USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 64
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 64
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 64
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2. Four other specimens were found, made of the same thin cop- per, but of a conical shape, nearly three inches in length, half an inch at the base, and tapering to a quarter of an inch at the top, which were unattached when found.
3. Two flat thin pieces of brass, about two and three quarter inches long, triangular, more than an inch and a half broad at the base, and diminishing to about a quarter of an inch at the top, where they were rounded, and had a hole showing them to have been designed as pendants.
4. More than sixty white shell beads, each a fourth of an inch long and a little less than an eighth of an inch in diameter, were
675
RELICS IN BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
gathered from the same spot. A spiral groove around the sides. showed that they were made from the shell-fish which the Indians called " Quohock " (Venns mercenaria) .
" A shell furnished only one grooved bead, which was taken from the thickest part near the hinge and rubbed down on sandstones to the proper length and thickness, and in order to preserve the size necessarily leaving the groove where the ligament was attached, that secured the shells at the hinges. Two of these beads were slightly colored, and somewhat smaller, plainly showing, however, they were taken from the edge nearest the anterior portion of the shell. Between each of the beads were thin circular plates of dark purple shell, perforated, and appearing to have been made of the thin part of the same shell. They were called ' Suckanhocks,' and were twice the value of the white. Both kinds were used as money, and also for the decoration of the necks of the wives and children of the Indians. On the same skeleton where these various ornaments were discovered, was a portion of hair well preserved, somewhat long, and gathered in a wrapper in the best state of preservation about the neck, made of braided bark, like basket-work, which soon fell to pieces when brought into the air."
One of the remaining skeletons was that of a child about eight years old. The other four were those of adults, and were buried at short distances from each other, with no regularity, except in the similarity of the direction of their graves. They presented no objects of interest beyond the fact of their discovery. Two iron axes of European man- ufacture, ground for use, were found on the same day by means of the plough, at a short distance from the skeleton, on the same swell. They have no head above the eye.
" Axes of similar shape, with long handles for bush and branch work, are still in use among the Micmacs. These implements, however, may have been lost on the place by the first settler, whose name was MacNess, and who occupied the shore with two dwellings about two hundred years ago, of which the places are indicated by the cellars, which were deep, at the distance of two or three rods from the deposit of the relics."
676
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
CHAPTER XXVI.
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
AN account has already been given, in Part I, of the several engage- ments that occurred in this vicinity during the period of the Indian wars, and of the troops that were stationed here, and a list, neces- sarily incomplete, of the soldiers from these towns will be given in the Appendix. This chapter goes no further back than the war of the Revolution and the events immediately preceding it.
For some years preceding the actual commencement of hostilities the danger of a conflict between the colonies and the mother country had been anticipated in each of the towns whose history is being nar- rated, and Committees of Safety and of Correspondence were estab- lished in all three of them. As to what particular acts were done by those committees but little is known, as no records appear to have been kept by them. It is known, however, that they kept up a correspondence with similar committees of other towns, more espe- cially with Boston and the larger places, and were thus made season- ably acquainted with the condition of affairs over the whole country.
The earliest movement of a military character, in this immediate vicinity, having any bearing upon the subsequent war, was in 1774. This year the supply of powder in each town was increased, patriotic speeches were frequently made by public speakers, and nearly all able- bodied men were engaged in studying the manual of arms and practising the drill. Some time during this year, Reverend Jacob Bailey, of Pownalboro', noted for his Tory proclivities, was stopped at Stone's tavern, in Brunswick, on his way home from the westward. Hle was accused of being a Tory and was urged to sign " the League." On his refusal he was allowed to depart, but was notified that he would be visited at his home the next week.1
[1775.] On April 19, 1775, commenced the opening struggle of the Revolution, at Lexington. It took but a few days for the news to
1 North, History of Augusta, p. 119.
677
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
reach Brunswick and arouse its inhabitants. A town meeting was called by the selectmen, who issued the following warrant for its assembling : -
" CUMBERLAND SS.
"TO THE CONSTABLE OR CONSTABLES OF THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK, "GREETING;
" You are hereby required forthwith to warn all the inhabitants of the said town of Brunswick, qualified to bear arms, to meet at the west meeting-house in said Brunswick, on Thursday, the 27th inst. at ten o'clock in the forenoon, with their guns and what ammunition they have, in order that it may be known the state of the town for defence ; and to determine what measures shall be gone into by the town to fur- nish materials for defence against any enemy that may invade it, and to act and do everything necessary for security in this alarming. situa- tion of affairs.
" Given under our hands and seal this 25th day of April, A. D. 1775.
"NATHANIEL LARRABEE, THOMAS MOULTON, Selectmen of Brunswick."
This meeting " was fully attended and was remarkable for its great solemnity. All seemed deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which were hanging over them and the importance of pre- serving order and tranquillity. There were some who breathed nothing but war and revenge on Great Britain, but who, when the crisis came, when the burden of the contest was falling heavily upon the citizens, when soldiers, provisions, clothing, and money were wanted and must be furnished by the town, moved with their families from town into the woods - now Durham and Lisbon - and escaped the heat and burden of the war. It was said that twenty moved from Bruns- wick at this time to be out of harm's way and save paying taxes. The Quakers settled in Durham about this time from a different motive. Lemuel Jones, falling into Brunswick, suffered his property to be dis- trained in the payment of war taxes, as did others of the Quakers.1"
Upon the reception of the news of the battle of Lexington, Captain Lithgow and Lieutenant George White, of Topsham, at once com- inenced to collect a company of soldiers, and were very successful. This company went to Portland and were, under the orders of Colonel
' Mc Keen, in Brunswick Telegraph, July 1, 1854.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
Mitchell, put at work erecting a fort.1 They were discharged in November, and many of them re-enlisted under White, who was then a captain, and who, the same year, was made major of the regiment of which Samnel McCobb, of Georgetown, was colonel, and Dummer Sewall, of the same town, now Bath, was lieutenant-colonel. This regiment was ordered to join the army under Washington, at Cam- bridge. In 1776 it was ordered to Rhode Island.
In the latter part of April, 1775. Captain Nathaniel Larrabee and Lieutenant Isaac Snow went to Condy's Harbor, at Harpswell, with a company of men from Brunswick and Harpswell. They were employed in erecting a fort there and in building barracks. They had two " wall-pieces," that were brought from Fort Halifax, and two swivels. A wall-piece was stocked, like a gun, with a lock. It was ten or twelve feet long, with a bore of two and one half inches. It would send twenty musket-balls across to Bear Island, over a mile distant. This company remained here until Christmas, and during their stay the British appeared off the harbor several times and fired at them. The fire was returned with these wall-pieces. Three days after the burning of Portland, which occurred October 18, this com- pany was ordered to Portland, and were employed for two weeks, under Colonel Finney, in building a fort on Munjoy's Neck. They then returned to Sebascodigan Island. These men were not regular troops, but were " minute-men." 2
On the twenty-ninth of April, the following account of the state of affairs in this vicinity was written by Brigadier Thompson. The let- ter bears no address, but was probably directed to the governor of the Massachusetts Colony : -
" I this minute have an opportunity to Informe you of the State of our affairs at the Eastward ; that we are all Stanch for County's Ex- cept three men and one of them is Deserted, the other two is in Iorns ; as for the vessels which attempted to Convey Stuff to our enemies are stopt and I am about to move about two hundred of white pine masts and other Stuff got for our Enemies use. Sir, haveing heard of the Cruill murders they have dun in our Province, makes us more Reso- lute than ever and, finding that the Sword is drawn first on their side, that we shall be annimated with that noble Spirit that wise men onght to be, until our JJust Rights and Libertys are Secured to us. Sir, my heart is with every trn Son of America, tho my Person can be in but one place at once, tho very soon I hope to be with you on the spot.
1 McKeen, MS. Lecture.
2 Pejepscot Papers.
679
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
if any of my Friends enquires after me, Inform them that I make it my whole business to persue those measures Recommended by the Congresses ; we being uppon the Sea Coast and in danger of being in- vaded by Piriats - as the 27th of inst. there was a boat or barge came in to our harbour and River, and sounding as they went up the river. Sir, as powder and guns is much wanted in this Eastern Parts and also Provisions, Pray Sir have your thoughts something on this matter against I arrive, which will be as soon as busnes will admit. Sir, I am, with the greatest Regard to the Country, at heart your Ready friend and Humble Servt.
" SAMUEL THOMPSON.1
" BRUNSWICK, April ye 29th, 1775."
Some time in June following, Captain Philip C. Randall, of Harps- well, on his way to Salem in his vessel. was forcibly taken therefrom by an armed vessel and carried to Boston.2
About the same time Robert Fulton, John and William Patten, Thomas Harward, Joseph Berry, and David Fowler. from Topsham, went in a vessel to the mouth of the Androscoggin for hay, and were taken by the English and carried to England. Robert Fulton and William Patten died there ; the others returned.
At the annual meeting this year the town of Brunswick passed the following resolution : -
" Voted. That if a number of men out of this town shall list as min- ute-men, and should they be engaged in the defence of our lives, shall receive from the town eight dollars each as a bounty. If any others than such as list shall be equally engaged shall receive an equal bounty if they are legally called and should march, and Providence should order it that there should be an engagement, they are entitled to the above bounty.
" Each man that lists as minute-man to meet three times a week, and to spend three hours each time to learn the manual exercise, and in consideration for such service shall be paid by the town two shil- lings eight pence per week.
" Such as do not list as minute-men shall meet once a fortnight and spend half a day in learning the manual exercise, and shall be allowed one shilling and four pence for each time they meet."
After the business of this meeting was concluded, Reverend Samuel Eaton, of Harpswell, who was present at the meeting, was invited to
1 Military Records in Massachusetts Archives.
2 Goold, Burning of Falmouth, p. 11.
.
680
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL.
address the people. He did so and made a stirring and eloquent appeal to their patriotism. He so aroused the spirit and temper of the people, that, carried away by excitement, several of them, under the lead of the chairman of the meeting. Brigadier Thompson, seized Mr. Vincent Woodside, one of the most prominent and outspoken opposers, who held a commission under the king, and attempted to force him to renounce British rule. Finding that they could not intimidate him by threats, they even proceeded to bury him alive, and had succeeded so far as to cover all but his head with earth, when they were prevented by the interposition of a few resolute and considerate persons from carrying their murderous design into execution. After Woodside's escape, the mob, for such it was, went to Mr. Ross's house and to Andrew Dunning's, but found them both absent. They spoiled a lot of the king's masts that were in a lumber-yard near the present First National Bank. The king's agents, Messrs. Perry and Barnard, had, however, gone to Georgetown. They then went to Topsham, and seized Mr. Thomas Wilson, whom they considered a Tory, though strictly speaking he was not one, handcuffed him and carried him over to Benjamin Stone's. One of his daughters followed him, got his handcuffs off and threw them away. He escaped and returned home.1
At the close of a town-meeting in Topsham, called to pass resolu- tions in favor of a separation of the colonies from Great Britain, Mr. Wilson voted against them. He did so, not because he favored the course pursued by Great Britain, but because he believed too strongly in the power of that kingdom to subdue the rebellious colonies. Brigadier Samuel Thompson was much offended at the vote of Mr. Wilson and at the opinions expressed by him, denounced him as a Tory, and at one time meditated an attack upon him, and even went so far as to collect men together at Mr. Wilson's gate. A portion of the people went with Thompson to show their dislike, but the steadier portion of the community concluded that a tailor would be too great a loss if he should be driven away, and therefore induced the others to withdraw.
The hostility thus engendered between the Wilson family and Mr. Thompson was very intense, and each party had its sympathizers and supporters. John Merrill, Pelatiah Haley, Actor Patten, and Alex- ander Rogers favored Mr. Wilson, while Mr. James Purington was for the side of the brigadier. The older citizens of Topsham were not far from being equally divided in taking sides, though there was prob-
1 McKeen, MS. Lecture.
681
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
ably a slight preponderance of public sentiment in favor of the briga- dier. The new-comers, however, were for the most part in sympathy with Mr. Wilson. Such men as Merrill and Haley, although they thought the struggle with the mother country would probably be decided against them, yet energetically sustained the action of their fellow-countrymen. Mr. Wilson himself disclaimed the existence of any unpatriotic sentiments, and above all scouted the name of Tory. The brigadier, however, was of too fiery a temperament to be easily appeased, and continued hurling his " gall-bladder invectives " against all who failed to come up to his standard of patriotism. Some lines were written by Mr. Wilson's wife shortly after the intended attack upon him. They were designed chiefly as a satire upon General Thompson. They were as follows : -
" There was a man in our town, I'll tell you his condition, He sold his oxen and his corn, And bouglit him a Commission.
" A Commission thus he did obtain, But soon he got a coward's name, At Bunker ne'er shewed he his face, Nor there his country's fame disgrace.
" He came one day to the tailor's gate, And there his men assemble, Who with his needles and his shears, He made them all to tremble. .
" Some said they were all brave men, Some said that they could fight, sir, But all of them were made to run, And that by the tailor's wife, sir." 1
In May, 1775, occurred what is locally known as "THOMPSON'S WAR."
For some weeks previously Colonel Samuel Thompson, Colonel Purinton, Captain John Simmons, Aaron Hinkley, Esquire, John Merrill. Esquire, Thomas Thompson, and James Potter had been holding secret meetings at the house of Aaron Hinkley, and had con- cocted a plan, first suggested by Colonel Thompson, of seizing the British war-ship Canceau, commanded by Captain Henry Mowatt.
Samuel Thompson was chosen colonel, and John Merrill and
1 Diary of James McKeen, M. D.
682
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
Thomas Thompson were chosen captains. Captain John Simmons was appointed commodore. To prevent a premature disclosure of their plans, all the roads leading to Portland were closely guarded and none allowed to pass unless sworn to secrecy. Notwithstanding this, some intimation of their design reached Mowatt's ears. The original pian was to procure a vessel of sufficient size to carry a company of some sixty or seventy men ; to disguise the vessel as a wood-coaster ; to conceal the men in the hold; sail for Portland in the night, go alongside of the Canceau and board her immediately. The rendez- vous was to be New Meadows. The disclosure of the plan altered their arrangements somewhat, but did not deter them from their design. They sailed from New Meadows on the night of May 8th, and landed on the morning of the 9th in a grove of thick trees, at a place called Sandy Point. There were about fifty armed men, each wearing in his hat a small bough of spruce. Their standard was a spruce pole with the green top left on. Sentinels were posted around their camp, and several persons who chanced to pass that way were seized and detained. Pelatiah Haley was sent into town to obtain whatever information he might be able. About one o'clock in the afternoon, Captain John Merrill, with two of the sentinels, while walking near the shore, saw Captain Mowatt with Reverend Mr. Wiswall, of St. Paul's Church, and his surgeon, land at Clay Cove. and walk up the hill. They compelled them to surrender, and immedi- ately sent for General Thompson to receive Mowatt's sword. This he did, but returned it immediately. A number of prominent citizens of Falmouth visited the camp and urged the release of the prisoners. The " Spruce Company " were inflexible, but as night was approach- ing they concluded to march their prisoners to Marston's tavern. About nine o'clock the prisoners were released on a promise to return the next morning, General Preble and Colonel Freeman pledging themselves for them. The prisoners, however, did not keep good their promise. The company left on Friday. There were other com- panies joined them while in Falmouth, and some misdeeds were com- mitted by soldiers, but there is no positive evidence that it was by Thompson's men. On their return they took back some boats belong- ing to Mowatt. When about leaving it is said that they were consid- crably alarmed at the approach of a fishing-smack belonging in North Yarmouth, which they erroneously supposed to be a vessel sent out by Mowatt to capture them.1
1 Gould. McKeen, from a survivor.
683
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
This attack of Thompson and his men has been pretty harshly criti- cised, but however premature it may have been, it was, in a measure, successful, and had he been properly seconded by the citizens of Fal- mouth no doubt the Canceau would have fallen into their hands. A year later and it would have proved a success.
The soldiers under Thompson's command were mostly young adventurers, who afterwards enlisted under command of Captain James Curtis, were employed for some time at Condy's Harbor, were then sent to Cambridge, and were afterwards sent to Camden, N. J.
Tradition says that at this time the British made the threat that they would breakfast in Portland and dine at Harpswell, and that the citi- zens of the latter place had their oxen all yoked, and ready, if they saw the British coming, to take their goods and go into the woods.
In September of this year, Reverend John Miller relinquished £30 of his salary for the ensuing year, on account of the " public dis- tresses." John Farren, the school-master, in like manner gave up £15 68. 8d. of his salary ; and two of the selectmen, viz., Thomas Skolfield and Nathaniel Larrabee, agreed to serve without compensa- tion. About this time Captains Dunning, of Brunswick, and Hunter, of Topsham, with nineteen men from their independent companies, carried stores from Merrymeeting Bay to Forts Western and Halifax, on the Kennebec, in gondolas, serving twenty-one days.1
In October or November, a number of Arnold's men from the expedition to Canada, who were brought back sick, were quartered by the selectmen in different parts of the town, some of them at the house of Mr. Joseph Morse, on the Maquoit road.
Some of the inhabitants, unwilling to attack Mr. Thomas Wilson, of Topsham, a second time themselves, took advantage of the presence of these men in town to instigate some fifteen or twenty of them to go over to his house, and furnished them with boats for this purpose. On the Topsham shore they halted and loaded their guns. Mr. Wil- son, who had been watching them, met them pleasantly, invited them to his house to rest, and asked them to breakfast. They spent an hour relating their sufferings while on the expedition, and after thanking Mr. Wilson for his courtesies, returned, assuring those who sent them that Mr. Wilson was too worthy a man to be so grossly insulted.
·
Mr. Wilson's patriotism was, however, suspected, and he was, either previously or soon after the incident just related, attacked by a mob, captured, loaded with chains, and carried to New Meadows.
1 North, History of Augusta.
684
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
The mob kept him a prisoner but a short time, but insulted him grossly, and filling his wig with tar, placed it upon his head and sent him home. He made no resistance and showed no resentment.1
In the Provincial Congress of this year, a letter was read from a Mr. Barber, containing the statement that one Mr. Perry was in this part of the country endeavoring to obtain masts, spars, and timber for the use of the enemy, and Colonel Thompson was desired " immedi- ately to repair to Brunswick, Casco Bay, Woolwich, Georgetown, and other places, and to take the most effectual measures to acquaint the people " with the fact, "and to make use of all proper and effectual measures to prevent their aiding him in procuring said articles." 2 According to McKeen, Parry was seized, and sent a prisoner to Sturbridge.
About this same time the Committees of Safety and Correspondence for the towns of Brunswick, Bowdoinham, and Topsham reported to the General Court of Massachusetts that, learning that nine vessels had arrived in the Kennebec and its tributaries, and were collecting firewood, butter, and other articles, they had considered it their duty to inquire into the legality of their proceedings. They found that these vessels had clearances from that part only of the port of Boston called Nantucket, and were acting without the consent of any com- mittee whatever, which was in direct conflict with a Resolve of Con- gress of June 9th of that year. The committee, therefore, finding by the confession of the one in charge of these vessels that they had no proper license, and that all the authority they had was a permit from Samuel Goodwin and Samuel Emerson, two of the Committee of Safety for the town of Pownalborough. to sail out of the river, not con- sidering this permit legal, had ordered the vessels to be stopped and hauled up. The House of Representatives, on receipt of the above report, passed a resolve that the committees had done rightly, and directed them to allow the vessels mentioned to return to Nantucket with such necessaries as they could procure, provided that each master of a vessel bound himself in a sum equal to the value of the vessel and cargo, to sail directly for Nantucket and there land the cargo for the use of the inhabitants of the island of Nantucket, and not to dispose of it for any other purpose.3
[1776.] The usual Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety was chosen by the three towns in 1776. A committee was
1 McKeen, MS. Lecture. 2 Rec. of Provincial Congress, 1775, Vol. 31, p. 125. 8 Rec. of General Court, Vol. 33, p. 306.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF THE THREE TOWNS.
also chosen in Brunswick to petition the General Court for a barrel of gunpowder, as they were " very poorly provided with arms and am- munition, and their coast was very much exposed." etc. The com- missary general of the colony was ordered by the General Court to deliver the amount asked for to Mr. Samuel Stanwood, he to pay for it at the rate of five shillings a pound.1
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