GENERAL HISTORY

OF

NEW ENG AND,

FROM THE

DISCOVERY TO MDCLXXX.

BY THE

REV. WILLIAM HUBBARD,

MINISTER OF IPSWICH, MASS.

"Mr. Hubbard was certainly for many years the most eminent minis.
"ter in the county of Essex: equal to any in the province for learning
"and candour, and superiour to all his contemporaries as a writer."

The late Rev. JOHN ELIOT, D. D. Cor. Sec. Hist. Soc.

PUBLISHED

BY THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Cambridge::::Hilliard & Metcalf.

District of Massachusetts, to wit:

District Clerk's office. Be it remembered, that on the second day of June, A. D. 1814, and in the thirty eighth year of the independence of the United States, JOSEPH MCKEAN, of the said district in the name and behalf of the Massachusetts Historical Society, has der ed in this office the title of a book, the right whereof the said Society ns as proprietor, in the words following, to

wit:

"A general history of New England, from the discovery to MDCLXXX. By the Rev. William Hubbard, minister of Ipswich, Mass. 'Mr. Hubbard was certainly for many years the most eminent minister in the county of Essex; equal to any in the province for learning and candour, aud superiour to all his contemporaries as a writer.' The late Rev. John Eliot, D. D. Cor. Sec. Hist. Soc."

In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act, entitled, "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

W. S. SHAW,

Clerk of the district

of Massachusetts.

PREFATORY NOTICE.

THE Historical Society consider it to be one important object of tir Institution, to multiply copies of rare ar valuable works relative to our Country. The History, to which they now invite the attention of their friends, was never published. Many of their associates and others have expressed a wish, that it might be given to the publick; as it is the original source from which several of our earliest historians derived much of their information.

The Society acknowledge, with gratitude to the memory of their most valued and respected associate, that this precious relick was among the rich contributions, furnished by Rev. Dr. John Eliot from his invaluable collection of the treasures of American history and antiquities. It is believed to have been rescued by his excellent father from the fury of the mob in the depredations on the house, furniture and library of Governour Hutchin

son.

The General Court, 11 Oct. 1682, granted fifty pounds to the Author," as a manifestation of thankfulness" for this history, "he transcribing it fairly, that it may be the more easily perused." The copy, from which this first edition is printed, was probably taken for the purpose of securing the benefits of

this grant. On application by the Society, the legislature have encouraged the present publication by a very liberal subscription, for the use of the Commonwealth.

Of the author, the late Rev. John Eliot D. D. has given a very interesting, though not minute account, in "The New England Biographical Dicti ry." He was born, 1621; was one of the fast class of graduates, at Harvard College, 1642; was settled in the ministry at Ipswich, a colleague of Rev. Thomas Cobbet, about 1666 or 1667; and died, 1704. Of his publications, the following are all that are known: A Sermon, " among the very good ones,”* on the General Election, 1676, 4to; Narrative of Indian wars, 4to, 1677, republished 12mo, Boston, 1775; Fast sermon, 24 June, 1682; Sermon and Memoirs on Maj. Gen. Denison, published with his Irenicon, 12mo, 1684; Testimony (with Rev. John Higginson) to the order of the gospel in the churches, 1701.

In John Dunton's Journal of his visit to New England, 1685, a very interesting notice is taken of the MINISTER of IPSWICH.†

The authenticity and value of this history appear in the following testimonials.

Rev. Thomas Prince, in "A Chronolog ical History of New England in the form of Annals," has in his list of folio MSS.-" 12. The Rev. Mr. William Hubbard's General History of New England from the Discovery to 1680, in 338 pages: And though not in his

* Eliot.

See "Extracts from the life &c. of J. D." Histor. Collect, vol. ii, 2d Ser. p. 121.