I HoUinger pH 83 MiU Run F03-2193 l^^Y^i^r, / /A^^ r~r-' >■ r ~r ^0 *■ \} ^l IN BXCHA.NG£ Bos. iiuiieii Mar 2P ^^ « • • I, I i -Ay MEMOIR OF CHARLES FROST. [By Usher Parsons, M. D., of rrovidcncc, E. I., Member of the N. England Historic ^> Genealogical Society.] [Mr. Editor: The last two numbers of your journal contained copies of ancient manuscripts relating to Richard Waldron, Charles Frost, and others, who were among the first settlers about the Pascataqua. These I have thought might serve to render a brief sketch of the life of Major Frost interesting to your readers.] Charles Frost was born in Tiverton, England, in 1632. He accom- panied his father to the Pascataqua river at the age of three or four years. His father, Nicholas Frost, was also a native of Tiverton, and resided "near Lemon Green, over against Bear- Garden." He had one sister, who "married Charles Brooks, a brazier in Crown Alley, London." He was born about the year 1595, and arrived at Pascataqua about 1635 or 1636^ and settled at the head of Sturgeon Creek, on the south side of Frost's Hill, where he died, July 20, 1663, and was buried in the rear of his house. He brought over a wife and two or three children. The wife is not mentioned in his will, dated 1650, from which it is to be inferred that she died before that time. This will was examined in court of probate, and, from some cause now unknown, was deemed "invalid and of none effect." The court ordered that his estate be divided among his children equally, excepting that Charles, the oldest, should have a double share, "for his care and former trouble." This amounted to £211. Charles took the homestead, with five hundred acres of land. To his second son, John, he gave three hundred acres in York, with a marsh valued at £65, the rest in money. To William Leighton, for his wife Catherine, personal property. To Elizabeth, when she should arrive of age, personal estate. To Nicholas, a house and lot adjoining Leighton's, and personal property ; he being a minor, was placed under the guardianship of his brother Charles. Catherine Leighton had a son and a daughter named John and Eliza- beth. The latter died young. The son married Oner Langdon, and was the ancestor of a numerous race, among whom were a grandson, Major Samuel Leighton of Elliot, and his son. General Samuel Leighton, who died in Alfred, Sept., 1848. Catherine married again, to Jose])li Hammond, who was Register and Judge of Probate, and had children by him. She died Aug. 1, 1715. Jo]l71 settled in York and afterwards at the Isles of Shoals, where he carried on fisheries. He died 1718, at Star Island, leaving a widow named Sarah, and a son Samuel, who inherited the York estate, and two others, named Samuel and Ithamer, and one daughter, who married William Fox, and three grandsons, the sons of John, the eldest of whom was named John. Elizabeth married William Smith. Nicholas followed the sea, was bound an apprentice as sailor to Thomas Orchard. He commanded a ship that sailed between Maryland and Ire- land. He died at Limerick, Ireland, August, 1673, unmarried, and left his estate to the children of his brother Ciiarles and sister Catherine. Ham- mond claimed of Leighton's children a share of their uncle's legacy for his own children, and, after a lawsuit, obtained it. Mr. Nicholas Frost was an uneducated farmer. His signature to papers was with a mark. He was, however, esteemed a trustworthy, judicious 2 3Iemo{r of Charles Frost. ^\H^ citizen, as appears from the fact of his appointment to responsible offices, as constable and selectman. Charles Frost, who succeeded to the homestead of his father Nich- olas, at the head of Sturgeon Creek, became a distinguished man, both in civil and military life. In narrating the events of his life, it will be neces- sary to connect them with a brief sketch of the political history of Pascata- qua, comprising the present towns of Kittery, Elliot, and South Berwick. They were designated by the first settlers by local names, as Kittery Point, Spruice Creek, now Kittery, Sturgeon Creek, in Elliot, Newichewannick, extending from the mouth of the river at South Berwick to the mills at Great Works, so called, Quampegan, still known as such, and Salmon Falls. These names were applied to the villages or settlements near them, and were all included under the plantation of Pascataqua. In 1G47 it was in- corporated under the name of Kittery, after a town of that name in Eng- land, where several of the emigrants formerly resided. Berwick was sep- arately incorporated in 1723, being for some time previous designated as Union Parish. Elliot was separated from Kittery in 1810, and South Ber- wick from Berwick in 1824. In 1G36 the number of inhabitants in all these towns was two hundred, the population of Maine being one thousand four hundred. The grand highway of the inhabitants of Pascataqua was on the river, to Portsmouth, Dover, and Exeter. The first settlement of Pascataqua followed soon after that of Plymouth. In 1G22 the Council of Plymouth (England) granted to John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges "all the lands situated between the rivers Merrimac and Kennebec," by the name of "the Province of Laconia." These two gentlemen, with some associates, constituting the company of Laconia, erected salt works at Little Harbor, near Portsmouth, and carried on fish- ing and furtradino; with the Indians. In 162 4 Ambrose Gibbons built a mill at Newichewannick, (South Berwick,) which was soon after managed by Humphrey Chadborne. The company appointed AValter Neal their agent, who served till 1634, when he was succeeded by Francis Williams. Failing of anticipated success, most of the company of Laconia became dis- couraged, and sold out to Gorges and Mason, who, in 1634, divided their lands, Mason taking New Hampshire, and Gorges taking all eastward of the Pascataqua to Kennebeck, which he called JYciv ScnucrsetsJiire. Settlements were made on the eastern shore of the river, at Kittery Point, Spruce Creek, Sturgeon Creek, and Newichewannick. Gorges sold to Mason a strip of land along the whole length of the river, three miles wide, including the mills at South Berwick, but Mason soon died, and this revert- ed back to Gorges, and was reannexed to Somersetshire. William Gorges, nephew of Sir Ferdinando, was appointed governor, and served two years. The courts were at this time held at Saco, which was settled earlier. The agent of Pascataqua, Williams, was directed to encourage emigra- tion from England; and, between 1034 and 1640, a large number of per- sons arrived, among whom were Nicholas Frost and family. It is not known precisely what year he arrived, but, from the fact that he was ap- pointed to an important office in 1640, it is probable he came much earlier, perhaps 1635 or 1636. The settlers were allowed to take up as much land as they could fence, by paying two shillings and two and a half per acre, for one hundred years. Nicholas Frost took four hundred acres. In 1639 Sir Ferdinando Gorijes obtained a new charter under the name of the Province or County of Maine. Another nephew of his, Thomas Gorges, was appointed deputy governor, with six councillors. The courts were held at Saco and York. In June, 1640, the governor and council Memoir of Charles Frost. 3 held a court at Saco, where, among otlier ofiicers appointed, was NIcliolag Frost, as constable of Pascatnqua. Sir Ferdinando caused Afi-amenticiis (old York) to be erected into a borough, and soon after into a city, called Georgeana, with mayor and aldermen. Being involved in the civil wars now raging in England, and connected with the prostrated party, he was imprisoned during his few remaining days, and his nephew. Governor Thomas Gorges, becoming discontented, resigned his office at the end of three years, wdien his commission expired, and returned home to England, leaving Maine without a successor. The council appointed one of their number, a Mr. Vines, as deputy governor, in 1G44. A claim had recently been set up to the eastern part of Maine, from Kennebunk river to Kennebeck, under what was called the Plough patent, by one Kigby, of England, who appointed George Cleves as his deputy or agent. Cleves made interest with Massachusetts, and with the commission- ers of plantations in England, who decided that Rigby's title was undoubt- edly good, and this decision left Sir Ferdinando in possession of only the land between Kennebunk and Pascataqua rivers. He, however, died soon after. The whole province of Maine was badly governed, and, after a time, the people became desirous of following the example of New Hampshire, whose inhabitants, a few jenrs previous, (1G12,) applied for and obtained annexa- tion to Massachusetts. This government was very willing to receive Maine in like manner, and, "by a plausible construction of their own charter," claimed it as their property. The claimants under both Rigby and Gorges, through tlieir agents, Cleves and Godfrey, though previously opposed to each other, united now, in resisting the claim of Massachusetts. But the inhabitants under Gorges were anxious for annexation, and it was soon ef- fected. In 1652 four commissioners were sent from Boston to Pascatnqua, or Kittery, as it was now called, where a court was held during four days, and, after much discussion and altercation, they received the concession of forty -one persons, among whom were jSTicholas Frost and his son, Ckadcs Frost. The other towns west of Kennebunk river immediately followed their example, and, in process of time, the towns eastward, in lligby's patent, submitted in like manner. In 1653 Kittery sent a representative to the general court of Massachusetts, and, in 1658, Charles Frost, then 2(j years of age, was chosen to'the office, which he held live years. In 1660 Ferdinando Gorges, grandson of the baronet, laid claim to the province as heir at law. King Charles II. sanctioned the claim, and, in 1664, ordered it to be restored to him. Nichols, Cai-r, Cartwright, and Mav- erick v,^ere directed by the king to demand possession and to hold coui'ts. A sharp altercation took place between them and the general court of jNIassa- chusetts, and they left for Maine without effecting a reconciliation. The king wrote a reprimand to the people of Massachusetts and Tdaine, and required them to restore the province to Gorges forthwith. Archdale, an api)ointed a'^Mit, made the demand of the Massachusetts government ; but instead of com[)lying, they ordered a county court, consisting of Thomas Danforth and others asjudges, to be lield at York. But on arriving at Portsmouth, the court were forbid to enter IMaine. They therefore returned to Boston, fol- lowed by the king's coraissioners, who were so insolent and overbearing to the government as to prevent all further conference. They were soon after recalled or dismissed from office. The interrupted state of the courts caused by these contentions, left Maine without suitable legislation or courts of justice. In 1668 Massachu- 4 Memoir of Oharles Frost. setts sent four commissioners to hold a court in York, where they met the justices appointed by the king's commissioners ready to hold a court also. After much quarrelling those of Massachusetts prevailed, and a government and court were organized in due form. The following year, 1609, the province, after a suspension of three years, again sent representatives to the general court, among whom was Charles Frost of Kittery. The militia of Maine was now organized into six companies, one of which was commanded by Charles Frost. The Dutch war ensued, which engrossed the attention of the king, and thus gave Massachusetts a short respite from his interferences. But after a time the claim of Gorges's heirs was again renewed, and, to obviate all further trouble from them, it was deemed the wisest policy to buy them out. This was effected through the agency of John Usher, for the sum of £1200. This procedure displeased the king, who was at the time trying to negotiate for it with Gorges's heirs, intending it as a place for one of his court favorites. He wrote a reprimanding letter to the government ; but the bargain was made and completed, and Gorges's claim for ever extin- guished. Although Massachusetts had by purchase become "the assignee and pro- prietor of Maine, yet it was contended that she must govern it according to the stipulations in Gorges's charter," and not as a constituent part of her own colony. Accordingly it was determined to restore the form of civil administration established by Gorges, subject, however, to the general over- sight and direction of her governor and assistants. They therefore appoint- ed, in 1680, a president (Thomas Danforth) and six assistants or council- lors, who were to act as judges of the courts. Among the six councillors thus appointed was Charles Frost. He was also appointed at the same time commander-in-chief of the Maine regiment. Edward Randolph, the bitter enemy of the colonies, was appointed by the crown as collector and surveyor. He acted as an emissary and secret in- former against Massachusetts, representing her government and people as enemies to the authorities in England, and presented grave accusations to the throne against her best men, which threatened to result in the upsetting of her charter. So imminent was the danger of this, that in order to avoid it, she would willingly have relinquished her title to Maine. At length, however, the fatal blow was struck. On the 4th of June, 1084, the charter was adjudged to be forfeited, and the liberties of the colonies were seized by the crown. Colonel Kirke, a brutal tyrant, was appointed governor, but Charles II. died the following February, 1685, which annulled the appoint- ment before his arrival, and his successor, James II., did not incline to renew it.*^ The general court was soon after annihilated by the arrival (May, 1086) of Joseph Dudley as President of New England, with the names of fifteen councillors, among whom was John Usher and the odious Randolph. In a few months Dudley was succeeded by Sir Edmond Andros, a man of des- potic temper. He was* subsequently commissioned (1688) as President of New England and New York, and New Jersey. His council consisted of thirty-nine members, among whom were John Usher and Joseph Dudley. His government was arbitrary and despotic. The people chafed under it until they became desperate. In the spring of 1689 a rumor was spread among them that the governor's guards were to be let loose on Boston. This produced an explosion, and early in the morning of April 8, the popu- * Williamson. Memoir of Charles Frost, 5 lace rose in a mass, seized the governor and thirty of his more obnoxious partizans, and confined them, some of them twenty weeks. Andros surren- dered the keys, but not without some reluctance. As soon as Andros was deposed, a general convention was held at Bos- ton, which appointed a council of safety, consisting of Danforth, Bradstreet, and thirty-four others. In about thirty days after this the joyful news ar- rived, not, however, unexpected, that James had abdicated, and that Wil- liam and Mary had ascended the throne. The council recommended that delegates be chosen by towns, and, accordingly, fifty-four towns were repre- sented at Boston, May 22d, who voted "to resume the government accord- ing to charter rights," and they appointed Bradstreet governor, and Dan- forth lieutenant governor. Danforth had presided over Maine as a province, assisted by Charles Frost, Francis Hooke, and others, for the term of six years. But JNIaine, like Massachusetts, was involved in the overturning and arbitrary measures of Dudley and Andros, under whose administration courts were held at York by William Stoughton, John Usher, and others. The council of safe- ty now reinstated the former governor and council of Maine, namely, Dan- forth, Frost, Ilooke, and others. They also appointed and " commissioned Charles Frost to command the western regiment, and Edward Tyng the eastern regiment of Maine." The province was soon after reannexed as a constituent part of Massa- chusetts, and remained so for more than a century. Charles Frost wns appointed in 1G93 one of the three councillors from Maine, which office he held till his death, in 1697. It may serve to illustrate the customs of early times in respect to drink- ing, to insert an ordinance of the court in 1G90, soon after Danforth was deposed, and to relieve the fatiguing detail of dates and events which we have now passed through. "July 15, 1G90. In the court of sessions of the peace for the Province of Maine, held at York before Major John Davis, Deputy president. Major Charles Frost, Captain Francis Hooke, and John Wincoln, Justices. Whereas, there is great complaint made of several abuses taken notice of in ordinaries, by excessive drinking of rum, flip, and other strong liquor, the ill consequences of which are seen in the misbe- havior of several persons in the presence of authority ; for the preventing of the like in future it is therefore ordered, that if any ordinary or tavern keeper should sell any rum. Hip, or other strong drink, to an inhabitant of the town, except in case of sickness or necessity, or more than one gill to a stranger, he should forfeit his licence."* The foregoing sketch of the political history of the western part of IMaine during Major Frost's life, and of the services he rejndered in various re- sponsible offices, exhibits clearly the high estimation in which he was held by his fellow citizens and the government. His military services remain to be noticed. Trained from childhood to agricultural employments and to the still more invigorating toils of the hunter, and removed from the ener- vating influences of polished life, he acquired the stamina of body and mind which fitted him for the arduous and perilous duties of savage warfare. The howling of wolves around his father's cabin was his evening enter- tainment, and, from the neighboring hill-top, his morning vision could sur- vey the curling smoke arising from numerous Indian villages on the tribu- tary streams of the Pascataqua. The savage yell and war whoop awakened no fearful throbbings in his youthful heart, but rather served to enkindle a * Collections of the Maine Historical Society. 6 Memoir of Charles Frost. zeal for daring and heroic achievements. He early evinced a fondness for military exercises and parade, and being enrolled as a soldier at sixteen, he gradually rose, through successive grades, to be commander-in-chief of the militia of Maine. His early fondness for the use of firearms led him, at the age of fourteen, to an accidental deed which occasioned great sorrow to himself and others. He unintentionally killed a comrade, named Warwick Heard. He submit- ted himself at once for trial by a jury, which took place at Wells, July G, 1G4G. The jury were ordered by the court to inquire whether the killing was from malice, or accidental, or a misadventure. They reported that "they find that Charles Frost did kill Warwick Heard by misadventure, and acquit him by proclamation." It was the practice of the militia of Maine to train in companies six times a year, and to have general musters once in two years. The county records contain the following account of a sentence passed upon a soldier in 1G74 by the court, which may interest the reader. ''Richard Gibson complained of for his dangerous and mutinous conduct towards his commander Captain Charles Frost, which misbehaviour api)earing in court, the court order as follows, 1. that the said Gibson, for striking Captain Frost at the head of his company, is appointed to receive, by John Parker senior, twenty-five stripes on the bare skin, Avhich were this day given him in presence of the court. And further, considering the insolence of the said Gibson's behav- iour in the premises, it is further ordered that Captain Frost shall have and is empowered by warrant, to call beibre him the said Richard Gibson, the next training day at Kittery, and whither he is to order him to be laid neck and heels together at the head of his company for the time of two hours, or to ride the wooden horse at the head of the company, which of these pun- ishments Captain Frost shall see meet to appoint ; and, for the said Gib- son's multiplying of oaths, he is fined 20 shillings ; and, for being drunk is fined 10 shillings, and to pay all charges of court, and to stand committed until the sentence be performed ; and further, the said Gibson is required to give bonds for his good behaviour of £20. that the said Gibson shall be of good behaviour towards all persons, and more especially towards Captain Frost, until the next county court, and that the said Gibson shall appear at Kittery, when required by Captain Frost, there to perform the order of court, and further that he pay to the county treasurer 82 shillings. James Warren, as abettor, is sentenced to ride the wooden horse."* Military discipline was practised among the settlers, in anticipation of a war on the seaboard, rather than against savages from the interior. Perfect peace had existed with these during the first forty years of the settlement, with the exception of.a short conflict with the Pequods, in the year IGoG, in which the people of Maine scarcely participated. But the time was arriving when a savage war was suddenly to break out in every part of New Eng- land. Its approach was foreseen and predicted by the Indian Sagamore Knowles, who resided at Quampegan, in South Berwick, and was Sachem or governor of the tribe that previously occupied the shores of the Pascataqua. "In 1670, when Knowles was bed rid of sickness and age, he complained of the great neglect with which the English treated him. At length he sent a message to some of the principal ]nen of Kittery to visit him. ''Being loaded with years,' as he told them, 'I had expected a visit in my infirmi- ties, especially from those who are now teiuuits on the land of my fathers. Though all these plantations are of right my children's, I am forced, in this * York County Records. Memoir of diaries Frost, J age of evils, humbly to request a few acres of land to be marked out for them, and recorded as a pubHc act in the town books, so that when I am gone they may not be perishing beggars in the pleasant })laces of their birth. For I know that a great war will shortly break out between the wliite men and Indians over the whole country. At first the Indians will kill many and prevail, but after three years they will be great sufferers, and finally be rooted out and destroyed.' This was sworn to by Major Ricliard AYaldron, Captain Charles Frost, and, Rev. Joshua Moody, who were pres- ent and heard it." The war of King Phillip began in lG7o, five years after the date of Frost's commission as captain, and of Roger Plaisted's as his lieutenant. The former had immediate charge of the garrisons at Sturgeon Creek, (El- liot,) where he resided, and the latter of Salmon Falls and Quampegan. The first alarm of Phillip's war was in June, 1G7G, and spread like wildfire. In twenty days the flame broke out on the Kennebeck river. Depredations and murders were committed by numerous parties of savages in quick suc- cession upon the scattered settlements. In September a party approached Durham, near Dover, killed two and took captive two. A few days after they attacked the house of one Tozier, at Newichewannick, (South Berwick) which contained fifteen women and children, all of whom, with the exception of two children, were saved by the intrepidity of a girl of eighteen. On seeing the Indians approach the house, she shut the door and braced herself against it till the others escaped to the next house, which was better secured. The Indians chopped the door down with hatchets, and knocking her down, left her for dead ; but she recovered. They murdered several other per- sons, and burnt houses. The inhabitants were panic struck and fled to the garrisons, where they lived in constant fear of an attack. On the IGth of October, lG7o, they made an onset upon Salmon Falls. Lieutenant Plaisted sent out a party of seven from his garrison to recon- noitre. They fell into an ambush and three were killed, the rest retreated. The next day, Plaisted, venturing out with his team to bring in the dead for burial, was waylaid and fell into another ambush. He and his son were killed, and another son mortally wounded. In the midst of the fight he despatched messengers to his superior oificers, Major Waldron of Dover, and Captain Frost, imploring their aid and their prayers, but their aid came too late.* The gallantry of Plaisted arrested the progress of the In- dians for a time, and Captain Frost had an opportunity to bury the dead unmolested. But the Indians soon returned, and, destroying other lives and dwellings, they proceeded to Sturgeon Creek and burnt a house and killed two men. The house of Captain Frost being a little remote from neighbors and un- fortified, was marked out by them for destruction. "He was a short dis- -^ The following? letter is preserved in Hubbard's most valuable History of the Indian Wars, Part ii. p. 23, Boston edition, 4to, 1677. '' Salmon Falls October 16. 1075. Mr. Rirhnrd Walihrn and Lient. CoJ/in, these arc to inform you, that just now the Indians arc en^^aging tis with at least am hundred men, And have slain four of our men ah-eadv, Richard Tozer, James Barny, Imack Bottes, and Tozers /Son, and burnt Benoni Hodsdan's house; Sir,!? ever you have any love for us, and the Country, now show your self with men to help us, or else we are all in great danger to be slain, unless our God wonderfully appear for our Deliverance. They that cannot fight, let them pray ; Not else, but I Kcst, Yours to serve you „, . , Signed by Bogcr Plaisted, George. Brotighfon." For more full accounts of these times oi" terror the reader is referred to the author above cited, to Belknap's "New Hampshire," and Williamson's "Maine" — Ed. 8 Memoir of Charles Frost, tance from it when attacked, and narrowly escaped the effect of ten shots aimed at him. There were only three boys with him in the house," (prob- ably his sons) "yet he had the forethought and prudence to give out audible words of command, as if a body of Indians was with him — load quick! lire there ! that's well ! brave men ! — a stratagem which saved themselves and the house."* The Indians proceeded down the shore of the Pascataqua, and thence eastward through York, burning houses and killing people wherever they found them unguarded, so that in the short period of three months, eighty lives were taken, a great many houses plundered and burnt, and^ animals killed. Frost wrote to his commander, Major Waldron, at Dover, for permission to garrison his house, which he was directed to do, and to keep a constant guard and watch, as the following letter will show. Capt. Trost and sergnt neall Gentelmen I thought to have mett with you here at maior Sheply's [Shaplegh] l3ut un- derstanding the guns were herd about Stargoon Crccck it is avcH you tooke your inarch as you did — my dasier and order is that you garrison you owne liouse with 10 men and doe your beste now the snow is vpon the grond which will be Aduantadge upon ther tracks. Your letter I rescued about garrisoning your house. We have a party of men upon your side coraanded by goodman iDanmore (?) and Jolm wingut [Wingate?] and Joseph Fild are going out this night: and in Case you want men goe to the garrisons abouc and espe- cially Samon fauU and take men for any expedition : and all the Comanders of the garri- sons are hereby requierd to Atand your order herin and this shall be your surficant war- rant. dated this 8 nomber 1675 about 3 oclock. Your servent Richard AYaldern Sergeut Maior I intend god willing to be at nachwanack to morrow morning therfor would dasier to her from you R: W. As the winter approached, the Indians found themselves destitute of am- munition and provisions and in danger of starvation. All the neighboring Sagamores, from Dover to Casco, sued for peace, which, being granted by "Waldron, they were quiet for seven months, till August, 1G7G, in whicli month the war at the west terminated by the death of King Phillip. Some of his adherents fled from the conquered tribe to the eastward, and mixed with their brethren of Penacook, (Concord, N. H.,) Ossipee, Pickwacket, (Fryeburg,) and Saco. Others mixed with the Kennebeck and Amoriscogen tribes, which were ravaging all the eastern settlements of Maine. Waldron and Frost received orders this same month to kill and destroy all hostile Indians, and two companies, commanded by Captains Hawthorn and Sill, were sent from Boston to Maine with like orders. On their way thither they came to Dover, September 6th, 167G, where four hundred mixed Indians were assembled at the garrison of Major Waldron, with whom they had made peace, and whom they considered their friend and father. Hawthorn and Sill were for attacking them at once, but Waldron objected*© it, and contrived to take them by stratagem. He proposed to the Indians to have a sham-fight, and, on the following day, summoned his men with Captain Frost and his men, who were at Pascataqua. They, in conjunction, formed one party, and the Indians another. Having diverted them a while in this manner with manoeuvres, and induced the Indians to fire the first volley, tliey surrounded and seized the whole of them with pe- culiar dexterity, excepting two or three, before they could form a suspicion * Williamson's History of Maine. Memoir of Charles Frost. 9 of what they intended, and disarmed them without the loss of a man on either side. They then separated those known to be friendly, and dismissed them. The strangers from the south and Avest, amounting to three hundred were sent to Boston to be dealt with judicially, seven or eif^ht of whom be- ing known to have killed Englishmen, were hanged ; the remainder were sold into foreign slavery. Public opinion has ever been divided as to the propriety of the whole affair. Be that as it may, the two leading oilicers concerned in it, Waldron and Frost, after a lapse of many years, paid the forfeit of their lives at the hands of savages, who always spoke of the strat- agem as a base yankee trick.* Two days after this surprisal the forces proceeded eastward, but they found the settlements all deserted or destroyed, and they soon returned and made an excursion to Ossipy ponds, which proved alike fruitless. After a time an Indian named Mogg came in and proposed peace ; but it was soon violated, and no alternative was left but to renew hostilities. Accordingly in February following, 1677, Waldron and Frost, with one hundred and fifty men, sailed from Boston eastward. Public prayers were offered on the day of their departure. They landed at Brunswick, where they held a parley with Indians, who promised to bring in captives that after- noon. But no more was heard of them till the next day, when there was seen a flotilla of canoes approaching, who menaced a scouting party sent towards the place of landing. But Captain Frost attacked them from an unexpected quarter, killing and wounding several. This led to another parley, which resulted in the recovery of none of the promised captives. They then sailed to the mouth of the Kennebeck, and held a parley with an assemblage of Indians on shore. "It was mutually agreed to lay aside arms, and to negotiate for the ransom of prisoners. The Indians demanded twelve beaver skins for each, with some good liquor, but only three captives could be obtained. Another parley was proposed, when Waldron, Frost, and three others landed under a mutual promise that no weapons should be M'orn on either side. But Waldron espied the point of a lance under a board, and searching further, found other weapons, and taking and bran- dishing one towards them exclaimed, Ferfidious luretches ! you intended to get our goods and then kill us, did you ? They were thunder struck. Yet one more daring than the rest seized the weapon and strove to wrest it from Waldron's hand. A tumult ensued, in which his life was much endangered. Captain Frost laid hold of Megunnaway, one of the barbarous murderers of Thomas Bracket and neighbors, and dragged him into his vessel. Mean- while an athletic squaw caught up a bundle of guns and ran for the woods. At that instant a reinforcement arrived from the vessels, when the Indians scattered in all directions, pursued by the soldiers. In this affray Sagamore Maltahouse and an old powow and five otlier Indians were killed, five were capsized in a canoe and drowned, and five others were captured. One thousand pounds of beef were taken, and some other booty. Megunnaway, grown hoary in crimes, was shot."t They left a garrison of forty men near the mouth of the Kennebeck, un- der Captain Davis, and returned to Boston, IMarch 11, without the loss of a man. A few days after they sailed from the Kennebeck, eleven of the forty men they left tliere were cut off in an ambush, and the others were ordered to otlier forts at Casco and Saco. Seventy men were now ordered eastward from Pascataqua, under Captain Swaine, to afford relief On the 7th of * Belknap. t Williamson's History of Maine. 10 Memoir of Charles Frost. April, seven men were killed in the fields near York, and six in Wells, three at Black Point, and in May, another attack was made on York, in which four were killed and two taken prisoners. In June, (1G77,) two hundred and forty men were sent to Black Point, under Miijor Swett, sixty of whom, with their commander, fell in an encounter with the enemy. The Indians next tried their fortune upon fishing vessels along the shore, be- tween Wells and Casco, (Portland,) and succeeded in cr.pturing twenty. During all this spring and summer Captain Frost was constantly engaged in superintending the garrisons of the county of York. The following or- der, now in the writer's possession, was given in May. To Cfipt Charles Trost You arc hereby Required in his ]\Iajtics name to Impressc six abl- Souldiers either of Tor Own town or others compleatly flitted wth Armes & Araunition tt Attend ye Service of ye Country in yor Garrison or otherwise as you shall see meet, & this shall be yor sufli- cient Wartt from Richard Waldern Serget maior 2: May 1677 In April he received the following, from General Dennison, the com- mander-in-chief. To Captain Charles Frost — You are hereby authorised to take imder your command and conduct fifty foot soldiers herewith sent you of the county of Essex and Norfold — commandiutr' them to obey you as their captain, whom you are to lead and conduct against the common Enemy now in- festing Yorkshire, whom you are with all diligence to pursue and destroy as also to succor and assist the English of Wells, York Neechiwannick or elsewhere, as you shall have op- ])ortunity. And the said soldiers are hereby required to attend your orders and commands for the prosecution of the enemy as abovesaid, according to the rules and orders of mili- tary discipline, and you are to attend such orders & instructions as from time to time you shall receive from myself or other superior authority and for so doing this shall be your warrant. Dated April 12 1677. Daniel Dennison Major General. Instructions for Capt. Charles Frost You must take notice that the party of souldiers now sent you arc designed cheifely for the defense of Yorkeshire & the dwellinges on the upper j^arts of Pascatay. You are ihcr- fore principally so to improve them, by your constant marches about the borders of Wells, Yorke, Nochiwannick Cochecho Exeter liaueril &c. as you shal have intelligence of the enemies' motion, whom you are upon every opportunity without delay to pcrsue & en- deavor to take Capteve, kill & destroy. Having notice of any partie of the enemy at any fishing place or other rendevous you shall lay hold on such opportunity to assault the enemy. If you shall luidcrstand the enemy to be too numerous for your smal partie you shall advise wth Major Walderne and desire his Assistance to furnish you Avth a greater force for a present service, but if you judg the opportunity or advantage may be lost by such a delay you shall for a present service require the inhabitants or garrison souldiers of the ])lace where you are or so many as may be necessary for you & safe for the place imedi- atcly to attend you upon such present service for destroying the enemy. In all your motions & marches, silence & speed will be your advantage & security. You must supply your present wants of victuals & amvmition for your souldiers out of the tov.-nes & places where you come, especially from Portsmouth to Avhom I have writt for that end, & if a larger supply be wanting you shal give notice thereof to my selfo or the Governr & Cormsel. The necessity &. distress of those parts & confidence of your Courage & industry doe require your utmost activity in the management of this business wthout spending neede- less expensive delayes up and be doing & the Lord prosper your endeavors. You shall from time to time give intelligence of all occurrences of moment to Ma-jor Walderne, h my selfe, & as much as may be wthout })rejudice of the service advise wth Miijor Walderne & the Gentelmen of Portsmouth upon whom you must principally de- pend for your ])resent supplyes [Then follows in another hand :] for Charles Frost These ar the Instructions Received from ye Majr Gcnerall at the same time as his Comiss of A])rill 1G77 & delivered to him "the 13th according to order Yours llobt Pike Sergt Memoir of Charles Frost, ' 11 Such were the calamities and distresses in the spring and summer of 1G77, when an unexpected relief came, by the arrival of a force at Kenne- beck, sent by Sir Edmond Andros, from New York, acting under a claim to the territory from the Duke of York. Finding tlie Indians pacific, the commander obtained the release of fifteen captives and some vessels. Dur- ing the autumn and winter following, no further ravages were committed. In the spring (April) a treaty was negotiated by Major Shapleigh, (who succeeded Major Frost as commander,) at Portsmouth, in which it was stipulated that all captives should be released without ransom; former in- habitants to return to their homes and live unmolested, but were to pay a peck of corn yearly, each family. Thus ended King Phillip's war in Maine; a war in which two hundred and sixty were killed or taken captive east of the Pascataqua, a vast number of houses burnt, animals slaughtered, and property plundered. The next year, 1G78, Charles Frost, with two others, represented Maine in the general court, from which time he continued in the office and in at- tending to his private affairs, until he was appointed by the governor and council of Massachusetts one of the eight members of tlie provincial council of Maine, to act under Gorges's charter, which Massachusetts had assumed. The council consisted of Bryant Pendleton, Charles Frost, Francis Hooke, John Davis, Samuel Wheelwright, Edward Tyng, and John Lincoln. The arrival of Dudley and Andros, in 1688, as Presidents of New Eng- land, superseded the provincial government of Maine, which had lasted six years. Danforth and his council were proscribed, and very little is heard of Frost until Andros w^as overthrown, April 18tli, 1689, after a reign of one or two years. It was during the last year of this reign, 168*J, that another Indian war broke out, which went by the name of King William's w^ar, and lasted ten years. No sooner ^vas Andros deposed than the pro- vincial government of Maine, consisting of Danforth, Frost, and others, who had been proscribed by Andros, were reinstated, and the times being peril- ous as in the former war, led to the appointment of Charles Frost as com- mander of the military forces in Maine. The war of King WilHam began in August, 1688, in North Yarmouth and Kenneb( ck. In April following, Dover was taken by stratagem and mostly destroyed. Major Waldron was inhumanly tortured, in a savage manner. Tw^enty-three persons were killed and twenty-nine carried into captivity. The seizure of four hundred Indians in that place "more than twelve years before was a transaction never to be forgotten, never to be forgiven by savages." Some of those sold in Boston as slaves and sent into distant lands had probably returned, and v/ere bent on revenge. It was unfortunate for Major Frost that he was obliged to aid Waldron in the cap- ture of the four hundred, as it cost him his life ere the present war termi- nated. Being in command of the western regiment, and having the forts and garrisons under his special care. Frost was not ordered eastward, that sec- tion of Maine being placed under the more immediate command of Dudley Tyng. Major Swaine was sent, with six hundred mditia, to tlie eastward, accompanied by Colonel Church, who had signalized himself in King Phil- lip's war at the west. He was appointed by Andros to lead the forces against the Indians at Brunswick and Kennebeck, and was continued in the same service after Andros was deposed. But Church's success in his five eastern expeditions i'ell short of public expectation. Major Frost's presence was greatly needed at the western part of Maine. Only a few days belbre the date of his commission, August, 1680, the In- 12 Memoir of Charles Frost, dians entered at Salmon Falls, (Berwick) under the command of Hart el, a Frenchman, with a force of Indians and French, killed thirty-fonr brave men and carried away captive fifty-four persons, mostly women and chil- dren, and plundered and burnt the houses and mills. In the following spring they revisited Brunswick and Dover, killing and destroying what was left, and extending their ravages to Sturgeon Creek, where Frost re- sided, and to many places on the opposite shore of the Pascataqua. When Colonel Church left Boston for Casco, with two hundred and fifty men, to join Colonel Swaine, he took with him a mandatory letter to the military commanders in Maine, from President Danforth, (then in Boston, as president of the board of commissioners of the united colonies,) requiring them to supply him wi