Beschreibung:

JAMES II (1633-1701), King of England . Manuscript document signed ("James R") to EDMUND ANDROS (1637-1714), countersigned by Robert Spencer Earl of Sunderland (1641-1702) as President of Council and Secretary of State, "Court at Windsor," 30 July 1686. 1 page, oblong folio (12¾ x 15¾ in.), ON FINE PARCHMENT, text in a scrolling English clerical hand, signed by the King in upper blank portion, papered wax seal at top right, very slight soiling, tiny nick at bottom edge, otherwise in superb original condition. Certified by Sunderland at bottom "by his Maj. t i e s Command." verso docketed "S r. Edm d. Andros Cap t. in N England 30 t h. of July 1686." THE KING ESTABLISHES THE "DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND", AND GRANTS EDMUND ANDROS ROYAL MILITARY AUTHORITY: THE EFFORT THAT LED TO THE 1687 CONCEALMENT OF CONNECTICUT'S CHARTER IN THE "CHARTER OAK" An appointment which constituted a key element in one of the earliest colonial plans of union, James II's attempt to curtail the independence and cherished self-government of the colonial legislatures by annulling their existing charters, to bring them under the unified rule of the Crown as "The Dominion of New England." The document reads: "James the Second, by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland France, and Ireland...to our Trusty and Welbeloved Sr. Edmund Andros Knight, Our Governor of our Colony of New England in America...do constitute and Appoint you to be Capttain...to be employed in our Service in our said Colony: You are therefore...to follow such Orders and directions as you shall receive from Us...." James II sought to abrogate the very divergent colonial charters--which accorded the colonies a significant level of self-government--and to merge the New England Colonies and New York into a "Dominion of New England," under the royal governorship of Sir Edmund Andros. Andros, with years of experience in colonial governance, had been appointed by Charles II in 1674 as captain of the province of New York, newly acquired by treaty from the Dutch. While he enjoyed considerable success in that post, he was recalled in 1680. To establish the Dominion of New England, seven provinces were united: Massachusetts (whose Charter had been revoked in 1684); Maine (once part of Massachusetts Bay), New Hampshire (already a royal province) Plymouth (charterless), and King's Province (Narragansett, already under royal warrant), Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 1686 Andros was named Governor-General of all the New England colonies, at the same date as this commission, endowing him with supreme civil and military authority. Andros arrived at Boston in December 1686; his most important task was to bring the two refractory colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut into the federation. Connecticut kept its charter government throughout 1686 into 1687, but in October 1687, Andros acted and marched with a troop of soldiers to Hartford to seize control of the government. On 27 October Andros arrived, seated himself in the Governor's chair at the state house and had his commission proclaimed to the people. During meetings that night, the original Charter was brought our for consultation. The candles were suddenly blown out and in the ensuing confusion the precious document was spirited away and concealed in the Charter Oak. Andros's authority was acknowledged, nevertheless, and the Dominion endured under the arbitrary rule of Andros until the spring of 1689, when news arrived in New England of the Glorious Revolution. With the ascension of William & Mary charter government was quickly reinstated throughout New England and the Dominion of New England ceased to exist.