THE BOOK OF THE COLONIES; COMPRISING A HISTORY OF THE COLONIES COMPOSING THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE DISCOVERY IN THE TENTH CENTURY UNTIL THE COMMENCEMENT COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES, BY JOHN FROST, LL.D., Author of the "Book of the Army,” and “Book of the Navy." Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by JOHN FROST, In the office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. THE NEW YORK Aster, Lenox and Thidon Foundations. 1300 MHOY W 4865 14-865 PREFACE. A FRIEND, who is so kind as to express a favourable opinion respecting the "Book of the Navy" and the "Book of the Army," suggested the propriety of completing the series by a "Book of the Colonies." As the two former works present a view of the naval and military history of the country from the declaration of independence to the present time, and the Book of the Colonies gives a general history, from the earliest times to the commencement of the revolutionary war; we have thus a review of the main current of history through the whole period of our colonial and national existence; while each of the volumes is a complete and distinct work, having its proper subject and unity. This present work is chiefly drawn from Murray, whose chapters on the colonization of the United States are written with great care, with access to a first-rate collection of authorities, and in a spirit of intelligent liberality, as admirable as it is rare. (3) CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.—THE NORTHMEN-COLUMBUS-THE CABOTS.-Voyage of Nad- CHAPTER II.-SPANISH EXPEDITIONS.-Ponce de Leon-Florida-Expedition CHAPTER III.—FRENCH EXPEDITIONS.-Verazzano-Coligni-Ribault—Lau- donniere-Menendez-Massacre of the Huguenots-Expedition of De CHAPTER IV.—SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA.-Amadas and Barlow-Lane's Expedition-White-Gosnold-Weymouth-Settlement at Jamestown- Condition of the Colony-Smith taken Prisoner-Pocahontas-Smith ex- plores the Chesapeake-Coronation of Powhatan-Arrival of Lord Dela- ware-Pocahontas in England-First Representative Assembly-The great Massacre-Berkeley appointed Governor-Bennet chosen Governor-The Navigation Act-Bacon's Rebellion-Culpeper appointed Governor- CHAPTER V.-SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND.-Arrival of Calvert-Settlement of Kent Island-Difficulties with Clayborne-Settlement of Anne Arun- CHAPTER VI.—SETTLEMENT OF NEW ENGLAND.-Arrival of Smith-Grants to the Plymouth Company-The Pilgrims-Settlement of New Plymouth -Treaty with Massassoit-Prosperity of the Colonies-Settlement of Boston-Form of Colonial Government-Religious Dissensions-Banish- ment of Roger Williams-Female Fanaticism-Sir Henry Vane-First Religious Synod-Dissensions in the Colony-Rise of the Quakers-De- cline of Fanaticism-Opposition to the Crown-Charter cancelled- Charter revived-Destruction of the Pequods-Destruction of the Narra- gansetts-Christianity among the Narragansetts-Party Controversies- Connecticut colonized-Charter cancelled-Rhode Island-Early History |