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 35
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1 By a return made by the selectmen of Falmouth, January 24, 1777, to the General Court, the number of male Quakers in town over sixteen years of age was sixty-four. No others were returned from the county .- General Court Files.
2 Mr. Purington lived in Church lane.
3 Deane's Diary.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
ment throughout the country as about the close of the revolu- tionary war; the community harrassed and impoverished by protracted hostilities, were easily and naturally influenced by the pacific doctrines of that sect, who on all occasions and in every situation protested against belligerent principles. More converts were then made by them than at any other period.1 In the struggle for national independence, they maintained consist- ency in their conduct and opposed hostilities in every shape. They suffered their property to be taken for taxes and sacri- ficed, rather than willingly contribute to support measures which violated their principles. Although we commend their firmness in defense of conscientious scruples, we cannot but think the occasion to which we have referred, would well have justified a less rigid observance of them. They held too strictly to the letter of the doctrine, which requires the turning of the other cheek to the smiter. The smaller matters-the mint, annise, and cumming, the too narrow construction of the law- ought not to beguile us from the performance of the great and serious duties of life, which are as plainly and forcibly written upon the page of inspiration.
Some of the members of the society here during the war, who relaxed from their stern discipline in regard to self defense were "denied unity" with them. One of their respectable members was visited by the overseers and brought "to con- demn his misconduct in being concerned in a ship that was a letter of marque;" another was complained of because he had one son in the army and another had enlisted in that ser- vice. They carried their reprobation still further, and rebuked those who purchased cattle distrained for taxes ; a complaint was made against one of their members for attending vendue and buying a cow distrained for taxes for carrying on a war ;
1 "February 14, 1782, people are in a sad tumult about Quaker meetings, ministers and taxes." "1787, September 24, Quakers' annual meeting, great numbers flocked."-Smith's Journal.
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QUAKERS.
a committee was appointed "to labor with him" and he was brought to condemn his misconduct ; others on being visited, condemned themselves for the same cause and were restored to favor. Their discipline is extended to the whole life and conversation, and all the members of the society are under the inspection of overseers and visitors, and their slight deviations from the rigid rules of the order in "dress or address," are made the subjects of private or public censure according to the circumstances of the case.
The society has not increased here of late years and may be considered declining, the vacant places occcasioned by death not being supplied by accessions of new members. They pur- sue the still and quiet way which their religion dictates and their conduct appears to be influenced by the pure principles of that religion which suffers long and is kind. If the society does not increase in numbers it may with truth be said of it that it does not degenerate in its character.
The old meeting-house was abandoned, as a place of wor- ship, in the summer of 1849, and was sold in December fol- lowing, with the lot, for two thousand three hundred dollars, and has become a place for the manufacture of gravestones and monuments. In the summer of 1850 the small brick meeting-house on Oak street was built, and has since been used as the society's place of worship. Since the death of the old members, Samuel Hussey and wife, the venerable Josiah Dow, the Winslows and Purintons, and the departure of their child- ren from the order, the society has greatly declined.
The number of adult members in 1864, did not exceed nine- teen, eight males and eleven females. The number that usu- ally attend meeting does not exceed twelve, more often less, and some of these reside just over the city line, in West- brook. The widow of the late Rufus Horton, now ninety-two years old, with two of her children, Rufus and Mary, and Har-
27
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
riet, daughter of the late Josiah Dow, are the only original members who remain.
Samuel F. Hussey was a very prominent and active mem- ber of the society, and of the community ; he was frank, fear- less, and independent, and for many years was wharfinger and dictator of Union wharf. In the latter part of the last century he was connected in commercial business, with John Taber and Isaiah Hacker. He died in 1837, aged eighty-two, leaving five daughters but no male issue. Two of his daughters mar- ried the two brothers, Isaac and Nathan Winslow ; two others, Peter Morrill and Mr. Southwick; one remained unmarried. His only descendants now residing here, are two great-grand- children, the children of Edward Fox, by the daughter of Mrs. Nathan Winslow.
CHAPTER XVI.
WAR OF 1744-CAUSES OF WAR-PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE-COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES- ALARMS FROM INDIANS AND THE FRENCH-VOLUNTEERS-CAPTURE OF LOUISBURG-TREATY OF FAL- MOUTH-UNSETTLED STATE OF THE COUNTRY-WAR OF 1754-PEACE-CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.
Although the march of the town was regularly onward, its progress was occasionally disturbed and impeded by circum- stances which affected the whole country. Beside our natural enemies, if I may so call the aboriginal inhabitants, whose very existence as an independent people was incompatible with the growing population and power of the colonies, our con- nection with the European continent made us peculiarly sensi- ble to the commotions which often agitated its restless nations. In 1740 the death of Charles VI, Emperor of Germany, gave occasion for a fierce war for the Austrian succession, in which before its close all the powers of Europe and North America were engaged. It was opened by Frederick, the young king of Prussia, for the recovery of Silesia from the chivalric Maria Theresa. The elector of Bavaria claimed to succeed Charles VI, and being supported by the electoral college, adverse to the pretensions of Maria Theresa, he soon enlisted a powerful alliance in aid of his cause. The acces- sion of France to this alliance was a signal not to be mistaken, that England, with the German possessions and prepossessions of her monarch, would throw herself into the confederacy of the opposite party. So general was the expectation of this event in this country, that for some months previous to the
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
declaration of war by England against France, in 1744, our General Court had anticipated approaching danger, and made some preparations to meet it. As early as April, 1742, the government ordered a breast-work and platform for ten twelve pounders to be built on the Neck for the defense of the harbor, and appropriated four hundred pounds to pay the expense, the labor and stores to be furnished by the town.1 This work was erected on the bank, on the eastern side of India street. In 1743 the General Court appropriated one thousand two hun- dred and eighty pounds for the defense of the eastern frontiers, of which one hundred and thirty-four pounds were applied to this town, and the same year commissioners were appointed to select suitable places for block-houses, of which six were or- dered to be supplied between Berwick and Falmouth, and six further east; the commissioners were here in December.
The population of Maine at this time was short of 12,000:2 the territory furnished two regiments, the first extending as far east as Saco, containing sixteen hundred and fifty-five men, was commanded by Col. William Pepperell ; the other, in- cluding the remainder of the soldiers, twelve hundred and ninety strong, was under the command of Col. Samuel Waldo. Falmouth supplied five hundred of this number, being more than any town in Maine.3
In May, 1744, news of the declaration of war by England reached this country and gave increased activity to all the preparations for a vigorous defense. Our people were not yet exempted from the fear of Indian depredations, nor was it so long since they had experienced them, that all memory of them had been lost; they immediately entered with earnestness on those measures of security, which former sufferings had taught
1 This breast-work was constructed under the direction of Enoch Freeman, who received a commission from Gov. Shirley in 1744, and had the command of it.
2 Williamson, vol. ii, p. 212.
3Douglass Sum.
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WAR IN 1744.
them to appreciate, and so pressing did they regard the occa- sion, that even the church-going bell was drowned in the busy note of preparation.1 The provincial government, in June, raised one thousand men, of which six hundred were designed for the defense of the eastern country .? Eighty-five of these troops were posted in different garrisons in this town, of whom two were stationed at the Rev. Mr. Smith's house, which had been constructed and used for a garrison some years before.3
In addition to these precautionary measures, the government entered into a treaty with the Penobscot Indians at Georges Fort in July, who bound themselves, as did also the other In- dians on this side of the Penobscot river, to remain neutral dur- ing the war. In faith of this treaty, the troops in this quarter were discharged, excepting one scouting company, under the command of Captain Jordan. This officer was accompanied by three Indians of the Saco tribe, whose families were settled at Stroudwater, and supported by government. Pacific over- tures were unsuccessful with the St. John and Cape Sable In- dians, who had acquired the feelings and views of the French, and entered into all their plans. When it was found that they would not join the English, nor remain neutral, war was formally proclaimed against them in November, and the Pe- nobscots were required to render assistance to subdue them, in pursuance of former treaties. This requisition, as might have been expected, was not complied with, and these children of the forest, by a natural attraction, were soon found fighting by the side of their red brethren against the English. War
1 "May 20, 1744, People are at work at North Yarmouth and this town about their garrisons to-day. Not a very full meeting, people fearing to come." May 25, "All the talk and thought now is about war. People are every where garri- soning."-Smith's Journal.
2 Two hundred and seventy were stationed at George's Fort and Broad Bay, fifty at Pemaquid, and fifty at Sheepscot .- Douglass, vol. i. p. 384.
3 The French and Indians were already in arms on the castern frontier. May 13, they took Canso at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
was therefore declared against them in August, 1745, and a high premium offered for scalps.
This subtle and vindictive enemy being again let loose from all restraint, started up from their swamps and morasses, har- rassing the whole line of our settlements, and committing depredations upon the undefended plantations. Two compa- nies were employed as scouts between Saco and Brunswick, which were unable to find the Indians collected in any force ; but individuals and small parties would make sudden onsets for reprisal or revenge, and as suddenly disappear. In August a party was discovered in Gorham, which was then a frontier post containing but a few settlers,' and in September some scattered Indians were traced in the neighborhood of this town ; one was fired upon at Long Creek,2 and a few days after, a son of Col. Cushing of Purpooduck, was killed by them. The town was so well covered by other settlements, that it enjoyed a comparative degree of quiet, during the first year of the war, and the people were at liberty to go out in pursuit of an enemy, on each of whose heads the government had established a bounty of four hundred pounds, old tenor.3 This sort of mer- chandise was indeed rather difficult and hazardous to obtain, but the temptation was so strong that four companies of volun- teers were raised in this town in September, and others in the neighboring towns to go in quest of it. They were all however unsuccessful ; for scarce had the presence of the enemy created alarm upon the whole frontier, than they suddenly retired far beyond the reach of an observation quickened by the strongest
1 At this time there were eighteen families in Gorham, of which nine took ref uge in the garrison, which they occupied four years ; several left the town .- Pierce's Gorham.
2 Long Creek empties into Fore river just above Vaughan's bridge, in Cape Elizabeth.
3 This was equal at that time to about one hundred and sixty-five dollars in silver.
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WAR OF 1744-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
passions of our nature.1 They were seen no more in this neigh borhood during the year, but in the spring of 1746 they came in stronger force and hung around this vicinity the whole season. On the 19th of April ten of them appeared at Gorham, where they killed a man by the name of Bryant and his four children, and carried away his wife and several other persons.2 In June they attacked the family of Wescott on Long Creek, killed and scalped two men and took their clothes and three guns; this was done by seven Indians, when there were twenty-five of our soldiers within gun-shot of the place. A day or two after an Indian was fired at from Mr. Frost's garrison at Stroudwater, and five days after, another was seen near the causeway at the foot of Bramhall's hill. These indications of the presence of so subtle and dangerous an enemy, together with the appear- ance of larger bodies on the coast at Georges and Sheepscot, created an unusual alarm among the people, and the inhabi- tants on the Neck united vigorously in erecting a block-house for the common defense near the spot where the Old City Hall now stands. They hovered around the town all the summer, seizing every opportunity to plunder property and take cap- tives or destroy life ; they became so desperate as even to come upon the Neck after spoil ; in August, one was discovered in Brackett's swamp. In the same month one of Mr. Proctor's family and two other persons were killed in Falmouth, and Philip Greeley3 in North Yarmouth, where about thirty Indians
I One of our companies, under Capt. Stephen Jones, even went to the Penob - scot in search of Indians. He returned without having seen any.
2 These persons continued to live outside the garrison; among the prisoners were John Reed and Cloutman, able-bodied men. They were taken to Canada. Reed returned at the close of the war, but Cloutman perished in attempting to escape.
3 Mr. Greeley was grandfather of the late Capt. Philip Greeley and Eliphalet Greeley, late mayor, both for many years valued citizens of Portland. The mayor died August 3, 1858, aged seventy-four. Philip died January, 1860, aged eighty-five.
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
were discovered. The people here were kept in constant agita- tion during the season by these repeated depredations ; and the terror was more lively, as it was caused by an enemy who could not be confronted, and whose secret and sudden visitations were marked by desolation and blood.
But this excitement was raised to the highest point of fear- ful apprehension in the latter part of September, not only here, but along the whole coast, by an expected invasion from France. On the 10th of September, a French fleet, consisting of eleven sail of the line, with frigates, fire-ships, and transports, under the command of the Duke d'Anville, containing over three thousand troops, arrived in Nova Scotia, with the avowed pur- pose of visiting the whole coast of New England with destruc- tion. On the receipt of this news, the country was aroused to a sense of its danger ; fifteen thousand men were in one week, the last of September, marched into Boston for the protection of that place ; and the people of Salem, Marblehead, and other towns upon the coast in Massachusetts moved their effects into the country. The alarm extended to this town, and a meeting of the inhabitants was called to consider the expediency of sending away the records and to take other precautionary measures. It was voted to transport the town books to New- bury, and many people packed up their principal articles to send to a place of safety.1 On the 16th of October a public fast was kept on account of the danger, to pray that it might be averted. But in the midst of this alarm and these prepara- tions, news was received that an epidemic prevailed in the French fleet, that their admiral was dead, and that a violent gale of wind had dispersed the fleet and had destroyed some of the best ships. This was one of the most signal deliverances
1 In case of attack by his Christian Majesty's fleet our little village did not mean to surrender without firing a gun, for the town voted on this occasion that the "selectmen apply to Capt. Moses Pearson for the use of his two great guns, to be placed on Spring Point, and to get four barrels of powder, balls, and flints for the use of the town !"
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WAR OF 1744-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
that New England had experienced. The French had sent out a powerful armament, well appointed in all respects, breathing threatenings and slaughter upon the devoted colonies, and nothing, apparently, but a succession of the most disastrous circumstances to the enemy, prevented their entire destruc- tion.1 By an unaccountable remissness in the English govern- ment, no naval force was sent after the French into these seas, so that our coast was left wholly unprotected by any human arm.
The spring of 1747 witnessed the renewal of Indian hostili- ties and alarm ; in March the inhabitants on the Neck put three swivels into the Rev. Mr. Smith's house, which was used as a garrison. The enemy appeared first in Scarborough, April 13, where they killed one man, and the next day they were seen in several places ; at Saccarappa they took a man by the name of Knight and his two sons, and in another part of the town the same week they killed a Mr. Elliot and his son, and took one captive. On the 21st of April, a party attacked the family of Mr. Foster, whom they killed, and carried away his wife and six children, and killed several cattle ; our people pursued them and reported that they were about fifty in num- ber ; the next day Stephen Bailey was fired upon by a party of seven near Long Creek.
These numerous and aggravated attacks aroused the people in this neighborhood to adopt some measures of protection. The government, although appealed to by our inhabitants, had provided but one company of fifty men for the defense of this frontier, and thirty of those were stationed at Topsham to guard government timber, while the Indians were hovering over every settlement from Topsham to Wells. In this emer- gency a company of twenty-six volunteers was immediately raised in this town, who placed themselves under the command of Capt. Isaac Ilsley ; another was raised in Purpooduck, and
1 Smith's Journal, 2d edition, "1746."
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
another in North Yarmouth.1 Capt. Ilsley transported two whale-boats to the Sebago Pond for the purpose of pursuing them in that direction.2 These prompt measures had the ef- fect of keeping the enemy at bay, although during the whole summer, the settlements were in a state of feverish excite- ment.3 In the latter part of August the arrival of a cartel from Canada with a number of our soldiers at this place in- timidated the Indians, so that they retreated from this quar- ter of the country, and were no more seen for that season. The next spring they reappeared with an accession of numbers, at Brunswick and North Yarmouth, and waylaid the road even to New Casco ; in which places they killed several persons, took a number of prisoners, and destroyed many buildings. But in the beginning of July the happy tidings of a suspension of arms in Europe, which resulted in the treaty of Aix la Chap- elle, put an end to the destructive warfare in our territory and relieved the people from further apprehension.
The most considerable event of this war, and indeed the greatest achievement which had taken place at any previous
1 Capt. Ilsley, the first of the name who came here, was a descendant of Wm. Ilsley, who was born in Newbury, England, in 1608, and emigrated to Newbury in this country, about 1634. He was born in Newbury in 1703, was a joiner and came here about 1735 ; he and Moses Pearson built a meeting-house in Kit- tery on a contract in 1726 and '27. After he had been here several years he buil a house at Back Cove, east of Fall brook, which he fitted as a garrison and occu- pied at the time of his death, and which was taken down a few years since by his grandson, Henry Ilsley. A portion of the farm now belongs to the heirs of his grandson, Isaac. He was a bold and enterprising man ; he was an officer in the Cape Breton expedition, and frequently engaged as leader of scouting parties in the dangerous game of pursuing the Indians. He superintended constructing the addition to the meeting-house of the first parish in 1759, and built the steeple in 1761. He died April 15, 1781, aged seventy-eight. His children were Isaac, Enoch, Jonathan, Daniel, and Prudence married to Simon Gookin. His wife died 1773, aged seventy.
3 Capt. Ilsley had fifty men in his company. They returned May 29, having sunk their boats in Sebago Pond. They made no discovery of Indians.
3 The Indians this summer were accompanied by some Frenchmen.
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WAR OF 1744-CAPTURE OF LOUISBURG.
time in the colonies, was the capture of Louisburg in the Island of Cape Breton, June 17, 1745. This was the strongest forti- fication upon the continent, and was particularly obnoxious to the people of Massachusetts by the refuge it afforded to those who sought every occasion to disturb their fisheries and interrupt their commerce. The conquest was accomplished by the New England militia, consisting of three thousand six hundred men, assisted by an English and provincial fleet, and aided by a combination of fortunate circumstances beyond the anticipation of the most sanguine adventurer. The enterprise was a very popular one and soldiers were easily enlisted : the number from Falmouth was about fifty, besides those who entered the service and were stationed at other places.1
The news of the capture was received here as in other parts of the colonies with the utmost enthusiasm; Mr. Smith says "we fired our cannon five times and spent the afternoon at the fort, rejoicing ;" and again the next day, which was on Sun- day, he says, "our people on the Neck were again all day re- joicing and extravagantly blew off a vast quantity of powder." The soldiers in our neighborhood who survived the expedition, petitioned the government for a township of land as a remune- ration for their services and sufferings, which was granted in 1750, and now forms part of the town of Standish ; which un- til its incorporation in 1785, bore the name of Pearsontown.2
1 February 22, 1745. Mr. Smith says, "all the talk is about the expedition to Louisburg. There is a marvelous zealand concurrence through the whole country with respect to it: such as the like was never seen in this part of the world."
2 The names of these survivors may be found subscribed to the petition, which was as follows :---
To the Hon. Spencer Phips, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and commander in Chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, and to the Honorable the Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, January, A. D. 1749.
The petition of us the subscribers humbly sheweth, That whereas, we were in the expedition against Louisbourg and the settlement adjacent, then under the
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
Mr. Pearson commanded a company raised principally in this town, in the expedition,' and after the surrender of the city he was appointed agent for Sir William Peperell's regiment, and treasurer of the nine regiments employed in the siege, to receive and distribute the spoils of the victory. The amount of booty divided among the officers and soldiers of the several companies was three thousand five hundred and seventy-eight pounds five shillings and five pence, old tenor, principally in specific articles, besides about eighteen thousand dollars the
1 George Knight was his Lieutenant. The company was raised in March, 1745. Samuel Waldo was Brigadier General and second in command of the land forces. The chief command was assigned to William Pepperell, who was knighted on the occasion of the success. It was highly creditable to Maine that the two highest officers in this brilliant expedition should have been taken from the only two regiments in our territory, Pepperell's and Waldo's.
command of the French King, being in said service, not only until but for some considerable time after the reduction thereof, to the obedience of the King of Great Britain, and some of us detained there for the defense of Louisbourg un- til relieved by his Majesty's troops from Gibraltar, being about sixteen months from the time of entrance into said service, to our arrival at our respective homes, the fatigue of which service, your Excellency and Honours are well knowing to, and our wages but low while in said service. and as many of us were put out of our usual way of business, it terminated very detrimental to us, and as many of us have no lands for settlement nor wherewith to purchase any, Therefore we pray your honours to grant us a township of the contents of six miles square, of some of the nnappropriated lands of said province, somewhere in the county of York, to be settled by your petitioners in such time and under such restrictions as your Excellency and Honours, in your known wisdom, shall see meet to enjoin us, and as your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.
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