History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot, Part 6

Author: Wheeler, George Augustus, 1837-
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, A. Mudge & sons, printers
Number of Pages: 1024

USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 6
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 6
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 6

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).

The force landed at Mair Point, Feb. 18, 1677. They were imme- diately hailed by an Indian party, among whom were Squando and Simon, " the Yankec.killer." After some preliminary questions, Waldron inquired of Simon whether they desired peacc. The latter answered, " Yes, and we sent Mugg to Boston for that purpose ; he told us you'd be here." Upon being asked if they would relcasc their English captives, Squando replied, " I will bring them in the afternoon." Nothing further was seen of them, however, until the

I Williamson, History of Maine, 1, p. 520 et seq.

2 Maine Ilistorical Collection, 3, p. 315.

8 Drake, Book of Indians, 3, p. 104.

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760.

· next day at noon, when fourteen canoes were seen up the bay, pulling for the shore, and soon a house was seen in flames, and the Indians appeared and challenged Waldron's soldiers to fight. Major Frost then attacked them and killed and wounded several. Another parley was then held. On being asked why they had not brought their captives, as they had agreed to do, and why they had fired the house and chal- lenged the soldiers, the Indians replied, through their interpreter, that " the captives were a great way of, and that the snow and cold weather had prevented their coming, that the house took fire by acci- dent, and that the soldiers fired at the Indians first." Major Waldron, finding himself unable to recover the captives or to fight the Indians with advantage, sailed for the Sagadahock.1

This was the last engagement of this war that occurred in this vicinity, though peace was not declared until April 12, 1678. Al- though in the first three months alone of this war, eighty persons were slain between the Piscataqua and the Kennebec, it is not known that any of the settlers in the Pejepscot tract were killed.

KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 1688-1699.

The peace concluded with the Indians .in 1678 lasted just ten years, when, from various causes, they became excited and again took the war-path. Governor Andros was at first inclined to adopt pacifica- tory measures, but at last, finding war inevitable, he took the opposite course, and in November, 1688, he made an expedition into the Eastern country, as it was then called, and established garrisons. At the time of his visit to Pejepscot, .. the weather was exceedingly cold, the snow deep, and the travelling exceedingly tedious." While here he caused a fort to be erected under the charge of Anthony Brockhold, one of his counsel,2 and garrisoned it with a part of his army.3 This fort stood on what is now Maine Street, a few rods south of Bow Street, and about where the store of J. T. Adams & Co. is now.

The first attack in this vicinity was in the spring of 1690, when the fort was taken by the savages. In September, Colonel Benjamin Church was sent from Massachusetts with between three hundred and four hundred men, to drive them off from Brunswick and other places in this region, and, if possible, recover their captives. He landed his force at Maquoit, Sept. 13, and marched them by night towards Fort Andros. They surrounded the fort, but at daybreak it was discov- ered that the enemy had left shortly before their arrival The soldiers

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 1, pp. 545, 546.

2 McKeen, MISS. Lecture. 8 Williamson, History of Maine, 1, p. 590.

HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.

found some plunder and a barn of corn. They left the same day for . an Indian fort on the Androscoggin. After capturing the latter and releasing several prisoners, they returned to Maquoit, went aboard their vessels, and sailed for Winter Harbor. 1

Church had no conflict with the Indians at Brunswick as stated by Cotton Mather, the contest referred to having occurred at Cape Elizabeth.2

In September, 1691, Captains King, Sherburne, March, and Wal- ton landed, with their several companies of Massachusetts militia, at Maquoit and visited Fort Andros, expecting to find some Indians there. They found none, however, and accordingly returned imme- diately to Maquoit. While re-embarking, they were assaulted by a strong force of Indians who had been watching them. In this skirmish Captain Sherburne, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was killed.3

The war lasted some eight years longer, but there was no further skirinishing in this vicinity. Probably the settlers had all left. A conference between the commissioners from Massachusetts and the sagamores of the Penobscot, Kennebec, Androscoggin, and Saco tribes was held at Mair Point. and a previous treaty of peace, which had been made at Pemaquid, Aug. 11, 1693, was ratified between them on Jan. 7, 1699. This treaty quieted the fears of the settlers and encour- aged those who were engaged in the resettlement of Maine.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 1703-1713.

Peace with the Indians lasted only about four years. In 1703 the third Indian war commenced. Although during this war engagements and skinnishes were quite frequent in the vicinity and to the westward of Falmouth, there is no evidence that there was any contest in this vicinity. The statement made by the late John McKeen,4 that there was an attempt to undermine the fort here, in 1702, by a Frenchman named Bobazier and five hundred Indians, is an error. The fort referred to was at Casco, the present city of Portland.5

In 1704 some companies from Massachusetts and New Hampshire went East, "Indian hunting," as it was termed, and one Peter Rogers, of Newbury, stated that he came to Pejepscot in a company of some twenty or thirty. That it was in the winter time, and that they trav-

1 Dexter, " Church's Expeditions against the Eastern Indians," pp. 50 to 56.

2 Me Keen, Manuscript Lecture.

8 Williamson, History of Maine, 1, p. 628.

4 Prjepscot Papers McKeen, MSS. Lecture.

6 Penhallow, p. 20. Willis's History of Portland, p. 315.

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760.

elled with snow-shoes from there to Rocamoco,1 or Jay Point, now Canton. No mention is made of his meeting with either settlers or savages.

LOVEWELL'S WAR. 1722-1725.

Although during Queen Anne's war there is not known to have been any conflict in this vicinity, yet the whole Province was in such a disturbed state on account of the Indian troubles that the Pejepscot proprietors, in 1715, felt it necessary to offer the following.

ENCOURAGEMENTS TO ENLIST.

" Wee the Subscribers Proprietors of the Lands in Brunswick & Topsham, do offer the following encouragements to such as shall Volun- tarily enlist themselves as Souldiers to garrison the Fort at Brunswick.

"1 That immediately upon their enlistment, they shall enter into Pay & Subsistence.

" 2. That the Military Service expected from them at present is like to be so small as to permit them, besides their wages, to earn money by Labour.

"3. That during the time of the Forts Repair, we will employ them all as Labourers, (except the Warders), & pay Two Shillings a day for every day they work.

" 4. That afterwards we will endeavour to find employment for them, by splitting staves, shingles or clapboards or any other Service that may prove beneficiall to us & them.

" 5. That when they have served six months as Souldiers if they desire to become Inhabitants, we will endeavour to obtain a General Order from Ilis Exey the Govern' to release them, they finding another man in their room, & when so dismist they shall have One hundred Acres of Land granted to each of them equall with the other Inhabi- tants & on the same Terms & conditions with them.

". 6. If they don't see cause to settle there, when they have served twelve months, we will use our endeavour to obtain His Excy Favour to get them discharged, which we hope we shall be able to accomplish.

" Approved by the Governour & Signed by several of the Proprietors.

" BOSTON, Aug. 3d, 1715."

The proprietors, at a meeting held the thirtieth of the same month. voted to provide a free passage in a sloop to Brunswick and Tops- ham to the enlisted soldiers.

1 McKeen, Manuscript Lecture.

HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.

The fourth Indian, called the Three Years' or Lovewell's War, com- menced in this vicinity, June 13, 1722, by a party of sixty Indians in twenty canoes appearing at Merrymeeting Bay, on the north side, perhaps near Pleasant Point or Fulton's Point. They captured nine entire families, but released all except five men, - Hamilton, Hanson, Trescott, Love, and Edgar, - whom they detained as hostages for the safe return of the four Indians in the hands of the English at Boston.1

In June or July of this year, they made an attack upon the settle- ment at Brunswick, which they set fire to and entirely destroyed. Several citizens were also taken prisoners. Mr. David Dunning and another soldier were on the plains at the time, and when about where the First Parish Meeting-House now is, their attention was arrested by an unusual noise. They looked among the bushes and discovered a large number of Indians about the house of Thomas Tregoweth, and just moving away towards the fort. Mr. Dunning went to his home at Maquoit, but the soldier ran towards the fort, giving the alarm as he went. He was fired at, but escaped. Some of the citi- zens who were captured were cruelly murdered, and the houses were rifled and burned. In regard to the fate of Thomas Tregoweth nothing is definitely known.2

After their work of destruction was accomplished the Indians re- paired to a dwelling on Fish-House Hill 3 for purposes of revelry. They were soon dislodged, however, put to flight, and the house par- tially destroyed by a chain-shot from the cannon in the fort. This fort was not Fort Andros, but a stone fort named Fort George, which was built in 1715 by the Pejepscot proprietors, and which stood quite near the site of the former. The Indians took their boats and went with their captives to Pleasant Point.

Captain Gyles sent Samuel Eaton, with a letter done up in his hair and covered with an eel-skin, to let Colonel John Harmon, who was stationed at Arrowsick, know of the attack, and that the Indians were on their way to Pleasant Point.4 Harmon, discovering the village to be on fire, concluded that the Indians had made an attack upon it, and at once, before the message from the fort had reached him, manned two whale-boats, and, accompanied by Major Moody, proceeded with muffled oars up the river. It was night when he entered Merrymeeting Bay. Perceiving the fires of the Indians upon Pleasant Point, he carefully approached and noiselessly landed.

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 114. 2 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. 1 8 Um. Water Street, near the present residence of Miss Narcissa Stone.

4 MeKeen, Manuscript Lecture.

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760.

Ascending the banks, he found a large number of Indians lying before their fires, all sleeping very soundly, being much fatigued by the labors of the day and their subsequent revelry. His men imme- diately arranged themselves, fired into them, and killed sixteen or eighteen, and took some prisoners, though some, doubtless, escaped. A few of the Indians, who were some little distance off, alarmed by the report of fire-arms, fired at them, but without doing any harm.

Harmon, on his return to his boats, found the body of Moses Eaton, of Salisbury, Mass., whom the Indians had first tortured by depriv- ing him of his tongue and cutting off his arms and legs, and had then killed. As no one of the party was shot at the time of the attack, Eaton must have been taken captive while separated from his comrades. His body was buried near the spot.1

An account of this affair has been preserved in doggerel rhyme Harmon is represented on the bank of the river, watching the Indians sleeping before their fires. It is introduced here as a specimen of the literature of the times : -

" Oh, the sweet and pleasant morning While we around them stood, But oh ! the dreadful and grievous groaning, Englishmen lying in their blood. ' Come,' said valiant Colonel Harmon, ' This, their neglect, is our gain ; Therefore let us fall upon them, - Our cause is good we will maintain.'

Then on them we fired two volleys, And, with haste, we made away.

For fear the Indians would surround us, And we should not get away.

Some did say that we did kill thirty, Others say that we did kill more; The number to us is uncertain, I believe we hardly killed a score." 2

This attack upon the settlement at Brunswick is supposed to have been specially in retaliation for that upon Norridgewock, the preced- ing year, by Colonel Westbrook.3

Early in August, 1724, " Captains Harmon, Moulton, Brown, and Bean were now preparing for Norridgewock, with two hundred men

1 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, p. 116 According to McKeen (Pejepscot Papers), Moses Eaton was son of Samuel Eaton, of Brunswick, who then lived about where the Bourdoin Hotel is now.

2 Pejepscot Papers. 8 Maine Historical Collections, 3, p. 311.

HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.

in seventeen whalc-boats. After they landed at Triconnick, they met with Bomazeen at Brunswick (who had slain an Englishman some days before), whom they shot in the river, as he attempted to make an escape. They afterwards killed his daughter, and took his wife cap- tive ; who gave an account of the state of the enemy, which encour- aged them to march on 1 briskly."

No further fighting is known to have occurred in this vicinity until 1725. On April 13th of that year two Indians captured a man belonging to the garrison at Maquoit, named James Cochran, about eighteen years of age. He was on the marshes in pursuit of fowl when he was surprised by the two Indians. He was pinioned, taken to the . carrying-place, put in a canoe, and carried up to the Ten-Mile Falls. There the Indians made their arrangements for the night. A fire was made and supper prepared. Cochran expected all this time that he would be killed when the savages met some of their companions, and determined, in consequence, to make his escape, if possible. The sec- ond night his bonds were removed, and he was placed between the two Indians to sleep. Each of the savages slept with his hatchet under his head and his gun by his side. Cochran feigned sleep, while in reality he watched every movement. As soon as he found his captors asleep he rose up. This movement awakened one of them, who, seeing their prisoner apparently suffering from cold and endeavor- ing to warm himself, went to sleep again. When all was again quiet, Cochran took the hatchet from under the head of the one who had waked, and killed him instantly. He killed the other as he was get- ting up. He then scalped them both, took their guns and hatchets, and went down the river in great haste, fearing lest he should meet their companions. In fording a river on the way, he lost a gun and one of the scalps. When he arrived opposite the fort, he shouted, and a boat was sent across for him. He narrated his adventure to Cap- tain Gyles, and some men were sent up the river, who found the bodies of the dead Indians, and also their canoe which they brought back.2 He was both rewarded for his bravery and promoted in his rank.

At this time, Captain John Gyles was in command of the fort, which was crowded with the inhabitants who had gone to it for safety. This war was closed by the ratification of a treaty between the Indians and commissioners on behalf of the government, August 6, 1726.

1 i. e., to Norridgewock. Penhallow's Indian Wars, p. 102. Query : Bomazeen Island is cast of Gurnet Bridge. May not Bomazeen have been killed there and the name applied to the island in consequence ? - EDS.

2 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. Penhallow's Indian Wars, p. 109.

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760.

SPANISH OR FIFTH INDIAN WAR. 1745-1749.

The fifth war with the Indians grew out of the war between Great Britain, France, and Spain, which commenced about 1739, although the formal declaration of it was not made until June, 1744. In anti- cipation of this war, and in expectation that the Indians would take part in it, the forts along the coast were put in order and garrisoned.

In 1740 the commanding officer of Fort George was furnished with a quantity of goods, of suitable kinds, sufficient to supply the Indians who commonly resorted there. This was done to attach them to the interests of the government.1 So much reliance was placed upon this method of dealing with the Indians, that in 1742 the government refused to strengthen it at all,2 and in 1743 only six men were sent to this fort. In 1744 block houses were built in Brunswick and Tops- ham, " all of massive timber," and a regiment, consisting of 1,290 men, was organized and placed under the command of Colonel Sam- nel Waldo, of Falmouth. The proportion of Brunswick and Topsham men in this regiment was fifty. Another regiment was also organized, from the towns west of Falmouth, under the command of Colonel William Pepperell, of Kittery. These soldiers were all, however, dis- charged December 2d, except one hundred men from the latter regi- ment, who were formed into eight guards and stationed between Ber- wick and St. George. Fourteen men scouted front New Marblehead to Brunswick, and ten from Topsham to Richmond fort. There was a block house with a company of soldiers at Maquoit, under command of Captain William Woodside. There were also storehouses and other buildings there.3

In 1745 a call was made for men to serve in the expedition to Louisburg. This expedition was very popular in this vicinity, and many persons enlisted, including some of the principal and most promising young men in each of the towns. From twenty-five to thirty men went from Brunswick, as many more from Harpswell, and a number from Topsham. It is said that in Brunswick a day of fast- ing and prayer was held before any soldiers enlisted, so unwilling were the people to allow their own capability of defence against the Indians to be weakened. The Harpswell forces were commanded by Richard Jaques, the same who shot Sebastian Rale at Norridgewock.

During the continuance of the Louisburg campaign, the settlers were continually alarmed for their own safety, and were calling upon the government to send a military force hither from the West. The

1 Massachusetts Records, 1740, p. 481. 2 Ibid., 1742, p. 416.

3 Mc Keen.

HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.

glad tidings that Louisburg was reduced was received with great joy, and the return of the volunteers, who nearly all came back, was hailed with the utmost enthusiasm.1

The first outbreak of the Indians in this war occurred at Saint George and Damariscotta, July 19, 1745.2

July 30 of this year, a man and a boy, at Topsham, were surprised by the Indians, who knocked them down and beat them with clubs. The man was killed and the boy was scalped and left for dead.3 About this same time, a mounted man and his horse were shot at New Meadows.4

This was not, however, the first blood shed in this vicinity, as three years previously Alexander McFarland was killed by the Indians while crossing the Androscoggin River. This was, however, an iso- lated case and may have been due to personal animosity. About the time of the Topsham and New Meadows massacres, Captain Mochus was scouting 5 with his company between Brunswick and Falmouth, and Captain John Gatchell was scouting north of Brunswick. The following is a copy of the Journal of the latter : -

" 1747/8 JOURNAL OF A MARCH UP THE KENNEBECK RIVER .BY CAPT. JOHN GATCHELL OF BRUNSWICK.

MARCH

Mett this day at Brunswick took allowance of Provision & ammunition but no Rum marcht 6 mile & lodged at Topsham.

"8 Marcht across Merrymeeting Bay 8 Mile & then up Kennebeck River 4 mile to Richmond Fort & bought some Rum to carry with us then lay down & slept.

" 9 Took M' Call to pilott us to a pond Marcht N. N. West abt 12 Mile & came to a pond about 4 mile long hardly a mile wide the Pond lays N. E. & S. W. a River came & went out both at one end of ye pond, went up the River that came into ye pond a mile & campt, sent out 2 men about a mile round then sett out our Sentrys & lay down & slept:

" 10 Marcht up said River 3 mile abt N. W., went one mile N. E. then one mile N by E & came to a small pond about a mile & half long & half a mile wide- Went still by ye River 2 mile N W. then went N. 2 mile & came to a pair of Falls that had an Indian Ware made wh stones to catch fish - went up the River 6 mile about N &

1 Pejepscot Papers. McKeen, MSS. Lecture.

2 Williamson, History of Maine, 2, pp. 215 to 236.

8 Drake, French and Indian Wars, p. 80. If this lad was Thomas Thorn, he after- wards recovered. - Ens.

4 Smith's Journal, p. 40.

5 Massachusetts Records, 1745, p. 40.

PERIOD OF THE INDIAN WARS, 1675-1760.

came to a large Pond, went 2 mile on the Pond & campt on an Island Sent out 3 men 2 mile round, sett out our Sentrys & then lay down & slept. 1

"11 Marcht across ye pond 3 mile N. by E. this pond is about 10 or 12 mile long & about 2 or 3 mile wide & has near 20 Islands in it - it lays N. E. & S W. Went four mile N. by E. & came to a pond about 3 mile long & half a mile wide & trackt some Moose Went N 2 mile & came to a meadow, Went 4 mile N & came to a long meadow then marcht about 4 mile N by W & campt Sent out 2 men that went 2 mile round, sett out our Sentrys then lay Down & slept.

" 12 Went up a high hill & sent a man up a tree that he see a ·pond about five mile off, it bore from us E. N. E. went 3 mile N & came to a pond & a Small River that run N. E. We went N E 2 mile on said River & came to a large pond, it appeared to be 4 mile to ye South End of ye pond, we went N. up ye pond 6 mile & came to a narrow place & a small Island in ye narrows N N E up to ye head of the pond abt 5 mile then went into ye woods N. a mile & campt, sent out 3 men about 2 mile round then lay down & slept - it snowed -

" 13 Rise This Morning, it being Sabbath day & the Trees very full of Snow we Marcht none only sent some men out on Discovery, they went about 4 mile to a high mountain & went up & see a pond that appeared to be very large it lay east from our Camp, & they see another pond yt lay North from yt large pond. it appeared to be about 4 or 5 mile long they returned to ye Camp and at night we sett out our Sentry, then lay down & slept.

"' 14 Marcht this morning abt 2 mile & came to that large pond that we see a Sabbatli day, this pond appeared to be about 15 mile long & about 4 mile wide & lay Nº & Sº, it has about 28 Islands in it went about 12 mile South down ye pond then went into the woods S. W. & came to a Small River that vented out of that long pond that we went up on Saturday, Went down ye small River about three mile South & came to a pair of Falls that had 3 Indian Wares made wh stones went still down ye River it run to ye eastward 4 mile & campt, sett out our Sentrys lay down & slept.

" 15 Went down ye River 5 mile & crost ye River on ye Iee the River run Easterly went down the River 6 mile & came to another large pond 2 abt 10 mile long & 2 mile wide it lay N. E. & S Wt, we crost ye pond at ye S Wt end then March' S W 8 mile & came to Ken-

1 These ponds appear to be the Winthrop chain.

2 Snow's Pond in Sidney.

HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.

nebeck River, went down ye River a mile & Campt sett out our Sen- trys, and lay down & slept.1

" 16 It snowed but we went down the River in ye Storm 8 mile & came to where ye Tide flows,2 went still down ye River 20 mile & came to Richmond Fort lay Down & slept.

" 17 Marcht down said River to Merrymeeting Bay & some of the Men gott home.

" 18 this day the Remainder of our Men gott home.

signed "JONATHAN PHILBROOK, Clerk." 3

April 23, 1747, Smith writes in his journal, " A scout of men are now out from North Yarmouth, another going out from Purpooduc. We are in the most distressed circumstances, Swarms of Indians being about the Frontier, and no soldiers save Captain Jordan's com- pany of fifty men, thirty of whom have been for some time at Tops- ham guarding the government timber."

May 5, of this year, the Indians shot Mr. Seth Hinkley, near the garrison of Joseph Smith and Tobias Ham, at New Meadows. They were tanners, and Hinkley had been there to get a strap for a cow- bell.4 The following letter, from Isaac Hinkley, gives a rather more detailed account : - 5

" BRUNSWICK, May ye 6, 1747. " LOVEING BROTHER AND SISTER.

" I hope that these few lines will find you in good health as we that are alive through the tender mercys of God.

"God has taken away by his providence our brother Seth by the Indians May ye 5 day. thay kiled him about 8 o'clock in the four- noon and scalped him and stript of all his cloes save only his briches and stockens. thay carid away his gon. thare was three men gest back behind a hill in a swamp near a gainst him when he was kiled and thay heard the gons when the Indians fiard at him and one of them said thay have shot sombody and presently after heard a Larm at Smiths and then thay ran out to Smiths and when thay came thare thay said that Seth was kiled and thay went whare thay heard the gons and found him Liing in the path thay shot about 33 fete at him. The night before the Indians ambush Mr. Ham. 11 of us went to see if we culd find them but we culd not find them. one onr and ahalf after thay ware sen to go over merremeting bay into Cathance river.

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History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot, Part 6

Author: Wheeler, George Augustus, 1837- Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, A. Mudge & sons, printers Number of Pages: 1024

Author: Wheeler, George Augustus, 1837-
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, A. Mudge & sons, printers
Number of Pages: 1024