USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunkport > History of Kennebunk Port, from its first discovery by Bartholomew Gosnold, May 14, 1602, to A. D. 1837 > Part 4
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Not only the people of this country, but those of Eu- rope at this time, were grossly superstitious. Any circumstance that did not admit of a ready explanation, was ascribed to supernatural agency. Hutchinson, in his History of Massachusetts Bay, says he " could col- lect from manuscripts and printed accounts, as many prodigies in one part of the country and another at differ- ent times as would fill a small volume. Guns fired in the air, great quantities of clay cast up in form of bullets out of the earth, and the like." The most enlight- ened men of that period gave implicit credit to these tales. The appearance of comets in 1664, 1680, and in 1632, threw the whole country into a state of alarm.
" When in our skies there blaz'd an awful star, Presaging earthquakes and a general war."
It was confidently believed that the Indian powows or priests possessed supernatural powers from the dev- il. Passaconaway, a great sagamore who lived on the Merrimac river, and whose dominions probably extend- ed to Cape Porpoise, was the most celebrated powow in the country. It was credited that he could make water burn, rocks move, trees dance, change himself into a flaming man, raise a green leaf from the ashes
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HISTORY OF
[A. D. 1670.
of a dry one, produce a live snake from the skin of a dead one, heal sickness, and cause death by the power of his incantations. It was considered heresy to doubt the correctness of the witch stories current at that time ; and afterwards many were executed for the crime of witchcraft .*
Superstition and bigotry are almost always insepar- able companions. Although leaving England because their own faith was not there tolerated, the inhabitants of Massachusetts refused to tolerate the slightest depar- ture from their own creed ; and themselves the victims of persecution, most inconsistently persecuted all who differed from them in their religious views. A divine of Massachusetts said, " what is contrary to the gospel hath no right, and therefore should have no liberty." Another one said, " toleration is the first born of all abominations." Another remarked, that " he who is willing to tolerate an unsound doctrine, that his own may be tolerated, though never so sound, would, if need be, hang the bible to the devil's girdle. I abhor tolera- tion of divers religions." Mr. Dudley, deputy governor of Massachusetts, died with a copy of verses in his pocket containing the following lines.
" Let men of God in court and churches watch, O'er such as do a toleration hatch."
In 1656 the persecution of the quakers commenced. They were fined, imprisoned, kept at hard labor, ban- ished, whipped through towns at the tails of carts, had their ears cut off, their tongues bored through with hot irons, and several suffered death. About the same time the tbaptists were also persecuted. Some were disfran- chised, and others were fined, whipt, imprisoned or banished.
The inhabitants of Maine, not having been driven from home on account of their nonconformity to the established religion of England, but emigrating merely for the purpose of gain, did not value their religious
*Mather's Magnalia, vol i. p. 188.
tIn the preamble to a law, passed in 1644, for banishing baptists ; it is stated that ever " since the first arising of the anabaptists, about 100 years since," they have been very disorderly .- Mass. Records.
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KENNEBUNK PORT.
A. D. 1670.]
privileges so highly as the people of Massachusetts ; and this province, therefore, was frequently an asylum for those who had been excommunicated. The Rev. John Wheelwright, a learned and pious man, was ban- ished the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the heresy of believing that " the Holy Spirit dwells personally in a justified convert ; and sanctification can in no wise evince to believers their justification." In 1643, he bought land on the west side of Kennebunk river, which was then within the limits of Cape Porpoise plantation. William Waldron, excommunicated from the church in Dover then under Massachusetts, was drowned, Sep- tember, 1646, in crossing Kennebunk river.
The opinion generally prevailed, that Maine was peopled by those who were too immoral and irreligious to be allowed to remain in other colonies ; and it used to be tauntingly said ;- " When a man can find no reli- gion to his taste, let him remove to Maine."* The colony being first settled under the patronage of Gorges, its early inhabitants were royalists and episcopalians, and were opposed to the republican puritans of the wes- tern colonies. It, therefore, not only protected those who were banished from Massachusetts, on account of what were called their dangerous heresies, but it be- came a place of refuge for the immoral and licentious.
Although the population was considerably increased by this state of things, yet it tended to make the people disorderly and corrupt. The early records furnish suf- ficient evidence, that the prevailing opinion, as to the state of morals in this province, was but too well grounded. At every term of the judicial courts, under the head of each town, the grand jury prepared a list of presentments for various offences ;- such as idleness, lying, slander, drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, profani- ty, theft, &c. Many of these presentments, it is true, were for venial offences, but many were for crimes of greater magnitude. The jury being changed every year, gave those who had been presented by their neighbor, an opportunity to complain of him in their turn, which was not forgotten when he again became a juror ; making this institution an engine of mutual op-
*Williamson.
D D
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HISTORY OF
[FROM 1670
pression. The laws however were very severe, taking cognizance of offences, that had better been left to the correction of public sentiment.
The following are the presentments, with the orders thereon, against this town during the years 1674 and '75.
" Whereas there is a complaint of the town of Cape Porpus for their neglect hitherto in laying out their town bounds : - It is therefore ordered that the selectmen of the said place now in being shall take some effectual measures to have their town bounds layd out between this tyme and the next county court."
" Wee present Cape Porpus for liveing without an Orthodox Minister. John Batson appearing for the town, answered for the presentment, which was dis- charged."
" Wee present the freemen of Cape Porpus, for not sending in their voates for nomination of Magistrates and assistants to the shyre town according to law."
" Wee present the selectmen of Cape Porpus for not taking care that the children and youth of that town bee taught the catechisme, and educated according to law."
" Wee present the town of Cape Porpus for not ma- king a convenient way for travelers through the town."
The court likewise ordered that "the towns of Wells, Sacoe, Scarborough, and Falmouth shall forthwith marke out the most convenient way from Wells to Henry Sayward's mills at Mousam, from thence to Sacoe Falls," &c.
From 1670 to 1675, Maine continued in a flourish- ing state, increasing rapidly in wealth and population. The increase of value of property in Yorkshire, caused Gorges to renew his claim to the province. This claim, together with the war between Philip of Naraganset and the United Colonies, interrupted their prosperity. To defray the expenses of this war, a general tax was for the first time assessed in Maine .* The number of sol- diers in Yorkshire amounted to 700, of whom, 80 belonged to Wells and Cape Porpus. After this first In- dian war, Massachusetts purchased Gorges's claim to
*Williamson .- There was a county tax in 1653, towards build- ing a jail in York, which was established there that year.
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KENNEBUNK PORT.
то 1682.]
Maine, for about six thousand dollars. Charles the sec- ond was greatly displeased with them for making the purchase, he being in treaty for it himself; but they refused to relinquish their bargain.
The General Court [1679] concluded to assume the royal charter of Gorges, and govern Maine as a prov- ince. Accordingly they appointed a Board of Assistants, of which Thomas Danforth was President. The roy- alists and episcopalians were dissatisfied with this form of government, as it deprived them of the right of send- ing representatives to the General Court; and they complained to the *King of their heavy taxes. [1680] The King appointed Edward Randolph, collector, sur- veyor, and searcher of New England, who, by his representations, greatly increased their troubles.
President Danforth, however, continued to administer the government, and called a meeting of freeholders at York ; at which no one from Cape Porpoise appeared. The soldiers of the town, were placed under the offi- cers of the Saco company. At a subsequent meeting, several of the inhabitants of the province, submitted to the government of Massachusetts, amongst whom were John Batson, John Miller, and Thomas Mussey. John Batson was appointed constable of the town.
A new road [1681] was ordered to be made through Wells, Cape Porpoise, and Saco. The towns of Saco and Cape Porpoise were "Injoyned, from the begin- ing of yr. bounds from Kenibunke River, to make a good passable way through Kenibunke swampe, for horse and man, and mend the flows, and marke out and Mend the nearest way they can conveniently find for a Common Roade, to the ferry of Humphrey Scammon at Sacoe." Cape Porpoise complied with this order, only so far as to discontinue or neglect the old road, without finishing the new one ; and were complained of [1682] " for want of a convenient highway to travell eastward, stopping up the ould highway that people cannot pass." At the same court, Wells and Cape Porpoise were presented for not having a ferry over
*The inhabitants of Cape Porpoise who signed this petition to the King, (Charles II.) were Thomas Mussy, John Batson, John Purrinton, Christopher Spurwell, and John Barret.
-
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HISTORY OF
[FROM 1683
Kennebunk river, and the latter for want of standard measures.
John Batson was chosen by the town, deputy to the General Assembly at York, in 1683, and also the fol- lowing year.
President Danforth's government continued till June 18th, 1684, when the charter of Massachusetts was seized, and Col. Kirk was appointed Governor of New England. By an agreement with the inhabitants of this town, made in 1681, President Danforth was to give them a deed of the town. It was however delayed till July 26th, of this year .- The following is a copy of the deed.
" This indenture made the 26th day of July Anno Domini 1684, and in the 36th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, Charles the 2d. by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, De- fender of the Faith, &c. Between Thomas Danforth, Esq. President of his Majesties Province of Mayne in New England, on the one party, and John Barrett, sen. John Purrington, and John Batson, trustees on the be- half and for the sole use and benefit of the inhabitants of the Town of Cape Porpus within the above named province of Main, on the other party,-Witnesseth, That whereas the above named Thomas Danforth, by the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Col- ony in New England, the now Lord proprietors of the abovenamed Province of Mayne, at a General Assem- bly held att Boston, on the 11th day of May 1681, is fully authorized and impowered to make legal confirma- tion, unto the inhabitants of the above said Province of Mayne, of all their lands or proprieties to them justly appertaining or belonging, within the limits or bounds of the said province. Now know all men by these presents, that the said Thomas Danforth, pursuant to the trust in him reposed, and power to him given as above said ; by and on the behalf of the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Colony aforesaid,-Hath given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents doth fully, clearly, and absolutely give, grant, and con- firm, unto the above mentioned John Barrett, sen. John Purrington, and John Batson, trustees as above exprest, -all that tract or parcell of land within the township of
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KENNEBUNK PORT.
To 1684.]
Cape Porpus, in said province, according to the bounds and limitts of the sd. township, to them formerly grant- ed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, or by any of his agents, or by the General Assembly of the Massachu- setts ; with all priviledges and appurtenances to the same appertaining, or in any wise belonging, (all royalties reserved to his Majestie's use by the charter granted to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight ; as also those by said charter given to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, his heirs, and assigns, together with the rivers, streams, and coves, contained within the limmitts and bounds of said township, always to be excepted and reserved,)
" To have and to hold all the above said tract of land, by these presents granted and confirmed, be the same more or less, with all the priviledges and appurtenances to the same appertaining, or in any wise belonging, (ex- cepting as before excepted and reserved,) to them, the said John Barrett, sen. John Purrington, and John Bat- son, trustees as abovesaid, forever ;- to the only proper use and belioof of the inhabitants of said town, that now are, and to them that shall there survive and suc- ceed, from time to time, and forevermore hereafter.
" And the above named Thomas Danforth, for and on behalf of the Governour and Company of the Massa- chusetts Colony, and for their successors and assigns, doth further covenant, promise, and grant, to and with the above named John Barrett, sen. John Purrington, and John Batson, shall and may at all times, and from time to time, forever hereafter, peaceably, and quietly, have, hold, occupie, possess, and enjoy all the above given and granted premises, without the let, denyall, or contradiction of the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Colony, or of any other person or per- sons whatsoever, claiming and having any lawful rights, title, or interest therein, or in any part or parcell there- of, by, from, or under them, the said Governour and Company, or by any of their assigns ;-
" They the above named inhabitants of the said town of Cape Porpus, for the time being, and in like manner, that shall there be from time to time forever hereafter ; yielding and paying in consideration thereof, to the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Colony, or to the President of said Province of Mayne, by
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HISTORY OF
[FROM 1684
them authorized, and impowered, for the time being, or to other, their agent and lawful assignee or assigns, the quit rent, to the said Government and Company, due and belonging, according to the proposall made, and mutually agreed upon at the General Assembly held in the above said Province, at York, June 1681-Viz. That they the above named inhabitants of the said town of Cape Porpus, for the time being, and in like manner that shall there be, from time to time forever hereafter ; as an acknowledgement of the said Ferdi- nando Gorges', and his assigns' right to soyl and government, do pay twelve pence, for every family, whose single county rate is not above two shillings, and for all that exceed the sum of two shillings in a single rate, to pay three shillings per family, annually, in money, to the treasurer of said province, for the use of the chiefe proprietors thereof; and in case of omis- sion, or neglect, on the part and behalf of the said inhabitants, to make full payment annually, in man- ner as is above expressed, and hath been mutually consented and agreed unto ; it shall then be lawful for the said president of the said province for the time being, or for other, the agent, agents, assignee, or assignees of the Governour and Company of the Massa- chusetts Colony, to leavy and make distress upon the estates of any of the inhabitants, for the time being, within the limmits and bounds of the said township, as well as for the said quit rent, as also for all costs and charges accruing and arising upon the same ; and the estates so leveyed, or distrained, to bear, drive, or car- ry away, with so much as it shall cost to convey the same, to the treasurer of the said province, for the time being, or to such place as he shall order and appoint. In witness whereof the parties above mentioned, to these present indentures, have interchangeably putt their hands and seals, the day and year first above written. THOMAS DANFORTH, Presd.
" Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us, JOHN HAYWARD, Not. Pub.
ELIEZER MOODY.
" A true copy of the original, received November 9th, Attest, JOSEPH MOODY, Reg. 1731.
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KENNEBUNK PORT.
TO 1685.]
King Charles dying [1685] soon after the appoint- inent of Col. Kirk, it was annulled by his successor, James II. who commissioned Joseph Dudley, as pres- ident. Dudley's administration lasted but five months, when he was superseded by Sir Edmund Andros, who was appointed 'Captain General and Governor in Chief of all New England.' He assessed taxes in the county of Yorkshire, at the rate of half a penny for one pound valuation. The tax of Cape Porpoise, was £1-00-10, and the valuation £500; being the same as the Isles of Shoals.
Andros, whose government was very tyrannical, com- pelled the inhabitants of Yorkshire to pay for new grants of land. During his visit into this province, he ordered the inhabitants of Cape Porpus, to put their roads in a better state of repair. This, as usual, they neglected, as appears by the following complaint.
" We present the parish of Cape Porpus, for not having a sufficient highway, ordered by our governor, His Excellency, Sir Edmund Andros, within the limits of the parish." " The parish" was likewise complained of, for not having a pound and a pair of stocks. A road was at the same time ordered, from Wells to Saco falls.
Although the province generally had much increased in wealth and population, yet Cape Porpoise continued poor and feeble. There was, at this time, but four mills* in town, which constituted nearly their whole
*It is not certainly known where these mills were situated. It is probable that one of them was on Little river, one on Batson's riv- er, one on Tyler's brook, and the other on Middle river. Besides these four, there was one on Kennebunk river, partly, if not whol- ly owned in Cape Porpus, which was probably Littlefield's mill ; although on the list of mills for the support of Fort Loyal, Fal- mouth, 1782, it was placed with those of Wells. Neither is it known when these mills were erected. By the following pream- ble to a grant of a mill privilege to John Wheelwright of Wells, in 1650, it would seem that there were no mills in this vicinity at that period, and that what little lumber was used, was sawed by hand. " Considering how much easier boards could be sawed than by hand, and men that employ their time themselves in that might employ their time in husbandry, and how much it might benefit the country,"&c. therefore the grant was made.
There were mills, however, at Agamenticus, and Piscataqua, as early as 1634, as Winthrop says, Gorges and Mason sent persons with a saw mill to each of these places, at that time.
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HISTORY OF
[FROM 1688
business. It had, however, heretofore kept up the ap- pearance of being a separate town, by choosing town officers, and keeping a record ; but it was now only spoken of as a parish. In assessing the county tax for this year, it was designated as " Cape Porpoise Ham- lett."
It was probably one of the arbitrary acts of Andros, to destroy even the appearance of its independent exis- tence, by uniting it with Saco, or rather placing it under the jurisdiction of that town, as appears by the following extract from the Saco town records.
" By a legal town meeting for Saco and Cape Por- poise, on Monday 21 May 1688, whereat Thomas Shepherd, Francis Backus, John Edgecomb, and John Abbot are chosen selectmen for Saco, and Richard Peard Constable for the same; and John Miller, and Nicholas Morey,* selectmen of Cape Porpoise, and Richard Randall, constable for the same ; and it is or- dered, that if Cape Porpoise will not accept of the selectmen and constable, chosen by the town of Saco, then the selectmen in Saco, and constable for the same, shall act and do for them as selectmen and constable of the same."
This union, or rather guardianship, at most, lasted but a few months. One of the selectmen, Morey, was recognized as such at the county courts, as was also Lieut. Purinton, who had not been elected at that time. It is probable that the inhabitants of Cape Porpoise held a meeting within their own township, and chose their own town officers, part of whom might have been the persons chosen by Saco. Fortunately a stray leaf of the Cape Porpoise records has been preserved, on which are recorded the doings of the town, eight months after this assumption of power on the part of Saco.
" January 24th, 1688-9. Then chosen five select- men and constable, at a legal town meeting, legally warned by Order, for selectmen and other officers. For selectmen, Lieu. John Purinton, John Downing, John Miller, John Davis, Richard Randall. For con- stable, Immanuel Haynes. For town clerk, Lieu. John Purinton. For lott layers, and surveyors, Lieu.
*As transcribed by Folsom, Nicholas Mering. This entry is now lost.
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KENNEBUNK PORT.
To 1689.]
Purinton, Richard Randall, John Sanders, John Mil- ler, William Barton, Jacob Wormwood."
Whether this town never regarded this order at all, or took advantage of the growing discontent in Eng- land and in this country, (which resulted in the abdication of James II. and the imprisonment of An- dros in Boston,) to resume the management of their own affairs ; or whether, by application to Andros who was in this town during that year, upon his unfortunate expedition against the eastern Indians, they obtained a repeal of the obnoxious law, is not known. Nor can this obscurity ever be elucidated, as the foregoing ex- tract from the Saco records, is the last entry on the old town book; and there was no record kept again in that town, till 1717, a period of nearly thirty years. Neither are the records of Cape Porpoise to be found after the year 1689, till the reincorporation of the town in 1719. They were either lost, or discontinued, on account of the second Indian war, which wholly depop- ulated the town. Unfortunately, too, the only volume of the Massachusetts records missing, said to have been burnt, is the one in which the transactions of that peri- od are recorded ; and tradition is entirely silent upon the subject. The probability however is, that, as the town meeting held at Cape Porpoise in 1689,* was said to be " legally warned by order," the act uniting the two towns, had been repealed.
The frequent changes of government, and the fear of the Indians, greatly retarded the growth of Maine. The inhabitants chose Councils of safety for their own protection, till President Danforth resumed his office. War was declared between France and England De- cember 7th, 1689, which increased the expenses of the colonists to such a degree, that Massachusetts issued bills of credit, which was the origin of paper money.t
The year before this war was declared, Mr. Bussy, and Mr Barrow, with their families, had been taken prisoners, and carried to Teconnet .¿ Six hundred
*John Downing, in 1725, testified, that in 1688, or 1689, there were grants made to the several inhabitants of the town, of 100 acres each on Kennebunk river.
tWilliamson's Hist. of Me.
;Mather's Magnalia, vol. ii. p. 509.
E
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HISTORY OF
[A. D. 1690.
troops were stationed at the different settlements in Maine, for their protection. Of this number, " a com- pany of men under the command of Lieut. Puddington, were stationed at the fort at Kennebunk."*
The territory near Kennebunk river early took its name ; and events occurring in that neighborhood, were said to have happened at Kennebunk. Mr. Wheel- wright was said to live 'near Kennebunk,' the slide of 1670, to happen 'at a place called Kennebunk,' and Bussy and Barrow to live ' in Kennebunk near Winter Harbour.' Mr Purinton and others, who lived at Ken- nebunk river, were always designated on the town records, as ' of Kennebunk.'
The fort was on Stage Island, at Cape Porpoise, and was commanded by John Purinton, one of the select- men, and the town clerk of the town. After Gov. An- dros's return to Massachusetts, [1690] the troop sall de- serted, and when the Indians began to appear in greater numbers, the inhabitants of the cape withdrew to the fort, as the only place of safety in the town. Those who resided on the sea shore, between the cape and Kennebunk river, at Turbat's creek, Cleaves's cove, and at the mouth of the river, went to Wells. The in- habitants of the cape, who had retreated to the fort, were soon besieged by the Indians ; but being sheltered, by a stone wall, and there being no bushes, behind which the Indians could conceal themselves within gun- shot, they sustained no damage, and could securely fire upon their enemies whenever they approached within reach of their musket balls. The point of the island, on which the fort was built, being surrounded by deep water at all times, and the Indians stationing themselves at the narrow neck of land which leads to the main part of the island, between which and the main land the flats are bare at low water, the whites were completely shut out from every chance of escape ; having no boat but a small board canoe, capable of carrying but one man, one end of which was partly split off. The Indians, however, kept at a distance from the fort, with the intention of surprising them, or of starving them out. They had nothing but muskets in the fort, and
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