until the s. 25. August that the Indians came upon s. Plantation & most barbarously murthered John Evans John Johnson & and his three childrens. Dated Baston 20th Septemb. 1696. John Butcher John Usher Wm. Stoughton Increase Mather Charles Morton Jer. Dummer Nehemiah Walter min'. D. [Page 349.] That the French settlers at Oxford had a minister of their own, appears from a letter, written by him to some person in authority [probably gov. Dudley,] complaining of the sale of rum to the Indians, "without order and measure," and of its baneful effects. The date is lost, with a line or two at the beginning; but is endorsed, "Mr. Dan1. Bondet's Representation referring to N. Oxford July 6th 1691." He mentions it as upon 66 an occasion which fills my heart with sorrow and my life of trouble, but my humble request will be at least before God, and before you a solemn protestation against the guilt of those incorrigible persons who dwell in our place. The rome [rum] is always sold to the Indians without order and measure, insomuch that according the complaint sent to me by master Dickestean with advice to present it to your honor. The 26 of the last month there was about twenti indians so furious by drunkness that they fought like bears and fell upon one called remes..... who is appointed for preaching the gospel amongst them he had been so much disfigured by his wonds that there is no hope of his recovery. If it was your pleasure to signifie to the instrumens of that evil the jalosie of your athoriti and of the publique tranquility, you would do great good maintaining the honor of God, in a Christian habitation, conforting some honest souls wich being incompatible with such abominations feel every day the burden of afflixion of their honorable perigrination aggravated. Hear us pray and so God be with you and prosper all your just undertakins and applications tis the sincere wish of your most respectuous servant D. BONDET minister of the gospell in a French Congregation at newoxford." The government probably interfered, and took measures to prevent the repetition of the evil complained of. The above paper was found in the Secretary's office, and shown to me by Mr. secretary Bradford, who, at my request, searched the government papers, in aid of my inquiries. The "representation of the minister may have induced the government to appoint him a missionary to the natives in the neighborhood of Oxford; for, in another communication, Mr. Bradford informed me: "In 1695, Mr. Bondet, a French Protestant minister, preached to the Nipmug Indians... in the south of Worcester county." E. LETTERS AND PAPERS FROM THE BERNON MSS. IN THE POSSESSION OF PHILIP ALLEN, ESQ. OF PROVIDENCE. SIR, Letter from Gov. Dudley to G. Bernon, dated, "Roxbury April 6, 1715." We are now in a way to thrive at Oxford, and I particularly thank you for what you have done towards a Grist Mill in the Village, by giving the mill stones and irons to Daniel Eliot, conditionally that the mill should be built to serve the town within such a perfixed time which is now past and nothing done. I desire you to write to him to go forward immediately so as to finish the mill presently to the satisfaction of the Inhabitants, or that you will order the said mill and irons to be given to such other person as will go forward in the work, that they may not be starved the next winter. I pray you to take effectual order in the matter. Superscribed "To Mr. Gabriel Bernon Narraganset." J. DUDLEY." The answer of Mr. Bernon is dated "Kingstown 30 April, 1715." He writes, that, according to the letter from his excellency, he had "ordered Mr. Daniel Eliot to finish the Crist Mill at Oxford, or to let the town have the two mill stown to set the mill in a convenient place. It will be a great blessing to strive [thrive] after so much distorbance: And if I can but have the freinship and charity of your Excellency in my old time, with a young wife and a second family in this New World, I may be happy and blessed." In a petition, afterwards, to Gor. Shute, he says, . . . "being now near 80 years of age, and having several children by my first wife, and so seeing children of my children. I have since married an English woman, by whom also I have several children," &c. . . . . By a statement of G. Bernon, intended to prove his claim upon the plantation, it appears, that he considered "the Plantation of New Oxford" indebted to him for 2500 acres of land, besides the amount of expenses laid out by him upon the place. This claim appears to have been made about the year 1717, or 1720; for on his account there is a charge of interest "for above 30 years." The statement alleges, that 500 acres of the plantation were "granted by their Excellencys Mr. Dudley and Mr. Stoughton to Isaac Bertrand Du Tuffeau and Gabriel Bernon in the year 1687," and that 250 acres were "granted since, making in all 750 aikers;" and that "their Excellencys Mr. Dudley and Mr. Stoughton did grant to the said Mr. Bernon for his own use alone 1750 aikers more, which makes in all 2500 aikers, which Mr. Bernon justly claims, upon which he hath built a corn miln, a wash leathern miln, and a saw miln, and laid out some other considerable expences to improve the town of New Oxford, as he has made appear by the testimonys of several worthy gentlemen whose names he has hitherto subjoined. The Weidow Leveufe Jean Johnson of which her husband and three children was kil and murder by the Ingen." By a plan of Mr. Gabriel Bernon's land in Oxford, taken in 1717, it appears, that it measured 2672 acres, "exclusive of Mr. Daniel Bondet's of 200 acres, and out of said 2672 acres must come out 1 The government probably interfered, and took measures to prevent the repetition of the evil complained of. The above paper was found in the Secretary's office, and shown to me by Mr. secretary Bradford, who, at my request, searched the government papers, in aid of my inquiries. The "representation of the minister may have induced the government to appoint him a missionary to the natives in the neighborhood of Oxford; for, in another communication, Mr. Bradford informed me: "In 1695, Mr. Bondet, a French Protestant minister, preached to the Nipmug Indians... in the south of Worcester county." E. [Page 350.] LETTERS AND PAPERS FROM THE BERNON MSS. IN THE POSSESSION OF PHILIP ALLEN, ESQ. OF PROVIDENCE. SIR, Letter from Gov. Dudley to G. Bernon, dated, "Roxbury April 6, 1715.” We are now in a way to thrive at Oxford, and I particularly thank you for what you have done towards a Grist Mill in the Village, by giving the mill stones and irons to Daniel Eliot, conditionally that the mill should be built to serve the town within such a perfixed time which is now past and nothing done. I desire you to write to him to go forward immediately so as to finish the mill presently to the satisfaction of the Inhabitants, or that you will order the said mill and irons to be given to such other person as will go forward in the work, that they may not be starved the next winter. I pray you to take effectual order in the matter. I am your humble servant, Superscribed J. DUDLEY." "To Mr. Gabriel Bernon Narraganset." The answer of Mr. Bernon is dated "Kingstown 30 April, 1715." He writes, that, according to the letter from his excellency, he had "ordered Mr. Daniel Eliot to finish the Crist Mill at Oxford, or to let the town have the two mill stown to set the mill in a convenient place. It will be a great blessing to strive [thrive] after so much distorbance: And if I can but have the freinship and charity of your Excellency in my old time, with a young wife and a second family in this New World, I may be happy and blessed." In a petition, afterwards, to Gor. Shute, he says, . . . "being now near 80 years of age, and having several children by my first wife, and so seeing children of my children. I have since married an English woman, by whom also I have several children," &c. . . . . By a statement of G. Bernon, intended to prove his claim upon the plantation, it appears, that he considered "the Plantation of New Oxford" indebted to him for 2500 acres of land, besides the amount of expenses laid out by him upon the place. This claim appears to have been made about the year 1717, or 1720; for on his account there is a charge of interest" for above 30 years." The statement alleges, that 500 acres of the plantation were "granted by their Excellencys Mr. Dudley and Mr. Stoughton to Isaac Bertrand Du Tuffeau and Gabriel Bernon in the year 1687," and that 250 acres were "granted since, making in all 750 aikers;" and that "their Excellencys Mr. Dudley and Mr. Stoughton did grant to the said Mr. Bernon for his own use alone 1750 aikers more, which makes in all 2500 aikers, which Mr. Bernon justly claims, upon which he hath built a corn miln, a wash leathern miln, and a saw miln, and laid out some other considerable expences to improve the town of New Oxford, as he has made appear by the testimonys of several worthy gentlemen whose names he has hitherto subjoined. The Weidow Leveufe Jean Johnson of which her husband and three children was kil and murder by the Ingen." By a plan of Mr. Gabriel Bernon's land in Oxford, taken in 1717, it appears, that it measured 2672 acres, "exclusive of Mr. Daniel Bondet's of 200 acres, and out of said 2672 acres must come out |