•J- \- '' . V A ■ ^ ♦ ' " VX^- o ^ V^ ^ <^, .V ^^ .^^^ o\'' .N-^ .V -5^ ^^^^ 0' ^^'r. V <^'^' -P >. V- '^- V^^ -.0 A^^- HISTORY OF SACO AND BIDDEFORD, WITH NOTICES OF OTHER EARL,Y SETTLEMEJVTSi AND OF THE opvittav^ iSfoijetnmtnts, IN MAINE, NCLUDING THE PROVINCES OP NEW SOMERSETSHIRE AND LYGONIA. ^ BY GEORGE FOJLSOM. SACOj printed by alex. c. putnam. 1830. P3 r <' - ''\ DISTRICT OF MAINE, to ikit : : "f Dihrict Clerk's Office. i(^^»*»^.<5>' Be it remembereDj that on the WiirtieJto'day of April, A. \ f S \ ^* J^^"^^> i" ^''^ fifty-fourth year ofrhe Independence of the J^ * * N United Statks of America, George Folsom, of the said ▼'"^''''''V' district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as pioprieior, in the words following, to icit : "A Histoiy of Si been a resort for fishermen since 1608. Smith made it the centre of his operations during the summer. "Whilst the sailors fished, myself with eight others ranged the coast in a small boat. We got for tri- fles near 1 1000 beaver skins, 100 martins and as many otters, and the most of them within the distance of 20 leagues. We ranged the coast both east and west much further," p. 175. He returned to Eng" land in September ; beside the furs, they carried home 47000 'dry and core fish,' made at Monheagan. A tradinghouse was afterwards established on this island, but was broken up 1626, when the goods being offered for sale, < lov Bradford and Mr. Winslow of the New Plymouth colony, and Mr. Thompson of Pascataqua, went thither and purchased them. The moiety of the Plymouth planters amoun- ted to £400. Prince. 161. The island was sold that year by Mr. Jennings, of Plymouth, Kng. to the future Peniaquid patentees, and continued to be a favorite resort for fishermen. SuU. 392. 20 HISTORY OF 3ACO CHAPTER II. The unfortunate termination of Sir Walter Raleigh's attempts to colonize Virginia during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, had effectually checked the spirit of enter- prise in England in relation to the settlement of America. The discoveries of Gosnold and Pring, and the short- ness of their voyages, now caused the subject to be re- t vived, and to excite more general interest than had be- fore existed. On the petition of a number of gentlemen, a charter was granted by king James in the year 1606, dividing the country into two districts, called North and South Virginia, and authorizing the establishment of separate colonies in each district by two distinct com- panies. A right of property in the land fifty miles on each side of their first plantations, and extending one hun- ilred miles into the interior, was granted by this patent. The first or Southern colony were allowed to setde any part of the country within the degrees of 34 and 41 north latitude ; the second, consisting chiefly of persons resi^ dejit at Plymouth and other towns in the west of England, and thence denominated the Plymouth Company, were allowed to choose a place of settlement between 38 and 45 degrees north latitude. As a considerable portion of the territory thus allotted was common to the two dis- tricts, a provision was added, that the colony last planted should not approach within one hundred miles of that al- ready established.* The next year colonies were sent out by the two com- panies. One was fixed at Jamestown, of which Gosnold 'was the prime mover,' and Capt. Smith an active mem- ber ; the other was established at Sagadehock, or the mouth of the Kennebec, led by Captains George Pop- ham, brother to the Chief Justice, and Raleigh Gilbert. This colony consisted of 108 menf ; whether accom- *HaziJi-ds State Papers I. 50. ISmith's Virginia. II. 174. The southern colony consisted of about the same number. Gosnold died the first year. Aug. 22. The Pilgrim Colony of 1 620, comprised only 41 men ; the rest of their number (CO) being women and children. JV. £. Memorial 38. AND BIDDEFOftD. 21 panied by their families, we are not informed. They arrived on the coast near the island of Monheagan, a few leagues east of the Kennebec, in the month of August, and soon after entered the mouth of that river, where on the eastern side, on an island now forming a part of George- town,* they commenced preparations for a permanent settlement without delay. Monheagan was agreed upon as a place of rendezvous for the ships before leav- ing England, f and although we are not directly told that the destination of the colony was determined before their arrival, there is no doubt of the fact. The great patron c^ the enterprise, "Chief Justice Popham, we have already seen, obtained an accurate survey of the coa&t the year before, and doubtless selected the mouth of that "fair and navigable river," as the Kennebec is styled by Smith, as a favorable location for the seat of the colony. The lateness of the season scarcely allowed the colo- nists time to erect a fort' and the necessary places of shelter before the approach of winter, which proved ex- cessively rigorous. More than half their number returned with the ships to England in December, in consequence of the severity of the cold and the scantiness of their supplies. Soon after those who remained had the mis- fortune to lose the greater part of their buildings and stores by fire. Capt. Popham died in the course of the winter, and an arrival in the spring brought news of the death of the Chief Justice. Raleigh Gilbert, who suc- ceeded Popham as president of the Colony, was under the necessity of returning to England on account of the decease of his brother, of which intelligence was received by another arrival, and the colonists discouraged by so many adverse circumstances, resolved to abandon the country and return with him. Thus in less than one year from the time the settlement was commenced, the ^Called Parker's island, containing 28000 acres. Mass. Hist. Coll. i. 251. "Description of Georgetown." Prince supposes they landed on the peninsula of Cape Small Point, on the western side of the river. Belknap says a peninsula. Biog. i. 350. Sullivan, 15.53. sup- posed Stage island was the spot, which contains only six acres. We follow the intelligent local authority cited above. i Gorges. 3 22 HISTORY OF SACO northern colony was broken up ; the country was de- nounced as uninhabitable, and no further attempts were made for many years to promote its setdement by the Company to whom it was assigned by the patent of King James. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, a conspicuous member of the Plymouth Company, alone remained undiscouraged. The attention of this gentleman appears to have been first turned to this part of America in the year 1605, when Capt. Weymouth arrived in the harbor of Plymouth where he resided, on his return from a voyage for the dis- covery of the northwest passage. Falling short of his course, Weymouth had accidentally discovered the river Penobscot, from whence he carried to England five of the natives, "three of whom," says Gorges, "I seized upon ; they were all of one nation, but of several parts and several families. This accident must be acknowl- edged the means under God of putting on foot and giv- ing Hfe to all our plantations." He retained these In- dians in his family three years, and obtained from them much information respecting their native shores ; they were afterwards sent back. Gorges henceforward took a deep interest in schemes for the settlement of North Vir- ginia, and was rather chagrined than discouraged by the return of the Sagadehock colonists, and the unfavorable reports which they spread concerning the country. "He had too much experience in the world," he said, "to be frighted with such a blast, as knowing many great king- doms and large territories more northerly seated and by many degrees colder, were plentifully inhabited, and divers of them stored with no better commodities than i these afforded, if like industry, art and labor be used."' Unable, however, to persuade the Company to undertake the planting of a second colony. Gorges engaged in pri- vate enterprises to this coast, which began to be much resorted to by English ships for purposes of trade with the natives, and of fishing. In the year 1616,* he sent hither a party commanded by Richard Vines, for the ^Prince, N. E. Chronol. 95, AND BIDDEFORD. 03 express object of exploring the country with a view to form a settlement. He contracted with them to remain during the winter, with the hope of removing the preju- dice excited by the Sagadehock colonists against the character of the climate. They arrived during the prevalence of a destructive disease among the natives, which spread throughout New England, commencing its ravages in the west. This pes- tilence is noticed by all the writers on the early history of New England, with some difference of opinion as to the precise year of its occurrence. A late and highly respectable writer supposes it to have prevailed in differ- ent places at different times, but a few years previous to the arrival of the Plymouth pilgrims.* It was regarded by those pious colonists as a special interposition of di- vine providence in their favor, so great was the havoc it made among the tribes in that quarter. 'Thus,' says old Morton, 'God made way for his people by removing the heathen and planting them in the land.' Mr. Vines and his companions penetrated into the in- terior, visiting the Indians in their villages and wigwams, who received them with great kindness and hospitality. Beside the ravages of sickness, they were at this time thrown into confusion by the death of the Bashaba or chief sachem, whom the Tarrantines, living east of the Penobscot, had attacked by surprise and destroyed with his family the preceding year. Great dissensions had immediately followed among the different tribes, who were engaged in a destructive war with each other when the pestilence made its appearance. f In the midst of these evils, the Englishmen passed with safety among them, and slept in their cabins without suffering from the contagion. They were in particular welcomed by the savages whom they had seen in the family of Gorges at Plymouth, and now met in their native homes. Having visited different parts of the coast, this little party pre- pared to establish themselves for the winter. The spot '^ Judge Davis's edit, of N. E Memorial. (1828.) p. 52. note, j Gorges' History. 34 HISTORY OF SACO which they selected for their abode, we have reason to suppose, was at the mouth of Saco river, on the western side, near the capacious and sheltered basin now called I the Pool, but in early times known as Winter Harbor. This interesting fact depends on the following statement. The place chosen at that time by Mr. Vines for the location of a colony, was at the mouth of this river,* where one was planted some years after under his direc- tion. He was probably led to make this choice before winter, and he would naturally establish himself during that season on the spot selected for a permanent abode, in support of this reasonable supposition, we have the tradition of the inhabitants of that part of Biddefoi d, that an English vessel wintered in the Pool before the settle- ment of the country, and that the shelter thus afforded gave rise to the name of Winter Harbor. The following i passage of the history of Gorges, adds stronger confirma- ' tion. "Col. Fra. Norton and Capt. Wm. Gorges went over (in 1623) with divers workmen for the building n§ mills, houses, and all things, necessary for the settlement of our designs," (an establishment at Agamenticus, now York.) "And we had the more hope of a happy successe of these affairs, by reason that not far from that place there had been settled some years before Mr. Richard Vines, a servant (or agent) of his, (Sir F. Gorges,) of whose care and diligence he had formerly made much trial in his affairs."f It appears from this extract, that Norton and Gorges were encouraged in their design of settling at Agamenti- cus by the fact that Vines had found the country habita- ble in the neighborhood of that river. It is not pretend- ed, nor is there the slightest reason to suppose, that his " • ' — r — — — *Dr. Belknap, Biog. i. 377, says : "It has been before observed that Gorges had sent over R. Vines with some others on a discovery, to prepare the way for a colony. The place which Vines pitched upon was at the mouth of Saco river " tThese gentlemen had a grant of 24000 acres of land on both sides of Agamenticus now York river, as is stated by Gorges. Sullivan, p. 237, says, erroneously, the earliest grant in York was IG42. The late j venerable Judge t^ewall wrote a brief account of York, published in. ^ 1 Mass. Hist. Coll. iii. G-12, but does not mention th.is ea2:lv settl^^ ii\ent. It \ya,s probably of short dura^tioa... Aimif BIDDEFORD. 25 temporary settlement was made at any other place than at the mouth of the Saco. Vines performed several voyages to our coast in the service of Gorges, and it is probable made Winter Har- bor his principal resort* While he was occupied in ex- ploring the country and trading with the natives, his men were engaged in fishing. How long he pursued this course, we are not informed, nor do we find him men- tioned again until several years after his early residence at Winter Harbor. A separate charter was obtained by the Plymouth Com- pany in 1620, enlarging their powers and giving wider limits to their jurisdiction. The vast territory extending from the 40th to the 48th degree of north latitude, and fi'om sea to sea, was placed at the disposal and under the government of the company, now styled the Council of Plymouth. Forty noblemen and gentlemen are named in that instrument as composing "the Council, established at Plymouth in Devonshire, for the planting, ruling and governing of New England in America."* The right of property in the land was thus transferred from the crown to the Council, by whom grants of unequal magni- tude were made at various times throughout New Eng- land. A degree of confusion rests on some of their acts, arising in a great measure from their imperfect knowl- edge of the geography of the country. f The earliest grant of the Council including a part of Maine, was made in 1622 to Sir F. Gorges and John Mason, two of their number, extending from the Merrimac to the Kennebec, under the name of Laconia.J The next year these pa- tentees with other adventurers sent out David Thomp- son, Edward and William Hilton, to form a settlement on the Pascataqua. The grant received by Col. Norton and Capt. W. Gorges, already noticed, was under that of La~ conia. In 1629 Mason took out a new patent for that por- tion of Laconia west of the Pascataqua, which he named New Hampshire, leaving the remainder with Gorges. In the meantime, however, the Council proceeded to make ^Hazard's State Papers, I. 103. tS^ullivari on Land Titles. 36. tBelknap's N. H. I. 14. 3* 2i} HISTORY OF SACO new grants of the eastern part of Laconia as if no former one still existed. Among these were two patents of lands on Saco river,- The Biddeford patent, as we may now term it, conveyed to John Oldham and Richard Vines, a tract of land lying between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Porpoise, on the south side of the river Swanckadocke, (as the Saco is strange- ly denominated by the Council,) containing in breadth by the sea four miles, and eight miles up into the main land. These are nearly the present bounds of Biddeford. The other patent conveyed a tract of the same extent on the opposite side of the river, to Thomas Lewis and Capt. Richard Bonython.* The limits of Saco are at present somewhat less than those of the patent, as will be shown in another place. The former of these instruments, was copied into the records of the Province of Maine, July 19, 1643. The latter was not recorded until April 5, 1731. f They are both dated February 12, 1629, old style, equivalent to Feb.l, 1630. At that period the com- mencement of the year was reckoned from March 25, a practice that continued more or less to the following cen- tury. But it was not uncommon, to prevent mistakes, to write a double date for a day coming between Jan. 1. and March 25. Thus the date of the patents would be more easily understood, had the year been written 1629- 30. The alteration of the day of the month is rendered necessary by the change introduced into the calendar, familiar to all, termed the new style. The same year the grant called the Plough Patent, and forming the Province of Lygonia, was made hy the Council.! It was intended to embrace a territory forty miles square, but fell short of that extent, as appears from the limits actually assigned to it. It was bounded on the east by Cape Elizabeth, or Casco, and on the west * Pronounced as if written Bonlgfiton. iSee Appendix B. for copies of these patents. The original parch- ment, relating tu the eastern side of the river, has been brouorht to tight since the commencement of these enquiries, and deposited in the archives of t!ie Maine Historical Society, at Brunswick. It was in the possession of Mr. Benj. Patterson. ^Hubbard's Ind. Nar. Part. 2. p. 9. 6rst edition. AND BIDDEFORD. 27 by Cape Porpoise, a distance of about thirty miles on the sea coast, and extended forty miles into the interior. The patents on Saco river were thus included within the bounds of this grant ; this is the more remarkable as they were made the same year. The names of the grantees as recorded by Hubbard, are John Dy, Thomas Impe, Grace Harding and John Roach of London ; to which Sullivan adds from a manuscript of uncertain authority, John Smith and Bryan Brincks. Several of these gen- tlemen are supposed by Sullivan to have resided within the limits of their patent. "In the year 1 630," says the manu- script, as quoted by our historian, "Bryan Brincks, John Smith and others went into New England and settled themselves in Casco Bay, near unto the south side of the river Sagadehock, and laid out several sums of money there, made laws and constitutions, he. for the governing said Province."* It is hardly possible that all this could be done by the proprietors of the Plough patent without leaving some traces of their operations among the ancient records of Maine. But not the slightest vestige has been found relating to any such transactions, and as the author and date of the manuscript are not given and were pro- bably unknown, its statements are liable to be questioned. Sullivan himself acknowledges 'there never was a person of the name of Brincks inhabiting' in this quarter, but says further, that 'there have ever been persons of the names of Smith and Dyer on the south side of Saco riv- er,' and he takes them to be descendants of the suppo- sed patentees Smith and Dy. There was, indeed, a John Smith at Saco 1636, who was living 1685, at the age of seventy three years. f As he was but eighteen years old when the patent was granted, it cannot be rationally sup- posed that he was associated with the patentees in a grant so extensive. There is besides no notice, however slight, that he had any interest in the Plough patent, in the re- cords of that period. Admitting the gratuitous change of Dy to Dyer, the latter name does not occur in the Saco records until more than fifty years after the date of the patent. ^Sullivan. 311. tCourt Records. 28 HISTORY OF SAC© The following passage of Winthrop's Journal is supposed! to relate to this subject. "July 6, 1631. A small sliip off sixty tons arrived at Nantasket, Mr. Graves master. She; brou2;ht ten passengers from London. They came withi a patent to Sagadehock, but not liking the place, they came hither. Their ship drew ten feet, and went up toi Watertown, but ran on ground twice by the way. These' were the company called Husbandmen, and their ship) called the Plough." It was afterw^ards added ; "Most of i them proved Familists and vanished away." The Fami-- lists were a fanatical sect. It is plain enough, that whoever came in this vessel, and whether they entered Saco river, as Sullivan supposes, or the Kennebec, as is quite probable, they did not remain in this part of the country. They were probably a band of adventurers, sent out by the grantees of the Plough patent, but the appearance of the eastern country not equalling their ex- pectations, they preferred to shape their course in another direction. This supposition is supported by Hubbard,, who states that the patentees "took in as a partner, Mr... Richard Dummer* of Newbury, N. England, in the year 1638, to whom they delivered the patent,with an order from them to take up the land described therein, but he be- ing denied opportunity to effect it, as also a ship formerly sent for that end not accomplishing their desire," Sic.f In consequence of these difficulties, they sold the patent soon after to Alexander Rigby, Esq. of Lancashire. The date of this transfer is stated by Sullivan to be April 7, 1643. At that period it seems to have assumed the name of the Province of Lygonia, when it became the source of much contention, as will be shown hereafter. It is a subject of regret that more definite information does not *This gentleman came to N. England 1G32, when he was admitted freeman. Winthrop ii. 363. He was one of the first settlers of New- bury, Mass. where he owned a large estate. He was 'equally rich and benevolent.' Lieut. Gov Dummer was one of his descendants. Cushinw's Hist, of Newburypwrt, p. 66. Eliot's Biog. Diet. The date of his arrival is incorrectly given by these writers, as it appears from the record of his admission to the rights of a freeman. tHubbard's Nar. Part 2. pp. 9-10. Edition of 1677. Sullivan, Savage, and other writers take notice of a mistake in Hubbard, Umefr for Vines, it is not found in the old edition. AND BIDDEFORD. 29 exist relating to the original grantees of this extensive patent : had they actually come to take possession them- selves, we should doubtless know more about them. There were two other grants by the Council in this vicinity, one of which conveyed to Robert Trelawney and IMoses Goodyear of Plymouth, Eng. merchants, a tract of land extending from the mouth of a small stream call- ed Spurwink river, on the line between the towns of Scar- borough and Cape Elizabeth, fifteen miles into the inter- ior, thence crossing eastwardly to Presumpscot river and so down to the sea.* Portland and several other towns are situated within the limits of this patent. The other was small, consisting of only 1500 acres, situated between the Spurwink and Black Point rivers, in the eastern part of Scarborough, including Black Point, of which Capt. Thomas Camniock, a nephew of the Earl of Warwick, was sole patentee. Stratton's isl- ands, one of which is now called Bluff island, were in- cluded in this grant. These patents were both made in the year 1631. f The colony of New Plymouth obtained a grant of eastern lands at this period, situated on the Kennebec and Cobbisseecontee rivers, to enable them to trade in that quarter. This patent was originally procured in 162&, but was enlarged and confirmed Jan. 13, 1629-30. J Farther east was the Pemaquid grant of 12000 acres, to Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge, of Bristol, Eng. made in the year 1631.|| Finally, there was the Muscongus, or, as it has been since called, the Waldo patent, between the Penobscot and the Muscongus, extending ten leagues into the in- terior, granted March 13, 1629-30, to John Beauchamp of London, and Thomas Leveret of Boston, Eng.§ No other grants were made by the Council in this part of N. England. Some of these were the subjects of long and angry contentions, owing in part to the indefi- *The Spurwink is laid down on a map of N. England, published with C. Mather's Hist. N. E. 1702, as larger than the Saco I tCourt Records. Sullivan, p 128, says 5000 acres, but we follow the records. The errors of Sullivan respecting Trelawney's grant are too numerous to be pointed out here. The principal one is in making Rigby thr grantor, p. 115, et passim. jPrince. N. E. Chron.172. 196. pazard Coll. I. 315. §Ibid.r304. so HISTORY OF SACO nite terms used in describing their limits, and to the ne- glect of the early proprietors to enter upon and mark out ; the bounds of their lands. This is particularly true of ' the Cobbisseecontee and Muscongus patents, so long the fruitful sources of controversy. CHAPTER III. On the twenty fifth day of June, 1630, Richard Vines took legal possession of the land granted him in conjunc- tion with John Oldham on the south west side of Saco river. This ceremony was performed in the presence of Mr. Isaac Allerton, Capt. Thomas Wiggen, Mr. Thomas Purchase, Capt. Nathaniel Waters, Capt. John Wright, and Mr. Stephen Reekes, mariner. The three last named were without doubt attached to the vessels in which Mr. Vines and a number of colonists with their families, had recently arrived. The others are well known in the early history of New England. Mr. Allerton was a gentleman of some note in the colony of New Plymouth, of which be was an original member. We learn from several! sources, that having been sent to England on public busi--i ness, he returned in the spring of 1630. The ship in which Mr. Allerton took passage, the Lyon, Capt. Wil- liam Pierce, master, sailed from Bristol, Eng. for Penob- scot with the agent of the Muscongus patentees, accom- panied by four or five men, who were about to establish a tradinghouse at the mouth of the former river.* When Gov. Winthrop and die other principal Massachusetts colonists arrived at Salem, June 12, the same summer, the ; Lyon was at anchor in the harbor of that place : "about an hour after," says Winthrop, "Mr. Allerton came aboard us in a shallop as he was sailing to Pemaquid." In the course of this trip to the eastward, he was enabled to be present at the delivery of possession to Mr. Vines. Mr. *Mass. Hist. Coll. iii. 70. 7^2. Prince. 203. note. AND BIDDEFORi>. 31 Allerton was again at Saco the following year, arriving in the ship White Angel on his return from another voyage to England.* He appears to have been concerned in the tradinghouse at Penobscot, and in another atMachias, which was destroyed I633.f The last notice we find of him in this quarter, is in a note from Thomas Mayhew to Mr. Vines, dated Medford, 20 May, 1636, in which the writer says he has engaged a quantity of stores "to go by Mr. Allerton. "J Mr. Allerton afterwards remov- ed from New Plymouth, probably to New Haven, Conn, where he se^ms to have been living in 1653.§ Capt. Thomas Wiggen, another of the persons who witnessed the possessory act of our patentee, was an a- gent of the upper plantation on the Pascataqua. He probably came to N. England this year, when the settle- ments on that river received great accessions. Capt. Wiggen resided at Dover for many years, and during the union of New Hampshire with Massachusetts, he became one of the Assistants of the Colony. He held this of- fice from 1650 to 1664,|| by virtue of which we find him presiding at a term of the court at York 1659. Mr. Thomas Purchase was settled at a very early pe- riod at Pegypscott, now Brunswick. Some account of him will be given in another place. The attorneys of the Council for the delivery of pos- session, were the Rev. William Blackstone, of Shaw- mut, afterwards Boston ; William JefFeries, an old planter of uncertain abode, *ir and Edward Hilton of Pascataqua. It does not appear which of these gentlemen executed the trust assigned to them. The patentees on the eastern side of the river arrived the following year. On the 28lh of June, 1631, Mr. *Winthrop. 1. 57. tN.E. Memorial. 393. fCourt Records. Thos. Mayhew is stated to have hved at Watertown, as a merchant. In 1641, he was appointed Governor of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and the adjacent islands, when he removed to Martha's Vineyard, and became a distinguished benefactor to the Indians. Gookin. 1 Mass. Hist. Coll. i. 202. § Winthrop. I. 25. note. ||N. H. Hist. Coll. ii. 207. HThe Editor of Winthrop says he was a person of some distinC' lion, settled probably at Weymouth, Moss, before 1628. 1. 138. note. B2 HISTORY OF SACO Lewis entered upon this grant in the presence of Mn . Wiggen, James Parker, Henry Watts, and George Vau* ghan of Pascataqua. Edward Hilton acted as the at*^ torney of the Council. Thus commenced the first permanent settlements on i this river. What number of colonists accompanied the patentees, we are not informed ; no record of their names i occurs until 1636, It appears from the tenor of the pat- ents, that they had stipulated to transport fifty persons to their respective grants 'to plant and inhabit there,' within seven years. This condition was probably fulfilled, at least by Mr. Vines, on whose patent the inhabitants have ever been more numerous until within a few years. His associate, Mr. John Oldham, appears to have taken no interest in the patent. We find no trace of his having been at any time within its limits. The name of Saco was used at that period to include the settlements on both sides of the river, and continued to be so employed for nearly a century. An agreement relative to "the setting forward the enterprise of clapboard making,'' between "Peyton Cooke of Saco, Gent, and Mr. Richard Wil- liams likewise of Saco," bears date Jan. 27, 1635. That part of Vines's patent situated below the mouth of the river, had previously received the name of Winter Harbor, as we have reason to suppose, which it has borne to this day, and the whole settlement was often so termed. In a list of the inhabitants dated 1653, we find them dis- tinguished as living in East rnd West Saco.* The following document furnishes the names of the principal colonists and their relative standing, a few years only after the seldement began. "1636, 7 ber (Septem- ber) 7 : The booke of rates for the minister, to be paide quarterly, the first payment to begin at Michaelmas next. (Sept. 29.) Capt. Richard Bonython £3 Richard Vines 3 Thomas Lewis 3 Henry Boade 2 *Mass. State Records, AND BIDDEFORD, 33 John Wadlovv £2 Thomas Williams 2 Robert Sankey 1 10 Theophilus Davis 1 10 George Frost 1 10 Clement Greenway 1 John Parker 1 John Smith 1 Samuel Andrews 1 William Scadlock 1 Robert Morgan 15 Henry Warwick 1 Richard Hitchcock 10 Thomas Page 1 Ambrose Berry 1 Henry Watts 1 10 Richard Fox well 1 10." To these names we add the following, derived from other sources : Francis Robinson, Arthur Mackworth, Peyton Cooke, Richard Williams, John West, Thomas Wise, Stephen Batson, John Baylie, Thomas Cole, John Wotten, James Cole, John Bonython, Morgan Howell, Arthur Browne, George Jewell, and Peter Hogg, servant t)f Mr. Greenway. Several of these persons removed to Casco before 1636. There were probably others here at the same date, whose names occur a few years later. The colonists chiefly settled near the sea along the northern margin of the Pool, where Mr. Vines passed the winter of 1616-7. Andrews and Scadlock were on the west near Little River, and T. Williams and West on the other side of the principal settlement, the latter above the mouth of Saco river. The traces of ancient habita- tions may be still seen in all these places. One spot near the head of the Pool, deserves to be more particularly noticed. A point of land makes out here, long known as Leighton's point, on which, it is said, a court-house stood in the infancy of the settlements in Maine. What- ever degree of credit we attach to this tradition, it is plain enough that a considerable number of the first inhabitants dwelt near this spot. Several cellars, now filled up and 4 34 HISTORY OF SACO overgrown with antiquated shrubbery, are yet discernin ble ; the mouths of two or three wells may also be seen. Apple-trees rotten with age, and the English cherry, grow here in the midst of oaks and sumachs. Tradition i marks out this deserted spot as the seat of the earliest set- tlement. It is now buried in the most perfect solitude. Here we may safely suppose Richard Vines passed that memorable winter when there was scarcely a civilized be- ing in any other part of New England, and afterwards resided in the midst of his little colony. A small number only of the planters settled on the eastern side of the river, now so much more populous than the other. Beside the patentees with their families, Foxwell, Watts, Warwick, perhaps Greenway, are all of those named in the book of rates, who appear to have pitched on this side. The two former were located at Blue-point, near the eastern limit of the patent, and when the line was accurately run, they were found to be without this limit. The right of Foxwell to his extensive farm at that place, is recited in an action brought by him against Capt. Cammock 1640 ; he declares, "that he hath for these four years or thereabouts lived at Black-point in the right of Capt. R. Bonython, his father in law, who set- tled him there and gave him as much freedom and privi- lege as by virtue of his patent he could, either for planting, fishing, fowling, or the like, which was the main cause of his settling there." Blue-point is near the mouth of Scarboro' river, on the south-western side, opposite Black- point or Front's Neck. The plantations on both sides of the stream were embraced under the name of Black-point. The house of Capt. Bonython stood on the left bank of the Saco, a short distance below the falls. The remains of the cellar may be still seen, in the field owned by James Gray, Esq. a (ew rods east of the meetinghouse of the Second Parish. In ploughing this piece of ground about seventy years ago, several articles of domestic use, such as spoons, candlesticks, &tc. of an antique fashion, were urned up, supposed to have been buried in the ruins of the house, which was burned by the Indians 1675. The early decease of Mr. Lewis, renders it difficult to ascertain with precision where he fixed his abode ; vari- AND BIDDEFORD. 35 ous circumstances, however, lead us to suppose he lived in the lower part of the patent, not far from the river. His son in law, James Gibbins, who appears to have set- tled on Vine's patent 1642, where he purchased land *late the property of Henry Boade,' after his marriage removed to the patent of Mr. Lewis, and probably occu- pied the house, as he inherited the estate of his father in law. Gibbins is known to have dwelt a short distance a- bove the lower ferry. The employments of the colonists were chiefly agricul- ture, fishing, and trade with the natives. Most of them combined these pursuits, and were styled husbandmen or planters.* There were several mechanics among them. John Smith was a carpenter. R. Williams, the *clapboard-cleaver,' was engaged in extensive business. At his death 1635, he had on hand clapboards of the value of £164 8 4, a large amount in those days. By the agreement before referred to, Mr. Cooke having ad- vanced £30 10 6, sterling money of England, towards the undertaking, was to have "two full men's shares of all such clapboards as shall be made, or begun to be made upon Mr. Vines his patent in Saco by the latter end of June next ensuing, according to the number of persons, always respecting their quality and labor, who shall labor therein, he the said Peyton being at the charges only of two laborers for wages and dyett as shall be esteemed reasonable; the said charges to be deducted out of the profetts arrising out of said clapboards, beginning said charges 23 Oct. last, (1634,) and continuing during said laborers finishing the same. Likewise said sum £30 10 6 to be repaid to said Peyton on finishing said clapboards within the time above specified &lc." The husbandmen took up tracts of 100 acres, of which they received leases on nominal or small rents, from Mr. Vines. Some of these are now on record. An estate that had been in the possession of Thomas Cole, includ- ing 'a mansion or dwellinghouse,' was leased by Mr. Vines *"Some are planters and fishers both, others mere fishers." Joce- lyn's Voyages. 208, 36 HISTORY OF 9AC0 to John West for the term of 1000 years, for the annuall rent of two shillings and one capon, a previous considera- tion having been paid by West. The lease, which isi partly in the latin language, was executed 1638."^ Another- deed from Vines requires the lessee to yield and pay am acknowledgement and rent-charge of 56-., two days' work,- and one fat goose yearly. In this manner were all the planters rendered tenants to the proprietor, none of themi holding their estates in fee simple, as the term is now un- derstood. The stock of these early farmers, being at first for the most part imported from England, was pro- bably not very extensive. The ship White Angel, already noticed as arriving here 1631, brought a cargo of "cows, goats, and hogs," but they were chiefly intended for the colonies of New Plymouth and Massachusetts. Mr. John Jocelyn,.who was in this part of the country in 1638, and again in 1663, says the farms were well stocked with cattle, but he probably refers to the period of his second visit. Fishing was the most common occupation, as it was both easy and profitable to barter the products of this business for corn from Virginia, and other stores from Eng- land. The trade with the planters of Massachusetts soon became considerable. In 1636, Mr. Vines had a con- signment of bread and beef from that quarter. Jocelyn remarks that 'Winter Harbor is a noted place for fishers ; here they have many stages.' He describes the mode of pursuing this business in the following manner : "Tlie fishermen take yearly on the coast many hundred quintals of cod, hake, haddock, pollock, &ic. and dry them at their stages, making three voyages in a year. They make merchantable and refuse fish, which they sell to Massachu- setts merchants ; the first for 32 ryals ($4) per quintal ; the refuse for 9 and 10 shillings (.^2, and 2,25.) The merchant sends the first to Lisbon, Bilboa, Marseilles, Bor- deaux, Toulon, and other cities of France ; to Canaries pipestaves and clapboards : the refuse fish to the W. In- dies for the negroes. To every shallop belong four fish- *See a copy of it, Appendix C AND BIDDEFORD. 37 ermen, a master or steersman, a midshipman, and a shore man who washes it out of the sah, and dries it upon hur- dles pitched upon stakes breast high, and tends their cook- ery. They often get in one voyage 8 or 9 barrels a share per man. The merchant buys of the planters beef, pork, peas, wheat, indian corn, and sells it to the fishermen." The expense of each planter to provision himself w^as quite small, if we may judge from an estimate furnished by Sir. Jocelyn for the information of proposed emigrants. A similar estimate had been previously made by Capt. Smith with reference to Virginia.* "Victuals to last one man a year ; 8 bushels of meal, £2 : two bushels of peas, 6 shillings : two bushels of oatmeal, 9 shillings ': one gal- lon of aqua vitae, (brandy,) 2s. 6d. : one gallon of oil, 3^. 6^. : two gallons of vinegar, 25." Total £3 35, equivalent to ,'J14. A considerable traffic was carried on with the natives by many of the planters, some of them visiting remote parts of the coast, or travelling into the interior for this purpose. English and French goods were bartered for valuable furs, particularly beaver. A man named Jen- kins, is said by Winthrop to have gone,in 1632, from Cape Porpoise, in company with an Indian, up into the country with goods to truck, or trade, where he was killed, and his goods stolen, while he was sleeping in a wigwam. The goods were recovered by the chief, and sent back.f The furs obtained in the trade with the natives, were disposed of to the European vessels that frequented the coast, or at some of the few tradinghouses established in this quar- ter by the western colonies, and English merchants. The greatest resort in our vicinity for these objects, at the pe- riod referred to, was Richmond's island, now a part of the town of Cape Elizabeth. A man named Walter Bag- nail traded there with one other person, in 1631, but hav- ing incurred the resentment of the Indians by unjust deal- ings with them, a party of the latter fell upon him and his companion, who was probably a native, murdered them, plundered the goods and set fire to the buildings. ^Travels, ii. 96. tJournal i. 89. 4* 38 HISTORY Of SAOO \ Winthrop rates the value of the goods at £400. This took place in the fall of 1631 : Bagnall had lived on the island alone (as to whiteinen) three years.* Thisdar*- ing outrage was revenged in a summary manner more than a year afterwards, by a party from the westward, that had been to Pemaquid in pursuit of pirates ; on their return, landing on Richmond's island, they found there Black William, a chief of the Saugus or Lynn In- dians, who was suspected of being concerned in the Bag- nall affair, and hanged him on the spot.f The Casco patent of Trelawney and Goodyear, de- scribed above, included this island. Those gentlemen did not come over, but sent as their agent and associate, Mr, John Winter, to whom Mr. Vines, the attorney of the Council, delivered possession of the premises July 21, 1632. Mr. Winter established himself on Richmond's island, and made that spot the scene of extensive com- mercial operations for nearly fifteen years. The island is accurately described by Jocelyn, as distant four miles from Black-point, one mile from Spurwink, three miles in circumference, and having a passable and gravelly ford on the north side between the main and the sea. J Mr. Jocelyn at the period of his first voyage, passed a year with his brother, Henry Jocelyn, Esq. at Black-point. He had thus the means of becoming well acquainted with the principal inhabitants in this quarter. Mr. Winter, he says, is a grave, discreet man, and employs sixty men upon the design of fishing. Jocelyn notices a bark of 300 tons burthen that was spoken by the ship in which he fame to New England, "loaded with island wine, bound for Richmond's island, fitted out by Mr. Trelawney of Plymouth." This was in 1638. From another source we learn that the bark Richmond sailed from that island in 1639, doubtless the same vessel. Three other ships belonging to. Mr. Trelawney, were employed in voyages ♦Journal I. 62, 63. tibid I 99. Lewis, Hist, of Lynn. 43. The beautiful frontispiece of this work, represents Black William selling Nahant to a planter for a suit of clothes. |The name of John Richmond occurs in the court records 1636-7. His servant is spoken of. He had perhaps lived on the island and oc- casioned its name. AND BIDDEFORD. 39 to Richmond's island at that period, viz. the Hercules, the Margery, and the Agnes. The former sailed thence 1641, the Margery the year following, the Hercules a- gain 1643. We learn from a statement drawn up 1648, that by the terms of agreement between Trelawney and Winter, "the full government of the plantation was whol- ly committed" to the latter, and that he received for his services one tenth part of the patent, the same propor- tion of all things in the plantation and profits that should arise, and £40 per annum in money. Jocelyn speaks of the enormous profits made by the Massachusetts merchants, in this part of the country, who kept "here and there fair magazines stored with English goods." ^^U they do not gain," he says, "cent, per cent, they cry out they are losers." Similar complaints were brought against Mr. Winter by our planters. At the court of 1640, he was presented by the grand jury for extor- tion. "Imprimis," say they, "we do present Mr. John Winter of Richmond's island, for that Thomas Wise of Casco hath declared upon his oath that he paid unto Mr. John Winter a noble {6s. Sd.) for a gallon of aqua vitae about two months since, and further he declareth that the said Mr. Winter bought of Mr. George Luxton, when he was last in Casco bay, a hogshed of aqua vitae for £1 sterling, about nine months since."* The article had thus afforded the merchant a profit of 200 per cent., reckoning sixty three gallons to the hogs- head. This might be justly considered extortionate. "Mr. John West being one of the grand inquest, declared that he bought by William Cutts of Mr. John Winter a potle of aqua vitae at 2s. per quart, and one paire of greigh stocking at 2s. and shot at 4d. the pound, for which he paid by the said William Cutts in beaver at 65. the pound, being good skinn beaver which he himself took at 8s. the pound. Richard Tucker being one of the greate *Mr Jocelyn returned to England 1639, with Capt Luxton in the Fellowship, 170 tons, of Biddeford, in Devonshire. "Several of my friends (he writes) came to bid me farewell, among others Captain Thomas Warnerton (of Pascataqua,) who drank to me a pint of kill- devil, alias Khum, at a draught." p. 26. 40 HISTORY OF SACO inquest declareth, that Thomas Wise of Casco coming from Richmond's Island, and having bought of Mr. John Winter a flaggott of liquor, aqua vitae, for which he paid hiiii as he said a noble, asking myself and petitioner if vve^ would be pleased to accept of a cupp of noble liquor,^'' &:c. After the death of Mr. Winter, which took place about 1648,* the establishment on the island was broken up. On the opposite shore, near the mouth of the small river Spurwink, a few individuals were settled before Winter's arrival. The famous George Cleaves was one of them, who contested the title of Trelawney and Goodyear to that part of their patent, in an action of trespass on the case, brought at the June term of the comt of 1640 a- gainst their agent. "An action of interruption" was en- tered at the same time. "Mr. Abraham Short (of Pem- aquid) and Mr. Thomas Williams became special bail to the plaintiff in £1000, that the defendant shall appear to both these actions at a court to be holden here (at Saco) 8 Sept. next. The plaintiff here declares in both ac- tions, and the defendant is ordered by the court to brings in his answers unto Richard Vines, Esq. at or before Aug. 25, and the defendant is ordered likewise to put in his re- plies at or before Sept. 1 next." From the declaratioiv of Cleaves in one of these cases, we learn that Capt. Walter Neal, an agent of Mason and Gorges on the Pas- cataqua, had put Richard Bradshaw in possession of a considerable tract at Spurwink, who soon after sold to Richard Tucker. Capt. Neal first came to New Eng- land I630,f and Cleaves the same year took up a lot of land containing 2000 acres at Spurwink, by virtue of a promise made to him in England, as he declared, by Sir F. Gorges, who encouraged his coming over. Finding Tucker settled there, Cleaves entered into partnership with him ; they joined their titles and agreed to build and plant together. This connexion had existed about two years, when Winter appeared with the patent of Trelaw- ney and Goodyear, and succeeded in obtaining possession. *Mr. Trelawney died three years before. Records. tWinthrop. 1. 38. Hubbard. N. E. 216. AND BIDDEFORD. 41 Winter in this case pleaded the grant of the Council, and denied the validity oi" a verbal promise ; Capt. Neal, he al- so stated, had no power then to dispose of lands in this part of the province, but only at Pascataqua. The jury, of which Richard Foxwell was foreman, found for the plain- tiff, Cleaves, the house and four acres adjoining it, £80 damages, and costs of court. The court gave judgment on this verdict, except Vines, who dissented. At the same term, there was a suit between the same parties for "a neck of land called by the Indiana Machi- gony, beginning at a point opposite Hog island and run- ning west," on which "Cleaves and Tucker had planted for divers years," having removed thither soon after the arrival of Winter. This neck of land is now the site of Portland. Cleaves recovered by pleading a proclama- tion of King James, "granting 150 acres of land to any subject of his who should transport himself at his own charge to America, and the same for every person he should carry thither; and that "finding this tract unoccu- pied, he had taken possession of it, and had retained pos- session now seven years." The whole tract which Mr. Cleaves claimed and recovered, comprised 1500 acres, extending some way into the country. Other planters established themselves about Casco bay at the same time, among whom were Mackworih, Robinson, Cooke, Wise and Browne, from the number of our colonists. Capt. Thomas Cammock first settled on the eastern bank of the Pascataqua, where he obtained a grant of land from Gorges 2 June, 1633. It was conveyed to him by Walter Neale, who styled himself "Governor of the colonies to be planted within the precincts of Gorges, Mason, and their associates." Three years after, Cam- mock sold this tract 'extv:;nding half way to Agamenticus river' to James Treworgy (Trueworthy). Winthrop men- tions his arrival at Boston Oct. 18, 1632, in Capt. Neal's pinnace from Pascataqua, with Mr. Godfrey, merchant, (a'terwards governor of a part of Maine.) "They brouglit," ays Winthrop, "16 hogsheads of corn to the n>ill."* The Black-point patent dated Nov. 1, 1631, *I. 90. Belknap adds, "there was no mill at Pascataqua at that time." Hist. N. H. i. 25, 42 HISTORY OF SACO has the following; clause : "Considering that for two years past he has inhabited in New England, and built conven-* ient housings and spent several sunns of money in the more ample discovery of the coasts and harbors of those parts," &LC. Reference is here made without doubt to Cammock's operations at Pascataqua. His grant on that river was 'in consideration of his expence, and charge and desertful endeavor.' The precise year of Cammock's removal to the seat of his patent, is not known. Mr. Jocelyn first came over 1634,* in the interest of Mason, with the intention of settling at the upper plantation on the Pascataqua, but on the death of that gentleman in 1635, he removed to Black-point. f Capt. Cammock died on a voyage to the West Indies 1643, having be- queathed his estate at Black-point to his friend Jocelyn, reserving 500 acres to his wife. Cammock's house stood on the Neck, probably occupying nearly the same spot on which one of his successors in that property, Tiniothy Prout, Esq. built an elegant mansion in the succeeding century. Mj'. Jocelyn married the relict of the paten- tee, and continued to reside at Black-point during many years, taking an active and conspicuous part in the affairs of the Province. The territory now embracing the towns of Kittery, El- iot, South Berwick, and Berwick, originally composed but one town, called Pascataqua. This name was re- tained until 1652, when it was changed to Kittery. Gor- ges, Mason, and their associates, who commenced the set- tlements on the Pascataqua, had a trading or fishing es- tablishment on the Kittery side as early as 1632. In a letter to one of their agents at the close of that year, they say : "We have committed the chief care of our house at Pascataway to Mr. Godfrey, and written unto Mr. Warnerton to take careof our house at Strawberry-bank," (Portsmouth.) The agent in his answer, the next sum- mer, writes that "Mr. Warnerton hath the charge of the house at Pascataway," and eniunerates six persons with *Belkn. Hist. Appendix viii. f Hubbard's Hist. N. E. 224. This Writer has made some confusion of dates relative to these gentlemen. See page 2IG. AND BIDDEFORD. 43 him there. Warnerton had land allotted to him at the *ame place, bounding Cammock's grant on the south. In 1634, the patentees divided their lands 'on the north east side of the harbor and river of Pascataqna,' when they 'not only each of them shipped people to plant on their respective lands at their own charge, but gave (hrection to invite, and authority to receive such others as may be had, to be tenants, to plant and live there for the more speedy peopling of the country.'* Before 1640, a large number ol planters arrived. Among them were Capt. F. Champernoon, Nicholas Frost, J. Trueworthy, Wm. Everett, Edvv. Small, John Edge- comb, John Pickes, .John Heard, Thos. Spencer, Peter Wyer. Humphry Chadbourne came over earlier, and built a house at Strawberry -bank, but was an inhabitant on this side of the river 1640. He lived at Newichawa- nock,f (S. Berwick.) Frost settled on Sturgeon creek, now in Eliot. The following passage of Hubbard's History relates to both sides of the Pascataqua. "In the year 1631, when Edward Colcott first came thither, (who was afterwards, for want of a better, for some years together chosen gov- ernor of the plantations about Dover) there were but three houses (as he affirmed) in all that side of the country adjoining unto Pascataqua river, nor is it said that any were built by Capt. Neale ; but after his return home for England (1633) Sir F. Gorges, Capt. Mason, and the rest of the adventurers, sent over other agents and sup- plies for carrying on their designs. "J After the early operations of Col. Norton and Capt. Wm. Gorges at Agamenticus, before noticed, we first find inhabitants there in 1636. Capt. Gorges came over a second time 1635, with commissions for a general gov- ernment, and probably renewed the settlement on that riv- er. The next year, Ed w. Godfrey and William Hooke appear to be resident there, and in the court held at Saco, *the officer of Accomenticus' (in the words of the re- *Letter from Gorges and Mason. Belkn. Hist. 1. Appx. vii, tThi« Indian name was applied to Salmon Falls river. It was often written Newgee'wanacke. :tHist. N. E.219. 44 HISTORY OF 3AC0 cord) *per petition craveth pardon for not appearing.' Ai grant of land on the north side of the Aii;amenticus waS: made by Sir F. Gorges Dec. 1, 1631, to Samuel Maver- ick of Noddle's island, (Mass. Bay,) William Jefferies,, and William Hooke. Mr. Maverick was living in the Bay when the Mass. colonists arrived, and is often noti- ced as a respectable planter by the early writers. Mr. Jefferies has been already mentioned.* Mr. Hooke wit- nessed the delivery of possession of the Pemaquid patent 1633. In what year his residence at Agamenti- cijs commenced, we are not informed. He married Mrs. Eleanor, the widow of Capt. Walter Norton, and remov- ed to Salisbury, Mass. 1640, although appointed by Gor*- ges a counsellor of Maine in that year. He died before 1654, and his widow returned to York. These gentle- men conveyed their grant to Roger Garde 1637, to whom i it was confirmed by Maverick five years alter. Mr. Garde sold to George Puddington 1645 ; Puddington's widow married John Davis of York, by whom it was as- signed to John Garde, merchant, of Boston 1662. Mn\ Hooke was interested in another grant, called the Aga- menticus patent. In 1693, his son William assigned his part of it to James Coffin of Newbury. Edward God- frey, Oliver Godfrey, (his son,) and Richard Rowe were associated in a de«?d of 1 500 acres on the north side of! Cape Neddock creek, 1638. They were required to pay j a rent of 2s. per 100 acres to the agent of Sir Ferdi*- nando Gorges. I The incorporation of Agamenticus as a city under the* name of Gorgeana, in 1641, is a fact too singular in the monotonous character of our early settlements, not to be familiar to those least conversant with these subjects. The territory incorporated was on the eastern side of the river, extending seven miles into the land and three on^| the seaboard. f Thomas Gorges,Esq. was the first mayor of the city. The board of aldermen was composed of: E. Godfrey, R. Garde, Geo. Puddington, Bartholomew! Barnet, Edw. Johnson, Arthur Bragdon, Henry Simpson, ,j] *Supra, p. 31. tYork is now full eight miles square AND BIDDEFORH. 45 and John Rogers. Mr. Garde was also appointed recor- der. The corporation were empowered to "keep court ieete once every year within ten days either before or after Michaehnas, whereunto all persons above the age of twelve years may be warned to appear :" and they were exempted from the jurisdiction of any other officers for the administration of justice within the province of Maine, for any matter arising within the limits of the corporation. 'And in further consideration of the tender regard,' says the charter of Sir Ferdinando, "I have and bear to the further good and advancement of the happiness and weal public of the said city and of the said Province, and that trading and commerce may be the more readily advanced, I do appoint and establish a Mar- ket to be kept upon Wednesday in every week forever within said town, and that there shall be two Fairs held and kept there every year forever hereafter, viz. upon the feast days of St. James and St. Paul," &ic.* Mr. Gorges returned to England 1643, and was suc- ceeded in the mayoralty by Roger Garde, Esq. In the following year a woman of Gorgeana was tried in the mayor's court for the murder of her husband, condemned and executed. The officers of the Province by the in- vitation of the mayor assisted in conducting the trial ; the terms of the charter prohibiting their interference without the special license and consent of the corpora- tion. The inhabitants probably continued to enjoy the municipal privileges secured to them by their charter, until 1652, when they first acknowledged the jurisdic- tion of Massachusetts, and were incorporated as the town of York. There were few settlers east of Casco before 1 640, and even for several succeeding years. Mr. Thomas Purchase was settled at Pegypscot, now Brunswick, in 1639, and probably a few years before. At that date, he conveyed to the government of Mass. Bay a tract of land on both sides of the Androscoggin, four miles square, for the settlement of a new colony, reserving to himself a sufficient estate out of it. By the same deed, he placed *York Records. Hazard's Coil. 1. 4b0. 5 46 HISTORY OF SACO himself under their jurisdiction. Mr. Purchase liad no i other than an Indian title to the land, or he would not have thrown himself upon the protection of that Colony. As it was included within the patent of Maine granted the next year, the intended colony was not planted, and Purchase himself after some delay acknowledged the jurisdiction of Gorges. The colony of New Plymouth established a trading- house on the Kennebec in 1628,* by virtue of their pa- tent obtained from the Council. At a period long subse- quent, there was much dispute respecting the location of this tradinghouse, in connection with the determination of the bounds of the patent. We have little doubt that it was situated near the mouth of that river. The object of the colony in obtaining a grant of lands, was to secure the whole trade of the Keiinebec, and to defend the ex- ercise of this claim, they built a fort at its entrance. In 1634, a contest occurred there in the presence of two of their magistrates with a trader from Pascataqua. The former, claiming an exclusive right to the traffic on the river, ordered the intruder to depart ; he refused and was killed by a shot from the fort. The marks of a former settlement in the lower part of Phippsburg, are probably the remains of the fort and tradinghouse. An investiga- tion of this affray was made at Boston soon after,'lest' says Gov. Winthrop, 'it might give occasion to the king to send a general governor over, and that it might not bring us all under the common reproach of cutting one another's throats for beaver'. The Plymouth men acknowledged themselves 'under the guilt of the sixth commandment.' An establishment was made at Penobscot immediately after the grant to Beauchamp and Leverett passed the seal of the Council. Mr. Edward Ashley was sent over for this purpose 1630,f furnished by the English ad- venturers with a plentiful stock of goods for trade with the natives. The New Plymouth people were solicited ^Prince. 172. } Gov. Bradford's Letter book. 1. Mass. Hist. Coll. lii. 72- Hutchinson and succeedinar writers date the Penobscot eetab- lishraent 1G27, unsupported by Bradford or Prince, AND BIDDEFORD. 47 to engage in this enterprise, for which they had no great fancy ; but their interest compelled them to fall in with the humor of their friends in England. The objection seems to have been to the character of the agent, who in less than two years after, on some pretence of violating the regulations of the tradinghouse, was seized by order of the colony, and sent to England. The direction of the whole establishment was then taken into their own hands.* It was soon after robbed by the French, and in 1635, was captured by a French frigate from Nova Scotia, and retained until 1654. It is said to have been located where Castine now stands. Pemaquid, now Bristol, about thirty miles east of the Kennebec, was settled as early as 1628; for the patent sets forth that the people or servants of Aldworth and Eibridge, the grantees, inhabited there three years pre- vious to the date of that instrument. Legal possession was taken of the premises by Mr. Abraham Short, in May, 1633. Each settler was allowed to receive 100 acres, adjoining to the principal grant. It is said that the lineal descendants of some of the original planters now hold possession of the allotments thus made to their ancestors.f The first notice we have of Mr. Short, (sometimes written Shurd,) is as the restorer of the Lynn queen or the wife of the Lynn sachem, who was taken prisoner at Agawam, now Ipswich, by the eastern In- dians, 1631. Short, who trafficked with those Indians, caused her to be restored for a moderate ransom of wam- pam and beaver the same year. J Tlie first seiders came generally from the counties of Devonshire and Somersetshire, in the southwestern part of England. In the former county, the towns of Ply- mouth, Tiverton, Biddeford, and Hobberton, and the city of Exeter, respectively supplied our shores with inhabi- tants. Bristol, and places in the neighborhood of that city, in Somersetshire, are often mentioned in the transac- *Prince. tHist. of Belfast. 14. How does it appear that the pa- tentees themselves came over, as stated in that work. p. 13. ^Winthrop. I. 21. Lewis' Hist, of Lynn. 40, 48 HISTORY OF SACO tions of our colonists. Emigrants continued to arrive^ from time to time, encouraged to come over by Gorges and the other patentees, until the death of the former and the distracted state of the Province, arrested the progress of the settlements. The colonists of New Plymouth and Mass. Bay were for the most part from an opposite quarter of England, and widely differed from the eastern planters in their opinions and habits. It is, therefore, a mistaken notion that the puritans were the common fore- fathers of all New England. They were a peculiar and distinct people, with whom our early inhabitants had no community of feeling or interest. Much of the present population in this section of the country is, indeed, derived from that quarter, but the old stock of the original plan- ters yet flourishes, and has spread its multiplied branches from the seats of the first settlements over every part of the inhabited territory of Maine. ^ CHAPTER IV. The powers of government were clearly vested in the Council of Plymouth by the terms of their charter. As early as 1623, a general governor of New England was commissioned by them, and sent out, accompanied by a number of colonists. But this attempt failed ; the governor, Robert Gorges, a son to Sir Ferdinando, returned to England the following year, and the colonists were dispersed. The plan of a general government was revived in 1635 ; the country from St. Croix to Mary- land was partitioned into provinces, over which Sir F, Gorges was to be appointed governor, to the great con- ' *In a letter from Ambrose Gibbins, an agent of Mason and Gorges on the Pascataaua, dated 6 August, 1634, there is a reference to the business of R. Williams and others at this place, that should have been before noticed : "The 6th August,the shippe is ready to set sayle for Saco to load cloavebords (clapboards) apd pipe staves," Belkn. Hist. i. Appx. ix. AND BIDDEFORB. 49 sternalion of the Massachusetts colonies. This scheme was also abandoned. Gorges exercised no jurisdictiori in N. England before 1636 : so ill defined or feebly as- serted was his title under the Laconia patent, that his right even to assign small parcels of land, except in the neighborhood of the Pascataqua, fell into dispute. No government therefore existing in this quarter, the planters, immediately after their arrival, apparently formed a Com- bination, similar to those afterwards established at Exeter and other plantations in New Hampshire ; voluntarily agreeing to obey the laws of England as administered by officers chosen from their own number. The compact was usually written and subscribed by the inhabitants ;* and although no such document framed by our colonists has been preserved, we are unable to explain the follow- ing order of the court without supposing one to have existed. "Feb. 9, 1636-7. It is ordered that Mr. Thomas Lewis shall appear the next court day at the now dwelling house of Thomas Williams, there to an- swer his contempt, and to show cause why he will not de- liver up the Combination belonging to us.'' In 1635 the Council resigned their charter into the hands of the King, after granting a new patent to Gorges, comprehending the territory between the Pascataqua and Sagadehock. He forthwith took measures for establish- ing a government within these limits. For this purpose he sent over Capt. W. Gorges, f with commissions to Vines, Bonython, Cammock, Jocelyn, Purchase, God- frey, and Lewis, as counsellors of the province, to which he gave the name of New Somersetshire. These gen- tlemen convened at Saco, on the eastern side of the river, soon after the arrival of Capt. Gorges. The record is commenced in the following form : "At a meeting of the Commissioners in the house of Capt. R. Bonython in Saco, this 25th day of March, 1636, present, Capt. R. Bonython, Capt. W. Gorges, Capt. Cammock, Mr. PL Jocelyn, Mr. T. Purchase, E. *See a copy of the Exeter Combination, Hazard's Coll. I. 463. t Jocelyn says : "In 1635, Capt W, Gorges was sent over Gover- nor of the Province of Maine, then called New Somersetshire.' 5* 50 HISTORY OP SACO Godfrey and T. Lewis, Gents." The court was con- tinued for several days. The petition of the officer of Agamenticus, craving pardon for not appearing, was pre- sented the first day. A (ew extracts from the records will not be uninteresting. "Monday, 28, March, 1636. To the petition of Mr. T. Lewis for words of defama- tion spoken per Mr. T. Williams against Mr. T. Lewis : it is this present day ordered, that Mr. T. W. shall be bound to answer to the suit of Mr. Lewis at the next general court in the penalty of £100, and a sufficient jury of this Province to be returned to try the difference." "To the request of Mrs. Joan Vines, and an order of Sir F. Gorges as per the same at large appeareth,and other circumsrances us inducing, concerning the differ- ence between Capt. R. Bonython and Mr. T. Lewis a- gainst Mrs. Joan Vines, concerning the plantingof corn on the island where she planted formerly, and an order left per her husband now to plant : It is ordered for the pre- servation of the public peace and the general good of the country, that Mrs. Joan Vines shall peaceably plant what she hath formerly planted and what more she can plant. Also Capt. R. Bonython and Mr. T. Lewis to plant what they can except where Mrs. Vines planteth, and for trial, of the title to said island, to rest till further trial may be I made thereof, and this we register, ratify and confirm, ,: although Mr. T.L. did opprobriously, in open court, lacer- I ate and tear an order made to that purpose, and subscri- •' bed as per the same appeareth, when a fifth commission- er was to affirm to it." We thus learn one cause of dis- satisfaction on the part of Mr. Lewis towards the new government, and perhaps of his refusal to surrender the i! instrument of Combination. "It is petitioned per Mr. E. Godfrey that an attach- ment might bee of one brasse kettell now in the hands off Mr. E. Godfrey, belonging unto Mr. John Straten of ai| debt dew now 3 years f^iom Mr. Straten to him," &;c. j The court decreed said kettle to be answerable to the ' suit of Mr. Godfrey at the next term. Stratton's islands off Black-point, included in Cammock's patent, probably derived their name from the defendant in this action. We find no other notice of him. AND BIDDEFORD. ^l "March 29, 1636. It is ordered that any man that doth sell strong liquor or wyne, shall suffer his neighbor, laborer or servant to continue drinking in the house ex- cept men invited or laborers upon the working day for one hovver at diner, or stranger or lodger there, the s^d offence being seene by one justis of the peace within hfs limits, or constable, or pruved by tew w^itnesses before a justis of the peace, such seller of strong liquor or wyne shall forfet for every such offence tenne shillings." "April 4, 1637. It is agreed between Capt. R. Bony- thon, R. Vines, and T. Lewis, that the said H. Vines shall pay for a pair of slocks and a lock to them : ffor that J. West his corne was gathered contrary to order. And soe all controversies about the Hands are ended, ac- cording to a former order in Mr. Richard Gibson's hands.' 'Clement Greenway his affidavit. This deponent saith that the 5th July 1635, Mr. T. Lewis did hyre the said Greenway his servant called Peter Hogg till the midst of March following, and the said Lewis was to pay this de- ponent seaven £ for his servants byre, and this deponent saith that he did not promise that the said Hogg could caulk boats very well.' 'It is ordered that every planter or inhabitant shall doe his best endeavor to apprehend, execute or kill any In- dian that hath binne known to murder any Inglish, kill their cattle or any way spoyle their goods, doe them vio- lence, and will not make them satisfaction ; if it shall be proved that any planter or inhabitant hath benne negligent therein, he shall be fined at the discretion of the bench.' ^Arthur Browne and Arthur Mackworth are empowered to make John Cosins pay satisfaction to an Indian for the wrong he hath done him.' Among the civil suits, were Wm. Scadlock against Mor- gan Howell, an action of debt ; John Richmond against T. Lewis, trespass ; T. Page against J. Richmond, tres- pass ; Mr. R. Gibson against Geo. Jewell, mariner, debt. A warrant is recorded, dated Sept. 6, 1636, requiring the constable of Saco to attach the property of George Cleaves to satisfy a debt of £6 13 8, in favor of Wil- liam Ryall ; signed by Vines, Bonython, Cammock, and Lewis. 52 HISTOUY OF SACO John Wotton and three others were presented by the officer of the place, Mr. Theoph. Davis, for drunkenness, and fined 55. V^d. a piece. John Bonython, for another offence, was fined 406-. R. Hitchcock was put in the stocks for abusing the court. The records of New Somersetshire are not extended V beyond the year 1637. It is uncertain, therefore, whether i the courts continued to be holden until the new organiza-; tion of the government in 1640. George Cleaves went to England in 1636, and it is probable gave no very favoiable account of the affairs of the province to the lord proprietor; for the next year he returned with an order from Gorges to the authorities of Mass. Bay "to govern," in the words of Winthrop, "his province of New Somersetshire," as well as "to oversee his servants and private affairs."* Cleaves at the same time obtained for himself and Tucker, a grant of the tract already noticed as in dispute a few years after ; the form of the con- veyance is, 'to G. Cleaves and R. Tucker, of Casco, in the Province of New Somerset, by Sir F. Gorges, Lord of said Pj-ovince." Gov. Winthrop and the other gentlemen of Mass. Bay, to whom the commission of Gorges was addressed, declined executing his wishes, professing to be ignorant of his right to the government of the province. No great cordiality had existed between Sir Ferdinando and the members of that colony. His extensive claims to lands embraced in their patent, supported by the Council of Plymouth, had occasioned them no small degree of anx- iety. In the manifesto of the Council, setting foi'th the causes of the resignation of their charter, the Mass. pa- tentees are expressly charged with having 'surreptitious- ly' acquired a title to the tract formerly granted to Robert Gorges, 'whose servants, with certain other undertakers and tenants' in the service of some of the Council, were thrust out by those intruders.'f It is not strange, there- fore, that the commission of Gorges was treated with ne- glect ; a result little regretted we suppose by the inhabi- *Journal. i. 231. f Hazard, i. 391. AND BIDDEFORD. 53 tants of the province. The artful representations of Cleaves were doubtless the occasion of its being sent. The character of the counsellors of New Somersetshire, and the re-appointment of several of them in the new organization of 1640, disprove the idea of any misman- agement of the powers entrusted to them. In concluding; a notice, necessarily brief, of the first provincial jurisdiction exercised in this section of New Erigland, it is proper to advert to the fact that no account of it is found in the only history of Maine yet published, 'There was an early mistake,' Sidlivan observes, 'in call- ing the province of Maine, New Somerset, which was the county, not the provincial name of the territory.' Tliis remark seems to have been suggested by the deed to Cleaves and Tucker.* Yet the respected author had before observed that 'Gorges had a government or au- thority in the year 1636' ; founding this statement, how- ever, on the solitary fact that Thomas Bradbury, as the agent of Sir Ferdinando, sold in that year a tract of land to Edward Johnson. f The records from which we have furnished extracts, of course escaped his notice. New Somerset was uniformly styled a province, not a county, in the instruments executed before 1640. Beside the deeds already referred to, an indenture or agreement be- tween 'E. Godfrey, and W. Hooke of Bristol, now of Agamenticus, in the Province of New Somerset,' dated 1638, is found on record. In 1639, Gorges obtained a charter from the King, confirming the grant of the Council, which directed that the territory 'shall forever hereafter be called and named the Province or Countie of Maine.' The name was be- stowed in compliment to the queen of England, a daugh- ter of Henry IV. of France, who was connected by title or estate with the province of Meyne in France. Soon after obtaining the royal charter, Gorges issued a commission to Sir Thomas Jocelyn, Knight, Richard Vines, Esq. his 'steward general,' Francis Champernoon, bis 'loving nephew' ; Henry Jocelyn and Richard Bony- ^Erroneously printed Tuckerman. Sail. 315. tSull. 305. The tract consisted of 500 acres near Braveboat harbor, York. 54 HISTORY OF SACO thon, Esquires ; William Hooke and Edward Godfrey/J Gentlemen, to be his Counsellors for the administration of the government of the Province. This instrument is dated 2 September, 1639. Sir Thomas Jocelyn did not come over, and in March following, Gorges framed anew commission, substituting in place of that gentleman, his "trusty and well beloved cousin, Thomas Gorges, Esq."* The arrival of Gov. Gorges in the summer of 1640, at Boston, is noticed by Winthrop, who describes him as'*a young gendeman of the inns of court," (i. e. a lawyer,) *'a kinsman to Sir F. Gorges, and sent by him with a commission for the government of his province of New Somersetshire. He was sober and well disposed : he staid a few days at Boston, and was very careful to take advice of our magistrates how to manage his affairs. "f The first general Court under this government was held at Saco, 25ih June, 1640, when the Counsellors, except Gorges who had not yet arrived, were sworn into office, together with R. Sankey, provost marshal, Thomas El- kins, under-marshal, and Roger Garde, of Gorgeana, register. Nicholas Frost was appointed constable of Pascataqua ; Michael Mitten ofCasco; John Wilkinson, of Black-point. The inhabitants were required to attend this court, to profess allegiance to the new government : a list of those of Pascataqua, both who appeared, and who "made default in not appearing," twenty four in all, was placed on record. This court was an executive and legislative, as well as a judicial body, and exercised a general control over the affairs of the Province. It was holden in the name of "Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, Lord Proprietor of the Province of Maine," who was made Lord Palatine, with the same powers and privileges as the Bishop of Durham, in the county Palatine of Dur- ham. More ample povvers, it has been said, were never bestowed on a British subject. J The paramount authori- *See Appendix to Sullivan's History. The last comniission is dated March 10, 1639. which Sullivan, not attending to the old nioda of computing the year, has taken to be previous to Sept. 1G39. The instrument of the March date refers to another "bearing date iu September last past " tJournal. ii. 9-10. tJudge D. Sewall's Charge. 1790. AND BIDDEFORD. 55 ty of the crown, seems scarcely to have been recognized. The style of the judicial proceedings supposed the pre- sence of the lord proprietor. Thus Cleaves in the case before described, pleaded "a promise made unto him by you, Sir F. Gorges." The second term of the court was holden in Septem- ber, when "the Worshipful Thomas Gorges" was pres- ent with the other counsellors. At this time it was or- dered that "henceforth there should be one General court holden at.Saco, for the whole Province of Maine, every year, on the 25th day of June, if it fall not on the sab- bath day, which if it shall, then the said court to begin the day following. But if urgent occasions require it, then the said Council to call another court at such time as they shall think meet." The other courts were to be held by a portion of the Council, at Gorgeana, for the inhabitants from Pascataqua to Kennibonke ; at Saco, for the inhabi- tants from Kennibonke to Sagadehock ; three times a year at each place. These inferior courts had no juris- diction in capital felonies, or civil actions involving titles to lands. A (ew extracts from the records of 1640, will be added to those already given.* "Joseph Boles hath presented to the grand inquest Thomas Heard for being drunk. The last night after sunset the delinquent came to the plaintiff's house and offered violence to his person by striking him, threatening him with many violent words to break open the store to the great disturbance of himself and the people that were therein, and he further declareth that he received his drink at the house of William Scadlock. W. Scadlock presented by the grand inquest for this misdemeanor in his house, was fined 20*. by the Court, which upon his hum- ble petition was remitted. T. Heard fined 5s. for being drunk. Paid." Mr. Bowles, the complainant, lived at Winter Harbor at that time. He was afterwards a re- spectable inhabitant of Wells, "John Bonython versus Richard Gibson, minister. Action of debt. Plaintiff declares that defendant oweth him 5/. due upon a bill *Supra. pp. 39-40. 56 HISTORV OF SACO 1 May last, and also 3/. 6s. upon account. The defendant : by his attorney, Francis Robinson, in part confesseth the ; action and intreateth that the matter in difference may be; referred to arbitration ; admitted by the court with the ; consent of the Plaintiff, and the defendant by his attorney engages that the corn which he has growmg in Saco, shall I remain for security to the plaintiff for the payment of the; debt according to arbitration or otherwise. Arbitrators, . G. Cleaves and A. Mackworth." "Action of slander. Arthur Browne versus Thomas- Purchase. A. Browne cometh into this court and declar- eth that whereas he hath been bred a merchant from his youth upward, and lived in this country these seven years in good reputation and credit without scandalous reproach of false or injurious dealing, yet the defendant hath wrong- ly accused him of bribery and perjury," &ic. Verdict i for plaintiff, damages 5/." *'Richard Gibson and Mary/ his wife versus John Bonython, (son of Richard.) Ac- tion of slander. That on or about 28 April 1640, in the dwellinghouse of Thomas Lewis, deceased, he did slan*« ~der the plaintiff for a base priest, a base knave, a base fel- low," (not sparing his wife) — "all which he repeated in the house of R. Vines, Esq. Damages set at 500Z. Ver- dict for the plaintiff; damages 6/. 6s. 8^." "Mr. Arthur Browne is presented for swearing two oaths — fined 2s. John Payne is fined Is. for swearing one oath. H. Watts and W. Frethy for profaning the sabbath in carrying of bords contrary to his Majesty's laws — fined 205. one half remitted, the rest paid to the worshipful R. Vines. Capt. Cammock fined \s. for swearing one oath." The following declaration relates to a gentleman of whom much is said by the early historical writers.* "Richard Tucker cometh into this Court and declarethi that nine years since or thereabouts, there came one Sir Christopher Gardiner to the plaintiff in the name of the defendant, Thomas Purchase, and borrowed of him a warming pan, which cost here in this country 125. 6c?., which the defendant hath all this time and still doth *He i)d& iiiorc' ;ecenlly figured in a i^opuiar novel, 'Hope Leslie'y'i ns Sir Philip Gardiner. AND BIDDEFORD. 57 wrongfully detain from the plaintiff. And also the said Sir Christopher did six months after or thereabouts, buy of the plaintiff a new fowling piece for 405. which he promised to pay within a month after, which money both for the warming pan and the piece the plaintiff hath often- times demanded of the defendant who doth still refuse to pay the same to the damage of the plaintiff at least 6/. sterling, for which the plaintiff commenceth his action of trespass on the case against the defendant in this court, and humbly desireth a legal hearing according to law. T. Purchase denies ever authorizing Sir C. Gardiner to buy any warming pan or fowling piece for him, he. Ver- dict for the plaintiff, 2/. 12^. 66?. for the two articles. 2d. damages. 12^. 6d. costs of court." Sir Christopher came to New England 1630, and re- mained about two years, attended, it is said, by a young woman, his cousin, and several servants. He had travel- led in the Holy Land, and received the honor of knight- hood at Jerusalem. On his appearance at Boston, he was suspected by the Massachusetts government of having designs upon their patent, especially after a packet of letters came addressed to him from Sir F. Gorges, which being forwarded from Pascataqua by Capt. Neal under cover to Gov. Winthrop, were somewhat unceremonious- ly opened by the council of that colony.* "By these letters it appeared," observes Winthrop, "that Sir F. Gor- ges (who claims a great part of Massachusetts Bay) had some secret design to recover his pretended right, and that he reposed much trust in Sir Christopher Gardiner." The cry of popery was soon after raised against the poor knight, confirmed by his alleged descent from Stephen Gardiner, the bloody bishop of Winchester of the reign of Queen Mary ; vague charges of an immoral nature were also brought against him, but not substantiated. Af- ter suffering much abusive treatment in Massachusetts, he at length returned to England, where he co-operated with *Soine little dislike of this proceeding' is indicated in a subsequent notice taken of it by 'iov. Winthrop, according to the editor ; but it probably occurred through his influence, if afterward regretted, "Winthrop's Journal. I. 57. and note. 6 58 HISTORY OF SACO Gorges and Mason in their plans relating to N. England.* The records of the courts between 1641-4, inclusive, are not preserved. Gov. Gorges sailed for England in 1 643, leaving Mr. Vines at the head of the government. In 1645, the General Court sat at Saco, when were pres- ent R. Vines, R. Bonython and H. Jocelyn, Esqrs. and Mr.F. Robi!isou, Mr. A. Mackworth, Mr.E.Sniall and Mr. Abraham Preble, Magistrates. The following order was .[ passed : "The General Court not having heard from Sir F. Gorges, appoint R. Vines Deputy Governor of the Province for one year, and if be depart within the year, H. "' Jocelyn in his place." The civil war was at this time raging in England, and Sir Ferdinando, although advan- ced in years, took up arms in defence of his royal master. He was in the army of Prince Rupert at the siege of Bristol 1 643, and when that city was re-taken by the par- liamentary forces in 1645, he was plundered and thrown into prison. It is not strange, therefore, that during this pe- riod Gorges paid no attention to the affairs of the province. The following order of the court 1645, shows that his fortunes were regarded as desperate : 'It is ordered that R. Vines shall have power to take into his possession all the goods and chattels of Sir F. Gorges, and to pay such debts as Sir Ferdinando is in any way indebted to any.' At the same time 'a publique fast was ordered to be sol- emnly kept upon Thursday, 20 November next, through this province.' In the meantime, the controversy respecting Lygonia arose. Alex. Rigby, proprietor of the plough patent, was a member of the celebrated Long Parliament, and strong- ly attached to both the political and religious opinions of the republican or revolutionary party in England. Hav- ing purchased the patent in 1643, he appointed George Cleaves, then in England, his agent, and deputy governor of the new province, to which he gave the name of Ly- gonia, embracing the towns or plantations of Casco, Black- *For a particular account of him, see N E Memorial — Davis's edi- tion l(i3 Judge Davis remarlis : "Nothing criminal was proved a- gainst him, and the harsh treatment he received seems not only ir- regular but imprudent." AND BIDDEFORD. 69 point, Blue-point, Saco, and Cape Porpoise. Cleaves had gone thither for the purpose of preferring complaints to Parliament against the government of Maine. The petition which he presented, was signed with the names of several planters without their consent, if we may trust the affidavits of IMackworth, Watts, Alger (Aithur), Ha- mans, West, Wadleigh, Weare, Wilkinson, and Smith, in which they say, 'they did not authorize Cleaves's charges exhibited in Parliament against Mr. Vines, nor knew of them until said Cleaves came last out of England, nor do they testify to any such charges against Mr. Vines.' Rob- inson certifies the same, and adds : 'I do moreover testify that Mr. Thomas Jenner, minister of God's word, told me he asked Mr. Cleaves why he put men's hands to a petition they never saw : his answer was, 'the Parliament bid him.' The result, however, was a commission from Parliament, dated April 28, 1643, to Gov. Winthrop of Mass. Bay, Mr. A. Mackworth of Casco, and others, to examine into the truth of the articles alleged against Mr. Vines. Cleaves arrived at Boston in March, 1644, with his commission of deputy governor,and applied to the General Court of that colony for assistance in establishing the claims of Mr. Rigby. They declined interfering, ex- cept to recommend to Gov. Winthrop to write in his own name to the officers of Gorges' government, advising an acknowledgement of Rigby's authority.* On reaching Casco, Cleaves distributed commissions, and summoned a court at that place in the nanie of the 'Lord Proprie- tor and President of the Province of Lygonia.' The counsellors of Maine forthwith called a general court at Saco, and protested against these proceedings. The plough patent, they insisted, was effectually revoked by the royal charter of 1640, which conveyed, without re- serve, the territory and jurisdiction of the whole province to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, thereby disannulling all former grants, at least so far as related to the exercise of the powers of government. The inhabitants were divided *Winthrop. ii. 154. 60 HISTORY OP SACO on the question, but we have reason to suppose that thej claims of Gorges were generally favored. Cleaves at last proposed to refer the subject to the decision of the Mass. Colony, well knowing to which side they would lean, when the dispute was between a republican dissenter or puritan, and a zealous royalist. R. Tucker was the bearer of this proposition to the council at Saco, by whom he was treated as a disturber of the peace, and arrested ; but on giving bonds to appear at the next court at this place, and for his good behaviour in the interim, he was set at liberty. Cleaves next presented a petition signed by about thirty persons, to the Mass. Gen. Court, soliciting their aid to maintain the authority of Rigby. Mr. Vines, with a let- ter from an equal number of the inhabitants, went him- self to Boston to obtain support. But that wary govern- ment, ever watchful of its own interests, had ah-eady con- ceived the idea of pushing its own limits into the heart of Maine, and resolved not to interfere. The dispute was then referred to the commissioners for foreign plantations^ in England. While it was pending there, the court of assistants at Boston consented to grant the parties a hear- ing, that an end might be put to the contention until the final decision was received from the commissioners. Messrs. Jocelyn and Robinson, on the part of Gorges, and Messrs. Cleaves and Tucker, on the other side, repaired thither ; but no other result was produced tlian a recom- mendation to both parties to live peaceably until they heard from England. This was in 1646 ; the same year, the decision of the commissioners was declared in favor of the claims of Mr. Rigby. Thus terminated the Jurisdiction of Gorges over the towns included in the province of Lygonia. The last general court under his authority of which we find a re- cord, was holden at Wells, July 1646, by H. Jocelyn, Deputy Governor, Capt. R. Bonython, and E. Godfrey. At length, in 1640, the inhabitants of Pascataqua, Gor- geana, and Wells, having received intelligence of the death of the lord proprietor, and in vain written to his heirs to ascertain their wishes, formed a Combination for the exercise of the powers of government according to 'the 15rD BIDDEFORD. ^1 kws of their native country.'* Mr. Godfrey was chosen governor, the style Province of Maine being still retain- ed. This state of things continued until 1652-3, when the towns were annexed to Massachusetts. In the meantime the government of Lygonia was regu- larly organized, and the inhabitants within its limits, even those who had been the most active adherents of Gor- ges, quietly submitted to the new jurisdiction. A mere fragment of the records of the General Assembly of this Province has been found, on diligent inquiry, enough to show, however, that its proceedings were conducted with great regularity. It is in the following form : "Petition of Robert Jordan to Alexander Rigby, President, George Cleaves, Deputy President, together with the whole body of the General Assembly of Lygonia, assembled this 22 day of September, 1648," &c. "Sept. 24, 1648. This petition is granted by this Assembly and referred to a committee of this House, viz. to Mr. George Cleaves,Mr. William Royall, Mr. Richard Foxwell,Mr. Henry Watts, to be set on the 10 October next at Richmond's Island, to make report of the state of things petitioned for to this Court at the next Sessions ; under the hand of the Clerk of the Assembly, Peyton Cooke." The decree of the court founded on the report of its committee, made in December following, was adjudged legal by the Mass. au- thorities at a subsequent period. In addition to the above, we find appended to an ad- ministration of P. Cooke on the estate of R. Williams the following approval, executed 'at a court holden at Black-point the last of May, 1648 : We, the Judges for the Province of Lygonia, do by our authority ratify and confirm unto the said P. Cooke this abovesaid administra- tion according to the full tenor thereof. Witness our hands under our Provincial Seal at the day and year a- bovewritten. (Slgned)G. Cleaves, H.Jocelyn, R. Jor-dan.' Alex. Rigby died August 1650, and was succeeded as proprietor of Lygonia by his son, Edward Rigby. A let- *This Combination is printed 1 Mass. Hist Coll. I. 103. and in Judge Freeman's 'Extracts from the Journal of Rev. T. Smith.' Ap- I pendix. 56. ! 6^ 02 HISTORV OF SACO ler is on record addressed by the latter to Jocelyn, Jor-? dan, IMackworth, Williams, as also to Robert Booth, and others, who held commissions under his father, in which lie states that he has been 'made acquainted by the late deputy president, with several miscarriages and illegal pro- ceedings committed in his province by their instigation and advice' ; and he requires and commands them to de- sist from acting by virtue of their commissions, determin- ed by the death of his father, until they hear further from him. He moreover declares void "all the actions done either by the deputy-president, the six assistants, the judges, or any other officer whatever who had commission form his father, since his death." "I am not ignorant," he says, "of some complaints formerly made to my father by some of yourselves and others and desire that you will be confident, that I shall strive to do equal justice in all things, according to my office and duty ; and to the end that equal justice may be done to all men, 1 shall with all convenient speed, not only send back Mr. Cleeve, but a near kinsman of my own, with instructions to such as I shall conceive fitting." The letter is dated at Lon- don, 19 July, 1652.* There is no evidence that the pro- posed measures were taken by Edward Rigby. The government of Lygonia was at an end, and no efforts ap- pear to have been made for its restoration at any future period. The heirs did, indeed, endeavor in 17J0, to re- vive their title to the soil, but without success. f The town records of Saco now existing, commence after the dissolution of the government of Lygonia ; we are thus deprived of the means of knowing what part was taken by the inhabitants in general, in relation to the affairs of that province. It is probable that Cleaves found (ew sup- porters here, at least until after the removal of Mr. Vines from the country, which took place before the termination of the controversy. When the authority of Rigby was *A copy is printed in Sullivan's Hist. 317. and Hazard's Coll. I. 570. The latter mistakes Lygonia for Laconia. We do not per- ceive that the conduct of Cleaves was impeached by Rigby, or that the heir was unable to manage his own concerns, as stafed bv Sulli- Van. 31t>. tSullivan. 319. AND BIDDEFORD. 63 at length established, the opposition existed only in com- plaints against the procedures of his agent, which were forwarded to the President in England. What were the particular causes of dissatisfaction, we are not informed. Among the inhabitants who held commissions under this government, T. Williams and R. Booth are named in the address of E. Rigby's letter ; the former is placed in a superior class apparently, who were perhaps Assistants or Counsellors. Mr. Booth was doubtless one ol the magis- trates. Mr. Righy had wisely associated in his govern- ment some of the most ardent friends of Gorges. We have thus endeavored to trace briefly the history of the early jurisdic tions of Gorges and Rigby in this quarter. They were both of short duration. While jus- tice and gratitune seem to have pleaded in behalf of the former, by whom the energies of a long and active life had been devoted to scliemes for the settlement of this part of New England, it must be acknowledged that the title of the latter to the territory he claimed, was strictly well founded. The true source of the grounds of dispute is found in the contradictory grants of the Council of Plymouth, which vested the powers of government, as well as a right to the soil, in both proprietors. A conilict was thus ren- dered inevitable. The smaller patents, on the other hand, conveyed simply a title to the lands, of which pos- session had been regularly taken at an early date. No attempt was made to subvert them, and the controversies of the provincial patentees only affected the proprietors of tliem, as subjects of a political jurisdiction. 64 HISTORY OF SACO CHAPTER V. Little is known respecting those members of the Gor- ges family who are so intimately connected with the early affairs of New England, more than appears in the general history of their exertions at that period. Lord Edward Gorges of Wiltshire, was President of the Council of Ply- month : his name occurs in most of the instruments ex- ecuted by that body. Sir Ferdinando was born about 1575. He is styled of Ashton Phillips, in the county of Somerset, by Mr. Jocelyn ; this was probably the name of a family seat, as there is no town so called. The gen- ealogy of the family is traced to the year 1350, when Theobald Russ(;ll, of the noble house of that name in England, married Eleanor de Gorges, and contrary to the custom of modern times assumed the patronymick of his lady.* The first notice that history affords us of Sir Ferdinando, is in connection with the discovery of the treasonable enterprise of the Earl of Essex, near the close of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which cost that nobleman his life. Information of this affair having reach- ed our knight, he communicated it, as was supposed, ta his friend Sir Walter Raleigh, by whom it was made known to government. f During the war with Spain, in the last years of Elizabeth, Sir Ferdinando served in the navy, and after peace took place 1604, he was appointed governor of Plymouth in Devonshire. The apparently trivial circumstance of his seeing four or five natives of our coast, who were carried to England by Capt. Wey- mouth, occurred the following year, and gave a colour to the events of his whole life. His attention was recalled from America in his old age only by the adversities of his royal friend and patron, Charles I. In 1624, when a jealousy of the powers granted to the Council of Ply- mouth prevailed in England, Sir Ferdinando was sum- *MS. Genealogy of the Russells, in the possession of Rev. Dr. W. Jenks. The namobe^an to be written Georges towards the close of the xvii century ; a change in the pronunciation taking place, pro- bably, at the same time. tHume. Hist, of £ng. chap. 44. AND BIDDEFORD. 05 moned to the bar of the house of Commons, where the speaker, Sir Edward Coke, informed him that the patent of the Council was complained of as a grievance, and re- j quired it to be delivered to the house. Gor2;es replied jthat he was but one of the company, and that he had no power to deliver it without their consent. He then went into a full vindication of the patent, and of the measures ! pursued by the Council, and pointed out the vast impor- tance of this country to England, 'which could not long remain unpossessed', he said 'either by the French, Span- liards, or Dutch, so that if the plantations were to be given up, the honor as well as the interest of the nation, must greatly suffer.' A committee was then appointed by the house to examine the patent and make objections, to be delivered to Gorges. These he fully answered, with the assistance of the celebrated Lord Finch, and Mr. Cal- trap, as legal counsel. The Parliament, however, in its zeal to reform abuses of the royal prerogative, placed the igrant to the Council of Plymouth on the list of grievances presented to the King. Althougli James did not see fit to recal it, the Council of their own accord suspended oj)erations for a time. The death of Sir Ferdinando is supposed to have oc- curred about the year 1647, when the civil war was at its height. It is almost unnecessary to add, that he never visited New England. He was succeeded in his tide and estates by his oldest son, named John, a man of little en- ergy, who did not survive his father many years. Sir John left a son Ferdinando, who inherited the title, and soon after began to interest himself in the affairs of Maine. He published a history of the plantations undertaken in N. England, mostly derived from the papers of his grand- I father, in 1658. ' Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor, and Mayor of Gorgeana, was styled in the commission from Sir Ferdi- nando his 'well beloved cousin,' or kinsman. He was probably the son of a younger brother of Sir Ferdinando. He received from the lord proprietor, 1641, a grant of 5000 acres of land in any part of the Province at his election, not interfering with prior grants, to constitute a Barony, 'with full power to divide the same into manors I 66 HISTORY OF SACO and lordships, and to hold court barons and court leets within said Lordship.' Thomas chose a tract in Wells, near the small river Ogarnus: or Ogunquit, where he sold a parcel to the Rev. John Wheelwright in 1643. Henry, a brother of Thomas Gorges, brought actions of eject- ment at the court of 1686, for lands contained in this grant, and succeeded in some of them. Capt. Francis Champernoon, one of the council in the government of Gorges 1640, is styled his 'loving nephew' in the commission. He resided at Kittery, where he died 1687. Two of his daughters married in the Cutts fami- ly. A third married Humphry Eliot, whose son, Cham- pernoon Eliot, was the principal heir of Capt. Champer- noon, inheriting 'all his lands in old and New England.' We have already stated, that Mr. John Oldham, the associate patentee of Mr. Vines, was not among the set- tlers at Winter Harbor. A brief notice of him is never- theless due, from the agency which he probably had in procuring the patent. Mr. Oldham came to New Eng- land 1623, with a family of ten persons, and joined the colony of New Plymouth. The next year he became involved, together with the Rev. John Lyford, in a seri- i ous difference with the leading individuals of that colony, ! and received sentence of banishment. Returning thither in the spring of 1625, he was again expelled, and com- pelled to take refuge with his family at Nantasket, where he was joined by Mr. Lyford, IVlr. Roger Conant, and some others, with their families, from New Plymouth. The cause of this secession from the colony seems to have been a dislike of the peculiarly rigid principles of the greater part of the pilgrims. Soon after a company in England, intending to establish a plantation at Cape Ann, appointed these gentlemen to superintend it. Mr. Conant,', who commenced the settlement of Salem soon after, had the care of the planting and fishing ; Mr. Oldham was to i conduct the trade ; and Rev. Mr. Lyford to be their min- ister.* In 162H, Mr. Oldham went to England, when he | appears to have regained the good opinion of the old col- *N. E. Memorial. 117-8. note. AND BIDDEFORD. GT ony, who committed to his charge a prisoner of some con- sequence. It is uncertain in what year he returned. While in England, he was chiefly occupied with a grant made to him by Robert Gorges on Charles river. The Mass. Colonists complained much of his pertinacity in de- fending his right and title, notwithstanding their patent em- braced the tract in question.* Terms of agreement were proposed to him, which i)e at first rejected ; but as we next find him living quietly under their jurisdiction with- in the limits of his grant, at VVatertown, in 1632, some compron)ise probably had been made. In that year, a contmittee composed of two persons from each of the eight towns then forming the colony of Mass. bay, was chosen by the people to confer with the Governor and as- sistants on the subject of raising a public fund ; when Mr. O. and one other represented that town.f This body was the germ of the General Court established two years af- ter on the same basis of representation. We next find Mr. Oldham with three others travelling from Dorchester to Connecticut, through the wilderness, to view the country and trade with the Indians. The result of this journey, performed in 1633, was the first settlement of the Eng- lish in Connecticut, the favorable accounts of the travel- I lers on their return inducing a number of planters to go I thither. { At the first Gen. Court holden May 14, 1634, i Mr. Oldham was one of the two representatives of Water- I town. His adventurous and enterprising spirit at length ; brought him to a tragical end. In the summer of 1636, while on a trading voyage to the coast of Connecticut, he was barbarously murdered by some of the Pequod In- dians, who attacked him in his pinnace near Block Island. This was the second instance of murder committed by those Indians, and was followed by a war of extermina- tion which put a period to the existence of that tribe. The foregoing pages have narrated the principal events of a public nature, in which Richard Vines, the foun- der of our towns, bore a part. Whatever we have been tSee a letter to Gov. Endicott. Hazard's Coll. 1.256, tPrince, I. 60. tDr. Harris. Hist, of Dorchester. Hist. Coll xi. A tradinghouse had been before set up on the Connecticut by the New Plymouth people, but without making a regular settlement. 68 HISTORY OF SACO able to collect relating to his private history, will be now presented to the reader. The following account derived from the journal of Gov. Winthrop, furnishes us with some knowledge of the extent of his transactions in the way of trade. About the year 1642, two rival French establish- ments existed at Penobscot and near the mouth of the St. John. At the head of the former was Monsieur D'- Aulnay, and of the latter, De la Tour. So far did these adventurers carry their feuds, that they engaged in open liostilities against each other. The assistance of the Massachusetts Colonies was sought by both, to enable them to carry on their vindictive operations. La Tour came to Boston for this purpose in 1643, but before the object oft his visit could be attended to, he was required to answer for killing two Englishmen at Machias, and taking away their goods to the amount of 500/. Mr. Vines was part ( owner of the alleged goods, and happening to be in Bos- ton at this time, he was requested to appear with La Tour before the Governor and assistants, that the charge might be duly investigated. The facts were as follows. Mr. Vines being on a trading voyage to the eastward, fell in with La Tour, and sold him goods to the value of 400 beaver skins. At the same time, the French officer infor- med him that he had a commission from his government i to make prize of all who traded in that quarter, and warn- ed him to forbear in future, but gave him liberty to trade while on his return, provided he erected no tradinghouse ' or fort on the coast. Mr. Vines, however, landed h>s goods at Machias afterwards, and set up a wigwam or camp, in which he left five men provided with firearms, and a small vessel, and returned home. Two days after, La Tour cast anchor before this place, when one of Vines's men went on board his vessel to make the necessary ex- planations. In the meantime, some of the French crew landed, and as they were going towards the wigwam, ap- parently with hostile intent, one of the men left there at- tempted to discharge a gun. The Frenchmen immediate- ly fired on them, and killed two of their number. La Tour afterwards made prisoners of the others and seized the goods, and sent them to a French port. The men were there discharged, but the goods were adjudged to AND BIDDEFORD. 09 be lawful prize. Mr. Vines maintained that he did not exceed the liberty given him by La Tour, having merely set up a temporary shelter for his goods, which he showed to be of the value of 400/. La Tour, finding that the facts were against him, and wishing to quiet the minds of his judges, promised to have the circumstances investi- gated at a future time, and to make satisfaction, if it ap- peared that he had done wrong. Pacified by these promises, the governor permitted him to enlist ships and men in his service to act against his rival at Penobscot. The following year Mr. Vines in company with Capt, Warnerton of Pascataqua, and Mr. Short of Pemaquid, made a visit to St. John for the purpose of collecting their debts. On their way, they put in at Penobscot, where they were detained several days by D'Aulnay. When liberated, they proceeded to St. John, and were hospitably received by La Tour. At this time an expe- dition was fitted out by him against Penobscot, in which a number of Englishmen embarked, who happened to be at St. John ; among others, Capt. Warnerton. The en- terprise was unsuccessful, and cost Warnerton his life.* A visit of Mr. Vines to the White Mountains, descri- bed by Winthrop, is worthy of notice. It was performed in the month of August, 1642, by him in company with Thomas Gorges, the deputy-s:;overnor. Darby Field, who was living at Exeter 1639, has the credit of being the first traveller to these mouniains. His journey also is described by Winthrop, who says it was performed in the year 1642. He appears to have returned by the way of Saco. "The report he brought," says Winthrop, "of shi- ning stones, he. caused divers others to travel thither, but they found nothing worth their pains. Mr. Gorges and Mr. Vines, two of the magistrates of Sir F. Gorges' pro- vince, went thither about the end of this mouth," (Au- gust.) They set out, probably, a few days after the re- turn of Field, dazzled by visions of diamonds and other precious minerals, with which the fancy of this man had *Th^. dissensions of La Tour and D'Aulnay have been made the sub- ject of an agreeable tale, called "the Rivals of Acadia," printed at Boston lc27. 7 70f HISTOliY OF SACO garnished his story. "They went up Saco river in birch canoes, and that way they found it 90 miles to Pegvvag- get, an Indian town, but by land it is but 60. Upon Saco river they found many thousand acres of rich mea- dow, but there are ten falls which hinder boats, he. From the Indian town they went up hill (for the most part) about 30 miles in woody lands, then they went a- bout 7 or 8 miles upon shattered rocks, without tree or grass, very steep all the way. At the top is a plain about 3 or 4 miles over, all shattered stones, and upon that is another rock or spire about a mile in height, and about an acre of ground at the top. At the top of the plain arise fotir great rivers, each of them so much water at the first issue as would drive a mill : Connecticut river from two heads at the north west and south west, which join in one about 60 miles off; Saco river on the south east ; Amascoggin, which runs into Casco bay, at the north east ; and the Kennebeck at the north by east. The mountain runs east and west 30 or 40 miles, but the peak is above all the rest. They went and returned in 15 days."* This description of the mountains was probably communicated by Mr. Vines to Gov. Winthrop. It con-* veys a very accurate idea of them, as they now strike the traveller. Mr. Vines removed to Barbadoes, W. I. about the close of the year 1645. From some expressions contained ifi j the subjoined letters addressed by him to Gov. Winthrop after his departure, it may be inferred thr.t he had be- come embarrassed in his private affairs. This circum-'i stance, together with the prospect of being subjected to the authority of his political, and perhaps, personal ene- my, Cleaves, probably induced him to remove. Great numbers of English planters flocked to the island of Bar- badoes at that period, which was first settled only twenty years before, and yet, in 1650, contained a population of more than twenty thousand whites, and a much greater number of blacks and Indian slaves. The inhabitants were chiefly royalists, many of whom left England on ac- count of the predominance of the republican party. f ** Journal ii. 89. tMod. Univ. Hist. xli. 137. and biddeford. 71 Letters from R. Vines to Gov. John Winthrop. -."Right Worshipful and ever honoured Sir— I undertake not to give you a relation of this island, presuming you know more thereof than I can express. But my real re- spects to your worthiness enjoin ine to salute you with a line or two, not only to show my gratefulness for former favors, but still desiring to keep correspondency with you, who have always respected me beyond my deserts. I shall be joyful you had any service here to command me, to make good my poor expressions in real actions. This gentleman, JMr. John Mainford, Mer. is coming to your port to trade for provisions for the belly, which at present are very scarce by reason of 5 or 6 months dearth, and not that only, but men are so intent upon planting sugar that they had rather buy food at very dear rates than pro- duce it by labor, so infinite is the profit of sugar works when once accomplished. 1 have by God's assistance settled myself in two plantations adjoining, containing 50 acres, which 1 hope after six months will maintaiin me and mine comfortably, besides my practice of physic which is worth at least 10,000 lbs. tobacco, per annum. Yet it is hard with me by reason of my great payments for my plantation and negroes and other necessary disburse- ments already paid to the value of 40,000 lbs. tobacco, which keeps me bare at present ; I doubt not but the next crop proving well, to be better able to live than 1 have been many years. Mr. Parker* with his wife and fami- ly is well seated in a good plantation of 20 acres, besides a good stipend and many good gifts, well approved of in his function, opposed by none unless by Antinomians and such like. I bless God my family continue in good health, all liking the Island well, notwithstanding the change of diet, which at present is yet but slender, yet far from want. I fear not but within 6 months to live as plentifully as any man upon this island, according to my proportion. 1 have at present 16 acres of corn planted at thi^ least, as much (more) corn for my provisions be- *Rev. James Parker, second minister of Portsmouth, N. H. wherfi he was settled 1643, A(la50s' Aanals of Portsmouth. 72 HISTORY OF SACO sides tobacco. The next year I intend for sugar, at pre- sent I cannot. Thus ceasing further to trouble you save with my respective service to yourself, your virtuous wife, with your sons and daughters, and to the Rev. divines Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wilson, to my worthy friends Major Gibbons and Mr. Hill, leaving you all to Israel's protec- tor — resting Your Assured friend and servant, RICHARD VINES. Barbadoes, 19 July, 1647." R. Vines to Governor Winthrop. "Barbadoes 29 April, 1648. Right Worshipful and my ever honored friend, — Your kind letter of the 24 August I received, which was most welcome to me, esteeming it a high favor that you will vouchsafe to keep correspondence with so undeserving a friend. I perceive by your letter that the Lord did shake his rod over N. England ; it was his great mercy only to put you in remembrance.* We have felt his heavy hand in wrath, and yet I fear, are not sensible of it, for here is lit- tle amendment or notice taken of his great punishments. The sickness was an absolute plague ; very infectious and destroying, in so much that in our parish there were buried 20 in a week and many weeks together 15 or 16. It first seized on the ablest men both for account and ability of body. Many who had begun and almost finished great sugar works, who dandled themselves in their hopes, but were suddenly laid in the dust and their estates left unto strangers. Our N. England men here had their share, and so had all nations especially Dutchmen, of whom died a great company even of the wisest of them. The contagion is well nigh over, the Lord make us truly thank- ful for it and ever mindful of his mercy. I saw your son here, he made but little stay but went for Christopher's with his cargo ; he is a very hopeful gentleman. If the Lord please to send him here again or any other of your *An epidemic which appears to have been the influenza, prevailed throughout the American settlements in 1647, and proved very fatal. It extended to the VV. Indies. Hubbard. 532. The recurrence of this disease at later periods, is noticed by Hutchinsoiij Hist. i. 141. A'ND ETBDEFORD. 13 sons, 1 shall be ready to serve them in what I may. I hear the Lord hath gi-aciously recompensed your incom- parable loss with another most virtuous and loving wife : many and happy be your days together. Sir, 1 shall take it as a great blessing from God to give me a good occa- sion to serve you or any of your children, here or else- where, that 1 might exercise my thankful remembrances for all your courtesies. No more at present but my hum- ble service to yourself and virtuous wife and to all your sons and daughters, committing you all to the protec- tion of almighty God. Ever resting your assured loving friend and serv'ant, RICHARD VINES. I pray. Sir, be pleased to present my best service to Mr. Dudley, IMr. Bellingham, IMr. Stebbins, aad the Rev. ministers ]\[r. Cotton and Mr. Wilson."* It is gratifying to perceive from the tenor of these in- teresting letters, that the personal worth and excellent character of our patentee were appreciated by Winthrop and other leading individuals of the Mass. Colony, not- withstanding his strong attachment to the interests of Gor- ges and of the royal ])arty. Mr. Vines was, besides, a staunch episcopalian, but, as w ill presently appear, he was not unwilling to listen to religious instruction from a non- conformist, although offended by his covert attack upon the rites and ceremonies of the English church. The last year of his abode among us, Mr. Vines held the of- fice of Governor by the election of the General Court. He had previously exercised the duties of that office be- fore the arrival and after the departure of Thomas Gor- ges, by virtue of his commission as Steward General of the Province. That his administration of affairs was ac- ceptable to the people in general^ may be fairly inferred from the strong disapprobation of the attempts made by Mr. Cleaves in England to injure the reputation of his government, expressed by many of the inhabitants. Mr. Vines sold his patent before leaving the coimtry to Dr. Robert Child. The following certificate of the transfer is annexed to the copy of the original instrument ^Hutchinson's Coll. State Papers. 222. 7* 74 HISTORY Of SACO on record. "I, Richard Vines, of Saco, genileman, have bargained and sold the patent above specified unto Ro- bert Child, Esq. Doctor of Physick, and given him livery and seizin upon the 20th day of October 1645, in pre- sence of Mr. Adam Winthrop* and Mr. Benjamin Gil- man." Dr. Child came to New England not long before the date of this purchase. He first appears as a petitioner with others for a plantation at Nashavvay, now Lancaster, lAlass. in 1644, where a considerable tract had been ob- tained of the Indians, and a trading house set up the year before. f Dr. Child resided in Massachusetts dur- ing the short time he remained in this country, where he became so much involved in political disputes, that he gave little attention to his property at this place. A deed of 100 acres to R. Cumming, in exchange for a like quantity on the other patent, dated July 14, 1647, is the only one executed by him found on record. The follow- ing order is without date : "Mr. Doctor Child, Mr. Jo- seph Bowles hath 100 acres of land next unto Mr. Mack- worth's lot ; as yet he hath not a deed for It — I pray you confirm it. Yours, Richard Vines." He appears to have had in view the working of mines of the useful metals. For this purpose he brought over from Derby- shire William White, a miner, who made trial, according to his own account, of the York (iron) mines, but "the spirit of solidity and fusion was not in them." White complained that the Doctor and others concerned, failed to fulfil their contract with him. He had been "promis- ed 05. per day for himself and son, and two cows, and house rent free, and land for himself and all his children ;" but he acknowledges that 'the covenanters' had suffered greater loss than himself in the enterprise. J The York mines to which he refers, were perhaps in England, on the borders of Derbyshire, where he had been employed. The severe and arbitrary character of the Massachu- setts colonial laws at an early period of the history of *Son to the Governor of Mass. Journal, i. G8. note, tllistory of Lancaster, by J. Willard : published in the Worcester Magazine, ii. 273. Winthrop. ii. 161. note. ^White's letter, dated July 24, 1648 ii Mass. Hist. Coll. iv. 195. I AND BIDDEFORD, ^5 that government, is well known. The inhabitants how- ever respectable, who did not fall in with the prevalent religious notions, were debarred from the exercise of many rights and privileges to which they were fully enti- tled as members of the civil community, according to the laws of England. In 1646, a number of individuals, *persons of figure,' as they are styled by Hutchinson, attempted to obtain a modification of the legislative code, by which it might be rendered more conformable to that enjoyed at home. For this purpose, tliey address- ed a petition to the General Court in behalf of them- selves and others, in which they complained of the de- nial of civil rights to such as were not members of churches, and of christian privileges to all who were not members of the particular churches in the country ; and prayed that civil liberty and freedom might be forthwith granted to all truly English, and that all members of the church of England or of Scotland of good standing might be admitted to the privileges of the churches of New England ; or if the enjoyment of those liberties were deni- ed, that they might be freed from the heavy load of taxes imposed on them. In case redress was refused, they were resolved to appeal to Parliament, "who, they hoped, would take their sad condition into consideration." The petition was signed by seven persons, at the head of whom was Dr. Child. "^ The style of it being bold, and not over respectful, it created great excitement throughout that colony, generally adverse to the petitioners. The magistrates or rulers were filled with indignation, and im- mediately caused them to be arrested for contempt of government. They gave bonds for their appearance at the next court, when they were severally sentenced to the payment of heavy fines. The Doctor, "in regard he had no cause of complaint, and yet was a leader to the rest, and had carried himself proudly in the court," was fined 50Z., ten more than any other. The court in pass- ing sentence, reminded them of the resemblance of the crime they had committed, to that of Korah and his troop, *Hutchinson's State Papers. 188. HISTORY OF SACO who were destroyed for rebelling against Moses and Aaron.* But the subject did not rest here. Dr. Child prepar- ed to embark for England, to lay the subject before Par- liaujent. This, however, he was prevented from doing by the interference of the magistrates, who caused him to be arrested the evening previous to his intended depar- ture. His trunks were at the same time seized and searched. Similar violence was used towards another gentleman who had signed the petition, in whose 'study' were found copies of letters, &lc. designed for England. Dr. Child was carried before the council, by whom he was told that provided his depoitment became more re- spectful towards the gentlemen of the court, "he should be treated in a manner suited to his quality ;" otherwise he was threatened with irons and imprisonment. The coun- cil then ordered the marshal to take him in custody, in whose keeping he remained until the ships had sailed, when he was permitted to continue a prisoner in his own house on giving bonds for his appearance at the next term of the Court of Assistants, lie appeared, but it was a- greed to refer his case to the cognizance of the General Court, and he was offered his liberty, restricted, however, to Boston, provided he would give security to appear be- fore that body. The Doctor chose to go to prison rather than comply with these terms, and was accordingly com- mitted. This was in March, 1647. f How soon he was set at liberty, does not appear, nor on what conditions ; but the next year we find him in England, where his exer- tions to effect the same object were also defeated. He a])pears not to have returned to this country. A full account of the proceedings in relation to this subject, was published in England after the return of Dr. Child, by his brother. Major Child of Kent, in which the conduct of the petitioners was vindicated. "There was a simultaneous struggle for toleration," says a late writer, "in the old colony, promoted by Mr. William Vassall."{ Winthrop. ii. 291. tibid. ii.'^34-301. JN. E. Memorial. Note by the Editor. 236. AND BIDDEFORD. 77 I This attempt likewise failed. The want of success at- I tending the petitioners of both colonies, has been ascri- bed to the skilful management of Gov. Edward Winslow, of New Plymouth, who was then in England, and in i great esteem with many of the members of Parliament I and the principal persons in power. In reply to the ! publication of Maj. Child, Mr. Winslow published a pamphlet entitled "New England's Salamander discover- ed," "pointing therein at Mr. Vassall," says Winihrop, "a man never at rest but when he was in the fire of conten- tion." Several members of the court of Assistants dissented from the harsh proceedings acainst Dr. Child and his fel- low petitioners. But Gov. Winihrop, who contended for the divine authority of magistrates, was active in their prosecution. Nevertheless a strong party was raised in their favor, and the following year the re-election of the governor met with serious opposition. Dr. Child studied medicine at the university of Padua, in Italy, where he received his medical diploma. This circumstance is alluded to in an answer to the remon- strance or petition, which was published with the sanc- tion of the Gen. Court, in the following terms : "The first (and he that must be a leader in this design) is a Pa- duan Doctor (as he is reputed) lately come into the coun- try, who hath not so much as tasted of their grievances, nor is like to do, being a bachelor, and only a sojourner, who never paid penny to any public charge, though (of his own good will) he hath done something for public use." Dr. Child appears to have been a gentleman of fortune ; he of course intended to reside in N. Eng- land, and in conjunction with the others, driven out of the country at the same time, would doubtless have proved a valuable acquisition. One only of the petitioners remain- ed in the colony, Mr. Maverick of Noddle's island, 'who had experience enough of the Mass. rulers,* says the can- did editor of Winthrop's Journal, 'to know that their in- tolerance sometimes yielded to interest.' Our own in- habitants had great reason to regret the want of success attending these exertions to introduce the principle of toleration into the civil code of the puritans ; since a pa- 78 HISTORY OF SACO tentee so liberal and enterprising as Dr. Child, might justly have been expected lo promote the growth and prosperity of the infant settlement. CHAPTER VI. Our early settlers, as we have already stated, were not j like the other fathers of N. England, religious sectarians, flying from the intoleraiice of their native land. They were emigrants from motives of interest, brought hither by tne same impulse that even at the present day carries j men of an enterprising character to the very corners of the earth. Cherishing a strong attachment to the church in whose bosom they were reared, one of their first mea- sures was to provide for the support of a religious teacher among them from her comnumion. In other respects, too, they carefully conformed to the institutions and laws of the mother country, designed to regulate the moral and reli- gious character of the people. Prcfaneness, neglect of the sabbath, and immoralities of various kinds, were pun- ished by the same penalties that were inflicted in England, j In removing to so wide a distance, therefore, from the j jurisdiction under which they had lived, the colonists ■ brought with them the salutary restraints and venerated j observances that existed there. A community strictly j English in its character was thus established on our shores, j and continued so to exist until changed in its features by ' the extension of the power and the principles, both civil and religious, of the puritan colonies. ? The first clergyman who settled in the vicinity of Saco river, was the Rev. Richard Gibson. He is said to have come over at the desire of Mr. Trelawney, probably from his having resided at Spurwink near the establishnient of that gentleman, and having been partly supported by him. His name first occurs in the records of the I courts of 1G36, already quoted. It appears from a later record that he had 'corn growing at Saco' ; it is probable AND BIBDEFORD. 79 enough that the English custom of paying tithes or a tenth part of the products, was practised, althougli a ^coniposi- tion' in money was paid by many of the planters. At the close of 1640, or early in the following year, Mr. Gibson removed to Portsmouth. Me is supposed to have been the first minister of that place. '^ While at Pascataqua, he was summoned to Boston to answer the chare;e of n)arry- ing and baptizing at the isles of Shoals. The laws of the Mass. colony forbade the practice of the clerical duties to any of the chmch of England. "He being wholly addicted to the hierarchy and discipline of England," says VVinthrop, "did exercise a ministerial function in the same way, and did marry and baptize at the Isle of Shoals, which was found within o«ir jurisdiction." Mr. Gibson, moreover, had written a letter to a minister at Dover, Mr. Lirkham, in which he spoke in no very respectful terms of the Mass. government, 'denying ^heir title in those parts, f and thereby disaffecting the people.' For these heinous offences, on presenting himself at Boston, he was committed to custody, in which he continued several days, till at length "he made a full acknowledge- ment of all he was charged with, and submitted himself to the favor of the court. Whereupon" (continues Win- throp) "in regard he was a stranger and was to depart the country in a few days, he was discharged without any fine or other punishment." So great lenity would not have been shown, it seems, had not Mr. Gibson design- ed to leave New England immediately. These circum- stances occurred 1642. The Rev. Robert Jordan arrived from the west of England, probably in the summer of 1640. He was ap- pointed in that year arbitrator in a dispute between Cleaves and Royal. Mr. Jordan married the daughter and only child of Mr. Winter, and on the decease of his father in law about 1648, he administered on liis estate. In the inventory of property in joint ownership between Trelawney and Winter, the articles of use in the church service are enumerated ; the communion vessels, cush- *Adain3' Annals of Portsmouth, tReferring without doubt to th« prior title of Robert Ganges. so HISTORY OF SACO ions, &;c. which had been furnished by Mr. Trelawnej. .; In the account exhibited by Mr. Jordan against the estate, we find the following items : "For his charge (of ihei plantation) one half year, 20L ; for his nainistry as by composition^ one half year, lOZ." Tlie plantation was; deeply in debt to Mr. Winter, and by a decree of the court of Lygonia, the whole property of the patent and the personal estate, and every thing belonging to the es- tablishment, was assigned to Mr. Jordan as his heir. These early clergymen probably divided their sabbath ministrations between the Spurwink and Casco settle-' ments, and Saco. We find 'the Church Point' mention- ed in the boundaries of an estate at Winter Harbor in 1642 ; it is quite probable, therelore, that a small church was erected there. Mr. Jordan continued to reside at I Spurwink until the breaking out of the Indian war in ' 1675, when he removed to Great Island, now Newcastle,, at the mouth of the Pascataqua, then a part of Ports- • mouth. He died at that place four years after at the age ; of 78 years, bequeathing an immense real estate to his i six sons, situated principally in the towns of Scarboro' and Cape Elizabeth. To his wife, whose name was; Sarah, the daughter of Mr. Winter, he gave the old plan- i tation at Spurwink, containing 1000 acres of land, andlj the Nonesuch farm in Scarboro' of 2000 acres ; the re->| version of the former, after her death, to his youngest son ij Jeremiah ; the latter to be disposed of by her to any ofl the children at her pleasure. To his sons Dominicus, Jedediah and Samuel, each 1000 acres at Spurwink..] To his oldest sons, Robert and John, he had before grant- ed estates ; to the former ''a tract of land commonly call- ed Cape Elizabeth," making a reservation in favor of Johnii of Richmond's Island, "of ingress and regress to Alewife's pond for bail." John's deed conveyed to him Rich- mond's island together with 'the houses, stages, and build- ings thereupon,' and 300 acres of land lying next adjoin-^-j ing the marsh. The island contains about 300 acres, ' and is now the property of one of the numerous descen- dants O^ R/>l>«!t JmH house is to be devided betweene them as may be most convenient for their use. Richard Cooman (Cumming) is granted one akor of marsh in the cove at the end of the railes next Thomas Hailes 2 akors of marsh. This much is divided and granted this 12 of July by the select-? men of Saco 1653 Thomas Williams, Robert Booth." The next record, dated July 17, continues the divi- sion. *'John Lighton is granted 6 akors of marsh being betweene Stonie stand and the seawall abuting upon thej great pond from the upland streight down to the Creake at the seawall being at the southwest end of the pond* Ralph Trustrum is granted to have his six akors mension- ed upon his lease to ly in the cove at the southwest end of John Lightons marsh. Also Ralph Trustrum is grant- ed 5 akors more of marsh at the lower end of his 6 akors on both sides the Creeke next J. Leightons running downe by 2 points of rockes to the Creeke. It is granted to R.' Booth to have all those porshions of marsh about Stonie , Stand point from his house about point north east to the mill and so to J. Lightons marsh. Water Pennell is granted 2 akors of marsh next Ralph Trustrums marsh on the southwest. It is granted to R. Booth and W. Pen-,! nell to have all that neck of land commonly called Stonie ■ ^ ^ ^ c^ ^ ^ Hv. •Ni -^ J . > -^ ^ > ^ i ^ «« , J^j f Z» "^ A c^ ^ *»■ »^» ^'^J AND BIDDEFORD. 99 Stand being 60 pole in bredth or thereabout be It more or less and so up into the woods south west until 150akors be compleated with all the profits thereto belonging to the same next to R. Trustrums on the south east ol his lott." The following grant relates to the first sawmill erected on this river. *'Sept. 27, 1653. It is granted by the townesmen of Saco that Roger Spencer have libartie to set up a saw- mill within their township provided that he doth make hir redie to doo execution within one year, and also that he shall have sufficient accomodation for such a work upon this condition thai all the townsmen shall have hordes 12d in a hundared cheaper than any stranger. Secondly that the townsmen shall be imployed in the worke before a stranger provided that they doo their worke so cheap as a stranger : this acomodation we have granted to him and his heaires forever."* A similar grant was made not long after as follows. ^'Sacothe 11 month, 17 day 1653. (Jan. 17,1654.) Granted to John Davies of York to have the priviledge to set up a sawmill upon the great falls of the river of Saco any where within the township of Saco and to have acomodation suffisient for that worke the most convenient that he can find next to Roger Spencer lately grant but not hinder any other worke or acommodation that hereaf- ter shall be granted if posible he can prevent their pre- judice or hinderance of any man. Also the said John Davis shall have timber land and midow suffisient for his worke if it is to be had about and above the falls ungrant- ed he is to finish this work within 2 years ^ after the date hereof, that in case he do not finish it by that time yet he shall thenceforward pay all dues hereafter mentioned in this covenant according to a proportionable value as by diligent imployment may be raited. And he is to set the townesmen on work above and before others strangers and buy provisions of them before strangers at price cur- ent. The towne is to have boi des of him for their own use at lOd Q. 100 under price curent. Also John Davis, ^Sullivan, p. 221, was not very successful in decyphering this grant. 100 HISTOKY OF SACO shall set up his forge in Saco and do such work for the^l inhabitants as they shall have need of in lime convenient for curent price and curent pay so long as he (is) inhabi- tant in Saco or hath a dwelling there." Tlie earliest entire list of town officers is dated 16 June 1656, when were chosen Ralph Tristram, Constable ; T. Rogers, Grandjuryman ; Thomas Williams, Ambrose Berry, and Robert Booth, Commissioners : R. Booth, Clerk of the Writs ; (equivalent to town clerk ;) Henry Waddock, Mr. T. Wilhams, James Gibbins, R. Booth, A. Berry, R. Tristram, and Rich. Hitchcock, Pruden- tial men (Selectmen) ; T. Williams, Town Treasurer. It was ordered at a previous meeting, 1654, "that if any outner desire to come into towne to inhabite, they shall first put in sufisient not to be chargeable to the towne." In 1659, we find, ''Mr. Edward Colcott is re- ceived an inhabitant into our towne of Saco. Allso he is granted a loit in our towne lying on the southwest side of our river 20 poles broad next N. Buly, jr. and all the upland in the tract to fourtie pole in length being on the north west side Buly's house And foure akors of marsh lying on the southwest side of Little river next William Scadlock between him and Rich. Hitchcox about the isl- ands." In 1671, a fine of ten pounds was imposed on this lot 'for want of improvement according to town or- der.' This person was doubtless the same mentioned in a former chapter, who according to Hubbard came over in 1631 to Pascataqua, and "for want of a better was af- terwards for some years together chosen governor of the plantations about Dover."* N. Buly, jr's, grant was "in Saco river near Puding point upon a little runlitt of water coming out of the woods, in bredih fiftie poles, that is to say : 20 poles on the lower side the gut or runlitt of water, and 30 poles on the hyer side next to John Wests laitely granted." The town commissioners or justices for the trial of petty cases, entered their doings in the town book. The com- missioners were annually elected by the townsmen. "At *See paare 43, and Hubbard. N. E. 219. He is styled Mr. in our records, a title denoting some consequence at that period. AND BIDDEFORD* 101 a commissioners' court held at Saco 1658, James Har- man is presented for swearing, cursing, and drunkenness, and is fined fourtie shillings and bound to his good beha- viour till the Countie Court, in a bond of ten pounds, and Ralph Trustram for him." "Nov. 25, 1661. At a town court houlden at Ralph Tiustram's house at Winter Harbor — an action of tres- pass entered by Lieut. William Phillips, plaintiff against Richard Hitchkox, of trespasse in cutting hay or grasse on his marsh, for the plff. 205. damages and costs of court." Verdict of a jury of inquest : "The 27 of the 10 month, 1658. A jury being somoned on account of the death of Mary Haile (Haley) brougbt in this verdict, viz. 'We of the jury about Mary Haile have agreed that according to the evidence given too us that sbee was accessary to her own death with over much eating and drinking : we not having any witnesse that shee was for- ced thereunto.' The jury were these Capt Rogger Spen- cer, Mr. T. Williams, Mordecai Crawitt, R. Trustram, P. Hill, John Hallsome, Jerimie Umfrees, R. Hill, J. Bouden." Another jury "impannelled to inquiere of the death of Lydrack Luscom six yere old. This jury re- turrne this verdict : That he was drownded accedentally through his own default." The town was first represented at the Mass. General Court in 1659, by Robert Booth ; the following year by Rich. Hitchcock.* in 1675, they appointed Capt. Rich. Waldron of Dover to be their deputy ; the colony laws not requiring that the representative of a town should be one of its inhabitants. f The town was not represented in the Mass. Gen. Court at any other time during that century. Under the Government of the King's Com- missioners 1667, Bryan Pendleton was elected Burgess to attend the Gen. Court of the Province. In some of the town grants the reservation is made, 'except any one can show a better title than the town hath.' The lands granted were situated in the patent of Dr. Child ; the freemen strictly were not enthled to the •Records Gen. Court. tAncient Charters and Laws. 07. 102 HISTORY OF SACO disposal of them, but no intelligence having been receiveii! from the patentee at that time, they assigned lots to thos( who would improve them, without warranting the good^ ness of the title. In 1656, three executions were levie( on the patent in satisfaction of judgments granted by the court at Salem to Joseph Armitage of Lynn, againsi Messrs. John Beex and Company of London, a mercan; tile house of extensive connections in New England. Dr Child probably sold to them, but at what time we ani not informed. Armitage was the assignee of Samue Bennett and Henry Tucker, creditors of Beex and com- pany. The amount of the executions was about £130^ Bennett, and perhaps Tucker, belonged to Lynn. Mr Beex was concerned in the Iron Works at that place commenced 1643, and carried on at considerable ex pense and loss for several years.* Armitage came an( made his levies at Winter Harbor, but met with some re- sistance from the inhabitants. He was 'arrested for un just molestation at the suit of T. Williams and neighbors' they, however, agreed to refer the dispute to the decisior ol the Gen. Court. The inhabitants seem to have pre- vailed, as Beex and company subsequently sold to Wii liam Piiillips Jr. of Boston. They were probably no apprised that Dr. Child had transferred his right in th( patent ; nor was the fact of its having become the pro- perty of Beex and company, made to appear with cer- tainty by the claimants. Armitage moreover, behave( with undue violence in asserting his pretended right threatening 'to clear his land by fire,' and thus lay waste the improvements made upon it, unless his claims were admitted. The success of the town was therefore i source of satisfaction, and without doubt materially pro- moted its interests. The claimant was a man of low staiid-l ing and in embarrassed circumstances. f Mr. Phillips, or the contrary, who purchased not long after the date o| these events, was a gentleman of a liberal and enter-ijj prizing character, as it will appear in the course of ihejl *Levvis. Hist. Lynn. 81. 117. Mr L. remarks that most of the iron Used in the Colony at that period was furnished from this source. tlbid. 93. AND BIDDEFORD. 108 following pages. Mr. John JefFerd, named in the deed )f Beex and Co. lo Phillips, of which we subjoin a copy, Was several years the agent for the Iron Works at Lynn ; le commenced his charge at that place 1651.* Deed of Vines's Patent, now Biddeford. "Know all men by these presents that I, William Haw- thorne of Salem in New England, Planter and Attorney \o Mr. John Jeffard in behalf of Mr. Beex and Company of London, for and in consideration of the sum of ninety pounds to me in hand paid before the sealing and deli- very of these presents, Have given, granted, bargained and sold unto Lieut. William Phillips of Boston, Vintner, 'all that tract of land mentioned in a patent granted by the Right Hon. Robert Earl of Warwick and Company unto 'Mr. Vines, bearing date 20 Feb. 1629, as in said patent doth more at large appear, which is delivered to him at the sealing hereof, as also I\Ir. Vines's deed of sale to Dr. 'Child, To have and to hold all that tract of land above- said with all the appurtenances, he. to him the said Wil- ,liam Phillips, his heirs and assigns forever, u^arranting ■and defending the same against Mr. Beex and Company, or any claiming from, by or under them or any of them. 'In witness w^iereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11 March, 1658-9. (signed) William Hathorne." Acknowledged before Gov. J. Endecott. Possession given 13 Jime 1659, in presence of Edw. Rishvvorth and 'William White.f , The following indenture was made between Mr. Phil- l*lips and the old inhabitants. "A. D. 1659, 26 Sept. It 'is agreed and consented unto by Mr. W. Phillips of Bos- 'ton of the one party, and Mr. Thos. Williams, R. Trus- i trum, P. Hill, N. Buly, sen. and Christopher Hobbs, of ' Saco, of the other party; that the said parties having leases and possession of certain lands and meadows from *Lewis. Hist 97. Mr. Lewis writes the name Gifford. He had a f son Philip. The Rev Samuel Jefferds, minister of Wells 1725-52, \ was born at Salem ; we should have supposed him a descendant of the abovementioned gentleman, but family tradition relalee that his \ father, Simon Jefferds, came from England 1700. i County Records. 104 HISTORY OF SACO Mr. Vines in Saco, they shall freely forever hereafter en- J joy the same with all the privileges and profits contained ' in such their leases and possessions both they and their heirs or assigns forever, for and in consideration of pay- ing one day's work for each lessee if it be demanded within the year, and yearly. And as for all mines, one fifth part shall belong to the state of England, and one half of the rest to the said Mr. Phillips and Iiis succes-- sors, and the other half to the possessors and their succes-- sors forever ; To the which agreement the said Mr. Phil-- lips doth bind himself, his heirs or assigns in the sum ofi six pounds sterling to each man herein expressed in case it should so happen that the right and title be at any time hereafter recovered out of the hands of the said Mr. W. Phillips or his heirs or assigns. In witness hereto we have interchangeably set our hands the day and date afore- said." (Signed by the parties.) A controversy soon after arose between the town and Mr. Phillips, which came before the Gen. Court, as ap- pears from the following record ; "At a town meeting 5 . month 6 day (July 6) 1 660. It is a town act that Mr; J Robert Jordan and IVIr. Richard Hitchcock are empower-- ed as Attorneys, to be advocates to plead the town's privi- leges, properties and interests with Lieut. W. Phillips, in a case depending between him and the town before the Honored Gen. Court's committee." The committee consisted of Maj. General Humphry^ Atherton, Thos. Savage, and Thos. Clarke, Esquires, to t whom were also referred the petitions of Geo. Cleaves,^ of Falmouth, John Bonython and Richard Foxwell, re- • specling their patents, the latter as heirs of Capt. Rich- - ard Bonython. They reported at the October session i 1660, as follows: "We whose names are underwritten ' being appointed by the Gen. Court held at Boston Octo. . 18, 1659, to hear and determine certain differences which i concern Lieut. W. Phillips, Mr. G. Cleaves, Mr. J. Bony-^' - thon and Mr. Foxwell, and to make return thereof unto i this court ; We accordingly have attended that service ; and return as followeth : That the town of Saco shall I have belonging unto it all the land lying within the bounds hereafter mentioned, viz. from Winter Harbor to Saco AND BIDDEFORD. 105 river mouth and from thence up along the river towards the falls as far as the house of Ambrose Berry, and from thence a line to run on a square towards Cape Porpoise so far as the bounds of said Saco go that way, and so down the dividing line between Cape Porpoise and Saco unto the sea, and so along the sea unto Winter Harbour, reserving out of this tract the seawall beginning at a pond about half a mile southward from the mill commonly called Duck pond, and running from the said pond to the mill, and from thence to the rock of land on which Roger Spencer liveth, with the marshes adjoining to the seawall, not exceeding 40 rods broad from said wall ; And also a neck of land commonly called Parker's neck, also sixty acres of wood land adjoining to an allotment late in the possession of Goodman Leighton, now in the possession of Lieut. Phillips, also sixty acres of land lying between Mr. Hitchcock's house and Saco river mouth, where Lieut. Phillips shall make choice of it in any land not in lease ; which aforesaid tract of land so bounded shall be disposed of by the townsmen of Saco, either for com- mons, or otherwise as they shall see cause, unto which disposal of the aforesaid tract Lieut. W. Phillips doth consent. And all contracts made by any of the posses- sors of any land within the limits of the patent in Saco, which did belong unto Mr. R. Vines, with Lieut. Phil- lips are to stand good. And such possessors of land within the said limits as have not as yet contracted f(jr their land that they do possess, are to pay the like pro- portions of rent which those do who have already con- tracted. And all other lands laid out within the limits of the patent of Mr. Vines, excepting that neck of land where R. Spencer dwelleth, which said neck is bounded with the end of the sea wall next to it adjoining, to be- long unto Mr. Phillips. "In relation to the complaint of Mr. J. Bonython, We find his patent is in joint to Mr. T. Lewis and the father of Bonython, and that several of those which he com- plains against, had land from the aforesaid Lewis and his successors ; We therefore order that a due division be made betwixt them if it be not already done. And then those that trespass on any of Mr. Bonython's rights, he 10 106 HISTOKY OF SACO may have bis remedy in a cause of law, where wi3 hope he may liave justice. "^ * * As to the complaints of IVlr. R. Fox well, he appeared not there to make any proofs thereof. (Signed by the Committee.) Dated 25 of the J 8th month (Oclo.) 1660. The court approved of tliere^ turn of the commissioners and do order it shall be a final issue &LC. A true copy. E. Rawson, Secretaiy. Transcribed into York Records, 1 March, 1680-1, by E. Rishworth, Recorder. The following record from the town-book, relates to the above proceedings. 'M661 : 2 month 20 day, at a ij town meetins; in Saco there was an order read in the mee- I ting which came from the genera 11 Court concerning the i proceeding between Lieut. Wm Phillips the [)atentie and i the inhabitants of Saco, the which Court order and con- clusion the maior part of tlie meeting doth accept. R, Bootli town dark." The town at a subsequent meeting passed a vote that the. selectmen "shall have the disposing and alloting of all' such lands and meadows as are lefi to the town's disposal by the Gen. Court's Commissioners, whose disposal the Gen. Court did approve." , Phillips acquired soon after another title to his landg^ by an extensive purchase from an Indian sachem. This' title proved valid where grants had not been previously made. A copy of the i\ee(\ is subjoined. Indian Deed.- — "Know all men by these presents th^i I, Mogg Hegone, of Saco river in New England, son and; heir to Walter Higgon, Sagamore of said River, but nowv deceased, do for and in consideration of a certain sura: received by me, well and truly paid in goods by Maj. W.. Phillips of Saco, the receipt whereof I do acknowledges myself being fully satisfied and paid, have given, granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do aliene, en- feoff and confirm unto the said Major W. Phillips of Saco, a tract of land being bounded with Saco river on the northeast side, and Kennebunk river on the south west side, in breadth from the one river to the other river afore- said, and in length beginning at the seaside and running up the east river unto Salmon falls, on Saco river, and as AND BIDDI>FORl». ' 107 far up Kennebunk river until it be opposite Salmon falls., which falls is to be understood falls about fifteen miles upward from the sawmills at Saco falls, He the said Phil- lips to have and to hold the said land with all timber land, marshes, and all the growth thereon for him, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, freely and clearly acquitted, exonerated and discharged from all manner of mortgages, sales, engagements or incum- brances whatsoever. Also I the said Mogg Hegon, do for myself, my heirs, executors and assigns, warrant, save and keep harmless the said Phillips, his heirs or assigns from arty manner of person that shall lay claim thereto ; for the true performance of the premises, I have this last day of May subscribed my hand and fixed my seal. A. D. 1664. — In presence of John Wakefield, Mary Wakefield." Recorded 1669.^ The old lessees in some instances obtained a joint con- firmation from the town and the patentee. *'At a town- meeting March 13, 1667-8. VVe the selectmen doo con- firme unto Roger Hill joyntly with maier Phillips : that his lease which his father Petter Hill had from Mistris Mack- worth in Saco river I say it is ratified and confirmed to the said Roger and his ayers forever as atests Robert Booth Recorder." The following indenture, it will be seen, relates to the other patent. "iVug. 9, 1659. Jt is agreed between H. Waddock and Jas. Gibbins that the said Henry shall be- gin his utmost bounds (at the) great gutt up above his cornfield norwest and str^^ight north to goose faire pathe and so to follow the pathe along to goosefaire old wading place which tract of land and meddowe betweene that bound and the seashore H. Waddock doth take for full satisfaction for all bargaines and sailes heretofore concluded Said H. Waddock shall be free from all rent and demands heretofore and hereafter paying to the said James his heires or assignes one peppercorn uppon the 29 Aug. if it be demanded." (signed.) This tract ■^Sullivan, p. 151, seems to have supposed Phillips had no other titlo than that derived from the Indian purchase. He probably over- looked the J3eex &> Co- deed. 108 HISTORY OF SACO extended from the lower part of the river across to Goose fair brook, and so down to the sea, and contained about 200 acres; it was sold by Waddock's widow to Humphry Scamman 1679. Some years after, 1693, Mrs. Wear- wick, as the name is written in the instrument, then of Gloucester, Mass. executed a power of attorney to her son John Tenny, also of Gloucester, formerly of Black- point, to recover this land of Mr. Scamman, together with £30 or 40 in money. The war had driven away the in- Jiabitants at that tinae, and Scamman, who removed to Kittery, had not then completed his purchase. A few miscellaneous extracts from the town book will not be uninteresting. In 1655 Mr. Thomas Williams was chosen town-treasurer, 'and to take a note of such as con- tribute to the college.* Contributions in aid of the col- lege at Cambridge were solicited in all the towns at that period. In the court records we find William Ward well of Wells presented (1654) ''for denying the college to be any ordinance of God, and therefore it was not his judgment to give any thing to it, when there was some- thing demanded of him for it." "4 Month 24 : 1661 A Jewry impanelled to inquier of the death of Thomas Latimer which lived with John Chater of Wells and ran away from him this month and was found drownded in Saco river, as followeth : A list of the jury mens names, Mr. T. Williams, H. Waddocke, John Sparke, R. Trustrum, John Bowden, Freegrace Norton, N. Buly, J. Gibbines, W. Scadlock, William Kirkeet, Edward Andrews, Nickolas Egcome, Edward Clarke, Jacob Wormwood. Thayr verdick is he was accidentally drowned through his owne defalk, taken be- fore me Rob. Booth." "March 15, 1665-6. At a townemeeting Thomas Har- ries is admitted into this towne to be an inhabytant." An order was passed at this time imposing a fine of 5s. on e- very 'housekeeper* who shall absent himself from towne- meeting. "March 21 : 1666 : 67 At a towne meeting the ma- ior parte act as foloweth Captaine Bryon Pendleton chosen Burgess to act for the towne in the general! Court hi Aprill next." AND BIDDEFORD. MQQ ^'Aprill 12 : 1667 : (same year as above) At a lowne meeting the inhabitants being freeholders act as foloweth : First the laws made at the Generall Assembly were read 2 Three men are chosen for judges of small causes un- der ten pound, namly Captaine Bryan Pendleton Ralph Trustram Henry Waddock and sworne in the presence of the meeting. 3 James Gibbins chosen for the master of the magasin. 4 Robert Booth chosen Clarke of writs and sworn in he. 5 It is voated that a sum of twelve pounds be colected too buy powder and shott and other things for the trayne band 6 Ralph Trustrum Thomas Rogers and Roger Hill are appoynted to bring in the minister's stipend this next yeare 1667. "August 27, 1667. First — James Harman is delt with about misusing his daughter Jane he promiseth not to strike hir any more and his wife Sara promiseth the townsmen that she will take charg of her daughter Jane for the time to come whereupon the townesmen are will- ing to leave her to them and ther keeping for present upon further tryall. Rob : Booth towne Clarke. "September, 1668. The townesmen being met at the meetinghouse do acte as follows Maior Bryan Pendleton and the selectmen namely Major Wm Phillips Henry Waddock and Richard Coman these having dealt with James Harman about his cruill usage of his daughter Jane : they make this conclusion : by reason of a former order that was made by the townesmen in Aug. 27, 1667 she shall be kept with good wife Gibbins if hir husband consent till he and his wife have some discourse about it with the selectmen. Attest R. Booth. "1669. The maior pan of this meeting voat that a rate shall be made towards maintaineing old goodman Sparke by the selectmen with all convenient speed. , "August 1670. At a townemeeting the inhabitants with the townsmen (forbid) Abram Radner his abideing in this towne. 2 Ralph Trustrum is ordered to give war- ning to William N not to be an inhabitant. 3 Roger Hill is to give warning to Mr. Cook on the same 4 It is ordered that some of the selectmen to speak to Maior Phillips to be securytie for the smith." The original of this record is somewhat torn. 10* 110 HISTORY OF SACO "Octo. 1670. The selectmen of Saco this day met and examined all the demands of Rob. Booth and upon agreement between them and Rob. Booth it is agreed that Rob. Booth shall have in satisfacksion for -all de- mands to this day ten pound 3s. 5d. to bee pay^ in the- overplush in the county Rate and the last Rate made for the minister : toward which he has receved from Ralph Trustrum this day four pounds : from John Presbury out of his rate 2-2 ; from Henry Browne for his fines 1-10. **Nov. 10. 1672. At a general townemeeting James Gibbins senior is chosen selecktman in roome of Robert Booth deceased. It is agreed by the hole towne the selecktmen shall forthwith procure a good new Book for the towne Records and procure all the former ackts and records formerly recorded with Alfabet and pages trans- scribed. It is the request of the hole towne to Brian .Pendleton to take care of the towne Book and supplie in roome of a towne clerck for one hole year following this time except hindered by the providence of God." The above record is signed by Maj. Pendleton, and was doubt- Jess written by him. The same year ; 'Theare is due to Thomas Rogers for goinge Comitioner to York fiveteene shillings, to Ensine Gibbings and John Presbery for kill- inge two woolves forty shillings.' "31 of Januarye 1672-3. The selecktmen doth order the constable to gather and colleckt in from the inhabi-s tants of this towne acordinge to the invitory formerly made this yeare one penny farthing on the pownd and the pole nK>ny acordinge to the law, and from Mr. William Downe twenty shillings more." We find no other notice of Mr. Downe, either in the townhook or elsewhere. In October, *it was ordered that there should bee a letter sent to Mr. Monjoy (of Falmouth j to susspend the pri- son Rate untill the County Court in July 74.' A prison was built at Falmouth about that time. AND BIDDEFORI». IH CHAPTER IX. After a lapse of two centuries it can scarcely be ex- pected that much should be known of the private history of the early planters. Mr. Lewis, the associate of Capt. Bonyihon in the eastern patent, was unquestionably a gentleman of more than ordinary standing. He was the attorney of the Council of Plymouth for giving posses- sion of the Hilton patent at Pascataqua, a trust which he executed in 1631.* He had visited New England pre- viously to the year 1630, for the patent was granted to him and Bonython partly "in consideration that Thomas Lewis, Gentleman, had already been at the charge to transport himself and others to take a view of N. Eng- land in America for the bettering of his experience in advancing of a plantation.^ We have seen that he com- menced the settlement on the eastern side of the river, now Saco. one year after Mr. Vines took possession of the opposite shore, viz. in 1631. The last notice we have of him before his decease, is in 1637. He died not long after, for it was ordered by the court of 1640^ that 'Francis Robinson executor of the last will and testa- ment of Thomas Lewis, late of this plantation, deceased, upon the delivery of the goods and chattels now in his custody belonging ta the said testator, unto his creditors, shall be then alk>wed of such reasonable charges as have been by him expended upon two of the children of the said testator since his death." Judith, one of the children, married James Gibbins, a planter, about 1647. Another probably married Robert Haywood, who lived at Barbadoes. This person had a joint title with Gibbins to the lands late belonging to Mr. Lewis, and is styled brother in law by the former in sever- al deeds. In one of these, Haywood's order is stated to bear date Barbadoes, January 10, 1660. He could have no other title to those lands conjointly with Mr. Gib- bins, than arose from the right of Lewis. Gibbins be- *Balknap. Hist.N.H.i.20, 112 . HISTORY OF SACO came eventually sole proprietor of the moiety of the pa-* tent belonging to Mr. Lewis. He came to Saco about 1642, when we first hear of him as the purchaser of Henry Boade's estate at Winter Harbor. The name of Mr. Gibbins is of frequent occurrence in the town records until 1 683. In that year he gave the town ten acres of ' upland and six acres of marsh for the minister. He afterwards removed to Kiitery, where in 1690, he execu- ted a conveyance of 100 acres of land in Saco, to his daughter Elizabeth, 'grandchild to Thomas Lewis, the original patentee.' The children of James and Judith Gibbins were eight in number, viz. James, Elizabeth, Thomas, Charity, Rebecca, (diea in infancy,) Rachel, Hester, and Anthony. James Gibbins, jr. was one of the selectmen 1674. Thomas, in the deed of 1690, mentioned above, is styled by Mr. Gibbins 'his son and heir.' Elizabeth married John Sharp 1667. She was then at the age of 1 5. Rachel married Robert Edge- comb. She died 1724 aged sixty three; her husband died 1730 in the seventy fourth year of his age. Their graves are on Rendezvous-point. He was probably a son of Nicholas Edgecomb, who removed from Blue- point to this town 1660. John, one of the selectmen 1686, was doubtless another son of Nicholas. This family is supposed to be allied to a noble stock in England. In 1637, Sir Richard Edgecomb received an extensive grant of land from Sir F. Gorges, situated between Sagadehock river and Casco bay. It is suppos- ed by Sullivan that Saco river was intended, but this is very improbable ; the territory east of Casco bay, which was the subject of no former grant, was more plausibly fixed upon by the heirs of Sir Richard, who himself paid no attention to the grant. The first attempt to urge this claim was made 1718 by John Edgecomb, agent for a Sir Richard. This was, perhaps, our townsman already mentioned or his son. There is a tradition that one of the Saco Edgecombs went to England by invitation from i his noble relatives early in the last century. In 1756, the claim to this tract was revived by Lord Edgecomb, who empowered Sir W. Pepperell, and after his death, Mr. Sparhawk, to recover it for him, but other titles had i AND BIDDEFORD. 113 become too well established in that quarter, and his lord- ship lost his case.* The title of Lord Edgecomb of Mount Edgecomb, is still borne by one of this family. The Gibbins estate was divided among the heirs in 1730 ; it was then comparatively small, large tracts hav- ing been disposed of by Mr. Gibbins, as will be noticed in another place. There were four sets of heirs: 1. The heirs of Elizabeth Sharp, the oldest daughter of Mr. Gibbins. Her son, Capt. John Sharp, was one of them. 2. The heirs of Rachel Edgecomb viz. her sons Robert and Thomas; and her daughters, Judith, the wife of Abra- ham Townsend, and Mary, the wife of David Young. 3. Hannah Mace. This was a Kittery name, w here the mother of Hannah, a daughter of Gibbins, probably lived. 4. Patience Annable and Rebecca Wakefield, grand daughters doubtless of Mr. Gibbins ; but which of his children they represented we are not informed. Mr. Thomas Edgecomb, of the fifth descent from Thomas Lewis, the original patentee, at present occupies a part of the Gibbins estate, which has continued in the uninter- rupted possession of this family. Capt. Richard Bonython was pmbably settled on his g;rant as early as his associate, Mr. Lewis. f Our first no- tice of his presence here, however, is in the record of the Commissioners' court 1636, holden at his house. He was appointed by Sir F. Gorges one of the Counsellors for the government of the Province in 1640. The last court under that authority sat at Wells 1646, when Capt. Bonython was present. The latest transaction in which we find him engaged, is the conveyance of a piece of land July 14, 1647. His death probably occurred not long after, certainly before the year 1653 ; for he is not enumerated among the inhabitants of East Saco, in a list taken at that time, which contains the name of his son.j; Capt. Bonython was, doubtless, strongly opposed to the claims of Rigby, but we have met with no evidence that he took an active part in the discussions growing out of them. He seems to have sustained a character for gravi- *Sulliyan. 126. ISee Appendix D. tMass. Records. !f4 HISTORY OF SACO ty of deportment, and was evidently treated with greaf respect by his associates in office. He was rarely, iiF ever, a party in any action of whatever kind, but constant in the performance of his duties as a magistrate ; we even find him entering a complaint against his own son, for threatening violence to Mr. Vines. At the same terni the court ordered ''that Jane Shaw, wife of Edw. Shawf shall be whipped at the next quarter court holden at Saco, for abusing Capt. Bonython in slanderous and unreverend speeches." Edward recognized in the sum of £50 "to bring his wife to abide the censure of the court." Thd children of Capt. Bonython were a son and two daugh4 ters ; born in England. John, the son, bore a character the reverse of that of his father. His litigious disposition has already appeared in our extracts from the court records. In 1645, Capt. Bonython said in open court, "that he knew wherever his son met Mr. Richard Vines he would be revenged on him, for he had not forgotten the old quarrel." He did not appear to answer to the charge, and the court pro- ceeded to pass the following decree ; "Whereas J. Bony- thon of Saco, in the Province of Maine, hath been sutn- moned divers times in his Majesty's name to appear at our courts, and hath refused, threatening to kill and slay any persons that should lay hands on him ; vAhereupon the law hath had its due proceeding to an outlawry, and divers judgments, executions and warrants of good be- haviour : VV^e, therefore, at a General Court assembled,' adjudge the said John Bonython outlawed and incapable of any of his Majesty's laws, and proclaim h'm a rebel." It was then ordered ''that if Mr. John Bonython he taken, that he be forthwith sent to Boston, to answer such things as shall then be brouidit against him." His conten^pi of the authoi'ity of the province was referred to the arbitra- • tion of that government. His iaiher Vv'as a member of the provincial coint. Under the government of Mass., John was still more violent ; by whom, we have seen, he was again outlawed, and a price set upon his head. This rigorous procee- ding brought liim to terms. The town book, in which his AND BIDDEFORD. US name is rarely found, contains the following record : "July 11, 1665. At a townmeeting, the justice of the peace and the freeholders being nnet together, a warrant is sent to Mr. John Bonvthon to come and take his oath to be constable, as he was chosen : but he refused, and is fined 4/." R. Booth was then chosen in his place. This was soon after the arrival of the King's commissioners in the province. It appears, therefore, that he attempted to act independently of all aulhority ; hence doubtless he ginned the burlesque title of 'S.igamore of Saco,' which has come down to us in the couplet, said to have been in^ scribed on his grave stone : "Here lies Bonython, the Sagamore of Saco; 7^ He lived a rogue and died a knave and went to Hobomocko.*^^ His death occurred about 1684 ; an order of the court in that year (continues his wife in the possession of her late husband's property. He was supposed at a subsequent period to have been destroyed by the Indians, as appears from the following record in the Book of Claims to eastern lands, opened by order of government at Boston 1718: "Peter Weare, of Hampton claiins a ti ict of land contain- ing 120 acres on the eastern side of Saco river, part of that granted to Richard Bonython in )629, and by him granted to his son John, who was killed by the Indian enemy — said Weare hou2;htof his son and heir by deed." In the registry of deeds we find, that "Richard Bonython, formerly apprentice to Jas. Weymouth of Newcastle, N. H. cordwainer, son and heir to John Bonython of Saco, sold in 1713 to Lieut. Peter Weare of Hampton, a tract of six score acres on the north east side of Saco river in the patent granted to his honored grandfather, Mr. R. bonython and T. Lewis." This Richard, however, was not a son, but a grandson of John Bonython, senior. At the time of the death of the latter, there was peace with the Indians ; and as he was then far advanced in years, it is more probable that he ' *Hobomocko — the evil spirit of the Indians. Sullivan, p. 3(58, sup- poses that the lines were intended for Capt. Richard Bonython by his political enemies ; but the moderate character of the patentee i« inconsistent with this supposition. Their appUcation to his son is I much more probable. 116 HISTORY OP 9ACd died in the course of nature. In May, 1683, when near the close of his life, John gave to the town *20 acres of upland for the minister,' as if to atone for his past errors. He was buried at his own request near the river on the > line separating one division of his estate from that of Gib- ■ bins. A man who lives near the spot, informs us that I having had frequent occasion to pass it when a boy, the i path from a landing place on the river leading in that di- rection, he was often told that the 'governor of Saco' lay buried there. Tlie children of John Bonython were John, Thomas, Gabriel, William, Winifred, and Eleanor. Jolm, the oldest, was born 1654 ; chosen one of the selectmen 1685 ; and four years after, removed to New- castle, N. H. where he was living 1694. It is probable i he afterwards fell by the hands of the Indians. Richard, the cordwainer, who sold to Weare, was unquestionably his son. This Richard had a sister, the wife of John Collins. The other sons of the 'Sagamore' left no heirs, , except collateral ones. Winifred, the oldest daughter, , married Robert Nicholson, or Nichols : Eleanor married l a Churchwell. A son of the former, living at Marble- • head, sold his mother's right in her father's estate to Ro- bert and Thomas Edgecomb, 1729. The name of Bony- thon has long been obsolete in this quarter, and probably in New England. The daughters of Capt. Bonython became the wives ' of Richard Foxwell and Richard Gumming. Mr. Fox- well was one of the first and most respectable planters in i this vicinity. He settled at Blue-point, on the south- western side of Scarboro' river in 1636, when thirty two years of age.* George Foxwell, his nephew, who died I in Virginia, was from the city of Exeter, in Devonshire, , England, and it is quite probable that Richard was from i the same place, or its neighborhood. He lived forty years on his estate at Blue-point, without apparently- mingling in the political disputes of that period. He was : *There was a person of the same name at Scituate 1634, a mer- chant; (Farmer's Register;) but as our planter married in England, it is probable that he came out with his father in law with the view of settling on his patent, and hence it is unlikely he should have gone Co Scituate. AND BIDDEFORD. 117 a member of the General Assembly of Lygonia in 1648, being of the committee to whom was referred Mr. Jor- dan's petition. But his chief attention was given to his plantation, which became a valuable legacy to his heirs. He died about the close of 1676, or early in the succeed- ing year. Administration on his estate was granted to his son Philip Foxwell 1677; Joseph Curtis and Richard Rogers afterwards administered. The children of Mr. Foxwell, were three sons and five daughters. Richard jr., probably the oldest son, was living 1664 ; we have no further account of him. John married a daughter of Richard Gumming ; he died young, leaving one son, Nathaniel, who removed to York. De- borah, daughter of Nathaniel, married William Corbain of Boston, and as the sole heiress of her father and grand- father, conveyed all her right in the estate of Richard Foxwell, to William Pepperell jr,, afterwards Sir William, in 1729. Philip Foxwell, the other son, was one of the select- men of Scarboro' in 1681. In the subsequent dispersion of the inhabitants of that town by the Indians, Philip re- moved to Kittery, where he died, apparently without heirs, in 1690. Of the daughters, Esther married Thomas Rogers of Goose-fair, in 1657. Mr. Rogers was here as early as 1638, when we find him attesting a deed. He was pro- bably quite young at that time, as his name does not occur again until 1653. He lived on the seashore, near the mouth of Goose-fair brook, in the western part of what is now called Old Orchard. A northwest line divi- ding the patent ol Lewis and Bonython into two equal por- tions, was run 1681 ; which the commissioners began at ^'Rogers' garden." The house of Mr. Rogers was de- stroyed by the Indians 1676, when he removed to Kittery, and soon after died. An inventory of his estate was ta- ken the following year. He had two sons, Richard and John. The former, purchased from Gibbiny 1687 a tract of about half a mile square situated between Goose-fair brook and the middle line of the patent. He afterwards removed to Kitteiy. His son Richard jr. gave this piece of land to Pairick Googins 1737. Patrick came II 118 HISTORY OF SACO over from Ireland at an early age, and was in the service of Pepperell at Kittery, by whose influence, it is said, he obtained a daughter of R. Rogers, (grandson of Thomas,) in marriage. He settled on the estate given him by his father in law, where he died 1783, aged 84 years. Pat- rick left six sons, one of whom is now living at an advan- ced age. Mr. Rogers Googins, a grandson of Patrick, and some others of this family, now possess and improve a part of the old estate. Lucretia Foxwell married James Robinson of Blue- point. On the breaking out of the Indian war, they re- moved to New Castle, N. H. and there ended their days. They left four children, daughters, three of whom were married. Susannah Foxwell married an Austin. Mary, another daughter, married George Norton, of York. Sarah Fox- well married Joseph Curtis of Kittery, 1678. Their daughter Eunice was born Dec. 23, 1698. She mar- ried Richard Cutts of Kittery, Octo. 20, 1720. Their children were seven sons and three daughters, viz. Sa- rah, Robert, Joseph, Samuel, Edward, Foxwell Curtis, Richard, Mary, Thomas, and Eunice. Thomas, late Col. Cutis of Saco, tlie ninth of these children, was born April 5, 1736. Edward, the fifth, late Judge of the C. C. Pleas, was born 1728. The mother, a grand daughter of Richard Foxwell, died March 30, 1795, at the great age of ninety six years.* The second daughter of Capt. Richard Bonython was married to Richard Cumming before 1647. Mr. *Kitlery Records. Jocelyn, in the account of his first VoyagO 1638, relates the following story as "told by Mr. Foxwell now living in the Province of Maine. Having been to the eastward in a shal- lop, on his return he was overtaken by the night, and fearing to land on the barbarous shore, put off a little further to sea. About mid- night they were awakened by a loud voice from the shore calling Foxwell, Foxwell! corne ashore! three times ; upon the sands they saw a great fire, and men and women hand in hand dancing round a- bout it in a ring. After an hnnr or two they vanished, and as soon as the day appeared, Foxwell put into a small cove, and traced along the shore where he found the footing of men, women and children shod with shoes, and an infinite number of brands' ends thrown up by the water ; but neither English nor Indians could he meet with on the shore nor in the woods. 'There are many stranger things in the World than are to be seen between London and Stanes'." p. 24. AND BIDDEFORD. ] 19 Cumming first settled on the western side of the river, but after the death of liis father in law, he removed to the eastern part of his patent, near Little river. In 1672, a committee was appointed by the town "to meet the Black- i point men at the river next Richard Gomming's, to run the line between them and us." Mr. Cummings Banks, one of his descendants, now lives at the same place. The name of Richard Cumming, or Cummin, occurs very often in the town records until 1674; he died soon after. An inventory of his estate was taken 1676. The administrators were Thomas Cumming and John Har- mon. The former did not long survive his father. I Elizabeth the only daughter of R. Cumming married [John Foxwell, her cousin ; after his death John Harmon, I previously to 1680. By this marriage Mr. Harmon be- came sole heir to that division of the patent which fell to the wife of Cummings. The daughter of Mr. Harmon, an only child, married Joseph Banks of York, to which i place Harmon removed before 1690. Banks thus ac- quired Harmon's right, but, in 1714, conveyed one-half of it to Peter Weare and others. He also sold one quar- ter to Caleb Preble of York, who afterwards transferred it to Jas. and Joseph Brown of Newbury, 1717. Sam- i uel Banks, a son of Joseph, settled at Old Orchard on a part of the Cummings estate, about 1735, where his descendants now live. A brief notice of the other early planters will conclude this chapter. The first name in the book of Rates after I the patentees, is that of Henry Boade. This gendeman settled at Winter Harbor before 1636, but six years after he removed to Wells, where he was associated with Rev. J. Wheelwright and E. Rishworth, in a cotnmission from Sir F. Gorges to lay out and allot that township, extend- ing from Ogunquit river to Kennebunk river, now form- : ing the tovi^ns of Wells and Kennebunk. The small estate left by Mr. Boade at Winter Harbor, was transferred by Mr. Vines to Thomas Mills, fisherman, and James Gib- :bins planter, in 1642. In 1653, he was appointed first i commissioner or justice of Wells. His death took place four years after. The executors of his will were "his loving cousins, Mr. John Winthrop, Esq. and Rev.Timo- ^ thy Dalton, minister of Hampton." 120 HISTORY OF SACe John Wadlovv, or Wadleigh. also removed to Wells be- fore 1650. An Indian Sagamore, named Thomas Chabi- nocke, devised to Wadleigh 'all his title and interest of Nampscascoke', comprising the greater part of Wells ; with a condition that he should allow one bushel of In- dian corn annually to the 'old Webb,' his mother, as long as she lived. The extent of the tract was from the sea as far up as 'the great falls on Cape Porpoise (Mousum) river', and from Negunket to Kennebunk river. The Sagamore seems to have died 1649, in which year Wad- leigh took legal possession of his lands. Ten years after, John Wadleigh and his son Robert conveyed the portion between Cape Porpoise and Kennebunk rivers, with several reservations, to Daniel Eppes of Ipswich. Mr. Eppes was a son in law of Samuel Symonds, deputy- governor of Mass. Bay.* William Symonds, a son of the deputy-governor, settled at Wells, probably on the lands purchased by Mr. Eppes. Under the jurisdiction of Mass., Indian titles were held valid where previous grants had not been made. A small part only of the township of Wells had been taken up previously to the date of Chabinocke's will. John Wadleigh was one of the selectmen of Wells 1653. He died 1671. His will contains the bequest of 'a pair of oxen called Sparke and Berry,' to his daughter Mary Mills. The practice of giv- ing names to working cattle, said to be peculiar to the eastern farmers, was, it seems, of early introduction. The same custom doubtless prevails in that part of Eng- land from which our planters came. Thomas Williams, who is usually dignified with the title of Mr. in the town book, was a leading townsman for many years. The following record is dated 29 June, 1674 : "This day Mr. Williams did make his address to the town for 14 pounds due to him for dieting the minis- ter of the towne : and it is ordered and consented to by the whole town that for the time during his or bis wife's life, he is freed from all town, Commonwealth or Ecclesi- astical rates." The same year, at an October meeting, the record savs : "The town hath cleared Mr. Thomas ^Farmer's Genealogical Register. AND BIDDEFORD. 121 Williams from all his rate that is behind hand and so for- ward." Also, "the town hath ordered that there shall be two men appointed to look into Mr. Williams' estate to see if he shall have maintenances," We have not met with his name after this date : he had then been an in- habitant at least forty years. Having served the town long and faithfully in several responsible offices, he was at last, when past service, necessitated to apply for assis- tance, as it appears from the foregoing record. He seems to have had no family. Beside his brother Richard, who died 1635, as mentioned in a former chapter, no other person of this name is found among our inhabitants in that century. Robert Sanky, provost-marshal 1640, died at Winter Harbor before 1642. His land adjoined that of Mr. Williams, as, in an action of trespass brought by the lat- ter against Ferdinand Grant, who being employed to cut his hay, had set fire to it, Mr. Sankey joined for the in- jury done his own hay and grass. Mr. Joseph Bowles afterwards owned Sankey's estate, which he sold in 1659, being then resident at Wells, to John Bowden. The fees of the provost-marshal, or sheriff, were 2s. for serving a warrant in Saco, and 4s. for every day employed out of the town. The under-marshal, or deputy, received a salary of 4Z. per annum. Theophilus Davis, styled *officer for this place' in the records of 1636, was doubtless constable of Saco that year. This is all we know of him. We are almost equally in the dark respecting the next planter on the list, George Frost. He appears on a jury 1640, and perhaps died soon after. Clement Greenway has also eluded our enquiries after 1637. John Parker probably removed to Kennebec beyond the jurisdiction of Gorges, where a person of this name is found purchasing from the Indians the large and valua- ble island, now a part of Georgetown, in 1650. His de- scendants have ever retained possession of parts of that island under the Indian title.* There was also a John *1 Mass. Hist. Coll. i. 252, 11* 122 HISTORY OP SACO Parker at York 1652, but he was probably a late c omet as his name is not found in the early court records. John Smith has been noticed in a former part of our inquiries. His lease of 100 acres from Mr. Vines, on an annual rent of 5s. bears date 1642. Eight years after, he assigned this lease to N. Buly, who was to enter on the property 1652, and to allow Smith one room in the house for two years after entrance. The Mass. com- missioners 1654, passed the following order. "The com- missioners being informed that John Smith of Saco is ne- cessarily detained from coming to yield subjection to the government, and that it is his desire to subject him- self to the government, they do grant that on his ac- knowledgement of subjection to this government any two of the town commissioners at Saco may, and hereby have liberty to give him the oath of freeman." Sullivan re- marks on the above : "John Smith was one of the gran- tees of the Plough Patent, and did not personally sub- mit ; but the Commissioners readily received his excuse of ill health, and took his submission by proxy." The inconvenience of going to Wells for the purpose of ac- knowledging the Mass. jurisdiction, prevented a number of the inhabitants beside Smith, from personally appear- ing there, as we have already seen. This circumstance is, therefore, no argument in favor of his being a grantee of the Plough Patent. Had Smith really been one of the Plough Company, it is hardly probable he would have taken a small lease at Winter Harbor, when entitled to at least a township in right of that patent. He, how- I ever, held the office of marshal under the jurisdiction of. j Lygonia, as it appears from his deposition given at the ' late date 23 June, 1685: "Testimony of John Smith of Saco, aged about 73 years, marshal under Mr. G. Cleaves,* who about forty years ago carried on Col. I Rigby's authority in this Province," &,c. This is the last notice of Mr. Smith that we have found in the records of j that period. He had then outlived all the first planters, with the exception, perhaps, of Mr. Watts. •This name is usually spelt Cleves, or Cleeve, in the oldest records : bat vre have adopted the modern orthography. AND BIDDEFORD. 123 Samuel Andrews died before 1638. Mr. Vines con- firmed to his widow Jane 100 acres near Scadlock's land, where her husband built a house and enclosed four acres. She afterwards married Mr. Arthur Mack worth of Casco, a gentleman of some note. Sarah, her daughter, married Abraham Adams of Casco. Mr. Francis Neale, rep- resentative of Falmouth 1670, married another daughter. Edward Andrews, freeman 1653, was perhaps a son of Samuel ; he died 1668. William Scadlock, a worthy planter, settled on the wes- tern side of Little river, and when the line was run be- tween Saco and Cape Porpus 1659, his house was left in the latter town, the river being made the dividing line. Mr. Scadlock was appointed clerk of the writs or town clerk by the Commissioners 1653, but the existing re- cords of that year are signed by the selectmen. There were others doubtless, now lost. Scadlock made his will Jan. 7, 1662, and probably died soon after. His personal property amounting to ilOO, and his real estate, which was of considerable value, he gave to his wife ; to his children he made small bequests, as set forth in the following extracts : "I bequeath my bible unto my son William. I bequeath unto my son John 3 yards of broadcloth, he upon that consideration to buy 3 yds. and a half of good kersey of lOs. per yard for a suit for my son Samuel, and silk and buttons unto both : 1 bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca my worsted stockings. I bequeath unto my son William my new hat, he buying Samuel a- nother of 10 or 12s. price. I bequeath unto my daugh- ter Susanna Mr. Cotton's work upon the new covenant of grace. I bequeath a book entuled Meat out of the Eater, to my son William ; and to my son John 1 bequeath I a book concerning Justifying Faith ; and the Practice of piety to Rebecca : and to my daughter Susahna a Suck- ing Calf called Trubb.* 1 bequeath unto my daugh- ter Sara one yard of Holland : and to the end that all things be performed according to my mind and will, 1 hereby make, constitute and appoint my loving wife Ell- *The quaint title of some puritanical work. 124 HISTOHY OF 3AC0 nor my executrix, and my son William executor, unto all which I set my hand and heart." Of the sons, William died 1664, and Major P<3adleton administered on his estate ; John died the same year. Samuel was living 1719 at York, seventy three years old. William jr. ap- pears to have left children; a son William, born 1661 ; and a daughter Anne, married to John Carter 1666. The family name is now extinct in this quarter, so far as we can learn ; but the falls on Little river near the house of Mr. Jereiniah Bettes, are still called Scadlock's falls by the inhabitants in that vicinity. A Robert Morgan was an inhabitant at Sagadehock 1665 ;* but we are unable to identify him with certainty as the planter of 1636. Henry Warwick, or Waddock ; the former orthogra- phy is found only in the Court Records, and in legal in- struments. He was long an active and useful inhabitant of the town ; his house was at the lower ferry, on the main road at that period from Wells to Casco, where he died about 1673. His children were a son and two daughters ; the former, John, is mentioned among the principal townsmen 1674; he removed a (e\v years after to Black-point. Joan, one of the daughters, married John Helson 1658; their son, Ephraim, was born 1667* The other daughter married John Tenny of Black-point ; they, together with goodwife Jane, the widow of the old planter, were living at Gloucester Mass. 1690. Richard Hitchcock lived at Winter Harbor, near the point on the north side of the Pool, still called by his name. He was buried 22 June, 1671. His son Thomas, a youth, died the same year. His other children, born 1653-64, were Jerusha, Lydia, Rebecca, Ann and Margaret, who with his wife survived him. Thomas Page was a juror 1640, after which we have not met with his name. Sylvester Page was in the fami- ly of Mr. Williams 1652. George Page married Mary Edgecomb, probably a daughter of Nicholas, 1664 ; he was one of the selectmen 1683, and after. Christopher Page is mentioned 1667. These were probably sons of ♦Sullivan. 287. AKi) BtDDEFORDk 12^ Thomas Page, who we suppose died before his children were of age^ The name is siill among us. Ambrose Berry was a respectable inhabitant for many years* The situation of his house, on the northern limit of the lands left at the town's disposal by the Commis- sioners 1659, is not precisely known at the present time. He was buried at Winter Harbor May 3, 1661 . His son Ambrose married Ann Buly 1653. The families of this name now in our townsj ai'e unquestionably descended from him. Mr. Henry Watts settled at Blue-point near Mr. Fox- well, 1636, where he was living 1684 over eighty years of age. He was a member of the Assembly of Lygonia ]64S. His children appear to have settled at Falmoulhj wliere we find John Watts 1721.^ Beside the planters named in the Book of Rates, a few other names occur as early as 1636. Of these several have been mentioned as soon after settled at Casco. George Jewell, mariner, was drowned in Boston harbor 1638.f Stephen Batson was living at Cape Porpoise 1653. Margery, daughter of Stephen and Mary Bat- son, was bound to Capt. Bonython 1636. John Batson married Elizabeth Saunders 1660. James Cole was an inhabitant at Kennebec 1654. J John Cole of Saco, died 1661 ; perhaps a son of Thomas, who had occupi- ed the estate leased to West. John West first appears 1638 ; he removed to Wells about 1659, where he died four years after. He ap- pointed William Cole of Wells trustee of his estate for the use of his daughter's children, the wife of Thomas Haley ; the property to be divided among them three years after his (West's) death. The names of the chil- dren were Ann, Lydia, Samuel and Thomas. Mr. Haley lived on the western side of the river opposite Waddock. His descendants are numerous. Morgan Howell has been named among the colonists who came out with Mr. Vines. He was engaged in a *Judg;e Samuel Watts of Chelsea, Mass, mentioned by Mr. Far- mer, Geneal. Register, in connection with the name of our planter, came to New England early in the last century. Family tfaditio|]|, tWinthrop. Jour. i. 244. ^Hazard, i. 5i?5, ]26 HISTORY OF SACO suit with Scadlock in the court of 1637. A few years after (1643) he is described as of Cape Porpoise, in a deed of 100 acres of land from Gorges.* He was pro- bably settled there in the former year, in the neighbor- hood of Scadlock. When the inhabitants of Cape Por- poise, now Kennebunk-port, submitted to Mass. 1653, the Commissioners reported that "Morgan Howell did acknowledge himself bound in fifty pounds to the trea- surer of the county, that he will prosecute his action against John Baker at the next county court.*" The set- tlement on Cape Porpoise was probably made about the same time as at Winter Harbor ; in 1632, a trader named Jenkins, is said by Winthrop to have removed thither from Dorchester, Mass. The Cape presented great ad- vantages for fishermen, many of whom made it a place of resort, and perhaps of abode as early, probably, as any other point of the coast. Howell and Scadlock were with- out doubt the first planters who settled within the town- ship. We have thus noticed all the original colonists whose names have occurred in the course of our inquiries. There were without doubt many others, but owing to the imper- fect state of the early records, their names cannot now be recalled. The length of years to which most of them attained, at the place of their first settlement, must have struck our readers, and is indeed remaikable when con- tj-asted with the opposite fact in the history of the other New England colonies. A distinguished antiquarian has remarked that *'in no instance, in the whole Atlantic coast of this Union, will five men, on any spot at the first open- ing of the country, be found on the same spot ten years after. "f The writer was unacquainted with the settle- ments in this quarter. •Sullivan 229, dates the earliest grant atCape Porpoise 1648. ^Savage. Winthrop. Jour, i- Appendix. AND BIDDEFORD. 127 CHAPTER X. After the departure of Mr. Jenner there appears to have been no regular minister of the puritan faith in this vicinity for several years. The ministrations of Mr. Jor- dan were probably continued until the province came un- der the authority of Massachusetts, and for some time ..after, as in 1660 an order was passed by the Gen. Court forbidding him to baptize children, and requiring his ap- pearance before them to answer for having performed that christian rite. The King's Commissioners in their report to the English government respecting N. England, 1667, refer to the unworthy treatment of him by the Mass. au- thorities : "They did imprison and barbarously use Mr. Jordan for baptizing children, as himself complained in : his petition to the Commissioners."* In the mean time, I George Barlow seems to have annoyed some of his ; townsmen by the exercise of his gifts as a preacher. I This man was a follower of Rev. John Wheelwright, a distinguished clergyman who was banished from Mass. I on account of a difference of opinion with the leading I members of the Colony on a point of doctrine. Mr. ' Wheelwright was an antinomian, and taught that an in- ward assurance, or 'the evidence of the Spirit,' furnished the only proper criterion of the christian character. His opponents contended that the sanctification of the heart I and life, was the true ground of religious confidence ; I whence Mr. Wheelwright pronounced them all under 'a ! covenant of works.' This was too much for the worthy i colonists, who valued themselves on their orthodoxy, and Wheelwright was banished for sedition. f He retired with a number of followers to an uncultivated tract with- in Mason's patent, where he laid the foundation of the town of Exeter. There they established a Combination government 1639. J Three years after, when the New Hampshire settlements were taken under the wing of ^Hutchinson. State Papers. 418. tl Mas.s. Hist. Coll. ix. 31. tThe members of this Combination were in all thirty five. Haz- ard. Coll. i. 4C3. 128 . HISTORY OF SACO Mass., Mr. Wheelwright removed into this quarter, and with some of our planters, as already noticed, commen- ced the settlement of Wells ; of those who were with him at Exeter, we afterwards find George Barlow here, Willia mCole, Edmund Liidefield, William Wardwell, at Wells, Edward Rishworth at York, and Christopher " Lawson at Kennebec. Barlow probably had the zeal 1 without the knowledge of his master, and was silenced by the Mass. Commissioners at the request of some of the inhabitants. His adherence^to Wheelwright, however, may have been the real cause of their prohibition. The order containing it, relates to the state of the religious af- fairs of the town in general : "The Commissioners being informed that Saco is destitute of a good minister, where it is much desired that all due care be taken to attain the same, and in the meantime, that their peace may be pre- served, they do declare and order that Robert Booth shall have liberty to exercise his gifts for the edification of the people there. Several persons complaining that George Barlow is a disturbance to the place, the Commis- sioners at their request thought it meet to forbid the said Barlow any more publickly to preach or prophesy there under the penalty of ten pounds for every offence." 1 The term prophesying was usually applied to the religious * exhortations of laymen, or persons not regularly inducted into the office of a minister."* The name of Mr. Barlow does not appear in the records after 1653, but we find the marriage of Henry Hatherly to Elizabeth Barlow, probably his daughter, about 1670. Mr. Booth officiated several years as the religious tea- cher of the town. In Feb. 1658-9, it was voted, "that Robert Booth shall teach the word on the Lord's day till we have a better in place. And he shall have for his labor as the major part are disposed to give." At the town commissioner's court, about the same time, it was "ordered that this town of Saco shall forthwhh make a rate to the value of ten pounds and levie it as and bring it in to R. Booth to what place in the (town) he shall appoint before March next in full satisfaction for *Hist. Coll. ut supra. 19. AND BIDDEFORB. 129 all his labor in teaching from the beginning unto this day." This worthy townsmen seems to have filled a variety of useful offices, for which he was qualified by an education superior to that of most of the inhabitants. He appears to have resided both at Exeter and Wells before he came to this town ; as his name is subscribed to a pe- tition of the former town, addressed to the Mass. Gen. Court 1645, praying the court not to grant any lands or meadows lying near Exeter unto the town of Dover ;* and that he lived at Wells, we learn from a deposition in which he expressly states the fact. Yet three years after the date of the Exeter petition, Mr. Booth was on a committee of the Gen. Assembly of Lygonia ; and as Wells was not included within that jurisdiction, he was then unquestionably an inhabitant of Saco. He died 1672, aged seventy years. His children, born 1627-55, were Mary, Ellen, Simeon, Martha, and Robert. Mary was married to Walter Pennell 1647 ; Ellen to N. Buly jr. 1652; Simeon married Rebecca Frost, 1663. Mr. Booth lived, according to tradition, at the last bend of the road leading to Fletcher's neck, near the sea. A strip of land called Stony Stand point, belonged to him. He had a corn tide mill on the creek that runs into the head of the Pool ; the 'stepping stones,' laid between the shore and the mill, have been seen by a person now living. The mill was appraised, after the death of Mr. Booth, at £30. The name of his family is now extinct in this quarter. A complaint was entered in the court of 1659, against R. Booth "for disturbing the minister, Mr. Dunnum"; which probably arose from some unfriendly feeling to the former, as he was acquitted, and the complainants were obliged to pay the costs of the action. We find no no- tice of this minister in the town-book. f in 1661, a committee was raised "to speak to Mr. Hooke about teaching to them on the Lord's day, and to conclude with him after what manner and upon what terms he will accept." This gentleman had then recent- *Farmer, MS. Letter. tThere was a preacher of the same name (Dunham) at Edgarton, Martha's Vineyard, 1685. J. Coffin. 12 i^ HISTORY OF SACO ly become an inhabitant of the town ; the next year^ Phillips sold him the land which had been occupied by John Leighton at Winter Harbor. Mr. Hooke has been mentioned in a previous chapter, as a friend to the govern- ment of Gorges. At a subsequent period, 1681, he was treasurer of the Province, and under the charter of 1692 a member of the Council of Mass. He was then living at Kittery, where he died in Jan. 1695. The Rev. Seth Fletcher commenced preaching here 1 66 1 -2. The earliest notice of him furnished by the town records, is the following : "June, 1662. It is consented to make a rate for Mr. Fletcher's diet 10 3 0." The next month, at a townmeeting, the town contracted with John Rice for the rent of a house at Winter Harbor, "which he bought of William Tharall," for their use one year, for the accommodation of the minister, and agreed to pay him 51. in merchantable fish. Mr. Fletcher was previously settled at Wells, as early as 1655, but, in 1660, some of the inhabitants petitioned the Gen. Court for his dismission, stating that "for near two years past he had drawn them into neglect relating both to the sanctifying of the Sabbath, and the performance of God's holy wor- ship therein." It was ordered "by the authority of this court that due notice be given to the inhabitants of Wells and Mr. Fletcher, that they appear at the next county court at York, there either to justify those exceptions of unmeetness they seem to charge against Mr. Fletcher," Sic."^ His dismission followed, and he removed to this place the following year. At the expiration of the year for which he was engaged, Phillips and Hooke were appointed a committee to procure a minister. It does not appear, either that Mr. Fletcher was re-engaged, or another minister obtained at that time. We find nothing more relating to this subject until 5 March, 1675, when it is recorded that tlie inhabitants a- greed to send for a minister, namely, Mr. Paine, and to pay all such charges as he shall necessarily have occasion *Mass. Records. Mr. Greenleaf, ficcl. Sketches of Maine, has over- looked Mr. Fletcher, although himself for several yeai:s minister erf the same town. AND BIDDEFORD. 13sl to spend coming and going, and whilst he is with us." The Rev. Robert Paine, who graduated at Harvard Col- lege 1656, was the gentleman alluded to. He preached at Wells about this time,* but appears not to have accep- ted the invitation of our townsmen. In May following, there were two candidates before the town, viz. Mr. Fletcher, and 'Mr. Chansee,' [Chauncy.] The votes were 24 for the latter, and 1 1 for the former. Mr. Chaun- cy remained one year. In April, 1666, there was a meeting about his 'going away and his wages,' when the following vote passed. "It is the consent of the major part of this meeting that Master Chauncy may be safely sent home as speedily as conveniently may be. Mr. F. Hooke and R. Booth are appointed by this meeting tb take care for his passage at the town charge." The rates levied for his wages were not collected, and two years af- ter, April, 1668, we find that "Mr. Williams hath deliver- ed 34s. in to Mr. Barnabas Chansee upon condi- tion that if the townsmen do not approve of it, he promises to allow it back again." The Rev. Dr. Chauncy, presi- dent of Harvard College from 1654 to 1672, had six sons, all of whom were educated at Cambridge, and be- came ministers. One was settled in London, a colleague of the celebrated Dr. Watts. Barnabas, who graduated 1657, is said to have "died in middle age, an immature death. "f There can be no doubt that the measures ta- ken by our townsmen for his speedy and safe conveyance home, were owing to the failure of his health ; and that after liis recovery, he came to receive the arrears of his salary. His father died 1672, and such was the high estimation of his services, that the General Court made provision for his surviving family, or those of them who required it. Barnabas received lOl. per annum from this source. J Mr. Fletcher resumed the ministerial charge soon after the departure of Mr. Chauncy. In 1669, v;e find the following record : "The Inhabitants being mett at the Meeting house, doe acte as followeth : 1 . The covenant 'Greenleaf. Eccl. Sketches. 20. tl Hist. Coll. x. 17a JMass. Records, 132 HISTORY OF SACO made between Mr. Fletcher and the town is null. 2. The inhabitants unanimously vote to continue Mr. Fletch- er's ministree still amongst us. 3. It is unanimously yoated that Mr. Seth Fletcher shall have fiftie pounds payed him for this next year recompense for his minis- tree. 4. The selectmen to make a rate to pay the fiftie aforesaid for Mr. Fletcher's stipend this year 1669." A- gain in 1672, we find an equally strong expression of at- tachment to this gentleman on the part of his people. ^'We the inhabitants of this town generally desire that Mr. Fletcher would be pleased to continue with us to be our minister as long as he may with comfort and convenience, and we are freely willing to continue our contribution as formerly we have done, and if there be any impediment in the way we shall endeavor to remove it if we are made acquainted with it ; and so we hope he will give us his answer, and for this purpose we have appointed R. Booth and T. Rogers to go to him and acquaint him with our desires, and bring his answer." This was at the March meeting. The nature of Mr. Fletcher's reply may be supposed from the votes passed at a meeting in June : "That Mr. Fletcher is left unto his liberty to continue a- mong us without any annua] calls, giving the town three months' notice to provide for themselves upon his removal if possible. 2. That 50/. be annually paid him as in times past." Thus was he settled over the people as their regular pastor ; the practice had previously been to re- new the engagement annually, if agreeable to the town. .He did not remain long, however, after that time. His wife, Mary, appears to have been a daughter of Maj. Pendleton, by whom their only son, Pendleton Fletcher, vvas adopted.. The Indian war commenced in 1675, when Mr. Fletcher, together with his father in law, re- moved. He afterwards preached at South Hampton, Long Island, N. Y. and at Elizabeth Town, N. J. The following letters to the Rev. Increase Mather, D. D. President of Harvard College, furnish the only informa- tion respecting Mr. Fletcher after his departure from this ^place, which we have been enabled to obtain. AND BlDDErOKD* 133 "South Hampton, October 22, 1677. Mr. Increase Mather — Rev. Sir : Hopeing the heahh and wellfare of yourselfe and all yours in these sickly times, and times of sickness. By these lines you may understand that the Messenger who carried my let- ter to the Governor (which i mentioned in my letter to you dated S last past, informed mee upon his returne home that the Gov. received my letter, presently broke it and perused it, ordering him to call an hour after for another to mee (for he would write back he said) the which he did, but when he went the Gov., Capt. Brockas, and Capt. Nichols were so busie with 3 Indian Sachems, brought from the Eastward, in drawing up Articles of peace and he had not leisure to write by him, but that there were some others that were shortly to call upon him for a letter to one of East Hampton and he would write by them, but to this day I have had no answer of my letter, and now I hear he is going to England (if he be not gone) so that my intended journey to him to New York is frus- trated. I have been to the Main to visit friends there. My brother Stow presents his service to you. In my ab- sence from the Hand there hath been (it seems) a letter drawn up to yourselfe, Mr. Thacher,* and Mr. Allen,f concerning your approbations of mee. Its made known secretly to mee, and the most of the actors know not that 1 am privie to it, neither hath it been with my con- sent. Indeed one of my well willers once said to me (since this great dust hath been raised) that he thought it the best way to send into the Bay to some of the elders to know their opinion of mee. I answered that I thought they had sufficient testimony (I meant by that ) and withall I said I should not be against it so they would send those that were the longest acquainted with mee. It might, I said, bee a meanes to cleare my name some what. I [referred to] J. Brock of Reading who was the first in- stigaterto my taking the work upon me concerning I have more cause than others to say, "Pros tauta tis ikanos."J *Rev. Thomas Thacher, first minister of the Old South church in Boston. tRev. James Allen, mirfister of the First church in Boston. X^^Who is sufficient for these things." 12* 134 HISTORV OF SACO And thereupon the Reverend John Wheelwright, and Mr. Dalton the Pastor and Teacher of our church at Hampton encouraged to it. The others I named were Mr. John Hale of Bass river,* and Mr. Samuel Cheever of Marbiehead, wlio had both of them been formerly ministers of our Eastern parts and of my acquaintan- ces. I lastly named Mr. John Higginson of Salem, as being less known to him, yet God haveing in his provi- dence so ordered it as that I have not only preached in his room and stead, but 3 or 4 times he being present, and withall he being the greatest encourager that I had to come into these parts I thought good to mention him. But while 1 was in town it would not be advisable to send at all. But n& sooner am 1 gone offthe Hand, in all haste a letter must be drawn up and sent to you and others that have had very little experience of me. Sir I have made bold to acquaint you with these dealings that you may the better judge thereof (if such letter or letters come to your hand) and indeed being a stranger and cooped up and confined to an Hand where I have more cause than ever to say "Amici boni rari sunt and that Amicus verus the- saurus est magnus." [Good friends are rare — A true friend is a great treasure.] But not to trouble you far- ther, with my humble service to yourself, and those Rev- erend Gentlemen, who are concerned in the Letter above, I committ you all and your Negotiations, Temptations and Burthens unto him that is both able and ready to accept our persons, and take notice of all our Moanes that we are > moved by his holy spirit to sigh and groan out before hinr. Remaineing.Sir your humble and willing servant in what I may. Seth Fletcher." Second Letter. ^'Elizabeth Towne, March 25, 168L Mr. Increase Mather— Rev. Sir : You may please ' to call to mind that since I saw you in March (or Aprell) the vear past, I wrott a Letter to you bearing date May 28, '1680, and another before that, May 10, 1680. That upon May 10 (especially) being about Mr. Gershom Ho- *Bevcrly, Mass., of which place Mr Hale was the first minister. ! AND BIDDEFORD. 135 hart's 16s. 6d. which he is indebted to mee,* and Mr. Trapp's Exposition from Romans to the end of the Bible (in Quarto.) I never heard from you since what hath been done with it, I am now more remote and so the more to secke of Cash. New- York not being such a place for the production of mony as Boston is. Be pleased therefore to acquaint Mr. Bateman at the draw bridge foole v\hiityou have done, or like to doe, or are inclined to do about it. I have been much molested with Quakers here since I came. New ones comeing in one after another. Upon Feb. last past upon the motion of two of the sect, one of which two "is a schoolenir to some children in the towne (by nation a Scott, by name John Usquehart,) by former profession (as fame makes known to mee) a Popish Priest. A S(;hollaT he doth professe himself to be, and I find that he hath the Latine tongue. The buisinesse of that day was for mee to maintain an Assertion viz. That a Qua- ker living and dyeing as a Quaker (without repentance) must find out a new gospell, which might aford them hope of salvation, for what God hath revealed in his holy word there was no salvation for them in their impenitent condi- tion. I opened the terms Explicated by way of distinc- tion of sedusers and seduced, and so their sinnes, and likewise what God expected from the one and the other sort, which being done (although there were four or five more Quakers in the throng, yet none appearing in the Cause but the scholler aforesaid and a Chirurgeon; I de- manded of them what they had to say against my Explana- tion. Instead of speaking pertinently the scholler (whom I understand had been at the University four or five years) begins to tell the people a story of Moses, Ezra, Ha- baccuk their being Quakers. Whereupon having the peo- ple an account of the business of the day I proceeded to six severall Arguments by which to make good my Asser- tion viz. That a Quaker liveing and dyeing as a Quaker ■ (without repentance) according to what God hath revea- led in his word, he could not be saved. I in every argu- ment demanded what part of the Argument they would deny but instead of answer there was railing and threa- *Rev. GerBhom Hobart was ordained at Gioton, Mass. 1679. 136 HISTORY OF SAGO tening mee that my destruction was nigh at hand. T»' prove the Minor I continually produced their owne au- tliors and several things out of their Rabhie's books, which i so exceedingly gauled them that then they set themselveat to Humming, singing, reeling their heads and bodies (An- tique like) whereby both to disturb mee and to take of the people from attending to what 1 had to say for the maintaining the Assertion. Since that (I heare) I must ere long be proved to be no minister of Christ, and they have attempted to raise as great a party at Road-Island and Delleway Bay against mee as they can. Nay more they say England and their friends there shall heare of it and in speciail Will. Penn, whom I mentioned once and but once and then but in my 4ih argument. Namely his de- nyall of Christ being a distinct person without us from his book entitled Counterfeet Christian p. 77. As for news about Commonwealth affairs I saw a Proclamation of the old Governor forbrdeing upon Perill the graunting any ' obedience to those in present power, promiseing open i Courts shortly. The proclamation was put up here at ; our meeting house upon Sabbath morn March 6, 1680-1, , but before morning exercise taken down, and the day af- ter sent to York. What the issue will be God (in time) will discover. Sir no further toinlarge I take leave com- mitting you to the keeper of Israel, remaineing yours to i serve you in Love. Seth Fletcher. I saw Mr. Abraham Person* in health upon Thursday morning March 9 at his own house and the next day Mr* Allen (in health also) at my house. "f It appears from some expressions contained in the fore- going letters that Mr. Fletcher had been connected with the church at Ham[)ton, N. H. He was perhaps pre- ■ *Rev. Abraham Piersnn went to South Hampton with a company of i emigrants from Lynn, Mass. I(i40. Lewis He afterwards romoved to Newark, N. J. where he is said to have died about 168L His son, also named Abraham, wa^s settled as his colleague at Newark 1672, ajid was subsequently the first rector or president of Yale College. — ■ Farmer Trivmhull. Hist. Conn. tThe above letters are derived from the Mather MSS. in the library of the Mass. Hist. Society, from which they were kindly transcribed for our purpose by Mr. J. Coffin. The MS. is obviously imperfect. AND BIDDEFORD. 137 pared for the ministry by Mr. Dalton, the worthy pastor of that church. The nature of his difficulties at South Hampton is not very obvious ; his reputation, however, had been assailed, in defence of which he appealed to some of the most eminent clergymen in New England.* The next minister was the Rev. William Milburne. May, 9, 1685, the selectmen were authorized "to treat forthwith with Mr. Milburne to know whether he will teach amongst them or not, and what satisfaction he will have of the town." At the May meeting next year, it was ordered "that the arrearages of Mr. Milburne's salary be paid by Aug. 6. and brought in to Goodman Scam- man and Edward Sargeant." July 12, it was ordered "that Mr. Milburne's salary be paid as follows : in beef IJd. per. lb. ; pork 2jd. ; wheat 4s. 6d. per bushel; peas 4s. 6d. ; Indian corn 3s. ; butter 5d. per lb. ; boards 183. per M. ; red oak staves I6s.*' Arrangements were made at the same meeting for the erection of a parson- age house, to be 30 feet in length, 20 in breadth, and 15 J stud, and to have four chimneys. The building com- mittee, then appointed, soon after met at the house of John Sharpe, and thus distributed their duties : Benja- min Blackman and John Edgecomb were to see the house framed, raised and enclosed ; John Sharpe and George Page to see to the shingling ; Scamman to have the cel- lar dug and stoned ; and Roger Hill, Francis Backus and Pendleton Fletcher to see the chimneys made with brick. There is but one town record of that century after the year 1686 ; viz. in 1688, which relates to a choice of se- lectmen. We have therefore no further information re- specting the proceedings in relation to the settlement of Mr. Milburne ; but they were probably frustrated by the renewal of Indian hostilities in 1688. A meetinghouse was built at Winter Harbor between the years 1660-1666. At a town commissioners' court. *The Rev. John McDowell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Elizabeth Town, informs us that he has taken niQch pains to col- lect facts respecting its early history, having; written and published d sketch of it, but that he has found nothing earlier than the year 1687, althouorh the town was settled 1664, and he has always supposed there was a church as well as pastor as early as the settlement. MS. Letter. 138 HISTOICY OF SACO 1658, an order passed "that the meeting house shall I stand by potvder beefe tree where preparation is already made." This singular designation of the site of the building cannot now be explained. In a conveyance of a piece of marsh by Phillips to Waher Mayer 1659, the premises are said to be "near Powder Beife Tree." Hence it is probable the meetinghouse was erected nearc the Pool. In the treasurer's account with the town 1664, , we find the following items ; "Payd to John Henderson for his work at the meetinghouse 21. 12s. Payd to Maj. Phillips for boards 41. 5s. Payd to Robert Cooke and Simeon Booth for bringing boards from the falls for the meetinghouse 5s. The same ditto. Payd to Roger Hill for a diner 10s. ; to R. Hichkox for heefe 5s." The dinner was perhaps given at the raising, for the house was not completed at that time. The next year a rate was made to defray the expense of "seeling [ceiling] the meetinghouse. After it was completed, the following ar- rangement was made. "Sept. 22, 1666, at a general] towne meeting it is ordered at that meeting every one to be placed in thayr seats in the meetinghouse in maner following : in the first seate, 1 Mistress Mavericke, Phillips, Pendleton, Hooke, Bonithon, Williams, Trustrum. 2 Goodis VVadock, Coman, (Gumming,) Gibbins, Booth, Buly, Hichkox. 3 Goodis Pennell, Kirkeet, Rogers, Bowden, Hill, Helson. 4 Goodis Sily, Hobs, Luscom, Maier, Wormstall, Scadlock. 5 Goodis Davis, Randall, , Sergent, D. Sergent, Harman, Nazeter. 6 Goodise 1 Chilson, Egcome, Henderson, Wakefeeld, Booth, Leigh- | ton. 7 Hewes, Page, Frost. Secondly it is voated that the binch before the forth seate shall be speedyly set up againe in the meetinghouse, as atest Rob : Booth, Re-j corder." "April, 1669, John Sharpe and James Gib- bins jr. is appointed to sit in the seate with Simion Booth in the foremost seat : And their wives are -to sit in the tliird seate with S. Booth's wife and J. Lighton's wife."*' ^Sullivaii, p. ^J2, notices this record in the following erroneous ? manner . "A vote is recorded in the year 1GG(), for seating the women i in the meetinghouse, and Mrs. Phillips, and Goody Booth, who wa9 < no doubt the wife of Robert Booth, Es by the Indians. Not long after five persons going up i Saco river, were cut off by the same party of Indians. In the month following, the heroic Lieut. Plaisted Was i killed with many others, atNewichawannock, (South Ber-^ wick,) and in the lower part of Kittery several were cut off. About the same time, Lieut. Andrew Augur (or Alger,) and two others were uttacked by a party of In- dians in Scarboro'. After exchanging several shots, the savages left them, and set fire to the neighbouring houses* Lieut. Augur died soon after of the wounds received in the attack ; his brother Arthur was likewise killed in a few days not far from the same place.* Their houses stood in a field now owned by Judge Southgate, and near his residence, where kernels of corn and wheat, partially burned, have been found within a few years, which have remained undecayed since 1675. The widow of Arthur ' Augur removed to Marblehead, IVlass., where she execu- i ted a deed of a piece of land lying at Black-point, which i had been granted to her father, Giles Roberts, by Mr, J Henry Jocelyn ; the deed is dated Aug. 1676. Andrew Augur was among our inhabitants 1653, and received a grant in tbe partition of town lands in that year. As ear- ly as 1651, the brothers purchased a tract of 1000 acres in Scarboro', from the widow and two children of a Saga- more, according to the acknowledgement of one of them taken twenty years after.f Arthur leaving no heirs, John, the son of Lieut. Augur, inherited this property^ i^ which he transmitted on his decease to his five daughters. .] Of these Elizabeth married Mr. John Milliken, the an- cestor of the numerous families of that name in Scar- v boro' and Saco ; who purchased out the other heirs, and h *Hubbard. tSee Appendix E. The name of Andrew appears id | the. CQiurt records 1640. Above, p, 59, for -/irthur read Andrew. AND BIDDEroRD. 157 at his death left the whole estate to liis sons. The tract lies chiefly in the parish of Dunstan, extending nearly two miles on the post road, and includes the valuable es- tate of Hon. Robert Southgate. In the course of the season, Capt. Wincoll, of Newicha- wannock, marched with a small company to the relief of his eastern neighbors. After one skirmish with the enemy, in which he lost several of his men, he was attacked by a party supposed to consist of 150 in all, while marching on the seashore. His number was only eleven, yet by taking shelter behind the rocks, near the water side, they plied their guns so well as to kill several of the Indians and beat off the rest. The scene of this engagement is not mentioned in the account, but it appears to have been on the eastern side of Saco river. Some of our inhabi- , tants, nine in number, hearing the guns, repaired to the relief of Wincoll, but unhappily falling into an ambush, were all cut off, with two others that lived near the spot. The Indians retired to Black-point, where they burned seven houses and destroyed a number of the inhabitants. From the commencement of hostilities to December, i 1675, it was computed that upwards of 50 of the Eng- lish settlers between the Pascataqua and the Kennebec, were slain in the different encounters, and nearly a hun- dred of the enemy. The winter setting in unusually se- vere, the Indians were so much pinched by cold and hun- ger, that they sued for peace, and with this view came to Major Waldron of Dover, N. H. 'expressing great sor- ■ row for what had been done and promising to be quiet and submissive.' A general peace with the eastern In- dians was then concluded, which lasted until the succee- : ding August. Many captives were now restored. A- \ mong them was Elizabeth Wakely who had been taken at Casco. She was returned by Squando, the Saco Saga- i more, to Maj. Waldron m June. Besides the authority ' of Hubbard for this fact, we find on record the following deposition, taken at Dover Feb. 15, 1723 : "Robert Evans testifieth, that some time in a war that I was called Philip's war, the now Elizabeth Scamman was I brought in by the Indians to Cochecho, (Dover,) and she went by the name of Elizabeth Weakle, and the report v/as that she was taken at Casco bay, her grandfather and I 14* 158^ HISTORr OlF SACO father were killed." Elizabeth at the date of the depo- sition was about sixty years of age.* The depredations of the Indians were renewed 1 1 August, 1676, the day before that of the death of King; Philip, and the consequent termination of the war in thei western colonies. The first outrage was committed at Casco, to which the Androscoggin Indians were instiga- ted by a notorious western savage called Simon. This fellow and two others who had been the actors in many bloody scenes in that part of the country, when the war was there drawing to a close fled into this quarter for safety ; but being taken, they were committed to Dover gaol, whence they contrived to make their escape. They took refuge among the Androscoggin tribe and soon after were concerned in a treacherous attack on Casco, killing and making prisoners of more than thirty persons. At the same time the settlements on the Kennebec were laid waste. The news of these depredations reaching Boston, a small force consisting of 130 soldiers and 40 Natick In* dians^ was sent down by the Government. Arriving at Dover, Sept. 6, they were joined by Capt. Charles Frost of Kittery, with his company, and there seized and dis- armed a large body of Indians, who had been concerned in the war at the westward, now at peace. They were assembled at the house of Major Waldron, whom they professed to regard as their friend and father. Their ©umber was upwards of 400, one half of whom, known to have escaped from Massachusetts, were sent to Boston and there hanged, or sold as slaves. The rest were pea- ceably dismissed. The troops then marched to Casco, stopping at Newichawannock, Wells, Winter Harbor and Black-point ; they met with only two Indians in theiF march, but were constantly hearing of outrages in differ- ent places not fiir off. While they were at Casco, Mr. James Gooch of Wells was shot from his horse as he was returning from meeting, Sept. 24 ; his wife was barba- *She was perhaps the wife of William Scamrnan, a son of Rich- ard, who resided at Portsmouth 1()42. Richard married a daughter of William Waldron of Dover, and his son William was born iGC4. Farmer. Geneal. Resister. AND BIDDEFORD. 159 roiisly murdered at the same time. Other deeds of vio- lence equally cruel were perpetrated in that vicinity, at York, Cape Neddick, and other places. But when the forces returned, the savages escaped back into the woods. Soon after, Octo. 12, about 100 of them, under a noted fellow called Mogg, (who is stated to have mingled much with the settlers, and was perhaps the same that sold lands to Major Phillips a few years before,) attacked the garri- son at Black-point, commanded by Mr. Jocelyn. The fortification in which the inhabitants were collected, was built near the extremity of the point, and might have been easily defended. Mogg being familiarly known to Mr. Jocelyn, held a parley with him at a short distance from the garrison, and offered to allow all to depart with their goods on the surrender of the place. When these terms were proposed, Mr. Jocelyn returned and found the people had escaped by water ; none were left but his own fami- ly and servants, incapable of making resistance. He was thus compelled to surrender. The inhabitants were blamed for their conduct in this affair. We are not in- formed what treatment the captives received from the In- dians. Mr. Jocelyn must have been far advanced in life at that time ; he is said to have removed afterwards to the Colony of Plymouth.* The Indians appear to have moved over as far as Saco river, since the house of Thos. Rogers near Goose-fair brook, was burned this tnonth.f There is a traditionary story, that Mr. Rogers removed to Kittery on the breaking out of the war, together with other inhabitants of the town, a party of whom afterwards came down to take away their goods. Landing at Blue- point, they made their way along the beach, until having nearly reached the house of Mr. Rogers, they were all cut off by a party of Indians who lay in ambush. John Rogers, a son of Thomas, was of the number. Their bodies were found by the inhabitants and buried near the beach. Whether this melancholy event occurred at the same date as the burning of Rogers' house and the capi- tulation of Mr. Jocelyn at Black-point, does not appear with certainty. It is known, however, that the inhabi- *Sullivan. 368. tFarmer. 160 HISTORY OF SACO tants at Winter Harbor fled with their effects at this time, until they heard that the Indians were ^one to the east- ward, when they returned.* A treaty of peace was made by the Governor and Council late in the autumn with the principal sachems, who employed Mogg as their agent, by whom it was signed at Boston Nov. 6, 1676. Notwithstanding the treaty, it was suspected that the Indians intended to renew hostilities, and early in Febru- ary, an expedition under the command of iVlaj. VVal- dron sailed from Boston for the eastern coast. They touched at different places as far down as Pemaquid, : where a conference was held with a company of the sava- ges, that terminated unfavorably. Major Waldron caused a fort to be built on the Kennebec in which he stationed Capt. Sylvan us Davis with forty men. The forces re- turned to Boston, 1 1 March, without accomplishing much towards tranquilizing the country. Of the garrison left at Kennebec, nine were soon after cut off by surprise, ' and the remainder returned home in April. In the course of that month, several persons were killed at Wells and York, among them Benjamin Storer of the former place J the leader in the mischief was the noted Simon. In May, a party laid siege to the garrison of Black-point, which was obstinately defended for three days ; Lieut. Tappen, the commander, being a man of great courage, at length suc- ceeded in driving them off by fortunately shooting Mogg, the leader of the assault. They went away in canoes, and some of them going towards York, destroyed more lives in that quarter. In June, Capt. Benjamin Swett of Hampton, and Lieut. Richardson, were sent with a party of 200 friendly Indians and forty soldiers on an expe- dition to the Kennebec. The vessels anchored off Black-point, where the captain being informed some In- dians had been seen, went on shore with a detachment of his men, and being joined by some of the inhabitants, making 90 in ail, marched in pursuit of the enemy. They were discovered in three divisions on a plain : but re- treated until they had drawn Swett's party two miles from the fort, and then turning suddenly, threw them into con-- ^Hubbard. AND BIDDEFORD. 161 fusion by a bold attack. A furious battle ensued ; many of the soldiers being young and inexperienced in savage warfare, were killed while retreating towards the fort ; and Capt. Swett, who fought with the utmost bravery, was at length slain. Sixty English feli in this action, in- cluding a number of the inhabitants. The fishermen were not spared ; during this season more than twenty boats were taken by the savages, as they lay apparently secure in the harbors. ^Thus,' says Hubbard, 'was another summer spent in calamities and miserable occurrents amongst the eastern parts.' At length in the month of August, some forces arrived at Pemaquid from New York, and took possession of that part of the country in the name of the Duke of York ; after this event, the Indians discontinued their outrages, and even restored a number of prisoners in the autumn. In the spring, Major Shapleigh and Capt. Champernoon of Kittery, and Mr. Fryer of Portsmouth, were appoin- ted commissioners to settle a treaty with Squando and the other chiefs. The terms were agreed upon at Casco, where the Indians brought their prisoners. It was stipu- lated in the treaty that the inhabitants should be allowed to return to their habitation on condition of paying one peck of corn annually for each family, by way af ac- knowledgement to the Indians for the possession of their lands. Major Pendleton alone was required to pay one bushel.* Thus ended the first war with the Indians. CHAPTER XIII. The inhabitants appear to have remained at Winter Harbor through this war, except the temporary dispersion already noticed after the capitulation of Mr. Jocelyn at Black-point. Some, however, removed who did not af- terwards reside here. In this number was Maj. Phillips, ^ *B8lkn.N.H. i.m. lei HISTORY OF SACO of whom we propose to give a brief account. A Wil- liam Phillips was admitted freeman at Boston 1640. And' in 1654, Lieut. Wm. Phillips, junior, was authorized bf the Gen. Court "to collect the excise on wines, and to have deputies under him."* Our townsman was styled Lieutenant on his first coming here, with the addition of vintner. The name of Piiillips was then, as at the pre- sent day, borne by distinct families. The Rev. GeorgCj- who settled at Watertown 1630, the ancestor of the late Lieut. Governor of Mass., was not related to our towns- man, so far as it can be ascertained. f Phillips removed to this place 1660, and soon after sold his house in Bos-' ton to Maj. Thomas Savage. It stood at the North-end oni Salem street, where he owned 18 acres of real estate. J Beside speculating in wild lands, now the seats of cultiva- ted towns, Maj. Phillips became extensively (for those times) engaged in lumbering. The year after his remo- val he purchased J of Capt. Spencer's sawmill, and the: next year employed Capt. John Alden, his son in law, to build another, conveying to him J after it was completed; In 1667, we find him conveying half of 'the island against the mill,' (now factory island) to Capt. John Bonython, for the consideration of 800 pine trees, suitable to make merchantable boards. The spring after, he engages to pay Mr. Richard Hutcliinson of London, merchant, 151/. sterling, 'in good merchantable pine boards at the saw mills at Saco falls.' He also had a grist mill, situated near his sawmill. It is impossible to look over the records of the town during his residence here, without perceiving that much deference was shown by the inhabitants to Maj. Phillips in all their affairs. As the proprietor of the patent, he had great power in his hands. Most of the early settlers who had lands from Mr. Vines, found it necessary to ob- tain a confirmation of their tides from him. He seems to have enforced a rigid respect from the inferior plan- ters ; there is a tradition that a man was fined for saying, *Mass. Colony Records. IMS. Genealogry. Sullivan, 221, state* otherwise. That he appeared among the freemen of Saco 1053, w aaother error of the historian, 221. ^Suffolk Recordi, AND BIDDEFORD. 163 ^^Major PhilUps^s horse is as lean as an Indian dog^ He took the part of Gorges in the dispute with Mass., the Lord proprietor having confirmed to him his Indian pur- chases.* His principal tract was bought of the Sagamore Fluel- len 1661, eight miles square. It now comprises nearly the towns of Sandford, Alfred, and Waterboro. One half of this tract, called the 19000 acres, he divided in 1676 among the following persons, viz. Samuel, his oldest, and William, his youngest sons ; Mary Field, Martha Thurston, Rebecca Lord, Elizabeth Alden, and Sarah Turner, his daughters ; Zachary Gillum, Robert Lord, of London, mariner, and Ephraim Turner, his sons in law ; Elephel Stratton, Peleg, John, and Elisha Sand- ford, his wife's children by a former marriage ; John Jolliffe, John Woodman, Elisha Hutchinson, Theodore Atkinson, and William Hudson, all of Boston ; to each 1000 acres. This moiety of the Fluellen tract was de- signed by Maj. Phillips to be settled as a township by his children, but owing to the wars, it was not taken up un- til the following century, when the grantees were proba- bly all deceased. It was incorporated under the name of Phillipstown ; this name was afterwards (1768) chan- ged to the present of Sandford. Phillips provided for his son Nathaniel, merchant, of Boston, by giving him a deed of a tract thus described : abutting southwesterly on Saco river, between the upland of Capt. Pendleton and the island of Christopher Hobbs, being an extent of IJ miles, and running back 4 miles to the patent line, to- gether with a neck of land, called Parker's neck, situa- ted at the mouth of the Pool. Maj. Phillips married a lady whose first husband was John Sandford, who removed from Boston to Rhode Island 1 637, and was afterwards secretary of that colo- ny. Peleg Sanford, a son of Mrs. Phillips, was govern- or of Rhode Island 1680-1-2, three years. Elisha Hutchinson, her son in law, was an Assistant, and under *Greenleaf, (Moses,) Statistical Views, &c p. 394, confounds Ma- jipr Phillips with Walter Phillips, who about the same period purchas- ed lands from t^e natives east of the Kennebec. 164 HISTORY OF SACO the charter of 1 692, a counsellor of Mass. Bay. The celebrated historian and governor of that Province was his grandson.* J. Jolliffe and J. Woodman, also connec-^ ted with this family, were men of some note in Massa* chusetts. Beside the Fluellen tract, Maj. Phillips pur- chased from another sagamore of Saco river, called Hobinowill, the lands lying above Salmon falls as far as; Capt. Sunday's rocks ; including the upper part of the present town of Hollis and a portion of Limington. The : former town was incorporated nearly a century after the purchase as Phillipsburg. Sunday's rocks from their shining appearance were supposed to be impregnated with silver. Phillips obtained a deed of them from Capt. Sunday, an Indian, of Newichawannock, in 1664. They were described as 'Three hills of rocks,' and are supposed to be in Limington. They contain large por- tions of mica or isinglass, a substance of no value. We find Phillips selling out parts of this 'silver mine,' to ; several gentlemen of Boston : Capt. Thos. Clarke, Edw. . Tying, Edw. Downe, and others. He hkewise convey- ed a 1-16 part to his son Nathaniel. Before the year 1670, Maj. Phillips sold several large tracts of land, lying partly within the patent. The first, having Swan-pond creek for its southern boundary, eX^ tended one mile on the river, and contained 1000 acres; to Richard Hutchinson. The second comprised 1 500 acres, adjoining the former ; to Edw. Tyng. The third, 2000 acres, bounded on the south by Tyng's, to Richard Russell, of Charlestown. The fourth, three square miles joining Russell's, to Maj. Gen. John Leverett. He also conveyed to his sons in law. Turner and Gyllum, 500 acres bounded on the south by West's brook. Major Phillips describes himself in a deed executed June 1776, 'now of Boston, late of Saco.' He proba* bly removed soon after the burning of his liouse and mills by the savages the year previous. He died in Boston 1683. By his last will, he bequeathed his lands and saw- mill at Saco in equal proportions to his wife, and sons Samuel and William, reserving |, which had been sold to ^Farmer's Genealogical Register. AN© BIDDEFORD. 165 W. Taylor for Mr. Harmon of Fayal, and a lot near the Falls, sold to Wm. Frost. One halfofBonython's island, and Cow island, were included in the bequest. Samuel sold his part of the estate to Capt. George Turfrey 1691. William, at the date of the will, had been detained four years "in captivity among the Spaniards" ; his children inherited his share of the property at a subsequent pe- riod. Brian Pendleton, another conspicuous inhabitant, came to New England with the early colonists of Mass. Bay, and settled at VVatertown, He was admitted freeman 1634, and was sent a deputy to the General Court from Watertown in the years 1636-7-8-9, and 1647-8. He resided two years at Sudbury in the same vicinity, and was among the selectmen of that place.* In 1646, he was a member of the company of Artillery now so justly styled the 'Ancient and Honorable,' and held the com- mission of captain at the same time. A few years after, about 1650, Capt. Pendleton removed to Portsmouth, N. H., from which town he went deputy to the Gen. Court several terms, the last in 1663. While resident at Portsmouth, he was engaged in commerce, and ac- quired a handsome estate. Rev. Seth Fletcher married Mary, his only daughter, before 1655. The selectmen of Portsmouth 1657, were Brian Pendleton, John Cutt, Richard Cutt, William Seavy, and Henry Sherburne ; who were empowered by the town to build a new mee- ting house. The Rev. Joshua IVIoody, an eminent divine, settled there three years after, whose friendship Pendleton enjoyed. In 1661, the selectmen "granted liberty to Capt. Pendleton to set up his windmill upon the Fort point, towards the beach [Great Island], because the mill is of such common and public use."f The earliest purchase of Pendleton at Winter Harbor was in 1658, when Mr. Jordan sold to him and Capt. Roger Spencer of Charlestown, the valuable tract of land below the mouth of the river now well known as Fletcher's Neck, containing about 200 acres, a part of the patent of ^Farmer, quoting Shattuck. MS. Hist. Concord, Mass. t Adams. Annals. Ports. 15 166 HISTORY OF SACO Mr. Vines. Execution was levied on this property under the jurisdiction of Lygonia, in satisfaction of a debt due; from Mr. Vines to Mr. Jordan, as was subsequently de- posed by J. Smith, the marshal. Two years after the purchase, Spencer conveyed his part to Pendleton, "to- gether with all the houses, gardens, orchards, he. upon the Neck ;" the former then residing there. In 1665, J Capt. Pendleton removed to this place, and took up hisi abode on the Neck, which was for many years called! 'Pendleton's Neck.' We have already noticed the va- rious civil and military appointments he received while an inhabitant of the Province. He was uniformly on the side of Mass. in the disputes with that Colony, to which he had early taken the oath of allegiance. They appoin- ted him major, or commander, ot the forces in the Pro- vince 1668 ; how long he sustained the commission does not appear ; but in the war that followed a few years af- ter, he seems not to have acted in that capacity. The following record, in the handwriting of Major Pendleton, furnishes the last notice of him contained in the town- book : "Aug. 14, 1676. A town meeting to choose a commissioner to carry a list of the estate of the town in reference to a rate ninefold. B. Pendleton is chosen commissioner if trouble do not prevent." This was three days only after the attack on Casco, in which a large number of the inhabitants were killed and taken prisoners. The next year he was at Portsmouth, as appears from an instrument executed in August. His only son, James Pendleton, was at that time among the principal inhabi- tants of that town, but soon after removed to Stonington,, Conn., where his descendants are now found. On the termination of the war, and the revival of the provincial government under President Danforth, Maj. Pendleton was again invested with authority in the Pro- vince, as we have already seen. He signed a petition to the King as deputy-president in 1680, (praying for aid in 'rebuilding the waste and desolate towns,')* and died not long afterwards. His will was proved in April, 1681. He' bequeathed his estate to his wife, son and grandchildren ; *Ma6s. Records. AND BIDDEFORD. 167 his daughter probably died some years before. As early as 1671, he adopted her only child, Pendleton Fletcher, and granted to hini the property at Winter harbor, de- scribed as follows : "All the Neck of land on which he (Brian Pendleton) now lives, extending as far as the Mill [Booth's] together with Wood and Gibbins' islands, 19J acres of meadow land on the western side of Little river, with 100 acres of upland belonging to it, the meadow compassing about Scadlock's island, together with 2j acres on the other side of the river, and his dwelling- house he. on it, provided that if he (his grandson and now adopted son) die before of age, or after without heir, it go to his son James and his children ; reserving the whole to himself and wife while they live." He then appoints "his beloved friends, Joshua Moody and Rich- ard Martine feoffees in trust for the estate, and guardians to the child during his minority, after his own death, if he die before the child come to age." The residue of his landed estates was disposed of by will in the follow- ing manner : To his wife his housing and land at Cape Porpoise ; to his son, 600 acres on Saco river, compri- sing 100 purchased from John West 1659, 300 purcha- sed from Phillips 1673, and 200 received from the latter in exchange for Cow island ; to his grandchild, James jr. 110 acres at Cape Porpoise ; to his two grandchil- dren, Mary and Hannah Pendleton, his housing and land at Wells ; and, by a codicil, to his grandson Brian Pen- dleton a portion of his property at Portsmouth. Pendleton Fletcher took possession of the estate be- queathed to him by his grandfather about 1680. In the subsequent war with the Indians, he was taken prisoner together with his two sons, and died in captivity. His widow, Mrs. Sarah Fletcher, administered on his estate 1700, two years after his capture. The Neck was at that time appraised at £300. Mi-s. Fletcher married a second husband, of the name of Brown, and died 1726, at the age of sixty five. One of the sons, Pendleton, was rescued from the hands of the enemy, and became a leading townsman, as will hereafter appear. Mr. Fletch- er left also two daughters who were married to Malhew Robinson of Winter Harbor, and Samuel Hatch of Wells. 168 HISTORY OF SACO The burial of "Mr. Wm. Fletcher, January 30, 1667- 8," is recorded in the totvn book. It is not unlikely that he was the father of the minister. We deem it projier to add to the account of this family, that the (ew descen- dants now living, have a tradition that their ancestor who married the daughter of Maj. Pendleton, was a common laborer in his service,- although they agree that his namei was Seth. This circumstance shows the uncertain reli- ance to be placed on oral traditions; for the evidence ofi records very clearly proves the truth of what we have? stated on this subject. Benjamin Blackman, an extensive proprietor on the; eastern side of the river, next requires our notice. He; was a son of Rev. Adam Blackman, who came to New England 1639, and united in the setdement of Stratford,, Conn. This gentleman had been a clergyman of some! note in England, but seceding from the established church, y fled to this country, in the words of Cotton Mather, "from the storm that began to look black upon him." He died at Stratford 1669.^ Benjamin graduated at Harvard College 1663. He studied divinity, and after passing a few years at Stratford, preached some time at Maiden, J Mass. which place he left 1678. f He married Rebecca,', daughter of Joshua Scottow, Esq. of Boston, 1 April,, 1675. Mr. Scottow purchased Cammock's patent ati Black-point from H. Jocelyn, Esq. 1666, and six yearsi before, the farm of Abraham Jocelyn, who lived many years on the hill in Scarboro' now called Scottoway. In 1680, Mr. Blackman received from his father in law ai deed of a tract of land near the ferry place at Black-- point, to -which he removed. The next year, a commit-- tee was chosen by the town of Scarboro' to agree witlii him to be their minister for the year ensuing, and in 1682, he was invited to settle in that capacity. There is no i doubt therefore that he preached there, though he de- clined a setdement.J *3f S. Letter from D. Brooks, Esq. of Stratford. fFarmer's Geneal.. Register. tScarboro' Records. In 1684 Mr. Burridore of that town was ap- pointed "to go and see for a min.'ster." Mr. Greenleaf, Eccl. Sketches, p. 44. mistakes the record, and makes that ^/orthy townsman a minis- ter of Scarboro'. AND BIDDEFORD. 160 In 1683, Mr. Blackman was an inhabitant of Saco, and chosen to represent the town in the General Assem- bly of the Province under tlie administration of Dan- forth. His first purchase in this town was 1680, and al- though but 100 acres in extent, embraced all the mill privileges on the eastern side of the river. He erected a sawmill at that time, as he petitioned the Gen. Assem- bly Aug. 1681, for 'liberty to cut timber upon the com- mons for accommodation of his saw-mill, lying on the east side of Saco river'. The Pepperell mill now stands on the same privilege, east of the island, where the falls are still known to the old inhabitants by the name of Blackman's falls. Three years after he purchased a tract on the river containing about six hundred and forty acres from J. Bonython. The next year he made a second purchase from Gibbins, including the 100 acres ; extending 3J miles above the falls. In Bonython's deed, Blackman is described to be the 'agent of some men of Andover,' and Gibbins sets forth that "there has been a motion of several men at the westward to remove themselves to Saco river, and settle upon the eastern side" : but al- though the purchases were completed, it does not appear that the intended movement was made. The renewal of the troubles with the Indians doubtless prevented. Mr. Blackman seems then to have returned to Boston or its vicinity. The last notice of him in our records is as one of a committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Milburne, to so- licit his continuance another year, in 1686. His father in law, Mr. Scottow, resided on his estate at Black-point during the same period. A proposal made by him to the town of Scarborough in 1681, deserves to be noticed. He offered them 100 acres of land 'upon the plains,' on which they were to build a fortification and settle in a compact form ; allowing two acres for each family, and liberty to cut wood from another ]00 acres. The houses were to be set in a range, and not to approach nearer than eight rods to the fortification ; the houselots not to exceed J an acre, and the rest of the land to be laid out in four common fields and pastures. The condition of the grant was an annual rent of 12d. to Mr. Scottow "as being their demesne lord." The inhabitants at their 15* 170 HISTORY OF 3AC0 meeting in March, 1682, voted unanimously to accept^ this proposal, and to go forthvvidi about building the tbrti-i fication. In 1685, a townmeeting is recorded to have^ been holden*at the fortification on the plains' ; but thej next year, the agreement with Scottovv was rendered null and void by a vote of the town.* Mr. Scottow had a son Thomas, who was chosen commissioner 1688. He com- manded the fortification the following year. The father died 1698 at Boston ; his executors were his sons in law, Maj. Thomas Savage and Capt. Sanauel Checkly.f The whole property at Black-point, including Cammock's pa- tent, and the farm of Abraham Jocelyn, containing 200) acres, was sold by Checkly to Timothy Prout, Esq. in 1728. CHAPTER XIV. The limits of the town are supposed to have been ori- ginally of equal extent with those of the patents ; but as the bounds of the latter were not accurately determined until after the town lines were established by the Mass. au- thorities, a considerable portion of both grants, especially that of Lewis and Bonython, lies in the adjoining towns. The following return is the earliest we find relating to this subject : "We whose names are here underwritten, being appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts, are empowered to lay out the dividing bounds between the towns Cape Porpus, Saco, Scarborough, and Falmouth, and upon due consideration thereof do determine as fol- loweth. That the dividing bounds between Cape Por- pus and Saco shall be the river called Litde river, next .| unto William Scadlock's now dwellinghouse unto the first falls of said river; from thence upon a due northwest line into the country until eight miles be expired. The *Scarboro' Records. 12 Mass. Hist. Coll. iv. 100. The name was sometimes written Scottoway. Church's Wars, 103. 2d edition. AND BIDDEFORD. 171 dividing bounds between Saco and Scarborough shall be that river comtnonly called the Liille river noxt unto Scarborough, and from the mouth of said river shall run Uj3on a due northwest line into ihe country unto the ex- tent of eight miles. (Signed.) Nicholas Shapleigh, Ed- ward Rishworth, Abrabam Preble. Octo. 18, 1659." These boundaries have been adhered to from that period to the present. The mouth of Little river next to Scarboro' having shifted its position from time to time, the bounds on that side have accordingly fluctuated ; and it is now quite un- certain where the line as originally run, met the sea. There is some reason to suppose that this small stream, or creek, formerly discharged at least one hundred rods eastward of the present line. Had the extent of the eastern patent been known, it is probable the commission- ers would have made that of the town to correspond. The patent line was run 1681 ; it is now from 200 to 220 rods distant from the town line. More than 3000 acres of the township granted to Mr. Lewis and Capt. Bonython, thus lie in Scarborough ; all of which mani- festly belongs to Saco. Great inconvenience arises to the inhabitants of both towns who own lands within the patent, on its eastern side, as they almost invariably fall in part within the limits of the two towns ; the line of the patent having been necessarily adopted as the boun- dary of these estates. Some of the heirs of Lewis and Bonython petitioned the Gen. Court for a division of the patent in 1674. A committee was then appointed to inquire into their claims, who reported as follows : "1. We find a patent appertain- ing unto Richard Foxwell and Richard Cummings. 2. From thence we find that they challenge a patent right four miles by sea side eight into the country, whereof they claim 1-4 by deed made them by Capt. R. Bony- thon, whose daughters they married, in consideration of their fortunes of 100 marks each, which by him, the father, was received of theirs when they were in England. That Capt. Richard Bonython did settle upon the north side of Sacadehock, Saco river, as did Thomas Lewis, who had possession given them by Edward Hilton, who 172 HISTORY OF SACOr by order was commissioned thereunto. We do not find any orderly bounding or laying out of said patent." The committee consisted of Rich. Waldron of Dover, Spea- ker of the House ; J. Wincoll, and E. Rishworth." A division was afterwards ordered, and made with the con- sent of the parties, of which the following is a copy, "We, John Wincoll, John Penvvill, and Abraham Pre- ble, being chosen by mutual consent of James Gibbins, John Bonython, Philip Foxwell, and John Harmon, heirs and proprietors of that patent land granted to Lewis and Bonython, as by their agreement obligatory bearing date Nov. 12, 1680, may appear, for equally dividing said land between them, we accordingly on Sept. 19, 1681, came and measured the lower part next Saco river 142 poles north west from the foot line unto a certain small water run, called Haley's Gut, being the ancient bound marked between the aforesaid Bonython or his father, and the said Gibbins, and from said Haley's Gut upon a north east by north line unto the middle line of said patent, together with that triangular piece of land lying next Saco river and below the north east and south west line of the pa- tent, which contains 400 acres of land next the sea, alt which is to belong to said Gihblns for his first division. 2. From Haley's Gut we measured 592 poles north west unto a little brook a little below Mr. Blackman'^s mill, and thence north east by north to the middle line aforesaid, which is two miles, and it belongs to John Bo- nython for his first division. 3. We measured two miles and 50 poles north west from Thomas Rogers' garden by the sea in the mid- dle line aforesaid, and from the end of that said two miles and fifty poles, two miles north east to the line of the patent next Blue-point, the aforesaid 50 poles above the two miles north west in Keu of the half of the afore- said triangle of land next Saco river mouth, which is to belong to Philip Foxwell and John Harmon for their first division. 4. We measured from the north west end of the afore- said two miles and 50 poles, two miles wanting 50 poles *Mas». Records. AND BIDDEFORD. 173 north west in the aforesaid middle line unto a maple tree, and from thence two miles north east to the outside line of the patent, to James Gibbins for his second division. 5. The next division is to run from the aforesaid little brook below Mr. Blackman's mill in Saco river 3J miles and 18 poles north west, and from thence two miles north east to the middle line of the patent, to belong to Gib- bins for his third division. 6. From the north west end of the aforesaid 3J miles and 18 poles, J. Bonython is to run two miles 48 poles next Saco river to the north west end of the patent, and thence two miles north east along the head line of the patent to the middle line, for his second division. 7. The next division on the north east side of said pa- tent is to begin at the north west end of the aforesaid four miles in length already measured, and to be two miles square — for Foxwell and Harmon's second division. 8. The last division of the north east side of the pa- tent is to begin at the north west end of the first two miles square, and to be also two miles square to the head of said patent, and to belong to Gibbins for his fourth division. Acknowledged by the Proprietors, Sept. 23, 1681."* It hence appears that one half of the patent was set ofT to Gibbins, as the heir of JVIr. Lewis; the other moiety to the heirs of Capt. Bonython, viz. his son, who had a double portion, and the heirs of his two daughters. The purchases of Mr. Blackman were made not long after the division. Mr. Gibbins's deed runs as follows : ^'Whereas there have been some motions by several of the men at the westward to remove themselves to Saco river and settle upon the eastern side, and in order there- unto have by Benj. Blackman been encouraged by dis- bursing moneys in part payment of a purchase of land of James Gibbins, now therefore I, James Gibbins, of Saco, in the Province of Maine, yeoman, with assent and con- sent of my wife Judith, for and in consideration of a valuable sum to me in hand paid he. have given he. un- to Benj. Blackman, clerk, in the same town resident, a tract of land lying and being upon the said river of Saco, *See ^he Plan of this Division. 174 HISTORY OF SACO beginning at a small run on the north of Mr. Bonython's old plantation, extending itself up the said river three miles and an half and eighteen poles, and back from the river two miles, being the whole second division of the Patent land laid out to me, the said James," &ic. Dated 12 Dec. 1683. Signed, sealed, and delivered, in pre- sence of Hubertus Mattoon* and John Sharpe. It was afterwards acknowledged before Joshua Scottow, Justice of the Peace. Bonython's deed of the same date commences — "To all Christian People, Greeting ; Whereas there have been some transactions between Messrs. J. Bonython of Saco, and B. Blackman resident in the said town, in behalf of some men of Andover, in order to their removal ; and being willing to encourage them, I did promise to their agent abovesaid a tract of land, now therefore know all men," &£C. He then conveys a tract thus described ; *'One tract of land lying and being upon the east side of Saco river, bounded by a small brook northward, which parts my patent division from the division of J. Gibbins, westward with said river, southward with a small brook to the northward of Nicholsf his house." Witnessed by John Hill, (son of Roger,) William Marline. Mr. Blackman thus became the proprietor of about one fourth partof the Patent, including the present site of the village (Saco,) and all the mill privileges on the eas- tern side of the river. Three years after he conveyed a portion of it to S. Sheafe, by a deed which runs as fol- lows : "Know all men by these presents that I, B. Black- man of Stratford, now resident in Saco in the Province of Maine, &ic. have granted &ic. un^to Mr. Sampson Sheafe of Boston, merchant, one third part of a tract of land by me bought of J. Gibbins and J. Bonython, &lc. being six thousand acres more or less, being bounded southeasterly with a brook commonly called Nichols* brook, northeastwardly with two miles from the great river, and northwestwardly with the extent of three miles and an half and eighteen poles above the sawmill Falls, and "^This person was made freeman at Kittery 16-^2; he had probably remov^ed to Saco. tBrother in law to J, Boaytiion. See above, p. IIG. AND BIDDEFORR. 175 south we stwardly by the great river, as also the herbage, commonage lor timber, and all other tilings growing upon 4000 acres of huid or tliereabouts, lying upon the north- east side of the land above said, as also one third part of a savvmlll standing upon Saco river falls, built by said Elackuian upon the proper account of Mr. S. Sheafe aforesaid, nierchant," k.c. Dated 9 March, 1C85-6 ; witnessed by Mathew Middleton. About the same time, Blackman sold out another one third part to Samuel Walker of Boston, mariner, who to- gether with Sheafe had a share m the mills erected by Blackman.* Mr. Sheafe soon after relinquished his purchase to Mr. Walker, who thus became possessed of two thirds of the original tract. Sheafe's deed to Walker, dated 26 March, 1687, recites the boundaries of the two tracts as descri- bed in the deeds from Gibbins and Bonython ; he also conveys to Walker "one third part of a sawmill and one third part of a gristmill standing upon Saco river falls, built by me the said Sampson Sheafe, Samuel Walker, and Benj. Blackman in equal thirds, &ic. together with one third part of twelve oxen formerly purchased in thirds and belonging to the premises," &z;c. Acknowledged be- fore William Stoughton, one of his Majesty's Council, at Boston. The first planters being seated near the seaboard, the readiest mode of communication with the different set- tlements was by water. For many years there was no road except along the shore, and in 1653, tlie Mass. com- missioners alleged this deficiency as a reason for not tra- velling from Wells to Saco, to receive the submission of the inhabitants. It was ordered by them "that the inhabi- tants of Wells, Saco and Cape Porpoise, shall make suf- ficient highways within their towns from house to house, and clear and fit for foot and cart, before the next county ^Samuel Walker attested the deed mentioned above, p. 158, of Anne Alger to her cousins John and Abraham Roberts, dated at Mar- blehead 1676 ; and afterwards married her. As Anne Walker, she asserted a title to one half of the Augur right in Scarboro'. It is highly probable, that the second husband of Anne was the associate of Blackman and Sheafe. 176 HISTOllY OF SACO court under the penalty of ten pounds for every town^Si defect in this particular, and that they lay out a sufficient highway for horse and foot between towns and towns > within that time." In 1658 the court, having adjourned from York to the house of Mr. Jordan at Spurwink, pass- ed an order respecting the highway between Saco and Little [C. Porpoise] rivers. An effort was made in 1673, to render the roads more direct; the towns were order-- ed "to mark out forthwith the most convenient way from Wells to Say ward's mills [C. Porpoise,] from thence to Saco Falls, from Saco Falls to Scarborough above Dun- ston [landing,] and from Scarborough unto Falmouth,, every town marking out their own part within their own extent." Under this order, Page and Gibbins were ap-« pointed by the townsmen 'to lay out the upper way to Dunston', and Maj. Phillips 'to mark out the way to Hen- ry Sayward's mills.' Travellers crossed Saco river near its mouth, where a ferry was regularly kept, distinguished in later times as the lower ferry, when another was established near the Falls. The first ferryman was Henry Waddock, who was licensed in 1654, and probably earlier also, 'to keep an ordinary, to entertain strangers for their money,' and! allowed 'to receive 2c?. from every one he set over the river.' The last renewal of his license was 1672, the year before his death. Mr. Booth was also permitted to keep an ordinary, on the other side of the river. Thorn-' as Haley, on the same side, succeeded Waddock as fer- ryman. He was ordered by the court of 1673, "for the more secure transportation of travellers, for men and hor- ses, to provide a good sufficient boat fit for carrying per- sons and their horses, large enough to carry over three ■ horses at one time." Humphry Scamman, who purcha-- sed Waddock's estate a few years after his decease, took: charge of the ferry and entertained travellers. Com- plaints were still brought against the town for the want of I, good roads. In 1687 we find the following order of the i| court : "Whereas the townsmen of Saco being summon- \ ed to answer for their not keeping a sufficient highway ' from Scamman's ferry to the town of Cape Porpoise,] Roger Hill appearing in behalf of said town, it was ordered AND BIDDEFORD. 177 tLat the old foot-path on the western side of Saco river be the King's highway, to be laid out and fenced at the charge of the town." It would seem that the new road, above the old one, marked out twelve or fifteen years be- fore, was out of repair, and that the inhabitants chose to return to the latter. This road was chiefly on the sea- shore, taking advantage of the beach and of level ground, free from trees and other obstructions. There was a ferry at that time near the mouth of Scarboro' river. The intervening streams of Goose-fair and Little river were easily fopded ; hence the term wading places, applied to the parts usually crossed. Carriages were of course unknown in those days ; few of the inhabitants even owned horses, if we may judge from the following record : "July the 28, 1674. At a meeting of the selectmen as followeth : 1. Maj. Pendle- tons black horse is allowed on. 2. Lieut. James Gib- bins is horse is allowed on. 3. John Waddocks horse is allowed on. 4. Richard Cummins horse is allowed on. 5. John Harmons horse is allowed on." To this num- ber an addition was soon after made : "Aug. 17, 1674^ Humphry Case hath boate a mare and coult of James Were this seventene day of August, 74. H. Case, town clarck." In 1675, a number of the inhabitants petitioned the General Court for the grant of a township above the pa- tents ; a tract six miles square was accordingly granted to the petitioners : Maj. Pendleton, John Leighton, Rich- ard Cumming, John Carter, and others. They without doubt intended to form a new settlement, which the war prevented. From 1676 to 1680, the records of the town were pro- bably not continued. They re-commence June 12, 1680, as follows : "At a town meeting he. John Abbot is ac- cepted into the town and to enjoy town privileges. Hum- phry Scamman is accepted into this town, and to enjoy all town liberties. J. Abbot is chosen dark of the town and to keep the town book." The next year, Abbot, Scam- man, and Richard Peard were chosen 'for townsmen' ; Jqhn Leighton surveyor ; Pendleton Fletcher constable ; 16 178 HISTORY OF SACO John Bonython 'surveyor for the north side of the river' ; J. Abbot town clerk. "Dec. 8, 1681. The townsmen made choice of Mis- ter Blackman, John Harmon, and J. Abbot, to lay out land in our town." The following grants were made at that time : "Granted to George Page to have ten acres of upland on the western side of the river. Granted to Thomas Haley as much land as to make his house lot fifty acres. Granted to Phineas Hull to have sixty acres of upland on the eastern side of the Little river falls where now his mill stands, [Phineas Hull lived at Kitte-» ry 1671 ; probably a son of Rev. Joseph Hull, sometime a minister at Weymouth, Mass. and afterwards at the Isle of Shoals.] Granted to J. Abbot to have forty acres of upland adjoining to his lot of land that he bought of Ar- thur Wormstall on the south west side of his wood lot^ with that scrap of marsh from wind mill hill to John Ruels ditch on the pines. Granted to Roger Hill twenty acres of land at the head of [that] lot. Granted to H. Scam- man ten acres of land. William Daget is granted ten acres of land at the head of his father Wormstall's lot. Granted to Mister Blackman to have 100 acres of upland where he can find it out of any man's lot in the commons that is not yet disposed of in the town. Granted to Mo- ses Bennet ten acres of upland where he can find it in our township not to intrude upon any man's land." "At a legal townmeeting held at Winter Harbor on the 19th day of June, in the year 1683, the feeeholders of the aforesaid town chose Mr. Benjamin Blackman De* puty for the year." "At a town meeting legally held by ' the freeholders of our town on the 10 of May, being Saturday, 1684, chosen, W. Daget constable for this year, chosen H. Scamman for the jury of trials, and J. Sargent, P. Hull, Francis Backus, J. Bowden, and P. Fletcher, Townsmen for this year. Mr. B. Blackman chosen com- missioner to attend his Majesty's occasions at Falmouth,^ chosen at a legal meeting held at Saco." The select- men 1685, were Lieut. John Davis, R. Hill, P. Fletcher, J J. Bonython, J. Sharpe. The next year William Dyer^ was chosen constable ; Geo. Page, Juryman ; B. Black AND BIDDEFORD. 179 man, R. Hill, F. Backus, J. Edgecomb, P. Fletcher, Selectmen. The following list of the rates paid by the inhabitants is without date, but appears to have been taken about 1G70. It is probably not entire. Pendleton IZ. 45. 4rf. ; Bonython IZ. 35. lOd. ; J. Davis 25. 4d. ; William Lus- com 35. 6d. ; Arthur Hewes 2s. ; J. Smith 65. 4d. ; C, Hobbs 45.; Michael Naziter25. ; J. Gibbins IZ. 35. 4d.; N. Buly 55. Id. ; N. Buly jr. 2s. 4d. ; John Carter 2s, 6d.; Edgecomb 85.2^. ; Waddock 155. ; R. Hill 125.; Bouden 45. ; Robert Temple 65. ; John Anderson 25. ; W. Mare 65. ; John Sargent 1/. ; Hitchcock 145. ; Worm- stall 135.; Helson 35. ; Williams 125.; Trustrum 145.; Edward Sargent 35. 6d. ; Penuel 55. 4d. ; Leighton 25. ; Cumniing IZ. 35. 6d, ; T. Rogers 145. ; Harmon I65. ; Haley 35. It is impossible to collect, at this late period, the names of all the early inhabitants of the town. Those we have found previous to 1690, not already noticed, will now be given, with the year in which they first occur, and a brief account of the faniilies, where it can be furnished. Thomas Mills, fisherman, received a grant of land from Vines 1642. He was on a jury of inquest 1661. John Leighton was fined by the court of 1645. His son, John jr. married Martha, a daughter of Rob. Booth, 1663. Their son James was born 1675. A branch of this family early settled in the part of Kittery now Eliot, near the meetinghouse, where the descendants are living on the old estate. A John Leighton died there 1724, whose grandson, William, married a daughter of Rev. John Rogers, minister of that parish, 1747. Peter Hill, a planter, was a member of the Assembly of Lygonia 1648; he had probably settled here several years earlier, with his son Roger, who was among the freemen in 1653. It does not appear that he had other children, as the numerous families of the name now liv- ing in our towns, with one or two exceptions, derive their descent from Roger. He died in August, 1667. Roger Hill married Mary Cross, probably of Wells, 1658 ; their children, born 1661-79, were Sara, Hannah, John, Sam- vjel, Joseph, Mercy, Benjamin, and Ebenezer. The 380 HISTORY OF SACO daughters and one son, Joseph, settled in Wells; Sara.. was married to Rest (or Russ) ; Hannah and Mercy to Lieut. Joseph Storer, and David Littlefield. Mr. Storer was an active officer in the second war with the Indians. Joseph Hill, Esq. married Hannah Bowles of Wells, 1689. He was a gentleman of some note in the early part of the succeeding century, and lived to an ad- vanced age. Of the other sons, excepting Ebenezer, we have little information ; some of them probably died young. Ebenezer, well known to tradition as Deacon Hill, was a conspicuous inhabitant of the town for many years, as it will hereafter appear. Roger was still active in town affairs at the date of the latest records, 1686 ; we have not learned the time of his decease. Christopher Hobbs was admitted freeman 1653; had a son of the same name, and a daughter, Jane, married to Michael Nostras. In 1718 John Hobbs of Boston, 'grandson of C. Hobbs, sometime of Saco,' claimed a house and land, which Maj. Phillips sold to his ancestor. C. Hobbs, senior, was living 1672. Nicholas Buly or Baly, freeman 1653, died 1664. His children were Nicholas, who married Ellen Booth 1652 ; Anne, wife of Ambrose Berry ; Grace, wife of John Bouden ; Ellen, wife of John Henderson ; Eliza- beth, wife of Thomas Doughty; Abigail, wife of Peter Henderson ; and Tamozin, who died unmarried. Jonas Baly of Black-point, who came over in the service of Mr. Trelavvney, left a small legacy to his brother Nicholas, by a will dated 1663. Ralph Tristram, freeman 1655, may have settled here several years previous. He was long a useful and worthy townsman, and died 1678. His children, born 1644-64, were Samuel, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Ruhamah, Rachel, Ruth, Freegrace, Hannah and David. The names of several of the sons occasionally occur in the old records, but neither of them, so far as we have learned, has de- scendants now living. Hannah married Dominicus, a son of Rev. Robert Jordan, about 1680, who settled on the estate at Spurwink, then a part of Falmouth. Their children were Dominicus, Samuel, Elizabeth, Hannah and Mary Ann. Sometime in the second Indian war, the AND BIDDEFORD. 181 garrison house of Mr. Jordan was violently assaulted by a large number of the enemy, when he made a brave and successful resistance. The Indians called to him, saying that 'they were ten hundred in number' ; to which he re- plied that ^he cared not if they were ten thousand.^ A few years after several Indians came to Mr. Jordan's house, and were received with the familiarity common in time of peace, one of whom watching a favorable oppor- tunity, struck a hatchet into his head, exclaiming as he inflicted the fatal blow — 'There Dominicus ! now kill ten thousand Indian.^ The family were all made prisoners, and carried to Canada. They were afterwards restored, excepting Mary Ann, (named by her French protectors Arabella,) who married a French gentleman at Trois Rivieres, on the St. Lawrence, where she was living 1761 ; she was probably of a very tender age when this calamity befel the family. The other daughters were subsequently married ; Hannah to Joseph Calef of Bos- ton, and Elizabeth to Capt. Humphry Scamman of this town. The sons became men of considerable note. Do- minicus lived on the old estate at Spurwink, and was the representative of Falmouth in the Gen. Court several years. He died 1749, sixty six years of age. Samuel, the other son of Dominicus Jordan and Hannah Tristram, settled in this town about 1717 ; and from him are de- scended the numerous families of Jordans now living in Saco and Biddeford. Philip Hinkson 1653; died a few years after. His widow married George Taylor of Black-point. Walter Pennell 1653 ; married a daughter of Robert Booth. Their children, born 1649-69, were Walter, the oldest, who was living in York 1719, at the age of seventy years ; Mary, the wife of Giles Hibbins ; Deborah, Sara, and Susanna. John Davis received a grant for a sawmill 1653 ; he was probably a smith, as his forge is mentioned. His house was near the Falls, and is referred to in a division of the island 1667. Davis's brook took its name from him. He was probably the 'disaccepted' deputy 1682. John Halicom 1653; the next year administration was granted on his estate. 16* 1 35 HISTORY OF SACO Roger Hunniiel died 1653-4. He lived on Parker's neck near the entrance to the Pool. Richard Hunivvell of Black-point 1G81, was perhaps his son. Administra- tion on his estate was granted 1654 ; and at the same time on the estates of Paul Mitchel and John Rowland, who appear to have been inhabitants of this town. Edward Andrews, freeman 1653, may have been a son of Samuel Andrews, one of the first colonists. Edward died 1668. Thomas Reding, freeman 1653, does not appear after that date. Roger Spencer of Charlestown, to whom the freemen granted a privilege for a sawmill 1653, seems not to have become a resident in town until five years after that date, when he joined with Maj. Pendleton in the purchase of the Neck. The conditions of his grant required him to erect a mill before the expiration of one year, with which he probably complied ; and there is every reason to sup^ pose that his mill was the first one built on Saco rivei*. In 1658, Capt. Spencer (as he is styled in the town- book) removed with his family to the Neck, where im^ provements had been previously made. The same year he mortgaged one half of his mill to Rob. Jordan, and the ' next year i to Thomas Spencer of Boston ; the latter eventually became the property of Maj. Phillips. In 1669, Capt. Spencer, then living in Boston, convey- ed the remaining J of his mill to Capt. Thomas Savage of Boston. The marriage of Lydia Spencer, unques- tionably a daughter of Roger, to Freegrace Norton , about 1660, is recorded in the townbook. Mr. Noi«- ton was on a jury of inquest the following year, and, it is J conjectured, afterwards resided in Ipswich, where a per- son of the same name dwelt a few years later. Another daughter of Capt. Spencer married, first, John Hull, a young merchant of Boston, and, after his decease, Wil liam Phips, the first governor of Mass. Bay under the charter of 1692. Sir William was born in humble cip^il cumstances, in the part of ancient Pemaquid now Alna 1650 : when eighteen years of age he apprenticed him- ^ self to a shipcarpenter, and four years after went to Bos- ton, "where," says Dr. Mather, his biographer, "he fol- lowed his trade about a year, and by a laudable deport^ ! AND BIDDEFORD. 183 fnent so recommended himself, that he married a young gentlewoman of good repute, who was the widow of one Mr. John Hull, a well-bred merchant, but the daughter of one Capt. Roger Spencer, a person of good fashion, who having suffered much damage in his estate by some un- kind and unjust actions, which he bore with such pa- tience that, for fear of injuring the public, he would not seek satisfaction, posterity might afterward see the re- ward of his patience in what providence hath now done for one of his own posterity." A third daughter of Capt. Spencer married Dr. David Bennet of Rowley ; whose son, Spencer Bennet, was adopted by his uncle Sir Wil- liam, and took the name of Phips. He was Lieut. Gov- ernor of Massachusetts from 1732 until his decease in 1757. James Harman makes an acknowledgement of having slandered John Snelling 1655. Harman married Sarah Clarke 1659. Their children were named Jane and Barberry. We find no other notice of Snelling. The marriages of William Kirkeet, sometimes written Cur- keet, and William Batting are recorded the same year. The former died 1662 ; his personal property was ap- praised at £134 135. He owned seventeen head of cat- tle, young and old, which were appraised at £60. The birth of John (1642,) son of Morgan Lacy, was recorded about this time. John Sparke's lot is mentioned 1656. A small part only of the records of grants seems to have been preser- ved ; Sparke and many others, whose names are not found until a much later date, without doubt received grants of lands 1653. He was buried Octo. 24, 1669. The house of Walter Mayer, Mare, or Mar, (as the name is variously written,) is spoken of in a town grant of 1656. The births of his children, from 1654 to '74, are carefully registered. Their names were Judith, Mary, Waller, Sara, Rebecca, Ruth, Elizabeth, Benja- min, and Love. Waherwas one of the selectmen 1683. John Bouden married Grace Buly 1656. Their chil- dren were Hannah, Lucy, John and Nicholas : the last born 1673. John Bouden was one of the selectmen 1684. Ambrose Bowden, senior, lived at Black-point 184 HISTORY OF SACO 1658, and his son Ambrose 1681. John was perhaps, another son of Ambrose. Alexander Smith and William Luscom received grants, of land from the town 1653. Sydrack, a son of the lat-. ter, was drowned ] 660. , John Helson married Joane Waddock 1658. Ephra- im Helson was born 1667. John Helson or Elson- was living at Black-point 1681. The former year (1658) John Cole married Mary Chilson. John died 1661. Elyfal! (Eiiphel) Cole was buried at the same date, per- > haps a daii2;hter of John. The names of Mordecai Crau- itt, John Hallsome (perhaps Helson) and Jeremiah Hum- phries, already mentioned as on a jury of inquest this year, do not afterwards occur. John Sargent was a fisherman at Winter Harbor 1660. His children were Edward, born 1661 ; Benjamin 1673 ; Patience 1675. John and his son Edward were requir- ed to answer a complaint for selling liquor to the Indians 1686 ; forfeiting their recognizances, they were compelled to pay 20/. each. Edward Sargent of Newbury sold a piece of land at Winter Harbor to E. Hill 1727. % Capt. John Alden of Boston, married Elizabeth, daugh-* ter of Maj. Phillips, and, if not an inhabitant of the town, was part owner of a sawmill, which he built, as already stated, and passed much time here during the residence of his father in law. It is not improbable that his family was also here. He was on a jury of inquest whose ver- dict is recorded in the town book, September, 1660. The Fluellen deed was attested by him and Harlakenden Sy- monds, (son of the deputy-governor,) 1661, to which a- note is appended stating the intended extent of the pur- chase, and referring to the deed of another Sagamore, '^written by me, John Aldeny Capt. Alden was the son of John Alden of Plymouth, who came over with the band . of pilgrims, when but twenty-two years of age, and, it is said, was the first person that leaped upon the shore. His mother was Priscilla, a daughter of Mr. William Mul-j lins, another pilgrim. The following pleasant story re- specting the parents of Capt. Alden, is related by a de- scendant in a late publication. "It is well known, that, of the first company consisting AND BIDDEFORD. 185 of one hundred and one, about one half died in six nnonths after landing, in consequence of the hardships ihey were called to encounter. Mrs. Rose Standish, consort of cap- tain Standish, departed this life on the 29 of January, 1621. This circumstance is mentioned as an introduc- tion to the following anecdote, which has been carefully handed down by tradition. In a very short time after the decease of Mrs. Standish, the captain was led to think, that if he could obtain Miss Priscilla Mullins, a daughter of Mr. William Mullins, the breach in his family would be happily repaired. He, therefore, according to the custom of those times, sent to ask Mr. Mullins' permission to visit his daughter. John Alden, the messenger, went and faith- fully communicated the wishes of the captain. The old gentleman did not object, as he might have done, on ac- count of the recency of captain Standish's bereavement. He said it was perfectly agreeable to him, but the young lady must also be consulted. The damsel was then cal- led into the room, and John Alden, who is said to have been a man of most excellent form with a fair and ruddy complexion, arose, and, in a very courteous and prepos- sessing manner, delivered his errand. Miss Mullins lis- tened with respectful attention, and at last, after a consid- erable pause, fixing her eyes upon him, with an open and pleasant countenance, said, prithee, John, why do you not speak for yourself !> He blushed, and bowed, and took his leave, but with a look which indicated more than his diffidence would permit him otherwise to express. How- ever, he soon renewed his visit, and it was not long before their nuptials were celebrated in ample form. From them are descended all of the name, Alden, in the United States. What report he made to his constituent, after the first in- terview, tradition does not unfold ; but it is said, how true the writer knows not, that the captain never forgave him to the day of his death."* Capt. Alden had the misfortune to suffer the imputa- tion of witchcraft from one of the victims of that delusion *Rev. T. Alden, (president of Alleghany Coll.) Collect. Am. Epi- taphs, iii. 265. The marriage of the worthy pilgrim's oldest son with a daughter of Maj. Phillips, seems to have escaped the inquiries of Dr. Alden and other Plymouth antiquaries. 186 HISTORY OF SACO f in iSoston, 1692, when persons of the most irreproacha- ble character were not safe from the consequences of an accusation, which, it is well known, in many instances proved fatal.* His case is thus described by Hutchinson : "Capt. John Alden, of Boston, was accused, who was. tliereupon sent down to Salem. He had been many years ; commander of a sloop in the colony service, employed for supplying the forts east with provisions and stores ; and although, upon his first appearing, the justices allowed that he always had the character of an honest man, yeti one of them. Gidney, soon after, let him know he them saw reason to think otherwise of him. Alden, in his ac-- count, says, that the accuser first pointed to another man i and said nothing, but that the man who held her stooped I down to her ear, and then she cried out, Alden, Alden.. All were ordered into the streets, and a ring made, and' then she cried out. There stands Alden, a bold fellow, with his hat on, sells powder and shot to the Indians, 8fC* He was immediately taken into custody of the marshal I and required to deliver up his sword. A further exami- nation was had in the meeting-house, and his hands were held open by the officer, that he might not pinch the af- iiicted, who were struck down at the sight of him, and made their usual cries ; all of which the justices deemed sufficient grounds for committing him to gaol, where he Jay fifteen weeks, and then he was prevailed on by his friends to make his escape, and to absent himself until the consternation should abate, and the people recoven the use of their reason." Capt. Alden died at Boston 1702 ; his children were— John, William, Nathaniel, Zechariah, Anna, and Eliza- beth. Zechariah graduated at Harvard Coll. 1692. Richard Randall, son of Richard, was born 1659 ; and Sara, daughter of Richard, 1661. Arthur Wormstall, freeman at Wells 1653, was living in Saco 1660. His *The name of Rev. George Burroughs who was executed at Salera Aug. 19, 1692, will occur to the minds of our readers. "He met his^ untimely end," says Rev. Mr. Felt, "with christian fortitude. Though his accusers charged him with de^ds of murder, as was common for them to do in reference to others, yet h© appears to have been a \vor- thj man." Annals of Salem. 307. AND BIDDEFORD. 187 children were Susan, born 1658 ; Arthur 1661 ; John 1669. Arthur was one of the selectmen 1680. Mr. John Gray and Robert Field (probably a son in law of Maj. Phillips,) were on a jury of inquest 1660. John Wakefield attested the deed of Walter Hegone to Phil- lips 1660. He died 1673 ; leaving four sons, John, James, Henry, and William, and three daughters, one the wife of William Fiost. The latter, to whom Maj. Phil- lips sold a piece of land near the falls, had two sons at the time of Wakefield's death, William and Nathaniel. Christopher Collins of Saco, purchased N. Edgecomb's house and land at Blue-point 1660. The name Collins occurs in the town book 1672. The next year (1661) we ^find on a jury of inquest Mr. William Tharall ; Gregory Jefl^ery, who was admit- ted freeman at Cape Porpoise 1653 ; Richard More, freeman at Wells 1653 ; John Rice, whose house was hired for Rev. S. Fletcher by the town ; Burnitt, and Ward. Edw^ard Clark, freeman at Wells 1653, was buried this year. Walsingham Chilson recei- ved a grant of town land. William Chilson was married to Grace Briar, (perhaps Briant,) several years later. Mercy Chelson was buried Aug. 1674. I David Hambleton married Anna Jackson 1662. Ar- 1 thur Hewes married Dunie Stevens 1663. Thomas San- ; ders married Hope Reynolds 1664 ; probably a daughter ■of William Reynolds, at Cape Porpoise 1653. Arthur Batting married Abigail Spurwell 1664; Christopher Spurwell was made freeman at Cape Porpoise 1653. John Henderson was born 1664. Peter Henderson re- ceived a grant of land 1671, next to John, sen. running from *the spring southwest into the woods.' John Dun- mark, son of Patrick, and Carter, son of John, were born 1667. Michael and .John, sons of Michael Naziter, were born 1664-6. Richard Peard married Jane Naziter 1669. Peter, son of John Anderson, was born 1 667. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Doughty, was born 1670. Margery and Margaret, daughters of Humphry Case, were born 1671-3. William Warren re- ceived a grant of land 1671, next to Peter Henderson. Thomas Powell was a referee in a controversy between 188 HISTORY OF SACO Sargent and Hltehcock 1670. Giles HIbbins raarrled Mary Pennel 1870. He received liberty from the town to plant a piece of land "at the neck of land commonly called the Middle rock," until further order, 1673 ; and the next year was granted "all the neck of land joining unto the Little river and unto the marsh," the same lot : doubtless. William Seely died 1672. His children were ; Emm, married to John Ruel 1668 ; and Dorcas, married to James Gibbins, jr. the same year. Giles Read mar-- ried Judith Mayer about 1674. At a town commissioners' court h olden before Maj. | Phillips, associate, and Waddock, Gibbins and Hooke, commissioners, about 1664, John Williams and John Palmer were defendants in two actions of debt, Francis';' Hooke, plaintiff. A former remark respecting the name Williams should therefore be corrected ; as the de- fendants were doubtless inhabitants of the town. William Sheldon appears about the same time ; Thomas Fox ai few years later. Sheldon and Palmer were inhabitants; of Scarboro' 1681-3. Few of the early inhabitants have a more numerous posterity than Humphry Scamman, whose admission 12 June, 1680, has already been noticed. He was borni 1640, perhaps in Portsmouth, N. H. where Mr. Richard Scamman settled about that time. Humphry afterwards lived at Kittery point ; but the records of that town doi not contain his name until 1677, when the birth of his, son Humphry was registered. His wife's name was Eliz-- abeth ; their children were Humphry, born May 10, 1677;; Elizabeth, who was married to Andrew Haley of Kitte-^ ry, 1697 ; Mary and Rebecca, whose husbands' namesj were Puddiiigton and Billings ;* and Samuel, born 1689,. Mr. Scamman removed to Cape Porpoise (Kennebunk-- port) before he came to Saco, where he received a town^ grant 1679 ;f the same year in which he purchased the,:i estate of H. Waddock in Saco. He died in this town ll January, 1727. *Both Portsmouth names as ea'-ly as 1G40. Belknap. Hist. N. H. i-. 47. 1 A few leaves of the C. Porpoise records (about 1C80) remain. AND BIDDEFORD. 189 CHAPTER XV. The peace made with the Indians in 1678 continued, with some slight interruptions, for a period of ten years. During this short interval the inhabitants were often a- larmed by indications of a renewal of hostilities and the horrors of savage warfare. The utmost precaution was used to guard against surprise, and little real quiet seems to have been enjoyed. The tribes inhabiting Maine, to whom the French gave the general name Abenaquis, and the English, Tarrentines, were regarded by the former people as "the most mild and docile of the Indians" ;* and this opinion of their natural character is confirmed by the peaceful intercourse which they so long maintained with the first settlers. But the late war, and the instiga- tions of the Canadian French, developed their worst pas- sions, and converted them from friends into the most cruel enemies of the English inhabitants. The peace did not restore to them their former amicable feelings ; having be- come familiarized to scenes of violence and lawless de- predation, the once peaceful and harmless native was transformed into a blood-thirsty savage, prepared for the most atrocious deeds. Another cause, also, operated to degrade and corrupt the character of the Indians, which has had its effect in succeeding times, and in every part of the country; we refer to the practice of supplying them with spiritous liquors. To this should be added the gross impositions of unprincipled traders, wl;iich ex- cited their hatred and jealousy towards the English gener- ally. The laws on this subject were not sufficiently en- forced until too late to correct the error. One of the first orders passed by the Court under President Dan- forth, 1680, was intended to arrest the evil ; which pro- hibited the sale of spiritous liquors to the Indians under a penalty of 20s. for every pint sold to them, and likewise all trade with them in beaver or other peltry without spe- jCial license from the government. *Hutchinson. i. 404. J7 190 HISTORY OF SACO In the summer of 1681 some depredations committed at Wells, caused orders to be issued to the military to hold themselves in readiness. The inhabitants were at that time directed *'to carry arms and ammunition to public meetings ;" a precaution which long continued to be prac- tised. Another alarm spread through the Province a- bout two years later, when the following order of the Council, assembled by the deputy-president at Wells, was passed : "Whereas by intelligence from several places there appeareth vehement suspicion of the rising of the Indians in hostility against the English of this country, which calls for a readiness most speedily to prepare a- gainst the assault of so barbarous an enemy, whereof thof Council being sensible do account themselves obliged ta take effectual care, do order as follow^s : that the militia of every town in this province shall with all convenient speed, at the public charge of the towns wherein they live, provide garrison or garrisons in each town that may be convenient for the entertainment and defence of the whole inhabitants thereof, and to use their best endeavor therein, and order that every particular person in each town be furnished with arms and ammunition, according to the number of persons capable to use them." Garrisons, it is well known, were a common means ol defence provided by the inhabitants throughout N. Eng- land down to the latest period of Indian hostilities. The} were nothing more than wooden fabrics built of massive timber, commonly having flankers, or wings, of the samt material, and furnished with loop holes. A solid wal of palisadoes, of great thickness and strength, was ir some cases made to enclose the garrison, leaving a con siderable space around the premises, within which thd people were safe from a sudden assault. The remain; of buildings of this description may yet be seen in somr places, and have existed until within a few years in ou own towns. The following letter from Maj. Hooke, (who had re moved from Saco,) to a gentleman of New Hampshire describes an alarm that occurred not long after the dat of the above order : "Capt. Barefoot — Sm, This is to inform you that jusi AND BIDDEFORD. 191 DOW there came to me a post, wherein I am fully informed that there is just ground to feare that the heathen have a souden designe against us : they having lately about Sa- coe affronted our English inhabitants there by threatening of them, as also killinge theyre doggs : but more par- ticularly in that on Friday, and Lord's day last they have gathered all theyre corne, and are removed both pack and packidge. A word to the wise is enough. The old proverb is, forewarned forearmed. Myself and rest in com- mission with us are fourthwith setting ourselves in a pos- ture, and tomorrow our counsell meet for to consider what is needful to be done. Not else, beinge in greate haste, butt remayn, Sir, your obliged servant, Francis Hooke. KIttery, 13 Aug. 1685." In the spring of 1688, the tradinghouse of the Baron of St. Castine, a French inhabitant on the eastern side of the Penobscot, was plundered by Gov. Andros, on 'the pretence of its being seated within the limits of the English jurisdiction, which the Baron refused to acknow- ledge. Castine had resided many years in the country, [having come out as an officer in the French regiment to I Canada 1664 : these troops were disbanded three years 'after, and chiefly settled in Canada, where they received [grants of lands from government. The Baron penetra- [ted the wilderness, and finally pitched upon a spot near the mouth of the Penobscot, which at an earlier period jhad been occupied by a French establishment. He here lived in the midst of the Penobscot Indians, and even took for his wives the daughters of the chief Madocawan- do, the most powerful of the eastern sachems. The out- ?rage of Andros, committed during the absence of the 'Baron, was probably the immediate cause of the war ^ which soon after followed ; as the affi'onted Frenchman i' stirred up the hatred and animosity of the savages in thayt ! region against the English, and supplied them with arms fand ammunition for carrying on hostilities. The Indians jin the western part of the Province, pretended to have •sufficient grounds for renewing the war. They complai- ;ned that the tribute of corn stipulated to be paid them, 'had been refused : that they were disturbed in their fish- 192 HISTORY OF SACO ing on Saco river by the use of nets and seines, vvhicli obstructed the passage of the fish : that their lands were granted away by patents : and that they were cheated and abused by the traders. Threats were thrown out during the summer, which justly alarmed the inhabitants.^ At length, a report having reached this place that some^ mischief had been done at North Yarmouth, Mr. Black- man, who was a justice of the peace, ordered Capt. John Sargent to seize sixteen or twenty Indians who had been most active in the former war, in order to have an exami- nation, and to bring in the rest to a renewal of the treaty.* They were carried under a strong guard to Falmouth, Notice of this transaction having been sent to Boston, judge Stoughton and others came down to obtain a con- ference with the Indians by means of the prisoners, but their endeavors proved ineffectual, and they returned, ta- king the prisoners with them. Blood was first shed at Dartmouth, now Newcastle,* near Pemaquid, early in September.f A few days after Capt. Gendal and his servant were killed at North Yar- mouth. Towards winter two families of the names Bar- row and Bussy, living in Kennebunk, near Winterharbor,, were cut off. Gov. Andros, who was at N. York when the Indian prisoners were carried to Boston, on his return set them at liberty, from an idea that too much severity had been practised by his predecessors in their treatment of the savages ; at the same time he issued a proclama- tion, requiring the authors of the late outrages to be given np. No notice was taken of this demand, when Andros raised a large body of soldiers, (as we have before stated,) and marched at their head in the depth of winter from Boston to Pemaquid, but without destroying a single ene- my, although some of his own men perished with the cold. In April, 1689, "the savages began to renew hostilities at Saco falls, on a Lord's day morning," says Mather ; but no lives appear to have been lost. Two or three months i after, four young men of this town going to seek their, horses for the purpose of joining a party under Captain:^ ^Cotton Mather, (the historian of the second Indian war,) Magna««^j lia. ii. 506. tHutchinson. i. Zi^G, AND BIDDEFORD. l93 WIncol, were waylaid and killed. A company of twenty four men was immediately raised to search for the bodies of the slain, who falling in with the savages, pursued them into 'a vast swamp,' probably the Heath, but were obliged to retire with the loss of six of their number. A revolution in the government took place this season, which resulted in the forcible removal of Andros. From a statement afterwards published by the latter, we learn that ten companies, composed of sixty men each, were stationed in Maine ; one of which, commanded by Capt. John Lloyd, was placed here, and afterwards increased by an additional detachment of twenty eight-men. A less number, under Lieut. Puddington, was stationed at Kennebunk, "to be relieved from Saco."* The next year, 1690, was signalized by the destruction of the settlement at Salmon Falls,f (Berwick,) and the capture of the fort at Falmouth, by two parties of French and Indians. "Tbe garrisons at Papoodack, (C. Eliza- beth,) Spurwink, Black-point and Blue-point," says Dr. Mather, "were so disanimated by these disasters, that without orders they drew off immediately to Saco, twenty miles within Casco, and from Saco in a few days also they drew off to Wells, twenty miles within the said Saco ; and about half Wells drew off as far as Lieut. Storer's." Scouting parties were employed during the summer be- tween Portsmouth and Falmouth, by means of which the Indians were restrained from further depredations of any magnitude. In September, Col. Church was sent into tke province with considerable forces, partially composed of friendly natives of the old colony. They landed at Pegypscot, where a fort, built by Andros, had been in pos- session of the Indians who hastily fled on the approach of Col. Church, leaving behind several women and children ; these falling into his hands were all put to death('knocked on the head,') except the wives of two chiefs whose influence was wanted to obtain a restoration of prisoners. From that place, Col. Church sailed to *3 Mass. Hist. Coll. i, 86. It is also stated that these troops all de-r serted after the return of Andros from the eastward : but Captain Lloyd subsequently performed many valuable services in the Pro- vince. See Mather. iCharlevoix, liv. vii. writes the name Sementets. 17^ 194 HISTORY OP SACa Winter Harbor ; the next morning after they arrived, *they discovered some smokes rising towards Scamman's garrison : he immediately sent away a scout of 60 men, and followed presently with the whole body.'* This gar- rison was about three miles below the falls, on the eastern side of the river ; when the detachment approached it, they discovered the Indians on the opposite side. Three of them, however, had crossed the river, and seeing our men, ran with great speed to their canoe ; in attempting to re-cross, one who stood up to paddle, w^as killed by a shot from the party, and falling upon the canoe caused it to 'break to pieces,' (says Church,) 'so that all three per- ished.' The firing alarmed the other savages who aban- doned their canoes and ran from the river. 'Old Doney,' a noted Indian, was at the Falls, together with a prisoner, Thomas Bakerjf and hearing the guns, came down the river in his canoe ; but on perceiving our men, ran his canoe ashore, and leaping over the head of Baker, esca- ped to the other Indians. Col. Church afterwards went again to Casco bay, and from thence back as far as Wells, where the chiefs whose wives had been spared, came in, and 'said three several times that they would never fight against the English any more, for the French made fools of them, &ic.' But early the following year (1691), fresh outrages were committed. Sir William Phips, having been appointed governor of Massachusetts, resolved to carry on the war with re- newed spirit. Maj. Converse was made commander of the forces in the province, who commenced building a stone fort near Saco falls in the summer of 1693. 'Repairing to Saco,' says Mather, 'they began another fort, which was carried on by that worthy gentleman. Major Hooke, and the truly commendable Capt. Hill, and proved a mat- ter of good consequence to the province.' The fort stood on the western side of the river, a short distance below the falls ; the remains of it are still visible on the high bank nearly opposite the Manufacturing establishment. It is said to have been built with so much strength that the Indians never attempted to take it ; of course it af- ^ ^Chutchs Wars.ltr. tAn inhabitant of Scarboro' 1681, Scar. Ret. AND BIDDEFORD. 195 forded great security to the inhabitants. A number of soldiers were stationed here under the command of Capt; George Turfrey and Lieut. Pendleton Fletcher. So much energy was shown in the preparations for war in the early part of this year, that the Indians became alarm- ed, sued for peace, and, in August, a treaty was made at Pemaquid, 'signed by the principal Sagamores of all the Indians belonging to the several rivers of Penobscot and Kennebeck, Amarascoggin and Saco.' The following summer, however, hostilities were renewed near the Pas- cataqua, at Spruce creek, and in York. The leaders were fortunately seized ; Robin Doney and three others at Saco fort, and Bomaseen at Pemaquid, in August 1694. The latter was sent to a gaol in Boston. The next March, two soldiers belonging to the fort at this place, fell into the hands of the enemy, one of whom was killed, and the other carried into captivity. The savages appear to have lurked about the fort, watching an opportunity for mischief. Sergeant Haley was cut off in this man- ner, venturing carelessly out of the fort, in the latter part of the summer. The next year five soldiers in a similar way lost their lives. They had discovered the enemy in season to make their escape, but not agreeing about the course to be taken, (being at a considerable distance from the fort,) they unfortunately fell into an ambush and were all slain. Maj. Charles Frost, of Sturgeon creek (Kittery,) was killed on Sunday, July 4, 1697, returning from public worship at Berwick ; *to repair unto which,' says Dr. Mather, 'about five miles from his own house, he had that morning expressed such an earnestness, that much notice was taken of it.' Two others were killed at the same time, but two sons of Maj. Frost, who were in the com- pany, happily escaped. The Indians had secreted them- selves behind a collection of boughs lying near the road ; the place was open and level, and apparently much less likely to conceal an enemy than other parts of the road which they passed. Maj. Frost filled various offices of great respectability. In 1693, he was a member of the Council of Mass. Buy, elected by the people under the provisions of the new charter. He had been an active 196 HISTORY OF SACO officer in Philip's war, and was much feared by the sava- ges. His father, Nicholas Frost, already mentioned as one of the first settlers in Kirtery, died in 1G63, at the age of 71 years, leaving two other sons, John and Nicho- las. The capture of Lieut. Fletcher, and his two sons, took place the same year ; of which Dr. Mather gives the foiiovv'iug account. "Three soldiers of Saco Fort cutting some firewood on Cow island for the use of the fort, were by the Indians cut off; while that Lieut. Fietcher with his two sons, that should have guarded them, went a fowling ; and by doing so tliey likewise fell into the snare. The Indians carrying these three captives down the river in one of their canoes, Lieut. Larrabee, who was abroad with a scout, waylaid them, and firing; on the foremost of the canoes that had three men (Indians) in it, they all three fell and sank in the river of death ; several were killed a- board the other canoes ; and the rest ran their canoes a- shore and escaped on the other side of the river; and one of the Fletchers, when all the Indians with him were kill- ed, was delivered out of the hands which had made a pris- oner of him , though liis poor father afterwards died a- mong them." About the same time Humphry Scamman and his family- were taken and carried to Canada. The story of their capture is thus related by an aged lady, a grand daughter of Samuel, the youngest son of Mr. Scamman. When Samuel was about ten years old, as his grand daughter has often heard him relate, he was sent one day by his mother with a mug of beer to his father and brother, who were at work on a piece of marsh in the neighborhood of the lower ferry. He had not gone far from the house when he discovered a number of Indians at a distance, and immediately ran back to inform his mother. He re- gained the house, and wished to fasten the doors and win- dows, but his mother prevented, saying that the Indians would certainly kill them if he did. They soon came into the house and asked the good woman where her san- ap (husband) ivas ? She refused to inform them, when they threatened to carry her off alone ; but promised if she would discover where he was, to take them together without harm. She then told them. After destroying AND BIDDEFORD. 197 much of the furniture in the house, breaking many articles on a flat stone by the door, and emptying the feather beds to secure the sacks, they went away with the prisoners towards the marsh, where they succeeded in capturing Mr. Scamman and his other son. A boy named Robin- son, who had been for the team, as he was returning, per- ceived the savages in season to make his escape ; mount- ing a horse, with only his garters for a bridle, he rode up to what is now called Gray's point, swam the horse to Cow island, and leaving him there, swam to the opposite shore, and reached the fort in safety. He found only a few old men and women in possession of the place. The guns were immediately fired to alarm the soldiers belong- ing to the fort, who were at work some distance off. The women in the meantime put on men's clothes, and showed themselves about the fort, so that they could be seen by the Indians who had come up to the opposite island. De- ceived by this stratagem, (supposing the fort to be well manned, as they afterwards acknowledg^ed,) they did not venture an attack, but drew off with a number of prison- ers beside Scamman and his family. As the peace took place soon after, the prisoners were all restored, having been probably about one year in captivity. Mr. Scam- man on his return, found his house in precisely the same condition in which it had been left ; even the mug of beer, which Samuel placed on the dresser, was found remaining there. This mug is still in existence, preserved by our venerable informant as a memorial of the dangers and suf- ferings to which her ancestors were exposed. It is a handsome article of brown ware, with the figure and name of King William stamped upon it. Its age is about 140 years. In 1698, the war between England and France being at an end, the Indians made new overtures for peace, and commissioners were sent to treat with them, who con- cluded a treaty at a place called Mar's Point, Casco bay, Jan. 7, 1699. Thus ended a bloody war, which had continued with little intermission for ten years. r^ . The settlements enjoyed however, but a short respite from the unspeakable miseries of savage warfare. The succession of Queen Anne to the English throne 1702, 198 HISTORY OF SACO was followed by a renewal of hostilities with France. The next year Gov. Dudley appointed a conference with the Eastern Indians at Falmouth, in consequence of some indications of an alarming character. Delegates appeared from the different tribes, who declared to the Governor that "as high as the sun was above the earth, so far dis- tant was a design of making war from them." The sus- picions that had been excited, were soon confirmed, how- ever, and in August, six weeks after the conference, a body of 500 French and Indians fell upon the settlements between Casco and Wells, burning and destroying all be- fore them. One hundred and thirty people were killed and taken prisoners in the course of this devastation.* A garrison at Winter Harbor, and the stone fort at the Falls, were attacked by this party ; the former after a stout resistance, finally capitulated on favorable terms. In the assault on the fort, eleven were killed and twenty-four taken prisoners, who were carried into captivity. At Spurwink twenty-two persons of the name of Jordan were either killed or captured. The garrison at Scarbo- ro' held out against an attack. At Cape Elizabeth (Pur- pooduck) twenty-five were killed and eight taken. The expedition was led by a French ojfficer named Beaiibas- sin, who reported on his return to Canada, that he had slain three hundred English, but taken little plunder. This statement is discredited by the able authors of the Universal History, on the ground that the English ac- counts are silent respecting it, and that a considerable spoil must necessarily have been obtained. f But the French account is too nearly supported by Penhallow, an American writer. The inhabitants, having been lulled into security by the result of the conference at Casco, were taken by surprise and became the easy victims of the perfidious cruelty of the savages. Towards the close of the year, five of our inhabitants who were getting home wood, were surprised by the enemy and three of them slain. The next month (Jan. 1704,) a body of Indians attacked a garrison in Saco, probably at the Falls, com- manded by Capt. Brown, but were repulsed. J Capt. Tenhallow's 'Wars of New England.' fMod. Univ. Hist.xl. 146. tSewall. MS. Diarv. AND BIDDEFORD. 199 Hil! (Joseph, probably) who had fallen into the hands of the enemy, was sent from Canada 1705, to obtain an ex- change of prisoners ; he reported that there were with the French 114 captives, besides 70 with the Indians. Saco Fort was at that time undergoing repairs ; for we find Capt. Turfrey allowed by the Gen. Court of 1704, £164 for this purpose.* About this time, Ebenezer Hill (afterwards Deacon) and his wife Abigail, then recently married, were carried into captivity. Several Indians, who professed to be friendly and were frequently in the houses of the inhabi- tants, called at Mr. Hill's in the usual manner one mor- ning, and partook of some food w^hich was offered them. They left the house, but soon after returned and finding Mr. Hill gone, told his wife that they must make her a prisoner. They proceeded to plunder such articles from . the house as they could conveniently carry away, and de- stroying others. When Mr. Hill came, he found his wife secured, having her arms pinioned, and the savages em- ployed in emptying a feather bed. He gave himself into their hands, and the Indians decamped with the prison- ers. They were carried to Canada, where they remain- ed three years. Their oldest son, Ebenezer, was born either in Canada or while they were on their return. He was familiarly called the Frenchman in after years. Mr. Hill's house was on the western side of the river, near the head of 'ferry lane.* In 1707, an engagement took place at Winter Harbor between a fleet of fifty canoes, manned by 150 Indians, and two small vessels in which were Capt. Austin, Mr. Harmon, Sergeant Cole, five other men and a boy. See- ing the canoes approach in a hostile manner, the men fired upon them as soon as they came near, and produced jsome confusion. The Indians soon recovered, however, and a brisk action ensued. They succeeded in capturing one of the boats, but the men escaped into the other with the loss of only one man, Benj. Daniels, who was shot through the bowels. As he fell, he exclaimed, "I am a dead man !" but recovering himself a little, he added, *Masa, Kecords. 200 HISTORY OF SACO "Let me kill one before I die!" his strengih, howeverj' failed him. The action lasted three hours. The In- dians approached near enough to seize the blades of the.; oars. The Gen. Court passed an order 1708, directing the: removal of the forces from the stone fort at the falls to Winter Harbor, where a new fort was built on the extremi- ty of the point at the entrance of the Pool. Three hun-- dred pounds were appropriated for this object, and Maj. Joseph Hammond and Capt. Lewis Bane appointed to carry the order into effect. In 1710, one hundred pounds were granted by the court towards the completion of the fortification, which was called Fort Mary ; a supply of * snow-shoes and mogasins was voted at the same time. The remains of Fort Mary are now distinctly visible on the point, which is still called Fort hill. In August of that year, about fifty French and Indians made an assault on Winter Harbor, killed a woman, and took two men, one of whom, Pendleton Fletcher, was captured for the fourth time. The garrison redeemed him. The next' week a large party came, killed three, and carried away six. They barbarously stripped off the skin from one of the slain, and made girdles of it. Col. Walton with 170 men, soon after visited the place, and marched up the river, but succeeded in destroying only two of the enemy and taking five prisoners. Corporal Ayers of Fort Mary fell into the hands of the savages about this time, but was liberated immediately ; the Indians, being weary of the war, which had reduced the number of their fighting men from 450 to 300, sent in a flag of truce to the fort, and desired a treaty. But some of them committed depreda- tions afterwards in Wells, York, and Dover ; and peace, did not take place until 1713, after the cessation of hostili-t ties and the treaty of Utrecht in Europe. They sent, in proposals to Capt. Moody of Falmouth, signifying their desire of treaty; and on 11 July, 1713, Governor Dudley and the Council met them at Portsmouth, where," by a formal writing under hand and seal, they renewed their allegiance and "begged the Queen's pardon for their ^ former miscarriages." AND BIDDEFORD. 201 A Chronological view of the principal events of a general character noticed in the foregoing pages. 1602 Discovery of New England. 1603 Discovery of Saco river, called Shawakotock. 1604-5 Visit of the French navigators, De Monts and Champlain. 1606 Plymouth Company formed. 1607 Sagadehock Colony sent out. 1608 Return of the Colonists to England. 1614 Visit of Capt. John Smith to Saco river, called Sawocotuck, 1616 Richard Vines passes the winter at Winter Harbor. 1620 Council of Plymouth established. 1622 Grant of Laconia to Gorges and Mason. 1628 First permanent settlement in Maine, at Pemaquid. 1630 Patents on Saco river granted. Settlement made on the wes- tern side of the river, now Biddeford. 1631 Settlement on the eastern side of the river, now Saco. The in- habitants on both patents composing one town called Saco; governed by a Combination. Plough Patent granted. 1635 Separate grant from the Council of Plymouth to Gorges, from Pascataqua to Kennebec ; made a Province by Gorges under the name of New Somersetshire, and William Gorges sent out as governor. 1636 Government of New Somersetshire organized at Saco. First Court holden on the eastern side of the river. 1639 Grant of the Council to Gorges confirmed by the King ; the name of the Province changed to Mj4ine. 1640 Government of Maine organized; General Court holden at Saco. Thomas Gorges Governor. 1643 Gov. Gorges returns to England. Richard Vines, Steward General, the acting governor. Plough Patent purchased by Alex Rigby ; the towns embraced in it formed into a separate jurisdiction, styled the Province of Lygonia. Geo. Cleaves ap- pointed Deputy President. 1645 R. Vines elected Governor of Maine by the General Court. Succeeded by Henry Jocelyn. Vines conveys his Patent to Dr. Robert Child. 1646 Controversy of Gorges and Rigby decided in favor of the latter. 1647 Death of Sir F. Gorges ; succeeded as Lord Proprietor by Sir John Gorges. 1649 Combination of the towns Pascataqua, Gorgeana and Wells, Edward Godfrey chosen governor. 1650 Death of Alexander Rigby ; succeeded by Edward Rigby. 1652 The Colony of Mass. Bay claims the greater part of the Pro- vince of Maine as within her patent and jurisdiction. Claim resisted by Gov. Godfrey and his Council. Pascataqua and Gorgeana submit; named Kittery and York. The Province converted into the County of Yorkshire. 1653 Wells, Cape Porpoise and Saco submit to Mass. Bay. 1655 Levy made on Vines's patent, as the property of Messrs. Beex & Co. of London. 1658 Blue-point, Black-point and Casco submit to Mass. Bay. The two fonner^lantations incorporated under the name of Scar- boro' ; Casco called Falmouth. 18 202 11 1659 Beex & Co. sell Vines's Patent to William Phillips of Boston', who removes to Saco. 1665 The King's Commissioners come into the Province, and estab- lish a new jurisdiction ; Henry Jocelyn left at the head of the government. Sir Ferdinando, son and successor to Sir John Gorges, revives his claim to the Province. 1668 Mass. Bay forcibly resumes a jurisdiction in the Province. Con-ii flict at York. 1675 Philip's war commences. 1676 Controversy between Gorges and Mass Bay decided in Eng-; land in favor of the former. 1677 Gorges sells the Province to Mass. Bay for the sura of £1200( sterling. 1678 Peace with the Indians. Treaty made at Falmouth. 1680 Thomas Danforth President of Maine. Brian Pendleton de- puty-president. 1686 Joseph Dudley President of New England. Superseded by Sir: Edmund Andros. 1688 Second war with the Indiana. 1690 Berwick (Salmon Falls) and Casco destroyed by the French and Indians. 1691 New Charter granted to Mass. Bay by William and Mary. 1692 Sir William Phips Governor of Mass. Bay. 1693 Stone Fort built at Saco Falls. 1698 Peace with the Indians. Treaty of Mar's Point. 1703 Third Indian war. Joseph Dudley Governor of Mass. scent of the French from Canada on the towns in Maine. 1710 Fort Mary built at Winter Harbor, Saco. 1713 Peace concluded with the Indians. _ I clElorllf.jt,-, / >>, li ii Uk4^ lU'lcroA i I J-! H I !k ^'laiai-.vHwjv. -^^"- T, K'vJ'JvTIS'A.' 71', (5^V^-) T ffasr?'; X)rei.vv-n fur t;h.e Hist, of 8aco iX] ii id-d.efi->T:^oL. [ HISTORY OF S^CO AJ\D BIDDEFORD. PART SECOND. CHAPTER I. p„ After the pacification of 1713, the dispersed inhabi- tants began to return to their deserted homes from the imore secure settlements to which they had fled for safety ; [the garrisons and forts in which those who remained, had been confined, were now abandoned, and the town in- cstead of presenting to the eye the dreary aspect of tenant- Jess dwelhngs and uncuhivated fields, became once more the abode of a busy and industrious, though not a numer- ous population. A new period in its history thus com- mences. For nearly thirty years no records of meetings for the transaction of town affairs, are found; the first record after this long interval shows that the inhabitants had ceased to act as a municipal body, and describes the measures taken to re-organize in that capacity. It is as follows : "March 15, 1717. The inhabitants of Saco thought fit to make choice of officers as in other towns by reason of a public charge arising in the town, for defray- ing public charges, as making a rate for the payment of Rev. Mr. Short, and other charges that may arise ; and at the meeting of the inhabitants it is a clear vote that Humphry Scamman is town clerk, and that Mr. Andrew 204 HISTORY OF SACO Brown, Richard Stimpson, and H. Scamman, be select men and assessors, and John Stackpole constable, and lil the meeting thought fit not to make choice of any othep officers." In May another meeting was held for signing a petition to the General Court to obtain a continuance of I the minister's salary the ensuing year, "and accordingly/ there was a blank signed by the whole meeting, and com- mitted to the constable to get a scrivener to draw the same," who made return that he had done accordingly,, and committed the same to Capt. Lewis Bean, the repre- sentative of York. The petition was signed by John Lane, and thirteen others, whose names are not record- ■ ed ; it was granted by the Court. Capt. Lane was at this time the commander of Fort Mary, Winter Harbor, where he died not long after. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated to New England while a young man. Before his military ap-- pointment, at this place, he had settled in Hampton, N. H.* He was succeeded by John Gray, Esq. in the command of Fort Mary. This gentleman came from England with Gov. Shute 1716, from whom he received both a military and a civil commission. He was at Winter Harbor asil early as January, 1720. At a townmeeting in July, William Dyer was elected "attorney or agent of the town for one year." The same year, the following petition was presented to the General Court by Capt. Bean, "in behalf of himself, Casco bay, and Black-point ; Whereas four years ago Benjamin Ha- ley was allowed to keep a ferry on Saco river at its mouth, which place is inconvenient on account of its nearness to the sea, and the roughness thereby occasioned ; and said Haley is negligent, and travellers are exposed to danger, and there is a more commodious place for one higher up where H. Scamman now dwells, whose father for many years kept the ferry till in the late war he was dri- ven away by Indians ; wherefore he prays that said Scam- man may be appointed by this court to keep the ferry at I that place." The petition was granted. ^Family tradition. Col. I. Lane,of HoiUs, is a great-grandson of Capt. Lane. AND BIDDEFORD. 205 The next year, 1718, the last meeting of the inhabi- tants on both sides of the river under the old name of Saco, was holden at the house of John Stackpole ; when Ebenezer Hill, Scamman and Stimpson, were chosen se- lectmen. No other proceedings of the town this year are preserved ; but the records of the General Court in some measure supply the deficiency. "Nov. 14, 1718. On petition of H. Scamman and others, resolved, that £40 be allowed and paid out of the public treasury towards the support of a minister at Winter Harbor for this year ; and that the petitioners be invested with the powers of a town according to the ancient bounds thereof; provided that this order shall in no measure infringe the just title of any person to lands there, and that fifty families at the least more than now are, to be admitted as soon as may be, and settle in a compact and defensible manner accord- ing to the directions of Hon. John Wheelwright [of Wells,] and others, the committee for regulating the eastern set- tlements ; And that the name thereof be Biddeford."* The townmeeting in March, 1719, is the first recorded to have been holden in Biddeford. Benjamin Haley, Hill and Scamman were chosen selectmen ; John Sharpe surveyor. In May, it was "voted that H. Scamman ap- pear sent and represent this town before the great and General Court at Boston." And "that the selectmen give his Excellency thanks, and that his Excellency be desired to send for this representative no oftener than there is occasion for the service of this town in their be- half. Voted that the selectmen run the line between Cape Porpoise and this town." ^ A meeting was held 2 April, 1720, for the purpose of dividing the commons or town lands, "for the enlarging *Some of the inhabitants we suppose emigrated from Biddeford, Eng., which is in the county of Devonshire, near the entrance to Bristol Channel, and is thus described by Worcester, Univ. Gazet- teer : "Biddeford, or Bideford, (B)' the Ford,) a seaport, 40 miles north of Exeter, 108 west of London ; population 3244. It is situa- ted near the union of Towridge and the Taw [rivers,] over the former of which there is a very long bridge of 24 arches. Large quantities of coarse earthen ware are made here, and sent to most parts of the Kingdom. The market is large and well supplied with provisions." 18* 206 HISTORY OF SACO the town and settlement" ; 100 acres were voted for a par- sonage ; H. Scamman, jr. was granted 50 acres "where he can find it clear of all former grants ; and it is agreed that he shall not exceed fifty poles in breadth, and all the 5 lands that shall be given this day, to be laid out according: to this form as to quantity of breadth ;" J. Stackpole 40 acres ; Pendleton Fletcher 50 ; Samuel Cole 45 ; E. , Hill 40 ; B. Haley 40 ; Capt. John Sharpe 40 ; W. Dy er 40 ; Rob. Edgecomb 30 ; R. Edgecomb jr. 30 ; Rob. . Elwell 40 ; John Brown 40 ; Samuel Smith 35 ; Rich-- ard Smith 40 ; Ebenezer Pratt 40 ; Solomon Smith 40 ;; Mathew Robertson 30 ; Nathaniel Tarbox 40 ; John Da-- vis 40 ; Wm. Gibson 40 ; Samuel Scamman 40 ; Samuel Jordan 40 ; John Sharpe jr. 30. H. Scamman's grant was bounded in part as follows: "Beginning at a point i of rocks lying forty poles W. S. W. distance from a bea-- ver dam that hinders the passage of the water from fall-^' ing into i^ranm Backus^ brook, it being the northernmost! branch of Little river, by which is understood the Liitle; river on the south west side of Saco river," &;c. In 1722 it was voted to raise £22 to defray the charges' of the town ; and not to send a representative "by rea- son of not being of ability to defray the expense." Five years after, the government issued £60,000 in bills of credit, which was distributed among the towns, to be loaned to individuals, and repaid at stated times with inter- est.* Sept. 22, 1728, there was a townmeeting "for the choice of three persons as trustees of the £60,000 loan ;'* Fletcher, Hill, and H. Scamman were chosen. The trustees were directed by the town "to let out the money-, in sums not exceeding £10, with sufficient security." A further allotment of town lands was made 1728, each lot consisting of 30 acres, on condition that the grantees paid to the treasurer 4Z. and dwelt in the town live years. The following persons received grants at this time : Joshua Hooper, Allen Gordon, Henry Pendexter, Charles Monk, Edward Rumery, John Smith, John Bry- ant, Jacob Davis, Samuel Cole, Joseph Gordon, Pendle- 'Hutch. Hist. Mass. ii. 207. AND BIDDEFORD. 201 i.')n Fletcher jr., Ebenezer Hill jr., John Stackpole jr., John Trevvorgy, Thomas Edgecon^.b, Robert Brooks, John Brown, William Dyer jr. Capt. Samuel Jordan. The Phillips heirs appeared on the re-settlement of the town, and caused a division of their lands to be made. The principal tract was four miles square, embracing the upper half of the original patent, which had been devised by Maj. Phillips to his lady and two sons, Samuel and WiUiam, with the exception of one fourth part previously sold to Abraham Harmon of Fayal. Samuel, a few years after the death of his father, as we have stated, sold his undivided part, being one fourth of the whole, to Capt. Geo. Turfrey. One lialf of the tract only, therefore, was claimed by the Phillips family, at the time of the division, which took place in September, 1718. Those who ap- peared, were William Phillips, Deborah, the wife of Vv^il- liam Skinner, Sarah and Anne Phillips, singlewomen, and Bridget, the wife of John Merryfield, all of Boston, grand- children of JMaj. Phillips. On the part of the other pro- prietors, John Briggs of Boston alone appeared, whose wife Katherine w^as a daughter of Capt. Tui frey. The division was made by Messrs. Joseph Hill of Wells, and Lewis Bean of York, commissioners, and Abraham Pre- ble of York, surveyor. They began "at a small brook j ,^ below the Falls, known by the name of Davis's brook, and thence ran four miles up the river, and thence back- wards into the country four miles ;" including Bonython and Cow islands, and the sawmill built by Capt. Turfrey. Six acres about the mill were assigned to the proprietors in common for a landing, still known 'as the mill brow.' I ' The commissioners then proceeded as follows : 1 . They iy laid out to Briggs, beginning at Davis's brook, an extent ' of eighty rods on the river, running back south west four miles to the bounds of the patent. 2. To the Phillips i heirs 160 rods next above on the river, and four miles back. 3. To the heirs or assigns of Harmon eighty rods. 4. To the Phillips heirs one mile and p half. 5. To Briggs three fourths of a mile. 6. To Harmon three fourths of a mile. Two years pSter, the Phillips heirs sold out in part to Edward Brcmrialr] jr., Thomas Sal- ter, Samuel Adams, (father of Gov. S. Adams,) and 208 HISTORY OP 9AC0 Henry Hill, all of Boston. Briggs also sold in part to Tristram Little of Newbury, a few years later. The supposed heir of Harmon, George Buck of Biddeford, England, did not appear until a much later date. In 1758 he sold Harmon's first lot, eighty rods wide, to Benj. Nason ; and nine years after the second lot, 3-4 of a mile in breadth, to John Mc Intire of York. Correspon- ding shares in the mill, long known as 'the lower mill,' were conveyed with the land. This mill, originally built by Capt. George Turfrey probably soon after his pur- chase (1691,) continued to be renewed until 1814, when it was carried away by 'the great freshet'. The Eddy mill was afterwards built nearly on the same privilege. At the time of this division, Samuel Cole was living near the mill brow ; and the following year he purchased twelve acres lying above the Turfrey mill, including the steep fall privilege, on which he soon after buih the Cole mill, where it now stands. Twenty years later (1740) Cole sold, as a part of his 12 acres, one half of the Goock mill privilege to Thomas Wheelwright of Wells ; and the latter directly after sold 1-4 to Benj. Gooch of Wells. Cole, in his conveyance to Wlieelwright, speaks of his old mill ; referring to the Cole mill, which was built about 1720. in the spring of 1741, the three pro- prietors built the Gooch mill on the island now called Gooch island, separated from the main by a channel formerly known as Jordan's creek. The right of Cole to convey any part of the island, (containing three or four acres,) has long been a vexed question, from which innumerable lawsuits have sprung. Nathaniel, a son of Major Phillips, left no lineal heirs. His nephew William took out administration on his estate 1719, and brought in a tract of land IJ miles in breadth on the river, and extending four miles to the southwest. Adams, Salter, and Bromfield, afterwards joined by Pep- perell, purchased out the collateral heirs, and divided the tract among themselves. Parker's neck, on which Fort Mary was built, formed a part of this property, and was sold by the heirs to Capt. Samuel Jordan 1727. Capt. Jordan erected a dwellinghouse there not long before, which is now standing, occupied by Deacon Waldo Hill. AND BIDDEFORD. 209^ His conveyance runs — "All the land between the lower end of the pines on Parker's neck, commonly called Wind mill hill, to the cove before said Jordan's dwelling- house." The division was made 1730, and included a somewhat greater extent than the land of Nathl. Phillips. The proprietors first divided a tract bounded on the south- erly hne of Phillips's patent, (terminating at the river with the house of Ambrose Berry, probably near Clarke's brook,) and running up the river 242 rods; Secondly, a tract adjoining this, extending 224 rods above, to the land of Mr. Gordon, formerly Pendleton's ; the first about three, the second four, miles in length, southwesterly from the river. The 600 acres devised by Maj. Pendleton to his son James, were conveyed by the latter to Nicholas Morey of Taunton, Mass. in 1700. James describes himself "of Westerly alias Haversham, in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."^ Mr. Morey took possession of the Pendleton tract, the same year in presence of Joseph and John Hill. John Gordon, of Newbury, afterwards purchased a part of this land on which liis sons Allen and Joseph were settled 1728. It is still occupied by descendants of Joseph Gordon. The 500 acres conveyed by Maj. Phillips to Zachary Gillam and Ephraim Turner, his'sons in law, lay next a- bove Pendleton's, having West's brook on the south east. The lot was about 70 rods wide. Next came the land of William Hutchinson, "formerly called Liscomb's lot," containing the same number of acres. In 1742, Abigail Gillam, widow Abigail Taylor, and Brattle Oliver, of Bos- ton, sold both lots to Capt. Samuel Jordan, Rishworth Jordan, (his son,) and Joseph Poak of Scarboro' ; the latter taking one half, as his part of the purchase, on which he afterwards lived, since called Poakh right. The strip of land in breadth from Nason's hill to Davis's brook, (which crosses the street near the store of Daniel *The town of Westerly, R. I. was formerly a part of Stonington, Conn., from which it is separated by the river Pawcatuck. At a court holden in Rhode Island by Jos Dudley, President of New Eng- land, and three of the Council, 1686, Mr. Pendleton v/as, present as an associate justice. 1 Mass. Hist. Coll. ix. 82. v. 247. 210 HISTORY OF SACO Deshon, Esq.) was claimed, 1718, by John Hobbs of Bos- ton, grandson of Christopher Hobbs, who bought of Maj. Phillips 1673. It was for many years the property of Col. John Tyng, of Tyngsboro, Mass., who died 1797. Such is as minute a description of the principal divis- ions and conveyances of land within the patent on the western side of the river, as it is consistent with our limits to admit. In relation to the commons, or town lands, it may be remarked that their extent on the river appears to have been to Clarke's brook, near the mouth of which is a place called Berry^s back, which probably indicates the situation of "the house of Ambrose Berry," mentioned in the report of the Mass. Commissioners 1659. Some dispute or doubt seems to have existed in regard to the town's right, in 1738, when the deposition of Joseph Hill Esq. of Wells was taken, who stated, that having been born in Saco, as his parents informed him, sixty seven years past, and lived there a considerable time, he always understood that the land which lay next the sea below Ambrose Berry, was consented to by Maj. Phillips to be at the town's disposal ; and that all the inhabitants in the patent above Berry, derived their title from Phillips, of whom there were then (1738) upwards of twenty families. The improvements of Blackman and his associates on the eastern side of the river were probably abandoned during the Indian troubles. A few families may have lingered about the Falls, but there is no reason to sup- pose that the operations of the proprietors were continu- ed. They laid the foundation on which an enterprising company now began to build. In October, 1716, Samuel Walker of New Jersey, sold his two thirds of the Black- man purchase to William Pepperell, junior, afterwards Sir WiHiam, who was then only twenty years of age, but was engaged in extensive business with his father, Col. Pepperell, at Kittery-point. The following year young Pepperell purchased the remaining third part of the tract from Thomas Goodwill of Boston, who seems to have derived the tide from his wife Rebecca, probably a daugh- ter of Mr. Blackman. The bounds of the right are de- scribed in these as in the former deeds, including a pri- vilege for timber on 4500 acres northwest of the pur- AND BIDDEFORB. 211 cfiase. Directly after these transactions, Pepperell sold out two fourths of the whole tract to Nathaniel Weare of Hampton, millwright, and Humphry Scamman, junior, of this town, mariner, who together, in part payment, erected a double sawmill on the site of the old Black- mail mill, and a dwellinghouse for the accommodation of the millmen, one half of which was to be the property of Pepperell. A division of the mill and of a lot of land adjoining, half a mile square, with a small reservation to be used in common, was made by the partners 16 De- cember, 1717. Pepperell took a breadth of 80 rods, comprehending the part of the present village east of Main street, to the lower fence of the burying ground ; Scamman 40 rods next below, and Weare 40 rods, to the brook near Pipe Stave, now Gray's, point. Th« whole tract, extending from Nichols's brook to the upper bounds of Gibbins's third division, a distance of 4j miles, and in breadth not less than two miles, was divided 20 October, 1718, in the following manner : First, Pep- perell began at Nichols's brook, ran 44 rods ; next Scam- man 22 rods, and Weare 22 rods; which brought them to Gray's point, the lower side of the lot divided the year before. They now extended the north east bounds of that lot to the middle line of the patent ; then beginning at its upper side, (on Main street,) they set off, following the river, to Weare 40 rods, Scamman 40, Pepperell 80 ; (extending back two miles ;) again, Pepperell 120, Scam- man 60, Weare 60 : Pepperell 120, Scamman 60, Weare 60; Pepperell 120, Scamman 60, Weare 60; Pepper- ell 127, Scamman 67J, Weare 67J, which completed the tract. A large rock in the river, above Little falls, marks the extent of the division, as now understood. Several ways or roads were laid out at the same time ; one "to run from the mill northeast two miles to the mid- dle line of the patent, four rods wide," which is at pre- sent Main street and the post road as far as the house of John Foss. Another was *'to run southeast and north- west about half a mile from the river, four rods wide, through the whole division" ; now to a certain extent the Buxton and Ferry roads. "Likewise a way by the river through all the aforesaid land as near as may be to the 212 HISTORY OF SACO river, with convenience for men and oxen to pass and re- pass ; as likewise we reserve liberty to bring timber any ways upon all the aforesaid land to the said mill or the river, without it be through a mowing field, or cornfield, or orchard." Landing places were also reserved for com- mon use : one opposite Jordan's, now Spring's, island, sub- sequently called Dennett's landing ; another near Tucker's i wharf, which was long known as 'Pepperell's landing' ; ; and on Pipe Stave point. The privilege of cutting timber on the land northwest of the purchase, being J. Bonython's Second division,, was also divided by the proprietors. Pepperell took the upper half of the tract, Weare the next quarter, and Scamman the lower quarter. Landings were established on the river side of this privilege, from which roads led into the woods. The valuable island opposite to the mill, since well known as Cutts's or Factory island, was claimed by the proprietors under the name of Indian island, which, however, seems to have been attached to the Phillips estate, with the name of 'Bonython's island."* The di- Tision of the mill was as follows : "Pepperell takes the saw and frame next to the land, and the piling place next to the land ; and the saw and frame next to the river, said Weare and said Scamman are to have, and the piling place on the rock next to the river ; each owner of said saw is to maintain and keep in order his running gear and saw and all that belongs to each frame. As to the house, said Pepperell has the eastern half, and said Weare and Scamman are to have the western half." The house built for the proprietors has long since disappeared. A- nother erected about 1720 by Capt. Scamman, one story high, with a gable roof, was sold by his son to Mr. Ro- bert Gray 1744, who added another story soon after, in which state it is still occupied by his grandson, James Gray, Esq. This venerable mansion, the oldest now stan- *The sale of ^ of this island to Bonython by Phillips 1667, for a quantity of logs, has been already mentioned, p. 162. The island was divided between them the same year, when "the half next the Ma- jor's house" was assigned to him, and the remainder to Bonython. The island is not mentioned in the deeds to or from Blackman. AND BIDDEFORD. 21i5 ding in Saco, with its high steep roof, io the most conspi- cuous object in ascending the river, above the Narrows, being placed on an eminence from which a wide view is commanded. It was for a considerable period protected from the ravages of the Indians by a strong garrison wall with flankers. Capt. Scamman was the only one of the proprietors resident in town, and continued to carry on the mill until his death, which took place in 1734, at the age of fifty eight years. His father, as already stated, died a few years before. The children of the former, born 1715-29, were iVlary, Sarah, who married Joseph Hanson of Dover 1737, Humphry, removed to Kittery 1744, and lived to an advanced age, Dominicus, James, Nathaniel, Benjamin, both of whom died at Cape Breton, 1745, and Jeremiah, died in infancy. The estate of Capt. Scamman, soon after his decease, was divided a- mong his children. A division of the Foxwell estate among the heirs and their assigns took place 1732. The lower checker set off to Foxwell and Harmon in the division of the Patent, was divided into two equal parts by a northwest line, run- ning from the sea to the head of the checker, a distance of two miles and fifty rods : of which the part on the south west being left to the heirs of Harmon, the remain- ing half, one mile in breadth, was allotted to the Foxwell heirs. A narrow strip only of the latter now lies in Saco, including a lot 70 rods wide, assigned to Pepperell as the representative of Mrs. Corbain, heiress of Nathaniel Foxwell, and another of 35 rods, Mrs. Norton's portion ; so much have the bounds of Scarboro' advanced into the original Saco township. The lots were laid out in length from the marsh (which was separately divided) to the head of the checker, 518 rods. The eastern moiety of the upper Foxwell and Harmon checker, was distributed in- to lots running from the patent line to the middle of the checker ; the lowest lot, 123 rods wide, was assigned to Pepperell; the next, 91 J, to the heirs of Lucretia Rob- inson ; the next, 91^, to the heirs of Mary Norton ; the next, 91 J, to the heirs of Sarah Curtis; the next, 91 J, to the heirs of Esther Rogers ; the next, 91^, to Susan- nah Austin. The Pepperell lot, being the inheritance of 19 214 HISTORY OF SACO Nathaniel Foxwell, was a double portion. The dividing line between Saco and Scarboro', as it now runs, leaves about two thirds of the division in the latter town. The division of the Gibbins estate 1730, has been noticed in a preceding cliapter. Beside lands lying near the mouth of the river, the two checkers on the eastern side of the Patent, being Gibbins's Second and Fourth divisions, were then assigned to the heirs. The ; former checker was divided into four lots, each measur- ■ ing 147 rods on the patent line ; of which the lowest was assigned to Rebecca Wakefield and Patience Anna-' ble ; the next to Hannah Mace; the next to Rachel Edgecomb ; the next, being the head of the checker, to > Elizabeth Sharpe. "Moreover," say the Commissioners, *'we do agree that the stream [Foxwell's brook] and the falls which are known by the name of FoxivelPs falls, , which belong to the heirs of Hannah Mace, Rebecca Wakefield, and Patience Annable, equally in quantity and quality, to be divided when they shall see cause lo set up a mill or mills." The upper checker, now called the Me Kinney district, was left in common to the heirs at that time. In 1732, administration was granted on the estate of John Bonython, nearly fifty years after his decease, and a division was made to the heirs of his five children. The administrators brought in 5000 acres of land, valued at ISs. per acre, comprising nearly the two checkers set off to him in the division of the Patent. The heirs, one of whom was Patience Collins, wife of John Collins, and on- ly surviving child of John Bonython jr., sold out to James Skinner, James Morgan, and Humphry Scamman, im- mediately after the division. The premises were again divided, 1735, by Skinner, Morgan, and the heirs of Scam- man. The third part of the upper checker adjoining the head line of the Patent, was assigned to Skinner ; , the next to the heirs of Scamman ; the last to Morgan. The lower checker, excepting the part lying above Nich- «)ls's brook, was divided in a similar manner. AND BIDDEFORD. 2l5 ' CHAPTER U. No other single cause so much retarded the growth, and checked the general prosperity of the town, as its ex- posure to the barbarous inroads of the Indians. It was still a frontier settlement, and hardly were the inhabitants quietly seated again on their lands, (with a considerable accession of numbers, however, from various quarters,) before the country was involved in another contest with the savage enemy, as destructive as any former one. The French government beinji; rendered uneasy by the extension of the English settlements in the eastern coun- try, after the peace of 1713, secretly promised to sup- ply the Indians with arms and ammunition if they would renew hostilities. Their principal agent in this business was the celebrated Ralle, a French Jesuit, who had liv- ed nearly forty years among the Indians at Norridgewock. The governor of Canada kept up a correspondence with this priest, who informed him of the movements of the Indians. The English inhabitants were alarmed by the attempts made to excite the Indians to war, and the threats thrown out by them from time to time, till at length, in- duced by their representations. Gov. Shute, in the year 1717, summoned a conference at Arrowsick, a well known island in the Kennebec. By dint of promises and conciliatory speeches, the storm was averted for the pre- sent. But three years after, some depredations being committed on the eastern settlements, fresh alarm spread through the province. Col. Walton of Somersworth, N. H. was sent down with a small body of men. The gar- risons were also reinforced. No further mischief was done, however, that season. The next summer (1721) a conference of the French and Indians was held on Arrowsick, attended by Father Ralle, young Castine of Penobscot, son of the late Baron, and Croisil, an agent from Canada. Great numbers of Indians were present. Capt. Penhallow, commander of the English fort on the island, likewise attended ; to whom a letter was deliver- ed, addressed to Gov. Shute, in the name of the several tribes, in which they threatened to kill the English and 216 HISTOKY OP SAC© burn their houses, unless they removed within three weeks from the settlements, on the eastern side of the Kennebec. No other notice was taken of this menace, than to send re-inforcements, and invite another conference. But the following winter a party, commanded by Col. Thomas Westbrook, was despatched to Norridgewock to seize the Jesuit ; they succeeded only in capturing a box of papers, Ralle escaping into the woods. The contents of the box afforded abundant proofs of his exertions to in- flame the minds of the Indians against the English inhabi- tants, in favor of the French. The ensuing summer, 1722, hostilities commenced with the capture of nine families near Merrymeeting bay on the Kennebec by a party which was composed of sixty men in twenty canoes ;* no blood was shed. A few weeks after, a furious attack was made on Brunswick, where the houses were chiefly burned. On receiving this news, the Governor and Council issued a formal declaration of war, proclaiming "the Eastern In- dians, with their confederates, robbers, traitors, and ene- mies to King George." Forces were immediately order- ed to be sent into the County of York, to be stationed in'| garrisons; the number of men assigned to Biddeford was ; twenty. Early the next year, 1723, the Indians commenced a series of cruel depredations in this part of the county, ^ and on the frontier towns of New tfampshire. They made a sudden attack on Scarboro' in April, and killed several of the inhabitants; among them was Sergeant Chubb, whom the Indians mistook for Capt. Harmon of ). York, a distinguished warrior. Chubb fell pierced by no less than eleven bullets out of fifteen aimed at him. In ! June they attacked the garrison of Roger Deering, Esq. ^ in the same town, killed his wife, and took three of his:3 children, who were picking berries ; two soldiers of the garrison were killed at the same time. During this summer Mary, a daughter of Capt. Hum- "The canoe of an Eastern Indian is usually of sufficient dimen- sions to contain a family of six or eight persons. The warriors were generally accompanied by their women and children in their hostile expeditions. There is a singular error on this subject in the late ex- cellent edition of Winthrop. i. 59, AND BIDDEFORD. 217' phry Scam man, was taken by the Indians while visiting a family connection in Scarborough. John Hunnuel and Rob. Jordan were made prisoners the same day.* Mary, who was but eight or nine years of age at that time, was carried to Canada, where, it is said, being a bright girl, she attracted the attention of Vandreil, the governor, who received her into his family. Here she remained sever- al years, and was carefully educated in the Roman Catho- lic faith, while her father was profoundly ignorant of her situation. She was at length married to Mons. Dunin- cour, a gentleman of Quebec ; after which event infor- mation of the lost child reached the family. Soon after the intelligence was received, Humphry Scamman, a brod)er of iMary, performed a journey to Quebec, through the wilderness, for the purpose of inducing her to re- turn. He met with a kind reception from his sister, and her husband, who was a man of handsome estate and liv- ed in splendour, as Humphry afterwards reported. He remonstrated with her on the subject of her religion, but all to no purpose; nor was she at all disposed to return with him to the place of her nativity, from which so long a residence among the French had completely wean- ed her afflictions. Several years later, 1778, Mr. Ebene- zer Ayer, a connection of the family, was at Quebec, and made enquiries for Mary, but she was no longer living. Her portion of the estate of Capt. Scamman, which had *Tlie following circumstances relating to a person of the former name (Hunnewell) are told by Rev Mr. Tilton, in a MS. account of Scarbnro' ''While mowing on the marsh he discovered the move- ments of some Indians on Blue-point. Separated from them by tha river and a considerable body of marsh, he concluded he could not be in dunirer. He ha I placed his gun by a staddle [stack of hay,] and mowing at a distance from it, an Indian unperceived by him, had crossed the river, and under its bank crept up through the thatch and secured his gun. Mr. Hunnewell, at length seeing his desperate situa- tion, continued his mowing as if he had not discovered the Indian, till he had advanced within a few yards of him, when he suddenly sprung forward with his scythe, and so roared out at the Indian that he had no command of his gun, and retreating backwards as Mr. Hunnewell advanced, stepped into a hole and fell. Mr. H cut him off with his scythe, and holding up and brandishing it in view of the Indians, who had already begun their shouts on the other side, challenged them to come over, and he would serve them in the same manner." 19* 218 HISTORY OF SACO been set off to her, was divided at a recent period among the other heirs ; it is called the Canada lot.* Col. Thomas VVestbrook was appointed to command' the forces in Maine the same year. He came to Winter Harbor with a body of men in May, and supplied Fort: Mary and the garrisons in the town with men and provi- sions. Tlie fort was commanded at that time by Capt. , Ward. The following extracts from the journal of Col., Westbrook, furnish an account of his operations at this place. "May 8. Arrived at Winter Harbor ; supplied Capt. Ward with provisions and other stores for his com- pany. Lieut. Dominicus Jordan being here, supplied 1 him with 76 days' provisions for five men posted at his garrison at Spurwink. May 9. Supplied Richard Stimp- son with provisions for five men posted at his garrison for 76 days. Proceeded to visit the several garrisons in the town, accompanied by the principal part of the inhabi- tants, with whom I consulted the properest method to be taken for the security of the inhabitants. Returned through the woods to Mr. Samuel Jordan's. On my re- turn gave Capt. Ward orders to post men at the several garrisons as follows : at Mr. Hill's 3 ; at Stackpole's 4 ; at Tarbox's 4 ; at Dyer's 3 ; at Capt. Sharp's 3. The men were ordered to obey the commands of the masters of the garrisons where they were posted, doing their du- ty of watching and warding until further order, and not to absent themselves at any time v^ithout liberty. Mayi, 10. Posted four men at John Brown's garrison at Saco Falls ; supplied him with provisions, and ammunition. Sabbath day, 12th. Rev. Mr. Eveleth preached two ser- mons at the Fort." Of the garrisons mentioned in the Journal, Hill's was on Ferry lane, between the house of Capt. I. Lassell and the main road. Stackpole's was on the spot where Judge- Jordan afterwards erected a house, now occupied by his son Ralph Tristram Jordan, Esq. Dyer's and Tarbox's *Tlie above account appears to be the most anthontic tradition nni the subject, for which we are indebted to one of the faniilv, who has often heard Humphry Scamtnan relate the story of his visit to hia loni^ lost and 'wept' sister. The name of Mary's h■^^;!>and is pronoun-i eed Diinincoor j we aro not certain as to its orthography. j AND BIDDEFORD. 21^ garrisons were in the lower part of the town near the Pool. Capt. Sharpe lived on Rendezvous-point, near Haley's gut. The cellar of his house is still visible. In a disposition of other forces made the same year, it was ordered that "15 men and a sergeant be posted at Saco Falls, six of them on the east side of the river in the gar- rison, and the others on the west side." The garrison on the eastern side was probably that of John Brown, and appears to have been situated where the store of Mr. Jonathan King now stands. Within the recollection of persons of not very advanced age, the remains of a forti- fication have been seen on that spot, which was called Fort hill. The ground has been since much levelled. Early the next year, 1724, Father Ralle and the In- dian village at Norridgewock were destroyed. The fate of the Jesuit was truly tragical, but not undeserved ; his influence had been used to encourage the barbarous as- saults of tlie Norridgewocks on the defenceless settle- ments, in execution of the policy of the French govern- ment. The enterprise was conducted by Capts. John- son Harmon and Jeremiah Moulton, both of York, at the head of two hrmdred men. In May, the Indians after killing one man and wound- ing another at Cape Elizabeth, came to this place ; but, the inhabitants being well secured in their garrisons, they succeeded only in taking the life of a friendly native, named David Hill. We hear of no other mischief done here during the remainder of the war, of which we can assign the exact date. Mr. John Siackpole, father of the late Deacon Stackpole, was made prisoner under the fol- lowing circumstances. He was taken on the beach lead- ing to the Neck ; espying the Indians at a distance, he ran into the Pool, and attempted to wjide across ; but one of the party, said to have been the noted Wahwa, who was well known to Stackpole, pursued him, crying out, "j5oow quarter, John ! boon quarter!'^ meaning that he would spare his life. Unable to escape, Stackpole yield- ed himself a prisoner. The party took him to Canada, passing a winter on the way in the wilderness near the Wiiite mountains. He relumed nfier an absence of 19 months. Nathaniel Tarbox and Thomas Haley were 22© HISTORY OF SACO killed at Winter Harbor in the course of the war ; the former was quite young. In 1725, occurred the celebrated affair of Capt. Lovell and his company with the Pequawket Indians, on the shore of a pond in Fryeburg, which now bears the name of the ill-fated hero. One of the survivors of this des- perate battle, Josiah Jones, having been badly wounded, was left by his companions at a short distance from the scene of the action, in despair of his ability to return ; but Jones gathering strength, succeeded in finding his way through the wilderness, subsisting on berries and roots, and arrived after several days at this place. He was wretchedly emaciated by hunger, and almost ex- hausted from the loss of blood, having been ufiable to staunch his wounds completely before he came in. "He was kindly treated," says the author of a valuable account of the battle, "by the people at Saco, and recovered of his wounds."* The Pequawkets were never formidable as a tribe after this time ; the remnant of them that re- mained about the head of Saco river, became pensioners on the bounty of government, and have at length sunk in- to total extinction. The last of the race died several years since. In the course of the year, commissioners were sent by Mass. to Canada, to remonstrate with the governor of that province on his violation of the neutrality existing between England and France. An interview look place at the same time, by the mediation of the governor, be- tween the commissioners and several chiefs of the In- dians ; the latter modestly proposed, "that if the English would demolish all their forts, and remove one mile west- "I ward of Saco river, rebuild their church at Norridge- wock and restore to them their priest^ they would be bro- thers again." It is unnecessary to say that such terms were not regarded as a serious proposition for peace. A treaty was, however, made, in December, with the Penob- scot and the other eastern tribes, and confirmed the follow- *Rev. T. Symmes, of Bradford, Mass. See, also, Belknap. Hist. N. H. ii. 53. and a Centennial Address, commemorating' the battle, delivered at Fryeburg 1825, by C. S. Daveis, Esq. of Portland. AND BIDDEFORD'. 221 ing summer at Falmouth, where Lieut. Gov. Dummer, the acting Governor of Mass. Bay, Messrs. Weniworth of New Hampshire, and Mascarene of Nova Scotia, with other gentlemen, met the Penobscot chief, who ap- peared in behalf of all the tribes.* This treaty was considered the most judicious that had ever been made with the Indians,f and was followed by a long cessation of hostilities. As the Penobscot chief alone was present, it was considered necessary to call another conference at the same place the succeeding year; when the sachems of the other tribes appeared, and gave their assent to the articles of the treaty. Among the persons who signed the treaty on the part of the gov- ernment, we find the name of Samuel Jordan, of this town. J The war, which had lasted three years, was computed to have cost the Government of Mass. Bay no less than £170,000. The savages lost at least one third of their whole strength. § The Indians were promised in the treaty to have tradinghouses established, for supplying them with goods, in exchange for furs and other commo- *The Rev. Thomas Smith was then the minister of Falmouth ; ifrom whose journal, published a few years since, we extract the fol- Jowing notices of the nerrotiation of the treaty. ' "July 15, 1726. The New Hampshire gentlemen came here in a ibrijr. 16. The Mass. arentlemen came here in the evening, and he jlxilow. 17. Sunday. The gentlemen all at meeting. In the mor- 'ning the gentlemen came on shore and made considerable appearance with their drums and guns. The governor [Dummer] guarded ia pomp to meeting. 22. The gentlemen spent this week entirely idle waiting for the Indians. 23. The Indians came here from Penobscot on a message to the government, and were sent away in the after- noon. — . The Lieut Gov., with the gentlemen, sailed up the bay. 29. This mo-ning tlie gentlemen returned from Arowsick [Kenne- bec] The IndiaTjs to the number of 40, all of the Penobscot tribe, fcame in here. In the afternoon the Congress opened. August 1. [There was a nublic dinner. 2. Several days were spent in private (treaties, to pave the way for the public ratifications. 4. All private conferences were finished this day. 5. The ratification of the peace iwas publicly done this day in the meeting house. 6. Some affairs relating to the ratification that were left unsettled yesterday, were this day finished, and all concluded with a public dinner. 8. The N. H. gentlemen sailed 10. This week spent in interpreting to the In- dians the journal of all their actions, and in fully settling some other matters. 12 The governor and other gentlemen sailed this day foe . Boston. Capt. Franklin carried the Indians to St. Georges." tHutch. Hist. ii. 2d7. :tN. H. Hist. Coll. ii. 261. §Penhal!ow. 122 HISTORY OF SACO dities of their own procuring. The same promise had been made by Gov. Shiite ten years before, but the Gen- eral Court made no provision for its performance. This ;' measure was now carried into effect. The General Court passed resolves, for establishing tradinghouses on the ; rivers St. Georges, Kennebec, and Saco. Lieut. Gov-^ -i ernor Dummer, in his speech 1727, informed the House i "that he had received a pressing letter from Agani- muet, the Principal of the Arrasagunsacook Indians"*^ I that appeared at the late treaty, that there may be a sla- ted supply for that tribe at Winter Harbor" ; and recom- mended that place or some other on Saco river for the : purpose. The House fixed on Fort Mary, at Winter Harbor. A memorial from Capt. James Woodside, com- mander of Fort Mary, was presented at the same time, showing that said Fort was out of repair, "of which,**' says the memorial, "His Honor, the Lieut. Governor, was aware when there last summer."f The Court pas- sed an order, empowering Capt. Samuel Jordan to attend to this subject. Capt. Woodside was the first truckmas- ter, or superintendent of the tradinghouse. An attempt was made to have him dismissed from the charge, as "un- fit and disagreeable to the Indians," but without success. At the winter session of the court, 1727-8, a petition was presented from John Stackpole in behalf of himself and sundry other inhabitants, against the tradinghouse be- ing near the sea, and praying that it may be further re- moved from the town. The subject was referred to a committee, who reported in favor of removing the truck- house to Salmon Falls, "8 or 9 miles above the old stone i fort, on the west side of Saco river." They also recom- mended to erect a building 55 feet long, 27 feet wide, and nine feet stud ; to be composed of square pine tim- ber, nine inches thick, together with a storehouse for safely keeping the goods. The report was accepted. The plan was carried into effect the following season, on a spot now in Hollis, J mile below Union Falls. A ser-^- geant with a guard of ten men was stationed there, for *On the upper part of Androscoggin river. tMass. Records. AND BIDDEFORD. 223 the protection of the trade. The triickmaster received a salary of jC 120. A chaplain was also appointed, who probably visited the other tradinahouses. An order passed, directing the treasurer of the Province to sup- ply ^oods to the amount of £800. Capt. Thomas Smith, a merchant, of Boston, was appointed truckmaster as early as 1737.* He was fiither of the Falmouth minister, whose journal we have quoted. Under date July, 1739, the latter says : "The Governor lodged at my father's truckhouse this night." Again : "Dec. 21, 1740. I rode to Saco, lodged with my father at Smith's, [tavern] who was forced out of his own lodgings by vast quantities of ice, which jambed and raised the water 18 inches higher than his bedstead." There had been 'a great freshet' a few days before. The Truckhouse was on the bank of the river, and liable to be inundated. The tavern at which they lodged, was kept by Capt. Daniel Smith, who lived near the upper meetinghouse in Bidrieford, where Mr. Joseph Dearbon's house now stands. Capt. Thomas Smith died, probably at his son's house in Falmouth, Feb. 18, 1742.t CHAPTER III. The Rev. Mathew Short was preaching at Winter Har- bor on the re-organization of the town 1717. A petition of the inhabitants to the General Court 1720, states, that "whereas this court has been pleased for some time to allow the sum of 40/. a year for the support of their minister, who is likewise chaplain of his Majesty's Fort at Winter Harbor, the said allowance is still necessary, said town being poor and thin of inhabitants." The same sum was granted several years. A small grant (40 acres) from the town to Mr. Short, was laid out in 1721. He soon after removed to Easton, Mass., and died before *Mass. Records. tJournal. 33. 224 HISTORY OF SACO 1731. He sold his land in Biddeford, 130 acres in all, , to Rev. Thomas Foxcroft of Boston, 1726, by whom it : was aftervvards conveyed to Rev. Samuel Willard. The births of two children of Mathew and Margaret Short, , are recorded in the town-book, viz. Mathew, 20 April, ,' 1719 ; Ebenezer, 21 March, 1721. Mr. Short gradua-- ted at Harvard College, 1707. The next minister was Rev. John Eveleth ; who took ; his collegiate degree at Harvard 1689. He preached at i Stow, Mass. 1700, and was settled there a few years af- ter.* Being dismissed from that place 1717, he after- -j wards preached at Manchester, Mass., and in 1719, came to Arundel (now Kennebunk-port.) March 4, 1723, Scamman and Hill were appointed by our townsmen "to discourse with Mr. Eveleth and the selectmen of Arun-- del," to know whether the consent of both parties could 1 be attained for him to divide his services equally between Arundel and Biddeford for one year. The proposition was accepted, and the town voted him £26 for the half year. Mr. Eveleth continued to preach in this manner until 1726, when the town determined to have a whole minister. Three years after he was dismissed from Ar- undel, and discontinued preaching,-)- being somewhat ad- vanced in years. Mr. Eveleth was succeeded by Rev. Marston Cabot, a graduate of Harvard 1724. He came to this town 1727, but declined settling, although offered a good stipend, viz. £80 per annum, and board ; and "when he should see cause to alter his condition, to keep house, then the town promises to build and give him a convenient house as a parsonage and 100 acres of land, or to give him £110, and let him provide for himself." He remained about two years, living with Capt. Samuel Jordan, who was paid £35 a year for his board. Mr. Cabot afterwards, settled in Killingly, Conn. J In Sept. 1728, the town voted "that Mr. Moses Hale be sent to, to dispense the word of God, if to be obtain- ed" ; probably the same graduated 1722. He did not *1 Mass. Hist. Coll. x. 83. tGreenleaf. Eccl. Sketches. 60. ^Farmer. MS. letter. I AND BIDDEFORD. 225 I come. Mr. John Moody was preaching here early the \ following year. At the April meeting, the trustees were ordered to pay him £20 of the town's loan money. In June, a committee composed of John Gray, Esq. H. Scamman, Capt. S. Jordan, Lieut. J. Stackpole, and J. i Davis, was chosen to wait on Mr. Moody, and know i whether he was willing to settle in the town. He decli- I ned the invitation, *'by reason he was too young and wan- ted further acquaintance of learning at some college." i Mr. Moody was a native of Newbury, and was subse- I quently, from 1730 to 1778, the minister of Newmarket, i N. H. On receiving his answer, the town appointed Mr. I Scamman "a messenger to treat immediately with some 1 other minister to come and preach the word of God in ; this town." Three months after, Sept. 2, 1729, a com- mittee was instructed to invite "the continuance of Mr. ' WiLLARD to preach the gospel unto the inhabitants of this , town with the same salary that has been paid to other ministers." In January, the town voted to call Mr. Willard ; the invitation was renewed in May in the following terms : "Voted that Rev. Samuel Willard shall have (if he please to accept) the sum of £110 salary, the strangers' con- tribution, and the town to build him a parsonage house, together with the benefit and improvement of 100 acres of parsonage land, and to board himself during his minis- try. Voted that Capt. John Gray Esq., Capt. Samuel Jordan, and John Stackpole be chosen a committee to desire the Rev. Mr. Samuel Willard's answer." The answer of Mr. Willard was as follows : — ''Gentlemen — Three or four months ago you were pleased at a townmeeiing to invite me to settle amongst you as your pastor or minister, and lately at another townmeeting you ratified the said call, for which I have already, and do now return you my hearty thanks. And as I understand that the majority, and indeed a great majority of you, are desirous of my be- ing settled amongst you in the work of the ministry, so accordingly I accept your invitation upon the conditions following, or upon con- ditions equivalent with them ; First, that the house you build be a convenient commodious house, such as is suitable to a minister to live in, and of the same dimensions that most parsonage houses are. Secondly, that you will always repair the house whenever it stands in need of reparation at your own charge. Thirdly, that you will always maintain at your own charge the fence that maybe necessary to enclose the parsonage ground, both which are always done by the respective Parishes where such house and lands are. Fourthly ; that 20 226 HISTORY OF SACO you will grant me some tract of land or money to purchase it for my- self and assigns, to be wholly mine and theirs ; and I think also this is very reasonable for every minister is doubtless as desirous as any other man to leave something of his own in case he sees meet to change a single state for the other, to be possessed by his relict, or any heir, heirs or assigns. Fifthly : that you will not contract or lessen five pounds of my salary. This also I conceive to be reasona- ble, for you gave five pounds to me hitherto, and I suppose to the other candidates that were my predecessors, per annum, on purpose to find them an horse ; and now because I have bought an horse is it altogether consistent with equity to take away that sum ; for I sup- pose my horse will eat as much as [any] man's commonly speaking, and C(msequently he will stand in need of five pounds worth of keep- ing per annum as well as any other. Sixthly : That if God in his holy Providence should see good to exercise me with a continued sickness or pain, or loss of the free use of my reason and understand- ing so as to disable me from carrying on preaching and prayer in the house of God, I may notwithstanding have my support continued to me by you during my continuance in this tovvn in the pastoral office. This also seems to me very reasonable, for if I spend myself and am spent amongst you, ought I not to be considered in all circumstances. Thus, Gentlemen, you see the conditions of my acceptance of the in- vitation. Thus you see how affirmative my answer is. As I told you I desire nothing but what 1 and every impartial person would think reasonable : Agur's prayer, neither poverty nor riches, but food and raiment convenient for me. Hereupon I hope God al- mighty will succeed my labors amongst you, that both you and I may have joy and comfort here and hereafter together. I pray God that you all may be happj' in this world, but especially in the world to come. I am, Gentlemen, your sincere friend and humble servant, SAMUEL WILLARD." The proposals of Mr. Willard, "all and singular, were TOted in the affirmative" by the town. There is no record of a congregational Church being gathered in the town before this period ; but it is proba- ble that one existed under the ministry of Mr. Fletcher in the preceding century, as several of the inhabitants are known to have been members of churches. A short time previous to the ordination of Mr. Willard, the fol- lowing individuals associated themselves together for this purpose, and constituted the First Church in Biddeford : John Gray, Samuel Jordan, Humphry Scamman, Ebene- zer Hill, John Sharpe, Pendleton Fletcher, Benjamin Haley, Thomas Gilpatrick, Samuel Hinckley, Benjamin Hilton, John Tarr, Robert Whipple, Mark Shepherd. Messrs. Hill and Haley were chosen deacons. The fol- lowing record of their proceedings at that time, is the only one preserved. "Friday, Aug. 14, 1730, Mr. Ha- ley voted moderator by the brethren of the church. 1 . AND BIDDEFORD. 227 riie ordination of Mr. Samuel Willard was voted to be the last Wednesday of September. 2. Voted to send to the churches of Falmouth, Scarborough, Wells, York, Berwick, and Weymouth. 3. Voted that Mr. Haley, Mr. Hill he. be the signers to the letters to these churches. 4. Voted that the selectmen be desired to call a town- meeting for their concurrence." The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Willard at this time, to the lady whom he married shortly after, dated, "Biddeford, Saturday, August 15th, 1730. *'In my last Letter to you, I told you that they were quickly to have a Town Meeting here, to know whether the People would com- ply with the Terms tliat I offered them, and accordingly they did comply with them, one Person of the meeting only dissenting, two or three being neuter. And they did then appoint a Fast previous to my Ordination, which (Fast) was yesterday. The work of the day was carried on by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Jefferds,two neighbor- ing ministers. The Brethren who are to enter into a Church Socie- ty did yesterday appoint the day of my Ordination to be the last Wednesday of next Month. I intend the week after to be at Rut- land, when, I hope, to be happy with you. I exceedingly long to hear from you, especially since Col. Taylor has sent an Express down in- to these Parts to be careful of ourselves, because he says the Indians do appear in a threatening posture near Rutland. I pray God pre- Tent those bloody People from war with us ; and that he would pro- tect all our exposed Towns and all exposed Persons from their Bar- barities." The ordination of Mr. Willard accordingly took place on Wednesday^ Sept. 30, 1730, when a Council conven- ed, composed of Rev. Thomas Smith of Falmouth ; Rev. William Thompson of Scarboro' ; Rev. Samuel Jefferds of Wells ; Rev. Samuel Moody of York ; Rev. Jere- miah Wise of Berwick, and Rev. Thomas Paine, of Weymouth. The sermon was preached by Mr. Paine, who took for his text Acts xxvi. 17, 18. It was soon after printed at Boston.* The town voted to defray all the *Entilled "A Sermon Preached at the Gathering of the Church at Biddefov y and Ordaining the Rev. Mr. Samuel JVillurd, to the Pas- toral Office there. Sept. 30, 1730. With marginal notes &c. By Thomas Paine, M. A. Pastor of a Church in Weymouth, Boston : Printed for D. Henchman in Cornliil. MDCCXXXI." P3iges,fifty one. It was customary for candidates for the ministry to be present on these occasions. Mr. Paine addresses this class of his hearers in the following classical style : "Make it the Matter of your most fre- quent, deep and awful Kxamination, whether you are really prepared in the great Point, before you dare engage in that sacred Work . This is a most necessary Thing for you, as happy Ministers ; an I if you neglect it, the idolatrous Pagans will rise up in Judgment against 228 HISTORY OF SAC0 expenses of the ordination. The salary of Mr. Willard, at first £110 per annum, was afterwards increased by ad- ditions from year to year, until it amounted to £175. His' dwellinghouse was a few rods below where Mr. Domini- cus Gillpatrick now lives ; the cellar is still seen. The parsonage land was laid out there. In 1732, the town voted "that Mr. John Gordon prefer a petition in behalf of the inhabitants of the town to the Great and General Court of the Province of the Mass. Bay, that all the non- improved lands in propriety in the aforesaid township be taxed as they shall in their wisdom see meet for the ends that followeth : for building of our minister's house, and payment of the schoolmaster." The court granted a tax ^f id. per acre for three years. A meeting house was built by the town a short time previous to the settlement of Mr. Willard. In 1719, the selectmen were empowered to agree with a master buil- der, and to exchange common lands for a lot owned by Mr. Benj. Haley, "for the meetinghouse and a burying place, and a sufficient high way to the ministerial lot." Haley's deed to the town, (recorded in the townbook,) describes the bounds of the land as "beginning at a spring of water known by the name of a dividing line between John and Peter Henderson," whose grants are noticed above, p. 187. The dimensions of the meetinghouse were to be 35 feet length by 30 feet breadth. The you, and condemn you ; for they believed and were careful to prac*- tise, that their Sacrifices might not be offered up by any who were not prepared for that Work. Thus Virgil brings in his JUneas fea- ring to meddle with the Household gods and sacrifices ; till he should purify himself for that Service ; and in the mean time putting it up- on his Father. Tu, Genitor, cape sacra Manu, Patriosque Penates; &c. says he. And that formal and very solemn Prohibition related by the Poet, in- structs us here, ^ Procul hinc, procul este Profani; Conclamat Vates, totoque absistite Luco. which though it be designed to warn all profane Persons from atten- ding, in common, on the Sacrifices; yet it argues most strongly when considered with Relation to such as minister." p. 45. Mr. Paine married a cousin of our minister, a daughter of Rev. S. Treat of Conn., whose lady was a daughter of Vice-president Willard. The late Hon. Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a judge of the Supreme Court of Mass., was their son. AiSD iBIDDEFORD. ^2D building was not completed till a few years after, but was probably used during the ministry of Mr. Eveleth, as in 1723 it was voted to place a pound near the meeting house. The burying ground was adjacent to it, on the' upper side, where the old graves are now seen unenclosed and otherwise neglected. The interior of the meeting house was mostly distributed into allotments for pews, which were sold to the highest bidder, and the proceeds appropriated towards the expense of the pulpit, the pub- lic seats in the body of the floor, and the stairs. The price of the allotments was voted, June, 1727, to be £10 each, but they were sold as follows : 1, The allot- ment from the men's door to the women's stairs, to H. Scamman for £ 18. 2. From the men's door to the men's stairs, to S. Jordan for £16. 3. The next to E. Hill, for £9. 4. The next to Justice Gray, for £7. The re- mainder for £7 each, to Capt. J. Sharpe, R. Edgecomb, Samuel Cole, P. Fletcher, and Lieut. J. Stackpole. A similar arrangement was made in the galleries ; Sept. 1729, it was voted, "that if H. Pendexter pay to the town treasurer £6 down, he is granted to build a pew over the women's stairs, not to hinder any passing or conven- iences otherwise of seats in the galleries." A. Gordon, J. Stackpole jr. J. Brooks, and J. Smith (young men) were "granted the privilege of building a seat in the front gallery, leaving sufficient room for passing into the other seats." The master builder was Benj. Haley, afterwards deacon, a grandson of Thomas Haley, the old inhabi- tant, who was a son in law of John West. Deacon Haley lived at Marblehead during the Indian troubles ; he died of fever at Cape Breton, 1745. His descendants are numerous. During the ministry of Mr. Willard, a period of eleven years, the population of the town continued to receive accessions from abroad, and great tranquility prevailed. There was some alarm on account of the Indians 1736, but it passed away without serious consequences. The town suffered in common with the rest of the country fro m the ravages of an epidemic disease, a malignant throat distemper, not before known, which began at Kings- ton, N. H. in May. 1735, and extended from Pemaquid 20* 230 HISTORY OF SACO to Carolina, causing great mortality, especially among chil- dren. Mr. Smith, in his journal, under date 31 Octo. 1735, says : "We had a fast on account of the sickness, which broke out at Kingston, and which is got as far as Cape Porpoise, and carries off a great many children and young persons, and alarms the whole country." The next year it prevailed at Scarboro', and proved almost universally fatal. Nov. 4, 1738, Mr. Smith writes : The throat distemper is still exceeding bad at Saco, We have no means of learning what number of persons died here, the records of Mr. Willard, if any were kept by him, having perished, and tradition being likewise silent on the subject. Complaints were made against the officers and soldiers of the Truckhouse for injuring the fisheries on the river. In 1732, the town "voted that Mr. John Gordon lay a memorial before his Excellency the Governor, and the Hon. Council, of the difficulties that the inhabitants and residents on Saco river sustain by those in the public pay of this Province by setting of nets and drifting with nets to the disturbing of the common course of the fish, and any other difficulties that are not for the honor of this Province." The law of the Province at that period, required every town containing "fifty householders or upwards, to be constantly provided with a school master to teach chil- dren and youth to read and write." The law was en- forced by a penalty of £20 for its neglect. In 1730, we find Mr. Stackpole appointed "a messenger to hire a schoolmaster, not exceeding £60. per annum." Mr. John Frost was then engaged. In 1735, the town voted to continue Mr. Isaac Townsend schoolmaster. The names of the instructers do not previously or afterwards occur in the records. As various minor offences were punished by putting the criminal in the stocks, every town was required to be furnished with them, under a penalty of £5. In 1737, it was voted by the town to pay Capt. Jordan 40^. "for making the town stocks." A number of emigrants from the north of Ireland set-- tldd in town at this period. They were descendants of AND BIDDEFORD. 231 a Scotch colony that, about one century before, removed to Ireland, and displaced the native inhabitants in particu- lar districts. In 1718, one hundred families of them landed at Boston, and twenty niore at Falmouth ; the former chiefly settled the town of Londonderry, N. H., the latter were dispersed into various parts of the coun- try. Others arrived from time to time in this quarter. They were accompanied by ministers of the Presbyteri- an church in several instances, to which religious sect they all belonged. In 1739, there was recorded in our townbook "the request of John Treworgy, Thomas Kill- patrick, Mathew Patten, Thomas Thompson, William Killpatrick, to set off those who call themselves Presby- terians from any further support to Rev. Mr. Willard ;" which the town refused to grant. The following persons, who dissented from the vote to increase Mr. Willard's salary, were probably of the same order ; Hector Patten, Robert Patterson, James McLellan, William Darling, Joseph Killpatrick, John Davis, Martin Jameson, Edward Rumery, Henry Pendexter, Jacob Davis, James Pratt, Abraham Townsend, R. Patterson jr. Thomas Gillpatrick, (as the name is now written,) emi- grated from the city of Colrain, a sea-port, and first set- tled in Wells, with a family of five sons and one daugh- ter. He shortly after removed to this town, where he died 1762, aged eighty eight years. He had in all nine sons, some of whom settled in Wells, and all hved to have families. Robert Patterson first came over alone, and remained a short time ; in 1729, he removed his family, and set- tled on Rendezvous point, where he purchased a farm out of the Gibbins estate. He had two sons and two daugh- ters. Mr. Patterson was a prominent and worthy towns- man ; he died 1769, at the great age of ninety seven years. His oldest son, John, died 1779, aged seventy ; Robert 1797, aged eighty four. One of the daughters was un- fortunately drowned while young; the other was married to James McLellan, and died 1802, aged ninety two. Mr. McLellan accompanied the Patterson family to this town. He owned the place now occupied by Capt. Marshall, and died 1785, aged seventy three. Robert Patter- 232 HISTORY OF SACO son jr. purchased five shares, each consisting of 375 acreSjj in the town of Belfast, Me., four of which he gave to his sons Robert, William, Nathaniel, and James, who as*i sisted in the first settlement of that town about 1770J They all lived to an advanced age, and have numerous: descendants in Belfast. The ministry of Mr.Willard was terminated by hisdeaih^i which occurred very suddenly at Eliot, then a parish of Kittery, Octo. 1741. While engaged in delivering a dis- course at that place, he was attacked with a disorder in his throat, and having succeeded with some difficulty in concluding the exercises of the meeting, he returned to the house of Rev. Mr. Rogers, the minister of that pa- rish, where he died two days after. The following no- tice of this afflictive event was published in the Boston Gazette of Nov. 3, 1741 : | "Kittery, Octo. 26, 1741. On the last Lord's Day, about two of the clock in the afternoon, j died the Rev Mr. Samuel WiUard, Pastor of the Church in Bidde^i f or d, a.nd on this day was decently interred at Kittery; to which i Place he came on Friday last, to preach an Evening Lecture for the) Rev- Mr. Rogers. He was a Grandson of the Reverend and Lear- ned Mr. Samuel Willard, some time Pastor of the Old South Church i in Boston, and Vice President of Harvard College. He was a Gen- tleman of a graceful Aspect, a sweet natural Temper, of good natu- ral Powers and Measure of acquired Learning, in all, sanctify'd by the blessed Spirit ; which abundantly qualified and prepared him for the Service of the Sanctuary. The glorious Head of the Church who so richly furnished him and employed hiui in this Service, has greatly improved and remarkably honoured him, as an Instrument of the late surprising Work of convincing and converting a great num- ber of Souls in York and the adjacent Towns. And having finished this his glorious Work which his Master gave him to do, he died with an holy Sedateness and Composednessof Soul, and is gone to receive the Blessedness of a faithful and wise Steward to his Household here, in his immediate Presence, where there is Fulness of joy for- ever. The Day of his Interment the Rev. Mr. Rogers entertained a vast Auditory, in which were many of the People of Biddeford, who greatly lamented him; and did him Honour at his Death; with a Tery acceptable Discourse on Luke, xii. 43, 44." Mr. Willard was a great-grandson of Maj. Simon Willard who was one of the earliest settlers of Concord^ Mass. 1635, and for the succeeding forty years is well known in the annals of the Colony. Samuel, a son of Maj. Willard, born at Concord 1740, was among the most eminent divines in New England ; the minister oi AND BIDDEFORD. - 233 Groton, afterwards of the Old South church in Boston, and acting president of Harvard Coll. for several years. His son John, father of our minister, took a collegiate degree 1690, and settled as a merchant at Kingston, Jamaica, W. I., w^here Samuel was born 1705. The lat- ter was early sent to Boston to be educated under the care of his uncle, Josiah Willard, secretary of the Colo- ny, and graduated at Har. Coll. 1723 ; when he retur- ned to Kingston with the intention of fixing his residence on the island. But he was so much shocked by the licentiousness and irreligion which prevailed there, that he came back to New England, and soon after commen- ced the study of divinity. Directly on his settlement at this place he married Abigail, daughter of Mr. Samuel Wright, of Rutland, Mass., previously of Sudbury. Their children were the following : Samuel, who died in child- hood ; John, b. 28 Jan. 1733 ; William, b. Dec. 1734 ; Abigail, died in infancy ; Joseph, b. 29 Dec. 1738 ; and Eunice, b. 1741. On the death of Mr. Willard, the town voted £20 to his widow, to purchase a mourning dress, and £15 for a further donation. She was again married, Nov. 13, 1744, to Rev. Richard Elvins, minister of the second parish in Scarboro', who proved an excellent fa- ther to her promising children, yet of a tender age. John, the oldest son, was placed under the care of Sec- retary Willard of Boston, who sent him to College ; he graduated 1751, and became the minister of Stafford, Conn., where he died 1807. He received the degree of D. D. William learned a trade at Lancaster, and settled in Petersham, where he was a deacon of the church, and lived to a good old age. Joseph, who was not three years old when his father died, continued in his mother's family at Scarboro' for several years. While young, he inten- ded to follow the sea, and even went one or two short voyages ; but the last, a trip to Halifax, was attended with so much fatigue and danger, that he relinquished the design. The master of the vessel was pleased with his activity, and remarked to his mother, that it was owing to the exertions of Joseph, and his great firmness of mind,, that the vessel was saved. After this he turned his at- tention to study under the direction of Mr. Elvins, who 234 HISTORY OF SACO took great pleasure in instructing him. So well convin^- ced was the latter that Joseph possessed talents of a high order, that he applied to the celebrated Mr. Moody, of Dummer Academy, to take him under his care ; by whom he was prepared for college within the short time of eleven months. He graduated at Harvard 1765. Of his future eminence, as a divine, and as the President of the Uni- versity, it is unnecessary for us to speak. He died Sept. 25, 1804. Eunice, the youngest child of our minister, married Rev. Benjamin Chad wick, the successor of Mr. Elvins in the second parish of Scarboro'. This excel- lent lady has recently died at Scarboro', Feb. 11, 1830. ] Two years after the death of Mr. Willard a small vol- ume was published at Boston, containing a sermon preach- ed by him only a few weeks before his decease, at the ordination of Rev. John Hovey in Arundel ; and a funeral discourse, "occasioned by the much lamented death of Rev. Mr. Willard,'* delivered at Biddeford by Rev. VVm, Thompson of Scarboro'; to which is prefixed a sketch of his character by Rev. Thomas Prentice, of Charles- town. The latter says : *'Mr. Willard and I went to the eastward, and were settled in the ministry there about the same time, and in next neighbour towns [the writer at Arundel] : soon after which we contracted a most inti- mate friendship, which continued without interruption to his death ; and a most agreeable and most faithful friend I ever found him. He was a man of good natural pow- ers, and for his years and advantages, had made very con- siderable improvement in useful knowledge, especially in divinity, which, as it was his profession, so was it his favorite study, and which he himself frequently declared, was of all others the most delightful to him. ^ * * He was a man of eminent piety, and a close walk with God, in his more retired life ; as I had opportunity to observe by being much with him and often at his house. In his family he was very exemplary, not only for his kind and compassionate behaviour (which was extraordinary,) but also for the great fervor of devotion with which he was wont there to perform the exercises of piety and religion. * * * In his ministry he was diligent and faithful. He took much pains in his pastoral visits, in praying with, and AND BIDDEFORD. 235 instructing his people, in a private way. And in his pub- lic performances he was very serious and solemn, very earnest and importunate, both witli God and men. But this excellent servant of Christ lived for several years much unobserved. His excessive modesty, with some difficulty in his worldly circumstances, concealed him much from public view. * * * And as his life was very useful, so *tis thought his death was the means of much good to many souls : For not only were many in other towns much affected with it, but also the people of his own charge were wonderfully moved with the tidings of it ; and from that time, as I am informed, there began a reformation among them, which hath since been as re- markable perhaps, as in any other town in the Province, of the bigness of it : So that a gentleman in that part of the country observed to me, that Mr. Willard, like Sam- son, slew more, meaning as to their carnal confidences, at his death than in his life."* During the short ministry of Mr. Willard, the Church was in a flourishing condition. Beside those whose names have been mentioned as the original members, sixty three persons were admitted to full communion, viz. 24 males, and 39 females. The names of the former are the following ; Samuel Scamman, Nathan Whitney, Rob- ert Edgeromb, Rishworth Jordan, Benjamin Hill, John Smith, John Smith, Andrew Stackpole, Abiel Hill, Dan- iel Smith, Benj. Nichols, John Treworgy, James Clarke, Samuel Scamman jr. Wyat Moore, Moses Wadlin,Thos. Emery, Nathaniel Whitney, jr., John Stackpole jr., John Murch, Joseph Gordon, Edward Chapman, Magnus Rid- lon, Ephraim Stimpson. *The grave of Mr. Willard is in a field near the meetinghouse in Eliot, as tradition reports, but without the simplest monument to tell the precise spot where 'the good man' lies. 236 HISTORY OF SACO CHAPTER IV. The pulpit was supplied, after the death of Mr. Wil- lard, by Rev. Woodbridge Odlin of Exeter, and Nicholas Hodge of Newbury, until April 1742. A committee, (composed of Capt. J. Gray, Capt. S. Jordan, and Dea- con Hill,) being then appointed to obtain a minister, en- gaged Mr. Moses Morrill, a candidate for settlement.. This gentleman was a native of Salisbury, Mass. and graduated at Harvard College 1737, at the early age oft fifteen years. Notwithstanding his extreme youth, the;; town in June, gave him an invitation "to settle amongst them in the work of the gospel ministry," offering a sal- ary of £200, old tenor* the avails of the contribution, and a parsonage. The committee to communicate these terms were, B. Haley, P. Fletcher, J. Davis, A. Townsend, Jas. Clarke, Thos. Emery, and R. Brooks. Some modi- fication of them was afterwards made, when, August 9,, Mr. Morrill signified his acceptance of the invitation. On the same day, the Church voted to receive him as their pastor. The ordination took place Sept. 29, 1742 ; there is no record of the churches that assisted on the occasion. Capt. Gray was subsequently allowed £6 135. old tenor, "for entertaining the messengers and scholars at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Morrill." The town pur- chased the house and land of Mr. Henry Pendexter for a parsonage ; the land extended back a mile and a half from the river. The house stood about one mile above the present lower meetinghouse, and nearly the same dis- tance below the Falls. Dr. Watts's Hymns were introduced into town at thi time, to be used on particular occasions ; the church vo ted, a few years after the ordination, that they "should be sung at the sacrament, in conjunction with the Psalms of David, at the discretion of the Pastor." Simon Wingate was chosen deacon 1745, in place of Deac. Haley, de- ceased. In 1749, Samuel Scamman jr. was chosen in *45s. or £2 5s. old tenor, were equivalent to one dollar. A copF per was worth 5d. AND BIBDEFORD. 23t •place of Deac. Hill, but declined the office, when Moses Wadlin was chosen and accepted. In 1754, John Stack- pole jr. was chosen in place of Deac. Wadlin. The same year, the church appointed a committee "to take care of Mr. Baxter's Practical Works, given to the church by the Hon, Samuel Holden, Esq. of London." This gentleman was a wealthy English dissenter, well known for his charities in New England. He sent over to Dr. Colman of Boston, thirty nine sets of Baxter's Works, each set consisting of four massive folio volumes, to be distributed among the churches. It was his direction that one volume be kept in or near the house of worship, for the use of the people on the sabbath ; and that the others be lent to the inhabitants of the town, and to neighbor- ing ministers.* A further innovation was made in regard to the singing on religious occasions, March 23, 1765, when the following vote was passed : "The Church met after Lecture, and voted that Dr. Watts's Sacramental Hymns should be sung for the future at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that his version of the Psalms be sung at Lecture." About the time of Mr. Morrill's setdement, there was a great religious excitement throughout New England, occasionedfcby the preaching of the celebrated White- field, many clergymen favoring, and others opposing, the somewhat irregular effects produced by it. Mr. Morrill was of the former class. Whitefield came into this quarter towards the close of 1744; we hear of him in Biddeford early the following year. In March, he preached several times for Mr. Morrill, and in the neigh- boring towns. It appears from the Journal of Mr. Smith, that there was much opposition to him by a considerable portion of the people. The winter succeeding the settlement of Mr. Morrill, Dec. 20, 1742, died Capt. Samuel Jordan, aged fifty eight years. No other individual, probably, had done more to promote the growth and prosperity of the town, than Capt. Jordan. He appears to have been a man of great enterprise, and was extensively engaged in business *Allen. Biog. Diet. Art. Holden. Allen. Hist. Chelmsford. 45. 21 238 HISTORY OF SACO for many years. He had a store near his house at the Pool, to which the inhabitants far and wide were in the habit of resorting for their supplies. His house was more strongly fortified and secured against the Indians than any other in town, being encompassed by a stone wall of great solidity, the remains of which are still seen. In time of peace, the Indians were often there, and on one occasion they silently crept into the house in the night with hostile intentions, but the Captain coolly giving no- tice of their presence to a person in a remote part of the house, directing him where to find a gun, was soon rid of the troublesome, but cowardly visiters. While a young man he had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and was detained in captivity several years. At the conference of Gov. Shute with the tribes on Arrowsick, 1717, Captain Jordan was employed as interpreter. The Indians reques- ted "that in future Interpreter Jordan might be near them to represent to the Governor any thing that might hap- pen," to which the governor replied, that he desired no better man.* Capt. Jordan married Olive Plaisted of Berwick ; their children, born 1719-33, were, Rish worth, Olive, Sarah,' Hannah, Samuel, Tristram, and Mary. Olive married Rev. Ivory Hovey, 1739, who was ordainet^ at Roches- ter, Mass. the following year. He obtained a dismission from that place 1765, and was soon after installed over a parish in Plymouth, where he continued to preach until a few days before his death, 4 Nov. 1803. His wife sur- vived him a few months. Mr. Hovey preached sixty five years, and during that time kept a religious journal, which, at the time of his death, contained about seven thousand octavo pages in short hand.f Sarah, second daughter of Capt. Jordan, married Rev. Samuel Hill, 1739, a classmate of Mr. Hovey, and settled at Marsh- field, near Plymouth. In 1752, Mr. Hill's connexion with the church at that place was dissolved, and he, witht *Tbe official account of this Conference is reprinted. N. H Hist, i Coll. ii. 254. The circumstances related by Sullivan, p. 227,occurred at Cape Elizabeth, where Uominicus resided. tSee an interesting memoir of IVIr. Hovey, Alden. Coll. Epitaphs. i.23^. Mass. Missionary Magazine iii. 20. He graduated at Har- va'rd College 1735. AND BIDDEFORD. 239 his wife, was received into the church in this town. He resided sometime in the house of his late father in law, and was chosen representative of the town 1754. His wife died 1756, and, two years after, he married Eliza- beth Shapleigh of Kittery. Hannah, third daughter of Capt. Jordan, was married to Rev. Moses Morrill, 1 Dec. 1743. Mary, the youngest daughter, was married to Capt. Philip Goldthwait of Boston, about 1758. Capt. G. removed to Winter Harbor, where he resided until the Revolutionary war, when he left the country. His wife lived but a short time after their marriage. Mrs. Ojive, the widow of Capt. Jordan, was married to Rev. Thomas Smith of Falmouth, 1744; she died 3 Jan. 1763. Deacon Ebenezer Hill died 1748, aged 69 years. His children were, Ebenezer, Dorothy, Susanna, Benjamin, Lydia, Joshua, and Jeremiah. Susanna was married to Thomas Emery,^173I ; Lydia to deacon Simon VVingate, 1736. Jeremiah married Mary, daughter of Capt. Dan- iel Smith, 1746 ; the late Jeremiah Hill, Esq. was their oldest son. Jere. Hill, sen. held a commission of justice of the peace, and was several years representative of the town in the Gen. Court; he died Aug. 12, 1779, aged fifty six. John Gray, Es<:j. the commander of Fort Mary 1720, married soon after he came to Winter Harbor, Mrs. Eliza- beth Tarbox ; their children were three daughters, Eliza- beth, Mary, and Olive. Elizabeth was married to Eze- kiel Cushing, Esq. of Falmouth, 1745 ; Olive to Nathan Woodman, Esq. of Newbury, afterwards of Buxton, 1749; Mary to James Staples of Biddeford, 1755. The late Abner Sawyer, sen. married Mary, a daughter of James and Mary Staples, 1779. Capt. Gray was "a son of Joseph Gray, citizen and Salter of London, by occupa- tion a linen draper in that city," according to a memo- randum recorded in the town book ; he died 1755. Pendleton Fletcher, "being nearly past labor," convey- ed his property to his sons, 1746 ; their names were, John, Joseph, Brian, Pendleton, Setb, and Samuel. His son Pendleton died on the Neck, 17 April, 1807, in the one hundredth year of his age. Mr. Fletcher sold J of 240 HISTORY OF SACO the Neck, of Wood island, he. for £1400, lawful, to Batchelor Hussey of Sherburne, Nantucket, 1737. Mr. Hussey was of the society of Friends ; he was a descen- dant of Christopher Hussey, who came to New England from the town of Dorking, near London, 1634, and set- tled at Lynn, Mass. Christopher married Theodata, daughter of Rev. Stephen Batchelor, and left two sons, Stephen and John, the former of whom lived at Nan- tucket, where he died 1718, aged eighty eight. Batches lor Hussey, the year after his purchase, 1738, built the house on Fletcher's Neck, now occupied by his grandson, friend Christopher. Capt. Daniel Smith was among the earliest settlers in the town the last century. He came from Exeter, and married after his removal, 1719, Rebecca Emery, by whom he had ten children. He died about 1750. His widow married Mr. Nathaniel Ladd 1755, an officer of the English army, who settled in town after his marriage, and continued the public house kept by Capt. Smith, Lieut. Ladd is said to have been a native of Exeter, N. H. ; he died 1776. Madam Ladd (as she was styled) survived her second husband ten years, and died at the age of eighty eight, having had 144 descendants, inclu- ding four great great grand children. Her daughter Re- becca married Dominicus Scamman, second son of Capt. Humphry, the partner of Pepperell and Weare, 174L Lydia, another daughter, married Benjamin Hooper, Esq. 1744; Mary, third daughter, married J. Hill, as already stated. Samuel Scamman while living at Kittery, about 1712, married Margery Deering ; their children were three sons, Samuel, John, and Ebenezer. Mr. Scamman lived on the eastern side of the river, half a mile above the lower ferry, (opposite Ephraim Ridlon,) but after the death of his wife, (1740, at the age of 5],) he resided with his son Samuel, who built a house with a garrison a- bout that time where Mr. Stephen Sawyer now lives. There was no house above for many years. The other sons occupied the old homestead. Mr. Scamman died 1752, aged fifty eight ; his son Samuel six years after, aged forty five. The latter married Mehitable Hinkley AND BIDDEFORD. 241 of New Meadows (Brunswick) 1736 ;* their children were, Samuel, (late deacon,) Isaac, Freeman, Mary, Elizabeth, Mehitable, Sarah, and Rachel. The widow of Mr. John Scamman married a second husband, and removed with her children, one son, Daniel, and two daughters, to Mount Desert, where their descendants are now found. On the declaration of war by the English government against France, 31 March, 1744, the news of which reached our inhabitants May 19, defensive preparations began instantly to be made throughout the eastern towns, the savages being still regarded as under the influence of the French. Sunday, May 20, the people of Falmouth and North Yarmouth, as it appears from the Journal of Mr. Smith, were at work upon their garrisons, and many even feared to attend meeting. "All the talk and thoughts," he writes a few days after, "are about war. People are every where garrisoning." A slight shock of an earthquake was felt June 3, which added to the ter- ror and alarm already excited. A public fast was obser- ved on Thursday, 28 June, "on account of the war and the earthquake." The military peace establishment of Mass. consisted at that time of 114 men, of whom forty eight were stationed in the county of York, viz. at Rich- mond Fort, on the Kennebec, 10 ; at Brunswick Fort 6 ; at Pemaquid Fort 6 ; at St. Georges (near Penob- scot bay) 13; and at the truckhouse on Saco river 13. Five hundred men were immediately impressed into the service, three hundred of whom were sent to the east- ward. The truckhouse was reinforced by twenty of the number, and the remainder were distributed into other parts of the county. The *fencible men,' or militia, of Maine, consisted of two regiments, containing 3105 men, one of which, commanded by Col. Pepperell, afterwards Sir William, was formed by the western towns in the fol- lowing proportion : Kittery 450, York 350, Arundel 95, *The Hinkleys were from the old Colonj'^ of Plymouth, (tradition) where Thomas Hinkley was an Assistant or Counsellor, 1658, and af- ter. Two brothers of Mrs. Scamman were slain by the Indians at New Meadows, one of them 1747. Smtth's Journal. 40. JV.E.Me-- morial. 21* 142 HISTORY OF SACO Biddeford 120, Berwick 150, Phillipston (Sandford) 150. The other, under the command of Col. Samuel Waldo of Fahnouth, was formed as follows : Scarboro' 160, Falmouth 500, North Yarmouth 150, Brunswick 50,, Sagadehock, (Georgetown, &ic.) 370, New Marblehead (Windham,) 40, Narraganset, No. 1. (Buxton) 20.* In July, Commissioners were sent to treat with the ^ Penobscot Indians, who obtained from them a solemn promise that they would remain at peace. So great con- fidence was reposed in their sincerity, that before winter all the forces sent into the county, were dismissed, ex- cepting one travelling company, in which were enlisted three Saco Indians, whose families, says Mr. Smith, were settled at Stroudwater, and provided for by government. The year closed without realizing the fears of the inhabi- tants. Beside repairing the old garrisons in town, the inhabi- tants erected several new ones at this time. In August, the town voted "to build a frame garrison about the par- sonage house with what was granted by the Province, to i be sixty feet square, and to plank it up with two inch: plank, and to build two flankers, the one of fifteen, the other ten feet square." At Winter Harbor, near the sea*- shore, four houses, situated on a square, were strongly garrisoned, and occupied by a number of families. P. i Fortune now lives at the place. An old lady, a daughter of deacon Stackpole, has informed us that her father re^ moved to this garrison at the period in question. The public house of Capt. D. Smith, was secured by a brick wall on the inside, with flankers at each end. On the eastern side, there was the garrison on Fort hill (where Mr. King's store is,) which was large enough to accommodate several families ; Mr. Gray's house was also garrisoned, and the house of Magnus Ridlon on Rendezvous point, where Capt. Sharp had lived. f ^The Government of Mass. Bay rewarded the forces engaged in the destruction of the Narraganset Indians 1C75-6, by a donation of aeven townships, which were allotted among the survivors and the heirs of the deceased soldiers, nearly fifty years after the war Two of the townships were in Maine, Nos. 1 and 7, now Buxton and Gor- hana. The others were located in Mass and N. Hampshire. *The name Rendezvous was early applied to the Point, from the AND BIDDEFORD. 243 Early in 1745, the celebrated expedition against Cape Breton, under the command of Pepperell, with the com- mission of Lieut. General, took place. The following persons are all of our inhabitants engaged in it, whose names are remembered : Dea. Benj. Haley, Benj. Scam- man, Nath. Scamman, Andrew Stackpole, Roger Smiths- Jonathan Smith, Haven Tarbox, Benj. Mason. The same year, July 19, Capt. Thomas Bradbury, who commanded the truckhouse, or blockhouse, as it was now termed, sent an express to Falmouth, "advising," says Mr. Smith, "of the Indians breaking out and killing a man and forty cattle, and burning a garrison and sawmill." The next month the government declared war against the Indians. Before the close of the year, several lives were lost, and other ravages committed in the new settlements below Falmouth. Many volunteer parties went in pur- suit of the enemy, receiving from government a bounty of £400 for the scalp of an Indian. In the summer of 1746, a scout of the enemy prowl- ed around the settlements in the neighborhood of Fal- mouth and of this town. On the morning of Sept. 6, two young men, sons of Mr. Joseph Gordon, named Pike and Joseph, were surprised by them while on the way from their father's house, (near where Benjamin Gordon now lives,) to the Falls. They were en j ployed in the Cole mill, and left home between daylight and sunrise to go to their work ; as ihey were passing a blacksmith's shop, which stood a few rods below the house of Capt. James Murch, the Indians rushed from behind it into the road ; the young men turned and ran. Joseph, who was very swift of foot, was likely to escape, and called out to his brother to quicken liis pace, when the savages fearing they should lose bim, fired and killed him on the spot. Pike was taken by a part of the scout who lay conceal- ed further down the road, and was carried to Canada. The Indians retreated at first into a swamp not far from circumstance that it was a favorite resort of the Indians at particular seasons of the year. There was a garrison on it 1690, as it. appears by the followin^r extract fro'.> an account, of the soldiers stationed in the towns at t.lia*. 'fi.!!.^ ; "Saco, alias Randiv. ul^ garrison, Philip Fox- well captain, six soldiers." Mass. Files. Gommunicated by J. Coffin. 244 HISTORY OF SACO the road, taking with them the body of Joseph, where, it is said, they secreted themselves all the day, notwith- standing the inhabitants turned out, and made a diligent search for the young men. Capt. Bradbury received the alarm, and came down from the blockhouse with part of his men. Seven weeks after, the remains of the young man were found, and conveyed the first certain information of his melancholy fate to the afflicted family. A letter was afterwards received from Pike at Quebec, giving an ac- count of his capture ; he died in that city the same win- ter, Dec. 6. It is related that young Gordon enforced the respect of the savages, on the route to Canada, by his fearless deportment. There were other prisoners in the party, all of whom the Indians treated with great in- dignity as well as cruelty. Their food was generally in- lerior to that of their masters, as they were not allowed to eat with them. It was on an occasion of this sort that Gordon discovered a resolution which surprised them ; having killed a wild animal, they reserved for their own use the parts suitable for food, and threw the remainder to the prisoners. Pike, not relishing this treatment, made his way unbidden into their circle, and with his knife carved off a piece of the meat, which he ate. The sava- ges were amazed, and cast on the rash intruder fierce and threatening looks ; but he, wholly unmoved, contin- ued to help himself with great coolness and determina- tion. Resentment was soon changed to admiration of a courage so unusual among their captives,and Pike thence- forth was admitted to their mess.* *A sort of monody on the death of these youths was composed, it is said, by a young woman to whom Joseph was eng^affed to be married. The verses are somewhat in the simple, unpolished style of the Bay Psalm Pook, which was, perhaps, the model of the fair writer. We give a part, not having room for the whole. "The sixth day of September, a mighty blast there fell, Upon the town of Biddeford, as is known ver}' well. There was two promising likely youths most quickly snatched away, AND BIDDEFORD. 245 The next year, the savages were quiet until April 13, when they appeared in Scarboro', and Nathaniel Dres- ser, a young man, was killed. While at work in a field at some distance from the garrison on Scottow's hill, young Dresser discovered an Indian approaching, and fled for the garrison. It is doubted whether the Indian at first intended to kill him, but finding that he outstrip- As they were walking in the street ; how soon they're took away ! One of them presently was slain, the other to the woods Was by those heathen led away, but where none understood. A poor desolate captive soul, he's led in the wilderness With leanness sent into his soul, by hunger and thirstiness. It is the hand of God ! and we acknowledge it had need. Lest any murmuring thought out of our hearts proceed. Altho your hopeful son is dead yet he's but laid to sleep, I trust he'll rise at the great day most holy and most sweet. Though seven weeks upon the ground liis body it did lie, He's nothing worse at all for that if he's in heaven on high. There's few young men were like to him, who shunn'd all sinfulness, For he in time did serve the Lord, with fear and reverence. No songs nor dances nor no plays, that ever he did mind, His heart was set on things above to which he was inclin'd. The sabbath day he did not brezik as many others do, But in the fear of God did walk, and in his law did go. Oh blest is every youthful one, that doth his footsteps take !" Sec 246 HISTORY OF SACO pec] himself in running, he rested his gun against the cor- ner of a barn, and shot him within a few yards of the garrison. The leaps of this young man in his flight are said to have measured twelve feet.* A few days after, 17 April, Mr. Nathaniel Eliot and his son who lived at the Falls, on the western side of the river, were attacked in a field a short distance below the present lower meetinghouse in Biddeford. Mr. William Murch dwelt at that time nearly where his grandson, Capt. Wm. Murch's house now stands, on the road leading to Kennebunk-port, which was not then laid out ; there was, however, a private way from the Pool road to Murch's house. The Eliots were returning on this path with a load of hay, which they had obtained of Murch, when the In- dians fired upon them and instantly killed the old man. The son, it is said, might have escaped, but exasperated by the fall of his father, he levelled and discharged his gun at the enemy, and then took to flight ; he had not run far when another fire brought him to the ground. The bodies of the unfortunate persons were afterwards found on the spot where they fell, and decently buried. The savages proceeded to Murch's, and took him prisoner, near his barn, when they decamped without committing any further injury. They carried Mr. Murch to Canada by the route of the White Hills, whence he returned the following season. So bent on mischief were these In- dians, that they cut out the tongues of Murch's cattle. A daughter of the late deacon Wingate relates, that Mr. Morrill, and his brother in law, Rev. S. Hill, were riding that day towards the lower part of the town, when they heard the guns and soon after discovered the Indians at a distance. Putting spurs to their horses, they barely es- caped to the parsonage house, which was well secured against an assault. Our informant (who was then five or six years of age) recollects that her father came hastily into the house, exclaiming. There must he mischief done, for Parson Morrill is running his horse ! The same day the deacon removed his family to the garrison of deacon Hill, which was protected by a high stockade with *Rev. Mr. Tilton, MS. notes. AND BIDDEFORD. 24T flankers. A watch was kept in the flankers to prevent a surprise. The inhabitants placed much reliance in the sagacity of dogs for discovering the enemy ; and were often put on their guard by this faithful animal. Capt. John Davis was ordered by government to re- cruit forces in the town for its defence, and enlisted a number of the inhabitants ; whereupon a petition was forwarded to the Gen. Court, praying "that the inhabitants might be dismissed from the service, and the like num- ber of impressed soldiers be sent in their room." Da- vis resented the interference of the petitioners, accusing them of forming a 'plot or conspiracy' against himself, as the petition was sent without his knowledge ; but they contended that the enlistment of inhabitants was injurious to the town, and that the object of the petition was sim- ply to remove the evil. Peace took place in Europe 1748, and the year fol- lowing a ti'eaty was made with the Indians at Falmouth, w^hen they engaged "to cease and forbear all acts of hos- tility towards all the subjects of the crown of Great Bri- tain." The commissioners on the part of the govern- ment, (appointed by Lieut. Gov. Spencer Phips, in the absence of Gov. Shirley, who had gone to England,) were, Thomas Hutchinson, John Choate, Israel Williams, and James Otis. On the part of the Indians, the treaty was signed and sealed by six representatives of the An- asaguntacooks and Wewenocks, eight of the Norridge- wocks, and five of the Penobscots. The former tribes inhabited about the waters of the Androscoggin and Sheepscot. The town never afterwards suffered from the depreda- tions of the Indians, altho' hardly one year elapsed before the more eastern settlements were again invaded by the treacherous enemy. In the subsequent war with France, from 1756 to 1763, which resulted in the overthrow of French power and influence in America, the Penobscots alone refused to join their ancient allies ; the other tribes, leagued with the Canadian Indians, continued to harrass the frontier towns. The island of Cape Breton, which was restored to France 1749, again yielded to the Eng- lish arms 1758. Great rejoicings throughout the Pro- 248 HISTORY OF SACO vince followed the news of this triumph. Some of our inhabitants illuminated their houses on the occasion. The next year Quebec was taken, and in 1760 the English were masters of all Canada. Indian hostilities finally ceased in New England with the reduction of the French provinces ; and the settlements in Maine, whose advance in wealth and population had been so materially impeded by the long series of desolating wars, began from this date to enjoy a good degree of prosperity. In 1750 they contained only 10,000 inhabitants; and ten years later the number was probably rather diminished than increa- sed ; in 1790, the population was 96,540. Capt. Bradbury, the commander of the blockhouse during the war, removed to Biddeford after its termina- tion, having purchased a tract of land above the Falls, of which the estate of Mr. Dominicus Cutts now forms a part. He built a house, with a garrison, at that place, and a sawmill on the brook, but removed a few years after to Buxton. Mr. Jacob Bradbury, his brother, settled in Biddeford about the same time ; they came from Salis- bury, Mass. Mr. Chrisp Bradbury, who was of a differ- ent branch of the same family, settled in York, removed to this town as early as 1740. Capt. Jonathan Bean of York, (a son of Capt. Lewis Bean, before noticed,) suc- ceeded Bradbury in the command of the blockhouse ; his son likewise was lieutenant of the company stationed there. The establishment continued to be kept up until 1759, when the soldiers were disbanded, and the can- non, of which there were several small pieces, were transferred to Castle William in Boston harbor. The blockhouse was not designed for the defence of the in- habitants, but as a storehouse for supplying the Indians with goods, at a fair price, in time of peace ; it was, how- ever, used for the former purpose. The principal build- ing was enclosed by a strong picket wall with flankers, leaving sufficient space within the premises for a house to contain the stores, and for a parade ground. No re- mains of the buildings, except the foundation, are novC9. Auntinl products ; 3108 bus. Ind. corn ; 41 wheat; 41 rye ; 12 oats ; 1702 barley. Hay, 1203 tons upland ; 308 hesh meadow ; 116 salt. A Post Office was established in Biddeford 1789 ; when Benjamin Hooper, Esq. was aj>pointed Postmas- ter. Mr. Joseph Barnard, of Kennebunk, first carried the mail on this route, at first on horseback, afterwards in a light wagon. He was succeeded by the late Jo- siah Paine, Esq. of Portland, the enterprising contrac- tor who first introduced the use of coaches with four horses into this part of the country, and effected more to- wards promoting the facilities of travelling in Maine than any other individual. Mr. Hooper resigned the office of postmaster 1798 ; lie died 1802, at the age of eighty two. His son, Daniel Hooper, Esq. was next appointed, and on his decease in 1800, was succeeded by William P. Hooper, Esq. Until 1802, the post office was kept at the public house of Messrs. Hoopers ; in that year it was removed to Cutts's island, where it continued till 1807, when it was removed to the village in Saco. The late John Cleaves, Esq. was appointed postmaster 1810, and has had two successors in the office. The population of Biddeford by the first census, 1790, was 1018; in 1800, 1296; 1810, 1563; 1820, 1738. Saco, at the same times, had the following numbers : 1352, 1842, 2492, 2532. In the summer of 1829, the writer made an enumeration of the inhabitants of Saco, and found the number to be 3712, giving an increase over the census of 1820, (which is supposed to have been inaccurately taken,) of nearly twelve hundred. Instances of longevity have occurred in both towns, some of which were of a remarkable character. In Saco three persons have died at the age of 100 years ; viz. James Miller, 1764; Job Hanscomb, 1777; and the late venerable Deacon Amos Chase, who was born at Newbury 15 Jan- uary, 1718; and died 2 March 1818. From 1811 to 1828, forty two persons have reached or exceeded eighty years ; nine of whom were ninety or upwards. The num- ber of deaths during that period, at the average of 35 per AND BIDDEFORD. 311 annum, was 595. In 1815, the Rev. Mr. Cogswell com- puted the average number of deaths annually at 30. The oldest person known to have lived in Biddeford, was Pen- dleton Fletcher, who was born on Fletcher's Neck, where he died 1807, aged ninety nine years and six months. The oldest now living in that town is Daniel Tarbox, to whom the writer has been indebted for several local par- ticulars. Daniel was born at Winter Harboi, nearly ninety years ago, and was baptized by Rev. Mr. Willard. The amount of money annually raised by Saco for the support of schools has not much varied from $1500, for several years, being $500 above the sum legally required. The town is divided into nine classes or districts. Two schools are supported in the central class throughout the year, and two additional during six months. In the other classes, the terms vary according to the number of pupils. Saco Academv was incorporated 16 Feb. 1811, and endowed by the State with half a township, consisting of 11,520 acres of land. In consequence of a donation of $1000 to its funds by the late Marshal Thornton, the Trustees gave his name to the institution. Tlie Academy is now in a flourishing condition, under the highly appro- ved preceptorship of Hezekiah Packard, jr. A. M. A private seminary denominated the "Classical School," is conducted by Phlneas Pratt, A. M. A High School for young ladies, under the care of Miss A. Hall, was es- tablished in 1829, and continues to be liberally patroni- sed. There are other private schools in the village, in- tended for a younger class of pupils. In Biddeford, the amount of school money raised an- nually has not exceeded $1200; the sum required by law is about $700. A grammar school is supported du- ring the greater part of the year near the Falls, and the remninder of the money is distributed anwng ten classes. The following list contains the names of persons born in Biddeford and Saco, who have been liberally educated, commencing with the former town. Harvard College. Samuel Jordan, 1750 ; second son of Capt. S. Jordan ; a representative of the town several years. He died of yellow fever, 1802, aged seventy three.* John Willard, *The yellow fever has been brought mto the river by vessels from 312 HISTORY OF SACO 1751, minister of Stafford, Conn. He received a doc- torate in divinity from Yale Colle2;e. Joseph Willard, 1765 ; D. D. LL. D. President of^Harvard Coll. 1781- 1804. Jeremiah Hill, A. M. 1787. Mr. mil entered college 1767, and left before his class graduated. He afterwards received the usual honors. Mr. Hill was en- gaged for a considerable period in mercantile business ; he represented the town in the General Court several years, and was through life an active, useful and promi- nent citizen. He died in June, 1820, aged seventy three. James Sullivan, 1790; the oldest son of Gov. Sullivan. He died at Boston soon after leaving College. William Sullivan, 1792; LL. D. Boston. Moses Porter, 1799. Abel Lawrence Peirson, 1812 ; M. D. Salem, Mass. George Thacher, 1812; A. M. Saco. Grenville Mel- len, 1818 ; A. M. North Yarmouth. Boivdoin College. Richard Cobb, 1806 ; A. M. Boston. Edward Henry Cobb, 1810; A. M. late of Portland. Frederic Mellen, 1823, Portland. Gorham Dean, 1825; a young gen- tleman of highly promising talents, who died at the close of his last collegiate year, in Providence, R. L where he had gone for the benefit of his heahh. Saco. Harvard College. Cadwallader Gray, 1784 ; a merchant at the Falls, afterwards of Buxton. James Gray, 1786. Richard Cutts, 1790 ; A. M. Washington, D. C. Gideon Tucker, 1820. Dartmouth College, Nathaniel Coffin, 1799; A. M. Wiscasset. Bowdoin College. Seth Storer, 1807; A. M. Scarborough. (Office at Saco.) William Rufus King, 1823. Daniel Tristram Granger, 1826; Newfield. Joseph Warren Leland, 1826. Ichabod Goodwin Jordan, 1827. John Fairfield Hartley, 1829. Waterville College. Albert the West Indies in at least three instances ; 1794, 1796, and 1802. The second time the whole number of persons who were sick, as we are informed by Dr. Porter, was 43, eleven of whom died. In June, 1802, a vessel came up to the wharf in Biddeford, with the infection on board, but it not being known for several days, many were ex- posed who fell victims to the disease. It soon spread throughout the neighborhood ; of sixty three cases, says Dr. Porter, fourteen proved fatal Those who survived the fourth day after the attack, generally recovered. AND BIDDEFORD. 313" Gallatin Lane, 1827 ; Belfast. Now In Bowdoin Coll. : George Washington Cole, William Vaugiian Jordan, Seth Storer Green, Henry Gookin Siorer. The number of gentlemen educated at College now resident in Saco, is filteen ; viz. five graduates of Harvard, one of Dart- mouth, nine of Bowdoin. Saco River, (with a brief account of which we must conclude our inquiries,) is one of the largest in Nev^ England, yet being much broken in its course by falls, is not navigable to any considerable extent. It springs from three sources in the White Mountains ; the branch issuing from the southwest side of the mountains, near the Notch, is considered the main stream; next to this is the middle branch, which is the smallest ; and beyond is the branch called Ellis's river, which rises on the north- east side of the mountains, and after a course of about eighteen miles, unites with the main branch in the town of Bartlett. Cutler's and New rivers are mountain tor- rents that discharge into the Ellis. The Ammanoosuck, a branch of the Connecticut, rises within about two rods of the Saco, flowing in an opposite direction. The whole length of Saco river is estimated to be 160 miles; run- ning in its general course SSE, and discharging into the sea in latitude 43 degrees, 28 minutes ; longitude from Greenwich (London) 70 degrees, 26 minutes. The principal Falls are, the Great Falls, at Hiram, where the water descends 72 feet ; Steep Falls at Limington, 20 feet ; Salmon Falls, at Hollis and Buxton, 30 feet, and Saco Falls, 42 feet. The latter are about four miles from the mouth of the river. The ordinary rise of the water in the spring is from ten to fifteen feet, but in great fresh- ets it has been known greatly to exceed that number. A long storm which occurred in October, 1785, raised the river to an immense height, sweeping away mills and bridges, and inundating houses that, stood in its vicinity. In 1814, there was the greatest freshet known since that of 1785.* At such seasons the appearance of Saco Falls *The view of the Falls prefixed to this volume, represents them during a rise of the river greater than is usually experienced. It was^ taken from below the bank nearly opposite the Nail Factory. 27* 314 HISTORY OP SACO is truly sublime ; and formerly, before the scenery about them was destroyed, presented a spectacle of grandeur and beauty seldom equalled. From the mouth of the river a fine beach extends to the east about five miles, (formerly the travelled road,) called Old Orchard beach. This name arose from a growth of apple trees formerly near the beach, (below the schoolhouse,) planted at a very early period ; some of them remained as late as 1 770. Another beach of less extent, but not inferior in other respects, is found at the Pool, connecting Fletcher's Neck with the main and forming the south shore of that peninsula. Its distance from the Falls is about nine miles. The small streams by which different parts of Saco are watered, generally derive their origin from an immense bog, commonly called the Heath, and flow into the river and sea. On one of these, Foxwell's brook, there is a fine waterfall, with a descent of about sixty feet, surroun- ded by scenery of a wild and striking character. APPENDIX- A. p. ]8. The passage of the Dutch author, De Laet, referred to as a trans- lation of Capt. Smith's notice of Saco river, and of the coast of Maine in general, is the following : Ab hoc (i. e. amne Sagadehoc) versus occasum provincia Aucocisco [Casco] amplissimi sinus gremio praetenditur, multaeque insulae cum suis portubus per sinum sunt sparsae. Haud longe hinc Sovi^o- COTUCK ad angulurn continentis qui latum sinura aperit arenoso quideni littore sed crebris insulis et cautibus illi objectis, aditu difficilem et non nisi minoribus navigiis. Quid multa'? tota haec ora a Penobscot hue usque, et longius a Pen. versus ortum, ejusmodi rupibus et saxosis insulis scatet, ut mirum sit tam procerarum arborum feracem esse, ne- que quisquam hie est quod intuentes nonmagis deterreatquam afficiat ; tanien mare hie, si usquam, mire piscosum, and hae insulae tot arbori- bus amoenae, tot fontibus riguae, tam variis fructibus diles, tamque hie avium copia, ut non careat fide, licet littora tam aspera sint, tamen convalles et interioru Continentis facundissimo esse solo. Lib. iii. Cap. iii. The "island of Bacchus," with which the French navigators were so much charmed, is doubtless Wood Island. At the present time, however, the vine is not found there, nor the walnut, although a great variety of growth still covers the island. Beech, Oak, Maple, Bass, (or lime tree,) Ash, Fir or Spruce, Moose wood. Pine, Hornbeam, and Birch, overspread its surface, which consists of about thirtysix acres. In suumier this island is a very delightful spot, not unworthy the ad- miration bestowed by the French. The oiher i-slands near the niouth of the river, in what was anciently called Saco Bay, are much j^mal- ler, and nearly destitute of vegetation ; Stage island, formerly called Giljbins' island, on which a monument is now erected, contains but five or six acres ; Basket island about four acres; the others (Eagle arid Ram islands) are still less in extent. B. p. 29. Grant from the Council of Plymouth to Lewis and Bonython, no^ S/vc ». TO ALL ( HRISTIAN PEOPLK to whom this present writing indented shall come, the Council for the affairs of New England in America send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. Whereas, King James, of fainous memory, late king of England, Scotland, France & Ireland, by his Hl^hness'a Letters Patent and Royal Grant, under the great seal of England, bearing date th^; third day of Nov. in the eighteenth year of his reigu ot England, France and Ireland, &c. for the causo th jr-'in expressed, did absolutely give, grant and confirm unij the sa'd CcMin:M f >r Uie affiirs of New England in A- raerica, and their successors forever — All the Lands of New Eng- 316 APPENDIX. land lying and beinof from forty to forty-eight degrees of northerly latitude, and in length by all that breadth aforesaid from sea to sea, throughout ihe main land, together withal! the Woods, Waters, Riv- ers, Soil, Havens, Harbors, Islands and other commodities whatso- ever thereunto belonging, with divers other privileges, preheminan- ces, profits and liberties, by sra and land, as by the said Letters Pa- tent, amongst other things contained, whereunto duo relation being had more at large, it doth and may appear. NOW KNOW YB, that the said Touncil for the affairs of New England in America, as well for and in consideration that Thumas Lewis, Gent, hath already been at the charge to transport himself and others to take a view of New England in America aforesaid, for the bett'ring of his experience in advancing of a Plantation, and doth now wholly mtend, by God's assistance, with his associates, to plant there, both f)r the good of his Majesty's realms and dominions, and for the pr )pagation of Christian Religion atnongst those infidels, and in consideration also that the said Thomas Lewis, together with Capt. Rich. Bon/thon. and also with their associates and company, have undertaken at their own proper cost and charges, to transport fifty persons thither within seven years next ensumg. to plant and inhabit there, to the advancement of the general Plantation of that country and the strength and sai'ety thereof amongst the natives or any other invaders Also, for the encouragement of the said Thos. Lewis and Capt. Richard Bimython and other their associates and assigns — and other good causes and considerations, the said Council thereunto moving : — Have given, granted, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by this their present writing do fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, enfeoffe and confirm unto the said Thomas Lewis and Capt. Kichard Bonython, their heirs and assigns, forever, all that part of the main land in New Enofland in America aforesaid, commonly called or known by the name of Swanckadocke, or by whatsoever other name or names the same is or shall be hereafter called or known by, situated, lying and being between the Cape or Bay cominonly called Cape Elizabeth, and the Cape or Bay commonly called Cape Por- poise, containinor in breadth from northeast to southwest along by the sea, four miles in a straight line, accounting seventeen hundred and three score yards, according to the standard of England, to every mile, and eight English miles upon the main land, on the North side of the river Swanckadock after the same rate, from the sea through all the breadth aforesaid, together with all the Shores, C-eeks, Bays, Harbors and Coasts along the Sea within the limits and bounds afore- said, with the woods and islands next adjoining to the said land, not being already granted by the said Council unto any other person or persons ; together, also, with all the Lands, Rivers, Mines, Minerals of what kind or nature soever. Woods, Quarries, Marshes, Waters, Lakes, Fishings, Huntings, Hawkings, Fowlings, Commodities, Emol- uments and Hereditaments whatsoever, with all and singular their and every of their appurtenances in or within the limits or bounds aforesaid, or to the said Land lying within the said limits or bounds belonging, or in any wise appertaining — TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singfular the said lands and premises with all and sin- gular the Woods, Quarries, Marshes, Waters, Rivers, Lakes, Fish- itigs, Hawkings, Huntings, Mines, Minerals of what kind or nature soever, Privileges, Rights, Jurisdictions, Liberties, Royalties, and all other Profits, Commodities, Emoluments and Hereditaments whatso- ever, before, in and by these Presents given and granted or herein. APPENDIX, 317 mentioned, or intended to be hereby given or granted with their and every of their appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof (ex- cept before excepted) unto the said Thomas Lewis and Capt. Rich- ard Bonython, their heirs, associates and assigns forever, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Thomas Levi^is and Capt Richard Bonython, their heirs, associates and assigns forever, yielding aid paying unto our Sovereign Lord the King one fifth part of Gold and Silver Ore, and another filth part to the Council aforesaid, and their successors to be holden of the said Council and their successors by the rent hereafter in these presents reserved, yielding and paying therefor yearly forever unto the said Council, their successors or as- signs, for every hundred acres of the said land in use, twelve pence of lawful money of England into the hands of the Rent Gatherer (for the time being) of the said Council, their heirs or successors for all services whatsoever. And the said Council for the affairs of New England in America aforesaid, do by these presents nominate, de- pute, authorize, appoint and in their place and stead put Wm. Black- stoon, of New England aforesaid, Clark, William Jeffreys, and Edv/. Hilton, of the same, Genfn, and either or any of them jointly or sev- erally to be their lawful attorney or attorneys, and in their names and stead to enter into the said part or portion of Land, and other the premises with the appurtenances by these presents given and granted, or into some part thereof in the name of the whole, and pea- ceable and quiet possession and seizin thereof for them to take, and the same so had and taken in their names and stead to deliver pos- session and seizen thereof unto the said Thomas Lewis and Capt. Richard Bonython, their heirs, associates and assigns, according to the tenor, form and effect of these presents, ratifying, confirming and allowing all and whatsoever the said attorne}'^ or attorneys or ei- ther of them shall do in and about the premises by virtue hereof In witness whereof the said Council for the affairs of New England aforesaid have hereunto caused their common seal to be put, Giv- en the twelfth day of February, Anno Domini 1629, and in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord Charles, by the grace of God' King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. R. Warwick. [seal appending} Edw. Gorges. June 28, 163L Possession, livery and seizen given and delivered by the within named Edw. Hilton, Gent, one of the Commissioners nominated by the Lords of the Council for the affairs of New Eng- land, unto the within named Thomas Lewis, Gent, in the presence and sight of the persons under named. Tho. Wiggin, James Par- ker, Henry Watts, George Vahun. A true copy of the original, received April 5, 1731 — Attest, Jas. Moody, Register. Grant from the Council to Oldham and Vines, now Biddeford. TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom this present writing indented shall come, the Council for the affairs of New England in America send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. Whereas, King James, of famous memory, late King of England, Sci^tland, France & Ireland, bv his Highness's Letters Patent and Royal Grant, under the great Seal of England, bearing date the third of Novem- ber, in the eighteenth year of his reign of England, France and Ire- land, for the cause therein expressed, did absolutely give, grant a,nd 318 APPENDIX. confirm unto the said Council for the affairs of New England in A» merica, lying and being from forty to forty-eight degrees of norther- ly latitude and in length by all that breadth aforesaid, from sea to sea throughout the main land, together with all.the Woods, W aters, Rivers, Soils, Havens, Haibours, Islands and other Commodities whatsoever thereunto belonging, v^nth divers other privileges, pre- heniinances, profits and liberties, by sea and by land as by the said Letter Patents (amongst other things contained whereunto due rela- tion being had) more at large it doth and may appear. NOW KNOW YE, that the said Council for the aff*airs of New England in \merica, as well for and in consideration that John Ould- ham, Gent, a planter in New England in America aforf^said, and oth- ers his servants have for these six years now last past lived in New England aforesaid, and for that the said John Ouldham hath hereto- fore, at his own pr(por cost and charges, transported thither and planted there divers persons and ha*h, for the eff'ecting of that so good a work, undergone great labour and danger ; and in considera- tion also, that the said John Ouldhatu, together with Richard Vines, Gent, and their heirs, associates and c-mpany have undertaken, at their own cost and charsre, to transport fifty persons thither in the space of seven years next ensuing to plant and inhubit there to the advancement of the general Plantation of that conntry and the strength and safety thereof against the natives or any other inva- ders ; and also for the better encouragement of the said John Ould- ham, Richard Vine^ and other their associates and assigns, and other good causes and considerations the said Council thereunto moving — Have given, granted, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by this their pre- sent writing do fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, enfeoffe and confirm unto the said John Ouldham and Richard Vines, their heirs and assigns forever, all that part of the main land in New England aforesaid commonly called or known by the name of Swanckadock, or by whatsoever other name or names the same is or shall be here- after called or known by, situated, lying and being between the Cape or Bay commonly called Cape Elizabeth and the Cape or Bay com- monly called Cape Porpoise, containing in breadth from northeast to southwest, along by the sea, four miles in a straight line, accounting seventeen hundred and three score yards, according to the standard of England, to every mile, and eight English miles up into the main- land on the south side of the river Swanckadock, after the same rate, from the sea through all the breadth of four miles aforesaid together with all the Shores, Creeks, Bays, Harbours and Coasts along the Sea within the limits and bounds aforesaid, with the Woods and Isl- ands next adjoining to the said Lands not being already granted by the said Council unto any other person or persons, together also with all the Lands, Rivers, Mines. Minerals of what kind or nature soev- er. Woods. Quarries, Marshes, Waters, Rivers, Lakes, Fishings, Huntings, Hawkings. Fowlings, Commodities, Emoluments, Heridi- taments whatsoever, with all and singular their and every of their appurtenances in or within the limits and bounds aforesaid, or to the said Lands lying within the same limits or bounds belonging or in any way appertaining— TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and sin- gular t.he said Lands and premises, with all and singular the Woods, Quarries, Marshes. Waters, Rivers, Lakes, Fishings, Fowlings, Hawkings, Mines, Minerals of what kind or nature soever. Privile- ges, Rights, Jurisdiction, Liberties, Royalties and all other Profits, APPENDIX. 319 Commodities, Emoluments and Hereditaments whatsoever before in ar.u by these presents ^iven and granted or Ijercn- n" uti nod or in- tuntivd lO 1)3 hereby given or granted, with their and (^very of their appuitenauces and every part and parcel thereof, except before ex- cepted nnto the said John Ouldham and Richard Vines, their heirs, associatt^s and assigns forever, to the only proper u?e and behoof of the said John Ouldham, Richard Vines, their heirs, associates and as- signs forever, yielding and paying unto our Sovereign Lord the King on*^ fifth part of Gold and S>ilver '.)re, and another fifih part to the Council aforesaid and t)ieir Successors, to be holden of the said Coun- cil aforesaid and their successors, by the Rent hereafter in these pre- sents rnserved, yielding and paying thereof yearly forever unto the said Council, their successors or assigns for every hundred acres of the said Laud in use, twelve pence of lawful nione;y of England into the hands of the Rent Gatherer, for the time being, of the said Coun- cil, their successors or assigns for all services whatsoever, and the said Council for the affairs of New England aforesaid do by these presents n(jminate, depute, authorize, appoint and in their place and stead put William Blackston, of New England aforesaid, ^"lerk, Wil- liam Jeffreys and Edward Hilton, ol the same place, .ent'n, and ei- ther or any of them, jointly or severally, to be their true and lawful attorney or Attorneys, and in their name and stead to enter into the said part or portion of land and other the premises with appurtenan- ces by these presents given and granted, or into some part thereof in the name of the whole, and peaceable and quiet possession and seizen thereof for them to take and the same so had and taken in their name and stead to deliver possession and seizen thereof unto the said John Ouldham and Richard Vines, their heirs, associates and assigns, according to the tenor, form and effect of these presents, ratifying and confirming and allowing al' and vvhatsoever the said attorney or attorneys, or either of them, shall do in or about the premises by virtue hereof. In witness whereof the said Council have caused the common seal to be put, the twelfth day of February, Anno Do(nini 1621), in the fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles, by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. Defender of the Faith, (fee. Rob. Warwick, Edw. Gorges, Ferd, Gorges, Thos. Smith. Memorandum. That possession and seizen was taken by the with- in named Richard Vines of the premises within granted in the pre- sence of Mr Isaac Allerton, Capt. Thomas Wiggin, Mr. Thomas Purchase, Capt. Nathaniel Waters, Capt. John Wright and Mr. Ste- phen Reeck, mariner, the 25th day of June, 1630. This is a true co- py of the original Deed, recorded the 19th day of July, 1643, and examined. Per me, Rogek Garp, Recorder. I. Richard Vines, of Saco, Gent, have bargained and sold the pa- tent above specified unto Robert Child, F:sq. Doct. of Physick and given him Livery and Seizen upon the day of October, 1G45, in pre- sence of Mr. Adam Winthrop and Mr. Benjamin Gilman. C. p. 36. Bond and Lease from Vines to John West. Noverint universi per presentea me Richard Vines de Sacoe in Nova Anglia, Armigerum, teneri et firmiler obligari John West de Sadoe pri- 320 APPENDIX. die Husbandman in qnadraginta libris legalis monete Angliae solven- dis eidem John aut suo cerlo attorno, executoribus, adniinistratoribus suis ad quam quidem solutionem bene et fideliter faciendum obligo me heredes executores administratores meos firmiter perpresentes Sigilllo meo sigillatas datas * * die Ociobris anno Regni Domini nortri Caro- li Dei gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae et Hibernia Regis, Fidei Defen- soris, decimo, annoque Domini 1G38. [Translation. Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard Vines, of Saco, in New England. Esquire, am held and firmly bound to John West, of Saco, formerly Husbandman, in £40 legal money of England, to be paid to the said John or his attorney, executors and administrators, to make which payment well and faithfully, 1 firmly bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators by these presents. Sealed with my seal, given * * day of October in the tenth year of our master Charles, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, A. D. 1638.] Whereas the condition of this obligation is such that whereas the above bounden Richard Vines hath by his writing indented bearing date the day and year abovewritten under his hand and seal for the consideration therein mentioned, demised, granted, leased and to farm letten unto the abovementioned John West, his executors and assigns, one mansion or dwellinghouse and certain lands and grounds to tiie same belonging or adjoining with the appurtenances in Sacoe afore- said for the term of lUOO years for and under the yearly rent or farm of two shillings and one capon as by the said indentures may more fully and at large appear, now the said John West, his executors, ad- ministrators or assigns, shall and may at all and every time and times hereafter for and during said term of 1000 years lawfully, peacefully and quietly have, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy the said mansion or dwelling house, the said lands, grounds and other the premises by the said writing indented to him, demised, leased and to farm letten with all and every their appurtenances without any lett, suit, trouble, hin- drance, molestation or incumbrance to be had, made or done unto him the said John West, his executors or assigns, by the said Richard Vines, his heirs or assigns, or Joan his wife, or any of them, or by Thomas Cole sometime tenant or occupier of the premises. Sealed and delivered in presence of R. Gibson, T. Williams, T. Rogers. D. p. 11 o. A deed purporting to have been given to Rev. John Wheelwright by several Indian sagamores, 1629, is published in the Appx. to i. Bel- knap's Hist. N. H. The attestation of the deed is signed by "R. Vines and R. Bonython, governor and^assistant of the Plantation at Sa- co." Mr. Savage, the able editor of Winthrop's Journal, has shown most conclusively, that the pretended deed was forged, at a much la- ter date, after the decease of the supposed grantee. The evidence drawn from the attestation of Vines & Bonython is, however, the least satisfiictory. The inhabitants of 'the Plantation at Saco' were evident- ly subject to a local jurisdiction (similar to that established at Exeter) at least as early as 1630, and perhaps earlier, before a general govern- ment existed, and who so likely to be their governor and assistant as Vines and Bonython ? The mass of other testimony against the au- APPENDIX. 321 thenticity of the Wheelwright deed, is sufficiently decisive. Another document in the same vo!ume of Dr. Belknap, (a division of lands, &c.) is likewise spurious. E. p. 156. "Sept. 19, 1659. The declaration of Jane, the Indian, of Scarboro', concerning Land. This aforesaid Jane, alias I j hannum, doth declare that her mother, namely, Nagaasqua, wife of VVickwarrawaske, Sagamore, and her brother, viz. Ugagoquskit, and herself, viz. Uphannnm, coequally have sold unto Andrew Alger and his brother Arthur Alger, a tract of land beginning at the mouth of the river called Blue Point River, where the river doth part, and so up along \a iih the river called Owas- coage in Indian and so up 3 score poles above the falls on the one side, and on the other side bounded up along with the northernmost river that dreaneth by the great hill of Abram Jocelyn andgoeth north- ward bounding from the head of this River S. W. and so to the afore- said bounds, viz. 60 poles above the Falls : This aforesaid Uphannum doth declare that her mother and brother and she have already m hand received full satisfaction of the aforesaid Algers, for the aforesaid their land from the beginning of the world to this day, provided that from time to time, from year to year yearly, the aforesaid Algers shall pea- ceably suffer Uphannum to plant in Andrew Alger's field so long as Up- hannum and her mother Nagaasqua both live, and also one bushel of corn for acknowledgement every year so long as they both shall live. Uphannum doth declare that the bargain was made in the year 1651, unto which she doth subscribe. In the presence of (..'ook, the day and date abovewritten, Jane an Indian woman did appear before me 21 June, 1672, and acknowledge this instrument was the deed of her mother and herself. Before me, B. PENDLETON, Associate." Andrew Augur left in all six children, three sons and three daugh- ters, but the property chiefly descended to the heirs of John, the oldest SOD. F. p. 266. ^nho Regni (L. S.) Regis Georgii Tertii Secundo. AN ACT for incorporating the East side of Saco river in the town of Biddeford into a separate District by the name of Pepper eilboro'. Whereas the inhabitants on the east side of S ico river, in the town of Biddeford, in the County of York, have represented to this Court the great difficulties and inconveniences they labour under m their pre- sent situation, and have earnestly requested that they may be invested with the powers, privileges and immunities of a District — Therefore, Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representa- tives, That all the lands in the town of Biddeford lying on the east side of vSaco River, m the ' ounry of York, together with an Island in the said River commonly called and known by the name of Indian Isl- and, be, and hereby is erected into a separ.ite and distuicl District by the n;'mB of Pepperellboro', bounded with the same bounds as the town of Biddeford now is oa ilie east side of ;5aco river ; and that 28 322 APPENDIX, tlie said District be, and hereby is invested with all the privileges, powers and immunities that towns in this Province by law do or may enjoy, that of sending a Representative to the General i\ssembly only excepted ; and that the said District shall have full liberty and right from time to time to join the Town of Biddeford in choosing a Rep- resentative to represent them at the General Assembly, and shall be notified of the time and place of election in like manner with the in- habitants of the said Town of Biddeford, by a warrant from the Se- lectmen of the said town, directed to a Constable or Constables of the said District, requiring him or them to warn the inhabitants to attend the meeting at time and place assigned, which warrant shall be sea- sonably returned by the said Constable or Constables. And the Rep- resentative ma}' be chosen indifferently from the said Town or District, the pay or allowance to be borne by the Town and District in propor- tion as they shall from time to time pay to the Province tax. Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, that the said District shall pay their proportion of all Town, County and Province taxes already set or granted to be raised on the ToWn of Biddeford aforesaid, as if this act had not been made. And be it further enacted. That Rishworth Jordan, Esq. be, and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said District, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said District, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such officers as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of said district. June 8, 1762. This Bill having been read three several times in the House of Representatives, passed to be enacted. TIM. RUGGLES, Speaker. June 9, 1762. This Bill having been read three several times in Council, passed to be enacted. A. OLIVER, Secretary. June 9, 1762. By the Governor. I consent to the enacting this Bill. ERA. BARNARD. A true Copy of the original Act, EDWARD D. BANGS, Sec'y of Commonwealth. Representativss of Biddeford in the Generai* Court. 1719, Capt. H. Scamman. 1721, Pendleton Fletch- er. 1747-9-5, Capt. Daniel Smith. 1754, Rev. Sam'l Hill, son-in-law of Capt. S. Jordan. Mr. Hill was settled a second time at Rochester, N. H. 1760, where he died, 1764. 1756-7, and 1760-1-2-3, Samuel Jordan. 1766- 7-9, and 1770-1-2, Jere. Hill, senior. 1768, Abraham Chase. APPENDIX. 323 TOWN OFFICERS. SELECTMEN OF BIDDEFORD. 1717 — Andrew Brown, Rich. Stimson, H. Scanfiman. 1718 — Eben. Hill, R. Stimson, H. Sramman. 1719 — Ebenezer Hill, Benj. Haley, H. Scamman. 1720 — E. Hill, Pendleton Fletcher, H. Scamman. 1721 — H. Scamman, Abraham Townsend, E. Hill. 1722— A. Townsend, E. Hill, H. Scamman. 1723 — H. Scamman, E. Hill, John Travis. 1724-5— H. Scamman, E. Hill, A. Townsend. 1726 — E. Hill, A. Townsend, H. Scamman. ]727— Sam'l Jordan, E. Hill. A. Townsend. 1728 — Benj. Haley, A. Townsend, John Gordon. 1729 — S. Jordan, Lt. John Stackpole, H. Scamman. 1730 — H. Scamman, Cnpt. S. Jordan, J. Stackpole, 1731 — H. Scamman, E. Hill, Richard Stimson. 1732-3-4 — Records deficient. 1735 — Rob. Patterson, Rob. Edgecomb, John Davis. 1736_E. Hill, J. Davis, R. Patterson. 1737-8-9— John Gray, Esq. J. Stackpole, S. Jordan. 1740 — S. Jordan, J. Stackpole, H. Scannnan. 1741— E. Hill, S. Jordan, J. Stackpole. 1742 — E. Hill, Rish worth Jordan, Samnel Scammati. 1743— J. Gray, S. Jordan, A. Townsend, R. Patter- son, J. Davis. 1744— J. Gray, R. Jordan, E. Hill, R. Patterson, Robert Brooks. 1745— J. Gray, E. Hill, R. Patterson, R. Jordan, Do- minicns Scamman. 1746— R. Jordan, Thos. Emery, Chrisp Bradbury, J. Stfickpole, jr., S. Scamman, jr. 1747 — J. Gray, R. Jordan, R. Brooks, S. Scamman, jr., C. Bradbury. 1748 — J. Gray, Capt. Dan'l Smith, R. Jordan, G. Bradbury, S. Scammnn. 1749J_J. Gray, J. Davis, R. Jordan, S. Scamman, jr. James Scamman. 1750— R. Jordan, S. Scamman, J. Scamman, Jos. Dyer, Jno. Stackpole, jr. 324 APPENDIX. 1751 — R. Jordan, J. Scamman, S. Scamman, jr., J. Stackpole, jr., Jos. Dyer. 1752-3 — R. Jordan, Esq., S. Scamnnan, jr., J. Scam- man, Jos. Dyer. 1754 — R. Jordan, S. Scamman, jr., Trist. Jordan, J. Dyer. 1755-6 — R. Jordan, S. Scamman, J. Dyer, T. Jor- dan, E. Hill, jr. 1 757-8 — Capt. T. Jordan, J. Dyer, Amos Chase, Benj. Hooper, Jero. Hill. 1759— J. Dyer, B. Hooper, J. Hill, A. Chase, Ebe- nezer Ayers. 1760-1-2— S. Jordan, Capt. T. Jordan, A. Chase, J. Dyer, J. Hill. (Separation of the towns.) 1763-4-5-6— R. Jordan, S. Jordan, J. Hill. 1767— R. Jordan, J. Hill, Benj. Nason. 1768-9-70— R. Jordan, J. Hill, B. Hooper. 177]— R. Jordan, Obed Emery, E. Hill. 1772-3-4— R. Jordan, J. Hill, Benj. Hooper. 1775-6 — R. Jordan, Jos. Stimson, Allison Smith. 1777 — R. Jordan, B. Hooper, B. Nason. 1778— A. Smii.h, R. Jordan, Jos. Morrill. 1780— John Dyer, A. Smith, B. Nason. 1781 — R.Jordan, Capt. B. Hooper, James Emery, 1782-3 — R. Jordan, B. Hooper, A. Smith. 1784-5 — A. S'nith, John Dyer, Rob. Gillpatrick. 1786-7 — R. Jordan, B. Hooper, J. Emery. 1788— A. Smith, R. Gillpatrick, Josiah Hill. TOWN CLERKS. 1717-34 — Humphry Scamman. 1734-41 — Samuel Jordan. 1741-80— Rish worth Jordan. 1780-88— Jeremiah Hill, Esq. SELECTMEN OF SACO. 1762-6 — Trist. Jordan, Amos Chase, Rob. Patterson. 1767-8— T. Jordan, Thos. Cutts, Jos. Libby. 1769— T. J'^rdan, A. Chase, J. Libln-. 1770 — A. Ciiase, J. Libby, R. Patterson. APPENDIX. 325 1771— T. Cutts, A. Chase, T. Jordan. 1772-3 — A. Chase, T. Jordan, R. Patterson. 1774-9 — A. Chase, T. Jordan, Dea. Sam'l Scamraan. 1780— Maj. Humph. Pike, Rich. Burke, Rob. Carll. 1781-3 — Dea. Sam'l Scamman, Rich. Burke, H. Pike. 1784-6 — Dea. SamM Scamman, Col. Humph. Pike, Capt. Joseph Bradbury. 1787— Dea. S. Scamman, Col. H. Pike, S. Boothby. 1788 — Dea. S. Scamman, James Coffin, H. Pike. TOWN CLERKS. 1762-88— Tristram Jordan. 1788-96— Humph. Pike. The Treasurers of Saco, from the incorporation to the present time, have been the following : Ebenezer Ay- er, 1762 to 1771 ; Col. Thomas Cutts, 1772 to 1793 ; Deacon Samuel Scamman, 1794 to 1814 : Capt. Sam'l Moody, 1814 to 1819 ; Hon. William Moody, 1819 to 1822 ; Daniel Granger, Esq. 1822 to 1824 ; Jonathan Tucker, jr. 1824 to 1830. The average tax for many years was £170, or $566 66 per annum. For the last ten years the town has raised about $5000 annually, ex- clusive of the highway tax. 29 ADDITIONS. The following document, with which the writer was favored too 1 ate for its proper place, confirms the truth of what is said in the first part of this work, in relation to the grantees of the Plough Patent. "To THE HON. Gen. Colrt, now sitting at Boston, Dec. 1683 : The humble j)etition of Jeremiah Dumrner ^heweth, That where- as your petitioner's father, Richard Dummer, deceased, was v holly entrusted with the Plough Patent, and the management of sundry concerns relating to the same, by virtue of a power derived from the patentees, therein disbursed sundry sums of money, and afterward the said Patent being ordered home for England, the said Patentees, in consideration of his, the said Richard Dummer's trouble and charge in the management of their concerns about said Patent, granted un- to him 800 and odd acres of land, which was laid out at Casco Bay, as by evidences do appear : Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays, that this hon. Court will please to c> --^^ ^. ,0 o 0-. A^ A- -P ^^ >- v^ v^' %%^- ^^' ^, H -r. .^ -r d-.