Fortified by faith and grim determination the colonists carried on in
the face of great adversity, yet getting more and more firmly
established.
In 1636, owing to the growth of the original colony or plantation and
the establishment of separate settlements at Scituate and Duxbury, the
purely democratic rule which had obtained under the Mayflower Compact,
wherein matters pertaining to the interests of the colony were settled
in general assembly, was superseded by a law passed providing for
government by deputies representing the several towns.
The first legislative body met in 1639 and brought together
representatives from the outlying towns of Sandwich, Barnstable,
Yarmouth, Taunton, Scituate, Duxbury and Plymouth.
In 1643, for mutual interests and against the menace of Indian attack, a
confederation was formed between the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies
in combination with Connecticut and New Haven as separate units, with
authority vested in commissioners.
This remained in force until 1672 when a new compact was made upon the
union of Connecticut and New Haven, which gave less authority to the
commissioners.
In 1686 Sir Edmund Andros was sent by King James to rule over the
Dominion of New England, to which in 1688 New York and New Jersey were
added, the seat of government remaining in Boston.
Conditions under Andros with his autocratic assumptions and restrictions
were not pleasant. It is interesting to note in this connection that
Clark’s Island which had for some time been used for the support of the
poor, was turned over by Andros to one of his followers who had been
attracted by its natural beauties.
The ascension of William III to the throne of England in 1689 had much
to do with shaping the destinies of the colonists. The regime of Andros
continued until word was received that the landing of William, Prince of
Orange, in England threatened the overthrow of the Stuart dynasty when
the citizens of Boston revolted, took possession of a British ship in
the harbor and overthrew the crown’s despotic representative. Plymouth
again acquired Clark’s Island and later the proclamation of William and
Mary established once more the freedom the colonists had previously
enjoyed.
In 1692 came the union of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies.
Sir William Phipps was appointed by the crown chief magistrate over the
Massachusetts Colony with which the Plymouth Colony was united under one
royal charter.
[Illustration: A&P]