History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730

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William Pepperell Sparhawk, son of Hon. Nathaniel Sparhawk, was adopted by Sir William Pepperell, as his 37

heir, after the death of his only son, Andrew. He was educated in the best manner, and graduated at Cambridge, 1766. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. Isaac Rozell, of Medford. He was chosen a member of the Governor's Council, and in October, 1774, succceded to his grandfather's title of baronet, as well as to a large portion of his estates. When the council was organized by act of Parliament under the mandamus of the king, he was con- tinued a member, which incurred the odium resting upon other councilors thus appointed contrary to the charter. The people of his own county, at a public meeting held in Wells, Nov. 16, 1774, passed resolutions of censure and condemnation, and refused to take leases of farms or mills of him until he resigned his seat. Denounced by neigh- bors and friends, he retired to Boston, and sailed for Eng- land, 1775. On his way out his wife died of smallpox, and was buried at Halifax. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished, and his vast inheritance confiscated. He was kindly received in England, and allowed by the British government an annuity of £500. This, with the wreck of his fortune and a small plantation in Surinam, gave him a comfortable support. He died in London, 1816. His only son died unmarried in 1809.

Samuel Hirst Sparhawk, another son, graduated at Har- vard, 1771. He, with his brothers, Nathaniel, William, and Andrew, became a refugee in England. He returned, and died in Kittery, Aug. 29, 1789, aged thirty-cight.

John Cutts was the first president of the New Hampshire council after the separation from Massachusetts in 1679. In 1660, he and his brother Richard were the largest land- holders in Portsmouth. Madam Ursula Cutts, second wife of President John Cutts, was killed by the Indians in 1604.

Robert Cutts was successful in his business projects ; was appointed a magistrate by the king's commissioners in 1665, and at his death, in 1672, he left a fine estate to his son Richard, father to Deacon Richard Cutts. The deacon was born 1693, and married Eunice Curtis in 1720. They had ten children. The youngest, Col. Thomas Cutts, removed to Saco while a young man, about 1758, and became a prominent and successful merchant. Mary Cutts, of Cutts' Island, married Charles Channcy in 1756; died in 1758, leaving no children. In 1760, Mr. Chauncey married Joanua Gerrish, daughter of the proprietor of Gerrish Island.

Edward Cutts and Charles Chauncey were chosen to rep- resent the town in the Provincial Congress of 1775.

Capt. Joseph Cutts, another descendant of the honorable Cutts family, was a patriotic and public-spirited citizen, and engaged in an extensive business, which was ruined by the embargo act of 1807 and the war of 1812. IIe died July 5, 1861, aged ninety-seven. This family has always maintained a respectable standing, and furnished many prominent and useful members to the community.

James Emery, Sr .. was the first representative to the Gen- eral Court from this town.

Gen. William Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Kittery in 1730. Before reach- ing the age of twenty-one he was intrusted with the com- mand of a vessel, and made successful voyages to Europe, the West Indies, and the coast of Africa, from which he brought dark living freight.

290

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

John Dennett was an emigrant from England between 1660 and 1670, and settled at Portsmouth. Two genera- tions of Johns followed, the last of whom had a son Wil- liam, who was the father of the present Hon. Mark Dennett

John Dennett was constable in 1707, and selectman in 1710. His son John was selectman of the town from 1748 to 1769, except for the years 1757 and 1758, and was repre- sentative to General Court at Boston for 1750 and 1751. The Hon. Mark was teacher of the first grammar school in town, and representative to the General Court at Boston from 1814 to 1819, and under the new State he was one of the first representatives.

The farm now occupied by John and his son was pur- chased by his great-great-grandfather of Isaac and Christian Remick, in 1698. The house in which he lives was built by his great-grandfather, and he has lived here for ninety- three years. He still possesses a strong and vigorous mind, and wields an important influence among his townsmen.

Mark Adams was for more than twenty years represen- tative of Kittery to Massachusetts Legislature. He is re- membered as sculling across the river Sundays, wearing his three-cornered hat, to attend the ministrations of Dr. Buck- minster, of Portsmouth. He died abont 1820, leaving three sons,-Mark, John, and Christopher.

The Hon. Gowen Wilson was a descendant of one of the first settlers. His ancestor, whose name he bears, was one of those who signed the articles of submission to Massachu- setts in 1652.

Joshua T. Chase was a man of note, and enjoyed the con- fidence and suffrages of the inhabitants for representative to Boston for the seven successive years previous to separation, and the nine next after it.

Master William Badger was a noted ship-builder. He launched from a small island in the river which has taken his name. Ilere he built a hundred ships during his life, giving his name to the hundredth ; and here his remains lie buried. Samuel Badger also followed the business ; built forty-five vessels, and died Sept. 27, 1857, aged sixty-three.

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL COURT.

James Emery, 1693 ; Benjamin Mason, William Goodden, Nicholas Morrell, Jobn Geer, John Spinney, Rowland Williams, 1694, at York ; Lieut. John Shapleigh, 1695-96; William Pepperell, 1696-97 ; Richard Cutts, 1698; Lieut. Richard Briar. 1701-2; Samuel Winkley, 1702-3 ; John Leighton, 1703-4; Maj. Joseph Ilammond, 1706; William Pepperell, 1708; Nicholas Gowen, 1709 ; Joseph Ilammond, 1711-13; Capt. John Leighton, 1714; Joseph Hammond, 1715-17; Charles Frost, 1718 ; Capt. William Pepperell, 1719 : John Dennett, 1720-21 ; Richard Gowell, 1723; William Pepperell, 1724; Nicholas Shapleigh, 1723; William Pepperell, 1726; Capt. Stephen Eastwick, 1727-28; Richard Cutts, 1729 : Tobias Leighton, 1730 ; Withery Berry, 1731 ; Capt. Nicholas Shapleigh, 1732: Richard Cutts, Jr., 1734-39; William Pepperell, 1742 ; Tobias Leighton, 1743; Nathaniel Sparhawk, 1746; Simon Frost, 1747-49; John Dennett, 1750-51 : Richard Cutt, 1732; Nathaniel Sparhawk, 1753-55: James Gowen, 1756; Nathaniel Sparhawk, 1757 ; Daniel Emery, 1758 : Nathaniel Sparhawk, 1759 : Capt. James Gowen, 1760-63 ; Benjamin Parker, 1761: Jame- Gowen, 1765-66 : Nathaniel Sparhawk, 1767 ; James Gowen, 1768-70; Edward Cutts, 1771-76:f John Frost, 1777;

Caleb Emery, 1778; Edward Cutts, John Frost, 1779 ; John Frost, 1780-S1 ; Charles Cheney, 1782; John H. Bartlett, 1783-84'; Joshua Hubhard, 1785-87; Mark Adams, 1788-90; George Thatcher, 1791 : Mark Adams, 1792-98; Col. Andrew P. Fernald, 1799-1800; Mark Adams, 1801-5; Mark Adams, Nathaniel Staples, William T. Gerrish, 1806; Alexander Rice, 1807-8; Mark Adams, Samuel Leighton, William T. Gerrish, 1809; Mark Adams, William T. Gerrish, 1810-12; Mark Adams, Joshua T. Chase, 1813; Joshua T. Chase, Mark Dennett, 1814-19.}

ASSOCIATIONS.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.

Riverside Lodge, No. 72, was instituted Aug. 21, 1873, with 11 charter members. The first officers were C. Chick- ering, N. G .; George Manent, V. G .; F. L. Bary, Sec. ; William W. Locke, Treas .; Jacob Joy, W .; Daniel P. Riley, C .; S. A. Jackson, R. S. S .; O. B. Moody, L. S. S .; Richard Williams, Chaplain. The officers, November, 1879, were C. W. Eaton, N. G .; C. W. Gatchell, V. G .; E. L. Hayes, Sec. ; W. M. Otis, P. Sec .; Theo. Wilcox, Treas. ; A. Jackson, W. S .; A. Walker, C. C .; Shadrach Little- field, Chaplain.

Dirigo Encampment, No. 7, was instituted March 17, 1874, with 10 charter members. The first officers were George Manent, C. P .; Albert H. Purington, H. P .; George O. Wilson, S. W .; Augustus Stevenson, Scribe; William W. Locke, Treas .; Daniel P. Riley, J. W .; S. A. Jackson, O. S. S .; E. H. Schmidt, I. S. S .; C. L. Hayes, G.

The present officers are Henry W. Taylor, C. P .; C. Chickering, H. P .; Theo. Wilcox, S. W .; George O. Wil- son, Seribe ; John Gottermeyer, Treas.

Daughters of Rebecca, instituted Oct. 6, 1874, with 38 members. The first officers were C. Chickering, N. G .; Lizzie Getchell, V. G .; B. S. Goodspeed, Sec .; Octavia Remick, Treas .; Jane A. Patch, Chaplain. The present officers are Martha Bowdish, N. G .; Sarah Parker, V. G .; Annie E. Wilson, Sec .; Jennie Chickering, F. Sec .; Clara Otis, Treas .; Jennie Joy, W .; Jane A. Patch, Chaplain. Membership, 121.

MASONS.

The first stated meeting of Naval Lodge, F. A. M., was held July 20, 1879, with 25 charter members. The first and present officers are, W. M., William W. Locke; S. W., Moses A. Safford ; J. W., E. C. Nealey ; Treas., Theo. Wilcox ; Sec., L. L. Goodrich ; S. D., E. A. Duncan ; J. D., Samuel Taylor; S. S., S. H. Williams; Tyler, John Gottermeyer.

K. O. T. M.

York Tent, No. 159 .- This Lodge was instituted Nov. 25, 1879, with 23 charter members. Its first and present officers are Ex. Sir Kt. Gen. Com., George O. Wilson ; Sir Kt. Com., C. W. Gatchell ; Sir Kt. Lient .- Com., W. S. Jackson; Sir Kt. Prelate, G. O. Chapman ; Sir Kt. R. K., D. E. Hill; Sir Kt. F. K., M. D. Moore; Sir Kt. Sergeant, John Gottermeyer; Sir Kt. Master-at-Arms, Walter Ball; Sir Kt. First Master of the Guard, H. R. Paul; Sir Kt. Second Master of the Guard, John Ball; Sentinel, E. A. Abrams ; Sir Kt. Picket, C. S. Hobbs.

# In 1820, Dennett and Chase, hoth Democrats, ran against each other for the new Maine Legislature, and each received sixty-two votes; a late voter cast his vote for Mr. Dennett, after the count, and he was declared elected.

Elected a member of the council, and not replaced by a new elec- tion that year.

+ Congress, 1775, Charles Cheney, and Edward Cutts.

RESIDENCE OF GEO. MOORE, BERWICK , YORK CO., ME.

BERWICK.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

THE town of Berwick was originally the northern part of the ancient town of Kittery, and was known prior to its incorporation as the parish of Unity and precinct of Ber- wick. The southern part was incorporated as the parish of Unity in 1673 .* In 1713 it was incorporated as a town, under the name of Berwick. The whole of Berwick, North Berwick, and South Berwick, except a small portion of York, which was annexed in 1834, were included within its bounds in 1720, at which time it extended eight miles above Quampeagan to Stair Falls, the line thence running from the river northeast by east eight miles, two hundred and ninety-eight rods, to Bonny Beag Pond; and south- east to Baker's spring and rock, at the boundary between the towns of York and Kittery. South Berwick was taken from the south side, in 1814, and North Berwick from the northwest, in 1831. The western side, which borders on New Hampshire, was bounded by the Salmon Falls River, upon which Stair Falls, at the northern boundary, Great Falls, four miles below, the Falls, at the mouth of Little and Worcester Rivers, Salmon and Quampeagan Falls, were valuable water-powers, wholly or in part within its bounds. The last named are a succession of ripples a mile in extent, washed by the tide nearly to their head. Great Works River, rising in Bonny Beag Pond, at the west of the old town, runs through the town to the south, then turning to the east, after a passage of thirty miles through a magnifi- cent forest, discharges its waters into the Newichawannock River, fourteen miles from the sea, at the head of navi- gation.

The Boston and Maine, the Portsmouth, Saco and Port- land Railroads, run through the southern part of the pres- ent towo ; and the Portsmouth Great Falls and Conway Railroad, and the Great Falls branch, run within a few rods of the town line, on the western side, giving to it superior railroad facilities.

Salmon Falls River, which constitutes the western boun- dary, is one of the best and most reliable streams in the county, but is chiefly used by the Great Falls and Salmon Falls Manufacturing Companies, whose mills are on the New Hampshire side. Little River and Worster's River afford a large supply of water, on which are several good mill-sites.

The present town contains an area of 1371 acres, about one-half of which is improved. It is bounded on the north by Lebanon, on the east by North Berwick, on the south by South Berwick, and on the west by the towns of Roch- ester, Somersworth, and Rollingsford, in Strafford Co., N. H.

SETTLEMENT.

Settlement is supposed to have been commenced as early as 1624 by Humphrey Chadbourne, Gibbins, and others, as mention is made of them in 1631 as settled at Quampeagan Falls seven years previous, and also of men whose sur- names were Frost, Heard, Shapleigh, Chadbourne, Spencer, Broughton, Leader, Plaisted, and Wincolo .;

Messrs. Chadourne and Gibbins were, with five others, connected with Walter Neal, agent for Mason and Gorges, at Piscataqua, in the manufacture of salt, fishing, lumbering, and farming.

In 1643, Humphrey Chadbourne purchased of the saga- more Rowles a part of the land on which the village of Berwick uow stands. This was the first Indian deed re- corded in the county. Mr. Spencer also purchased of the same sagamore a tract ou the banks of the Newichawannock, and north of Great Works River. George Broughton the same year obtained lands of the sagamores between Spen- cer's and Salmon Falls, where Broughton and Wincoll had lands granted by the town of Kittery on condition of erecting a mill. The lands above were held under proprietary grants.

The Indian, Rowles, was a sagamore of some celebrity, and chief over all the Indians along the river to its mouth. His dwelling-place was on the eastern side of Great Works River, near the Falls. In 1670, when overcome by age aud sickness, he sent a messenger for some of the principal men of the town, and requested that a few hundred acres of land might be marked out for the children of his tribe, and the act recorded in the town-book, that they might not be beg- gars in the land of their birth when he was gone.

In 1650 the following grant of land was made to Rich- ard Leader, who had been elected a councilor of the prov- ince in 1646:

" Whereas, at a court held at Kittery, on the 11th day of March, 1650, Mr. Richard Leader made certain propositions for the erection of mills at Newichawannock, it is ordered therefore by this court and the consent of the county, that the aforesaid Richard Leader, his heirs and assigns, shall have the sole property and privilege of the little river at Newichawannock, commonly called or known by that name, to erect a mill or mills upon the river aforesaid, together with like property and liberty of all such timber as is not yet appropriated to any town or person."

Mr. Leader erected a mill, which contained eighteen sep- arate saws moved by one wheel, on Little Newhichawan- Dock River, at Assabumbadock Falls. This gave the name of Great Works to the place, which became afterwards the name of the river. Mills were also erected at Salmon and Quampeagan Falls. Lumbering was carried on extensively, but settlement and agriculture made little progress, owing to the rigors of the winters and scarcity of provisions.

៛ Sullivan, pp. 243-46.

t Spelled by himself in his signatures on Kittery books Wincoll.

291

292

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.

In 1660 the settlement became the refuge for the perse- cuted Friends, or " Quakers," and received the especial attention of the town authorities of Kittery, who used every effort to crush out the opposition to the established church.

Newichawannock was organized as the parish of Unity in 1673, but still remained a part of the town of Kittery.

Michael Rhoades was a citizen of the town as early as 1690. His grandson, Miles Rhoades, died in Kennebunk- port during the Revolutionary war.

The oldest daughter of Nicholas Frost was born in Ber- wick in 1632. She was married to William Leighton in 1655. Ten acres of land were granted to Daniel Goodwin, grandfather of Thomas Goodwin, April 28, 1656. Among the other early inhabitants of the town are the following per- sons, who were residents at the date set opposite their names : Anthony Emery, 1652 ; Theodius Redden, 1653; Richard Tozer, John Tyler, Benoni Hodsdon, Andrew Searl, 1665; Roger Plaisted, Thomas Weeks, 1671; Thomas Wells, 1672; Little Hill, Thomas Spencer, Christopher Mitchell, Alexander Ferguson, 1673; James Plaisted, Christopher Adams, Capt. William Fernald, 1682; Patrick Gowen, Surveyor, 1685; Moses Goodwin, Daniel Furbish, Job Emery. Nicholas Tucker, Richard King, 1694; Richard Rogers, John Spinney, John " Finex," Miles Thompson, Nicholas Morrill. Moses Goodwin, Thomas Deering, Joseph Couch, 1699 ; " Black Will, Jr.," a negro, Philip Hubert, Ichabod Plaisted, 1703.

In 1652 a road was laid out from the Lower Falls, now South Berwick village, to the Great Falls, and thence through the town to Pine Hill and Cranberry Meadow, past the lands of John and Samuel Falls, John Connor, Ichabod Tibbetts, Tristram Heard, John Horsman, and Benjamin Stanton. Humphrey Chadbourne had a lodging-camp near the north corner of the town, above the Falls, in 1659-60.

James Barnard bought land joining Richard Tozer about 1662. This land he afterwards sold to his brother, Ben- jamin Barnard, in 1685.

KING PHILIP'S WAR.

At the outbreak of the Indian war, in 1675. Berwick was a frontier town, whose few inhabitants were engaged in hunting, fishing, and the manufacture of lumber. Farm- ing was hard, and so uncertain in its products as not to be Fifi as a sole dependence. From the settlements along the ilver, all to the north was an unbroken wilderness, the hom . and hunting-grounds of the natives, whose savage arts easily supplied their few wants. Their sudden ou- Haught found the settlers unprepared and unsuspecting. The first notice of war was the savage attack upon the dwelling-house of John Tozer, Sept. 24, 1675. This house stood a hundred and fifty rods above the mills and garrison at Salmon Falls. Mr. Tozer had gone with sixteen other mon, under the command of Capt. Wincolu, to defend the distressed inhabitants of Saco, and left his house with fif- te u persons, women and children. unguarded. The attack was led by Andrew, of Saco, and Hopehood, of Kennebec, two of the fiercest warriors of the tribe. Their approach was first discovered by a young girl of eighteeu years, who

closed the door and held it fast while the rest of the occu- pants escaped. The Indians cut the door down with their hatchets, and entered to find only the brave girl who had thus aided their defeat. Madly disappointed in finding the house empty, they turned upon her, inflicting blows until she appeared to be dying. Pursuing the family, they over- took two children. One who was but three years old they immediately killed. The other they took away and kept six months. The girl revived after their departure, and made her way to the garrison, where ber wounds were dressed, and she subsequently recovered. The next day a large party set fire to the dwelling-house and buildings of Capt. Wincoll, which stood near the upper mills, and burned them with their contents. The men from the gar- rison followed them until darkness put an end to the pur- suit. The next morning they appeared upon the western bank of the river, called the English cowardly dogs, and fired several shots across at the men who were working in the mill.

October 16th they attacked the house of Richard Tozer,* in full view of the garrison, about one hundred and fifty rods distant, killed him and carried his son into captivity. Roger Plaisted, the commander of the garrison, who is mentioned as an officer of true courage and public spirit, sent out niue of his best men to watch their movements and render such assistance as was in their power. Falling into an ambush, three of these were killed, and the others escaped with difficulty. The following letter written from this place to two gentlemen in Dover, N. H., shows the ex- treme distress of the settlers at that time :

" To RICHARD WALDRON AND LIEUT. COFFIN: These are to inform you that the Indians are just now engaging us with at least one hun- dred men, and have already slain four of our men, Richard Tozer, James Berry. Isaac Bottes, and Tozer's son, and burnt Benoni Hods- don's house. Sirs, if ever you have any love for us, show yourselves with men to help us, or else we shall all be in great danger of being slaiu unless our God wonderfully appears for our deliverance. They that cannot fight let them pray. Nothing else.

" Yours, to serve, " ROGER PLAISTED, "GEORGE BROUGHTON."

Mr. Plaisted ordered a team to bring in the bodies of the slain, and led 20 of his best men out after them. Placing first the body of Tozer, which was most remote, in the cart, they returned to get the others, when a party of 150 savages, rising from behind a stone wall among the logs and bushes, fired a well-directed volley upon the soldiers and immediately charged upon them. The oxen, taking fright, ran to the garrison. In the fierce and unequal conflict which ensued Lieut. Plaisted rallied his men upon a more advantageous piece of ground, but being soon overpowered by superior numbers, he disdained either to fly or yield, though wounded, and fought with desperate courage until cut down with the enemy's hatchets. His son and one soldier, unwilling to leave the intrepid leader, sought to escape after he fell, but were slain before they reached the garrison. Another son, who had fought heroi- cally, died from his wounds a few weeks after. Roger

# Richard Tozer's wife is said to have been Elizabeth, daughter of Elder William Wentworth .- Hon. John Wentworth in his family history.

293

TOWN OF BERWICK.

Plaisted had represented the town of Kittery four years in the General Court, and was highly respected for his valor, worth, and piety. He and bis sons were buried on his land near the battle-ground, near the old road from South Ber- wick to Great Falls.

The Indians in retiring set fire to three houses, two barns, and a mill, and burned a dwelling-house and killed two men on Sturgeon Creek. The house of Capt. Frost, which was unfortified and at a little distance from his neighbors, was attacked while he was a short distance off. He immedi- ately entered, amid a shower of bullets, from which he escaped unhurt, and with great presence of mind shouted the commands : " Load quick,-fire ! that's well !"-a strat- agem which saved him and his three boys who were in the house.

In October, 1676, the troops of the commonwealth, under command of Capt. William Hawthorne, arrived at Newich- awannock, where they remained quartered the rest of the month. The settlement had so revived by 1689 that it contained 27 houses, some of which were strongly built for defense, and all were of stout hewn logs.

DESTRUCTION BY THE FRENCH AND INDIANS.

March 18th a party under Hartel, a Canadian officer, and the famous Hopehood, with 52 men, 25 of whom were Indians, commenced an assault on the settlement at day- break in three different places. The people, though en- tirely surprised, flew to arms and defended themselves in their garrison so bravely that they were applauded by their enemies. They fought till 34 of their men were killed, when they were forced to surrender. The assailants took 54 prisoners, the most of them women and children. They then took all the plunder they could earry away, and set fire to most of the houses, the mills, and barns, which were consumed with a great number of cattle. The party, with their prisoners and plunder, retreated on their way a mile and a half above the village " where they had burned 20 houses." They set fire to the house of Thomas Toogood, took him prisoner, and murdered his wife and children. Toogood lived on the farm now occupied by Mr. Daniel Wentworth, who still retains the deeds and papers given by Toogood to his descendants. Toogood's cellar is still to be seen in Mr. Wentworth's field. While the Indian who captured Toogood was preparing strings to tie him, holding his gun under his arm, Toogood seized the gun, ran backward pointing it at his breast, telling him he would shoot if he alarmed the others. He crossed the river, followed some distance by the Indian, who begged for the return of his gun. He was made a butt of ridicule among the other Indians after for losing his gun, and given the name of " No-good." Toogood arrived safely at Dover. The enemy were pursued by 150 men, who had been aroused to arms by the smoke of the burn- ing village. They came up with Hartel in the afterooou at a narrow bridge over Worster's River. Expecting an attack, Hartel posted his men to great advantage on the northerly bank of the river. A sharp engagement ensued, which lasted until night. Four or five of the English were taken prisoners, and several were killed ; three of the enemy were killed, and several wounded and taken pris- oners.

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History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 81

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 730

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 730