USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > Sketches of the history of the town of Camden, Maine; including incidental references to the neighboring places and adjacent waters > Part 3
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It was not until the year 1773 that the 10 Proprietors had their portion set off by Waldo's heirs, when instead of the 100,100 acres they accepted 90,000 in one entire tract, which is described in the dood of severance betwen them. The Ten Proprietors supposing the Patent extended as far back as Ban- $ gor. they selected Frankfort, part of Monroe, a small portion of Swanville, the whole of Hamplen, and much of Bangor. When the boundaries of the Patent were afterwards established it was found that the line extended from the N. E. corner of Frankfort to the N. W. corner of Thorndike, and thence down to the source of the Muscongus river. By this measurment the Ten Proprietors lost all they claimed north of Frankfort, thus reducing their number of acres to about 43,000. To make up the deficiency, Gen Knox, who had bought in some of the claims of the Ten Proprietors, became their clik, and gave a bond that the remainder should be secured, but the bond was lost and the indemnity was never obtained. To make up for the defi- ciences occasioned by the survey of the said boundary, two resolves were passed on the 9th and 19th of Feb., 1798, but, as before stated. the Ten Proprietors never obtained any satisfac- tion for their loss. The residue of the Muscongus Grant, containing about 400,000 acres, fell to the Waldo heirs, which was finally set off in a deed of severance in about the year 1.73, when it took the name of Waldo Patent.
While upon this subject, we will follow it out a little further even at the risk of being somewhat digressive. After the death of Samuel Waldo, his estate was inherited by his sons, Samuel, Francis, and the husbands of his two daughters, Isaac Winslow
. According to Colton's map the width is six miles.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
and Thos. Fluker. During the Revolution, all the owners of the Patent were tories except Gen. Knox's wife and one other we think by the name of Waldo, and as they retired to the enemy they were called " absentees," and their estates confiscated and administered upon by the Judges of Probate as though the late possessors were in fact dead. After the Revolutionary war was over, Gen. Knox went to the General Court of Massachusetts to have his titles confirmed, and obtain, if he could, a share of the sequestrated portion of his wife's relatives' claims. He arrived on the day of the adjournment of the Court, and as many representatives had not left Boston, he collected quite a number of them together, and gave them a sumptuous supper ; after which they were in a pretty good mood to accede to his propo- sals. We have been credibly informed that a committee was formed by these members, when a bill was soon framed, which ultimated in his favor. The late Dr. B. J. Porter, who was a member of the General Court at the time, used jocosely to say, that the General's titles were secured and his success achieved by that all potent supper. Thus the General, by his adroit manmuvring principally, came in possession of the confiscated titles of the absentees, to which in fact he had no right above that of any other citizen. Recorded history, however, declares that they were relinquished to him in virtue of his services during the Revolution.
Interwoven with the ante-plantation history of a number of the towns of Waldo County are many incidents which had their origin in the gaming practices that had then greatly obtained among certain of the higher circles of those days. Madam Knox was not an exception among this class. While spending the winter months in Boston, or at their chateau at Montpelier (in Thomaston) she would engage in games of chance, in which she would lose or win in an evening thousands of dollars. To cancel the stakes won by her partners in the game, certain townships and fractions of plantations contained in the Waldo Patent were made to pay the forfeit. Often money was alvanced by such men as Parkman, Appleton, Prescott and Thorndike for the fair gamestress to cancel the debts thus contracted, when security would be given by a mortgage or
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deed of certain lands, which the generous hearted and over- indulgent General would recognize as valid.
We state these well authenticated traditional facts as matters pertaining to the history of the Muscongus Grant, and as tending to give the reader somewhat of an insight into the secret transactions connected with the same. Gen. Knox dying insolvent, in 1906,-the estate passed into other hands, but as it would be tedious to the reader to follow out its subsequent history, we will here leave it and pass on to our main subject. *
* The documents relating to the History of the Ten Proprietors, the Twenty Associates and the Waldo Patent, in the archives of the Jass. State House, are voluminous enough to fill a large volume, as we know from a personal examination of them. Our knowledge on this subject has been increased by an examination of some of the private letters of Knox and the proprietors and their agents, as well as the records of some of these companies now in this State in private hands. A. carefully written article union the Muscongus Patent will be found in the Mass. His. Coll., vol. 11., 3d series. extending from p. 226 to 230, to which we are also indebted for some of the above facts.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
Number IV.
The survey of Camden-The original boundary-Part of Canaan an- nexed-The present boundary-Number of Acres contained-Jas. Richards sertles at Megunticook-Negro Island named-Indians -- Rolt. Thorndike settles at Goose Iliver-Maj. Minot erects mills and the urst frame house- Lewis Ogier-Other settlers-Clam Cove settled-Dodapher Richards' Adventure with the Wolves-Miller and the destitute Family-Doggerel Verse-Name of Indian Island-Origin of the name of Goose River- First White Children born in Camden.
W E have now approached the period which commences what we might term the actual, or proper history of Camden.
In 1768 " The Twenty Associates." or "the Lincolnshire Company." as they were sometimes called. had the plantation subsequently known as Camion, surveyed by David Fales, Esq., of Thomaston. The boundaries then determined upon have since been somewhat changed. According to his survey, which is now before us, the township was six miles in length, by five miles and sixty-two rods in width. The north-casterly boundary commenced at a rock on the sea shore, .(situated about two rods south of the steamboat wharf.) marked XX., and thence ran north 33 3-4 degrees West; or, in other words, the line would now pass from the XX. rock, directly betwen the houses of Messrs. E. K. Smart and Geo. Kaler, and run to the south- west base of Mt. Barry, up by Timothy Fay's, and across to Seth ITeal's, and thence to the easterly corner of Hope. According to this measurement, Candden mountains were then embraced in Canaan, or Lincolnville, as it is now called. The strip of terri- tory north of the above mentioned line was ceded to Camden by Canaan. (betere Cianien was incorporan L) in answer to the prayer of certain petitioners, who wished to be set off because of the close proximity of the harbor village.
The other boundaries were nearly the same as are described
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in the act of incorporation. The south-east corner is indicated by a rock marked A.X. on the north side of Owl's Head bay. From thence, according to the act of incorporation, (Town Records, p. 1.) the line runs "north west by north seven miles and sixty-four poles," which brings it to the southern corner of Hope. Thence it runs " north-east five miles and ninety-four poles," which brings it to the eastern corner of Hope, and then takes in the ceded territory by " running east three miles and a half and twenty poles to a spruce tree ;" thence it runs " south east by south one mile to Little Ducktrap," and " thence by the sea shore in a westerly direction to the bounds first mentioned."- at Owl's Head bay. According to these limits, Camden now contains 23.500 acres.
In 1767 James Richards moved his family from a place on the Piscataqua river, N. H., to Bristol, Me., where he resided until 1768, during which year he came down to the then wilderness of the township of Camden, at the Harbor, then known by the Indians under the name of Negunticook, or Megunticook, as it is now spelled, where he erected a rude log hut. The following spring, May, 1769, Mr. Richards embarked in a vessel with his family, bound for his destined home. As they entered the harbor, (on the 8th of May) the African cook pointed to the island at the entrance, and ex- claimed, " Dare,-dat's my island " and it was theneeforth known as "Negro Island." Mr. Richards' cabin was situated on the land just back of the "Patch house."
At that time there were a few Indian's wigwams on what is now called Eaton's Point, and also on Beauchamp Point. The Indians were always friendly, but Mrs. R. used to sometimes feel somewhat alarmed as they came to the cabin in the absence of her husband to grind their tomahawks upon the grind-stone at the door.
The same year Mr. Richards' two brothers, Joseph and Doda- pher, joined him. In the following July Robert Thorndike, who was born in Beverly, but then lived in Portland, came and settled at Goose River -- now Rockport. He brought with him his seven children. Mr. Thorndike possessed a tolerable knowl- edge of the place before, as he had been here two or three years
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CABIN OF ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF CAMDEN.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
previous with his vessel to cut timber. The next settler who followed Mr. Richards at the Harbor was Maj. Wm. Minot, of Boston, who settled at the foot of Megunticook stream, upon which he erected the first grist and saw mill. His house, situated just back of Ephraim Barrett's, was the first frame house erected in Camden. Lewis Ogier, of French descent, came next,-from Quebec. Mr. Thorndike at Rockport, was next joined by his brother Paul, and James Simonton, and afterwards by John Harkness, Peter Ott. Jno. Ballard and others. Also near the same time, Wm. Gregory, Mark Buck- land, Win. Porterfield and Wm. Upham settled at Clam Cove.
From this time. the settlement gradually began to increase until the commencement of the Revolution, when emigration ceased.
Before Minot erected his grist mill, the settlers had to carry their corn upon their backs to Warren through the woods, guided in their path by spotted trees. At this time Dodapher Richards started for Warren, to carry some corn to grind, only accompa- nied by his little dog. As night approached, he arrived at a house, or cabin, and requested to have the privilege of lodging there until morning. The mistress of the house being alone,- her husband being absent,-felt distrustful of the stranger, and refused him his request ; so, pursuing his path. he plodded on until 9 o'clock, when he heard in the distance the howling of wolves. Seeking out a large tree, he selected a club, and placing his back against the tree, awaited their approach. They soon were on the scent of his track, and as they came nearer their yells began to increase louder and louder, until a pack of about thirty approached the spot where he stood. As they jumped towards him, he would strike at them with his club, when they would retreat, at which his dog would spring out at them and bark, when they would rush at him in return. The hideous howis of others approaching, responding to those near him, could be heard as they came bounding through the woods, while their vry would be heard and returned by other packs in the distance, who were following the sound of those in advance. By midnight as many as one hundred of these furious but cowardly beats were surrounding the objects of their prey, and snapping
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at them with their teeth : but fearful to get within reach of the blows of the stalwart pioneer. they kept within a proper distance. Mr. R. thinking it might pacify them, threw his dog towards them, but they would shrink from it, when the little fellow won't run back to his master. and crouch at his feet. He did not repeat the experiment, but by brandishing his weapon he held them at bay until the break of day, when one after another of his assailants began to slink away, until he was left alone to pursue his journey to the mill. After he obtained his grist. he pursued his way home unmolested. Undoubtedly the Indian bannorks made from that dearly acquired grist, were sweet to the taste of him who earned it.
At this time the carly settlers obtained a livelihood by farm- ing, fishing and hunting. The grist mill was resorted to from Union and Belfast. soon after it was erected, from which settlements early settlers used to come and at one load carry the grist of their respective towns. At one time Robert Miller of Belfast. was returning in a boat from Camden with a bag of meal, when he went ashore at Northport to get a dinner prepared at a cabin there, which was the only one probably then in Northport. On entering the room. he there found a family sick and destitute. who had subsisted for a number of days on nothing but clains and appeared to be in a state of starvation. After partaking of a repast he soon got prepared, he shared with them his bag of meal, and went home. rejoicing at the privilege of thus feeding the hungry. This incident was commemorated by some poetaster by the following doggeral verse :
" Camden for beauty, Belfast for pride; If it hadn't been for cisms, Northport would have died."
Subsequently this verse was parodied so as to suit incidents in the history of other places, among which were Warren, Union, Thomaston and Lincolnville. the latter of which, was given as a toast after an oration. delivered by Hon. Alfred Johnson in thức town.
The name of " Indian Island" was said to have been given to the isle at the mouth of Goose river, from this circumstance :-
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
During the last French and Indian war, one Capt. Blaisdell of Newburyport, while in pursuit of Indians, espied a number of them on this Island, to which he gave pursuit, when they fled to the westward. Other traditionary accounts say it was on account of its being used by the Indians as a camping place.
Goose River derived its appellation from this circumstance :-- When the early settlers came here, one of them found the nest of a wild goose, on a rock in the lakelet now known as Hosmer's Pond, from which incident they gave it the name of Goose Pond-which is now obsolete, however,-and as said pond is the source of the river, the name was also applied to that, and hence the name of Goose River. It is said by others that the appellation was bestowed upon it from the fact, that great numbers of geese used to frequent it, and there remain during the time of their incubation.
Robert Thorndike was the first white, male child born in town. He was born at Goose River (Rockport) Sept. 17, 1778 ; his sister Betsy, (who married a Mr. Hardy) born subsequently, was the first female child entitled to that distinction.
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Number V.
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Commencement of the Revolution-A " shaving mill " visits Clam Cove -Pomroy pilots the marauders to Jameson's house-House ransacked- Cattle killed-An American privateer in sight-Jameson rows revenge- The sequel-Pomroy's flogging-Marauders visit Megunticook -- The ruse of Metcalf and Wells-The reception given the assailants-Minot's house burned-Mrs. Ogier's feint-Other houses burned-Exploit of Dow --- Departure of the invaders-Long, the tory pilot-Thrown upon a fire -- Metcalf settles the old score with him-Commended by Col. Foote-An American coaster pursued by an English barge-Runs ashore at Ogier's Core-The enemy foiled by the settlers-Another attempt upon Megunti- cook-Scotch Highlanders visit Clam Cove in search of deserters-Gregory forced to accompany them-Accomplish their errand.
W HEN the Revolution commenced, our settlers with two or three exceptions were found to be among its most ardent supporters. We have not within our reach the record of the doings of the plantation of Camden at that time, but presume that in common with other settlements, the con- stitution Massachusetts had prepared for the government of her subjects at that time, was adopted by our citizens. If so, committees of safety were accordingly selected, and a censor appointed to report the misconduct of any person by word or action against the United States. 1
Soon after the Revolutionary struggle commenced, this vicinity was occasionally frequented by "saving mills," as the barges of British marauders were called, in which they used to come to plunder the settlers of their cattle, sheep and poultry, and frequently commit personal outrages. Illustrative of these predatory incursions, we will here relate the following, which occurred before our American force was stationed at the place designated : One of these "shaving mills," under the guidance of a Tory nained Pomroy, who acted as pilot, landed at Clam Cove to commit depradations. Pomroy resided at Friendship. and, when a boy, attended school with Jameson, and afterwards
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
they went to sea together. Being thus well acquainted with Jameson, Pomroy knew him to be a strong whig, and thus caused him to be known as a marked man. While Jameson was in the field mowing, at about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, on the place now known as Jameson's Point, (where his log hut was situated.) the " shaving mill,"-or barge, as we shall call it,-approached the shore. Nineteen men landed, and at once seized Jameson and carried him on board the barge, where he was confined to prevent him from rallying others to the rescue. Some of the clan proceeded to the house, and ransacked it of two guns and a couple of firkins of butter: while others shot his yoke of oxen. and butchered his two hog .. Dragging the cattle down to the shore they there quartered them, and without stripping the hide off, carried them, together with the pigs, on board the barge. After satisfying their intentions, they released Jame- son. and informed him that he was at liberty to go ashore. But seeing an American privateer (which was on the lookout for the protection of our interests) sail up by Owl's Head, he declined leaving the barge. The privateer approached within two miles of Clam Cove, when Jameson, against the injunction of the skipper, loudly hailed her, but intervening fog prevented attract- ing attention to the barge. Thinking Jameson would consent to join them. the marauders made him the proposition, but he spurned it with contempt, and sarcastically replied, in substance, that he was in hopes the privateer would come and overhaul them, so he could have the privilege of wreaking vengeance upon his pillagers. They then sternly ordered him to leave the barge. but he decidedly refused to comply with the order. They then brought his wife on board, it is said, to prevail on her husband to go ashore, without a resort to force, but he was still unyielding. Concluding to abide until the next day, they finally thought they would let him remain until morning. Tha next morning the privateer being out of sight. he saw no bopes of redress from that source and so went ashore of his own accord, declaring he would have revenge for their actions the next time he came across Pomroy. The barge soon after sailed.
But this was not the finale of the affair. A few years after Peace was declared, Paul Jameson, a brother to Robert, went
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master of a Waldoboro vessel, and this same Pomroy, the tory, went as his pilot. On a return trip from Bangor, with a cargo of boards, the vessel put into Clam Cove. Learning that Pomroy was on board, Robert Jameson told his brother- the master-that he had sworn vengeance on him, and he was determined to have satisfaction. His brother endeavored to dissuade him from the act, but mild counsel could not prevail. The scene of that well-remembered day in which he was plundere i by the direction of one whom he had always known, but never injured, was fresh in his memory. As he pondered it over, his feelings became rankled for revenge, and he sought it. Going on board the vessel, he found Pomroy, and announcing his intention, he forthwith commenced his errand by letting into him pugnis et calcibus. Had not others interposed and took Jameson off, poor Pomroy's life would doubtless have paid the forfeit. Wishing to see if he was dead, Jameson took the bayonet of a gun that was near by, and gave him a gentle thrust, but finding he was alive, he cast upon him a look of satisfaction, and went ashore. Here the matter ended.
Soon after the above depra lations were committed at Clam Cove, the following perpetration and exploit took place at Megunticook : Leonard Metcalf and Andrew Wells, descrying an English schooner (of Castine) approaching the harbor, con- ceived the following stratagem to deter the enemy from landing : Wells having a drum. brought it down to the shore, and begun, martial fashion, to " call the roll," and to play away most lustily. Metcalf, armed with his musket, with stentorian voice, gave out in a mandatory manner. military orders. as though he was at the head of a regiment. The vessel at first was going to send only one barge. but supposing from the sound of the drum and the commandatory voice of Metcalf, that there was a company ambushed and in readiness to give them a reception, they dispatched a larger force, consisting of three barges, con- taining about 40 men. * They landed at the cove just north of Ephin. Barrett's house. dressed in red uniform, and as they suddenly ascended the bank, they at once saw Metcalf and
* One old settler says they numbered 100.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
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Wells, and fired at them, when Metcalf' coolly returned the fire and fled. reloading his gun as he ran, but stumbling over a log, he fell, when one of the assailants exultingly exclaimed, " There's one of the d- Yankees dead " Turning round and rising, Metcalf fired again, and retorted. " That's a d --- lie !" and rushing for the thicket near at hand, he and his comrade were soon out of sight and on their way to Goose River to spread the alarm. The marauders proceeded to sack and burn Maj. Minot's house, (which was situated just back of Mr. Ephraim Barrett's,) as the Major in particular was a marked man. Lewis Ogier's cabin, on Ogier's Point, was next visited. Mrs. Ogier seeing them approaching, took to her bed and feigned sickness. En- tering, they ordered her to leave the house, as they were going to fire it. With the voice of an apparent invalid, she told them she could not leave her couch, and that she would die it removed. Out of sympathy for her, the house was spared. After burning Jas. Richards' house, and several hay stacks and the house of a poor man by the name of Thayer, (who after- wards moved to Fox Islands, where his descendants now live.) they then destroyed Minot's saw mill, and applied the match to his grist mill, but a cripple by the name of Dow, from Belfast, * quenched it. As often as they fired it, Dow would persistently extinguish the flames, despite of their roughness to him and threats of personal violence, until at last they relinquished their efforts by saying, " Well, we 'Il let it alone, as the d ---- rebels will die if we burn their mill." The valor of Dow saved the mill. Williamson in his History of Maine, and the Annals of Warren and other accounts, erroneously attribute its preser- vation to Metcalf. Our version is that of Robert Thorndike, who well recollects the circumstances as they occurred. The settlers during these transactions had fled to the woods for safety, and with aching hearts saw from their retreats the smoke ascend from their burning dwellings. After accomplishing their destructive purposes, the invaders departed in their barges. hastened by shots from some of the settlers in ambush.
* One old settler, Mr. Jas. Richards. (a son of the first settler,) informs us that Belfast was evacuated at this time, and many of the first settlers' goods were stored in the mill, and hence Dow's persistence.
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But the final result, like the Clam Cove affair, did not end here. Shortly after the Revolution, John Long, the tory who piloted the English here on the above occasion, was at the inn of Peter Ott at Goose River, now Rockport. Robert Jameson, (before mentioned.) driving up to the tavern with his horse, went in for entertainment. As it was a cold day, he told Ott he wanted him to build up a good brisk fire, as he wanted to warm himself, and added that there was one man present that he was going to put on to burn. Ott, thinking it was only a joke, piled on the wood, and soon there was a rousing fire. Jameson, who was a very stout man, then seized Long, and cord-wood fashion threw him on the fire. By the time Long got out of the fire- place, his face and hands were blistered, and his hair badly singed and burned. "There," said J. to him after he was upon his feet again, "you will burn the harbor village again, will you ?" As Long dared not retaliate, it thus passed off.
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