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 76
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troubled at these seditious proceedings ; and much more at his most notorius scandalls of Sir ffer- dinando Gorges,a man for his age and in integrity worthy of much honor; him he brandes with the foule name of traytor by curcumstance, in reporting that he hath counterfeited the King's broade Seale, (if he haue any patent for the Province of Mayne) ffor, sayes he, I haue serched all the Courtes of Record, and can finde noe such grant. How could he haue giuen that graue Knight a deeper wound in his reputacion, the which I know is more deare to him then all the wealth in America; he likewise maynetaynes his false report of his death, fflight into Walles, not with standing a letter dated the 25th of 9ber last, from a marchant in London, of very good credit, and brought in Mr. Payne his ship, which letter imports Sir fferd : Gorges his good health with the restauracion of his possesions agayne. * * Now for the Patent that Mr. Rigby hath bought, it is not from our kings majestie, as Cleiues reportes, but from the President and Counsell of New-England, as myne and others are, wherein. Mr. Rigby hath from there LLord- ships jura regalia, but his majestie takes that away by his royall grant to Sir fferd : Gorges,
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bearing date thir[teen]th of Aprill, in the fifteenth yeare of liis highnes raigne. Now I con- ceiue Mr. Rigby his agent is but to recover soe much land as the grant specifies, and to relin- quish there Jura regalia, as you may perceive in the last clawse of our grant here with sent you. * Yet I did ever, and doe intend, whensoever Mr. Rigby shall send over people, to lett them settle peaceably, to ayde and assist them to the best of my power, without questioning of meum et tuum ; ffor this I know, if Sir Fferdinando Gorges and Mr. Rigby meete, all matters wil be quietly ended, if there be no incendiaries here. *
Your faythfull freind and servant,
SACO, the 9th of January, 1643.
RICH : VINES.
* THOMAS JENNER TO JOHN WINTHROP.
To the Right Worship his very loueing & kind friend Mr. Wintrop, at his howse in Boston in N. E. giue thei e. I pray.
WORTHY SIR :- My due respect being remembered to you, I heartily salute you in the Lord ; giueing you humble thanks, for your favourable aspect which hath alwaies bin towards me, (though of me most undeserued,) and especially for your late kind letter on my behalfe; for which sake I was kindly imbraced, aboue the expectation of my selfe, & others, and am still (I thank God) loueingly respected amongst them : but not with out some hot discourses, (especially about the ceremonies ;) yet they all haue ended (through mercy) in peace ; and for aught I can perceiue, doe prize the word, & relish it, dayly better then other, and some promise faire ; euen in Mr. Vines his family. But generally they were very ignorant, superstitious, & vitious: and scarce any religious. Ffre leaue they give me to doe what soever I please ; imposeing nothing on me, either publikly or privately, which my selfe dislike, onely this, Mr. Vines & the captainet both, haue timely expressed themselves to be utterly against church-way, saying, their Patent doth prohibit the same; yet I, for my part neuer once touched upon it, except when they them- selues haue in private discourse put me upon it by questions of their owne, ffor I count it no season asyet to go build, before God sends vs materials to build with all. Thus being in some hast, I end humbly craueing your prayers :
Your worships to command
THO : JENNER.
SACO, 4th of the last, 1640.
THOMAS JENNER TO JOHN WINTHROP.
To the Right. Worshipfull his very worthy friend Jo: Wintrop. Esqr. & Deputy Governor of N. E. at his howse in Boston give theise.
RIGHT WORSHIPFULL,-My due respects remembred to you. This is to informe you (according to request made vnto me, both by Mr. Jocelyne & Mr. Cleeve) that în Cascoe Bay on the last of March the major part of the Province of Lygonia meet togetlier, at an intended Court of Mr Cleeve. Mr. Jocelyne & his company came armed with gunes & swords, or both; Mr. Cleeve &
*[Thomas Jenner was at Saco as early as the winter of 1640-1, and was probably the first min- ister of the Puritan faith that ever preached in Maine ; unless that wretched man, Burditt, preached at York as early. Jenner was, without doubt, the first minister settled at Saco. Rich- ard Gibson, an Episcopal clergyman, living in the vicinity, at Spurwink, as early as 1636, may sometimes have preached here. Jenner remained here till 1646, as appears by a letter of lis in this volume, dated April 6, 1646 ; in which he says, " I am, as it were, on the wing of removal ; but whither, as yet I know not."
Jeuner was of Roxbury in 1634 or 1635, but not long after went to Weymouth, which town he represented in the General Court of 1640. He is said to have returned to England before 1650, and to have resided in Norfolk. He was compelled by straitened circumstances, to sell his library before his death.]
+[Bonython.]
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
his company vnarmed. After sermon was ended, Mr. Joselyne & his company separated them- selues about a furlong from Mr. Cleeve & his company. They sent vnto Mr. Cleeve a demand in writing (with all their hands subscribed,) to haute a sight of his originals, promising a safe re- turne. After some læsitation & demur, Mr. Cleeve, vpon condition they would come together into one place, promised to gratifie them. The which being publikely read & scanned, the next morneing Mr. Jocelyne & his company delivered vnto Mr. Cleeve in writinge, with all their hands subscribed, a Protest against Mr. Righbies authority of gouerment, that is to say, in any part of that bound or tract of land which Mr. Cleeve doth challeng by vertue of his Patent, viz. Trom Sacadehock River to Cape Porpus. They furthermore required & injoined Mr. Cleave & his company to submit themselues vnto the authority & gouerment derived from Sir Fferdinando Gorges, & that for the future they addresse themselues vnto their Courts.
Lastly they demanded of Mr. Cleeve a friendly triall concerneing the bounds afore sayd, ffor Mr. Jocelyne would that Mr. Cleeve his terminus a quo should begin 60 miles vp Chenebec River, because the Patent saith, it must lie nere two Ilands which are about 60 miles from the sea. Ffor answer to it the Patent also saith, the tract of land of 40 miles square, must lie on the south side of Sacadehock-River.
Now Sacadehock riuer reacheth but to Merry Meeting, & then its branched into Begipscot, & Chenebeck, & is no further cald by the name of Sacadehock. Now Sacadehock River is a certaine and sure place for one terme of its bounds, but the Ilands are doubtfull, which they are, or wher they are ; more ouer ther possession was first taken. Mr. Cleeue in his answere readily accepted their offer of a triall at Boston; whervpon they both bound themselues each to other in a bond of 500li. personally to appeare at Boston the next Court after May, then & ther to impleade each other. *
Furthermore Mr. Cleeue demanded a sight of their originals for goverment, none being pro- duced, he disclaimed obedience, and told ther was no equality betweene his something & their nothing. It was also agreed, that none of each company or party should, at any time or vpon any occasion, be troubled or molested by any of the other party or company, vntill the suit afore- sayd be ended.
Mr. Cleeue layd his injunction in particular on Mr. Jordane, neuer more to administer the seales of the Covenant promiscuously, & without duc order & ordination, within the province of Lygonia.
I must needs acknowledge, to their high commendation, that both Mr. Jocelyne* & Mr. Cleeve carried on the interaction very friendly, like men of wisdome & prudence, not giueing one mis- beholding word each together, such was the power of Gods Holy Word, aweing their hearts. Your letters were also very valide, & gratefully accepted on both parties. Thus after two or three daies agitation, each man departed very peaceably to his owne home.
Thus, right worthy Sir, according to the trust committed to me, I haue faithfully (though rudly) composed the chiefe matters in that their transaction, & haue here sent them vnto you. So I comit you to God & rest. Yours to comand
THO : JENNER.
SACO, 6, 2 m. 46. * * * *
Sir, I haue, lately ben earnestly solicited by one Mrs. Tucker, an intimate friend of mine, & an approved godly woman, that I would writ vnto your worship ; that in case Mr. Cleaue & her husband (Mr. Tucker) shall happen shortly to haue recourse to your selfe, to end some mat- ters of difference betweene them, now at their departure each from other, that you would be pleased, as much as in you lye, not to suffer Mr. Cleaue to wrong her husband, for though her husband hath ben as it were a servant hitherto for Mr. Cleaue, yet now at their making vp of accounts, Mr. Cleaue by his subtill head, brings in Mr. Tucker 100li. debter to him.
*[Vines had now left the country, and Jocelyne had taken his place as the representative of Gorges in the colony.]
fac-similes of Signatures and Scals.
Tho Juegos.
France . Songs
The Jinx.
Rich : Juinest
XX
Giory OlEna
FORBES . LITH 265 WASHN ST BOSTON
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APPENDIX.
GEORGE CLEEVE TO JOHN WINTHROP.
To the honered John Winthrop Esquire Gouernour thes present.
CASCO BAY, this- 27th of the 11 moneth, 1643.
HONERED SIR,-With my most humble sarvice I salute you, accnolidging my duty of thank- fullnes to you for all formar favors shewed mee; and whereas you were plesed at my request to writ to Mr. Vines & others in behalfe of Mr. Rigbies athority, of which I informed him in iny last lettars, assuring my selfe that hee will not be vnmyndfull to requit your love therein. What Mr. Vines answered you I know not, but thus can afferme & proue, that by his practis he dothi slitly regard your advice therein (as may appeare by the supplication of the inhabitants of Ligonia and other passeges, the truth whereof this bearar can informe you, as allso of there c[on] saltations with Mr. Gurdin (Jordan) a ministar of antichrist, there chefe counsellar) who doth not only calunniate and slander the parliament of England with vile reproachfull termes, as rebellious, factias, trayteros parssons against the king) but allso belteth out his blasfemise, against the Churches of Christ in this land, charging them with scisme and faction for fasting & praying for the affliction of there brethren in England, denying it to be the hand of God vpon the land for sinn nor the occation of papist or evell counsellars, but for the rebellion of the parliament and the puritant faction there, with many othar passeges of that vnworthy Ballitte, of which this bearar Mr. Tuckar can informe you : as allso of Vines his dealings with him, and of his thretning to send mee pressonar to England in Mr. Trelanies ship, which in- forketh mee once more to joyne with the inhabitants of Ligonia and humbly to desire your as- sistance against there vnlawfull practisses, and so much the rathar for there wicked oposition of the ways of Christ. They seeing vs about to settle our selues vndar the ministry, and that wee ar in hope that the Lord will gathar a Church amovngst vs,* this causeth them & there prelat- ticall counsellar to raidge the more, which will insite you to assist vs so much thie rather. * * Whilst I am
GEORGE CLEEVE.
GEORGE CLEEVE AND OTHERS TO THE GOVERNOR, DEPUTY GOVERNOR, AND ASSISTANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
To the honoured Governour & Deputie Governour, & Court of Assistants in the Massetusets Bay, these present.
HONOURED SIRS,-With our most humble service we salute yow in the Lord Jesus Christ Shewing vnto yow that we are in great distresse by a company of factious men, who haue leagued them selues together to murther vs, together with all the well affected in Mr Rigbyes Province of Ligonia, vnder pretence of a protest against vs, whoe have severall Conmis- sions from Mr. Rigby for the present government of his Province. The heads of this league are Mr. Henry Jocelyn, Mr. Arthur Mackworth, & Ffrancis Robinson, which Mr. Mack- worth did willingly submit to Mr. Rigbyes authority formerly, and did subscribe to his constitu- cions, & received a Commission from hini to be an Assistant, & acted by it till he was drawne away by the perswasion of Mr. Vines & Mr. Jorden, (one vnworthily called a minister of Christ.) From these two men all this evill doth principally flowe, for though Mr. Vines be now gone, yet he hath presumed to depute Mr. Jocelyn in his stead, although he never had any Commis- sion soe to doe; yet he, by the councell of Mr. Jorden, hath taken vpon him, as a lawfull Mag- istrate to come into Cascoe Bay & hath gone from house to house, being accompaned with Ffrancis Robinson & Arthur Mackworth, & have discourraged the people of Ligonia, & drawne them offe, some by frande & some by force, from theire subiection to Mr. Rigbys lawfull authority; contrary to theire oathes freely and willingly taken, a true coppy whereof is herewith sent. And hane alsoe presumed to take deposicions of severall people, to accuse some of vs falsely and slanderously with treason & other crimes, whereof we are innocent; intending vpon those grounds to deale with vs at theire pleasure, and thus we are all destined by them vnto destruc- cion, if the Lord prevent not their wicked plotts against vs. And this is to be put in execu-
*[Stephen Bachillor appears to have had a call from Casco about this time to settle .- EDs.]
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
cion vpon the last day of March next, vpon which day we haue appoynted to keepe a Court in Cascoe Bay, which Court is already summond, & severall actions entred, which are at issue, & some of theire party bound over for misdemeanor, & seueral actions against many of them, & thereforc cannot be reiourned; at which time, they having made a party of neare an hundred (as we are informed) to set vpon vs, & violently to resist Mr. Rigbyes authority, & so take vs & our partie, & slay vs, or deale with vs at their pleasures. And further, we arc truly informed that they intend to make this the begining of a sivill warre, which they intend to blowe abroade into all parts of this land, & giue it out there be many amongst yow, & elsewhere, that doe but looke for an opportunity to declare themselues Cavileers, & for the King, as if yow or wee were the Kings enimies, & they onely his friends. Commending you all to the grace of God & resting your humble seruants.
WILLIAM RYALL. RICHARD TUCKER.
GEORGE CLEEVE.
THOMAS PERCHES.
CASCO BAY, this 18th ffebr : 1645.
[The following draught of an answer to the foregoing letter, in the handwriting of Gov. Win- throp, is written upon the reverse of the leaf.]
To our worthy friends Mr. George Cleves, Deputy President of Ligonia, & his Assistants, at Casco, dd.
SIR,-We have received & considered your lettres by this bearer, Mr. Purchas, together with the Testimony and other writings sent therwith : we received also lettres & other writings from Mr. Jocelin & others; by all which we perceive that the differences between you are growne to a great height of contention, which we are very sorrye for, & would not be wantinge to dce what lyes in vs for composinge the same. But whereas the differences grewe vpon cxtent of some Patents & right of Jurisdiction whercin Mr. Rigby & others in E : are interested, & lettres have been sent to theni from both partyes, & answer is expected by the first return, therevpon we have thought it expedient to perswade you bothe to forbeare any further contention in the meane tyme, & have written to Mr. Jocelin, &c, to that ende, who having desired our advice, we may presumc they will observe the same, & will not attempt any acts of hostility against you; and we doubt not but yon wilbe perswaded to the same; which we judge will conduce most to Mr. Rigbys right, and your owne & your neighbours peace. Your loving friends.
BOSTON, 5. (1), 1645.
No. V.
FROM JOHN JOCELYN'S VOYAGES. 1
Towns there are not many in this province. Kittery situated not far from Pascataway is the most populous.
Next to that eastward is seated by ariver near the sea Gorgiana, a majoraltie and the metro- politan of the province. Further to the eastward is the town of Wells. Cape Porpus eastward of that, where there is a town of the same name, the houses scatteringly built, all these towns liave store of saltand fresh marsh with arable land, and all well stocked with cattle. About 8 or nine miles to the Eastward of Cape Porpus is Winter harbour, a noted place for fishers, here they have inany stages. Saco adjoins to this, and both make onc scattering town of large extent, well stored with cattle, arable land and marslies and a saw mill. Six iniles to the east- ward of Saco and 40 miles from Georgiana is seated the town of black point, consisting of about 50 dwelling houses, and a magazine or doganne scatteringly built, they have store of neat and horses, of sheep near upon 7 or 800, mnuch arable and marsh salt and fresh and a corn-mill. To the southward of the point (upon which are stages for fishermen) lie two small islands ; bc- yond the point, North eastward runs the river of Spurwink. p. 200,
1The period to which this narrative relates is 1670 : Jocelyn returned to England in 1671.
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APPENDIX.
Y
p. 201. Four miles from black point, one mile from Spurwink river eastward lyeth Rich- mond's island, whose long. is 317º 30" and lat, 43º 34', it is 3 miles in circumference and hath a passable and gravelly ford on the North side, between the main and the sea at low water, here are found excellent whetstones and here likewise are stages for fishermen. Ninc miles cast. ward of Black point lieth scatteringly the town of Casco upon a large bay, stored with cattle, sheep, swine, abundance of marsh and arable land, a corn-mill or two, with stages for fishermen. Further eastward is the town of Kennebec seated upon the river. Further yet eastward is Sagadehock, where there are many houses scattering and all along stages for fishermen, these two are stored with cattle and corn lands.
p. 202. 12 miles from Casco bay, and passable for men and horses, is a lake called by the indians Sebug on the brink thereof at one end is the famous rock shaped like a moose deer o helk, diaphanous, and called the moose rock. Here are found stones like crystals and lapis specularis or muscovia glass both white and purple.
p. 205. From Sagadehock to Nova Scotia is called the Duke of York's province, here Pema- quid, Montinicus, Mohegan, Capeanawhagen, where Capt. Smith fislit for whales; Muscataquid all filled with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen and have plenty of cattle, arable land and marshes.
p. 207. The people in the Province of Maine may be divided into magistrates, husbandmen or planters, and fishermen ; of the magistrates some be royalists, the rest perverse spirits, the like are the planters and fishers, of which some be planters and fishers both, others meer fish- ers.
Handicraftsmen there are but few, the tumelor or cooper, smiths or carpeuters are best wel- come amongst them, shopkeepers there are none, being supplied by the Massachusetts mer- chants with all things they stand in need of. English shoes are sold for 8 or 9 shils, a pair, worsted stockings of 3s. 6d. for 7 and 8s. a pair, Douglass that is sold in England for 1 or 2 and 20 pence an ell, for 4s. a yard, serges of 2 or 3s. a yard for 6 and 7 shillings.
p. 208. They have a custom of taking tobacco, sleeping at noon sitting long at meals some- times four times a day, and now and then drinking a dram of the bottle extraordinarily They fecd generally upon as good flesh, beef, pork, mutton, fowl, and fish as any in the world be- sides. Their servants which are for the most part English, will not work under a half a crown a day, when they are ont of their time, although it be for to make hay, and for less I do not see how they can by reason of the dearness of clothing. If they hire them by the year they pay them 14 or £15 at the years end in corn, cattle and in fish : some of these prove excellent fowlers, bringing in as many as will maintain their master's house; besides the profit that ac- crues by their feathers.
p. 210. The fishermen take yearly upon the coast many hundred kentals of cod, hake, had- dock, polluck, &c. &c. which they split, salt and dry at their stages, making three voyages in a year. When they share their fish, which is at the end of every voyage, they separate the best from the worst, which is known when it is clear like a lanthorn horn and without spots ; the second sort they call refuse fish, that is such as is salt burnt, spotted, yotten and carelessly or- dered ; these they put off to the Massachusetts merchants ; the . erchantable for 30 and 32 reals a kental (112 pounds) the refuse for 9 and 10s. the quintal. The merchants send the merchantable fish to Lisbon, Bilbo, Burdeaux, Marsiles, Talloon, Rochel, Roan, and other cities of France, to the Canaries with claw board and pipe staves, which is there and at the Charibs a prinie commodity ; the refuse fish they put off at the Charib islands, Barbadoes, Jamaica, &c. who fecd their Negros with it.
p. 211. To every shallop belong four fishermen, a master or stecrsinan, a Midshipman, and a foremast man and a shore man, who washes it out of the salt and drics it upon bundles and tends their cookery.
These often get in one voyage 8 or £9 a man, but it doth some of them little good, for the merchant to increase his gain by putting off his commodity in the middest of their voyages, and at the end thereof comes in with a walking tavern, a bark laden with the legitimate bloud of the rich grape which they bring from Phial, Madera, Canaries, with brandy, rum, the Barbadoes strong water and tobacco, coming a shore he gives them a taster or two, which so charms them, that for no persuasions will they go to sea, although fair and seasonablo weather for 2 or 3 days,
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
nay sometimes a whole week, till they are wearied with drinking, taking a shore 2 or 3 hhds. of wine and rum to drink when the merchant is gone.
They often have to run in debt for their necessaries on account of the lavish expense for drink and are constrained to mortgage their plantations if they have any, and the merchant when the time is expired is sure to turn them out of house and home, seizing their plantations and cattle, poor creatures, to look out for a new habitation in some remote place, where they begin the world again. p. 212.
Of the same nature are the people in the Duke's province, who not long before I left the country petitioned Mass. to take them into their government. p. 212.
No. VI.
ROBERT JORDAN'S WILL.
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.
I Robert Jordan, senior gentlem : formerly of Spurwink, and now resident on the Great Is- land in the township of Portsmouthi, in New-England, being weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory, praysed be God,-Do make, ordayne, and declare this present writing to be and remayne my last, undoubted Will and Testament, in manner and forthe following :
Imps. I bequeath my soule to God, hopeing by the meritts of Christ ny Saviour, to enjoy eternal life, and my body to ye earth to bee decently buried-And what temporall things I ain blessed with, all by ye Providence of Almighty God, I give and bequeath as followeth :
Item-I do hereby ratify, allow and confirme two deeds or writings, which I formerly made and gave under my hand and seale, one to my elldest sonn John Jordan, and another to iny sec- ond sonn Robert Jordan, according to the contents y'rin exprest.
Item-I give and grant to my wife Saraih Jordan, now living, the ould plantation at Spur- winke, containing one thousand acres, bee it more or less, begining wt the grant belonging to my sonn John Jordan doth.one and ending where the lott bequeathed by this my will to iny 3d sonn Dominicus Jordan doth begine, and soe along the highway untill you come to the Greate Pond; for and during the terme of her natural life; the reversion and inheretance y'rof to bee and remaine unto my youngest sonn Jeremiah Jordan, his heyers and successors forever, as his part and portion.
Item-I give and bequeath unto my sayd wife Saraih Jordan, one other farme, called Nonn- such, containing two thousand acres, be it more or less, for and during her naturall life; and for ye more strict obleighing my children's duty to her, my will is that shee wholly and ab- solutely dispose the succession and inheritance thereof, to either or any of my sonns, they or their or any of their heyres, or issue, lawfully by them or any of them begotten, forever.
Item-I give and bequeath unto my sonn Dominicus Jordan, one thousand acres of land, at Spurwinke, to begin where the abovesd ould plantation endeth, as hee shall make choyce of, to be layd out by the onereferees hereafter nominated.
Item-I give and bequeath unto my sonn Jedediah Jordan, one thousand acres of my land, at Spurwinke aforesaid, to bee chosen by him out of my land not disposed before, to bee to the use of him and his heyres, forever.
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