A rr
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SECOND SERIES
/*
DOCUMENTARY
HISTOEY OF THE STATE OF MAINE
VOL. XIII
CONTAINING
THE BAXTER MANUSCRIPTS
EDITED
BY JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER, A. M., LITT. D.
PUBLISHED BY THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AIDED BY
APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE STATE
PORTLAND
LEFAVOR-TOWER COMPANY
1909
Copyright 1909
BY THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESS OF
LEFAVOR-TOWKR COMPANY, PORTLAND
PREFACE
THIS volume contains correspondence of Thomas Pow-
nall, whose prudent administration of affairs during his
incumbency of the important office of Royal Governor of
Massachusetts entitles him to an honorable place in our
colonial history.
The publication of Charles A. W. PownalFs recent book
"Thomas Pownall, M.P. F.R.S. Governor of Massachusetts
Bay etc. etc., 1722-1805 ", in which he makes a notable
addition to the controversy respecting the authorship of the
Junius letters, which he believes should be ascribed to the
Governor, will lend to this correspondence increased interest.
A comparison of the hand writing of Governor Pownall with
that of Junius strongly supports the claim of his kinsman,
and we are obliged to pass unquestioned his assertion that
the Governor's knowledge of political conditions especially
fitted him for writing them. He says, " That no place in
the province which this Governor worked so hard for while
there, and had so deep an affection for always, derives its
name from him. What is now Dresden on the Kennebec
river, in the region which his expeditions opened for settle-
ment was at first called Pownalborough, but at the beginning
of the last century the present designation was adopted ".
I was very glad to assure him tbat Governor Pownall has
not been forgotten, and that a thriving town in this State
bears his name.
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness and that of the
Society to Mr. Edward Denham, New Bedford, Mass., for
his invaluable services in preparing the index for this and
former volumes of the Documentary History.
JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER,
61 Deering Street,
Portland, Me.
September 15, 1909.
H
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1755 Sept. 12 LETTER, W* MILLAR TO LT Gov. PHIPS, . 1
" T. Fletcher to Lt Gov. Phips, . 1
Message, S. Phips, 2
Sept. 24 Speech, S. Phips, 2
Sept. 27 Letter, Lt Gov. Phips to Capt. W m Lithgow, . 3
Oct. 3 Message, T. Hubbard Spkr, .... 4
Oct. 3 " S. Phips, 4
Oct. 14 Letter Capt. Sam 1 ! Goodwin to Lt Gov. Phips, 5
Oct. 14 " " u " " " " " 5
Oct. 17 " Capt. W m Lithgow to Josiah Willard
Secy, 6
Oct. 17 " Capt. Sam'l Goodwin to Lt Gov. Phips, 7
Oct. 17 " " " u " " ll " 9
Oct. 18 " Capt. W m Lithgow to Lt Gov. Phips, 9
Oct. 18 An Inclosure, 10
Oct. 20 Letter, Capt. W m Lithgow to Lt Gov. Phips, 11
Oct. 28 Message, 12
Nov. 6 Letter to Capt. Saml Goodwin, ... 13
Nov. 21 " Capt. John Lane to Josiah Willard, Secy, 13
Nov. 22 " Capt. George Berry to Lt. Gov. Phips, 13
Nov. 25 " Capt. Thoa Fletcher to Lt. Gov. Phips, 14
1756 Feb. 23 " Samuel White to Josiah Willard, Secy, 14
Mar. 8 Message, W. Shirley, 15
Mar. Letter, Capt. Wm. Lithgow to Gov. Shirley, 15
Mar. 24 " T. Fletcher to Lt. Gov. Phips, . . 17
Mar. 26 " Capt. Alex* Nikels to Gov. Shirley, . 17
April 7 Message, W. Shirley 18
April 8 Broad Bay. Vote, 19
April 9 Message, W. Shirley, . . . . . 19
April 14 Gov. Shirleys Message " March 1756," . . 21
April 17 Letter, Capt. George Berry to Lt Gov. Phips, . 22
April 30 " Sir W m Pepperrell to Lt Gov. Phips, 23
May 15 " Capt. J. Freeman to Lt Gov. Phips, . 24_
May 20 " John Minot to Gov. Shirley, . . 25"
May 25 " Capt. Matths Remley to Lieut. Gov.
Phips, 26
May 26 Phillipstown, Petition, 26
Brunswick, Petition, 29
June 7 New Gloucester, Petition, 31
June 12 Letter, Sam 1 ! Howard to Gov. Shirley, . . 32
July 23 " Lt Gov. Phips to Capt Sam'l Goodwin, 33
Viii CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
PAGE
175G u Lt Gov. Phips to Capt. A. Nickels Jr, . 33
July 26 " Enoch Freeman to Lt Gov. Phips, . 34
Aug. 6 " " " tl " " " . 35
Aug. 16 Message, W. Shirley, 37
Aug. 26 Letter, Gov. Shirley to Maj. E. Freeman, . 37
Message, W. Shirley, 38
Aug. 27 " 38
Sept. 7 ' 39
Sept. 9 Vote, 39
Letter to Sir W m Peperel & Sam 1 ! Waldo, . 40
Merryconege Neck, Petition 41
Oct. 26 Letter, Lt Gov. Phips to Maj. Freeman, . 44
u Lt Gov. Phips to Capt. Freeman and
others, 45
Nov. 1 Letter, Enoch Freeman to Lt Gov. Phips, . 45
Nov. 2 " John Greenleaf to Lt Gov. Phips, . 47
Nov. 23 " Jahez Bradbury to Josiah Willard
Secy, 47
Dec. 17 Letter, John Rous to Lt Gov. Phips, . . 48
1757 Certificate of Soldiers in the King's Service, 50
Mar. 8 Letter Sir Wm Fepperrill to Lt Gov. Phips, . 51
Mar. " " " u " " " " . 52
Mar. 15 " Capt. Wm Lithgow to " " . " . 53
April 12 " Ezkl Cushing to the Council, . . 53
April 15 " The Council to Col. Ezkl Cushing, . 55
" The Council to Capt. Alexr Nichols, . 55
" Benj. Burton to the Council, ... 56
April 28 " Andrew Oliver to Col. Cushing &
Major Freeman, 57
Letter, Andrew Oliver to S* W m Pepperrell, 58
May 2 u Sir W m Pepperrell to the Council, . 59
May 9 " C. C. Leissner to Sr W m Pepperrell, . 59
May 10 " Col. Ezkl Cushing to Andrew Oliver Secy, 60
A List of names for His Majestys Service, . 60
May 21 Letter, John Tasker & J. Fowle to A. Oliver
Secy, 61
Letter, John Tasker to A. Oliver Secy, . . 62
May 12 " John Oshorne to Lord Loudoun, . 62
May 17 " Joshua Freeman to the Council, . . 64
May 18 " James Howard to the Council, . . 66
u from Samuel Goodwin, ... 66
Copy of record, 68
May 23 " " " 68
Letter, Capt. W m Lithgow to the Council, . 69
May 28 " C. C. Leissner to Sr Wm Pepperrell, . 70
Answer of the First Parish of No. Yarmouth, 72
OF CONTENTS IX
PAOK
1757 Petition of Second Parish town of No.
Yarmouth, 75
June 2 Declaration of Joseph Cox & others, . . 76
June 3 Letter, Ezek 1 Gushing to the Council, . . 77
June 6 Falmouth Petition, 78
New Castle Petition, 80
June 15 Letter, Israel Herrick to the Council, . . 82
June 17 " Enoch Freeman to the Council, . . 82
" Sr W m Pepperrell to the Council, . 84
July 13 " Boyce Cooper & others to Sr W m
Pepperrell, 84
July 20 "Inhabitants of Pearson Town's Petition," 85
Aug. 8 Directions to S r W m Pepperrell, ... 86
Aug. 10 Extract of a letter from Colo Partridge to Govr
Pownal, 88
Letter, Gov. Pownal to Sr Wm Pepperrell, . 88
Aug. 13 " " " " " " " . 89
U It U II (I l( U f QO
" Cols Williams & Ruggles to Sr Wm
Pepperrell, 93
Letter, James Delancy to Cols Williams and
Ruggles, 92
Aug. 14 Letter, Gov. Pownall to S r W Pepperrell, . 90
Aug. 15 li S r W m Pepperrell to Gov. Pownall, . 91
( tl U 4i 41 " U > 90
" Cols Williams & Ruggles to Sr W m
Pepperrell, 92
Letter, S r W m Pepperrill to Cap* Christie, . 97
Aug. 17 Letter, Gov. Pownall to Sir Wm Pepperrell, . 99
Petition of Cap* Moses Pearson, ... 101
Aug. Broad Bay Petitoin, 102
Aug. Lebanon, Petition, 103
Aug. 19 Answer, 106
Letter, Col. John Worthington to Col. Murray, 107
Aug. 24 " Sir Wm Pepperrell to Gov. Pownall, . 108
Aug. 25 " Sr W m Pepperrill to Col. Jno
Worthington, 98
Petition, Richard Cutt and Timothy Gerrish
Admors, 98
Sept. 16 Letter, Sir Wm Pepperrell to Gov. Pownall, 108
Oct. 17 Certificate signed by Town Treasurer in re
School, 109
Nov. 23 Petition, David Butler Admor & Martha Hatch,
Widow, 110
Dec. 6 Report of Committee, Ill
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1757 Dec. 7 Letter, Lord Colvill to Gov. Pownall,
Merryconeag Neck incorporated into a separate
District,
1758
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Mar.
Sept.
Oct.
Dec.
1759 Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Mar.
May
June
June
June
June
June
July
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
New Marblehead Report,
GoV PownaPs Letter to Mr Pitt of the Defense
of our Inland Frontiers, ....
21 Message, Gov. Pownall, ....
24
25
PAGE
111
112
113
116
117
121
121
122
123
124
16 Letter, Capt. Wm Lithgow to Gov. Pownall,
17 u Chas Apthorp & Son & Thos Hancock,
to Gov. Pownall, 127
24 Petition of Chas Apthorp & others, . . 127
Petition of William Merritt, ... 131
30 Letter, Gov. Pownall to the Rt. Hon. Wm. Pitt, 134
4 Speech, Gov. Pownall, 140
10 Letter from James Howard, .... 143
Petition of the Inhabitants of New Marblehead, 144
17 Message, 147
Letter from W Lithgow " without date " . 148
1 Message, . 149
12 Letter, John McKechnie to Gov. Pownall, . 150
24 "to Mr. McKetchie, 152
" " Gov. Pownall to Col. Preble,' 1 . 153
17 Memorial of Fishermen to Gov. Pownall, . 156
28 New Marblehead Meeting House, ... 158
Petition of Proprietors of Neguassett, . . 165
1 Speech, Gov. Pownall, 168
6 Message, Gov. Pownall, 169
Report of Committee with a true copy of the
Original Grant and names of the Original
Grantees, 158
7 Petition of the Brethren of the Second church
and Parish in Falmouth, .... 170
15 Report & Order thereon, 173
Petition of the Inhabitants of the Second
Parish in Falmouth, 174
3 Letter from Saml Harnden, .... 175
3 Speech, Gov. Pownall, 176
Act for incorporating Inhabitants Neguasset, . 178
Petition of Wait Wadsworth & others, . 179
6 Message, 182
Frankfort, Petition June 6, 1759, ... 185
9 Message to His Excellency, .... 188
20 Govr Pownall to Mr Secretary Pitt, . . 189
OF CONTENTS
XI
F
AGE
1759 Dec.
Petition of Rain Curtis,
190
Gorhamtown, Petition,
191
1760 Jan.
State of the case between First parish in Fal-
mouth & Cape Elizabeth, ....
193
Jan.
2 Speech, Gov. Pownall,
198
Jan.
3 Petition of Robt Carver,
200
Jan.
18 Report of Committee upon petition of Ezkl
Gushing & others of 2nd Parish in Falmoutb,
200
Jan.
30 Charter (Francfort),
203
Mar.
4 Letter, Col. Jed^ Preble to Gov. Pownall,
205
Mar.
21 Message- Gov. Pownall,
206
Mar.
24 Petition of Jacob Hamblen & Hugh Mclellan in
re Narraganset Township No. 7, ...
209
Gorhamtown, Petition,
211
u u
211
May
Petition of Richard Cutt Jr, .
214
June
6 New Marblehead, .*
215
June
10 Order on Gorham Town Petition, .
216
June
19 County of Cumberland Incorporated June 19,
216
June
21 County of Lincoln Incorporated June 21,
218
Aug.
Wells, Petition,
220
Sept.
Petition of Committee of Ilarpswell,
223
Nov.
u " Moses Twitchel & others,
224
Dec.
" " Wait Wadsworth & others Comee,
225
17G1
Provision to be made for Phillipstown,
226
Jan.
New Marblehead Petition, ....
228
Jan.
Report of Committee, .....
230
Feb.
Petition for Township,
231
June
" of Sam 1 Adams,
233
June
11 Survey of the Country from the Kennbeck to
river St. Lawrence,
235
June
Scarborough, Petition,
235
Nov.
16 Letter, Ichabod Goodwin to Hon. Tho* Hutch-
son,
241
Petition of Sam'l Adams, .....
241
17G2
Petition of Eben* Thorndike & others,
242
Jan.
6 " " David Marsh & others,
243
Jan.
14 Letter to Hon. Jere h Powel, ....
254
Report of Committee on boundary,. .
256
Feb.
23 Answer to petition of Wait Wadsworth and
257
Feb.
23 Answer to petition of Moses Twitchcll and
others,
260
Feb.
23 Answer to petition of Eben Thorndike and
261
Mar.
2 Resolve relating to Townships,
266
Mar.
2 Order, appointing a Committee,
267
xii CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
PAGE
1762 Mar. 6 Grant to S. Waldo and others, ... 264
Mar. 6 Committees on Twelve Townships, . . . 268
April 5 J. Frye & B. Harrod to prefer a Petition &c, 270
April 12 Copy of Record, 271
April 17 Inspector of Surveyors chosen, . . . 271
Report of Committee, 272
April 24 Draft of a letter to Jasper Manduit Esqr, . 273
April 24 Draft of a letter to Mr. Bollan, .... 276
May 20 Petition of Jos. Webber & others, . . 277
May 20 Memorial of sundry inhabts o f Biddeford, . 278
May 26 Petition of Heirs of Rob* Jordan, ... 280
May Act of Incorporation, 281
May Act to Incorporate the Heirs &c. of Robt
Jordan, 283
June Act for Incorporating the Plantation called
New Marblehead, 284
June 11 Permit, 286
June 16 Petition of Richard King, . 286
Answer of the First Parish in Scarborough to
a Petition, 287
Sept. Act of Incorporation, 290
Sept. Act of incorporation, 292
Sept. 13 Message, Fra Bernard, 293
Sept. 14 " Jno Cotton D : Secry, . . . 294
Nov. 10 Inhabitants First Parish Scarborough in re Rev.
Thomas Pierce, 294
Dec. Reasons to obviate objections relative to grants
of land between Penobscot and St. Croix
Rivers, 296
1763 Jan. Petition of the Well Affected Inhabitants of
Gorhamtown, 803
Jan. Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of Gor-
hamtown, 305
April 8 Gov* Bernard to the Lords Commissioners for
Trade & Plantations, 308
April 25 Gov r Bernard to the Lords Commissioners for
Trade & Plantations, 311
Oct. 3 Petition of T. Westgatt & others, . . 315
Dec. 21 Speech- Fra Bernard, 317
1764 Jan. Resolve, in re Petitions of the Officers and
Soldiers, 320
Jan. 27 Grant to Paul Thorndike & others, . . 822
Jan. Line between Maine & New Hampshire, . . 380
Jan. 28 Topsham, Act of incorporation, . . . 332
Jan. 31 Petition of inhabitants of Townsend, . . 334
Feb. 4 " " James Duncan and others to ratify
and confirm grant, 335
OF CONTENTS
Xlll
1763 Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
June
June
June
June
July
July
Sept.
Sept.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
1764
1765 Feb.
Feb.
April
May
May
May
May
June
June
June
June
June
PAGE
20 Request of Selectmen of Woolwich relative to
a public meeting, 337
24 Letter to English hunters, .... 337
" Hana Robinson to Capt. Goldthwaite, . 338
Notice of Selectmen to the Inhabitants of
Georgetown, 338
28 Letter Thos. Goldthwaite to Mr. Robinson and
others, .... 340
5 Message, Fra Bernard,
341
345
346
347
6 Answer of Nath 1 Donnel, ....
Petition of Proprietors of Kennebeck purchase
from late Colony of New Plymouth, . . 352
Petition, 359
11 Govr Bernard to John Pownall Esqre, . . 361
18 Govr Bernard to Earl of Halifax, ... 365
26 A Conference with Indians, .... 368
29 Govr Bernard to Earl of Halifax, . . . 370
Pownalborough, Answer to Pet' n of Adam
Carson & others. 372
10 Petition of Ezekiel Gushing & others, . . 376
An Act for erecting Plantation called Goreham
Town into a Town, 877
31 Consent of Proprs of Kennebeck Purchase, . 379
31 Petition, Narragansett No 1, . . . 879
Act of Incorporation, Town in County of
Lincoln,
9 Govr Bernard to Earl of Halifax, .
27 Letter to Jasper Manduit, Agent,
Petition of John Bezune and his wife, .
Report of Committee,
Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the First
Parish in Scarborough,
20 Instructions to Capt. Gideon Smith,
381
383
392
398
400
401
403
20 Gorham, Petition, 404
20 Bond, 1765, 405
20 Answer of First Parish in Scarborough, . . 407
20 Petition of Proprietors of Cox Hall, . . 410
12 Petition, 413
Act of Incorporation, 415
18 Message, 416
Act, erecting Second Parish of Falmouth into
a District, 416
24 Resolve, 418
XIV CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
PAGE
1765 June 24 Grant to Sam'l Gerrish & others, . . . 419
June 24 Grant to Joseph Sylvester & Co., ... 421
June 24 Kesolve, 422
June 25 Order, 423
July 19 Letter, Mr. Nath' No yes to Mr. Wm. Tompson, 424
Sept. 3 Petition of Selectmen of Boothbay, . . 424
Oct. Petition of Henry Young Brown, . . . 426
Oct. " " Inhabts of Pownalborough, . 427
1766 Jan. Memorial of Earl of Catherbough & others, . 432
Jan. Report of Committee on Petition of William
Tompson & others, 435
Feb. 11 Appointment of Officers, .... 439
Feb. 20 Letter, Andrew Oliver Secy to Gov. Weiitworth, 439
Mar. 4 Petition of Inhab'ts of Boothbay, . . 440
Mar. 9 " " " " Freetown, . . .441
April 2 License to trade with Indians, . . . 443
April 2 Instructions, 444
June Memorial of S. Downe & M. Thornton, . 445
July 26 Power of Attorney to Capt Ichabod Jones, . 431
Nov. 1 Petition of Henry Y. Brown, .... 447
Census of the East Side of Pownalboro, . 448
u u west u " " 454
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF MAINE
Letter, W m Millar to L* G-ov. Phips
Wallpolle September : 12: 1755
To his honour Spenchior phips Esqu r Governer in Chiefe for
the time preasente : Sir this Night I Recieved the Inclosed
express from C pt Lithgow & C pt Goodwin to forward Est-
ward Which I-Done & thought it my Duty to send this
Coppy to your honour that you With the honourable Councle
in your Wisdoms may act for the safety of us the Exposed
Inhabitants in thies froonteers.
So I Conclude yours Honours most obeidiant
Humble Servent
William Millar
Letter, T. Fletcher to L* G-OV. Phips
These are To Inform, Your Hon r that This Day, The
Indians fell on us, Two Men were out A Small Distance
from the Garrison, the Indians fired Upon Them, one
Escaped, & the other is Missing, They began About Twelve
of the Clock, & Continued fireing on The Cattle Till Almost
Night, I imediately, Dispach* An Express To the Neighbour-
ing Settlements, I judge There is a great Body of them, By
their Appearance My Lev* was on a March with Thirty Men,
2 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
But Happyly this Evening return d , This Night, I Design
To Go out & Try to Meet with them
Being All at Present, I Beg To Subscribe My Self Your
Hon" Most Obedient Hum bl Ser*
T: Fletcher
Message
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Represent
Since your late Convention, I have receiveO a Letter
from the Penobscot Indians, in Answer to the Proposals
made to the said Tribe in Conformity to the Resolutions of
this Court for maintaining the Peace with them; Captain
Bradbury is now in Town, ancH is able to give such Informa-
tion of the Temper and Conduct of those Indians as may be
of Use to direct our further Proceedings with them : I there-
fore desire you would consider this Affair as soon as may be
ancfi give me your Acfivice what Measures may be most proper
to be taken by us in Relation to that Tribe.
S Phips
Council Chamber Sept r 1755
Speech
Gentlemen of the Council
& House of Representatives
I was much pleased with y e Unanimity of your votes &
proceedings in your late Convention and I hope that your
Zealous Endeavours to promote his Majesty's service anO the
safety & prosperity of the British colonies will be attended
with happy success.
You have had but little time at home for your private
affairs, however as this is the day to which the court, before
the late special meeting stood prorogued I was willing to see
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 3
you again that so if any thing further should be thought
necessary to be done for perfecting the rendering effectual
your late votes anO resolutions you might have an oppertu-
nity for it.
During your recess I have constantly been employed in
raising & sending away the new levies & I expect that in a
few days the whole number will have marched to join their
bretheren who have already bravely hazarded their lives in
the Service of their King & Country, and defeated an army
consisting of the French King's regular forces of Canadians
& Indians Marching into that part of his Majesty's Territo-
ries to which his just right & title has never yet been ques-
tioned, to attack & destroy his subjects.
I congratulate you Gentlemen upon the welcom news of
this seasonable, and important success. I hope it will ani-
mate our forces in the further opposition which we must
expect they will meet with. I am sure it ought to fill the
breasts of all ranks & orders of men among us with gratitude
to almighty God the giver of Victory, and encourage them
to place ther further dependanc upon his divine favour for
every thing they still hope for.
I shall readily Concur with you in giveing all possible dis-
patch to such business as is of immediate necessity ; other
affairs it will be best to leave until we have More leisure to
attend them.
S Phips
Council Chamber 24 th Septem r 1755
Letter, L* Gov. Phips to Capt. W m LitJigow
Boston Sept. 27, 1755.
Sir
In Answer to your Letter of the 4 th Instant referring
to a Guard for Safe Conveying the Stores from Richmond &
4 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Western to Fort Hallifax ; I now send you my Orders to the
several Commanders of the Marching Companies on the
Eastern Frontiers to supply you with such Numbers of Men
for that Service & at such time as you shall think proper to
assign them; You will take Care seasonably to send these
Orders so as that the said Soldiers may be got together at
one and the same time when the Waters are sufficiently
raised for the Passage of your Boats that so the Service may
be done in the shortest time & the Soldiers return again to
their common Duty.
Your assured Friend & Serv*
S Phips
Cap* W m Lithgow
Message.
In the House of Rep ves Oc* 3. 1755
Voted that the folio whig Message be sent to His Hon r the
Lieu* Gov r anO Commander in Chiefe Viz
May it please Your Hon r
The House having taken into their Serious Consideration the
Danger and Mischief the People of this Province especially
in the Eastern parts, are continually exposed to from the
Penobscot Tribe of Indians in their present Scituation who
have appeared in open Hostility ag* us, or encouraged anO
abetted our other Enemies in Annoying us.
We do therefore earnestly request Your Hon r immediately
to declare War Against the said Tribe.
T. HubbarS Spk r
Message
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
It being one of his Majesty 8 Instructions to me not to
declare War against the Indians without the Advice of his
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 5
Majestys Council I immediately laid before them your Mes-
sage to me of this Morning for their Advice but their judge-
ment not being in favour of the Motion you had maid It puts
it out of my Power to Comply with your desire.
S Phips
Council Chamber Oct r 3. 1755
Letter, Capt. Sam 1 Goodwin to L* Grov. Phips
Frankfort October y e 14 th 1755
Sir/
if there should be any Forceses march up Kennebeck this
winter Or next spring I shall be Glad to be ConCarnd and
Dout not but I Can Rase a Rigement of men in thease Parts
if your Honour & the Government Should want them for
that Purpose &c I being acquainted here & with the River
Kennebeck &c I am Sir as in Dute Bound your Honours
Most Dutefull Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
Sir/
NB. I shall be Glad to have Liberity of your Honour to
Come to boston when the five months is out if I should be
Continaued all winter here to make up the musterroal for
my Compeny to that time ~ All Which is Humbly Submitted
by your Honours most Dutefull Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
Letter, Capt. Sam 1 Q-oodwin to L* Grov. Phips Oct. 14, 1755
To His Honour Spencer Phips Esq r Livetenant Governour
Commander in Cheaff in and over His Majestys Province of
the Massachssutts Bay
Sir/
I Rece d your Honours Orders of September y e 27 th 1755
On the 11 th of October 1755 -
6 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
and shall Chearfully Obay, that and all your Honours Com-
mands, and Do Every thing in my Power to Sarve your
Honour, and the Government in my Station, And as His
Excellency Governour Shirley Gave, Capt. William Lithgow
Orders, to Deliver Fort Richmond to me to take Care off, at
his leaveing it. which he is now aDoing, and as Frankfort &
Richmond is 16 & 17 Miles Distance from Fort Western. &
34 miles from Fort Hallefax on Kennebeck River and no Dout
but the Indains will be Down on the Inhabitants nex
Spring; if not in the Winter, to Cause a Deversion Else
Where ) and I being handy at any time to assist in Garding
up Storers to Fort Western & Hallefax Therefore I Humbly
Petition your Honour and the Honourable the Council &c to
Continaue me and Part of my Compeny in the Province Sar-
vice at Frankfort for this Winter and so on as your Honour
& the Honourable Court shall think Proper for the Benne-
fett and advantage of the Government in General and Settle-
ments on Kennebeck River All Which is most Humbly Sub-
mitted by your Honours Most Dutefull Most Obediant and
Very Humble Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
Frankfort October y e 14 th 1755
Letter, Capt. W m Lithgow to Josiah Willard
Hon ble & Worthey Sir/
as an acknoligement for Sundery favours Rec d of your Hon r
perticularly for M r Flavels Workes, by which we are Sensi-
ble of your Kind Conserne for us, I send you a Barrel of
Potatoas g Cap* Patterson and pray your Exceptence
thereof, ~ being Informed y e government Intendes to Keep
Two of y e marching Companyes In pay this Winter, or at
Least part of them, if such a thing Should be I would with
OF THE STATE OF MAINE I
Submission Recommend Cap* Alexander Nichols Jun r To
your Hon r for one of y e Two Companyes, or if any be Con-
tiniued that He may be one, as I Can Recommend Him To
your Hon r for a man of an Honoust principle, I speek from
the knolige I have had of His behaviour y e Last Sumer, and
I belive If His behaviour be examined Respecting His march-
ing according to His Instructions, it will apeer much as I
here Represent, -
I have had a most Trubelsom Time of it, for this Twelve
monthes Past, and I think was all the featigue and hardship
I have under gon ever since I was Imploy'd by This govern-
ment, which is now upwards of Twenty years (put to
gather ) it would not amount to more than I have undergon
this year past, at Least I am not so Sensible of my former
Hardships as what I am of those of this Year, we have ben
hitherto presarved from falling Into y e Hands of y e Enemy
by Gods grate goodness, notwithstanding According to y e
Eye of Reason, we ware as much exposed as many of those
that has fallen by y e Callemiety that attends on warr, we are
going ( as ever y e Watter is Raise Sufficient for our Boates )
to Gary up Supply es to Fort Hallifax which Fortress will be
allmost finished this Fall, - S r with all Due Regardes I beg
Leave to Subscribe my Selfe your Honours most obedient
Sarvent
Will m Lithgow
Richmond Octb r 17 th 1755
Letter, Capt. Sam 1 0-oodwin to L* (}ov. Phips
Frankfort October y e 17 th 1755
May it Please Your Honour ~
Sir/
as there is a large house of 80 feet by 40 & two Storey high
built at Ticonnet with several block housses of hewed Timber
8 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Which is Called Fort Hallefax And in hewing the Timber
to a Joynt the uper Side of the under peace is hewed Hollow
to bring them to a Joynt and in Driveing Stormes the Rane
Drives into the Joynts and there Stands and being hid from
the Sun Continaues weet for a long time : and Rotts the Tim-
ber very much Which is a Great Damage to such buildings.
Now Sir/ in my Humble Opinion I think they aught to be
Covered ameditly Either with fether Eadge Boord so as to
Break Joynts or Else Claboorded Which if Don Now will be
a Great Saveing to the Province and Prevent a Great
Destruction to the buildings there ~
And as the workmen is on the Spott now at said Fort the
Province may Geet it Don Cheap by leeting it out by the
Lump it being a Winters Job I Dout not but they may Save
Near halfe ) then they will to Transport New work men
there to Do it Which must be Don Soon Or Else the work
will Decay and Com to Nothing Witness Richmond Fort and
all Timber Houses Not Covered.
Sir/ there is one M r Aron Willard who has built the
Large house there and that would Do it as Cheap and as
well as any Person Whatever if your Honour and the Hon-
ourable Court Should Think Proper to Order it Don and if
it Should be Left undon I am well assured the building
would Receive more Damage then Double the Price of doing
it now ( in two years time ) hopeing Sir/ you will Excuse
my Freedom but Knowing it will be of Great advantage to
the Province.
S r I beg leave to Subscribe my Selfe your Honours most
Dutefull most Obediant and Very Humble Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
To His Honour Spencer Phips Esq r Lieutenant Governour
Commander in CheafT in and Over His majestys Province of
the Massachssutts Bay ~
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 9
Letter, Capt. Sam 1 Goodwin to L* Grov. Phips
Octo r y e 17 th day 1755
May it Please your Honour two thirds of my Compeny is
Imployed in Garding and helping up the Province Storers
and the Moveing Every thing from Richmond and as they
will always be wanting assistance It may be in the Winter
as well as in the Summer and Early in the Spring to Gard
the Vessalls up the River Kennebeck To Fort Western and
I being handy I shall be Glad to have Part of my Compeny
Continaued all Winter if aGreable to your Honour & the
General Court but if not I shall be glad of your Honours
Orders wheather I must Dismise them all on the 20 or 25 th
of November next or as longe before that that they may arive
at Boston I beleave the Greatest Part of my Compeny would
be Glad to Tarre with me and if any farther Sarvice should
be Wanted they will willingly Goe with me next Summer if
they should be wanted and if the Province should want more
men next Summer I am well assured I Can Rase a Rigement
of men in thease Part and would Do it if I Could Command
them and should be Glad to be ConCarned if it should be
aGreable to your Honour I shall be Glad of your Honours
Favours to me and am as in Duty Bound your Honours most
Dutefull and Verry Humbl Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
Letter, Capt. W m Lifhgow to L* Q-ov. Phips Oct. 18, 1755
May it Please your Honour/
I acknolige my Selfe Duty bound to Returne your Hon r
my Sincier Thanks In a most Humble manner, for y e grate
Care your Honour has ben pleased to Shew us In ordring a
Sufficent guard to Transpoart y e publick stores up y e River
to Fort Hallefax, as the garrison there posted is most expos'd
10 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
on account of it's daiugerious Scittuation, of any of y e Forts
on our Estern Fruntiers, as every one will alow that Consid-
ers it's Distince up Kennebeck River as also y e Deficualty
and Hazad of going up s d River., I hope your Hon r will be
made Sensible I shall be as Industerious as Circumstances of
this River will permitt, and shall Do every thing In my
Power to Dispatch y* guard that they may Returne to there
Common Duty a greable to your Instructions to me,
I have Dispatched your Honours orders to y* Sundery
Commanders, as also have asigned them to send there Seva-
rel parties of men to Fort Western y e 22 d Instent, at which
Time, I hope we shall be able to Gary up y e Stores, if y e
River be properly Raised for y e Bo'ts
with all Submission I humbely Beg Leave to
Subscribe my selfe your Hon rs most obedient Humble
Sarv* Will m Lithgow
Richmond Octob r 18 th 1755
P-S y e Inclos'd Scrip is a Calculation I Desired y e Carpnter
to Draw of y e makeing Clapboards & Laying them to
secure y e Building of Fort Hallifax &c which I Hum-
bely Recomend to your Hon r for Considderation ; and
would Say if this piece of Work be not Dun, y e Stores
will be very much exposed In Bad weather as also y e
buildings Themselves, which will also Render y e officers
& Soldiers quarters unComfortable
W L-
["y e Inclos'd Scrip."]
Memorandom for Claboarding the Garrison at Halifax
To 10 m Claboards To be Large 6 inches
wide @ 22 220: 0:
To Laying 10 m Claboards @ 15X 150: 0:
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 11
To making 46 window Caps & Casing
the Same to Receive the ends of
the Claboards
To Casing 32 ports & Lookouts & 10
doors
and making all weather boards Cor-
ner boards and water Tables and
Casing 160 feet of a Jet
180: 0:
550: 0:
Octo r 17 th 1755
Aaron Willard
Letter, Capt. W m Lithgow to IS Cf-ov. PUps Oct. 20, 1755.
May it Please your Hon r /
with Humble Submission onece more I would Intreat your
Honour In behalfe of y e Soldiery of Fort Hallifax, that they
may be Discharged this Fall as thay have ben Continued in
y* Service for this 18 monthes Past thay say thay ware
Listed or Impres'd only for y e Space of Three monthes,
which thay think is a grate imposition on them, In my
Humble opinion y* best way to Remedy y e uneasyness of
those Soldiers, to Send Down InListing papers for about
30 men, by y 6 help of which I dont know but it would
be In my power to Engage a Sufficient Number to Tary a
nother Twelve monthes, which will Save y e government y e
Cost of Raising New men, and Dubble pay perhaps for Some
Time, I will be accounteble to y e government for any money
thay send for this purpose, and will Justely Returne, any
that may be left
I would pray your Honours Consideration on this, as it
has ben with Dificulty I have Retain d som of those men
I Remain Your Hon" Dutiful Serv*
Richmond Octb r 20 th 1755
W m Lithgow
12 DOCUMENT AEY HISTORY
the Reson why y e Soldiery of Fort Hallifax is so uneasy, is
be Cause their Dutey is so much harder then at other Fortes,
whare thay have their provisions bro* to y e Door, without
Truble, as also their Tower of Duty Corns Three Times as
often at Fort Hallifax as at S* georges whare thay have 45
men alowd and but one Fort to guard.
at Hallifax there is 80 men alowed and four postes to Defend
viz* y e main Fort, Store House, and Two Redoubts which
brings y e whole of y e 80 men on Duty every other Night
there being Scattred at such a Distence which is not y e Case
at georges Fort or others whare thay mount y e Night guard
but once In five Nights, So that it's plane that 20 men is as
sufficent for S* georges Fort or any other neer y e See, as 80
men is for Fort Hallifax which is Seetuate 40 or 50 miles
from Inhabitants which makes it more agreable to y e Soldiery
W m Lithgow
[ Superscribed ]
To the Honourable Spencer phips Esq r
Lieu* gov r & Comm dr In Cheif of His Majestyes
province of y e Masschusetts Bay N England
Message.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
The Present posture of Affairs with regard to the Indians
is such as to make it necessary to provide for the Defence
and Safety of our Exposed Frontiers. And as the establish-
ment made in the May Session for the Forces to be employed
in the Eastern and Western parts of the Province will expire
on the 5 th of next Month I must earnestly recommend it to
you, Gentlemen, to make further Provision for their Defence
Council Chamber October 28. 1755
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 13
Letter to Capt. Sam 1 Goodwin
Boston Novera r 6. 1T55
Sir
You are hereby required forthwith to disband the March-
ing Company of Soldiers on the Eastern Frontiers under
your Command, & to inform me of the Day of their Dismis-
sion & Allowing each man proper time to return Home and
Making up your Roll accordingly. Notwithstanding, If any
of your Men are still Guarding the Provisions &c to Fort
Hallifax they must not taken off till that Service be done
Your Friend & Servant
Letter, Capt. John Lane to Jbsiah Willard, Sec y
Bideford Nov r y e 21 d 1755
Honoured Sir
after my best dutey to your Honour I beg Leave to
Acquaint you that thear is a number of the Solders that wass
in my Company at Fort Hallifax which have bin in the Ser-
vice Ever sine Gin 11 Winslow went first Down and Cant gitt
Clear notwithstanding the men that went Last winter are
dismissed and gone Thay Have sent to me by the Baror
Serg* Love Who is one of them to Beg your Honour will be
so good as to use your Tntrest to gitt them Clear the Baror
will Informe your Honour more at Large I Must once more
Beg your Honour Will Remember me when the Governour
Cunies Home I Beg your Honours prayers for me,
And am your Honours Most dutifull and Ob d Humble
Serv* John Lane
Letter, Capt. George Berry to L* Grov. Phips
Falmouth Nov* r 22 nd : 1755
May it Pleas Y r Honour
Immediately upon my Receiving Y r Orders, in Obedience
14 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Thereto I Dismis d my Company of Soldiers, which was on
the 17 th & 19 th Ins* And shall Forward my Muster Roll and
Journal as Soon as Possoble.
I am Y r Hono 18 Most Obedient Humble Serv*
George Berry
Letter, Capt. Tho s Fletcher to L* O-ov. Phips Nov. 25, 1755.
To the Honourable Spencer Phips Esq r
May it Please Youer honouer having received No orders
from youer honouer Concluded I must Conform to y e act of
Cort the time being Expired I have Dismised the men
under my Command untill futher Orders from Youor hon-
ouor wich I Do not Expect.
Not that I pretend to Direct the honourable Cort but beg
Leave to offer my opinion
I Do not think that thare has ben aney Indians amongst
us Since the mischife was Dun y e 24 th of September neither
will be this fall or Winter and think It w d be An Neadles
Charge to Continew aney part of my Company Longer.
I Conclude beging Leave to Subscribe Youer honouers
most obedient humble Serv nt
Tho 8 Fletcher
S 1 Georges November y e 25 th 1755
Letter, Samuel White to Josiah Willard,
Brooklyn February 23 1756
Sir I am thankfull unto Almighty God who Preserves
your Life unto an Old Age as I hope to be Ablessing in your
day.
OF TFIE STATE OF MAINE 16
I have a favour to Ask of your Honour for my Brother at
Glossester he hes Ahopfull Son Living now at Saco falls at
the Estward he was brought up at Colledge and is Now A
Docter he is Averr Sensable Capeable Gentleman I have
heard it Would be Agreat benifit to that people if His Excel-
ency would Nomenate him for A Justice of the Peace for s d
County I would beg of your Honour that yould Mention it
unto the Governor before this Court Ends, his name is
Sam 11 White
So I remain your Honours most Obliging Ser
Samuel White
Message
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Represent 8
I herewith send you the Copy of a Resolve pass'd by the
General Assembly of the Province of New York for a Gra-
tuity to Cpt. Rogers of Fort William & Henry in considera-
tion of his extraordinary Courage, Conduct & Diligence in
His Majestys Service against the French & Indians at &
about the French Fort at Crown Point.
And upon this Occasion I think my self obliged to lay this
matter before you, & to let you Know that I apprehend it
may be of great Service for the Common Cause, If we should
likewise in some suitable Manner show our Acknowledgem*
of Cpt Rogers's good service herein.
W Shirley
March 8, 1756. Province house
Letter, Oapt. W m Lithgow to Grov. Shirley
Si r May it Pleas Your Excellency
I would Just Beg to Acquaint your Excellency that Cap 4
David Duning of Brunswick & Cap 1 Adam Hunter of Tops-
16 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
ham were Boath Verry Ready in Relieving of this Fort in
the Month of January 1755 when it was in a Verry Dis-
tressed Condition as Many of the Soilders here then being
Sick having no beads Blankits Shoes hose or Scarce bodyly
Cloathing to ware & but Little Provison in y e fort, then, y e
Above two Cap 18 at that Time Came with Odd 8 of twenty
Men and being Joyned with y e few Soldiers then at Rich-
mond in y Space of three weeks hailed by hand Sleads on
y e Ice from Arousick beads Blankits Shoes hose & ca as Also
from fort Western about 200 Barr 11 Provision to Fort Halli-
fax I need not Mention the Distance or Severety of y e
Weather as Your Excellency is a Perfict Judg ; And as y e
Above Duning & Hunter have not yet been Rewarded for
there Extreordenery Service boath in Respect of there Rais-
ing those men & there Grate Travil up & down this River, I
would with Submission Perpose if it may be Agreeable to
Your Excellencys Pleasure that if there be Scouting Com-
panys this Year Allowed as was Last On those Frountiers
that Cap* Duning have the Command of One of them and as
Cap* John Smith One of the Commanders of those Companys
Last Year Shewed himself Verry Backward in Giving his
Attendance when Ordered, and Also his withdrawing his
Detachment from the Service of this fort in the midest of
our Hurry & Danger which Gave me a Grate Deal of
Trouble as y e unwarrantable Behavour of his Men Gave
umbrage to y e Other Detachments
I Beg Pardon for my Teadousness and Refer your Excel-
lency to Cap* Smiths Instructions and a Coppy of a Letter
sent him on this Ocation as Also his Answer here Inclosed
where he says he is Ready to Come at my Request with all
his Company which if he had he might have known this
would have frusterated the Designe of y e Court as it
Appears there Intention was to have this work Carried on &
y e frontiers Guarded at y e same time, and as Cap* Duning
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 17
& hunter has been Servisable not only in y e Winter But
Spring Also in Boating up Stores and as they are Men
Verry Capable not only as Oficers for a Scouting Company
but are as Capable & willing as Any Men I know of in the
Province to Assist us in Gitting up y e Stores to this Fort is
y e Cheif Reason why I Recommend Duning as Cap* & Hun-
ter as Leiv* and humbly Submit it to Your Excellencys Con-
sideration
I Remain Your Excellencys Most Dutifull & Most Humble
Sarv* William Lithgow
Letter, T. Fletcher to Lt. Q-ov. Phips.
St Georges Fort March 24 th 1756
This Morning three men went to the mill to Git Smelts
the Indians Killed 2. wounded and Scalped the third the
men are R b Key hennary hendly and J hennary we found
a Live and he says that as soon as thay saw the Indians J
Laid Down his Gun and asked Quarters but thay wo d Give
them none thare is Litle hope that henary will recover he is
Shott through the Belley.
You will Communicate this to the Govrnouer if You think
proper for I shall not rite to him the men went out without
My knowledge henary says that thare ware about 10. Indians
I am Si r Your humble Searvent
T. Fletcher
Letter, Capt. Alex r Nikeh to Gov. Shirley. March 26, 1756.
To His Excelencie William Shirly Esq r : our Governor
and Comander in Chief in and over His majestys prov-
ince of the Masachusets Bay in New England
Inclosed I have sent you the Express I received yesterday
from Leftenant flatcher at St : Georges by which your Excel-
18 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
lencie may see the Emenent Danger we are in at pressent and
begs your Excelencie would be pleased heasten Down orders
for men to be raised to goe out against them and your ready
Complyance with the above requist will very much oblidg
your loveing frient and servant at Comand
New castle March the 26 th 1756
Alex r Nikels
I have sent a Copi of the said Express with all the speed
I Could allong shore to Kenybek river
[ Superscribed ]
To His Excelencie William Shirley Esq r
our Governor and Comander in Chief
Message.
Gentlemen of the House of Represent
T have received Applications from the Inhabitants on S 4
Georges River for a few Soldiers for their Defence against
the Indian Enemy. The People in those Parts seem to be
in a peculiar Manner the Objects of the Enemys Fury &
Resentment And the Terror thereof has made such Impres-
sion upon the Inhab t8 there, that there seems to be great
Danger that without immediate Relief the Place will be
wholly abandoned ( excepting the Province Fort there,) And
as one M r Burton has erected a commodious Fortification
round his House, And I am inclined to think the Inhabitants
would be easy to remain there if six or eight Soldiers were
posted at that House, Therefore I must recommend it to you
to make Provision for the Pay & Subsistence of such Soldiers
there to be posted accordingly.
W Shirley
Province House April 7, 1756
I
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 19
Broad Bay. Vote.
In the House of Represent* April 8, 1756.
Whereas it appears to this House Necessary for the safety
of the Inhab t8 of Broad Bay & those near Henderson's Fort
near pleasant point & Burton's Block house, That there be a
Number of Men Ordered for their Defence :
Therefore
Voted That there be a Detachment of fifteen Men made
from the two lowest Scouting Companies on the Eastern
Frontiers, to guard the Inhabitants of Broad Bay during their
Seed time & Harvest, And on other necessary Occasions ;
And for the Safety of such Inhabit 18 as are at or near Hen-
derson's Fort at pleasant point & Burton's Block house, That
six Men including a Sergeant be posted at each of those
places, six of the said Men to be draughted from the Garri-
son at Fort Frederick And the other Six to be inlisted from
amongst the said Inhabitants ; & That his Excellency the
Cap* General be desired to give Order accordingly : And
That the Establishment for the Wages & Subsistence of said
twelve Men be the same as is allowed for other Garrisons on
y e Eastern Frontiers For the Term of two months
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council April 10 th 1756 Read and Concurr'd
Tho 8 Clarke Dp^ Secry
Consented to W Shirley
Message. April 9, 1756
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Represent ve "
It seems to me that Providence has put a peculiar Advan-
tage into our hands for effecting that which probably would
20 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
be a singular means of strengthning our Eastern Frontiers
against the Attacks of the Enemy, I mean the building and
garrisoning a Fort upon Penobscot River ; A time of War
with the Indians has been thought the only proper Season for
Attempting this Design ; And if our repeated Advices of -
late Effects of the Small Pox among the Penobscot and S fc
John's Indians whereby their Numbers are much lessened,
have any good Foundation; This Circumstance may tend
much to facilitate the Enterprize.
If a suitable Fort should be built there the Garrison at and
Fort on S* George's River might be reduced to a few Men,
& the Fort left principally for a Retreat to the Inhabitants
in time of Danger.
If it should please God to restore Peace to us ; this pro-
jected Fort would be in a Place much more suitable for
carrying on the Trade with the Indians, as it would not draw
the Indians into our Settlements, It would prevent those
Contentions and Quarrels which have generally laid the
Foundation of our Wars with them ; And a good Part of the
Forces raised for the Security of the Eastern Frontiers may
be employed in covering the Workmen in building this Fort-
I doubt not but that if we should undertake this Affair,
and accomplish it, His Majesty would be easily induced to
order the Building of a strong Fort near the Mouth of S*
John's River, And by that means by the Blessing of God the
whole Eastern Coast, even up into the Bay of Funday might
be secured against the Attacks of the French be a great
Restraint upon the Indian Enemy.
Gentlemen, I must earnestly desire you would enter upon
the speedy Consideration of these things, according to their
Importance, And come to such Resolution thereon as may be
most for the Safety of the Province.
W Shirley
Province House April 9 th 1756
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 21
G-ov. Shirleys Message " March 1756"
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
It was a Part of the general Plan for the Operations of the
advancing Year that a considerable Force should be sent up
the River Kennebeck, to spoil & break up the French Settle-
ments upon & near Chaudiere [River] & to give an alarm to
Quebec : I find that a body of Men sufficient for this Pur-
pose cannot possibly be spared from the Forces of the Sev-
eral Governments raising for the Service against Crown
Point: I despair therefore of our being able to employ so
great a Number of Men up Kennebeck River as was at first
intended. However Gentlemen, there are many Advantages
which may arise from a small Party of Men well spirited for
the Service, & under an Officer of Courage & Discretion ;
Such a party might do great damage to the French Villages,
it would be in less Danger of being discovered & would make
a quicker Retreat than a larger Body, and yet might be suffi-
cient to keep that part of Canada in an Alarm, and to oblige
the French to retain part of their Strength there ; but I have
in view a further Advantage & it shall be the Business of
one or more skilful persons whom I would have to accompany
such a party to make the most accurate Observations of that
Country, which at present we are too little acquainted with,
and I cannot but think that if we can gain a thorough Knowl-
edge of those parts it will be found that an Army may march
against Quebec by this Route with greater Safety & less
Expence than by any other Way whatsoever. I do not
desire you, Gentlemen to lay any additional Burthen on the
Province, I think that part of the Forces raised as a Guard
for the Eastern Frontier may be employed in the Service I
now propose to you & yet that Frontier be as secure in the
mean time as if those Forces were kept within the Limits to
which by your Vote for raising them you have desired me to
retain them.
22 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
I therefore recommend this Affair to your immediate Con-
sideration & desire you would do what may be proper on
your part to enable me to employ in the proposed Service
one or two hundred of those Forces as shall be found most
convenient & that you would make all necessary provision
for executing _ Design to the greatest Advantage that may
be.
W Shirley
Province House April 14, 1756
Letter, Capt. George Berry to L* Grov. Phips
Falmouth 17 th Apiil 1756
May it please y r Honour
As my Orders from his Excellency Governour Shirley were
( in Case of Mischief done ) to send him the Acco* thereof
would now in his Absence take the Freedom to acquaint y r
Honour that las Fryday a Party of about Seven or Eight
Indians at a Village called New Marblehead way lay'd a
Field where the Inhabitants were at work and kill'd one Man
and wounded another, my Lieu 4 at that Time, being in the
Borders of s d Village with a Detachment of men immediately
ran to their Relief, and had the Opportunity of discharging
once or twice at the Enemy, but could recover Nothing more
than five of their Packs, which they quitted to facilitate
their Escape and immediately made the best of their way off
Last Warr I transported three Whale Boats into Sabago
Pond by means of which I went to the Head of their Trans-
port, burn't Sundry of their Canoes, which they perceiving
& discovering may Signs of our being there deterred them
from ever coming that way again, during last War, and beg
leave to mention to y r Honour that I might have two Whale
Boats allow'd me now, whereby I might proceed to their
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 23
highest Transport, & from thence over into Ammoscoggin
River, ( which is the usual Way of their making a Descent
upon us at this Time ) and thereby I doubt not prevent their
returning that Way again, and very probably by Ambush-
ments cut some of the Enemy of either in their Descent or
Retreat, but without Whale Boats cannot possible penetrate
so far into the Country
When I rec d my Orders & Comissions from Governor
Shirley I immediately enlisted my Company, which by my
Coinission consisted of Sixty Men, & proceeded upon Action,
but have never rec d the Bounty for each Soldiers inlisting or
any part thereof, humbly your honour would please to Order
it to be sent by Capt David Stickney, who will give any
Security required for his Safe Delivering it here
I am y r Honours most Obed* Hum 1 Serv*
George Berry
Letter, Sir W m Pepperrell to U Q-ov. Phips
Kittery April. 30 th 1756
Sir
I am Honour'd with your Letter of y e 23 d inst with a
Blank Commission, and acopy of a Letter from Cap* Berry,
it is impossiable for me thouroughly to consider this affaire
to do any thing that will serve the Eastern Frontiers without
I go there, w ch I designe to set out next monday.
I Should have don it before this time but have ben hurry d
raising men for the Crown Point expedition, having but two
days time given me to raise. 70. men and no Commissions
sent with the warrant, here has ben one Cap* Lane raising
men for said expedition but he has not made any return of
y e number he has rais'd in my Regiment, but I heare upw d8
of forty, and now Cap* Joseph Holt brings w th him self
24 DOCUMENT ARY HISTORY
makes TO : more. I think it hard to take so many from
hence as there is Scarce an Inhabitant But is exposed to the
Enemy both by Sea or Land or both
with much Esteem I am Your Honours Faithfull and Most
Obediant Humble Serv*
W m Pepperrell
The Hoii ble L* Gov r Phips
Letter, Capt. J. Freeman to Lt. G-ov Phips
Georges May 15 : 1756
Sir
This day I Rec d your Honorse Order for my detacheing
Six Men And one Sergeant out of my Company to guard the
inhabitants of Broad Bay ; as also the Votes of the general
Court Shall agreeable thereto with the leave of Divine
providence perform the Same Early on the week following
( this being Saturday ). The Indians have discovered by the
inhabitants of this place at Sundry times Since they did the
dammage at the Mills Near the Fort a Short time ago. viz
On the Tenth day of April last there wass One Seen from
the Fort at Som Small distance on y e Twelfth day there wass
one Seen about Two hundreed y dB from the Block House on
the Sixteenth day there wass one Seen a Small distance from
the Block House at Pleasant Point On the Seventh day of
this instant One wass Seen by Cap 1 Fletcher And Sundry of
his Company Early in the Morning Near the Fort about Two
Hours after there wass Two Seen About two Mile down the
River And on the Eleventh Instant there wass One Seen
about Three Miles down the River from the Fort. I Have
been out with My Company And Sundry tunes have had
part of Cap 4 Fletchers Company after them haveing Traveled
by Night Sundry times in order to way lay those Places that
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 25
we thought Probable they Mought Travell And we thereby
to be undiscovered by them ; but have not ass yet the good
luck to see them when our Company wass together; we
have Not at Any one time in our Traveling after them dis-
covered more then the Tracks of Three at once. Haveiug
Not ass yet Rec d our Stores to March but Expect to Receive
them on Munday Next Cap* Sanders this day Ariveing And
Bringing Supplies for the Fort Cap* Fletcher hath given Me
inCourageMent that he will Supply us for the Present Am
S r your Honors Most Obedient And Verry Humble Serv*
Joshua Freeman
To the Honorable Spencer Phips Esq r Lieu* Gov r &c
Letter, John Minot to G-ov. Shirley
Brunswick May 20 th 1756
\
May it Please your
Excel
I am Desired by the Selectmen & Others Prinsipall men
in this Town ) to begg the favour of your Excel, that 3 or 4
men or as many as your Excel, sees meet be placed at M r
Spears Garrison out of Some of those marching Companyes
his Garrison is halfe wayes betwene ffort George & Maquoit,
no house within aniile & a halfe of it, he an old man upwards
of 80 years & but One son with him who uppon the late
murders Committed by the Indians) if they cannot have
some men allow'd are going to leave it We ask this favour
for this Garrison only I know of none in the County so nec-
essary to be kept it being a Common passage for Travellers
and soldiers in their march from Kennibeck river to this
Bay-
I am Yo r Exel 8 most Obed* humfc Serv*
John Minot
26 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Cap* Matth* Remley to Lieut. Q-ov. Phips 25 May, 1756.
Hon ble Sir
I rec d the Order past both the Hon ble Houses for 15 Men
to be allowed, out of the Two Lowest Scouting Company's,
for the protection of the inhabitants of this place. Cap*
Freeman and so Cap* Good wine, have According to the
Order from Your Hon r each sent 16 Men and a Sergant,
w ch onely makes 14 Men, in Lew of 15, and as the said Ser-
gants are only to observe the Orders of their Cap ts and are
Strangers and Unacquainted with the Situation, or the Busi-
ness of this Place, therefore beg Leave to pray Your Hon rB
Order on that head as well on Ace" of fifteen Men who is
wanting yet.
I in Duty bound subscribe myself
Your Hon most Humb le & Ob d Serv* to Com d
Matt* 8 Remley Cap*
Broad Bay 25 th May 1756
Phillipstown, Petition
Province of the Massach" 8 Bay
To His Excel cy William Shirley Esq r Cap* Genr 1 and Gov-
ern 1 in chief of His Majesty's Province aforesaid The
Hon ble his Majesty's Council & Ho_ of Representatives
in Gener 1 Court assembled May 26 th 1756
The Inhabitants and settlers of a place called Phillips-town
within the County of York most humbly shew
That the Proprietors of a Tract of Land of Eight Miles
square situate at the Inland head of the Town of Wells in
said County and commonly called Phillipstown bounded viz
beginning at a Pine Tree standing upon the North Corner of
said Wells Township & on the South West Side of Kenne-
bunk River upon the North end of a Rockey Hill which Tree
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 27
is marked _ four sides, from thence South West by Wells
Bounds Eight Miles to a Pitch Pine Tree mark'd four Sides
standing on the West side of Merry land Meadows so called,
thence North West Eight Miles to a Hemlock Tree mark d
four Sides standing to the Northward of Bonnabeag Hills,
thence North East Eight Miles to a White Oak Tree mark d
four Sides & thence South East Eight Miles to the place
began at. In Order to bring forward the Settlement of the
same Did Grant to your Petitioners & others Forty Lots of
Land part of said Tract consisting of 130 Acres each upon
certain Conditions of settleing them most of which are already
fulfilled the others in a fair way so that there are now about
Thirty Families and upwards of 150 Souls Inhabiting there
most of whom thro' the good Hand of Providence & by
means of the help and assistance of this Province have been
enabled to defend & keep their Possessions and Improvements
during the last Indian War without the loss of so much as
one person, not only to the Interest and safe Guard of the
Sea port Towns of the s d County in special As being the
Barrier to them, but the Province in Gener 1 which has given
great Incouragement to others to settle there, & a Hopeful
prospect of a Flourishing settlement & Town in a Short
Time, if suitably Incouraged
That the Greatest Obsticle and Discouragement in their
Way of settling a Town is their being under no proper Reg-
ulation of an Incorporated Town or Precinct and so have not
the Power and Priviledge ( as such ) of raising Money in an
equitable manner for the Support and maintenance of the
Gospel there, so necessary for the Prevention of Irreligion &
profaneness, as well as for the Edification of such as are
Religiouss and well Dispos'd, nor Adjusting the repairs of
High Ways or managing any other their Prudential Affairs
or having proper Officers for keeping up good Order and
Discipline ; Inconveniences which this Hon ble Court can't but
28
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
see are Ruinous and Destructive to a good settlement, Tend-
ing to the Youth's leading Loose and Deprav'd Lives and
liable to all Disorder and confusion
Wherefore Your Petitioners most humbly pray this Court
to take the Premisses under consideration, And of their
Wanted Goodness & Parental Care of such Infant settle-
ments Incorporate them into a Town or Precinct by the
meets and Bounds aforesaid, or such others as may be Judg'd
fit. And Grant them such Powers and Priviledges as have
been usual for such, Or provide such other Way and Method
for Redress of the Inconveniences aforesaid, And the Incour-
agement of the settlement as this Court in their Wisdom
shall Judge most fit & reasonable And Your Petitioners As
in Duty bound shall ever pray &c
Daniel W
Joshua W
Robert Miller
Nicolas Cane
John Miles
Naphtali Harmon
Jonathan Adams
John Garey
Jos Stanley
John Thompson
John thompson Jun 1
Eph
JohnC
Benj a Harmon
John Harmon
Joshua Cane
Sam 11 Wilson
Jonathun Johnsan
Sam 11 Cane
John Stanyan
John Chadbourn
Joshua Chadbourn
Thomas Wasgatt
Benjamin Harmon Jun Jesse Thompson
Edward Harmon Edward Whitehouse
John Staple
Eben Staple
Benj : W
Jonn : Johnson
Samson Johnson
James Garey
Jonathan Swett
In the House of Rep 8 June 4, 1756
Read and Ordered, That y e Prayer of the Pet n be so far
granted as That y e Pet notify the non resident Proprietors
with this Pet" by leaving an Attested Copy thereof with the
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 29
Clerk of the Proprietors of s d Land, y* they shew Cause ( if
any they have ) on the second Wednesday of the next sitting
of this Court, why the Prayer thereof should not be granted
Sent up for Concurrence. T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council June 5 1756
Read and Concurred J Willard Secry
In Council August 26 1756. Read and Ordered that the
Consideration of this Pet n be referred to the second Wednes-
day of the next sitting of this Court
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
In the House of Rep 9 Aug* 28 1756
Read and Concurred T. Hubbard Spk r
Brunswick. Petition
Province of the Mass a Bay
To the Hon ble Spencer Phips Esq r L u Governour & Com-
mander in Cheif. The Hon ble His Majestys Councill
and House of Representatives in General Court Assem-
bled May 26. 1756
The Petition of the Select Men of the Town of Brunswick
Humbly Sheweth.
That the said Town for many years past has been exposed
to the Incursions of the Indian Enemy and many of said
Indians killed and captivated ; and that very lately they Sur-
prized three of the Inhabitants in their return from the place
of Publick Worship one of whom was taken and carried away
the other very narrowly escaped : At the same time near the
Borders of said Town Another Family was surprized, One
Man Killed & his child at the Breast of its Mother who was
dangerously wounded this necessarily Alarmed the Inhabi-
tants, obliged them to Neglect their Husbandry and to retire
into Garrisons where they are at present confined by reason
30 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
of the Enemy. Therefore your Petitioners humbly represent
their distressed Circumstances at this day and earnestly pray
the Compassionate Regard of this Hon ble Court so far as to
Allow a few Men to be posted at a Garrison situate in the
Centre of said Town near to the Meeting house, on the Main
Road from Maquoit to Fort George so necessary and conven-
ient for Travellers & others, which has hitherto been Main-
tained at the Expence of the Owner M r Robert Spear, but he
is now greatly Advanced in Years, Lame and without any
help except one Son and he must necessarily quitt the Place
unless some Releif be afforded
Your Petitioners humbly hope that your Honours would
be pleased to take this into your Consideration and afford
them this necessary Releif at this so Critical Juncture And
Your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray &c
Tho 8 Skolfield 1 Selectmen
Sam 11 Standwood \~ of
Isaac Snow \ Brunswick
In the House of Representatives May 28. 1756
Read and Voted That his Hon r the Lieu* Governor be
desired to give Orders that fourteen Men belonging to the
Scouting Company under the Command of Cap* Samuel
Gooding Continually Scout on the back of the Inhabit* 8 from
Fort George to Macquoit, untill the further Order of this
Court
Sent up for Concurrence T Hubbard Spk r
In Council May 29. 1756 Read and Concur'd
Tho 9 Clarke Dp** Secry
Consented to S Phips
In the House of Represent 8 June 4. 1756.
Whereas it appears to this House That it would be of
great Service to have a suitable Number of Boats in
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 31
Sabago Pond for transporting Men thr6 the Same to
Amascoggin River in Order to Cut off the Indian Enemy
in their descent upon or retreat from the Inhabitants on
the Eastern Frontiers ;
Voted That the Commissary General be directed to pro-
vide as soon as may be two Good Cedar Whaleboats for the
Use of the Scouting Companies on the said Frontiers as
Occasion shall offer the said Boats to be delivered to the
Order of the Commander in Chief.
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard, Spk r
In Council June 5. 1756 Read and Concur'd
Tho 8 Clarke Dp^ Secry
Consented to S Phips
New Gloucester, Petition.
To the Honourable Spencer Phips Esq r Lev* Governer &
Comander in Chief in and over his Majesties province of
y e Massachu* 8 Bay in New England
The Honourable his Majesties Counsel & House of Repre-
sentatives in Generall Court assembled on the Last
Wednesday in May 1756 -
The Memorial of philamon Warner & Nath Allen of
Gloucester in the County of Essex, in behalf of themselves
and severall other persons Humbly Sheweth
That some Years past the Grate & Generall Court made a
Grant of a Township ( called it New Gloucester ) to A Num-
ber of the Inhabitants of Gloucester, Soon after s d Grant we
built near Twenty Houses, and A Saw Mill, but the last
Indian War they were destroyed, in the years 1755 & 6 with
grate Difficulty We Built a Block house verry Comodiously
situated, and picketed round One hundred & ten feet square,
with Watch Boxes in s d Blockhouse & on y e pickets There
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
is Now about Twenty Men att s d New Gloucester A Number
of w ch have Famely 8 & some small stock of Cattle, and much
Expos'd to A Cruel Enemy, & as we have been att grate
expence in so far setling s d place Your Memo 8t8 humbly pray
that a number of the Inhabitants of s d New Gloucester, may
have pay from the province, or relieve us in any other way
as your Honours Grate Wisdome shall see resonable & as in
duty Bound Your Memo 8 * 8 shall ever pray
Phile m Warner )
Nathaniel Allen )
In the house of Representatives June 5, 1756 Read and
Voted, That such of the Inhabitants of a place Called New
Glocester in the County of York as are effective for y e ser-
vice (one of whom to be a serjeant) be put into the pay &
subsistance of the Governm* viz* Ten only at the same time,
The s d Ten to be employed in scouting for the protection of
said Inhabitants, till the last day of October next, And
That his Honour the Lieu* Gov r & Commander in Chief
be desired to give Directions Accordingly.
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council June 7, 1756 Read & Concur'd
Tho 8 Clarke Dp*? Secry.
Consented to S Phips
Letter, Sam 1 Howard to Grov. Shirley 12 June 1756
May it Pleas Your Excellency
As I am in Duty Bound I here Send you the Mallincolly
Account of two Men's being Mortally Wounded by y e
Indians whose Names are Robert & Sam 11 Barrett, as they
were ketching a few fish at y e falls, four Indians fired upon
them & one of our Men Returned y e fire though wounded,
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 33
and says he wound one Indian our Men Isued out so Quick
that they had no Time to Scalp them, there is no hopes
of one's Recoverry y e Other may Possibly Recover but its
Verry Doutfull, I shall at Presant Trouble Your Excellency
Nofurther But Beg Leave to Subscribe my Self Your Most
Dutifull Humble Sarv*
Samuel Howard
Fort Hallifax 12 June 1756.
Letter, U Grov. Phips to Capt. Sam 1 Goodwin
Cap* Samuel Goodwin
Boston July 23, 1756
It having been represent* to me that there is a Consider-
able Inconvenience attending the Company under your
Scouting to the Westward of Kennebeck River and Cap*
Nicholss C to the Eastward as are obliged to March a Num-
ber of Miles before they come to the Bounds in which they
are to Scout I therefore direct you for the Future to Scout
between Fort Shirley and Amariscoggin River
I am Your Friend & Serv*
S P
Letter, L* Grov. Phips to Capt. A. Nickels J r
Cap* Alex r Nickels jun r
Boston July 23, 1756
Upon Application made to me by a Number of Soldiers in
the Scouting Comp a under your Command in the Eastern
Frontier I have issued my Orders to Cap* Samuel Goodwin
to Scout with his Company between Fort Shirley and Amar-
34 DOCUMENT ABY HISTORY
iscoggen River and do direct you for the future to Scout
between Fort Shirley and Damariscotta River
I am Your Friend and Serv*
S P.
Letter, Enoch Freeman to U G-ov. Phips
Falmouth July 26 th 1T56
Sir
I have made it my Business to look into the Situation of
the Scouting Companies in my District and instead of Scout-
ing in their old Tracts, have orderd them i e y e Captains to
divide their Companies into small Parties and ambush y e
most likely Places round y e Most expos'd Fields when the
Inhabitants are at work ; that their Ambushm* 8 go out in the
Night, and place themselves to y e best Advantage, without
being Discover'd by the Enemy & there lay till Noon next
Day, that if there shou'd be any Indians lurking about
Endeavouring to get a Shot at our People in such Fields
they must unavoidably fall into the hands of our Ambushes,
and I am persuaded if that shou'd be the Case, once or twice,
it would stricke such a panick into the Indians in general,
that we should hardly ever hear of 'em again in that Manner
on our Frontiers; and I hope the Method will meet with
your Honour's Approbation.
I dont learn there has been any late Discovery of the
Enemy this Way, & am persuaded, the numbers of men, we
sent into the Woods, on their first Arival, and having the
Brush with 'em at New Marblehead &c. Occasion'd them to
draw off.
And agreable to y e vote of y e General Court I have taken
the best Advice I can, as to placing the Stores and it being
agreed on all Hands, that it wou'd be most convenient for y e
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 35
Stores for Cap* Berrys Company to be plac'd at Gorham-
town, I recommended it to M r Wheelwright the Commissary
General, Accordingly ; but he declines doing it, and writes
to his Sub-Commissary here to consult Capt a Berry, to know
if it would be best &c. and I shou'd be glad to know
whether the Court will Insist on their Vote being Comply'd
with or not, I appeal to every one, that it is the most Con-
venient Place ; and unless the Commissary is oblig'd to
Obey y e Orders of the Court, it seems in vain for them to
come into any Resolves about the Stores, or for Your Hon-
our to appoint Officers to put the Orders of Court into
Execution ; and this I thought Necessary Your Honour
shou'd be acquainted with, lest Mischief being done while
the Soldiers were gone to fetch their Allowance, the Blame
shou'd lay upon me that the Stores were not sent to the most
convenient Place &c.
The ten Garrison Soldiers at Hobs & Pearson Town, for
want of Money, are destitute of Ammunition, & being desir'd
to acquaint Your Honour with it, beg Leave to recommend
it as convenient if not necessary, that the Commissary be
directed to Supply them with a Suitable Quantity, either on
the Province Charge, or to be deducted out of their Wages.
1 am Your Honour's Most Dutifull & Obed* hum 1 Serv*
Enoch Freeman
The Hon 1 Spencer Phips Esq Lieut* Gov r &c ra
Letter Enoch Freeman to L l G-ov. Phips
Falmouth Aug* 6 th 1756
Sir
I have a pretty good Acco from Hunters & Captives that
Amascoggin River is passable with Whaleboats for above a
hundred Miles about NorthWest towards Canady and that
36 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the upper Part of s d River, & between said River and the
Western Branch of Kennebeck River whereon stands New
Noridgewalk is the constant Hunting Ground of the Indians,
and the way y e french Indians take to come down on our
Frontiers, and as some of the Soldiers in the Scouting Com-
panies, are desirous of proceeding up said Amascoggin with
Whale Boats to carry Provisions, as far as they can, & then
to take their Packs & range that Part of the Country
whereby they Apprehend they will stand a good Chance of
not only destroying some of the Enemy, but of Surprizing
them in such a Manner, as will prevent their Scouts coming
down upon us again this Fall, & also of making a good Dis-
covery of the Rivers Ponds &c so far back, which may be of
Service to facilitate some greater Design against the Enemy,
y e Government may hereafter form against them, and it is
my Opinion four whaleboats will be necessary, which will
carry 13 men Each & their Stores; two whaleboats y e Gov-
erm* have already, in May Sessions, granted, tho' not yet
come down ; and I wou'd beg Leave to desire ( if your Hon-
our approves of the Design ) to recommend to y e Court, their
furnishing two more, either by their being purchas'd here or
sent down from Boston, where I beleive they may be had
cheapest, in Case it may be done in Season, that is in three
Weeks from this Date, or thereabouts, for by that Time it
seems they ought to set out; Cap* Berry & Cap* Smith offer
to go on this Rout, One or both, as your Honour shall think
best, and I am persuaded their going will have a good Effect.
I submit y e whole Affair &c & am,
Your Honour's most Dutifull & Obedient Serv*
Enoch Freeman
To Hon ble Spencer Phips Esq. Lieut* Govern 1 & Commander
in Chiefe &c
OF THE STATE OF MAi:N 7 E 37
Message.
Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives.
This accompanies a Letter I rec d from his Excellency Gov-
ernor Lawrence concerning the Return of the French Inhabi-
tants of Nova Scotia lately sent from thence and dispersed
among the English Colonies representing the Pernicious
Consequences of it. W ch are so clearly set forth in his
Letter that I need add Nothing on that Subject; Except
that, as I shall soon return to Great Britain nothing shall be
wanting on my part to represent what you shall do for pre-
vent 8 this Evil, to his Majestys Ministers in such a light as
may I hope, induce his Majesty to have a favourable Consid-
eration of it.
W Shirley
Council Chamber August 16, 1756
Letter, Grov. Shirley to Maj. E. Freeman
Boston August 26, 1756
Sir,
Agreeable to your Motion for a Scout going up Ameris-
coggin River in Whale Boats, the Gen 11 Court have ordered
that Whale boats should be provided for that Service ;
And I do hereby desire & direct you as soon as you shall
have the Boats to take effectual Care, that the s d Scout ( to
consist of the most suitable Persons ) be sent up the River
of Ameriscoggin to pursue the Affair according to your own
Scheme
I am Sir, Your assured Friend and Servant
W Shirley
To Maj r Enoch Freeman
38 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Message.
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Represent 8
I herewith send you the Petition of Captain William Lith-
gow Commander of Fort Hallifax, to this Court, which
appears to me so seasonable, that I must earnestly recommend
it to you to make him an allowance suitable to the extraordi-
nary Services he hath set forth in it, for I think it by no
means safe for so good an Officer and one in so important a
Post to want proper Encouragement ; And therefore desire
you Gentlemen of the House of Repres ve8 to make Provision
accordingly.
W Shirley
Province House August 26, 1756
Message. Aug. 27, 1756.
Gentlemen of the House of Represent 8
I must put you mind, that in April last the General Court
"Voted the Discharge of those Soldiers, who had serv'd
" upwards of one Year at Fort Halifax under the Command
"of Cpt n W m Lithgow, and that he was directed by the
" Lieuten* Gov r to give him an Account of such Soldiers as
"were intitled to their Discharge by Virtue of said Vote,
" which he informs me he did ; But that the Court hath done
" nothing yet for their Dismission ; " and he apprehends -
Soldiers will be very uneasy, and fears many of them will
depart, & possibly go off forcibly, as some have already
threatned ( if they should not be discharg'd ) which would
indanger the Loss of the Fort :
I must therefore desire you, Gentlemen of the House of
Represent 8 that you would forthwith take this Matter
under your Consideration, and make such Provision on your
Part as the Honour of the Government, the Safety of that
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 39
Fortress, & Compassion and Justice to the poor men detained
against their Will, and not agreably to the publick Faith,
requires ; and if there be not a sufficient Bounty granted for
such as may inlist, I must have Resort to the only Method
in Reserve, which is to issue my Warrants for impressing a
Number of Men for the Discharge of such as are intitled to
it.
W Shirley
Province House Aug* 27, 1756.
Message. Sept r 7, 1756."
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,
The Secretary will lay before you a Letter which I received
by the last Post, from Sir W m Pepperrell ; Wherein you will
find ( among other Representations of the exposed Condition
of the Eastern Frontiers ) he informs me that he apprehends,
from the Indians Lurking about that Frontier, that Fort
Halifax and Fort Western are in great danger of falling into
the Enemies Hands.
Gentlemen, I desire you would consider the unavoidable
Consequence of such an Event if it should happen, and that
you would do your Part to prevent it, by providing for my
strengthning the Garrisons there without delay.
I must desire, Gentlemen, that you would keep your House
together till the publick Business of the Province be dis-
patched.
W Shirley
Vote.
In the House of Representatives, Sept r 9, 1756 Voted,
That his Excellency the Govern 1 " be desired to give orders, to
40 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
some suitable number of men, not exceeding fifteen in the
whole, to be one Company or more as shall be Judged best
to discover by actual observation on the spot the distance &
quality of the way from the head of Kenebeck River, the
nearest practicable way to the head of Chaudier & by or near
Chaudier, down to the River S* Lawrence & make report to
this Court with an exact Journal on oath of their proceedings
containing an acco* of each days doings, with every observ-
able occurrent tending to give a good knowledge of that way
to Canada, to be laid before this Court by the 25 th day of
November next, to be paid Each Man at the Rate of Six
Dollars per week, they providing wholly for themselves,
[and] they going down on or near Chaudier to the mouth of
that River, unless prevented by some unavoidable obstruc-
tion, one weeks pay to be advanced by the Province Treas-
urer to them, at their setting out. And As a further Encour-
agement, they shall be entituled to the full preemium for
Prisoners & scalps
Sent up for concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council Sep r 11, 1756 Read & Concur'd
Tho" Clarke Dp*? Secry
Consented to W Shirley.
To the Hon S r W m Peperel B* & Sam 1 Waldo Jun r Esq r
The Great & General Court having made Provision for
Transport Vessels to carry the Men rais'd in y e County of
York to Albany by Water, I do hereby Authorize & Appoint
You to take up & agree for Vessels for the said purpose
allowing one Ton & a quarter for each Person.
As y e Service is attended with little difficulty & little
Risque I do expect that y e Price of y e Hire of y e Vessels be
accordingly.
If the Vessels when loaded draw more than six feet _ Water
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 41
there will be great Risque of their getting up to Albany;
You will therefore conduct yourselves accordingly.
I do further recommend it to You to hire them for y*
Voyage rather than by y e Month as that may prevent delays,
but if you think it will be cheaper and will not be occasion
of such delays to hire the Vessels by y e week or month You
may use your discretion.
Merryconege Neck, Petition
To His Excellency, William Shirley Esq. Cap* Gen 1 Gov-
ernour, & Commander In Cheif : The Hon ble his Majesties
Council : and House of representatives
The Petition of the Inhabitants Settled on Merryconeege
Neck Humbly Sheweth y* their are Settled on s d Neck to the
Number of Sixty Families, & Upw d8 : who are Embodied In
A Church State ; and have regularly Ordained A Minister of
y e Gospel, to our General Satisfaction : under, this hopefull
prospect the Inhabitants on s d Neck, w ld be Greatly Increased :
If this Hon ble Court would Please to Encouridge s d Infant
Settlement, for w ch Purpose, we Humbly ask Leave to repre-
sent to you, our Present Difficulties ; y* we may be remedied ;
as, You In Y r great Wisdom Shall Seem Meet The Extent of
said Neck of Land : Being about Ten Miles : and in many
Places not above a Mile wide ; the Uper Part Adjoyns the
Township of Brunswick : and is not Included In the Bounds
of Any Town : But y e Lower half of s d Neck ; by the Large
Extent of North Yarmouth. South East Line not Included
within the bounds of N Yarmouth at which place they
have for many years Past, been Subject to many Incon-
veniencies, with respect to as to any Town priviledges :
we are not Capable of receiving the Least Benefitt & advan-
tage, on Many Accounts and by Reason, of the great distance,
Either by Land or Water, of w ch Hardships, and Great Diffi-
42 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
culties y e Ihabitants on s d Neck, have for many Years Com-
plained, and, this Hon d Court; In their Great goodness
Some few Yrs since ; was Pleased to ease them in Part, on
Account of the Ministry, and sett us off as A Precinct : But
y e other Hardship remains A Grevious Burden on us to this
Day: Wherefore y r Petitioners, Being Now Arrived to a
Competent Number, and daily Increasing ; B* find themselves
Incumbered w th the Burden of Paying Taxes to y e town of
N Yar th more than our Proportion most Humbly Address
this Hon d Court, for y e remedy thereof : and for the Encour-
agement of the Gospel settled Among us ; y* y e whole of s d
Neck of Land ; togeather with y e Islands Belonging to y e
Precinct May be Incorporated into A seperate Township, or
District and vested with the powers, & Privilidges Enjoyed
by other Towns, all w cb is Humbly Submitted, to y e wisdom
& Justice of this Hon d Court, and we Y r Humble Petitioners,
as, in Duty Bound ; shall Ever pray
David Curtis
Lem 11 Turner
Jonathan Flint
William Alexander
Alex' Willson
Henry McCausling.
Committee
chosen by y*
Precinct
to Act
In this
Affair
The Inhabitants on Afors d Neck Being Desirous of the
good Welfare, and Increase of the Place, Most humbly Beg
of this Hon d Court to grant us a Penny Tax upon the Dor-
mant Land Belonging To the Precinct; In ord r for the
Defraying of Charges among us : Gen*, The parish is B* A
New Settlem*, and their are many Opinionists* Settled among
us w ch is a Great Damage to y e Parish ; and we have Been
at very Great Charges of late respecting Some Publick
Affairs and those Oppipnist will not in y e Least Strive for y e
Promotion of s d Parish ; or in y e least to Pay Prec* Charges.
This and w* ever Else we have offered is wholly submitted
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
43
to y e Wisdom, & Justice of this Hon d Court ; we y r Humble
Petitioners as In Duty Bound Shall ever Pray.
David Curtis ^ Comm"
Lem 11 Turner
*Quakers Jonathan Flint to Act
William Alexander
Alex r Willson In this
Henry McCauslingJ Affair
P. S. The Inhabitants of s d Neck Desired to be Incorporated
into a Sepperate Township by y e first prec* In y e Town of
N yarmouth and Sett them of_ free & clear from Any
Charges Paying to them w ch they refused to grant us (w ch
You May please to see In y e Coppy of N yarmouth Vote )
w ch we think is A great Abuse to this sec d Parish : Gen* we
y e Inhabitants of y e Sec d prec* are Oblidged to Help Main-
tain y e County Road B l here is y e Case. Y e County road
of N yar th & Town Road is one & y e same and we think
is Injustice for to help Maintain, Considering we have no
Benefit in y e Least Either of y e County or Town road For
our whole Passing is by Water.
In the House of Rep ve8 Oct r 13. 1756
Read and Ordered that the Pet 18 serve the Town Clerk of
North Yarmouth with a Copy of this Pet n that so the said
Town may shew cause ( if any they have on the second thirs-
day of the next sitting of this Court why the Prayer thereof
should not be granted
Sent up for concurrence T Hubbard Spk r
In Council April 23. 1757. Read and Ordered
That the consideration of this Petition be referred to the
second Wednesday of the next May Session.
Sent down for concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep" April 23. 1757.
Read and Concurred
T Hubbard Spk r
44 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
In Council June 14 th 1757 Read together with the Answer
of the Town of North Yarmouth and Ordered that Richard
Cutts Esq r with such as the Hon ble House shall join be a
Committee to hear the Parties, consider of the Affair and
report what they judge proper for this Court to do thereon :
And that the Parties appear for that Purpose on the second
Friday of the next Sitting. Sent down for Concurrence
Tho 8 Clarke Dp^ Secry
In the House of Rep" June 14. 1757
Read and Concurred, and M r Sparhawk and M r Bradbury
are joined in the Affair
T Hubbard Spk r
Dec r 2: 1757. Voted y 1 M r Flucker be of y e abovesaid
Com tee in y e room of M r Sparhawk who is absent.
Letter, JJ 1 Q-ov. Phips to Maj. Freeman
Boston Oct r 26, 1756
Sir,
I herewith send you a Copy of a Vote of the Gen 1 Court
for a March of 150 Men to the Indians Hunting Grounds
between the Eastern Frontiers & Canada, with a Set of Com-
missions for three Companies for this Services, which I leave
to you to fill up with the names of such as shall be willing
to undertake this Service & most suitable for it, giving Pref-
erence to such Officers now in the Service or your Frontier,
as are best qualified.
You must use all Care & Diligence that this Service may
be promoted & forwarded that the several Companies be fur-
nished with all necessaries for rendering the same more easy
& succesful & Let as many good Men be inlisted out of the
Soldiers to be dismiss'd as may be obtained : You must give
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 45
the Commanders such particular Orders as you shall find
requisite consistent with my Instructions to them
I am Sir Your Assured Friend & Serv*
S P.
Maj r Freeman
Letter, L* G-ov Phips to Gap* Freeman and others.
Boston October 26. 1756
Sir,
I hereby direct you to dismiss [ one of ] the Scouting Com-
pany under your command upon the first Day of Novem r
next, or as soon after as this Order shall come to your Hand,
first allowing them to inlist into the Marching Service under
such Officers as I shall appoint & upon such advantageous
terms as shall be proposed; And the other Half of your
Company you must retain in the Service & employ them in
the same duty as heretofore until the 20 th Day of Novem. w n
they are to be dismissed unless you shall receive my Orders
or some extraordinary Danger necessarily require their Con-
tinuance in the Service for the Defence of the Inhabitants.
I am Your Assured Friend & Servant
S P
that part of the above Letter with a Line drawn under it
except what is Contained in the Crotchet was sent to Cap 18
Gerrish Berry Smith and Goodwin
Cpt. Freeman & Cpt. Nichols
Letter, Enoch Freeman to L* Grov. Phips
Falmouth Nov r 1 st 1756
Sir
Cap* Berry is return'd from his Rout up Amascoggin
River, he took the Courses & Distances of y e River for about
46 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Eighty five Miles up, & there the River is also as below,
large and about twenty Rods Wide, which makes him beleive
he did not go near the Head of it, but the Water being very
low in the Rivers this Season of the Year, there was so many
Riflens, that retarded his course, and he was oblig'd to
return ; he went about fifteen or twenty Miles above a Place
call'd Rockomeekook, an old large Indian Settlement some
hundreds of Acres of clear' d Land, & great Quantities of
rich Intervale, from thence all the way down to Brunswick,
is a fine Country for Land, many beautifull levell Islands of
good Land in the River, but I cant describe it so well as by
a Plan of the River &c which I am about getting Done &
shall send it to Your Honour
Several Captains of y e Scouting Companies, have asked
me when they must dismiss their men I told 'em the first of
November they Expected, they said, to have orders for doing
it, I told them it was voted, and I look'd for the Orders
every Moment; And as y e Season of the Year Advances,
Your Honour will hasten down as soon as possible Orders
respecting y e Inlisting y e 150 men to Scout this Fall; I
wou'd propose their being divided into five Companies of
thirty men Each ; and I purpose to send one up y e Western
Branch of Kenebeck, One over to Chaudier River, One to
the Head of Amascoggin, One to the Head of Saco, and One
from Berwick to find y e Head of Connecticut River, if Your
Honour likes the Scheme ; so that it will be necessary, there
should be five sets of Blank Commissions sent down, with
listing Orders, & the Sooner y e better and also that y e Com-
missary General send me y e Snow shoes for the men, if he
has 'em by him, if not that he or some other Person, get 'em
made Immediately, I cou'd get a good many here, I shou'd
Esteem also y* a Copy of y e vote of Court and Your Honours
Directions which I shall take a Pleasure in Executing in y e
best Manner possible and doubt not some Discovery will be
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 47
made &c that will compensate y* Charge, and I am very sure
it wou'd be worth while for y e Goverment to be at y e Charge
of a good Surveyor to go with Each Partie, & hope Your
Honour will give Orders accordingly
I am Your Honour's Obed 4 humb 1 Serv 1
Enoch Freeman
Hon ble Spencer Phips Esq r Lieut* Gov r &c
Letter, John G-reenleaf to L* Q-ov. Phips
Newbury Nov r 2 d 1756
May itt Please y r Hon r
I Receved Orders Sometime past to inlist Men for to
Reinforce Generall Winslow or to March for the Assistance
of y e Frontiers if Either should be attacked.
I find the People in Generall backward to inlist As itt is
late in the fall & wee have News from time to time of Our
forcess returning home Many of the Hampshire forcess as
well some of Our Own I am informed Are Already returned
& more upon their March Home I have Notwithstanding
Ordered Severall of my Captains to be in readiness in Case
of an Attack on Any of Our frontiers &c & trust there will
A Considerable Number be ready to March immediately if
Occasion should Call Although att this Day Our Meen Are
Exceedingly drained of.
I am with the Greatest Respect
y r Hon ra Most Obed* Humb 1 Serv*
John Greenleaf
Letter, Jabez Bradbury to Josiah Willard Secy Nov r 23 d 1756
Honner d Sir
It was Surprising- to me that Jest at the Governors going
of, or perhaps after he was gon, ( by filling up a blank ) there
48 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
should a Commission be Sent here to one M r Burton to be
my Lieu* when the Governor had so freely told Mr. Fletcher
he Should Sertainly return to his post, as L* when his
marching Company were dismist, and he realy did so ; other-
wise he wou d not have taken a Commission for marching in
the woods, he is a Sober Sencable man, one that may be
Confided in, ( has bin the L* here almost Seven year,) I wish
I Could Say as much of M r Burton but.
I should take it as a very great favor if your honnor would
prevail with the L* Governor to give Mr. Fletcher a Commis-
sion for this Garrison as formerly, and if Mr. Burton must
be again helpt by the Govr* that it may be at som other
place & not here, for I shall not think, my own affairs here,
safe if at any time I should Leave the Fort, as I shall be
oblig d to do, if I Live till the Spring, my business then Call-
ing me to Boston. I now intreet your Honnors Excuse for
troubleing you with this, and subscribe my self your Honnors
Most Obedient Humble Serv*
Jabez Bradbury
S* Georges Nov r 23 d 1756
P. S for Every Day m r Burton has Serv d the Government,
I am Suer Mr. Fletcher has Serv d them Ten.
Am as above J. B
[ Superscribed ]
To the Honnorable Josiah Willard Esq r
att Boston by Cap* Sanders
Letter, John Rons to If Q-ov. Phips 17 Dec. 1756.
Sir
Upon my Arrival here from Casco Bay I found Commo-
dore Holmes had saild for England with several other Ships,
I
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 49
leaving behind him only the Nottingham of 60 Guns, & the
Baltimore & Vulture Sloops, which with the Success is all
the strength here at present & which I intend shall be got
ready for the Sea as early in the Spring as the season will
admit
I have just receiv'd intelligence of one or two small French
privateers cruising to the Westward of this Harbour to inter-
cept our provision Vessells & as his Majestys Ships are not
in a Capacity to cruise in the Winter season, I have taken a
Large Schooner belonging to the Town, Mann'd and Arm'd
her with twelve Carriage Guns & 100 Men, which I intend
to keep cruising to protect the Trade till some of the Ships
can be got ready ; I shall be oblig'd to you for what ever
Intelligence relating to the Enemy you may have & will
always be ready to Join with you in doing every thing that
may be thought for the good of his Majestys Service
I am Sir Your most Obedient & most Hum 1 Serv*
John Rous
Success in Halifax Harbour.
17 th December 1756
The Hon ble Spencer Phips Esq r
50
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
We the Subscribers do hereby Certify that We Severaly
Served his Majesty in the Years Expeditions and under the
Command of those Set against our respective Names Viz*
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OF THE STATE OF MAINE 51
Letter, Sir W m Pepperrell to L* G-OV. Phips
Sir
As I came here this day am inform d that the hundred &
fifty men were gone out from this County agreable to your
Honours Orders to See what Discovery they could make on
the Indians hunting ground & that there design was when
they got there to Divide into Several Scouts and on their
return some was to goo so far westward as the back of the
Town above Berwick : if this is matter of Fact w ch I shall
as Soon as Possiable make inquirey into it will answer the
End that y e hundred Men would do that you gave me orders
to raise ; & Save y e Province that charge ; and if Your Hon r
would be pleased upon their return to send your orders that
one hundred of them be Divided into foure Quoties to Scout
above the heads of Each Town in this County untill the
tenth day of April next it might answer the design of the
last Vote of the General Court for the hundred men, this I
tho* it my Duty to let you Know and shall wait for further
Orders w ch shall be Strictly observed.
I am now sending out yo r orders to inlist Sixty Eight men
belonging to this Regiment and I hope the Second Regiment
in this County will soon inlist the same number of good men
w ch will be much better then an impress, for the name of an
impress here will drive the Young able body d men great part
of them out of this County to Sea or into the Province of
New Hampshire as it did the last year and you are Senceable
that this County lays much Exposed to the Enemy both by
Land & Sea.
I shall give out your promise that the officers where no
Objection can be made that are recommend* 1 to your Hon r
from hence you will Commission them as there is one hun-
dred & thirty six men to be rais'd in this County I hope you
52 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
will reserve to command them one Cap* three Lieu* 8 & one
Ensign
I am with much Esteem Sir
Your Hon rs Faithfull and Most obed* Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
Kittery March 3 d 1757
Letter, Sir W m Pepperrell to L* G-ov. Phips
Sir
Your Honours favour of the 9 th ins* I received, as to the
hundred & fifty men heretofore order d out upon the Eastern
Frontiers, if they return before the 10 th of April next Your
orders shall be Strictly Observed.
and as to send your Honour a particular acco* of the Ship-
ping in y e harbours in this County by this Express that are
fit for Transports at this time is not in my power, but by
what inquirey I could within time make there is in Berwick
a Brig* of one hundred & thirty Tuns one Deck & half & a
Single deck Sloop of about one hundred Tuns.
in the Town of Kittery two Single Deck Vesels of about
Sixty Tuns another of about Eightty a new Schoner fited for
y e Sea of one Deck & half of about ninety Tuns.
in York Seven Single Deck Sloops from about Eighty to
ninety Tuns Each a Schoner of about one hundred & thirty
and in Wells two Single Deck d Vesels of about Ninety Tuns
Each in Arrundel two more of the Same Burthen, in Bedi-
ford the Same number, in Scarborough the same number, in
Falmouth I am not certain but I beleive as many as in all
the rest of the County
I am Sir Your Honours Most Obed* Humble Serv*
W m Pepperrell
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 53
Letter, Capt. W m Lifhgow to Lt. G-ov Phips March 15, 1767
May it Please your Honour
the Spring being near att Hand In which season it hase
ben usual, and is the most Convenient Time for Supplying
Fort Hallifax with Twelve months Provisions, and as I
apprehend this Time of y e yeare generely to be attended
with as Grate Dainger from either the French or Indian
Enemy if not grater then any other Season of y e year, as
then the Ponds & Rivers will be all Cleer of Ice, and Consi-
quently an easy Transportation for them in Birch Cannooes
and also Good Hunting for Beaver or Inglish Inhabitence,
all which I apprehend to be Inducement to Draw the Ene-
mie towards our Frountiers, which I apprehend your Hon r
Is not unsensible off
therefor I would Humbely Intreet Your Hon r Supply us
with such a guard and In such manner as your Honour may
In wisdom Judge Sufficient for the above Sarvice all which
I most Humbely Submitt to your Honours Wise Considdera-
tion
what ever guard your Hon r Is pleased to order I would pray
thay may be at Cusnock or y e Store house the middle of
april at furthest as that Is y e most Suitable Time for y e
above Sarvice. haveing nothing farther to advis your Hon r
of at present then that y e Gerrison by y e Divine Goodness is
Generaly In good Health &c a
I hurnbely beg Leave to Subscribe my Selfe
Your Honours most obedient & most Humble Sarvent,
William Lithgow
Fort Hallifax march y e 15 th 1757
/
Letter, Ezfcl Gushing to the Council
Falmouth April 12 th , 1757
May it please your Honours
The enclos d accounts your Honours will see the one for
54 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Stores for the Soldiers while here which I were oblig d to gett
for their Subsistance untill the Province sent for them, tho I
had no orders from the Province so to do yet the Circum-
stances of the Soldiers here rais d requiring it I hope it will
be Look d upon in such a Light as to vindicate me in so
doing The other account Viz* Cap* Joshua Bangs's
I look upon it as a reasonable one Considering the Severity
of the weather the most of the Time after the Soldiers were
rais d untill their embarkation for Boston Such a Number
of Soldiers in so severe a Season must certainly Consume a
Considerable Quantity of wood The family Utensils for
Cooking among so many persons must be worth something
the whole of His Trouble house room & all. as he has Desir d
me to mention it to your Honours will have that weight as
that your Honours will Look upon his account just & reason-
able & grant the same I should have sent the account
from the Commissary by the Vessel that Carried the Soldiers
from hence to Boston, but could not gett it untill the Day
after their Departure from hence
Since beginning to write the above an account offers from
Major Enoch Freeman as Comissary for four Blanketts rec d
by four of the Soldiers, as your Honours may See p r the
account enclos d which hope will be allow d The other paper
is a List of the Soldiers enlisted & an account of what each
person is entitled to agreeable to the proclamation as also
what each person has rec d
I would here beg Leave to inform your Honours, that
after the men had inlisted they would not upon any means
be prevail d upon to goe for Boston untill each had rec d what
Bounty they were entitled to according to the proclamation
what to Doe I could not tell I had rec d no money from
the province to enable me to fullfill what the proclamation
promis d to those that should inlist, neither any orders for
Drawing any money from the Collectors or Constables to
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 55
enable me to pay the full Bounty I were oblig' d at Last
rather than the province should Suffer by the men's rais'd
not being Sent to boston, to get of the Collectors the several
Sums your Honours will by the enclos d see & pay each per-
son what is respectively sett against their names, before they
would embark. I hope my Conduct in this affair as it Con-
cerns the province will be Look d upon in a just Light, as
that the Treasurer will answer the orders I drew upon him
in favour of the Collectors who I rec d the money from
I remain yours Honours most Obedient Serv 1 to Comand
Eze Cushing
Letter, The Council to Col. Ezkl Gushing
Boston 15 Apr 1 1757
Col Ezek 1 Cushing
S r
It appears that there is a deficiency of seven men in the
number you were directed to raise for his Majestys Service
under the Command of the Earl of Loudoun. The council
expect that you immediately compleat the number of Men
assigned You and send them up to Boston. And as the
Council are informed that five of the afores d Men were to be
raised by Cap n Alex r Nichols, and that he is wholly deficient
in his duty, they have directed him to come up to Boston to
Answer for his neglect. The order comes to you open, that
in case he shall have complied with his Orders before this
reaches your hands, and you shall be satisfied with his Con-
duct, you may forbear delivering the said Letter, and send it
back with your next return.
Letter, The Council to Capt. Alex r Nichols
Boston 15 Apr 1 1757.
Cap n Alex r Nichols
The Council being informed that you was ordered to raise
56 DOCUMENTABY HISTORV
five Men for his Majesty's Service under the Command of
the Earl of Loudoun, and that you have wholly disregarded
your Orders and returned none of the Men assigned You.
The Council direct you forthwith to attend them at Bos-
ton to make Answer for your Neglect.
Letter, Benj. Burton to the Council. April 15, 1757
May it please your Honours, This morning about Eight of
the clock there appeared at a small Distance from the fort
four Indians with a flag of Truce, Three of which being
Penobscut's, the other a S* John's we hoisted one in the fort
and then they came in, Asked me by the Interpreter if there
was any answer come to their Letter Sent up this winter to
the Gov r I told - there was no positive answer come as
yet, Only what was Contained in a letter I had received
lately Sent by the Gov r to Cap n Bradbury, wherein he gives
his Opinion " That he did not see how they open a trade
with them at presant. But if the Indians would come and
live amongst us That he did not doubt but that the Court
would make provision for them during the war," To which
they replyed, they could give No Answer till they talked
with their Old men, I told them if they desired to live in
peace with us they must come in directly for our Scouts
would be out, and could not distinguish them from other
Indians, They said that was true, and promised me to be in
Ten or fifteen days hence at farthest, with a full answer from
their tribe ,
I then asked them if they thought themselves safe to come
and trade with us here when our Scouts were out after other
Indians They said No,
After they went Out of the room, One being the S* John's
Indian Came in - told me by the Interpreter Aduakinque's
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 57
Brother was comeing on us with Ten more Ind 8 so soon as
the Snow was off the ground or at farthest in One moon I
asked him if the penubscutts would Joyn said Number he
said he could not tell how presants might prevail on them,
and that he did not know but that a large body would come,
To this he held up his hand and said God knows it to be
true, true, true, Beg'd not to let the other Indians know
what he has told us for they certainly would cutt off his
head, they would surely kill him if they found he had told
us. This is what has been delivered me from the Interp r as
he can attest to the truth of the above :
I remain your Honours most obedient & faithfull ser vt to
Command
Benj a Burton
Fort S 4 Georges April 15 th 1757.
P S The above S* Johns Indian told me further that f
there was a Great body of French Lived all -J
this winter up S* Johns River
Letter, Andrew Oliver to Col. Gushing Major Freeman
Boston April 28, 1757.
Sirs,
I send you by directions of the Council Extract of a Letter
which come to hand yesterday from Lieutenant Burton.
You will judge what Credit is to be given to the Indians
Account; the Council think it ought to carry so much
weight at least, as to put the Inhabitants of the Eastern
Country upon their Guard : they therefore direct that you
send the Intelligence across Maquoit to some proper person
to be handed along from place to place till it shall reach Fort
Halifax, and to such other places as you shall judge requisite.
58 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
If this should overtake Major Freeman on the Road home-
ward, so as to give him opportunity of conferring with Sir
William Pepperrell it would be best to consult with Sir
William upon measures proper to be taken on this Occasion.
I am Sir Your hum 1 Sert
And w Oliver
Col Ezekiel Gushing
Major Enoch Freeman
Letter, Andrew Oliver to S r W m Pepperrell
Boston 28 April 1757.
Sir
The Council yesterday received a Letter from L l Burton
dated Fort S' Georges April 15 and by their direction I send
you copy of the essential part of his Letter under cover here-
with; Whether full credit is to be given or not to the
Indians relation yet the Council judge it a sufficient Ground
for them to proceed to notify the Inhabitants of the Eastern
Country of the Intelligence received so that they may be on
their Guard.
You will therefore S r be pleased to take the most proper
measures for this purpose.
the express has another Letter for Col Gushing and Major
Freeman, which the council desire you would order to be
sent forward by Express or by any other as you shall judge
best, they are directed to send the Intelligence across
Maquoit so as to be handed along from Place to Place till it
shall reach Fort Halifax. If you should see Major Freeman
after receipt hereof upon his Return home, you will please to
give him best Advice for his Government
I am S r Your most Ob* humb Serv*
And w Oliver
I
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 59
Letter, Sir W m Pepperrell to the Council
Kittery May 2 d 1757
Honourable Gentlemen
The inclosed Letter came to me by Express from Hamp-
ton, w ch I have paid for.
I take it to be an answer to a Letter I sign d as president
by order of the Council when I was in Boston ever Since I
have been from thence, have been indeavoring to get the
Front in a post r of Defence, as I expect soon to heare of
the Enemy. I wish your Hon would hasten the Commis-
sary to send Provishon for the Marching Scouts that they
may be upon Duty. I am this day about Delivering some
out to Cap* Gerrishes Companny out of my wharehouse that
he may be on the back of y e Towns to prevent the Enemy
doing damage and I hope will destroy some of them
I have the Hon r to be Your Hon"
Most obedient Faithfull Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
The Hon ble His Majesty's Council
Letter, C. O. Leissner to 8 r W m Pepperrell
Broad Bay May 9 th 1757
Hon ble Sir
I beg Leave to sent Your Hon r inClosed a Copy of my
Journall what Trouble and Barbarety hapned since my Last.
A Waile Boat would be a most Necessary thing for this
place, as I can't come to the Assistance of the inhabitants on
each Side of the river, with out going round the Falls w ch
will take near a Day should therefore be Glad if Your Hon r
would please to Order One
Scarceness of time Obliges me to breake of so
Subscribe my self Your Hon most Submisfull Serv*
C. C. Leissner
60 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
P. S. I have as yet no Orders how to Act with the Men but
in the mean while do the best I can.
[ Superscribed.]
On his Majestys Service To Sir William Pepprill Kn*
p r Cap* Kent att Boston
Letter, Col. Ezkl CusUng to Andrew Oliver Secy
Falmouth May 10 1757
S r Having lately rec d the Goverments Orders to Compleat
Seven men more for His Majestys Service accordingly have
Compleated the number including one man Capt Nichols
Sent to Boston out of the Quota assign'd him to raise the
remainder of his s d Quota he Dl d to me in Falmouth which I
hope will be sufficient to excuse his not coming to Boston as
he has Compleated the number assigned him to raise just
as I were embarking of the men to Send to the goverment
one of them Deserted I cannot here nor find any thing of
him so as to Ship him on board of Cap* Hodgkins with
the other men rais d neither is it possible to gett another man
in the Deserters room to Ship on board of Cap* Hodgkins by
reason of his so Sudden Departure. I shall use my utmost
endeavours immediately to find & send the man to the Gov-
ernment. S r I cannot find by the List I have by me of the
Number assign d me to raise how seven Should be wanting I
Sent fivety nine men by my Son one p r Capt. Cox & three
went by Land, is Sixty three men & the Quota assign d me
being Sixty Eight I rest this matter with your Honour
& am S r your most Humble Serv*
Eze Gushing
A List of the Mens Names Shipt on board Capt Hodgkins
for His Majestys Service
inlisted March 21. 1757 Cornelius Keff
impress* 1 Benjamin Parker in room of an impress* 1 man
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 61
David Welch Ditto James Braman Ditto Samuel Green
Ditto
The above Cornelius Heff rec d a fall that hinder d his being
to Boston before this opportunity. Loring Gushing in behalf
of my father Ezekiel Gushing
[ Superscribed ]
To The Honourable Andrew Oliver Esq r
Secretary of The Province of Massachusetts Bay ~
Letter, J. Tasker $> J. Fowle to A. Oliver
Marblehead Wednesday Nine in y e Evening
Sir
This moment came in a Schooner intended for Boston, as
a Flag of Truce from Louisbourg : w ch place she left Eight
days ago; commanded by Mons r Larchez having on board
Seventy English Prisoners : & navigated by seven French
men : a proper Guard shall be placed for their security till
farther Orders. & y e most Intelligent of y e English sent up
Early in y e Morning to Boston, no more than one Vessel
by their Acco* was arivd from France this Spring, the Garri-
son in a poor Condition the Soldiers & Inhabitants murmur-
ing & in great Want of Provisions not one ship of Force
there & few others, the News of the Attempt made on y e
French King's Life created a generall Pannick.
these are y e particulars w ch Time permit us to collect
We are w th great Regard Y r most Obed* Serv ts
John Tasker
Jacob Fowle
P S:
we find they are Come for Observation, & that there is some
Gent n of Distinction on board
To the Secretary of y e Province to be communicated
to his Maj te y Council.
62 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, John Tasker to A. Oliver, Sec 1 -*
Marblehead Monday Morning
Sir
I Wrote you last Night by an Express acquainting you
with the Arivall of a Flag of Truce, since which I have been
on board & talk'd with M r Larchez, y e Person Commissioned
to treat with y e Governour of this Province to whom I think
he told me _ had Letters, w ch no doubt you'll be desirous to
see that Lord Louden may as soon as may be acquainted w th
his Errand. & what ever else may be thought of Use. I
have conversd with sevrall of y e Prisoners & find one Brag-
don capable to give Information of what is passing at Louis-
bourg, whom shall Instantly despatch that he may be at
Boston as Soon as y e Council can be Assembled.
I am of Opinion it will be best y* the Vessel be orderd
from this Exposd Defenceless Harbour, and y e Commissioner
who resided at Roxbury Seven Years ago & well Known to
M r Lovel & many others be sent up by Land.
w ch Submit to your better Understanding & am
w th great Regard Sir Y r most Obed* Serv*
John Tasker
To Andrew Oliver Esq to be communicated to his
Maj ty8 Council
Letter, John Osborne to Lord Loudoun
Boston 12. May 1757.
May it please your Lordship
The Council received very early this morning by Express
from Marblehead an Account of the Arrival of a Flag of
Truce in eight days from Louisbourgh.
As the Accounts from thence appear very favourable to
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 63
your Lordships designs We thought it our duty to transmit
them immediately to your Lordship by Express, forwarding
herewith copy of the Letter from Marblehead and what
further information we could collect from One of the Prison-
ers who is just come to Town as declared before the Council.
We shall give Orders for securing the French men, and their
Vessell till we hear from your Lordship, and in the mean
time treat them with that civility which is otherwise due to
the Character they are come in.
We received Intelligence yesterday Noon of a Sloop about
25 Leagues to the Eastward of Cape Ann giving chace to a
Vessell arrived at Marblehead, upon which the Council gave
Orders for the Province Snow Prince of Wales Capt. Dowse
to go out upon a Cruise after her; He slipt his Cables at
6 in the Evening having seventy five stout Seamen aboard,
and has probably run the distance by this time, He is there
to cruise twenty four hours, and if he makes no discovery,
nor gains any further Intelligence he is then to return, and
take the Fishermen and VesselLs for Halifax under his
Convoy.
One of our Vessells inward bound discover 8 a Vessell
ashore about 3 weeks ago on the Isle of Sables went to their
Relief : it proved to be an Eng : prize Ship fr. Portugal hav-
ing 13 Hands aboard which the French had taken off Vir-
ginia; the French Man secured the Vessell & her Crew
which came to their Releif, and proceeded therewith for
Louisbourgh, in their way thither they took another small
Vessell, and having more English men aboard than they
chose to trust themselves with, they put most of them aboard
the last mentioned Vessell, which is since arrived at Cape
Ann, but we have seen none of the People.
We are endeavouring that some of the Prisoners which
came in the Flag of Truce shall proceed as Seamen in some
64 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
of the Transports bound to New York that your Lordship
may have the oportunity of gaining more direct Information
We are with very great Respect
May it please your Lordship your Lordships
most obedient and most hum 1 Serv ts
I O in the name and by order of the Council. By this
Express We send your Lordship the rest of the returns made
Us, of the Troops of this Government, raised for his Majes-
tys Service, Who are all Marched agreeable to your Lord-
ships Directions.
Letter, Joshua Freeman to the Council.
S* Georges May 17: 1757
Gentle 11
May it Please your Honnors There Came in Yesterday
Morning Frounteer Indians To Treat with Capt Bradbury
under A white Flag
what they had to say I understand he hass Acquainted y r
Hon 8 About Three in the After Noon they went of with
there flag About Foure a Clock Som of My Company Unbe-
known to me went out after the Indians And Brought in
One who they say they found Alone the rest being gone out
of Sight And ass they found him alone And No Flag with
him They Thought he wass a Lawfull prize. I Told them
I did Not Approve of there Conduct in bringing the fellow
back And that they must immediately let him go And
Accordingly After Som debate he wass Dismis'd And Care
taken that he got of Clear
Betwen Four And five A Clock there Came a Single indian
in to the fort with a flag but Tarry'd but a few Minutes And
OF THE STATE OF MA1UE 65
Went of with the Indian that wass brought back in the Eve-
ning W m Killpatrick Came over from the fort And told that
the Indian that Came in last Informd that there wass
Twenty Six Indians belonged to there Company And that
there wass Thirty More Expected in toMorrow but ass there
was No Likelywhood of the Truck to be Opened to them
they would be Stopt Upon which Our People Said that it
wass likely the Indians would do dammage before they went
of there being Such A number together And No Expectation
of any Trade in the province which I thought Reasonable
They Mentioned that they thought it wass Necessary that a
Company of Men Should go out in the Night And Indeavour
to Make all the Discovery they Could that the Indians
Should Not have Any Advantage on Us Accordingly I Con-
sented that Twenty Men Might go out And if they found
their wass Any Indians Lurkeing About that they would
send A man in And let Me know of it y* we Mought be
upon our guard And likewise Ready to Attack them ;
Betwen Ten And Eleven a Clock Twenty of My Men went
And about a Mild from the Block House they Came upon a
party of Indians And Fird on them And Hussay'd the
Indians Immediately Returnd the fire on both Sides of them
And Yel'd After Exchainging Sundry Guns at Each Other
Our People Came of with One Scalp which they Recovered
haveing Rec d but little Dammage on our Side one Man
being Slightly wounded in the hand and his gun Part of the
Stock fir'd of a little before break of Day our People went
Jout again Discoverd three Indians fird at them but Could
not Recover any of them on there Return back to the Place
where they had the dispute the last night they found Seven
Gunns a Small Quantaty of Beavour Feathers
Am your Honners Most Obedient And verry Humble Serv*
Joshua Freeman
To the Honnorable his Majestys Councill for the Province
of the Massachusets Bay in New England
5
66 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, James Howard to the Council
Fort Western 18 th May 1757
May it please y r honours Cap* Lithgow Sent down a boats
Crew consisting of ten men as far as Brunswick to fetch up
Lieu* Moody in order to mend our Boats, and this morning
about Seven o Clock Ensign Petee was returng home and
we thought it best to Send two men by Land as an Advance
Guard, and the other eight on the boat and when they were
about Seven miles above the fort then the two men on the
Shore who kept Just about three or four Rod before the
Boat, Discover'd a Scout of Seventeen Indians Close on the
Shore and fired on the Boat three times not being more than
fifteen yards distance, and our people returnd the fire three
times out of the boat and as they could not recover the
Indians side of the River they put a cross the river recoverd
that Shore a fired Several Guns, one of the men that were
on the Shore Lept into the river and Swam across the river
tho' the freshet is very high, and the other was Seen under a
Root and we hope the enemy has not found him but he is
not return'd yet it is now about two hours Since the action.
There is two of our men wounded but I hope they are not
mortal, all our people declare that they saw the Indians
Carry off two dead or wounded of their own party.
I conclude with begging Leave to Subscribe myself y r
Honours most Hble Serv*
James Howard
Letter, from Samuel Goodwin
Frankfort on Kennebeck River May y e 18 th 1757
May it please your Honours
this day as Insigne Ezeekel Patte was agoeing from Fort
Western to Fort Halifax in aboat with nine Men & himself
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 67
he Put two Men ashoar as aGard and about 7 miles up from
Fort Western those ashore Discovered a party of Indains of
1 7 which they Counted & howmany more they Cant say and
being within 15 or 20 yards of them & y* Boat, those ashore
Cryd out Indains Indains upon this y* Indains Rise and
fiered on them in y e Boat our men Returned y e fire several
times and suppose they Kell d or wounded two or more for
they see them Carry away two on there backs, one of our
men ashore Escaped by Sweeming over y e River y e other
they Left under y e Bank wheather Deed or alive they Could
not Tell, two in y e Boat was wounded, one of them hath
abullet Lodged in his Leage & slightly wounded in several
places in his body & head y fl other in his Shoulder & Cheake
Lieutenant John Howard Came here with them about 5 o
Clock this afternoon, I haveing y e Remains of a Doctors Box
which I Gott Last year of my own ; I Dressed them in the
best Manner I Could
Gentelmen if y e People Could have Provision only to
Sarve them while in y e woods I Could have a Number of
men to Goe out on any Sudden Disturbance or ocation What
Ever and the Expecttation of aNumber of Indains if not
Frinch to fall on thease parts Give Great uneasseness to
many and the People are Short of Provision in thease parts
so they Could not Support themselves if obliged to Goe out
I thought it my Duty to inform your Honours and with the
Greatest Submission Begg leave to Subscribe myselfe your
Honours Most Dutefull Most Obedaint and very Humble
Sarvent
Samuel Goodwin
To There Honours His Majestys Council of the Province of
the Massachssutts Bay
NB I have supply d y* sick and lame marching soldiers two
years past with meadssons & if aDocters Box was to be
Lodged here or any allowanc for what medeasons I have
68 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Expended I might be of service to some who might meet
with y e Lieke misfortin
Copy of record.
At a meeting of the freeholders & other Inhabitants of the
Town of Northyarmouth Convened Held at the Meeting
House in the first Fairish in s d Town and Continued by
adjournment from may y e 18 th to May y e 24, 1756 The
Petition of the Second Parrish ( praying the consent of the
first Parrish to be Set off a Separate District &c ) being Read
and Considered : and where as the Intrest of the s d Second
parrish may be advanced by their being Set of_ & Vested
with y e privalages y* Towns Do Enjoy &c : But the County
Road Runing through the Town of Northyarmouth to Bruns-
wick at a Considerable Distance from the Second Parrish
which has been and Ever will be a very great Charge to the
Town & too heavy a Burthen for the first Parrish alone and
also the first is and must be at Vast Expence other than the
County Road as to Roads to other Towns Setleing on the
Back of them &c : from which Like Expence the second par-
rish is Ever Like to be freed being a narrow neck of Land
and Islands adjoyning Therefore Voted That tho s d Second
Parrish Have the Consent of the first Parrish to be set off a
seperate District agreeable only to the Boundaries of s d Sec-
ond Parrish, provided that they at all times bear their pro-
portionable part of the Charge of the County Road and
Bridges thereon.
A True Copey taken of from Northyarmouth Town Rec-
ords and Examined
p r Barnabas Seabury Town Clerk
Copy of record
At a Legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the first Parrish
in North Yarmouth on the thirteenth of December 1756
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 69
Voted that Jonas Mason Esq r Messr 8 Andrew Gray and John
Lewis be a Committee to draft an Answer to the Petition
of the Inhabitants of Merriconeag Neck according to the
General Courts order
Voted that Jer Powell Esq r be an Agent to Prefer said
Answer to the Great and General Court
Voted that the Agent and the Charge of Prefering the Said
answer be paid by the Parish
The above is a true Copy Transcrib d from North Yarmouth
First Parish Book of Records Fol 20
Att r Tho 8 Scales Parrish Clerk
North Yarmouth May 23 d 1757
Letter, Gapt. W m Liihgow to the Council
Fort Hallifax May y e 23 d 1757
may it please your Honours
these may Sarve Just to Informe that we have this Spring
Boated up Stoors Sufficent for one year, for the Supplye of
y e garrisson att this place - and that som Hunters In there
Returne from Hunting heard a grate yaling of Indians five
miles above this Fort, thay Supposed y e Number to be Con-
sidderable by the Noise the Indians made. - the aboves d
hunters left five of there Companions In y e Woods which
they parted with Som Time before which Is Supposed to
have fallen Into y e Indians Hands as thay have not yet
Returned we have Discovred Raftes Driveing by this Fort
which I Suppose y e Indians made use of to ferrey them over
y e River, and I amagin thay may have gon dowen amongst
y e Inhabitince to Doe mischeif all which I have Duely
warned y e Inhabitence off, the Boate which I Sent this Intel-
ligeance by was attacted In there Returne up this River
Ten miles below this fort, by 17 Indians y e boates Crew
70 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Consisted of an Ensigne & nine men, the Indians had y e first
fire within 20 yards of y e Boate only wounded 2 men, one in
y e Lege. & Side, the other In y e Head, I hope y e men will
Soon Recover as I amagin there wounds is not mortal being
only fleash wounds, I think the officer and his Crew
behaved very gallent'ly as thay immedietly Returned the fire
on the Enemie which ware all in fare view Kill'd one Indian
which fell on the bank and lay in view Duering y e action,
which Continued very furious on the Boat till She Retreeted
to y e other side of y e River, In which Time Saverel of our
men Discharged there guns Three Times after our men got
over y e River which is but a bout a hundred yardes a Cross or
Rather less thay left y e Boate and Shaltered them Selves
behind y e Trees. & so Continued there fire on y e Indians till
thay with Drawed at which Time Two of them took up y e
above Dead Indian that lay on y e bank and Caryed him off.
as also one more which was Caryed of by one Indian his
armes around his neck but Could not walk, y e Indians ware
obliged to Retreet over a hill or Rather a long Ridge of
Cleer ground. So that our people Could easely Count them
and give this account which I had from y e Ensigne which I
give Credit too, as I have always found him to be honoust
and Just in other accounts.
I Remain with all Due obediance your
Honours most Dutifull Humble Serv*
W m Lithgow
Letter, C. 0. Leissner to S r W m Pepperrell May 28, 1757
Honora ble Sir
Your Hon" humanety, and wonted Goodness toward the
distressed, has been made Known by Coasters and Masters of
Vessells to the Settlers of this Place: and as I am their
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 71
directer, they have desired me, to inform Your Hon r of their
distresses, and deplorable situation.
Yesterday in the morning about 9 of y e Clock, one Casse-
mir Losh, an inhabitant of this Place, being at his Farm at
Work, close by a Garrison, was Shot by the Indians, where-
upon Larm was fired ; I went immediately with Fifteen Men
in the Woods, and took around to the Place where the Dam-
age was done, we found the body laying a burning, with the
Hatched Sticking fast in his Skull, he was Shot under the
right Arm, and Stabbed with a Knife in a most barbarous
manner, his Wife being at the time the Murder was done, at
the House and Saved her self by flying to the Garrison.
This Day again all the Cattle comes a flying out of the
Woods, and no person Capable, to drive them back again,
which is a certain Sign of the Enemies being near at hand,
there are Sixe Coasters a Loading in the Place, and desire
Guard, I have Sent them One and Two Men each according
to the danger of the Place, but they Seem displeased, and
threadne to Complain ; the Generall Court has been pleased
to allow Eighteen Men for this place which is Settled ab* 9
Mile, in the lenght. the Number of the inhabitants ab* 140,
and Some times ab* ten and twelve Coasters aloading, it is
therefore an impossibility with 18 Men to protect the Coast-
ers ; inhabitants and to take care of the Garrisons, this being
the onely Place which provid's the Western Towns with fire
Wood, and no more being hawled at present, the 18 Men not
Capable to Guard every were Consequently the Coasters
must lay up their Vessells, the settlement is ruined, and such
a Vast Number of poor people, will come to destruction
The inhabitants therefore Humbly implore Your Hon r and
his Majestys Hon rbl * Councill to Consider their Deplorable
Situation, and onely to allowe to 18 men more provision,
which 18 Men will do Duty as well as the 18 allready in the
Service, and will divide the pay with them, so that onely 18
72 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Men will be paid, and 36 be Victualt, and the place then
Sufficient protected that Coasters can be provided, and Safely
Load.
I remain in Duty bound Your Hon"
most Submissfull Servant
C. C. Leissner
Answer of the First Parish of North Yarmouth
To the Hon ble his Majesties Council & House of Repre-
sentatives, in General Court Assembled. June 1 st A. D.
1757 The Answer of the Inhabitants of the first Parish
in the Town of Northyarmouth to the Petition of the Inhab-
itants of y e Second Parish ( settled on Merriconeag neck ) in
said Town, humbly Sheweth.
That whereas the said Inhabitants in their Petition, com-
plain of their being burthen'd with paying Taxes to the Town
of North Yarmouth more than their proportion. We say we
See no cause at all for Such complaint, for from y e early days
of their Settlem*, they have been excus'd from paying to the
Minister. And a Vote was past by y e Town, that if they
provided themselves a School, they Should draw out of the
Town Treasury yearly their full proportion of Money rais'd
in y e Town for a School According to the Taxes they paid,
which they have done accordingly. And they have never
paid one farthing towards laying out, Clearing or amending
any of y e Private ways for y e use of s d Town in the first
Parish : all they have been Taxt for, is their proportion of y e
Province Tax & pay of a Representative, the County Tax &
Repairs of y* County Road. And in making their proportion
this has been y* Constant method. There has been Yearly
one of themselves chosen a Select-man & Assessor, & from
him we have had a List of their Polls & Rateable Estates,
which was put into y e Valuation List with y e other part of
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 73
y e Town, & the whole of y e Rates proportion'd according to
y* Valuation List.
In answer to what they Say respecting our refusal to set
them off free & Clear from all Charge &c we acknowledge y 1
for Some reasons we refug'd, which reasons we humbly ask
leave to offer to this Hon ble Court, praying you would take
y e same into your wise consideration & Order thereon as to
you in Your great Wisdom & Justice shall seem meet. And
first, as to y e County Road, considering them as a part of y*
Town of North Yarmouth, and so situated as they are, we
think it highly reasonable they ought to help maintain y e
County Road, or to do y e whole of y* part y t lies to y e East-
ward of Our Settlement, it being next to them. And whereas
they say, " The County Road of North yarmouth & Town
Road is one & y e Same &c and that they have no benefit in
y e least either of County or Town Road, for all their passing
is by water," we say y* this is y e true State of y e Case between
their Parish & Ours respecting Roads. The County Road
leading from Falmouth to Brunswick, runs thro' y e whole
width of y e Township of Northyarmouth, but _ bigger part
thereof is laid above & to y e Eastward of y e Settlements of
Our Inhabitants & runs thro' a wilderness y 1 is not like to be
Settled these many Years, And this y e only Road that leads
to their Parish, & was laid out made & repaired purely to
accomodate them & y e other Settlements to y e Eastward of
us, to travil to y e Shire Town in y e County & not for any
benefit or Accomodation to this part of y e Town, and tho' its
a nearer Cut for them to go by Water to this Parish or to
Falmouth & then take y e County Road, yet there are Some
Seasons wherein it may be altogether necessary for to travil
to them & they to travil s d Road when there is no passing by
Water, So that as they lie to y e Eastward of us, & y e half of
y e Road at least lies to y e Eastward of Our Settlement, it's
altogether probable y* they will have more benefit of that part
74 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
of y e Road than y e most part of y ft Inhabitants of this parish
ever will. This is also a Very chargeable Road, for besides
some Caswaying & many Smaller there are two Large Bridges
to maintain, And as to private ways y e Charges always have
& will be very heavy on this Parish, which they y e Second
Parish have been & will be exempt from, for we have here
Six private ways for y e Towns use, that have for Years past
& are likely always to be very Expensive, & their Parish
have never been at any Charge of them, for we have bro't y e
Charge of Our Roads yearly into a Rate & y e Surveyors have
always kept a seperate Ace* of y e Charge, & only y e Charge
of y* County Road was bro't into the Town Rate, but we
have born Our proportion of y e Charge of laying them out a
Road y e length their neck, so far as lay in North yarmouth
bounds, which considering y e narrowness of their neck & sit-
uation of their Lots is all y e Road perhaps they will have
occasion for, for y e Road thro' their neck will lead them to
Brunswick line. & then y e Town of Brunswick must make
them a Road to y e County Road. So y* they will be at no
cost at all towards y e County Road if excus'd doing their part
with us. Moreover we in this Parish have this fall open'd a
Road to y e Townships of New Boston & Glocester Seven
Miles at least into y e wilderness & built a large Bridge thereon
Over Royalls River, which this Parish must be at y e Charge
always to maintain. We in this Parish are y e more unable
to wade thro' Charges in respect of y e War, as we are many
of us expos'd to Garrison & move off from Our places &c,
from which charge & hindrance they are, by their Situation
wholly Exempt. We also tho't that considering their & Our
present Circumstances they should unite with us in sending
a Representative. On these Conditions viz That they bear
their equal proportion of maintaining y e County Road, their
part to be set off as they & we, or Indifferent persons for us
shou'd agree & appoint, and y* they unite with us in Sending
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 75
a Representative, we were & are entirely willing they should
be Set off from us. all which we chearfully offer to y e Con-
sideration, Order & Appointment of this Hon ble Court, as in
their wisdom & Justice Shall seem meet. And we as in duty
bound shall ever pray.
Jonas Mason
Andrew Gray
Jn Lewis
Comtee chosen by
y e Parish to
prepare an
Answer.
To The Hon ble Gen 1 Court
Most hon ble your most Humble Petitioners of The Second
Parish in the Town of Northyarmouth, most Humbly ask
Leave to renew our request To This hon d Court, To Have
The Petition Granted w ch your Humble Petitioners, of The
sec d Parish In S d Town, Pray'd for; and we have Received
Cognizance That The Ven ble Lower House has Granted us
Faviour ; w ch , we humbly Pray may be Granted, & Confirm'd
by y e Hon ble The Upp r house We have Intelligence y* y e first
Parish In afors d Town of N Yar th , has Chosen a person ( as
Agent) To App r att The Gen 1 Court, at Boston In Ord r To
prevent The prayer of s d Second Parish being Granted, w ch
we Humbly pray This Hon d Court would not hearken To ;
we Y r Humble Petitiones, Think it a Great Imposition on us
by the first parish In s d Town Their Oblidging us to Help
Maintain Their County and Town Road, Representative, w ch
we Have no Benefit In The Least of ; From The Center of
Afors d Neck, it is Between Twenty & Thirty Miles Before
we can Come Into The Road of N Yar th The Upp r Part
Adjoins To The Township of Brunswick, & we Must go
Through The Town of Brunswick Before we Can Come Into
76 DOCUMENTAEY HISTORY
The Road of s d Town of N Ya th and by Water its Upwards
of Eight Miles, w ch is a Large Bay To Cross over, and we
have Likewise got a Road Laid out Upon The Neck, & The
First Parish In s d Town Utterly Denys us Their aid Respect-
ing The Cultivation Theirof and we y e Sec d Parish have
Upw d8 of Twenty Y rs by The Oblidgm* of N Yar th help't
Maintain y e County & Town Road of N Yar th Their Repre-
sentative. Which we The Inhabitants of y e said Parish Have
not The Least advantage Theirof which is a Great Charge
Yearly To us w ch we are Very Unable To Bear, Being In
our Infant Settlement.
All w ch is Humbly Submited To The Wisdom & Justice
of This hon d Court and we Y r Humble Petitioners as In duty
Bound Sh 11 Ever pray.
David Curtis
Lem 11 Turner
Jonat n Flint I Com 1
Will m Alexd r
Alex dr Willson
Henry McCausland )
Superscribed,
To The Hon bla Gen 1 Court at Boston
To be Communicated p r his Hon r Tho* Hobart Speak'r
Declaration of Joseph Cox $ others June 0, 1757.
We the Subscribers with four Others on the 20 th of April
last past took our Departure from Falmouth with Design of
Captivating and Killing the Indian Enemy, upon the Encour-
agement of the Government by their Resolve in June 1756,
and having made various Attempts by Sea and Land, up
Penobscut River at Isle of Holt, Burncoat Island, Long
Island, Mount Desert, and the Gull Rock, about a League to
the Eastward of Mount Desert where we lay about Ten
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 77
Days, and on Thursday the 26 th of May last, we departed
from said Rock (leaving there our Whale Boat and part of
our Company ) and proceeded in our Schooner to the North-
ward up the Bay about five or six Leagues, and on Saturday
Morning the 28 th of said May about Seven of the Clock, as
we were sailing by a certain Island in said Bay, we espied
two Indians in a Canoe, padling off said Island we soon
came near them, and having called to them once and again
and offerred them Quarter, which they refusing and Striving
to get from us, we fired upon them, killed one of them in
the Canoe, the other still Striving to get away we continued
fireing at him, and He fired at us, and wounded two of us,
but at last we perceived we had Shot him through the Body,
however he padled on Shore, took his Gun, and went in to
the Woods, where having pursued, we found him dead
We Scalp'd the s d Indians, ancl return'd to Falmouth this
Day.
Falmouth June 2 d 1757
Joseph Cox Joseph Bayley J r
Benjaman trott William Cotton J T
William Bayley
York ss. Falmouth June 4 th 1757
the above named Joseph Cox, Joseph Bayley Ju r Benj n
Trott W m Gotten Ju r and W m Bayley appeared Before
me the Subscriber one of His Majestys Justices Peace
for s d County and made Oat to the truth of the fore-
going Declaration By them Subscribed.
Moses Pearson
Letter, JEJzek 1 Gushing to the Council
Falmouth June 3 d 1757
May it Please Your Honours
Inclos'd is the Deposition of Part of a Company of nine
men, that about the 20 th of April last, went in quest of the
78 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Indian Enemy, having left their Names with me in writing
signifying their Design, agreable to the Resolve of the Gen-
eral Court in June last Year :
The Laudable Enterprize of these resolute Indefatigable
Young men, doubtless will meet with Applause, and I cant
but rejoice at these beginnings of Success; we have this
Spring had, against our horrid Indian Enemy; and God
grant that it may Stimulate more of our young men to do
the like, till our Enemies shall be forc'd to be at Peace
with us.
I doubt not the Bounty will be Immediately paid, and y e
same renew'd for another Year.
I am Your Honour's most Obed* hum 1 Serv*
Eze Gushing
To the Hon r his Majesty's Councell
Falmouth Petition June 6, 1757.
To His Excellency Tho 8 Pownall Esq r Govern r the Hon ble
His Majesties Council of the Province of the Massachu-
ssets Bay & house of Representatives In Gene 11 Court
Assembled
The Petition of the Select Men of the Town of Falmouth
In the County of York Humbly Sheweth
That Whereas John Clark of a Place Caled Hobbs &
Pearson town, Without the bounds of any town but within
s d County for about three Months Past has been Confined In
York Jail for Supposed Murther And his Wife And daugh-
ter for the Same Space of time in the Jail in this town for
Supposed Accessorys In s d Crime ; by Means Whereof two
young Chilldren of s d Cleark have Ever since been supported
by the said town of Falmouth ; Upon Which your Petitioners
Requested the Court of General Sessions of the Peace at
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 79
April Term last to Releive them in that Case Whereupon
the Court of Sessions Appointed three Gen* overseers of the
same according to law : And the s d Gentlemen having done
their utmost to bind out s d Children Apprentice, Could Not
find any Person that Would take them by Reason of their
beaing so Young, and therefore left them on the hands of
your Petitioners, And as they do Not belong to this town
Any More than Any town in s d County your Petitioners
think it Not equal that s d Town of Falmouth should bear the
Burthen of their Support alone ; And therefore humbly Pray
your Honours they may be Releived In that Case And that
the Charge of Supporting s d young Children may be Propor-
tioned on the Province In general or at least on the Whole
County of York And your Petitioners as In Duty bound
Will Ever Pray
Falmouth 6 th June 1757
Chris to S trout -^
Isaac Ilsley (Select
Joseph Tompson men
William Cotton
In H of Rep r8 March 17 th 1758 Read again & Voted,
That this Pet" be Revived : And,
Whereas it appears to this Court that the Maintenance of
the Children mentioned is properly a County Charge,
Ordered, That the Justices of the General Sessions of the
Peace for the County of York, be and hereby are directed &
enjoined to provide for it accordingly, till the Children can
be bound out or taken Care of by their parents.
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council March 18. 1758 Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to T Pownall
80 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
New Castle Petition.
To the Honourable Counsel and the house of Representatives
In General Court Assembled
The Petition of us the Inhabitants of New Castle residing
and Living upon Sheepscut and Damerscotty River
Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioners have Esteemed themselves very happy
under the care and protection of this government for these
years by past while much Exposed to the rage and Cruelty
of the french and Indians being A frontier and have Suffered
exceedly by the Enemy. Last war we had more people killed
and Captivated & wounded than all the rest of the Eastern
parts. We think to the best of our Remembrance we had
about thirty persons killed Captivated and wounded During
said war besides five Captivated since
That your Honours have thought proper not to grant us
this year the protection which formerly Enjoyed by having a
Company of Soldiers Stationed in our town which we heartily
Lament as that we fear will probably prove very fatoll to us
for the Enemy have already appeared by firing upon a Crew
of hands going up to fort Hallifax in a Boat ; and wounded
two which men Belonged to Cap 1 Lythgows Garrison and all
the men that hath Been out a Hunting Discovered Indians
in Different Parts they have brought in that news which hath
so alarmed us that we are afraid and Expect them to fall
upon some of us Every day. We are all obliged to flee into
Garrisons for there is not one man appears amongst us for
our Defence . Notwithstanding the many Dangers and Diffi-
culties we have not as yet fled from our habitations but have
maintained our ground paid our province Rates and found
our quota of men for the present war ; But for want of a
Company station'd here as aforemention'd all our young men
and they that have no families are a going to Leave the place
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
81
while we with our families are thus Expos'd, Likewise We
Beg Leave to acquaint your Honours that Officers and Sol-
diers from the westward are very Slow in their Motion
towards us and when they are arrived here they have not the
Same motives to Excite them to a Vigilance and activity and
to Risque their Lives in the Defence of the Inhabitants as
those we have their all in these parts ; In Case we should Be
attack' d By the Enemy at any time we have no where to go
or send for Relief nearer than ten miles ; So that we may Be
all Destroyed Before we Could have any left ; Therefore we
pray that your Honours would take the premisses into your
wise Considerations And in your Wisdom and Goodness to
order one of the Marching Companies to have their head
quarters at New Castle and your Petitioners as in Duty
Bound shall Ever Pray.
Bartholemy fouler
Davied Given
John givin
Samuel Nickels
Robert Coheran
Willem Coheran
Robert Givien
Joseph Danel
Robert Houdg
Samul Bougs
Chaisteford Hopkins
Robert Flagg
William Cuningham
James Cuningham
Davd Hopkins
William Hopkins
William McCleleland
John Cuningham
Alexr: Nickels
Joseph Jones
Thomes T Morly
Samuel Hall
Adam C
Patrick Loggon
Nathanael Rolings
Kenelm Winslow
Samuel Hall
John M c N
Samuell Kennedy
Willam Kenedy
Joshay Linscot
Samuel Anderson
William Kennedy
Henry Little
James Little
James Griffen
Joseph Anderson
In Council June 7 th 1757 Read & sent down
82 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Israel Herrick to the Council. June 15, 1757
To there Honours His Majesty 8 Council of the Province of
the Massachssutts Bay
Gentelmen/
as your Honours was pleased to Honour me with a Commis-
sion to Command a Compeiiy of Rangers of 40 men for the
Defence of the Eastern parts to Continue three months from
the first of April 1757 & no longer Except further orders I
therefore begg your Honours to Give me Orders Wheather I
shall Dimiss said Compeny under my Command at the
Exparation of said Term or Continew Longer as I shall with
the Greatis Chearfullness Obay your Honours Orders and
begg leave to subscrib my Selfe your Honours Most Dutefull
most Obedeant and Very Humble Sarvent
Israel Herrick
Fort Shirley at Frankfort June y e 15 th 1757
Letter, Enoch Freeman to the Council
Falmouth June 17 th 1757
The 6 th Inst* in y e Night there came ten or twelve Indians
on Muntinicus Island, on Tuesday Morning they, attempted
to brake open Eben r Hall's House, but Hall perceiv'd them
and knock off a board from y e Roof, to prevent their firing
the House w c some of them were Endeavouring to do at y e
same Time, and Hall fir'd thro' a Loop Hole and said he had
kill'd One, but they return'd y e Fire, and so continued y e
Engagment till Thursday following about 12 o' Clock, when
as Hall was raising his Head over a sort of Breast work he
had prepar'd for ye Purpose to get a shot at y e Enemy, they
sent a Ball through his Head and kill'd him dead on y e Spot,
& then his wife call'd out for Quarter, whereupon Hall's son
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 83
in Law who gives this Accd jumpt out over y e wall of the
House and Hid in the woods, and thereby Escapt and y e
Indians took said Hall's Wife, one Benj a Mortgaridge, and
five Children and Carry'd them off ; the Next Day y e Young
Lad that gives me this Acc6 says he paddled about two
Leagues off in the Bay in a Float, and was taken up by a
small Fishing Schooner belonging to Brunswick the next
Day a Saturday, the said Schooner Went on shoar on s d
Island & found said Hall scalpt, and bury'd him, this Young
Lad is about fifteen or sixteen Years Old, & says they kill'd
several of his Father's Cattle Empty'd y e Fether beds and
carry'd off y* Ticken and every thing Else they cou'd in said
Hall's fishing Boat, he further says a Day or two after his
Father was Bury'd, the Skipper he was on board off went
into Madumpkook where the Indians had Engag'd one Jacob
Elwells House in y e Night sot fire to it, but a sudden Rain,
put it out, and Elwell's wife shot down one Indian with a
Pistoll thro' a Small Port Hole, and another was wounded &
then y e Enemy went off and at Broad Bay the Indians kill'd
a Man & Woman one Smith & his wife who was a Granny
as he heard 'em say at Madumpkook - ~
taken from Joseph Green's own Mouth the Young Lad
abovemention'd
p Enoch Freeman
To the Hon ble his Majesty's Councill May it Please Your
Honours
I thought y e Acco* Inclos'd of the Destruction of m r Hall's
Family at Muntincus &c wou'd not be disagreable to Your
Honours and therefore have inclos'd it as I just now took it
from the mouth of y e Young Lad that made his Escape ;
I am Your Honour's Most Obed* humble Serv*
Enoch Freeman
Falmouth June 17 th 1757
84 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, S r W m Pepperrell to the Council
Honourable Sirs
Since I came from Boston have indeavour'd to put this
part of the Province in as Defencable a manner ag st the
Enemy as was in my power, and have sent to C l0 Gushing
that if there should appear five or more Ships on this Coast
at one & the same time that he would immediately send an
Express.
Some of the officers of the Scouting Companys have made
Complaint to me that the men Enlisted did not care to pro-
ced any further as they Sayd the time they inlisted for was
out and they had never received the two Dollars promis d
them by the General Court the Bounty to inlist, but this
think I have SetteP, we have no news of any damage being
done by the Indians since their killing M r Hall on Mintonicus
Island. & Captivated His Family.
I hope soon to wait on your Hon rs in Boston and shall
take a pleasure at all times to Execute Your Commands
I am with Due respects Hon ble Sirs Your Faithfull and
Most Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
The Honourable His Majestys Council
Letter, Boyce Cooper $ others to 8 r W m Pepperrell
13 July 1757
To the honourable S r W m Pepperell
S r
We your hum 1 Subscribers beg leave to send this our
request to your hono le soldiers of pemaquid fort. - - being
Deeply Sensible of your Willingness & Readiness to Grant
any reasonable favour, Consistent to the Wellfare & advan-
tage of y e people under your Wise administrations, humbly
beg the favour that we may be allowed to Gett in our hay
Or THE STATE OF MAINE 85
from y e Meadows & Else where this Season, and as our
absence from the fort will be but a few days Reterming
home Every Night Do humbly presume you will readly
Grant us the Liberty, & as it will not only be the Means of
preserving the Lives of our Creatures ( through the Ensuing
Winter ) but add also to the main benefit of our familys sub-
sistance, We requested of our Cap* the favour but was
refused, & he knowing the great Injuries done him of Late
by Malicious Enemies Complaining against him &c ) dont in
the Least blame him,
But by his advice to us have taken this Method of apply-
ing to your honour for the Liberty aforesaid and in Granting
of which request we shall ever in Duty bound remain your
faithfull Soldiers & very humble Servants
Boyce Cooper
John M c farland
Rob 1 m c Slattery
Pemaquid 13 th July 1757
Consented to g John North
" Inhabitants of Pearson Town's Petition." July 20, 1757.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Gov r in chief of
his Maj 8 Prov : of y e Mass Bay in New Eng d the Hon ble
his Majesties Council & House of Representatives in gen-
eral Court Assembled Aug* 1757
The Petition of the Inhabitants of a New Township in the
County of York lately granted to Cap* 8 Humphry Hobbs and
Moses Pearson and others Humbly Sheweth
That they live more exposed to the Indian Enemy than
any other Part of the Eastern Country, and that there is no
Settlement so far removed into the Wilderness by Eight Miles
as they are by Reason whereof they could by no means sub-
86 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
sist in Time of War, unless they were help'd by the Govern-
ment the last Year as well as this, which Favour they are in
Duty bound to acknowlege & Return the Hon ble general
Court hearty Thanks for the Same ; but as their Number is
now increas'd to Sixteen Families and the Hon ble Court have
as yet been pleas d to put but Ten of the s d Inhabitants into
Pay, and being quite a new Country & they not being able
to cultivate and improve their Lands in Time of War have
had nothing, or very little else to subsist on this Spring and
Summer than what those ten Inhabitants in Pay of the Prov-
ince have rec d from the Province, divided among the Sixteen
Families, by means whereof most of their Families have been
in a Suffering and at Times in a Starving Condition and must
inevitably quit the Settlement to avoid Perishing with
Hunger
Wherefore your Petitioners humbly beseech your Hon rs to
take Pity on them in their distressed Condition, especially as
they are so remote from the utmost Frontier of any other
Settlement in the County, and give Orders that Sixteen of
said Inhabitants be put into Pay and Subsistance and your
Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray
Pearson Town July 20 th 1757
Thomas Stevens
John Walker Samuel Knowles
Directions to S r W m Pepperrell 8 Aug. 1757.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To Sir William Pepperrell Baronet Major General of his
Majesty's Forces, and Lieutenant General of the Province
aforesaid,
You are forthwith to Repair to Springfield or any other
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 87
part of the Frontiers of the Province where the Service shall
require, and there to collect the Forces now to be raised for
the necessary defence of the Country. Those Forces or such
a number of them as you shall judge necessary you are as
soon as may be to send forward to Reinforce the army now
under the Command of Major General Webb, or any other
Body of his majestys Troops that shall be opposed to the
Enemy, But if such reinforcement shall by any unfortunate
Event be rendered impracticable, or there be no where now
remaining or Collected any such Body to oppose the Enemy
( which said Event may God forbid ) You are then to dispose
of the Forces under your command in such manner upon the
Frontiers of the Province as you shall judge best for the
security thereof, and most conducive to his Service.
You are likewise hereby authorized & directed by yourself
or by any person or Persons under you and specially impow-
ered for that purpose to furnish Provisions or to contract
with any Person or Persons for the victualling the Forces on
the most advantageous Terms for the Province, and as you
shall from time to time find it necessary, and also to appoint
a Commissary or commissaries for the service of such Forces.
For the Encouragement of the Militia You may assure
them that they shall be at liberty to Return home immedi-
ately after the withdraw of the Enemy and that they shall
be kept a distinct Corps as Militia, not Troops, agreeable to
the 11 Section of the Mutiny Act, and under their own Offi-
cers acting in Aid and assistance to his Majestys Regular
Forces.
You have my Liberty to open any Pacquetts by any
Express directed to the Governour or Commander in Chief
from any Officer or Officers of the Army, or which you may
have reason to think contain intelligence of the circumstan-
ces of the Army, or those of the Enemy, causing such Pac-
quetts to be resealed with your own Seal and sent forward
88 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
without delay. You are to keep me constantly advised of
your proceedings.
T Pownall
Boston 8 th August 1757.
Extract of a Letter from Col Partridge to Gov r Pownall
dated Hatfield 10 th Aug 8t 1757.
I am inform'd that a Scout of Col Whitings men from N
4 discover'd a few days since a Body of the Enemy coming
down on the Frontiers of Connecticutt River suppos'd ab*
150. I have ordered two Companies to proceed as far as
Deerfield Expect every hour to hear some part of this
Frontier is attack'd
I have Wrote to Gov r Wentworth (who wrote me word
that he had 200 Men ready on horseback ) to send up Rein-
forcements to N 4.
I have acquainted S r W m Peperel of this
T Pownall
Letter, Gov. Pownall to S r W m Pepperrell
Boston Aug 8t 10, 1757.
Sir
I can only Repeat and do most earnestly that you will
send off all the Men that you can possibly get to go, and that
on Horse back to the aid and assistance of his majestys
forces, and that you will use your utmost endeavours to
expedite them that may not be too late and that you will for
their more safe and regular march put them under the care
and lead of Sir John S* Clair who will by your direction
exercise no other Power over them but what is consistent
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 89
with a Body of Militia voluntarily Marching out of the limits
of the Province and yet will on the other hand prudently
exercise every command that is necessary for their safety
and for the Service they are going upon, however if there be
any difficulty among the People on this head you must send
them in the manner as you can get them to go, and that
without delay. You will be so good as to Communicate this
to Sir John S* Clair who as a good Servant to his majesty
and the Public will be more Sollicitous for the good of the
Service than to Start difficulties about Military Rank and
Command which must Hurt it, and I trust no difficulties will
arise on his part as we intirely agreed in our sentiments
upon this head when he went off with You.
T Pownall
Letter, Gov. Pownall to S* W m Pepperrell
Boston 13 th Aug* 1757
Sir
Since I wrote you in the morning the Council have advised
me to Order up to the Western Frontiers one fourth part of
each Regiment in the Province excepting those in the Coun-
ties of York Nantucket & dukes County : And I have issued
my Orders accordingly.
The Council have likewise advised to the forming a Train
of Artillery of eight pieces of Cannon under proper Officers,
which I shall put in Execution and send thither also as fast
as possible : and I desire that you would advise Cap* Chris-
tie what I am doing, and that you would give the Necessary
Orders for provisions for the people
Your Most Obed 1 Ser*
T Pownall
90 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Gov. Pownall to S r W m Pepperrell
Boston August 13, 1757
y after 12 Noon
Sir
I have just now reciev'd your Letter and the Packet you
forwarded, I have sent the inclos'd Orders to all the Reg 18
that have Troops. I am endeavouring to form a Field Train.
I send this by L* Col Murray whom I must Recommend to
Your Honour for his Services. He comes to assist you in
the matter of Provisions. I must desire you will form a
magazine at Springfield. If the Enemy should approach the
Frontiers you will order all Waggons West of Connecticutt
River to have their Wheels knock'd off, and to Drive the
said Country of all Horses ; to order in all Provisions that
can be brought off & what cannot to destroy, and you will
recieve this as my order not to execute but in such case of
necassity, and then not to fail to do it.
TP
Boston Aug* y e 14 th 12 o Clock M.
Sir
You will before this Express arrives receive an Account
that I have order'd up all the Troop of Horse and a fourth
Part of the Militia to put themselves under your Command,
this will not only enable you to secure the Frontiers but send
off such further Reinforcements as shall be necessary, Gov-
ernour Wentworth having wrote me that he had 200 Men
ready to send off I have desir'd him to send a Reinforcement
to N 4, I am forming a Train of eight Peices of Cannon
which I shall forward as soon as Compleated.
Sir William I must in a most earnest Manner recommend
to your Care the Articles of Provisions and especially Bread
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 91
for the Number of Men you will have with you, & must beg
you will write to M r De Lancey the measures you have taken
and are taking for I am amazed to find that none of our
Troops had reached Albany on the 11 th Instant
Your Honors most Obedient Friend & Servant
T. Pownall.
To S r W m Pepperrell L* General of the Province
P. S. I shall send up Gen 1 Winslow to your Assistance & I
have Appointed Col. Hatch Brigadier of the Horse.
Springfield August 15 th 1757
Sir
Since I wrote your Excellency Eairly this morning by the
Albany Express, I am favour d with yo" of the 13 tb ins 1 I
observe you mention the Advice the Council gave you of
ordering the fourth part of most of the Regiments in the
Province up to the western Frontiers.
Since Col Israel Williams & Col Ruggles are returning if
they and Col Whilders Regiment should hold them selves
in readiness on any Emergence I should think with great
Submistion that it would answer, for I cannot think that any
body of the Enemy will attack any of our Frontiers at pres-
ent and as the Indians return to their horns I apprehend
will be the danger in Small partys, as I before hinted to
Yo r Excellency That if Gov r Wentworth would well Garri-
son N 4 w ch is in His Government it would be a considerable
Barrier to His & our Frontiers, and they might be imply d in
Scouting from one place to the other on the back of the Set-
telments to make discovery if any Enemy was Approaching,
to give the Alarm.
I have hitherto advised Cap* Christie of Yo r Zeal in for-
warding the Militia for their releaf and Shall Still continue
to do the Same.
92 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
as it is an exceeding buisey time with the Farmers it will
be a great damage to take more People then are of necessity
I am Sir Your Excellencys Most obedient and
Most Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
His Excellency Gov r Pownall "Rec d Aug. 17 8 o'clock
A. M. 1757
Letter, Col 3 Williams Ruggles to S r W m Pepperrell
Aug. Id, 1757.
" Letter Colonel Williams & Colonel Ruggles to S r W m
Pepperrell B*
Giving an Account of their Proceeding to the Aid and
Assistance of Gen 1 Webb according to his Excellency Gov.
Pownall's Order & the Reasons of their Return after the
Surrender of Fort W m Henry.
-Copy-
transmitted to his Excellency by S r W m Pepperrell Aug* 16 -
Rec d Aug 1 17 th at Night
Sheffield Aug* 15 th 1757.
Sir William,
We wrote Gov r De Lancy from Kederhook, That we were
there with Part of our Regiments pursuant to his Excel-
lency's Orders, That we were ready to proceed to Fort
Edward to the Aid of the Forces under Generall Webb, and
desired him to let us know the true State of Affairs that we
might be able to form a Judgment how to conduct our
selves.
To which that Gentleman gave us the following Answer.
Viz*
Albany 13 th August 1757
Gentlemen,
I receiv'd your Letter of Yesterday at two of the Clock
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 93
this Morning acquainting me that pursuant to Order rec d
from Governour Pownall you had march'd to Kenderhook part
of your Regiments and desired my Opinion whether you
should proceed to Fort Edward.
By a Letter from Gen 1 Webb of the 11 th Ins* I learn that
he has receiv'd Intelligence which he is certain is true that
the Indians and Canadians were to go off from Fort William
Henry that Day. Therefore I am of Opinion that the Militia
should march up to General Webb's Assistance that he may
be in a Condition to take Advantage of the Absence of the
Indians & Canadians and endeavour to drive the French
back out of Fort William Henry.
This is my Opinion and in this Account my Desire is that
you continue your March, which I hope you have already
begun this morning As to Provisions they are to be had
out of the King's Stores at this Place, Half Moon, Still-
waters, Saratoga and Fort Edward, so that there can be no
Difficulty on that Head.
I am Gentlemen Y r Most Humble Serv*
James Delancy
Col. Williams
Col Ruggles
To which after mature Deliberation & Consultation with
the Field Officers with us we wrote M r Delancy as follows,
and then Order'd our Troops to return.
Kenderhook Aug* 13 th , 1757.
Sir,
We received your Favour of this Day in answer to ours of
Yesterday We don't dispute your Honour's Opinion of
what may be the best Measures for Gen 1 Webb to take at
94 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
this Critical Juncture being now join'd by such a large Body
of Troops
But inasmuch as our March was order'd to continue only
for the Aid and Assistance of the Forces under the Com-
mand of that Gentleman attack'd by the Enemy, & not to
assist in Expeditions that may probably be projected in some
future Time, We can't be of the Opinion that its consistent
with the Orders we are under to proceed to Fort Edward
the Canadians and Indians being withdrawn and the Troops
at that Place not attack'd nor in immediate Danger of
being so.
We are well inform'd of a large Party of the Enemy turn'd
of Eastward from Fort Edward with a Design as it is con-
jectur'd to attack our own Frontiers. Apprehend it our
Duty to make all possible Expedition to their Relief, least a
Delay should prove their Destruction.
We are Your most Obedient Humble Servants
I 1 Williams
J Ruggles
We have Nothing material besides what your Honour will
be appriz'd of by the Expresses before this reaches You.
There was doubtless a most horrible Massacre of our Peo-
ple, but we hope not so many murder'd as was at first repre-
sented. Numbers being come in suppos'd to be slain.
One L* Farnsworth who was taken Captive at N 4 in
April last is now with us on his Return. He says he left
Montreal twenty one Days since, that the French Army he
was told by Maj r Larose consisted of above Eleven Thousand
made up of Old & Young, that they sent over the Country
for Provisions for their Army, and that Those that did not
hide their Wheat had no Bread for their Families, that the
French said there was a large Supply of Provisions at Fort
William Henry and by that they expected Relief. If their
Army did not succeed they must give up for this Year.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 95
That there was fifteen Hundred Utawas in the French Army
which they told him they intended to keep out upon our
Frontiers. That the French expected Loisbourgh would be
invested by the English that they supposed the Siege was
begun, and doubted not but the English would get possession
of it, That he had diverse Times heard of two large Fleets
one of Twenty Vessels, the other of twenty four that were
arriv'd at Quebec with Provisions which he believed was
false. And that after their Army had left Montreal a
Scooner came there and took Provisions out of the King's
Stores to carry to Quebec, and he could not learn that more
than two Ships of War were come to Quebec this Year.
That they said the English would not come to Canada this
Year; That they were like to have exceeding good Crops
this Year. The foregoing is the most material of his
Narrative.
When our Troops were returning and had march'd thirty
Miles and more we receiv'd your Honour's Advice to con-
tinue our March to Fort Edward, but as you was unac-
quainted with what we had receiv'd from M r Delancy ( which
if you had known) we presumed you would not have
directed us as you did, and therefore we did not Counter-
mand our Troops.
One Thing we omitted, Viz* That Evening we arriv'd at
Kenderhook we met one Company of his own Militia which
they told us Gov r Delancy had order'd back for a Protection
of that Place upon the Intelligence he had of the Indians
being come out. We are Your Honour's Most obedient
Humble Servants
Is 1 Williams
Tim Ruggles
96 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, & W m Pepperrell to Gov. Poumall
Springfield August 15 th 1757.
Sir,
Your Excellency's Favour of the 13 th inst* I received.
Last Saturday Morning the Remainder of Col Chandler's
Regiment went over this River to hasten to Fort Edward,
and my Design was to follow them to hasten them forward,
but finding that the Enemy did not intend to come down
lower than Fort W ra Henry I could not see any Good End it
would answer.
Many of the Militia that brought Loaf Bread with them,
before they got here was damnify 'd by the very heavy Rains
that was oblig'd to take the Flower lodg'd in this Town by
M r Kilby and to set the Women baking Bread for our Men.
Your Letter of the 10 th Ins* to me which you directed to
be communicated to S r John S* Clair I immediately wrote
him and inclosed a Copy of your Letter. You have here
inclos'd a Copy of the Letters wrote Captain Christie : As
the French and Indians are returning cannot think there
can be any further Danger from that Quarter all the Danger
at present which I apprehend that as the greatest Part of the
Eastern Tribes of Indians was there, upon their Return to
their Homes may fall on our Frontiers.
I cannot see that I can be of any further service in these
Parts, have thoughts of returning.
I am Sir Your Excellencys most Obed*
and most Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell.
Sir
As I was Sealing this Letter some of Col Ruggles's Men
return'd and inform'd me his and Col Williams's Regiments
had Directions to return back. As I would not delay this
Express I beg you will excuse what is Amiss.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 97
Letter, & W m Pepperrell to Cap* Christie
Springfield Aug 1 15 th 1757.
Sir,
Having Governour Pownall's Directions to unseal and
examine the Contents of the several Letters sent him by
Express on His Majesty's service. I find by Governour De
Lancy's & Y r s of the 12 th and by the Copy of Gen 1 Webb's
of the 11 th to Him that he has pretty certain Intelligence
that the Enemy purpose to return without making an
Attempt on Fort Edward.
If this should by any further Advices be more Confirmed,
I suppose General Webb will soon think of dismissing such
of the Militia of this Province as may be with him at Fort
Edward.
I hope, Sir, sufficient care will be taken that those Men
who were earliest in their March ( to relieve the Garrison in
its Distress ) & so will be last in their Return will be prop-
erly supply'd with Provisions necessary for them therein,
and of this I can't in the least doubt as the People pushed
away in great Haste & therefore illy provided and many of
them without Money or opportunity to purchase Necessaries
on their March And as this at least will be necessary to
preserve in them the same good Disposition readily to give
their Assistance on any like unhappy Occasion hereafter.
And as it is the Midst of Harvest, and the People left
their Business in great Confusion and Disadvantage at Home
I trust Gen 1 Webb will dismiss them as soon as possibly he
can with Safety. While I am writing I am told by some
Soldiers returning that Col Ruggles and Col Williams have
ordered the Return of their Regiments apprehending the
Danger to be over on Hudsons River, and suspecting that
like Scenes of Cruelty and Barbarity may soon be in Connecti-
cut ( which God prevent ) I suppose they had the Advice
of some Gentlemen with You on this Head.
98 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
And as I now Conceive I can be of no possible Service on
the Western Frontier, and suspecting that the People in the
Eastern Part of the Province ( who if any deserve my partic-
ular Concern) May be soon attack'd, I think of returning
thither from hence instead of proceeding Westward as I
design'd
I am Sir Your most Obed* Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
Cap* Christie
Letter, 8 r W m Pepperrell to Col. Jn Worthington
Boston August 25 th 1757
Col John Worthington
Sir
Yours of the 22 d ins* Col Murray communicated to the
Gov r & Council who have directed me to write to you to
dispose of the twenty Eight Cattel left under your care as
you Shall think best for the intrest of the Province if M r
Lyman will purchase them for M r Kilby he may draw on his
Agent Col Jarvis for the money, the affair is left with you
inclosed you have Acco* of the cost I am with much
Esteem S ir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
Petition of Richard Cutt Timothy Grerrish Adm or *
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Capt n General &
Com r in Cheif in & over His Majestys Province of the
Massachusetts Bay The Hon ble His Majestys Council &
House of Representatives In General Court Assembled
this 16 th Aug 8t 1757
The Petition of Rich d Cutt and Timothy Gerrish Adm ri
i
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 99
on the estate of Samuel Mitchel late of Kittery in the County
of York mariner dec d Humbly Sheweth
That the Creditors claims on s d estate amount to forty
three pounds eleven shillings & four pence more than the
personal Estate of s d dec d and the Land Sold by order of the
Superiour Court at York 1756 which will appear by the Reg-
ister of Probates certificate herewith exhibited.
That s d Claims were not compleated until since the sitting
of the Sup r Court in the County of York in June last ; So
that application could not be made hi that Court for a fur-
ther sale of lands. That it will be ten Months before the
Sup r Court will be held in the County of York again -
Your Pet" therefore pray your Excell y & Honours to
Impower them to make Sale of So much of the dec d " Real
Estate as will pay the sum afores d & the Charges that may
Accrue on the Sale thereof ; and Your Pet" as in duty bound
shall ever pray -
Rich d Cutt for himself and in behalf of s d Gerrish
Letter, Gov. Pownall to S r W m Pepperrell
Boston Aug* 17 th 57.
8 o Clock A M
Dear Sir William,
I this Moment receiv'd Yours dated Springfield August
15th j ^ SU pp OS e that before this You will have receiv'd
my Letter acquainting You that I had wrote to Governour
Wentworth to send up Reinforcements to N 4. I did it
from my general Idea prior to any particular Information,
knowing the Danger of that Part of the Country, I did it
also as his Excellency had wrote me Word that he had
200 Men ready to send off on Horseback, but did not know
how he should provide for the Expence, I thought the two
100 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Hundred so inconsiderable a Reinforcement that I thought
such would be better employ'd at N 4.
I received Yesterday the Packet your Honour forwarded,
I will ask the Opinion of the Council & give immediate
Orders thereupon & in the mean while I shall send up Major
General Winslow to Worcester with Orders to forward or
send back the Troops now under Marching Orders as the
Case shall require & You will give him Your Orders accord-
ingly I order'd those Troops up upon the Idea that the
Frontier Country was left naked So many being gone for-
ward out of the Province, as also that you might have with
you a sufficient Number out of which to send off more,
should more have been necessary I agree with you that as
the Regiments are returning back to the Frontiers, the same
Necessity for the Inland Regiments Marching up to the
Frontiers does not subsist. But the Necessity of being pro-
vided against the Enemy till we have a certain & absolute
Assurance that they are no longer in the Country does still
subsist, and as they are now march'd and upon the March a
Day or two will make no great Difference with them but
may be of the utmost Consequence to the Country should we
hastily and too securely take any wrong Measures.
I beg Sir William, That you will In Form Give my Thanks
to the Gallant Officers & Men who have on this Occasion so
chearfully turn'd out to serve their Country I shall alway
retain a very high Esteem and Honour for Them and do
every Thing that falls within my Power to make them
Amends for the Fatigue & Expence they must have under-
gone.
Sir William as soon as I can be able to form any determin-
ate Judgment I will write further to You, In the mean Time
You will go on to act upon your own better Judgment &
Intelligence.
None of the Eastern Regiments march'd I have exempted
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 101
them from the General Order on Account of the exposed
Condition of that Country.
1 have y e honor to be Sir Your freind & servant
T Pownall
P : S : Tho' the French did not advance upon F* Edward
when They found Reinforcements coming up to Gen 1
Webb & that He was likely to be Strengthen'd : Yet
If the Reinforcements return home & leave him
weakend & Defenceless As He complains, Will They
not then come upon him.
Petition of Cap* Moses Pearson
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excell* Tho 8 Pownall Esq r Gov r in Chief of his
Maj 8 Prov : of Massa : Bay To the Honourable His Maj-
estys Council And House of Representitives in General
Court assembled Aug* 1757
The Petition of Moses Pearson of Falmouth in the County
of York Humbly sheweth : that Your petitioner with a nom-
ber of Others to Whome was Granted By the General Court
a tract of Land at Sabago pond in s d County, on Which the
Grantees have At a Considerable Expence Cleared Roads
made Bridges and Erected a Good Garison. and setled a
nomber of Inhabitants suplyed s d Garison with one small
Garage Gun and two wall peaces, and a small quantety of
ammunition for larram in Case of an attack.
Your Honours have Been pleased to put into Y r pay and
subsistance ten of s d Inhabitants to inable them to Keep that
part of the Fronteer which favour shall allways Be acknowl-
edged by y r Petitioners
But so it is there haith not as Yet Been any alowance Of
Guns or ammunition made for s d Garison the want of Which
102 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
in case of an attack by any Considerable nomber of the
Enemy. May Be the loss of the place and people. Therefore
Your petitioner Humbly Prays Yr Honours Wold Be pleased
to suply s d Garison : With some swivel Guns and a quantety
of ammunition as in Yr Known Wisdom and Goodness shall
see- meet, and yr petitioner as in Duty Bound Shall Ever
pray In the name and Behalf Of s d Grantees
Moses Pearson
Broad Bay Petition " August 1757"
May it Please Your Houners
To receive in thes few lines, an Account of the Griefances,
of the most part of the Settlers at Broad Bay.
The Continuation of the Warre, and the cruelty of the
Indian Enemy Used here, has been a terror to us and been a
Great hinderance to our Labour ; Tho we bare all that with
patiece, as long as we were Capable to mentain in some measure,
our large Famelys, but now with Tears in our Eyes, must
Acqaint Your Hon rs that our harvest is so miserable, as ever
been Known by Man Kind, so that the most of Us will not
be able to reap the Seed, which we Sowed with hard Labour,
and in danger of our lives, owing to the deep Snow, which
lasted till the middle of May, and then the Great drought
which followed: We See no way to Keep us, and Large
Famelys from Starving (as the respective Towns in the
Western parts, refuse to receive any of Us,) We therefore
hope Your Hon rs will be pleased to take our deplorable case
in to Consideration, what Damage it would accrue to the
Eastern parts, in case such a Number of Famelys should be
forced to breake up, as we are at the borders of the Enemy,
certainly the rest of the Settlements, betwixt this, and North
Yarmouth would be Obliged to follow Us, as they then would
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 103
be exposed and incapable to Stand their Ground, and sucli
Number of Famely's, would certainly become a Great Charge
and Trouble to this Provinz : We therefore Humbly implore
Your Hon ri mercy ; to allowe onely an Allowance of Provis-
ion, for three months, to each of Us, which with the roots we
perhaps may raise, would in some measure make us able, to
cutt Wood, and other Lumber, against, and during the Win-
ter, to provid for us and poor Famelys, till a further Har-
vest ; Which would prove a Great benefit to the Country in
Generall by Keepeing the fronteers Strongly Settled, and
Save a vast Charge, and Trouble, which would come upon
the Provinz ; by the Multitude of so many poor Souls, also
a benefit to the Westerd, by Supplying that part with fire
Wood, and other Lumber.
We Humbly repose our Self's, unto Your Hon rB Mercy,
and shall in Duty bound for ever Pray
M , Johannes, H , g , J , Mat , S , Jacob, Jacob,
J , J , Jacob, Jo , Jo , M , S , P , L , E ,
Johannes, Johan , J , Johannes, Anthon , A , J ,
Johann , M , J , Jorg , Johann , P , Johann ,
Frank, Balthesar, L , O , Paulus, David, M , Conrad,
Jo , Johannnes, F , C , Johan , J , K , S , Jakob,
Jakob, T , J , Jacob, Paul, S , Johan, P , G , D .
That the Circumstances mentioned in this Petion being the
truth we do hereby Certifie
C. C. Leissner, Com dr
Math 8 R town Cap*
Joseph Kent
Lebanon, Petition.
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Captain General &
Governour in Chief in & over His Majesty's Province of
104 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Massachusetts Bay in New England, The Hon ble His
Maj t9 Council & House of Represent 8 in General Court
assembled at Boston August 18 1757
The Petition of the Inhabitants of the now Township at
the Head of Berwick in y e County of York called Lebanon,
most humbly Sheweth
That the Said Township was granted by the Great & Gen-
eral Court of this Province more than twenty Years Since to
Sixty persons und r the Conditions of clearing a certain
Quantity of Land and building Houses thereon, and inhabit-
ing y e Same and Settling an Orthodox Minister &c., within
Seven Years from the Date of said Grant as may more at
large appear on the Records of this Hon ble Court.
But so it was that most of the original Grantees Sold their
Rights to other persons, some of whom have sold their home
Lots containing about 25 Acres each, to y e present Inhabi-
tants ( reserving their Interests in the future Divisions to
themselves ) the S d Inhabit* 8 consisting of about twenty Fam-
ilies; And y e present Proprietors being generally men of
large Estates many of whom live in New hamps r do not need
Settlem 18 for themselves, nor will they Sell at so low or cheap
a Rate as that a poor Man can purchase. And thus by the
Merchandize or buying and selling the Rights in this, as well
as other Townships y e Number of Inhabit* 8 continue Small &
are like so to do unless remedied by this hon ble Court.
The said Inhabitants would further Shew or inform this
hon ble Court that they have no Settled Minister nor are they
able to Support the Gospel among them and that the Pro-
priet deny to do any thing tow ds the Settlem* of a Minister.
And they live about Six Miles from Rochester y e nearest
place of publick Worship, & a River to pass over, So that
they can't but Seldom attend publick Worship. That
they have not a School for the Children alth6 a Lott for the
first Settled Minister & a School was allowed by said Grant.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 105
That they have not a Grist Mill in S d Township. And
the Said Prop" deny to grant them the Priviledge of the
Stream or River alth6 it was laid out and reserved for that
purpose, and are obliged to carry their Corn as far as Ber-
wick which is at least Ten Miles & in which they spend so
much time as to be a great Hindrance to their Husbandry.
Your Petition would farther represent that they have not
been allowed Soldiers to guard them in this War, and con-
ceive that they are not any better protected by y e ranging
Company allowed by the Governm* being in great Danger of
their own & Families Lives while upon their Necessary Busi-
ness abroad.
Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that this Hon ble
Court would be pleased to take the Premisses under your
wise Consideration and either Declare the Rights of such of
y e Propriet or Grantees ( who have not fulfilled the Condi-
tions of the Said Grant) forfeited, and grant the Lands not
Settled to Such as will Settle the Same within a Suitable
Term Or grant the Inhabitants of Said Township ( or Some
other meet persons ) power & Authority to lay a Tax of one
penny g r Acre g r Annum on all the unimproved Lands
within the said Township belonging to the non-resident pro-
prietors. And the Money so raised to be applied to Settle &
Support the Gospel among the Inhabit 18 of said Township,
and also a School for their Children. And that this hon ble
Court woud also grant them a Suitable place within said
Township to bnld a Grist Mill, and order that a Number of
Soldiers may be Sent to Guard the said Inhabitants, and that
yo r Excellency & Hon would so far compassion* their diffi-
cult Condition & Circumstances as to grant such further or
other Relief in the Premisses As to your great Wisdom &
Goodness shall seem meet.
And your Petit 1 " 8 Shall ever pray &c
Benjaman Tibbets Henry Bickford Ephraiin Blasdell
106 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Dodge Joseph Farnam John grindle
Edward Burrows Solomon Tebbets John door
Beiaman ash Jacob Hassam Samuel fall
John Clou tm an John Whitehouse Samuel Denney
Paul Farnam Phillip Door Richard Door
Ruben Hussey Benjamin furbish Joseph Rankens
William Tebbets Ebenezer Tebbets
In the house of Rep 8 Dec r 16, 1757 Read and Ordered
That the Consideration of this Petition Be referred till the
Next Setting of this Court ; and that the petitioners serve
the Clerk of the Propriety of said Township with a Copy
thereof and that said Clerk be & is hereby Directed to return
a List at s d Session of all the Lotts that are not Settled within
said Township pursuant to the order of the General Court
when the Original Grant was made as also an attested Copy
of all the Votes and Grants of money made by the Grantees :
( or proprietors ) Towards forwarding y e s d Settlement
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council Decem r 16. 1757
Read and Concur'd . Tho 8 Clarke Dp*? Secry
Answer
In Council Aug' 19, 1757.
Read & Ordered that the Prayer of the Petition be granted,
and the Petitioners are allowed to sell so much of the Real
Estate of the said Deceas'd as shall be sufficient for the Pur-
pose within mentioned, to such Person or Persons as shall
give most for the same And that they account for the Produce
thereof with the Judge of Probate for the County of York ;
Provided, before such Lands be sold they post up Notifications
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 107
thereof agreeable to the Law for impowering Exec" & Admin"
to make Sale of Real Estate.
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
In the House of Rep 8 Aug* 19. 1757.
Read and Concurred. T. Hubbard Spk r
Consented to T Pownall
Letter, Col. John Worthington to Col Murray
Springf d Aug 4 22 d 1757 -
Sir
Last Evening M r Comissary Lyman was here to see if y e
Cattle you had purchass d for y e Governm 18 might be pur-
chass d for M r Kilby. S r W m refer y e Matter wholly to me I
fully Concluded y e Governm 18 had no present Occasion for
'em That they would be a growing Charge, Pasturage Scare
&c & that it w d be best he sh d have 'em but Nothing Could
be done as no Orders were for disposing of 'em nor any
Price Known. M r Lyman will want 'em if he can have
about 8 or Ten days Hence perhaps sooner he desir d me to
write to Know if they might be had and at what Price That
he might Know if it would answer for Him to have them.
If you have discharg d your Self of 'em wholly & they now
lie on the Province I think you would Continue to serve y e
Publick if you would Advise 'em Hereof and send word if
they may be Sold & the Terms.
I proposed to Him to have 'em At y e Price you gave &
pay the Bill of Charge but tho he did not refuse that he
would not Conclude to do it without knowing the Original
Price & y e Consequent Cost
You will on this Advice do that in this Affair that you
shall Apprehend will best serve your Province to Contribute
a Little also to which is y e Motive I have in writing you this
I am S r most Sincerely Your Assur d Friend &
John Worthington
108 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Sir W m Pepperrell to Cf-ov. Pownall Aug. 2, 1757.
Sir
Psuant to your Excellencys orders upon your hearing of
Fort William Henry being invested by the Enemy I hasten d
to Springfield and to anoy the Enemy but upon my Ariving
there, found the Garrison was delivered to the Enemy
I would observe to yo r Excellency that those Regiments in
the Lower part of the Province that you ordered one quarter
part of the men in the Train list to March up to be under
my direction gave me pleasure to See such a brave English
Spirit as appear d in them ready to resque their Lives in the
Service of their King & Country, But there was but one
field officer came with them, and maney detachments that
was draught d out of Several Compannys no Commission offi-
cer was Sent with them and while some of them so came I
expected immediately to have ben in Action, and Your
Excellency must be Senciable that at such time the Com-
manding officer could have but Little time to Regiment them
nor is it Likely that proper persons could be found amongst
them to take the places of Field Officers, If there Should
be the like occasion as we may Expect in a time of Warr
Alarms if there was a number of able body'd men draughted
out of each Regiment with Proper officers able to Travel &
proper to Command them to be at an hours warning to
March to any place invested by the Enemy it might be of
gread Service to this Province and Save considerable expence
I am Sir Yo r Excellencys Most Humble
and Most Obedient Servant
W m Pepperrell
Letter, S r W m Pepperrell to G-OV Pownall
Kittery Sept r 16 th 1757
Sir
Since my coming here I would let Your Excellency know
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 109
that there has been Several Small parties of the Enemy dis-
covered Sculking on our back Settelments I have sent to the
Commanders of the Scouting Compannys to be Very carefull
& dilligent and have wrote them some Schems w ch if fol-
lowed I hope will be a means of taking some of the Enemy,
and as soon as my health will permit my design is to goo to
the most expos d places and see that the Inhabitants are on
their Guard, who I am inform d are reatch d careliss in
Queen Anns war we had five Towns in this County destroy d
in one day, and I am afraid that the People being so Careless
that it will be a means of bringing the Enemy upon us as
every part of this County is a Front r in the three year Warr
so call d there was a Law made that oblig d the Inhabitants to
Garrison the most proporest Houses to guard them and the
others to go & do Duty there without any great cost to the
Publick by w ch y e People made a Stand
If there was a Law made to oblige those that Live in the
Frontiers to carry their Arms & ammunition with them when
they went from their own Houses it might be a means of
detering the Enemy when they See we were provided to
meet them,
I beg you will be so good as to Excuse my being trouble-
some, these are my present tho t8
I am with the Utmost Esteem S ir Your Excellencys Most
Obedient and Most Humble Servant
W m Pepperrell
Certificate.
These Certifie That I have for a number of Years past paid
out of my Office, to the Second Parish in this Town their
proportion of Money rais'd for a School upon their certifying
110 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
that they had provided a School for themselves this being
agreeable to a Vote of the Town.
North Yarmouth g Gilbert Win slow Town Treasur r
Oct r 17. 1757.
Petition of David Butler Adm or $ Martha Hatcli, Widow.
To his Excellency Thomas Pownel, Esq r Cap* General &
Gomander In Chief in & Over his Majesties Province of y*
Massachusets Bay to The Honor ble his Majestic Councell and
House of Representatives in General Court assembled Novem-
ber 23, 1757
The Petition of David Butler of Falmouth as he is admin-
istrator to y e Estate of Benjamin Hatch late of said Falmouth
Deceas d and Martha Hatch wido_ of sai d Deceas d Humbly
Sheweth That The personal Estate of sa d Deces d Falls Short
of paying his Just Debts & charge of Administration the
Sum of Nineteen pound Six shilling. & 8 d as appears by Cer-
tificate herewith Exhibated whereby it becomes Necessary
that part of y e Real Estate be sold for payment of Said Debts
and in as much as y e Estate of y e Decesed is but Small being
apprized at Sixty two pounds 13/ and So Scituated that if
part onely be sold will in a Great Measure Spoil y e Sail of y e
Remainder and no part thereof Sell for So much in propor-
tion as y e whole would Do if sold Togather Therefore Your
Petitioners Humbly Pray That You_ Excellency & Honours
would Enable Them to Make Sale of y e Whole of y e Real
Estate aforeSa d The wido of Sai d Deceasd Giving sufficient
Caution to y e Judg of Probate for y fl Count, of Barnstable for
one third of the Principle sum y e sa d Estate shal be sold for
and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall Ever Pray.
David Butler ) .
[ Administrator
Martha Hatch i
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 111
Report.
The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of David
Curtis & others a Committee chosen by the 2 Parish of North
Yarmouth praying they may be made a Town or district &c
beg leave to report that we are of opinion that y r prayer is
reasonable & that the same be granted, & that the Petitioners
have liberty to bring in a bill for erecting them into a district
by order of y e Committey
Richd Cutt
In Council Dec r 6. 1757
Read and Accepted. And Ordered that the Petitioners
have liberty to bring in a Bill accordingly.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep 8 Dec r 8. 1757
Read and Concurred. T. Hubbard Spk r
Letter, Lord Colvill to Q-ov. Pownall Dec. 7, 1757
Sir
The inclosed Letters were sent me from Lunenburgh,/
about 12 Leagues to the westward of this/. The Vessel
which was carrying them to Boston put into that Place, and
has continued there ever since. As we have nothing here,
belonging to the King, fit to guard this Coast in the Winter
Season ; I have borrowed the Monkton Schooner of 60 Tons,
from Governour Lawrence, have fitted her as a Cruizer, have
given the Command of her to Leu* Cosby of the Orford with
45 Men, and have appointed her to Cruize between the
Capes Sable and Sambrough, for the protection of our New
England Trade. My Regard for a worthy People, among
whom I spent the only three years of my Life, of which I
can truely say I lived, makes me exult in this weak Effort of
my Desire to serve them.
112 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
As I have Dispatches of considerable Moment for the
Lords of the Admiralty, 1 have directed M r Cosby to push
over from Cape Sable to Piscataqua, and deliver them,
together with this Letter for you to Captain Donkley of the
Enterprize : After which he is to return to his Station with-
out a Moment's loss of Time. I am Sir Your
Excellency's most obedient humble Servant
Colvill
Northumberland Halifax
Merryconeeg Neck incorporated into a separate District. 1757.
Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi 31.
An Act for incorporating a Neck of Land called Merry-
coneeg Neck & Certain Islands Adjacent, in the County
of York, into a Seperate District by the Name of
Whereas the Inhabitants of said Merryconeeg Neck, & the
Islands Adjacent have humbly represented to this Court the
Difficulties & great Inconveniences they labour under, in
their present situation, and have earnestly requested that
they may be invested with the Powers, Priviledges & Immu-
nities of a District,
Therefore, Be it enacted by His Excellency the Gov r Coun-
cill and House of Representatives That the said Neck of Land
Beginning where Brunswick Line meets the upper End
of said Neck which is four Rods above the Narrows of said
Neck commonly called the Carrying Place from thence
including the whole of said Neck down to the Sea, Together
with the Islands Adjacent, hereafter mentioned, Viz* Great
Sebasco=degin Island, alias Shapleigh's Island, Little Sebasco-
degin Island, and Wills Island, lying to the Southeast side of
said Neck; Birch Island, White's Island, and two Goose
Islands lying on the Northwest side of said Neck, and Dam-
aris Cove Island, lying at the lower End of said Neck, be and
OP THE STATE OF MAINE 113
hereby are incorporated into a seperate District by the Name
of
And the said Inhabitants of said Neck of Land and Islands
be and hereby are invested with all the Powers, Priviledges
and Immunities, that other Towns in this Province by Law
do, or may enjoy, that of sending a Representative only
excepted.
And be it further enacted, that John Minott Esq r be and
hereby is impowered to Issue his Warrant to some Principal
Inhabitant of the said District requiring him in his Majestys
Name to warn & notify the said Inhabitants qualifyed to vote
in Town Affairs, that they meet together at such Time, and
place, in said District, as by said Warrant shall be appointed,
to chuse such Officers as the Law directs, & may be neces-
sary to manage the Affairs of said District and the said Inhab-
itants being so mett, shall be and hereby are impowered to
chuse such Officers Accordingly.
In Council Deccm r 21 st 1757 Read a first and second tune
and pass'd to be Engrossd
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
[n the House of Rep" Dec r 21. 1757
Read a first Time. 23 rd Read a second time. Jan: 4.
1758. Read a third Time, and passed a Concurrence.
T. Hubbard Spk r
" to bring in a Clause enabling them to join w th Brunswick
in y e Choice of a rep ve ."
Message 1757
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
When I last mett You, it was upon a sudden & alarming
Emergency, to provide such Expedients as might remove the
Danger that was upon the Country.
114 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
I now call upon You, at your usual time of Meeting to
Deliberate upon & Form Such a Permanent System of well-
grounded Measures as may not leave the Country to the dan-
gerous Risque of Temporary Expedients & shiftings off of
Dangers when they are near ; but may found its Being & its
Well-being on such Wise Steady and Uniform Courses as
may keep them farr off.
When You see the Enemy possess'd of every Pass & Post,
& Masters of the intire Water=communication thro' out the
whole country ; You will see how firmly they hold the Com-
mand of the Continent : When You consider their Alliance &
ascendancy over y e Savages ; You will see how firmly they
hold y e Command of every Indian on y e Continent : When
you Consider this Command ( as it is ) United and Effective
in its Power ; & Feel how great that Power is ; What it has
done, & _ it is prepared to do ; If the Facts themselves will
not convince You of y e Danger you are in from the Enemy,
My Word cannot. When you consider the State of this
Country Whether it be not Labouring almost to its utmost
Strength under the Weight of Taxes ; and whether It be in
any Suitable or Effectual State of Defense either in its Fron-
tiers or its Militia ; in any state of Defense to Which the
Liberties y e Lives y e dear-bought Property of the People can
be faithfully entrusted ; If Your own Eyes will not convince
of the Danger you are in from your own helpless Condition ;
My words cannot.
If you are convinc'd of these interesting Truths, and it
much imports the Safety of the Country that You, Gentle-
men, of y e General Court, should be convinc'd, you will then
by Law Provide that Your Frontiers may be Effectually cov-
erd That your Militia may be a Real & Actual Defense.
The Country has People Spirit & Abilities An effectual
Law adapted to our present circumstances, to Arm & Form
them is all that is Wanting : This Remedy lyes, Gentlemen,
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 115
with You, & whether You will apply it or not is Your Busi-
ness and not Mine. Under the unhappy & defective State
You are in, I can Do my Duty, for I can Do all that is in my
Power : And all that is in my Power, however ineffectual
that may be, I will do, to maintain & Defend this Country.
But if you will by Law Provide for the Effectual Execu-
tion of such Powers, as Your ever valuable Charter gives
You to use for your Defense and the Repelling of any Enemy
that shall attempt or Enterprize the Destruction or Invasion
of the Province : I will then from a Confidence in the Cour-
age and Spirit of the People be Answerable for the Safety &
Well being of the Province.
I do not call upon you to go into Expeditions and Offen-
sive Measures, that I know wou'd prove fruitless, that wou'd
wast the Treasure, & exhaust y e Strength of y e Province ;
I do not call upon You to fight for Parts of this Country
least Ye loose the Whole : I advise You to save Your
strength, to collect your Force, to treasure up your Money
'till God by y* course of his Providence shall call us forth
One & All to Wreck his Vengeance on y e Breakers of Peace,
the Violaters of Faith, the Enimies of Liberty, the French in
Canada. When that Good Time shall come, we know that
One & All we are willing, One & All we are able to destroy
Them. All that can be hoped at present, & all that I do
hope from You, under y e Circumstances to which the Enemy
& your Misfortunes have reduced You, is that You will in
the mean time Provide for y e Defense of this Country that
Your Fathers have left You : And that You will not in y e
mean time give up that Good Old Cause for which They
have so often bled.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
On these Principles I recommend to You in the First place
to Examine into y e State of this Defense, & to take Care, as
far as comes within Your Department, that no Monies be
116 DOCUMENT ABY HISTORY
applyed to Useless or Wastfull Measures ; That y e Service
of the People be not fraudulently or causelessly employ 'd :
Next, as Your Taxes are & must continue ( while y e Emmy
thus prevails ) very great & greivous, that You be notte qui
exhausted to examine into y e State of these Resources whence
they arise : And that Ye establish the sure & lasting Interest
of the Country on that Trade which is founded in Ecconomy,
which is founded in y e Profitts that arise from your own
Produce Labour and Exports.
To this End I shall lay before You such matters of Infor-
mation as come to my Knowledge, and shall direct y e Secre-
tary to lay before You all such Papers as may be of Use in
your deliberations. I have directed him to lay before You
The Earl of Loudouns letters to me proposing as a Plan
whereby much may be saved to this Province that I shou'd
send him some Companies of Rangers in lieu of Troops now
in the pay of y e Province at Fort Edward. And I make no
doubt, You will provide accordingly, as by this measure, only
Part will be expended of What must have been otherwise
necessary to keep y e Regiment up till March, & y e greater
Part saved to y e Province : By my letter to his Lordship You
will see what Measures I proposed to save the Expence of
New Levies.
T Pownall
New Marblehead, Report JanV 1758.
The Com tee of both Houses appointed on the Petition, of
the Inhabitants of New Marblehead (so called) and the
Answer thereto, having attended that Service beg Leave to
report.
That the Lands included in the Township of s d New Mar-
blehead ( as the Com tee were informed by the Agent for the
tion
Oth
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 117
Proprietors, & the Respondents, were granted ( long since )
by the gen 1 Court to a Number of Persons on certain Condi-
tions and Forfietures, with which, some of them in Part, and
ers not at all.
The Com tee are therefore of Opinion That as the Record
of the Grant to said Proprietors was consumed when the
Town House was burnt the s d Proprietors be directed to lay
their original Grant before this Court ; as also an Acco* how
far the respective Proprietors have complyed with the Con-
ditions thereof, on or before the second Tuesday of the next
Sitting of this Court ; without which, the Com tee apprehend
they cannot proceed, knowingly any further in said Affair
by order of the Committe
John Hill
In Council Jan y 12, 1758 Read and Accepted & accord-
ingly Ordered that the said Proprietors lay their Original
Grant before this Court, as also an Account how far the
respective Proprietors have complyed with the Condition
thereof on or before the second Tuesday of the Next sitting
of this Court.
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
In the House of Rep" Jany 1758.
Read and Concurred T. Hubbard Spk r
Of the Defense of our Inland Frontiers.
[ Enclosed in Gov r Pownal's Letter to M r Pitt.]
For the Eastern Frontiers all that I shall require at pres-
ent is that the House will make Provision for the usual
Establishment for the Forts & Garrisons there till the open-
ing of the Campaign in Spring. When that Time comes it
118 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
will be necessary to get out into the Field our Scouting
Parties.
I do therefore Recommend it to the House to make Pro-
vision as I shall place in the Lodgment at the upper Gar-
18 rison in Lebanon 18 men to Scout over the Tract between
that and Phillips Town Garrison.
25 Men in the Lodgment in Phillips Town Garrison or
Saco Truck House to Scout over the Country between
those Posts.
15 Men at a Lodgment in Narragansett No. 1. to Scout
between Pierson & Hobbs Town.
15 Men at the Lodgment in Pierson & Hobbs Town to
Scout between that & New Marblehead.
8 Men at New Marblehead to Scout between that and New
Boston.
12 Men at New Boston to Scout between that and New
Glocester.
36 Men at New Glocester to Scout between that and the
Falls of Amarescoggin.
Now to continue this Line of Scouts without Interrup-
tion It is necessary there shou'd be a Lodgment ( a Block
house or Picketted House ) If the House will make Pro-
vision for such a sufficient one here the Fort at Bruns-
wick will become Useless, and I will accordingly Dis-
mantle it to save Expence there being then a Lodgment
20 here I shou'd post 20 Men here to Scout the Country
lying between Amarescoggin and the upper part of Top-
sham on Kennebec.
15 Men at Frankfort to Scout the Country between Kene-
beck & Sheepscott River.
6 Men at Sheepscott Town Garrison to Scout the Country
lying between that and the head of Damariscotta.
15 Men at the Fort here to Scout the Country between
Damariscotta and Broad Bay.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 119
20 Men at the block house here to Scout the Country
between this and Georges in all
203
The Officers necessary for these Parties will be as far as
the District of Sir William Pepperells Regiment Extends A
Captain to take Care of the Duty of the whole, a Lieu*
which I shall Post at the Truck House at Saco. the Com-
manders at the other Posts and Parties need be only Ensigns
or Serjeants.
For the District of Brigadier Waldo's Regiment two Cap-
tains to take care of the Duty of the whole, one on the West-
ern part of Kennebec, one on the Eastern. A Lieutenant
which I shall post at the Falls of Amorescoggin. A Lieu-
tenant over that Party which Scouts towards Georges, and
the rest Ensigns or Serjeants. The reason of having Lieu-
tenants in these several Districts is that there may be a
proper Officer to command these Parties when by Rendevouz
form'd into larger Bodies.
I shall order these lesser Parties at proper Seasons to Ren-
devouz & Form in Larger Bodies to make Incursions for a
few days up into the Country. Willing at all Times of my
own free Motion to Explain the principles upon which I act,
and at all Times Willing to take the Advice of the People
even in matters where the Determination does by the Charter
lye wholly with the Governor. I do in this manner lay the
State of the Service of our Inland Frontiers before You.
It hath been found necessary to Erect several Forts &
Establish several Garrisons towards the Entrance of the Riv-
ers Seawards as a further Defense & Cover to the Inhabitants
against the Enemy coming from Penobscott Bay upon our
Sealine.
Now the Expence of all these Forts & Garrisons might be
saved, and the Defense of the People more Effectually pro-
vided for against this Enemy, by one sufficient Fort in Penob-
120 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
scott Bay. If therefore the House will make Provision for
the Building such a Fort I will Dismantle those at Pemaquid
& Georges & with the Stores of those Furnish & Arm such
Fort, and the same, if not a less number of Men than is
employ'd in these two Forts will serve for this one. So that
no Expence will be incurr'd but in the Erecting it. A Reim-
bursement of which Expence might surely arise from the
Petitioners who pray for a Grant of this Land as they would
( if their Petition be Granted ) thus receive the Land already
Fortified and Defended for them, & so much more Valuable.
A Fort Erected there now in time of War Effectually
Secures the Property to the Province from any Pretence of
Claim either from French or Indian.
A Fort there would effectually in Time of War Restrain
all the Indian Enemies we have left in the Eastern parts, the
Noridgwaegs, Penobscot and S* John's, and in Time of Peace
would be the properest place for a Truck House removed
from the Settlements.
Further by Taking Post there we may Form so easy a
Communication between that and Fort Halifax on Kenne-
becke River as totally & absolutely to Possess and Command
all that Country. By these two Forts and a much Less num-
ber of Scouts than we must continue to keep up without it.
These two Forts I say, and the Line between constantly cov-
er'd with a Scout will also Effectually cutt off all communi-
cation with the Eastern Indian with Canada Thro' the Terri-
tories of New England, it must necessarily turn their Path
up thro' S* Johns by which means they will soon cease to
know the Country & will consequently cease to make War
in it, or to hunt in it.
The Nature of the Thing points out this measure : The
occasion calls for it : There never was so good an opportunity
as the present : While the Enemy must be collecting all their
Strength to the Westward to oppose Lord Loudoun : If you
OP THE STATE OF MAINE 121
loose this opportunity You can never have an other and
Remember I do declare you will ever after Repent you did
not take this Advise.
I must here on the part of the Eastern Frontiers in the
same manner as on the Western add, That if the Particular
Circumstances of any Settlement require the assistance of the
Government to enable them to Defend themselves & main-
tain their Possessions against the Enemy. Whenever the
House will think it proper to make Provision for such I will
take them into Pay according to the Establishment.
T Pownall
Message.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
I am sensible that you have made provision for the pay &
Subsistence of eight men at Fort Halifax but I am at a loss
what could be intended by the Expression of adding eight
Men.
When I recommended the making provision for the pay of
an Officer to have the direction of the Forces on the Western
Frontiers I did not intend a General Officer as that term is
used to distinguish the Rank of Officers but such an Officer
as you have formerly made provision for a Captain or Com-
mander of the whole. If it was necessary last Year it is as
much so now and you have answered none of the Reasons
contained in my last Message to you on this Subject.
T Pownall
Council Chamber January 21. 1758
Message, Jan. 21, 1758.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,
I laid before you a Plan for the Defence of the Frontiers,
calculated to ease the Province of part of the Expence it has
122 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
been at in former Years. In your Establishment for the pay
and Subsistance of Officers and Men you have carried Matters
to such an Extreme as to expose the Frontiers to the greatest
danger, for want of a proper force to defend them : Your
Attempt to reduce the Garrison at Fort Halifax to thirty
Men, is in effect a dismantling the Fort, for I shall never
think it safe to trust that Fort to so small a Number : And
your declining to provide for the pay of a Captain, to have a
General Command over the Forces on the Western Frontiers,
will frustrate the design of raising those Forces and occasion
Confusion among the several Scouting Parties ; for it is not
possible for me, at this distance, seasonably to be acquainted
with their Circumstances to give out my Orders, and there is
a Necessity that some one Person should have General
Instructions from me, and have a discretionary power given
him to direct such Parties in all Emergencies, when there is
not time to apply to me. I have no further Arguments,
Gentlemen, to use with you. It is your own Interest that
you neglect ; and it is to you, and not to me that the ill Con-
sequences of such measures must be attributed.
T Pownall
Province House January 21 st 1758.
Message
Gent" of the Council & House of Representatives
The Secretary has laid before me your Vote of an Estab-
lishment of Pay and Subsistence of the Forces on the Fron-
tiers. The Scouting Parties on the Western Frontiers you
have confined to certain Stations, which is taking the direc-
tion out of my hands, to whom by the Constitution of your
Charter it belongs. I cannot but hope that it proceeds from
a meer oversight, not from any Intention to exercise any
OP THE STATE OF MAINE 123
powers that do not belong to you, and that you will very
readily make the necessary Amendments or Alterations in
your Vote.
T. Pownall
Council Chamber January 24 1758
Message. Jan y 25, 1758
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
Seeing you are resolved to turn Matters to that Extream,
that you will leave the Frontiers without any provision of
Defence, unless I will sign my Consent to a Vote of your
House, wherein you assume a Right to determine the Stations
and Destination of a Scouting Body of Troops. Which Vote
the Council after divers proposals of amendment, in order to
remove the difficulty I was under, have at length agreed to ;
I will, to prevent the distressed State that the Inhabitants
must be reduced to by this your Conduct, sign my Consent
to the Establishment of pay and Subsistance that you have
provided by that Vote, at the same time declaring to you,
that I Protest the Breach you have made upon the Constitu-
tion of your Charter, and the Infringment on the Rights of
the Crown.
In the Plan I laid before you I have told you, and given
you my reasons for it, that I should employ the Forces in the
same Manner, that you Determine in your Vote that they
shall be employed ; so that there is no difference about _ Ser-
vice, the only Question is, who shall direct and limit this
Service, the House of Representatives or the Kings Governor :
But this your Charter leaves no room to make a Question of.
T Pownall
Council Chamber Jan* 25, 1758
124 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Capt. W m Lithgow to Q-ov. Pownall Feb. 16, 1758
May it Please Your Excellency
I am Hon rd with your orders of Dec r 24. 57 which Came
to Hand the 4 th instant Respacting the march of Sundery
Millitia officers with their Companyes to the assistance of
this Place in Case of an Invasion or attack from the Enemy,
and with s d orders Rec'd also a Coppy of Yo'r Excellency's
orders to those Several Captains. the Particulars of which
Instructions I have Carefully Considered and Shall Duely
obey this with Submission I look on as an act Yo'r Excel-
lencys Care & goodness to us of this Place, and think it as
good an expedient or Precaution as Cou'd be taken for our
Preservation, wou'd it answear the good designe Yo'r Excel-
lency Proposes thereby which I very much doubt. and
with Submission Give my Reason therefor ( viz* ) Topsham,
Frankfort, & Newcastle, are Towns or Districts Situated on
the frontiers of this County and are as much expos'd to
the Incursions of the Enemy as any other Parts I know off,
George Town is Somthing more Secure then the former,
and as those Inhabitants Live in Dainger them Selves, and
arc weak in Numbers, I therefor apprehend 'twill be Difficult
for the Comm drs of the Millitia in s d Towns to bring their
Companys from their Habitations to the Defence of this
Place if need Shou'd so Requier
this meathod was put to tryal in y e year 65 and then I
had Instructions to Call on those Inhabitants now under
Consideration which Instructions neerly Correspond's with
those Rec d from your Excellency and when I demanded y e
assistance of 200 men agreeable to my orders I Cou'd
Receive no more then about 30 or 40 of y e above Inhabi-
tants. upon which Governour Shirley ordred a Detachment
out of York & Falmouth Sufficient to Compleat s d Number.
those Forces ware then ordered to assist In guarding and
Transpoarting Supplyes to this Place as it was judged very
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 125
hazardous at that Time. and how those same Inhabitants
will answer the next Demand, Time may Determine.
I have bin ( and am ) verry apprehensive of an attack from
y e Enemy. especially Since they have taken the Forts
Osswagoa & W m Hennery and the most likely Tune for
such an attack ( as I apprehend ) wou'd be when our forces
are in quarters, which the Enemy might do y e laterend of
Winter when it's generaly good Travaling on Snow Shoes
Ether on y e Rivers or by Land as the Snow falls so deep as
Covers the Windfalls or old Trees & small undergroath
which other wise wou'd much Perplex their March.
but as an Expidition any Time in ye Winter wou'd be
attended with Difficulty. I Rather think it wou'd Suite
them best Early in the Spring when first the Rivers opens
which generaly hapen y e first of April, at which Time they
Cou'd easely Com by Water.
I thought it not amiss here (but Rather my Duty) to
mention the first of these Particulars to you'r Excellency as
it Conserns the Saifty of this Place I shall hold the garri-
son &. c a in as grate Redness as Possible ( if they Com ) for
their Reception,
may it please Your Excellency I farther beg leave to
acquaint you that the Spring Season being the most Proper
Time for us to Transpoart Supplyes to the Fort for the
ensueing year and the Summer for Providing Hay for the
Cattle belonging to y e Fort all which Business will be
attended with Dainger, as we are obliged to Transpoart our
Supply's from the vessel that brings them 24 Mills up a nar-
row River not a Musquet Shott across, and in many Placeses
so Rapid as it Runs at least 10 or Twelve Knotts at which
Placeses we are oblig'd to warp or Track up the Stream for
miles togeather, and as we are obliged at Times to waid to
heave the Boats off Rocks &. c a by which we are Constantely
wett, and verry unfitt in those Circumstances to defend our
126 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Selves against y e Enemy if thay should attack us at such a
Time.
and if the Enemy shou'd think Proper to attempt the
distruction of the Fort, I apprehend they Could not take a
more Conveniant Time then when we are uppon this Busi-
ness, as the majority of the garrison is obliged to attend this
Duty which weakness the Fort and thereby wou'd the more
easilly becom a Conquest to y e Enemy and as this Busi-
ness will require a much Stronger Guard then what Can be
Spared out of the Fort & Store House I therefor humbly
Intreat there be such a guard ordred to attend on this Duty,
as your Excellency may Judge Proper, I enclose your
Excellency one of governour Shirleys orders ( not as a Prec-
edent ) and would acquaint your Excellency Som Dissputes
have arisen on s d orders between those of the garrison, and
the officers & soldiers of the marching Companys which was
ocasioned by the Refusal of those Scouting Partyes to Man
or assist in the Boats, I tould them it was my opinion as
their Pay and Provision was more then ours of the garrison
thay ware at least equiely oblig'd with us of the Fort to Do
all the Parts of Duty then Required which they denyed and
wou'd only act as a guard unless I Could Perswaid their men
to assist in the Boats ( which is vastely the hardest Service )
I then tould them I thought the governours orders Imply'd
their being directed by me as well in that Part of the Duty
as that of my directing them as a guard, but they Cou'd or
wou'd not understand those orders in that light, by which
the grater Part boath of Dainger and fatigue fell on those of
the Fort, but to do Justice to the Two Captains Nicholes &
Fitch when in the Service ware allway Redy to assist in the
Boats, but as others Discoriged it made a Considderable
uneasiness amongst the Soldiers of the Fort as they ware
obliged to do the grater Par of the fatigue, and to Reme-
died this for the future, I would humbly Intreat that it may
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 127
be Specified in any orders your Excellency Shall See Cause
to Send, how far it is the Duty of Such guards to be assist-
ing to those of the garrison in this Particular.
and as I said before this River Commonly opens the first
of April, at which Time ( or as soon as the Scouting Com-
panys are in Reddyness (we go about Transpoarting the
above s d Supply's So that it will be Requisit that your Excel-
lencys orders be here by that Time
and with all due Submission I humbly beg leave to Sub-
scribe my selfe your Excellencycs.
most obedient and most devoted Humble Servant
Will m Lithgow
Fort Halifax
Letter, Cha. Apthorp $ Son $- Tho s Hancock, Agents, to
Grov. Pownall
Boston March 17 th 1758
Sir
We the Subscribers Agents for His Majesty's Province of
Nova Scotia, Beg the fav r of Your Excellency, That Cap*
John Doggett of the Sloop Cumberland bound to Chegnecto
with Artificers and Materialls.- And a Sloop Loading at
York by Jon a Sayward for the same place, both being wholly
for Acco" of the Government, may have Liberty to Clear out
and proceed to said Place
We are Your Excellency's Most Obed hum 1 Serv*
Cha. Apthorp & Son
Thomas Hancock
Petition of Oha s Apthorp others. "March 24 th 1758"
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* Gen 1 and
Commander in Chief in & over his Majestys said Prov-
128 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
ince and to the Hon ble his Majestys Council & House of
Representatives in General Court Assembled
The Petition of sundry persons who have Expended large
sums of Money in Advancing the Settlements of the Eastern
part of this Province in the County of York Humbly shews
That said Eastern parts are by their Situation much more
exposed to the Incursions of the Enemy than any other part
of this province, & less capable of Defence & Releif, as they
lie so detach'd from the main Body, that for a Century past,
there have been Attempts ( tho' fruitless to settle s d Country ;
but at present there Appears, from the great Expence &
steady application of your pet" & others, the highest humane
probability of surmounting the difficulty, and accomplishing
that Undertaking, which must unavoidably be productive of
the greatest Benefits to this province, & as that Motive has
always been an Inducement to your Exc y & Hon" to Give
your Attention & Assistance to such as proposed the same :
Your Pet beg Leave in Behalf of themselves & others, to
Lay before you the present Situation of the Eastern Country,
& the nourishing Condition ( considered with former times )
it is now in. There are several frontier Towns namely, Leb-
anon Phillips town, Narragansett, Gorehamtown, New Boston,
New Marbleh d & New Gloucester, Frankfort, Newcastle,
Broadbay, & Georges, which Cover a great number of Towns
below on the Sea Shore, which lower Towns in former Wars
Used to be broke up, & only for want of Settlements that
might prove a Barrier to them in time of Danger. But since
this last War said lower Towns have really Increased in
Inhabitants. Now your pet" humbly beg Leave to lay before
your Ex y & Hon" the great Danger & distressing circum-
stances, those unhappy People will be in, who Inhabit the
aforementioned Towns Without the fatherly Interposition of
your Ex y & Hon", for if they are left destitute of Releif,
there is no Doubt but the Enemy next Month, that being the
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 129
usual time of Attacking will be upon them, & most probable
destroy many, & certainly drive off all the others with their
familys. which will render the Towns below, frontier Towns,
& leave them Exposed to the like Ravages of the Enemy, &
finally terminate in the Death of many valuable Subjects, and
the total Dispersion of the Inhabitants & breaking up of the
Eastern Settlements, both to the entire ruin of many Men &
familys, who now are good Livers there, & greatly beneficial
to the publick in subduing a Wilderness, & rendering the
same ( under God ) capable of producing the necessarys of
Life, and to the great Loss of those who have so vigorously
Exerted y m selves, in securing that Country to the Crown of
Great Britain, & for the Advancement of this Province, and
who have been hitherto heartily & generously Encouraged in
their Attempts by the kind Assistance & Countenance of the
Goverment.
Now your pet" would humbly remonstrate to your Ex y &
Hon a Method, that if agreeable, would prove in all proba-
bility effectual to save & protect the Inhabitants of s d frontier
Towns & their Settlements, together with those settled below
from the crueltys of the Enemy, & from the Horrors of War.
which is, that there be one hundred & fifty Men raised out
of said frontier Towns, to be formed into ranging Companys,
& so stationed & Ordered, where Your Ex y shall think most
proper for the preservation of the whole, which Method by
the Blessing of God has for some time past had the desired
Effect, & raised those Settlements to a flourishing Condition.
there is another thing y r pet beg Leave to represent to y r
Exy & Hon that if immediate Aid be afforded to those fron-
tiers Towns as abovementioned whereby they will become a
Defence & Safeguard to the lower ones great Numbers in s d
last mentioned Towns will readily Enter into the Governments
Service On the intended Expedition or at least there is great
probability it will be so, but if their frontier Towns are not
130 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
covered & protected it is not likely nay its unreasonable to
Imagine that any of them will quit their Settlements, for they
must know as the Out Towns are broke up they themselves
their Wifes & Children will lye Exposed to like destruction
and All the help & Strength they can Muster will we fear
prove ineffectual for their preservation because it will be
impossible for them to be Scouting & under Arms and at the
same time take the due & proper care of their Husbandry on
which alone ( if not in the Goverment pay ) they depend for
their Support & this was the Motive that Induced your pet rs
humbly to recomend to your Ex y & Honrs the raising the
Men out of the within mentioned frontier Towns which Men
could be no Ways Serviceable in any other publick Capacity
for it is impossible upon due Reflection to Imagine that they
would go on any Expedition and Leave their Wifes & Chil-
dren to the Mercy of the Enemy whose horrid Barbaritys
have been so often experienced.
Now as y r Ex y & Honrs have from time to time giving such
Convincing proofs of your paternal Care of the province in
General & of this part of it in particular & have discovered
the highest Satisfaction in Advancing that Settlement well
knowing the happy Consequences naturally resulting there-
from to the Crown & this province as well as others. Your
Pet" humbly & Earnestly Beg your wise Consideration of
the premisses & that you would still persevere in releiving
the distressed, in Guarding those who sat down there with a
full Assurance of your protection, in Encouraging them to
go on in their Settlements with Alacrity & Spirit to reduce
a Wilderness formerly the Habitation of Savages & Beast-
only to a fruitfull Country, for should you now in this criti-
cal Juncture withdraw your wonted Kindness & Affectionate
Care, in vain will those unfortunate people have spent their
Labour, in vain will all the generous & hearty Attempts be
for the Settlement of that Country, & in fact it will be a
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 131
lasting Discouragement for the future to make any further
Trials, & the Subjecting many well disposed people to the
miserys of Death or at least to those of Captivity all which
y r pet are well assured therefore not Satisfied Y r Ex y &
Hon rs will prevent by doing what shall to you in your known
Wisdom & Care for the publick seem most proper & as in
Duty &c
Cha Apthorpe Thomas Hancock James Pitts
Silv Gardiner Will m Bowdoin Cudwallador Ford
Nath 1 Thwing Belcher Noyes David Jeffries
Benj a Hallo well James Halsey
" referred to the next Sitting
Petition of W m Merritt. 1758.
Province of the Massachusets Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esquire Captain
General Governor and Commander in Chief in and Over
the Province aforesaid Vice Admiral of the Same, And
To the Hon ble His Majesty's Council, and the House of
Representatives of the said Province in General Court
Assembled by Adjournment at Boston April 16 tb 1760
The Petition of William Merritt of Boston, Ship Carpen-
ter Humbly Sheweth
That your petitioner on the 8 th of August 1758 Out of a
true and Sincere Zeal for the Interest of his King and Coun-
try voluntarily Entered himself on board his Maj ty8 Province
Ship of War the King George Commanded by Cap* Benjamin
Hollowell, and proceeded in her to Georges at the Eastern
parts of this Province, where on her Arrival your pet r with
Sundry others were Ordered on board Cap* Souther an Armed
Smal Vessel to proceed to Penobscot in Quest of the Enemy
there Supposed to be in Sundry small crafts Lurking among
the Islands That about four days after your pet r arrived
132 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
at Penobscot he was Ordered to proceed in the Barge with
an Officer and nine men more to make a Discovery, Upon
which, So it happened, that the whole Barges Company of
eleven men were Surprized and taken prisoners by One hun-
dred and twenty one Indians and fifty one Neutral French
and carried by them within about eight miles of Georges
where the Enemey were. ~ preparing to make an Attack on
the Fort, And there your Pet r with the rest of the Barges
Crew were tied and Staked down to the ground for four days
and three nights without any manner of Subsistence except
a little Rock Weed-
That the Enemy not proceeding in their intended Attack
against the Fort carried j^our pet r to Penobscott and from
thence to S* Johns where your Pet r was Sold by the Enemy
to a Popish Fryer who Some days afterwards Sold your pet r
to a french Neutral who he Served thirteen days, at which
time the English with a repeling force, broke up the Settle-
ment, and your pet r8 new Master returned him back again to
the Indians, with whom he remained inhumanly treated for
nine days, then the Indians travelled your Petitioner fifteen
miles further into the Country and there Sold him to another
Master who again travelled your Petitioner quite up to Que-
beck and there Sold your petitioner again to the Governor
who on the fifteenth of November 1758. Ordered your pet r
with Several others into the Common Prison under close Con-
finement, where he Continued Suffering great hardships until
such time as the City was Surrendered to the English on the
nineteenth of September last being ten months and four days,
and during the time of the Seige was Exposed to the violent
fire and Bombardment of the English every moment in dan-
ger of loosing his Life, tho' he and his fellow Sufferers Ear-
nestly addressed the Governor to be removed into a Bomb
Proff Prison which he refused, And Answered that they
should perish in the flames, when at length he was happily
tl CU-L
"
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 133
delivered by a glorious Victory over the insulting and Cruel
Enemy.
That your petitioner after the Surrender of Quebeck was
transported to Halifax and from thence to Boston where he
ived the 14 th of February 1760 in a poor and miserable
Condition, being Stripped of every thing he had, and during
his Captivity and Imprisonment Suffering great hardships of
hunger and thirst and Exposed to the violent inclemencys of
the weather for a long time, being One year Six months and
Six days from his native home, and the greatest part of that
time in the hands of a merciless and cruel Enemey and has
not as yet received One penny Wages nor any allowance or
Consideration for his long and grievous Sufferings.
Whereupon your petitioner most humbly prays your Excel-
lency and honours to take his pityful Case and Sufferings
into your Wise and Compassionate Consideration, and in
regard of his Voluntary Entering into His Majestys Service
as aforesaid, and his long Captivity and Sufferings as afore-
mentioned You wou'd in your great goodness Order him to
be paid his Wages during the time of his Captivity and until
his Arrival at Boston as aforesaid, And also to Afford him
such allowance and relieff for his grievous Sufferings as in
your great and Conspicuous Wisdom and Justice you shall
See meet.
And your pet r ( as in duty bound ) shall ever pray &c*
William Merritt
In the House of Rep ves April 24 1760
Read and Ordered that the sum of five pounds be paid out
of the publick Treasury to John Merrit for the Use of the
Pet r in full
Sent up for concurrence S : White Spk r
In Council Apr 1 25, 1760
Read and Concurred A Oliver Sec 1
Consented to T Pownall
134 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter, Gov. Pownall to The R* Hon. W m Pitt
( Copy ) Boston Sept. 80. 1758.
Sir,
The Good People of his Majesty's province Massachusetts
Bay, animated with a Zeal for his Service and placing their
honour and Ambition in their Royal Masters Approbation,
Have by an Address from both Houses of Legislature desired
me to Represent to his Majesty their Services and the diffi-
cult Circumstances under which they thus exert them.
They have too high a sense of Gratitude for the favors they
are constantly receiving from his Majesty to suppose that
any thing can be wanting to excite the Motive of his Good-
ness, and too just a Confidence in the Wisdom and Zeal of
his Administration to think any thing needful to be sug-
gested to them in their behalf. They put intire trust in his
Majesty's Gracious Promises, they only beg leave to Lay
their Services at his Feet, They only desire if their Services
are approved, that they may be enabled to continue them.
This Province for many years has been the Frontier and
the Advanced Guard to All the Colonies against the Enemy
in Canada. This province has alway stood its own Ground
and Defended and preserved his Majesty's Dominions. It
was once able to do this. It was once the Channel of all
the European Trade to America, and the Mart of all the
North American Colonies. But the heavy Burthens Which
its Trade and Labour sustained to support this Service and
the Consequences of its Taxes has turned the Channel of
this Trade to New York, Philadelphia & Rhode Island, All
which places it once supplied, and all which from the
inequality of their Taxes have rose upon its ruin and are
become its Rivals. But even Yet, it would have found
Resources for this Service in the Zeal, the Multitude &
Industry of its People. But the Weight and Burthen of its
Taxes and the hard Services of its People, while it thus
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 135
exerts itself have had a still more ruinous and destructive
Effect upon its very Vitals. Those of the Inhabitants which
border upon the Surrounding Colonies, seeing their Neigh-
>urs in ease and unincumbred while themselves were loaded
id almost sinking under their heavy burthens and worn out
nth their severe Services, Have in concurrence with such
rhose Interest it was to gain them gone into Measures to
lesert a labouring and Sinking Province, Thus it was that
tis province Lost all its fine flourishing Towns and numbers
People on Merrimack River, which went over and have
jen assigned over to the Government of New Hampshire,
lus has this Province lost those fruitful and populous
"ownships assigned to the Government of Rhode Island,
ms have several large Towns Revolted from Us, and gone
)ver to, and been received by the Government of Connecti-
cut, have ceased for some time to pay Taxes and do Duty to
lis province and are labouring to get this Desertion and
ivolt confirmed by the Crown. Thus have Numbers of
>ur Inhabitants gone over to New York and rendered our
Borders with that province a matter of Mischievous and
ly dispute after it hath been twice Solemnly and finally
ittled.
This Province thus Wasted and thus Dismembred in loos-
ig its Trade, hath lost the Sinews, and in being Deprived of
Lands and People, has lost the hands of War, Yet retain-
ig still the same Unwaried and Unremitted Spirit, hath still
foremost in its Masters Service
This Remains of a Once Flourishing and Large Province
ith in this War as in all others, taken the Lead in the
jngs Service. In the year 1755, the Expedition under
General Johnson cost this Province 87,058 -4-1
The Expedition in 1756, under General
Winslow 101,613 - 11 - 11
136 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
The Expedition in 1757 under Lord
Loudoun 48,319 - 16 - 3
Besides Fire Arms and powder bought
for and Used and expended in said
Expeditions 5,364 - 11 - 11
in All 242,356 -~4~^~2
Of which the Province has been reim-
bursed by the Crown 70,117 - 1 - 3
So that this Province (besides supporting a number of Forts
and Subsisting and paying the Garrisons thereof and keeping
up a number of Scouts upon a Frontier of 200 Miles,
together with the Support of his majesty's Government
which is Annually about 45,000 Besides Supporting and
Maintaining a stout Twenty Gun Ship granted to his Majesty
and employed in his Majesty's Service at a large Annual
Expence, which this Spring took four of the Enemys Store
Ships bound to Louisbourg and Quebeck ) had expended in
March, 1758 in the General Service 172,239 - 2-11
To pay which Sum the Province in March 58 stood
Charged with 84,943.8.10 levied and Apportioned in the
year 1757. to be paid in June 1758. with 73,000 to be
levied in 1758, to be paid in 1759. with 73,930 to be
levied hi 1759, to be paid in 1760. Which Sums so to
be levied in those respective Years were exclusive of the
Annual Support of Government in each of those Years.
Notwithstanding, the Province thus deprived of Great
part of its Trade, Notwithstanding it had been thus deprived
of its Lands and people, who should have borne their Share
in its Taxes and Services, Notwithstanding the heavy Debt
which it already laboured under, and was charged upon the
following years, Notwithstanding it had lost so many of its
children in the many Unhappy Expeditions, and had at that
time 1000, included under Capitulation not to Serve, & great
numbers exempt by proclamation for former Services, Not-
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 137
withstanding the great number in the Province Service, in
the Kings Service and Kings Ships, Transports, Batteaumen
Carpenters and Rangers under the General Service in all
above 2500 Men already employed, Notwithstanding these
Difficulties in the Circumstances of the province, notwith-
standing these inabilities, Yet such was their Spirit against
his Majesty's Enemy's and their Zeal in his Service, Such
their Confidence in his Majesty's Measures & his gracious
promises, that upon His Majesty's late Call upon them in
March last, they Granted pay, Cloathing and Subsistence for
7000 Men for this Years Campaign, and made very strict &
severe Acts by which those Men were draughted from
amongst the Freeholders of the province, which together
with those employed in the other parts of his Majesty's Ser-
vice is a draught of near 10,000 Men out of Effective fight-
ing men in the province.
To Defray which Expences and the Debts then Outstand-
ing The General Court in their Session in May. 1758.
levied and apportioned upon polls and Estates the sum of
82,190- 6. 8 for the year 1758. and Ordered a further Tax of
103,930 for 1759. A Tax of 100,000 for 1760, and 70,809-
13-4 for 1761. so that the province has Contracted a Debt of
356,930 for which it pays 6 per Cent, The whole of which
must be paid by the end of the year 1761. exclusive of any
provision made for the Support of the current Charges of
Government in 1759, 1760, 1761. Which if estimated by
what it has in fact come to in 1755, 1756, 1757 will amount
to 132,000. a Sum of 488,930 equal to 366,698 Ster-
ling to be raised in this and the three years next ensuing,
exclusive of any Expeditions or Offensive Campaigns in
those years. That it may be known ( for I dare say it will
hardly be conceived ) how hard this Service presses upon the
Inhabitants. I beg leave Sir, to inform you that most of
the Soldiers in the Rtinks are Freeholders who pay Taxes
138 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
that there are the Sons of some of Our Representatives, the
Sons of some of Our Militia Colonels and the Sons of many
of Our Field Officers and other Officers now doing duty as
privates in the number I have this year raised. And that
the Sons of some of Our principal Merchants one who pays
500 Sterling g Annum Taxes were imposed upon the same.
That it may be known how heavy this Debt now con-
tracted lyes upon the Subject, I beg leave Sir, to inform you
that every poll within the province pays g Annum two Dol-
lars and 1-5 And that the Tax upon Estates Real and Per-
sonal reckoned at six years income arise in the Town of
Boston to thirteen shillings and two pence in the pound, and
even in most of those Towns which have increased in their
people and Cultured Lands since the last Valuation to above
four shillings, besides Duties Excise and Impost that raises
the European Value of Goods to near 60 per Cent within
the province. If this Service be compared with that of any
other of the Colonies ( except Connecticut ) it will be found
to exceed.
If then the declining Circumstances ( to which this prov-
ince is reduced by thus exerting itself) be compared with
any one of those its Rivals, their Abilities will be found to
Exceed.
Thus has this Province exerted itself, And thus have these
Repeated Exertions, as Efforts so disproportionate to its nat-
ural strength must necessarily do, at length reduced it to
that Condition that while they have expended to the utmost
Extent of their Annual Income and have charged succeeding
years with Debts that are equal to that Income, that very
Income decreases, they are therefore totally disabled to pro-
ceed with those Efforts which the Service requires and which
their Zeal would Exert. They make no Claims upon the
Mother Countrey for what they have done, they have done
their Duty, they derive no merits from their Services, they
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 139
seek no Rewards for what is past. They are happy in
reflecting that they have been able hitherto to do their duty,
they Lament their Inability to proceed with the same Efforts
of it, Yet Zealous to continue the same Efforts and the same
Services, They hope to be enabled yet to Act, And they
found those hopes on his Majesty's gracious intentions of a
Recompence in proportion to the Vigour, wherewith they
have Acted, And they are Conscious that in that proportion
they have alway stood Foremost in their Masters Service.
If the Countrey has been hitherto preserved by the Efforts
which this province has made, as is a certain fact, If those
Efforts are still required and necessary, as they certainly are,
for whatever share the other provinces may have bore this
always has and always must be the Main Anchor. The
Province must be restored by some recompense or reimburse-
ment to that state wherein it was able thus to exert itself
Without such the province will not only be unable to exert
any further such like Efforts at present, But the Govern-
ment will never more be able to make an Offensive Effort
upon any Occasion howsoever pressing. The province has
not only exceeded its Resourses but the Faith of the Govern-
ment is at Stake.
The Assurance of a Recompence is the Fund on which the
Money was advanced and if this Fails the Government is
Bankrupt. So that not only the preservation of the Coun-
trey by this Province being able to continue its Efforts, but
the preservation of the Government of this province itself
depends upon that Recompence.
Not only my Duty to the province but my Duty to his
Majesty requires me to make this Representation I am sen-
sible how unequal I am to my Duty, I humbly Sir pray Your
Candid Acceptance & favourable report of my imperfect Ser-
vices to his Majesty.
140 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
I have the Honor to be with the highest Esteem Sir Your
most Obedient & most humble Servant
T. Pownall
P. S. October. 2 d .
Since the Writing of the above by a Letter from Our
Agent, I am informed of the Grant which the Parlia-
ment, At His Majesty's Recommendation have made to
this province, as a Reimbursement for provisions sup-
plied by it to the Army in 1756. I meet the General
Court the 4 th of this Month, and shall represent it to
them, and as I know them to be a Grateful as well as
a Dutiful people, It will, I may be Answerable, have
every good Effect upon them
T. P.
Speech. Oct. 4, 1758.
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
After our devout and most unfeigned Thanks to Almighty
God that he hath given us the Victory, I do most heartily
Congratulate You on the Blessings that must be the Conse-
quence of it.
By the Reduction of the Island Cape Breton & its Depend-
encies, the Key of the Enemies only Port is given to us, We
have again the uninterrupted Possession of the North Amer-
ican Seas, and the Powers of Trade are again Restored to his
Majestys Subjects.
By the Measures taking in Consequence of this Grand
Stroke, the Enemy must be totally shut out from any Pos-
sessions on the Coast of Atlantic from Labradore to Florida.
By the Destruction of Fort Frontenac, and the Enemy's
whole Naval Force their Stores & Magazines at Cadaraqui
The Dominion of the Lakes which sooner or later must be
"&"
,
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 141
the Dominion of America, is again Restored to the British
Empire.
By the Good Work now in hand the very Gates of Canada
must We trust in God be put into our hands ; We have
receiv'd a check which has somewhat delayed matters, and
no Wonder that we should at the Post which the Enemy
Defends as their very Gates ; But we have put our hand
again to the Plough, and if we do not look back, it must go
r the very foundations of the Enemy's Country.
His Majesty's Most Gracious Promises have been a great
Encouragement to You, and the very Foundation that enabled
you to make the Efforts You have done.
His Majesty hath Recommended to Parliament the Services
You engaged in _ the Year 1756, and You will see they have
accordingly Granted 27,380 : 19 : 11^ Sterling to Reim-
burse You the Expences You incurr'd in supplying Provi-
sions to the Troops that Campaign This Gracious & Pater-
nal Regard in his Majesty, This Kind & Affectionate Atten-
tion in the Parliament of Great Britain to the Interest of this
Province cannot but Affect us with warmest Gratitude, and
be an Earnest, a certain Assurance that We shall never fail
of recieving from thence a Compensation for our Services in
proportion to the Spirit with which at any time We shall
exert them
As it is your Method and what is thought prudent for a
Young Country to make a Temporary Provision for the
Troops which you pay from time to time as occasion may
arise and the Service may require. I must Recommend to
your consideration such further Provision as the present State
of the Service may require.
For the Troops with General Abercromby ; For the Forces
on the Frontiers ; For the Ship King George.
There have some Expenses arisen by sending such of our
Soldiers to the Army as the Officers did not Collect and take
142 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
with them when they marched ; and some by sending back
such as they suffered to Return ; As the General Court have
done so much to Assist & Support the Levies both in their
Grants and in the Laws they provided, sure tis but .Justice
that if there be any by whose Faults these Expences have
arisen They should bear them
I cannot here Omit making my publick Acknowledgments
to His Honor the Lieutenant Governor for the Labours he
took, and the Effects his Labours had in Stopping some Evils
that were arising from these Faults.
Having been informed that Numbers of our People who
have been dismissed from the Service as Unfit by sickness
for farther Duty were lying upon the Road in great Want &
Distress brought on by serving the Publick requires I have
with the Advice of his Majestys Council sent forward M r
Foye to see that such as are Real Objects of publick Care be
taken care of properly, and on proper Terms, and that such
as are not, be not suffered to loiter upon the Road but be
sent to their respective places, by which I should hope on
one hand that none who are in distress will be neglected, and
on the other that such Endless Accounts as have been sent
in on these occasions may be avoided.
Being also applied to in very pressing Terms that the Sick
of our Troops were dying for want of Medicines proper for
Camp disorders, I could not suffer the People to dye while I
examin'd the Propriety of this fresh Application th6 so
Much had been already Granted. Some such Medicines
therefore have been sent to our People.
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Represent 8
Amidst the Blessings that have Attended the General Ser-
vice, I must Acquaint you that the Enemy unable to Resist,
and not daring to withstand these Operations where the Gen-
eral Forces are Collected, Have by several Attempts turned
their Arms against the Eastern & Western Frontiers of this
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 143
Province by its situation alone uncovered with the General
Operations and weakened by the Numbers we have sent off
to that Service. I recieved information from Brigadier
Monckton Commanding in Nova Scotia that the Enemy in
conjunction with the Indians of S* Johns & Penobscot were
Meditating an Attempt against Georges Fort and the Settle-
ments there. The Attempt was made, But by the measures
taken to oppose it, I have the pleasure to Acquaint You that
the Attempt was without Effect. I had some Men at the
Castle which were intended for the Western Forces, These
with Stores & Ammunition were thrown into George's Fort
as a Reinforcement. The fitting out the Sloop Massachusetts
(already in the Pay of this Government) as a Tender to the
King George is all the Expence the Government will incur
on this Occasion.
The State and Situation of our Frontiers become every
day more & more Critical. I must therefore earnestly Rec-
ommend them to Your most Serious Consideration ; I shall
direct the Secretary to lay before You all Papers relative to
the Matters of Your Consideration
T Pownall
Oct r 4. 1758.
Copy Examin'd
Letter from James Howard
Fort Western Dec r 10, 1758.
May it please Your Excellency Capt n William Lithgow
Esq, told me that Your Excellency gave Orders to him to
send up the Mens Names that were Uneasy by Reason of
their Being so long Detained in the Service at this Fort all
whose Names Your Excellency may See here Signed with
their own Hands and I with all Dutifull Submission pray
Your Excellency would be pleased to order them to be Dis-
144 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
missed as soon as the Circumstances will Admit, and with all
Submission begg leave to Subscribe myself
Your Excellency's Most Dutiful & most Obedient Humble
Serv'
James Howard
his
Morris X Wheeler
mark
William Brooks
his
John ft Gazlin
mark
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq Cap' General &
Commander in chief in and over said Province, the
Hon ble his Majesty's Council, & House of Representa-
tives in Gen 1 Court assembled December 28 th 1758
The Petition of the Inhabitants of a place called New
marblehead in the County of York, Humbly Sheweth
That they labour under great Difficulties for Want of hav-
ing the Gospel preach'd amongst them, having never had a
proper Meeting House at all nor a minister these many
Years ; for what the Proprietors formerly in part built, and
called a Meeting House, was nothing more than the Name of
one, never answerd the Purpose, and is long since gone to
Ruin. Neither have said Inhabitants had any Minister with
them for these five years past, excepting one Winter they
themselves hired a Gentleman to preach, which they were
poorly able to do, being but Twenty Eight in Number, and
in low Circumstances. Their distress'd Condition they have
often represented to the Proprietors, and begged their Assist-
ance; but they altho' Sixty in Number, are all excepting
four, Non-residents ; and having given a small Part of a Right
to some or Other of the Inhabitants for Setling, own more
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 145
than three Quarters of the Township yet, and notwithstand-
ing their unimprov'd Lands are daily advanced in Value by
the Improvements made by the Inhabitants, yet they are deaf
to all their Cries, and refuse to be at any Expence, that they
may have a Setled Ministry amongst them, by means whereof
they have been Obliged to live like Heathen. To remedy
which your Petitioners about two Years ago, apply'd to the
Hon ble the Gen 1 Court for Relief, and the Matter was then in
part inquired into, but for what Reasons your Petitioners
cannot tell, never came to an Issue, so that they have remain'd
in the same bad Situation ever Since.
Your Petitioners are not only sufferrers in the above Par-
ticulars but their Children are also bred up in Ignorance for
want of a School, having never had one in the Place since
the first Settlement thereof, altho near or quite Twenty Years
since. For not having Incouragement from the Proprietors,
the Number of Inhabitants, have increas'd but slowly, and
now not one half requisite by Law to transact Town Affairs,
wherefore it was not possible for them legally to raise Money
among themselves for the Support of a School or any other
Use that might be for the good of the whole.
These Difficulties your Petitioners have long suff erred and
must yet longer, unless relived by this Hon ble Court
Wherefore they humbly pray your Excellency and Honours
that a Tax may be laid on the Non resident Proprietors Lands
in said Township, in Order to raise a Fund for building a
Meeting House, and Supporting a Minister amongst them ;
And that said Inhabitants may have Power to raise & Collect
Money among themselves, for the Support of a School in s d
Township, or any Other Use that may be Judg'd by the
Major part of said Inhabitants for the Benefit of the whole ;
or that they may Otherwise have Redress, as to your Excel-
lency & Honours known Wisdom & Goodness shall seem
meet
10
146 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
\
And your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray
Abraham anderson Samuel Webb John Manchester
Gli Webb Caleb Graffam Thomas Meayberr_
John farrow Samel Mathes Hugh Crague
Curtis Chute Robert Mugford Ephreaim Winship
William Elder John Bodge Zerubebel Hunawel
Joseph Starling John Stevens Jun r Tho 8 Chute
William Meayberry Richard Mayberry
In the House of Rep" Jan ry 12 th 1759.
Read and Ordered, That the Petitioners notify the non
resident proprietors of the Township of New Marblehead of
this Pet n by inserting the Substance thereof in one or more
of the public prints for three Weeks successively, That they
shew Cause ( if any they have ) on the second Wednesday of
the next Sitting of this Court why the Prayer thereof should
not be granted.
Sent up for Concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council Jan ry 15. Read & Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
In Council March 1 st 1759. Read and it appearing that
the Time for Notifying the Non Resident Proprietors of the
Township of New Marbled of this Petition by inserting the
Substance thereof in one or more of the Publick Prints for
three Weeks Successively is eslapsed. Therefore Ordered
that the Consideration thereof be referred to the second
Wednesday of the next May Session and that in the mean
Time the Pet rs notify them thereof agreeable to the former
Order
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
In the House of Rep 8 March 2 1759
Read and Concurd T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council June 13. 1759 Read again together with the
Answer of the Non resident Proprietors and Ordered that
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 147
Samuel Watts and Benj a Lincoln Esq with such as the
Hon ble House shall appoint be a Committee to take this Peti-
tion and Answer under Consideration and report what they
Judge proper to be done thereon.
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
In the House of Rep ve8 June 13, 1759
Read and Concur'd and M r Bradbury Col Lawrence and
Cap* Marcy are Joyned in the Affair.
S. White Spk r
Message, Jan*/ 17, 1759.
Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives
There are at y e Forts Halifax and Western some Men with
whom, I should be sorry to say, the Government had broke
Faith. They were inlisted or impressed for that Service to
continue a Year. It is now the third Year, and they are
there still. As no provision hath been made since I came to
the Chair to enable me to inlist Others in their room, I have
used every just & due method to persuade them to continue.
They do now claim their dismission. If I dismiss them the
Garrison must be broke up & dismantled : if I detain them
we shall continue wi'thin Ourselves, which has remained
already too long an Example that this Government once
grievously complained of, and which may on some future
occasion preclude all pretence of reclaiming what this Gov-
ernment would be sorry to be refused. That Justice there-
fore which we expect from Others towards our own People
let us shew to them Ourselves.
The provision of a few dollars will enable to inlist Others,
so as to dismiss these. I must therefore recommend it to
you
T Pownall
Council Chamber January. 17. 1759
148 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Letter from W m LitJigow "without Date."
May it Please Your Excellency.
In obedience to Your Excellency's Orders to me in Council
Chamber last Oct r 1758 I here present Your Excellency the
Several Mens Names under their Hands, who are Desirous
of their Dismissions, and who have served in this Fort, some
three and some Two Years.
The Others that have not signed, I have according to Order
gave them Your Excellency's Word and Honour, that any of
such, as may be desirous of their Dismissions the first of
Nov r 1759 will then According to Your Excellency's Word
be discharged. This I take to be the Sense of Your Excel-
lency's Instructions to me on this Particular and as to
any other Orders Your Excellency then gave me in Charge
as Scouting &c I have not been regardless thereof.
May it Please Your Excellency as the within Subscribers
are uneasy on account of their having been detained here
longer then what they engaged for, which was one Year, and
now it is going on Three Years Since their Inlistments, there-
fore by their earnest desire to me, I would with Submission
humbly Intreat Your Excellency in their behalfs, that they
may be Released as soon as y e Circumstances of this Affair
will Permit, all which I would humbly Recommend & Sub-
mitt to Your Excellency's most Wise Consideration, and with
due Submission, beg leave to Subscribe my self Your Excel-
lency's most Obedient & Most humble Servant
William Lithgow
John Blake James McPhetres John Wharton
Joseph Woods John Limercy James McKibb
his
James (X) McManus Timothy Bryan John Pumorey
mark his his
Bennet Woods Michael X Odriscal Edward X Cumerford
in ark mark
William Martin Henery Hassett Alex d Grindley
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 149
Message. Feb. 1, 1759
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
When in my General Considerations of the Frontiers I
suggested to y e Gen 1 Court the Measure of Building a Fort
at Penobscot, altho I was fully possess'd of the Necessity of
its being done before Peace. Altho I saw that the General
Court was of y* same Opinion & truely represented the Sense
of y e Country which also was the same : Yet seing the Diffi-
culties under which y e Country labour'd to make Supplies for
y e many unavoidable Expences that were coming upon them
I was unwilling at that Time or at any other Time by Urging
the Matter further to reduce the General Court to that Dis-
advantageous Alternative either of Refusing to Take Pos-
session of & Fortifye their Territory as by Charter granted,
or of engaging in an Expence they knew not the End of &
were very unable to engage in : Yet as I endeavor never to
loose sight of the Interest of the Country ; So in this partic-
ular I never lost sight of this Measure. I laid it before his
Majesty's Ministers, I proposed it to the late General who
refer'd it to his Majesty's Ministers ; When Major Gen 1
Amherst was Appointed General I proposed it also to him,
least by waiting for Orders from England the Opportunity
shou'd be lost. His Excellency is sensible not only of y e
Importance but Necessity of Measure & also of y e Necessity
of its being done immediately & has engaged to reimburse
me the Expence of Building such in whatever manner is
most agreeable to Me, Neither will any expence Arise to the
Province in Furnishing such Fort with Gunns & Ordenance
Stores or other Necessaries as I have all such, belonging to
y e Province now ready, All therefore that on this Occasion I
apply to You for is that you will make Provision for such a
Force as shall enable me to Take Possession of this Country
& carry the Measure of Fortifyeing it into Execution, & also
make Provision for the Pay & Subsistance of such Garrison
150 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
as must be left there. To make which Matter also very easy
to y e Country Ways & Means may be found.
As the Crown has taken Possession of & Fortifyed S*
John's River, The Enimy have now no Outlet to y e sea but
thro this River Penobscot ; The Door being Shutt upon them
in every other Part, & that only left open which leads to this
Province, You must be in a worse Situation than You were
before If You will not do Your Part, by yourselves taking
Possession of these Lands. You know that as long as an
Indian has any Claim to these Lands, the French will main-
tain a Title to them : And thus notwithstanding all that has
been done elsewhere, a Thorn will be left in the Side of this
Province and whatever Peace may be made & however the
Other Provinces may enjoy it, This Province must labour on
still under y e Miseries of Warr even in the time of Peace.
All this may be prevented by Taking Possession of this
Country now in Time of Warr : By doing this You will have
y e Honor of Compleating His Majesty's Dominions on the
Atlantic : You will root up the seeds of another Warr and
secure the Title of these Lands to the Subjects of this Prov-
ince. Had You no immediat Assistance in Doing this You
cou'd not in Duty to his Majesty who has Done & is Doing
so much for You ; You coud not in Duty to Your fellow sub-
jects of this Province, refuse to engage in this Service But
now General Amherst has Offer'd to reimburse the Expences
of Building this Fort & fortify eing What You thus Take
Possession of If You Refuse it, You are without Excuse.
T Pownall
Province House 1 Feb r 1759.
Letter, John McKechnie to Q-ov Pownall 12 Feb. 1759
May it Please your Excellency
About five o Clock P. M. Saturday last Three Indians at
a Small distance from the fort with a flagg, was at I much a
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 151
loss what to do in such a Critical Circumstance having no
Instructions relative thereto, My Cap 1 not being at home
made it the more Difficult, for he Set out the tuesday pre-
ceeding with Seven men and a pillot for the head of S*
Georges river in Order to find out the Carrying places
between penobscut Bay and the Same
I ordered a flagg to be put up at the fort, took with me
the Armourer who understands the best of any in this place/
the Indian Language went to near where they were the
three Indians came to us. I asked them what they came
here for, they ans rd they had good News to tell but could not
do it that Night being weary travelling, I took their arms
from y m which Consisted of two guns one pistol & one
hatchet & sent them to the fort. Told the Ind 8 that they
could Not be admitted into the fort till I knew what they
had to say. they urged it very Much Saying that the
English men would kill them if we did not take Care of
them. I took them to a small house about forty rods from
our walls where they could Not get out, Nor None other
Ind's to them, without being Discovered by our Gentry's,
gave them Strict charge Not to come out, for our guards
would certainly fire upon them if they did, they said they
would not come out till I came to them in the Morning,
which I did and they delivered themselves as in their letter
herewith sent, I insisted on One of them staying as a pledge
of their fidelity, which altho' at first they Seemed backward
at last Consented. I gave the two that went away a little
eatible provisions to carry them along, took the other in to the
Guard room put a Gentry over him ; which I intend to take
care of till my Cap* come home. Now I have given your
Excellency a full Ace* of my proceedings, as also of what
the Ind 8 said according as the arm r told me and if I have
committed any Indiscrations in the affair I hope your Exc ly
will impute it to my Ignorance & want of instructions, which
152 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
I believe would be very Acceptible to Cap* North, before
those twelve come in again No more but am
May it please your Excellency your Excellency's Most
humble & obed* Serv 1
John M c kechnie
S* Georges 12 th Feb r 1759
Letter to Mr. McKetchie
Boston 24 February 1759.
M r M c Kechnie
You have acted very prudently and well and You have
My approbation, Continue to do so, Use kindly and well, but
also well guard and watch the Hostage Indian. Lett him
have no Opportunity of Escaping.
Stand firmly on Your Guard and Keep a Good look out
for fear these Indians should have been sent only as Spies
previous to an Attempt upon the Fort. Warn the People at
the Blockhouse and on the River to be on their Guard. If
You think there be any Suspicion of Danger of an Attack
Take into the Garrison twenty or thirty of the Block house
People and Allow them provisions. Have every thing ready
and in Order as th6 You expected an Attack every Morning.
And see that Your Gentries and guard be particularly Alert
and Watchful in the Morning just before day break espec-
ially Keep out constant Scout and especially lett them
often go out just after dark . And when You have taken
every precaution against Danger, and are as secure as Your
Situation will Allow, then Lett the Indians know, that You
despise all their Cunning and all their Force. But that if
they be True in their Offers There is my letter which
Deliver to them.
Thomas Pownall
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 153
Letter, " 6rov. Pownall to Col. Preble "
jir
I received your Letter with pleasure. Your caution
against any Lurking designs which the Indians might be
supposed to have in coming in, was extreamly proper & pru-
dent Your Treatment of them also & your Refusing them
any means of Trade, & rejecting their offers to it much to
your Honor. If there were any Error in your conduct
twas on y e right side & that being small may easily be reme-
died. Be Steady with y e Indians but not harsh Treat
them with Truth & with plain Truth be they never so dis-
agreable, but at y e same time with benevolence. For the
Spirit of my Conduct towards them is to bring them to a
Sense of their Duty & proper Connections with us but to do
this in order to use them well I make this Observation
because I think You was rather too harsh, however th6 I
wou'd have you abate a little of y r harshness yet I woud not
have you abate one Ace of Your Steadiness in letting them
know that We now know how to Use our own Strength &
their weakness, And tho' we wish to do them Good if by
Proper Conduct they will putt it in our power we do it not
from any fear of them but from pure motives of Pity &
Benevolence.
As I imagine you have had no opportunity of writing
since your last of y e 27 th so I did not expect to hear from
You, & as I cannot know how you circumstanced so I cannot
give You any immediate directions as to particulars. By
the enclosed Copy of the Establishment You'll see I have
gott the Provision for y e Pay & Subsistence of y e 400 men
lengthen'd out a month longer You will see also the Estab-
lishment for the Garrison as I shall at present dispose of
y* Forces provided for.
As to y e Works I write to y e Engineer M r Burbank &
direct him to show You his letter in which You will see his
Orders to Obey & Execute all Your Commands.
154 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
As to the Indians I do verily believe they mean to come
in, but what they want to treat for & Obtain is first to try
to delay the time till the fall that they may see how y e Cam-
paign between y e French ; & English turns out.
Secondly to obtain some thing different terms than those
I have offered of living near y e Fort. The First You must
prevent if possible, & as to y e second there can be no trust
in any Treaty they make, if the terms I have proposed be
not complied with viz of their living with their Wives &
Children under y e Protection of y e Fort nor cou'd I under-
take ( as I do in my offers ) to be answerable for their Pro-
tection any where else. As I think they are in Earnest
about coming in and as we have gone some Stepps to which
they have acceeded of Treating on the terms so I think we
cannot use any Hostilities against them & their planting
Ground while things remain as they are. Yet I cou'd still
wish that a Strong body of our People might go up to their
Planting Ground, which possibly may be brought about as
follows. If they give you hopes of their coming in You
must offer to fetch their Wives & Children & what Goods
they may have &c in our Whale boats & to Escort them
safe. Push this piece of Kindness upon them that you may
have a proper pretence for sending a Strong body so farr as
their Dwelling & Planting ground, but with strict Orders
under the Severest Penalties to do them no violence, to seek
no quarrels nor even to revenge any, unless absolutely drove
to it for safety. This is what I wou'd wish to have done
without delay, but how to give You Orders is absolutely
impracticable for me as I know nothing of y e State & Situa-
tion in which You & y e Indians may stand at present. If
they have broke off all treaty & you have discover'd their
design to deceive I wou'd have You send as Strong a body
as You can Spare to burn & Destroy their Corn & Means of
Subsistance & to destroy the Indians too if they can catch
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 155
them. But as Matters now stand, No Risques are to be
runn. You must have it executed in such Manner & to
make y e Matter sure, or not do it att all. For it is much
better never to attempt it, than to miscarry. If therefore
You cannot do it so as in all human probability to secure y r
Success Lett it not be done at all. Remember not only y e
Indians but their Allies y e Renegadoes Neutrals are also to
be taken into y e Account. When the time draws near for
dismissing the men You must then think of the Scout I men-
tion'd to You before namely that of sending by Land a Hun-
dred Men from Penobscot to Fort Halifax on Kenebeck.
first up y e little River which comes into Penobscot R r on y e
West side about 12 miles above You. thence over y e Indian
carrying Place & down Sebestoocook to F* Halifax thence to
Cushooc, thence to Amescoggin & Pesumpscot, to Falmouth.
I have Orderd Provisions (marching allowance) for 100
Men, for seven daies to be lodged at Cushoc.
As I have found out that Fort Halifax is not above 30
miles from You in a N & by W course & that y e Swamp or
Meadow at y e Head of y e West branch of Georges River is
not above 8 or 10 miles from F* Halifax & the great Pond
at y e head of y e East branch of Georges from whence they
carry into Pausegusawackeag is about, if not exactly, half
Way between You & Fort Halifax. I must by all means
have a Scout that Way & have it thoroughly reconnoitred.
Give Orders to y e Scout that goes by Sebastoocook to build
a Logg house at y e Carrying Place & Order the Scout that
goes by y e heads of Georges River to build a Logg house
either at the East or West head as they may be most Con-
venient. A hundred may do for both these Scouts as that
which goes by Georges River need be but a Small one of ten
twelve or fifteen & I should apprehend between 80 or 90
enough for the other. However I must leave you to judge
of that, according to the Circumstances you are in, & accord-
156 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
ing to the Accounts You have of the Enemy. I had prom-
ised Cap* Herrick that if it was in my Power He shou'd
have y e Lieutenancy under You but it happens there is no
Lieutenant allow'd You at Present. Nor is there allowance
for a Gunner or Interpreter. You cannot do without y e
Latter And as Macfarlin ask'd me to make some provision
for _ I think if You make him a Serjeant with Ensign's or
Lieutenant's Rank he will be very well off & the End will
be answerd & I make no doubt of his Accepting it, & being
thankfull for it. The Reason of my giving him the Rank is
that he may appear with proper Character to y e Indians &
also as he has had it already. And as to y e pay tis more
than he has ever had before or cou'd have expected except
on this Expedition. You dismiss M r Burbank as soon as the
Establishment is over. You will detain six of y e Best of y e
Whale Boats.
T Pownall
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r , The Honourable
his Majesties Council and House of Representatives in Gen-
eral Court assembled, Feb. 28 th 1759
The memorial of the Subscribers, who usually follow the
Fishing Business, on the Eastern Coasts of this Province,
Humbly Sheweth.
That in Order to take the Cod Fish about Damarels Cove
and those parts in the Months of April and May, it has been
found necessary to Catch Shadd and Alewives for Bait, other
Bait not at all answering in those Seasons,
That for many years it has been a constant and till last
year an Uninterrupted practice to take the said Bait for the
most of those two months, in a Small Crick called Mill Crick,
that lyes in the Island of Arowsick, upon the Easterly Side
of Kenebeck River, the only place we can be Supplyed, with
safety and in Season.
01
OP THE STATE OF MAINE 157
But so it is may it please your Excellency and Honours
that the Inhabitants of the Town wherein the said Island of
Arowsick lyes, whether Legally, or from any misapprehension
of the Law, we cant say, Did the last year appoint a Person
inspect the taking Said Bait ; who would not suffer us to
take any unless we bought them of him, or unless we would
give him so much for them _ a venture, before we took them
our Selves, which proceedings did greatly obstruct and hinder
our fishing business, and if continued it must discourage and
Break it up, this we believe will be plain, if it is considered
that we go more than Twenty Miles from our fishing ground
to get this Bait ; that we fetch it by Turnes, among all the
Boats, that fish at said Cove, So that the hindrance of those
that fetch it, is the hindrance of the whole, which must oft
happen if a bargain must always be made with Some person,
and perhaps one of no very good Condition neither, beside
the cost of buying at their own price.
Wherefore your Petitioners most humbly Pray that if the
Law does now Justify the said Inhabitants in this proceeding
that the Same may be altered or otherwise Relieve your
memorialists lest this Branch of the Fishing business where
a great Deal of fish is yearly taken be Lost
And as in Duty Bound Shall Pray
Moses Foster Stephen Burnum James Eveleth Jun r
Stephen Choate John Caires Jeremiah Choate
Thomas Choate David Low Jun r Solomon Burnam
Amos Burnam Humphrey Choate Humphry Willems
Jonathan Smith John Foster David Burnum
Thomas Lufken Jur Joshua Martin Nehemiah Story
Ammi Burnam Simeon Burnam Joseph Wells
frances Cogswell Ebnezer Low Thomas Burnam
Thomas Giddinge
In the House of Rep ve8 March 17 1759
Read and Ordered that the Prayer of this Pet n be so far
158 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
granted as that the Pet" or any others who may have occa-
sion to take the Fish called Ale wives in the Creek called
Mill Creek for bait for fishing, shall have liberty to take the
said Fish in said Creek for the Use aforesaid ; They not to
Obstruct or molest the People from taking the said Fish at
the same place.
Sent up for concurrence T. Hubbard Spk r
In Council March 17, 1759
Read and Nonconcurred A Oliver Sec r
New Marblehead Meeting House.
Falmouth May 28 th 1759.
We the Subscribers being well acquainted with the House
the Proprietors of New Marblehead, built there, design'd for
a Meeting House, at y e Request of M r Abraham Anderson,
one of the Inhabitants of New Marblehead, to give our Judg-
ment of s d Building, do declare that the said House never
was fmish'd nor was y e work done in a Workmanlike Manner,
so far as was done, no Floor ever laid, nor Windows to said
House Neither was y e House ever under pin'd, nor fit for y e
People to meet in. -
Nathan Winslow Isaac Ilsley Thomas Haskell
Caleb Graffum Aron Stevens
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Commander in
Chief, and to the Honourable His Majesty's Council, and
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 159
House of Representatives of said Province in General Court
Assembled the Sixth Day of June 1759. The Subscribers
a Comittee of the Proprietors of the Common & undivided
Lands in a place call'd New=Marblehead in the County of
York : Humbly Shew, in their behalf
That in Obedience to the Order of this Honourable Court
of the 12 th and 13 th of Jan r * A. D. 1758 appointed a Com-
mittee with Orders to repair to the said place, and take an
exact Account of the Condition of that Settlement, in order
to its being laid before this Honourable Court, which Comit-
tee not attending that Service, the said Proprietors at their
Meeting in March last appointed Mess" John Wight & Sam-
uel Turner to do it, who have accordingly been on the Spot ;
whose Report together with a true Copy of the Original Grant
of the s d Township with a List of the Original Grantees, we
now beg leave to lay before you.
And in Answer to the Petitions of the Inhabitants of that
place now depending before your Excellency and this Hon ble
Court we beg leave to say, That A. D. 1737. the Grantees of
said Township at their own Expence erected a Meeting House
there 38 feet long, 28 feet wide & 14 feet Stud, That A. D.
1743 they settled the Rev d M r John Wight in the Work of
the Ministry there, who was Ordain'd and continued there
during his Life viz* till 1752, during which Time he was
Supported wholly by the Grantees, to which the Settlers, as
such, contributed nothing, That M r Wight made use of the
said Meeting House and preach'd in it till the Year 1746
when the Inhabitants pull'd it down, and afterward met in
the Fort, or Block-House, built there by the Government.
That upon the Death of M r Wight, the Grantees Appre-
hended, That it was high Time that the Settlement of the
Sixty Families enjoin'd by the Grant should be compleated,
and that then it would be most fit that the Inhabitants should
by themselves choose and contract with a Minister : And the
160 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Grantees as such should assist them in his Support, This the
Proprietors have been always ready to do ; And had the Set-
tlement been compleated according to the Terms of the Grant,
or in Many Years after, the Inconvenience complained of
would not have hapned ; As to a Meeting House, the Block
House which they have used for that purpose ever since the
Meeting House was pull'd down will we hope, be sufficient
to accomodate the Families there, till the number of Setlers
shall be compleated, And the Inhabitants Incorporated ; which
we hope by the Order of your Excellency and this Honour-
able Court, will soon be effected ; and in the mean Time the
Proprietors have at their last March Meeting ordered the pay-
ment of 60 Dollars out of their Treasury to assist the Inhab-
itants in procuring preaching there, and there is no Reason
to doubt, but that the said Proprietors will from Time to
Time as there may be occation, make further Grants for that
purpose, which we apprehend will be the most Salutary
Method of Supporting the preaching the Gospel there, until
the said Settlement be compleated, and the Inhabitants Incor-
porated as aforesaid, and then the Proprietors will readily
contribute to assist the Inhabitants in Rebuilding the Meet-
ing House and Resettling a Minister there ; and if they fail
may be compelled to it And as a Number of Defective
Grantees are in large Arrears of the several Tax's that have
been laid on them ( & duly Notefied ) for bringing forward
the Settlement, and the Creditors of the said Township by
that Means remaining unpaid, We pray that the present
Assessors, viz* Nathan Bowen, John Wight & Samuel Turner
or a Quorum of them, may be authorized to Sell and Legally
convey so much of the Delinquents Rights through the Town-
ship will pay said Arrears. And as the Boundary Lines
betwixt this Township, and the Towns of Falmouth & North
Yarmouth have never yet been settled, the ascertaining of
which is of great Importance to this Township ; We pray
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 161
that your Excellency and Honours will please to Order some
proper Methods for effecting the same
All which is submitted by
Your Excellency's and Honour's Most Obedient,
Hum 11 Serv t8
Nathan Bowen Will m Goodwin
John Wight Samuel Turner
"New Marblehead Petition &c June 6 1759 To Lie."
A List of 29 Lotts in New Marblehead that were setled
ipril 26 th 1759, with the Names of the Origenal Grantees
to whome they belong'd
N By whome drawn.
3, Robert Paramore, 5, Michael Bowden, 6, Samuel Stacey
3 d , 7, Ebenez r Hawkes Jun r , 10, Thomas Wood, 12, Thomas
Chute, 16, James Sharer, 19, Joseph Majory, 21, John Stacey,
22, Richard Reed, 23, John Bayly, 26, James Ferryman, 27,
Moses Galley, 30, Nathan Bowen, 32, Abrah m Howard Esq,
38, Benjamin James Ju r , 42, Isaac Mansfield, 44, Joseph
Howard, 46, Samuel Brimblecomb, 47, Joseph Griffin, 48,
Joseph Smethurst, 49, Will.~ Ingalls, 51, John Felton, 52,
Joseph Blany Esq, 53, Andrew Tucker, 55, Nathani 1 Evans,
57, William Meberry, 58, William Goodwin, 61, Giles Ivimy.
An Account of the Settlement att N Marblehead And by
who made this 26 April A D 1759
No 1 School Lot unsetled
2 8 Acres Land Cleared ) Duble house Settl d
3 Ditto I by Maxwel Maybury 1755
4 - unsetl ed under y e Care Esq r T
5 9 Acers Cleard with a house as setled by
Epharam Winship 1750
11
162 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
6 9 Ditto with a Barn setl d by Epharam Winship 1750
7 8 Ditto with a house Setl d by Joseph Sterling 1751
8 9 Ditto with the Remains of a house Setl ed
by Joseph Sterling 1750
9 _ 10 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setled _
John Bodge 1744
10 10 Ditto with a house Setl fld John Bodge 1752
11 8 Ditto the hous.e Rotten Down Setl ed Will" 1
Maybery 1740
12 7 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d Curtis
Chute
13 7 Ditto ) no houses Improved by Cp* Thorn 8
14 _ 7 Ditto ) Chute
15 8 Ditto y e house Rotten Down Sett d Gershum
Mansheter Deceas d 1740
Oulton. 16 9 Ditto with a house Setl ed by John
Mansheter 1752
17 - - 13 Ditto")
lg 13 Ditto I These Four Belong to Thomas
19 13 Ditto i Maybery with a Garrison house
20 11 Ditto J on N 19
21 10 Ditto with a house Setl ed by Sam 11 Webb 1752
22 7 Ditto with a house Setl ed by Sam 1 Math-
ews Deceased 1751
23 8 Ditto with a house Setl ed by Seth Webb!
24 8 Ditto the house Rotten Down Own d by > 1744
s d Webb
25 15 Ditto with a house but N family j
26 15 Ditto Setl d by W Maybery I 175
27 15 Ditto no house, Belongs to Rich d May-
bery w Dwelt with his father
28 9 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
Nathl Starbord deces d 1745
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 163
29 12 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
John Farrow Deces d 1740
30 12 Ditto a Garrison d house Setl d by John
Farrow Deces d 1752
31 12 Ditto the house Rotten Down Belonging
_ s d Farrow 1743
32 12 Ditto with a house Setl d by Stephen
Mansheter 1742
33 2 Ditto Ministeri 11 Lott
34 7 Ditto upon which stands Province Fort
35 _ 7 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
Rev r M r Wight
36 15 Ditto a Rotten Down house Buil* by Abra-
ham Anderson 1740
37 15 Ditto a Rotten Down house Buil* by s d
Anderson 1 740
38 14 Ditto a house now Standing Buil* by s d
Anderson 1750
39 _ 7 Ditto a house Built & Setl d _ Thorn 8
Humphrys Deces d 1742
40 7 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d Sam 11
Elder Deces d 1743
Oulton 41 7 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d -
Jonas Noys Deces d 1748
42 5 Ditto a house Belonging Cp* Chute 1752
43 4 Ditto with a house but no family
44 7 Ditto with a house Setl d by Zub 11 Hunniw 11 1756
45 _ 7 Ditto
46 8 Ditto
a Duble house setl d by Will" 1 Elder 1753
47 14 Ditto a house now improved by John
Steven Deces*
48 14 Ditto a house now improv d by John
Stevens Seno r
49 7 Ditto by Mich 11 Walker who is Setl d on
the Hundred Acers
164 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
50 12 Ditto with a Barn belonging Hugh Crage
51 12 Ditto with a house belonging s d Crage
52 14 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
Tho Bolton 1741
53 14 Ditto a Garrisond house Belonging Will m
Bolton 1744
54 13 Ditto house Rotten Down Setl d Tho Bolton 1 742
55 12 Ditto a house Belonging Robert Muckford 1755
56 10 Acres with a house Belonging John May-"
1751
57 10 Ditto with a house where s d May bery
now dwells
58 9 Ditto with a house setl d by Eleazer Chase 1751
59 9 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
Brown Deces d 1750
60 7 Ditto the house standing but no family \
61_9 Ditto a Garrison d hous Belong 111 Caleb 1749
Grafton
62 2 Ditto no house nor family Belonging Wi 11
Knights
63 9 Ditto the house Rotten Down Setl d by
Caleb Grafton 1743
Quantity Acers Land Clear d g Sam 11 Turner
in s d Town 594 John Wight
The Names of the Familys now Sett d at N Marblehead taken
by John Wight & Sam 1 Turner
Setled
No 3 Max 11 Maybery 30 John Farrow
5 Cha 8 Winship 32 Stephen Mansheter
6 Gershum Winship 35 Abr m Anderson
7 Joseph Sterling 44 Zub 1 Hunniwell
j
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 165
I
10 John Bodge 46 Will" 1 Elder
12 C Chute 47 John Stevens Jun r
42 Tho Chute 48 John Stevens Sen r
16 John Mansheter 49 Mich 1 Walker
19 Tho Maybery 51 Hugh Crage
21 Sam 1 Webb 52 Tho 8 Bolton
22 Sam 1 Mathews 53 Will Bolton
23 Seth Webb 55 Rob* Muckford
26 Will m Maybery 57 John Maybery
27 Rich d Maybery 58 Eleaz r Chase
61 Caleb Grafton
29
Petition of Proprietors of Neguassett. 1759.
Province of Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esquire Captain Gen-
eral Governor and Commander in Chief in and Over the
Province aforesaid and Vice Admiral of the Same, and
to the Hon ble His Majestys Council and the House of
Representatives of the said Province in General Court
Assembled at Boston May 30 th 1759.
The Petition of Us the Subscribers the present Proprietors
and Planters of a Certain Tract of Land commonly called
Neguassett in the County of York holding in the Right of
Mess rs Lake and Clarke deceased Humbly Shews
That your Petitioners are the Proprietors and Planters of
a certain Tract of Land called Neguasset lying in the County
of York aforesaid which Tract of Land is bounded & described
as follows Beginning at Towessick gutt at the head of Arrow-
sick Island or George Town so called and running Northerly
on Sagadahoc or Kennebeck River to a certain Pine Tree
marked which is the first marked tree in y e boundary Line
166 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
between the said Province and the Plimouth Company from
thence Easterly on said Line to Mountsweeg River as the
Line is now established, and from thence Southerly down said
River and Mountsweeg Bay including an Island called Oak
Island and from thence again Southerly Round a point of
Land called Phips's point and from thence Westerly to a
point called Hawkomoka Point, and from thence Northerly
running through Hells-gate so Called into Towessick or Neg-
uassett Bay to the bounds first mentioned as by an Authen-
tick Plan of the said Tract of Land hereunto Annexed and
presented wherein the Same is more particularly delineated
and described will more fully appear
That your pet r8 by reason of their not being incorporated
Labour under many and great difficulties and disadvantages
with respect to the preaching of the Gospel among them, and
having no Settled Minster, but are obliged to Embrace any
Opportunity when they can procure it, to have the Gospel
preached among them gladly paying for it, and that hitherto
has been but very Seldom, untill Since the Month of January
last
That your pet rs among themselves by a voluntary private
Subscription have Sett up and are Erecting a very Conven-
ient House for the public Worship of God, and with his bless-
ing they intend to finish it in a Commodious and Suitable
manner
That your pet notwithstanding this, are under many other
difficulties by reason of their not being incoraged, as they can
carry on no regular Religious Order among themselves and
their respective familys w ch they greatly Lament and bewail
Wherefore your petitioners most humbly pray this Hon*
Court to take their Unhappy Circumstances into your pater-
nal Consideration and out of your known Wisdom and good-
ness for the regular Order and promotion of Religion in the
Province, to Incorporate your petitioners and the Lands afore-
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
167
mentioned into a Township or District by the Name of Wool-
wich, or such other Name as your Excellency and Honours
shall think fitt and to Vest them with such priveledges and
immunities as other Towns or Districts within this Province
by Law are invested with and Enjoy, and under such Regu-
lations, and Limitations, as this Hon ble Court shall Judge fit-
ing and proper for their Circumstances
And your Petitioners ( as in duty bound ) shall ever pray
&c a
James Grant Thomas Stinson
Sam 11 Harnden James Savage
Elijah Grant Daniel Lankester
David Gilmor John Curtis
Elihu Lankester Jonathan Carlton
Joseph Paine Richard Greenleaf
Mich 1 Card Joshua Bayley
Edward Savage Aaron Abbit
Simon Cross Samuel Lemon
Joseph Lankes te James Blanchard
Robert Stinson William Gilmor
Sam 11 Harnden Ju r Daniel Savage
S G Samuel Greenleaf
In the House of Rep ve8 June 9 1759 Read and Ordered
that the Pet r8 serve the Town of George Town ( so called )
as also the first Parish in said Town with copys of their Pet n
by leaving an attested copy thereof with their respective
Clerks that they may shew cause if any they have on the
Second tuesday of the next Sitting of the Court why the
Prayer thereof should not be granted.
Sent up for concurrence S : White Spk r
In Council June 9. 1759 Read and Concurd
Tho 8 Clarke Dp 1 ? Secry
In Council Oct r 11, 1759
Read again together with a Vote of the Town of George
Solomon Walker
Samuel Banchard
Joseph G
Joshua Farnham
Ebnr Smith
Isaac Savage
Andrew Grant
Nathanael Webb
Simon Sloman
Ebenezer Brookens
John Carlton
John Pain
168 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Town relative to the Affair : and Resolved That the Prayer
of the Petition be so far granted as that the Petitioners have
liberty to bring in a Bill for erecting the Lands prayed for
into a District with power to join with the Town of George
Town in the Choice of Representatives.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves Oct r 11. 1759
Read and Concurd S : White Spk r
Speech. June 1, 1769
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
Since the Dissolution of the Late Assembly I have been to
the Penobscot Country a Larg & Fine Tract of Land in the
Dominions of the British Crown belonging to this Province,
but for many Years a Den for Savages & a lurking Place for
some Renegadoe French : By the Blessing of God I have suc-
ceeded in taking Possession thereof, & have I hope establish'd
that Possession by Fixing a Fort on y e Penobscot River in
such situation as to be very respectable for its own defense
being no where commanded, but more so for y e Command it
holds of both Branches of y e River & of the Carrying Place
therefrom ; of Edgemoggin Reach y e Outlett, & of Pentagoet
the Rendevouz, of the Eastern Indians when they come against
our Frontiers. This River was y e last & only door That
the Enimy had left to y e Atlantic & I hope this is now fairly
shutt upon them, What is Necessary to inform Your Judg-
ment Provision for Carrying y e Measure to its Utmost Effect
I will order to be laied before You with Plans & Surveys.
Before my departure I issued out beating Orders for the
raising the Second Levy of 1500 Men for which the late
House had made Provision : I entrusted the care of Forming
& Sending them Off to His Honor the L 1 Gov r , the very
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 169
proper Dispositions & Dispatch which He has made deserve
my thanks I will lay before You, what has been done as to
the Success & Disposal of the Levies, by the Report which
the L* Gov r makes to me
T Pownall
Council Chamber June 1 st 1759
Message. "6 June 1759."
Memorandums
As the Service that must Arise to this Country from take-
ing Post & building a Fort at Penobscot can never arise
from a Garrison lying idle in & about y e Fort - I propose to
Consider y e Fort rather as a Lodgment for a Body of Men -
from whence I will keep out constant Scouts & Ambushes at
all y e Passes that lead to our Settlements, so as to Check y e
Indians from coming in small lurking Parties
For this Six Whale-boats will be necessary
As the only Way to Curb & Restrain y e Indians is by
offensive measures, such as shall render it impracticable for
them to subsist. I propose, if they do not come in by Fair
Means, to send a Body of Men to find out their Planting
Ground & Settlements & Destroy them, as they do ours. So
that in Winter they must be either starv'd ( for y e French
cannot support them ) or come into us & depend upon us for
their bread
As y e best Defense for our Frontiers is a Knowledge &
Practical Use of that Knowledge, of the Country I wou'd
propose to send Home by Land ( instead of in Sloops ) a hun-
dred or 150 Men across from Penobscot to Fort Halifax two
ways to which I have found out & from thence by Ames-
coggin & Pesumpscot to Falmouth
170 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
I woud also know all y e Passes about Penobscot.
For these services and lengthening out y e Establishment
for y e Forces there two months is necessary. If y e Court
will do that I will dismiss them in a shorter time if it can
be done sooner
T Pownall
Petition of the Brethren of the Second Church and Parish in
Falmouth.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay June 1759
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* General and
Governour in and over his Majestys s d Province the Hon^
ourable his Majestys Council and House of Representatives
in General Court Assembled
We the Subscribers Inhabitants & Brethren of the Second
Church and Parish in Falmouth in the County of York
apprehending ourselves greatly aggrieved at the pretended
Settlement of one Epraim Clark, in the Ministerial Office
over the Church and Congregation in said Parish, in the fol-
lowing very Extraordinary and violent Manner, viz* after a
great and Solemn Council of Fifteen Churches mutually
chosen and agreed on by both Parties held in said Parish in
July 1755. which Council spent three Days in Examining
and considering the Objections that were offered against his
being settled here as a Minister, and on mature Considera-
tion of the Debates and Arguments us'd on both Sides, the
Vote was put, whether it was thought proper for M r
Ephraim Clark to be Settled in said Parish, in the work of
the ministry, and it pass'd in the negative ; and as the Par-
ties had agreed, that their Result shou'd be desisive, we
apprehended the Dispute and Difference, relative to said M r
Clark, was at an end, yet notwithstanding, the said M r Clark
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 171
and his Adherents have diverse times since, in vain, sent out
Letters to such Churches in the Country, as they thought
they cou'd prevail with, to come and Install him ; but at last
have procur'd M r John Rogers of Kittery, M r Cleaveland of
Jabacco, and M r Cleaveland of Glocester, with their Dele-
gates, as we Suppose, who did on the twentieth of May Sev-
enteen Hundred and Fifty-six meet in said Parish, to whom
we sent our Remonstrance and desired to be heard, which
we cou'd not obtain ; whereupon they went to the Meeting-
House ; where we made a second Demand to be heard, and
Instead of making us an answer, they Quitted the Meeting-
House, and in a riotous and Tumultuous Manner, went to
one M r Simontons Orchard, and there they performed Some
Ceremonies which they call'd and the people Understood to
be, an Installment of the said Clark, which proceedings of
the said Clark and his adherents and those three Gentlemen ;
we can't but look upon to be contrary to Law, contrary to
the Platform and contrary to the order of the Churches of
this Land. Whereupon as Disorders of this nature in Set-
tling of Laymen are continually repeated and the prevail' g
Disposition of the Multitude in many Towns in the Prov-
ince, is toward them, and as ever since the s d Installment we
have been harrass'd, persecuted and imprisond for Rates and
Taxes, to support the s d Clark in the ministry here, whom
we can't but look upon unquallify'd, and unfit for said
Office, neither have we hitherto, nor can we in Reason or
consience attend his ministry. Whefore your
aggrieved, afflicted and Persecuted Petitioners most humbly
and Earnestly pray, this Great and General Court, wou'd be
Graciously pleas'd to take their distressed Circumstances
under their wise Consideration and grant that we and our
neighbours, who are in like manner oppress'd, may be Exempt
from paying Taxes towards the support of the said Clark ;
and have Liberty to join with the first Parish in said Fal-
172 DOCUMENT ART HISTORY
mouth or any other way grant such relief to your unhappy
Petitioners as your Excellency and Honours shall see meet
and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray &c :
Will m Wescot Ezekiel Gushing Ebenezer Doane Ju r
Robert Thorndike William Wescot Ju r Robert Mitchell
Josiah Skillin Jonathan Loveitt Samuel York
Tho 8 Picket Josiah Wastcot Eben r Thorndike
George Haslem David Strout Richard Wescot
Loring Gushing Joseph Sawyer Jonathan Mitchell
Will m Strout Sephen Randell tho delono
Robart Mayo Daniel Strout John Small
Humphery Richards John Small Juner James Small
John Delano Josiah Stanford Antony Strout
Joshua Eldridge Timothy Eldrege Eze Gushing Jun r
Joseph Stanford Josiah Stanford iuner Robert Stanford
Ghristo Strout Tho 8 Wimbly Whiteford Mayoo
Isaac Small Jedediah Lombard James Wimble
Jere Gushing Robert Thorndike Juner Isaac Loveitt
30
In the House of Rep ive8 June 7. 1759
Read and Ordered that the Pet" serve the Clerk of the
second Parish in Falmouth with a copy of this Pet n that
they shew cause ( if any they have ) on the second fryday of
the next sitting of this Gourt why the Prayer thereof should
not be granted.
Sent up for concurrence
S. White Spk'
In Council 7 June 1759.
Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
In Council Jan r 12 : 1760. Read again together with the
Answer of the 2 d Parish in Falmouth and
Ordered That Samuel Watts & Will Brattle Esq r w th
such as the Honourable House shall join be a Committee to
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 173
take the Same under consideration and report what they
judge proper for this Court to do thereon Sent down for
Koncurrence.
A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ive8 Jan* 15, 1760.
Read and Concurd and Col Gerrish Col Sparhawk and
M r Hearsey are Joyned in the Affair.
S : White Spk r
Report $ Order thereon. June 15, 1759.
The Comtee on the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town
Called New Marblehead have Considered the Same, and are
humbly of Opinion, that the said Inhabitants be Impowered
by this Hon ble Court to Levey a Tax on all the Lands in s d
Township of one peney half peney g acre for three Years the
s d Tax to be applyd towards Building a Meeting House &
settling a Minister and building a School House & hireing a
School Master and other things for the Benifit of s d Town-
ship and that they also be Impower'd to settle the Bounds of
s d Township with the Town of Falmouth. Which is Hum-
bly Submitted
g Sam 1 Watts
June 15 th 1759. g ord r
In Council June 15, 1759 Read and Accepted. And
Ordered That the Petitioners have liberty to bring in a Bill
accordingly,
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves June 15 1759
Read and Concur'd S : White Spk r
Consented to T Pownall
174 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Petition of the Inhabitants of the Second Parish in Falmouth.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay July 1759
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* General &
Governour in and Over his Majestys Province of the Mas-
sachusetts Bay in New-England &c and Hon 11 his Majestys
Council & House of Representatives in General Court
Assembled
Humbly Shew, we the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Sec-
ond Parish in the Town of Falmouth in y e County of York
& Province aforesaid, that whereas a Number of the Church
& Inhabitants of the Parish afores d Exhibited a Petition to
the Gen 1 Court in their Last Sessions praying to be
Exempted from paying Taxes towards the Support of one
M r Ephraim Clark in s d Parish ; & we not having an Oppor-
tunity of Signing the s d Petition then & joining with the
Petitioners We pray that Your Excellency & Honours
will grant that we may now join the said Petitioners, & that
you will look upon us as Such & Exempt us also from pay-
ing Taxes towards the Support of the said Clark & Your
Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray &c.
John Horton Joshua Strout
Nathaniel Jordan Josiah Stanford Ju
his
Ebenezer X Cobb
mark
York ss at a town meeting held at Georgetown August 23
A. D. 1759 by virtue of a warrant for that purpos
Secondly Voted that the town do not incline to make any
objections upon the granting the petition of the proprietors
and planters comonly called nequaset their being made a
town or otherways as the Legislature may think proper
humbly hoping that the government will tak_ off from said
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 175
town and lay on the petitioners a fitt proportion of publick
charges to the province and county.
Samuell Denny moderat r
a trew copy as appears of record as
attest Samuell Denny town dark
Letter from Sam 1 Harnden
Georgetown September y e 3 d 1759
S r
Pursuant to Your &c Report to the Honourable house
I have Notified the town of Georgetown and the first Parrish
in said town and inclosed is A Copy of the towns Proceedings
in the Affair and the Parrish on Seeing What the town had
Done Declined Doing Any thing I Should Gladly have Wated
on the Court on this Important Affear But God Was Pleased
to Send the Measseals into my family Just as I Was a Pre-
pearing for the Voige five are Now Sick three of Which is
Very ill Indeed.
As there is no Opposision I trust the Afair May Be
Ishshued Although I am Not there We Indeed With Stimis-
ion ask the Power and Privelidge of A town But Being
Informed that that Could Not Be Granted - Petetioners
Chuse Reither to Be A Districk then a Parrish and the Priv-
elidge of A Vote With Georgetown in the Chose of A Rep-
resentive I send this By Major Denny Who if You or the
Court Want to be Informed in Any Point Can and I trust
Will Give A Impershall Account. My Duty to the other
Gentlemen of the Commity Except the Same Your Self from
S r Your humble Sarvant
Sam 11 Harnden
P. S S r if I am Under a Mistake in Writing to You I Relie
on You to Communicate itt to home itt Should be Sent
Cornel Clap
176 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Speech. Oct. 3, 1759.
Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives -
By the very Interesting and Important Events with which
it hatli pleased God to succeed His Majesty's Arms we see
the British Empire again rising in America and by wise and
prudent Conduct under which they still continue to act we
may hope, if we persevere to the End for which we took up
Arms, to see it so established as that we may no more Fear
the Power or Treachery of the Enemy in Canada. As I most
heartily congratulate you on these Events So I would encour-
age You to remain stedfast in these hopes and to act under
this Spirit and Resolution in all that may be required of you
for this End. By Gen 1 Amhesrts Letters to me You will see
what the immediate Service requires of You. It is with great
pleasure I can acquaint You that the Parliament of Great
Britain have enabled His Majesty to recompence his Colonies
for their Services according as the Active Vigour & Strenu-
ous Efforts of the Respective Provinces shall appear to Merit.
Amongst the many happy Events of this Year there are
none in which the People of this Province will partake with
more sincere satisfaction than in seeing the Royal Heir to the
Protestant Succession arrived to full Age and upon this I do
most heartily congratulate You
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
The Estimate of the Current Services lye before You, and
I have directed the Treasurer to lay before you the State of
the Supplies for these Current services and for the payment
of the Troops in the general Service As Your own sense of
the service has alway induced you to make Suitable Provision
for these I am sure Your Sense of the Benefit as well as
Honor that the Province derives from the very high Credit
of the Treasury will lead you to make good any Fund that
may require your present consideration.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 17 7
Upon my Building the Fort at Penobscot I did at your
request dismiss the Garrison at Brunswick. I have now also
Directed the Dismission of the Garrison at Pemaquid from
the same Desire of saving every thing I can to the People
amidst their many heavy burthens I have directed the
Scouting Parties at the Lodgments on the Western Frontiers
to be dismissed as that part of the Country is now intirely
cover'd by the Operations of the Army in those Parts. And
I should hope as Measures taken in the Eastern Part shall
Produce their Effect, I may be able to Dismiss still more in
that Quarter But in the mean while you will remember that
as the Enemy's Home is destroyed they must seek their Sus-
tinence abroad ; And that Winter is the Season in which they
have made the most destructive inroads both on our Eastern
and Western Frontiers from Canada.
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives.
I have directed the Secretary to lay before You all such
Papers as will require your Consideration.
The State in which insolvent Debtors find themselves after
having surrendered their Persons and Discovered their Effects
to their Creditors upon the late Act for the relief of Debtors
and their Creditors deserves Your Attention And You may
depend upon my Assistance in any Remedy which You can
apply for their relief consistant with equal justice to all their
Creditors both in England and Here and Consistant with His
Majesty's declared Will in the disallowance already made.
The Act for providing Quarters for His Majesty's Troops
and Recruiting Parties within this Province being temporary
is Expired and will, as You will observe from some of the
Papers laied before you, require your Consideration.
T Pownall
Oct r 3 d 1759
12
178 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Act.
Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi Tricesimo Tertio.
An Act for incorporating the Inhabitants of a Tract of
Land called Neguasset in the County of York into a District
by the Name of
Whereas the Inhabitants of a Tract of Land called Neg-
uassett in the County of York, have represented to this Court
the great Difficulties and Inconveniences they labour under
in their present Situation, and have earnestly requested that
they may be incorporated into a District.
Be it therefore enacted by the Governour, Council and
House of Representatives, That the whole of that Tract of
Land in the County of York called Neguassett, bounded as
follows, Viz* Beginning at Towessick Gut at the Head of
Arrowsick Island or George-Town so called, and running
Northerly on Sagadahoc or Kennebeck River to a certain Pine
Tree marked, which is the first marked Tree in the Boundary
Line between the Proprietors of said Land and the Plymouth
Company, from thence Easterly on said Line to Mountsweeg
River as the Line is now established, and from thence South-
erly down said River and Mountsweeg Bay including an
Island called Oak Island from thence again Southerly round
a Point of Land called Phipps's Point, and from thence West-
erly to a Point called Hawkomoka Point, and from thence
Northerly running through Hells gate so called into Towessick
or Neguassett Bay to the Bounds first mentioned, be and here-
by is incorporated into a District by the Name of
and that the Inhabitants thereof do the Duties that are
required, and be invested with the Powers, Priviledges and
Immunities which the Inhabitants of any Town within this
Province do or by Law ought to enjoy ; excepting only the
Priviledge of chusing a Representative to represent them in
the General Assembly, and that the Inhabitants of said Dis-
trict shall have full Power, and Right from Time to Time to
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 179
join with the Town of George Town in the Choice of a Rep-
resentative or Representatives, in which Choice they shall
enjoy all the Priviledges which ^ by Law they would have
been intitled to if this act had not been made.
Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That the
said District shall pay their Proportion of all Town, County
and Province Taxes already set on or granted to be raised by
said Town of George-Town as if this act had not been made.
And be it further enacted That Samuel Denny Esq r be and
hereby is impowered to issue his Warrant directed to some
principal Inhabitant in 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 chuse all such officers as shall be nec-
essary to manage the Affairs of said District.
In the House of Rep ve8 Oct r 17 1759
Read three several times and passd to be Engross'd
Sent up for concurrence
Att r Roland Cotton Cler Dom Rep
In Council Oct r 17, 1758 Read a first time
P. M. Read a second time and passed a Concurrence to
be engrossed with the Amendment at A.
Sent down for concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves Oct r 17 1759
Read and Concurr'd S White Spk r
A. Dele and Insert.
the Inhabitants of the several Towns within this Prov-
ince are intitled to
Petition of Wait Wadsworth $ other*. 1759
The Province of the Massaschusetts Bay
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* General and
Governer and Commander In Chief in and over his Maj-
180 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
estys Province of the Masseschusetts Bay in New Eng-
land and the Honorable his majestys Council and house
of Representatives in General Court Assembled Nov r
the First 1759
The Petition of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Towns
of Duxborough, Pembrook, Kingston and Plympton most
Humbly Sheweth.
That your Petitioners having small and very poor farms or
Tenements whereon they now Dwell and some of us not one
foot of Land in the world, and Being Desireous of Setling all
together In some Convenient place within this Go vermeil t
Rather than in Nova-Scotia, where they have offers of Settle-
ments, and Understanding that there is a Large Quantity of
unimproved and uncultivated Lands Lying at the Eastward
and most Extream parts of this Goverment, at a place called
Penobscot River or Bay which may in time be a Benefit
to this Goverment, if properly cultivated and Brought under
Improvements, Not only of paying of Publick Taxes, for the
Support of the Goverment. But also to the Inlarging of its
Borders. Your Petitioners Therefore Humbly pray, that your
Excellency and Honours would be pleased to grant us a Sut-
able Tract of Land on said River ( or Bay ) for a Town Ship
under such Rules and Regulations, as you in your Wisdom
shall think most proper, and your Petitioners as In Duty
bound shall ever pray.
Wait Wadsworth Blaney Phillips iuner Nath 11 Simmons
Joshu Thomas Joseph Foreman Juner Ebenezer Dawes
Jethro Sprague Ambros Dawes Samuel Bradford
Zebedee Chandler Ezekiel Bradford John Maclaghlin
Bezaleel Pelg Chandler Silvenus Prior
Micah Simmons Seth Weston John Phillips
Eliphaz Prior Simeon Bradford Thomas Drew
Joshua Stanford Zenas Drew Paul Sampson
James Cobb Ju r Abner Weston Sam el Additon
OF THE STATE OP MAINE
181
Benjamin Prior Juner Peabody Bradford Joseph Russel
Constant Southworth Peres Lo
Ebenezer Soule John Fance
Nathaniel Gushing Elnathan Weston
EBenezer Moten
Micah Soule
Seth Bradford
John Hunt Ju r
Levi Loring
Edward Tinkham
Wreastling Alden
Judah Delano
Zebulon Drew
Jacob Weston Phinehas Sprague
Robert Stanford Blany Phillips
Tson Brewster Joseph Holmes
r il m Drew Jabesh Washburn
Nath Loring William Sprague
Jedidiah Simmons Enoch Freeman
George Uffel Joseph Brewster Juner Amos Lamson
eleg Wadsworth Nath 11 Silvester Sam 11 Brewster
illiam C 56 Joseph Freeman
Gentlemen of y e Council & House of Representatives
Upon occasion of this Petition I wou'd recommend it to
You to consider what Lands We have to Grant
T Pownall
In the House of Rep Nov r 6, 1759.
Read and Ordered that the consideration of this Pet n be
refer'd till the next Session of this Court. And that all Per-
sons Who have any Claims for lands at or near Penobscot
give them into the Secretary's Office before _ first day of
February next A That this Court may know what lands are
belonging to this Province in those parts A
And that Notice be given of this Order in the Boston
Newspapers accordingly
Sent up for concurrence S : White Spk r
In Council Nov r 6, 1759. Read and Non Concurred, And
Voted that Benj a Lynde, John Gushing & William Brattle
Esq with such as the House shall appoint be a Committee
to consider what Lands belong to the province in the Eastern
Country at and Near Penobscut and are convenient for set-
tlements & to make report. And the Committee are to give
182 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
publick notice of the time of Meeting that so such persons as
have any Claims to Lands in that part of the Province may
exhibit such Claims if they see cause, and that the considera-
tion of this Petition be referred in the mean time.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ve9 Nov r 7, 1759
Read and Non concur' d and the House adhere to their own
Vote.
Sent up for concurrence S : White Spk r
In Council Novem r 9. 1759 Read and Concur'd with the
Amendm* A
Sent down for Concurrence Tho 8 Clarke Dp ty Secry
Dele from A to A
In the House of Rep ve8 Nov r 10 1759
Read and Concur'd Att r Roland Cotton Cler Dom Rep
Consented to T Pownall
Message. Nov. 6, 1759.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
In the same Manner as I did last Year I shall now acquaint
You of the State of the several Matters in the General Ser-
vice, for which You have made Provision, as far as lyes
within my own Department.
The Regulations as to the Bounty Money, The Arms,
Accoutrements & Camp Necessaries, being found to be the
best calculated for the Security of the Province Interest & of
y e Dues of y e Men, are the same this Year as the last. There
having been some complaints of undue practices as to y e Bil-
letting Money, The General at my desire sent an officer to
Worcester to pay the Billetting money himself, which was an
adequate remedy to y* matters complaind of the Improve-
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 183
ments also in the regulations as to Sutlers will have a good
Effect.
I have seen with great Uneasiness the Extravagant & ill-
'ulated Expences arising from y e Manner of our Men bil-
letting themselves upon y e Taverns in their way home; I
sleive y e summs paied on this account wou'd exceed what
You cou'd imagine : The Remedies which I endeavourd to
ipply had no effect : This Year by a Vote of the General
>urt it was left to me with y e Advice of Council to make
Provision for our Troops on their Return from the Westward.
I seiz'd this Opportunity to Desire that the General wou'd
)rovide Magazines for their March Home in the same Manner
was done for their March out or to pay them y e Four-
pences in lieu thereof; Tho' this was a thing never done
before Yet the General, from a most kind Disposition to do
every thing in his power not only to serve but to oblige the
Province, has at my Request agreed to the Measure, as you
see by the following extract of His Letter to me of Oct r 25,
1759 "at the same time that I return You my particular
thanks for your Favor of _ 15 th Ins* I shall likewise repeat
"those made You by my Secretary in my Name for Your
" other Favors of the 9 th & 12 th of y e same Month together
" with y e Answer he has laied before me by which You will
" have seen that I have orderd Magazines of Provisions to be
" laid up at No 4 where on the return of the Massachusetts
Forces I shall send a Regular officer to see Provisions issued
"out to them sufficient to carry them to the Inhabited Coun-
"try &, if they choose it, beyond that they shall likewise
"have it, but as I apprehend they will not be desirous of
" overburthening themselves, & that the Fourpences will be
"more agreable to them, That some officer shall be provided
" with Money & Directions to pay Every Souldier so many
" Fourpences as it will take them Daies to reach their respect-
" ive Homes at a moderate March. That their March from
184 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
" hence to N 4 may meet with no Difficulties & Delays I
*' have now a Party of 250 Men ready to clear the road &
" make it good." This which I have obtained for you will
be a saving of some thousand pounds.
You will see by the Following Account that the Expedi-
tion to Penobscot Cost 5089:17:2 but that if the 400 Men
who were employ'd in that Expedition had been sent to join
the General Service their pay wou'd have come to 6773:7:6
So that the taking Possession of Penobscot & the Building
a Fort here has not only not Cost You one Farthing but that
it was formd on such grounds as has saved to the Province
.1683.10.4 as must otherwise have been spent had there
been no such Expedition & had there been no such Fort. I
may therefore Venture to say that Fort Pownall, as it is the
best, so it is the Cheapest Fort You have ever had built in
this Province.
Account of the Penobscot Expedition under the
Command of the Governor
Support of 400 Men from the 31 8t of March to
y fl 28 th of July 3290.18.6
446 1 W* of bread 490.12.0
250 lb of Pork 825.0.0
390 Bus 1 of Peas 130.0.0
1750 Gall Mellasses 233.6.8
5089.17.2
Charge of saied 400 Men had they been as was \
intended with Gen 1 Amherst from March 31 ( 6773.7.6
to Dec r 1 st J
Saving to the Province 1683.10.4
You had at my Recommendation made very proper pro-
vision for the forwarding to their respective Homes those of
the Province Forces which were expected from the Eastward.
From the Necessity of securing the important acquisition of
Quebec & that That Conquest may hold the rest of Canada
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
185
in Subjection, It became necessary to leave There the whole
of the Little Army which took it. These were the Troops
that were destined to releive this Province Troops in the
several Garrisons & Forts of Cape Breton & Nova Scotia ;
Others must be now Destined for that Service But from
the Time to which it is most likely the Campaign will con-
tinue at the Westward, & from y e Time that an army of such
"roops as may be destined to releive ours will take ; togather
with the length & incertainty of the Voyage of those Troops
to y e several Posts, & of Ours Home, it must be certainly
between two & three months before we can expect to see our
'eople here. I must therefore most earnestly recommend to
r ou to make Provision that our People may not suffer in
the mean while. You will therefore not only make further
provision for their Pay, but take Care that They may have
rhat is Comfortable & Necessary for their Health Cloathing
& Lodging during these cold winter months. And that the
Families of these poor Souldiers may not be deprived of the
Benefit which they wou'd have received from y e Pay as well
of y e Comfort of seeing their Freinds return in y e begin-
ning of Winter I must recommend to Your Charitable Con-
sideration the Condition of Many of these Poor Families.
From the punctuall manner in which the Admiral sent
home a Number of our Seamen by the first Opportunity I do
every day expect y e Return of the whole.
T Pownall
Province House Nov r 6, 1759
Frankfort, Petition, June 6, 1759.
To His Excellency Thomas Pownal Esq r Governour and
Commander in Cheiff in and over his majesties Province of
the Massachusetts Bay and Vice Admiral of the Same and
186 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Honourable the Council and Honourable House of Rep-
ersentatives Humbly Sheweth
That wee the Subscribers &c are a number of Inhabitants
in the Plantation of Frankfort Laying betwen Kennebeck
and Sheepscut Rivers, and within the Bounds of the Kenn-
bek Purchas from the Late Colony of New Plymouth of the
lands fifteen miles on Each side of Kennebeck River to the
Number of about one hundred famelys and hath been for a
number of years bringing forward a Settlement there ; and,
whereas wee find by Experance that in the Curcomstances
wee are in and for want of our being Errected into a town
and being invested with the Powers and Priviledges that
others of his Majesties Good Subjects do Injoy it Prevents
Our orderly Proceeding to the Calling, Settleing and Sup-
porting a Gospel Minister; Imploying and Maintaining a
School master for the teaching Our Children and many Other
Inconvenances not neaceassary to be mentiond to your Excel-
lency and Honours you well Knowing what People meet
with where Order and Government is wanting - Wee there-
fore most Humbly Pray your Excellency and Honours to
Take the Primisses and our Curcomstances into your Wise
Consideration and Errect us into a town and Invest us with
all the Powers and Priveledges as other of his Majesties Good
Subjects do Injoy in any Town in said Province by the Name
of Frankfort or any other Name as your Excellency in your
Great Wisdom Shall think Proper with the following butts
and Bounds Viz" begining on the Est side of Kennebeck
River at a Pine tree marked Standing on said River and on
the North West Corner of a Tract of land belonging to the
Proprietors holding under Clark and Lake which North West
Corner is a little above merremeeting Bay and is the North
line of nequassett Township So Called ; from thence Runing
an East Southeast Course on said North Line over to Moun-
sweeg Bay then Down said Bay and Round to Sheepscut
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 187
River ; then Northely up said River tell it meets with the
South Line of a thirty two Hundreed acre Lott ; then Runing
Southerly down Said River Keeping on the west Side of Swan
Island to the first mentiond Bounds which includs Swan
Island hi said township all which by the Plan anext will more
fully appear
And May it Please your Excellency and Honours if you
will be Pleased to Grant Our Request you will Greatly Con-
tribet to the Happiness of his Majesties Faithfull Subjects
and your Most Dutefull and Very Humble Sarvants in this
Place And as in Duty Bound Shall Every Pray
Dated at Frankfort Nov r 6 : 1759
Samuel Schuyler Sheepscut River Job Averell Sheepscot River
Abram Nicodemus Place Ditto Samuel Goodwin Goodwin
Thomas Parker Do James Stewart Ditto Philip Call
mark
Michall S Joseph A Hitching James Whielden
bia
Robert Moses Gray Timothy Whielden
Mathew Hastings Samuel Sam 11 Oldham
James Cooper Samuel John peter Coul
his
John Andrews Bartholmey X Fowler John
mark
David Joy James Clark junr Abram Pochard
his bis his
William X Moore Thomas J Murf e John X
mark his mark mark his
J Robert X Lambert M X W
mark mark
Jon r Bryant Benjamin Averell Abiathar Kendall
William Story William Clark Abner Marson
John Joshua Chamberlain Caleb Goodwin
his
Joshua John II Blagdon Michel S tiffin
mark
Jaques Bagnon Joshua Bickford Nathanel Rundlet
his
Charles Estienne Houdlette Sherebiah O Lambert
mark
Thomas Low J David Clancy
188 'DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Message to His Excellency, Nov. 9, 1759.
May it please your Excellency
The House having taken into consideration your Excel-
lencys Message of the 6 th Inst* beg leave to make our
Acknowledgements for those wise and saving Measures which
your Excellency has pursued in carrying into Effect the
important design of securing the Country of Penobscott and
with due Gratitude we perceive that Fort Pownall thro' your
Excellencys Wisdom and Care may justly be esteemed the
best and least expensive Fortress of any that have been
erected in the Province.
We cannot be insensible how highly we are oblig'd to your
Excellency for the other Instances of your attention for the
Interest of the Province and your concern to prevent those
undue Practices particularly relating to the Billeting of our
men which your Excellencys vigilence has discover'd Nor can
we forbear to acknowledge how greatly we are indebted to
General Amherst who has allways discover'd an inclination
to serve and oblige this Province for so readily applying the
adequate and seasonable Remedy to those abuses which your
Excellency had pointed out and which must prove so great a
saving to the Province.
It is with peculiar Pleasure we observe your Excellency's
paternal Care and Tenderness for our men in the Eastern
Service for whom the House have most readily made what
they apprehend a proper and ample Provision.
In the House of Rep Nov r 9 1759
Read and Voted that this Message be Sent to His Excel-
lency And M r Flucker Cap* Stevens Col Lawrence M r Tyler
and Col Bourn wait upon His Excellency and Present the
Same to him accordingly
S: White Spk r
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 189
Gov r Pownall to M r Secretary Pitt
Boston Nov. 20. 1759
I have this day receiv d from L* Col Arbuthnot one of my
>fficers commanding 250 of y e Province Troops at S fc Johns
t, r in N Scotia, an account that the Inhabitants of that River
rearing of the Reduction of Quebec have surrender'd them-
jlves to him Prisoners at Discretion Col Arbuthnot had
ds Summer burn'd five of their Villages and taken several
r essels However they desired to continue on their Lands
>ut as His Prudence did not permitt him to trust them he
rent up with two Schooners & has brought off about 200 of
lem, more are cpming in. On y e 3 d of Nov r He receiv'd a
jtter from y e Jesuit Missionaire there Surrendring himself
desiring if he may be permitted to remain there & Save
lis Cure that He may be admitted to take ye Oaths of Fidel-
ity This Priest attempts likewise to mediate for y e Indians
whom also He was Missionaire.
I did not think it material, as I do not presume to make
my merit of it, to trouble you, amid so many greater affairs,
dth my little excursion to Penobscot Country, Gen 1
Amherst having, as I suppose, acquainted you of the Success
)f it my Establising y e Possession there by Building a Fort :
lut on this occasion permitt me Sir, to observe one good
effect of it As every other River on y e Atlantic was pos-
sess'd by ye King's Arms, Had this, a large River navigable
to the largest Ship for near sixty miles from y e Sea, been left
open, This in y e very Frontiers of this Province wou'd have
been y e Rendevous of all those Canadians & Indians who
have now no remedy left for subsistance but to Surrender.
As I have applications from a great many Families for
Grants of land at Penobscot Which Families are ready to go
down there next spring, I am taking Measure to settle it
190 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Forthwith And I hope this will not prove the least advan-
tageous amongst the Acquisitions of this Year.
I have y e honor to be Sir Your most obed* & most humble
Servant T Pownall
Petition of Rain Curtis, 1759.
To his Excellency Thomas Pownal Esq r Captain General
Govemour and Commander in Chief in and over his Maj-
estys Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and To the Hon-
ourable his Majestys Council & House of Representatives,
for said Province in General Court Assembled the
Day of December A Dom 1759 Humbly Sheweth
Rain Curtis of Marblehead in said Province mariner That
in July A D 1756 he enlisted himself on Board the Province
Ship King George @ 40/ g Month and Continued in the
service of this Province till the Twentieth day of August in
the same year when he with divers others were taken in the
Boat belonging to the Province Sloop near Mount Desart by
the S* Johns Indians & by them carried to S* John from
whence about the last of October following He was carried to
Quebec and there immediately imprisoned & kept in Prison
in a Cold Suffering Starving Condition from that time till the
surrender of Quebec to his Majestys Forces That your Peti-
tioner is poor and needy & therefore Humbly prays That
your Excellency and Honours will be pleasd to Grant him
somewhat in Consideration of his Captivity and Sufferings or
at least order him to be paid the same wages g month from
the time of his being taken as aforesaid untill his return
Home to Marblehead ( which was on the Fourteenth day of
November last ) as your petitioner would have been entituled
to had he Continued in pay on board the province Ship dur-
ing that Time And Your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall
ever pray
Rain Cortes
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 191
II
Essex ss. Decemb r 27 th 1759
Then personally Appeared Rain Curtis abovementiond &
made Oath y t the Facts contained in y e forgoing Petition were
true
Coram W m Bourn J. Pacis
In the House of Rep ves Jan' 26 1760
Read and Ordered that the Sum of Six pounds be allowed
and paid out of the publick Treasury to the Pet r in full con-
sideration for his services and sufferings within mentioned.
Sent up for concurrence S White Spk r
In Council Jan r 21. Read & concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to T Pownall
Grorhamtown, Petition. 1759
Province of the Masachusets Bay
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Governour in
Cheif in and over his Majesties Province of the Masa-
chusets Bay in New England and Vice admiral of the
Same - and the honou ble his Majestys Council & house
of representatives in General Court assembled December
31759
The Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of Naraganset
Township Numb r 7 alias Gorhamtown in the County of York
Humbly Sheweth
That we have with great Difficulty and Hardship for many
Years past lived in s a Exposed Frontier Township and hi
Jeopardy of our Lives and indeed with the Loss of Several
Lives have we indeavored to maintain our ground to this
Time which we could not have done had it not been for The
assistance of this Government Heretofore _ That through the
192 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Good hand of Providence our Numbers are now increased to
Sixty families in s d Township Since which the Proprietors of
s d Township who before were very helpfull and generous
have neglected us by means whereof and for want of Proper
athority among our selves we are in a suffering Condition.
Particularly as we have no meeting house nor School our
Highways are Neglected and in many Places unpassable our
Cattle and Fences without Regulation Some Disorderly poor
Persons are rushing in among us and many other things too
many to be here related insomuch that Every Thing Seems
to tend to Disorder & Confusion, In order of the remidying
and preventind of which your Petitioners Humbly Beseech
your Excellency and Honours we may be imbodied into a
Town bounded on the back Lines of Scarborough & falmouth
and from s d Lines to extend into the Country adjoining
Naraganset No br 1 according to the Grant Given by this
Honourable Court and that we May be Invested with all the
authority and Priviledges of any other Town : Notwithstand-
ing which your Petitioners humbly Pray Your Excellency &
Honours that as we are mostly very Poor and on an Exposed
Frontier we may not as yet be Subject to any Part of the
pucblict Tax ; But Pray your Excellency with your Honours
that we may be Impowered from this Honourable Court to
tax the Nonresident in Conjunction with the Resident Pro-
prietors Lauds at Such a Sum pr acre & for Such a term of
time as Your Excellency & honours Shall think Proper In
Order to Defray the Nessasary Charges that may from Time
to Time arise amnogst our Selves : and your Petitioners as in
Duty Bound will Ever Pray
Edmund Phinney John Phinney Stephen Phiney
Nathaniel Whitney Briant Morton Moses
John Williams John Whitmore Jeames Mosher
Samuel Crocket Nethaniel frost Joseph Gate
Seth Harding John Sawyer A
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
Nathan Whitney John Irish
193
John Cresy
James Gilkey
the House of Rep Jan* 9, 1760
Read and Ordered that the Pet serve the Non resident
'rop of Gorham Town ( so called ) with a copy of this Pet n
inserting the Substance thereof in one of the Boston News
*apers three Weeks successively. That so they shew cause
any they have on the Second fryday of the next Sitting of
lis Court why the Prayer thereof should not be granted
Sent up for concurrence
Att r Roland Cotton Cler Dom Rep
[n Council Jany 9. 1760
Read and Concurred A Oliver Sec r
In Council March 27. 1760 Read and Sent down
the House of Rep June 5 1760
Read again and Ordered that Col Williams Maj r Gushing
id D r Sayer with such as the Hon ble Board shall appoint be
Comm ee to take this Petition and the Answers under con-
sideration and make report.
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
[n Council June 5 th 1760
Read & Concurr'd & Judge Oliver & Co 1 Sparhawk are
Foyned in the affaire
A Oliver Sec r
The State of the Case between the first parish in Falmouth
& Cape Elizabeth now pending at the General Court.
1760 Jany 18. A number of the Inhabitants of Cape Eliz-
ibeth it being then the second parish in Falmouth, being
aggrieved at the Instalment of the Rev d M r Clark petitioned
the General Court & by order of said Court at their own
earnest request were set of to the first Parish " there to
13
194 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
do Duty & receive Priviledge till the further order of said
Court " For this favour they then expressed their Grati-
tude.
The first Parish apprehend that there never has been any
" further Order of Court," since to set them back & as the
same Religious Reasons, for their Request to be set of to the
first parish cotinue in full force, they have continued to rate
them to ministerial Charges to the year 1769 inclusive
they have not done it in 1770 Out of Obedience to a
Resolve of the Court in March 1770. tho they apprehend
Cape Elizabeth obtained that Resolve unfairly.
Cape Elizabeth say that the Act of Incorporation passed
in Sep r 1765 set those persons back & that the matter
was then laid before the Court, & that it was the Design of
said Act in part to set them back.
As to the matters then being laid before the Court, or
their expressly designing to set them back by said Act. we
absolutely deny it. this does not appear from the Act itself
& we call on Cape Elizabeth to prove it. the contrary
appears by W m Simonton Esq Deposition.
Tis true, some of those persons, the year before s d Act of
Incorporation was passed, petitioned to be set back to y e sec-
ond parish, ( viz Ezekiel Gushing Esq. & others )
the first Parish was notified, & expressed their willingness
to have it done, and if those petitioners had prosecuted the
Matter to Effect it probably would have been done, but they
never obtained any Order of Court about it. the petition
died. nor was it revived & reconsidered the year after
when the District was incorporated as is now pretended, as
plainly appears by William Simonton Esq Deposition.
Tis true the Town of Falmouth, (not the first parish,)
in answer to the petition of the Second parish to be incor-
porated, requested that those persons who were set of to the
first parish as afores d , might not be set back again7by the
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 195
Act of Incorporation. & they are not, as y e first parish
apprehends, for they are not mentioned in the Act at all.
Cape Elizabeth supposes they are set back because they are
not excepted out of the act. But this, we think, is a very
strange Construction of said Act The Resolve passed in
Jan y 1760 granted said Petitioners a peculiar ecclesiastical
or parochial Privilege, nothing short of an Express Resolve
of y e same Authority can take away that priviledge nor can
such persons be exempt from the Duty annexed to that
priviledge, any more than be deprived of the priviledge
itself, without an express Order of Court for that purpose.
The Act of Incorporation certainly is no such Order it was
passed for a purpose totally different, viz to vest that parish
( which enjoyd parish priviledges before ) with Town privi-
ledges only. The Ideas of a Town & parish are entirely &
totally distinct a parish may be made up of persons out of
Twenty Towns.
The above is not the Reasoning of the first parish only it
was also the Reasoning & Opinion of this hon d Court in the
Year 1767. & indeed the suspicion of Cape Elizabeth too. at
least of their Select men.
For Jan y 22. 1767. said Select men Petitioned this Court,
setting forth that those persons who were set of to first par-
ish in 1760 were not to their knowledge set back by any
particular Act of Court that they indeed apprehended the
Incorporation Act set them back & therefore they had Rated
them, & praying the Opinion & Resolve of the Court
respecting that point, after Notice given & answer made by
the first parish, a Committee of Both Houses in June 1767,
reported among other Things, " that for the present all those
" persons who were set of to the first parish as af ores d be held
^to pay Taxes to the first Parish, unless they or any of them
"shall signify to the Assessors of each Parish by writing
" under their hands their Desire of being taxed to the second
196 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
" parish in which case they shall pay Taxes to the second
parish and to that only."
This Report was accepted and resolved by both Houses ;
and that it was not signed by the Governor was the fault of
Cape Elizabeth, ( the first Parish having no person then at
Court on their Behalf) Thus having the Opinion of both
houses on their side and no person leav' their names as
afores d no wonder the first parish still proceeded to rate
those persons as usual and the Parish Treasurer issued his
Warrant of Distress against a Defective Collector, ( Joseph
Sawyer ) for neglecting to collect the Rates of those persons
for 1766. He was imprisoned, commenced an Action ag*
the Treasurer. deniand d Three thousand pounds Damages
for false Imprisonment. another Collector distraind for
Rates of Jon a Loveit one of those persons. & the assessors
were thereupon sued, by him, for Ten pounds Damage
while things were in this Scituation, and while the parish
had a Demand of more than a hundred & thirty pounds
against those persons for Rates it was represented to this
honorable Court in March 1770, that the first parish had no
Objection to those persons being declared to be set back to
Cape Elizabeth by the Act of Incorporation and that they
wanted to have it settled so ( which was a misrepresentation)
The Court being thus misinformed passd a Resolve that they
were set back by said Act of Incorporation & ought from
that Time to pay parish taxes in s d District, and no where
else. the first parish not notified nor heard. At this the
first parish when they heard of it & observed the great
Exultations of Cape Elizabeth who could not conceal their
Joy at having thus over reached them, were greatly sur-
prised and aggrieved, immediately petitioned this hon. Court,
for Redress, obtained an Order, to suspend that Resolve till
the first parish could be heard. they never could since
obtain such an hearing. and at this sessions April 1771,
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 197
the persons appointed by the first parish to attend being
necessarily detained at home by y e approaching Court in Fal-
mouth, & expecting a short sessions only of the General
Court concluded to defer it till Election, and accordingly
notified the Cape Elizabeth Agent of it who notwithstand-
ing his word & promise not to go without giving Notice,
nor could we appoint another person to be sent after him till
a week after.
It is entirely the fault of Cape Elizabeth that the General
Court is put to so much trouble about this affair. had they
prosecuted the petition Ezekiel Gushing Esq. & others to
effect in 1764, they might have obtained an Order to set
those persons back then had they got the Resolve signed
by the Governor in 1767 ; & taken the Advantage of it.
they might have obtained their Request then had they
notified the first parish, as they were ordered to do by the
Gen 1 Court, when they again Petitioned in 1768, it might
have been done then. As was before observed, it was the
request, the earnest Request, for Reasons of Conscience
which yet remain of these persons to be set of to us.
we never desird it. We are brought into great Difficulty by
it for doing them an Act of Kindness. our Ministers sal-
erys are greatly in arrear ; we are prosecuted at Law. & have
expended considerable sums to defend ourselves ; we have
twice already & now the third time been at y e Expence of
send g 130 miles to the General Court, to obtain Relief from
a Resolve which passed against us without being heard
entirely through a misrepresentation of the matter.
We now therefore humbly pray
That said Resolve passed against the first Parish March
1770, may be wholly set aside and that instead thereof it
may be now Resolved
That those persons who in the Year 1760 were set of to the
first Parish in Falmouth from the second be held to pay
198 DOCUMENTARY H1STOKY
parish Taxes in said first parish from that Time to the Year
1769. inclusive of said year 1769. that from and after the
year 1769. they be set back to the District of Cape Elizabeth
to pay Parish Taxes there & no where else.
And if it should be further resolved that neither they nor
any others in Cape Elizabeth should ever be set back to us
again nor have any Connexion with us. the Vexation &
Trouble they have already given us will make us heartily to
acquiesce in such a Resolve
The Dispute is really with Cape Elizabeth, they have rated
& collected taxes of y e same persons, and must therefore
indemnify those persons, which can be done only by paying
out of their Treasury to the first parish such sum as is due
from those persons and as s d Cape Elizabeth has chosen an
agent (as is supposed) to conduct this matter; they have
thereby taken it on themselves.
In Justice Equity & good Conscience Cape Elizabeth
ought to pay all the Cost & Expence they have unnecessarily
caused us to be at.
Speech. Jem? 2, 1760
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives
I call you together at this Season that having closed the
Business of the Year last past and all matters relating to the
General Service thereof You may consider your Circum-
stances with a View to that which is approaching For as
You cannot entertain an Idea of leaving incompleat the Work
of this War already so greatly and gloriously advanced, or of
resigning the good Effects and good Hopes which the many
Conquests made by his Majesty's Arms lead to ; You must
::
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 199
expect to be called upon, for Your Aid of Troops, in the
same manner as You have been hitherto : Having therefore
taken into Consideration the Circumstances of those Troops
belonging to, and in the Pay of, this Province which are
doing Duty at Louisbourgh, Halifax and Lunenburgh and do
tirely Garrison Anapolis, Fort Cumberland at Chicnecto
and Fort Frederick at S* Johns. You will consider of mak-
ing the Earliest Provision for those which may be further
wanted for the Operations of the ensuing Campaign so that
they may be ready at the First Call.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
By the State of the Treasury which the Treasurer will
lay before You, You will see that the Treasury is already
supplyed to carry Us to May next upon the present Appro-
priations, if you make some Transfers And there is unap-
propriated in the Treasury the Sum of <20,688-17 B -6 d
Sterling remitted to the Treasurer by M r Agent Bollan which
Sum will so far as it goes prevent the necessity of Borrowing.
Upon this Veiw I cannot but with Pleasure observe the exact
Economy and high Credit of the Treasury and also the good
Faith with which the Government has, by the Assistance of
the Crown, maintained this Credit.
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives.
There are a Great many Families stand ready to go down
to Penobscot I must therefore recommend it to your very
serious Consideration that now every other obstacle is removed
You will take Care that no Incertainty in the Titles of the
Grants they may have, may be any Obstruction to Settlements
which will be greatly beneficial to the Strength and Interest
of the Province.
I shall by Message lay before You such further Matters as
arise and require your Consideration.
T Pownall
Council Chamber Jan 2 d 1760
200 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Petition of Rob* Carver. 1760
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Governour &
Commander in Chief, The Hon ble his Majestys Council
& Hon ble House of Representatives in General Court
assembled
The Petition of Robert Carver in Behalf of himself &
neighbours living at Madamcook in the County of York
Humbly Shews,
That during the present War the Inhabitants living at
Madamcook have been greatly Exposed to the Ravages of -
Indian, seven have been Killed & several Captivated & from
the frequent Alarms of the approach of Indians have been
drove into Garrison & prevented doing their Husbandry Bus-
ness, which has greatly impoverished & Reduced the said
Inhabitants.
That the General Court for several Years past having a
Regard to the Exposed situation & Distress of the said Inhab-
itants made an Establishment for the Raising & Pay of a Ser-
geant & nine privates for their Protection, but in the last
Establishm* for the Defence of the Eastern Frontiers the said
Relief was omitted, and the said Inhabitants now lye naked
& Exposed to the Ravages & cruelty of the Indian Enemy.
Your Pet r therefore humbly Prays that your Excellency &
Honors would be pleased to Compassionate the Case of said
Inhabitants & Grant them such Relief herein as in your great
Goodness shall seem meet, and as in Duty Bound your Pet r
will Ever Pray &c
Rob* Carver
Jan 3 1760 Ordered to lie on the Table.
Report.
The Committee upon the Petition of Ezekiel Gushing and
Others of the second Parish in Falmouth have maturely con-
HI
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 201
sidered it, with the answer thereto, the Papers put in by the
said Ezekiel in favour of the Petitioners as also Col Waldo
in favour of the Respondents And upon the whole beg Leave
first to report Facts, and then our Opinion upon the same :
irst, That on the thirtieth Day of July 1755. an Ecclesi-
astical Council was convened at the second Parish in said
Falmouth, consisting of fifteen Churches ; unto which Coun-
cil the Difference mentioned in said Petition was submitted
and by the Committees of the contending Parties, the Result
of the said Council was to be decisive and final. The
Charges exhibited to said Council against M r Clark were as
follows :
( 1 ) His Want of a liberal and learned Education.
( 2 ) His separating Principles, which he set out upon when
Ordained over a Separation in Boston.
( 3 ) His immoral Conduct.
( 4 ) The Divisions, Contentions and Mischiefs that will
attend said Parish if M r Clark should he be Installed over
the Church there.
Said venerable Council having considered the same put
the following Question
Question, Whether the venerable Council, considering all
Things which have been offered ; think it expedient to
proceed to the Instalment of M r Ephraim Clark in the
Work of the Ministry in this Place
Voted in the Negative.
And accordingly this was Part of their Result, that they
advis'd that he should not be instal'd over said Church. At
the same Time adding therein, that they find nothing in the
Objections made against M r Clarks moral character sufficient
to influence them to such a Conclusion
They go on in their Result to advise said Church to take
every prudent Step in Order to such a settlement, as may
be, if possible, unexceptionable to those of their Brethren
who have differ'd from them.
202 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
The above Facts were taken from the Minutes and Result
of Council, and sworn to by the Rev d M r Langdon of Ports-
mouth, their Scribe.
Soon after this Result said Church in Falmouth sent to
the following Churches to instal M r Clark over them, viz*
The second Church in Kittery; the first and second
Churches in Berwick ; the second Church in York ; and two
Churches more, to wit, one in Ipswich and another in Gloces-
ter. How many of the Churches were present the Commit-
tee can't determine. Three only of their reverend Pastors
were present, to wit, M r John Rogers and Messieurs Cleave-
lands, who in direct Opposition to the Result aforesaid, and
without any Renewal of the Call of M r Clark, either by
Church or Parish install'd him. Which very extraordinary
Doings of theirs were laid before the Convention of Minis-
ters at their Annual Meeting May the 27 th 1756, who there-
upon voted ( nemine Contradicente ) that in the Opinion of
this Convention, all such Proceedings are very irregular.
Against which they think themselves obliged to bear their
Testimony as having a manifest Tendency to destroy these
Churches if not seasonably discountenanced.
The Committee can't but in Justice to the said Ezekiel
observe that the several Charges in the Respondents' Answer
against him are without Ground and injurious.
Upon the whole the Committee apprehend the Interest of
Religion, the Order and Peace of the Churches of this Land
in General, and in the second Parish in Falmouth and their
Vicinity in special, make it reasonable and necessary that
such of said second Parish as are aggrieved at the Settlement
of said M r Clark in Manner aforesaid, be with their Estates
exempt from paying Taxes to his Support and Maintainance :
and therefore humbly propose the following Order may pass :
Sam 1 Watts g order
That such of the Inhabitants of the second Parish in Fal-
mouth who are aggrieved at the Instalment of M r Clark, and
OF THE STATE OF. MAINE
203
are desirous not to set under his Ministry ( Upon their trans-
mitting their Names together with their Desires to be set to
the first Parish in Falmouth ) into the Secretary's Office in
Boston on or before the last Day of May next, be and hereby
ire with their Estates set off to said first Parish in Falmouth,
lere to do Duty and recieve Priviledges till the further
Irder of this Court.
In Council Jan y 18. 1760. Read and Accepted, And
Resolved That such of the Inhabitants of the Second
'arish in Falmouth who are aggrieved at the Instalment of
[ r Clark, and are desirous not to sit under his Ministry
upon their transmitting their Names together with their
desires to be sett to the first Parish in Falmouth ) into the
Jecretarys Office in Boston on or before the last day of May
icxt, be and hereby are with their Estates sett off to said
irst Parish in Falmouth, there to do duty and receive Privi-
Ige till the further Order of this Court
Sent down for Concurrence
A Oliver Sec y
In the House of Rep Jan* 18. 1760
Read and Concur'd S : White Spk r
Consented to T. Pownall
Charter.
inno Regni Regis Georgii secundi tricesimo tertio
An Act for Erecting the New plantation called Francfort
lying upon the East Side of the River Kennebeck in the
)unty of York into a Township by the Name of
Whereas it hath been represented to this Court by the
>roprietors of the Kennebeck purchase from the late Colony
of New plymouth that the Erecting the New plantation called
204 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Francfort lying upon the East Side of the River Kennebeck
in the County of York into a Township will greatly contrib-
ute to the Growth thereof
Be it Enacted by the Governour, Council & House of
Representatives that the plantation aforesaid bounded as fol-
lows, viz 1 : beginning upon Kennebeck river two Miles and
one hundred Rods to the Northward of the Block house
within s d plantation and from thence running an East South
East Course over to Sheepscott River ; thence to run South-
erly down s d Sheepscot River to the mouth of Monsweag
River then Northerly up said Monsweag River to the North-
ern boundary Line of the District of Woolwich ; then to run
a West North West Course along said Northern boundary
Line of Woolwich to the River Kennebeck, thence Northerly
up said river Kennebeck to the bounds first mentioned & to
include Swan Island and all other Islands in s d River Kenne-
beck lying within the Northern & Southern Boundary Lines
of said plantation, be and hereby is Erected into a Township
by the Name of
And that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are invested
with all the powers, priviledges and Immunities which the
Inhabitants of the Towns within this Province do, or by Law
ought to enjoy ; that of sending a Representative to the Gen-
eral Assembly only excepted
And be it further Enacted that Samuel Denney Esq r be
and hereby is empowered to issue his Warrant directed to
some principal Inhabitant in said Township A. qualified by
Law to vote in Town affairs to meet at such time and place
as shall be therein set forth, to chuse all such Officers as
shall be necessary to manage the Affairs of said Township
In Council Jan* 30. 1760 Read a first time
Jan y 31 Read a second time and passed to be engrossed
Sent up for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 205
In the House of Rep Feb* 1 1760
A M. Read a first time
P M. Read a Second and third time and the Question was
put Whether the Bill pass to be Engross'd
It pass'd in the Negative
n the House of Rep ves Feb y 12 1760
Read again and on A Motion made and Seconded Ordered
t the Vote of Non concurrence upon the Vote of the
on ble Board be reconsidered And the Bill being read three
several times passed a Concurrence to be Engross'd
S. White Spk r
A to notify & warn the Inhabitants in s d Township
Letter^ Col. Jed h Preble to G-ov. Pownall
Fort Pownall y e 4 th March 1760
May it Please your Excellency
I arrived here with my Family y e 24 of Last month found
the Garrison in good Health the Soldiers ware employed in
my Absence in Scouting but made no discovery of the
E enemy.
Last Sunday ten oclock I was informed the Gentry had
liscovered A Flagg of Truce on the other Side of the River,
immediately sent Macfarling with A Flagg, he found Five
idians there, two of which he brought over, I ordered them
his House, where I had a Confernce with them, the par-
ticulars of which have enclosed to your Excellency, as allso
number of French Papers which the Indians freely gave
that they said they had taken out of A House at Quebeck
11 which wish safe to your Excellencys Hand
I realy believe they are now in Good earnest and intend to
)ring in their Familys they have given me all the assureance,
)ould be expected from Indians that they will.
206 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
they ware ready & willing to Leave one of their men with
me as A proof of their fidelity & have promised to return in
three weeks or Sooner.
I shall Want your Excellencys orders by the return of my
Sloop which I have sent for the sake of Grater dispatch, that
I may know in what manner I am to Conduct if they bring
in their Familyes
I am may it please your Excellency your Excellencys most
obedient Humble Serv* Jedidiah Preble
Message. March 21, 1760
Gentlemen of the Council & House of Representatives.
Since I met You last I have received the King's Command,
signified by His Secretary of State the Right Honourable M r
Pitt, to acquaint You " that His Majesty, having nothing so
much at heart as to improve the great and Important Advan-
tages gain'd the last Campaign in North America ; and not
doubting but that, in this promising and decisive Crisis, all
his Faithful and brave Subjects here will continue most chear-
fully to cooperate with and second to the Utmost the large
expence and extraordinary Succours, supplied by Great Brit-
ain for their Preservation, and future Security, By Compleat-
ing the Reduction of Canada ; Expects that You will make
Provision for the Levy, Pay, and Cloathing of at least as
large a Body of Men as You did for the last Campaign and
even as many more as the Number of its Inhabitants may
allow, and that no Encouragement may be wanting to this
great and salutary Attempt His Majesty is further most gra-
ciously pleased to permit his Secretary of State to acquaint
me that strong Recommendations will be made to Parliament
in their Sessions of next Year to grant a Proper Compensa-
tion for such Expences according as the Active Vigour and
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
207
Strenuous Efforts of the respective Provinces shall justly
appear to merit "
Nothing can give a higher Satisfaction to a faithful and
spirited People upon knowing that His Majesty's Pleasure
than to reflect that, from an invaried Sense of the Public
iterest, from an unremitted Zeal for his Majesty's Service,
r ou have, even previous to His Majesty's Commands, already
lone these things, by the ample Provision which you have
lade for the same in Your last Sessions : Nor do I know any
ling that has given me so much satisfaction, since I have
id the Honor to Command in this Province, as to have been
)le to lay before His Majesty's Ministers the great Merit of
lis Your Active Vigour in the Strenuous Efforts You have
lade.
You will not therefore let this happy conjuncture of Cir-
istances suffer by the want of any thing which may be
[uisite to give a full Operation to the Provision you have
made, so that the whole may be compleat for Service by the
time they shall be called upon. I hear from many Parts of
the Province that the Levies go on with Dispatch and Suc-
cess, and I have the same promising Accounts from our
Troops in Garrison at Cape Breton & Nova Scotia; The
Spirit of enlisting is in some parts somewhat suspended from
some undue expectations of the People who have usually
been ready to enlist I shall order the Adjutant General to
lay before you the state of the Levies as soon as it can be
compleated & You will then judge what further provision
may be necessary.
I have received an Account from Brig a Pribble that the
Penobscot Indians have again desired Peace, and that they
have given him all the Assurance that could be expected
from Indians, that they are in good Earnest, and do now
intend to bring in their Families I do still remain of opin-
ion that Unless these Indians do, as a previous Measure, Fix
208 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
their Residence somewhere near the Frontier, and become
Domiciliate with us, as most of the Indian Tribes have long
been with the French in Canada, so as to be responsible in
their Tribe for the faithful Execution of their Treaties
There can no Treaty nor Peace held with them, nor can I
answer it to our Eastern Setlers to put their Lives and safety
in a situation that must be subject to the Faith of Indians
While I think our Frontiers are much safer under those Pre-
cautions which We have taken in a state of War But if
the Indians will Do this, which I have required, I am ready
to make Peace with them, and have Ordered Brigadier Prib-
ble to send to me here such Deputation of their People as
they shall appoint to Ratifye and Confirm the same.
From Accounts I have received of the number of Indians
which the French have Posted on the upper Parts of the
River Chaudiere I must recommend to You the making Pro-
vision for such Scouts and Garrisons as may be sufficient to
put us out of Danger of a Surprize from that Quarter.
His Majesty Having been pleased as a Mark of his Royal
Favour to appoint me to the Government of South Carolina
and having favoured me with leave to go to England to
receive His further Commands, The Right Hon ble Lords Com-
missioners for Trade and Plantations think it Expedient for
his Majesty's Service that I should return thither as soon as
conveniently may be. I am therefore this Session to take my
leave of You and of the Province, which I do under the most
greatfull Sense of the Honor and Happiness I have enjoyed
Therein and Tho' this Parting with Freinds be an unpleasant
Task, Yet I cannot, upon this Occasion, but Congratulate
you on the Appointment His Majesty has been pleased to
make of Gov r Bernard to the Command of this Province, a
Gentleman whose Abilities and Good Inclinations to the Pub-
lic Weal must render any Province happy that He Governs
You will therefore consider of such Provision for his recep-
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 209
tion as may be not only suitable to the Honor & Dignity of the
Commission which He bears, but also to the Good Hopes which
the Province may Assure itself of in his Administration.
I had nothing further to recommend to You, but the
Calamity which has fallen upon this Town by Fire gives mel-
ancholly occasion for me to Call upon You, that while, Eye-
witnesses of the Dreadf ull Devastation You view the Ruinous
Condition of a Town that has long bore so large a Share in
the public Burthens, You may consider in what manner the
Country can most Effectually Releive it.
T Pownall
March 21, 1*760.
Petition, March 24, 1760.
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* General &
Governour in Chief in and over his Majesty 8 Province of y e
Massachusetts Bay in New England The Hon ble his Majestys
Councel & house of Representitives in General Court Assem-
bled The Pete tion of Jacob Hamblen & Hugh Mclellan a
Committee of the well Affected Resedent Proprietors, & well
Affected Inhabitants of Narraganset Township N 7 Alias
Gorham Town Humbly Sheweth that whereas we have heard
that John Phinney, Briant Morton and others have Prefer d a
Petition to the great and Gen 1 Court of this Province Pray-
ing that the Inhabitants be invested with y e Power and prev-
aledge as propper to an Incorporate State Equal with Other
Towns &c.
We your Humble Petitioners in y e Name & behalfe of all
y* well Affected who are hearty well wishers to government
& fully Attached to y e Constitution of our Churches & bare
a true Affection to a Learned Ministry, and have not the
14
210 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
least Inclination to prove prejuditial to any Publick Intrest
nor prevent the exersise of any power that may be for the
Real benefit and Peace of Society, nor prevent any Power
Lodg d in any hands that may Answer y e end of Government
( viz ) God 8 Glory & the Good of men we therefore would
lay before your Excellency & Hon the Reasons We think
why no good end Can possobly be Served by Granting y e
prayer of s d Petition And they are as follows
1 st Because they who are Petitioners as well as y e Rest
of the Inhabitants are Sufficiently Poor without y e Additional
burden of Province County and Town Tax to make them
more so.
2ndi y Because of that Temper which has appear d in the
Petitioners for a Number of years Forebods no good to y e
well Affected nor Proprietors.
3 dly Because it will give Rise to many Law Suits att y e
Common Cost as they seem to threaten. And thereby gratify
Letigious Minds.
4 thly Because the well Affected as well as y e Disaf-
fected must all have Part in Building a meeting House for
the Town over and above the Meeting House Built by the
Proprietors if a Major Vote Can be obtain d . And this will
Answer a Grand end to them ( viz ) Make us Assist in build-
ing a House.
Your Humble Petitioners therefore for the Reasons offerd.
with more that might be offerd. Pray your Excellency and
Honours to Dismiss the said Petition of Phinney, Morton and
others. And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall ever
Pray
March 24 th 1760 Jacob Hamblen
Hugh M c lellan
The well Affected Resident Proprietors own Sixteen Rights
the Disaffected Resedent Proprietors own Ten Rights. Cer-
tain. & four more Uncertain.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
Grorhamtown, Petition, 1760.
211
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* Gen 1 &
Comander in Cheif in & over said Province the Hon ble
his Majestys Council & . House of Representatives in
Gen 1 Court assembled 1760
The Petition of a Number of The Non Residents Proprie-
tors of Nareagansett No 7 alias Gorharntown in the County
of York Humbly Sheweth That having herd a Petition of a
Number of the Inhabitants of said Gorhamtown praying that
they might be Incorporated into a Town & that the Resident
and non Resident Proprietors Lands in s d Township may be
Taxed for a Number of years as the Hon ble Court shall order
we are humbly of Opinion that Their Request is very Rea-
sonable & with Regard to the Lands being Taxed in Pertic-
ular & for that the said Propiety were obliged to Build a
Meeting House and Settle a School and that altho some
money was Voted about Sixteen years ago for that End yet
it was otherwise appropriated & they have not nor ever had
any meeting House Built nor School Setled by the s d Proprie-
tors among them Wherefore we Humbly Pray that said Peti-
tion may be Granted and as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray
James Bryant John Bayley W Riggs
Geor: Solomon Haskell Benj n Haskell
John Johnson Joseph Weston Joseph Parker
Grorhamtown, Petition
To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq r Cap* General and
governour In Chief In & over, his Majestys Province of the
Massechuseets Bay In New England the honrable his Maj-
estyes Councel & house of Representatives In General Court
212 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
assembled John Waite William Cotton and Joshua Bangs In
the name and Behalf e of the Nonresident Proprietors of the
Narreganset township N T alias Gorehamtown humbly Begg
leave to shew that said Proprietors have transiently heard
that Mess John Phinney Bryant-Morton & others have Peti-
tioned your Excelency and Honours to be Incorperated &
Vested with the Power & Priviledges of other Towns within
s d Province ; Be Exempt from Publick tax, and be Enabled
to tax the Non-resident proprietors land : with the lands of
the Resident Proprietors to defray their Necessary Charges
To which Petition said Proprietors, have heard your Exel-
ency and Honours Orderd said Proprietors should be Sarved
with a Copy that they Shew Cause if any they have why
there prayer should not be granted on which transient Report
s d Proprietors being Notified & Meet, Choose Moses Pear-
son Esq r there Agent to Attend this Honour 16 Court with
there Reasons why the Prayer of s d Petition should Not be
granted and we the Subscribers to draw up the Reasons to
Prefar the next sitting of the great & general Court, beaing
thus far Oblig'd to act In the dark haveing seen no Publick
Print Intimateing the order of Court thereupon & beaing
Refus'd a Copy of s d Phinney, Morton & others Petition,
Your humble Petitioners therefore Pray your Exceelency &
Honours to Accept of Our Reasons why we Cannot be Con-
tent that the Prayer be Granted ; which are as follows : for
that the Proprietors have Settled a gospel Minister within
the Meaning of the law & at their own Charge have for Near
teen years supported and are ready to Support still, & the
Money Raised for highways & other Accidental Charges to
the amount In the whole Near teen thousand Pounds old
tenner is an act of liberallity Perhaps Not to be Equald In
the like Case though-out North : America : Notwithstanding
which some uneasy tempers which had crept Into town that
ware neaver Easy any wheare ; began to be troublesom to the
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 213
Proprietors, & failing in many attempts turned their Plan of
operation against the Proprietors, Minister, & Ran such
lengths as Prehaps were Never before heard of In all Christ-
endon & which the Proprietors agent will lay before his
Excelency & Honours if Expedient, & soon Sepperated them-
selves from his Communion, on which A councel was Called
& upon the whole that it Might be for the best to dissolve
the Union between their Pastor & them leaveing the Pastor
& those attached to his Interest In full Possession of his &
their former Privilidges ; thinking that the disaffected after
a little while would cool & Return to there deuty Insted of
which they soon look out for one to lead them as a Minister
& found one Namely a layman who for his Misconduct has
been & still is In bad standing In the Church whereof he is
a Member Contrary to all advice given by thire best friends :
& affter some faint attempts to get Ministers to assist In the
ordination of their New Choosen Minister which No Author-
ity on Earth Could assist in the like Case four of the boldest
of them : to wit two Captains one lieutenants & one who
Never had the favour of a Commission: And this May it
Please your Exelency & Honours is the true state of the
case with them who are Petitioners In order to their beaing
Incorporate: which Necessity Reather then Inclination has
forced us to Expose to light : & with Regard to the Meeting-
house have been & still are Ready to build the same when
Ever we think it May be done In Safety ; & In order thereto
have Raised 800 Old Tenner towards the same over &
above the Money laid out on the flanker as a Place of Wor-
ship which has hitherto sarvd for that Purpose : & Moreover
it is the Oppinion of the Proprietors that y e dissign of the
Petitioners Namely Phinny & his Petitioners Is to burden the
Proprietors with an Additional tax for the Support of their
own Minister over & above y e tax Raised & to be Raised for
the Proprietors Minister which they are under obligation to
214 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Perform Pursuant to the Covenant made betwen the Parties
which still is In force, & y e Proprietors are humbly of
Oppenion that y e Petitioners themselves Cannot Receive any
benefit by beaing Incorporate, and if Not to them it must
Necessarily be Intolerable to such of their Neighbours as
they are Not well affected to, to the Proprietors who have
been so bountifull towards them by Cutting as Many ways
thro' the proprietors land as their displeasure shall dispose
them, & Many other Inconveniances to_ many to be Mentioned
will follow upon haveing Power In such Hands. Upon the
whole your humble Petitioners Pray that the Petition of
John Phinney, Bryant Morten & Others be dismissed : and
your Petitioners as in duety bound shall Ever Pray
Jn Waite
William Cotton > Committe_
Joshua Bangs )
Petition of Richard Cutt J r
To the Hon ble Spencer Phipps Esq r Lieu* Governour &
Commander in Chief in & over the Province of the Massa-
chusetts Bay to the hon ble his Majestys Council and to the
hon ble house of Representatives in Great and Gen 1 Court on
the 30 th day of May A. D. 1760. Assembled.
The Petition of Richard Cutt Jun r of Kittery in y* County
of York Esq r Humbly Shews that at a legal Parish meeting
held In the lower parish in the town of Kittery on y e 11 th
day of December last it was among other things Voted that
the Whole Soil of said Parish Should be divided into two
Separate Parishes in Equal halves for Quantity & Quality
and Chose a Comittee & proper Attendants to divide y e
same and Voted y* y e Reverend John Newmarch should be
Supported by y e whole Parish aforesaid as to maintainance
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 215
notwithstanding a Division of s d Parish. Which Committee
have since Divided s d Lower Parish & made Report thereof,
and at s d Parish meeting your Petitioner was Chosen &
Appointed by said Parish to Apply to this great & Gen 1
Court for a Confirmation of the Division of s d Parish Where-
fore your Petitioner humbly Prays your Excellency & hon 8
to Confirm y e Proceedings of s d Parish & the Division
thereof as by s d Committee Reported & your Petitioner as in
Duty Bound shall Ever pray &c
Rich d Cutt J r
New Marblehead
We hereby Certifie that the Proprietors of New Marble-
head At their Meeting yesterday Granted 120 to be paid
out of the Proprietors Treasury and applied to the Assisting
the Inhabitants of the Township to settle A Minister there,
And toward his Support for One year to Commence and be
Accounted from the Ordination of such Minister ; And sixty
pounds per year more for the two years next Coming after
that Time, toward Support of s d Minister. Provided the
Greate & Gene 1 Court do not lay Any Tax's on s d Proprie-
tors or Order Any Tax's to be laid on them during that
Time-
Which grant is to the Mutual Sattisfaction of the Proprie-
tors & Inhabitants, Who have agreed that the Petition of the
Inhabitants Now depending before the Greate & General
Court do Cease & be no further prosecuted.
Nathan Bowen for & in behalf
Marblehead June 6, 1760 of s d Proprietors
Abraham Anderson for & in
behalf of the Inhabitants
Superscribed To Jacob Fowle Esq r In the House of
Representatives In Boston
216 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Order on Crorham Town Petition, 1760.
In Council June 10, 1760-
A Petition of Edm d Phinney & Others Inhabitants of Nar-
raganset N 7. alias Gorham Town Praying that they may
be incorporated into a Township, but that in consideration of
their Poverty they may be freed from the Public Tax, and
that the Lands of the Non resident proprietors in conjunction
with the Lands of the resident Proprietors may be taxed for
defreying necessary Charges having been together with the
answer on the 5 Instant committed to a Committee of both
Houses, the Committee on the part of the Board reported
That they had heard the Parties and fully considered the
matter, and were of Opinion that said Petition be dismissed.
Ordered that said Petition be dismissed accordingly
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves June 10 1760
Read and Concur'd James Otis Speaker
County of Cumberland incorporated 19 June 1760.
Scarboro 19 Oct. 1658 Black point, blue point, &c.
North Yarmouth 31 Oct. 1713
Falmouth 12 Nov. 1718 Spurwinck & Casco bay/
Ancient town made a town 19 Oct. 1658/
Brunswick 26 June 1738
Harpswell 25 Jan y 1738 Merriconeag Neck
Windham 12 June 1762 New Marblehead
Gorham 30 Oct. 1764 Gorhamtown
Cape Elizabeth 1 Nov. 1765 2 d Parish of Falmouth
New Gloucester 8 Mar. 1774 New Gloucester
Gray 19 June 1778 New Boston
Standish 30 Nov. 1785 Plant. Pearsontown
Portland 4 July 1786 Falmouth Neck
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 217
Turner 7 July 1786 Plant. Sylvester
Freeport 14 Feb. 1789 N. E. part of North Yarmouth
& Prouts Gore
Durham 16 Feb. 1789 Royalsboro
Hebron 6 Mar. 1792 Shepardsfield Additional Act
June 21, 1804 bounds -
Buckfield 16 March 1793 Bucktown or N 5
Paris 20 June 1793 N 4
Bridgeton 7 Feb. 1794 Plant. Bridgeton
Poland 17 Feb. 1795 a tract of land bounded by several
towns
Jay 26 D Phipps Canada
Livermore 28 D Plant. Livermore, lying on both sides
Androscoggin River
Plant. Raymondstown
Plant. Bakerstown
Norway 9 March 1797 several tracts & grants
Otisfield 19 Feb. 1798 Plant. Otisfield, Phillips gore
annexed Feb y 9 th 1803
Hartford 13 June 98 Plant. East Butterfield
Sumner " " West Butterfield
Rumford 21 Feb. 1800 New Pennicook
Minot 18 Feb. 1802 N. part of Poland
Pejepscot 6 Mar. 1802 Pejepscot Claim & Little's gore
Baldwin 23 June 1802 Plant. Flintstown
Raymond 21 Bt June 1803 Raymond
Dixfield 21 June 1803 part of land granted to Jona-
than Holman & o rs north side of Androscoggin River
Harrison 8 th March 1805 part of Otisfield & Bridgetown
Pownal 3 March 1808 part of Freeport & North Yar-
mouth
Stroudwater 14 Feb y 1814 part of Falmouth (named
changed to Westbrook 9 th June 1814 )
Minot 1 March 1815 Northerly part of Poland
218 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Danville 1 st Feb y 1819 formerly Pejepscot
County of Lincoln incorporated 21. June 1760
divided into 3 Counties 25 June 1789 Divided
again 20 th Feb. 1799
Georgetown 13 June 1716 Arowsick island
Newcastle 19 June 1753 Sheepscot
Woolwich 20 Oct. 1759 Nequaset
Wiscasset June 10, 1802 Frankfort
Bowdoinham 18 Sept. 1762
Topsham 31 Jan? 1764 Topsham
Boothbay 3 No v. 1764 Townsend
Bristol 18 June 1765 Walpole, Harrington & Pem-
aquid
K Hallowell 26 April 1771
K Vassallboro D
K Winthrop D Pond Town
K Winslow D
Waldoboro 29 June 1773 Broad Bay
Edgecumbe 5 Mar. 1774 Freetown & Jeremy Squam
island
Warren 7 Nov. 1776 St. Georges
Thomas town 20 Mar. 1777 E. part of Warren
K Pittston 4 Feb. 1779 Gardinerstown & E. part of
St. Georges
Bath 17 Feb. 1781 2 d Parish Georgetown
Union 20 Oct. 1786 Plant. Sterlington
Bowdoin 21 Mar. 1788 Plant. West Bodoinham
K Canaan 18 June 1788
K Fairfield D Plant. Fairfield
K Green D Plant. Lewiston
K Norridgewock D Plant. Norridgewock
Nobleboro 20 Nov. 1788 Plant. Walpole
Gushing 28 Jan? 1789 Plant. S* Georges
Cambden 17 Feb. 1791
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
219
K Readfield 11 Mar. 1791 N. part of Winthrop
K Monmouth 20 Jan? 1792 Plant, of Wales
K Sidney 30 Jan? 1792 W. part of Vassalboro'
K Mount Vernon 27 June 1792 Plan. Washington
K Farmington 1 Feb. 1794 Sandy River N 1
K New Sharon 20 June 1794 Plant. Unity
X New Milford 25 June 1794 N. precinct of Pownal-
>ro Alna
W. precinct of D
Plant. Lewiston & Gore
Plant. Smithfield
Plant. Hancock E. side Ken-
Do
18 Feb 1795
K
Dresden
Lewiston
Litchfield D -
Clinton 28 D
Lebeck River
K Fayette D
K Starks D
Plan. Medumcook
D Ballstown
r hitfield 19 June 1809
K" Belgrade 3 Feb. 1796
K Harlem 8 D
20 th Feb* 1797) Northerly part of Hallo-
9 June 1797 f well
Plant. Sterling
Plant. Lower Sandy River
made a town by the name of
K Augusta
K Wayne 12 Feb. 1798
K Cornville 24 D " N 2 First Range of Town-
dps & adjoining Plymouth patent E. side Kennebec River
K Anson 1 March 98 N 1 D W. side D
K Leeds 16 Feb. 1801 Plantation Littleboro
K Sandy River N 3
K New Vineyard Plant.
Thompsonborough 22 d June 99 Westerly part of
Bowdoin called 20 Feb 1802 Lisbon 20 Feb. 1802 Little
River annexed 4 th Mar 180-
K Strong 31 Jan. 1801 N 3 or Reedstown W. side
Kennebec River
220 DOCUMENT AH Y ffiSTOBY
K Vienna 20 Feb. 1802 Plant. Goshen or Wymans
Chesterville Feb. 20, 1802 Plant, of Chester -
lying on both sides of Sandy River
Avon Feb. 22, 1802 Plant. N 2 in Abbots pur-
chase lying on both sides of Sandy River 1 st range Town-
ships N. great Ammariscoggin River.
New Vineyard D Plant. N 2 I 8t range Town-
ships lying on W. side of Kennebec River & N. of Plymouth
Claim.
S* George Feb. 7, 1803 E. part of Cushing
Palermo June 23, 1804 Great pond settlement
plantation
Hope June 23 d 1804 Barrelstown plantation
Jefferson Feb y 24 th 1807 Balltown D easterly part
Friendship Feb y 25 1807 Meduncook D
Montville Feb y 18 th 1807 2 d grand Division of the
20 y associates plantation of Davistown
Whitfield Balltown plantation.
Putnam 27 Feb* 1811 Several tracts
X Alna 28 Feb y 1811 formerly New Milford
Phipsburgh 26 Jan y 1814 formerly part of the town
of Georgetown
Wales Feb y 1 st 1816 Wales plantation
Wells, Petition.
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Captain General
& Governor in Chief in & Over His Majesty's Province of
the Massachusetts Bay The Hon We His Majestys Council
& House of Representatives for said Province in General
Court Convened the 18 th Day of Aug* 1760
The Humble Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants and
Freeholders of the Town of Wells in the County of York
Shews
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 221
:
That upwards of Sixty Years ago a Number of Lots of
Land were laid out in said Town ( from the High Way lead-
ing from Ogunquet River to Little River so calld ) runing on
a West North West Course as then Returnd & Markd upon
hich the Owners Enterd Fenced & Improvd and on the
North Easterly Side of a Place calld the Gore the lots were
laid out on a North West Course as was then Returnd &
have been so Improved ever Since
That one James Boston having Purchased one of the Lots
first mentioned Lately run out the same without regarding
the Old boundaries being Directed only by the Compass as it
now stands whereby the Lines of said Lots are made very
Different from the old Lines and if all the said Lots should
be so run they being two Miles & an half in Length many of
them Run quite across other lots at the upper End as
they were formerly laid out & the owner of One lot take
away anothers Orchard house Barn & other Improvements
and Introduce a General Contention & Confusion in the
Town as may appear by Inspection of a Plan herewith
Presented.
That the said Boston taking advantage of this Variation
bro't an Action of Trespass against One Stevens who Owned
a Lot Contiguous and as the Dispute arose about Boundaries
it was Judgd best to Issue it by a Reference that the Dis-
puted Limits might be viewd &c and tho' the Referrees coud
not but See the Consequence of Departing from the old
Boundaries in this Instance (for Stevens woud have the
same Right to run in upon the next Lot that Boston had
upon his & so thro-out ) yet they settled the Late running by
their Report and have Opend a Door for a General Mutation,
which cant be Equitable because the Improvements are not
Equal
That upon Motion made to the Court Judgment on said
Report is at Present Suspended and as this matter Affects
222
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Peace of Said Town for if Judgment should be Enterd
on this Report ( the Rule being to make a finall Settlem* of
the Line ) Stevens must run so far on the next as Boston
does on his & so on or some be without Redress which does
not Seem to be Just as the Right to this Land is Derived
from the Town & the title of One Lot as good as another
And as this Variation of Lines is Occasiond by the Variation
of the Compass ( which as Your Petitioners are informed is
more than two Degrees more Northerly than it was forty
Years ago ) They most Humbly Pray this Hon ble Court would
take Cognizance of & Consider the Premises Set aside the
said Report or order that no Judgment be Enterd thereon
and Establish the old Boundaries of said Lots to Prevent a
Multiplicity of Law Suits or Grant such other Relief or take
such other Method to Prevent the Mischief & Inconvenience
feared as in Your Great Wisdom & Goodness you shall judge
proper and Your Petition r s as in Duty Bound shall ever
pray &c
Sarah Jefferds John Storer
John Storer Jun r John Gendale
Nathaniel Hill
Joseph Storer
John Gooch
mark
Zachariah Z Goodale John Wheelwrighl
his
Nathel Clark J r
Sayer Nathel Clark J r Nathan
Snell Wheelwright Samuell Davies Joshua Clark
John Cusens Sam 11 Clark Daniel Clark
Samuel Jefferds Sam Wheelwright Nath Wells
Hanry Boothby John Cole John Clark
Nath: Wheelwright Jeramiah Littlefield William Sayer
Joseph Hill John H-d Hubbard John
Joseph Joseph Littlefield Samuel
Nehemiah Littlefield Samuel Treadwell Moses Stevens
Jeremy Stevens James Davis Benj Kimball
John Brown Hans Patten
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 223
Petition of Committee of Harpswell 1760
Province of the Mass a Bay
To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq ; Governour &
Commander in Chief ; The Honourable His Majestys Coun-
cill and House of Representatives in General Court assembled
Sep r 16, 1760
The Petition of the Committee for the District of Harps-
well humbly sheweth.
That there are settled in said District, to the Number of
sixty Families & upwards, who are embodyed in a Church
State, and have regularly ordained a Minister of the Gospell,
to their general Satisfaction ; under this hopefull Prospect,
that they expect the inhabitants in said District, will be
greatly increased, if this Honoured Court would please to
encourage said Infant Settlement, For which Purpose, they
humbly ask Leave to represent their present Difficulties, that
they may be remedied as in their great Wisdom shall seem
meet. A Constable for the District of Harpswell, was chosen
in March 1759 The Rates were made by the Select Men of
said District. The Ministerial Tax, together with Ten Pounds,
voted to defray Parish Charges, were made into a Rate. We
being in our Infant State, not perfectly acquainted with the
Rules which the Law describes the same was not executed in
that Manner the Bill not being offered nor committed to the
said Constable, in his Steed was chosen a Collector to collect
the proportionable Part of s d Tax, assest upon the Inhabitants
of the said District, except of those upon an Island adjacent,
belonging to the District of Harpswell commonly called by
the Name of great Sebascodegin, for which Place a Collector
was chosen to collect the proprietors Part of said Tax assest
upon the Inhabitants thereof which should have been com-
mitted to the former Constable of said Island but was neg-
lected. Neither of which Collectors being lawfully chosen,
224
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
are vested with lawfull Power & Authority to collect the
same. The want of which, a great Part of y e aforesaid Tax
cannot be collected, which renders the said District under
very distressing Circumstances. Wherefore your humble
Petitioners, being incumbered with these Difficulties, most
humbly address this Hon d Court, for the Remedy thereof,
and for the Encouragement of the Gospell settled amongst
us, that Nehemiah Curtis & Jn Snow Collectors, the latter
of which is for Sebascodegin aforesaid, may be vested with
sufficient Power & Authority to Collect y e Whole of those
Taxes not collected, leavelled against the several Persons in
their respective Bills. All which is humbly submitted to the
Wisdom & Justice of this Hon d Court, and we, your humble
Petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray &
Timothy Bailey \ Committee chosen by
L T | y 9 District to act in
Alx dr Willson ) this Affair.
In the House of Rep ves Dec r 31 1760
Read and Voted that the within named Nehemiah Curtis
John Snow be required and they are hereby impowered to
proceed and perfect the collecting the Taxes within mentioned
according to Law, any failure with respect to their qualifica-
tions hitherto notwithstanding.
Sent up for concurrence
In Council 31 Dec r 1760 ~
Read and Concurred
Consented to
James Otis Speaker
A Oliver Sec 1
Fra Bernard
Petition of Moses Twitchel $ others, 1760.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Govern in and
over said Province, the Hon ble his Majestys Council, &
-
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 225
House of Representatives in Gen 1 Court assembled Nov
1760 Humbly Sheweth
The Petition of a Number of Inhabitants of Casco Bay in
id Province
That the Devastation made by the Indian Wars Loss of
Records & C a in Times past Titles are very precarious here ;
some of your Petitioners many Years ago have with great
Care and Circumspection made Purchases ; and large Improve-
ments on the Same, notwithstanding which some old Claim
frequently appears and they have been from Time to Time
ousted. Others seeing their Fate have refrained purchasing,
so that at present most of your Petitioners have but very
little Land, & some none at all. Your Petitioners have many,
yea most of them a Number of Sons, who are innured to
Labour and would be very glad to cultivate and improve
Land provided they might have a Grant on a sure footing
and as your Petitioners are well knowing that there is a large
Quantity of Good Land uncultivated and unimproved on the
Northern and Western Side of the Island of Mount Desert
and next adjoining the same on the main they humbly beseech
your Excellency and Honours that they may have a Town-
ship or Townships granted to them their Heirs & Assigns at
that Place together with the Islands that may lay between
said Township or Townships and the Sea and your Petitioners
arc willing to give Bond to Settle there with their Families
in any convenient Time allow'd by the Court, and will as in
Duty bound ever pray
Sam 1 Webb Jonathan Carter
Abraham Clark Solomon Jackson
Petition of Wait Wadsworth others, Com ee 1760
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To his Exellency Francis Bernard Esq r Cap* General and
Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the
15
226 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Province afores d the Hon ble his Majestys Council and
House of Representatives in General Court Assembled
December the 17 th 1760
The Memorial of Blaney Philips and Wait Wadsworth of
Duxborough in the County of Plymouth Humbly sheweth
that whereas we with a Number of the inhabitants of Dux-
borough Plymton and Pembrook Did Petition this Hon ble
Court the Last year that s d Court woold Make them a Grant
of a Suteable tract of Land for a Township on pornopscott
River or Bay for Reasons mentioned in s d Petition and as we
understand has not as yet ben pas d upon by the Hon ble Court
your memorilest therefore Most Humbly Pray that s d Petition
may be Revived and a Grant made of s d land if your Exel-
lency and Honnours shall think fit and your Memorilest as
hi duty Bound shall ever pray
Wait Wadsworth \ ~ ., , A
I Committee for s d
Blany Philips Petitioners
Briggs Alden
Provision to be made for Phillipstown 1761
York ss Anno Regni Regis Georgy Tertio Magna Britannia,
Francia, et Hibernia & c Primo
At His Majestys Court of General Sessions of the peace
begun and held at York within and for the County of York
on the first Tuesday of January being the sixth Day of said
Month Annoque Domini 1761
Whereas Information is brought to this Court that Divers
Inhabitants of the Plaintation called Phillips Town, are now
Visited with the Contagious and Mortal Distemper of the
Small Pox which Persons are Very Poor and unable to Pro-
vide the Necessaries for Support of Life, Nurses & Phisicians
Needfull in Such Cases and the said Plantation not being
:
Lo
OP THE STATE OF MAINE 227
Incorporated into a Township are not Impowered to Provide
for their sick & poor as other Towns are,
These are Therefore to recommend the Distressed Circum-
tances of the said Inhabitants to the Consideration of Fox-
ill Curtis Cutt Benjamin Chadbouni Esq & Cap* John
ord and to Desire them to order such Provision to be made
of Phisicians Nurses & Necessaries for the Sickness of the
Said Persons & others in the said Plantation as may be in
the Like Distress as they think Convenient the said Gentle-
men to keep Acco t8 of what they may advance for the above
Perposes and what Families & Persons receive such suplys
that so the Suplys made to such as may be Poor and not able
to Discharge the acco t8 may be recommended to this Great
and General Court for Payment for as much as the Distemper
was brought amongst said Inhabitants by Soldiers Imployed
by this Government in the Present Expedition for the reduc-
tion of Canada
by order Court Attest Jn ffrost Cler.
Copy of record Exam d g
Jn ffrost Cler.
D r Fox. Cur. Cutt To Dorcas Goodridge
Jan y To 23 Days attend g upon the People sick
w 1 y e Small Pox at Philipstown @ 4/4.12.0
Berwick Ap. 10 th 1761 Errors Excepted g
her
Dorcas Gr
mark
York ss/ April 20 th 1761
Dorcas Goodridge above named made Solemn Oath to the
Truth of the foregoing acco*
Before Benj a Chadbourn J. Peace
N. B. The above persons were Soldiers.
D r The County of York to supplies to the sick
w th y e Small Pox at Phillipstown by Fox-
well Curtis Cutt
228 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
i
Jan y To 23 Days nursing of Dorcas Good-
ridge as g her ace* attested @ 4/ 4-12
T 26 lb Beaf & Pork for the use of nurses
&c @6 d 0- 8- 8
<5- 8
Berwick April 27 th 1761 Errors Excepted
g Fox. C. Cutt
The above persons were Soldiers
New Marblehead, Petition
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England
To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq Governour in
Chief, To the Hon ble His Majestys Council and House of
Representatives of s d Province
Humbly Shew the Grantees of a Township call'd New
Marblehead in the County of Cumberland ; That in Obed-
ience to the Order of this Hon ble Court in October A D 1758,
they sent to the s d Township Mess John Wight & Samuel
Turner With orders to take an exact Account of the state of
the Township, And the progress made by each Grantee toward
a Settlement ; Who Made Report upon Oath, Which was laid
before this Hon ble Court, Whereby it appears that Twenty
nine of the Grantees had setled Families there, (A List
whereof are hereunto Annex'd ) The other Grantees tho' all
of them ( but N 4 drawn by George Pigot ) have Cleared
Lands on their respective Lotts, they have not Settled Fami-
lies, there, By which neglect the few Families there have
been exposed to greate Difficulties. That this Small Settle-
ment have for many years past dwelt there, without any Gos-
pell Ministry or Any Civil Government Among them. That
the Grantees find it necessary that a further division
if 100 Acre Lotts be laid out there, Which can't be Effected
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 229
with any Certainty until tliey Obtain a Settlement of the
Boundary Lines betwixt the s d Grant, & the Towns of Fal-
mouth and North Yarmouth on Which they Joyn, Which
They Apprehend cannot be effected but by the Aid of this
Hon ble Court.
Wherefore the s d Grantees humbly Pray your Excellency
und this Honourable Court
1 That The Twenty Nine setled Numbers be Confirmd
to the Respective Grantees & their Heirs. And the non
setlers be Compeld as Soon as May be, to compleat their
Settlements.
2 That the settlement of the s d Boundary lines May be
ordered. And
3 That the Inhabitants there may be Incorporated into
some order of Government. And as the Original home Lotts
were laid out but 10 acres ( to make the settlement compact
& Defenceable,) Which has greatly hurt and Discouraged the
s d Settlement, your Petitioners now pray that the non setlers
may not be compell'd to settle on s d 10 Acre Lotts, Each of
them having An 100 Acre Lott Adjoining to the s d home
Lotts Already laid out, which will better Suit them and Serve
the Township in General. All which is Submitted by your
ExcelF" & Hon" Most Hum 1 Serv t8
Nathan Bowen \ Comm ttee for s d
John Wight > Prop 18 in this
John Ingalls / Behalf e
And the s d Com tee further beg leave to inform your Exc y
& Hon r s That in the Origenal Grant of the Township, A
Right thro' the Township was Reservd for the first Minister,
Another for the Ministry, And a third for the school ; The
first became the property of the Rev d M r Wight dec d as first
Minister, The second in its present Rough & uncultivated
State can be of little use to the next Minister at least for
Some time as the property will not be his, That The sch
230 DOCUMENTARY HISTOBY
Lott N 44, in the Body of 100 Acre Lotts already laid out
lays near the Centre of the s d Lotts and where the Settlements
are most likely to be made, and therefore Most Sutable for
the Meeting house & Commodious for the next Minister if it
may be had for that purpose. Wherefore they pray that the
s d Grantees or your Petitions their Com tee may be Impower'd
to transfer the s d 100 Acre~Lott N 44. To the use afores d
Saving four Acres to lay in Common for a Meeting House,
School House, Burying place & other Public uses, And if
your Exc y & Honours Should think the Residue of the s d
School Right, Which will be near 800 Acres should be insuf-
ficient for the purpose, your s d Petitioners will take Care that
in their Laying Out the next Division a like quantity of Land
shall be laid Out and Assignd to s d School Right, as equiva-
lent thereto, which is also Humbly Submitted
Nathan Bo wen
John Wight
John Ingalls
In Council Jan? 8, 1761 Read and Ordered That John
Chandler Esq r with such as the Hon le House shall join be a
Committee to take this Petition under Consideration & report
what they judge proper for this Court to do thereon
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
Read and Col Clap and Major
Gushing are joined in the Affair.
James Otis Speaker
Report of Committee.
The Com tee to whom was Referred the within Petition
humbly report as their Opinion that the Right belonging to
the Twenty Nine persons contained in the Annexed List be
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 231
confirmed to them their heirs and assigns forever, & that the
plantation be Erected into a District
That the other Origin all Admitted settlers or those who
hold under them being thirty one, be allowed one year from
ds time to Comply with the Conditions of y e Grant, and
such of them as do not; their Supposed Shares or Rights
Levert to the province & be disposed of as this Court shall
rder. That a Comittee be Appointed, at the Charge of
ititioners to fix and ascertain the bounds of y e plantation
Ijoyning to the Towns of Falmouth & North Yarmouth they
iving proper notice of the time of their meeting for that
mrposs And that the School Lott N 44 be appropriated
>r the encouragement of the Next Ordain_ Minister amongst
icm reserving four Acres thereof for Erecting a Meeting
louse on & for other publick uses and that previous to the
lying out any Further Division a hundred Acres of good
id be laid out for the use of the School in Lieu of s d Lott
g order of y e Com te John Chandler
In Council Jan y 20, 1761. Read and Accepted, and
Ordered That Rich d Cutt Esq with such as the honourable
[ouse shall join be a Committee to run the Lines mentioned
said Report
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec'
[n the House of Rep ves Jan* 20 1761
Read and Concur'd and M r Bradbury and D r Sayer are
Foyned in the Affair
James Otis Speaker
Consented to Fra Bernard
Petition for Township 1761
?o His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq Captng general and
Commander in Cheif in and over His Majestys Province of
232
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Massachusets Bay in New England and to the Hon ble
His Majestys Council and the House of Representatives of
the said Province February 21 th 1T61
The petition of us Whose Names are hear unto Subscribed
Humbly Shews
That your petitioners Having been Imployd in the Late
wars by the Massachusetts Government and We hearing that
Land was to be Disposed of by the Government for the
incouregment of Settlers and their fore most Humbley pry y r
Excellency and Hon rs in Considderation of our past Seari-
veases to Graint us a town ship at or about mount Deseart
and your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray &c
David Bean
Thomas Lindsey
Joseph Allen
his
Martin X Grant
mark
James Grover
Joshua Trafton
James Gowen
Daniel Grant
Josiah Black Jun r
Nathaniel Preble
James Bean
Charls Trafton
Moses Welch
Timothy C
Nathanael Abbot
Itham Trafton
J Allen
Ma the w Austin
Benj a Donnell
Benjamin Prebel
Matthias Whiteny William Babb
his
Joshua X Gray
mark
Joseph Carlile
Ebenezer Grant
Joseph Horn
Tho 8 Moody
James Sayward
John Harmon
Joseph Moody
James Home
Joshua Simpson
Josiah Black
Jonathan Clay
Thomas Hains
John Norman
Abraham Linscut
Joseph Shaw
William Grow
Jonathan Nowell
Samuel Adams ju r Matthew Bright
Thaddeus Trafton
Joseph Main
Hezekiah Elwell
his
Joseph X Dill
mark
Simon Grover
Webster Simpson
Peter Grant
John Bane
Nathaniel Harmon
John Bradbury J r
Jonathan Farnam
Joseph Bradbury
William beal
Abr m Lunt
Samuel Cook
Richard B
Jonathan Mellen
Joshua McLeary
Elisha Home
Dummer Sewall
Jonathan Bean
OF THH STATE OF MAINE
233
his
Alex r M c lntire Jun r Henry Simpson Partick F fisligearile
his mark
Jeremiah Bragdon Ebennezzar^ Smith Charles Bane
mark
Samuel Adams W m Ball
Thomas Adams petiah
Jn Frost Jun r Daniel Blasdell
Ebenezer Blasdell Silas Nowell Juner
Abraham Chapman
Indorsed Petition of a Number of Soldiers for a Townsh p
April 1 1761 James Bean
Col E Jones M r Witt Col Dwight Y e Com te report That This
Petit" be refer d to next May Session.
Joseph Baker
Nathaneil Adams
Timothy Frost
John Grover
Petition of Sam 1 Adams. 1761.
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Captain General &
Comander in Cheife in & over His Majestys Province of
the Massachusetts Bay the Hon bl the Council & House
of Representatives in General Court assembled June 3 d
1761
The Petition of Samuel Adams Clerk to the Proprietors of
a certain Tract of undivided Land containing Nineteen thou-
sand Acres, lying on the Western side of Kennebunk River
in the County of York, called Phillipstown Humbly Shews
That the said Proprietors at their Meeting legally called &
held the first Ins 4 did unanimously agree, that in order to the
effectual Settlement of said Land, it was necessary to make
division of the whole that so Each may know & possess their
respective Rights in severalty But so it hath happen'd as
appears by their Votes, that in the year 1730 a Division was
made of Two thousand Acres thereof into forty Lotts of fifty
Acres Each, & the Proprietors severally drew their Lotts,
but no Possession was ever taken of any of said Lotts, nor is
234 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Plan of said Division (if in being) any where to be
found ; so that the Proprietors are utterly at a Loss to know
where said divided part lies, & of Consequence are prevented
from making Division of the whole ( as they are desirous of
doing ) or even any part of it.
Wherefore Your Petitioner in Behalf & at the Request of
said Proprietors humbly prays, that Your Excellency &
Honours would in your known Goodness remove this Diffi-
culty in the way of their Settlement by an Order that the
said former Division may be null and void.
As in all duty bound your Pet r ever prays
Samuel Adams
In Council June 4, 1761. Read and ordered That the
Prayer of the Petition be granted. And that the Petitioner
have leave to bring in a Bill accordingly
Sent down for concurrence. A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep June 13 1761
Read and Concurr'd James Otis Speaker
June 1 1761 met by Adjournm*
Present Jos Moulton jun r Esq r James Bowdoin
James Pitts Esq M r Henry Bromfield M r W m Gray M r W
Andrews M r John Andrews Sam 1 Adams
Coll Moulton desird to be excusd being Moderator & James
Bowdoin Esq r was chosen in his room
Voted that the Clerk be desird to prefer a petition to the
Gen 1 Court setting forth that
voted that this meeting be adjourned to the first thursday
in August next at five o'Clock afternoon.
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 235
Survey of the Country.
In the House of Representatives June 11, 1761
Voted that a Survey of y e Country from Kennebeck to y c
River of S* Lawrence is Necessary & Practicable,
& that to answer y purposes thereof One Scouting party,
Consisting of one Captain, Two Surveyors, & Nine privates,
be Established in y e pay of this Government in y e following
Manner
One Captain, at Eleven pounds g Month the first Sur-
veyor, Eight pounds the Second Surveyor, Six pounds the
Privates at three pounds twelve shillings each the service to
commence y* first of August. & to end y e middle of October
next.
& that if s d Privates should be taken out of any of y e forts
where they are in y e pay of this Government that Pay shall
be considerd as a part of y" above Establishment.
Sent up for concurrence, James Otis, Speaker
In Council July 11, 1761. Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec*
Consented to Fra. Bernard
Scarborough, Petition. 1761.
To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esquire Captain Gen-
eral and Governor in Chief in and over His Majestys Prov
ince of the Massachusetts Bay The Honourable his Majestys
Council and House of Representives in General Court assem-
bled at Boston May 1761-
The Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of
Scarborough Qualify'd by Law to Vote agreeable to Charter
Humbly Shews
That in the Month of February last past Enoch Freeman
236 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Esq r Requested of your Petitioners (by Posting up Papers at
the different Publick Places at said That we would give him
our Votes at our March meeting for being County Register
When the time for puting up the Annual warning for March
meeting came the Select men put an Article in the warning
to Chuse a Register, M r Small Town Clerk said it had better
be in the following words, viz* " Arid also to Act on any thing
that may be found Necessary," a Practice which we have
offten used and never found it disputed befor_, and at the
time of said March meeting last past Edward Milliken Esq r
Being Chosen Moderator (on purpose that we might Act
wisely & Safely ) he having the direction of the Meeting &c
Order'd all Persons Qualify'd by Law to Vote to bring in
their Votes for a Register of Deeds which was then don agree-
able to Law and Coustome as we then and do still Think at
least with all Humble submission to your Excellency your
Honours & Gentlemen we think was Consistant with the
Honest intent and meaning of the Law, Especialy as Enoch
Freeman Esq r aff d was at the meeting with a Number of his
Friends from Falmouth making Interest for him before and
at the very Time of the Meeting M r Nathaniel Green was
allso There So that The whole Town was as well Acquainted
with the Choice of a Register and allso of the Candidates as
they Ever can be of any Vote Notwithstanding of which the
Justices of Inferiour Court held at Falmouth this Instant
May has Sett our Votes aside. We have Much more to say
if Occasion Require But wont intrude on your Excellency &
Your Honour's &cc Goodness hoping the Honesty of our
Request will be sufficient Wherefore your Petitioners Hum-
bly Prays That Your Excellency Your Honours and Gentle-
men would Take our Case into your wise Consideration and
Grant us the Privilege of our Votes as they were Honestly
and Truely Voted last March or otherways The Privilege of
Voting again Before the May Sessions at Falmouth are over
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 237
Being Adjourned to next July and Your Petitioners as in
Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray
his
Joseph Waterhouse Will O Mitchell William Harmon
mark
Elisha Bragdon John Berry Samuel Davis
his
Benj a X Blake Benj than Tilliken
mark his
Robert m c Laughlin John Hodgden Thomas X
mark
John Milliken Nath 11 Milliken Samull Boothby
Morris Obrian Jonathan Wingett Daniel Marston
11 Boothby Jun r Nathaniel Seavey Sam 11 Carll Junr
David Libby Ju r John ball Benjamin Carter
Lemuel Smith Abraham Tbr James Boothby
Josua Moonenday John Inaes John Libby
Samson Plumer Josiah Ring Sam 11 Small
Andrew Libby Edm d Hagens Joseph Stephens
Samuel Libbee Sam 11 Fogg Joseph Fogg
Daniel Fogg Joshua Brown
In the House of Representatives June 19, 1761
Whereas it appears to this Court that in the Choice of a
County Register, for the County of Cumberland last spring,
the Inhabitants of the Town of Scarborough had not any
voice, Therefore Resolved, That the proceeding of the Jus-
tices of the General Sessions for said County, at their Meet-
ing in May last, be sett asside & that the severall Towns in
said County be impower'd & they are hereby impower'd to
vote anew for a County Register & to make return of their
votes at y e Generall Sessions of said County to be held in
September next and the selectmen in the severall Towns in
s d County are hereby directed to notify them accordingly and
all Records & proceedings done & performed by Enoch Free-
man Esq r as county Register by virtue of his appointment by
the Justices at their meeting in Nov r last or in consequence
of the choice in May last, ( said proceedings being otherways
regular ) are hereby confirmed & are to be held good & valid
238 DOCUMENT ART HISTORY
to all Intents & purposes & y* said Enoch Freeman is hereby
Impowered to continue to act as county register for y e County
of Cumberland aforesaid untill the Generall Sessions of y e
Justices of s d County to be held in September next
Sent up for concurrence
Att r R Cotton Cler Dom Rep
In Council June 20. 1761. Read and Non concurred And
Ordered That this Petition be dismissed
Sent down for concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep June 23 1761
Read and Nonconcurred and the House adhere to their own
Vote as taken into a new Draft
Sent up for concurrence
Att r R Cotton Cler Dom Rep
In Council July 1, 1761. Read and Nonconcurred
A Oliver Sec'
In the House of Representatives June 23 1761
Whereas it appears to this Court that in the Choice of a
County Register, for y e County of Cumberland, last Spring,
the Inhabitants of the Town of Scarborough had not any
voice, Therefore resolved, that the Proceedings of the Jus-
tices of the Generall Sessions for said County, at their Meet
ing in May last, be sett asside so far as they relate to this
Matter, and that the severall Towns in said County be
Impowered & they are hereby Impower'd to vote anew for a
County register at their next March Meeting & to make
return of their votes at y e Generall Sessions of said County
to be held in May next and the selectmen of the several
Towns in s d County are hereby directed to notifie them
accordingly and all Records & Proceedings done & performed
by Enock Freeman Esq r as county register by virtue of his
appointment by the Justices at their Meeting in Nov r last, or
in Consequence of the Choice in May last ( said Proceedings
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 239
being otherways regular) are hereby confirmed & are to be
held good & valid to all Intents & Purposes & the said Enock
Freeman is hereby Impower'd to Continue to act as County
register for y e County of Cumberland aforesaid untill the
Generall Sessions of y e Justices of said County in May next.
Anno regni regis Georgy terty Secundo
An act to annull a division heretofore made by the propri-
etors of common & undivided lands in a place called Philips
town in the county of York.
Whereas the proprietors of the common and undivided
lands in a place called Philips town in the county of York
have petitioned this court setting forth that in order to an
effectual settlement of the said lands it is needfull that a
division be made thereof that so each proprietor may know
& settle his part in severalty, and that it appears by the
records of said proprietors that in the year 1730 a division
was made of two thousand acres part of the said land into
forty lots of fifty acres each and that the proprietors drew
their several lots in the said division, but that it no way
appears A where the land so divided is, nor any plan of the
division being to be found, the petitioners did thereupon pray
that the said ancient division may by the authority of this
court be annulled & vacated to the end they may proceed
regularly to a new division.
Be it therefore enacted by the governor council and house
of representatives that the said division made in the said year
1730 be and hereby is annulled & made void - that the said
proprietors be and hereby are enabled to proceed to a division
of the whole or any part of the lands by them held in com-
mon as afores d as they might have done if the division afores d
in the year 1730 had never been made Provided always That
nothing in this Act shall be understood or construed to affect
the Right or Title of any person actually settled upon lands
240 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
in any part of Phillips Town ; B but such Right and Title
shall be and remain as if this Act had never passed
In Council July 7, 1761. Read a first and second time
and passed to be engrossed
Sent down for concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ve8 July 9, 1761
Read and Ordered that the consideration of this Bill be
refer'd to the next sitting of this Court, and that in the mean
time Samuel Adams Clerk to the Prop 18 of Phillips Town
Insert the Substance of this Bill in one of the Boston News-
papers three Weeks successively; as also Post the same up
in some publick place in said Plantation of Phillips Town,
That so any Persons concerned may shew cause ( if any they
have) at the next sitting of this Court why the said Bill
should not pass into a Law.
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council July 9, 1761 Read & Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
In Council Nov r 25, 1761
The Board resuming the Consideration of this Bill, and it
appearing that publick notice of the Substance thereof had
been - agreeable to the foregoing Order, and no objections
being offer'd thereto - It is thereupon Order'd that the same
do pass to be Engross'd with the following Amendments viz
at A dele where the Land so divided is
insert where & in what manner the said Lotts were laid
& bounded,
at B insert assign'd or allotted to him -before the making
of the Division aforementioned.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves Nov r 26 1761
Read three several times and concur'd
James Otis Speaker
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 241
At a Parish Meeting held in the first Parish in Scarborough
August the 27 th 1T61 -
Voted and Concured ( at s d Meeting ) with the Churches
Vote to Give M r Phinehas Whitney a Call to Setle in the
Ministery in said Parish
Attest Sam 11 Fogg Parish Clark
At a Parish Meeting held in the first Parish in Scarborough
March y e 16 th 1762
Unanimously Voted and Concured with the Churches Vote
to Give M r Samuel Foxcraft a Call to Setle in the Work of
the Ministery in this Parish
Attest Sam 11 Fogg Parish Clark
Letter, Ichdbod Goodwin to Hon. TJio 8 Hutchinson
Berwick 16 Nov r 1761
Sir
I Reseved yor Leter Confirmen the mestack in the Roll as
your Leter to mee that I never Reseved.
You say or Sir Willam Pepprell that I have spock to Cor-
nel Sparock and hee Told me that hee wod Luck mongest
his papers But hee hant Let mee now whar he Has found
it if your honon Cant help mee I dont now whot I shall dow
I left my papers in the in gagment bot whot Your Onorer
noues a bout it you had the Copey and the som was 11-9-0
& som penc I think at the best of my Judment and if your
honer Can dow Aney thing for mee pray Lett Mager Cutt
now and you will a blige your
frend & verey Hombill Servent
Ichabod Goodwin
Petition of Sam 1 Adams
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Eso^ Captain General
& Commander in Cheife in & over the Province of the Mas-
16
242 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
sachusetts Bay ; The Honourable the Council! & House of
Representatives in General Court assembled the 20 th of
November 1761
Samuel Adams of Boston Clerk to the Proprietors of a
Tract of Land in the County of York called Phillipstown,
begs leave humbly to make known to - Hon bl Court, that in
obedience to their order he hath notifyd the Resident Propri-
etors of said Land of the Substance of a Bill now pending in
said Court for setting aside an ancient division of said Land
for Reasons offerd, by inserting an Advertisement in one of
the Boston News papers, & also by causing the same to be
posted in a publick place in said Phillipstown, which last he
is informd by a Letter from Jeremiah Moulton Esq, of York,
is done to all which he is ready to give his Affidavit
Wherefore he humbly prays that said Bill may be passd
into a Law, no persons appearing to object thereto.
Sam 1 Adams
Petition of Eben r Thorndike others 1762
Province of the Massachusetts Bay Jan ry 3 d 1762
To his Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Captain General
and Governour in and over his Majesty's Province
afores'd the Honourable His Majesty's Council and
House of Representatives, in General Court Assembled
We the Subscribers having been Soldiers at Fort Pownall
and now Settled at a Place called Magebaggadeuse on the
Eastern Side of Penobscott Bay, and others desirous of set-
tling there themselves, or Settling other good Families in
their Room ; for the Accommodation of Numbers that want
Land, and to carry on the Fishery, Humbly request,
Your Excellency and Honours wou'd Please to grant Your
Petitioners and their Heirs, a Township to be bounded as
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
243
follows, beginning about three miles above Casteens River,
at a Place called Sandy Point and to run East North East
Eight Miles, then South South East to the Ocean and then
West South West Eight Miles, and then to the first Bounds
lentioned, a Neck of Land Water and Islands, And Your
'etitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c
Idward Milliken Eben r Thorndike Nath 11 Milliken
imuel Freeman Joseph Brown Eze Gushing
Tohn Bicknell Jun r Ezekiel Gushing Ju r Mark Haskell
Joseph Milliken
David Elwill
John Trott
Henry Herrick
Thomas Trott
Feremiah Gushing Benj a Milliken
,emuel Smith Sam 11 Gate
fathan 611 Harmon Dan 11 Mackey
r ill m Masury Samuel Trott
John Trott William Morgan
William Bartlett Stephen Huchinson John Roundey
luel Osborn Nicolas Thorndike John Melbery Milliken
.ndrew Thorndike Thomas Milliken Joseph Wood
William Haskell Anthony Dyer Thomas Stroute
Samuel Wood Benjamin Robbins Samll Trask
>enjamin Robbins Joshua Silvester juner ArChebaild Hency
Samuel Silvester Josiah heney
Daniel Noyes Samuel Silvester
Samuel Trask Joshua Combes
Andrew Simonton David Trask
Spencer Bret George Dyer
Bengman Thorndike Thomas Trask
Thomas Williamson John Thomdike
Joshua Woodbery Adam Silvester
Paul Thorndike John Robinson Ju r
Nathaniel Jordan ju Joseph Wilson
David Silvester
Stephen Combes
Joseph Trask
William Dyer
Rougles Colbe
David Alden
Bengman frizzel
Samuell Clark
Nath 11 Ingersoll
Edward Milliken Ju r
Petition of David Marsh others 1762
Haverhill Jan 1 * 6 th 1762
To Messrs David Marsh, Enoch Bartlet, James M c Hard
244
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Esq r , James Duncan, Cpt Edmond Moors, Opt Peter Parker,
Dudly Calton & Benj Harrod
We the Subscribers being desirous of setling some of the
Land upon the Sea Coasts or Rivers between the Lands
belonging to the Heirs of the Late Honourable Brigadier
General Waldo and the River Passamaquade or S* Croix
desier our Names may be carryed to the great and General
Court at their next Session with a Petition which we desier
you'll please to draw and Lay before the same for Lands
within s d Limmits for the purposes aforesaid
William Fairfield John Dow Jun r
Isaac Bradley Jonathan Buck
David Remmick Nathaniell Rolf
Nathaniell Jonston John Jonston
Jesse Jonston
Daniel Jonston
Olliver Knight
Josiah Fulsom
Enoch Noyes
William Lampson
Caleb Jonston
Charles Haddock
John Knight Jun r
Benjamin Moores
Samuell Clements Joshua Sawyer
James Sawyer William M c Hard
Daniel Hills
Philip Clements
Jonathan Kimball
James Duncan Jun r
John Dow tersus
David Marsh Jun r
Moses Marsh
Thomas Jonston
William Townsend
Tristram Knight
Edmond Herriman
Samuell Little
James M c Hard Juner
Peter Clements
Benj a Kimball
Benj n Pettingall
Isaac Snow
Jonathan Kimball Jun r Jeremiah Pecker
Benjamin Clements Cutten Marsh
Jacob Sayer Enoch Badger
Peter Morse Jun r Amiruhamah Moores Ebenezer Mudget
John Moody
Moses Mudgit
John Ayers
Joseph Sayer
Daniel Poor
Joseph Pilsbury
Moses Kelly
Joshua Howard
Elias Jonston
Edmond Sayer
Moses Swasey
John Goodwin
Daniel Poor Jun r
Ben" Morse
James Woodward Thomas West
John Eaton
Hanes Johnston
John Woodman
Simeon Goodwin
Jonathan Poor
Benj n Pilsbury
Stephen Coffin
Asa Heath
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
245
William Page
Stephen Little
Moses Bartlet
John Hazen Jun r
Samuell Kobie
James Cook
Daniel Bartlet
Samuell Ayers
Joshua Baley
Moses Little
Peter Herriman
Ephraim Noyes
Willam Page
Samuell Bayley
Thomas Whitacer
Asael Herriman
John Bayley
Lewis Page
James Bricket
Nathaniel Bartlet
William Cook
Ephram Baley
Samuell Morrison
Samuell Ayers ter* Jacob Morse
Theophilus Eaton Mark Emerson
Joseph Johnston Joseph Hadley
John Mills
Asa Herriman
John Hesseltine
Wilks West
Moses Hazen
Joseph Swaysey
James Winn
Israel Morrill
Kelly Plummer
Samuel Johnston
Josiah Brown
Ebenezar Day
John Whiting
Jonathan Webster Jun r Jacob Bayley
James Pecker
Edmond Morse
Ezekiel Wilson
Ezekiel Eaton
Jacob Ayers
Moses Morse
John Mulliakin
William Marshal
David Pettangal
Ebenezer Hale
Ezra Chase
Alpheus Godwin
Timothy George
Jasial Herriman
John Farnam
Maxey Hesseltine
Joseph Jillings
John Hazen
Nathaniel Burpey
Robert Hale
David George
Samuel Plummer
Eliphalet Martin
Peter Johnston
Samuell Kimball
Ebenezar Kimball
Jacob Buck
Jonathan Buck Jun r Daniell Jaques
Bezeliel Calton Nathan Baker
Dudley Carl ton Jun r Joshua Springer William Kimball
Nathaniel Marsh Stephen Knight
John Duncan James Simonds
Joel Herriman- William Duncan
William Duncan Jun r Benj n Eaton
Jonathan Eaton Abraham Duncan
John Duncan ter 8 Ezekiel Belknap
James Clemans Samuell Bell
Alexander Wilson James King
Moses Chase
George Duncan Jun r
Samuel Souther
George Duncan ter 8
Andrew Frink
John Humphrey
Peter Page
James Wilson
246
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Ebenezar Eaton John Otterson Ammy Hanes
Samuell Fisher Samuell George John Duncan
Timothy Smith David Slorow John Pell
George Duncan y e fath Samuel Trask John Bell
Barnard Kimball Adam Dickey Joseph Hanes
John Barnet Evan Jones Samuel Hides
Richard Ayer Mathew Slorow Ebenezar Kimball
Thomas Berverly Richard Emarson Jun r David Berverly
David Hanes
Isaac Bruester
Samuel Moores
Joseph Bell
Samuell Duncan
Adam Wier
James Tood
Dudley Lad
Mathew Patten
Ebenezar Portar
James Aiken
Ephraim Chandler
Samrnuel Johnston David Stell
Samuell Cockran Benj n Gage Jun 1
Jonathan Nelson
James Patterson
Enoch Marsh
Peter Ewons
Samuell Foster
John Wier
Ruben Mills
John Gilman
Nathaniell Gage Jun r Robert Stewart Amos Mulliakim
John Cockran
Benj n Day
Joseph Frey ju r
Benj a Cudworth
David Nevens
Moses Day
Rob* Parker
Jacob Kimball
Jonathan Stevens ju r
William Easman
Sam 1 Chickering
John Chickering ju r William Cockran
Nathaniell Cockran Benj a Stevens
Mathew Thornton Nicholas Holt
Samuel Foster
James Cockran
Samuel Blodget
William Blair
William Gooch
Hugh Ramsey
Ephraim Peerce
William Hopkins Elies Joans
Jon a Bates Joseph Boyes
Jeremiah Hesseltine Nath 1 frye Ju r
John Swa Daniel Page
John McLaughlin
Abiel Freye
Jonathan Gilmore
John Stinson
Timothy Walker
Nathan Joans
Daniel Spauldin
William Wallis
Ward Noice
Joseph McCartney
James Lister
Sammuel Allison
Simon Elliot
John Hogg
Nath 1 Allen
James Gregg
James fowls Jun r
William Bradley
George Duncan
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
247
Jabez Fisher
Jn Baker
James Pecker Ju r
Josiah Snelling
Baley Bartlet
Benj a Gushing
Simeon Parker
James Richardson
Joseph Stevens
Jo 9 Hall
Samuel Fisher
Jn Prince
Isaac Osgood
Jo 8 Mullikin Ju r
William Maxwell
John Truman
W m Frye
George Duncan Jun r
Jeremiah Fisher
James Harrod
Ebinezer Herrick
Benj a Hammatt
William Greenleaf
Sam 1 Hogg
John Varnum
Rufus Clap
Nathan Parker
John Duncan Jun r Peter Parker ju r John Dummer
John Farnum ju r Jn Cogswell Ju r Benj n Harrod Jun r
Jonathin Begley Ephraim Bound David Dixon
John Indicott William McHard Juiner Nath 11 Brown
Samuel Glover Nath 11 Brown Ju r John Hall
Samson Stoddard Theophilus Mansfield John Warren Ju r
Benj a Bond Benj a Ingals Jonas Harrington
Isaac Parker Rob* Patten Jacob Tyler
Benj a Kingsbury Thomas Bartlet Ju r Sam 1 Barnard
Jon n Marsh Ju r
Jonas Noyes
Ebenezer Nichols
Jobe Gage
Andrew Black
W m Fairfield Ju r
Moses Davis
Joshua Harrod
Ebenezer Hall
William Nickels
Charles Prescott
Eben zr Hough
Rob* Duncan
Humphry Barret
Nath 1 Hall
Joseph persons
Benj Mubb: Holmes
John Mico Wendell W m Watts
Bellingham Watts James Brewing
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq r Cap* Gen 1 the
Commander in Chief of said Province, to the Honourable
his Majesties Council and the Representatives in Gen 1
Court assembled at Boston Jan ry 13 th 1762
The Petition of the Subscribers hereunto on behalf of
themselves and associates whose Names are Contained in the
Several lists Accompanying this Petition Humbly Sheweth
248 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
That your Petitioners and Associates who by far are the
Greatest part of them Persons Brought up to Husbandry and
not having lands Sufficient for themselves and Sons who
are also Husbandmen have been put Upon the enquiry for
Wilderness lands to Exercise their Calling upon And that
in the course of their Enquiry, they have been lately inform'd
that there is a considerable Tract of Unappropriated Wilder-
ness Lands and Islands, lying between the Province of Nova
Scotia and that part of this Province call Province of Main
of which this Goverment have the Inspection with Power of
granting the Same, Sending home such grants for his Majes-
ties approbation And as your Petitioners and Associates
Apprehend the Setling said Lands or Islands would be Agree-
able to His Majesty Your Excellency and Honours - engage
Many persons to become Setlers there that would otherwise
go out of the Province They Humbly pray you will please
to grant them such a Quantity thereof as you May Judge
proper for Such a Number of persons as your Petitioners and
Associates consist of viz* 360 with Liberty of Viewing and
reconoitering the Same and to Plan and Pitch Upon Such
Tract or Tracts or So much of it as they shall be Alow'd and
find Suitable for their purpose in Some place or places on
the Sea Coast Rivers or Inland part, between the River S l
Croix or Passamaquoddy, and land Near Penobscut river
belonging to the Heirs of Brigd r Gen 1 Waldo or of said
Islands on the Coast and return to your Exellency and
Hon rs a plan or Plans of the Same Setting forth and Shewing
it's Bounds and Extent ; in Such time as you may See fit to
Order them
But inasmuch as the lands Pray'd for are at a considerable
Distance from the respective homes of your Petitioners and
Associates, And the preparing Habitations there and Trans-
porting themselves and Family's to them will be Attended
with Considerable Difficulty and expence Your Petition"
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
249
for themselves and Associates further Pray Your Excellency
and Hon rs will please to Grant Time Proportionable to those
things for fulfilling Such Conditions as you may see fit to
Injoin them, in case you should See cause to grant their
[uest And as in Duty bound will ever Pray
James M c Hard
Dudley Carlton
20 1762.
ivid Marsh Enoch Bartlet
fames Duncan Edmund Mooers
'eter Parker Benj" Harrod
the House of Representatives
Voted, That the Petition of David Marsh, Enoch Bartlet,
Fames M c Hurd, James Duncan, Peter Parker, Edmund Moers,
>udley Carlton, Benjamin Harrod, and three hundred and
Fty two Others their Associates, be so far granted, as that
lere be and is hereby Granted unto Him the said David
[arsh & his Associates herein named viz 1
Inoch Bartlet James M c Hard
'eter Parker Edmund Moores
Benjamin Harrod W m Fairfield
^on a Buck
David Remmick
^ohn Johnston
Jesse Johnston
Cdmund Morse
Jacob Morse
Szekiel Eaton
Joseph Hadley
kloses Morse
Maxey Hesseltine
Villiam Marshall
John Hazen
Sbenezer Hale
Tho 8 Johnston
)liver Knight
Tristram Knight
Cnoch Noyes
Samuel Little
tames Sawyer
Peter Clements
^hilip Clements
Jeremiah Pecker
saac Snow
John Dow jun r
rohn Dow 3 d
Nath 1 Rolf e
Hoses Marsh
William Lampson
iVill m Townsend
Robert Hale
Jpheus Goodwin Samuel Plummer
James Duncan
Dudley Carlton
James Duncan ju r
David Marsh ju r
Joshua Bayley
Theophilus Eaton
John Mills
John Hesseltine
Moses Hazen
Caleb Johnston
John Knight jun r
Joshua Sawyer
Jon a Kimball
Benj a Clemons
Isaac Bradley
Nath 1 Johnston
Daniel Johnson
James Winn
Kelly Plummer
250
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Jasial Herriman Peter Johnson
Peter Morse jun r Ebenezer Mudgit
Moses Mudget Hanes Johnston
Joseph Sayer Simeon Goodwin
Joseph Pilsbury Benjamin Pilsbury
James Woodward Asa Heath
Stephen Little Charles Haddock
Edmund Herriman Benj a Moores
Jn M c Hard ju r
William M c Hard
Benj a Kimball
Jon a Kimball j r
Cutten Marsh
Enoch Badger
John Moody
John Eaton
John Ayers
John Woodman
Daniel Poor
Jon a Poor
Moses Ketley
John Bayley
John Hazen jun r
James Bricket
James Cook
William Cook
Samuel Ayers
James Pecker
Samuel Ayers tert 8 Ezekiel Wilson
Joseph Johnston
Jacob Ayers
Asa Herriman
John Mullken
Wilks West
David Pettangal
Joseph Swasey
Stephen Coffin
William Page
Asael Herriman
Moses Bartlet
Lewis Page
Samuel Robie
Nathaniel Bartlet
Daniel Bartlet
Jacob Bayley
Joshua Springer
Nath 1 Marsh
James Simonds
Joel Herriman
Benjamin Eaton
Jonathan Eaton
Ezekiel Belknap
Ezra Chase
Israel Merrill
Timothy George
Jacob Buck
Jonathan Buck jun r
Nathan Baker
Alexander Wilson
Jacob Sayer
Joshua Howard
Edmund Sayer
John Goodwin
Benj a Morse
Moses Little
Josiah Fulsom
Sam 1 Clements
Daniel Hills
Benj a Pettingall
Amiruhamah Moores
Elias Johnston
Moses Swasey
Daniel Poor jun r
Ephraim Noyes
Samuel Bayley
Jon a Webster jun
Samuel Morrison
Mark Emerson
John Varnam
Joseph Tillings
Nathaniel Purpey
Thomas West
Peter Herriman
William Page
Thomas Whitaker
Ephraim Bayley
Moses Chase
Samuel Souther
Andrew Frink
David George
Josiah Brown
John Whiting
James Wilson
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
251
John Otterson
David Slorow
Adam Dickey
Matthew Slorow
Isaac Bruister
James King
Samuel George
Samuel Trask
Evan Jones
Samuel Fisher John Duncan y e 4 th
George Duncan y e 4 th John Bell
John Barnet
Thomas Berverly
James Clemens
Ebenezer Eaton
Timothy Smith
Barnard Kimball
Richard Ayers
Rich d Emerson jun David Hanes
Dudley Lad Samuel Moores
Ebenezer Porter Samuel Duncan
Ephraim Chandler James Patterson
Samuel Hides
James Tood
Peter Page
Ammy Hanes
John Pell
Joseph Hanes
Ebenezer Kimball
Jonathan Nelson
Enoch Marsh
Samuel Foster
Matthew Patten
James Acken
David Stell
Robert Stewart
Joseph Bell Peter Ewins
Adam Wier John Wier
Samuel Cockran John Gilman
John Cockran Benjamin Cudworth William Cockran
Nath 1 Cockran Matthew Thornton William Wallis
John M c Laughlin James Cockran
Jonathan Gilmore William Blair
Timothy Walker Samuel Johnston
Benjamin Gage jun r Nath 1 Gage jun r
Moses Day Benjamin Day
Jacob Kimball Eliphalet Marton
Ebenezer Kimball Samuell Kimball
Daniel Jaques Bezaleel Calton
William Kimball Stephen Knight
George Duncan William Duncan
George Duncan tert 8 Hugh Ramsey
Daniel Spauldin William Hopkins
Joseph M c Cartney
Samuel Allison
Reuben Mills
Amos Mulliken
William Easman
Samuel Johnston
Ebenezer Day
Dudley Calton j r
John Duncan
Will Duncan j r
John Hogg
James Gregg
Joseph Boyes Jeremiah Hasseltine William Bradley
Daniel Page Jabez Fisher Jeremiah Fisher
Samuel Fisher James Pecker jun r Eben r Herrick
Isaac Osgood Bayley Bartlet Will m Greenleaf
252
DOOUMENTAEY HISTORY
William Maxwell Simeon Parker
W m Torye
Peter Parker j r
John Humphry
Nicholas Holt
Abiel Freye
John Stinson
Nathan Jones
Elias Joans
Nath 1 Frye jun r
James Hall
Joseph Stevens
Abraham Duncan
Samuell Bell
Samuel Foster
Samuel Blodget
William Gooch
Ephraim Prerer
Jon a Bates
John Briggs
John Farnum j r
Jonathan Stevens Robert Parker
Sam 1 Chickering Jn Chickering j r
John Prince
Ja 8 Mulliken j r
Josiah Snelling
Benj a Gushing
John Truman James Richardson
Ephraim Bounds John Indicott
Nath 1 Brown j r Samson Stoddard
Benjamin Ingals John Baker
Sam 1 Barnard W m Fairneld
Robert Duncan Moses Davis
Humphry Barrett Joshua Harrod
Nath 1 Hall Eben r Hall
Joseph Parsons William Nickells
Andrew Black Benj Mull: Holmes
John Mico Wendell W m Watts
John Varnum
Nathan Parker
John Duncan tert 8
Benj a Stevens
Ward Noice
James Lister
Simon Elliot
Nath 1 Allen
James Fowls jun r
George Duncan
Benj Harrod j r
Joseph Frye j r
David Nevens
Benj a Hammett
Sam 1 Hogg
Rufus Clap
Nath 1 Brown
John Warren jun r
James Harrod
John Marsh j r
Jonas Noyes
Eben r Nicholls
Jabez Gage
Alex r Nickells
Charles Prescott
Eben r Hough
Jacob Tyler
Isaac Parker Rob* Patten
Benj a Kingsbury Thomas Bartlet jun r Bellingham Watts
James Vrewing George Dumar jun r John Duncan j r
John Dummer John Cogswell j r Jonathan Begley
David Dexon William M c Hard j r Samuel Glover
John Hall Theophilus Mansfield Benj a Bond
Jonas Harrington
their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common,
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 253
Townships of Land, each to consist of the Quantity of six
Miles Square, of the unappropriated Lands of this Province,
between the River Penobscot and the River S* Croix ; to be
laid out in as regular and contiguous a Manner as the Land
will admit of : That no Township be more than six Miles on
the Sea Coast, or on Penobscot or other Rivers : That they
return a Plan or Plans of the same ( taken by a Surveyor and
Chainmen on Oath ) to this Court for further Confirmation,
on or before the last Day of July next : That they within six
Years after they shall obtain his Majesty's Approbation of
this Grant ( unless prevented by War ) settle each Township
with sixty good Protestant Families, and build sixty Houses,
none to be less than eighteen Feet Square, and seven Feet
Stud; and clear and cultivate five Acres of Land on each
Share fit for Tillage or Mowing ; and that they build in each
Township a suitable Meetinghouse for the publick Worship
of God, and settle a Learned Protestant Minister, and make
Provision for his comfortable and honourable Support : And
that in each Township there be reserved and appropriated
four whole Rights or Shares in the Division of the same
( accounting one sixty fourth Part a Share ) for the following
Purposes, Viz* One for the first settled or Ordained Minister,
his Heirs and Assigns for ever ; one for the use of the Min-
istry, one to and for the use of Harvard College in Cambridge,
and one for the Use of a School for ever : And if any of the
Grantees or Proprietors of any or each of said Townships
respectively, shall neglect within the Term of six Years as
before mentioned to do and perform according to the several
Articles respecting the Settlement of his Right or Share as
hereby enjoined, his whole Right or Share shall be intirely
forfeited and enure to the Use of the Province.
Provided nevertheless, the Grant of the Above Lands is to
be void and of none Effect unless the Grantees do obtain his
Majesty's Confirmation of the same in eighteen Months from
this Time.
254 DOCUMENTABY HISTORY
And be it further Ordered as a Condition of the Grant
aforesaid, That each Grantee give Bond to the Treasurer of
this Province for the Time being, and to his Successors in
said Office, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds for the Use of this
Province, Conditioned for the faithful Performance of the
Duties required according to the Tenor of the Grants afore-
said ; And that a Committee or Committees be appointed by
this Court to take said Bonds accordingly.
And further that said Committee be impowered to a'dmit
others as Grantees in y e room of such Persons contained in
y e List aforesaid who shall neglect to appear by themselves or
others, in their Behalf, to give Bonds at such time as y e
Comm e shall appoint.
Sent up for Concurrence. James Otis Speaker
In Council March 2 d 1762. Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
Letter to Hon. Jere h Powel. 1762.
New Glocester January the 14 1762.
To Jere ah Powel Esq r
Honoured Sir these are to inform your Honour that we
the Inhabitants of New Glocester are In danger of haveing
our Town Spoiled by reason of the New-Boston Proprietors
Runing their line in upon us and as we live a great distance
from our Committee we would Apply ourselves to you desire-
ing your Honour to be a friend for us in the Affair and as
your self is so well acquainted with the Affairs and Settle-
ments of these three new Towns ( viz ) New Marblehead
New Boston and New Glocester that it would be needless for
us to write Every perticuler but ondly Enform you that New
Marblehead has got by a late line a considerable quantity of
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 255
land more then they ought to have for their Townshp which
drives New Boston upon us.
And as one man ( viz ) M r Edward King who was the
Cheif Surveyor in laying out these three Towns first New
Marblehead then New Boston and lastly New Glocester which
line between New Boston and New Glocester is now fairly to
be seen upon the Trees and that line was accounted to be a
Right line between Town and Town, whereupon New Gloces-
ter Proprietors Immediately layed out their Town for the first
division Into Sixty Acre lots and the land being more com-
modious for the first Settlement of the Town began the first
division lots next to New Boston line and upon these lots the
Town is now settled and as we have thus fairly and Honestly
begun and Carried on our Town through the great dificuties
of the Enemy and with great Cost and hard Labour have got
our Town In a flourshing manner but if it be allowed that we
shall be cut off from our first line then our Town will be
wholly Ruined and the major part of the Inhabitants we
therefore desire Your Honour to lay the Case before the great
and Generall Court hopeing that they will as we are his Maj-
esties Subjects let us Injoy the fruits of our own Labours and
so we subscribe your Humble Servants
P S Sir if there be any tiling that is Incorrect in this we
desire your Honour to Correct it. Yours
Jabez True Humphry Woodbery John Tufts
Barnabas Winslow Daniel Merrill William Stevens
Sam 11 Lawrence Jonathan Tyler Thomas Tucker
David Millet Samuel Parsons Eliah Royall
William Harris Moses Woodbury Horton Mitchel
Benj a Hamman Nathaniel Eveleth Robert Bayley
John M c guire Isaac Parsons John Stenchfield juneo r
Moses Stevens Samuel Paul Jonathan Row
Samuel Tarbox John Prince Moses Bradbury
Robert Burnam Eben r Mason John Stenchfield
Indorsed Cap* Powell M r Bradbury D r Sayer
256 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Report.
The report of a Committee appointed to take under con-
sideration the bounds between this Province & Nova Scotia
& also the claims of the Patentees of lands in the eastern
parts of this Province
The Committee find that the Province of Nova Scotia by
the Royal Patent to Sir W m Alexander is bounded by the
River S* Croix to the head thereof & the remotest western-
most branch or stream & from thence by an imaginary line to
run north to the river S* Lawrence
That by the Royal Charter to this Province all the lands
between the Province of Main & the said line of Nova Scotia
from the Sea to the said river S* Lawrence are undoubtedly
within the jurisdiction of this government.
That by the first voyage made by the French who gave the
name to the river S 1 Croix as also by divers maps or charts
which have been since published the said river may be
ascertained.
The Committee are therefore of opinion that one or more
gentlemen be appointed by this Court to join with such as
may be appointed by the Province of Nova Scotia to repair to
the said river S* Croix & to determine upon the place where
the said north line is to begin and to extend said line so far
as the said Committee shall think necessary & to ascertain
the same by mark'd trees or other boundary marks. And
that his Excellency the Governor be desired to acquaint the
Commander in chief of Nova Scotia with this proposal.
The Committee further report that no persons appear to
claim any grant of lands to the Eastward of the lands con-
tained in the Patent to Beauchamp & Leverett. That the
said lands in s d Patent are claimed by the representatives of
the late Brigadier General Waldo and they upon conference
with the Committee agree to release to the Province all their
right & claim to lands east of Penobscot river provided the
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 257
Province release & convey to the said representatives a tract
of six miles in breadth at the head of the said patent, to
extend from the said river to the line from Muscongus after
extending said line 36 miles from said Muscongus into the
Country^ And the Committee are of opinion that such
conveyance be made by persons to be authorized & impowered
by the Court upon the terms & conditions aforesaid accord-
ingly. All , which is submitted in the name & by order of the
C omit tee
T. Hutchinson
In Council Feb^ 18 th 1762 Read & sent down
In the House of Rep ves Feb* 18 1762
Read and Ordered that this report be accepted.
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council Feb* 23, 1762 Read and Concurred with the
Amendment at & viz* Insert "provided the same do not
interfere with any prior Grant And Provided the Line afore-
said extending from Muscongus into the Country do not
interfere with any prior Patent
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves Feb y 25 1762
Read and Concur'd James Otis Speaker
Consented to Fra Bernard
In the House of Representatives Feb ry 23 d 1762
Voted, That the Petition of Wait Wadsworth and Sixty
others his Associates be so far granted as that there be, and
hereby is granted unto the said Wait Wadsworth & his Asso-
ciates herein named x their Heirs and Assigns for ever as
Tenants in Common, one Township of Land, to consist of the
Quantity of six Miles Square of the unappropriated Lands of
this Province, between the River Penobscot and the River S*
17
258 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Croix : That the said Township be no more than six Miles
on the Sea Coast, or on Penobscot or other Rivers : That they
return a Plan of the same ( taken by a Surveyor and Chain-
men on Oath ) to this Court for further Confirmation, on or
before the last Day of July next : That they within six
years after they shall obtain his Majesty's Approbation of this
Grant ( unless prevented by War ) settle said Township with
sixty good Protestant Families, and build sixty Houses, none
to be less than eighteen Feet Square, and seven Feet Stud,
and clear and cultivate five Acres of Land on each Share fit
for Tillage or Mowing ; and that they build in said Township
a suitable Meeting house for the publick Worship of God,
and settle a Learned Protestant Minister, and make a Provi-
sion for his comfortable and honourable Support. And that
in said Township there be reserved the appropriated Four
Whole Rights or Shares in the Division of the same ( account-
ing one sixty fourth Part a Share ) for the following Pur-
poses, Viz* one for the first settled or ordained Minister his
Heirs and Assigns forever ; one for the use of the Ministry ;
one to and for the use of Harvard College in Cambridge and
one for the use of a School for ever: and if any of the
Grantees or Proprietors of said Township shall neglect within
the Term of six Years as before mentioned, to do and perform
according to the several Articles respecting the Settlement of
his Right or Share as hereby enjoined, his whole Right or
Share shall be entirely forfeited and enure to the Use of this
Province :
Provided Nevertheless the Grant of the above Lands is to
be void and of none Effect, unless the Grantees do obtain his
Majesty's Confirmation of the same in eighteen Months from
this Time
And be it further Ordered as a Condition of the Grant
aforesaid, That each Grantee give Bond to the Treasurer of
this Province for the Time, and to his Successors in said
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
259
Office for the Sum of Fifty Pounds for the Use of this Prov-
ince, Conditioned for the faithful Performance of the Duties
required according to the Tenor of the Grant aforesaid, and
that a Committee or Committees be appointed by this Court
to take said Bonds accordingly. And further that said Com-
mittee be impowered to admit others as Grantees in y e Room
of such Persons contained in the List afores d who shall neg-
lect to appear by themselves, or others in that behalf to give
Bonds at such time, as y e Comm e shall appoint.
Sent up for Concurrence, James Otis Speaker
In Council March 2 d 1762.
Read and Concurred.
A Oliver, Sec r
Consented to
Fra Bernard
Nath 1 Simmons Joseph Freeman ju
Samuel Bradford Ezekiel Bradford
Peres Loring Ebenezer Soule
Elnathan Weston Nath 1 Silvester
William Clertey Joseph Freeman
John Maughton Peleg Chandler
John Phillips
Blany Phillips j r
Ambros Dawes
Silvanus Prior
Silvanus Dred
Abner Weston
Jacob Weston
Blany Phillips
Joseph Holmes
Simeon Bradford
Joshua Shoanes
Zebedee Chandler
Seth Weston
Zenas Dread
Benjamin Prior jun 1
John Hunt jun r
Levi Loring
Edward Tintcham
Wrestling Alden
Jabez Washburn
William Sprague Judah Delano
Enoch Freeman Zebulon Drew
Joseph Brewster j r Amos Samson
Jethro Sprague
Calvin Partridge
Micah Soule
Sam 1 Brewster
James Cobb jun r
Micah Simmons
Joshua Stanford
Ebenezer Dawes
Bazaleel Alden
Eliphas Prior
Paul Sampson
Joseph Russell
Robert Stanford
Isaac Brewst_
Will m Drew
Nath 1 Loring
Jedidiah Simmons
George Uffel
Peleg Wadsworth
260 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Sam 1 Additon Peabody Bradford Constant Southworth
Ebenezer Moten John Fance D r Nath 1 Gushing
Seth Bradford Phineas Sprague
In the House of Representatives Feb r 23 d 1762
Voted, That the Petition of Moses Twitchell and one Hun-
dred and eighty Others his Associates be so far granted that
there be and is hereby granted unto Him the said Moses
Twitchell & his associates herein named viz their Heirs and
Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common, three Townships of
Land, each to consist of the Quantity of six Miles Square, of
the unappropriated Lands of this Province, between the River
Penobscot and the River S* Croix ; to be laid out in as regu-
lar and contigious a Manner as the Land will admit of : That
no Township be more than six Miles on the Sea Coast, or on
Penobscot or other Rivers :
That they return a Plan or Plans of the same ( taken by a
Surveyor and Chainmen on Oath ) to this Court for further
Confirmation, on or before the last Day of July next : That
they within six Years after they shall obtain his Majesty's
Approbation of this Grant ( unless prevented by War ) settle
each Township with sixty good Protestant Families, and build
sixty Houses; none to be less than eighteen Feet Square,
and seven Feet Stud ; and clear and cultivate five Acres of
Land on each Share, fit for Tillage or Mowing ; and that they
build in each Township a suitable Meetinghouse for the pub-
lick Worship of God, and settle a Learned Protestant Minis-
ter, and make Provision for his comfortable and honourable
Support ;
And that in each Township there be reserved and appro-
priated C four whole Rights or Shares in the Division of the
same ( accounting one sixty I> fourth Part a Share ) for the
following Purposes viz 4 one for the first settled or Ordained
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 261
Minister, his Heirs and Assigns for ever ; One for the use of
the Ministry, One to and E for the Use of Harvard College
in Cambridge, and one for the Use of a School for ever : And
if any of the Grantees or Proprietors of any or each of said
Townships respectively, shall neglect within the Term of six
Years as above mentioned to do and perform according to the
several Articles respecting the Settlement of his Right or
Share as hereby enjoined shall be entirely forfeited and enure
to the Use of this Province.
And be it further Ordered as a Condition of the Grant
aforesaid, That each Grantee give Bond to the Treasurer of
this Province for the Time being, and to his Successors in
said Office for the sum of fifty Pounds for the faithful per-
formance of the Duties required according to the Tenor of
the Grants aforesaid ; and that a Committee or Committees
be appointed by this Court to take said Bonds accordingly.
And further y* s d Comm e be impowered to admit others as
Grantees in y e Room of such Persons contained in y e List
afores d , who shall neglect to appear by themselves or others
in their Behalf, to give Bonds at such time as the Committee
shall appoint
Sent up for Concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 2, 1762 Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
In the House of Representatives Feb ry 23 d 1762
Voted, That the Petition of Eben r Thorndike and fifty
nine Others his Associates be so far granted as that there be,
and hereby is granted unto Him the said Ebenezer Thorn-
dike & his Associates herein mentioned viz.
Samuel Freeman Ezek 1 Gushing Ezekiel Gushing jun r
Jeremiah Gushing Joseph Milliken Sam 1 Gate
262 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Nath 1 Harmon John Trott Samuel Trott
John Trott Thomas Trott Stephen Hutchinson
Samuel Osborn Edward Milliken Nath 1 Milliken
Joseph Brown Mark Haskell Anthony Dyer
Thomas Strout Samuel Wood Samuel Trask
Joshua Silvester j r Samuel Silvester David Silvester
Samuel Silvester Samuel Trask Joseph Trask
David Trask Spencer Bret Rougles Colbe
Thomas Trask Thomas Williamson Benjamin Frissel
Adam Silvester George Dyer Benjamin Thorndike
David Alden John Thorndike Joshua Woodbery
Samuel Clark John Robinson jun r Nath 1 Ingersoll
Nath 1 Jordon jun Joseph Wilson Edward Milliken jun
John Bicknell Jun r Benjamin Milliken Lemuel Smith
Sam 1 Elwill Dan 1 Mackey W m Masury
Henry Herrick William Morgan William Bartlett
John Roundey Nicholas Thorndike Andrew Thornkike
Joseph Wood William Haskell Daniel Noyes
Paul Thorndike Jn Mulbery Milliken Thomas Milliken
Benjamin Robbins Benjamin Robbins Archibald Henery
Josiah Henery Stephen Combes Joshua Combes
Andrew Simonson William Dyer
their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in Common, one
Township of Land to consist of the Quantity of six Miles
Square of the unappropriated Lands of this Province, between
the River Penobscot and the River S* Croix. That the
said Township be no more than six Miles on the Sea Coast,
or on Penobscot or other Rivers : That they return a Plan
of the same ( taken by a Surveyor and Chainmen on Oath )
to this Court for further Confirmation on or before the last
Day of July next : That they within six Years after they
shall obtain his Majesty's Approbation of this Grant ( unless
prevented by War) settle said Township with sixty good
Protestant Families, and build sixty Houses, none to be less
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 263
than eighteen Feet Square, and seven Feet Stud ; and clear
and cultivate five Acres of Land on each Share fit for Tillage
or Mowing; and that they build in said Township a suitable
Meeting-House for the publick Worship of Qod, and settle a
Learned Protestant Minister, and make Provision for his
comfortable and honourable Support : And that in said
Township there be reserved and appropriated four whole
Rights or Shares in the Division of the same ( accounting
one sixty fourth Part a Share ) for the following Purposes,
Viz 1 One for the first settled or Ordained Minister, his Heirs
and Assigns for ever, one for the Use of the Ministry ; one
to and for the use of Harvard College in Cambridge and one
for the Use of a School for ever : And if any of the Grantees
or Proprietors of said Township shall neglect within the Term
of six Years as before mentioned to do and perform accord-
ing to the several Articles respecting the Settlement of his
Right or Share as hereby enjoined, his whole Right or Share
shall be entirely forfeited and enure to the Use of this
Province.
Provided nevertheless, the Grant of the above Lands is to
be void and of none Effect, unless the Grantees do obtain his
Majesty's Confirmation of the same in eighteen Months from
this Time.
And be it further Ordered as a Condition of the Grant
aforesaid, That each Grantee give Bond to the Treasurer of
this Province for the Time being, and to his Successors in
said Office, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds, for the Use of this
Province, Conditioned for the faithful Performance of the
Duties required according to the Tenor of the Grants afore-
said : And that a Committee or Committees be appointed by
this Court to take said Bonds accordingly.
And further that said Committee be impowered to admit
Others as Grantees in the room of such persons contained in
the List aforesaid who shall neglect to appear by themselves
264 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
or Others in their behalf to give bonds at such time as the
Committee shall appoint
Sent up for Concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 3 d 1761 Read and Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
Grant to S. Waldo others. 1762.
By the Governour, Council and House of Representa-
L.S. tives of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England in the Great and General Court
Assembled
Whereas their late Majestys King William and Queen
Mary by their Letters Patent bearing date the seventh day
of October in the third Year of their Reign, did give and
grant unto the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massachu-
setts Bay ( among other things ) all those Lands and Her-
editaments lying between the Territory of Nova Scotia and
the River Sagadahoc, then and ever since known and dis-
tinguished by the Name of the Territory of Sagadahoc,
together with all Islands lying within ten Leagues of the
Main Land within the said Bounds, To Have and to Hold
the same unto the said Inhabitants and their Successors, to
their Own proper Use and Behoof forevermore : provided
always That no Grant of Lands within the said Territory of
Sagadahoc made by the Governour and General Assembly of
the said Province should be of any Force or Effect untill
their Majesties, their Heirs or Successors should signify their
Approbation of the same.
The Governour, Council and House of Representatives of
the said Province of the Massachusetts Bay in the Great and
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 265
General Court Assembled, have given and granted, and here-
by do give and grant unto Samuel Waldo, Francis Waldo,
Lucy Winslow Wife of Isaac Winslow Esq r Hannah Flucker
Wife of Thomas Flucker Esq r Children and Heirs of the late
Brigadier Samuel Waldo and Assignees of Thomas Leverett,
(In Consideration of said heirs having released and Quit
Claimed to the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, all their
Right and Title to the Lands lying between the Rivers of
Penobscott and S* Croix), a Tract of Land of six Miles in
Breadth at the head of the Patent granted to Beauchamp and
Leverett the thirteenth of March One Thousand six hundred
and twenty nine, and in the fifth year of the Reign of King
Charles the first, which six Miles shall extend from the River
Penobscott aforesaid to the Line from Muscongus, after
extending said Line thirty six Miles from said Muscongus
into the Country*; provided the same do not interfere with
any prior Grant, and provided the Line aforesaid extending
from Muscongus into the Country do not interfere with any
prior Patent ; To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land
with all and every its appurtenances unto the said Samuel
Waldo, Francis Waldo, Lucy Winslow and Hannah Flucker
and their Heirs, to the only Use and Behoof of the said
Samuel, Francis, Lucy and Hannah as Tennants in Common
and to their Heirs and Assigns forever ; Yeilding and paying
therefor Yearly unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors,
One fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar and precious Stones
which shall happen to be found and gotten in the Land afore-
said provided always That the present Grant shall be of no
Force or Effect untill his Majesty, his heirs or Successors
shall signify his or their Approbation thereof.
Given in the Great and General Court and Sealed with
the public Seal of the Province at Boston, this sixth Day of
March in the Second Year of the Reign of his Majesty George
the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and
266 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c and in the year of
Our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and Sixty two
By the Governour
By the Council by Order
By the House of Representatives by Order
* Six miles beyond y e Original Patent of Beauchamp &
Leveret so as to make Thirty six miles including y e six miles
hereby granted at the head of s d Patent
Dele the words Thirty six miles from said Muscongus
Resolve relating to Townships. 1762.
At A instead of the words River of Penobscot insert
the Mouth of the River Penobscot At B instead of the words
this House insert this Court At C add as follows viz the
Person to be appointed as aforesaid giving seasonable Notice
to the Petitioners in the Boston News Papers of the time
and place when and where they may meet him.
In the House of Representatives March 2, 1762.
Whereas this B Court at their Present Sessions have
Granted Twelve Townships of Land Lying between the
Rivers of Penobscut and S* Croix to Divers Petitioners On
Certain Conditions therein Expressed referance thereto being
had, and Whereas s d Towns are to be Laid Out as Contigious
as May be, which Method is most Likely to be beneficial as
well to the Province as to the Petitioners
Therefore Resolved that the s d Petitioners in Laying out
s d Towns, begin at the mouth of the River A Penobscot, and
to Exstend their Water Line Either on the s d River or Bay
of Penobscut til they run out their Exstent, And that the
Six Towns lie adjoyning And when the Mater is so settled
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 267
to be Desided by Lot, And to Prevent Any Difficulties or
Disputes, that May arise Between the Petitioners, as well as
that Justice May be done to the Province in Runing the
Lines, there, be Some Suitable Person Skiled in those Mat-
ters Appointed by the Court, ( to be paid by the Petitioners
Accordin to their Interest, Reckoned as Townships ) whose
Duty shall be to Inspect the Several Surveyors Laying out
the Various Townships And to Deside all Controverseys that
may arise respecting their Lines as well as those between the
Province & them, which Person So appointed, Shall on or
Before the middle of June repair to the spot and attend that
Duty, And in Case Any of the Petitioners should Neglect to
appear at that time Such Delinquets to Lose their Chance by
Lot and those on the Spots to Lay out their Towns and make
their Pitch C The person to be appointed as aforesaid giving
reasonable Notice to the Petitioners in the Boston News
Papers of the time and place when and where they may meet.
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 3, 1762
Read and Concurred A Oliver Sec*
Consented to Fra Bernard
Order, appointing a Committee. 1762.
In the House of Represen te8 , March 2 d 1762 On a Motion
made & Seconded
Ordered That Gen 1 Winslow and John Brown Esq r with
such as the Hon ble Board shall appoint be a Comittee to
receive the Release of the Representatives of Brigad r Waldo
Dec d ( & Others if any there be claiming with Them ) of
their right or Claim to any Lands East of Penobscott River
by Virtue of the Patent made to Beachamp & Leverett and
to prepare the form of a Grant to them to be passed by the
268 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
General Court of a Tract of Land six Miles in Bredth at the
Head of the Same Patent on the West Side of the s d River
agreable to the Vote of this Court of the 25 th of February
last provided s d six Miles of Land do not interfere with any
former Grant.
The Comittee to report
Sent up for Concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 3. 1T62 Read and Concurred, and the
hon lc Tho 8 Hutchinson Esq^ is joined in the Affair
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
The Committee have prepared the form of a release or
quitclaim which is herewith humbly offered. The Committee
further report that they are of opinion that the form of the
grant to be made by the Province be the same with that of
the grant of Mount Desart to His Excellency the Governor
mutatis mutandis all which is humbly submitted
March 6 1762 T. Hutchinson by Order
In Council March 6, 1762. Read & sent down
In the House of Rep ves March 6 1762 Read and Accepted
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 6, 1762. Read & Concurred
A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
Committees on Twelve Townships. 1762.
In the House of Representatives March 6 th 1762
Whereas This Court at their Present Sessions in Granting
the Twelve Townships to Divers Petitioners therein Named,
which Lands are Lying between the Rivers of Penobscut and
OF THE STATE OP MAINE 269
S* Croix, Determined that a Committee should be appointed
to Take Bonds of the Sundry Petitioners payable to the
Treasurer and his Successors in that office for y e use of the
Province in the Penalty of Fifty Pounds that they respect-
ively Perform the Terms Mentioned in the Grant on which
they are to hold s d Lands, which Committe are also Impower d
In case aney of those Subscribers for their Lands are removed
or shall refuse or Neglect to Give Bonds as afores d to Admit
of Others in the room of such Persons til they Fill up the
Number of Sixty to Each Town A and the House have
Chosen on their Part, for their Committe to be Joyned by
such as the Hon Dle Board shall Joyne to Carry those Matters
into Execution viz*
For the Six Towns Petitioned for by Marsh & Others
Richard Saltonstal Esq r Benj a Mulliken Esq r
For the Petitioners that Dwell in the Town of Falmouth
and Places adjacent
Jeremiah Powal Edward Mulliken Esq r
For those in and near York
John Bradbury Esq r Benj Chadburn Esq r
For those in and near Duxborough
Cap n Briggs Alden Cap n Rob* Bradford
and that the Charge of the Committe be paid by y e Petitioners
and that they make report to this Court as soon as may Be.
A Dele & Insert Therefore Voted That the persons
herein after named with such as shall be joined by the hon 1
Board be the Committees for carrying these matters into
Execution.
Sent up for concurrence James Otis Speaker
In Council March 6, 1762. Read and Concurred with the
Amendment at A and Nathaniel Sparhawk Esq r is joined to
the Committee for the Six Towns Petioned for by Marsh &
Others, for those petitiond for by the Town of Falmouth and
places adjacent & for those in and near York, and that Gam 1
270
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Bradford Esq r be joined for the Towns petitioned for by
Inhabitants of and near Duxborough.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep ves March 6 1762
Read and Concurd James Otis Speaker
Consented to Fra Bernard
J. Frye $ B. Harrod to prefer a Petition, c.
We the Subscribers a Com tee to Manage the Prudential
affairs of the Grantees of the Six Townships Granted by the
Gen 1 Court to David Marsh and Others -
Sensible of Some Inconveniencys that may attend the Lay-
ing Out one Township on Account of a resolve Passed in the
General Court on the 2 d of March Last Do hereby desire
and Direct Col : Jos Frye and M r Benj a Harrod who are of
said Committee To Prefer a Petition or Memorial in Order
to have Something Determined which we think Uncertai]
And Doubtful in Said Resolve And to Obtain ( if it
be ) Some More favourable resolve and Instructions resped
ing the laying out or Taking Up s d Township -
And we hereby recommend it to them to make enquiry ii
what Manner the other Grantees do Intend to proceed
And to Advise with some of them about the going down
lay Out the Township And to move that a Superintendent
be Spedily Appointed if Necessary -
Haver 1 April 5 th 1762
David Marsh
Enoch Bartlett
Isaac Osgood
^ T> i
Jonathan Buck
James Duncan
James M c Hard
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 271
Copy of Record.
Biddeford April 12 th 1762 At a Legal Town Meeting
held by the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of s d Town
Qualify'd to Vote in Town affaires.
Rishworth Jordan Esq r was chosen Moderator Voted to
sett of the Inhabitants on the East Side of Saco River in s d
Town as a District and allow said District theire just propor-
tion of the Towns personage, Lands with the Buildings
thereon Bought for the Rev d M r Moses Morrill as Shall be
adjudged by a Committee to be chosen by the Town, at said
Meeting if they see fit ; and the Value thereof be Assessed
on the Inhabitants of the West Side of y e River To be paid
to said District when they shall be so constituted by the
General Court : on said Districts giving the Inhabitants on
the West Side of y e River a Discharge in full of theire Inter-
est in the afores d personage Previledge Also
Voted that the Inhabitants on the East Side of the River
shall have theire proportionable Benefit of other Priviledges,
in common with y e Inhabitants on the West Side of said
River as the Town now Stands or may hereafter collectively
be benefited
Attes d Rishw th Jordan Tow n Clerk
A True Coppy
Inspector of Surveyors chosen.
Prov : of Mass a Bay April 17 th 1762
The two Houses pursuant to agreement proceeded to the
Choice of a person to inspect the Surveyors in laying out the
several Townships granted the last Session, Eastward of
Penobscot River ; when Samuel Livermore Esc(j was chosen
by a major part of the Votes of the two Houses
Attest A Oliver Sec r
Consented to Fra Bernard
272
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
A dele & insert
all the Lands in the Town of Bideford lying on the East
Side of Saco River in the County of York together with an
Island in the said River commonly called and known by the
Name of Indian Island.
B to 15 dele and insert and shall be notified of the time &
place at election in like manner with the inhabitants of the
said town of Biddeford by a warrant from the selectmen
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 & place assigned which war-
rant shall be seasonably returned by the said Constable or
Constables. And the Representative may be chosen indif-
ferently from the said town or district the pay or allowance
to be born by the town and district in proportion as they shall
from time to time pay to the province tax.
Report of Committee.
The Committee to whom was refer'd the petition of Davic
Marsh & others for them selves & Associates to whom th<
Six Townships wer_ Granted by this Court the 20 th oi
Febu ry last between the Rivers Penobscot & S* Croix
Report That it be a Direction to Sam 11 Livermore Esq r
Appointed by this Court to Inspect the Survey of the Twel^
Townships Granted at or Near Penobscot; that the whol<
being first Survey'd, Marsh & his Associates draw One hali
the Same. And then the s d Marsh and his Associates, as w<
as the proprietors of the Other Six Townships mentioned ii
the Courts Grant draw among them Selves, no preference
being given to Either, and further after drawing the Town-
ships afors d M r Livermore be directed to view Each of them,
& report the Circumstance of the Land whether Pon<
II
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 273
Mountains or brocken in Order to the Courts makeing such
allowance as they think proper: which is Humbly Submitted
g r Order John Hill
In Council April 24. Read and Accepted and Ordered
That Samuel Livermore Esq, be instructed to follow the
direction above mentioned in laying out the twelve Towns
East of Penobscot.
Sent down for Concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep v 8 April 24 1762
Read and Concur'd James Otis Speaker
Consented to Fra Bernard
The Draft of a letter to Jasper Manduit Esq r of London
chosen Agent for the Province the 23 d Instant : Said Letter
to be signed by the Secretary in the name of the General
Court, viz
Boston April 24 th 1762
Jasper Manduit Esq r
S r
The Character the General Court has received of your
integrity and Capacity, has induced them to make choice of
you as public Agent for the Province in Great Britain, as
youll observe by a transcript from the records of the Court
of yesterday's date: And it is by their direction I now
inform you of it. Your Comission signed by his Excellency
Governor Bernard is sent you herewith. It is probable the
General Court at their next May Session will instruct you
fully upon the public Affairs of the Province that will be
proper for your cognisance : But as it is necessary you
should have the earliest notice of the circumstances of their
principal Money-concerns, you are hereby informed that
according to a Letter from M r Bollan dated April 29. 1761
18
274 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
the Province's proportion of the Grant made by Parliament
to the Colonies for their Services in 1759 is 60,684. " -
Sterling : on the credit of which, the Gen 1 Court order'd the
Province Treasurer to draw upon M r Bollan for <60,OOO.St g
Accordingly Bills were drawn by the Treasurer in favor of
the Purchasers agreable to the form herewith sent. After
the Bills were drawn Letters were received from M r Bollan
acquainting the Court that the said Grant would be paid one
half in money, and the other half in Exchequer tallies pay-
able with Interest in March 1762.
It is probable these bills are paid by this time, or so many
of them as the Province's share of s d grant would enable him
to pay : And in case of deficiency of said Share, he was
directed to pay the Overplus Bills out of the Province's pro-
portion of the Parliamentary Grant for the Services of the
year 1760. This last mentioned Grant it is apprehended M r
Bollan has not yet received the Province's part of : And in
that case there may remain some of said Bills unpaid.
As the General Court have empowered you to receive the
Province share of the last mentioned Grant, as you'll find by
an authenticated Act of the Court herewith sent : It is the
desire of the Court, and you are hereby directed ( on receiv-
ing the Province's share of said Grant, or a Sufficiency of it
for the purpose ) to pay the s d Bills that may remain unpaid ;
together with the Interest that may be due upon them Agre-
able to their tenor. B
With respect to the Province's Proportion of the last men-
tioned Grant, if it be not already Setled, M r Bollan can fur-
nish you with the Accounts that have been transmitted him,
of the Expence the Province incurred for his Majestys Ser-
vice in 1760: and by those Accounts the proportion will be
setled. In the Settlement of it, consideration ought to be
had to this Circumstance: namely That a number of the
Province Troops was detained in Garrison at Louisbourg &
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 275
Nova Scotia during the Winter of 1759 & Spring of 1760,
occasioned by the reduction of Quebec, which prevented our
troops being releived by the Regulars. As the other Colo-
nies did nothing to balance this service we apprehend a dis-
tinct & seperate allowance ought to be made but if you
cannot obtain that you will use your utmost endeavours that
the whole expence of it be deducted out of the Grant before
any apportionment be made of it among the Colonies. The
Particulars relative to this matter, M r Bollan can inform you.
The Act above mentioned empowers you to demand and
receive of M r Bollan whatever monies may be in his hands
belonging to the Province, and to give him a discharge for
what you shall receive of him. You will therefore make
application to him pursuant to such power; and receive for
the Province use what he may pay you. C You will also
receive of him all Papers that relate to the Affairs of the
Province committed to him : in particular those that respect
the dispute between this Government and New York in
regard to the boundary lines between us : also with Connec-
ticut in regard to the Towns that have revolted to them ;
and with New Hampshire in regard to a Reimbursement for
our maintaining Fort Dumraer within that Province, and
defending their Frontiers : / and obtain of him a state of
these matters as they stand at present ; and any information
he can give you with regard to those or any other affairs of
the Province. We would recommend to you that in all mat-
ters of Law you may be concerned in relative to the Province
you consult with Richard Jackson jun r Esq r
By order of the Great & Gen 1 Court I have wrote the fore-
going as Sec r of the Province and am &c.
To be inserted at B - in Letter to M r Manduit.
And in case you should not receive the Province share of
said Grant by the time said Bills are returnable, you are
desired to take up money upon Interest upon the credit of
276 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
said Grant & pay off said Bills & by no means suffer them
to be returned
dele at C & insert You will also receive of him all the
Papers that respect the dispute between this Government
and New York in regard to the Boundary lines between us.
Also with Connecticutt in regard to the Towns that have
revolted to them, and with New Hampshire in regard to a
reimbursement for our maintaining Fort Dummer & N Four
&c within that Province and defending their Frontiers as
also all Papers relative to the claim of the Earl of Sterling
as to the Eastern parts of this Province and all other Papers
that relate to the affairs of the Province.
Letter
The Draft of a Letter to M r Bollan to be Signed by the
Secretary in the name of the General Court, viz
Boston April 24 th 1762
William Bollan Esq r
o
I am directed by the General Court to inform you that
they have chosen Jasper Manduit Esq r of London, Agent for
the Province in your stead : And it is their request, that you
would pay the monies in your hands belonging to the Prov-
ince to him ; whose receipt will discharge you for what you
shall pay him on account of the Province : as you'll observe
by an authenticated Act of the Court herewith sent to you.
A It is their request also that you would deliver M r Man-
duit all the Papers you have relative to the public Affairs of
the Province, particularly in reference to the disputes between
this Province, and New York & Connecticut, and to our
demand upon New Hampshire, on account of our maintaining
Fort Dummer. You'll be pleased to furnish him with a state
of these matters as they stand at present: and with any
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 277
information he may want in regard to those, or any other
affairs of the Province.
The Court desires also that you would send them your
Account with the Province, in order that it may be setled.
In their name & behalf I am
S r your obed* h ble Serv*
The Draft of the foregoing Letter was agreed on by the
Great & Gen 1 Court.
A O See 1
Petition of Joseph Webber $ other*
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esqueir Captain Gen-
eral Governour and Chieff in and Over His Majestys Prov-
ince of the Massachusatts Bay and Vice admiral of the same
and the Honourable the Council and Honourable House of
Repersintetives
Humbly Sheweth
that wee the Subscribers are Inhabitants of a tract of land
laying on the west side of Kennebeck river within the Limits
of the Kennebeck Purchas from the Late Colony of New
Plymouth and wee are Desirous of Good order & Govern-
ment and that wee may have the Gospel preached to us and
also to be inabled to Provid a School to Teach our Children
and many Other Neceassarys which wee Cant Injoy in our
Present Situation therefore wee most Humbly Pray your
Excellency & Honours to Incorporate us into a Town by the
Name of
as your Excellency shall think Proper and Grant us all the
Priveledges of Other Towns in this Government by the fol-
lowing meets & Bounds Viz" begining at the South West
Eand of Brick Island which Island lays in Merremeeting Bay
and to run from the South west Eand of said Brick Island a
west North west Course Without the Varration of Compass
278
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
which is the Southerly Line of James Bowdoin Esq rs Lott
and runs five miles from Kennebeck river then to run
Northly on the westerly Eand of Said Bowdoin Lott and
Lotts N 1 : 2 : 3 : & 4 being about 6 miles to the South line
of Lott N 5 then to run an East southeast Course on the
Southerly line of said Lott N 5 to Kennebeck river and
merremeeting Bay to the first mentioned Bounds which
makes a tract of land of about five Miles and a half square
as by the Plan anaxt & Prect lines thereon will more fully
appear And wee as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray
Kennebeck river May the 20 th 1762
Abraham Preble Isaac Gillpatrick
Elnathan Reaymand Elijah White
Joseph Webber Samuel Malbune
David James Getchel
Nathaniel Gellison Jeames White
Moses Spncer Samuel
Francis Whitmore James Cochran
John Clarck Iseck
Agreen Crabtree Abraham Preble ju 1
Getchel John Getchel
Zacheus Beal Zacheus Beal J r
Martin Haly Thomas
Elihu Getchel
Jonathan Preble
Job Gelison
Neamiah Gecthel
Solomon Goodwin
Isaac Spencer
Benjamin Shute
Eleazar Crabtree
Samuel Getchel
Robert Sedgley
Josiah Tingley
Dominick Cavany
Philip Hodgkins Jun r David Thomas
Memorial of sundry inhab ts of Biddeford. 1762.
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq Cap 1 General am
Governour in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England : The Hon 1 his Majes-
ties Council : and Hon 1 House of Representatives in General
Court assembled this 26 Day of May 1762
The Memorial of sundry Inhabitants on the East Side of
Saco River in Biddeford in the County of York Humbly
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 279
sheweth, That by reason of the many Difficulties naturally
attending the crossing said River particularly to attend the
necessary Duty of the Publick Worship of God, Your Memo-
rialists did on the twelfth Day of April last past obtain a
Vote of the Town of Biddeford that we should be a separate
District, for the Purposes of transacting the necessary pub-
lick Affairs of a Community among our Selves, more especiall
the Laudable Designs of the publick Worship of the Great
God As by the Votes of said Town, herewith exhibited will
fairly appear *
Wherefore your Memorialists request that your Excel-
lency and Honours Would at this Sessions invest said Inhab-
itants with the Powers and Priviledges of a District agree-
able to the Votes of said Town annex'd hereunto
At this Sessions of the honourable Court, We would with
Submission, suggest, as We have an Opportunity with the
greatest Unanimity of inviting an ingenious orthodox young
Gentleman, to settle over us in the Gospell Ministry Who is
also well affected among our Brethren on the West side of
the River in said Town of Biddeford, and is in High esteem
with the Rev d M r Morril Our present Town's Venerable
Pastor. And Your Memorialists as in Duty Bound shall
ever Pray &c
Biddeford May 20, 1762
Tristram Jordan John Googins Gershom Billings
John James Gray Robert Patterson Jr
Amos Chase Beniamin Jellson James Patten
Robert Patterson Robert Edgcomb William Jameson
Richard Berry Joseph Libbey Samuel Scamman
Thorn 8 Cutt John Maine Ezra Daves
Ebenezer Ayer Samuel Dennet
280 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Petition of Heirs of Rob* Jordan. 1762.
To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Captain General
Governor & Commander in Chief in & Over His Majesty's
Province of the Massachusetts Bay The Hon ble His Majesty's
Council and House of Representatives for said Province in
General Court Convened the 26 Day of May 1762
The Humble Petition of Sundry of the Heirs & Legal
Representatives of Robert Jordan late of Falmouth in the
County of Cumberland Clerk Deceasd Shews.
That the said Robert was in his life time Intitled to &
Seizd of Sundry Tracts of Land in Scarborough Falmouth &
other places within the County of York as then Limited, and
in or about the Year 1679 Died so Seized That by the
Ravages & Destruction made by the Indians & the long Con-
tinuance of the Wars with them, the Descendants of the said
Robert were Scatterd over Divers parts of New England &
lost many of the Evidences of their Title to Sundry Parcels
of Land in his right, which by Reason of the Minority of
some, Coverture, Distance & Ignorance of such Right as to
others of said Descendants, has hitherto Prevented a Prose-
cution for those Lands to which they have an Undoubted
Title & ought to Recover.
That they are now so Multiplied Married Related & Con-
nected That it is next to Impossible for them all to join in
an Action at Law, both with Regard to the Description of
those who should be Pla ts , and the various Descents thro'
which the title must be Carried &c and as they are in the
Nature of Parceners Respecting such Estate, they coud not
Pursue their Claims Separate by there being now about Sixty
which Your Petitioners Remember, who are Descendants in
the Right Line from the said Robert, so that without special
Aid they seem to be under an Insuperable Difficulty in
Recovering their Right
Wherefore your Petitioner most Humbly Pray for the Aid
!
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 281
of this Hon le Court that the said Descendants may be Incor-
porated Into a Propriety & Invested with the usual Powers
& Privileges of Proprietors of Lands lying in Common, Ena-
bled to Sue & be Sued to sell Purchase & hold by such Name
in Your Wisdom you shall Judge proper and that they
ay have Leave to bring in a Bill accordingly Or Grant
,hem such other Relief in the Premises as to Your Great
Wisdom & Goodness appears proper and they as in Duty
bound will Pray &c
Jeremiah Jordan John Jord n Jeremiah Jordan Jur
his
Thomas Jordan John Martin Nath 11 N Jordan
bis mark
Samuel X Jordan Tristram Jordan Samuel Jordan Ju
mark his his
John Jordan thrd Richard X Jordan John C Jordan
mark mark
James Jordan Juner Ichabod Goodwin Rishworth Jordan
Moses Morrill Sam 1 Jordan
Act of Incorporation 1762
Anno Regni 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
Whereas the Inhabitants on the East Side of Saco River
in the Town of Biddeford, in the County of York, have rep-
resented to this Court the great Difficulties and Inconven-
iences they labour under in their present Scituation, and
have earnestly requested that they may be invested with the
Powers, Priviledges and Immunities of a District.
Therefore
Be it enacted by the Governour, Council and House of
Representatives, That A the East Side of Saco River in the
Town of Biddeford in the County of York be and hereby are
282 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
erected into a separate and distinct District by the Name of
bounded with the same Bounds as the Town of Bid-
def ord now is on the East Side of Saco River ; and that the
said District be, and hereby is invested with all the Privi-
ledges, Powers and Immunities, that Towns in this Province
by Law do or may enjoy, that of sending a Representative to
the General Assembly only excepted ; and that the said Dis-
trict shall have full Liberty and Right from time to time, to
join with the Town of Biddeford in chusing a Representative
to represent them at the General Assembly; B and that the
said District shall from Time to Time be at their proportion-
able Part of the Expence of such Representative : and that
the selectmen of Biddeford as often as they shall call a
Meeting for the Choice of Representative shall from Time to
Time give seasonable Notice to the Clerk of said District for
the Time being, of the Time and Place of holding said Meet-
ing, to the End that said District may join therein, and the
Clerk of said District shall set up in some publick Place in
said District a Notification thereof accordingly.B
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 r be
and hereby is empowered to issue his Warrant to some prin-
cipal 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 chuse all such Officers as shall
be necessary to manage the Affairs of said District.
In the House of Rep ve8 May 31 1762 Read a first time
June 1, 1*762 A second time 2 d a third time and pass'd
to be engross'd
Sent up for concurrence Tim Ruggles Sp r
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 283
In Council 2 d June 1762 Read a first time
Read a second time and passed a concurrence witli the
amendments at A & B
Sent down for concurrence A Oliver Sec r
In the House of Rep June 2 1762
Read and Concur'd Tim Ruggles Spk r
Act to incorporate the Heirs, $c., of Robert Jordan. 1762.
Anno Regni Regis Georgii Tertii Secundo.
An Act to incorporate the Heirs and legal Representatives
of Robert Jordan late of Falmouth in the County of Cumber-
land Clerk Deceased into a Propriety.
Whereas the said Robert Jordan was in his Life Time
intitled to, and seized of sundry Tracts of Land in the Towns
of Scarborough, Falmouth and other Places within the County
of York, as then limited, and in and about the Year One
Thousand six Hundred and seventy nine died so seized. And
whereas by the Ravages and Destruction made by the Indians,
and the long Continuance of the Wars with them, the
Descendants of the said Robert Jordan were scattered over
divers Parts of New England, and have lost many of the
Evidences of their Title to sundry Parcels of Land in his
Right, which by reason of the Minority of some, Coverture,
Distance and Ignorance of such Right, as to others of said
Descendants, has hitherto prevented a Prosecution for the
Lands aforesaid :
And whereas the said Descendants are so multiplied, mar-
ried, related and connected, that it is impossible for them all
to join in an Action at Law, both with regard to the Descrip-
tion of those who should be Plaintiffs and the various Descents
through which the Title must be carried
For Remedy whereof
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Rep-
284
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
resentatives, That the Heirs and legal Representatives of the
said Robert Jordan be, and they are hereby incorporated into
a Propriety, & may sue and defend, claim and take by the
Name of the Proprietors of common and undivided Lands
held under Robert Jordan Deceased : And that Joseph Storer
Esq r be hereby empowered to call the first Proprietors Meet-
ing, appoint Time and Place, and to notify those Interested,
by posting up Notifications in the Shire Towns of the Coun-
ties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, and inserting the same
in Two of the Boston News Papers, one Month before the
Meeting of the Proprietors.
In the House of Rep Te8 June 1 1762 Read a first time
2 d a second time
3 d a third time and pass'd to be engrossd
Sent up for concurrence Tim Ruggles Spk r
In Council 4 June 1762. Read a first time.
June 5. Read a second time and the Question being put
Whether the Board pass a concurrence with the House for
the engrossing this Bill?
It passed in the Negative
A Oliver Sec r
Act.
An Act for Incorporating The Plantation heretofore Call'd
New Marblehead in the County of Cumberland into a Town
by the Name of
It appearing to this Court that the Inhabitants of the s d
Plantation labour under difficulties & Inconveniencies by rea-
son of their Not being invested with Priviledges of a Town
Therefore be it enacted by the Governour, Council & House
of Representatives, That the whole of that Tract of Land
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 285
known by the name of New Marblehead, Bounded as follows
Viz* Begining at a pine tree marked F. standing Eight miles
and ninety five Rods North west from a White Rock by the
Water side in Casco Bay for the Northerly Corner of the
Town of Falmouth, and from thence to run on a Straight
Line to come fifteen Rods to the Eastward of a Brook calld
Inkhorn Brook, below the Mouth of s d Brook, where it enters
into Pesumpscot River. To Run again from the s d Pine Tree
back on the Line of Falmouth ninety five Rods to the West-
erly Corner of North Yarmouth, being a Stake, and from
thence North East three miles, on the back of North Yar-
mouth to the Line of the Township called New-Boston,
Westerly on the s d Pesumpscot River to a greate Pond called
Greate Sebago Pond, Thence North East four miles & 120
Rods, thence South East to North Yarmouth back line ; Be,
and hereby is Erected into a Town by the name of
And that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are invested
with all the Powers, Priviledges & Immunities that Towns
in this Province by Law do, or may enjoy And that Enoch
Freeman Esq r be and hereby is Impowered to Issue his War-
rant directed to some principal Inhabitant of s d Town requir-
ing him to Warn the Inhabitants of the s d Town qualified by
Law to Vote in Town affairs to Assemble at Such time &
place as he Shall appoint then & there to Choose all Needfull
Town officers to remain and Act til their Anual Town Meet-
ing in March next and the s d Inhabitants So Conven'd shall
be & hereby are Authorized and fully Impowered to Choose
such officers accordingly.
Provided Nevertheless that all Province & County Tax's
already laid on the s d Inhabitants Shall be Collected & paid
in the same Manner, as tho this Act had not been made.
286 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Permit.
Prov : of Mass ftt Bay June 11, 1762 -
For the Sloop Benjamin Torrey Master, bound
to Kittery -
Permit the said Benj a Torrey to ship on board the Sloop
bound to Kittery Fifty one barrels of Pork : He
giving Bond to take in no other Provisions on board and to
land the said Pork at Kittery and to return a Certificate
thereof.
To the Officers of the Custom House and Naval Office.
Petition of Richard King
"Sloop Mermaid Fra' Haskell, 16 June 1762."
To his Excellency Francis Bernard Esq r Captain General
& Governour in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of
Massachusetts Bay in New England and Vice Admiral of
the same
Richard King of Scarborough Humbly Sheweth
That he has ready to Ship on board the Sloop Mairmaid
Francis Haskell Master bound to Scarborough aforesaid 30
barrells of Flour 5bb 18 Pork, 2 barrells of Bacon, 2 Cask Rice
and 50 bushells of Corn, for the use of the Inhabitants, there
but can't do it without leave from your Excellency and
Honors
He therefore prays your Excellency would permit him to
Ship the Provisions aforesaid under the usual restrictions
And as in duty bound shall ever pray &c a
Rich d King
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 287
Answer of the First Parish in /Scarborough to a Petition.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Excellency Francis Barnard Esq r Captain General in
Chief in and over his Majestys said Province to the
Honourable his Majestys Council and to the Houn ble
the House of Representatives in the Great and General
Court assembled
The Inhabitants of the First Parish in Scarborough in the
County of Cumberland in answer to a Petition Exhibited
against said Parish to this Honourable Court in January or
February last by Twenty one Persons who Call themselves
Inhabitants of said Parish Humbly Sheweth,
The Petitionrs Say they have been Deprived of a Gospel
Minister upward of five years past its true upwards of five
years past the then Minister of the Parish was Remov d by
Death but the Parish used all Propper Means to Get another
Minister Settled and was at Great Expence in Journing as
far as Boston and Sometimes further after one and another
by which means we had several upon Probation one after
another three of which had a Clear Call to Settle with us
The Petititioners further Say they Could not Get one
Settled because their is a party that would Compel whoever
Settled with us to join in Fellowship with M r Clark which
assertion is False for every Person agreed in Either of the
three not a hand nor Tongue against Either of the three
when at the same time all the People very well knew Neither
of the three would have had Fellowship with M r Clark if
they had Settled with us but they all refused but for what
Reason we Never Knew.
The Petitioners Go on and Say when in Expectation of
being Fined they made Application to the Presbetry to Send
one who very Readily Sent M r Peirce it is a pitty Men had
not More regard to Truth then to assert things that are falce
for the Parish never made any application to the Presbetry
288 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
neither did the Presbetry Send M r Peirce but one of the
Parish in Seeking after a minister heard of M r Peirce & had
a Promise of his Coming to Scarborough on Probation which
accordingly he came and was so well Liked by the People
that they Gave him a Call Notwithstanding he Told the
Parish he Should not Settle on any other Constitution but as
a Presbetrain the Petitioners themselves was as Willing to
Settle him on that Constitution as any of the rest ware & as
free in Voting his Settlement and Stating a Sallary upon
him as any ware ( them that was Voters of them ) The
Petitioners Complain of the Suddent and Rash Proceeding of
the Parish in Calling and Settleing M r Peirce the reason why
M r Peirce was settled in so short a time we Gave in our
Former answer which we shall not mention here but shall
answer other things but Supposing it had been a Suddent
and Rash Preceeding of the Parish (as they say) the
Petitioners themselves ware as Guilty as any of the rest
was for they acted as freely therein. The Petitioners Pray
they may not be Deprived of their other Priviledges in
the First Parish and be set off to the Second Parish their
seems to be Something in their Prayer Extraordanory they
must thereby mean their Priviledges of Voting in the First
Parish and be voters in both Parishes which would be a
Great Priviledge indeed Meaning thereby to Get as Many
as they Can to Follow them out at the same Door till they
have Got the Major part of the voters on their side then
they Shall Carry the Vote in the First Parish this is what
some of the Petitinors has Honestly owned Intending thereby
that M r Peirce shall have no Sallary at all tho. they the
Petitioners themselves did act as freely on Stating a Sallary
on M r Peirce as any in the Parish did Therefore your
Respondants Can but wonder with what face the Petitioners
Can ask to be freed from their Obligation when your
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 289
lespondants Look upon themselves Obliged by Law as well
is by Concience to Make Good their Contract with their
Minister The Petitioners Complain of the Conduct of
,he Presbetery by a late Instance at the Eastward which dont
concern us as we know of, the Presbetery Must answer for
cheir own Conduct The Petitioners further Pray that
they may not be Compelled to pay any thing toward the Set-
tlement & Support of M r Peirce altho they Promised it and
that they may have the money that has been taken from
them Meaning as we Suppose all of them that has freely
paid toward the Settlement and Support of M r Peirce
Restored to them Your Respondn* 8 Suppose they mean
that the Inhabitants that are not Set off must Restore their
money to them againe let their Number be ever so Small
which Number would be but Small if the Petitioners Could
have their Will for without Doubt they will Pursuade as
many as they can to Get off the same way they do by telling
them they will thereby get Cleare of Paying Rates So that
if the Prayer of their Petition be Granted their will be but a
small Number to pay or Restore their money and to Support
a minister the Parish being but a Small Parish when alto-
gather and will find it hard enough to Support a minister
Considering Other heavy Taxes Your Respondants Humbly
Pray tliat if the Petitioners Must be Set off they may not
Retain a Priviledge of Voteing in the First Parish and
thereby to Maintain a quarrell in said Parish- The Major
Part of the Inhabitants of said Parish are well Satisfied in
our Minister and would be Glad to Enjoy him in peace but
if any Considerable Number Should be Set off from us we
Cant See how we shall be able to Support a minister at all
and thereby must be without any which if no Other Motive
would Engage us the Law will Compell us thereto Therefore
your Respondants Humbly Pray that your Excellency and
Honours would take the whole affair under your Wise Con-
19
290 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
sideration and Dismiss their Petition all which we do Hum-
bly Submitt and as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray
Sam 11 Small 1 Committee in the Name
Solomon Bragdon land Behalf of the First
Reuben Fogg I Parish of Scarborough
At a Parish Meeting held in the first Parish in Scarborough
September y e 6 th 1762
Voted, agreed, and Concured with the Churches Votes in
this Parish in Setling M r Thomas Peirce in the Work of the
Gospel Ministrey in said Parish in the Presbytery Order
Agreeable to the Westminster Confession of Faith.
Voted to Give M r Thomas Peirce in Case he Settles in the
work of the Ministery in said Parish Eighty pounds Yearly
During his Ministery or as long as he shall officiate in the
office of a Minister in said Parish.
Voted to Give One hundred pounds as a Settlement to the
said M r Peirce in Case he Settles in s d Parish in the work of
the Ministery
A true Coppy of Record
Attest Sam 11 Fogg Parish Clark
At a Parish Meeting held in the first Parish in the Town
of Scarborough March y e 19 th day 1765
M r Sam 11 Small, Cap* Solomon Bragdon & Capt n Reuben
Fogg, Chose for a Parish Committe
Attest Sam 11 Fogg Parish Clark
Act of inncorporation. 1762.
Anno Regni Regis Georgii tertii Secundo.
An Act for incorporating a certain Tract of Land lying in
the County of Lincoln into a Township by the name of
Whereas the Inhabitants of a certain Tract of Land Ijing
on the West Side of Kennebeck River in the County of Lin-
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 291
coin are desirous of enjoying the Privileges that will arise to
them by being incorporated into a Town.
Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Rep-
resentatives That the Tract of land aforesaid butted and
bounded as follows viz : Beginning upon Kennebec river on
the Northerly line of a Lott of land ( Containing thirty two
hundred Acres) being Lott Number Four, granted by the
Proprietors of the Kennebeck Purchase from the late Colony
of New Plymouth to William Bowdoin Esq r The Line
aforesaid being about four Miles above or to the Northward
of a Point of Land called Abagadusett Point, Which makes
the most Northerly part of Merry Meeting Bay in said River,
and where said Bay begins on that side : From thence, viz :
from the River aforesaid where said line strikes it, to run a
West North West Course upon the Northerly line of the lott
aforesaid five Miles ; and from the end of said five Miles to
run a South South West Course till it shall strike a line run-
ning from the South westerly end of Brick Island a West
North West Course into land ( this line being the Southerly
line of a Tract of land granted by the Proprietors aforesaid
to James Bowdoin Esq r ) And from thence running an East
South East Course upon the last mentioned line to the South
Westerly end of the Island aforesaid which lies in Merry
Meeting Bay And contains about ten Acres more or less ;
and from thence running ( including said Island ) to Abaga-
dusett Point aforesaid, And from thence up the River afore-
said to the line first mentioned : be and hereby is erected into
a Township by the name of
And that the Inhabitants thereof be, and hereby are invested
with all the Privileges and Immunities which the Inhabi-
tants of the Towns within this Province respectively do, or
by law ought to enjoy.
And Be it further enacted that William Lithgow Esq r be
and hereby is impowered to issue his Warrant directed to
292 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
some principal Inhabitant in said Township to notify and
warn the Inhabitants in said Township, 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 Township.
In the House of Rep ve8 Sep* 11 1762
Read three several times and passd to be engrossd
Sent up for concurrence Tim Ruggles Spk r
In Council Sep r 11, 1762. Read a first time.
In Council Sep r 15, 1762. Read a second time & passed
a concurrence to be engrossed
A Oliver Sec r
Act of Incorporation. 1762.
Anno Regno Regis Georgii tertii Secundo
An act incorporating a Certain Tract of Land in the County
of Cumberland into a Township by the name of
Whereas the Inhabitants and proprietors of a certain Tract
of Land lying on the back of the Township of Falmouth ii
the County of Cumberland heretofore known by the Name of
Narragansett Number Seven alias Gorhamtown are desirous
of enjoying the priviledges that will arrise to them by being
incorporated into a Township
Be it enacted by the General Council and House of Rep-
resentatives, That the Tract of Land aforesaid bounded agree-
able to the Original Grant thereof be and hereby is erected
into a Township by the Name of
and that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are invested
with all the powers priveledges & Immunities which the
Inhabitants of the Towns within this province respectively
do or by Law ought to enjoy
And be it further Enacted that Alexand r Ross Esq r be and
he hereby is impowered to issue his Warrant directed to some
OF THE STATE OF MAINE 293
principal inhabitant in said Township to Notify & Warn the
Inhabitants in said Town qualified by law to vote in town
Affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be therein sett
forth, to choose all such Officers as shall be .necessary to
manage the Affairs of said Township
In the House of Rep ves Sep* 11 1762
Read a first time
14 a second and third time and pass'd to be engross'd
Sent up for concurrence Tim Ruggles Spk r
In Council Sep r 15, 1762 Read a first & second time and
passed a concurrence to be engross'd
. A Oliver Sec r
Message. Sept. 13, 1762.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
Pursuant to a resolution of the General Court in last Ses-
sion, I proposed this Summer to have gone to the Eastward
and reduced the Garrisons of Fort Pownall and Fort Halifax
in person. But before I could make that Voyage, Advice
came of the French Invasion of Newfoundland ; and then it
became quite unadvisable to weaken either of those Garrisons.
But as the danger from Newfoundland will probably soon be
over, and the objection to the reduction arising from thence
will cease ; I would desire you to reconsider this matter,
whether the reduction you propose is not too great for the
present time. For this purpose I have detained Col Lith-
gow that you may hear him concerning Fort Halifax. For
Fort Pownall I have had no opportunity to confer with Brig dr
Prebble, but possibly may before the reduction can be safely
made.
Council Chamber Sep. 13, 1762 Fra Bernard
294 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Message. Sept. 14, 1762.
In Council Sep r 14 th 1762
Voted y* y e follow g Message be sent to his Excell y .
May it Please Your Excellency
The Two Houses have consider'd Your Excellency's Mes-
sage of the 9 th Instant, and although they Apprehend it con-
venient that a Peace shou'd be concluded with the Penobscot
Indians, yet inasmuch as they have not signified to the Gov-
ernment their desire thereof, The Two Houses are of Opinion
that it would be too great a Condescension in Your Excel-
lency to undertake a voyage for that purpose, And in case
Those Indians are desirous of a Peace or labour under any
difficulties in their present situation, that it will be more for
the Honor of the Government that they, or a number of them
properly Authorised, should wait on your Excellency at Bos-
ton to represent the same
Voted that, Samuel Danforth, & Nath 11 Ropes Esq r8 wi1
such as y e hon ble House shall join be a Comrn 6 to present tl
Message to his Excell y y e Gover r
Sent down for Concurrence Jn Cotton D : Secry
In the House of
