USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 2
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. II > Part 2
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HISTORY OF YORK
was granted eighty acres "above the Higher Falls of Cape Neddick River ... where the River seemeth to be a pond" (T. R. 32-34). It seems that he had erected saw- mills there which he sold on December 3, 1684 to John Sayward (Deeds iv, 37), but owing to the loss of records further particulars are wanting.
Henry Goddard, a young man, appeared at Cape Ned- dick in 1687, and seems to have had some close associa- tions with the Stover family. He received a grant in 1688 of forty acres of "Mr. Gorges land beyond Cape Neddick River ... in the brook that runneth out of the Great fresh marsh" with liberty to build a Fulling Mill (T. R. i, 94). Whether this project was carried out is unknown, but it is doubtful, as he deeded this property to Mrs. Stover November 25, 1690, after his removal to Jamestown, Rhode Island. He witnessed Sylvester Stover's will and wrote the will of Mrs. Stover at Scituate, Mass., and affili- ated with the Quakers there. In 1691 he appeared as attorney for Mrs. Stover before the Maine Court (Deeds v, pt. 2, p. 8).
The terrible experiences during the Indian troubles that culminated in the Massacre discouraged any further development in milling for. some years, but the English- man was not to be driven out by the Algonquian after he had once gained a foothold. Samuel Webber was the first one after that event to accept this challenge. He was a carpenter by trade, had formerly lived to the eastward, from which he had been driven in 1690 to take up a resi- dence in Gloucester. He had married in Wells in 1680 and was thus attracted hither when there was a lull in hostili- ties. He removed to Cape Neddick with his wife and five children. On June 6, 1690 he was granted fifty acres of land and settled on the eastern side of the river. He had scarcely completed rearing his new home when the Candle- mas Day horror again checked him. He returned later to his task and on March 14, 1693-4 obtained from the town "Liberty to build a Corn Mill & a fulling Mill on Cape Neddick River above the Lower Falls where the Saw Mill Standeth, and to Make a Damm for them," (T. R. i, 97). It is presumed that these mills were built, as Samuel Web- ber in association with his sons, Samuel, Jr. and John, were actively engaged in the milling business in various parts of the town in addition to their local interests in this
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CAPE NEDDICK
village. In 1714 they had a sawmill in copartnership on the southwest side of Cape Neddick River near the mill pond (T. R. i, 262). In 1716 Samuel Webber, Sr., died and his son, Samuel, appears to have continued the mill- ing interests of the family.
Alexander Woods, clothier, came to this village about 1730 and two years later obtained from Samuel Webber the privilege to erect a fulling mill "about Midway betwixt Cape Neddick Mill of Mr. Arthur Bragdon at Cape Ned- dick Pond in the same place where Samuel Webber for- merly had a Saw Mill" (Deeds xv, 79). The consideration was the delivery of "one Piece of cloath yearly" to the grantor.
The utilization of the water power on Josiah Littlefield's brook or river can be traced to the year 1710, when Samuel Webber with three others "Sett a Mill on the Southeast side of that stream." This was undoubtedly a sawmill as there is no reason for erecting a grist or fulling mill in that locality (T. R. i, 242). Another sawmill was built in 1717 on the west branch of this river by John Sayward and Jonathan Bane (Deeds xvii, 254). On the Middle Hill of Agamenticus William Card, Samuel Banks and Thomas Adams, Jr. were granted land on a branch of Josiah's Brook with permission to erect a mill "neer to a Learg Beaver Damm" in 1718 (T. R. i, 340). In 1718 Joseph Weare and Nathaniel Donnell had a mill on the main brook for sawing timber, and the same year John Sayward was granted forty acres of land half a mile below it for milling purposes. The town reserved pine and oak timber for "the Use of the Inhabitance," (T. R. i, 353). Some time before 1728 Jeremiah Moulton, John Woodbridge, Joseph Bragdon, Job Banks, Lewis Bane and John Preble built a sawmill "on a Brook that emptieth into Josias's River in Wells" (Deeds xii, 335). Moulton later acquired a half interest in it, buying out Preble and Banks (Ibid. xiii, 261; xiv, 54).
It will be seen from these accounts of the milling indus- tries of this section of Old York that the buzz of the saws echoed with increasing resonance through the great forests in the eastern section of the town. The crack of the woods- man's axe added its uncanny contribution to this constant destruction of tall pines and spreading oaks. Little thought was given to the future of this valuable asset.
II
HISTORY OF YORK
Reforestation was unknown. Nowhere was there a fall of water sufficient to operate an overshot wheel, but the effect was not minimized by this lack. "Those late Inven- tions," wrote Hubbard in that period, "so useful for the Destruction of Wood and Timber, specially of Fir-trees, which no doubt so abound in those Coasts that there is scarce a River or Creek in those Parts that hath not some of those Engines erected upon them." (Narrative of the Indian Wars, ed. 1865, ii, 75.)
THE FERRY AT CAPE NEDDICK RIVER
As soon as the town was reorganized after the Submis- sion, provisions were made for a ferry service across this river. At a town meeting held December 8, 1652, the fol- lowing vote relative to Cape Neddick was passed:
2. It is likewise ordered that Sylvester Stover shall keep a ferry at Cape Neddick river & shall Provide Canoos sufficient for that end. In which Consideration the sd. Stover is to have two pence a person for every one he carries or fetches over, If he be a stranger; and a penny for every Inhabitant of York, that he so carrieth or fetcheth, & four pence for every hors or beast that the sd. Stover swimmeth, or causeth by his help to be swom over the sd. River (T. R. i. 17).
In the absence of further reference to this ferry it is only possible to assume that Sylvester Stover, its first ferryman, continued to act in that capacity until 1687 when he left the town for England never to return. Doubt- less his sons succeeded to the franchise. In 1714 John Stover was operating it, but in 1725 James Carr was voted the privilege of keeping this ferry during the "Town's pleasure" and in 1727 this vote was renewed (T. R. ii, I, 19). It is probable that Carr held the franchise as long as he remained in town. The last record of him is in 1736.
BRIDGES
When the river was bridged is not recorded in the town books. The river was fordable at all times, except in the event of a flood, and the town was not subject to indict- ment for neglect to build one, as the Post Road crossed one half mile above the harbor. A bridge is first mentioned in 1756, and evidently had been built some years previ- ously (T. R. ii, 132), and in 1771 a second one is mentioned, "the Back Brook where a bridge now Stands in Cape Ned-
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CAPE NEDDICK
dick," (Ibid. ii, 162). Both bridges were probably built by private persons for local convenience. This seems to be the inference from the following action of the town follow- ing the loss of the lower bridge some time before 1771 during a flood :
Voted that the Bridge over Cape Neddick River carried away at the late Freshet be Rebuilt at the expense of the Town as soon as may be (Ibid. ii, 181).
This action was not taken till 1776, as five years before, John Adams when riding the circuit wrote in his diary that he "went over the Sands, but could not ford at Cape Neddick, and so was obliged to go round over the bridge by the mill."
There was a new bridge crossing Cape Neddick River built in 1795 by Mr. Jeremiah Weare's house (Post Road). In 1828 the town voted that a bridge across Cape Neddick River near the Widow Anne Clark be built.
THE STOVER GARRISON
This stood upon the west side of the Cape Neddick River, and was built by Sylvester Stover some time before 1687, when he left here for a voyage to England. It con- sisted of a stone house and a timber house, which were sur- rounded by a palisade. After his departure in that year, Mrs. Stover maintained this garrison, which was the only fortified post in that region between York Village and Wells, and for two years it was a rendezvous for the troops in their scouting expeditions, when Capt. James Converse was in command of this work here. She furnished them with provisions whenever they stopped in Cape Neddick, and continued to do so until in the early summer of 1691 when the settlement was gradually deserted by the inhab- itants, even by her sons and sons-in-law, and she too was obliged to leave it untenanted. When the Indians attacked this settlement on June 21, 1691, she had departed only the week before for Scituate, Massachusetts, as a place of refuge, with some members of her family. The enemy wreaked their vengeance by the torch instead of the toma- hawk. It was burned to the ground and the last strong- hold of York, at that point, was destroyed. It was a sacrifice to the policy of Massachusetts authorities who
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HISTORY OF YORK
neglected to furnish adequate protection to the people of this Province.
Major Robert Pike, of Salisbury, wrote to the Gov- ernor, Sir William Phips, on June 19, 1691: "I lament the breaking up of Cape Nedik Garison. I have spoken with Left. (Richard) Hunewell and the rest of the men who say they will return again if relef Com into those parts." Hunnewell was the son-in-law of Mrs. Stover, having mar- ried her daughter Elizabeth. But it was then too late, as the "fort" was then smoldering in ruins.
The accounts of Mrs. Stover for furnishing supplies to the soldiers under Converse had remained unpaid for over five years, and tiring of the delays in reimbursing her she asked Captain Converse to present the case to the authori- ties in her behalf, and this he did in the following petition :
That the sd Widow (in the begining of this present Warr), lost her husband, and she with much deficulty & charge maintained her fort at Cape Nuddick about two years but in the year (1691) she was Niglected, her neighbours left her, her sons removed, she was forced to quitt the (then) best fort in the Eastern parts), which was within one Week Seized by the Enemey, her houses one of Stone an other of wood within the Wals burnt- dureing the time of her abode there she was very Redy and forward to supplye soldiers with beefe and other provisions upon their March & otherwise- as need required. She obtained a ticket from your petetionr and some other Comanders of her disburstments, and had a debenter signed to the Treasurer for fifteen pounds and seventeene shillings, (Acording to my best remem- brance), sent it by her son-in-law to Situate, and her sd son lost it by the way, the books have been serched but no payment thereof found. she hath made as many Journeys up to Boston with A man she hired to Come with her (about it) as cost her above three pounds in money & alwayes mett with disappointments, altho our late Hon'd Gov'r promised her she should be payd yett she being weary, left the matter with your pettetioner &c.
Feb. 26th, 1695/6.
(2 Me. Hist. Coll. v, 432).
The General Court voted to allow her the sum of £15: 18 as reimbursement on March 30, 1697.
In the list of garrisons in the town of York in 1711, prepared for the military authorities of Massachusetts the first one listed is at Cape Neddick which was charged with accommodating eight families, eight men, four soldiers, a total of forty-five souls. To this was appended a note that "Peter Nowell has Liberty to erect a New One."
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CHURCH AT SLIMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
CAPE NEDDICK
JOHN GOOCH
John Gooden The earliest recorded appearance of this settler was on June 19, 1640 as the first named of a com- mittee of Agamenticus to select deputies to appear at a General Court of the Prov- ince to protect their corporate privileges. It is probable that he had settled on the east side of Cape Neddick River as "Mr. John Gouges Plantation" was so called at that place (Deeds i, 14). He came here from Slymbridge, Gloucestershire, probably under the influence of Hum- phrey Hooke who was Lord of the Manor of Frampton adjoining Slymbridge. He was perhaps son of John Goughe, a husbandman of Slymbridge living in 1608 aged about fifty-five years. William Hammond of Wells was a brother-in-law of Gooch and also from the same parish in England and was appointed Supervisor of the latter's will. As Gooch obtained his title to his land from Oliver Godfrey whose patent to that territory was issued in 1638, it probably represents about the year when Gooch came to York. He emigrated with his wife and four children, all of whom married here. He owned property near the Meeting House and at Little River, but had removed to Wells before 1662 where he died. His public services were few, limited to jury duty, but he was evidently a man of recognized social qualifications as "Mr." was always pre- fixed to his name.
His wife, who may have been a sister of William Ham- mond, became involved with the notorious George Burdett and was convicted of immoral relations with him and sentenced to the usual public censure and standing in a white sheet in church on "two several Sabath dayes." A witness in the case testified that he heard " John Gouch say that he was minded to shoote Mr. Burdett, but that his wife persuaded him to the contrary, and he thought that John Gouch carryed a pistoll in his pockett to shoote Mr. Burdett." (Court Records i, 80.) Apparently this domestic trouble was forgiven as in his will of May 7, 1667 he made "my Loveing wife, Ruth Gooch, my soole executrix" and bequeathed to her a life interest in his houses and lands and seven pounds yearly for her maintenance. His son John received the homestead and his son James land in
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HISTORY OF YORK
Slymbridge which he had bought of William Hammond. Mr. William Symonds and "my brother, William Ham- mond" were appointed overseers, and on July 12, 1667 the will was probated. It is not known when his widow died. They had the following children:
Ruth, b. (1628); m. Peter Weare.
John, b. (1630). (dau.), b. (1632); m. Samuel Austin.
James, b. (1635).
PETER WEARE
yeskor wow For nearly three cen- turies descendants of this rugged pioneer have lived in York and have been identi- fied with Cape Neddick. The precise date of his emigra- tion is not known, but he first appears as a settler at Great Works, Kittery, about 1638, when he and Thomas Brookes, alias Basil Parker, bought land of John Wilcox on the Asbenbedick River. Peter Weare was then about twenty years of age and came from Charfield, Gloucester- shire, probably son of Peter Weare of that parish, and per- haps descended from a Thomas Weare who was living there before 1500.1 How Peter Weare became associated with Basil Parker, a London haberdasher, in the property at Great Works, is not known, but is established that they were living at that place in June 1640 (Maine Court Records i, 42), and shortly after had a confirmation of their land from Thomas Gorges.2
Of his early activities he stated in a deposition in 1665 that twenty-seven years previously he had "oftentimes travailed the country, some of the natives always with me, which hath from time to time affirmed that the lake called Winnepasaket issues into the river of Merremake, & hav- ing some Indians with me upon the north side of the sd lake, upon a great mountaine, did see the said lake" (Mass. Col. Rec. iv, pt. 2, p. 243). This presupposes his employ-
1 It is quite probable, but not yet proved, that Nathaniel Weare, who came to Newbury, 1635, and later to Hampton, N. H. was a cousin or near kinsman of our settler. Both named sons Peter and Nathaniel, and it is known that the Hampton family came from the same part of England. Nathaniel was an apprentice in Bristol in 1618.
2 Parker came over first as agent of the Shrewsbury Merchants who had land in New Hampshire, and as this city was in close connection with Bristol, this may explain the origin of their association.
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CAPE NEDDICK
ment in the traffic of furs, then a lucrative business. They both left Kittery and came to York to reside. Weare was called "of Gorgeana" in June 1643 (Deeds ii, 179), and thenceforth he resided here until his death. He lived first near the present meeting house, but by 1650 he had acquired a lot on the north side of Cape Neddick River which became the Weare homestead for generations. From this time forth Peter Weare became a leading citizen of the town and often a storm centre of politics.
XIXI XIX
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, CHARFIELD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE WHERE THE WEARE FAMILY LIVED
From the first he identified himself with the Massa- chusetts pretensions to the ownership of Maine, and was used by them to bolster their claims. He signed the Sub- mission of 1652 and the petition to Cromwell in 1656. In 1659 he represented York in the local legislature held by Wiggin and Danforth by virtue of a commission from Massachusetts; again at Boston, 1660, and in 1665 at the important session of the General Court during the con-
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HISTORY OF YORK
troversy with the Royal Commissioners. In 1668 he signed a petition to Massachusetts to resume control of the Province. So obnoxious did he make himself to the lawful authorities of Gorges in this year that they impris- oned him in the town jail, "but at night the doors of the jail were staved in pieces by his confederates and he was set free" (Colonial Papers xxxiii, 58), when the Justices of Massachusetts supported by an armed force appeared in York to seize the Courts. The Justices of Maine wrote to Colonel Nicolls that he had been a principal leader in all these disturbances, "repayring to the General Court in the midst of all for his security." (Ibid.) This second military invasion of Maine in force was successful and Weare began to profit by his partisanship. He was com- missioned as Recorder by the General Court, "if Mr. Edward Rishworth, the recorder of the said County of York, neglect or refuse his duty therein (Mass. Col. Rec. iv, pt. 2, 152), which proved to be the case and Weare assumed the duties. "His records show," said the editor of York Deeds, "that he was poorly qualified for the office to which he was appointed. In an age when spelling was largely a matter of personal choice, his orthography was lamentable; and his handwriting was worse than his spell- ing. The labor of writing was so irksome to him that he frequently employed Rishworth to make the records, to which he affixed his clumsy signature." (ii, 8.) In 1669 Rishworth was again elected Recorder, but the Court set aside the election and reappointed Weare, who held the office another year, to be succeeded by Rishworth. He held the office of County Treasurer in 1670 and Clerk of the Writs in 1665.
In local affairs he seemed to have the confidence of his neighbors. For eighteen years, beginning in 1653, of which there remains a record, he was elected a Selectman, the last time in 1683 and for seven years, 1654 to 1673 he served as Town Clerk, despite his lack of qualifications for this kind of work. Although out of sympathy with his Provincial politics the town recognized his abilities and his long service justified their confidence. He can be classed as one of York's most useful citizens in her early years of development.
In the bitter personalities engendered during the excite- ments of the Usurpation he was called by Capt. John
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CAPE NEDDICK
Davis, his wife's stepfather, a "Base knave & cripell cur" which indicates that he had suffered some disabling injury in his life but that he was vigorous enough in 1685 to cross the ocean is evidenced by the fact that he proved at Lon- don "as executor" the will of his younger brother, Thomas, when he was about seventy years of age (P.C.C. 128, Cann). He was married twice; his first wife was Ruth, daughter of John and Ruth Gooch, but she had died prob- ably before the date of her father's will (1667). For his second venture he took Mary, daughter of George and Mary (Pooke) Puddington, who had been an inmate of his household as a housekeeper (1649-1663) and married her the next year. This marriage did not turn out satis- factorily and she was indicted in 1675 for "liveing from her husband." Upon examination she explained that it was "be cause her husband was not willing to have her Com- pany, neither did he provide helpe or necessary Accomo- dations for her Convenient reception which iff he would shee was willing to go to live with him." He was ordered to provide properly for her and she to return to her hus- band, both upon a prescribed penalty. She outlived him and died January 28, 1718-19, aged about eighty-five years. Her will was proved April 7 following. He was killed in the Massacre of 1692. His estate was valued in 1727 by a family settlement at £570-2-10 (York Probate iii, 250).
He had the following children by both marriages:
(By first wife)
Elizabeth, m. Thomas Donnell. She was living in 1702.
Mary, m. John Drury (Deeds ix, 36).
Hannah, m. (1) Nathaniel Jewell (Suffolk Deeds xiv, 421). (2) Michael Shaller in 1697 (Deeds ix, 36).
Peter, b. 1649, eldest son (Deeds vii, 105).
Phebe, m. Isaac Marion about 1681.
Nathaniel, prob. died young without issue.
Ruth, m. Timothy Cunningham.
(By second wife)
Daniel, b. about 1666.
Joseph, b. about 1668.
Sarah, b. about 1670; m. Peter Nowell.
Elias, b. about 1672.
Mary, b. about 1674; m. Charles Roberts (Deeds x, 188).
Hopewell, b. about 1676.
The genealogy of this family will appear in Volume III.
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HISTORY OF YORK
JOHN BALL
While he was one of the four fishermen who obtained land and fishing privileges in 1649, there is no further record of him after that date. He disposed of his share to Sylvester Stover. He came from the Isles of Shoals.
THOMAS WAY
The only information definitely connected with him beyond association with the grant of 1649 and that he came from the Isles of Shoals, indicates that he remained a short time as he was granted mill privileges in 1650 (Deeds i, 12). On February 16, 1650 he bought of Godfrey twelve acres on the south side of the river, bounded on the northeast by the neck of land "where Sylvester Stover dwelleth," and east on the sea and on the southward by Cape Neddick (i, 13). It is probable that this passed to Stover when Way and partners sold out. He may be identical with one of the same name living in Marblehead in 1652 (Essex Court Rec. i, 275).
MICHAEL POWELL
As there was a Michael Powell who settled in Dedham in 1639 and later removed to Boston, there is a possible danger of confusing the York settler with him. There is not much evidence that Michael Powell, the fisherman, as partner of Ball and Way, remained in York, as his share of the joint property was purchased by Stover. He may be the "Mr. Powel" to whom William Hook owed money in 1646, and identification is made certain in a document which refers to Michael Powell of Salisbury the same year (Aspinwall, Notarial Record 26, 50). Probably he came here at the suggestion of Hooke. In 1646 Humphrey Hooke was indebted to a Mr. Powell. The parish register of St. Margaret Pattens, London, adjoining St. Andrew Hubbard, where Godfrey lived, records the marriage of a Michael Powell and Abigail Bradley May 5, 1636, and as Godfrey granted the fishing rights to this party it seems possible that we here have a clue to his origin.
SYLVESTER STOVER
The English origin of this early settler, the ancestor of a large and important family in the history of this town,
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CAPE NEDDICK
can be traced without much doubt to the county of Suf- folk. In no other county in England is this name to be found and its ancient spelling is Stopher, Stofer, and while the form now known does not appear until after 1600 in the Suffolk records the names are interchangeable in the English records. Stovers are found in the following par- ishes from 1524 to 1640: Ipswich, Walton, Felixstowe, Peasenhall, Badingham, Bruisyard, Parham and Fram- lingham; the last five being a group of adjoining parishes. It is significant that Michael Powell of Salisbury was given a power of attorney to attend to some legal business in Framlingham, and although the name of Sylvester Stover is not found in that parish yet it is the probable region whence both came. With no present trace of his parentage, we are without any definite knowledge to fix his age. He was born before 1628, but how long prior is also unknown.
His life in York was uneventful. Beyond his appoint- ment as ferryman at Cape Neddick River in 1652 he held no public office. He signed the Submission in 1652; the peitition to Cromwell, 1656; the address to Massachusetts, 1662, but otherwise took no active part in the political controversies of the period. His landed estate began with his acquisition of the shares of his three partners, and to this was added seventy acres "near the" higher falls of the Cape Neddick River and some small grants of marsh land towards the Wells line.
The Court Records afford more extended references to him. On June 25, 1655 Stover and his wife were presented by the Grand Jury "for complaining of one another on the Lords Day in the morning in saying that his wife did abuse him and bid him go to Thomas Crocketts and carry some bread and cheese to his b. . . " In 1666 they were presented for "not comeing unto the Meeting upon the Lords day about six weeks," and in 1667 he was charged with neglect of the ferry, and "offering Mr. Hooke some abuse and for threatening to fight him." In 1650 "Silvester Stovard" was listed among doubtful debtors of Robert Button of Boston.
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