The scandalous work of Peter Pratt, “The Prey Taken from the Strong,” is in the Prince collection in the Boston Public Library and in the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Library in Boston. A copy of “The Reply of John Rogers 2nd” is in the Connecticut Historical Library at Hartford. The last half of the original manuscript of the Hempstead Diary is in the Historical Rooms at New London, while the first half is at the “Old Hempstead House,” at New London. This Diary has recently been published in book form by the New London Historical Society.
“An Account of the Debate between Rev. Mather Byles and The Brethren” of the Congregational Church of New London may be seen in the New London Public Library.
An interesting side-light was furnished by Mr. Julius F. Sachse, in his work entitled “The Ephrata Cloister,” Vol. II, Chapter IV.
As for spurious accounts of the Rogerenes to be found here and there, in ecclesiastical and town histories, the falsity of which is established in the course of this volume, mention of their authorship will be found in the places of refutation. Other minor references will be credited as they occur.
Our thanks are due to the Connecticut state librarian and his assistants, to clerks in the secretary’s office, and to Mr. Bates of the Connecticut Historical Library at Hartford, for the polite and obliging manner in which they placed before us books and manuscripts having a bearing upon this subject. Like courtesy was shown us in the county clerk’s office, in Norwich, the town clerk’s office in New London, and by the secretary of the New London Historical Society. In the Yale College Library, we were shown a copy of “An Answer to a Pamphlet,” by John Rogers, 2d, which is the only copy we have discovered.
By researches in new lines, we have discovered some mistakes regarding the Rogerenes made by that gifted and honored historian, Miss Fanny M. Caulkins. Miss Caulkins was the first historian to attempt careful and intelligent search in this obscure direction. In her “History of New London” she has given a large amount of accurate information concerning the Rogerenes, much of which is quoted with advantage, in Part First, by Mr. Bolles. It is to be hoped that we, in our turn, may be supplemented by some historian favored with sources of information unknown to ourselves, who will shed a still clearer light upon this subject, by presentation of facts outside of our own field of observation.
A. B. W.
PART I.
A VINDICATION
BY