USA > Maine > York County > Saco > History of Saco and Biddeford, with notices of other early settlements, and of proprietary governments, in Maine, including the provinces of New Somersetshire and Lygonia > Part 6
USA > Maine > York County > Biddeford > History of Saco and Biddeford, with notices of other early settlements, and of proprietary governments, in Maine, including the provinces of New Somersetshire and Lygonia > Part 6
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*MS. Genealogy of the Russells, in the possession of Rev. Dr. W. Jenks. The name began to be written Georges towards the close of the xvii century ; a change in the pronunciation taking place, pro- bably, at the same time. tHume. Hist. of Eng. chap. 41.
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moned to the bar of the house of Commons, where the speaker, Sir Edward Coke, informed him that the patent of the Council was complained of as a grievance, and re- quired it to be delivered to the house. Gorges replied that he was but one of the company, and that he had no power to deliver it without their consent. He then went into a full vindication of the patent, and of the measures pursued by the Council, and pointed out the vast impor- tance of this country to England, 'which could not long remain unpossessed', he said 'either by the French, Span- iards, or Dutch, so that if the plantations were to be given up, the honor as well as the interest of the nation, must greatly suffer.' A committee was then appointed by the house to examine the patent and make objections, to be delivered to Gorges. These he fully answered, with the assistance of the celebrated Lord Finch, and Mr. Cal- trap, as legal counsel. The Parliament, however, in its zeal to reform abuses of the royal prerogative, placed the grant to the Council of Plymouth on the list of grievances presented to the King. Although James did not see fit to recal it, the Council of their own accord suspended operations for a time.
The death of Sir Ferdinando is supposed to have oc- curred about the year 1647, when the civil war was at its height. It is almost unnecessary to add, that he never visited New England. He was succeeded in his title and estates by his oldest son, named John, a man of little en- ergy, who did not survive his father many years. Sir John left a son Ferdinando, who inherited the title, and soon after began to interest himself in the affairs of Maine. He published a history of the plantations undertaken in N. England, mostly derived from the papers of his grand- father, in 1658.
Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor, and Mayor of Gorgeana, was styled in the commission from Sir Ferdi- nando liis 'well beloved cousin,' or kinsman. He was probably the son of a younger brother of Sir Ferdinando. He received from the lord proprietor, 1641, a grant of 5000 acres of land in any part of the Province at his. election, not interfering with prior grants, to constitute a Barony, 'with full power to divide the same into manors
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and lordships, and to hold court barons and court leets within said Lordship.' Thomas chose a tract in Wells, near the small river Ogarnag or Ogunquit, where he sold a parcel to the Rev. John Wheelwright in 1643. Henry, a brother of Thomas Gorges, brought actions of eject- ment at the court of 1686, for lands contained in this grant, and succeeded in some of them.
Capt. Francis Champernoon, one of the council in the government of Gorges 1640, is styled his 'loving nephew' in the commission. He resided at Kittery, where he died 1687. Two of his daughters married in the Cutts fami- ly. A third married Humphry Eliot, whose son, Cham- pernoon Eliot, was the principal heir of Capt. Champer- noon, inheriting 'all his lands in old and New England.'
We have already stated, that Mr. John Oldham, the associate patentee of Mr. Vines, was not among the set- tlers at Winter Harbor. A brief notice of him is never- theless due, from the agency which he probably had in procuring the patent. Mr. Oldham came to New Eng- land 1623, with a family of ten persons, and joined the colony of New Plymouth. The next year he became involved, together with the Rev. John Lyford, in a seri- ous difference with the leading individuals of that colony, and received sentence of banishment. Returning thither in the spring of 1625, he was again expelled, and com- pelled to take refuge with his family at Nantasket, where he was joined by Mr. Lyford, Mr. Roger Conant, and some others, with their families, from New Plymouth. The cause of this secession from the colony seems to have been a dislike of the peculiarly rigid principles of the greater part of the pilgrims. Soon after a company in England, intending to establish a plantation at Cape Ann, appointed these gentlemen to superintend it. Mr. Conant, who commenced the settlement of Salem soon after, bad the care of the planting and fishing ; Mr. Oldham was to conduct the trade ; and Rev. Mr. Lyford to be their min- . ister .* In 1628, Mr. Oldham went to England, when he appears to have regained the good opinion of the old col-
*N. E. Memorial. 117-8. note.
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ony, who committed to his charge a prisoner of some con- sequence. It is uncertain in what year he returned. While in England, he was chiefly occupied with a grant made to him by Robert Gorges on Charles river. The Mass. Colonists complained much of his pertinacity in de- fending his right and title, notwithstanding their patent em- braced the tract in question .* Terms of agreement were proposed to him, which he at first rejected ; but as we next find hin living quietly under their jurisdiction with- in the limits of his grant, at Watertown, in 1632, some compromise probably had been made. In that year, a committee composed of two persons from each of the eight towns then forming the colony of Mass. bay, was chosen by the people to confer with the Governor and as- sistants on the subject of raising a public fund ; when Mr. O. and one other represented that town.t This body was the germ of the General Court established two years af- ter on the same basis of representation. We next find Mr. Oldham with three others travelling from Dorchester to Connecticut, through the wilderness, to view the country and trade with the Indians. The result of this journey, performed in 1633, was the first settlement of the Eng- lish in Connecticut, the favorable accounts of the travel- lers on their return inducing a number of planters to go thither. ± At the first Gen. Court holden May 14, 1634, Mr. Oldham was one of the two representatives of Water- town. His adventurous and enterprising spirit at length brought him to a tragical end. In the summer of 1636, while on a trading voyage to the coast of Connecticut, he was barbarously murdered by some of the Pequod In- dians, who attacked him in his pinnace near Block Island. This was the second instance of murder committed by those Indians, and was followed by a war of extermina- tion which put a period to the existence of that tribe.
The foregoing pages have narrated the principal events of a public nature, in which RICHARD VINES, the foun- der of our towns, bore a part. Whatever we have been
: tSee a letter to Gov. Endicott. Hazard's Coll. 1. 256.
1Prince. I. 60. Dr. Harris. Hist. of Dorchester. Hist. Coll xi. A tradinghouse had been before set up on the Connecticut by the New Plymouth people, but without making a regular settlement.
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able to collect relating to his private history, will be now presented to the reader. The following account derived from the journal of Gov. Winthrop, furnishes us with some knowledge of the extent of his transactions in the way of trade. About the year 1642, two rival French establish- ments existed at Penobscot and near the mouth of the St. John. At the head of the former was Monsieur D'- Aulnay, and of the latter, De la Tour. So far did these adventurers carry their feuds, that they engaged in open hostilities against each other. The assistance of the Massachusetts Colonies was sought by both, to enable them to carry on their vindictive operations. La Tour came to Boston for this purpose in 1643, but before the object of his visit could be attended to, he was required to answer for killing two Englishmen at Machias, and taking away their goods to the amount of 500l. Mr. Vines was part owner of the alleged goods, and happening to be in Bos- ton at this time, he was requested to appear with La Tour before the Governor and assistants, that the charge might be duly investigated. The facts were as follows. Mr. Vines being on a trading voyage to the eastward, fell in with La Tour, and sold him goods to the value of 400 beaver skins. At the same time, the French officer infor- med him that he had a commission from his government to make prize of all who traded in that quarter, and warn- ed him to forbear in future, but gave him liberty to trade while on his return, provided he erected no tradinghouse or fort on the coast. Mr. Vines, however, landed his goods at Machias afterwards, and set up a wigwam or camp, in which he left five men provided with firearms, and a small vessel, and returned home. Two days after, La Tour cast anchor before this place, when one of Vines's men went on board his vessel to make the necessary ex- planations. In the meantime, some of the French crew landed, and as they were going towards the wigwam, ap- parently with hostile intent, one of the men left there at- tempted to discharge a gun. The Frenchmen immediate- Jy fired on them, and killed two of their number. La Tour afterwards made prisoners of the others and seized the goods, and sent them to a French port. The men were there discharged, but the goods were adjudged to
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be lawful prize. Mr. Vines maintained that he did not exceed the liberty given hin, by La Tour, having merely set up a temporary shelter for his goods, which he showed to be of the value of 4007. La Tour, finding that the facts were against him, and wishing to quiet the minds of his judges, promised to have the circumstances investi- gated at a future time, and to make satisfaction, if it ap- peared that he had done wrong. Pacified by these promises, the governor permitted him to enlist ships and men in his service to act against his rival at Penobscot.
The following year Mr. Vines in company with Capt. Warnerton of Pascataqua, and Mr. Short of Pemaquid, made a visit to St. John for the purpose of collecting their debts. On their way, they put in at Penobscot, where they were detained several days by D'Aulnay. When liberated, they proceeded to St. John, and were hospitably received by La Tour. At this time an expe- dition was fitted out by him against Penobscot, in which a number of Englishmen embarked, who happened to be at St. John ; among others, Capt. Warnerton. The en- terprise was unsuccessful, and cost Warnerton his life .*
A visit of Mr. Vines to the White Mountains, descri- bed by Winthrop, is worthy of notice. It was performed in the month of August, 1642, by him in company with Thomas Gorges, the deputy-governor. Darby Field, who was living at Exeter 1639, has the credit of being the first traveller to these mountains. His journey also is described by Winthrop, who says it was performed in the year 1642. He appears to have returned by the way of Saco. "The report he brought," says Winthrop, "of shi- ning stones, &c. caused divers others to travel thither, but they found nothing worth their pains. Mr. Gorges and Mr. Vines, two of the magistrates of Sir F. Gorges' pro- vince, went thither about the end of this month," (Au- gust.) They set out, probably, a few days after the re- turn of Field, dazzled by visions of diamonds and other precious minerals, with which the fancy of this man had
*The dissensions of La Tour and I)' Aulnay have been made the sub- ject of an agreeable tale, called "the Rivals of Acadia," printed at Boston 1-27.
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garnished his story. "They went up Saco river in birch canoes, and that way they found it 90 miles to Pegwag- get, an Indian town, but by land it is but 60. Upon Saco river they found many thousand acres of rich mea- dow, but there are ten falls which hinder boats, &c. From the Indian town they went up hill (for the most part) about 30 miles in woody lands, then they went a- bout 7 or 8 miles upon shattered rocks, without tree or grass, very steep all the way. At the top is a plain about 3 or 4 miles over, all shattered stones, and upon that is another rock or spire about a mile in height, and about an acre of ground at the top. At the top of the plain arise four great rivers, each of them so much water at the first issue as would drive a mill : Connecticut river from two heads at the north west and south west, which join in one about 60 miles off; Saco river on the south east ; Amascoggin, which runs into Casco bay, at the north east ; and the Kennebeck at the north by east. The mountain runs east and west 30 or 40 miles, but the peak is above all the rest. They went and returned in 15 days."* This description of the mountains was probably communicated by Mr. Vines to Gov. Winthrop. It con- veys a very accurate idea of them, as they now strike the traveller.
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Mr. Vines removed to Barbadoes, W. I. about the close of the year 1645. From some expressions contained in the subjoined letters addressed by him to Gov. Winthrop after his departure, it may be inferred that he had be- come embarrassed in his private affairs. This circum- stance, together with the prospect of being subjected to the authority of his political, and perhaps, personal ene- my, Cleaves, probably induced him to remove. Great numbers of English planters flocked to the island of Bar- badoes at that period, which was first settled only twenty years before, and yet, in 1650, contained a population of more than twenty thousand whites, and a much greater number of blacks and Indian slaves. The inhabitants were chiefly royalists, many of whom left England on ac- count of the predominance of the republican party.f
*Journal ii. 83. tMod. Univ. Hist. xli. 137.
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LETTERS FROM R. VINES TO GOV. JOHN WINTHROP.
"Right Worshipful and ever honoured Sir-I undertake not to give you a relation of this island, presuming you know more thereof than I can express. But my real re- spects to your worthiness enjoin me to salute you with a line or two, not only to show my gratefulness for former favors, but still desiring to keep correspondency with you, who have always respected me beyond my deserts. I shall be joyful you had any service here to command me, to make good my poor expressions in real actions. This gentleman, Mr. John Mainford, Mer. is coming to your port to trade for provisions for the belly, which at present are very scarce by reason of 5 or 6 months dearth, and not that only, but men are so intent upon planting sugar that they had rather buy food at very dear rates than pro- duce it by labor, so infinite is the profit of sugar works
when once accomplished. I have by God's assistance settled myself in two plantations adjoining, containing 50 acres, which I hope after six months will maintain me and mine comfortably, besides my practice of physic which is worth at least 10,000 lbs. tobacco, per annum. Yet it is hard with me by reason of my great payments for my plantation and negroes and other necessary disburse- ments already paid to the value of 40,000 lbs. tobacco, which keeps me bare at present ; I doubt not but the next crop proving well, to be better able to live than I have been many years. Mr. Parker* with his wife and fami- ly is well seated in a good plantation of 20 acres, besides a good stipend and many good gifts, well approved of in his function, opposed by none unless by Antinomians and such like. I bless God my family continue in good health, all liking the Island well, notwithstanding the change of diet, which at present is yet but slender, yet far from want. I fear not but within 6 months to live as plentifully as any man upon this island, according to my proportion. I have at present 16 acres of corn planted at the least, as much (more) corn for my provisions be-
*Rev. James Parker, second minister of Portsmouth, N. H. where he was settled 1642. Ada:ns' Annals of Portsmouth.
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sides tobacco. The next year I intend for sugar, at pre- 'sent I cannot. Thus ceasing further to trouble you save with my respective service to yourself, your virtuous wife, with your sons and daughters, and to the Rev. divines Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wilson, to my worthy friends Major Gibbons and Mr. Hill, leaving you all to Israel's protec- tor-resting Your Assured friend and servant,
RICHARD VINES.
BARBADOES, 19 July, 1647."
R. VINES TO GOVERNOR WINTHROP.
"Barbadoes 29 April, 164S.
Right Worshipful and my ever honored friend,-Your kind letter of the 24 August I received, which was most welcome to me, esteeming it a high favor that you will vouchsafe to keep correspondence with so undeserving a friend. I perceive by your letter that the Lord did shake bis rod over N. England ; it was his great mercy only to put you in remembrance .* We have felt his heavy hand in wrath, and yet I fear, are not sensible of it, for here is lit- tle amendment or notice taken of his great punishments. The sickness was an absolute plague ; very infectious and destroying, in so much that in our parish there were buried 20 in a week and many weeks together 15 or 16. It first seized on the ablest men both for account and ability of body. Many who had begun and almost finished great sugar works, who dandled themselves in their hopes, but were suddenly laid in the dust and their estates left unto strangers. Our N. England men here had their share, and so had all nations especially Dutchinen, of whom died a great company even of the wisest of them. The contagion is well nigh over, the Lord make us truly thank- ful for it and ever mindful of his mercy. I saw your son here, he made but little stay but went for Christopher's with his cargo; he is a very hopeful gentleman. If the Lord please to send him here again or any other of your
"An epidemic which appears to have been the influenza, prevailed throughout the American settlements in 1617, and proved very fatal. It extended to the W. Indies. Hubbard. 532. The recurrence of this disease at later periods, is noticed by Hutchinson, Hist. i. 141.
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sons, I shall be ready to serve them in what I may. I hear the Lord hath graciously recompensed your incom- parable loss with another most virtuous and loving wife : many and happy be your days together. Sir, I shall take it as a great. blessing from God to give me a good occa- sion to serve you or any of your children, here or else- where, that I might exercise my thankful remembrances for all your courtesies. No more at present but my lum- ble service to yourself and virtuous wife and to all your sons and daughters, committing you all to the protec- tion of almighty God. Ever resting your assured loving friend and servant, RICHARD VINES.
I pray, Sir, be pleased to present my best service to Mr. Dudley, Mr. Bellingham, Mr. Stebbins, and the Rev. ministers Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wilson."*
It is gratifying to perceive from the tenor of these in- teresting letters, that the personal worth and excellent character of our patentee were appreciated by Winthrop and other leading individuals of the Mass. Colony, not- withstanding his strong attachment to the interests of Gor- ges and of the royal party. Mr. Vines was, besides, a staunch episcopalian, but, as will presently appear, he was not unwilling to listen to religious instruction from a non- conformist, although offended by his covert attack upon the rites and ceremonies of the English church. The last year of his abode among us, Mr. Vines held the of- fice of Governor by the election of the General Court: He had previously exercised the duties of that office be- fore the arrival and after the departure of Thomas Gor- ges, by virtue of his commission as Steward General of the Province. That his administration of affairs was ac- ceptable to the people in general, may be fairly inferred from the strong disapprobation of the attempts made by Mr. Cleaves in England to injure the reputation of his government, expressed by many of the inhabitants.
Mr. Vines sold his patent before leaving the country to Dr. Robert Child. The following certificate of the transfer is annexed to the copy of the original instrument
"Hutchinson's Coll. State Papers. 222. 7*
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on record. - "I, Richard Vines, of Saco, gentleman, have bargained and sold the patent above specified unto Ro- bert Child, Esq. Doctor of Physick, and given him livery and seizin upon the 20th day of October 1645, in pre- sence of Mr. Adam Winthrop# and Mr. Benjamin Gil- man."
Dr. Child came to New England not long before the date of this purchase. He first appears as a petitioner with others for a plantation at Nashaway, now Lancaster, Mass. in 1644, where a considerable tract had been ob- tained of the Indians, and a trading house set up the year before.t Dr. Child resided in Massachusetts dur- ing the short time he remained in this country, where he became so much involved in political disputes, that he gave little attention to his property at this place. A deed of 100 acres to R. Cumming, in exchange for a like quantity on the other patent, dated July 14, 1647, is the only one executed by him found on record. The follow- ing order is without date : "Mr. Doctor Child, Mr. Jo- seph Bowles hath 100 acres of land next unto Mr. Mack -. worth's lot ; as yet he hath not a deed for it-I pray you confirm it. Yours, Richard Vines." He appears to have had in view the working of mines of the useful metals. For this purpose he brought over from Derby- shire William White, a miner, who made trial, according to his own account, of the York (iron) mines, but "the spirit of solidity and fusion was not in them." White complained that the Doctor and others concerned, failed to fulfil their contract with him. He had been "promis- ed 5s. per day for himself and son, and two cows, and bouse rent free, and land for himself and all his children ;" but he acknowledges that 'the covenanters' had suffered greater loss than himself in the enterprise.I The York mines to which he refers, were perhaps in England, on the borders of Derbyshire, where he had been employed. -.. The severe and arbitrary character of the Massachu- setts colonial laws at an early period of the history of
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"Son to the Governor of Mass. Journal. i. 68. note. illistory of Lancaster, by J. Willard : published in the Worcester Magazine, ii. 273. Winthrop. ii. 161. note. #White's letter, dated July 24, 1648. 2 Mass. Hist. Coll. iv. 195.
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that government, is well known. The inhabitants how-' ever respectable, who did not fall in with the prevalent religious notions, were debarred from the exercise of many rights and privileges to which they were fully enti- tled as members of the civil community, according to the laws of England. In 1646, a number of individuals, 'persons of figure,' as they are styled by Hutchinson, attempted to obtain a modification of the legislative code, by which it might, be rendered more conformable to that enjoyed at home. For this purpose, they address- ed a petition to the General Court in behalf of them- selves and others, in which they complained of the de- nial of civil rights to such as were not members of churches, and of christian privileges to all who were not members of the particular churches in the country ; and prayed that civil liberty and freedom might be forthwith granted to all truly English, and that all members of the church of England or of Scotland of good standing might be admitted to the privileges of the churches of New England ; or if the enjoyment of those liberties were deni- ed, that they might be freed from the heavy load of taxes imposed on them. In case redress was refused, they were resolved to appeal to Parliament, "who, they boped, would take their sad condition into consideration." The petition was signed by seven persons, at the head of whom was Dr. Child .* The style of it being bold, and not over respectful, it created great excitement throughout that colony, generally adverse to the petitioners. The magistrates or rulers were filled with indignation, and im- mediately caused them to be arrested for contempt of government. They gave bonds for their appearance at the next court, when they were severally sentenced to the payment of heavy fines. The Doctor, "in regard he had no cause of complaint, and yet was a leader to the rest, and had carried himself proudly in the court," was fined 50/., ten more than any other. The court in pass- ing sentence, reminded them of the resemblance of the crime they had committed, to that of Korah and his troop,
"Hutchinson's State Papers. 188.
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who were destroyed for rebelling against Moses and- Aaron .*
But the subject did not rest here. Dr. Child prepar- ed to embark for England, to lay the subject before Par- liament. This, however, he was prevented from doing by the interference of the magistrates, who caused him to be arrested the evening previous to his intended depar- ture. His trunks were at the same time seized and searched. Similar violence was used towards another gentleman who had signed the petition, in whose 'study' were found copies of letters, &c. designed for England. Dr. Child was carried before the council, by whom he was told that provided his deportment became more re- spectful towards the gentlemen of the court, "he should be treated in a manner suited to his quality ;" otherwise he was threatened with irons and imprisonment. The coun- cil then ordered the marshal to take him in custody, in whose keeping he remained until the ships had sailed,. when he was permitted to continue a prisoner in his own house on giving bonds for his appearance at the next term of the Court of Assistants. He appeared, but it was a- greed to refer his case to the cognizance of the General Court, and he was offered his liberty, restricted, however, to Boston, provided he would give security to appear be- fore that body. The Doctor chose to go to prison rather than comply with these terms, and was accordingly com- mitted. This was in March, 1647.+ How soon he was set at liberty, does not appear, nor on what conditions ; but the next year we find him in England, where his exer- tions to effect the same object were also defeated. He appears not to have returned to this country.
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