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 7
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They arrived at Quebec, December 16th, and reached Albany Their inter- February 23d, on their journey homeward ; bringing with them, the Gov. at view with as the fruits of their most fatiguing and hazardous mission, only Quebec. a letter from Vaudreuil, in which he says, 'never have the ' French, and seldom have the Indians, treated their English cap- ' tives with inhumanity ; nor were the French, in any event, ac- ' countable for the behavior of Indians. But,' added he, ' a truce, 'and even a neutrality, if the English had desired it, might ' long since have terminated the miseries of war; and should " any retaliatory measures be adopted by the English, they will ' be amply revenged by the French.'
The conquest of Nova Scotia, which has ever since been a Nova Sco- British Province, was an event highly important and interesting Province. to the Provinces of Maine and Sagadahock. For it laid the long controverted question asleep, about boundaries ; the royal charter of William and Mary being definite enough upon that subject, as it respected the dividing lines between territories of
tia a British
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A D. 1710 the same crown. Likewise the eastern country and coast, after this, became far less exposed to the depredations of the Indians, inasmuch as a contiguous Province could no longer be their hiding place.
Till this period, as it will be readily perceived, the history of the Sagadahock Province has been so intimately blended with oc- currences in Nova Scotia, that a narrative of events and affairs in the former, could not be understood, without tracing also the chain of events which have transpired in the latter .*
But neither the conquest of the Acadian Province, nor yet the desires of the Sagamores to negotiate a peace as proposed by them more than a year since, did wholly deter the Indians from committing mischief and even taking life. For early in the The Indians spring, they killed Benjamin Preble of York ; and, August 2, a at York and Saco; and scout under Wallon. party of 50 French and Indians, slew a woman at Winter-Har- bor, and took two men prisoners-one of them, Pendleton Fletch- er, whom the garrison redeemed, had been three times before taken captive. A week after this, a larger company visited the Saco, killed three, and carried away six. To amuse themselves, they actually took the skin from one of the slain and made girdles. Still later, about the time they visit their " clam banks," Col. Walton, having returned from Port-Royal, proceeded at the head of 170 men to reconnoiter the eastern shores. At Sagadahock, he took a Sagamore of Norridgewock, his wife, and a number of their companions, decoyed or drawn to him by the smoke of the soldiers' fires. The Sagamore was so surly, and so deaf to every inquiry, that the friendly Indians were permitted to dis- patch him. Farther east the scout came across three, and made them prisoners ; and on their return to the Saco, either killed or took five more. On the other hand, the Indians, seizing one Ayres, presently dismissed him, and sent him to the garrison, at fort Mary, with a flag of truce, requesting a pacification.
Nicholson solicits a force against. Canada.
But nothing at this time was desired with half so much ardor and avidity, as the entire conquest of Canada. Such an event would secure to New-England perpetual quiet ; and Col. Nich- olson after his return from Port-Royal, proceeded to England, and again urgently besought the crown for assistance. To pro-
* For while Nova Scotia was subject to the French, they claimed pos- session as far westward as to Kennebeck, and actually occupied as far as Penobscot.
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mote his purpose, he took with him five Mohawk Sagamores ; A. D. 1711. who, when arriving in the kingdom, attracted universal attention. The higher orders of the people were anxious to see them, and the mob flocked in crowds after them, wherever they went. Even little portraits of their faces, were stricken off,-hundreds of which found a ready sale in the streets. As the court were then in mourning,* the Chiefs were clad in black at the royal charge ; and in lieu of blankets they were mantled with scar- let cloaks, edged with gold tinsel. In this costume, they were conducted in two coaches to the palace of St. James, by the Lord Chamberlain, who introduced them to her Majesty. In the few remarks made, one expressed himself to this effect :- Should you take the Canada country, and put the French under your feet, it would give us great advantage in hunting and war. Let your princely face shine upon us. We are your allies. We will never turn our backs-never leave our well beloved country. We all stand firm-nothing shall move us.
To the surprise and joy of the colonists, Nicholson returned June and to Boston, June 8, 1711, followed by a fleet consisting of 15 fate of the ships of war, 43 transports, and 6 store ships, under Admiral expedition. Walker ; bringing seven veteran regiments of the Duke of Marl- borough's army, and a battalion of marines. These troops and two New-England regiments of 650 recruits, formed the army, which was provided with a fine train of artillery. The arma- ment left Boston, July 30; but unfortunately, eight transports were wrecked in the St. Lawrence, upon Egg-Island, where about 1,000 men perished. The officers were so disheartened by this disaster, that they abandoned the expedition and return- ed, full of disappointment and chagrin,t and yet obnoxious to the severest stricture and obloquy. It was a most disastrous event. It even emboldened the Acadians to revolt ; nor would any consideration probably have induced them to lay down their arms, had they been able to find an experienced and skilful com- mander to lead them against Port-Royal, and into fields of victory.
But the conquest of Nova-Scotia, and the great expedition against Canada gave a turn to the views and movements of the cruise on
July .- The
Three of our sloops
the eastern coast.
* For Prince George, the husband of Queen Anne .- Hume.
+ 2 Charlevoix's N. F. p. 355-361 .- 2 Brit. Emp. p. 273-6.
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A. D. 1711. Indians, highly favorable to the frontiers. For though in the winter of 1710-11, three sloops in the pay of Massachusetts, carrying 180 men, ranged the eastern coast,-they saw neither a Frenchman nor an Indian. The same number was led by Col. C'ol. Wal- ton's enter- prise. Walton, during the autumn, as far eastward as Penobscot; yet he only made a small number of Indians his prisoners, and burnt two or three vessels, designed for cruisers or privateers. There were however, a few renegado Indians still strolling over the country, and three or four men were killed in Maine, this season. Two of these fell in Wells, while at work in the field ; and one in York, who was fishing in a pond, his companion at the same time being severely wounded. Reviving and returning to the garrison, he told how he and his deceased friend were waylaid by five Indians ; one of whom, running at him with great fury, knocked him down, scalped him, cut him deep in the neck, and evidently thought him expiring. But, said he, I retained my senses perfectly ; I neither struggled nor moved ; and in this way escaped death.
A. D. 1712. 'Twenty+six killed.
The next year, 1712, was much more calamitous and event- ful to the distressed inhabitants of Maine; about twenty-six be- ing killed, wounded or taken captive in York, Kittery, and Wells. The enemy first appeared at York ; and, in April or May, shot Samuel Webber, between that village and Cape-Neddock. Anoth- er party fell upon several men with teams, in Wells ; when three were killed and as many wounded. Among those who fell, was Lieut. Littlefield, a brave and valuable man, whose death was deeply lamented .* He had for a long time commanded the militia company of his town. He was an ingenious, useful citi- zen and a skilful engineer, especially in waterworks. He had been taken a prisoner four years before, carried to Canada, and lately ransomed from his captivity. The Indians soon after were bold and daring enough to penetrate into the heart of the town, where they caught and hurried away two of its inhabitants with shouts of triumph. The repetition of these desperate adven- tures, was enough to wither every hope, and fill every heart with despair. No age, no condition, no place, could enjoy the least rest or security. One boy was killed and another taken about this time at Spruce-creek, in Kittery.
* Supposed to be the same Josiah Littlefield, who represented Wells in the General Court, A. D. 1710.
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As a scouting party was marching from the garrison at York, A. D. 1712. towards Cape-Neddock, May 14, it was assailed by a body of May. 30 French and Indians ; when Nalton, the sergeant, was shot, York, Kit- and seven others seized and confined. The commander and the Berwick. tery and survivors fought on a retreat, till they arrived at a great rock. This sheltered them from the fire and fury of their pursuers, and enabled them to keep their ground, till relieved by Capt. Willard and a flying guard from the fort. Every motion and movement of the inhabitants seemed to lie under the inspection of a lurking malignant foe. John Pickernell, at Spruce-creek, was shot June 1, as he was locking his door, on the way with his family to the garrison. His wife, also, was wounded, and a child scalped, that ultimately recovered. Seven weeks after this, a man was killed at Berwick, another at Wells, and a negro taken captive. The black soon escaped, probably by the Indians' consent, for they always had a mortal aversion to negroes.
But the last memorable skirmish with the enemy, which oc- Skirmish at curred in Maine, before the close of this tedious predatory war, wedding oc- Wells, on a casion. happened in the autumn, at Wells. It was on the wedding day of Capt. Wheelwright's daughter. To witness the nuptials, a considerable number of guests were present, some of whom had attended Mr. Plaisted, the bridegroom, from Portsmouth. When the marriage was consummated, and the attendants were prepar- ing to depart, they were informed that two of their horses were missing and could not be found. Several proceeded immedi- ately in search of them, two of whom were shot down at a short distance from the house, and others seized by savages. Alarm- ed at the report of guns, Captains Lane, Robinson, and Heard, despatched twelve men from the garrison, across lots, to meet or intercept the assailants ; while they themselves, in company with Mr. Plaisted and his friends, mounted the bridled horses, and gave them whip and rein in pursuit. But in a few minutes, these all fell into an ambush ; Robinson was killed on the spot-the rest were dismounted, and yet every one of them, except Plais- ted, effected an escape. As this event was in degree afflictive to the guests and the bride, so much the more triumphant was the savage party in the possession of their valuable prize. How-
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A. D. 1713. ever, in a few days he was redeemed by his father, though the extravagant ransom demanded and paid, exceeded £300 .*
March 30. Treaty of Utrecht.
The cessation of hostilities, being the next news from England, was published in Boston, Oct. 27, and followed by the celebrated treaty of Utrecht, signed March 30, 1713. By the 12th article, " all Nova-Scotia, or Acadia, with its ancient boundaries, also " the city of Port-Royal, now Annapolis Royal, and all other "things in these parts," ' belonging to the crown of France, or ' any subjects thereof, and also the inhabitants of the same, are ' resigned and made over to the crown of Great Britain forever :' and in May, the whole of the country was actually and formally surrendered to the English, having ever since been under the government of that nation.
N. Scotia conceded to the English.
'The Indians desire peace.
This closed the scene of blood. The Indians had long been impatient for peace. Some of them visited Casco fort, as soon as the joyful tidings of a pacification arrived, and requested an armistice. At the winter session, the General Court concluded to receive the eastern tribes into favor, upon their humble acknowl- edgement of the offences they had committed, a renewal of their allegiance, and a subscription by their chiefs to such arti- cles of treaty as the Governor and Council might dictate or re- quire. High ground was now manifestly taken by Massachu- setts ; for she even demanded hostages of the Indians, for the faithful performance of their stipulations, and required them to be supported at their own charge. These were, it is true, rigid terms, but it was thought their treachery deserved severity.
July 11. The treaty of Ports- mouth.
By a request of the Sagamores, presented through Capt. Moody, at Casco garrison, to the Governor, he appointed a con- ference to be holden, July 11, at Portsmouth. Accordingly, his Excellency and 20 Councillors, viz. 9 from Massachusetts, 9 from New-Hampshire, and 2 from Maine,t accompanied by other gentlemen, met the sagamores and delegates from the rivers St. John, Penobscot and Kennebeck, at the time and place appointed, and entered upon a negotiation. Though the Indians upon the Saco, Merrimack and Androscoggin, were not express- ly represented by tribes, being mixed with the motley clan at St.
* 3 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 140.
t These were John Wheelwright and Ichabod Plaisted.
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Francois ; they were nevertheless all declared by the delegation A. D. 1713. present, to be included.
In this treaty, they acknowledged their offences, renewed their allegiance, and made fair promises. They conceded to the English all their territorial settlements, possessions and rights in the eastern country, free of every claim,-with a reserve of nothing, except the Indians' own grounds, and the "liberty of " hunting, fishing and fowling, and all other lawful liberties and " privileges, as enjoyed on the 11th of August, 1693," when the treaty was made with Gov. Phips. Trade was to be regu- lated by government, truck houses established, and the Indians never to be allowed a traffic at any other place. All future controversies were to be settled according to a due course of law and justice .- Eight Sagamores," then casting themselves upon her Majesty's mercy, prayed for her pardon and favor, and signed the treaty, July 13th, in solemn form ; each making con- nected marks, descriptive of the fish, bird or animal,t claimed as the insignia of their respective families.
To give the treaty a more extensive ratification, several gen- The ratifi- tlemen proceeded to Casco, where they found a large body of cation at Casco. Indians, waiting the result of the negotiation. Upon hearing the articles distinctly read and explained, by sworn interpreters, they expressed their united satisfaction " by loud huzzas, or acclama- "tions of joy."
Moxus was present, who pretended he was Sagamore of " all " the eastern parts, though he did not sign the treaty." Valua- ble presents were distributed to all the tribes represented, and also to him. The next day, however, he complained to the English, that the young Indians, for some reason, unknown to him, had purloined the articles .given him, and he hoped the English gentlemen would in their generosity, be free to make him other gifts. He was a chief of native subtlety, and his rep- resentation improbable ; for the Indians, especially those that are
* Those who signed, were Kirebenuit, Iteansis, and Jackoid, Tarratine chiefs of Penobscot; Joseph and Aeneas, Marachite chiefs of St. John ; Warraeensit, Wadacanaquin and Bomaseen, Canibas chiefs of Kenne- beck .- See articles entire, 1 Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. p. 82-86.
t Joseph's mark was a picture of a fish; that of Kirebenuit, a raven. This, Capt. Francis says, is the mark of his family.
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A. D. 1713. young, always treat their Sagamores and seniors with the utmost civility and respect.
'The condi- tion of Maine.
In this distressing war of ten years, Maine lost more than a fourth, perhaps a third, part of her inhabitants .* Numbers of them, full of discouragements, left the country, to see it no more. Some families had become entirely extinct ;-- and all the others were in mourning for friends, either dead or in captivity. The slender habitations of survivors, if not utterly destroyed, had de- cayed and become miserable. Their outer fields wholly laid waste, or neglected, were overgrown and full of wild shrubbery. There was now remaining scarcely a vestige of the fur trade, the lumber business, or the fisheries. What men call enterprise ex- cited no emulation. The virtues of the people in these times, were of another and higher order ;- courage, fortitude, and broth- erly kindness. These appeared in nameless exploits, and in thousands of occurrences every year. When the men, ever care- worn, were exhausted with toil and war, the duties of sentinels were performed by females, and the products of the field were frequently the fruits of their labor. Now the war was over, nothing so wrung the hearts of survivors, night and day, as their anxiety to embrace from captivity, their long-lost kindred and friends. Nor was there a lapse of many months, before a ship was despatched to Quebec, to exchange and redeem prisoners.t The ecstacy of those on meeting, can only be painted by the im- agination, not drawn by the pen nor pencil.
Exchange of prison- ers.
'The French
The French were prominent in the war when it opened. It then assumed something of campaign, siege, and battle ; and sev- eral French officers appeared among the Indians, as leaders or commanders. But they were never able to form the Indians into regular companies, nor bring them to military discipline or order. Unrewarded, neglected and ill fed, they would have abandoned the French two years before the close of the war, had not the attractives and ties of catholic superstition prevented.
The Indians, on the whole, were the principal sufferers by the war. More than a third part of their fighters, had within ten
The losses of the En- glish
* Maine lost, in killed and taken captive, 282. " From 1675 to 1713, " 5 or 6100 of the youth of the country perished by the enemy, or by dis- tempers contracted in the service."-2 Hutch. Ilist. p. 183.
It was not till the next year, when Messrs. Williams and Stoddard spent four months in collecting the English captives. Some never re- turned.
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years, wasted away or been killed ; and probably an equal or A. D. 1713. greater proportion of their women and children : So that among the remaining tribes of the Abenaques and Etechemins, the fight- ing men by estimation did not now exceed 300. Three tribes, the Wawenocks, Sokokis, and Anasagunticooks, had lost their distinction or provincial character, by a gradual decline and an association at St. Francois, with the Algonquins and others ; and hence they are not by tribes so much as named in the treaty. Hunted from their native country by foes, and allured away by pretended friends, they might justly bewail their cruel destiny. To the humiliating terms of the late treaty, they would never have submitted, had they not, through a consciousness of their poverty and distress, been ready to perish. Their strength and importance were broken, never to be repaired. In this war, the Indians manifested less malice, and were guilty of less cruelty, than in the two, which preceded. Nor did they exhibit charac- ters of equal notoriety and fame, with those in former wars.
Three of their most distinguished men were, Bomaseen, Assa- combuit, and Castine the younger ; though in the commencement of the war, Wagungonet and Capt. Tome are mentioned as leading Sagamores.
Bomaseen, now advanced in years, was a man of good sense Bomaseen. and humane disposition. In the last war, he was seized at Saco A. D. 1694, and carried a prisoner to Boston, where he was made acquainted with the principles of the protestant religion. He was a Canibas chief, and signed the late treaty.
The character of Assacombuit was peculiarly remarkable for its turpitude and ferocity. According to Mr. Penhallow, who was it. his cotemporary, none of " all the Indians that were ever known " since King Philip, have appeared so inhuman and cruel as As- " sacombuit." He was a "monster ;" or, as another says, " a " noted chief," " always dreaded by the English upon the fron- ' tiers, from the report of his demoniac cruelties.' He is sup- posed to have belonged to the Anasagunticook tribe. In 1705, Vaudreuil, to encourage the Indians in the war, sent him to France, and caused him to be introduced to the royal presence. He was an object of curiosity ; and when appearing at Court, he lifted up his hand and exclaimed,-this hand has slain 150 of your Majesty's enemies within the territories of New-England.
Assacombu
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A. D. 1713. This so pleased the unfeeling monarch, that he forthwith knighted him, and ordered a pension of eight livres a day to be paid him, during life. On his return home, he undertook to exercise a des- potic sway over his brethren, in which he murdered one and stabbed another, and thus exasperated their relations to such a degree, that they sought to take his life, and would have killed him, had he not fled and forever abandoned his country.
Castine the younger.
There was never a greater contrast, than between him and Cas- tine the younger .* This man possessed a very mild and gener- ous disposition. His birthplace and home were at Penobscot, upon the peninsula of 'Biguyduce, the former residence of his father. Though a half-breed, the son of Baron de Castine by a Tarratine wife, he appeared to be entirely free from the bigoted malevolence of the French, and the barbarous revengeful spirit of the savages. He was a Chief Sagamore of the Tarratine tribe, and also held a commission from the French king. By his sweetness of temper, magnanimity, and other valuable prop- erties, he was holden in high estimation by both people. Nor were the English insensible of his uncommon merit. He had an elegant French uniform, which he sometimes wore ; yet ou all occasions, he preferred to appear dressed in the habit of his tribe.t It was in him both policy and pleasure to promote peace with the English ; and in several instances where they had treated him with abuse, he gave proof of forbearance wor- thy of a philosopher's or christian's imitation. The great con- fidence they reposed in his honor and fidelity, as the com- panion of Major Levingston through the wilderness from Port- Royal to Quebec, was in every respect well placed and fully confirmed. He was a man of foresight and good sense. Per- ceiving how these wars wasted away the Indians, he was hu- mane as well as wise, when he bade earliest welcome to "the " songs of peace." These immediately drew home fathers and brothers, and " wiped away the tears" of their families. He thought his tribe happy only, when they enjoyed the dews and shades of tranquillity. In 1721, he was improperly seized, at 'Biguyduce, his dwelling-place, by the English, and carried to Boston, where he was detained several months. The next year,
* See ante, A. D. 1703.
+ 40 Univ. Hist. p. 180.
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according to Charlevoix," he visited Bearne in France,-to in- herit his father's property, honors, fortune and senioral rights ; from which country, we have no account of his return.
* Charlevoix [N. F. 4th vol. p. 117,] expresses himself thus ; " Il repas- sa peu de temps apre's en France, et ulla recueiller la succession de son pere en Bearn d'ou il n'est point sortie clepuis."
Note .- Capt. Francis says, the younger Castine's residence, was at Marchebigaduce, (as he pronounces the word,) and farther states, that he had a son, whom he called by a French name Robardee, whose daughter's son, Capt. Sokes, is now one of the captains of the Tarratine or Penob- scot tribe. Francis mentions some traditional particulars of Baron Cas- tine; stating that " he lived at the same place ;"-" was a great trader ;" -" sold the Indians guns and powder," &c.
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CHAPTER III.
The late war-A good administration-Councillors-York, Kitte- ry and Wells, survive the war-Berwick incorporated-Their ec- clesiastics-Committee of claims-Orders to re-settle 5 towns- Saco, called Biddeford -- Scarborough-Falmouth-and Arundel --- Money-George I .- Gov. Shute-Claims-A road ordered from Berwick to Pejepscot -- Kittery, a port of entry-Pejepscot- Purchase-Fort-George-Georgetown-Offers to settlers-Cush- noc-fort-Re-settlement of Kennebeck-Sturgeon-fishery-York- shire extended to St. Croix-Gov. Shute arrives-Natives rest- less-Gov. meets them-Treaty renewed with them-Timber-trees -Bridger, Surveyor Gen .- Disputes with him-Armstrong's pro- ject-Settlements revived east of Kennebeck-St. George's fort -Fort Richmond-Timber-Gov. and House disagree-Guards sent into Maine-Coram's project-Nova Scotia-Indians plun- der Canseau-Râle-Indians at Penobscot-Notaries public- Paul Dudley's case-People begin to remove from Maine-The Canibas-Rale-Parley at Arrowsick-Castine the younger- North- Yarmouth-Gov. Shute returns to England.
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