USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 15
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 15
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The reasons given for this extraordinary clemency on the part of the government, were the good character of the applicant, and the fact that he had sustained great loss in the " late Dutch war." Some of the reasons given by the applicant in favor of his petition seem, at this day, a little contradictory. First, he was entirely ignorant of the existence of the order, under which the ketch had been seized; and second, he did not suppose the place where he was trading, was within the duke's patent.
For some reason, Andros, in the spring of the year 1678, felt it necessary to write out a formal justification of his government- al policy towards the New England colonies, and, in substance affirms, that when it was heard in Massachusetts that the duke's government had taken possession of Pemaquid "they [the government of Mass.] proclaimed a fast and day of prayer, levyed or pressed about 120 men weh they alsoe sent East ward of wch } being killed by Indians att black point the rest pro- ceded to ors at Pemaquid but finding them already posted they friendly questioned our comeing there and soe returned." 1
But Andros was mistaken in part at least. The expedition "to prosecute the Quarrel against those Eastward Indians, around the Kennebec," was planned in Boston early in the sea- son, before the order passed by the governor and council in New York, for taking possession of Pemaquid, which we have seen, was June 9th. It consisted of some 40 English and 200 Christian Indians, and was commanded by Capt. Benj. Swett and Lieut. Richardson. The vessels containing them arrived at Black Point, June 28th ; and Capt. Swett, learning that In- dians had recently been seen in the vicinity, the next day landed a part of his force, which was joined by some of the men of the place, making ninety in all. These, in two parties, immediately gave chase to a body of Indians that showed themselves, but at once fled on their approach, and were thus drawn into an am- bush, about two miles from the fort; and two-thirds of their number, including both Swett and Richardson, were slain before they could regain the fort. Of the 60 slain, 40 were English and 20 Indians. The vessels, after this disaster, if Andros is to 1 Doc. Col. ITist. N. Y., III, 265.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
be believed, continued their course as far east as Pemaquid, and probably made the Duke's colony the first visit with which they were honored by the men of Massachusetts.1
Capt. Anthony Brockholls, who conducted the expedition from New York, to Pemaquid, and superintended the erection of the fort, was appointed first commander of the place ; but Ensign Cæsar Knapton, succeeded him as captain in a few months, and appears to have held the place until Dec., 1680. At this date Ensigne Thomas Sharpe was appointed to the place, and to him succeeded Capt. Francis Skinner, Aug. 30, 1631, who, it is believed, retained the position until 1686, when, by royal order " the ffort and County of Pemaquid" was " annexed to, and Continued under the Governmt of our territory and dominion of New England." 2
Other officers, civil and military, were appointed by the gov- ernor from time to time as occasion might require. Henry Jocelyn came to Pemaquid from Black point very soon, proba- bly, after the establishment of the Duke's government in 1677 ; and by general consent, seems to have acted as justice of peace, for a time, without formal appointment, which, however, he sub- sequently received. His commission declares him "to bee Justice ofthe Peace in Corum" [Quorum] and he appears to have been the only one at Pemaquid who enjoyed this distinction.3 Other justices were, John Dollin, Lawrence Dennis, John Jour- dain, Richard Redding, John Allen, Thomas Giles (or Gyles) Alexander Waldrop, Thomas Sharpe, Richard Pattishall, Nicho- las Manning, Giles Goddard, Caesar Knapton, John West and Elihu Gunnison." These did not all reside at Pemaquid, but some belonged to neighboring settlements, as Damariscotta and Sheepscott. Gov. Andros, in 1680, addressed a letter to " Mr. Justice Jourdain att Richmond Island nere Caskobay."
Other civil officers appointed were, sheriff's, constables, col- lectors, etc., but the names were not generally preserved. Com-
1 Hub. Ind. Wars, Drake's ed., II, 234; Maine Hist. Coll., III, 113; Williamson's Hist. of Maine, 1, 551 ; Rec. Mass., v, p. 134.
2 Maine Hist. Coll., v, 130, 131.
3 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 33, 36-39, 69, 102, 113.
' This distinction of certain justices seems not to be continued in this country, though common at a very late period. " Johin 'Joslyne," page 33, vol. v, of the Maine Hist. Collections, is believed to be a mistake for Henry Jocelyn. Hist. Gen. Reg., XI, p. 32.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
missions for justices of peace were generally given for one year only, but sometimes they were to continue until otherwise or- dered by the governor.
As to the collectors their duties do not appear to have been burdensome; and Governor Dongan in June, 1686, "for the augmenting his Majestyes Reuenue," proposed to " Sell and Lett to farme" " the Excise and Customes" in hope of better results, remarking that "very Little Reuenue" thus far had " accrued to his Majesty from Pemaquid by the Dutyes of Excise and Cus- tomes."1
Facts recorded at the time show that at Pemaquid, as else- where, justices of the peace were not unnecessary officers. In the autumn of the year 1679, a quarrel occurred on board the ketch, Cumberland, Capt. Israel Dumont, then lying at Pema- quid or vicinity, during which one Samuel Collins was thrown overboard and drowned ; and the captain and John Rashly (pro- bably a sailor with Collins on board of the Cumberland) were charged with his murder. By authority of Governor Andros, a special court was ordered for their trial, to be held at Pema- quid, in the summer or autumn of the year 1680; but we are not informed of the result.
The condition of the place, as to morals, at a period a little later was not above reproach. May 10, 1683, Lieut. Governor Brockholls wrote to Capt. Skinner, then in command of the fort, as follows, viz : " Am Sorry the Loosnesse and Carelessenesse of your Command gives Opportunity for Strangers to take notice of your Extraviganeyes and Debaucheryes and that Complaints must come to me thereof being what your Office and Place ought to prevent and punish *
* * * * Expect a better observance and Comporte [to previous instructions] for the future, and that Sweareing Drinking and Prophanesse to much practiced and and Suffered with you will be wholly Suppressed * * * 22
But if stringent laws favoring good morals did not produce a satisfactory result, the same was found to be true of the still more stringent rules for regulating trade. Col. Thomas Don- gan, appointed governor of " New York and Sagadahoc" in 1682, arrived in this country in the month of August, 1683, and find- - ing the people much dissatisfied with the previous administra- tion of the government, immediately after entering upon his
1 Maine Ilist. Coll .; v, 112.
2 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 33, 40.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
duties proposed with other reforms the election by the " free- holders" of a legislative assembly - a thing until this time en- tirely unknown in the colony. Writs for the election were soon issued by the sheriff's; and to Pemaquid, or rather to the county of Cornwall, including Pemaquid and the neighboring settlements, was assigned a single member. The people both of New York, and of Sagadahoc, received the announcement with joy ; and from this part of the Duke's dominions Gyles Godard Esq., of Sheepscott, was unanimously chosen represent- ative to the assembly. He actually attended the assembly as a member one session and perhaps more. Some language used in a " Petition of Inhabitants of New Dartmouth" [Newcastle] to the governor and council in New York, may be understood to imply that he attended more than one session, but the date April, 1684, does not favor this view. They say, "and allso when our Representative, Mr. Gyles Godward went Last, etc."1
Two petitious from the people of Pemaquid about this time, that are fortunately preserved among the New York archives indicate something of the character of the people, and the ground of their complaint against the government. They are addressed to Coll. Thomas Dongan.
"The Humble Peticon of the poor Inhabitants of the toune of Pema- quyd ctc., Humbly Sheweth. That when the most part of the Inhabitants of this place did come from New York, at the subdueing of this Countrie here to Serue his Royall Highs ; Therefore and for Seuerall other good reasons (and Secureatie of the People) moueing your honor predecessor Sr. Edmund Andros, and Confirmed by Capt. Brockholls ; did giue grant and Confirme to this Toune of Pemaquid the whole trade of the Indians ; directly and indirectly forbidding all other Persons to trade with the In- dians within this Colony Except at Pemaquid vnder very great Penalties as the Records here make appear. * * * * * Therefore your humble poor peticoners doth humbly beg and Desire your honor that our former Liber- ties granted to us Concerning tradeing with the Indians may be confirmed and strict Charge giuen that noe other Person nor Inhabitant Shall trade Except they doe come and build here which will be a strenghening to the garrison of this place."* *
* Likewayes to grant your poor Peticoners an order how wee shall behaue towards the french in your Jurisdiction to the Eastw ! for the trade that way is Considerable and will promote your honors interest."
This petition is not dated, but was received by Gov. Dongan Sept. 6, 1683, only a few days after his arrival in the country.
1 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 08. " Idem, p. 70.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
In anticipation of this event, it had evidently been prepared earlier in the season, and forwarded to New York.
The other petition evidently prepared by another band is also without date, but probably was sent at a period a little later than the preceding. It is addressed to the Honreble Coll. Thomas Dongan, Left. Govern" etc."
" The humble Petion of the inhabytance of the Extreme partes of his Riall Hiness Teritory Betwene the River Kenybeke and St Croix Hum- bly Showeth,
Ware as yor Petinors Came to vuderstand by Seuerall Commition and in strucktion ffor the Settillment of the aforesaid partes that yor Honr Hath intended Good ffor these partes and all- ways will wee Beliue Confferme the same which Giues vs Greate boulldnes to seeck yor Hon's protecktion - and Reedres ffrom many burthen, and oppretions that are Layed vpone vs by the wonte of Laues being Lefte to the will and plesuer of the Millitary order by which menes the Gouernment bee Comes to vs allto Gether Arby- tary which soe to bee is Repugnant to the Laues of England and his Majesty Regall athority as allso a great Reflecktion one yor Honers athority Being ffully ashored of our Deliuerce ffrom the same By yor Honer, Affter seuerill yeares suffering By ouer Great Distant ffrom New Yorke whare we ar all wayes to have oure Releefe in such and the Licke Cases.
Prmis the Boody of Lawes of New Yorke and the adjasent partes of his Ryall Hines territory hath not these partes in it Thareffore humbly Request that wee may bee At mimber of that Boody.
2ly. Thare has ben but one . appointed ffor these partes which all Cases Com beffore and if Injustis Don any man under correcation bee it spoocken to the Loos of his Estate or Dammige to his parson this Law Appointes noe Appeall ffor vs which priueliges is a Lowed of By yor Hon" and Counsell at New Yorke and thare ffore hope yor Honer will prouide some way ffor ouer Releefe.
3ly. It hath Binne the pracktis of the Commander of Pemaquid to appre- hend by fforse of armes the kings Justis of the pease and thretten other Justis of the Pease with Putting in Irons and keping in the ffort a pris- nor seuerall dayes with other Grand abusses and uillifing Lange and ffor- noe Reson only ffollowing thare Commition Granted to the Said Justise of the pease as allso thretnige the Desolfing of Coarts att plessuer By which meanes the Kings Justices and Subjects haue bine turned beesides that busnis ; Humbly Beging Yor Hon's Releefe in the same.
4uly. Whare as you Honer haue Sent formerly Artickels in tittled Instruction for the settillment of Pemaquid which signyfies to yor petition- eor that yor Hon's haue thoughts of Good ffor the Inhabitants of these partes if a Right vnderstanding whare as the ffurste Instrucktion Declarith
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that noe vesseill shall trad one the Coste as bumboates ffrom Harbber to Harber but such as shall supplye the Ginerorall account ffor one Boate or more nether shall it bee Lawfull to trad in any other harber which or Instruektion is much to the dammig of the in habbytance and a great Dis- corigement of others that wold Come to inhabbitte ffor answer to the affore said Instruction the persons that haue supplied the ffishery haue allways sate such Grate prises one thare Goods that it hath ffor many years It- poverished yor poore petititones butt of Late hath by the Resons of Sup- Ilyes att a Cheaper Rate and not Consarned with the Supply of boates made vs to make a more comfortable Liuing than heare to fore.
Likewayes we tacke bouldnes to accquainte yor Honors with a Considder- able quantidy of planters Settled and are a Coming to Settill in his Riall highnes teritory in the Estern partes if in corrigment ffrom yor honer which wee Disspare not of Desirring yor honer to take into yor pieous Consideration how these affore said planters shall bee supplyed Being abso- lutly Commanded that the supplyes shall Dispose of noe goods but in the harbors whare ffishery is and to now other but the boates even which affore said instrucktion we humbly Conseue were Given in to yor Honor by him that had to much sellfe in it and wee ffeare a Combination with other sup- pliers to the Impourishing of Your poore petisiners as heretoffore which infringment of trade hath neuer Been as wee humbly Conceue to his Maj- esty subiack humbly Desiring Yor honer to Reliue vs in the same.
5ibly. Whare as the ninth 1 Instrucktion that the ffishermen of Sacady- hocke ILand shall not Builde any'more howeses one that parte of the Iland whare the Stages bee, but shall Remoue all thare Houses within the Spase of three yeares which will bee the Runing of the proprietors of ye same but wee humbly Consene and sartingly knowe that his Majesty by act of parlyment haue mad proclaymation that all Ilands and plases convenient ffor ffishery all tho any person or persons propriety shall Bee Improued for that End; as allso Sr Edmond Androus Confferming of the same ; wee ffeare yor Honers infformation haue been ffrom a person fformerly Claim- ing a Right thare vnto all tho pretended which parson can bee noe other parson than M' Richard Pattishall which we haue Grounds to ffear Doth not Desighne Good to their partes we Humbly Request yor honer to Relieue yor poore petysenors in this matter.
6thly. Ware as in the thirtenth 1 artickell that all vessels shall enter at Pemaquid, and att noe other place, which wee humbly Conseiue, will bee Very Detrimentall to a Considerabell quantity of ffisher men and planters by Reson of the Great Distance of Pemaquid, and the Depenes and Difficulty of the bay of Pemaquid, has Detained seuerall vessills many Days, som times Weeckes, which has exposed the ffishery and planters to Great Wontes as also a Great Dammige to thare Imploye, ouer Humble Request
1 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 77.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
to yor Honer is that you wold grante vs two plases more of Entrys and Clering, the one at Nu Darthmouth in Ships Gutt riuer whare ar Consid- derable in habbitance and meny more Coming, and promsing a Consider- able trad of shiping ffor maste and Lumber and all soe an office, or some parson at Sacadyhocke in Kenybec Riuer, appointed ffor Entring and Clearing.
7thly. War as the Eighteenth 1 instrucktion Doth Require noe settill- ment in those partes under the number of Twenty ffamelyes which wec accknolige a very great prudence of yor Honner wee humbly Conseue if yor Honner Doth but parfer tenn ffamelyes it may much more Couduse to the Settelling of those partes ffor tenn ffamelyes can be ffound to Settill at the ffurste a town ship, when twenty Cannot be procured, but when tenn settled som small town it hath all times by Expperience incurriged more to Come wee humbly Request your honner to Grante the same.
8ully. Wee ffarther take Boulldnes to acquainte yor honnor of a uery Con siderable Charge, that the towne of Nu Darthmouth is [by mistake for in] Ships Gutt Riuer and Sacadyhocke in Kenybeck Riuer, in Erickting of a ffort at Each place ffor Security of the in habbitance against the He- thin, by Reson of thretting Languge proseding ffrom them and to bee found consultation ffor ware as allsoe thay Declaring that if thay did not Cutt of the English now they came to in habitt beffore that thay wold bee to manny ffor them and to strong, wee humbly Requeste yor honer to prouide some better security ffor affter time.
All those fiorementioned artickells wee are fully parsuaded yor honner has a better understanding of then, wee ar Capable to informe ; not Dout- ing as yor honer has already Desighend Good ffor these partes will Grant vnto yor pore petistnors all the affore said artickells wee shall Euer pray.
Jno. Allyen,
Elihu Gunnison,
Larry Denny,
Christopher Ryer,
Justes-
Thomas Gent,
Nich. Manning,
William Lowering, .
Thomas Gyles,
Robert Cook,
Phi. Parson,
Ffrancis Johnsonn,
Affte Nele, Tho Sergant,
Goury Gray,
John Lange,
Elias Trucke,
John Sellman, 1
1 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 81-88. No student of New England history will regret the insertion of this petition entire (except only the official address) because of the space it occupies. Fortunately the names of the signers are preserved. The orthography is bad, as is also the construction of many of the sentences, but at that time much less was thought of those points than now. The best scholars
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
A petition to Gov. Dongan from the " Inhabitants of y. Towne of New Dartmouth" (Sheepscott Plantations), not dated but re- ceived April 21, 1684, has been preserved. It has only eight signers, and four of them are the same as on the preceding, viz. Thomas Gent, Wm. Lowring [Lowering] Thomas Gyles, and. Elihn Gunnison.
The chief object was to secure the confirmation of a grant of land prevously made to them by Henry Jocelyn Esq., in the name of Gov. Andros; but they took occasion also to protest again the conduct and character of " one Capt. Nicholas Manning," who was very " Troublesome" and produced " divisions" and dis- turbances among them.1
Both this and the last mentioned petitions were sent to New York by Mr. Goddard probably when he went on to attend a session of the assembly in the spring of 1684, and both were "re- ferred" [deferred ?]'" untill the Governor go to Pemaquid."? The petition previously mentioned had suffered the same fate. As Gov. Dongan never came to Pemaquid, it is not probable that the petitions ever received any further attention.
" At a Council at ffort James [N.Y.] July the 9th, 1684," mention was made of a "petition of the Inhabitants of Pema- quid" which was also " referred untill the Governor go thither."3 This may have been the same as one of the preceding, but pro- bably it was a new one of more recent date.
The Civil government of " Pemaquid and its dependencies" was conducted with some energy and a fair appearance of justice during the whole of Dongan's administration ; but the ab- surd determination of the government to make the young and distressed colony a source of revenue to themselves rendered necessary very oppressive taxation in every possible form. Even transient fishermen on the coast, were obliged to pay tribute to " the Duke's government," " a decked vessell four Kentalls Mer- chantable fish and an open boate two Kentalls." Collectors and subcollectors were not wanting; but the "Quitt Rents" not- withstanding were often greatly " in arrears."
often spelled the same word in different ways even in the same document. But notwithstanding the violation of some of our rules for good writing, it is a docu- ment of great ability. It is in excellent temper, and its points are well put ; and it could not have failed of producing a good effect if anything of the kind was allowed to have influence.
1 Maine Hist. Coll., v, 95-100. 2 Idem, p. 94. 3Idem, 1, 104.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The feelings of the tax-payers in view of those facts are un- mistakably expressed in the following petition.
" To the Right honorable Governor and Councill of Assembly at New Yorke.
The humble Petition of the inhabitants of New Harbour humbly showeth :
That, whereas yor petitioners have beene at great charge in building their habitations, and as yett have noe assurance of either house lots or the bounds of our place, which is a hindrance to our conveniencyes of plant- ing or making an improvement etc. We humbly [pray] that there may be surveyors appointed for that purpose to lay out lands ; likewise the * * of these customs may be taken off, because it never used to be paid by any ffisberman in this world as we know of, and it hinders the coasters coming to us to bring our supplies, and when they do come, the very name of these customs makes them sell their goods almost as dear again as formerly they used, so that we finde it to be to all the country a grevious burden and to all the people called fishermen an utter ruin. And that Pemaquid may still remain the metropolitan of these parts, because it ever have been so before Boston was settled.
Wherefore your honors poore petitioners humbly desire that the honor- able Governor and Councell would please to take the premises in to your pious consideration, to order and confirm the lots, bounds and limits of this place to be laid out, and that we may enjoy the labors of our hands and have it for our children after us, and also that the customs may be taken of, and raised some other way, and that Pemaquid may be the metropolitan place, and your honors petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Per order of the inhabitants WM. STURT, Town Clerk, at Pemaquid. 1
Ownership of the soil being claimed by the government of the Duke, by right of his grant from the king, and this without regard to previous patents as that of Aldsworth, and Elbridge grants of land were promised " indifferently to those who should settle" but it does not appear that any deeds were given for a num-
1 Maine Hist. Coll., v, p. 137-138. The original of this petition is preserved in the State Archives at Albany N. Y., and was found among the papers of the year 1692; but as the editor of these Pemaquid Papers suggests, it must have had an earlier origin. The order for the transfer of Pemaquid from the jurisdiction of New York to that of New England was given Sep. 19, 1686, and of course & petition could not have been addressed to the authorities of New York at a date later than this. We may, indeed, reasonably presume it was presented some time previous to Oct. 22d, 1684, for at this date Gyles Godard was appointed surveyor of Pemaquid. - Muine Hist. Coll., v, p. 106.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
ber of years. In 1684 Alexander Wardrop [Waldrop, Woldrop, Woodrop] was appointed to "aske, demand and Receive all such quitt Rents as were due," " and to give Receipts for the same" ; but it was not until two years later (June 1686) that Jobn Palmer, with John West as his deputy, was sent to those parts " with full power and authority to treate with the Inhabitants for Takeing out Pattents and Paying the quitt rents."
The people had earnestly petitioned that their claims to their lots might be properly confirmed by the government, and pro- per surveys made, and the work was now about to commence, but with attendant circumstances not anticipated. The lots were generally intended to contain 100 acres of woodland and 20 of-marsh, if it could be found ; and for this, an annual " quit rent of 5s. in money, or a bushel of good wheat was demanded, and a fee of £2 10s, for executing the leasehold. Some favorites received 800 or 1000 acres, but others only 3 or 4 acres ; " they were in haste and gott what they could." As might have been expected, " this bred a great mischiefe amongst the people," who justly considered themselves as oppressed beyond measure ; but as the only alternative was to give up their houses and lots, all that could raise so much money hastened to pay. In New Dart- mouth [Sheepscott Farms] alone, we are told, about 140 leases were take out. 1
Sullivan says that many deeds given by Palmer and West in the name of the governor of New York " have been exhibited in the contests in that country within the last thirty years," but the titles thus conferred " never prevailed against the grant of Elbridge and Aldsworth, nor against the Indian deeds." 2 One of these deeds he gives in full. It is a lease rather than a deed, and conveys to John Dalling of Monhegan an indefinite "par- cel of land" on that island, " not exceeding six acres, " with a full third part of a certain marsh or meadow," upon condition of his paying "yearly and every year," " one bushel of mer- chantable wheat or the value thereof in money."
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