USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 22
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Taxable polls, the towns and population, in Maine.
New valua- tion. The septennial valuation of taxable property and enumeration of taxable males, having been completed in the course of the A. D. 1743. current year, were finally sanctioned by the General Court, in January, 1743. Hence it appeared, that there were in the whole Province 41,000 rateable polls, 159 incorporated towns ;- and by estimation, 164,000 inhabitants ;f and by the records 109 members in the House of Representatives. There were at this time in Maine and Sagadahock, about 2,300 taxable polls ; eleven towns, whose proportion of £1,000 tax, was £52 17s. 1d .; } a probable population of 12,000 ;§ and the corporate towns sent eight representatives to the Legislature.
*Jour. Mass. House of Rep. A. D. 1742, p. 222-5 ; also, A. D. 1747, p. 254-5.
+ 2 Holmes' A. Ann. p. 158 .- 1 Brit. Dom. p. 215 .- 1 Doug. p. 531.
İ To York, £9 3s. Id.
Arundel, £1 19s. 7d. Kittery, 12 12 1
Scarborough, 3 19 11 Wells, 4 8 3 N. Yarmouth, 1 19 0 Berwick, 5 12 1 Georgetown, 2 0 0 Falmouth, 7 13 10
Brunswick, 18 6
Biddeford, 3 10 1
Total, 52 17 01
The whole provincial tax on Maine, in 1742, was £332 1s. 2d. Every male 16 years old, paid 12d. ;- 20s. property paid one penny of the Pro- vince tax ; and other taxes were in proportion.
§ If the population of Maine bears the same proportion to that of the
213
OF MAINE.
CHAP. VII.]
Great importance was still attached to the subject of the royal A. D. 1743 woods. The Provincial Governors expected to recommend them- B. Went- worth suc- selves to the favor of the ministry, by the great interest they took ceeds Dun- in preserving them from depredations. In the absence of Dun- veyor of the bar as sur- bar, they had been in some degree neglected. On his resigna- woods. tion, the office of Surveyor-General was given to Mr. Wentworth, Governor of New-Hampshire .* It was to him a welcome ap- pointment ; for besides some perquisites and emoluments inci- dental to the office, he had a salary of £800 sterling ; while he His salary. was under no obligation to employ and pay more than four depu- ties.+ Upon all subjects of public interest or general emergency, he and Governor Shirley were instructed by the king to have free and friendly intercourse ; and of none other than that of the timber had they a more general oversight. Understanding that the Royal workmen employed by the agents to furnish the royal navy with woods. masts and spars, were obstructed in the service, and harassed with lawsuits, Shirley pressed the Legislature to interpose their authority, by the enactment of severer laws against trespassers and other wrongdoers; or to pass resolves for preventing the prose- cutions of agents. For, said he, ' in my opinion, nothing could ' more directly recommend this Province to the royal favor.'; But the House replied to him as to his predecessor,-' our laws are ' sufficient ;' Legislatures have done their duty, and the officers must do theirs.
But nothing at the present time, so much engrossed the public Apprehen- mind, as the apprehensions of a war between the crowns of Great sions of war. Britain and France ; which it was foreseen, would immediately extend to their respective Provinces in America, and enkindle the flames of another Indian war. During the long respite from hostilities, which had been enjoyed, Massachusetts had greatly increased in numbers and strength ; and possessing now the abil- ity, as well as the public spirit, she resolved to spare no expense,
whole Province as the sum of £52 17s. 1d. does to £1,000 ;- then is the population of the 11 towns about 8,692 Add population of unincorporated places and that of Sagadahock, 3,308 -[see ante, A. D. 1736.]
12,000
Note .- The men assigned to take the valuation in Yorkshire, were Messrs. Clark, Haines and Mayhew.
* See ante, A. D. 1741.
+ 2 Belk. N. H. p. 146.
# Printed Journal House of Representatives, (p. 100,) A. D. 1743.
214
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1743. to put her whole inland frontier, extensive as it was, into a good Appropria- posture of defence. As the eastern Provinces, Maine and Saga- fence of the dahock, were most exposed to incursions from the savages, in tion for de- frontiers. case of a rupture ; the Legislature made an appropriation of about £1,280-to be disbursed from the public treasury, and ex- pended among the eastern settlements for their defence, *- under the direction of the Governor, assisted by the advice of the York- shire representatives. The money was apportioned to fourteen places, and applied towards constructing stockade forts, building olock-houses, breastworks and walls of hewn timber, and forti- fying the more exposed dwellinghouses. Encouraged by this sum, though it was altogether inadequate to the expense of these works, the inhabitants bestowed upon them a great amount of la- bor, and made them places of considerable security. Fort George, at Brunswick, was again made a public garrison; the other eastern forts received supplies ; and the military establish- ment seems to have been increased about 114 men, who were distributed to them, to Castle William, to Fort Dummer upon Connecticut river, and to the Province store ship.t As a farther precautionary measure, 400 men were ordered to be detached, or enlisted in the county of York, and organized into four com- panies, as minute-men, to be in constant readiness, with every equipment, and prepared to march at the shortest notice. Be- sides a good gun and sufficient ammunition, every one of them was to provide himself with a hatchet, an extra pair of shoes, or a pair of moccasins, and even a pair of snow-shoes. A small stipend was to be paid them, for these preparations, and their wages from the time they left home, should they be called into actual service.
* To Berwick -
- £ 100
Fort Richmond
£ 34
Saco (truck house)
34
Arrowsick, &c.
100
Scarborough
100
Sheepscot
100
New-Marblehead
100
Damariscotta
67
Falmouth
134
Pemaquid
134
Phillipstown
100
Broad Bay, &c. 75
Gorhamtown
100
St. Georges' River 100
Jour. of House of Rep. p. 101-2, A. D. 1743.
t Saco, (Fort Mary,) had 13 men,
St. Georges' Fort, 13 men,
Brunswick, (F. George,) 6,
Richmond Fort, - 10,
Pemaquid, - - 6,
Castle William, 40,
Fort Dummer, 16,
Province Sloop, 10,
2 Brit. Dom. in America, p. 95.
400 minute. men detail- ed.
215
OF MAINE.
CHAP. VIII.]
CHAPTER VIII.
The Spanish war-Canseau taken by the French -- Annapolis attacked by them and the Indians-Measures and forces for defence-The Tarratines desire peace-War declared against the Natives eastward of Passamaquoddy-Bounties offered for prisoners and scalps-The Tarratines refuse to join the English -Militia-Scouts-Cape Breton-Louisbourg described-Expe- dition against it designed- Voted-Undertaken-Edward Tyng, Commodore-Appropriation-Pepperell, Waldo, and other offi- cers -- Motto-Great enlistment in Maine-Fleet and army- Arrival at Canseau-Joined by a British squadron-Attack- Successes-Surrender of the fortress and city of Louisbourg- Incidents.
THE war, which had been kindled between Britain and Spain, A. D. 1744. four years since, was immediately communicated to their Ameri- Spanish can dominions, and gradually extended its flames over the greater war. part of Europe. To New-England and Nova Scotia, it assumed a much more dreadful aspect, the moment, the French nation entered into the continental system, and resolved to take sides against England. The contiguity of their American colonies, and the opposite sentiments of the inhabitants in their politics and religion, directly led to a rupture ; and as soon as war, declared by France, March 15, 1744, and retorted by England, the same In March, month, was an event known on this side of the Atlantic, the join Spain. the French French colonists and the Indians in their interest began to con- cert plots, against their English neighbors. The scene was opened in Nova Scotia .*
Duquesnel, Governor of Cape Breton, acquainted with the May 13. declaration of war, more than two months before the news ar- seize upon rived in Boston, resolved to gain time by an immediate attack Canseau. upon Canseau, a small Island, situated on an excellent harbor,
* Nova Scotia had been in possession of the English thirty years,-since the treaty of Utrecht, 1713.
The French
216
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1744. at the south-eastern extremity of the great peninsula .* For this purpose, he despatched Duvivier, with 8 or 900 men, in a few small armed vessels, who, seizing upon the Island, May 13, burn- ed the houses, made prisoners of the garrison and inhabitants, and took possession of an armed vessel lying at anchor, as a prize.
June 2. War an- nounced at Boston. Annapolis The news of this attack reached Boston, when the Legislature was in session ;- followed by an arrival, June 2,f which formally communicated to the Governor the declaration of war. Unac- attacked by quainted with what had transpired, Governor Mascarine, succes- the French. sor of Philips, then in command at Annapolis, was first appriz- ed of hostilities, by an attack of 300 Indians, upon the garrison, May 30th, led on to the charge, by M. Luttre, a French mis- sionary, who boldly demanded a surrender. But the Governor refused to capitulate ; and forthwith sent an express to Shirley for assistance. Meanwhile, Duvivier, arriving with his divi- Their re- pulse. sion, joined Luttre, and they both invested the place, till July 3d, when a re-enforcement of four companies from Massachu- setts, compelled them to retire. 'During the siege, they had ' surprized and killed as many of the English, as could be caught ' without the fort; also destroyed their cattle, and burnt their houses.'§
Measures for the de- fence of Maine.
Hostilities, being commenced in this quarter with so much rash- ness and violence, drew the particular attention of government to the eastern country. It was determined to make immediate enquiry into the state of our frontiers, fortifications, arms, and warlike stores ; and to adopt the most effectual methods, for strengthen- ing and quieting the inhabitants on the out-skirts, by offers or ad- vancements of all needed assistance to those, who would abide at their homes, and bravely defend themselves and their possessions. Likewise to the tribes on our borders, the fullest assurances were given, of protection and friendship, so long as they kept good
* Canseau was 5 leagues from Cape Breton Island, and 60 miles from Louisbourg. It was a great resort for New-England fishermen.
t " May 31."-Gov. Shirley's Speech .- War proclaimed at Boston, " June 2."
# Each soldier had a bounty of £20 old tenor, and was to be free from impresses, 3 years ; and each company contained 60 men, enlisted to Oct. 15, of this year.
: Couril Letter Book. p. 78 .~ Gov. Speech, July 18, 1744.
217
OF MAINE.
CHAP. VIII.]
faith with us, and had no intercourse with such Indians as were A. D. 1744. enemies. Some of them, so much broken in former wars, avail- ed themselves of the offer. Particularly several Sokokis fami- lies, dwelling about Pegwacket, and acquainted with their own weakness, came and cast themselves upon the government for protection, renouncing forever the French interest.
In providing against surprise and the enemy's incursions, 500 A draft of men were drafted, of whom 300 were for the eastern frontier, 500 men. and the residue for the western. The eastern garrisons were re-enforced by 73* regular fresh recruits ; and 300 men were formed into scouts.+ About 96 barrels of gunpowder were sent to the several townships, to be sold to the inhabitants at an ad- vance upon prime cost, sufficient only to include charges.
To become more definitely acquainted with the temper and July. determination of the Tarratine tribe at Penobscot, a delegation tines desire The Tarra from Boston met the Sagamores at St. Georges' fort, in July ; peace. and after a parley, received from them fresh assurances of their wishes for a continued peace. After this, the eastern people felt some relief ; and a part of the scouting soldiery was dis- missed. Yet it being fully ascertained, that in the late siege of Annapolis, the tribe of the Marechites, on the river St. John, were as much concerned as the Mickmaks; many believed, that some of the young warriors from Penobscot and Passama- quoddy, had swelled the number of the savage assailants, as the three Etechemin tribes were, by their own account, one people. Though the Indians of Nova Scotia, it is true, had not offended against the government of Massachusetts ; they had joined the common enemy, and taken arms against his Majesty's subjects ;} and it was thought, ' a vigorous prosecution of the war against ' them, might be the best means of retaining the other tribes in
* The garrisons were re-enforced thus :- Georges' Fort, to 40 men ; Pe- maquid, to 24; Richmond, to 25; Brunswick, to 12; and Saco, to 20 .- See ante, 1743.
t Smith's Jour. p. 36 .- In Falmouth, 65 were posted. Capt. Jordan com- manded a scouting company, piloted by three Saco Indians, whose families were settled at Stroudwater, and provided for by order of government. There were about 20 of the tribe, who proposed to live with the English.
# The St. John's Indians were called " subjects of the British crown ;" several through pretended friendship visited Annapolis as spies, 3 weeks before the attack .- Letter Book, p. 73-78.
VOL. II. 28
218
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1744. ' their duty and obedience.'* Therefore the Governor, with ad-
Oct. 20. vice of Council, Oct. 20, publicly proclaimed WAR against the War declar- ed against all east of Passama- quoddy. several tribes eastward of the one, upon Passamaquoddy ; for- bidding all the Indians westward of a line ' beginning at three miles ' eastward of that river, and running north to St. Lawrence,' ' to ' have any correspondence with those Indian rebels.'t
Bounties of- fered for prisoners and scalps.
To all volunteers, who would enter into the war at their own charge and expense, a premium in the new tenor bills was offered, of £100 for the scalp of a male Indian 12 years old and up- wards ; £50 for that of a younger one, or of a woman ; and an additional sum of £5, in either case, for a captive. Every friend Indian was the more strongly solicited to enter into the service, as he was skilled in savage warfare. But if any of them de- clined, they were to be employed in making snow-shoes; and their families were distributed among the white people, where they could fish and fowl, according to their habits of life.
A base out- rage upon a party of Indians. As there was open war with some of the tribes, every unlucky circumstance alarmed the people's fears. For instance,-an In- dian was found dead on the eastern shore, and several others were wounded ;- a most villainous outrage, committed by persons unknown. Every thing was now done by government to abate Measures taken to the rising indignation of the tribe; a blanket, £40 in money, and pacify them. necessaries were given to the widow of the deceased ;- the wounds of the others were bound up, and they themselves carried to Penobscot. To test anew the fidelity and friendship of the tribe, Col. Pepperell went to St. Georges, in November, as a Commissioner, and requested of the Sagamores, their quota of fighting men, according to the stipulations in Dummer's treaty, which had been so often renewed. He told them, if they would enter into the public service, they should receive soldiers' pay The Tarra- and rations, and every supply ; but if they failed to comply, war tines refuse to join the would, at the end of 40 days, be proclaimed against them. In English in the war. January they sent, by express, their answer to Boston, stating- " that their young men would not comply with the proposal of " taking up arms against the St. John's Indians, their brethren."
Militia in the two eastern Provinces.
There were at this time, in the two eastern Provinces, 2,855 able bodied or fencible men, who were organized into two regi-
* Journal H. of Rep. A. D. 1744, p. 80.
f 1 Doug. Sum.m. p. 320.
CHAP. VII. ]
ments, one commanded by Col. William Pepperell of Kittery, A. D. 1744. and the other by Col. Samuel Waldo of Falmouth .*
In the arrangements made for the winter establishment, the 8 'eastern Captain-General, Dec. 2, ordered, that all the drafted men be scouts. discharged, and 100 effective men be enlisted out of Col. Pep- perell's regiment, and formed into eight guards,-to be stationed at suitable distances from each other, and at convenient places between Berwick and St. Georges, whence they were sever- ally to scout, as far as the next station .; Each party was put under a sergeant, and all under two able efficient officers in cap- tain's pay.
Through the Autumn, it was a general topic, that Louisbourg The capture must be wrested from the enemy, or it would always be a place of Cape Breton, dis. of the greatest possible annoyance, to the eastern colonists and to cussed. the English fishermen. The fortress was known to be immensely strong, though it was thought, a sufficient force might take it. The English prisoners, about 90 in number, taken at Canseau,
* In Kittery,
450 men, In Scarborough,
160 men.
York,
350
Falmouth,
500
Wells,
250
North-Yarmouth,
150
Arundel, -
95
Brunswick,
50
Biddeford,
120
Narraganset No. 1, -
20
Berwick,
150
New-Marblehead,
40
Phillipstown,
150
Georges and Broad-bay, 270
Pemaquid,
50
1st, or Pepperell's Reg't, 1565
Sheepscot,
50
2d, or Waldo's Reg't, 1290
2855
According to 1 Doug. Summ. p. 360, Wells contained 500. But see 2 Brit. Emp. 910, and 1 Brit. Dom. 293 .- Georgetown, though omitted, is supposed to have contained about 100 men able to bear arms.
t The stations and arrangement were these,-viz ;-
12 men at Newichawannock, to scout to the block-house at Phillipstown :-
12 at Phillipstown, to scout at Saco truck house :-
"
10 at Saco truck house, to scout to New-Marblehead :-
14 at New-Marblehead, to scout to Brunswick :- "
"
10 at Brunswick, to scout from Topsham to Richmond fort :-
"
14 at Wiscasset, to scout as far as Capt. Vaughan's block-house on Damariscotta :---
14 " at his block-house, to scout to Broad-bay :-
14 " at Broad-bay, to scout to the block-house at St. Georges' river .-
100
1290
219
OF MAINE.
220
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1744. were detained some time at Louisbourg, before they were ex- changed and transported to Boston. They said, they had ex- amined the works, and believed the place might be captured. Governor Shirley associated to himself William Vaughan, Esq. of Damariscotta,* a son of Lieutenant-Governor Vaughan of New- Hampshire ; and they, by careful enquiry and close investigation, made themselves fully acquainted with the situation and strength of the place; and discussed between themselves the practica- bility of its being taken. Vaughan was a man of good under- standing, but of a daring, enterprizing, and tenacious mind ; one who thought nothing of obstacles to the accomplishment of his determined purposes. He was largely concerned in the eastern fishery ; and from those employed in that business, and others, he had learned something of Louisbourg, though he had never seen it. A firm believer in the maxim, that good fortune de- pends upon boldness, bravery and exertion ; he conceived the design of taking the city by surprize in the winter season ; sup- posing it practicable to pass over the walls upon the hard and deep snow-drifts. The idea of a surprizal forcibly struck the Governor's mind ; and he wrote letters to the ministry, rep- resenting the dangers of an attack by the French upon Nova Scotia, early in the spring ; and praying for some naval assist- ance. These letters he sent by Capt. Ryal, an officer of the garrison lately captured at Canseau ; who, from his particular knowledge of Louisbourg, and his acquaintance with the great importance of acquiring Cape Breton, and preserving Nova Scotia, was able to be of considerable service to the northern colonies, before the Boards of Trade and Lords of Admiralty.t
Description of Cape Breton and Louisbourg.
The Island, Cape Breton,t is situated southerly of New- foundland, and separated from Nova Scotia, by a narrow strait, 6 leagues in length, called. the Gut of Canseau, which is navi- gable for ships of 40 guns. The Island is of a triangular form about 80 leagues in circuit ; its shores on the north and west sides are bold and steep ; but its south-eastern side is full of fine bays and harbors, affording anchorage for ships of the largest
* Douglass [1 vol. 318] says, " Vaughan was a whimsical wild projector- entirely ignorant of military affairs."-He " imagined 1,500 raw militia " with scaling ladders, and some small armed craft could reduce the place." Others give a good account of his abilities.
+ 2 Belk. N. H. p. 153.
+ 4 Charlevoix's N. F. p. 124-9.
CHAP. VIII.]
OF MAINE.
221
size. Louisbourg* is situated at the south-eastern part of the A. D. 1744. Island, about 20 leagues north of east from Canseau ; and covers a neck of land, on the south-westerly side of the harbor, which opens to the south-east. Its entrance is about 400 yards in width, between a small Island on the west, and Light-house point on the east, which are the outer defences of the town. In the harbor, the water is from 9 to 12 fathoms, and anchorage on a soft muddy bottom. The exterior of the town was two miles Exterior and an half in circumference. It was fortified on the south- the city. rampart of westerly side by a rampart of stone from 30 to 36 feet in height, and a ditch 80 feet in width; on the south-easterly side, along a space of 200 yards near the sea, it was secured by a dyke and a line of pickets, where the opposite water was shallow, and bordered by rocky cliffs which rendered the place inaccessible to shipping. It was defended on the east by a high rampart Fortress. and a wide ditch, with heavy cannon in a north and south bas- tion ; and on the north by a beach, between the shore and a pond, and also a battery and rampart. There were 6 bastions, and 8 6 Bastions. batteries, in all, with embrasures, for 148 cannon, (45, mounted) 8 Batteries. and 16 mortars. On the Island, at the entrance of the harbor, was planted a battery of 30 cannon, carrying 28 pound-shot, and on the main land at the bottom of the harbor, in front of the entrance, 4,800 feet from the Island battery, was the grand or royal battery of twenty-eight 42 pounders and two 18 pounders ; and on a high cliff and point opposite the Island battery stood the light-house. A little farther north-east was a careening wharf, Light-house secure from all winds, and a magazine of naval stores. The entrance to the town from the country was at the west gate, over a West gate. drawbridge, near to a circular battery, mounting 16 guns of 14 pounds shot .- The streets of the town, which were wide, crossed each other at right angles, and the houses were well built. In the centre of the chief bastion, on the west side of the town, was a large stone building, with a moat in the inner side, which was called the Citadel, within which were the Citadel. apartments of the Governor, barracks for the soldiers, an arsenal and a magazine, richly furnished with military stores. There were also two catholic chapels, one within, and the other with- out the citadel .- Such was Louisbourg, which the French had
* Lat. 15º, 55.
222
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1745. been engaged in building and fortifying 25 years, and which, though not completed, cost the Crown thirty millions of livres .*
January. Designs of It was this place, of such uncommon strength, as to be called capturing it. " the Dunkirk of America," that Shirley conceived the design of capturing, wild and impracticable as the enterprize might ap- pear. In the beginning of January, (1745,) orders were de- spatched by the ministry to Commodore Warren, then in the West Indies, to proceed to the northward in the spring, and em- ploy such a force as might be sufficient to protect the northern colonies in their trade and fishery, and distress the enemy ; and for this purpose to consult with Governor Shirley. Other orders of the same date were written to Shirley enclosed to Warren, directing him to assist the king's ships with transports, men and provisions.
The expedi- tion voted.
About this time, the Governor had fully determined upon the expedition ; and though lie had received no intelligence, what the ministry had concluded to do,¿ he requested the members of the General Court, to lay themselves under an injunction of secrecy, while he submitted to them a proposal of very great importance. As might be expected, the project met with pointed opposition, and was at first rejected ;- but upon reconsideration, it was car- ried, January 26, by a majority of one vote. It was supposed that 4,000 land forces, in conjunction with such a fleet as might be prepared by the colonists, would be able to compel a sur- render of the place.
Undertaken by New- England only.
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