USA > Maine > Pioneers on Maine rivers, with lists to 1651 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
WHEELWRIGHT, JOHN, born 1599; clergyman, graduated from Cam- bridge College, 1618; married November 18, 1621, Mary, daughter of Thomas Storre, of Bilsby, England; arrived at Boston May 26, 1636; Exeter, 1639; Ogunquit, 1643; Hampton, 1647; England, 1656; died at Salisbury November 15, 1679; widow Susanna, sister of Edward Hutch- inson; children Catherine (Nanney), born 1629, Elizabeth (Parsons), Hannah (Checkley), John, Mary (Lyde, Atkinson), Rebecca (Maverick, Bradbury), Samuel, born 1638, Sarah (Crisp), Susanna (Rishworth) and Thomas.
WHITE, JOHN, laborer, arrived 1635; Wells, as employe of John Richards, 1643; Preston, 1645-1653.
152
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
MARYLAND RIVER
This stream still called Little River, but better known by its tributaries, Maryland River and Branch Brook, is situated nearly in the coastal center of the town of Wells, which was first called Preston. The stream enters the sea about one mile east of Wells River. Its Indian name was Neapskessett.
April 1, 1639, Richard Vines gave John Wadley, of Saco, per- mission to select a homestead anywhere along its borders, since the region was then an unbroken wilderness .*
Such a concession may have implied that the recipient was either a friend, or a creditor, of the Steward General.
The first permanent settler on the western bank was Henry Boade, who came thither with Wadley from Saco and settled at the mouth of the river. In 1648, he assured Governor Winthrop of his legal status and that of other early residents in Stratton's Plantation in these words: "We were sett into our possessions first by Mr Craddock's agent who bought ye pattent of Stratten, secondly by Mr Thomas Gorges." This agent of Cradock was either Thomas Mayhew or John Jolliff. This farm became the property of William Symonds, of Ipswich.t
Wadley soon claimed a large area in the heart of the town and was not disturbed in his pretensions until 1647, when Robert Booth, as employe of George Cleave, undertook to define the western boundary of Lygonia. Cleave in turn was agent for Rigby who had acquired the rights of two of the original mem- bers of the Plough Patent four years before.
Henry Boade, who was particularly interested in the issue, since he preferred the political supremacy of Massachusetts to that of the English nobleman, advised Winthrop concerning the results attained by Booth : "He measured and came short of our towne 3 miles ; there was one told him he would give him a quart of sakk to measure in such a man John Wadloe who dwelleth in ye middell part of our towne ; he goeth back againe & he reacheth all our towne only 2 houses."}
* York Deeds, 1-2, 11.
+ York Deeds. 1-84.
# Mass. Hist. Proc., 22-157.
153
MARYLAND RIVER
The first survey was made in 1647 and Cleave began to assign lands that year. The second measurements were made during the following summer.
Wadley, however, was not satisfied with the encroachments and sought a new title from the natives with whom he was on friendly terms. October 18, 1649, he succeeded in securing a deed of the entire town of Wells, then styled Preston, from Chabinock, an Indian proprietor. This sagamore's name meant "Squirrel" in his own language, and the size of the tract conveyed, which extended from Ogunquit to Kennebunk River, must have afforded exercise for some of his accredited attributes. The next year Wadley disposed of his interest in all of the territory west of the Neapskessett River to his son Robert, but continued to occupy the premises during his lifetime.§
Between this river and the Mousam was a section bought by John Sanders, of Hampton, from Thomas Gorges in 1643, on the same day the Littlefields purchased their properties at Webhannet .*
In 1660, the land which had been occupied by Sanders for many years was referred to by Wadley, in a deed to Daniel Epps, of Ipswich, as "the towne."t
§ York Deeds, 3-65.
York Deeds, 1-2, 12; 1-142.
¡ York Deeds, 1-126.
154
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
CAPE PORPOISE RIVER
Although no settlement was in existence at Cape Porpois when Christopher Levett "coasted" from Pascataqua to Cap Newagen in 1623, the name of that headland had been known b. English navigators before the issuance of the Simancas map i 1610. Sagadahoc colonists, who had spent a night at Cape Eliza beth, also visited the locality of Cape Porpoise.
Porpus River
Nezunket River
Wells
a KenebunchR
ACape Porpuse
The first propr etor of Cape Por poise was Joh Stratton, of Shot ley, England, wh was the son of Joh and Ann (Dear haugh) Strattor born in England i: 1606.
After his father' death and the set 0 tlement of the pa ternal estate th CAPE PORPOISE 1653 son left Englan for America. As h was afterwards as sociated with Mat thew Cradock in a business way in Massachusetts, it is probabl that he landed at Salem with John Endicott September 6, 1628 For several years he was engaged in stock raising-presumabl for Cradock who had a ranch at Medford. According to Win throp cattle and kettles were then mediums of exchange .*
It would appear that he returned to England with Isaac Al lerton before November 16, 1631, in the White Angel whic docked at Bristol. December 2, after some solicitation by Aller ton and possibly by Vines, he secured from the Council of Ply mouth a grant of 2000 acres of land lying at Cape Porpoise.
^ Mass. Hist. Proc., 5-126.
155
CAPE PORPOISE RIVER
As a consideration for this concession in Maine, it was recited that Stratton had resided in New England for three years previ- ous to its issuance and had expended 1000 pounds sterling in transporting cattle and providing attendants to manage them. Winthrop had secured beef from a London dealer of same name. Since no cattle had been imported into Maine before 1633, his operations must have been conducted elsewhere .;
For more than a month after he had obtained his grant of Cape Porpoise Stratton and Ralph Fogg were engaged in an at- tempt to audit Allerton's accounts with the London partners and the Colony of New Plymouth.}
From other testimony of Stratton it appeared that he re- turned to Massachusetts in the White Angel with Allerton in the spring of 1632 and transshipped for the Eastward.
In a subsequent deposition, taken at Salem in 1640, the fol- lowing paragraph relating to the incident was preserved : "John Stratton of Salem in New England gent aged about 34 years sworne saith that his mother Mris Anne Stratton in or about the moneth of December in the yeare of our Lord 1631 delivered unto this deponent at Dedham in Essex in the presence of Ralfe Fogge and this deponents sister Elizabeth Thorndike" two specialties and that "he lost the said specialtyes wth other writings & goods by the casting away of a boate at Cape Porpis in America about ten yeares since."§
It would appear that Stratton took a companion with him to his destination, since before September 4, 1632, Cape Porpoise was inhabited by Reynold Jenkins, an Indian trader. The account stated that "One Jenkins, late an inhabitant of Dorchester, and now removed to Cape Porpus, went with an Indian up into the country with store of goods to truck, and, being asleep in a wig- wam with one of Passaconamy's men, was killed in the night by an Indian, dwelling near the Mohawks' country, who fled away with his goods, but was fetched back by Passaconamy."*
Jenkins may have been one of those to whom the New Ply- mouth historian alluded in his chronicles of 1632, when he claimed that Allerton "sells trading comodities to any yt will buy
but * what he could not sell, he trustes; and sets up
+ N. H. State Papers, 1-45.
¿ Bradford, 2-184.
Lechford, 185.
Winthrop, 1-89.
156
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
a company of base felows and makes them traders, to rune into every hole."+
The custom of trading with the Indians in the interior through the agency of native guides was an early one. John Winter at Richmond Island employed some of his men in this hazardous service.
The landing place of Stratton when he arrived from England and the location of Jenkins at the cape disclosed an intention to settle in the harbor, near the present village of Cape Porpoise.
Since the patent was lost in the boat wreck, a memorandum of the proposed grant is all that now defines the marine boundary of the concession. In the record of the Council of Plymouth it was described as "butting upon ye south side or border of ye River or Creeke called by the name of Cape Porpus, and on ye other side Northwards" (from the) "Creeke mouth of Cape Porpus, into the south side of the Harbours mouth of Cape Por- pus aforesaid."#
The stream, once called Cape Porpoise River by mariners of the Seventeenth Century, is now known by its original Indian name of Mousam, and the sea frontage of Stratton's grant ex- tended from the mouth of that natural boundary to the harbor of Cape Porpoise near Redding's Island.
After the death of Jenkins, Stratton may have withdrawn from his exposed position at Cape Porpoise to the security of an island lying before Old Orchard Beach, subsequently known as Stratton's Island, but he did not remain there long.
He left the vicinity in 1633. The anonymous "Relation," ac- credited to Walter Neal, mentioned the premises of John Stratton at Cape Porpoise as "forsaken" at the time of the writer's de- parture from New England in the summer of that year.§
Furthermore, a court record dated March 25, 1636, contained the following decree: "It is petitioned pr Mr. Godfrey that an attachment might be of one Brase Kettell now in the hands of Mr. Edward Godfrey, wch was belonging to Mr. John Stratten, of a debt deu now 3 yeares from Mr. Stratten to him Soe Stratten may harbour the said Kettell to be answerable to the sut of Mr. Godfrey against next Court to shew cause for not pament or the Kell to be condemned."
+ Bradford, 2-188.
į Am. Ant. Col., 1867-100.
§ N. H. State Papers, 17-491 ; Appendix F.
157
CAPE PORPOISE RIVER
From Maine Stratton had removed to Salem where his wid- owed mother was living. There he was censured by the magis- trates in 1637 and later in the year fined for loaning a gun to an Indian for four days .*
Upon his arrival at Salem the proprietor of Cape Porpoise had become associated with the business interests of Matthew Cradock and sold him that part of his territory which lay be- tween the Mousam and Kennebunk rivers. In 1639, according to Lechford, he conveyed the remainder to Hugh Peters and Richard Saltonstall.
The second settlement at Cape Porpoise was known as Strat- ton's Plantation, and there appeared to be sufficient families in the vicinity to maintain a separate parish for religious observ- ances for as early as April 26, 1641, Thomas Jenner while cler- gyman at Saco had received a request from "the inhabitance of Stratens plantation and from those of Caskoe, to be a meanes to helpe each of them to a godly minister." It was then impossible for him to comply, but he may have conducted occasional serv- ices in both communities during his long period of incumbency as a religious instructor in the district.i
PIONEERS
BARTLETT, NICHOLAS, guard of Charles Second; fled to Cape Porpoise, 1650; bought land of Cleave at Machegonne, 1651; Ipswich, 1659; Sa- lem, 1688.
BUSH, JOHN, arrived in May, 1635; planter at Cape Porpoise, 1647; died 1670; widow Grace married William Palmer.
HAMMOND, WILLIAM, born in Slymbridge, England, 1597; servant of Edward Winslow at Dorchester, 1632; Cape Porpoise, 1645; wife Bene- dictus, sister of the wife of John Gouch; died 1702; children Jonathan, born 1644, and Joseph, born 1647.
JENKINS, REYNOLD, trader at Dorchester, 1630; killed by Indians while trading inland from Cape Porpoise, in September, 1632.
LOOMAN, JOHN, planter 1648-1652; removed to Weymouth with wife Ann; daughter Margaret married Griffin Montague.
MERCER, THOMAS, Salem, 1637; Cape Porpoise, 1643-1652; Sheepscot, 1653-1675; Newbury, 1676; Sheepscot, 1683-9; died at Salisbury Feb- ruary 5, 1688-9; daughter Lydia (Stanwood), born 1657, left children born in Gloucester, and another daughter married William Wilcott.
MONTAGUE, GRIFFIN, carpenter at New Plymouth, 1635; Exeter, 1638; Cape Porpoise, 1653; died 1672; widow Margaret Looman; son John died young.
MOORE, RICHARD, born 1620; planter at Salem, 1642; Cape Porpoise, 1647; Wells, 1653; Black Point, 1665; wife Bridget; living 1671.
* Mass. Col. Rec., 1-191. 201.
¡ Hutchinson's Col., 112.
158
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
REDDING, THOMAS, fisherman at New Plymouth, 1637; married Eleanor Penny July 20, 1639; removed to an island in Cape Porpoise Harbor; Saco, 1653-7; Westcustego, 1665; died 1673; widow Eleanor; children John, born 1654, Ruth (Donnell) and a daughter who married John Taylor.
SINGLEMAN, HENRY, planter at Salem, 1641; land abutted that of Mor- gan Howell, 1648.
STRATTON, JOHN, born 1606; planter from Shotley, England; patentee of Cape Porpoise December 1, 1631; arrived 1632, with Allerton; Salem, 1637-1640; will, 1640; daughter Ann (Lake).
TROTT, SIMON, planter at New Plymouth, 1634; married Mary, daughter of Stephen Batson; lived on an island off Cape Porpoise; wigwam of "Goody" Trott at Cape Porpoise, 1666; children John and Mary (Brook- house).
SCOTT, RICHARD, born at Glemsford, England, 1607; shoemaker at Bos- ton, 1634; married Catherine, daughter of Edward Marbury, English clergyman; Providence, Rhode Island, 1637; follower of Ann Hutchin- son and Anabaptist, 1638; house at Cape Porpoise, 1643; died at Provi- dence, 1681; children John, Mary (Holder), Patience (Beere) and Richard.
CAPE PORPOISE
Far gray headland, faintly glowing, In a purple haze of sea, Whence the surging waves, inflowing, Fade like shadows in thy lee ; Where the sea-gulls in the glamour Scale the cliffs and skirt the shore, Mingling notes of plaintive clamor With the breakers' ceaseless roar.
Every fisherman and sailor Pays his homage as thy due, Whether in the darksome gale or When the skies and seas are blue; Far, far out, receding never, Like a sentinel you keep Watch and ward-perhaps forever- Day and night, across the deep.
159
KENNEBUNK RIVER
KENNEBUNK RIVER
About two miles east of Mousam River is another which was famous at an early date for its sheltered anchorage and the abun- dance and excellence of its native timber. The stream itself was known to the natives as Kennebunk. Although included in the premises granted to Stratton in 1631, it was subsequently rec- ognized as the eastern boundary of Wells. All early settlers as far west as Neapskessett River held dual titles from Cradock and Gorges and were accounted residents of Wells when they took the oath of allegiance to Massachusetts in 1653. Many of the original pioneers in the vicinity came from Saco, among whom were Ambrose Berry, Joseph Bowles, Morgan Howell, John West and Roger Willine.
Titles on the westerly side of the river sprung from Wadley, or grants from the town after 1650. The names of the grantees on the seashore were Anthony Littlefield, Daniel Pierce and John Buckland. Their allotments extended eastward in the order named from the Mousam to the Kennebunk. Inland from Buckland's lot was that of John Cheater. None of them may have lived on their concessions, since the last three were resi- dents of Newbury.
In 1660, John Wadley, of Wells, who about a decade earlier had bought all of the territory between Ogunquit and Kenne- bunk rivers of Chabinock, sold his interest east of Neapskessett River to Daniel Epps, of Ipswich, but excepted from the con- veyance the farm of John Sanders on the latter stream and those of Buckland, Cheater, Pierce and Symonds, situated between the Mousam and Kennebunk.
On the other bank of Kennebunk River near the mouth was the farm of William Reynolds who was living there as ferry- man in 1647 and had been assigned a homestead of 200 acres by Yorkshire Court.
Roger Willine came to Richmond Island in 1637, as a boy in the employment of Trelawney; part of his wages was paid to his mother in England by his employer. June 30, 1637, he was the boatman who rowed the witnesses up the Presumpscot River
160
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
above Arthur Mackworth's house, where John Winter took pos- session of the second Trelawney concession.
He remained at the island until 1639 and soon after must have removed to Cape Porpoise, where "hee was one of the first Inhabitants," according to the statement of John Bush, who subsequently acquired a part of his real estate by purchase. In 1648, his land was bounded on the east by that of Morgan Howell .*
Howell was another original settler who had occupied a house on premises which were conveyed to him by Thomas Gorges July 18, 1643. Five years later his building was de- scribed as "the ould house." It may have been the dwelling of Richard Scott, the shoemaker, who was living in Boston in 1634.
In 1637, at the time of the religious controversy with Ann Hutchinson, some of her adherents who were related by mar- riage were banished from the commonwealth; others withdrew from sympathetic motives. Among the latter was Scott, who had married Catherine Marbury, a sister of the evangelist.
He removed first to Providence, Rhode Island, but later took up his abode at Cape Porpoise with the Wheelwright associates from Exeter. In 1643, his house at the latter place was seized upon execution and transferred to John Richards, who had ob- tained a judgment that year for a consignment of wooden "mouldes" (lasts), previously made and sold to the defendant .;
Howell's land was bounded northerly by that of Henry Sin- gleman, of whom but little is known. Neighbors living east of Howell were Griffin Montague, previously of Brookline, and Simon Trott and Thomas Redding, who hailed from New Ply- mouth. The last two names are still perpetuated in those of islands near Cape Porpoise Harbor, upon one of which the latter had lived before his removal to Saco. John, son of the latter, de- scribed the paternal location at Cape Porpoise as three islands "formerly in ye Possession of my father Thos Reding who did live on ye great Island & managed a fishing Trade there."}
Trott married Mary, daughter of Stephen Batson and the wigwam of "Goody" Trott was mentioned in 1666.§
* York Deeds, 2-94.
+ 4 Mass. Hist. Col .. 7-343.
į York Deeds, 9-187.
§ York Deeds, 2-81.
161
KENNEBUNK RIVER
An early industry at Stratton's Plantation, in which Adam, son of Governor Winthrop, was concerned was cutting masts and treenails, which were shipped from Cape Porpoise or Ken- nebunk River directly to England .*
Submission to Massachusetts was effected July 5, 1653, and the list of subscribers disclosed the absence of some of the names of the first settlers as well as the inclusion of new ones."t
* Aspinwall, 8.
៛ Mass. Col. Rec., 3-414.
The sea forever rends the shore; The shore forever bars the sea; The rock-bound coast forevermore Insures all human destiny.
162
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
BATSON'S RIVER
This stream, sometimes erroneously called Cape Porpoise River, is situated about three miles easterly from Kennebunk River. The territory, claimed by Rigby as part of the original Lygonia Patent, was allotted by George Cleave as his agent.
Early settlement on the western side was begun by Stephen Batson from Saco, after 1642. This peninsula, called Batson's Neck, lay inland across the reach from Montague's Neck. It was sold to Thomas Mercer, who in turn transferred the premises to John Helson, of Saco, and after the transaction in 1652 removed to Sheepscot. Helson resided at Cape Porpoise for several years, but subsequently conveyed his homestead to John Davis, the blacksmith from York, and Ferdinando Hoff, in equal shares .*
Between the land of Davis and the river was situated a large tract first owned by Anthony Littlefield, who had purchased it from Gorges. About 1650, Littlefield had removed to Wells and his lot, known as Barton's Neck, was occupied by Edward Barton. The recital in a later deed disclosed that the old dwelling had been remodeled by the new owner. The farm comprised 300 acres.
* York Deeds, 10-25.
163
LITTLE RIVER
LITTLE RIVER
The most significant thing about the history of this stream is the fact that it once marked the boundary between the original towns of Cape Porpoise and Saco.
The land on the western bank was held by John Bush under a title from Rigby. His deed was dated September 20, 1647, and Richard Moore and Gregory Jeffrey were adjoining owners, un- der conveyances from the same proprietor.
On the opposite bank in Saco the land was purchased from Vines by John Smith, of Saco, July 18, 1643, with the island at the mouth of the river, afterwards called Smith's or Long, but now known as Timber Island, which was occupied very early by William Hammond, who came from Scituate and had been in the service of Edward Winslow in 1632 .*
The Smith tract with the island was owned subsequently by John Lee and Ralph Tristram, of Winter Harbor, but, in 1653, became the property of William Scadlock of Saco .;
* York Deeds, 3-74.
+ York Deeds, 1-58.
164
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
WINTER HARBOR
Inviting haven in a craggy shore, Misnamed for some uncalendared event, Where ancient mariners withdrew before A wild, inhospitable continent.
Far icy torrents from the Crystal Hills Descend a vagrant pathway from the sky, Through overarching forests, noisy rills And placid pools where mirrored landscapes lie.
Twin cities now perpetuate the site On which a solitary wigwam stood,
And radiant streets illuminate at night What once was but a dark and pathless wood.
With verdant slopes made friendly by the plough And gleaming vistas of the white-capped sea The Fancy paints no Winter Harbor now,
But rather, respite from inclemency.
165
SACO RIVER
SACO RIVER
Saco was the Chouacoet of Champlain in 1605. By Smith it was called Sowocotuck, by Rocraft Sawquatock, by Dermer Sow- aquatocke, by Levett Sawco, by the Council of Plymouth Swanck- adock and by Winthrop Sauco-all in the space of fifteen years. The pronunciation is best expressed in the form "Sawco."
In 1618, Edward Rocraft, alias Stallings, with "his owne Com- pany," was engaged by Sir Ferdinando Gorges to go to Monhegan Island, where they were to meet Thomas Dermer from Newfound- land and "keepe the Coast that Winter quarter, being very well fitted both with Salt, and other necessaries for his turne."
The party was transported in a fishing vessel which belonged to Gorges and was provided with a pinnace; these would have been adequate for all purposes, but Rocraft confiscated a French bark, which he found fishing and trading in a creek near the island. At the end of the fishing season he sent most of the cap- tured crew to England, in the vessel in which he had arrived.
Rocraft was disconcerted at not finding Dermer at Monhegan Island and, after the departure of Gorges' vessel, decided to go to some of his friends in Virginia, where he had lived several years before.
The reason for his leaving New England contrary to specific orders has been explained diversely by the different parties concerned.
Smith, who had been associated with Rocraft in a similar ven- ture three years before, and the Council of Plymouth, which was interested in his discoveries in a general way, based their conclu- sions upon letters from the explorer himself or reports of his confederates. Accordingly, they assert that some of his com- panions had planned to seize the bark and engage in a buccaneer- ing expedition along the coast.
Rocraft claimed that he discovered and defeated their plot, but instead of executing the mutineers, as he described them, he "resolved to put them a shoare, thinking by their hazard, that it was possible they might discover something, that might advance the publike ; and so giving them some Armes for their defence, and
1
166
PIONEERS ON MAINE RIVERS
some victuall for their sustentation, untill they knew better how to provide for themselves, hee left them a place called Sowaguatock."*
In order to obtain the correct version of what really happened it is necessary to consult the account of Gorges who had employed Rocraft to remain in New England during that winter and fur- nished him with a company "of purpose hired for the service."
In the words of Gorges, "Captain Rocraft, being now shipped and furnished with all things necessary, left the coast, contrary to my directions, and went to Virginia, where he had formerly dwelt ; and there falling into company with some of his old acquaintance, a quarrel happened between him and another" (William Epps) "so that before he could get away he was slain."f
The brief record of Rocraft on this occasion indicated that he, like many other military men of his time, had an impetuous and ungovernable temper. The account of the "mutiny" proved that all of those involved, who were also employes of Gorges, were not really guilty of any serious offence in the opinion of their leader, but were permitted to spend the winter in the vicinity of Mon- hegan Island as agreed with their employer. They had access to the pinnace which Rocraft did not need because he had com- mandeered the French bark.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.