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 15
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 15
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The father, William Hilton, lingered a short time in the garrison, and then died of his wounds. They tried to take him to Casco, where was a physician, but Westerly winds prevailing for a number of days, they were obliged to desist from their purpose. He finally sunk under his wounds, and died a martyr to Indian barbarity and cun- ning. This was in May 1757 .* The wound closed over the ball in the thigh of Richard, and he accordingly carried it with him to his grave. John was the only one that escaped unhurt ; but how, it is hard to tell. Though the Indians ceased firing when their comrade fell, they
* Mr Eaton, in his Annals of Warren, incorrectly places it in 1722.
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 TO 1882.
soon commenced again and continued it till the canoe was beyond shooting distance. The canoe was completely riddled with balls.
James, the oldest brother, was at this time in Bygaduce, and did not return till the ensuing spring, when he occu- pied the farm that belonged to him. He was Grandfather of Dea. James Hilton, Mr. Charles Hilton, and Mrs. Merritt. The descendants of William Hilton, the elder, . are many, and are scattered through the State of Maine and other parts of the country. They have proved a very respectable, enterprising, moral and useful class of citizens. There has never been a Tory among them ; they are firm patriots and many of them, have been, and are, truly pions.
The fall of that year, John and Richard gathered the harvest. For three weeks, they lodged in the woods ; and that they might not be detected by the Indians, they never slept two nights in the same place. They always had their dogs with them, and finally secured the harvest which they safely conveyed to the Garrison.
James lived in front of Edward Miller's, where are now some apple trees. He swore eternal enmity against the Indians, and never would make peace with them. One day, when Moxy, a noted Indian, was approaching his house, he was shaving himself ; and learning that the Indian was at the door, he threw down his razor when about half shaved, caught up his cane, and drove him away, after giving him a sound cudgeling. When asked afterward, how he could almost kill an Indian in cold blood, he replied, by asking, "How can I have a drop of cold blood in my veins, when his people have killed thir- teen of my nearest blood relations ?"
At the time of the massacre, there was a maiden in the Garrison who afterwards marrie I a man by the name of Poor. They took up a farm about half a mile South of the eight mile tract. They had no children, but they
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 TO 1882.
adopted for their own, James Hilton's son James who in- herited the estate at their death. This is the farm now owned and improved by Dea. James Hilton.
During that Indian war, it was the custom of members of the family to take leave of each other, before retiring to rest ; for they lived in the constant fear of death, and knew not as they should see each other alive in the morn- ing. There were planks that reached from the house to the barn of Mr. Poor, and Indian footsteps could frequently be heard in the dead hours of night, as they passed from one to the other. Those midnight prowlings aroused the sleeping father to see that his trusty rifle was standing loaded where he left it when he went to sleep, a d prompted the mother to feel for her child and draw it nearer to her bosom than it was before.
There were several Garrisous in town ; two at Sheepscot ; one in the center of the town ; another at Damariscotta Mills ; a fifth in front of Farley's mansion where Walter Phillips used to reside; a sixth below where Capt. Samuel Little lived and still another near where Joseph Perkins now resides, near the brick yard at the shore.
The Garrison# at Capt. Little's, was beleagured several times, by the Indians, and at one time the men were gone and only two or three women remained in it. The Indians meditated an assault. A friendly squaw gave the signal of a flag, and they were prepared for them. One woman with Spartan heroism, would cry out, as if giving men's orders, "Courage, Kenelm"-"Fire away, Rackley," accompanied with the bang of the guns, when the assailants, losing heart, became discouraged and fled, leaving the Garrison unharmed.
The Garrison at the shoref was occupied three years during the French and Indian war by the families of
* Mrs. M. Robinson.
t Joseph Perkins.
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 To 1832.
Abner and Lemmel Perkins, and another family by the name of Crocker. This Garrison was never taken. It was taken down after the war. The Indians used to follow the cows home at night and the owners would not dare to go out and milk them.
The Garrison in Major Farley's field was vacated at one time by the men who had gone across the river to do some work ; and the women had also left it, to perform some labor in the field. Three boys were stationed as sentinels to give the alarm, in case of danger. The Indians stole upon them and killed Mrs. Gray and six, some say nine children. The youngest they took by the heels and dashed its brains out upon a stone. The alarm was given-the men returned-a fight ensued but several lives were lost on the side of the English. The Indians escaped unhurt. When the men returned, they found one childl attempting to draw milk from its dead mother's breast. It was a har- rowing spectacle. The stone bespattered with blood was seen for a long time afterwards. It was finally removed by Mr. Farley about the year 1800. It was ragged, and stood about three feet out of the ground.
Dr. Winslow,* about this time, was taken by the Indians, carried to Loud's Island and brutally murdered.
Opposite this Garrison, was another in Walpole. They used to have a dog that would carry intelligence from one Garrison to the other, by swimming across the river. They would put a string around his neck with a stone tied beneath and a letter upon the top. The stone kept the letter above the water.
George Forrester came from Ireland, and took up a large tract of land at Wiscasset, when it was all wilderness there. He lived near where the Court House now stands, and died at the age of 110 years. He had two wives, and three daughters by his first wife. One of his daughters
* John Farley's testimony.
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 TO 1882.
married a man by the name of Quinnam, and resided in Wiscasset ; another married a Mr. Langdon, the first mer- chant there ever was in that town ; and the third, Betsey, married John Paskell and resided in Warren. Betsey was born in 1752, and died Feb. 21, 1823, aged 71 .* She had a relative, James Forrester, who resided at Sheepscot on a part of the farm now owned by Jacob Nelson.
In 1755, Betsey Forrester, at the age of three years, went into Garrison at Sheepscot, with her friends, and con- tinned there till the close of the war in 1759. With a bright recollection of those eventful days, she used to enchain the attention of her children and descendants, by a familiar recital of them. There were but few books in those days, besides the Bible and Psalm Book, and she used to entertain the children and youth of her time, by the recital of wilderness horrors and savage deeds. She said, one bright Sabbath morning in summer, after the cows were milked, one of the men undertook to drive them to pasture. He suspected nothing till he got near the woods, when the cattle began to be frightened, snuff the air and run in different directions. Knowing the Indians to be near, he turned and ran, and had hardly entered the gates of the Garrison, before the Indians discovered them- selves to the sentinel in the watch-tower. He levelled his piece and shot one Indian dead. The rest, seeing that they were discovered, took up the dead man and fled. They intended to surprise and butcher the Garrison ; and if it had not been the Sabbath, they would have accom- plished their object. It was near the elose of the war and was the last time that this Garrison was attacked.
The Malletts of Warren are descendants of Betsey For- rester .* James and John Mallett are her grandsons.
It was about this time, that Capt. Bradbury and Lieu- tenant Fletcher resigned their commands on the St.
* James Mallett.
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 TO 1882.
George's river. These men had been severe in their charges against Cargill, for his bloody affair with the Indians ; but the resolute captain, after his release, deter- mined, if it were possible, upon their punishment. He had received £600 for his services upon that expedition ; but no sooner did an opportunity present itself, than he charged Bradbury and Fletcher with illegal traffie among the Indians in time of war, giving the enemy improper intelligence, and other treasonable practices. The two houses of the Legislature investigated the matter and examined at least 20 witnesses. Among them were Capt. Lithgow of Fort Halifax, Capt. Howard from Cushnoc, and others from York, Brunswick, Newcastle, Pemaquid and St. George. The examination was protracted, but the decision fully exculpated the respondents ; and hence, public confidence was both confirmed and increased in the management of the public Garrisons.
1758. This year the Garrisons in Maine received a fresh addition of men. To Fort Frederic were assigned 15 ; to Broadbay, 17; to Fort Halifax, 50; and other places in due proportion. Louisburg was taken July the 2d, and a vast outlay of strength was made against the entire French upon this continent. Indian cruelties began to cease, and the war with Eastern savages, to close forever.
To show that the town was as good in those troublous times in paying its debts as the debtors were in bringing in their charges, the following is inserted :
"New Castel, may the 12, 1758."
"the town is in det to me for goin to falmouth With two men that was Pressed to gow in the County sarves and I found them whilst gon and till tha cam hom and I never received any thing for it"
Signed "William Cunningham."
Then follows "allowed for the above Service two pound one Shilling lawful money & the Committee for Settling Town acctts drew an order on the Treasurer for it." · No repudiation.
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NEWCASTLE FROM 1753 TO 1882.
1759. In this town, there was an increase of municipal authority, which showed an increase of wealth and popu- lation. There were two tithing men chosen, William Ken- nedy and Kenehn Winslow ; and two hog constables, Samuel Kennedy and John Hussey. Before this, there had been but one each.
But the great event of the year, was the capture of Quebec by the forces under the intrepid General Wolfe. The siege was a fearful one ; the battle was sharply con- tested and the defence of the city was maintained with vigor. But French alacrity could not stand before British valor. That memorable day, the 13th of September, wit- nessed the destruction of the power of France upon this continent ; gave continued ascendancy to the authority of the English ; liberated the hundreds of captives that the Indians had carried away from these settlements, and returned the exiles to their homes : freed the Provinces from a most distressing and harrassing warfare and estab- lished the Protestant Religion, with all its benign and ennobling influences, upon this Hemisphere forever.
That day was an Era in the race; the destinies of nations were fought upon the Plains of Abraham ; and the glory of America dates from that triumphant hour. Fort Frederic had fallen ; but the only walled city in North America, saw the banner of Imperialism trailing in the (lust ; and the Lion of Liberty rising with a glory that should be undimmed forever !
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
CHAPTER XXVIII
VARIOUS MATTERS.
1760. PEACE being established and the prosperity of the people beginning to return, they turned their thoughts to questions of State, to political affairs, and the duties of home. And on the 13th of February Governor Pownal signed the last legislative charter of his administration, of the township of Pownalborough.
It embraced the four present towns of Dresden, Perkins, Wiscasset and Alna. Its name of sonorous sound was evidently designed as a compliment to the worthy Gover- nor. Pownalboro'-omitting for brevity's sake the three last letters-was the fifteenth town incorporated in the State. Its Plantation name was Frankfort. The Plymouth Company built a Court House opposite the head of Swan Island forty-five feet in length, and forty-four feet wide, with a height of three stories. The court chamber was forty-five by nineteen and one-half feet, and had two fire- places in it. The courts were held here from 1760 to 1794. Thomas Rice first represented Pownalboro' in the general Court in 1794.
As yet, one County, York, embraced the present State of Maine : but this year, June 19, the General Court created two new Counties, Cumberland and Lincoln.
Falmonth was established as the shire town of Cumber- land County, where the Superior courts of both Counties, were held ; and Pownalboro' was the shire town of Lincoln County, where the Courts of Common Pleas and other inferior Courts, were held. All important cases were tried before the Superior Court at Falmouth. The terms of
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
these Courts, were appointed to commence on the second Tuesdays of May and September. The Aet took effect on the first day of November.
The county officers for Lincoln County, were Samnel Denny, William Lithgow, Aaron Hinckley, John North, Judges of the Common Pleas; Wm. Cushing, Judge of Probate ; Win. Bryant, Register ; Charles Cushing, Sheriff ; Jonathan Bowman, Register of Deeds.
Another Act of importance was passed this year; that was the manner in which jurors should be drawn. Before this, they had been voted for in town meeting, like other town officers ; but this year, the Legislature enacted, that every town should keep two Jury Boxes, from one of which, all Jurors were to be drawn, except the Petit Jurors to the Common Pleas and Sessions, who were to be taken from the other Box. Both Boxes were to be replenished with tickets bearing the names of the men of the town that were best adapted to the important service.
A very amusing arrangement, made this year, was the following : The town complained of its Province Tax. They thought it too heavy, therefore, at their March meet- ing, they agreed with Mr. Woodbridge to go to Boston, and get the matter more satisfactorily arranged, on these conditions. He was to attend the General Court at its May Session ; and if he was successful in obtaining an abatement, the town would pay all his expenses. Other- wise, he would receive nothing. We are not informed whether he made anything out of the operation or not.
1761. Martin Haley is fined four shillings and costs of Court £1, 12s. 3d, for speaking disrespectfully of his mother.
James Stewart was licensed to keep a ferry over Sheep- scot river "on the great County Road" and to demand for his services, for every person, four coppers and for every horse six coppers. Bonds £20 .*
*Record of Court of Sessions.
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
William Jones of Walpole was licensed to keep a ferry over Damariscotta river between Ring's Point and Jones Point. Two sureties £10 each .*
The town this year solemnly voted that the swine have liberty to go at large, they being "properly yoaked and ringed, " according to the law. James Cargill and Joseph Glidden were chosen Wardens. They also had two Surveyors of lumber, two hog constables and two tithing men.
A valuation of the State was made this year, by which it appeared, that, of a Provincial tax of £1,000, €74, 16s. 42 d. were assessed on the three Eastern counties, York, Cumberland and Lincoln. The tax on Lincoln County was €8, 13s. 5d. It was apportioned among the four towns and Topsham Precinct, as follows : Pownalborough, {1, 17s. 91d; Georgetown, £3, 7s; Newcastle, £1, 7s: Wool- wich, £1, 4s, 72d : Topsham Precinct, 17s. From these data, it has been computed that the whole population of these three counties, was 17,500 souls.
1762. This year, the town in its sovereign capacity, ordained among other useful things, that "all the rams owned or kept in the town, shall be kept from the sheep, from the first of August till the 5th day of Nov. under a penalty of forty shillings." The time, in subsequent years, was extended to the 20th of Nov. Poor creatures! con- demned unheard without counsel, and made prisoners for the commission of no crime ! Did they not know that the young stock would have been worth one quarter more, by the first of August of the following year, if the rams had been allowed to have their liberty, than they were, under the operation of this unnatural and unphilosophical edict ? But "great men are not always wise."
Job Averill was licensed to keep a ferry over Sheep- scot river from the Newcastle road to the North of the
*Record of Court of Sessions.
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
burying place and was bound in the sum of £20 for the faithful discharge of his trust. Allowance four coppers for a person and three coppers for a horse .*
Road ordered to be laid out from Stewart's ferry to Dam- ariscotta Mills. Arthur Noble headed the petition and was appointed chairman of the survey. Road laid out from Frankfort to Sheepscot river and from Damariscotta to St. George. By order of Court of Sessions, Robert Hodge. Samuel Kennedy, David Hopkins and James Cargill, Com- mittee.
1763. They also thought it necessary to ordain that "no stallion above a year old, shall run at large, under a penalty of four pounds."
This year, Dr. Kenelm Winslow, bought of Benjamin Woodbridge 100 acres of land for £20, lawful money. Its boundaries were, the mouth of the second cove below the "Great Salt Water Falls ;" thence W. N. W. to the Fresh Meadow ; thence S. S. W. 48 poles to a stake ; thence E. S. E. 285 poles to Damariscotta river ; thence N. E. by said river to the first mentioned bound. In 1776, Major John Farley purchased this tract of land, and the most of it has been in the Farley name ever since.
James Brown was licensed to keep a ferry over Damar- iscotta river from Ring's point to Jones' point. David Given and Benj. Woodbridge were his sureties in bonds of €10 each. The next year, 1764, Alexander Campbell was licensed to keep a ferry at the same place.
Lemuel Perkins and Samuel Kennedy were chosen wardens. The flankers are let this year for the town's benefit. The town authorizes the inhabitants on the North side of the town to fence the graveyard at Sheep- scot. Two surveyors of lumber, four highway surveyors, three field drivers, four fence viewers, are chosen. At the March meeting Samuel Hall, Wm. McLelland, David
* Record of Court of Sessions.
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
Given, Henry Little, were chosen Grand Jury men. James Given, John Cunningham, Jonathan Laiten, were chosen to serve on the Jury of Trials. There appears to have been some informality or illegality about this matter ; for on the 31st of May, Joseph Glidden constable, by virtue of authority from the Clerk of the Superior Court, at Fal- mouth, issued his warrant calling a town meeting, for the choice of three Jurors for the next Session of Court, to be holden at Falmouth the 26th of June following. James Cargill was chosen Grand Juror ; and Samuel Nickels and Kenelm Winslow to serve on the Jury of Trials.
On the 30th of June the town was called together to elect a constable instead of Wm. MeLelland, deceased. He was the first town officer that had died while in office, and was much missed. He was an influential man in town, having been every year in office, and was at times, Moder- erator, Selectman, etc.
"Death rides on every passing breeze. And lurks in every flower."
This year, 1763, Henry Little, Thomas Humphries and Lemuel Perkins, were chosen a committee to lay out a road from Alexander Campbell's house to the Ledge of Rocks, so called. This was the first attempt at building roads, by the town, after the Indian troubles were com- posed. The Committee made their return June 1, 1764.
1764. This year, according to the census taken, there were 24,020 inhabitants in the present State of Maine. Io Lincoln County, there were 4,347. Georgetown takes the lead, having 1,329 souls. Pownalboro stands next, having 889 : Newcastle follows this, having 415; Topsham 340; Bowdoinham 220; Gardiner town, including Gardiner, Hallowell and Pittston, 200; Townshend, and what is now Bristol and Bremen, 300; places to the Eastward, 200.
The towns incorporated this year, are Boothbay, Nov. 3; Gorham, Oct. 30; Topsham, Jan. 31.
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
A regimental muster took place this year at St. George. It was held in what is now Thomaston, on Limestone Hill. near the Prison. Col. James Cargill commanded ; and it may be interesting to those of the present day who pride themselves in plumes and épaulettes, to know that the chief commander on that important occasion, wore a drab pea jacket and a Comarney cap .*
If any one wishes to know the value of a wig in those days this volume will furnish him with the information. "Newcastle Oct. 31, 1764. Received of Benjamin Wood- bridge Eleven pounds, Old tenor, in full for a Wig." Signed John Ward. Money was cheap ; and wigs, though Scarce, were indispensable.
Samuel Howard was fined 15s. and costs for moving his sloop about one mile on the Kennebeck river on the Sabbath.+
1765. John Cunningham, Joseph Glidden and Samuel Anderson were chosen to serve on the Jury of Trials, the second Tuesday of September. Samuel Waters and John Hussey were chosen to be packers of fish, and to see that the Fish ways, in Sheepscot river are unobstructed. The town also agreed to pay, as a bounty one pound for every grown wolf that shall be killed within its bounds. This was a standing custom for many years afterward. They also sold the Westerly flanker at "Vendue" to Capt. James Campbell, for the benefit of the town, for one pound twelve shillings. Twelve days' credit given ; and the flanker was to be removed in thirty days. The flankers were built of tim- ber, three cornered, and so situated as to protect two sides of the Garrison. Two flankers, the East and the West, would command the four sides of the Garrison. And it spoke volumes, as respects the ending of scenes of strife and blood, that the time had come, when this Westerly flanker could with safety be sold.
* Eaton's Annals, p. 130.
+ Record of Court of Sessions. .
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
Capt. Alexander Nickels of Pemaquid, having hired soldiers for the town, in former years, appeared in Town meeting and presented his claim. It was allowed. The amount was €4, 16s.
This year they had three tithing men, four hog con- stables, five highway surveyors, four field drivers, and one pound keeper.
At their March meeting they voted a committee to lay out a road from Nelson's Mill down Dyer's Neck provided the owners of the land give the land for the said road, without any charge to the town for the same. They also voted that a road be laid out from Samnel Anderson's to the North line of the town. These roads were accepted May 14. At the same March meeting, David Given, Sam- uel Nickels and John Cunningham, were appointed a com- mittee to contract for the building of a bridge over Mill Brook, near Mr. David Given's or to superintend it them- selves. This bridge was accepted Feb. 26, 1766.
On the 18th of June, Bristol was incorporated. It was a large town and embraced all the territory included in Harrington, Walpole and Broad Cove. Soon after the incorporation, the people who were of Presbyterian tenden- cies, voted to build three meeting-houses ; one at Walpole ; one in Harrington, which was soon erected; and one at Broadcove. Rev. Robert Rutherford who came over with Dunbar, preached to this people, fonr or five years. Ruth- erford's Island received its name from him, because he resided there. He died in Thomaston in 1756. During the two or three succeeding years, there was a great revival of religion in Bristol and the neighboring towns, in connec- tion with the labors of Rev. Mr. Murray of Boothbay. A church was then gathered there. Rev. Alexander McLean, a native of Scotland, was settled there in 1773. He was a good preacher and an estimable man. Ill health compelled his dismission in 1795. Rev. William Riddell succeeded him in 1796, and Rev. Jonathan Belden in 1807. Bristol
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VARIOUS MATTERS.
was first represented in General Court by William Jones, in 1775. It was the residence of Commodore Samuel Tucker who in 1778, distinguished himself, while on a voyage to Europe, having on board the Hon. John Adams, our first Minister to France.
1766. At the March meeting Jacob Greely and James Sheppard who lived at the Head of the Tide, were author- ized to see that the fish have a free passage up the river. There was a place in the river called the " Salmon Hole, " because they used to gather there in large numbers, and the town ordained, that every person, not an inhabitant of Newcastle, who came to catch fish for sale, should on due conviction, pay a fine of five shillings for each barrel.
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