USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 29
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 29
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Now also we first hear of regular "scouting parties " in this vicinity who were to range through the woods from settlement to settlement, in order to intercept any hostile parties who might be disposed to mischief. One hundred men were enlisted for the winter (1744-5) for this purpose, who were divided into 8 companies, each commanded by a sergeant. The distance to be traversed over was from Berwick, near the New Hampshire line, to the St. George's river ; and this was divided into 8 parts, to each of which a scouting party was assigned. The three parties in this vicinity, which more particularly concern us, were arranged as follows : a party of 14 stationed at Wiscasset, was to scout as far as Vaughan's mills, at Damariscotta, at Vaughan's block house, a party of the same number to scout to Broad Bay (Waldoboro), and another of 14 at Broad Bay to scout to the block house on St. George's river.1
This was an excellent arrangement, and under different or- ganizations was continued for many years, at least in times of special danger.
The year 1745 was destined to mark an important epoch in the history of New England and of British dominion on this continent, and must not be passed in silence, although the trans- actions were not particularly connected with the progress of events at this place. The great event was the capture of Louis- bourg, on the island of Cape Breton, June 17th, just thirty years before the battle of Bunker Hill. Whether we consider the unsurpassed energy with which the expedition was organized, the bravery and perseverance with which the siege was prose- cuted, the wonderfully favorable turn which several apparently fortuitous, but very important circumstances took in its progress, or the momentous influence the result produced upon the rela- tive position of the French and English elements on this conti- nent, this enterprise of the English colony of Massachusetts Bay must ever hold a place among the wonders of history.
1 Will. Hist. Maine, II, 218; Eaton, An. Wur., 66.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The city of Louisbourg was protected by several fortresses of immense strength, and contained a large stone building called the Citadel in which were the house of the governor, barracks for the soldiers and military stores of every kind, and in abun- dant supply. The whole was also well manued.
For half a century or more, as we have seen, there had been much talk in the English colonies of making an effort to drive the French from this whole region, if not from the continent ; but they had all the time been increasing their strength. It does not appear that this grand result was particularly aimed at when the Louisbourg expedition was planned, though it actually followed the capture of that stronghold, almost as a necessary consequence, only fifteen years afterwards.
During the summer of 1744 the English, and especially the New Englanders, suffered greatly in their commercial and fishing interests from vessels of war and privateers fitted out from Louisbourg ; and in the autumn it is said to have been a subject of general conversation that the place must be taken ; but Wm. Vanghan of Damariscotta appears to have been the first to pro- pose a plan for the bold undertaking. The legislature met on the first of January, and Gov. Shirley, having consulted with Vaughan and others, took an early opportunity to prosent the matter before them in a formal manner. After much discussion the recommendation of the governor was passed by one majority, January 26th,-and all parties without delay began to make pre- paration for the struggle. With such energy was the enterprise prosecuted, that, before the close of March, the expedition actually set sail from Boston, and arrived in the vicinity of Louisbourg before the ice had sufficiently melted away to allow the ships and transports to enter the harbor. We do not here enter into any details of the siege ; - and it is sufficient to say, as above stated, that the place with all its immense stores fell into the hands of the English on the 17th of June.
They were greatly aided by several ships of the royal navy, under Admiral Warren, belonging to the English West India squadron, which was despatched there for the purpose.
The residents of this place could not but be deeply interested in the success of the enterprise,- and we are anxious to know what part they took in it, - but very little information has come down to us. The fact is well known that nearly all the promi-
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
nent officers of the expedition were selected from the district of Maine, and their influence induced many men from the same region to enlist in the service. From the German settlement under Waldo, at Broad Bay, which had been begun only a few years previously, all the able bodied men enlisted, some of them taking their families with them ; -. many also joined the service from Georges river. The Broad Bay settlement was for the time entirely broken up, those who did not enlist being obliged to remove to other places of greater safety.1
We learn the names of only two who went from Pemaquid, Joseph Burns, who was captain of a transport, and James Yeates, or Yates, as the name is now usually written. Yates was absent about three years. At the same time Wm. Burns, brother of the preceding, enlisted a company of men in the ser- vice of government for the protection of the place.2
It may be that the men of Pemaquid were excused from sery- ing in the expedition for this express purpose.
The place (Louisbourg) as previously stated, was captured June 17th, but Gov. Shirley, who took occasion to visit the place soon after its capture, persuaded as many as he could to re-enlist for the defense of the place, which, it might be expected, the French would immediately undertake to recapture. This explains why so many that joined the expedition did not return sooner than three or even four years. As was expected, the next year, (1646), an immense fleet was fitted out from France, for the recapture of Louisbourg and other hostile movements against the English settlement, and caused no little consterna- tion ; but so many of the ships were disabled on the passage, by storms and unexpected calamities, that nothing was accomplished, and nothing even attempted by way of fighting.
The British government, several years afterwards, paid to the several colonies who planned and executed so great a feat, in compensation of their expenditures, the sum of £200,000 ster- ling, equal to about $1,000,000. It was paid in specie, silver and copper, which was brought into Boston in 215 boxes.
Wm. Vaughan, who was so intimately connected with the Louisbourg expedition, was a son of George Vaughan, formerly lieut. governor of New Hampshire. He was born in Ports-
Eaton's An. War, CT ; Com. Rep., 1811, p. 61, 162.
? The commission of one or the other of these men was preserved in a family of his descendants only a few years ago.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
mouth in 1703, and graduated at Harvard College in 1722. Je early engaged in the fishing business, and his schooners were often at Monhegan, and Matimans and other places castward. In the public documents of the time he is occasionally styled " fisherman."
lle appears to have established himself at the " Damariscotta Fresh Water Falls" about the time Dunbar came to Pemaquid, and there was always an excellent understanding between the two, but we do not know as there was any other connection.
Hle early erected saw mills in the place and was largely en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber, which was disposed of in the Boston and other markets. He sometimes kept as many as 12 yoke of oxen, and other stock in proportion, employing of course many men.
Probably he held a grant of land on the Damariscotta river and pond from Dunbar ; but he also obtained deeds of ill-defined tracts of the same lands of the Indian chiefs residing in the place or vicinity, and also of other claimants, as John Brown3, and John Taylor. The object, of course, was to make his title perfect as possible.
For protection against the Indians he constructed a strong fort of timber 100 feet square. On one occasion he sent down a large raft of lumber to a vessel loading somewhere below ; and the men as they returned, when near the fort, were fired upon by some Indians and a man named Joseph Jones and Plato, a negro, were wounded. . Plato was a cripple ever after- wards.
About 1740 he built for himself a large and elegant house, for that time, but it was afterwards destroyed by fire.
Whether or not Vaughan first suggested the Louisbourg en- terprise, it is certain that Gov. Shirley made him one of his principal advisers in planning the expedition ; though Douglas 1 says of him that he was a " wild visionary projector in his own private concerns, entirely ignorant of military affairs, and of the nature of the defense, or strength of a place regularly and well fortified at immense expense." He thought the fort at Lonisbourg, strong as it was, could be taken by 1500 militia, provided with sealing ladders, and attended by a few armed schooners. Though his advice was not followed altogether, the plan of the ladders was adopted ; but when those supplied
! Political Summary, I, p. 348.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
for the purpose were received before the walls, they were found to be ten feet too short.
Williamson says of him that he thought they might hope to capture the place, in the winter season, by marching over the walls upon the banks of snow, which might be expected to form against them. ' From these facts we may conclude that he was more distinguished for bravery and energy than for sound discretion, but still he was trusted by Gov. Shirley with a lieutenant colonel's commission though without any particular command. He did good service at the siege of the fort, and contributed his full share to the wonderful success of the ex- pedition.
The capture of the city of Louisbourg, with all its immense fortifications and military stores, was justly considered an event of more than usual importance, and entitling the officers in com- mand to some special rewards for meritorious services; but, in distributing rewards, the American officers, with one or two exceptions, were entirely overlooked, Vaughan himself being entirely neglected. The next year he sailed for England where he died.
Another war, sometimes called the fifth Indian war, was a necessary consequence of the declaration of war by France, against England, as has been stated. This being clearly fore- seen, our people hoped at first to secure the Penobscot tribe in their interest, and took measures for this purpose; but it was found impracticable. As neutrality on their part was impossi- ble, in the present circumstances, it was plain that they must be considered as enemies ; and the government therefore, Ang. 23, 1745, declared war against them, as they had, the preceding autumn, against the tribes further to the eastward. The mis- erable expedient was also resorted to of offering bounties for Indians captured alive or for scalps of those slain.
But the savages had begun hostilities before the war was de- clared ; they delayed not for such (to them) unmeaning formali- ties. July 19th, they made an unsuccessful attack upon the fort at St. George, and a little later another party made their ap- pearance before Fort Frederic. " In approaching it, they met a woman, about 300 yards from the walls, whom they wounded in the shoulder, and then one of them seized her. Either the report of the gun or her shrieks, unfortunately for them, alarmed
Williamson's Hist. Maine, II, p. 220.
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the garrison; and amidst the momentary consternation and rising smoke, or through the carelessness of her keepers, she broke away from them, and under the fire from the fort escaped to the gate." 1 This, so far as we can learn, was all they accom- plished at this time.
A story similar to this, and perhaps only another version of the same, used to be told by the old people living in the vicinity. A woman, Mrs. McFarland, was picking beans in a field a little distance from the fort, but seeing an Indian partially concealed in the bushes, scarcely a gun-shot from her, she knew it was time for her to be seeking a place of safety. To attempt at once to run for the fort would be almost sure death ; so, with apparent unconcern, she stepped slowly away for a few seconds, and then began to run for life. The Indian, seeing it was his last chance, rushed from his ambush and fired upon her but just at that instant she stumbled upon the uneven ground, and fell forward upon her face, the bullet merely grazing her shoulder, and producing a slight wound. She was now within range of the guns of the fort, the guards of which had been aroused by the report of the Indian's piece, so that any nearer approach, on his part, would have been particularly dangerous, and the woman was soon within the gates. 2
Does the following extract from a message of Gov. Shirley to the house of representatives, July 25th, 1745, have reference to the same occurrence ? " I have also to inform you, that I re- ceived yesterday an Express from Capt. Savage, at His Majesty's Fort Frederic, advising me, that on the 19th Instant a party of Indians had seized a woman within three hundred yards of the Fort, but that she breaking from them had, under Cover of the Fire from the Fort, escaped into it with receiving only one Wound in her Shoulder with a Musquet Ball ; and that he was in hourly Expectation of having the Fort itself attacked by a large Party of the Enemy."3
During the next year, (1746), the savages continued their stealthy attacks upon the settlements, and wanton murders in every direction, wherever they could find unprotected victims ; so that the people could labor on their farms or in their shops upon week days, or attend worship on the sabbath, only under
1 Will. Hist. Maine, II, 237.
2 Mrs. Sarah (Jolinston) Barnett, & granddaughter of Mrs. McFarland.
3 Copied from Journal of House, p. 85.
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the guard of armed men, and at the risk of their lives. In the month of May, they fell upon the settlement at Broad Bay and entirely destroyed it, but in this vicinity all fled to Fort Frederic, leaving only the cattle and the horses and other domestic animals to the savage enemy.
The people lived in continual alarm, the men attending to their work with their loaded guns near at hand, and their families being in constant readiness to flee to the fort at any moment. John McFarland and family occupied a place at a distance from the fort, and in their defenceless condition were set upon by a party of Indians who wounded several of the family, leaving them for dead, and destroyed his house and everything connected with it.1
In the spring of the year, 1747, the Indians began their de- predations unusu ally early; April 27th,2 they suddenly made their appearance at Walpole, killing Mrs. Jane and Mrs. Elizabeth Lermond, and several others whose names have not been pre- served. A small building had been constructed of granite boulders, about two miles north of the present meeting house, to serve as a place of retreat, in case of an attack, and the women were milking their cows near it when the Indians suddenly rushed upon them. One of them had nearly reached the door of the fort when she was shot down.
Wm. Jones, who afterwards became a distinguished public man in the place, was then a young man, and was about build- ing a house, for which he had procured some clear boards, only the day before the attack. A part of the boards were used for coffius for the slain, including the persons named. One ac- count says there were no less than 13 persons killed in Walpole, during this incursion of the enemy.
About this time also, or a day or two carlier, they paid their respects to some of the settlers in Newcastle on the west bank of the Damariscotta, killing or taking captive no less than 15 persons ! Either at this or some subsequent incursion they killed a woman, by the name of Gray, and six children who were living on the Farley place, in Newcastle.3
May 26th, a large company, numbering over 100, appeared before Fort Frederic, prepared for an assault, but they
1 Will. Hist. Maine, II., 246.
2 Tombstones of the Lermonds. Tradition.
3 Testimony of John Farley, Lin. Rep., 1811, 152. Tradition.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
could make little impression upon its stone walls. During the fight five men, that belonged to Falmouth and Perpooduck were slain, whose names are given by Smith in his diary ; they were John and Joseph Cox, Vincent, Smith and Weston. Five men belonging to the garrison of the fort were also killed, and three others taken prisoners.1 The two Coxes were cousins to the father of the late Capt. Israel Cox of Bristol.
The same day the Lermond women were killed, a party from the fort paddled up the Pemaquid river, in birch canoes, on a gunning excursion, but proceeded cautiously, for Indians were known to be in the region. Passing into the stream, a little above Boyd's pond, they saw at a distance an animal, partly dressed, hanging upon a tree, and near by appearances of a re- cent fire. Landing carefully, and approaching nearer, they saw it was the carcass of a colt, and near it indications that a fire had been kindled, as if to roast it, but left to go out before the cooking was completed. No Indians were to be seen ; but the party thought it prudent to leave for their canoes, as silently as they came. One or two, however, not entirely satisfied with the performance, stole slyly back to the colt and cut off a joint from one of the legs, which they carried, as evidence of their daring, to show to their friends in the fort.2 They could not, of course, have known at the time, anything of the terri- ble disaster at Walpole. During the summer of this year, mur- ders and other outrages by the savages were constantly occurring in other parts, but this place seems not to have been again dis- turbed until September, when a company of Indians and French, about 60 in number, came silently, very early in the morning, as if intending to capture the fort by surprise. But it happened that a party of five men had, for some reason, gone a little distance from the fort, whom they unexpectedly met. The Indians instantly leveled their guns at them, killing three dead, and badly wounding the other two.
Two of the men thus shot down were scalped and left on the ground, but were soon afterwards found by a party from the fort. One of them was still alive and affirmed that he was scalped by a Frenchman, and not an Indian. He told them where they would find the bodies of two Indians, who had been killed by the fire from the fort, but on going there no bodies were found
I Smith's Jour., 129. Will. Hist. Maine, II, 252.
Capt. John Sproul, 1853.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
but much blood, appearances indicating that the bodies bad been removed. Before leaving, the enemy made a furious assault upon the fort for two hours or more but could do no further injury.1
About this time two boys, George and Walter McFarland, sons of Mrs. McFarland before mentioned, while at work on Johns island, were attacked by some Indians, the former being killed, and the latter, Walter, carried into captivity. After being with the Indians (probably the Penobscots) about two years, he was restored to his friends at the Indian conference, held in Falmouth, in the autumn of 1749. We shall have occa- sion to speak of him again in another connection.
The following year, 1748, was a time of quiet here, though some outrages were perpetrated by the Indians, at Brunswick, and North Yarmouth, and other places. This year, by the treaty of Aix-la-chapelle, peace was restored between England and France, and the other nations of Europe, occasioning much joy in this frontier region. But while the inhabitants in these parts could not but rejoice in the restoration of peace, they felt it as a disgrace that Louisbourg, and the island of Cape Bre- ton, which they had aided to conquer only three years before, at so great a sacrifice, should again be restored to France. But the peace following this treaty, which was indeed real among the nations of Europe, was little more than nominal here, The Indians, it is true, refrained for a time from their usual depre- dations and murders; but such was the feeling of distrust toward them, that it was considered necessary to preserve still their military organizations, and to conduct all their affairs as on a war footing. Hence, in the spring of 1749, we find there were in the garrison at St. George, 45 men, at Pemaquid, 24, and at Richmond, on the Kennebec, also 24. Besides these, scouting parties ranged the woods from one fortified posi- tion to another. Capt. Jabez Bradbury was in command of the fort on St. Georges river, and therefore came much in con- tact with the Indians, who had chiefly deserted this part of the country, and taken up their residence on the Penobscot. Several of the chiefs intimated to him that the Indians greatly desired to have peace with their neighbors and expressed the opinion that, if they were in Boston, they could easily conclude a treaty with the authorities. that would put an
1 Hist. Mag., x, p. 117, supplement.
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end to their difficulties. He therefore, by permission of the Massachusetts authorities, gave them a free passage to Boston in the province sloop, where they made such representations of the strong desire for peace among the eastern Indians, that it was agreed to hold another Indian conference at Falmouth, the September following.
This conference was attended by five commissioners from Mas- sachusetts, and nineteen Indian Chiefs, representing the Anasa- gunticooks and Warrenocks (St. Francis tribe) the Norridgewocks and the Penobscots. A new treaty was formed on the basis of the Dummer treaty of 1726; presents were bestowed as usual upon the Indian negotiators, and " the parties separated with salutations of mutual and cordial friendship." 1
This treaty, it is said, was never openly violated by the Pe- nobscots, who ever afterwards, nominally at least, lived in peace with the English; but the same cannot be said of the other tribes. For several years however, after this, the people of Pemaquid were little molested.
Only a few weeks after the signing of this treaty an unfortunate oc- currence at Wiscasset greatly exasperated the Indians and put all the settlements in jeopardy. In a violent quarrel between some white men and Indians, one of the latter was killed, and two others badly wounded. Occurring so soon after the formation of the treaty, there was reason to fear that all the good effects expected to result from it, would be lost ; but the Indians, though much excited, were persuaded to await the action of the law. Three of the whites engaged in the fight were arrested and put on their trial for murder; but so strong was the feeling against the Indians that no jury could be found to convict them. The govern- ment officers evidently desired that justice should be done ; but various delays were interposed on the part of the defence, and the softening effects of time were as observable on the minds of the savages as they have often been in civilized communities. The government officials took occasion to explain, as well as they could, the causes of delay, and to conciliate the family and friends of the deceased by presents. Below is a bill of goods presented to the widow immediately after the sad event, and months afterwards other presents of a similar kind were bestowed on her
Will. Ilist. Maine, II, 258 ; Maine Hist. Coll., I, 220.
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and others of his tribe. The goods were delivered by Capt. Bradbury at Fort Richmond.
"Sundries delivered to widow of the Indian that was killed, viz : " 34 Bisquet at 6/7. .. 0-17-0 3 qts. Molasses 4s. 67. 0-13 -- 6
" 6 Cakes Gingerbread 1s .. 0- 6-0 2 yds. Flannel 35s ... 3-10 -- 0
" 2 qts. Rum at 5: 0-10 -- 0 Linen Cloth. 0 -- 12-0
"2 Blankets £5 10-0-0
" 7 fbs. Pork at 6s 2- 2-0
1 Hatchett, .. 1- 0-0
5-15-6
13-15-0
13-15-0
£19-10-6
The troubles growing out of this diastrous occurrence con- tinued several years, and occasioned considerable correspond- ence between the English authorities and the Indians.
Squadook was a noted chief of the Penobscots at the time ; and in one of his letters to Gov. Phips, dated Sept. 12, 1751, he used the following language. The writing of course was done by some one serving as his amanuensis.
" Brother, once more, we don't like a great deale of Rum it hinders our Praires we buy too much of it, it hurts our souls it is not you but us that doe it. One Kegg and one bottle is enough for one man, the women must have none, this we ask of the Governor and Council, the women buy and sell to the men and are debauched thereby. I believe you will think I speak well, Rum is the Cause of quarrels amongst us. I expect your answer to this." 1 " SQUADOOK."
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