USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 1
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 2901
PAUL DUDLEY DEAN CATAUMET, MASS.
GENEALOGY 974.102 Y82b, v.2
ARMS OF SIR FERDINANDO GORGES (See Appendix)
HISTORY OF YORK MAINE
uccessively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652)
IN THREE VOLUMES VOLUME II
BY CHARLES EDWARD BANKS Assistant Surgeon General, U.S.P.H.S. (Retired)
ember of the MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES and of the AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
Author of COL. ALEXANDER RIGBY AND THE PROVINCE OF LYGONIA (1885), LIFE LETTERS AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF EDWARD GODFREY (1887), HISTORY OF MARTHAS VINEYARD, MASS. (1911), ENGLISH HOMES AND ANCESTRY OF THE PILGRIMS (1929), THE WINTHROP FLEET OF 1630 (1930) AND PLANTERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH (1930)
With Contributions on Topography and Land Titles BY ANGEVINE W. GOWEN, C. E.
SKETCHES BY THE AUTHOR
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS MCMXXXV
COPYRIGHTED 1935 BY CHARLES EDWARD BANKS All rights reserved
PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE MURRAY PRINTING COMPANY CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
1202904
PREFACE
IN MEMORIAM
With sorrow we record that while the first proof sheets of this volume were coming to hand the author was sud- denly stricken by death. Colonel Banks had gone from his home in Boston to consult a friend in Hartford, Con- necticut, with reference to the publication of a manuscript relating to the location of Norumbega, and the end came without warning from an affection of the heart, shocking and grieving a host of friends.
Charles Edward Banks was born in Portland, Maine, July 6, 1854 and died in Hartford, Connecticut October 21, 1931. He was a son of Edward Prince and Ellen (Soule) Banks of Portland. Descended from Richard Bankes, the pioneer, who settled in York, Maine in 1643, the future antiquarian always maintained a deep interest in the early home of his forebears and while a young man began to collect material for a history of the town. On the maternal side he was a direct descendant of George Soule of the Mayflower, and he had six other ancestors among the passengers, including Elder William Brewster. In consequence of this he took a special interest in research relating to the epochal voyage and became one of the lead- ing authorities on the Pilgrim personnel and history.
Educated in the public schools of Portland young Banks entered Dartmouth Medical College, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1878. Two years later he entered the Public Health Service of the United States as Assistant Surgeon.1 He was promoted in regular course to the rank of Past Assistant Surgeon in 1883, Surgeon in 1895, Senior Surgeon in 1912, and during the World War was made Assistant Surgeon General with rank of Colonel. He was outstanding in his profession and achieved some of the highest honors possible.
His first station was in San Francisco, and subse- quently he served at Portland, Oregon, Washington, D. C., Boston, Portland, Maine (three details), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, New York City, Chicago, Key West,
1 For information as to the governmental career of Colonel Banks the writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the Vineyard Gazette (Martha's Vineyard).
iii
HISTORY OF YORK
history and genealogy. This promise the first volume has fulfilled, and of the other results the verdict of those who survive him will be unanimously and heartily favorable.
His zeal for historical study and writing was unflag- ging to the end. He died in harness. To his researches he brought a trained, scholarly and judicial mind, as well as a fund of sound common sense, and his keen, practical understanding of men and events made him an unusually skillful interpreter of the trends of human life and pro- vincial government in the days of the colonies. Of his scrupulous fidelity to accuracy of detail it seems unneces- sary to speak. Distinguished in two callings it should be added that Colonel Banks also was an artist of no mean talents as his drawings in his various volumes bear witness. He had a hobby for extra-illustrated books, some of which were illumined by clever products of his pen and brush.
On the personal side, all who knew Colonel Banks can testify that the humane, kindly spirit that actuated him in alleviating the ills of his fellowmen was never lacking in his dealings with kindred workers in the field of research or with general acquaintances. He was an entertaining, likeable companion. Never unwilling to share tidbits from his vast store of information, he was a constant helper to others who had not had the opportunity for so full investi- gations. He enjoyed answering correspondents of the Genealogical Department of the Boston Transcript. In- dicative of his generosity was the presentation by him to Grace Episcopal Church, Vineyard Haven, of a baptismal font, a replica of that in the church at Tisbury, England, where Governor Thomas Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard was baptized. Vineyard Haven also owes to him its Duo- decimo Club, a cultural and social force in the town, which he founded in 1892 and which still continues in existence. It was in Grace Episcopal Church that the last rites for the historian and friend took place, and his body was laid to rest in the Vineyard Haven Cemetery.
Colonel Banks was a member of the Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Dukes County Historical societies, and of the American Antiquarian Society. He likewise held membership in the Army and Navy Club of New York, the University Club of Washington, D. C., and the Masonic fraternity.
WILLIAM M. EMERY.
vi
EXPLANATORY
At the time that Colonel Banks died, Volume II was completed to the galley proof stage. For a while it seemed sacrilegious to offer one's services in an editorial capacity. Later came the realization that the book must be pub- lished, and the task of preparation was taken up by Frank D. Marshall, Angevine W. Gowen, Dr. Edward C. Cook, Lester M. Bragdon, Esq., and George A. Ernst. These men served merely as editors, not as historians. With very few changes this work comes to its readers as its author wrote it.
vii
HISTORY OF YORK
CHAPTER VIII. ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS, 1801-1927 143 Rev. Rosewell Messenger. Rev. Moses Dow. Rev. Eber Car- penter. Rev. John Haven. Rev. John L. Ashby. Rev. William J. Newman. Rev. John Smith. Rev. William A. Hatton. Rev. William W. Parker. Rev. Rufus M. Sawyer. Rev. John Parsons. Rev. Benjamin W. Pond. Rev. David B. Sewall. Rev. George M. Woodwell. Rev. Melvin J. Allen. Rev. Sidney K. Perkins. Recent Pastorates. Church Officers.
CHAPTER IX. THE CHURCH GLEBE AND PARSONAGE 157 The Parsonage. The Glebe Lands. Cemetery.
CHAPTER X. LATER CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS. I68
Christian Church. Methodists. The Cochranites. Universalist. Episcopal. Roman Catholic.
CHAPTER XI. EVOLUTION OF THE PURITAN SABBATH 179 Communion Plate. Church Bells. Weathercock. Music. Heating. Lighting. Finances. Seating the Meeting House. Sexton. Liquor. Fast Days.
CHAPTER XII. FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE IN COLONIAL DAYS. . .. 190 The Cradle. Baptisms. Youth and Play. Courtship and Marriage. Vital Statistics. Primogeniture and Social Distinctions. Houses. Household Furnishings. Domestic Utensils. Lighting. Food. Early Literary Evidences. Computation of Time. Agriculture. The Market-Place and Fairs. Domestic Animals. Dress. Occupations. Mortality. The Grave.
CHAPTER XIII. THE TOWN MILITIA AND GARRISON HOUSES . . .. 210 The Militia. York Train Band, 1757. York Alarm Lists, 1757. The Annual Musters. The Garrison Houses.
CHAPTER XIV. COURT HOUSE, GAOL, AND PUNISHMENTS . 228
The Shire Town. Court House. The Courts. Gaol. House of Correction. Punishments. Stocks and Bilboes. The Scarlet Letter. "Benefit of Clergy." Execution of Joseph Quasson for Murder in 1726. Execution of Patience Boston, Indian, 1735. "Execution" of William Deering, 1749. Execution of Tony, a Negro, 1756.
CHAPTER XV. THE MILLING INDUSTRY 245
New Mill Creek. Corn Mills. Meeting House Creek. Mill at Bass Cove.
CHAPTER XVI. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION 256 Scotland. York Corner. Lower Town. New School Districts. School Committee. Grammar School. Schoolhouses. Private Schools.
CHAPTER XVII. COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. 273
Bartering. Merchants and Traders. The First Advertiser in News- papers. Leather Industry. Weaving. First Cotton Mill in Maine. Miscellaneous Industries. Brick Making. Basketry. Ship-building.
x
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVIII. FERRIES AND BRIDGES 288 The Stover Ferry. The Trafton Ferry. The Middle Ferry. Bridges. The Rice Bridge. York Bridge. Scotland Bridge. "Labor-in-Vain" Bridge. The New Lower Bridge.
CHAPTER XIX. HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS 305 Maintenance of Roads.
CHAPTER XX. TRAVEL AND TAVERNS. 313
Travel. The Stagecoach. Railroad Travel. The Electric Railroad. Taverns.
CHAPTER XXI. DOMESTIC LIFE IN PROVINCIAL TIMES 328
Negro Slaves. Free Negroes.
CHAPTER XXII. TOWN GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIALS . 346
Town Constables. Town Clerks. Overseers of the Poor. Town Government.
CHAPTER XXIII. PROVINCIAL, STATE AND FEDERAL SERVICES ... 358 Representatives to General Court. Provincial Councillors. Special Justices, Court of Common Pleas. Judge of the United States Dis- trict Court. Provost Marshals of the Province. Provincial Coroners. Naval Officers. Collectors of Customs. The Lighthouse Service. Boon Island. The Postal Service. State Senators. State Representatives.
CHAPTER XXIV. ANCIENT LANDMARKS 366 Agamenticus.
CHAPTER XXV. LATER EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE. 385
CHAPTER XXVI. THE PROFESSIONS: LAW, MEDICINE, SCIENCE, LITERATURE. 389
Lawyers. David Sewall. Nathaniel Grant Marshall. John Conant Stewart. Practice of Medicine. Physicians. Public Health. Civil Engineers and Surveyors. Edward Wolcott. Abraham3 Preble. Samuel Sewall, Sr. Samuel Sewall, Jr. Jeremiah Moulton. Alexander McIntire. Daniel Sewall. Samuel W. Junkins. Angevine W. Gowen. Authors. "Maud Muller " Raked Hay in Brixham.
CHAPTER XXVII. THE NINETEENTH CENTURY . Political Animosities. Wildcats. Visit of President Monroe. The Temperance Movement. Visit of Gen. Henry Sewall. President Andrew Jackson. The Era of "Morality." The Fraternity of Tramps.
409
CHAPTER XXVIII. A CENTURY OF WARS, 1812-1914. ..
416 The War of 1812. The Mexican War, 1845-48. The Civil War, 1861-65. York Association of Veterans and Sons. The Spanish- American War, 1898. The World War, 1914-18. Nurses.
xi
HISTORY OF YORK
CHAPTER XXIX. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. 429 Two Hundred Fiftieth Celebration in 1902. Town Division Con- troversy. Town Water Supply. York Today.
APPENDIX
Arms of Sir Ferdinando Gorges 440
Deed from Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Edward Godfrey 442
Indexes 445
xii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Arms of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Frontispiece 6
The Stover Fishing Site.
Cape Neddick, 1655 . 8
Church at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.
14
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Charfield, Gloucestershire
17
The Cape Neddick House, 1860
33
Argo Point.
Site of Parson Burdett's House, 1639.
41
The Old Raynes House
42
Church of St. Giles, Leigh-Upon-Mendip
45
Church of SS. Helen and Luke, Northwich, Cheshire.
South Side and Raynes's Neck
Headstone of Samuel Sewall
Sketch of Old Raynes Garrison
Mill on the Old Mill Creek
View of Brixham, Durham
Falmouth, Cornwall
John Garey House.
Headstone of Joseph Moody
The Bragdon House, Scotland.
The Oliver House, New Boston
After the Town Meeting.
Two Houses in the Hill Country
A Clansman of the Hills .
The Hill Country of Sasanoa
Second Church Building on Meeting House Creek.
Facsimile of Letter, 1673.
I28
177 The Moody Parsonage, 1715. 158 Church of the Immaculate Conception
The Meeting House.
187
Seating Plan of the Meeting House.
188
The Post Rider.
217
The Junkins Garrison
223 224
The Old Gaol .
235
The Public Stocks.
240
An Undershot Sawmill of Sayward's Time.
250
The Sawmill at Scituate.
254
Ancient Hornbook. 265 Old Tenor Bill
274
A New Hampshire "Angel"
275
Edward Emerson Advertisement.
278
Wood Schooners at Scotland Bridge
282
The Norton Brick Yard.
283
Sectional Drawing of Pile Drawbridge 293
Old Scotland Bridge
297
The New Bridge, 1908 . 299
X111
The Maxwell-McIntire Garrison
48 56 58 59 66 70 74 76 84 87 90 92 94 95 96 100
37
HISTORY OF YORK
Edward B. Blaisdell, 1844-1924. 300
Bound for Stage Neck. 314
The Funeral Cortege. 314
A Relic of the Railroad Age
The Green Dragon Tavern 317
The Wilcox Tavern 325
Early Type of "Low Double" House.
330
House of Early Provincial Period - Banks-Hutchins House.
334
Bradbury House, Newtown .
337
Hall and Stairway, Judge David Sewall Mansion, "Coventry Hall,' York Village, Maine. 340
Residence of Later Provincial Period.
340
Lighthouse on the Nubble.
361
Banks' Rocks, Long Sands
370
The Devil's Invention
373
Old Man of the Sea
378
Roaring Rock.
380
Scituate Pond.
382
David Sewall, LL.D., 1735-1825
390
Nathaniel Grant Marshall 392
Hugh Holman House. 400
York's Civil Engineer at Work.
404
President James Monroe. 410
Fourth of July Celebration 414
xiv
319
HISTORY OF YORK
HISTORY OF YORK
there called by the Name of Cape Nuddock Creek beginning at the Mouth or Entrance thereof and from thence to Extend & to be Extended along the Sea shoare Northeastward by the Space of Two English miles in the breadth thereof, and at both ends of the sd Space to Extend & to be Extended up into the Inland parts along the side of the sd Creek by a Northwest line so far as may Include the sd One Thousand & five hundred Acres Intirely Together as it were in the Manner of a Square/ (Deeds viii, 120).
The usual reservations were made for the discovery of mines of gold, silver and precious stones, as well as the privileges of hawking, hunting, fishing and fowling, and the quit-rent was to be "Two shillings the hundred for every hundred acres," payable on the feasts of the Annun- ciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. Michael the Archangel. It was the intention of Gorges to erect this granted territory into a Manor, but circumstances pre- vented.
GODFREY TRANSFERS PATENT TO HOOKE
Immediately on his return Godfrey assigned his third to William Hooke, June 27, 1638, for the nominal acknowl- edgment of "one pepper corne at the feast of St. Michael the arch angell," (Deeds viii, 121). This was probably a formality arranged when the lease was made in Bristol, as it had been negotiated by Humphrey Hooke for his son. The rights in this property were inherited by William Hooke, Jr., and on February 2, 1693-4, he transferred them to his son-in-law James Coffin, who had married his daughter Florence. Coffin in 1715 assigned this share to his seven daughters. In 1716 and 1734 they filed suits for ejectment against certain alleged trespassers and won their case. The northeastern bound of this tract, meas- uring for a distance of two miles from the far side of the mouth of the Cape Neddick River, carried it about half way to the present Wells-York line, and the intervening territory between that point and the Ogunquit River remained a sort of No Man's Land for twenty years after the settlement of this town, owing to the language of the grants made in Wells to the first settlers there. As usual the selectmen began dividing this Godfrey tract, ignoring the rights of the lessees, as soon as Massachusetts came into possession of the government.
4
CAPE NEDDICK
UNCERTAINTY OF JURISDICTION
Contemporaneously on September 27, 1641 there was a Provincial grant for the settlement of the present town of Wells between the Ogunquit and Kennebunk Rivers and under this grant Rev. John Wheelwright began a new town in what is now Wells Village. On July 14, 1643 Deputy Governor Thomas Gorges, acknowledging doubts as to his authority so to do, granted power to Wheel- wright, Henry Boad and Edward Rishworth (then of Wells) to convey lots in severalty on the northeast side of the Ogunquit River as far as the southwest side of Kenne- bunk River. On August 14, 1644 the Provincial Court confirmed this act of the Deputy Governor. In this latter year the Committee on Foreign Plantations decided that the Lygonia Patent extended as far west as the Kenne- bunk River, and thus the Province of Maine granted to Sir Ferdinando Gorges was now reduced to the territory between the Piscataqua and Kennebunk Rivers. The ter- ritorial situation, reduced to its simplest terms, left the land between the Godfrey-Rowe tract and Ogunquit River undisposed of, and after 1644 the territory between the Ogunquit and Kennebunk Rivers fell into the same category. Under these circumstances, when settlers orig- inally owning lots in Gorgeana took up land east of Cape Neddick River, the Provincial government under Godfrey assumed jurisdiction over this section and included in it "Mr. Wheelwright's farme." This farm, belonging to Thomas Wheelwright, son of Reverend John, embraced most of the upland between the Ogunquit and Webb- hannet Rivers (Bourne 30). As a consequence, the divi- sional line between Wells and York might be where anyone chose to place it. Even the incorporation of Wells by the Massachusetts Commissioners in 1653 failed to state where Wells left off and York began. The only reference to it was a statement that a tree had been marked "by mutual consent of both towns" some years before but when this was done is not in any known record. It was not until 1659 that the people in this No Man's Land knew where they were living. With this preliminary explanation of the topographical situation we can now trace the beginnings of Cape Neddick. The first settler appears to have been Mr. John Gooch, who acquired a "plantation on the east side of the River by grant from
5
HISTORY OF YORK
Oliver Godfrey, one of the patentees of 1638, and it is probable that he came shortly after that date, as in 1640 he was a resident of Agamenticus. Next, in point of time, was Peter Weare, who married a daughter of Gooch about 1648, and raised a large family.
In 1649 what may be called the first concerted attempt at development of the Cape Neddick region is found in the grant to John Ball, Thomas Way, Sylvester Stover and Michael Powell, fishermen. It will be noted that uncer- tainty still existed as to jurisdiction which was "as sup- posed to be in the Limits of Accomenticus Patent." The grant here follows
E
THE STOVER FISHING SITE Cape Neddick
Whereas John Ball, Thomas Waye, Sylvester Stover & Michael Pow- ell Fishermen finding a convenient Place for Building a Stage for Fishing with other Accomodations for Setting up the Fishing Trade in the River of Cape Neddicke the most convenient Place being on the North East Side of the sd River wch Land is now justly belonging to Mr John Goug &c by Grant from Mr Oliver Godfrey whereby they can not have such Accomodation there for their Livelihood of Planting & subsisting on the shore Imployment /
Now for as much as it concerns the Generall Good of the Coun- trey as well as their p'ticular Profit & for their better Incouragement it is thought meet by Mr Henry Jocelyn De: Govr & Mr Edward Godfrey Comr for this Province (of) Mayne that the sd John Ball Thomas Way Sylvester Stover & Michael Powell should have assur- ance of Some congruent portion of Land where it may be had not prejudicing others & best for them /
Whereas they desire the Neck of Land opposite to Mr John
6
CAPE NEDDICK
Gouges Plantation the sd Neck being on the South Side of the River and not yet disposed of & as supposed to be in the Limits of Acco- menticus Patent & so may come in the Divident of Mr Edward God- frey wch if it do the sd Edward doth give the same to the sd John Ball Thomas Waye Sylvester Stover & Michael Powell their Heirs & Assigns for ever /
The sd Neck of Land to run West to the Cove where sometime (John) Lander & (William) Hame fished with the M(a)rch of the sd Cove & all Comenedge as is usual they payinge such acknowledgment & Services as is accustomed if the Heires of Sir Ferdinando Gorges should frustrat Mr Godfreys Grant: yet this being for the Good of the Countrey we think fit according to the Trust in us reposed this grant to be made good to them their Heires & Assignes for ever & so to be recorded /
In Court given under (our) Hands the 3ยช July 1 649 HENRY JOCELYN D: G:
EDWARD GODFREY
In furtherance of the movement to establish this sec- tion as a tithing or "liberty" in Gorgeana, the Court at its session of October 15, 1650 took the following action: Ordered that the inhabitants of Cape Nedicke are for to be rated for the payment of the ministers wages by such as are appoynted to make up rates for Gorgeana.
In November 1651 Godfrey sold to Edward Wanton, a young man of twenty, said to have come from London with his mother, two parcels of land described as follows: "one parcell one the South sid of the River of Cap nedock wher the sd Ed wanton hath begun to Cleere Contayning IO ackers ... one the other sid the River opposite to that 20 ackers wher Peter weare endeth," (Deeds i, pt. 2, fol. 13, compare ibid. i, 64). About a mile southward from Cape Neddick River is the promontory, terminating in the Nubble, which was known from earliest times as Cape Neck (short for Cape Neddick Neck). This offered an excellent location for a cattle range as it could be easily fenced across the shore end. Hooke leased half of it in equal shares July 16, 1650 to John Alcock and John Heard, "for pasture & feeding Cattle &c." reserving for himself the other half, if he cared to use it (Deeds iii, 107). With this nucleus Cape Neddick began its village existence and the earlier settlers of Gorgeana itself now looked at its vacant acres for expansion.
In December 1651, the Godfrey government incor- porated this young settlement into a separate political entity in the following terms:
7
HISTORY OF YORK
It is ordered that Mr Wheelwrights farme & Cape Nuttacke are hereby joyned together as a village of this province & have libertie annually to elect & send in a deputy for themselves who shall have power to grant warrants & appoynt any such person within the said village to serve them, which village shall soe Continew with their said priviledges till they grow to be more Capable for a Towne.
Thomas Wheelwright and Peter Weare were ordered to make a survey of what marshes the inhabitants of Wells "who formerly deserted this governmant" have lying in this jurisdiction. Also that they shall pay 3d a year for every such acre. At the same time provision was made for the assessment of property in that newly organ- ized village to bear their share of Provincial taxes:
It is ordered that Mr Wheelwrights farme & Cape Nuttacke being one village are at this present to give in theire Contribution towards building of a pryson at (York) & hereafter theire rates to any publique Charge are equally to be distributed unto Gorgeana and Kittery.
C. Wedeck
CAPE NEDDICK, 1655 From Mss. 13970(a), British Museum
In 1652 the Massachusetts authorities prepared a list of inhabitants of Cape Neddick and it contained these five names:
Mr.Joh: Gouge Peter Wyre Ed. Wanton Sylvester Stover Mr. Tho:Wheelewright
8
CAPE NEDDICK
These were the names given in to the Massachusetts Com- missioners in 1652, when they came here to take the "Sub- mission," and can be accepted as including all men then residing in this section. From the language of the Court record just cited it is evident that Cape Neddick was expected to grow until it should be "more Capable for a Towne," independent from York.
But the expected material development did not occur. The reason is not clear as the first settlement at Agamen- ticus continued to grow yearly. The families of Gooch, Weare, Stover and Smith increased and multiplied and slowly spread out on both sides of the river, as the sons of the next generation took up vacant land to set up their own vine and fig tree. The first addition to this ancient group was Thomas Averill (or Avery), who formerly lived in Wells. He bought a tract of land in 1680 of Peter Weare about a mile east of the river. He added a wife and six children to the population of the Cape Neddick settle- ment. Seven years later George, alias John Spencer, a mariner, received a land grant of forty acres May 26, 1687, "betwixt Mr. Gorges land beyond Cape Neddick River and Thomas Avery's land" (T. R. I, 93), and in 1700 an additional twenty acres was granted to him. With his family six persons were added to the population.
THE MILLING INDUSTRY
The water power of the river was to become the basis of permanent growth of this settlement and furnish occu- pation to new settlers. Before 1800 the wheels of five mills, grist and saw, were turning merrily on Cape Ned- dick River and Josias' River. The first one was built by Henry Sayward in 1671, probably under the grant to Rishworth before mentioned. It was a sawmill and prob- ably was located at the opening of Agamenticus Pond (Deeds ii, 130), and in 1675 Benjamin Johnson speaks of "my sawmill at Cape Nuttacke" (Ibid. ii, 187), but there is no further record of it. There is a possibility that he may have acquired the Sayward mill.
On January 21, 1667 John Smith, Sr., was granted a large tract of timber two and a half miles square, for which he was to pay to the town four thousand feet of merchant- able pine boards annually, and on September 10, 1668 he
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