p.80 CHAPTER III.
SETTLEMENT.
ADVENTURES OF GILBERT AND POPHAM AT THE MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC.
HISTORIAN, STRACHEY.
Strachey, the historian of this voyage, was a man of intelli-
gence, and as secretary of the company, must have had access
to the most authentic material. Sir John Popham "prepared a
'tall ship,' well furnished, belonging to Bristol and the
river Savern, with many planters, which set out from Plymouth,
about May." *** "to settle a plantation in the river Sagada-
hock." Thus the narrator begins his story, after noticing the
interest excited in the public mind by the account of the
islands and attractive harbor, and of the rivers Pemaquid and
Sagadahock, then first explored by the voyages of Weymouth just
returned with several of the natives. But the "tall" ship of
Popham sailing in the path of a Spanish fleet, whose command-
er, learning her destination and the object of the voyage,
was made a prize and taken to France.
This disaster did not discourage the Chief Justice of England,
nor lead him "to give over his determination to plant a colony
within the aforesaid so goodly a country upon the river of
Sagadahock.
p.81 a blank page.
p.82 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
JOURNAL EXTRACTS OF THE VOYAGE.
THE SHIP MARY & JOHN.
1607.
GEORGE POPHAM AND RALEIGH GILBERT.
The next year he fitted out a good ship "called the Mary &
John, of London, and "a fly boat called the "Gift of God,"
wherein George Popham commanded and Raleigh Gilbert in the
other, with more provisions and a large company of "one
hundred and twenty planters," who set sail from Plymouth,
England in June.
Always keeping their course to the westward as much as wind
and weather would permit, on the 25th, fell in with islands,
where they took in wood and water, and then again put to sea
and ran "a course to the west and west-north-west, as the
wind would give leave," till the (July 27th) lead brought
ground in twenty and twenty-two fathoms upon a bank near the
43rd parallel. Here, in the language of the narrative, they
fished some three hours, "and tooke neere two hundred cod, very
great fish, and where they might have laden their ship in little
tyme."
From hence, they again made sail, and stood for the main, the
wind south-west; and as they ran for the land from this bank,
a north-west course, some thirty-six miles, soundings gave an
oozy black bottom in sixty fathom. The wind was scant, and our
voyagers were forced to haul further south-ward in their course,
and steering south-west, away, soundings gave them thirty
fathom, on fishing ground of small stones and white shells.
29th.
They held a west course till noon; when soundings gave black
oozy bottom and one hundred and sixty fathom.
30th.
In the morning, bearing north west, land hove in sight, 30
miles distant; and one hundred fathom, black cozy bottom was
brought by the lead.
They stood for the land, and as they could not fetch in before
dark, they about ship, and lay "a hull, all that might," find-
ing abundance of fish, "very large and great;
p.83 SETTLEMENT.
water, eighteen to twenty fathom deep - "hard abourd the shore."
THE SPANISH SHALLOP.
After mid-day, still running toward land, they found the
coast full of islands - water deep hard aboard of them -
safe passages for shipping round them; under
31st.
one of which they cast anchor. In two hours after anchorage,
a Spanish shallop pushed off from the shore towards the ships,
containing eight savages, and a native boy. They rowed about
the ships; but ventured not to board, at first, though tempted
by a display of knives, food, beads and trinkets.
Having satisfied their curiosity, the natives made a feint
to depart; but soon turned back; when three of them came
boldly into the vessel, while the others made for the shore,
with intimations of a return next day.
AUGUST 1st
The same natives returned in another shallop, laden with
beaver skins, accompanied by their women. Their purpose now
was trade.
At midnight, the moon shining brightly, and with the wind
fair to the north-east, our voyagers set sail,
2nd.
standing along the range of the coast south-westerly.
BOOTHBAY AND KENNEBEC.
3rd.
In the morning, very early, within three miles of land,
they discovered many islands, with navigable sounds be-
twixt; but "they made proof of none of them."
4th.
This morning found the ships off a cape or headland. "The
cape is low land, shewing white, like sand, but yet is all
white rocks - and a strong tyde goeth there."
The head-land thus described may have been Cape Small Point,
the terminus of the peninsula of the town of Phipsburg
p.84 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
SAGADAHOCK.
on the west, and bounding the bay of Sagadahock; the flux and
reflux of whose waters created the "strong tyde which goeth
there."
6th & 7th.
The ships were brought to anchor under the lee of an island;
which, on finding Weymouth's cross still erect, in memorial
of his visit the year before, they knew it was St. George.
CAPTAIN GILBERT.
The Indian, Skitwarroes, is returned home.
Their anchorage lay inside Monhegan toward Pemaquid, "four
leagues" distant; and at about midnight, Captain Gilbert
caused his ship's boat to be manned with fourteen of his
crew, together with Skitwarroes, who had been kidnapped
by Weymouth near Townsend harbor, but now returned to his
people and his home, as a guide and an interpreter.
LANDING AT PEMAQUID.
This company embarked in the boat, rowing westward, from
where the ships lay, for Pemaquid river, where the party
landed on the main.
Skitwarroes, undoubtedly entirely familiar with all the
localities of his birth-place, conducted them at once to
"savages' houses, of a hundred men, women and children."
ADVENTURES ON THE MAIN.
There they found Nahanada (who had been a fellow captive with
Skitwarroes, under the decks of Weymouth's ship,) the chief
man of the settlement.1 On the first appearance of Gilbert's
boatmen, the natives seized their weapons, exhibiting a hostile
attitude; but Skitwarroes and Nahanada meeting each other, and
the party being discovered to be Englishmen, the natives relax-
ed their hostile aspect, and their Chiefs embraced and welcomed
them. Two hours were spent in cheerful and happy greetings, when
the party of Gilbert "returned aboard again."
Footnote. 1. See Popham's letter, Massachusetts Historical
Collection - Latin.
p.85 SETTLEMENT.
SABBATH SERVICES.
9th.
The Sabbath dawned. The Chiefs of each ship, with most of
their company, landed on the island; and Mr. Seymour, their
chaplain, delivered a sermon; and religious worship was cele-
brated under the Cross of Weymouth.
HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES.
10th
Captain Popham manned his shallop and Gilbert his boat, the
company numbering fifty persons, and embarked for the mouth
of Pemaquid. Skitwarroes accompanied them. On reaching land,
Nahanada with his braves received them with distrust; and as
the boat party came opposite and in front of their homes, the
natives would not "willingly have all the boats' people come
on shore."
DESERTION OF THEIR GUIDE.
An hour was spent in negotiations, when the whole body of
natives suddenly withdrew to the woods, and Skitwarroes with
them. Their distrust is not to be wondered at, when it is re-
membered the treachery of Weymouth two years before must have
been yet fresh in their minds, and the wrong still rankling
in their hearts; and some demonstrations must have been made,
which inspired Popham's company with apprehension, "for he
rowed to the other side of the river," - probably to the Booth-
bay shore near Hodgdon's Mills - "and there remained for the
night."
On the eleventh, toward evening, the whole party returned to
their ships, "which still rode under St. George's island" -
after having undoubtedly entered and explored the mouth of
the Damariscotta river, to the western margins of which it
would seem they had retired from before the menacing bowmen
of Nahanada at Pemaquid.
DEPARTURE FOR SAGADAHOCK.
12th.
"They weyed anchors and sett saile to goe for the river of
Sagadahoc."
p.86 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
13th.
They were south off Seguin Island, a league distant - "But
they did not take it to be Sutquin."
THE GALE.
"Soe the weather being very fair, they sought the islands
further to the westward," - became soon becalmed, and were
forced to remain at sea, having overshot their island mark.
At midnight a mighty storm arose, and bore them on a lee
shore and in danger of being wrecked - "by reason they were
so neere the shoar and could not gett off, the wynd all the
while south, and yet blew very stiffe, soe as they were com-
pelled to turn yt to and agayne" - i.e. - to stand off and on.
14th.
"Soe soon as the daye gave light," finding themselves hard
"abourd the lee shore" in the bay they were in the day before,
(Broad Bay?) they looked for a place to "thrust in the shipp
to save their lives."
In towing their boat, "yt lave suncke at the sterne two hours
and more." Then putting up the helm, they stood in for the
shore; "when anon they perceived two little islands," for which
they made, and finding good anchorage, (George's Island harbor?)
there they rode out the gale. Here they freed their boat. Upon
one of the islands they found "four natives - one a female," -
the "islands all rockye and full of pine trees."
15th.
The storm ceased, and the wind came fair for them to go to
Sagadahock - the river whither they were bound. The wind was
off shore - and running in under Seguin, they could not get
into Sagadahock. The ship then came to anchor, but the fly-
boat worked into the river.
16th.
In the morning, Popham sent out his shallop to help in the
ship. It being calm, the ship weighed anchor and was soon
towed up "and anchored by the Gift's side."
p.87 SETTLEMENT.
Entrance and Debarkation at the Mouth of the Sagadahock.
17th.
Popham in his pinnace, and Gilbert in his long boat -
the one carrying thirty - and the other, eighteen men,
at morning light rowed from the ship into the river
Sagadahock, in search of a place to found the home of
their colony. They sailed up far into the interior and
"found yt a very gallant river," very deep and seldom
less water than three fathoms; and returning the same
day, they observed many "goodly islands therein, and
many branches of other small rivers falling therein."
SELECTION OF A TOWN SITE.
18th.
All went on shore, and there made choice of a place for
their plantation, "at the mouth or entry of the river on
the west side, (for the river bendeth itself towards the
nor-east and by east,) being almost an island of a good
bigness, in a province called, by the Indians, Sabino,
so called, of a Sagamore, or chief commander, under the
grand Bashaba."
FIRST MEETING WITH THE NATIVES.
This day gave the company their first view of the aborig-
inal inhabitants of the Kennebec. "Three canoes full of
Indians came to them; but would not come neere; but rowed
away up the river." These undoubtedly were river natives
and strangers; and not of the tribe to which Nahanada and
Skitwarroes, the captives of Weymouth belonged, who were
residents and natives from about the mouth of the Damaris-
cotta, near Pemaquid, and of the tribe of the Wawennocks.1.
Footnote.1. Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 28.
p.88 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
POSSESSORY SERVICES AND RITES.
19th.
Formal rites and ceremonies were this day performed in taking
possession of the site of their plantation by a solemn con-
secration of the spot, in acts of public religious worship,
the civil organization of their body and the promulgation of
their laws. A sermon was preached (the second sermon on New
England shores,) and George Popham was chosen Governor; Capt.
Gilbert, James Davis, Reverend Richard Seymour, Richard Davis
and Captain Harlow were sworn Assistants.
BREAKING THE GROUND.
Possession having been thus acquired, and the place of their
choice consecrated and made secure by all the forms which Re-
ligion and Law could suggest, the Company returned to their
ships.
20th.
THE FIRST VESSEL LAUNCHED ON THE WATERS OF NEW ENGLAND.
All were summoned to the work of breaking ground in the
erection of a town; and on reaching their previously selected
site, they "there began to entrench and make a fort and to build
a store-house." For the eight succeeding days, all labored dili-
gently in raising the fort; and the carpenters in stretching the
keel of the first vessel launched on the waters of New England,
which was from the banks of the Kennebeck, the President over
seeing and directing all.
28th.
Cape Elizabeth - which the Indians called Semiamis.
To-day, Captain Gilbert departed on a voyage of discovery west-
ward, sailing by "many gallant islands." At night the shallop
anchored under a "head-land - the wynd comying contrary - called
by the Indians Semiamis" - now Cape Elizabeth - "the land ex-
ceedingly good and fertile, as appeared by the trees growing
thereon being goodly and great." Native canoes passed, but
would not come near the shallop; and having entered Casco Bay
and sailed
p.89 SETTLEMENT
30th.
through some of its magnificent sounds, on the 30th "they
returned homeward before the wynd, sailing by many goodly
and gallant islands." To the 5th of September, all were
engaged in erecting their new homes and completing their
fortified works.
THE RETURN OF SKITWARROES.
with Indian Chief Nahanada & Sasonoa.
"About noon, there came into the entrance of the river Saga-
dahock and, so into unto the fort" - where the people were at
work - "nine canoes with forty savages in them, men, women and
children," Skitwarroes and the Pemaquid Indian Chief Nahanada,
with Sasanoa among them. They were kindly and hospitably enter-
tained by President Popham, and remained some two or three hours,
when they withdrew to the opposite shore, while Skitwarroes and
others remained at the fort until night, when Gilbert, James
Davies and Elias Beast visited the encampment and there tarried
during the night. Early in the morning, the natives embarked for
the eastward and returned to the river of Pemaquid.
THE UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR PENOBSCOTT.
SEPTEMBER 6TH AND 7TH.
The labor on the fortified works still employed all hands.
On the 8th, Captain Gilbert and twenty-two others embarked
in the shallop for Penobscot river.
Early in the morning of the 11th, they reached Pemaquid,
found their savage friends had gone before them; "and all
that day, as likewise the 12th and the 13th, they sailed
and searched to the eastward, yet no means could find the
river." To the 22nd all were engaged on the fort and store-
house.
ADVENTURES UP IN THE INTERIOR.
It would seem Captain Gilbert was the explorer of the
Footnote. Why did not Captain Davis, a companion of Weymouth,
know where to find the Penobscot?
p.90 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
The 23rd.
expedition, and on his return from his fruitless search for the
Penobscot, an examination of the Kennebec to its navigable head
was projected. So on the date here given, Gilbert and nineteen
of the expedition embarked in the shallop, "to goe for the head
of Sagadahoc." On the afternoon of the 24th, the party reached
a 'champaign' country, very fertile. Early on the morning of the
25th, they embarked and sailed along until reaching a low, flat
island, where a great cataract or donwfall or water - "which
runneth by both sides of this island very sure and swift" -
stayed their progress. It is quite probable that the explorers
had followed the broad reach of the Androscoggin to the westward
instead of the more tortuous and latent stream of the Kennebec,
where both rivers unite in Merry-Meeting Bay, and had now reached
the falls at Brunswick.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY AND DISCOVERIES.
Grapes, hops, garlic, etc., abounded on this island. They
forced their boat through the downfall by hauling her with
strong rope, and advanced a league further up the river. Here
they encamped for the night. In the early evening, in broken
English, savage voices were heard calling from the opposite
shore - to which our voyagers replied.
26th.
THE INDIAN CHIEF'S NAME WAS "SEBENOA"
In the morning a canoe approached, in which a sabamore and four
natives visited their encampment. The chief's name was "Sebenoa,"
who said he was "Lord of the river of Sagadahock."
THE ALTERCATION WITH THE NATIVES.
The chief entered Gilbert's boat, after a friendly interview,
but required that one of Gilbert's men, "as a pawn of safety,"
should be put on board their canoe. Immediately the canoe
hastened away with all the speed it could make, up the river.
The shallop pursued; and great care was taken that the hostage
chief should not leap overboard.
p.91 SETTLEMENT.
The canoe landed, and the white man was hurried to their abodes,
"neere a league on the land from the river's side." In the pur-
suit, the shallop soon reached a second downfall of water - "so
shallow, so swift" as to forbid any further progress by water.
Gilbert landed with nine men and the hostage Indian chief, and
after a good tedious march, overtook the savages, and found
"neere fifty able men, very strong and tall, such as their like
before they had not seen; all newly painted and armed with bows
and arrows." Notwithstanding these hostile indications, peace-
ful overtures prevailed, and proposals for trade were made.
Gilbert departed; but was followed by a body of sixteen natives
in less than half an hour; and the articles found in the canoes
for barter clearly indicating other objects than trade, he re-
embarked all his company with a view to leave the region.
The natives, suspecting the purpose of Captain Gilbert, and
fearing his firelocks, attempted to extinguish his fires, so
as to prevent the lighting of the matches. With this view, a
native sprang into the shallop, seized the fire-brand from him
who held it for use, flung it into the water, and leaped from
the shallop. Gilbert commanded his men to seize their fire-
arms and the targitiers too. He "had one of the men before
with his target on his arm, to go on shore for more fire." 1.
The natives resisted, and held the boat by its rope, "that the
shallop could not put off." The musquetiers then presented
their guns, when the natives seizing their arms, fled for the
woods, "knocking their arrows, but did not shoot." Gilbert and
his men withdrew to the opposite shore.
A canoe followed to excuse the hostile bearing of the natives.
Gilbert kindly entertained the messages of
Footnote. 1. Fire-arms had but recently been invented, and only
the ancient "matchlock" used, with which Gilbert's men were now
armed. This cumbersome weapon was rested on a support, and dis-
charged by a match or fire-brand, and was called 'matchlock' in
contra-distinction to our ancient but perfect firelock - now
being replaced by our modern caplock.
p.92 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
peace, but made the best of his way back to the settlement and
fort, seeing as he passed, abundance of spruce trees, "such as
are able to mast the greatest ship his Majestie hath" - fish
in abundance - "great store of grapes - and also found certain
Codds in which they supposed the cotton wool to grow, and also
upon the banks, many shells of pearl."
Having reared a cross, they continued homeward bound, "in the
way seeking the by river of some note, called Sasanoa."
SEPTEMBER 27TH.
On the 27th of September, "the weather turned fowle and full
of fog and rain." The party gave up their search, and in two
days more, reached the fort, on their return.
OVERTURES FROM THE NATIVE SOVEREIGN.
On the 3d of October, Skitwarroes appeared and advised them
that a brother of Bashaba waited their pleasure on the oppos-
ite shore. The savages remained the guests of Popham through
the sabbath, and the President took them to the place of public
prayer, "which they attended both morning and evening with
great reverence and silence."
OCTOBER 6th.
ST. GEORGE.
About the 6th of October, the fort was entirely finished,
intrenched and mounted with twelve cannon, and the town
was called "St. George"1 A church was erected and fifty
houses besides the store-house were reared within the
THE FIRST SHIP BUILT IN NEW ENGLAND.
The "Virginia" of Sagadahoc.
fortification. The material for a small ship of about2 fifty
tons was gathered and put up by the carpenters, under the
charge of a master-builder - the first on the Kennebec -
his name being Digby, of London, England. This vessel was
launched into the waters of the Kennebec, and was called the
"Virginia of Sagadahoc."
Footnotes. 1. Bancroft, Vol I. p. 268. 2. F. Miss. p. 240.
p.93 THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT. 1607.
MAINE BECAME THE GREAT NAVAL MART OF THE U.S.A.
Popham and some others died, and the remainder of the colonists
awaited the return of Captain Davis from England. The fortifi-
cations, the church, the public storehouse with fifty dwelling
houses, the ship-yard and ship, Virginia, on the stocks, must
have exhibited an imposing and business-like town at the mouth
of the Sagadahock, in October, 1607, which in the dim distance
of two centuries and a half, brings up visions of the past,
strangely in contrast with the present. Where is the grave of
Popham? Where is the monument of this early adventurer to the
shores of the Kennebec? Who celebrates the remembrance of these
hardy scions of the Anglo-Saxon stock, which sought root amid
the primeval forests of Sagadahock? None but those who have
imbibed the spirit of naval architecture, with which these
adventurous artisans, inspired the waters of the Kennebec and
the forests of Sagadahock, where it has lingered from that day
until now, and made the banks of this river the great naval
mart of the United States of America.
TRADITIONARY REMINISCENCES.
Contemporary history and tradition1 have handed down some
additional details of interest connected with Popham's colony,
throwing fuller light on the causes of its abandonment.
On the decease of Popham, it is natural to suppose that less
circumspection marked the intercourse of the new settlers with
the natives, and that a degree of lawlessness pre-
Footnote. 1. "It is reported by an ancient mariner, yet living
in these parts, as a person of good credit, that being in the
eastern parts about Kennebec, he heard an old Indian say that
when he was a youth, there was a fort built about Sagadahock,
the ruins of which were then seen, and supposed to be that
called St. George. **Upon some quarrel that fell out between
the Indians and the English, some were killed by the Indians,
and the rest driven out of the fort." - Hubbard's Indian Wars,
p.75. Appendix.
p.94 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
prevailed, which may have begotten a spirit of recklessness,
sure to bring forth the fruits of disaster. Popham, who with
diligence and skill had overseen and directed all, was gone.
An equally skilled pilot, probably, was not to be found at
the helm. Freedom and friendliness of intercourse with the
well-disposed and magnanimous Wewannocks of Pentacost Harbor,
had lulled suspicion and engendered a recklessness, incon-
sistent with peace and safety in their intercourse with the
fierce stranger savage inhabitants on the upper waters of
the Kennebec. The lord of Sagadahock probably had not lost
all recollection of the interview with Gilbert upon his in-
land voyage, in which his painted braves were outwitted and
defeated in their hostile purposes. The friends of Skitwarr-
oes and Nahanada, eastern natives and dwellers about Pema-
quid and Boothbay, though they had been outraged by the
treachery of George Weymouth, two years before, in the forc-
ible abduction of five of their number, with much frankness
and forbearance sought the friendship of the colonists.
"Sasanoa," representing the Royal authority, had warmly in-
vited the European strangers to visit his sovereign; and on
their failure to execute a purpose to do so, from adverse
circumstances, yet the attempt was received as evidence of
good faith on the part of the white man; and a member of
the Royal family, with a number of attendants, came to the
settlement to open and legalize trade. The terms were agreed
to; and under generous auspices, a trade was begun, the sav-
age chief, Amenquin,1 with bold and generous spirit stripping
off his beaver coat, and giving it in exchange for a straw hat
and a knife.
COLLISION WITH NATIVES.
With the stranger natives above, it is probable matters
Footnote. 1. In this, Monquine, the chieftain who sold to
Bradford and others his Kennebeck purchase?
p.95 SETTLEMENT.
did not go so smoothly. Strachey's account clearly indi-
cates their hostile proclivities.
Being gathered at the fort for traffic, the savages were
trained to draw a small cannon by its drag ropes. When thus
exposed, the gun was discharged, killing some and wounding
others, and as we may presume, filling all with madness.
An altercation took place. In the issue, a colonist was
slain; and the survivors fled from the fort, leaving arms
and ammunition exposed. The powder scattered about the open
casks - now the dangerous sport and plunder of the victor-
ious and ignorant natives, dancing and rioting in their
success - became ignited, and in the terrific explosion which
followed, blew up the fort and destroyed many of the savages.
COLONY ABANDONED.
Overwhelmed with the crashing thunders of the report and the
disaster, half dead with fear, the natives in their simplic-
ity interpreted it as an exhibition of the anger of the Great
Spirit at the wrongs done the strangers. These apprehensions
wrought repentance which issued in pacific overtures and led
to a restoration of friendly intercourse. Such is the story
from tradition. If it be all as rumor has handed it down, we
have a sufficient reason for the early departure of Popham's
colonists, and abandonment of their homes amid the rocky ram-
parts of the ocean at the mouth of the Kennebec, which was
thus made the scene of abortive colonial adventure in 1607.1
1611.
During the next four years no important incident occurred,
within the ancient dominions of Maine, if we except the
kindling of those embers of civil strife among the natives,
whose flame consumed the great Bash-
Footnote. 1. Supplement to King Philip's War, p.75.
Williamson, Vol. I. pp. 200, 201.
p.96 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
aba and scattered the people of the Wawennocks. There was
nearly an annual return of various ships from England,
attracted still by the public interest centering in these
western wilds.
MONHEGAN SETTLEMENTS.
From the period of Popham's enterprise on the Sagadahock,
from the date of Weymouth's discovery - Monhegan (a corrup-
tion of the aboriginal Menahan, "an island") in the panora-
ma of sea life exhibiting "the remarkablest Iles and Mount-
ains for land-marks," - "a round high isle," with the little
"Monas" by its side, "betwixt which is a small harbor, where
their ship was anchored," says Smith, - became a place of
general resort, as it was a way station for trade and supplies.
ABRAHAM JENNENS.
"Abraham Jennens,"1 a fish merchant of Plymouth, England, con-
cerned in trade with Abner Jennens of London, England, employ-
ing a large tunnage in the cod-fisheries and trade on the
coast, acquired the original ownership of this island.
Here and on the neighboring mainland at Pemaquid, and without
doubt, on the islands land-locking Boothbay Harbor, were stages
or posts for trading and fishing. Indeed, "Monheban"
RECKLESS VOYAGERS - HARLOW.
had now become a noted depot for trade with the natives, as
well as a land-mark for voyagers, when Harlow, by acts of
rapacity and outrage, disturbed the peaceful current of events.
On a voyage from Europe, sent to make examination of Cape Cod,
his ship had touched and taken shelter under the island of
Monhegan.
The natives having learned the advantages, were stimulated by
the excitement of trade and visited the lagging
Footnote. 1. Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 38.
p.97 SETTLEMENT.
ship. to "truck." But Harlow, under the mask of friendship,
seized three whom he had enticed into his ship. One of his
victims leaped back into the sea, and made good his escape
to the land, when gathering the bowmen of his tribe, he
assailed Harlow with desperate fury - cut away his stern
boat, and taking her to the beach, filled her with sand, -
sucessfully beating off the force sent from the ship with
showers of barbed arrows, "sorely wounding some of the ship's
crew,"1 retaining the boat in defiance of all efforts to
recover her!
SMITH'S ADVENTURES.
1614.
POCAHONTAS & JOHN SMITH.
Captain John Smith, whose life in southern Virginia had been
spared at the solicitation and intercession of Pocahontas, the
daughter of Powhatan, next visit our waters with a flotilla of
fishermen at Sagadahock, to fish and trade, as well as explore
the country. With two vessels, a ship and bark, Smith sailed
from England, bound for Sagadahock, the "El Dorado" of the new
world, and not the central point of western attraction to the
crowded communities of the old. In the month of April, he
arrived at Monhegan, and sailed for Sagadahock. Building a
number of boats, he circulated among the islands, bays and
river mouths, east and west, adding to discoveries already
made, and beating up trade with the natives of the coast.
Whales, at that period, were found in our waters; and more
recently these monsters of the deep have showed themselves
off Cape Newagen and sported in the waters of the Sheepscot.
His men pursued the fishing of the whale here, where the Royal
head of the Wawennocks had fished before him; but he found it
profitless, as the fish taken yielded neither the "fins nor oil"
of commerce. Gold and copper could
Footnote. 1. Williamson, Vol. 1, p. 207.
p.98 THE ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
not be found to mine upon the land. Off Monhegan and about
the waters of Penobscot Bay, he came in collision with the
natives; and in the conflict some of his men had fallen;
where also he found a ship of Sir Francis Popham, which
for "many years"1 had visited the waters of St. George's
river only. On the conclusion of his explorations
JULY 18.
he sailed for England; and although the voyage yielded no
fruits of special interest in the success of any colonial
movement, yet it was of great service to science in the
diffusion of a knowledge of the geography of this section,
and to the patrons of the expedition in the profits of the
voyage.
THE WAWENNOCKS DISPERSED.
But a constant and natural increment of population appeared
about the islands, bays, harbors and rivers, in trading posts,
fishing stations, and "truck houses," from every expedition,
by desertion from ships and otherwise. A bloody and extermin-
ating warfare between the Bashaba of the Wawenocks of the ancient
regal race dwelling about the Sheepscot and Damariscotta and
Pemaquid waters, in which this
1615.
people with their kingly pride and power, became extinct, now
raged in the height of its ravages, rendering all intercourse
with the main land for trade and settlement hazardous in the
extreme. For two years, the tide of blood and carnage rolled
on, bearing with it and leaving everywhere the dark image of
death and pestilence in the houses of the aboriginal race.
ROCROFT'S VOYAGE.
1618.
The voyager Rocroft next appeared off Monhegan to take fish,
and lade his ship with the sun-dried cod; and on his arrival,
detecting a French bark, sheltered in a creek, where she
traded and made her fish, for some
Footnote. Prince's New England Chronology, p.15.
p.99 SETTLEMENT.
affront given by her commander, Rocroft seized and made her
his prize. His crew however, mutinied; and on discovery of
their purposes he landed the disaffected ones on the main-
(probably the crew of the captured bark) - who, to escape
the desolation and exposure of a winter, houseless on the
banks of the Saco, reached Monhegan and wintered there in
the deserted cabins of a former population which had now
retired to Pemaquid.1
The treachery and cupidity of the whites had exasperated
the surviving native race, still under the excitement of
a civil war, to such a degree, that the interests of comm-
erce began to suffer by the interruption of trade and settle-
ment.
HUNT'S PERFIDY.
Hunt, a subordinate in command, under Smith, who had been
left to complete his voyage and sail for Spain, following
the example of his predecessors, had kidnapped a number of
the natives, particularly on the back side of Cape Cod.
A French ship, two years previously, had been wrecked there,
and the survivors of this shipwreck were watched and dogged
by the savages till nearly all were slain. Three or four
were saved, "treated worse than slaves, and sent from sachem
to sachem to make sport." It was one of this ship-wrecked
company who forewarned their savage tormentors that the wrath
of God would ere long overtake them for their barbarity, re-
buking them for their "bloody deede," to which they ever re-
plied they were "too many for God." Disease soon over-swept
the whole region and left it without an inhabitant, and the
unburied corpses, and bleaching bones, and ghastly skulls of
the unnumbered dead filling the forest wilds with hideous
visions of death and depopulation.
Footnote.1. J. W. Thornton, Esq.
p.100 THE ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
DERMER'S ADVENTURES.
1619.
Captain Thomas Dermer was despatched on a mission of
peace to the savage wilds of our coast with a view to
restore the settlements scattered and broken up by the
ruthless civil wars among the natives, and to allay the
irritation occasioned by the treachery of Harlow and Hunt.
ROCROFT SLAIN BY VIRGINIA PLANTER.
He commanded a ship of two hundred tons, with orders from
Gorges to join Rocroft, who, having gone to southern Virgin-
ia with the French prize, as he was about to return northward,
met the newly appointed Governor, Sir George Yeardly, inward
bound. The Governor ordered Rocroft to board his ship. This
Rocroft did, leaving his own vessel with less than half her
crew at anchor. But a storm arising, Rocroft was forced to
remain for the night, during which his own bark was driven
on shore and sunk. By the aid of the Governor, Rocroft re-
covered his bark, but while refitting her for the voyage
to Virginia of the north, in a quarrel with one of the
Virginia planters, he was slain and his vessell lost.
1620.
Dermer, learning the fate of his associate at Monhegan,
sailed in an open pinnace of five tons, for the south.
In passing around Cape Cod, by the inland passage, he
heard of the fate of the wrecked crew of the French ship,
and seeking out the survivors, redeemed them from their
savage captors. On his return voyage, June 30th, the
the savage, Squanto, of Plymouth notoriety, (and it is
also said, Samoset)1 accompanied Dermer; who had each
been taken to Europe by the perfidious Hunt, the one
from about Pemaquid, near to Monhegan; and the other
from Cape Cod.
INSERT.
THE INDIAN, SQUANTO.
Squanto has captured the imagination of a great many writers over the years. This Indian may have been the subject of more literary speculation than any of his contemporaries. Yet, the facts of his life are anything but certain. No one historical source gives the complete story of Squanto's life, which means it must be pieced together from a wide variety of historical accounts. At various times, this Indian has been called Tisquantum, Squantum and Squanto.
The name Tisquantum made its first appearance in historical records in 1605. In March of that year, Capt. George Weymouth, an Englishman, set out on a voyage to explore the coasts of Penobscot, Maine and Massachussets. He was sent by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who had hopes of settling colonists in that region.
[NOTE: In 1596 Sir Ferdinando Gorges was commissioned "captain and keeper" of the castle and fort at Plymouth, England. In 1603, on the accession of James I, he was suspended from his post at Plymouth, but was restored in the same year and continued to serve as "governor" of the forts and island at Plymouth until 1629. About 1605 he became interested in the New World with special attention to the New England area.]
Capt. Weymouth had instructions to look at the resources of North America, particularly the Canadian and New England areas, and to gather information for some merchant adventurers in England who were members of the Newfoundland Company.
While in the New England region, Capt. Weymouth had his men capture several Indians, thinking his financial backers in England would be interested in seeing some natives from the region. Capt. Weymouth had his men kidnap two Indians in a very brutal manner. Weymouth wrote, "we used little delay, but suddenly laid hands upon them. . .For they were strong and so naked as our best hold was by their long hair on their heads." Then he kidnapped three more Indians to take back to England, but he used bribery with them: In his account we are told "...we gave them a can of peas and bread, which they carried to the shore to eat. But one of them brought back our can and presently staid aboard with the other two; for he being young, of a ready capacity, and one we most desired to bring with us into England, had received exceeding kind usage at our hands, and was therefore much delighted in our company."
The names of the five Indians captured by Weymouth's men were Manida, Skidwarres/Skettawarroes, Nahanada/Dehanada, Assacumet and Tisquantum. Here we find the first mention of Tisquantum, which was probably the Squanto who became such an important figure in the Pilgrim story. Capt. Weymouth returned to England in late July, 1605, with the five Indians he had captured, and presented them to Sir Ferdinando Gorges.
[NOTE: From all available accounts, it would appear Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his associates treated the five Indians well and returned them to their native homes. Of the five Indians Capt. Weymouth took back to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, we know of two who were returned early to their homeland for their names are recorded in the accounts of voyages made under Gorges' sponsorship.
In 1606 a ship under the command of Capt. Thomas Hanham, assisted by Capt. Martin Pring, visited the region of the Kennebec River in what is now Maine. They brought with them the Indian Nahanada. We learn more of Nahanada from the accounts of Capt. George Popham and Capt. Raleigh Gilbert in 1607 when they visited the same region and brought with them the Indian Skidwarres, to whom they refer as "our Indian."
During the 1607 exploration of the region, Skidwarres led the Englishmen to the summer dwelling place of Nahanada, who was chief of a group of some one hundred Indians (men, women and children). When Skidwarres explained the Englishmen had come in peace, Nahanada came forward and embraced the visitors. Over the next few weeks Nahanada and his people visited and parleyed with the Englishmen as they established their fort at Sagadahoc on the Kennebec River.]
Historical records between the years 1605 to 1614 do not reveal what was occurring in Squanto's life. We can only speculate on the basis of information which has come down to us concerning the interests and activities of Sir Ferdinando Gorges and his associates, such as Sir John Popham and Capt. John Smith, during that period of time.
On October 30, 1605, Sir John Zouche and Capt. George Weymouth entered into an agreement for setting a private plantation in northern Virginia (New England). Under the leadership of Sir John Popham there was a strong movement against private plantations and in favor of public plantations by large incorporated companies: Popham's influence prevailed. As we shall see, Popham had some plans of his own for the region.
In 1606 Gorges became a member of the newly formed Plymouth Company for New England, becoming its most influential member. He labored zealously for the founding of Sir John Popham's Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River (then known as the Sagadahoc) in 1607. For several years following the failure of that enterprise in 1608, Gorges continued to fit out ships for fishing, trading and exploring with colonization uppermost in his mind.
It is assumed that Gorges and his associates taught Squanto (and perhaps the other Indians) English so he could question them and learn of their native lands. Gorges wanted information about names of tribes, chiefs, parties to tribal wars, who would ally with whom when trouble threatened, harbors, fishing, animals for skins, rivers, what foods the Indians grew, and which crops might be grown by English settlers.
To that end, Squanto was trained to be a guide and interpreter for the sea captains who were exploring the New England coasts. It is possible Squanto accompanied some of the expeditions to New England prior to 1614. If so, we have no specific references.
By 1614 Capt. John Smith had entered the employ of Marmaduke Rawden and his associates, Capt. George Langham, Master John Bulley, and Master William Skelton. These men were not members of the Plymouth Company. They were simply merchant adventurers who were seeking financial gain. Their stated objective was whaling, although one can wonder since Rawden was a cloth worker with side interests in wine and sugar, and Skelton was a merchant adventurer interested in cloth.
Squanto met Capt. John Smith through some uncertain connections (probably contacts with the Newfoundland Company or the Plymouth Company for New England), and was promised a return to his people at Pautuxet (now Plymouth, MA). The "fleet" of two ships left the Downs on 3/13 March 1614 with Capt. Smith in charge of one ship, and Capt. Thomas Hunt in command of the other. Squanto was a passenger on Smith's ship.
The crew totaled forty-five men and boys, and the final plan was to "make trials of a mine of gold and copper," as well as "to take whales." ("Gold" may have been the catch word Capt. Hunt used in stirring an interest on the part of the four merchant adventurers who were financing the voyage.) If they failed in these, Smith and his company were to save the cost of the voyage in any way they could—perhaps with fish and furs.
The lack of expertise among the "whalers" aboard soon became evident, and Capt. Smith realized that fish and furs were their only way to save them from financial failure. Smith left about thirty-five men with half a dozen locally built fishing boats to keep fishing, while he set out with eight or nine men in one small boat to range the coast. There is some evidence that Squanto was with Smith. While the men were fishing, Smith began to explore and map the region. Smith then explored southward where he visited the Cape Cod region and landed Squanto at Patuxet which was his native home.
Then Smith turned northeastward, intent on completing a cargo. Capt. Hunt remained behind to cure a load of dried fish. He was under instructions to sail for England as soon as he had loaded his cargo of fish and traded for a cargo of beaver skins with the Indians. Apparently, Squanto had remained with Hunt as an interpreter. Through the promise of trade, Hunt lured a number of Indians aboard and they were promptly captured and bound. Squanto was among the twenty Patuxets kidnapped. Squanto, himself, confirmed the fact that he was one of several Indians who were kidnapped by Capt. Thomas Hunt and sold into slavery in the year 1614. The story is also confirmed by statements found in Sir Ferdinando Gorges' report: A Brief Relation of the Discovery and Planatation of New England. Seven of the Nauset were also kidnapped, thus incensing the warlike Nauset tribe of Cape Cod.
The captives were carried off to Malaga, Spain, where Hunt tried to sell them as slaves at 20 pounds each. Some of the local monks discovered what was happening and took the remaining Indians from Hunt in order "to instruct them in the Christian faith." thus "disappointing this unworthy fellow of the hopes of gain he conceived to make by this new and devilish plot."
Apparently, Squanto had lived with the monks a year or two when he attached himself to an Englishman who was traveling back to Bristol or London.
While in London, Squanto met and lived with Sir John Slaney in Cornhill. Sir John Slaney was a wealthy merchant and Treasurer of the Newfoundland Company. In 1617 John Slaney sent Squanto to Newfoundland, probably as an interpreter and guide on one of the expeditions. There he was recognized by Capt. Thomas Dermer who had worked for Sir Ferdinando Gorges in the past. Capt. Dermer wrote a letter to Gorges, stating he had found "his Indian" in Newfoundland and asked what he should do with him. The reply must have been a request for Squanto's return because Dermer took Squanto back to England.
Once again, Sir Ferdinando Gorges organized an expedition to explore the natural resources of New England. On that voyage Capt. Dermer and Squanto were to explore the natural resources of New England and to re-initiate trade with the Indians along that coast. At the end of this expedition, Squanto was to be returned to his home at Patuxet.
In 1619 Squanto sailed with Capt. Dermer, landing at Monhegan, one of the more important fishing stations in Maine waters. There, Samoset was taken on board. Together they set sail southward and dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor about one year before the Pilgrims arrived. Squanto found that every man, woman and child at his home of Patuxet had been wiped out by the plague since he had visited in 1614. Squanto was the only Patuxet known to be alive.
[NOTE: Before the Great Plague of 1616-17 had finally run its course, it killed between one-third to perhaps as much as eighty per cent of the Indians of southern New England, located between Narragansett Bay and the Penobscot River. The disease has never been identified. "The savages died like rotten sheep, and their bodies before and after death were exceedingly yellow." Europeans were apparently immune to the plague's ravages, and not all tribes in the area were affected by the Great Plague, as the Massachusetts tribe to the north of the Patuxets seems to have escaped unscathed.]
Later, Samoset would confirm the destructive effects of the plague on Patuxet. He told the Pilgrims how the Patuxets had been hostile to white men and had been wiped out just four years before. As a result, the Indians believed the area to be haunted by evil spirits. Therefore, no one remained at the site to contest the land when the Pilgrims decided to settle there.
Capt. Thomas Dermer and Squanto worked together mapping resources of the New England coast. Squanto was the Indian interpreter during Capt. Dermer's excursion into Pokanoket Country (now Bristol, RI). Since his own people were gone, Squanto decided to remain with the Pokanokets—where Massasoit, the Grand Sachem of the Wampanoag Federation, resided.
Capt. Dermer continued on to Cape Cod, where he and his crew were attacked by the Nausets who had become extremely rebellious due to the capture of some of their men by the infamous Capt. Thomas Hunt. Dermer and his men were attacked, captured and taken hostage.
When word of Dermer's capture reached Squanto he went to his friend's aid and negotiated his safe release. Later Dermer was attacked by the natives living near Martha's Vineyard. Although he and one other member of his group escaped, Dermer was seriously injured and later died in Virginia—possibly of the wounds he suffered at Capowak.
A little more than a year after Squanto returned to his homeland, a shipload of English families arrived on the Mayflower and settled at Patuxet which had once been occupied by Squanto's people.
On Samoset's third visit to Plymouth, on March 22, 1621, he brought along the Indian called Squanto, who spoke better English than he.
Squanto carved a prominent place for himself in the history of the early settlement of New England, becoming a valuable assistant, guide, interpreter and ambassador of sorts for the early settlers, whom he served from the time of his appearance until his death two years later. He befriended the Pilgrims and taught them how to plant Indian corn, where to catch fish and eels, where to find the best berries and nuts, and many other things which would insure the successful establishment of the new colony.
During the month of August in the year 1621, while the Indian Hobbomock and Squanto were visiting friends at Nemasket they were attacked by Chief Corbitant, sagamore of the Mattapoinset and Pocasset Tribes. Hobbomock managed to escape and (having last seen Squanto struggling for his life at the hands of Corbitant) ran fifteen miles to Plymouth where he rallied Miles Standish and his army, who speedily set out for Nemasket to "rescue him if he were alive or to punish Corbitant if he had been killed."
Upon arriving at Nemasket, the English learned that Squanto was alive and had been threatened only. His assailant had run away into the woods toward his own country at Mattapoinset (now Gardiner's Neck near Swansea, MA). Corbitant later appeared before the English at Plymouth in September, 1621, to make amends for his conduct.
We know Squanto acted as guide on many of their expeditions and explorations. On September 28, 1621, he was the Pilgrim's guide when a group of them left under the leadership of Miles Standish for a trip to Boston Harbor, then known as Massachusetts Bay; "to discover and view that bay and trade with ye natives. . . .partly to see the country, partly to make peace with them, and partly to procure their trucke, or barter."
In June 1622 the young Pilgrim lad, John Billington, became lost. When Massasoit was contacted for help in the search that followed, he sent an Indian named Tokamahamon to go along with Squanto to serve as guides to the search party and serve as interpreters. On 11/21 June a group of Pilgims set out for Nauset territory. With the assistance of Squanto and Tokamahamon, friendly relations with the Nausets were established and the boy was recovered.
Squanto did not help the Pilgrims solely because of his caring. By late 1621 he was using his position with the Pilgrims for his own good. As Squanto traveled about the region, he spoke English, and his fellow Indians accepted his pronouncements on the ways of the white man as authoritative. Squanto was well aware of the great fear the Indians had of the plague, and his prestige grew as he spread the story that the English had buried the plague in barrels under their storehouse. Squanto warned the Indians that if they did not do as he told them, he would have the Pilgrims release the plague. The fear was reinforced by the fact that the Pilgrims stored their gunpowder underground in this manner. Squanto told them the Pilgrims would release the plague if they were unhappy with their relations with the Indians. Of course, his stature in the Indian community grew immensely—as did the Indians' fear and respect of the Pilgrims. When the Pilgrims learned of this, they said they had no such power, and added, "But the God of the English had it in store and could send it at His pleasure, to the destruction of his and our enemies." With this uncertain reply, the Indians remained in awe of the Pilgrims.
A few months after this episode, the Indian Hobbomok (who had taken permanent residence at Plymouth) confided to the settlers that he had heard rumors indicating the Massachusett and Narragansett Federations were endeavoring to secure the Wampanoag's assistance in plotting against the English. He cautioned the settlers against leaving for a proposed exploration, since the Indians intended to take advantage of Miles Standish's absence and strike at the settlers. He said he had received word that Squanto was in sympathy with the plotters. As a result of this information, the Governor decided to send both Squanto and Hobbomock along on board the shallop. Hardly had the group set sail, than an Indian messenger appeared on the scene bringing news confirming Hobbomok's intelligence, and the boat was recalled. The Indian messenger said it was believed that all of Massasoit's people were planning to participate in the Massachusett/Narragansett scheme.
Hobbomok vehemently objected to this intelligence, saying he was certain his Sachem would not become involved in such action without first consulting his council, of which Hobbomok was a Panseis and a Sagamore. As proof of his contention, Hobbomok dispatched his wife to Sowams country, where she privately learned all was quiet, and Massasoit was not involved in any such conspiracy.
Massasoit finally received word of this rumor of conspiracy and was so greatly shocked that he personally appeared at Plymouth to clear himself of all the rumored charges. When Squanto was formally accused of participating in spreading this rumor of conspiracy, he offered no denial and placed himself at the mercy of Governor Bradford and, having a "friend in court," was spared punishment. Learning that Squanto assisted in spreading the rumor, Massasoit requested Governor Bradford to forfeit Squanto to his jurisdiction in accordance with the Pilgrim/Wampanoag Treaty. This was denied by the Governor because he knew, according to Indian law, Squanto would be put to death as a traitor. After repeated entreaties by Massasoit for Squanto's custody, the demands were finally dropped.
Both Squanto and Hobbomock were residents at Plymouth until their deaths. Along with Massasoit, they were of great value to the colonisits during their early struggles for survival.
After the Pilgrims learned of Squanto's ambition, they seem to have taken advantage of his jealousy toward Hobbomok in order to gain better services from both Indians—playing one against the other. Governor Bradford appears to have depended on Squanto while Standish trusted Hobbomock.
In early January, 1623, the Pilgrims were again searching for corn to see them through the winter because the second corn harvest had been disappointing. Fort-building had caused neglect of the crop, and much of the meager harvest had been stolen. With Squanto as guide, pilot and interpreter, Bradford led a trading expedition around Cape Cod in order to trade with the now friendly Nausets for corn and beans. They were eventually successful in procuring the food which helped them through another hungry winter, but at a tragic cost and an irreplaceable loss.
In November 1623, while on a trading expedition to the Massachusetts Indians, Squanto came down with Indian fever. Squanto died suddenly, "attended with bleeding much at the nose." Before his death, Squanto talked with Governor Bradford and asked him "to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven, and bequeathed sundry of his things to sundry of his English friends as remembrances of his love, of whom they had a great loss."
Bradford's appreciation of Squanto was expressed in his history, Of Plimoth Plantation, when he says: ". . .Squanto continued with them (the Pilgrims) and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died."
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
DERMER.
On his return voyage, June 30, 1620, the savage, Squanto
of Plymouth notoriety, (and it is also said, Samoset)1
accompanied Dermer; who had each been taken to Europe
by the perfidious Hunt; the one from about Pemaquid, near
to Monhegan; and the other from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Reaching Long Island Sound, southward bound, by way of
the inland passage, having accomplished his peaceful
mission in restoring confidence to the natives,
Footnote. 1. Williamson's Hist., I. pp. 213,218. Prince,
p.99.
p.101 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
SETTLEMENT.
Dermer & Crew Attacked by the Indians.
and reviving the settlements about Sagadahock, Dermer
landed to refresh himself and his company. But the
savage inhabitants deeply provoked by the barbarous
conduct of Hunt, visited on the noble Dermer the re-
tribution due to the kidnapper. The crew on shore and
the boat on the beach were assailed by the infuriated
savages.
Dermer fought his way to the boat, and was badly wounded,
a native seized him and threw him on the cuddy1 deck,
and attempted to sever his head from his body, when the
only survivor of the boat's crew, a redeemed Frenchman,
came to Dermer's rescue with a drawn sword. His savage
attendants earnestly interceding in his behalf, further
violence was stayed, the boat surrendered, and Dermer,
with one man escaped to Virginia, where he soon died.
THE INDIANS, SAMOSET AND SQUANTO.
These facts afford a probable solution of the presence
of Samoset and Squanto among the Plymouth Pilgrims.
SAMOSET.
1620.
THE FIRST TITLE EVER GIVEN TO A WHITE MAN.
BRISTOL.
Samoset was a native of Pemaquid. The Lord of Monhegan.
An eastern prince - the great chief and the original pro-
prietor of the town of Bristol, whose conveyance of the
Bristol to John Brown, is the first landed2 title by
deed acknowledged, ever given to a white man.
DECEMBER 21, 1620.
An effectual lodgment had now been made at several points
within the territory of New England. Prior to the date of
the visit of Rocroft and Dermer, the settlers of Monhegan
had removed to the neighboring main, and erected new houses
at Pemaquid. A hamlet had also sprung up on the sands of
Plymouth harbor, where the Pilgrim refugees had established
their homes and founded a colony.
Sagadahock, and probably the islands
Footnotes. 1. Prince, 68. Williamson's Hist. Vol. I, p.
219. Young's Chronicles, p. 182. 2. July 15th, 1625.
Report Com. Lincoln, Maine, pp. 106-107.
p.102 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
land-locking Boothbay Harbor, if not the harbor itself,
under the aboriginal name of "Cape Ne-wagen," - a cor-
ruption of the Indian Ne-Krangan - were now occupied by
"truck-masters" and fish makers.
THE INDIAN, SAMOSET OR SUMMARSET.
MARCH 16TH.
THE INDIAN SAMOSET GREETS PILGRIMS IN THEIR OWN TONGUE.
Samoset, or Summarset (as spelled in a conveyance to
Parnell, Way and England, under his March 16th auto-
graph, of Soggohannago, near Pemaquid, was the first
native of the New World, an inhabitant of the remote
East, who, to the astonishment of the Pilgrim settlers
at Plymouth, walking boldly and alone into their streets,
greeted the forlorn colonists with "Much welcome, English-
men," in a broken dialect of their own tongue.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIAN, SAMOSET.
He was a man free of speech and of seemly carriage -
"stark naked, except for a leathern girdle about his
waist," "with a fringe, a span or little more - armed
with a bown and two arrows, the one headed and the other
unheaded." "He was a tall, straight man - the hair on his
head was black, and was long, and none (hair) on his face
at all."
How it happened that this Pemaquid Chieftain should have
been at Cape Cod at this juncture? The presumption that
he was the companion of Sqanto and with Sqanto had accom-
panied Dermer on his fatal inland passage, and was left
with Squanto at the time of the assault and rescue of
Dermer on Cape Cod, explains all.
SAMOSET WAS SAGAMORE TO MONHEGAN.
Embarking at Monhegan, he was present at Cape Cod when
Dermer was attacked. And on the flight of Dermer, Samosset
was left there. For, he tells the Plymotheans that he was
a sagamore from Morattigon, now conceded to be Monhegan.
And that he had been in their country "about eight months,"
that the natives in their immediate neighborhood were very
hostile - and that eight months before had slain "three
Englishmen, two others with difficulty escaping - the men
being men of Sir Ferdinando Gorges'."1 Such being the
state of the facts, "Sommarset" or Samosset, and Squanto.
Footnote. 1. Prince's N. E. Chronology, p. 68.
p.103 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
The Indian, Somerset extends an "English Welcome."
having aided in the rescue of Dermer and seen his safely
off, remained, and in the autumn and spring, after the
arrival of the Mayflower, were found among their savage
brethren near Cape Cod Harbor, having possibly descried
the approach of the vessel from the sand cliffs about
Cape Cod, and followed it to the place of final debarka-
tion. The natives fearing and hating the new-comers, of
course shunned them; but Sommarset, ascertaining that
they were Europeans - countrymen of his friend, Dermer,
with fearless intrepidity sought an acquaintance by walk-
ing into their midst and extending an "English Welcome,"
which as a matter of course, greatly surprised the colon-
ists. Thus was prepared the way for a peaceful and friendly
introduction of the Puritan Fathers of New England, to the
aborigines of the wilds of their adopted home, in the mis-
fortunes of the truly noble and beneficent Dermer - a
victim to the reckless and wanton conduct of wicked white
men.
SAMOSSET AT BOOTHBAY HARBOR.
Having fearlessly served his friend Dermer and welcomed the
forlorn voyagers who were seeking a home on the bleak shores
and barren sands of Cape Cod from the decks of the Mayflower,
"Sommarset," "the Lord of Pemaquid," returned to his east-
ern dominions; and in the waters of the Sheepscot, at Cape
Newagen, he met Captain Levett1 two years after, of whom
as a "chief sagamore" Levet speaks, (doubtless referring to
his agency in Dermer's behalf,) as "one that hath been found
very faithful to the English, and hath saved the lives of
many of our nation; some from killing and others from starving."
The domain of the town of Bristol, this chieftain with another
sold to John Brown; and in its vicinity a second
Footnote. 1. Levett's Voyage, Maine Historical Collections.
Massachusetts Historical Collections Vol. viii. p. 170, 3rd
Series.
p.104 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
SAMOSSET, FOREMOST OF HIS RACE, FRANK, GENEROUS
AND FEARLESS.
parcel of land soon after to Parnell, Way, and England.
Samosset, the magnanimous chieftain of the East, who,
foremost of his race, frank, generous and fearless -
welcomed the forlorn and sea-worn Pilgrims - appears
in a novel and attractive light.
THE EMBRYO STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the person of this savage, the Lord of Pemaquid, the
great Bristol Sachem, we see Maine on the sands of Cape
Cod, at the very dawn of the existence of New England
history, standing with outstretched arms and generous
greetings to receive and introduce, under suspicious
circumstances, the embryo state of Massachusetts, from
the decks of the ship, Mayflower, to her wild home on
the shores of the New World !
1621.
From Monhegan and Pemaquid, the attractive harbors of
the Main had even now drawn pioneer settlers; for on
the margins of Broad Bay,2 in Bris
Footnotes. These Presents Obbelly-gacion (obligition)
handed me Captaine Sommarset of M (Miscongus?) have sold
unto Thomas Way, William Parnell and William England one
thousand hakkers of land in Saggohannago, being quiet
possessed by William Parnell and Thomas Way and William
England the first day of July, 1653." His Mark - "Capt.
John Somerset." (pictured) The above is from the original
draft furnished the author by the kindness of J. Wingate
Thornton, Esq., Boston, and in his possession - the mark
itself bearing the evidence of a trembling hand, indica-
tive of the great age of this chief at the date it was
made.
p.105 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
JOHN PIERCE.
tol, we find John Pierce had made a clearing and founded
a new home.
DAMARISCOVE.
1622.
The Ship, Swallow.
Thirty sail (ships) this year entered at Damariscove -
1622. Which was not the granary of the embryo settle-
ments of New England - whose name (an English corrupt-
ion of words signifying a "fishing place" indicates
its early importance as a fishing depot. The ship
Swallow here, sent her shallop to Plymouth. And to
Damariscove, came Winslow of the Plymouth plantation
(the Governor of that colony), to draw supplies for
his settlement, famishing on the shores of Cape Cod -
who says, "I found kind entertainment and good re-
spect, with a willingness to supply our wants -
which was done so far as able - and would not take
any bills for the same, but did what they could 1
freely," - which certainly indicates that the inhabi-
tants of Damariscove were a thrifty and generous
people.
THE SHIP, ABRAHAM, OF PLYMOUTH
The Jennens firm of Plymouth and London had, at Mon-
hegan, the Abraham of Plymouth, of the burden of two
hundred and twenty tons, together with the ship,
The friends of Hakluyt, Robert Aldworth, and Gyles
Elbridge, merchants of Bristol, England, "hearing that
Jennens was about to break up his plantation at Monhe-
gan, authorized Abraham Shurt to purchase for them, the
island." The disolution of this plantation "excited no
little interest among the hamlets - "Embryo Sovereignties"
now dotting the New England coasts; and Governor Winslow
tooke a boat and some hands and went thither, learning
that the plantation was to then break up and diverse goods
to be sold."2 The plunder of a French ship lost at Saga-
dahock had passed into the hands
Footnotes. 1. Young's Chronicle, p. 293. 2. Thornton's
Pemaquid, pp. 38, 52-53.
p.106 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
of the fishermen wrecking her, at Monhegan and Damariscove -
"Biscaie ruggs" - "a parcell of goats, etc." - all which
made of Bradford's purchase.
DAMARISCOVE.
Damariscove, in the early history of the "ancient dominions
of Maine," is a remarkable point.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND.
In the south-western extremity of this island, a very deep,
narrow cove enters between bold rocks and precipitous shores,
opening into the island like a wedge between mountain cliffs,
where a small but secure harbor is afforded for fishing vess-
els. This island, the principal of the group land-locking
Boothbay Harbor, derives its name undoubtedly from its early
importance as a fishing place - the "namascotta" or covet, of
the aboriginal inhabitants signifying a "fish place."
ANTIQUITIES THERE.
On the south-eastern slope, which is sometimes called wood-end,
it is said the remains of an ancient fortification - an earth-
work - were traceable ten years ago; and lifting the covering
of the shallow soil - a smooth rock appears, whereupon the wash-
ing of the sea had laid bare numerous inscriptions, in writing
apparently cut by human art in characters from one to four inches
long, one-eighth of an inch deep, and covering a surface of ten
feet.1 The local of the inscriptions is assigned to the summit
of the cliff, on the right of the harbor, as it is entered, by
Thomas Cunningham, U. S. Collector, Wiscassett.
POPULOUS AND CENTRAL POINTS.
SAGADAHOCK, SHEEPSCOT AND PEMAQUID.
Sagadahock, Sheepscot and Pemaquid were not the radiating
centers to the settlement of the circumjacent region.
Footnote. 1. Dr. B. S. Cushman of Wiscasset.
p.107 SETTLEMENTS.
SAGADAHOCK.
From the Sagadahock, population flowed upard and onward,
until Phipsburg, Bath, Georgetown and Woolwich became
populous towns.
SHEEPSCOT.
From Sheepscot have sprung the offshoots, Wiscasset,
Dresden, Alna, Newcastle, Edgecomb, Westport, Boothbay,
and Southport.
PEMAQUID.
From Pemaquid have grown Bristol, Nobleboro, Damaris-
cotta and perhaps the more eastern towns of Waldoboro,
Warren, Thomaston and St. George.
INFLUX OF POPULATION.
The various points of occupancy, in favorable locations,
which became the nucleus of these several towns, now
rapidly appear in the historic scene, filling in the busy
life and enterprise, which have beautified our landscape
with cities, villages, hamlets and homes of refinement and
luxury. Titles had become attached to favorite localities,
creating claims which were subjects of legal transfer, in
the forms of deeds, charters and patents.
LEVETT'S VISIT TO SHEEPSCOT.
1623.
The mouth of the Sheepscot has been made particularly con-
spicuous by the narrative of Levett's voyage and visit to
Cape Ne-wagen - the present towns of Boothbay and Southport1
where nine ships fished at the time.
LEVETT'S NARRATIVE.
Says Levett, "I like it not for a plantation, for I could
Footnote. 1. Maine Historical Society, Vol II, p. 86 -
Levett's Voyage.
p.108 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
THE INDIAN CHIEFS, SAMOSSET, MENAWORMET & COGAWESCO.
WITHERAGE, A SHIP MASTER & SPAR DEALER
AT PEMAQUID.
see little good timber and less good ground." Levett.
There he remained for four nights, and was visited by
many of the natives, their wives and their children -
Somerset or Samosset, Menawormet, the father of Robin-
hood, and Cogawesco, the Sagamores of Sheepsoct and of
Casco, were among the Indian chiefs who paid their re-
spects to Levett, while tarrying at cape Ne-wagen and
exploring the Sheepscot. One Coke had a stage or store
for truck there, with whom Levett formed an acquaintance.
It was ascertained that the Sagamores "had some store of
Beaver coats and skins," which they were taking to Wither-
age, a ship master and spar dealer at Pemaquid. Coke was
desirous the furs should not be taken out of the harbor.
To aid Coke in securing the beaver robes, Levett sent
for the Sagamores, giving them to understand he would
"truck" with them for their beaver coats. The savages
at first declined all overtures, until Somerset "swore
there should be none carried out of the harbor, but his
cousin Levett should have all."
Levett, thus supported, prevailed; but two coats of beaver
were stolen from the Indians. The Sagamores complained
grievously. Cabins and chests were ransacked and searched;
but the beaver was not found. Appreciating Levett's inter-
est, as exhibited in his efforts to recover the stolen furs,
the magnanimous Chiefs thanked him and desired him to for-
bear, saying the "rogues had carried them into the woods
where he could not find them."
The natives also informed Levett that no good place for trade
now remained in the neighborhood, as the place he was in -
Pemaquid and Monhegan - was in the possessiion of others. "The
next day the wind came fair," says Levett, "and I sailed for
Quack or York with the king, queen and prince, bows and arrows,
dogs and kitten, in my boat; his noble attendants rowing by us
in their canoes."
On hearing that Captain Levett was about to depart from
p.109 SETTLEMENT.
"Mouchicke legamatche" - Friendship.
the country, the Sagamores gathered about him, among whom
were Samosset, Cogawesco, Conway and others, and asked him
"why he would be gone out of their countr?" And Levett an-
swered - "his wife would not come thither except that he
went to fetch her - "pox on her hounds," and told the
Captain "to beat her." "But," replied Levett, "God would
be angry." "Then let her alone and take another wife," re-
turned the savages; Samosset adding the additional plea,
"that his new born son and Levett's should be brothers,"
if the Captain would remain, and that there should be
"mouchicke legamatche - i.e. friendship - between them,
till Tanto carried them to his wigwam" - i.e. till death!
These people, it would seem, had two deities. "Tanto" was
the god that they hated, because to him is ascribed all
their mis-fortunes. When any were sick, hurt or died, they
say, "Tanto is hoggery" - meaning, angry. Squanto is be-
loved of them, because he is the source of all good fortune
to them. When asked where was his abode, they said, "we
cannot tell," and pointing up, added - "on high," but Tanto
"far in the west;" and no one sees either - but their Powwos
or medicine men, when they dream, which they do by placing
a marten skin under their heads.
Mechecum - Indian word for "a fool".
These savages are very subtile, slow of speech and quick
and keen of apprehension; and when they meet a great talker,
as an object of contempt and derision, they point to him and
say, "he is mechecum" - i.e., a fool.! Very aristocratic -
they will hardly speak to an ordinary man, but point and say,
"Sanops must speak to Sanops and Sagamores to Sagamores."
The Indians are polygamists and believe that he that hath the
most wives is the bravest fellow; and their wives are their
slaves - a feature of all barbaric life, where the influence
of the Bible is not felt. Levett told them "it was no good
fashion, having so many wives;" and the chieftain replied
by asking "how many wives did King James have?"
p.110 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
They were clad in skins, wearing the hair side inwards in
winter and outwards in summer. They wear a piece of skin
about their loins, as a girlde "and between their legs goes
another, made fast to the girdle before and behind, which
covers their nakedness." "They go bare-headed, with long
hair, and sometimes you shall not know the men from the
women but by their breasts."
When their children are born, they bind them to a board
and set it upright, either against a tree or other place,
and thus do them until three months olde. They are entirely
naked until from five to six years of age; and their little
ones the parent often buries in the snow, all but the face,
to harden them, and when two years old will cast them into
the sea, like a little dog or cat, to learn to swim.
ACQUISITION OF A TITLE TO BRISTOL.
1625.
Fifty skins of beaver paid by Brown of New Harbor, to the
Pemaquid Sagamore, Sommerset, purchased the present terri-
tory of the towns of Bristol and Damariscotta.
Edward Ashley, agent, and William Pierce, assistant, in
right of a grant under the Muscungus Patent, took possess-
ion of the eastern margin of the St. Geoge's river, five
miles below the head of tide water.
There they erected a truck-house, and established a trading
post, employing five persons and a small new-made vessel in
the trade. Thus the site of the present thrifty and popular
town of Thomaston was selected and improved.
WRECK AT BOOTHBAY HARBOR.
A small vessel sent from Plymouth to fish, on reaching
the harbor of Boothbay, near Damariscove, where "ships
used to ride," met many ships there from England. While
where she was wrecked and sank, and the crew came near
being lost.
The ship-masters, however, aided the Plymotheans in
raising their sunken vessel by casks lashed at low water
to the hulk. Thus floated on the beach, she was recovered,
refitted and did good service to her owners.2
ACQUISITION OF LANDED ESTATE.
The headwaters of the Sheepscot had now received a con-
Footnote. 1. Massachusetts Historical Coll., Vol.V, p. 86,
2nd series.
p. 112 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
siderable accession to its population; and it is believed
that the ship, Mary & John and the fly-boat, Gift of God,
of the Popham immigration, furnished original planters
here, as well as at the mouth of the Sagadahock, some of
whose colonists may have made explorations and began
clearings near Sheepscot Falls, which subsequently grew
into what was called the "plantation of Sheepscot Farms."
Insert.
Passengers of 1630
Ship Mary and John.
A passenger list for the Mary and John 1630 has never been discovered. Passenger lists for 17th century ships sailing from England to New England can sometimes be difficult to locate. Some passenger lists are never found. If you are looking for a passenger list of your English ancestors who came from England to New England between 1620-1643, you may find your English passenger list on this web site, especially if the passenger list you are looking for includes passengers who sailed from the West Country of England to New England you may find it in our Volume 20 of the Search for the Passengers of the Mary and John 1630 series.
The staff of the Mary & John Clearing House has been searching for the passengers of the Mary and John for nearly two decades. After many errors were found in the "synthetic" lists of passengers aboard the Mary and John by authors Charles E. Banks (1930) and Maude Pinney Kuhns (1943), we hastily published a revised list for our volume - one in the Search Series in 1985, in preparation for the first Mary and John tour to England in May of 1985. In 1990, after collecting more information, we published a second list of passengers. In 1993, as more materials were discovered, we have come to the conclusion that it is presumptuous to any list with any degree of accuracy greater than 50 to 70 percent.
However, we have attempted to compile a new list of possible passengers and then rate them as follows:
Our "A" List - Certain or highly probable passengers on the Mary and John 1630
Our "B" List - Probable passengers aboard the ship, Mary and John 1630
Our "C" List - Possible passengers aboard the Mary and John 1630
We will continue to search for new material that sheds light on who was probably aboard in 1630. We will continue to search wills and parish registers in the West Country to seek people from the areas around the Dorset towns of Dorchester, Bridport, Crewkerne, Somerset and Exeter, Devon where most of the passengers appear to have originated.
Mary and John Criteria for Identifying Possible Passengers
Passengers were listed in Roger Clapp's memoirs and appear to have come in 1630. Some of the people he named came later.
Passengers first appeared in New England in 1630, such as applying for freemanship on 19 Oct. 1630 or appearing on a jury, etc., however, only a small percentage of the 1630 population can be found on such lists.
Passengers appeared first in New England in Dorchester, MA.
They came from either the English counties of Dorset, Somerset, Devon or maybe Wiltshire, particularly from the areas in and around Dorchester and Bridport, Dorset, Crewkerne and Taunton, Somerset or Exeter, Devon.
Passengers moved to Windsor, CT between 1635 and 1640, as supposedly two-thirds of the passengers did.
Passengers appeared in Windsor, as single adults, and married there between 1635 to 1642. They may have come as servants or relatives of the other families and were too young to be found in the records until they came of age. Possibly 20 to 25 percent of all the passengers (28-35) may have come as servants or young relatives.
There may have been 10 to 30 passengers aboard who either died or returned to England before they left any traces in New England. If this is true, then we can only hope to identify from 110 to 130 people at most, of the 140 passengers.
Name Approx. Age From (in England)
CLAPP, ROGER 21 Salcombe Regis, Devon
COGAN, ELIZABETH wife of John Endicott 23 Chard, Somerset
COOK, ARRON 14 Dorchester, Dorset
DENSLOW, NICHOLAS 57 Bridport, Dorset
Elizabeth Doling, wife a. 56 Bridport, Dorset
Temperance Denslow, daughter 21 Bridport, Dorset
Joan Denslow, daughter 15 Bridport, Dorset
DYER, GEORGE a. 51 Dorchester, Dorset
Elizabeth _____, wife a. 50 Dorchester, Dorset
Elizabeth Dyer, daughter a. 15 Dorchester, Dorset
Mary Dyer, daughter a. 10 Dorchester, Dorset
FORD, THOMAS a. 42 Dorchester, Dorset
Elizabeth Chard, second wife a. 41 Dorchester, Dorset
Mary Ford, daughter 17 Dorchester, Dorset
Joan Ford, daughter 12 Dorchester, Dorset
Abigail Ford, daughter 10 Dorchester, Dorset
Hepzibah Ford 4 Dorchester, Dorset
FILER, ANNE probably widow a. 40 Probably Dorset
Katherine Filer a. 12 Probably Dorset
Walter Filer a. 11 Probably Dorset
GALLOP, JOHN a. 35 Bridport, Dorset
GAYLORD, JOHN a. 30 Probably Somerset
GAYLORD, WILLIAM a. 39 Crewkerne, Somerset
____, wife a. 37 Crewkerne, Somerset
Elizabeth Gaylord, daughter a. 14 Crewkerne, Somerset
William Gaylord, Jr., son 12 Crewkerne, Somerset
Samuel Gaylord, son 10 Crewkerne, Somerset
GILLETTE, JONATHAN a. 24 Chaffcombe, Somerset
HOLMAN, JOHN 28 Dorchester, Dorset
HOSKINS, JOHN a. 45 Probably Dorset
Thomas Hoskins, son a. 10 Probably Dorset
LOMBARD, THOMAS 49 Thorncombe, Dorset
____, wife a. 47 Thorncombe, Dorset
Barnard Lombard, son a. 22 Thorncombe, Dorset
Thomas Lombard Jr., son 12 Thorncombe, Dorset
Joshua Lombard, son 9 Thorncombe, Dorset
Margaret Lombard, daughter 6 Thorncombe, Dorset
LUDLOW, GEORGE 33 Dinton, Wilts
LUDLOW, ROGER 40 Dinton, Wilts
MARSHFIELD, THOMAS a. 30 Exeter, Devon
____, wife a. 28 Exeter, Devon
Sara Marshfield, daughter a. 3 Exeter, Devon
Samuel Marshfield, son a. 2 Exeter, Devon
Mercy Marshfield, daughter a. 1 Exeter, Devon
MAVERICK, REV. JOHN 51 Awliscombe, Devon
Mary Gye, wife 51 Awliscombe, Devon
Elias Maverick, son a. 26 Awliscombe, Devon
Mary Maverick, daughter 24 Awliscombe, Devon
Moses Maverick, son 21 Awliscombe, Devon
Abigail Maverick, daughter 17 Awliscombe, Devon
Antipas Maverick, daughter a. 12 Awliscombe, Devon
John Maverick Jr., son a. 11 Awliscombe, Devon
PHELPS, WILLIAM a. 35 Crewkerne, Somerset
Ann Dover, wife a. 33 Crewkerne, Somerset
William Phelps Jr., son 11 Crewkerne, Somerset
Samuel Phelps, son 10 Crewkerne, Somerset
Nathaniel Phelps, son 5 Crewkerne, Somerset
Joseph Phelps, son 1 Crewkerne, Somerset
ROCKWELL, WILLIAM 39 Dorchester, Dorset
Susan Capen, wife 28 Dorchester, Dorset
Joan Rockwell, daughter 5 Dorchester, Dorset
John Rockwell 2 Dorchester, Dorset
ROSSITER, EDWARD a. 55 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
____, wife a. 53 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Nicholas Rossiter, son a. 31 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Ann ___, wife of Nicholas R. a. 29 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, child of Nicholas a. 4 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, child of Nicholas a. 2 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Bray Rossiter, son a. 20 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Jane Rossiter, son a. 16 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Hugh Rossiter, son, a. 15 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
Joan Rossiter, daughter a. 14 Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, possible relative or servent - - Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, possible relative or servent - - Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, possible relative or servent - - Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
___, possible relative or servent - - Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset
SANFORD, FRANCES, widow a. 42 Dorchester, Dorset
Henry Smith, son a. 20 Dorchester, Dorset
SOUTHCOTE, RICHARD a. 40 Devon
TERRY, STEPHEN 21 Dorchester, Dorset
UPSALL, NICHOLAS a. 30 Dorchester, Dorset
Dorothy Capen, wife a. 25 Dorchester, Dorset
WARHAM, REV. JOHN a. 34 Exeter, Devon
Susanna Gallop, wife a. 32 Exeter, Devon
WAY, HENRY a. 47 Bridport, Dorset
Elizabeth Batchelar, second wife a. 43 Bridport, Dorset
Henry Way Jr., son 19 Bridport, Dorset
Aaron Way, son 16 Bridport, Dorset
George Way, son a. 15 Bridport, Dorset
Hanna Way, daughter 15 Bridport, Dorset
Susanna Way, daughter 9 Bridport, Dorset
Richard Way, son 5 Bridport, Dorset
WILTON, DAVID 21 Beanminster, Dorset
WOLCOTT, HENRY 51 Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset
Elizabeth Saunders, wife 44 Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset
Henry Wolcott Jr., a. 20 Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset
George Wolcott, son a. 15 Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset
Christopher Wolcott a. 12 Lydiard St. Lawrence, Somerset
BRANKER, JOHN a. 22 Honiton, Devon
Abigail Searle, wife 18 Honiton, Devon
BARTOLE, JOHN 29 Crewkerne, Somerset
Parnell Hodder, wife a. 27 Crewkerne, Somerset
CHUBB, WILLIAM a. 23 Crewkerne, Somerset
FRENCH, STEPHEN a. 29 probably Misterton, Somerset
Mary ____, wife a. 27 probably Misterton, Somerset
Sara French, daughter a. 7 probably Misterton, Somerset
GALLOP, HUMPHREY a. 24 probably Dorset
GRANT, MATTHEW 28 probably Dorset or Somerset
Priscilla ____, wife 28 probably Dorset or Somerset
Priscilla Grant, daughter 3 probably Dorset or Somerset
HOLCOMBE, THOMAS a. 25 probably Dorset or Somerset
HULBERT, WILLIAM a. 20 probably Chippenham, Wilts
HULL, GEORGE a. 40 Crewkerne, Somerset
LOVELL, WILLIAM a. 25 probably Dorset or Somerset
Wyborough ____, wife a. 23 probably Dorset or Somerset
MOORE, JOHN a. 20 probably Dorset or Somerset
PARKMAN, ELIAS a. 20 Sidmouth, Devon
PEACH, JOHN SR. a. 22 probably Symondsbury, Dorset
PEACH, JOHN JR. a. 17 probably Symondsbury, Dorset
PHELPS, GEORGE a. 20 probably Dorset or Somerset
PHELPS, RICHARD a. 11 probably Dorset or Somerset
SAMWAYS, RICHARD a. 15 probably Dorset
SMITH, LUCY (w/ Frances Sanford?) a. 10 probably Dorset
SILVESTER, RICHARD a. 22 probably Dorset or Somerset
STRONG, JOHN a. 20 Chardstock, Devon
WILLIAMS, ROGER a. 24 probably Dorset or Somerset
__, Elizabeth, m. Thomas Holcombe a. 20 probably West Country
"C" List
Our "C" List of those who were POSSIBLE passengers aboard the ship the Mary and John 1630.
Our "A" List - Certain or highly probable
Our "B" List - Probable
Our "C" List - Possible
Name Approx. Age From (in England)
ALLEN, MATTHEW a. 38 possibly West Country
brother of Samuel
ALLEN, SAMUEL a. 42 possibly West Country
brother of Matthew
ALSOP, ELIZABETH 16 Crewkerne, Somerset
ALVORD, BENEDICT a. 14 Whitestaunton, Somerset
BAKER, JEFFREY a. 7 possibly West Country
BAULSTON, WILLIAM a. 29 possibly Dorset
Elizabeth_____, wife a. 27 possibly Dorset
Elizabeth Baulston, daughter a. 3 possibly Dorset
BIRGE, RICHARD a. 12 possibly West Country
BUCKLAND, THOMAS a. 16 possibly Dorset or Somerset
BUELL, WILLIAM a. 14 possibly West Country
CARTER, JOSUA a. 18 possibly West Country
CRAB, JOHN a. 30 possibly Dorset
FILLY, WILLIAM a. 10 possibly West Country
FOUKS, HENRY a. 30 possibly Dorset
Jane ____, wife a. 28 possibly Dorset
FYLER, GEORGE ? possibly Dorset
FYLER, SAMUEL ? possibly Dorset
GILLETT, JEREMIAH a. 22 Chaffcombe, Somerset
GILLETT, NATHAN a. 23 Chaffcombe, Somerset
GREENWAY, JOHN a. 45 possibly West Country
Mary ____, wife a. 43 possibly West Country
Ann Greenway, daughter a. 16 possibly West Country
Elizabeth Greenway, daughter a. 15 possibly West Country
Susanna Greenway, daughter a. 14 possibly West Country
Katherine Greenway, daughter a. 13 possibly West Country
GUNN, THOMAS a. 18 possibly West Country
HANNUM, WILLIAM a. 18 possibly West Country
HART, EDMUND a. 17 possibly West Country
HAYDEN, JOHN a. 17 possibly West Country
HAYDEN, WILLIAM a. 18 possibly West Country
JOHNSON, DAVEY ? possibly West Country
PIERCE, JOHN a. 25 possibly West Country
SMITH, JOHN ? possibly West Country
Dorothy ____, wife ? possibly West Country
John Smith Jr., son ? possibly West Country
Lawrence Smith, son ? possibly West Country
SOUTHCOT, THOMAS ? possibly Devon
THRALL, WILLIAM a. possibly West Country
WARHAM, MARY a. 2 Exeter, Devon
daughter of Rev. John Warham
WAY, ROBERT a. 12 possibly Dorset
http://www.maryandjohn1630.com/passengerlist_c.html
p.112 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE
continued.
considerable accession to its population; and it is believed
that the ship, Mary & John and the fly-boat Gift of God, of
the Popham immigration, furnished original European planters
here, as well as at the mouth of the Sagadahock, some of whose
colonists may have made explorations and began clearings near
Sheepscot Falls, which subsequently grew into what was called
"the plantation of the Sheepscott Farms." 1. Harvest being
ended around the margins of Plymouth Harbor, the full garners
of the Puritans suggested a system of gainful commerce with the
eastern savages; and a sloop laden with corn was dispatched to
the Kennebec, which returned with a cargo of furs of great value,
at immense profit; and this circumstance led to the subsequent
acquisition of an immense landed territory on both banks of the
Kennebec, by charter and patent rights, and the establishment of
a trading station at Cushnoc, on its upper waters, called the
Plymouth purchase.*
THE TIDE OF EMIGRATION.
1626.
The tide of emigration naturally flowed inland and up the more
frequented and accessible water-courses to those localities most
fertile and secure, as well as to those most favorable for native
trade, and had now begun to set strongly in, and favorite points
had acquired intrinsic value, and become desirable for possess-
ion. Acquisition and transfer of titles were indeed a great
feature of this period.
Footnotes. 1. Controversy Pejepscot and Plymouth Proprietors, p.12.
*Note. "Monquine," alias Matahanada, "son of old Matawormet, sega-
more of Kennebeck River, in consideration of two hogsheads of pro-
visions, one of bread and one hogshead of pease, two coats of cloth,
two gallons of wine and a bottle of strong waters," conveyed to
William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prince, Thomas Willett,
and William Paddy, from Cusenock up to Wesserrunstick; for the
New Plymouth Company. - Copy of Deed, Register's Office, Lincoln
County, Vol. i, p.6.
p.113 SETTLEMENT.
THE PLYMOUTH ESTABLISHMENT AT KENNEBEC.
1628.
The Plymotheans, allured by the profits of their trade, sought
and secured large landed interests on the margins of the Kenne-
bec, covering each bank; and having perfected their arrangements
for occupancy, erected a trading house and established a post up
the river, and named the settlement New Plymouth, where was de-
posited a store of corn and merchandise. With the natives this
company bartered their goods for furs, and introduced the article
of "wampum peag," - "strings and bracelets of blue and white peri-
winkle shell," - afterwards with glass beads, which at length serv-
ed the use and possessed the value of coin, in trade with the
savages.1
ALDWORTH AND ELBRIDGE AT PEMAQUID.
1631.
The wilds of Mavooshen now began to excite the interest and
absorb the capital of land speculators in the Old World. Pema-
quid, now the property of Bristol, England merchants - Aldworth
and Elbridge - under titles from the President of the Council of
New England, on condition that they have and will transport, and
do undertake to transport at their own cost and charges divers per-
sons into New England, and there erect and build a town and settle
inhabitants, at once became a noted place. Abraham Shurt, agent
for Bristol, England merchants, represented their intersts there,
and received the transfer of title and possession from Walter Neal,
the agent of the Council.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF PEMAQUID.
THOMAS ELBRIDGE.
This acquisition and the conditions thereof laid the foundation
for the existence and importance of Pemaquid, where Thomas El-
bridge subsequently resided and held a court, to which the resi-
dents on Monhegan and Damariscove "repaired and continued their
fishing."2
Footnotes.1. Young's Chronicle, p.14. 2. Shurt's deposition,
pp. 39, 40. L. Records, 8.
p.114 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
PEMAQUID, THE CHIEF CENTER FOR TRADE
WITH 500 SETTLERS.
WITH ITS CASTLE, JOHNS BAY.
Thus Pemaquid became the chief center of trade, law and author-
ity - a larger and more important settlement than Quebec, the
capital of Canada. Eighty four 1. families besides fishermen,
embracing a population of more than five hundred souls, now
occupied Pemaquid and its vicinage; and at the harbor entrance
on the east margin of the Damariscotta, formed by Pemaquid point,
four years before a fortress, whose walls of mud and timber trees
of pine enclosed a small brick-built castle for the defense of
Boston Harbor, a castle at Pemaquid frowned over the waters of
Johns Bay.
A DESCRIPTION OF PEMAQUID.
Pemaquid, the nearest and most eligible mainland site to
Monhegan, is a romantic and picturesque site. Imagine a
gentle river winding its way to the sea, and gathering its
waters into a nearly circular basin before mingling with
those waters of the bay, through a passage one hundred and
fifty feet wide and many fathoms deep - a basin rimmed and
shut out from the sea by a spur or projection of rocks from
the main on the west, encircling it like an arm, with a soli-
tary clump of trees on its outmost point, and on the east
traced by a peninsula (parallel to the main, and with which
it is joined at the lower extremity,) flat and worn, of
light and fertile soil, and it will afford some idea of
Pemaquid harbor; opposite the entrance to which, on the east
shore, are still to be seen the outlines of its fortified
works.
The west shore of this basin is a rugged, rocky eminence,
terminating in the narrow, rocky, extended, arm-like point,
shutting in the harbor's mouth, anciently called the
"Barbican;" and on this, the first settlements were made.
The peninsula, which was the site of the ancient town and
fortress of Pemaquid, is oval shaped, and obviously made
by the sands and debris of the river, brought down and
Footnote. 1. Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 65.
p.115 PEMAQUID - SETTLEMENT.
accumulated by its tides, in the rotary motion given by the
interposing and curved shores of the Barbican point on the
west, and immense projecting strata of inclined granite,
forming the eastern shore. The peninsula has evidently, at
some period, been entirely circumvallated with water, and
thus separated from the main, with which it probably conn-
ected by an artificial way. It has also been walled in;
the outline of its defense can still be traced. Its
streets were paved with pebble stones; and may of its
buildings were of like material. The principal street,
pass longitudinally between the extremes of this penin-
sula, north and south, was paved, and is still to be
traced, though nearly overgrown with grass or covered
with earth. The outlines of the fort, and the position
of its tower in the south-westerly extreme of the penin-
sula, and immediately fronting the harbor's entrance,
are in distinct detail, traceable in every curve and
square, amid mouldering lime and rock - the fragments
of its masonry.
It is a most interesting spot, not only in its historical
remains and associations, but in its physical aspect - its
stern and rock-bound shores - its gentle curves and sunny
slopes and level approaches from the east.
The whole peninsula is now converted into a mowing field,
except a small enlosed parcel, where are gathered the ashes
of the ancient dead.
About this devoted spot, armies have gathered like eagles
to the carcass, and the din of war, in all its accumulated
horrors of blood and carnage, has raged. The ships of con-
tending nations have tinged its waters with human gore, and
poured their iron hail in destructive broadsides upon its
fortified places, until the ruthless storm has swept its
streets, and crushed out at once, the life and enerty of its
defenders.
Here the red man, with a howl of defiance, and the white man,
with the subdued voice of prayer, have bitten the dust to-
bether, amid the shrieks of forlorn women and helpless
p.116 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
children, when not drowned by the terrible whoop of savage
war. The details of the scenes here sketched we shall give
as fully as circumstances will allow, in weaving out the
thread of history.
Pemaquid, Monhegan and their dependencies had now passed from
the title of the original occupants, to the possession of two
British merchants. The section began to fill up rapidly from
a class very different from the ship-discharged and deserting
seamen and fishermen. Agriculturists and artisans had come in;
and wealth began to accumulate.
ABRAHAM JENNINGS, AN ORIGINAL OCCUPANT OF
MONHEGAN.
Abraham Jennings, an original occupant of Monhegan, had sold
his right to the purchasers of Pemaquid. Having thus acquired
the titles to the most desirable localities in this now import-
ant and attractive section, with true business tact, these
merchants sought to turn their purchase to the most valuable
account, by concentrating there both trade and the tide of
emigration.
TRADE AT PEMAQUID.
A brisk trade had opened between the colonists of Plymouth
and the settlements within the ancient dominions of Maine,
where provisions, at first sought to supply the Massachusetts
settlers, were finally sent in exchange for furs.
Corn, by the shallop load, within six years of its settlement,
was sent from Plymouth, Massachusetts, up the Kennebec River,
for which beaver skins and other furs were traded.
As centers of trade, money or valuable furs and merchandise
accumulated at Pemaquid and Monhegan; and this circumstance,
together with their isolated position, exposed them to plunder -
the commercial enterprise of the period had spawned the ocean
with sea-faring life; and much of it developed in lawlessness,
freebooting and piracy.
Pemaquid had become a place of so much importance,
Footnote. Thornton's Pemaquid, p.65
p.117 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
SETTLEMENT.
that, as a measure of safety, fortifications were erected to
cover the entrance of its harbor.1
1632.
DIXIE BULL.
THE FIRST NEW ENGLAND PIRATE.
Allerton, a Plymouth renegade, early this year, "set up a
company of base fellows,"2 and made traders along the coast,
at Kennebec, with other places east. The French seized the
shallup of Dixy Bull, one of these fellows, greedy of illicit
trade, and made it a prize. Dixie Bull, gathering to himself
a companionship of kindred spirits, hoisted the black flag, and
went prowling over the waters of the main, as the first New Eng-
land pirate. He captured several vessels at sea, and plundered
the planters on shore.
The rumors of piracy disturbed the planters all along the coast;
and in the west, Hilton and Neal, from Piscataqua, equipped four
pinnaces and shallops, enrolled a crew of forty men, and sailed
for Pemaquid. Arrived there, for four weeks wind-bound, this
naval force - these battle ships, the earliest afloat on the
waters of New England - rode at anchor in Pemaquid harbor.
LAWLESSNESS OF THE PLACE.
The inhabitants of Pemaquid, many of whom were strangers, specu-
lators and transient persons, with a considerable admixture of
sea-faring adventurers, were without a local government. Lawless-
ness overrode all order, a feature of all new settled places -
the product of commercial adventure.
The town, therefore, became much disturbed by scenes of rapine
and plunder. DeBull, with an English crew of free-booters, like
birds of prey, lighted on the place and plundered its shipping.
DIXY BULL, THE PIRATE.
Dixy Bull and his followers were resisted in their descent
Footnotes. 1. Thornton's Pemaquid, p.65 2. Thornton's Pemaquid.
p.118 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
on Pemaquid, and a ringleader was shot from the palisade. Their
success gave them boldness. Though temperate in the use of in-
toxicating drink, their sense of moral responsibility was dead-
ened by infidel sentiments. "When others have prayers," said
they," we will have a story or a song."
This bandit crew hovered around the new settlements on the
coast, a year or thereabouts, until the inhabitants were
aroused by their atrocities - the excitement became so great
against them that four vessels were armed and manned, and the
pirates pursued until driven out of the eastern waters.
Dixy Bull was subsequently brought to justice in England,
and his crew were scattered forever. Shurt was still the chief
man of the East, whose intelligence, integrity and prudence
entitled him to the respect and esteem of the whole community;
and under his administration the interests of the colony and
its patrons thrived.
1633.
SHURT'S PERILS IN THE PISCATAQUA.
An untoward event came near depriving Pemaquid plantation of
the life and services of Abraham Shurt, the agent of the prop-
rietors and a magistrate of the peace. With Captain Wright, he
embarked for Boston. On nearing the harbor of Piscataqua, as
they were entering the river's mouth, a seaman, addicted to
smoking, in attempting to light a pipe of tobacco, fired a
cask of powder. The vessel was blown to atoms, and the reck-
less sailor was afterward seen only in the mangled and scatter-
ed remains of his blackened body. The others escaped with their
lives, and Shurt was among these.
IMPRUDENCE OF THE SETTLERS.
The still infant settlements at Pemaquid, Sheepscot and Sagada-
hock, though striking their roots and spreading their branches
abroard, were made to feel the force of many a storm, which now
began to brood in the savage wilds about
p.119 SETTLEMENT.
them. A brisk and profitable trade with the peaceful wild men
of this region had begotten a presumptuous security - a reck-
lessness and temerity of intercourse - a wantonness of gain,
sure to disturb amicable relationship.
NAMES OF EARLY PLANTATIONS AND LOCATIONS.
1634.
From the settlements at Pemaquid, thrifty off-shoots had
started along the Damariscotta; at Sagadahock, on the islands
to the eastward adjoining; and upon the banks of the Sheepscot,
"were many scattered planters." Above Wiscasset, the fertile
water-courses and bottoms of this considerable river had al-
ready a population of fifty families, numbering probably some
two hundred souls. "Newtown," on the southern extreme of the
Arrowsic Island, had already begun its existence. At the en-
trance of the Kennebec into the sea - at Richmond's landing,
near the junction of Eastern river with the waters of the
Kennebec, - and the site of our capital - trading houses were
opened and in full and profitable operation, within thirty
years after Popham's decease, at the mouth of the Kennebec.
The St. George's river had at this early date become attract-
tive to lumber-men, on account of its mighty bordering forests
and stately spar timber. Commerce sent her ships thither for
masts, among which, the ship Hercules of Dover, loaded there.
MURDER AT KENNEBEC.
The Plymotheans, impatient of competition for the profits
of their newly opened trade on the Kennebec waters, became
involved with a quarrel with an agent of "Lord Say and Brook,"
the commander of whose vessel entered these waters for trade
with the natives. Captain Hocking forced his way up the river,
and "because he would not come down again," three men were sent
in a canoe to cut his cables. On cutting one, Hocking presented
and threatened
p.120 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
"They cut one anothers throats for beaver."
to shoot him who should cut the other. "Do it if you dare,"
said the boatman, and lifted his axe for the fatal sundering
stroke, when Hocking shot him dead. The exasperated Plymoth-
eans, from their pinnace riding near, fired on Hocking in re-
turn, who fell. These homicides originated the reproachful
adage, that "they cut one another's throats for beaver,"1 on
the Kennebec.
1638.
WILLIAM PHIPS.
WOOLWICH.
PHIPS, HAMMOND, BROWN AND BATEMAN.
"A worthy gun-smith,2 of Bristol City in England - a young man,
found employment at his trade at Pemaquid." During the excite-
ment for acquiring landed estate, which the influx of population
created, and in the consequent migratory movements of the popu-
lation, to secure eligible locations, the father of William Phips
sought a new home and established his plantation on a peninsular
margin of the Sheepscot waters, forming the eastern and north-
ern boundaries of Hock-omock Bay at the lower outlet of "Monseag"
the meaning of which would seem to be the place of "island-waters"
a native term - in the south-eastern extreme of Woolwich, near
which a hamlet grew up, where a ship was built by his distinquish-
ed son. At this point, the great inland water-way from Pemaquid to
the Kennebec reaches a plateau, whose waters are broached by the
Nequaseag passage into Kennebec on the west, and the Goose rock
entrance below, and Monseaq passage by way of Wiscasset above,
which was, in the early days, described under the name of "Cross
River." Along the margins of this water-way, the earliest white
settlers too up residence and made their plantations, dotting
with their clearings, the whole line of travel from Pemaquid to
Kennebec. Phips, Hammond, Brown and Bateman occupied the more
conspicuous points.
Footnotes. 1. Massachusetts Historical Coll., Vol V. p. 167. 2d
series. 2. Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 91.
p.121 SETTLEMENT.
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF WOOLWICH.
1639.
John Brown and Edward Bateman.
A hogshead of corn and thirty pumpkins1 paid the value of a title
to the town of Woolwich, "a seat or savage-homestead consisting
of one wigwam or Indian house," called Nequaseg, (meaning the
clear water place, residence of the native Sagamore, Mow-ho-ti-
wormet, to John Brown and Edward Bateman, planters of Pemaquid.
Less than thirty years had gone by, the site of this town town
passing from Brown to Bateman, and from Bateman to Cole, when
Cole and James Smith were dwellers in the town of Woolwich, on
the banks of a streamlet draining the meadows above, and which
emptied the superfluous waters over a rocky declivity into a
shallow bay, latterly discharging into the Kennebec opposite
Bath, Maine.
ROBIN HOOD.
A deep narrow inlet filling a considerable indentation, south-
ward into the heart of Georgetown, where the waters of Sheeps-
cot Bay receive those of the "by river," (Sasanoa?) the
thoroughfare from Sheepscot to Bath - still bears the name of
Robinhood's cove; and was probably a favorite residence
Footnotes. 1. Register's Office, Lincoln Co., Lib. 1, p. 12.
"Mow-ho-tiwormet, son of Monywormet, deceased, conveyed to
Edward Bateman and John Brown, lately of Pemaquid, planters,
a seat or place, commonly called Nequaset, lying between the
bounds of Sacadiock River on the west and Shepscooke river on
the east and the river commonly called Nequaseg on the south-
west, with one wigwam, or Indiand house, for divers causes and
considerations and especially for one hogshead of corn and
thirty pumpkins."
November 1, 1639. Signed with the mark and signum of Robinhood.
"Signum of Mowhotiwormet, or, Robinhood."
p.122 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
of the great native chieftain, from whom is derived most of our
landed titles, on the lower waters of the ancient "Shepscooke;"
and who ruled over, and owned as the original native lord, a
territory embracing Boothbay harbor on the south-east, the
ancient Cape Newagen of Levett; the bordering territory on the
ancient Sacadiock, westward; and to Wiscasset, above.
The father of this chieftain was known to Captain Levett, the
voyager, and met him at Cape Newagen, fifteen years before, with
Somarset, of Pemaquid, with whom he must have been a contemorary.
Ma-na-wormet, Cog-a-wesco and Somarset, as we have heretofore seen,
all were with Levett, at Cape Newagen; and were undoubtedly co-
temporary chieftains, earliest known to the earliest European
settlers of the "ancient dominions of Maine."
MOW-HO-TI-WORMET.
Mowhotiwormet, the son of deceased Monywormet Damarian of Sewall's
history, the Ramegin of Drakes, nick-named Robinhood by the English
settlers of the Sheepscot, appears to have been well disposed to the
white settlers.
EXPORT OF CATTLE.
1640.
Joseph Grafton.
The colonists of Massachusetts constantly extended their trade
with the east; and from the furs and peltries gathered of the
natives, in exchange for corn, attention was turned to the im-
port of cattle from Pemaquid. Joseph Grafton1 in a forty-ton
vessel, sailed from Salem to Pemaquid, where shipping twenty
cows and oxen, he returned in four days.
Longer settled and more populous, the raising of stock in the
pastures of Pemaquid had created an excess and opened a source
of gainful traffic - a fact, which speaks well for the enter-
prise and thrift of the early colonists in the east, and
Footnote.1. Annals of Salem, p. 528.
p.123 SETTLEMENT.
illustrates their agricultural character and habits and taste,
in favorable contrast with the trading propensities of the
Massachusetts colonists.
CONDITION OF THE SETTLEMENTS.
1641.
Eight men bound to Pemaquid, embarked at Piscataqua in the
winter of 1641. Monhegan, by a storm, sheltered themselves in
the unoccupied cabins of the fishermen, until rescued; where
four of their number parished. The general character of the
population was still darkly shaded - made up "largely of fish-
ermen." Josselyn classifies the population in a period a little
subsequent to this date, "as magistrates, husbandmen and fisher-
men." Of the magistrates, some be Royalists, the rest perverse-
spirits, the like are the planters and fishers, of which some be
planters and fishers both - others mere fishers. There are but
few hand-craftsmen and no shop-keepers, English goods being kept
by Massachusetts merchants, here and there on the coast, at a
profit of cent per cent, in exchange for fish.
They have a custom of taking tobacco, sleeping at noon, sitting
long at meals, sometimes four times a day. Every shallop has four
fishermen, a ship Master, a midship-man, and a fore-mast-man, and
a shore-man; who washes it out of the salt and dries it upon
hurdles, ptcht upon stakes, breast high and tends to the cookery;
and often they share eight to nine pounds a man, which doth them
but little good, for then comes in a walking tavern - a bark laden
with the rich 'blood' of the grape." We may judge somewhat correct-
ly of the recklessness of habits among settlers, and it is a wonder
more accidents did not occur.
THE FIRST DEATH WAS BY DROWNING.
1646.
WILLIAM WALDRON.
CLERK OF COURTS AT SACO.
The earliest recorded accidental drowning occurred in the waters
of the Kennebec in September of this
p.124 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
date, in the person of William Waldron. This gentleman was
cultivated in his mind and in his manners, and held the office
of Clerk of Courts in Saco, under Gorges' jurisdiction.
For intemperance, he had become an ex-communicant from the
Church in Dover, and he moved his residence into Maine, and
was drowned in crossing the Kennebec. But the desire to
acquire permanent homes and a title in the soil extended it-
self among the fishermen, as well as among the artisans, agri-
culturists, and colonial population of Maine.
THE NAME OF OUR STATE.
1647.
With great energy and purpose, untiring perseverance, and from
motives benevolent and patriotic - not to deny the existence of
more latent which originate in the selfishness of the human heart,
Sir Ferdinando Gorges prosecuted schemes of colonization, till
through the favor of King Charles I of England, he secured a
provincial Charter, by which the wilds of North-Eastern America
were constituted a body politic to become endowed with all the
forms and forces of civil society; and which was designated:
"THE PROVINCE OF MAINE."
It was thus the protege of the indefatigable Gorges found a
name, in the Royal State paper of April 3, 1639, which has be-
come the pass-word of authority, and is the title of our State
to this day. Having effectually excited public interest in open-
ing and developing for the enlargement of its population, till he
had given to our State, a name, Gorges died, without reaping any
considerable benefit, other than empty titles, as a reward for his
labors and sacrifices.
JOHN PARKER'S SETTLEMENT.
1649.
A title to the great island, on the east side and forming the east
bank of the ancient Sagadahock, (and probably the ancient "island
of Sagadahock,")
p.125 SETTLEMENT.
JOHN PARKER OF BOSTON.
of which "Sebenoa," the native chieftain, who, on meeting Captain
Gilbert, of Popham's colony, proclaimed himself the "lord," was
now acquired by John Parker. At the date of the purchase, the
island went by name of Res-keagen. The fisherman, John Parker of
Boston, within thirty years of Popham's colonial adventures at the
mouth of the Kennebec, engaged in the fisheries between there and
Monhegan; and is said to have occupied the southern extreme of
this island, where are still to be seen the remains of an ancient
town.1
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF WESTPORT.
John Richards and Thomas Webber.
"Jeremy Squam," an island in the Sheepscot, now the town of
Westport, the aboriginal name of which seems to have been,
"The Island of Jeremy, who lives by the water, meaning the
island of water creeks,"2 became the property of John Richards,
who, with Thomas Webber, lived on the upper end of Res-Keagan, or,
Parker's Island, opposite, and who purchased it of the sagamore,
Damarine or Robin-Hood. From the settlement of Parker, grew near
the sea-side of the ancient "New Town;" while from the Popham site,
the colony revived by Dermer, or at the elbow, on the headland, the
site of the ancient church where the Kennebec turns into "Long
Reach," grew up a hamlet on the western margin of the river, to-
gether with the plantations of Merry Meeting above.
THE BIRTH-PLACE OF WILLIAM PHIPS.
1650.
Not far from Wiscasset on the lower margin of Monseag Bay, near
the mouth of a rivulet of the same name, a peninsula of arable
land strikes out from the south-eastern extreme of the purchase
of Bateman and Brown (Woolwich)
Footnotes. 1. Williamson, Vol. i, p.53. Maine Historical Coll.,
Vol. ii, p. 192. 2. Hon. S. Parsons.
p.126 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
into a body of water, formed by the junction of the waters of the
bay above in their passage to the sea, with those flowing from
Sheepscot Bay below into the Kennebec, opposite the city of Bath.
This body of water encircling the base of a mountainous headland
of nearly perpendicular steeps and cliffs, called Hockomock, where
it receives, as a reservoir, the waters of three tides, opens into
an expanse, or magnificent basin; from the indented rim of which,
as well as through its center, wind navigable channels.
Bold shores, precipitous headlands, picturesque islands, low ex-
tended land-falls and fertile margins, give here a landscape of
surpassing beauty.
WILLIAM PHIPS, THE SHIP BUILDER.
On this peninsula, commanding this lovely scene of land and water,
in the direct track of the great inland thoroughfare between Pema-
quid and Kennebec, (and near to the rock, which ancient tradition
affirms, has turned, from time immemorial, "three times round when-
ever it hears the cock crow," rising from the deep like a hay-stack
at the point, where the sald sea-water meets and mingles with the
fresh water) was born on the 2nd of February, William Phips. To
this peninsula, as the precise locality of his birth, tradition
to this day, points the traveler, and calls it "Phips' Point."
Near his birth place, in the head of the cove made by the point
on one side and Hockomock on the other, grew up a hamlet. This
son of Sheepscot, subsequently became one of the most renowned
worthies of Newe England; whose mother was one of its most noted
matrons; who, it is said, gave to her country twenty-one sons and
five daughters.
William Phips learned the trade of ship-wright. He then learned
to read and write in Boston. In Boston, he contracted to
p. 127 SETTLEMENT.
build a ship on the Sheepscot - she was built and launched success-
fully.
PHIPS' ADVENTURES.
He had provided for this ship a cargo of lumber which he had nearly
completed, when disturbed by Indian hostilities, the settlers fled
in her to Boston, and thus escaped the savage tomahawk.
A Spanish silver-laden galleon, from the mines of Peru, had been
wrecked in the Bahamas. Phips fitted out an expedition, found the
sunken hulk, and therefrom raised "thirty-two tons of silver, a
bushel of pieces of eight, and vast riches of pearls and jewels,
in value, amounting to three hundred thousand pounds sterling."
"Phips' shipyard was on or near the Sheepscot waters, not far from
his birth-place, according to the most authentic tradition, and not
at the Sheepscot farms,"1 in Newcastle.
Phips' wealth procured for him a knigh-hood; and he became invested
with the authority of Governor of Massachusetts, which office he
filled with dignity and executed with success.
INSERT.
Lancaster, Mass. & Sir William Phips' expedition to Canada 1690
Subject: Lancaster, Massachusetts in the year 1690
Source: Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725. by
Henry S. Nourse, A.M. Lancaster, 1884.
p.127-128
1690.
Lancaster was represented among the sufferers in Sir William Phips'
mismanaged and disastrous expedition against Canada. Endorsed on a
list of Phips' captains in Massachusetts Archives, XXXVI, 134, is:
"Lt. Willard of Lanchaster" [Benjamin], and the names of five soldiers are
known from a petition of their heirs, in 1738, for land grants, viz:
Joseph Atherton
Jonathan Fairbank
John Pope
Samuel Wheeler
Timothy Wheelock
See also:
PHIPS' SHIP FOUND
Sunken ship in the St. Lawrence River has been identified as one of four
vessels from Massachusetts lost after an ill-fated attack on Quebec City in
1690. Found half-buried in sand near the town of Baie Trinitie, Quebec, the ship
is believed to have carried soldiers from Dorchester, Massachusetts.
See also, National Geographic
Sir William Phips featured in this month's National Georgraphic Vol 198 No. 2
August, 2000:
"Missing for 304 years, the failed battle of October 1690 - French vs
English at Quebec, the rivals: Comte de Frontenac and Sir William Phips. One of
Sir Phips's ships, the Elizabeth and Mary was found at Baie-Trinite with
muskets, silver and other historical treasure on Christmas eve, 1994 by Marc
Tremblay near
his cottage there, after a strong storm. Maps and photos of relics
throughout the article. Phips of course was born in Maine. When his father died his
mother remarried and a direct descendant is shown with oil portrait of Sir
Phips.
Four ships never made it back to MA and Massachusetts which had invested
heavily in the expedition 1689-1690 was brought to near bankruptcy. Great
coverage with beautiful
photography shown.
* Twenty years after the expedition, Ezra Clap made provisions in his will
for his son, Edward Clap, lost with Phips's fleet, should he everreturn. "he
never did"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
P.127 continued.
POPULATION AND STAPLES OF TRADE.
At the period of the birth of William Phips, a considerable community
had reared their cabins along the margins of the Sheepscot and Damari-
scotta, which had acquired something of the permanence and value of
homes. Furs, fish and lumber were the great staples of trade. The
noble pine tree - the growth of centuries - the stately spruce trees,
sufficiently large for ships' masts and spars to ships of war, tower-
ing above all the surrounding forests, covered the river banks and
invited the sturdy woodman's axe. Hence, the deep waters of the
Footnote. 1. Honorable S. Parsons, Greenleaf's Act - Greenleaf, an
early resident on Oak Island.
p.128 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
Sheepscot, with the magnificent harbor of Boothbay at its mouth,
attracted artisans, ship-wrights, carpenters and commerce, as well
as fur traders and fishermen; while the fertile bottoms at and about
the upper Sheepscot fringed with vast meadows of salt marsh, no less
powerfully drew thither early agriculturists. It is estimated five
hundred souls had their homes on and about the Sagadahock, Sheeps-
cot and Damariscotta at this time.
"TRAVEL."
The water-courses were the highways of travel. Hence the river banks
were first occupied by settlers. This solves the problem of ancient
ruins and remains of long-forgotten homes, everywhere found in the
cellars, brick and pottery along the eastern shores of the Sheepscot;
of which the author has himself visited five or six, within a dist-
ance of less than two miles.
TRANSFER OF TITLES.
THE DROWNE CLAIM.
SHEM DROWNE.
It was at this period the second-hand titles to landed estate were
made, out of which, confusion, litigation, and much wrong resulted.
"The Pemaquid patent was resolved into what afterward became known
as the Drowne claim," and grievously oppressed and disquieted the
citizens of Bristol, Nobleboro, and part of Newcastle. One of the
sons of the firm of Aldworth and Elbridge became the possessor of
its title to the Pemaquid purchase. This son mortgaged Monhegan and
Demariscove to one Mr. Russel, who, with a Mr. Davison, purchased
the balance. Russel sold out to Davison; and one of Davison's daught-
ers married Shem Drowne.
JOHN BROWN.
The "Brown right" was derived from the conveyance of the sagamore
Somerset to John Brown, who resided near to Pemaquid, at New Harbor.
These facts indicate such an increase of population as to render the
soil valuable as an acquisition in the estimation of the early plant-
ers;
p.129 SETTLEMENT.
and that their character had undergone a change from that of an ad-
venturous cast to that of a stable, industrious, and home-like people,
who were seeking the comforts of life in the products of the soil
rather than in the uncertain issues of trade and speculation. It is
to be presumed that thrift now began to appear, as the settlements
had reached the stage of development when the stubborness of nature
had been subdued, and the embarrassments of the unbroken soil so far
overcome as to yield profitable returns in the comforts and luxuries
of life.
So far as the opening of the channels of industry, and the esta-
blishment of a home were concerned, the settlements had become devel-
oped; but the full organization of society, in the local application
of law and order, was yet incomplete.
JOHN MASON, SHEEPSCOT PROPRIETOR.
1652.
A distinguished name among the settlers and original proprietors of
Sheepscot was John Mason. From Damarin, by purchase, he had acquired
a title to a considerable body of land, commencing at Sheepscot Falls,
running easterly, and embracing the "Great Neck."
By the claim of Stephen Calef, exhibited before the Commissioners,
John Mason's purchase extended from Sheepscot Falls in Newcastle
southward and eastward to a freshet called "Oven's Mouth," - a well-
known inlet of the waters of Sheepscot river, opening eastward and
separating between the southern boundary of Edgecomb and the north-
ern boundary of Boothbay, caused by a narrow gorge between rocks and
precipitous cliffs, through which the tide ebbs and flows with a deep
and rapid current, to fill and empty a shallow interior basin, re-
ceiving the waters of a considerable fresh water pond from Boothbay on
the south, and of "Wild-cat Meadow" on the north-east - the margins of
which rise in a gentle slope or swell of light and fertile soil, which
must have been
p.130 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
covered in early days with a heavy growth of maple, pumpkin pines, and
spar timber.
Mason must therefore have owned originally, the banks of the Sheep-
scot in the town of Edgecomb; and the Sheepscot "Great Neck" must
have been the peninsula beginning at Sheepscot falls on the north,
and terminating at "Oven's Mouth," between the Sheepscot and Cross
rivers, on the south, a section some five files long by a mile and
a half broad.
CIVIL CONDITION OF SETTLEMENTS.
As before stated, except the municipal administration at Pemaquid,
at this period no legal organization, no body politic, no appli-
cation of law had been made to the settlements within the ancient
dominions of Maine. True, "rules and regulations of a stringent
character" for governing their intercourse with the natives had
been applied to the settlers on the Kennebec, within the terri-
tory of the Plymouth colony.
Notwithstanding an arrangement had been made between the Kennebec
sagamores and the settlers there to establish a court in which all
complaints should be heard, (by the sagamores, if the natives were
in fault, and by the Court, if the settlers were in the wrong), evil
complications had grown up between the settles and the savages, as
well as among the settlers themselves.
ORGANIZATION OF A COURT AT MERRY MEETING.
1654.
May 23rd.
At the house of Thomas Ashley, a resident at "Merry Meeting," "the
English, inhabiting upon and near to the river commonly called the
Kennebec, who, by their paucity and fewness of numbers and their re-
moteness, have not hitherto enjoyed the benefit of government,1 for
the purpose of settling a government
Footnote. 1. M. H. Collection, Vol. ii, pp. 193-4.
p.131 SETTLEMENT.
THOMAS PURCHASE.
upon the said river of Kennebec," in pursuance of a summons and
warrant issued to the Marshal of New Plymouth, requiring the in-
habitants on said river to make their personal appearance, said in-
habitants "did generally assemble," viz: Thomas Purchase, residing
on the southwesterly margin of the bay at the "foot1 of the falls,"
where the Androscoggin enters.
John Stone
Thomas Ashley
John Richards of Jeremy Squam and Arrowsic,
James Smith
William James
Thomas Parker
residing at the mouth of the river,
together with
John Parker
on the southern extreme of the island
of the same name, and whose hamlet was
the nucleus of the ancient "New2 Town,"
a settlement or village which there
arose;
John White
John Brown, a
resident at Nequasset,
William Davis
Thomas Webber
Thomas Atkins, residing
at the mouth of the river on the west
margin
James Coale
Edmund Hughes
Alex Thwait, residing
at Winnegance near Long Reach.
This assemblage of the pioneer settlers was sworn to faithfulness
to government and to one another in the administration of law and
regulations applicable to their state and circumstances. The common
law was recognized as binding; and the reparation of its wrongs was
provided for. Drunkeness was prohibited, and the sale of intoxica-
ting drink to the natives was forbidden under penalties. Trade was
regulated with the Indians - trail by jury secured - Purchase was
appointed as presiding Justice and Ashley was chosen Constable -
when the assembly adjourned to meet in Court at the same place on
the year ensuing.
PRICE OF THE PURCHASE OF BRISTOL.
1654.
John Brown, the son of John Brown of New Harbor, and the original
settler, who by his interest with the chieftain Somarset, the native
lord of the soil,
Footnotes. 1. John McKeen, Esq. Maine Hist. Coll. Vol. iii. 2. 1668,
Clark and Lake laid out a town on the south side of Arrowsic in ten
acres lots. Maine Historical Coll., p. 192.
p.132 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
occupied and became the chief proprietor of the town of Bristol,
"for fifty skins of beaver,"1 now resided on what was assumed to
be his father's land at Damariscotta, at the lower, or salt water
falls, on the east margin at the point, - the site of Damariscotta
village.
THE HAMLETS OF BROWN AND PHILIPS.
His residence was nearly opposite the site of the house of Jas. Smith
the son-in-law of Walter Philips, who lived on the west margin of these
falls; while Robert Scott occupied a plantation above Brown's on the
same side of the river, and opposite Taylor's, the neighbor of Walter
Philips. Brown and his neighbors were forced to flee with Philips,
during the outbreak of the savages in the first Indian war; at which
time, Walter Philips, James Smith and John Taylor, on the west margin
of the Damariscotta, at the lower falls, and John Brown, Jr. and
Robert Scott on the east, were the sole residents where the villages
of Newcastle and Damariscotta now stand.2
CLARK AND LAKE.
1658.
Clark and Lake of Boston, having purchased Arrowsic Island, (the land
of rest, amid the waters - or quiet-water land), on the southern ex-
treme laid out a town in ten-acre lots, intersected at right angles
with streets of ample width. Major Clark and Captain Lake were
Boston merchants; and on the site of the new town, erected a ware-
house, several large dwelling-houses, and many other buldings, to-
gether with a fort near the water-side. Many immigrants had here
established their homes.3
Footnotes. 1. Commissioner's Reports. 2. Deed from Samasset, L.R.
3. Hubbard, p. 247.
p.133 SETTLEMENT.
JOHN PARKER.
June 14, 1659.
Henry Jocelyn, Richard R. Foxwell & Roger Spencer.
John Parker, not satisfied with the acquisition of his Island terri-
tory, now infected with the spirit of land speculation, so rife in
the wilds of Maine, for the consideration of "one beaver skin and
the yearly rent of one bushel of corn and a quart of liquor, to be
paid unto Robinhood, or his heirs, forever, at or before every
Chistmas (25th day of December), at the dwelling house of said
Parker," (reserving to himself and heirs, the right to fish, fowl,
and hunt - also to set otter traps without molestation), acquired
a possessory right in a tract of land on the "west side of Sagada-
hoc River," beginning at the "high head," six miles up to Winne-
gance Creek, and southwestwardly unto the eastern part of Casco
Bay, - embracing the principal portion of the territory of the
present town of Phipsburg - in presence of Henry Jocelyn, Rich-
ard R. Foxwell, and Roger Spencer.
In the meanwhile, trouble had grown up between the natives and
the pioneers of the Kennebec. In the progress of differences,
violence had been developed - "some of the savages having been
killed - some carried away - and their hunting interrupted, and
the trade in furs depreciated." These circumstances, evils of
the lawless state of society, at length arrested the legislat-
ive attention,2 and acts were passed relating thereto, for the
restraint of lawlessness in trade, and regulating intercourse
with the native population.
1660.
HAMMOND, AN INDIAN TRUCK MASTER.
A fort had also been constructed on "Stinson's Point," near the
margins of Hockomock Bay, where a trading establishment had grown
up under the enterprise of Hammond, an Indian "truck master," who
had selected a position for his traffic on this great inland
Footnotes. 1. Original paper, in the archives of the Massachusetts
Historical Society. MSS. Files, Maine Historical Society Archives.
2. Pejepscot and Plymouth controversy, p.40.
p.134 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
thoroughfare from the East. At this point there exist the remains
of a very ancient and considerable settlement; for on the margins
of "Spring Cove," within forty years have been traced very con-
siderable ruins and pavements of brick work.
BATH, MAINE.
1660.
Original Deed of the purchase of Bath.
"Robert Gutch's Deed from severall Sagamoors, for Land in Kenne-
beck River - May 29th, 1660.
"This Indenture made this twenty ninth of May, 1660, between
Robin Hoode alias Rawmeagon Terrumquin Wesomonascoa Scawque
Abumheaneneon ye one party, and Robert Gutch on ye other party
Witnesseth that we ye above said Robin Hoode, alias Rawmeagon
Wesomonascoe & Terumquin sagamores and we ye rest above mention-
ed, for divers considerations to thereinto moving have given,
granted and delivered over & by these presents do give, grant
and deliver over & forever alinese quit-claime from unto ye
said Robert Gutch his heirs, etc., administrators & assignes to
ourselves - our heirs, Executive administrators & assignes, all
ye tract of land lying and being in Kennebeck River and Right
over against tuessicke ye beginning of ye lower part of ye bounds
thereof. Being a cove running by ye upper side of a point having
some rocks lying a little from ye said point unto ye said River &
from ye said Cove, to run upwards by ye waters side - towards
James Smiths unto a point and being right over against Winslow's
Rock, commonly known and called by ye name together with all ye
woods underwood & all other priviledges, their unto belonging
as also ye one-half of all ye meadow that either is or may be
made and lyeth within ye land from ye waters' side part behind
ye above's tract of land & a part behind a tract of land granted
unto Alexander Thwait & lyeth near a little pond & further ye
above said Sagamore's and the rest abovenamed have also given,
granted & delivered over half ye meadow that is and may be made
by ye rivers sides commonly known and called by ye name of Wen-
nigansege, all with above's tract of land to run into ye land
three miles - to have & to hold to him, he said Robert Gutch,
his heirs, Executive & administrators & assignes ye aboves'
track of land with ye privileges abovesaid as also all hawking,
hunting, fishing, etc. forever without any molestations or
future demand whatsoever and hereby do bind ourselves, our heirs,
Executors, Administrators & Assignes forever any more from this
day forward to make anymore claime, challenge or pretence, of
title unto ye above's Tract of Land and to maintain this against
all other claimes, titles, challenges.
p.135 SETTLEMENT.
GUTCH'S HAMLET ON LONG BEACH.
1661.
BATH, MAINE.
Rev. Robert Gutch, a dweller on Sagadahock west bank, an immi-
grant from Salem, purchased of several Sagamores, among whom was
Mow-ho-ti-wormet, the present site of the city of Bath, Maine,
which he occupied as a plantatiion. "Long Reach" was the primi-
tive name of the city. Some twenty families resided on the west
shore of the Sagadahock at this date.
Robert Gutch, "a man of God" to the pioneer inhabitants and fisher-
men of Sagadahock, was drowned, probably while prosecuting his
labors on some missionary tour, it may be at remote stations from
his home, over the water, leaving four daughters. His plantation
have been a central and probably a populous point, at the Reach,
when Walter Philips, of Damariscotta, acquired from the savages,
"Gosle" and Erle Dugles, a guarantee of peaceable possession and
enjoyment of a body of land "beginning at the lower end of the
salt pond of Damariscotty, called, Ped-coke-gowake - meaning, the
place of thunder, so tending right over to Cavesisix River,
Footnotes, continued - and interests whatsoever. In witness where-
of we ye above parties. Sagamores and we ye rest of ye aboves4
Indians have hereunto set our hands & Seals ye day and year above
written.
"Sealed, Signed & Delivered in ye presence of us:
Alexander Thwat.
Mary Webber
John Verine.
Alexander Tressell.
Robin Hoode - His Marke.
Terrumquin - His Marke.
Weasomanasco - His Marke.
Scawque - His Marke.
Abunhamen - His Marke.
"Robin Hoode and Terrunquin acknowledged this to be their Act
and Deed, before me, Nicholas Renallds, Justice of the Peace.
"A true Coppy of this deede above written transcribed out of
ye original and therewith compared this 27th October, 1667
P Edward: Richworth, Recorder. "Vera Copia as of Record exm:
Joseph Hamond, Register."
p.136 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
due west north west," 1. undoubtedly an aboriginal name of
some branch of the Sheepscot.
THE DEATH OF ROBERT GUTCH.
LEVI HOUGHTON.
The Reverend Robert Gutch,2 the original proprietor and one
of the first settlers of the city of Bath, Maine, resided on
the premises near the present abode of Levi Houghton, in that
city, for seventeen years. That he was a "preacher to the fisher-
men," and had "been drowned at an early date," (1679), is the only
record of his life, labors, and end, that history has left us; and
for this we are indebted to tradition.
EDWARD CAMMEL.
ALEXANDER THWOIT.
At the date of his death, at Whisgig, or "Whisgeag" - lived Edward
Cammel; and near the same time at Winnegance, dwelt Alexander Thwoit.
It is probable that this hamlet escaped the general conflagation &
massacre of the savages, who sacked the Arrowsic towns, in King
Philip's war. It is possible, as he was no "truck-master," no
military chieftain, no man conspicuous in the community, except as
a "servant of the most high God," and in no way obnoxious to savage
resentment, that he may have lived there unmolested. His life and
character may have been a protection to himself and hamlet, because
they brought him within the circle of well-known superstitious fears
and veneration of savage men. At any rate, there is no record of
any slaughter and burning, assaults and barbarities, at or near the
abode of this "holy man of old," and which, following the usual laws
of aggregation, must have made the nucleus of a village, as a center
of missionary labor.
RICHARD PADDISHALL.
Richard Paddishall, (Pates-hall), who afterwards was shot at the
Barbican, near Pemaquid(?), a coaster by occupation, planted an
island, opposite Butler's Cove, in the Kennebec, on which he lived
for many years. It was an ancestral pos-
Footnotes. 1. Commiss. Reports, p. 13. 2. Sewall's History of Bath.
p.137 SETTLEMENT.
session, his father having lived there before him, and was called
"Paddishall's Island." This island, mentioned as the place of
rendezvous of the several tribes at a conference in Georgetown,
must have been on the lower waters of the Sagadahoc, and nearly
opposite the Watts settlement at Butler's Cove, on the lower end
of Arrowsic. Paddishall subsequently removed his family to Pema-
quid,1 where he was slain.
On Damariscove, Trick, Hunnewell, Soward and Richard Reading were
olde inhabitants, where seven boats fished1 at this date.
WALTER PHILIPS.
Walter Philips must have been an original settler at Damariscotta,
on the Newcastle side of the village, and the earliest of whom we
have any record. When he went in and planted at "Ped-coke-go-wake,"
the natives only, were his neighbors. Philips first settle at a
point on the river below, called "Winnagane:" - meaning the portage,
probably at Hodgdon's Mills, the portage from Pemaquid to the harbor,
from whence he removed to Ped-coke-go-wake above, occupied the hill
and point below the falls, and cleared and planted an orchard, making
great improvements.
The possessions of Philips at "Ped-coke-go-wake" embraced the carry-
ing place, which the natives used in passing over to the branch of
the Sheepscot; and he opened a cart-path, (the route of the present
highway) along the trail of this carrying place, between the proxi-
mate tide-waters of the Damariscotta and Sheepscot, whose branch was
called, "Cavesissix River."
After Philips had been driven off from his plantation by savage
violence, "escaping," we are told, "only with his life, and with the
loss of all his goods," the remains of his dwelling, chimney still
standing - the orchard in bearing - solitary monuments of former
thrift and opulence - eloquent
Footnote.1. John Cook's testimony, Thornton's Pemaquid, p. 105.
p.138 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
ruins of pioneer life - were seen for many years. During the
desolation of the next generation, consequent on the ravages of
savage barbarities, apples were gathered from the orchards of
Philips here, by the dwellers at Pemaquid below. The ruins and
chimney remaining, marked the site of the pioneer home of Philips,
long after his departure and his death.
JOHN TAYLOR & ROBERT SCOTT, OTHER EARLY PLANTERS.
He appears to have been an intelligent and thrifty and public-
spirited planter - and agriculturist and not a trade, - who en-
joyed the fruits of his labor, in the products of the soil newly
cleared and virgin, many years, on the west bank of the Damaris-
cotta - the site of the village of Newcastle, then being the im-
proved portion of his estate. Above his place, resided another
early planter, John Taylor; and near by, Robert Scott;1 and these
three families were the earliest and original occupants of the soil
and residents there, in the midst of a howling wilderness and savage
homes.
DUKEDOM ESTABLISHED.
1664.
March 12th.
The section of country watered by the Sheepscot and Damariscotta
to the Pemaquid had now become the western limits (whatever claims
may have been set up for the territory from the west) of a Royal
Grant to the Duke of York, and the property of this Prince.
For the next quarter of a century, the Duke fostered his claim to
the "territory of Sagadahoc;" and until it passed into his poss-
ession no local government existed.
Commissioners to represent the government in a local organization
of civil power were appointed, viz: Colonel Richard Nichols, Carr,
Cartwright and Maverick.
1665.
April 15th.
The Commissioners assembled on the eastern banks of the Sheepscot,
on the "Great Neck," "half a league westerly from Damariscotta lower
September 5th.
falls," at the dwelling hous of John Mason.
Footnote. 1. See Depositions, Commissioners Reports.
p.139 SETTLEMENT.
NEWCASTLE, A SHIRE TOWN.
Nichols, the acting governor of New York, was not present, the
newly acquired province of Sagadahoc being an appendage to the
colonial government established on the Hudson. "Walter Philips,"
a land-holder and resident on the west bank of the Damariscotta,
at the lower falls, was appointed Clerk. Thus organized, the comm-
ission "erected" the territory under the Duke's jurisdiction into
a county, and called it, "Cornwall;" and the Sheepscot settlement,
where the session was holden, was constituted a shire-town, and
called "New Dartmouth."1 Thus the ancient dominions of Maine, be-
came a Dukedom.
CONVENTION OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE DUCAL TERRITORY.
The residents at various points within the Duke's territory were
summoned to appear and submit to the newly inaugurated govern-
ment.
WILLIAM FIRESWELL & RICHARD HAMMOND.
JOHN MILLER, ROBERT MORGAN, THOMAS PARKER, MARCUS PARSONS,
THOMAS WATKINS AND JOHN WHITE.
Sagadahoc sent William Frieswell, and Richard Hammond - undoubtedly
the trader near Hockomock at Stinson's Point, on the margin of the
Cross river to Bath - a resident; John Miller, Robert Morgan,
Thomas Parker, Marcus Parsons, Thomas Watkins, John White, all,
probably neighbors of Hammond, and residents at the mouth of
Sheepscot River.
Sheepscot sent in:
William Dale
William Dyer
Christopher Dyer
Nathaniel Draper
Thomas Gent
William James
William Marks
John Mason
Thomas Mercer
Walter Philips
Moses Pike
Robert Scott
A. Stolger
John Taylor
John White.
There appeared from Pemaquid:
Thomas Elbridge
Edmund Arrowsmith
George Buckland
Henry Champness
Thomas Gardiner
Nicholas Raynal from Arrowsic.
These are the only names of the early planters who came
forward to give their allegiance to Royal authority -
Footnote. 1. Maine Historical Coll. Vol IV, p. 221.
p.140 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
early indicative of the existence of the replublican spirit,
subsequently developed in the Tory and Whig parties. Raynal
of Sagadahoc, Gardiner of Pemaquid and Dyer of Sheepscot, were
commissioned as Magistrates; while Richard Simons was authorized
as Constable.
DISSENTERS TO DUCAL AUTHORITY.
George Davie.
WISCASSET.
It is a singular circumstance, that no one from the settlement
at Wiscasset Point was there; and yet it is certain that George
Davie had planted a hamlet on his hill near the gaol, where he
resided and owned land. Four years preceding, he purchased of
the natives, a body of land a "mile and more in width," front-
ing on the Wiscasset Bay, and covering the site of the shire
town of Lincoln county, the present village of Wiscasset.
1666.
JOHN DAVIS.
He also acquired a title to a considerable section of land on
the eastern and opposite shore of the bay - Edgecomb side - a
portion of which is still occupied by the same name and probably
remote descendents. 1 Damarin, the Sheepscot sagamore, conveyed
to one John Davis, a plantation on the north-west side of "Wis-
tassek Bay, north into the woods half way to Kennebec."
MORDACI CRAFFORD (or Clifford?)
Richard Pattishall.
A Mordaci Crafford (Clifford?) sold a neck of land on Sheepscot
River, and probably was a resident there an on the east shore,
near this date. On the north-east side of Sheepscot river, at a
place called "Wichcassick," in New Dartmouth, Richard Pattishall
claimed a four-hundred acre lot.
JOHN TUCKER.
THOMAS CLEAVES.
John Tucker 2, of Sheepscot River, a fisherman at Cape Newagen,
owned "all the land on the north side of Monseag River, up along
the main river, as far as Cowsegan - being as far as Thomas
Cleaves's lease runs down to the
Footnotes. 1. Alias Mohotiwormet. 2. 1662. Purchased by Checkley
and Prout of Boston. Maine Historical Coll. Vol II. p. 235-236.
p.141 SETTLEMENT.
river, and so to run four miles due north from the main river of
Cowsegan." Thomas Cleaves, fisherman of Cape Newagen, "bought
of Robinhood, proprietor and sagamore of said river," a tract of
land on Sheepscot river, containing four miles, more or less,
bounded on the river southeasterly, extending in breadth from the
lowermost to the uppermost narrows, and thence four miles into
the country back.
NATHANIEL DRAPER.
JACK PUDDING, Sagamore.
Nathaniel Draper1 owned a parcel of land bought of a Sheepscot
Sagamore, Jack Pudding, lying between the "Bute Falls," the
great bay over against the parting guts which lie between Nathan-
iel Draper, Thomas Mercer, and the house, to the river.
JACOB CLARK.
Jacob Clark1 as grandson by marriage of Alice, the grand-daughter
of John Davis, also had a claim to land in Wiscasset. These acquis-
itions of title were chiefly derived from Damarin, about this
period.
Davie and Davis owned the site of the village of Wiscasset, if not
also the land opposite, in Edgecomb. "Crafford" or Clifford,
settled and occupied probably the neck, embracing what is now
called the "Eddy," on the Edgecomb side of Sheepscot. Patti-
shall owned and occupied above the Davis tract, also on the
Edgecomb side opposite Wiscasset. Thomas Cleaves owned and
occupied the land south of the village to Wiscasset, to the
narrows, entering Monseag Bay. John Tucker owned between
Cleaves's house and lease to Monseag River.
Nathaniel Draper and Thomas Mercer probably resided and owned
to the north of the Davis tract and the village of Wiscasset
above the bay, beginning at the narrows - known now as Wood-
bridge's narrows; and may have lived on the headland over-
looking the bay below.
Thomas Gent built a house at Damariscotta on land given him
by his father-in-law, Taylor, who owned and occupied a tract
of land beginning at the three coves and running
Footnote. 1. Maine Historical Coll. Vol. ii.
p.142 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
on a straight line into the fresh meadows to a point of
land lying on the north side of "Walter Philips' cart path"
on the west side of Damariscotta River. Taylor's possess-
ions embraced the oyster-shell banks above the bridge.
Walter Philips was the neighbor of Taylor and Gent, on the
west side margin of the Damariscotta, at the falls. John
Brown, the son of John Brown of New Harbor, owned a house
on the opposite bank, the eastern shore of Damariscotta, at
the falls, - owning and occupying a large tract of land there.
Robert Scott lived a neighbor of Brown, and northwesterly from
Brown's dwelling-house, opposite the oyster-shell banks. We have
thus located the homes of the principal persons present at the
Commissioners' Court held at the house of "John Mason," a resi-
dent of Sheepscot and a land owner in Edgecomb and Newcastle on
the 5th of September, 1665.
It will be seen that no settlers at and about Wiscasset Point
were there; and for the reason probably that the sympathies of
the residents at Wiscasset Point were with Massachusetts rather
than with royal authority of the Duke of York. It is well known
that the authority of the Duke's commissioners often came into
collision with that of the Massachusetts government which had
now undertaken to extend its jurisdiction into Maine. Pemaquid,
Sheepscot and Sagadahoc had remained in a state of natural free-
dom; and by the Commissioner's Court above described, the terri-
tory was erected into the "County of Cornwall."
THE PURCHASE OF BOOTHBAY HARBOR.
1666.
At the harbor of Boothbay, Henry Curtiss was probably an ori-
ginal and considerable planter; and from his position, his in-
fluence with the aged
Footnote. A widow Willcot claimed land on the west side of
Sheepscot river below the falls, which was owned by Thomas Mercer,
and improved by him for years. See Maine Historical Coll., Vol IV,
p.233.
p.143 SETTLEMENT.
"MANA-WOR-MET" (the father of Robinhood?) was sufficient to
secure the conveyance of the land, embracing the harbor, by
an instrument giving Curtiss a home there - "a parcel of land
lying on the northwest side of the northwest passage, and the
Pond joining into the head of the northwest passage unto the
Gut of the Back River, with all the islands and inlets and
marshes, containing unto the same - granting unto the said
Henry Curtiss, his heirs and assigns, full power and possess-
ion to set down there."
The instrument was witnessed by Henry Joslin, by Daniel Bene-
ther and William Cliffe, who, it may fairly be presumed, were
neighbors to Curtiss, and may be enumerated among the earliest
settlers of this ancient place, more than half a century after
its discovery by Weymouth. The consideration is a damnatory
clause, "in the forfeiture of twenty good beaver skins," by
which Sylvanus Davis, the year before, had been quieted in
possession of the other moiety of the Boothbay territory, lying
on the Damariscotta near its mouth, probably from the savages
Gosle and Wittanois, and John Cotta, the first of whom had con-
veyed to Walter Philips his homestead at the head-waters of the
same river.1
CLAIMS OF MASSACHUSETTS ASSERTED.
Massachusetts had indeed begun a series of movements to esta-
blish her sovereignty here. An organization erecting the
"County of Devonshire," was attempted at Pemaquid, as the
capital. Eighty-four inhabitants there congregated.
Richard Oliver & Thomas Gardiner.
Richard Oliver of Monhegan was made clerk, and Thomas Gardiner
mad Treasurer of the county. Thomas Humphrey of Sagadahoc was
created Marshal, who, with Robert Gammon of Cape Newagen were
Constables. Pattishall, Gardiner, Gammon and John Palmer were
authorized commissioners
Footnote. 1. Commiss. Reports, original deeds.
p.144 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
"to legalize marriages, acknowledge deeds, and hold a commiss-
ioners Court." A panel of jurors was made, viz: Robert Emmons
and Ambrose Hanwell of Sagadahoc; John Wifford, Elias Trick,
and John Prior of Damariscove; George Bickford and Reynald
Kelly of Monhegan; John Call of Pemaquid. Damariscove at this
period must have been a place of some population and import-
ance. A military organization was also perfected. Companies
were enrolled at Sagadahoc, Damariscove, Pemaquid and Cape
Newagen. Pattishall (Paddishall?) of Sagadahoc, and Gardiner
of Pemaquid were appointed commanders-in-chief.
Houses of public entertainment were authorized to be opened
at Sheepscot, Pegaquid, Damariscove, and Sagadahoc - Con-
temporary1 history assures us, that now, in the "Ancient
Dominions," - the English in great numbers had settled -
having a large country cleared and under improvement: -
"stored with cattle and corn fields:" - Pemaquid, Monhegan,
Capt Newagen - "where Captain Smith fished for whales" -
all filled with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen."2
Immediately on the erection of our territory into a Ducal
State, it became an appendage to New York: and the ancient
hamlet of the "Sheepscot Farms," became the shire town of the
new county of Cornwall, by name of New Dartmouth; and the
Governor of New York, Dongan, to fill up his master's newly
acquired Province, introduced many Dutch families and thrifty
farmers to the banks of Sheepscot waters, who secured the agri-
cultural sites on the head waters, and along the river margins,
where the vestiges of this influx of population are still trace-
able, in broken pipes, pottery and domestic utensils, ancient
cellars, and remains of former homes.
Pemaquid continued still to be the great radiating center,
Footnote. 1. Deny's and Jocelyn's Act. 2. Williamson, Vol i,
p. 446.
p.145 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
in the diffusion of population throughout the Dukedom, which
continued to flow up our water-courses, planting itself in
forest clearings and hamlets, on the banks and margins, at
every desirable point. Nequaseag and Phips' Point, in the
aboriginal "clear-water and island-waterplaces," together
with the site of Hammond's village, a trading station on the
Cross river, or gut passage to Bath, were now all occupied.
It will have been seen that a considerable population not
represented before the Duke's convention for the organization
of his newly acquired province, were inhabitants of the ancient
dominions of Maine two centuries ago. The Davises, the Tuckers,
the Cleaves of Wiscasset Point - the Craffords (Cliffords?) and
Pattishalls of Edgecomb; Brown of Damariscotta, and many more
from Pemaquid, Sagadahoc, and about Boothbay, or Cape Newagen,
were not there.
Thirty-four years prior to the events which at John Mason's
house converted this community into a body politic, the local-
ity was known as the "Sheepscot Farms," with a population of
fifty families, making some two hundred and fifty souls.
EXTENT OF NEW DARTMOUTH.
This fact is a proof of the early appreciation of the fertile
meadows and bottom lands of the ancient "Che-va-ve-covett."
A considerable village had now grown up. The point at or be-
low Sheepscot Bridge was the site of this village, now in-
vested with the dignities and importance of a metropolitan
center of the new-created Dukedom. The length of the penin-
sular site was more than a "mile;" its width from a "third to
one half;" and it lies between two branching prongs of the
waters of the Sheepscot, which strike off, the one above, the
other below; the one running easterly and northerly, and form-
ing the mouth of Dyer's
p.146 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
river; the other bending easterly and southerly into the salt
marshes below, towards the Damariscotta, and into the "heart"
of the town of Newcastle. A street called the "King's High-
way," still the great thoroughfare of travel, divided the pen-
insula longitudinally east and west. This street, on "both sides,"
was lined with dwelling and other houses, proven by the "numer-
ous cellars" found there, on a re-settlement after the Indian
troubles had ended, and peace and safety were promised to the
returning heirs of the slaughtered inhabitants. Nearly opposite
the "falls," some "ninety rods" in the line of the street south-
ward, the peninsula rises by gradual ascent into a hill, whose
summit commands the whole locality; and which was crowned with
a fortified work of timber. The place of the dead there, now
occupies three sides of this fortified work, for the reason,
probably, that the land was public property; and in those peri-
lous times, the ancient people ventured not far from the garri-
son, to bury their dead, there being no surety of life but under
the protection of its guns, or within its stockade.
The iron hail which was showered from this fortified hill top
on a savage and ruthless foe, is till turned out by the furrow
of the plowman, in the shape of cannon-balls "of moderate size,"2
in the neighboring fields.
VESTIGES OF ANCIENT OCCUPANCY.
To the north of the fort, some forty rods, on the east side of
the street, "a pavement of flat stones - a floor some twenty
feet square" - compactly laid with joint nicely fitted to
joint, was discovered only a few inches under the ground.
"Some forty rods further south, on the opposite side of the
street," says the Reverend Mr. Cushman, whose eloquent and
graphic description I beg leave to borrow, - "stood that
Footnotes. 1. Cushman, Maine Historical Coll. p. 211. 2. Rev.
Mr. Cushman, M. H. Collection, Vol. iv. p. 213.
p.147 SETTLEMENT.
important appendage of every settlement...the blacksmith's
shop." With a select party, an exploration was made by exca-
vating the spot. On digging through the debris and new-made
soil, some "eight inches," "we came," he adds, "to a hard pan,"
the floor of the shop. "Here was the Birmingham of the whole
country; and here too the honest yeomanry met on a stormy day
to talk, discuss and to project enterprises. On this floor we
found the cinders and slag which fell from the furnaces - bits
of iron - the bolt of a lock, and a piece of work partially
finished, in the shape and the size of a large latch. It might
have been the last work" of the smith, which in attempting to
finish, he let fall,"as the Indian war-whoop was heard from the
distant hills, and the unprotected inhabitants were compelled to
flee for their lives."
"Melted pewter - charred corn and peas" are found - vestiges
of an ancient and agricultural people: - also stones, brick,
and lime in the ancient cellars - relics indicating surprise
of the dwellers - or such haste as forced the inhabitants to
flee for their lives, leaving their pewter plates and basins,
their household stuff, their goods, their all, as it was. A
gold "signet-ring" taken from an old cellar on the southern
extreme of the peninsula, would lead us to infer that some did
not escape with their lives in the terrible scene: - some fond
mother, some doting wife, some loving sister, some timid, terror-
stricken maiden !
ANCIENT CHRONICLES OF STONE.
A mile to the eastward is the ancient "Mill Creek," on which
are the relics of a mill, whose broken stones have been there
antecedent to the record of human recollection.
The site must have been anterior to the advent of its ancient
European occupants. A race antecedent to all historical data
must have dwelt and had an interest there - an interest of im-
portance to the future, whose messages, wrapped
p.148 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
in the mysteries of a medium of communication prior to a
knowledge of letters - inscribed in hieroglyphics on stone,
have been transmitted to our day. For it is said, such
"stones with curious inscriptions,"1 in the southern part
of the peninsula have been found. But alas! what vandalism!
It is added, "some of these stones were used in building
the cellars of later settlers, and still remain in the walls!
What secrets of history are covered here? A thread of the long
past may here be found, which shall lead us back to adventures -
a race of which rumor alone has any recollection in the quite
forgotten traditions of the north !
It is indeed a fact that Monhegan, Damariscove, and Sheepscot
are stored with unexplored treasures of a history on their en-
during, stone-inscribed monuments? The fact is worth the in-
vestigation of the curious and the learned as a tribute to
literature alone.
THE ANCIENT SITE OF SHEEPSCOT.
NEW DARTMOUTH.
The ancient site of Sheepscot is rationally presumed from its
geological features to have once been an island. Within twenty
years of Popham's abortive attempt to found and rear a town at
the mouth of the Kennebec, it was the center of an agricultural
community called the "Sheepscot farms." In a half a century from
that disastrous event, it had grown to a village "a mile or more
in length," densely settled, and was made a shire town of the
country of "Cornwall," by the name of New Dartmouth; and now
having passed through desolating changes and scenes of agonizing
interest, two centuries and a half having elapsed, it is the
simple village of Sheepscot on the western boundary of the town
of Newcastle, the changes of so considerable a period not having
as yet removed it, as a central, thrifty point in the midst of
meadows and fertile bottoms of the ancient Sheepscot.
The present city-like villages of Newcastle and Damariscotta, at
the falls of the river of that name, at the
Footnote.1. Reverend D. Cushman, Maine Historical Coll. vol.iv,
p.212.
p.149 ANCIENT DOMINIONS OF MAINE.
SETTLEMENT.
date here given were hardly a hamlet of two houses on the east-
ern and three on the western bank, and with no street but a cart
path to Sheepscot.
ANCIENT TRADING POST OF SHEEPSCOT.
Except at Cape Newagen, history has left us no record of
ancient trading posts on the Sheepscot; and gives the names
of but two of that speculating development of humanity in our
early history, termed "truckmasters," - "Coke"1 of Cape Newagen,
mentioned by Levett, and Walker, a man of influence with the
natives, mentioned by Hubbard, the location of whose trading
establishment is not known.
SHEEPSCOT SETTLERS.
p.150
It is probable that the original occupants of the banks of the
Sheepscot commanded their subsistence as "lords of the soil"
rather than in the more doubtful issues of native trade. They
were farmers, and not speculators.
Footnote. 1. Levett's Voyage, p. 87. Hubbard, p. 265.
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