king's order, but at length returned to his family after ten or eleven years absence." Hutchinson.

NEWMAN FRANCIS, esq. was secretary of the colony of New Haven when the commissioners of the united colonies agreed to make war upon the Dutch, at Manhadoes, A. D. 1653. In their records. we find, that agents were appointed, who were to examine the whole affair in a conference with gov. Stuyvesant, and require satisfaction. These agents were Francis Newman, one of the magistrates of New Haven, capt. John Leverett, afterwards governour of Massachusetts, and Mr. William Davis. The Dutch governour avoided the examination, and the agents returned without obtaining satisfaction. The commissioners of the united colonies immediately decided for war; several of the colonies raised troops, but the general court of Massachusetts put a stop to their proceedings; nothing could induce them to act offensively upon this occasion. "In direct violation of the articles of the confederation, they resolved, that no determination of the commissioners, should they all agree, should bind the general court to act in an offensive war, which should appear to such general court to be unjust." This declaration caused great disturbance to the sister colonies; they expressed their grief and resentment, and it almost effected a dissolution of the union. Another evil was consequential upon this. The towns bordering upon the Dutch settlements determined they would carry on the war, and there were insurrections in divers places. Mr. Newman was elected by the magistrates of New Haven, with Mr. Goodyear, the deputy governour, to visit the towns, and compose their minds.

Mr. Newman was the next year chosen commissioner of the united colonies. At the election at New Haven, 1658, he was chosen governour. Their excellent chief magistrate, Mr. Eaton, died the year before; Mr. Goodyear, the deputy governour, died also about the same time in London. Trumbull

says, "he was a worthy man of a very respectable family." We find his name often among the commissioners of the united colonies.

Mr. Newman continued in the chief seat of government until the year 1661. He died that year greatly lamented. He was secretary for many years, under the administration of gov. Eaton, and was well acquainted with the affairs of the colony. He is represented, as "a gentleman of piety and unblemished morals, happily imitating his predecessor both in publick and private life." Records of the united colonies. Trumbull.

NEWMAN SAMUEL, author of the Cambridge concordance, was educated at the university of Oxford, and was an able and faithful minister of the gospel many years in his own country. In the year 1638, he came to New England, and spent some time at Dorchester; then removed to Weymouth, and resided there about 5 years. His next remove was to a place bordering on Providence plantations, which he named Rehoboth, according to the quaint style of that day, but which retains its name to the present times. He lived nineteen years with his people, was a very lively preacher, a hard student, and a pastor well beloved by his flock. The manner of his death was peculiar. He had a certain premonition of it, and seemed to triumph in the prospect of its being near. He was apparently in perfect health, and preached a sermon upon these words, Job xiv. 14, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come." In the afternoon of the following Lord's day, he asked the deacon to pray with him saying, he had not long to live. As soon as he had finished his prayer, he said the time was come that he must leave this world. But his friends seeing no immediate signs of disso. lution, thought it was the influence of imagination. But he turned round saying, angels do your office, immediately expired. This may appear like other marvellous circumstances related in the Magnalia,

but it is handed down by persons not connected with that author, and was as much confirmed as any report depending upon tradition, and it is said that accounts of the death of Mr. Newman were written at the time, and sent to England, as well as propa. gated through the towns of New England. He died, July 5, 1663, in the 63d year of his age. Mr. Norton of Boston and Mr. Stone of Hartford died the same year.

His concordance of the bible, was superiour to any that ever had been published. It was a very elaborate work; but the edition, which was called the Cambridge concordance, was much improved in England, where it received this title.

NEWTON THOMAS, attorney general of Massa. chusetts Bay, died in Boston, 1721, May 28. He was educated in England, was much beloved in his native country, and highly esteemed here for his virtue, integrity and honour, while he was comp. troller of the customs, which was his first appointment; and in his profession as counsellor of law. "He was affable, courteous, circumspect, devout, exemplary for family government, and all the duties of humanity."

it

NORRIS EDWARD, teacher of the church in Sa lem, was ordained, March 18, 1640. After Mr. Peters left the church he had the sole charge of it for 18 years, and, by his prudence and moderation, grew and flourished: it was preserved in a state of general tranquillity while other towns were agitated by fanaticks, and the commonwealth swarmed with sectaries. He was more liberal in his ideas of toleration than most ministers in New England, and was never active in any of the proceedings against the Gortonists or Anabaptists. So little

did he interfere in the affairs of other churches, that when the platform of church discipline was adopted in 1648, he persevered in a platform of his own church, and preserved not only the love of his peo

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• Bentley.

ple, but the respect of his neighbours unto his death, which happened, April 10, 1659.

In an account of eminent men by father Barnard, of Marblehead, Mr. Norris's name appears with the first class. He was celebrated as a political writer, as well as a great divine. In 1642, a book was writ. ten, by Mr. Saltonstall, one of the assistants, wherein "the standing council was declared to be a sinful innovation." A reply to it was made, by Mr. Dudley. But we learn from gov. Winthrop, that another answer was given by " Mr. Norris, a grave and judicious elder, teacher of the church at Salem, who, not suspecting the author, handled him somewhat sharply according to the merit of the matter."

In 1658, Mr. Norris again appeared as a writer on the politicks of the day. The other colonies were disposed to declare war against the Dutch settlements. The commissioners of the united colonies, with the exception of Simon Bradstreet, had agreed upon this measure as absolutely necessary. The general court of Massachusetts would not consent to the decree of the commissioners, but Mr. Norris wrote in favour of them. He represented such a war as just and proper: " that the spending so much time in parlies and treaties, after all the injuries they had received, and while the enemy was insulting them, would make them appear contemptible to the Indians; that it was dishonouring God, in whom they professed to trust, and bringing a scandal upon themselves. He insisted that they ought not to leave their brethren at New Haven to bear all the evils which the enemies of New England were disposed, and ready to bring upon them: and that if they did not engage in this business, they deserved the curse which the angel of the lord utter

Another thing has been mentioned concerning the Salem people, which implies a peculiar setness in their own way. When all the churches in Massachusetts Bay used the New England psalms, they continued to use Ainsworth, These were sung in this town till the year 1675, so afraid were they of the spirit of innovation, or else fond of singularity in their mode of worship.

ed against Meroz. This, he said, he presented in the name of many pensive hearts."

He

Mr. Norris left a son, who was preceptor of the grammar school in Salem from 1640 to 1684. died this year, aged 70 years.

he en

NORTON JOHN, was born May 6, 1606, at Starford in Hertfordshire. At 14 years of age tered Peter house, Cambridge, but was obliged to leave the university, after he had taken his first degree, on account of some domestick misfortunes, whereby his father's estate suffered. He obtained a curacy of the church in his native town, and was at the same time teacher of the school. His talents were such as would enable him to make a figure in any situation. He might have obtained preferment in the episcopal church, and he was solicited to accept a fellowship in the university; but his dislike of the ceremonies prevented him from accepting a considerable benefice. He also had an antipathy to Arminianism, which was the prevailing sentiment of the ministers of the church of England. In the year 1634, he was coming to America in the same ship with Mr. Thomas Shepherd, but a storm drove them back again, and he did not accomplish his purpose till the next year. It is said, in Winthrop's journal, that he arrived at Plymouth, October 10, 1635, the vessel being driven into that harbour by contrary winds, but it appears from other accounts that Mr. Winslow, the agent for New Plymouth at the court of Great Britain, had made overtures to him to take the charge of that ancient church. He passed the winter with them, and they were so fond of his preaching, that they set aside Mr. Ralph Smith, their pastor, a man of less gifts, and pressed Mr. Norton's continuance; yet he left them, and came to Massachusetts. He was immediately invited to settle with the church at Ipswich, where he continued till the death of Mr. Cotton. The old church in Boston, had a very high opinion of his accomplishments. When the synod met at Cam