Colonial Governments of Connecticut

BY THE pursuit of the Pequots, the colonists became acquainted with the lands on the coast of the Sound to the west of Saybrook. This led to the emigration from Massachusetts, in 1638, of Mr. Eaton, Mr. Hopkins, Rev. Mr. Davenport, and many others, who landed at New Haven and founded a flourishing colony.

The inhabitants of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield were without the limits of the Massachusetts patent and beyond the jurisdiction of that colony. They therefore resolved to form themselves into a distinct commonwealth, and, on the 14th of January, 1639, the free planters of these towns convened at Hartford and adopted a constitution. The preamble to this instrument set forth that it was to preserve “the libberty and purity of the Gospell,” as they understood it, “and the regulation of civil affairs.”

This was the first constitution adopted in the New World, and it recognized as among its fundamental principles the great bulwarks of American freedom. It has been said of it that it was “simple in its terms, comprehensive in its policy, methodical in its arrangement, and beautiful in its adaptation of parts to a whole, of means to an end.”

On the 4th of June, 1639, the free planters of Quinnipiack, or New Haven, met and formed a civil and religious organization. The constitution, if such it may be termed, of this colony was original, and, in some of the provisions, unique. The government thus established has been termed a theocracy, and, although this term was hardly applicable, it is not too much to say that it was widely different from that of Connecticut.

In 1639 the towns of Milford and Guilford were founded in the colony of New Haven. In the same year Fairfield and Stratford were founded, under the jurisdiction of Connecticut.

In 1639 the commonwealth of Saybrook was founded by Colonel George Fenwick, one of the original patentees. The fort there had been garrisoned since its erection, but no civil government had been established. This government was administered by Fenwick till 1644.

Under the constitution of Connecticut, the freemen assembled at Hartford, in April 1639, and chose as officers: John Haynes Esq., governor; Roger Ludlow, George Willys, Edward Hopkins, Thomas Welles, John Webster, and William Phelps, magistrates; Roger Ludlow, deputy governor; Edward Hopkins, secretary; and Thomas Welles, treasurer. Twelve delegates composed the first General Assembly. At an adjourned session of this assembly the several towns in the colony were incorporated, and their municipal powers and privileges defined.

In 1642 the capital laws of Connecticut were recorded. These are a portion of what have sometimes been termed the “blue laws,” and the passages of Scripture on which they were founded were noted in each instance.

The death penalty was prescribed for 14 crimes, including witchcraft, blasphemy, various forms of unchastity, cursing or smiting of parents, and incorrigible stubbornness of children.

The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed, in 1643, a confederacy for mutual safety, under the name of “United Colonies of New England.”

In 1644 the colony of Connecticut purchased from Colonel Fenwick, for £1,600, the jurisdiction right in the colony of Saybrook.

During the decade from 1640 to 1650, many towns were founded, both in the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. Each sought to extend her territory by the purchase of portions of Long Island, and the latter attempted to plant a colony on the Delaware Bay.

New London was founded in 1646, under the auspices of the General Court of Massachusetts; but the jurisdiction was, in the next year, relinquished to Connecticut.

At about the commencement of the decade from 1650 to 1660, the Dutch, at New Netherland, who had never relinquished their claim to the territory of Connecticut, had become troublesome by their plotting and inciting the Indians against the English, and in 1653 measures were adopted by the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven for defense against a projected expedition by Long Island Indians against the Indians in alliance with the colonies. In 1654 the colony received an order from Parliament to treat the Dutch as enemies, and the Dutch possessions at Hartford were seized for the benefit of the commonwealth.

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Source

Whittemore, Henry, History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, New York : J. B. Beers & Co., 1884.