USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 8
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockland > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 8
USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 8
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
These preparations were not made too soon ; as the Indians, exasperated by the recent Louisburg victory over their French allies, on the 19th of July made a furious attack on the place. Gov. Shirley, in his message of July 22d, says " on Saturday evening last I receive I an account from Capt. Brad- bury of a great number of Indians attacking the Fort at St. George's River, burning several houses on that river, killing a great number of cattle, and killing or taking one of the in- habitants." The saw-mill at Mill River, and one of the block-houses were also set on fire; but little impression was made on the garrisons. Shirley also wrote to Capt. Thomas Sanders, then in command of the Province sloop-of-war "Massachusetts," under date of July 20th, " I have just re- ceived advice by a letter from Capt. Bradbury, that the · Indians in a body of about seventy attacked them at St. George's, and took or killed one man, and killed fifty or sixty head of cattle, besides hogs and horses. You must therefore come without a moment's delay, and get your full comple- ment of men to sail forthwith to the Eastward. Mr. Wheel- wright tells me your sloop is ready with everything on board. Fail not, by any means." This Capt. Sanders, a native of Gloucester, had distinguished himself in the Louisburg expe- dition as commander of the transports, and was now retained in command of the sloop, as his father of the same name had
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HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
long been before him." The two probably often accompanied each other; and on one occasion during this war, probably about this time, having anchored off Owl's Head, the son was decoyed on shore by an Indian, surrounded by a party in ambush and takon prisoner. "He was however brought to the Fort here and ransomed for about $200 by his father who had already arrived there, but on the condition that the pris- oner would accompany his captor a sufficient distance to pro- tect him from scouting parties. Sanders went with him, keeping the money in his possession, as far as Camden. There, requesting to be discharged, and the Indian not con- . senting, he began to suspect him of bad faith. Without be- traying his suspicions, however, he accompanied him on to Ducktrap, where, requesting the Indian's gun to shoot at some ducks in sight, he received it, and, on pretence of get- ting nearer them, gradually receded from the Indian, took to his heels, and fled homeward. Somewhat encumbered by the money, in his flight, he hastily concealed it under a root of a tree, and arrived safe at the fort. Some fifteen years later, in one of his eastern voyages when becalmed off the place, he went on shore and recovered his deposit .;
The Indians who made this attack on the fort were sup- posed to be from Canada, Cape Sable, and St. Johns, assisted probably by a few Penobscots; and demands were immedi- ately made upon the latter, through Capt. Bradbury, to de- liver up within a fortnight those of their tribe concerned in this outrage, or war would be declared against them, "only giving liberty, for 14 days, to such as shall be so inclined, to come and live with us." This demand not being complied with, war, usually denominated the Spanish or 5th Indian, was, Aug. 23d, declared against all the Eastern tribes; and large bounties (viz .: £100 to paid soldiers, and £400 to un- paid volunteers) were offered for every Indian captive or scalp.
* Thomas Sanders was one of the early settlers of Gloucester, Mass., and there was a Thomas for six successive generations in the family. Dwelling houses built by six different generations of the family, three in Gloucester, and three in Salen, were in 1853 still standing and in good order. Rev. J. L. Sibley, Librarian of Harvard College.
t This account, which differs in many respects from that in the Annals of Warren, was prepared for that work, but was mislaid before it went to press, and not found till some ten years after. It was prepared on the re- fiable authority of Win. Lermond, who was a boy in his tenth year, re- siding at the fort when the money was found, and whose recollection of the circumstances as he heard them there talked over, was much more clear and corroborated by other events, than that of the aged lady from whom the first account was received.
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ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
Nevertheless, a large body of the Tarratines or Penobscots, probably not aware of the declaration, encamped at the Wes- saweskeag Marsh; from whom four of the principal chiefs, who bad assumed English military titles, proceeded, Sept. Sth, to visit the Port for the purpose of procuring ammuni- tion. Bradbury, not feeling justified in detaining these men as captives, inasmuch as the 14 days allowed them to come in peaceably to live with us had not expired, and they seemed ignorant of their danger, told them on leaving to return di- rectly to their companions without the least delay, or they were dead men. But, either through fatigue, or more proba- bly an intemperate use of ardent spirits, they encamped on the margin of Mill River for the night. Being informed of the visit, Capt. Burton and Lieut. Proctor of the militia, with a band of 19 men, pursued and found them in their camp. One of the four red-men, whose name is not recollected, hav- ing stepped down to the river for water, escaped; but Burton, with a single stroke of his sword, cut off the head of another called Col. Morris; Capt. Sam was despatched by Proctor, or some of the party; and Col. Job was taken prisoner .*
Whether any bounty was ever received for this hasty and inconsiderate act, is doubtful; as Gov. Phips, in a communi- cation to the General Court, Dec. 25th, says, "about 14 days since, sundry persons came up from St. George's with the scalps of two Penobscot Indians which they had killed, and one of that tribe they had taken captive, with an expectation to receive the bounty for them; but the circumstances at- tending this affair . . . were such as rendered it necessary to defer granting the bounty till we can be more perfectly in- formed." Some of the settlers here, regretted the event, so early in the war and so exasperating to the Penobscots; others rejoiced. especially at the death of Morris, who had been " a great terror to them." His son, in revenge for his father's death, frequently, after the peace, threatened to kill Burton, · but found no opportunity. The captive, Job, died in Boston ; and government, to appease his kindred, made his squaw a valuable present after the peace, viz. :- a 7-8th blanket.+
1746. Retaliation for this Indian blood spilled by those of the block-house, soon followed upon the denizens of the Fort. On the 22d of May, thirteen men being sent about half a gun-shot from the latter to strip some bark for the
* Narrative of Col. B. Burton found in the MSS. of the late Hon. Win. D. Williamson, now in possession of his nephew, Hon. Jos. Wil- liamson of Belfast.
t House Journals, Jan. 5, 1750.
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HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
preservation of the whale boats. and a part of them having strayed from the rest and carelessly laid down their arms, seven or eight Indians suddenly sprung up from their con- cealment, got between the men and their weapons which they seized and commenced a brisk fire, killing one man, Eliakim Hunt; wounding four; and taking one, Timothy Cummings, prisoner. This fire was returned by such of our men as retained their arms, and soon after by the whole gar- rison. The party made good their retreat into the fort, ex- cept one man, who, retarded by age and closely pursued by an Indian, suddenly turned and shot him dead whilst in the act of raising his tomahawk to despatch him. The fire of the garrison was so sharp as to deter the other Indians from coming up, and the old man stopped long enough to scalp his victim. Another Indian fell at the first onset, and was car- ried away by his companions, who, from the traces of blood. on their retreat, were supposed to have had others wounded.
1747. The garrison was now strengthened; and the General Court, which had the preceding November voted " that the Officer at East-George's be directed to make up in his Muster-Roll the twenty inhabitants there, as usual," or- dered, April 1st, 1747, that, in addition to the garrison at this fort "pay and subsistence be allowed to thirty men at the Block-house near." A petition, however, for similar pro- tection of the inhabitants at Pleasant Point and places ad- jacent, was dismissed. A company of volunteers under Capt. Wm. Lithgow, who had been serving as scouts in the woods hereabouts, during the winter and summer of this year, were, September 2d, allowed pay by the General Coart. Brigadier Waldo, who was ordered to detach for the eastern service a portion of his regiment raised for a contemplated expedition against Crown Point and Canada, seems to have projected some important enterprise against the Indians in this quarter ; as the House voted, September 2d, that such "expedition be encouraged, and that ten whale-boats be procured at the charge of the Province and delivered to him for the use of said forces; the expense to be deducted out of the bounties on scalps and captives." The Province sloop was kept rang- ing the coast, occasionally coming up George's River and supplying provisions to the garrisons in the Fort and Block- house, which now probably contained all the settlers and their families remaining on the river, except those who took refuge in Thomas Henderson's fort at Pleasant Point near its mouth.
We have no traditions of the result of this expedition of
---
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ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
Waldo's; but it would seem that the following persons from Bradbury's garrison here, had been enlisted into the above named regiment, viz. : - " Able Eton, Jeremy Griffin, Samp- son Greenile, Joseph Robinson, John Kenny, Chasels Leurs, Jona. Nickels, and Jonathan Page." With this detachment came James Oliver of Boston as its surgeon; but Dr. Moses Robinson seems to have been the stationary physician at the fort, as his account for medicine, administered to sundry sick persons there, was presented in the following April. It was about this time, also, that the Rev. Robert Rutherford came to the place, and officiated as chaplain of the fort. But his petition of June 2d, " praying that he may be allowed a suita- ble sum for his necessary expenses at his Table," was dis- missed by the General Court. The services of this worthy and educated man, of the same race, country, and Presby- terian faith, with most of the settlers, were duly appreciated and very acceptable here. But perhaps his being a Presby- terian, as well as the intimate friend and agent of the obnox- ious Col. and Gov. Dunbar, operated to his prejudice and caused his petition to be rejected. He had come over with that official in 1729, had preached at Pemaquid, Brunswick, and Georgetown, enduring many hardships in his travels from post to post as a missionary in the wilderness, and, on the marriage of Dunbar's widow to Capt. Henderson, had found his way hither. Here he remained nine years, preaching to the people and garrison, till 1756; when he died at the age of sixty-eight, in the fort, near which his remains were in- terred and a stone erected to his memory, which is or lately was to be seen among the mournful ruins around the Knox mansion.
Unawed by the various plans and preparations against them, early in September of this year, 1747, a large body of Indians, with some French, laid siege to the fort here for some time. They made two attempts to form a subterranean passage from the bank of the river to get under the fort on the eastern side, where the distance was about ten rods. In one place they had proceeded nearly half that space when the earth broke in; and the tradition is, that many Indians were at work within at the time, and were killed and buried be- neath the mass. But this seems hardly probable, as the caving in of the earth was said to be occasioned by a heavy rain which fell at the time, and no human bones have been found, to the knowledge of the writer, by modern explorers. In the other place a few rods distant from the first, along the bank, they had excavated but a rod or two, when it was
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HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
abandoned; and they were obliged to move off without effect- ing anything. The trenches which marked the places where these attempts were made, remained plainly to be seen and familiar to the inhabitants of Thomaston a hundred years afterwards; and it is said that Indian knives and other imple- ments were frequently found there by the carly settlers.
Straggling parties of the enemy continued to lurk in the woods. David Creighton, one of the upper settlers, and some others going out a little distance from the fort, were fired upon, killed, and scalped, the former at or near the place since occupied by Fort wharf. A soldier by the name of Vass or Voss, was also killed this year in this or some other encounter with the Indians here, and his mother, Eliza- beth Vass of St. George's, some years later, petitioned that she, being the only heir, might receive the wages due to her son without the expense of administration, including a long journey to York the shire town.
Possibly it was also in this party, though it may have been later even in the war of 1756, that one McDougle, a gun- smith, was killed. His services being indispensable to the garrison, he was not allowed to go out on the volunteer scout- ing parties which occasionally went from the fort and block- house; but after much importunity he obtained leave to do so, for once only. Having shaved his head to prevent being caught or scalped, he made use of his privilege, went out with a party, fell into an ambush, and was slain. He left two daughters, whose posterity still remain here, in the Spear and Smith families. Others were taken captive, and carried to Canada. After the siege in September of this year, the force at this post was increased, October 17th, to seventy men for the fort and block-house together. Sundry repairs, also, were made on the works, to the amount of £225, 19s. 6d., old tenor .*
1748. On the 27th of April of this year, one of the garrison, Presbury Woolen of Sandwich, "was captivated by an Indian enemy and carried to Canada, and returned thence the 5th October, having suffered great hardships therein."t This, however, was the last hostile act at this place that we hear of in this war; as, July 2d, 1748, the joyful news ar- rived at Falmouth that the contending powers had agreed up- on the preliminaries of pcace, though the definitive treaty was
* Mr. Leonard Smith : The Spear and Smith records; Journals of the House, &c.
+ His petition for allowance, &c., House Journals.
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ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
not signed at Aix-la-Chapelle till the 7th of October. In consequence, less danger was apprehended from the Indians ; and, November 4th, the garrison here was reduced to thirty men at the fort and fifteen at the block-house.
1749. On the 6th April. Gov. Shirley informed the House that, "by my last advices from Capt. Bradbury, I per- ceive that the Indians are still disposed to peace and are de- sirous that some of their chiefs should treat with me here for that purpose; and I shall therefore order Capt. Saunders, who will sail from hence in a few days, to bring some of them up hither at his return." This was done, and they arrived in Boston June 17th, where their friendly professions were fa- vorably received. They were promised that a supply of goods should be kept for sale to them both here and at Fort Rich- mond; and, October 16th, the former treaty was renewed and signed at Falmouth. Confidence in their peaceable dis- position was so strong that, August 10th, the garrison was still further reduced to twenty men at the truck-house and ten at the block-house. To these, at the earnest request of the Indians, was added not long after an armorer or gunsmith, an office which had probably remained vacant since the death of McDougle.
Peace being now firmly established, the settlers that had gathered here and so long lived at the fort and block-house, came out with their families and scattered to their several farms up the river or down it to the Lower Town; leaving what is now Thomaston comparatively deserted and desolate. The two mills, together with most of the log-houses and other buildings here, except the barracks and truck-house in the Fort and Block-house, had been destroyed and were now to be rebuilt. But many of their former occupants, having formed other connections in safer and better settled localities, returned no more. Among those remaining, was Thomas Kil- patrick, who about this time was selected as a suitable per- son to command the militia of the Upper Town; and he was accordingly commissioned as their captain. Patrick Porter- field, who came from Falmouth, but at what time is uncer- tain, is said to have been lieutenant under him. He had been, probably, in service at the Fort or Block-house, and ultimately purchased the farm of John North, and lived at first in that gentleman's old log-house near the river. The latter, on leaving his command at Pemaquid, returned here, although often absent, surveying lands at Kennebec and Pemaquid; and his and Kilpatrick's log-houses again arose, the humble pioneer dwellings in the future Thomaston.
VOL. I. 6
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HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
Fishermen, and private traders with the Indians, now re- turned to the coast; many of them temporarily or perma- nently occupying favorable stations on the islands or main land. Among others, Ebenezer Thorndike from Beverly, one of the 20-associates, took possession of a site in the still un- broken forest below the mouth of the Wessaweskeag, and, the following year, 1750, measured off for himself, or took up, as the phrase is, 600 acres of land on both sides of the line between the present towns of South Thomaston and St. George. Here he put up some rude buildings; manufactured salt; carried on the fishery, -catching salmon in the mouth of the Wessaweskeag and drying his nets on the small island, still called, from him, Eben's Island; planted a garden; and oc- cupied his possession at intervals at least, but without re- moving his family from Cape Elizabeth where he had resided. He was engaged in the Indian trade, and took from the tribe, the same year, 1750, a lease for 99 years, of Matinic Island, which he cultivated as a farm and of which he maintained possession uninterrupted except by the British toward the close of the Revolution. A portion of Matinic is still owned by his descendants. The French and Indian war coming on, his business on the main land was interrupted four years later, but resumed again on the return of peace. In one of his trading excursions up the Penobscot Bay, with his young son, Joshua, on board the small craft in which he traded, a number of moose were discovered on shore; and the party landing to secure some of them, found a young one so small and feeble as to be easily captured and carried on board. This, the boy fed with milk or such substitute for it as he could obtain; till, going ashore with the rest one hot sum- mer's day, and leaving his little pet in the boat with no sails spread, or other shelter from the scorching rays of the sun, to his great grief and surprise he, on his return, found it dead .*
* Hon. George Thorndike, Capt. Joshua Thorndike, Mrs. Martin, &c.
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ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
CHAPTER V.
COMMENCEMENT AND INCIDENTS OF THE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN OR FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
1751. THE garrison here having now been reduced to sixteen men, with one captain, one sergeant, and an armorer, and considerable alarm having been excited in consequence of the murder of an Indian in an affray at Wiscasset jn 1750, Capt. Bradbury petitioned, January 29th, 1751, for an in- crease of the garrison; and an addition of four effective men was accordingly voted. The Penobscots however remained friendly; and sagamores from that and other eastern tribes met the government commissioners at this place, August 3d, and gave the fullest assurances of amity; at which time the aged Joseph Beane was still here as interpreter.
1752. The Indian traffic being now revived, Capt. Brad- bury was, June 3d, chosen truck-master, and so continued till that office and all further trade was broken up by the suc- ceeding war. Some discontent still remaining, a grand con- ference was proposed to be held at this place; and, in June, six hogsheads of bread and six barrels of pork were sent here for the use of the Indians, if any should come in and await government advices. At length, October 20th, four commis- sioners were met here by Sagamores from all the eastern tribes except the Mickmacs of Nova Scotia and those of St. Francois in Canada. Col. Louis, a Penobscot chief, in be- half of the rest, expressed his joy at this meeting for the preservation of peace. In order to bury the mischief that is past, he said, we must proceed upon Dummer's treaty, by which the English were to inhabit as far as the salt-water flowed, and the Indians to have the rest. If we are not dis- turbed in our right, it will end in peace ; otherwise " it would set all these lands on fire." He went on to express his ap- probation of the commander and truck-master, but complained that the prices of goods were higher than at Albany, whither some of their tribe went to traffic; and that too much rum was dealt out to their women and young men, to the former of whom they wished none to be given, and only moderate quantities to the latter. They also requested that a house might be built for them to lodge in, near the mill, a bridge made across the stream there, and a causeway over the long meadow adjacent. The commissioners endeavored to satisfy them on all these points, promising compliance, so far as
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HISTORY OF THOMASTON,
practicable, with their requests. Louis also complained that " one Hall and family who live at Matinicus interrupt us in our killing seals and in our fowling; they have no right to be there ; the land is our own." Complaints were made by and against some of the other tribes; but, after mutual ex- planations and promises, all appeared satisfied; and the pro- visions of Dummer's treaty were solemnly renewed, a salute fired from the guns of the fort and the Province sloop, and three loud huzzas given by both English and Indians. The next day, presents were distributed, belts of wampum deliv- ered, an ox given them for a feast, and they mutually took leave and departed. The ratification was executed under seal and witnessed by 32 persons, among whom were Rev. R. Rutherford, chaplain, Jabez Bradbury, captain, Thomas Fletcher, Jos. Robinson, son of the doctor, Thos. Kilpatrick, and his nephew John Shibles, Benj. Burton, David Kelloch, Moses Robinson, and John Ulmer, -probably the first of that name, his son who afterwards settled in Rockland being at this time but 14 years old.
In January of this year, what was called the New Style was adopted by act of Parliament, extending to all the British dominions ; - by which eleven days were to be expunged from the calendar, and the 3d of September, 1752, be reck- oned the 14th, in order to correspond with the seasons of the year which had gradually got in advance. The beginning of the year was at the same time changed from March 25th to January Ist; and consequently it became necessary in many instances to designate dates by O. S. for old style, N. S. new style.
1753. This year there arrived in the place the some- what numerous family of Capt. William Watson, one of the emigrants from the North of Ireland, who had been for some time a resident of Falmouth and Scarboro'; where, as com- mander of a wood-coaster, he became acquainted among other parts of the coast with this river and its maritime advantages. Purchasing the title of a former occupant to the beautiful tract of land which still bears the name of Watson's Point, on the right bank of the George's near the present lower toll- bridge, he built a house and removed his family from Scar- boro', -landing at this place from his sloop on the 26th of August, 1753. The war coming on, his family probably re- turned to Scarboro', where and at this place he and his sons continued coasting. After the war, they returned to the Point; on which he and his surviving sons, William and James, commenced and carried on with energy and success
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ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON.
farming, lumbering, and coasting, with other kinds of busi- ness, for many years; and the property to a great extent still remains with their posterity.
An Indian conference, similar to that of 1752, was held here, September 20th, so largely attended that the talk was held at a large table in the open air near the fort, where, after mutual explanations and assurances, the treaty was ratified and signed by thirty or more of their chiefs ; presents were made them by the commissioners; a dance was performed by the young Indians; and the conference ended by drinking the- health of King George, and wishing the peace might continue "as long as the sun and moon shall endure."
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