USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. I > Part 19
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' 7 Coll, Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 243 .- Weymouth, in 1608, found the chart of this coast " erroneous."
t 5 Purchas, p. 1647, 1651 .- Gosnold was afterwards one of the Council in Virginia, where he died, Aug. 22, 1607 .- Purchas, 1690 .- Capt. Smith, [in his Hist. p, 18,] says, Robert Salterns was Gosnold's pilot .- 1 Belknap's Biog. p. 231-239 ;- corrected, 2 Belk. Biog. p. 100-123 .- 1 Holmes' Ann. p. 142. n. 3, 4.
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A. D. 1603. and trinkets, for the purpose of trading with the Natives, and procuring a cargo of sassafras* and furs.
Penobscot bay and Fox Islands.
The two vessels left Milford-Haven, April 10, 1603, a few days after the death of queen Elizabeth ; and, passing in sight of the Azores, fell in with the American coast, June 7th, between the 43d and 44th degrees of north latitude, among a multitude of Islands, in the waters since called Penobscot bay.t Pring and his companions were highly pleased with the view they had of " a high country full of great woods ;" and happy to find good moor- ing and fishing among the Islands. Upon one of these, they saw silver gray foxes ; whose name they gave to the whole cluster,} the principal of which are the north and south Fox-Islands, § The cod and haddock, which they took in great plenty, were es- teemed by them superior to those usually taken at Newfoundland.
Saco, Ken- nebunk, York, and Piscataqua rivers.
From this place, they sailed along the coast, southerly ; and passing the Islands of Casco bay, entered the mouth of a river, over a bar, probably the Saco,|| which they ascended, in a good depth of water, about two leagues. They proceeded next, to visit the other two nearest inlets, which must have been the rivers Kennebunk and York ; but these, the Narrator says, they " did not pierce so far into the land." The westerly one, [evidently the Piscataqua,] they found to be the most important of the four ; and a party of them examined its channel for three or four leagues.
They made particular mention of " the very goodly groves and woods, and sundry sorts of beasts" seen by them. But being un- able to procure sassafras, or to find any of the natives with whom to traffic; and concluding from the appearances of recent fires, and the vestiges of habitations, that they must have lately gone from the shores, and might not soon return, Pring and Browne sailed to places farther southward ; and, leaving the coast in Au- gust, carried home valuable cargoes, and among other curiosities,
* Sassafras principally ; (1 Holmes' A. Ann. p. 146,)-for it was esteem- ed highly medicinal, and celebrated as a sovereign remedy for the plague, the strangury, the stone, the scurvy and other maladies. One of Gos- nold's men had been cured by it in 12 hours, of a surfeit, occasioned by excessively eating of dogfish, then considered a delicious dish .- 2 Belkc. Biog. p. 126-7. Also the Voyage of Carter to Canada .- 1 Belk. Biog.
p. 176. in note (*). Called by the French " Pentagoet."
# 2 Belk. Biog. p. 125. § Incorporated June25, 1789, Vinalhaven.
" Shawakotock"-French .- Chouakoct-2 Belk. Biog. 149.
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a canoe, as a specimen of aboriginal ingenuity. Gorges, in his A. D. 1603. History, says, Pring made a perfect discovery of all these eastern rivers and harbours ; and brought the most exact account of the coast that had ever come to hand .*
The French as well as the English were repeating their visits+ The French and English to this northern country every year ; and making it, at home, a in N. Amer- favourite topic of conversation and enquiry. Both were highly ica. elated with ideas of extensive foreign dominions ; and the pros- pect of an abounding commerce ; yet the means and measures best fitted for their attainment, were altogether unknown, as well to the sage as to the speculator. More of plan, organization and vigor, was necessary ; for past experience had rendered it certain, that rights to territory arising from mere discovery, nominal pos- session, or royal commission, were too slender to be seriously de- fended. Nothing short of actual well-organized settlements un- der the auspices of their respective governments, could give to enterprize success and permanency.
But it was a great misfortune to those nations, and no less to this country, that they both coveted the same territories ; and were using all practicable means for establishing severally in themselves, the most plausible titles to their claims. Twenty years before, Humphry Gilbert, in behalf of queen Elizabeth, had taken formal possession of Newfoundland, and the region 200 leagues about it ; and there promulgated sundry laws.} The Marquis de la Roche fifteen years afterwards, was commis- sioned by his master, the IVth Henry of France, to conquer and colonize all the regions bordering upon the St. Lawrence, denom- inated Canada, and unlimited in extent ; and three years after his death, another of similar import was granted, or the same renew- ed to M. de Chauvin, who immediately carried colonists 90 lea- gues up the St. Lawrence, and settled them at Tadousac.§ These are instances only of preliminary transactions .- The people of both nations were resolved in their purposes ; and with such objects in view, and the rival feelings, which each indulged to
. 5 Purchas, p. 1654-6-Pring made a second voyage in 1606 .- 2 Belk. Biog. p. 149 .- Prince's Ann. p. 19, note [10] .- Smith's Hist. p. 18 .- 1 Holmes' A. Ann. p. 145.
t One Savelet, an old mariner had, before 1609, made no less than 42 voyages to these parts .- Parchas, p. 1640.
# 1 Belknap's Biog. r. 200.
§ 1 Charleroix N. France. 109-111.
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A. D. 1603. wards the other, it might have been easily foreseen that ultimately, these counter possessory claims would produce the severest ex- citements, if not war.
Nov. 8th. De Monts' patent of Acadie.
By a royal patent,* November 8th, A. D. 1603, the same Henry, granted to Pierre de Gast Sieure de Monts, all the American territory between the 40th and 46th degrees of north- ern latitude ; and appointed him Lieutenant-general of this exten- sive region, with authority to colonize and rule it according to his discretion ; and to subdue and christianize its native inhabitants. The name given it in the patent was " Acadia," or Acadie, an abbreviation or corruption of Arcadia in Greece.t This char- ter or patent, having no other boundaries or confines, than the de- grees of latitude mentioned, was found to embrace the American coast between the Island Cape Breton, south of Newfoundland, and the shores below the mouth of the river Manhattan, now Hudson ; and was soon published in all the maritime towns in France. To him and his associates were afterwards conceded an exclusive peltry trade, not only throughout his colony but around the gulf of St. Lawrence.}
March 7. 1604. His Voyage.
De Monts, in the course of the winter, procured and equiped two vessels ; and, furnishing them with suitable necessaries, sailed for America, March 7th, 1604. His familiar companion was M. de Poutrincourt, who had been, a long time desirous of visiting this country ; and his pilot was Samuel Champlain, a gentleman of noble birth and of skill in navigation, who had, the preced- ing year, explored the St. Lawrence. Of the adventurers in the retinue of de Monts, some were Catholics and some Protes- tants ;- his own tenets however were of the latter order.
May 6. He visits his province.
Arriving, May 6th, at Cape de la Heve, in Lat. 44º 5, on the southerly side of the Acadian Peninsula, they came to anchor opposite the present Liverpool in Nova Scotia. But they soon left this place ; and sailing northerly around Cape Sable into the bay of Fundy, and eastwardly along the northern shores of the
*See this Patent entire in French .- 1 Haz. Coll. p. 45 : Also Appendix, post, translated .- The orthography of the name is varied much by different writers as, " Lacadie"-"Acadie"-"Accady"-" Accadia." "L'Acadie"- "Nous etant" des long temps a informes de la situation, des bays et territorie de L'Acadia-is the language of the patent, whence it would seem the country might have been previously called in France by that name.
t Brit. Dom. in America, bk. 3d. pt. II. p. 246.
Į1. Holmes A. Ann. p. 147.
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peninsula, entered a spacious basin, environed by hills and mea- A. D. 1604. dows, and anchored in a good harbour. Poutrincourt was so charmed with the beautiful appearance of the place, that he chose it for his future residence. Obtaining readily a grant of it from de Monts, which the King afterwards confirmed, he gave it the name of Port Royal, now Annapolis ; and here his party dwelt for several years .*
In exploring the bay of Fundy, de Monts visited the river St. John, and gave it the name, it has ever since borne. Thence he proceeded into the waters of Passamaquoddy bay, ascended the Schoodic to a small island, which Champlain selected for a rest- ing place, and a fortification.
As Passamaquoddy Bay and the Schoodic river now form a part of the Eastern boundary of this State, a more particular ac- count of its first discovery and situation may not be uninteresting. De Monts and his men called the bay a sea of salt water ; and in ascending the river found it an inconsiderable one, admitting vessels even on the tide to no great distance. The Island itself, containing 12 or 15 acres, they called St. Croix, because two leagues higher, there were brooks which came " crosswise, to fall within this large branch of the sea ;"-a circumstance which has given to the Schoodic the same name. The Island is situa- ted just above the northeast corner of Robbinston. Its soil is fer- tile ; and it is usually the residence of one family. The Inhabit- ants often call it " Neutral Island."+
L'Escarbot says, "it was half a league in circuit, seated in the " midst of the river ; the ground most excellent, and abundantly " fruitful ; strong by nature and easy of defence, but difficult to "be found. For [says he] there are so many isles and great " bays to pass, [from the St. John] before we come to it, I won- " der how one ever pierced so far as to find it. The woods of " the main land are fair and admirably high and well grown, as " in like manner is the grass. There is right over against the " island fresh water brooks, very pleasant and agreeable, where " divers of Mons. de Monts' men transacted their business and " builded certain cabins."
* 1. Holmes' A. Ann. p. 148. Note 5 .- the settlement at Port Royal com- menced the next year. L'Escarbot-5 Purchas, 1622.
t This character and account is according to a late map of N. Scotia, and a plan and letter from a gentleman in that section.
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A. D. 1604. The season being far advanced, de Monts concluded to pass His Fortifi- the winter upon the island. Apprehending danger from the sava- cation at the St. Croix.
ges, he erected a fortification on the north part of it, which en- tirely commanded the river. The fort was sheltered by trees, which he directed not to be felled ; and within its walls he plant- ed his cannon and constructed a chapel, after the Indian manner of building. "Hoary snow-father being come," (as L'Escarbot ex- presses himself,) " they were forced to keep much within the " doors of their dwellings during the winter. But as there was not " plenty of wood, which had been too prodigally used in build- " ing ; and a want of fresh water, which was found on the banks " of the river strongly enclosed under locks of ice ; they were "under the necessity of procuring both from the shores every " day." Some of the savages were occasionally bespoken ; and through fear of surprize or assault from them, who had a lodgement at the foot of the Island, and appeared to be jealous, de Monts kept a constant watch night and day.
The winter was severe, and the sufferings of the people from the scurvy very grevious ; not one wholly escaped it ; and 36 out of 70* actually died before spring. At the usual seed-time, they prepared a piece of ground and sowed it with rye; and being absent in the first season of reaping, they gathered in the second year a growth of it, in the narrator's words "as fair, big and weighty as in France."-This, being a mere temporary residence, could never have assumed any considerable importance ; had it not been the first pretension of a settlement in Acadie.+
* Ogilby says, " ninety-seven."
t See Mark L'Escarbot's Hist. of d'Monts' Voyages, translated in 3 Churchill's Coll. 796; abridged in 5. Purcha's Pilgrims p. 1619. (Harv. Coll. Library.) L'Escarbot was himself with de Monts in this voyage. " The people (he says) that be from St. John's river to Kennibeki, wherein "are the rivers St. Croix and Norombegua are called Etechemins."- - The rive. ST. CROIX was made a part of the boundary line in the treaty of 1783 between England and the United States; and afterwards a dis- pute arose which of the two was that river, the Schoodic or the Magaguad- orick [Magadavi,] both emptying into Passamaquoddy-bay .- the mouth of the former being 3 or 4 leagues distant from that of the latter. To set- tle the controversy, Commissioners were appointed by the two govern- ments ; and in 1798, they visited those places ; and found an Island in the Schoodic-river which corresponded, with the description given of that where de Monts and his party passed the winter 1604-5. Near its up- per end were the remains of an ancient fortification "overgrown with
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When the survivors of the party had sufficiently recovered A. D. 1605. their strength ; de Monts put his provisions and arms on board de Monts his pinnace, aud about the middle of May [1605] he and his leaves the St. Croix.
men embarked in search of a more convenient station, and a warmer climate. In ranging the coast westwardly, they entered the bay of Penobscot, which with the neighbouring country, some European adventurers had previously understood by the Natives, was called Norombegua .* At Kennebec, they erected a cross, and took possession in the name of their king ; and after visiting Casco bay and Saco river proceeded to Cape Cod. Some of the places they passed, appeared inviting and suitable for settle- ment ; but their company was small ; the savages numerous, un- friendly, and thievish ;- therefore they returned to St. Croix, and soon proceeded to Port Royal,
Here he met M. Dupont and an accession of 40 men, with fresh supplies, in a ship from France; and removing the remain- der of his property from the Island St. Croix, across the bay, he lodged it with his other stores at the mouth of the river empty- ing into the basin of Port Royal. At this place he proceeded to construct a fort and a few habitations ; and when he had made due disposition of his affairs, he and Poutrincourt, in September, sailed for France; leaving Dupont, Champlain, and Chauvin, to explore the country and perfect the settlement.
To avoid the jealousy of the French, and at the same time to George secure the advantages of prior possession, and continual claim ; mouth's Wey- several English gentlemen,-the Earl of Southampton, Thomas March 31. Voyage. [lord] Arundel and their associates, despatched George Wey- mouth across the Atlantic, on a pretended discovery of a north- west passage, which, it was still believed, might be found. Wey- mouth sailed March 31st, from the Downs; and, probably, he was not disappointed, May 11th, when he came in sight of the
large trees," the foundation stones of which were traced to a considerable extent. 1 Holms' A, Ann. p. 149, Note 3. These were among the facts and reasons which induced the Commissioners to determine, that the Schoo- dic is the St. Croix. See post A. D. 1798.
* 1 Belknap's Biog. p. 328 .- 2 H. 149. " Norombega was a part of the same district comprehending Penobscot bay and river, but its eastern and western limits are not described."-See 5 Purchas, p. 1625, 1632 .- See 1 Holmes' A. Ann. 74, note 4th and his quotations. Purchas says, " Pemptegoet is that place so famous under the name of Norombega."
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A. D. 1605. American coast, as far south] as in latitude 41° 30', near Cape Cod. Being cmbayed among shoals, he ran northwardly from the 14th to the 17th of the month, a distance of 50 leagues, and anchored about noon on the north side of a prominent Island, in 40 fathoms of water.
Revisits Monhegan and St. Georges.
This Island he found to be situated about 3 leagues from the main land, and to lie in an oblong shape from northeast to south- west. It was, as fair land to fall in with, (he said) as could be desired ; having a good land fall and bold shore, free of sands and rocks ; and though of " no great compass," it contained, probably, 1000 acres. Seafowl here were plenty ; and the mar- iners, in fishing, caught " 30 large cod and haddock." Wey- mouth called the Island " St. George ;" but it was afterwards ascertained to be Monhegan ; "as no other Island hereabouts answers the description."* Since that time, it has been a most noted station, or landmark for mariners ; and was early inhabited.
According to Capt. Weymouth's journal, he sailed, May 19th, about two or three leagues northward, among the Islands, towards the highlands and mountains in sight ; and, finding good anchor- age, "defended (as he says) from all winds, in an excellent depth of water for ships of any burthen, upon a clay ooze, very tough, where was good mooring even near the rocks by the cliff side," he named the place " Pentecost harbour,"-now George's Island-harbour, a well known haven at the mouth of St. George's river.
Here the master and men regaled themselves several days and recruited their strength. Before being visited by the Natives, he and a party properly armed, explored the islands and shores ; while his sailors, engaged in fishery, readily took " plenty of sal- "mon and other fishes of great bigness ; good lobsters, rock-fish, " plaice and lumps ;" "and with two or three hooks, caught "enough of cod and haddock, to supply the ship's company for " three days. Upon the lands they found various sorts of trees, besides vines, currents, spruce, yew, angelica and divers gums ;" and about the shores," abundance of great muscles, some of which contained pearls ; fourteen being taken from a single one.
* 2 Belk. Biog. 137-150 [Capt Williams' observations.] The orthogra . phy of Monhegan, a word of Indian extraction, is various in different au- thors-" Monhiggon"-" Munhiggon," 8 Coll. Mass. H. Soc. p. 225. 227 .- Hubbard's Indian Wars, p. 280, " Monhigon."-Prince's Annals, 127. 161.
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On the 22d, says the Journalist, " we digged a garden, sowed A. D 1605. "peas and barley and garden-seeds, which in 16 days grew up " eight inches ; although this was but the crust of the ground, and " much inferior to the mould we afterwards found on the main." These were the first fruits of culture on these Islands or shores.
The discovery of a great bay and river, the Penobscot, divert- He explores ed their attention from a trade with the Indians, for 5 or 6 days ; scot in June. the Penob- which were passed in exploring those waters and the contiguous lands. Leaving, for that purpose, Pentecost-harbour, on the 10th or 11th of June, they proceeded northwardly, by estimation, six- ty miles. In their progress up Penobscot bay, they came to anchor on the 12th, not far from the land, abreast the moun- tains, since called Penobscot-hills, [now Camden heights] ; and ten of them went ashore and amused themselves in hunting.
' The next day,' says the account, ' we ascended in our pinnace, " that part of the river which inclines more to the westward, [probably Belfast bay," or possibly the waters between the lower part of Orphan Island and the main,] carrying with us a cross- ' a thing never omitted by any Christian travellers, which we " erected at the ultimate end of our route.'t
These adventurers were much delighted, the whole way, with the novel and picturesque scenery, which the verdant country pre- sented at this season. For they not only listened to the notes of the wood birds among the branches with delight, but they found the waters of the river to be wide, deep and glassy ;- its margin adorned with coves and green borders of grass ; and, " many (says " the Journal) who had been travellers in sundry countries and in " most famous rivers, affirmed them not comparable to this-the " most beautiful, rich, large, secure harbouring river that the " world affordeth." These were the enthusiastic expressions, this tour inspired, as the visitants departed reluctantly, on their return to St. Georges.
* In 1 Purchas, 755, it is said, Weymouth " discovered three score miles up a most : excellent river ;"-and the Journal, (in 2 Belk. Biog. p. 144,) says, " we passed six or seven miles in altogether fresh water, whereof we all drank ;"-this must have been above Marsh bay ; for in this bay the waters are always salt.
t In one author, ( 1 Holmes' A. Ann, p. 150,) it is said, he "set up crosses in several places."
See James Rosier's account of this voyage-5 Purchas, 1659 --- 1676; abridged,-2 Belk. Biog. p. 140.
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His inder- course with the Natives.
Their intercourse with the natives was in the end unfortunate, though at first attended with mutual friendship and satisfaction. The annalist says, § ' they visited us on board, lying upon deck ' with us, and we ashore with them, changing man for man as ' hostages .- We treated them very kindly, because we intended ' to inhabit their country ;- and they readily traded with us-the 'exchange of their furs for our knives, glasses, combs and toys,- ' being of great profit to us ;- for instance, one gave 40 skins of ' beaver, otter and sable, for articles of five shillings' value.'
It seems, however, that a rupture happened between the par- ties about the first of June, after which, Capt. Weymouth seized five of the savages, whom he had confined in the hold of his vessel. To rescue the unhappy prisoners, or avenge the wrong, their countrymen discovered no great determination, as they ap- peared only to seek for an opportunity to effect it by means of artifice. At one time, coming and pointing eastward to the main, they " signified, that the Bashaba, their king, had plenty of furs " and much tobacco." Indeed, during the late excursion up the Penobscot, three Indians came in a canoe to the pinnace, and were earnest to have one of the crew " go with them to the Ba- " shaba, and the next morning he would return with furs and to- " bacco." But the stratagems thus used to draw the men away from the ship, were too flimsy to be successful ; and not long after the middle of June, Weymouth weighed anchor and bore off his booty to England.
Smith, in his History, thus relates the above incident .*- The ' natives came and desired the captain to go and trade with their " Bashaba, on the main, who was their chief lord ; and he ac- ' cordingly manned the yawl with 14 men for the purpose.' 'Yet,' says he, ' would they row faster with five oars in their canoes, ' than our men could their boat with eight. At the shore was ' exchanged one Owen Griffin, for a young fellow of the savages. ' -Griffin discovered their treachery, finding 283 savages, armed ' with bows and arrows, without any such articles of traffic as they ' had pretended to have.' These suspicious circumstances gave umbrage; and the first who afterwards came on board were three whom Capt. Weymouth kept; and two others were with ' much ado seized on the shore. There were also two canoes
* Smith's Hist. p. 18-20 .- Prince's Ann. 14.
+ Smith's Hist. p. 18.
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" taken, and several bows and arrows.' Four of these unhappy A. D. 1605. men were Tisquantum, Manida, Shetwarroes and Assecomoit ,* one being a Sagamore and three of the others, persons of rank. The first three, Capt. Weymouth delivered to Sir FERDINANDO GORGES, Governor of Plymouth, as soon as he arrived in that seaport ; who kept them in his family three years.+ After learn- ing to speak the English language, they amused him with numerous legendary tales, and imparted to him many things as facts, which he was strongly inclined to credit.
But neither the fruits of this voyage, nor yet the possession taken of the country, could counterbalance the ill effects of Wey- mouth's treatment of the Natives. For the forfeiture of trade and of their hospitality ; the hatred of the English name ; revenge and cruelties, were the consequences which might be expected for this offence. Surely never were men's conduct more impolitic, since it was full half of their errand to pave the way for a colonial es- tablishment and future trade.
These, and much baser improprieties, however, appear not to have been much regarded at home. But the descriptions given of this country by voyagers, fishermen and tradesmen ; the profits of its commerce ; the sight of the natives carried across the At- lantic ; the propagation of "Christianity in the dark corners of the earth ;" and the claims of the French to the country, had their several and full effects, to excite the attention of the Eng- lish public, and to inspire influential individuals with fresh ardour in the prosecution of American enterprizes. The grant to Sir Walter Raleigh, 22 years before, had become void by his attain- der ; and no obstacle seemed to lie in the way of another grant to any person, who had influence with the crown.
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