USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 28
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 28
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
1 Lin. Rep., 1811, 162. The Burns family during the Indian troubles wero three times driven from their homes.
" Deposition of Patrick Rodgers in Lin. Rep., 1811, p. 61. This deposition was given in 1773. Rodgers was several years an officer in the fort, and ancestor of those of the name who lived at Pemaquid in recent times. The name has be- come extinct in this line. Whether the exact location of Bailey's and Hender- son's lots can now be determined the writer is unable to say. Enten's Mist. Them., II, 263.
.
278
HISTORY OF BRISTOL, AND BREMEN.
the chimney, were to be seen a few years ago. There were also indications of a small cultivated field. Mr. MeCobb was accustomed to show the place, aud claimed that Moore was an ancestor of his on his mother's side.
John North came from Ireland with his son John jr., aged 15, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Lydia, about 1719, or 1720, and settled first at North Yarmouth. He came in a vessel owned by himself with his family and servants. About 1731, he removed with his family to Pemaquid, and died here, about the year 1740.1 His son John, was afterwards captain of the fort and surveyor of land, having been employed by Shem Drowne in making a survey of the claims he represented, and also a regular division of it into lots, for distribution among the different persons claiming under this right. He subsequently removed to St. George, and was for a time captain of the fort there. He died in 1763.
Lydia North, sister of the above, married Boyce Cooper, as his second wife, and lived in Thomaston.
Descendants of the family now live in Augusta, and vicinity, and in the house of one of them are still preserved articles of household furniture once used in the family of Captain North, in Pemaquid.
Capt. John North 2 was on excellent terms with Shem and Thomas Drowne, who employed him as surveyor. The farm he occupied was given to him by Thomas Drowne; it was situ- ated at the head of the western branch of John's river, and was sold by him to James Young, and by the latter to Merrill. Some remains of the cellar of his house near the shore, it is said, are still to be found, and also some shrubs and plants that were cultivated in his garden.
The settlement of the place, thus commenced under Dunbar, continued after his removal, but its progress was not rapid.
The fishing business was prosecuted with a good degree of success ; but the hard, unproductive soil, without plenty of manure, which could not then be obtained, yielded but a mis- erably poor return for its cultivation. Timber was abundant, of almost every kind, and the cutting and exportation of it soon became a leading business, not of Pemaquid only, but of all the settlements ou the coast and navigable streams. Boston and
1 Miss H. E. North, and Hon. James W. North.
279
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
other places in Massachusetts had long before this furnished a market for large quantities of wood for fuel; and probably at this time more persons in the eastern settlements obtained a livelihood by getting out " cord wood" than by any other business.
The native savages always roaming along the coast were fre- quent visitors; and though sometimes friendly required always to be watched. At times they were dangerous; and on their approach all had to leave their business, however urgent, and seek safety in the forts or other less imposing fortifications pre- viously provided. It is not strange therefore that most of the settlers were miserably poor and, at times, even destitute of the meanest comforts, as described by affidavits on a preceding page. They brought little with them, and for many years the acquisition of anything more than was absolutely required for the support of themselves and families was impossible.
Another circumstance which retarded the settlement of the place was the singular uncertainty of land titles in all this region. Most of the settlers at this time held their possessions under Dunbar; but, as before stated, they had received from him neither deeds or leases; and besides, the British govern- ment, whose agent he was, had relinquished the feeble pretence of title upon which they had sent him here. Whatever title actual possession and reoccupation might give they had, but nothing more. If the settlers under Dongan, or their repre- sentatives, had returned and occupied their former possessions, they would have had a strong argument in their favor; but only a few came, and they seem not to have urged their claims with earnestness.
The two sets of claimants, one under the Indian deed of Brown, and the other under the Pemaquid patent to Elbridge and Aldsworth, very soon began some activity ; and at different times, caused surveys to be made of the territories severally claimed by them. Both of these claims covered all the present townships of Bristol, Bremen, and Damariscotta, and a part of Waldoboro, and Jefferson. 1
Besides these, other claimants to portions of the same terri-
' Ry referring to Brown's deed (p. 54) it will be seen that it did not include Pemaquid point, and perhaps not Rutherford's island and a portion of the neck of land between John's river and the Damariscotta ; but those baring posses- sion of the claim did not hesitate for such trifles as these.
280
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
tory made their appearance who will be noticed hereafter. These unfavorable circumstances, by preventing immigration, tended strongly to retard the growth of the settlement.
Cooper, with his family and servants, came to Pema- quid some time before 1740. IIe came " from Ireland, in a brig of his own, with a numerous train of dependents, bound to him, for a certain number of years, to pay for their passage over. He resided first at Portsmouth, and afterwards at Pema- quid, coasting in his own vessel; his wife and family sometimes making their home on board." He afterwards moved to Broad Bay, where he died.
Boice (or Boyce) Cooper, son of the preceding, came with his father to Pemaquid, when a mere lad. He was " a humorous, eccentric character ; a genuine son of the Emerald Isle, fearless and reckless, passionate and profane, but generous and hospitable, . prodigal of his money, his time, and convivial hilarity." It is related, that when the family lived at Pemaquid, and the vessel they came in, was found to need repairs, they " hauled her up there for the purpose, and the father went to Boston to procure workmen. During his absence, some of the people, influenced by motives of mischief or profit, persuaded Boice that it would be better to build a new one, with the iron of the old. He seized upon the idea at once, set the brig on fire, and on the - old gentleman's return, nothing remained but the ashes." Being an only child, he inherited the property of his father, and continued to reside on his father's place at Broad Bay, until the coming of the German settlers there, with whom he never could agree. "His habits, temper and recklessness, brought him in perpetual collision with them, their fists being more than a match for his tongue, especially as the latter was not under- stood." Disgusted with the Dutchmen, he removed from Broad Bay to the present town of Warren, having exchanged his lots in the former, for others in the latter place. After the death of his father, he made a voyage to Ireland, and disposed of consi- derable property that fell to him, bringing with him, on his re- turn, several men and women, who had engaged to work for him seven years in payment for their passage. Not long after his removal from Broad Bay, going with another man some dis- tance down the river St. George, for the purpose of gathering rock weed for manure, they were both captured by a company of Indians, and taken to Canada. Cooper, in his captivity,
281
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
maintained bis usual cheerfulness, and more than his usual good humor, which greatly pleased his captors, and secured for him good treatment. While in prison in Canada, a fellow prisoner, like himself a native of Ireland, died, bequeathing to him a violin, on which instrument he was a skillful player. He made such excellent use of the instrument, that he received much attention from the governor and others, until an exchange of prisoners took place, and he was set at liberty. He died in 1795, aged 75. He married, 1st, Katherine Kellyhorn, and 2d, Lydia North, as before mentioned. IIe left several daughters, but no sons,1 and the name is not perpetuated.
Wm. Starrett, a Scotchman, in 1735, with his family removed from Pemaquid to George's river, but it is not known how long he had been here. The family afterwards removed to Massa- chusetts, where he died, but subsequently his widow and family returned to Warren. The name is still perpetuated there by a numerous and respectable posterity. Two grandsons of his graduated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1818.2
John Shibles and wife, Elizabeth (Killpatrick) Shibles, came here before 1732, as their son John was born here that year. Mrs. Shibles with her infant son removed to George's river (Thomaston) in 1736; and it is inferred that her husband had died at Pemaquid. John jr., married in Thomaston; and from him have descended all of the name now in that place. He died in 1777.
-
1 Eaton's An. Warren, 62, 63, 71 and 284. This story of the Coopers having come over, with their attendants, in their own vessel, closely resembles that of the Norths before given. Considering the connection between the two families, and the fact that they both came to this country about the same time, may sug- gest a doubt whether the story, very probably true of one, may not also have been attributed to the other.
2 Eaton's Annals Warren, p. 428. Triennial Catalogue.
3 Do. Hist. Thomaston, II, p. 391. Others of the settlers who came here under Dunbar will be noticed hereafter in connection with events in which they bore a part.
36
.
282
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GOVERNOR DUNBAR'S REMOVAL, AND EVENTS IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING.
Gov. Belcher holds a Conference with the Indians at Falmouth, after having visited Pemaquid, and St. George -- The Governor makes a second excursion to the eastern settlements, and, with several attendants, goes on foot from Pema- quid to the Sheepscott - Scarcity of food, and prevalence of Scarlet Fever in va- rious parts of the province - Great embarrassment produced by the depreciation of the currency -- A Land Bank established - Origin of the old tenor and new tenor, as applied to the currency -- War declared between England and France -- Necessary precautions taken against the Indians -Scouting parties formed for protection against the Indians - Expedition against Louisbourg -- Beginning of the fifth Indian War -Murders by the Indians at Walpole and elsewhere - Indian conference at Falmouth - Unfortunate affair at Wiscasset -- Massachusetts redeems her bills of credit.
Governor Belcher, in 1732, made a visit to the various Eng- lish settlements as far east as St. Georges, calling at Pemaquid. His object was to learn, in person, the condition of the settle- ments, their wants and their strength, and especially to use what influence he might to keep the Indians quiet, and to pro- tect them from wrong on the part of the settlers. The latter · object was of great importance, and to some extent under the control of the governor ; but a greater source of discontent with the natives was the continual enlargement and increase of the English settlements which the governor was obliged to favor. If, as between the two parties, he had of necessity something of a double part to play, it was uo more than others before him have often done, through what has been called motives of state policy.
His chief conference with the Indians was held at Falmouth, where he gave a patient hearing to all their complaints. Besides the encroachments of the English settlements, they had other things to complain of; the truckmaster at St. George, Capt. John Gyles, allowed their young men too much rum which made them drunk, and had also dealt out to them " sour meal and damnified tobacco" ; and in one instance some of the Eng-
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN. 283
lish had killed two of their dogs for only barking at a cow ! They thought, too, that the gunsmith at Georges did not mend their guns as promptly and as well as he should. To all this such explanations were made, and such assurances given for the future as measurably to satisfy them for the time.1
The governor, on his return, spoke in the warmest terms of the improvements he had witnessed at the several plantations, and of their natural advantages, and future prospects. When the news of Dunbar's recall was received, at the governor's re- commendation, provision was made by the legislature for con- tinuing a garrison at this place; for this purpose the fort at Winter Harbor was dismantled, and the officers and soldiers, with the artillery and stores of all kinds, transferred to Fort Frederic, at Pemaquid.
In the summer of 1734, Governor Belcher, ever watchful of the interests of these eastern settlements, made another excur- sion, in the " Scarborough man of war," along the coast,.calling at most of the settlements, and listening patiently to all complaints whether of the Indians or English. While at Fort Frederic, he made a personal exploration of the Damariscotta and Sheep- scott rivers, and even undertook an excursion on foot from the head of Johns river to the Sheepscott. He was accompanied by six "musquetiers"; and at the end of their journey, which we may suppose to have been at Wiscasset or the immediate vi- cinity, they were met by the " man of war's pinnace " and taken back to the fort. Here many of the eastern Indians had assembled, probably by previous appointment, and an informal conference was held, the Indians expressing a desire for a long continued peace. The governor entertained the Indians in the kindest manner, and much to their satisfaction, who finally left for their homes in excellent good humor.
A tax of £1000 was the next year (1735) assessed upon the people of the province of Massachusetts Bay, of which only £46 and 7 shillings fell to Maine. The settlements east of the Kennebec river were not called upon for anything.2
At this time, whatever may have been the pretence to In- dians, it was evidently very desirable on the part of the Eng- lish to extend, as rapidly as possible, the settlement of the wild lands, especially those in Maine; and a project was started for
' Eaton's An. War., 47.
" Will. Hist. Maine, IT., 185; Hist. Mugazine, X., p. 116 of the supplement.
.
284
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
accomplishing this object, and at the same time rewarding some ancient claimants upon the public gratitude. More than fifty years had passed since the war of King Philip, and most of those who served in that contest had gone to their rest; but a law was passed giving, on certain conditions, a farm among the wild lands of the state to each survivor, and also to the heirs of those who were dead. Seven full townships were gratuitously set apart for this purpose, five in Massachusetts and two, now Buxton and Gorham, in this state. This encouraged others, who supposed themselves to have claims upon the colonial govern- ment, to come forward, and the result was that many other grants of the wild lands were made, thus stimulating their settlement in a manner not before known.
The increased activity in this direction could not fail to be perceived by the natives, and to increase their uneasiness. They complained particularly of the encroachment by Waldo's set- tlements on the St. George, and government was obliged to take measures to prevent Waldo's people from building or otherwise occupying the lands above the upper falls in the pre- sent town of Warren. With this the Indians expressed them- selves satisfied, especially as presents of the value of £100 were sent to be distributed among the tribe. They continued so quiet a number of years that several of the forts were dismantled, and the soldiers removed, that in this place being one of them. Only a small number of men were retained in the forts at Rich- mond, on the Kennebec, and that on St. Georges river.
It was about this time (1735-1738) that such a scarcity of bread prevailed in this region, as described in an affidavit on a preceding page. The famine was most severe in the spring of 1737, and extended to all this eastern country. It was occa- sioned by the short crops for several years in succession ; and was not unknown in Boston, and other parts of Massachusetts. At the same time a very mortal disease, called then throat dis- temper (scarlatina), prevailed in many parts of New England, greatly increasing the general distress.1
We do not learn that the disease was known here, at the time, but in consequence of other troubles many, who had set- tled in this place, made preparations to leave for other localities which they considered as more favored; or it may be that the
I Will. Hist., Maine, II, 186-193; Eaton An. War., 53 ; Smith's Jour., 82, 83, 86.
285
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
agents of other settlements sought to entice them away to in- crease their own populations. In the spring of 1735, a contract was made with Waldo, at St. Georges fort, by 27 individuals for the settlement of themselves and families on his lands on that river; and it is probable that most or all of them were then resident at Pemaquid. We are led to this conclusion from the fact that the drawing for choice of lots was appointed at Pemaquid, the 4th of May, and, further, many of them we know belonged here.' Among the known Pemaquid names are John North jr., MeCordy, Elliot, Henderson, James Sproul, Starrett, Young, McFarland, Fossett, McIntyre, and perhaps others. All who signed the contract did not participate in the drawing, but perhaps others took their places.1
To keep the Indians tranquil, and to protect alike both the white man and the Indian, Gov. Belcher, almost every year, made a visit to these settlements ; but in spite of all his care he could not but observe a growing antipathy between the two races and, in 1739, began to take measures of precaution against the coming struggle, which he plainly foresaw. Various measures were adopted to pacify the natives, in the hope of avoiding a rupture, but at the same time means were provided for repairing several of the forts on the coast, and a small garri- son again stationed at the fort in this place. Great embarrass- ment was experienced at this time in every branch of business, because of the great decline in the value of the paper money, in circulation, called " bills of credit." Many plans were suggest- ed to remedy the difficulty ; and among other things a kind of bank, called a Lund Bank, was started in Massachusetts, which however was dissolved by act of parliament.
To increase the difficulties war broke out between England and Spain, in 1739, and it was considered necessary by the colonists to strengthen themselves against any Spanish pirates which, it was rumored, might appear on the coast. Besides this it was expected that a war with France would soon follow, which would very certainly bring upon them again the dreaded savages.
The terms " old tenor " and " new tenor," as applied to the Massa-
1 Erton's An. War. 17, 54. A list of the lots drawn on both sides of Georges river is given by this very careful and judicious writer. The name of James Sproul (or Sprowl) is here written Sprawl, by mistaking in the Ms. an o for an a ! Though signing the contract, Sproul did not participate in the drawing.
286
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
chusetts currency, originated at this time (1741, 1742) and were occasionally heard in conversation, especially among the old people, as late as the beginning of the present century. A word as to their origin and meaning may not be out of place here.
Gov. Shirley succeeded Belcher in 1741, and one of his first efforts was directed to a reform in the currency, which was then so much depreciated that £100 sterling was considered equal to £550 Massachusetts currency. After much discussion and con- troversy it was decided to issue bills of credit, "of a new form," in which, as expressed on the face of the note or bill, the pound, or 20 shillings should be of the value of 3 ounces of silver. An ounce of silver would then, in this currency, be worth 6s and 8d., whereas in the old currency its value was 28s.
These notes, like those of former emissions, were made a legal tender in the payment of debts; but with this singular provi- sion, that if they should depreciate in value, an additional sum should be required to be paid in proportion to the real de- preciation, which should be determined once a year in each county by the oldest councillor residing in it.
To distinguish these bills from the old they were called new tenor, and of course the old soon came to be called old tenor. 1
For a little time these bills of the new tenor passed at their declared value; but as no provision was made for the actual payment of the 3 ounces of silver for each 20 shilling note, they soon depreciated in value, precisely as all former emissions, and all took the name together of old tenor. We shall have oc- casion to refer to this again hereafter.
The next year, 1742, Gov. Shirley made his first excursion to these parts, and spent a little time at Fort Frederic. When he returned he expressed much satisfaction with what he had seen at the settlements ; and, at his recommendation, an appropriation of £700 was made for the repair of the fort here, and those at one or two other places. For the first time we now hear of provision being made for the appointment of a chaplain for Fort Frederic .? The year following, in apprehension of an im- mediate war with France, very liberal appropriations were made
1 Will. Hist. Maine, II, 208 ; Eaton, An. War., p. 64 ; Doug. Sum., I, p. 494 : Hutch. Hist. Ir, 361.
2 Rev. Mr. Rutherford, as we have before seen, officiated as chaplain here under Dunbar, and it may be that he was regularly appointed and paid by the govern- ment.
--
287
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
for the eastern settlements, the fort in this place receiving £134 for repairs, and an addition of six men to its garrison. All the forts or block houses in the vicinity, as Richmond, Arrowsic, Sheepscott, Damariscotta, Broad Bay, and St. George, also re- ceived aid.1 The result showed their wisdom, for the dreaded war was declared against England by France, March 15, 1744; and the French and Indians had begun their devastations in Nova Scotia, before the declaration was known in New England.
News, both of the declaration of war and the disturbances at the eastward was received in Boston while the legislature was in session ; and active measures were taken immediately to meet the emergency, in which the settlements on the coast of Maine were so deeply interested. Five hundred men were at once drafted, of whom 300 were designed to protect the east- ern frontiers. Seventy-three new recruits were sent to the several forts on the coast, of whom 24 were ordered to Fort Frederic.
As the Penobscot Indians had for some time been very peace- able, and appeared friendly, it was thought they might be pre- vented from joining the French, and at length, by kind treatment, become attached to the English interest. Measures were there- fore adopted for this purpose ; and a delegation, sent from Bos- ton, in July, had a meeting at St. George's fort with some of the Penobscot chiefs, who gave every assurance of a strong desire, on their part, for a continuance of the present peace with the English. The tribes further east, on the Passamaquoddy, had already joined with the French in their acts of violence; and therefore in the autumn of the year war was regularly declared against them by the government of Massachusetts. The Penob- scot Indians were forbidden, at the same time, to have any inter- course or correspondence with the " Indian rebels " to the east of them. It is painful to be obliged to add that to all persons who should volunteer and enter the war, at their own expense, a reward of £100 was offered for the scalp of every male Indian above 12 years of age, £50 for that of a younger male or of a female, and £5 additional to these rates for captives.
It was hoped to enlist some of the able bodied Penobscots in the public service against the French and Indians farther east, but it was found impracticable.2
1 Will. Hist. Muine, 11, 214.
2 Will. Hist. Maine, II, 218.
1 .+ba
-
288
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Now, for the first time, the militia of Maine was regularly organized into two regiments, one being put under the com- mand of Col. Wm. Pepperell, of Kittery, and the other under Col. Samuel Waldo, of Falmouth. The whole number of men enrolled was 2,855. The number in Col. Waldo's regiment was 1,290, of whom 270 are credited to Georges and Broad Bay, 50 to Pemaquid, and 50 to Sheepscott.
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.