USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > Chronicles of Casco Bay > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
ed a work on Insurance. He also left a work in manuscript, in two volumes. It is a fiction founded upon the early history of Falmonth. His published works are-" An Oration pronounced before the Portland Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient Masons," June 24th, 1801; "An Oration pronounced be- fore the inhabitants of Portland, July 4th, 1805;" and "An Address to the members of Cumberland Bar," deliv- ered at Portland, June term, 1833. Mr. Hopkins left three children-Ma- ry E. who married James G. Norcross of Lowell, Mass .; Susan P. who mar- ried St. John Smith of Portland; Dor- cas, who married Elias Banks of Port- land.
1804.
32
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. Second Parish, where an oration was pronounced by July. Stephen Longfellow,1 Esq. The procession returned to Union Hall, where a sumptuous dinner was prepar- ed. Among the toasts given were the following :
The Memory of Washington. We will revere it till memory itself shall die, and gratitude shall cease to be a virtue.
John Adams. The pride of his country and an hon- or to the world. May the evening of his days be as happy as the morning of his life was glorious.
The American Eagle. May its wings protect its friends and its talons crush its enemies.
The Hall was finely decorated for the occasion. Portraits of Washington, Adams, and Pinckney were hung in the room.
Mr. Longfellow's oration was afterwards published.
In Gorham, Samuel Whitmore, Esq. delivered an oration.
In North Yarmouth, Mr. Jabez Woodman was the orator of the day.
In Windham, Joseph Pope, Esq. pronounced an ora-
1 Stephen Longfellow was the grandson of Stephen Longfellow, who was born in Newbury, in the year 1723-graduated at Harvard College in 1742, and came to Falmouth in April, 1745, and opened a school. In 1749, he married Tabitha Bragdon, of York, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. Stephen, his oldest son, married Patience Young of York. These were the parents of the orator. Stephen was born in Gorham, in 1776, and graduated at Harvard College in 1798. He soon after established him- self in Portland, in the practice of law, and was eminently successful. He was a member of the Hartford Convention in 1814, and afterwards a
member of Congress. He married the daughter of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. Professor Longfellow, of Cambridge, the poet and scholar, is a son of this gentleman. His death occurred in the fall of 1849, at the age of 73 years. Mr. Longfellow was, in every respect, a good man. He was kind and gene- rous and always ready to do a favor, no matter how poor and humble the individual who solicited it. We ean speak of the good qualities of his heart from personal experience. He died in the full assurance of a better life-having in the early part of his career, made a publie profession of Christianity.
33
1804. July.
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
tion. " It met the general applause and approbation of the audience," wrote one who was present, "and discovered the fire of native genius and irreproachable political principles."
At Bridgton, the declaration of independence was read by Samuel Farnsworth, Esq. and an oration pro- nounced by Mr. Langdon.
JULY 9. Died in Gorham, widow Elizabeth McLel- lan, aged 95 years. She was born in the north of Ire- land, and came to this country in early life with her husband. After spending a few weeks in Boston and Falmouth, she settled in Gorham. This place was then a wilderness, but she lived to see it become a flourish- ing town. Mrs. M. lived to see her descendants to the fourth generation ; all of whom amounted to two hun- dred and thirty four. All but twenty five survived her.
JULY 22. Hon. William Gorham1 died in Gor- ham, aged 62 years. He was Judge of Probate and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for the County of Cumberland.
AUGUST 6. Mr. Tobias Ham died in Brunswick, Aug. aged 86. He left one hundred and twenty two de- scendants ; some, of the fifth generation. Seven sons followed him to the grave; the youngest of whom was 50 years of age.
SEPTEMBER. During this season there was much dis- cussion respecting a turnpike from St. Albans to Port-
1 Judge Gorham was a native of Barnstable, Mass. He held the office of Judge of Probate twenty-two years and that of Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas seventeen years. The town of Gorham was named from one of his family.
5
34
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. land, to be connected with Montreal. At that day railroads were not thought of.
Hon. Samuel Freeman was appointed Judge of Pro- bate for the County of Cumberland, in the place of the late Hon. William Gorham.
Hon. John Frothingham1 was appointed Register of Probate.
Sept.
SEPTEMBER 4. Lieutenant Henry Wadsworth, aged 19 years, son of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth,2 of Hiram, was blown up in a fire ship, before the walls of Tripo- li, together with his companions, Captain Somers, mid- shipman Izard and others. The ship was sent by or- der of Commodore Preble, for the purpose of destroy- ing the Tripolitan navy. These young men sacrificed their lives, rather than fall into the hands of the en- emy. A monument, to commemorate this event, has been erected in front of the capitol at Washington. There is also a monument in the eastern cemetery, in Portland, erected by the friends of young Wadsworth.
Sept.
SEPTEMBER 13. The Pythagorian Lodge of Ancient Masons, was consecrated at Fryeburg, and its officers
1 Mr. Frothingham was born in Charlestown, Mass. in 1750. In 1771, he graduated at Harvard College. He came to Portland about the year 1773 and studied law with Theophilus Brad- bury. In 1784, he married Martha May of Boston. During his life he was County Attorney, Representative to the General Court, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died in 1826, aged 76.
2 Mr. Wadsworth was a Major Gen- cral in the war of the revolution. He was born in Duxbury, Mass. May 6, 1748, and graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1769. In 1780, he was sent from Boston to command in the dis-
trict of Maine, from Piscataqua to St. Croix. After the war he settled in Portland, and was a representative to Congress for fourteen years. In 1781, he was captured in his house and con- veyed to Bagaduce, [Castine.] From the fort where he was imprisoned, he made a most extraordinary cscape, with his friend Major Burton. He crossed the Penobscot in a canoe, trav- eled though a pathless wilderness, and finally succeeded in reaching a place of safety. Gen. Wadsworth removed to Hiram, where he died in November, 1829, aged 81 years. He left several children. His daughter, Zilpah, mar- ried the Hon. Stephen Longfellow.
35
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
installed under the direction of Hon. Woodbury Stor- er.1 A discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Turner.
1804.
SEPTEMBER 22. The arch over the Back Cove Bridge gave way this morning, which rendered passing it im- possible for several days.
SEPTEMBER 28. Hon. Rufus King,? who had been Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the Court of St. James, while on a visit to his native State, was received by the citizens of Portland by a public dinner at Columbian Hall.3 Judge Benson, who was formerly Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of the United States for New York District was present on the occasion. Hon. Woodbury Storer presided. Mat- thew Cobb, Lemuel Weeks and Ebenezer Mayo, offici- ated as Vice Presidents.
The following toast was given by Judge Benson :
1 Woodbury Storer was a native of Wells, but in early life he settled in Portland. In 1780, he married Anne, daughter of Mr. Benjamin Titcomb ; she dying in a few years, he again married, Margaret, daughter of James Boyd of Boston, who died in Boston, aged about 74 years. Mr. S. died in 1825, aged 65. Bellamy Storer, of Cincin- nati, and Woodbury Storer of Port- land. are his sons.
2 Rufus King was the son of Rich- ard King of Scarborough, who died March 28, 1775. Rufus was born in 1755. He graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1777. He was aid to John Sullivan, in 1778, in an expedition against the British in Rhode Island. In 1780, he was admitted to the bar in Newburyport and was soon after chosen a representative to the Legis- lature. He was a member of the con- vention in 1787, to form the constitu- tion of the United States. Having married, in 1786, the daughter of John Alsop, a merchant of New York, in 1788, he removed to that city. In
1789, he was elected senator to the Congress of the United States. In 1796, he was appointed by Washing- ton Minister Plenipotentiary. At the English Court he remained through John Adams's administration and two years of that of Mr. Jefferson's. Af- ter his return in 1803, he lived retired till the war of 1812. Having taken a conspicuous part on the side of his country, he was in 1813, appointed a senator of the United States. In 1820, he was re-elected to the same office. On retiring from the Senate in 1825, he was induced by John Quincy Ad- ams to proceed again as Minister to the English Court. But during his voyage, he was attacked with a disease, which prevented him from entering upon his duties. In one year he re- turned to his family at Jamaica, Long Island, where he lingered till April 29th when he died, aged 72 years.
3 This Hall was in a building oppo- site the Market House, Middle Street. It was removed a few years since, to give place to a brick Block.
Sept.
36
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. The town of Portland-a nursery of seamen : a nurse- ry of prowess and enterprise.
John Taber & Son issued small bills, which were ta- ken pretty freely in town, but failing soon after, their bills became worthless. Scores of the poor suffered in consequence.
Oct.
OCTOBER 10. Mr. John Richards was accidentally run over by his own trucks and died in a few minutes.
Capt. John Howard died at Augusta, aged 71. He was deprived of his reason for upwards of forty years. In the year 1755, he held the second command at Fort Western, which was erected as a defence against the Indians. In 1759 he was entrusted with despatches from Gen. Amherst, which had been forwarded from Crown Point, to deliver to Gen. Wolfe, then beseiging Quebec. To accomplish this, he was obliged to per- form a journey of nearly two hundred miles, through an almost unbroken wilderness.
OCTOBER 30. Col. Samuel March died in Scarbo- rough, aged 74. He left ten children, fifty eight grand children, and eight great grand children.
Nov.
NOVEMBER 3. A meeting was held this evening to take some measures respecting the election to take place on the Monday following. Samuel Freeman, Esq. was called to the chair, and Joseph Swift appoint- ed Secretary. It may be interesting to publish the names of the vigilant committee appointed on this evening-all but two of whom, Messrs. Bird and New- hall, are now [1850] sleeping in the dust :- William Jenks, Walter Hatch, Lemuel Weeks, Woodbury Stor- er, Rufus Washburn, Smith Cobb, James Neal, John Taber, Salmon Chase, William Moulton, Jr., Nathaniel
37
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
Chamberlain, Hugh Mclellan, Stephen Tukey, Samuel Stephenson, Ebenezer Storer, Eleazer A. Jenks, Thomn- as B. Waite, William B. Peters, John Morse, Seth Phillips, Seth Bird, Francis Chase, Joshua Dyer, Dan- iel Cobb, John Leavitt, William Symmes, Thomas Del- ano, Albert Newhall, Daniel Johnson, Isaac Mclellan, Daniel Tucker, James D. Hopkins, Jeremiah Perry.
NOVEMBER 27. At a town meeting held in Minot, the people consented to the incorporation of a Congre- gational Society. Ayes, 54; nays, 29.
DECEMBER 5. Rev. John Turner was installed pas- Dec. tor of the second religious society in Biddeford.
DECEMBER 8. Walter, son of Thomas Starbird, was drowned in Capisic mill pond. His age was 15. He fell through the ice.
Among the merchants in Portland this year, were- Jonathan Leeds, Enoch Moulton, Shirley Erving, Sam- uel Trask, Isaac Adams, Abijah Cheever, Jeremiah W. Smith, Eleazer Greely, Day & Ilsley, William Lord, L. Weeks & Son, David Dana, Lord & Thomas, Cod- man & Swan, Nathaniel Jenks, James C. Ballard, Thomas Cross, Farrell, Dickinson & Co., W. & C. Hatch, Ebenezer Humphreys.
During the past year, upwards of six hundred dwell- ing houses were built in Portland, some of which were the following : Lemuel Weeks's, India street; Abra- ham Osgood's, Green street ; Jacob Noyes's, Free street-now belonging to Charles Jones ; Joseph Vea- zie's, Chesnut street; Mr. Washburn's, Cumberland street-now owned by Ezekiel Whitman ; Rogers's and Codman's, Cross street-now belonging to Edward
1804.
38
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. Howe and William Cammett; Noah Harding's, Con- gress street ; Lemuel Bryant's, Middle street.
The population of Portland, this year, was about 4650.
MARRIAGES IN PORTLAND.
Adams, Bartlett and Charlotte Neal.
Ames, John and Aphia Pote.
Anderson, John and Hannah Jones. Balfour, James and Polly Thomes. Brasbridge, George Walker and Sally Willey.
Bangs, Thomas and Hannah H. Shaw.
Baker, Joseph and Elizabeth Hale. Badger, John and Jenny Waters. Bradbury, William and Olive Mitchell.
Badger, Samuel and Sally Willey. Bradbury, David and Polly Henshaw. Brown, Aaron and Olive Mitchell. Chase, Salmon and Sarah Tyng Waldo.
Conant, George and Mary Pote. Clark, Josiah and Elizabeth Newman. Corbet, William and Sally Moses.
Cochran, Timothy and Lovey Lord.
Catin, Walter and Sarah Wiswall. Cobb, Samuel and Sally Lunt. Crosby, Cato and Rhoda M'Farland. Cross, Thomas and Laura Sandford. Cobb, Jonathan and Bathsheba Yeaton. Cutler, Peter and Sukey Davis. Cowan, John and Sally Merrill. Cross, William and Eliza Stevens. Davis, Nathan and Eunice Caldwell.
39
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN IIUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804.
Dean, James and Eliza Wood. Day, Calvin and Mary Farnam. Dennison, Solomon and Mary Warren. Drew, Andrew and Lydia Warren. DeCosta, John and Anna Adams. Emerson, James and Almira Bowers. Ervin, John and Martha Drinkwater. Emberley, Stephen and Mehitable Sweet. Flood, James and Eliza Parsons. Foster, Charles and Nancy Poland. Flinn, Thomas and Mary Jones. Farmer, James and Betsey Webb.
Griffin, William P. and Rachel Wiswall.
Green, Richard and Sally Crowninshield. Hopkins, James D. and Dorcas Tucker. Hart, Francis and Sally Baker. Harman, John and Betsey Riggs. Hall, Simeon and Harriet Thrasher. Herbert John and Mary Voax Clinton. Huston, William and Elizabeth Eusties. Ingraham, James Milk and Eliza Thurston. Jones, Henry and Mary Windship.
Jenks, Robert and Sarah Rivers.
Jordan, Ezekiel and Nabby Bailey. Jordan, Jeremiah and Rebecca Rice. Kain, Thomas and Lydia Ingersoll.
Keaton, Walter and Sarah Wiswall. Longfellow, Stephen and Zilpah Wadsworth. Lovis, Josiah and Martha Bailey. Lombard, Ephraim and Jane Larrabee. Lake, John and Zeruiah Ruby. Mayberry, Samuel and Sally Pettengill.
40
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. Mulloy, William and Hannah Sawyer. Moody, William and Rachel Riggs. Mire, John and Elizabeth Goodnow. Moulton, Enoch and Sally Searl. M'Graw, Jeremiah and Mary Humphreys. Nason, Benjamin and Hannah G. Vaughan. Nugent, John and Jane White. Pierce, Johnson and Frances How.
Pierce, Eli and Betsey White.
Pierce, William and Mary Blake.
Patch, Dustin and Submit Shurtlief.
Prince, Joel and Sukey Morse. Pearson, Henry and Sarah Sawyer. Patterson, John and Lucy Peters.
Rich, Benjamin and Nabby Meserve. Richardson, Thomas and Rebecca Wescot. Rowe, Thomas and Sophy Hemmenway.
Riggs, Enoch and Nancy Constable.
Rubee, Ebenezer and Matilda Chadwick. Richards, Samuel and Rebecca Badger. Smith, Michael and Anna Battelle. Snelling, John and Margaret Scot. Sullivan, John and Sukey Green. Shaw, Enoch and Betsey King. Smith, Thomas and Sally Sears. Sanders, Ningo and Sally Ambee. Slater, James and Priscilla Roberts. Shepherd, Tristram and Sally Smith. Starboard, Samuel and Eunice Bailey. Sullivan, Daniel and Sukey Green. Shullabar, Laman and Rhoda Rowe. Tandy, Thomas and Betsey Austin.
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 41
Thornton, Joshua and Elizabeth Burns.
1804.
Thomas, George and Anne Morse. Threemer, Philip and Deborah Morse. Tucker, David and Eliza Adams. Thurston, John P. and Polly Tucker. Warren, William and Patience Trip.
Wheelwright, Jonathan and Sarah Anderson. Wright, Boston and Betsey Johnson. White, Thomas J. and Polly Shepherd.
Winslow, Joseph and Charlotte Wood N. Noyes.
Walton, Mark and Sally Newman. Yeaton, John and Nancy Burton. Young, John and Fanny Fowler.
DEATHS IN PORTLAND .*
Adams,1 Aaron, aged 27. Gookin, Samuel 75. Alden, Mrs. Elizabeth 74. Gookin, Mrs. Sarah 72.
Bagley, Mrs. Mary 66. George, Daniel 45. Brazier, Enoch 43. Hodgkins, Samuel 53.
Clough, Mrs. Sally 54. Hants, Mrs. Jane
Curvin, Nicholas 70. Dean,2 Eliphalet
Chamberlain, Mrs. Anna 36. Hosseac, Mrs. Eliza 45. Knight, Mrs. Rebecca 49. Kelley, John Lewis, Mrs. Rebecca 27.
Dyer, Mrs. Sally 27.
Eskildson, Miss Lydia 16. Motley, Mrs. Nancy 25. Fosdick, Henry 21.
Mayland, John 19.
Fling, John M'Lellan, Mrs. Mary 63. Gould, Jacob 85. Noyes, Mrs. Betsey 65.
* In no cases have we inserted deaths of children under the age of ten years. The names of a few citi- zens who died abroad have been given.
1 Mr. Adams was drowned at Ports- mouth.
2 Mr. Dean died in Boston.
6
42
CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR.
1804. Prentiss, Mrs. Abba 22. Partridge, Elizabeth 41.
Smith, Benjamin 24.
Pote, Mary 53.
Shattuck, Miss Milly 19. Shaw, Josiah 53.
Pierce, Samuel 70. Smith, Capt. Lendall 32.
Pettingell, Daniel 67. Titcomb,2 Moses 20
Richardson, Mrs. Eunice 26. Vaughan, Mrs. Hannah 42. Smith,1 Capt. David 29. Vaughan, James 44.
Stevens, William S. 27. Walton, Mrs. Hannah
The number of Marriages in Portland, this year was 104. Number of Births, 150. Number of Deaths, -Males, 24 ; Females, 28 ; Children, under 12 years, 83. Total, 135.
1 Capt. Smith died at Port Anto- nia, Jamacia.
2 Mr. Titcomb died at Cambridge.
He was a member of Harvard Uni- versity.
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
The father of Burroughs-he graduates-comes to Falmouth-is driven from his house by the Indians-goes to Bangs's Island-Henry Jocelyn-he is appointed Deputy Governor-removes to Prout's Neck-is appointed Sen- ior Justice-retires to Pemaquid-removes to Plymouth-he marries the widow Commock-becomes embarrassed-his son Henry-John Jocelyn- Brian Pendleton-his letter-Anthony and Thomas Brackett-Major Wal- dron-settles at Dover-representative to the General Court-his stratagem -sends two hundred Indians to Boston-revenge of the savages-strata- gem of the Indians-Mesandowit-bravery of Waldron-his painful death- Bryan Pendleton a representative-he removes to Portsmouth-settles in Saco-appointed Sergeant Major-his death-his children-Mr. Burroughs goes to Salem village-preaches-his salary-he leaves Salem and returns to Falmonth-his liberality-he retreats to Wells-is accused of witchcraft -the indictment-witnessess-his trial-singular testimony of the bewitched -his feats of strength- Elizur Keysar's testimony-holding a gun at arm's length-Rnek's testimony-the verdict of the court-the sentence of death passed upon him-he declares his innocence-addresses the people-repeats the Lord's prayer before his death-his children-descendants-Isaiah Thomas.
2 GEORGE BURROUGHS was the son of Jeremiah Bur- roughs of Scituate, Massachusetts. He graduated at Harvard University in 1670, and was admitted a mem- 1670. ber of the church in Roxbury, April 12, 1674. He had his son George baptized there, November 28, 1675. He came to Falmouth in 1674 and preached to the people, when, probably, there were not more than forty or fifty families in town. Ilis house stood a little south of the First Parish Church, probably not far from where the Market House now stands, from which he was driven by the Indians, August 11th, 1676. He escaped to Andrews's [Bangs's] Island and immediate-
44
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
1676. ly sent a letter to Henry Jocelyn,' of Black Point, for assistance. On the receipt of this letter Major Brian Pendleton, of Saco, addressed a line to the "Honour- ed Governor and Counsell for the Matachusets at Bos- ton, with all speed," dated " Winter Harbour, at night, the 13 of August, 1676," of which the following is a ัะพัั :
HONOURED GOVERNOR,
TOGETHER WITH THE COUNSELL :
I am sorry my pen must bee the messenger of soe greate a tragedye. On the 11 of this instance wee heard of many killed of our naybors in Falmouth, or Casco Bay; and on the 12 instant, Mr. Joslyn sent mee a briefe letter written from under the hands of Mr. Burras. [Burroughs.] Hee gives an account of 32 killed and carried away by the Indians : himselfe escaped to an Island, but I hope Black poynt men have
1 This name is sometimes spelt Jos- selyn, Joscelyn, and Joslin. Henry Jocelyn came from England, abont the year 1634. He was one of the commissioners of Gorges's court, held at Saco in March, 1636-this being the first organized government in the State. When Mr. Vines left the conn- try, so high was the standing of Mr. Jocelyn that he was appointed Depu- ty Governor the remainder of the year. About the year 1643, he remov- ed to Prout's neck, Scarborough, where he lived for a period of twenty-five years. When the king's commission- ers, in 1665, undertook to form a gov- ernment for Maine and Sagadahock, he was appointed Senior Justice for both Provinces. In 1668, when Mas- sachusetts resumed her anthority, he retired to Pemaqnid, where he lived till the breaking out of King Philip's war in 1675, when he removed to the Plymouth colony and there passed the
remainder of his days. Mr. Jocelyn married the widow of Thomas Com- mock-who had a grant in 1630 of fifteen hundred acres between the riv- er Spnrwink and Black Point, includ- ing Stratton's Island, now known by the name of Bluff Island. Commock died on a voyage to the West Indies in 1643, having previously conveyed five hundred acres of his estate to his wife, and the residne to Henry Joce- lyn-he dying childless. Previous to the removal of Jocelyn from Prout's neck, he became embarrassed in his circumstances and assigned his prop- erty to Joshua Scottow of Boston, who afterwards occupied the estate. Mr. Jocelyn left one son. Henry, who became the father of thirteen children. While Mr. Jocelyn resided at Prout's neck, his brother John spent nearly a year with him, collecting facts for a work, now very rare, entitled " Voyag- es," published abont the year 1672.
45
GEORGE BURROUGHS.
fetched him of by this time. 10 men, 6 women, and 16 children. Anthony1 ad [and] Thomas Baket, [Brackett] and Mr. Munjoy, his sonne onely are named. I had not time to coppye the letter, persons beinge to goe post to major Walden ;2 but I hope he hath, before this, sent the originall to you. How soon it will be our portion wee know not. The Lord, in mercy, fit us for death and direckt ye harts and hands to ack and doe wt. [what] is most needfull in such a time of distress as this. Thus, in haste, I commit you
1 Anthony Brackett was then sup- posed to be killed, but he was only made a prisoner and afterwards escap- ed from the savages.
2 Richard Waldron came from En- gland in 1635, and settled in Dover, N. H. He commenced a plantation at Cocheco (Dover) in 1640. For twen- ty two years he was representative to the General Court and for several years speaker of the house and presi- dent. In the Indian war of 1676. whilst " Sergent Maior," he received instructions to seize all the Indians concerned in the war. Four hundred natives assembled at his house. The English wished to attack them but Major Waldron wished to take them by stratagem. He proposed a sham fight and after the Indians had fired the first volley he made them all pris- oners. He dismissed the friendly In- dians and retained abont two hun- dred and sent them to Boston. Some of them were hung and others sold as slaves in foreign parts, while a few made their escape. The course pur- sued by the Major awoke feelings of revenge in the breasts of the savages, which was not gratified till the expira- tion of more than twelve years. When King William's war broke out in North Yarmouth and other places, in August, 1688, the following stratagem was adopted by the Indians for the taking of Dover. Two sqnaws were sent to each garrisoned house in the evening to ask for lodging, for the pur- pose of opening the doors and the gates in the night : the signal to be given hy a whistle. The plan being
ripe for execution, on Thursday, the 27th of June, 1689, two squaws ap- plied to each garrison for lodging and were admitted. Mesandowit, a chief, was kindly entertained by Waldron, as he had often been before. Mesan- dowit, while at supper, familiarly ask- ed the Major, what he would do if the strange Indians should come ? He replied that by lifting his finger he could assemble a hundred men. When all was quiet the signal was given and the doors were opened. The Indians entered Waldron's apartment. Hear- ing the noise, he jumped out of bed, seized his sword and with much vigor the brave old man drove them through two or three rooms. As he was retir- ing for his other arms, he was seized from behind, stunned with a blow from a hatchet, forced into his hall and put into an elbow chair, which was placed upon a table, they insultingly asking him,-" Who shall judge Indians now ?" They obliged the people in the house to get them victuals, after cating which they struck the Major across the breast with a knife, each one as he cut, exclaiming, " I cross out my account." They ent off his ears and nose and forced them into his mouth. When, weak with loss of blood, he was falling from the table, an Indian held his sword under him, which pierc- ed him to the heart, and he immedi- ately died. Major Waldron was eighty years of age. The Indians al- so killed his son-in-law, Abraham Lee, and set his house on fire. In all there were twenty-three persons killed and twenty-nine taken eaptives.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.