March 31st, 1672
Current Map of Connecticut
Team Members:
Sam Katz, Tina Zhang, and Matthew Terlovsky
Description: The letter, copied in 1672 by Edward Ranson, to Massachusetts’ General Courts establishes an agreement between Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth in the early 1670s. It includes the dollar amounts each colony must pay for the next fifteen years if war arose. If unequal, the arrangements may be changed in court.
Those whose names are subscribed, being nominated and Appointed by the General Courts of the Massachusetts & Connecticut respectively to meet & confirm concerning the establishment of the article of Confederation between the Colonists of the Massachusetts Plymouth & Connecticut. Do mutually Agree to present the severall General Courts by the following proposal, I.E That the rule for proportioning men and raysing of moneys for the defraying of such changes as may from time to time arise upon any warr, defensive, or offensive, begun & carried on attending to the Articles of Confederation shall be as followeth: I.E.
The Massachusetts ~ 100 one hundred
Plymouth ~ 030 thirty
Connecticut ~ 060 sixty
And this needs to Continue for 15 years next Coming, after the beginning of the meeting of the Commissioners to be held in Plymouth in September next, and then if anyone or more of the Confederation shall apprehend the above said proportion to be unequall, that matters shall be again Considered by the Commissioners, and what they shall Agree upon shall be proposed to the severall General Courts for their Acceptance & confirmation.
Boston 31.3.1672. ffor the Massachusetts: Symon Bradstreet
Thomas Danforth
ffor the Connecticut: John Allyn
[illegible]
And in all other respects the Articles of Confederation as they were Agreed by the Commissioners at Boston June 2, 1670 [the following line is illegible] October 11, 1670 to stand & be confident
The General Court for the Massachusetts doe Allow & Approove hereof as Attests Edward Ranson [illegible]
This is a hand copy as Attests Edward Ranson [illegible]
Confederacy of Massachusetts Plymouth & Connecticut by May 1672, No.92
Image Citation:
Perkins, G.W. “Map of Connecticut Showing the Settlements in 1670.” ConnecticutHistory.org, Historical Sketches of Meriden, 2012, connecticuthistory.org/connecticuts-oldest-english-settlement/.