USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from its first settlement: with notices of the neighbouring towns, and of the changes of government in Maine, Part II 1700-1833 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01091 8321
,C
THE
HISTORY OF PORTLAND,
FROM ITS
FIRST SETTLEMENT :
WITH 1
NOTICES OF THE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS,
1
AND OF THE
CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT IN MAINE.
IN TWO PARTS.
BY WILLIAM WILLIS, pt .2
PART II .- From 1700 to 1833.
-
PORTLAND: CHARLES DAY & CO .... PRINTERS. 1833.
Pendleton's Lunagraphy, Boston.
S.E. VIEW OF PORTLAND IN 1832, TAKEN FROM FORT PREBLE, ON PURPOODUCK POINT, For Willis's History of Portla id
1648506
CONTENTS
OF THE SECOND PART OF THE HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
CHAPTER 1 .- Page 5.
Revival of the town at Purpooduck and New Casco-Indian treaty of 1703 violated-Commencement of third Indian war-Settlements at Purpooduck and New-Casco destroyed-New-Casco fort abandoned-Peace-The Neck settled-Resettlement of the town-Falmouth incorporated-Irish emigrants -Municipal government-Old and new Proprietors-Distribution of land on the Neck-Accession to the population-Controversy between old and new Proprietors. .
CHAPTER 2 .- Page 26.
Character of the first settlers-Samuel Moody-Benjamin Larrabee-Sam- uel Cobb-Samuel Proctor-Ferry and travelling-Indian war of 1722-Peace -- Accessions to the population, Riggs, Sawyer, Westbrook, &c .- Ecclesias- tical affairs-Meeting-house built-Mr. Smith settled.
CHAPTER 3 .- Page 46.
Education-Schools and school-masters-Educated men-Public Library. CHAP. 4 .- Page 57.
Ecclesiastical affairs-Purpooduck Parish set off-Presbyterians-Purpoo- duck Parish-First Parish, new meeting-house-Revival-Geo. Whitefield- New-Casco Parish-Episcopal Society-Settlement of Mr. Deane-Quakers.
CHAP. 5 .- Page 77.
War of 1744-Causes of war-Preparations for defence-Commencement of hostilities-Alarms from Indians and French-Volunteers-Capture of Lou- isburg-Treaty of Falmouth-Unsettled state of the country-War of 1754 -Capture of Quebec-Peace.
CHAP. 6 .- Page 97.
Population at different periods before the revolution-Taxes-Currency --- Lumber and saw-mills-Grist-mills-Trade and commerce-Customs and collection-Wharves-General description of the Neck prior to the revolu- tion-Streets.
CHAP. 7 .- Page 124.
Revolution-Causes of excitement-Stamp act, its repeal-Sugar act- New duties laid-Military force employed-Collision with the troops-Repeal of duties-Non-importation agreements-Duties on molasses and tea-Tea duty enforced and tea destroyed-Proceedings in Falmouth-Boston port bill-Convention in Falmouth-Preparations for war.
CHAP. 8 .- Page 146.
1775 to 1783-Revolutionary war-Proceedings in Falmouth-Mowatt taken prisoner-Proceedings against tories-Troops raised-Denunciation of Gov. Hutchinson-Arrival of Mowatt and destruction of the town-Applications for relief-measures of defence-Privateering-Sacrifices of the people-Capture of Bagaduce-Expedition to the Penobscot-Capture of Gen. Wadsworth- Surrender of Cornwallis-Civil affairs of the revolution-Constitution prepar- ed and adopted for the State-Acts against monopolies-Close of the war, the fisheries, Peace.
CHAP. 9 .- Page 176.
Revival of the town-Buildings erected-Number of dwelling-houses and population-Commerce-Stores and trade-Wharves-Light-house-Banks -Commercial embarrassments.
CHAP. 10 .- Page 189.
Division of the town-Its size and population-Post-office and mails-Sta- ges and Travelling-Newspapers-Adoption of the constitution-Represen- tatives to Congress-French mania-Politics of the town in 1793-Republi- can society.
CHIAP. 11 .- Page 203.
Courts-Court Houses and Jails --- Inferior Courts-Superior Courts-Law and Lawyers-Capital trials-Decrease of Crime.
C
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/historyofportlan02will_0
CONTENTS.
CHAP. 12 .- Page 224.
Ecclesiastical affairs after the revolution-Episcopal Society-First Parish -2d Parish in Portland-Death of Mr. Smith, Mr. Nichols ordained, death of Dr. Deane-Second Parish, Mr. Payson ordained, his death and successor -- Third Congregational Society-Chapel Society-Third Parish-High-Street Church-Methodist Society-Baptists-Christians-Universalists-Sweden- borgians-Roman Catholics-Mariner's Church.
CHAP 13 .- Page 250.
Separation of Maine from Massachusetts.
CHAP. 14 .- Page 266.
Miscellanies-Cumberland and Oxford Canal-Bridges-Academy and Schools-Library-Atheneum-Charitable Societies-Epidemics-Change of government to a city-Population and character of the inhabitants-Cus- toms of the people at different periods-Amusements-Theatre-Conclusion.
CHAP. 15 .- Page 290.
. Biographical Notices.
APPENDIX I .- Page 311.
Petitions of the proprietors and settlers of Falmouth to the General Court in 1717 and 1718 for incorporation.
II .- Page 313.
Persons admitted inhabitants by the town principally in 1727 and 1728. III .- Page 315.
Petitions to the General Court in 1728 by the ancient proprietors. IV .- Page 317.
Report of a committee of the town, and Resolves adopted in February, 1774, on the rights of the colonies.
V .- Page 320.
Proceedings of the Convention of Delegates from the towns in Cumber- land County, Sept. 21, 1774 at Falmouth.
VI .- Page 325.
Proceedings of the Committee of Correspondence and Inspection in Falmo. VII .- Page 328.
Muster roll of Capt. David Bradish's company, May 1774. VIII .- Page 329.
Houses now standing which survived the conflagration of 1774.
Dr. Deane's letter on the subject of an engraving of the town as it appear- ed at the time of the fire.
A notice of the burning of the town from a London paper in Dec. 1775. IX .- Page 333.
An account of the losses sustained by the destruction of the town.
X .- Page 338.
Proceedings of the inhabitants to obtain relief from Europe. No. 1. Mr. Titcomb's letter to Samuel Freeman.
2. Gov. Bowdoin's letter to Enoch Freeman.
3. « Gov. Pownal.
4. Gov. Pownal's " Enoch Freeman and others.
" 5. Address to the people of Ireland.
XI .- Page 342.
Grant of two townships ofland to the sufferers in the destruction of the town.
XII .- Page 343.
The amount of tonnage registered and enrolled in the Custom House at Portland ; with the amount of duties, exports, imports, &c.
XIII .- Page 345.
Petition for a division of the town of Falmouth in 1785.
1
CHAPTER 1.
Revival of the town at Purpooduck and New-Casco-Dudley's treaty 1703-Treaty violated, commencement of third Indian war-Set- tlements at Purpooduck and New-Casco destroyed-New-Cusco fort abandoned-Peace-The Neck settled-Resettlement of the town-Falmouth incorporated-Irish emigrants-Municipal gov- ernment-Old and new Proprietors-Distribution of land on the Neck-Accession to the population-Controversy between Old and New Proprietors.
IN the first part of our history we have followed the fortunes of our town from its first settlement to the close of the 17th century, and left it stripped by savage warfare of inhabitants and dwellings, a scene of perfect desolation. We now resume the subject and hope to lead the reader through a brighter path to the felicities of the present day.
After the peace of 1698, a few of the old settlers straggled back to their cheerless places of residence, particularly at Purpooduck and Spurwink. The Jordan family, whose property lay in the latter neighbourhood, collected upon their desolate possessions and began the world again : they were probably the first who returned. In the spring of 1703, a number of persons had returned to Purpooduck point and erected houses there. Their names were Michael Web- ber, Benjamin, Joseph, James and Josiah Wallis, Joseph Morgan, Thomas Lovitt, Nathaniel White and Joel Madeford ; the latter had been an inhabitant before the first war. All these persons had families, and zealously entered upon the task of reviving the settle- ment.
We have not the least evidence that the Neck was at this time occupied. A fort, instead of being erected upon the site of fort Loyal, was established on a point east of Presumpscot river on the
3
6
Governor Dudley's Treaty with the Indians. [P. II.
farm which had formerly belonged to James Andrews.1 That part of Falmouth since that time has borne the name of New-Casco, to distinguish it from the Neck where fort Loyal stood, which was then called Old-Casco. The fort at New-Casco was erected in 1700, intended principally for a truck or trading establishment, to accommodate the Indians, and supported by government in pursuance of the late treaty." Settlers soon gathered in the vicinity of the fort ; among whom was David Phippen, son of Joseph Phippen, an ancient settler in Purpooduck, whose house stood by the gully, on the east side of Presumpscot river, nearly opposite Staples's point.3 A Mr. Kent and Samuel Haywood, also lived in the same neigh- bourhood.
On the breaking out of the war between France and England in 1702, apprehensions were entertained by the government of Massa- chusetts, that the eastern Indians would again commence hostilities. To prevent this calamity, Gov. Dudley, in the summer of 1703, visited the coast as far east as Pemaquid, and held conferences with the Indians. On the 20th of June, a grand council was assembled at the fort in New-Casco, attended by the chiefs of the Norridge- wock, Penobscot, Penacook, Ameriscoggin and Pequakett tribes. The chiefs were well armed and generally painted with a variety of colours ; those of the Ameriscoggin tribe were accompanied by about 250 men in 65 canoes.
The meeting was conducted in the most friendly manner ; the natives assured the governor " that they aimed at nothing more than peace ; and that as high as the sun was above the earth, so far dis- tant should their designs be of making the least breach between each other."4 As a pledge of their sincerity, they presented him with a belt of wampum, and each party added a great number of stones to two pillars which had been erected at a former treaty, and called the Two Brothers, in testimony of their amicable arrangement. After this ceremony, several vollies were fired on each side, and the Indians
¿ The point for many years retained the name of fort point ; the farm now belongs to Samuel Moody.
2 The resolve for erecting the trading house with suitable fortifications, passed July 8, 1700-by the resolve it was provided that a smith should be kept there to mend the Indians' hatchets and fire-arms at a reasonable price.
"Deposition of S. Haywood of Reading 1732. 4 Penhallow.
-----
7
Third Indian War.
C. 1.]
expressed their satisfaction by singing, dancing and loud acclamations of joy.
It is said, however, that designs of a treacherous nature were con- cealed under these pacific manifestations, and that the savages had protracted the treaty several days in expectation of the arrival of a French force, with a view to destroy the English commissioners. This suspicion derives some confirmation from the fact that within two months from the date of the treaty, " the whole eastern country was in a conflagration, no house standing, nor garrison unattacked."1 In Aug. 1703, the enemy consisting of 500 French and Indians, invaded our frontier and dividing into small parties, unexpectedly attacked all the settlements from Casco to Wells. The inhabitants of Purpooduck were the most severe sufferers in this sudden onset. There were nine families then settled upon and near the point, who were not protected by any garrison.2 The Indians came suddenly upon the defenceless hamlet when the men were absent, killed 25 persons and took several prisoners. Among the killed were Thomas Lovitt and his family, Joel Madeford or Madiver, and the wives of Josiah and Benjamin Wallis, and of Michael Webber.3 The wife of Joseph Wallis was taken captive ; Josiah Wallis made liis escape to Black Point with his son John, then 7 years old, part of the way upon his back.4 Spurwink, principally occupied by the Jordan fam- ily, was attacked at the same time, and twenty-two persons by the name of Jordan were killed and taken prisoners. Dominicus Jordan,
1 Penhallow. About this time the French had drawn off a great number of Indian families from the Penobscot, Norridgewock, Saco and Pequakett tribes, and settled them at St. Francois, in Canada, as a protection against the six nations, who were in the English interest. These were afterwards called the St. Francois Indians and were let loose by the French from time to time to prey upon the defenceless frontiers of New-Hampshire and Massachusetts. 2 Hutch. 131.
2 This was subsequently called Spring Point, and probably received its name from an excellent and unfailing spring which issues from the bank just above high water mark.
3 Madeford or Madiver, was the son of Michael Madiver, who lived at Purpooduck before the first war ; the name does not exist here now, nor in the country to our knowledge. The Indians ripped open Webber's wife who was pregnant, and took two children from her.
4 Deposition of John Wallis, who was living in 1760. The family of Wal- lis, which was formerly so numerous here, is nearly run out ; there are one or two limbs in rather a decayed state remaining ; some of them spell the name Wallace ; they are all descendants of John Wallis, who lived at Purpooduck before the first war, and was selectman in 1681 ; they returned here from Gloucester, Cape-Ann.
8
Third Indian War.
[P. II.
the third son of the Rev. Robert was among the killed, and his family consisting of six children were carried to Canada ;1 his brother Jeremiah was among the prisoners, who was subsequently called French Jeremy, from the circumstance of his having been carried to France. The whole country, from Purpooduck Point to Spurwink, was covered with woods, except the few spots which the inhabitants had cleared. This afforded facilities to the Indians for concealment and protection. From these coverts they made their sudden and cruel visits, then returned to mingle again with the other wild tenants of the forest, beyond the reach of pursuit.
The enemy next directed their attention to the fort at New-Casco. This was the most considerable fort on the eastern coast, and was the central point of defence for all the settlements upon Casco Bay;2 under its protection, several persons had collected to revive the for- tunes of the town. Major March commanded the garrison at this time, consisting of but thirty-six men. The enemy practised a stratagem in hopes of taking the fort without loss of lives, and for this purpose their able chiefs Moxus, Wanungonet and Assacombuit sent a flag of truce to the commanding officer, soliciting a conference, under pretence that they had something important to communicate. At first, Major March declined the invitation, suspecting some treachery, but afterward as they seemed to be few in number and ' unarmed, he concluded to meet them, taking the precaution to post two or three sentinels, where they might be ready in case of danger. On his arrival at the place of meeting, they saluted him civilly, but immediately drew their tomahawks from under their robes, and vio- lently assaulted him, while others in ambush shot down one of the sentinels. March, being a man of uncommon strength as well as courage, wrested the tomahawk from one of the assailants and suc- cessfully defended himself until serjeant Hook arrived from the fort with a file of ten men and rescued him from his perilous situation. Mr. Phippen and Mr. Kent, who accompanied Major March, being less able from advanced age to resist this savage attack, were over- powered and slain.3 The enemy being disappointed in their main
' See part I. p. 211.
2 In 1703, the fort was enlarged and beds and bedding were furnished for the first time, by order of government.
3 Penhallow speaking of the slaughter of Phippen and Kent, says, "being advanced in years, they were so infirm, that I might say of them as Juvenal
9
1
Third Indian War.
C. 1.]
object, destroyed the cottages or huts in the vicinity and laid seige to the fort. From the weakness of the garrison, the utmost vigi- lance was required on the part of the commanding officer to prevent surprise ; he consequently divided his men into three companies of twelve each, who interchanged watching every two hours without intermission for six days and nights. At the end of that time the enemy received an addition to their force, when the whole amount- ed to 500 French and Indians, and were commanded by M. Bobas- sin, a French officer. This reinforcement had just returned from a successful incursion upon the western towns ; they had taken one sloop, two shallops and considerable plunder, and were flushed with victory. They immediately commenced undermining the fort on the water side, and as this was situated upon an elevated bank, they could work securely out of the range of its guns, and were protected by a superior force from the danger of a sally. They had proceed- ed two days and nights, and would probably soon have succeeded in their attempt, had not the garrison fortunately been relieved by the arrival of a province armed vessel, commanded by Capt. Southack, which interrupted their plans. Southack retook their prizes, forced them to raise the seige and shattered their navy, consisting of 200 canoes. The Indians made a hasty retreat, but still hovered in the vicinity of Casco Bay, which was a central situation for them, and the waters of which furnished them with an inexhaustible supply of provisions. In the autumn of 1703, they surprised a vessel in the Bay, killed the master and three men, and wounded two more. They occasionally practised upon their prisoners the most revolting cruelties ; in one instance a woman who had been killed, was expos- ed in a brutal manner with her infant fastened to her breast and left to perish. In Casco, Col. Church relates that an English soldier was found in the early part of the war with a stake driven through his body, his head cut off and a hog's head placed on his shoulders and his heart and inwards taken out and hung around his body. The
did of Priam, they had scarce blood enough left to tinge the knife of the sac- rifice." David Phippen was the son of Joseph, who lived at Purpooduck as early as 1650. In the previous war the family moved to Salem, and David was probably the only one who returned. He had purchased in 1699 a large tract on the Presumpscot river of George Felt, Francis Neal and Jenkin Wil- liams, which they bought of the Indians in 1677. He came down no doubt to improve this estate extending from Congin to about half a mile below the lower falls. He left four children, one of whom, Anna, married John Green of Salem.
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10
Third Indian War. [P. II.
eastern towns were not the only places which suffered in this war. Deerfield and other settlements in the western part of Massachusetts were cut off and many lives were destroyed and property laid waste, on the whole frontier, both of that province and New-Hampshire.
To arm a force sufficient to repel their cruel invaders, government deemed it necessary to call to its aid the avarice of the people, and they offered a bounty of £40 for every Indian scalp that should be brought in. This excited a spirit of enterprise in the inhabitants, which made them endure incredible hardships in pursuing the enemy through the forests in the depth of winter to procure this valuable merchandize.
After the melancholy events of 1703, Falmouth was entirely de- serted of inhabitants, and did not become the scene of further cruel- ties during the war. Saco, Scarborough and the places in this prov- ince further west were continually harrassed and lost many of their active and promising young men as well as the aged, and women and children. The war was crowded with scenes of cruelty and blood, similar to those of the last wars, and which give to Indian hostilities a ferocious and horrible celebrity. The war was particularly dis- tinguished by the capture of Port Royal, in Nova-Scotia from the French, which was afterwards called Annapolis, in honour of Queen Anne.
The fort in Falmouth continued to be maintained during the war, although not without considerable opposition. In 1704, Col. Church gave his strong testimony against supporting it.1 In 1710, the house of representatives passed a resolve to abandon it, which was non- concurred in the council: they say, "Whereas the first and sole end of settling a garrison at Casco Bay, was for a trading-house to accom- modate the eastern Indians in time of peace, but upon the breaking out of the war, it was thought necessary to enlarge the said garrison and make it more defensive, supposing it might be advantageous for the covering the fishery and to recruit our forces that might march toward the H. Q. of the enemy ; but by experience it is known
1Church says, "To conclude all, if your Excellency will be pleased to make yourself great and us a happy people, as to the destroying of our enemies and easing of our taxes, &c. be pleased to draw forth all those forces now in pay in all the eastward parts, both at Saco and Casco Bay ; for those two trading- houses never did any good, ner never will, and are not worthy the name of Queen's forts."
11
Treaty ratified at Falmouth.
C. 1.]
that the fort is of little or no security to our fishery or of any advan- tage to our marching forces, but of great expense and charge, &c." It is therefore " ordered that the forces be withdrawn, &c." Several attempts were made to induce the governor to relinquish the fort here as an unnecessary public burden, but he would not consent to it. In 1715, the house voted to garrison Pejepscot fort, situated at the falls in Brunswick, and to abandon that at Casco ; a committee re- ported that " the fort or trading-house at Casco, which being much out of repair, we are of opinion it is for his majesty's service that it be slighted and no longer continued ;" and they recommended re- pairing Pejepscot fort and drawing 20 men, the number at Casco, for Arrowsic. The governor replied, "I shall give orders to draw out 19 men and an ensign from Casco fort for Arrowsic, and also raise 15 men for Brunswick, but cannot see reason at present to de- molish Casco fort until his majesty's pleasure be known." The house adhered to their resolution, and after reciting their former vote and asserting that the governor had power by the charter to demolish forts without orders from the king, " Voted that no more money be drawn from the public treasury to pay officers or soldiers at the fort of Casco, after September first next."1
Major Samuel Moody, in the early part of the war, succeeded Major March in the command at Casco fort ; he received frequent communications from the enemy, and was the organ of correspon- dence between them and the government. In 1713, hostilities having ceased in Europe," the Indians sent a flag of truce to Major Moody desiring peace, and requesting that a conference might be had at Casco. The governor being notified of their application, consented to enter into a treaty with them, but insisted on their meeting him at Portsmouth. At that place, articles of pacification were entered into July 13, 1713, by delegates on the part of the Indians from the tribes on the St. John, Kennebeck, Ameriscoggin, Saco and Merrimac, which were accepted and formally confirmed by a great body of In- dians, who were assembled at Falmouth, waiting the result. When the several articles were read and explained to them, they expressed their satisfaction by loud demonstrations of joy. Thus was peace concluded after ten years of constant agitation in New-England, un-
1 Mass. Rec. 2 The treaty of Utrecht was signed July 13, 1713, hostili- ties had ceased some time before.
12
New-Casco Fort Demolished. [P. II.
der circumstances which gave hope of long continuance. By one of the articles, the English were allowed to enter upon their former settlements without molestation or claim on the part of the Indians ; while to the latter was reserved the right of hunting, fishing and fowling as freely as they enjoyed in 1693. There was a stipulation in the treaty, that government should establish convenient trading-houses for the Indians, where they might obtain their supplies without the fraud and extortion which had been practised in former years. In pursuance of this article, a trading house was established at Winter- harbour and another in Falmouth.1
Hutchinson estimates the loss to the country by the three late In- dian wars as follows : " From 1675, when Philip's war began, to 1713, 5 or 6000 of the youth of the country had perished by the enemy, or by distempers contracted in the service ; nine in ten of these would have been fathers of families, and in the course of 40 years have multiplied to near an 100,000 souls.">2
In 1715, Governor Dudley having been superseded in the gov- ernment of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives seized the opportunity to secure the demolition of the fort at Casco, and passed the following resolve in June 1716. " This house being informed, that the votes to demolish Casco fort and remove the stores from thence have not been fully complied with, which this house appre- hend may be of dangerous consequence by exposing his majesty's stores and the few people that still remain there, contrary to the acts of this court, to the insults of the Indians ; Resolved, that his Hon. the Lt. Governor be desired to direct a full performance of the votes of this court, and order the removing of the stores to Boston, and the entire demolishing of the fort and the houses therein, without delay." This order was immediately carried into execution, and a sloop was dispatched from Boston to remove the stores belonging to the government, to that place. Major Moody, who had probably continued at the fort until it was demolished, and Benjamin Larrabee, the second in command, with the other persons who had occupied .
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