USA > Maine > Supplements to history of the State of Maine > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Gc 974.1 W67ha 1774717
REYNOLDS NETURICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
m 3 1833 01085 7677
E
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/supplementstohis00will
Supplements to History of the State of Maine
by William D. Williamson
Extracted from Second Edition of 1839
Volume One Appendix-Pages 661 to 696
Volume Two Index Pages 715 to 734
一
.
F 841 .971
1.74717
WILLIAMSON, WILLIAM DURKEE, 1779-1846. Supplements to History of the state of Maine. Extracted from second edition of 1839. Volume one, appendix, pages 661-to 696; volume two, index, pages 715 to 734. . [n.p., n.d.] 661-696,07150-734p. 22cm.
77.570
1
جم ٠٠
661
APPENDIX.
No. 4.
SKETCHES OF THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN MAINE,
DURING THE FIRST CENTURY, AFTER THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY;
Alphabetically arranged.
JOHN ALDEN, one of the original band of pilgrims, that settled at Plymouth, in 1620, is said to have been the first who sprang from the boat upon the shore at the time of landing. He settled at Duxbury, and was an Assistant or Councillor, in the govern- ment of that Colony, 42 years, including his first election in 1633. The same year he was sent to Kennebec as a resident magistrate to protect the trade on that river. In 1634 occurred his alarm- ing difficulty with Capt. Hoskins, there, in which the latter was killed, and the former did not escape censure, though the homi- cide itself was deemed excusable. This anecdote is told of him ;- as it is said, the celebrated Miles Standish having buried his wife, within a few months after the colony was planted, sent by Alden, young, ruddy, personable, to know if his addresses to the daughter of William Mullins would be acceptable. The messenger accordingly made inquiry of the father, who replied, that 'Precilla' (for that was the daughter's name) must be con- sulted before he could return any answer, though he had him- self no particular objection. She was therefore called into the room; and when she had taken seat, he arose, and in a most prepossessing manner told his errand. To every word, she listened with utmost attention and then casting an open inter- ested look upon him, said, "prithee, John, and why not rather speak for yourself?"-The answer was so unexpected that he could only bow obeisance amidst a blush of countenance, and take his leave. But the hint was too good not to be improved, and the acquaintance in due time, though piquant to the affront- ed Standish, ripened into a marriage, the fruits of which were eight children. He died A. D. 1687, aged 88 years.
His son, Capt. John Alden, married Major Phillips' daughter Elizabeth of Saco; and having built a saw-mill in that place, re- sided there more or less of the time for twenty years. Mean- while he was commander of a sloop in the Colony-service, em- ployed in supplying the eastern forts with stores and provisions. Having removed to Boston, he was arrested; in 1692, for witch- craft, and thrown into prison, where he lay in close confinement,
VOL. I. 71.
-
662
APPENDIX.
fifteen weeks. However, by the assistance of his friends, he effected an escape, and kept out of the way, till the infatuation had effectually abated. He died, 1702.
Sir William Alexander was born at Clarkmannanshire, Scot- land, in 1580, and married the daughter and heiress, of Sir William Erskine. He had a liberal education, and after travel- ing in foreign countries, he joined the court of King James, and attended him into England. On the transfer of his majesty to the throne of that kingdom, he wrote a gratulatory poem. In short, he was so fond of the muses, that his royal master called him 'his philosophical poet.' In 1613, he was selected one of the gentleman ushers to prince Charles, appointed master of re- quests, and received the honor of Knighthood. But this was only the beginning of preferments and favor, for his king gave him a Charter of Nova Scotia, Sept. 10, 1621; the office of Sec- retary of State for Scotland, in 1626; a peerage of that kingdom, in 1630, by the title of Viscount Sterling; and June 14, 1633, raised him to the grade of earl. These dignities were perhaps more readily conferred upon him because his master had taken from him his province, sometimes called Acadia, and resigned it to France, under the treaty of St. Germains ;- actual posses- sion being assumed by his subjects during the last mentioned year. He was further remunerated by having one of the twelve royal Provinces assigned to him in 1635, situate between Pema- quid and St. Croix, and also Long Island, or Isle Sterling, oppo- site Connecticut. He was evidently more of a scholar, than a statesman. Sir Thomas Urquhart, a cotemporary countryman of his, tartly remarks, that he was not satisfied with plucking a laurel from the muses and being a prince among the poets; but like another Alexander craved the region of some New-found- land, and the sovereignty of another Scotland. He died A. D. 1640, leaving two daughters-both his sons having deceased before him. William, his lordship's eldest son's heir, succeeded to the grandfather's estate and dignities, but survived him only a short time, and left no heir: therefore the heirs of Sir Wil- liam's second son, Henry, took the inheritance. The descend- ants have always said, that earl Henry never sold the province between Pemaquid and St. Croix, to the Duke of York; but only loaned to him the title-deed, to take a description of the Island Sterling, and he improperly caused the whole to be inserted in his original ducal Patent, of March 12, 1664. William Alex-
663
APPENDIX.
ander, a native of New-York City, and a distinguished officer of the Revolution, is a descendant. He went to Great Britain A. D. 1760, in pursuit of his titular dignity and ancestral estate; and though he failed of obtaining the acknowledgement of them, he was uniformly called and addressed by the title of Lord Ster- ling.
Isaac Allerton, one of the first that settled at Plymouth, originally opened and commenced the trade with our Eastern Indians. By a little barter from year to year at Monhegan and the vicinity, he became acquainted with the fur trade and fish- ery in this quarter; and in 1625, a shallop loaded with corn was sent from Plymouth up Kennebec river, which was exchanged for 700 lbs. of beaver, besides other furs. Next year a small trading-house was erected at Penobscot [Biguyduce]; and in 1627, Mr. Allerton took a voyage to England and obtained from the Plymouth Council, the first patent for trade on the Kennebec; and the year following, a truck-house was established on the banks of that river. In 1629, January 13th, he obtained another Patent with more extended privileges; and in 1633, he was engaged in establishing a trading-house at Machias. When he returned from England, with the last mentioned patent, he took passage, on board of the Lyon, William Pierce, master, who sailed from Bristol, England, in the spring following for Penobscot, having in the vessel, the agent of the Muscongus Patentees, and four or five men sent to establish a trading-house, at the mouth of St. Georges' river. He removed to New-Haven in 1643, where he resided at least fifteen years.
John Archdale came over from England to Maine in the autumn of 1663; or according to Joscelyn, his arrival was early the next year. He appeared in the capacity of agent and Deputy-governor under Ferdinando Gorges, Esq. grandson of the patentee and proprietor of Maine. It seems, that on the restoration of Charles II., Gorges spread his claim to the Prov- ince, before the throne; entered into a correspondence with some of his friends here; and so far as defective records enable us to judge, obtained a royal decision in his favor, and formed a plan of government, which, in some respects innovated upon that of his grandfather. Certain it is, that Archdale came into the Province with commissions to these twelve men as Councillors or magistrates; namely, Francis Champernoon, and Thomas Withers of Kittery, Edward Rishworth and Francis Raynes of York, Joseph Bowles of Wells, Francis Hook of Saco, Henry Watts of Blue-point, Henry Joscelyn of Black-point, Robert
664
APPENDIX.
Jordan of Spurwink, Francis Neale of Casco, and Thomas Pur- chas of Pegypscot :- also another to James Wiggins, who was appointed marshall. On the distribution of these commissions, a warfare was commenced by Massachusetts against these mag- istrates and their party, and several of them were indicted and punished, for their rebellion; so that the provincials were in a state of revolution, in 1664, bordering on downright anarchy ;- Massachusetts exercising absolute command, reckless of the king's order, requiring a restoration of the province to Gorges; while some of Archdale's or Gorge's new magistrates were "granting warrants and other precepts, taking depositions and hearing causes." The same year, the four Royal Commissioners, Nichols, Cartwright, Carr and Maverick, arrived; and in June of the following year they visited Maine and put an end to Archdale's short administration.
Lewis Bane, a worthy inhabitant of York, represented his town in the General Court, in 1704, and afterwards had eight elections. His mind was of a military and mechanical turn; he commanded the town-company several years; and was appoint- ed with Major Joseph Hammond, to the erection of fort Mary at Winter-harbor, Saco, in 1708. His son Jonathan succeeded Capt. Bradbury in command of the Block-house, which stood in the upper part of the plantation .- Joseph Bane, of the same place and probably a kindred, or brother, born in 1676, was taken by the Indians in 1692, and detained a captive among them, seven years and ten months. During his captivity, he travelled with them extensively over the country, and learned to speak their language with so much facility, as to render him exceedingly useful afterwards, as an interpreter. His return home, was not till after the close of the second Indian war.
Benjamin Blackman, a son of Rev. Adam Blackman, the first minister of Stratford, Connecticut, was a graduate of Harvard College, 1663, and afterwards for several years, a preacher of the gospel at Malden, Massachusetts, though his name is not italicised in the catalogue. He was a man of considerable talents and learning; yet his abilities evidently rendered him more fit for business than for the desk. In 1675, he married at Boston, the daughter of Joshua Scottow, who conveyed to him, five years afterwards, a tract of land, near Black-point ferry; upon which he settled and subsequently. resided, about seven or eight years; after which he removed to Saco. Till this time, he had usually preached to the settlers in his vicinity; and the next year, 1683, he represented the town of Saco in the General Assembly,
L
1
665
APPENDIX.
under the provincial administration of President Danforth, and became the proprietor of a large real estate. While Sir Edmund Andros was Chief Magistrate of New-England, he commis- sioned Mr. Blackman a Justice of Peace; and it was he who issued a warrant for the arrest of twenty Indians in 1688; and yet it was by the Governor's order, that they were set at liberty. He removed, after this, to Boston, but never returned.
Richard Bonighton was a co-proprietor with Thomas Lewis, of the Patent on the eastern side of the Saco, obtained Febru- ary 12, 1629, old style. Having previously determined to try their fortune in this eastern wilderness, they both emigrated from England, and entered upon the grant, in the ensuing June. The dwelling-house of Capt. Bonighton stood a short distance, southerly of the Lower Falls, on the easterly side of the river. He was an upright, sedate and sensible man-and so much a disciple of peace, that he was never known, it is said, to have been a party to a lawsuit. According to the accounts we have of the public trust confided to him, he was sole Assistant to Mr. Vines, the superintendant of the Plantation till the arrival of Governor William Gorges, in 1635; and one of the Council both under his administration, and under Sir Ferdinando's Charter- government ;- an office which he held to the time of his death in 1648. He left one son and two daughters, all born in England. John, his son, a resident near his father, was a con- tentious refractory man; and though he lived to the year 1684, he was one of the unhappy mortals, that die unlamented. The elder of his sisters, married Richard Foxwell of Scarboro' and the other, Richard Cummings of Saco.
Robert Boothe appears among the original settlers of Wells, in 1643. He thence removed to Saco; and in 1648, he was one of the magistrates, or assistants under Mr. Cleaves' administra- tion of Lygonia. He was a man of sound sense and considerable education; besides which, he possessed a mind so rarely gifted, a piety so lively, and a tongue so fluent of expression, that he frequently officiated as a lay-preacher, in religious assemblies, profitably edifying those who heard him. On the submission of Saco to Massachusetts, in 1653, he was town-commissioner and clerk of the writs; and in 1659, he was a deputy to the General Court at Boston,-being the first representative the town ever returned. He died in 1672, aged 68, leaving a character worthy to be imitated by all such, as would rise to distinction by their own merits.
Anthony Bracket and Thomas Bracket, brothers, removed from Portsmouth, N. H. to Casco-neck, about 1662-3; married
.
666
APPENDIX.
the daughters of Michael Mitten, the grandchildren of George Cleaves; and settled not far from the head of Back-cove. An- thony was taken captive by the Indians in 1676, and again in 1689; and was with them about a year in each captivity. He was commander of Fort Loyal and of the town-militia company, in 1682; and in that and the preceding years, was the represent- ative of Falmouth, to the General Assembly, under President Danforth's administration,-a very eminent and popular man of his time. He died before the 3d Indian war, leaving several children. The life of Thomas was not a long one; he being killed by the Indians, in 1676, when they made their first attack upon Casco.
John Brown was one of the earliest settlers at New-harbor on the western shore of Broad-bay, [in Bristol]. This enterprise he was probably induced to undertake, by one John Pierce, an emigrant from the city of London, who obtained a patent, dated June 1, 1621, from the Plymouth Council, allowing him the privilege of settling at any place he and his associates might choose, not however within ten miles of any other settlement, "unless on the opposite side of some great and navigable river;" and he located on the southerly margin of Broad-bay. Brown had a habitancy there as early as 1625; and the same year, July 15, purchased of the Indians a tract between Pemaquid and Broad-bay, eight miles by twenty-five in extent, including Mus- congus Island. Thus he and Pierce, whose father was his brother-in-law, united the purchase with the patent and com- menced a plantation. He was alive in 1660; and when he died, he left a son of the same name, who resided on the premises, and a daughter, who married 'Sander Gould. The father, or possibly another of his name, joined one Bateman in purchas- ing, of the Indians a considerable tract, in Woolwich. John, junior, when he died, (1720) aged 85 years, devised his Broad- bay estate to his son, who resided at Saco. From the original settler, is deduced the famous "BROWN RIGHT," which has occasioned so much controversy in that quarter.
Thomas Cammock, (or Commock), who appears among the early emigrants to this country, originally settled on the northern side of the Piscataqua. Here, Walter Neale, resident agent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, as well as of John Mason, executed to Cammock, June 2, 1633, a territorial grant, extending half way from that to Agamenticus-river. Displeased with this situation and having previously procured of the Plymouth Council, in 1630, a patent of lands between Spurwink and Black-point,
667
APPENDIX.
[Scarboro']; he sold the former in 1635, to James Trueworthy and removing upon the latter, settled at Prout's Neck, not far from the mouth of Dunstan-river. Capt. Cammock was a neph- ew of the earl of Warwick; and was in 1635-6, one of William Gorges' councillors or assistants. He died in 1643, on a voyage to the West Indies; having previously conveyed 500 acres of his estate, to the use of his wife and the residue to his friend Henry Joscelyn, by deed to take effect after his death, provided he should die without issue. He did die childless and Joscelyn married his widow.
Humphrey Chadbourne, came over to Piscataqua, as early as 1631, and dwelt, a few years, at Strawberry-bank, Portsmouth. Next he removed to Newichawannock, about the year 1638-9 and settled at Great Works, or Chadbourne's river, now in South-Berwick. For the purpose of forming a large establish- ment in business, he procured, in 1643, from Sagamore Rowles, a quit-claim of a large tract, at the mouth of that river and up its banks and erected expensive saw-mills. He was a man of mind and influence; and at his day, none in enterprise and activity went before him. In 1657, and two other years, he was sent a deputy to the General Court, at Boston, by Kittery, his plantation at Newichawannock, being then a part of that town. He was also, in 1663, one of the County-court associates. Ben- jamin Chadbourne, his great-grandson, who was a councillor several years, both under the Province-charter and the Consti- tution, was in possession of the ancestral estate, to the time of his death. In 1793, he remarked-"I am now 75 years old, and since I can remember, there was no house between mine and Canada."
Francis Champernoon, the cousin of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, came over probably, in 1639, one of his charter-councillors, and settled in Kittery. He was an inflexible adherent to the interests of his worthy kindred and patron; and of course a zealous foe to all assumption of government, exercised by Massachusetts. Always actuated by a spirit of firmness and consistency, which inspired confidence, he was commissioned Justice, both under Archdale, in 1663-4, and the king's commissioners, in 1665. He held also, the office of militia-captain-a post of no incon- siderable honor in those times; but his political course was un- popular, and he removed to New-Hampshire, where he was one of the Province-council, in 1684. He had three daughters, two of whom married into the Cutts family; and the third married Humphrey Elliot, whose son Champernoon, on his grandfather's death, in 1687, became a principal proprietor of his estate.
.
668
APPENDIX.
George Cleaves, [otherwise spelt Cleve or Cleves] emigrated from England to Spurwink, in 1630; having by possibility, some prior acquaintance with the original proprietors of the "Plough- patent." The next year, he and Richard Tucker, with whom he had formed a connexion in business, removing from that place, became the earliest actual settlers upon Casco-neck, now the peninsula of Portland. Pleased with the local situation and privileges of the place, he in behalf of his partner, and depend- ents presently laid claim to 1,500 acres of land, under a procla- mation of James I .; who offered 150 acres to every individual subject of his, that would emigrate at his own charge, and settle on any vacant or unoccupied parts of his American domains. But when he found, that the province of New-Somersetshire, which was assigned to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, embraced all the territory claimed by him (Cleaves), for himself and others, he took a voyage to England, in 1636, possibly with Gov. William Gorges on his return home. While there he so ingratiated him- self into the favor of the Lord-proprietor as to obtain from him, January 27, 1637, a leasehold,-to run 2,000 years, of all the lands he claimed or desired to hold on the peninsula, between Fore-river and Presumpscot, including Mountjoy's Hill and Hog Island. He was also impowered to lease or grant, with reserva- tion of quit-rents, to such as wished to become actual settlers, all the lands and Islands, if requested, "between Cape Eliza- beth and the entrance of Sagadahock river, and thence up into the land, 60 miles." On Cleaves' return he brought with him a commission from Gorges to six of the Massachusetts-Assistants, authorizing and requesting them to exercise for a short period, a political superintendance over his Province. Still he suspected, the friends of Gorges were secretly his foes ;- a suspicion in which he thought he was fully confirmed, when he found him- self not so much noticed, as to be named, in the Charter-admin- istration of 1639-40, one of Gorges' Standing Council. Hence Mr. Cleaves again, in 1642, visited England; and probably used pursuasives with Sir Alexander Rigby, to purchase the Lygonian Patent; for we find, as soon as he had taken an assignment of it, he appointed Mr. Cleaves deputy-president of the contem- plated administration in his Province ;- both agreeing well in their episcopal sentiments and republican politics. But the new office of Cleaves, necessarily brought him into collision with Gorges' adherents, and rendered it expedient to secure, if pos- sible, the favor of Massachusetts. For this purpose, he went to
ST? AM
APPENDIX.
€
Boston in 1644, and sought, though in vain, her auxiliary inter- position. Consequently, he and his coadjutors contended single- handed, for jurisdiction, with the rulers under Gorges, till March, 1646; when by a decision in England, Rigby's right and title were fully established. Cleaves then assumed the govern- ment; had a Board of five or six Assistants; called General Assemblies; and held Courts, four or five times in the year. When acting judicially, he and the Assistants constituted the Supreme Court; and the names of those who acted as such at different times, were Henry Joscelyn, Robert Jordan, William Royall, Henry Watts, John Cossins, Peter Hill and Robert Boothe. But as the commission of Mr. Cleaves was at an end, when his patron died, in August, 1650,- a fact of which he had full information, the next year, he waited about a twelve- month for instructions without receiving any, and then took another trip to England. There he had an interview with Sir Alexander's son; yet he received no other orders from him, than to have an oversight of the Province, till commissions were sent to him. Of course, after his return, he resolutely resisted the jurisdictional claim of Massachusetts, till July, 1658; when he and the Lygonian Provincials thought it best to submit. Upon this change, he was appointed town-commissioner; and in 1663 and 4, represented the town of Falmouth in the General Court at Boston. He died about 1666, an aged man, leaving only one child, the wife of Michael Mitten, whose death occurred in 1682. It fell to the lot of Mr. Cleaves, to encounter many obstacles and embarrassments, political and pecuniary, in the course of his pursuits; and he died the possessor of little or no property. The traits of his character were such as to give it the semblance of contrarieties; for while his foes accused him of an unhallowed ambition and a litigious spirit; others have set to his credit the merits of honor, energy, enterprise and perse- verance.
Edward and Richard Callicott [or Collicott] were both early inhabitants of Maine. Edward first settled in New-Hampshire as early as 1631; acted several years as Governor of the planta- tions at Dover; and in 1642, was a deputy in the General Court at Boston. About the year, 1659, he removed to Saco. Richard was a man of more intelligence and distinction. He removed from Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Falmouth, in 1657 or 8; and was returned a deputy or representative to the General Court, for that town in 1659, and in 1672 for Saco. Twenty years
VOL. I.
72
£
1
670
APPENDIX.
before he removed into the eastern country, he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery company; and in 1674 he was commissioned by Massachusetts, with others, to estab- lish the County of Devonshire; and was appointed one of the special Commissioners, to hold Courts there, in lieu of asso- ciates in other counties. His last place of residence was in Boston, where he died, in 1686.
John Cossins [Cousin] born in England, A. D. 1596, resided on a beautiful Island, afterwards known by his name, situated near the mouth of Royall-river in North Yarmouth; which he purchased, in 1645, of Richard Vines, the agent of Sir Ferdi- nando Gorges. After residing upon it about thirty years, he was compelled to leave it, in 1675, at the opening of the first Indian war. He removed to York, where he died, in 1683, at an advanced age. While he dwelt upon the Island, he was one of Mr. Cleaves' Assistants in his government of Lygonia ;- a man much esteemed for his integrity and diligence.
Robert, John and Richard Cutts [or Cutt] three brothers, emi- grated from Wales, to the Isles of Shoals, as early as 1645. In a few years, however, Robert removed, first to Barbados, then to Great Island, New-Hampshire, and lastly, to Kittery-point, and his brothers to Portsmouth, all of whom became eminent men. From these three are descended all those of their name in Maine and New-Hampshire. Robert established a ship-yard, and carried on ship-building very extensively. Being strongly attached to the interests of Gorges, he accepted the office of Justice, in 1664 and 5, both under Archdale and the king's commissioners. When he died, in 1672, he left a large estate to his son Richard, whose son of the same name, the grandson of Robert, born in 1693, and settled on Cutts' Island, in Kittery, represented his town, in 1734 and seven other years, in the General Court, and in 1755, was elected a member of the Coun- cil-a seat which he held eight years. Col. Thomas Cutts, son of the latter, settled in Saco about 1758; and by means of an extensive business in ship-building, navigation and merchandize, acquired a large estate. He converted Indian Island, into a high state of culture, and erected upon it a spacious mansion-house, where he passed the closing years of his active life. Edward Cutts, probably his brother, after having represented Kittery, his native town, seven years in the Legislature, was elected into the Council, in 1779, and succeeded Mr. Simpson, in his judi- cial capacity, both as Judge of the Common Pleas and Judge of Probate. He was also two years in the Senate under the State-constitution.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.