Rev. Col. John Coode and the Glorious Revolution

	The Maryland Protestant Revolution of 1689 Rev. Col. John Coode and the Glorious Revolution

1676 Assembly Proceedings. On Satturday May the 20th 1676 The house Mett Present as Yesterday
Touching the Murder of the Susquehannh Indians [Ca]p Jno ALLEN being Sworne and examined Saith [that] about the 25 or 26 day of September on Sunday [M]orning the Mary Land forces appeared before the Forte under the Comand of Major TRUMAN Who Sending Hugh FFRENCH and another to the forte there Came out two or three of the Indians and more afterwards To the Number of Thirty or forty and the Major examined them Concerning the mischeife tht was done to Mr. HANSON and others and if they knew what Indians they were, original and they told them it was the Seneca's dureing which discourse between the Major and them Came over Coll WASSHINGTON Coll MASON and Major Alderton [ALLERTON] and they likewise Taxed them with the Murders done on theire Side by them but they made the same reply as To Major Truman that it was none of them soe when they found they Could get nothing out of them Then they made it appeare tht 3 of the Said Susquehannough Indians were they that did the Murders on the other Side, On Munday morning early the Major comanded Mr COOD and two or three Rankes of men Whereof himself was one To goe to the house of Mr Randolph HANSON to se if the Indians had plundered it and if they found any amunition to bring it away which accordingly they did and after Returne back to the forte the Depont Saw Six Indians guarded with the Mary Landers & Virginians and the Major with the Virginia Officrs Sitting upon a Tree Some distance from them and after Some While they all Rose and came Towards The Indians and Caused them to be Bound, And after Some time they talked againe and the Virginia Officrs would have knocked them on the head in the place presently & perticularly Collonl Wasshington Said what Should we keep them any longer let us knock them on the head we shall get the Forte to day, But the Depont Saith tht the major would not admit of it but was over swayed by the Virgia Officers and after further discourse the sd Indians wer carryed forth from the place where they were bound & they knocked them on the head Coll Samll CHEW and Coll Jesse WHARTON [Sent] to desire the Lower howse to acquaint this [house] Whether they have drawne up a[ny thing by] way of Impeachmt of Major Thom[asTruman] and tht they Would please to Signifie [the Same] to this house by a Member of th[eir own] House
(Archives of Maryland, vol. 2, Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly April 1666 - June 1676, pp. 482-483.)

1677 June 14. A narrative of the transactons of the Susqeuhannock fortt soe fare as I know concerning the killing of the five Indians. As soone as our Virginia forces were landed in Maryland wee found five Susquehannock Indians under guard and inquireing the reason of theire restraint were answered they endeavoured an escape and thereof were secured till our comeing in order to a treaty. Wee informing the Marylanders our businesse was first to treat and require satisfaction for the murder perpetrated before wee declared ourselves open enemies and proceeded to hostile actions. Lt. Coll. John WASHINGTON and Major ISAAC ALLERTON upon this information thought it convenient to have them stronger guarded and themselves alsoe dureing the treaty which being donne and Coll. Washington and Major Alerton accordingly treating there first demanded was satisfaction for the murders and spoyles commmitted on Virginia shore. Major TRUEMAN in the interim remaining silent. After long debate and scrutinies therein made by Coll. Washington and Major Alerton the Indians disowned all that was aledged to them and imputed it all to Seneccas. Coll. Washington and Major Alerton urged that severall cannoes loaded with beefe and pork had bin carried into theire fort alleadging that theire enimyes would not be soe kinde as to supply them with provisions and farther that some of there men had a little before bin taken on Virginnia side who had the cloths of such as had bin a little before murdered, upon there backes which made it appeare that they had bin the murderers. For these reasons Major Alerton and Coll. Washington demanded satisfaction or else they must proceed against them as enimyes and storme there fort and accordingly commanded the interpreter to bid them defiance dureing the time of this treaty. Major Trewman came and asked the Gentlemen wheather they had finished saying when you have donne I will say something to them. And when Coll. Washington and Major Alerton had ended there treatie he sent and comanded his interpreter John SHANKES to all them how there Indians came to be buried at HUISON'S [HANSON'S] and after a little further dicourse caused them to be bound and told them he would cary them to the place and show them theire own Indians where they lay dead. Major Alerton asked him what he did intend to doe with them afterwards. Major Trewman answered he thought they deserved the like to which Major Alerton replyed I doe not thinke soe. Noe sooner was this discourse ended between Major Alerton and Major Trewman, the Marylanders carried away those five Indians and before they had got five hundred yards distance from the place of this discourse and treaty spoken of, the Marylanders killed them.
John GERRARD
(Dorman, J. F., Westmoreland County, Virginia Deeds, Patents, Etc. 1665-1677. Part Three, 1974, Washington, D. C., pp. 72-73.)

Memdu his Lsp Commanded the Entring upon Record in the Councill Booke the following Instructions given to Capt John COODE Commandr of his Lsps Yacht Dated the Eighth day of November Anno Dmi. 1676: (viz)

Maryld ss: Powers Orders and Instructions for Capt John Cood Commandr of his Lsp the Lord Propry's Yacht or Vessell of warr called the Loyall Charles of Maryland now Rideing in Wicocomico River in this Province by vertue of severall powers and Authorityes unto me Thomas Notley Deputy Lievetenant of this Province derived from the Rt honble Charles absolute Lord and Propry of the Provinces of Maryld & Avalon Lord Baron of Baltemore &c. and more especially by vertue of the Admiralty conferred upon me by the afore said powers, in the absence of his Lsp and his Lievetenant Generall out of this Province (viz.)

Imprs I Doe hereby constitute and appoint you Capt John Cood, and you are hereby constituted ordeined and appointed to be Captain of the said Yacht or vessell called the Loyall Charles of Maryland giveing you hereby full power and Authority in all things to Command the Officers, Mariners and Souldiers of the said Yacht or vessell, as belongeth to the power and Office of a Captaine.

And I further hereby give you full power and authority with the said Yacht or Vessell compleately manned Equipped and armed for warr to saile from and depart this River of Wiccomico River, into the River of Pottomock within his Lsps Dominions, and in the said River with the said Yacht or Vessell to cruise from the head thereof to the mouth thereof, as wind & weather from time to time shall offer unto you in all navigable places thereof for the security of this his Lsps Province, from the Inroad or Invasion of any Robbers, Pyrates, Spies, or others that shall attempt any thing against this his Lsps Province under the present Governmt or any the good people thereof.

You are further to Examine all Ships, Sloopes, Boates, or other Vessells whatsoever that shall make towards or Saile to this Province, what they are, from whence they came, whither bound, and what their business; an Accot whereof you are from tyme to time to render unto me, And if you shall meete with any Ship, Sloope, boate or other Vessell whatsoever within his Lsps Dominions, which you shall discover to be Enemys to his Lsp:. and his Governmt of this Province, you are to take, apprehend, & possess, and (in case of resistance) to sink fire or otherwise destroy all such Shipps Sloopes boates or other vessells as aforesaid, together with their men Ladeing goods and merchandize, As also the Shipps Sloopes and Boates, and other vessells with the men Ladeing goods and Mrchandize of all their Aidors Abettors and Assistants whatsoever, and to bring or send up all such Shipps, Sloopes and Boates, and other Vessels with their goods Ladeing and Merchandize as you shall take by vertue hereof, (without breakeing Bulk or altering the property thereof, into some Port or Harbour in Pottomock River within his Lsps Dominions, & in Obedience to him; and procure the same to be adjudged Lawful prize by the Judge of Admiralty Established by his Lspp: or by my Self and his Lsps Councell in his Lsps absence, to which purpose you shall bring or send to the said Judge of Admiralty or to my Self and his Lsps Councill as aforesaid, all the Invoices, Bills of Loadeing Letters, and other writeings that may Evidence that the said Shipp, Sloope, Boate, or other Vessell together with its Ladeing goods and Mrchandize may be lawfully made prize, and shall not sell dispose or alter the property thereof untill the same be soe legally adjudged

And then your Officers Souldiers and Marrinrs shall receive your full due of prize goods out of the same as is accustomed.

And you are further to observe that you are not to molest disturb or offer any violence to any of the Subjects of our Sovraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God, of Engld Scotland ffrance & Ireland King, Defender of the ffaith &Ca unless to such of those as shall first offer violence to you, or attempt any thing agt his Lsp the Lord Propry of this Province, or the Governmt of the same.

And I Doe hereby constitute and appoint Ninion BEAL your Lievetenant in the said Yacht or Vessell, who is hereby also authorised and empowered to act doe and performe in all thinges as your Lievetenant, as amply fully and largely to all Intents and purposes as if he had read a Speciall Commission drawne to that purpose.

And you are hereby further Authorised & Empowered to constitute and appoint under you all such other offices as you shall think requisitt and convenient for his Lsps Service on board the sd Yacht or Vessell.

I Doe hereby further Empower you to weare at the Top mast head of the said Yacht or Vessell his LsPs Standard untill such tyme as you shall receive further ordrs from me or from my Self and his Lsps Counci!l to the Contrary.

And further you are to observe follow and obey all such further orders Rules and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from my self or from myself and his LsPs Councill.

And all people of what degree or quality soever either within or wthout this Province are hereby desired to take notice of this your power conferred on you.

And I hereby strictly will and command all the good people of this Province to aid and assist you in the due Execution of this your power hereby given you, as is meete, and as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perill.

Given under my hand and his Lsps Seale at Armes this Eighth day of November in the first yeare of his Lsps Dominion over this Province Annoq Dmi. 1676:

On the back of the foregoeing Instructions &Ca was thus endorsed (viz)

Whereas in the second Article of the Instructions within, you seeme to be confined onely To Pottomock Rivcr; You are hereby authorised and empowered (if att any time you shall see it absolutely necessary, and for his Lspps service, for the discovery or in pursuite of any Enemy to his Lsp: or this his Governmt and the good people thereof) to saile with your sd Yacht or Vessell to any part of this Province in his Lsps Dominions, and to prosecute the ordrs & Instruction before Given you.

Given as before the day and yeare within written.
(Archives of Maryland, volume 17, Proceedings of the Council 1681-1685/6, pp. 216-218.)

Index to Rev. Col. John Coode

Index to Rev. Col. John Coode