CHARLES THE SECOND died in 1685, and was succeeded by the Duke of York, under the title of James the Second. The disregard of the rights of his subjects that had characterized the latter years of Charles’s reign was increased rather than diminished under the reign of James. It was considered desirable by this king and those in authority under him to procure a surrender of all the patents that had been granted to the American colonies, and to rearrange them for provinces with a governor-general over the whole.
In July 1685 a writ of quo warranto was issued against the officers of Connecticut, summoning them to appear and show by what authority they exercised their functions and privileges. This was answered in July 1686 by an address beseeching pardon for any fault in their government, and requesting a continuance of their rights. On the 21st of that month two writs of quo warranto were served on the governor, requiring appearance and answer at a date prior to their service. Another bearing date October 23d was served December 28th, and this gave insufficient time for appearance and answer. All these writs declared the chartered rights of the colony vacated by failure to appear at the time and place required.
When an agent was sent to present the petition of the colony and endeavor to preserve its rights, it was found that the king and council had already determined to vacate all the colonial charters, and unite all the colonies under a governor of royal appointment. Accordingly Sir Edmund (previously Major) Andross was appointed governor-general of New England. He arrived in Boston on the 19th of December 1686, and at once demanded, by letter, the surrender of the charter of Connecticut. He did not succeed, and, in October of the next year, while the Assembly was in session, he visited Hartford with a company of soldiers and demanded the surrender of the charter. It was produced, but, pending a debate between Andross and the officers of the government, the lights were extinguished, and it was carried away and secreted in a hollow oak. Andross took formal possession of the government, however, annexed it to Massachusetts, and appointed civil and military officers.
Although Andross commenced his administration with strong professions of regard for the happiness and welfare of the people, it soon became evident that these professions were insincere, and that the colonists were to suffer under the exercise of an arbitrary and despotic power. The titles of the colonists to their lands were declared to be invalid, and they were required, even after they had improved their possessions during more than half a century, to take out new patents and pay for them a heavy fee. Many other oppressive measures were instituted, and the people were made to feel the weight of the tyranny under which they were placed.
The reign of Andross was, however, not of long duration. King James, who was as odious in England as was Andross in America, was compelled to flee from the kingdom, and on the 5th of November 1688, William, Prince of Orange, landed in England and assumed the functions of government. The news of this revolution was received in Boston in April 1689, and the people arrested and imprisoned Andross, and reinstated the old officers of the colony.
The former government of Connecticut was re-established. The charter had not been surrendered nor invalidated, and the ablest lawyers in England decided that the government had not been legally interrupted.
The population of the colony continued to increase, and new towns were founded. The limits of this sketch will not permit an account of the founding of these towns. The free basis on which the colonial government of Connecticut was originally established was favorable to the development of the spirit of liberty, independence, and jealousy of their rights that has always characterized her citizens. The existence and exercise of that spirit was illustrated by an episode in the colonial history in 1692.
In August of that year Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, governor of New York, arrived in his colony with a commission which empowered him to assume command of the militia in the neighboring colonies. The charter of Connecticut conferred this power on the colony, and the Legislature would not submit to its assumption by Governor Fletcher. In September 1693, the court caused a petition for their chartered rights to be drafted and sent to King William. An agent was also sent to New York for the purpose of making terms with Governor Fletcher till the pleasure of the king should be further known. No terms, however, short of an entire relinquishment of the militia to his command could be made.
Trumbull says:
“On the 26th of October he came to Hartford, while the Assembly were sitting, and, in his Majesty’s name, demanded the submission of the militia to his command, as they would answer it to his Majesty; and that they would give him a speedy answer in two words, Yes, or No. He subscribed himself his Majesty’s lieutenant and commander-in-chief of all the militia, and the forces by sea and land, and of all the forts and places of strength in the colony of Connecticut. He ordered the militia of Hartford under arms, that he might beat up for volunteers. It was judged expedient to call the train bands of Hartford together; but the Assembly insisted that the command of the militia was expressly vested, by the charter, in the governor and company; and that they could by no means, consistently with their just rights and the common safety, resign it into other hands. They insinuated that his demands were an invasion of their essential privileges, and subversive of their constitution.
“Upon this, Colonel Bayard, by his excellency’s command, sent a letter to the Assembly, declaring that his excellency had no design upon the civil rights of the colony; but would leave them in all respects as he found them. In the name of his excellency he tendered a commission to Governor Treat, empowering him to command the militia of the colony. He declared that his excellency insisted that they should acknowledge it as an essential right inherent in his Majesty to command the militia, and that he was determined not to set his foot out of the colony until he had seen his Majesty’s commission obeyed; that he would issue his proclamation, showing the means he had taken to give ease and satisfaction to his Majesty’s subjects of Connecticut, and that he would distinguish the disloyal from the rest.
“The train bands of Hartford assembled, and as tradition is, while Captain Wadsworth, the senior officer, was walking in front of the companies and exercising the soldiers, Colonel Fletcher ordered his commission and instructions to be read. Captain Wadsworth instantly commanded ‘Beat the drums!’ and there was such a roaring of them that nothing else could be heard. Colonel Fletcher commanded silence. But no sooner had Bayard made an attempt to read than Wadsworth commands ‘Drum, drum, I say!’ The drummers understood their business, and instantly beat up with all the art and life with which they were masters. ‘Silence! silence!’ says the colonel. No sooner was there a pause than Wadsworth speaks with great earnestness, ‘Drum, drum, I say!’ and, turning to his excellency, said: ‘If I am interrupted again I will make the sun shine through you in a moment.’ He spoke with such energy in his voice, and meaning in his countenance, that no further attempts were made to read or enlist men. Such numbers of people collected together, and their spirits appeared so high, that the governor and his suite judged it expedient to leave the town and return to New York.”
When the matter was presented in England the legal officers of the Crown gave their opinion in favor of Connecticut, and the king and council determined the matter in accordance with their opinion.
Source
Whittemore, Henry, History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, New York : J. B. Beers & Co., 1884.
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