USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Windham > Windham in the past > Part 5
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
against the white settlements in Maine were planned and led by Frenchmen.
The conflict was long and bloody, but, finally, the sturdy Saxon blood asserted its supremacy, the red man and his French coadjutor went down to an overwhelming defeat, and peace and prosperity reigned in the place of anarchy and destruction.
At the time the grant of Windham was made, the Indians were quiet throughout New England; but, as early as the fall of 1743, it was noticed that a spirit of unrest prevailed among them that boded ill for the frontier settlements. Indications of a war between England and France became evident to the leading men of the colonies, and Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts, one of the most able men of the times, at once began to provide means of defence for the exposed settlements against the assaults of the Indians, as may be seen by the following papers :
"In the House of Representatives, Nov. 12, 1743.
"Whereas it appears necessary from the apprehensions this House has of a speedy rupture between the crowns of Great Britain and France, that the Inland Frontiers in this Provinee be put into a better posture of Defense. Therefore,
"Voted, that the following sums be and hereby are granted to be paid out of the Public treasury to be laid out in some of the Settlements in the County of York. Viz: To Berwick One Hundred Pounds; To New Marblehead (Windham) One IIun- dred Pounds ; To Scarborough, One Hundred Pounds; To Gor- ham Town, One Hundred Pounds; To Sheepscutt, One Hundred Pounds ; To Broad Bay or to the Inhabitants at the Falls called Madomock as the Captain General shall direct. Seventy five Pounds; To Newbury Narraganset. One Hundred Pounds; To Phillips Town. One Hundred Pounds ; To Damariscotta, Sixty six Pounds, Thirteen Shillings Fourpence, all which sums shall be taken out of the Seven Thousand Pounds, Appropriation pro- vided in the supply now before the Court, and shall be paid into the hands of Messrs. Moses Butler. Tobias Leighton, Samuel Moody, James Skinner, Jacob Perkins. To be laid out in the most prudent manner in erecting in each of the before named Settlements for their Security during the War, a Garrison or Garrisons of Stockades, or of Square Timber around some Dwell-
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INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
ing house or houses, or otherwise, as will be most for the Security and defense of the whole Inhabitants of each place."
Mass. Archives, Vol. 72, page 670.
Nov. 30, 1743, Governor Shirley appointed as a committee to put the above orders in execution, William Pepperell, Jeremiah Moulton, John Hill, Samuel Waldo, James Skinner, Esquires, and Messrs. Moses Butler, Tobias Leighton, and Samuel Moody.
On December 15, 1743, these gentlemen met at Falmouth (Portland) and located the several forts or block-houses.
The inhabitants of New Marblehead began the erection of their stronghold as soon as they obtained their part of the Province appropriation, well knowing that if Great Britain and France came to an open rupture, the frontier towns would be the first to suffer from the savages. The "Province Fort" in New Marblehead was built upon Home Lot No. 33, originally drawn as the "Ministry" right. It stood on the east side of the "Main Road," very nearly in the center of the home lots and on the most elevated point of land in the neighborhood. The site of this ancient fort is on the land now (1910) owned by the heirs of the late Col. Edward Anderson. It was completed and ready for occupancy in the summer of 1744.
The fort was fifty feet square, two-stories high, with walls one foot thick, of hewn hemlock timber, the upper story jutting one foot over the lower, a tier of port-holes being constructed just beneath this projection. There were two flankers or, as they were then called, "watch boxes," placed at diagonal corners. These were two stories high and twelve feet square, with walls of the same thickness as the main building. Each flanker had a "swivel gun," furnished by the Proprietors, and so arranged as to defend two sides of the fort. The fort was surrounded on all sides by a stockade, made by setting posts ten or twelve inehes in diameter and twelve feet long perpendicularly in the ground so near together that an Indian could not pass between them. The entrance to this stockade was through a heavy oaken gate, seeured by strong bars and bolts.
Inside the stockade, its muzzle pointing to the gate, was an iron nine-pounder gun, presented to the settlers by the Province, to be used in firing alarms or in defending the main entrance to their stronghold. T. L. Smith, in his "History," relates that
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this gun and one of the swivels was, in 1776, carried to Portland and put on board the privateer. "Reprieve," and never re- turned; while the other. sometime about 1835, was intentionally destroyed at North Windham.
At a Proprietor's meeting held at Marblehead, July 30, 1744, it was
"Voted, that the half Barrel (or 50 wt of Powder purchased of Mr. William Mabery be paid for by the Proprietors, being £20 9s Old Tenor, & the said Powder to be for the use of the Inhabitants of sd Township on any extraordinary Occasions according to further direction.
"Voted, that said Powder be put into the hands of Mr. Wm. Mabery, he supplying the Inhabitants (who need it) to the value of half a pound to each man, he receiving money for the same (at twelve shillings pr pound Old Tenor) or note therefor pay- able to him or Order, and to Returne the same to the Proprs Treasurer for the time being and the of Said Powder to be kept in the Block House for the use thereof in time of action. in case the same be attacked by the Indians or any other enemies, and no other ways whatsoever, he likewise giving account how the said powder is expended on said Occasions, and that he give a Receipt accordingly.
"Voted, that the present Comtee be and hereby are directed (at the Publick charge of the proprietors) to purchase two swivel-guns, and send them to the said Town-ship for the use of the Proprs to be placed in the Block House for the Defence thereof."
In the House of Representatives, Nov. 12, 1743, (the next day after the block houses were voted) it was voted to ask the Gov- ernor to give anthority to raise "Snow-Shoe Companies" in various parts on the frontiers of Massachusetts and Maine. These companies were to be composed of "fifty able-bodied, effec- tive men in each ;" each officer and private was "to provide him- self with a good pair of Snow-Shoes, one pair of Moggisons and one Hatchett." During the war, they were to hold themselves in readiness to march "at the shortest warning" against the enemy.
The Governor readily granted the request, and the duty of
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INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
organizing these companies and nominating the proper officers was assigned to a committee, consisting of William Pepperill, Jeremiah Moulton, Samuel Waldo, and Arthur Noble. One of these companies was organized in this part of old York County and contains the names of several men belonging to New Marble- head and a few from Gorham and Scarborough.
The following, copied from the "Massachusetts Archives," will be interesting to many whose ancestors were members of this, our first military organization.
"A List of a Snow Shoe Company under command of Capt. Domini Jordan, in the County of York agreeable to his Ex- celleney's command.
Domini Jordan, Captain George Berry, Lieutenant Nath'l Jordan, Ensign
Thomas Millett
Samuel Procter, Junr
Isaac Skillin
Zerubebull Hunnewell
Samuel Skillin, Junr
John Stevens
John Robertson
Josiah Plummer
Isaac Winter
John Eyers
Robert Jameson
Daniel Robertson
Briant Morton
Joshua Larance
Thomas Lareby
Benja Douty
Joseph Sawyer
Isaac McKenny
Benja Parker John Jordan 3d
Thomas Brackit
Daniel Bayley
Timothy Worster
William Urin
Zachn Brackitt, Junr
Thomas French
John Procter
John French
Joshua Illsley
Joseph Fletcher
Joseph Emerson
Benja Johnson John Owin
Abraham Anderson
Joseph Conant
Jeremiah Poate
Samuel Conant
Jonathan Tracey
Samuel Watts
Joshua Weeks
William Lareby
William Knights
David Guston
Samuel Lareby, Scarborough
Jacob Cleford
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
William Reed, Gorhamtown John Irish, Gorhamtown Joseph Peake, Bedford
"I do hereby certify that the above is a true List of the Snow- Shoe Company By Me enlisted in ye County of York, and that each person therein said Company is eqquiped with a pair of Snow-Shoes, and Moggisons, also one Hatchett according to his Excellency's order and the vote of the General Court witness my hand. Falmouth April ye 14, 1744. Domini Jordan."
The duty of furnishing the block-houses with garrisons was, at first, entrusted to the inhabitants, under the direction of a lientenant or sergeant, according to the number of families.
In New Marblehead, the Government allowed "pay and sub- sistence" for eighteen men in the summer and nine in the winter. Thomas Chute was in charge of the garrison and the distribution of the government money, which was impartially dispensed to all the families. The duty of guarding the fort and those who were at work in the fields, and of occasionally scouting short distances around the settlement, was divided as equally as possible among the men of the township.
Thus our ancestors, with courage and persistency, although few in numbers and poor in money, make preparations to main- tain their rights against a savage and relentless foe. A few, however, alarmed at the prospect of war, left town and went to Portland with their families for safety and remained until peace was declared; but those of sterner material determined to remain and protect their homes and families to the last extremity. The opportunity soon came, as the war between Great Britain and France was declared in March, 1744, and was formally com- municated to the Governor of Massachusetts, on the second day of June, 1744.
The inhabitants of New Marblehead had pressed the building of their fort with the utmost vigor, so that it was now ready for occupancy, and it is probable that the greater part of the settlers moved into it by the last of May, 1744. The Fort in which they took refuge was regarded, both by the settlers and Indians, as a place of security, and from its favorable location. workman-like construction, and well-appointed armament, it was doubtless one of the strongest of those built in the Province at this time.
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The first attacks of the Indians on the white settlements in Maine, in this war, were made July 19, 1745, at St. Georges and Damariscotta (Newcastle) ; and from that time until 1751, the settlers were exposed to all the dangers of a savage war. In the New Marblehead block-house eighteen men (not all heads of fam- ilies) were gathered for safety. These men were Thomas Chute, Rev. John Wight, Abraham Anderson, William Mayberry, Sam- uel Webb, John Farrow, Thomas Bolton, Thomas Mayberry, Cur- tis Chute, Gershom Manchester, David Webb, William Maxwell, John Bodge. William Bolton, Stephen Manchester, Seth Webb, John Webb, and John Farrow, Jr.
On Oct. 25, 1744, an order passed the General Court, authoriz- ing a bounty of one hundred pounds for every scalp of a male Indian above the age of twelve years, and fifty pounds for each woman or child under the age of twelve years. Five pounds more were offered for a prisoner than for a scalp. In November of that year, the garrison here was composed of the inhabitants who were employed in this service, and Capt. Jordan's snow-shoe company was the only active force in this vicinity.
The winter passed without any attacks; but, with the spring, the old discontent was manifested by occasional depredations of prowling bands here and there. The first outbreak recorded was, on July 18th or 19th, near Damariscotta, but trouble soon spread all along the frontier of Maine. On August 5th, the savages ap- peared at Gorham but went away without attempting any damage.
On August 23d, war was formally declared against the Indians. During the summer of 1745, two companies had been employed by the government in scouting; one under Capt. Bean, whose "Instructions" are preserved in the "Massachusetts Archives," Vol. 72, page 711, dated June 4, 1745. In these he is directed to march his company to York County, and then "to transport them to such parts of the of said County as needs their protection," making two divisions and appointing "some discreet person" as Sergeant over the second division. One division was to "rendezvous" at Berwick and scout from thence to Saco River; the other to "rendezvous" at North Yarmouth, "whither they are to be transported by sea," and thence to range the woods to the block-house on the Saco River. These routes were to be traversed back and forth, once each week. Capt. Bean
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is also charged to keep an exact journal of his scouting expedi- tions and to have the officer he appoints do the same; and these journals were to be left, at the end of each half-route, in the care of. Nicholas Shapleigh at Berwick, Rishworth Jordan at Saco, and Gilbert Winslow at North Yarmouth, to be forwarded by these gentlemen with all speed to the Council at Boston.
Rev. Thomas Smith, under date of August 1, 1745, refers to a Company under "one Capt. Bean," that "scouts from Saco to Presumpscot," and further says, "One Capt. Moebun has another that scouts from Presumpscot to Brunswick; besides there are others companies that scout along the frontiers." We have never been able to ascertain anything in regard to this Capt. Mocbun, but Capt. Jonathan Beane was of York, being a very prominent military man in the Province and one of those who had charge of posting the garrisons in Maine.
April 19, 1746, the Indians made their appearance across the Presumpscot River in the neighboring town of Gorham, where four men, with their families, were living in their houses outside the fort. They were William Bryant, John Reed, Hugh MeLel- lan, and Edward Cloutman, all of whom were engaged in their usual vocations.
Reed, while going from MeLellan's to his own house, was suddenly beset by the savages, who sprang out of the bushes and overpowered him.
Cloutman was at work in his field and, although unarmed and taken by surprise, was captured only after a desperate struggle in which, it is said, he disabled three of his assailants.
Bryant and his son were at work in the field, and when they saw the Indians, the boy ran into the woods and made his escape. Mr. Bryant started for the fort but was overtaken and killed before he could reach the place of safety. The Indians then went to Bryant's house, where they killed his four younger children, one, an infant of two weeks, and compelled his wife to go with them. Having committed this outrage, and finding that they were in danger of being attacked by men from the garrison, they hastily withdrew, taking with them their prisoners, Clout- man, Reed, and Mrs. Bryant, all of whom they carried to Canada.
The party having charge of Reed and Cloutman arrived there May 14, 1746. Mrs. Bryant did not come until Sept. 30th of that year.
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INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
On October 20, 1746, Edward Cloutman and Robert Dunbar, who was taken prisoner at Albany, made their escape, but both were drowned while crossing an arm of Lake Champlain.
Reed died a prisoner, October 20, 1746.
Mrs. Bryant married, on Nov. 20, 1746, Leonard Lidle, also a prisoner, and she died May 8, 1747. So none of those taken on that fatal day ever returned to Gorham.
The settlers in New Marblehead were evidently alarmed at this attack on their Gorham neighbors and kept within the walls of their stronghold; or, if compelled to work on their farms, did so under the protection of a strong guard. Although the savages were sometimes seen lurking about the settlement, they caused no trouble until April 14, 1747.
On that day, William and Joseph Knights, sons of William Knights who lived on Home Lot No. 62. were taken prisoners while looking for their father's eows near Inkhorn Brook. They were unarmed and were taken without resistance. Thomas L. Smith, Esq. says "They were carried to the Indian settlements, were well treated by the Indians and soon after returned home." From a diary kept by William Pote, Jr., then a prisoner at Quebec, we learn that these young men (Mr. Pote calls them lads) arrived at the prison, on May 18, 1747, having been a little more than a month on the journey. A well-authenticated tradition in the Knights family relates that William was allowed to come home in a short time; but that Joseph, who seems to have cap- tivated the faney of the savages, was adopted as one of the tribe and did not return to civilized life until peace was declared, in 1751. The tradition further relates that Joseph took kindly to the Indian mode of life, comporting himself, in all respects, as a savage to the manner born and bred. His ready adaptation of their habits was highly gratifying to the Indians, and they promised in time to make him a chief among them and even selected a young squaw for his future wife. Joe's opinion in this matter has never been reported, so far as we know, but we are sure that his wife was a white woman. We had the foregoing story from one of Joseph Knight's granddaughters and have no doubt of its truth.
August 27, 1747, a party of French and Indians, said to have been about thirty in number, entered the town and approached within a short distance of the fort. There they met two young
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
men, William Bolton and William Maxwell, whom they attempted to capture, but both being well armed, decidedly objected to such an arrangement and made a brave resistance. Bolton discharged his musket at his assailants, but, before he could reload, the Indians rushed upon him, overpowered him, and made him a prisoner. Maxwell, seeing that the odds were against him, did just what greater warriors have done under like circumstances,- he retreated-not, however, according to strict military rules, which would imply a change of front ; he simply backed out. In cther words, he walked backwards in the direction of his base of support, the old Province Fort, all the while keeping his gun aimed at his foes. During this memorable retreat, the Indians discharged several shots at him, one of which inflicted a painful, though not dangerous wound. He. however, resolutely pursued his novel style of tactics until the people at the fort, hearing the guns, sent an armed party to his relief. This attack was made in the main road about one-fourth of a mile south of the fort.
As previously related. Bolton was carried to Canada and sold to a French naval officer, who carried him on board a French frigate in the capacity of a servant. Shortly after the frigate put to sea, she was captured by an English man-of-war and carried into Boston. Bolton became the servant of Lieutenant Wallace of the English frigate, and thereby hangs a tale.
While in the service of Lieut. Wallace, Bolton had a very easy time, his only duty being to wait on his master; but one day, an incident occurred that came near proving a savor of death to poor Bolton,-he was ordered to make a cup of tea for the Lieutenant's breakfast. Now the officer had a pound of the fragrant herb, which was kept for his especial use. Bolton put the whole amount into a tea-kettle of cold water and set it over the galley fire to steep. Everything progressed finely for a while, but shortly the water began to boil, and then the fun be- came fast and furious. The tea leaves swelled. the steaming mess hissed and sputtered, the kettle cover bounced off with a bang, and the fragrant liquid flew in every direction, causing a general stampede of everybody in the vicinity and nearly frightening the impromptu cook out of his senses. The Lieutenant, on being informed of the affair, hastened to the scene of action. and. thinking it a clear case of malice aforethought, ordered Bolton to be severely flogged. The captain of the vessel, however,
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INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
thought his offence might be due to ignorance and asked the trembling culprit if he ever saw any tea before. To this he re- plied that he never did and supposed he must make it as his mother did herb tea. This answer so mollified the Lieutenant's wrath that Bolton was forgiven on the spot, and good will and harmony henceforth prevailed between them.
Shortly afterwards Bolton's situation became known to the master of a coasting vessel from Portland. He applied to the Governor for his release, which was promptly granted, and Bolton returned to Windham to the great joy of his parents.
Several years after this, when he had become a prosperous farmer, Mr. Bolton, while in Portland, saw a gang of boys annoy- ing an old man, who appeared to be unable to defend himself against their attacks, and went to the rescue. A few well- directed cuts from his heavy whip quickly dispersed the mob, after which Mr. Bolton turned his attention to the rescued man. To his utter astonishment, this proved to be his old master, Lieutenant Wallace, now homeless and friendless. Mr. Bolton brought him to Windham, tenderly cared for him until his death, and gave him a Christian burial on his own lot, in the old Smith Cemetery at South Windham. Thomas L. Smith, Esq. says that Lieut. Wallace was 80 years old at the time of his death.
On Aug. 21, 1750, the Indians captured Seth Webb, son of Samuel Webb, first of the name in this town, within half a mile of the fort. The incidents of this capture are fully set forth in the following letter from Thomas Chute to Major Freeman.
"New Marblehead, Septembr 21, 1750.
"Major Freeman, Sir: This comes to inform you that this morning about nine o'clock Mr. Webb and his son Seth was making a Fence in his Field by his house, & having left an axe a few Rodds out of the Field in the woods; the sd Webb sente his Son alone to fetch it. and having received sd axe & returning with it to his father; before he gott into the Field ye Indians fiered two guns at him, and his father and Mr. Bodge heared him scream out for help; and immediately 'ye Indians yel'd out & in a few minutes about eight or ten men isued out of the Garrison and went after them But could ot finnd the Indians nor ye young man, But found his axe where ye Indians fiered on him, and we
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
have yett about Fourteen Men after them, we have heard since the young man was carried off near Twenty Guns which we sup- pose ye Indians are firing at our Cattle, for 'several of them is come in as if they were very much Frightd, so I thought it my Duty to let you know what loss we have met with; that we might have some Care taken of us; if you look on us as King's Subjects; for every man does what is right in his own eyes.
From your Humble Servant,
THOMAS CHUTE."
So far as can be learned, no further efforts were made for the rescue of young Webb, and he was carried to Canada where the Indians always found a market for their English captives. He does not appear to have suffered any positive ill-treatment, either on the journey to Canada or after his arrival there. He re- mained in captivity until June, 1752, when Capt. Phineas Stevens and Nathaniel Wheelwright were sent by the government to Canada 'to effect the release of the English captives held by the French and Indians. These gentlemen were kindly received by the authorities and accorded every facility to prosecute their search, but were able to regain but eight. Among these was Seth Webb, who is recorded on their list as being at that time at St. Francis. With him was Joseph Noble, a young man cap- tured at Swan Island, Me. Seth Webb returned to Windham, where he remained until 1766, when he removed to Deer Isle, Me., and there died, leaving a numerous posterity.
The organization of the military in this part of Maine may be fairly estimated from the following muster roll :-
"Muster Roll of Capt. George 'Berry's Company, Falmouth, From May 19, 1746, to January 19, 1747.
George Berry, Captain. Edward King, Lieutenant. Daniel Field, Ensign.
SERGEANTS
John Trott, James Tuttle, Benjamin Stevens. Richard Hunni- well. John Phinney, John Stevens, Thomas Chute, Jonathan Underwood, Clerk.
CORPORALS
James Buxton, Caleb Graffam, Jonas Knap.
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INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
SENTINALS
David Hoyt, Benjamin Larraby, Thomas Millet, John Me- sarve, John Starboard, William McCollinson, Joshua Lawrence, George Berry, Jr., James Irish, Joseph Irish, Andr Pepperell Frost, John Cannon, Samuel Graves, Hugh Barbour, John Whitton, Nathaniel Starboard, John Bayley, Ephraim Mason, Zerrubbabell Hunniwell, William Huston, Samuel Cobb, James Cobb, Benjamin Winslow, George Strout, William Knight, Ben- jamin Haskall, Dover a Negro, Richard Pumroy, Chipman Cobb, Thomas Pennell, James Wyman, Joseph Conant, Thomas Haskall, William Haskall, Thomas Thomes, Richard Pumroy Jr., Peter Cobb, Nathan Winslow, Nathaniel Lock, Samuel Conant, Solomon Haskall, Henry Jordan.
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