868.
[Illustration:
T.R. MARVIN & SON,
PRINTERS, BOSTON.]
SIR EDMUND ANDROS.
Concerning the ancestry of Sir Edmund Andros, the sole printed
authority is the memoir in the History of Guernsey by Jonathan Duncan,
(London, 1841,) which occupies about three pages in that book. This
sketch has been copied by Dr. E.B. O'Callaghan in his "Documents
relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York," (ii. 740),
and also in a note in Woolley's Journal (GOWAN'S Bibliotheca
Americana). It seems that Andros placed on record at Heralds' College
a very elaborate pedigree of his family, September 18th, 1686, a few
days before he sailed to assume the government of New England.
Although this document was used probably by DUNCAN, it is now printed
for the first time in full, from a transcript made by Joseph L.
Chester, Esq., of London.
* * * * *
The family of Andros, or Andrews as it is more frequently spelt, was
of great antiquity in Northamptonshire, being long settled at Winwick
in that county. One branch, which was raised in 1641 to the dignity of
Baronet, was resident at Denton in the same county; and from the
similarity of the arms, it is evident that Sir Edmund claimed the same
paternity. The pedigree recorded at Heralds' College is as follows.
[Heralds' College, Book 2 D, XIV. fol. 175b]
ANDROS.--Gules, a saltire or surmounted by another vert, on
a chief argent 3 mullets sable. [No crest.]
SAUSMAREZ.--Argent, on a chevron gules between 3 leopards'
faces sable as many castles triple towered or. Crest: a
falcon affrontant proper, beaked and membered or, [_not_
wings expanded as in the armory.] Supporters: Dexter, a
unicorn, tail cowarded, argent; Sinister, a greyhound argent
collared gules garnished or.
["This is a true Account of the Marriages and Issues of my
family, and of the Armes we have constantly borne since our
coming into Guernsey, as also of the Arms Crest and
Supporters of Sausmarez whose heir General we married.
Witnes my hand this 18th of September, 1686.
"E. ANDROS."]
[Transcriber's Note: In the original, the pedigree below is split
across two facing pages. For readability, the split has been retained
in this e-book, with bracketed notes as to where the table continues.]
Mr. John Andros, (alias = Judith de Sausmarez only daur:
Andrews,) an English Gentleman | of Thomas de Sausmarez Lord of
born in Northamptonsh: came | the Seigneurie of Sausmarez,
into the Isle of Guernsey with | and sister and heir to George
Sr Peter Mewtis Knt. Governor | Sausmarez her brother, married
of the said Isle as his | Ao 1543. She dyed at
Lieutenant, and was afterwards | Sausmarez, Ao 1557, and was
a Capt of Foot in Calais, | buried in ye Church of St.
where he dyed and was buried, | Martin.
Ao 1554. |
|
+-------------+
|
Alix Roiiaux = John Andros, eldest son = Secille Blondel = Margaret,
wid: of of the said John was the | daur: of Mr. John daur: of
Monsieur John King's Ward and committed | Blondel, one of Monsr
de la Cour, to the custody of Sr | the Justices of Thomas
second wife, Leonard Chamberlain, Knt. | the Royall Court Compton,
obijt s. pr. Governour of the said Isle | in the said Isle Bailly of
Ao 1595. until he came of age, | of Guernsey. the said
which having attained he | Married to Mr. Isle,
did his homage, and payd | John Andros, son third
the Relief due to the King | of John Andros wife.
for the said Seigneurie, | before mentioned,
and had possession thereof, | 24 Oct: 1570,
and was made Capt. of the | dyed 6 May 1588
Parish of St. Martin, and | and was buried at
28 May 1582, was sworne | St. Martins.
one of ye Justices of the | First wife.
Royal Court. |
|
+---------------+--------------------------------
|1 [continue with 2 John below]
Mary Careye, daur: of = Thomas Andros, eldest son, = Elizabeth Carteret,
Mr. Nicollas Careye, born at Sausmarez, 16 Oct. | eldest daur: of
one of the Justices 1571. He was sworne one of | Mnsr Amice de
of the Royal Court, the Justices of the Royal | Carteret, Seignr
Married 1o Jun: 1597, Court after the death of | de la Trinite,
and dyed in childbed his father, 2 Febr: 1609, | Lieutt Governor
without Issue and Lieutt Governor of | and Bailly of the
surviving, 6 Nov: Guernsey under my Lord | Isle of Guernsey
1598. First wife. Carew Governor 8 Jun: | married 22 Oct:
1611, and dyed 18 Apr: | 1606, dyed 3 Jan:
1637, at Sausmarez, and | 1672. 2d Wife.
was there buried. |
|
+------------+-------------------------------------+------------+++-------
|1 |2 |||
Catherine Amice Andros born at = Elizabeth Stone 3 Thomas
married Sausmarez 5 Sept. 1610. | sister of Sr 4 Joshua
to Monsr He was made Marshall of | Robert Stone, 5 & John,
John ye Ceremonies to King | Knt., Cup-Bearer died
Bonamy. Charles I. Ao 1632. | to the Queen of unmarried.
Bailly of the Isle of | Bohemia, and [continue
Guernsey by K. Ch. 2 | Captain of a with
upon his Coronation in | Troop of horse 6 Elizabeth
Scotland. Bayliff of the | in Holland. below]
Royal Court in Guernsey |
Ao 1661, and Major of |
the Forces of the said |
Isle. He dyed at |
Sausmarez, 7 Apr. 1674. |
|
++--------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------
|| |3 [continue with 4 Richard below]
1 Amice and Sr Edmond Andros, Knt. born at London, = Marie Craven eldest
2 Elizabeth 6 Dec. 1637, made Gentl: in Ordinary to daughter of Thomas
dyed the Queen of Bohemia, Ao 1660, and Craven, and sister
young. Major to the Regimt of foot sent into of Sr William
America Ao 1666. After that, Major to Craven of
Prince Rupert's Regimt of Dragoons Ao Apletrewick, in
1672. He was sworne Bailly of the Com: Ebor: and of
Royall Court in Guernsey 30 Junij 1674, Combe Abbey in Co:
and shortly after was constituted Warr: Knight, heir
Governor general of New York in America in Reversion to the
and knighted on his return from thence, Barony of Hamsted
Ao 1681. He was sworn Gentl: of ye Marshall. Married
Privy Chamber to the King Ao 1683, and in Febr: 1671.
in ye year 1685 was made Lieutt
Colonell to her Royal Highns the Pr.
Anne of Denmark's Regt of Horse,
commanded by the Earl of Scaresdale, and
lastly this present year 1686 was made
Governor of New England.
[continued from 1 Thomas Andros above]
+--+---------------+-------------+--------------+
| |2 |3 |4 |5
| John, dyed Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, died
| unmarried. dyed married to Mr. an infant.
| young. Peter Painsec,
| Minister of St.
| Peters Port.
|
| [continued from 5 John above]
|+----+-------+-----+--------+-------------------------+------+
|| |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11
|| Elizabeth, | Secille, Charles = Alix, dau: Peter, |
|| married to | married Andros, | and sole died |
|| Monsieur | to Capt: Seigne'r | heir of an |
|| John | Nicollas D'Anneville, | M. Thomas infant. |
|| Dobree, | Ling. living 1686, | Fashin, |
|| merchant. | marr: to his | Seigneur +----+
|| | first wife, | D'Anneville, |
-+| Anne, Collette, | 2d wife. |
| died daur: of | William = Judith,
| an Jonas le | Andros, | dau: of
| infant. Marchant by | 11th and | Monsr
| whom he had | youngest | John
| issue onely | child | Blondell.
| one daughr: | dyed |
| Elizabeth | 7 Nov: |
| who dyed | 1679, |
| young. | aetat: |
| | 47 An. |
| +-----------------------------+ |
| | +---------------------------+----------------+++
| | |1 |2 ||
| | Charles Andros, = Rachell, Amice Andros, 3 John, and
--+ | born 9 Apr: Ao | daur: second son, 4 Judith,
| 1662. | of Mr. married dyed
| | James Magdalen young.
| | Careye. Mancell.
| |
| +---------------------------------+
| |
+----+--------------+---------+---------+ +-----+-----+
|1 |2 |3 |4 |1 |2
Charles Andros, Thomas Mary, Anne, Rachell, Anne,
born 15 Sept: born 25 married born born born
1662. Married Mart: Ao to Mr. 21 Ao 1683. 1685.
Elizab: Mauger 1672. Jean Nov.
widow of Monsr Renouf, 1667.
Tho: de Beauvoir. Merchant.
[continued from 3 Sr Edmond Andros above]
------++---------+----------------+------------------------+
|| |6 |7 |8
4 Richard, John Andros, George Andros, born Carterette Andros,
and born 2 Nov: 5 Oct: 1646. Married married to Mr.
5 Elizabeth, 1642. Married Anne Blondel, and Caesar Knapton, an
dyed Anne Knapton. dyed 8o Nov: 1664. English Gentl:
young. === === ===
| | |
1 Elizabeth, 1 John, Elizabeth Knapton
2 Marie, 2 George, only child, married
3 Amice, mort. 3 Charles, to Mr. Will: le
4 Anne, 4 Mary, Marchant, eldest
5 John, 5 Anne. son of Mr. James
6 Carterette, mort. le Marchant, Ao
7 Edmond, mort. 1684.
8 Caesar,
9 Edmond.
At the same time Sir Edmund recorded his coat-of-arms as described in
the following document at Heralds' College, Grants of Arms, Book 1,
26. fol. 98.
"Whereas Sr Edmund Andros, Knight, Lord of ye Seignorie of
Sausmarez in the Island of Guernsey, hath made application
to me, Henry, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshall of England &c.
that his Arms may be Registered in the College of Arms in
such manner as he may lawfully bear them, with respect to
his Descent from the antient Family of Sausmarez in ye said
Isle, there being no entries in the College of Arms of the
Descents or Arms of the Families in that Isle: And whereas
it hath been made out unto me that his Great Grandfather's
Father, John Andros als. Andrews, an English Gentleman,
borne in Northamptonshire, coming into the Isle of Guernsey
as Lieutt. to Sr Peter Mewtis, Knight, the Governour, did
there marry, Ao. 1543, with Judith de Sausmarez, only
daughter of Thomas Sausmarez, son and heir of Thomas
Sausmarez, Lords of the Seignorie of Sausmarez in the said
Isle, which Judith did afterwards become heir to her brother
George de Sausmarez, Lord of the said Seignorie: And that
John Andros, Esqr., son and heir of the said John and
Judith, had the sd. Seignorie with its appurtenances and all
Rights and Privileges thereto belonging, adjudged to him by
the Royal Commrs. of the said Isle, Ao. 1607, against the
heirs male of the said Family of Sausmarez, who then sued
for the same, as finding it to be held of the King by a
certain Relief and certain Services, all which were
inseparable from the said Seignorie: And whereas it hath
been made [to] appear unto me by an Antient Seal of one
Nicollas de Sausmarez, which seems to be between 2 and 300
years old, and by other Authorities, that the said Family of
Sausmarez have constantly borne and used the Arms herein
impressed, I the said Earl Marshall, considering that the
forementioned Sr. Edmund Andros, Knt., and his Ancestors,
from the time of the said John Andros who married the heir
generall of Sausmarez as aforesaid, have successively done
Homage to the Kings of England for ye sd Seignorie, and
thereupon have been admitted into and received full
possession thereof, do order and require, That the Arms of
Andros (as the said Sr Edmund and his Ancestors ever since
their coming into the said Isle have borne the same)
quartered with the Arms of Sausmarez as they are hereunto
annexed,[1] be, together with the Pedigree of the said Sr
Edmund Andros (herewith also transmitted) fairly registered
in ye College of Arms by the Register of the said College,
and allowed unto him the said Sr Edmund Andros, and the
heirs of his body lawfully begotten, and of the body of his
Great Grandfather John Andros, son and heir of the
forementioned John Andros and Judith de Sausmarez, having,
possessing and enjoying the said Seignorie, to be borne and
used by him and them on all occasions according to the Law
of Arms: And for so doing this shall be a sufficient
warrant.
"Given under my hand and seal the 23d. day of September,
1686, in the second year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne
Lord King James the Second, &c.
"Norfolke & Marshall."
To the Kings Heralds,
and Pursuivts. of Arms.
[Footnote 1: The Andrews family of Denton bore "Gules, a saltire _or_,
surmounted of another vert." O'Callaghan and Trumbull (Col. Rec. of
Conn. iii. 392) have followed an error in BERRY'S History of Guernsey,
wherein the arms of Andros are said to be "a chevron between three
pelicans vulning themselves." Such a coat indeed is found on the
monument of Amice Andros, but they undoubtedly belong to his wife
Elizabeth Stone, the mother of Governor Andros.]
During the exile of the Stuarts, Edmund Andros served in the army of
Prince Henry of Nassau (PALFREY, iii. 127), and was faithful to their
cause. His family indeed was eminent among the adherents of the King,
as appears by the pardon granted 13th August, 1660, by Charles II. to
the inhabitants of Guernsey. In it he declares that Amice Andros,
Edmund his son, and Charles his brother, Sir Henry Davie, bart, and
Nathaniel Darell, during the preceding troubles "continued inviolably
faithful to his Majesty, and consequently have no need to be comprised
in this general pardon." So also we learn by the monument to
Elizabeth, mother of Sir Edmund, that she "shared with her husband
the troubles and exile to which he was exposed for several years in
the service of Charles I. and Charles II."[2]
[Footnote 2: "She lived with her husband 42 years and was the mother
of 9 children." She died 25 Dec. 1686, aged 73. (BERRY, Hist.
Guernsey.)]
Edmund Andros received his first considerable preferment by being made
Gentleman in Ordinary to the Queen of Bohemia in 1660. He had
undoubtedly been attracted to her service through the position of his
uncle, Sir Robert Stone, who was Cup-bearer to that princess, and he
was afterwards more closely allied to her friends in consequence of
his marriage. Whether any part of his youthful years while he was a
page in the Royal service, had been spent in her household or not, it
is worthy of notice that as a young man Andros was in a position to
acquire the accomplishments of a Court, and to behold Royalty in its
most fascinating form.
Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, was the only daughter of King James I. of
England, and was born 19th August, 1596. She was married 27th Dec.
1612, to Frederick V., Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria
and Silesia, who was soon elected King of Bohemia, but lost all his
possessions by the fortune of war. He died at Mentz, November 19th,
1632, having had thirteen children, of whom the best known were Prince
Rupert, and Sophia, wife of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover,
mother of George I. of England.
The Queen of Bohemia had shared the exile and misfortunes of her
English relatives, and returned to England, 17th May, 1661. She died
February 13th, 1662, at London.
Historians have agreed in describing this princess as a most charming
woman. JESSE (Court of England) writes thus: "Lively in her manners,
affectionate in her disposition, and beautiful in her person; throwing
a charm and a refinement over the social intercourse of life; she yet
possessed with all these qualities, a strength of mind which never
became masculine; talents which were never obtrusive, and a warmth of
heart which remained with her to the end." "In prosperity modest and
unassuming; in adversity surmounting difficulties and dignifying
poverty, her character was regarded with enthusiasm in her own time,
and has won for her the admiration of posterity." "In the Low
Countries she was so beloved as to be styled 'the Queen of Hearts.'"
During her long widowhood, her chief adviser and friend was William,
Earl of Craven, and it was to the sister of the chosen heir to a
portion of the honors of this nobleman, that Edmund Andros was
married, in 1671. It has been believed that the Earl of Craven was
married to the Queen, and he was certainly one of the bravest and most
honored gentlemen of his time.
In 1666, Andros was made Major of a Regiment of foot, which was sent
to America. DUNCAN writes that Andros distinguished himself in the war
against the Dutch, and was in 1672, "commander of the forces in
Barbados and had obtained the reputation of being skilled in American
affairs."
In February, 1671, Andros married Marie, oldest daughter of Thomas
Craven of Appletreewick, co. York, and thus sister to the "heir in
reversion to the Barony of Hamsted-Marshall." This match is a
sufficient proof of the estimation in which he was held, as the lady
was sister of the designated heir of the Earl of Craven, his former
patron. The pedigree of the Cravens will be best understood by the
annexed tabular statement.[3] The "Peerages" have left the matter
obscure, but it has been rendered plain by some articles in "Notes
and Queries" for 1868. The Earl of Craven, after the death of his
brothers, entailed the Barony on his more distant cousins of
Appletreewick, omitting the issue of his uncle Anthony Craven. At his
death, April 9th, 1697, the title passed to William Craven, nephew of
Lady Andros.
[Footnote 3:
John Craven = ----
|
+-------------------------+----------------+
| |
Henry of = ---- dau. of William = Beatrix, dau. of
Appletreewick. | ---- Sherwood. | John Hunter.
| +--------+----------------+
| | |
Robert = Mary, dau. Sir William = Elizabeth, Anthony = ----
| of ---- Lord Mayor | dau. of |
| Brockden. of London. | Wm. Whitmore. |
| | |
| +--------------+--------------+ |
| | | | |
| William John Thomas |
| Earl of Lord Craven d. _s.p._ |
| Craven. of Ryton. |
| d. _s.p._ d. _s.p._ |
| |
+-------------+-----------------+-------------------------+ |
| | | |
Sir William = Mary, dau. of Sir Thomas = Anne, dau. Sir Anthony |
of | Ferdinando, | of Francis = |
Lenchwike, | Visct. | Proctor, Elizabeth |
d. 1665, | Fairfax, | of dau. of Baron |
aet. 46. | of Cameron. | Beckwith. Pelnitz |
| | d. _s.p._ |
+-------------+ | |
| | | |
William Elizabeth = Theophilus | |
d. _v.p._ Leigh. | |
Aug. 13, 1665, | |
aet. 16. | |
| |
+--------------------------+------+--------++ |
| | || |
Sir William = Mary, dau. Mary = Sir E. Alice = Wm. Topham |
b. 21 Aug. 1638. | of Sir Andros. Margaret = Christopher |
d. 24 Oct. 1695. | Christopher Dauson. |
| Chapham of |
| Beamsley, |
| co. York. |
| |
+----+------------+++ +--------------------+
| ||| |
William, Thomas = Margaret Craven,
b. 4 Oct. 1668, | dau. of Robt
2d Lord Craven, | d. 23 Feb. 1702,
of Hampsted Marshall. | aged 80.
|
+----------------------+------------------------+
| | |
Sir William = Mary, Sir Robert = Margaret. Sir Anthony = Theodosia,
of Winwick, dau. of d. 4 Oct. Bart. of dau. of
d. Mch, 1707, George 1672, Spersholt, Sir Wm.
aet. 73. Clerke. aet. 40. 1661, d. 1713. Wiseman.]
It is possible that Andros came to England for the marriage, and
returned to Barbados; but we think it more probable that the regiment
had been recalled to England. DUNCAN states that in April, 1672, a
regiment raised for Prince Rupert was armed for the first time with
the bayonet, that Andros was made Major, and the four Barbados
companies then under his command were incorporated in it. In the same
month, the proprietors of the Province of Carolina, of which the Earl
of Craven was one, conferred on him the title of Landgrave, with four
Baronies, containing 48,000 acres of land.
In April, 1674, Andros succeeded his father in his estates in
Guernsey, and 30 June, was sworn as Bailly of the island, the
reversion of that office having been before granted him.
We do not find mention of the occasion which recommended him to the
attention of the Duke of York, but from his early attendance on the
royal family, and his exceptional loyalty, he had probably long been
known to that prince. Andros was accordingly selected to be the
Governor of the Province of New York, which was claimed by the Duke,
and had recently been restored to him by the Dutch. He arrived in
this country, November 1st, 1674, accompanied by his wife.
A brief notice of the events which had occurred in this country
immediately before his arrival, may render his subsequent proceedings
more intelligible to the reader.
On the 27th of August, 1664, the Dutch Colony of New Netherland was
surrendered to an English force under Col. Richard Nicolls. The King,
Charles II., had already granted it, by patent dated 12 March, 1664,
to his brother, the Duke of York. After it had been held by the
English for over nine years, the Dutch had recaptured it, August 9,
1673; but under the terms of the treaty of peace, it was restored to
its English owners. In a letter dated 7/17 July, 1674, the Dutch
embassadors wrote that they had complied with the orders from the
States-General to notify the King that the Province would be delivered
to his agent; that Edmund Andros had been designated as the person,
and was to sail before the end of the week. (N.Y. Col. Doc. ii. 733.)
The Colony at that time was estimated to contain between six and seven
thousand white inhabitants, to which number were to be added the
English settlers on Long Island. Andros's commission, which was dated
July 1, 1674, made him "Lieutenant and Governor" over that part of
Maine which was styled Pemaquid, Long Island, Nantucket and Martha's
Vineyard, and the territory from the west side of Connecticut River to
the east side of Delaware Bay. This latter territory comprised not
only the State of New York, but Delaware, New Jersey and a large
portion of Connecticut; the claim of the Duke of York to which
domains was by no means undisputed.
Andros was at the same time commissioned as captain of a regiment of
foot, raised by the Duke of York for service in the Colony, and
received the necessary money for the expenses attendant upon
establishing the new government. He was accused by some of the Dutch
colonists of having exacted a new and unlawful oath of allegiance from
them, but this difficulty seems to have speedily subsided. His
instructions had been explicit that he should not disturb those
colonists who desired to remain in good faith, and we see no reason to
doubt that Andros fulfilled his orders. He has left an account of his
administration for the first three years (N.Y. Col. Doc. iii. 254-7)
from which we take the principal items.
In October, 1674, he says, that having received possession of New York
and reduced the east end of Long Island, he took in hand the turbulent
at various other places; these once quieted, the country had been
peaceful ever since. The next summer he commenced to press the Duke's
claim to that part of the country between the Hudson and Connecticut
rivers. He therefore wrote several letters to the Governor and General
Court of Connecticut, but it may easily be believed that the claim was
only a matter of form. In fact, both parties had a patent for the same
land, since the Connecticut Charter covered all the land from the
Narragansett Bay, due west to the South Sea, and the Duke of York's
territory was to be carved from this domain. Andros indeed says with
truth that the English claim had been abandoned, since under that
patent Connecticut might claim "New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
Carolina and the Spanish West Indies," as well as all New York. The
Duke of York was not disposed to press the matter, and wrote to Andros
in January, 1675-6, that he approved of the demand, as preserving his
title entire, but hoped for some more convenient method of adjusting
the boundaries in the future; the only stipulation he made, was that
the Connecticut men should not approach within twenty miles of the
Hudson River. Within a month, however, the hostile attitude of the
Indians compelled the eastern colonists to apply to Andros for aid in
the alarming position of affairs. On the 1st of July, 1675, a letter
was sent by Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut to New York, and Andros not
only was "much troubled at the Christians' misfortunes and hard
disasters in those parts," but he proposed to start at once, with a
force "ready to take such resolutions as may be fit for me," and to
make the best of his way to Connecticut River; "his royal Highness's
bounds," as he significantly termed them.
This was more than the colonists had anticipated; yet they were
unwilling to bring the dispute of boundaries to an open rupture,
especially at such a time. Andros, therefore, was allowed to come to
Saybrook with his two small vessels, and was met by Robert Chapman and
Thomas Bull in behalf of the Colony. Various protests were exchanged,
and Andros caused the Duke of York's Charter and his commission to be
read. After this ceremony, he declared he should depart immediately
unless desired to stay. In return, the agents of the Colony, who had
studiously disavowed any share in these proceedings, read a protest
on the part of Connecticut. And so "his Honor was guarded with the
town soldiers to the waterside, went on board, and presently fell down
below the Fort, with salutes on both sides." (TRUMBULL, Col. Rec.
Conn. ii. 584.) Thus both sides parted in peace, each content with its
own performance; and a few years afterwards the boundary was settled
by mutual concessions.
Andros pursued his plans for protecting his Colony, furnished the
necessary arms and ammunition, and disarmed the friendly Indians.
Returning to New York, he called together the neighboring sachems and
renewed the treaties with them; and in August, 1675, he proceeded to
Albany, where he succeeded in gaining the friendship of the Mohawks
and other powerful tribes. For nearly a year, till the death of
Philip, August 12th, 1676, Massachusetts and Connecticut suffered from
the barbarous incursions of the Indians. During this time, Andros, by
his own account, had remained unwillingly idle, his offers of
assistance having been rejected by his neighbors. He would have
brought into the field his Mohawk allies, but the offer being slighted
he could only keep them true to their allegiance, build forts and
boats, and prevent any increase of Philip's forces. He seems in fact
to have been greatly offended by the assertions of the Massachusetts
Colony, that it was at Albany, and through his connivance, that the
hostile Indians had obtained their supplies of arms and ammunition. He
sent two gentlemen to Boston to obtain satisfaction, and received only
a letter "clearing the magistrates, but not the generalty, still
aspersed without any known cause, complaint or notice." So indignant
was he at this false accusation, that after his arrival in England, he
petitioned the King in Council to cause inquiry into the truth of the
matter; to which the agents, William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley
merely replied, that they were not furnished with the information, and
that evil-minded persons might have sold ammunition to the Indians
despite the Governor's prohibition; in short, while evading all
concessions or apologies, they insinuated the truth of the charge.
Towards the end of the summer of 1676, the Indian troubles broke out
in the settlements in Maine, and though Massachusetts had taken
possession of the Duke of York's territory of Pemaquid, Andros exerted
himself to protect the settlers there, and sent an armed sloop
thither.
In June, 1677, he sent a force to Pemaquid and constructed a fort
there, which he garrisoned with fifty men; and he undoubtedly
contributed much to the pacification of that country for the next few
years.
In August, 1677, he visited Albany with an agent from Maryland, and
there received anew the assurances of the friendship of the western
Indians. At that time and place he received permission from the Duke
of York to take a brief leave of absence, and we transcribe a few
passages from the letter. "I am glad to find the quiet condition of
your government notwithstanding the late troubles that have been in
your neighbourhood." "In regard you express a desire to come for
England for some time to look after your own concerns, if you shall
towards the end of this summer continue to be of that mind, (not
doubting your care to settle all things during your absence from your
government in the best and safest manner), I do agree that you come
away with the latest shipping, so as having the winter to yourself,
you may be ready to return to your government with the first ships
that go hence in the spring."
Andros indeed, up to this time had merited the thanks of his employer.
He had kept the country at peace, and had already made its revenue
equal to its current expenses. The former laws in force during the
English rule had been re-established, and it would seem that he had
even tried to persuade the Duke of York to concede to the settlers
some form of a legislative Assembly. (N.Y. Col. Doc. ii. 235.) He
therefore communicated to the Council and General Court of Assizes, in
October, the permission he had received to visit England, and arranged
all matters likely to arise in his absence. On the 17th November,
1677, he sailed from New York, not accompanied by his wife probably,
as we find no mention of her.
During his stay in England at this time, Sir Edmund Andros was
knighted, a sufficient proof of the favor in which he was held at
court. On the 8th April, 1678, he was called before the Committee for
Trade and Plantations, and was examined in regard to affairs in New
England as well as in his own Colony. His answer was quite elaborate,
and is printed in the New York Colonial Documents, iii. 260-265. In
regard to his own Colony of New York, he estimates the towns,
villages, and parishes at about twenty-four in number, the militia as
numbering 2,000, the value of all estates at L150,000. He thinks a
substantial merchant is one worth L500 to L1,000, and a planter is
rich who has half as much in moveables.
His opinion of the settlements in New England certainly does not seem
unfriendly. He states indeed that "the acts of trade and navigation
are said, and is generally believed, not to be observed in the
Colonies as they ought," yet he adds, "I do not find but the
generality of the magistrates and people are well affected to the King
and Kingdom, but most knowing no other government than their own,
think it best and are wedded to and opinionate for it. And the
magistrates and others in place, chosen by the people, think that they
are obliged to assert and maintain said government all they can, and
are Church-members and like so to be chosen, and to continue without
any considerable alteration and change there, and depend upon the
people to justify them in their actings."
Andros at this time brought before the Council the matter of the false
charge that he had supplied the Indians with ammunition, and the
Agents for Massachusetts, William Stoughton and Peter Bulkley
accordingly replied, promising "To do their utmost endeavour" to
remove any misunderstanding between Sir Edmund and their government.
On the 27th of May, 1678, he sailed for New York in the "Blossom,"
taking with him William Pinhorne, James Graham, John White, John West
and others, including his chaplain, the Rev. Charles Woolley, whose
Journal was published in 1701.[4]
[Footnote 4: It has been reprinted (New York, 1860) with notes by Dr.
E.B. O'Callaghan.]
He arrived on the 7th September, 1678, and found his Colony at peace,
though there were still difficulties to be apprehended in dealing with
the Indians. During the next two years Andros seems to have been much
disturbed by controversies with some of the leading merchants, and
complaints were freely made to the Duke of York that his Governor was
dishonest. Accordingly, James wrote, May 24, 1680, to Andros, (N.Y.
Col. Doc. iii. 283,) that he wished him to return to England "by the
first convenience," turning over the government to Anthony Brockholst,
the Lieutenant-Governor. Mr. John Lewen was sent hither as a special
commissioner to investigate the accounts of the government, and his
report (printed in N.Y. Col. Doc. iii. 302-8) was decidedly
unfavorable to Andros. The Governor, however, who had sailed from New
York, January 7, 1681, was able to refute the charges made against
him, and ends his reply as follows:--
"Lastly, I answer to the whole report, I do find all the imputations
upon myself to be wholly untrue and deny every part thereof."... "But
if any objections or doubts remain, I am still ready to subject them
to the greatest scrutiny his Royal Highness shall think fit, not
doubting his Royal Highness's justice and my own vindication." (N.Y.
Col. Doc. iv. 313.)
We have learned nothing respecting Andros's position in England for
the next five years, except that he was in favor at Court, being, in
1683, sworn Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to the King, Charles II. He
very probably devoted his attention to his estates in Guernsey, as in
this year he and his wife received from the Crown a grant of the
Island of Alderney for ninety-nine years, at a rent of thirteen
shillings. In 1685, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Princess of
Denmark's Regiment of Horse, commanded by the Earl of Scarsdale.
The accession of James II. however, February, 1685, opened a new
prospect of advancement. Andros seems to have been a staunch member of
the Church of England, but his long intimacy with the Duke of York had
doubtless given that Prince a favorable impression of his abilities.
The Charter of Massachusetts, after a contest extending through many
years, had been declared vacated, October 23rd, 1684. The notorious
Col. Piercy Kirke[5] had been designated as the new Governor by
Charles II. and confirmed by James, but New England had been spared
the affliction of his presence. Joseph Dudley had been commissioned as
President of the Council, and served as chief magistrate from May
15th, 1686, till December 19th following.
[Footnote 5: Not much is known of Col. Piercy Kirke. His father was
Col. Lewis Kirke, who in 1642-3 commanded the Royal forces in the
defence of Reading against the troops under Hampden. (Lord Nugent's
Life of Hampden, ii. 339-343.) Some account of Kirke is given in
"Notes and Queries," 2nd S. viii. 472. It seems that Piercy Kirke, in
1673, served under the Duke of Monmouth in the army of the King of
France. In 1675, he was Captain-Lieutenant in the Royal regiment of
Horse-Guards; and in 1680, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd
Tangier regiment. He was soon after made Colonel of this regiment, and
in 1682 was transferred to the Queen's regiment. In 1684, he came with
his regiment to England, and was employed under the Earl of Feversham
during Monmouth's rebellion. His conduct after that revolt was
quelled, has covered his name with infamy, and Macauley has drawn his
character in vivid colors. He was made Brigadier-General in 1685, was
one of those who joined William of Orange, and distinguished himself
at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. He was promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant-General in the same year, was sent to the army in Flanders,
and died at Breda, October 31, 1691.
He married Lady Mary Howard, daughter of George, fourth Earl of
Suffolk. From the identity of names it is probable that his son was
the Percy Kirke who in 1735 was a Brigadier-General, commanding the
King's Own Regiment of Foot.]
Andros was commissioned Governor in chief in and over the dominion of
New England, June 3, 1686, though his appointment is spoken of as
settled, in a letter from Randolph, dated at Boston, July 28th of that
year. (Hutchinson Papers, ii. 288, Prince Society's edition.)
It would seem as if Andros had received less than justice from the
historians of Massachusetts. HUTCHINSON (Hist. i. 353) writes of him,
"he was less dreaded than Kirke, but he was known to be of an
arbitrary disposition. He kept a correspondence with the Colony whilst
he was Governor of New York. His letters then discovered much of the
dictator." So PALFREY (iii. 517) in his admirable History, says that
James "had known Andros many years as a person of resolution and
capacity, of arbitrary principles, and of habits and tastes absolutely
foreign to those of the Puritans of New-England; and could scarcely
have been ignorant of his personal grudge against Massachusetts, on
account of old affronts. It was not to be doubted that here was a man
prepared to be as oppressive and offensive as the King desired."
It is certainly but justice to an officer who filled so many important
positions to the entire satisfaction of employers so different as
James II. and William of Orange, to scrutinize with deliberation such
charges against his character, and to insist upon undoubted evidence
of his personal iniquities.
One thing seems evident, the government now imposed on New England was
not the act of Andros, nor is there any proof that he sought the
position of Governor. Randolph indeed had labored for years to effect
the downfall of the Charter government; and as PALFREY has shown in
successive chapters, in aid of the same purpose were the efforts of
English merchants whose trade was injured by the commercial enterprise
of Massachusetts, and the denunciations of English politicians, who
considered the Charter government an infringement of the Royal
prerogative. We have seen no evidence of Andros's complicity with
these enemies of New England, and no proof of an unfriendly
disposition when he accepted office.
It will hardly be imputed to Andros as a fault that he took the view
of the Royal authority which prevailed at Court. As a subordinate,
appointed to a certain position to carry out a certain policy, he had
no choice but to obey or resign. In carrying out the commands of his
master, he can only be blamed if his conduct was cruel or even harsh,
in excess of his instructions. It will certainly be difficult, we
think, to fasten any such stigma upon Andros. Leaving his political
offences, for which the King was responsible, what personal charges
can be substantiated against him?
It is evident that no person was executed for a political offence, and
that none of the atrocities of Jeffreys or Lauderdale were repeated in
this country. It is equally evident that no one was fined or
imprisoned for non-conformity to the Church of England, and the
contrast with the mother country is entirely in our favor. If the
fees exacted were excessive, a point hereafter to be considered, was
Andros a gainer thereby? From a report made at the time, and printed
in N.Y. Colonial Documents, iv. 263, it appears that Andros was paid a
fixed salary in 1686, of L1200 sterling; in 1687, the same, and in
1688, L1400 sterling, out of the revenue. We have yet to learn of any
claim made against Andros for fees illegally collected or for public
money mis-appropriated. PALMER indeed, in his Impartial Account, makes
a strong defense for Andros on this head. The Council were all old
residents; the Secretary and Collector, who received the greatest
fees, were not appointed by Andros, and indeed Randolph quarrelled
with him. The Treasurer was John Usher, who continued to reside here
after the downfall of Andros, and the Chief Justice was Dudley. It is
hardly probable that Andros was responsible for the appointment of any
of the higher officials, nor should he be justly charged with the
table of fees which was fixed for their benefit by a committee of the
Council.
Reduced to plain statements, the personal charges against Andros seem
to be, first, a zeal for Episcopacy, which led him to insist upon
having a place for Church services in one of the Boston meeting-houses
for a time; and secondly, a rude or insolent carriage towards his
disaffected subjects.
As to the first, the facts are patent, and they do not seem to
constitute a very heinous offence. It was undeniably a great annoyance
to the members of the Old South Church, to have the Governor use the
building for Episcopal services, but as they were held only when "the
building was not occupied by the regular congregation," (PALFREY, iii.
522,) we cannot greatly censure Andros for his course.
As to his treatment of persons accused of misdemeanors, we find but
one instance which was worthy of censure. The case of the Rev. Mr.
Wiswall of Duxbury, as narrated at p. 100 of this volume, is an
evidence of inhumanity on the part of some one. If he were compelled
to journey and appear before the Council when disabled by gout, it was
an act disgraceful to the authorities; yet we must add, that Andros is
not accused directly of being the persecutor. The other instances sink
into insignificance, and at most prove only that Andros was a
passionate man, who did not hesitate to express uncomplimentary
opinions very freely. When Andros "called the people of the country
Jacks and Toms;" and when, the constables having made an address to
Sir Edmund as to how they should keep the peace if the sailors from
the Frigate made a fray, "he fell into a great rage and did curse them
and said they ought to be sent to Gaol and ordered Mr. West to take
their names,"--we cannot on that account rank him with Kirke or
Claverhouse.
So in two cases cited by his accusers, in pages 107 and 111 following:
when certain impertinent busy-bodies brought an Indian to testify that
Andros was engaged in a conspiracy to bring on an Indian War,--a story
whose folly was only equalled by the harm it might cause if believed
by the people,--Andros contented himself with ridiculing them, though
afterwards they were fined by the courts. To prove that he
discountenanced making defence against the Indians, his opponents
offer the testimony of certain village officials, whose affidavits
prove only that Sir Edmund probably had read Shakespeare.
We fail, therefore, to see any evidence that Andros was cruel,
rapacious, or dishonest; we know of no charge affecting his morality,
and we find a hasty temper the most palpable fault to be imputed to
him.
To return to our sketch of his public acts. He arrived at Boston, a
place which he had before visited in October, 1680, to wait upon Lord
Culpepper, (N.Y. Col. Doc. iii. 308,) in the "Kingfisher," Sunday,
December 19, 1686, and landed the next day attended by about sixty
soldiers. He was received with great acclamation of joy, and was
escorted by a great number of merchants and others, to the Town House.
He at once proceeded to organize his government, which it must be
remembered, as constituted by his commission, was composed of the
Governor and his Council. The other officers, judges, collectors, &c.,
were at hand, and the objects of the new rulers were soon disclosed.
By losing their Charter and its representative form of government, the
colonists had lost the privilege of taxing themselves. The Governor
and Council imposed the tax; and when the inhabitants of the town of
Ipswich attempted to resist the law, the patriotic leaders of the
movement were tried, fined and imprisoned. The judges were Dudley,
Stoughton, Usher and Randolph. This trial ended all attempts to
dispute this claim of the government, but it was only the natural
result of the forfeiture of the Charter, and in no sense the act of
the Governor.
The other claim of the Crown was to the ownership of all the land,
which involved two questions, viz. as to lands already owned by the
settlers, and waste lands. The government held that private titles
were invalid, unless confirmed by the Crown on the payment of a quit
rent. Preposterous as this doctrine may seem, it had staunch
defenders, and Andros was in earnest in enforcing it. Many complied
with the requirements of the government, but the work was not
completed when the Revolution came. As to Andros's share of the blame,
Palmer makes the best defence, when he points out that Writs of
Intrusion were brought only against a few persons to test the right,
and these persons were those able to contest the question, and not
obscure individuals. The moral question as to waste lands is more
difficult of decision, since the argument is not without force, that
it was better for Andros to grant them to persons who would improve
them, than for the towns to hold them, unimproved, as commons.
Among the earliest acts of Andros, was his extending his authority
over New Hampshire, Plymouth and Rhode Island, as well as Maine and
Massachusetts. In October, 1687, he visited Hartford, and took the
government of Connecticut also into his hands, and he afterwards
traveled through that Colony. The first few months of 1688 were spent
at Boston in consolidating the legislation necessary for the future
guidance of the government.
He had at this time the misfortune to lose his wife, who died January
22, 1687-8, and was buried in the church-yard adjoining King's
Chapel.[6]
[Footnote 6: In TRUMBULL'S Conn. Records, iii. 437, is a letter from
John West to John Allen at Hartford. It is dated January 21st,
(Saturday,) and states that he writes to let Allen "know the great
griefe and sorrow wee are in for my Lady Andros, who since Tuesday
last was sevenight hath been extreamly ill, and soe continues almost
at the Court of Death, and is a greate affliction to his Excellency
who is most passionately concerned. If it should please God to call
her to himselfe, wee should all have a greate losse of a right good
and vertuous Lady."
In a postscript West adds--"January 26th. Mr. Belcher not proceeding
on his intended Journey, have opportunity to add that on Sunday last
the Lady Andros departed this life, to the great griefe and sorrow of
his Excellency and all that knew her."
As to the funeral, the following account is given in Judge Sewall's
Diary, quoted in BRIDGMAN'S King's Chapel Epitaphs, p. 318. "Between 4
and 5 I went to the funeral of the Lady Andros, having been invited by
the Clark of the South Company. Between 7 and 8 (lychns illuminating
the cloudy air) the corpse was carried into the herse drawn by six
horses, the soldiers making a guard from the Governor's house down the
Prison Lane to the South meeting-house; there taken out and carried in
at the western door, and set in the alley before the pulpit, with six
mourning women by it. House made light with candles and torches. There
was a great noise and clamor to keep people out of the house that they
might not rush in too soon. I went home."]
In April, 1688, Andros visited Portsmouth and Pemaquid, where he
repaired the fort, and proceeding to Penobscot, he seized some
property of Castine, a Frenchman who had settled there among the
Indians. Returning to Boston, "he found a great promotion awaiting him
in a new commission, creating him Governor of all the English
possessions on the mainland, except Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
and Virginia."[7] His command embraced New England, New York and New
Jersey, with its capital at Boston.
[Footnote 7: PALFREY, iii. 558, 561, 562.]
In July, August and September, 1688, Andros made a tour through the
Colonies, going through the Jerseys, and visiting New York city,
Albany and Hartford. During this visit he had held a conference with
the chiefs of the Five Nations, and had notified the Governor of
Canada that these tribes were under the protection of the English. He
must therefore have been surprised and disgusted to find that
hostilities were imminent in the Colony of Maine. The cause of this
outbreak was probably the resentment of Castine, whose property had
been taken by Andros in the spring, and whose influence with the
Penobscots was great.
At first, the Governor tried the effect of conciliation, but finding
this useless, he collected some seven hundred troops,[8] and in
November, 1688, he proceeded to Maine to defend the settlers there. He
established and garrisoned several forts, a list of which will be
found in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. 3rd S. i. 85. At Pemaquid, he received
information of the probable designs of the Prince of Orange upon
England, and January 10th, 1689, he issued the Proclamation which will
be found on p. 75 of the present volume.
[Footnote 8: PALFREY, iii. 568.]
He returned to Boston early in March,[9] and the chief event of that
month was the accusation that he had entered into a conspiracy with
the Indians against the Colony, a base and foolish calumny. On the 4th
of April, 1689, the news of the landing of the Prince of Orange in
England was brought to Boston from Nevis by John Winslow, who had a
copy of the Prince's Declaration. Andros had been previously warned
however, by his friends in New York.
[Footnote 9: Ibid, iii. 570.]