American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (January 14, 1639) was the first constitution written in America, establishing a pattern which all others followed, including the United States Constitution. It was penned by Roger Ludlow, 1638, after hearing a sermon by Thomas Hooker, the Puritan minister who founded Hartford, Connecticut. So important was this work that Connecticut became known as "The Constitution State." The committee responsible to frame the orders was charged to make the laws: <As near the law of God as they can be.> 1639FO001 On January 14, 1639, the Connecticut towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor adopted the constitution, which stated in...

Connecticut General Court (1639) established under the Constitution of Connecticut, issued the order: <That God's word should be the only rule for ordering the affairs of government in this commonwealth.> 1639CT001 -- American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement. Endnotes: 1639CT001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Connecticut General Court, 1639, established under the Constitution of Connecticut, order issued. Benjamin Franklin Morris, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States (Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864), p. 68. Gary DeMar, God and Government-A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta,...

Rhode Island Trial (1638) the first trial of a punishable offence was reported by Thomas Williams Bicknell in The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (NY: The American Historical Society, 1920, Chapter XLIII, "The Judiciary," p. 935- 940): <Judge William Coddington was the chief officer of the town, presiding at its meetings, wherein public business was transacted in an orderly fashion, laws were made, orders passed, fines and punishments determined, and freemen admitted. In July, 1638, a prison was built, twelve feet long, ten wide, and ten high, for the detention of lawbreakers. A pair of stocks...

New England Commission (July 23, 1637) granted by King Charles I to Sir Ferdinando Gorges as Governor of New England: <Forasmuch as we have understood and been credibly informed of the many inconveniences and mischief that have grown and are like more and more to arise amongst our subjects already planted in the parts of New England by reason of the several opinions... We take the whole managing thereof into our own hands and apply thereunto our immediate power and authority... They have humbly resigned the said charter unto us that thereby there may be a speedy order taken for reformation...

Jacques Marquette (June 1, 1637-May 18, 1675) was a French Jesuit missionary explorer in America. Landing in Quebec, 1666, he began learning the Algonquin and Huron languages. He founded a mission at Sault Sainte Marie, and from 1669 to 1671 had his station at La Pointe du Saint Esprit, at the head of Ashland Bay. Forced to flee by the Sioux Indians, he moved to Mackinaw, where founded the mission of Saint Ignatius. In 1673, Louis Joliet (1645-1700) visited Marquette with a message from Frontenac (1620-1698), governor of Canada, requesting him to lead an expedition of seven men down the Mississippi...