CUMBERLAND COUNTY MAINE
THE MAST INDUSTRY OF OLD FALMOUTH

The highway that goes from King Street up to the head of fore River, beginning at the head of Middle St. where it comes into sd way bounded as folio wet h at a stake standing on the northern side of said way Running south west and be west or there abouts to Mr. Proctors fence, thence to a great Read oak tree marked with W near as the way gose and from sd tree to another Red oak marked with W, thence to a large white oak tree marked with W, thence to a large Red oke near a small brook or gulley marked with W, thence to a large white oke tree with W thence to a Red oak tree marked with a W. T. the way turnes to the marsh to a Red oak tree by y side of the marsh marked with W, thence cross ______ to the point of upland to a small Birch marked with W and ai stone by it thence to a small white oke marked with W thence to a large white oke marked with W, thence to a large Red Oke to the norword marked with A W. against the head of v Round marsh thence to Mr. Thams bound of his thirty acre lot. (Old Falmouth Records, City Clerk's office, Portland.)

Towering above all in certain localities was thebhaughty pine, sought and procured for ships' masts, yards and bowsprits, the less in size being used for mill logs.  Mast procuring in those days was an industry of no Hmall proportions, compared with the means at the disposal of those engaged in the business. The market, or place of disposal of the product, was England, and the business was under the ban of statutory Saw. The Province of New Hampshire was the place of commencement of the industry in New England as tthe data I have been able to obtain shows, Samuel Waldo appearing before the legislature of the Province for the purpose of explaining the law, who, it is believed, transferred his interest in the business to Col. Thomas Westbrook in the year 1718 the pioneer in the industry hereabouts, who established himself temporarily at the place now known as Dunstan Landing, in the town of Scarboro, living, it is

lumberman's camp." Rev. Thomas Smith, the first minister of Portland Neck, or Falmouth of the last settlement, for his field of labor embraced the entire township, frequently alludes in his diary to the act of loading and the sailing of mast ships; but I propose on this occasion to present to you statements founded upon careful perusal of original records, to some of which, now before me, I not only allude but invite your attention, and the first is the account book of Nathaniel Knight; and I will here acknowledge that I am indebted for its use to Miss Ruth E. Knight of Auburn, this state, who has kindly loaned it to me.  Could it speak what an interesting story of local history it would tell.  But who was Nathaniel Knight? He was a son of Nathan Knight, whose wife was a sister of Col. Thomas Westbrook. Nathan Knight was the son of George Knight, who died in Scarboro, October 9,1671, will made same year. In 1720 this Nathan Knight came to Dunstan and made a purchase of land at the Landing and built a dwelling-house, which, on the fifteenth day of November, 1748, for a consideration of forty-five pounds, was conveyed to Richard King*
gentleman, of Scarboro, by Nathan's children, eight in number, Nathaniel who married with Priscilla Berry being the eldest. Nathan was admitted to the Scarboro church September 12, 1731.

In the year 1735 he purchased a hundred acres of land at Stroudwater Falls, a mile southerly of Saccarappa village, where he built a good two-story dwelling, the cellar hole being plainly visible at this date.  

His children were :
1. Mary, born March 6, 1726.

2. Sarah, born March 17, 1728.

3. John, born June 10, 1730; died August 3, 1744, and tradi-

tion says carried off and murdered by Indians.

4. Hannah, born August 20, 1732.

5. Elizabeth, born September 16, 1734 ; died January 22, 1736.
6. Nathaniel, born August 1, 1735.

7. George, born Februrary 27, 173!).

8. Priscilla, born May 29, 1742 ; died September 24, 1743.

Nathaniel retained the homestead and married his cousin Ruth Elden, of Buxton, December 12, 1782.  He was accustomed to say in his young manhood that he would not marry, but his Uncle Elden, who married his aunt, the sister of his father, would occasionally inform him that he was raising him a wife, so at the time above stated, he united in marriage with Elden's daughter, she being twenty-nine years his junior. The farm, the best of the region, comprising nearly two hundred acres and half a sawmill and a good house, came into the possession of this Nathaniel.
The house was destroyed by fire, September 4, 1829, while owned by John Knight, son of the second Nathaniel and father to Miss Ruth E. Knight, alluded to above as the possessor of the ancient account book and other papers now before me. In course of time most of the farm went to the late Edward Chapman, deceased, and is now owned by the City of Westbrook.

There is nothing recorded in this ancient book of Nathaniel Knight, senior, that reveals the exact time it was first used. Evidently memoranda were transferred to it from time to time. Under date of February 9, 1728,
I find as follows:
Col. Westbrook, Esq.                                                      Dr.
Then began ye Oak contract. 
To dyating ye men when hewing at Dunstan                  £77-t-0
To making Walter Hinds Trowsers                                  0-5-6
To one day carrying things to Stroudwater                       0-8-0
To Sundry times my horse and boy to Stroudwater          3-0-0
To 32 days hewing masts at Dunstan  7 pr day            14-8-0
To a house                                                                    44-0-0

This, evidently, was the house that stood at what is known as the southwesterly corner of Westbrook and Bond Street, Stroudwater, which was given the name of " Harrow House," but is better known in history as the " Garrison House," which was removed to make room for the so-called Fickett house, built a hundred years ago by Samuel Fickett.

The account then goes on :

To driving hogs to Stroudwater £0-80

To clearing roads at Dunstan 20-0-4)
July 24, 1732.   To whole years work which was our agreement for £40-0-0
To finding myself in victuals in foul whether and from Saturday night to Monday morning the whole year 10-0-0

November 2t5, 1732, he commences a record of what he says is " An account of what Provisions 1 found in Partnership with Thomas Westbrook, Esq., masting."    The account covers four pages of this long book, but I can make only two or three extracts at this time as follows :

To myself 127 days  63-15-0
To 28 loads of hay 84- 0-0

June 12, 1738, he begins an account with Col. Westbrook as follows :

To hunting masts, fitting them, and clearing of roads. The time covered was forty-seven weeks and he charged one pound per day for his services, but there is not a date entered after the first.

I will here state, though the fact is known to many, that the highways, as now used in this vicinity, were laid out for the purpose of transporting mast logs in connection with the rivers, and cleared or opened by Col. Westbrook and others engaged in the mast business.

Col. Westbrook and others engaged in the mast business.  November 1, 1744, he opens an account with Solomon Bragdon, who owned the sawmill on the Stroudwater River, above the Falls mill, and known fifty years ago and later as the Curtis mill, as follows : To 723 days work hunting, fitting, clearing and hailing masts, £72-10-0.

Then he charges for going up the Stroudwater River, " twitching masts into the river, clearing river, bringing down the river," " to soldiers work paid for," and and then " twitching masts out of the river Bragdon is charged also for hauling masts at " Horse Beef " and at Saccarappa self and four oxen four days £5-10-0.

For the purpose of showing who Bragdon was I refer to Vol. 2, page 527, time 1761, Cumberland County Registry of Deeds, as follows :

In consideration of Love and Affection, I Jeremiah Jordan of Falmouth convey to my beloved grandson and daughters Solomon Bragdon, Deborah Bragdon, Mehitable Bragdon and Sarah Bragdon, the heirs of my daughter Deborah Bragdon, the wife of Capt. Solomon Bragdon of Scarboro, deceased at Spurwiuk in Falmouth ____ acres of land, etc." Vol. 2, p. 439, same, and same records. Consideration same as foregoing :

Solomon Bragdon of Scarboro to my son Solomon of Scarboro 60 acres of land in Scarboro, one fourth part of one saw in my saw mill in Scarboro, now standing on Stroudwater river with the one half of my privilege on sd stream. The 60 acres was granted to John Wcntworth Esq & Henry Bigford by the proprietors of Scarboro. etc.

July 24, 1749, and June 5, 1751, he charges Capt. Joshua Bangs with certain masts at the rate of one pound per inch in diameter, and Col. Jedediah Preble at the same rate at the same time.

From the reading of a certain part of the book it appears he was at one time in company with his neighbor Babb.  The exact time that George Tate came to this country as the king's mast agent does not appear by records, but in the year 1753 he purchased a lot at Stroudwater and built the house as now seen, though some changes in the roof were made by a son of his near the year 1800. His career as a procurer of masts does not appear in a connected form. He was a merchant in England, and a few family relics of his still exist, one of which is the large family Bible, con-
taining the names of his children and date of time when born, from which the following is copied:

The Tate Family.

George Tate, born in London, Eng. Apr. 20, 1700; d. 1794 1
Children of George and Eleanor Tate, b. in Eng.

1. Samuel Tate, b. Aug. 3, 1738 ; d ?

2. William,    b. Nov. 15, 1740; d. Aug. 1833, in London.

3. George,   "   b. Nov. 7, 1741 ; died young.

4. George 2nd The Admiral, b. June 14, 1746; d. 1824, at St.
Petersburg.

5. Robert Tate, b. Jan. 23, 1751 ; d. at Barbadoes, 1801.

In the month of May, 1757, Nathaniel Knight opened an account with Mr. Tate and charges him with sixty large spars two hundred and fifty pounds.  The charges for masts are few, but the account continued till January 7, 1769, when a settlement was made, Mr. Tate writing the receipt for the balance due Mr. Knight which appears in this old book. For two-thirds of three masts, Mr. Tate was charged £300 ; thirteen pounds veal. £1-7-0, and six turkeys, £6-15-0.

September 30, 1754, Mr. Knight came under obligations to furnish Capt. Samuel and Francis Waldo with a certain number of masts, mainyards and bowsprits. The copy, evidently in the hand of one of the Waldoes, is nearly as fresh as one a year old. 

An abstract reads as follows :

Falmouth, Sep. 30, 1754. I Nathaniel Knight of Falmouth, do hereby covenant and agree with Messrs. Samuel & Francis Waldo to Procure & deliver them at Presumscot Dam & Stroudwater
Landing on or before the Twenty-fifth day of October next, the afore mentioned fifteen main masts, eight fore masts, ten main yards & ten bowsprits of ye exact Dimentions & Lengths aforesaid
at the rate of two shillings & four pence per Inch diameter for ye masts yards & Bowsprits which are to be chiefly Apple pines, alias Norways, & all sd masts & Bowsprits that are over twenty
Inches diameter arc to be hewed into Sixteen Squares & thereunder & yards into Eight Squares as is customary. The above said masts, yards & Bowsprits are to be handsome straight & sound
sticks, free from Defects of all sorts & are to be delivered on sd Day & place aforementioned, under the penalty of Two hundred Pounds.

A little later than the date of this contract, Nathaniel Knight and one John Libby constituted a company, as appears by the old books, for the procurement of masts, and a long list of names of those who were employed with oxen appear. Labor was very low at this date. Two shillings and eight pence paid for a day's labor. William Haskell is credited with sixteen shillings for self and

two oxen three days.

To Mr. George Johnson, grandson of John Johnson, who settled upon the wild land, a mile westerly of Stroudwater in 1747, upon which George now resides, I am indebted for original papers relating to mast procuring in the year 1769, copies of which I here present as follows :

Provinc of    ) By the Serveyor General of
New Hampshire J    His Majesty's Woods in North America.  Having had application made to me by Edmund Wendell, Agent to John Durand & Anthony Baron Esqâ„¢ under Contract to His Majesty, for supplying the Royal Navy with Masts, Yards & Bowsprits  that Lycense be granted to Messâ„ John Johnson, James Johnson, David Small, William Lamb, William Webb all of Falmouth, & Richard Maberry of Windham, in the County of Cumberland in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay to go with their Workmen into the Kiug's Woods in the Township of New Gloucester and half of Bakers Town [now Poland] in the County & Province aforesaid there to cutt & hall Fifty white pine Trees for Masts, Yards, and Bowsprits being agreed for and to be delivered to the said Edmund Wendell for the aforesaid Contract, and Whereas by His Majestys Royal Lycense dated 28th day of October, 1768, to me directed  I am authorized to grant such permission. I do therefore in obedience thereunto grant Lycense to the said John Johnson, and Company as above named to go into the said Township of New Gloucester & half of Bakers Town, then, to cutt and hall to the most convenient Landing, fifty White pine masts which fifty white pine Trees first to be surveyed and marked by an Officer lawfully deputed & authorized for said service who is hereby required to attend said Survey when requested — And said Masts to be delivered to said Edmund Wendell as agent, or to the Agent for the time being of said Mast Contract  also to transmit & deliver to me, under Solemn Oath, within one year of the Date hereof, an exact account of the Number and dimensions of White pine Trees cutt, fell & hailed by virtue of this Lycense. In the execution of which you are directed not to interfere with or molest any other workmen lycensed. For all of which and every part thereof this shall be your full & sufficient Warrant, Dated at Portsmouth, 30th August, 1769.

J. Wextworth. 1

MEMORANDA of Agreemen made & Concluded upon by & between Edmund Wendell of Portsmouth In the Province of New Hampshire, Merch1 of the one part & John Johnson, James Johnson, David Small, William Lamb, William Portertield, Jesse Partridge & William Webb of Falmouth and Richard Mayberry of Windham, all of the County of Cumberland, Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Yeoman, of the other part Witnesseth :

That the said John Johnson, James Johnson, David Small, William Lamb, William Porterfield, Jesse Partridge, Wâ„¢ Webb & Richard Maberry, for themselves & their Respective Heirs, Exec-
utors, Administrators & Assigns, do hereby Covenant, promise & agree to & with the said Edw. Wendell, his Executors, Administrators & Assigns, to procure & deliver him or them, at the Common & Usual place of Delivery at Falmouth aforesaid, on or before the Thirtieth day of July Next Ensuing, from the date hereof, the following Number & sizes of Masts Yards & Bowsprits, to be sound & good fit for his Majesty's use, as shall be so esteemed by him the va'id Edmund Wendell, or by any other person, the sd. Edmund Wendell shall think proper to appoint to receive such Masts to be hew'd into their sixteen squares viz :

2.   Two Mast Thirty-two Inches diameter  32 yards long at Forty-live pounds Sixteen shillings sterling.
2.   Two do Thirty One Inch   31 yd  at Thirty five pound lour shillgs.

8.   Six do Thirty Inch do30 yd do at Twenty Eight pound.
10. Ten do Twenty Nine Inch do  29 yd at Twenty two pound Eight shillgs.

6.   Six do Twenty Eight Inch 8 do  29 yd do at Eighteen pound Eight shillgs.

6   Six do Twenty Seven Inch do  at 29 yd do at Fourteen pound Eight shillgs.

4.   Four do Twenty Six Inch 5 do  28 yd do at Twelve pound Sixteen shillgs.

36 Masts-

1. One Bowsprit Thirty five Inch do 23 4 yd do at Thirty four pound.

3.   Three do Thirty four Inch 1 do 23 yd do at Thirty two pound.

3.   Three do Thirty two Inch  do  21 yd do at Twenty three pound four shillgs,

2. Two do Thirty Inches do 10 4 yd at Sixteen pounds.

1. One Bowsprit Thirty five IncM do  23 4 yd do at Thirty four pound.

3.   Three do Thirty four Inch1 do 23 yd do at Thirty two pound.

3.   Three do Thirty two Inch8 do  21  yd do at Twenty three pound four shillgs,

2. Two do Thirty Inches do 10 4 yd at Sixteen pounds.

9 Bowsprits

1.   One Yard Twenty four Inch do  34 yd do at Twenty five
pound Twelve shillgs.

1. One Yard Twenty three Inch do  32 yd do at Twenty pound

Eight shillgs.

2. Two do Twenty two Inch do  31 yd do at Sixteen pound Six-

teen shillgs.

1. One do Twenty Inch do  28 yd at Eleven pound twelve shillgs.
5 Yards-

We the said parties do further agree that the above Stipulated prices are to be paid for each & every such Mast, Yard & Bowsprit that on delivery shall be found fit for his Majesty's use, In Cash, unless We should have Occasion Of supply's, in which Case we agree to take of said Edmund Wendell, (If he inclines to supply.) To the True & faithful performance of these presents, We bind & Oblige ourselves Jointly, & severally by these presents & Each of our respective Heirs, Executors & Assigns, Each to the other In the penal sum of Two Thousand Pounds Sterling money of Great Britain.

In Witness whereof the parties have hereunto Interchangeably set their hands & Seals the Fifth day of September Anno Domini One Thousand Seven hund'd & Sixty-Nine.   Falmouth Casco Bay.

	Edmund Wendell	[ Seal
	John Johnson Jn	[ Seal
	James Johnson, Jur.	[ Seal
Sign'd, Seal'd & Delever'd	Daniel Small	[ Seal
In the presence of	WÂ Lamb	[Seal
William Slemons	William Porterfield	[ Seal
Stephen Riggs	Jesse Partridge	[ Seal
	William Webb	[ Seal
	Richard Mayberry	[ Seal

Four months after the signing of the foregoing, the company received a communication as follows:

Portsmouth, 26th Dec, 1769.
Gentlemen :  I have it in command from His Excellency Governor Wentworth to acquaint you He has received the Complaint of Messes. Wm. Slemons & George Knight of Falmouth that you & your Company have contrary to your License for cutting Mast Trees interfered with the said Slemons & Knight in their District by entering upon their half of Bakers Town as agreed upon by a dividing Line between yourselves, cutt down & barked two considerable large Trees much to their Damage's By which means you have exposed yourselves not only to an action of Damage from the sd. Slemons & Knights; but of Trespass from the Surveyor General, and it is his Orders that you immediately settle the matter to the Satisfaction of Messes. Slemons and Knight within a month from this time, otherwise His Excellency is determined to bring an action against you for Trespass in a court of Admiralty which you'll do well to avoid. I am Gentlemen Your most hum. Svt.

John Hurd.

To Messes.

James John Jun. & Company Mast cuttters & License.

It seems that the Johnson party of mast-cutters got over the line agreed upon and cut two trees, and Messrs. Win. Slemons and George Knight entered a complaint against them. This is the first and only intimation I have that Slemons & Knight were in the mast business. Slemons lived where Mr. Fred A. Johnson now resides, in the same Slemons house, westerly of Stroudwater; and Knight, who was a son of Nathaniel Knight alluded to in the foregoing, and became son-in-law to Slemons, being married January 6, 1771, lived on the Buxton road, a mile or more west-
erly of the Johnsons. 

The matter of trespass was settled by arbitration, James Milk, Richard Codman and John Waite being chosen referees, who, after a bond had been signed by Messrs. Slemons and Knight in the sum of £100 lawful money to abide by the award, brought in that the Johnson Company should pay Messrs. Slemons & Knight £7-14-6, and that Slemons and Knight should pay the others for cutting the trees forty shillings. Accompanying the papers from which the foregoing copy is made, is the original acknowledgement dated September 10, 1770, that the money was received and
signed by William Slemons.

A statement made by Wendell dated November, 1770, shows that the Johnson Company received from him £1376-15-9 lawful money, among the items of which is one of £400-8-6 paid on an order in favor of George Tate, and one in favor of Joshua Wentworth for £35-13-0, thus making it appear doubtful who J. Wentworth really was that signed the license  whether John Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire or Joshua Wentworth, another character.  Jonathan Sparrow was a trader at Stroudwater about fifteen years.   In his old daybook, date of June

21,1804, I select the following
Asa Fickett :                                  Dr.

To 1 18| Inch Mast J                        $16.96

To carrying dow the same j)                   .38

Nov. 17, 1804
Joseph McLellan & Son:                 Dr.
To Twelve Masts, 212 inches         $189.50
To carrying down the Same 2 /       14 4.00

Nov. 17. 1804.

John Taber & Son:                          Dr.  

To Eighteen Masts, 3 10, inches J  $371.26

To carrying down the same,                 6.00

                                                     $277.26

These parties were business men in Portland and " carrying down the same " means, down Fore River to Portland.  A period of one hundred and sixty-eight years has passed since the mast industry was commenced in what is now termed Old Falmouth. The lofty pine tree has passed away, probably forever. Record evidence of the events of the time is scarce. Records of the footprints of the actors are difficult of obtain men t. Places of rest of the earthly part of their lives are not known. Long may the few manuscript records live in a manner that will illustrate the
good deeds of those who felled the forest trees and made the water of the river assist in the labors of civilization, and the hillside bring forth sweet grasses. One relic of which time, this mammoth mast-chain, turned up by the plow in the hands of Mr. George Johnson, some fifty years ago, in the "Johnson ninety-acre field," located in front of the site of the first John Johnson dwelling-place in Falmouth, now Deering, in his behalf, I now present to this Society.1 Henceforward it is for you to keep, with this meager offering of mine.