USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from 1632 to 1864: with a notice of previous settlements, colonial grants, and changes of government in Maine > Part 19
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Jordan has been so often noticed in the preceding pages, that it will not be necessary to speak particularly of him now. For
1 Robert Jordan conveyed "Richman's Island" to his son John, January 25, 1677, in consideration of ten pounds, a legacy from his grandfather Winter ; he made the conveyance as administrator of Winter.
2 See Appendix, No. 6.
217
DEATH OF ROBERT JORDAN
more than thirty years he occupied a large space in the affairs of the town, and of the province. He was an active, enter- prising man, and placed by education above the mass of the people with whom he connected himself. Although he came as a religious teacher, the affairs of the world and gratification of ambitious views appear soon to have absorbed the most of his attention and to have alienated him from his profession .* His posterity for many years exercised very great influence in the concerns of the town, and long maintained a high standing in the province. They are still very numerous and respectable. John and Robert did not fix their permanent residence here ; the former married Elizabeth, daughter of Elias Stileman, of Portsmouth, in 1677 or 1678 ; and Robert conveyed to Nathaniel Fryer, of Portsmouth, July 14, 1679, "the land in Cape Eliza- beth which he received of his father." Part of the "ould plantation" is now owned and occupied by Dominicus, the great grandson of Dominicus, the third son of the first Robert, who from his great age and activity being now (1831) ninety- one years old, is called by way of distinction "Old Stuff."1 He
* [I am fortunately able to furnish from an original document in my possession, a specimen of the hand-writing and signature of this very prominent man. (Robert Jordan with date, etc.)
withes my hand e Joule .
By men Roland Jorden
1 This family is rather peculiar for distinctive epithets, which have been applied to its members, probably from the number who have borne similar names. Jeremiah, a grandson of Robert was called French Jeremy, from his having been taken a prisoner by the French ; another was called "Cock Robin" Jordan. With- in a few years there were nine by the name of Nathaniel Jordan, living at the same time, in Cape Elizabeth, who were distinguished by divers epithets,
15
218
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
points with pride to the scenes around him, dear to his affec- tions by being associated with the feats and names of his ancestors. The first Dominicus was killed in 1703, by the In- dians, with a hatchet, and his wife and children carried to Canada ; his eldest son Dominicus was thirteen years in Cana- da, and then ran away ; his name frequently occurs in the later transactions of the town ; he attained the rank of Major and died in 1749, aged sixty-six ; his son Dominicus, died in 1788, aged seventy-two ; the fourth Dominicus, eldest son of the last, is still living, the oldest man in the town, having been born April 19, 1740, old style. The first Dominicus married Hannah, a daughter of Ralph Tristram of Saco, and some of their posterity have for many years filled a respectable place in the annals of that town .*
* [After a period of a third of a century since the original publication of this work, we have little to add to what has been already said of Robert Jordan, one of the most prominent and influential gentlemen in the early annals of western Maine. The name is quite common in Great Britain; it exists in Ireland, Wales, and sev- eral counties in England, as it is written here; and there are also families who spell it Jordaine, Jordayne, Jorden, Jordin, and Jordon. The Jordan who first settled in Wales was of Anglo Norman origin, one of the companions of Mertine de Tours in the time of the conquest. It is probable that Rev. Robert Jordan came from Dor- setshire or Somersetshire, the hive from which so many of our settlers came ; there the name is quite common. A Robert Jordan married a Cokers in Blandford, county of Dorset, and had Robert Jordan, who became a merchant in Melcomb, also of Dorsetshire, and married, it is supposed, into the Fitzpen or Phippen family ; their coat of arms was nine daggers on a shield, a lion rampant in the center, etc. The Dorsetshire and Somersetshire families have on their shields a lion rampant; the Wiltshire family have a bent arm holding a dagger. The residence of Jordan here, may have attracted the Phippens to the same place. Mr. Jordan was born in 1611; the precise time of his coming over we do not know ; he was here in 1640; he was then a surety for T. Purchase, at which time he was twenty-nine years old. In 1641, he was one of the referees between Winter and Cleeves, from which we infer he was not then married to Winter's daughter. He probably came in one of Mr. Trelawny's regular traders to Rich- mond's Island ; the bark Richmond came in 1639, the Herculesin, 1641, and the Margery in 1642, and perhaps before. All his sons were born before 1664. His wife survived him and was living at Newcastle in Portsmouth harbor in 1686. Edward Godfrey, the first settler of York and sometime governor of the western
219
BRACKETT'S MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
A notice of the second marriage of Anthony Brackett which occurred in 1679, carries us back to his first wife, Ann, the daughter of Michael Mitton. The skillful escape of herself and family from captivity, which Hubbard ascribes to her penetra- tion and fortitude, places her in the rank of heroic women. The language of Shakespeare is not forcible enough to describe the canoe with which the family crossed Casco bay.
"A rotten carcase of a boat, not rigg'd, Nor tackle, sails, nor mast ; the very rats Instinctively had quit it."
The time of her death is not ascertained ; the escape was in August, 1676, and the subsequent marriage was before Septem- ber 30, 1679. Her children were Anthony, Seth, Mary, Elinor, . and Kezia ; the latter was an infant when they were captured ; it does not appear that she had any other.
The notice to which we have referred is an agreement be- tween Brackett and Abraham Drake, to which, from its unusual character, we have given place. "Articles of agreement made and concluded on between Anthony Brackett, Jr., of Casco bay, on the one party, and Abraham Drake, Sen., of Hampton,
part of the state, and who was long associated with Jordan as a magistrate, speaks of him in a letter to the government at home, March 14, 1660, as having long experience in the country, "equal with any in Boston," and adds "an ortho- dox devine for the church of England, and of great parts and estate."
Of his six sons, John was appointed by Governor Andrews in 1680, a special justice for Pemaquid, although he was then residing at Richmond's Island, for Andross addressed a letter to him September 15, 1680, as follows : "To Justice Jordain att Richmond Island neare Casko Bay." Robert the second son, in a deed dated December 18, 1695, to Robert Elliott, styles himself of Great Island in New Castle. In a deed, November 12, 1685, he and his wife Eliza, join in a conveyance and call themselves of Cape Elizabeth ; he probably remained here till the second Indian war, and then left not to return.
The family of Dominicus, third son of Robert, is the only one, so far as I have been able to ascertain, who remained on the soil of their fathers ; his descen- dants still continue to cultivate the paternal acres. His great-grandson Domini- cus, mentioned in the text as "Old Stuff," and living in 1831, died in 1834, at the age of ninety-four, having had a family of ten children, five sons and five daugh- ters, all of whom lived to maturity, His wife was Susanna Simonton.]
220
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
in the county of Norfolk, N. E .- Whereas the said Anthony Brackett, widower, is lately joined in marriage with Susannah Drake, single woman, and the eldest daughter of the said Abraham Drake, of Hampton, therefore know ye, that I, the said Anthony Brackett, have covenanted and agreed, and by these presents do covenant and agree to and with the said Abraham Drake, as a feoffee in trust for and in behalf of the said Susannah, my present wife, that I do by these presents instate the said Susannah by way of jointure one half of all my lands and housing, which I have in Casco bay, or shall have according to the true estimation and value thereof, for her free jointure during her natural life, and to be and to remain to her and her male heirs begotten of her body by me, said Anthony Brackett, her present husband. Having made this promise before marriage, I do consent to it with my hand and seal, and what the Lord shall add unto my estate during our natural lives together ; made at Black Point, September 30, 1679. Witness, Thomas Scottow."*
* [Robert Drake, the ancestor, came to this country from Devonshire, England, where he was born 1580. He settled in Exeter, 1635, Hampton, 1649, and died there 1668. His son Abraham, the person above mentioned, was born in Eng- land, 1620. He lived in Hampton and by his wife Jane had Susannah, Abraham born 1654, died June 1714, Robert, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah. Susannah married Anthony Brackett and had Jane, Zipporah, Zachariah, Ann, and Susannah. The last Susannah married Samuel Proctor.]
NOTE-The following persons were living in Casco bay, out of the limits of Falmouth in 1675 ; we do not avouch the catalogue to be complete, but it con- tains all the names that we have met with. Richard Bray and John his son, John Cousins, Wm. Cocke, Henry Donnell, Nicholas Cole, George Felt, Moses Felt, John Holman, Wm. Haynes, Thomas Haynes, Robert Gutch, James Lane, John Maine, James and John Mosier, Richard Pattishall, Richard Potts, Thomas Purchase,1 James Purrington, Elinor Reading, widow of Thomas Reading, Wm. Royall and his sons, William and John, John Sears, Thomas Stevens, Alexander Thwoit,? Thomas Wise, and Nicholas White.
1 Purchase lived at Brunswick.
2 Thwoit lived on the point formed by Merrymeeting bay and the Kennebec. [Royall and his sons lived in North Yarmouth on an island belonging to that town. The father was ancestor to the wealthy refugee of the same name in Medford, 1775.]
221
BRACKETT'S MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
A dispute arose between the children of the two marriages respecting this property; one claimed it by virtue of the jointure, while the other contended that it belonged to their mother, and consequently that their father had not power to alienate or entail it. It was finally adjusted by an amicable division.
CHAPTER VIII.
PURCHASE OF MAINE BY MASSACHUSETTS-GOVERNMENT-RESETTLEMENT OF FALMOUTH-DANFORTH'S GRANTS, OTHER TITLES ON THE NECK-GRANTS BY THE TOWN-SILVANUS DAVIS-MUNJOY'S DEATH AND FAMILY-FIRST TAVERN, SEACOMB, JONES, CLOICE-DEATH OF MRS. HARVEY AND GEORGE LEWIS -GEO. BURROUGHS.
While the government of Massachusetts was engaged in resisting the incursions of their savage foe upon their whole frontier, they were summoned to defend their civil privileges and the integrity of their territory. Their enemies in England had besieged the ear of the king and so far abused it as to create a prejudice in relation to that colony, which occasioned its friends no little anxiety. A quo warranto was issued, and they were required by a letter from the king, dated March 10, 1676, to send over agents to answer the charges exhibited against them. This command was complied with, and the agents sailed in October, 1676. They were so far successful as to procure a confirmation of the charter with its original bounds, but the jurisdiction of Massachusetts over Maine and New Hampshire was annulled, and those provinces respectively restored to the heirs of Gorges and Mason.
When this decision reached the colony, its government ever watchful over its interests, immediately took measures to secure the province of Maine, of which this decision deprived them. For this purpose they employed John Usher, a merchant of Boston, to negotiate with Mr. Gorges, a grandson of Sir Ferdi-
223
PURCHASE OF MAINE BY MASSACHUSETTS.
nando, for the purchase of his propriety. This undertaking was successfully accomplished, and Usher received a deed of the whole province from Piscataqua to Sagadahoc, in 1677, which on the 15th day of March, 1678, he by indenture con- veyed to the government and company of Massachusetts for twelve hundred and fifty pounds sterling.1 This ended all controversy between Massachusetts and the Gorges family re- specting the soil and government of Maine; but not so with the English government, to whom the transaction gave great offense. The latter contended that the jurisdiction over a colony or province was inalienable, and that by the conveyance, although Massachusetts might have acquired a right to the soil, she acquired none to the government, which consequently . reverted to the crown. And they went so far as to require an assignment of the province from Massachusetts on being paid the purchase money. But the government of the colony kept steady to their purpose, justified their purchase as hav- ing been done by the desire of the inhabitants, and were wholly silent on the subject of the reconveyance.2 The sub- ject was continually agitated, until it was finally settled by the charter of 1691, which not only included the province of . Maine, but the more remote provinces of Sagadahoc and Nova Scotia.
After the purchase of Maine, many persons in Massachusetts were desirous of selling the province to defray the expense of defending it during the late war, which was estimated at eight thousand pounds. A committee of the General Court was ap- pointed for this purpose, but the vote was reconsidered, before any further measures were taken on the subject.
1 Hutchinson says the price was twelve hundred pounds, but Usher's deed to Massachusetts, on York Records, expresses the sum of twelve hundred and fifty pounds, as the consideration. Richard West's report in "Chalmers' opinions of Eminent Lawyers."
2 The agents in 1682 were authorized to give up the deeds of Maine, if it would be the means of saving the charter, otherwise not .- Hutchinson, vol. i. p. 303. The sacrifice did not become necessary.
224
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
It now became necessary to adopt a new form of government for the province, since the jurisdiction was no longer claimed as a matter of right under the patent of Massachusetts, but as proprietor by right of purchase. She was no longer to be rep- resented in the General Court as an integral part of her char- tered territory, but a local proprietary government was to be established over the province, such as was authorized by the charter to Gorges.
In pursuance of this plan, Thomas Danforth, then exercising the office of deputy governor of Massachusetts, was appointed President of Maine in 1680, and invested with powers for its government in subordination to its new proprietor. He repaired to York in March, 1680, proclaimed his authority, exhibited his commission, and constituted a government composed of a deputy president, a council, and an assembly consisting of the representatives of the people. The first General Assembly was held March 30, 1680, at York.
It cannot be disguised that this state of things was not agreeable to many persons in the province, and they did not cordially submit to it. In 1680 a petition was transmitted to the king signed by one hundred and fifteen persons living in different parts of the province, remonstrating against the new government, and praying to be restored to his immediate au- thority. Sixteen at least of the petitioners lived in Falmouth. They complain of the imposition of a tax of three thousand pounds upon the three towns of Wells, Kittery, and York, as an intolerable burden after the heavy losses sustained during the late Indian war .! [The General Court at their sessions in May, 1680, addressed a letter "To the inhabitants of Casco, within the province of Maine," to calm the agitation which was existing there. They say, "Gentlemen and loving friends. We are informed that some disturbance hath been given you in
1 This document is in the 1st vol. of the collections of the Maine Historical Society.
225
PURCHASE OF MAINE BY MASSACHUSETTS.
your resettling by the threatenings of some persons, whose prac- tises cannot be warranted by his majesty's royal charter, granted to Sir F. Gorges, Knight, who was the first proprietor of said province, and the right whereof is now invested in ourselves. These are to signify unto you, that as we have taken order for the settling government according to the charter, so our care will be for the protection, etc. And for the better government and security, have made a grant of a township upon the north side of your bay (North Yarmouth) and are consulting the peopling and improvement of the islands adjacent." They add, that on being informed they will do whatever "is necessary for the security of your peaceable settlement," and close their con- ciliatory epistle by commending them to Almighty God "and are your loving friends."]
In the first General Assembly all the towns in the province were represented but Cape Porpus, Scarborough, and Falmouth; Walter Gendall appeared from the latter town, but having no certificate of his election was not allowed a seat. Anthony Brackett was appointed by the court, Lieutenant of Falmouth, and Thaddeus Clarke, Ensign.
Soon after the peace concluded at Casco, April 12, 1678, the inhabitants begun to return to their desolate lands. On the 13th of November of that year, Edward Allen, of Dover, N. H., conveyed to George Bramhall, of Portsmouth, all that tract of land, which George Cleeves had sold to his father, Hope Allen, in 1660, except fifty acres which he had previously disposed of. The whole tract contained four hundred acres, extending westerly to Round Marsh at the narrow of the Neck, and in- cluded the hill which now bears the name of its old proprietor. Bramhall was a tanner; he moved here in 1680, and estab- lished a tannery upon the flat under the hill near the entrance upon Vaughan's bridge, where the remains of the vats may still be traced.
Anthony Brackett, as we have seen by the extract relating to his second marriage, had returned in 1679; and it is proba-
226
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
ble that most of the ancient settlers whose property and means of support were here, came back on the conclusion of peace. A fort was erected on the point at the foot of King' street, called Fort Loyall. At this fort President Danforth held a court in September, 1680, for the purpose of settling the inhabitants in a more compact manner than heretofore, the better to enable them to resist future attacks of the Indians. The record of his proceedings at this time, although imperfect, we shall borrow entire from York Registry ; his grants covered that part of Portland now of the most value, and the center of trade. He appropriated the soil under Massachusetts as chief proprietor, and we have met with but one instance which will be hereafter noticed, the case of the Munjoy title, in which compensation was demanded and awarded. The record is as follows ; "At fort Loyall in Falmouth 23 7br 1680 Granted unto the persons whose names are hereunder written, houselots upon the neck of land near the fort viz:
1. To Mr. Bartholomew Gedney on the westerly side of the cove one lot in breadth against the cove about six rods more or less as now marked, reserving for a highway against the cove four rods in breadth, and the said lot to be in length twenty rods and on the southerly side of the highway to have the privelege of the cove for wharfing.2
"2. To John Ingerson one lot lying next to Mr. Gedney's westerly, of like breadth, length, and conditions in all respects.
3. To George Ingerson one lot.
4. " John Marston 66
5. " Isaac Davis 66 66
6. " Francis Nichols 66 66
1 Now India Street.
2 Gedney never was an inhabitant ; he was a great land speculator here and at North Yarmouth; he lived in Salem. He afterward sold his grant to Silvanus Davis. The lot extended back to what is now called Sumner street, originally named Fleet street, afterward Turkey lane. The cove here mentioned is Clay cove.
227
GRANTS BY THE TOWN.
7. To Thomas Mason one lot.
8. " Samuel Ingerson " "
All these on the west side of the cove, breadth and length as the others. Further it is granted to Mr. Gedney, George In- gerson, and John Ingerson, that instead of sixty acres apiece accomodation on some of the islands, they shall be allowed the like quantity in the place where George Ingerson's corne milne standeth. The like grant is made to Francis Nicholls, Thomas Mason and Joseph Ingerson, Lt. George Ingerson, Samuel Ingerson, and John Wheelden.
9. To John Skillin his house lot as now marked.
10. " Joseph Ingerson one house lot.
11. " Lt. George Ingerson his house lot.
Memo. Highways are to be allowed sufficient to the milne and between each lot, etc.
"Lots granted on the east side of Broad street.2
1. To Daniel Smith, the first lot next to the fort .*
2. " Wm. Clemens the second lot.
3. " John Lowell (or Powell) the third lot. (4th and 5th are blank.)
6. " Henry Ingalls3 the 6th lot.
"And it is granted liberty of wharfage and building ware- houses on the east of the fort under the rocks, not prejudicing the benefit of the fort for the security of the water; Daniel Smith to begin and the rest in order.
Lots laid out on the west side of Broad street.
To Capt. Edward Tyng the first lot.
1. The mill here noticed was probably at Capisic, and is no doubt the same before noticed as George Ingersoll's. Ingersoll afterward had a corn mill on Barberry Creek in Cape Elizabeth.
2 Now India street.
* [The fort was on the point which the Grand Trunk Station-house now occu- pies, and called Fort Loyal.]
3 Two persons, Henry Ingalls, Sen. and Jun., were living in Salem in 1696.
228
HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
To Henry Harwood the second lot.
" Michael Farley jr. the third lot.
" Augustine John the fourth lot, with liberty in the cove arment for a brick yard.1
Lots granted against the Great Bay.2
To Capt Silvanus Davis the first lot westward.
" Mr John Jacob the second lot.
" Ensign Nathaniel Jacob the third lot,
" Robert Greenhaugh the fourth lot.
" These are to run up as high as the north side of the sixth lot against Broad street and to divide the land at the north end between the said lots and Mr. Munjoy's equally as to breadth.
"To Mr. Munjoy the 5th lot, being twenty rods front upon the water side and to run up the same breadth twenty rods on north side of his barne, the highway cross excepted.
"It is also ordered that there shall be an highway three rods wide left against the water side toward the meeting-house,3 and
1 John or Jean was a Frenchman aud purchased of widow Housing a small lot west side of Presumpscot river, where he lived. I had some doubt whether John Gustin and Augustine John were not the same person ; the descendants of John Gustin are numerous here. The word arment is so in the record'; it was probably incorrectly copied. As this lot extended down to Clay Cove, the grant was doubt- less intended to convey a privilege on the cove in the rear of the lot for the pur- pose of making bricks. [I am informed by the learned antiquary, James Savage of Boston, that Augustine John or Jean, as it is first written, was not a Frenchman, but a native of the Isle of Jersey, where his parents died." He sold his estate in Jersey in 1677. He came first to Reading, Mass., and was a soldier in the latter. part of Phillip's war. In January, 1678, he married Eliza, a daughter of John Brown of Watertown. The name was gradually changed from Augustine Jean to Augustine John first, and then to John Gustin, by which his numerous de- scendants in Portland and vicinity are now called. He left a widow and seven children.]
2 The bay between fort point at the foot of King street and Jordan's point; at the north-westerly part of this bay was the town landing; the beach was in later times called Moody's beach.
3 The meeting-house stood on the point then called meeting-house point, now Jordan's. [The site is now occupied by the Railroad Co's works.]
229
GRANTS BY THE TOWN.
the land between said highway and low-water-mark shall belong to the owners of said lots. Also it is ordered that the landing place at the head of great cove shall remain in com- mon to the town as it is now staked out; and the line on the south side of the highway between said lots shall run parallel to the bounds of the cove reserved in common.
To Mr. Saltonstall' for Meshac Farley, the next lot eastward to Mr. Munjoy.
To Mr. Saltonstall one lot more adjoining to Meshac Farley. These last two lots to be in length northward twenty poles.
"23 September, 1680, by Thomas Danforth, President, Fort Loyall 23 7h. 1680. These within and above written orders being read to the selectmen of the town of Falmouth, they mani- . fested jointly their full and free consent thereto. Present Lt. Anthony Brackett, Mr. Jolin Walley (Wallis), Lt. George Ingerson, Ensign Thaddeus Clarke.
"Also there is granted to John Skillin one house lot on the west side of the lot where his house now standeth and is staked out, and also the lands that were his father's at Back Cove are confirmed to him ; also a parcel of meadow land about three acres more or less situated above a milne at Capisic river is confirmed to him, the which land he was to have had by pur- chase of Nathaniel Wallis."
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