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 6
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 6
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Difficulties being feared by the inhabitants with the Indians, on account of the disparity of numbers, the Com- missioners were induced to negotiate a treaty with the Sagamore, by which it was stipulated, that if any mischief should be done, either by the English or Indians, redress should be sought at the Courts, if an Indian were the suf- ferer and of the Sagamores, if the English were damaged. And they should never, on either side, seek revenge by acts of hostility. This was a judicious procedure, an l, if properly observed, would have been a complete preventive of bloodshed.
The Sheepscot Records were sometimes called "Records of Eastern claims of lands." They were commenced by Walter Phillips Sept. 5th, 1665, and were continue.{ till the breaking up of the settlement by the Indians, a period of about fifteen years. They contained a registry of Grants
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KING PHILLIP'S WAR.
under the Duke, and of Indian deeds and other convey - ances. When Phillips left the country, he took the book with him, and deposited it in the Secretary's office in Boston. There it remained until it was lost. This was supposed to be in 1748, when the Boston Court house was burnt. The Book was considered as of great authority. Its loss has been severely felt.
Early in October, the Commissioners left the place and returned to York. But the Government they established. was short in its duration, for in 1689, James abdicated the Crown, and his American possessions reverted to the orig- inal Claimant.
CHAPTER X.
KING PHILLIP'S WAR.
WE now come to a new chapter. A different order of things is to intervene. Instead of in lustry, order, peace, prosperity, home enjoyments and domestic bliss, there arises the dark storm of war, bloodshed, separation, losses, captivities, fire, savage wrath and death! The settlement had enjoyed more than fifty years of tranquility and suc- cess ; and it had grown from a small beginning to be a population of some hundreds of souls ; and it had all the elements of stability and greatness. Forests had been leveled, lands cleared, harvests were abundant, fisheries were prosecuted, streets laid out, roads ent and made passable in the wilderness, houses were built, mills erected, and a profitable trade had sprung up between this and surrounding parts. It was designed to become the crown
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of the Duke of York's possessions ; for here he had his County Seat; and in this, it claimed precedence of his other Eastern Colonies, including that of Pemaquid.
Ill-feeling had sprung up between the colonists in Mass- achusetts and some parts of Maine, and the Indians. Samoset was dead, but Phillip was upon the stage of action. He was a powerful and warlike chief. His name was a tower of strength, and his presence which gave encouragement to his friends, was an occasion of fear to all his foes. Hostilities first broke out in the Colony at Plymouth, June 24, 1675,-just one hundred years before our Revolution commenced. The fire was kindled-the flames began to spread; and in twenty days it reached these "Eastern parts, though distant 250 miles." The Indians complained of injustice done them-that the English had made encroachments upon their lands, and in many instances had not paid for them-that they had defrauded them in trade, and that they had taken some of their people captives who had never been returned. Jealousy, too, of the increasing power of the English, and a fear of their own utter extinction, operated on their minds, and savage vengeance became aroused to an . Ilmost uncontrollable pitch.
There were those however who undertook to allay the storm of war, and calm the tumultuous passions of the heathen : and in this, they were partially successful. Abraham Shurte of Pemaquid, and Major Waldron of Cocheco (Dover, N. H.) performed a good work, in this respect ; but others, equally injudicious, urged on the strife that had begun ; and soon; war had taken the place of peace, and the sword, not wise counsels, was uplifted to settle the differences at issue.
Efforts were made to take from the Indians, their guns and ammunition ; and in this they were partially success- ful. A Mr. Walker, a trader at Sheepscot, induced a part of the Indians about him to deliver up their arms and
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knives ; and others, in other places, did the same. Still the war spirit only shumbered and was ready to be aroused on the slightest occasion. An unfortunate occurrence took place, at this time, in the river Saco. Some English sailors, one day, overtook a canoe with a mother and child in it. The sailors had believed, or professed to, along with others, that an Indian child could not be drowned ; but if thrown overboard, would swim as readily as a duck. Sportively they upset the canoe. The mother could swim. but the child sank to the bottom. Diving, she brought it ap alive, but it soon sickened and died-from exposure at that time. The husband and father was the far famed Indian chief, Squando. His resentment was aroused; the fame of his passion kindled; and from that hour, he became the implacable foe of the intruders. All his arts and influence were used to stir up the Indians to fresh acts of hostility.
There was one Thomas Purchas who lived at the head of Steven's (New Meadows) river, about six miles from Brunswick, and had traded with the Indians thirty or forty years. He had acquired a large estate, but they en- tertained a strong aversion to him. He had sought to secure their friendship : and in 1639, had put himself and possessions under the protection of Massachusetts ; but he was destined to be the earliest sufferer in the war.
The savages became troublesome. They began to skulk around. waylay the English and fire upon them when alone and in small companies. William Dyer was mowing upon his marsh-now owned by Amos Flye and opposite to the Marsh Bridge-and as he turned to mow a return- ing swath, an Indian who had contrived to creep near enough, fired, and the mower fell. He was a large, stout man, and his death threw his family and the colony at Sheepscot into gloom.
On the 4th or 5th of September, 1675, when Purchas and his sons were absent from home, a party of twenty
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Indians, among whom were several hostages that had a short time before escaped from the hands of the English, came to his residence and began conversation with his wife, as though they wished to trade. But as soon as they ascertained that the husband and sons were absent, they threw off their disguise and hastened to rob the house. They took such weapons, ammunition, etc., as were at hand, drank liquor, killed a calf and several sheep at the door and made themselves merry with the booty. At this time, one son of Purchas returned home on horseback who became an eye witness of the scene. It was not safe for him to interpose; he turned and fled, being closely pursued a hundred rods by a swift-footed Indian, with a gun concealed under his blanket. The Indians offered no personal violence to the people who were in the house, but left by saying, "Others would come and treat them worse."
On the 12th of September, the house of Thomas Wakely, an old man, who lived in Falmouth, on the Pre- sumpscot river, was attacked. The most of this family and others were murdered, and the house committed to the flames.
The Indians, having shed the first blood in the war, and thus virtually begun it, dispersed themselves in small bodies over the country, from Piscataqua to Pemaquid. They began the work of robbery and murder, and fell with a relentless hand, upon the foe, wherever chance offered them the least hope of success. The English, on the other hand, were not asleep. They turned their attention to the places first attacked. A party of twenty-five, in a sloop and two boats, was despatched to the head of Steven's or New Meadows river, near where Purchas lived. There they found an equal or greater number of Indians rifling the houses of the settlers. In their attempt . to occupy the ground between the savages and the woods, they aroused three spies ; one running towards the river, was shot to the ground ; another, wounded, fled across a
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branch of water in a canoe ; and the third, unhurt, escaped to the woods, raising an alarm. Yet the Indians, instead of flying or advancing, skulked in ambush and watched the movements of the English who commenced gathering their corn and loading their boats. Suddenly the war whoop rings through the forest ! the savages rush forward, drove the English, wounding several of them, and carried off the boats laden with corn, with their infernal and tri- umphant shouts. It was an unfortunate affair for the English, and emboldened the savages to new acts of dar- ing and revenge.
The next season the war was renewed, and the Indians. moved Eastward in their diabolical attacks. Richard Hammond who had sworn fealty to the Duke, had built him a house and fortification at Stinson's point in Arrowsick.
On the 13th of August, 1676, an attack was made here. Hammond had been a trader with the Indians and they had complained of his cheating them. Once, they said, he had filled them with strong drink and taken away their fnrs. Hammond was slain by them and his house set on fire, which was soon a heap of ashes. Two others, Samuel Smith and Joshua Grant, were killed, and sixteen persons taken captives. A young girl present, on the first of the fracas, attempted to run away ; but an Indian following her, soon brought her back, telling her she had nothing to fear. Still more frightened than at first, she started again, eluded their watch and travelled fifteen miles through the woods to Sheepscot, and related to them the story of what had happened. They saw their danger and made haste their departure.
After the destruction of Hammond's establishment at Stinson's point, the Indians divided into two parties. One party ascended the river and took into custody Francis Card and his family ; the other proceeded to the Southern part of Arrowsick, and soon, by stratagem, and blows, accomplished the ruin of that fortress and flourishing settlement.
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KING PHILLIP'S WAR.
The inhabitants to the Eastward of Arrowsick, now became so much dismayed, that they dared no longer remain in their own houses. The people at Sheepscot, listening to the story of the girl that had escaped, left their hab- itations, and fled to the fort at Cape Newaggan. Their houses were soon consumed, and their property became the booty of the savage foe. The people of Pemaquid fled on board their vessels; but being unable to reach Monhegan on account of adverse winds, they landed upon Damariscove. Here they met Messrs. Callieot and Wis- wall from Casco and Arrowsick, and for two days they labored to construct a fortification. This was only tem- porary ; for as soon as the wind favored them, the two western gentlemen sailed for Boston, while the rest pro- ceeded to Monhegan. They remained here long enough to see their village on shore destroyed ; and expecting no help from Boston, they sailed in different directions ; some to that town, others to Salem ; and a company of them landed at Piscataqua.
Those who had songht refuge at Cape Newaggan, were obliged to flee. And in one month, 1676, "fifteen leagues to the Eastward of Casco Neck, were laid waste. The inhabitants were either massacred, carried into captivity. or driven to the Islands and remoter places, and the set- tlements abandoned or in ruins." The work of years was wasted; money had been expended, labor performed and hardships endured. The seed had been planted, but . before the crop had matured, the inhabitants were driven away, and the work performed seemed utterly in vain. About 260 persons, Eastward of Piscataqua were known to have been killed, or carried into a captivity, from which they never returned. Numbers were severely wounded who survived ; and an hundred and fifty or more, at differ- ent times were made captives, that were afterwards released. The dwelling houses and other buildings gener- ally to the Eastward of Cape Neddock, were reduced to
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ashes. Possessions were laid waste, cattle and fowls were destroyed, hogs and sheep went with the rest ; and a vast amount of property was either plundered or destroyed .. The cost of the war in Maine to the Colonial Government was £8,000 besides incidental losses.
This was the first Indian war, sometimes called Phillip's war and continued from June 24th, 1675, to April 12th, 1678, when peace was ratified at Casco, thus continuing two years, eight months and eighteen days. It was a terrible ordeal. The country was in its infancy ; blood was its baptism, its cradling sufferings, and woe the experi- ence of its childhood.
One informant states that when King Phillip's war broke out, one of the settlers had "indented with several persons in Boston to build them a ship at Sheepscot River two or three leagues East of the Kennebeck ; where. having launched the ship, he also provided a lading of lumber to bring with him which would have been to the advantage of all concerned. But just as the ship was hardly finished, the barbarous Indians, on that river, broke into an open and cruel war upon the English, and the mis- erable people surprised by so sudden a storm of blood, had no refuge from the infidels, but the ship now finishing in the harbor. Wherenpon he left his intended lading behind him, and instead thereof, carried with him his old neighbors and their families, free of all charges to Boston ; so the first action that he did after he was his own man, was to save his father's house with the rest of the neigh- bourhood from ruin ; but the disappointment which befel him from his other lading, plunged his affairs into greater embarrassment with such as had employed him."
Sheepscot was destroyed September, 1676, and peace was ratified in 1678. Andros was deposed in 1689. Of the effect of the war, he says, "Upon the insurrection of Pemaquid, the forces being withdrawn and only 18 of the standing company left in the garrison, the fort is since
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
taken by the French and Indians and the country destroyed." Of the fort of Newcastle, he says, "Most of the men drawn off and others debarked, they saved their officer and carried him prisoner to Boston and thereupon the fort was deserted."
CHAPTER XI.
RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
As soon as the wars were ended, difficulties composed and arrangements could be made, emigration began to revert to its former condition and place. Many who had Hed during the fiery heat of battle, became settled in other parts, and never returned. Others came back again, and brought friends and settlers with them. There was how- ever much dispute about titles. Some sold out their rights ; estates that were abandoned, found new claimants : and mortgages, and Indian titles, and other sales, passed under a severe scrutiny.
Those who returned, desired Grants from the highest anthority, that they might remain peaceably and undis- turbed, in then possession. And in April, 1682, they obtained a Grant* from Henry Joscelyn, Esq., one of the Duke's Agents, for a tract of land for the township of New Dartmouth. In the former settlement the bounds of this town 'were restricted on the West, by the Sheepscot river ; but their settlement extended over on the other side of the river, upon what is now Alna. Besides, Mason
* Pemaquid Papers p. 95. Sullivan pp. 144 & 148.
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
and Manning's purchase, 12,000 acres extended on the South to the sea. John Richards, 1649, had settled on the upper end of Jeremysquam and purchased it of Robin- hood ; and George Davie, 1663, had purchased Wiscasset of Vichodehant, Dick Swash and the other Sheepscot Sag- amores, and had commenced a plantation there. It was therefore convenient for the planters at Sheepscot, as well as for those who lived more remote, not only to bring all these residents into one township, but to control the entire Sheepseot waters, both the "Fore" and the "Back" rivers. Therefore they sought and obtained from Joscelyn a Grant, of the following liberal and enlarged dominions of New Dartmouth.
"On ye South to ye Sea ; On ye North to ye Country ; On ye East with ye River known by ye name of Damaras Cotte, as also with ye ffresh Pond, at ye head of Said River, and so into ye Country ; and on ye West bounding upon y Great Island of Saccadahoc, and so through Batesman's Gutt into ye Sea South and by West; and also Upward from Batesman's Gutt Into ye Country to ye Great falles, and from thence to Great Monsiocage ffales; and from thence a north and by West lyne into ye Country as pr Platt will appear."
Edward Bateman and John Brown, 1654, bought of Robinhood the present town of Woolwich .* The island that is now called Georgetown was called Sagadahock.+ Bateman's Gutt was the narrow passage that extended from the Kennebec to the Sheepscot river including the "Hurl" gate. Monsiocage, I understand to be Mont- sweag. The boundaries of this tract then become plain. The Atlantic ocean on the South ; Damariscotta river and Damariscotta pond on the East; the North indefinite ; with the "Great Island of Saccadahoc" and Woolwich on
* Sullivan p. 145.
+ Arrowsick Islaud was granted to John West. Pem. Papers p. 125.
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
the West; the Western line running from the mouth of the Sheepscot river np through the "Great Hurl gate" : thence to Montsweag river, up that stream and falls, and thence into the country indefinite. So that New Dart- mouth was designed to inchide Newcastle, Edgecomb, Boothbay, Southport, Westport, Wiseasset, Alna and the wilderness North. Sheepscot was the Capital and they wished to make it the port of Entry.
On the 21st of April, 1684, they petition the authorities at New York to have these boundaries and Grant of Joscelyn confirmed to them ; and also that they might be exempted from the interference of troublesome persons who have come in to disturb them in their possessions. They say, "We do also further presume and make bold to acquaint your Honor, that we are disturbed by people that come here to claim lands by form, and pretended rights. Capt. Elisha Hutchinson of Boston hath been in these parts, and gives out severe threatening that he will come and take away our land whereon our Town stands; and several others do threaten likewise and say, that they have more right to show, than we have, to our lands ;- There- fore we desire that your Honor will consider us, that we may have assurance of our lands, and that no such pre- tenders, or old Mortgages that were made before the wars with the heathens, may be preceded against us; if they should, it would damnify and utterly break up our Town. Capt. Hutchinson says, that he must have us become his tenants ; or otherwise we shall not live here."
The petition also complains of the troublesome inter- ference of Capt. Nicholas Manning; and it says, that unless these troubles are composed, immigration will be hindered, if not utterly cease. The petition was signed by Robert R. Foot, Thomas Gent, William Lovering, Caleb Ray, Thomas Gyles, Esq., Elihu Gunnison, Esq., Richard Pain, Mast Maker and Purfar for his Majesty's use in England, and James Cooke, Mariner.
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
The petition was received and referred, "until the Gov- ernor go to Pemaquid."
At the same time April 21, 1684, John Alleyn and seventeen others sent in a petition to Governor Dungan, praying that Sheepscot might be made a port of entry. Pemaquid was the only place, at that time, appointed for the entering and clearance of vessels; and it was incon- venient for vessels bound to other places to be always obliged to enter and clear at this port. They say "at New Dartmonth in Ships Gutt river ar considderable inhab- bitance and many more Coming and promising a Consider- able trad of shiping ffor maste and Lumber." And they farther state that this town, as well as "Sacadyhocke in Kenybeck river," have been at "Considerable charge" in "Erickting of a fforte at Each place for Security."
This petition was also referred "untill the Governor go to Pemaquid and both given back to Mr. Gyles Goddard" who presented them.
On the 30th of August, 1682, the following individuals, John Alleyn, Thomas Gent, Christopher Dyer, Thomas Messer, Robert Scott, William Lowering, John White, Daniel Gent, William Willentt, John Browne, John Dyer, Caleb Ray, Elizabeth Phips, and David Ransford, met at the house of Mr. Robert Gibbers, at Fort Hill, in Boston, for the purpose of forming an Association, for the re-set- tlement at New Dartmouth, Sheepscot. They say, "That whereas there was a neck of Land Survaide and a Towne Laid ont upon the said necke, Generally knowne and called by ye name of Mason & Jewett's neck, lieing and beeing in Shipseutte River and a towneship bounded to ye said towne ; the fourth Day of July Extant by Sqe Joslinge, Justis in Comem with severall other of ye fformer Inhab- itance of said River, in company with the said justis as Afforesaid : therefore it was thought nessieary and con- venient ffor the proppigating and Beneffit of said towne and towneship, and ffor ye privileges theirof to call. this
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
Meeting where was Mett severall of ye former proprietors and Inhabitance with their Associatts whose names are underneath subscribed who did jointly bind themselves to stand to severall Articles of Agreement ffor the setteling and Sittnating of said towne and towneshipe ffor ye good and Bennifishall Advancement theirof; theirfor, to that purpose, this Covenant and Agreement is Drawne and is Affearmed with ye hand and seale of Every person heare present." Then follows the Articles.
The first requires that every former inhabitant, propri- etor and owner of any lands, and Meadows, salt and fresh, with all their former privileges, rights or titles, in anywise whatsoever of their former rights into the foresaid town- ship for the future good and benefit thereof, must and shall be thrown into said township, the fruit trees, barns, housing and fencing stuff only excepted; but all other privileges of any person or persons whatsoever, must and shall belong to said township, as above specified.
The second requires, that every person intending to become an inhabitant of the place, must repair thither and commence operations on or before the 29th day of September, 1683. This gave them one year to move in ; and unless they were there at that date, they would lose all their rights and titles to any part of said town or town- ship, excepting in the case of the children of proprietors who were apprentices and those that were not of age.
The third is worthy of the men, the age and the place. It contains the true Democratic principle, and shows that they well understood that Religion and the Ministry must give permaneney and success to States and Civil Institu- tions. It shall be given entire and in their own Rhetoric and Chirography. "Itts ffurther Agreed that their shall bee a speshal & speedy order taken that their may be a Conveniante place as a tract of Land Laid out for a Min- istree, with a Conveniant place to sett a meeting house to re best advantage for ye towne & also that wee may have a
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RETURN OF EMIGRATION.
minister of our owne ffree choyce & such a man as y& Mager part of ye towne shall Like and Approve of ffor that End."
The fourth declares, that the settlers shall have leave to lay out and bound their home lots, but no person shall cut and carry away any timber, spars, fencing stuff, thatch or any other merchandize, out of the town, without the license and approval of the inhabitants.
The fifth relates to their "out divisions," where every man's lot shall be equally divided, and every man shall have equal proportions in the uplands and meadows both fresh and salt.
Sixth. It is further agreed that every man both house- keepers and single persons, at the age of sixteen years, munst and shall provide three pounds of good powder, with twelve pounds of lead, bullet and swan shot, for a town store ; and also to keep a good firelock, musket or fowling gun all to be ready for a stock, to prevent the heathen, or a foreign invasion, and to have two sufficient men chosen for that end, to see every man provided, according to order.
The seventh requires them to ereet their houses and buildings in the town and not in the township. This was according to the ancient plan and for social enjoyment. but more especially for mutual defence.
The eighth allowed the shipment of produce without the payment of duties or customs.
The ninth allowed the children of former proprietors to come into the place and settle without the payment of "sumption money or any gratuity whatsoever."
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PALMER AND WEST.
CHAPTER XII.
PALMER AND WEST.
SIR EDMUND ANDROS was ducal Governor of New York and Sagadahock from 1674 to 1682. a period of eight years. Charles II was then on the throne. He was a man stubborn in his temper, imperious in manner and in his polities. At the end of that time, he was removed, and in August 1683, Col. Thomas Dungan was appointed in his stead. Feb. 16th, 1685, Charles died, and. James, his brother. the Duke of York, ascended to the throne. Dungan, having received his appointment from James while Duke. held over after he was crowned king.
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