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M. C.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01083 7091
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860
A
BRIER
HISTORY OF MAINE
BY
GEORGE J. VARNEY
MEMBER OF MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ILLUSTRATED
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
PORTLAND, ME. MCLELLAN, MOSHER & CO. 1SS3
860
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1
1770012
3
F 841.93
Copyright By MCLELLAN, MOSHER & CO. 1838
12706
Stereotyped and Printed by B. THURSTON & CO. Portland, Me.
.
TO THE
YOUNG PEOPLE OF MAINE
THIS STORY OF THE STATE
IS DEDICATED
1
PREFACE.
THIS BOOK includes the author's earlier "Young People's History," and six entirely new chapters. The former work ended at the settlement of the State boundaries in 1842, -- a date so remote that the book was less useful and enter- taining than the entire story of the State, now for the first time presented to the people of Maine.
Dealing exclusively with the formative period of the State, all mention in detail of the Temperance movement, then just beginning, was necessarily excluded. Whatever may be the ultimate outcome of our legislation on the subject, there can be no gainsaying the good accomplished by our Jaws relating to this subject, both directly and even more powerfully in the wide-spread indirect influence over public opinion that bas resulted therefrom. In the " Maine Law " a new phrase has been given to the political vocabulary - a phrase which has become known throughout the civilized world.
The story of Maine in the Rebellion, - that noble record of brave men who helped save the Union,- and the later de- velopment of our natural resources, including the extension of railways and the building up of industries of all kinds, which, since the war, have gone on with very little hindrance, were also left untokl.
These things imperatively demanded a hearing, and in
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PREFACE.
this edition they are given in as exhaustive a manner as due regard to limits for general reading would allow. In thus extending our survey, it also seemed needful to give a new title to the work -one that would not convey the idea of in- completeness so noticeable in the former title-page. The new frontispiece will commend itself as more appropriate than the State House, bringing to mind a stirring event of a critical time, while an index now appended is an increased convenience to every student.
Finally, that the history of a State should be familiar to its children, whether old or young, would seem to require no elaborate argument. Within the past year this view has had practical recognition in the issue of various historical series designed to this end. We have therefore undertaken in the following pages to present, in a compact and pleas- ing manner, our own State history; believing that there is not a word of it that any of Maine's sons and daughters could wish were otherwise,- but that her name and fame are an heritage of honor to all ages.
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CONTENTS.
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CHAPTER PAGE
I The Coast Explored 13
II The First Colony of New England 20
III Early Events on the Coast of Maine 27
IV Colonies and Colonists 33
V Politics, Property and Civil Affairs 40
VI Counties, Customs and Characters 45
VII Wars and Rumors of Wars 52
VIII The Indians of Maine 57
IX The First Indian War . 6S
X The First Indian War, continued 77
XI The First French and Indian War 90
XII The First French and Indian War, continued 93
XIII Witchcraft, Piracies and an Indian Treaty 111
XIV Queen Anne's War 115
XV The Beginning of Lovewell's War . 123
XVI The Destruction of Norridgewock 131
XVII Lovewell's Fight 136
XVIII Manners and Customs of the English Settlers 14-4
XIX King George's War 155
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
XX King George's War, continued 162
XXI The Sixth and Last Indian War 167
XXII The Dawn of the Revolution 177
XXIII Early Events of the Revolution 184
XXIV Arnold's Expedition, and the War in the East 191 XXV Events of the Revolution on Sea and Land 199
XXVI After the Revolution . 200
XXVII The Malta War 210
XXVIII The War of 1812 2:23
XXIX The British on the Penobscot 231
XXX The Separation and Attendant Events 238
XXXI Men and Affairs after the Separation . 247
XXXII Aroostook War, and Settlementof Boundaries 252
XXXIII The Temperance Movement 25S
XXXIV Maine in the Rebellion 272
XXXV From Williamsburg to Gettysburg 281
XXXVI From Gettysburg to the Close of the War 289
XXXVII State Development, 1865-18SS 299
The same - concluded 313
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
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The Enterprize and Boxer · FRONTISPIECE
Old Apple Tree Planted at York in 1629 . 4-4
Ancient Indian Inscription at Machiasport 66
Garrison House at York, built about 1645 103
Monument of Ralle, Norridgewoek 135
View of Lovewell's Battle-ground 142
Sir William Pepperell ·
158
Last Block House of Fort Halifax .
169
Governor Thomas Pownal
178
General Henry Knox
217
Governor William King
242
BRIEF
HISTORY OF MAINE.
CHAPTER I.
1. My young friends will remember that Christo- pher Columbus made his famous voyage of discovery in 1492. On this voyage he discovered islands only, and did not reach the great western continent until his third voyage, in 1498.
2. But John Cabot and his son, Sebastian, were before him here; for they had sailed along the coast from Newfoundland to Albermarle Sound the year previous. They took possession of the country in the name of the English sovereign; but England soon became so busy with affairs at home that she made no attempt to settle the new country for nearly a hundred years.
3. Yet I should here speak of other visits made long before this time. Certain marks found on the rocks of Monhegan Island and at one or two points on the mainland, are thought by some to show that the Norwegians, who peopled Iceland and Greenland, also visited the coast of Maine about the year 990, and later. It is also said that our coast was seen by Verrazzani, a French navigator, in 1524; by Gomez, a Spaniard, in 1525; and by an Englishman named Rut, in 1527. Again, in 1556, a Catholic priest named Andre Thevet sailed in a French ship along the whole coast ; spending several days in Penobscot Bay, where he held conferences with the natives. Yet all these belong to the ancient period, and noth- ing came of any of them.
1602
HISTORY OF MAINE.
14-ok
4. It was in 1602, the last year of the reign of the "Good Quieen Bess." that Bartholomew Gosnold sailed along the coast of Maine ; and, though he did not give any exact account of his voyage, we know that he touched at the Isles of Shoals, and at other points northward. He came at last to a long, bending arm of land stretching out to sea, where he caught many codfish, and therefore called it Cape Cod. The next year, just a few days after the death of Queen Eliza- beth, Martin Pring started from England with two vessels, bound on a trading voyage to America. One of his vessels was named "Speedwell," and carried thirty men and boys; the other was the "Discoverer," carrying only thirteen men and one boy. Early in June they sailed into a bay which contained many islands ; and beyond it was "a high country full of great woods." It was Penobscot Bay. They found Here good anchorage and plenty of fish. Some of the company went ashore at the islands, seeing on one of them some silver-gray foxes; so they gave this group the name of Fox Islands, which it bears to this day. Captain Pring had brought a stock of bright colored clothing, with hatchets, knives, kettles, brass and silver bracelets, rings, and other cheap and showy orna- ments, such as savages like, in order to trade with the natives. Not meeting with any of these about the Penobscot, he sailed southward, passing through Casco Bay, and ascending Saco river six miles. The compa- nies were delighted with the many fine groves and strange animals they saw, but found no Indians until they came to Narragansett Bay. Here they ex- changed their merchandise for furs and sassafras, and went back to England with a valuable cargo.
5. Then King James sent out Captain George Wey- month in the ship Archangel; who, in May, 1605, an- chored his vessel on the north side of an island, now known to be Monhegan. The long boat was lowered, and Captain Weymouth went on shore and took pos-
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1605
THE COAST EXPLORED.
session in the name of his sovereign. He named the island St. George ; also setting up a cross in token that he meant to establish there the Christian religion. They found ashes and coals, showing where a fire had been only a short time before ; and they knew by this there were human beings near. Close by the fire, too, were the shells of eggs -bigger than those of a goose ; and they saw many sea fowl about the place -- some of them large enough to have laid the eggs. They also caught from the vessel thirty large cod and had- dock. A number of small mountains were in view from here, while away to the west were the grand White Mountains of New Hampshire, which these voyagers called the "Crystal Hills." Then, sailing toward these hills, they quickly came to a fine haven in the mainland, which Captain Weymouth named Pentecost Harbor, because they entered it on that day of the Christian year. This is supposed by some to be Townsend Harbor in Boothbay, though others believe it to have been George's Island Harbor, which is a little to the east. Here they staid for several days, resting themselves from their long voyage. Some planted a garden, and sowed barley and pease ; while others explored the rivers, harbors and islands. In sixteen days from the planting of their garden some of the vegetables had grown to eight inches in height. These were the first fruits of English culture on the shores of New England.
6. . Though Captain Pring found no Indians here, Captain Weymouth met with a great number; and they brought many furs to exchange with him for trinkets. There was no hair on the face of these Indians, and . that on their heads was black, coarse and straight. It was cut short over the forehead, and the remainder tied up in a single mass, which hung over their backs. Their skin was of a dark copper color, where it was not painted ; and the only clothing they wore was a short coat about the waist. At one time several
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HISTORY OF MAINE. 1605
women and two boys came down the shore to look at the white strangers and their ship. The boys were only two or three years old-fat, lively little fellows; but all naked except that they wore leathern buskins laced nearly to the knees, and held in place by strings running up to a belt about their waists; and this belt was hung full of little round pieces of copper.
7. One day the natives met the English, as they came ashore, with more than usual politeness, and led them to some fires around which many others of the Indians sat langhing and talking, while puff's of smoke rose from their mouths. Probably these sailors had never before seen any one smoke, for tobacco was an Ameri- can plant, then but little known in Europe. The English were seated on deer-skins; and the pipe, made of a lobster's elaw, was passed to them ; and they sucked the smoke into their mouths just as the dirty natives did. Doubtless it made them feel quite sick, but they pretended that it was good. They called this operation "drinking tobacco."
S. Not long after, the English and Indians grew suspicious of each other; and both parties were quite cautious in their intercourse. When Captain Wey- mouth was nearly ready to leave the place, two canoes came to the ship, with three Indians in cach. Two of them from one of the canoes climbed on board, and they were immediately thrust below deck. The one who had been left in the canoe pretty soon put ashore, having heard, probably, the outeries of his imprisoned companions. Those in the other canoe did not come on board, and a dish of pease was given them where they were. They went ashore to cat them ; and when these were finished they sent a brisk young fellow back with the bowl. So the sailors caught him; and then seven or eight of them went in a boat which they called the "light horseman," to capture the other savages, taking with them another dish of pease, -- an article of which the natives were very fond. They
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1605
THE COAST EXPLORED.
went to the fire the savages had kindled; but the one who had been frightened ashore ran away into the woods. The other two remained; and when well occupied with the viands, they were seized and forced down to the shore. It was as much as the eight men could do to get them into the boat; for their clothing was not sufficient to hold thein, and they had to be dragged on board by their topknots. This act of Captain Weymonth was no doubt wrong; but it must be remembered that the ideas of personal rights in that day were not as clear as ours ; besides, he intended to have them instructed in his language and religion, which, certainly, would be a benefit to them and their brethren, as well as to the English merchants and colonists.
9. As Captain Weymouth was preparing to sail, two other canoes with seven savages came to the ship. These were very stylishly fixed up with paint, furs, feathers and jewels. Some of their faces were painted black, with white eyebrows; other faces were red, with a stripe of blue across the nose, upper lip and chin. They had jewels in their cars, and bracelets of round bits of bone on their arms. One had a coronet of fine stuff like stiff hair colored red, while others wore on their heads the skins of birds with the feathers
on. This was a royal embassy which had come to invite the strangers to the court of the Bashaba, or King of the Indians. I do not know what Weymouth said to them, but he did not want to go; for, you know, he had at that very moment five of the Bas- haba's subjects shut up in the hold of his vessel. When the embassadors left, Captain Weymouth sailed away as soon as he could. When he got to England he gave three of the Indians to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, -- of whom we shall presently learn more.
10. The French, also, were growing more active on the northern coast; and this, probably, was one reason why Weymouth had been sent there. A year before
1605
HISTORY OF MAINE.
his voyage a company had left France to found a colony somewhere in the north. It was led by Sieur de Monts, a Huguenot, or French Protestant; while his seventy followers were both Huguenots and Catho lies. . Their pilot was Samuel Champlain, who had already explored the St. Lawrence River in the servico of France. De Monts explored the Bay of Fundy, and discovered the St. John's River; but they chose for the place of settlement an island at the mouth of the St. Croix River, since called St. Croix or Neutral Island. Here they built a fort, and within it several cabins and a chapel. So much wood was used in building, that little remained on the island ; and they were obliged to go to the mainland on the west for both water and fuel. They suffered dread- fully with the seurvy, and before spring half their number died. As soon as warm weather came, all that remained of the colony went again on board the vessel, and sailed away westward in search of a more suitable place for a plantation. They first visited Penobscot Bay, having before heard of the region under its Indian name, Norumbegua. Continuing their voyage, they went unconsciously past Pentecost Harbor, where, probably, Weymouth's vessel then lay at anchor. At Kennebec, De Monts set up a cross and claimed the country in the name of the king of France. But this was of no effect, as Weymouth had already taken possession for the English king; and according to the usage of the Christian world, any new country belonged to the nation which first took pos- session in due form. Next, Casco Bay spread its smooth waters and picturesque islands before the rov- ing Frenchmen; but still they sailed on, past rocky headlands, sparkling rivers and verdant hills, until the sandy curves of Cape Cod hemmed them in. At this point they encountered savages, with whom they had a skirmish. They went no farther, but turned back to their starting place; finding at St. John's another ves-
0
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1605
TIIE COAST EXPLORED.
sel with forty more colonists. Both ships now went across the bay, where they founded a town which they called Port Royal. It was on the site of the present town of Annapolis. Here, for nearly three years, they lived an easy, rollicking life. They carried on a profitable trade with the natives about them, obtaining abundance of corn, venison and furs. But the vessels of the Dutch merchants now came along the coast and interfered with their trade, and, worse still, the king revoked their charter; so, in the spring of 1608, they abandoned the country.
In what year was the continent of America discovered? In what year did Gosnold visit the coast of Maine? What islands were named by Pring ? What river did he ascend? Who took possession of the territory of Maine in the name of the English king? What name did he give to the White Mountains of New Hampshire? What was his object in carrying away Indians? What Frenchman was on the coast of Maine at the same time with Weymouth ? Where did De Mont's colony pass the previous winter ?
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HISTORY OF MAINE.
1606
CHAPTER II.
1. You have now learned of four famous voyages to this coast, and that none of them formed any settle- ment which was sustained. But when the ships returned, their companies showed the many curious things they had brought, and told such wonderful stories about what they had seen, that a great many people became interested in the far off country be- neath the sunset. So in 1606 a number of noblemen, gentlemen and merchants belonging about London and Plymouth in England, joined themselves together. for the purpose of sending out colonies, and of making Christians of the heathen natives. This association was called the "North and South Virginia Company;" and King James granted to it all the territory between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth degrees of north lati- tude. The London men chose for their portion the division south of the Hudson River, while those of Ply- mouth took the part north of the month of that river.
2. In August of the same year the Plymouth com- pany sent out two ships under Thomas Hanham, one of the company, to make a settlement at Sagadahoc; but one of the vessels was captured by the Spaniards, and the other, after a short stay on the coast, returned to England. In December the London company sent out three ships with planters; and these became the founders of Jamestown in Virginia. In June of the next year the Plymouth company again sent out two vessels with an hundred and twenty colonists. The leader of the expedition was Captain George Popham, brother to Lord John Popham, chief justice of Eng- land. His ship was named the "Gift of God"; and the other, the "Mary and John," was commanded by
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1607 THE FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND.
Captain Raleigh Gilbert. On the sixteenth of August they landed on an island; finding a cross, by which they knew it to be the one Captain Weymouth had visited, afterward called Monhegan.
3. On board of the "Mary and John" was Skid- warroes, one of the savages who had been carried away by Weymouth two years before. When the poor fellow found himself once more so near his home he became much excited, and wished to go at once to his native place near by on the mainland. Near mid- night Captain Gilbert manned his boat; and, guided by the eager savage, ere dawn they were at Pema- quid, now the town of Bristol. They landed in the early light of the morning, and approached a village of the natives. There was a sudden cry of alarm; and the warriors ran with hastily snatched weapons to drive the white men back. At the head of his braves was the chief of the village, Nahanada,-who was also one of those carried away by Weymouth, but returned the year before by Hanham. As soon as Nahanada and Skidwarroes perceived each other, they ran together and embraced. Then the brethren and family of the restored savage came forward and joined in the hearty greetings. Two hours soon passed, when Gilbert's party returned to the vessel, taking Skidwarroes with them.
4. The next day was Sunday; and the companies of both ships went ashore on Monhegan; and here, beside the cross which Weymouth had planted, was preached the first sermon of New England. On Monday Captains Popham and Gilbert, with fifty men, went again to Pemaguid. Skidwarroes was with them, but Nahanada and his braves appeared dis- trustful. The sight of so many armed men made them fear that the treachery of Weymouth was to be re- peated. Suddenly the savages withdrew into the wood, and Skidwarroes with them; where, from be- hind the trees, they menaced the white men with their
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1607
HISTORY OF MAINE.
arrows. It was the desire of the English to avoid bloodshed; so they retired to the boats and rowed across to the other side of the harbor, where they spent the night. The ships next sailed westward in search of the river Sagadahoc, or Kennebec. They passed Seguin (which they called Sutquin) without recognizing it, and examined the islands on the north- ern shore of Casco Bay. Then a storm arose and drove them away to the eastward. When the storm was over they again turned westward; and just at night the "Gift of God" got into the mouth of the river Sagadahoe; and in the morning she sent her boat and helped in the "Mary and John."
5. They now searched about for a good site for their town, and finally chose the peninsula of Sabino, so called from Sebenoa, the sagamore of the region. This peninsula is part of the present town of Phips- barg. It lies on the western side of the Kennebec at its mouth, and contains, perhaps, one or two hun- dred acres. It is almost an island, having the Ken- nebec on the cast, the sea on the south, Atkin's Bay on the north and west, while a narrow neck on the southwest alone connects it with the mainland. Fort Popham, a fine fortification of stone, now stands on the northeastern extremity, commanding the river; on the northern shore are a few small honses ; and on the east of the steep woody hill that runs across the peninsula from north to south, stands a fine old honse with a flag staff in front. A little southward of this house, at the foot of a grassy slope, is a beautiful little sheet of fresh water; while, only a few rods away on the other side of a bank of sand scantily covered with vegetation, beat the surges of old ocean ; and the waves have been known in time of storms to dash quite over the narrow bound into the quiet little pond.
6. On Wednesday, the 29th day of August, 1607, the colonists went on shore and engaged in a religions service, led by Richard Seymour, their chaplain. The
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1607
THIE FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND.
Plymouth company had given them a sealed package containing the laws and a list of officers for the gov- ernment of the colony ; and after the service this was opened and read. They found that Captain George Popham was their president, and Captain Raleigh Gilbert admiral. Then they went to work building a fort, storehouse and dwellings, and even a vessel. Digby, a ship carpenter from London, was the master builder. Sho was called " Virginia, " and her size was thirty tons. Her first voyage was made the next spring to Virginia. and thence to England. Therefore the Kennebec river, which has since sent out so many vessels, has the honor of producing the first vessel built by English hands in America.
7. While the colonists were erecting their dwellings, Captain Gilbert and his erew explored the coast, going through Casco Bay quite to Cape Elizabeth. He next ascended the river on which the settlement was made, where he saw many natives, and visited one of their villages. He offered them tobacco in exchange for their skins, but those they brought were so poor that he would not purchase them. This made the Indians angry, and the English barely got away without a serious fight.
8. By and by some of the Wawennock tribe from the castward visited the plantation, representing that the Bashaba, their king, expected all strangers coming into his dominions to pay their respects at his court. The president sent a deputation to visit him, but it was driven back by a storm. When the Bashaba learned of this misfortune he sent his son with a reti- nue to visit the president at Sabino. After such treatment as these people had received from Wey- month, this action was a mark of a generous nature.
9. The Indians were for some time after this quite intimate with the colonists. At one time forty men, women and children, being on a visit to the planta- tion, sat down to meat with the English. They
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HISTORY OF MAINE.
1607
attended worship, also, behaving with great reverence. Indeed, they were so much impressed with the gov- ernment and religion of the English, that they would say, "King James is a good king, and his God is a good God; but our god, Tanto, is a naughty god."
10. The colonists were industrious; and by the time the winter came on with its sleet and snow, they had finished a storehouse, one large dwelling, and a num- ber of small cottages. They had also completed their fort, which they named St. George, in honor of their president. But with the winter came trouble. Quar- rels arose between them and the natives; and tradition tells us of two fatal affrays. Once the planters got the Indians to assist in moving one of the cannon in the fort; and while they were pulling on a long rope directly in range of the gun, it was discharged. Though the gun was loaded with powder only, some were killed, others knocked over and injured, and the remainder badly frightened.
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