USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Holden > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 2
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Eddington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 2
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orrington > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 2
USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Brewer > Brewer, Orrington, Holden, Eddington : history and families > Part 2
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).
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signed, T. Pownal
The signatures of General Preble and eleven officers of the British Fleet followed. In the Governor's diary, in which he re- corded the events of the expedition up the Penobscot River and the building of the Fort, he mentions the death of General Waldo at that time. Following is said to be the inscription on the leaden plate:
May 23, 1759 Province of Massachusetts, Penobscot Dominions of Great Britain Possession Confirmed by Thos. Pownal, Govr.
One of the supposed sites of "Norumbega", the fabulous city in the Penobscot wilderness, is said to be in this area, just opposite the mouth of the Kenduskeag Stream. This city is referred to, rather indefinitely by early voyagers to the Western continent. The name is usually appropriated as the prehistoric name for
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the Bangor site; but it is certain that the old maps represent Norumbega on the east side of the river, and if there ever was any such place, and if its situation is represented with any degree of correctness on these old maps, Brewer may have been its site.
Through the efforts of Governor Pownal and his company the river was now safe for settlers and in 1770, John Brewer of Worcester, Massachusetts, later Colonel Brewer, attracted by the beauty of the location and by the abundant supply of water power afforded, came to this site. Brewer had apparently become familiar with the operation of sailing vessels and with the milling industry, but he seemed to have prefered the latter. His desire was to remove from Worcester and to establish a settlement where he could find a favorable spot for his mill. It is possible that he had been to the river at some previous time either on a trading expedition with the Indians, or for the fishing.
He landed in September of 1770, on the east side of a cove and stream, which the Indians called Segeunkedunk because of the swift current. The names "Brewer's Cove and Stream" were said to have been used for a time, but to those of us who are natives of Brewer today, the name of Segeunkedunk is still the familiar one by which the stream is now called. Brewer examined the land and the streams on both sides of the river for some distance, but finally decided upon the place of his original land- ing as the most desirable.
John Brewer obtained the consent of the General Court of Massachusetts to make a settlement at this place on the condition that he should receive a grant of the territory from the crown within three years. License to make a settlement had to be confirmed by the British Government before settlers could have complete title to the land. As above stated this confirmation had to be obtained within three years of the date of license. Brewer and his associates caused the exterior lines of a tract large enough for a township to be surveyed. The tract covered about fifty-eight square miles and extended from Bucksport to Eddington. This settlement, which became known as the Plan- tation of New Worcester, comprised what are now the towns of Orrington and Holden, and the City of Brewer.
In 1770, when Brewer and his companions first visited the area, they laid the foundation for a mill-dam and, having thus made a good beginning they went back to Massachusetts. Brewer returned the next year and erected a mill and a dwelling-house.
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He was joined by twenty-one others who became the founders of the village of New Worcester.
The township ran from No. 1, or Buck's Ledge, and extended about twelve miles up the river to the head of tidewater. These boundaries included Brewer's little settlement. Later New Worces- ter was incorporated as a town under the name of Orrington; but this was not until after the long years of the War of the Revolu- tion and their effects upon the settlers, were over.
The survey and chart and the petition for the grant to the territory were sent to the proper Crown official. They were taken by Dr. John Calef of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Our under- standing is that they were received with favor and the grant was promised; but before the promise could be executed the news of the Battle of Lexington was received in London and the grant was not issued.
Hostilities on the Penobscot greatly affected the little settle- ment and during the latter years of the war New Worcester was virtually, but never entirely, deserted.
CHAPTER III THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD
During the years of the war the British became firmly established at Castine. They came up along the river, causing a great deal of concern among those who had settled the river towns. Some of the inhabitants of the area preferred to move away rather than to bear with these harrassments. Some of the families went to the Kennebec area, others went to Massachusetts; but there were some hardy souls who stayed in their homes. Thus the settlement was never entirely given up or abandoned.
On the 16th of June in 1779, General Francis McLean landed at Bagaduce (Castine). He had six hundred and fifty soldiers under his command in three ships and transports. The first work which this contingent undertook to accomplish was to build a fort which overlooked the harbor on the east and Buck Cove on the west.
The inhabitants of the settlements along the river, especially the women and children, became frightened because of the arrival of the British at a point no farther distant than Castine.
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This invasion of the Penobscot region occurred at a season of the year when the food supply of the settlements was at its very lowest ebb. Since there was also a very poor supply of arms and ammunition, there could be no feeling of security as far as military protection was concerned. A meeting was held to decide what to do. The question was whether they should attempt to defend themselves or submit to whatever terms might be offered them. The group decided to send a representative to Bagaduce to determine the action of the British.
Colonel John Brewer, accompanied by Colonel Smith of Marsh Bay, called on General McLean to find out his disposition with regard to the settlers. He said that if the settlers would remain peaceable and go quietly about their business they should not be bothered.
In order to keep informed as to the events which were taking place, Colonel Brewer, as well as other citizens of the town, made frequent trips down the river to Camden. Thus they were able to relay news to the settlers from time to time. The men made these trips in bark canoes. Eventually the news was re- ceived that Commodore Richard Saltonstall and General Solomon Lovell were to command a fleet which would come to the Penobscot with the intention of driving out the British.
About a month after their first trip to Bagaduce, Brewer and Smith called upon McLean for the second time. During this visit they were alert to the situation at the fort and observed carefully all that the British had done. They concluded from the rapid movement of the troops that there must be some action of importance afoot. Colonel Brewer thought it would be to their direct advantage to leave the fort immediately. He and his companions lost no time in getting to their boat. They had put but a short distance between themselves and the shore when "Grand Rounds" sounded as a signal that no one was to leave the premises.
When their boat had reached the head of the peninsula and the men looked down the bay, they sighted a large fleet of vessels. They were quite sure that this must be the fleet under Saltonstall and Lovell. In the meantime a light breeze had sprung up which helped them along and they sailed up the river about six miles when they went ashore for the night. However, they had reached such a pitch of excitement at the
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thought of an American fleet in the river that they slept very little.
When morning arrived and they looked for the vessels they found that a heavy fog cut off their view. They continued on their way to Fort Point. They landed here and had walked but a short distance when the fog lifted. They then had a fine view of the fleet. It had just gotten underway with a small breeze and was standing up in a line of battle, discharging their cannon at the British shipping as it passed by them. The number of trans- ports in battle line must have impressed the British by its strength.
While Brewer and Smith were watching the fleet they heard the noise of oars. They looked down and saw below them a number of whale boats filled with armed men. They immediately hastened to their own boat which they had pulled up on the northerly side of the point. They reached the boat and had just started to hoist the sails, when the whale boats came into view around the point and orders were shouted for them to stand.
Colonel Brewer was greatly surprised to find that the shouted order came from his brother, Josiah. The latter was in charge of an advance guard of soldiers, who had orders to station them- selves at Buckstown (Bucksport) and stop communication on the river. Josiah jumped aboard the boat with Colonel Brewer and Colonel Smith, and with it led the whale boats to Buckstown. He left his men there and with Brewer and Smith returned to the fleet. The fog had again settled and made the sailing difficult so that it was the next morning before they arrived.
General Lovell received the men courteously. When he heard that Brewer and Smith had left the British fort only about thirty-seven hours before, he sent at once for Commodore Salton- stall. Both officers listened attentively to Brewer's detailed ac- count of the situation at the fort and of the British forces. Colonel Brewer thought that if action were taken at this time the capture of the fort would be an easy matter; but Saltonstall was more cautious and did not want to take the risk.
Brewer and Smith again boarded their boat and returned to New Worcester. Brewer, however, was under orders from Colonel Josiah Brewer to return, bringing with him half of his company. He complied with these orders. He remained with the fleet for a while; but accomplished nothing more than the work of break-
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ing up a British fishing party. He considered this time wasted so he returned to New Worcester where he remained.
Circumstances changed and the American fleet fled up the river before the British fleet under Sir George Collier to "places just above and below the mouth of the Kenduskeag". A few weeks after his return Colonel Brewer witnessed the destruction of a large part of this fleet. The ships Monmouth, Sally, Black Prince, Hazard, Diligence, Tyrannicide, Providence Sloop, Spring Bird, Hector, and several transports were all blown up or set on fire by their own crews to prevent their coming into the possession of the enemy. After this action the crews took refuge in the nearby forests. There was no roll of honor but without a doubt men from New Worcester took part in the action at that time.
About twenty or thirty sick and wounded prisoners from Castine were taken to Colonel Brewer's home. Dr. Downing, a surgeon with the ruined fleet, dressed their wounds. After they had been given food they were taken to Major Treat's at the head of the tide, and left there in charge of Dr. Herbert.
Brewer made another visit to General McLean and the general again assured him that if the settlers remained peaceful they would not be molested. In reply to Brewer's question as to what was to be done with the sick and wounded, the general told him to get a vessel and take them to their friends. He added that when he was given a list of their names he would provide a pass for them. He told Colonel Brewer to get together what ever provisions he could and make out a list of any others that he would need. He, McLean, would get them for him.
Brewer returned and chartered a ship. He had this fitted up with bunks and platforms. He took on a master and a crew. Captain Mowatt of the British ship, Albany, sent for Brewer, who complied immediately. Brewer is said to have visited Mowatt several times aboard his ship and he was always received in a friendly manner.
Having made all preparations, Brewer set sail. He had pro- gressed only as far as Marsh Bay when he received notice that Captain George Ross, who had commanded an American ship of twenty guns, had been wounded and was ashore in that place with his cabin boy. Brewer sent a boat for them and added the name "George Ross" to his list. When he arrived at Bagaduce he
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gave the list to General McLean, who in turn gave Brewer an order on the commissary for the supplies he needed, and a pass to go on to Boston and leave the men at the place most convenient for them to return to their homes.
A short time after Colonel Brewer had gone from Marsh Bay, an informant told Captain Mowatt that Captain Ross had been aboard the ship. Brewer made the trip to Boston, and on his return Mowatt sent for him. As he was weary from his journey, Brewer asked to be excused until afternoon. He was therefore surprised when he saw Mowatt land on the opposite point. He went over to meet the captain.
We are told that at this time Mowatt threatened to run Brewer through with his sword, and also to burn his buildings. Mowatt left and the Brewer family spent a sleepless night. The next day, however, Mowatt returned. He made no reference to his visit of the day before and behaved in a very friendly manner. He obtained supplies from Brewer and reimbursed him generously for them.
It was during the time in which the afore-mentioned events took place that the British burned the mill, dwelling, and other property belonging to Jonathan Buck, as well as the homes of his neighbors who lived at Eastern River (Bucksport).
Before Captain Mowatt went back down the river he arranged to have Colonel Brewer take down a house on the Point, for which he was paid two hundred dollars. Mowatt was to send a vessel which would take this house to Bagaduce. At some time during the next few days some person took the windows out of the house and hid them. This was reported to General McLean. He gave Brewer a week or two to find them and return them. Brewer went home, ostensibly to search for the windows, but actually to pack up his family and belongings. He loaded them aboard a large scow which had been brought there by Major Ulmer. During the night the family left on the scow, arriving at Camden the next day. Brewer, himself, took his stock and the stock of others in the settlement and drove them through the woods to Camden, a feat which took three or four days to accomplish.
Nearly all accounts agree that Colonel Brewer went to Massachusetts to wait out the war and did not return until after
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the peace. A period of ten years elapsed before the settlement again began to grow.
Interesting to note is the fact that while dredging the river in preparation for the building of the Joshua L. Chamberlain Bridge, four ancient cannon were dredged up. These were presumedly from the ships which were demolished in the river during the Revolutionary period. More about these cannon later.
Castine was a vantage point on Penobscot Bay, its location being such that the entire bay and the mouth of the river were spread out before it. It stood to reason that whoever controlled Castine at that time would be sure to be in control of the river. According to one authority a large number of Loyalists moved to Castine at this time. They were sure that the Penobscot River would eventually become the dividing line between the United States and Canada. Later when this did not prove to be the case, these people moved on to New Brunswick. They gave as a reason for their moving the fact that they were concerned over the steadfast loyalty of the people living in Bucksport and Orring- ton to the new government of the United States of America. They felt that the Canadian province would be a safer and more com- fortable home for them. The St. Croix River later became the established boundary.
By the time the War was well under way there were one hundred and sixty people living in New Worcester. As has been mentioned before these people became very much scattered during the years of the war. An understanding of the courage and independence of the settlers is to be found in the fact that in spite of all the hardships and troubles existent at that time some of the settlers refused to leave these new homes which they were attempting to establish for themselves and their families.
Another interesting note is added to this section when we con- sider an item which appeared in the Bangor Daily Commercial for October 16, 1909 concerning the sale of some rare books and manuscripts from the libraries of Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris and Thaddeus William Harris. These were sold in New York. Perhaps the most interesting item which was sold, and certainly the one which would have the most appeal for us, was a manu- script journal of the Penobscot Expedition of 1779. That this was an item of interest is shown in the fact that there were in atten- dance at the sale James Phinney Baxter of the Maine Historical
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Society, William P. Greenlaw of The New England Historic Genealogical Society, and many other librarians.
This item was composed of about one hundred official manu- script documents, including reports, orders, correspondence, and the like, related to the expedition. The material was collected by General Solomon Lovell, who was in command of the expedition. Because of the scarcity of material which is available on this chapter of the War of the Revolution, there has been disagree- ment among historians concerning it. This collection shed a light on the period and cleared up some of the opportunity for con- flicting opinions. The papers have never been published.
The following facts are related: "On June 16, 1779, General Francis McLean with 650 men of the 74th and 82nd regiments of infantry, landed at Majabagaduce (now Castine) which he occupied without opposition.
"An expedition for the recapture of the peninsula was organized by Massachusetts, and placed under the command of General Solomon Lovell - Colonel Paul Revere having charge of artillery and Commodore Saltonstall of the naval force. The American forces were defeated by a naval reinforcement sent from New York by Sir Henry Clinton.
"Colonel William Ladd's 'Statement of Facts Respecting the Penobscot Expedition' discloses facts concerning men and events which contradict the accepted versions. Colonel Ladd command- ed the York County troops and his narrative .. .. reveals intimate acquaintance with events leading to the failure of the expedition. Commodore Saltonstall and Colonel Paul Revere receive frequent mention; also other officers and their part in the enterprise ending the retreat of Kennebeck."
Bids on the item started at twenty-five dollars and it went at two hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. George Littlefield of this city (probably Bangor) bought it for a customer whose name he refused to disclose, but he gave assurance to the fact that the valuable manuscript would remain in Massachusetts.
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CHAPTER IV INCORPORATION OF ORRINGTON AND EVENTS OF IMPORTANCE PRECEDING
THE DIVISION OF TOWNS
The war was over and peace had been declared. Those who had left the little settlement and gone to various other places to sit out the war had returned and resumed their labors. Now they sought to make their ownership of the land on which they were building their homes legally theirs. Therefore, in 1783, they sent a petition to the General Court of Massachusetts asking for the grant of a township. The petition follows:
PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE PLANTATION OF NEW WORCESTER, TO HIS EXCELLENCY, JOHN HANCOCK.
"to his Excellency, John Hancock, Esquire, Governor and Com- mander-in-chief of the Commonwealth of the State of Massa- chusetts, the honorable Council and House of Representatives of the same, in General Court assembled.
"The humble petition of us, the subscribers, settlers, and inhabi- tants of a tract of land lying on the eastern side of Penobscot River, commencing at the end of a Township #1, taken up by Colonel Jonathan Buck and others and ending in a cove opposite the bend in the river, on a lot of land under improvement of Mr. James Budge, more particularly described by the plan annexed.
"Humbly sheweth that your petitioners have been at great expense and labor in laying out said lands for a township, and settling the same, and that your petitioners have been settling said lands ever since May, 1771, which can be made to appear when your Honors may require; and that the said lands were unappropriated and unsettled at the time your petitioners took possessions and laid lands out for a township, and during the said time your petitioners was confined to such restrictions, on account of the British command being over us, that we could not have recourse to your Honor for a grant of the lands, but have done all in our power to improve and cultivate the lands, that we may be the better entitled to your Honors grant of the same; and have taken all regular methods
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to keep up the good order and regularity as a township, that the nature of this war and our difficult situation and circumstances would permit.
"Therefore your petitioners humbly pray your Excellency and Honors would take the same into your wise consideration, and grant to us, the subscribers, the tract of land agreeable to the plan annexed, under such restrictions and regulations, as you in your great wisdom shall deem meet, and your petitioners, as in duty bounds will ever pray."
Nearly all of these early petitioners had chosen their home sites carefully and expended a great deal of labor on them with the sincere hope of making them permanent; some of them even staying on the land and enduring the hardships of the war years. As we look over the list of the names of those early settlers we recognize many which have been very familiar ones in the past records of our city; and many which have played important roles in the progress and development which have been accomplished throughout the years. They are listed as residing in either the Brewer or Orrington part of the township, as accurately as is possible by the records which exist.
Petitioners from the Brewer part of the town were: John . Brewer, John Emery, James Budge, John Holyoke, Kenneth McKensie, John Mansell, Thomas Campbell Sr., John Rider, David Budge, John Thoms, Simeon Johnson, John Mansell, Jr., Emerson Orcutt; and those from the Orrington part included: Simeon Fowler, Joseph Baker, James Ginn, Benjamin Snow, Eliphalet Nickerson, Eilphalet Nickerson Jr., Jesse Atwood, Nathaniel Pierce, Ephraim Downes, George Brooks, Moses Went- worth, Robert McCurdy, Thomas Smith, George Gardner, Samuel Wiswell, Peter Sangster, Ebenezer Wheeldon, James Shirley, David Wiswell, Solomon Swett, Nathaniel Clark, and Warren Nickerson. Following the above signatures the petition was located and dated only by the name "Penobscot River, November 4th, A. D. 1783."
With reference to one of the petitioners from the Orrington part of the settlement, we find a note stating that Moses Went- worth came up the river from his former home at Penobscot (Castine) in 1770, and located at Mill Creek. He returned in the fall to Castine. He came again to Orrington in 1771 in the company of his family. He built a saw mill at this time. Mr.
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Wentworth was the first settler within the limits of the present town of Orrington, and his was the first saw mill.
A few months after the petition was sent the General Court was in session and they passed a resolution granting the township and describing it, and setting it off for certain persons whom they named.
"Know all men by these presents, that we, whose names are undersigned and seals affixed, appointed a committee by a resolve of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, passed the 28th of October, 1783, on the subject of unappropriated lands in the County of Lincoln and by that and other resolves of the said General Court empowered to sell and dispose of the unappropriated lands of this Commonwealth in the said County for and in consideration of the sum of three thousand pounds in the consolidated securities of this Commonwealth, to us paid by John Brewer and Simeon Fowler, both of a place called New Worcester in the County of Lincoln, gentlemen, in behalf of themselves and others, settled at that place the receipt whereof, by their obligations for that sum to the treasurer of the Common- wealth, we do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell, and convey to the said Brewer and Fowler and other settlers at the place aforesaid, a certain tract of land containing ten thousand eight hundred and sixty-four acres adjoining the Penobscot River on the east side thereof, bounded as follows: Beginning at said river on the northwest corner of number one, or Buck- town, thence running north seventy degrees east, three miles, two hundred and sixty rods; then north forty-eight degrees west, two miles, two hundred ten rods; then north sixty-four degrees east, one mile one hundred fifty-four rods; then north. forty-one degrees east, two miles, two hundred ten rods, then north seventy-five degrees east, one hundred eighty-three rods; then north eleven degrees west, fifty-six rods; then north eighty degrees east, two miles, eighty-eight rods; then north fifteen degrees west, one mile and about forty-five rods to a bend in the river, within about one hundred rods of the northwest corner of Dodge's plan, thence southerly by the said river to the place begun at; excepting and reserving, however, the lot called number twenty-one in the said Dodge's plan, containing two hundred sixty-four acres which was formerly sold to Robert Smith of Needham, and also suitable and convenient landings and roads to the same from the lands purchased by Moses Knapp
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