USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 11
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 11
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Of course it was only because of the revolution in England that this marvellous success of Massachusetts, in these move- ments, was possible. But the time was at hand, when, on the restoration of Charles II, their skill and firmness were to be severely tested.
This event occurred in 1660; and among the many things pertaining to his government, that were at once brought before him, while there were some which more immediately concerned the stability of his throne, there were few that occasioned more perplexity than the management of his American, and especially his New England, colonies. Finding it difficult to understand clearly the full import and bearing of the many conflicting questions and interests presented before him, he resolved to send commissioners to this country, to examine the condition
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
of affairs, and make report to himself. Indeed he went much farther than this, and gave them power to " examine and deter- mine all complaints and appeals in all contests and matters, as well military as criminall and civill, and to proceed in all things, provideing for and settling the peace and security of the said country, according to their good and sound discretion, and to such instructions as they or the survivors of them shall from tyme to tyme receive from us in that behalfe, and from tyme to tyme as they shall find expedient to certify to us, or our privy councill of their acts and proceedings." 1
For commissioners he named Coll. Robert Nicholls, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick. The last mentioned, Samuel Maverick, had been many years in the country, and had his residence on Noddle's island, now East Boston
These proceedings greatly disgusted the people of Massa- chusetts, but they were too wise to make any open opposition. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the proprieter of the province of Maine, (that part of the present state west of the Kennebunk) also became alarmed for his proprietary interest, and sent over an agent John Archdale, to attend to his affairs. He visited all the set- tlements, asserted in a formal manner the claims of his princi- pal, and even undertook to appoint civil officers, as authorized, by the charter. But his efforts were unavailing, except to pre- pare the way for a sale of the patent or charter to Massa- chusetts, as was afterwards effected.
The royal commissioners in due time made their appearance in Boston ; and after attending to their business in Massachu- setts, and at Piscataqua, proceeded east as far as York, where, in the language of that day, they again " held a court." June. 23d, 1665, they issued a formal proclamation, annulling (on paper) the authority both of the Gorges government and that of Massachusetts, in the then province of Maine, at the same time, in the king's name undertaking to establish a kind of government of their own. Proceeding eastward, they "held court" in several other places, in each going through the same forms, by which they claimed that the several municipal gov- ernments of these places were annulled, and others substituted in their stead. Sept. 5th, they arrived at Sheepscott, and "opened court" as usual at the house of John Mason, and called upon
1 Hutch. Hist., II, p. 460 ; Doc. Col. ITist., N. Y., III, p. 64.
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the inhabitants to come forward and swear allegiance to their royal master, the king of England.
It is necessary to remark here, that the year before this (March 10, 1664), Charles II, wishing to do a favor to his brother James, duke of York, by royal charter had made a grant to him of the territories of New York and Sagadahoc, the latter being defined as "all that part of the Main land of New England, beginning at a certain place called and known by the name of St. Croix, next adjoining to New Scotland [Nova Scotia] in North America, and from thence extending along the sea-coast into a place called Petuaquine or Pemaquid, and so on up the river thereof to the farthest head of the same as it trendeth northwards and extending from thence to the river Kinebequi, and so upwards by the shortest course to the river of Canada." 1
The commissioners supposed themselves in these transactions to be within the limits of the duke's patent, but plainly they were not, as a careful examination of the language of the above extract will show.
As we have heretofore seen, there had been here, before this, scarcely the pretence of a civil government; and the way was therefore comparatively easy for the commissioners to execute their office and authority. Proclamation being made for the citizens to appear, and make their submission to his majesty's government, the following twenty-nine persons answered to the call, and took the prescribed oath.
Of Pemaquid and Winnegance.2
Henry Chamness,
George Buckland,
Edmund Arrowsmith,
M. Thomas Albridge, [Elbridge.]
Thomas Gardiner,
Of Shipscot.
John Mason,
John Taylor,
Thomas Mercer,
John White,
Walter Philips,3 William Markes,
Nathaniel Draper,
Robert Scott,
Christopher Dyer,
Andrew Stalger,
William Dole, Moses Pike,
William James,
Thomas Gent.
1 Maine Hist. Coll., V, p. 6; Williamson's Hist. Maine, I, p. 407.
' This was the name of a small settlement on the Sheepscott somewhere near its mouth.
3 See next page.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Of Sagadahock.
Richard Hamons [Hammond. ] John White,
Thomas Parker, Markes L'arsons,
Robert Morgan, John Miller,
Thomas Watkins, William Friswell.
Of Arrowsick, Nicholas Raynal.1
The territory of Sagadahock they erected into a country which they called Cornwall, and gave to the Sheepscott plantation the name of Dartmouth or New Dartmouth. The officers then ap- pointed were Walter Phillips2 of Damariscotia, clerk and recorder, Nicholas Raynal of Sagadahock, Thomas Gardiner of Pemaquid, and Wm. Dyer of Dartmouth, justice of the peace, and Richard Lemons, constable.
They even pretended to establish a kind of church govern- ment, but nothing ever came of it.
Having thus arranged the political affairs of Sagadahock or New Dartmouth to their satisfaction, the royal commissioners were prepared to return again to Massachusetts, where they found the spirit of the government and people not all together submissive to their authority.
Of their doings in this last place of their visitation William- 6013 very justly says, "short sighted statesmen, unacquainted with the genius of the people, their necessities, and the political remedies needed, they formed no regular system of government ; their whole management giving full proof of their inadaquacy to the magnitude of the trust to which they had been commis- sioned." Though they were received kindly by the people here, they were evidently in a mood not to see things favorably, as their official representations of the condition of the people plainly shows. They say " the places beyond Sagadahock [river] were given to His Royal Highness by his Matis. yet as Col. Ni- colls' desired, who could not attend to go himself, we have appointed some to govern them for the present, as there was
' Sull. Hist. Maine, 287; Williamson's Hist. Maine, I, 421.
"" Walter Philips of Damariscotta," appointed " clerk and recorder," began his book of records, at this time the title of which has been preserved, but the book itself long since disappeared. Williamson's Hist. Maine, 1, 420.
3 Ilist. Maine. 1., 422, 423.
' Col. Nichols {Nicolls, Nicholls] was in New York at this time ; he did not ac- company the other commissioners into Maine.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
great need. Upon 3 rivers, east of [the] Kennebec, [the] Ship- scot [Damariscotta], and Pemaquid -- there are 3 plantations, [but] the greater hath not more over 20 houses, and they are inhabited by the worst of men. They have had hitherto noe government and are made up of such as to avoid paying of debts and being punished have fled hither; for the most part they are fishermen, and share in their rivers as they do in their boats." 1
Their account of the country was more favorable, for, however much they disliked the people, they looked with admiration upon the immense stores of timber the country afforded, and the wild game and the wild fruits that abounded.
The commissioners were recalled in 1666; and in a little time all traces of their doings " were obliterated " except a " few monu- mental evils." England was now at war both with Holland and France, and little attention from her could be expected by the colonies. This war terminated the next year, in a way deeply interesting to the New England colonies, by the cession of Nova Scotia to France and of the Dutch colony on the Hudson to England.
In 1668, the governments established by the commissioners had nearly died out. In fact they never "possessed within them- selves any permanent principle or power to give sanction to their authority," " the officers received no support or encouragement from England," " the laws were feebly administered, and the public affairs fell into confusion." The people were therefore compelled to take action in the matter; and considering the miserable result of the doings of the royal commissioners, it was natural that they should look to the stable government of Mas- sachusetts Bay, which had recently shown more than ordinary firmness and skill in the management of their own political affairs.
1 Doc. Col. Hist. N. Y., III, 101. A discrepancy appears here that needs expla- nation. This report of the royal commissioners to the English secretary of state is dated Boston, July 26, 1665, and yet the time of their " holding court " at the house of John Mason, at Sheepscott, is said to have boen Sept. 5, of the same year.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
CHAPTER XIII.
Massachusetts, on application, sends commissioners to the eastern settlements -- Fierce war between the Mohawks and the New England Indians -- Acadia ceded to France ; and the latter takes possession of the country as far west as the Penobscot, but asserts a claim to the territory quite to the Kennebec -- Massachusetts orders a new survey of her northern boundary line with a view of extending her jurisdiction over the-eastern settlements - The people petition to be taken under her protection - Action of the general court -Commissioners appointed by the general court " hold a court" at Pemaquid -Organization of the county of Devon or Devonshire, and civil and military officers appointed -- The Indian war, called King Philip's war, begun in Massachusetts, extends to the eastern colonies -- The people of Pemaquid still hope to preserve the peace and make commendable efforts for the purpose -John Earthy.
The indications of the popular sentiment in these eastern settlements were favorably received by the government and peo- ple of Massachusetts; and the matter was early (May, 1668), brought before the general court, by whom it was decided that four commissioners 1 should be sent to York, and open the court there, which was to be held the first Tuesday of July, of course in the name and by the authority of Massachusetts. Proclama- tion to this effect was made at once ; and, on the day appointed, the commissioners repaired to the meeting house where the court was to be held, and proceeded with their business, though not without some rather sharp altercation with the opposite party. It was plain, however, that the feelings of the people were very generally in favor of the Massachusetts commissioners, who soon found themselves firmly established in the authority they claimed.
Thus was the jurisdiction of Massachusetts fully established over the western part of the present state of Maine, never again to be interrupted until the organization of the present state government.
Several circumstances that occurred about this time tended to produce much uneasiness in New England, and especially in the eastern settlements. A great war between the Mohawks on the Hudson and the New England Indians began about the year 1663, and continued full six years, terminating in 1669 by a great battle, in which the New England Indians were defeated and
1 The commissioners were Major General John Leverett, Mr. Edward Tyng; assistants, Mr. Richard Waldron and Major Robert Pike.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
obliged to retreat. Even the Tarratines, living on the Penob- scot and further east, it is said, were engaged in the war, and on their retreat were pursued by the outraged Mohawks quite to their homes.1 Before the time of this war no serious diffi- culty had occurred between the English and the natives, but, immediately afterwards, a growing uncasiness and disquiet made itself visible among the latter, and among the former a greatly increased distrust of their savage neighbors.
The war declared by France against England in 1666, (already referred to) was terminated by the treaty of Breda, July 31, 1667, by which, or rather, by a subsequent article, all Acadia was ceded to France. No boundaries of this indefinite country, Acadia, were given in the treaty, but several places in Nova Sco- tia were. specifically named, and also Pentagoet, the French name for Penobscott. The agents of the French government immediately took possession of the country, erecting forts in several places, and extending their jurisdiction westward, un- disputed, quite to the Penobscot, but claiming the country as far west as the Kennebec.2
This claim, if allowed, would bring the Pemaquid and neigh- boring settlements within the jurisdiction of France; and not only the residents of Pemaquid, but the people and government of Massachusetts were obliged to consider the condition of things with some concern. The matter was brought before the general court at its session in May, 1671; and, after much de- liberation, it was decided to extend the line constituting their northern boundary, as already determined, further east, as it was claimed the charter authorized. As their agent for this purpose they appointed Mr. Thomas Clark, of the firm Clark & Lake, of Boston, who claimed a large tract of land on the coast, between the Kennebec and Sheepscott rivers. Clark em- ployed as surveyor, George Munjoy of Falmouth, who was a celebrated surveyor of the time. His report, made in 1672, was as follows :
" From Clapboard Island, the place Mr. Jonas Clarke and Mr. Samue Andrews observation, due east takes in about one mile and three quarters aboue New Damerells Cove, and along a little above Capt. Paddishalls house in Kinnebecke, wth Capenawagen, Damerells Cove, Monhagen, Munstinicus and Muntenock, wth some part of Pemaquid, most of St. Geor-
1 Williamson's Hist. Maine, 1, 446 ; Muss. Hist. Coll., 1, 166.
2 Williamson's Hist. Maine, 1, 441.
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ges Island, and so runneth out into the sea, no more land east untill wee come to Cape Sables ; this I have observed by a lardge quadrant, wth the approbation of Mr Wisewall who is well skilled in the mathematics, and into my best skill and judgment due east from the aboue sajd island. If the honorable Court were pleased to goe twenty miunitts more northerly in Merrimack River it would take in all the inhabitants and places east along, and they seem to desire it.
Falmouth, 9th, 2 mo., 1672. GEORGE MUNJOY .! "
Mr. Munjoy's remarkable suggestion to the Massachusetts anthorities, that if " they were pleased to go twenty minutes more northerly in the Merrimac river it would take in all the territory they desired, is excellent in its way ; and Williamson 2 says "in his (Munjoy's) search he found, as he believed, the northernmost source of the Merrimack to be about two leagues farther north, than had been determined by the preceding surveyors." Adding this to the latitude as previously deter- mined (43º 43' 12") and we have for the latitude of the north boundary line of Massachusetts Bay colony 43º 49' 12". "A line from this point, stretched due east would cross the Sagada- hock near where Bath now is, and terminate at White Head island in the bay of Penobscot." This, if the determination of the latitude had been correct, would have brought the " princi- pal part" of the Pemaquid settlement within the limits of the Massachusetts Bay patent.
The feelings of the people of Pemaquid and vicinity towards this movement of Massachusetts at this time is apparent from the following petition.
" To the Honor'd Governor, Deputy Governour, Majestrates, & Deptu- tics Assembled in the General Court now sitting in Boston this 18th day of May, 1672.
The petition of several of the Inhabitants of the Eastern parts of New England, viz. Kenebeck, Cape Bonawagon, Damares Cove, Shipscoate, Pemaquid, and Monhegan.
1 Mas3. Coll. Rec., Iv., Part II, p. 519; Williamson's Hist. Maine, I, p. 112 ; Hist. Portland, p. 186, 201 ed.
1 Hist. Maine, r, p. 442. By the maps of the coast survey it appears that the true parallel of 43' 49' 32" falls a little south of the southern extremity of Pema - quid point, so that all their efforts to bring the settlement within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts would have availed nothing if an accurate determination of the latitude had been made.
-
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Humbly Sheweth that whereas the Providence of God hath stated our habitations into these parts wherein some times past we have had some kind of Government settled amongst us; but for these Several years have not had any at all which is greatly to our Prejudice and damage having no way to Right ourselves upon any Account whatsoever and have little hopes of obtaining any to be helpfull to us for the good of our Soles unless we have Government settled amongst us; The Humble Request therefore of your Petitioners is that you will please so farr to favour us as to take us under your Government and protection that we may all have the Benefit of all those Laws settled among yourselves granted unto us which if this Honourable Court shall accept of & granted to us we have desired our loveing friend Mr. Richard Collacot to advise with this honoured Court or committee wh they shall appoint for that purpose, & so to ad in our behalf what shall be Judged meet or convenient for us whereby. your Petitioners shall be ever Engaged to pray &c."
This petition was signed by twenty-five names from " Kennebeck," six teen from " Cape Bonawagen" [Capenawagen] and the following from the places named.
Pemaquid. Sheepscoate.
Damaris Cove.
Monhegan.
Thos. Gardner,
Win. Dyer,
Richard Honywell, Jona. Allen,
Jas. Palmer,
Jer. Hodsden,
Nath !. Draper,
Jno. Cole, Thos. Dwinthine, Roger Seaward,
Antho. Pedell,
Jno. Hinks, Thos. Morrer,
Jno. Wrieford. Geo. Bickford,
Alex. Gold, Wm. Cole,
Elias Trick, Reynold Celer,
Jno. Browne,
Sam. Coxbinson,
Jno. Bedwell, Jno. Dare,
Win Phillips,
John Whyte,
Robt. Parker, Richd. Wooring,
Emanuel Whiteham, Edwd. Davy,
Thos. Harrison,
Wm. Collecott,
Leonard Alber,
Thos. Flewen,
William Lee,
Richd. Boone,
Sym". Lewsombe,
Richd. Oliver,
Nichº. Oyand,
Roger Willis,
Richd. Friend,
Hen. Stokes,
Th3. Alger,
Wm. Sanders,
Rob' Wittell,
Abrm. Larkrow,
Abel Horkridg,
Peter Widgor.
No mention is made of this petition in the records of the General Court for this year (1672), but under the date of Oct. 15, 1673 we find the following ;
" In answer to the petition of Mr. Richard Collecott, in behalf of the inhabitants dwelling wth our jurisdiction to the eastward, this court doth hereby impower the Gouvorr. wth fower or more of the Assistants, to appointe, and impower constables in such places as they judg convenient, to
Tho. Elbridge, Christo. Dyer,
Walter Phillips, Jno. Dyer,
Jno. Taylor,
Wm. James,
Edm. Robins,
Jns. Dollen,
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
prepare things in order to keeping a Court the third of July next, by such as the Court of Election shall appoint thereto, the Charge thereof to be discharged by the inhabitants."
The petition was passed upon favorably by the deputies, four days after its date, (May 22), but was not consented to by the magistrates, by which the Governor and Assistants are meant.1
In this final movement of Massachusetts to extend her jurisdic- tion, another unexpected event occurred which favored her de- signs. The territory where New York city now stands had been wrested from the Dutch in 1664, and an English government established in its stead; but now a Dutch fleet from the West Indies suddenly made its appearance in the harbor, and restored the place to the rule of its former owners. This serious disaster to the British government and people served, for the time being, to withdraw their attention from New England to New York.
Though the petition of the people of these castern settle- ments, was at first rejected by the "magistrates," the subject was again brought before the General Court, at its October session, 1673, with a more favorable result, which, however, did not take definite form until the next May session, 1674. It was then de- termined to appoint four commissioners who should "repair to Pemaquid, Capenawaggen, Kennebec etc., or some one of them to the eastward, and there, or in some one of these places, to keen a Court, as a County Court, to give power to the consta- bles thus appointed, as also appoint and approve such meet per- sons, inhabitants there, to such offices and places (as farr as may be within the line of our patent), according to God and the whole- some lawes of this jurisdiction, so that the wayes of godliness may be encouraged and vice corrected." They were also declared. to "have magistrattical power to punish criminall offences, as also in marrying," to organize the militia etc.2 The com- missioners appointed were Major Thomas Clarke, Mr. Hum- phrey Davy, Mr. Richard Collicott, Lieut. Thomas Gardner.
At the suggestion of the commissioners, all the places east of the Kennebec, within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, were organ- ized into a county, which received the name of Devon or Devon-
1 Thornton, Maine IIist. Coll., v. 240.
2 Rec. Mass., v, p. 5, 17.
----.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
shire; and courts authorized to be held there the third Tuesday of July, annually.
Due notice having been given, the court was held at Pema- quid July 22.
Thomas Gardiner of Pemaquid was appointed county treasurer, and Richard Oliver of Monhegan recorder and clerk of the courts for the county.
The following persons took the oath of fidelity.
Thomas Humphreys,
Richd. Warren,
Gregory Longberry,
Robt. Gammon,
Henry Stoakes, Abra. Clarke,
Willjam Waters,
Win. Denlo,
Thos. Cox, Jun.,
John Dolling,
Edwrd. Dorr,
Henry Curtis, Jun.
Thomas Cox.
Jno. Dare,
Shadrick Cox,
Rob. Edmunds,
George Burnet,
Richard Cox,
Ambrose Haswell,
Nicho. Osbourne,
Richard Pearce, Jun.,
Jno. Wriford,
Tho. Parker,
Robert Cauly,
Elijas Trick,
David Oliver,
Tho. Adger,
John Pride,
Emanuel Whichalls,
Richard Bradeway,
George Bickford,
Jno. Cook,
Richard Bucknell,
Reynald Kelley,
Tho. Phillips,
Wm. Edwards,
Jno. Cole,
Tho. Hilman,
Tho. Cox,
Edmund Patteshall,
Nicco Carary,
Win. Waters,
Ichabod Wisewell,
Jno. Parker,
Wm. Welcome,
Richard Oliver,
Nicco. Deming,
Jno. Bassell,
Wm Buckford.
Abel Hoggeridge,
Peter Collins,
Edward Barton,
Edward Cole,
Richard Glass,
Richd. Hill,
Jno. Wildgoose,
Tho. Phillips,
Henry Curtis,
Tho. Parnell,
llenry Palmer,
Francis Browne,
Aaron Beard,
Jno. Palmer, Jun.
Philip Bry,
James Widger,
Wm. Trout,
Wm. Phillips,
Tho. Harls,
Nico. Ileale,
Jno. Stover,
Jno. Gingden,
George Bucknell,
Jno. Palmer, Sen.,
Nico. Vallack,
Wm. Cox,
Robert Edmunds,
Jno. Selman,
Tho. Cox.1
It will be noticed that the name of Thomas Elbridge, former owner of the Pemaquid patent, is not on the list of those taking the oath of fidelity. He was one of the few who made their submission to the royal commissioners at Sheepscott. So also when the governments established by these commissioners failed, he united with others in the petition to be taken under the protection of Massachusetts. Loyalist as he was, this last act of his must have been felt as not a little humiliating, but it was praiseworthy in him to be willing to make the trifling sacri- fice of sentiment out of regard to the public good.
1 Rec. Mass., v, 18 ; Hist. Gen. Reg., III, 243.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The other officers appointed at this court, were Thomas Hum- phreys, constable for Sagadahoc and Kennebec, Robert Gammon, for Capenawagen, Wm. Waters, for Damariscove, John Dolling, for Monhegan, and Thomas Cox, for Pemaquid. The following were returned as grand jury men, viz., Robert Edmunds, and Ambrose Hamell, of Sagadahoc, John Wriford, Elias Trick, and John Pride, of Damariscove, George Bichford, and Raynald Kelly of Monhegan, and John Cole, of Pemaquid.
" Thos. Humphreys, sargeant, and James Middleton, corporal for Sagadahock.
" John Bessell, sargeant for Damariscove, and Hippocras, heto choose his own corporal.
" Joken Dolling, sargeant for Monhegan, to choose his own cor- poral there.
" Robert Gammon, sargeant for Capenawagen, to choose his own corporal there.
" Lieut. Thomas Gardiner, commander of all the military forces to be raised in the country.
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