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 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
* The number raised in the colonies was in very unequal proportions. New-Hampshire, 500 ; Massachusetts, 3,500 ; Rhode-Island, 300 ; Connecti- cut, 1000 ; New York, 1,600; New-Jersey, 500; Maryland, 300; Pennsylva- nia, 400, and Virginia, 100.
t Though the enlistments in Maine, at first, went on but slowly-" our
243
OF MAINE.
CHAP. IX.]
In the meantime, the Provincial troops, despatched two years A. D. 1746. since to Annapolis, returned home in good spirits ; and most of Provincial troops at those, (being about 1500,) retained at Louisbourg subsequent to Annapolis the conquest, through the persuasion of Governor Shirley, were four regi- relieved by relieved by two regiments from Gibraltar, and those of Shirley ments. and Pepperell," recruited under their new commissions. In May, Warren and Pepperell visited Boston, for the purposes of a gen- eral consultation, as to future measures ; when they and General Waldo were invited, June 24, into the Council-chamber, the Gen- eral Court being in session, and honored with a gratulatory address. Next there were raised for carrying on the war £82,000; and Appropria- tions for the war. to every recruit was offered, suitable bedding, a blanket, and a bounty of £30 old tenor ;- also the Massachusetts frigate and Boston packet were taken into employ. But the wages and clothing of the soldiers were expected to be paid by the crown. The General Court also authorized 700 oz. of silver to be offer- Mohawks. ed unto the Sagamores of the Six Nations, provided they would join in the war against the French, but they declined the offer. At the close of the session, the Governor, in an address to the two Houses remarks ;- ' The contiguity of the French to our June 28. ' borders, and their influence over the Indians, have always been Speech of the Gov. ' thought most pernicious to the interests of these colonies, and to as to Cana- da.
' threaten their final destruction, unless some method should be ' found, to subdue or remove such cruel and treacherous neighbors. '-This was the sentiment in 1712; and the cry, ever since the ' Canadian Province was delivered to France, has been, Canada ' est delenda .- It is a Carthage to the northern colonies, which ' if not destroyed, will in time destroy them. For while it is the 'enemy's, there can be neither security nor rest to New-Eng- ' land, especially to the parts contiguous to its borders.'
To relieve, in some measure, the eastern frontiers from the nor- Defensive rors of devastation and captivity, through the summer, to which force in Maine. they were constantly exposed ; 460 men were employed and dis- tributed in manner, not unlike that in the preceding year ; and an additional number assigned to the garrisons at St. Georges, at
" people being dispirited on account of the sickness, and their unfair " treatment at Cape Breton."-Smith's Jour. p. 43.
* One had now 700, and the other 500 men .- Governor's Speech, May 29, 1746.
244
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1746. Brunswick, and at Saco .* But in none of the Indian wars were the savages more subtle and inveterate, yet in none less cruel. They despaired of laying waste the country and expelling the in- habitants. They rather sought to satiate their revenge upon par- ticular individuals, or families ; to take captives and scalps, for the sake of the price or premium paid them therefor by the French ; and to satisfy their wants, by the plunder of houses, or slaughter of cattle ; a cow or ox being frequently killed by them, and nothing taken but the tongue.
April 19. 'The Indians bamtown. The first mischief they perpetrated this spring, in Maine, was attack Gor- on the 19th of April. A party of ten entered Gorhamtown, which at that time contained, besides those in the block-house, only four families, Bryant's, Cloutman's, Read's and M'Lellan's, with a design to take them all prisoners without firing a gun. For this purpose, the Indians formed themselves into five parties. One, proceeding to the field where Bryant and his son were at work, first broke his arm and then shot him dead : a second, sur- prizing his family, killed and scalped four of his children in a most barbarous manner,-beating out the brains of an infant two weeks old, against the fire-place, and taking captive the mother, whom they afterwards sold in Canada : a third, proceeding to Cloutman's house, met him on the way and made him a prisoner, but durst not go farther, owing to the report of the guns discharg- ed at Bryant : a fourth, hastening towards the dwellinghouse of M'Lellan, met Read, just as he left it, and after a severe strug- gle with him, who was an athletic man, they succeeded in bind- ing him : the fifth met with no success .- The assailants finding they had given an alarm, fled with great perturbation, unhurt, though pursued immediately by the men at the block-house. One Thorn was afterwards taken and carried to Canada, where he was detained a long time, till he acquired the Indians' habits.+
They de- stroy Broad- Determined entirely to destroy the settlements within the Sag- bay planta- adahock territory, a large body of Indians, in May, attacked the tion. May 21. German plantation at Broad-bay, [Waldoborough] and reduced the habitations of the people to ashes ; killing some, and carrying
* Jour. of House of Rep. 1746, p. 174, 238.
i MS. Let. of H. D. M'Lellan -Thorn, for instance, became taciturn- apt when walking to look back often over one of his shoulders-prone to start a little at every noise or rustle.
245
OF MAINE.
CHAP. IX. ]
others into captivity .* It subsequently lay waste till the close of A. D. 1746. the war. The enemy then fell upon the cattle at Pemaquid, and Outrages at made great havoc among them. Five persons at Sheepscot,
Pemaquid. when returning from meeting, were waylaid by fifteen Indians, cot. At Sheeps- and fired upon by particular aim, but through a remarkable in- terposition of Providence, one only was killed. Another, though mortally wounded, faced the savage, who was advancing to scalp him, and by a well directed fire, laid him dead at his feet. The other three made good their escape. At Wiscasset, they killed At Wiscas- 19 of the people's cattle, took Captain Jonathan Williamson set. prisoner, and carried him to Canada, where he was kept six months.| Next, there was a sharp skirmish between a scouting At St. Geor- party and a company of the English, near the fort at St. ges. Georges ; where, after one was killed and another wounded on each side, the enemy withdrew.
About thirty of the enemy, in detached parties, appeared to be Falmouth continually hovering around Falmouth and North-Yarmouth, and infested. watching every motion of the inhabitants. Seven of the savage foe, seeing a company of laborers at work near Long-creek, (Stroudwater) fired upon them under such circumstances of ad- vantage as to kill two, whom they scalped and stripped of their clothes. They also took three guns, and were fighting the other laborers from the field ; when the soldiers, at the fort in Falmouth, alarmed by the report of guns, rushed unexpectedly upon them, and pursued them, till they concealed themselves in the thickets. In no war before, had they appeared more daring and desperate. Coming near Frost's garrisoned house at Stroud- water, they manifested a design of attacking it, but were bravely beat off before they began the siege. Nay, one Indian, on a Sunday, ventured over into the heart of the village upon the pen- insula, as a spy ; who being seen, was fired at, and then chased to the woods. These, and some other daring acts of the Indians, induced the people without delay to erect another block-house for the common defence.}
To finish what is to be related of the Indians and their depre- The residue dations this season ;- it was, we may add, ascertained, that the warfare this of Indian same party, between 30 and 40 in number, probably the rem- season.
* Some fled to Pemaquid, some to St. Georges, &c .- Eaton's MS. Nar.
p. 10. + MS. Letter, M. Davis and R. Sewall, Esqrs.
# Smith's Jour. p. 33.
246
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1746. nants of the Sokokis, Anasagunticook and Canibas tribes, with a few Frenchmen, were the perpetrators of all the mischief done in Falmouth and its vicinity, this summer. For they were often seen, and pursued, swamps were searched, and some of them were wounded. But they were perfectly acquainted with the country, its by-paths and hiding-places ; also with the abodes, plans and habits of the inhabitants,-easily eluding their pur- suers, who were always suspicious of an ambush. The places which the savage parties most assiduously infested were Merri- coneag, North-Yarmouth, Falmouth and Scarborough-where one of Mr. Proctor's family, young Greely, one Stubbs, a sol- dier, and several others were killed; the particulars of whose August 13. deaths have not been preserved. On the 13th of August, two Frenchmen and an Indian, shot at Allen Dover, as he was trav- elling through the marsh at Black-point, who returned the fire, and by appearances, killed one of them. The last attack in the eas- tern Provinces, of which we have any knowledge, occurred, Aug. August 26. McFar- tation laid waste. 26, in the vicinity of Pemaquid. John McFarland, enjoying the land's habi- pleasures of rural retirement, remote from the garrison, on a plantation he had rendered flourishing and fruitful by his own industry, was at length assailed by the savage destroyers ; who killed his cattle, laid entirely waste his habitation and fields, and wounded him and his son, leaving them half-dead .* It was ob- servable, however, that very few comparatively, thus far, in this Indian war, had been killed on either side. The parties well knew how to avoid each others' devices and attacks ; and the English, finding the great advantage to be derived from keen- scented, or furious dogs, kept great numbers of them, and were followed by them in their scouts, and also in chasing the enemy.
Canada and Nova-Sco- tia.
About this time, the attention of the Indians, as well as of the Provincials-seemed to be drawn towards Canada and Nova Sco- tia, as armaments and expeditions, of uncommon magnitude, were expected soon to proceed thither. Gov. Shirley, Sept. 9, rep- resented to the General Court, that ' there were probably in Nova ' Scotia a mixed population of 30,000,{ consisting of Acadians,
Population of Nova- Scotia.
* Jour. of House Rep. 1747.
t Query, if this estimate be not too high ?- There were, however, in the plantations of Minas only, about 7,000 souls in 1750 .- 1 Haliburton's N. S. p. 152.
247
OF MAINE.
CHAP. IX.]
' French and Natives, all Roman Catholics, who could furnish A. D. 1746. ' 6,000 able to bear arms and take the field ; the most of whom ' were ripe for a revolt, and only waited a favorable or safe ' opportunity ; and great fears were entertained, if these were ' joined by the great body of Indians at Penobscot and Kenne- ' beck, they they would, under the auspices of the French, make ' themselves masters of Annapolis and of the whole country of ' Nova Scotia,-then overrun the eastern Provinces, and New- ' Hampshire, and scarcely meet with an effectual check, even at ' the river Merrimack.' Orders therefore were issued for the troops raised in Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, and New-Hamp- shire, to embark for Annapolis, and " drive the enemy out of Nova Scotia." What less or what else could be attempted ?- Since through long suspense, fearful apprehensions, inactivity and delays, the public at large had now been suffering most se- verely, two full months. The lapse of the season must itself short- ly frustrate the expedition to Canada ;- neither military forces, nor official orders arrived from England ;- therefore the col- onists were involved in a sad dilemma and deep concern.
At this juncture, the whole country was thrown into the utmost consternation, by the arrival, Sept. 12, of a large fleet and army at Nova Scotia, from France, under the command of the Duke French fleet D'Anville, a nobleman of great experience and ability. He an- d'Anville. under Duke chored in Chebucto Harbor, [now Halifax.] The fleet, when it put to sea from Brest, 90 days before, was the most powerful one ever sent to North America. It consisted of 70 sail ;- of which there were 11 ships of the line, 20 frigates, 5 ships and brigs, and 34 The force. fireships, tenders and transports ; having on board 3,150 well dis- ciplined troops, and immense quantities of provisions, ammunition, and military stores. The Duke had previously sent Constans with three ships of the line and a frigate, to convoy the trade at Hispan- Disasters. iola, who, according to orders, afterwards visited Chebucto ; but hearing nothing of the Admiral, after waiting a long time, sailed for France. The Ardent and Mars, both of 64 guns, being shat- tered in a storm, put back for Brest, and were finally captured ; also the Alcide, another 64, receiving great damage, bore away for the West Indies. The forces from Canada, about 1,700 men, regular troops, militia, volunteers and Indians, all waited till the time had elapsed for the arrival of the fleet ; and then they com-
Arrival at Halifax of a large
248
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1746. menced their returning march to Quebec. The Duke, however, sent expresses after them ; yet 400 only were overtaken in time to admit of their return. From three ships of the line, and 6 or 7 transports, a landing was at length effected ; when it was found, that they had lost 1,270 men on the voyage, and the rest were so sickly, as to be unable to undergo the least fatigue. These com- plicated misfortunes and disasters so overwhelmed the Duke, that on the fourth day, subsequent to his arrival, he died. In a coun- cil of war on the 18th, the vice-admiral proposed an immediate return to Brest ; but a majority joined de la Jonquiere, Govern- or of Canada, the third in command ;- concluding to attack Death of the two chief Annapolis, before the fleet left the coast. Hence, the chagrin, French offi- this occasioned, in connexion with the other disappointments, cers. threw the vice-admiral into the deliriums of a fever, and he fell on his own sword.
Sickness of the French.
The malady among the troops, proving to be a scorbutic fever, very mortal, continued to rage with such violence, that 1,130 of the troops died after encampment. Meanwhile the Indians, flock- ing thither in great numbers for arms, ammunition and clothing, took the infection, which preyed upon them, till it carried off more than a third part of the whole Mickmak race, and extend- ed to the tribe at the river St. John .*
An English fleet expect- ed.
It was reported, that the French fleet would be followed to America by a large squadron of English ships ; and Shirley, believing it from letters received, sent an express to communicate the fact to Admiral Townsend at Louisbourg. But it was inter- October 11. cepted, and opened in a council of French officers, Oct. 11, and found to read thus-Admiral Lestock, with a fleet of 18 sail, has been ordered to North-America, and may be hourly expected .-- Has- French fleet leaves the coast. tened by this news, a part of the French fleet, consisting of 40 sail left Chebucto on the 13th, for Annapolis : but being overtaken by a most violent storm, off Cape Sable, they were so shattered, weakened and dispersed, that they returned singly to France. Remark- able deliv- erance of the English colonies. ' Never,' says an able and pious writer, ' was the hand of Divine ' Providence more visible, than on this occasion,-never a dis- ' appointment more severe on the side of the enemy,-never de- " liverance in favor of this country more complete without hu-
* " A most ravaging sickness prevails among the Cape Sable and St. " John's Indians."-Governor Shirley's Speech, Nov. 7, 1746.
CHAP. IX.] OF MAINE. 249
' man help.'* A christian community, ascribed the praise of A. D. 1746. their success and salvation, the last year and the present, to that Almighty Being, who caused the stars in their courses to fight against Sisera, and ever controls the destinies of man .- Most appropriately might be repeated the pious sentiment in a blessing craved by the good minister of York, t at a festival commemorat- ing the capture of Louisbourg, who was once concise to the ad- miration as well as disappointment of all present ;- ' Good Lord, ' (as he expressed himself,) we have so many things to thank thee ' for, that time will be infinitely too short for it; we must there- ' fore leave it for the work of eternity. O bless our food and ' fellowship upon this joyful occasion, for the sake of Christ Jesus 'our Lord.'
As soon as Ramsay, who had been sent by Jonquiere, with a A French small army to Minas, heard that the fleet had sailed for Annap- Ramsay olis, he returned to Chebucto ;- and it was afterwards thought Chebucto. returns to by many, highly important to route him from that place, as Gov- ernor Mascarene, in particular, represented to Shirley, that 1,000 men could drive the whole force from the peninsula, or compel a surrender.
force under
Hence Massachusetts was induced to vote 500, Rhode-Island Provincial 300, and New-Hampshire 200 men, and make the attempt. ceed to Mi- troops pro- Those of Massachusetts and Maine, to the number of 470, be- nas. sides officers, soon proceeded to the Bay of Fundy ; but were unable to reach Minas [Horton] by water, which was situated on the south shore, 22 leagues eastward of Annapolis, on account of the advanced state of the winter. Therefore, they were all land- ed, Dec. 4, on an uninhabited shore, some 8 or 10 leagues west of it, with 14 days' provisions, which each man carried on his back. After eight days of inconceivable fatigue, they arrived at Grand Pre, or Lower Horton,-12 leagues north-westerly of Chebucto, where Ramsay was encamped.
Supposing themselves secure from attack during the rigors Ramsay of winter, they quartered themselves in an unguarded manner. with 600 marches Ramsay, soon apprized of their situation, prepared for a march ; them. and after performing a tedious journey of 22 days, across the country, at the head of 600 men, including Indians, he arrived in
* 2 Belk. N. H. 180 .- Afflavit Deus, et dissipantur .- Shirley's Speech. -Jour. H. of Rep. 1746, p. 165. + Rev. Samuel Moody.
VOL. II.
32
250
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1747. sight of the town. Dividing then his men into several parties, January 31. he attacked the English about three of the clock in the morning, A battle.
January 31, under covert of a violent snow storm. An obstinate and bloody battle ensued, which lasted till Col. Arthur Noble, the commanding officer of the English,* also four of his commis- sioned officers, and seventy soldiers were killed, and sixty wound- ed ;- a part of them being butchered by the Indians in a barbar- The Eng- lish capitu- late. ous manner. Deprived of their valiant commander, and over- come by superior numbers, the English capitulated on terms- by which they were allowed to march off, with only six days' provision, their arms, colors, and music, a pound of powder and a few musket balls; agreeing not to bear arms in Minas nor They march Chignecto, for six months. They then proceeded through the to Annapo- lis. country to Annapolis, encountering incredible hardships. Such was the sequel of this battle, though fought with a valor and obsti- nacy which would have covered them with glory, had it terminat- ed successfully. It was a wild enterprize, and owed its origin principally to Shirley and Mascarene.
A force vot- ed and put eral Waldo
Another project of Shirley's, equally wild, was an expedition under Gen- against Crown Point, in midwinter ; which through his influence, the General Court promoted, by raising a force of 1,500 men, who were put under the command of General Samuel Waldo. But the expedition was prevented by the smallpox, and other obstacles ; so that the troops continued inactive and under pay eight months longer.
A pruden- tial com- mittee.
Early and ample provision was, in 1747, again made for the defence and encouragement of the eastern inhabitants. A com- mittee of five trustees were appointed in different parts, to remu- nerate the soldiers, who had continued in the public service ; to billet out on generous terms, all such as were content not to leave their posts, for visits on furloughs ; and to dissipate all thoughts, the inliabitants might entertain of abandoning their habitations. A bounty of £40 was offered for every French as well as Indian
Bounties of- fered.
* The town of Nobleborough in the county of Lincoln, was so named in compliment to Col. Noble, or his family. His brother James Noble, Esq. was claimant of a large tract in that town; made conveyances and sur- veys; and after this war, his nephew, Arthur Noble, probably the son of the brave Col. Noble, lived in the plantation, and gave the town its name. James Noble married the widow of William Vaughan, who after the cele- brated siege of Louisbourg, died in England .-. MS. Let. of E. Rollins, Esq.
251
OF MAINE.
CHAP. IX.]
prisoner, and £38, for a scalp. This was designed as a retalia- A. D. 1747 tion upon them, for their barbarity in killing men, women and Retaliation children at their homes and taking their scalps, as trophies of Frenchi. against the their diabolical exploits. The government also assured the Gov- ernor of Canada, that if this unchristian and bloody mode of warfare, was not immediately and effectually checked; the cruel- ties would be avenged upon the French inhabitants, wherever they could be found.
It was however represented by the Governor, that there were April. employed in the last war, about 850 men for the protection of the the eastern frontiers, when the places to be covered or protected, were much country. fewer in number than at the present time ; and that the inhabit- ants would withdraw, unless the settlements were well guarded. Hence the Province-sloop was sent to range the eastern coast. Thirty men were assigned to the garrison at St. Georges ; 370 appointed to scout between Berwick and Damariscotta; and General Waldo was ordered to detach from his regiment, enlisted for the Canada expedition, 168 men to relieve 182, who had long been in the public service eastward. In short, 150 were detailed as minute-men, to take the field on the shortest notice. A premium, extravagant as it was, of £250 was offered, for every scalp taken westward of Passamaquoddy; and £100 for every one elsewhere taken .*
The first appearance of the Indians, this spring, was in small April 13. parties, as heretofore, intrepidly venturesome and daring. They began by killing young Dresser at Scarborough, April 13; by taking at Saccarappe, the next day, William Knight, and his two sons, prisoners. Within a week, Mr. Eliot, and his son were slain ; and Mr. Marsh carried into captivity. A body of 50 In- dians entered Falmouth, on the 21st, and after slaughtering sev- eral cattle, fell upon the family of Mr. Frost; whom, while fighting them with great courage, they despatched, and then carried off captive, his wife and six children. They were pursued by several expert marksmen, though without ability to overtake them. Equally unsuccessful was a company of 26 young volunteers, under Capt. Ilsley, belonging to Falmouth ; also two scouts from Purpooduck, and another from North-Yarmouth, that went with great courage and spirit in search of the enemy.
Defence of
Mischiefs of the Indians.
* 16 Mass. C. Rec. p. 312.
252
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A.1) 1747.
By the 1st of May, the whole frontier from Wells to Tops- ham, appeared to be infested by swarms of savages. It was a time when the fears and distresses of the people were easily ag- gravated, because the recruits for the summer campaign had not arrived. If, therefore, we except Capt. Jordan's company of 30 men, who were posted at Topsham, the inhabitants westward were now left unassisted in their defence. Aware, probably, of this fact, the Indians shewed uncommon activity and alertness. Near Falmouth, they killed two women ; at New-Meadows, a man, Mr. Hinkley ; at Scarborough, they fired upon an inhabi- tant ; and at Wells, they chased a man into the heart of the town. As three men and a woman were crossing the Androscoggin in a canoe, from Brunswick to Topsham, the Indians firing upon them, killed two of the men and badly wounded the third, the woman only escaping unhurt .*
Attack on Pemaquid.
A large company of about 100, next made their appearance in the territory of Sagadahock ; and on the 26th of May, com- menced a furious attack upon the fort and people of Pemaquid. This was a severe encounter, in which five soldiers of the gar- rison, and five recruits belonging to Purpooduck, were killed, and three others, who were inhabitants of Falmouth, were taken pris- oners ; Lovell and a lad only escaping, the former three being dangerously wounded. About this time, they made an assault On Dama- riscotta. Capt. Wil- upon a house at Damariscotta, took the owner a prisoner, and slew his wife and daughter. They also seized again Capt. Jon- liamson tak- athan Williamson of Wiscasset. He was an emigrant from the en prisoner. west of England, and one of the earliest and most respectable settlers in his neighborhood.t It seems, that he and two others went out to search for their cattle ; when the party, waylaying them, permitted his companions, who were before him, to pass un- molested ; taking him into custody by main strength without of- fering him any injury. Suspicious of their ill-will, possibly to- wards him in particular, he wished to know the reason of their partiality. They told him, they were on an errand from the Governor at Quebec, who was desirous of seeing a prisoner, able to give intelligence of the enemy's movements or plans.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.