History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 10

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

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" Thaddeus Clarke, lieutenant of a company of town soldiers, imprudently neglected the precaution which had been given to keep his men within the garrison; being desirous to discover something of the movements of the enemy, he went out with about thirty 'of the stoutest young men,' to the top of what we suppose was Munjoy Hill, which was then covered with woods. We give the sequel of this unhappy adventure in the language of Mather : §

". The outlet from the town to the wood was through a lane that had a fence on each side, which had a certain block-house, at one end of it : and the English were suspicious, when they came to enter the lane, that the Indians were lying behind the fence, because the cattle stood staring that way, and would not pass into the wood as they used to do. This mettlesome company then run up to the fence with an huzza ! thinking thereby to discourage the enemy, if they should be lurking there; but the enemy were so well prepared for them, that they answered them with an horrible vengeance, which killed the lien- tenant and thirteen more on the spot, and the rest escaped with much ado unto one of the garrisons.'

" After this disheartening and ominous event, the enemy immediately attacked the garrisons; these were resolutely defended; but at night, their ammunition being nearly ex- hausted, the besieged abandoned their posts and drew off to Fort Loyal. Next morning, being the 16th of May, the enemy set fire to the houses, and laid siege to the fort with their whole force. The local situation of the fort was highly favorable to their design : it was situated on a rocky bluff fronting the harbor, at the base of which the enemy could work securely beyond the reach of its guns." The number of the assailants was so much more numerous than that of the English, that the latter deemed it not prudent to leave their defenses. The siege was carried on five days and four nights, when at last, many of the English having been killed and wounded, the remainder capitulated on the 20th of May. The following account of the attack and sur- render, by Capt. Silvanus Davis, the commander of the fort, will not be uninteresting :

" ' Myself having command of a garrison in Falmouth for the de- fense of the same, a party of French from Canada, joined with a company of Indians, to the number of betwixt four and five hundred French aud lodians, set upon our fort. The 16th of May, 1690, about dawning, began our fight: the 20th, about three o'clock, afternoon, we were taken. They fought us five days and four nights, in which time they killed and wounded the greatest part of our men, burned all the houses, and at last we were forced to have a parley with them in order for a surrender. We not knowing that there was any French among them, set up a flag of truee in order for a parley. We de- quanded if there were any French among them, and if they wonlet give us quarter. They answered, that they were Frenchmen, and that they would give us good quarter. Upon this answer, we sent out to them again, to know from whence they came, and if they would give us good quarter, both for our men, women, and children, both wounded

# Hutchinson's Papers, quoted by Willis.

+ Watson's Lake Champlain; Barbour's History of New York ; Sylvester's History of Saratoga.

# Caut. Willard wrote from Salem in November to the Governor, that his men at Casco needed supplies, that the parents of his soldiers were lunch displeased because they had not returned as promised. lle proposed that Dr. Haraden be encouraged to visit the soldiers in Caseo and take care of them. Ann. of Salem, 295.

¿ Mag., 2, 524. i Probably Lawrence's house.

. This bluff probably retains the same general features it had then ; the fort stood in the rear of n three-stury house situated at the foot of King Street.

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

and sound, and that we should have liberty to march to the next Eng- lish town, and have a guard for our defense and safety unto the next English town-then we would surrender ; and also that the Governor of the French should hold up his hand and swenr by the great and ever-living God that the several articles should be performed. All which he did solemnly swear to perform ; but as soon as they had us in their custody they broke their articles, suffered our women and children and our men to be made captives in the hands of the heathen, to be cruelly murdered and destroyed many of them, and especially our wounded men ; only the French kept myself and three or foor more and carried us overland for Canada. . . . About twenty-four days wo wero marching through the country for Quebre, in Canada, by land and water, carrying our cannes with us. The chief of the Indians that came against us were those Indians that we had in hold, that Sir Edmond Andross ordered to be cleared, and Sieur Cartine and Ma- dockawando, with their eastern forces. The French that took us camo from Canada, in February last past, designed for the destruction of Falmouth, by order from the Governor there, the Earl of Frontenac." The commander's name was Mons. Burniffe : his lieutenant's name was Mons. Corte de March, who was at the taking of Schenectady. They brought several Indians with them from Canada, and made up tho rest of their forces as they marched through the woods from Canada. But I must say, they were kind to me in my travels through the coun - try. Our provisions were very short - Indian corn and neorns-hunger made it very good and God gave it strength to nourish. I arrived at Quebre the 14th of June, 1690. . . . I was at Quebec four months, and was exchanged for a Frenchman Sir Wm. Phips had taken tho 15th of October, 1690.'t

" The names of but few of the persons who perished in the unhappy fall of Falmouth are preserved, and those in- cidentally. Among the killed were Lieut. Clarke and the thirteen young men of his company, who were left dead ujuin the spot, as before noticed.

" Thomas Cluice and Seth Brackett, son of Anthony, were killed, but it is not known whether they were among the slain of Clarke's company or not. It appears by the Danvers records that Thomas Alsop, Edward Crocker, and George Bogwell were killed at Casco, in 1690. Joseph Ramsdell, a soldier from Lynn, was also killed. Capt. Robert Lawrence was mortally wounded, and Anthony Brackett. Jr., James Ross, and Peter Morrell were among the prisoners. It is to be regretted that a more perfeet record of the sufferers in this catastrophe has not been pre- served. We have been indebted to ancient depositions taken to perpetuate evidence for the few names we have been able to present. In this disaster the town records were destroyed, together with all other combustible or destructible property in town, and the once flourishing settlement exhibited an entire and melancholy ruin.§ It.

Davis makes sad work with French names and titles. He calls Count Frontenac " the Earl of Frontenac," Partneuf, " Mons, Bur- niffe," mul Courtemanche, " Mons. Corte de March." Otherwise, his report contains a correct statement of facts.

t The original umper is on file in the Massachusetts office of State.

* It has been intimated that the town records were carried to Can- ada; but it is not probable that the enemy would take pains to pre- serve and transport so great a distance documents which to them had no sort of value. Judge Freeman mentioned the report to ine, bot he had no authority for it but tradition. Had there been a reasonable ground tor the idea, the subsequent settlers would have obtained them at a time when their loss was severely telt and produced great confusion in titles.

& William Vaughan, Charles Frost, and Richard Martyn wrote to Boston from Portsmouth, May 19, 1690, that they had just heard of the al'ack un Casco. That two men from Spurwink garrison, on heating the hiring at Casco, went to see about it. When they came near, "they aw but two houses standing, the fort on fire, and the enemy very numerous thereabout." On the 22d of May they wrote

was visited by Sir William Phips and Maj. Church in August, 1692, on an expedition east, when they buried the bones of the slain, as they were bleaching upon the soil, and removed the cannon of the fort, which had been too large for Indian transportation.

" After the capture of Fort Loyal the garrisons at Pur- pooduck, Spurwink, and in Scarborough were so disheart- ened that they abandoned their posts and retreated upon Saco. lu a few days after, the people in the latter place drew off to Wells and left the country cast of that settle- ment wholly depopulated and unprotected.

" Maj. Church was sent to this bay again in September to harass the enemy The expedition on its return anchored for a night off Purpooduck Point; and the ac- commodations on board the vessels being limited, three companies encamped in a deserted house on shore. At the dawn of day the Indians attacked the camp, and an obstinate engagement ensued, during which the troops from the vessels were landed. The enemy were driven off, with the loss of thirteen canoes. Several were killed and wounded on both sides. One Indian prisoner was taken, 'a lusty man, who had Joseph Ramsdell's sealp by his side.'||

" Falmouth became the scene of no more engagements during the war. A single anecdote relating to the place, told by Mather with high relish, may close the subject. As the Indians were passing through ' deserted Cusco,' in 1694, the squaws desired the young men to shoot some horses that were straying about Capt. Brackett's orchard, as they were suffering from hunger ; but the young men, wishing to have some sport first, caught one of the horses, and making a halter from the mane and tail, a son of the famous Higon mounted the steed for a ride, and to secure him from falling, he had his legs tied under the horse's belly. But no sooner was the horse at liberty than he set out at full speed ' through brier and brake,' without regard to the feelings or the wailings of his rider. Nothing more was seen of poor Higon but a leg, which was buried with great lamentation in Capt. Brackett's cellar.

" The war continued until 1698, when a treaty of peace, concluded at Ryswiek, in 1697, between the English and French, having been announced, and Madokawando being dead, all obstructions to an accommodation were removed. Articles of agreement were entered into in October, and a treaty was finally executed at Mare's Point, in Casco Bay, January 7, 1699. The close of the war presents a sad spectacle, at which time the whole territory of Falmouth, which before the war was covered with an active and enter- prising population, was a perfect blank,-a thoroughfare for the savage, and a resort for beasts of prey."T

again that the vessels they had sent discovered that the enemy, three or four hundred strong, had possession of Casco, and as they up- proached the fort they were fired upon; and while they stayed, the remainder of the fort and houses were burnt ; that three or four hun dred people, mostly women and children, had arrived at Portsmouth from the castward, and that the vessels reported that Black Point, Richmond's Ishind, and Spurwink were burning as they passed. (Gen. Court files.)

The General Court, in October following, ordered a payment for wages to be made to the wives and relations of the soldiers who were slain or taken at Ca-ev.

| Church.

( Willis' llist. Port.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS OF 1702 AND 1722.

CHAPTER VIII.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS OF 1702 AND 1722.

Destruction of Spurwink-Siege of New Caseo-Fort saved by arri- val of an Armed Vessel-Indians generally engaged in the War- Destruction of Brunswick-Bounty offered for Indian Scalps-Suc- eess of the English -- French and Indian Settlement at Norridge- wock Destroyed -- Peace of 1726.

ON the breaking out of the war between France and England, in 1702, apprehensions were entertained by the government of Massachusetts that the eastern Indians would again commence hostilities. To prevent this ca- lamity Gov. Dudley, in the summer of 1703, visited the coast as far as Pemaquid, and held conferences with the Indians. He succeeded in getting them to agree to a grand council, which assembled on the 20th of June of that year, at the fort in New Casco, and in an amicable manner a treaty of peace was concluded. The sachems assured the Governor that they aimed at nothing more than peace, and protested that " as high as the sun was above the earth so far distant should their designs be of making the least breach between each other."* As a pledge of their sincerity, they presented him with a belt of wampum, and each party added a great number of stones to two pillars which had been erected at a former treaty, and called the Two Brothers in testimony of their atuieable agreement.t

This, however, was a hollow pretense; for, at the very time, treacherous designs were concealed under these pacifie manifestations, and the savages had protracted the treaty several days in expectation of the arrival of a French force, with a view to destroy the English commissioners. This statement derives confirmation from the fact that within two months from the date of the treaty, " the whole eastern country was in conflagration, no house standing, nor garri- son uuattacked."# In August, 1703, the enemy, consisting of five hundred French and Indians, invaded the frontier, and, dividing into small parties, unexpectedly attacked all the settlements from Casco to Wells. The inhabitants of Purpooduck were the most severe sufferers in this sudden onset. There were nine families then settled upon and near the Point, who were not protected by any garrison.§ The Indians came suddenly upon the defenseless hamlet when the men were absent, killed twenty-five persons and took several prisoners. Among the killed were Thowas Lovitt and his family, Joel Madeford, or Madiver, and the wives of Josiah and Benjamin Wallis, and of Michael Webber.| The wife

* Penhallow.

t Willis.

# l'enhallow. About this time the French had drawn off a great number of Indian families from the Penobscot, Norridgerock, Suco, and Peyuukett tribes, and settled them at St, Francois, in Canada, as a protection against the Six Nations, who were in the English interest. These were afterwards ealled the St. François Indians, and were let loose by the French from time to time to prey upon the defenseless frontiers of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. 2 Hutch., 131.

¿ This was subsequently called Spring Point. and probably received its name from an excellent and unfailing spring which issues from the bank just above high-water mark.

I Madeford or Madiver was the son of Michael Madiver, who lived at Paronoduck before the first war ; the name does not exist here now, nowledge. The Indians ripped open Web- and took two children from her.

of Joseph Wallis was taken captive: Josiah Wallis made his escape to Black Point with his son John, then seven years old, part of the way upon his back." Spurwink, prin- cipally occupied by the Jordan family, was attacked at the same time, and twenty-two persons by the name of Jordan were killed and taken prisoners. Dominicus Jordan, the third sou of the Rev. Robert, was among the killed, and his family, consisting of six children, were carried to Can- ada .** His brother Jeremiah was among the prisoners, who was subsequently called French Jeremy, from the circun- stance of his having been carried to France. The whole country, from Purpooduck Point to Spurwink, was covered with woods, except the few spots which the inhabitants had cleared. This afforded facilities to the Indians for conceal- ment and protection. From these coverts they made their sudden and cruel visits, then returned to mingle again with the other wild tenants of the forest, beyond the reach of pursuit.

" The enemy next directed their attention to the fort at New Casco. This was the most considerable fort on the eastern coast, and was the central point of defense for all the settlements upon Casco Bay ; ff under its protection sev- eral persons had collected to revive the fortunes of the town. Maj. March commanded the garrison at this time, consist- ing of but thirty-six men. The enemy practiced a strata- gem in hopes of taking the fort without loss of lives, and for this purpose their able chiefs Moxns, Wanungonet, and Assacombuit sent a flag of truce to the commanding officer, soliciting a conference, under pretense that they had some- thing important to communicate. At first Maj. March declined the invitation, suspecting some treachery, but afterwards as they seemed to be few in number and un- armed, he concluded to meet them, taking the precaution to post two or three sentinels, where they might be ready in case of danger. On his arrival at the place of meeting, they saluted him civilly, but immediately drew their toma- hawks from under their robes, and violently assaulted him, while others in ambush shot down one of the sentinels. March, being a man of uncommon strength, as well as cour- age, wrested the tomahawk from one of the assailants, and successfully defended himself until Sergt. Hook arrived from the fort with a file of ten men, and resened him from his perilous situation. Mr. Phippen and Mr. Kent, wbo accompanied Maj. March, being less able from advanced age to resist this savage attack, were overpowered and slain.## The enemy being disappointed in their main ob-

" Deposition of John Wallis, who was living in 1760. The family of Wallis, which was formerly so numerous here, is nearly run out ; some of them spell the name Wallace : they are all descendants of John Wallis, who lived at Purpwoodurk before the first war, and was seleetman in 1681 ; they returned here from Gloucester, Cape Ann. %% See History of Cape Elizabeth.

tt In 1703, the fort was enlarged and beds and bedding were fur- nished for the first time, by order of government.

## Penhallow speaking of the slaughter of Phippen and Kent, says, " Being advanced in years, they were so intirm, that I might say of them as Juvenal did of Priam, they had searee bloud enough left to tinge the knife of the sacrifice." David Phippen was the son of Joseph, who lived at Purpooduck as early as 1650. Iu the previous war the family moved to Salem, and David was probably the only one who returned. He had purchased in 1699 a large tract on the Pre- sumpseot River of George Felt, Francis Neal, and Jenkin Williams,

.12

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

jeet, , destroyed the cottages or huts in the vicinity, and laid siege to the fort. From the weakness of the garrison, the utmost vigilance was required on the part of the com- manding officer to prevent surprise ; he consequently di- vided his men into three companies of twelve each, who interchanged watching every two hours, without intermis- sion, for six days and nights. At the end of that time the enemy received an addition to their force, when the whole amounted to five hundred French and Indians, and were commanded by M. Bobassin, a French officer. This re- inforcement had just returned from a successful incursion upon the western towns; they had taken one sloop, two shallops, and considerable plunder, and were flushed with victory. They immediately commenced undermining the fort on the water-side, and as this was sitnated upon an elevated bank, they could work securely out of the range of its guns, and were protected by a superior force from the danger of a sally. They had proceeded two days and nights, and would probably soon have succeeded in their attempt, had not the garrison fortunately been relieved by the arri- val of a province armed vessel, commanded by Capt. South- ack, which interrupted their plans. Southack retook their prizes, forced them to raise the siege, and shattered their navy, consisting of two hundred canoes. The Indians made a hasty retreat, but still hovered in the vicinity of Casco Bay, which was a central situation for them, and the waters of which furnished them with an inexhaustible supply of provisions. In the autumn of 1703, they surprised a vessel in the bay, killed the master and three meu, and wounded two more. They occasionally practiced upon their prison- ers the most revolting cruelties ; in one instance a woman who had been killed, was exposed in a brutal manner with her infant fastened to her breast, and left to perish. In Casco, Col. Church relates that an English soldier was found, in the early part of the war, with a stake driven through his body, his head cut off, and a hog's head placed on his shoulders, and his heart and inwards taken out and hung around his body. The eastern towns were not the only places which suffered in this war. Deerfield and other settlements in the western part of Massachusetts were cut off, and many lives were destroyed and property laid waste on the whole frontier, both of that province and New Hampshire.

" To arm a force sufficient to repel their cruel invaders, government deemed it necessary to call to its aid the avarice of the people, and they offered a bounty of £40) for every Indian scalp that should be brought in. This excited a spirit of enterprise in the inhabitants, which made them endure incredible hardships in pursuing the enemy through the forests in the depth of winter to procure this valuable merchandise.

" After the melancholy events of 1703, Falmouth was entirely deserted of inhabitants, and did not become the scene of further cruelties during the war. Saco, Searbor- ough, and the places in this province farther west were con- tinually harassed, and lost wany of their active and promis-

which they bought of the Indians in 1677. He came down no doubt to improve this estate extending from Congin to about half a milo below the lower falls. He left four children, one of whom, Auna, innrried John Green, of Salem.

ing young men, as well as the aged, and women and chil- dren. The war was crowded with scenes of cruelty and blood, similar to those of the last wars, and which give to Indian hostilities a ferocious and horrible celebrity. The war was particularly distinguished by the capture of Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, from the French, which was after- wards called Annapolis, in honor of Queen Anne.

" The fort in Falmouth continued to be maintained during the war, although not without considerable opposi- tion. In 1704, Col. Church gave his strong testimony against supporting it .* In 1710 the House of Representa- tives passed a resolve to abandon it, which was non-con- eurred in the council; they say, ' Whereas the first and sole end of settling a garrison at Casco Bay was for a trading-house to accommodate the eastern Indians in time of peace, but upon the breaking out of the war, it was thought necessary to enlarge the said garrison and make it more defensive, supposing it might be advantageous for the covering the fishery, and to recruit our forces that might march towards the headquarters of the enemy ; but by ex- perience it is known that the fort is of little or no security to our fishery, or of any advantage to our marching forces, but of great expense and charge, etc.' It is therefore 'or- dered that the forces be withdrawn, etc.' Several attempts were made to induce the Governor to relinquish the fort here as an unnecessary publie burden, but he would not consent to it. In 1715 the House voted to garrison Pejep- scot fort, situated at the falls in Brunswick, and to aban- don that at Casco; a committee reported that 'the fort or trading-house at Casco, which being much out of repair, we are of opinion it is for his majesty's service that it be slighted, and no longer continued ;' and they recommended repairing Pejepscot fort and drawing twenty men, the num- ber at Casco, for Arrowsie. The Governor replied, ' I shall give orders to draw out nineteen men and an ensign from Casco fort for Arrowsie, and also raise fifteen men for Brunswick, but cannot see reason at present to demolish Casco fort until his majesty's pleasure be known.' The Hlouse adhered to their resolution, and after reciting their former vote, and asserting that the Governor had power by the charter to demolish forts without orders from the king, voted that no more money be drawn from the public treas- ury to pay officers or soldiers at the fort of Casco, after September Ist next.t

" Maj. Samuel Moody, in the carly part of the war, succeeded Maj. March in the command at Casco fort ; he received frequent communications from the enemy, and was the organ of correspondence between them and the govern- ment. In 1713, hostilities having ceased in Europe, t the Indians sent a flag of truce to Maj. Moody desiring peace, and requesting that a conference might be had at Casco. The Governor being notified of their application, consented

Church says, " To conclude all, if your Excellency will be pleased to make yourself great and us a happy people, as to the destroying of our enemies and easing of our taxos, ete., be pleased to draw forth all those forces now in pay in all the eastward parts, both at Suco and l'axeo Bay ; for those two trading-bouses never did any good, nor never will, and are not worthy the name of Queen's forts."

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History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 10

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780