p.54 CHAPTER II.
PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
A.D. 1564.
The first adventurers in search of a new home within the
boundaries of these United States, were fugitives from
scenes of bloody persecution in the horrors of St. Barth-
olomew's day, which the revocation of the edict of Nantz
opened in the heart of Europe. They sought an asylum
and made a lodgment amid the wilds of America, allured
by the hope of freedom to worship God in the sunny south,
and on the banks of the rivers of Florida. These were
Frenchmen by birth and Protestants in faith.
GOSNOLD'S VOYAGE TO THE "VIRGINIA OF THE NORTH".
But the enterprise of commercial adventure, in the mean-
while, had discovered and opened new sources of wealth in
the fisheries of the coast of Maine - the 1"Virginia of the
northern parts of America."
An entire generation had passed from the scene of human
existence and action, and the dawnings of a new one had
just began to break over the adorning hamlets on the banks
of the rivers of Florida, when Bartholomew Gosnold, as he
swept along our shores, in view of its deep pays and magni-
ficent head-lands, from the deck of the ship Concord,
"hailed a shallop of1 European build,
Footnote 1. Hackluyt Papers, Massachusetts Historical Coll.
Vol. viii, 3d series, p. 73-86.
p.56 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
manned with eight savages, the head man of whom was clad
in a vesture of European fabric and costume. At early dawn
on Friday, having passed "Savage Rock,' westward bound,
(so called because the natives here first showed them-
selves,) land was seen, full of fair trees, the land
some what low - certain hummocks or hills lying into the
land, and the shore full of white sand and very stony.
"At noon, anchor was cast, when a barque1 shallop with
masts and sails and grapple and a copper Lat.43 deg.
kettle, came boldly aboard, one of the savages wearing
a waist-coat and breeches of black serge, made sea-
fashion, hose and shoes on his feet. The others were
naked; loose deer skins cast about their shoulders;
and on their waists, seal skins tied fast like Irish
diminie trousers. Coming near, the savages were hail-
ed from the ship, and they hailed back again.
"In color, these people were swart, (brown skinned, brown
colored, olive skinned) - their hair long, uptied in a
knot behind the head, tall of stature, broad and grim
of visage, their eye-brows painted white - their weap-
ons were bows and arrows."
A few years before, the largest ship of Gilbert's fleet,
southward bound, in the latitude of Wiscasset, struck and
was lost; and through the recklessness of her company, near
one hundred souls perished in the waters1 of Sheepscot bay;
and near this scene of disaster without doubt, or "the
river of the Kennebec,"2 Gosnold's colony could not be per-
suaded to remain, but returning with him to the back side
of Cape Cod, began their "plantation at the Vineyard."3
Footnotes. 1. Bancroft, Vol. 1, p.91
2. Sullivan, p.272. 3. Strachey.
p.57 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
PRING'S VOYAGE.
MONHEGAN AND PEMAQUID.
Martin Pring, under patronage of merchantmen of Bristol,
with two vessels following the track of Gosnold, "found
good anchorage among the islands in Penobscot or Pema-
quid Bay,1 - Monhegan and Pemaquid being in sight." He
examined more in detail, the bays, harbors and rivers of
our coast, carrying back a glowing account to England, of
"the very goodly groves and woods and sundry sorts of
beasts," which fairly started the energies of the old
world into vigorous enterprises for settling the new, by
colonizing her children there, lest some other people
should forestall the purposes of England in this parti-
cular. Mons. de Monts, a protestant, but a Frenchman,
with his fragments of a colony planted on the island St.
Croix - where "hoary snow farther being come caught and
held them fast until spring," had entered the Kennebec,
reared a cross, and planted the arms of his sovereign.
The enthusiasm and interest of England, being now thor-
oughly aroused by the repeated glowing pictures of our
wild and distant shores - "distance lending enchantment
to the view," - drawn by every new voyager on his return,
stimulated the public mind to new zeal and enterprise.
WEYMOUTH'S VOYAGE.
Noblemen enlisted both fortune and influence in efforts
to explore and secure to the enjoyment of their country,
the El Dorado of the west. Under the patronage of Lord
Arundel, a voyage of deep interest and most important re-
sults to the Geographer and Historian was projected. Two
and one half centuries have elapsed, March 5,
Footnote. 1. Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 21.
p.58 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
10 a.m. Since George Weymouth set sail at Ratcliff in the
ship, Archangel1 for our shores.2
Running close by the wind, one month after his departure
from England, urged by necessities of wood and water (May 6)
to make the nearest land, in the forenoon he "came to a
rippling" ahead of the ship - "a breach of water," caused by
a fall or by some meeting of currents, "the weather being very
fair, and a small gale of wind" - soundings were made, but no
bottom with an hundred fathoms.
Alarmed at a sudden change in the aspect of the water, sound-
ings again made, gave but five fathom, and (May 13) no land in
sight. A man at mast-head, soon however, "descried a whitish
sandy cliff, bearing W.S.W. with many breaches of the sea near
to land" - and becoming embayed with shoals on a most uncertain
ground, "where was found a great store of most excellent cod
fish and many whales were seen," the ship stood off all night,
and the next day the wind S.S.W. and W.S.W.
Thus Weymouth, when he first made land and became embayed among
shoals and sand, escaped the perils of Cape Cod.
MONHEGAN DISCOVERED.
MAY 17TH.
It was on Friday, during evening twilight, that land was again
descried, bearing N.N.E. in the midst of a gale of wind and a
raging sea, which forbade an approach to the unknown coast.
The ship was put about and stood off till two o'clock on the
morning of Saturday, when she stood in toward what appeared
May 18th.
"a mean3 high land," but was found to be an "island, six
miles in compass, of a thousand acres"
Footnotes. 1. John McKeen, Esq. - Belknap. 2. Massachusetts
Historical Society, 3d Series, Vol. VIII. 3. Some highland
of the maine - Hubbard, p.12.
p.59 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
oblong in shape, as fair a land to fall in with as could be
desired - free from sands, rocks and shoals - of bold shore
and good land fall - well stocked with sea-fowl, and the
waters with large cod and haddock.
GOOSEBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES AND WILD ROSES.
At noon, a league from the shore on the north side of the
island, whose margins were fringed with the gooseberry,
strawberry, and wild rose - Weymouth anchored his ship.
A boat's crew landed for wood and water, and discovered
vestiges of human life in the remains of a recent fire.
The main land from their anchorage here, was seen trend-
ing from the W.S.W. to the E. N. E.
OBSERVATIONS, COURSES, AND DISTANCE OF THE ARCHANGEL IN
SAILING TO THE MAIN.
Says the chronicler, of this voyage, - "from hence we
might discern the mainland from the west-south-west, to
the east-north-east, and a great way (as it then seemed
and we after found it) up into the main we might discern
very high mountains though the main seemed but low land."
MONHEGAN ISLAND.
This text implies a distant inland prospect of mountain
views, as land-marks, which "might" be discerned from the
anchorage, under what is conceded to be Monhegan Island,
though it is not positive that they could be fully seen,
as they were only discerned, which implies dimness, as
well as distance, of vision; and the White Mountains,
showing in their magnificent outlines, terminating the
view in the horizon of the distant west, along the valley
of the Androscoggin, would seem to answer the object of
the narrator as well as the description he gives, which
was, so to shade the locality of the exploration and dis-
coveries as to lead foreign voyagers, who might follow,
astray. "The ship riding too open and exposed to the sea
and winds weighed anchor about twelve o'clock" (it being
Sunday) May 19th, and made sail for the main - "coming
along to the other islands more adjoining to the main and
in the road
p.60 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
MONHEGAN.
covered and so named by them, now called Monhegan, it was
found where a fire had been made; and nearby "the shells
of very great eggs, bigger than goose eggs" - together with
the bones of fishes and beasts. These evidences of the
presence of human existence excited the curiousity of the
ship's company; and having discovered a place on the island
suitable to build their shallop and fill their water, every
way to their wishes, in their search they "espied cranes
stalking on the shore of a little island adjoyning where it
was afterward found this bird had its haunt, to breed and
rear its young"; and to this day, one of the islands off
Boothbay Harbor is known to every fisherman as well as to
tradition as "Heron Island," derived undoubtedly from the
facts here given.
The material for the new boat was taken on shore, and her
frame set up, while the ship's crew digged for water,
Footnote. 1. Gilbert and Popham's Voyage.
p.61 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
and finding a spring, inserted an empty cask to make it
well up, and in their digging found excellent clay for
brick and tile."
OCCUPATION OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY.
Yards and spars for the ship's use were cut from the
neighboring forest by some - the shallop hastened for-
ward by others - and great lobsters, rock fish, and
plaice were fished, - "all the fish being well-fed, fat,
and sweet to the taste."
MAY 22ND.
The soil of this island was broken with the spade and
hoe for the first time - and various garden seeds commit-
ed to the virgin earth, "which in sixteen days grew eight
inches," in what was but the crust and much inferior to
the mould of the main-land.
MAY 24TH.
Their wood and watering finished, "fourteen musketerrs
and Pike men embarked to explore the neighboring islands
in the harbor; and landed on two of them, May 24th, and
marched over them; one of which was a mile broad and four
or five miles in compass," undoubtedly "Squirrel Island and
Cape Ne-wagen" - the Nekrangan of the aborigines.
MAY 29th.
"Today the new built shallop was launched, and a Cross set
up on the shore-side among the rocks," in accordance with
the custom of the age, in marking new-discovered lands, and
particularly with Commodore Weymouth's policy, who "set up
Crosses1 in several places, marking his explorations here."
THE FIRST VIEW OF THE NATIVES.
The ship well moored, with fourteen men of her crew, was
left at her anchorage, while Commodore Weymouth, with
thirteen men, explored the newly discovered harbor and
its several approaches, finding
Footnote. 1. Holmes's Annals, p. 150. Williamson, p. 192,
Vol. I. Note.
p.62 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
four entrances for ship passage and good anchorage in the
sounds between its land-locking islands.
Weymouth then departed on an expedition inland, in his
ship's boat. After he had gone from the ship, 5 o'clock,
at nightfall, those remaining on ship-board espied three
canoes coming toward the ship; which touched and landing
on an island opposite the ship's anchorage quickly made a
fire about which the savage boat's crew stood beholding
her in wonder; as if in vision they had
"Seen the great canoe with pinions,
Seen the people with white faces,
Seen the coming of the bearded
People of the wooden vessel."
The ship's company with their hands and hats signalized
a friendly mission, "weffing (waving) unto them to come
unto us," says the narrator, "because we had not seen any
of the people yet."
Then a canoe with three men put off for the ship, and when
near to her, one of them "spake in his language, very loud
and very boldly," as if he would know "why she was here?"
and pointing his oar toward the sea, motioned "that she
should be gone."
An exhibition of knives and their use, combs and glasses,
on board the ship, drew the "canoe close aboard," to the
evident delight of her company, who gladly received the
bracelets, rings and peacock's feathers, with which they
adorned "their hair and tobacco pipes" and then returned
to their savage companions on shore.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIVES.
With bodies painted black - their faces, some red, some
black and some blue - "not very tall or big" - they were
a symmetrical and comely people, clothed with beaver and
deer skin mantles, fastened at their shoulders, haning to
p.63 their knees and most without sleeves - shod with leather
buskins, and their nakedness covered with a beaver flap.
They wore no beard; while the hair on the top of their
heads, "very long and very black," was tied up from behind
into a long knot. Of quick perception and good understanding,
they exhibited a courteous demeaner, mingled with kindness
and gratitude.
"Their canoes are made without any iron, of the bark of a
birch tree, strengthened within with ribs and hoops of
wood."
Very early the canoe came along side, and the three natives
were easily induced to come on board the ship and pass below,
where they freely ate of the ship's provisions, but of noth-
ing raw. The kettles, the armor, all excited their wonder;
and at the report of fire-arms, the savages fell flat on their
faces, exhibiting the greatest terror. It was given to them to
understand that the great object of the ship's visit to their
shores was the exhange of knives etc., for beaver skins and
furs; on learning which, with evident satisfaction, all de-
parted.
DISCOVERY OF A RIVER.
It was now ten o'clock, and to the surprise of the ship's com-
pany, within twenty-four hours of her departure, the shallop
was descried on her return; and as she neared the ship, in
token of her good news and success, she came "shooting volleys
of shot;" and when within musket range, adds the narrator,
"the shallop's company gave us a volley and hailed us; then
we in the ship gave them a great piece and hailed them; and so
soon as we espied them we certainly conjectured our Captain had
found some unexpected harbor, further up toward the main, to
bring the ship into, or some river."
Footnote. Aboriginal Boat - The following description will
present a good idea of the canoe of the aboriginal construct-
ion and use:
"Of the birch bark the savages make delicate canoes, so light
that two (see footnote continued below)
p.64 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
Here we have in the text a decisive indication that Captain
Weymouth, in his explorations of the harbor, had made an in-
land egress from the harbor northward, through which he had
passed, up into the main; and following the tides, had un-
expectedly fallen on his new discoveries; in the course of
this passage. The north-west head of Boothbay Harbor termin-
ates in such a passage by a deep, narrow gorge, in the native
language called a gate-way, as part of the trail from the east
to the Kennebec, sufficiently deep to swim any ship - through
which the ocean-tides rush up the broad and deep Sheepscot
channel into Wiscasset Bay, and around the head of Westport
through Monseag, and around Hockomock head into the Sagada-
hock, opposite the city of Bath, the course from the harbor
tending constantly to the west.
To resume the narrative, the chronicler adds, "our Captain
had in this small time discovered up a great river, trending
alongst into the main, about forty miles. *** For by the
length, breadth, depth, and strong flood, imagining it to
run far up into the land, he, with speed returned, intend-
ing to flank his light horse-men for arrows, etc." leaving
at the point on the river's banks where he had debarked, in
a trail
Footnotes continued from previous page....
men will transport one of them over land, and it will carry
ten or twelve men by water. Sometimes canoes are made of pine
trees, which, before the natives became acquainted with edge
tools, they burned hollow, scraping them smooth with clam and
oyster shells, trimming their outsides with stone hatchets.
These boats are not above a foot and a half or two wide, and
twenty feet long. Thin birchen rinds, close ribbed on the in-
side with broad thin hoops, like hoops of a tub, very light,
are the material for the other kind of canoes.
"In these cockling fly-boats, wherein an Englishman can
scarce sit without a fearful tottering, the natives will
venture to sea where an English shallop dare not bare a knot
of sail, scudding over the overgrown waves as fast as a wind-
driven ship, being driven by their paddles, being much like
battledoors; and if a cross wave turn her keep upside down,
they, by swimming free her, and scramble into her again."
Young's Chronicle, see note, p.135.
p.65 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
of human footsteps, a knife, a pipe, and a broach, all,
which, on his return, he found had been taken away."
Mutual congratulation was exchanged on the one hand for
unexpected and successful discoveries; and on the other,
"in meeting kind civilities in a people where any spark
of humanity was so little expected."
NATIVE TRADE.
JUNE 1.
The forenoon of the first of June was spent in trade on
shore, where eight and twenty natives appeared, "and for
knives, glasses, combs, and other trifles, we had forty
good beaver skins, otter skins, sables, and other small
skins which we know not how to call." The trade ended.
The natives now assured of the specific disposition of
their strange visitors, cast off reserve, and became free
and fearless, accompanied the fishermen who drew the net,
and wondered at the result; admired the process of writing,
and would "fetch fish and fruit bushes, and stand by me to
see me write their names," says the chronicler of the voy-
age.
A source of the greatest wonder was the galvanic power
of the point of the captain's sword, electrified by the
touch of a loadstone, "which would take up a knife and hold
it fast, when they plucked it away, or make it turn when laid
on a block of wood, and lift a needle."
DEPORTMENT OF THE NATIVES.
Two were invited by the Captain to sup with him and attend
evening service on board, who behaved themselves with great
decorum; "but desired pease to carry on shore to their
women," which were given them in "pewter dishes," "all of
which were carefully brought again."
At their departure, some of the ship's company were in-
duced to visit those on shore, where they found dear skins
spread by the fire, for them to be seated on. To their
guests
p.66 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
they offered tobacco, "which was excellent, being the
simple leaf, strong, and sweet taste."
Rosier took from one of their canoes, one of their bows
and arrows, and drew it, finding it strong, able to carry
an arrow five or six score strongly. One of the natives
also took up a bow and drew it, and it was observed that
he drew his bow after the manner of the English, and "not
like the Indians."
Their arrows were headed with the long shank bone of the
deer, made very sharp, with two fangs in the manner of a
harping iron. They likewise had darts headed with like
bone, "one of which I darted among the rocks, and it brake
not."
OWEN GRIFFIN.
On the return of the party to the ships, Owen Griffin was
left on shore, while three of the savages slept on board,
who lodged in an old sail on the orlop, and were kindly
treated; "and because they much feared our dogs," says
the write, "these were tide up whensoever any of them
came on board."
On the Sabbath, five or six canoes hovered about the ships;
but at a signal that they should depart till the next rising
sun, all left, - some in their canoes, coursing about the
island, and others directly toward the main.
On Monday, early, the natives came about the ship, by signs
earnestly desiring that we would go with them June 3 to the
main, where they had furs and tobacco for traffic.
They would (by pointing to one part of the main eastward)
signify that their Bashaba, i.e. King, "there had great
plenty of furs and much tobacco." Wherefore our Captain
SPEED OF NATIVE CANOE.
manned the "light-horse man" with as many men as he well
could, fifteen rowers in all. This we noted as we went
along, that their canoe with three oars would, at will,
go ahead of us, and about us, when we rowed with eight
oars strong.
p.67 SUSPICIONS OF TREACHERY.
GRIFFIN.
When we came "near the point" where we saw their fires,
and intended to land, the guiding canoe sped away to their
fellows on shore, after carefully and frequently having
numbered the ship's company.
This circumstance aroused suspicions of treachery in the
the mind of Weymouth, who determined not to follow, unless
"he who at their first sight of them seemed to be of most
respect among them - the kinsman of Nahanada, a chief -
and being then in the canoe, would stay as a pawn."
But when the canoe came up, "he utterly refused; but
would leave a young savage, in whose place Griffin was
sent in the canoe while the captain's boat lay hulling a
little off."
GRIFFIN'S STORY.
Griffin returned, and reported two hundred and eighty-three
savages assembled, "every one with his bow and arrow, their
dogs and tamed wolves," with nothing at all to exchange, but
seeming desirous to draw a company "further up into a little
nook of a river, for their furs as they pretended," - called
"Little River" to this day, and which longitudinally divides
the point of Linikin's neck.
The ship's company took cod and haddock with hooks by the
ship's side this day, and lobsters very great, which they
had not before tried to do at her anchorage - June 4.
off this island, where they had found "good, wholesome,
clear water in a great empty cask," which was left there
as a well, and "a fit place, convenient to set together
a pinnace which had been brought in pieces out of England."
Great muscles abounded among the rocks; and in some of them,
many small pearls; and in one of them, "was fourteen pearls,
whereof one of pretty bigness and orient."
p.68 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
NATIVES KIDNAPPED.
It was now resolved to capture some of the natives and
leave Pentacost Harbor, whose confidence having been
secured, would make them an easy prey.
Two canoes soon boarded the ship, containing three
natives each; of whom, two went below to the fire, the
others remained in their canoes about the ship, but
could not be lured on board. A plate of pease was tend-
ered to those still in their canoes, which was received
by them, and with which they hasted to an adjacent is-
land, their to eat their pease. Having finished their
repast, one of the savages, young, comely and brisk,
returned with the can to the ship; and joined his
comrades on board below. The small ship's boat was
now manned with seven or eight men, and dispatched
to the shore, as if for traffic. As the boat's crew
landed, one of the savages "withdrew into the woods,"
but the other two met the party at the shore-side and
received another can of pease, with whom the surprising
party "went up the cliff to their fires," and sat with
them, by it. They then suddenly seized on the savage
group, and it was as much as five or six of the sail-
ors could do to get them into the light horseman, for
they were strong and so naked that the best hold was
by the long hair on the top of their heads.
"Thus," says the chronicler of the voyage, "we shipped
five savages, two canoes with all their bows and arrows."
DESCRIPTION AND EXPLORATION OF THE HARBOR.
JUNE 8.
The harbor was thoroughly explored this day; and "the
Captain diligently searched the mouth of the harbor,
and about the rocks which show themselves at all times,
and are an excellent breach of water, so as no sea can
come in to offend the harbor" - a harbor that can be
entered "most securely in water enough by four several
passages."
p.69 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
CAPTURED PEMAQUID NATIVES.
Soon after shipping the captured natives, who had come
from their home at Pemaquid to visit the ship, as she
lay in her anchorage still, about one o'clock, "came
from the eastward, two canoes aboard us," says Rosier,
"wherein was he that refused to stay with us for a
pawn; and with him six other savages which we had not
seen before, who had beautified themselves after their
manner, very gallantly with newly painted faces, very
deep, some all black, some red, with stripes of ex-
cellent blue over their upper lips, nose and chin.
One of them wore a coronet about his head, made very
cunningly, of a substance like stiff-hair colored red,
broad and more than a handful in depth."
This costume indicated the royal relationship of the
wearer, the hairwork being a part of the royal vesture,
which the savage wearer so much esteemed that nothing
could induce him to part with it. "Others wore the
white feathered skins of some fowl, round about their
heads, jewels in their ears and bracelets of little
white round bone."
This body of savages seem to have been a deputation
accompanying the Royal Ambassador, sent from the Bashaba
to Captain Weymouth, desiring, says Rosier, "we would
bring up our ship," or Quiden, as they call it, to his
house, being, as they pointed, upon the main, towards
the east from whence they came.
JUNE 11.
But Weymouth declined the Royal courtesy, and turned
from the place of the Royal abode and weighing anchor
for the first time since he entered Pentacost Harbor,
made all sail, and with the kidnapped subjects of the
Bashaba under hatches, residents of Pemaquid, the kins-
man of one of whom the Royal messenger seems to have
been, steered out of the harbor, "and passed up into
the newly discovered river about six and twenty miles."
Before leaving the harbor, a boat's crew landed on one
of the islands of this harbor for anchorage, "having a
small, sandy
p.70 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
cove for small barks to ride in, and hard by the shore,
a pond of fresh water, which flowed over the banks, some-
what overgrown with little shrub trees, fed by a strong
run."1
THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE SAGADAHOCK.
All were struck with the beauty of its head-lands and the
grandeur of aspect, as the ship winged her way up this
river "for the river itself, as it runneth up into the
maine very nigh forty miles toward the great mountains,
beareth in breadth a mile, sometimes three-quarters, and
half a mile at the narrowest, when you shall never have
under four and five fathoms water hard by the shore, and
on both sides eveery half mile very gallant coves." After
a sail of about twenty-six miles, the ship reached her
river anchorage.
APPEARANCE OF THE SITE OF THE CITY OF BATH.
JUNE 12.
With the light horseman, or gig, the Captain, with seven-
teen men, left the Archangel riding at her anchorage
opposite the "Gut," or the entrance to the inland "pass-
age to Boothbay Harbor, from the Sagadahock, and rowed up
the river to the "cod thereof," where all landed but six,
to guard the boat. Ten of them, with a boy to carry the
powder and match,2 some armed, marched up into the country
toward the high mountains descried at their first falling
in with land, and which had seemed very near, within a
league, but after travelling a
THE INDIANS, MANIDA, SKETWARROES AND TISQUANTUM.
Footnotes. 1. In Prince's N. E. Chronology, it is asserted
"that Captain Weymouth first entered the Pemaquid" (which he
must necessarily have done, if he approached Boothbay harbor,
by Liniken's Neck Sound) "and then sailed up the Sagadahock,"
the harbor lying about midway between the two rivers - and,
it is added, that Weymouth brought from these rivers, five
natives, of whom were "Manida, Sketwarroes and Tisquantum"
New England Chronicles, p.15. 2. The fire-arms were the old
fashioned match-lock musket; the flint-lock and modern per-
cussion being unknown.
PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
OAK TREES LIKE IN THE PASTURES OF ENGLAND.
p.71 league and a mile they passed only three hills. In their
march, the party "passed over very good ground, pleasant
and fertile, fit for pasture, for the space of some three
miles, having but little wood and that oak, like stands
left in the pastures of England, good and great, fit timb-
er for any use."
THE CITY OF BATH.
"And surely it did all resemble a stately park, wherein
appear some old trees with high withered tops, and others
flourishing with living green boughs. Upon the hills grew
notable high timber trees, masts for ships of four hundred
tons." Such was the aboriginal forest aspect fo the penin-
sula, on which the present city of Bath, Maine, is located,
when its landscape in native wildness was first opened to
the admiring gaze of the adventurous white man, whose foot
for the first time trod its virgin soil, and sought rural
delights amid its clusters of mighty pasture oak trees.
How grand and refreshing must have been the view, as the
ship's boats rowed up that magnificent reach on the margins
of which the city stands!
REAPPEARANCE OF THE BASHABA'S MESSENGERS.
On return of this river exploring party, in rowing back
to their ship, "they espied a canoe coming from the further
part of the cod of the river eastward, i.e., from the harbor
they had just left, by the gut1) which, says the narrator,
"hastened to us, wherein with two others was he, who refused
to stay for a pawn."
WISCASSET, MAINE.
Footnote. If Captain Weymouth's Pentacost harbor be identical
with Boothbay, near and in sight from Pemaquid, north-easterly,
where lived his captured natives, the ship Archangel may have
followed the flood tide, leaving the harbor by its island pass-
age, bearing west up the Sheepscot, by way of Wiscasset to the
Sagadahock, entering the Kennebec opposite Bath. By the inland
route, it would from twelve to fourteen miles to Wiscasset,
and twelve miles from thence to her anchorage, near where the
city of Bath now stands, making about twenty six miles.
Footnote 1. Is this the ancient by-river Sasana?
p.72 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
The Indian named Prince.
Discovery of the treachery of their white visitors had now
been made; and the very day after the Archangel had left the
harbor below, the savage, Prince, who had become known by his
authority, dignity and cautious bearing, costume and frequent
appearance in behalf of his Sovereign, at the ship, with his
people in the harbor, had followed the ship to her new anchor-
aged in the river, from the east, and was now just emerging
into sight between the opening head-lands of bold shores,
where the Kennebec yawns to swallow in the Sheepscot tide
waters opposite Bath, Maine. With the haste and earnestness
of affection and solicitude, these savages endeavored to
secure one of the ship's company as a hostage for the safety
of his brother or kinsman, now a prisoner in that ship, having
been of the number of those abducted, in the harbor below, be-
longing to Pemaquid, and immured in the ship's (Archangel) hold.
JUNE 13th - EXPLORATIONS OF THE RIVER.
A company, well armed and provided, again embarked in the
small boat, and went up from the ship to that part of the river
which trended westward into the main, to search that, and carr-
with them a cross to erect at that point, which they left on
shore until their return, where it was set up in like manner as
the former had been, on the island.
SHIP ARCHANGEL TOWED TO THE SEA.
Having fallen in with so bold a coast, found so excellent
and secure a harbor, "discovered a river above report nota-
ble," up which he rowed from his anchorage, by estimation,
twenty miles, making less than three-score miles from the
place of his ship's riding, in the harbor, observing - "that
from each bank of this river are divers branching streams
into the main, and that here was great store of fish, some
great, leaping above water, which were judged to be salmon."
Weymouth made all expedition for his return to England.
p.73 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
Before the gray dawn of morning had broken over the head-
lands of Arrowsic, with the tide in his favor, and two
boats ahead, the ship Archangel was unmoored, June 14, and
towed doen the Sagadahock and anchored before noon.
The remainder of the day was consumed in sounding out the
entrance to this river from the sea. On Saturday, with a
breeze off land, anchor was once more weighed, and the ship
ran back to the harbor to her watering place, when the
Captain, upon a rock in the midst of the harbor, observed
the height, latitude and variation upon his nautical in-
struments, and found the latitude 43 deg. 20 min., and on
Sunday, the wind fair, the ship finally put to sea on June
16th, homeward bound for England.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE HARBOR.
Such is a sketch of the account of Rosier, the chronicler
of this important voyage. We have been thus full in noting
all the important facts in detail, as it is believed modern
received history is utterly at fault and founded on mere
assumption, in reference to the location of the scene of
Weymouth's explorations.
Strachey, a co-temporaneous writer, has thrown much light
on this expedition, in giving us the aboriginal names of
the riveres entered and explored by Weymouth, which from
motives of state policy were withheld by Rosier.
Strachey expressly fixes the localities, say of Weymouth,
that among the other discoveries made, was that of the
"a little river of Pemaquid, and that most excellent and
beneficial river, Sagadahock - up which he searched for
sixty miles."1
In the account transcribed are sketched many physical
features which will ever mark the island under which,
and
Footnote. 1. Massachusetts Historical Coll. Vol.3, p. 287.
Massachusetts Historical Coll. Vo. 5, 2nd Series, p. 12.
p.74 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
the harbor in which Weymouth moored his storm-tossed ship.
No course being given in the text, as to their showing, or
any other indication, but the fact that there were "very
high mountains, very far up into the main - discernable
from the anchorage under Monhegan Island" - the legitimate
inference is that Weymouth stood in for the main in the line
of vision of the summit of Mount Washington, in the White
Mountains group, discernable in the distant west and north;
and the islands about three leagues distant, adjoining to
the main, in the "road directly to these mountains," must
have been some of the inner islands of the Damariscove group
which land-lock Boothbay Harbor. So the course of Weymouth
from his anchorage under Monhegan was westward and not east-
ward. It would seem to one familiar with the localities, that
the ship passed into the harbor, by Pemaquid point, through
the sound, between Liniken's Neck and Fisherman's Island; and
then coming too, anchored between it and Squirrel Island. The
northern extremity of Fisherman's Island (ancient Hippocras?)
is a rounded swell or cliff shore, under which, on the west
side, a cove makes in, convenient for landing to wood and
water.
LINIKEN'S NECK.
A cable's length from the shore of this island, and off the
cove on the harbor side, is good fishing ground by the side
of the ship where she lay, a circumstance peculiar in itself
to the waters on the harbor side of this island, and where,
doubtless, the Archangel lay at anchor. Entereing at the
is the "little nook of a river," immediately off "Fisher-
man's Island," landward, north, a mile distant, into which
the natives sought to decoy Weymouth, under pretense of
trade. Nearly parallel to Fishermen's Island, a mile dis-
tant within the outer harbor, is Squirrel Island, with "a
pleasant sandy cove for small barks to ride in," on the west
side, into which the swamp of Weymouth's "pond of fresh water"
still empties its runlet to the sea; and it was without
p.75 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
FISHERMAN'S ISLAND.
BOOTHBAY.
doubt, on the beach of this island, over against the ship's
anchorage, that the natives at first showed themselves stand-
ing about their fires, gazing on the ship; while on the cliff-
side of Fisherman's Island, near to the ship and her water-
ing place, two of the five captured natives were taken; and
the naked reef of bare rocks, called the "Hipocrite" off
the northern and eastern slope of this island, together with
the "four" well known ship channels, entering from the east,
south east, south and north, all clearly identify Boothbay
with the Pentacost harbor of Weymouth, discoverd in 1605,
and which alone is capacious enough to hold the naval fleets
of any nation at once.
The newly constructed shallop, framed in England, built and
launched in the rock sheltered haven of Fisherman's Island,
probably made her first excursion from the harbor, by the
inland passage north-westerly across or up the waters of the
Sheepscot and the bay of Hockomock, through to the Sagadahock,
opposite Bath; where Weymouth "discovered", to his surprise,
"a great river," which he imagined ran "far up into the land,
by the breadth, depth and strong flood;" and following the
broad reach of the mouth of the Androscoggin, which trends
west into the main and flows from the White Mountains, he
explored that river as a part of the Sagadahock.1
TUMBLER ISLAND.
Near the center of Boothbay Harbor, Burnt Island, a rocky
eminence, lifts its bare bald surface above the waters of
the bay and harbor, on which the United States Government
has reared a harbor light. Here, doubtless, or on Tumbler
Island, Weymouth erected the observatory for his nautical
observation.
The natural features thus enumerated, which neither time
nor decay can efface from the earth's surface, and which
are in no way dependent on mere hypothesis, but exist now
as
Footnote. 1. John McKeen, Esq.
p.76 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
THE SHEEPSCOT AND DAMARISCOTTA RIVERS.
WEYMOUTH AT MONHEGAN ISLAND.
they did then, as facts, to one familiar with the localities,
can leave no doubt that the Pentacost Harbor of Weymouth is
the Townsend, or Boothbay Harbor, situated at or between the
waters forming the entrance to Sheepscot and Damariscotta
rivers. It is two and one half centuries since Weymouth,
escaping from the embaying shoals and quicksands of Cape
Cod, touched at Monhegan Island, a month and one half after
leaving England. In three days, "more, steering directly in
the road with the very high mountains, showing a great way
up the main, at noon, he came along to the other islands
more adjoining to the main, about three leagues distant"
from the first, under which he had anchored, when his ship
entered among these islands, was safely moored in a harbor
"defended from all winds, in an excellent depth of water,
for ships of any burthen - where was good mooring even near
the rocks by the cliff-side."
"A LAND MOST PROLIFIC IN ALL THE RESOURCES OF LIFE"
CAPTIVATED INDIANS NAMED:
NAHANADA, SAGAMORE; SKITWARROES, ASSESCOMET1 TISQUANTUM,
AND DEHAMIDA.
He had now fallen in with a land most prolific in all the
resources of life - peopled with a numerous, courteous, in-
genious and confiding race - the fairest specimens of abori-
riginal humanity, as yet unsullied by the white man's touch,
untainted by the approach of civilized life. Their inter-
course, suspiciously begun, was clouded by acts of treachery,
of which the white man seemed most capable, as he was the
most adroit and successful in executing. A party of four
natives of Pemaquid, of whom three were decoyed on board,
(one of whom being made a victim to his town honesty,) were
secured below, and two were seized by force and dragged
from the cliff-topl of the island, almost in sight of
their Sovereign's capital, by the hair of their heads, and
immured on ship-board. They were all persons of more or
less distinction among their fellows and one was a chief-
tain. Their names were: Nahanada, Sagamore; Skitwarroes,
Assecomet,1 Tisquantum, Dehamida - all of whom were
Footnote: 1. John McKenn's Voyage of Weymouth, p.332
CAPTIVATED AND TAKEN TO ENGLAND.
p.77 PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
taken to England, fell into the hands and became objects of
interest to the nobility of England, lived there about three
years, and learned the English language, gave a full account
of their people and country, exciting a deep public interest
in themselves and their home, and returned as guides and in-
terpreters to succeeding voyagers; and thus all were restored
again to their people and country.
PEMAQUID, SHEEPSCOT AND KENNEBEC.
Maine - Rural Magnificence.
The return of Weymouth closed the era of discovery; fully con-
firming the public interest in efforts to secure so desirable
a land of magnificent harbors, rivers and goodly forests, in-
troducing and opening the period of settlement. Thus we have
given the main incidents, facts and cirucumstances as they
transpired in the earliest explorations of this region, to-
gether with the personal appearance of the aboriginal settlers
on the waters of the Pemaquid, Sheepscot and Kennebec, at their
first introduction to the white race; and also the primitive as-
pect of our harbors, rivers, and headlands, making up the land-
scape of the "Ancient Dominions of Maine," when its primeval for-
ests in hoary grandeur towered on its hill-tops and shaded its
dells, realizing to our eyes, visions of rural magnificence,
overspreading our naked landscapes, now in strange contrast,
shorn and marred by the wood-man's axe - which two hundred and
fifty years ago, excited the admiration of Europe, and made
Pemaquid, Sagadahock and Sheepscot the most attractive of all
the locatlities of New England, in the eyes of the nobility of
old England.
SUMMARY.
Note - 1. All the most reliable and best informed cotemporan-
eous history locates the scene of Weymouth's discoveries at and
near Pemaquid, and in the Kennebec or Sagadahock section there-
of. 2. The main incidents and facts indicative of the course
steered from under Monhegan all lay west from Pemaquid, the home
of the captured natives.
p.78 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
DISCOVERY OF FISHING GROUNDS.
Weymouth in his passage homeward bound, having run some thirty
leagues from land, by his lead found the water shoaling from
one hundred to twenty-four fathoms. While laying with sails
furled, becalmed, the boatswain, Thomas King, "cast out a hook;
and before he judged it at ground, was fished and hauled up an
exceeding great and well-fed cod, and then there were cast out
three or four more; and the fish were so plentiful and so great,
some playing with the hook they took by the back, and two at a
time. It was now perceived they were on a 'fish-bank.' "
THE ISLAND OF MONHEGAN.
The waters of Maine have been frequented by continental fisher-
men at a very early period. The island of Monhegan, together
with the Damariscove group, land-locking the harbor of Booth-
bay, soon became noted depots for their fisheries.
INTEREST IN MAINE IS EXCITED IN EUROPE.
The section of the country embracing the new discovered harbor
and rivers of Pemaquid and Sagadahock by Weymouth - the home
of his captive aborigines - had become a point of absorbing in-
terest and speculation to the old world.
MAINE'S MAGNIFICENT HARBORS, RIVERS & FORESTS.
All eyes were directed to it, and all commercial enterprises
and colonial adventures were shaped to secure that land of
magnificent harbors, rivers and foreests, now opened in the
west.
Two years had elapsed since Weymouth's return - Under the
freshened impulse of his discoveries, the Chief Justice
Footnotes, continued. 3. The distant White Mountain views
are more in accordance with the expressed purpose of Rosier,
as land-marks, obscurity being his design in the description
he gives - the Camden hills as land-marks would therefore have
made the locality too palpable. 4. The occupancy of the Kenne-
bec by the colony, for whose settlement the exploration was
made, rather than the Penobscot.
p.79 THE PERIOD OF DISCOVERY.
1606.
of England, Lord Popham, organized an expedition to colonize
the goodly land. The narrative of the expedition and the de-
tails of the voyage, we have. In the quaint style of the pure
Anglo-Saxon, a record of the voyage, taken probably from the
log-book of the expedition, has been preserved; and gives to
our eyes a most graphic picture of the natural features of the
Kennebec, when her banks and unshorn head-lands were cloaked
with mighty primitive forests of oak and pine, ere the white
man's axe had cleared, or his hoe had broken the virgin soil.
|
