Oaths of Allegiance in Colonial New EnglandEvans, Charles
History
Oaths of Allegiance in Colonial New England
Evans, Charles
Oaths; United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources
On the 23 of June, 1644, The formes of two oathes were propounded to
the Court to be taken the next second day in the morning, by all the
inhabitants in this plantatiō, one of them is to be taken by all,
and the other by the Governo^r onely.
* * * * *
Att a Gen^{rll} Court held att Newhaven the 1^t of July, 1644. The
Governo^r tooke this oath as followeth,
I [Theophilus Eaton] being att a Gen^{rll} Co^{rt} in October last,
chosen Governo^r w^thin Newhaven Jurisdictiō for a yeare then to
ensue, and vntill a new Governo^r be chosen, do sweare by the great
and dreadfull name of the ever living God, to promove the publique
good and peace of the same, according to the best of my skill, and
will allso maintaine all the lawfull priviledges of this
comōwealth, according to the fundamentall order and agreem^t made
for governm^t in this jurisdictiō, and in like manner will endeuo^r
thatt all wholsome lawes thatt are or shall be made by lawfull
authority here established be duely executed, and will further the
executiō of justice according to the righteous rules of Gods worde,
so help me God in o^r Lord Jesus Christ.
* * * * *
The Governo^r haveing allso received the
OATH OF FIDELITY
as followeth,
I [Theophilus Eaton] being by the providence of God an inhabitant
w^thim Newhaven Jurisdictiō, doe acknowledge myselfe to be subject
to the goverm^t thereof, and doe sweare by the great and dreadfull
name of the ever living God, to be true and faithfull vnto the same,
and doe submitt both my person and my whole estate thervnto
according to all the wholsome lawes and orders thatt for present are
or hereafter shall be there made and established by lawfull
authority, and thatt I will neither plott nor practise any evill
agst the same, nor consent to any thatt shall so doe, butt will
timely discover the same to lawfull authority here established, and
thatt I will as I am in duety bounde, maintaine the hono^r of the
same and off the lawfull magistrates thereoff, promoting the
publique good of the same whilest I shall continue an inhabitant
there. And whensoever I shall be duely called a free burgesse,
according to the fundamentall order and agreem^t for governm^t in
this jurisdictiō to give my vote or suffrage touching any matter
w^ch concerneth this comō wealth, I will give itt as in my
conscience I shall judge may conduce to the best good of the same
w^thout respect of persons, So help me God in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then he gave itt to all those whose names are herevnder written,
[Two hundred and sixteen names.] [1644.]
In May, 1665, the Colonies of Connecticut, and New Haven were united as
the Colony of Connecticut in New England.
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
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