History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 132

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 132

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Indians did not think it right that they should re- move further up the river.

The Commissioners replied: "We are willing you should hold all the islands in the river you now improve, from Sunkhole to Passadunkee, which is three miles above Oldtown, together with Oldtown Islands and the lands on all the branches of the river above Passquat- aguess on the west side, and the Montawunskeag on the east side of the river, together with White Island and Black Island in the Bay, if you will quit your right to the six miles wide from the river below."

The Indians said that they wanted a cross line at Passadunkee for their bound; that if they moved they expected to be paid for it, and that they all wanted blankets, powder, shot, and flints.

The Commissioners agreed to give them three hundred and fifty blankets, two hundred pounds of powder and shot, and flints in proportion - that number of blankets, they said, would afford each of the tribe one. This was satisfactory, and all the Indians agreed to the proposition. Rev. Messrs. Little and Noble, Colonel Jonathan Eddy, and Mr. Jeremiah Colburn were called as witnesses.

After receiving an admonition from the Commissioners not to "spread groundless reports of hostile intentions, but to carefully inform the inhabitants of anything neces- sary for their safety," they shook hands with the Commis- sioners, and "parted with general joy."

The Commissioners sent on shore both breakfast and dinner for the Indians. During the whole conference the Indians did not move from the spot where they first seated themselves, or rise, except when they addressed the Commissioners, until at the close, when the four pub- lic speakers - the chieftains - rose together.

Mr. Little accompanied the Commissioners to Captain Brewer's. On the next Wednesday (30th) Mr. Little left Mr. Brewer's for the purpose of establishing schools among the Indians at a village near Mr. Colburn's, above the head of the tide. On his way he had a conversation at Mr. Treat's with four Canadian Indians, who were waiting to have their guns mended. After spending the night at Mr. Bradley's, he took his horse and rode to Mr. Colburn's, where he was disturbed on finding that a Mr. Burley, a young trader, had been selling rum to the In- dians and getting them drunk, on their way from the treaty.

He found seven families in Mr. Colburn's neighbor- hood who were very poor and ignorant, and invited their children to attend school on the next day.

On the Ist of September he established his school at a place called "Rumfeekhungus". (Arumpsunkungan). The number of children in attendance at this time he does not state, but he was so highly gratified with it that he called in some Indians who were passing to see how it was conducted, and the manner of reading and writing, and they seemed to be pleased. One Tennis was there, who understood some English, from whom he learned to pronounce the Indian numerals: Pausuck, one; neese, two; naush, three; yough, four; nollan or perence, five ; nougnatunk or nequittance, six ; tombousen, seven; san- suck, eight; holanway, nine; matselah, ten; hoquerto- mow, eleven; neesaunocow, twelve; sauncow, thirteen ; youwauncow, fourteen; nolluncow, fifteen; causauncow, sixteen; tomborouscow, seventeen; sansakamsoncow, eighteen; naulaw chusaconcow, nineteen; neerenscow, twenty; the first ten of which he says he took from an Indian, and the last from an Englishman.

On the next day Mr. Little had eleven scholars, all of whom but five knew a little more than their letters. A person - probably Mr. Ruthven, the French priest - dined with him, and admitted the usefulness of schools. He wished the Court would give him a right to land near Oldtown, on which he could reside and administer to the Indians, while the Protestant minister taught the school; said that he would attend the school himself and learn the English language. He attended Mr. Little's school that day. Notwithstanding all this seeming friendliness, Mr. Little appears to have had misgivings in regard to the real sentiments of the Indians and priest about his school. He endeavored, through Mr. Marsh, to ascer- tain what they might be. The priest passed another fore- noon with him, and promised to bring Orono to see him. Mr. Little felt the necessity of understanding the lan- guage, and, by the help of Mr. Marsh, translated the Lord's Prayer and made some acquaintance with the In- dian vocabulary. On the 5th of September he held a session of his school in the forenoon. Having waited in vain for the priest and Orono until the afternoon of the

531

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

6th, he rode down to Mr. Treat's in order to attend Mr. Noble's installment.

Mr. Noble was a clergyman who at the breaking out of the Revolution was in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. He was a native of Westfield, Massachusetts, and was originally a Methodist, but became a Congregationalist. He was a patriot, and performed the duties of a chaplain under Colonel John Allen. He wrote a letter to Gen- eral Washington while in the East, setting forth the im- portance of holding the St. John River, and offering to take any position .. Men, however, were not to be had, and the proposition could not be entertained. Mr. Noble was at Machias at the time of the repulse of Sir George Collier, and preached a sermon on the event .* After the Revolution the Government gave him a tract of three hundred acres of land in what is now Edding- ton, and in 1786 he came to Condeskeag with his wife and three children to reside.

There was no organized church on either side of the Penobscot River, but there were several religious people who were members of churches in the places from which they came, and these had their influence with the people to employ Mr. Noble as a religious teacher. An arrange- ment was made with him at a stipend of $400 per year, and advantage was taken of Mr. Little's visit to have him installed.

It was intended to have Mr. Powers (probably Rev. Peter Powers, who was at Deer Isle) assist in the installa- tion, but on learning that he could not come it was con- cluded that, "considering the great trouble and expense of convening a council," Rev. Mr. Little should induct Mr. Noble into office.

Accordingly, on September 10, 1789, upon a platform laid upon barrels in a grove of magnificent oaks, not far from what is now the intersection of Oak and Washington streets, overlooking the then broad and unobstructed Pe- nobscot, whose banks below were covered with almost un- broken woods, in the presence of a large and reverential assembly, the solemn ceremonies were performed. Mr. Little gave the pastoral charge and the right hand of fellowship, and, as he simply and quaintly says, "the people were satisfied, without offering any objections." Mr. Noble preached the sermon, and afterward adminis- tered the Lord's supper to Thomas Howard, Andrew Webster, Simon Crosby, and their wives, of Condes- keag, and John Brewer and Simeon Fowler, of New Wor- cester. t

Mr. Noble was at this time forty-three years of age. He is described as "thin-faced, spare, not tall, of light complexion with a fresh countenance; active, quick, smart, and nervous-a very good preacher, "§ "a man of energy."} On March 27, 1787, the people of Sun- bury (as Mr. Noble had now taught them to call the place) were so well pleased with their preachers that, in a meeting for village purposes, they voted to build a meeting-house forty by thirty-six feet at Condeskge, and

Captain Budge, who was Moderator of the meeting with Mr. Smart, his brother-in-law, agreed to give an acre of land upon which it was to built. The people also voted that the timber for the house should be twelve shillings per hundred, or tun, delivered. Nothing was accom- plished, however, during the year, and on February 8, 1789, a meeting of the inhabitants of the Plantation from Widow Wheeler's mills upwards, was called for March 2, to consult in regard to building a meeting-house and selecting a site for it, and for adopting some proper method for collecting the minister's salary. The meet- ing-house or site does not appear by the record to have received the slightest attention at the meeting, and the action in regard to the salary is recorded thus: "Voted Captain Abraham Tourtellet to weight on the Selectmen of Orrington with our Selectmen, to consult on Mr. Noble's sallary."

After the first year the ministerial enthusiasm in the community evidently had abated. It is probable they lost the respect for Noble to which his clerical character should have entitled him. His conversation was light, and he did not sustain the gravity becoming a minister. He had acquired army habits, and would take a dram with almost any one who invited him ; would laugh and tell improper anecdotes. The quantity of liquors bought by him of Robert Treat would astonish a temperance man .* Yet he was able and eloquent, "so that one would think" (his Deacon Boyd says) "when he was in the pulpit that he ought never to leave it." "He was quite gifted in prayer, and often very eloquent in his ser- mons."t He used notes, some of which had the flavor of age. One of his sermons which is remembered, was preached in reference to the loss of his oldest son, Seth, and two of his neighbors' children, by shipwrecks late in the fall in the midst of a thick snow-storm, on their pass- age towards Boston, from the text: "Is it well with thy husband; is it well with thy child; is it well with thec? And she said, It is well." It was full of pathos.

He was fond of singing; had a fine tenor voice, and sang well himself. He taught singing also, and Mr. Little found him one evening, a few weeks before his in- stallation, at a singing meeting at Mr. Nevers's. He also had the poetical afflatus. His first wife (Hannah Barker) died in 1791, and he dedicated a tribute to her memory, of which the following stanzas are a part ;-

"She was my friend, my guide, my earthly all; Love grew with every waning moon ;-- Ah ! Heaven through length of years delayed the call, And still, methinks, the call too soon. *

* Not the gay splenders of an earthly court Could tempt her to appear and shine; Her solemn airs forbade the world's resort, But I was blest that she was mine."§

Mr. Noble lived in a log-house near the river, several rods northerly of Newbury street. His first meeting was at Nevers's house, which stood near the foot of that street. The indifference of the people in regard to his support; his free habits in regard to drink, and "moral

"Kidder's Eastern Maine, 129.

+Rev. Mr. Little's Journal. Bangor Centennial, 42-3.

§ Williamson's Annals of Bangor.

*Kidder's Eastern Maine, 129.

*Bangor Centennial, 77. + Williamson's Annals.

§ Bangor Centennial, 146.

532

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

obliquity in another respect" were the occasion of his leaving the place. He had probably discontinued .his ministerial labors prior to April 4, 1792, for the inhabit- ants on that day met at Captain James Budge's for town purposes, and chose William Boyd and Nathaniel Harlow, Sr., a committee to hire a minister, and voted "66 Dol- lars, 66 Cents for the Gospel."*

The following letter was addressed by Mr. Noble to Colonel Jonathan Eddy, Major Robert Treat, Captain John Crosby, Mr. Elisha Nevers, and the rest of the Com- mittee chosen to make proposals to settle the Gospel on Penobscot River, June 7, 1786.

PENOBSCOT RIVER, August 21st, 1790.

GENTLEMEN :- Sundry attempts have been made for a settlement between the People and myself; but all to no effect. When I settled here I consented to accept of twenty pounds less than what was really necessary to support my family, because the people said they were poor; still, to release them of the burden, I have been at the expense to collect a great part of what has been collected. Very little thanks have I had for the trouble I have been at. I was desired to draw a Bond for the People to sign for my support, which was rejected and another drawn (unknown to me) which hath deprived me of one-half the sum proposed. I am willing to do in this and in all cases as I would be done by; but necessity constrains me to say, I must have my pay. I must further tell you I shall look to no other persons for a settlement but that committee which covenanted with me on June 7, 1786, to give me seventy pounds annual salary. What you then did is as binding as a note of hand. I am sorry to take any concise measures; but I tell you again, I must have my pay immediately.

I am, gentlemen, with due respect,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

To the Committee.

SETH NOBLE.

Mr. Noble evidently did not rely solely upon his salary for support. Among his letters to Colonel Eddy was found one, of which the following copy is evidence that he earned something outside of his pulpit; and that he was not probably more successful in obtaining his pay for the one service than for the other:

BANGOR, June 7, 1793.

SIR :- I have a small account against Jacob Bussell, Jr., which I would wish you to collect as soon as possible. I find his word is not to be regarded. Try easy means first; and if that will not do, put the law in force.

To one quarter of a year's schooling, in 1792, one thousand of the best of shingles. Ditto, in 1793, six shillings, and one day's labor.

If he will labor four days for me next week, or when I shall call for him, I will accept of it; if not, sue him for six shillings.

To Colonel Jonathan Eddy.

SETH NOBLE.

Mr. Noble married a second wife-Mrs. Ruhana Emery-April 11, 1793. He removed his family to New- market, New Hampshire, in 1797, where he was hired to preach six months, on May 28, 1798. On November 29, 1799, he removed to Westfield, the place of his nativ- ity. From there he removed to Montgomery, Massa- chusetts, where he was ordained November 4, 1801. He continued there until 1806, when he removed to Frank- linton, Ohio. His second wife died in Montgomery, in 1805. He afterwards married Mary Riddle. He died September 15, 1807, aged sixty-four. [Colonel Porter's Memoirs of Eddy, 52, 53; Allen's American Biography, 610.]

To return from this digression, Rev. Mr. Little was in earnest in his intentions to instruct the Indians, but was not aware of the magnitude of the obstacle in his way. The greater part of two centuries they had been under

Roman Catholic influence, and the plausible manner of Ruthven, the priest, in assenting to the usefulness of schools and in agreeing to propose them to the Indians, misled the hopeful missionary. But he was soon con- vinced of his error, as was a clergyman of a later day.

On the morning of the day after the installation, he sent Mr. Marsh from Mr. Colburn's to Oldtown to ascertain why the Indians did not appear, and to invite them to a con- ference at his lodgings. In the afternoon the priest ap- peared, saying that he had come from Passadunkee that day-forty miles; that the Indians had a grand council on the day before, and concluded not to have their chil- dren taught by an English school-master; that they were "jealous that their children would be taught a different religion," and that he was desired to come and inform him of the result of the council. The next morning Mr. Marsh confirmed what the priest had told him, and he became satisfied of the uselessness of any further efforts in that direction.

Mr. Little came on foot from Mr. Colburn's to Mr. Treat's, six miles, where he dined and again met the French priest. He had a conversation with him in Latin, which he found the priest could speak pretty well. On the 15th he was again at Captain Brewer's, where he copied his Indian vocabulary while waiting for a. passage down the river. By the Ist of October he had returned to his home.

In the spring of 1787 a tragedy occurred, which, but for the confidence of the Indians in the Government, would have placed the settlers in great peril.

The facts, as related by Captain Brewer to Mr. Little, were that Andrew Gilman and an Indian named Peol, with his wife and her son by a former husband, went hunting together to Pushaw Lake, near which Peol had a camp. They were very successful, and deposited their furs in the camp. When they came to a division of the furs a dispute arose as to the share that each should re- ceive. Gilman claimed one-half, but the Indian claimed that, as his squaw and boy (who was about sixteen years old) had skinned the game and cooked for the party, he was entitled to two-thirds. They then took some of the furs and went together to Mr. Treat's to buy some rum and reconcile the matter over a friendly drink. But the dispute continued. Peol and his wife returned to their camp, where the furs were lodged. Gilman remained about Treat's for a day or two, and engaged James Page, a young man about nineteen years of age, to go with him and get the fur. On reaching Peol's camp they found Archibald McPhetres, Jr., and an Indian named Sabattis, upon business of their own. These they hired to go to Treat's for more rum. On their return they all drank together, and Sabattis, considerably overcome, staggered about eight rods down to the lake and fell into his canoe and went to sleep. Gilman then demanded that the furs be divided into halves, which was agreed to peaceably. Then came up a new dispute in regard to some sable skins, and Page thrust himself into the con- troversy, which provoked Peol to wrath. Whereupon Gilman asks :

* Williamson's Annals.

533

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

"Will you, Page or McPhetres, help me carry off my furs to the canoes ?"

"I will go," McPhetres replied.

While Gilman and McPhetres were conveying the furs, Page and Peol continued the dispute, and became so warm that Page struck Peol a blow with his fist. Upon which the Indian said to his wife and boy, "run," and they immediately fled into the woods for safety. While Gilman and McPhetres were stowing the furs in the canoes, they heard the report of a gun, and Gilman said:

"I am afraid Page has killed Peol," and they both ran towards the camp, and meeting Page, Gilman asked :

"Page, have you killed Peol ?"

"Yes," Page replied, "if I had not killed him he would have killed me."

Gilman, Page, and McPhetres about midnight took the canoes and went down the pond, leaving Sabattis still asleep.

In the morning Sabattis awoke, and finding only the dead body of Peol, he placed it in his canoe, and sought for the wife and boy. Having found her, he proceeded with her to Oldtown, and had hardly arrived when her son made his appearance from the woods, having swam the rivers. The tribe was in great excitement. The young men in a frenzy called for revenge, and begged to be permitted to go in pursuit of the murderers. The sachems said,“ No. We are under Massachusetts govern- ment. See what the General Court will do first, then we shall know what to do."

They immediately sent word to the first American settlement. Captain Brewer, who was a deputy sheriff, collected sufficient aid, and before night arrested Gilman, Page, and McPhetres, and the next day carried them be- fore Justice Simeon Fowler. The chiefs were present with the body of Peol, and the wound was examined. Upon the above facts the magistrate ordered the accused committed, and they were taken by Captain Brewer to gaol in Pownalboro.

Mr. Williamson states that a few days previous to the time at which they were to be brought into court, a re- port was circulated among the Indians that the court was to be held a week later than it actually was, and as no witnesses appeared against the prisoners they were dis- charged. Gilman never returned to Penobscot. The result of this matter was the occasion of much heart- burning amongst the Indians.

It will be recollected that the treaty made by the-Com- missioners with the Indians in 1786 was not completed by the passing of the consideration and the transfer of the lands. Instead of acting promptly upon the agree- ment, the Government were so dilatory that when they actually sent an agent to ratify it, the other party were disposed to postpone it altogether.

It was not until June, 1788, that the Massachusetts Government appointed its agent, and the person they se- lected was no other than Rev. Daniel Little. Whether his selection was the most judicious may be determined from the following narrative :

That gentleman arrived at Sunbury, as the place was then called, on June 17, and sent a formal request to the

Indians at Oldtown, through Mr. Treat, the interpreter, to meet him at the head of the tide on Friday, the 20th, to receive their blankets and other articles, and sign the deeds. Mr. Treat, with Mr. Colburn, visited them and gave them the notice. They took time to consider an answer, and finally told them that they had been down several times on public business; that their young men were apt to drink; that their number was large, and that it was most fit that the meeting should be at their town, and they should be glad to meet Mr. Little and any other person, as everything might be done coolly and calinly there.

Mr. Little had some scruples as to whether he would not be compromising the dignity of the Government if he yielded to their request, and conferred with some of the principal gentlemen on the river in regard to it. They had but one answer. It was a condition not to be disregarded, if a conference was to be had at all. Ac- cordingly he notified the tribe that he would meet them as they proposed, on Saturday.

Having requested Mr. Treat to provide him with a canoe and stores for temporary purposes, he proceeded to collect the witnesses to the treaty and other gentlemen of character acquainted with the Indians to accompany him. His company consisted of Captain Brewer, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Treat, Mr. Noble, Colonel Lowder, Mr. John Lee, and Mr. William Colburn. All things being in readiness, they set off from Mr. Treat's in the after- noon of the 18th, and, reaching Mr. Colburn's at night, they stopped with him. The next morning they crossed the Stillwater River to Marsh Island, and walked, says Mr. Little's journal, "through a trackless wood, about six miles, when Indian Oldtown, about two hun- dred acres, opened to view, with a thicket of houses on the lower point of said island, just above the Great Falls. Immediately upon our arrival, in open view of the town, a number of their canoes were manned with sprightly young men, in which they came over (about forty rods) to transport us into town. As we landed, their shore was lined with women and children. We walked up to their parade, about fifteen rods from the shore (a walk very smooth, about three rods in width, lined on each side with a range of houses, built with poles about six inches diameter and the same asunder, placed perpen- dicularly and covered very neatly with bark in shingle form), was introduced into their capital-house by a waiter who stood at the door; only one sachem in the House of Conference, who made us very welcome, directing us to take possession of one half the room, twenty by forty, which was carpeted with fur. Very soon came in all the sachems and placed themselves on the opposite side, which being divided by two poles from one end of the house to the other. Then about forty of their men of years placed themselves in rank next the sachems, and lastly an old man, about one hundred years, a former sachem, was introduced in memory of past services. They then fired a cannon abroad."

The conference began. Mr. Little informed them that he had been appointed by the Government to confirm the treaty made with General Lincoln and others two

5 34

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

years before; that the blankets, etc., were ready for them at Condeskeag, and a deed of land in his hand was ready to be delivered to them as soon as they should sign the quit-claim of the lands of the river which he pre- sented to them. He recapitulated the agreement, which he called the witnesses to confirm, and explained clearly all the papers, and said that the Government was ready fully to comply with all the stipulations on their part. After half an hour of consultation apart, the Indians gave their reply through Orson Neptune, who spoke as follows:

Weare thankful to see Mr. Little and desire to be remembered to the Governor and Council, and we'are glad to see all well here together. The King of France says we are all one-it is all peace; and the King of England says it is peace, though it was war some time ago.

Brothers :- We are all one ; we don't talk of hunting one another. We live here to serve God; we all live together. We and our children mean to help each other. We don't mean to take any lands from you. If anybody takes any lands from us, it must be King George, for Gen- eral Court and General Washington promised we should enjoy this country. General Washington and General Court told us if they knew anything was doing against us they would tell us.

Brothers :- Now we are all here together. When we were at Condes- keag we had not a right understanding of these matters, and the young men were not all collected, and we were pressed to make that treaty contrary to our inclinations.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 132

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100