While they were taking their post-prandial smoke, Mr. Gilbert was sent for, also Mr. Robert Treat, of Milford, another magistrate. Without waiting for them to come, however, they went over to the court house and gave a hearing to the royal officers, who made a formal statement of their errand and asked for assistance in carrying out their search. Governor Leete and his associate treated the king's representatives with the most studied respect, and appeared anxious to render every possible assistance, at the same time stating that they did not believe the objects of their search were in New Haven at all. The officers then requested that they be empowered to search two houses which Scranton was covering with his vigilant eye; but the governor saw no evidence to warrant him in granting an invasion of private residences. East Rock, New Haven         "The officers saw that the governor was evidently trying to shield the regicides, and warned him of the danger of his position. Governor Leete was a lawyer, and well knew it was high treason to shelter a traitor, knowing him to be such. He knew that the authority on which the officers were acting was doubtful, but he also knew that his reasons would have no weight in a London court. He saw the folly of longer delay, with the odds so fearfully against him. The regicides, too, had by this time had many hours' warning. He took up his pen and began to write the warrant but before he had finished, Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Treat came in, and a further consultation was held. The result of the deliberation was the conclusion that the only way to satisfactorily settle the question was to convene the General Court, or legislature, and let it decide the question of jurisdiction.         "The two officers were in a terrible rage at these delays, and finally decided to do a little searching on their own account. This was Monday, and the General Court was called for the following Friday. They had wasted a great deal of time, and everybody, regicides included, must have had warning. At any rate, there was no time to lose. According to tradition, they went to the house of Mrs. Allerton, on the corner of Union and Fair Streets. She was the second wife and widow of Isaac Allerton, a Pilgrim of the 'Mayflower.' When she saw the officers coming in the distance, she told her guests to step out of the back door (for they had -- page 193 -- | Previous Page | Next Page | | Town of Hadley Page | Hampshire County | | Western MA History & Genealogy | These pages are © Laurel O'Donnell, 2005, all rights reserved Copying these pages without written permission for the purpose of republishing in print or electronic format is strictly forbidden This page was last updated on 12 Sep 2005