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 4
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The apprehensions of a rupture with the Indians gradually sub- Resettle- sided ; and the hopes of a continued peace gave encouragement, country. and even an impulse to those engaged in the resettlement of Maine. But an undertaking so broad and difficult, after the deso- lations of ten years war, was attended with every discouragement. No mills, no inclosures, no roads ; but on the contrary, dilapidat- ed habitations, wide wasted fields, and melancholy ruins :- These were the dark shades with which to portray a map of this ill-fated country, at the present period. Deeds and the muniments of land-titles were either mutilated or destroyed ; and therefore to remedy, as far as possible, this singular evil, and prevent contro- versies, the General Court established a Committee of Claims, consisting of seven members, f some of whom were acquainted with the law, and all of them were men of intelligence and repu- tation. They appointed times and places for their regular ses- sions ; and after receiving and examining all titles and claims to
ment of the
Committee of Claims.
* 1 Belk. N. H. 245. - Great Island, however, was fortified not long after this period, and became a strong fortress. It was called " Fort William and Mary."
t The committee, were Samuel Sewall, John Walley, Eliakim Hutchin- son, Nathaniel Byfield, Timothy Clark, Samuel Phips, and Israel Tay .- 6 Mass. Rec. p. 158.
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A. D. 1701. lands in these eastern provinces, they, in obedience to their di- rections, reported their proceedings with facts, to the legislature.
May. Lt. Gov But the aspect of affairs, the next spring, 1701, being more apprehends dark and portentous, gave new and fresh damps to the ardor war. and fortitude of settlers. The peace in Europe appeared not to be settled. On the contrary, Lieut. Governor Stoughton, in his address to the two branches of the legislature, at their May ses- sion, told them, that from intelligence received, the clouds gath- ering over the eastern continent, seemed to forebode a returning storm ; and that extensive hostilities among the nations were se- riously apprehended. In such an alternative, it was foreseen, he said, that this country must be a large and suffering partaker ; and it would be gaining a great point "to fix the natives in his " Majesty's interest, and to prevent them from joining with the " French."
A visit to the eastern tribes.
For this purpose, several gentlemen, early in the season, visited the eastern tribes ; and in the important labors of reconciliation, met with considerable success. It was believed, much might be effected by sending protestant missionaries among them ; and in aid of this policy, king William established " A Society in Eng- land for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts."
Jealousy of the French.
Never had the American French looked with a more invidious eye than at present, upon this castern region. The Indians were tranquil ; settlements were reviving ; and the English people, en- gaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, were making great voyages. About 2,700 fishermen, and 220 vessels were employed this sin- gle year ; and they took and cured 200,000 quintals of fish, besides 4,000 hogsheads of train and liver oil. Old jealousies were not only awakened but increased ; and while the English colonies deprecated a war, the French seemed to desire it.
Deaths of Lord Bella- mont, Lt. Governor James II, and Wil- liam III.
What added peculiar interest to this important crisis, were the deaths of several distinguished persons ;- happening with- Stoughton, in a period, short of thirteen months. Earl Bellamont died at New-York, March 5, 1701 ;- the Governor of that Colony, Mas- sachusetts, New-Hampshire and Maine. Always " condescend- ing, affable and courteous ;" and professing to be "of the most moderate principles in religion and government," he rendered himself universally popular. His death was followed by that of Lieutenant-Governor William Stoughton, who deceased July 7th, leaving a character justly ornamental of the various important
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CHAP. 1.] OF MAINE.
offices he had so honorably filled. These events committed the A. D. 1702. executive reins and management, for the first time, to the Coun- cil, acting by majorities of members present, never less than a quorum. Also at St. Germains, Sept. 16, died James II. having now more than twelve years since abdicated the British realm. His son, surnamed in England, the " Pretender," immediately aspired to the throne of his father ; and the French monarch by declaring in his favor, enkindled anew the flames of war. For, as the Pretender was a catholic, the English nation had resolved to limit the crown to the protestants of the royal line, and finally concluded to settle it upon Anne, princess of Denmark, another daughter of James, and sister to Mary, the late wife of William, -whenever there should be need of a successor. The event was at hand, as king William died March 8, 1702; a monarch deeply lamented by lis American, as well as British and Dutch subjects. As Anne immediately ascended the throne, she only delayed till the 4th of May, to publish a declaration of war against France. May 4. Her ministry persisted in asserting an exclusive ownership of the Anne's war Queen with Sagadahock Province, and a common right with the French, to France. the navigation and fisheries of the Acadian seas.
This doctrine so much disrelished by Villebon, was utterly con- Difficulties temned by Brouillon, his successor. Countenanced by him, the with the son of le Bourgne revived an ancestral claim to the easterly sec- French. eastern tion of the great Acadian peninsula ; and as soon as he heard of war, he exacted of every English vessel, 50 crowns, for license to trade on that coast .* The New-Englanders were so highly affronted by this and other aggressions of a similar character, that they sent out vessels, with orders to make a general sweep over these waters. Consequently some of the wrongdoers they seized-some they drove into the woods,-nor were they hardly restrained from hanging up one Capt. Baptiste as a pirate .¡ Even the Nova Scotia Indians, on the rumor of war, seized three fish- ing vessels, belonging to Massachusetts ; and if they, through the interposition of Brouillon, were restored, Callieres fully justified himself for exciting the Indians to hostilities .- By his treaty with the Five Nations, three years before, he had acquired great credit
* 40 Univ. Hist. p. 135.
{ Univ. Hist. p. 148 .- Brouillon, declared, ' if they did not desist, he ' would amply avenge himself by reprisals.' VOL. II. 5
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A. D. 1702. as a negotiator ; and he said, the Indians, who were proprietors of the eastern country, had long since committed themselves to the French as their protectors ; while the English were intruders upon their property, and invaders of the French jurisdictional rights.
Gov. Dud- ley's arrival at Boston.
Queen Anne commissioned JOSEPH DUDLEY, EsQ. Governor of Massachusetts, Maine and New-Hampshire, and Thomas Povey, Lieutenant-Governor ; both of whom arrived at Boston on the 11th of June. Mr. Dudley, a native inhabitant of Massa- chusetts, had been as well her agent at the British court, as a colonial assistant, and the president of New-England. He was one of the mandamus Council in Andros' administration, who was seized in the revolution of 1689, and confined twenty weeks. He was afterwards Chief Justice of New-York ; and returning to England, was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Wight, and elected member of Parliament for Newtown, before he received his present commission.
The Gov. recom- mends re- building the aquid.
Governor Dudley, according to instructions from the crown, very strongly urged the General Court, in his first speech, to fort at l'em- make appropriations for rebuilding the fort at Pemaquid. The foundations (he said) were entire,-most of the walls were stand- ing,-lime in great plenty could be made in the vicinity ;- the entrenchments remained, and if a garrison were established there, it would be the means of keeping possession of the country, and affording relief in emergency. Besides all this, he expected, the Queen would probably, at the expense of the crown, man it with a hundred soldiers. He wished to see the eastern provinces in a flourishing and safe condition ; and he did not hesitate to say, that in his opinion, Port-Royal itself might be captured, by two ships and a thousand men. But the House of Representatives opposed building the fort. They thought the Province unable to bear the expense ; and if the establishment were renewed, it must be maintained, and a wider seaboard defended ; Falmouth being the remotest eastern settlement yet revived since the last war.
May, 1703. Negatives 5 Council- lors.
At the general election in May, 1703, the Governor gave his negative to five of the new elected Council ; who were men of talents, popularity and influence. But he remembered the part they acted in his arrest and imprisonment, fourteen years before, and he was not disposed to repress his resentments. In other re- spects, he manfully applied his splendid abilities, his courtly man-
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ners, and his extensive knowledge, to render all the acts of his A. D. 1703. administration acceptable to every class of people.
As hostilities between the English and French crowns had A rumor of Indian hos-
commenced in Europe ; a war with the Indians appeared inevit- tilities. able. The first intelligence he received of a meditated attack, was from Lord Cornbury, Governor of New-York. He stated, that if the stories of the christian natives were worthy of credit, a mixed army of French and Indians, were preparing to make a descent upon Deerfield, and perhaps upon some other frontier settlements in Massachusetts, or possibly in Maine.
ley confers with the Sagamores, June 20th, at Casco.
Full of solicitude to know the temper and disposition of the Gov. Dud- eastern Sagamores, Gov. Dudley sent them messages, by which he requested them to meet him on the 20th of June, upon Casco peninsula in Falmouth. Attended by a considerable retinue, consisting of gentlemen belonging to the legislatures of Massa- chusetts and New-Hampshire, and many other respectable indi- viduals, he had the pleasure of a conference with a large delega- tion from the Penacooks, the Sokokis, the Anasagunticooks, the Canibas, and the Tarratines .* All the Indians appeared to great advantage. They were well armed,-handsomely clad,-some of them fancifully decorated-and the most of their faces so painted, as to give them looks truly terrific. Probably no one tribe was so fully represented as the Anasagunticooks ; for about 250 of them arrived, in a flotilla of 65 canoes. A tent was spread, large enough to enclose and accommodate the Governor and his attendants, with the principal Sagamores and Sachems. Among these, when seated, the English promiscuously dispersed themselves ; being not wholly without apprehensions for their own safety.
The Governor, arising, addressed the Indian assemblage to this purport :- I have come to you, commissioned by the great and ence. good queen of England. I would esteem you all as brothers and friends. Yes, it is even my wish to reconcile every difficulty, whatever, that has happened since the last treaty .- After a short interval, Capt. Simmo, the chief speaker, gravely replied ;
* The Sagamores were Adiwando and Hegen, Penacooks ; Wattanum- mon, of Pegwacket [Saco] ; Mesambomett and Werar. from Androscoggin ; Morus and (another) Hopehood, of Norridgewock ; Bomaseen and Capt. Samuel, of Kennebeck; and Warrungunt and Wanadugunbuent, from Penobscot .- Penhallow's Indian Wars .- 1 Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. p. 20.
The confer-
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A. D. 1703. -- We thank you, good brother, for coming so far to talk with us. It is a great favor. The clouds fly and darken-but we still sing with love the songs of peace. Believe my words .- So far as the sun is above the earth ;- are our thoughts from war, or the least rupture between us. They then presented the Governor with a belt of wampam,-the usual token of sincerity and good faith ; and received at his hands several flattering pres- ents, with much apparent satisfaction. The parties then repaired to two stone pillars or heaps of portable rocks, pitched at a former treaty, called by the significant name Two Brothers, where the solemn professions of friendship were further ratified by the addi- tion of other stones.
The parley had evidently been commenced by the Sagamores, with some degree of reluctance. Wattanummon said, their council was incomplete. Consequently, wishing to have the treaty embrace as many tribes as could be drawn into it, the Gov- ernor submitted to some delays in the negotiation, which was in progress two or three days, before it was finished. Several sub- jects were discussed ; and it was finally agreed, that trading houses should be established, the price of commodities stated and settled, and an armorer provided at the public charge. Boma- seen and Captain Samuel, frankly acknowledged, that " several " missionaries from the friars, lately among them, had endeav- " ored to break the union and seduce them from their allegiance " to the crown of England, but had made no impressions on them, " for they were, (he said) as firm as the great rocks, and should " continue so as long as the sun and moon endured."
The conclu- sion.
The happy conclusion of this interview was confirmed by firing a grand round on each side. In this ceremony, the Indians were requested to take the lead. They admitted the compliment and fired first. Their treachery was now abundantly manifest ; for it was perceived that their guns had all been loaded with bul- lets :- so charged, probably with intent to have made the En- glish the victims of the negotiation, had they not been promiscu- ously seated in the general meeting, among the Sagamores. Ac- cessions of 200 French and Indians, three days afterwards, con- firmed the suspicions, that in the delays requested, the Sagamores only awaited their arrival, when, with their aid, they would have probably seized the Governor and his attendants, and sacrificed
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CHAP. I.] OF MAINE.
the inhabitants at pleasure. If these circumstances, however, A. D. 1703. cast no just imputations upon the fidelity of the Indians, " every " thing assumed the promising aspect of a settled peace." As usual on such occasions, they made themselves merry with sing- ing, dancing, and raising loud shouts, or acclamations of joy.
The result of the conference on the whole, greatly revived the Hopes of desponding hearts of the people, and enlivened their hopes, that continued this country might escape the awful destiny of another Indian war. peace. " The eastern inhabitants, says Mr. Penhallow,* who before had " thoughts of removing, were now encouraged to stand their " ground ; several more were also preparing to settle among them, " partly from the fertility of the soil, the plenty of timber, the " advantage of fishery, and several other inducements ;"+ as well as from encouragements offered them by proprietors and by gov- ernment. But all these prospects were mere illusions, which subsequent events speedily dissipated.
* His " History of the wars of New-England with the eastern Indians." -p. 5.
The population of New-England has been variously estimated :- In 1692, at 200,000 .- 39 Univ. Hist. p. 323 .- In 1696, at 100,000, and in 1701, at 120,000 .- 2 Holmes' A. Ann. p. 31-54 .- In 1750, at 354,000 .- 2 Doug. Summ. p. 180. These cannot all be correct. The quotas of men to be fur- nished in 1701, [1 Belk. N. H. 246, Note *] to assist New-York against the Indians, were thus :- Mass. and Maine. 350 ; Connecticut, 120; Rhode Island, 48; New-Hampshire, 40 ; New-York, 200 ; East and West Jersey, 120; Pennsylvania, 80; Maryland, 160, and Virginia, 240 .-- But the popu- lation of Massachusetts, in 1742, was 164,000 ; of Rhode-Island, in 1738, 15,000 ;- the towns of New-Hampshire, A. D. 1699, were only five. Hence the probable population in New-England, A. D. 1703, was at least 150,000 ; -- viz.
Massachusetts, 70,000
Rhode-Island, 12,000
New-Plymouth,
15,000
New-Hampshire, 12,000
Connecticut, 35,000
Maine, 5 or 6,000
120,000 -1-
30,000 == 150,000.
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CHAPTER II.
The third Indian war-The French draw some of the Eastern Tribes to St. Francois and Becancourt-The Colonists and In- dians -- Mischief done by the latter ; and the former despoil the habitation of Castine the younger-The Indians attack at once, 5 of the eastern towns-The enemy repulsed at Casco-Black- point, York and Berwick attacked-Bounties for scalps-Pe- quods stationcd at Berwick-Col. Church's 5th E. Expedition- Saco fort defensible-Hilton's scout-Exchange of prisoners- Illicit trade to Nova Scotia suspected-Gov. Dudley urges the rebuilding of the fort at Pemaquid-Mischiefs done at York and Kittery-Indians tired of the war-Hilton's feats at Black-point -Col. March's expedition against Port-Royal-Attacks on the re- maining towns in Maine-A smart skirmish at Saco-Also at Berwick-Miseries of Maine-Rumors of a contemplated attack from Canada-Nicholson's proposed expedition against Port-Roy- al-Gor. Dudley's remarks-Port-Royal captured, changed to Annapolis, and Vetch appointed Governor-Mission of Living- ston and the younger Castine to Quebec-Attacks by the Indians -Chiefs go to England-Expedition against Canada fruitless- 26 persons killed in Maine-Skirmish at Wells-Treaty of Utrecht-Peare negotiated with the Indians at Portsmouth- Incidents of the war-Character of Bomasecn, Assacombuit and Castine the younger.
wars.
A. D. 1703. AN Indian war always has associations, which strike the mind The Indian with pain. So shocking to the attributes of humanity, are the cir- cumstances, which frequently attend its progress, that were ca- lamities, cruelties, carnage and suffering, or even personal exploits and hardships, its only characteristics, it might justly be consider- ed a burden to history. But every war with the natives, devel- opes facts and peculiarities, worthy of the notice it claims. It has its own features and own cast of character.
1st, or king Philip's war.
The first one would have been a fair sample of savage war- fare, had not the Indian warriors used firearms, instead of the bow and arrow. Skulk, ambush, surprize and massacre, were its traits and footsteps, from beginning to end. They fought single-handed, without the arts or aid of Europeans. Their
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numbers were respectable, and their motives comparatively noble. A. D. 1703. For though their design was partly to avenge themselves of in- juries ; it was principally to disperse the obtrusive settlers, and recover their entire native country. King Philip's war was short, continuing only about three years. By a long one, they are al- ways tired and exhausted. The time chosen by them for closing it, was in the height of their successes, when they could com- mand for themselves an honorable peace.
The next war was in a great degree instigated and managed 2d. or king by the French; who had made themselves thoroughly acquaint- war. William's ed with the disposition and habitudes of the Indians, and the springs by which their subserviency could be completely control- led. The Jesuits had strongly infected their superstition and pre- judices, with papal fanaticism. The Canadian French had en- titled themselves to great merit, in the estimation of the Indians, by furnishing them with arms and ammunition,-leading them to war,-fighting by their side,-and helping tliem to achieve vic- tories. Campaign, siege, undermining, and other arts of war- fare, were taught and promoted ; captives and scalps were con- sidered the greatest trophies ; premiums being offered and paid for them by the French .- The latter was a long war, lasting about ten years ; for after they had sued for peace and entered into treaties, French artifice was able to give the savages an effectual impulse to acts of treachery, their vengeance was re- kindled, and their minds inflated with new-formed expeditions.
Another, called Queen Anne's war, now opened under circum- 3d, or stances differing from either of those preceding. A short inter- Anne's war. Queen val of peace had, in no considerable degree, recruited the strength of the Indians. They saw that their tribes were thinned ; and that they had gained nothing permanent by former wars. Every hope of enjoying their native land, freed of white men, was full of despondency. Their fathers had conveyed extensive territories, and what was recovered in war, if any thing, was presently lost in peace, if 'not actually resigned by treaty. They agreed with the French, in their aversion to the English, and in a hatred of their free politics and religious sentiments ; and when such passions, in minds undisciplined, are inflamed by fanaticism, they know neither restraint nor limits. All their acquaintance with the arts of civilized life, seemed rather to abase, than ele- vate their character. They made no advancements in mental
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A.D. 1703. culture, moral sense, honest industry, or manly enterprize. In- fatuated with the notion of catholic indulgences, they grew bolder in animosity, insolence and crime ; their enmity was more im- placable ; their habits more depraved ; and a keener appetite was given for ardent spirits, for rapine, and for blood. Dupes to the French, they lost all regard to the sanctity of treaty obliga- tions ; and Indian faith among the English, became as proverbi- ally bad, as the Punic, among the ancient Romans. Their natu- ral love of country had degenerated, and their fire of patriotism was evidently abating.
The French.
Becancour and St. Francois.
Aware of the fact, and observing the Indians averse to wars, which reduced their numbers, without any other considerable emoluments or rewards, than the few spoils taken, Callieres,* the Canadian Governor, adopted a new expedient, which was ardently prosecuted by M. de Vaudreuil, his successor. They persuaded the shattered tribes to collect and settle at Becancourt and St. François in Canada ;- two small rivers, which empty into the St. Lawrence on the southerly side,-the one formerly the Perante, about 80, and the other 90 miles above Quebec. The Indian village of Becancourt is situated at a small dis- tance above the mouth of the river ; consisting of several wig- wams in a cluster, favored with a chapel, and accommodated with a ferry over the St. Lawrence to Trois Revieres on the op- posite shore. That of St François on the eastern side of the same river, six miles from its mouth, is " a most eligible sit- " uation." It soon became a large hamlet of wigwams, adorn- ed with a chapel and parsonage-house, and furnished with a mis- sionary and interpreter.+
The French draw the shattered tribes to that place.
To these places, the French had the address to draw the wan- dering Wawenocks, the Sokokis, the Anasagunticooks, and also the Algonquins, from Trois Revieres ; who, intermingling, formed what have since been called " the St. François Indians." At these places, designed to be the rendezvous of the natives, the French intended to command their trade and plunder ; to plan their excursions, and direct their motions against the English fron-
* He died, May 26, 1703. Vaudreuil, late Governor of Montreal, was a man of abilities superior to any of his predecessors .- 40 Univ. Hist. p. 136.
+ Jeffreys, p. 9-11 .- T. Hutchinson's Topograph. Description, p. 67 .- Bouchett's Canada, p. 339.
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tiers ; and likewise to make them a defence against the Mohawks, A. D. 1703. in case of war with that people .* At present the latter were in a state of neutrality with the French, who were determined, in the opening war, to avail themselves of this and every other ad- vantage. Their remarkable successes, in the late one, were, in the eagerness of anticipation, only preludes to complete victories.
In these savage wars, the English settlers and their assistants 'The English fought altogether on the defensive. All parts of the country hold- colonists. en under charter or purchase, or broken from a wilderness into fields of partial cultivation or clearing, were considered by the men of this generation, as rightfully belonging to them in fee .- Here were their only homes, and even the birth-places of many, whose attachments to the country were enlivened by natal patriot- ic ardor. Duty as well as inclination impelled them to defend it, at every hazard and every sacrifice. Though torn or driven away from it in the late war, they had determined not to abandon it ;- their spirits were not fatally broken, nor their courage subdued. Personal exertion, intrepidity and exploits had often reflected im- perishable honor even upon their defeats. Valor is in truth fre- quently more genuine when personal ; and human nature shines with brighter lustre, when the merit is individual. Many of the dead were mantled in glory, and the living, though anxious for a continuance of peace, were not backward to put on armor, when- ever duty or country might require. They believed, however, if the Indians were left to themselves, they would not recommence hostilities.
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