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 31
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# So called from a French officer, a resident there at a period not ascer- tained .- Ms. Let. of Col. Wardwell and Capt. Mansell .- Here was the New-Plymouth trading house, in 1626. North-eastwardly, a few miles, d'Aulney had a mill and buildings. § Winthrop's Jour. p. 307. || These three places were noted for fishery and fur trade .- 1 Hutck. Hist. p. 122.
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" Etechemins ;" and to their " country," though altogether indef- A. D. 1640. inite," the king, in 1638, ordered d'Aulney to confine his govern- ment ;" intending thereby to settle the contests of these ambitious Generals about jurisdiction .*
Nothing, however, had the tranquillizing effect desired. Nor Troubles in could these rivals have reason to expect that their invidious con- France. tests, a thousand leagues from France, would arrest the attention of their king ; so long as he continued involved in hostilities with Spain ; or so long as the papists and the protestants, or Hugue- nots, in their civil wars, were drenching the kingdom in blood.
If d'Aulney, a catholic, made large calculations upon the coun- tenance and assistance of partizans at home, and the Jesuit mis- sionaries in his Province ; la Tour, a protestant, entertained the most confident expectations of favor, from the puritan colonists of New-England. In November, 1641, he despatched Rochet on A. D. 1641: a mission to Boston ; who, taking on the way, letters of introduc- plies to Mas- LaTour ap- tion from Mr. Shurte, the chief magistrate of Pemaquid, made sachusetts for aid. proposals to Massachusetts,-1st. That there should be free in- tercourse and commerce between her traders and Gen. la Tour ; -2d. That she agree to render him the assistance needed in prosecuting a war against d'Aulney, or in removing him from Penobscot ;- 3d. That he should be allowed the privilege of re- ceiving return cargoes of goods from England, through the colony merchants.
To the first she readily acceded ; but declined an acceptance of the others, till Rochet could show some authority from la Tour to negociate such a treaty.t
Visiting Boston, Oct. 6, the next year, a Lieutenant of la A. D. 1642. Tour, attended by a small retinue, presented the Governor with letters from his General, abounding in civilities and compliments, and closing with a renewal of his former requests .¿ A free trade, and nothing more, was now settled and opened, and several merchant vessels made profitable voyages; the first one receiving from la Tour every testimony of respect which the arts of address could evince, and also details of d'Aulney's machina- tions and measures. These representations, the master was de- tween la Quarrel be- sired to put into the hands of the Governor. On his return d'Aulney. Tour and
* 1 Hutchinson's Hist. p. 122, 126. + 1 Haz. Coll. p. 198.
# Winthrop's Jour. p. 265, 267.
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A. D. 1643. homeward, he accidentally had an interview with d'Aulney at Pemaquid, whom he found in a fit of passion and resentment. Here, said the latter, is a printed arret against la Tour, issued by the crown of France ; take it to your Governor and tell him, if vessels dare persist in a trade between the colonies and the river St. John, I will make prize of them .*
La Tour was thunderstruck by this royal edict, which pro- claimed him an outlaw and rebel ; and ere he could obtain any relaxation of its penalties, his enraged enemy, early in the spring following, was prepared to attack him in his own castle. With an armament of two ships, four smaller vessels and 500 men, d'Aulney was able to cut off all communications with la Tour, by a complete blockade of his harbor, and to reduce the garrison to the depths of extremity.
To aggravate the distress of la Tour, he was eyewitness to the arrival of a ship, full of protestant fugitives from Rochelle, t and laden with expected succours, for which he was suffering. As he perceived she could not pass the squadron, he resolved to leave the garrison, and entrust the defence of it to his compan- ions. Accordingly he and his wife, in the night of June 12th, escaped to the ship, and proceeded to Boston.
He was now enabled to show the Massachusetts magistrates, some official articles of favor from the French cabinet; a com- mission from the vice-admiral and grand prior, by which he was appointed " the king's lieutenant-general in Acadia;" a per- mission to send the ship back with freight and despatches ; and letters from the company of New-France, full of advices against the intrigues of d'Aulney. These were all invaluable docu- ments to him ; which, with the powers of his persuasive ad- dress, collectively inspired him with the greatest confidence of success.
The request of la Tour discussed by Massachu - setts.
The magistrates, elders and merchants of Massachusetts, were strongly inclined to favor the subject of la Tour's requests. But opponents raised many and powerful objections. War, said they, is an extreme remedy ; and the exact justice of the case, we cannot expect to know, since the French cabinet itself has va- cillated in the affair. If d'Aulney has done us injuries, and pro-
* Hubbard's N. E. p. 479.
t The number was 140 persons .- Winthrop's Jour. p. 282.
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voked us to hostilities ; it were more for our honor and the credit A. D. 1643. of our religion to take arms upon the grounds of self-defence, and protection, than to be mere " marginal notes" to a Frenchman's articles of warfare. Only a permission for la Tour to procure an outfit of men and munitions of war against d'Auley, will arouse his resentments, and may possibly be deemed, by his king, an hostile act of the colony :- and who can divine, but that the smaller weapons, forged here, may not be swords in Chris- tendom ? D'Aulney is powerful by land and by sea, in men, in ar- tillery, and military stores ; our vessels and cargoes have hitherto floated securely ; and he has been content with our impartiality and forbearance. Nor had the objectors any great confidence in the sanctity of la Tour's principles ; much less could they be melt- ed by his appeals to public sympathy. For, ten years before, he had killed two English colonists at Machias, and carried away the worth of £500 in goods, owned by New-England people,* without so much as an offer of reparation or even an apology. It is true, his wife was justly esteemed for her sound protestant sentiments, and excellent virtues ; whereas he himself was sus- pected of being a timeserving character, if not at heart a catho- lic, and in fact a coward.t
La Tour, in defence of himself, was able to prove, that the men killed were intoxicated, and began the affray by firing first upon his party, without provocation. "The value of the goods,' said he, ' I will submit to a reference, and pay all that shall be awarded, nay, make amends to any extent determined. He proceeded farther, and with a kind of magic, urged his claims by pleas of merit. He found men, who were ready to depose, that at a time when the fates of the seas had cast them upon his fort, he had not only fed them with the milk and meat of human kind- ness ; he had also provided for them passages to their homes.
His supporters, or friends, were a respectable class of men. Many had unwavering faith in his protestant orthodoxy ; more were making calculations upon the greater profits, or gains, they could acquire in a trade with him than with d'Aulney ; and the disciples of religion thought it their conscientious duty, to extend the helping hand to a neighbor in distress. The outrageous
*Mr. Vines complained of la Tour's violence and rapacity in 1633 .- Winthrop's Jour. p. 301.
+ 1 Douglas' Summ. p. 306.
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A. D. 1643. wrongs of d'Aulney at Penobscot, and elsewhere, are recol- lected by us, said the Colonists ; and ' all history teaches that the ' greediness of spoilers and the ambition of conquerors, are in ' the ratio of their successes. If he could conquer la Tour, ' would the acquests of 200 soldiers, and booty worth 4 or ' £5,000 satisfy his insatiate appetite ?- A free intercourse and ' commerce with la Tour is already settled ; and shall he be for- ' bidden to hire ships and men at his own expense and upon his ' own responsibility, to effect a safe return of himself and family ' to his own plantation and fortress ?- If there be fatalities, blood- ' shed is one of the destinies of mankind, in the defence of rights ' and the performance of duties.'*
The French rivals dis- turb the people of Maine.
The same important and novel question agitated the planta- tions, between Piscataqua and Penobscot, within the government of Maine. La Tour was owing some persons considerable debts, which they feared might be lost, if he was driven from St. John's.+ D'Aulney was generally disliked, and all desired his removal, to some situation more remote than Penobscot ; lest future successes should encourage his encroachments and despotic measures, or flush and inflate his arrogancy.
A letter from the Deputy-Governor of Maine,t written from his residence at Kittery-point, to Governor Winthrop, will show us his views of the subject.
Letter of Gov. Gor- ges.
" Piscataqua, 28th June, 1643.
" Right worthy Sir I understand by Mr. Parker, you have written me by Mr. Shurt, which as yet, I have not received. It cannot be unknown to you, the fears we are in, since la Tour's promise of aid from you. For my part, I thought fit to certify so inuch unto you, for I suppose not only these parts which are naked, but all north-east, will find d'Aulney a scourge. He hath long waited, with the expense of near £800 per month, for an opportu- nity of taking supplies from his foe ; and should all his hopes be frustrated through your aid, you may conceive where he will seek for satisfaction. If a thorough work could be made, and he be utterly extirpated, I should like it well: otherwise it cannot be thought but that a soldier and a gentleman will seek to revenge
* These arguments were reduced to writing in extenso, in 1643, entire in 1 Haz. Coll. p. 502, 516.
t " St. John's," or " St. John's river."-Hub. N. E. p. 489 .- Winthrop, p. 362.
# 1 Haz. Coll. p. 498.
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himself ; having 500 men, 2 ships, a galley, and pinnaces well A. D. 1643. provided. Besides, you may please conceive, in what manner he now besieges la Tour. His ships lie on the south-west part of the Island, at the entrance of St. John's river, within which is only an entrance for ships, and on the north-east lie his pinnaces.
It cannot be conceived but he will fortify the Island, which will debar the entrance of any of your ships and force them back, shewing the will, having not the power, to hurt him.
I suppose I shall sail for England in this ship-I am not as yet certain, which makes me forbear to enlarge at this time, or to desire your commands thither.
Thus in haste I rest-your honoring friend and servant.
THOMAS GORGES."
La Tour's
At length, Massachusetts informed la Tour, that though she could not as a colony, consistent with the articles of union, take outfit and any active part with him in the controversy ; he might employ success. as many ships, and enlist as many volunteers into his service, as he could hire with his own means and pay. Full of acknowl- edgements for this favor, he chartered of Edward Gibbons* and Thomas Hawkins, June 30, at £520, for each of the two succeeding months, the ships Seabridge, Philip and Mary, In- crease, and Greyhound, furnished with 50 men and 38 pieces of ordnance. He also enlisted 92 soldiers at the charge of £40 per month, whom he put on board ; the whole being armed, victualled, and paid at his own expense.
To secure the owners and purveyors, he mortgaged to them his fort at St. John's, his great guns, and all his other property, real and personal, in Acadia. All prepared, the squadron, pre- ceded by his own ship, the Clement, sailed, July 14, and com- menced the attack upon d'Aulney, immediately on their arrival. The onset was so unexpected and furious, that d'Aulney was compelled to quit his station ; when his enemies gave him chase and pursued him to Penobscot .; Here he ran his two ships and a small vessel aground, for the purpose of fortifying himself in
* Gibbons was gay, young and wealthy, also a magistrate, A. D. 1650 .- 1 Hubbard's Hist. p. 150.
t Winthrop says, p. 307, it was Port-Royal ; but Hutchinson and Sullivan, p. 277, say it was " Penobscot ;" confirmed by subsequent facts .- 1 Hutch- inson's Hist. p. 124 .- Winthrop's Jour. p. 362.
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A. D. 1643. the most expeditious manner, and then turned upon his pursu- ers.
The commandant of the Massachusetts' forces declined any farther prosecution of the enterprize ; and a smart engagement with a party of d'Aulney's men, at his mill, not a great distance from the fort, closing the scene, though not without loss, as several on each side were killed or wounded in the action .* Within the limited time of the charter-party, the ships and men arrived safely in Boston harbor, without having lost a man; bringing with them a vessel they had taken from d'Aulney, laden with moose skins, beavers and other furs. These they divided in equal proportions to la Tour, to the ships, and to the men.
Disputes of D'Aulney chusetts. A communication from Boston met d'Aulney, on his late re- and Massa- turn to his fort, unfortunately while in a most unhappy temper of mind.f It was in part an answer from the Governor, to a letter received by him in the preceding autumn; and further- more, it was an explanation of the manner in which la Tour had obtained ships and supplies. 'Had we, said the address to ' him, been molested in the right of free trade, as you threaten- ' ed us, we should not have been backward to do ourselves jus- 'tice. But the colony government of Massachusetts has in fact ' taken no measures, nor granted any commission, against you. ' To permit la Tour to enlist and hire forces with his own ' money, violates no sound political rules, it is a mere attribute ' of our independence, while the laws of christian duty require 'us to relieve all distress. Yet surely nothing would be more ' grateful to our wishes, than reconciliation and peace.'}
D'Aulney was unprepared for a rupture with that colony, and might have repressed his resentments, had there been no fresh or new aggressions. But he was now determined to subdue his rival, let Massachusetts act what part she pleased, and therefore applied again for assistance in France; giving out, that a force was soon expected sufficient to destroy him.
In the mean time, he resolved effectually to prevent all inter- course between la Tour and the English colonists. Nevertheless,
* Thirty of the N. England men with la Tour's men were engaged in this last skirmish, and 3 F'renchmen were killed on each side .- Hubbard's N. E. p. 483.
t The messenger was " led blindfold into the house and so returned, 6 or 7 hours after."
Į Hubbard's N. E. p. 482.
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for the purpose of collecting monies, due from la Tour, Vines of A. D. 1644. Saco, Shurt of Pemaquid, and Wannerton* of New-Hampshire, all men of eminence in their respective plantations, took passage for the river St. John's ; yet when they arrived at Penobscot, d'Aulney detained them several days under forcible restraints-from which Mr. Shurt, whom he owed and esteemed, had hardly influ- ence enough with him to obtain a release. The transaction was felt by them to be a violation of all social and sacred usages ; Causes of and Wannerton was a man, whose passions and intemperance his affront. rendered him a fit instrument to devise acts of revenge. Con- firmed in his belief, by reports at St. John's, that the garrison at Penobscot was destitute, both of effective men and competent provisions, he collected a party of twenty or more ; and on his return, led them onward, armed with swords and pistols, to an attack of d'Aulney's farm-house, five or six miles from his fort. At the instant Wannerton knocked at the door it was opened, and he received a fatal shot and fell, one of his companions was wounded, and a French resident was slain. The others in the house surrendered ; and the assailants, in the work of waste, killed the cattle and set the house on fire.t They then proceed- ed to Boston without booty, or any other reward, than censure.
So highly incensed was the injured General by this rash and unprovoked expedition, that at first no excuses, not the blood of Wannerton himself, would appease his rage. He determined to remain neutral no longer-and uttering the severest threats, that he would make prize of every colony vessel, found eastward of Penobscot ; and accordingly issued commissions for the purpose.
But repentance is the consequence, and oftentimes the merit of hasty vows. The Governor, at Boston, required of him an ex- planation ; reminding him of the violent manner in which he had seized upon Penobscot, and upon certain English colonists and their goods, at the Isle of Sables. 'Yet,' said he, ' I inform ' you, that no hostile act against either French or Dutch is allow- ' ed ; la Tour cannot expect any more succours from this place ; ' a merchant's trade is permitted between us and St. John's ; and 'rest assured, it will be protected.' Afterwards d'Aulney ac-
* Winthrop calls him " Waverton," p. 341.
t Hubbard's N. E. p. 485 .- This was at Penobscot .- 1 Hutch. Hist. p. 125.
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A. D. 1644. knowledged he had been hasty ; having received command from his sovereign, to hold a friendly intercourse with all the English .*
D'Aulney's negotiation To show the civil authorities at Boston a late commission from with Massa- the French cabinet, which denounced la Tour and his wife as chusetts. traitorous deserters, -- giving command to arrest them ; and, further- more, to negotiate a treaty with the government of Massachusetts; the Ruler at Penobscot sent thither M. Marie, Oct. 4, on a mis- sion, with credentials and ten attendants. Unexpectedly, he was there informed, that Madame la Tour had, after a passage of six months, arrived at Boston from London, three weeks before him, and only eight days after her husband's departure for St. John's ; and that she had hardly escaped capture by d'Aulney, off Cape Sable, even though she was secreted under hatches.
In the negotiation commenced, the Governor strove for provis- ional terms, by which the belligerent rivals might become recon- ciled to each other .- No, said Marie, nothing but submission will save la Tour's head, if he be taken ; nor will his wife have any passport to St. John's, for she is known to be the cause of his contempts and rebellion. Nay, the vessel that shall admit her a passenger, will be liable to seizure. On the other hand, the Gov- ernor refused to make any stipulation for assisting d'Aulney, or preventing an intercourse with la Tour.
Treaty .-- Oct. 8.
Several articles of treaty, however, received the signatures of the Governor and of M. Marie,f October 8, which were to be ratified, or rejected, as it might be deemed politic, either by d'Aulney, or the Commissioners of theUnited Colonies. By these, a preliminary peace was established ; all hostile acts in future were to be deferred, till after amends demanded had been refused ; and both parties were allowed to enjoy the rights of trade to any place, without limit or restraint.}
Never had a capitulation been more grateful to the interests and views of Maine and the more eastern plantations. They knew their defenceless condition ; and they had entertained many fears, that d'Aulney, in a fit of passion and haste to avenge inju-
* Winthrop's Jour. p. 356.
+ Marie signed as " Commissioner of Monsieur d'Aulney, knight, Gov-
" ernor and Lieutenant-General for his Majesty, the King of France, in " Acadia, a Province of New-France."-Hubbard's N. E. p. 488.
# Winthrop's Journal, p. 357, 361.
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ries or affronts, might take their vessels or plunder the inhab- A. D. 1644. itants.
Evils of this
Misery and contempt, folly and meanness, mark the contro- versy of these two ambitious Frenchmen; for civil war never rival war- fare. reflects a baser image in miniature, than when it is reduced to personal quarrels, or the punctilious points of duelists. Our regrets are deep and many, that the English colonists, and much more the government, ever had any concern in the affair :- For it was impossible to live in amity with both. At one time d'Aulney pressed an English colony-coaster into his service, and compelled the master to go with him to St. John's, in order to communicate through him to la Tour the new arret, and ensure a safe return of the messenger. He was otherwise often an offender ; and by reason of his threats, the frequent and successful applications of his foe to the rulers of Massachusetts, and the measures adopted or opposed by them ; the people were unhappily divided through the whole country into parties.
Madame la Tour, unable to visit her husband or home, com- menced two suits at law, one was against Bayley, the master, for Tour's transporting her to Boston and not to St. John's, whither she was bound ; the other was against Berkley upon the charter-party, for an unnecessary detention of six months on board, owing to a circuity of voyage for the sake of a gainful trade. The trials before the Court of Assistants lasted four days ; in which she labored to shew her damages, to be equal to the cost of a force and outfit, sufficient to cope with her enemy, in the event of a rencounter ; and extravagant as the verdicts of the juries may appear, they gave her £2,000. With this money, obtained from the proceeds of the cargo, she chartered three London ships in Boston harbor, and proceeded to St. John's .*
When d'Aulney was apprized of her flight, or rather departure, D'Aulney. he was excessively chagrined, for one of his schemes was now frustrated ; he having had the fullest intentions of making her his illustrious captive. In this malignant warfare, chivalrous gallan- try, once the pride of Frenchmen, seems to have lost its charac-
* Winthrop's Jour. p. 363-4 .- Here the Journal closes. Afterwards the recorder of the Court and one of the jurymen, were arrested in London and compelled to find bonds for £4,000, to answer in a Court of Admiralty -where they were discharged .- Hubbard's N. E. p. 491.
Madame lą
lawsuits,
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tion and de- feat.
A. D. 1645. ter ; and the married wife was marked for triumphant seizure. Jealous now of Massachusetts to a greater degree than ever, he determined to consider the obligations of the late treaty with her government as broken ties ; and his king's directions relative to the English, as nullities. He knew, the protestant interest in France was sinking ; his monarch was a child; and the administration was too much distracted with foreign and domestic wars, too fee- ble and too partial, to arraign him for his conduct, provided he His expedi- acted zealously the part of a catholic. From the friars and other treacherous fellows, dismissed by lady la Tour after her arrival home, he had information, that her husband was on a cruise in the bay of Fundy ; and his garrison being supplied with only 50 men and poor provisions, might be easily captured. Therefore the Commander of Penobscot, proceeded thither early in the spring ; and meeting with a New-England vessel off the coast of the peninsula, laden with supplies for his enemy, he made prize of her, turning the crew upon a desolate island, without fireworks, gun or compass ; and proceeded on with his prize. A miserable wigwam was their only shelter ; the snow was deep, and a part of their clothing was withholden from them by their piratical captor.
Arriving in the harbor of St. John's, d'Aulney moored his ship in a well-chosen position, near the fort ; and then discharged his ordnance upon it, with considerable effect. But he was con- tending with a heroine of consummate valor :- She returning the fire with such spirit, that 20 of his men were killed-13 were wounded ; and his ship was so much shattered and disabled, that he was forced to warp her away under the shelter of a bluff to prevent her from going to the bottom.
On his return, he took the plundered crew from the Island after ten days' suffering, and sent them homeward in an old shal- lop, without the necessary comforts of life.
Massachusetts, justly incensed by his base conduct, accused him of breaking a sacred treaty, and demanded immediate satis- His conduct faction. But he refused to admit into his presence the messen- towards the Colonists. ger, till he had explained how la Tour's wife effected her return home ; and then he charged the colony with assisting his mortal enemy ; killing his domestic animals ; and burning his build- ings ; and furthermore, added he,-I warn you to beware of my sovereign's resentments .- It is true, the messenger replied, he is a mighty prince, and also one of too much honor to com-
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