But, nevertheless, there were slaves in New Hampshire.  The majority of them had gone in during the time the colony was a part of the territory of Massachusetts.  They had been purchased by men who regarded them as indispensable to them.  They had lived long in many families; children had been born unto them, and in many instances they were warmly attached to their owners.  But all masters were not alike.  Some treated their servants and slaves cruelly.  The neglect in some cases was worse than stripes or over-work.  Some were poorly clad and scantily fed; and, thus exposed to the inclemency of the severe climate, many were precipitated into premature graves.  Even white and Indian servants shared this harsh treatment.  The Indians endured greater hardships than the Negroes.  They were more lofty in their tone, more sensitive in their feelings, more revengeful in their disposition.  They were both hated and feared, and the public sentiment against them was very pronounced.  A law, passed in 1714, forbid their importation into the colony under a heavy penalty.

In 1718 it was found necessary to pass a law to check the severe treatment inflicted upon servants and slaves. An Act for restraining inhuman severities recited,—­

“Fort the prevention and restraining of inhuman severities which by evil masters or overseers, may be used towards their Christian servants, that from and after the publication hereof, if any man smite out the eye or tooth of his man servant or maid servant, or otherwise maim or disfigure them much, unless it be by mere casualty, he shall let him or her go free from his service, and shall allow such further recompense as the court of quarter sessions shall adjudge him. 2.  That if any person or persons whatever in this province shall wilfully kill his Indian or negroe servant or servants he shall be punished with death."[508]

There were slaves in New Hampshire down to the breaking-out of the war in the colonies, but they were only slaves in name.  Few in number, widely scattered, they felt themselves closely identified with the interests of the colonists.

FOOTNOTES: 

[504] Belknap’s Hist. of N.H., vol. i. p. 333.

[505] Hildreth, vol. i. p. 501.

[506] Gordon’s Hist. of Am.  Rev., vol. v.  Letter 2.

[507] Freedom and Bondage, vol. i. p. 266.

[508] Freedom and Bondage, vol. i. p. 267.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE COLONY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

1681-1775.

     ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.—­THE SWEDES
     AND DUTCH PLANT SETTLEMENTS ON THE WESTERN BANK OF THE
     DELAWARE RIVER.—­THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK SEEKS TO EXERCISE
     JURISDICTION OVER THE TERRITORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.—­THE FIRST
     LAWS AGREED UPON IN ENGLAND.—­PROVISIONS OF THE
     LAW.—­MEMORIAL