USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Sheepscot > The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle [Me.] including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time, together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families; > Part 10
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Newcastle > The history of ancient Sheepscot and Newcastle [Me.] including early Pemaquid, Damariscotta, and other contiguous places, from the earliest discovery to the present time, together with the genealogy of more than four hundred families; > Part 10
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Tappan's lots professedly had one hundred acres in each of them ; but it is said they fell short, some of them hav- ing no more than 86 acres. When the settlers discovered it, there was great disturbance among them ; and to ap- pease the rising wrath and settle the difficulty, for they had taken deeds and paid, some in part, and some all for their lands, before the error was discovered, Tappan gave
111
TAPPAN'S ARRIVAL AND PROCEEDINGS.
two lots, one to him who should be the first settled minis- ter ; and the other to the inhabitants of Sheepscot, as a parsonage or glebe forever. This composed the trouble and allayed the storm. Mr. Tappan also gave two town landings ; one to the south of Garrison Hill including the Cove, and the other to the North, extending from Jotham Clifford's store to the late Thomas Lennox's line, including the Heter piece known as the " Diamond." He also gave a " Common " extending from the South landing to the North landing. The meeting honse, the school house, Al- fred Wilson's former shop and garden all stand on the com- mon which Tappan donated to the town. The lots of Thomas Wiseman, Charles Cargill and William Williams extend upon this common. The town gave Mr. Kennedy the liberty to fence in and improve the South landing, on condition that it should be returned to the town whenever demanded .*
Tappan also gave the burying ground, and the land next North of it, lying between the street and the river ; and a strip that extended up to Patrick Lennox's line. The late Samnel Averill fenced in the Diamond and also the field in which his house stands, and improved it. When the question of titles was raised, and the settlers began to feel insecure as respects the validity of their deeds which Tap- pan had given them, the general court passed a law, giving them a Quitclaim Deed from the State, with the guaranty that they should be undisturbed in their possessions, on condition that they should pay into the state treasury ten cents an acre for their lands. This was a mere nominal som, and was demanded only to meet the expenses in- cnrred in the case. Mr. Avery took a Quitclaim Deed from the state for what he had enclosed, by paying ten cents an acre ; and he and his heirs have remained in undis- turbed possesion of it ever since. It is valuable land and is held at a high price.t Avery purchased his house and lot of James Carney, Esq.
* Town Records. t Capt. John Holmes and others.
112
THE TAPPAN LOTS.
No. of Lot.
Acres.
Date of Doed.
First Purchasers.
Subsequent Owners,
Occupants in 1850.
2.1
200
Before 1786.
Robert Hodge and ? George Boulton.
James Simpson and
[ Wm. Tukey, D. Simpson and Benjamin Woodbridge. Jr. [ ! ] Benj. & Larkin Woodbridge.
29 1 1
!
1712
Daniel Anderson,
( James Simpson and Benjamin Woodbridge ) Benjamin Woodbridge.
( Widow Simpson.
32
150
1772
Benj. Woodbridge.
John Vanner. F. & H. Woodh'ge. S Tukey. Woodbridge and :
33
100 1
1772
Thomas Woodbridge.
Thomas Woodbridge.
Mrs. Fullerton, Cyrus Rundlett.
:
100
1772
James Follanshce.
36
300
1765
1 Robt. Simpson, Wm. Tukey. James Erskine and
( John Fuller, Hatley Erskine, Pant Twombly and Samuel ( Laiten.
38
200
1766
John Hopkins.
1
James Sally.
) and Robert Gammon.
11
300
1770
Robert Hodge.
William Clark } and
( Larkin Decker, Robert Campbell and
42 )
13
70
1772
1
44 } 45 1
210
-
Benj. Woodbridge. | Chris pher Woodbridge. Sam- uel Johnson, Abernethy Car- ¿ gill. Henry Cargill, Sarah Woodbridge, Dorothy Woodbridge.
Addison Carney, William Chase. William Donnell and others.
The above finishes the Tappan Claim on the West side of the town of Newcastle between Mill river so called. and Dyer's river. The land lying on Dyer's neck between Sheepscot and Dyer's river was purchased by Jethro Hussey and Quensey and was subsequently settled by Joseph Tarr, Ezekiel Laiten, Samuel Laiten, Jonathan Laiten, Jesse Cooper. JJohn Harley, Robert Harley, William Simpson, Richard Laiten, Moses Laiten and Water .. The present occupants are Moses Chase, Thomas Kens nedy. Amos Flye, William Ames, Ralph Harley.
TAPPAN'S ARRIVAL AND PROCEEDINGS.
( Albert Campbell. Isaac Phim- mer, Willard Averill and
30 0
31)
37)
1 Moses Dana.
William Waters and
S Aaron and JJas. Fitzpatrick
40)
John Borland. Benj. Woodbridge.
( Robert Simpson. Hodge Woodbridge & others,
34
THE TAPPAN LOTS.
No. of Lot.
Acres.
Date of Deed.
First Purchasers.
Subsequent Owners.
Occupants in 1850.
1
100
f John Ballantine and
|f Aaron Sherman and !
5 Aaron Sherman and
100
Sammel MeLain.
Ezekiel Stearns.
Francis Dodge.
?
100
1736
James Kennedy.
Samuel Kennedy. William Kennedy.
4
100
1736
James Campbell.
William Kennedy.
1
100
David Cargill.
lames Cargill.
8
100
1736
James Bowls.
Samuel Cunningham.
9
100
1736
Wm. MeLelland.
Seth Curtis,
10
100
1736
William Hopkins. James Bowlls.
Patrick Lennox.
Washington Houdlette.
12
100
1735 or 36
Solomon Hopkins.
Samuel Kennedy. Henry Cargill.
Alfred Wilson & others. Alfred Wilson & others.
13
100
1735 of
36
William Kennedy.
14
100
1739
Robert Hodge.
Peters, Averill & Cunningham. David Kennedy.
Sam'l Averill's heirs & others.
1.)
100
1736
Samuel Kennedy.
Lewis & Sam'l Kennedy's heirs.
16
100
Given to minister, and to )
f Amos Flye.
f Amos Flye & others,
17
100
settlers for a globe. John Cunningham.
Parsonage lot. j William Chase.
Thomas Lennox's heirs.
19
100
1736
Gideon Turner.
20
100
William Rose. Solomon Hopkins.
Charles Chase.
21 )
250
1736
James Campbell.
Daniel Campbell.
Daniel Campbell's heirs.
23 )
S Win. MeLolland, David }
Robert Murray and
24
Given & Robt. Coebran. f
John Murray.
25 }
200
1736
f Peter Patterson and 2
{ JJacob Nelson and
James Forrester.
Thomas Kennedy.
Thomas Ayres.
TAPPAN'S ARRIVAL AND PROCEEDINGS.
18
100
1736
William Chase's heirs. William Chase's heirs. S James Campbell and
.
22
250
1739
David Murray.
Henry Kennedy. Albert Gray & Arthur Averill. Win. Gray & Aaron Potter. Robert Kennedy.
100
David Given.
James Simpson.
James Proble. Widow Emeline Cunningham. Joseph Curtis.
John Holmes.
Washington Houdlette.
100
1736
James Clark.
100
1739
113
Parsonage lot.
114
LAWSUITS AND LAND TROUBLES.
CHAPTER XXI.
LAWSUITS AND LAND TROUBLES.
IN 1733, June the 9th, being the sixth year of the reign of George the Second, Mr. Tappan made an agreement with two men, John Pearman and Joseph Winter, to have and improve all the land "lying and being on Damariscotta river, beginning at the Run of water, next to the place where Dr. Winslow now dwells ; and so to run upwards by the salt river side, round the rock, to the upper end of the salt meadows, and thence up the fresh meadows, and from thenee up a straight line southwesterly, till a line from the northerly side of the upper end of the aforesaid run of water shall meet it."
Dr. Winslow lived where the late Mrs. Barstow resided. The run of water was larger in his day than now. The rock was in the Salt Bay, the fresh meadows, those lying over to the west. Dr. Winslow received his title from his skill in curing horses and cattle. He sometimes tried his hand upon sick people with good success.
These two men who had resided at Damariscotta, were allowed to cut what hay, fresh and salt, they might need for the use of the stock ; and they were required to clear and break up at least six acres of land, in addition to what was already under improvement. The time of their lease would expire in six years ; and they were to have the sole use of this land, unless Tappan should see fit to introduce other settlers there. Tappan was to have one half the butter and cheese made on the place ; one half of the wool, and one half of the increase of cattle, sheep and swine. The house where Pearman resided was to be repaired by
115
LAWSUITS AND LAND TROUBLES.
him and Winter, Tappan finding " timber, boards and nayles."
It will be perceived that this lease of land embraced the southern portion of the tract claimed by Wm. Vaughan. Depositions afterwards taken, show that Vaughan claimed the meadows upon Mill river and that he fenced " from where old Mr. Cornelius Jones now lives, along side the hill till it comes to Mr. Winslow, southward of Christopher Hopkins' house."*
Hence the collision. Tappan met Vaughan in a plea of ejectment, and lays his damages at ten thousand pounds. The persons prosecuted were William Vaughan, Ichabod Linscot, Josiah Clark, William Blackstone, Bray Deering and John Deering.
The case was tried at the York Session of the Court of Common Pleas, July, 1741. It was a question of title- Indian title-Phillips against Brown. Tappan lost the case ; but he carried it up to the Superior Court, which was held at the same place, June, 1742. William Vaughan, then, in behalf of the rest, prosecuted, became the sole de- fendant, as his case would settle all the rest, they having purchased of him. But Tappan was unfortunate enough to lose his case the second time; and with it his title to Damariscotta Falls, and the lands upon both sides of the Pond and the western and southern side of the Salt Bay.
The property involved in this lawsuit was a " Mesuage, seven cottages, two double sawmills, and one grist mill, with fifty acres of land," whereon these buildings stand. But Vaughan held all he claimed ; and many settlers held their lands by deeds received from him.
It was a heavy burden for Tappan. He lost his mill site, his property, his case ; and the cost of Courts were thrown upon him.
Vaughan, however, did not remain secure in his posses-
*Robert Hodge's testimony.
116
LAWSUITS AND LAND TROUBLES.
sion. Although cleared of Tappan, there were other troublers beside him. Five years before his death, and only eight years after this decision, the country there- abouts was thrown into great commotion, because they heard that a " settlement " was making up in the Kenne- bec, under the authority of the Kennebec Patent, to come and settle in this territory. This company claimed as far east as Vaughan's Pond.
And in June, 1763, Jonathan Cook, Jonathan Jones, John Jones, and "a great number of other men" entered on premises claimed by Noble, built a sawmill, fenced in a large tract of land, and gave out that " they would hold it with a strong hand." This mill site and land was on the East side of Damariscotta Pond, about six miles above the falls. The pond was fed by a swamp, and by the snows of spring ; but was sometimes dry in summer.
Besides these, there was a Thomas Fallansbee, in subse- quent years, who claimed under Tappan, that troubled these settlers exceedingly. It was hard for them, having once paid for their lands, to be called upon to pay again to some other person than the one from whom they had re- ceived their title Deeds. Some of these settlers were called upon by two or three claimants ; and they paid for their land more than once, and still they were threatened with new lawsuits. The whole thing was wrong in princi- ple. The Indians were the true owners and lords of the soil ; and they only had the right of disposal of it. This should ever have been acknowledged by Courts, Legislatures and Crowned heads. Then, those who took Indian deeds, should have been more definite as to boundaries. They bought land by " junks," and not by definite metes and bounds. And then, the grants made in England, if they must assume a power of that kind, should have been more specific and made with greater care. As it was, it seemed as though crafty men on one side, filched out of " muddled " brains on the other, just what they desired. The grants of
117
GOV. BELCHER.
those days looked more like children's play, or of men who saw " double," than of wise, intelligent, sober and upright men. Deed lapped on deed ; grant overreached grant ; patent swallowed up patent ; claimant opposed claimant ; and authority constantly clashed with authority.
The settlers were honest when they took their deeds, and paid for their lands ; and those who gave the titles, were supposed to be as honest as they ; but there was no power on earth that was able to solve this difficulty ; and never was peace restored and the trouble allayed till 1811, when the Commissioners proposed a compromise : - the claimants should remit their claims to these lands, and take their value in Eastern wild lands, at a fixed price. The claimants under the Brown and Tappan rights-those two who claimed under Shem Drowne and the Kennebec Patent, as well as all other claimants, assented to this arrangement ; - peace was restored-harmony established -and every settler now sits under his own vine and fig tree, having no one to molest or make him afraid.
CHAPTER XXII.
GOV. BELCHER.
IN the year 1730, Mr. Jonathan Belcher, a native of Boston, then in London, procured the appointment of Governor for himself. He was of a good mind, a graceful person, easy manners, and had been a great traveller. Six years he had been in Europe ; twice at the Court of Han- over, and he had received a valuable gold medal from the Princess Sophia. He had a high sense of honor ; and on
118
GOV. BELCHER.
the 8th of August, he arrived in Boston, the Governor of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
One of the first Aets passed during his administration, was, against duels. Several had been fought, and the law enacted that the body of the party so falling, and also the body of his antagonist, after his execution, should be buried without a coffin, by the wayside, and have a stake driven through it, as a memento of the crime and a warn- ing against it.
In the summer of 1734, he made an excursion into these Eastern provinces and visited Sheepscot, Damariscotta. Pemaquid, Machias and Passamaquoddy. At Pemaquid he had a conference with several Indians, and wishing for peace, treated them with uniform courtesy and kindness. Though some of the traders on the frontier had given them occasion for offence, yet the Governor received fresh assur- ances of their wish for a continued peace. He met many of the inhabitants of these parts, and was able to confer with them, with mutual satisfaction, upon the matter of Dunbar's recall ; for they had all viewed his agency as a grievance and public annoyance.
There were, at this time, within the limits of the present State of Maine, about 9000 persons ; of whom more than 1,500 were at Georgetown, Sheepscot, Damariscotta. Townshend, Walpole, Harrington, Broadcove and St. George's.
The year 1735 was distinguished for the ravages of that terrible disease, popularly known as the Throat Distemper. It was in the month of May that it made its appearance at Kingston. New Hampshire, but it soon spread itself throughout New England. It was very fatal, especially among children. Throughout the provinces of Maine and Sagadahock it spread and raged at intervals, for more than three years. Its general appearance is described to have been-a swollen throat with specks of a color between brown and gray, a redness of skin, with eruptions, as of
119
GOV. BELCHER.
the rash ; distress in the head and back part of the neck ; great debility of the body ; and a rapid tendency to putre- faction. Parents, families and neighbors shuddered at its approach ; for the children particularly when seized, were sick only a brief time, and then died. The mortality was fearful for so small a population. Six and sometimes more were taken from a single family ; three and four would be buried in a day ; and many parents lost all the children they ever had. In Kittery one hundred and twenty-two died of this plagne ; and in Arundel vast numbers, both of young people and children, were carried off. The alarm was so great that a solemn fast was kept on Oct. 31st, when they sought relief from Almighty God whose servants diseases are, and whose arm can interpose and save even from the borders of the grave. The next year it was neither so general nor so fatal; but in January, 1737, it broke out afresh in York and Wells, and numbers were laid in their graves. In North Yarmouth about 75 died; in Purpooduck 26; and in Falmouth 49. In Scarborough so leadly was its march, that not a single one survived who was attacked. At Saco and Presumpscot Falls, it seemed the next year to riot on human life, baffling all skill and setting at defiance all medicine and human exertions. At all seasons of the year its ravages were committed ; but the greatest mortality took place where blood letting and catharties were practised ..
In almost all other respects the people of Maine were contented, prosperous and happy. Trade was revived, business successful and industry rewarded. Applications were made for new towns, and the inhabitants were on the slow, but constant increase. Short crops abroad, however, put the people of Maine, in the year 1737, on a small allowance. As they depended upon other places partially for supplies, some had neither corn nor grain for several weeks. In April, the hay was generally expende l; eat- ables were scarce ; and it was said that not a peck of
120
GOV. SHIRLEY APPOINTED.
potatoes could be bought in all the Eastern country. Some may have perished with hunger ; and what added to the poignancy of the distress, was, the deadly throat dis- temper which raged in many towns. Many also died of the pleurisy fever ; and a relief from starvation did not fully come till the following harvest.
CHAPTER XXIII.
GOV. SHIRLEY APPOINTED.
AFTER an Administration of ten years Gov. Belcher was removed, and William Shirley was appointed Govenor of Massachusetts and Maine. Benning Wentworth received the appointment of Governor of New Hampshire. This was in 1741. Gov. Shirley was an English gentleman, but had resided in Boston several years. He was a man of ability and address, had been bred to the law, and by living in the province several years, had become well acquainted with the habits, the manners and the wants of the people.
One of the first acts of his administration provided that " Bills of a new Form" should be issued. Every sum of twenty shillings expressed on the face of them, was to be equivalent to three ounces of silver. All contracts should be understood payable in silver at six shillings, eight pence the ounce, or gold in proportion ; and these bills should be made a legal tender in all public and private payments. If, however, they should depreciate in value, an additional sum should be paid according to the scale of depreciation, as agreed upon once a year, in a meeting of the eldest
121
GOV. SHIRLEY APPOINTED.
Councillor of each county. This new "Form " was called the New Tenor to distinguish it from all former emissions. These new bills however gradually depreciated, till they set- tled down to a level with the other older bills.
The administration of Gov. Shirley was destined to be an eventful one. There were in 1743 in the provinces of Maine and Sagadahoek about 2,300 taxable polls ; and in all places, both incorporated and unincoporated, about 12,000 souls. The tax assessed on them the year previons was £332, 1s. 2d. Every male, sixteen years old, paid 12d. Twenty shillings property paid one penny of the province tax ; and other taxes in proportion.
As these provinces were greatly exposed in case of a rupture with the Indians, the people of Massachusetts determined to put the whole frontier in a state of defence. The Legislature appropriated, at this time, 1743, £1,280 for the defence of the Eastern settlements. The money was apportioned to fourteen places and applied to the con- structing of Stockade forts, block houses, breastworks and walls of hewn timber and such private residences as were much exposed.
Of this apportionment of money Arrowswick received £100, Sheepscot 100, Damariscotta 67, Pemaquid 134, Broad Bay 75, and St. George's River 100 pounds. Encour- aged by these appropriations, the inhabitants bestowed upon their public works a great amount of labor and made them places of considerable security. Fearing trouble, Fort George at Brunswick was made a public Garrison, other forts were strengthened, and as a precautionary meas- nie, four hundred men were ordered to be organized in the county of York, into as many companies, and to be in constant readiness, as "minute men," with every equip- ment, to march at the shortest notice. Besides a good gun and sufficient ammunition, every one of them was to provide himself with a hatchet, an extra pair of shoes, or a pair of moccasins, and even a pair of snowshoes. A small
122
THE FIFTH INDIAN OR SPANISH WAR.
allowance was made them for these preparations, and reg- ular wages from the time they left their homes, should they be called into service.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE FIFTH INDIAN OR SPANISH WAR.
THE war between the English and Spanish nations was proclaimed in 1740. Its influence was immediately com- municated to their American dominions, and gradually extended throughout the greater part of Europe. The French Nation resolved to enter into what has been called, " The Continental System," and determined to take sides against England. In March, 1744, the former power declared war against the latter ; and as soon as the event was known on this side of the Atlantic, the French Colo- nists, and the Indians in their interest, began their intrigues against their English neighbors. The scene was opened in Nova Scotia. The English had been in possession of this Province since the Treaty of Utretcht, 1713, a period of thirty-one years.
Duguernel, the French Governor of the Island of Cape Breton, being made acquainted with the declaration of war, two months before it was known in Boston, resolved to gain time by an immediate attack upon Canseau, a small island situated on an excellent harbor, at the South- eastern extremity of the Peninsula. For this purpose, he despatched Gen. Duvivier, with a regiment of 800 or 900 men, in a few, small armed vessels, who, landing upon the Island May 13th, 1844, laid claim to it, burned the houses,
123
THE FIFTH INDIAN OR SPANISH WAR.
made prisoners of the Garrison and inhabitants, and took possession of a small armed vessel, lying at anchor in the harbor, as a prize.
Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, was the next object of attack. Mascarine, the successor of Phillips, was then Governor of the place. He was first apprized of hostilities by a sudden attack of 300 Indians upon the garrison, that were led on by Monsieur Luttre, a French Missionary, who boldly demanded a surrender. This was on May the 30th. But the Governor refused to capitulate ; and forthwith sent an express to Shirley, Governor of Massachusetts, desiring assistance. Meanwhile Duvivier, arriving with his troops, joined Luttre, and they both invested the place till the third of July, when a reinforcement of four companies from Massachusetts compelle l them to retire. During the seige, they had surprised and killed as many of the Eng- lish as could be caught without the fort. They also destroyed their cattle and burnt their dwellings.
Maine and Massachusetts were immediately aroused. The Governor, with the advice of the Council, Oct. 20th. of the same year, declared war against all the Indian tribes who were situated to the Eastward of the one upon the Passam quo Ily Bay ; forbid ling those to the Westward of a line three miles to the Eastward of that river to have any correspondence with those Indian rebels.
There were, at this time, within the limits of Maine, 2,855 able bodied and fencible men. These were organ- ized into two regiments; one consisting of 1,565 troops, commanded by Col. Wm. Pepperell, of Kittery, and the other of 1,290 troops, to be commanded by Col. Samuel Waldo, of Falmouth. Two hundred and seventy of these troops were at George's and Broad Bay ; fifty at Pema- quid, and fifty at Sheepscot. As it was designed to move on the expedition to the Eastward immediately, where all their troops would be needed, it was determined to dis- charge such men as had been drafted, and draw out 100
124
THE FIFTH INDIAN OR SPANISH WAR.
effective troops from Pepperell's regiment, and form them into eight guards. These they would station at as man , different points, in the provinces, where they might be most needed. At Wiscasset 14 were stationed to scout as far as Capt. Vaughan's Block house on Damariscotta. This Block house, or Garrison, was at Damariscotta Mills, on the West side of the river, and a little South of the road that leads from the bridge which crosses the stream, up by the Catholic Church. Another company of 14, at his Block house, were to scout East as far as Broad Bay ; and a third company of 14 were stationed at Broad Bay, whose duty was to scout to the Block house at George's river.
It was then resolved that Louisburg must be taken ; and the French driven out of Nova Scotia and the island of Breton. This city was strongly fortified. The French had held possession of it 25 years ; and it had cost the Crown thirty millions of livres, nearly 6,000,000 of dollars. It was called the Gibralter of America, on account of its great strength. Yet the fiat had gone forth that Louis- burg must fall ; for there could be no security to the East- ern Provinces, as long as this important place was in the hands of the French. Massachusetts was thoroughly awake and ready to do her part in this important matter. Her troops, united to those of Maine, proceeded at once to the scene of action. On the 26th of Jan., 1745, the Resolve passed the General Court, to proceed on the expedition against Louisburg ; The measure, however, was carried by a majority of only one vote ; so doubtful was the Legisla- lature, as to the expe tiency and wisdom of the measure. It, however, grew into favor with the people; and soon a fleet consisting of 13 vessels, besides transports and store- ships, carrying 4,000 men and 200 guns, was ready to sail. Pepperell, raised to a Lieutenant General, was put in com- mand of the expedition. When it was first proposed to him, he hesitated, as to accepting the office ; but being
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