USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > Baptisms and admission from the records of First church in Falmouth, now Portland, Maine > Part 8
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small pond,
and from thence over land
to the falls of Presumpsca, being the
first falls in that river, upon a straight line containing by estimation from fall
to fall as aforesaid near about an eng- lish mile, which together with the said neck of land, that the said Cleeve and Tucker, have planted for divers years already expired, is estimated in the whole to be fifteen hundred acres, or thereabouts, as also one island adjacent to the said premises, and not (Garde says now,) in the tenure and occupation of the said Cleeve and Tucker, com- monly known by the name of Hogg is- land. All of which premises now are and hereafter shall be deemed and taken to be parts, parcels and members of the province of New Somersetshire, and the said Gorges, for the considera- tion aforesaid hall given, sold and con- firmed by these presents the said por- tions of lands and premises, to the said Cleeve and Tucker, their heirs and assigns, for their proper use and behoof, to the end and full term of two thou- sand years fully to be complete and end- ed; to be holden of the said Gorges and his heirs, Lord or Lords of the said province of New Somersetshire, as of his or their manor of Willitton, and free manors in free and common socage by fealty only for all manner of services, and a yearly rent of two shillings the hundred for every hundred acres there- of, the same to be levied by distress or otherwise, according to the laws and customs of the realm of England used and approved within the same for ten- ants of like nature. Saving excepting and reserving only out of this present grant the fifth part of all the ore of gold and silver found in or upon the prem- ises or any part or parcel therof due un- to his majesty his heirs and successors. And lastly the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges hath constituted, ordained and appointed, and by these presents doth constitute, ordaine and appoint his
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trustie and well beloved Isaac Alerton and Arthur Macworth, gents, his true and lawful attorney and attorneys, jointly or severally for and in his name to take full and peaceable possession, and after such possession, to deliver the same unto the said George Cleeve and Richard Tucker, according to the tenor and true meaning of these presents. Sealed, signed and delivered in the pres- ence of Wiliam Withington, and John Winnington.
On the eighth day of June, 1637, Ar- thur Mackworth, gent, certified that he had taken and delivered possession unto George Cleeve, Esq., and Richard Tucker, gent, according to the order within prescribed.
Notwithstanding this conveyance from Gorges the agents of Trelawney continued to claim the territory therein described as a part of his grant, and whilst there is no evidence of anyone taking possession of any part of it in his name, Cleeve claimed that "it hill- dered would-be tenants." A deed from Cleeve and Tucker dated September, 23, 1640, shows the presence of four addi- tional families; it conveys to Thomas Wise and Hugh Mosier two hundred acres of land to the north-east of their now dwelling house, and next adjoinng the land of the Widow Atwell, and so far along the waterside to the creek by George Lewis'. Mrs. Atwell soon af- ter married Richard Martin. Her lar. d was upon the point which still bears his name.
The civil war of 1642 brought a new party into power and Col. Alexander Rigby, a member of parliament and an influential Republican, was induce, as is supposed, by Cleeve and his friends to secure the Ligonia patent. Cleeve was evidently on the spot, and secured from Rigby under the date of May 23, 1645, a deed confirming the title of Cleeve and
Tucker to the territory conveyed to them by Gorges, and immediately returned to New England with the deed and also a commissiin from Rigby, to act as his deputy in the government of Ligonia.
Cleeve's authority was disputed y Vines, the deputy for Gorges and the inhabitants of Ligonia divided; those in Casco principally joined Cleeve. The latter wrote to the governor of Massa- chusetts for assistance, and offered to join the confederacy, but his offer was declined for the reason that they could not receive any "but such as were in a church way." The controversy contin- ued for some time resulting in a trial by commissioners, who decided in favor of Rigby, and it was ordered that all the inhabitants of the province should yield obedience to him. Cleeve now had undisputed sway in the whole province of Ligonia. This does Not appear to have stimulated any special interest in the settlement of Casco, for the emigrants came in slowly, notwith- standing the generous terms offered.
The first conveyance of land by Cleave and Tucker that appears upon the i .ık records bears the date of April 6, 1646, and runs to John Moses, now of Pischat- aqua river, of one hundred acres of land adjoining that formerly granted to George Lewis; in consideration of seven years service as an apprentice, and a yearly rent of two shillings and two days' work. Witnessed by John Davis and Daniel Easter.
A deposition shows that John Smith and wife Joane were living at Casco mill, under the government Nr. George Cleeve June 8, 1646.
Edward Rigby, Esq., president of Li- gonia, conveyed on the 20th day of Feb)- ruary, 1652, to George Cleeve one thou- sand acres of land between the Pre- sumpscot river and the next river, ad- joining land previously conveyed to
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him. This tract was conveyed by
Cleeve to Richard Tucker, July 18, 1608.
June 30, 1675, John Cloyce and Julian, his wife, conveyed to their son Thomas Cloyce and Susanna his wife, the tract of land on which they then dwelt in Falmouth which they purchased of Mr. George Cleeve, deceased, adjoining the land of Nathaniel Wallis from well cove to round cove, to land of Timothy Spur- well. Witnessed by George and Tem- perance Munjoy.
CAPISIC-CONGAN.
July 27, 1657, Scitterygussett, saga-
more, conveyed to Francis Small of Casco Bay, fisherman, all the upland and marshes at Capissicke on the north side of the river unto the head thereof, so as to reach and extend unto the river side of Ammecungan. Small to pay yearly during the life of Scitterygus- sett, one trading coat and one gallon of liquor. Witnessed by Payton Cooke, Nathaniel Wallis and Peter, Indian.
June 26, 1657, Cleeve conveyed to John, eldest son of George Lewis, one hundred acres. Consideration, cash and annual payment of service and money for nine- teen hundred years.
November 20, 1657, Cleeve conveyed to George Lewis, two hundred acres. Con- sideration same as preceding.
March 25, 1658, Cleeve to Thomas Skil- ling fifty-five acres. To Humphrey Dunnum, fifty acres. To George Inger- soll, fifty-five acres. To Phineas Rider, fifty-five acres. To John Phillips, mill- wright, fifty acres. To Hope Allen, currier, of Boston, four hundred acres, May 31, 1660. The consideration being in each case the same as the Lewis'.
May 15, 1658, Cleeve sold to Thomas Kimball, merchant of Charleston, "my island in Casco Bay, known as Hodg is- land." Thomas and Henry Kimball, their wives Elizabeth and Mary con-
senting, sold the same island to Edward Tinge of Boston, July 26, 1663.
September 26, 1659, George Cleeve, wife Joane consenting, in considera- tion of twenty-five pounds, conveyed to John Phillips, merchant of Boston, the neck of land called Machag ny, on which my dwelling house now stands. The bounds beginning at the southwest side of my cornfield, from thence to run northwesterly upon a straight line through the woods and spruce creek, supposed to be three quarters of a mile to Back Cove, and thence round about Machagony, together with my house,
all my housing, cornfield, gardens or whatsoever appertalnances thereunto belonging. Witnessed by John Winter, Richard Martin, Ralph Turner and George Munjoy. Mr. Tucker consented to this sale the following year.
May 23, 1661, Richard and Margaret Tucker conveyed to Thomas Wakelie, Mathew Coole, John Wakely and Isacke Wakely, of Cape Ann, two hundred and ten acres of land situated between the lots of George Lewis and Thomas Skill- ing, at Back Cove. Witnessed by Fran- cis Neale and George Munjoy.
October 23, 1661, Nicholas White, planter of Casco Bay, in consideration of five pounds three shillings, conveyed to John Breeme, of the same place, fisherman, one quarter part of House island, with the one quarter part of the house thereon and a quarter part of the rights and privileges thereunto belong- ing. Sampson Penley to have free lib- erty to make fish thereon, and in case the said Breeme shall make sale of it, the said Penley shall have the refusal thereof. Witnessed by George Mun- joy and John Seares.
November 10, 1663, William Norman, fisherman, at Casco, in consideration of three pounds fourteen shillings, con-
veyed to George Munjoy, one quarter
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APPENDIX.
of House island, also one quarter part of ker, George; Basly, John; Bauden, Am- the house thereon. Witnessed by Wil- liam Phillips and Ralph Tristram.
March 9, 1663-64, Sampson Penley, fisherman of Falmouth, in considera- tion of seventeen pounds, conveyed to George Munjoy, the title granted him by the court, last September, in his ac- tion against Joseph Phippenny, to one quarter part of House island, with one- half of the old house and all of the new house built by the said Phippenny to- gether with one half of the stages, etc.
It Is likely that many real estate transactions were never placed upon record; no conveyance of land by Mr. Winter is found, and perhaps he had no authority, but during his administra- tion Richmonds island was the center of quite a settlement, and undoubtedly there are many who may trace their holdings to the Trelawny patent, as do those in Portland and Deering to the Cleeve patent. Letters from Mr. Win- ter, which, thanks to Mr. Baxter, are now accessible through the publication the "Trelawny Papers," are filled with details of his transactions and contain the names of many persons with whom he had dealings. In a let- ter of 1637 Mr. Winter writes, that there were sixty-three on the planta- tion, besides two who had died. The following list of names has been hasti y gleaned from the letters; many of the persons named returned when their contract time had expired; others came to stay and likely some who went
back, returned with their families for most of the names are perpetuated in their New England descendants.
Alger, Andrew, servant of Mr. Win- ter; Alger, Thomas; Alger, Trustram; Allen, William, boat master; Amory, John, cooper; Arrowsmith, Thomas; Baddeuer, John; Bailey, Christopher; Baker, Andrew; Baker, Edmond; Ba-
bros; Beill, Jonas; Best, Edward; Bick- ford, Priscilla, maid of Mrs. Winter; Boles, Joseph; Bone, Thomas; Bony- thon, Richard; Brown, Arthur; Buck- nall, Roger; Bunt, George; Burrage, John; Cannage, Mathew; Celby, John; Chappell, William; Chapple, Anthony; Clarke, Anthony; Cobb, Peter; Coggan, John; Cole, Peter; Conny, John; Cor- ber, Richard; Cossens, John; Crase, Joseph; Commings, Richard; Curkiett, Ellis; Dearing, George,his widow Eliza- beth married Jonas Bayley; Dinner,
Arthur, Downinge, Richard, Drue,
Nicholas; Dunns, Thomas; Dustin,
Thomas; Edgecomb, Nicholas; Ed- monds, Henry, midshipman; Edwards,
William; Field, Richard; Fishcooke, Edward and wife; Foxwell, Richard; Freythy, Sander; Freythy, Wil-
liam; Garland, John; Gaude,
Marke; Gibbins, William; Glb- son, Rev. Richard, married Mary, dau. of Thomas Lewis of Saco; Gilbert, Rob- ert; Gill, Arthur; Ginkin, Reignold; Godfrey,Edward; Guich, William; Gul- lot, Peter, died Oct. 2, 1636; Hame, Wil- liam; Hammecke, Thomas; Hancocke, Henry; Harell, William; Hatch,
Charles, a part of his pay to be paid to his master, Clemet Penwill at Newton Ferrers; Hatch, Philip; Hawkin, Nar- ias; Headmond, Penticost; Heard, Ar- ture; Hearle, William; Heifor, Andrew; Helborne, William; Hempson, John; Hewit, Nicholas, shipwright; Hill, Pe- ter, sailor; Hingston, Philip; Hodge,
William; Hole, John; Hore, Thomas; Hugh, Digory; Imson, John; Jackson, Robert; Jope, Samson; Jordan, Rev. Robert, came May, 1641 ,married Janu- ary. 1643 1643-4, Sara, daughter of John Winter; Joselyn, Henry; King,
Thomas, carpenter; King, William;
master of the Exchange of Bristol; Lakesly, John; Langworthy, Nicholas; Lapthorne, Stephen; Laurance, Peter;
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APPENDIX.
Leach, John; Libby, John; Light, Mi- chael; Lisson, Thomas; Louell, Alexan- der; Lucas, William; Luxton, George; Maddiver, Myhill; Martin, Francis;
Martin, Richard; Mathew, Nicholas;
Mavericke, Samuel; Mellen, William; Mills, Edward; Mills, John, servant of Mr. Winter; Mitchell, Paul; Niles, Rich- ard; Nycoles, Stephen; Okers. Rowland; Page, Thomas; Paige, Gilbert; Pearse, Roger; Perden, George; Pomeroy, Ow- ing; Prince, William; Pynne, Richard, gunner and wife; Quash, Christopher; Randell, Wilmot; Roberts, Henry, and wife; Roberts, John, he and Ropus, a servant of Mr. Winter were drowned. Rogers, George; Rouse, Nicholas; San- ders, George; Saunders, John, joiner. Sanders, Robin; Sankey. Robert; Sar- gent, Stephen; Satterly. Roger; Shap- leigh, Nicholas; Shepherd, Thomas; Shorte, Tobias; Skelton, Richard; Sprye, Arter; Stephens, Benjamin; Stratton, John; Tayler, John; Thorne, John; Tok- er, William; Tomsen, a maid drowned coming over the bar after the cows. Towne, wife of; Townesend, Henry; Trebie, Edward; Treleage, Thomas, car- penter; Treworthy, John; Vines, Richard; Vivion, John; Watts, Henry; Waymouth, Robert; Webb, Robert; Weeks, Oliver; sailor. Westaway, Henry; Westaway, John; West, John; Weymouth, Christo- pher; White, Nicholas; Whitecombe, Stephen; Wilkinson, John, servant of Mr. Winter; Willinge, Roger; Willis, Bennett; Wodley, Edward.
On the 22d day of September, 1648, Mr. Robert Jordan, executor of the will of John Winter, petitioned the general assembly of the province of Ligonia, then assembled, that they would for committee make
themselves or by a examinations of the accounts of the
said Winter, and that the petitioner
may have secured for his use and be- hoof, so much as shall be found due the said Winter from the estate of Robert
Trelawny, and now in the hands of his executors.
In response, a committee was ap-
pointed consisting of George Cleeve, deputy president, William Royal, Rich- ard Foxwell, and Henry Watts, who visited Richmonds island on the 10th day of October, and made an Inventory of the housen, goods and chattels on the island and at Spurwink, and fixed the value of the same at 605-5-4. "The iand is left in suspense, for want of appearance of any right Mr. Trelawny hath in it." The committee examined the accounts, and reported that there was due the estate of Mr. Winter 2153- 16-8. The committee further reported the account of Mr. Jordan since his attorneyship, deputed by Mr. Winter May 20, 1645; showing the plantation
creditor for 1278-17-8, and debitor for 1275-13-4. This report was accepted at the assembly December 18, 1648, and it was ordered that it shall be lawful for the petitioner to retain, occupy ard convert to his own use, all the lands, goods, etc., belonging to Robert Tre- lawny, deceased, which is in this pro- vince, unless the executors of said Tre- lawny shall redeem and
release the same.
It will be observed that the commit- tee questioned Trelawny's title to the land, but the assembly did not, and it does not appear that Jordan's title was afterwards questioned.
Mr. Willis fixes the date of Mr. Win- ter's death, 1645, that being the time when Mr. Jordan assumed the charge
of the business at Richmonds island, but his continuing as Winter's attor- ney, and not attempting to act as executor of the will, no copy of which has been found, unt'1 1648, suggests the probability that Mr. Winter lived an in- val'd until just prior to Mr. Jordan's petitioning the assembly.
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APPENDIX.
Some writers have named Mrs. Jor- dan as an only child, which is evidently an error, for in a letter written by Mr. Winter in 1640, he mentions his daugh- ter, Mary Coulinge, who probably had a second husband, as under the date of June 13, 1644, Mr. Winter writes to his . daughter Mary Hooper, sending his love to her husband and little son, and expresing his joy that her brother John Winter, had safely returned from East India; he informed her that her sister Sara had been married five months to Mr. Robert Jordan "our minister." He also informed her that he had sent an order to Mr. Trelawny, to pay her fif- ten pounds. Mrs. Hooper enclosed a copy of this letter to Mr. John King, merchant, Mr. Trelawny's business manager in London, desiring him to take some order for the payment of the money as soon as may be, by reason of her great necessity, for her husband was taken at the isle of May by the Lord of Malborow, she could get no news from him and her landlord threat- ens to turn her out of his house for not being able to pay the rent. We have seen that John Winter, Jr., was here in 1659, and it is not unlikly that Mary Hooper came also for the names of Winter, Collins and Hooper, are often found in New England records. Mr. Jordan located at Sperwink, where his house with all its contents was burned by the Indians in 1675. His will was dated at Great Island, January 28, 1678, he then being "weak of body." It was presented in court the first day of July following, and names wife Sarah, sons John, Robert, Dominicus, Jedediah, Samuel and Jeremiah.
FALMOUTH.
Notwithstanding the refusal of the governor of Massachusetts to entertain the offer of alliance and submission made by the Cleeve party, it is evident
that there were Massachuset's men am- bitious to extend the jurisdiction of their colony. Their charter fixed the
bounds at the river Merrimack, "and three miles north, thence upon a strait line east and west to the sea." This had been understood to refer to the mouth of the river, but in 1652 the gen- eral court voted, that upon perusal of their charter, they concluded the exact line should be from the northernmost part of the river, and appointed a com- mission to find the latitude of the river at its source, and ascertain at what point on the coast that parallel would reach. Jonas Clark and Samuel An- drews, ship-masters, reported that the latitude was forty-three degrees, forty minutes, and twelve seconds, besides those minutes which were to be allowed for the three miles northward; they fixed the point in Casco bay at a gray- ish rock, cleft in the middle, the shore being sand without stones. This rock still remains, and is the point from which the dividing line between ancient Falmouth and North Yarmouth com- menced. .
The claim was at first resisted by the colonies in Maine, but after a time, per- haps tired of the contentions of their would be rulers, and in the hopes of a more stable government, the settle- ments one after another yielded to their more powerful neighbor , the inhabi- tants of Black Point, Blue Point, Spur- wink and Casco Bay being the last to surrender. In May, 1658, the general court appointed Henry Symonds, Thom- as Wiggins, Nicholas Shap'eigh and Edward Rishworth, commissioners "to settle civil government in the eastern parts to the utmost extent of their line." The commissioners made return that they had met on the 13th day of July, 1658, at the house of Mr. Robert Jordan at Spurwink, sending out sum-
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APPENDIX.
mons to all inhabitants residing within the line proposed; a major part thereof attended. "and after some serious de- bates. removal of some doubts, and our tendering some acts of favor and privi- lege to them. the good hand of God gulding therein bv a joint consent, we mutually accorded in a free and com- fortable close." The terms of agree- ment were. in brief. as follows: Colo- nists to acknowledge the supremacy of the Massachusetts authority, and to have the same rights and privileges ae have been granted to other towns. in- demnity or oblivion was given and civil rights were not to be forfriteđ upon differences in matters of religion. The town of Falmouth to be created of those places formerly called Spurwink and Casco Bay. and town of Scar- borough, of Black Point. Blue Point and Stratton island. The towns to have commissioners to try causes as high as fifty pounds, with the right of appeal to Boston. The two towns to send one deputy to the general court.
There are twenty-eight subscribers to this agreement. twelve of whom resid- ed within the limits of the new town of Falmouth, as follows: Robert Jordan lived at Spurwink, George Cleeve and Michael Mitton lived on the Neck, Francis Small lived at Capisic, Thomas Sanford and Nicholas White lived near Cape Elizabeth point, Francis Neale lived on the east side of the Presump- scot river, Robert Corbin and John Phillips lived on the west side of the river, George Lewis and Nathaniel Wallis lived at Back Cove, and Richard Martin lived at Martin's Point.
Besides the subscribers above named, there were most likely living in the town in 1658, Richard Tucker, James Andrews, probably living with his mother, Mrs. Jane Macworth. Thomas Greenly, called servant of George
Cleeve. George Ingersol, John Lewis, Phineas Rider, Thomas Skillings, and Humphrey Durham living at Back Cove. Thomas Wise and Hugh Mosier living at Secombs Point. Joseph Phip- pen, Robert Stanford, John Wallls and Sampson Penley, living near Thomas Stanford, and Nathaniel Wharff who lived near Francis Neale.
Some of the above named may have removed before this date and other settlers come in. The list Is not believed to be absolutely perfect.
Many of the inhabitants of Falmouth and Scarborough adhered to the forms of the state church and continued to recognize Mr. Jordan as their pastor. The action. therefore, of the general court in 1660, reproving him for holding service on the Lord's day in the house of Mrs. Mackworth, where he baptised three children of Nathaniel Wallis, and requiring him to desist from any such practices in the future, was construed by them to be a violation of the articles of the agreement of 1658, and determined them to break from their allegiance to Massachusetts on the first favorable opportunity. Of their purpose they made no secret, and, in 1663, they took a decided stand against the government, which the court endeavored to overawe by vigorous measures. Presentments were made against several parties, the most of whom were adjudged guilty and punished by a small fine, but the heaviest measure of vengeance fell upon Jordan, who was tried and convicted upon six indictments, the witnesses against him being George Cleeve, John Ingersoll, Anthony Brackett and James Ross, all of Falmouth. This policy only increased the spirit of hostility, and
gave to the enemies of Massachusetts a sufficient reason to secure the ap- pointment of four persons by the king, with power to settle the peace of the country. Two of the commissioners,
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APPENDIX.
Colonel Richard Nichols and Colonel
George Cartwright, arrived at Bos- ton, July 23, 1664, and Sir Robert Carr and Samuel Maverick about the same time at Piscataqua. With the latter came John Archdale, an agent of Gorges, afterwards governor of North Carolina. The commissioners were oc- cupied for several months in Massachu- setts and New York and visited Maine in June, 1665. They appointed eleven justices of the peace, and three to hear and determine all cases both civil and
criminal and order the affairs thereof according to the laws of Eng- land. They forbid the commissioners of either Mr. Gorges or of Massachu- setts exercising any authority within the province until his majesty's pleas- ure be further known. Mr. Jordan was one of the justices, and Mr. Cleeve, who held the first place under the former
government is retired. The report of the commissioners is published in fourth volume, second series of the "Collections of the Maine Historical Society." In their report on Maine, they say: "In this province there are but few towns, and those much scattered, they are rather farms than towns, but in this province there is a bay called Casco bay in which are many islands, two outlets to the sea. many good harbors, and a great store of fish and oysters, crabs and lobsters. In this province as in all the rest there are great stores of wild ducks, geese and deer, in their seasons strawber- ries, goosberries, rasberries, barberries and several sorts of bilberries. Several sorts of oaks and pines, chestnut and walnut trees, the more northerly the country is, the better the timber is ac- counted."
Concerning Massachusetts, they say it was the last and hardest persuaded to use his majesty's name in their forms of justice. At the first coming over of the commissioners, were many untruths
raised and sent into other colonies. Ma- jor Hathorne made a seditious speech at the head of his company, and the late governor another at the meeting house in Boston, but neither of them were questioned for it by any of the magistrates. They will not admit any who is not a member of their church to the communion, nor their children to baptism, yet they will marry their children to those whom they will not admit to baptism, if they be rich. They did imprison and barbarously use Mr. Jordan for baptising children, those whom they will not admit to the com- munion, they compel to come to their sermons, by forcing from them five shillings for every neglect; yet these men thought their own paying of one shilling for not coming to prayers in England, was an insupportable tyranny. They have put many Quakers to death, beaten some to jelly, and been other ways exceedingly cruel to others; and they say the king allows it in his letters to them. Indeed they have mis- construed all the king's letters to their own sense, and yet they pray constant- ly for their persecuted brethren in Eng- land. They have many things in their laws derogatory to his majesty's hon- or, of which the commissioners made a breviat, and desired that they might be altered, but they have yet done nothing in it. Amongst others, whoever keeps Christmas day is to pay five pounds. This colony furnished Crom- well with many instruments out of their corporation, and their college, and those that have retreated thither since his majesty's happy return, are much respected, and many advanced to be magistrates.
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