USA > Maine > York County > Kennebunkport > History of Kennebunk Port, from its first discovery by Bartholomew Gosnold, May 14, 1602, to A. D. 1837 > Part 9
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John Littlefield, and John Wakefield, husband of Eliza- beth, in 1641, had a grant of land from George Cleaves, at the mouth of Mousam river, where they probably re- sided. Mary married John Barrett of Cape Porpoise.
Francis sen. left children, two of whom, Edmund and Joseph, had a grant from the town of Cape Por- poise, in 1681, of 100 acres of land, at the upper falls, near the Indian planting ground. By this grant, they had the privilege of building mills at the upper falls, and of cutting timber in any part of the town ; they paying a yearly rent of fifty shillings. They also agreed to build a grist mill, upon condition that there should not be another built in the town. When they afterwards attempted to erect their mills, there was so much opposition made to it, by persons owning property above the falls, that the project was given up; and the mills were built higher up the river. The right to cut timber anywhere within the town- ship, was also the cause of considerable difficulty, which was settled by a legal process, after the town was resettled.
William and Catharine Wormwood, parents of Jacob, were married and resided in Kittery as early as 1647. William died 1690, and his property was valued at £25. Jacob removed to this town before 1661, as he was on a coroner's jury at Saco that year. He was surveyor of land at Cape Porpoise 1689, and contrib- uted a week's work on Davis's gristmill. He died before the town was resettled, in 1713. Margaret the wife of Simon Bussy was a daughter of William. Thomas, son of Jacob, married Jane a daughter of William Reynolds, and lived in Kittery in 1706. He removed to this town, and had charge of Harding's garrison, when his son William was killed in 1724. He afterwards removed to Wells, on the western side of Mousam river, where his descendants still reside.
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His house was the third one built in that part of Wells since called Kennebunk. Bourne* says he built his house there in 1720. If so, it was before he was sta- tioned at Harding's garrison. He purchased his land in 1719.
Although Stephen Harding did not remove to this town till 1720, yet, as his descendants have principally resided here since, and most of the prominent events of his life occurred previous to the period to which the history of the town is brought down, it will, perhaps, be in place, to give some account of the family at this time.
One of the original proprietors of the Lygonia, or plough patent, was Grace Harding, merchant of Lon- don. Whether the family in this town descended from him or not, is not known. There were two of the name, probably brothers, Thomas and Israel, residing in this county before 1670. Israel, who was a blacksmith, came from Providence and lived in Wells ; and in 1672, he married Lydia, the widow of John Gooch. Mr. Harding was appointed administrator of Gooch's estate, in consequence of his widow's " suddaine mar- rying agane." Gooch left three sons and one daughter. Gooch's mother, whose name was Ruth, was alive when he died, and was provided for in settling the estate.
From the following extract from the county records, 1682, it would appear that Israel Harding, who was a baptist, was a preacher as well as blacksmith. " Isra- el Harding being convicted for very disorderly practise, and presumptuously taking upon him the office of a Minister, to preach and baptise contrary to rule and- his Majesty's laws here Established, the Court here declare against such unwarrantable and presumptuous practices as having no Call from god or his people yr. unto." The court decreed, that if he continued to offend in this way, he should forfeit his estate.
Stephen was undoubtedly the son of Israel, although his descendants say he was born in Providence ; and that they never understood that his father was at any time a resident of Wells. From the fact of their be- ing of the same religious faith, and occupation, it is
*Ms. Hist. Kennebunk.
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probable that Stephen was the son of Israel, and was born in Wells ; for Israel is still a family name in the Harding family, and they have a tradition that they were distantly connected with the Gooches. Stephen married Abigail Littlefield of Wells, about 1702, and established himself near the mouth of Kennebunk river, on the western side, where the foundation of his house may yet be seen. In 1713 he was presented for selling rum without a license ; but in 1716 he was licensed to keep a house of entertainment. He and his wife being baptists, they neglected to attend the congregational meeting. Mrs. Harding in 1717 was presented for not going to meeting. Not appearing at court, the con- stable of Wells was ordered to apprehend her. At the next term of the court, Mr. Harding was also present- ed for the same offence. Neither of them appeared, but they petitioned to be excused from a fine. The court ordered John Wheelwright, Esq. to investigate the affair, and he acquitted them, by their paying fees of court.
Harding was a very athletic man, but remarkably good natured. He always treated the Indians kindly in times of peace ; and his life was frequently spared by them, when they had an opportunity to shoot him. He was fond of hunting, and would frequently be gone from home a fortnight on a hunting expedition; and wander as far as the White Hills. So much had he become accustomed to the Indian mode of warfare, that he was a match for them, in their own peculiar method of fighting.
At the time when he had to leave his house, as has been narrated, the Indians best acquainted with him, complimented him upon his cunning, which was esteem- ed by them a high qualification, by saying in their sententious style, “ Much man Stephen .- All one In- dian .- Stephen's fled." The Indians were very anxious to get him alive, to carry to Canada, but after waiting for days, for an opportunity, they had not the courage to embrace it, so well acquainted were they with his great bodily strength.
On the marsh, near his house, Mr. Harding kept a hollow stack of hay, inside which he frequently secre- ted his family, in times of danger.
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A. D. 1716.] KENNEBUNK PORT.
Most of the foregoing anecdotes, relative to the inhabitants of this town, when it bore the name of Cape Porpus, are taken from the county records. Only ten of about 100 persons whose names have been given, have descendants now residing in the town.
The disposition to pry into each other's affairs ; to notice every fault ; to record every hasty word, drop- ped under strong provocation ; to apply for legal redress for every slanderous expression, and every fancied injury ; and to compel each other to defend themselves, at the expense of time, money, and good feelings, against charges, for offences of which they were only suspected of committing ;- this unfriendly feeling, manifested by these acts, and the habits arising from frequent attendance at courts, do not give so favor- able an opinion of their character, as their successors and descendants might wish to entertain of them. This state of things, however, was not peculiar to this town, or province, but it was a fault of the age. The records of Massachusetts are also filled with evidence of the same litigious feelings ; and persons of the highest standing and fairest reputations, were obliged to defend themselves against frivolous and vexatious charges. It is even probable that this custom of presenting persons for every offence, was introduced into Maine from Massachusetts, where the high tone of religious feeling would not suffer them to wink at the slightest departure from moral rectitude. To this peculiarity of the times, however, are we indebted for all the knowledge we possess of many of the early settlers of this country.
Facts from such a source however can only give the dark shades of their character ; for it would certainly be unfair, to judge of a people by only examining the criminal records. Many of those persons, who are recorded as drunkards, slanderers, sabbath breakers, &c. were probably men of generally correct deport- ment ; and would even now be deemed exemplary men. No one would admit the correctness of his own portrait, in which the dark shades only were drawn, without a single redeeming touch ; or be willing to have it hand- ed down to his posterity, as a correct representation of himself.
II
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When however the greatly superior advantages of the present time, for moral and intellectual improvement, are compared with those of the early inhabitants of this town, there will be but little cause for self gratula- tion, on the part of the present generation ; but rather a feeling of mortification, that they have been no better improved. The settlers of Cape Porpoise were very poor, the most wealthy possessing only a few hundred dollars worth of unproductive property. In fact their only means of sustenance was manual labor, which was but poorly compensated. The price of lumber, upon which they mainly relied for their supply of bread stuffs and other necessaries of life, was so low as scarce- ly to pay them for the labor of sawing it alone. Their crops and flocks were subject to the wanton destruc- tion of a savage enemy ; and to the waste of bears, wolves,* and other ravenous beasts that abounded in their forests. Now, application to business is sure to be well rewarded ; the avenues to wealth are so numerous, that numbers are wanting to explore them ; and the acquisition of property so easy that all can afford the time and means for gaining knowledge themselves, and of imparting it to their children. There were, however, undoubtedly many inhabitants of Cape Porpoise, who escaped the unenviable notoriety conferred by the province records, and who kept on the humble, but "even tenor of their way," respected, and unpersecuted, but who are now wholly forgotten.
When Maine was first discovered, it was inhabited by several tribes of Indians, amounting to about tforty thousand individuals. They had a tradition, ¿ that they originally came from the west of the Mississippi, and after much hard fighting, at length crossed the Hudson river, and took the general name of Mohicans or Mo- hegans. When the English first visited this country, the natives were divided into several clans or grand di- visions, and these again into separate tribes. The large divisions were governed by a chief, who some-
*There were bounties for killing wolves, paid by the town as late as 1784.
IThere are now but 1000 .- Me. Reg. 1837.
# Heckewelder. See Williamson, vol. i. p. 454.
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times bore the title of Bashaba, and sometimes that of Sagamore. The tribes were under the direction of a Sagamore or Sachem, who was subject to a Bashaba or great chief. Some writers state that sagamore and sachem were synonymous, or chiefs of equal rank ; but others assert that a sagamore was the head of the tribe, and the sachems were the captains or principal men. The sagamores generally appointed their successors.
The general names of the tribes in Maine, were the Abenaques, and the Etechemens. The Abenaques tribes were from Penobscot to the neighborhood of Saco river. The Agamenticus or Accomenticus tribe was subject to the Pentucket or Pennicook Indians of New Hampshire. The Sokokis tribe dwelt on Saco river, and were probably subject to the Abenaques. Which of these tribes claimed Cape Porpoise, it is dif- ficult to determine. Thomas Chabonoke, a Saco Indian, deeded to *Thomas Wadlow or Wadleigh all his title to Nampscascoke, upon condition of Wadleigh's allowing one bushel of corn annually to " the old Webb," Chabanoke's mother. This tract extended from the " Noguncoke" to Kennebunk river. +Fluellen Sumptimus of Saco also deeded to William Phillips, all the land from Saco to Cape Porpoise river, from the sea to Fluellen's falls, on Mousam river. Mogg Hogan, likewise of Saco, deeded land from Saco to Kennebunk river to Phillips.
De Laet, however, asserts that the Indians in the neighborhood of Saco river, differed from the eastern Indians both in language and manners. The difference of language between the tribes to the westward and eastward of Saco river, Sullivan says, " is not the only circumstance, though it may be sufficient to induce us to believe, that the river of Saco was an important di- viding line between the savage nations of the east and
* In 1657, John Wadleigh assigned land on the western side of Mousam river to his son, " to be Lyable to all common Charges and Rates for the Town of Praston alias Wells." Wells was called " Preston" in Felt's Hist. Ipswich, p. 75.
tSome one in copying a deed from this Indian, instead of writing " Fluellen Sumptimus of Saco," transcribed it " Fluellen, some- times of Saco," which error afterwards crept into several other deeds.
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west part of New England." It would seem, too, from the fact of Jenkins's goods being returned by Passacon- oway, Sagamore of the Pennicooks, that this territory was under the jurisdiction of that chief. The Abena- ques tribes were under the general control of the Basha- ba, who was killed in the war of 1614. After his death no other chief possessed the title, or the power that he did. His dominions, according to *De Laet, compris- ed what is now the State of Maine. Others say his authority extended as far as Naumkeag or Salem.
The Indians are tall and straight, with broad faces, black eyes and hair, white teeth, and bright olive com- plexion. None of them are in any way deformed, or ever grow corpulent. They are extremely fond of or- naments, and of bright and dazzling colors. Williamson, in his history of Maine, remarks that, " amongst them- selves, every right and possession is safe. No locks, no bars are necessary to guard them. In trade they are fair and honest ; astonished at the crimes which white men commit, to accumulate property. Their lips utter no falsehoods to each other, and the injuries done to an individual, they make a common cause of resentment. Such is an Indian's hospitality, that if an unarmed stranger comes among them and asks protec- tion, he is sure to find it. If cold, he is warmed ; if naked, clothed ; if hungry, fed with the best the camp affords. They are faithful and ardent in friendship, and grateful for favors, which are never obliterated from their memories. Ordinarily possessing great pa- tience and equanimity of mind, the men bear misfor- tunes with perfect composure, giving proofs of cheerfulness amidst the most untoward incidents. With a glow of ardor for each other's welfare, and the good of the country ; all offer voluntary services to the public ; all burn with the sacred flame of patriotism ; and all most heartily celebrate the heroic deeds of their ancestors. The point of honor is every thing in their view. Sensibility in their hearts, is a spark which in- stantly kindles.
" But the darker shades of character are many. An injury, a taunt, or even neglect, will arouse all the
*As quoted by Folsom.
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A. D. 1716.]
resentments of their untutored minds, and urge them on to acts of fatal revenge. Jealousy, revenge and cruelty, are attributes of mind, which truly belong to them. If they always remember a favor, they never forget an injury. To suspect the worst-to retaliate evil for evil-to torture a fallen captive-to keep no faith with an enemy-and never to forgive, seem to be maxims, the correctness of which, according to their ethics, admits of no question. To them, so sweet in thought, and so glorious in fact, is successful revenge, that they will go through danger and hardship to the end of life, for the sake of effecting their purpose. No arts, no plans, no means, are left unessayed to beat or kill the object of their hate."*
With these traits of character, it would have been easy for the English settlers, to have secured their friendship, and assistance against the French. They, however, by their wanton insults, and cruelty, and con- stant frauds in their dealings with the Indians, aroused their bad passions against them, and for more than a century, were made to feel the effects of their impru- dence and injustice. The French early gained the confidence of the Indians, by their kindness and fair dealings, and always found them faithful friends and allies.
Within twenty days after Philip's war commenced in Massachusetts, hostilities began in Maine. The Indians of Maine, who had long hated the English, were provoked to take part in the war, by the cruelty of some English sailors, who threw the child of Squando, into Saco river, to see if it could swim naturally. The child soon after died, and Squando, attributing its death to the treatment it had received from the English, aroused the Indians against the settlers.
Bourne, in his manuscript history of Kennebunk, mentions a custom of the Indians which no other wri- ter has noticed. He says, it was their practice to raise a pile of stones when war was ended, which was allow- ed to stand till they had determined to renew hostilities.
*The same character is given to the Massachusetts Indians in Thacher's Hist. Plymouth.
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The appearance of these stones was a guarantee of safety to the whites, but their disappearance.was tanta- mount to a declaration of war.
CHAPTER V.
Petition for reincorporation .... Town called Arundel .... The first garrison ..... Town meetings ..... Roads located ..... Mr. Eveleth employed to preach ... Harding's ferry .... Obsolete names .... The fourth Indian war .... Garrisons .... Several persons killed by the Indians .... Attempt to surprise Harding's garrison .... Allis- on Brown, first representative .... Capt. Felt and others mur- dered .... Ralle killed .... Lieut. Prescott wounded .... Anecdotes of the Indians .... Peace .... Mrs. Durrill and Mrs. Baxter killed .... The Baxter bible.
THE following from the Massachusetts records, is a copy of the petition of the inhabitants and proprietors of this town, to be reincorporated, with the proceedings thereon.
" A petition of the inhabitants and proprietors of the town of Cape Porpus, shewing that several of the an- cient inhabitants and dependants of others being desirous to settle the said town in a regular and defensible man- ner agreeable to the order of the Hon'ble Court, -and whereas several are already set down in small huts in a scattering manner, which tends wholly to defeat this wholesome order, and to render the place uncapable of defence. The petitioners therefore pray that the Hon'ble John Wheelwright, Esq. may be appointed and impowered to regulate the present settlements as to placing the houses ;- And that he be enabled to demand and to take into his keeping the town records wheresoever they may be found, that persons may come to know their own rights, until the town be in order to choose their own officers.
" In the House of Representatives Nov. 12th, 1717, Read and ordered that the Hon'ble John Wheelwright, Esq. be impowered to regulate the present settlement
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KENNEBUNK PORT. 107
of Cape Porpoise as to placing the houses, so as the inhabitants may be able to defend themselves in case of a war,-And that he be farther impowered to de- mand and keep the town records belonging to said place till said town be otherwise regulated. Sent up for concurrence. Read and concurred.
Consented to. Sam'I. Shute.
" May 18th, 1718. Coll. Wheelwright's return upon the order of this Court for regulating the settle- ment at Cape Porpoise on the petition of several of the inhabitants and proprietors of said place, as entered Nov. 13th, 1717, is as follows, Viz.
" Pursuant to an order of the Great and General Assembly of the 13th of Nov. 1717, to me directed, being therein impowered to regulate the present settle- ment of Cape Porpoise as to placing the houses, so as that the inhabitants may be enabled to defend them- selves, in case of a war ;- In obedience therefore, I went on the spot, the 14th instant, and took a particu- lar view of the place, and the several parts thereof; and am of opinion, and so far as it is in my power, have ordered and appointed that the southwesterly side of the neck of land known by the name of Montague's neck; it being commodious for the harbor, and con- venient for the fishery, and may be a guard and secu- rity to the fishing vessels and others which may at any time come in thither, as also a convenient outlet into other parts of the town for their creatures ;- that upon the highest part of that point they erect a garrison of about fifty feet square ; and that as many of the inhabit- ants as it will comfortably contain, dwell within the walls ; that the rest of the inhabitants build and set their houses in a straight line directly against each square of the garrison, so as they may be well com- manded, and within four poles each of the other ; and that line down towards the water to be the greatest number of houses ; and that each man have four poles square of land for setting his house, and garden spot ; -And that every inhabitant that settles within that township be obliged to build a house there, in form as before expressed ; And that not less than four or five of the inhabitants dwell on that neck at all times, that
.
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so they may be able to keep possession of it in case of some sudden breaking forth of an enemy ; All which, I am of opinion, would be of great use and benefit to the publick, as well as safety to the inhabitants resi- ding there. JOHN WHEELWRIGHT."
June 5th, 1719, 'Mr. Wheelwright's report was again recorded at length, and " in council read, and accepted, and voted that the name of the accepted town on Cape Porpoise be Arundel."
" The report of John Wheelwright, Esq. for the set- tlement of Cape Porpoise and the vote of the board thereon, as entered June 5th, 1719.
" In the House of Representatives ; June 8th, 1719, read and concurred. Assented to.
SAMUEL SHUTE."
The original petition is not to be found in the office of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts, there hav- ing been but ten documents preserved from the year 1715 to 1725. A fatality appears to have attended most of the documents and records connected with the early history of this town ; and, in consequence, many of the most important events, are left to conjecture. Who the petitioners were, or whether the whole of the petition was entered on the Records, cannot now be ascertained. As recorded, the petition makes no re- quest for an alteration of the name of the town, nor is any thing said as to its boundaries, although there was afterwards a prevailing opinion, that the limits of the town were defined by the General Court, at this time. The town was called Arundel in compliment to the Earl of Arundel, descendant of Thomas, Earl of Arun- del, one of the original proprietors of New England. Lord Arundel offered to give a bell to the town, but it was never sent for .*
It is a matter of doubt whether the inhabitants built a garrison and settled on Montague's neck, agreeably to Mr. Wheelwright's order, or not, as there are no remains of a garrison distinguishable at that place, nor do any persons now living, recollect having heard there ever was one there, although Andrew Brown and
" Traditional.
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Thomas Perkins bought five acres on the " south cor- ner of Montague's Neck," for that purpose. The descendants of Thomas Huff assert that he built the first garrison in town on the spot formerly occupied by his father, Ferdinando Huff, where Clement Huff now lives, the remains of which are distinctly to be seen. It is probable the inhabitants did not even attempt to form a settlement at Stage harbor, but began to build at what was called Folly harbor, where the principal settlement at Cape Porpoise has ever since been.
From the time of the resettlement of the town till its reorganization, the Indians were generally quiet, and the settlement began to prosper. Several of the old inhabitants of the town, and the children of those who had died since its last desertion, had returned, and, with some who had purchased land of the proprietors, had commenced building houses and mills, and clearing their lands. Before the town was incorporated, they held informal meetings, and made grants of land, but did not record their doings. The first legal meeting was held " Att Arondell Els. Cape Porpus on the 31 day of march 1719, being warned by order of a war- rant from John Wheelwright, Esq. one of his Maj. Justus of the peac to meet and make choyce of town Officers." Jabez Dorman was chosen moderator ; James Mussy, town clerk ; Andrew Brown, Joseph Baily, and Humphrey Deering, selectmen ; James Tyler, and Allison Brown, haywards or field-drivers; Thomas Huff, constable ; John Watson, tithingman ; and Sam- uel Carr, surveyor of the highway.
The selectmen located "a highway of four rods wide from the western end of the persell of land which Andrew Brown and Thomas Perkins lately bought of James Tyler, Jabez Dorman, and John Watson for to build a fort upon, which highway runeth down upon the back of the creek as appears by several marked trees and stakes, near whare the pound now standeth, and so to the place where people pases near to mon- tagues neck so colled."
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