USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 31
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 31
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It is not surprising that the minds of the English became at times greatly excited against the Indians, leading to the perpe- tration of great wrongs upon them, which all just minded per- sons deeply regretted, but could not prevent. In some cases the most outrageous atrocities were perpetrated, of which we cannot even now read, without a blush of shame and sorrow. Capt. James Cargill, of Newcastle, in the summer of 1755, commanded a company of " scouts," as they were called, whose business it was to patrol the country between the Sheepscott and St. George's rivers, and in one of his excursions with his com- pany near the latter river they met an unarmed Indian of the Penobscot tribe, with his wife and child two months old. This was several months before the declaration of war against this tribe ; but, without making any inquiry, they fired upon them, killing the man instantly, and mortally wounding the woman, but without injuring the child. As her murderers came up to her, she held up her child to them, saying with her expiring breath, " take it to Capt. Bradbury," but an inhuman monster at the moment knocked it in the head, with the remark, " every nit will make a louse." The only apology that can be made for the party is to say that they were all intoxicated. The Indian man was also intoxicated, it is supposed. The woman, Margaret Moxa, was well known at the fort on the St. Georges, and was greatly esteemed for her honest dealing and kind and
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
genial nature; and her death was deeply lamented, especially by the women at the fort.
At a later hour the same day, a part of the same company, with Cargill at their head, fell in with a party of the Penobscots, whom they recklessly fired upon killing no less than nine, whose scalps they exhibited the next day at the fort. Of course this was simply cold-blooded murder, and Cargill was appre- hended and after about two years, tried for murder, but ac- quitted by the jury, the excitement against the Indians being such for a long time that no white man'could be convicted for killing one.1
This affair, as a matter of course, greatly exasperated the whole Penobscot tribe; and if, before the sad event, there had been a possibility of winning them over to the English, it could hardly be expected now. The government sought by all possi- ble means to pacify them, by assurances that .justice should be done to the culprits, and by abundant presents lavished upon the relatives and friends of the Indians slain, but all was in- sufficient to produce the desired result. Therefore, later in the season (Nov. 5,) they were included in the declaration of war. This, of course, admirably suited the French who all the time were using their utmost efforts to intensify the Indian hatred against the English.
The condition of public affairs in these colonies at the close of this year was gloomy in the extreme. Almost uniform disaster had attended the English arms during the whole year. The disgraceful defeat of Braddock does not find a parallel elsewhere in the history of North America, and the utter failure of Shirley against the French fort at Niagara, though not so disgraceful, was scarcely less disheartening to the minds of the colonists. Some success had attended the British arms in par- ticular directions, but, to all intelligent observers, that gloomy autumn, the ultimate triumph of the French in establishing their ascendency on this continent must have seemed quite possible or even probable.
During the winter, small garrisons were maintained at the more important forts and block-houses in the eastern parts, there being 35 at St. Georges, and 20 at Fort Frederic, but we do not learn that any event of interest occurred, anywhere in these parts.
1 An. Warren, p. 94; Will. Hist. Maine, II, p. 314.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
But neither John Bull nor Brother Jonathan is accustomed to yield a point for a mere trifle. Affairs in the spring of 1756 were in a condition truly discouraging, but the contest must be renewed with vigor. The Indian depredations began early in the season, in different parts east and west of the Kennebec, and several persons were killed, and others taken prisoners to Canada ; but the English had well learned the necessity of cau- tion and less injury was done than in former times.
In June of this year England declared war against France, and soon France reciprocated the compliment by declaring war against England ; but why it should be done just now it is not easy to see. And the war, now that a war had been doubly declared, was scarcely more real than it had been in years im- mediately preceding. The most important event of the war this year was the capture of the English fort at Oswego, on Lake Ontario, by Montcalm, with its garrison of 1600 men, 121 cannons, and abundance of military stores, and two sloops of war on the lake, and boats innumerable. The Indians, at plant- ing time, made their appearance on Arrowsic island, and killed a man and his wife, as they were at work in a cornfield, and took their three children with them to Canada, but we do not learn as they came any nearer to Pemaquid. During the summer, several attacks were made on other places in the interior and east of us, on the coast, several coasting vessels and fishing schooners were seized and destroyed, and several men killed. [. On the whole the season closed this, as it did the last year, with- out anything to encourage the heart of the English, but with much of the opposite character, .
The next year, 1757, little change occurred in the affairs of the provinces; but the capture of Fort William Henry on Lake George, with all its stores and 3000 men, was a sad blow to the English interest. Another attack upon Louisbourg this season was determined upon; and a large force sent from England, to be joined with the provincial troops, for the pupose; but nothing was accomplished, chiefly through the imbecility of the commanding officers. One favorable indication this year began to manifest itself; this was a profound conviction in the public mind of the imbecility of those in power, from the king's min- isters down to the lowest officer in the goverment. Mention has already been made of the prevalence of small pox among the Penobscots, a little time before this, which had preceptibly di-
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
minished their strength, and it was probably in consequence of this that they began to indicate a desire for peace. But, as if to prevent the possibility of a speedy reconciliation, a party of soldiers marching through the woods near the St. Georges fort, met with a party of Indians, and fired upon them, killing one and wounding some others. The effect upon the minds of the In- dians was extremely unfavorable.
During all the years of this war " scouting parties " were con- tinually ranging the country from one fortified place to another, as previously described ; and the muster rolls of several com- panies are preserved in the state department in Boston.
Some of the names on these rolls are still familiar in all this region, and one or more of them may be given in an appendix, if space can be allowed.
The commander of Fort Frederic at this time, 1756, and several years subsequently, was Alexander Nickels, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, who came to this country with his wife and family, in 1721, and resided many years in Boston. Not much is known of him until his appearance here as com- mander of the fort, though holding only a lieutenant's commis- sion. He had several children, but only two of them were well known here. Those were Alexander jr., father of the late James, Wm. and John Nickels of Pemaquid, and several daugh- ters, and James Nickels, ancestor of those of the name in Wis- cassett and Newcastle,
In 1758, 600 men were recruited for the army in the District of Maine, of whom 300 were assigned to garrison duty, and stationed at the various forts and block-houses. Of these Fort Frederic received 15, Georges fort 35, the block-house at Me- duncook, 10, and that at Broad Bay, 17. Below is the muster roll of the company at Fort Frederic, Capt. Alexander Nickels, from August 14, 1758, to September 30, 1759.
Alexander Nickels, Lieut. Do Sergt. Richard Bulkley,
David Drowne,
Patrick Rogers, do. Archibald Fullerton,
Do Cent. Samuel Boyd,
Boice Cooper, Corpª. John McFarland sen.,
Do Cent. Roger Hamble,
Thomas Johnston, Cent. Joseph Green,
Owen Madden, John McFarland,
Samuel Boges or Boggs.1
1 Mass. Arch., 97, Muster Rolls Vol. 7.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
It would seem from this that some held two offices at the same time, but whether they drew pay for both does not appear. Nickels, being in command, is styled captain though ranking only as lieutenant.
Though fifteen men were assigned to this place, we have in this list the names of only fourteen.
It is not known when or where Lieut. Nickels died.
James Nickels, son of Alexander, died May 19, 1776, aged 57. Captain James Nickels, mentioned by Drake in his History of Boston (p. 645) as living in Pond Lane (now Bedford St)., is be- lieved to be the same man. It is not known that he ever removed his family to this vicinity, but it is quite possible that he did, as several of his eleven children were settled and lived in this town and in Newcastle and Wiscasset.
We shall have occasion to speak of his son, Alexander Nickels jr., in another place.
At length came a change in the British ministry, and the in- efficient Duke of Newcastle gave place to the renowned states- man, Wm. Pitt; and the effect of the change was soon seen in the changing aspect of the affairs of these colonies. Pitt ex- celled ordinary statesmen in many essential qualities that make up the character of a wise ruler, but in nothing more than in his judgment of the men whom he selected for important offices. Such conceited impracticables as Braddock were no longer ap- pointed to important places to disgrace the national arms and ruin the colonies, but men took their places in whom the people of both countries could repose implicit confidence, as Generals Amherst and Wolfe.
The preparation made in 1757 for another attack upon Louis- bourg was not entirely lost; and a plan for its reduction this year, 1758, was at length agreed upon. At the same time it was determined to organize two other expeditions, one against Fort DuQuesne, and the other against Crown Point, both of which were still firmly held by the French.
The expedition against Louisbourg was commanded by Gen. Amherst, and aided. by a British fleet which arrived early in June; and towards the close of July the place was captured, with all its guns and military stores, never again to come under the dominion of France. The army sent against Fort DuQuesne was also successful; and the place took the name of Pittsburg, in
40
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
honor of the great statesman then at the head of the British ministry.
But the strong fortification at Crown Point still remained in the hands of the enemy. Besides the men sent from the New England colonies to join with the British regulars in the attack upon Louisbourg, the same colonies also supplied 10,000 more for this enterprise. It was commanded by Gen. Abercrombie, and consisted in all of about 15,000 men, all of whom were well armed, and supplied with every thing needful, but simply from want of good generalship it was destined to fail. After several injudicious attacks upon the French stronghold, and the loss of many men, the general determined to retreat, though he still had a force two or three times stronger than the French general op- posed to him. The New England soldiers were greatly disgusted and nicknamed their commander " Gen. Nabbycrombie." But after his own failure, the general organized a part of his force for an expedition against Fort Frontenac, near the eastern ex- tremity of Lake Ontario, which was completely successful. It - consisted of about 3000 men, and was placed in the command of Col. Bradstreet. The French garrison of only 120 men had no expectation of an attack, and were obliged to surrender at discretion, with all their guns and stores of every kind.
What a momentous change in the position of affairs between the two great parties to the contest had the operations of this year produced ! The French still held possession of the St. Lawrence river and Lake Champlain, and had fortified several places westward on the great lakes and on the Ohio; but no foothold remained to them on the Atlantic coast. Moreover, having lost the control of Lake Ontario, their communications with the military posts on the great lakes and farther south must be difficult and dangerous. Truly fortune seemed now, after so many and severe disasters to the British interests in North America, to have turned in their favor.
And so it proved. At the close of this year (1758) three strong positions were still held by the French on this continent north of Louisiana, and the only three which were considered of any importance. . These were Quebec, Crown Point and Niagara. These once reduced, the flag of England would wave triumphantly over the whole continent except the French set- tlement at the mouth of the Mississippi, and a few Spaniards
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ILISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
on the coast of Florida, the whole at this time deemed of little consequence.
When, therefore, the spring of 1759 opened, the reduction of these three places was the definite object all had in view ; and for it all began to make preparations with a determination and cheerfulness that argued well for the enterprise. The mother country would send ships and stores of guns and am- munition but the colonies must supply the soldiers and the commissariat. The taxes were already enormous, and almost every family had supplied one or more of its loved ones to perish in the strife, but a further sacrifice must be made. The colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut were chiefly relied on; and they did not fail. Preparation being completed the forces destined for the important work were carly on their way, and before the month of July had closed, Niagara and Crown Point had been reduced, and the seige of Quebec begun. The surrender of this place, last mentioned, to the English followed about the middle of September following; and the ascendancy of the English was established beyond the possibility of further serious controversy.
It was also decided at the same time that the further de- velopment of this vast country should be under the influence of the Protestant, rather than the Romanist form of Christianity.
The capture of Quebec took place Sept. 18th, and the news of its fall reached Falmouth, Oct. 14th, giving occasion every- where for the wildest demonstrations of joy. The report was brought east by a schooner which was accidentally passing, but for some reason, had put into Round Pond. The news soon reached the fort, and occasioned great joy ; but a full confirma- tion being desired, Thomas Johnston volunteered to go to Round Pond for the purpose. He had been married in the fort the year before, and with his wife and infant daughter was still residing there. Starting alone, he crossed to New Harbor and followel up the shore, as being more safe than the usual path through the woods ; and finding the schooner still there, hailed her, and was taken on board. Receiving full confirmation of the report, and learning all the particulars of the battle that he could, he was soon journeying home by the same way as he came.1
1 Capt. Israel Cox, 1846. He heard it from Johnston himself when an old man. Cor remembered the time when Quebec was taken.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
CHAPTER XXVI.
FROM THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC TO THE BEGINNING OF REVOLU- TIONARY WAR 1759-1775.
Fort Frederic dismantled - Henry Hunter and family, and others who were intro- duced here about this time - Murder of Joshua Bradford and family in Me- duncook - Indian murders at Pemaquid - Indian Conference at Falmouth, and return of Walter McFarland from captivity - The Indians at Broad Bay.
The garrison had been removed from the fort the year be- fore the capture of Quebec ; but many of the inhabitants, with their families, continued to reside within the walls.
Several from this place, or who afterwards became residents here, were connected with the expedition by which Quebec was taken, but only a few of their names have been preserved. Henry Hunter, ancestor, it is believed, of all by this name now so well known in the place, was one of them. He was captain of a small schooner, which sailed out of Boston, and was em- ployed as a transport for the expedition. During the fight the vessel lay at anchor in the river, and was once struck in the storm by a stray shot from one of the batteries. " To the vic- tors belong the spoils," after the battle is ended ; and some articles of furniture, taken at this time, and brought on board, the schooner, are still shown in the families of his descendants.
Henry Hunter was born in Ballygruba near Londonderry, Ireland, in 1725, and came to this country before the French and Indian war. He was engaged in business with a nephew of his of the same name, who had established himself in Boston ; and thus came to be employed in transporting troops and sup- plies to the British forces at Quebec, under Gen. Wolfe. He married first Sarah Wyer in Boston, and the wedding ceremony was performed under the Great Elm on Boston Common. His wife died four years afterwards, and he married for a second wife another woman of the same name, belonging to London- derry, N. H. He lived near the old meeting house in Walpole, and died Jan. 11, 1799, aged 74 years. His widow died Feb. 17, 1836, aged 99.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
They were the parents of eight children, six sons, Henry, John, David, William, James and Thomas, and two daughters, from whom have descended a numerous posterity. The sons were all men of more than ordinary ability, but received only such education as the district school afforded. One of them, William, possessed considerable poetic talent, which, nearly half a century ago, at the beginning of the temperance reforma- tion, he was accustomed to employ, with some effect, in favor of the movement, which he had much at heart.
David, third son of Henry Hunter sr., married Elenor Fos- sett, in 1796, and removed to the town of Strong on the Sandy river, where they lived together the long period of 75 years. Mr. Hunter died in Strong, May 8, 1871, having attained the great age of 98 years. Mr. Hunter built the first frame house, and introduced the first pleasure carriage in the town of Strong, and was one of the original members of the Congregational church in the town. He lived a quiet and peaceful life, always ready for every good word and work ; and his children, grand- children, and great grandchildren, to the number of more than 70 rose up in his life time to call him blessed.1 1
Capt. James Morton, who lived at Muscongus, was also in the expedition. It is believed that he was a native of Massa- chusetts, but at what- time he came here is not known. He was employed as pilot on board of a transport. His wife was Anne Bryant, daughter of David Bryant of this place.
Elijah Crooker, who subsequently became a resident here, was present in some official capacity at the capture of Quebec, and also the second capture of Louisbourg in 1758. He was born in Marshfield in 1729, and on attaining his majority in 1750, made his way to Boston, where he fell in with Capt. James Nickels, and agreed with him to proceed to Wiscasset and assist in loading a large Spanish ship then lying at the wharf there. In the summer of 1751, the Indians being trouble- some about the Kennebec, he joined as a volunteer in several short expeditions against them. Having found his way back to Massachusetts, when the Crown Point expedition was un- dertaken and volunteers called for, he enlisted as first sergeant of a company, but in a skirmish was wounded by a musket ball in the ankle, and obliged to return home. In the autumn of 1757, he was employed as mate on board a transport in con-
1 Notice in Memoriam of David Hunter, printed soon after his death.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
nection with the expedition against Fort Cumberland in Nova Scotia; and in fact he continued in this service, as mate or captain, most or all the time until the beginning of the revolu- tionary war. At the time of the battle of Lexington, he was in Boston ; but left for home the same day, and engaged in rais- ing a company for the defence of the country. In the course of the summer, with his company, he joined the army before Boston, where he served nearly a year.
The next year he raised another company and was ordered to New York to join the army of Washington. Ho was with the army in the retreat to White Plains, and then into New Jersey. In the fight at Trenton his company took an active part, and assisted in capturing the 600 Hessians. In the fall of this year (1777) he was honorably dismissed from the service.
The next year, 1778, he joined the army under Sullivan, in the expedition against Rhode Island, which was still in the hands of the British ; but immediately after his return home, removed with his family to Bristol, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He died Dec. 28th, 1812, leaving a large family,1 among them a son, Philip Crooker who died only recently.
His wife Agatha (Hatch) Crooker died Dec. 19th, 1830. She was a sister of the late Elisha and Phillips (sic) Hatch.
During these few years, while these momentous events were transpiring, which were to fix the destiny not of these feeble set- tlements only, but of many millions of the race ; little of im- portance was done at Fort Frederic and vicinity, and yet the people were not permitted to be entirely at rest. Parties of Indians prowled the forests suspiciously, and occasionally com- mitted some depredations. May 22, 1758, a little after sunrise a party of them made an attack upon the house of Mr. Joshua Bradford in Meduncook (Friendship) killed and scalped Mr. B. and his wife, and a Mrs. Mills and her child, who were at the same place, or in the same neighborhood. A small boy of Mrs. Mills was also badly wounded, and a daughter of the Brad- ford's slightly. Two of Bradford's sons were taken to Canada
1 Capt. Crooker left in MS. quite a lengthy account of his connection with the revolutionary army, which is of much interest, as giving important items of his own history ; but though partly in the form of a journal, evidently it was not written until long after his retirement from the army, and is mostly made up of matter that had already been published. From this the facts in his personal his- tory above given have mostly been obtained.
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as prisoners, and were allowed to return only after the capture of Quebec. One child in the house escaped by hiding itself under a bed.1
Joshua Bradford was a great grandson of Gov. Wm. Brad- ford who came over in the May Flower, and was born in Kings- ton, Mass., from which place he came with his wife (who also was a Bradford) and family to Meduncook only a few years be- fore this. According to tradition in the place Moxus, an Indian well known in Meduncook, was the leader of the party. Only a year or two previously the old Indian broke through the ice not far from Bradford's house, who ran to his rescue, and saved him only with considerable difficulty. The scoun- drel professed much gratitude for the kindness; and he and other Indians afterwards pretended great friendship for Mr. B. and his family. At this time, knowing that Indians were in the neighborhood, most of the people fled for safety to the fort on Garrison island, but Mr. B. and his family were very confident that no injury would be done them, and chose to remain at their home; and with the result stated.
1 ITist. Gen. Reg., IV, 49 ; Id. XIV, 222. Extract from the [Boston] News Letter, June 1, 1758. Mr. G. M. Fessenden, author of the " Bradford Genealogy " in the Register, gives May 26, 1756, as the date of this outrage; but the extract from the contemporary newspaper fixes it, as given in the text, beyond controversy. See also Hist. Gen. Reg., IV, p. 236, note.
This seems to make it altogether certain that the outrage upon the Bradford family occurred this year (1758), but, if so, there was another similar occurrence in the same vicinity the previous year.
James Cargill, with a company of armed men in canoes, in the spring of 1757, made an excursion among the islands near the mouth of the Penobscot with the view of punishing any hostile Indians that might be found in the region. A de- tailed account of his doings, in the form of a journal, is contained in the Mass. Archives (vol. 38, pp. 216 and 254). The company started (probably from the Sheep- scott river,) April 18th, and on the 20th, were at Pemaquid, and the next day at Muscongus island. They went as far east as the Fox islands, killed several In- dians whom they met in their canoes, but accomplished little, as the natives were careful to keep out of sight. May 13, they returned home.
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