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 43
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He leaves for England.
* This was William Cushing. The other Judges were Peter Oliver, Edmund Trowbridge, Foster Hutchinson, and William Brown. Judge Oliver went to England and lived several years on a pension from the crown. The Courts were shut about 16 months.
t Except John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Note .- The appellations, WHIG and TORY, are well known to be political expletives from the politics of Great Britain, whose origin may be traced to the last ten years of the Stuart dynasty, perhaps to the year 1680. In those times of bitter dissension, the Court party or Royalists reproached their antagonists with their affinity to the fanatical conventiclers in Scot- land,-known by the name of Whigs; while the country party found a resemblance between the courtiers and the popish banditti in Ireland- who were called Tories .- 6 Hume, p. 140 .- Sce ante, vol. 1. p. 602 .- [Note, §.]
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CHAP. XVI.]
CHAPTER XVI.
The war of the revolution-Falmouth-Col. Thompson and volun- teers seize Capt. Mowett-He is discharged-Displeasure and conduct of the multitude-Third Provincial Congress issue bills of credit-Gen. Washington, Commander-in-Chief-Other officers -Distress of the eastern people-Capt. Buck takes charge of Fort Pownal-Tarratine Chiefs pacific-Duddington visits Fal- mouth-He and Coulson leave the harbor-Eastern regiments and troops-Littlefield, Deputy Commissary-General for the eastern counties-The agents return from Canada-Exploits at Harps- well and Machias-Provincial Charter resumed-Councillors- Acts of the General Court-Representatives-All commissions va- cant after Sept. 19, (1775)-General Court first issue paper money -Defence-Falmouth laid in ashes by the enemy under Mowett- Statement of the selectmen-Falmouth visited by a British ship of war under Symonds-Eastern towns defended-Gen. Mont- gomery captures Montreal and proceeds against Quebec-Ar- nold's expedition thither through Kennebeck-Repulsed-General Post Office-New appointments of civil and military officers- Militia reorganized-Style of all legal papers changed-The British leave Boston-Troops raised in Maine-Declaration of Independence-The advantages of it.
As the events of the American Revolution have been given to A. D. 1775. the public by several able writers ; it will be the design of the The war. present compiler, to confine himself essentially to such partic- ulars of it, as relate to the History of Maine.
Falmouth, the seat of justice for Cumberland, and the re- Falmouth. motest custom-house established in New-England, was the me- tropolis of the eastern towns, in population, business and wealth. Here was an episcopal church, where Rev. Mr. Wiswell was the ordained clergyman ; and where all the crown officers with those of the customs, and their political friends, usually attended public worship. At the court-house were frequent county Conventions, formed of men most distinguished for their love of liberty, and their independent sentiments ; whose resolutions and measures were designed to exert an influence upon the opinions of the in-
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A. D. 1775. habitants in the adjoining counties, as well as in their own. These measures, boldly supported by one class of citizens in town, and as boldly condemned by their opponents, opened a severe warfare between the parties ; and when reported with exaggerations to the officers, who commanded the British war ships on the New-Eng- land station, excited very bitter resentments towards Preble, Freeman, Parsons and the town itself ; and prompted a most jeal- ous and hostile scrutiny into their conduct. In short, Falmouth was denounced by adversaries, as a younger member of the same rebel family with Boston.
Col. Samuel Thompson.
Among the zealous whigs of these times was Samuel Thomp- son, of Brunswick or Topsham, a Lieutenant-Colonel of the mili- tary, and a member of the Provincial Congress. Though well formed in stature and countenance, and quite acceptable to his acquaintances, as far as wit and pleasantry could render him so ; and though a zealous whig and a military officer, who possessed a kind of boldness and courage which was specious ; he was not a suitable man to be entrusted with a difficult enterprize. For coolness, consistency and foresight were by no means such dis- tinguishing properties of intellect in him, as to qualify him for a leader or chief commander.
May 9. He and volunteers seize Capt. Mowett and others.
Yet being informed that Capt. Mowett was often ashore in Fal- mouth, he conceived the design of making him a prisoner. For this purpose, he and a company of 50 or 60 volunteers, landing at Sandy-point, on the eastern part of Falmouth peninsula, May 9, secreted themselves from view, in a neighboring copse of trees. Their appearance was more rural than martial ; they having for a standard a spruce pole, tufted at the top with limbs of green foliage ; and each one, for a plume in his hat, having a sprig of evergreen. To prevent a discovery, unknown as his plan and situation were to the town's people, he detained such of them as happened to pass near him, till Capt. Mowett, his surgeon, and Rev. Mr. Wis- well, regaling themselves in a walk that way after dinner, fell into the ambush, and were all three taken into custody. Mowett was tormented with chagrin ; for he knew his imprudence in leaving his ship, might ultimately cost him his commission .- Thompson also had the greatest reason, soon to call in question the wisdom and expediency of the exploit ; for he had acted without orders ; and presently found he had filled the municipal authorities with fearful apprehensions for the safety of the town. Seizing upon
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CHAP. XVI.]
the occasion, Hogg, the sailing-master of the Canseau, being A. D. 1775. on board when he heard the news, wrote to the Committee of Inspection, that if Capt. Mowett and his companions were not set at liberty within two hours, he would lay the town in ashes.
A scene instantly opened of wretched consternation; for the Great con- fears of a furious cannonading seized every heart in the village. ensued. sternation Females burst into cries and tears ; some gathered their children and fled from their houses ; some put their goods into country- men's carts, without even asking the drivers' or owners' names ; and there were individuals bedrid, who were hurried away from home with so much haste, as to endanger their lives. The act itself of Thompson, was generally considered a rash one, and the tories thought the prisoners ought to be rescued by the mi- litia.
Admitted to Thompson's quarters, the first characters in town He refuses expostulated with him, pressing upon him the consideration, that the prison- to enlarge the exploit, which decided nothing, exposed the town to ruin, ers. and urging him to set Mowett at liberty. But he continued inex- orable. He said there was open war between Britain and the Colonies ; and the prisoners, whom Providence had put within his power, ought not to be discharged. Suspicious there might be a rescue, or some other violence attempted, Edmund Phinney of Gorham, Colonel of the minute-men, who happened to be in town, issued orders for two or three of his companies to appear there in arms.
To avoid the chills and winds of the night in the open field, Mowett and Thompson consented to have himself and party escorted by the discharged the others Falmouth Cadets to the dwellinghouse of one Marston ; where, on parol. through excessive importunity, he was induced about two hours after dark, to give the prisoners their parol, taking Gen. Preble and Col. Freeman, pledges for their re-surrender by nine in the morning. Never did man express himself in more grateful terms to deliverers, than Mowett did, to the town's people and his guar- antees ;- and then returning to his ship, instantly discharged all who had been taken and detained as reprizals. But the volunteers were highly affronted, when informed of Mowett's discharge. Being happily joined during the night, by Phinney's companies from Gorham and Windham, and most of the militia from Scar- borough, Cape-Elizabeth and Stroudwater, about 600 men, they all appeared determined to attack the Canseau in the morning,
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A. D. 1775. provided Mowett continued in the harbor and did not surrender himself.
But it seems, he regarded his liberty as a man, more than his return, and honor as an officer ; for he broke his parol, and left his pledges He failed to his sureties were seized. to be seized and thrown into confinement. Mr. Wiswell then appeared and declared, that though he was ready to die in a good cause, and thought the church of England worth the sacrifice, he was an unbeliever in the doctrine of passive obedience and non- resistance, and thought Great Britain had no right to tax the Colonies. But when Mowett's pledges, Preble and Freeman, in- formed him, that by the forfeiture of his word, 'their lives and estates were at stake ;' he undertook to justify the Captain's con- duct, stating that he had been told-' if he were again seen on ' shore he would be cut in pieces.'
The officers hold a coun- cil.
The military officers present, in the next place, resolved them- selves into a committee of war, and ordering Preble and Freeman to be brought into the chamber, compelled them to furnish at their own charge, the necessary food and refreshments for the soldiers ; voted by a large majority, that the Canseau ought to be destroyed ; and proceeded to call before them for examination, all those who were suspected of being adherents to the crown. Mr. Wyer, brought in by a file of men, was forced to make an humble apology, for saying the militia ought to have rescued Mowett. Capt. Pote, though prepared to defend himself unto blood, was taken and laid under bond of £2,000, to answer be- fore the next Provincial Congress, for his treacherous conduct.
Acts and dispersion of the multi- tude.
The collection without, were by no means free from tumult ; and the officers being aware of the insubordination, and of the slender command they had over the men, rose and separated. The multitude had, during the night, as it appears, rifled Coul- son's dwellinghouse, and converted it into barracks, and now a party of about 100 men, drew his boats through the streets to Back Cove, with shouts of triumph and defiance. Believing William Tyng, the high-sheriff, to be a tory, they carried off his laced hat and his " Bishop," as they called it, being a piece of plate thought to be worth, at least, £500 old tenor ; which they said they would hold as a pledge for the owner's good behavior. These were among the last acts of their indiscretion. They mostly left the peninsula before night on the third day ; and Mowett's threats, to hoist the proper signals for a cannonade, if
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the " mob," as he called the assemblage, did not disperse, were A. D. 1775. of course not carried into execution. Plausible excuses or palli- ations might easily be framed for the people's conduct on this emergency. There was a scarcity of corn, owing partly to the embarrassments of trade, and the enemy's presence in the har- bor. The people felt injured and were exasperated. Yet, if it could be deemed good policy to seize Mowett and detain him a prisoner of war ; it was certainly unwise to set him at liberty, without hostages from the ship. He knew the inhabitants of Mowett leaves the harbor. Falmouth were not partakers in his arrest ; his whole conduct, as he perceived, had thrown him into a sad dilemma ; and when the multitude had dispersed, he weighed anchor, and accom- panied by Coulson in his own ship, departed for Portsmouth .*
The third Provincial Congress was convened at Watertown, May 13. May 31, consisting of 245 members. Doct. Joseph Warren, cial Con- was chosen President, and thirteen of the ablest men appointed gress. a ' Committee of General Safety.' A continual intercourse was kept up between this and the Continental Congress, then sitting at Philadelphia ; 26 regiments were filled up; the proper officers of every grade appointed and commissioned, and every prepara- tion made for resisting an expected attack ; the British army hav- ing been lately and largely re-enforced by fresh troops, under eminent officers, such as Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton. The First bills Continental Congress emitted bills of credit to the amount of al money. three millions of Spanish milled dollars, for defraying the expen- ses of the war; pledging the faith of the TWELVET UNITED June 15: COLONIES for their redemption ; also, June 15, chose GEORGE G. Wash- ington, command- WASHINGTON, Esq. Commander-in-Chief of the American army. In a few days, the same Congress appointed Artemas Other offi- Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam, Major- cers. Generals ; Horatio Gates, Adjutant General; and eight Briga- diers. Being respectfully requested by the Provincial Congress to give their advice, what form of civil government was proper to be established for the Province, in her novel and peculiar situ- ation, the Continental Congress, recommended the reassumption
3d Provin-
of continent-
er-in-chief.
* Smith's Jour. App. of Mr. Freeman, p. 30, 41-7 .- As Mowett was seized, it is pretty certain, that so long as he was detained a prisoner the town would not be injured. His imprisonment, so long as it lasted, was evidently an indemnity to the town.
t Georgia acceded to the confederacy, in July, 1775,-the 13th colony. VOL. II. 54
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A. D. 1775. of her charter, and precepts were accordingly issued for an elec- tion.
Distress of the eastern people. The greatest sufferers next to Boston, hitherto, since the rup- ture, were the eastern towns and settlements .* The people were unable to raise corn and grain sufficient for their support; there were few calls for wood and lumber ; and a messenger, coming to Falmouth from Deer Isle, eastward of Penobscot, gave a most melancholy account of the dearth and distress, in that quar- ter. He represented, that according to reports, numbers of chil- dren had actually died of hunger and cold, many families were without bread, and unless relief were immediately extended to them, they must either leave their abodes or perish. Nay, a memorial was actually sent to the Provincial Congress, from the inhabitants upon the bay and river Penobscot, stating their great distress for provision, and equally their destitution and want of arms and ammunition. That assembly, therefore, recommend- ed to the Committee of safety and correspondence at Newbury- port, or in any other town, to send and exchange with them at moderate prices, two or three hundred bushels of corn,-for fuel or lumber, in a spirit of charity and friendship. Capt. Jonathan Capt. Buck, the people's Buck, at Eastern river, [now Bucksport,] a very worthy man, agent, ap- pointed to take charge nal. and one of the memorialists, was designated by them as the of Fort Pow- trustee and almoner of presents, if any were made; and he was also appointed the Provincial agent to take from Capt. Gold- thwait, the superintendant of Fort Pownal, the keys, the arms, and whatever else remained, since Mowett had dismantled it.+
Tarratine Chiefs visit Falmouth on their way
The Indians caused some anxiety ; for a report was circulated that a party of them had been seen at Androscoggin, consulting to the Pro- what course it would be their interest to pursue in the present vincial Con- gress. war. It was at this juncture, that Mr. Lane, the messenger to Penobscot, arrived at Falmouth, with four Tarratine Chiefs or Captains, Orono, Jo Peare, Poreis, and one other, on their way to the Provincial Congress. Mr. Gilman, their interpreter, who spake their language with ease and fluency, represented Orono, as a man of good sense, and a hearty friend to the Americans; and he himself appeared to be well affected towards their cause. The
* There were petitions to the Provincial Congress from Fox Island, Machias, Waldoborough, and other towns .- Prov. Con. Records .- Hon. S. Jones' Letter.
¿ Records of 3d Prov. Con .- MS. Let. of H. Little, Esq.
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people provided for them a carriage, horses and money to help A. D. 1775. them on their journey to Portsmouth ; entertaining a strong be- lief, that by generous usage, the tribe might be indissolubly at- tached to the interests of the Colonies.
About the same time, the sloop of war Senegal, of 16 guns, June 12. commanded by Lieutenant Duddington, entered the harbor of Puddington Falmouth, attended by two tenders, and deliberately anchored ; mouth, at Fal- followed by Coulson, June 12, who gave his vessel a berth under shelter of the Senegal's guns. Supposing he intended to take in a cargo of masts and spars, the Committee of Safety consulted upon the subject ; and a party of men, probably at their instance, towed them to a place beyond his reach. Indeed, the Provincial Congress had given orders to prevent the tories from carrying ' their property or effects out of the country.' Tyng, the Sheriff, went on board Coulson's ship, when they both requested leave of the Committee, that their wives, who were in town, might be allowed to visit them. But, though the women were not profess- edly detained as hostages, the request was not granted, till Dud- dington informed the Committee, that he was only ordered to protect the persons and property of his Majesty's faithful subjects, not to distress them. Afterwards five of Coulson's men and his boat were seized, just below Presumpscot bridge, and ultimately Coulson He and released upon his promise to leave the harbor ; and in a short harbor. leave the time, he and Duddington departed .* All these scenes were se- vere trials to the people of Falmouth. To give countenance to the enemy, was treason ;- to resist, was rendering the town ob- noxious to the destroyer. Philip Crandell of Harpswell, coming into town, told, that he on a trip to Salem, had been carried a prisoner before Admiral Graves, who declared, if Coulson was not permitted to load his vessel, ships should be sent there to lay the rebel town in ruins.
If the antagonists in this war panted for an occasion to try their June 17. courage and strength, it had arrived ; as the battle of Bunker battle. Hill, or rather Breed's Hill, which happened on the afternoon of Saturday, June 17, is one of the most memorable events recorded in American History. During the engagement the British brought to the field 3,000 troops, and lost in killed and wounded 1,054; the Americans had 1,600, whose loss was 139 slain, and 314
* Tyng probably at this time left the country.
Bunker Hill
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A. D. 1775. wounded and missing. In this action there were several soldiers from Maine .*
The eastern seaboard.
Col. Scam- mon's and Phinney s regiments.
The open and exposed condition of the eastern seaboard, lined with scattered villages or settlements, from Kittery to Pas- samaquoddy, and vulnerable in a thousand places, was sufficient to fill the people with the greatest solicitude. Men were leaving home for distant scenes. Recruiting officers met with due encouragement by free enlistments. Col. Scammon's regi- ment was already in service ; that of Col. Edmund Phinney was nearly complete, and Capt. Bradish had actually left Falmouth to join the army at Cambridge. The service of military guards upon the frontiers or in the seaports, was too inactive and in- glorious, to gratify the emulation of the ardent soldier. He pre- ferred the camp and the siege. The interposition of the Provin- cial Congress, in this behalf, having been besought, the Assembly ordered, that four hundred of Phinney's regiment should be marched to the camp in Cambridge; that the residue be under Troops east- the immediate command of Col. Freeman of Falmouth, and be ward. stationed at such places, on the seaboard, in the counties of Cum- berland and Lincoln, as he and Gen. Preble of the same place, and Major Mason Wheaton of St. George's river, should appoint ; that the Grand Committee of Supplies furnish the troops with provisions, conformably to the allowances established ; and that the towns in those counties supply them with ammunition, to be replaced whenever the Provincial magazine should be sufficiently J. Littlefield replenished. Capt. James Littlefield of Wells, was appointed Deputy- Commissa- ry-General
Deputy Commissary-General for the three eastern counties ; and for the three the Committee of Supplies, were directed, during the recess of eastern counties. the Provincial Congress, to grant such succors out of the public stores, to any of the eastern inhabitants applying, as might be deemed consistent with the general interest, and needful for their relief.+
The In- dians.
To the Indians, the Provincial Congress paid special attention, calling those at Penobscot 'our good brothers ;' making them val- uable presents, and directing Messrs. Preble and Freeman to
* Namely, Seth Spring and Joseph Leland of Saco, and many others. Jeremiah Hill of Saco enlisted a company for three years service and led them to Boston. He joined Col. Vose's regiment. In the Penobscot ex- pedition, 1779, he was Adjutant-General .- Folsom, p. 264.
| Provincial Congress Records, p. 142-273.
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CHAP. XVI.]
furnish the truck house at Fort Pownal, with all such goods and A. D. 1775. provisions, as might suit the tribe, and to continue a traffic with them, such as had been theretofore practiced .* Jabez Matthews Matthews having returned from Canada, reported that some of the Indians and agents and a few of the French bailiffs, whom they saw, treated him return. to Canada and his companions roughly ; yet the French people in general, were kind and benevolent ; several of their women having been the means of their relief from confinement. 'So far as I could obtain ' information, (said he) through the medium of an intelligent 'French interpreter, I have the best reasons to believe, that the « Canadians were " determined not to come out against us." ' Should they continue quiet, there would probably be no rupture ' with the neighboring Indians.'
There were some other circumstances, about this time, that had The people an encouraging influence upon the eastern people. The fall of plentiful showers changed the withering aspect of nature to fresh- ness, and opened a prospect of good crops. The long desired arrival of corn and flour, too, administered abundantly to the ne- cessities of the people ; and intercourse between place and place was encouraged. Yet the inhabited Islands, and the smaller set- tlements were frequently severe sufferers, from the plunder and abuse of the enemy. For instance, a picaroon boat, command- An exploit ed by one Hammon, visited an Island of Harpswell, inhabited by at Harps- a single family, whom he and a crew of seven men rifled of their effects, in the night time ; concluding then, to rest in the house till daylight. Having a hint of the affair, Nehemiah Curtis, commander of the militia in the western part of the town, rallied a party, and before morning took the boat and the crew, and carrying the prisoners to Falmouth, caused them to be confined in the county gaol. Hammon, however, as soon as his plau- sible stories had procured his liberty, proceeded again to the same Island, with a larger vessel and a much larger crew. Here Cur- tis with a company of volunteers, once more engaged his enemy ; and in the smart skirmish that ensued, one of the plunderers was mortally wounded, and the rest made a precipitate retreat. Cur- tis thus proved himself one among the number of brave men, whose exploits and merits, so much adorned the revolution.t
*Prov. Con. Rec. p. 146 .- Father La Juniper Barthuaine, "Recollect" mis- sionary to the Tarratine tribe of Indians. t MS. Let. of Rev. Mr. Eaton.
encouraged.
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A. D. 1775. The affair at Machias, of similar character, acquired to the Exploits at inhabitants of the plantation much credit. The place, though it Machias. had been settled only twelve years,* now contained " about eighty families and one hundred single men."+ Capt. Ichabod Jones of Boston, whose wife and daughter were with their kin- dred at Machias, obtained leave of admiral Graves to freight his vessel with provisions, and carry them to the settlement ; upon condition of returning with a cargo of wood and lumber for the British troops. Jones was accompanied thither by the Margra- netto, an English schooner, armed with four or five 4 pounders in the hold, several swivels mounted, and a sufficient number of hand granades ; being commanded by midshipman Moor, a relation of the Admiral. On their arrival in the west branch, Jones had a meeting of the settlers called, early in June, who took a view of their destitute and remote situation, and passed votes to permit his vessel to load. But Benjamin Foster and a party from East river, conceived the bold design of making the British officers their prisoners, while attending public worship on the Sabbath ; and likewise the Margranetto their prize, while lying below the point formed by the confluence of the West and Middle rivers. As he and his party, however, passed over armed, to the southerly side of the West river ; the officers discovered them, and barely avoided seizure, by going instantly on board. Perceiving their danger, they moved down their schooner and anchored near the Foster and mouth of the river. As Foster was thus disappointed in his first O'Brien with two parties of volunteers attack the Margranet- 10. object and plan, he sent for Jeremiah O'Brien, and his sons, with whom he held a consultation in the woods, two miles below O'Brien's house ; when it was concluded to make an attempt upon Moor's schooner. Foster and his party, therefore, took a coaster in Eastern river, and O'Brien and his party took Jones' largest sloop in the West river, and having prepared for action, both proceeded down the rivers, on Wednesday, some armed with muskets and some with pitchforks, and manoeuvered to lay their vessels along side of the enemy's schooner and board her. To prevent it, several hand granades were hove at O'Brien, Fos- ter and their companions, also several swivels and muskets were discharged at them, by which two of O'Brien's men, McNeil and Coldbeth were killed, and two or three others were badly
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