General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great BritainPeters, Samuel
History
General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great Britain
Peters, Samuel
Connecticut -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Connecticut -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
The pursuivants observed to him that their business required
more secrecy than was consistent with such a reading of
their instructions. He delayed furnishing them with horses
until the next morning, and utterly declined giving them any
powers until he had consulted his Council at New Haven.
They complained that an Indian went off from Guilford to New
Haven in the night, and that the Governor was so dilatory
the next morning that a messenger went on to New Haven
before they could obtain horses for their assistance. The
judges were apprized of every transaction respecting them,
and they and their friends took their measures accordingly.
They changed their quarters from one place to another in the
town as circumstances required, and had faithful friends to
give them information, and to conceal them from their
enemies.
On the 13th of March the pursuers came to New Haven, and
Governor Leet arrived in town soon after them to consult his
Council. They acquainted him that, from the information they
had received, they were persuaded that the judges were yet
in town, and pressed him and the magistrates to give them a
warrant and assistance to arrest them without any further
delay.
But, after the Governor and his Council had been together
five or six hours, they dispersed without doing anything
relative to the affair. The Governor declared that he could
not act without calling a general assembly of the freedmen.
Kellond and Kirk observed to him that the other governors
had not stood upon such niceties; that the honor and justice
of his Majesty were concerned, and that he would highly
resent the concealment and abetting of such traitors and
regicides.
They demanded whether he and his Council would own and honor
his Majesty? The Governor replied: “We do honor his Majesty,
but have tender consciences, and wish first to know whether
he will own us.”--(Report of Kellond and Kirk to Governor
Endicott, to which they gave oath in the presence of the
Governor and Council.)
The tradition is, that the pursuers searched Mr. Davenport’s
house, and used him very ill. They also searched other
houses where they suspected that the regicides were
concealed. The report is that they went into the house of
one Mrs. Eyers, where they actually were concealed, but she
conducted the affair with such composure and address that
they imagined that the judges had just made their escape
from the house, and they went off without making any search.
It is said that once, when the pursuers passed a bridge, the
judges were concealed under it. Several times they narrowly
escaped, but never could be taken.
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