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Origins_201-250.indd 209 2/17/12 6:35 PM 42 Plantation Covenant at Quinnipiack Aprilr638 A!though the framers used the title shown above, it is more frequently referred to in history books as the "New Haven Plantation Covenant. " This document was adopted shortly after the group arrivedfrom Boston. It was to JUnction as a temporary, general agreement until the people could become familiar enough with each other's religious views, sentiments, and moral conduct to adopt a writtenframe ofgovernment andcode oflaws, which they didfourteen months later (see the New Haven Fundamentals, I643 [so}). The earlier document, reproduced below, was notactually a covenant because there was no oath. The settlers, not knowing each other well, did not want to force an oath on each other until they were certain they all had agreed on what was to be covenanted. Thus the authors termed the document a "plantation covenant" to indicate its lesser status. We the assembly of free planters do solemnly covenant] thatt as [in] matters thatt Concerne the gathering and ordering ofa Chur. so Likewise in all publique offices wch concerne Cuill orders as Choyce of magistrates and officers makeing and repealing of Lawes devideing allotmts of Inheritance and all things of Like nature we would all of vs be ordered by those Rules wch the scripture holds forth to vs. The text is taken from Isabel Macbeath Calder, The New Haven Colony (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1934), 51. Calder in turn cites the New Havm Colonial Records, r638-r649, 12. The first part of the first sentence, in brackets, has been added by this editor on the basis ofinformation found in Calder and elsewhere. The spelling and punctuation are Calder's. 209 ...

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