Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 14

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648

USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 14

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).

In March, 1690, the place was again attacked by a force of French and Indians under M. D'Artel and the cruel chief, Hopehood. The assault was made at daybreak at three points. The attack was a surprise, but the garrison flew to arms and fought until thirty-four of their number had fallen, when the remnant surrendered from necesssity. The Indians secured fifty-four prisoners, mostly women and children and carried away much plunder. They burned the dwellings, barns and mills, consuming a large number of cattle. In retiring, the savages set fire to the house of Thomas Toogood, murdered his wife and chil- dren, and made him a prisoner. While the Indian who had captured Toogood was preparing strings to tie him, the captive snatched the gun of the savage, and threatening him with death if he gave any alarm, retired across the river, while the defeated savage could only revenge himself by shouting "Nogood " at his recent prisoner in the distance. At sight of the smoke of the burning village, the inhabitants of neigh- boring towns to the number of about 150 gathered at the place and set out in pursuit of the enemy. They overtook them at a narrow bridge over Worster River, where a sharp conflict ensued that lasted until night. Four or five of the English were taken prisoners and several killed, and the enemy suffered to about the same extent. Probably in all the annals of Indian warfare there is not a record of greater cruelties than were perpetrated by this band upon their English captives of all ages. In July, Hopehood again led his company against the ill-fated town, when the barbarities were repeated to such an extent as they found possible. In 1690 four men mowing in a meadow were attacked by the savages with tomahawks, and three of them cut down. This war continued until January, 1699.

Another war commenced in 1703; and all through the autumn inhabitants were killed or taken captive by the ambushed savages.

111

BERWICK.

In 1723, another war, sometimes called Lovewell's war, broke out. At this time there was not a house between Berwick and Canada. All those built in the town between 1690 and 1745 were of hewed logs, and an effectual defence against small arms. There was a block-house on the western side of Salmon Falls, a mile above Keay's garrison ; and next was Wentworth and Goodwin's block-house. In 1750 there was a fort of this period still standing on Pine Hill, called Hamilton's garrison. It was made of poles twenty feet high and pointed at the ends. A band of savages laid in wait about the town in May, but finding the English so well defended they forsook the place, carrying away two captives, and having killed six persons. In the French and Indian war which commenced in 1744, Berwick was garrisoned, but was not attacked. It appears that the town furnished 150 men and several commissioned officers for the capture of Louisburg, which occurred in 1745. Of this matter, Pepperell, commander of the expe- dition, wrote to Major Hill, under date of February 21, 1745 : " Yes- terday I heard that Capt. Busteed had enlisted fifty brave soldiers in Berwick. This news is like a cordial to me. The commissioned officers of Berwick are as brave and as good men as any in the province. Please tell them all that I sincerely value and love them. If any of them wish to go, give them the offer and tell them to be with me to- morrow."

When the war of the Revolution approached, the people of Berwick were ready to support their brethren to the utmost of their ability. Meetings were frequently held during the war, in which large bounties were offered to encourage enlistments. Two full companies were sent under captains Philip Hubbard and Daniel Wood. A historian of the period writes : " To their everlasting honor be it said that they furnished as many men, according to the number of inhabitants, as any town in the country. There are but few ancient homesteads in the town that are not honored by the grave of some Revolutionary soldier."

In the war of 1812 the government was well supported, although some in town held meetings in which they denounced the war as unjust and unrighteous. In the war of the Rebellion Berwick furnished for the Union army 138 men, mostly her own citizens, while 78 Berwick men enlisted in neighboring towns. Berwick paid out for bounties and incidental expenses connected with enlistments $44,802.

The town has had many citizens of eminence, while several distin- guished citizens of other towns and cities had their nativity within its borders. One of the most noted founders of families was John Sullivan, an Irishman by birth and education. He arrived in Maine in 1723, and opened a school in Berwick soon after. During the voyage from Ireland he made the acquaintance of a young girl nine years of age, named Margery Brown; who by some strange means was on board the vessel without friends. Neither had she the money to pay for her passage; and Mr. Sullivan assumed the debt, and took the girl as his ward. About 1740, when she was about 21 years of age and he was 44, they were married. He soon after purchased a farm in Berwick, upon which he lived more than 50 years. He died in 1796, in his 105th year ; and his widow died in 1801, aged 87. On this farm were born to them 4 children, of whom were John and James Sullivan. The first was a leader in the first overt act of the Revolution, a general in the war, and a governor of

112

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

the State of New Hampshire ; the other, the acknowledged leader at the bar, a governor of Massachusetts, and one who contributed by his speeches and writings to the establishment of our national liberties.

Newichawnanock was incorporated as the Parish of Unity in 1673, and in 1702, John Wade was settled as minister.

The Baptists began their activity in the town in 1764, and in 1768 a church was formed at Great Hill, and a meeting-house built soon after. This was the first Baptist Church organized in Maine. Joshua Emery was their preacher for many years, though he was never or- dained. IIe was succeeded by William Batchelder, who was ordained as pastor in 1796. A new house was built in 1844; and in 1867 it was removed and rebuilt.

The Methodists began to have considerable influence in the town about 1810. John Lord was one of their early preachers. The first house was built about 1840, and it was burned before completion ; but another was soon after built in the neighborhood to replace it. Ber- wick has sixteen schoolhouses; and its school property is valued at $16,750. It has also a free high school. The valuation of the town in 1870, was $641,329. In 1880 it was $821,629. The rate of taxation in 1880 was $13 per $1000. The population in 1870 was 2,291; in 1880 it was 2,774.

Bethel is situated on both sides of the Androscoggin, a little west of the centre of Oxford County. The Grand Trunk railway also passes through the town, following the course of the river to near the centre, when the road turns away to South Bethel, and thus out of the town on the south side. The greatest length of the town is from north east to the south-west. The area is 25,920 acres. The Androscoggin river enters the western side to near the centre, then turning north- ward forms the dividing line on the north-east between Bethel and Hanover. Chapman River and Sunday River are the principal tribu- taries of the Androscoggin on the north, and Mill Stream and Alder- Brook on the south, within this town. The surface of the country is undu- lating and hilly. The principal eminences, beginning at the north- west, are Ellingwood Mountain, then Sparrowhawk Mountain, at an equal distance south of the River; Paradise Hill, near Bethel Hill village (Bethel Post-Office), Walker's Mountain, just north of South Bethel ; Waterspout Mountain and Swan Hill, north of the last, in the north bend of the Androscoggin ; and in the east, a group of five hills. There are several more that bear no names on the town map. The principal rock is granite. Though so hilly, Bethel has much interval and meadow-land as well as upland. It is one of the best farming towns of the State. Hay and potatoes are the chief crops. The most numerous forest trees are maple, birch, beach, oak, pine, hemlock, spruce, fir and cedar. The scenery of Bethel, like that of many other towns in Oxford county, is very attractive. The winding course of the larger river through intervals and between lofty hills affords numerous bold and picturesque views, as well as many of quiet beauty. From the summits of any of these hills the eye commands an extensive landscape.

Bethel, West and South Bethel are the post-offices and centres of business. There are four steam mills of from twenty-five to sixty horse-power in the town, together with several mills using water

113

BIDDEFORD.

power. The manufacturers consist of lumber, spools, flour and meal, leather, furniture, boots and shoes, carriages and harnesses, marble and granite work, etc.

Bethel was originally granted to Josiah Richardson, of Sudbury, Mass., and others, for services in the French war. Being well on to- ward Canada, and being granted for services there, it gained the name among its settlers and others of "Sudbury-Canada."

Nathaniel Segar, of Newton, Mass., in the spring of 1774, made the first attempt to clear land for the purpose of making a settlement in the region of Bethel. The revolution drew him away until 1779; when he returned accompanied by Jonathan Bartlett and a boy named Aaron Barton. Samuel Ingalls removed from Andover to this town in the fall of 1796. His wife, who accompanied him, was the first white woman in town. The last hostile incursion of the Indians into Maine was made in August, 1781; when a party from St. Francis made an attack upon the outer settlements, taking all the plunder they could, and carrying away captive, Benjamin Clark and Nathaniel Segar, whom they detained until the war closed, sixteen months later. Set- tlers came in rapidly after the close of the Revolution. Among the first were the six stalwart Bartlett brothers, from Newton, Mass. In 1789, Rev. Eliphaz Chapman came in with a large family of sons. The town was incorporated under its present name in 1796, and the first religious society was organized the same year. Rev. Daniel Gould, the first pastor, was settled in 1799. Dr. John Brickett was the first physician, coming in from Haverhill in 1796. He returned in a short time, and was succeeded in 1799, by Dr. Timothy Carter, who prac- ticed in this town forty-six years. William Frye was the first lawyer in Bethel. Gould's Academy was incorporated in 1836. Isaac Ran- dal was the first precepter ; and under Dr. N. T. True, preceptor from 1848 to 1861, it attained to high rank. Some of our ablest men have attended this school. In 1881, the old edifice gave place to a new one, costing $4,000. Bethel has twenty-five public school-houses, valued, with other school property, at $7,000. There is a library of 300 volumes. There are in the town two Congregational churches, one Methodist, a Universalist, a Free Baptist and a Calvinist Baptist. The valuation of estates in 1870, was #712,871. In 1880, it was 738,586. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 21 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870, was 2,286. In 1880, it was 2,077.

Biddeford, in York County, includes the site of the earliest permanent settlement in Maine of which we have a conclusive record. In furtherance of Sir Ferdinando Gorges' plans of settlement, Richard Vines, a physician, passed the winter of 1616-17 at a place at the mouth of the Saco which he called Winter Harbor. Vines performed several voyages for Gorges, and appears to have made this a place of usual resort. The first dwellings were built on the north side of the Pool. Old cellars covered with ancient shrubbery, and partly filled well-cavities until a recent time, told of its early occupancy. Apple trees decayed with age, and the English cherry, dispute the place with oak and stimach. In describing the boundary of an estate here in 1642, "Church Point " is one of the landmarks referred to,-from which in- ference is made that it was then or had been the site of a church. Rev.

114

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

Richard Gibson, residing on this coast, appeared in a suit-at-law in 1636. Between 1660 and 1666 a meeting-house was built at Winter Harbor, and it is recorded that in this house the people were seated ac- cording to rank. A point of land near the head of the Pool is said to have been occupied by a court house in the period of Maine's early settlement. The town.is situated upon the sea-coast on the southern bank of Saco River, by which stream it is separated from Saco,-of which it was formerly a part. The latter bounds it on the north-east,- on the east is the sea. Kennebunkport lies on the south and south- west, and Dayton on the north-west. Its greatest length is 10 miles in a north-west and south-west direction, and it contains, according to the " York County Atlas," 9,653 acres of land. Its territory was originally granted by the Plymouth Council to John Oldham and Richard Vines in 1630, and was described in their patent as "that tract of land lying on the south side of the River Swanckadocke (Saco), containing in breadth, by the sea, four miles, and extending eight miles up into the main land." Vines was an inhabitant until about 1645, when he sold his right to Dr. Robert Child, of Massachusetts, and removed to Barbadoes. Dr. Child, sold the same to Major William Phillips, of Boston in 1659, for £90 sterling. Phillips, to make his ownership secure, soon after purchased another title to it from the Indian sachem, Mogg Megone. It was in- cluded with the other side of the river in a corporation under the name of Saco from 1653 to 1718, when it was incorporated by itself, receiv- ing the name of Biddeford,-a town in England whence some of the in- habitants had emigrated.

BIDDEFORD POOL.

A grant for the first saw-mill on Saco River was made by. the corpora- tion in 1653, to Roger Spencer, on con- dition that the mill be completed within one year, and that the townsmen have boards 12d. cheaper than strangers, and that townsmen be preferred as employés. It is to be supposed that this grant included the right to certain timber lands above the falls. John Davis had a similar privilege granted in 1654; but he was allowed two and one-half years in which to finish his mill, and was to furnish boards 10d. per 100 less than current rates to inhabitants of the town. People were admitted to be inhabitants by vote of the town, and some were warned not to settle there. Captain Samuel Jordan, a grandson of Rev. Robert Jordan, opened a store near Biddeford Pool in 1717. His home was secured against attacks from the Indians by a strong stone wall which surrounded it. Major Phillips' garrison was a few rods below the lower falls of the Saco.

During the first century of the Saco settlements a numerous tribe of Indians dwelt on the upper waters of the river. Squando, their

115

BIDDEFORD.

chief sachem, became deeply incensed against the English, because of an experiment made by some English sailors, who overset the canoe containing his squaw and child in the river to see if the infant would swim,-according to the reports of Indian children. The child died not long after, and Squando determined on war. In September, 1675, warned by the burning of a house on the Saco side, the inhabitants gathered into Phillips' garrison. A body of savages soon after made an attack upon the place, wounding Major Phillips, and burning his mill and one of his tenant houses. Failing to effect anything by direct assault, they, on the second day, prepared to burn the garrison by thrusting against it a cart loaded with combustibles. One of the wheels stuck in a mud-hole, swinging the cart about and exposing to view the Indians who were moving it, when a discharge from the garrison killed 6 and wounded 15 of them. At this repulse the Indians left the place for some days ; and the 50 persons in the garrison house, lacking supplies, retired to Winter Harbor. About a fortnight later the garrison-house and all the houses up the river from Winter Harbor were burned by the Indians. In 1693, Major Converse, under direc

JORDAN'S GARRISON. (Now Residence of Tristram Goldthwait).

tion of the Massachusetts government, built a stone fort a short dis- tance below the Falls; but at the first attack in 1703, it appears to have been taken, as 11 of the inmates were killed and 24 carried cap- tive to Canada. The garrison at Winter Harbor had previously sur- rendered. A month later, while the fort was undergoing repairs, a body of Indians attacked a garrison near by and were repulsed. In 1707, an engagement occurred at Winter Harbor between a fleet of 50 canoes manned by about 150 Indians, and 2 small vessels, manned only by Captain Austin, Mr. Harmon, Sergeant Cole, 5 other men and a boy. One of the vessels was captured, but its crew escaped to the other, which they held. The action lasted three hours, and the Eng- lish lost but one man. In 1708, the garrison was removed from the stone fort, and a new fort commenced near the entrance of the Pool. It was named Fort Mary. Remains of it are still visible, and the point where it stood is yet called Fort Hill. These were all the consider- able engagements within the limits of Biddeford ; but numerous per- sons were at one time and another killed or captured by the savages all along the river. In 1744 the old garrisons were repaired and sev- eral new ones built. The town records show a vote to build a strong frame garrison about the parsonage, sixty feet square, planked

116

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

up with two-inch plank, and having two flankers. At Winter Har- bor, near the shore, four houses situated on a square, were strongly garrisoned, and occupied by a number of families. Captain Smith's public house was protected by a brick wall on the inside, with flankers at each end. After the peace of 1748 the town suffered no further from the Indians.

The action of the town during the Revolution was highly honor- able. Colonel John Smith and some 30 other citizens entered the Continental army for the war, The privateer "Thrasher," com- manded by Captain Benjamin Cole, belonged to Biddeford. Captain Phillip Goldthwaite, inspector of the port, was the only person in town who opposed the war.

During the war of 1812, the British destroyed shipping at the mouth of the river, including some ships on the stocks at Captain Thomas Cutts' shipyard at the Neck.

The first bridge leading from Biddeford to Saco was built by Colonel Thomas Cutts, Deacon Amos Chase, Thomas Gilpatrick, Jr., and Benjamin Nason, in 1767. It spanned the west branch of the river to Indian Island, and was made a toll bridge by act of General Court in 1768. Colonel Cutts bought out Chase and Nason, when it began to be called Cutts' Bridge. Previous to this a bridge (paid for by a lottery) had been erected, connecting the island with Saco side, a ferry over the western branch completing the passage until Cutts' Bridge was built.

A post office was first established in town in 1789, the postmaster being Benjamin Hooper. In 1855, Biddeford was incorporated as a city, Daniel Somes becoming the first mayor. Its population by the first census, in 1790, was 1,018; in 1850, 6,095; 1860, 9,350; 1870, 10,285; 1880, 12,653.

Rev. Richard Gibson, a clergyman of the Church of England, is believed to be have been the first ordained minister resident in York county. He was on that coast as early as 1636. Rev. Robert Jordan succeeded him about 1640. Both must at some time have officiated in Biddeford. Rev. Thomas Jenner, a Non-conformist, preached in the town in 1641, remaining about two years. He is thought by some. to have been the first Puritan preacher in Maine. Rev. Seth Fletcher is the first minister of Biddeford of whose engage- ment any record is preserved. The town employed him from 1666, and he appears to have continued there until the settlement was de- stroyed in 1675. A parsonage was built about 1685. The first Con- gregational Church was formed in 1730, and Samuel Willard, ordained in the same year, was its first minister. Biddeford was separated into two parishes in 1797, and a new edifice built soon after ; Rev. John Turner was the first minister of this second Congregational Church. The Pavilion Church was organized in 1857, and the Rev. Samuel M. Gould became pastor from the date of organization. The first Methodist meeting-house was built in 1847. The first Catholic church (St. Mary's) was built in 1855. Christ Church (Episcopal) was organ- ized in 1869. There are now eight church edifices within the village portion of the town, five of them being of brick, and two or three, large and elegant structures.

Biddeford schools have for several years been graded from primary to high. The number of schoolhouses is 21; and the value of the

117

BIDDEFORD.

property is estimated at $30,000. The total amount actually expended for public schools from April 1, 1878 to April 1, 1879, $16,246. The value of estates in 1870 was $5,682,402. In 1880 it was $5,877,867. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2 per cent. The popu- lation in 1870 was 12,652. In 1880 it was 10,282. The city hall is a handsome brick edifice three stories in height. The lower story is oc- cupied by stores and the post office ; the second, by private and gov- ernment offices and rooms; and the third, by an excellent hall. The building also contains a public library of about 3,000 volumes.

There are small powers on Swan Pond Creek, in the north of the town, and on Little River, at the south ; but the business centre and the manufacturing power is at the falls of the Saco river. The river has here a descent of forty feet, divided into two falls, about one- eighth of a mile apart, the upper being eight feet and the lower thirty-two. At this point are located seven cotton mills, aggregating 165,000 spindles. Of these, the Laconia Company (organized in 1845)

BIDDEFORD HOUSE.|

FREDERICK YATES

BIDDEFORD HOUSE.

has 75,000 and the Pepperell Company (organized 1850) 96,000. The Hardy Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1865, manufac- tures card-grinders, cotton and woolen machinery, gas fixtures, etc. The Saco Water-Power Machine Shop Company was incorporated and went into operation in 1867, with a capital of $300,000. It manufac- tures cotton and woolen machinery, and gives employment to about 500 men. There are also three boot and shoe factories, three foun- dries for brass, iron and stoves respectively, loom picker and harness manufactories, several lumber and grain mills, granite quarries, brick- yards, and other lesser manufactures. The Boston and Maine, and the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroads each have a station in Biddeford ; and steam and sailing vessels ascend the river to within a short distance of the lower fall. Biddeford is a port of delivery in the Saco Customs District. The city has one daily and two weekly news- papers, and one humorous and one religious monthly. The " Union and Journal" is an excellent and well-established paper, now pub- lished on Friday of each week by G. A. Hobbs. It is Republican in

118

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

politics. The "Biddeford Weekly Advance " is a new publication, but receives a goodly patronage. It is a lively paper and has been independent in politics. Saturday is its date of publication. The "Biddeford Daily Times" is also independent, and is a good local paper. The humorous monthly, the " Monthly Miniature," is published by Will H. Watson. The " Church and Home" is published by J. J. Hall. The city has two national banks and banks for savings.

The surface of the town is quite hilly. and many portions quite rocky,-granite being the prevailing rock. Yet the soil is good, and the farms are generally productive. Corn and hay are the leading crops. There are many small tracts of forest, having the usual variety of trees. The roads are good, and the town affords many attractive drives. The Pool has become largely patronized as a seaside resort, and has several hotels. At Fletcher's Neck is a life saving station of the U. S., and at Wood Island, at the mouth of the harbor, is a light- house of the same name. It has a flashing red light. The tower is of stone, and the dwelling, a story and a half wooden building. It is connected with the tower by a wooden porch, all being whitewashed.

The eminent men of Biddeford in the days gone by, are James Sul- livan, who became judge of the Supreme Court and, later, governor of Massachusetts; Hon. George Thacher, representative in Congress from Massachusetts, and judge of the Supreme Court of that com- monwealth ; Hon. Prentiss Mellen, United States Senator from Mas- sachusetts, and afterward chief justice of the Supreme Court of Maine ; Hon. Samuel Hubbard, judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts ; and D. E. Somes, a manufacturer of the city, who represented the First Maine district in the National Congress in 1859 .- (See Saco) .*

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.

Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 14

Author: Varney, George J Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Boston Russell Number of Pages: 648

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648