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HISTORY 


OF 


KENNEBUNK  PORT. 


FROM 


ITS  FIKST    DISCOVERT 


BY 


BARTHOLOMEW  GOSNOLD, 


MAY  14,  1602,  TO  A.  D.  1837. 


BY  CHARLES  BRADBURY. 


KENNEBUNK: 
PRINTED  BY  JAMES  K.  REMICH. 


1837. 


W/W  WW  WW  WW  WW  WW.  WV".  WW  WW  WW  WW  WW  VWVVW\  WW  vww 

[copy  of  a  vote  of  the  town  of  kennebunk  port.] 


KENNEBUNK  PORT,  APRIL  3,  1837. 

VoTED....That  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  subscribe 
for  five  hundred  copies  of  Bradbury's  History  of  Kennebunk- 
port,  for  distribution  among  the  several  Families,  and  draw  on 
the  Treasurer  for  the  payment. 
A  true  copy — Attest, 

JOSHUA  HERRICK,  Town  Clerk. 

www-vvwwwwvw%vvwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. 


3  u^^ 


PREFACE, 


Under  a  government  like  ours,  where  every  man  is  re- 
quired to  take  a  part  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs, 
either  at  the  ballot  box,  or  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  it  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  all  should  possess  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  science  of  government.  In  order  to  this,  the 
study  of  history  is  indispensably  necessary.  By  observing 
the  causes  of  the  various  changes  from  prosperity  to  adver- 
sity, from  poverty  to  wealth,  from  order  to  anarchy,  from 
freedom  to  despotism,  and  all  the  revolutions  that  are  con- 
stantly in  operation,  we  can  profit  by  the  wisdom,  and  take 
warning  from  the  errors  of  our  predecessors.  As  every 
one  has  a  more  direct  agency  in  the  management  of  town 
affairs,  the  history  of  his  own  town  ought  to  become  his 
first  study.  In  attending  to  this,  he  necessarily  becomes 
acquainted  with  the  history  of  his  own  state  and  country, 
which  ultimately  leads  him  to  the  knowledge  of  the  history 
of  the  whole  world.  It  cannot,  however,  be  expected  that 
the  history  of  a  town  of  so  little  importance  as  Kennebunk- 
port,  particularly  while  under  the  names  of  Cape-Porpoise 
and  Arundel,  can  contain  much  matter  of  interest,  even  to 
its  own  inhabitants,  much  less  to  general  readers. 

In  treating  upon  the  early  history  of  the  town,  it  is  to  be 
regretted  that  so  little  is  known  of  the  events  and  circumstan- 
ces connected  with  its  first  settlement,  and  of  the  troubles 
of  the  early  inhabitants  with  the  natives  of  the  country. 
There  is  not  a  town  in  the  state,  perhaps  in  the  union,  the 
history  of  which  cannot  be  more  distinctly  traced  than  that 
of  Kennebunk-port ;  and  it  is  therefore  impossible  to  give 
a  topographical  description  of  it,  previous  to  the  time  from 
which  the  town  records  have  been  preserved,  without  in- 
corporating with  it  much  of  the  general  history  of  the 
state. 


4  PREFACE. 

The  total  loss  or  absence  of  town  records  for  nearly  a 
century  after  its  first  settlement,  the  poverty  of  its  first  in- 
habitants, the  deficiency  of  enlightened  men,  with  whose 
history  that  of  the  town  would  have  become  identical,  and 
the  entire  want  of  traditional  accounts,  leave  only  the  unfre- 
quent  observations  of  early  journalists,  and  the  few  scat- 
tered notices  on  the  state  and  province  records,  from 
which  to  compile  a  history  of  the  town. 

Having  had  occasion  to  search  early  records,  many  facts 
and  incidents  were  noticed,  which,  although  of  themselves 
but  of  little  consequence  except  what  their  remoteness 
gave  them,  the  compiler  of  this  work  was  induced  to  col- 
lect ;  and,  having  presented  'them  to  his  townsmen  in  a 
course  of  lectures,  he  was  influenced  by  his  friends,  at  a 
time  of  leisure,"  to  extend  his  researches  and  prepare  the 
work  for  publication.  In  undertaking  the  task,  he  was 
well  aware  that  he  could  not  be  remunerated  for  his  time 
and  expenses,  as  the  gross  amount  of  sales  of  as  large 
an  edition  as  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  be  effected, 
even  if  written  with  much  more  talent  than  he  can  pretend 
to,  would  not  give  him  a  support  during  the  time  he  was 
actually  employed  in  collecting  materials  for  the  work. 
Believing,  however,  that  no  person  qualified  for  the  task 
would  give  the  time  necessary  to  the  completion  of  so 
unprofitable  an  undertaking ;  that  many  facts,  which  only 
remain  in  the  memories  of  a  few  of  the  oldest  inhabitants, 
would  soon  be  lost  if  not  immediately  preserved  ;  and  that 
several  manuscripts,  now  shattered  and  almost  illegible 
from  time,  would  in  all  probability  soon  be  destroyed  ;  he 
allowed  himself  to  be  persuaded  to  an  employment,  for 
which  his  previous  occupation  had  not  qualified  him. 

As  before  remarked,  the  annals  of  a  town  like  this,  noted 
only  for  its  want  of  note,  can  contain  but  little  matter 
interesting  to  the  public  ;  yet  as  it  was  an  early  settled  and 
one  of  the  first  incorporated  places  in  Maine,  the  few  iso- 
lated, unimportant  events  here  collected,  were  thought 
worth  preserving.  Such  as  they  are,  they  are  offered 
without  an  attempt  to  give  them  a  fictitious  value  by 
aiming  at  embellishment,  but  only  with  a  desire  to  repre- 


♦    PREFACE.  5 

sent  them  with  accuracy  : — "  accuracy  being  the  sine-qua- 
non  in  local  histories  ;  and  a  history  not  accurate,  is,  in 
other  words,  no  history."* 

As  a  native  of  the  town,  the  writer  would  have  been 
pleased  to  represent  his  predecessors  as  more  enlightened, 
and  of  more  consideration  in  the  world,  than  a  rigid 
adherence  to  truth  would  justify.  While  he  disclaims, 
however,  making  them  hold  a  more  prominent  place  in 
society  than  facts  would  warrant,  he  also  denies  having 
withheld  anything  favorable  to  their  reputation. 

Having  himself,  in  reading  history,  found  it  difficult 
to  carry  the  mind  back  after  having  made  some  considerable 
progress,  he  has  attempted,  even  at  the  expense  of  connec- 
tion, to  maintain  a  strict  chronological  arrangement. 

In  proportion  as  a  town  is  unimportant,  is  the  labor 
of  hunting  up  the  trifling  incidents  which  constitute  its 
history.  The  compiler  can  therefore  say,  with  the  author 
of  a  much  more  valuable  town  history,  that  "  the  early 
records  and  documents  in  the  offices  of  the  secretaries  of 
the  commonwealth,  and  of  the  county,  and  the  private 
papers  of  individuals,  and  various  other  scattered  fragments 
of  traditionary  manuscript  and  printed  history,  have  with 
great  labor  been  consulted."!  If  the  following  pages, 
however,  prove  acceptable  to  his  fellow  citizens,  or  interest- 
ing to  the  rising  generation,  the  writer  will  feel  sufficiently 
compensated  for  his  trouble.  As  he  is  not  an  author 
by  profession,  and  will  never  appear  in  that  character 
again,  he  asks  the  indulgence  of  the  public,  for  the  nu- 
merous faults  of  manner  with  which  the  production 
undoubtedly  abounds.  C.  B. 

Kennebunk-port,  > 
August  15,  1837.  £ 

♦North  American  Review.    tShattuck  s  Hist.  Concord. 


HISTORY 

OF 

KEIVIVEBI7JVK  PORT, 


CHAPTER    I. 

Early  voyages  to  North  America....Voyages  of  Cabot,  Corte- 
real,  Verrazzana,  and  others....Gosnold  discovers  Cape 
Porpoise....Martin  Pring  and  others  visit  the  coast  of  Maine 
...John  Smith  surveys  the  coast  and  names  Cape  Porpoise.... 
Indian  War....Epidemic....New  England  Patent....Laconia..« 
York  settled....Lygonia  Patent....Saco  Patent....Cape  Por- 
poise settled....Jenkins  killed....Patent  of  New  Somersetshire 
....Court  at  Saco....Lawsuit  of  Scadlock  and  Howell....Con- 
flicting  Grants. 

In  order  to  give  color  to  their  respective  claims  to 
portions  of  this  country,  each  of  the  different  European 
powers,  claimed  for  its  own  subjects,  the  honour  of  first 
discovering  North  America.  *It  has  been  asserted 
that  Biron,  a  Norman,  accidentally  discovered  a  coun- 
try, in  the  year  1001,  which  was  afterwards  called 
Winland,  supposed  to  be  a  part  of  Newfoundland. 

f  The  Chronicles  of  Wales  report,  "  that  Madock, 
sonne  of  Owen  Quinneth,  Prince  of  Wales,"  came  to 
North  America  in  1170.  Jit  is  said  the  "  Fryer  of 
Lynn,"  by  his  knowledge  of  the  black  art  came  to  this 
country,  in  1360,  and  went  to  the  North  pole. 

§Keith  says,  that  in  1484,  Alonzo  Sanches  of  Huel- 
va,  in  a  small  ship,  with  fifteen  persons,  was  accident- 
ally driven  on  the  American  coast.  Five  only  sur- 
vived, who  on  their  return,  landed  on  the  Island  of 

*BeIknap.    Also  Edinburgh  Encyclopedia, 
ISmith's  Hist.  Virginia.  {Ibid. 

§Thia  statement  is  made  upon  the  authority  of  De  la  Vega.  See 
Mather's  Magnalia,  vol.  i.  p.  42. 


8  HISTORY   OF  [from  1497 

Tarcera,  and  died  at  the  house  of  Christopher  Colum- 
bus ;  from  whom  he  first  obtained  the  information, 
which  led  to  his  voyage  to  America. 

The  Royal  Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries,  of  Co- 
penhagen, (Denmark)  are  now  publishing  a  volume  of 
American  Antiquities,  of  which  they  say,  that  the  Ice- 
landic and  other  Scandinavian  manuscripts,  from 
which  it  is  compiled,  "  comprise  testimony  the  most 
authentic  and  irrefragable,  to  the  fact,  that  North 
America  was  actually  discovered  by  the  Northmen 
towards  the  close  of  the  tenth  century,  visited  by 
them  repeatedly  during  the  eleventh  and  twelfth, 
(some  of  them  settling  there  as  colonists,)  re-discovered 
towards  the  close  of  the  thirteenth,  and  again  repeated- 
ly resorted  to  in  the  course  of  the  fourteenth  ;  and  that 
the  christian  religion  was  established  there,  not  only 
among  the  Scandinavian  emigrants,  but,  in  all  proba- 
bility, likewise  among  other  tribes  previously,  or,  at 
all  events,  then  seated  in  those  regions."* 

These  accounts,  however,  have  heretofore  been  but 
little  regarded,  and  it  has  been  generally  conceded  that 
John  Cabot,  a  Venitian,  first  discovered  North  Ameri- 
ca in  1497,  five  years  after  the  discovery  of  the  country 
by  Columbus. 

Cabot,  with  his  three  sons,  sailed  on  a  voyage  of 
discovery,  by  virtue  of  a  grant  from  Henry  VII.  King 
of  England,  authorizing  him  to  take  possession  of  all 
countries  of  "the  heathen  and  infidels,"  which  had  not 
been  discovered  by  Europeans.  He  expected,  by 
steering  far  North,  to  find  a  N.  W.  passage  to  India, 
but  after  sailing  to  the  fifty-sixth  degree  of  North 
latitude,  and  finding  the  land  still  extending  north- 
ward, he  returned,  and  landed  near  New  Brunswick. 

In  May,  1498,  Sebastian  Cabot,  who  had  accompan- 
ied his  father  to  America  the  year  before,  made  a 
second  voyage.  It  is  said,  without  sufficient  authority, 
however,  that  he  sailed  along  the  coast  of  the  United 
States  as  far  as  Maryland  or  North  Carolina. 

tGasper  Cortereal,  by  order  of  the  King  of  Portugal, 
made  a  voyage  to  North  America  in  1500.  He  carried 
home  more  than  fifty  Indians  and  sold  them  for  slaves. 

*Prospectus  of  the  work.  tBancroft's  Hist.  U.  S.. 


TO  1542.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  9 

Sebastian  Cabot  made  a  third  voyage,  in  150*2,  and 
carried  home  three  Newfoundland  Indians  and  pre- 
sented them  to  Henry  VII.  It  is  said  he  made  further 
discoveries,  in  1514,  of  all  the  coast  of  America  from 
Cape  Florida  to  Newfoundland,  and  called  the  land 
Baccalaos.* 

Francis,  King  of  France,  in  the  year  1523,  sent  out 
Verrazzana,  a  Florentine,  on  discoveries.  He  came 
over  in  a  vessel  called  the  Dolphin,  and  discovered 
land  in  1524  and  claimed  to  have  sailed  along  the 
whole  coast  of  New  England,  and  to  have  entered  the 
harbor  of  New  York.t 

In  1527,  Henry  VIII.  of  England  sent  two  ships  to 
make  discoveries  in  the  new  world,  one  of  which  was 
cast  away  near  Newfoundland,  and  the  other  arrived  at 
St.  Johns.  The  number  of  vessels  visiting  North 
America  had  considerably  increased,  and  there  were, 
at  one  time  this  season,  twelve  fishing  vessels  at  New- 
foundland. 

James  Cartier,  a  Frenchman,  made  a  voyage  in 
1534,  from  St.  Malo  to  Newfoundland,  and  went  far- 
ther North  than  Verrazzana.  He  made  another 
voyage  with  three  ships  the  year  following,  and  a  third 
in  1540. 

Henry  VIII.  sent  out  another  expedition  in  1536, 
under  the  command  of  Mr.  Horn  of  London.  They 
suffered  so  much  from  sickness  and  famine,  that  they 
were  obliged  to  kill  some  of  their  company  for  food, 
and  were  only  preserved  from  starvation  by  robbing  a 
French  vessel  that  arrived  in  the  Bay  of  St.  John. 

Francis,  Lord  of  Roberval,  made  a  voyage  in  1542, 
and  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  entered  Massachusetts 
Bay.* 

Gold  and  silver  being  the  object  of  the  first  adventur- 
ers, but  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  discoveries  in 
North  America,  by  the  English,  after  the  death  of 
Henry.  They  had  their  expectations  so  highly  raised, 
that  they  could  not  content  themselves  with  acquiring 
wealth  by  the  comparatively  slow  process  of  traffic, 
and  they  sought  eagerly  for  the  precious  metals  in 
every  part  of  the  country  that  had  been  discovered. 

'Hackluit's  voyages,  t  Bancroft,  t  Bancroft. 


10  niSTORY  of  [from  1542 

Having  been  disappointed  in  their  hopes,  they  employ- 
ed the  next  thirty  years  in  seeking  for  a  North-east 
passage  to  India,  while  the  Spanish,  French  and  Portu- 
guese enjoyed  exclusively  the  fishery  of  Newfoundland. 
They  however  commenced  the  fishing  business  in  1560, 
but  did  not  carry  it  on  to  the  same  extent  that  the 
French  did,  who,  in  1578,  had  one  hundred  and  fifty 
sail  employed. 

The  English  continued  to  turn  their  attention  princi- 
pally to  procuring  gold,  silver,  and  furs ;  and  large 
quantities  of  sassafras,  which  was  thought  to  be  a  cer- 
tain cure  for  the  plague,  were  also  collected.  *A  great 
number  of  spiders  being  observed  at  Hudson's  Bay, 
they  loaded  several  vessels  with  earth  in  hopes  of  find- 
ing gold  mixed  with  it,  these  animals  being  thought  to 
abound  in  gold  regions.  On  their  arrival  in  England, 
fifteen  other  vessels  were  despatched  for  the  same 
purpose. 

In  1576,  Martin  Frobisher,  in  the  service  of  Eliz- 
abeth, made  another  attempt  to  find  a  North-west 
passage.  He  seized  some  of  the  natives  and  carried 
them  orT.  He  made  two  other  voyages  in  1577  and 
]578. 

In  1583  Sir  Humphrey  Giibcrt  made  a  voyage, 
also  under  the  orders  of  Elizabeth.  All  the  land  he 
might  discover  was  granted  to  him  and  his  heirs  forev- 
er, he  giving  to  Elizabeth  and  her  successors  one  fifth 
part  of  the  gold  and  silver  ore  which  should  be  found 
therein.  He  took  possession  of  Newfoundland,  and 
then  sailed  southerly,  claiming  the  country  as  he  passed 
along.  On  account  of  the  total  loss  of  his  vessel  and 
crew  on  their  return,  it  is  not  certainly  known  how  far 
he  came  southward,  but  it  is  supposed  no  farther  than 
Nova  Scotia.t  The  next  year  Elizabeth  gave  the 
same  powers  to  the  enterprising  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
but  he  went  further  South  and  attempted  to  settle 
Virginia. 

In  1585,  John  Davis,  with  the  Moonshine  and  two  other 
vessels,  under  Gilbert's  patent,  went  in  search  of  a  N. 
W.  passage.     He  made  two  other  voyages  soon   after. 

*Hackluit's  Coll.  Voyages. 

t Hutchinson's  Hietory  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay, 
page  1.— Also  Sullivan,  page  51. 


TO   1602.]  KENXEBUXK.    PORT.  11 

John  White  went  to  Virginia,  under  Raleigh  in  1587, 
and  George  White  in  1590.  Several  adventurers  came 
over  soon  after  ; — M.  Ravillon  in  1591,  after  oil  and 
morse's  teeth  ; — Capt.  Strong,  in  the  Marygold,  and 
George  Drake  in  1593  ; — the  Grace,  Capt.  Wyet,  in 
1594  ; — and  the  Hopewell,  and  Chancewell  in  1597  ; 
the  latter  of  which  was  cast  away.  In  1598  the 
Marquis  de  la  Roche  attempted  to  make  a  settle- 
ment on  the  Isle  of  Sable  with  a  company  of  convicts. 

All  voyagers  had  heretofore  crossed  the  Atlantic 
by  going  to  the  Southward  by  the  way  of  the  Canaries 
and  West  Indies,  and  again  steering  Northwardly.* 
Bartholomew  Gosnold,  an  English  navigator,  was  the 
first  person  who  deviated  from  the  old  route.  He 
sailed  from  Falmouth,  March  26th,  1602,  with  a  com- 
pany of  thirty-two  persons,  and  steering  as  near  West 
by  compass  as  the  wind  would  permit,  made  land 
May  14th,  at  or  about  the  forty  third  degree  of  north 
latitude,  which  he  called  Mavoshen,  it  being  the  Indian 
name  of  the  country.  This  was  probably  the  first 
land  discovered  in  that  part  of  North  America  since 
called  New  England,  for  there  is  no  evidence  that 
either  of  the  Cabots,  Verrazzana,  or  Roberval  ever 
visited  this  coast.  There  had  been  no  journals  of  their 
voyages  preserved,  nor  any  description  of  the  land  giv- 
en, that  would  warrant  the  supposition  that  they  visited 
this  part  of  the  country. 

The  only  accounts  of  the  voyages  of  the  Cabots,  are, 
ta  doubtful  memorandum  on  the  margin  of  a  chart 
used  by  one  of  them  during  his  voyage,  and  what  some 
one,  whose  name  is  not  known,  related  as  coming  from 
themselves.  Historians  do  not  even  agree  as  to  the 
person  who  made  the  discovery,  nor  as  to  the  time 
when  it  was  made.  Some  say  it  was  John  in  1496, | 
others  that  it  was  Sebastian  in  1498,§  and  others,  that 
the  latter  discovered  it  as  late  as  1514.  ||  The  proba- 
bility, however,  is  that  neither  of  them  ever  saw  any  part 

*See  Williamson,  vol. i.  p.  185.  Folsom,  p.  10,  Robertson  and  oth- 
ers, who  say  Gosnold  was  the  first  person  who  made  a  direct  pas- 
sage across  the  Atlantic.  In  Ree's  Cyclopedia,  it  is  said,  howev- 
er,  that  John  Cabot,  in  1493,  "  after  sailing  some  weeks  due 
West,"  discovered  Newfoundland. 

tSullivan,  p.  46.  {Prince's  Annals.  §  Bancroft,  and  Ree's  Cyclop. 
IIHackluit. 


12  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1602. 

of  New  England,  and  that  the  claim  was  only  set  up  by 
the  English,  in  order  to  preclude  that  of  the  French, 
who  pretended  to  have  discovered  it  before  GosnolcL 
Joselin  says  that  in  1602,  "  the  North  part  of  Virginia 
i.  e.  New  England  was  farther  discovered  by  Capt. 
Gosnold,  and  some  will  have  him  to  be  the  first  dis- 
coverer." Hutchinson  also  says,  "  it  is  not  certain  that 
any  European  had  been  in  New  England  before." 

It  is  not  certainly  known  what  part  of  the  country 
Gosnold  first  saw,  some  supposing  it  was  near  Nahant 
and  that  he  landed  the  next  morning  at  Cape  Cod,* 
and  others  thinking  he  discovered  land  near  the  Kenne- 
bec and  landed  on  Cape  Ann.t  The  probability, 
however,  is  that  neither  of  these  suppositions  is  correct, 
but  that  the  land  first  discovered  was  either  Cape 
Porpoise,  or  some  other  point  of  land  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Wells  Bay.  The  following  "  Relation  of 
Captain  Gosnols  Voyage,  began  the  six  and  twentieth 
of  March,  1602,  as  delivered  by  Gabriel  Archer,  a 
gentleman  in  said  voyage,"  is  taken  from  "  Purchas 
his  Pilgrims,"  a  collection  of  voyages  and  travels. 
Gosnold  had  a  company  of  "  thirty  persons,  whereof 
eight  mariners  and  sailors,  twelve  purposing  upon  the 
Discovery  to  return  with  the  ship  for  England,  the 
rest  remain  there  for  population." "The  four- 
teenth (of  May)  about  six  in  the  morning,  we  discover- 
ed land  that  lay  North, — the  northerly  point  we  called 
the  Northland  ;  which  to  another  rock  upon  the  same 
lying  twelve  leagues  west,  that  we  called  Savage  Rock  -% 
(because  the  savages  first  shewed  themselves  there) 
five  leagues  toward  said  rock  is  an  out  point  of  woodie 
ground,  the  trees  thereof  very  high  and  straight,  from 
the  rock  east  north  east.  From  the  same  rock  came 
toward  us  a  Biscay  Shallop  with  sail  and  oars,  having 
eight  persons  in  it,  whom  we  supposed  at  first  to  be 

*Bancroft's  Hist.  U.  S.,  and  Thacher's  Hist.  Plymouth. 

tHubbard  in  his  History  of  New  England,  says  "  Capt.  Gosnold, 
possibly  more  by  the  guidance  of  Providence  than  any  special  art 
acquired  of  man,  on  the  14th  of  May,  (1G02,)  made  land  in  lat.  of 
43  deg.  where  he  was  presently  welcomed  by  eight  Salvages  in  one 
of  their  Shallops, — he  weighed  anchor  and  stood  to  the  southward, 
and  next  morning  landed  in  Cape  Ann."  See  also  Williamson 
vol.i.  p.  164. 


A.  D.   1602.]  KENNEBUNK    PCRT.  13 

christians  distressed.  But  approaching  us  neere,  wee 
perceived  them  to  be  savages.  These  coming  within 
call,  hayled  us,  and  wee  answered  them  after  signs  of 
peace,  and  a  long  speech  by  one  of  them  made,  they 
came  boldly  aboard  us,  being  all  naked  saving  about 
their  shoulders  certaine  loose  deer  skins  and  neere  their 
wastes  seale  skins  tied  fast  like  to  Irish  Demmie  trow- 
sers.  One  that  seemed  to  be  their  commander  wore  a 
wastecoat  of  black  work,  a  pair  of  breeches,  cloth 
stockings,  shoose,  hat  and  band,  and  one  or  two  more 
had  a  few  things  made  by  some  christians.  These 
with  a  piece  of  chalk,  described  the  coasts  there  abouts 
and  could  name  Placentia  of  the  New-found-land,  they 
spake  divers  christian  words,  and  seemed  to  understand 
much  more  than  we  for  want  of  language  could  com- 
prehend. These  people  are  in  colour  swart,  their  hair 
is  long  up  tyed  with  a  knot  in  the  part  of  behind  the 
head.  They  paint  their  bodies  which  are  strong  and 
well  proportioned.  These  much  desired  our  longer 
stay,  but  finding  ourselves  short  of  our  purposed  place, 
wee  set  sail  westwards  leaving  them  and  their  coast. 
About  sixteen4leagues  S.  W.  from  thence,  wee  perceiv- 
ed in  that  course  two  small  islands,  the  one  lying  east 
from  savage  rock,  the  other  to  the  southwards  of  it, 
the  coast  we  left  was  full  of  goodly  woods,  faire  plains, 
with  little  green  round  hills  above  the  cliffs  appearing 
unto  us,  which  are  indifferently  raised,  but  all  rockie, 
and  of  shining  stones,  which  might  have  persuaded  us  a 
longer  stay  there. 

11  The  fifteenth  day  we  had  again  sight  of  land 
which  made  ahead  being  as  we  tho't  an  island  by  rea- 
son of  a  large  sound  that  appeared  westward,  between 
it  and  the  mayne,  for  coming  to  the  west  end  thereof, 
we  did  perceive  a  large  opening,  we  called  it  *Shole- 
hope  :  neer  this  Cape  we  came  to  anchor  in  fifteen 
fadome,  where  we  took  great  store  of  Cod  fish,  for 
which  we  altered  the  name  and  called  it  Cape  Cod. 
Here  we  saw  skulls  of  herrings,  mackerels,  and  other 
small  fish  in  great  abundance.  This  is  a  low  sandie 
shore,  but  without  danger,  also  we  came  to  anchor  in 
sixteen  fadome  faire   by  the   land   in  lat.  42  degrees. 

*Shoal  Haven,  or  Harbor. 

B 


14  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1602 

This  Cape  is  well  neer  a  mile  broad  and  lieth  north 
east  by  east."* 

From  this  account,  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  that 
the  Cape,  to  which  Gosnold  gave  the  name  of  Cape 
Cod,  was  the  same   one  which  now  bears  that  name.t 
It  is  also  nearly  certain  that  the  land  first  discovered, 
could  not  have  been  near  Nahant,  as  a  westerly  course 
from  that  place  would  have  carried  the  vessel  on  to  the 
land  in  Boston  Bay  ;  and  they  did  not  even  sail  along 
the    shore,  but    directly   from  it,   leaving  the   savages 
"  and  their  coast."     If  they  sailed  in  a  direct  line  from 
Nahant  to  Cape  Cod,   which  would   have  been  in  an 
easterly   direction,  there  are  no  Islands  corresponding 
with  those  described  by  Mr.  Archer.     On  the  other 
hand,  they  could  not  have  been  so  far  to  the  Eastward 
as  Kennebec,  as  they  could  not  have  had  time  to  run  to 
Cape  Cod,  in  their  dull  sailing  craft  ;|    nor  does  the 
latitude  given,  abouk  43,   agree  with  that  part  of  the 
coast.     Although  the  latitude  of  Cape  Cod,  as  given  by 
Gosnold,  was  nearly  correct,  yet  but  little  dependence 
can  be  placed  upon  his  observations,  on  account  of  the 
very  imperfect  nautical  instruments  then  in  use.     Sub- 
sequent navigators  however  assert,  that  he  uniformly 
marked  places  about  half  a  degree  too  low,j|   which,  if 
correct,  would  make  the  latitude  of  the  land  first  seen, 
correspond,  very  nearly,  with  that  of  Cape  Porpoise. 
The  supposition,  founded  on  this  agreement  of  latitude, 
that  Cape  Porpoise  was  Captain  Gosnold's  Northland, 
and  the  Savage  Rock,  which  was   judged  to  lay  twelve 
leagues  "West   of  it,    was  the   Nubble,  near  Cape  Ned- 
dock,   which  is   surrounded  at    high  water,   is  almost 
reduced  to  a  certainty,  by  the  description  of  the  passage 
to  Cape  Cod.     In    leaving  the  coast  in   a  South-west- 
erly direction,  they  must  have  passed  near  Boon  Island, 
which  is  to  the  eastward  of  the  Nubble,  and  in  sight  of 
the  Isles  of  Shoals,  which  are  to  the  southward  of  it,  and 
which  at  a  distance  might  be  mistaken  for  a  single  Island. 

*Capt.  Gosnold  did  not  succeed  in  making  a  settlement.  He 
continued,  however,  to  visit  North  America  every  season,  till  1607, 
■vvhen  ho  died  in  Virginia. 

tThacher*s  [list.   Plymouth,  page  1. 

tThcv  bad  fifty  days  passage  from  Plymouth. 

||  Williamson,  vol.  i.  p.  185. 


TO  1605.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  15 

The  distance,  too,  from  Cape  Neddock  to  Cape  Cod,  is  as 
great  as  they  would  have  been  likely  to  make  in  one  day. 

Mr.  Williamson,  Belknap  and  several  other  writers 
have  supposed  that  the  Indians  must  have  obtained 
their  clothes  from  some  fishermen,  who  had  been  ac- 
cidentally driven  on  the  coast ;  but  from  their  knowl- 
edge of  European  languages,  and  their  acquaintance 
with  the  harbors  of  Newfoundland,  it  is  much  more 
probable  that  they  were  eastern  Indians  making  an 
excursion  to  the  westward,  as  is  still  their  practice. 

Some  have  thought  that  Gosnold's  crew  landed  on 
the  first  discovered  land,  but  from  Mr.  Archer's  account 
of  the  voyage,  it  would  appear  that  they  did  not.  There 
may  however  be  some  doubt  as  to  his  meaning,  for  it 
would  be  natural  to  suppose,  that  after  a  long  confine- 
ment on  ship  board,  they  would  have  availed  them- 
selves of  the  first  opportunity  to  visit  the  land. 

If  Gosnold  did  not  land  in  any  part  of  Maine,  its 
shores  were  certainly  visited  the  following  year  [1603] 
by  Martin  Pring,  who  equipped  two  vessels,  the  Speed- 
well, a  ship  of  fifty  tons,  with  a  crew  of  thirty  men  and 
boys ;  and  the  Discoverer,  a  bark  of  twenty-six  tons, 
carrying  fourteen  persons.  He  sailed  from  Milford 
Haven,  April  10th,  1603,  and  made  land  June  7th,  near 
Penobscot ;  and  afterwards  sailed  as  far  as  the  Piscata- 
qua.  He  went  a  short  distance  up  Kennebunk  river, 
"  and  found  no  people,  but  signs  of  fires  where  they 
had  been." 

The  next  year  [1604]  De  Monts  visited  the  coast  of 
Maine,  and  took  possession  of  several  places  for  the 
King  of  France.  The  year  following  [1605]  George 
Weymouth  was  sent  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  by  Lord 
Arundel  of  Warder.  He  sailed  up  a  beautiful  river 
in  latitude  43,  20,  which  is  nearly  the  latitude  of  Ken- 
nebunk river.  Belknap  says,  "  in  this  latitude  no  part 
of  the  American  coast  lies  except  Cape  Porpoise, 
where  is  only  a  boat  harbour.  The  rivers  nearest  to 
it  are  on  the  South,  Kennebunk,  a  tide  river  of  no 
great  extent,  terminating  in  a  brook  ;  and  on  the 
North,  Saco,  the  navigation  of  which  is  obstructed  by 
a  bar  at  its  mouth,  and  by  a  fall  at  the  distance  of  six 
or  seven  miles  from  the  sea.  Neither  of  these  could 
be  the   river  described  in  Weymouth's  Journal.     His 


16  HISTORY    OF  [PROM  1007 

observation  of  the   latitude,   or  the  printed  account  of 
it,  must  have  been  erroneous."* 

On  account  of  the  reformation  and  civil  wars  in 
Europe,  there  were  no  vigorous  exertions  made  to 
establish  a  colony  in  North  America,  till  1607,  the 
year  after  James  I.  granted  the  North  and  South  Vir- 
ginia patent,  when  Christopher  Newport  began  the 
colony  at  Jamestown,  and  George  Popham  commenced 
a  settlement  at  Kennebec.  The  North  Virginia  com- 
pany, which  consisted  of  Lord  John  Popham,  Chief 
Justice  of  England,  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  Sir  Ferdinan- 
do  Gorges,  and  others,  prepared  two  vessels,  one  of 
which  was  commanded  by  George  Popham,  and  the 
other  by  Raleigh  Gilbert,  with  one  hundred  and  eight 
emigrants  besides  sailors,  to  form  a  settlement.  They 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river,  and  called 
the  settlement  the  Sagadahock  colony,  that  being  the 
Indian  name  of  the  river.  Forty-five  colonists  remain- 
ed there  during  the  winter  ;  but  the  weather  being 
extremely  cold,  and  having  quarrelled  with  the  Indians 
who  had  received  them  kindly,  they  returned  the  next 
season  and  the  establishment  was  given  up.  The 
coast,  however,  was  never  deserted  for  any  considerable 
time  after  this  period. 

Gorges,  who  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  enter- 
prising members  of  the  North  Virginia  company,  fitted 
out  a  vessel  at  his  own  expense,  under  the  command  of 
Richard  Vines,  to  keep  possession  of  the  country 
against  the  French.  Vines  pursued  this  course  several 
years,  fishing  and  trading  with  the  natives  at  Saco. 
Maine  was  also  visited  by  many  others  for  the  purpose 
of  traffic  ;  amongst  whom  were  Samuel  Argal,  after- 
wards governor  of  South  Virginia  ;  Sir  George  Somers, 
who  gave  his  name  to  the  Bermuda  Islands  ;  and  Ed- 
ward Harlow,  who  was  the  first  to  kidnap  the  Indians 
in  New  England  and  sell  them  for  slaves. t  This  nefa- 
rious business  was  afterwards  carried  on  to  considerable 
extent,  a  great  many  Indians  being  carried  to  Malaga 
and  sold. 

While  the  English  were  thus  inactive,  or  provoking 
the  enmity  of  the  Indians,  the  French  were  conciliating 

*I.t  was  probably  the  Penobscot.  tWillianason's  Hist,  Me. 


TO  1620.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  17 

them  and  making  settlements  to  the  eastward  on  land 
claimed  by  the  English,  which  caused  frequent  skir- 
mishes between  them.  The  French  were,  however, 
finally  driven  off  in  1613. 

The  celebrated  John  Smith,  whose  life  was  saved  by 
Pocahontas  six  or  seven  years  before,  made  a  trading 
voyage  to  Maine  in  1614.  He  prepared  several  boats 
to  survey  the  coast  from  Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod.* 
During  this  survey  he  visited  Cape  Porpoise, t  to  which 
he  gave  its  present  name,  and  Kennebunk  river.  He 
formed  a  map  of  the  coast,  and  compiled  a  history  of 
the  country,  which  prince  Charles,  afterwards  Charles 
I.,  called  New  England.  • 

A  most  destructive  war  commenced  the  following 
year  [1615]  amongst  the  Indians,  which  lasted  two  or 
three  years.  Some  of  the  western  tribes  had  been 
treacherous  towards  the  eastern  Indians,  which  caused 
this  war,  in  which  the  Bashaba  or  the  chief,  who  resi- 
ded near  Penobscot,  was  killed,  and  the  western  In- 
dians almost  annihilated. 

Immediately  after  this  war,  the  plague,  as  it  was 
called,  nearly  depopulated  the  country  of  Indians,  but 
did  not  affect  the  whites.  This  fatal  disorder  was  by 
some  thought  to  be  the  small  pox,  but  by  others  the 
yellow  fever.  Richard  Vines  and  others  wintered  at 
Saco  river  while  this  pestilence  raged,  not  one  of  whom 
was  affected  by  it. 

The  New  England  patent  was  granted  in  1620,  which 

*Since  the  suppression  of  the  monasteries  in  Spain,  several  manu- 
scripts have  been  found,  which  it  is  said  prove  conclusively,  that 
the  navigators  of  that  country,  not  only  visited  the  shores  of  New 
England,  but  surveyed  the  coast  sometime  previous  to  Captain 
Smith's  survey.  If  such  charts  exist,  they  were  probably  prepar- 
ed prior  to  1560,  at  the  time  when  the  English  had  deserted  North 
America,  and  were  seeking  a  North-east  passage   to  India. 

tCapt.  Smith  probably  gave  the  name  of  Cape  Porpoise  to  that 
Cape  in  consequence  of  seeing  a  shoal  of  porpoises  in  its  neighbor- 
hood. This  fish,  from  its  resemblance  to  the  hog,  is  frequently 
called  the  sea-hog,  or  puffing-pig.  The  word  was  originally 
written  porcus  piscis,  from  the  latin  words,  porcus — a  hog,  and 
piscis — a  fish  ;  but  at  the  time  Capt.  Smith  named  the  Cape,  ho 
spelt  it  Porkpiscis.  The  orthography  of  the  word  gradually 
changed  to  Porpisces, — Porpisse, —  Porpesse,— Porpess,  and,  at  the 
time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  in  1653,  to  Porpus.  It  was 
first  writton  Porpoise,  on  the  county  records,  in  1672. 
Bb 


IS"  history  of  [feotot  1^62^ 

gave  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  and  thirty-nine  others, 
power  to  appoint  governors  and  other  officers,  to 
establish  laws,  and  to  administer  justice;  They  had 
the  exclusive  right  to  trade  and  fish  within  their  terri- 
tory, to  import  seven  years  free  of  duty,  and  to  expel 
intruders. 

Hubbard,  in  his  History  of  New  England,  in  speak- 
ing of  Cape  Porpoise  and  several  other  places  on  the 
coast  of  Maine,  says  "  no  colony  was  ever  settled  in 
any  of  these  places  till  the  year  1620."  If  this  be 
correct,  which  however  is  very  doubtful,  Cape  Por- 
poise must  have  been  settled  either  the  summer  before, 
or  very  early  in  the  spring  after  Plymouth  was  first 
settled.  As  the  first  settlers  in  Maine  were  fishermen 
and  traders,  they  would  not  have  been  likely  to  make  a 
voyage  to  this-  country  before  the  middle  of  March,  at 
which  time  the  year  then  ended  ;*  and  it  is  therefore 
probable,  if  this  account  be  true,  that  they  came  over 
the  previous  summer. 

If  not  at  this  time,  it  is  not  positively  known 
when  this  town  was  first  settled.  It  was  probably 
visited  every  summer  by  fishermen  and  traders,  after  its 
discovery  by  Gosnold  in  1602.  They  built  small  huts 
for  their  summer  residence,  but  usually  returned  to 
Europe  in  the  winter.  Folsom  says,  "  the  settlement 
on  Cape  Porpoise  was  probably  made  about  the  same 
time  as  at  Winter  Harbor.  It  presented  great  advan- 
tages for  fishermen,  many  of  whom  made  it  a  place  of 
resort,  and  perhaps  of  abode,  as  early,  probably,  as 
any  other  point  of  the  coast."f 

The  most  active  members  of  the  Plymouth  corpora- 
tion, were  Gorges  and  Mason.  In  order  to  form  a 
government  satisfactory  to  themselves,  they  obtained  a 
grant  of  the  Province  of  Laconia  from  the  company. 
Laconia  extended  from  the  Kennebec  to  the  Merri- 
mac,  and  was  represented  as  a  very  flourishing 
country.  JPermanent  settlements  were  made  at  sev- 
eral places,  but  the  voyagers  to  Laconia  wantonly  in- 
sulted the  natives  and  burned  entire  forests. 

Francis  West,  Admiral  of  New  England,  attempted. 

*CMd  Style.  tHist.  Saco  and  Biddetord. 

tWilliatnson's  Hist.  Maine,  vol.  i.  p.  227.. 


TO  1623.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  19 

to  prevent  unlicensed  persons  from  fishing  and  trading, 
in  order  to  stop  these  evils  ;  but  on  his  return  to  Eng- 
land, the  mariners  complained  to  Parliament  of  his 
attempts  to  restrain  them  in  their  rightful  employ- 
ments, and  requested  an  order  to  make  the  fishery 
entirely  free.  Gorges  was  called  to  the  bar  of  the 
House,  and  ordered  to  deliver  up  his  patent;  but  he 
made  so  able  a  defence,  the  King  refused  to  recall  it. 
These  trials  and  difficulties,  however,  prevented  the 
Council  from  prosecuting  their  designs. 

Gorges,  notwithstanding  these  obstacles,  determined 
to  plant  a  colony  at  his  own  expense  ;  and  he  sent  a 
company  of  emigrants  to  settle  at  Agamenticus  or 
York.  It  is  stated  in  Prince's  Annals,  that  there  were, 
at  this  time,  several  settlements  in  Maine  ;  and  *  Wil- 
liamson says,  "  as  early  as  1623,  a  permanent  settle- 
ment was  commenced  at  Saco," "  and  Vines,  if  not 

Oldham,  in  fact  lived  here"  at  that  time.  If,  as  Fol- 
som  says,  Cape  Porpoise  was  settled  as  early  as  Win- 
ter Harbor,  the  settlement  of  this  town  might  be  dated 
as  early  as  1623  or  '24.  Folsom,  however,  date3  the 
settlement  of  Saco,  six  or  seven  years  later.  tMr. 
Williamson  says,  "  upon  the  whole,  I  wish  I  had,  in 
my  History  of  Maine,  put  Saco  down  as  settled  in 
1624,  instead  of  1623,  although  I  am  still  inclined  to 
think  1623  may  be  correct. "| 

"Hist.  Me.  vol.  i.  page  227.  1  Manuscript  letter. 

}The  following  extract  from  Judge  Williamson's  letter,  to  the 
Compiler,  contains  his  reasons  for  coming  to  this  conclusion  : 

"  Richard  Vines  visited  Saco  in  1(509,  and  161C,  passed  the  win 
ter  1616-17  at  Winter  Harbor,  (1.  Hist.  Me.  206,216-17,226) 
Prince's  Annals,  page  139,  says  hither  comes  '  the  expected  ship 
Ann,  July  1623/  John  Farmer,  in  his  Genealogies,  says  John 
Oldharn  arrived  in  the  '  ship  Ann  in  July  1623,'  lived,  short  peri- 
ods, at  Plymouth,  Nantasket,  Cape  Ann,  and  settled  at  Watertown, 
admitted  freeman,  May  1631,  and  represented  the  latter  place  in 
the  first  General  Court,  Mass.  May  1634.  He  was  killed,  Aug. 
1636,  by  the  Indians.     (Winthrope's  Journal,  103  ) 

"  The  earliest  grant  by  the  Council,  including  any  part  of 
Maine,  was  in  1622,  to  Gorges  and  Mason,  extending  from  Mer- 
rimac  to  Kennebec.  (Folsom,  25.)  Gorges,  in  his  History,  cited 
by  Folsom,  p.  24,  speaks  of  a  settlement  by  Vines  not  far  from  Ag- 
amenticus, as  commenced,  even  prior  to  1623.  As  Gorges  had 
Maine  is  view,  and-  Mason  had  New  Hampshire,  why  is  it  not 
probable  the  former  was  promoting  a  settlement  at  Saco,  and  then, 


20  HISTORY   OF  [from  1629 

The  Plymouth  Company  granted  a  patent,  in  1629, 
to  John  Dye,  Thomas  Impe,  Grace  Harding,  and 
John  Roach,  of  London,  of  a  tract  of  land  forty  miles 
square,  extending  from  Cape  Porpoise  to  Casco. 
They  attempted  to  make  a  settlement  under  this 
patent,  called  the  Lygonia  patent,  but  failed.  They 
came  over  in  a  vessel  of  sixty  tons,  called  the  Plough  ; 
and,  on  account  of  their  failure,  this  territory  acquired 
the  name  of  the  Plough  Patent. 

February  12th,  the  company  also  granted  a  patent 
to  John  Oldham  and  Richard  Vines,  of  a  tract  of  land 
four  miles  in  breadth  on  the  sea  shore,  and  extending 
eight  miles  into  the  country,  on  the  west  side  of  Saco 
river.  Vines  took  legal  possession  of  this  territory, 
June  25th,  and  several  families  that  came  over  with 
him,  settled  near  Little  River  within  the  limits  of  this 
town. 

This  perhaps  might  be  considered  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  in  the  town,  it  being  a  matter  of  uncer- 
tainty whether  any  person  ever  resided  here,  through  the 

at  Agamenticus,  while  the  latter  was  establishing  one  at  Strawber- 
ry-bank,  Portsmouth  ?— both  under  the  Charter  or  Grant  of  1622. 

"  Prince,  page  134,  after  speaking  of  the  settlement  begun  in 
1623,  "  at  a  place  called  Piscataquack,'  adds,  '  this  year  there  are 
also  some  scattering  beginnings  made  at  Monhiggon  and  some 
other  places  by  sundry  others.'  But  '  about  Piscataqua  River, 
there  seem  not  many  other'  (than  the  first)  '  buildings  erected,  till 
after  1631."  Ibid.  Their  attention  was  next  probably  turned  to 
Saco  and  Agamenticus,  inasmuch  as  Gorges  and  Mason  were 
coadjutors.  Capt.  Robert  Gorges,  son  of  Sir  Ferdinando,  came 
over  1623.     Emigrants  probably  came  with  him. 

"  The  Charter  to  Vines  and  Oldham,  Feb.  12th,  1629,  (new 
style,  Feb.  1, 1630,)  says  Oldham,  and  '  others,  his  servants,  have 
for  these  six  years  now  last  past  lived  in  New  England, — transport- 
ed thither  and  planted  there  divers  persons;' — and  said  Oldham 
and  Vines,  &c.  '  have  undertaken  at  their  own  cost  and  charge, 
to  transport  fifty  persons  thither  in  the  space  of  7  years  next  ensu- 
ing, to  plant  and  inhabit  there,'  (Folsom,  p.  318,)  and  therefore  the 
patent  on  the  Saco  was  granted  to  them. 

"  Now  where  were  the  divers  persons  planted,  as  mentioned  in 
the  preamble,  if  not  at  Saco  ?  Was  not  this  the  very  place,  which 
all  the  parties  had  in  their  eye,  when  the  patent  was  obtained  ? 
Where,  on  our  shores,  did  Vines  ever  live  except  at  Winter  Har- 
bor ?  Where  had  he  resided  between  1623  and  1630,  if  not  there  ? 
He  was  no  small  man,  being  a  physician  of  skill.  In  a  word,  is  it 
rota  fair  inference,  deducible  from  facts,  that  the  settlement  at 
Saco  was  commenced  as  early  as  1623  ?" 


TO   163*2]  KCNNEBUNK    PORT.  21 

winter,  previous  to  this  time.  The  settlement,  howev- 
er, known  as  the  Cape  Porpus  plantation  or  the  village 
of  Cape  Porpus,  was  entirely  Independent  of  that  of 
Vines  and  Oldham  ;  and  had  no  connection  with  that 
at  Little  River.  The  places  where  the  fishermen  cured 
their  fish,  were  called  fishing  stages  ;  and  Stage  Island, 
which  gives  name  to  the  eastern  harbor  of  Cape  Por- 
poise, was  probably  «o  called  on  account  of  its  being  an 
early  fishing  stage.  It  was  here,  undoubtedly,  that  the 
first  settlement  was  made,  as  they  could  more  easily 
defend  themselves  against  the  attacks  of  the  Indians, 
or  more  readily  escape  from  them  w  lien  on  an  island 
than  when  on  the  main  land.  The  burying  place  on 
that  island,  now  no  longer  distinguishable,  was,  more 
than  a  century  ago,  known  as  the  "  old  burying 
ground,"  in  contradistinction  to  the  "  new  burying 
ground,"  now  considered  ancient,  in  front  of  Mr, 
Israel  Stone's  dwelling-house. 

The  settlers  probably  were  men  of  too  little  note  to 
draw  upon  themselves  other  than  the  occasional  notice 
of  the  writers  of  that  period  ;  and  the  settlement  slowly 
and  silently  made  its  way,  without  leaving  any  distinct 
traces  of  its  commencement,  or  its  first  progress.  It  is 
not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  settlement  com- 
menced even  earlier  than  that  at  Winter  Harbor,  for 
Winthrope  speaks  of  Cape  Porpoise  as  a  well-known 
land  mark,  in  1630  ;  and  Savage,  who  transcribed  YVin- 
thrope's  Journal,  remarks,  upon  what  is  said  relative 
to  Jenkins's  murder,  that  "  perhaps  the  settlement  of 
that  portion  of  Maine,  which  is  now  called  Arundel, 
would  not  be  known  to  have  been  made  so  early, 
[1632]    without  this  sentence  of  our  text." 

During  the  time  of  these  attempts  to  increase  the 
number  of  settlements  in  Lygonia,  the  whites,  in  their 
intercourse  with  the  natives,  were  guilty  of  great  in- 
justice, making  immense  profits  out  of  them.  This 
course  exceedingly  irritated  the  Indians,  and  they 
began  to  show  signs  of  hostility.  They  murdered 
some  whites  who  had  cheated  them,  and  the  whites 
retaliated.  At  this  time  *"  One  Jenkins,  late  an  inhab- 
itant  at  Dorchester,   and  now   removed  to  Cape  Por» 

•Winthrope. 


22  HISTORY    OF  [from  1632 

pus,  went  with  an  Indian  up  into  the  country  with 
store  of  goods  to  truck,  and  being  asleep  in  a  wigwam 
with  one  of  Passaconamy's  men,  was  killed  in  the 
night  by  an  Indian  dwelling  near  the  Mohawk 
country,  who  made  away  with  his  goods,  but  was 
fetched  back  by  Passaconamy's  company." — Savage 
says,  "  nothing  more  of  Jenkins  is  known  to  me  than 
here  inserted,  of  the  manner  of  his  death." 

Although  so  many  people  were  emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica, that  the  King  ordered  the  vessels  to  stop,  yet  on 
account  of  the  troubles  with  the  Indians  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  procuring  bread  stuff,  there  being  no  mills 
nearer  than  Boston,  the  population  of  Lygonia  in- 
creased but  slowly.  The  English  merchants  and  adven- 
turers [*1634]  being  discouraged  by  their  repeated  fail- 
ures and  troubles,  assigned  their  whole  interest  to 
Gorges  and  Mason,  who  appointed  Francis  Williams 
their  deputy  governor. 

Sir  Ferdinando,  being  again  assailed  with  the  charge 
of  monopoly  of  trade,  stated  to  the  House  of  Commons 
that  he  had  spent  <£20,000,  and  thirty  years  of  his  life, 
in  endeavoring  to  people  New  England,  without  any 
advantage  to  himself.  In  fact  his  discouragements  had 
been  great,  and  his  prospects  at  this  time  were  ex- 
tremely gloomy.  His  agents  were  unfaithful,  the 
French  were  encroaching  upon  his  possessions,  and  a 
civil  war  had  commenced  in  England. 

The  Council  of  Plymouth,  [1635]  in  order  to  give  a 
new  impulse  to  their  settlements,  resigned  their  patent, 
which  they  had  held  for  fifteen  years,  and  took  new 
ones.  Gorges  took  a  patent  of  his  territory,  in- 
cluding Lygonia,  Saco,  and  Agamenticus  or  York, 
and  changed  its  name  to  New  Somersetshire.  He 
was  then  appointed  Governor  General  over  the  whole 
of  New  England.  The  man-of-war,  that  was  to  bring 
him  over,  met  with  an  accident  in  launching,  and  the 
enterprise  was  given  up.  Mason  soon  afterwards  died, 
which  threw  upon  Gorges  increased  trouble  and  ex- 
pense. He  however  sent  over  his  nephew,  William 
Gorges,    as  Governor,    who  commenced  his  duties  at 

*By  an  act  of  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  passed  in  1734, 
musket  balls  passed   for  farthings. 


TO  1636]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  23 

Saco,  [1636]  and  remained  in  this  country  two  years. 
Saco  was  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  flourishing  places 
in  New  Somersetshire,  having  been  well  regulated  for 
several  years.  Gorges  opened  a  Court,  March  18th, 
it  being  the  first  organized  government  in  Maine.  At 
this  Court,  William  Scadlock  brought  an  action  of 
debt  against  Morgan  Howell.  Both  of  these  persons 
were  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise.  Scadlock  was 
also  presented  for  getting  drunk. 

There  was  no  part  of  America  to  which  there  were 
so  many  conflicting  claims,  grounded  on  different 
grants  from  European  powers,  as  to  that  portion  in 
which  Cape  Porpoise  is  included.  In  1493,  it  was 
granted  by  the  Pope,  in  common  with  the  whole  coun- 
try, to  the  Kings  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  Henry  VII. 
of  England  granted  it  to  Cabot  in  1495.  Francis, 
King  of  France,  claimed  the  northern  part  of  America 
under  the  name  of  New  France,  and  sent  Verrazzana 
to  take  possession  of  it.  In  1583,  Elizabeth  conveyed 
it  to  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert ;  and  the  year  following  to 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  It  was  called  Arcadia  by  Henry 
IV.  of  France,  and  was  granted  to  De  Monts  in  1603. 

All  these  grants,  however,  were  considered  nugatory, 
and  James  I.  of  England,  in  1606,  granted  the  country 
from  the  34th  to  the  45th  degree  of  North  latitude  to 
English  merchants,  under  the  name  of  North  and 
South  Virginia.  In  1620,  the  country  from  the  40th  to 
the  48th  degree  of  North  latitude  was  granted  to  forty 
noblemen  knights,  and  gentlemen,  who  were  denomina- 
ted, "  The  Council  established  at  Plymouth  in  the 
County  of  Devon,  for  planting,  ruling  and  governing 
New  England  in  America."  This  Council,  in  162*2, 
granted  to  Gorges  and  Mason,  two  of  its  members,  all 
the  country  between  the  Kennebec  and  Merrimac 
rivers,  which  they  called  the  Province  of  Laconia. 
They  also  granted  to  John  Dye  and  others,  in  1630,  a 
tract  of  land  forty  miles  square,  bounded  on  the  West 
by  Cape  Porpoise,  called  Lygonia.  This  grant  was 
transferred  to  Sir  Alexander  Rigby. 

The  Council  likewise  granted  to  Vines  and  Oldham, 
four  miles  on  the  West  side  of  Saco  river.  This  pa- 
tent was  sold  to  Dr.  Robert  Child,  in  1645,  who  con- 
veyed it  to  John  Beex  <fc   Co.   London,    and     •   was 


24  HISTORY   OF  [from  1636 

afterwards  purchased  by  Major  Phillips.  In  1635,  the 
Council  of  Plymouth  divided  their  territory  into  twelve 
divisions.  The  third  and  fourth  divisions,  between 
the  Kennebec  and  Piscataqua  rivers,  were  granted  to 
Gorges,  by  the  name  of  New  Somersetshire.  This 
charter  was  revoked,  and  Charles  I.  granted  the  same 
extent  of  territory  again  to  Gorges,  and  named  it  the 
"  Province  or  County  of  Maine."  In  1644,  the  colony 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  claimed  Maine  and  Lygonia  as 
being  included  in  their  patent,  and,  in  1692,  the  charter 
of  William  and  Mary  placed  them  under  that  govern- 
ment. 

There  were  probably  other  grants  by  European 
powers,  besides  many  from  different  Indians  of  this 
territory,  which  involved  the  early  settlers  in  constant 
litigation. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Pequot  war....M  aine....New-Somersetshire....General  Court...* 
William  Scadlock  presented.... West  India  business  com- 
mences....Rigby....Maine  and  Lygonia  divided. ... Sir  Ferdi- 
nando  Gorges....Court  of  Assistants....Massachusetts  claims 
Maine..  .Cape  Porpus  submits.. ..Is  incorporated  July  5th.... 
Howell  prosecutes  Baker....Road  located.... Persons  not 
church  members  allowed  to  vote....Commissioners  appoint- 
ed to  take  a  census....Edward  Rigby  and  Gorges's  heirs  claim 
Lygonia....Dispute  between  Wells  and  Cape  Porpoise.... 
Kennebunk  river  the  dividing  line....Line  between  Saco  and 
Cape  Porpoise  run....Town  meeting. 

One  of  the  Pequot  Indians,  in  1637,  murdered  John 
Oldham,  a  patentee  of  Saco,  which  caused  a  war,  in 
which  the  whole  tribe  was  destroyed.  The  colonies, 
however,  had  now  begun  to  prosper,  and  religious 
persecution  in  England  caused  many  to  emigrate. 
Oliver  Cromwell  intended  to  embark  for  this  country 
but  was  stopped  by  orders  of  the  King. 

Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  was  again  appointed  Govern- 


TO  1641.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  25 

or  General  of  New  England,  but  being  a  royalist,  he 
lost  his  influence  and  never  came  to  this  country. 
He  obtained  from  the  King,  however,  a  charter  of 
New  Somersetshire,  who  gave  it  the  name  of  the 
"  Province  or  County  of  Maine,"  a  name  which  it  has 
ever  since  borne.  By  reason  of  the  great  number  of 
islands  in  this  neighborhood,  the  coast  was  commonly 
called  the  main  ;  for  this  reason,  and  in  compliment 
to  Queen  Henrietta  who  had  a  province  of  that  name 
in  France,  it  received  its  name. 

The  powers  granted  by  this  charter  were  greater 
than  were  ever  granted  by  the  crown  to  any  other 
individual.  He  appointed  a  standing  Council,  Chan- 
cellor, Provost  Marshall,  Treasurer,  Admiral,  Master 
of  Ordnance,  and  Keeper  of  Province  seal,  who  were 
obliged  to  take  oath  "  to  be  faithful  servants  to  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges,  knight,  my  Lord  of  the  Province 
of  Maine."  The  articles  of  faith  and  form  of  church 
government  were  those  of  the  Church  of  England. 

The  first  General  Court  under  this  charter,  was 
opened  on  the  35th  of  June,  1640,  and  the  records  of 
the  County  of  York  have  been  kept  regularly  ever 
since. 

Thomas  Gorges  arrived  in  the  summer,  commission- 
ed Deputy  Governor,  and  took  possession  of  the  Prov- 
ince. It  was  divided  into  two  districts  or  counties  by 
the  "  Kennibonke"  river  ;  the  western  one  acquired 
the  name  of  York,  and  the  eastern  one  that  of  New 
Somersetshire.  County  courts  were  holden  at  York 
and  Saco,  but  the  General  Court  was  holden  at  Saco, 
on  the  western  side  of  the  river,  in  that  part  of  the 
town  since  called  Biddeford.  The  second  term  of  the 
court  was  holden  in  September,  at  which  time  "  Wil- 
liam Scadlock  was  presented  by  the  grand  inquest, 
for  the  misdemeanor  of  allowing  Thomas  Heard  to 
get  drunk  at  his  house,  and  was  fined  twenty  shillings 
by  the  court,  which  upon  his  humble  petition  was 
remitted." 

The  Commons  in  England  [1641]  had  now  gained 
the  ascendency,  and  emigration  entirely  ceased.  Busi- 
ness became  dull,  and  many  returned  to  England. 
The  West  India  trade,  however,  commenced  this  year, 
and  lumber  was  exchanged  for  the  produce  of  these 
islands.  C 


26  HISTORY  OF  [from  1643 

The  success  of  republicanism  in  England  caused 
the  proprietors  of  the  Lygonia  or  Plough  patent  to  revive 
their  claim,  [1643]  and  Sir  Alexander  Rigby  pur- 
chased it.  Rigby  was  a  lawyer,  and  a  republican. 
He  commissioned  George  Cleaves  his  Deputy  Presi- 
dent, and  directed  him  to  take  upon  himself  the 
administration  of  his  afTairs.  William  and  Thomas 
Gorges,  agents  for  Sir  Ferdinando,  disputed  Rigby's 
title,  and  called  a  court  at  Saco,*  [1644]  while  Cleaves 
called  one  at  Casco.  They  referred  their  quarrel  to 
the  Massachusetts  magistrates,  who,  having  determined 
to  take  possession  of  Maine  themselves,  refused  to 
decide  the  case.  The  contest  was  not  ended  till 
March  1646,  when  the  Governor  General  and  Commis- 
sioners of  the  American  plantations  decided  in  favor  of 
Rigby.  By  this  decision  Gorges  was  deprived  of  near- 
ly the  whole  of  his  province,  leaving  him  only  the 
territory  between  the  Piscataqua  river  and  Cape  Por- 
pus  plantation, f  to  which  Maine  was  restricted. 

Sir  Ferdinando  had  probably  done  more  towards 
colonizing  Maine  than  any  other  individual.  He  was  a 
firm  royalist  and  episcopalian,  which  made  him  unpop- 
ular in  Massachusetts,  and  also  in  England  after  the 
republicans  had  gained  the  ascendency. 

Although  more  than  seventy  years  of  age,  he  joined 
the  army  of  the  King  in  the  civil  wars,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  at  the  siege  of  Bristol.  He  died  about  two 
years  before  Charles  was  beheaded.  He  was  of  Span- 
ish extraction,  a  descendant  of  an  ancient  and 
respectable  family.  He  betrayed  the  secret  of  the 
conspiracy  of  Essex  against  Queen  Elizabeth.  He 
was  never  wealthy,  but  obtained  many  marks  of  royal 
favor. 

The  Province  of  Maine  was  less  in  extent  than  Ly- 
gonia, as  confined  by  the  late  decision.  Rigby  being 
a  republican,  his  government  soon  became  popular.     A 

*At  this  court,  "  ordered  that  every  town  provide  a  sufficient 
payre  of  Bilbowes  within  three  months." 

t  Williamson,  vol.  i.  page  302,  saj's,"  according  to  this  decision, 
the  river  Kennebunk  proved  to  be  the  divisional  line  between  the 
two  provinces."  But  there  was  nothing  in  their  report,  a6  cited  by 
Sullivan,  page  114,  to  warrant  this  conclusion.  They  merely  a- 
warded  Rigby  a  tract  40  miles  square,  without  defining  the  limits. 


TO  1653.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  27 

Court  of  Assistants  was  formed  at  Saco,  [1650]  and 
Morgan  Howell  of  Cape  Porpus  was  one  of  the  assist- 
ants? Sir  Alexander  Rig-by  died  in  August  much 
reo-retted.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  army,  had  a  seat 
in  Parliament,  and  had  been  knighted. 

After  Rigby's  death,  [1651]  Massachusetts  most 
unjustly  laid  claim  to  the  western  part  of  Maine,  as  be- 
longing to  her  jurisdiction,  and  sent  commissioners  to 
compel  the  inhabitants  to  submit  to  her  authority.  Al- 
though their  claim  was  at  first  opposed  both  by  Lygo- 
nia  and  Maine,  yet  they  finally  prevailed,  and  York 
and  Kittery  submitted  in  November  1652.  Maine  was 
erected  into  a  county  by  the  name  of  Yorkshire,  and 
the  courts  were  to  be  holden  alternately  in  York  and 
Kittery. 

Richard  Bellingham,  deputy  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts, Thomas  Wiggins,  Brian  Pendleton,  Daniel 
Dennison,  and  Edward  Rawson  were  appointed  com- 
missioners the  year  following.  They  could  get  no 
farther  than  Wells  for  want  of  a  suitable  road,  and 
they  there  apened  their  court.  The  inhabitants  of 
Wells  and  Saco  signed  the  submission  July  5th,  as 
did  also  those  of  Cape  Porpoise,  which  was  the  fifth 
incorporated  town  in  Maine. 

"  At  a  Court  held  in  Wells,  5th  July,  1653,  the  in- 
habitants of  Cape  Porpus  were  called  and  made  their 
appearance  according  to  their  summons  and  acknowl- 
edged themselves  subject  to  the  government  of  Mas- 
sachusetts as  followeth, 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten  do  acknowl- 
edge ourselves  subject  to  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts, as    witness  our  hands. 

Morgan  Howell,  Stephen  Batson, 

Christopher  Spurrell,       Gregory  Jeffries, 
Thomas  Warner,  Peter  Turbat, 

Griffin  Mountague,  John  Cole, 

John  Baker,  Simon  Teoft, 

William  Renolds,  Ambrose  Berry. 

"To  these  abovementioned  also  the  commissioners 
granted  they  should  be  freemen,  and  in  open  court 
gave  them  the  freeman's  oath.  And  further, — 
Whereas  the  town  of  Cape  Porpus,  have  acknowl- 
edged   themselves  subject  to  the    Government   of  the 


28  HISTORY   OF  [a.   d.  1653. 

Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  as  by  their  sub- 
scription may  appear, — We  the  commissioners  of  the 
general  court  of  the  Massachusetts  for  the  settling  of 
government  among  them  and  the  rest  within  the 
bounds  of  their  charter,  northerly,  to  the  full  and  just 
extent  of  their  line,  have  thought  meet  and  do  actu- 
ally grant, 

"  1.  That  Cape  Porpus  shall  be  a  township  by  itself 
and  always  shall  be  a  part  of  Yorkshire,  and  shall 
enjoy  equal  protection,  acts  of  favor  and  justice,  with 
the  rest  of  the  people  inhabiting  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river  Piscataqua  or  any  other  within  the  limits  of 
our  jurisdiction,  and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  a  town,  as 
others  of  the  jurisdiction  have  and  do  enjoy,  with  all 
other  liberties  and  privileges  granted  to  other  inhabit- 
ants in  our  jurisdiction. 

"  2.  That  every  inhabitant  shall  have  and  enjoy  all 
their  just  proprieties,  titles  and  interests  in  the  houses 
and  lands  which  they  do  possess,  whither  by  grant  of 
the  towns,    possession,   or  of  the  former  general  court. 

"  3.  That  all  the  present  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus 
shall  be  freemen  of  the  country,  and  having  taken  the 
oath  of  freemen,  shall  have  liberty  to  give  their  votes 
for  the  election  of  the  governour,  assistants  and  other 
general  officers  of  the  country. 

"  Morgan  Howell  of  Cape  Porpus,  did  acknowledge 
himself  bound  in  fifty  pounds  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
county  on  this  condition,  that  he  will  prosecute  his 
action  against  John  Baker,  at  the  next  county  court 
to  be  holden  at  York.  Griffin  Montague  was  chosen 
and  sworn  constable  there.  Gregory  Jeffery  was 
chosen  a  grand  juryman  there  for  one  year  and  took 
the  oath  accordingly."* 

The  commissioners  also  ordered  that,  "  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Wells,  Saco  and  Cape  Porpus,  shall  make 
sufficient  highways  within  their  towns  from  house  to 
house,  and  clear  and  fit  for  foot  and  cart,  before  the 
next  county  court,  under  the  penalty  of  ten  pounds  for 
every  town's  defect  in  this  particular,  and  that  they  lay 
out  a  sufficient  highway  for  horse  and  foot  between 
towns  and  towns  within  that  time." 

Commissioners  report. 


A.  D.   1653.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  29 

The  cause  between  Morgan  Howell  and  John  Baker 
was  of  a  singular  character.  "  It  was  continued  and 
referred  to  be  determined  by  the  next  county  court  in 
Yorkshire.  John  Baker  did  acknowledge  himself 
bound  in  twenty  pounds  to  Richard  Russel,  gent, 
treasurer  of  the  Massachusetts  jurisdiction,  on  this 
condition  that  he  shall  appear  before  the  next  county 
court  in  Yorkshire,  to  answer  the  said  action  or  com- 
plaint against  Morgan  Howell.  Several  articles  were 
exhibited  against  John  Baker  for  abusive  and  approbri- 
ous  speeches  uttered  by  him  against  the  minister  and 
ministry,  and  for  upholding  private  meetings  and 
prophecying  to  the  hindrance  and  disturbance  of  pub- 
lick  assemblings,  some  of  which  being  proved  against 
him,  he  tendered  voluntarily  to  desist  from  prophecy- 
ing publickly  any  more.  The  court  proceeded  to  cen- 
sure him  to  be  bound  to  his  good  behavior,  and  forbad 
him  any  more  publickly  to  preach  in  this  jurisdic- 
tion."* 

In  Massachusetts,  church  members  only  were  allow- 
ed to  vote,  but  the  inhabitants  of  Yorkshire  enjoyed 
that  privilege  without  being  so.  Other  laws  were  en- 
joyed in  common,  and  were  similar  to  those  now  in 
force.  The  militia  were  required  to  do  duty  six  times 
a  year,  part  of  them  to  be  armed  with  muskets,  and 
part  with  pikes,  corslets,  and  head-pieces. 

Commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  General  Court 
to  take  a  census  of  the  ratable  polls,  and  an  estimate 
of  taxable  property  ;  and  Griffin  Montague  of  Cape 
Porpoise  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners. 
The  whole  tax  of  the  county  was  <£91  15,  of  which 
Cape  Porpoise  paid  £4,  and  in  1662,  but  <£3.  The 
towns  to  the  eastward  of  Saco,  did  not  willingly  submit 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  Military  compa- 
nies were  formed  in  Kittery,  York,  Wells,  and  Cape 
Porpoise,  to  force  them  to  obedience  ;  and  the  whole 
was  formed  into  a  regiment  commanded  by  Nicholas 
Shapleigh.  They,  however,  soon  became  reconciled 
to  the  government  of  Massachusetts ;  and  several  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise  and  the  other  towns. 

*Sullivan  6ays  the  commissioners  dissolved  the  church  connex- 
ion at  Cape  Porpoise.      He  made  a  mistake,  however,  as  it  was  lh& 
church  in  Wells,  and  not  in  Cape  Porpoise. 
C  c 


30  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1660. 

petitioned  Cromwell  to  continue  them  under  that  gov- 
ernment.* Great  exertions  were  made  by  Edward 
Rigby,  son  of  Sir  Alexander,  who  had  considerabfe 
influence  with  the  Protector,  to  regain  possession  of  Ly- 
gonia.  He  might  have  succeeded,  but  Charles  Second 
was  restored,  [1660]  who  was  opposed  to  his  claim. 
The  King,  however,  favored  the  claim  of  Ferdinando 
Gorges,  grandson  to  Sir  Ferdinando,  and  a  committee 
of  Parliament  reported  in  his  favor.  Gorges  sent  over 
an  agent,  Mr.  Archdale,  with  commissioners  to  govern 
the  Province.  They  succeeded  in  drawing  several 
from  their  allegiance  to  Massachusetts,  who  were  sub- 
sequently presented  by  the  grand  jury  for  the  offence. t 

Cape  Porpoise,  although  an  incorporated  town,  was, 
on  account  of  its  limited  population  and  wealth,  consid- 
ered but  little  more  than  an  adjunct  to  Saco.  The 
court,  when  appointing  militia  officers  to  the  company 
of  Saco,  ordered  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  to  "join 
in  their  traynings  ;"  and  Robert  Booth  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  writs,  or  town  clerk  of  both  towns.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  they  even  held  town  meetings  regu- 
larly at  this  time,  or  raised  money  for  any  public  pur- 
pose except  to  pay  their  small  proportion  of  the  county 
tax.  From  the  following  proceedings  at  the  county 
court,  it  would  appear,  that  they  did  not  provide  for 
the  maintenance  of  roads,  of  public  worship,  or  other 
requisitions  of  law. 

"  Whereas  complaynt  is  made  of  a  very  bad  way 
lying  between  Cape  Porpus  and  Kennebunk  ; — It  is 
therefore  ordered  that  some  speedy  course  bee  taken 
for  the  sufficient  making  good  of  said  highway  next  to 
Kennebunk  river." 

"Whereas  both  god's  word,  and  the  laws  of  the 
country  do  require  a  constant  assembling  of  people 
togeather  on  every  Lord's  day,  to  attend  upon  his  wor- 
ship ;  to  which  end  a  convenient  house  and  competent 
means   are   to  bee  provided  for  those  who  dispense  the 

*Tbe  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus,  who  signed  the  petition,  were 
Win  Scadlock,  Wm.  Renolds,  Morgan  Howell,  Edvv.  Clark, 
Gregory  JefTery,  John  Barret,  sen.  and  Griffin  Montague. 

iSullivan  says  William  Hilton  of  Arundel  was  fined  ;  but  Hilton 
was  at  that  time,  constable  of  the  town  of  Kittery,  and  never  re- 
sided in  Cape  Porpus. 


A.    I).   1(360.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  31 

word  of  grace  amongst  them. — This  court,  taking  these 
things  into  consideration,  in  reference  to  the  present 
condition  of  Sacoe  and  Cape  Porpus,  of  which  they 
have  intelligence,  do  give  them  to  know  that  Major 
Nicholas  Shapleigh  is  desired  whenever  opportunity 
serves,  to  inquire  into  the  case,  and  unless  these  things 
between  themselves  bee  sett  in  a  good  way  before  his 
comeing  thither,  that  hee  will  bee  obliged  to  settle 
matters  effectually  amongst  them." 

Neither  this  threat,  nor  the  appearance  of  Major 
Shapleigh,  produced  any  effect  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  for  they  were  probably  wholly  unable  to 
make  suitable  provision  for  a  settled  minister.  A  short 
time  after,  the  matter  was  again  taken  up  by  the  court, 
and  the  following  order  passed.  "The  court  being  In- 
formed, (unto  whom  lit  was  not  altogeather  unknowne) 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus  are  destitute  of 
any  publique  means  for  their  edification  on  the  Lord's 
day,  the  further  continuance  whereof  if  not  prevented 
may  in  a  short  tyme  bee  an  Inlett  to  great  Profaynesse ; 
— It  is  therefore  ordered  henceforth,  that  the  said  in- 
habitants shall  from  tyme  to  tyme  meete  togeather  att 
the  house  of  John  Bush,  who,  as  wee  are  informed,  is 
willing  to  exercise  unto  them,  whereby  the  Lord's  day 
may  bee  sanctified  in  hearing  and  reading  the  word  of 
god,  and  other  holy  exercises : — Otherwise  they  are 
required  duly  to  attend  the  publique  meeting  at  Sacoe 
every  Lord's  day  when  the  unseasonablenesse  of  the 
weather,  or  other  occasions  of  absolute  necessity  doth 
not  restrayne." 

Most  of  the  inhabitants  chose  to  go  to  Saco  ;  and 
some  of  whom,  thinking  they  had  a  right  to  have  a 
voice  in  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  church, 
gave  offence  to  several  citizens  of  that  town  ;  which 
was  probably  the  cause  of  the  offensive  words  attribu- 
ted to  Francis  Small  in  the  following  presentment  of 
the  grand  jury.  "  Wee  present  Fran.  Small,  who 
speaking  of  the  men  that  came  from  Cape  Porpus  to 
Sacoe, — sayd,  should  they  be  ruled  by  the  Roges  that 
come  out  of  the  rocks  of  Cape  Porpus. 

"  Noe  Legall  proofe  of  this  presentment  appeared.'' 

About  the  same  time,  the  town  was  complained  of 
for  not  "  having  a  payre  of  stocks,    cage  and  couckin 


32  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1660. 

stool,  according  to  law,"  and  shortly  after  for  not  hav- 
ing a  pound,  and  not  "  making  good  the  country  ways 
for  horse  and  foot  within  their  township." 

Besides  these  troubles  with  the  county,  the  town  had  a 
dispute  with  Wells,  as  to  the  ownership  and  right  of  ju- 
risdiction, to  the  territory  between  Cape  Porpus  or 
Mousani  river  and  Kennebunk  river.  Wells  claimed  to 
Kennebunk,  and  Cape  Porpoise  claimed  to  Mousam 
river.  There  had  been  several  conflicting  grants  of  parts 
of  this  land.  In  1641,  George  Cleaves,  agent  for  Rigby, 
deeded  the  tract  of  land  now  known  as  the  great  hill 
farm,  to  John  Wakefield  and  John  Littlefield,  through 
whom  it  is  now  holden.  If  it  had  not  belonged  to  Lygo- 
nia,  Cleaves  would  have  had  no  right  to  convey  it,  as  he 
acted  for  the  proprietor  of  that  Province,  the  limits  of 
which  did  not  extend  beyond  the  plantation  of  Cape 
Porpoise.  To  have  made  Mousam  river  the  dividing 
line,  would  have  been  a  more  equal  division  of  towns  ; 
although  Cape  Porpoise  would  then  have  been  the 
smallest, — only  about  six  miles  in  breadth,  while  Wells 
and  Saco  would  have  each  been  eight  ;  but  to  take 
Kennebunk  river,  Cape  Porpoise  would  be  only  four 
miles  wide,  and  Wells  at  least  ten.  Besides,  if  Lvgonia 
had  been  bounded  by  Kennebunk  river  on  the  west,  the 
proprietors  would  not  have  had  their  full  distance, 
forty  miles  on  the  sea-coast ; — and  even  to  Mousani 
river  would  have  been  insufficient.  Some  did  actually 
contend,  that  the  river  to  the  westward  of  Mousani 
river,  called  Little  river,  was  the  western  limits  of  The 
town.  It  would  seem  too,  that  the  river,  bearing  the 
name  of  the  plantation,  must  have  been  the  true  boun- 
dary of  the  Province.  ***■  But  Cape  Porpoise  being 
•held  by  grants  under  Rigby,  who  by  his  patent  claimed 
the  powers  of  civil  government,  had  not  much  respect 
paid  to  the  title  of  lands  within  it ;"  and  William  Gor- 
ges, as  agent  for  Sir  Ferdinando,  in  1643,  appointed 
Henry  Boad,  John  Wheelwright,  and  Edward  Rich- 
worth,  commissioners  to  lay  out  the  township  of  W'ells, 
extending  from  the  Ogunquett  or  Ogunkigg  river  to 
Kennebunk  river.  lie  also  deeded  lands  the  next  year, 
to  Mr.    Wheelwright,    extending   to  Kennebunk  river, 

*Sullivan. 


A.  D.  16G0.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  83 

which  was  the  origin  of  Wells.  The  government  of 
Gorges  had  in  fact,  as  early  as  1640,  made  Kennebunk 
river  the  dividing  line  between  the  east  and  west  dis- 
tricts, which  were  afterwards  designated  as  Yorkshire 
and  Somersetshire.  Persons  living  between  Kenne- 
bunk and  Piscataqua,  attended  the  courts  at  York,  and 
those  between  Kennebunk  and  Sagadahock,  at  Saco. 
These  proceedings  of  Gorges,  however,  could  not  take 
away  the  right  of  Cape  Porpoise  to  the  territory  in  dis- 
pute, if  it  ever  belonged  to  Lygonia,  as  he  at  this  time 
denied  Rigby's  right  to  any  part  of  the  Province.  If 
Rigby's  territory  ever  extended  to  Cape  Porpoise  river, 
the  decision  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick  and  the  other 
commissioners  appointed  to  settle  the  dispute  between 
Gorges  and  Rigby,  in  1646,  must  have  rendered  the 
acts  of  Gorges  null  and  void,  as  it  confirmed  to  Rigby 
his  original  grant  of  forty  miles  square. 

It  is  highly  probable,  that  the  inhabitants  living  in 
the  disputed  district,  considered  themselves  within  the 
patent  of  Rigby,  after  this  decision,  till  the  agreement 
between  the  committees  of  Wells  and  Cape  Porpoise. 

Edmund  Littlefield,  in  making  his  will  in  1661, 
speaks  of  his  farm  on  the  east  side  of  Mousam  river,  as 
being  "  specified  in  two  deeds  granted  by  Mr.  George 
Cleaves,  agent  of  Mr.  Rigby,  which  is  now  come  into 
the  government  of  Mr.  Gorges,  proprietor  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Maine." 

Wells  probably  claimed  the  tract  in  dispute,  because 
Kennebunk  river  had  been  the  dividing  line  of  the 
counties,  and  the  town  had  been  laid  out,  extending  to 
this  river  ;  and  perhaps  these  were  the  reasons  why  the 
commissioners  of  Cape  Porpoise  yielded  the  point  at 
issue  so  readily  ;  but  their  decision  gave  great  offence 
to  the  citizens  of  Cape  Porpoise,  who  attributed  their 
compliance  to  less  worthy  motives  than  that  of  con- 
viction. 

To  settle  this  controversy,  [1660]  the  towns  chose 
commissioners,  who  met  at  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk 
river,  near  the  wading  place,  probably  at  the  house  of 
William  Reynolds  the  ferryman,  who  kept  a  public 
house  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  Being  detained 
several  days  by  a  violent  storm,  or  some  other  cause, 
and  their  expenses  amounting  to  a  considerable   sum 


34  HISTORY   of  [from    1660 

for  the  poor  town  of  Cape  Porpoise  to  pay,  the  com- 
missioners of  Wells  proposed  to  those  of  Cape  Por- 
poise, that,  if  they  would  consent  to  call  Kennebunk 
river  the  dividing  line,  the  town  of  Wells  would  pay  all 
their  expenses  at  the  public  house.  The  Cape  Por- 
poise commissioners,  either  being  intoxicated,  or,  as 
themselves  said,  thinking  their  town  would  not  be  able 
or  willing  to  pay  their  bills,  accepted  the  proposition, 
and  made  out  the  following  agreement,  which  was  en- 
tered on  the  Massachusetts  and  York  county  Records. 
"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  chosen 
by  the  towns  of  Cape  Porpus  and  Wells  for  the  laying 
out  of  the  dividing  line  of  each  town,  do  mutually  agree, 
that  the  river  Kennebunk  shall  be  the  bounds  of  Cape 
Porpus  and  Wells  to  the  uttermost  extent  of  both 
towns,  being  eight  miles  up  into  the  country  :  Witness 
our  hands  the  10th  of  May,  1660. 
Edmund  Littlefield,  Wm.  Scadlock, 
William  Harmon,  Morgan  Howell." 

The  inhabitants  of  Saco  had  petitioned  the  General 
Court,  for  a  committee  to  run  the  line  between  that 
town  and  Cape  Porpoise  ;  and  Nicholas  Shapleigh, 
Abraham  Preble,  and  Edward  Richworth,  were  ap- 
pointed, who  made  the  following  report  :  "  That  the 
dividing  line  between  Cape  Porpus  and  Saco  shall  be 
the  river  commonly  called  the  Little  river,  next  unto 
William  Scadlock's  now  dwelling  house  unto  the  first 
fall  of  the  said  river,  and  from  thence  upon  a  "direct 
northwest  line  into  the  country,  untill  eight  miles  be 
expired." 

Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise,  as  well  as 
those  from  other  towns,  were  constantly  engaged  in 
petty  law  suits,  at  every  term  of  the  judicial  courts 
held  in  the  county.  In  order  to  put  a  stop  to  this  busi- 
ness, or  to  save  them  the  trouble  and  expense  of  trav- 
elling, the  following  order  was  passed,  at  a  court  held 
in  York  in  1663.* 

"  Our  Assistante  whom  Cape  Porpus  shall  chuse,  to- 
geather  with  the  Selectmen  thereof,  shall  have  power  to 
keepe  a  Commission  Court  as  high  as  =£10." 

*Jurors  were  allowed  3s.  a  day  for  their  services,  and  the  same 
sum  for  a  day's  travel.  From  Cape  Porpus  to  York  was  called 
two  and  a  half  day's  travel. 


TO  1063.]  KEXNEBUNK  PORT.  35 

At  the  same  term  the  following;  additional  order  was 
passed,  extending  the  same  privilege  to  Saco  and 
Wells. 

"  It  is  hereby  ordered,  that  any  one  of  the  Associ- 
ates of  this  county  which  the  towns  shall  chuse,  joyn- 
ing  with  the  town  commissioners  of  "Wells  and  Sacoe, 
and  with  the  townsmen  of  Cape  Porpus,  shall  have  full 
power  to  keepe  a  Comission,  or  Comission  Court  there- 
in from  tyme  to  tyme,  as  they  shall  see  cause,  for  the 
Tryall  of  actions  as  high  as  ,£10." 

Several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  having  con- 
flicting claims  to  the  marshes  at  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town,  a  town  meeting  was  called,  August  26th,  16G3, 
"  for  the  preventing  strife."  "  That  peace  and  quiet- 
ness might  be  maintained,"  they  divided  the  marsh 
amongst  the  claimants,  and  entered  their  doings  on  the 
county  records.  At  this  meeting,  John  Sanders  and 
Griffin  Montague  were  made  free  commoners  or  pro- 
prietors. The  following  persons  only  attended  the 
meeting. 

Seth  Fletcher,  John  Sanders,  John  Sanders,  jr.  Fran- 
cis Littlefield,  sen.,  John  Bush,  Peter  Turbatt,  John 
Cirmihill,  Griffin  Montague,  William  Rind  all,  Thomas 
Mussell,  William  Renalds,  and  William  Renalds,jr. 


36  HISTORY    OF  [from    1664 


CHAPTER  III. 

Massachusetts  required  to  give  up  Maine... .King's  commis- 
sioners....Anecdotes  of  Cape  Porpoise... Avalanche....The 
people  superstitious....Bigotry....  Persecution.... Character  of 
the  people  of  Maine....Presentments....Gorgcs's  claim  re- 
newed....Philip's  war.. ...Massachusetts  buys  Maine-Govern- 
ed as  a  Province.... Danlbrth  President.. ..New  Road....Dan- 
forth's  deed....Andros  Royal  Governor....Cape  Porpoise 
placed  under  Saco....  Paper  money.. ..Two  families  taken 
prisoners.... Indian  war... .The  inhabitants  flee  to  the  fort.... 
Besieged  by  the  Jndians....Town  deserted. ...Town  records 
lost....Inhabitants  return....Second  Indian  war....Town  de- 
populated....Families  killed  and  taken  prisoners... .Peace.... 
Town  re-settled. 

Charles  II.  disliking  the  puritans  of  New  England, 
granted  [1064]  Gorges  an  order  to  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  Massachusetts,  requiring  them  to  give  up 
the  Province  of  Maine,  or  else  assign  their  reasons  for 
withholding  it.  A  long  contest  between  the  King  and 
Massachusetts  was  the  consequence  of  this  order,  and 
Gorges  sent  over  an  agent  [1065]  to  take  possession  of 
the  government.  Royal  commissioners,  however,  soon 
took  possession  of  the  Province,  and  ended  the  author- 
ity of  Gorges,  which  was  never  afterwards  resumed. 
The  commissioners  organized  a  government,  and  ap- 
pointed civil  and  military  officers.  Richard  Hitchcox 
and  John  Lazer  were  appointed  officers  of  the  compa- 
ny at  Cape  Porpoise  and  Saco.  During  the  French 
war  of  1666,  and  till  1668,  Maine  continued  under  the 
government  organized  by  the  Ring's  commission- 
ers, but  their  affairs  were  in  great  confusion,  when 
it  again  became  subject  to  Massachusetts.  "  Cape 
Porpoise  joyned  with  Sacoe,"  in  choosing  commission- 
ers. 

At  this  time  [1668]  says  *Joscelin,  "  at  Cape  Por- 
poise, where  there  is  a  town  by  the  sea  side  of  the 
same  name,  the  houses  scatteringly  built, n "they 

*Joscelin's  Voyages. 


TO  1670.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  37 

have  store  of  salt  and  fresh  marsh,  with  arable  land  and 
are  "  well  stockt  with  cattle." 

The  same  writer  relates  the  following  anecdotes  of 
this  town  and  neighborhood. 

"  July  17th,  there  was  a  whale  thrown  up  on  the  shore 
between  Winter  Harbour  and  Cape  Porpus,  about  eight 
miles  from  the  *place  where  I  lived,  that  was  five  and 
fifty  feet  long." 

"  At  Cape  Porpus  lived  an  honest  poor  planter  of 
middle  age,  and  strong  of  body,  but  so  extremely  troub- 
led with  two  lumps  (or  wens  as  I  conjectured)  within 
him,  on  each  side  one,  that  he  could  not  rest  for  them 
day  or  night,  being  of  great  weight,  and  swagging  to 
the  one  side  or  the  other,  according  to  the  motion  or 
posture  of  the  body ;  at  last  he  died  in  Anno  1668,  as 
I  think,  or  thereabouts.  Some  Chirurgeons  there  were 
that  proffered  to  open  him,  but  his  wife  would  not  as- 
sent to  it,  so  as  his  case  was  hidden  in  the  grave." 

He  likewise  [1670]  relates  that,  "  at  a  place  called 
Kennebunk  which  is  in  the  province  of  Maine  not  far 
from  the  river  side,  a  piece  of  clay  ground  was  thrown 
up  by  a  mineral  vapour  (as  was  supposed)  over  the  tops 
of  high  oaks  that  grew  between  it  and  the  river,  stop- 
ping the  course  thereof,  and  leaving  a  hole  forty  yards 
square,  wherein  were  thousands  of  clay  bullets  as  big 
as  musquet  bullets,  and  pieces  of  clay  in  shape  like  the 
barrel  of  a  musquet." 

tHubbard  says,  "  divers  reports  have  passed  up  and 
down  the  country  of  several  ominous  accidents  happen- 
ing, as  of  earthquakes  in  some  places,  and  vollies  of 
shot  heard  in  the  air,  but  because  many  that  lived  not 
far  off  those  places  where  the  said  accidents  were  sup- 
posed to  fall  out,  know  nothing  thereof,  no  more  notice 
shall  here  be  taken  of  the  same  than  a  bare  hint  of  the 
report.  But  at  a  place  called  Kennebunk,  at  the  north- 
east side  of  Wells,  in  the  province  of  Maine,  not  far 
from  the  river  side,  &c." — He  then  mentions  the  same 
circumstance,  with  the  exception  of  the  pieces  of  clay 
shaped  like  the  barrels  of  muskets  ;  and  adds  that,  "  all 
the  whole  town  of  Wells,  are  witnesses  of  the  truth  of 
this  relation,  and  many  others  have  seen  sundry  of  these 

*Blackpoint.  tHist.  N.  England. 


38  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1670- 

clay  pellets,  which  the  inhabitants  have  shewn  to  their 
neighbours  of  other  towns.  This  accident  fell  out  in  the 
year  1670.  Others  have  confidently  reported  also,  that 
they  have  seen  the  eruption  of  a  pond  of  water  far  up 
into  the  woods,  and  many  fish  cast  up  upon  the  dry 
land  adjoining,  supposed  to  be  done  by  the  kindling 
of  some  mineral  vapours  under  the  hollow  channels, 
running  far  within  the  land  under  ground.  All  which 
show  the  wonderful  work  of  God,  that  commandeth 
both  the  sea  and  the  dry  land,  that  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth  should  learn  to  fear  before  him." 

*Bourne  says  it  was  an  avalanche,  the  earth  dividing 
when  it  passed  the  oaks ;  and  that  the  pellets  of  clay 
were  formed  by  the  sliding  mass  of  earth. 

This  slide  was  probably  near  the  ship-yards  at  the 
Landing.  There  have  been  several  of  them  since. 
Two  were  just  below  Durrell's  bridge  on  the  western 
side  of  the  river.  Full  grown  oaks  were  carried  erect 
into  the  middle  of  the  river,  where  their  stumps  now 
remain.  Another  happened,  June  10th,  1834,  in  front 
of  Benjamin  Durrell's  dwelling  house,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river,  and  carried  the  draw-bridge  at  that 
place  away  with  it.  The  earth  under  the  surface, 
being  moistened  by  rains,  or  loosened  by  the  frost,  ap- 
peared to  have  been  crushed  out,  by  the  weight  of  the 
bridge  and  the  apple  trees  on  the  bank,  into  the  middle 
of  the  river,  filling  up  the  channel.  The  surface  of  the 
ground,  about  thirty  square  rods,  fell  perpendicularly 
about  twenty  feet,  carrying  a  large  apple  tree  down, 
without  immediate  injury  to  it.  The  slide  of  1670  was 
probably  similar  to  this.  The  earth  under  the  surface 
was  driven  out  by  the  weight  of  the  trees  ;  and  the  sur- 
face with  the  trees  attached,  was  carried  towards  the 
river,  leaving  the  "  hole  forty  yards  square"  above  the 
trees.  The  earth  therefore,  instead  of  being  thrown 
over  the  oaks,  went  under  them. 

The  pellets  of  clay  were  formed  in  wonder  brook, 
which  was  so  called  from  the  circumstance  of  their  be- 
ing found  there.  The  water  of  this  brook,  in  running 
over  clayey  land,  caused  little  falls  of  water  of  a  foot 
or  more,  at  the  bottoms  of  which,  by  the  constant  falling 

*Ms,Hist.  Kennebunk. 


A.  D.  1670.]  KEXXEBUXK  PORT.  39 

of  the  water,  holes  of  some  little  depth  were  worn  sha- 
ped like  a  mortar.  Small  pieces  of  clay  being  carried 
into  these  hollows,  were  by  the  rotary  action  of  the  wa- 
ter, worn  round  and  smooth  ;  and  were  baked  in  the 
sammer,  by  the  sun,  when  the  brook  became  dry.  The 
clay  formed  like  muskets  might  have  been  caused  by 
the  sliding  of  the  avalanche. 

As  the  settlement  in  the  town  of  Cape  Porpoise  was  on 
the  cape  near  the  sea-shore,  and  there  were  no  inhab- 
itants in  that  part  of  Wells  since  called  Kennebunk, 
there  could  have  been  no  persons  living  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  river  to  witness  this  slide  ;  and  when  it  was  af- 
terwards discovered,  they  connected  with  that  event  the 
appearance  of  the  clay  balls,  and  looked  upon  it  as 
something  very  marvellous. 

The  other  "  ominous  accidents"  related  by  Hubbard 
and  others,  would  probably  admit  of  as  easy  a  solution 
as  this  circumstance,  which  he  considered  the  best  au- 
thenticated ;  and  about  the  correctness  of  which  he 
thought  there  could  be  no  question. 

Not  only  the  people  of  this  country,  but  those  of  Eu- 
rope at  this  time,  were  grossly  superstitious.  Any 
circumstance  that  did  not  admit  of  a  ready  explanation, 
was  ascribed  to  supernatural  agency.  Hutchinson,  in 
his  History  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  says  he  "  could  col- 
lect from  manuscripts  and  printed  accounts,  as  many 
prodigies  in  one  part  of  the  country  and  another  at  differ- 
ent times  as  would  fill  a  small  volume.  Guns  fired  in  the 
air,  great  quantities  of  clay  cast  up  in  form  of  bullets 
out  of  the  earth,  and  the  like."  The  most  enlight- 
ened men  of  that  period  gave  implicit  credit  to  these 
tales.  The  appearance  of  comets  in  1664,  1680,  and 
in  1682,  threw  the  whole  country  into  a  state  of  alarm. 
"  When  in  our  skies  there  blaz'd  an  awful  star, 
Presaging  earthquakes  and  a  general  war." 

It  was  confidently  believed  that  the  Indian  powows 
or  priests  possessed  supernatural  powers  from  the  dev- 
il. Passaconaway,  a  great  sagamore  who  lived  on  the 
]\Ierrimac  river,  and  whose  dominions  probably  extend- 
ed to  Cape  Porpoise,  was  the  most  celebrated  powow 
in  the  country.  It  was  credited  that  he  could  make 
water  burn,  rocks  move,  trees  dance,  change  himself 
into  a  flaming  man,  raise  a  green  leaf  from  the  ashes 


40  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1670. 

of  a  dry  one,  produce  a  live  snake  from  the  skin  of  a 
dead  one,  heal  sickness,  and  cause  death  by  the  power 
of  his  incantations.  It  was  considered  heresy  to  doubt 
the  correctness  of  the  witch  stories  current  at  that  time  ; 
and  afterwards  many  were  executed  for  the  crime  of 
witchcraft.* 

Superstition  and  bigotry  are  almost  always  insepar- 
able companions.  Although  leaving  England  because 
their  own  faith  was  not  there  tolerated,  the  inhabitants 
of  Massachusetts  refused  to  tolerate  the  slightest  depar- 
ture from  their  own  creed  ;  and  themselves  the  victims 
of  persecution,  most  inconsistently  persecuted  all  who 
differed  from  them  in  their  religious  views.  A  divine  of 
Massachusetts  said,  "  what  is  contrary  to  the  gospel 
hath  no  right,  and  therefore  should  have  no  liberty." 
Another  one  said,  "  toleration  is  the  first  born  of  all 
abominations."  Another  remarked,  that  "  he  who  is 
willing  to  tolerate  an  unsound  doctrine,  that  his  own 
may  be  tolerated,  though  never  so  sound,  would,  if  need 
be,  hang  the  bible  to  the  devil's  girdle.  I  abhor  tolera- 
tion of  clivers  religions."  Mr.  Dudley,  deputy  governor 
of  Massachusetts,  died  with  a  copy  of  verses  in  his 
pocket  containing  the  following  lines. 

"  Let  men  of  God  in  court  and  churches  watch, 
O'er  such  as  do  a  toleration  hatch." 

In  1658  the  persecution  of  the  quakers  commenced. 
They  were  fined,  imprisoned,  kept  at  hard  labor,  ban- 
ished, whipped  through  towns  at  the  tails  of  carts,  had 
their  ears  cut  off,  their  tongues  bored  through  with  hot 
irons,  and  several  suffered  death.  About  the  same  time 
the  f  baptists  were  also  persecuted.  Some  were  disfran- 
chised, and  others  were  fined,  whipt,  imprisoned  or 
banished. 

The  inhabitants  of  Maine,  not  having  been  driven 
from  home  on  account  of  their  nonconformity  to  the 
established  religion  of  England,  but  emigrating  merely 
for   the  purpose  of  gain,  did  not  value  their  religious 

*Mather'a  Magnalia,  vol  i.  p.  188. 

tin  the  preamble  to  a  law,  passed  in  1644,  for  banishing  baptists  • 
it  is  stated  that  ever  «  since  the  first  arising  of  the  anabaptists, 
about  100  years  since,"  they  have  been  very  disorderly.— Mass 
Records.  J 


A.  D.  1670.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  41 

privileges  so  highly  as  the  people  of  Massachusetts  ; 
and  this  province,  therefore,  was  frequently  an  asylum 
for  those  who  had  been  excommunicated.  The  Rev. 
John  Wheelwright,  a  learned  and  pious  man,  was  ban- 
ished the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  for  the  heresy 
of  believing  that  "  the  Holy  Spirit  dwells  personally  in 
a  justified  convert ;  and  sanctification  can  in  no  wise 
evince  to  believers  their  justification."  In  1643,  he 
bought  land  on  the  west  side  of  Kennebunk  river,  which 
was  then  within  the  limits  of  Cape  Porpoise  plantation. 
William  Waldron,  excommunicated  from  the  church  in 
Dover  then  under  Massachusetts,  was  drowned,  Sep- 
tember, 1646,  in  crossing  Kennebunk  river. 

The  opinion  generally  prevailed,  that  Maine  was 
peopled  by  those  who  were  too  immoral  and  irreligious 
to  be  allowed  to  remain  in  other  colonies  ;  and  it  used 
to  be  tauntingly  said; — "  When  a  man  can  find  no  reli- 
gion to  his  taste,  let  him  remove  to  Maine."*  The 
colony  being  first  settled  under  the  patronage  of  Gorges, 
its  early  inhabitants  were  royalists  and  episcopalians, 
and  were  opposed  to  the  republican  puritans  of  the  wes- 
tern colonies.  It,  therefore,  not  only  protected  those 
who  were  banished  from  Massachusetts,  on  account  of 
what  were  called  their  dangerous  heresies,  but  it  be- 
came a  place  of  refuge  for  the  immoral  and  licentious. 

Although  the  population  was  considerably  increased 
by  this  state  of  things,  yet  it  tended  to  make  the  people 
disorderly  and  corrupt.  The  early  records  furnish  suf- 
ficient evidence,  that  the  prevailing  opinion,  as  to  the 
state  of  morals  in  this  province,  was  but  too  well 
grounded.  At  every  term  of  the  judicial  courts,  under 
the  head  of  each  town,  the  grand  jury  prepared  a  list 
of  presentments  for  various  offences  ; — such  as  idleness, 
lying,  slander,  drunkenness,  sabbath-breaking,  profani- 
ty, theft,  &c.  Many  of  these  presentments,  it  is  true, 
were  for  venial  offences,  but  many  were  for  crimes  of 
greater  magnitude.  The  jury  being  changed  every 
year,  gave  those  who  had  been  presented  by  their 
neighbor,  an  opportunity  to  complain  of  him  in  their 
turn,  which  was  not  forgotten  when  he  again  became 
a  juror ;  making  this  institution  an  engine  of  mutual  op- 

*  Williamson. 


42  HISTORY   OF  [from  1670 

pression.  The  laws  however  were  very  severe,  taking 
cognizance  of  offences,, that  had  better  been  left  to  the 
correction  of  public  sentiment. 

The  following  are  the  presentments,  with  the  orders 
thereon,  against  this  town  during  the  years  1674  and '75- 
"  Whereas  there  is  a  complaint  of  the  town  of 
Cape  Porpus  for  their  neglect  hitherto  in  laying  out 
their  town  bounds  :  — It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the 
selectmen  of  the  said  place  now  in  being  shall  take 
some  effectual  measures  to  have  their  town  bounds 
layd  out  between  this  tyme  and  the  next  county  court." 
"  Wee  present  Cape  Porpus  for  liveing  without  an 
Orthodox  Minister.  John  Batson  appearing  for  the 
town,  answered  for  the  presentment,  which  was  dis- 
charged." 

"  Wee  present  the  freemen  of  Cape  Porpus,  for  not 
sending  in  their  voates  for  nomination  of  Magistrates 
and  assistants  to  the  shyre  town  according  to  law." 

"  Wee  present  the  selectmen  of  Cape  Porpus  for  not 
taking  care  that  the  children  and  youth  of  that  town 
bee  taught  the  catechisme,  and  educated  according  to 
law." 

"  Wee  present  the  town  of  Cape  Porpus  for  not  ma- 
king a  convenient  way  for  travelers  through  the  town." 
The  court  likewise  ordered  that  "the  towns  of  Wells, 
Sacoe,  Scarborough,  and  Falmouth  shall  forthwith 
marke  out  the  most  convenient  way  from  Wells  to  Henry 
Sayward's  mills  at  Mousam,  from  thence  to  Sacoe 
Falls,"  &c.  "    - 

From  1670  to  1675,  Maine  continued  in  a  flourish- 
ing state,  increasing  rapidly  in  wealth  and  population. 
The  increase  of  value  of  property  in  Yorkshire,  caused 
Gorges  to  renew  his  claim  to  the  province.  This  claim, 
together  with  the  war  between  Philip  of  Naraganset  and 
the  United  Colonies,  interrupted  their  prosperity.  To 
defray  the  expenses  of  this  war,  a  general  tax  was  for 
the  first  time  assessed  in  Maine.*  The  number  of  sol- 
diers in  Yorkshire  amounted  to  700,  of  whom,  80 
belonged  to  Wells  and  Cape  Porpus.  After  this  first  In- 
dian war,  Massachusetts  purchased  Gorges's  claim    to 

"Williamson. — There  was  a  county  tax  in  1C53,  towards  build- 
ing a  jail  in  York,  which  was  established  there  that  year. 


TO  1682.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  43 

Maine,  for  about  six  thousand  dollars.  Charles  the  sec- 
ond was  greatly  displeased  with  them  for  making  the 
purchase,  he  being  in  treaty  for  it  himself;  but  they 
refused  to  relinquish  their  bargain. 

The  General  Court  [1G79]  concluded  to  assume  the 
royal  charter  of  Gorges,  and  govern  Maine  as  a  prov- 
ince. Accordingly  they  appointed  a  Board  of  Assistants, 
of  which  Thomas  Danforth  was  President.  The  roy- 
alists and  episcopalians  were  dissatisfied  with  this  form 
of  government,  as  it  deprived  them  of  the  right  of  send- 
ing representatives  to  the  General  Court ;  and  they 
complained  to  the  *King  of  their  heavy  taxes.  [1680] 
The  King  appointed  Edward  Randolph,  collector,  sur- 
veyor, and  searcher  of  New  England,  who,  by  his 
representations,  greatly  increased  their  troubles. 

President  Danforth,  however,  continued  to  administer 
the  government,  and  called  a  meeting  of  freeholders  at 
York  ;  at  which  no  one  from  Cape  Porpoise  appeared. 
The  soldiers  of  the  town,  were  placed  under  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Saco  company.  At  a  subsequent  meeting, 
several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  submitted  to 
the  government  of  Massachusetts,  amongst  whom  were 
JohnBatson,  John  Miller,  and  Thomas  Mussey.  John 
Batson  was  appointed  constable  of  the  town. 

A  new  road  [1681]  was  ordered  to  be  made  through 
Wells,  Cape  Porpoise,  and  Saco.  The  towns  of  Saco 
and  Cape  Porpoise  were  "Injoyned,  from  the  begin- 
ing  of  yr.  bounds  from  Kenibunke  River,  to  make  a 
good  passable  way  through  Kenibunke  swampe,  for 
horse  and  man,  and  mend  the  flows,  and  marke  out  and 
Mend  the  nearest  way  they  can  conveniently  find  for  a 
Common  Roade,  to  the  ferry  of  Humphrey  Scammon 
at  Sacoe."  Cape  Porpoise  complied  with  this  order, 
only  so  far  as  to  discontinue  or  neglect  the  old  road, 
without  finishing  the  new  one  ;  and  were  complained 
of  [1682]  "  for  want  of  a  convenient  highway  to  travell 
eastward,  stopping  up  the  ould  highway  that  people 
cannot  pass."  At  the  same  court,  Wells  and  Cape 
Porpoise  were  presented  for  not  having  a  ferry  over 

"The  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise  who  signed  this  petition  to 
the  King,  (Charles  II.)  were  Thomas  Mussy,  John  Batson,  John 
Purrinton,  Christopher  Spurwell,  and  John  Barret. 


44  HISTORY   OF  [from  1683 

Kennebunk  river,  and  the  latter  for  want  of  standard 
measures. 

John  Batson  was  chosen  by  the  town,  deputy  to  the 
General  Assembly  at  York,  in  1683,  and  also  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

President  Danforth's  government  continued  till  June 
18th,  1684,  when  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  was 
seized,  and  Col.  Kirk  was  appointed  Governor  of  New 
England.  By  an  agreement  with  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  made  in  1681,  President  Danforth  was  to 
give  them  a  deed  of  the  town.  It  was  however  delayed 
till  July  26th,  of  this  year. — The  following  is  a  copy  of 
the  deed. 

"  This  indenture  made  the  26th  day  of  July  Anno 
Domini  1684,  and  in  the  36th  year  of  the  reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord,  Charles  the  2d.  by  the  Grace  of  God, 
of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  &c.  Between  Thomas  Danforth, 
Esq.  President  of  his  Majesties  Province  of  Mayne  in 
New  England,  on  the  one  party,  and  John  Barrett,  sen. 
John  Purrington,  and  John  Batson,  trustees  on  the  be- 
half and  for  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Cape  Porpus  within  the  above  named 
province  of  Main,  on  the  other  party, — Witnesseth, 
That  whereas  the  above  named  Thomas  Danforth,  by 
the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Col- 
ony in  New  England,  the  now  Lord  proprietors  of  the 
abovenamed  Province  of  Mayne,  at  a  General  Assem- 
bly held  att  Boston,  on  the  11th  day  of  May  1681,  is 
fully  authorized  and  im powered  to  make  legal  confirma- 
tion, unto  the  inhabitants  of  the  above  said  Province  of 
Mayne,  of  all  their  lands  or  proprieties  to  them  justly 
appertaining  or  belonging,  within  the  limits  or  bounds 
of  the  said  province.  Now  know  all  men  by  these 
presents,  that  the  said  Thomas  Danforth,  pursuant  to 
the  trust  in  him  reposed,  and  power  to  him  given  as 
above  said  ;  by  and  on  the  behalf  of  the  Governour  and 
Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  aforesaid, — Hath 
given,  granted,  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents 
doth  fully,  clearly,  and  absolutely  give,  grant,  and  con- 
firm, unto  the  above  mentioned  John  Barrett,  sen.  John 
Purrington,  and  John  Batson,  trustees  as  above  exprest, 
— all  that  tract  or  parcell  of  land  within  the  township  of 


TO  1684.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  45 

Cape  Porpus,  in  said  province,  according  to  the  bounds 
and  limitts  of  the  sd.  township,  to  them  formerly  grant- 
ed by  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  Knight,  or  by  any  of  his 
agents,  or  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Massachu- 
setts ;  with  all  priviledges  and  appurtenances  to  the  same 
appertaining,  or  in  any  wise  belonging,  (all  royalties 
reserved  to  his  Majestie's  use  by  the  charter  granted  to 
Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  Knight ;  as  also  those  by  said 
charter  given  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  Knight,  his 
heirs,  and -assigns,  together  with  the  rivers,  streams, 
and  coves,  contained  within  the  limmitts  and  bounds  of 
said  township,  always  to  be  excepted  and  reserved,) 

"  To  have  and  to  hold  all  the  above  said  tract  of  land, 
by  these  presents  granted  and  confirmed,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  with  all  the  priviledges  and  appurtenances 
to  the  same  appertaining,  or  in  any  wise  belonging,  (ex- 
cepting as  before  excepted  and  reserved,)  to  them,  the 
said  John  Barrett,  sen.  John  Purrington,  and  John  Bat- 
son,  trustees  as  abovesaid,  forever  ; — to  the  only  proper 
use  and  behoof  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town,  that 
now  are,  and  to  them  that  shall  there  survive  and  suc- 
ceed, from  time  to  time,   and  forevermore  hereafter. 

"  Aja.d  the  above  named  Thomas  Danforth,  for  and  on 
behalf  of  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony,  and  for  their  successors  and  assigns, 
doth  further  covenant,  promise,  and  grant,  to  and  with 
the  above  named  John  Barrett,  sen.  John  Purrington, 
and  John  Batson,  shall  and  may  at  all  times,  and  from 
time  to  time,  forever  hereafter,  peaceably,  and  quietly, 
have,  hold,  occupie,  possess,  and  enjoy  all  the  above 
given  and  granted  premises,  without  the  let,  denyall, 
or  contradiction  of  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the 
Massachusetts  Colony,  or  of  any  other  person  or  per- 
sons whatsoever,  claiming  and  having  any  lawful  rights, 
title,  or  interest  therein,  or  in  any  part  or  parcell  there- 
of, by,  from,  or  under  them,  the  said  Governour  and 
Company,  or  by  any  of  their  assigns  ; — 

"  They  the  above  named  inhabitants  of  the  said  town 
of  Cape  Porpus,  for  the  time  being,  and  in  like  manner, 
that  shall  there  be  from  time  to  time  forever  hereafter ; 
yielding  and  paying  in  consideration  thereof,  to  the 
Governour  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony, 
or   to  the   President  of  said  Province   of  Mayne,   by 


46  HISTORY    OF  [from   16S4 

them  authorized,  and  impowered,  for  the  time  being,  or 
to  other,  their  agent  and  lawful  assignee  or  assigns,  the 
quit  rent,  to  the  said  Government  and  Company,  due 
and  belonging,  according  to  the  proposall  made,  and 
mutually  agreed  upon  at  the  General  Assembly  held  in 
the  above  said  Province,  at  York,  June  1681 — Viz. 
That  they  the  above  named  inhabitants  of  the  said 
town  of  Cape  Porpus,  for  the  time  being,  and  in  like 
manner  that  shall  there  be,  from  time  to  time  forever 
hereafter ;  as  an  acknowledgement  of  the  said  Ferdi- 
nando  Gorges',  and  his  assigns'  right  to  soyl  and 
government,  do  pay  twelve  pence,  for  every  family, 
whose  single  county  rate  is  not  above  two  shillings,  and 
for  all  that  exceed  the  sum  of  two  shillings  in  a  single 
rate,  to  pay  three  shillings  per  family,  annually,  in 
money,  to  the  treasurer  of  said  province,  for  the  use  of 
the  chiefe  proprietors  thereof;  and  in  case  of  omis- 
sion, or  neglect,  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  the  said 
inhabitants,  to  make  full  payment  annually,  in  man- 
ner as  is  above  expressed,  and  hath  been  mutually 
consented  and  agreed  unto ;  it  shall  then  be  lawful  for 
the  said  president  of  the  said  province  for  the  time 
being,  or  for  other,  the  agent,  agents,  assignee,  or 
assignees  of  the  Governour  and  Company  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony,  to  leavy  and  make  distress  upon  the 
estates  of  any  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  time  being, 
within  the  limmits  and  bounds  of  the  said  township,  as 
well  as  for  the  said  quit  rent,  as  also  for  all  costs  and 
charges  accruing  and  arising  upon  the  same  ;  and  the 
estates  so  leveyed,  or  distrained,  to  bear,  drive,  or  car- 
ry away,  with  so  much  as  it  shall  cost  to  convey  the 
same,  to  the  treasurer  of  the  said  province,  for  the  time 
being,  or  to  such  place  as  he  shall  order  and  appoint. 
In  witness  whereof  the  parties  above  mentioned,  to  these 
present  indentures,  have  interchangeably  putt  their 
hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Thomas  Danforth,  Presd. 

"  Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  us, 

John  Hayward,  Not.  Pub. 

Eliezer  Moody. 

"  A  true  copy  of  the  original,  received  November  9th, 
1731.  Attest,  Joseph  Moody,  Reg, 


TO  1685.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  47 

King  Charles  dying  [1685]  soon  after  the  appoint- 
ment of  Col.  Kirk,  it  was  annulled  by  his  successor, 
James  II.  who  commissioned  Joseph  Dudley,  as  pres- 
ident. Dudley's  administration  lasted  but  five  months, 
when  he  was  superseded  by  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  who 
was  appointed  '  Captain  General  and  Governor  in 
Chief  of  all  New  England.'  He  assessed  taxes  in  the 
county  of  Yorkshire,  at  the  rate  of  half  a  penny  for  one 
pound  valuation.  The  tax  of  Cape  Porpoise,  was 
<£l-00-10,  and  the  valuation  =£500 ;  being  the  same  as 
the  Isles  of  Shoals. 

Andros,  whose  government  was  very  tyrannical,  com- 
pelled the  inhabitants  of  Yorkshire  to  pay  for  new  grants 
of  land.  During  his  visit  into  this  province,  he  ordered 
the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus,  to  put  their  roads  in  a 
better  state  of  repair.  This,  as  usual,  they  neglected, 
as  appears  by  the  following  complaint. 

"  We  present  the  parish  of  Cape  Porpus,  for  not 
having  a  sufficient  highway,  ordered  by  our  governor, 
His  Excellency,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  within  the  limits 
of  the  parish."  "  The  parish"  was  likewise  complained 
of,  for  not  having  a  pound  and  a  pair  of  stocks.  A 
road  was  at  the  same  time  ordered,  from  Wells  to  Saco 
falls. 

Although  the  province  generally  had  much  increased 
in  wealth  and  population,  yet  Cape  Porpoise  continued 
poor  and  feeble.  There  was,  at  this  time,  but  four 
mills*  in  town,   which  constituted  nearly  their  whole 

*It  is  not  certainly  known  where  these  mills  were  situated.  It  is 
probable  that  one  of  them  was  on  Little  river,  one  on  Batson's  riv- 
er, one  on  Tyler's  brook,  and  the  other  on  Middle  river.  Besides 
these  four,  there  was  one  on  Kennebur-k  river,  partly,  if  not  whol- 
ly owned  in  Cape  Porpus,  which  was  probably  Littlefield's  mill ; 
although  on  the  list  of  mills  for  the  support  of  Fort  Loyal,  Fal- 
mouth, 1762,  it  was  placed  with  those  of  Wells.  Neither  is  it 
known  when  these  mills  were  erected.  By  the  following  pream- 
ble to  a  grant  of  a  mill  privilege  to  John  Wheelwright  of  Wells,  in 
1650,  it  would  seem  that  there  were  no  mills  in  this  vicinity  at  that 
period,  and  that  what  little  lumber  was  used,  was  sawed  by  hand. 
"  Considering  how  much  easier  boards  could  be  sawed  than  by 
hand,  and  men  that  employ  their  time  themselves  in  that  might 
employ  their  time  in  husbandry,  and  how  much  it  might  benefit 
the  country ,"&c.  therefore  the  grant  was  made. 

There  were  mills,  however,  at  Agamenlicus,  and  Piscataqua, 
as  early  as  1G34,  as  Winthrop  says,  Gorges  and  Mason  sent  persons 
with  a  saw  mill  to  each  of  these  places,  at  that  time. 


48  HISTORY   of  [from  1688 

business.  It  had,  however,  heretofore  kept  up  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  a  separate  town,  by  choosing  town 
officers,  and  keeping  a  record  ;  but  it  was  now  only 
spoken  of  as  a  parish.  In  assessing  the  county  tax  for 
this  year,  it  was  designated  as  "  Cape  Porpoise  Ham- 
lett." 

It  was  probably  one  of  the  arbitrary  acts  of  Andros, 
to  destroy  even  the  appearance  of  its  independent  exis- 
tence, by  uniting  it  with  Saco,  or  rather  placing  it 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  that  town,  as  appears  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  Saco  town  records. 

"  By  a  legal  town  meeting  for  Saco  and  Cape  Por- 
poise, on  Monday  21  May  1688,  whereat  Thomas 
Shepherd,  Francis  Backus,  John  Edgecomb,  and  John 
Abbot  are  chosen  selectmen  for  Saco,  and  Richard 
Peard  Constable  for  the  same ;  and  John  Miller,  and 
Nicholas  Morey,*  selectmen  of  Cape  Porpoise,  and 
Richard  Randall,  constable  for  the  same  ;  and  it  is  or- 
dered, that  if  Cape  Porpoise  will  not  accept  of  the 
selectmen  and  constable,  chosen  by  the  town  of  Saco, 
then  the  selectmen  in  Saco,  and  constable  for  the  same, 
shall  act  and  do  for  them  as  selectmen  and  constable 
of  the  same." 

This  union,  or  rather  guardianship,  at  most,  lasted 
but  a  few  months.  One  of  the  selectmen,  Morey,  was 
recognized  as  such  at  the  county  courts,  as  was  also 
Lieut.  Purinton,  who  had  not  been  elected  at  that  time. 
It  is  probable  that  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise 
held  a  meeting  within  their  own  township,  and  chose 
their  own  town  officers,  part  of  whom  might  have  been 
the  persons  chosen  by  Saco.  Fortunately  a  stray  leaf 
of  the  Cape  Porpoise  records  has  been  preserved,  on 
which  are  recorded  the  doings  of  the  town,  eight  months 
after  this  assumption  of  power  on  the  part  of  Saco. 

"  January  24th,  1688-9.  Then  chosen  five  select- 
men and  constable,  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  legally 
warned  by  Order,  for  selectmen  and  other  officers. 
For  selectmen,  Lieu.  John  Purinton,  John  Downing, 
John  Miller,  John  Davis,  Richard  Randall.  For  con- 
stable, Immanuel  Haynes.  For  town  clerk,  Lieu. 
John  Purinton.     For  lott  layers,  and  surveyors,    Lieu. 

*As  transcribed  by  Folsom,  Nicholas  Mering.  This  entry  is 
now  lost. 


TO  1689.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  49 

Purinton,  Richard  Randall,  John  Sanders,  John  Mil- 
ler, William  Barton,  Jacob  Wormwood." 

Whether  this  town  never  regarded  this  order  at  all, 
or  took  advantage  of  the  growing  discontent  in  Eng- 
land and  in  this  country,  (which  resulted  in  the 
abdication  of  James  II.  and  the  imprisonment  of  An- 
dros  in  Boston,)  to  resume  the  management  of  their 
own  affairs  ;  or  whether,  by  application  to  Andros  who 
was  in  this  town  during  that  year,  upon  his  unfortunate 
expedition  against  the  eastern  Indians,  they  obtained  a 
repeal  of  the  obnoxious  law,  is  not  known.  Nor  can 
this  obscurity  ever  be  elucidated,  as  the  foregoing  ex- 
tract from  the  Saco  records,  is  the  last  entry  on  the 
old  town  book  ;  and  there  was  no  record  kept  again 
in  that  town,  till  1717,  a  period  of  nearly  thirty  years. 
Neither  are  the  records  of  Cape  Porpoise  to  be  found 
after  the  year  1689,  till  the  reincorporation  of  the  town 
in  1719.  They  were  either  lost,  or  discontinued,  on 
account  of  the  second  Indian  war,  which  wholly  depop- 
ulated the  town.  Unfortunately,  too,  the  only  volume 
of  the  Massachusetts  records  missing,  said  to  have  been 
burnt,  is  the  one  in  which  the  transactions  of  that  peri- 
od are  recorded  ;  and  tradition  is  entirely  silent  upon 
the  subject.  The  probability  however  is,  that,  as  the 
town  meeting  held  at  Cape  Porpoise  in  1689,*  was  said 
to  be  "  legally  warned  by  order,"  the  act  uniting  the 
two  towns,  had  been  repealed. 

The  frequent  changes  of  government,  and  the  fear  of 
the  Indians,  greatly  retarded  the  growth  of  Maine. 
The  inhabitants  chose  Councils  of  safety  for  their  own 
protection,  till  President  Danforth  resumed  his  office. 
War  was  declared  between  France  and  England  De- 
cember 7th,  1689,  which  increased  the  expenses  of  the 
colonists  to  such  a  degree,  that  Massachusetts  issued 
bills  of  credit,  which  was  the  origin  of  paper  money.t 

The  year  before  this  war  was  declared,  Mr.  Bussy, 
and  Mr  Barrow,  with  their  families,  had  been  taken 
prisoners,   and   carried   to   Teconnet.f      Six  hundred 

*John  Downing,  in  1725,  testified,  that  in  1688,  or  1689,  there 
were  grants  made  to  the  several  inhabitants  of  the  town,  of  100 
acres  each  on  Kennebunk  river. 

tWilliamson's  Hist,  of  Me. 

{Mather's  Magnalia,  vol.  ii.  p.  509. 

E 


50  HISTORY  OP  [a.  d.  1690. 

troops  were  stationed  at  the  different  settlements  in 
Maine,  for  their  protection.  Of  this  number,  "  a  com- 
pany of  men  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Puddington, 
were  stationed  at  the   fort  at  Kennebunk."* 

The  territory  near  Kennebunk  river  early  took  its 
name  ;  and  events  occurring  in  that  neighborhood,  were 
said  to  have  happened  at  Kennebunk.  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright was  said  to  live  '  near  Kennebunk,'  the  slide  of 
1670,  to  happen  '  at  a  place  called  Kennebunk,'  and 
Bussy  and  Barrow  to  live  '  in  Kennebunk  near  Winter 
Harbour.'  Mr  Purinton  and  others,  who  lived  at  Ken- 
nebunk river,  were  always  designated  on  the  town 
records,  as  '  of  Kennebunk.' 

The  fort  was  on  Stage  Island,  at  Cape  Porpoise,  and 
was  commanded  by  John  Purinton,  one  of  the  select- 
men, and  the  town  clerk  of  the  town.  After  Gov.  An- 
dros's  return  to  Massachusetts,  [1690]  the  troop  sail  de- 
serted, and  when  the  Indians  began  to  appear  in  greater 
numbers,  the  inhabitants  of  the  cape  withdrew  to  the 
fort,  as  the  only  place  of  safety  in  the  town.  Those 
who  resided  on  the  sea  shore,  between  the  cape  and 
Kennebunk  river,  at  Turbat's  creek,  Cleaves's  cove, 
and  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  went  to  Wells.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  cape,  who  had  retreated  to  the  fort, 
were  soon  besieged  by  the  Indians  ;  but  being  sheltered, 
by  a  stone  wall,  and  there  being  no  bushes,  behind 
which  the  Indians  could  conceal  themselves  within  gun- 
shot, they  sustained  no  damage,  and  could  securely  fire 
upon  their  enemies  whenever  they  approached  within 
reach  of  their  musket  balls.  The  point  of  the  island, 
on  which  the  fort  was  built,  being  surrounded  by  deep 
water  at  all  times,  and  the  Indians  stationing  themselves 
at  the  narrow  neck  of  land  which  leads  to  the  main  part 
of  the  island,  between  which  and  the  main  land  the 
flats  are  bare  at  low  water,  the  whites  were  completely 
shut  out  from  every  chance  of  escape ;  having  no 
boat  but  a  small  board  canoe,  capable  of  carrying  but 
one  man,  one  end  of  which  was  partly  split  off.  The 
Indians,  however,  kept  at  a  distance  from  the  fort,  with 
the  intention  of  surprising  them,  or  of  starving  them 
out.     They  had  nothing  but  muskets  in  the  fort,  and 

*Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll. 


A.  D.  1690.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  51 

but  a  small  supply  of  ammunition.  After  having  sus- 
tained the  attacks  of  the  Indians  for  some  time,  and 
being  fearful  of  being  surrounded,  if  they  remained  in  the 
fort  after  their  ammunition  was  expended,  they  withdrew 
to  the  southern  point  of  the  island,  which  being  narrow, 
left  them  exposed  only  on  one  side. 

In  this  condition  they  remained  exposed  to  the  con- 
stant annoyance  of  their  savage  enemies,  almost 
destitute  of  provisions,  with  no  means  of  escape,  and 
no  expectation  of  any  aid  to  relieve  them  from  their 
critical  situation ;  and  expecting  nothing  but  captivity 
or  death.  Nicholas  Morey,  who  was  lame  in  conse- 
quence of  having  broken  his  leg,  remarked  to  his 
friends,  that  if  they  remained  where  they  were,  they 
would  certainly  all  be  killed  or  taken  prisoners ;  and 
he  offered  to  take  the  old  canoe,  and  seek  assistance. 
Accordingly,  as  soon  as  it  was  dark,  he  embarked,  and 
by  keeping  at  the  whole  end  of  his  little  boat,  was  ena- 
bled to  keep  the  defective  part  out  of  water. 

Although  it  was  a  pleasant  time  of  the  year,  there 
was  but  little  chance  of  his  reaching  Portsmouth  in  safe- 
ty ;  but  with  this  forlorn  hope,  they  continued  to  defend 
themselves  the  next  day  without  provisions,  till  their 
last  charge  of  ammunition  was  in  their  guns,  and  they 
even  had  to  cut  up  their  bullets  to  complete  it.  Night 
coming  on,  without  provisions  or  ammunition,  and  be- 
ing closely  besieged  by  a  cruel  blood-thirsty  foe,  their 
situation  was  indescribably  trying.  Slight  as  the  pros- 
pect of  relief  was,  they  continued  to  look  eagerly 
towards  Portsmouth,  when  late  in  the  afternoon,  they 
discovered  a  small  sloop,  standing  directly  towards  the 
cape.  Mr.  Morey  had  arrived  in  safety  at  Portsmouth, 
and  returned  with  this  unexpected  assistance.  When 
the  sloop  came  into  the  harbor,  the  crew  discharged  a 
small  swivel  from  her  at  the  Indians,  who  immediately 
fled  from  the  island.  The  inhabitants  were  taken  on 
board  the  sloop,  and  did  not  return  for  ten  years. 

*During  this  war,  an  attack  was  made  on  Storer's 
Garrison  at  Wells  by  500  French  and  Indians,  who 
were  repulsed  with  great  loss  by  Capt.  Corverse  and 
fifteen  men. 

*Mather's  Magnalia,  vol.  ii.  p.  582. 


52  HISTORY   OF  [from  1691 

The  celebrated  charter  of  William  and  Mary  receiv- 
ed the  royal  sanction  October  7th,  1691,  which  was  the 
foundation  of  civil  government  for  eighty-nine  years, 
and  under  which  the  connection  between  Massachusetts 
and  Maine  lasted  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  years. 
Sir  William  Phips  was  appointed  royal  governor  under 
this  charter. 

In  consequence  of  the  active  measures  of  the  colo- 
nists, the  Indians  were  induced  to  make  a  treaty  of 
peace,  which,  however,  was  soon  after  violated  by  them. 
Another  truce  was  agreed  upon,  in  1695,  and  the  in- 
habitants of  Cape  Porpoise  began  to  make  preparations 
for  returning  to  their  homes. 

Search  was  made  for  the  town  records  without  suc- 
cess. It  being  understood  that  they  were  amongst  the 
effects  of  Lieut.  Purinton,  who  was  now  dead,  applica- 
tion was  made  to  the  county  court  for  an  order  to  have 
them  returned.  The  court,  in  compliance  with  this 
request,  passed  the  following  order.  "  Whereas  the 
Record  or  Town  books  of  Cape  Porpus  are  not  to  be 
found,  for  want  whereof,  several  of  the  proprietors  of 
land  there  are  very  like  to  come  to  damage.  The 
Court  being  advised  that  they  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
administrators  of  John  Puddington  late  of  Cape  Por- 
pus, hereby  order  his  son  James  to  send  them  to  the 
next  court." 

This  order  produced  no  effect,  as  the  records  were 
never  found.  The  attempt  to  conclude  a  peace  with 
the  Indians  proving  unavailing,  the  inhabitants  did  not 
return  till  1699. 

Scarcely  had  they  repaired  their  decayed  dwellings, 
fenced  in  their  fields,  now  overrun  with  bushes,  and  be- 
gan to  erect  their  mills,  and  enjoy  their  little  remaining 
property  in  peace  and  safety,  when  the  French  again 
endeavored  to  excite  the  Indians  to  acts  of  hostility 
against  the  long  harrassed  colonists. 

War  between  England  and  France  was  declared, 
May  4th,  1702,  which  was  sure  to  lead  to  an  Indian 
war  ;  and  the  year  following  hostilities  recommenced. 

Previous  to  this  war,  the  French  had  succeeded  in 
drawing  the  remains  of  the  Indian  tribes  that  survived 
the  former  wars,  to  two  settlements  in  Canada,  to  which 
they  could  retreat,  after  assailing  the  English  colonies. 


TO  1703.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  53 

These  tribes  formed  what  were  called  the  St.  Francoise 
Indians. 

Five  hundred  of  them,  mostly  commanded  by  French- 
men, divided  themselves  into  six  or  seven  parties,  and 
attacked  all  the  principal  settlements  in  Maine,  August 
10th,  1703,  and  *'  Cape  Porpoise,  being  inhabited  only 
by  a  few  unshielded  fishermen,  was  wholly  laid  deso- 
late.' How  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were 
killed  or  taken  prisoners,  it  is  now  impossible  to  ascer- 
tain ;  but  it  is  probable,  that  having  so  long  been 
expecting  an  attack,  most  of  them  had  made  prepara- 
tions for  escaping  in  their  boats.  Wells  was  assailed 
by  a  much  larger  force  than  attacked  Cape  Porpoise ; 
and  the  loss  of  the  whites,  was  thirty-nine,  killed  and 
taken  prisoners,  besides  a  considerable  number  of 
wounded.  Stephen  Harding,  then  living  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  river,  heard  the  firing  at  Wells,  but 
supposed  it  was  a  company  of  soldiers  exercising  ;  and 
he  prepared  the  next  morning  to  go  a  hunting.  His 
wife  was  extremely  uneasy,  and  endeavored  to  prevail 
upon  him  to  stay  at  home.  He  assured  her  there  was 
no  danger  ;  but,  fancying  she  had  seen  two  men  look- 
ing into  their  window  the  night  before,  she  was  too 
much  frightened  to  cook  breakfast.  Impatient  at  what 
he  thought  his  wife's  ungrounded  fears,  he  went  towards 
his  shop  to  wait  till  his  breakfast  was  ready,  when  on 
Oaks's  rocks,  at  the  extremity  of  Gooch's  beach,  he  des- 
cried a  large  number  of  men,  women,  and  children 
coming  directly  towards  his  house.  Mr.  Harding,  in 
his  turn,  now  became  alarmed,  and  told  his  wife  to 
take  her  child,  then  about  a  year  old,  and  carry  it 
across  Gooch's  creek,  and  remain  under  a  particular 
oak,  till  he  could  ascertain  who  these  persons  were. 
He  was  still  in  hopes  they  were  not  enemies,  and  that 
the  females  and  children  had  taken  the  opportunity  of 
visiting  their  friends,  under  the  protection  of  the  soldiers. 
He  went  into  his  shop,  which  was  not  boarded  on  the 
back  side,  and  thumped  on  the  side  of  it  with  an  axe, 

*So  little  was  Cape  Porpoise  regarded  by  the  chroniclers  of  that 
period,  that  these  few  lines,  from  Penhallow's  Indian  Wars,  is  the 
only  notice  taken  of  the  total  destruction  of  the  town.  The  tradi- 
tionary account  of  Mr  Harding's  escape,  is  abundantly  supported 
by  his  numerous  descendants,  with  but  slight  discrepancies. 
E  E 


54  HISTORY   OF  [from   1703 

at  the  same  time  giving  an  Indian  whoop.  Immediate- 
ly four  Indians  started  up  from  their  hiding  places,  and 
rushed  towards  the  shop,  thinking  it  had  but  one  door, 
and  that  they  had  made  sure  of  their  prisoner.  Mr. 
Harding,  however,  escaped  at  the  back  part  of  his  shop, 
into  a  field  of  corn,  where  within  a  few  rods  of  his 
house,  he  found  his  wife,  who  from  fright  and  faintness 
was  unable  to  make  her  escape.  He  caught  her  under 
one  arm,  and  the  child  under  the  other,  and  ran  to- 
wards the  creek.  It  being  flood  tide,  it  was  with 
difficulty  he  forded  it.  He  crossed  it,  however,  and 
left  his  wife  under  an  oak  tree,  till  he  could  go  back 
and  ascertain  the  intention  of  the  Indians,  still  hoping  it 
might  be  friendly.  He  had  not  gone  far  on  his  return, 
before  he  met  an  enormous  bear,  the  largest,  he  said, 
he  had  ever  seen.  Unwilling  to  leave  his  family  ex- 
posed to  this  new  danger,  he  returned  and  commenced 
his  march  towards  one  of  the  Wells  garrisons.  He  was 
obliged  to  kill  a  small  dog  that  followed  them,  for  fear 
he  should  betray  them  to  the  Indians,  by  his  barking. 
The  first  night,  they  got  as  far  as  the  hill,  where  the 
stage  tavern  now  is,  in  Kennebunk,  and  remained  there 
all  night,  having  subsisted  upon  berries.  Late  the  next 
evening  they  reached  Storer's  garrison,  the  inmates  of 
which  were  asleep.  Mr.  Harding  then  concluded  he 
had  left  his  house  without  sufficient  cause,  or  there 
would  have  been  a  better  watch  kept ;  and  mortified  on 
account  of  his  cowardice,  he  was  on  the  point  of  retra- 
cing his  steps.  At  the  solicitation  of  his  wife,  he  con- 
sented to  make  one  more  attempt  to  arouse  them,  when 
the  lamentations  of  the  women  and  children,  for  the 
loss  of  their  relatives,  convinced  him  he  had  not  yield- 
ed to  a  false  alarm. 

The   Indians,    when    discovering   Mr.  Harding   had 

made  his  escape,  and  having  pulled  up  all  his  corn  in 

i^rder  to  find  him,  said  it   was  no  use  to   extend  their 

tint  for    him,  as  he    was  as  good  an  Indian   as  them- 

dves.       They    killed    his     hogs,     and     took    all     his 

clothing  and  bedding,  even  to  the  ticks,  throwing  away 

'  e  feathers,  but  did  not  injure  his  house  ;  leaving  that 

an  ding,  as  they  afterwards  told  him,  for  a  trap  to  catch 

rn  in  at  some  future  time.     Their   object   was  to  take 

.him  alive,  and  carry  him  to  their  settlements  in  Canada, 


TO  1713.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  55 

where  his  services  as  a  blacksmith  were  much  need- 
ed. The  Indians  afterwards  crossed  the  river,  and 
killed  the  wife  and  three  children  of  William  Larra- 
bee,  who  lived  in  the  field,  near  what  are  called 
Butler's  rocks.  Larrabee  himself  was  at  work  on  the 
marsh,  near  where  the  ropewalk  now  is,  and,  on  per- 
ceiving two  Indians  running  towards  him,  he  concealed 
himself  in  the  bushes.  After  they  had  given  up  the 
search,  he  crept  towards  his  house,  and  saw  the  Indians 
regaling  themselves  upon  the  provisions  they  had  taken 
from  his  house,  and  his  wife  and  two  of  his  children  ly- 
ing near  them,  dead.  The  other  child  was  not  quite 
dead,  but  raised  its  head  twice  while  Mr.  Larrabee  was 
looking  at  it.  He  said  if  it  had  moved  again,  he  should 
have  rushed  out  upon  them,  although  he  knew  it  would 
have  cost  him  his  life.  The  child  however  remained 
motionless,  and  Mr.  Larrabee  went  to  Storer's  garrison, 
where  he  arrived  before  Mr.  Harding,  and,  having  seen 
the  hogs  lying  near  the  house,  mistook  them  for  the 
family  and  reported  they  were  dead. 

After  these  murders,  the  Indians  proceeded  up  the 
river,  to  the  house  of  Philip  Durrill,  which  was  near 
where  DurrilPs  bridge  now  is,  and  carried  off  Mrs. 
Durrill,  her  two  daughters,  Susan  and  Rachel,  and 
two  sons,  one  of  whom,  Philip,  was  an  infant.  Mr 
Durrill  himself  was  not  at  home.  The  Indians  carried 
their  prisoners  as  far  as  Peywacket  or  Fryeburg, 
when  Mrs.  Durrill  persuaded  them  to  let  her  return 
with  her  infant.  One  of  the  Indians  carried  her  child 
for  her  to  the  stone  fort  at  Saco,  from  which  place  she 
returned  home.  Her  daughters  married  Frenchmen, 
and  refused  to  return  after  the  war  was  over.  The  son 
was  accidentally  drowned  in  Saco  river. 

In  a  few  years,  [1706]  the  Indians  got  tired  of  fight- 
ing, but  as  the  English  and  French  war  was  not  over, 
the  inhabitants  of  Maine  did  not  venture  to  return  to 
their  deserted  settlements.  The  next  year  [1707]  the 
Indians  renewed  hostilities,  and  there  were  several  se- 
vere skirmishes  at  Saco,  Wells,  Kittery,  and  Berwick. 

The  war  continued,  with  slight  occasional  relaxa- 
tions, till  1713,  when  a  treaty  was  made  with  all  the 
eastern  tribes.  During  these  two  last  wars,  Maine  suf- 
fered greatly.     Cape  Porpoise,  being  twice  depopulated, 


56  HISTORY   OF  [from  1713. 

probably  lost  many  of  its  inhabitants.  Sullivan,  how- 
ever, says  '  it  being  sheltered  by  Wells  and  Saco  on  a 
neck  of  land  stretching  into  the  sea,  did  not  suffer 
much  at  an  early  period  by  the  hand  of  savages.'  Sub- 
sequently to  the  period  when  the  county  road  was 
located  through  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  from  Wells 
to  Saco,  this  might  be  the  case  ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  un- 
derstand how  these  towns  could  afford  any  protection 
previous  to  that  time,  when  they  were  barely  able  to 
keep  possession  of  their  own  forts ;  and  the  only  road 
then  travelled,  passed  directly  through  Cape  Porpoise 
village. 

Although  by  an  order  of  General  Court,  passed  in  the 
year  1714,  no  towns  in  Maine,  except  York,  Kittery, 
Berwick,  and  Wells,,  were  allowed  to  be  settled  with- 
out a  license  from  the  Governor  and  Council,  yet  sev- 
eral of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  returned,  soon  after 
the  treaty  of  peace  was  ratified,  and  commenced  anew 
their  business  of  milling,  fishing  and  farming.  **  Though 
Cape  Porpoise  had  never  before  its  destruction,  com- 
pared with  its  neighbors  in  wealth  and  population,  it 
had  been  inhabited  by  a  bold  and  spirited  people  ;  and 
in  1716,  they  and  the  proprietors  joined  in  a  prayer  to 
the  Legislature,  for  a  restoration  of  town  privileges,' 

*William3on's  Hist.  Me. 


TO  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  57 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Number  of  inhabitants....Schools  and  the  ministry....Cape  Por- 
poise united  with  the  parish  at  Saco.... Employments.... 
Extracts  from  the  old  town  records....Notice  of  the  inhabit- 
ants  Scadlock....Howell....Bolls....Frost....Spurrill Batson 

....Clay....Jeffery....Potum....Lux Warner Montague.. ..Ba- 
ker  Renols.....Turbit Hix Walker Roberts Davis.... 

Cole Barrett Bush....Palmer Young....  Jones Hather- 

ly....Wormstall....Ellson....Alger....Clarke....Harmon Barton 

....Saunders....Trott....Ball....Moore....Tilly....Ban-ow....Cook.... 
Penniwell....Scamman....Purinton....Morey....Huff....Springer 
„..Perkins....Boardman....Thomas....Merrill....Randall...Mussy 

....York Downing Haynes....Blanchet....Miller Norman 

Larrabee Fletcher Pendleton Littlefield Worm- 

wood....Harding....Notice  of  the  Indians. 

How  many  inhabitants  Cape  Porpoise  contained,  or 
what  was  the  state  of  society,  previous  to  its  being  de- 
serted, in  1703,  it  is  now  impossible  to  ascertain  with 
any  degree  of  certainty.  It  probably  never  contained 
over  200  inhabitants. 

Towns  were  obliged  by  law  to  maintain  free  and 
common  schools,  and  it  is  therefore  probable,  that  there 
was  some  provision  made  for  the  instruction  of  youth, 
although  from  the  complaint  against  the  town,  in  1675, 
and  their  subsequent  negligence,  it  would  seem  that 
they  were  very  remiss  in  that  duty.  Towns  were  also 
required,  by  an  order  passed  in  1668,  either  to  maintain  a 
settled  minister,  or  to  pay  =£50  annually  towards  the 
support  of  one  in  the  neighboring  town.  On  account  of 
the  poverty  of  Cape  Porpoise,  they  probably  did  neith- 
er ;  but  it  is  likely  that  they  had  occasional  preaching, 
and  perhaps  were  in  the  habit  of  meeting  together  on 
the  sabbath,  as  early  as  1653,  as  Baker's  prophecying 
and  railing  at  the  ministry,  was  said  to  disturb  '  public 
assemblings.'  It  might  have  been  that  the  inhabitants 
generally  attended  public  worship  at  Winter  Harbor, 
and  that  Baker's  speeches  were  directed  against  the 
minister   at  that  place.*     This  supposition  is  strength- 

*Edward  Rishworth,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Endicott,  dated 
Aug.  14,  1656,  says  "  Saco   and   Cape    Porpus    are  in  a  greate 


58  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

ened  by  the  circumstance  of  Peter  Turbat's  leaving  a 
steer  as  a  legacy  to  that  church  ;  and  also  from  Saco 
and  Cape  Porpoise  being  connected  in  the  same  com- 
plaint, in  165S,  for  not  making  suitable  provision  for 
the  ministry.  The  complaint  was  renewed,  in  1662, 
against  Cape  Porpoise  alone,  and  the  inhabitants  were 
ordered,  either  to  go  to  Winter  Harbor  to  meeting,  or 
assemble  at  the  house  of  John  Bush.  Those  residing 
near  Little  river,  went  to  Winter  Harbor,  as  Goody 
Scadlock  had  a  seat  assigned  her,  in  the  meeting 
house  at  that  place,  in  1666.  Several  years  after- 
wards, however,  there  were  none  from  this  town 
accommodated  with  seats,  unless  Goodwife  Wormstall 
was  an  inhabitant.  They  probably  continued  to  meet 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bush  for  some  time,  for  John  Davis 
was  presented  in  1672  for  preaching  at  another  place. 
In  1674,  some  one  thought  an  effort  ought  to  be  made 
to  maintain  regular  preaching,  and  a  complaint  was  en- 
tered against  the  town  for  'living  without  an  orthodox 
minister.'  The  court  probably  thought  the  town  still 
too  poor  to  maintain  one,  as  the  presentment  was  dis- 
charged, after  hearing  the  town  agent,  Mr.  Batson.  It 
is,  however,  very  certain,  that  they  never  had  a  meet- 
ing house,  nor  an  ordained  minister.  Every  town  in 
the  county  had  occasional  assistance  from  the  General 
Court,  to  support  their  minister,  except  Cape  Porpoise, 
which  was  by  far  the  poorest  one  in  the  county.  If 
they  had  had  a  settled  minister,  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  aid  would  also  have  been  extended  to  them.  The 
want  of  regular  religious  and  moral  instruction,  was 
very  manifest,  from  the  frequent  complaints  made 
against  the  citizens  of  the  place  for  violations  of  the 
sabbath,  and  other  immoralities.  These  expedients  for 
maintaining  public  worship,  proving  unavailing,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  were  permanently  joined  to  the 
parish  at  Winter  Harbor,  in  1680,  as  appears  by  the  fol- 
lowing order  passed  "at  a  meeting  of  freeholders  of  the 
Province  of  Mayne,  March  17th,  1679-80." 

etrayte  for  some  godly  minister  ;  for  his  maintenance  they  pro- 
pound £50  per  annum  besides  a  house  and  some  other 
conveniences,  touching  which  I  was  moved  to  write  to  your  wor- 
ship, which  I  cannot  well  be  so  forward  in  till  the  people  of 
Newgewanacke  be  supplied,  altho'  I  cannot  but  be  sensible  of  the 
deepe  necessity  thereof." 


A.  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  59 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  Winter  Harbour 
alias  Sacoe  and  Cape  Porpus  is,  and  shall  be  hence  for- 
ward, united  and  shall  joyne  togeather  as  one  society  in 
procuring  of  a  Minister  to  preach  the  word  of  *god  un- 
to them  ;  for  the  procuring  of  vvhome,  John  Sargent, 
John  Barrett,  John  Harmon,  and  John  Abbot  are  Im- 
powered  and  appointed  in  behalfe  of  sd.  Winter  Harbour 
and  Cape  Porpus,  any  two  of  them  to  use  their  best  In- 
deavours  to  that  end,  with  all  convenient  speed,  and  to 
rais  fourty  pounds"  lor  that  purpose.  The  parishes 
continued  united  till  the  desertion  of  this  town. 

From  the  nature  of  the  soil  where  they  first  settled, — 
on  the  islands,  and  round  the  harbor  of  Cape  Porpoise, 
— the  inhabitants  of  the  town  c6uld  not  have  paid  much 
attention  to  agriculture,  raising  perhaps  only  Indian 
corn,  pumpkins,  beans,  and  a  few  other  vegetables  that 
were  cultivated  by  the  aborigines.  They  had  rather 
large  stocks  of  cattle,  that  were  wintered  on  salt  and 
meadow  hay.  Their  principal  employment  was  fish- 
ing, and  after  the  trade  with  the  West  India  Islands 
commenced,  sawing  lumber.  These  articles  of  expor- 
tation were  carried  off  by  vessels  from  Massachusetts, 
the  inhabitants  being  too  poor  to  ship  them  themselves. 
Schooners,  which  were  first  built  in  1714,  were  soon 
after  principally  vised  for  this  business. 

During  the  last  war,  which  lasted  more  than  ten 
years,  Maine  had  lost  nearly  a  third  of  her  inhabitants. 
Cape  Porpoise  being  wholly  unprotected  in  the  onset, 
and  afterwards  exposed  in  common  with  other  towns  of 
the  state,  probably  lost  its  proportion.  Many  probably 
had  died  natural  deaths ;  and  others,  having  acquired 
a  new  residence,  did  not  again  return  to  their  exposed 
situations  in  this  town.  Those  that  did  return,  having 
lived  in  garrisons  in  other  towns  and  spent  all  their 
property  in  maintaining  their  families,  came  back  poor 
and  destitute,  and  found  their  houses  dilapidated  and 
their  cattle  killed.  After  the  war  had  ceased,  a  ship  being 
sent  to  exchange  prisoners,  many  returned,  who  were 
thought  to  have  been  murdered  by  the  Indians. 

•Although  the  county  and  town  records  abounded  in  capital  let- 
ters, it  is  remarkable  that  the  word  God,  was  generally  written 
with  a  small  one. 


60  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

After  the  resettlement  of  the  town  in  1714,  its  history- 
can  be  more  distinctly  traced,  than  prior  to  that  time. 
The  inhabitants,  not  taking  an  active  part  in  the  politic- 
al changes  of  the  previous  century,  were  but  little 
noticed  in  general  history,  which,  together  with  the 
loss  of  the  early  town  records,  renders  it  impossible  to 
produce  any  thing  like  a  conjoined  history  of  the  town, 
unconnected  with  the  general  history  of  the  country, 
till  its  second  incorporation. 

The  records  which  were  missing  in  1695,  were  either 
never  found,  or  were  again  lost  when  the  town  was  de- 
serted the  second  time.  One  of  the  first  entries  on  the 
town  book,  after  the  reorganization  of  the  town,  says 
that  diligent  search  had  been  made  for  the  ancient 
records,  and  nothing  of  them  could  be  found.  They 
were  not  however  wholly  lost.  A  few  of  the  latest 
leaves  were  found,  which  were  frequently  referred  to, 
in  the  Arundel  Book  of  Records,  and  the  Proprietors 
Book  of  Records  ;  but  most  of  them  have  since  been 
destroyed.  Seven  or  eight  pages  only  now  remain, 
from  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken. 

"  February  14th,  1678-9 — At  a  legal  town  meeting 
holden  at  Cape  Porpus,  John  Barret,  sen.  chosen  Grand 
Jury  man  for  the  year  ensuing, — Humphrey  Scammon 
chosen  constable  for  the  year.  John  Batson,  John 
Sanders,  John  Purinton,  these  three  being  chosen 
*Townsmen  for  the  year." 

"  At  a  legal  Town  Meeting  holden  at  Cape  Porpus  the 
17  of  February  1678,  Given  and  Granted  unto  William 
Frost  priviledge  for  to  build  a  Saw  Mill  at  the  falls  at 
the  Head  of  the  triver  lying  and  being  at  the  Head  of 
the  river  that  runs  up  along  between  John  Barret  and 
the  Lott  that  was  formerly  Stephen  Batsons,  with  one 
Hundred  Acres  of  upland  and  twenty  Acres  of  Meadow, 
in  any  place  that  is  not  granted' — '  the  said  Frost  does 
engage  for  to  build  a  mill  within  sixteen  months  after 
this  grant,  with  a  Grist  mill  also  fourteen  months  after 
that  this  former  contract  is  performed  ;  and  for  want 
or  nonperformance,  this  grant  shall  be  of  no  effect,  but 
it  shall  be  void,  unless  hindered  by  Warr  that  may  arise 
in  the  land.' — c  The  town  is  to  have  for  their  own  use, 

•Selectmen.  tMiddle  riter,  or  GofFs  mill  brook. 


A,  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  61 

boards  twelve  pence  in  a  Hundred  under  Price  Current. 
Witness  my  hand,        The  mark  (W.)  of  William 

John  Saunders,  Frost. 

John  Purington." 

"9th  day  of  April  1680-1.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Cape  Porpus  granted  to  Joseph  and  Edmund 
Littlefield,  one  hundred  acres  of  upland,  on  the  North- 
east side  of  Kennebunk  river,  as  near  as  may  be  to  the 
upper  falls,  near  the  Indian  Planting  Ground" — "  for  the 
purpose  of  building  mills,  for  each  saw  mill  they  are  to 
pay  a  yearly  rent  of  Fifty  shillings  in  boards,  and  al- 
low the  inhabitants  to  saw  their  own  boards  at  the 
halves" — "  Liberty  was  also  given  to  build  a  Gristmill 
at  the  same  place  in  two  years,  under  the  penalty  of 
Twenty  pounds" — "  and  the  inhabitants  are  enjoined 
not  to  build  another  grist  mill  within  their  town  so  long 
as  this  said  mill  will  grind." 

Land  was  also  granted  to  John  Miller,  up  at  the 
"  Desert  Marshes  upon  the  south  side  ;"  and  at  the  same 
place  to  William  Thomas,  and  William  Burton  ;  and 
to  John  Batson,  "  free  liberty  was  given  to  build  a  saw 
mill  at  the  third  falls  on  Middle  river ;"  and  to  John 
Purinton,  Isaac  Cole,  and  Samuel  York  to  build  mills 
on  Middle  river,  and  to  cut  timber  "  anywheres  on  the 
town's  commons." 

Land  was  also  granted  to  Richard  Randall,  on  Ken- 
nebunk river,  il  over  against  the  Wonder,  so  called ;" 
and  to  several  others. 

The  following  are  the  only  names  found  on  what  re- 
mains of  the  old  Cape  Porpus  records. 

John  Barrett,  Humphrey  Scammon,  John  Batson, 
John  Saunders,  William  Frost,  Joseph  Littlefield,  Ed- 
mund Littlefield,  John  Miller,  John  Miller,  Jr.  William 
Thomas,  William  Barton,  Richard  Randall,  Thomas 
Mussey,  Isaac  Cole,  Samuel  York,  John  Downing,  John 
Davis,  Immanuel  Haynes,  Jacob  Wormwood,  Nicholas 
Moorey,  John  Runnels,  John  Loring,  Richard  Blanchet, 
Simon  Cundey,  Emanuel  Davis,  John  Purinton  and 
John  Purinton,  Jr. 

The  following  additional  names  of  persons  belonging 
to  the  town,  are  taken  from  the  Massachusetts  and 
Maine  records,  and  from  other  sources.  Ambrose  Berry, 
John  Baker,  William  Reynolds,   William   Reynolds, 

F 


62  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

Jr.  Stephen  Batson,  Peter  Turbat,  Peter  Turbat,  Jr. 
John  Turbat,  Nicholas  Bartlett,  Phanea  Hall,  Gilbert 
Endicott,  William  Roberds,  Richard  Hix,  John  Bush, 
Griffin  Montague,  Charles  Potum,  Richard  Palmer, 
Richard  Young,  Edward  Jones,  Henry  Hatherly,  Ar- 
thur Wormstall,  John  Ellson,  Samuel  Oakman,  James 
Carry,  Andrew  Alger,  Jonas  Clay,  Morgan  Howell, 
Stephen  Batson,  2d.  Edward  Clark,  Gregory  Jeffery, 
Edward  Barton,  Ferdinando  Huff,  Jonathan  Springer, 
Christopher  Spurrill,  Thomas  Warner,  John  Cole, 
Simon  Teoft,  Simon  Bussy,  Jenkins,  Thomas  Perkins, 
Thomas  Dorman,  Thomas  Boardman,  Seth  Fletcher, 
John  Dyament,  Thomas  Merrill,  John  Sanders,  Jr. 
Thomas  Sanders,  John  Scadlock,  Samuel  Scadlock, 
John   Jeffery,   John    Lux,  Walter   Penniwell,    Robert 

Cook, Barrow,  Samuel  Johnson,  John  Rose,  John 

Webber,  Francis  Beggar,  Anthony  Littlefield,  Francis 
Littlefield,  sen.  JohnCirmihill,  William  Kindall,  Thom- 
as Mussell,  John  Trott,  William  Norman,  Richard 
Ball,   Henry  Singleman,  Roger  Willine. 

*William  Scadlock,  a  planter,  was  one  of  the  first, 
who  was  positively  known  to  have  settled  in  Cape 
Porpoise.  He  came  over  with  the  company  of  Vines, 
in  1630,  and  settled  on  the  west  side  of  Little  river, 
then  considered  within  the  Saco  patent.  He  was  fond 
of  litigation,  his  name  appearing  very  often  on  the 
county  records,  as  a  party  in  lawsuits;  and  he  was  fre- 
quently presented  by  the  grand  jury  for  misdemeanors. 
In  1636,  he  had  an  action  of  debt  against  Morgan  How- 
ell, and  at  the  same  court  was  fined  5s  for  getting 
drunk.  In  1640,  he  "  was  presented  for  misdemeanor 
in  his  house,  and  fined  20s  which  upon  his  humble  pe- 
tition was  remitted  by  the  court."  This  offence  was  in 
allowing  Thomas  Heard  to  get  drunk  at  his  housed  who 
afterwards  assaulted  Joseph  Boles  and  several  other 
persons.  In  1653,  Scadlock  signed  the  submission  to 
Massachusetts,  as  an  inhabitant  of  Saco,  and  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  the  writs,  (or  town  clerk ;)  but  in 
1659,  when  the  line  between  Saco  and  Cape  Porpoise 
was  established,  his  house  was  found  to  be  in  this  town. 
The  next  year,  he  Mas  chosen  by  the  town  one  of  the 
commissioners  to   agree  upon  the  line  between  Cape 

"Sullivan  calls  him    Slradlock. 


A.  D.  1716.]        KEXXEBUXK  PORT.  63 

Porpoise  and  Wells,  which  resulted  in  depriving  this 
town,  of  what  was  considered  as  part  of  its  territory. 
He  made  his  will  Jan.  7th,  1662,  which  was  as  follows. 
"In  the  name  of  God,  amen,  I  William  Scadlock  of 
Cape  Porpus,  in  the  Province  of  Mayne,  in  New  Eng- 
land, being  in  perfect  memory  and  understanding,  yet 
having  the  apprehension  of  death  before  mee, — I  here- 
by make  and  declare  my  last  will  and  testiment ;  which 
is,  in  the  first  place,  I  commit  and  commend  my  soule 
into  the  hands  of  God,  my  creator,  redeemer,  and 
sanctifyer  ;  my  body  unto  the  earth  from  whence  it  waa 
first  taken, — which  being  sollemnly  interred, — My  mind 
and  will  is,  that  my  funerall  expences  are  discharged, 
that  my  legal  debts,  dues,  and  demands  bee  satisfied  ; 
all  which  being  done,  the  remainder  of  my  estate  to  bee 
disposed  of  as  followeth.  That  the  house,  land,  marsh 
and  cattle,  with  the  appurtenances  thereunto  apper- 
taining and  belonging,  both  within  doors  and  without, 
I  do  bequeath  unto  my  good  and  dear  wife,  Elinor 
Scadlock,  soe  long  as  she  keeps  herself  a  widow  ;  but 
iff  she  happen  to  marry  after  my  decease,  then  shee  to 
have  six  cows,  two  stears,  with  the  third  part  of  my 
bequeath  abovementioned,  and  an  equal  and  proportion- 
ate 3d.  part  of  the  swine  that  were  then  in  being,  and 
the  best  bed  with  every  thing  thereunto  belonging;  but 
if  it  soe  bee  she  dy  as  my  widdow,  then  all  my  estate  to 
be  equally  divided  and  justly  between  our  children  ; 
and  if  she  dy  as  another  man's  wife  or  widow,  then 
these  cows,  steeres,  swine,  and  the  third  part  of  my  be- 
queath, to  bee  wholly  at  her  disposal.  If  shee  dy  as 
my  widdow,  then  all  my  estate  to  be  thus  divided 
amongst  my  children,  by  them  I  mean  William,  Su- 
sanna, John,  Rebeccka,  Samuel  and  Sarah  Scadlock  : — 
I  bequeath  my  bible  unto  my  son  John.  I  bequeath 
unto  my  son  William,  3  yards  of  broad  cloth,  he  upon 
that  consideration  to  buy  3  yds.  and  a  half  of  good  ker- 
sey of  10s  per  yard,  for  a  suit  for  my  son  Samuel,  and 
silk  and  buttons  unto  both  :  I  bequeath  unto  my  daugh- 
ter Rebeccka  my  worsted  stockings.  I  bequeath  unto 
my  son  William  my  new  hat,  he  buying  Samuel  anoth- 
er of  10  or  125  price.  I  bequeath  unto  my  daughter 
Susanna,  Mr  Cotton's  work  upon  the  new  covenant  of 
grace.     I  bequeath  a   book  entitled,  Meat  out   of  the 


64  HISTORY   of  [a.  d.  1716. 

Eater,  to  my  son  WiJliam,  and  to  my  son  John,  I  be- 
queath a  book  concerning  Justifying  Faith ;  and  the 
Practice  of  Piety  to  Rebeccka  ;  and  to  my  daughter 
Susanna,  A  sucking  Calf  called  Trubb. 

I  bequeath  unto  my  daughter  Sara  one  yard  of  Hol- 
land :  and  to  the  end  that  all  things  be  performed 
according  to  my  mind  and  will,  I  hereby  make,  consti- 
tute, and  appoint  my  loving  wife  Elinor,  my  executrix, 
and  my  son  William  executor ;  unto  all  which  I  set  my 
hand  and  heart," 

Mr.  Scadlock  probably  died  shortly  after  making  his 
will,  as  an  inventory  of  his  estate  was  handed  into  court 
the  same  year.  He  had  19  head  of  cattle,  and  4  hogs. 
His  estate  was  valued  at  about  ^100,  and  his  debts 
amounted  to  £83.  His  wife  probably  died  soon  after 
him,  as  Stephen  Kent,  and  Bryan  Pendleton  were  ap- 
pointed executors  of  his  will.  The  new  executors  did 
not  agree  ;  Pendleton  having  handed  in  an  imperfect 
inventory,  Kent  claimed  part  of  the  property  as  execu- 
tor. Kent  had  probably  married  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Scadlock.  The  year  before  Mr.  Scadlock's  death, 
William  Phillips  of  Saco  claimed  200  acres  of  land 
and  the  house  in  which  Scadlock  lived.  The  land  had 
been  granted  to  him  in  1653,  by  the  town  of  Cape  Por- 
poise, but  Phillips  disputed  their  right  to  it;  and 
Scadlock  was  obliged  to  take  a  new  grant  from  him,  in 
consideration  of  which,  he  was  to  give  one  day's  work 
yearly. 

William,  son  of  the  preceding,  who  married  Ann, 
the  widow  of  Ambrose  Berry,  jun.  died  in  1664,  and 
Bryan  Pendleton  was  appointed  administrator  of  his 
estate.  "  John  died  the  same  year.  Samuel  was  living 
1719,  at  York,  73  years  old.  William  jr.  appears  to 
have  left  children ;  a  son  born  1661  ;  and  a  daughter 
Anne  married  to  John  Carter  1666.  The  family  name 
is  now  extinct  in  this  quarter,  as  far  as  we  can  learn  ; 
but  the  falls  on  Little  river,  near  the  house  of  Mr. 
Jeremiah  Bettis,  are  still  called  Scadlock's  falls  by  the 
inhabitants  in  the  vicinity."* 

Samuel  removed  to  Marblehead  and  his  daughter 
Susanna  married  Bezaleel  Getchel, 

^Folaora. 


A.  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  65 

Morgan  Howell,  who  first  signed  the  submission  in 
1653,  was  also  a  planter,  and  one  of  the  oldest  perma- 
nent settlers  in  this  town.  He  came  over  to  this 
country  at  the  same  time  with  Scadlock,  and  probably 
settled  near  him.  He  moved,  however,  soon  after,  and 
built  him  a  house  on  the  point,  afterwards  called 
Montague's  neck,  which  name  it  still  retains.  *July 
13th,  1643,  he  procured  a  grant  of  30  acres  of  land 
where  he  lived,  from  Thomas  Gorges,  deputy  governor 
of  Mayne,  100  acres  at  Cape  Porpoise,  and  60  acres 
on  eastern  (Little)  river,  for  the  yearly  rent  of  65  8d 
for  the  whole,  to  be  paid  on  the  last  day  of  June.  His 
land  was  described  as  "  lying  at  Cape  Porpus,  in  the 
province  of  Mayne,"  and  bounded  by  the  lot  of  Joseph 
Bowles  on  the  east,  by  Henry  Singleman  on  the  north, 
and  Roger  Willine  on  the  west.  Another  lott  was 
described  as  being  by  the  old  house  on  clay  cove,  to  a 
great  stone  lying  in  the  marsh,  in  the  midst  of  long 
cove,  with  the  little  neck  of  land.  Howell's  grant  is 
the  oldest  on  record,  within  the  limits  of  this  town  ; 
although,  from  other  lots  being  alluded  to  in  his  grant, 
it  is  evident  there  were  grants  still  older  which  had  not 
been  recorded.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Court  of 
Assistants  under  Rigby's  government,  in  1646,  and 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  province,  to  whom 
Edward  Rigby  sent  a  letter  of  reproof  for  their  "  ille- 
gal proceedings,"  in  1652.  He  was  constable  of  the 
town  in  1656,  and  was  one  of  the  committee  for  settling 
the  line  between  Wells  and  Cape  Porpoise  in  1660. 
He  was  a  very  active  and  efficient  man,  being  con- 
stantly engaged  in  suits,  at  the  county  courts,  either 
as  agent  for  the  town,  one  of  the  parties,  a  witness,  or  a 
juror.  He  probably  left  no  children,  as  the  name  does 
not  appear  on  the  records  after  his  death.  He  died 
1666,  and  gave  his  property,  principally,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Bolls,  who  was  his  executrix  and  perhaps  his  relative, 
and  her  children.  He  gave  to  "  Mary  Frost,  sen.  his  bed 
and  bedding,  a  brass  kettle,  two  pewter  plates,  and  a 
cow  ;  and  to  Mary  Frost,  jr.  the  Molley  heifer."     His 

*Sullivan  erroneously  states  that  his  grant  was  from  Sir  Alexan- 
der Rigby's  agent, in  1648. 
tOn  Huff's  neck. 

Ff 


66  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

property  in  Wells  was  valued  at  <£46,  and  at  Cape 
Porpoise,  at  ,£151.  He  had  12  head  of  cattle,  besides 
horses  and  swine. 

The  Mary  Bolls,  or  Bowles,  mentioned  in  Howell's 
will,  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Bowles,  who  lived  on 
Montague's  neck,  near  Howell.  The  property  at 
Cape  Porpoise,  they  sold  to  John  Batson,  in  1673,  and 
removed  to  Wells,  probably  on  the  Howell  lot  in  that 
town.  Mrs.  Bowles,  in  1674,  brought  an  action 
against  Andrew  Alger,  for  the  recovery  of  property 
belonging  to  Howell's  estate.  She  removed  to  Ports- 
mouth, after  her  husband's  death,  1682  ;  and  in  1685 
sold  the  same  lot  that  had  been  sold  to  Batson,  again 
"  to  Samuel  Snow  cordwinder  of  Boston." 

The  two  Mary  Frosts,  to  whom  Howell  gave  lega- 
cies, were  probably  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the 
William  Frost,  who  had  a  grant  of  120  acres  of  land 
and  a  mill  privilege  on  Middle  river  or  Goff's  Mill 
creek,  from  the  town,  in  1678,  upon  condition  of  his 
building  a  saw  and  grist  mill.  Mary  Frost,  probably 
the  elder,  was  presented  for  getting  drunk,  in  1658. 
Frost  probably  lived  on  Montague's  neck. 

Nothing  is  known  of  Christopher  Spurrel  (probably 
Spur  well)  except  that  he  signed  the  submission  to 
Massachusetts,  in  1653,  as  an  inhabitant  of  Cape  Por- 
poise. The  name  does  not  afterwards  occur,  as  being 
in  this,  neighborhood,  except  in  the  marriage  of  Abigail 
Spurwell,  in  1664,  to  Arthur  Butting. 

*Stephen  Batson, —  sometimes  written  Badson, — 
who  was  the  third  to  sign  the  submission  to  Massachu- 
setts, was  also  a  very  early  settler  ;  but  whether  he  first 
settled  at  Winter  Harbor  or  Cape  Porpoise,  is  not 
known.  In  1636,  he  bound  his  daughter  Margery  to 
Capt.  Richard  Bonithan  of  Saco,  till  she  was  twenty 
one  years  of  age. 

His  son  Stephen  was  more  frequently  noticed  on  the 
county  records  ;  but  from  the  following  extract,  1660, 
he  was  not  very  fortunate  in  his  domestic  relations. 

"  Whereas  certain  complaints  are  come  unto  this 
Court,  and  have  by  our  desire  appeared  against  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Stephen  Batson,  whereby  she  hath 

*Sullivan  calls  him  Batons. 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  67 

most  grossly  abused  and  slandered  the  said  Stephen, 
her  husband,  and  some  of  her  children  ; — It  is  there- 
fore ordered  by  this  Court,  in  consideration  of  her 
absence  in  the  country,  shee  is  to  pay  the  some  of  5s 
to  our  treasurer  ;  and  for  her  offence  given  to  her 
husband  and  daughter  Clay,  by  her  opprobrious 
accusations,  also  is  to  make  her  acknowledgement  here 
in  open  Court  for  the  wrong  she  hath  done  them,  and 
the  like  acknowledgement  at  Cape  Porpus  on  a  publique 
town  meeting,  and  at  Wells  within  a  fortnight." 

Mrs.  Batson  complied  with  the  order  by  making  the 
following  confession,  at  the  places  designated  by  the 
court. 

11  Whereas,  I  Elizabeth  Batson,  before  the  last 
Court  of  Assistants,  was  legally  convicted  for  defayming 
my  husband,  Stephen  Batson,  and  my  daughter  Mary 
Clay,  ********  I  do  acknowledge 
that  I  have  done  both  my  husband  and  daughter  most 
wilful  and  apparent  wrong  in  soe  speaking,  and  am 
hartily  sorry  for  it,  and  do  hope  it  will  be  a  warning 
for  mee  for  the  tyme  to  come  for  wronging  them  or  any 
other  in  like  manner." 

Old  Mrs.  Batson,  mother  of  Stephen,  jun.  was  still 
living  in  1661,  as  appears  from  the  following  notice  of 
her. 

James  Harmon  and  his  wife  having  separated,  the 
court  had  awarded  her  all  his  property  for  her  main- 
tenance, part  of  which  was  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Batson.  In  consequence  of  Mrs.  Batson's  refusing  to 
give  it  up,  the  following  order  was  passed.  "  Wheras 
it  appeareth  to  this  Court,   that   there  are  two  swine 

now  in  the  possession  of  Goodwife  Batson, and 

it  is  ordered  that  the  constable  of  Cape  Porpus  for 
better  security,  shall  by  virtue  hereof,  seize  these  2 
swine  aforesaid,  and  deliver  them  into  the  possession  of 
Barbara  Clarke,  for  the  use  of  Sariah  Harmon  and 
her  child." 

Mr.  Batson  sold  his  property,  in  1662,  at  Cape 
Porpoise,  to  Peter  Oliver,  merchant  of  Boston,  consist- 
ing of  300  acres  of  land  on  middle  creek,  his  log  house, 
all  his  cattle,  and  "  also  one  house  and  stage,  and  two 
Boats'  rooms  upon  Stage  Island,  with  all  priviledges  and 
appurtenances  thereunto  belonging."     Mr.  Batson  had 


68  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

probably  become  indebted  to  Mr.  Oliver  for  supplies  in 
carrying  on  the  fishing  business,  and  was  compelled 
to  dispose  of  his  property.  He  was  very  unwilling  to 
give  up  possession,  and  Mr.  Oliver  complained  that  he 
would  not  let  Thomas  Bryan  and  his  partners  enjoy 
the  house  he  had  bought  of  him.  Batson  admitted  he 
had  torn  down  the  stage  and  fish  house. 

He  afterwards  removed  to  Wells,  and  had  several 
lawsuits  with  John  Barrett,  Edward  Barton,  and  others. 
He  did  not  sell  all  his  land  to  Oliver,  as  he  sold  a  lot 
on  Little  river  to  his  son  John,  in  1673.  He  made  his 
will  the  same  year,  and  gave  most  of  his  property  to 
his  daughter  Elizabeth  Ashly  and  her  children.  He 
left  one  son,  John,  and  several  daughters  ;  Mary  who 
was  married  to  Mr.  Trott  ;  Margery  to  a  Mr.  Young  ; 
Mrs.  Brokehouse  and  Mrs.  Ashly.  He  gave  legacies 
also  to  his  grand  children,  John  Trott,  and  Sarah  Ash- 

John,  the  son  of  Stephen,  jr.  remained  at  Cape 
Porpoise,  and  was  fined,  in  1661,  for  getting  drunk. 
He,  however,  became  a  man  of  some  wealth  and  con- 
sideration in  town,  and,  in  1673,  bought  the  Howell 
farm  of  Joseph  Bowles  and  his  wife,  and  a  lot  of  his 
father,  on  Little  (since  called  Batson's)  river.  In  1680, 
he  owned  a  mill,  probably  on  that  stream,  which,  by 
order  of  court,  paid  a  tax  of  30s  towards  maintaining 
a  force  at  fort  Loyal  in  Falmouth.  The  same  year  he 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Majesty,  at  a  meeting 
of  free  holders,  held  under  President  Danforth,  and 
was  appointed  constable  of  the  town.  The  year  fol- 
lowing, he  was  one  of  the  trustees  appointed  to  take  a 
deed  of  the  town  from  President  Danforth.  During 
the  years  1683,  and  '84,  he  was  deputy  from  the  town 
to  the  General  Assembly. 

He  died  in  1685,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  was  ap- 
pointed administratrix  of  his  estate.  The  valuation  of 
his  property  was  about  ,£130.  He  left  two  sons, 
Stephen  and  John,  who  removed  to  Portsmouth  when 
the  town  was  deserted,  and  did  not  return. 

Mary  Clay,  the  daughter  of  Elizabeth  Batson,  was 
the  wife  of  Jonas  Clay,  of  whom  nothing  is  now  known. 

From  the  frequent  complaints  against  Mrs.  Clay 
before  the  grand  jury  for  misdemeanors,  that  subjected 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  69 

her  to  fines  and  punishments,  it  is  not  probable  that 
her  mother's  accusations  were  untrue,  although  she 
was  compelled  to  make  a  recantation.  Griffin  Mon- 
tague and  Morgan  Howell  having  entered  a  complaint 
against  her,  she  was  sentenced  "  to  receive  twenty 
lashes  on  her  bare  skin."  She  was  several  times 
whipt,  imprisoned,  and  fined  for  drunkenness  and  other 
immoralities.  The  following  order  relative  to  her  was 
also  recorded.  "  For  preventing  any  future  injury 
which  may  fall  upon  Mary  Clay  relating  to  her  disease 
(convulsion  fitts)  which  do  frequently  seize  upon  her, 
it  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  the  town  of  Cape  Por- 
pus  are  hereby  ordered  to  take  such  care  that  some 
woman  live  in  the  house  with  her,  or  shee  to  live  in 
some  family  ;  which  by  the  said  place  being  neglected, 
they  shall  bee  lyable  to  such  penalty  as  the  Court  shall 
see  meete  to  Inflict  for  the  same." 

*Gregory  Jeffery,  who  was  the  fourth  signer  to  the 
submission,  was  either  the  son  of  William  Jeffery  or 
Jeffries,  who,  Winthrope  says,  "  was  a  person  of  some 
distinction,  settled  in  our  colony  in  1623,  at  Wey- 
mouth, under  the  command  of  Capt.  Robert  Gorges, 
son  of  Sir  Ferdinando,"— or  of  the  William  Jeffery, 
who  had  a  grant  of  land  from  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges, 
in  1631,  on  the  north  side  of  Agamenticus.  Dygory 
JeffQ-y,  who  resided  in  Kittery  in  1664,  and  in  York  in 
1672 ;  was  probably  son  of  William  of  Agamenticus. 
These  Jefferies  probably  belonged  to  the  same  family. 

Gregory  had  a  grant,  from  Cleaves,  Rigby's  agent, 
in  1648,  of  200  acres,  "  together  in  the  village  of  Cape 
Porpus,"  for  the  annual  rent  of  5s  to  be  paid  on  the 
first  day  of  November.  Cleaves  also  granted  to  the 
"  said  Jeffery  and  his  Heirs  for  ever,  besides  what  is 
herein  formerly  expressed,  the  inheritance  of,  and 
possession  of  three  small  Islands  in  Cape  Porpus  Har- 
bour, the  one  of  them  named  the  Folly  Island,  and  the 
other  called  the  Goat  Island,  on  the  east  side,  and  the 
one  called  Greene  Island  on  the  west  side,  together  with 
ten  acres  of  Marsh  Ground  in  the  great  Marsh  betwixt 
Joseph  Bowles  his  lott  and  the  Little  River."  For  the 
islands  and  marsh,  he  was  to    pay  7s  6d    yearly  to 

*Sullivan  calls  him  Gregory  Hoskeries. 


70  HISTORY  OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

"  Colonel  Alexander  Rigby,  Esq.  president  of  the 
Province  of  Laconia."  July  8th,  1652,  Richard 
Moore,  and  John  Bush,  assigned  their  grants  of  400 
acres  each,  to  Jeffery. 

Jeffery,  who  is  styled  yeoman,  deeded  his  three  is- 
lands to  Bryan  Pendleton,  in  1658. 

Gregory's  name  is  seldom  mentioned  on  the  county 
records.  He  was  on  several  juries  ;  and  was  prosecu- 
ted by  Griffin  Montague,  1655,  for  "  taking  his  stear 
to  his  damage,"  and  obliged  to  pay  175.  He  made 
his  will  August  14th,  1661,  and  died  three  days  after; 
being  about  60  years  old,  as  he  declared  in  a  deposition 
taken  a  few  weeks  before.  He  appointed  his  wife 
Mary,  and  Charles  Potum,  executors.  His  wife,  who 
was  considerably  younger  than  himself,  was  to  have  all 
his  estate,  till  his  son  John  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
when  it  was  to  be  equally  divided  between  them.  If 
John  died  before  that  time,  his  half  was  to  fall  to  an 
infant,  born  after  its  father's  death  ;  and  if  the  child 
died,  the  whole  was  to  go  to  his  wife.  He  also  be- 
queathed "  unto  the  church  of  Sacoe,  to  carry  on  the 
worship  and  service  of  god,  one  stear,"  and  to  his 
"  kinsman  Charles  Potum,  a  2  years  old  heifFer  called 
Rose." 

There  being  some  dispute  about  the  meaning  of  the 
will,  and  the  executors  being  at  variance,  on  account 
of  Mrs.  Jeffery 's  speedy  marriage  with  John  Lux  of 
Saco  ;  they  suffered  the  real  estate  to  lie  without 
improvement,  and  each  one  endeavored  to  obtain  the 
larger  part  of  the  personal  property.  Mrs.  Lux  having 
removed  to  Saco,  and  Potum,  who  appeared  to  have  no 
settled  employment,  having  also  left  the  place  for  a 
time,  some  person  represented  the  matter  to  the  court, 
and  the  following  order  was  passed.  "  Whereas  in- 
formation is  given  to  this  court,  that  the  executors  of 
Gregory  Jeffery's  estate,  have  left  their  executorship 
and  their  usual  place  of  aboad,  and  the  2  children  of 
whom  we  do  not  hear  that  they  have  taken  any  future 
care, — for  which  children  the  better  provision  may  be 
made,  and  more  security  for  the  estate ; — It  is  there- 
fore ordered  that  Henry  Joscelyn,  Esq.  togeather  with 
the  selectmen  of  Sacoe  have  full  power  for  the  order- 
ing and  disposing  the  estate."     This  order  was  probably 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUKK  PORT.  71 

not  complied  with,  as  the  estate  was  still  unsettled  in 
1655,  when  Potum  stated  that  the  personal  property 
was  scattered  over  the  whole  town,  being  in  the  pos- 
session of  William  Kindale  and  many  others.  Mrs. 
Lux  probably  died  1655,  as  her  will  was  dated  Febru- 
ary 7th,  of  this  year.  She  placed  all  the  property  of 
her  first  husband  in  the  hands  of  Lux,  till  John  Jeffery 
should  be  fourteen  years  old.  If  he  died,  his  part  of 
the  property  was  to  go  to  her  daughter  Mary  Lux, 
and  her  own  part  to  her  son  Joseph  Lux,  "  according 
to  the  tenor  of  her  deceased  husband  JefFery's  will." 
If  Joseph  died,  Mary  was  to  have  all  the  property  after 
Mr.  Lux's  death. 

It  is  probable  that  Potum  retained  part  of  the  prop- 
erty even  after  Mrs.  Lux's  death,  for  Mr.  Lux  brought 
an  action  against  him  for  withholding  part  of  the 
estate  from  him,  and  got  judgment  in  his  favor.  Pot- 
um, however,  presented  an  account  against  the  estate, 
in  1670,  which  was  perhaps  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Lux, 
and  had  it  allowed  by  the  court.  It  cannot  now  be 
ascertained  whether  Mr.  JefFery's  younger  child  died, 
or  took  the  name  of  its  father-in-law,  Lux ;  but  it  is 
probable  that  it  died,  as  part  of  the  estate,  in  1670,  was 
represented  as  belonging  to  the  orphan  child  of  John 
Lux. 

Information  having  been  given  the  court,  that  the 
town  had  granted  several  parcels  of  JefFery's  land, 
they  ordered  the  recorder  to  send  a  letter  to  Cape 
Porpus,  in  1672,  cautioning  them  against  "  granting 
the  land  formerly  granted  to  Gregory  Jeffery,  which  he 
left  to  his  son,  as  they  had  been  in  the  habit  of  doing." 
The  amount  of  Mr.  JefFery's  property,  as  by  the  valua- 
tion, was  ,£165  He  had  21  head  of  cattle,  2  horses 
and  21  swine. 

John  learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  and  resided  in 
Lynn,  where  he  died  previous  to  1734. 

In  consequence  of  the  troubles  with  the  Indians,  and 
the  consequent  desertion  of  the  town  for  nearly  twenty 
five  years,  the  property  was  not  claimed  till  1727, 
when  it  was  again  laid  out  to  John  JefFery's  agents.  It 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  which  is  quite 
numerous. 

Charles  Potum,  who  is  first  mentioned  in  JefFery's 


582  HISTORY    OF  [a.  D.    1716. 

will  as  his  relative,  was  appointed  constable  of  the  town 
in  1670.  He  was  violently  opposed  to  Mrs.  Jeffery's 
second  marriage,  and  had  Lux  indicted  for  "  visiting 
her  suspiciously."  Lux,  however,  brought  an 
action  against  him  "  for  unjust  Molestation,"  and 
recovered  damages.  In  1674,  Potum  was  presented 
"  for  liveing  an  idle,  lasy  life,  following  noe  settled 
imployment.  Major  Bryan  Pendleton  joynd  with  the 
selectmen  of  Cape  Porpus  to  dispose  of  Potum  accord- 
ing to  law,  and  to  put  him  under  family  government." 
He  probably  was  never  married  ;  and  died,  1678,  and 
John  Barrett  was  appointed  administrator  of  his  estate. 

Of  Thomas  Warner  nothing  is  known,  except  as  an 
inhabitant  of  the  town,  he  signed  the  submission  to 
Massachusetts  in  1653.  He  died  in  1660,  and  proba- 
bly left  no  family,  as  Morgan  Howell  administered 
upon  his  estate. 

Griffin  Montague's  name  also  appears  for  the  first 
time,  when  he  was  admitted  freeman  of  Massachusetts, 
1653,  and  was  appointed  constable.  He  was  a  planter, 
but  united  with  that  employment  the  business  of  fishing 
and  fowling.  In  1655,  he  promised  to  deliver  to  a  per- 
son of  Piscataqua,  "  160  pounds  of  good  geese  and 
duck  feathers,  Fitting  for  bedding,  only  the  Tail  and 
Wing  feathers  excepted."  He  was  a  man  of  no  edu- 
cation, not  being  able  to  write.  In  the  year  1669,  he 
was  one  of  the  appraisers  of  the  estate  of  John  Bush, 
and  the  year  following,  to  that  of  John  Sanders.  Being 
sick  "  and  not  knowing  how  soon  the  Lord  might  call 
him  to  pay  the  debt  due  unto  nature,"  he  made  his 
will,  July  1671,  and  gave  his  soul  to  the  Lord,  his  body 
to  the  dust,  and  his  estate  to  his  wife  Margaret.  He 
requested  that  his  body  might  "  be  buried  by  the  grave 
of  his  sire,  John."  He  probably  left  no  children,  as 
the  name  does  not  again  occur.  He  resided  on  that 
point  of  land,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Montague's 
neck,  near  the  spot  where  the  house  of  Joseph  Hutch- 
ins  now  stands. 

Mrs.  Montague  died,  in  1684,  and  by  her  will  gave 
all  her  property  to  Samuel  Snow  of  Boston.  Snow 
sold  to  Timothy  Dwight,  goldsmith  of  Boston,  100 
acres  of  land  at  Cape  Porpoise,  100  acres  at  Kenne- 
bunk  river,  and  100  at  the   "  dezart  marshes,  between 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  73 

John  Miller's  and  Thomas  Mussey's  lotts."  Nicholas 
Morey  bought  the  house  and  50  acres  of  land  on  the 
neck. 

All  that  is  known  of  John  Baker,  is  what  is  contain- 
ed in  the  report  of  the  Massachusetts  commissioners, 
in  1653.  He  was  the  same  person  who  resided  in 
York  in  1640.  He  probably  entertained  religious  views 
different  from  the  majority  of  his  neighbors,  and  was 
forcibly  prevented  from  promulgating  them. 

*William  Reynolds,  Renolds,  or  Runnels,  was  prob- 
ably a  brother  of  the  John  Renolds,  who  was 
complained  of,  for  carrying  his  wife  on  to  the  Isles  of 
Shoals,  "  contrary  to  an  act  in  Court,  that  no  Wimin 
shall  live  upon  the  Isle  of  Shoals." 

The  same  year  this  complaint  was  entered,  [1647] 
William  procured  a  grant  of  200  acres  of  land  at  "  Ken- 
ibonke"  river,  and  the  marsh  on  the  east  side,  in 
consideration  of  his  keeping  the  ferry  at  the  mouth  of 
that  river.  This  grant  included  the  spot  on  which  the 
village  is  located.  In  1653,  he  was  one  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, who  submitted  to  Massachusetts.  He  probably 
continued  to  keep  the  ferry  for  some  time,  but  not  to 
the  satisfaction  of  travellers ;  as  he  was  presented, 
1672,  "  for  not  keeping  a  ferry  boate  according  to  law." 
The  court  however  remitted  the  presentment,  probably 
on  account  of  his  age,  and  acquitted  him. 

In  1674,  he  gave  all  his  property  to  his  son  John, 
upon  condition  that  John  should  maintain  him  and  his 
"  wife  Aylice."  Either  before  or  after  this  conveyance, 
Mr.  Reynolds  also  mortgaged  the  same  property  to 
Francis  Johnson.  Reynolds's  house  was  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  by  a  "  certain  gutt,"  near  Butler's  rocks, 
the  foundation  of  which  can  now  be  seen.  He  left 
four  sons  and  several  daughters.  When  Wells 
and  Cape  Porpoise  were  presented,  in  1687,  for  not 
having  a  ferry  over  Kennebunk  river,  John  was  ap- 
pointed ferryman,  and  was  to  receive  "  for  man  and 
horse,  six  pence,  for  a  single  man  two  pence  ferryage." 
The  same  year  he  sold  to  Nicholas  Morey  a  lot  of  land 
lying  between  tLong  creek  or  Mast  cove,  and  the  river, 

'Sullivan  calls  him  Ranols. 

tThe  mill  creek  or  pond  near  the  village. 


74  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

over  against  Gillum's  point.* — When  the  town  was  de- 
serted, John  removed  to  Durham,  Samuel  to  Bradford, 
and  Job  and  William  to  Dover.  Mary  married  James 
Langley  of  Dover.  Another  daughter,  Jane,  married 
Thomas  Wormwood. 

Roger  Willine  lived  on  Montague's  neck.  John  Bush, 
in  a  deed  to  John  Barret,  says  Willine  was  "one  of  the 
first  inhabitants  of  the  place."  Henry  Singleman  was 
also  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  lived  near  Willine. 
Nothing  more  is  known  of  either  of  them. 

fPeter  Turbat  also  signed  the  submission  to  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1653.  He  had  probably  resided  at  Cape 
Porpoise  sometime  before  this,  as  he,  together  with 
John  Saunders,  sen.  and  John  Bush,  bought  a  tract  of 
land  4  miles  square  of  Sosowen  of  Saco,  before  "  the 
inhabitants  had  become  subject  to  Massachusetts."  The 
sale  of  this  tract,  which  was  described  as  |"  Coxhall 
now  called  Swanfield,  lying  beyond  Wells,"  was  con- 
firmed by  Fluellen,  son  of  Sosowen,  and  the  town 
(Lyman)  is  held  under  this  grant.  Turbat  and  his 
associates  sold  this  tract  to  Harlakenden  Symonds  of 
Wells,  who  deeded  it,  1661,  to  his  father  Samuel  Sy- 
monds of  Ipswich. 

Turbat  died  1661,  and  the  court  in  1669,  in  order  to 
settle  some  dispute  about  the  disposition  of  his  property, 
and  one  of  his  children,  "  ordered  that  the  will  of  Peter 
Turbat  be  inquired  into,  and  Major  Bryan  Pendleton 
and  Mr.  Francis  Neale  are  impowered  to  settle  the  es- 
tate according  to  law."  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the 
will,  and  of  the  proceedings  thereon. 

"  The  will  of  Peter  Turbat :  Bequeathing  his  Soule 
To  god  hwo  gave  it,  and  then  his  Bodi  to  the  yearth 
from  whence  it  came, — and  then  I  give  to  my  father  in 
Law,  John  Sanders,  my  youngest  Dafter,  Elizabeth 
Turbat,  that  he  or  they  may  keepe  and  bring  her  up 
till  she  is  at  woman's  yestate,  not  any  way  Else  but  to 
be  kept  as  his  onne  ; — Next,  for  what  yestate  I  have, 
my  lawful   debts   be  paid   out   of  yt,   I   give  all    my 

"Now  called  Emery's  point.  The  only  person  by  the  name  of 
Gillum,  whose  name  is  found  on  the  county  records,  was  Zacha- 
ry  who  married  a  daughter  of  Major  Phillips. 

tHe  is  called  Tuebatt  by  Sullivan. 

tit  is  once  spelt  on  the  record,  Coxhorne, 


A.  D.  1716.]         RENNEBUXK  PORT.  75 

goods  to  my  wife  Sarah,  duaring  her  life,  boath  howses 
and  howsing,  upland  and  meadow  fields,  and  any  thing 
that  belongs  to  me  that  shee  may  Poussibly  Injoy  and 
keepe,  till  god  hath  finished  her  life  ;  and  then  if  my 
son  John  doth  live,  he  shall  receive  all  my  land  and 
marsh,  to  keepe  and  hould  from  him  and  his  use  forev- 
er ;  and  if  god  doth  take  the  said  Johnawaye  by  death, 
then  the  said  Lands  as  abouve  said  shall  fall  to  my  son 
Peter  his  use,  Provided  my  sonn  John  Dy  without  any 
Ayer  ; — made  in  the  presence  of  us  to  Witness. 

John  Davis, 

The  mark  (C)  of  William 
Roberds. 

These  are  my  debts  as  follows. 
To  Major  Shapleigh  03  00  00 

To  Mr.  Walker  03  00  00 

To  Goodman  Montague  about  00  18  00." 

The  above  document  was  neither  signed  nor  sealed. 
The  following  inventory  of  his  estate  was  probably  pre- 
pared by  Mrs.  Turbat. 

"  Imp.  on  cow  and   A  hefer  07  10  00 

4  young  cattle  about  2  years  10  00  00 

2  calveses  01  10  00 

6  piggs  04  00  00 

Houes  and  land  38  00  00 


Sum  is  61  00  00 

"  Sarah  Turbat  maketh  oath  that  this  above  writ- 
ten is  a  true  inventory  of  all  the  yestate,  Peter  Turbat 
deceased,  her  late  husband  leaft  her  when  he  died,  Ex- 
cept a  few  small  things  of  little  vallu  she  brought  forth 
to  the  Aprizers,  and  they  did  not  thinke  worth  the  val- 
luing. 

"  Richard  Hix  and  his  wife  Susanna  make  oath  of 
that  Clause  in  the  will,  which  hath  reference  to  giving 
of  his  daughter  Elizabeth  to  his  Father  Sanders,  Pe- 
ter Turbat  did  revoke  upon  his  death  bed,  and  leaft  his 
daughter  at  the  whole  disposing  of  his  wife  Sarah. 
Taken  upon  oath  the  19th  of  October  1669." 

John  Turbat,  son  of  Peter,  was  bound  to  Capt.  Fran- 
cis Champernoone  of  York,  soon  after  his  father's 
death,  for  eleven  years.  He  returned  in  1681,  and 
had  another  grant  of  land  from  the  town  ;  and  proba- 


76  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

bly  continued  to  reside  in  it  till  it  was  deserted  in  1690. 
He  probably  lived  at  Turbat's  creek,  which  place  was 
afterwards  sold,  by  his  descendants,  to  Samuel  Wildes, 
to  whose  offspring  it  now  belongs.  The  deed,  which 
was  in  being  a  few  years  since,  gave  the  measurement 
in  "  straddles"  instead  of  rods. 

Peter  jr.  probably  had  land  of  his  father  before  his 
death,  as  he  sold  a  lot  of  marsh  to  John  Sanders,  sen. 
lying  "  on  the  west  side  of  a  creek  that  butts  on  Holli- 
but  point,  between  Montague's  and  Edward  Barton's 
house."  The  family  became  scattered  when  the  town 
was  deserted,  and  probably  never  resided  here  after- 
wards. Hannah  married  Roger  Playstead  in  1669. 
Nicholas,  probably  one  of  the  family,  then  of  Kittery, 
was  presented  1699  for  not  going  to  meeting ;  Peter 
removed  to  Berwick,  and  was  complained  of  for  swear- 
ing, in  1713  ;  and  Sarah  and  Elizabeth  were  indicted 
for  other  offences,  for  which  the  former  was  sentenced 
u  to  receive  ten  stripes  on  her  naked  back."  There 
was  also  a  Benjamin. 

Richard  Hix,  (sometimes  spelt  Hickes,)  who  was  wit- 
ness to  Turbat's  will,  was  on  the  jury  from  this  town, 
in  1661,  and  was  constable  1668.  There  was  a  Rich- 
ard Hicks,  residing  in  Boston,  1649,  who  had  a  son 
Richard  born  1656,  but  it  is  probable  that  this  was 
another  family. 

The  Mr.  Walker,  to  whom  Turbat  owed  c£3,  was 
not,  probably,  an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  but  the  Rich- 
ard Walker  who  had  purchased  part  of  Swanfield  or 
Lyman. 

William  Roberts,  who  witnessed  Turbat's  will,  was 
killed  by  the  Indians,  at  Oyster  river,  (Durham)  in  1675. 

John  Davis,  the  other  witness,  was  probably  the 
blacksmith,  who  removed  from  York  to  Saco  in  1653. 
In  1756,  then  called  "  the  smyth  of  Winter  Harbour," 
he  was  sentenced  to  receive  30  lashes,  which  punish- 
ment was  inflicted  by  John  Parker,  and  to  pay  a  fine 
of<£10.  He  probably  soon  afterwards  removed  to  this 
town,  for  as  an  inhabitant  of  Cape  Porpoise,  he  was 
admonished,  in  1670,  for  intermeddling  with  the  af- 
fairs of  his  neighbors  ;  and  required  either  to  live  with 
his   wife  or  to  provide   for   her.     His  wife,  Cattarine, 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  77 

was  also  presented  and  fined,  "  for  reviling  and  slan- 
dering her  neighbors,  and  calling  them  rogues,  and 
other  vile  speeches  ;"  and  for  not  living  with  her  hus- 
band. At  a  court  held  in  Wells  1680,  under  the 
authority  of  Sir  F.  Gorges,  "  John  Davis  of  Cape  Por- 
pus  was  prohibited  from  exercising  publiquely  upon  the 
Lord's  day,  upon  his  perill,  without  some  spetiall  allow- 
ance from  authority."  Shortly  afterwards  he  was 
presented  by  the  grand  jury,  "  for  presuming  to  preach 
or  exercise  publickly,  since  he  was  convicted  and  pro- 
hibited." He  "  owned  that  he  had  only  preached 
privately,"  and  was  pardoned.  The  next  year,  the 
jury  presented  "  John  Davis  living  within  the  township 
of  Cape  Porpus,  and  his  wife  at  Winter  Harbour  ; — 
the  said  Davis  not  taking  care  of  her  Maintenance,  not- 
withstanding several  complaynts  have  been  made,  and 
order  taken  for  supplying  of  her  in  her  great  necessity, 
and  reforming  that  disorder  ; — the  woman  being  desti- 
tute of  foode  and  Rayment,  being  constrayned  to  fetch 
rocke  *wood  to  boyle  and  eat,  to  maintain  her  life." 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  Scarborough 
records.  "July  19th  1684 — Agreed  with  John  Davis 
of  Cape  Porpus  for  his  cure  of  Francis  White  and  diet 
to  have  c£ll  in  current  pay,  which  was  to  be  raised  by 
free  contribution  ;  and  what  it  shall  fall  short  of,  to  be 
raised  upon  rates  ofsuch  as  did  not  contribute." 

Davis  was  probably  the  deputy  from  Saco,  who  "was 
disaccepted  as  a  scandalous  person."  In  1688,  he 
was  one  of  the  selectmen  and  agreed  with  "  the  town 
or  Inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus,  to  build  a  Corn  Mill  in 
said  Place,  near  the  House  of  Richard  Randell,  to  be 
perfected  fit  and  sufficient  to  grind  People's  Corn,  not 
to  exceed  for  Toll  the  16th  Part  of  what  he  grindeth  ; 
and  to  tend  said  mill  daily  that  the  People  may  not  be 
suffer,  In  Consideration  of  what  is  here  underwritten." 
The  consideration  was,  that  several  of  the  inhabitants 

*Although  it  is  evidently  written  "  rocke  wood,"  on  the  county 
records,  it  undoubtedly  ought  to  have  been  u  weed,"  as  dulce,  a 
species  of  marine  plant  abounding  on  the  shores  of  Maine,  is  much 
used  for  food  in  the  north  of  Europe,  and  on  the  coasts  of  Ireland 
and  Scotland. 

Irish  or  Iceland  moss  is  another  kind  much  used  in  this  coun- 
try in  cookery. 

Gg 


78  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

agreed  to  contribute  labor,  money  or  provisions,  to- 
wards erecting  the  mill.  This  agreement  was  deposited 
in  the  recorder's  office,  and  transcribed  into  the  town 
books.  The  town  being  deserted,  shortly  after  this 
agreement  was  made,  it  is  likely  the  mill  was  not  built, 
and  that  Davis  died,  before  the  town  was  resettled. 

Emanuel,  who  was  the  son  of  the  preceding,  was 
convicted  of  taking  a  false  oath,  in  16S0.  He  contrib- 
uted two  bushels  of  Indian  corn  towards  building  his 
father's  mill.  When  compelled  by  the  Indians  to 
leave  the  town,  he  removed  to  Massachusetts.  In  1695, 
he  and  his  wife  Mary  "  of  Cape  Porpus,  now  of  New 
Town,  Middlesex,"  sold  to  Samuel  Hill,  40  acres  of 
land  at  Cape  Porpus,  joining  land  of  Richard  Young, 
who  bought  it  of  Henry  Hatherly,  near  "the  little 
River  falls,  which  river  is  next  Cape  Porpus."  He 
also  sold  a  piece  of  marsh  near  tPrince's  rock,  near 
Miller's,  It  is  not  certain  that  he  returned  to  this 
town,  but  probably  one  of  his  descendants  did. 

Johu  Cole  and  Simon  Teoft  are  only  known  to  have 
been  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise,  by  their  being 
admitted  freemen  of  Massachusetts,  in  1653.  Cole  ei- 
ther came  from  Winter  Harbor,  or  Wells.  Two  of  that 
name,  Thomas  and  James,  came  over  with  Vines,  and 
settled  at  Winter  Harbor.  Nicholas  and  William 
belonged  to  Wells.  Nicholas  was  appointed  ferryman 
at  Cape  Porpus  river,  in  1664,  in  the  place  of  John 
Sanders,  who  had  removed  to  Cape  Porpoise.  He  was 
to  keep  the  ferry  seven  years.  John  probably  lived  at 
Cleaves's  cove,  where  his  sons,  Isaac,  John  and  Philip 
resided,  after  the  town  was  re-settled  in  1714.  Isaac 
had  a  grant  from  the  town  in  1681. 

*  Ambrose  Berry,  the  last  signer  of  the  submission,  was 
the  son  of  the  Ambrose  Berry,  or  Berrie,  who  settled  at 
Winter  Harbor  in  1630.  Ambrose  jr.  married  Ann  Buly, 
1653*  and  probably  moved  into  this  town  about  the  same 
time.  He  died  1661,  and  his  widow,  shortly  after- 
wards, married  William  Scadlock,  jr.  If  Berry  left 
any  children,  they  probably  removed  to  Saco,  as  none 
t  name  appear  to  have  resided  in  this  town  since. 

"Sullivan  calls  him  Andrew  Bussy,  Of  twelve  names  given  by 
Sullivan,  six  are  wrong. 

tPrince's  rock  was  on  Batson's  river. 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  79 

John  Barrett  and  his  son  John  were  both  admitted 
freemen  of  Wells,  in  1653.  John  sen.  was  the  son  of 
Robert  Barrett,  a  fisherman,  who  was  fined  for  getting 
drunk  in  1646.  In  1653,  he  brought  an  action  against 
Nicholas  Cole,  who  had  accused  him  of  stealing  his 
"  come." — In  1659,  he  was  chosen  Ensign  of  the 
company  at  Wells. — He  was  presented  for  "  kicking 
and  abusing  his  wife,"  in  1661,  and  promised  to  amend. 
He  made  his  will,  1662,  and  appointed  his  "  beloved 
wife"  executrix  of  his  estate,  but  did  not  die  till  several 
years  afterwards,  as,  1668,  he  was  constable  of  the 
town  of  Wells. 

John  jr.  married  Mary,  the  second  daughter  of 
Edmund  Littlefield,  and  removed  to  Cape  Porpoise 
about  1666,  as  Morgan  Howell  sold  a  lot  of  land  this 
year  to  "  John  Barrett  late  of  Wells,  now  of  Cape 
Porpoise."  He  was  one  of  the  appraisers  to  the  estate 
of  John  Bush  in  1670,  and  also  one  of  the  persons 
mentioned  in  the  will  of  John  Sanders,  "  to  take  upon 
themselves  to  bee  Supervisors  of  the  same."  He  was 
engaged  in  many  lawsuits  ;  two  with  Richard  Palmer, 
in  1670;  and  one  with  Stephen  Batson  who  charged 
him  with  cutting  hay  and  building  a  house  on  his  land. 
In  1678,  he  was  appointed  grand  juryman,  and  admin- 
istrator of  Charles  Potum's  estate.  He  built  a  new 
sawmill,  1680,  which  by  regulation  of  court  paid  40s 
rent.*  He  was  styled  Ensign  Barrett,  in  1681,  and  was 
a  town  officer.  In  1689,  he  subscribed  two  day's  work, 
with  two  men  and  eight  oxen,  towards  building  Davis's 
mill.  He  died  the  same  year,  leaving  an  estate  worth 
nearly  .£300.  He  had  "  a  sawmill  at  home  worth  £60, 
and  half  a  one  at  Cennabunk  £20,"  28  head  of  cattle, 
a  horse  and  9  sheep.  This  is  the  first  notice  of  any 
one's  owning  sheep  in  this  town.  His  family,  being 
obliged  to  leave  the  town  immediately  after  his  death, 
did  not  return  after  the  war  was  over.  His  daughter 
Mary  married  William  Thomas.  John  jr.  also  left  a 
son  John,  and  probably  other  children.  John  3d.  might 
have  been  the  fisherman  of  that  name,  who  lived  at 
Cape  Elizabeth  in  1684. 

John  Bush,  a  planter,  in  1648,  received  a  grant  of 
400  acres  of  land,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Little  (Batson's) 

*This  was  a  tax  to  support  fort  Loyal  at  Falmouth. 


80  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

river,  by  the  sea,  from  Rigby's  agent,  George  Cleaves  ; 
for  the  consideration  of  10s  sterling,  to  be  paid  on  the  first 
of  November,  annually.  He  assigned  this  grant,  1650, 
to  Richard  Moore,  who,  two  years  afterwards,  conveyed 
it  to  Gregory  JerTery.  Bush  was  one  of  the  three  orig- 
inal purchasers  of  Lyman,  from  Sosowan  and  Fluellen. 
He  was  an  inhabitant  of  Wells  in  1653,  and  was  con- 
stable of  that  town  the  following  year.  He  probably 
removed  to  Cape  Porpoise  soon  after,  and  settled  near 
the  head  of  "  Stepping-stone  Creek,"  or  Back  cove, 
where  the  foundation  of  his  house  may  be  seen.  In 
1663,  he  sold  100  acres  of  land  to  Bryan  Pendleton, 
which  he  and  his  wife  were  to  live  on  during  their  lives, 
rent  free.  He  was  at  the  town  meeting  to  divide  the 
marsh  the  same  year.  He  died  in  1670,  and  his  wife 
Grace  was  appointed  administratrix  of  his  property, 
which  was  valued  at  over  <£200.  He  had  27  head  of 
cattle,  besides  horses  and  swine.  Part  of  his  lot  is  still 
known  as  the  Bush  pasture.  He  left  no  children. 
His  widow  married  Richard  Palmer,  the  year  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Bush  ;  for  which  she  was  sentenced  to 
pay  a  fine,  "  or  to  receive  ten  stripes  on  her  bare  skin." 
This  punishment  was  ordered,  on  account  of  its  being 
believed  that  Palmer  had  a  wife  in  England.  She  died 
before  1680. 

Richard  Palmer  had  probably  been  in  this  country 
but  a  short  time,  when  he  married  Mrs.  Bush.  There 
was  great  opposition  to  his  marrying  her,  as  he  was 
"  lying  under  the  fame  of  having  a  wife  in  England." 
He,  however,  continuing  to  visit  her,  was  sentenced  to 
pay  a  fine,  and  receive  "  twenty  stripes  on  his  bare 
skin."  In  1671,  in  consequence  of  his  having  "  against 
all  law  and  restraynt,  or  advise  to  the  contrary,  by 
indirect  means,  procured  an  unlawful  joyning  togeather 
in  a  pretended  way  of  marriage  with  the  said  Grace 
Bush,"  he  was  required  to  give  bonds  for  his  appear- 
ance at  the  next  term  of  the  court.  He  was  then 
"  Complayned  of  for  joyning  himself  in  way  of  mar- 
riage, as  he  pretends,  with  Grace  Bush,  contrary  to 
the  laws  of  this  jurisdiction,  for  which  he  is  fined  40s 
and  fees  2s  6d,  which  he  is  to  pay  in  money,  or  fish  at 
money  price."  Mr.  Robert  Jordan  was  required  "  to 
appear  before  the  next  Court  of  Assistants,  there   to 


A.  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  81 

render  an  account  why  hee  presumed  to  marry  Rich- 
ard Palmer  and  Grace  Bush,  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
this  jurisdiction." 

It  is  probable  that  these  harsh  proceedings  did  not 
dissolve  the  marriage  ;  or,  perhaps,  Palmer  was  ena- 
bled to  prove  he  had  no  other  wife,  as  he  continued  to 
reside  in  this  town,  and  was  licensed,  in  1674,  "  to 
keepe  apublique  house  of  Intertaynt.  for  Cape  Porpus." 
He  resided  in  the  house  of  John  Bush,  which  had  been 
assigned  his  wife  as  her  dower.  Bryan  Pendleton, 
who  had  purchased  Bush's  property,  willed  to  his  own 
wife,  "  all  his  houseing  and  land  at  Cape  Porpus, 
which  Richard  Palmer's  wife  had  the  use  of  during  her 
life." 

Palmer  had  charge  of  the  property  of  Pendleton, 
within  the  limits  of  this  town,  consisting  of  300  acres 
of  land,  several  islands  and  his  trading  establishment. 
One  of  the  islands,  Vaughan's  formerly  called  Palm- 
er's Island,  received  its  name  from  Richard  Palmer. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife,  and  the  settlement  of  Major 
Pendleton's  estate,  Palmer  probably  left  the  town,  as 
there  was  a  person  of  that  name  residing  in  York,  in 
1685. 

Richard  Young  married  Margery,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Batson,  2d.  He  purchased  a  lot  of  land  of  Hen- 
ry Hatherly,  which  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
"ancient  Seat  of  Richard  Young."  He  was  drowned, 
as  appears  by  the  coroner's  return,  dated  Oct.  23, 
1672.  "  Richard  Young  and  Edward  Joanes  of  Cape 
Porpus  comeing  unto  an  unfortunate  death,  the  coron- 
er's inquest  sitting  upon  them,  found  them  by  drinks 
and  obstinacy,  accessory  to  their  own  deaths,  as  by 
their  verdict  returned  to  the  court  and  passed  upon." 

There  was  a  Richard  Young  living  in  Kittery  1652, 
who  perhaps  was  the  same  person  who  afterwards 
resided  in  this  town.  There  was  also  a  Rowland 
Young  living  at  Kittery  at  the  same  time. 

There  were  many  of  the  name  of  Jones,  who  settled 
quite  early  in  New  England. 

Henry  Hatherly  married  Elizabeth  Barlow  in  1670. 
He  probably  lived  at  Batson's  river,  as  he  owned 
land  at  that  place,  which  he  sold  to  Richard  Young. 
All  that  is  known  of  him,  may  be    gathered  from   the 


82  HISTORY    OP  [a.  d.  1716. 

following  extracts  from  the  county  records. 

1672.  "  Wee  present  Henr.  Hatherly  for  frequent 
publishing  of  Lys  ; — for  not  appearing,  fined  for  con- 
tempt 105,  for  his  presentment  10s,  and  pay  the  officers 
fees,  and  charges  of  Court  4s." 

1673.  "  Henry  Hatherly  allowed  to  keepe  a  Common 
house  of  Intertaynment  at  Cape  Porpus." 

"  Wee  present  Henry  Hatherly  for  not  fitting  up  a 
signe  according   to  law."     Fined  for  non  appearance. 

1675.  "  Wee  present  Henry  Hatherly  for  his 
uncivil  Carage  to  several  womine,  as  threatening 
of  them,  that  the  next  woman  that  did  complayne  of 
him,  he  would  hang  her." 

*"  Arthur  Wormstall,  freeman  at  Wells,  1653,  was 
living  in  Saco  1660.  His  children  were  Susan,  born 
1658;  Arthur  1661;  John  1669.  Arthur  was  one  of 
the  selectmen  in  1680."  As  an  inhabitant  of  Cape 
Porpoise,  Arthur,  perhaps  the  son,  was  presented, 
1680,  u  for  sayleing  out  of  Cape  Porpus  on  the  Lord's 
day,"  and  for  working  thanksgiving  day. — He  lived  at 
Little  river. 

John  Ellson,  Samuel  Oakman,  and  James  Carry 
were  also  presented  at  the  same  time  with  Wormstall, 
for  the  same  offence.  Samuel  Oakman  was  probably 
the  son  of  Samuel  Oakman,  who  lived  at  Casco  Bay, 
1658,  and  died  at  Black  Point  1680;  and  whose  wife, 
Mary,  was  appointed  administratrix  of  his  estate.t 

Andrew  Alger,  or  Anger,  a  lot  layer,  or  surveyor, 
was  an  inhabitant  of  Saco  as  early  as  1640,  and  was 
living  there  in  1653.  It  appears  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  county  records,  that  he  lived  in  this 
town  in  1674. 

"  We  present  Andrew  Alger  of  Cape  Porpus,  for 
swearing  several  oaths.  The  defendant  appearing,  is 
fined  20s  for  Multiplying  oaths,  and  cost  of  court  5s." 

The  Andrew  Alger  of  this  town,  however,  might  have 
been  the  son  of  the  one  in  Saco,  as  an  Andrew  Alger 
continued  to  reside  in  this  town  till  1688,  and  Ensign 
Andrew  Alger,    probably  the  one  of  Saco,  was  killed, 

"Folsom. 

tElias  Oakman  of  Black  Point  married  Joanna,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Alger.-—  Hist.  Portland,  p.  135. 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  83 

1675,  in  a  fight  with  the  Indians,  at  Scarborough.  lie 
lived  near  the  "  cursed  fruit,"  an  apple  tree,  which 
acquired  that  name  from  the  extreme  bitterness  of  its 
fruit.  The  tree  was  in  the  pasture,  now  belonging  to 
the  heirs  of  John  Hovey,  near  the  site  of  the  old  meet- 
ing house. 

Edward  Clark,  who  was  admitted  freeman  at  Wells, 
1653,  removed  to  this  town,  and  was  on  the  grand  jury 
in  1656.  He  was  also  on  a  coroner's  jury,  on  the  body 
of  Thomas  Latimer,  who  was  drowned  in  Saco  river  in 
1661.  Clark  died  the  same  year,  and  his  wife,  whose 
name  was  Barbara,  administered  upon  his  estate. 
Their  children  were,  Samuel,  Sarah,  William,  Edward, 
and  perhaps  others.  Sarah  married  James  Harmon  in 
1659.  Edward,  whose  wife's  name  was  Willmott,  died 
in  1671.  Jacob,  who  then  lived  in  Topsfield  and  had 
his  father's  land  conveyed  to  him  in  1731,  was  probably 
grandson  of  Edward  sen.  There  were  many  of  the 
name  of  Clark,  settled  early,  in  all  parts  of  New  Eng- 
land. 

James  Harmon,  who  married  Sarah  Clark,  was  a 
very  intemperate  and  troublesome  man.  In  1660, 
when  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  he  cut  his  father  in  law 
dangerously,  with  a  knife.  Upon  complaint  for  this 
offence,  and  for  not  providing  for  his  family,  the  court 
took  the  following  notice.  "Whereas  the  suspicious 
words  and  carriage  of  James  Harmon,  before  the  Court 
do  seeme  to  declare  his  intention  to  depart  speedily  out 
of  the  country,  whose  estate,  as  we  are  informed,  lyeth 
in  the  hands  of  Stephen  Batson  and  others. — It  is 
therefore  ordered  that  Edward  Clarke,  father  unto  the 
wife  of  said  Harmon,  hath  power  hereby  given  him  to 
sequester  the  estate  of  Harmon,  lying  in  the  Hands  of 
Stephen  Batson,  or  John  Batson,  or  others,  to  the  val- 
ue of  £60,  for  the  security  thereof  unto  Sarah  Harmon 
and  her  child." — The  next  year,  upon  complaint  of  his 
wife,  and  her  father  and  mother,  he  was  committed  to 
jail  in  York.  One  of  the  children  of  Harmon  was 
bound  to  James  Gibbons  of  Saco  for  eight  years. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Clark,  Morgan  Howell  wa9 
authorized  to  collect  Harmon's  property,  and  he 
brought  actions  against  Stephen  Batson,  "  for  not 
delivering  the  estate  of  James  Harmon  into  his  hands, 


84  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

as  he  had  agreed  to  before  authority,"  and  against 
"  Goodwife  Batson  the  Ellder,"  for  withholding  two 
swine.  Harmon,  who  sometimes  resided  in  this  town, 
and  sometimes  in  Saco,  continuing  to  abuse  his  family, 
his  wife,  by  order  of  court  in  1664,  was  allowed  to  live 
with  her  mother,  ot  with  Mr.  Gibbons,  till  they  could 
agree  to  live  together.  Upon  his  promise  of  amend- 
ment, she  consented  to  live  with  him  again  ;  but  as 
appears  by  the  following  extracts  from  the  Saco  rec- 
ords, she  received  no  better  treatment. 

"  August  27,  1667.  First — James  Harmon  is  delt 
with  about  misusing  his  daughter  Jane  he  promisheth 
not  to  strike  hir  any  more  and  his  wife  Sara  promisheth 
the  townsmen  that  she  will  take  charg  of  her  daughter 
Jane  for  the  time  to  come  whereupon  the  townsmen 
are  willing  to  leave  her  to  them  and  their  keeping  for 
present  upon  further  tryall." 

"  September,  1668.  The  townesmen  being  met  at 
the  meeting  house  do  acte  as  follows  Maior  Bryan 
Pendleton  and  selectmen  namely  Henry  Waddock, 
Major  Wm.  Phillips  Richard  Coman  these  having  dealt 
with  James  Harmon  about  hiscruitl  usage  of  his  daugh- 
ter Jane :  they  make  this  conclusion  :  by  reason  of  a 
former  order  that  was  made  by  the  townesmen  in  Aug. 
27,  1667,  she  shall  be  kept  with  goodwife  Gibbons  if  hir 
husband  consent  till  he  and  his  wife  have  some  dis- 
course about  it  with  the  selectmen.  Attest  R.  Booth." 
Harmon  had  two  children,  Barbara  and  Jane. 
Probably  they  resided  in  Saco  after  1668. 

Edward  and  Joshua  Barton  were  residents  in  this 
town  in  1661,  and  were  fined  for  getting  drunk. 
There  was  also  a  John  Barton,  perhaps  of  the  same 
family,  servant  to  William  Ellingham  of  York,  fined 
for  the  same  offence,  at  the  same  time,  and  for  swear- 
ing. Edward  lived  on  Montague's  neck.  William, 
son  of  Edward,  was  fined  for  sabbath  breaking  in  1672  ; 
and  his  wife  Ann,  for  some  other  offence,  in  1682. 
William  had  a  grant  from  the  town,  in  1681,  of  "one 
hundred  acres  of  land  between  the  great  marsh  and  the 
little  upon  the  northeast  side  of  John  Millers."  He 
was  appointed  lot  layer  and  surveyor,  in  1689  ;  and 
contributed  a  quintal  offish,  and  a  day's  work  towards 
building  Davis's   mill.     His  sons,  John,   Nicholas    and 


A.  D.   17 16^]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  S"t 

Ebcnezer  returned  to  Cape  Porpoise,  when  it  «as 
resettled  after  the  Indian  war,  ending  in  1713.  Ed- 
ward died  1671.  His  estate  was  valued  at  c£Sl  11. 
He  had  ten  head  of  eattle. 

John  Sanders  or  Saunders,  who  was  then  an  inhab- 
itant of  Wells,  was  on  the  jury  in  1645,  and  was  also 
fined  for  disorderly  conduct  on  the  sabbath.  He  was 
probably  the  son  of  Robert  Sanders,  who  had  a  lawsuit 
with  John  Baker  of  Agamenticus,  1640,  and  was  on  the 
jury  in  a  case  between  George  Cleaves  and  John 
Winter.  Edward  Sanders,  who  was  also  complained 
of*  at  the  same  time  with  John,  and  for  the  same 
offence,  was  probably  brother  to  him.  John  was  ap- 
pointed ferryman  at  the  mouth  of  Mousam  river  in 
1645,  where  he  resided  till  1663,  when  Nicholas  Cole 
was  appointed  in  his  stead.  He  probably  removed  to 
this  town  the  same  year,  as  he  purchased  a  lot  of  land 
of  Peter  Turbit,  on  Montague's  neck,  and  attended  the 
town  meeting  at  that  time. 

He  died  in  1670,  having  made  his  will,  of  which  the 
following  is  the  prolix  introduction.  "  In  the  name  of 
god  Amen,  the  thyrteenth  day  of  June  1670 — I,  John 
Sanders  Senis  of  Cape  Porpus  in  the  County  of  Yorke 
in  New  England  Planter  being  very  sicke  and  weake 
in  body  hut  of  sound  and  perfect  memory  (prayse  bee 
given  to  god  for  the  same)  and  knowing  the  uncertainty 
of  this  life  on  earth  and  beeing  desirous  to  settle  things 
in  order,  do  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in 
manner  and  form  following — That  is  to  say  first  and 
principally  I  commend  my  soule  to  Almighty  god  my 
Creator  hopeing  and  believeing  that  I  shall  reseive  full 
pardon  and  free  remission  of  all  my  sins  and  bee  saved 
by  the  pratious  death  and  merrits  of  my  blessed  Saviour 
and  redeemer  Jesus  Christ, — and  my  body  to  the 
earth  from  which  It  was  taken,  to  be  buried  in  such 
decent  manner  as  to  my  executrix  and  executors 
hereafter  named  shall  bee  thought  meete  and  conveni- 
ent." He  gave  most  of  his  property  at  Cape  Porpus 
to  his  wife  Ann,  during  her  life,  and  then  unto  his 
"  son  Thomas  Sanders  and  at  his  decease  to  his  son 
John  Sanders,  and  soc#  from  heyre  toheyre  and  next  of 
kinn  surviving  the  deceased  Proprietor."  He  gave  to 
bis  son  John,  about  1000  acres  of  land,  eight  or  nine 
H 


86  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

miles  above  Cape  Porpus  river  falls,  to  be  taken  imme- 
diate possession  of.  The  rest  of  his  property  was  to 
be  divided  equally  amongst  his  children  after  their 
mother's  death.  His  wife  and  John  were  appointed 
executors.  He  left  several  children,  Thomas,  John, 
Elizabeth,  and  perhaps  others.  John  jr.  was  a  voter 
in  1663.  1678  he  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town , 
and  in  1681,  one  of  the  lot  layers,  which  situation  he 
continued  to  hold,  till  the  town  was  deserted  in  1690. 
He  contributed  two  bushels  of  corn,  and  two  day's 
work  on  Davis's  mill.  His  daughter  Mary  married 
Samuel  Pierce  of  Gloucester.  Elizabeth  married  Peter 
Turbat.  There  was  another  Elizabeth  Sanders,  who 
married  John  Batson,  in  1661.  Perhaps  the  last  might 
be  the  daughter  of  Thomas.  The  valuation  of  the 
property  of  John  sen.  was  i£140.  He  had  14  head  of 
cattle,  5  hogs,  2  horses,  "one  sword  and  belt,  5s,  I 
know  not  what  85." 

Trott, — probably  John, — resided  at  Cape  Porpoise, 
and  died  before  1666.  His  wife  survived  him,  as  Mor- 
gan Howell  sold  a  lot  of  land  to  John  Barret,  "  near  a 
wigwam  that  onne  *Goody  Trott  did  make  and  live 
in."  He  left  a  son,  John,  who  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Stephen  Batson  of  Wells.  The  latter  also  left  a  son 
John,  who  was  a  weaver  and  resided  in  Nantucket,  and 
perhaps  other  children.  Trott's  Island  was  probably 
granted  to  one  of  them,  but  if  it  was,  the  grant  was  not 
recorded. 

fNichoIas  Bartlett  of  Cape  Porpoise,  in  1651,  had  a 
grant  from  George  Cleaves,  of  100  acres  of  land  at 
Casco  Bay.  He  however  did  not  remove  to  Casco, 
and  sold  his  lot  to  John  Higginson.  jr.  in  1700.  As  his 
name  does  not  appear  amongst  those  who  signed  the 
submission  to  Massachusetts  in  1653,  it  is  likely  he  had 
removed  from  the  town. 

^Persons  who  held  civil  or  military  offices,  always  had  their 
titles  given  them,  and  their  wives  were  called  Mrs.  Respectable 
citizens  were  entitled  Mr.  and  their  wives  also  bore  the  title  of 
Mrs.  Married  men,  who  were  less  respectable,  were  called  Good- 
man, and  their  wives,  Goodwife  or»Goody.  Persons  of  the  lower 
classes,  and  unmarried  persons,  were  called  by  their  christian 
names. 

tWilhVs  Hist.  Portland,  1.  Coll.  Me.  Hist.  Soc.  p.  67. 


A.  D.  1716.]        KENNEBUNK  PORT.  87 

Phinea  Hull -probably  Pbineas  Hall.-wus  taxed  in 
103-2  £-1  for  his  saw  mill  to  support  lort  Loyal ;  and 
Gilbert  Endicott  £1,  for  the  same  purpose.  Their 
S  were  in  this  town,  and  it  is  probable  that  the 
persons  also  resided  here,  as  Hall  was  presented  ,n 
foil!  for  "  sawcy  and  abusive  languadge  to  Mr.  Mil  borne 
ueir  minister,"^  fined  28s.  Mr.  William  M. Iburne 
was  the  minister  of  the  united  parishes  of  Snco  and 
Cape  Porpoise. 

«  Richard  Ball  of  Cape  Porpus,  sometimes  of  Win- 
ter Harbour,"  for  .£39  9s  sterling,  sold  to  Bryan  Pen- 
dleton ■»  all  that  Island  at  Cape  Porpus,  commonly 
known  by  the  Name  of  Long  Island,  sometimes  by  the 
nanie  o/smyth's  Island  (and  now  properly  belonging 
unto  me)  containing  about  Fifty  acres,  with  a  the 
building  or  Edifices  of  mine  thereon  With  all  the 
P rivi led%s  of  fishing  thereon."  The  above  from  the 
county  records,  furnishes  all  the  knowledge  there  is  oi 
Sard  Ball,  or  of  any  of  that  name,  that  ever  res.oed 
in  this  town.* 

Richard  Moore,  in  1647,  had  a  grant  of  400  acres  of 
land  'together  in  the  village  of  Cape  Porpus,"  on 
L  south  west  side  of  Little  (Batsoti's)  river  .The 
erant  was  from  George  Cleaves,  for  the  consideration 
K  sterling,  yearly,  payable  on  the  first  day  of  May. 
William  Tilly's  name  only  appears  as  witness  to  the 
transfer  of  a  grant  of  land,  from  Moore  to  Jeflery. 

Simon  Bussy  came  from  Scarborough  and  married 
Margaret  Wormwood  in  1659,  and  for  some  misde- 
meanor, in  which  they  were  both  implicated  they  re- 
ceived ••  ten  lashes  apiece  on  their  bare  skin.  Bussy 
was  a  witness  to  Montague's  wi 11.  J°bn.SJ™ 
sneaks  of  him  as  "his  loving  neighbour  of  Winter 
Harbour  "  Bussy,  with  his  family,  was  taken  prisoner 
in  683  by  the  Indians,  and  carried  to  Teconnet.  He 
UveoTe'arUere  Silas  Pinkham  does.  ™*»™£ 
Mary  Bussy  living  in  Arundel  in  1W0.  Harrow, 
whose  christian  name  is  not  given,  was  also  taken  pns 

•There  was  an  Edward  Ball   presented   in  1001,  for not  Bring 

at  Cape  Neddock. 


S3  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.    I*  16. 

oner,  with  his  family,   at    the   same    time    with   Eussy. 
Probably  neither  of  them  ever  returned. 

Robert  Cooke  of  Cape  Porpoise  was  indicted  in 
1653.  He  was  again  presented  in  1656  ;  and  it  was 
ordered  by  the  Court,  that  the  sheriff  "  have  liberty  to 
make  sayle  of  him  to  Barbadoes,  or  some  other  place." 
He  probably  was  not  sold,  as  a  person  of  the  same 
name  was  forbidden  to  reside  in  Saco,  in  1670. 

Walter  Penniwell,  Penwell,  or  Pennel,  was  an  in- 
habitant of  Saco,  in  1647,  and  married  Mary,  the 
daughter  of  Robert  Booth.  He  died  16b2.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Walter,  John,  Mary,  Deborah,  Sarah  and 
Susanna. 

Walter  jr.  who  was  born  in  1648,  and  removed  to 
Cape  Porpoise  before  his  father  died,  was  presented 
by  the  grand  jury,  and  severely  punished.  In  1681, 
he  was  again  complained  of,  by  Lieut.  Purinton,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  following  presentment.  "  Wee  present 
Walter  Penwell,  jun.  for  marking  Mr.  Watts  his  horse, 
as  I  apprehend  to  appropriate  to  himself,  and  upon 
his  reproof  for  so  doing,  say d  Penwell  sayd,  Devil  take 
him,  and  turned  him  going.  John  Pudding-ton  Com- 
plainant." After  his  father's  death,  he  removed  to 
Saco,  for  as  an  inhabitant  of  that  town,  in  16S2,  he 
received  fifteen  stripes,  for  killing  the  cow  of  Joseph 
Bowles  of  Wells.  He  afterwards  removed  to  York, 
where  he  was  living  in  1722,  at  the  age  of  seventy  four, 
as  lie  stated  in  an  affidavit  taken  at  that  time. 

John,  the  second  son  of  old  Walter,  died  the  same 
year  his  father  did. 

Humphrey  Scamman  (who  was  probably  the  son  of 
the  Richard  Scamman  that  wras  admitted  freeman  at 
Portsmouth,  in  1642,)  removed  from  Portsmouth  to 
Kittery  Point,  and  afterwards  to  this  town.  He  was 
chosen  constable  of  the  town  in  1678.  He  went  to 
Saco  June  12th,  1680,  and  kept  the  ferry  over  Saco 
river.  In  1693,  he  and  his  family  were  taken  prison- 
ers, and  carried  to  Canada.  lie  died  1st  January, 
1727.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth.  His 
children  were  Humphrey,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Hannah 
and  Rebecca.  Mary  married  Lieut.  Purinton  ;  and 
Hannah,  Allison  Brown.  Scamman's  descendants  are 
very  numerous  in  Saco, 


A    D.    171 C. J  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  89 

John  Purinton, — sometimes  called  Purrington,  and 
sometimes  Puddington, — was  the  son  of  George  Pur- 
inton, one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  the  city  of  Gorge- 
ana,  (York)  which  was  incorporated  in  1G41.  Mary, 
the  wife  of  George,  had  to  make  confession  of  her 
"  light  carriage,"  and  ask  her  husband's  pardon,  on 
her  knees,  in  open  court.  After  her  husband's  death* 
in  1617,  she  married  Capt.  John  Davis  of  Gorgeaua. 
George  Purinton  left  five  children,  John,  Elias,  Mary, 
Frances  and  Rebecca.  John  married  Mary  Scam- 
man,  and  removed  to  this  town.  He  was  on  the  grand 
jury  in  1668  ;  and  town  clerk,  and  one  of  the  selectmen 
till  the  town  was  deserted.  In  1681,  he  had  a  grant  of 
land  from  the  town,  to  be  laid  out  "  as  convenient  to 
his  now  dwelling  house  as  it  may  be  had."t 

Lieut.  Purinton  wrote  a  very  good  hand,  and  was  a 
man  of  good  education  ;  and  he  took  a  very  active  part 
in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  He  was  one  of  the  trus- 
tees, to  whom  President  Danforth  gave  a  deed  of  the 
town.  In  1838,  he  was  a  Lieutenant,  and  commanded 
a  company  of  men,  stationed  at  the  fort  on  Stage,  or 
Fort  Island  ;  and  was  excused  from  attending  court,  to 
answer  a  presentment  against  "  Cape  Porpoise  parish 
for  not  having  a  pair  of  stocks,  in  consequence  of  his 
being  in  his  Majesty's  service."  He  left  the  town  when 
it  was  deserted  in  1690,  and  died  two  or  three  years  af- 
terwards. He  left  three  sons,  John,  James  and  Joshua, 
and  perhaps  other  children.  John  was  a  house  car- 
penter, and  removed  to  Salisbury.  James  administered 
upon  his  father's  estate ;  and  was  required  by  the 
court  to  produce  the  records  of  the  town,  which  had 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  Joshua,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  Philip  Durrill,  was  a  shoe  maker, 
and  resided  in  Hampton  in  1720.  He  had  a  grant  of 
100  acres  of  land,  in  1732,  and  was  made  a  proprietor 
of  the  town,  for  producing  Danforth's  deed  when  the 
town  was  threatened  with  a  lawsuit. 

The  first  notice  of  Nicholas  Morey,  or  Moorey,  n 
carpenter,    on  the   county  records,    is   in   1680.      He 

*By  his  will  he  left  his  wife  a  "  flock  bed." 

tHe  lived"  at  the  turn  on  Kennebunk  river  above  intervals 
point."  —  Town  records. 

II  H 


00  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

probably  kept  a  public  house  in  Wells,  as  he  was  com- 
plained against,  in  1682,  for  selling  rum  without  a 
license.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Wells  till  1685, 
when  he  was  appointed  attorney  of  Jonathan  Corwine 
of  Salem,  and  some  other  merchants  of  Boston,  to 
transact  their  business  in  this  Province.  In  1686,  he 
had  a  grant  of  100  acres  of  land,  from  the  town  of 
Cape  Porpoise,  joining  land  of  John  Rennolds  on 
Kennebunk  river.  He  removed  to  this  town  the  same 
year,  and  had  a  license  "  for  keeping  a  house  of  inter- 
tainment,  and  retailing  all  sorts  of  Liquors  for  the 
town  of  Cape  Porpus."  The  next  year  he  complained 
of  John  Downing  for  retailing  without  a  license.  Mo- 
rey  kept  a  public  house  for  several  years.  In  1687  he 
was  presented,  "  as  he  was  commissioner  for  the  town 
of  Cape  Porpus,  in  giving  in  an  ace.  of  the  killing  of 
a  Wolf,  which  he  knew  nothing  off." 

By  an  act  of  court,  under  Gorges  in  1640,  a  bounty 
of  12  pence  from  every  family  was  to  be  paid  to  each 
person  killing  a  wolf  between  "  Pascateque  and  Ken- 
niboncke,"  and  the  same,  for  every  one  killed  between 
Kennebunk  and  Sagadahock.  The  law  was  afterwards 
modified,  and  the  bounty  paid  out  of  the  county  treasu- 
ry. Mr.  Morey  presented  an  account  for  one  that  had 
not  been  killed,  and  received  the  bounty  :  but  whether 
he  committed  the  fraud  himself,  or  was  himself  deceiv- 
ed, does  not  appear.  In  1688,  he  was  one  of  the 
selectmen,  chosen  by  the  town  of  Saco,  for  this  town. 
The  same  year  he  broke  his  leg,  and  in  consequence 
was  excused  from  attending  court  at  York,  to  answer 
a  complaint  against  the  town.  He  probably  never  re- 
covered from  his  lameness,  as  that  was  what  induced 
him  to  make  the  bold  and  successful  attempt  to  rescue 
his  friends,  when  they  were  besieged  by  the  Indians  on 
Stage  Island.  He  removed  to  Taunton  after  leaving 
this  town  ;  and  sold  the  land  he  had  from  the  town,  to 
John  Batson.  In  1700,  he  conveved  the  lot  he  bought 
of  Samuel  Snow,  to  Joseph  Bayly  of  Newbury.  He 
probably  still  owned  land  in  the  town,  as  his  son 
Nicholas  of  Freetown  sold  a  lot  here  m  1714. 

*Ferdinando    Huff  kept    a    pubbc    house    at    Cape 

*The  name  is  said  originally  to  have   been    Hough.     There  was 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  91 

Porpoise  in  1682.  George  Jeffery,  probably  of  York, 
brought  an  action  against  him  for  debt  in  1686.  Mr. 
Huff  Jived  where  Clement  Huff  now  does.  He  prob- 
ably died  before  the  town  was  deserted,  as  his  name 
does  not  appear  on  the  town  records  after  1686.  It  is 
not  known  where  he  came  from,  or  when  he  settled  in 
this  town.  Thomas,  who  was  his  son,  came  from 
Portsmouth  when  the  town  was  resettled  in  1714. 

Jonathan  Springer,  a  blacksmith,  came  to  this  town 
from  Gloucester.  He  was  indicted  in  1702  for  cursing 
and  swearing.  Jeremiah,  his  son,  returned  to  Arundel 
when  it  was  resettled  in  1714. 

There  was  a  Thomas  Perkins  in  the  county  of  York, 
who  died  in  1661.  It  does  not  appear  where  he  lived,  but 
from  the  circumstance  of  Richard  Hitchcox's  adminis- 
tering upon  his  estate,  and  the  name  not  appearing  on 
the  Saco  records,  it  is  probable  that  he  either  lived  in 
Scarborough  or  Cape  Porpoise  ; — most  likely  the 
former.  His  estate  was  valued  at  £30.  Besides  his 
house,  lot  and  marsh,  there  was  appraised  a  "  lott  lay- 
ed  forth  at  *blew  poynt  by  Capt.  Bonnighton,  the  said 
Perkins  served  several  years  for  according  to  Indent- 
ure." There  was  a  Thomas  Perkins  who  had  a  grant 
of  land  from  the  town  of  Cape  Porpoise,  in  1681.  This 
was  probably  the  son  of  the  former.  The  latter  was 
the  father  of  Thomas  "  of  Kennebunk,"  who  removed 
to  this  town  in  1720  and  had  the  grant  of  1681  renew- 
ed to  him,  as  heir  to  the  original  grantee.  Jacob  Per- 
kins, of  Ipswich,  purchased  part  of  Coxhall  or  Swan- 
field,  in  1688.  He  afterwards  removed  to  this  county, 
and  Mas  on  a  jury  at  York,  in  1712.  He  could  not 
have  resided  on  his  purchase,  as  Lyman  was  not  settled 
till  1767. 

The  families   of  the  name   of  Perkins  in  this  town, 
which   are  very  numerous,  have  a  tradition,   that  their 

an  Atherton  Hough  who  came  to  New  England  in  1033,  in  com- 
pany with  Rev.  John  Cotton  and  settled  in  Boston.  He  was  cho- 
sen an  assistant  in  1G35,  and  a  representative  in  1C37  ;  and  died 
Sep.  11,  1G50.  There  is  no  evidence,  however,  that  the  families 
in  this  town  descended  from  him.  Mr.  HufFs  name  was  some- 
times, on  the  county  records,  spelt  Hoffe,  sometimes  Huffe,  and 
sometimes  Offe.  On  the  town  records  his  name  was  written 
"  fardeynandey  Off." 
"Scarborough. 


™  HrSTORY    OF 

ancestor   came  from    Topsfield,   and   first   became  ac- 
quainted  with   this    part   of  the    country,   when   Col. 
Church  was  on  his   last  expedition  against  the  Indian*. 
This  appears  to  be  a  mistake,  as  his  last  expedition  was 
m  1704,  and  there  certainly  were  persons  of  that  name 
m  this    province,  before    his  first    expedition  in    1689 
They  undoubtedly  came    originally  from    Topsfield   or 
Ipswich;    and    were    the  descendants  of  John  Perkin« 
who  was  born  m  1590,  came  into  this  country  with  Mr! 
Cotton  in  1631,    was  made    freeman  at   Ipswich    1633 
was    representative    from    that    town     1636,  and  died 
loo4.* 

Thomas  Boardman  had  a  grant  of  land  from  the 
town  in  168S.  He  probably  removed  to  Ipswich,  as  his 
son  Thomas,  of  that  town,  had  the  land  laid  out  to  him 
in  1732; 

William  Thomas  and  Thomas  Merrill  had  grants 
from  the  town  in  1681.  They  both  resided  in  the  town 
at  the  time.  Thomas  married  Mary  Barrett  in  1673, 
and  for  an  offence  in  which  they  were  both  implicated 
they  were  obliged  to  make  "  public  acknowledgement 
on  a  training  day."  The  grant  to  Thomas,  was  at  the 
Desert  marshes,  near  John  Miller's  lot.  His  contribu- 
tion towards  Davis's  mill,  was  "  a  weeks  work  and 
corn  myself  and  oxen."  His  house  was  near  that  of 
feimonBussy. 

Merrill's  grant  of  100  acres  was  for  killing  an  Indi- 
anV™ After  his  removal  to  Portsmouth,  he  sold  his  orant 
to  Thomas  Perkins,  3d.  which  is  part  of  the  farm  of 
one  of  Perkins's  descendants. 

Merrill  was  probably  the  grandson  of  Nathaniel  Mer- 
rill, who  was  admitted   freeman    at   Newbury  in  1640 
and  died  16th  March,  1655  ;  leaving  his  wife,  Susanna, 
and  several  children  ;  Nathaniel,  John,  Abraham,  Dan- 
iel and  Abel. 

^?oiclm.rrd  Raildall>  "«  of  Richard  of  Saco,  was  born 
16o9.  March  11th,  1681,  he  had  a  grant  of  100  acres 
ot  upland,  on  the  north  side  of  Kennebunk  river,  ad- 
joining  John  Sanders's  upper  lot,  -over  against  the 
Wonder.  He  was  chosen  constable  of Cape^Porpcise 
by  the  town  of  Saco  in  1688,  and  was  one  of  the  ee- 

*Farmer  • 


A.  D.   171G.]  K.ENNEBUNK    PORT.  93 

lectmen  of  the  town,  the  following  year.  He  probably 
did  not  return  to  this  town  when  it  was  resettled. 
Margery  Randall,  probably  sister  of  Richard  of  Saco, 
married  William  Norman  1650.  Persons  of  the  name 
of  Randall  were  admitted  freemen  of  Massachusetts  in 
1634. 

Thomas  Mussey  was  constable  of  Cape  Porpoise  in 
1663.  He  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  un- 
der the  government  of  Massachusetts,  in  1680.  He 
removed  to  Salisbury  when  the  town  was  deserted,  and 
probably  died  before  it  was  resettled.  His  son  James 
returned  to  the  town  before  1719.  Perhaps  he  was  the 
same  person  called  Thomas  Mussell,*  on  the  county 
records,  in  1663.  He  was  probably  the  son  of  Joseph 
of  Newbury,  who  was  the  son  of  Robert,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Ipswich. 

Samuel  York  had  a  grant  of  a  mill  privilege,  with 
John  Batson  and  Isaac~Cole,  on  Middle  river,  in  1681. 
He  removed  to  Dorchester  in  1690,  and  probably  did 
not  return  when  the  war  was  over. 

John  Downing  of  Cape  Porpoise,  was  presented,  in 
1653,  for  disobedience  to  his  father.  He  was  probably 
the  son  of  Dennis  Downing  of  Kittery.  There  was, 
however,  an  Emanuel  Downing  of  Salem,  at  about  the 
same  time.  George,  son  of  the  latter,  was  educated  at 
Harvard  ;  went  to  England  in  1645  ;  held  several  of- 
fices under  Cromwell  ;  and  was  created  a  Baronet  by 
Charles  II.  George,  son  of  George,  married  the  eldest 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Kent.  Emanuel  also  had  a 
son  John  baptised  in  1640,  who,  however,  could  not 
have  been  the  John  of  this  town,  as  he  had  a  son  John 
born  1655. 

John  jr.  married  Susanna  Miller  in  1683.  He  was 
fined  os  in  1638,  for  selling  liquors  without  a  license. 
He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  in  1689. 
When  the  town  was  deserted,  he  removed  to  Newing- 
ton,  N.  H.  but  returned  in  1721  ;  and  then  bore  the  ti- 
tle of  Capt.  Downing,  being  the  first  inhabitant  of  the 
town  who  had  arrived  at  that  honor. 

Immanuel  Haynes   was    constable    of    the   town    in 

*IIc  was  sometimes  called  Mussell  by  the  inhabitants. 


94  HISTORY   OF  [a.   d.    1716. 

1689.     This  is  the  only  time  his  name  is  found   on  the 
records. 

Richard  Blanchet,  John  Loring  and  Simon  Cimdey 
contributed  towards  erecting  Davis's  mill.  Samuel 
Johnson,  Francis  Beggar,  Francis  Johnson,  John  Rose 
and  John  Webber,  had  land  granted  them  between  the 
years  1681  and  1689.  Francis  Beggar  returned  from 
Salem  to  this  town  in  1721.  John  Cirmihill,  and  Wil- 
liam Kindall,  whose  wife's  name  was  Margery,  resided 
here  in  1663,  and  attended  the  town  meeting  held  that 
year.     Cirmihill  died  before  1677. 

John  Miller  was  here  as  early  as  1670,  as  he  was,  at 
that  time  on  the  jury  from  this  town.  He  was  proba- 
bly the  son  of  Richard  Miller,  who  died  at  Kittery, 
1693.     Grace  was  the  name  of  Richard's  wife. 

John  had  an  action  of  debt  against  Charles  Potum 
in  1673.  He  submitted  to  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1680,  when  they  assumed  the  right  to  gov- 
ern Maine  as  a  province.  He  had  100  acres  of 
land  laid  out  to  him  in  1681,  upon  the  south  side  of 
the  Desert  marshes.  He  was  chosen  by  Saco,  as  one 
of  the  selectmen  of  this  town  in  1688,  and  was  elected, 
the  next  year,  by  the  town  of  Cape  Porpoise,  to  the 
same  office.  When  the  town  was  deserted,  he  remov- 
ed to  Newington,  and  died  soon  after.  His  grand- 
children returned  to  this  town  in  1745. — His  son  John 
was  of  age  to  vote  in  1781.  His  daughter  Susanna 
married  John  Downing,  jr.  in  1683. 

William  Norman  probably  resided  in  this  town  but  a 
short  time.  In  1650,  he  "  did  acknowledge  that  he  hath 
done  Margery  Randall  wrong  in  taking  of  her  to  be  his 
wife  he  having  another  in  England."  For  this  offence, 
Norman  was  banished,  and  if  found  in  this  jurisdiction, 
after  seven  days,  was  to  be  put  to  death. 

Thomas  Bryan,  a  fisherman,  resided,  in  1662,  on 
Stage  Island. 

William  Larrabee,  whose  family  was  murdered  by 
the  Indians,  in  1703,  was  the  son  of  Stephen  Larrabee,* 
who  signed  the  petition,  1680,  to  Charles  II.  to  be  reliev- 
ed from  the  heavy  taxes  imposed  by  the  "  Bostoners." 

William  did  not  return  to   this  town    after  the    war 

*His  name  was  written,  Leatherbee,  on  the  petition. 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  95 

closed,  but  continued  in  Wells.  He  married  the  widow 
of  Job  i  Look,  and  built  the  second  house  in  that  part 
of  the  town,  since  called  Kennebunk.*  He  built  his 
house  on  the  eastern  side  of  Mousam  river,  near  where 
his  descendants  now  reside.  As  sergeant  Larrabee,  he 
became  noted  in  subsequent  Indian  wars,  for  his  cour- 
age, and  his  uncompromising  hostility  against  the  In- 
dians. .       .  ^OC\ 

S«nh  Fletcher  was  an  inhabitant  of  this  town  in  lool, 
and  witnessed  Jeffery's  will.  Two  years  afterwards  he 
attended  the  town  meeting,  for  dividing  the  marsh  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town  ;  and  in  1671,  was  one  ot 
the  witnesses  to  Montague's  will.  His  name  is  not  al- 
ter wards  found  on  the  records. 

It  is  not  certain  who  this  Seth  Fletcher  was.      I  here 
was  a  person  of  this  name,  who  was  a   settled  minister 
at.  Wells,  as  early  as  1655.     He  was  dismissed  m   lobO, 
and  commenced  preaching  in  Saco  1662.      He  preach- 
ed there  but  one  vear  ;  but  was  resettled    in  166J,    and 
continued  there  till  1675.       He    was   settled  at    South 
Hampton,  N.  Y.  in  1677  ;  and  at  Elizabeth  Town,  IN. 
J  in  16S1.     Folsom,  from  whom  the  foregoing  account 
is  principally  taken,  says  he  was  probably    the  son    o 
William  Fletcher  who  died  at  Saco,  January  1st,  16oS 
and  that  he  manied  the  only  daughter  of  Major    Pen- 
dleton before  1655.     In  conclusion,  he   remarks    ttbat, 
»  we  deem  it  proper    to  add  to  the  account  of  this  1am- 
ily,  that  the  few  descendants  now  living,  have    a   tradi- 
tion that  their  ancestor  who  married    the    daughter   ol 
Major  Pendleton,  was  a  common  laborer  in  his  service, 
although  they  agree  that  his  name  was  Seth.      I  his  cir- 
cumstance shows  the  uncertain  reliance    to    be    placed 
on  oral  traditions  ;  for   the    evidence    of  records    very 
clearly  proves  the  truth  of  what  we  have  stated   on  the 

tU  The  evidence  of  records,  as  cited  by  Folsom,  do  not 
prove  that  the  Rev.  Seth  Fletcher  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Bryan  Pendleton,  for  the  fact  is  no  where  stated  ; 
nor  is  there  any  allusion,  in  Pendleton's  will  or  else- 
where, to  any  relationship  between  them.     On  the  con* 

^Bourne's  Hist.  Kennebunk. 
iHist.  Saco  and  Biddeford,  p.  108. 


96  HISTORY    of  [a.  d.  1716, 

trary,  it  is  presumable  that  they  were  not  connected, 
or,  where  so  much  is  recorded  of  both  Pendleton  and 
Fletcher,  the  fact  would  have  distinctly  appeared.  Be- 
sides, it  is  unlikely  that  Mr.  Fletcher,  who  was  settled 
in  New  Jersey  at  the  time  of  Maj,  Pendleton's  death, 
should  have  given  up  his  only  child, — certainly  the  on- 
ly one  by  Pendleton's  daughter, — when  the  boy's  ad- 
vantages for  an  education,  would  have  been  better  with 
himself,  than  with  his  grandfather.  There  were  prob- 
ably two  of  the  same  name  ;  for  it  is  not  likely  that  the 
same  person  would  be  attending  a  town  meeting,  as  a 
citizen  of  Cape  Porpoise,  at  the  time  when  he  was  a 
settled  minister  at  Saco.  The  records,  probably  may 
establish  the  fact  that  Maj.  Pendleton's  only  daughter 
married  a  person  by  the  name  of  Fletcher,  but  nothing 
more.  It  is,  therefore,  highly  probable  that  the  tradi* 
tional  account  of  the  family  is  true  ;  and  that  Seth 
Fletcher,  the  laborer,  who  married  Bryan  Pendleton's 
daughter,  was  an  inhabitant  of  this  town.  It  is  likely, 
too,  that  both  Fletcher  and  his  wife,  died  some  time  be- 
fore Pendleton,  or  some  notice  would  .  have  been  taken 
of  tfiem  in  his  will,  which  was  made  three  or  four 
years  before  his  death  ;  and  that  in  consequence  of 
their  death  he  adopted  their  only  child,  Pendleton 
Fletcher.  The  fact  of  Major  Pendleton's  buying  real 
estate  here  ;  and  the  great  interest  he  took  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town,*  heighten  the  probability  of  this 
supposition. 

Although  Major  Pendleton  never  resided  in  this 
town,  yet,  as  he  owned  considerable  property  here,  and 
took  as  great  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  as  any 
of  its  citizens  did,  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  give  a  short 
account  of  his  prominent  acts  in  the  province.  He  was 
born  in  15T9,  and  first  settled  in  "Watertown  about 
1634,  which  place  he  represented  in  General  Court, 
for  several  years.  He  resided  two  years  in  Sudbury, 
and  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  that  town.  In 
1646  he  was  a  member  of  the  artillery  company,  and  a 
captain  in  the  militia.  About  1650,  he  removed  to 
Portsmouth,    and    was    representative   from  that  town 

*Bourno,  in  his  History  of  Kennebunk,  says  Major  Pendleton 
owned  a  large  trading  and  fishing  establishment  at  Cane  Porpoise. 


A.  D.  171G.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  97 

five  years  ;  and  was  appointed  major  in  the  militia. 
In  1653,  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  receive 
the  submission  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine  to  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1665,  he  went  to  Saco,  and  returned  to 
Portsmouth  in  1676.  He  was  counsellor  under  Presi- 
dent Danforth;  and  was  deputy  president  of  the 
province,  and  presided  at  the  county  courts.  He  died 
in  1680.  His  only  son,  James,  removed  to  Connecticut, 
where  his  descendants  are  numerous. 

Major  Pendleton,  by  his  will,  gave  to  his  wife  "  all 
his  houseing  and  land,  at  Cape  Porpus,  which  Richard 
Palmer's  wife  had  the  use  of  during  her  life."  He 
gave  to  his  grandchild,  James  Pendleton,  100  acres  of 
upland,  and  10  acres  of  meadow,  which  he  bought  of 
John  Bush,  "  in  the  Township  of  Cape  Porpus,  near 
princes  rock."  To  his  son  James  he  gave  about  300 
acres  of  land,  and  all  his  "  several  Islands  in  or  near 
Cape  Porpus,"  which  were  in  possession  of  Richard 
Palmer.  To  his  grandchild,  Pendleton  Fletcher,  he 
gave  his  property  at  Winter  Harbor.  The  islands 
which  Jeffery  sold  to  Pendleton,  in  1658,  are  described 
"  as  being  the  very  next  unto  that,  Pendleton  bought, 
and  John  Bush  as  his  Tenant  doth  now  possess." 

Edmund  Littlefield  was  an  early  settler  in  Wells. 
He  brought  a  large  family  with  him,  some  of  whom 
were  married.  He  made  his  will  in  1661,  and  gave  to 
his  "  eldest  son  Francis,"  and  to  Anthony,  and  his 
daughter,  Elizabeth  W'akefield,  all  his  tract  of  land, 
lying  on  the  north  east  side  of  Kennebunk  river,  which 
had  been  granted  to  him  by  George  Cleaves.  He  also 
gave  property  to  his  sons,  John  and  Thomas,  and  to 
his  daughters,  Mary  Barrett  and  Hannah  Littlefield. 
His  wife  Ann,  and  his  "  youngest  son,  Francis,"  were 
appointed  executors.  His  property  was  valued  at  about 
£600. 

His  eldest  son  Francis  came  to  this  country  some 
time  before  the  rest  of  the  family,  and  was  supposed  to 
be  dead  ;  and  the  same  name  was  afterwards  given  to 
another  son.  When  Edmund  came  over,  he  bought  a 
tract  of  land  in  Wells,  and  on  going  to  take  possession 
of  it,  he  found  his  eldest  son,  who  he  thought  was 
dead,  already  settled  in  that  township.  Anthony,  who 
married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Page  of  Saco, 


98  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1716. 

and  Francis  sen.  removed  into  this  town  soon  after 
their  father's  death.  Anthony  died  in  1662,  leaving 
an  only  child,  Edward,  who  was  bound  to  his  uncle 
Francis  sen.  for  12  years.  His  widow  removed  toSaco. 
In  1663  she  authorized  Francis  to  sell  her  third  part  of 
the  1000  acres  which  were  in  Cape  Porpoise,  in  the 
possession    of  her  mother    Ann  Littlefield. 

John  Littlefield,  and  John  Wakefield,  husband  of  Eliza- 
beth, in  1641,  had  a  grant  of  land  from  George  Cleaves, 
at  the  mouth  of  Mousam  river,  whert  they  probably  re- 
sided.    Mary  married  John  Barrett  of  Cape  Porpoise. 

Francis  sen.  left  children,  two  of  whom,  Edmund 
and  Joseph,  had  a  grant  from  the  town  of  Cape  Por- 
poise, in  1681,  of  100  acres  of  land,  at  the  upper  falls, 
near  the  Indian  planting  ground.  By  this  grant,  they 
had  the  privilege  of  building  mills  at  the  upper  falls, 
and  of  cutting  timber  in  any  part  of  the  town  ;  they 
paying  a  yearly  rent  of  fifty  shillings.  They  also 
agreed  to  build  a  grist  mill,  upon  condition  that  there 
should  not  be  another  built  in  the  town.  When  they 
afterwards  attempted  to  erect  their  mills,  there  was 
so  much  opposition  made  to  it,  by  persons  owning 
property  above  the  falls,  that  the  project  was  given 
up ;  and  the  mills  were  built  higher  up  the  river. 
The  right  to  cut  timber  anywhere  within  the  town- 
ship, was  also  the  cause  of  considerable  difficulty, 
which  was  settled  by  a  legal  process,  after  the  town 
was  resettled. 

William  and  Catharine  Wormwood,  parents  of  Jacob, 
were  married  and  resided  in  Rittery  as  early  as  1647. 
Wrilliam  died  1690,  and  his  property  was  valued  at 
<£25.  Jacob  removed  to  this  town  before  1661,  as  he 
was  on  a  coroner's  jury  at  Saco  that  year.  He  was 
surveyor  of  land  at  Cape  Porpoise  1689,  and  contrib- 
uted a  week's  work  on  Davis's  gristmill.  He  died 
before  the  town  was  resettled,  in  1713.  Margaret  the 
wife  of  Simon  Bussy  was  a  daughter  of  William. 
Thomas,  son  of  Jacob,  married  Jane  a  daughter  of 
William  Reynolds,  and  lived  in  Kittery  in  1706.  He 
removed  to  this  town,  and  had  charge  of  Harding's 
garrison,  when  his  son  William  was  killed  in  1724. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Wells,  on  the  western  side 
of  Mousam  river,  where    his    descendants  still  reside. 


A.  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  99 

His  house  was  the  third  one  built  in  that  part  of  Wells 
since  called  Kennebunk.  Bourne*  says  he  built  his 
house  there  in  1720.  If  so,  it  was  before  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  Harding's  garrison.  He  purchased  his  land 
in  1719. 

Although  Stephen  Harding  did  not  remove  to  this 
town  till  1720,  yet,  as  his  descendants  have  principally 
resided  here  since,  and  most  of  the  prominent  events 
of  his  life  occurred  previous  to  the  period  to  which  the 
history  of  the  town  is  brought  down,  it  will,  perhaps,  be 
in  place,  to  give  some  account  of  the  family  at  this 
time. 

One  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  Lygonia,  or 
plough  patent,  was  Grace  Harding,  merchant  of  Lon- 
don. Whether  the  family  in  this  town  descended  from 
him  or  not,  is  not  known.  There  were  two  of  the  name, 
probably  brothers,  Thomas  and  Israel,  residing  in  this 
county  before  1670.  Israel,  who  was  a  blacksmith, 
came  from  Providence  and  lived  in  Wells  ;  and  in 
1672,  he  married  Lydia,  the  widow  of  John  Gooch. 
Mr.  Harding  was  appointed  administrator  of  Gooch's 
estate,  in  consequence  of  his  widow's  "  suddaine  mar- 
rying agane."  Gooch  left  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
Gooch's  mother,  whose  name  was  Ruth,  was  alive 
when  he  died,  and  was  provided  for  in  settling  the  estate. 

From  the  following  extract  from  the  county  records, 
1682,  it  would  appear  that  Israel  Harding,  who  was  a 
baptist,  was  a  preacher  as  well  as  blacksmith.  "  Isra- 
el Harding  being  convicted  for  very  disorderly  practise, 
and  presumptuously  taking  upon  him  the  office  of  a 
Minister,  to  preach  and  baptise  contrary  to  rule  and^ 
his  Majesty's  laws  here  Established,  the  Court  here 
declare  against  such  unwarrantable  and  presumptuous 
practices  as  having  no  Call  from  god  or  his  people  yr. 
unto."  The  court  decreed,  that  if  he  continued  to 
offend  in  this  way,  he  should  forfeit  his  estate. 

Stephen  was  undoubtedly  the  son  of  Israel,  although 
his  descendants  say  he  was  born  in  Providence  ;  and 
that  they  never  understood  that  his  father  was  at  any 
time  a  resident  of  Wells.  From  the  fact  of  their  be- 
ing   of  the    same  religious  faith,  and  occupation,  it  is 

*Ms.  Hist.  Kennebunk. 


100  HISTORY    OF  [A.   D.    1716. 

probable  that  Stephen  was  the  son  of  Israel,  and  was 
born  in  Wells  ;  for  Israel  is  still  a  family  name  in  the 
Harding  family,  and  they  have  a  tradition  that  they 
were  distantly  connected  with  the  Gooches.  Stephen 
married  Abigail  Littlefield  of  Wells,  about  1702,  and 
established  himself  near  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river, 
on  the  western  side,  where  the  foundation  of  his  house 
may  yet  be  seen.  In  1713  he  was  presented  for  selling 
rum  without  a  license  ;  but  in  1716  he  was  licensed  to 
keep  a  house  of  entertainment.  He  and  his  wife  being 
baptists,  they  neglected  to  attend  the  congregational 
meeting.  Mrs.  Harding  in  1717  was  presented  for 
not  going  to  meeting.  Not  appearing  at  court,  the  con- 
stable of  Wells  was  ordered  to  apprehend  her.  At  the 
next  term  of  the  court,  Mr.  Harding  was  also  present- 
ed for  the  same  offence.  Neither  of  them  appeared, 
but  they  petitioned  to  be  excused  from  a  fine.  The 
court  ordered  John  Wheelwright,  Esq.  to  investigate 
the  affair,  and  he  acquitted  them,  by  their  paying  fees 
of  court. 

Harding  was  a  very  athletic  man,  but  remarkably 
good  natured.  He  always  treated  the  Indians  kindly 
in  times  of  peace ;  and  his  life  was  frequently  spared 
by  their.,  when  they  had  an  opportunity  to  shoot  him. 
He  was  fond  of  hunting,  and  would  frequently  be  gone 
from  home  a  fortnight  on  a  hunting  expedition ;  and 
wander  as  far  as  the  White  Hills.  So  much  had  he 
become  accustomed  to  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare, 
that  he  was  a  match  for  them,  in  their  own  peculiar 
method  of  fighting. 

At  the  time  when  he  had  to  leave  his  house,  as  has 
been  narrated,  the  Indians  best  acquainted  with  him, 
complimented  him  upon  his  cunning,  which  was  esteem- 
ed by  them  a  high  qualification,  by  saying  in  their 
sententious  style,  "  Much  man  Stephen. — All  one  In- 
dian.— Stephen's  fled."  The  Indians  were  very 
anxious  to  get  him  alive,  to  carry  to  Canada,  but  after 
waiting  for  days,  for  an  opportunity,  they  had  not  the 
courage  to  embrace  it,  so  well  acquainted  were  they  with 
his  great  bodily  strength. 

On  the  marsh,  near  his  house,  Mr.  Harding  kept  a 
hollow  stack  of  hay,  inside  which  he  frequently  secre- 
ted his  family,  in  times  of  danger. 


A.  D.  1716.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  101 

Most  of  the  foregoing  anecdotes,  relative  to  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town,  when  it  bore  the  name  of 
Cape  Porpus,  are  taken  from  the  county  records. 
Only  ten  of  about  100  persons  whose  names  have 
been  given,  have  descendants  now  residing  in  the 
town. 

The  disposition  to  pry  into  each  other's  affairs  ;  to 
notice  every  fault  ;  to  record  every  hasty  word,  drop- 
ped under  strong  provocation  ;  to  apply  for  legal 
redress  for  every  slanderous  expression,  and  every 
fancied  injury ;  and  to  compel  each  other  to  defend 
themselves,  at  the  expense  of  time,  money,  and  good 
feelings,  against  charges,  for  offences  of  which  they 
were  only  suspected  of  committing  ; — this  unfriendly 
feeling,  manifested  by  these  acts,  and  the  habits  arising 
from  frequent  attendance  at  courts,  do  not  give  so  favor- 
able an  opinion  of  their  character,  as  their  successors 
and  descendants  might  wish  to  entertain  of  them.  This 
state  of  things,  however,  was  not  peculiar  to  this  town, 
or  province,  but  it  was  a  fault  of  the  age.  The  records 
of  Massachusetts  are  also  filled  with  evidence  of  the 
same  litigious  feelings ;  and  persons  of  the  highest 
standing  and  fairest  reputations,  were  obliged  to  defend 
themselves  against  frivolous  and  vexatious  charges.  It 
is  even  probable  that  this  custom  of  presenting  persons 
for  every  offence,  was  introduced  into  Maine  from 
Massachusetts,  where  the  high  tone  of  religious  feeling 
would  not  suffer  them  to  wink  at  the  slightest  departure 
from  moral  rectitude.  To  this  peculiarity  of  the  times, 
however,  are  we  indebted  for  all  the  knowledge  we 
possess  of  many  of  the    early  settlers  of  this  country. 

Facts  from  such  a  source  however  can  only  give  the 
dark  shades  of  their  character  ;  for  it  would  certainly 
be  unfair,  to  judge  of  a  people  by  only  examining  the 
criminal  records.  Many  of  those  persons,  who  are 
recorded  as  drunkards,  slanderers,  sabbath  breakers, 
&c.  were  probably  men  of  generally  correct  deport- 
ment ;  and  would  even  now  be  deemed  exemplary  men. 
No  one  would  admit  the  correctness  of  his  own  portrait, 
in  which  the  dark  shades  only  were  drawn,  without  a 
single  redeeming  touch  ;  or  be  willing  to  have  it  hand- 
ed down  to  his  posterity,  as  a  correct  representation  of 
himself. 

Ii 


102  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

When  however  the  greatly  superior  advantages  of  the 
present  time,  for  moral  and  intellectual  improvement, 
are  compared  with  those  of  the  early  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  there  will  be  but  little  cause  for  self  gratula- 
tion,  on  the  part  of  the  present  generation  ;  but  rather 
a  feeling  of  mortification,  that  they  have  been  no  better 
improved.  The  settlers  of  Cape  Porpoise  were  very 
poor,  the  most  wealthy  possessing  only  a  few  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  unproductive  property.  In  fact  their 
only  means  of  sustenance  was  manual  labor,  which  was 
but  poorly  compensated.  The  price  of  lumber,  upon 
which  they  mainly  relied  for  their  supply  of  bread 
stuffs  and  other  necessaries  of  life,  was  so  low  as  scarce- 
ly to  pay  them  for  the  labor  of  sawing  it  alone.  Their 
crops  and  flocks  were  subject  to  the  wanton  destruc- 
tion of  a  savage  enemy  ;  and  to  the  waste  of  bears, 
wolves,*  and  other  ravenous  beasts  that  abounded  in  their 
forests.  Now,  application  to  business  is  sure  to  be  well 
rewarded  ;  the  avenues  to  wealth  are  so  numerous, 
that  numbers  are  wanting  to  explore  them  ;  and  the 
acquisition  of  property  so  easy  that  all  can  afford  the 
time  and  means  for  gaining  knowledge  themselves,  and 
of  imparting  it  to  their  children.  There  were,  however, 
undoubtedly  many  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpoise,  who 
escaped  the  unenviable  notoriety  conferred  by  the 
province  records,  and  who  kept  on  the  humble,  but 
"  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  respected,  and  unpersecuted, 
but  who  are  now  wholly  forgotten. 

When  Maine  was  first  discovered,  it  was  inhabited 
by  several  tribes  of  Indians,  amounting  to  about  fforty 
thousand  individuals.  They  had  a  tradition, £  that  they 
originally  came  from  the  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
after  much  hard  fighting,  at  length  crossed  the  Hudson 
river,  and  took  the  general  name  of  Mohicans  or  Mo- 
hegans.  When  the  English  first  visited  this  country, 
the  natives  were  divided  into  several  clans  or  grand  di- 
visions, and  these  again  into  separate  tribes.  The 
large    divisions  were   governed  by  a  chief,  who  some- 

*There  were  bounties  for  killing  wolves,  paid  by  the  town  as 
late  as  1784. 

iThere  are  now  but  1000.—  Me.  Reg.  1837. 

t  Heckewelder.     See  Williamson,  vol.  i.  p.  454. 


A.  D.  171G.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  103 

times  bore  the  title  of  Bashaba,  and  sometimes  that  of 
Sagamore.  The  tribes  were  under  the  direction  of  a 
Sagamore  or  Sachem,  who  was  subject  to  a  Bashaba 
or  great  chief.  Some  writers  state  that  sagamore  and 
sachem  were  synonymous,  or  chiefs  of  equal  rank  ;  but 
others  assert  that  a  sagamore  was  the  head  of  the  tribe, 
and  the  sachems  were  the  captains  or  principal  men. 
The  sagamores  generally  appointed  their  successors. 

The  general  names  of  the  tribes  in  Maine,  were  the 
Abenaques,  and  the  Etechemens.  The  Abenaques 
tribes  were  from  Penobscot  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Saco  river.  The  Agamenticus  or  Accomenticus  tribe 
was  subject  to  the  Pentucket  or  Pennicook  Indians  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  Sokokis  tribe  dwelt  on  Saco 
river,  and  were  probably  subject  to  the  Abenaques. 
Which  of  these  tribes  claimed  Cape  Porpoise,  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  determine.  Thomas  Chabonoke,  a  Saco 
Indian,  deeded  to  *Thomas  Wadlow  or  Wadleigh  all 
his  title  to  Nampscascoke,  upon  condition  of  Wadleigh's 
allowing  one  bushel  of  corn  annually  to  "  the  old 
Webb,"  Chabanoke's  mother.  This  tract  extended 
from  the  "  Noguncoke"  to  Kennebunk  river.  tFluellen 
Sumptimus  of  Saco  also  deeded  to  William  Phillips, 
all  the  land  from  Saco  to  Cape  Porpoise  river,  from 
the  sea  to  Fluellen's  falls,  on  Mousam  river.  Mogg 
Hogan,  likewise  of  Saco,  deeded  land  from  Saco  to 
Kennebunk  river  to  Phillips. 

De  Laet,  however,  asserts  that  the  Indians  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Saco  river,  differed  from  the  eastern 
Indians  both  in  language  and  manners.  The  difference 
of  language  between  the  tribes  to  the  westward  and 
eastward  of  Saco  river,  Sullivan  says,  "  is  not  the  only 
circumstance,  though  it  may  be  sufficient  to  induce  us 
to  believe,  that  the  river  of  Saco  was  an  important  di- 
viding line  between  the  savage  nations   of  the  east  and 

*  In  1657,  John  Wadleigh  assigned  land  on  the  western  side  of 
Mousatn  river  to  his  son,  "  to  be  Lyable  to  all  common  Charges  and 
Rates  for  the  Town  of  Praston  alias  WelU."  Wells  was  called 
"  Preston"  in  Felt's  Hist   Ipswich,  p.  75. 

tSome  one  in  copying  a  deed  from  this  Indian,  instead  of  writing 
"  Fluellen  Sumptimus  of  Saco,"  transcribed  it  "  Fluellen,  some- 
times of  Saco,"  which  error  afterwards  crept  into  several  other 
deads, 


104  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1716. 

west  part  of  New  England."  It  would  seem,  too,  from 
the  fact  of  Jenkins's  goods  being  returned  by  Passacon- 
oway,  Sagamore  of  the  Pennicooks,  that  this  territory 
was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  that  chief.  The  Abena- 
ques  tribes  were  under  the  general  control  of  the  Basha- 
ba,  who  was  killed  in  the  war  of  1614.  After  his  death 
no  other  chief  possessed  the  title,  or  the  power  that  he 
did.  His  dominions,  according  to  *De  Laet,  compris- 
ed what  is  now  the  State  of  Maine.  Others  say  his 
authority  extended  as  far  as  Naumkeag  or  Salem. 

The  Indians  are  tall  and  straight,  with  broad  faces, 
black  eyes  and  hair,  white  teeth,  and  bright  olive  com- 
plexion. None  of  them  are  in  any  way  deformed,  or 
ever  grow  corpulent.  They  are  extremely  fond  of  or- 
naments, and  of  bright  and  dazzling  colors.  Williamson, 
in  his  history  of  Maine,  remarks  that,  "  amongst  them- 
selves, every  right  and  possession  is  safe.  No  locks, 
no  bars  are  necessary  to  guard  them.  In  trade  they 
are  fair  and  honest ;  astonished  at  the  crimes  which 
white  men  commit,  to  accumulate  property.  Their 
lips  utter  no  falsehoods  to  each  other,  and  the  injuries 
done  to  an  individual,  they  make  a  common  cause  of 
resentment.  Such  is  an  Indian's  hospitality,  that  if  an 
unarmed  stranger  comes  among  them  and  asks  protec- 
tion, he  is  sure  to  find  it.  If  cold,  he  is  warmed  ;  if 
naked,  clothed  ;  if  hungry,  fed  with  the  best  the  camp 
affords.  They  are  faithful  and  ardent  in  friendship, 
and  grateful  for  favors,  which  are  never  obliterated 
from  their  memories.  Ordinarily  possessing  great  pa- 
tience and  equanimity  of  mind,  the  men  bear  misfor- 
tunes with  perfect  composure,  giving  proofs  of 
cheerfulness  amidst  the  most  untoward  incidents. 
With  a  glow  of  ardor  for  each  other's  welfare,  and  the 
good  of  the  country  ;  all  offer  voluntary  services  to  the 
public  ;  all  burn  with  the  sacred  flame  of  patriotism  ; 
and  all  most  heartily  celebrate  the  heroic  deeds  of  their 
ancestors.  The  point  of  honor  is  every  thing  in  their 
view.  Sensibility  in  their  hearts,  is  a  spark  which  in- 
stantly kindles. 

"  But  the  darker  shades  of  character  are  many.  An 
injury,  a  taunt,   or  even  neglect,  will  arouse  all  the 

*As  quoted  by  Folsom. 


A.  D.  1716.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  105 

resentments  of  their  untutored  minds,  and  urge  them 
on  to  acts  of  fatal  revenge.  Jealousy,  revenge  and 
cruelty,  are  attributes  of  mind,  which  truly  belong  to 
them.  If  they  always  remember  a  favor,  they  never 
forget  an  injury.  To  suspect  the  worst — to  retaliate 
evil  for  evil — to  torture  a  fallen  captive — to  keep  no 
faith  with  an  enemy — and  never  to  forgive,  seem  to  be 
maxims,  the  correctness  of  which,  according  to  their 
ethics,  admits  of  no  question.  To  them,  so  sweet  in 
thought,  and  so  glorious  in  fact,  is  successful  revenge, 
that  they  will  go  through  danger  and  hardship  to  the 
end  of  life,  for  the  sake  of  effecting  their  purpose.  No 
arts,  no  plans,  no  means,  are  left  unessayed  to  beat  or 
kill  the  object  of  their  hate."* 

With  these  traits  of  character,  it  would  have  been 
easy  for  the  English  settlers,  to  have  secured  their 
friendship,  and  assistance  against  the  French.  They, 
however,  by  their  wanton  insults,  and  cruelty,  and  con- 
stant frauds  in  their  dealings  with  the  Indians,  aroused 
their  bad  passions  against  them,  and  for  more  than  a 
century,  were  made  to  feel  the  effects  of  their  impru- 
dence and  injustice.  The  French  early  gained  the 
confidence  of  the  Indians,  by  their  kindness  and  fair 
dealings,  and  always  found  them  faithful  friends  and 
allies. 

Within  twenty  days  after  Philip's  war  commenced 
in  Massachusetts,  hostilities  began  in  Maine.  The 
Indians  of  Maine,  who  had  long  hated  the  English,  were 
provoked  to  take  part  in  the  war,  by  the  cruelty  of 
some  English  sailors,  who  threw  the  child  of  Squando, 
into  Saco  river,  to  see  if  it  could  swim  naturally.  The 
child  soon  after  died,  and  Squando,  attributing  its  death 
to  the  treatment  it  had  received  from  the  English, 
aroused  the  Indians  against  the  settlers. 

Bourne,  in  his  manuscript  history  of  Kennebunk, 
mentions  a  custom  of  the  Indians  which  no  other  wri- 
ter has  noticed.  He  says,  it  was  their  practice  to  raise 
a  pile  of  stones  when  war  was  ended,  which  was  allow- 
ed to  stand  till  they  had  determined  to  renew  hostilities. 

*The  same  character  is  given  to  the  Massachusetts  Indians  in 
Thacher's  Hist.  Plymouth. 


106  HISTORY    OF  [FROM   1716. 

The  appearance  of  these  stones  was  a  guarantee  of 
safety  to  the  whites,  but  their  disappearance. was  tanta- 
mount to  a  declaration  of  war. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Petition  for  reincorporation.. ..Town  called  Arundel....The  first 

garrison Town  meetings Roads   located Mr.  Eveleth 

employed  to  preach...Harding's  ferry....Obsolete  names....The 
fourth  Indian  war....Garrisons....Several  persons  killed  by 
the  Indians....Attempt  to  surprise  Harding's  garrison.... Allis- 
on Brown,  first  representative....Capt.  Felt  and  others  mur- 
dered....Ralle  killed....Lieut.  Prescott  wounded....Anecdotes 
of  the  Indians....Peace....Mrs.  Durrill  and  Mrs.  Baxter  killed 
....The  Baxter  bible. 

The  following  from  the  Massachusetts  records,  is  a 
copy  of  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors 
of  this  town,  to  be  reincorporated,  with  the  proceedings 
thereon. 

"A  petition  of  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors  of  the 
town  of  Cape  Porpus,  shewing  that  several  of  the  an- 
cient inhabitants  and  dependants  of  others  being  desirous 
to  settle  the  said  town  in  a  regular  and  defensible  man- 
ner agreeable  to  the  order  of  the  Hon'ble  Court, 
— and  whereas  several  are  already  set  down  in  small 
huts  in  a  scattering  manner,  which  tends  wholly  to 
defeat  this  wholesome  order,  and  to  render  the  place 
uncapable  of  defence.  The  petitioners  therefore  pray 
that  the  Hon'ble  John  Wheelwright,  Esq.  may  be 
appointed  and  impowered  to  regulate  the  present 
settlements  as  to  placing  the  houses  ; — And  that  he 
be  enabled  to  demand  and  to  take  into  his  keeping  the 
town  records  wheresoever  they  may  be  found,  that 
persons  may  come  to  know  their  own  rights,  until  the 
town  be  in  order  to  choose  their  own  officers. 

"In  the  House  of  Representatives  Nov.  12th,  1717, 
Read  and  ordered  that  the  Hon'ble  John  Wheelwright, 
Esq.  be  impowered  to    regulate  the  present  settlement 


TO  1718.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  107 

of  Cape  Porpoise  as  to  placing  the  houses,  so  as  the 
inhabitants  may  be  able  to  defend  themselves  in  case 
of  a  war, — And  that  he  be  farther  impowered  to  de- 
mand and  keep  the  town  records  belonging  to  said 
place  till  said  town  be  otherwise  regulated.  Sent  up 
for  concurrence.  Read  and  concurred. 

Consented  to.     Sam'l.  Shute. 

"May  18th,  1718.  Coll.  Wheelwright's  return 
upon  the  order  of  this  Court  for  regulating  the  settle- 
ment at  Cape  Porpoise  on  the  petition  of  several  of  the 
inhabitants  and  proprietors  of  said  place,  as  entered 
Nov.  13th,  1717,  is  as  follows,  Viz. 

"  Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  Great  and  General 
Assembly  of  the  13th  of  Nov.  1717,  to  me  directed, 
being  therein  impowered  to  regulate  the  present  settle- 
ment of  Cape  Porpoise  as  to  placing  the  houses,  so 
as  that  the  inhabitants  may  be  enabled  to  defend  them- 
selves, in  case  of  a  war  ; — In  obedience  therefore,  I 
went  on  the  spot,  the  14th  instant,  and  took  a  particu- 
lar view  of  the  place,  and  the  several  parts  thereof;  and 
am  of  opinion,  and  so  far  as  it  is  in  my  power,  have 
ordered  and  appointed  that  the  southwesterly  side 
of  the  neck  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  Montague's 
neck ;  it  being  commodious  for  the  harbor,  and  con- 
venient for  the  fishery,  and  may  be  a  guard  and  secu- 
rity to  the  fishing  vessels  and  others  which  may  at  any 
time  come  in  thither,  as  also  a  convenient  outlet  into 
other  parts  of  the  town  for  their  creatures  ; — that  upon 
the  highest  part  of  that  point  they  erect  a  garrison  of 
about  fifty  feet  square  ;  and  that  as  many  of  the  inhabit- 
ants as  it  will  comfortably  contain,  dwell  within  the 
walls  ;  that  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  build  and  set 
their  houses  in  a  straight  line  directly  against  each 
square  of  the  garrison,  so  as  they  may  be  well  com- 
manded, and  within  four  poles  each  of  the  other  ;  and 
that  line  down  towards  the  water  to  be  the  greatest 
number  of  houses  ;  and  that  each  man  have  four  poles 
square  of  land  for  setting  his  house,  and  garden  spot ; 
— And  that  every  inhabitant  that  settles  within  that 
township  be  obliged  to  build  a  house  there,  in  form  as 
before  expressed;  And  that  not  less  than  four  or  five 
of  the  inhabitants  dwell  on  that  neck  at  all  times,  that 


108  HISTORY  OP  [from  1718 

so  they  may  be  able  to  keep  possession  of  it  in  case  of 
some  sudden  breaking  forth  of  an  enemy  ;  All  which, 
I  am  of  opinion,  would  be  of  great  use  and  benefit  to 
the  publick,  as  well  as  safety  to  the  inhabitants  resi- 
ding there.  John  Wheelwright." 

June  5th,  1719,  Mr.  Wheelwright's  report  was  again 
recorded  at  length,  and  "  in  council  read,  and  accepted, 
and  voted  that  the  name  of  the  accepted  town  on  Cape 
Porpoise  be  Arundel." 

"The  report  of  John  Wheelwright,  Esq.  for  the  set- 
tlement of  Cape  Porpoise  and  the  vote  of  the  board 
thereon,  as  entered  June  5th,  1719. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives  ;  June  8th,  1719, 
read  and  concurred.  Assented  to. 

Samuel  Shute." 

The  original  petition  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  office 
of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  Massachusetts,  there  hav- 
ing been  but  ten  documents  preserved  from  the  year 
1715  to  1725.  A  fatality  appears  to  have  attended 
most  of  the  documents  and  records  connected  with  the 
early  history  of  this  town  ;  and,  in  consequence,  many 
of  the  most  important  events,  are  left  to  conjecture. 
W7ho  the  petitioners  were,  or  whether  the  whole  of  the 
petition  was  entered  on  the  Records,  cannot  now  be 
ascertained.  As  recorded,  the  petition  makes  no  re- 
quest for  an  alteration  of  the  name  of  the  town,  nor  is 
any  thing  said  as  to  its  boundaries,  although  there  was 
afterwards  a  prevailing  opinion,  that  the  limits  of  the 
town  were  defined  by  the  General  Court,  at  this  time. 
The  town  was  called  Arundel  in  compliment  to  the 
Earl  of  Arundel,  descendant  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Arun- 
del, one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  New  England. 
Lord  Arundel  offered  to  give  a  bell  to  the  town,  but  it 
was  never  sent  for.* 

It  is  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  the  inhabitants  built 
a  garrison  and  settled  on  Montague's  neck,  agreeably 
to  Mr.  Wheelwright's  order,  or  not,  as  there  are  no 
remains  of  a  garrison  distinguishable  at  that  place,  nor 
do  any  persons  now  living,  recollect  having  heard  there 
ever   was   one   there,    although    Andrew   Brown   and 

"  Traditional. 


TO  1719.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  109 

Thomas  Perkins  bought  five  acres  on  the  "  south  cor- 
ner of  Montague's  Neck,"  for  that  purpose.  The 
descendants  of  Thomas  Huff  assert  that  he  built  the 
first  garrison  in  town  on  the  spot  formerly  occupied  by 
his  father,  Ferdinando  Huff,  where  Clement  Huff  now 
lives,  the  remains  of  which  are  distinctly  to  be  seen. 
It  is  probable  the  inhabitants  did  not  even  attempt  to 
form  a  settlement  at  Stage  harbor,  but  began  to  build 
at  what  was  called  Folly  harbor,  where  the  principal 
settlement  at  Cape  Porpoise  has  ever  since  been. 

From  the  time  of  the  resettlement  of  the  town  till  its 
reorganization,  the  Indians  were  generally  quiet,  and 
the  settlement  began  to  prosper.  Several  of  the  old 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  the  children  of  those  who 
had  died  since  its  last  desertion,  had  returned,  and, 
with  some  who  had  purchased  land  of  the  proprietors, 
had  commenced  building  houses  and  mills,  and  clearing 
their  lands.  Before  the  town  was  incorporated,  they 
held  informal  meetings,  and  made  grants  of  land,  but 
did  not  record  their  doings.  The  first  legal  meeting 
was  held  "  Att  Arondell  Els.  Cape  Porpus  on  the  31 
day  of  march  1719,  being  warned  by  order  of  a  war- 
rant from  John  Wheelwright,  Esq.  one  of  his  Maj. 
Justus  of  the  peac  to  meet  and  make  choyce  of  town 
Officers."  Jabez  Dorman  was  chosen  moderator  ;  James 
Mussy,  town  clerk  ;  Andrew  Brown,  Joseph  Baily, 
and  Humphrey  Deering,  selectmen  ;  James  Tyler,  and 
Allison  Brown,  hay  wards  or  field-drivers ;  Thomas 
Huff,  constable ;  John  Watson,  tithingman  ;  and  Sam- 
uel Carr,    surveyor   of  the  highway. 

The  selectmen  located  "a  highway  of  four  rods 
wide  from  the  western  end  of  the  persell  of  land  which 
Andrew  Brown  and  Thomas  Perkins  lately  bought  of 
James  Tyler,  Jabez  Dorman,  and  John  Watson  for  to 
build  a  fort  upon,  which  highway  runeth  down  upon 
the  back  of  the  creek  as  appears  by  several  marked 
trees  and  stakes,  near  whare  the  pound  now  standeth, 
and  so  to  the  place  where  people  pases  near  to  mon- 
tagues   neck  so  colled." 

At  a  meeting  held  September  25,  "  Andrew  Brown 
and  Thomas  Perkins  was  chosen  to  agree  with  John 
Eveleth  minister  for  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try with  us  for  a  quarter  of  a  year  next,  and  what  they 

K 


>  Selectmen.' 


110  HISTORY    OF  [A.  D.   1719. 

doe  agree  with  him  for,  the  town  will  stand  by  and 
allow."  A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  collect 
"  debts,  dues,  rents,  and  Reariges  of  rents,"  and  to 
prosecute  trespassers  on  the  town  commons. 

The  warrants  for  calling  the  first  two  meetings  were 
not  recorded.  The  third  one  was  called  by  the  follow- 
ing brief  notice  from  the  selectmen. 

"  Arondell  November,  the  5th,  1719. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  this  town  are  to  take  notice  that 
there  is  to  be  a  town  meeting  on  Wensday  the  eigh- 
teenth day  Instant  at  ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  morning 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Tyler,  to  Rectifye  and  Re- 
form some  things  that  have  been  acted  in  said  town, 
and  some  other  things  which  may  be  for  the  benifit  of 
said  town, — by  order  of 

Andrew  Brown 
Joseph  Bailey 

At  this  meeting  the  inhabitants  discovered  that  their 
doings,  before  the  town  was  reincorporated,  "  ware  not 
so  Leagall  as  they  would  have  had  them  to  be,"  and 
therefore  voted  to  "  disanull  all  the  old  papers  and 
begin  att  this  meeting  to  confirm  and  grant  land, 
allways  alowing  themselves  convenient  highways  to  be 
laid  out  as  the  selectmen  seas  meet."  The  first  grant 
was  to  James  Mussy,  the  town  clerk,  of  100  acres,  in 
exchange  for  100  acres  he  had  deeded  to  the  town. 
The  land  Mussy  conveyed  to  the  town,  was  a  lot  his 
father  bought  of  John  Bush  in  1673.*  Another  road 
w*as  also  located  "  at  or  near  the  stepping  stones  so. 
called  and  so  up  on  the  south  side  of  the  said  stepping 
stone  creek,  at  the  head  thereof,  and  so  a  few  rods  to 
the  southward  of  James  Tylers  mill,  at  or  near  the 
place  where  John  Badsons  old  way  wrent  over  by  the 
next  beaver  dam,  att  the  head  of  James  Tylers  millpond, 
and  so  up  into  the  country  to  Kenebunk  fals."  Several 
grants  of  fifty  acres  were  made,  to  induce  settlers  to 
remove  to  this  town,  upon  condition  of  their  remaining 
here  five  years,  "  if  not  driven  by  the  Enemye."  Fifty 
acres  were  granted  to  Mr.  Eveleth,  upon  condition  of 
his  building  a  house  in  the  town  within  a  year. 

*Town  records.  This  however  must  be  a  mistake,  as  Bush  died 
in  1670. 


A.  D.  1719.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  Ill 

Iii  consequence  of  the  loss  of  the  Cape  Porpoise  rec- 
ords, several  claimed  land  to  which  they  were  not 
entitled  ;  and  others  had  great  difficulty  in  establishing 
their  titles  to  land  which  was  absolutely  their  own. 
To  obviate  these  troubles  they  passed  the  following 
vote.  "  Wharas  Dilligent  serch  and  enquiry  has  been 
made  for  the  antient  Records  of  the  town,  and  nothing 
of  them  are  to  be  found,  whare  by  several  are  or  may 
lose  their  rights  ; — for  prevention  whare  of  a  vote 
pased  and  the  affirmative  given,  that  the  sucksesors 
of  the  Antient  Settellours  belonging  to  this  town,  should 
have  all  our  Right  and  tittle  or  interest  that  we  have 
unto  the  several  settlements  or  sales  of  land,  or  antient 
grants  and  posessions  which  was  sould  or  conveyed  or 
granted  att  or  before  the  year  1681 :  Even  to  as  many 
as  can  make  it  apear  either  by  deed,  grant,  or  by 
suffician  witness,  or  any  other  lawful  conveyance 
from  the  antient  posessors  of  this  town,  and  are  to 
be  laid  out  according  to  the  comon  course  or  cus- 
tom of  other  lots." 

Induced  by  grants  of  land,  settlers  began  now  to  flock 
in  ;  and  the  town  was  more  flourishing,  and  more  popu- 
lous, than  at  any  former  period.  A  committee  was 
chosen  to  select  a  place  to  build  a  meeting  house, 
and  measures  taken  to  provide  for  schools,  100  acres 
of  land  being  granted  for  that  purpose.  The  ferry 
over  Kennebunk  river  was  re-established;  and  the 
right  of  the  town  therein,  with  50  acres  of  land, 
was  granted  to  Stephen  Harding  of  Wells,  "  provided 
he  and  his  heirs  or  assigns  do  well  and  truly  from  time 
to  time,  and  at  all  times  forever  hereafter  keep  and 
maintain  a  good  feary  boot  in  said  River,  and  Carry 
All  the  Inhabitants  of  Arondell  from  side  to  side,  feary 
free  at  all  times,  and  whatsoever  they  have  to  transport ; 
Excepting  it  be  good  and  safe  Riding  said  River,  and 
not  to  lett  people  wait  on  Either  side  for  the  booat  if  it 
can  Posiablely  be  goot  off."  Many  other  grants  of  land 
were  made,  but  from  the  obsolete  names  of  places,  used 
in  description,  it  is  now  extremely  difficult  to  find 
where  the  lots  were  located.  They  were  described  as 
being  bounded  by  "Stepping  stone  creek" — "  a  salt 
water  cove" — "  Clay  cove" — "  Long  cove" — "  Batson's 
mill  pond"—"  the  lower  mill  pond"—"  the   lower  falls 


112  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1719 

on  Andrew  Brown's  mill  river" — "the  lower  falls  on 
Middle  river" — "  a  brook  that  comes  from  the  north- 
ward, running  into  an  old  beaver  pond" — "  a  beaver 
dam" — "  the  new  causeway" — "  the  little  cosway" — 
"  the  little  river  that  runs  into  Coneybunck  river" — 
"Miller's  creek" — "the  swamp  that  James  Tyler's 
mill  brook  comes  out  of" — "  Puddington's  marsh" — 
"  the  Indian  planting  ground" — North  river" — "  Vaugh- 
an's  neck" — "  Bandigo  meadow" — "  Danforth's  hill" 
— "  the    wonder" — "  Palmer's   Island" — "  the    cursed 

fruit" — "Long    creek" — "Desert    marshes" "  Card 

Brook"—"  Huff's  neck"—"  Dorman's  mill  brook"— 
"  William  Taylor's  falls"—"  Princes  rock"— "  Miller's 
brook" — "  the  great  brook" — "  Duck  brok" — "  New 
meadow" — "  Getchell's  brook" — "  Deering's  bridge" — 
"  the  grove" — "  Baxter's  brook" — Sanderses  brook" — 
"  cowcumber  brook" — "  gravelly  brook,"  &c. 

The  committee  chosen  to  agree  with  Mr.  Eveleth, 
gave  him  £26,  but  the  next  quarter  of  a  year,  the  town 
voted  him  £30,  and  50  acres  of  land  ;  and  "  made  his 
house  comfortable  for  him  to  live  in,  and  the  People 
to  meet  in  a  Sabath  days."  The  next  year  [1720] 
they  gave  him  "  the  sum  of  <i£50  for  to  Dispence  the 
woord  of  god  unto  them  for  one  wholl  year." 

The  prosperity  of  the  town  and  province,  was  check- 
ed by  the  suspicious  conduct  of  the  Indians,  who  had 
been  quiet  for  six  or  seven  years.  Forty  soldiers  were 
sent  from  Massachusetts  to  Maine,  ten  of  whom  were 
stationed  in  Arundel.  Ralle,  a  French  Jesuit,  was 
thought  to  be  the  principal  instigator  of  these  troubles  ; 
and  Col.  Walton  was  despatched  to  apprehend  him. 
More  than  100  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine,  enlisted 
with  Walton  in  this  expedition,  which  left  the  province 
weak  and  exposed.  In  consequence,  an  order  was 
passed  by  the  General  Court,  that  no  more  soldiers 
should  be  enlisted  from  Maine,  and  the  places  of  those 
already  enlisted  should  be  supplied  by  soldiers  from 
Massachusetts.  The  inhabitants  of  Maine  were  only 
required  to  do  military  duty  in  case  of  alarm. 

Fears  were  still  entertained  [1721]  that  there  would 
be  a  war  with  the  Indians,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
began  to  remove  from  the  province.  Governor  Shute 
issued  a  proclamation  ordering  "  the  inhabitants  to  re- 


TO  1723.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  113 

main  upon  their  estates,  and  keep  possession  of  the 
country."  The  fears  of  many,  however,  were  too 
strong  to  be  restrained  by  an  edict. 

Although  business  had  generally  declined  in  this 
town,  [1722]  there  was  an  attempt  made  to  manufac- 
ture tar  and  pitch,  which  were  articles  of  export  from 
the  province.  Ebenezer  Taylor  had  liberty  to  use  all 
the  pitch  knots  he  could  find  on  the  ground,  between 
Batson's  river  and  Bezaliel  Gatchell's  house,  for  that 
purpose,  by  paying  to  the  town  one  shilling  a  barrel  for 
all  he  should  make. 

All  the  efforts  of  the  whites  to  prevent  a  rupture  with 
the  Indians  proved  unavailing,  and  the  fourth,  com- 
monly called  Lovewell's  war,  commenced.  The  Indians 
openly  began  hostilities  in  June,  but  war  was  not  formal- 
ly declared  by  the  English  till  the  25th  of  July.  Besides 
the  fort,  there  were  now  several  garrisons  in  town,  to 
which  the  inhabitants  could  flee  in  times  of  danger. 
Mr.  Huff  had  erected  his  at  Huff's  neck  ;  but  subse- 
quently removed  it  to  the  spot  where  the  house  he 
occupied  now  stands.  Mr.  Major  had  one  where  the 
house  stands,  which  was  formerly  occupied  by  John 
Hovey,  Esq.  Mr.  Harding  also  had  one  on  the  east 
side  of  Rennebunk  river,  near  the  ferry,  the  cellar  of 
which  is  still  to  be  seen.  There  were  many  built  du- 
ring this  and  the  subsequent  wars  with  the  Indians. 
There  was  one  on  the  hill  where  Israel  Stone  lives, 
and  another  in  the  field  near  Millet's  bridge.  John 
Millet's  house,  when  occupied  by  Mr.  Prentice  and  Mr. 
Hovey,  was  also  a  garrison  house.  There  was  one  on 
the  hill  near  where  John  Rhodes  lives,  and  one  near 
James  Cleaves's  house.  Thomas  Perkins  had  one  near 
Butler's  rocks,  on  Kennebunk  river ;  Jacob  Durrill 
one  near  Durrill's  bridge  ;  John  Merrill  one  near  Goff 's 
mill  ;  John  Burbank  one  near  the  old  meeting  house. 
There  was  one  near  Seth  Burnham's*  and  the  one  built 
by  order  of  the  proprietors  on  Saco  road. 

Although  the  Indians  [1723]  had  been  for  some  time 
very  troublesome  at  the  eastward,  they  did  not  commit 
any  depredations  in  this  town  till  August,  when  a  man 

*Built  by  Tobias  and  B.  M.  Lord  in  1747. 

K   K 


114  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1723 

was  either  killed  or  carried  off  by  them.*  In  October, 
two  men  belonging  to  Huff's  garrison,  Fitz  Henry  and 
Bartow,  being  on  Vaughan's  Island  for  wood,  were 
surprised  and  wounded  by  three  Indians.  In  order  to 
compel  them  to  tell  how  many  there  were  in  the  garri- 
son, the  Indians  bit  off  their  finger  nails,  one  by  one. 
Although  there  were  but  seven  men  in  it,  they  persist- 
ed in  declaring  it  was  full.  The  little  creek  in 
Vaughan's  Island,  into  which  their  bodies  were  thrown, 
still  bears  the  name  of  Fitz  Henry's  ditch.  After  mur- 
dering these  two  men,  the  Indians  went  towards  Mr. 
Major's  garrison,  and  assaulted  Joseph  Baily,  an  aged 
man,  who  was  hunting  for  his  cow.  The  people  in 
the  garrison,  who  saw  his  danger,  shouted  for  him  to 
return,  but  being  deaf  he  did  not  hear  their  warnings. 
He  lingered  some  time  after  the  Indians  had  taken  off 
his  scalp  and  left  him.  The  rock  on  which  he  was 
murdered  is  of  a  reddish  color,  and  is  said,  by  the  in- 
habitants living  in  its  neighborhood,  to  be  stained  with 
his  blood.  There  being  but  a  few  men  in  the  garrisons, 
the  women  put  on  men's  clothes  to  make  the  Indians 
believe  they  were  well  guarded. 

These  three  Indians  belonged  to  a  company  of  twenty 
under  the  command  of  Wah\va,f  one  of  the  two  chiefs, 
who  commanded  at  Lovewell's  celebrated  fight.  Wali- 
wa  was  brought  up  in  an  English  family,  but  was 
induced  to  join  the  French  and  Indians,  by  the  offer  of 
the  command  of  a  company.  He  was  well  known  in 
this  town,  having  visited  it  frequently,  both  in  times  of 
war  and  peace.  While  these  Indians,  without  his  orders, 
went  to  Cape  Porpoise,  he  was  planning  to  surprise 
Harding's  garrison  in  which  were  thirty  women  and 
children.  Mr.  Harding  himself  was  absent  on  a  hunting 
expedition,  and  Thomas  Wormwood,  an  inhabitant  of 
the  town,  had  charge  of  it.  -Not  expecting  an  attack 
from  the  Indians,  who  had  not  extended  their  ravages 
to  this  quarter,  he  took  a  boat  to  go  on  board  some 
coasting  vessels,  that  were  lying  iii  the  river,  loading 
with  lumber. 

Startled  by  the  report  of  the  alarm   gunsj   from  Ma- 

*Hutchinson's  Hist.  p.  274.         tWahwa,  or  sunrise. 
lAlarrn  guns,  were  three  guns  discharged  in  quick  succession. 


TO  1724.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  115 

jor's  garrison,  he  returned  and  closed  the  gates,  when 
Wahwa  and  his  company  were  within  twenty  yards  of 
him.  Wahwa  was  extremely  irritated  with  his  men  for 
alarming  the  garrison,  merely  for  the  scalp  of  the  white 
headed  old  man,  Mr.  Daily.  He  afterwards  placed 
the  scalp  on  a  pole  in  view  of  the  people  of  the  garrison. 
Although  disappointed  in  their  plans,  they  committed 
many  depredations,  killing  the  cattle,  destroying  the 
remaining  crops,  and  annoying  the  whites  whenever 
they  left  their  houses. 

The  whites  were  very  unsuccessful  this  season,  against 
the  Indians,  who  continued  their  ravages  till  late  in  the 
fall.  They,  however,  finally  went  into  winter  quar- 
ters, and  the  English  enjoyed  a  short  respite  from  war. 
Three  hundred  soldiers  were  sent  into  Maine,  one  half 
of  whom  were  divided  into  ranging  parties,  and  the 
other  half  stationed  at  different  forts  and  garrisons. 

This  town  had  never  till  this  year,  sent  a  representa- 
tive to  General  Court,  when  Allison  Brown  was  elected. 
The  following  year  [17*24]  Jabez  Dorman  was  chosen, 
but  there  was  no  record  of  it  made  on  the  town  book. 

Mr.  Eveleth  continued  to  preach  for  =£50  a  year  till 
the  4th  of  March,  when  a  committee  from  the  town  of 
Saco  invited  him  to  preach  half  the  time  in  Winter 
Harbor.  The  inhabitants  of  Arundel,  finding  it  diffi- 
cult to  raise  his  whole  salary,  consented  to  the  arrange- 
ment. 

The  savages  recommenced  hostilities  early  in  the 
spring  ;  and  Smith  a  sergeant  was  killed,  March  23,  at 
the  fort  on  Stage  Island.  The  April  following,  a  num- 
ber of  vessels,  lying  near  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk 
river,  got  under  weigh  to  go  out,  but  the  wind  coming 
from  the  southward,  they  were  obliged  to  anchor  again. 
Capt.  John  Felt  of  a  Lynn  sloop,  engaged  two  young 
men,  William  W^ormwood  and  Ebenezer  Lewis,  who 
were  stationed  at  Harding's  garrison,  to  assist  him. 
The  spars  were  lying  afloat  in  Gooch's  creek,  near  the 
mill  dam.*  While  standing  on  the  raft,  Capt.  Felt 
was  shot  dead.  Lewis  fled  to  the  mill  brow,  where  a 
ball    struck  him  on  the   back   of  his  head,  and  killed 

*The  mill  was  near  where  the  bridge  crosses  the  croek.  It 
stood  fifteen  years.     The  remains  of  the  dam  are  still  to  be  seen. 


116  HISTORY  OF         [from  1724 

him  instantly.     The  ball   was    afterwards   found  to  be 
flattened.*     Wormwood  ran  ashore  closely  pursued  by 
several  Indians,  and,   with  his  back  against   a   stump, 
defended  himself  with  the  but    of  his  musket  till  he  was 
killed,  having*  several  balls  fired  into  him.     When  he 
left  the  garrison,  instead  of  taking  his  own  musket,  by 
mistake  he   took  one  belonging  to  a  soldier  of  the  gar- 
rison.    In    attempting  to    defend    himself    against  the 
Indians,  the  gun    missed  fire.     He  told  them  if  he  had 
had  his   own  gun,   he  would  have  had   the  satisfaction 
of  killing    at   least  one   of  them  before  he  died.     His 
gun  is   now  in  the  possession  of  one  of  Thomas  Worm- 
wood's   descendants    in  Kennebunk.     They  were    all 
buried  in    the   field,    near  Butler's   rocks  ;    and  Capt. 
Felt's  grave-stones  were  standing  but  a  few  years  since.t 
The  most  noted  events  of  this  year,  were  the  expe- 
dition against  Norridgewock,  which  was  destroyed,  and 
the  death  of  Ralle,  the  chief  promoter  of  this  war.     The 
next  year  [1725]  Lovewell's  memorable  battle  at  Peg- 
wacket   or   Fryeburg,  was  fought,   in  which  the    Saco 
tribe  of  Indians  was  nearly  destroyed.     The  war  how- 
ever continued,  but  the   whites  were  so  well  guarded 
against  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  that  they  received  but 
little  injury  in  this  part  of  the  province.     Lieut.  Pres- 
cott,  who  belonged  to  Casco,  had  been  taken  prisoner, 
and  exchanged   and  carried  to  Boston.     In  crossing 
Harding's  ferry,  about  the  middle  of  April  on  his  return 
home,  he  was  recognized  by  some  Indians  commanded 
by  Capt.  Nathaniel,  who  were  lying  in  ambush.     They 
were  anxious  to  take  him  prisoner,    and  carry  him  to 
Canada  again.     He  stopped  at  Mr.  Perkins's  garrison, 
and  Mr.  Perkins,  Mr.  Whitten,  Mr.  Walker,  Mr.  Fair- 
field, and  a  number  more  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
and  a  friendly  Indian,  offered  to  escort  him  to  Cape  Por- 

*The  same  circumstance  was  observed  in  the  late  Seminole  war 
in  Florida. 

tPenhallow,  page  102,  says  that,  April  17,  1724,  "  the  Indians 
fell  on  a  sloop  at  Kennebunk  which  belonged  to  Lynn  and  killed 
the  whole  company."  Hutchinson's  Hist.  p.  274,  April  1724,  6ays 
"John  Felt,  of  Lynn,  William  Wormwood,  and  Ebenezer  Lewis 
were  killed  at  a  sawmill  on  Kennebunk  river."  Subsequent  histo- 
rians bave  supposed  these  versions  referred  to  different  events,  and 
have  quoted  them  both.    See  Williamson,  vol.  ii.  p. 125. 


TO  1725.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  117 

poise.  Instead  of  keeping  in  the  road  which  crosses 
the  south  side  of  Crow  hill,  they  intended,  as  it  was  low 
water,  to  cross  the  flats  to  Huff's  garrison.  Just  before 
getting  to  the  marsh  a  dozen  Indians  started  up,  and 
giving  a  war  whoop,  fired  at  the  company.  A  ball  pass- 
ed through  Mr.  Prescott's  leg  and  entered  his  horse's 
side.  The  horse  however  did  not  fall,  but  ran  as  far  as 
Mr.  Major's  garrison,  before  he  died.  Mr  Prescott 
received  several  wounds,  but  none  of  them  were  dan- 
gerous. His  escort,  when  they  were  assailed,  leaped 
from  their  horses,  and  returning  the  whoop  of  the 
Indians,  stood  upon  the  defensive.  Those  in  ambus- 
cade, fearing  there  might  be  Indians  in  the  neighborhood 
friendly  to  the  whites,  did  not  repeat  their  fire.* 

The  General  Court,  at  the  May  session,  determined 
to  prosecute  the  war  more  vigorously.  The  garrisons 
were  well  supplied  with  provisions  and  ammunition,  large 
bounties  were  offered  to  volunteers,  and  many  friendly  In- 
dians were  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  English.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  measures,  the  Indians  began  to  entertain 
thoughts  of  peace.  They  nevertheless  continued  to 
be  troublesome  through  the  season  ;  but  so  well  were 
the  inhabitants  of  Arundel  on  their  guard  against  them, 
that  they  suffered  comparatively  but  little  injury.  It 
was  however  very  hazardous  to  attend  to  their  ordinary 
occupations,  having  constantly  to  go  armed,  in  order 
to  defend  themselves  against  the  attacks  of  the  Indians, 
to  which  they  were  daily  exposed. 

tA  daughter  of  Mr.  Huff,  was  milking  but  a  short 
distance  from  the  house,  when  her  father,  accidentally 
looking  out  of  the  window,  saw  two  Indians  within  a 
few  feet  of  her,  one  of  whom  had  his  hatchet  raised  just 
ready  to  strike.  He  halloed  to  them  and  they  retreated. 
At  another  time,  wishing  to  obtain  the  milk,  an  Indian 
caught  hold  of  her,  but  she  knocked  him  down  with  her 

¥(<  A  party  of  Indians  waylaid  Lieut.  Prescott  and  others,  as  they 
were  passing  the  highway  at  Cape  Porpoise,  and  by  particular 
aim  wounded  him  in  several  places."  Williamson's  Hist.  Me.  vol. 
ii.  p. 135. 

tThe  datos  of  this  and  the  following  traditionary  anecdotes, 
cannot  be  ascertained. 


118  HISTORY    OF  [from  1725 

milk  pail,  and  made  her  escape.  The  prostrate  Indian 
was  carried  off  by  his  companions.  The  Indians  were 
very  fond  of  milk,  and  were  constantly  watching  in  the 
neighborhood  of  farm  houses  to  obtain  it  ;  but  were 
easily  frightened  if  discovered.  One  morning  as  a  girl 
was  milking  near  Mr.  Major's  garrison,  her  father,  not 
being  able  to  find  a  bottle  of  rum  he  was  hunting  after, 
inquired  lofldly  of  her  where  it  was.  An  Indian  who 
had  already  got  into  the  yard,  thinking  he  was  discover- 
ed, fled  with  such  precipitancy,  as  to  leave  his  blanket, 
which  had  caught  against  a  stake,  behind  him. 

They  one  day  attacked  the  house  of  John  Watson, 
who  was  formidable  to  them  on  account  of  his  great 
strength.  One  of  them  had  partly  forced  himself 
through  the  door,  while  Mr.  Watson  was  pressing 
against  it  on  the  other  side.  The  contest  was  very 
doubtful,  when  one  of  his  daughters,  with  an  axe, 
wounded  the  Indian  badly  in  the  leg,  who  was  glad  to 
make  his  escape.  Samuel  Littlefield,  usually  known  by  the 
appellation  of  "  Fat  Sam,"  of  whose  wonderful  strength 
and  daring  many  incredible  stories  are  told,  was  rafting 
some  boards  down  Kennebunk  river,  when  he  discov- 
ered several  Indians  on  the  bank.  He  immediately 
pushed  his  raft  ashore  on  the  opposite  side,  and  hid 
under  a  large  wind-fall.  The  Indians  soon  crossed  the 
river,  and  passed  directly  over  the  tree,  under  which  he 
was  lying.  As  soon  as  they  were  out  of  sight,  he 
returned  to  his  raft,  and  proceeded  safely  down  the  river 
with  it. 

The  Indians  frequently,  however,  succeeded  in  taking 
life.  A  man  was  killed  near  where  the  present  post 
road  crosses  Kennebunk  river.  Another  was  killed 
near  Golfs  mill.  A  Mr.  Smith,  who  belonged  to  Huff's 
garrison,  discovering  some  Indians,  dived  immediately 
under  water,  but  on  rising,  was  shot  through  the  head. 
The  wife  of  James  March  was  shot  in  the  back  with  an 
arrow,  while  standing  near  her  own  door  ;  and  a  Mrs. 
Batson  was  killed  near  Tyler's  brook. 

A  boy  was  sent  from  Stage  Island  to  drive  some 
cows  from  Trott's  Island,  but  not  returning  seasonably, 
his  father  sent  a  second  son,  and  then  a  third,  neither 
of  whom   returned.     The    next    morning   their  heads 


TO  1?'2C]  KEXXEBUNK    TORT.  119 

were  discovered  elevated  on  poles,  and  seven  Indians 
were  tracked  from  the  island. 

The  Indians  themselves,  although  cautious,  and  even 
cowardly  in  open  ground,  sometimes  lost  their  lives  in 
these  excursions.  A  squaw  called  Dinah,  in  endeavor- 
ing to  escape  from  her  pursuers,  got  the  edge  of  her 
snow  shoe  in  the  crevice  of  a  rock,  and  was  unable  to 
extricate  it  before  she  was  taken.  She  cried  for  quar- 
ter, but  the  whites  with  as  little  mercy  as  the  savages, 
put  her  to  death.  The  rock,  near  the  house  of  George 
Bickford,  still  bears  the  name  of  Dinah's  rock. 

A  noted  chief,  named  Capt.  Nathaniel,  who  was 
extremely  troublesome  to  this  town,  was  supposed  to  be 
an  English  child,  stolen  by  the  Indians  in  his  infancy. 
One  dark  night,  wishing  to  know  if  there  was  a  watch 
kept  at  Huff's  garrison,  he  flashed  his  gun  to  see  if  it 
would  cause  any  alarm.  Mr.  Huff  himself  was  on 
guard,  and  discharged  his  musket  in  the  direction  of  the 
light.  His  ball  went  so  near  one  of  Nathaniel's  eyes 
as  to  destroy  its  sight.  An  Indian  attempted  to  ap- 
proach the  garrison  by  carrying  a  slab  before  him,  but 
it  not  being  of  sufficient  thickness,  he  was  shot  dead 
through  it. 

Late  in  the  fall  four  delegates  from  the  eastern  In- 
dians arrived  in  Boston  to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace. 
After  considerable  delay  they  efFected  their  purpose, 
and  the  treaty  was  signed  December  15th,  1725. 

Encouraged  by  the  hopes  of  a  lasting  peace,  the 
inhabitants  of  Arundel  again  ventured  [1726]  more 
boldly  from  their  garrisons  ;  and  began  again  to  look  for- 
ward to  more  prosperous  times. 

A  road  was  "  laid  out  three  rods  wide,  from  ye  head 
of  the  cove  by  Mr.  Benj.  Majors  to  a  creeck  Called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Turbits  Creeck,  as  may  be  found 
by  staks  and  marked  Trees,  only  against  the  head  of 
the  Long  Cove  it  is  Left  Eight  rods  wide  for  a  Landing 
Place, — and  from  the  Sd.  Turbits  Creek  to  Kenne- 
bunk  river  as  the  way  is  Now  untill  a  more  Convenient 
way  be  found  and  Laid  out."  Two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  were  granted  "  for  the  use  of  the  ministry 
in  the  town  of  Arundel  forever."  Mr.  Eveleth,  who  for 
the  last  three  years  had  preached  in  this  town  but  half 


120  HISTORY    OF  [a.  D.  1726. 

the  time,  was  now  employed  the  whole  year  ;  and  bu- 
siness was  managed  with  much  more  energy. 

The  Sagamores  of  the  eastern  tribes,  were  generally 
satisfied  with  the  treaty  of  December,  usually  called 
Dummer's  treaty,  and  met  at  Falmouth,  August  6th, 
and  ratified  it.  The  French,  however,  who  were  great 
gainers  by  these  wars,  endeavored  to  induce  the  Indians 
to  violate  the  treaty.  They  succeeded  in  sending 
out  several  parties,  one  of  which  in  October,  attacked 
the  house  of  Philip  Durrill,  who  lived  near  where  Dur- 
rill's  bridge  now  is.  The  following  extract  of  a  letter 
from  Col.  Wheelwright  of  Wells,  to  the  Lieut.  Governor 
of  Massachusetts,  dated  October  27th,  1726,  a  few  days 
after  the  family  was  carried  ofT,  probably  gives  a  correct 
account  of  the  affair. 

*"  Phillip  Durrill  of  Kennebunk  went  from  his  house 
with  one  of  his  sons  to  work,  the  sun  being  about  two 
hours  high,  leaving  at  home,  his  wife,  a  son  twelve 
years  old,  and  a  married  daughter,  with  a  child  20 
months  old.t  He  returned  home  a  little  before  sunset, 
when  he  found  his  family  all  gone,  and  his  house  set 
on  fire,  his  chests  split  open,  and  all  his  clothing  car- 
ried away.  He  searched  the  woods  and  found  no 
signs  of  any  killed." 

Mrs.  Durrill  who  had  been  taken  captive  by  the  In- 
dians, in  1703,  had  an  impression  that  they  would 
never  trouble  her  again,  and  therefore  took  but  little 
pains  to  guard  against  them.  Mrs.  Baxter,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Durrill,  on  the  contrary  was  very  unwilling 
that  her  husband,  who  had  gone  down  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river  to  assist  in  loading  some  vessels,  and  her  father, 
should  leave  them  that  morning,  being  apprehensive  of 
an  attack  from  the  Indians.  They  assured  her  there 
could  be  no  danger,  as  it  was  a  time  of  peace  with  them. 
Her  fears  were  however  prophetic.  The  Indians  had 
been  waiting  and  watching  for  some  time,  for  Mr.  Dur- 
rill to  leave  his  house,  being  unwilling  to  attack  him  on 
account  of  his  well  known  courage. 

*Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  vol.  vi.  p.  103. 

t  Smith,  in  his  journal,  says  8  women  and  2  children  were  carried 
off. 


A.  D.   1726.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  121 

Soon  after  he  left,  they  rushed  in  and  seized  the 
inmates,  taking  every  thing  they  could  conveniently 
carry,  and  attempting  to  burn  the  house,  by  piW  the 
chairs  m  and  about  the  fire. 

When  Mr.  Durrell  returned    at   night,  he  had  some 
misgivings  as  to  the  safety  of  his  family,  from  not  see- 
ing his    little  son,    as  usual,  coming   out  to  meet    him 
His    fears  were    confirmed,    by  noticing  the    feather* 
which  the    Indians  had   thrown  away,  flying  about  the 
road.     He    immediately  gave    the    alarm    and  pursued 
them.     The  Indians    encamped    the    first   night    near 
where  Sherburn's  meeting  house  now  is.     In  the  morn- 
ing, finding  they  were  hotly  pursued,*  and  Mrs.  Durrell 
being  lame  and  Mrs.  Baxter  not  being  in  a  situation  to 
keep  up  with    them,    they    cruelly   and  brutally  killed 
them   both.     John,    Mrs.    Baxter's  citild,   being  rather 
troublesome,  two  Indians  took  it,  one  hold  of  each  leo- 
and  dashed  its  brains  out    against  a  tree.     They  were 
killed  near  Duck  brook.     John  Durrell  was  carried  to 
Canada,  and  exchanged  in   about  two  years.     He  had 
however  so  far  acquired  the  habits  of  the  savages,  that 
he    ever    after   appeared    more   like    an  Indian  than  a 
white  man.     After  peace  was  firmly  established,  Wah- 
wa   used    unfeelingly    to  describe  to    Mr.  Baxter,   the 
inhuman  manner  in  which  his  wife  was  killed,  and  Loan 
of  his  agency    in    her    murder.     Mr.    Baxter's    friends 
advised  him  to    roll  the  savage  into    a   well,  as  he  was 
lying  intoxicated  near  its  brink,  but  he  refused  to  do  it 
A  bible  belonging  to    Mr.  Baxter,  was  left  by  the   In- 
dians, in  the  woods  where  they  encamped  ;  and  it   was 
found  the  next  spring   but  little  injured.     The   leaves 
were  taken  out  separately  and  dried,  and  the  book  re- 
bound.   It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  a  great-grand-son 
of  Mr.  Baxter. 

u  Uhi  N<7  En?Llan£  Weekly  Journal  of  April  17th,  1727,  sayg 
We  hear  from  the  Eastward  that  the  poor  people  who  were  ta- 
ken from  Kennebunk  last  fall  were  all  killed  except  the  boy  and 
that  there  were  nine  Indians  from  St.  Francoise  did  it,  and  pre- 
tend they  would  not  have  killed  them,  had  not  our  English 
followed  them  so  closely."— Harvard  College  Library. 


122  HISTORY   OF  [from  1727 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Effects  of  peace....Earthquake....Mr.  Eveleth  dismissed....First 
meetinghouse  built...  Mr.  Prentice  ordained....  Proprietors  of 
the  town....Saco  road  laid  out  and  settled....Mr.  Stoddard's 
claim....Mogg'sdeed....Roads....Schools....Throat  distemper.... 

Famine Mr.  Prentice  dismissed.... Mr.  Hovey  ordained 

Old  Tenor.... War.... Shipwreck  on  Mount  Desert.... Drought 

....War French  Neutrals....Fifth  earthquake....Village....In- 

dian   wars Prisoners    exchanged Tabitha    Littlefield 

Indian  habits. 

As  the  prosperity  of  the  country  depended  mainly 
upon  the  continuance  of  peace  between  the  English 
and  the  natives,  Sir.  Dummer,  the  Lieut.  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  finally  secured  their  friendship,  [1727] 
and  the  whites  enjoyed  an  interval  of  peace  for  the  twen- 
ty years  which  followed  his  celebrated  treaty  of  1725. 

The  good  effects  of  peace  were  soon  evident  in  Arun- 
del. Debts  incurred  by  the  town  were  liquidated,  and 
measures  taken  to  build  the  meeting  house,  which  had 
been  in  contemplation  before  the  war.  At  a  town  meet- 
ing held  April  7th,  it  was  voted  that  it  should  be  built 
"  at  the  charge  of  the  town,  and  to  be  36  foot  in  Length, 
and  28  foot  in  width,  and  18  foot  stud,  which  meeting 
house  of  the  foregoing  Dementions  is  to  be  Raised  and 
sett  on  the  east  side  of  the  Little  cosway  on  ye  East  of 
Mr.  Carrs  now  dwelling  house  as  near  to  the  highway 
as  can  conveinantly  be." 

The  house  was  to  be  finished  in  October,  and  <£100 
were  voted  for  that  purpose.  They  also  voted,  "  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Eveleth  £60  money  with  the  Contribu- 
tion money  therein  contained  for  earring  on  the  work 
of  the  Ministry  for  one  year,"  besides  furnishing  him 
with  fire  wood.  The  committee  to  collect  "  Rents  and 
Rearages  of  Rents,"  brought  an  action  against  Jo- 
seph and  Samuel  Littlefield,  for  the  rent  of  the  mill 
granted  their  father  in  1681.  The  town  did  not  pre- 
vail in  their  suit,  by  reason  of  their  bringing  the  action 
against  Joseph  and  Samuel,  instead  of  all  the  heirs  of 
Edmund   Littlefield.     The   matter   was  however  com- 


TO  1728.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  123 

promised,  and  the  money  was  collected  and  paid  to- 
wards Mr.  Eveleth's  salary. 

This  year  was  noted  for  the  fourth  of  the  great 
earthquakes  that  had  happened  since  the  discovery  of 
the  country.  The  first  one  was  in  1038,  the  second 
in  1658,  and  the  third  in  16*03.  The  one  at  this  time 
(Oct.  29)  was  more  violent  than  any  of  the  preceding 
ones,  shaking  down  chimneys  and  stone  walls,  and 
rendering  it  difficult  to  stand  unsupported.  But  a 
few  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  in  the  country  having 
witnessed  a  similar  phenomenon,  it  caused  great  a- 
larm,  and  a  temporary  reformation,  a  large  number 
joining  the  church.  [1728]  It  probably  stimulated  the 
people  of  this  town  to  renew  their  attempt  to  build  the 
meeting  house,  which,  from  some  cause  or  other  had 
not  been  built  as  agreed  upon.  Thomas  Perkins,  Esq. 
for  <£170,  agreed  "  to  Raise  it,  underpin  it  and  Shingle 
it,  make  seats  below,  and  Glase  it,  by  the  last  day  of 
October."  He  was  also  to  be  paid  "  for  his  time 
abought  it,  in  procuring  workmen*"  The  house  was 
erected  on  the  spot  where  Daniel  Grant's  house  now 
stands.*  Mr.  Perkins  built  the  house  a  few  feet  larger 
than  he  was  obliged  to  by  agreement,  and  in  conse- 
quence he  induced  the  proprietors  to  grant  him 
a  gore  of  land,  which  he  represented  as  of  little 
value,  but  which  at  that  time  was  worth  more  than  the 
whole  house,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  valuable  tim- 
ber lots  in  town. 

Trustees  were  chosen  to  receive  "  our  Proportion  of 
the  <£60,000  Lone  money  out  of  the  Treasury  for  the 
use  of  the  town,  according  to  the  Directions  of  the  Law 
in  that  Case  Provided,  and  that  no  person  shall  have 
more  of  sd.  money  lett  to  him  than  the  sum  of  five 
pounds."  This  amount  had  been  issued  in  bills,  by  the 
Government  of  Massachusetts,  for  distribution  amongst 
the  towns,  to  be  loaned  to  individuals  with  good  security. 

*A  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  called  in  January  1726  M  to 
assemble  and  meet  at  our  Meeting  house,  which  is  the  house  and 
usiall  Place  for  Public  Meetings  in  Said  Town  of  Arundel."  It  is 
probable  that  Mr  Eveleth's  house,  which  had  been  fitted  up  for 
"  the  people  to  meet  in  on  a  sabath  days,"  was  called  the  meeting 
house,  as  it  certainly  was  the  place  where  town  meetings  were 
holden. 


124  HISTORY   of  [from  1729 

Mr.  Eveleth's  salary  was  fixed  at  £o2,  besides  the 
contribution  and  his  fire  wood,  so  long  as  he  should 
continue  minister  of  the  town.  Being  advanced  in 
years,  the  next  year  [1729]  at  his  own  "  Desier,  the  town 
did  fairly  dismiss  him." 

The  inhabitants  were  very  unwilling  he  should  leave 
them,  as  he  was  not  only  their  minister  and  school- 
master, but  a  good  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and  the 
best  fisherman  in  town.  He  still  resided  here  in  1732, 
but  whether  he  died  or  removed  from  the  town,  is  not 
known.     He  lived  near  Crow  Hill. 

Mr.  Eveleth  (called  Evely  by  the  inhabitants)  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  in  1689,  and  was  settled  in  Stow, 
Mass.  in  1700  and  dismissed  in  1717.  He  then  preach- 
ed in  Manchester  and  Enfield  till  he  came  to  this  town. 
After  he  was  dismissed,  Mr.  John  Tucker  preached 
six  months.  He  was  boarded,  and  had  25s  a  week 
besides  the  contribution  money.  He  probably  did  not 
suit  the  inhabitants,  as  they  gave  him  no  invitation  to 
remain   longer. 

After  Mr.  Tucker  discontinued  preaching,  [1730] 
Mr.  Thomas  Prentice  was  engaged  for  a  short  time, 
who  had  30s  a  sabbath  besides  his  board  and  the  con- 
tribution money.  After  preaching  three  months,  the 
town,  June  27,  voted  to  give  him  "a  call  to  be  a  set- 
tled Minister  in  the  town  of  Arundel ;  and  at  the  same 
time,  voted  to  give  the  said  Thomas  Prentis  =£115  as  a 
Standing  Sallery  yearly,  and  Every  year  while  he  is  a 
Setteled  minister  in  this  Town,  to  be  paid  in  Current 
Money  or  bills  of  Creadet  as  it  Passeth  in  all  Publick 
Payments,  or  from  man  to  man  at  this  Day ;  And  that 
which  is  given  in  Contrebution  besides  the  ^115;  and 
as  a  farther  Incoragement,  at  the  above  said  meeting, 
then  given  and  granted  unto  the  said  Thomas  Prentis 
one  hundred  acres  of  Land  which  the  town  had  in 
Exchange^  with  James  Mussy,  which  land  was  his 
father's  Thomas  Mussels,  and  bounded  as  by  the  Rec- 
ords of  said  Land  Doth  appear  upon  the  Town  and 
County  Records, — and  ^100  towards  building  in  the 
Town,  provided  he  is  a  settled  and  an  ordained  minis- 
ter in  said  Town."  A  committee  was  chosen  to  carry 
the  proposals  to  Mr.  Prentice,  to  whom  he  returned  the 
following  answer. 


TO  1730.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  125 

"  To  Capt.  Thomas  Perkins,  Mr.  Stephen  Harding, 
and  Lieut.  Jabez  Dorman,  who  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee by  the  town  of  Arundel,  to  bring  to  me  the 
proposals  which  they,  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  June 
29,  1730,  made  to  me,  in  order  to  my  settling  in  the 
ministry  in  the  town  of  Arundel,  and  to  receive  my  an- 
swer and  refer  it  to  said  town. 

"  Gentlemen,  Icannot  but  acknowledge  myselfobliged 
to  you  for  the  regard  you  have  shown  for  me  in  the 
general  invitation  you  have  given  me  to  settle  in  the 
ministry  amongst  you. — And  now  having  as  impartially 
as  I  could,  considered  of  the  affair,  and  having  sought 
what  direction  and  advice  I  thought  proper,  in  such  an 
important  concern  ;  I  have  at  last  concluded  to  accept 
of  your  call,  upon  condition  you  will  grant  the  follow- 
ing articles  and  additions  to  the  proposals  which  you 
have  already  made  to  me  ;  viz.  1st.  That  the  salary 
shall  be  advanced  to  =£120  a  year,  and  shall  remain  so 
five  years  ;  and  on  the  sixth  year,  that  it  shall  be  ad- 
vanced to  .£125 ;  and  on  the  tenth  year  it  shall  be 
advanced  to  £130  of  current  money  or  bills  of  credit, 
eighteen  shillings  of  which  shall  be  always  accounted 
in  value  equivalent  to  one  ounce  of  silver  :  and  it  shall 
remain  so,  so  long  as  I  can  be  supported  with  it  amongst 
you.  2.  That  my  salary  shall  be  paid  to  me  every 
half  year,  viz.  one  half  of  it  on  the  first  of  September, 
and  on  the  first  of  March  from  year  to  year,  so  long  as 
I  shall  continue  in  the  pastoral  office  among  you.  3. 
That  the  town  shall  take  the  ^"100  which  they  have 
voted  to  me  towards  my  building  in  the  town,  and  build 
and  suitably  finish  a  house  38  feet  in  length,  and  18 
feet  in  breadth,  having  four  rooms  and  a  garret ;  and 
also  that  they  build  a  kitchen  on  the  back  side  of  the 
house  :  which  house  shall  be  given  to  me,  my  heirs  or 
assigns,  &.c.  and  that  they  will  get  two  rooms  of  the 
house  finished  by  the  last  day  of  August,  next  ensuing 
the  date  hereof;  and  the  other  rooms  finished  by  the 
last  day  of  October,  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof;  or 
if  they  choose  it  rather  than  there  should  be  <£100  given 
to  me  besides  the  ^100  which  they  have  voted  to  me 
already  towards  my  building  amongst  them,  so  I  will 
build  for  myself,  =£100  of  which  to  be  paid  on  or  before 
the  last  day  of  April,  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof,  and 

Ll 


126  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1730. 

the  other  c£100,  to  be  paid  to  me  on  or  before  the  last 
day  of  August  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof.  4.  That 
the  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Arundel  shall  at  their 
next  meeting,  grant  me  200  acres  of  land,  to  be  laid 
out  where  it  can  be  clear  of  former  grants,  besides  the 
100  acres  of  land  which  the  town  has  already  voted  me, 
which  land  shall  be  to  me,  my  heirs  or  assigns  forever ; 
and  also,  that  they  shall  make  me  a  proprietor  in  the 
town. 

"  These,  Gentlemen,  are  the  articles  and  additions 
which  I  think  necessary  to  be  made  to  the  proposals 
you  have  already  made  to  me  ;  and  so  you  see  the  con- 
dition upon  which  I  am  willing  to  settle  among  you  : 
and  if  they  shall  appear  hard  to  you,  and  unreasonable, 
and  so  you  will  not  comply  with  them,  all  I  have  to  say 
is,  to  wish  that  every  good  and  perfect  gift  may  descend 
from  the  Father  of  Light  and  Mercies,  upon  you  ;  and 
especially  that  you  may  have,  what  I  doubt  not  you 
may  easily  attain,  a  much  better  and  more  suitable  man 
to  settle  among  you.  But  if  you  shall  comply  with 
my  terms,  then  is  my  answer  in  the  affirmative,  and  I 
shall  conclude,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  to  settle  among 
you  :  and  if  I  should  settle  in  the  ministry  amongst 
you,  my  desire  and  prayer  to  God,  is  that  I  may  be  in- 
strumental of  advancing  the  kingdom  of  our  blessed 
Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  and  may  so  faithfully  perform  all 
the  duties  of  the  pastoral  charge  as  to  save  myself  and 
you,  that  are  to  be  under  my  care. 

Thomas  Prentice." 

The  town  acceded  to  his  terms,  and  a  fast  was  ap- 
pointed preparatory  to  his  ordination  ;  he  being  the 
first  settled  minister  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Prentice  would  have  been  a  proprietor,  even  if  he 
had  not  made  it  a  matter  of  agreement,  as  the  town 
passed  a  vote,  some  time  previous,  "  that  the  ministry 
should  have  an  equal  share  in  all  divisions  of  land." 

The  offer  of  fifty  acres  of  land  to  induce  settlers  to  re- 
move into  town,  had  greatly  increased  its  population,  and 
enhanced  the  value  of  the  land  not  taken  up.  Influen- 
ced by  what  they  considered  their  immediate  interest, 
without  regard  to  the  future  welfare  of  the  town,  the 
older  inhabitants,  who  either  inherited,  or  had  pur- 
chased land  granted  by  the  agents  of  Gorges  or  Rigby  ; 


A.  D.  1730.]        KENNEBUNK  PORT.  127 

or  who  inhabited  the  town  at  the  time  when  President 
Danforth  gave  the  trustee  deed  ;  or  had  purchased  or 
inherited  from  those  who  were  inhabitants  at  that  time; 
claimed  to  be  proprietors  of  all  the  common  and  undi- 
vided land,  to  the  exclusion  of  those  who  had  more 
lately  become  citizens.  They  however  had  no  rights 
above  any  other  inhabitants,  as  the  grants  of  Gorges 
and  Rigby  were  definite,  and  Danforth's  deed  was  not 
only  given  to  the  inhabitants  for  the  time  being,  but 
also  to  those  who  might  at  any  future  time  become  in- 
habitants. Their  claims  were  ho»vever  admitted  by 
the  other  inhabitants,  either  because  they  were  less  nu- 
merous, or  less  influential  than  the  self  styled  proprietors. 
Feb.  14th,  1726,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  John* 
Wheelwright,  Esq.  of  Wells,  a  proprietor's  meeting  had 
been  called,  and  Jabez  Dorman  was  chosen  mod- 
erator, and  Thomas  Perkins  clerk.  At  a  meeting  held 
the  next  month,  "  those  persons  herein  named  ware 
Entred  Proprietors  in  the  Rights  of  the  Ainchient  Pro- 
prietors, viz. — John  Watson  and  Jabiz  Dorman,  in  the 
right  of  Morgaing  Howell ;  Allison  Brown  in  the  right 
of  Christopher  Spurrel  ;  Thomas  Perkins  and  Stephen 
Harding,  in  the  right  of  William  Runnels ;  James 
March  in  the  right  of  Edward  Barton  ;  Benjamin 
Major,  in  the  right  of  John  Davis  ;  Thomas  Perkins  jr. 
in  the  right  of  John  Barret ;  Thomas  Huff,  in  the  right 
of  his  father,  Fardenando  Huf  ;  Mr.  John  Storer  in 
the  right  of  Stephen  Badson  ;  according  to  the  Rights 
that  there  Predesessors  had,  and  as  they  have  bought 
it,  and  no  other  way." 

It  was  also  voted  that  "  every  Person  that  Posseth 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  his  own  Right,  and  is  an  Inhabitant 
in  said  Town,  shall  be  counted  half  a  vote,  and  that 
Person  who  hath  one  hundred  acres,  Counted  one  vote, 
and  he  who  hath  Two  hundred  acres,  two  votes,  and  so 
to  be  allways  accounted  According  to  the  number  of 
acres  be  it  as  many  hundred  as  it  will,  and  that  no 
Person  shall  have  liberty  to  vote  in  a  Proprietors  meet- 
ing in  Arundel  by  vertue  of  this  vote,  no  longer  than 
while  he  is  an  Inhabitant  in  said  Town." 

According  to  the  foregoing  vote  the  following  persons 
were  made  proprietors,  Thomas  Perkins,  sen.  Thomas 
Huff,  sen.  John    Watson,  sen.  Jabez  Dorman,  Allison 


128  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1730. 

Brown,  Thomas  Perkins,  jun.  Humphrey  Dearing, 
Benjamin  Major,  Stephen  Harding,  Philip  Durrell, 
sen.  Thomas  Huff,  jun.  Samuel  Carr,  Jesse  Towne, 
Joshua  Lassel,  John  Murphy,  John  Burbank,  John 
Baxter,  Samuel  Averill,  Philip  Durrell,  jun.  George 
March,  Thomas  Watson,  Jeremiah  Springer,  and  John 
Downing.* 

They  refused  to  make  Joseph  Hill  a  proprietor,  in 
consequence  of  his  being  an  inhabitant  of  Wells.  After 
the  proprietors  began  to  hold  meetings,  there  were  no 
more  grants  made  by  the  town.  They,  however,  did 
not  dispute  the  validity  of  the  grants  already  made,  but 
voted  to  confirm  them  ;  and  for  a  while  continued  to 
make  grants  themselves,  to  new  settlers,  biii:  not  without 
much  opposition  from  several  proprietors. 

January  14th,  [1726]  it  was  voted  at  a  proprietor's 
meeting,  "  that  Stephen  Averel,  Edward  Melcher, 
John  Staggpole,  John  Baxter,  Ensign  John  Watson, 
John  Whitten,  James  Deshon,  Jabez  Dorman,  John 
Morging,  Samuel  Perkins,  John  Merrill,  John  Alltimes, 
Samuel  Morging,  and  Benjamin  Haley,  should  have 
one  hundred  acres  of  Land  a  Pece  Laid  out  to  them  on 
the  Country  Road  in  Arundel,  as  it  is  laid  from  Wells 
Township  to  Saco  across  Bedeford  the  uper  way,  by  a 
Commety   appointed  for  that  purpose,  which  Land  so 

*The  following  persons  were  afterwards  made  proprietors. — la 
1723,  Benjamin  Downing,  Jacob  Wildes,  John  Fairfield,  Joseph 
Averill,  Joshua  Walker,  Jacob  Curtis,  Thomas  Perkins,  jr.  of 
Kennebunk,  Nathaniel  Hendricks,  Robert  Smith,  John  Perkins. 
17-29,  James  March,  Pendleton  Fletcher.  1730,  Thomas  Prentice. 
1731,  Thomas  Bond,  John  Treeworgy,  Samuel  Robinson,  Samuel 
Wildes,  Jeremiah  Folsom,  Isaac  Curtis,  Samuel  Hutchins,  Joshua 
Purinton.  1737,  Robert  Cleaves,  Jonathan  Stone,  John  Whitten, 
John  Jellison,  John  Merrill.  1738,  Benjamin  Durrell,  Shadrach 
Watson,  Moses  Foster,  Ebenezer  Watson,  Abel  Merrill,  James 
Carr,  Thomas  Derasey,  Jeremiah  Miller,  Samuel  Hutchins,  jun. 
Noah  Baily.  1763,  Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.  Gideon  Merrill,  Israel 
Stone,  Joseph  Averill,  Charles  Huff,  William  Smith,  Humphrey 
Peering,  Andrew  Brown,  Abner  Perkins,  Benjamin  Burbank, 
Stephen  Harding,  Benjamin  Downing,  Samuel  Wildes.  17S0,  Ja- 
bez Dorman,  Asa  Durrill,  Samuel  Robinson,  Paul  March,  John 
Fairfield,  Jacob  Wildes,  John  WTalker,  Jacob  Curtis,  Dummer 
Mitchell,  John  Adams,  Levi  Hutchins,  Benj.  Meeds  Lord,  Jona- 
than Stone,  Tobias  Lord. 

The  last  proprietor's  meeting  was  holden  July  3,  1780  ;  and  tha 
last  entry  made  by  the  proprietor's  clerk,  was  April  3, 1790. 


A.  D.   1730.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  1'29 

laid  offt  shall  not  exceed  fourty  Rods  in  breadth  but- 
ing  on  said  Road,  and  other  ways  as  Convenient  as  Pos- 
ible  Can  be  don ;  which  persons  having  so  Received 
their  Lands,  shall  be  oblidged  to  settle  according  to  the 
Commetys  Directions,  who  shall  be  chosen  and  ap- 
pointed to  Lay  out  the  Land  as  aforesaid,  and  shall  be 
obliged  to  settle  on  said  Land  according  to  the  Com- 
metys Directions  in  a  Defencable  manner,  and  give 
bond  to  Preform  the  same.  And  likewise  the  Commety 
are  Chosen,  apointed,  and  Impowred  to  Lay  out  unto 
all  the  Proprietors  that  are  now  inhabitants  in  Arun- 
del, a  Lot  of  Land  buting  upon  the  same  Road  or 
Highway,  according  to  their  intrest  in  said  Town,  as 
it  will  hold  out,  who  shall  be  obliged  to  help  the  first 
twelve  settlers  on  said  Road  to  fortifie  in  a  way  of  De- 
fence, or  else  loose  their  Intrust  in  said  division  of 
Land."  Two  hundred  acres  of  land  were  also  granted, 
at  the  same  place,  for  the  use  of  the  ministry.  This 
land,  however,  was  never  laid  out. 

The  committee,  chosen  to  lay  out  lots  on  Saco  road, 
laid  out  "  800  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Mr.  John  Wat- 
son's land,  joyning  a  brook,  which  is  known  by  the  name 
of  Cards  brook,  and  likewise  it  layeth  on  the  North  side 
of  the  land  laid  out  to  Isaac  Curtis  on  ye  aforesaid  brook." 
Four  of  the  lots,  of  100  acres  each,  were  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road,  and  the  other  four  on  the  east  side. 
The  remaining  six  lots  were  on  the  south  side  of  Cur- 
tis's  land,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The  fourteen 
persons  to  whom  they  were  laid  out,  were  to  pay  10s 
each  and  draw  lots  for  them  ;  and  gave  bonds  to  settle 
on  them  and  remain  there  ten  years  "  with  ought  sum 
Extreordinary  thing  whare  by  they  are  forsed  to  remove, 
or  loose  there  lives."  They  were  likewise  to  build  a 
garrison  on  the  lot  next  to  that  of  Isaac  Curtis,  of  tim- 
ber twelve  inches  square,  to  be  ten  feet  high  and  sixty 
feet  square,  with  two  good  flankers. 

The  committee  also  reported  that  each  of  the  pro- 
prietors should  have  40  acres  of  land,  laid  out  to  him, 
for  every  100  acres  he  was  then  in  possession  of,  by 
paying  20s  towards  helping  the  first  settlers  to  build 
their  garrison.  These  lots  were  afterwards  known  as 
the  draft  lots. 

This  was   the  commencement  of  the    settlement   on 


130  HISTORY    of  [from  1730 

Saco  road,  or  the  old  post  road  from  Kennebunk  to 
Saco.*  Card's  brook  is  the  stream  of  water  running 
through  the  tan  yard  of  Stephen  Mitchell.  Edward 
Melcher  lived  near  where  Moses  Thompson  now  does  ; 
John  Alltimes,  near  the  school  house  ;  and  John  Wat- 
son, near  the  dwelling  house  of  Nathaniel  Mitchell. 
The  garrison  was  built  on  the  spot  where  Thomas 
Dorman  now  resides.  At  what  time  the  road  was  first 
located  is  not  known.  The  one  ordered  by  the  Mas- 
sachusetts commissioners  in  1653,  although  there  was 
no  return  of  it,  was  over  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river 
at  the  wading  place,  by  the  sea  shore  to  Cape  Porpoise, 
and  to  Winter  Harbor.  In  1674  a  road  was  ordered 
to  be  laid  out  "  from  Wells  to  Henry  Sayward's  mills 
at  Mousom,  from  thence  to  Saco  falls." 

If  this  road  was  ever  laid  out,  it  must  have  been 
above  the  former  one,  as  Sayward's  mills  were  near 
where  the  factory  is.  It  is  probable  however  that  it 
was  never  made,  for  in  1681  another  road  was  ordered 
from  Kennebunk  river,  "  through  Kenibunke  swampe," 
to  Scamman's  ferry  at  Saco.  If  this  order  was  ever 
complied  with,  which  however  is  very  doubtful,  it  must 
have  been  the  road  to  Biddeford  lower  meeting  house, 
as  Scamman's  ferry  was  near  the  mouth  of  Saco  river. 
There  was  another  order  passed  by  the  county  court, 
1688,  for  a  road  from  Wells  to  Saco  falls.  The  war 
with  the  Indians,  which  commenced  about  that  time, 
probably  prevented  the  road  from  being  made  ;  although 
when  the  road  from  Cape  Neddock  [York]  to  Saco 
falls  was  required  to  be  built  by  the  court  in  1719,  an 
old  road  was  alluded  to.  They  were  ordered  to  lay 
it  out  "  from  Mousom  river  as  the  road  now  goes  to 
Kennebunk  river,  to  the  usual  wading  place  below  the 
mill,  thence  keeping  the  old  road  to  Saco  Lower  falls 
below  the  fort."  This  last  mentioned  road  must  have 
crossed  Kennebunk  river,  near  where  the  present  post 
road  does,  as  Littlefield's  mill,  the  one  undoubtedly  re- 
ferred to,  was  near  where  the  present  bridge  is.  The 
order  perhaps  was  not  immediately  complied  with, 
although  it    was   probably    afterwards  done,  as  it  does 

*There  were  several  of  the  name  oi  Card  residing  in  the  county, 
some  of  whom  perhaps  lived  in  this  town. 


TO    1731.]  KEXXEBUNK    TORT.  131 

not  appear  that  there  was  another  road  ordered  till  the 
time  of  the  settlement  before  mentioned.  From  the 
proprietors  book  of  records,  it  would  seem  that  it  was 
laid  out  but  a  short  time  before  the  settlement  was  con- 
templated, as  it  is  spoken  of  as  the  road  "  laid  out 
from  Wells  township  to  Saco  across  Biddeford,  the 
upper  way."  The  road  was  undoubtedly  soon  after 
made,  although  Sullivan,  page  220,  says  "the  road 
from  Piscataqua  eastward,  Mas  on  the  sea  shore  through 
Cape  Porpoise, — until  the  year  1750,  when  the  post  road 
now  used,  was  laid  out  by  order  of  the  county  court." 
Folsom  also  says,  page  273,  "  that  travellers  contin- 
ued to  ford  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river,  and  to  take 
advantage  of  the  sea  shore,  where  it  was  practicable, 
until  all  apprehension  of  danger  from  Indians  was  re- 
moved. The  road  to  Kennebunk-port,  which  strikes 
the  Winter  Harbor  road  near  the  lower  meeting  house 
in  Biddeford,  was  laid  out  about  1750,  and  it  was  not 
till  several  years  after  that  date,  that  the  present  mail 
route  to  Kennebunk  was  attempted."  These  writers, 
differing  in  their  statements,*  were  both  mistaken,  as 
there  was  a  lot  of  land  described  on  the  county  records, 
1731,  "  as  lying  on  the  upper  road  from  Wrells  to  Bid- 
deford, being  above  Littlefield's  mills. "f  Also  in  1732, 
when  the  line  between  Arundel  and  Biddeford  was 
perambulated,  the  selectmen,  in  their  return,  say  the 
north  east  corner  of  the  town  "  is  3£  miles  above  the 
upper  Rode  that  is  laid  out  from  Wells  to  Biddeford." 
It  must  have  been  the  present  post  road  meant,  in  the 
return,  as  it  is  about  that  distance  from  the  upper  limits 
of  the  town  ;  while  the  road  to  the  lower  meeting  house 
in  Biddeford,  where  it  crosses  the  town  line,  is  at  least 
six  miles  from  the  north  east  corner. 

If  the  road  was  only  laid  out  at  this  time,  and  not 
made,  it  was  soon  after  opened,  for  a  complaint  was 
entered  against  Arundel,  1734,  for  want  of  a  bridge, 
"  near  Watson's  house  on  the  way  from  Wells  to  Saco." 

*Sullivan  wrote  his  History  of  Maine  in  1795,  and  Folsom's  His- 
tory of  Saco  and  Biddeford  was  written  in  1830  ;  they  must  there- 
fore have  alluded  to  the   same   road. 

tOn  tho  town  records,  in  1731,  it  was  "  known  by  the  name  of 
Saco  road  ;" — a  name  it  has  ever  since  borne. 


132  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.    1731. 

This  bridge  must  have  been  over  Card's  brook,  as  it 
was  at  that  place  where  John  Watson  lived.  The  town 
was  again  indicted,  1735,  for  not  keeping  the  highway 
in  repair,  "  on  the  upper  way  from  Wells  to  Saco  ;" 
the  next  year  "  the  bridge  on  the  upper  way  over  Ren- 
nebunk  river"  was  presented  ;  and  in  1737,  the  road 
was  again  complained  of.  Besides,  Jabez  Dorman  kept 
a  public  house  as  early,  if  not  before  1738,  on  that  road  ; 
as  did  also  Robert  Patten  in  1750,  near  where  the  road 
from  the  village  of  Kennebunk-port  intersects  it.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  travellers  used  the  more  safe 
route  by  the  sea  shore,  during  times  of  actual  hostilities 
with  the  Indians. 

The  grants  of  these  lots  were  the  last  made  by  the 
proprietors  to  induce  strangers  to  remove  into  town. 
Owing  to  this  short  sighted  policy  of  not  holding  out 
sufficient  inducements  to  new  settlers,  population  and 
business  received  a  check. 

When  the  meeting  house  was  first  built,  it  had  nei- 
ther pulpit,  galleries  nor  pews.  Before  Mr.  Prentice 
was  ordained,  a  pulpit  and  galleries  were  built  ;  and 
eight  pews,  which  were  assigned  to  the  wealthiest  or 
most  influential  men  in  town,  on  the  following  terms. 
"  The  one  at  the  Right  hand  of  the  frunt  to  be  ofTred 
to  Capt.  Perkins  at  =£14  ; — at  the  Left  hand  to  Mr. 
Fairfield  for  £13  ; — the  two  next  to  the  stairs,  the  worn- 
ens  Stairs,  Mr.  Major  £8,  next  to  the  mens  Mr.  Baxter 
£8  ; — the  pue  in  the  west  Corner  to  Ensign  Perkins  at 
£10  ;  the  pue  at  the  Left  hand  of  the  Pulpit  next  to  it  to 
Mr.  Harding  at  £12  ;  the  next,  to  Mr.  Downing  at  £8  ; 
the  next,  to1\Ir.  Treeworgy  at  <£7."* 

The  first  claim  to  land  under  an  adverse  title  was 
made  in  1731,  and  in  consequence  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed "  for  to  manage  the  affair"  with  Mr.  Stoddard 
and  the  other  Gentlemen  of  Boston  which  Claime  the 
Land  between  Kennebunk  river  and  Batsons  River  by 
virtue  of  a  deed  from  old  Mogg  Hegin  an  Indian  to  Ma- 
jor Philips."  Although  the  town  at  first  treated  this 
claim  rather  lightly,  they  evidently  soon  began  to  think 
it  a  serious  affair,  as  the  next  year,  [1732]  they  "fully 
Impowered  Capt.  Thomas  Perkins  to  treat  with  a  man 

*There  were  more  pews  built  in  1744. 


A.  D.  1731.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  133 

or  men  as  the  Gentlemen  of  Boston  shall  appoint,  who 
CJame  the  Land  here  as  there  undoubted  and  Indisput- 
able right,  So  far  as  to  Show  them  by  what  right  we 
are  settled  here  and  know  by  what  right  the  Gentlemen 
Clame  it,  in  order  to  lay  it  before  the  Town  for  the 
Matter  to  be  Accommadated  without  the  rigour  of  the 
Law,  if  the  Town  think  it  best." 

This  claim  was  founded  on  a  deed,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy. 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Mogg  He- 
gone,  of  Saco  river  in  New  England  ;  son  and  heir  to 
Walter  Higgon,  Sagamore  of  said  River,  but  now 
deceased,  do  for  and  in  consideration  of  a  certain  sum 
received  by  me,  well  and  truly  paid  in  goods  by  Maj.  W. 
Phillips  of  Saco,  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  acknowledge 
myself  being  fully  satisfied  and  paid,  have  given,  grant- 
ed, bargained  and  sold,  and  by  these  presents  do  aliene, 
enfeoff  and  confirm  unto  the  said  Major  W.  Phillips  of 
Saco,  a  tract  of  land  being  bounded  with  Saco  river 
on  the  northeast  side,  and  Kennebunk  river  on  the 
southwest  side,  in  breadth  from  the  one  river  to  the 
other  river  aforesaid,  and  in  length  beginning  at  the 
sea  side  and  running  up  the  east  river  unto  Salmon 
falls,  on  Saco  river,  and  as  far  up  Kennebunk  river 
until  it  be  opposite  Salmon  falls,  which  falls  is  to  be 
understood  falls  about  fifteen  miles  upward  from  the 
saw  mills  at  Saco  falls,  He  the  said  Phillips  to  have  and 
to  hold  the  said  land  with  all  timber  land,  marshes,  and 
all  the  growth  thereon  for  him,  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators  and  assigns  forever,  freely  and  clearly 
acquited,  exonerated  and  discharged  from  all  manner 
of  mortgages,  sales,  engagements  or  incumbrances 
whatsoever.  Also  I,  the  said  Mogg  Hegon,  do  for  my- 
self, my  heirs,  executors  and  assigns,  warrant,  save  and 
keep  harmless  the  said  Phillips,  his  heirs  or  assigns 
from  any  manner  of  persons  that  shall  lay  claim  there- 
to ;  for  the  true  performance  of  the  premises,  I  have 
this  last  day  of  May  subscribed  my  hand,  and  fixed  my 
seal.  A.  D.  1GG4, — In  presence  of  John  Wakefield, 
Mary  Wakefield." 

There  was  an  Indian,  noted  for  his  cunning  and  du- 
plicity, called  Mugg,  who  lived  from  a  child  in  English 
families.  In  1G7G  he  was  in  Boston  as  agent  for  Ma- 
M 


134  HISTORY    OF*  [a.  d.  1731. 

dockawando  and  Cheberrina,  sachems  of  Penobscot, 
and  made  a  treaty  in  their  behalf. 

There  was  another  one  called  Old  Mogg,  who  with 
his  family,  was  killed  by  some  Mohawks,  who  had 
joined  the  English  in  their  attack  upon  Norridgewock, 
in  17:24.  Which  of  these  two  Indians  gave  this  deed 
to  Phillips,  is  not  known,  but  it  was  probably  the 
latter. 

When  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  grandson  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietor  of  Maine,  conveyed  his  interest  in  the 
province  to  Massachusetts,  in  1676,  he  reserved  to 
Phillips  all  the  land  he  had  purchased  of  the  Indians. 
It  was  probably  under  this  reservation  that  the  land  in 
this  town  was  claimed  ;  for  he  held  Waterborough, 
San  ford,  and  Alfred,  by  virtue  of  this  grant ;  and  Ly- 
man, and  the  Ossipee  towns  were  also  possessed  by 
deeds  from  the  natives. 

The  agent  of  the  town,  after  investigating  the  subject, 
advised  the  town  to  effect  a  compromise  if  possible,  as 
he  considered  it  an  even  chance  that  the  claimants 
might  make  good  their  title.  They  therefore,  at  a 
subsequent  meeting,  voted  "  that  if  Gentlemen  of  Bos- 
ton which  Clame  the  land  liere,  viz.  Mr.  Anthony 
Stoddard,  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Webb,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Thomas  Foxcroft,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  *  Mr.  Edward 
Bromfieldjun.  Mr.  Thomas  Cushing,  jun.  Mr.  Thomas 
Salter  and  Mr.  John  Wheelwright,  Do  Sett  off  to  the 
proprietors  and  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Arundel  a 
Straight  Line  Southwest  from  the  first  falls  in  Little 
River  to  Kennebunk  River,  And  so  according  to  the 
bounds  of  the  Town  of  Cape  Porpous,  Ales,  Arundel, 
as  the  General  Court  hath  bounded  it  out  for  a  Town- 
ship, Eight  miles  into  the  Contery  from  that  line  North- 
west ; — That  then  upon  the  afore  Named  Gentlemens 
giving  of  a  quit  Clame  of  all  their  Intrust  and  Right  to 
all  Lands  between  the  head  line  and  the  Sea,  Excepting 
one  Thousand  acres  of  Land  at  the  Northwest  end  of 
sd.  Town,  To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Arundel, 
or  their  agents  for  them,  then  the  Town  will  lay  out 

*  In  1720,  Major  Phillips's  heirs  sold  out  part  of  their  patent  "  to 
Edward  Bromfield,  jr.,  Thomas  Sailer,  Samuel  Adams,  (father  of 
Gov.  S.  Adams,)  and  Henry  Hill,  all  of  Boston."     Folsom,  207. 


A.  D.  1731.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  135 

the  aforesaid  Thousand  acres  to  the  aforesaid  Gentle- 
men, as  a  Reward  for  their  Sevillity  towards  them 
Rather  then  have  any  farther  Troble  about  it." 

By  the  bounds  above  given,  the  1000  acres  would 
have  been  on  the  western  side  of  Kennebunk  river, 
where  the  claim  of  this  town  was  considered  doubtful, 
and  of  which  they  never  did  get  possession.  Whether 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  intended  to  deceive  the 
claimants,  by  getting  a  quit-claim  from  them  of  all  the 
land  in  town  excepting  the  northwest  corner,  or  wheth- 
er they  really  meant  to  give  them  1000  acres,  in  what 
was  undoubtedly  a  part  of  the  town,  is  not  known. 
The  offer  was  not  however  accepted  ;  nor  was  the 
claim  further  prosecuted  at  this  time,  but  it  was  re- 
vived sixty  or  seventy  years  afterwards. 

During  the  progress  of  this  controversy,  the  town 
offered  Joshua  Purinton,  son  of  the  old  town  clerk  of 
Cape  Porpoise,  100  acres  of  land,  and  to  make  him  a 
proprietor,  if  he  would  give  up  President  Danforth's 
deed,  which,  it  was  understood,  was  in  his  possession. 
He  probably  found  it  amongst  his  father's  papers,  and 
availed  himself  of  the  situation  of  the  town,  to  turn  it 
to  his  own  advantage.  At  a  subsequent  proprietor's 
meeting,  he  was  voted  a  proprietor,  and  the  land  grant- 
ed him.*     The  deed  was  then  recorded. 

Some  dispute  having  arisen  between  Biddeford  and 
Arundel  as  to  the  bounds  of  the  towns,  the  selectmen 
of  this  town  and  a  committee  from  Biddeford,  met, 
and  agreed  that  "  a  Island  Lying  in  the  middle  of  the 
first  falls  in  little  River,  whare  the  Saw  mill  now 
Stands,  a  Little  below  the  Lower  Saw  mill  upon  ye 
said  falls,  be  the  first  bounds  between  the  said  Towns, 
and  so  to  run  from  the  middle  of  the  aforesaid  Island 
upon  a  Due  Northwest  Line  Eight  miles  into  the 
Counterey  to  a  pitch  pine  Tree  marked  upon  four 
sides,  and  with  the  Letters  B.  A.  which  tree  we  have 
measured  to  and  Marked,  and  according  to  our  measu- 
er  is  Eight  miles  from  ye  said  Island,  and  is  three 
miles  and  a  half  above  the  uper  Rode  that  is  laid  out 
from  Wells  to  Biddeford." 

*  The  land  was  probably  laid  out  at  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town,  at  what  is  known  as  '  Puddington's  Meadow.' 


136  "  HISTORY  OF  [from  1731 

A  road  was  laid  out  this  year,  "  Beginning'  at  Saml. 
Littlefields  house,  and  so  Running  Down  said  River, 
(Kennehunk,)  as  may  be  foirftd  by  several  Marked 
Trees,  to  Mr.  Durril  Sen.  before  his  Dore ;  and  from 
thence  Down  to  Mr.  F  airfields  Mill,  below  said  Mill ; 
and  from  thence  to  the  Maine  Rode  Coming  out  upon 
the  Northwest  side  of  Crow  Hill."  Another  was  also 
located  "  from  Saco  rode,  to  be  two  rods  wide,  to  the 
Meeting  House,  and  be  Laid  out  as  the  way  is,  from 
Lt.  Jabez  Dormans  to  the  other  Highway  on  the  South- 
east of  Mr.  Burbanks  house,  there  to  joyne  in  one 
waye." 

It  does  not  appear  by  the  town  records,  that  there 
had  been  a  school  kept  in  town,  or  any  provision 
made  for  one,  till  1733.  It  was  "  voted  to  have  a 
Scool  Master  for  the  year  Insuing,  and  left  it  with  the 
Selectmen  to  Provide  one  at  the  Charge  of  The  town 
and  to  order  whare  it  should  be  kept,  as  Convenient  as 
can  for  the  advantage  of  the  Town."  The  selectmen 
employed  Mr.  Hicks,  for  £'2  8  10,  for  the  year.  It  is 
probable  that  the  children  had  heretofore  had  no  means 
of  education,  except  what  little  instruction  Mr.  Eveleth 
imparted  to  them.  Mr.  Prentice  refusing  to  follow  the 
multifarious  pursuits  of  his  predecessor,  the  town  was 
compelled  to  incur  the  additional  expense  of  an  in- 
structor. 

New  settlements  having  grown  up  in  various  parts  of 
Maine,  [1734]  gave  offence  to  the  Indians,  who  began 
to  manifest  signs  of  hostility.  Besides  this  cause  of 
complaint,  unprincipled  traders,  in  violation  of  the 
treaty  which  confined  the  traffic  with  the  Indians  en- 
tirely to  truck-houses,  sold  them  intoxicating  liquors, 
and,  taking  advantage  of  their  inebriation,  practiced 
frauds  upon  them. 

To  guard  against  the  threatened  rupture,  the  Gov- 
ernor advised  the  General  Court  "  to  put  the  Province 
into  a  good  posture  of  defence,  in  case  it  should  unfor- 
tunately be  again  visited  with  the  scourge  of  war." 
The  alarm  spread  to  this  town,  and  a  committee  was 
chosen  "  to  Discourse  with  ye  Revd.  IVtr.  Thomas 
Prentice  Conserning  ye  Garrisoning  of  his  house." 
The  labor  and  materials  for  the  garrison  were  furnished 
by  the  people  of  the  town,  according  to  the  valuation  of 


TO  1735.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  137 

their  property.  Six  shillings  a  day  were  allowed  for  a 
man,  and  four  shillings  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  ;  and  ten 
shillings  per  hundred  for  plank. 

Mr.  Prentice  had  gained  the  affections  of  his  people, 
who  appeared  to  treat  him  with  much  consideration. 
They  gave  him  =£20  a  year,  in  addition  to  his  salary, 
to  furnish  him  with  fuel ;  and  £10  "  more  a  year,  and 
Every  year  for  six  years  to  Com  to  make  up  ye  badness 
of  his  Sallery  by  Reson  of  his  Complaining  the  money 
was  Not  so  good  as  it  was  when  he  and  the  Town  made 
their  agreement."  After  a  long  debate,  they  gave  him 
=£30,  towards  buying  him  a  servant  ;  and  "  allowed 
seven  shillings  for  mending  ye  Meeting  House  doore 
that  the  winde  might  not  blow  up  on  Mr.  Prentice." 

A  road  was  located  from  Capt.  Perkins's  saw  mill  to 
the  meeting  house,  [1735]  and  the  town  was  indicted 
for  not  having  the  Saco  road  kept  in  repair.  Four 
pounds  were  voted  to  be  given  to  "  any  Person  that 
should  kill  a  grone  woolf  in  the  town,  besides  what 
the  Province  gives."  Thirty  shillings  were  allowed 
apiece  for  the  selectmen.  Money  continuing  to  depre- 
ciate, Mr.  Prentice's  salary  was  raised  to  =£180,  this 
sum  being  only  equal  in  value  to  £1*20,  at  the  time  of 
his  settlement.  Thirty  pounds  were  likewise  raised  for 
schools,  and  the  town  was  fined  for  not  having  a  suita- 
ble bridge  over  Kennebunk  river.  These  expenditures 
must  have  been  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  town,  it  being, 
with  the  exception  of  North  Yarmouth  which  had  been 
more  recently  resettled,  the  poorest  incorporated  town 
in  Maine.  The  Province,  which  then  consisted  of 
nine  towns,  was  taxed  =£47,  of  which  Arundel  paid  but 
£2  01  00.  The  population  of  the  county  was  9000, 
and  of  this  town  about  300. 

This  small  number  was  considerably  reduced  by  the 
throat  distemper,  which  first  made  its  appearance  in 
Kingston,  N.  H.  in  May.  It  soon  extended  into  Maine, 
where  it  carried  off  more  than  500  inhabitants.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith*  says,  October  21,  "  We  had  a  fast 
on  account  of  the  sickness,  which  broke  out  in  Kings- 

*  Smith's  Journal,  p  26.  This  disorder  was  not  confined  to  the 
throat,  but  seized  the  limbs  also,  and  sometimes  caused  the  whole 
body  to  swell. 

Mm 


I3S  HISTORY   OF  [from  1736 

ton,  and  which  is  got  as  far  as  Cape  Porpoise,  and 
carries  oft'  a  great  many  children  and  young  persons, 
and  alarms  the  whole  country."  It  raged  in  Maine 
more  than  three  years,  and  carried  off  entire  families. 
George' March  of  this  town  lost  seven  children  in  one 
week.  Joseph  Averiil  also  lost  several,  and  many  other 
families  were  swept  off. 

Business  having  revived  in  the  province,  and  there 
being  a  demand  for  lumber,  for  the  West  India  and 
European  markets,  timber  lands  became  of  more  value. 
Their  increased  worth  caused  the  proprietors  of  the 
common  land  in  Arundel,  to  divide  it  amongst  them- 
selves, in  proportion  to  their  taxes. 

The  Indians,  [1736]  who  had  been  uneasy  several 
years  on  account  of  the  encroachments  of  new  settlers, 
now  became  still  more  restless.  Reports  of  muskets 
were  heard  in  the  forests,  and  it  was  rumored  that 
they  intended  to  attack  Winter  Harbor.  The  Gen- 
eral Court,  however,  listened  to  their  grievances,  and 
by  presents  and  timely  acts  of  kindness,  padded  them. 
This  disquietude  on  account  of  the  Indians  was  follow- 
ed by  an  unusual  scarcity  of  provisions.  [1737]  Many 
had  no  corn  for  several  months,  and  it  was  said  that  a 
peck  of  potatoes  could  not  be  bought  in  Maine.  All 
the  hay  wras  expended  in  April.  This  famine  extended 
over  the  whole  country.  To  add  to  their  sufferings, 
the  pluretic  fever  prevailed  to  an  alarming  degree,  and 
the  throat  distemper  still  continued  its  ravages.* 

Owing  to  the  poverty  of  the  town,  [1738]  and  the 
difficulty  with  which  he  collected  his  salary,  Mr.  Pren- 
tice asked  his  dismission.  Mr.  Smith,  in  his  journal, 
says  "September  19th,  There  was  a  council  to  day 
about  Mr.  Prentis's  leaving  his  people."  November  7, 
the  town  voted  to  dismiss  him,  "upon  condition  that 
he  made  a  Deed  of  his  House,  Barn,  and  land  whereon 
they  stand,"  and  150  acres  of  land,  the  town  paying 
him  therefor  ,£150. 

The  following  account  of  the  family  of  Mr.  Prentice, 
is  from  the  Worcester  Magazine  and  Historical  Journal. 
"  Rev.  John  Prentice  was  born  in  Newton,  Mass= 
His  father  was  Mr.  Thomas  Prentice  of  Newton,  and; 

*  Smith's  Journal; 


TO  1738.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT. x  139 

married  Mary  Staunton.  He  had  been,  according  to 
tradition,  one  of  Oliver  Cromwell's  Body  Guards.  lie 
died  Nov.  6,  1722,  M.  93.  His  son  John  graduated  at 
Cambridge  in  1700.  In  1705,  he  commenced  preach- 
ing in  Lancaster,  Mass.  where  he  remained  to  his  death. 
He  diad  much  lamented,  Jan.  6,  1746,  JE.  66  years, 
after  a  life  of  much  service  and  faithfulness."*  He 
was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary 
Gardner,  widow  of  his  predecessor.  Their  children 
were  Staunton,  Thomas,  John,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Sa- 
rah, and  Rebecca.  The  last  mentioned  daughter  was 
born  September  22,  1727,  and  married  the  Rev.  John 
Mellen  of  Lancaster,  and  died  in  1802.  The  late 
Chief  Justice  Prentiss  Mellen  of  Maine  is  her  son. 
Thomas,  the  second  son  of  John  Prentice,  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1726,  and  kept  school  in  Lancaster  in 
1729.  The  next  year  he  was  settled  in  Arundel. 
Although  very  haughty,  he  is  said  to  have  been  a  very 
popular  minister,  and  his  church  and  society  gave  him 
his  dismission  with  much  reluctance.  After  his  dis- 
mission, he  removed  to  Charlestown,  Mass.  where  he 
was  residing  in  1762.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Swett  of  York.  His  son  Joshua  was  ordained  at 
Holliston,  Mass.  May  10th,  1743,  and  remained  there 
till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1786.  He,  as  well  as  his 
father,  visited  this  town  several  times,  and  preached 
for  Mr.  Hovey. 

The  house  that  Mr.  Prentice  built  at  Cape  Porpoise, 

*  The  following  account,  differing  slightly  from  the  one  above,  is 
from  Farmer's  Genealogical  Register.  "  Prentiss  Thomas,  Cam- 
bridge Village,  (Newton,)  whose  name  is  usually  spelled  Prentice, 
although  he  wrote  it  Prentiss,  was  admitted  freeman  in  1G52,  had 
children  by  Grace  his  wife,  Grace,  Thomas,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and 
John.  He  was  representative  in  1G72,  1G73,  and  1G74,  command- 
ed a  companv  of  troop,  which  rendered  essential  service  in  Phil- 
lip's War.  He  died  7  July,  1710,  M.  89.  His  son  Thomas  m.  a 
daughter  of  Edward  Jackson,  senr.  and  d.  1730,  M.  55  ;  his  son 
John   also  m.  and  died  1689,  ^E.  35. 

The  epitaph  on  the  grave-stone  of  Capt.  Prentiss  is  as  follows. 

'  He  that's  here  inter'd  needs  no  versifying, 

'  A  virtuous  life  will  keep  the  name  from  dying  ; 

'  He'll  live  though  poets  cease  their  scribbfing  rhyme, 

1  When  that  this  stone  shall  moulder'd  be  by  time.' 

Homer,  Hist.  Newton,  1.  Coll.  Mass  Hist.  Soc.  p.  271.' 


140  HISTORY    OF  [from  1739 

was  enlarged  by  Mr.  Hovey,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
John  Millet.  Mr.  Prentice  first  introduced  potatoes 
into  the  town,  but  they  were  not  extensively  cultivated 
till  many  years  afterwards.  Benjamin  Downing,  one  year 
raised  ten  bushels,  which  was  considered  a  very  great 
quantity,  and  it  was  a  matter  of  wonder  how  he  could 
consume  so  many  in  his  family. 

Although  Mr.  Prentice  left  the  town  on  account  of 
its  poverty,  there  had  been  no  one  so  poor  as  to  be- 
come chargeable  to  the  town,  after  its  reincorporation, 
till  1739,  when  Noah  Bady  became  the  first  town 
pauper. 

By  an  existing  law,  every  town  was  required  to  furn- 
ish a  pair  of  stocks  for  the  punishment  of  slight  offences. 
Jonathan  Stone  provided  a  pair,  and  was  allowed  ^18 
for  them.  They  were  probably  never  used.  A  bridge 
was  likewise  built  this  year  "  over  Batson's  river  near 
the  lower  saw  mill." 

After  Mr.  Prentice's  dismission,  Mr.  *  Joshua  Tufts 
preached  a  short  time  ;  and  May  1st  the  town  and 
church  gave  him  a  call.  He  however  did  not  accept  it, 
and  they  sent  "  for  one  tMr.  Moses  Persons,  Concur- 
ing  with  the  church,  and  made  Choic  of  Thomas 
Perkins  to  goe  in  behalf  of  the  Church  and  Town  to 
the  said  Mr.  Persons,  who  had  been  a  Scoole  Master 
for  som  time  at  Manchester,  to  agree  with  him  for  four 
or  five  Sabboths  to  Depence  ye  word  of  God  unto  them, 
being  advised  thereunto  by  sevoral  of  the  Neibour- 
ing  ministers."  Mr.  Parsons  continued  here  seven 
weeks,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  Hovey  of  Cam- 
bridge, who  had  been  keeping  scliool  in  York,  and  who 
preached  but  a  few  sabbaths. 

War  commenced  this  year  between  England  and 
Spain,  and  a  snow,  called  the  Prince  of  Orange,  was 
built  for  the  protection  of  the  coast  of  Maine.  Five 
or  six  hundred  persons  were  enlisted  in  the  Province, 
in  the  unfortunate  expedition  against  Cuba,  most  of 
whom  never  returned. 

*Mr.  Tufts  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1736,  and  was  the 
first  settled  minister  in  Litchfield,  New  Hampshire. 

[Probably  the  Rev.  Moses  Parsons  of  Byfield. 


TO  1741.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  141 

After  Mr.  Hovey  had  preached  a  short  time,  [1740] 
•Mr.  Samuel  Webster  had  an  invitation  to  settle  in  the 
town,  but  he  declined  it.  He  preached  however  a 
short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  tMr.  Barnard,  who 
remained  here  14  weeks. 

March  3,  1741,  the  town  voted  to  give  Mr.  Hovey, 
who  preached  a  short  time  the  last  year,  "  a  Call  to  be 
a  settled  Minister  here,  and  to  offer  him  £180  a  year 
Sallery,  and  the  land  with  the  House  they  had  of  ye 
Reverand  Mr.  Prentice,  Mr.  Hovey  Paying  to  the  Town 
,£150  for  it."  He  returned  the  following  answer  to  the 
proposal. 

11  In  answer  to  the  town  of  Arundel's  proposals  to 
the  subscriber  in  order  to  his  settling  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  viz.  bis  paying  the  town  £150,  and  receiving 
of  the  said  town  the  building  and  land  Mr.  Prentice 
conveyed  to  them.  As  there  is  a  great  prospect  of  a 
French  war,  which  will  very  much  affect  the  interest  of 
the  town,  he  would  choose  to  pay  the  aforesaid  sum  of 
£150  to  the  town  in  manner  and  form  as  follows, 
viz.  £100  of  the  aforesaid  sum  to  be  taken  from  his 
salary  the  first  year,  and  the  other  £50  the  second  year  ; 
and  that  the  town  keep  up  a  contribution,  and  all  mon- 
ey contributed  and  unmarked  to  be  his  over  and  above 
the  salary,  and  what  is  marked  he  will  give  credit  for, 
towards  the  rates;  in  compliance  with  which,  he  knows 
nothing  at  present  that  may  hinder  his  acceptance  of 
your  invitation  to  settle  with  you  in  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry.  fJoiiN  Hovey." 

*John  Webster  came  from  Ipswich,  England,  as  early  a3  1C34. 
Ho  had  several  children,  of  whom  Nathan  was  the  father  of  Sam- 
uel, who  was  the  father  of  the  Samuel  who  preached  in  this  town. 
The  latter,  Samuel  Webster,  D.  D.  afterwards  of  Salisbury,  Mass. 
was  born  1716,  graduated  1737,  died  June  18,  1790.  Daniel 
Webster  of  the  U.  S.  Sonate  belongs  to  this  family.— Farmer. 

tHe  was  probably  the  Rev.  John  Barnard  of  Marblehead,  who 
died  Jan.  24,  1770. 

jTho  following  is  a  copy  of  the  title  page  of  the  sermon,  that 
was  preached  at  Mr.  Hovey's  ordination,  which  was  published  and 
is  still  extant.  "  The  minister  of  God  approved,  a  sermon  preached 
nt  Arundel  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John  Hovey,  a  few  weeks  be- 
fore the  death  of  the  author;  by  the  late  Reverend  Mr.  Samuel 
Willard,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Biddeford  :  to  which  is  added  the 
life  and  character  of  Mr.  Willard,  by   tho  Reverend  Mr.  Prentice 


142  HISTORY    OF  [FROM   1741 

It  was  usual,  when  strangers  attended  meeting1,  to 
have  a  contribution,  the  proceeds  of  which  were  gen- 
erally given  to  the  minister  in  addition  to  his  salary. 
Mr.  Willard,  when  settled  in  Biddeford,  had  c£110  a 
year  and  the  "  strangers'  contribution."  This  usage, 
instead  of  being  considered  an  imposition,  was  deemed 
a  compliment,  the  misobservance  of  which  was  sure  to 
give  offence.  The  money  collected  at  such  times,  even 
if  mostly  contributed  by  members  of  the  parish,  was 
considered  as  "  strangers'  contribution  ;"  but  Mr.  Hov- 
ey  was  only  to  have  what  was  really  given  by  strangers, 
allowing  his  own  parishioners  to  mark  the  pieces  put  in 
by  themselves. 

"  March  11th.  The  following  act  or  by  Law  was 
made,  viz.  that  no  Dog  should  be  suffered  to  be  at  or  in 
ye  Meeting  House  upon  ye  sabbath  day  in  time  of  Di- 
vine Service,  but  the  owner  of  such  Dog  should  pay  a 
fine  of  5s." 

Impressment  of  men*  for  the  Spanish  war,  and  the 
withdrawal  of  the  Indians  to  Canada,  now  gave  the  in- 
habitants of  Maine  cause  of  uneasiness.  There  wTas 
also  at  this  time,  so  great  scarcity  of  provisions,  that 
many  families  were  compelled  to  live  almost  wholly 
upon  clams.f 

The  paper  money  of  Massachusetts  being  of  but  lit- 
tle value,  there  was  a  new  emission  this  year,  called 
new  tenor,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  two  former  emis- 
sions, called  old  and  middle  tenor.  These  bills,  by 
law,  were  made  a  tender  for  the  payment  of  debts,  but 
they  soon  began  to  lose  their  value,  and  finally  became 
worth  no  more  than  the  old  tenor  bills,  by  which  name 
they  were  afterwards  known. t 

In  consequence  of  the  depreciation  of  money,  [1742] 

of  Charlestown.  Heb  11.4.  He  being  dead  yet  speaketh."  Mr. 
Willard's  text  was,  "  But  in  all  things  approving  ourselves  as  the 
ministers  of  God."     2  Cor.  6  4. 

*It  was  at  this  time  that  Thomas  Huff  of  this  town  was  impres- 
sed. 

tSmith's  Journal. 

{One  ounce  of  silver  was  worth,  in  1702,  6s  lOrf;  in  1713,  12s; 
in  1728,  18* ;  in  1730,  20s;  in  1737,  26s;  in  1741,28s;  and  in 
1749,  but  60s  ;  making  a  pound,  which  was  nominally  worth  three 
dollars  and  a  third,  but  of  37  cents  value. 


TO   1743.]  KEXXEBUNK    PORT.  143 

it  was  extremely  difficult  to  fill  town  offices  with  suitable 
persons.  The  fine  for  refusing  to  accept  them,  although 
nominally  a  large  one,  was  in  the  depreciated  currency 
but  a  mere  trifle,  which  most  chose  to  pay,  rather 
than  to  lose  their  time,  in  attending  to  the  duties  of  a 
disagreeable  town  office.  Nearly  every  man  in  Arun- 
del was  chosen  constable,  but  no  one  would  accept  the 
situation,  till  one  was  selected,  who  was  too  poor  to  pay 
even  the  small  penalty.  In  order  to  induce  selectmen 
to  serve,  they  were  about  this  time  first  compensated  for 
their  services. 

Although  the  currency  of  the  country  was  in  an  un- 
sound state,  yet  ship  building,  fishing,  and  business 
generally  were  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  Forty 
top-sail  vessels  were  building  at  one  time  in  Maine. 
There  was,  however,  but  one  vessel  owned  in  this  town, 
"  Huff's  old  sloop,"  which,  Mr.  Hovey  in  his  manu- 
script journal,  frequently  mentions  as  running  from 
Cape  Porpoise  1o  Boston.  In  fact  the  inhabitants  had 
always  been  too  poor  to  attend  to  any  other  business 
than  farming,  fishing,  and  sawing  lumber.  The  wealth 
of  the  richest  consisted  in  land,  which  they  pertina- 
ciously retained,  both  to  their  own  injury  and  that  of 
the  town.  There  had  been  a  few  innholders  and  tra- 
ders licensed  for  several  years,  but  their  business  was 
conducted  on  a  very  small  scale.  Stephen  Harding, 
Thomas  Perkins,  John  Watson,  and  John  Fairfield 
were  licensed  in  1734,  and  about  the  same  number  con- 
tinued to  obtain  licenses  up  to  this  time. 

By  the  septennial  valuation  of  property  taken  this 
year,  Arundel  paid  less  than  £2  of  a  tax  of  £53.  The 
tax  was  assessed  at  the  rate  of  twelve  pence  on  every 
male  citizen  of  sixteen  years  of  age  and  upwards,  and 
of  one  penny  on  205  valuation.  The  population  of  the 
county,  containing  eleven  towns,  was  nearly  12,000,  and 
that  of  this  town  about  350. 

A  road  was  laid  out  in  1743,  "  from  the  meeting 
house  to  or  neer  whare  abouts  Capt.  Perkins  his  saw 
mill  now  standeth  over  the  River  Caled  Batsons  river, 
to  Jacob  Wildes,  and  so  to  ye  out  bounds  of  the  town, 
and  three  rods  wide."  Several  other  roads  were  like- 
wise laid  out,  and  others  widened. 


144  HISTORY   of  [from  1744. 

Serious  apprehensions  were  now  entertained  of  a 
war  with  France,  which  would  again  bring  with  it  the 
horrors  of  an  Indian  war.  Garrisons  and  forts  were 
put  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  soldiers  were  sent  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  principal  towns  in  Maine.  Min- 
ute men  were  also  enlisted  in  the  county  of  York  to  be 
in  readiness  for  a  rupture  with  the  Indians.  War  was 
actually  declared  against  them  in  1744,  and  they  began 
to  be  troublesome  to  the  eastward.  The  following  year 
[1745]  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  fromNew  England, 
which  resulted   in  the  capture  of  Louisburg. 

A  company  of  men  from  this  town  were  engaged 
in  the  enterprise,  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  Per- 
kins, Lieut.  John  Burbank,  and  Ensign  John  Murphy. 
Some  of  the  privates  returned  August  1,  a  few  weeks 
after  the  battle,  but  the  officers  remained  at  Cape 
Breton  till  the  next  year.*  Several  on  their  return  to 
Massachusetts  also  came  in  Cape  Porpoise  for  a  har- 
bor, amongst  whom,  Mr.  Hovey  mentions  Capt.  Ives 
and  Lieut.  Abbot. 

Although  the  Indians  had  committed  no  depredations 
in  this  town,  [174G]  it  being  in  a  degree  sheltered  by 
the  new  towns  that  had  grown  up  since  the  former 
wars,  yet  the  inhabitants  were  in  a  constant  state  of 
alarm.  The  General  Court  had  appropriated  money 
to  put  the  principal  forts  and  garrisons  of  Maine  in  a 
state  of  defence,  but  nothing  had  been  allowed  to  Ar- 
undel. To  obtain  some  assistance,  the  town,  which 
had  not  been  represented  for  twenty  two  years,  now 
chose  Thomas  Perkins  representative  "  to  the  Grand 
and  General  Court."  Aid  was  procured  for  repairing 
the  garrisons,  and  the  town  voted  to  take  "  ye  Twelve 
Pounds  which  the  Province  gave  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Hovey  towards  his  Repairing  his  Garrison"  and  to  re- 
pair it  themselves.  One  hundred  pounds  old  tenor  was 
afterwards  raised  for  that  purpose. 

So  many  men  having  been  taken  from  their  farms  to 
join  the  expedition  to  Cape  Breton,  there  was  not  pro- 
visions enough  raised  to  supply  the  demand.  In 
December,  corn  was  25s  a  bushel,  wheat  285,  flour  £0 

^Mr.  Hovey 's  journal. 


TO  174G.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  145 

a  hundred,  and  molasses  28s  a  gallon.*  Prices,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  very  severe  winter,  were  still  higher  the 
next  year.  Corn  was  30s,  and  flour  =£10,  in  the  depre- 
ciated currency. t 

The  winter  was  very  cold.  In  January  1747,  the 
"  snow  in  the  woods  three  feet  deep,  and  a  very  hard 
winter;  abundance  of  snow,  and  cold  freezing  weather." 
In  February,  "  there  was  an  abundance  of  snow  on  the 
ground,  and  drifted  in  the  lanes  above  the  fences  in 
many  places."  The  spring  however  was  rather  for- 
ward;  Mr.  Hovey  says  "  March  11th,  the  snow  pretty 
well  gone  about  the  Cape  ; — 19th,  I  began  to  garden, 
sowed  parsnips,  cabbages,  and  turnips." 

A  large  French  fleet  under  the  command  of  the 
Duke  D'Anville,  made  an  unsuccessful  assault  upon 
Annapolis,  Nova  Scotia,  in  1746.  The  fleet  being  sub- 
sequently scattered  by  storms,  returned  to  France  ;  but 
to  guard  against  another  attack,  a  reinforcement  of 
men  was  sent  down  from  Massachusetts,  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Maine.  Several  men  from  Arundel,  on  their 
passage  to  join  their  regiment,  were  cast  away  at  Mount 
Desert  and  some  of  them  drowned ;  amongst  whom 
were  John  Treeworgy,  Samuel  Averill  and  others.  It 
was  reported  by  the  survivors,  that  the  captain  of  the 
vessel,  in  order  to  insure  his  own  safety,  secured  down 
the  hatches  after  the  vessel  struck,  and  left  the  soldiers 
to  perish  miserably  in  confinement. 

There  is  however  some  obscurity  about  this  transac- 
tion. Mr.  Hovey,  under  the  date  of  February  J 4th, 
says  they  "  heard  the  Averies,  Amos  Towne,  Hues, 
and  Ensign  Sampson  were  cast  away   at  Mt.   Desert  J 

■ who  were  going  down  with  Capt.  Perkins  to 

Annapolis." 

It  is  not  certainly  known  who  commanded  the  vessel. 
John  Walker,  for  circulating  the  story,  was  prosecuted 
by  the  person  implicated,  but  the  result  of  the  suit  is 
not  known. 

Maine  lost  between  2  and  3,000  men  in  this  war.  [1748] 
Arundel  being  no  longer  a  frontier  town,  but  protected 
by  inland  towns,  did  not  lose  an    inhabitant    within  its 

*Mr.  Hovey's  journal.  In  1749,  he  went  to  Wells  after  meal, 
and  gave  30s  a  bushel. 

t  Williamson's  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  255.      $  Some  words  illegible. 

N 


146  HISTORY   of  [from  1748 

limits.  Several  however  were  probably  killed  in  the 
service  of  the  province,  as  there  were  frequent  drafts 
made  for  the  protection  of  the  eastern  settlements. 
*Eliphalet  Perkins,  Robinson  and  several  others  went 
to  Penobscot.  Alarms  were  also  very  frequent,  and 
the  savages  were  constantly  in  this  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Hovey,  April  28,  says  "the  eastern  towns  all  in  alarm 
because  of  widow  Stewart's  house  being  burnt  at  AVells. 
She  and  a  child  lost,  supposed  to  have  been  done  by 
the  Indians." 

October  7,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  by  the  English,  French  and  Spanish  crowns, 
but  the  fear  with  the  Indians  still  continued.  With 
the  return  of  peace,  business  began  to  revive,  and  lum- 
ber, potash,  furs,  and  fish,  were  in  demand,  in  exchange 
for  pork  and  corn  from  the  southern  states.  Cape  Por- 
poise was  then,  as  it  has  always  continued  to  be,  much 
frequented  as  a  harbor  during  the  stormy  seasons  of  the 
year.  Mr.  Hovey  speaks  of  a  sloop  from  Lisbon  ; — the 
schooner  Jolly  Jean  from  Lisbon  ; — a  schooner  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Fogg  ; — a  schooner  commanded  by 
Capt.  Frost,  from  Barbadoes,  bound  to  Portsmouth  ; — 
Capt.  Davis  in  a  schooner  from  Annapolis,  with  Capt. 
Morris,  Lieut.  Wise,  and  a  number  of  soldiers  bound 
for  Boston  ; — a  sloop  from  Annapolis  ; — a  sloop  from 
Louisburg,  bringing  news  of  Sir  William's  regiment 
having  embarked,  and  a  number  of  citizens  of  this 
town  being  on  board  a  sloop  belonging  to  Williams. 
Besides  these  transient  vessels  there  were  several  owned 
at  Cape  Porpoise,  [1749]  running  regularly  to  Boston, 
and  other  western  ports.  Mr.  James  Huff  having  lost  his 
"old  sloop,"  built  two  others,  one  of  which  he  after- 
wards sold,  and  the  other  was  cast  away.f  Mr.  Hovey, 
June  17,  says  "Huff's  sloop,  the  Swallow,  returned  from 
New  York  with  flour.  19th.  Stone's  schooner  Mary 
with  8  or  10  hands  sailed  for  Georges  for  hay.  20th. 
Thomas  Huff  and  Joseph  Averill  bought  a  boat  for 
£80.     July  26.     Deacon  Merrill  launched  his  sloop."| 

*AJr.  Hovey's  Journal. 

t"  Jan.  24,  1751, — HufFs  sloop  and  two  vessels  more  cast  away 
In  the  hurricane  on  Kittery  point." 

iFrom  1743  to  1751,— after  which  period  the  journal  is  missing, 


TO  1749.]  KEXNEBUNK   PORT.  147 

Stone's  sloop  was  sent  for  hay  in  consequence  of  the 
scarcity,  caused  by  the  severe  droughts  of  the  summers 
of  1748  and  1740.  Of  these  dry  seasons,  Mr.  Hovey, 
so  often  quoted,  says  "  August  1st.  As  dry  a  summer 
as  was  ever  known.  12th,  an  excessive  drought,  [and 
the  whole  town  over  the  woods  is  on  fire, — much  dam- 
age in  my  fencing,  c£150,  and  house  and  barn  narrowly 
escaped."  He  afterwards  remarks,  **'  Mars  approach- 
ing the  earth,  anno  1748  was  pretty  dry  and  not  good 
for  hay  ;  the  grass  not  being  rooted  in  the  fall,  and  Mars 
coming  nearer  the  earth  still,  an  early  and  long  contin- 
ued drought  came  on,  such  as  looked  likely  to  cause  a 
famine  in  the  land  ;  and  Mars,  a  hot  and  fiery  planet,  on 
the  18th  of  June  being  as  near  the  earth  as  possible, 
never  was  there  known  such  a  scarcity  of  English  hay, 
scarce  two  tons  being  cut  where  persons  could  gener- 
ally cut  twenty,  which  raised  the  price  of  right  good 
hay,  to  .£100  old  tenor  a  load  at  Boston  ;  and  the 
country  in  general  full  of  concern  how  to  winter  their 
stocks  ;  and  had  not  God  mercifully  restrained  the 
snow,  and  kept  the  ground  open,  much  loss  of  cattle 
would  have  ensued,  but  a  moderate    winter  prevented." 

"  April  2d.  The  scarcity  of  hay  so  great,  and  enter- 
tainment for  horses  on  the  road  so  costly,  that  people,  I 

— Mr.  Hovey  notices  several  other  vessels.  In  1750,  at  one  tim£ 
there  were"  ten  sail  in  the  harbor,  and  the  house  half  filled  wit„ 
strangers."  "  Out  of  a  Rhode-Islar.d-man  bought  £  cwt.  rice. 
41  A  man  accidentally  killed  a  board  an  Annapolis  schooner,  an" 
buried  here."  "  Elliot  in  the  harbor  from  Beverly."  "  Capt.  San- 
ders inhere."  "  Mr.  Loring  returning  home  by  water,  a  contrary 
wind  put  him  into  the  harbour,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  preached 
admirably." 

June  20,  1750.  "  Dixey  Stone  and  Perkins  launched  their 
sloop."  "  Burbank  launched  his  great  schooner."  "  Sept.  28, 
Doctor  Dexter  returned  from  Dcdham,  and  brought  news  that 
Burbank  and  Fairfield's  great  schooner  was  lost  in  the  Bay  of  Fun- 
dy."  1751.  "  Mitchell's  sloop  lay  thumping  on  the-  bar  from  the 
night  tide  till  day  tide,  but  went  off  without  any  injury.  Wheeler's 
-  sloop,  on  Thursday  last,  coming  over  the  bar  in  right  good  weath- 
er, beat  a  hole  in  her  bottom,  stove  off  her  rudder  and  part  of  her 
stern,  and  they  wero  forced  to  cut  away  the  mast.  The  damage 
£200  as  they  judge."  "  Entered  Wildes  from  Rhode  Island,  and 
Webber  from  Boston  with  Wiswall's  ringing  for  his  new  schooner, 
and  fishing  stores."     "August.  DurriU's  sloop  launched  at  night. " 

"This  entry  was  made  under  date  of  Jan.  1, 1750. 


148  HISTORY   OF  [from    1749 

am  informed,  went  to  York  Court  on  foot  ; — no  money 
but  our  Province  that  goes  and  passes." 

"  June  loth.  A  provincial  fast,  because  of  a  grievous 
drought  in  the  land,  and  the  fruits  of  the  trees  consumed 
by  devouring  insects." 

October  14,  a  treaty  was  concluded  with  the  Indians 
at  Falmouth,  and  the  following  year  [1750]  the  inhab- 
itants left  their  blockhouses  and  garrisons,  and  returned 
securely  to  their  former  employments.  There  was 
soon  however  cause  for  fresh  uneasiness,  on  account  of 
the  imprudence  of  the  whites,  between  whom  and  the 
Indians  there  were  frequent  skirmishes  at  the  eastward. 
Although  these  troubles  were  at  a  distance,  yet  exagge- 
rated accounts  of  them  soon  spread  over  the  country, 
and  kept  even  the  western  towns  of  Maine  in  constant 
state  of  inquietude.* 

Although  Arundel  lost  part  of  its  territory  on  the 
western  side  of  the  town,  it  gained  some  on  the  eastern. 

*Mr.  Hovey,  January  1750,  says,  "  Heard  21st  of  last  month,  of 
an  Indian's  being  killed  at  Wiscasset,  by  Allbee,  Sam.  Ball,  Ben 
Dite  and  others.  Two  more  were  wounded  at  the  same  time. 
The  men  were  taken  forcibly  away  from  the  sheriff,  one  Arnold, 
who  was  bringing  them  to  justice,  by  a  mob  at  North  Yarmouth  or 

Falmouth. February  21st.  A  special  court  expected  to  try  tha 

men  in  York  jail,  that  killed  the   Indian,   but  dropped  for  want  of 

a  quorum. June  19.     The  trial  of  the  men  came  on  that  fired 

through  the  Indian  wigwam   at   Wiscasset,   and  one  of  them  was 

killed,   and  two   wounded    with  buckshot. 21st.     By    Capt. 

Groves  of  Wiscasset.  heard  that  Allbee,  one  of  the  youngsters  that 
fired  on  the  Indians  and  was  indicted  for  murder,  was  cleared  ;  and 
it  being  so  contrary  to  the  judgement  of  the  Court,  they  required 
bond  for  said  Allbee's  appearance  again  this  time  twelve  months. 
Ball  and  Dight  are  ordered  to  continue  in  jail  another  year.  Al- 
though the  grand  jury  found  the  bill  against  them,  and  they  were 
indicted  for  high  trespass,  yet  the  King's  Attorney  is  against  their 
being  tried  in  York,  because  no  jury  can  be  had  here,  he  thinks, 
to  do  them  justice." 

For  an  account  of  this  affair,  see  Williamson's  Hist.  Maine,  vol. 
ii.  p.  2G7. 

January  31st.  M  A  rumour  flies  about  that  the  French  are  aid- 
ing and  personally  assisting  the  Indians  in  the  war  with  the  new 
Governour,  and  in  a  skirmish  at  Annapolis,  two  Frenchmen  tak- 
en with  a  number  of  Indians." 

September  3d.  (i  An  alarm  made  at  Richmond  fort,  and  a  post 
sent  to  Boston  because  a  great  number  of  Indians  are  together  and 
very  abusive.  11th,  Mr.  Tufts  and  his  familv  are  here  from 
Sheepscot,  and  say  all  are  in  garrison  there." 


TO  1751.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  149 

The  line  running  north  west  from  Scadlock's  falls,  did 
not  leave  the  Vines  and  Oldham,  or  the  Saco  patent, 
four  miles  wide  "  eight  miles  into  the  country."  When 
the  draft  lots  were  laid  out,  several  of  them  were  bound- 
ed by  the  Biddeford  line.  The  inhabitants  of  Biddeford, 
in  measuring  their  lots  from  Saco  river,  found  that  four 
miles  would  carry  them  within  the  limits  of  this  town  ; 
and  they  therefore  claimed  the  land,  notwithstanding 
the  line  had  been  firmly  established.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  proprietors,  held  February  26,  1751,  it  was  voted 
that  "  the  charge  shall  be  born  by  all  the  proprietors 
according  to  their  intrust,  in  defending  the  Trespass, 
which  Capt.  Bradbury  and  Mr.  Hooper  say  Capt.  Fair- 
field, Mr.  John  Merrill,  Mr.  Phillip  Durrill  and  others 
made  upon  them,  as  they  say,  being  in  the  town  of 
Biddeford,  but  we  say  it  is  in  the  town  of  Arunde^ 
and  we  have  a  good  right  so  to  do,  and  the  charge  being 
born  by  the  wholl  propriety,  being  of  Concern  to  all, 
knowing  thereby  there  own  Rights."  The  result  of  the 
suit  was  favorable  to  the  Biddeford  claimants,  who  had 
the  right  to  the  ownership  of  the  soil,  although  the  ter- 
ritory had  passed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Arundel.* 
This  land  which  extended  nearly  two  thirds  across 
the  head  of  the  town  was  known  as  the  '  Dalton  Right.' 
In  July  there  was  "  a  Provincial  fast  on  account  of 
the  small  pox  and  mortal  fevers  with  which  multitudes 
die  in  Boston  and  other  places.     In  Boston  many  coffins 

*A  lot  of  land  was  laid  out  to  John  Merrill,  in  1755,  because  his 
former  lot,  granted  by  the  town,  had  been  "  taken  away  by  law  by 
Sir  William,  it  being  in  Bucks  Patton."  This  land  was  on  Middle 
and  Bandigo  meadows.  Buck's  patent  is  not  to  be  found  on  the 
county  records.  In  Thomas  Wadleigh's  deed  to  Epps,  in  1C59, 
land  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Buck  was  mentioned  as  lying  between 
Mousam  and  Kennebunk  rivers.  George  Buck  of  Biddeford,  Eng- 
land, supposed  to  be  a  grandson  of  Major  Phillips,  sold  several  lot3 
of  land  in  Saco  about  this  time  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  he  convey- 
ed land  in  this  town  to  Sir  William  Pepperell.  In  the  grant  from 
this  town  to  Thomas  Boardman  in  1G88,  the  land  was  described  as 
being  "near  to  the  Desarts,  next  to  Major  Phillips  his  land." 
If  in  any  suit  with  the  inhabitants  of  Arundel,  Sir  William  pre- 
vailed, it  has  escaped  the  diligent  search  of  the  compiler.  He 
however  owned  considerable  land  in  this  town,  which  he  devised 
to  his  grandson,  William  P.  Sparhawk.  Mr.  Sparhawk  being  a 
royalist  at  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war,  his  property  was 
confiscated  and  sold. 

N    N 


150  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1751 

are  carried  to  the  burying,  and  there  set  down  and  left 
two  or  three  days  before  they  are  committed  to  the 
grave,  the  grave  digger  not  able  to  do  it  sooner.  A 
charitable  contribution  recommended  by  the  General 
Court  for  the  poor  distressed  in  Boston.  The  Court 
set  at  Concord  and  no  election  sermon,  for  fear  of 
spreading  the  small  pox." 

Mr.  Hovey,  from  whose  journal  the  foregoing  account 
was  taken,  says  the  same  month,  "  in  a  thunder  storm 
which  was  not  hard  with  us  in  this  town,  but  at  York, 
Brooks's  barn  with  four  or  five  tons  of  hay  burnt.  Eli- 
as  Wire  at  Cape  Neddock,  had  three  cows  killed  within 
twenty  feet  of  his  house.  Two  of  them  fell  with  their 
backs  close  together.  At  George  Reddick's,  where  a 
boy  of  about  twelve  years  old  was  playing  by  the  door, 
an  it  rained  not  then,  his  mother  told  him  to  come  in 
out  of  the  thunder.  He  replied  '  lam  as  safe  here  as  in 
the  house,'  but  yet  went  in  and  stood  near  the  hearth, 
while  the  next  clap  that  came,  tore  down  the  chimney, 
with  six  smokes,  to  the  chamber  floor,  and  so  shattered 
it  to  the  very  foundation  as  that  all  must  be  built  anew. 
The  boy  was  carried  away  through  a  door  which  was 
open  into  a  large  closet  used  for  a  dairy  room,  and  left 
on  the  dresser,  one  hand  much  cut  with  the  glass  of  the 
windows,  that  were  carried  away,  and  no  other  hurt 
done  him.  Jonathan  Reddick,  the  boy's  brother  there 
present,   declared  it  to  me." 

By  an  act  of  Parliament  passed  January  22,  1752, 
the  old  style,  by  which  the  year  commenced  March  25, 
Was  abolished,  and  the  new  style,  beginning  the  year 
January  1st,  was  introduced;  and  eleven  days  struck 
from  the  calendar,  making  September  third,  the  four- 
teenth.* On  the  public  records,  a  long  time  previous 
to  this  act,  events  occurring  between  January  1st,  and 
March  25th,  were  recorded  as  happening  in  a  double 
year,  as,  for  example,  175£. 

The  French  and  Indians  evidently  began  to  make 
preparations  for  another  war  in  1753,  and  hostilities 
commenced  the  following  year,  although  war  was  not 
actually    declared   till    1755.      During   this    war,    the 

*  In  1582,  the  style  was  first  corrected  by  order  of  Pope  Grego- 
ry XIII. 


TO  1755.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  151 

French  Neutrals,  who  resided  in  Nova  Scotia,  were 
taken  prisoners  by  the  English,  and  their  families  dis- 
tributed amongst  the  different  towns  in  New  England, 
and  supported  by  the  Province.  The  fifth  great  earth- 
quake happened  this  year,  which  lasted  four  minutes, 
and  was  much  more  violent  than  any  preceding  one. 
The  inhabitants  were  alarmed,  and  a  fast  was  ordained. 
Like  the  last  one  it  caused  revivals  of  religion.* 

Towns  being  required  to  pay  their  own  representa- 
tives, Arundel  never  incurred  that  expense,  unless  in 
times  of  danger,  or  when  the  inhabitants  had  some  par- 
ticular object  to  accomplish,  f Thomas  Perkins,  jr. 
was  chosen,  after  an  interval  of  nine  years,  it  being 
only  the  fourth  time  the  town  had  been  represented. 
A  town  road  was  laid  out  from  the  bridge  near  Na- 
thaniel Goodwin's  to  Kimball's  brook  ;  and  another 
from  GorT's  mill  to  Harding's  ferry.  This  latter  road 
is  the  one  that  leads  directly  through  the  village,  and 
is  known  by  the  name  of  Maine  street.  When  this 
road  was  located,  there  were  but  four  houses  where 
the  village  now  is.  The  first  one  within  its  limits  was 
built  by  Paul  Shackford,  about  1740,  near  the  pre- 
sent dwelling  house  of  Asa  Hutchins.  The  second  one 
which  was  a  block  house,  was  built  by  Rowlandson 
Bond,  about  1743,  and  was  afterwards  occupied  by 
Thomas  Wiswall,  and  which  was  more  recently  known 
as  the  Morse  house.  It  was  torn  down  about  thirty 
years  ago,  and  the  cellar  may  still  be  seen  in  front  of 
the  store  occupied  by  Silas  Perkins.  Gideon  Walker 
built  the  third  one  in  1745,  on  the  spot  where  Ivory 
Goodwin  lives.  The  part  of  the  house  built  by  Mr. 
Walker,  known  as  the  old  red  house,  was  removed 
about  two  years  since,  and  is  the  one  occupied  by 
Joseph  Manuel.  The  house  occupied  by  Daniel  S. 
Perkins,  which  was  built  by  his  grandfather,  Elipha- 
let  Perkins,  was  the  fourth.  Besides  these  four,  there 
were  several  others  in  the  neighborhood.  The  house 
of  Miles  Rhodes  was  then  built,  and  the  one  occupied 
by  Tristram  J.  Perkins,  which  was  erected  by  Capt. 
Thomas  Perkins  before  1732. 

*  Williamson,  vol.  ii.  p.  317.  Also,  Greenleaf's  Ecc.  Sketches, 
pa.  15  and  24. 

tThis  election  was  not  recorded  on  the  town  book. 


152  HISTORY  of  [from   1755 

Samuel  Perkins  also  had  one  near  where  John  Lord 
lives ; — Samuel  Gould  one  near  where  the  widow  of 
William  Fairfield  resides  ; — Mr.  Cromwell  one  near 
the  foot  of  the  rope  walk  ;  and  the  garrison  of  Ste- 
phen Harding  was  standing.  The  house  of  *John  Mitch- 
el,  on  the  western  side  of  the  river,  was  then  a 
garrison  house,  and  Mr.  Walker  and  his  neighbors 
used  to  repair  to  it  in  times  of  danger.  The  men  of 
the  garrison  used  to  come  over  armed,  to  protect  the 
females  while  milking. 

The  proprietors  of  Coxhall  (Lyman)  appointed  a 
committee  to  meet  the  Selectmen  of  Arundel  to  settle 
the  bounds  of  the  townships.  They  met  in  1754,  but 
their  return  was  not  recorded  till  the  year  after.  They 
agreed  "  to  begin  at  Kennebunk  River  at  the  place 
where  the  Gentlemen  that  was  appointed  for  the  Ser- 
vice Ended  their  Preambleation,  and  from  thence  to 
run  on  a  northeast  Corse  or  point  of  the  Compass 
the  full  Extent  and  Length  of  Cokshall,  according  to 
their  original  Grant,  is  to  be  the  Bounds  and  Dividing 
Line  between  Arundel  and  Cokshall,  as  it  is  run  out 
and  Bounded,  as  may  be  found  by  the  marked  Trees 
in  the  Line,  which  Line  begins  at  mousom  River  near 
Flewallen's  falls,  and  runs  a  Due  north  east  Corce 
Between  the  Town  of  Wells,  Arundel  and  Cokshall  to 
the  full  Extent  of  Cokshall,  and  as  far  as  Arundel 
joyns  with  it." 

June,  1756,  England  declared  war  against  France ; 
and  the  French  and  Indians  made  extensive  prepara- 
tions to  attatk  the  settlements  in  Maine.  Besides  the 
forces  in  the  forts  and  garrisons,  260  men  were  divid- 
ed into  five  ranging  parties  between  Salmon  Falls  and 
St.  Georges,  for  the  protection  of  Maine.  The  small 
pox,  which  prevailed  extensively  at  this  time,  [1757] 
also  served  as  a  defence  against  the  Indians,  who  were 
much  afraid  of  the  contagion.  Louisburg,  which  had 
been  given  up  to  the  French,  was  recaptured  in  1753 ; 
and  the  next  year,  Niagara,  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point, 
Quebec,  and  St.  Francois,  the  strong-hold  of  the 
Indians,  were  taken.  These  successes  were  followed 
[1760]  by  the  capture  of  Montreal,  and  the  whole  of 

*  Mr.  Mitchel's  house  was  built  in  1740.    Bourne. 


TO  1760.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  A53 

the  French  possessions  in  North  America,  which  put  a 
final  end  to  the  wars  between  the  English  and  Indians. 

No  notice  having  been  taken  on  the  town  records,  of 
any  troubles  with  the  Indians,  except  incidentally  in 
making  repairs  on  Mr.  Prentice's  and  Mr.  Hovey's 
garrisons  and  in  a  few  other  instances,  it  would  not  be 
supposed  from  an  examination  of  them,  that  this  town 
had  been  so  long  exposed  to  the  troubles  and  dangers 
of  a  savage  warfare.  In  consequence  of  this  silence 
upon  the  subject,  most  of  the  facts  relative  to  these 
wars  are  lost,  or  have  become  so  vague  as  not  to 
be  worthy  of  notice.  Some  of  the  traditionary  accounts, 
however,  concurring  with  general  history,  can  be  re- 
lied upon. 

There  were  six  wars  between  the  whites  and  Indians, 
between  1675  and  1760.*  In  the  early  wars,  the 
French  endeavored  to  put  a  stop  to  the  cruel  practice  of 
killing  and  scalping  prisoners,  by  offering  a  bounty  for 
prisoners  only.  Frequent  wars,  however,  between  them 
and  the  English,  at  length  excited  their  hatred  against 
them  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  offered  the  Indians  as 
much  for  scalps  as  for  prisoners,  and  finally  gave  a 
bounty  on  scalps  only.  The  English  retaliated,  and 
their  wars  became  wars  of  extermination.  First  ten, 
then  forty,  and  afterwards  as  high  as  <£400  were  offered 
by  the  Provincial  government,  for  scalps  ;  and  people 
followed  hunting  Indians  as  a  business. 

The  Indians  did  not  murder  all  indiscriminately,  but 
would  sometimes  from  recollection  of  past  favors,  or 
from  mere  caprice,  let  their  enemies  escape.  Mrs. 
Major  was  gathering  some  boughs  for  a  broom,  within 
gunshot  of  two  Indians.  One  of  them  attempted  to 
shoot  her,  but  the  other  one  remarked  that  she  had 
frequently  swept  a  clean  place  for  them  to  lie  in,  and 
if  they  should   let  her   alone  she  would  probably  do  it 

*Philip's  war  from  June  24,  1G75,  to  the  treaty  of  Casco,  April 
10th,  1673  -.—King  William's  war,  from  August  13th,  1G88,  to  the 
treaty  of  Mare  point,  January  7th,  1C99  : — Queen  Anne's,  from 
August,  1703,  to  the  treaty  of  Portsmouth,  July  lllh,1713  :— Love- 
well's,  or  the  three  years  war,  from  June  13th,  1722,  to  Dummer's 
treaty,  December  15th,  1725  :— The  Spanish,  or  five  years  war, 
from  July  19th,  1745,  to  the  treaty  of  Falmouth,  October  16th, 
1749  :— And  the  French  and  Indian  war,  from  April,  1755,  to  the 
conquest  of  Montreal,  and  the  treaty  of  Halifax,  February  22d,  1760. 


154  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1760. 

again  ;  and  they  suffered  her  to  return  without  molesta- 
tion. Mr.  Harding  exposed  himself  frequently,  but  the 
recollection  of  his  kindness  to  them  in  times  of  peace 
was  a  sufficient  safeguard. 

The  Indians  observed  their  early  treaties,  but  so 
faithless  had  they  become  in  later  years,  that  the  Eng- 
lish were  but  little  safer  in  times  of  acknowledged 
peace,  than  during  war.  From  the  treaty  of  1749,  to 
the  subjugation  of  the  Canadas  to  the  English  in  1760, 
there  was  not  a  year  but  the  Indians,  instigated  by  the 
French,  committed  acts  of  aggression  against  the  Eng- 
lish. There  were  many  from  this  town  out  in  the 
French  war,  a  perfect  list  of  whose  names  cannot  be 
obtained. 

After  the  close  of  the  wars,  when  the  prisoners  were 
ransomed  or  exchanged,  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that 
persons  captured  young  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  re- 
turn to  civilized  life.  They  would  hide  in  the  forests, 
climb  trees,  and  use  every  exertion  to  escape  from  their 
friends  and  relatives,  so  enamoured  had  they  become 
with  a  savage  state.  Several  of  the  most  barbarous 
chiefs  were  undoubtedly  white  children  stolen  in  their 
infancy.  Capt.  Nathaniel  was  a  white  man,  and  John 
Durrell,  although  with  them  but  two  years,  ever  retain- 
ed the  habits  and  appearance  of  an  Indian.  At  the  time 
of  the  general  attack  upon  the  towns  in  Maine,  in  1703, 
it  was  supposed  that  Tabitha  Littlefield  of  Wells,  a 
child,  was  killed.  Some  years  afterwards,  when  Mrs. 
Harding,  who  was  a  relative  of  hers,  was  trading  with 
the  Indians  at  her  own  house,  a  young  squaw,  who  was 
standing  near  her,  asked  her  if  she  did  not  remember 
Tabitha  Littlefield,  and  immediately  darted  from  the 
house.  Search  was  made  for  her  and  every  induce- 
ment offered  the  Indians  to  influence  them  to  give  her 
up,  but  without  success.  She  had  become  so  attach- 
ed to  her  captors,  and  their  customs  and  manners, 
that  the  ties  of  consanguinity  were  insufficient  to  draw 
her  back  into  the  bosom  of  her  family.  It  appears 
strange  to  those  accustomed  to  the  pleasures  of  civilized 
life,  that  persons  would  willingly  submit  to  the  priva- 
tions and  hardships  of  a  savage  state,  when  an  opportu- 
nity offered  to  change  their  situation.  But  singular  as 
the  fact  is,  it  was  universally  true,  that  no  one  ever  re* 


A.  D.   1760.]  KEXNEBUNK    PORT.  155 

turned  willingly  to  his  former  home.  The  Indians,  on 
the  other  hand,  were  unwilling  to  adopt  the  habits  of 
the  whites.*  Wahwa,  Mugg,  and  other  Indians,  al- 
though early  taken  into  English  families,  could  never 
submit  to  the  restraints  of  civilization,  but  took  every 
opportunity  to  join  their  tribes. 

The  savages  have  but  a  few  wants,  which  are  easily 
supplied;  but  in  a  state  of  civilization  many  artificial 
ones  are  acquired,  that  can  only  be  gratified  by  contin- 
ued exertion.  Man  is  naturally  an  indolent  being, 
averse  to  labor,  and  consenting  to  exert  himself  only 
when  driven  by  necessity  to  supply  his  absolute  wants, 
or  stimulated  by  his  passions.  As  he  advances  in  civil- 
ization, his  wants  increase,  and  he  is  emulous  to  exceed 
his  neighbors  in  the  means  of  comforts  and  luxuries. 
Hence  arises  the  necessity  of  constant  exertion,  in  order 
to  maintain  his  place,  or  to  advance  himself  in  society. 
To  obtain  the  means  of  fancied  enjoyment,  he  will, 
through  a  long  life,  sacrifice  his  ease,  forego  the  com- 
forts within  his  reach  ;  and  brave  dangers,  and  hard- 
ships, that  would  be  insurmountable  to  the  savage.  In 
grasping  at  the  shadow,  he  will  resign  the  substance  ; 
and  in  endeavoring  to  better  his  condition,  he  will  lead 
a  life  of  greater  exposure  and  peril,  than  is  incident  to 
the  situation  from  which  he  is  attempting  to  raise  him- 
self. Persons  born  and  educated  in  competence  or 
opulence,  acquire  a  taste  for  parade  and  show ;  and 
they  are  willing  to  leave  a  comfortable  home  and  a 
loving  and  beloved  circle  of  friends,  and  in  distant  and 
foreign  climes,  brave  poverty,  dangers,  and  even  death 
itself,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  the  means  of  continuing 
or  adding  to  their  enjoyments.  This  desire  of  self  ag- 
grandizement,— this  restlessness  of  disposition,  which 
prevents  so  many  from  remaining  contentedly  in  that 
happy  state  of  mediocrity,  alike  free  from  the  vexations 

*"  An  honest  Indian  deacon  at  Natick,  being  asked  the  reason 
why  when  their  young  men  were  educated  in  English  families  and 
become  acquainted  with  their  habits  and  manners,  on  returning 
to  their  tribe  thev  immediately  became  idle,  indolent  drunkards  ? 
the  deacon  replied,  '  Tucks  will  be  tucks  for  all  old  hen  be  hatch 
em." — Thacker's  Hist.  Plymouth. 

The  daughter  of  Capt.  Sam,  of  the  Saco  tribe,  chose  to  remain 
with  the  English.—  Williamson,  vol.  ii.  p.  272. 


156  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1760. 

of  wealth  and  the  miseries  of  poverty, — this  wish  to 
accumulate  property  beyond  the  capacity  of  enjoyment, 
although  in  itself  an  undesirable  state  of  individual 
feeling,  yet,  in  the  aggregate,  has  been  undoubtedly  the 
means  of  advancing,  not  only  wealth  and  knowledge, 
but  even  of  promoting  happiness  itself  in  the  world  at 
large.  From  this  class  was  our  own  happy  and  flour- 
ishing state  colonized  ;  and  by  them  are  our  new  states 
and  settlements  peopled  ;  our  ships,  seeking  wealth  in 
every  part  of  the  globe,  manned  ;  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  and  the  dense  forests  ransacked,  to  obtain  that 
rank  in  society  that  wealth  always  gives  ;  and  our  coun- 
try raised  to  its  present  elevated  stand  amongst  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth. 

The  savage,  not  knowing  or  conceiving  of  enjoy- 
ments superior  to  his  own,  lacks  that  motive  for  exer- 
tion, which  would  raise  him  from  his  primitive  state. 
The  nearer  he  is  to  a  state  of  nature,  the  less  desirous 
is  he  of  changing  his  situation.  Children  of  the  poor- 
est and  most  degraded  classes  in  society,  amongst  the 
whites,  who  are  brought  up  in  a  state  of  starvation,  suf- 
fering, and  ignorance,  are  the  most  unwilling  to  change 
their  condition  in  life.  They  cannot  conceive  of  any 
enjoyments  unconnected  with  home  and  its  associations. 
They  cannot  be  made  to  understand  the  value  of  com- 
forts which  they  have  never  realized  ;  and  are  unwil- 
ling to  leave  their  accustomed  haunts,  and  form  new 
habits  and  connections,  for  the  purpose  of  enjoying 
pleasures,  of  which  they  have  no  conception,  and 
which  to  them  are  but  visionary. 


A-  D.  1760.]        KENNEBUNK  PORT.  157 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Three    counties    in    Maine Census..... Valuation Slaves...- 

Stampt  Act....Mr.  Hovey  dismissed....Contention  in  the  par- 
ish....Meeting  house  burnt...New  one  built...Council  called.... 
Mr.  Hovey  and  his  people  censured. ...Mr.  Moody  settled.... 
Revolutionary  war....Fight  at  Cape  Porpoise....Capt.  Burn- 
ham  killed....Schools  and  education....Mr.  Thompson..«Poor 
Arundel. 

Maine,  which  had  always  been  one  county,  was  now 
^1760]  divided  into  three  ;  Cumberland  and  Lincoln 
being  taken  from  York.  Jurors,  who  had  heretofore 
been  chosen  in  town  meetings,  were,  by  an  act  of  the 
General  Court,  now  for  the  first  time  drawn  from 
boxes.* 

By  a  new  valuation,  [1761]  the  Provincial  tax  of 
the  County  of  York,  was  <£38  155.  6d.f  The  popula- 
tion of  Arundel  was  about  600  ;  and  the  taxable  polls 
were  127.  This  and  the  following  year  were  noted 
for  the  great  droughts,  and  extensive  fires  in  the  woods. 
The  road,  from  near  where  the  observatory  is,  to 
Cape  Porpoise,  was  located  in  1762  ;  and  it  was  the 
first  road  laid  out  in  the  town,  the  true  distances  and 
courses  of  which  were  given.  In  consequence  of  diffi- 
culties in  the  parish,  the  meeting  house  at  the  Cape 
was  purposely  burnt  in  1763 ;  and  the  town  voted  to 
build  a  new  one,  55  feet  long  and  45  feet  wide,  on 
Burbank's  hill.f 

A  census  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine  was  taken,  in 
1764,  by  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
Maine    contained    about  24,000   inhabitants,    and   the 

*  Williamson's  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  349.  Jurors  continued  to  be 
chosen  in  Arundel  till  1772. 

t  The  following  is  the  apportionment  of  the  tax  on  the  towns 
in  the  County  of  York. 

£.     s.     d.  £.     s.    d. 

York        9—  3—5         Wells        4—17—00      Narraganset. 

Kittery    9—10—8:1      Arundel    2—  9— 10i     No.  1.  (Buxton ) 

Berwick   7—10—9        Biddeford  4—11—11         11*.  lOd. 

t  The  meeting  house  was  enlarged  in  1797. 
O 


158  history  of  [from  1764 

county  of  York  11,145.  There  were  in  Arundel,  127 
houses,  138  families,  833  white  inhabitants,  and  five 
negroes.  Slavery*  was  tolerated  in  Massachusetts 
till  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  the  revolution,  when 
it  was  abolished.  But  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Arundel  were  able  to  hold  slaves.  Mr.  Prentice  bought 
the  first  one  owned  in  town,  in  1734.  Mr.  Hovey  also 
owned  one,  and  probably  sold  him  in  1747.1  Robert 
Cleaves,  Thomas  Wiswall,  Samuel  Hutching,  John 
Fairfield,  Gideon  Walker,  Andrew  Brown,  and  Jona- 
than Stone,  each  owned  a  slave.  Several  of  them  were 
living  in  the  town,  but  a  few  years  since,  the  last  two 
of  whom  died  in  the  poor  house,  of  which  the  son  of 
the  former  master  of  one  of  them  was  an  inmate. 

The  year  1765  is  memorable  for  the  passage  of  the 
Stampt-act,  which,  from  the  violent  opposition  it  en- 
countered in  this  country,  was  repealed  the  following 
year.  In  1767, f  however,  a  duty  was  imposed  on  tea, 
glass,  and  several  other  articles,  which  ultimately  led  to 
the  revolutionary  war. 

Mr.  Hovey,  who  had  been  the  settled  minister  of  the 
town  for  twenty  seven  years,  was  dismissed  in  1768* 
As  the  connection  between  Mr.  Hovey  and  the  town, 
was  productive  of  much  contention  and  bad  feeling, 
and  unfortunate  in  its  termination,  it  may  not  perhaps 
be  uninteresting  to  give  a  connected  account  of  the 
difficulties  between  him  and  his  parishioners.  After 
his  settlement,  he  continued  to  preach  for  several  years 
to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  town.  As  the  money 
of  the  Province  depreciated,  they  continued  to  increase 
his  salary  ^nominally,  till  =£450  old  tenor,  were  worth 

*  There  was  ho  express  act  of  the  Legislature,  abolishing  slave- 
ry;  but  in  1783,  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts,  decided 
that  the  declaration  in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  that  "  all  men  are  born 
free  and  equal,"  virtually  annulled  the  right  to  hold  slaves. 

t"'Oct.  21.  My  negro  ran  away. —  Nov.  1.  My  negro  living 
at ,  I  carried  him  to  Boston."  Mr.  Hovey  does  not  men- 
tion him  again  after  this  date.  In  the  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll. 
it  is  said  there  were  two  male,  and  one  female  slaves  in  Arundel  in 
1754.  The  female  belonged  to  Jonathan  Stone,  and  was  appraised 
at  £300  old  tenor  in  the  inventory  of  his  estate,  in  1756. 

$  The  distance  from  Boston  to  Falmouth  was  measured  in  1767, 
and  mile  stones  erected. 


TO  1768.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  f&9 

but  £60  lawful,  or  8200.  The  inhabitants  on  Saco 
road  and  near  Kennebunk  river,  having  become  more 
numerous,  and  not  wishing  to  travel  so  far  as  Cape 
Porpoise  to  meeting,  called  a  town  meeting,*  in  1747, 
to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  town,  to  be  set  off  from 
Mr.  Hovey's  society  and  be  allowed  to  form  a  new 
parish  with  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  part 
of  Wells,  or  Kennebunk.  Not  being  able  to  obtain 
the  consent  of  the  town,  they  petitioned  the  General 
Court,  in  1749,  for  the  same  object. f  The  petition 
was  rejected,  on  account  of  the  opposition  it  met  with 
from  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape,  who  were  still  a 
majority  of  the  town.  They  likewise  refused  to  try 
for  a  north  west  line  from  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk 
river.,  as  the  western  limits  of  the  town,  which,  it  was 
said,  the  members  of  the  General  Court  intimated 
might  readily  be  obtained.  This  would  have  brought 
Mr.  Little's,  or  the  second  parish  in  Wells,  which  was 
incorporated  this  year,!  within  the  limits  of  Arundel. 
These  unjust  and  impolitic  measures  so  irritated  the 
petitioners,  that  at  the  next  town  meeting,  they,  togeth- 
er with  some  who  had  become  followers  of  the  cele<- 

*  There  is  no  notice  of  this  meeting  on  the  town  records,  but 
Mr.  Hovey,  under  date  of  Jan.  15,  says,  "The  people  at  the"  (some 
words  illegible)  "  uneasy  vexatious  cur,  had  a  town  meeting  to  be 
setoff." 

\  This  petition  does  not  appear  on  the  Massachusetts  record?. 
The  town,  however,  chose  Jonathan  Stone,  agent,  to  oppose  "  tha 
petition  which  Soum  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Arundel, 
•living  nere  the  River  of  Kennebunk,  have  Put  into  the  Grat  and 
General  Court,  Praying  that  they  may  be  set  off  from  the  Lower 
part  of  the  Town  of  Arundel  to  joyn  Som  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
tho  Town  of  Wells,  and  to  be  a  Parrish  by  themselves." 

The  following  scarcely  legible  extract  is  from  Mr.  Hovey's 
Journal.  "  May  8,  1749.  Samuel  Little  -  -  -  -  Kennebunkers 
-  -  -  -  sabbath  day  -  -  -  -  last  fall  went  away.  People  have  pe- 
titioned General  Court  to  be  a  parish." 

f*1  Jan.  1,  1750  Yesterday  the  Kennebunkers  began  their 
meeting,  and  Mr.  Mirriam,  schoolmaster  of  Wells,  preached.  He 
took  his  degree  last  year.     He  is  from  Concord,  and  about  the  age 

of  twenty    five.     21st.     Daniel    Little    employed  by  the 

Kennebunkers  as   a   minister  -. 29th.     Daniel    Little   at  my 

house,  I  gone  to  visit  Alltimes  sick." — Mr.  II.  Journal. 

The  Meeting  house  was  on  the  spot,  on  which  the  hause  of  Mrs. 
Lliza  Killham  now  is. 


160  HISTORY    OF  [a.  d.  1768. 

brated  George  Whitefield,*  and  other  disaffected  per- 
sons, succeeded  in  obtaining  a  vote  not  to  give  Mr. 
Hovey  any  thing  additional  to  his  original  <£180  old 
tenor,  which  was  now  worth  but  about  thirty  three 
dollars.  There  having  been  a  new  emission  of  money, 
at  the  time  of  his  settlement,  which  by  law  was  a  ten- 
der in  payment  of  debts,  Mr.  Hovey  did  not  anticipate 
the  subsequent  depreciation,  and  did  not,  like  his  pre- 
decessor, fix  the  value  of  his  salary  on  a  metallic  basis; 
and  he  could  not  therefore  obtain  immediate  relief. 
Being  naturally  a  passionate  man,  he  did  not  submit  to 
this  injustice  and  indignity,  with  that  patience  and 
resignation  becoming  his  calling,  but  animadverted 
rather  severely  upon  their  conduct.  This  only  served 
to  widen  the  breach,  and  subjected  him  to  the  neglect 
of  many  of  his  parishioners,  and  to  the  petty  malice  of 
the  more  vindictive.t 

Matters  remained  in  this  unhappy  state  for  several 
years,  sometimes  the  town  allowing  Mr.  Hovey  a  fair 
compensation,  and  sometimes  refusing,  as  his  friends 
or  opponents  happened  to  prevail  at  the  town  meetings. 
At  length,  1758,  Mr.  Hovey  recommended  calling  a 
council  to  propose  terms  of  separation,  but  the  town, 
would  not  agree  to  it.  He  however  proceeded  to  call 
one  himself,    which  censured  the  conduct  of  a  portion 

*  Whitefield  first  visited  Maine  in  1741.  He  soon  after  return- 
ed to  England,  but  made  a  second  visit  in  1744.  Some  of  the 
settled  ministers  approved  of  his  course,  and  aided  him  in  promot- 
ing the  revivals  of  religion,  which  were  sure  to  follow  his  preach- 
ing. Others  were  violently  opposed  to  him,  on  account  of  the 
division  caused  in  many  churches,  by  his  appearance.  Mr.  Hovey 
was  of  the  latter  class.  Mr.  Whitefield  however  preached  in  Mr. 
Hovey 's  meeting  house.  In  his  journal,  June  9lh,  1747,  he  says, 
"Mr.  Whitefield  preached,  and  Hutchin's  wife  buried  after  the 
lecture." 

In  Smith's  journal,  January  24, 1745,  it  is  said,  "  Great  and  pre- 
vailing clamors  every  where  against  Mr.  Whitfield.  Feb.  18. 
Ministers  meeting  relating  to  Mr.  Whitfield.  Present  Messrs. 
Thompson,  Jefferds,  Hovey,  M.  Morrill  and  myself;  had  much 
of  uneasiness." 

t "  Took  boys  1o  cypher,  who  were  to  find  my  wood  ;  and  never 
worse  off",  no  wood  found  me  by  the  people,  and  by  the  11th  of 
March  almost  out  " 

"  My  cows  all  let  loose  in  the  barn,  and  the  stanchions  put  ija 
their  places  again  by  some  illminded  persoa." — JowiuU. 


A.  D.  1768.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  161 

of  the  town  and  church,  and  "advised  them  to  give  Mr. 
Hovey  a  deed  of  his  house  and  land,  which  they  had 
heretofore  neglected  to  do.  The  inhabitants,  not  being 
intimidated  by  ecclesiastical  anathemas,  refused  to 
give  him  either  a  fair  compensation,  or  allow  him'  to 
leave  his  situation,  unless  he  would  give  up  his  house 
and  land.  Finally,  [1762]  the  inhabitants  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  town,  endeavored  to  have  the  old  meeting 
house  removed,  or  a  new  one  built  nearer  the  centre 
of  population.  This  they  were  unable  to  effect;  and 
hopeless  of  having  their  just  cause  of  complaint  remov- 
ed, some  of  them  had  recourse  to  a  singular  expedient 
to  end  the  controversy.  Two  boys,  instigated  by  older 
persons,  on  the  night  of  the  28ch  of  April,  1763,  set  fire 
to  the  meeting  house,  and  it  was  entirely  consumed. 
The  town  chose  a  committee  "  to  settle  with  them  for 
the  damage  they  had  done  the  town,"  but  refused  to 
prosecute  them,  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the  pun- 
ishment, if  convicted.  Some  of  the  pew  owners,  how- 
ever, brought  actions  against  the  fathers  of  the  young 
men,  and  recovered  of  them  the  value  of  their  pews,* 
This  method  of  looseing  the  gordian  knot,  still  more 
inflamed  the  combatants.  A  new  controversy  arose 
between  the  two  parts  of  the  town,  relative  to  the  loca- 
tion of  a  new  house.  A  vote  was  obtained  to  build  it 
on  Burbank's  hill,  a  few  rods  west  of  Mr.  Burbank's 
house,  but  the  people  from  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town  protested  against  the  vote.  They  contended  that 
Burbank's  hill  was  too  far  from  the  centre  of  popula- 
tion, and  that  the  meeting  ordering  it  there  was  illegal, 
the  inhabitants  not  having  had  fair  notice.  Those  in 
favor  of  this  location,  offered  to  refer  the  matter  to 
disinterested  men,  and  Richworth  Jordan  and  Jeremi- 
ah Hill  of  Saco,  and  Joseph  Sawyer  of  Wells,  were 
chosen  to  select  a  spot  on  which  to  erect  the  house. 
They  decided  in  favor  of  Burbank's  hill,  and  the  house 
was  accordingly  erected  [1764]  where  it  now  stands. 

*  It  was  for  some  time  supposed,  that  the  meeting  house  wag 
burnt  by  accident.  There  had  been  a  lecture  the  afternoon  previ- 
ous to  its  being  burnt,  and  Deacon  Robinson  was  supposed  to 
have  done  it  with  his  pipe.  A  sister  of  one  of  the  boys,  not  fully 
enjoying  this  act  of  revenue  while  it  was  attributed  to  accident, 
imparted  the  secret  to  a  friend,  who  made  it  public. 
Oo 


162  HISTORY    of  [a.  D.  176& 

The  quarrel  however  did  not  end  here.  Those  op- 
posed to  the  location,  still  contended  the  whole 
proceeding  was  illegal,  and  that  a  majority  of  the  town 
was  opposed  to  it.  At  another  meeting,  when  the 
question  was  put,  to  see  if  tho  town  would  reconsider 
the  vote  relating  to  building  the  house  on  Burbank's 
hill,  the  moderator,  who  was  opposed  to  the  location, 
declared  the  vote  in  the  affirmative,  and  refused  to  try 
the  other  side  of  the  question,  although  there  was  a 
large  majority  opposed  to  the  reconsideration.  The 
committee  for  building  the  house,  sued  the  town  and 
recovered  ;  [1765]  and  the  house  was  afterwards  flm- 
ished  with  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  pews. 

This  question  was  a  test  of  the  relative  strength  of  the 
two  parts  of  the  town  ;  and  Cape  Porpoise,  which 
from  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  had  been  the 
most  populous,  now  lost  its  ascendency,  which  it  has 
never  regained.  The  meeting  house  controversy  being 
settled,  they  now  renewed  their  warfare  with  their 
pastor.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  consult  with  him 
upon  terms  of  separation.  Not  being  able  to  agree,  a 
council  was  called,  [1768]  consisting  of  the  ministers  and 
delegates  from  the  cJhurch  in  Biddeford,  the  first  and 
second  churches  in  Ki'ttery,  the  first  and  second  in 
York,  and  the  first  and  second  in  Wells.  Mr.  Morrill 
was  chosen  moderator,  and  Mr.  Hemmenway  scribe. 
They  reported  that  it  was  "  expedient  for  the  Rev. 
John  Hovey  to  ask  his  dismission  upon  conditions  that 
the  town  give  him  a  deed  of  his  real  estate  ; — that  he 
and  Mrs.  Hovey,  and  all  his  estate  be  exempted  from 
taxation  during  his  natural  life; — that  no  disagreeable 
town  office  be  imposed  upon  him,  and  give  him  fifty 
acres  of  land  : — this  appearing  necessary  to  us,  for  the 
restoration  of  peace  to  this  long  divided  people,  and  the 
advancement  of  the  pure  religion  of  Jesus  Christ:  And 
now  sincerely  lamenting  the  unhappy  and  unchristian 
divisions,  which  have  for  years  past  prevailed  in  this 
town,  and  the  alienation  of  affection  of  pastor  and 
people  from  each. other,  which  must  in  its  necessary 
consequences  be  to  the  highest  degree  prejudicial  to  the 
interest  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  a  great  reproach  to 
the  Christian  profession ;  we  advise  all  parties  impar- 
tially to  review  their  past  conduct,  and  deeply  humble 


A.  D.   176S.]'  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  163 

themselves  before  God  for  what  they  shall  find  amiss,, 
and  that  for  the  future  all  bitterness,  wrath,  clamour, 
and  evil  speaking  be  put  away  with  all  malice,  and  that 
they  be  kind  to  one  another,  tender  hearted,  forgiving 
one  another  as  they  would  hope  for  the  forgiveness  of 
God  ; — And  we  judge  that  the  pastor  has  been  guilty  of 
conducting  in  a  manner  unbecoming  the  dignity  and 
sanctity  of  his  station  ;  yet  it  appears  to  us  that  his  tri- 
als and  temptations,  by  the  faulty  behaviour  of  some  of 
his  people  towards  him,  have  been  very  great : — and 
we  judge  that  the  unhappy  state  and  circumstances  of 
this  church  and  town  for  some  years  past,  have  been 
greatly  occasioned  by  the  culpable  neglect  of  this  peo- 
ple in  not  complying  with  the  advice  of  the  last  eccle- 
siastical council : — we  therefore  earnestly  recommend 
it  to  the  town  to  comply  with  the  above  conditions,  that 
Mr.  Hovey's  pastoral  relations  may  be  dissolved,  and 
proper  steps  taken  for  a  happy  and  peaceable  settlement 
of  a  gospel  minister  among  them." 

Before  this  council  every  trivial  transgression,  every 
hasty  expression,  and  every  circumstance  distorted  by 
malice  and  slander,  which  had  been  hoarded  for  years, 
was  brought  against  Mr.  Hovey.*  His  natural  irritar 
bility,  however,  gave  his  enemies  too  many  opportunities 
to  record  hasty  expressions,  and  imprudent  acts  against 
him.  The  town  agreed  to  the  terms  of  the  council, 
and  Mr.  Hovey  was  dismissed  August  16th,  1768. — 
They  however  neglected  to  pay  the  arrearages  due  him, 
till  the  Rev.  Silas  Moody  urged  it  as  an  objection  to 
his  settling  in  the  town.  They  then  [1771]  referred 
the  matter  to  a  committee,  who  found  there  was  a  bal- 
ance due  him  of  ,£133  lawful  money.  This  they 
neglected  to  pay,  and  Mr.  Hovey's  heirs  sued  for  it 
twelve  years  afterwards,  but  it  was  not  fully  paid  till 
the  year  1800. 

Daniel  Hovey,  who  resided    in  Ipswich  in  1637,  and 

*The  following  may  serve  as  specimens.  One  day  undertaking 
to  kill  a  calf,  instead  of  cutting  the  animal's  throat  as  was  the  usual 
way,  ho  cut  its  head  off  with  an  axe.  This,  to  use  the  language 
of  one  of  his  deacons,  "  was-a  cursed  piece  of  cruelly,  wholly  unpar- 
donable in  a  minister." 

His  having  by  mistake  taken  another  person's  bag  of  meal  from, 
ifce  mill. instead  ot  his  own,  was  charged  against  him  as  theft. 


164  HISTORY   OF  [from  17G8 

and  who  died  April  29th,  1695,  was  father  of  John 
Hovey  of  Cambridge,  and  grandfather  of  the  Mr.  Ho- 
vey  of  Arundel. 

The  latter,  was  born  in  Cambridge,  and  graduated  in 
1725.  He  was  a  man  of  respectable  talents,  and,  to 
judge  from  his  writings  that  were  preserved  some  time 
after  his  death,  of  good  acquirements.  He  wrote  a 
splendid  hand,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  business, 
nearly  all  the  deeds  and  contracts  of  the  day  being 
drawn  up  by  him.  A  professorship  had  been  offered 
him  at  Cambridge  before  his  settlement  in  this  town. 
The  insufficiency  of  his  salary,  however,  compelled  him 
to  occupy  the  time  on  his  farm,*  which  ought  to  have 
been  dedicated  to  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He 
kept  a  diary,  which  has  so  frequently  been  referred  to 
in  this  work,  from  the  time  of  his  settlement  till  his 
death,  but  unfortunately  much  the  larger  part  of  it  has 
been  lost.  He  noted  every  event,  the  state  of  the 
weather,  business,  politics,  news,  births,  deaths,  mar- 
riages, affairs  of  the  town,  and  matters  relating  to  the 
church.  If  the  whole  of  it  had  been  preserved,  it 
would  of  itself  for  the  time  have  furnished  a  perfect  his- 
tory of  the  town. 

Mr.  Hovey's  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Mussey  of 
Cambridge,  who  died  soon  after  their  marriage.  He 
afterwards  married  Susannah  Swett  of  York,  sister  of 
Mrs.  Prentice,  who  survived  him.  He  lived  several 
years  after  his  dismission.  In  returning  from  a  visit  to 
his  friends  in  Plymouth,  in  1774,  he  came  to  Biddeford 
by  water,  and  lodged  at  the  house  of  Col.  Richworth 
Jordan.     After  having  been   in  his  chamber   for  some 

*Mr.  Hovey  gives  many  directions  for  farming  and  gardening  in 
his  journal.  He  says,  people  ought  to  "graft  on  the  increase  of 
the  moon  in  the  winter,  but  inoculation  will  do  till  the  middle  of 
July.  The  manner  of  operation  is  to  take  a  sprout  of  the  present 
year,  and  inclose  it  in  the  rind  of  another  tree.  Grafting  may  be 
by  boring  a  hole  aslope  into  the  heart  ot  a  tree,  and  stopping  out 
the  wind  and  rain  with  moss  and  clay.  Pears  and  apples  will 
grow  on  beech,  willow  and  thorn.  Peaches  grow  best  grafted  on 
beech,  or  thorns.  Pomegranates  on  willow,  ash,  or  plumbtrees. 
Cherries  will  grow  on  peach,  and  peach  on  cherries.  Mulberries 
will  grow  on  beech,  and  so  will  chestnuts,  or  on  wallnuts.  Pears 
and  apples  grow  well  on  poplars  ;— and  wallnuts  on  ash  ; — grapes 
on  a  oherry,  or  Elm  tree ;— wild  blackberries  on  red  cherry  trees." 


TO  1771.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  165 

time  without  extinguishing  his  light,  some  of  the  fami- 
ly entered  his  apartment,  and  found  him  sitting  in  his 
chair  partly  undressed,  apparently  having  been  dead 
some  considerable  time. 

The  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
American  Colonies  now  [17G8]  assumed  a  serious 
aspect.  The  selectmen  of  Boston  sent  circulars  to 
those  of  other  towns,  calling  a  convention  of  delegates 
to  meet  at  Faneuil  Hall,  Boston,  Sept.  22,  to  deliberate 
upon  the  state  of  affairs.  The  inhabitants  of  Arundel 
readily  responded  to  this  invitation,  and  James  Burn- 
ham  was  chosen  delegate. 

The  business  of  the  town  had  much  declined  at  this 
time  ;  the  only  vessel  owned  here,  was  a  small  sloop  be- 
longing to  Thomas  Perkins. 

After  Mr.  Hovey's  dismission,  Mr.  Hathaway  preach- 
ed a  short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Abner 
Johnson  [1769.]  Mr.  Bond  preached  a  short  time  after 
Mr.  Johnson  went  away,  and  the  year  following  [1770] 
the  town  gave  the  Rev.  Silas  Moody  a  call.  They 
offered  him  a  salary  of  <£80,  [$267]  and  a  gratuity  of 
c£140,  [$466]  towards  building  him  a  house.  Mr. 
Moody,  in  his  answer  to  the  invitation,  replied  that 
"  the  unanimity  which  appears  in  the  church  and  town 
with  regard  to  my  tarrying  here,  I  cannot  but  ac- 
knowledge demands  my  serious  consideration  ;  and  did 
all  other  things  appear  equally  encouraging,  I  should 
not  have  remained  so  long  in  suspense  about  complying 
with  your  invitation.  Some  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
affairs  in  this  place,  are  not  in  so  happy  a  situation  as 
I  wish  they  were  ;  but  the  sense  which  the  people  seem 
to  have  of  the  necessity  of  their  being  regulated,  and 
the  worth  and  importance  of  peace  and  love,  it  is  hoped, 
will  be  a  motive  for  them  to  see  that  they  are  settled  in 
the  most  friendly  manner,  and  as  soon  as  may  be." 
The  remainder  of  his  reply,  related  to  the  state  of  his 
health,  which  he  said  was  "  very  weak,"  and  which 
unfitted  him  for  enduring  "  the  hardships  and  fatigues 
which  a  strong  constitution  might  bear  with,"  and  the 
manner  in  which  his  salary  was  to  be  paid,  if  he  accept- 
ed their  invitation.  His  terms  were  not  agreed  to 
immediately,  but  after  some  delay,  were  accepted* 
[1771]  and  Mr.  Moody  sent  the  following  letter. 


1G6  HISTORY    OF  [FROxM  1771 

H  To  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Arundel,  and  to  the  Inhab- 
itants of  said  Town, — Greeting. 

When  I  received  an  invitation  from  you  to  settle  in 
the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  with  you,  the  difficul- 
ties then  subsisting  were  very  discouraging  to  me. 
Though  they  are  not  now  wholly  removed,  yet  your 
unanimity  with  regard  to  my  tarrying  here,  and  the 
desire  you  express  of  rectifying  what  is  amiss,  that  you 
may  live  in  love  and  unity,  give  me  some  encourage- 
ment to  accept  of  the  call  you  have  given  me.  Trusting 
in  Him  who  ruleth  over  all,  to  direct,  and  hoping  that 
you  will  use  the  means  that  christian  prudence  shall 
dictate,  which  may  be  conducive  to  your  own  felicity 
and  my  comfort,  I  hereby  give  my  consent  to  settle 
with  you  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  upon  the 
encouragement  you  have  given  me  to  carry  on  that 
work : — namely  that  you  pay  me  the  one  half  of  the 
settlement  money  in  twelve  months  from  the  date  of 
your  town  meeting,  held  on  the  22d  day  of  May  last  past, 
and  the  other  half  within  six  months  following,  accord- 
ing to  the  votes  of  the  town  ;  and  lhat  you  pay  the 
salary,  the  one  half  in  every  six  months  during  my 
pastoral  relation  to  you. 

Wishing  that  the  God  of  all  Grace  would  bless  you 
and  me,  that  we  be  mutual  blessings  to  each  other  ;  that 
I  may  faithfully  discharge  the  sacred  office  of  the  Gos- 
pel ministry ;  that  you  may  live  in  love  one  to  another, 
as  becomes  christians.     Your  Friend  and  Servant, 

Silas  Moody." 

A  county  road  was  this  year  laid  out  from  Wells  to 
Biddeford,  beginning  at  the  east  end  of  Durrell's bridge, 
and  terminating  at  Biddeford  line.  The  road  passed 
"  near  a  bridge  at  the  tail  of  Brown's  mill,"  and  "  near 
the  house  of  Jonathan  Stone."  This  was  undoubtedly 
the  road  to  Biddeford  lower  meeting  house,  which, 
Folsom  says,  was  laid  out  in  1750.* 

The  first  custom-house  in  Maine  was  established  in 
1771,  at  Falmouth,  (Portland)  for  the  collection  of 
the  duties  on  teas.  The  officers  were  however  unable 
to  make  any  collections,  and  were  severely  handled  by 

*The  part  of  the  road  through  the  town  of  Biddeford  was  laid 
out  in  17GD. 


TO  1775.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  10? 

the  populace.  [1772]  The  troubles  between  this  and 
the  mother  country,  continued  to  increase  ;  and  Dec. 
16,  1773,  three  cargoes  of  teas  were  destroyed  in  Bos- 
ton harbor,  by  a  number  of  persons  dressed  like  Indians. 

Although  Arundel  apparently  took  so  little  interest 
in  the  Indian  wars,  the  town  records  show  no  want  of 
energy  during  the  war  of  the  revolution.  John  Hovey, 
Tobias  Lord,  and  Asa  Burbank  were  chosen  delegates, 
Nov.  14th,  "  to  join  the  County  Congress  which  is  to 
set  at  York,  within  and  for  the  County  of  York,  on 
tuesday  the  loth  instant,  to  take  into  consideration 
what  measures  may  be  pursued  tending  to  the  peace 
and  welfare  of  said  county."  December  27th.  Ben- 
jamin Durrell,  John  Hovey,  Thomas  Wiswall,  Jonathan 
Stone,  and  James  Burnham,  were  chosen  a  committee 
of  inspection,  and  were  instructed  "to  proceed  in  the 
trust  reposed  in  them,  accordingto  the  advice  of  the  Prov- 
incial Congress  held  at  Cambridge,  Dec.  5th,  1774."* 
It  was  also  resolved  to  raise  money  to  meet  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  times,  and  to  choose  military  officers  ;  and 
Moses  Foster,  John  Hovey,  and  Jonathan  Stone,  were 
instructed  to  make  known  the  wishes  of  the  town,  to 
"Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.  Captain  of  the  town." 

The  next  year,  John  Hovey,  Jonathan  Stone,  and 
Thomas  Wiswall  were  directed  "  to  receive  money  and 
other  things  for  the  poor  of  Boston  ;"  and  all  the  money 
in  the  hands  of  the  collectors,  was  ordered  to  be  paid  to 
Henry  Gardner,  Esq.  of  Stowe,  Province  Treasurer. 
Two  companies  of  militia,  instead  of  one,  were  formed  ; 
one  of  which  was  commanded  by  Jonathan  Stone,  and 
the  other  by  Benjamin  Durrell,  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
former  company.  The  Lieutenants,  were  James  Per- 
kins, William  Smith,  Tobias  Lord,  and  Daniel  Merrill. 
The  answers  of  Benjamin  Durrell  and  Thomas  Perkins, 
on  resigning  their  old  commissions,  were  ordered  to  be 
published  in  the  New  Hampshire  paper. 

By  express,  the  news  of  the  fight  at  Lexington  was 
received,  the  21  st  of  April,  three  days  after  the  battle. 
Benj.  Durrell,  John  Hovey,  John  Whitten,  and  Joshua 
Nason,  were  chosen  a  committee,  to  borrow  =£60  in 
behalf  of  the  town,  to  furnish  the  inhabitants  with  am* 

*John  Hovey  was  delegate  to  this  Congress. 


168  HISTORY   of  [from  1776 

munition.  They  were  likewise  authorized  to  borrow 
such  further  sums  as  might  be  deemed  necessary.  Ma- 
ny citizens  of  the  town  repaired  to  Cambridge,  and 
joined  the  army  that  environed  Boston,  some  of  whom 
were  engaged  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

May  29th.  John  Hovey  was  "  chosen  to  represent 
this  town  in  Provincial  Congress,  to  be  held  at  the 
Meeting  House  in  Watertown."  This  was  the  third 
Provincial  Congress,  of  which  Joseph  Warren  was 
President.  It  convened  May  31st,  and  held  constant 
correspondence  with  the  Continental  Congress  held 
at  Philadelphia.  After  the  convention  was  dissolved, 
and  the  Provincial  Charter  resumed,  Mr.  Hovey  was 
chosen  representative  to  the  General  Court. 

To  meet  the  expenses  of  the  war,  Massachusetts  is- 
sued o£100,000  in  paper. 

May  22d,  1776,  more  than  a  month  before  the  declar- 
ation of  independence,  the  town  voted  "  that  if  the 
Honourable  Congress  should,  for  the  safety  of  the 
Colonies,  declare  themselves  independent  of  the  King- 
dom of  Great  Britian,  we,  the  inhabitants  of  Arundel, 
do  solemnly  engage,  with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to 
support  them  in  the  measure."  When  the  Declaration 
was  received,  it  was  recorded  on  the  town  book,  agree- 
ably to  the  request  of  the  Executive  Council.  Benja- 
min Durrell,  John  Whitten,  Gideon  Walker,  John 
Hovey,  and  Charles  Huff  were  chosen  a  committee  of 
correspondence,  inspection,  and  safety  ;  and  John 
Whitten  was  appointed  to  receive  rags  for  manufactur- 
ing paper  for  the  use  of  the  Province. 

The  General  Court  ordered  committees  to  procure 
clothing  for  soldiers,  and  directed  the  selectmen  of 
towns  to  take  a  census  of  the  inhabitants.  The  popu- 
lation of  Arundel  was  1143. 

In  compliance  with  the  direction  of  the  General 
Court  to  the  towns  of  the  Province,  this  town  voted, 
unanimously,  to  instruct"  the  present  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  this  State,  together  with  the  Council,  to 
exhibit  such  a  Constitution  and  form  of  Government  for 
the  State,  as  they  shall  judge  most  conducive  to  the 
safety,  peaee,  and  happiness  of  the  state,  and  that  the 
same  shall  be  published  for  the  inspection  and  general 
consent  of  the  people,  previous  to  its  ratification." 


TO  1779.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  169 

The  committee  of  safety  for  1777,  were  John  Hovey, 
Benj.  Meed  Lord,  Elisha  Boyls,  Jonathan  Stone,  and 
Abner  Perkins. 

The  form  of  government  proposed  by  the  Represent- 
atives and  Executive  Council,  was  rejected  by  the 
people.  In  Arundel  all  the  votes,  thirty  six,  were  in 
opposition  to  it.  The  town  appropriated  <£210,  for  the 
encouragement  of  soldiers,  and  voted  to  give  Mr.  Moody 
i£200  for  the  year  1778.  Col.  Jonathan  Stone,  John 
Hovey,  Esq.  Benj.  Meeds  Lord,  Esq.  Major  Benjamin 
Durrell,and  Capt.  Tobias  Lord  were  chosen  committee 
of  safety.  Congress  having  assumed  jurisdiction  of 
maritime  affairs,  Massachusetts  was  divided  into  three 
districts,  of  which  Maine  constituted  one  ;  and  it  was 
designated  as  the  "  District  of  Maine,"  till  its  separation 
from  Massachusetts. 

The  next  year,  [1779]  it  was  "  put  to  vote  to  see  if 
the  town  would  choose  to  vote  for  a  new  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  it  passed  in  the  negative,  forty  four 
against  it,  and  no  person  at  the  meeting  for  it." 

The  late  emission  of  money  having  greatly  depreciated, 
the  town  voted  "  to  pay  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moody's  salary 
the  present  year,  in  produce  and  labor,  the  old  way  as 
things  went  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  war." 
They  also  chose  John  Hovey  a  delegate  "to  the  State 
Convention  to  be  held  at  Concord,  upon  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  October,  to  take  into  consideration  the  prices  of 
merchandize  and  country  produce,  and  join  in  fixing 
prices  upon  the  same."  Paper  money  had  now  become 
nearly  worthless,  forty  dollars  of  it  being  worth  but  one 
in  silver.  Forty  dollars  a  week,  were  paid  for  the 
school  master's  board,  and  £30  a  year  for  sweeping  out 
the  meeting  house.  In  Falmouth,  corn  was  $35  a  bushel, 
beef  $5  a  pound,  molasses  $16  a  gallon,  shoes  $7  a 
pair,  and  a  shirt  or  pair  of  stockings  $6  ;  and  $70  were 
asked  for  a  bushel  of  wheat,  and  $16  actually  paid  for 
a  pound   of  tea.* 

This  scarcity  of  money,  however,  did  not  prevent 
this  town  from  acting  vigorously  for  the  public  good. 
In  fact,  they  appeared  to  have  completely  overcome 
their  prudence,  and  now  raised  money  as  lavishly  as  they 

*Williamson,  vol.  ii.  p.  473. 


170  HISTORY   OF  [from  1780 

had  formerly  been  parsimonious.  They  appeared  to 
be  determined  to  redeem  their  pledge,  and  support 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  with  their  lives  and 
fortunes.  Five  hundred  pounds  were  raised  [1780]* 
to  send  men  to  what  proved  the  unfortunate  expedi- 
tion to  Penobscot,  and  April  5,  carried  away  by  their 
zeal  for  the  public  welfare,  they  agreed  "upon  a  mus- 
ter day  to  inlist  19  men  to  go  to  Falmouth  for  eight 
months,"  and  give  them  $200  a  piece  as  a  bounty. 
This  informal  proceeding  was  subsequently  legalized  at 
a  town  meeting  ;  and  i£1500  were  raised  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  to  send  soldiers  to  join  the  army.  In  May, 
c£9,500  were  raised  to  hire  men  to  join  the  Continental 
army  ;  in  December  ^13,135  were  raised  for  the  same 
purpose  ;  and  <£3,500  for  the  defence  of  the  town. 

A  committee  was  chosen  "  to  examine  the  new  form  of 
government,"  which  had  been  proposed  to  the  people 
for  their  acceptance,  who  reported  favorably,  and  their 
report  was  unanimously  accepted.  The  constitution  and 
form  of  government  to  which  this  proceeding  had  re- 
ference were  adopted  by  the  required  majority  of  the 
towns,  two-thirds,  and  went  into  operation  on  the  last 
Wednesday  of  October. 

The  following  year  [1781]  a  committee  was  chosen 
to  hire  twelve  men  to  serve  in  the  Continental  army, 
for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and  ,£100,  hard 
money,  were  raised,  "  agreeably  to  a  late  resolve  of 
Court,  to  purchase  a  certain  quantity  of  beef,  shirts, 
shoes  and  stockings,  and  blankets."  Although  these 
several  payments  were  mostly  in  Continental  money, 
yet  when  reduced  to  their  real  value,  amounted  to  a 
sum,  which  must  have  been  very  onerous  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  town.  They  were  partially  relieved,  for  a 
short  time,  by  a  new  emission  of  paper  money,  which 
however  retained  its  value  but  a  short  time.  The 
success  of  the  American  and  French  forces  which  cap- 
tured the  British  army,  under  Cornwallis,  Oct.  27, 
stimulated  them  to  persevere.  Silver,  had  now  [1782] 
become  more  plenty,  being  brought  into  the  country  by 
the  French. 

This  town  suffered  comparatively  but  little  during  the 

*May  19th,  1780,  was  the  noted  dark  day. 


TO  1782.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  171 

war,  nor  were  its  harbors  visited  by  the  enemy's  ves- 
sels till  August  8th,  about  a  year  before  the  treaty  of 
peace  was  ratified.  At  that  time  an  English  brig  of 
18  guns  came  into  Qape  Porpoise  harbor,  and  took. 
a  schociier  and  a  sloop  belonging  to  Newbury. 
They  carried  off  the  schooner,  but  the  sloop  get- 
ting ashore  was  burnt.  While  the  English  had 
possession  of  these  vessels,  Samuel  Wildes,  who  was 
partially  deranged,  paddled  into  the  harbor  in  a  small 
canoe,  and  ordered  them  to  give  the  vessels  up,  and 
leave  the  port.  After  talking  and  laughing  for  some 
time  with  him,  they  ordered  him  aboard  the  brig.  He 
refused,  and  turned  to  pull  ashore,  when  they  wantonly 
fired  seven  muskets  at  him,  and  wounded  him  in  several 
places.  One  bullet  struck  him  on  his  knee,  which 
famed  him  for  life.  When  he  got  ashore,  he  was  una- 
ble to  stand  from  loss  of  blood,  and  he  remained  in  a 
critical  situation  for  some  considerable  time.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  town  soon  collected  on  Trott's  Island, 
with  the  intention  of  crossing  over  to  Goat  Island, 
close  to  which  the  brig  was  anchored.  To  prevent  this 
purpose,  the  brig  sent  a  crew  of  men  on  to  Goat  Island, 
and  a  schooner  of  10  guns,  that  was  in  company  with 
the  brig,  fired  grape  shot  continually  through  the 
opening  between  the  islands.  They  succeeded  howev- 
er in  crossing,  when  the  English  finding  they  were 
likely  to  be  outnumbered  on  the  island,  retreated  to 
their  boats,  and  were  closely  followed  by  the  Americans, 
who  immediately  commenced  firing  upon  them.  So 
destructive  was  their  fire,  the  English  turned  to  come 
ashore,  for  the  purpose,  as  was  supposed,  of  giving 
themselves  up  prisoners.  But  the  Americans  being 
under  no  regular  command  and  suspecting  the  British 
were  returning  to  attack  them,  redoubled  their  fire  and 
compelled  them  to  go  back.  Only  one,  it  is  said,  was 
able  to  climb  up  the  vessel's  side,  and  it  was  thought  16 
or  17  were  killed.  The  Americans  kept  sheltered  be- 
hind the  rocks,  and  discharged  their  muskets  at  the 
brig,  which  was  only  about  seventy  yards  from  them, 
when  they  could  do  it  without  exposing  themselves. 
Capt.  James  Burnham,  having  fired  several  times,  was 
rising  again  to  discharge  his  gun,  when  a  musket  ball 
struck  him  in  his  breast,  and  instantly  killed  him.     Two 


172  HISTORY  OF  [from  1783 

pieces  of  cannon  having  been  procured  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Wiswall,  who  lived  at  the  village,  and  carried  on  to 
Trott's  Island,  so  annoyed  the  brig,  that  they  began  to 
warp  her  out  of  the  harbor,  but  were  unable  to  effect  it, 
till  the  Americans  had  expended  all  their  ammunition. 
In  going  out,  the  vessel  struck  on  the  eastern  side,  and 
was  detained  a  short  time.  They  however  succeeded 
in  getting  her  off,  with  but  trifling  damage.  It  was 
thought,  if  they  could  have  got  their  cannon  on 
to  Goat  Island  while  she  was  ashore,  they  could 
have  captured  her  without  much  difficulty.  Part 
of  one  of  her  rudder  irons  was  found  a  few  years  since, 
on  the  rock  on  which  she  struck.  There  were  none 
injured  on  our  side  but  Capt.  Burnham  and  Mr.  Wildes. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  Lord  Cornwallis, 
it  was  very  evident  that  the  British  government  had 
given  up  all  expectation  of  conquering  this  country, 
and  Sept.  3, 1783,  the  treaty  of  peace,  which  recognized 
the  independence  of  the  United  States,  was  signed  at 
Paris. 

The  energy  manifested  by  the  inhabitants  of  Arun- 
del during  the  war,  did  not  subside  with  the  return  of 
peace.  The  intercourse  with  the  leading  men  of  the 
State,  in  Convention,  Provincial  Congress,  General 
Court,  and  in  the  Army,  which  many  of  them  enjoy- 
ed, taught  them  that  they  had  a  community  of  interest 
with  the  rest  of  the  country  ;  and  infused  into  them  a 
new  spirit  of  enlightened  enterprize,  which  was  a  cer- 
tain precursor  of  more  prosperous  times. 

Many  of  the  citizens  of  Maine  were  desirous  that 
the  District  should  become  an  independent  State,  and 
a  Conference  was  called  at  Falmouth,  Oct.  5,  1785,  to 
discuss  the  propriety  of  the  measure.  Massachusetts 
proper  was  violently  opposed  to  it,  but  notwithstanding 
another  Convention  was  held,  Jan.  4,  1786,  and  a  Re- 
port, prepared  by  a  committee,  sent  to  every  town  in 
the  District  ;  and  the  Convention  was  adjourned  to 
September.  In  September  there  were  but  six  towns 
represented  from  the  County  of  York.  Thomas  Per- 
kins, Esq.  was  the  delegate  from  Arundel  ;  and  he  was 
instructed  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  town,  to  op- 
pose the  measure.  The  Convention  again  adjourned 
to  the  3d  of  January  1787,  at  which  time  a  motion 


TO  1790.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  173 

was  made  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  sanction  the 
separation,  but  it  was  negatived  ;  and  the  project  was, 
for  a  time,  abandoned. 

The  small  pox,  in  1787,  was  introduced  into  this 
town,  and  a  number  of  the  citizens  were  anxious 
to  have  a  hospital  established,  to  inoculate  those  who 
had  not  had  the  disorder.  A  large  majority  of  the  in- 
habitants, however,  were  opposed  to  the  plan,  and  the 
following  vote  was  passed,  at  a  town  meeting,  called 
upon  the  occasion. 

"  Voted  to  put  a  final  stop  to  the  spreading  of  the 
small  pox  in  said  town  immediately  ; — Voted  that 
any  person  that  shall  set  up  any  pest-house  in  Arundel, 
for  inoculation,  shall  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  pounds,  to  the 
inhabitants  of  said  town."  This  apparently  decisive 
vote,  did  not,  however,  have  the  intended  effect.  Dr. 
Thacher  Goddard,  who  had  been  living  at  the  village  a 
short  time,  prevailed  upon  Capt.  James  Perkins,  whose 
vessel  brought  the  disorder  from  the  West  Indies,  to 
make  a  hospital  of  his  dwelling  house,  and  a  large 
number  were  inoculated. 

The  town  [1788]  gave  "  Mr.  Thomas  Wis  wall  lib- 
erty to  have  gates  and  bars  at  Huff's  Cove,  on  the 
town  landing  ;  and  any  other  person  upon  the  old 
County  road,  to  Harding's  ferry  so  called." 

George  Washington  was  inaugurated  President  of 
the  United  States,  April  30,  1789,  and  the  government 
was  duly  organized.  A  census  was  ordered  to  be  ta- 
ken, [1790]  and  Maine  was  divided  into  nine  collection 
districts.  The  number  of  inhabitants  of  Maine  was 
96,540  ;  of  the  County  of  York  28,821  ;  and  of  Arun- 
del 1802.  The  port  of  Kennebunk,  including  Arun- 
del and  Wells,  was  included  in  the  Saco  district,  of 
which  Jeremiah  Hill  was  Collector.  The  town  was 
this  year  divided  into  five  school  districts  or  classes, 
and  =£80,  ($266)  were  raised  for  the  support  of  schools. 
The  heads  or  agents  of  the  districts,  were  chosen  in 
town  meeting,  and  each  one  employed  its  own  instruct- 
or. It  will  perhaps  better  show  the  estimation  in  which 
education  was  held  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  pre- 
vious to  this  period,  by  continuing  the  account  of 
schools  and  instructors  from  the  time  when  Mr.  Eve- 
leth   wras    dismissed.       The   town     had   granted   200 

Pr 


174  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1790. 

acres  of  land,  in  1720,  for  the  use  of  schools,  but  it 
was  never  laid  out  ;  and  the  proprietors  divided  it,  with 
the  other  common  land,  amongst  themselves.  In  1733, 
four  years  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Eveleth,  the 
town  was  presented  by  the  grand  jury,  for  not  having  a 
school  according  to  law,  and  Mr.  Hicks,  a  citizen  of 
the  town,  was  employed  for  about  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents  a  year.  There  was  no  school  kept  again  %n 
town,  till  1736,  when  £30  (about  25  dollars)  were  rais- 
ed, and  Mr.  John  Williams  was  chosen  school  mas- 
ter. Generally,  the  school  master  was  chosen  at  town 
meetings,  like  town  officers,  but  sometimes  the  select- 
men were  authorized  to  employ  one.  Mr.  Williams, 
who  was  an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  continued  to  be 
chosen  annually,  till  1740,  when  he  was  dismissed  for 
asking  an  increase  of  pay.  Low  as  his  compensation 
was,  the  town  neglected  to  pay  him,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  sue  for  it  the  following  year.  For  several  years  af- 
terwards, the  town  either  had  no  school,  or  only 
employed  an  instructor  a  short  time  for  the  purpose 
of  avoiding  a  fine,  giving  him  less,  generally,  than  the 
fine  would  have  been. 

Samuel  Wildes,  who  was  also  an  inhabitant,  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Williams,  and  had  his  town  tax  abated, 
for  his  services.  In  1745,  the  town  was  again  com- 
plained of,  for  want  of  a  school,  and  William  Water- 
house  was  chosen,  who  was  allowed  forty  shillings,  old 
tenor,  being  but  little  more  than  one  dollar.  The 
next  year,  Mr.  Wildes  was  again  chosen,  and  had  20s, 
or  about  fifty  cents.  After  this  lavish  expenditure,  the 
town  concluded  not  to  have  a  school  the  following 
year,  but  a  complaint  being  entered,  "  one  Mr.  Samu- 
el Murphet  was  chosen  Scoole  Master."  In  1748, 
"  Samuel  Robinson  was  chosen  Scoole  Master,  and  did 
not  Refuse  to  Serve."  He  did  not  keep  however,  nor 
did  the  town  expect  him  to,  having  only  chosen  him,  in 
hopes  of  avoiding  a  fine.  The  next  year  they  did  not 
even  choose  one,  and  the  town  was  again  presented. 
In  1750,  "  Master  Parrot  hired  for  a  quarter,  to  keep 
school  at  the  rate  of  =£120,  old  tenor  for  him,  and  the 
town  to  pay  his  board."*      The  amount  allowed   him, 

*Mr.  H.  Journal. 


A.  D.  1790.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  175 

about  $45,  was  not  for  one  quarter  only,  but  for  the 
year.  The  instructor  was  obliged  to  keep  in  several 
different  places,  to  accommodate  all  parts  of  the  town. 
Mr.  Parrot  began  his  school  the  last  day  of  March  ;  and 
Mr.  Hovey  says,  "  July  3d.  Master  Parrot's  time  for 
keeping  school  in  this  part  of  the  town  is  up."  This 
was  much  the  longest  time,  that  they  had  ever  had  a 
public  school,  at  one  time,  at  the  Cape  ;  although  they 
sometimes  employed  a  female  to  keep  a  private  one.* 
Mr.  Parrot  made  school  keeping  his  business,  and  kept 
in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

It  does  not  appear  by  the  town  records  that  there  was 
any  provision  made  for  schools,  in  1G51,  but  the  next 
year,  Benjamin  Downing,  the  town  clerk,  was  chosen, 
"  a  school  master  to  Serve  ye.  Town  for  three  months 
for  sixteen  poundsf  p.  month  and  find  him  Self."  A 
Mr.  Hickey  was  next  chosen,  who  kept    several    years. 

In  1766,  while  Mr.  Hickey  kept  at  Cape  Porpoise, 
the  selectmen  employed,  at  the  same  time,  Mr.  Joseph 
Ward  at  Saco  road.  This  was  the  first  time,  that  two 
instructors  had  been  employed  at  the  same  time  ;  and 
the  measure  was  violently  opposed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  They  refused  to  settle  with  Mr.  Ward 
for  his  services,  till  he  obtained  his  pay  by  process  of 
law.  He  was  an  able  teacher,  and,  in  the  revolutiona- 
ry war,  served  as  Aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  Ward. 

Mr.  Adam  McCulloch  was  first  employed  in  1767, 
and  kept  three  years  ;  and  was  followed  by  Benjamin 
Burbank  and  Moses  Johnson.  About  1772,  Mr.  John- 
son's place  was  supplied  by  Ezra  Thompson,  generally 
known  as  "  Old  Master  Thompson." 

In  Mr.  Thompson,  the  town  found  a  man  whose 
habits  and  disposition  were  exactly  calculated  to  suit 
them.  Satisfied  with  a  bare  maintenance,  he  indulged 
them  in  their  dilatoriness,  receiving  pay  when  it  suited 
them  to  give  it,  or  not  receiving  it  at  all.  He  was  a 
native  of  Wilmington,  Mass.  and  during  his  residence 
in  Arundel  of  nearly  thirty  years,  he  did  not  visit  his 
friends  ;   and    he    gave  as  the  reason  for  not    doing   it, 

*Mr.  Hovey,  in  1745,  says  "  James  and  Eben.  went  to  school 
with  Mrs.  Cole  ;"  and  in  1748,  that  they  went  to  Mrs.  Dorman'a 
school. 

tAbout  six  dollars. 


176  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.   1790. 

that  it  would  have  cost  him  thirty  dollars,  and  he  had 
not  been  in  possession  of  that  sum,  at  one  time,  during 
his  continuance  in  the  place.  Fortunately  for  the  ri- 
sing generation,  he  was  a  man  of  good  education,  being 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  ;  and  to  his  instructions 
were  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  mainly  indebted  for 
their  holding  a  more  respectable  rank  in  society.  A 
better  education  enabled  them  to  engage  in  more  prof- 
itable pursuits  than  fishing  and  milling  ;  and  the  pros- 
perity of  the  town  kept  pace  with  its  increasing  intelli- 
gence. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  an  eccentric  man,  and  very  pe- 
dantic. In  politics  he  was  a  staunch  whig,  and  in 
1775  he  gave  the  town  three  months  schooling,  as  his 
part  of  the  public  burthen.  He  was  never  appointed  to 
any  town  office,  except  "  scribe"  to  the  committee  that 
reported  on  the  form  of  government  submitted  to  the 
people,  in  1780.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  days,  he  be- 
came intemperate  and  destitute,  being  dependant  upon 
charity  for  his  clothing.  Having  fallen  down  in  a  state 
of  intoxication,  and  remaining  some  time  without  being 
discovered,  he  took  a  violent  cold,  which  soon  ended 
his  days.  He  died  July  5,  1798,  aged  64.  His  grave 
stones*  are  still  standing,  near  the  dwelling  house  of 
Samuel  Robinson.     Mr.  Thompson  was  never  married. 

The  first  school  house  in  town  was  built  in  1780,  in 
the  meeting  house  yard,  near  where  the  present  one 
stands,  by  the  exertions  of  a  few  of  the  most  enlighten- 
ed citizens  ;  but  the  town  refused  to  lend  them  any  aid. 

Even  their  extreme  poverty  was  no  sufficient  excuse 
for  this  gross  neglect  in  educating  their  children.  If 
their  poverty  kept  them  ignorant,  their  ignorance  in 
its  turn  kept  them  poor.  If  they  had  shared  in  the  in- 
telligence and  information  of  other  towns,  they  would 
likewise  have  vied  with  them  in  enterprize  and   wealth. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  obstacles  to  their  prosper- 

*The  following  is  the  inscription  on  his  grave  stones.  "  In 
grateful  remembrance  of  Mr.  Ezra  Thompson,  who  was  born  Sept. 
23,  1734,  at  Wilmington,  Mass.  son  of  James  and  Abial  Thompson. 
He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  1756.  He  was  a  good  Classical 
Scholar,  and  spent  upwards  of  20  years  of  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  as  an  Instructor  of  the  Youth  of  the  town  of  Arundel,  to  their 
great  improvement.     He  died  July  5,  1798," 


A.  D.   1790.]  KENNE15UNK    PORT.  177 

ity,  other  towns  rapidly  advanced  in  wealth  and  popu- 
lation, while  Arundel  remained  in  poverty  and  igno- 
rance ;  and  almost  unknown  in  the  other  parts  of  the 
province.  If  they  had  taken  a  proper  interest  in  edu- 
cation, it  would  have  led  to  more  frequent  intercourse 
with  enlightened  men  of  other  towns,  and  could  not  but 
have  had  a  salutary  effect  in  their  business  concerns. 
There  being  no  men  of  learning  within  the  town,  is 
undoubtedly  the  cause  of  there  being  so  few  documents 
from  which  to  compile  its  history.  If  some  of  the  in- 
habitants had  been  educated,  they  would  probably  have 
shared  in  the  prominent  acts  of  the  Province  ;  and 
been  the  means  of  preserving  for  the  use  of  their  pos- 
terity, an  account  of  the  various  fortunes,  accidents, 
and  reverses  of  the  earlier  settlers,  during  the  trying 
period  of  the  early  Indian  wars.  Other  towns  are 
wholly  indebted  to  their  men  of  letters,  for  the  records 
of  their  early  proceedings,  and  for  the  remembrance  of 
their  prominent  acts,  during  times  of  trial  and  danger. 

Nor  were  the  bad  effects  of  this  neglect  of  education 
confined  to  themselves.  Their  children  suffered  for 
the  faults  of  their  fathers.  Even  after  the  town  had 
gained  some  reputation  on  account  of  its  wealth,  its 
citizens  were  never  called  upon  to  fill  any  public  office, 
or  their  services  required  in  any  public  employment; 
and  to  this  day  do  they  feel  the  blighting  effect  of  this 
neglect. 

As  before  remarked,  the  only  extenuation  of  this 
fault  was  their  extreme  poverty.  So  very  poor  were 
the  inhabitants  after  the  resettlement  of  the  town,  they 
were  unable  to  build  their  own  mills  ;  and  were  oblig- 
ed to  make  extravagant  grants,  in  order  to  induce 
wealthier  people  to  remove  into  town.  Several  had 
the  privilege  of  cutting  timber  in  any  part  of  the  town, 
for  their  mills.  The  exercise  of  this  right  was  after- 
wards of  immense  injury  to  the  town;  and  the  evils 
arising  from  it,  were  only  ended  by  a  legal  decision  and 
valuable  definite  grants  of  land. 

During  the  troubles  with  the  Indians,  and  in  seasons 
of  scarcity,  Berwick,  and  the  other  towns  in  the  coun- 
ty, were  obliged  to  afford  this  town  charitable  assist- 
ance ;  and  so  destitute  was  it,  that  it  acquired  the  name 
of  "  Poor  Arundel,"  by  which  appellation  it  was 
known  for  a  great  number  of  years. 


178  HISTORY  OP  [from   1790 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Ship  building....Village....West  India  business....Politics....Par- 

ish   divided....Phantom   ship Sherburne's  meeting  house 

built....Pier  built....French  spoliations....Kennebunk  made  a 
collection  district.... Baptist  society  formed....Small  pox.... 
Carhart's  claim....English   and  French  war....Imports  and 

tonnage Ernbargo....Census....War    with    England....Bank 

incorporated....  Privateers....New  religious  societies  formed.... 
Mr.  Moody  died....Maine  separated  from  Massachusetts.... 
Population....Town  takes  the  name  of  Kennebunk-port.... 
The  second  in  wealth....Piers  and  light  house  built...Granite.... 
Village  incorporated....  Bye-laws. 

From  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war'to  1790,  the 
wealth  of  Arundel  increased  rapidly.  The  business  of 
the  town  was  principally  confined  to  ship  build- 
ing and  lumber  business,  which  were  carried  on 
extensively  on  Kennebunk  river.  This  caused  the 
settlements  on  that  river  to  multiply ;  and  the  village, 
which  at  the  conclusion  of  the  revolutionary  war,  con- 
tained only  four  houses  and  one  short  wharf,*  had 
become  the  most  populous  part  of  the  town.  Many 
persons  had  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade  which  was 
found  to  be  very  profitable. 

The  first  vessels  employed  in  the  business,  were 
sloops  of  fifty  tons  and  less.  The  first  voyage  was 
performed  by  Capt.  James  Hovey,  in  a  sloop  belonging 
to  Thomas  Wiswall.f  She  had  on  a  deck  load  of  cattle, 
part  of  which  was  lost  overboard  the  first  night  out. 

There  was,  in  1791,  nearly  <£16,000  in  paper  money 
in  the  town  treasury,  which,  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  was 
carried  to  the  Loan  office,  and  four  shillings,  (67  cents) 
received   for  every  hundred  dollars  in  paper. 

*The  houses  wero  those  of  Ephraim  Perkins,  Thomas  Wiswall, 
Gideon  Walker,  and  John  Walker.  Shackford's  house  had  been 
taken  down.  The  next  one  built,  was  that  of  Daniel  Walker  ; 
and  the  seventh  was  erected  by  Benjamin  Coes.  The  wharf  waa 
a  short  one,  whore  that  of  Joseph  Perkins  now  is. 

tBourne's  Hist.  Kennebunk. 


TO  1794.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  179 

Another  attempt  was  made,  to  make  Maine  a  separ- 
ate state,  and  Arundel  was  again  unanimously  opposed 
to  it. 

Thomas  Durrell  and  Seth  Burnham  were  chosen 
delegates  to  a  Convention  held  at  San  ford,  May  1,  1792, 
to  further  consider  the  expediency  of  becoming  an 
independent  state.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  the  votes, 
on  this  occasion,  were  64  against  it,  and  only  one  in 
favor. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  as  first  framed, 
[1793]  although  adopted  by  the  vote  of  a  majority  of 
the  people,  was  warmly  opposed  by  many  intelligent 
and  patriotic  citizens. 

The  party  in  favor  of  the  constitution,  was  called  the 
Federal,  and  the  one  opposed  to  it,  the  Anti-Federal 
party.  Several  articles,  most  violently  opposed  by  the 
anti-federalists,  or,  as  they  were  afterwards  called, 
republicans,  were  amended.  During  the  progress  of 
the  French  revolution,  after  England  had  declared  war 
against  France,  there  was  a  deep  interest  taken  in  the 
result  of  the  contest,  by  the  people  of  the  United  States  ; 
— the  federalists  favoring  the  cause  of  England,  and 
the  republicans  or  democrats  that  of  France.  Washing- 
ton, not  wishing  to  embroil  this  country  in  the  quarrel, 
issued  a  proclamation  of  Neutrality,  and  ratified  the 
treaty,  known  as  Jay's  treaty,  with  the  British  govern- 
ment. The  federalists  were  in  favor  of  these  measures 
of  the  national  administration,  but  the  republicans  were 
opposed  to  them.  At  a  town  meeting  held  in  Arundel, 
in  compliance  with  a  request  from  a  Convention  held 
in  Boston,  to  express  their  views  upon  these  measures, 
it  was  "  voted  unanimously,  a  hearty  concurrence  there- 
with, and  a  strict  conformity  thereto  in  principle  and 
practice." 

At  another  meeting,  the  town  refused  to  send  a  dele- 
gate to  Portland,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  separating 
from  Massachusetts,  and  again  voted  unanimously  not 
to  separate. 

At  the  General  election  held  on  the  first  Monday  in 
April,  1794,  there  were  44  votes  for  William  dishing,  the 
federal  candidate  for  governor,  and  only  four  for  Sam- 
uel Adams,  the  democratic  candidate.  Mr.  Adams, 
however,  was  elected. 


180  HISTORY    of  [from  1794 

Up  to  this  time,  Maine  bad  been  entitled  to  but  one 
Representative  to  Congress,  but  by  a  new  apportion- 
ment, it  was  now  entitled  to  three. 

By  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court,  every  town  in  the 
state  was  to  have  a  plan  of  the  town  taken,  upon  a  scale 
of'200rodsto  an  inch  ;  and  <£14  were  allowed  to  Seth 
Burnham,  Esq.  for  drawing  a  plan  of  Arundel. 

It  was  voted,  April  6,  1795,  "  to  choose  a  committee 
to  petition  the  General  Court  for  an  act  to  prevent 
cattle  and  horses  from  running  on  the  beach,  between 
Badson's  and  Little  rivers,  from  the  last  day  of  Novem- 
ber, to  the  first  day  of  April." 

The  political  parties  made  great  efforts  to  elect  their 
respective  candidates,  in  1796,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
again  elected.  On  the  question  of  removing  the  Judi- 
cial Courts  from  York  to  Rennebunk,  Arundel  voted 
unanimously  for  Kennebunk. 

Population  having  considerably  increased,  [1797]  the 
meeting  house  was  found  to  be  too  small ;  and  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  enlarge  it.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  town,  who  were  quite  numerous,  were 
unwilling  to  be  taxed  for  repairing  the  house  ;  or  for 
supporting  a  minister,  who  lived  so  far  from  them,  that 
it  was  nearly  impossible  for  them  to  attend  his  meetings. 
After  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  obtain  a  vote 
to  enlarge  the  house,  the  town  consented  that  persons, 
living  "  north  westerly  of  a  line  to  run  from  the  widow 
Ruth  Crediford's  house  north  east  to  Biddeford  line," 
should  be  exempted  from  paying  a  tax  to  the  minister, 
or  to  repair  the  house.  Opposition  being  then  with- 
drawn, it  was  repaired  and  painted.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  upper  division  of  the  parish,  having  built  a  meet- 
ing house,  petitioned  the  town  to  allow  Mr.  Moody  to 
preach  in  it  a  third  part  of  the  time,  or  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  taxes  paid  by  them,  but  the  town  would 
not  consent  to  it. 

The  land  laid  out  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  1725, 
commonly  called  the  parsonage,  being  considered  pub- 
lic property,  had  always  been  a  prey  to  trespassers ; 
and  it  was  more  trouble  than  benefit  to  the  town.  By 
consent  of  the  town,  permission  was  obtained  from  the 
General  Court,  to  sell  the  land,  and  place  the  money 
at  interest  for  the  use  of  the  ministry. 


TO  1798.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  181 

There  were  no  votes  thrown  for  Governor  in  1797, 
■in  Arundel,  but  this  year,  they  were  all  cast  for  Mr. 
Sumner,  the  federal  candidate.  The  inhabitants  still 
remained  firm  in  their  attachment  to  the  National  Ad- 
ministration; and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  make 
known  to  President  Adams,  "  their  strict  confidence  in 
his  proceedings." 

Kennebunk  being  a  barred  harbor,  and  the  channel 
being  liable  to  change  every  storm,  by  the  shifting  of 
the  sand,  and  there  also  being  a  bad  rock,  called  the 
perch  rock,  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  a  company  was 
incorporated  to  build  a  pier,  extending  over  perch 
rock,  for  the  double  purpose  of  covering  the  rock  and 
keeping  the  channel  in  one  place. 

The  proprietors  of  the  pier,  which  was  usually  called 
the  Perch-rock  wharf,  were  allowed  to  assess  a  small 
tax  on  every  ton  of  navigation  passing  the  pier.*  Even 
after  building  this  pier,  it  was  dangerous  to  sail  out  of 
the  river  fully  loaded  ;  and  the  larger  class  of  vessels 
usually  finished  their  lading  outside  the  bar.  In  June, 
two  brigs,  the  Ranger,  James  Perkins  master,  and  the 
Louisa,  Capt.  Paul,  were  taking  in  their  cargoes  over 
the  bar.  The  crew  of  the  Ranger,  about  daylight  in 
the  morning,  were  preparing  to  go  into  the  river  for  a 
raft  of  boards.  After  getting  into  the  boat,  they  dis- 
covered a  brig  under  full  sail,  apparently  on  the  beach. 
They  soon  however  perceived  that  she  was  afloat,  and, 
although  it  was  nearly  calm,  sailing  with  great  rapidity ; 
and  she  very  shortly  disappeared. 

This  phenomenon  terrified  them  exceedingly,  for 
they  were  satisfied  that  no  vessel  could  be  with  safety, 
where  they  first  saw  her,  or  sail  so  rapidly  as  she  appear- 
ed to  without  wind.  Several  of  the  crew  took  their  chests 
ashore,  with  the  intention  of  quitting  the  vessel,  pre- 
suming this  appearance,  which  they  thought  supernat- 
ural, was  an  omen  of  evil.  After  considerable  persuasion, 
however,  they  consented  to  proceed  on  the  voyage. 
Both  brigs  sailed  in  company,  and  after  unusually 
short  and  prosperous  voyages,  arrived  the  same  day, — 

*The  pier  was  built  in  1793,  but  it  was  not  incorporated  till  1798. 
The  act  of  incorporation  was  several  times  renewed,  but  the  tax  on 
tonnage  being  reduced  in  1820,  the  proprietors  refused  to  accept 
the  charter. 

a 


182  HISTORY    OF  FROM  1768 

the  Ranger  at  Kennebunk,  and  the  Louisa  in  Boston. 
The  mate  and  one  of  the  crew  who  witnessed  this  ap- 
pearance, were  afterwards  amongst  the  most  intelligent 
ship  masters  of  the  port. 

A  similar  phenomenon  was  observed  several  years 
afterwards,  by  two  fishermen.  Their  reputation  for 
veracity,  however  would  not  have  entitled  them  to  belief, 
if  their  very  evident  fright  and  temporary  reformation, 
had  not  confirmed  their  statement.  The  vessel  in  this 
instance  appeared  to  sail  directly  across  the  river. 

This  appearance  was  undoubtedly  the  effect  of  mir- 
age or  loom.  The  vessels  seen  were  probably  some 
distance  from  the  shore.  "  The  representation  of  ships 
in  the  air  by  unequal  refraction  has  no  doubt  given  rise 
in  early  times  to  those  superstitions  which  have  pre- 
vailed in  different  countries  respecting  "phantom 
ships,"  as  Washington  Irving  calls  them,  which  always 
sail  in  the  eye  of  the  wind,  and  plough  their  way 
through  the  smooth  sea,  where  there  is  not  a  breath  of 
wind  upon  its  surface.  In  his  beautiful  story  of  the 
storm  ship,  which  makes  its  way  up  the  Hudson  against 
wind  and  tide,  this  elegant  writer  has  finely  imbodied 
one  of  the  most  interesting  superstitions  of  the  early 
American  colonists.  The  Flying  Dutchman  had  in  all 
probability  a  similar  origin,  and  the  wizard  beacon- 
keeper  of  the  Isle  of  France,  who  saw  in  the  air  the 
vessels  bound  to  the  island  long  before  they  appeared 
in  the  offing,  must  have  derived  hjs  power  from  a  dili- 
gent observation  of  the  phenomena  of  nature."* 

Appearances,  although  not  so  striking  as  the  two  no- 
ticed, arising  from  the  same  cause,  are  frequently  seen 
from  the  observatory.  Cape  Neddock  and  the  Nub- 
ble, and  Boon  Island  frequently  appear  to  be  elevated 
several  degrees  above  a  well  defined  horizon ;  and  ves- 
sels in  the  offing  are  enlarged  and  often  doubled,  while 
boats,  even  to  the  eye  of  the  experienced,  take  the 
appearance  of  square-rigged  vessels. 

The  Isles  of  Shoals,  which  are  actually  below  the 
horizon,  are  sometimes  distinctly  visible  ;  and  Seguin 
Island,  at  the   mouth   of  Kennebunk  river,    and   even 

*Brewster's  Letters  on  Natural  Macric, — Harper's  Family  Li- 
brary, No.  L.  letter  6.  p.  122,— in  which  these  interesting  phe- 
nomena are  satisfactorily  explained. 


TO  1799-]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  183 

Cape  Ann  have  been  seen  from  the  house  of  Israel 
Stone,  at  Cape  Porpoise.  Fishing  boats  belonging  to 
that  harbor,  can  be  recognized  while  lying  at  anchor, 
twenty  miles  from  the  land. 

Loom,  or  the  state  of  the  air  when  unequally  heated, 
indicates  southerly  weather.  This  state  of  the  atmos- 
phere is  also  favorable  to  the  transmission  of  sounds. 
The  bells  of  the  village  of  Kennebunk,  which  are  four 
miles  north  west  from  the  Port,  are  most  distinctly 
heard  with  a  southerly  or  south  westerly  wind,  while 
they  are  never  heard  during  the  time  of  a  dry  wind 
from  the  north  west. 

The  distinct  appearance  of  the  White  Hills*  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  sound  of  these  bells,  are  sure  signs 
to  the  fishermen  who  pursue  their  business  but  a  short 
distance  from  the  land,  of  an  out  shore  wind.  When 
the  factory  was  first  established  at  Kennebunk,  several 
fishermen  being  deceived  by  the  loud  sound  of  the  bell 
belonging  to  that  establishment,  made  a  harbor  in  ex- 
pectation of  a  gale  from  the  southward.  They  could 
not  account  for  the  subsequent  favorable  weather  till 
they  ascertained  that  there  was  a  new  bell,  which  was 
either  larger  than  the  old  one,  or  the  sound  of  wrhich 
was  less  interrupted  by  intervening  objects. t 

The  taxes  of  the  town  were,  1799,  for  the  first  time 
assessed  in  dollars  and  cents,  although  computation  in 
Federal  money  had  been  adopted  by  Act  of  Congress, 
six  years  before. 

Not  only  the  nations  of  Europe,  but  the  United 
States  had  become  embroiled  in  the  war  between 
France  and  England.     Both  of  these  nations,  in  viola- 

*Thcse  hills,  although  80  miles  from  the  sea,  are  frequently  the 
first  land  discovered  in  approaching  the  coast. 

iThe  course  of  the  wind  appears  to  have  but  little  effect  in  ex- 
tending sounds.  At  the  village  of  Konnebunk-port,  during  a 
violent  storm  January  1,  1837,  part  of  the  time  the  wind  was  to 
the  northward  with  snow,  and  at  other  times  to  the  southward  with 
Fain.  At  Cape  Neddock,  about  12  miles  to  the  southward,  there 
was  no  snow,  while  a  few  miles  from  the  sea  there  was  no  rain. 
With  the  wind  north  east,  blowing  violently,  directly  towards  the 
coast,  the  rote,  or  roaring  of  the  sea,  was  very  plainly  heard,  dur- 
ing the  whole  storm,  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  in  the  country  ;  while 
in  a  dry  northerly  wind,  the  sound  does  not  reach  the  village, 
which  is  less  than  a  mile  from  the  shore. 


184  HISTORY   OF  [from  179^ 

tion  of  justice,  preyed  upon  the  commerce  of  this 
country.  The  citizens  of  the  port  of  Kennebunk,  who 
were  largely  concerned  in  navigation,  lost  a  consider- 
able amount  of  property. 

The  County  of  York  was  divided  this  year  into  two 
districts  by  the  Great  Ossipee  river,  for  the  conveni- 
ence of  registering  deeds  and  holding  Probate  Courts. 

"Wells,  Kennebunk,  and  Cape  Porpoise,  which  had 
heretofore  been  ports  of  delivery  only,  were  made  a 
collection  district  in  1800,  and  Jonas  Clark  was  ap- 
pointed collector.  The  Custom-house  was  located  in 
Kennebunk  village,  to  accommodate  both  Wells  and 
Arundel.  The  amount  of  tonnage  in  the  district  was 
1463  tons. 

By  the  census  of  this  year,  Maine  contained  151,719 
inhabitants,  the  County  of  York  37,7*29,  and  Arundel 
1900. 

Maine  was  entitled  to  four  Representatives  to  Con- 
gress, one  of  whom  was  assigned  to  the  County  of 
York. 

Durrell's  bridge,  which  was  first  built  before  1751, 
was  rebuilt  this  year,  with  a  draw ;  and  ship  building, 
since  this  period,  has  been  principally  carried  on  above 
that  bridge. 

The  town,  which  had  heretofore  generally  voted  for 
the  federal  candidate  for  Governor,  [1801]  now  be- 
came divided.  Samuel  Phillips,  the  federal  candidate, 
had  44  votes,  and  Elbrige  Gerry,  30.  The  following 
year,  [1802]  Caleb  Strong  had  48  votes,  and  Mr. 
Gerry  21. 

The  persons  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town  who  had 
built  the  new  meeting  house,  had  been  unable  to  hire 
a  congregational  minister,  or  to  induce  the  town  to 
allow  Mr.  Moody  to  preach  for  them.  Mr.  Moody  had 
preached  there  only  one  Sabbath,  and  several  other 
of  the  neighboring  ministers  had  also  preached  occa-- 
sionally.  "  Being  unable  to  settle  a  congregationalist, 
they  suffered  the  baptists  to  preach  in  it."*  Mr. 
Timothy  Remich  of  Parsonsfield,  who  was  shortly 
afterwards  ordained  at  Cornish,  preached  a  few  Sab- 
baths, and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Andrew  Sherburne. 

*  Sherburne's  Memoirs. 


TO  1806.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  185 

In  December  they  agreed  to  consider  themselves  a 
baptist  society,  and  invited  Mr.  Sherburne  to  settle 
with  them.  They  offered  him  "  the  amount  of  the 
ministerial  tax,  which  they  had  usually  paid  to  Mr. 
Moody,  which  was  about  sixty  dollars,"*  and  one  half 
of  the  income  of  the  parsonage  fund,  to  which  they 
presumed  they  were  entitled.  They  also  furnished 
him  with  a  house,  hay  for  his  horse  and  cow,  and 
his  fuel.  Mr.  Sherburne  moved  into  town  in  Janu- 
ary, 1803,  and  "  a  baptist  church  was  constituted, 
consisting  of  thirteen  members, "f  in  June,  but  he 
was  not  ordained  till  the  28th  of  September. 

The  federalists  having  succeeded  for  several  years 
in  electing  their  candidate  for  Governor,  and  obtain- 
ing a  majority  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature, 
the  democratic  party  in  Arundel,  either  declined  to 
vote,  or  again  united  with  the  federal  party  ;  and  Gov. 
Strong  received  the  undivided  vote  of  the  town.  Nine- 
ty nine  votes  were  thrown  for  him,  but  there  were 
260  legal  voters  belonging  to  the  town.  In  the  choice 
of  Electors  for  President  and  Vice  President,  the  fol- 
lowing year,  [1804]  the  votes  were  nearly  divided,  the 
federal  candidates  having  67  votes,  and  the  democratic 
62.  The  next  year,  however,  the  democratic  party 
first  obtained  a  majority  of  votes,  James  Sullivan  hav- 
ing 72,  and  Caleb  Strong  70.  After  this  period  the 
town  was  nearly  equally  divided  in  politics,  sometimes 
one  party  having  the  ascendency,  and  sometimes  the 
other. 

The  northern  division  of  York  County,  being  united 
with  a  part  of  Cumberland,  was  erected  into  a  County 
by  the  name  of  Oxford  ;  and  the  bounds  of  the  Coun- 
ty of  York  have  since  been  unaltered. 

The  small  pox  having  again  been  brought  into  the  port 
by  a  vessel  from  the  West  Indies,  the  town,  having  wit- 
nessed the  beneficial  effect  of  inoculation  in  1787,  now 
consented  that  a  hospital  might  be  erected  near  Cleaves's 
Cove  ;  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  inoculated. 
The  members  of  the  baptist  society  thinking  they 
were  entitled  to  a  fair  proportion  of  the  interest  of  the 
parsonage    money,    [1806]  advised   their    pastor,    Mr. 

*  Sherburne's  Memoirs.  t  Ibid. 


18(5  history  op  [from  1806 

Sherburne,  to  apply  to  Mr.  Moody  for  part  of  it,  but 
lie  refused  to  relinquish  it.  Not  being  an  incorpora- 
ted society,  they  were  doubtful  whether  they  could 
support  their  claim  to  it,  and  they  petitioned  the  town 
to  be  set  off  as  the  First  Baptist  Society.  The  town 
did  not  consent  to  it,  and  Mr.  Sherburne  was  sent  to 
Boston,  to  procure  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the 
General  Court,  which  was  obtained  June  24th.  The 
parish  was  not  a  territorial  one,  but  the  members  of  it 
belonged  in  all  parts  of  the  town.  There  were  forty 
seven  persons  named  in  the  Act  of  Incorporation. 

The  claim  to  land  in  Arundel  under  Major  Phillips's 
Indian  title,  was  again  revived  this  year,  and  the  town 
chose  "  Thomas  Durrell,  Esq.  an  agent  for  the  said 
town  of  Arundel,  to  defend  an  action  or  actions, 
brought  against  Thomas  Perkins,  jr.  by  Thomas  Car- 
hart  and  others,  who  claim  not  only  said  Perkins's 
land,  but  a  large  part  of  the  land  in  the  town,  to  appear 
at  the  next  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  to  be  holden  at 
Alfred,  September  term,  1806,  to  answer  to  the  afore- 
said action  in  behalf  of  the  said  town  of  Arundel." 
At  the  time  of  this  suit,  it  was  ascertained,  that,  al- 
though all  the  land  within  the  limits  of  the  town  was 
possessed  by  virtue  of  town,  or  proprietor's  grants, 
they  would  not  cover  two  thirds  of  the  land  claimed 
under  them.  In  most  cases  large  measure  had  been 
obtained,  and  frequently  lots  had  been  laid  out  more 
than  once,  under  the  plea  that  former  locations  had 
infringed  upon  other  grants.*  Mr.  Carhart  and  his 
associates  failed  in  their  suit,  in  consequence  of  hav- 
ing brought  their  action  of  ejectment  against  persons 
who  could  prove  their  title  by  possession.  The  claim- 
ants however  did  not  think  their  title  sufficiently  good 
to  justify  them  in  commencing  a  new  action,  and  this 
unjust  claim  was  finally  dropped. 

The  war  between  France  and  England  being  re- 
newed, American  vessels,! [1807]  which  were  pursuing  a 

*  When  Vaughan's  Island  was  sold  to  Bryan  Pendleton,  1660,  it 
was  estimated  at  50  acres,  but  when  it  was  granted  by  the  town, 
1723,  to  James  Mussey,  it  was  said  to  contain  only  23  acres. 

t  There  were  from  30  to  40  vessels  belonging  to  this  port,  with 
their  cargoes,  captured  by  European  nations  before  and  after  the- 
year  1800,  valued  at  about  $250,000,  part  of  which  was  insured* 


TO    1808.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  187 

very  lucrative  business,  were  confiscated  by  tbe  French 
under  the  Berlin  and  Milan  Decrees,  and  by  the  Eng- 
lish under  their  Orders  in  Council.  Each  of  these 
nations  seemed  to  be  determined  either  to  rob  the 
Americans  of  their  earnings,  or  to  force  them  into  a 
war  with  its  opponent.  To  preserve  the  commerce  of 
the  country,  and  to  be  in  a  situation  to  declare  war  if 
driven  to  it,  an  embargo  was  laid  on  all  the  shipping 
in  the  United  States. 

The  ship  owners  of  the  port  of  Kennebunk,  were 
never  engaged  in  more  profitable  business  than  at  this 
time  ;  and  they  suffered  severely  by  these  restrictive 
measures.  The  amount  of  duties  collected  in  the 
district  in  1S0G,  was  $81,273,  and  in  1807,  $52,642; 
and,  notwithstanding  the  embargo,  for  the  ten  years 
after  the  district  was  established,  the  whole  amount 
was  about  $500,000.  Many  vessels  belonging  to  the 
port,  discharged  their  cargoes  in  Boston,  and  other 
places,  which  at  least  doubled  the  amount  of  duties 
paid  on  imports  by  Kennebunk  merchants.  Besides 
West  India  vessels,  in  which  these  imports  were  prin- 
cipally made,  a  large  amount  of  property  was  invested 
in  freighting  ships,  which  usually  entered  in  ballast. 

Navigation  gave  a  spring  to  other  branches  of  busi- 
ness, and  traders  and  mechanics  were  daily  adding  to 
their  wealth.  Real  estate  in  the  village  was  exorbi- 
tantly high,  land  being  sold  for  more  than  a  thousand 
dollars  an  acre. 

The  baptist  society  being  incorporated,  another 
attempt  was  made  by  them  to  obtain  a  portion  of  the 
ministerial  fund,  by  petitioning  the  town.  Mr.  Sher- 
burne urged,  tbat  as  the  land  from  which  the  fund 
originated  was  given  by  the  whole  town  for  the  use 
of  the  ministry,  without  confining  the  grant  to  any  one 
society  or  denomination,  all  were  equally  entitled  to 
the  benefit  of  it.  A  majority  of  the  town  however 
being  congregationalists,  the  application  was  dsire- 
garded. 

The  embargo,  [1808]  which  had  been  in  force  four- 
teen months,  was  so  far  rescinded  as  to  allow  our  ves- 
sels to  trade  with  Spain,  Portugal,  Denmark,  and 
several  other  nations,  and  a  non-intercourse  with 
Endand   and  France    substituted   in   its    stead.      In 


188  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1809 

prospect  of  this  event,  the  inhabitants  of  Arundel  had 
chosen  a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  petitioning  the 
President  of  the  United  States  "  according  to  the*pow- 
er  vested  in  him  by  Congress,  to  suspend  the  Act 
laying  an  Embargo  on  all  ships  and  vessels  in  the  ports 
and  harbors  of  the  United  States,  and  the  several  acts 
supplementary  thereto,  at  least  so  far  as  they  may 
respect  the  trade  of  the  United  States  with  Spain  and 
Portugal,  and  their  provinces  and  colonies." 

By  this  act  of  the  American  government,  [1809] 
business  again  revived  ;  but  in  1810  the  French  and 
English  renewed  their  depredations  upon  American 
commerce. 

By  the  census  of  this  year,  there  were  228,687  in- 
habitants in  Maine,  and  2,377  in  Arundel.  The  amount 
of  tonnage  in  Maine,  was  141,057,  and  in  the  District 
of  Kennebunk,  8,552  tons.  Notwithstanding  the  great 
loss  of  property  by  the  seizures  of  European  nations, 
business  still  continued  to  be  profitable.  It  being  hoped 
that  the  country  would  not  be  involved  in  war,  the  village 
continued  to  increase  rapidly  in  size.  To  facilitate 
the  increasing  travel  to  the  westward,  a  company  was 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  toll  bridge  across 
Kennebunk  river,  which,  together  with  a  road  that  was 
wholly  made  by  the  voluntary  contribution  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  village,  shortened  the  distance  to  Wells 
nearly  one  half. 

The  Religious  Freedom  Bill  was  passed  in  1811  by 
the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  which  gave  to  unincor- 
porated religious  societies  the  same  privileges  with  those 
incorporated. 

The  English  continuing  to  insult  tb#  American  flag, 
and  to  impress  American  seamen,  Congress,  April  4, 
1812,  laid  an  embargo  on  all  vessels  within  the  harbors 
of  the  United  States,  and  June  18,  declared  war  against 
Great  Britain. 

Although  the  embargo  and  non-intercourse  acts,  and 
the  seizure  of  American  vessels  by  the  French  and  Eng- 
lish had  greatly  interrupted  trade,  yet  the  business  of 
this  town  had  continued  to  increase.  House  lots  in  the 
village  sold  at  the  rate  of  more  than  87000  an  acre. 
The  amount  of  duties  on  importations  in  this  district  in 
1811,  was  886,441,  and  in  1812,  $119,850. 


TO  1813.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  189 

This  extensive  business  was  at  once  stopped  by  the 
war,  there  not  being  a  single  entry  at  the  Custom  House 
the  two  following  years.  The  entire  business  of  the 
place,  being  dependant  on  navigation,  at  once  came  to 
a  stand  ;  and  the  stores  of  the  traders,  and  the  shops  of 
the  mechanics  were  closed.  From  a  place  of  bustle  and 
activity,  the  port  was  metamorphosed  into  a  deserted 
village  ;  and  its  citizens  turned  from  their  wonted  em- 
ployments, felt  to  their  extent  the  evils  arising  from  a 
state  of  warfare.  The  vessels  of  the  port  had  gener- 
ally been  manned  by  citizens  of  this  and  the  neighboring 
towns  ;  and  to  give  them  employment,  a  small  privateer 
sloop,  called  the  Gleaner,  commanded  by  Joshua  Rob- 
inson, was  fitted  out,  and  manned  with  a  select  crew  of 
50  men.  She  took  two  prizes,  which  were  retaken  ; 
and  the  privateer  herself  was  captured  by  an  English 
brig  of  18  guns,  about  ten  days  out.  The  crew  were 
carried  to  Halifax,  but  were  shortly  afterwards  exchan- 
ged. 

The  valuation  of  property  of  the  County  of  York, 
was  at  this  time  $288,522,  and  of  the  town  of  Arundel, 
817,650.  The  number  of  taxable  polls  in  the  town  was 
473.  By  a  vote  of  the  town,  the  selectmen  were  in- 
structed to  petition  the  General  Court  for  an  act  to 
change  the  name  of  the  town  to  Kennebunk,  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  the  vote  was  complied  with. 

In  1813,  the  Kennebunk  Bank  in  Arundel  was  in* 
corporated  for  17  years,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000. 
Joseph  Moody  of  Wells  was  chosen  President,  and 
Henry  Clark  of  Arundel,  Cashier.  The  building  was 
of  brick,  and  cost  between  three  and  four  thousand 
dollars. 

To  protect  the  river,  which  was  crowded  with  dis- 
mantled shipping,  a  small  fort  was  built  on  Kennebunk 
point,  and  a  batlery  near  Butler's  rocks,  both  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  river.  A  volunteer  artillery  com- 
pany was  stationed  at  the  fort,  which  was  relieved  by 
the  Limington  Light  Infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Small.  The  coast  was  lined  with  British  men-of- 
war  and  privateers  ;  and  frequently  could  the  flames 
arising  from  coasting  vessels  which  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  be  seen  from  the  village.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  risk  in  running  from  port  to  port,  provisions 


190  HISTORY    OP  [from  1813 

were  extremely  high.  Flour  was  worthfrom  14  to  15 
dollars  a  barrel,  corn  two  dollars  a  bushel,  molasses 
81,25  a  gallon,  and  other  articles  proportionably  high. 

Notwithstanding  the  risk,  several  of  the  ventu- 
rous mariners  of  this  port,  with  small  craft,  kept 
running  during  the  war,  but  one  of  which  was  ta- 
ken.* Owing  to  the  bad  luck  of  the  Gleaner,  no 
privateer  was  fitted  out  the  second  year  of  the  war,  but 
many  citizens  of  the  town  joined  those  of  other  ports, 
some  of  whom  were  fortunate,  and  others  were  lost. 

Besides  privateering,  several  vessels  were  fitted  out, 
[1814]  under  the  Danish  flag,  but  all  of  them  except  one, 
notwithstanding  their  disguise,  were  captured  by  the 
English. 

A  new  privateer  brig,  the  McDonough,  Capt.  Weeks, 
with  70  men,  was  fitted  out,  but  she  fared  no  better 
than  the  Gleaner.  She  was  captured  the  second  day 
out  by  the  Bacchante  Frigate,  and  her  crew  carried  to 
Halifax,  and  afterwards  to  England,  and  were  impris- 
oned in  Dartmoor  till  the  end  of  the  war.t  Not 
discouraged  by  these  failures,  two  other  fast  sailing 
brigs  were  built,  the  Ludlow  and  Lawrence.  The 
former,  commanded  by  Capt.  Mudge,  was  fitted  out  in 
the  winter,  and  on  going  to  sea  sprung  aleak,  and  put 
into  Havana,  where  she  was  detained  in  making  repairs 
till  peace  was  proclaimed.  The  Lawrence  had  not 
sailed  when  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed,  December 
24,  and  was  sold  to  a  merchant  in  Boston.  During  this 
year,  the  ship  Alexander,  a  Salem  privateer,  was  chas- 
ed ashore  by  the  Ratler,  seventy  four,  about  two  miles 
to  the  westward  of  Kennebunk  river.  It  being  low 
water,  and  very  smooth,  the  British  hauled  her  off  on 
the  rise  of  the  tide,  with  but  little  injury  to  her.  Alarms 
were  frequent  during  the  war,  and  the  militia  were 
repeatedly  called  out,  but  there  was  no  attempt  by  the 
English  to  land  in  this  vicinity. 

Besides  the  new  road  to  Wells,  the  road  between 
Arundel  and  Saco  had  been  shortened  during  the  sum- 
mer,  and  the  mail  and    accommodating    stages   ran 


o 


*Sloop  Charles,   Andrews. 

tTwo  only  of  her  crew  died  in  prison,  Capt  John  Stone  and 
Jesse  March. 


TO  1815.]         KENNEBUNK  PORT.  191 

alternately  through  the  villages  of  Arundel  and  Kenne- 
bunk.*  Previous  to  this  year,  there  had  been  no  post 
office  in  the  town,  and  the  citizens  had  taken  turns  in 
bringing  the  mail  from  the  Kennebunk  post  office.  By 
order  of  the  Post-master-general,  a  branch  of  that 
office  was  established  in  Arundel,  and  John  Patten  was 
appointed  assistant  postmaster,  by  the  postmaster  at 
Kennebunk. 

With  the  return  of  peace,  [1815]  business  revived, 
and  the  harbor  of  Kennebunk  exhibited  in  appearance 
of  great  activity.  The  West  India  business,  freighting, 
and  ship  building,  were  conducted  with  their  former 
energy. 

Mr.  Moody  having  become  old  and  infirm,  his  parish 
proposed  settling  a  colleague  with  him,  and  they  of- 
fered Mr.  Nathan  Lord,  of  Berwick,  $400.  They  af- 
terwards offered  him  $550  during  Mr.  Moody's  life,  and 
$700  after  his  decease.  Mr.  Lord,  who  preached  here 
a  short  time,  did  not  accept  the  offer,  but  settled  in 
Amherst,  and  is  now  President  of  Dartmouth  College. 
Several  persons  belonging  to  the  society  having  chang- 
ed their  religious  views  ;  and  others,  not  being  willing 
to  pay  two  ministers,  availed  themselves  of  the  Reli- 
gious Freedom  Act,  of  1811,  and  formed  new  societies, 
or  joined  the  baptist  society. 

The  custom  house,  which  had  been  heretofore  loca- 
ted in  Kennebunk,  was  removed  to  the  village  of 
Arundel,  and  George  Wheelwright  was  appointed  Dep- 
uty-Collector. Joseph  Storer,  who  succeeded  Mr. 
Clark  in  the  Collectorship,  resided  at  the  village  of 
Kennebunk. 

There  was  a  remarkable  rise  of  the  tide  in  Kenne- 
bunk river  in  June  of  this  year.  At  low  water  it 
suddenly  rushed  in,  and  in  a  few  minutes  had  flowed 
several  feet  high.  It  again  ebbed,  as  rapidly  as  it  ad- 
vanced, to  its  former  level.  The  brig  Union,  that  was 
lying  at  a  wharf  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  was  with 
difficulty  prevented  from  striking  adrift,  so  rapid  was 
the  flow  of  the  tide.t 

*The  stages  ran  through  the  village  of  Arundel  but  a  few  years. 

tThore   was  a  similar  phenomenon  observed  at  Nantucket,  in 

183U. 


192  HISTORY    OF  [FROM  1S16 

Another  attempt  was  made,  in  1816,  to  make  Maine 
an  independent  state,  and  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts directed  all  the  towns  and  plantations  in  the 
District  to  vote  upon  the  question.  In  Arundel,  where 
there  were  357  qualified  voters,  there  were  63  votes 
against  separation  and  23  in  favor.  Although  a  majority 
of  votes  cast,  were  in  favor  of  becoming  an  independent 
state,  but  a  few  votes  were  thrown  ;  and  the  subject 
was  again  submitted  to  the  people  in  September,  at 
which  time  the  votes  of  this  town  were  93  against,  and 
only  13  for  the  proposed  measure.  A  convention  had 
been  ordered  to  meet  in  Brunswick,  on  the  last  Mon- 
day in  September,  to  count  the  votes,  and,  if  the 
required  majority  were  obtained,  to  form  a  state  consti- 
tution. Each  town  was  required  to  send  as  many 
delegates  as  it  was  entitled  to  representatives  to  General 
Court.  Eliphalet  Perkins  and  John  Mitchell  were 
delegates  from  Arundel. 

Mr.  Moody  died  April  7,  aged  73,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  George  Payson,  who  was  ordained  July  3,  1816. 

The  ancestor  of  Mr.  Moody,  William,  came  from 
Wales  in  1633,  and  settled  in  Ipswich.  He  removed 
to  Newbury  in  1635,  and  was  admitted  freeman.  He 
was  a  blacksmith,  and  first  adopted  the  practice  of  shoe- 
ing oxen  to  enable  them  to  walk  on  ice.  He  died  Oct. 
25,  1673.  He  left  three  sons,  Joshua,  Caleb  and  Sam- 
uel. Samuel  married  Mary  Cutting,  Nov.  30,  1657. 
Their  children  were,  William,  John,  Samuel,  Cutting, 
and  probably  others.  Samuel,  the  third  son,  was  born 
in  1671.  He  had  but  one  son,  William,  whose  sons 
were,  Samuel,  William,  Thomas,  Silas,  and  Nicholas. 
Silas,  the  fourth  son,  was  born  in  1743,  graduated  1761, 
and  settled  in  Arundel,  1771.  He  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Little  of  Kennebunk,  in 
1773.  Several  of  their  children  now  reside  in  town. 
Mrs.  Moody  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age  of  81, 
in  good  health,  and  with  unimpaired  faculties. 

Mr.  Moody  was  a  man  of  fair  talents,  but  his  health, 
which  was  always  feeble,  disqualified  him  for  close  ap- 
plication to  his  studies.  Some  of  his  occasional  sermons 
evinced  much  research,  and  the  one  on  the  death  of 
Washington,  was  published  by  request  of  his  society. 
He  maintained  a   considerable  degree  of  popularity, 


TO  1818.]  KENNEBUNK  TORT.  193 

and  was  much  respected  during   his  long  settlement  in 
this  town  of  more  than  forty  five  years. 

On  account  of  the  severity  of  the  cold  the  previous 
summer,  in  1817  there  was  a  greater  scarcity  of  provis- 
ions than  there  had  been  for  a  long  period.  The  crops 
were  not  only  all  cut  off  in  New  England,  but  the 
wheat  crop  of  the  southern  states  was  almost  wholly  de- 
stroyed by  early  frost.  Flour  was  from  14  to  15  dollars 
a  barrel  in  Philadelphia. 

The  next  year,  [1818]  was  much  more  favorable  for 
agriculturalists ;  and  emigration  to  the  western  states, 
which  had  been  very  common,  was  checked.  Many 
however  continued  to  emigrate,  amongst  whom  was 
the  Rev.  Andrew  Sherburne.  He  had  the  year  before 
joined  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society,  and  had 
been  preaching  in  New  Hampshire,  but  his  family  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Arundel. 

Mr.  Sherburne  was  born  in  Rye,  N.  H.  and  his  ances- 
tors were  amongst  the  earliest  settlers  of  Portsmouth. 
His  early  education  was  quite  limited.  He  joined  the 
continental  ship-of-war,  Ranger,  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
and  served  on  board  of  her  and  other  ships,  during  the 
war  ;  having  been  taken  prisoner  three  times. 

Pie  continued  to  follow  the  sea  for  several  years  after 
the  war.  In  1787  he  visited  Cornish,  Me.  and  soon 
after  became  religious  ;  and  began  to  preach  occasion- 
ally in  1800.  His  first  wife  was  Jane  Muchamore  of 
Portsmouth,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1815.  The  same 
year  he  married  Betsey  Miller  of  Arundel,  who  survived 
him.  Mr.  Sherburne  was  a  man  of  respectable  tal- 
ents, and  a  very  fluent  speaker.  Although  his  early 
advantages  had  been  limited,  and  his  situation  in  life 
unsuitable  for  study,  he  nevertheless  acquired  a  decent 
education.  His  devotion  to  politics,  however,  injured 
his  influence  as  a  preacher.  In  1810,  he  was  deputy 
roar  shall,  and  assisted  in  taking  the  census  of  that  year  ; 
and  in  1814,  he  was  assistant  assessor  of  the  direct  tax. 
After  his  removal  to  Ohio,  he  became  poor,  and  almost 
destitute.  In  1827  he  wrote  his  Memoirs,  which  are 
well  written  and  evince  considerable  talent.  The  next 
year  he  visited  this  town  to  make  sale  of  his  work,  and 
realized  a  handsome  sum.  He  died  shortly  after  his 
return  to  his  family.  He  left  several  children. 
R 


194  HISTORY   OP  [from  1819 

Although  the  attempts  made  to  separate  Maine  from 
Massachusetts,  had  heretofore  been  defeated,  the  subject 
was  again  agitated  in  1819.  The  votes  of  Arundel 
were  23  for,  and  109  against  the  measure.  The  re- 
quired majority  of  the  votes  of  the  District  were,  however, 
in  favor  of  separation,  and  by  an  Act  of  Congress, 
Maine  was  admitted  one  of  the  United  States  of  Ameri- 
ca, March  15,  1820. 

The  population  of  Arundel  had  not  kept  pace  with 
its  wealth.  By  the  census  of  this  year,  the  number 
of  inhabitants  was  2498,  being  an  increase  in  ten 
years  of  only  121,  or  about  five  per  cent,  while  the 
property  of  the  town  had  gained  twenty  fold.  Many  of 
the  young  men  had  removed  from  the  town;  and  those 
that  remained  found  employment  on  board  vessels 
trading  to  the  West  Indies,  the  unhealthy  climate  of 
which  islands  caused  a  great  mortality  amongst  them. 

The  amount  of  tonnage  owned  in  this  port  was 
7509  tons.  An  appropriation  of  $5000  was  made  by 
Congress  this  year,  to  build  piers  at  the  mouth  of  Ken- 
nebunk  river,  for  the  improvement  of  the  harbor. 

Mr.  Sherburne  was  succeeded  in  the  baptist  society 
by  the  Rev.  Jotham  Day,  who  was  settled  in  November. 
From  the  time  of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Moody,  this  socie- 
ty had  added  to  its  numbers  greatly,  by  addition'  of 
members  from  the  congregationalist  society.  The 
members  residing  in  and  near  the  village,  outnumbered 
those  living  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  and  had 
preaching  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  April  11th, 
several  members  were  dismissed  from  the  church  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  new  one,  and  the  second 
Baptist  society  was  duly  organized  May  29th.* 

Mr.    Pay  son,  whose   health  had  for  some  time  been 

*A  German  traveller,  who  came  passenger  to  tin's  port  in  1820, 
and  who  resided  sometime  in  the  village,  published  an  account  of 
his  travels,  on  his  return  to  his  native  country.  Amongst  other 
anecdotes  related  by  him  during  his  residence  here,  he  stated  that 
the  baptists  cut  a  hole  through  the  ice,  for  the  purpose  of  baptising 
a  woman.  It  being  extremely  cold,  the  minister  was  unable  to 
hold  her,  Rnd  she  slipped  under  the  ice  and  was  drowned.  This 
accident  he  said  caused  but  little  sensation,  it  being  admitted  by 
all  that  she  must  have  gone  to  heaven. 

It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  say,  that  this  story,  like  most  oth- 
ers of  a  similar  character  related  by  European  tourists  in  America, 
had  not  the  least  foundation  in  fact. 


TO  1820.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  195 

very  feeble,  asked  his  dismission.  His  society,  with 
expressions  of  regret,  consented  and  he  was  dismissed 
July  19th.  After  his  dismission  he  spent  a  winter  at 
the  south,  and  in  some  measure  regained  his  health. 
He  afterwards  took  charge  of  Limerick  Academy,  and 
subsequently  of  a  seminary  for  young  ladies,  in  Port- 
land. But  even  this  confinement  was  more  than  he 
could  bear,  and  he  returned  to  this  town,  where  he  died 
Oct.  25,  1823,  aged  thirty  four  years. 

Mr.  Payson  was  a  man  of  fine  talents,  and  generally 
popular  with  his  society.  He  was  naturally  reserved 
in  his  manners,  but  affable  and  cheerful  with  his  ac- 
quaintance. He  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn,  in  1789, 
and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1812.  He  married, 
June  1,  1819,  Lois  W.  Lord  of  Arundel,  who  afterwards 
married  Nathaniel  Dana,  Esq.  of  Boston,  and  is  still 
living.  Mr.  Payson's  father  and  the  father  of  Dr.  Pay- 
son  of  Portland  were  brothers.  The  following  account 
of  the  family  is  taken  from  Farmer's  Register.  "  Pay- 
son,  Edward,  Roxbury,  freeman  1640,  whose  first  wife 
died  in  1641,  had  by  a  second,  sons,  John,  born  1643, 
freeman  1630;  Jonathan,  born  1644,  a  deacon  of  the 
church  at°Roxbury,  and  died  15  Nov.  1719,  and  prob- 
ably others.  Edward,  the  fifth  minister  of  Rowley, 
was  son  of  Edward  Payson,  and  was  born  at  Roxbury, 
20  June,  1657  ;  graduated  a  H.  C.  1677,  freeman  1680, 
was  ordained  25  Oct.  1682,  died  22d  Aug.  1732,  aged 
75.  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  died  1  Oct.  1724,  aged  60. 
He  afterwards  married  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Hon.  S. 
Appleton.  His  sons,  Samuel,  H.  C.  1716;  Elliot; 
Stephen;  Jonathan;  David,  and  Phillips.  Phillips,  H. 
C.  1724,  the  minister  of  Walpole,  was  ancestor  of  the 
several  distinguished  clergymen  of  the  name.  The  late 
Rev.  Edward  Payson,  D.  D.  of  Portland,  was  of  the 
fifth  descent,  the  whole  line  being  clergymen  from  the 
Rowley  minister." 

Mr.  Joseph  P.  Fessenden  was  employed  to  preach 
after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Payson  ;  and  was  ordained 
Oct.  25,  1820.  The  free  meeting  house  was  built  at 
the  village  this  year,  and  was  occupied  alternately  by 
the  baptists  and  methodists.  The  post  office  was  estab- 
lished in  the  town,  and  Stephen  Towne  was  appointed 
post-master. 


196  HISTORY   OF  [from  1820 

From  the  amount  of  business  carried  on  at  the  port 
of  Kennebunk,  it  was  generally  known  in  the  commer- 
cial world,  while  Wells  and  Arundel,  which  composed 
the  district,  were  almost  wholly  unknown.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Arundel  therefore,  again  petitioned  the 
Legislature  to  have  the  name  of  the  town  changed  to 
Kennebunk.  The  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  part  of 
Wells  having  also  petitioned  to  be  set  off  as  a  separate 
town  by  that  name ;  and  having  entered  their  petition 
before  that  from  Arundel,  the  town  of  Kennebunk  was 
incorporated,  June  1820.  In  consequence,  Arundel 
took  the  less  convenient  name  of  Kennebunk-port, 
February  19,  1821,  by  the  following  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  Legislature  assembled, — That  from  and 
after  the  passing  of  this  act,  the  name  of  the  town  of 
Aruudel  shall  cease,  and  the  said  town  shall  hereafter 
be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Kennebunk-port, 
any  law  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding ;  and  nothing 
in  this  act  contained  shall  be  construed  to  impair  any 
rights  of  said  corporation." 

The  town  had  now  reached  the  summit  of  its  pros- 
perity, being  no  longer  "  Poor  Arundel,"  but  a  town  of 
much  importance  in  the  new  state, — the  second  in 
wealth, — ranking  next  to  Portland  in  valuation.*  The 
amount  of  property  in  the  County  of  York,  was  83,- 
326,360,  and  in  Kennebunk-port,  8324,123,  being  con- 
siderably larger  than  the  property  of  the  whole  county 
in  1812.  Of  a  state  tax  of  850,000,  Portland  was  asses- 
sed 83,527;  Hallowell  8703,96;  and  Kennebunk-port 
8702,69.  It  beinof  partly  assessed  ^>n  polls,  and  the 
population    of  Hallowell   being    greater   than  that  of 


*The  valuation  of  North  Yarmouth  was  greater  than  that  of 
Kennebunk-port,  but  Cumberland  being  taken  from  it  in  1821,  left 
Kennebunk-port  the  second  in  point  of  wealth. 

The  following  is  the  valuation  of  some  of  the  principal  towns  in 
the  state. 

Portland  $1,695,185  Saco  286,542 

North  Yarmouth        361,74120        York  256,940  50 

Kennebunk-port         324,122  50        Kennebunk        238,940  50 
Hallowell  316,046  70       Bangor  132,993  50 


TO  1825.]  KENNEBUNK   PORT.  197 

Kennebunk-port,  the  tax  of  that  town  a  little  exceed- 
ed the  tax  of  this. 

The  second  baptist  society,  which  was  organized  in 
1820,  had  had  no  settled  preacher,  but  their  pulpit  had 
been  generally  supplied  by  the  neighboring  ministers. 
Sept.  25,  1822,  Mr.  Charles  Blanchard  was  ordained, 
who  continued  to  preach  till  April  25,  1823,  when  he 
was  dismissed  ;  and  Elder  Joshua  Roberts,  then  settled 
in  Kennebunk,  was  employed  a  short  time. 

The  observatory  near  the  village,  which  is  54  feet 
high,  and  which  cost  about  $400,  was  built  by  sub- 
scription, during  this  summer. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  were  voted  at  a 
town  meeting,  for  the  sufferers  by  fire  at  Alna  and 
Wiscasset.  Several  persons  being  opposed  to  the  ap- 
propriation, and  it  being  ascertained  that  it  was  not 
strictly  legal ;  and  it  being  also  understood  that  their 
loss  had  been  amply  made  up  to  them,  only  $100 
were  forwarded. 

The  methodist  society  having  increased  in  numbers, 
an  attempt  was  made  by  them,  in  1824,  to  obtain  part 
of  the  ministerial  fund,  but  with  no  better  success  than 
the  baptists. 

The  meeting  house  of  the  congregational  society 
being  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  village,  where 
a  majority  of  its  members  resided,  a  new  house  was 
built  in  the  village,  which  was  dedicated  in  October. 
The  parish,  which  now  held  its  meetings  for  business 
separate  from  the  town  meetings,  voted  that  the  meet- 
ings for  public  worship  should  be  holden  one  half  the 
time  in  each  house. 

The  town  voted  in  1825,  to  have  a  new  plan  of  the 
town  taken,  and  $15  were  appropriated  for  the  pur- 
pose. By  the  survey  for  this  object,  the  distance  across 
the  head  of  the  town,  on  Lyman  line,  was  ascertained 
to  be  two  miles  and  288  rods. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Blanchard,  for  some 
time,  there  was  no  settled  minister  over  the  second 
baptist  society.  June  19th,  the  Rev.  Gideon  Cook, 
who  had  been  settled  in  Sanford,  was  settled  over  this 
society. 

In  consequence  of  the  English  West   Indies  being 
closed  against  American  vessels,  and   the  trade  with 
R  R 


198  HISTORY   OF  [from  1826 

Hayti  and  the  other  Islands  which  were  principally 
visited  by  Kennebunk  vessels  having  greatly  fallen  oft*, 
the  business  of  this  port  had  much  declined  in  1826. 
There  were  but  a  few  West  India  vessels  owned  in 
the  district.  The  principal  part  of  the  shipping  being 
freighting  vessels,  gave  but  little  active  business  to  the 
place.  The  amount  of  duties  collected  this  year  was 
only  $16,537,  and  in  1827,  but  $9,345.  Freighting 
business  the  next  two  years,  [1828  and  '29]  was  very 
dull,  which  caused  failures  of  several  commercial  houses 
in  this  town  and  in  Boston,  by  which  a  large  amount  of 
property  belonging  to  citizens  of  Kennebunk-port  was 
lost.  These  losses  had  a  ruinous  effect  upon  the  pros- 
perity of  the  town,  destroying  confidence,  and  causing  a 
stagnation  of  business,  that  has  not  yet  been  wholly  over- 
come. Besides  direct  pecuniary  losses,  a  large  number 
of  dwelling  houses,  and  several  stores  and  wharves  were 
at  once  thrown  into  the  market,  which  reduced  the 
value  of  real  estate  in  the  village,  at  least  75  per  cent, 
below  the  prices  of  1820.  Buildings  which  cost  sever- 
al thousand  dollars,  were  sold  for  a  less  sum  than  the 
lots,  on  which  they  stood,  cost  but  a  few  years  before. 

The  partial  removal  of  the  meetings  from  the  old 
house,  to  the  new  one  in  the  village,  had  caused  much 
difficulty  in  the  congregational  society.  It  was  also 
divided  in  sentiment,  a  portion  of  its  members  being 
unitarians.  While  Mr.  Fessenden  was  holding  meet- 
ings at  the  village,  the  old  meeting  house  was  occupied 
by  other  congregational  preachers,  unitarians,  or  meth- 
odists.  This  difficulty,  arising  from  the  same  cause  that 
originated  the  troubles  between  Mr.  Hovey  and  the 
parish,  had  a  similar  termination.  Mr.  Fessenden  was 
under  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  society.  He  remov- 
ed to  Bridgeton,  where  he  still  continues  to  preach. 

Mr.  Cook,  who  was  dismissed  May  29,  1828,  was 
succeeded  in  the  second  baptist  society  by  the  Rev. 
David  James,  who  was  settled  July  25,  1829. 

Mr.  Fessenden  was  succeeded  in  the  congregational 
society,  by  the  Rev.  Cephas  H.  Kent,  formerly  settled 
in  Harrington,  N.  H.  who  was  settled  Nov.  12,  1830. 

The  population  of  the  town  at  this  time  was  2763, 
of  whom  1339  were  white  males,  1415  females.     There 


TO    1831.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  199 

were  722  males,  and  660  females  under  the  age  of  20 ; 
579  males,  and  502  females,  between  20  and  70 ;  37 
males,  and  52  females,  between  70  and  90  ;  and  1  male, 
and  1  female,  between  90  and  100.  There  were  6 
colored  males,  and  3  females ;  5  blind  persons ;  and 
3  deaf  and  dumb. 

The  amount  of  tonnage  owned  in  this  district  wa9 
5,571  tons  ;  and  the  amount  of  duties  collected  in  1829 
was  $6,107,  and  in  1830,  $10,272. 

In  consequence  of  the  many  losses  sustained  by  its 
inhabitants,  the  decrease  in  business,  the  fall  in  real 
estate,  and  the  removal  of  wealthy  individuals  from  the 
town,  the  state  tax  of  the  town,  by  a  resolve  of  the  Le- 
gislature, was  reduced  6300  ;  and  the  county  tax  was 
proportionally  lessened. 

By  the  state  valuation  of  1831,  Kennebunk-port 
ranked  the  second  in  the  county,  and  the  eleventh  in 
the  state,  in  point  of  wealth.* 

The  state  tax  of  the  town,  on  $50,000,  was  $459, 
being  the  thirteenth  in  amount  in  the  state.  The  num- 
ber of  taxable  polls,  was  454,  being  46  less  than  in 
1821, 

The  toll  bridge  was  made  free  this  year  by  consent 
of  the  proprietors,  and  a  county  road  was  located 
over  it. 

The  charter  of  Kennebunk  bank,  which  had  not  ex- 
pired, was  revoked  by  the  Legislature,  at  the  request  of 
the  stockholders.  This  institution  had  been  unfortu- 
nately managed,  about  a  quarter  part  of  its  capital 
having  been  lost.  The  building  was  sold  to  the  gener- 
al government  for  a  custom  house,  at  less  than  half  its 
cost. 

No  drawback  on  duties  is  allowed  on  merchandize  of 
foreign  growth  and  manufacture,  when  shipped  from 
ports  which  are  not  ports  of  entry  for  vessels  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  To  entitle  the  ship  owners  of 
Kennebunk  to  a  return  of  duties  on  foreign  goods,  it 
was,   by  act    of  Congress,  made  "  a  port  of  entry  for 

*  The  following  is  the  valuation   of  the  towns  noticed  in  1821. 
Portland         $2,362,643  Kennebunk-port        $264,061 

Hallowell  484,602  York  262,235 

Bangor  405,667  North  Yarmouth  238,827 

Saco  331,799  Kennebunk  224,194 


200  HISTORY  OP  [from  1831 

vessels  arriving  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
from  places  beyond  the  same." 

May  28th,  the  second  baptist  society,  which  had  had 
no  regular  preaching  for  nearly  a  year,  employed  Elder 
Charles  Johnson.* 

Mr.  Kent  was  dismissed  by  the  congregational  parish 
in  April,  1832,  and  he  removed  to  Freeport ;  and  there 
was  no  regular  preacher  in  that  society  till  Dec.  20th, 
when  the  Rev.  Levi  Smith  was  installed.  Mr.  Smith, 
who  is  the  present  minister,  was  settled  in  East  Sudbu- 
ry, Mass.  before  his  settlement  in  this  town.  The  di- 
visions in  this  society,  originating  in  building  the  new 
meeting  house  at  the  village,  had  been  increased  by  the 
contention  for  the  income  of  the  ministerial  fund, — 
sometimes  the  orthodox  part  of  the  parish  having  pos- 
session of  it,  and  at  other  times  the  unitarians  obtain- 
ing it.  To  remove  this  cause  of  strife,  it  was  agreed 
in  1833,  to  place  the  fund — about  $1400 — in  the  town 
treasury,  for  the  payment  of  the  debts  and  current  ex- 
penses of  the  town. 

Mr.  Johnson  having  left  the  baptist  society,  the  Rev. 
Shubael  Tripp  was  settled  June  8th. f 

In  October  a  new  congregationalist  society  was 
formed,  at  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  called  the  Union 
Society,  and  Rev.  James  Carruther  was  employed  to 
preach. 

An  appropriation  of  $6000  was  made  by  Congress, 
to  build  a  light-house  on  Goat  Island,  at  the  entrance 
of  Cape  Porpoise  harbor  ;  and  John  Lord  was  appoint- 
ed keeper,  with  a  salary  of  $350. 

Another  post  office  was  established,  at  the  north 
part  of  the  town  on  the  post  road  leading  from  Alfred 
to  Saco,  called  the  North  Kennebunk-port  post  office, 
and  Edmund  Currier,  jr.  was  appointed  post  master. 

The  summer  of  this  year  was  unusually  cold  and 
damp.  The  air  was  almost  clear  of  insects  ;  and  mar- 
tins, that  feed  upon  the  wing,  were  unable  to  find  food 
for  themselves  or  their  young.     This  famine  caused  the 

*  Mr.  James  was  dismissed  June  13,   1830. 

t  Mr.  Tripp  preached  nearly  two  years.  He  removed  to  Ken- 
nebunk,  where  he  died  April  28,  1837. 


TO  1836.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  201 

destruction  of  nearly  the  entire  species,  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. Their  nests  were  found  filled  with  dead,  and 
not  a  solitary  bird  has  been  seen  at  their  accustomed 
places  of  resort,  since  this  period. 

The  piers  which  had  been  built  at  the  mouth  of 
Kennebunk  river,  by  the  United  States  government, 
had  greatly  improved  the  harbor  ;  but  they  were  sub- 
ject to  decay  from  an  unlooked  for  cause.  A  small 
insect  called  the  sand  flea,  while  in  its  maggot  or  inci- 
pient state,  devoured  the  timber  of  which  they  were 
constructed,  and  in  a  few  years  wholly  destroyed  them. 
They  had  several  times  been  repaired,  and  the  eastern 
one  entirely  rebuilt ;  but  it  was  evident  that  no  building 
material  but  stone  could  be  permanently  useful  in  con- 
structing them,  and  an  appropriation  of  $10,500  was 
made  by  Congress  for  that  purpose  in  1834. 

It  had  always  been  supposed  that  Kennebunk-port 
afforded  no  building  stone,  and  the  greater  part  used  in 
the  village  had  been  brought  from  Wells.  The  agent 
for  building  the  piers,  [1835]*  in  searching  for  stone 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  river,  found  a  quarry  about 
two  miles  from  the  village,  which,  it  was  thought,  would 
answer  a  very  good  purpose.  Specimens  of  it  being 
examined  by  geologists,  it  was  pronounced  to  be  of  a 
very  superior  quality.  A  company  for  the  purpose  of 
quarrying,  was  formed,  and  shares  in  the  quarry  which 
originally  cost  but  $75,  were  sold  at  the  rate  of  $83,- 
000.  Several  other  companies  were  formed  shortly 
after,  [1836]  and  a  large  quantity  of  stone  was  quarrU 
ed  for  the  piers,  and  for  the  New  York  and  other 
markets. 

The  baptist  society  in  the  village  finding  it  difficult 
to  support  their  minister,  Mr.  Milnor,t  he  was  dis- 
missed in  May  ;  and  the  society  had  no  regular  preach- 

*  Jan.  4,  1835,  was  a  remarkably  cold  day.  The  mercury  by 
Farenheit's  thermometer  was  30  degrees  below  aero.  In  the 
morning,  the  chimnies  of  a  large  house  in  the  village,  which  had 
been  uninhabited  for  several  weeks,  appeared  to  emit  as  dense  col- 
umns of  smoke  as  any  in  the  neighborhood.  The  comparatively 
warm  air  from  the  house,  coming  in  contact  with  tho  cold  atmos- 
phere, became  condensed  into  a  vapor,  as  from  the  chimnies  of 
houses  in  which  there  were  fires. 

tMr.  Milnor  was  settled  May  30, 1835,  for  one  year, 


202  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

ing  till  March,  1S37,  when  their  present   pastor,    the 
Rev.  Clark  Sibley,  was  engaged. 

The  village  being  at  one  extremity  of  the  town,  the 
inhabitants  generally  had  no  interest  in  keeping  the 
village  clock  and  bell  in  repair,  or  in  purchasing  fire 
engines  and  other  fire  apparatus  ;  and  the  expense  for 
these  purposes  was  unequally  borne  by  the  citizens  of 
the  village.  To  obviate  this  difficulty  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  petitioned  the  Legislature  to  incorporate 
the  village  for  these  specific  purposes.  The  request 
was  granted,  and  the  following  act  was  passed. 

STATE  OF  MAINE. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
thirty-seven. 

An  Act  creating  the  Kennebunk-port  Village  Cor- 
poration. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives,  in  Legislature  assembled,  That 
the  territory  embraced  within  the  following  described 
limits,  to  wit  :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Bass  Cove, 
on  Kennebunk  river — thence  by  the  branch  of  said 
Cove,  called  Rhode's  brook  to  the  town  road — thence 
N.  E.  one  hundred  rods, — thence  southerly,  to  include 
the  house  of  John  Curtis — thence  southerly  to  the  sea, 
through  the  middle  of  Great  Pond — thence  by  the  sea 
shore  to  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river — thence  by 
said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Bass  Cove,  above  mention- 
ed, in  the  town  of  Kennebunk-port,  together  with  the 
inhabitants  thereon,  be,  and  the  same  hereby  is  created 
a  body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  of  the  Ken- 
nebunk-port Village  Corporation. 

Section  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  said  Corpo- 
ration is  hereby  invested  with  the  power,  at  any  legal 
meeting,  called  for  the  purpose,  to  raise  such  sums  of 
money,  as  may  be  sufficient  for  the  purchase,  repair 
and  preservation  of  one  or  more  Fire  Engines,  Engine 
Houses,  Hose,  Buckets,  Ladders  or  other  apparatus  for 
the  extinguishment  of  fire,  for  the  construction  of  res- 
ervoirs, and  aqueducts  for  the  procuring  of  water,  and 
for  organizing  and  maintaining  within  the  limits  of  said 
territory,  an  efficient   Fire   Department  ;   and  also  to 


A.  D.  1837.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  203 

raise  a  further  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars 
annually  to  defray  the  expense  of  ringing  one  of  the 
bells  in  said  village  ;  and  of  keeping  in  repair  the  public 
clock. 

Section  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  any  money 
raised  by  said  Corporation,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid, 
shall  be  assessed  upon  the  property  within  the  territory 
aforesaid,  by  the  Assessors  of  said  Corporation,  in  the 
same  manner  as  is  provided  by  law  for  the  assessment 
of  County  Taxes  ;  excepting  that  polls  shall  not  be 
taxed.  And  said  Assessors  may  copy  the  last  valuation 
of  said  property  by  the  Assessors  of  the  town  of  Ken- 
nebunk-port,  and  assess  the  tax  thereon  ;  or  if  the  said 
Corporation  shall  so  direct,  may  correct  said  valuation, 
or  make  a  new  valuation  thereof  according  to  the  prin- 
ciples established  of  the  last  State  tax,  and  assess  the 
tax  on  that  valuation. 

Section  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  upon  a  cer- 
tificate being  filed  with  the  Assessors  of  the  said 
Corporation  by  the  Clerk  thereof,  of  the  amount  of 
money  raised  at  any  meeting  for  the  purposes  afore- 
said ;  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Assessors,  as  soon  as 
may  be,  to  assess  said  amount  upon  the  estates  of  per- 
sons residing  on  the  territory  aforesaid,  and  upon  the 
estates  of  nonresident  proprietors  thereof;  and  the  as- 
sessment so  made,  to  certify  and  deliver  to  the  Treas- 
urer or  Collector  of  said  Corporation,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  collect  the  same,  in  like  manner  as  County 
and  town  taxes,  are  by  law,  collected  by  towns  J  and 
said  Corporation  shall  have  the  same  power  to  direct 
the  mode  of  collecting  said  taxes,  as  towns  have  in  the 
collection  of  town  taxes. 

Section  5.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  officers 
of  said  Corporation  shall  consist  of  a  Supervisor,  Clerk, 
Treasurer,  Assessors,  Collector,  Fire  Wardens  and 
such  other  officers,  as  may  be  provided  for  in  the  bye- 
laws  of  said  Corporation  ;  which  said  Fire  Wardens 
shall  have  exclusively,  all  the  power  and  authority 
within  the  limits  of  said  Corporation,  that  Fire  wardens 
now  have,  or  may  have,  chosen  by  towns  in  town  meet- 
ing. 

Section  6.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  said  Corpo- 
ration at  any  legal  meeting  thereof,  may  adopt  a  code 


204  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

of  bye-laws,  for  the  government  of  the  same,  and  for 
the  efficient  management  of  the  Fire  Department  afore- 
said ;  Provided,  the  same  are  not  repugnant  to  the  laws 
of  the  State. 

Section  7.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  no  person 
shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  any  of  the  meetings  of 
said  Corporation,  who  shall  not  be  liable  to  be  taxed 
for  the  purchases  aforesaid. 

Section  8.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  Silas  Moody 
or  Joshua  Herrick,  or  either  of  them  be,  and  they 
hereby  are  authorized  to  issue  a  warrant  directed  to 
some  member  of  said  Corporation,  requiring  him  to 
notify  the  members  thereof,  to  assemble  at  some  suita- 
ble time  and  place  in  said  Kennehunk-port,  by  posting 
up  notices  in  three  public  places  in  said  Village,  seven 
days  at  least,  before  the  time  of  said  meeting. 

Section  9.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  this  Act 
shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  after  the  same  shall  be 
accepted  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  legal  voters 
present  at  a  meeting  of  said  Corporation,  called  agree- 
ably to  the  eighth  section  of  this  Act. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  February  24,  1837, 
This  Bill  having  had  three  several  readings,  passed  to  be 
enacted.  H.  HAMLIN,  Speaker. 

In  Senate,  February  25,  1837,  This  Bill  having  had 
two  several  readings,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

J.  C.  TALBOT,  President. 

February  25,  1837.     Approved, 

ROBERT  P.  DUNLAP. 

The  first  meeting  was  called  March  22,  and  the  act 
almost  unanimously  accepted.  The  officers  named  in 
the  act  were  chosen,  and  the  following  code  of  Bye- 
Laws  adopted. 

Article  1. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  corporation 
shall  be  holden  on  the  Tuesday  following  the  first 
Monday  of  April. 

Article  2. — The  business  acted  on  at  any  meeting 
of  the  corporation  shall  be  distinctly  stated  in  the  war- 
rant, calling  the  same  under  the  hand  of  the  clerk. 

Article  3. — The  officers  of  the  corporation  shall  be 


A.  D.   1837.]  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  205 

a  Supervisor,  Clerk,  Treasurer,  Collector,  three  Asses- 
sors, and  five  Fire  Wardens,  all  of  whom  shall  be  chosen 
by  ballot  at  the  annual  meeting,  and  shall  hold  their  re- 
spective offices  till  others  are  chosen  in  their  stead. 

Article  4. — The  Supervisor  shall  preside  at  all 
meetings  of  the  corporation, — except  while  electing  that 
officer,  when  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Clerk  to  preside  ; 
— he  shall  also  take  charge  of  the  engines,  hose,  hooks, 
ladders,  and  all  other  fire  apparatus  belonging  to  the 
corporation,  and  see  that  they  are  kept  in  good  order 
and  ready  for  use, — for  which  purpose  he  is  authorized 
to  make  all  such  contracts  as  may  be  necessary,  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  executive  board. 

Artice  5. — At  all  fires,  and  all  other  times  when 
there  may  be  duties  to  perform,  all  members  of  the 
fire  department  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Su- 
pervisor, and  in  his  absence  the  senior  Fire  Warden 
present. 

Article  6.— The  Clerk  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful 
performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office — he  shall  record 
all  votes  and  keep  a  record  of  all  the  doings  of  the 
corporation. 

Article  7.— It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Clerk  to  no- 
tify all  meetings  of  the  corporation  by  posting  up 
notifications  in  three  public  places,  seven  days  at  least 
before  the  time  of  said  meeting.  He  shall  also  notify 
special  meetings  in  the  same  manner,  at  the  written 
request  of  any  seven  legal  voters  of  the  corporation. 

Article  8. — The  Treasurer  shall  receive  and  safely 
keep  all  money  collected  by  the  Collector,  and  pay  it 
out  on  drafts  from  the  Assessors  for  the  purposes  of  the 
corporation.  He  shall  also  give  bonds  when  required, 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Article  9.— The  Assessors  shall  assess  all  money 
voted  to  be  raised  by  the  corporation  equally  on  the 
property  within  the  limits  of  said  corporation— and 
commit  a  list  of  said  assessment,  with  a  warrant  an- 
nexed, to  the  Collector  for  collection,  and  shall  file  a 
copy  of  the  list  with  the  Clerk. 

Article  10.— It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Collector, 
to  gather  and  collect  all  rates  or  taxes  assessed  and 
committed  to  him,  and  pay  the  same  over  to  the  Ireas- 


206  history  op  [a.  d.  1837. 

Article  11. — The  Fire  Wardens,  in  addition  to  the 
duties  usually  devolving  on  them  at  fires,  &c.  shall 
examine  shops  and  all  other  places  where  shavings  andx 
other  combustible  materials  may  be  collected  and  de- 
posited, and  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times,  be 
vigilant  in  causing  the  removal  of  the  same  whenever, 
in  their  opinion,  the  same  may  be  dangerous  to  the 
security  of  the  public  from  fires — also  to  examine  into 
the  security  of  all  stoves,  stove-pipes,  funnel,  flues  and 
chimneys  within  the  limits  of  this  corporation  ; — and  if 
any  person  or  persons  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  remove 
any  such  source  of  danger,  after  being  duly  notified  by  a 
fire  warden,  he  shall  forfeit  and  pay  a  fine  of  two  dollars, 
to  be  sued  for  and  recovered  in  an  action  of  the  case, 
by  the  Clerk,  for  the  use  of  the  corporation. 

Article  12. — The  Supervisor,  Clerk  and  Assessors 
shall  constitute  an  executive  board,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  agree  with  some  suitable  person  or  persons  to  ring 
one  of  the  bells  in  this  village,  and  to  keep  in  repair  and 
going  the  public  clock — and  also  to  make  such  provis- 
ion for  reservoirs  of  water  as  they  may  deem  necessary 
for  the  public  safety. 

Article  13. — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  executive 
board  to  make  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  government  of  the  engine  companies, 
and  for  effectuating  all  the  purposes,  authorized  by  the 
act  of  incorporation. 

Article  14. — All  the  officers  of  this  corporation 
shall  perform  their  respective  duties  gratuitously. 

Article  15. — These  Bye-laws  may  be  altered,  amen- 
ded or  added  to,  by  vote  of  the  corporation  at  any 
regular  meeting  of  the  same,  provided  said  alteration, 
amendment  or  addition  has  been  proposed  for  consider- 
ation at  the  last  previous  meeting  of  the  corporation,  or 
has  been  inserted  in  the  warrant  calling  said  meeting. 


A.  D.   1837.]  KEXNEBUNK   PORT.  30  < 


CHAPTER  X. 

Extent  and  boundaries  of  the  town....SixteenIslands....Kenne- 
bunk   river....Cape    Porpoise.... Ponds....Hills....Face   of  the 

country.... Present    population Public  buildings Village 

corporation Public    roads Annual    expenses....State    of 

the  Treasury ..... Duties Business Granite  Companies 

Temperance Schools Professional   men...Public  men.... 

Present  prospect  of  the  town. 

Kennebunk-port  is  bounded  on  the  east  side  by 
Little  river,  which  separates  it  from  Biddeford  up  to 
Scad  lock's  falls,  thence  by  a  northwest  line  eight  miles 
to  Lyman  line  ;  on  the  north  by  a  line  which  divides  it 
from  Lyman,  southwest  to  Kennebunk  river  ;  on  the 
west  by  the  river  which  separates  it  from  Kennebunk  ; 
and  on  the  south  by  the  sea.  The  average  length  of 
the  town  is  about  nine  miles,  and  its  breadth  little  more 
than  three  miles,  it  being  over  four  miles  wide  at  the 
sea  shore,  and  less  than  three  at  the  head  of  the  town  ; 
— containing  about  thirty  square  miles. 

An  opinion  generally  prevailed,  that  the  western 
limits  of  the  town  extended  beyond  Kennebunk  river. 
In  1731,  when  Mr.  Stoddard  and  others  claimed  the 
town  under  Hegan's  deed,  it  was  described  on  the  town 
records  as  being  bounded  on  the  west  side  by  a  line 
running  northwest  from  Kennebunk  river,  at  the 
point  where  a  southwest  line  from  Scacllock's  falls 
would  strike  it.  Also  in  1749,  when  some  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  petitioned  to  be  united  with  the 
second  parish  in  Wells,  it  was  reported  by  those  who 
had  charge  of  the  petition,  that  the  members  of  the 
General  Court  advised  them  to  ask  for  a  northwest 
line  from  Kennebunk  river  which  would  undoubtedly 
be  granted  ;  and  in  17G8,  "  it  was  Put  to  vote  To  se  if 
the  Town  would  try  for  a  Norwest  Line  from  the 
Mouth  of  Kennebunk  River  Eight  miles  into  the  Coun- 
ter}', and  it  Past  in  the  Negative."  So* fully  convinced 
were  some  of  the  inhabitants  that  they  were  entitled  to 
a  northwest  line,  that  they  absolutely  run  it  out,  and 
ascertained  that  the  dwelling  house  of  the  late  Joseph 
Storer  was   near  the  line.      However    confident  they 


208  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

might  be  as  to  this  right,  it  is  very  certain  they  were 
mistaken.  If  the  agents  of  either  Gorges  or  Rigby 
laid  out  the  township  bounded  as  was  supposed,  it  was 
never  recorded  on  the  county  records  ;  and  if  it  had 
been  so  bounded,  the  agreement  of  the  Wells  and  Cape 
Porpoise  commissioners  in  1660,  must  have  settled  the 
question  at  that  time  ;  and  neither  the  deed  of  Presi- 
dent Danforth,  in  1684,  nor  the  act  incorporating  Ar- 
undel in  1719,  mentions  the  bounds  of  the  town. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  town  are  sixteen  islands. 
The  most  westerly  one,  lying  about  half  way  between 
Kennebunk  river  and  Cape  Porpoise,  is  Bunkin  Island. 
It  was  granted  by  the  town  in  1719,  to  John  Cole, 
whose  widow,  Mary,  deeded  it  to  Robert  Cleaves  in 
1771.  It  is  a  small  island,  containing  about  two  acres, 
and  of  but  little  value.  It  was  formerly  covered  with 
savan  bushes,  but  now  produces  nothing  but  gooseber- 
ries. The  other  islands  are  the  cluster  that  form  Cape 
Porpoise.  The  earliest  grant  of  any  of  them  on  rec- 
ord, is  the  one  to  Gregory  Jeffery  in  1648,  of  Folly, 
Goat  and  Green  Islands.  Je fiery  deeded  them  in  1658 
to  Major  Pendleton,  who  gave  them  to  his  son  James 
in  1677.  Being  of  but  little  value,  it  is  probable  that 
James  Pendleton,  who  removed  to  Connecticut,  never 
conveyed  them.  John  Hamer,  however,  gave  Thomas 
Perkins  of  Cape  Porpoise  a  deed  of  Goat  Island  in 
1758,  and  his  heirs  claim  it  by  that  title.  Benjamin 
Jeftery  also  gave  a  deed  of  this  island,  subsequent  to 
Hamer's,  to  Hugh  McCulloch,  whose  heirs  likewise 
claim  it.  When  the  light-house  was  built  in  1834,  no 
grant  being  found  on  the  County  records,  the  Agents 
of  the  states  of  Massachusetts  and  Maine,  gave  a  title 
to  the  United  States,  and  received  pay  for  it.  Joshua 
Carr,  in  1771,  deeded  Green  island  to  Ebenezer  Hov- 
ev ;  and  Jeftery  afterwards  sold  Green  island  and 
Folly  Island  to  Mr.  McCulloch. 

Trott's  Island,  which  is  the  largest  and  well  covered 
with  wood,  was  undoubtedly  granted  either  by  Gorges 
or  Rigby,  but  the  grant  was  not  recorded.  It  received 
its  name  from  John  Trott,  who  was  an  early  settler  at 
Cape  Porpoise.  If  Mr.  Trott  ever  owned  the  island, 
his  title  became  extinct,  and  the  town,  in  1723,  grant- 
ed it  to  James    Mussey,  estimating   it  at  26  acres.     It 


A.  D.   1S37.]  KENNEBUNK  PORT.  209 

was  afterwards  purchased  by  Thomas  Perkins,  proba- 
bly of  Mussey,  and  it  is  now  owned  by  Israel  Stone, 
one  of  his  descendants. 

Vaughan's  Island,  which  is  the  most  valuable,  hav- 
ing a  growth  of  hard  wood  and  yielding  a  quantity  of 
salt  hay,  was  originally  known  by  the  name  of  Long 
Island.  It  was  probably  granted  to  a  Mr.  Smyth,  as  it 
was  afterwards  called  Smyth's  island,  but  the  grant  is 
not  recorded.  Smyth  sold  it  to  Richard  Ball,  who 
deeded  it  to  Bryan  Pendleton,  in  1650,  and  Pendleton 
gave  it  to  his  son  James.  Ball,  and  perhaps  Smyth, 
lived  on  the  island.  Several  cellars  are  to  be  found  on 
it,  about  which  tradition  is  wholly  silent.  Pendleton 
probably  also  lost  his  title  to  this  island,  as  the  town  in 
1723,  granted  it  to  James  Mussey,  except  two  acres  at 
the  northwest  point.  It  was  then  called  Palmer's 
island,  which  name  it  received  from  Richard  Palmer, 
agent  of  Major  Pendleton,  and  was  said  to  contain 
twenty  three  acres.  It  took  its  present  name,  it  is  said, 
from  a  person  of  the  name  of  Vaughan,  who  lived  on 
it,  but  who  did  not  own  it.  Mussey  probably  sold  it  to 
Joshua  Carr,  although  the  conveyance  is  not  to  be 
found.  Carr  sold  it  to  Samuel  Bickford,  who  sold  it 
to  John  Maffatt  of  Portsmouth.  Mr.  Maffatt  gave  it,  in 
1760,  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Sher- 
burne. Sherburne  gave  it  to  his  sons  Henry  and 
Samuel,  and  his  son-in-law,  John  Langdon.  In  1780, 
they  sold  it  to  Eunice  Hovey,  widow  of  Ebeiiezer 
Hovey. 

Stage  Island  was  probably  the  first  land  granted  in 
the  town,  but  there  is  no  record  of  it.  It  was  owned  in 
shares,  as  appears  by  Stephen  Batson's  deed  to  Peter 
Oliver  in  1662.  Batson  sold  his  "  house  and  stage  and 
two  boats  rooms  upon  Stage  Island,  with  all  privileges 
and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging."  The  earli- 
est settlers,  perhaps  as  early  as  1620,  seated  themselves 
on  this  island.  It  is  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
length,  but  quite  narrow,  containing  about  fifteen 
acres.  There  are  marks  of  cultivation  on  every  part 
of  it,  and  there  is  no  traditionary  account  of  its 
ever  being  inhabited.  The  first  burying  place  in  the 
town  was  on  the  northwest  point  of  the  island,  which 
before  the  recollection  of  any  now  living,  was  washed 
Ss 


210  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1837, 

away;  audit  is  now  entirely  covered  at  high  water. 
The  fort,  which  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Purinton 
in  1688,  is  also  on  this  island,  and  the  remains  of  it  are 
still  to  be  seen.  It  was  a  circular  inclosure,  about 
thirty  yards  in  diameter,  with  two  watch  towers,  which 
are  in  good  repair.  The  town  also  claimed  this  island, 
and  voted  in  1724,  "  That  Stage  Island  with  all  the 
other  Islands  In  Arundel  Shall  Lay  Coman  to  parpetu- 
ity  or  forEver,  For  the  Use  of  the  In  Habitants  of  Sd. 
Town."  Notwithstanding  this  very  strong  vote,  which 
was  confirmed  by  the  proprietors  at  their  first  meeting, 
the  island,  containing  eighteen  acres,  was  laid  out  to 
Thomas  Perkins,  in  1732,  "  except  abought  one  acre 
whare  the  l5urrying  place  was  formerly,  and  abought 
one  acre  more  whare  the  Fort  was  built,  which  Yet  re- 
main for  the  uses  aforesaid."  The  soil  on  part  of  the 
island  is  now  washed  away  by  the  sea,  and  at  high 
water  there  are  two  islands,  one  of  which  is  usually 
called  Stage,  and  the  other  Fort  island. 

Cape  or  East  Island,  which  is  the  outermost  one, 
contained  3J  acres,  and  was  granted  to  James  Mussey 
in  1723. 

Redding's  Island  was  laid  out  to  Thomas  Perkins  in 
1732.  There  was  a  John  Redding,  who  had  a  dispute 
with  William  Sawyer  in  1684,  which  was  referred  to 
Nicholas  Morey  and  John  Purinton  of  Cape  Porpoise. 
Redding  admitted  he  had  wronged  Sawyer.  He  prob- 
ably resided  in  this  town  and  owned  Redding's  Island. 
There  was  also  a  Thomas  Redding  who  lived  in  Saco 
in  1652. 

Bass,  Cherry,  or  Eagle  Island,  containing  three  acres, 
was  laid  out  to  Thomas  Perkins  in  1733.  He  probably 
sold  it,  as  it  was  deeded  by  Joshua  Carr  to  Ebenezer 
Hovey  in  1771,  and  the  deed  was  acknowledged  be- 
fore the  son  of  Mr.  Perkins. 

Milk  Island  was  laid  out  to  Andrew  Brown  in  1767. 
Negro  Island,  containing  one  acre,  was  laid  out  to  John 
Murphy  in  1749. 

There  is  no  grant  to  be  found  of  Neck  or  Bickford's 
Island.  It  was  part  of  the  property  of  Sir  William 
Pepperell,  and  was  confiscated  at  the  time  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  Savan,  Bush  and  Cedar  Islands  are  small 
and  of  but  little  value. 


A.  D.  1S37.]        KENNEBUNK  PORT.  21  I 

Owing  to  the  negligence  of  the  early  inhabitants  of 
the  town  in  not  having  their  grants  and  deeds  recorded 
on  the  county  records,  most  of  these  islands  have  sev- 
eral claimants.* 

The  land  agents  of  Massachusetts  and  Maine,  are  of 
the  opinion  that  all  of  them  belong  to  these  States  ;  and 
they  expressed  an  intention  to  sell  them.  This  opinion 
was  probably  formed  from  the  circumstance  of  their  not 
being  able  to  find  the  original  grants  of  them  on  the 
county  records,  norDanforth's  deed  of  the  town.  These 
papers  probably  escaped  their  notice,  because  the  grant 
to  Jeffery  of  three  islands,  the  only  one  yet  found,  was 
included  in  a  grant  of  another  parcel  of  land  ;  and  Dan- 
forth's  trustee  deed  was  not  recorded  till  nearly  fifty 
years  after  it  was  given.  It  is  quite  certain  however 
that  the  states  have  no  just  claim  to  these  islands. 

Kennebunk  river, — written  on  the  early  county  rec- 
ords "  Kenibonke," — which  takes  its  rise  in  Kennebunk 
pond  in  the  town  of  Lyman  about  twenty  miles  from 
the  sea  and  empties  into  Wells  Bay,  is  navigable  only 
about  half  a  mile  from  its  mouth.  It  is  a  barred  har- 
bor, there  being  only  about  two  feet  of  water  at  its 
entrance  at  low  water.  The  tide  flows  twelve  feet  at 
spring  tides  ;  and  vessels  drawing  fourteen  feet  of  water 
have  been  brought  over  the  bar.  About  two  hundred 
yards  within  the  bar,  is  a  shallow  place  caused  by  a 
quantity  of  sunken  logs,  called  the  wading  place.  There 
is  less  water  here  than  on  the  bar.  The  first  county 
road  crossed  the  river  at  this  place  ;  and  the  ferry  was 
here  established  in  1647.  There  are  two  falls  on  this 
river,  about  two  miles  from  the  bar,  called  the  upper 
and  lower  falls,  over  which  the  tide  flows  at  half  flood. 
New  vessels  of  450  tons  burthen  are  brought  over  them 
at  spring  tides.  There  were  early  settlements  on  this 
river.  William  Reynolds  lived  at  its  mouth  in  1647. 
Anthony,  and  Francis  Littlefield,  sen.  lived  near  Na- 
son's  mills,  for  a  short  time,  about  1662 ;  and  John 
Purinton,  and  probably  others,  lived  near  Durrell's 
bridge  prior  to  1680. 

GorTe's  mill  creek  empties  into  Kennebunk  river  be- 
tween the  upper  and  lower  falls.     John   Barrett  had 

*The  grants  of  these  islands  were   undoubtedly  recorded  on  the 
town  records,  which  were  lost  in  1G90. 


212  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

a  mill  on  this  stream  as  early  as  1682  ;  and  either  he 
or  some  other  person  lived  near  the  dwelling  house  of 
Asaph  Smith.  Col.  Edmund  Gofte  of  Cambridge  own- 
ed a  mill  on  it  in  1735, — then  called  Middle  river, — 
from  whom  it  received  its  present  name. 

Bass  cove  was  so  called  as  early  as  1719.  The 
mill-pond  near  the  village,  was  called  Long  creek  or 
Mast  cove  ;  the  creek  over  which  Dock  bridge  is  built, 
from  the  thick  growth  on  its  banks,  was  called  Dun- 
geon creek ;  and  the  creek  near  the  wading  place, 
Harding's  cove. 

At  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river  are  two  bad  rocks, 
the  perch  and  riding  rocks.  These  are  now  nearly 
covered  by  piers.  The  first  pier  was  built  in  1798 ; 
and  the  United  States  government  since  1820,  has  ap- 
propriated about  $40,000,  part  of  which  is  still  unex- 
pended. Outside  the  harbor  are  several  dangerous 
ledges,  the  fishing  rocks,  Spooner's  ledge,  and  the  shoal 
rock.  A  spire  was  erected  on  the  large  fishing  rock 
in  1834,  and  a  buoy  placed  near  the  small  one.  With- 
in these  rocks,  is  a  tolerably  secure  roadstead. 

The  name  of  this  river  was  undoubtedly  given  to  it 
by  the  Indians.  It  has  been  said  that  the  word  meant 
"  Green  banks,"  but  this  is  very  doubtful.  There  is 
a  traditionary  story,  that  a  Capt.  Kenney  from  Salem 
first  came  into  the  river  after  a  cargo  of  lumber,  in  a 
species  of  vessel  called  a  bunk,  and  that  the  river  took 
its  name  from  this  circumstance.  There  can  however 
be  no  foundation  for  this  story,  as  the  river  was  known 
by  its  present  name  soon  after  Salem  was  settled,  and 
a  number  of  years  before  lumber  was  sawed  on  the 
river.  The  word  cag  signifying  land  was  frequently 
compounded  with  other  wrords  to  indicate  the  appear- 
ance or  qualities  of  the  places  to  which  they  were 
applied.  Quampeag"an  was  so  called  because  fish  were 
taken  there  in  nets,  and  Naumketf «•  because  the  water 
had  a  winding  course.*  Perhaps  this  river  might 
have  been  called  Kene#g-bonke  for  similar  reasons. 
The  most  probable  supposition  however,  is,  that  it  took 
the  name  of  some  tribe  or  chief  that  lived  in  its  neigh- 
borhood.    The  Kennebec,  differing    only  in  its  ternii- 

'  Sullivan. 


A.  D.  1837.]        KENNEBUNK  PORT.  213 

nation,  had  its  name  from  a  tribe  of  Indians  called 
Canibas  or  Renebis,  governed  by  a  sachem  who  bore 
the  same  name.* 

Turbat's  creek  is  at  the  west  end  of  Vaughan's  isl- 
and. It  is  very  convenient  for  the  fishing  business  in 
small  boats.  There  were  settlers  at  the  head  of  this 
creek  at  a  very  early  period  ;  and  also  at  Cleaves's 
cove  which  is  a  short  distance  to  the  westward  of  it. 

Cape  Porpoise  is  a  small  but  a  very  convenient  har- 
bor. It  lies  at  the  extremity  of  the  cape,  and  is  the 
only  safe  harbor  for  coasting  vessels  between  Portsmouth 
and  Portland,  being  equidistant  from  them.  Great 
numbers  put  in  there  during  the  dangerous  seasons  of 
the  year.  Nearly  a  hundred  have  harbored  there  in 
one  day.  The  main  entrance  is  between  Folly  island 
on  the  west,  and  Goat  island,  on  which  is  a  light 
house,  on  the  east  side.  There  are  from  25  to  30  feet 
of  water  in  the  harbor  at  low  water,  and  it  is  suffici- 
ently large  for  the  largest  class  of  merchant  vessels  to 
lie  afloat  at  all  times.  At  high  water,  several  hun- 
dred coasting  vessels  can  harbor  with  perfect  safety. 

As  the  entrance  of  the  harbor  is  narrow,  strangers 
ought  not  to  attempt  to  enter  it  in  the  night.  Near 
the  entrance  is  a  bad  rock,  called  Old  Prince,  on  which 
a  buoy  was  placed  in  1834.  Cape  Porpoise  is  a  group 
of  islands.  That  portion  of  it  called  the  neck,  below 
the  house  built  by  Mr.  Prentice,  is  surrounded  at 
spring  tides  ;  and  even  the  part  beyond  the  causeway, 
near  where  the  old  meeting  house  stood,  is  surrounded 
in  very  high  tides.  On  the  eastern  part  of  the  cape  is 
a  small  harbor  called  Stage  Harbor. 

At  Cape  Porpoise  were  the  earliest  settlements  made 
in  town.  It  was  for  more  than  a  century  after  its 
first  incorporation,  the  wealthiest  and  most  populous 
part  of  the  town.  The  neck  of  land  on  which  Clem- 
ent Huff  now  lives,  was  called  Huff's  neck;  and  the 
one  where  Capt.  Eben.  Perkins  resided,  Vaughan's 
neck.     The  cove  between  them  was  called  Clay  cove, 

*  If  the  orthography  of  one  of  the  early  town  clerks  could  bo 
relied  upon,  it  might  be  supposed  it  received  its  name  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  rabbit  or  coney  burrows  in  its  banks.  He 
frequently  spelt  it  '  Coney  bunck  '  or  '  Coney  Banck.' 


214  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

the  one  on  the  eastern  side  of  HufY's  neck,  Long  cove, 
and  Back  cove  was  known  as  Stepping-stone  creek. 

Batson's  river  is  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  the  cape. 
It  is  never  used  for  a  harbor,  but  it  is  sufficiently  deep 
for  small  fishing  craft.  There  were  mills  on  this  river 
before  1080  ;  and  Gregory  Jeffery  and  others  settled 
near  it  at  a  very  early  period.  It  was  formerly  called 
Little  river. 

Little  river,  which  was  called  Eastern  or  Northern 
river  on  the  early  county  records,  and  which  separates 
this  town  from  Biddeford,  is  a  small  stream  ;  but  ves- 
sels of  200  tons  burthen  have  been  built  there.  Scad- 
lock,  Howell  and   others,  settled  there  in  1630. 

There  are  no  ponds  of  any  magnitude  in  the  town, 
the  only  ones  being  Brimstone  pond  at  the  head  of  the 
town,  and  Great  pond,  formerly  called  Kennebunk 
pond,  near  the  sea.  There  are  two  curious  rocks  on 
the  sea  shore,  between  Kennebunk  point  and  Cleaves's 
cove,  called  the  bouncing  and  spouting  rocks.  The 
bouncing  rock  is  a  small  cavern,  into  which  the  water 
rushes  at  half  tide  with  a  tremendous  noise.  In  the 
spouting  rock  is  a  small  aperture,  at  the  extremity  of 
which  is  an  opening,  through  which,  when  the  sea  is 
rough,  the  spray  is  thrown  to  a  great  height. 

There  are  no  hills  of  any  note  in  the  town,  Mount 
Scargo  or  Scargery  is  the  highest,  and  is  seen  some 
distance  at  sea.  There  are  no  plains,  but  the  face  of 
the  country  is  moderately  uneven.  There  is  not  much 
swampy  or  waste  land.  Button-wood  swamp,  which  is 
near  the  village,  and  probably  others,  abound  in  peat. 
The  town  is  well  wooded  both  with  pine  and  hard 
wood.  Springs  abound  in  all  parts  of  the  town,  and 
there  is  a  salt  spring  near  the  head  of  the  town,  about 
nine  miles  from  the  sea.  The  soil  at  the  south  east 
part  of  the  town  is  rocky,  but  affords  abundance  of 
valuable  building  stone.  The  salt  marshes  here  are 
also  very  valuable. 

In  other  parts  of  the  town  it  is  clayey,  and  grass  is 
produced  abundantly.  The  best  farming  lands  are  at 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town.  The  land  laid  out  to 
John  Miller,  William  Thomas  and  William  Barton,  in 
1681,  at  the  '  Desert  Marshes,'  are  the  first  grants 
found  on  record  in   this  part  of  the  town.     There  were 


A.  D.  1837.]  KEXKEBI7KK    PORT.  215 

no  settlers  above  Saco  road  till  about  1750,  when  Tim- 
othy Hodsclon,  Joshua  Nason,  and  Isaac  Burnham 
removed  there. 

By  the  census  just  taken  by  order  of  the  Legislature 
for  apportioning  the  surplus  revenue,  there  were  on  the 
first  of  March  501  families  in  the  town,  309  persons 
under  the  age  of  4,  1102  between  4  and  21,  and  1317 
over  21, — total  2729,  being  thirty-four  less  than  in  1830. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  Village  Corporation,  are  116 
families,  586  inhabitants,  more  than  one  hundred 
dwelling  houses,  three  meeting  houses,  having  a  vestry 
belonging  to  each,  three  school  houses,  a  custom  house, 
post  office,  observatory,  seven  retail  stores,  two  public 
houses  and  two  livery  stables. 

The  congregational  meeting  house  is  a"  handsome 
building,  with  a  steeple  more  than  100  feet  high,  a 
clock,  bell  and  a  good  organ.  The  Rev.  Levi  Smith 
preaches  in  this  house.  The  number  of  communicants 
of  this  church  is  150.  The  methodist  meetinghouse, 
which  was  built  in  1835,  is  a  very  neat  building  with  a 
belfry.  The  Rev.  Nathan  D.  George  is  the  present 
circuit  preacher.  The  number  of  communicants  is  116. 
The  free  meeting  house  is  now  occupied  by  the  second 
baptist  society,  whose  present  preacher  is  the  Rev. 
Clark  Sibley.  There  are  87  members  belonging  to 
this  church.  Two  of  the  school  houses  are  of  brick, 
and  are  under  one  roof.  It  is  a  handsome  building 
with  a  belfry  and  bell.  The  school  house  and  custom 
house  are  the  only  brick  buildings  in  the  town.  The 
dwelling  houses  in  the  village  are  of  wood,  and  mostly 
two  stories  high.  The  village  is  compactly  built,  but  it 
never  has  been  visited  by  a  fire.  There  is  but  one  fire 
engine  belonging  to  the  corporation. 

There  are  four  wharves  extending  to  the  channel  of 
the  river,  besides  the  short  ones  and  the  piers  built  by 
government.  There  are  three  public  schools  kept  in 
the  village  six  months  in  the  year,  one  male  and  two 
female.  The  whole  number  of  children  of  age  to  attend 
these  schools  is  246.  Besides  the  public  schools,  there  are 
usually  one  or  more  private  female  schools  kept  through 
the  year,  and  a  man's  school  during  the  winter.  This 
village  is  connected  in  business  with  a  village  in  Ken- 
nebunk,  and  united  with  it  by  a  draw  bridge.     In  the 


•216  HISTORY   OF  [a.  d.  1S37. 

Kennebunk  village*  are  three  wharves,  a  meeting 
house  of  the  christian  society,  a  school  house,  a  public 
house,  and  three  retail  stores. 

There  are  three  other  houses  of  public  worship,  be- 
sides those  in  the  village  ; — the  old  congregational 
meeting  house,  now  occupied  by  a  portion  of  the  first 
parish  ;  the  methodist  meeting  house  on  Saco  road 
which  was  built  in  1719 ;  and  the  meeting  house  of  the 
first  baptist  society,  which  is  not  at  present  occupied. t 
The  methodist  church  on  Saco  road  consists  of  91 
members.  They  have  preaching  one  half  of  the  time. 
The  Rev.  John  Clough  is  the  present  circuit  preacher- J 
There  are  but  six  members  belonging  to  the  Union  So- 
ciety and  they  have  no  house,  but  have  preaching  half 
the  time. 

Besides  these  religious  denominations,  there  are  in- 

*The  principal  village  in  Kennebunk  is  four  miles  from  the  port. 

tMr.  Day  was  dismissed  about  1827,  since  which  time  the  first 
baptist  society  have  had  no  regular  meetings,  and  the  society  now 
scarcely  exists. 

}As  from  the  frequent  changes  of  the  Methodist  circuit  preach- 
ers, less  notice  has  been  taken  of  this  denomination  of  christians 
in  the  course  of  this  work  than  of  others,  the  following  brief  ac- 
count of  the  growth  of  methodism  may  not  be  uninteresting. 

The  society  was  first  formed  in  1729,  by  John  Wesley  and  three 
others.  In  1736,  Methodism  was  introduced  into  this  country  by 
John  and  Charles  Wesley.  John  remained  in  America  more  than 
a  year.  The  first  society  was  formed  in  New  "York,  in  17C6  ;  and 
the  first  conference  holden  at  Philadelphia  in  1773.  In  1791,  a 
class  was  formed  in  Lynn,  Mass.  by  Elder  Jesso  Lee  of  Virginia, 
who  afterwards  travelled  into  Maine  and  preached  the  first  meth- 
odist sermon  in  the  State,  September  10th,  at  Saco.  He  soon  after 
formed  the  first  circuit  in  Maine,  called  the  Readfield  circuit. 
The  second  circuit  was  formed  at  Portland  ;  and  the  first  quarterly 
meeting  was  holden  at  Poland  in  1795.  In  1797,  Maine,  which 
had  heretofore  belonged  to  the  Boston  District,  was  formed  into  a 
district  by  itself.  In  1S02  the  name  of  the  Portland  circuit,  which 
embraced  the  western  part  of  Maine,  was  changed  to  that  of  Fal- 
mouth circuit.  In  1806,  Maine  was  divided  into  two  districts, 
Portland  and  Kennebec.  The  first  class  was  formed  in  Kennebnnk- 
port  in  1814  by  Elder  Leonard  Bennet.  In  1815  Falmouth  circuit 
was  called  Buxton  circuit.  In  1820  the  Arundel  circuit  was  formed, 
comprising  Arundel,  Lyman,  Mollis,  and  Biddeford  ;  and  Ebenezer 
Lombard  was  the  local,  and  James  Jaques  the  travelling  preacher. 
Since  1820  other  circuits  have  been  taken  from  the  Arundel  or 
Kennebunk-port  circuit;  and  it  now  includes  but  little  more  than 
the  town. 


A.  D.  1837.]         KENNEBUNK  FCRT.  217 

dividuals  belonging  to  the  Freewill  Baptist,  Christian, 
Unitarian  and  Universalist  societies,  who  attend  meet- 
ings in  neighboring  towns. 

The  town  is  divided  into  thirteen  school  districts  ; 
and  there  are  1102  school  children. 

There  are  about  80  miles  of  public  road  within  the 
limits  of  the  town.  There  are  also  15  or  20  bridges 
and  a  large  number  of  expensive  causeways  wholly 
supported  by  the  town,  besides  eight  bridges  over  Ken- 
nebunk  and  Little  rivers,  two  with  draws,  partly  main- 
tained at  the  cost  of  the  town.  The  average  amount 
of  the  highway  tax  for  the  last  ten  years,  has  been 
about  83000,  one  tenth  of  which  was  cash  and  nine 
tenths  labor.  The  amount  of  school  money  raised 
yearly,  is  $1200,  which  a  little  exceeds  the  sum  requir- 
ed by  law,  besides  the  town's  share  of  the  bank  tax, 
which  is  $218.  The  yearly  expense  for  the  poor  is 
8550.  There  were,  on  the  first  of  March,  but  two  in- 
dividuals wholly  supported  by  the  town.  There  is  no 
state  tax  at  present,  and  the  county  tax  of  the  town  is 
$612.  The  whole  amount  of  money  raised  the  present 
year  is  86,800. 

The  town  is  not  only  free  from  debt,  but  there  are 
nearly  a  thousand  dollars  unappropriated  in  the  treas- 
ury, beside  the  town's  share  of  the  surplus  revenue,  a- 
mounting  to  about  $8000.  This  sum,  by  a  vote  of  the 
town,  is  to  be  loaned  to  individuals  of  the  town  at  six 
per  cent,  in  sums  not  exceeding  8500.  The  income 
arising  from  it  is  unappropriated. 

The  present  amount  of  registered,  licensed,  and  en- 
rolled tonnage  belonging  to  this  district,  is  about  9000 
tons.  The  amount  of  duties  paid  at  the  custom  house 
in  1835,  was  only  82,021,  being  a  smaller  sum  by  two 
thirds  than  has  ever  been  collected  in  any  other  year 
since  the  district  was  established.  The  amount  in  1836 
was  86,997.  The  whole  amount  of  duties  collected  in 
the  district  since  1800,  is  about  81,200,000  ;  and  the 
amount  paid  by  citizens  of  the  district  in  other  ports, 
would  at  least  equal  this  sum.  The  duty  on  articles 
imported  being  about  equal  to  one  third  their  worth, 
the  value  of  goods  subject  to  duty,  imported  by  mer- 
chants of  this  port  in  thirty-four  years,  amount  to  more 
than  $7,000,000.  The  amount  of  free  goods,  or  arti- 
T 


218  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

cles  on  which  no  duty  was  collected,  and  cash,    would 
probably  swell  the  amount  to  nearly  $12,000,000. 

The  business  of  Kennebunk-port  has  not  yet  fully 
recovered  from  the  shock  given  it  in  1829  and  1830  ; 
but  there  is  evidently  an  increasing  spirit  of  enterprise 
which  will  undoubtedly  overcome  this  lethargy.  Real 
estate  and  rents  have  advanced  at  least  one  third  from 
the  rates  of  1830,  and  there  is  a  confidence  that  they 
will  approach  nearer  their  intrinsic  worth. 

The  larger  part  of  the  navigation  of  the  port  is  in 
freighting  ships,  there  being  only  five  or  six  vessels 
trading  regularly  to  the  West  Indies.  The  freighting 
vessels  from  this  river,  have  without  an  exception,  pro- 
cured good  freights  this  season  ;  and  those  trading  to 
the  West  Indies  are  doing  a  fair  business.  There  are 
two  ships  and  one  brig,  about  1100  tons,  now  building 
on  the  river.  Five  or  six  packets  and  coasters  run  reg- 
ularly between  this  port  and  Boston.  The  articles 
.-hipped  to  the  West  Indies,  New  Orleans  and  other 
southern  ports,  New^  York  and  Boston,  are  boards, 
hoops,  shooks,  staves,  casks,  ship  timber,  fish,  leather, 
hay,  potatoes,  wood,  rough  and  dressed  granite,  bricks, 
&c. 

Fishino-  business  has  been  gradually  increasing,  and 
there  is  now  a  larger  amount  invested  in  it,  than  at  any 
former  period.  A  fishing  company  is  just  formed  with 
a  capital  of  $20,000.  The  business  of  Cape  Porpoise 
is  principally  fishing.  This  ancient  village  is  situated 
on  a  good  harbor,  which  is  probably  exceeded  by  none 
of  its  size  for  this  employment.  For  several  years  it 
lias  increased  in  wealth  and  population  more  rapidly 
perhaps  than  any  other  part  of  the  town  ; — and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  its  prosperity  may  equal  the  present  in- 
dustry of  its  inhabitants,  and  the  local  advantages  of 
their  harbor. 

Not  only  are  commerce  and  fishery  prosperous,  but 
agriculture  is  also  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Since 
the  lumber  business  has  in  a  great  measure  ceased,  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  timber,  farmers  have  paid 
more  attention  to  cultivating  their  farms,  and  have 
found  a  ready  market  for  their  surplus  produce,  in  the 
village  and  in  the  neighboring  manufacturing  towns. 
In  consequence  of  the   limited  demand  for  building 


A.  D.  1837.]  KEXNEBUNK  PORT.  219 

materials  in  New  York,  the  principal  market  for  the 
stone  of  this  town,  there  is  hut  little  doing  by  the  differ- 
ent quarrying  associations ;  but  there  is  scarcely  a 
doubt  that  a  profitable  business  will  be  done  by  them, 
when  the  present  general  pressure  is  taken  from  business. 

The  United  States  Quarry, — so  called  because  the 
stone  for  the  government  piers  was  taken  from  it, — is 
owned  by  a  company  incorporated  by  the  name  of  the 
"  Maine  Quarrying  Association."  This  company  have 
a  capital  of  $350,000,  divided  into  two  thousand  shares, 
one  thousand  of  which  belong  to  the  association  as  a 
corporate  body.  Their  officers  are  John  Neal,  Daniel 
Winslow,  and  Mason  Greenwood,  Managers  ;  Nathan- 
iel Mitchell,  Treasurer ;  William  Cutter,  Clerk. 
According  to  the  published  report  of  the  Managers,  the 
affairs  of  this  company  are  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
and  they  have  a  large  amount  of  stone  on  their  wharf 
ready  for  shipping. 

The  "  Kennebunk  Port  Granite  and  Railroad  Com- 
pany" are  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $200,000. 
The  officers  are,  Daniel  W.  Lord,  President ;  Robert 
Towne,  Secretary  ;  Jacob  Mitchell,  Treasurer.  This 
company  have  shipped  a  large  quantity  of  dressed  stone. 

The  "  New  York  City  and  Kennebunk  Port  Granite 
Company"  were  incorporated  the  last  session  of  the 
Legislature,  but  have  not  yet  organized. 

The  "Kennebunk  Granite  Company"  were  also  in- 
corporated the  last  session  of  the  Legislature,  but  have 
not  organized.  They  have  however  quarried  a  large 
amount  of  stone. 

Besides  these  four  incorporated  companies,  several 
others  have  been  formed,  some  of  which  have  commen- 
ced operations. 

There  is  but  little  difference  in  the  quality  of  the 
stone  belonging  to  these  companies,  and  the  sup- 
ply is  inexhaustible.  It  is  extremely  hard,  and  was 
first  worked  at  an  advance  of  fifteen  per  cent,  above 
the  Quincy  stone  ;  but  owing  to  its  tenacity  and  tough- 
ness, it  is  now  worked  by  those  accustomed  to  it,  at  the 
same  rate  of  the  Hallowell,  or  ten  per  cent,  less  than 
the    Quincy.*     Professor    Cleaveland,    of  Brunswick, 

^Report  of  the  Managers  of  tho  Maine  Quarrying  Association, 


220  HISTORY  OF  [a.  d.  1837. 

says  "  its  texture  is  uncommonly  firm  ;"  and  adds,  that 
"  different  granites  possess  very  different  powers  of 
resisting  injury  from  sudden  heat  and  cooling.  In  this 
respect  also,  I  found  the  Kennebunk  granite  superior  to 
many  others.  I  examined  it  by  heating  the  specimens 
to  750  degrees  or  800  degrees  of  Farenheit,  and  then 
suddenly  projecting  cold  water  upon  them.  Other 
specimens  of  sienite  and  granite  employed  as  building 
stones,  suffered  much  when  subjected  to  similar  trials." 
Dr.  Jackson,  Geologist  to  the  State  of  Maine,  also 
speaks  highly  of  this  stone. 

The  inhabitants  of  Kennebunk-port  have  not  been 
backward  in  promoting  the  religious,  moral  and  benev- 
olent institutions  of  the  day.  The  "  Temperance 
Society"  was  formed  in  1831  and  has  now  777  members. 
The  "  Seaman's  Friend  Society"  was  formed  1833,  and 
has  monthly  meetings.  Besides  these,  there  are  many 
other  associations,  such  as  abound  in  all  our  towns  and 
villages.  By  vote  of  the  town,  there  have  been  no 
licenses  granted  for  selling  ardent  spirits,  for  several 
years.  For  the  nature  of  their  employment,  the  in- 
habitants  of  this  town  have  generally  been  remarkable 
for  their  sobriety.  In  their  habits  they  have  been  fru- 
gal,— even  perhaps  to  a  fault,  particularly  in  their 
public  expenditures.  They  do  not  yet  take  sufficient 
interest  in  public  schools,  many  individuals  neglecting 
to  avail  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  educate  their 
children  ;  and  the  compensation  allowed  to  instructors, 
in  some  districts,  being  insufficient  to  induce  suitable 
persons  to  take  charge  of  their  schools.  The  first  na- 
tive of  the  town  who  received  a  collegiate  education, 
graduated  in  1823  ;  and  since  that  time  two  others 
have  received  a  public  education.* 

Very  few  professional  men  have  ever  resided  in  the 
town.  The  first  physician  that  lived  in  the  place  was 
Dr.  Thacher   Goddard,   who  came  here   in   1786,  and 

*Jonas  Barnham,  now  the  Precepter  of  Bridafeton  Academy, 
graduated  at  Brunswick  in  1823;  Charles  A.  Lord,  now  of  New 
York,  merchant,  in  1826  ;  and  Horatio  N.  Perkins,  Esq.  of  Boston, 
in  1828. _  George  Wheelwright,  jr.  born  at  Kennebunk-port,  but 
now  a  citizen  of  Bangor,  graduates  the  present  year  ;  and  Geo. 
Jeffords  in  1838.  Edward  Smith,  who  belonged  to  the  Sophomor& 
class,  died  in  1836. 


A.  D.  1837.]  KEXXEBUNK    PORT.  221 

remained  but  two  years.  No  other  one  resided  in  the 
town  till  1810,  when  Dr.  Langdon  commenced  prac- 
tice. There  are  now  two  physicians  residing  in  the 
town. 

S.  P.  S.  Thatcher,  Esq.  attempted  to  practice  law 
here  during  the  last  war,  and  John  R.  Adams,  Esq.  sev- 
eral years  afterwards,  but  the  business  of  the  town 
would  not  support  a  lawyer.  Kennebunk-port  has  al- 
ways been  dependant  upon  Saco  and  Rennebunk  for 
legal  aid  ;  and  for  medical  assistance  till  within  a  few 
years. 

Although  the  town  has  been  settled  more  than  200 
years,  and  incorporated  184  years,  and  for  the  last 
twenty  five  years  been  one  of  the  wealthiest  towns  in 
the  state,  yet  the  only  person  belonging  to  it,  who  ever 
filled  any  public  office, — except  a  few  inspectors  in  the 
Custom  House,  and  the  post  masters  of  the  town, — was 
a  county  commissioner,  whose  compensation  was  in- 
sufficient to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  office.  The  present 
officers  of  the  customs  are  Barnabas  Palmer,  Collector, 
— who  succeeded  George  Wheelwright  in  1820, — whose 
annual  compensation  is  $286  ;  Joshua  Herrick,  Depu- 
ty Collector,  $650 ;  Eliphalet  Perkins,  jr.  inspector, 
weigher  and  guager,  8600  ;  ElishaS.  Goodwin,  inspec- 
tor at  Cape  Porpoise,  $450 ;  and  Joseph  Wilson,  in- 
spector at  Wells,  $320. 

Oliver  Bourne,  who  succeeded  James  D.  Downing,  is 
the  present  Post-Master  at  the  village,  and  Edmund 
Currier,  jr.  of  the  North  Kennebunk-port  post  office. 

At  present  there  are  three  public  houses  in  Kenne- 
bunk-port, two  of  which  are  in  the  village.  The  village 
being  four*  miles  below  the  post  road,  there  is  but  little 
travelling  through  it ;  and  for  several  years  since  1T28, 
there  was  no  public  house  kept  there.  The  mail  is 
brought  down  twice  daily  from  the  Kennebunk  post 
office. 

The  people  of  this  town  having  always  done  less  bu- 
siness than  their  means  would  warrant,  do  not  feel  the 
present  pressure  in  the  money  market  only  incidentally 
in  the  suspension  of  the  demand  for  building  materials. 

*The  distance  from  Wells  to  Saco,  through  the  villnge  of  Ken- 
nebunk-port, is  less  than  two  miles  further,  than  by  the  post  road. 
Tt 


222  history  or  [a.  d.  1837 J 

Upon  the  whole,  the  present  prospect  of  the  town  is 
very  encouraging,  and  it  may  reasonably  be  hoped  that 
it  may  again  rank  with  the  wealthy  towns  of  the 
state.  That  it  may  do  so,  mainly  depends  upon  the 
rising  generation.  If  they  rightly  improve  the  su- 
perior advantages  they  now  enjoy  for  acquiring  a  good 
education,  with  correct  conduct  and  a  proper  degree  of 
energy,  the  town  may  again  become, — if  not  compara- 
tively so  wealthy  as  it  has  been, — yet  a  place  of  more 
note  than  it  is  at  present, 


KENXEBUNK    TORT.  fJ23 


CHAPTER  XI. 


[Note.  Although  the  following  brief  notices  of  the  earlier 
settlers  of  this  town,  after  it  took  the  name  of  Arundel,  are  be- 
lieved to  be  essentially  correct,  yet  on  account  of  the  almost 
total  want  of  records  of  births  and  marriages,  they  must  ne- 
cessarily be  imperfect.  The  materials  have  been  collected 
with  great  care  and  labor  from  the  Genealogical  Register  of 
John  Farmer,  Folsom's  History  of  Saco  and  Biddeford,  and 
other  town  histories ;  from  the  Massachusetts,  county,  town, 
proprietors,  and  family  records  ;  from  Mr.  Hovey's  journal  and 
other  private  papers ;  and  by  personal  enquiry,  from  persons  of 
this  and  other  towns.  For  the  genealogy  of  the  families  of  his 
name,  and  several  connected  with  them  by  marriage,  the  com- 
piler is  indebted  to  H.  N.  Perkins,  Esq.  of  Boston  ;  and  to  B. 
Palmer,  Esq.  of  Kenuebunk,  for  the  list  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
revolution,  and  for  many  facts  relative  to  that  event. 

It  was  not  at  first  intended  to  notice  any  families  that  have 
become  residents  since  the  revolutionary  war,  and  the  accounts 
of  them,  having  been  hastily  collected,  are  less  full  than  they 
otherwise  would  have  been.  The  names  of  many  persons  who 
remained  here  but  a  short  time,  have  been  purposely  omitted, 
and  probably  several  unintentionally.  The  births  and  mar- 
riages were  brought  down  to  the  present  generation,  but  on 
account  of  the  great  increase  of  matter,  they  were  suppressed. 
For  the  same  reason,  many  family  and  revolutionary  anec- 
dotes, that  were  collected,  have  been  withheld. 

The  names  are  placed  Alphabetically,  for  the  convenience 
of  finding  them,  without  regard  to  priority  of  citizenship.  At 
the  close  of  the  chapter,  are  lists  of  the  revolutionary  soldiers, 
the  representatives,  and  the  town  clerks.] 

e  Abbot,  Silas,  came  from  Scarborough  to  Arundel 
before  the  revolutionary  war,  and  joined  the  continental 
army.  His  first  wife  was  Anes  Hutchins,  whose  chil- 
dren were  Benjamin  and  Anes.  His  second  wife  was 
Lydia  Cluff,  whose  children  were  Stephen,  Martha, 
Enoch,  Betsey,  Lydia,  Mary  and  Electa. 


•2'24  HISTORY    OF 

fi  Accerma.v,  Stephen,  had  a  grant  of  land  in  17*20, 
but  it  is  not  known  how  long  he  remained  in  the  town. 

Adams,  Joseph,  came  to  this  town  from  Kittery  about 
1740.  His  wife  was  Dorothy  Dearing.  He  had  three 
sons,  John,  James,  and  William  ;  and  three  daughters, 
Sarah,  m.*  Mr.  Stevens  and  Aaron  Gray;  Susan,  Mr. 
Gray,  Joseph  Hill  and  Mr.  Johnson  ;  and  Mary,  Sam- 
uel Benson. 

1.  John  married  Sarah  Larrabee,  whose  children 
were  Dorothy,  m.  Robert  W.  Benson  ;  Elizabeth,  Ben- 
jamin   Goodwin    and   David    Rumery ;  Sarah,    Pierce 

Murphy  ;  Lydia,    Daniel  Goodwin  ;  Benjamin,    Sarah 
Thomas  ;  and  Hannah,  Bartholomew  Goodwin. 

2.  James  married  Lydia  Benson.  His  children  were, 
James,  m.  Betsey  Tarbox  and  Lydia  Benson  ;  Hannah, 
William  Maxwell ;  Phebe,  Alexander  Lewis  and  West- 
brook  Berry  ;  Joseph,  Priscilla  Jeffery  ;  Henry  ;  Lydia , 
m.  William  Hopping;  two  that  died  young;  and  John, 
m.  Lydia  Stone. 

3.  William  died  in  the  army. 

e  Adams,  John  R.  a  lawyer,  came  from  Boston  about 
1821.  He  resided  here  but  a  short  time,  and  removed 
to  Lowell. 

e  Alltimes,  John,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  Saco 
road  in  1728.  He  lived  near  where  the  present  school- 
house  is.  He  died  Oct.  10,  1750,  after  twelve  months 
sickness.  He  left  two  sons,  John  and  William,  who 
resided  near  the  same  place,  and  a  daughter  Lucy. 
They  all  moved  eastward.  A  daughter  of  John  jr. 
Frances,  married  Ephraim  Thompson. 

Anderson,  Samuel,  a  mariner,  came  from  Virginia 
about  1803.     He  married  Sally  Denico. 

Andrews,  John,  came  from  Chebacco,  (Essex)  m 
1783.  His  father,  deacon  John  Andrews,  died  with  a 
cancer  in  1750.     His  wife  was  Susan  Chote. 

e  Aspinwall,  William,  a  mariner,  came  to  this  town 
about  1S00,  and  married  Sarah  Gorman.    He  died  at  sea. 

Averill,  Joseph,  Samuel,   Stephen  and  Job,   were 

e  The  families  of  persons  to  whose  names  the  letter  e  is  prefixed, 
have  either  removed  from  the  town,  become  extinct,  or  have  no 
lineal  male  descendants  residing  in  the  town. 

*The  letter  m.  is  an  abbreviation  for  marriage. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  225 

brothers,  and  came  to  this  town  from  Kittery  soon  after 
it  was  resettled  in  1714.     Job  left  no  children. 

1.  Joseph  married  Jane  McLellen.  Seven  of  their 
children  died  with  the  throat  distemper  in  1735.  Four 
survived,  Joseph,  who  married  Hannah  Watson  ;  Jane, 
Hugh  McLellen  ;  Margaret,  Mr.  Hodge  ;  and  Molly, 
Mr.  Clark.  The  children  of  Joseph  jr.  were  Shadrach, 
who  married  Hannah  Smith  ;  Sarah,  David  Boothby  ; 
Joseph,  who  had  three  wives,  Mary  Stone,  Martha  Ty- 
ler, and  Polly  Haley  ;  Jane,  who  died  young;  Samuel, 
who  died  at  sea;  Stephen  (crazy;)  William,  who  mar- 
ried Susan  Boothby,  and  subsequently  Mary  Weeks  ; 
Hannah,  Ebenezer  Ruff;  and  John,  who  married  Cath- 
arine Kimball. 

2.  Samuel  was  cast  away  at  Mount  Desert  in  1747, 
and  drowned.  His  wife  was  Ruth  Wratson.  Four  of 
their  children  died  young,  and  three  were  married. 
Ruth  to  James  Huff;  Eunice  to  Jesse  Dorman  ;  and 
Mary  to  Joseph  Bickford. 

3.  Stephen's  children  were  Phebe,  m.  Nicholas 
Weeks;  Rebecca,  m.  in  the  country  ;  Sarah,  m.  a  Mr. 
Maddox ;  and    Samuel,  and   another   boy  died   young. 

Mr.  Hovey  speaks  of  a  Jacob  Averill,  a  joiner,  who 
lived  here  in  1747. 

c  Ayer,  Grorge,  lived  at  Saco  road  about  17G0.  He 
married  Susannah  Weeks,  and  moved  east. 

e  Babb,  William,  came  from  N.  H.  about  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolution,  and  lived  near  the  head 
of  the  town.  In  1782,  he  married  Jemima  Durant,  and 
shortly  after  returned  to  New  Hampshire. 

Baker,  William,  joiner,  came  from  Kennebunk  in 
1836. 

e  Banks,  Jacob,  came  from  Saco  about  1818,  and 
kept  a  livery  stable.    He  subsequently  removod  to  Orono. 

e  Barker,  Robert,  fisherman,  resided  at  Cape  Por- 
poise about  1800,  and  moved  to  the  eastward  about  1810. 

e  Barter,  William,  was  an  inhabitant  of  this  town 
in  1755.  His  father  was  a  Welchman,  and  came  to 
America  in  the  same  vessel  with  William  Pepperell, 
father  of  Sir  William,  about  1G75.  Capt.  Barter  was 
born  in  Kittery,  and   married  Mary  Jones  before  his 


226  HISTORY    OF 

removal  to  Arundel.  He  was  a  ship  master  till  he  was 
deprived  of  the  use  of  his  limbs  by  the  palsy.  His 
children  were  Sarah,  who  married  John  Cleaves  ;  Ma- 
ry, John  Hovey  ;  Martha,  Samuel  Stevens  ;  Catharine, 
David  Hutchins ;  Mark,  Lydia  Burnham ;  Margery, 
(not  married ;)  Henry,  who  removed  to  Portsmouth  ; 
and  William,  who  was  not  married. 

Mark  was  married  in  1779.  His  children  were,  Ma- 
ry, Sarah,  Betsey,  Nancy,  William  and  James. 

*  e  Barton,  Ebenezer,  Nicholas  and  John,  sons  of 
William,  returned  to  this  town  when  it  was  resettled. 
They  sold  their  land  to  Jacob  Curtis  in  1727,  and  re- 
moved from  the  town. 

e  Bartow,  Nicholas,  resided  near  Turbat's  creek  in 
1719,  and  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1723. 

e  Baxter,  John,  came  to  this  town  when  it  was  first 
resettled.  His  wife,  Sarah,  was  the  daughter  of  Philip 
Durrell.  She  and  her  only  child,  John,  were  murdered 
by  the  Indians  in  1726.  Mr.  Baxter's  second  wife  was 
Sarah  Bayley  of  Portsmouth,  whose  children  were,  John, 
who  died  young;  Sarah,  m.  Thomas  Perkins  ;  Mary, 
m.  Benjamin  Carr  ;  Rebecca,  and  another  daughter, 
who  died  young.  Mr.  Baxter  removed  from  Durrell's 
bridge  to  Saco  road  in  1729,  and  died  before  1744. 
His  widow  m.  Samuel  Hutchins,  jr. 

e  Bayley,  John,  came  from  Chippenham,  Wiltshire, 
England,  and  was  cast  away  at  Pemaquid,  in  1639,  on 
his  passage  to  this  country  and  died  in  1651.  His  son 
John  settled  in  Newbury.  Joseph,  the  fourth  son  of 
John  jr.  was  born  April  4,  1648.  He  bought  land  of 
Nicholas  Morey  in  1700,  and  resided  in  Arundel,  till  it 
was  deserted  in  1703.  He  returned  in  1714,  and  was 
one  of  the  selectmen  in  1719 ;  and  was  killed  by  the 
Indians,  Oct.  1723,  aged 75.  His  children  were,  Noah  ; 
Daniel ;  and  Anna  who  married  Joshua  Lassel.  There 
was  a  Joseph  Bayley  living  in  Falmouth  in  1742,  who 
owned  land  in  this  town.  He  was  probably  a  son  of 
Joseph  of  Arundel. 

1.  Noah  m.  Mary  Lassel  in  1731.  In  1739  he  be- 
came chargeable  to  the  town  ;  and  was  drowned,  July 

*See  page  S4. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  227 

10,  1749,  to  the  eastward  of  Trott's  Island.     He  left 
no  children. 

2.  Daniel  was  a  town  officer  in  1734,  hut  nothing 
is  known  of  his  family. 

f  Bean,  John,  then  living  in  this  town,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Moody  of  Massabesic,  in  1779. 

cBeggar,  Francis,  returned  to  Arundel,  when  it  was 
resettled,  but  nothing  more  is  known  of  him. 

Bell,  John,  joiner,  came  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
in  1801.     He  married  Eunice  Davis. 

Bell,  Thomas  H.  shipmaster,  came  from  Ports- 
mouth, Vir.  in  1819. 

Benson,  Henry,  whose  wife's  name  was  Quint,  went 
from  Kittery  to  Biddeford  before  1750.  Several  of  his 
children  married  and  settled  in  Arundel.  Henry,  m. 
Susan  Fletcher  ;  Mary,  Benjamin  Littlefield  ;  Lucy, 
Benjamin  Green  ;  Lydia,  Timothy  Crawley  and  James 
Adams  ;  and  Olive,  Isaac  Curtis,  Edmund  Jeffery,  and 
John  Tarbox.  Three  of  the  sons  remained  in  Bidde- 
ford, and  one  lived  in  Kittery.  The  children  of  Hen- 
ry jr.  (of  Arundel)  were  Henry,  m.  Hannah  Huff; 
Lydia,  James  Adams  ;  Betsey,  (not  married  ;)  Samu- 
el, m.  Mary  Huff;  John,  Abiel  Springer;  Robert,  Ly- 
dia Stone  ;  and  James,  and  one  other  who  died  young. 

Bickford,  Jethro,  had  a  grant  of  land  from  the  town 
in  1729,  on  Saco  road,  which  was  laid  out  in  1743.  It 
is  probable  therefore  he  resided  in  this  town.  If  he 
did  he  probably  removed  to  Biddeford,  as  some  of  his 
des  cendants  removed  from  that  town  to  Kennebunk- 
port ; — Percia  about  1800,  and  Pelatiah  in  1835. 

Bickford,  Eliakim,  a  ship  master,  who  came  from 
Salem  about  1740,  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  in 
Arundel  in  1744.  He  was  probably  a  descendant  of 
John  Beckford,  (as  the  name  was  then  spelt,)  who 
lived  in  Durham  in  1G59.  Eliakim  died  suddenly, 
March  22,  1748.  His  children  were  Joseph  and  Abi- 
gail. Abigail  married  John  Cleaves.  Joseph  married 
Mary  Averill,  whose  children  were  Eliakim,  James, 
Thomas,  Lucy,  Abigail,  Joseph,  Hannah,  Mary,  John, 
George,  William,  and  Gideon. 

pBird,  James,  an  Irishman,  kept  a  boarding-house 
about  1825.     He  removed  to  Boston. 


228  HISTORY    OF 

cBlanchard,  Charles,  schoolmaster,  settled  over  the 
second  baptist  society  in  1822. 

e  Blunt,  John  and  James,  came  from  Portsmouth 
about  1790.  John,  a  ship  builder,  married  Lydia  Per- 
kins, and  widow  Sarah  Perkins.  He  removed  to 
Frenchman's  Bay  (Sullivan)  about  1807.  James,  a  boat 
builder,  removed  to  Mollis  about  1817. 

4  Bond,  Thomas,  a  fisherman,  bought  land  in  Saco 
in  1717.  His  son  Thomas  resided  in  Arundel,  near 
Cleaves's  cove,  in  1724.  The  children  of  the  latter 
were  Willie  and  Rowlandson.  Willie  married  Samuel 
Perkins.  Rowlandson,  who  was  a  chair  maker,  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Samuel  Williams.  He  built  the 
house,  afterwards  occupied  by  Thomas  Wiswall,  about 
1743.  He  was  a  very  athletic  man  and  very  quarrel- 
some. He  attempted  to  drown  his  brother-in-law  in 
Perkins's  creek,  in  1752.  For  this  assault  he  was 
sentenced  either  to  pay  a  fine  of  twenty  eight  shillings, 
or  to  receive  ten  stripes  on  his  bare  skin.  A  suit  for 
damages  also  grew  out  of  this  transaction,  which  result- 
ed in  depriving  him  of  all  his  property ;  and  he  re- 
moved to  Cape  Ann. 

Boston,  Shubael  and  Thomas,  brothers,  came  from 
Wells  about  1785.  Shubael  married  Rebecca  Winn, 
and  Thomas,  Susan  Gray. 

Bourne,  Samuel,  a  ship  carpenter,  came  from  Wells 
in  1791.     He  married  Mary  Perkins. 

e  Bourne,  Benjamin  and  John,  brothers,  came  from 
Kennebunk.  Benjamin,  a  blockmaker,  came  to  this 
town  about  1802,  and  now  resides  in  Bangor.  John, 
shipmaster,  settled  here  in  1809. 

Bowdon,  Abraham,  farmer,  born  in  York,  came  to 
Kennebunk-port  about  1817. 

e  Boyls,  Elisha,  came  from  Boston  about  1765.  He 
had  but  two  children,  Amelia  and  Sally.  After  the 
war,  Mr.  Boyls  returned  to  Boston.  Mrs.  Boyls  was 
living  in  1812. 

Bradbury,  Smith,  merchant,  came  from  Newbury- 
port  about  1790.  He  married  Mary  Hovey.  His 
children  were  Harriet,  Mary,  Amelia,  Charles  and 
Caroline.     He  was  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Bradbury, 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  229 

who  was  an  agent  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  in  1G3G, 
and  who  was  admitted  freeman  at  Salisbury  in  1639. 

Bragdon,  John,  shipmaster,  came  from  York  about 
1798. 

eBRiGGs,  John  L.  an  Irishman,  kept  a  public  house 
about  1S25.     He  removed  to  Portland. 

c  Brown,  Arthur,  who  had  "  been  bred  a  merchant 
from  his  youth  upwards,"*  came  to  this  country  in 
1643.  His  son  Andrew  lived  in  Scarborough,  but  re- 
moved to  York,  where  he  resided  in  1699.  Andrew 
bought  land  at  Winter  Harbor  in  1717,  and  lived  there 
a  short  time,  but  removed  to  Arundel  before  1719,  and 
was  one  of  the  Selectmen  that  year.  He  owned  mills 
on  "  Brown's  mill  river,"  where  he  resided.  He  must 
have  been  a  very  aged  man  at  the  time  of  his  removal 
into  this  town  ;  and  he  lived  but  a  few  years  after  that 
period.  He  left  five  children,  Allison,  Andrew,  Mat- 
thew, Elizabeth  who  married  Abraham  Tyler,  and  a 
daughter  that  married  Joshua  Lassel. 

1.  Allison  married  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Hum- 
phrey Scamman  of  Saco.  He  was  styled  Lieut,  and 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  General  Court  in 
1723,  being  the  first  representative  from  the  town.  He 
died  April  16,  1728,  aged  71  years.  His  grave  stones 
are  still  standing.  Mr.  Brown  was  the  wealthiest  citi- 
zen of  the  town.  His  widow,  who  was  nearly  thirty 
years  younger  than  himself,  married  John  Treeworgy, 
who  had  for  some  time  been  a.hired  man  in  Mr.  Brown's 
service,  much  against  the  wishes  of  her  friends.  Mr. 
Brown's  children  were,  Andrew,  and  four  daughters. 
The  daughters  married,  Carr,  John  Stackpole,  Smith, 
and  Joshua  Lassel,  jr.  Andrew,  son  of  Allison,  married 
Elizabeth  Harding,  Nov.  5,  1747.  He  erected  a  house 
at  the  Mills,  June  27,  1751,  but  subsequently  resided 
on  Neck  Island.  His  children  were  Louisa,  m.  Adam 
McCulloch ;  Allison,  who  m.  Elizabeth  Tyler,  and 
removed  to  Scarborough ;  Hannah,  who  m.  Joshua 
Alley  ;  Andrew,  m.  Mary  Webber  and  removed  to  Ken- 
nebec ;  Mary,  who  was  married  five  times, — to  John 
Wakefield,  Thomas  Washburne,  Joseph  Parsons,  Mr. 
Crosby,  and  Eliakim  Bickford ;  Elizabeth,  who  m. 
Abner  Huff;  and  four  that  died  young. 
*  County  Records.  U 


230  HISTORY    OF 

2.  Andrew,  the  second  son  of  Andrew  sen.  married 
the  widow  of  Pendleton  Fletcher,  grandson  of  Bryan 
Pendleton.  He  died  July  4,  1723,  aged  65 ;  and  his 
widow  died  in  1726,  aged  65.  Their  only  child,  Andrew, 
was  never  married,  and  died  March  14,  1722,  aged  31 
years. 

3.  Lieut.  Matthew  Brown,  the  third  son  of  Andrew 
sen.  died  before  1734,  and  left  no  children. 

Brown,  Joseph,  an  Englishman,  came  to  this  town 
about  1796.     He  married  Polly  Ferran. 

c  Brown,  Jacob,  shipmaster,  came  from  Pennsylva- 
nia about  1815.  He  married  widow  Sarah  Thompson. 
He  was  killed  accidentally  in  1833. 

Burbank,  John,  of  Rowley,  1640,  is  the  only  person 
of  that  name  mentioned  in  Farmer's  Genealogies.  It 
is  not  known  however  that  the  family  of  this  town  de- 
scended from  him.  John,  a  millman,  came  from  Brad- 
ford with  the  first  settlers  of  Arundel.  He  was  a  Lieut, 
at  the  taking  of  Louisburg  in  1745.  He  was  concerned 
in  fishing  and  coasting,  and  lost  a  large  schooner  in 
1750,  on  her  first  trip  to  Halifax.  His  first  wife  was 
Priscilla  Major,  who  died  Nov.  2,  1730,  aged  31  years. 
Her  children  were,  Benjamin,  Hannah,  Asa,  Priscilla 
and  Mary.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah,  widow  of 
Lemuel  Perkins,  whose  children  were  Ruth,  Miriam, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Eunice,  Samuel,  John  and  Lois. 

1.  Benjamin  m.  Jane  Sewall,  Nov.  6,  1750,  and  re- 
moved to  Brownfield.  His  daughter  Mehitable  m.  Abel 
Merrill. 

2.  Hannah's  first  husband  was  Matthew  Lassel,  and 
her  second  Gideon  Walker. 

3.  Asa  had  three  wives.  His  first  was  Eunice 
Hutchins  of  Kittery,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1751, 
whose  children  were  Priscilla  and  Caleb,  who  died 
young  ;  Anna,  m.  Lemuel  Miller  ;  Ruth,  Noah  Towne  ; 
Asa,  died  young  ;  Asa  and  William,  lost  at  sea.  He 
married  his  second  wife,  Esther  Emery,  in  1767  ;  whose 
children  were,  Joseph,  died  at  sea  ;  David,  married  Su- 
san Stowell,  and  left  no  children  ;  Caleb,  married  Sally 
Littlefield  and  removed  to  Parsonsfield  ;  Joshua,  mar- 
ried Sally  Mitchell ;  and  John,  who  married  David's 
widow,  and  moved  to  Saco.     His  third  wife  was  Han- 


KENNEDUNK    PORT.  231 

nah  Foster,  whom  lie  married  in  1781.     Her  children 
were  Ebenezer  and  Moses. 

4.  Priscilla  married  Charles  Huff. 

5.  Mary  married  John  Fairfield. 

6.  Ruth  married  Samuel  Wakefield. 

7.  Miriam  married  James  Wakefield. 

8.  Elizabeth  married  John  Walker. 

9.  Sarah  married  Nathaniel  Carl. 

10.  Eunice  married  Jotham  Mitchel. 

11.  Samuel  married  Abigail  Dearing,  and  lived  in 
Rittery. 

12.  John's  wife  was  widow  Anna  English,  who  had 
but  one  daughter,  Sally,  who  married  Joseph  Taylor. 
John  Burbank  was  on  board  the  Bon  Homme  Richard, 
as  Master  at  Arms,  under  the  command  of  Paul  Jones, 
in  the  desperate  conflict  with  the  Serapis  and  Count- 
ess of  Scarborough.  Mr.  Burbank  is  still  living  in 
Lyman,  with  his  son  in  law,  at  the  advanced  age  of  85. 
His  wife  is  also  living. 

13.  Lois  married  John  Carl. 

Burnham,  James,  was  born  in  Wells,  Sept.  1710; 
and  he  married  Grace  Delzel!  of  that  town  in  1737. 
He  removed  to  Arundel  about  1739.  His  children 
were,  James,  Samuel,  Isaac,  Forest,  (died  young)  Moses, 
Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Lydia,  Forest,  Anna,  Seth,  and 
Sarah. 

1.  James  was  killed  in  a  skirmish  with  the  English, 
on  Goat  Island,  in  1782.  His  first  wife  was  Hannah 
Merrill,  who  died  March  17,  1776.  His  second  wife 
was  widow  Jane  Wildes.  His  children  were  Mary, 
m.  Benjamin  Titcomb  ;  Susannah,  died  young;  John, 
m.  Olive  Pitman;  Hannah,  John  Fairfield°;  James 
and  Ezra,  who  died  young;  Daniel,  Seth  and  Moses, 
who  died  at  sea. 

2.  Samuel  married  Susannah  Lord,  and  removed  to 
Alewife,  where  his  descendants  now  reside. 

3.  Isaac  married  Anna  Merrill,  whose  children  were, 
Joseph,  m.  Susannah  Gardner  ;  Betsey,  Nathaniel 
Walker ;  Benjamin,  who  left  the  town ;  Obed,  who 
went  to  Ohio  ;  Mary,  m.  George  Goodwin  ;  Hannah, 
Joseph  Hutchins  ;  and  Simon  who  died  at  sea. 

4.  Forest  died  young.         5.  Moses  was  blind. 

6.  Jacob   married  Mary   Goodwin,    whose   children 


232  HISTORY    OF 

were  Bartholomew  ;  Jacob,  who  died  at  sea  ;  Nancy, 
Lydia,  Sarah,  Abigail,  Betsey  and  Grace,  that  were 
not  married  ;  and  Polly,  m.  George  Hooper. 

7.  Elizabeth  married  William  Smith. 

8.  Lydia  m.  Mark  Barter,  and  is  still  living.  She 
has  been  blind  for  several  years,  but  her  faculties  are 
but  little  impaired. 

9.  Forest  had  two  wives,  Catharine  Watson  and 
Susannah  Deshon.  Mr.  Burnham's  children  by  his 
first  wife,  were  Samuel  and  Stephen,  who  died  at  sea; 
Betsey,  who  married  Timothy  Ayer  ;  Susan,  m.  Dr. 
Ayer ;  Sally ;  and  Anna,  who  married  in  Roxbury. 
His  second  wife's  children,  were  Loratia,  who  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Harmon  ;  Isabella ;  and  Osea,  who  died 
young. 

10.  Anna  married  Joseph  Whitten. 

11.  Seth  *  married  Lydia  Lassel.  His  children 
were  Elizabeth,  James,  Israel,  Lydia,  Belford,  Leon- 
ard, Seth,  Owen  and  Jonas. 

12.  Sarah  married  William  Fairfield. 

e  Burnham,  Thomas,  married  a  sister  of  Abel  Merrill, 
and  was  lost  with  him.  His  family  of  several  children, 
moved  to  Portsmouth  after  his  death. 

e  Burnham,  Francis,  came  from  Ipswich  about  the 
close  of  the  revolutionary  war.  He  kept  a  public  house 
at  Cape  Porpoise.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Eveleth.  Mr. 
Burnham  and  his  only  son  were  drowned  off  the  cape. 
His  only  daughter,  Sarah,  married  James  Huff,  3d.  His 
widow  married  Ebenezer  Huff. 

e  Butler,  Stephen,  came  from  York  before  the  close 
of  the  war.  His  wife  was  Martha  Gray.  His  children 
were  Michaiah,  who  married  Susan  Cleaves ;  Daniel, 
Mary  Taylor  ;  and  Betsy,  who  married  David  Smith. 

Buzzell,  Samuel,  came  from  Wells  in  1807.  He 
married  widow  Edith  Deshon. 

e  Campbell,  and  Cornwall,  whose  christian  names 
are  not  given,  were  in  this  town  in  1720,  but  whether  as 
settlers,  or  joiners  on  Mr.  Eveleth's  house,  is  not  known. 

*  Seth  Burnham.  Esq.  is  still  living  ;  and  the  compiler  of  this 
work  is  much  indebted  to  him,  for  the  information  which  his  long 
employment  in  town  business  enabled  him  to  impart. 


KENNEBUNK    TORT.  233 

c  Carr,  Samuel,  was  probably  a  descendant  of  George 
Carr,  who  Jived  in  Ipswich  in  1638.  Samuel  came 
from  Newbury  to  Arundel  about  1715.  He  had  sons 
James  and  Benjamin  and  perhaps  other  children. 
James  left  no  sons.  Benjamin  married  Ruth  Moody  of 
Newbury.  Their  children  were,  James,  John,  Joseph, 
Joshua,  Benjamin,  Moody  and  Anna. 

James,  John  and  Joseph  moved  to  the  eastward. 
Anna  married  John  Lewis. 

1.  Joshua  married  Gehanna  (Joanna)  Hamer,  Feb. 
7,  1751,  and  owned  the  farm  of  the  late  Ebenezer  Per- 
kins. He  was  a  Capt.  in  the  militia,  and  the  principal 
trader  in  town.  He  owned  a  sloop  called  the  Joanna 
in  1764.  His  account  book  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
one  of  his  descendants.  His  children  were  Esther,  m. 
Joseph  Hutchins  ;  Elinor,  John  Emmons  ;  Lois,  Sam- 
uel Watson  ;  and  John  who  died  young. 

2.  Benjamin  married  Mary  Baxter.  His  children 
were  John,  who  married  Susan  Currier  and  removed  to 
Wells ;  Eliphalet,  who  was  not  married,  and  who  was 
on  board  the  Chesapeake  when  captured  by  the  Shan- 
non ;  Ruth,  and  perhaps  others. 

3.  Moody  had  three  children.  Eliphalet  wasdrowned  ; 
one  daughter  was  never  married  ;  and  Molly  married 
Samuel  Brown.     Mr.  Carr  was  also  drowned. 

e  Chadwick,  Charles,  in  1774,  lived  in  a  house  be- 
longing to  Samuel  Hutchins.  It  is  not  known  what 
became  of  this  family. 

e  Chatman,  Abraham,  was  residing  at  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town  as  early  as  1760.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Higginson.  His  children  were  Jane, 
who  married  Edmund  Littlefield  ;  Dolly,  Abraham  Lit- 
tlefield ;  Lydia,  John  Varnum  ;  Sally,  who  died  young, 
and  Willburn.  Willburn  married  Susan  Jeffery,  whose 
children  were  John,  Edward,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Benja- 
min, Susan,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Polly. 

Chesley,  John,  married  Salome  Winslow,  both  of 
Arundel,  in  1793. 

e  Clark,  Henry,  merchant,  came  from  Lexington, 
Mass.  about  1804.  He  was  cashier  of  Kenncbunk 
Bank.     He  removed  to  Boston  in  1833. 

Cleaves,  Robert,  came  from  Beverly  about  1740, 
Uu 


234  HISTORY    OF 

and  bought  land  of  Thomas  Huff,  near  "  Beaver  pond." 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  licensed  to  trade  in  1741. 
His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Harding,  and  his  second  widow 
Mehitable  Hall.  His  children  were  John,  who  was 
twice  married, — to  Sarah  Barter  and  Abigail  Bickford  ; 
William,  who  died  in  the  army  ;  Stephen,  who  married 
Alice  Perkins  ;  Eaton,  Miriam  Smith  ;  Israel,  Margaret 
Patten ;  Sarah,  Jonathan  Downing ;  James,  whose 
wives  were,  Mehitable  Webber  and  Mehitable  Murphy  ; 
and  Elinor. 

Clough,  John,  the  present  methodist  circuit  preacher, 
at  Saco  road. 

Cluff,  or  Clough,*  Samuel,  came  from  Kittery  about 
1758.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Hutchins.  His  children  were 
Joseph,  m.  Elvira  Hutchins  ;  Thomas,  Hannah  Good- 
win;  Samuel,  Lucy  Wakefield  ;  Enoch,  died  at  sea; 
Noah,  m.  Mary  Goodwin  ;  Joel,  Dorothy  Hutchins  ; 
Rhoda,  Paul  March  ;  Martha,  Thomas  Huff;  and  Lyd- 
ia,  Silas  Abbot. 

Coes,  Benjamin,  sailmaker,  came  from  Marblehead 
about  1785.     He  married  Sarah  Durrell. 

e  Coit,  Solomon,  came  from  Saco  about  1797.  His 
mother  was  the  wife  of  Capt.  James  Perkins.  He  was 
a  midshipman  in  the  navy  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  serv- 
ed on  the  lakes.  He  afterwards  commanded  the 
privateer  brig  Mars  of  Portsmouth,  which  was  lost  with 
the  whole  crew. 

Colman,  Enoch  and  Samuel,  came  from  Newington, 
about  1800. 

e  CoLE,f  Isaac,  an  old  inhabitant  of  Cape  Porpoise, 
had  four  sons  who  returned  to  this  town  when  it  was 
resettled.  Philip  died  about  1725.  His  widow,  whose 
name  was  Mary,  survived  him  many  years,  and  lived 
near  Cleaves's  cove.  Joseph  was  living  in  1740.  John 
died  about  1740.  Benjamin  was  living  in  Manchester 
in  1734. 

*It  is  spelt  both  ways  on  the  town  records.  It  ought  probably  to 
be  written  Clough.  The  name  of  Cluff  is  not  to  be  found  amongst 
the  early  settlers  of  Massachusetts.  Isaac  Clough  was  admitted 
freeman  in  Massachusetts  in  1G41 ;  and  John,  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  Salisbury,  in  1642. 

iSee  page  78. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  235 

Conant,  Andrew,  came  from  Alfred  in  1836,  and 
purchased  the  farm  of  the  late  Robert  Towne,  Esq. 

e  Cook,  Gideon,  the  minister  of  the  second  baptist 
society  from  1825  to  1828. 

Couch,  Samuel,  an  Englishman,  chief  quarryman, 
came  from  New  York  in  1836. 

Couillard,  Charles,  came  from  Boothbay,  about 
1822. 

e  Cromwell,  JohxN,  shoemaker,  came  from  Berwick 
in  1811.     He  removed  to  Kennebunk,  in  1820. 

c  Cromwell,  Mr.  lived,  before  the  revolution,  on  the 
point  of  land  near  the  fish  wharf  of  Capt.  John  Lord, 
then  called  Cromwell's  point. 

e  Cousins,  Samuel  and  Elisha,  lived  in  Arundel  in 
17G4,  as  they  paid  a  poll  tax  that  year.  Samuel  mar- 
ried Susan  Watson  and  moved  to  Cape  Menan  ;  and 
Elisha  married  Bashaba  Hainer  and  moved  to  Harps- 
well.  They  probably  lived  on  Cousins's  point,  near 
Turbat's  creek. 

Crediford,  Joseph  and  John,  brothers,  came  from 
England  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  about  1725.  Joseph  came 
to  Arundel,  and  settled  on  Kennebunk  river  in  1729. 
He  married  Esther  Littlefield  of  Wells,  and  died  in 
1735,  aged  35.  His  widow  died  in  1793,  aged  90. 
Their  children  were,  Abigail,  m.  Thomas  Towne  ;  Jo- 
seph, died  at  sea  ;  Rebecca,  m.  Joseph  Towne,  (1750  ;) 
Lydia,  Dummer  Mitchell ;  Abner,  Ruth  Watson ;  and 
Tabitha,  Nathan  Window.  The  children  of  Abner 
were,  Joseph,  m.  Lucy  Smith;  Daniel,  Ruth  Cousins; 
Samuel,  died  at  sea  ;  Ruth,  m.  Stephen  Cooper ;  and 
David,  Mary  Downing. 

Currier,  Nathaniel  and  Abraham,  brothers,  came 
from  Kennebunk.  Nathaniel,  whose  wife  was  Hannah 
Patten,  came  about  1795 ;  and  Abraham,  who  married 
Lydia  Kimball,  in  1816. 

Currier,  William,  mast-maker,  came  from  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.  in  1810. 

Curtis,  Jacob,  came  from  Rowley,  Mass.  to  this 
town  about  1724.  There  were  several  of  the  name  of 
Curtis,  that  settled  early  in  New  England.  Deodate 
lived  in  Braintree  in  1643  ;  Henry  in  Sudbury  in  1641  ; 


236  HISTORY    OF 

and  Richard  in  Marblehead  in  1648.  Jacob  of  Arun- 
del was  born  about  1700,  and  married  Abigail  Bracy 
of  York.  He  lived  at  Cape  Porpoise,  but  subsequently 
on  the  place  recently  occupied  by  Capt.  Daniel  Tripp. 
In  1727  he  purchased  land  on  Kennebunk  river,  of 
Ebenezer  Barton,  and  was  admitted  proprietor  in 
Barton's  right.  His  descendants  still  own  the  lot. 
Jacob's  children  were,  Bracy,  who  died  in  the  French 
war  ;  Jacob  ;  John,  who  was  deaf  and  dumb  ;  Betsey, 
who  married  Asa  Durrell ;  Mary,  Dixey  Stone  ;  Han- 
nah,  Jeremiah  Wakefield  ;  and  Phebe,  Moses  Banks. 

1.  Jacob  jr.  was  born  April  10,  1746.  He  married 
Mehitable  Walker.  His  children  were,  Bracy,  Abigail, 
Jacob,  Gideon,  Daniel,  Hannah,  Ebenezer  and  Thom- 
as. "  He  died  Dec.  14,  1786,  near  Newbury,  in  a 
violent  storm,  being  in  the  prime  of  life,  much  lamented 
by  his  family  and  friends."*  His  widow  married  Eb- 
enezer Day,  and  is  still  living. 

Curtis,  Isaac,  resided  in  Arundel  in  1728,  and  was 
made  a  proprietor  in  1731.  He  was  probably  the  son 
of  Joseph  Curtis  of  Kittery,  who  married  Sarah  Fox- 
well  in  1678.  The  estate  of  Foxwell,  lying  in  Saco 
and  Biddeford,  was  divided  amongst  his  heirs  in  1732, 
and  a  part  allotted  to  the  widow  of  Joseph  Curtis. 
There  was  a  Thomas  Curtis  residing  in  Roxbury  before 
1633,  who  had  several  sons,  one  of  whom  was  Isaac. 

Isaac  of  this  town  had  three  sons,  Isaac,  Ephraim 
and  Bowery.  The  whole  family  removed  to  Biddeford. 
Isaac  jr.  who  married  Olive  Benson,  had  two  children, 
Joseph,  who  married  Charity  Goodwin ;  and  Mary, 
who  married  Benjamin  Goodwin.  Joseph  returned  to 
Arundel  about  1783.  John,  another  descendant  of 
Isaac,  came  into  this  town  in  1834,  and  purchased  the 
farm  of  Harrison  Murphy. 

^Danforth,  Francis,  lived  near  the  present  dwell- 
ing house  of  Asaph  Smith  in  1732.  He  wife  died  in 
1758.  His  children  were  Enoch,  Isaac,  Anna  and  per- 
haps others.  Enoch  removed  to  Topsham.  It  is  not 
known  what  became  of  Isaac.  Anne  married  David 
Hutchins. 

"Town  records. 


KENNEBUNK    TORT.  237 

e  Darling,  John,  a  Scotchman,  lived  quite  early  near 
Goffe's  mill  brook.     He  left  the  town. 

Davis,  Timothy,  Nathaniel  and  John  were  brothers, 
and  were  born  in  Arundel.  It  is  not  known  who  their 
father  was,  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  were 
grandsons  of  Emmanuel.* 

1.  Timothy  married  Bethia  White,  Feb.  1,  1750. 
His  children  were  Daniel,  m.  Susan  Prince  ;  Benjamin, 
Esther  Tarbox  ;  Dominicus,  died  in  the  revolutionary 
war  ;  Betsey,  m.  Mr.  Gould  ;  Mehitable,  Mr.  Barker  ; 
Olive,  Mr.  Swanton  ;  and  Eliphalet,  Eunice  Huff.  Mr. 
Davis,  with  his  whole  family,  removed  to  Cape  Ann 
about  the  commencement  of  the  war.  He  and  his  sons 
served  in  the  army.  Mr.  Davis  and  Eliphalet  returned 
to  this  town  from  Dracut  in  1790. 

2.  Nathaniel  married  Elizabeth  Grant.  He  was  in 
the  service  the  whole  war  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  His  children  were  Nathaniel,  who  died 
in  Canada ;  Ichabod,  who  married  Mary  Cluff;  and 
Benjamin,  who  married  widow  Eliza  Mitchell. 

3.  John  removed  to  Berwick. 

Davis,  John  and  Samuel,  brothers,  remotely  con- 
nected with  the  above  family,  came  from  Portsmouth. 
John,  a  boat  builder,  who  married  Mary  Barter,  came 
to  this  town  about  1795,  and  Samuel,  joiner,  in  1800. 
Samuel  removed  to  Boothbay  about  1832. 
*  e  Day,  Jotham,  minister  of  the  first  baptist  society 
in  1820.     He  removed  to  the  eastward. 

Day,  Nathaniel,  came  from  Kennebunk  about  1832. 

Day,  Joshua,  mariner,  came  from  Limerick  in  1829. 

e  Dayton,  Isaac,  a  tailor,  came  from  Boston  about 
1800.     He  removed  to  Kennebunk  about  1805. 

Dearborn,  Solomon,  laborer,  came  from  Saco  in 
1837. 

Dearixg,  Humphrey,  was  probably  the  son  of  Roger 
Dearing  of  Scarborough,  whose  garrison  was  attacked 
by  the  Indians  in  1728.  Humphrey  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  of  Arundel  in  1719.  He  died  in  1746.  His 
children  were,  Humphrey,  m.  Abigail  Donnel ;  Abigail, 
David  Hutchins  ;  Elizabeth,  John  Emmons  ;  Molly, 
David  Thomas  ;  and  one  that  married    Andrew   Lassel. 

1.   Humphrey's    children  were  Hannah,  m.  Mr.  Lov- 

See  pa<je7d. 


238  HISTORY    OF 

et  ;  Sarah,  Robert  Patten  ;  James,  Mary  Nason  and 
Betsey  Wetherbee  ;  Abigail,  Samuel  Cousins  ;  Susan, 
Moses  Wildes  ;  Mary,  Moses  Nason  ;  Esther,  William 
Smith  and  John  Hovey.     Mrs.   Bearing  died  in  1758. 

1.  The  children  of  James,  by  his  first  wife,  were 
Sally,  Mary,  Humphrey,  Susan,  James,  Joshua,  John 
and  Seth  ;  and  by  his  second,  Jotham. 

c  Delzell,  Forest,  was  born  in  Wells.  He  had  a 
brother  James  residing  in  that  town.  Margaret,  who 
lived  in  Arundel,  was  probably  his  sister.  Another 
sister,  Grace,  married  James  Burnham.  Forest  was  a 
saddler.  He  was  never  married  and  lived  in  this  town 
but  a  short  time. 

e  Dempsey,  Thomas,  was  an  Irishman.  He  was  sto- 
len by  a  master  of  a  vessel  when  a  boy,  and  brought  to 
this  country.  His  children  by  his  first  wife,  were  Mar- 
garet and  Hephzibah.  Margaret  married  James  De- 
shon,  jr.  and  Hephzibah,  William  Gillpatrick.  Mr. 
Dempsey's  second  wife  Was  the  widow  of  Nathaniel 
Wildes  who  left  no  children.     He  died  before  1775. 

e  Denico,  Joseph,  was  one  of  the  French  Neutrals, 
or  Arcadians,  who  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  English 
in  1755,  and  distributed  amongst  the  towns  of  ±\ew 
England.  In  1667,  the  town  voted  "  that  Joseph  Den- 
ico, a  Frenchman,  should  be  Transported  to  Quebeck  in 
Kanaday  at  the  charge  of  the  town."  He  was  not  sent 
however,  but  resided  in  the  town  till  the  time  of  his 
death,  about  1790.  His  children  were,  John,  who 
moved  to  the  eastward  ;  Joseph,  who  died  in  the  conti- 
nental service  ;  Sally,  who  married  Samuel  Anderson  ; 
Betsey,  John  Cleaves  ;  Judith,  John  Hall  and  Joseph 
Shackley  ;  and  Hannah,  William  Green. 

cDennet,  Ebenezer  F.  shipmaster,  came  from  Saco 
in  1815.  He  was  murdered  by  pirates  oft*  Porto  Rico 
in  1819. 

Denxet,  Joseph,  farmer,  came  from  Lyman  in  18C6. 

Deshont,  James,  was  a  Frenchman.  He  accompa- 
nied a  gentleman  to  this  country  as  linguist.  He  came 
into  this  town  about  1730,  and  married  Chasey  Per- 
kins. He  died  on  Lake  Champlain  in  the  revolutionary 
war.  His  children  were,  James,  Peter,  Olive,  Moses 
and  Chase. 


KEXNEBUNK  PORT.  239 

1.  James  jr.  married  Elizabeth  Wildes,  whose  chil- 
dren were  Daniel,  Susannah,  John,  Thomas,  Samuel, 
James  and  Elizabeth. 

2.  Peter  married  Hannah  Wildes.  Their  children 
were,  Samuel,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Stephen, 
David,  Jonathan  and  Lydia. 

3.  Olive  married  Samuel  Wildes. 

4.  Moses  married  Catharine  Patterson,  and  remov- 
ed to  Saco. 

5.  Chase  also  married  and  went  to  Saco. 
Dolliff,  Josiah,  farmer,  came   from  Lyman  about 

1798.  He  bought  part  of  the  Dalton  right*  in  the  up- 
per part  of  the  town,  where  he  now  resides. 

Dorman,  Jabiz,  the  first  moderator,  came  from  Box- 
ford  about  1715.  There  was  a  Timothy  Dorman  of 
Boxford,  who  bought  500  acres  of  land  in  Swanfield, 
[Lyman]  in  1693,  and  Ephraim  Dorman  witnessed  the 
deed.  It  is  probable  that  neither  of  them  removed  into 
this  county,  it  being  in  the  time  of  an  Indian  war. 
Ephraim  was  probably  the  father  of  Jabiz,  and  descend- 
ant of  Thomas,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ips- 
wich, and  was  admitted  freeman  in  1635,  and  died  at 
Topsfield  in  1670.  In  1716,  Jabiz  bought  part  of  the 
land  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Morgan  Howell,  and  was 
made  proprietor  in  Howell's  right.  In  1724,  he  was 
representative  to  General  Court.  In  1729,  he  had  a 
grant  of  land  on  Saco  road,  and  probably  removed  there. 
He  drew  "  the  third  lot  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way." lie  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern  in  1738,  and 
continued  that  business  till  1741.  He  was  alive  in  1746, 
but  was  probably  advanced  in  years,  as  he  had  not  been 
elected  to  any  town  office  for  several  years  before  that 
period.  He  left  four  children,  Jabiz  ;  Jesse  ;  Hephzi- 
bah,  who  married  James  Ross  and  Mr.  Dyer ;  and 
Elizabeth. 

1.  Jabiz  jr.  married  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  John 
Look  of  Wells.  His  children  were,  Jabiz,  m.  Mary  God- 
frey; Mary,  Elias  Jacobs,  Huldah,  Ephraim  Perkins; 
Hannah,  died  young  ;  Judith,  m.  Dummer  Mitchell ; 
John,  Hannah  Huff;  Ephraim,  died  in  the  continental 
service  ;  and  Lucy,  m.  Ephraim  Perkins. 

*This  land  was  probably  owned  by  Tristram  Dalton,  Esq.  who 
was  taxed  in  this  town  in  1779. 


240  HISTORY    OF 

2.  Jesse  was  a  Lieut,  in  the  battle  at  Lake  George  in 
1758.  He  had  the  command  of  a  company  at  that 
time,  and  narrowly  escaped  death.  A  musket  ball 
struck  him  in  the  breast,  but  its  force  was  checked  by 
its  striking  a  silk  handkerchief  that  was  placed  inside 
his  vest,  for  the  convenience  of  wiping  his  face.  He 
was  also  a  Capt.  in  the  revolutionary  war.  His  wife 
was  Eunice  Averill,  and  his  children  were,  Josiah  ;  Is- 
rael, who  married  Sarah  Horn  ;  Elizabeth,  Daniel 
Towne  ;  x4biel,  Daniel  Shackley ;  Stephen,  who  died  at 
sea ;  Jedediah  ;  Sarah  ;  Jesse,  who  married  Mary  Bos- 
ford  ;  and  Thomas,  Hannah  Miller. 

eDouTY,  Joseph,  resided  in  this  town,  near  Kenne- 
bunk  river,  in  1758.     Nothing  more  is  known  of  him. 

Downing,*  Capt.  John,  returned  to  this  town  from 
Newington  in  1720,  and  had  several  hundred  acres  of 
land  laid  out  to  him  in  his  own  right,  and  that  of  his 
father  in  law,  John  Miller.  He  died  in  1727,  aged  67. 
Three  of  his  sons,  Harrison,  John  and  Benjamin  came 
with  him,  and  perhaps  other  children. 

I.  Harrison  either  left  the  town,  or  had  no  children, 
as  none  of  his  descendants  now  reside  here. 

II.  John  lived  in  Arundel  several  years,  but  returned 
to  Newington,  where  he~  died.  He  had  three  sons, 
Harrison,  Richard  and  John  ;  and  several  daughters, 
one  of  whom  married  Mr.  Bickford  of  Newington. 

1.  Harrison  married  Sarah  Walker,  July  11,  1750, 
"  and  a  right  good  entertainment  they  had  for  the 
small  company  that  were  there."*  His  children  were, 
Elizabeth,  m.  John  Murphy  ;  Hannah,  Abraham  Hill, 
Joshua  Taylor  and  Nathan  Raymond ;  Harrison, 
Hannah  Murphy  ;  Nicholas,  Hannah  Walker ;  John, 
Sarah  Miller  ;  and  Sarah,  Benjamin  Downing. 

2.  Richard  married  Alice  Downing  and  lived  in  New- 
ington. 

3.  John  was  also  married,  and  resided  in  Newington. 

III.  Benjamin  married  Elizabeth  Fabians  of  Ports- 
mouth, in  1726.  He  was  deacon  of  the  church,  and 
town  clerk  from  1750  till  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1753.     His  sons  were  Benjamin,  Jonathan  and  Rich- 

*See  page  93.  *Mr.  Hovey's  Journal. 


KENNEBUNK   PORT.  04^ 

ard.  His  daughters  were,  Elizabeth,  m.  Richard  Pur- 
ser ;    Alice,  Richard    Downing;    Susannah,    Thomas 

B°°^uin  ;  T,?Th'T  Adam  Clark5  Hannah,  Thomas 
Boothby  ;  Phebe,  Jonathan  Stone;  Mary,  died  young; 
and  Temperance,  m.  Ephraim  Wildes. 

1.  Benjamin  jr.  was  born  March  12,  1732,  and 
married  Mary  Fairfield,    March  26,    1756.      He  was 

i~iS*t01J?  °lerk  for  man^  ?ears-  He  dieJ  Jan.  27, 
1  /97.  His  children  were,  John,  m.  Mary  Clark  ;  Ben- 
jamin, Sarah  Downing  ;  and  two  that  died  young. 

2.  Jonathan  married  Sarah  Cleaves,  and  his  children 
were,  Richard,  m.  Elizabeth  Kimball  ;  Jonathan,  Miri- 
am Kingsbury;  Samuel,  Eunice  Patten;  and  Sally 
Samuel  Kimball.  . 

3.  Richard  went  to  Frenchman's  Bay. 

e  Downs,  Ephraim,  and  Ebenezer,  were  living  in 
this  town  about  1760.  They  bought  their  land  of 
Moses  Spencer.  This  family  removed  to  the  eastern 
part  of  Maine  before  the  revolution. 

Drown,  Stephen,  born  in  Kennebunk,  came  to  this 
town  in  J 810.     He  married  Eunice  White. 

Durrell,*  Philip,  came  from  Guernsey.  He  came 
to  this  town  in  1700,  and  settled  near  where  Durrell's 
bridge  now  is.  In  1703,  his  family  was  carried  off  by 
the  Indians,  and  he  left  the  town.  He  returned  in 
1714,  and  had  a  lot  of  land  laid  out  to  him  in  1723, 
"  it  being  the  same  loot  that  he  was  in  possesion  of 
when  his  family  was  carried  into  captivity  by  the  In- 
dians." His  family  was  again  taken  in  1726,  and  his 
wife  killed.  His  sons  were,  Philip,  Benjamin,  and 
John.  His  daughters  were,  Rachael  and  Susan,  who 
married  in  Canada  ;  Elizabeth,  m.  John  Wakefield ; 
Mary,  James  Wakefield  ;  Lydia,  Stephen  Larrabee  ; 
Sarah,  John  Baxter  ;  and  one  that  married  Joshua 
Purinton. 

I.  Philip  jr.  married  Keziah  Wakefield.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Sarah,  m.  Stephen  Webber  ;  Anes,  Simeon 
Hutchins ;  Asa,  Elizabeth  Curtis ;  and  several  that 
died  young. 

1.  Asa's  children  were  Philip,  m.  Sarah  Davis  ;  Ma- 

*This  name  is  sometimes  written  Durrill  on  the  records. 
V 


242  HISTORY    OF 

ry,  Thomas  Lord ;  Asa,  Lydia  Hill  ;  Keziah,  Waldo 
Hill  of  Biddeford;  Abigail,  Waldo  Hill  of  Wells; 
and  Eliphalet,  Jane  Merrill. 

II.  Benjamin  married  Judith  Perkins.  His  children 
were,  Mary  and  Benjamin,  who  died  young;  Judith, 
m.  Obed  Merrill  ;  Mary,  died  young ;  Benjamin,  m. 
Hannah  Kimball ;  Thomas,  Elizabeth  Stone  and  Mary 
Perkins  ;  Sarah,  died  young  ;  Lydia,  m.  Joseph  Emer- 
son ;  Jacob,  Lucy  Wildes  ;  Elizabeth  and  Lucy,  died 
young ;  and  Samuel,  who  died  at  sea. 

III.  John,  who  was  taken  by  the  Indians,  married 
widow  Lydia  Jellison.  His  only  child,  Anes,  married 
Elisha  Boston,  and  moved  east. 

Eaton,  Joshua,  farmer,  son  of  Elder  Eaton  of 
Wells,  came  to  this  town  about  1S05. 

e  Elliot,  William,  had  a  lot  of  land  laid  out  on 
Kennebunk  river  in  1730  ;  and  a  Nathaniel  Elliot  was 
here  in  1746.  It  is  not  quite  certain  that  they  resided 
in  the  town.  They  sold  their  land  to  John  Whitten 
and  John  Merrill  about  1744. 

Elliot,  Joshua,  shoemaker,  came  from  Biddeford 
in  1796. 

e  Elliot,  Robert,  an  Englishman,  married  Sarah 
Grant  in  1803. 

e  Ellsworth,  Nathaniel,  a  trader,  came  from  Bos- 
ton in  1802.  He  died  in  1804,  and  his  family  return- 
ed to  Boston. 

e  Emerson,  William  S.  physician,  came  from  Ken- 
nebunk about  1826.     He  now  resides  in  Alton,  Illinois. 

Emerson,  Bradbury,  farmer,  came  from  Hollis  in 
1836. 

e  Emery,  Joseph,  a  blacksmith,  lived  near  Goffe's 
mill  bridge  before  the  revolution.  His  wife,  who  was 
Rebecca  Wakefield,  left  no  children. 

e  Emery,  John,  shoemaker,  came  from  Biddeford 
about  1810.     He  removed  from  this  town  about  1833. 

Emery,  William,  shipmaster,  came  from  Biddeford 
in  1822. 

Emmons,  John,  was  living  in  this  town  in  1743. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Dealing.     His  children  were, 


>  KENNEBUNK    PORT.  243 

Ebenezer,  Eliakim  born  Sept.  1750,  John,  George, 
and  Elizabeth. 

Ebenezer,  m.  Polly  Wildes  ;  Eliakim,  Abigail  Zarve 
and  Polly  Wildes;  John,  Elinor  Carr  ;  George,  died 
in  the  army  ;  and  Elizabeth,  in.  Nehemiah  Stone. 

e  Eveleth,*  James,  a  joiner,  lived  at  Cape  Porpoise 
at  the  close  of  the  revolution  ;  and  also  Samuel  who 
was  a  fisherman.  They  resided  in  the  town  but  a 
short  time.  Their  sister  Sarah  married  Francis  Burn- 
ham  and  Ebenezer  Huff.  They  were  grandchildren 
of  the  Rev.  John  Eveleth. 

Fairfield,  John,  a  carpenter,  who  came  to  this 
town  from  Worcester  about  17*25,  was  probably  a  son 
of  John  Fairfield  of  Boston,  who  died  in  1691.  Mr. 
Fairfield  lived  near  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river, — 
probably  in  the  house  built  by  Thomas  Perkins, — in 
1733,  and  was  licensed  to  keep  tavern.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  but  bought 
the  farm  now  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  William  Fair- 
field in  1764.  His  children  by  his  first  wife  were,  John  ; 
a  daughter  that  married  John  Hale"  •  MsT?  w  1R"r"a- 
min  Downing;  Stephen;  and  Elizabeth,  m.  Dixey 
Stone.  His  second  wife  was  the  widow  of  Col.  Jona- 
than Stone,  who  left  no  children. 

1.  John  married  Mary  Burbank,  whose  children 
were,  Samuel,  m.  Sarah  Huff;  William,  Sarah  Burn- 
ham  and  Mary  King  ;  Sarah,  Israel  Whitten ;  John, 
Hannah  Burnham  ;  Stephen,  Asa  and  Benjamin,  died 
at  sea;  Mary,  m.  Robert  Towne^j  Moses,  Betsey  Ste- 
vens ;  and  Elizabeth,  Alexander  Gould. 

2.  Stephen  married  Elizabeth  Smith  and  removed  to 
Wells.  His  children  were,  John,  died  at  sea ;  Mary, 
m.  John  Mitchell ;  Stephen,  moved  to  Saco  ;  and  Han- 
nah, m.  Mr.  Harvey. 

e  Ferran,  a  soldier,  was  stationed  at  Mr.  Hovey's 
garrison  in  1746.  He  probably  left  the  town  after  the  war. 

c  Ferran,  Jonathan,  came  from  Biddeford  soon  after 
the  revolution.  His  first  wife  was  Dorcas  Goodridge, 
whose  children  were,  Polly,  Sally,  Hannah,  Lorana, 
Dorcas,  Daniel,  Anne,  Betsey  and  Lydia.  His  second 
wife  was  Betsey  Sargent,  who  left  no  children. 

*See  page  124. 


244  HISTORY    OF 

Fickett,  Amos  P.  farmer,  came  from  Cape  Eliza- 
beth in  1836. 

Fisher,  James,  mariner,  came  from  North  Carolina 
about  1794.     He  married  Esther  Hutchins  in  1795. 

e  Flanders,  Henry,  mariner,  came  to  this  town 
about  1797.  He  was  lost  in  the  Sloop-of-war  Wasp, 
in  the  war  of  1812. 

Fletcher,*  Pendleton,  the  grandson  of  Major 
Pendleton,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  in  1698, 
and  died  in  captivity  before  1700.  His  widow  married 
Andrew  Brown  of  Arundel.  His  son,  Pendleton,  who 
was  taken  prisoner  at  the  same  time  with  his  father, 
returned  and  settled  in  Biddeford  ;  but  he  had  a  lot  of 
land  laid  out  to  him  in  Arundel  in  1728,  and  removed 
into  the  town  and  was  made  a  proprietor.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Pendleton,  John,  Joseph,  and  perhaps  others. 

I.  Pendleton  3d.  remained  in  Biddeford  where  he 
died  in  1807,  aged  100  years. 

II.  John  lived  in  Arundel.  His  children  were,  Pen- 
dleton, Jonathan,  Stephen,  and  probably  others. 

1.  Pendleton  4th.  m.  Lydia  Joy,  whce^  children  wero, 
Reuben  and  several  others,  who  all  left  the  town. 

2.  Jonathan  married  Abigail  Joy,  whose  children 
were,  Benjamin,  m.  Polly  Curtis,  and  lives  in  Bidde- 
ford ;  and  John  and  a  daughter  who  died  young. 

3.  Stephen's  first  wife  was  Lydia  Whitten,  whose  chil- 
dren were,  Roger ;  George,  m.  Lydia  Huff;  Stephen,  Abi- 
gail Ricker  ;  and  Lydia,  Thomas  Batts.  His  second 
wife  was  Sarah  Shepherd,  whose  children  were,  Robert, 
died  at  sea,  and  Sarah. 

III.  Joseph  married  Molly  Smith,  and  removed  to 
Arundel.  After  his  death,  his  widow  married  William 
Goodridge.  Mr.  Fletcher's  children  were,  Joseph,  two 
that  died  young,  and  Margaret,  who  married  Lemuel 
Tarbox. 

1.  Joseph  married  Sarah  Edgecomb.  His  children 
were,  Joseph,  m.  Deborah  Jacobs;  Sally,  Elisha  Cous- 
ins; Thomas,  Priscilla  Cousins;  Hannah,  Joshua 
Emmons;  Jeremiah,  Huldah  Dorman  ;  Robert,  Cath- 
arine Littlefield  ;  Margaret,  Isaac  Edgecomb;  Mary; 
and  Catharine,  m.  Joseph  Hutchins. 

*  See  page  95. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  245 

e  Folsom,  Jeremiah,  was  an  early  settler  on  Saco 
road.  He  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Susannah 
Folsom  of  Stratham,  who  sold  a  lot  of  land  to  James 
Tyler  in  1720.  Nathaniel  inherited  this  land  from  his 
great-grand  mother,  Elinor  Jackson.  Jeremiah  sold 
his  land  to  Tobias  and  Benjamin  M.  Lord  in  1747,  and 
removed  to  the  eastward  about  1755. 

Foss,  John,  tailor,  came  from  Scarborough  in  1798. 
He  married  Lavinia  Clark  of  Saco. 

e  Foss,  Rufus,  mariner,  came  from  Scarborough  in: 
1809. 

e  Foster,  Moses,  removed  to  Arundel  from  Tops- 
field  about  1733.  His  sister  Ruth  married  Jacob  Wildes 
before  that  period.  Persons  of  the  name  of  Foster, 
settled  in  Massachusetts  as  early  as  1635.  Mr.  Foster 
had  three  children,  Moses,  Hannah  and  Molly.  Mo- 
ses was  drowned  in  Batson's  river.  Elizabeth  married 
Asa  Burbank,  and  Molly,  Benjamin  Thompson. 

e  Frazier,  James,  shipmaster,  came  from  Baltimore 
in  1821.     He  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1837. 

Freeman,  Jonathan,  Ephraim  and  James  were 
brothers.  Jonathan  came  from  Windham  in  1816; 
James,  from  Scarborough  in  1820;  and  Ephraim,  from 
Scarborough  in  1823. 

Freeman,  Oliver,  shoemaker,  came  from  York 
about  1828. 

e  Frees,  John,  who  lived  near  Kennebunk  river, 
was  presented  in  1721  ••  for  sailing  out  of  the  harbour 
of  Arundel  on  Sunday."  He  was  a  town  officer  in 
1720,  but  shortly  afterwards  removed  to  Wells.  There 
was  a  George  Frees  here  in  1754. 

e  Frost,  John,  merchant,  came  from  Sanfbrd  about 
1808.  He  left  the  town  about  1820,  and  now  resides  in 
Bangor. 

e  Fulton,  David,  settled  on  Saco  road  before  1740. 
He  lived  near  the  present  dwelling  house  of  Edmund 
Hill.  He  had  two  sons  who  lived  near  the  present 
dwelling  house  of  James  Burnham.  This  whole  family 
removed  to  Brunswick. 

e  Gardner,  Silas,  came  from  Nantucket  in  1801. 
He  was  never  married.     He  died  in  1826,  aged  75.. 

y  v 


246  HISTORY    OF 

Garland,  John,  farmer,  came  from  Somersworth,  N. 
H.  in  1832. 

George,  Nathan,  the  present  circuit  preacher  at  the 
village. 

e  Getchel,  Bezaleel,  who  married  Susannah  Scad- 
lock,  resided  in  Marblehead  in  1717.  He  removed  in- 
to Arundel  in  1721,  on  land  belonging  to  his  wife,  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  near  Getchel's  creek. 
He  removed  from  the  town,  probably  to  Marblehead,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  Indian  war  in  1722. 

Gillpatrick,  Robert  S.  farmer,  came  from  Biddeford 
in  1808. 

e  Goddard,  Thacher,  the  first  physician  who  resi- 
ded in  this  town,  came  from  Worcester  about  1786. 
He  married  Lucy  Wiswall  the  same  year,  and  removed 
to  Kennebunk  in  1788.  He  died  in  Roxbury,  June,  1829. 

cGoffe,  Col.  Edmund,  of  Cambridge,  bought  land  of 
Jonathan  Sherman  in  this  town  in  1720.  He  also  had 
a  grant  of  land  from  the  town  upon  condition  of  his 
becoming  a  resident,  or  sending  in  a  family.  If  he  re- 
sided here,  he  returned  to  Cambridge  at  the  beginning 
of  Lovewell's  war.  It  is  more  probable  however,  that 
Jonathan  Stone  was  his  substitute.  Col.  Gone  owned 
mills  on  the  stream  that  bears  his  name,  and  consider- 
able other  property  in  the  town. 

e  Goodridge,  William,  was  born  in  Berwick,  and 
lived  at  Winter  Harbor  with  Pendleton  Fletcher.  He 
married  widow  Molly  Fletcher,  and  came  to  Arundel 
about  1760.  He  died  Dec.  13,  1793.  His  wife  died  in 
1811.  His'  children  were,  Dorcas,  m.  Jonathan  Ferran  ; 
Daniel,  died  at  sea  ;  Jeremiah,  m.  Mary  Poindexter  ; 
William,  died  at  sea  ;  Molly,  m.  Joseph  Tarbox  ;  and 
Betsey,  Nathaniel  Tarbox  and  a  Mr.  Merrill. 

Goodwin's,  Nathaniel,  name  first  appears  on  the 
town  records  in  1745.  He  lived  near  Kennebunk  river. 
He  and  his  brothers,  Benjamin  and  Solomon,  came 
from  Berwick. 

I,  Nathaniel's  children  were,  Nathaniel,  m.  Abigail 
Wakefield  and  Charity  Drew  ;  a  daughter  that  m.  Gid- 
eon Wakefield  ;  and  probably  others. 

II.  Benjamin  married  Sarah  Nason.  His  children 
were,  Benjamin,  m.  Elizabeth  Adams  ;  Hannah,  Thom- 
as Cluff;  Sarah,  Israel  Wakefield;  Mary, Noah  Cluff; 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  247 

Daniel,  Hannah  Adams  ;  William,  Sally  Tibbets  ;  Mar- 
garet, Benjamin  Jellison  ;  and  one  that  died  young. 

III.  Solomon  married  Abigail  Hooper.  His  children 
were,  John,  moved  to  York;  Abraham,  m.  Abigail 
Hooper  ;  Abigail  and  Bartholomew. 

Goodwin,  John,  a  mason,  came  to  this  town  from  Ber- 
wick. His  wife  was  Martha  Nason.  His  children  were, 
Simeon,  lived  in  Gardiner;  John,  m.  Elinor  Hodsdon  ; 
Benjamin,  Deborah  Goodwin  and  lived  in  Lyman  ; 
Andrew,  moved  to  Gardiner  ;  Mark,  m.  Sarah  Goodwin 
and  moved  to  Lyman;  Martha,  Wm.  Andrews;  Patience, 
Joseph  Bradbury  ;  Betsey  and  probably  others. 

Goodwin,  Ivory,  joiner,  came  from  Berwick  in  1799. 
He  married  Mary  Murphy. 

e  Goodwin,  Thomas,  rope  maker,  came  from  Ply- 
mouth about  1806,  and  built  the  rope  walk.  He  removed 
to  Boston  about  1816. 

Goodwin,  George,  came  from  Saco  about  1797. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Burnham. 

Goodwin,  Charles,  sailmaker,  came  from  Kenne- 
bunk  in  1824. 

e  Gordon,  John,  trader,  came  from  Hollis  about  1800. 
He  removed  to  Bangor  about  1803. 

e  Gorman,  Joseph,  an  Englishman,  came  to  this  town 
a  short  time  before  the  revolution.  ""He  married  Lydia 
Springer  ;  and  his  children  were  Sarah  and  Hannah. 

Gould,  Samuel,  son  of  Benjamin  Gould  of  Kittery, 
came  to  this  town  about  1755.  He  sold  his  farm  to 
John  Fairfield  in  1764,  and  removed  to  Woolwich. 
James,  brother  of  Samuel,  came  to  Arundel  about  1758. 
He  had  two  wives  and  twenty  children.  His  first  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Nason,  whose  children  were,  Benjamin, 
James,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Joseph,  Hannah,  and  two  that 
died  young.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah  Hovey, 
whose  children  were,  John,  Benjamin,  Alexander, 
Thomas,  Lydia,  Ebenezer,  Samuel,  who  died  young, 
and  Samuel. 

c  Gould,  Thomas  F.  shipmaster,  came  from  Portland 
about  1823.     He  was  lost  at  sea  about  1826. 

Grant,  Daniel,  removed  from  Kittery  to  Arundel 
about  1758.     He  was  probably  a  descendant  of  Ferdi- 


248  HISTORY  OF 

nando  Grant,  who  resided  in  this  county  in  1640.  His 
wife  was  Ruth  Williams,  whose  children  were,  William, 
m.  Molly  Hutchins;  Daniel,  Ruth  Huff,,  and  widow 
Hannah  Huff;  Abigail  ;  Molly,  m.  Theophilas  Smith  ; 
Jane,  Moses  Drown;  and  Elizabeth,  Paul  McCoy. 

Grant,  Samuel,  mariner,  came  from  York  about 
1800.     His  wife  was  Esther  March. 

e  Gray,  Alexander,  was  a  town  officer  in  1756,  but 
had  left  the  town  before  1764. 

Green,  Benjamin  and  Andrew,  brothers,  came  from 
Kittery  in  1774.  Benjamin  married  Lucy  Benson, 
whose  children  were,  William,  Benjamin,  Susan,  An- 
drew, Henry,  Solomon,  Mary,  Theodore  and  John. 
Andrew  married  Olive  Walker,  and  left  no  children. 

Green,  Aaron,  came  from  Andover,  N.  H.  about 
1825.  He  was  inspector  at  Cape  Porpoise,  from  1829 
till  the  time  of  his  death  in  1835. 

Greenough,  Pelatiah,  boat  builder,  came  from  El- 
iot about  1797. 

cGrover,  Samuel,  lived  in  this  town  before  1768. 
His  wife  was  Lydia  Jeffery.  His  children  were,  Betsey 
and  Lydia,  who  left  the  town. 

e  Haley,  Benjamin,  had  a  grant  of  land  on  Saco 
road  in  1728.  It  was  probably  Deacon  Haley,  a  join- 
er, from  Saco.  Deacon  Haley  built  the  meeting  house 
at  Winter  Harbor ;  and  he  was  probably  employed 
for  the  same  purpose  in  Arundel.  He  removed  to 
Marblehead  at  the  commencement  of  the  Indian  war 
of  1745,  and  died  at  Cape  Breton  tfie  same  year.  His 
son,  John,  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Fairfield, 
and  was  residing  in  this  town  as  late  as  1764.  A  son 
of  John,  who  was  a  clothier,  m.  Ruth  Towne,  and 
moved  east. 

Haley,  Nahum,  cooper,  came  from  Biddeford  in 
1813. 

Hall,  William,  shipmaster,  came  from  York  about 
1780.     He  married  Sarah  Perkins. 

Ham,  Joseph,  who  came  from  Portsmouth,  had  a 
grant  of  land  in  1782,  for  serving  in  the  army  for 
three  years,  or  during  the  war.  His  wife  was  Marga- 
ret Hayes.     His  children  were,  Samuel,  Timothy,  Mar/- 


KENNEBUNK.    PORT.  249 

garet  and  Mary.     His  widow  married  Andrew  Staples. 

e  Hamer,  John,  resided  near  Cleaves's  cove  as  early 
as  1747.  He  married  Sarah  Huff;  and  his  children 
were,  Joanna,  m.  Joshua  Carr  ;  Sarah,  Benjamin  Sea- 
vey  ;  Molly,  Mr.  Stover  ;  Bashaba,  Elisha  Cousens  ; 
one,  that  m.  a  Mr.  Reddick ;  John,  died  young  ;  and 
three  sons  that  moved  to  Mount  Desert. 

e  Hammond,  Roger,  sailmaker,  came  from  Roches- 
ter in  1802.     His  wife  was  Olive  Hovey. 

Hampson,  John  W.   an  Englishman,  mariner,  came  • 
to  this  town  about  1S20. 

Hanscomb,  Timothy,  came  from  Kittery  about  1774. 
His  children  were,  Robert,  Timothy,  Mary,  Reziah 
and  Sally.     This  family  is  nearly  extinct. 

Hanscomb,  Gideon,  came  from  Lyman  about  1824. 

e  Harding,*  Stephen,  moved  across  Kennebunk 
river  into  Arundel  in  1720.  Besides  his  ferry  grant  of 
50  acres,  he  purchased  all  the  land  lying  between  Ken- 
nebunk river  and  a  straight  line  from  Bass  cove  to 
Great  pond,  on  the  eastern  side  ;  and  also  from  the 
river  to  Lake  brook,  on  the  western  side,  but  from 
some  defect  in  his  title  he  lost  both  tracts.  Capt.  Per- 
kins obtained  that  on  the  eastern  side,  and  Sir  William 
Pepperell  the  western  lot.  Mrs.  Harding  died  Oct.  1, 
1747,  and  he  died  Dec.  5,  of  the  same  year.  His 
children  were,  Abigail,  m.  John  Webber ;  Lydia, 
Thomas  Perkins  ;  Mary,  Abel  Merrill;  Hannah,  Dan- 
iel Smith  ;  Sarah,  Robert  Cleaves  ;  Miriam,  Jeremiah 
Frost ;  Elizabeth,  Andrew  Brown  ;  Stephen,  Ruth 
Sampson  ;  and  James  and  Israel,  who  died  young. 

The  children  of  Stephen  jr.  were,  Stephen,  m.  Molly 
Rutland  and  moved  to  Wells  ;  Israel,  died  at  sea  ; 
Abigail;  Sarah,  m.  John  Thompson  ;  Ruth,  Eliphalet 
Chauncy  ;  and  Lydia,  Nathaniel  Ward.  Under  date 
of  Jan.  1750,  Mr.  Hovey  says  Mrs.  Harding  "was  tak- 
en in  a  strange  way,  confused  and  crazy  headed,  and 
grows  worse  till  by  twelve  people  begin  to  think  her 
possessed  with  the  devil.  8th.  A  fast  at  Father 
Sampson's  on  account  of  Ruth,  his  daughter  being 
grievously  afflicted  with  a  demoniac."  She  recovered, 
however,  and  died  in  1811,  at  the  age  of  94. 

*See  page  99. 


250  HISTORY    OF 

Harris,  Joshua,  came  from  Methuen,  Mass.  about 
1823. 

e  Harrison,  John,  an  Englishman,  a  trader,  came 
from  Charlestown  in  1804.  He  died  in  180G.  His 
widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Austin  Hartly, 
married  Daniel  Walker. 

e  Hatch,  Johnson,  shipmaster,  came  from  Wells 
about  1805.     He  died  at  sea  the  same  year. 

e  Hayes,  Joseph  M.  trader,  came  from  Saco  in 
1813.     He  returned  to  Saco  in  1825. 

e  Hayes,  Erastus,  trader,  came  from  Limerick  about 
1819.     He  removed  to  Portland  in  1825. 

e  Hendrick,  Nathaniel,  was  voted  a  proprietor  of 
the  town  in  1728.  He  was  a  clothier.  He  left  the 
town  during-  the  disturbance  with  the  Indians  in  1735. 

Herrick,  Joshua,  deputy  collector  of  the  port  of 
Kennebunk,  came  from  Beverly  in  1829. 

e  Hibbird,  Lydia,  came  from  Waterborough,  and 
resided  at  Benjamin  M.  Lord's.  She  married  Isaac 
Cof£"  'n  1770.   and  removfid  to   Sauford. 

cHidh,  Joseph,  came  from  Cape  Ann  to  Cape  Por- 
poise in  1787.     He  removed  to  the  eastward  in  1797. 

e  Hill,  Mrs.  a  tailoress,  died  in  1750. 

Hill,  Abraham,  shipmaster,  came  from  Kennebunk 
about  1800. 

Hill,  Edmund,  cabinet  maker,  came  from  Haverhill 
in  1801. 

e  Hilton,  Abraham,  lived  here  before  1766.  His  wife 
was  Dorothy  Lindsey.  He  removed  to  Ohio.  His 
children  were,  Sarah;  Abraham,  died  young;  John, 
went  to  Ohio ;  Elizabeth,  m.  Daniel  Smith  ;  Mary  ; 
and  Margaret,  who  married  Andrew  Green. 

e  Hodsdon,  Timothy,  came  from  Berwick  to  this 
town  before  1769.  His  first  wife  was  Lydia  Nason, 
and  his  second  was  Sarah  Hussey.  His  children  were, 
Sarah,  m.  John  Goodwin;  Abigail,  died  young;  Lydia; 
Israel,  m.  Sarah  Lewis  and  moved  to  Parsonsfield;  and 
Joseph,  who  married,  and  also  went  to  Parsonsfield. 
Mr.  Hodsdon  lived  on  the  place  now  owned  by  the  heirs 
of  Nathaniel  Thompson. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  251 

e  Hodsdon,  Oliver,  joiner,  came  from  Berwick  about 
1805.  He  married  Lucy  Littlefield.  He  was  drowned 
in  Kennebunk  river  in  1831. 

Hodskins,  Nathaniel,  came  from  Cape  Ann  in  1798. 
His  wife  was  Susan  Bishop.  He  left  five  sons,  who  all 
left  the  town,  and  several  daughters.  Samuel,  nephew 
to  Nathaniel,  came  from  Harpwsell  in  1825. 

e  Hogan,  Daniel,  an  Irishman,  came  to  this  town  in 
1790.     He  married  Mehitable  Wildes. 

e  Hooper,  John,  came  from  Berwick,  and  settled 
near  Nason's  mills,  about  1756.  He  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  made  a  pair  of  shoes  after  he  was  over  102  years 
of  age.  His  children  were,  George  ;  Benjamin,  lived  in 
Saco  ;  Abigail,  m.  Solomon  Goodwin  ;  and  a  daughter 
that  married  Bartholomew  Goodwin.  George's  chil- 
dren were,  Tristram,  m.  Olive  Wadlin  ;  George,  Sarah 
Washburne  and  widow  Sarah  Tarbox ;  John,  Polly 
Burnham ;  Phineas,  Hannah  Hill;  and  Daniel,  Susan 
Haley  ;  Lydia,  Daniel  Townsend  ;  and  Margaret, 
Theodore  Mclntire.  This  entire  family  removed  to 
Biddeford. 

e  Hovey,*  Rev.  John,  left  seven  children,  Susan,  born 
in  1737;  John,  1738;  James,  1740;  Ebenezer,  1743; 
Hannah,  1746;  Sarah,  1748;  and  Abiel,  1751.  The 
first  two  were  born  in  Cambridge. 

1.  Sarah  married  Thomas  Perkins  and  Edward  Em- 
erson. 

2.  John  married  Mary  Barter  for  his  first  wife,  whose 
children  were,  Susan,  John,  Mary,  Lydia  and  Betsey. 
Only  two  of  them  were  married,  Mary,  to  Smith  Brad- 
bury, and  Lydia,  to  Robert  Smith.  His  second  wife 
was  widow  Esther  Smith,  who  left  no  children. 

3.  James  removed  to  Connecticut,  and  left  several 
children. 

4.  Ebenezer  married  Eunice  Wiswall.  His  children 
were,  Thomas,  John,  Ebenezer,  James  (died  young,) 
Eunice  and  James.  None  of  the  sons  were  married. 
Eunice  married  Ebenezer  Perkins. 

5.  Hannah  married  James  Gould  and  Caleb  Emery. 

6.  Sarah  married  James  Perkins. 

*See  page  163. 


252  HISTORY    OF 

7.  Abiel  married  Nathaniel  Sargent  of  York,  and  is 
still  living. 

e  Hovey,  Aaron,  sailmaker,  came  from  Rochester  in 
1796,  and  removed  to  Bath  in  1805. 

e  Howard,  Moses,  shipmaster,  came  from  Cohasset 
about  1793.  He  married  Elizabeth  Whitten.  He  re- 
moved to  Portland  in  1812. 

e  Hues,  William,  was  in  this  town  in  1720;  and  his 
widow  was  supported  by  the  town  in  1753.  Hues  was 
cast  away  at  Mount  Desert  in  1747,  and  perhaps  drown- 
ed.    He  had  a  son,  Patrick,  who  left  no  children. 

Huff,*  Thomas,  was  the  son  of  Ferdinando  Huff. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Farris.  He  resided  on  Great  Isl- 
and during  the  time  this  town  was  deserted.  He  came 
back  in  1700,  and  again  returned  in  1714.  In  1719  he 
was  constable  of  the  town.  He  was  impressed  during 
the  Spanish  war  of  1745,  and  served  several  years  as 
pilot  on  board  one  of  the  Ring's  ships.  Mr.  Huff's 
sons  were,  George,  Thomas,  James,  Charles,  John,  who 
died  young,  and  Joseph,  who  Mr.  Hovey  says  was 
drowned  in  Batson's  river  Sept.  30,  1749.  His  daugh- 
ters were,  Sarah,  who  married  John  Hamer  ;  and  Mary, 
Miles  Rhodes. 

1.  Thomas  had  two  wives,  the  last  of  whom  was 
Sarah  Banfield.  His  children  were,  George,  m.  Susan- 
nah Colby,  and  moved  to  the  eastward  ;  Mary,  m.  Pels- 
grave  Maddox;  Thomas,  m.  Mary  Bridges  and  went  east. 

2.  James  married  Ruth  Averill.  His  children  were, 
Elizabeth,  died  Feb.  11,  1750;  Samuel,  m.  Keziah 
Wakefield;  James,  Hannah  Seavy  ;  Ruth,  Nathaniel 
Wakefield ;  Lucy,  Miles  Rhodes ;  Ebenezer,  widow 
Sarah  Burnham  ;  John,  Sarah  Seavy  ;  Israel ;  Sarah, 
m.  Jacob  Merrill ;  and  Abner,  Elizabeth  Brown. 

3.  Charles  married  Priscilla  Burbank.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Josiah,  m.  widow  Sarah  Rickard  ;  Daniel, 
Keziah  Seavy  ;  Hannah,  John  Dorman  ;  Sarah,  Sam- 
uel Fairfield ;  Charles,  Grace  Smith ;  Mary,  John 
Perkins  ;  and  Priscilla,  Humphrey  Merrill. 

Hutchins,  Samuel,!  came  from  Kittery  to  Arundel 

*See  page  SO. 

tHis  father's  name  was  Samuel,  whose  wife  was  a  Stevens. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  2/>3 

about  1739,  and  died  before  1750.  His  wife  who  was 
Sarah  March  died  June  9,  1747,  and  Mr.  Whitefield 
attended  her  funeral.  His  sons  were,  Caleb,  Samuel, 
David,  Simeon  and  Levi.  His  daughters  were,  Mary, 
who  married  John  Merrill ;  Lydia,  John  Jellison  and 
John  Durrell ;  and  Hannah,*  Lemuel  Perkins  and  John 
Burbank. 

1.  Caleb  lived  in  Kittery.  Two  of  his  daughters 
married  in  this  town, — Sarah  to  Daniel  Merrill,  and 
Eunice  to  Asa  Burbank. 

2.  Samuel  married  widow  Sarah  Baxter,  and  left  no 
children. 

3.  David  had  three  wives,  Anna  Danforth,  Abigail 
Dearing,  and  Ruth  Grant.  Mr.  Hovey  says,  "  David 
Hutchins  the  best  mower  and  most  faithful  hand  for  a 
day's  work  of  any  I  know."  His  children  by  his  first 
wife  were,  Enoch,  died  in  the  army;  Sarah,  m.  Wil- 
liam All ;  Miriam,  married  and  moved  east ;  and 
Lemuel  and  another  that  died  young.  His  second 
wife's  children  were,  David,  lived  at  Kennebec  ;  Susan, 
m.  John  Springer  ;  Hannah,  Francis  Varney;  and  Ma- 
ry, William  Grant.  His  third  wife  had  but  one  child, 
Anna,  who  m.  Benjamin  Abbot. 

4.  Simeon  married  Anes  Durrell.  His  children  were, 
Savire,  m.  Joseph  Cluff;  Anes,  Silas  Abbott ;  Keziah, 
Pendleton  Emmons ;  Simeon,  Lucy  Hutchins  ;  Ruth, 
married  and  left  the  town ;  and  Samuel,  lived  in  Par- 
sonsfield. 

5.  Levi  had  two  wives,  Rebecca  Hutchins  and 
Eunice  March.  His  children  by  his  first  wife  were, 
Thomas,  lived  in  Waterborough  ;  Asa,  went  to  Que- 
bec with  Arnold,  was  taken  prisoner  and  died  there  ; 
Lucy,  m.  Simeon  Hutchins ;  Lavina,  Thomas  Huff; 
Eliphalet,  and   another  boy  who  died  young.     By  his 

*There  is  a  mistake  relative  to  Hannah  Hutchins.  The  de- 
scendants of  Samuel  Hutching,  and  of  John  Burbank,  assert  that 
her  first  husband  was  Lemuel  Perkins,  and  her  second,  John  Bur- 
bank ;  and  the  offspring  of  Joshua  Walker  are  equally  confident 
that  her  husbands  were  George  Perkins  and  Joshua  Walker. 
There  must  be  a  mistake  as  to  her  christian  name  ;  or  the  Hannah 
Hutchins  who  married  Joshua  Walker,  must  have  belonged  to 
another  family.  The  name  of  George  Perkins  is  to  be  found  on 
the  town  records,  but  that  of  Lemuel  is  not. 
W 


254  HISTORY    OF 

second  wife  his  children  were,  Edith,  Mehitable  and 
Emma  ;  and  two  boys  that  died  young. 

Hutchins,  Joseph,  came  from  Dover  about  1760. 
He  married  Esther  Carr.  His  children  were,  Joanna, 
m.  George  Murphy;  Joshua,  Hannah  Huff  and  widow 
Eunice  Davis  ;  John  Carr,  Betsey  Seavy  ;  Joseph,  died 
at  sea;  Esther,  m.  James  Fisher  ;  Anna,  Thomas  Huff; 
Lydia,  Samuel  Wakefield ;  and  Sally  and  Elinor,  Eb- 
enezer  Webber. 

Hutchins,  David  and  Josiah,  were  brothers,  and 
came  from  Kittery  about  1760.  David  married  Lydia 
Wralch,  whose  children  were,  Enoch,  Alice,  Amos, 
Hannah,  Ezra,  Moses,  Lydia  and  David.  Josiah  mar- 
ried Betsey  Haley.  His  children  were,  Josiah,  Jane, 
Dolly,  Samuel,  Betsey,  Sarah,  Amos,  John  and  William. 

Hutchins,  Asa,  blacksmith,  came  from  Portsmouth 
in  1795. 

e  Jackson,  Joshua,  potter,  carried  on  his  business  at 
Clay  cove,  at  Cape  Porpoise,  in  1783.  He  soon  after 
removed  to  Saco. 

Jackson,  Jonathan,  stone  cutter,  came  to  this  town 
in  1836.     He  was  born  in  Abbot,  Me. 

e  James,  David,  settled  over  the  second  baptist  society 
in  1829. 

e  Jameson,  Samuel,  lived  in  Arundel  in  1740,  near 
Goffe's  mill  brook.  He  probably  left  the  town  during 
the  war  of  1745. 

Jefferds,  William,  merchant,  came  from  Kennebunk 
about  1800.     He  married  Sally  Walker. 

Jeffery,*  John,  son  of  Gregory,  resided  in  Lynn, 
where  he  died  in  1730.  He  was  a  cooper.  In  1727  he 
appointed  Jacob  Wildes  and  Samuel  Averill  his  Attor- 
neys, who  had  600  acres  of  land  laid  out  to  them. 
Two  of  his  sons,  Joseph  and  Benjamin,  came  to  Arun- 
del about  1750. 

1.  Joseph  had  two  sons.  One  of  them,  John,  came 
with  him.  John  married  Susannah  Southwick  of  Sa- 
lem. His  children  were,  Susannah ;  John,  died  in 
Halifax  in  the  revolution  ;  Benjamin,  died  on  Plumb 

*See  page  69. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  255 

Island  with  Mr.  Curtis,  Dec.  14,  1786 ;  Joseph,  died  at 
sea ;  James,  m.  Elinor  McCormac ;  and  Priscilla,  Jo- 
seph Adams. 

2.  Benjamin's  wife  was  Hannah  Giles  of  Salem.  His 
children  were,  Benjamin,  m.  Hannah  Evans  ;  Edmund, 
widow  Olive  Curtis  ;  Lydia,  Samuel  Grover ;  and  Su- 
san, Wilburn  Chatman. 

e  Jellison,  John,  lived  in  this  town  as  early  as  1730. 
He  sold  his  land  to  Benjamin  Thompson  and  left  the 
place. 

John  Jellison,  probably  son  of  the  preceding,  was 
taxed  in  the  town  in  1764.  He  lived  at  the  head  of  the 
town.     He  married  Betty  Goodwin  in  1779. 

e  Johnson,  William,  resided  in  this  town  in  1734, 
and  contributed  one  day's  work  on  Mr.  Prentice's  gar- 
rison.    Nothing  is  known  of  bum. 

Johnson,  Christian,  a  Dane,  shipmaster,  came  to 
this  town  in  1825. 

e  Johnson,  Charles,  settled  over  the  second  baptist 
society  in  1831. 

Jordan,  Ralph  T.  farmer,  came  from  Biddeford 
about  1812. 

cJoslin,  Israel,  came  to  Arundel  when  it  was  first 
resettled.  His  son  Israel  was  born  Sep.  30,  1719.  He 
probably  lived  near  Turbat's  creek,  on  what  was  known 
as  Joslin's  point.  It  is  not  known  what  became  of  this 
family. 

e  Kent,  Cephas  H.  settled  over  the  congregational 
society  in  1830. 

Kimball,  Samuel,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk 
about  1796.     He  married  Sarah  Downing  in  1797. 

e  Kimball,  James,  blacksmith,  came  from  Kenne- 
bunk about  1814.     He  now  resides  at  Passadumkeag. 

e Kimball,  Hezekiah,  came  from  Kennebunk,  and 
married  widow  Mary  Lassel  for  his  second  wife  in  1796. 

Kimball,  Joseph,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk  in 
1797. 

e  Kingsbury,  Joseph,  shipmaster,  came  from  York 
in  1792.  He  returned  to  York  in  1802.  Three  of  his 
sisters  married  in  this  town; — Sarah,  to  Josiah  Lin- 
scott ;  Love,  to  John  Miller,  and  Miriam,  to  Jonathan 
Downing. 


256  HISTORY    OF 

Langdon,  John  S.  and  Jason  N.  brothers,  came  from 
Rowe,  Mass.  John,  an  apothecary,  came  to  this  town 
in  1808,  and  removed  to  Limerick  in  1811.  Jason,  phy- 
sician, came  here  in  1810. 

e  Lassel,  Joshua,  a  cooper,  removed  from  York  to 
Arundel  in  1723.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Brown,  sen.  He  died  before  1750.  His  sons  were, 
Joshua,  Jeremiah,  Andrew,  John,  Allison  and  Matthew. 
His  daughters  were,  Elizabeth,  m.  Jeremiah  Miller ; 
Hannah,  Pierce  Murphy  ;  and  one  that  married  a  Mr. 
Wood. 

I.  Joshua's  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Allison 
Brown  ;  and  his  second  was  Anna  lialey.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Elizabeth,  m.  William  Smith ;  Catharine, 
Nathaniel  Cousins  ;  Anna  and  Molly,  who  married  Lib- 
bys,  and  removed  to  Scarborough ;  Miriam,  m.  Mr. 
Briges  ;  Mehitable,  Gideon  Hanscomb  ;  Tabitha ;  and 
a  son  that  died  young. 

II.  Jeremiah  m.  Ruth  Lovet.  His  children  were, 
Huldah,  m.  Reuben  Small  ;  Mary,  who  had  four  hus- 
bands, Mr.  Small,  Mr.  Strout,  Elisha  Snow  and  James 
Glidden ;  Hannah,  m.  Tristram  Jordan;  Jonathan, 
Mary  Jones  ;  Amy,  Benjamin  Lord  ;  Deborah,  Thomas 
Perkins  ;  Ruth,  Samuel  Williams  ;  Lydia,  Seth  Burn- 
ham  ;  Bartholomew,  Charlotte  Orne  ;  and  Israel, 
Abigail  Hill  and  Susan  Swan. 

III.  Andrew  married  a  Dearing,  and  left  but  one 
child,  Betsey. 

IV.  John  was  not  married. 

V.  Allison  married  a  Smith. 

VI.  Matthew  married  Hannah  Burbank,  whose  chil- 
dren were,  Hannah,  m.  Humphrey  Whitten ;  Mary, 
John  Perkins  ;  Caleb  and  Asa,  who  lived  in  Waterbo- 
rough  ;  Eliza,  m.  John  Gould  ;  and  Ruth,  Thomas  Clark. 

Laws,  John,  stone-mason,  was  born  in  Enfield, 
Conn,  and  came  to  this  town  in  1810. 

Leach,  Nathaniel,  who  had  a  grant  of  land  in  this 
town  in  1720,  was  probably  the  son  of  Joseph  Leach  of 
Manchester.  Joseph  owned  the  Barrot  right  in  this 
town,  and  sold  it  to  Thomas  Perkins  in  1719.  It  is 
not  certain  that  Nathaniel  removed  on  to  his  grant,  but 
he  was  employed  in  the  town  as  a  ship  carpenter.     Mr. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  257 

Hovey,  in  1750,  says,  "Stone's  sloop  raised  by  Master 
Leach."  If  Mr.  Leach  ever  resided  here,  he  probably 
removed  to  Rittery,  as  Nathaniel,  who  was  undoubted- 
ly one  of  his  descendants,  came  from  that  place  to 
Arundel  about  1780. 

e  Leighton,  Luke,  block-maker,  came  from  Ports- 
mouth about  1805,  and  returned  a  few  years  afterwards. 

Lewis,  John,  came  to  this  town  from  Kittery,  some 
time  before  the  revolution.  He  married  Anna  Carr, 
and  his  children  were,  Benjamin,  m.  Molly  Seavy  ;  John, 
died  at  sea;  Joseph,  died  in  the  army;  Esther,  died 
young;  Sarah,  m.  Jacob  Towne  ;  Polly,  Thomas  Mad- 
dox  ;  James,  died  at  sea;  Hannah,  m.  Jacob  Wildes; 
Esther,  died  young;  Samuel,  moved  east ;  and  Elipha- 
let,  died  at  sea. 

Lewis,  Samuel,  came  from  Kittery  about  1775.  His 
wife  was  Huldah  Mitchell.  His  children  were,  Sally, 
m.  Israel  Hodsdon ;  William,  Sally  Hutchins  ;  Peter, 
Elizabeth  Merrill ;  Samuel,  Hannah  Hill  and  Mary 
Patten  ;  and  Betsey,  Allison  Smith. 

eLiNDSEY,  Matthew,  a  brother  to  Mrs.  Hilton,  lived 
on  Saco  road,  and  died  about  the  time  of  the  revolution. 
He  was  not  married. 

Linscott,  Josiah,  shipmaster,  came  from  York  in 
1790.     He  married  Sarah  Kingsbury. 

Littlefield,*  Edmund,  son" of  Francis  sen.  of  this 
town,  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mousam  river.  His 
son  Samuel, — Fat  Sam, — married  Elizabeth  Goodale 
in  1725,  and  shortly  afterwards  removed  into  this  town. 
He  at  first  lived  at  Littletield's  mill,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  the  cape,  and  occupied  the  house  in  which 
Thomas  Wiswall  afterwards  lived.  The  children  of 
Samuel  were,  Samuel,  Anthony,  Elijah  and" Edmund. 

1.  The  sons  of  Samuel  jr.  were,  Joseph,  Moses  and 
Joshua;  the  last  of  whom  married  Mary  Frost  in  1772. 

2.  Anthony  had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Ed- 
mund, married  Jane  Chatman  in  1773. 

3.  Elijah  married  Mary  Stevens,  and  his  children 
were,  Mehitable,  m.  Josiah  Davis ;  Benjamin,  Mary 
Benson;  Elijah,  Mary  Tukey ;  Lucy,  Benjamin  Mor- 
rison ;    Alice,   Joshua  Murphy ;    Uriah,   died   at   sea ; 

*See  page  97.  W  w 


258  HISTORY    OF 

Moses  ;  Sally,  m.  Caleb  Burbank  ;  and  Samuel,  who 
died  at  sea. 

4.  Edmund  married  Dorothy  Chat  man  and  removed 
to  Kennebunk. 

Littlefield,  Daniel,  farmer,  born  at  Ogunquit, 
Wells,  came  to  this  town  from  Biddeford  about  1803. 

e  Littlefield,  John,  joiner,  came  from  Wells  in 
1S10,  and  removed  to  Readfield  in  183G. 

Littlefield,  Israel,  came  from  Kennebunk  in  1807. 

Littlefield,  John,  farmer,  came  from  Wells  about 
1825. 

Littlefield,  Abner,  came  from  Wells  about  1805. 
He  married  Hannah  Thompson. 

Littlefield,  Elijah,  came  from  Parsonsfield  in  1830. 
These  families  are  all  descendants  of  Edmund  of  Wells. 

Lord,  Tobias   and  Benjamin   Meeds,  were   cousins, 
and  came  into  this  town  about  1747.     They  were  born 
at  Rocky  Hill  in  Berwick,   near  Kittery.     "  A  gentle- 
man distinguished  for  his  knowledge  of  all  that  relates 
to  the  history  of  our  country,  is  of  the  opinion  that  the 
name   has   been  altered   from  Laud,    and  that  it  was 
done  about  the  time  of  the  disgrace  of  Archbishop  Laud, 
by  those    who   emigrated  hither ; — not   wishing  in  the 
country  of  their  adoption,  to  perpetuate   the  name  of 
their  persecutor,  nor  to  trace  their  genealogy  through 
him  under  a  scaffold.     The  first  mention  we  find  of  the 
name  is  in  Ipswich,  when  Robert  Lord  arrived  in  1636-7, 
and  died  1683.     Robert  served  20  years  in  the  early 
Indian  Wars,  and  was  so  hardy  a  soldier,  that  when  he 
left  the  service,  he  could  not  lie  on   a  feather  bed  ;  and 
although   he    was   short   of  stature,  he  was  one  of  the 
stoutest,  and  most  athletic  men  to  be  found  in  the  army. 
When  the  Indians  had  proposed  to  decide  a  battle  by  sin- 
gle combat,  Robert  Lord  was  appointed  on  the  side  of 
the  Whites  and  Colonists  for  their  champion.  He  accep- 
ted, and  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  stand  against  the 
strongest  Indian  they  could  select.     The    combatants 
were  to  run  and  meet  each  other  at  full  running  speed, 
half  way  between  the  two  armies,  to  close  and  take  what 
was  called  the  Indian  hug.     A  Goliath  of  an  Indian, 
seven  feet  and  upwards  high,  was  selected ;  and  Robert 


KENNEBUNK  PORT.  259 

being  short  and  apparently  a  small  man,  the  Indian, 
like  his  prototype  of  old,  met  him  at  first  slowly  and 
with  all  the  disdain,  derision  and  assurance  of  victory 
with  which  Goliath  approached  David.  In  an  instant, 
like  two  lions  they  closed,  and  in  an  instant  the  mam- 
moth Indian  prostrate,  bit  the  ground.  Not  satisfied, 
and  amid  the  tremendous  shouts  of  one  army,  and 
tie  reproaching  clamor  and  lamentations  of  the  other, 
they  agreed  to  rush  and  clinch  again.  In  the  second 
rencounter  Lord  took  a  hip  lock  on  the  mighty  Indian 
and  threw  him  all  but  a  rod  !  burst  a  large  vein  !  !  and 
the  savage  army  acknowledged  beat.  The  sturdy  In- 
dian however  afterwards  reported  that  the  little  man 
derived  his  strength  from  the  White  Devil  of  the  Eng- 
lish Arm  ij . 

"  Robert  left  four  sons,  Thomas,  Samuel,  Robert  and 
Nathaniel.  The  two  former  removed  to  Charlestown, 
and  the  two  younger  remained  in  Ipswich,  from  whom 
the  families  of  New  England  sprung.  About  1700, 
three  persons  of  the  name,  said  to  be  brothers,  arrived 
in  Berwick  from  Ipswich,  viz.  Abraham,  Nathan,  (prob- 
ably Nathaniel,)  and  John.  The  families  in  Kennebunk 
and  Kennebunk-port,  descended  from  John,  who  left 
three  sons,  John,  Thomas  and  Tobias.  Tobias  left 
one*son  only,  Tobias,  who  removed  to  Arundel."* 

Tobias  and  Benjamin  Meeds  Lord,  purchased  land 
of  Jeremiah  Folsom  on  Saco  road,  and  built  a  garrison 
which  they  occupied  together. 

I.  Tobias  married  Jane  Smith.  His  children  were, 
John,m.  Charity  Curtis;  Jane,  John  Stone;  Tobias, 
^fehitable  Kimball  and  Hipsah  Conant ;  Lydia,  Samu- 
el Kimball ;  Nathaniel,  died  in  the  army  ;  Betsey,  m. 
Benjamin  Thompson  ;  Daniel,  Mary  Washburne  ;  Do- 
minicus,  Mary  Currier ;  Jeremiah  and  David,  died 
young  ;  and  Thomas,  m.  Mary  Durrell. 

1.  John's  children  were,  Jane,  Sally,  Jacob,  Betsey, 
Tobias,  Phebe,  Mary,  Hannah,  John,  who  died  young, 
and  John. 

"Ms.  letter  from  Charles  A.  Lord,  Esq.  of  New  York. 
Felt  (Hist,  of  Ipswich.)  says  Robert  Lord  "  appears  to  have  been 
the  son  of  widow  Catharine  Lord."  He  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts. 
His  son  Robert,  m.  Sarah  Wilson,  one  of  whose  sons,  Nathaniel, 
removed  to  the  Isles  of  Shoals.  Nathaniel  was  probably  the  same 
person  that  was  admitted  freeman  at  York  in  1652. 


260  HISTORY    OF 

2.  Tobias  removed  to  Kennebunk.  He  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  two  of  whom,  Tobias  and  Nathaniel, 
afterwards  lived  in  Arundel,  and  were  the  wealthiest 
individuals  in  the  town.  Nathaniel,  m.  Phebe  Walker, 
and  Tobias,  Hannah  Perkins. 

3.  Nathaniel  was  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec  un- 
der Arnold,  and  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  ;  and 
died  in  prison. 

4.  Daniel  is  still  living  in  Penobscot. 

5.  Dominicus  is  living  in  Kennebunk. 

6.  Thomas's  children  are,  David,  Betsey,  Jane,  Asa, 
and  Mary. 

II.  Benjamin  Meeds  Lord's  first  wife  was  Mary 
March  of  Kittery,  whose  children  were,  Benjamin  and 
Joseph,  twins  ;  Lucy,  m.  David  Durrell ;  Susan,  Samu- 
el Burnham ;  and  Mary,  George  Perkins.  His  second 
wife  was  widow  Elinor  Dennet  who  had  no  children. 
Her  daughter  Elinor,  by  her  first  husband,  married  Is- 
rael Kimball,  in  1771,  and  is  still  living. 

1.  Benjamin  married  Amy  Lassel,  and  removed  to 
Alewife. 

2.  Joseph  married  Hannah  WiswaU,  whose  children 
were,  Joseph,  and  several  that  died  young.  His  second 
wife  was  Lucy  Mitchell,  whose  children  were,  Dummer, 
John,  Abraham,  Benjamin,  Hannah,  Lydia  and  Esther. 

cLovet,  Simon,  was  a  town  officer  in  1740.  There 
was  also  an  Israel  Lovet,  a  tailor,  probably  a  brother 
to  Simon,  who  came  from  Beverly  to  Cape  Porpoise  a- 
bout  1735.  His  children  were,  Ruth,  m.  Jeremiah 
Lassel  ;  Israel,  moved  to  Thomastown  ;  and  several 
that  died  young. 

LuiNT,  Samuel,  came  from  York  about  1806.  He 
died  in  1835  aged  90,  having  never  been  sick  during  his 
life,  till  five  days  before  his  death. 

Luques,  Andrew  and  Anthony,  brothers,  were  born 
in  Beverly.  Andrew,  trader,  came  to  this  town  in 
1823.  Anthony,  tanner,  came  here  in  1826,  and  died 
suddenly,  in  1827. 

e  Maddox,  Henry,  came  from  Berwick,  but  it  is  not 
known  at  what  period.  His  children  were,  Pelsgrave, 
John,  Hannah,  and  perhaps  others. 

Mr.  Hovey  says,  "  Oct.  8,  1750.  Maddox  smashed 
his  brains  out  by  tumbling  with  his  head  under  a  cart 
wheel,  loaded  with  apples." 


KENNEBUNK    TORT.  261 

Pelsgrave  married  Mary  Huff,  whose  children  were, 
Henry,  Thomas,  a  son  that  married  a  Towne,  Rebec- 
ca and  probably  others.  John  lived  in  Wells.  Rebecca 
married  Philip  Pike. 

cMaddox,  Thomas,  came  from  Wells  in  1790,  and 
removed  to  Limerick  in  1820. 

e  Major,  Benjamin,  a  blacksmith,  had  a  grant  of  land 
in  1719,  "  near  the  little  river  that  runs  into  Kenne- 
bunk."  He  built  a  garrison  at  Cape  Porpoise.  He 
died  July  11,  1747.  His  only  son,  Benjamin,  died  in 
1725.  His  only  daughter,  Priscilla,  married  John 
Burbank. 

Maling,  Thomas,  rigger,  came  from  Portland  in  1821. 

Manuel,  Joseph,  a  Portuguese,  mariner,  came  to 
this  town  about  1817. 

Marble,  Benjamin,  tailor,  born  in  Poland,  Me.  came 
to  this  town  in  1836. 

March,  James  and  George,  were  brothers,  and  came 
from  Portsmouth  as  early  as  1719.  The  wife  of  James 
was  shot  by  the  Indians,  and  all  his  children  died  of  the 
throat  distemper  in  1735.  George  married  Abigail 
Watson.  All  his  children  (seven)  then  born  died  of 
the  throat  distemper.  Two  others  were  born  after  that 
period,  Paul,  who  married  Rhoda  Cluff,  and  Eunice, 
Levi  Hutchins.  Sarah,  sister  of  James  and  George, 
married  Samuel  Hutchins.  Paul's  children  were,  Pol- 
ly, Hannah,  Esther,  John,  Jacob  and  George,  died 
young,  Ruth,  Rhoda,  Sally,  Jesse,  George  and  Samuel. 

e  Markoe,  Martin  M.  physician,  born  in  St.  Croix, 
W.  I.  came  to  this  town  about  1825,  and  resided  here 
about  two  years. 

c  Marshall,  Thomas,  shipmaster,  came  from  Berwick 
about  1790. 

Mason,  Benjamin,  merchant,  came  from  Lyman  a- 
bout  1795.     He  married  Betsey  Stone. 

e  Mason,    Simon,    mariner,    came    from    Biddeford 
about  1815. 

cMc Alley,  Alley,  an  Irish  tailor,  was  residing  in 
this  town  in  1757.  He  sometimes  resided  in  Arundel 
and  sometimes  in  Wells.  He  had  no  shop,  but  worked 
at  the  houses  of  his  employers  as  was  then  the  practice. 

cMcCloud,    John,  a    Scotchman,  came  to  this  town 


262  HISTORY   OF 

about  1732.  He  married  Abigail  Seavy  in  1790.  He 
had  several  sons,  who  are  either  dead  or  left  the  town, 
and  a  number  of  daughters. 

eMcCuLLocn,  Adam,  was  born  in  Dornach,  shire  of 
Sutherland,  Scotland,  in  1742.  He  came  to  this  town 
about  1706,  aud  kept  school.  In  1769,  he  married 
Louisa  Brown.  He  and  his  wife  both  died  the  same 
day,  in  May,  1812.  His  children  were,  Hugh,  Alexan- 
der, Margaret,  Isabella,  Elizabeth,  and  two  that  died 
young.  Alexander  died  at  sea,  and  Hugh  removed  to 
Kennebunk. 

McIntire,  Phineas,  farmer,  came  from  Biddeford 
about  1818.     He  married  Maria  Tucker. 

cMelchf.r,  Edward,  a  land  surveyor,  lived  on  Saco 
road  in  1728.     He  moved  to  Brunswick. 

Merrill,  Abel  and  John,  were  brothers,  and  prob- 
ably nephews  of  Thomas  Merrill,  who  had  a  grant  of 
land  from  the  town  in  1681,  for  killing  an  Indian. 
They  came  from  Salisbury.  Their  sister  Ruth  married 
John  Whitten. 

I.  Abel  settled  in  Wells  about  1725,  but  shortly  re- 
moved into  Arundel,  and  married  Mary  Harding.  He 
was  killed  while  out  a  fishing  in  a  small  boat,  by  black 
fish.  He  had  but  one  child,  Gideon,  who  married  Dor- 
othy Wildes.  Gideon's  children  were,  *Abel,  m.  Me- 
hitable  Burbank  and  widow  Huldah  Fletcher  ;  Ruth, 
Israel  Burnham  ;  Jemima,  Jonathan  Smith ;  Jacob, 
Sarah  Huff;  and  several  that  died  young. 

II.  John  came  to  this  town  soon  after  Abel.  His 
wife  was  Mary  Hutchins.  His  children  were,  Daniel, 
John,  Hannah,  Obed,  Anna,  and  Humphrey,  the  last 
of  whom  died  young.  Hannah,  m.  James  Burnham  ; 
and  Anna,  Isaac  Burnham. 

1.  Daniel  married  Sarah  Hutchins.  His  children 
were,  Olive,  m.  Levi  Hutchins  ;  Hannah  ;  Sarah,  m. 
Edward  Nason  ;  Daniel,  widow  Sarah  Washburne  and 

*  Abel  Merrill  died  in  April,  1837,  awed  82  years.  He  was  an 
honest,  intelligent  man,  remarkable  for  the  accuracy  of  his  memory 
as  to  dates,  which  he  retained  till  a  short  time  before  I113  death.  The 
compiler  of  this  work  is  indebted  to  him  for  many  of  the  facts 
found  in  it. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  263 

Elizabeth  Kimball  ;  Eunice,   Mr.  Hues  and  Mr.  Simp- 
son ;  and  several  that  died    young1. 

2.  John  married  Susannah  Haley.  He  lived  here 
several  years  after  his  marriage,  and  moved  to  Tops- 
ham.  One  of  his  daughters,  Susannah,  married  Andrew 
Walker  of  Arundel. 

3.  Obed  married  Judith  Durrell.  His  children  were, 
Humphrey,  m.  Priscilla  Huff  and  Isabella  McCulloch  ; 
Benjamin,  died  at  the  age  of  30  ;  John,  died  young  ; 
John,  m.  Elizabeth  Rickard  ;  Elizabeth,  Peter  Lewis  ; 
Mary,  Ezra  Thompson  and  John  Emerson  ;  Samuel, 
Agnes  Carr  ;  Susan  ;  Hannah,  ni.  David  Wallis  ; 
James ;  Lydia,  and  another  who  died  young. 

Meserve,  William,  tanner,  came  from  Biddeford 
about  1826. 

Miller,*  Jeremiah,  son  of  John  jr.  of  Cape  Por- 
poise, was  born  in  Newington,  June  23,  1714.  He 
served  his  time  with  Benjamin  Downing,  who  was  a 
joiner.  Mr.  Miller  came  to  this  town  about  1737,  and 
married  Elizabeth  Lassel.  His  children  were,  An- 
drew, Elizabeth,  Jeremiah,  Mary,  John,  Benjamin, 
Lemuel,  Joseph,  Hannah  and  Lydia.  Joseph  died 
young.  Elizabeth,  m.  Samuel  Emmons  ;  Mary,  John 
Goodwin  ;  Hannah,  Joseph  Mason  ;  and  Lydia,  Mr. 
Harvey  of  Wells. 

1.  Andrew  was  born  April  3,  1738.  He  married 
Mary  Walker.  His  children  were,  Joseph,  Andrew, 
and  two  girls  that  died  young  ;  Hannah,  m.  Thomas 
Dorman  ;  Deborah,  James  Miller  ;  Betsey,  Andrew 
Sherburne  ;  and  Sally. 

2.  Jeremiah  jr.  was  born  March  1,  1742.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Walker.  His  children  were,  John,  Sally, 
Polly,  Hannah,  Esther,  Susan,  Daniel  and  Esther. 

3.  John  was  born  Oct.  26,  1746,  and  he  married 
Betsey  Nason.  His  children  were,  James,  Betsey, 
Benjamin,  Olive,  John,  Sally,  Jeremiah,  Mary  and 
Hannah. 

4.  Benjamin,  born  Feb.  28,  1749,  married  widow  Is- 
abella McCormac,  and  had  but  one  child,  Jeremiah. 

5.  Lemuel,   born    March   29,  1751,   married   Anna 
Burbank  in  1773.     His  children  were,  Eunice,   Eliza- 
See  page  94. 


264  HISTORY    OF 

betb,  Asa,  William,  died  young,  Betsey,  William,  Han- 
nah, Oliver,  George,  Joshua  and  Lemuel. 

e  Miller,  Joseph,  an  Irishman,  came  to  this  town 
about  1740.  His  only  son  that  grew  up,  was  James, 
who  married  Margaret  McLellen,  and  moved  to  the 
eastward.  His  daughters  were,  Sarah,  who  married 
Timothy  Washburne  and  Jonathan  Stone  ;  Mary, 
Robert  Stone ;  and  Margaret,  Eliphalet  Walker. 

Miller,  Joseph,  mast-maker,  came  from  Portsmouth 
in  1810. 

Millet,  John,  fisherman,  came  from  Cape  Ann  in 
1798.  He  married  Mary  Hodskins  and  widow  Lydia 
Hutchins. 

€Milnor,  Reuben,  minister  of  the  second  baptist 
society  in  1835. 

Mitchell,  Dummer,  son  of  John  who  lived  on  the 
western  side  of  KennebunU  river,  came  into  this  town 
about  1760.  His  first  wife  was  Lydia  Crediford, 
whose  children  were,  Lucy,  John,  Dummer  and  Es- 
ther. His  second  wife  was  Judith  Dorman,  whose 
children  were,  Ephraim,  Joseph,  Lydia,  Benjamin, 
Nathaniel,  James,  Hannah  and  Seth.  Daniel,  brother 
of  the  foregoing,  who  married  Sarah  Titcomb,  came 
into  the  town  after  the  revolution. 

e  Mitchell,  Dagger,  an  Irishman,  married  Molly 
WTildes  about  1769.  His  children  were,  Richard,  John 
and  Mary,  who  all  married  and  left  the  town. 

Mitchell,  Jacob,  physician,  came  from  North  Yar- 
mouth in  1833. 

Moody,  Silas,  See  page  192. 

Moody,  James,  farmer,  came  from  Tuftonborough, 
N.  H.  about  1820. 

Moody,  Elbrige  G.  baker,  came  from  Saco  in  1837. 

e  Moor,  Jonadab,  came  from  Kittery  about  1752. 
His  wife  was  his  cousin,  Mary  Moor.  He  died  in  the 
army  in  the  French  war  of  1755.  His  widow  was 
living  in  1764.  His  children  were,  Ebenezer,  who  was 
taxed  here  in  1764;  Pelatiah,  who  moved  to  Biddeford; 
Susan,  who  married  Joshua  Walker ;  Dorothy,  Han- 
nah, and  perhaps  others. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  265 

e Morgan,  Richard,  whose  wife's  name  was  Abigail, 
lived  at  Turbat's  creek  in  J  71 9.  His  children  were, 
Moses,  Luther,  Samuel,  John  and  Rebecca.  Moses 
was  a  shoemaker ;  and  the  name  of  his  wife  was 
Patience.  John  and  Samuel  lived  on  Saco  road. 
John  died  before  1735. 

c  Morse,  Nathan,  came  to  this  town  about  1786, 
and  removed  to  Jay  in  1805. 

Motley,  Joseph  B.  stone  cutter,  came  to  this  town 
in  183G,  from  Windham. 

Murphy,  George,  married  Mary  Perkins  and  left 
no  children. 

John,  probably  brother  of  George,  lived  near 
Cleaves's  cove  in  1724.  He  was  an  Ensign  at  the 
capture  of  Louisburg  in  1747.  He  died  Oct.  20,  1750. 
His  children  were,  Pierce,  Thankful,  and  perhaps 
others. 

Pierce  was  accidentally  killed  with  a  musket,  about 
17G0.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Lassel.  His  children 
were,  John,  Pierce,  Joshua,  Israel,  George  and  Han- 
nah.    Hannah  married  Harrison  Downing. 

1.  John,  who  was  born  Oct.  20,  1750,  married  Eliza- 
beth Downing  in  1771.  His  children  were,  Betsey, 
Harrison,  John,  Pierce,  George,  Sarah,  Mary,  Hannah, 
Lydia  and  Daniel. 

2.  Pierce  jr.  married  Sarah  Adams.  He  served  in 
the  revolution,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Lyman. 

3.  Joshua's  first  wife  was  Sarah  Smith,  whose  chil- 
dren were,  James,  Mary,  Hannah,  Israel  and  Joshua. 
His  second  wife  was  Alice  Littlefield,  whose  children 
were,  Samuel,  John,  Sally  and  Susan. 

4.  Israel  died  in  the  army. 

5.  George  married  Hannah  Hutchins,  and  moved  to 
Mount  Desert. 

e  Mussey,*  James,  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Mussey, 
an  old  inhabitant  of  Cape  Porpoise.  He  was  town 
clerk  when  the  town  was  first  resettled.  He  lived 
near  the  present  dwelling  house  of  Asaph  Smith.  Mr. 
Mussey's  name  does  not  appear  on  the  town  record, 
after  1728,  at  which  time   James  Smith  bought  his  land. 

*  3ee  page  93, 


266  HISTORY    OF 

Nason,  Joshua,  was  born  in  Berwick  and  emigrated 
to  Arundel  about  1750.  He  was  probably  a  descend- 
ant of  Richard  Nason  who  resided  in  Kittery  in  1653. 
Joshua  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Butler  of  Berwick. 
He  was  at  the  taking  of  Cape  Breton  in  1760  ;  and 
was  a  Capt.  in  the  continental  service,  and  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  army  in  1777. 

His  children  were,  Moses,  Jacob,  Joshua,  Edward, 
Benjamin,  Sarah  and  Susan.  Sarah,  m.  Thomas  Tar- 
box  ;  and  Susan,  James  Dearing. 

1.  Moses  married  Mary  Dearing,  whose  children 
were,  Thomas^  Jacob  and  Susan. 

2.  Joshua  married  Sarah  Dyer,  whose  children  were, 
Joseph,  Joshua,  Samuel,  three  daughters  that  died 
young,  and  Mary. 

3.  Edward,  who  married  Sarah  Merrill,  is  still  liv- 
ing. His  children  were,  Hannah,  Daniel,  John,  Noah, 
Mercy,  James,  Joshua,  one  that  died  young,  Sarah  and 
Moses. 

4.  Benjamin  married  Abigail  Currier,  and  removed 
to  Eaton,   N.   H. 

e  New,  Joseph,  was  residing  here  in  1730,  but  either 
died  or  left  the  town  before  1760. 

New,  Myris,  shipmaster,  came  from  Martha's  Vine- 
yard in  1837. 

e  Noble,  John,  an  Irishman,  came  to  Kennebunk- 
port  about  1816,  remained  there  several  years  and 
removed  to  Portland. 

e  Noble,  John,  from  Saco,  innholder,  resided  in 
Kennebunk-port  several  years,  about  the  time  of  the 
last  war. 

e  Nowell,  Simon,  came  from  York  about  1800.  He 
was  one  of  the  presidential  electors  at  large  in  1828. 
He  was  a  Brigadier  General  in  the  militia,  and  com- 
manded the  fort  in  Kittery  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
removed  to  Bangor  in  1830. 

Osgood,- Joseph  H.  tobacconist,  of  Boston,  came  to 
this  town  in  1829. 

e  Paine,  Johnson,  joiner,  came  from  York  in  1810, 
and  removed  to  Boston  about  1830. 

Parker,  Robert,  shipmaster,  came  from  Castine 
in  1829. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  267 

Patten,  Robert,  kept  a  public  house  on  Saco  road 
about  1750.  Mr.  Patten  was  an  Irishman.  His  first 
wife's  name  was  McGlauthlin,  who  died  on  her  pas- 
sage to  America.  Her  son,  Actor,  born  in  Ireland, 
married  Jane  McLellen,  and  removed  to  Topsham. 
His  second  wile  was  Florence  Johnson,  whose  children 
were,  Robert,  m.  Sarah  Bearing  ;  James,  Sally  Stone 
and  Abigail  Meservey;  Margaret,  Israel  Cleaves;  Ma- 
ry, William  Wilson  ;  John,  Sarah  Wiswall ;  and  Ra- 
chel,  William  Smith. 

e  Patten,  Joshua,  cooper,  came  from  Dover  about 
1799,  and  removed  to  Lyman  about  1804. 

e Patten,  John,  innholder,  came  from  Biddeford 
about  1809,  and  removed  to  Portland  about  1820. 

Patterson,  Actor  P.  shipmaster,  came  from  Saco 
about  1821. 

e  Payson,  George,  See  page  195. 

e  Pierson,  Samuel  and  Charles,  brothers,  ropemak- 
ers,  came  from  Portland ; — Samuel  in  1820,  and 
Charles  in  1818.  They  both  returned  to  Portland  in 
1826. 

e  Penniwell,*  Walter,  had  a  grant  of  land  from 
the  town  in  1720,  and  was  in  the  town  ;  but  whether 
he  was  a  resident  or  not,  is  not  certain. 

Perkins,  Ensign  Thomas,  came  from  Topsfield  in 
1719.  He  purchased  the  land  belonging  to  the  heirs  of 
John  Barrett,  and  was  made  a  proprietor  in  Barrett's 
right.  He  was  town  clerk  several  years.  He  was 
proprietor's  clerk  till  the  time  of  his  death  in  1761. 
He  died  of  a  cancer  in  the  face,  after  a  long  and  dis- 
tressing sickness.  He  kept  a  public  house  on  the  spot 
on  which  the  house  of  Israel  Stone  stands. 

His  wife  was  Mary  Wildes  of  Topsfield,  who  died 
April  1,  1742,  aged  57  years.  His  two  oldest  children, 
Thomas  and  Judith,  were  born  in  Topsfield.  His  other 
children  were,  Mary,  Sarah,  John  and  Ephraim.  The 
two  last  died  in  childhood.  Judith,  m.  Benjamin  Dur- 
rell  ;  Mary,  Eliphalet  Perkins ;  and  Sarah,  Israel 
Stone. 

Thomas  jr.  was  several  times  representative  to  Gen- 

*  See  page  88. 


268  HISTORY    OF 

eral  Court,  and  was  also  town  clerk.  He  at  first  oc- 
cupied his  father's  house,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
the  mills.  His  first  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Salem, 
died  about  1758,  and  left  no  children.  His  secc-id 
wife  was  Susannah  Hovey,  who  after  Mr.  Perkins's 
death,  [1794]  married  Edward  Emerson  of  York. 
Mr.  Perkins's  children  were,  Thomas,  m.  Esther  Per- 
kins;  Mary,  Gideon  Walker;  John,  died  at  sea;  Jo- 
seph, m.  Susannah  Wiswall  and  Mary  Pickering; 
Betsey,  Israel  Wildes  and  John  Bourne  ;  Susan, 
Thomas  Perkins  and  James  Perkins  ;  Andrew,  Eunice 
Davis;  Sally,  James  Perkins;  Abiel,  Hugh  McCulloch; 
and  James,  died  at  sea. 

Perkins,  Capt.  Thomas,  came  from  Greenland,* 
N.  H.  in  1720.  He  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  William 
Reynolds,  all  the  land  lying*  between  Rennebunk  river 
and  a  line  running  from  Bass  cove  through  great 
pond  to  the  sea.  This  land  having  been  mortgaged 
to  Francis  Johnson,  of  whom  Stephen  Harding  pur- 
chased it,  there  was  a  contest  for  the  possession  of  it. 
Mr.  Harding  finding  his  title  disputed,  purchased  the 
right  of  one  of  Reynolds's  heirs.  The  dispute  was 
submitted  to  arbitrators,  who  awarded  fourteen  fif- 
teenths of  the  land  to  Capt.  Perkins.  This  transac- 
tion caused  a  breach  between  the  families,  that  a 
subsequent  marriage  did  not  wholly  close. 

As  one  of  the  heirs  of  the  Thomas  Perkins  f  who 
had  a  grant  from  the  town  in  1681,  Capt.  Perkins  had 
the  land  laid  out  to  him  in  1720.  He  erected  a  garri- 
son house  by  Butler's  rocks,  near  the  spot  on  which 
"  the  house  of  William  Reynolds  formerly  stood."  On 
the  town  records  he  was  usually  designated  as  "  Capt. 
Thomas  Perkins  of  Kennebunk."  He  was  married, 
and  all  his  children  were  born  before  he  came  to  this 
town.  He  probably  died  about  1741.  His  sons,  were, 
John,  Thomas,  Lemuel,  Samuel,  George,  Alverson, 
and  perhaps  Zacheus.  His  daughters  were,  Mary, 
m.  George  Murphy  ;  and  Chasey,   James   Deshon. 

*  On  the  county  records,  he  is  sometimes  called  Thomas  Perkins 
of  Greenland,  and  sometimes  of  Portsmouth. 

t  See  page  91,  where  it  is  stated  that  Thomas  Perkins  of  1681, 
was  father  of  Capt.  Thomas  Perkins.  This,  however,  is  not 
certain.. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  269 

I.  John  came  into  this  town  with  his  father,  and  had 
several  lots  of  land  laid  out  to  him.  He  was  living  in 
1735,  but  probably  died  soon  after,  as  his  name  does 
not  appear  on  the  town  records  after  that  period.  It  is 
not  known  that  he  was  married.  He  might  have  been 
however  ;  and  Zacheus,  who  had  land  laid  out  to  him 
in  1734,  might  be  his  son.  Neither  of  them  left  any 
descendants. 

II.  Thomas  jr.  married  Lydia  Harding.  He  com- 
manded a  company  at  the  surrender  of  Louisburg  in 
1745,  and  was  wrecked  in  going  to  Annapolis  in  1747. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  he  was  King's  surveyor.  He 
was  probably  the  person  referred  to  in  Mr.  Hovey's 
journal,  March  1,  1749.  "  Capt."  (name  not  legible) 
u  of  Kennebunk  deputed  to  take  care  of  pine  timber," 
(some  words  illegible)  "  officiated  the  16th  day  to  the 
disturbance  of  many."*  He  died  February  22,  1752, 
aged  52  years.  He  probably  erected  the  house  now 
occupied  by  Tristram  J.  Perkins  about  1730.  His 
sons  were,  Eliphalet,  Abner,  John,  Thomas,  George 
and  James.  His  only  daughter,  Mary,  married  Samu- 
el Robinson. 

1.  Eliphalet  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Ensign 
Thomas  Perkins  of  Cape  Porpoise.  He  died  in  Port- 
land in  1776.  His  wife  died  Sept.  14,  1802,  aged  74 
years.  His  children  were,  Ephraim,  m.  Huldah  Dor- 
man  and  Lucy  Dorman  ;  Eliphalet,  drowned  ;  Hannah, 
m.  Dudley  Stone  ;  Lydia,  David  Thompson ;  Mary, 
Thomas  Durrell  ;  Eunice,  Isaac  Emery;  Lucy,  Asa 
Woodward  and  Benjamin  Day ;  and  Eliphalet,  Betsey 
Stone, 

*in  172),  the  General  Court  passed  an  act  declaring  all  trees  fit 
for  masts,  the  property  of  the  King.  The  penalty  for  cutting  down 
such  trees,  was  £100  sterling  for  each  ;  and  any  such  spars  found, 
were  forfeited  to  the  Province.  Sometimes  the  law  was  disre- 
garded, and  at  other  times  it  was  enforced  with  great  severity. 
It  was  the  cause  of  much  trouble  in  subsequent  years,  and  was  a 
ground  of  complaint  against,  the  British  government  in  17GG.  Gov- 
ernor Wentworth  of  New  Hampshire  was  appointed  Surveyor  of 
the  Woods  in  1741,  which  situation  he  held  twenty  five  years. 
Capt.  Perkins  was  probably  deputy  surveyor  under  him.  A  large 
quantity  of  these  logs  were  lying  in  Easa  cove  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  which  were  purchased  by  Theodore  Lyman  of 
Kennebunk,  (now  of  Waltham,)  for  the  purposo  of  building  the 
wharf,  now  known  as  Wheelwright's  wharf. 

X  x 


270  HISTORY    OF 

2.  Abner  married  Sally  Robinson.  His  children 
were,  Daniel,  m.  Hannah  Stone  and  Eunice  Thompson  ; 
Abner,  Mary  Stone  ;  Jotham,  Oiive  Hill  ;  Stephen, 
Alice  Stone  ;  Jacob,  Elizabeth  Hill;  Anna,  Benjamin 
Stone;  and  Sally,  James  P.  Hill. 

3.  John  married  Mehitable  Goodwin,  whose  only 
child,  Mehitable  or  Hitty,  married  Gen.  John  Lord  of 
Berwick. 

4.  Thomas  married  Sarah  Baxter.  Ke  died  Nov.  8, 
1829,  aged  88  years.  His  wife  died  Dec.  26,  1S11, 
aged  70  years.  Their  children  were,  Esther,  m.  Thom- 
as Perkins ;  Lydia,  John  Blunt ;  Thomas,  Susan 
Perkins  ;  Sarah,  Benjamin  Perkins  and  John  Blunt ; 
Mary,  Samuel  Bourne  ;  and  John,  Sally  Low. 

5.  George  married  Mary  Lord,  and  removed  to  Wells 
(Kennebunk.)      He  had  a  large  family  of  children. 

6.  James  married  Sally  Hovey,  whose  children  were, 
James,  Ruth,  Thomas  and  John,  twins,  Joshua,  died  at 
sea,  Ebenezer,  Lydia  and  Lucy.  His  second  wife  was 
widow  Hannah  Coit,  whose  children  were,  Joshua, 
Tristram  J.  and  Mary. 

III.  Lemuel  married  Hannah  Hutchins.  He  and 
his  only  child  died  of  a  fever,  the  same  day.  It  being 
in  a  time  of  an  Indian  war,  and  there  being  but  two 
females  in  the  garrison,  a  week  elapsed  before  any  one 
came  to  commit  their  bodies  to  the  grave.  His  widow 
married  John  Burbank. 

IV.  Samuel  married  Willie  Bond,  and  lived  near  the 
present  dwelling  house  of  John  Lord.  His  children 
were,  Samuel  and  Timothy,  died  young;  George,  m. 
Mary  Smith  and  widow  Sarah  Littlefield;  Thomas, 
Deborah  Lassel ;  John,  Molly  Lassel  and  Polly  Huff; 
Joseph,  Ruth  Wakefield  ;  and  Alice,   Stephen  Cleaves. 

V.  George*  married  Hannah  Hutchins.  His  only 
child  died  young.     His  widow  married  Joshua  Walker. 

These  two  Thomas  Perkins  coming  into  the  town 
at  about  the  same  time, — both  being  men  of  property 
and  influence, — each  having  a  son,  grandsons,  and 
great-grandsons  of  the  same  name,  who  at  different 
times  held  the  same  offices ; — and  the  families  having 
frequently  intermarried,  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  trace 

*See  note  page  253* 


KENNEBUNK.    POUT.  271 

the  descendants  of  each.  There  are  more  persons  of 
this  name  in  the  town,  than  of  any  other.  There  are 
3J  voters  of  the  name. 

e  Perkins,  Bradbury,  tailor,  came  from  Shapleigh 
about  1807,  and  returned  back  about  1817. 

c  Pike,  Philip,  was  an  inhabitant  of  this  town  in  1748. 
He  married  Rebecca  Maddox.  His  children  were, 
John  and  another  son,  who  died  young  ;  Rebecca,  m. 
Nathan  Wells;   and  Hannah,  Mr.  Winn. 

Pinkham,  Paul,  born  in  Nantucket,  came  to  this 
town  in  May,  1801.  His  wife  was  Mary  Cobb  of  Kings- 
ton, Mass. 

e Piper,  James  A.  shipmaster,  came  from  Newfield 
about  1818.     He  died  at  sea  in  1835. 

e  Poland,  James,  was  here  in  1720.  He  had  a  son 
Thomas  who  was  a  tailor.  Thomas  died  about  1770, 
and  left  no  children. 

Pope,  Samuel,  shipmaster,  came  from  Plymouth  in 
1800.  His  wife  was  Mary  Tarbox.  He  died  with  a 
cancer  in  1837. 

e  Prentice,  Thomas,  See  page  138. 

ePRisBURY,  Benjamin,  was  in  the  town  in  1727,  and 
Stephen  in  1730 ;  but  their  names  do  not  again  appear 
on  the  town  records. 

Proctor,  Joseph,  John  and  Amos,  brothers,  farmers, 
came  from  Biddeford  about  1814. 

e  Quimby,  John,  shoemaker,  came  from  Portsmouth 
about  1810,  and  resided  here  about  two  years. 

e  Randall,  Jeremiah,  was  published  to  Mary  Cous- 
ins and  Hannah  Gowell,  both  in  1784. 

Rhodes,  Michael,  resided  in  Berwick  before  1690. 
He  left  two  children,  Miles  and  Charity.  Miles  mar- 
ried Patience  Donnel  of  Kittery  in  1710.  Charity  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Cross  and  a  Mr.  Grover,  and  died  about 
1800,  aged  98  years.  Miles,  the  son  of  Miles,  was  an 
apprentice  to  Jacob  Curtis  of  Arundel,  and  married 
Mary  Huff.  He  resided  at  the  "Latter  End,"  near 
Turbat's  creek.  He  died  about  the  time  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  being  in  his  100th  year.  His  wife  died  at 
the  same  age,  four  years  afterwards.     His  children  were, 


272  HISTORY  OF 

Jacob,  Sarah,  Miles,  Patience,  Charity,  Molly,  Benja- 
min and  John.  Sarah,  m.  Simon  Grover ;  Patience, 
John  Grover;  Charity,  Ebenezer  Holt;  and  Molly, 
John  Baker,  all  of  York. 

1.  Jacob  married  Ruth  Wildes,  and  their  children 
were,  Alice,  Louisa,  Sally,  Jacob,  Moses,  Polly,  Lydia, 
John  and  Olive. 

2.  Miles  married  Lucy  Huff,  and  their  children  were, 
Deborah,  Mary,  Miles,  Benjamin,  Dorcas,  James,  Eli- 
hu,  Daniel,  Jotham  and  Ezekiel. 

3.  Benjamin  died  a  prisoner  in  England  during  the 
revolutionary  war. 

4.  John  married  Susan  Chatman,  and  left  several 
children. 

e  Rickard,  Daniel,  came  from  Portsmouth  about 
1765.  He  married  Sarah  Brown  in  1783.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Thomas,  died  young ;  Elizabeth,  m.  John 
Merrill  ;  and  Daniel. 

Rideout,  Abraham,  came  from  Brunswick  in  1786. 
He  married  Molly  Seavy. 

e  Rolf,  Henry,  an  Englishman,  came  to  this  town 
about  1760.  His  wife  was  Molly  Rowe.  They  both 
died  about  1820.  Their  children  were,  Sally,  Eunice, 
Mary,  Hannah,  Moses  and  Henry,  who  all  left  the  town. 

Rounds,  David,  blacksmith,  born  in  Buxton,  came 
to  this  town  about  1798.  He  married  Anna  Lewis. 
He  was  lost  in  the  privateer  Mars,  Coit,  of  Portsmouth. 

e  Robinson,  Samuel,  whose  name  first  appears  on 
the  town  records  in  1730,  came  from  Rowley.  His 
wife  was  Anna  Andrews.  His  children  were,  Samuel 
and  Sarah,  and  several  that  died  young.  Sarah  married 
Abner  Perkins.  Samuel  married  Mary  Perkins,  whose 
children  were,  John,  m.  Lydia  Stone  ;  Mary  ;  Lydia,  m. 
Moses  Hutchins  and  John  Millet ;  Samuel,  Mary  Stone  ; 
and  Daniel,  who  died  of  a  fever  contracted  at  sea. 

e  Sampson,  Ebenezer,  lived  in  Wells  in  1732.  He 
removed  into  Arundel  before  1741.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  information,  and  very  witty.  Some  of  his 
doggerel  is  still  remembered  by  many  of  the  older  in- 
habitants of  the  town.  Mr.  Hovey,  under  date  of  1750, 
says,  "  Susan  badly  poisoned  this  fortnight,  and  plan- 
tain cream  and    medicine  avail    nothing,   till  Father 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  'Zt>5 

Sampson  directed  to  take  the  leaves  and  small  twigs 
of  swamp  hazel  and  make  a  lotion,  drink  some  every 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  lay  a  leaf  on  the  poisoned  part, 
and  renew  it  three  or  four  times  a  day."  Mr.  Sampson 
was  one  of  the  persons  cast  away  at  Mount  Desert  in 
1747.  His  children  were,  James,  William  and  Ruth. 
"  March  15,  1747,  James  Sampson  and  boy  drowned 
by  swimming  over  Rennebunk  river  with  a  bag  of 
meal."*  William  was  a  shoemaker.  He  moved  to 
Cape  Ann  before  the  revolution.  Ruth  married  Stephen 
Harding,  jr. 

e  Sawyer,  Benjamin,  lived  in  Arundel  in  1730,  but 
nothing  is  known  of  him. 

Seavy,  William,  came  from  Kittery  in  1720.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  William  Seavy,  who  settled  in 
Portsmouth  as  early  as  1631,  and  who  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  of  that  town  in  IG57.  William  of  Arundel 
had  two  sons,  Nicholas  and  Benjamin. 

I.  Nicholas  married  Hannah  Leach.  She  died  in 
1820,  aged  nearly  102  years.  Their  children  were, 
Hannah,  m.  James  Hurl7;  Stephen,  Elizabeth  Wilde; 
Keziah,  Daniel  Huff;  Molly,  Benjamin  Lewis ;  Sally, 
John  Huff;  Nicholas,  Jane  Hutchins  ;  and  Catharine, 
who  died  young. 

1.  Stephen's  children  were,  Betsey,  Stephen,  Han- 
nah, Lydia,  Mary,  John,  Nicholas  and  Nathaniel. 

2.  The  children  of  Nicholas  jr.  were,  Jane,  Betsey, 
Josiah  and  Hannah. 

II.  Benjamin  married  Sarah  Hairier.  His  children 
were,  Hannah,  m.  Richard  Tarr  and  Mr.  Curtis  ; 
Molly,  Abraham  Hideout;  Lois,  Ambrose  Curtis;  Sal- 
ly, Mr.  Curtis  and  Mr.  Townsend  ;  Betsey,  Benjamin 
Hodskins  ;  and  Moses,  who  died  young. 

eSiiACKFORD,  Paul,  built  the  first  house  in  the  vil- 
lage about  1740.  He  was  a  ship-carpenter,  and  re- 
moved to  the  plains  in  Kennebunk  before  1755,  where 
he  built  quite  a  large  vessel,  and  hauled  her  to  the  sea. 
His  descendants  still  reside  there. 

Shackford,  Christopher,  laborer,  came  from  San- 
ford  in  1830. 

*Mr.  Hovey's  journal. 


274  HISTORY    OF 

e  Shannon,  Thomas  W.  came  from  Saco  about  1807, 
and  returned  back  again  in  a  few  years. 

e  Sherburne,  Andrew,  See  page   193. 

e  Sherman,  Jonathan,  a  blacksmith,  of  Charlestown, 
had  a  grant  of  land  in  1720,  upon  condition  of  his 
removing  into  this  town.  If  he  came,  he  remained 
but  a  short  time  ;  but  it  is  more  likely  he  sent  anoth- 
er family. 

cSkeele,  John,  born  in  Peacham,  Vermont,  came  to 
Kennebunk-port  about  1820.  He  kept  school  in  the 
village  several  years,  and  was  inspector  at  Cape  Por- 
poise a  short  time.      He  removed  to  Sanford  in  1829. 

Smart,  Burleigh  and  Nicholas  E.  brothers,  physi- 
cians, came  from  Parsonsfield.  Burleigh  came  in  1818, 
and  removed  to  Kennebunk  in  1826.  Nicholas  came 
here  in  1832. 

e  Smith,  John,  who  was  viewer  of  hemp  and  flax  in 
1737,  died  April  12,  1748,  aged  76  years  ;  and  William 
Smith  died  in  1739,  aged  26  years.  The  grave  stones 
of  both  these  persons  are  standing,  with  several  oth- 
ers in  the  old  burying  ground,  in  front  of  Israel  Stone's 
dwelling  house.     Nothing  more  is  known  of  them. 

Smith,  James,  an  Irishman,  came  to  this  town  before 
1719.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Batta  Leavit.  His 
children  were,  William  and  Robert.  WTilliam  was  not 
married.  Robert  married  Mary  Miller,  who  after  her 
husband's  decease,  who  died  July  22,  1747,  married 
Robert  White.  Mr.  Smith's  sons  were,  William,  John 
and  Robert  ;  the  last  of  whom  died  young. 

1.  William  was  town  clerk  for  several  years.  His 
first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Burnham,  whose  children  were, 
Grace,  Mary,  Robert,  one  son  and  three  daughters, 
that  died  young,  Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  His  second 
wife  was  Rachel  Patten,  whose  children  were,  Wil- 
liam, John,  Asaph  and  Jane. 

2.  John  married  Abigail  Stone,  whose  children  were, 
Thomas,  Jane,  Robert,  died  young,  John,  Robert, 
Andrew,  blind,  and  William,  none  of  whom  were  mar- 
ried. 

Smith,  Capt.  Daniel,  son  of  Samuel  of  Saco,  came 
to  this  town  about  1730.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Hard- 
ing, whose  children  were,  Daniel,  m.  Elizabeth  Hilton  ; 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  2 i O 

Miriam,  Eaton  Cleaves  ;  Joshua,  Elizabeth  Smith  ; 
Samuel,  died  in  Halifax  in  the  revolution  ;  Jeremiah,  m. 
Miriam  Waterhouse  ;  David,  Abigail  Martin  ;  Jonathan, 
Jemima  Merrill  ;  Hannah,  Shadrach  Averill  ;  and  Lu- 
cy, Joseph  Crediford  and  Nathaniel  Ward. 

David  and  Jonathan,  who  were  twins,  and  Daniel, 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  their  widows  are  now  living. 

Cleophas,  who  came  from  Biddeford  about  1807,  and 
Roger,  in  1826,  brothers,  are  descendants  of  Samuel. 

Smith,  Charles,  a  weaver,  came  from  Kittery  point, 
April  28,  17G7.  His  wife  was  Rebecca  Haley.  His 
children  were,  William,  m.  Elizabeth  Lassel  and  Esth- 
er Dealing  ;  Mary,  Bassum  Allen  ;  Josiah,  Abigail 
Bell  ;  Sarah,  Amos  Allen  and  Samuel  Davis  ;  Samuel, 
Elizabeth  Meservey  ;  Charles,  Mary  Gould;  Joseph, 
Charity  Tarbox  ;  and  Rebecca,  Andrew  Stone  and 
John  Huff. 

William  came  to  this  town  about  1764,  and  Samuel 
about  1772.  The  rest  of  the  children  came  with  their 
father. 

Smith,  Levi,  See  page  200. 

e  Smith,  Deacon  Samuel,  came  from  Biddeford,  and 
removed  to  Cape  Elizabeth  in  1836  ;  and  Samuel  Smith, 
ship  carpenter,  came  from  that  town  in  1817. 

Smith,  Jesse,  came  from  Lyman  in  1818.  He  died 
in  1837. 

Smith,  William,  ropemaker,  came  from  Boston 
about  1815. 

Smith,  Jethro,  fisherman,  came  from  Martha's  Vine- 
yard in  1828.  There  are  28  voters  of  the  name  of 
Smith  now  residing  in  the  town. 

Somers,  John,  mariner,  came  from  Maryland  about 
1825. 

e  SrENCER,  Moses,  was  an  early  settler.  He  sold  his 
land  about  1760,  to  Ephraim  Downs,  and  moved  to  the 
eastward. 

Springer,*  Jeremiah,  son  of  Jonathan,  returned 
with  the  first  settlers.  His  wife  was  Sarah  March. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Thomas  and  David,  lived  to  the 
eastward.     His  children  were,  Moses  ;  John,  m.  Susan 

"See  page  91. 


276 


HISTORY    OF 


II ut chins  ;  Lvdia,  Joseph  Gorman  ;  Joanna,  died  young ; 
and  Mary,  m.  Mr.  Brown.  This  family  is  nearly  ex- 
tinct. 

e  Springer,  John,  schoolmaster,  came  from  New 
Hampshire  about  1832,  and  removed  to  Holiis  in  1835. 

e  Stackpole,  John,  had  a  garrison  in  Saco  in  1723. 
The  next  year  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians, 
and  carried  to  Canada,  where  he  was  detained  nearly 
two  years.  Tie  probably  soon  after  removed  to  this 
town,  as  a  Lieut.  John  Stackpole  had  one  of  the  lots 
on  Saco  road  laid  out  to  him  in  1728.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Allison  Brown.  One  of  his  children  was 
Deacon  Stackpole.  Deacon  Stackpoie  had  several 
children,  one  of  whom,  Andrew,  married  Sarah  Fletch- 
er. This  family  having  left  town,  a  full  account  of  it 
cannot  conveniently  be  obtained. 

e  Staples,  Andrew,  came  from  Biddeford  about  1801. 
He  married  widow  Margaret  Ham. 

e  Stevens,  John,  was  in  this  town  in  1720.  His  chil- 
dren were,  Moses,  Benjamin,  Jeremiah,  a  daughter  that 
married  Joseph  Wheelwright,  and  perhaps  others. 

1.  Moses  married  Lucy  Wheelwright,  whose  children 
were,  Mary,  m.  Elisha  Littiefield ;  Abigail,  Jacob 
Wildes  ;  Moses  ;  Lucy  ;  Aaron,  not  married  ;  Wheel- 
wright and  Reuben,  not  married. 

1.  Moses  jr.  had  two  wives.  His  first  was  Bashaba 
Poindexter,  whose  children  were,  Olive,  m.  John  Chand- 
ler ;  Joseph,  Charity  Tarbox  ;  Eliab,  Rebecca  Poin- 
dexter ;    and    Wheelwright,    Stackpole.       His 

second  wife  was  Passis  Stevens,  whose  children  were, 
Jacob,  m.  Abigail  Curtis  ;  and  Abigail,  Amos  Hutchins. 

2.  Wheelwright  married  Phebe  Smith.  His  children 
were,  Nathaniel,  m.  Betsey  Day  ;  Abigail,  John  Per- 
kins ;  Betsey,  Moses  Fairfield  ;  Jordan,  Jane  Day  ; 
Mary,  Lewis  Crawford  ;  Tristram  ;  Oiive,  m.  Elihu 
Rhodes  ;  and  Ivory. 

II.  Benjamin  married  Abigail  Littlefield,  and  lived 
in  Wells.  One  of  his  sons,  Samuel,  married  Martha 
Barter  ;  and  Passis  married  Moses  Stevens. 

III.  Jeremiah  married,  and  lived  in  Wells. 
Stevens,  Aaron,     shoemaker,  came  from   Somers- 

worth,  N.  H.  about  1793. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  277 

Stone,  Jonathan,  came  from  Beverly  about  1735, 
as  agent  of  Edmund  Goffe  of  Cambridge.  He  was 
a  grandson  of  John  Stone,  who  resided  in  Beverly  in 
1659,  and  who  had  two  sons,  John  and  Nathaniel,  the 
first  of  whom  was  probably  the  father  of  Jonathan. 
Jonathan  married  Hannah  Lovet  ;  and  several  of  his 
children  were  born  before  he  came  to  this  town.  Mr. 
Hovey  says,  "  Mr.  Stone  died  after  a  long  confinement 
with  jaundice,  followed  with  a  numb  palsy  and  dropsy, 
which  brought  him  to  his  end  January  11,  1750."  Mrs. 
Stone  on  going  to  York  to  administer  upon  the  estate, 
was  thrown  from  her  horse  and  badly  injured.  She 
charged  her  Doctor's  bill  and  expenses  to  the  estate, 
which  were  allowed  by  the  Court.  Mr.  Hovey  says, 
"  March  26,  Mrs.  Stone  returned  from  York  where  she 
hath  been  from  February  27,  and  came  home  so  lame 
as  to  be  unable  to  walk, — two  men  carried  her  in  a 
chair  to  her  fire  side."  She  recovered,  however,  and 
married  Capt.  John  Fairfield. 

Mr.  Stone's  children  were,  Anna,  Israel,  Lydia,  Jon- 
athan, William,  Benjamin,  who  died  at  sea,  John  and 
Nehemiah. 

1.  Israel  married  Sarah  Perkins.  His  children 
were,  Sarah,  m.  Isaac  Kimball ;  Mary,  Abner  Perkins  ; 
Eunice,  James  Kimball  ;  Thomas,  died  at  sea  ;  Jane, 
m.  Tobias  Lord  ;  James,  Sally  Smith  and  Lydia  Per- 
kins ;  Israel,  Phebe  Stone  ;  and  Hannah,  John  Stone. 

2.  Lydia  married  William  Sargent  and  removed  to 
Frenchman's  Bay.  One  of  her  children,  Elizabeth, 
married  Jonathan  Ferran,  and  is  now  living  in  Kenne- 
bunk-port. 

3.  Jonathan's  first  wife  was  Hannah  Griffin,  whose 
children  were,  Dudley,  m.  Hannah  Perkins  ;  John,  died 
in  the  army  ;  and  Hannah,  m.  Daniel  Perkins.  His 
second  wife  was  Phebe  Downing,  whose  children  were, 
Benjamin,  m.  Anna  Perkins  and  Sally  Patten  ;  Lois, 
Daniel  Walker ;  Lydia,  John  Robinson ;  Jonathan, 
Margaret  McCulloch  and  Betsey  Pickering  ;  Betsey, 
Eliphalet  Perkins  ;  Alice,  Stephen  Perkins  ;  and  Phe- 
be, Josiah  Paine.  His  third  wife,  widow  Sarah  Wash- 
burne,  had  no  children. 

4.  John  married  Jane  Lord,  whose  children  were, 
Jonathan,  m.  Betsey  Webster  ;  Tobias,  Jane    Lord  ; 

Y 


278  HISTORY    OF 

Hannah,  Joshua  Robinson  ;  Mary,  Joseph  Averill  ; 
Betsey,  Benjamin  Mason  ;  and  John,  who  lives  in 
Gardiner. 

5.  William  married  Betsey  Thompson,  and  his  chil- 
dren were,  Abigail,  Betsey  and  Sarah.  After  his  death, 
his  family  removed  to  the  eastward. 

6.  Nehemiah's  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Emmons,  his 
second,  Hannah  Murphy.     He  left  no  children. 

Stone,  Dixey, — whose  father  was  a  brother  of  Jona- 
than, GohVs  agent, — came  from  Beverly  about  1740. 
His  first  wife  was  also  a  Lovet,  who  left  no  children. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary  Curtis,  whom  he  married 
May  15,  1750.  Her  children  were,  Jane,  m.  John 
Wildes  and  James  Burnham  ;  Dixey,  Elizabeth 
Fairfield  ;  Robert,  Mary  Miller ;  Andrew,  Rebecca 
Smith  ;  Jacob,  died  at  Frenchman's  Bay  ;  John,  m.  Han- 
nah Stone  ;  Abigail,  John  Smith  ;  and  Polly,  m.  in 
Standish. 

1.  Dixey 's  children  were,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth  and 
John.  Benjamin,  m.  Betty  Perkins,  and  died  at  sea. 
His  only  child  married  John  Strothers.  It  is  not 
known  what  became  of  the  others. 

2.  Robert's  children  were,  Jane,  Margaret,  Joseph, 
Mary,   Sarah,  Robert,' Lydia  and  Dixey. 

3.  Andrew  left  no  children.  His  widow  m.  John 
Huff. 

4.  John  removed  to  Kennebunk,  and  died  in  Dart- 
moor prison,  the  last  war. 

Storer,  Seth,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk  in 
1836. 

Storer,  William,  stone  cutter,  came  from  Wells  in 
1837. 

Stover,  Theodore,  caulker,  came  from  York  in  1815. 

e  Sugden,  Robert,  an  Englishman,  trader,  came  to 
this  town  in  1804.     He  removed  to  Boston  in  1810. 

Suseman,  Eleazer,  mariner,  came  to  this  town  from 
Providence  in  1825. 

Tarbox,  Joseph  and  Lemuel,  brothers,  came  from 
Biddeford  about  1790.  Joseph  married  Molly  Good- 
ridge,  and  Lemuel,  Margaret  Fletcher.  John,  farmer, 
came  from  Biddeford,  about  1800.  Stephen,  farmer, 
came  from  Biddeford  in  1791. 


KENNEBUNK  PORT.  279 

The  persons  of  the  name  of  Tarbox,  in  this  vicinity, 
descended  from  John,  who  was  admitted  freeman  at 
Lynn  in  1630,  and  who  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  John. 
Samuel  left  18  children. 

e  Taylor,  Ebenezer  and  William,  resided  in  Arun- 
del in  1720. 

Taylor,  Elias  S.  shoemaker,  came  from  Ossipee 
about  1827. 

Taylor,  Jonas,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk  in 
1835. 

c  Thacher,  S.  P.  S.  lawyer,  born  in  Biddeford,  came 
to  this  town  about  1812,  and  removed  to  Buxton  about 
1815. 

Thompson,  Benjamin,  Thomas  and  another  brother, 
were  Scotchmen.  Thomas  settled  in  Biddeford  in 
1718.  Benjamin  and  the  other  brother  settled  in  (Scot- 
land) York.  The  children  of  Benjamin  were,  Benja- 
min, Curtius  and  Jonathan,  the  last  two  of  whom 
removed  to  Arundel,  about  1730.  Curtius  returned  to 
York.  Jonathan  married  Dinah  Thompson,  and  his 
children  were,  Elizabeth,  m.  James  Gillpatrick  ;  Abi- 
gail, Nathan  Littlefield  ;  Judith,  Daniel  Smith  ;  Esther, 
John  Day  ;  Jonathan,  not  married;  and  Anna,  m.  Mr. 
Coffin  ofShapleigh. 

Benjamin  Thompson,  son  of  Benjamin  jr.  of  York, 
came  to  this  town  with  his  uncle  Jonathan,  and  lived 
with  him.  His  first  wife  was  Eunice  Lord,  whose 
children  were,  Benjamin,  m.  Elizabeth  Lord  and  wid- 
ow Hannah  Luques  ;  Nathan,  Hannah  Thompson  and 
Esther  Littlefield  ;  Alexander,  Lydia  Wildes  ;  Stephen, 
Lois  Taylor  ;  James,  Anna  Walker  ;  Eunice,  Daniel 
Perkins;  Lemuel,  Lydia  Thompson;  Isaac,  died  at 
sea;  Hannah,  m.  Abner  Littlefield;  Ezra,  Mary  Mer- 
rill; and  Miriam,  who  died  young.  His  second  wife 
was  Mary  Foster,  whose  children  were,  Moses;  Mary, 
died  young; ;  and  Lydia,  who  married  Israel  Burnham. 

Thompson,  Ephraim,  came  from  Portsmouth  about 
1755.  His  wife  was  Frances  Alltimes,  whose  children 
were,  Richard,  m.  Mary  Cleaves ;  Ephraim,  Mary 
Stimpson ;  John,  Mary  Bowden ;  Benjamin,  Dorcas 
Burk;  Daniel,  Betsey  Weeks;  Joseph,  Mary  Per- 
kins ;  and  Mary,  Samuel  Martin. 


280  HISTORY    OF 

Thompson,  Christian,  a  Dane,  mariner,  came  to  tins 
town  about  1798.     He  married  Sally  Murphy. 

t  Thompson,  Ezra,  See  page  175. 

Tindall,  John,  mariner,  came  from  Delaware  in 
1817. 

Tinham,  Joseph,  blacksmith,  came  from  York  in 
1793. 

e  Towne,  Jesse,  was  probably  a  descendant  of  Wil- 
liam and  Martha  Towne,  who  resided  in  Cambridge  in 
1637.  The  families  in  this  neighborhood,  however, 
have  a  tradition  that  there  were  seven  brothers  of  the 
name,  who  came  from  England  about  1720,.  two  of 
whom  were  Jesse  and  Amos. 

1.  Jesse  came  to  Arundel  from  Topsfield  about  1724, 
and  was  made  a  proprietor  of  the  town  in  1728.  He 
afterwards  removed  into  Wells,  near  the  upper  falls  on 
Kennebunk  river,  where  his  descendants  now  reside. 
His  children  were,  Joseph  and  Thomas. 

1.  Joseph  married  Rebecca  Crediford  in  1750.  He 
was  frozen  to  death  in  1768,  by  breaking  through  the 
ice  in  attempting  to  cross  Kennebunk  river. 

2.  Thomas  married  Abigail  Crediford,  and  moved 
to  the  eastward.  His  son  Noah  married  Ruth  Bur- 
bank,  and  also  went  east. 

Towne,  Amos,  brother  of  Jesse,  came  from  Topsfield 
about  1730.  He  was  cast  away  at  Mount  Desert  in 
1747,  and  perhaps  drowned.  He  left  two  sons,  Amos 
and  Daniel,  and  perhaps  other  children. 

1.  Amos  was  a  Lieut,  in  the  continental  service. 
His  first  wife  was  Jane  Smith,  whose  children  were, 
Robert,  Mary,  Betsey,  Daniel,  Amos,  Benjamin,  Jane, 
Jesse,  Ezra,  Alice,  and  one  that  died  young.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Sarah  Miller,  whose  children  were,  Lyd- 
ia,  Joseph,  Susan,  John,  Lucy  and  WTillaTIT.  J^-*— -U^C 

2.  Daniel  was  born  Oct.  28,  1742.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Dorman.  His  children  were,  Daniel,  died 
young,  Daniel,  Eunice,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Samuel,  Ma- 
ry, Ruth,  William,  Stephen,  Jedediah  and  Amos. 

cTownsend,  Daniel,  shipmaster,  came  from  Saco 
about  1816.     He  died  at  sea. 

Trefethren,  Sampson,  fisherman,  came  from  Ports- 
mouth about  1800. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  281 

c  Tripp,  Daniel,  shipmaster,  came  from  Alfred  about 
1805.     lie  removed  to  Unity  in  1834. 

Tripp,  Shubael,  See  page  200. 

e  Truf.worthy,  John,  whose  name  was  uniformly 
written  Treeworgy,  on  the  town  records,  was  probably 
the  Scotchman  of  that  name  who  settled  in  Saco  in  1718. 
—  He  was  a  hired  man  in  the  service  of  Allison  Brown, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  married  his  widow.  He 
subsequently  held  respectable  town  offices,  and  in  1730, 
had  a  pew  assigned  him  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  town.  He  was  drowned  at  Mount  Desert  in  1747. 
He  left  no  children. 

Tucker,  Samuel,  farmer,  came  from  Barrington,  N.  H. 
about  1800.     He  kept  school  in  the  village  several  years. 

Twambly,  Samuel,  blacksmith,  came  from  Berwick 
in  1816. 

c  Tyler,  James,  came  to  this  town  about  1715.  He 
changed  his  place  of  residence  several  times  after  1720. 
but  finally  settled  in  Scarborough.  He  sold  land  in 
that  town  in  1723  to  Samuel  Preble,  "for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  one  Negro  man."  Mr.  Tyler  was  probably 
the  son  of  Abraham  Tyler,  who  died  at  Haverhill  in 
1673,  as  he  had  a  son  Abraham  who  married  Elizabeth 
Brown  of  Arundel.  Abraham  lived  in  Scarborough,  to 
the  age  of  100  years.  James,  while  in  this  town,  at 
first  lived  opposite  the  present  dwelling  house  of  Seth 
Grant,  but  afterwards  lived  at  Tyler's  brook.  The 
rock  that  formed  one  side  of  his  house,  is  still  called 
Tyler's  back.  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Abraham,  mar- 
ried Allison  Brown,  son  of  Andrew  3d.  of  Arundel. 

cWadlin,  Israel,  shipmaster,  came  from  Hollis 
about  1799.  He  married  Phebe  Perkins.  His  only 
child,  Mary,  married  Erastus  Hayes. 

Wakefield,  Samuel,  came  from  Kennebunk,  when  a 
boy,  in  1773.     He  married  Lydia  Hatching. 

Wakefield,  James,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk 
about  1792. 

e  Walker,  Joshua,  whose  name  first  appears  on  the 

town  records  in    1728,   came   from   Kittery.     He   was 

probably  the  son  of  Peter  Walker  of  York.     Joshua's 

first  wife  was  widow  Hannah  Perkins,  whose  children 

Y  Y 


282  HISTORY    OF 

were,  Sarah,  m.  Harrison  Downing ;  Samuel  and 
George,  died  young ;  George  and  Samuel,  died  in  the 
service  during  the  French  war ;  Joshua,  m.  Susan 
Moor;  Hannah,  John  Whitten ;  John,  Elizabeth  Bur- 
bank  ;  Mary,  Andrew  Miller  ;  and  Benjamin  and  James, 
who  died  young.  His  second  wife  was  widow  Mary 
Fall,  whose  children  were,  Joseph,  died  young,  and 
Anna,  who  married  James  Thompson. 

1.  Joshua  jr.  had  four  children,  Hannah,  m.  Nicho- 
las Downing;  Jonathan,  Betsey  Walker  ;  and  two  that 
died  young. 

2.  John  had  a  large  family  of  children,  all  of 
whom  moved  east,  except  Betsey,  who  married 
Jonathan  Walker,  and  Hannah,  who  married  Bracy 
Curtis.  Lemuel  was  for  sometime  a  shipmaster  from 
this  port,  before  he  went  east. 

Walker,  Gideon,  came  from  Kittery  about  1740. 
His  grandfather  was  a  brother  to  the  Joshua  who  came 
to  Arundel  in  1728.  Gideon  married  Hannah  Palmer, 
Feb.  23,  1741.  His  second  wife  was  widow  Hannah 
Lassel,  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  Mr.  Walker 
built  his  house  in  the  village  in  1745.  His  children 
were,  Temperance,  m.  Stephen  Larrabee  ;  Mary,  Jere- 
miah Miller  ;  Eliphalet,  Margaret  Miller;  John,  Esther 
Wiswall  and  widow  Betsey  Tarbox ;  Gideon,  Mary 
Perkins  ;  Mehitable,  Jacob  Curtis  and  Ebenezer  Day ; 
Daniel,  Lois  Stone  and  widow  Mary  Hai-rison  ;  Andrew, 
Susan  Merrill ;  Nathaniel,  Betsey  Burnham  ;  and  Han- 
nah, who  died  young. 

Ward,  Nathaniel,  came  from  Salem  about  1789. 
He  married  Lydia  Harding  and  widow  Lucy  Crediford. 
He  was  probably  a  descendant  of  Nathaniel  Ward, 
who  lived  in  Ipswich  in  1634. 

Warland,  Thomas,  currier,  came  from  Portsmouth 
in  1828. 

c  Washburne,  Timothy,  came  to  this  town  about 
1740.     He  married   Sarah  Miller.     His  children  were, 

David,  m. Wormwood  ;  Alexander,  died  at  sea  ; 

Joseph,  m.  Mary  Miller  ;  Sarah,  Am  mi  Hooper  ;  Mar- 
garet, Samuel  Hutchins  ;  Mary,  Daniel  Lord  ;  Sarah, 
George  Hooper  ;  and  perhaps  others. 

Waterhouse,  William,  was  employed  to  keep  school 
in    1745.     He   was   residing   here  in    1764.     Samuel, 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  283 

probably  a  brother  to  William,  married  Mary  Wliitten, 
Aug.  16,  1750.  This  family  removed  to  Lyman  before 
the  revolution,  but  some  of  its  descendants  have  since 
returned,  and  now  reside  in  this  town. 

r  Watson,  Jonx,  came  to  this  town  soon  after  1713. 
His  descendants  say  he  was  a  Welchman.  Mr.  Wat- 
son was  a  man  of  great  size  and  strength.  He  had 
been  a  trumpeter  in  the  King's  service.  He  was  an 
Ensign  in  the  militia;  and  was  licensed  as  "tavener 
and  retailer"  in  17:24.  He  resided  near  the  present 
dwelling  house  of  Jacob  Hutchins  till  1729,  when  he 
removed  to  Saco  road  and  kept  tavern.  In  1752,  the 
town  placed  him  under  the  care  "  of  Gardens,  but  it 
could  not  be  made  to  appear  to  the  Court  of  Probits 
that  he  was  such  a  one  as  Law  Required  to  have  Gar- 
deans."  He  died  in  1753.  His  children  were,  John, 
Thomas,  Shadrach,  Ebenezer,  Ruth  and  Abigail.  Ruth 
married  Samuel  Averill,  and  Abigail,  George  March. 

1.  John  married  an.  Irishwoman,  whose  christian 
name  was  Honor.  His  children  were,  Samuel,  m.  Lois 
Carr  and  Elizabeth  Deshon,  and  left  no  children  ; 
John,  Lucy  Bickford  ;  Abigail ;  and  Catharine,  m. 
Forest  Burn  ham. 

2.  Thomas  left  no  children. 

3.  Shadrach  married  Mary  Kimball,  and  left  Han- 
nah, m.  Joseph  Averill ;  Abigail,  Samuel  Black;  Susan, 
Samuel  Cousins  ;  Mercy,  Ebenezer  Gray  ;  Ruth,  Ab- 
ner  Crediford  ;  Molly,  Thomas  Kimball  ;  and  Samuel, 
who  moved  to  the  eastward. 

4.  Ebenezer  died  in  178S,  and  left  no  children. 

e  Watts,  Francis,  merchant,  came  from  Portland 
in  1797,  and  resided  here  six  or  seven  years.  He  is 
now  president  of  the  Atlantic  Insurance  Office,  Boston. 

Webb,  Nathaniel,  mason,  born  in  Danvers,  Mass. 
came  to  this  town  in  181G. 

Webber,  James,  farmer,  came  from  Kennebunk  in 
1S34. 

Webster,  Nathaniel,  ship-carpenter,  came  from 
Kennebunk  in  1830. 

e Weeks,  Nicholas,  came  from  Kittery.  His  first 
wife  was  Susannah  Wildes,  who  died  in  1757,  and  who 
had  but   one   child,  Susannah,    who  married    George 


284  HISTORY    OF 

Ayer.  His  second'  wife  was  Phebe  Averill,  whose 
children  were,  James,  died  young  ;  John,  m.  widow 
Passis  Stevens  ;  Sally,  John  Bickford  ;  Polly,  William 
Averill;  Betsey,  Daniel  Thompson;  Lydia,  married 
and  went  east ;  and  Jane,  m.  John  Bickford. 

e  Wheelwright,  George,  came  from  Wells.  He  was 
deputy  collector,  and  collector  of  the  port  of  Kenne- 
bunk,  from  1815  to  1829.  He  removed  to  Bangor  in 
1832. 

e  White,  Robert,  came  from  York  about  1740. 
His  wife's  name  was  Lovet.  His  children  were,  John, 
Charles  and  Bethia.  They  lived  near  Nason's  mills, 
but  removed  to  Alfred  about  1766.  Charles  married 
Sarah  Lindsey,  sister  of  Mrs.  Hilton,  and  had  several 
children.  John  married  a  Wakefield.  Bethia  married 
Timothy  Davis. 

Edward,  cabinet  maker,  grandson  of  John,  came 
into  this  town  in  1810,  and  removed  to  Rennebunk  in 
18J9. 

e  White,  Robert  and  Daniel,  brothers,  came  from 
Taunton  about  1745, — Robert  married  widow  Mary 
Smith,  and  left  no  children.  Daniel's  children  by  his 
first  wife  were,  Rufus  and  Robert,  died  at  sea  ;  Eunice, 
m.  Stephen  Drown.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Thom- 
as, whose  children  were,  David,  m.  Mehitable  Smith  ; 
Edward,  died  young;  John  and  Joseph,  who  moved 
east ;    and   probably  others. 

White,  John,  shipmaster, "came  to  this  town  from 
Charleston  in  1812. 

Whitten,  John,  came  to  this  town  from  Salisbury 
about  1724.  He  drew  a  lot  on  Saco  road  in  1728. 
His  wife  was  Ruth  Merrill.  His  children  were,  John, 
m.  Hannah  Walker  ;  Phineas,  moved  east  ;  Samuel, 
m.  Hannah  Poindexter  ;  Humphrey,  Hannah  Lassel  ; 
Israel,  Sarah  Fairfield ;  Joseph,  Anna  Burnham  ;  Ma- 
ry, Samuel  Waterhouse ;  Hannah,  Mr.  Knight;  Ruth, 
Mr.  Clay  ;  Martha,  Mr.  Gordon  ;  Sarah,  Daniel  Davis  ; 
Lydia,  Moses  Wadlin  ;  and  Anna,  Capt.  English  and 
John  Burbank. 

e  Wiat,  John,  and  Thomas  Wier,  had  grants  of  land 


KENNEBUNK    TORT.  285 

in  this  town   in  17*24,  but  it  is  not  certain    that  either 
of  them  ever  lived  here. 

Wildks  or  Wilde,  William,  lived  in  Rowley  in 
1643,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Ipswich,  where  he 
died  in  1656.  It  was  probably  one  of  his  children, — 
perhaps  Ephraim, — who  resided  in  Topsfield  and  had 
sixteen  children,  ten  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of 
whom  he  has  seen  at  one  time  round  his  own  fire  side, 
after  having  settled  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

Mary,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Wildes  of  Tops- 
field,  was  born  in  1685,  and  married  Thomas  Perkins, 
who  came  to  Arundel  in  1719.  Four  of  her  brothers, 
Ephraim,  Jacob,  Samuel  and  Jonathan,  were  at  the 
taking  of  Norridgewock  in  1724.  On  this  expedition 
they  visited  their  sister,  and  all  of  them  removed  to 
Arundel. 

I.  Ephraim  either  had  no  family,  or  he  again  remov- 
ed from  the  town,  as  none  of  his  descendants  now  live 
here. 

II.  Jacob  married  Ruth  Foster,  whose  children  were, 
Jacob,  John,  Ephraim,  Mary,  Ruth  and  Dorothy. 
Mary,  married  Eben.  Emmons  ;  Ruth,  Jacob  Rhodes  ; 
and  Dorothy,  Gideon   Merrill. 

1.  Jacob's  first  wife  was  Abigail  Stevens,  whose 
children  were,  Sarah,  m.  Christopher  Gillpatrick  ;  Ja- 
cob, died  young;  Jacob,  died  at  sea ;  Lucy,  m.  Jacob 
Durrell ;  Israel,  Betsey  Perkins  ;  William,  Mary  Love- 
well  ;  Joseph  ;  and  one  died  young.  His  second  wife 
was  widow  Lydia  Banks,  who  left  no  children. 

2.  John  married  Jane  Stone.  His  children  were, 
John,  died  young  ;  Lydia,  m.  Alexander  Thompson  ; 
Thomas  ;  Dixey,  m.  Theodosia  Bragdon,  and  lives  in 
Boston. 

3.  Ephraim  married  Temperance  Downing,  whose 
children  were,  Ephraim,  died  young;  Mary,  m.  Eliakim 
Emmons ;  Betsey,  m.  Thomas  Lee  and  Mr.  Neally  ; 
Lydia,  died  young;  Ruth,  m.  Cleophas  Smith  ;  Phebe, 
John  Taylor ;  John,  died  at  sea  ;  and  Jacob,  in.  Ruth 
Smith. 

III.  Samuel  was  employed  several  years  as  a  school 
master.  His  sons  were,  Samuel  and  John.  His 
daughters  were,  Hannah,  m.  Peter  Deshon  ;  Sally,  in. 


•286  HISTORY    OF 

Mr.  Pitts ;  Betsey,    m.  James  Deshon  ;  Mary,   Dagger 
Mitchell  ;   and  Susannah,  Nicholas  Weeks. 

1.  Samuel  jr.  married  Olive  Deshon,  whose  children 
were,  Mehitable,  Samuel,  Ephraim,  John,  Passis,  Ja- 
cob, Isaac,  Polly  and  Sally. 

2.  John  was  lost  on  board  a  Salem  privateer  in  the 
revolutionary  war.  • 

IV.  Jonathan  kept  a  public  house  near  the  present 
dwelling  house  of  James  Stone.  He  left  an  only  son, 
Nathaniel,  usually  called  Tailor  Wildes.  Nathaniel 
also  kept  a  public  house.  His  wife  was  Lydia  Griffin, 
sister  of  Mrs.  Stone,  who  after  her  husband's  death 
married  Thomas  Dempsey.  Nathaniel's  children  were, 
Benjamin,  who  married  Sally  Davis,  and  is  still  living; 
Mary,  m.  John  Davis ;  Elizabeth,  Stephen  Seavy  ; 
Lydia,  Josiah  Hutchins;  and  Mary,  Eliakim  Emmons. 

e  Williams,  Samuel,  lived  in  this  town  before  1747. 
His  wife's  name  was  Priscilla.  Perhaps  he  was  the 
son  of  John  Williams,  who  kept  a  school  in  Arundel 
in  1736.  Samuel  left  four  daughters.  One  of  them 
married  a  Capt.  Pout  ;  one,  a  Mr.  Simonton ;  one, 
Rowlandson  Bond  ;  and  one,  Ruth,  Daniel  Grant. 

e  Williams,  John,  shipmaster,  came  from  Boston 
about  1809.     He  removed  to  Portland  about  1S15. 

Wilson,  George,  mariner,  came  from  Alfred  about 
1815. 

cWiswall,  Thomas,  came  from  Newton.  He  was 
probably  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Wiswall,  who  resided 
in  Dorchester  in  1639,  and  who  removed  to  Newton, 
where  he  died,  Dec.  6,  1683.  Mr.  Hovey  says,  "June 
30,  1752,  Israel  Stone  from  Boston  with  a  family,  their 
names  Wiswall,  to  live  in  Jones's  house."  Mr.  Wis- 
wall's  wife  was  Eunice  Jones,  and  the  house  belonged 
to  her  brother,  who,  however,  never  lived  in  this  town. 
It  was  the  house  previously  occupied  by  Samuel  Little- 
field,  opposite  the  present  dwelling  house  of  Seth 
Grant.  Mr.  Wiswall  lived  but  two  years  at  the  cape, 
when  he  purchased  the  situation  of  Rowlandson  Bond 
at  the  village.  He  built  the  first  wharf  on  the  eastern 
side  of  Kennebunk  river ;  and  was  engaged  in  the 
fishing,  coasting,  lumber,  and  West  India  business,  and 
became  wealthy.     He  owned  the  first  West  Indiaman 


KENNEBUNK    TORT.  2S7 

in  this  District.  lie  died  Oct.  22,  1791,  aged  G8  years. 
His  wife  died  Aug.  3,  1795,  aged  71.  His  children 
were,  Eunice,  born  in  Newton,  July  14,  1751,  married 
Ebenezer  llovey,  in  17(57  ;  Hannah,  born  Feb.  27, 
1753,  married  Joseph  Lord  in  1773;  Esther,  born 
April  23,  1755,  married  John  Walker  1773;  Sarah, 
born  April  18,  1757,  married  John  Patten  1779;  Mary, 
died  young;  Lucy,  born  Jan.  7,  1705,  married  Thatch- 
er Goddard  1788;  Susannah,  born  May  11,  1767,  mar- 
ried Joseph  Perkins  ;  and  four  sons  that  died  young. 
One  of  his  sons,  Phineas,  was  drowned  in  Kennebunk 
river.  The  names  of  two  of  the  others,  were  Noah 
and  Thomas. 

Woodman,  James,  farmer,  came  from  Eliot  about 
1816. 

Wormwood,  Ebenezer  and  Nathan,  farmers,  came 
from  Cornish  ; — Ebenezer  in  1810,  and  Nathan  in  1817. 

Ebenezer,  a  caulker,  came  from  Kennebunk  in  1826. 

e  Ezekif.l,  trader,  came  from  Kennebunk  in  1811, 
and  removed  back  again  in  1828.  These  persons  are 
descendants  of  Jacob.* 

"See  page  98. 


TOWN     CLERKS. 


James  Mussey, 1719 

Ensign  Thomas  Perkins,  from      -         -        -         1720  to  1722 

James  March, 1723  and  1724 

Thomas  Perkins,  jr. 1725 

Thomas  Perkins,  from     -  1726  to  1729 

Thomas  Perkins,  jr.     -------    1730 

Capt.  Thomas  Perkins,  from    -  1731  to  1749 

Benjamin  Downing,  from    -  1750  to  1752 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.     -        -         -        -  1753  and  1754 

Thomas  Perkins,  jr.   from   -         -         -         -        1755  to  17G7 

Benjamin  Downing,  from        -  1768  to  1792 

William  Smith,   from  -  1793  to  1315 

Seth  Bumham,  from 1816  to  1823 

Henry  Clark,  from 1824  to  1827 

Asaph  Moody,  from 1828  to  1830 

Silas  Moody, 1831 

Joshua  Herrick,  from 1832  to  1835 

Silas  Moody, 1836 

Joshua  Herrick, 1837 


288 


HISTORY    OF 


REPRESENTATIVES  CHOSEN. 


Allison  Brown,  in 

1723 

John  Hovey,       1789   & 

1790 

Jabez  Dorman, 

1724 

Thomas  Perkins, 

1791 

None  for  22  years. 

Jacob  Wildes,  from 

1792 

Capt.  Thomas  Perkins. 

1746 

to 

1796 

None  for  5  years. 

Thomas  Perkins,  from 

1797 

Thomas  Perkins,  jr. 

1751 

to 

1801 

None  for  9  years. 

Robert  Towne, 

1802 

Thomas  Perkins,  jr. 

1760 

Thomas  Perkins,  3d.  frorr 

il803 

Capt.  Thomas  Perkins, 

1761 

to 

1805 

None  for  3  years. 

Eliphalet  Perkins,  1806  &  1807 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq 

1765 

Thomas  Perkins,  1808  &  1809 

None  for  2  years. 

Tobias  Lord,     1810   & 

1811 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq. 

1768 

Seth  Burnham,       ) 

1812 

None  in 

1769 

Eliphalet  Perkins,  $ 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.  fi 

.1770 

Eliphalet  Perkins, 

1813 

to 

1773 

Thomas  Perkins,  1814  &  I 

Thomas  Wis  wall, 

1774 

Joseph  Perkins  from 

1816 

John  Hovey, 

1775 

to 

1818 

Benjamin  Durrell, 

1776 

Joseph  Perkins,        ? 
Smith  Bradbury,      £ 

1819 

Jacob  Wildes, 

1777 

John  Hovey, 

1778 

Simon  No  well,  from 

1820 

None 

1779 

to 

1823 

John  Hovey, 

1780 

Robert  Towne, 

1824 

None 

1781 

Daniel  W.  Lord,  from 

1825 

John  Hovey, 

1782 

to 

1828 

None 

1783 

Jonathan  Stone, 

1829 

Thomas  Perkins, 

1784 

John  G.  Perkins, 

1830 

John  Hovey, 

1785 

Ephraim   Perkins,  from 

1831 

None 

1786 

to 

1833 

Thomas  Perkins, 

1787 

John  G.  Perkins,  1834  & 

1835 

None 

1788 

William  Patten, 

1836 

KENNEBUNK    PORT.  289 


a  list  of  officers  and  soldiers,  known  to  have  bken  in 
the  service  of  the  united  states.  in  the  revolution- 
ary war,  from  the  town  of  arundel. 

Captains. 

TOBIAS  LORD,  died  about  1807,  aged  84.  ^ 

Daniel  Merrill,  died  about  1804  or  5. <?XJ^«^/J1 0  '   ft*? 

Joshua  Nason,  died  about  1809. 

James  Perkins,  died  Nov.  9,  1825. 

Jesse  Dorman,  died  about  1800. 

Lieutenants. 
a  Lemuel  Miller. 

James  Burnham,     killed  at  Cape  Porpoise,  1782. 
John  Lord,     son  of  Tobias— died  before  1800. 
Tobias    Lord,     son   of  Tobias— died  in   Kennebunk,  1808, 

8B.  59. 
Amos  Towne,     died  before  1800. 

Ensigns. 
•Joshua  Nason,  jr.    died  about  1805. 
Jacob  Curtis,     cast  away  and  died  on  Plum  Island. 
John  Goodwin,     out  but  a  short  time — dead. 
Dummer  Mitchell,     out  a  few  months  only— dead. 
John  Walker,     settled  in  Litchfield. 

Sergeants. 
*Benj.  Miller,       dead. 
David  Durrell,     died  at  Limington,  1833. 
Moses  Stevens,     died  about  1800. 
"Eastman  Hutchins,     settled  in  Alfred  after  the  war. 
Josiah  Dorman,     wounded  and  died  in  the  army,  1781. 
Nathaniel  Davis,    at   Bunker  Hill,   and  in  service  all  the  war 

— dead. 
Ephraim  Wildes,     died  about  1833. 
John  Burbank,     settled  in  Lyman  after  the  Avar. 
Joseph  Cluff,     settled  in  Hollis  after  the  war. 
Thomas  DurrelJ,     at  Cambridge  3  months  in  1776. 

*  Those  with  this  mark  were  in  Capt.  Hitchcock's  company,  in 
the  first  three  years  service,  in  Col.  Hrewer's  regiment.  Many  of 
them  were  in  service  at  other  periods  of  the  war.  The  second 
threo  years  and  during  war  services  commenced  in  1779  or  17d0. 

a  Those  with  this  mark  are  now  living  in  town. 

z 


290  history  of 

Corporals. 
John  Dorman,     died  about  1830. 

"Thomas  L.  Bickford,    wounded,  and  subsequently  killed. ' 
*Benjamin  Nason,     settled  in  Eastern,  N.  H. 
Samuel  Whitten,     removed  to  the  eastward— dead. 
Eliphalet  Davis,  Drum  Majoi',  dead. 

Privates. 
Samuel  Smith,     brother  to  Jere. — died  at  Halifax. 
*Simeon  Hutchins,     died  at  Kennebunk,  1834. 
*Nath'l.  Davis,  jr.     died  at  Plattsburg,  in  the  war  of  J812. 
Jacob  Rhoades,     settled  in  Lyman. 
#Richard  Thompson,     died  about  1800. 
Ephraim  Thompson,     settled  in  Lyman. 
Joseph   Ham,     hired   by    the   town ;  received    100  acres  of 

land— dead. 
Daniel  Davis,     removed  to  the  eastward. 
a  *  James  Thompson,      Capt.  of  Militia  since  the  war. 
William  Goodrich,     left  the  town— since  dead. 
Joseph  Burnham,     son  of  Isaac  :   left  the  town  40  years  ago. 
John  Nason,     hired  by  the  town  :  died  in  service,  1782. 
Bartholomew  Goodwin,  do.  do.         1782. 

*  Abraham  Lord,     son  of  Benj.  Lord— died  since  1800. 

*  Alex.  Thompson,     removed  to  Topsham  ;  died  1822. 
*Daniel  Record,     died  at  sea  after  the  war. 

a  Robert  Hanscom. 

Timothy  Davis,     settled  at  Cape  Ann  after  the  war. 

*Enoch  Clough,     died  at  sea  before  the  close  of  the  war. 

Robert  White,     left  the  town  before  the  close  of  war — dead. 

#William  Faii-field,    died  March,  1826. 

*John  Fairfield,     died  in  1834. 

*  Benjamin  Lewis,     dead. 

*  Andrew  Brown,     removed  to  the  eastward. 
Joseph  Denico,  jr.     died  at  Valley  Forge,  1778. 
Samuel  Hutchins,  3d.      marked  on  roll  as  deserter — dead. 
John  Clough,     settled  in  Newfield. 

Nathaniel  Lord,     wounded,  and  died  in  prison  at   Quebec. 

Forest   Burnham,     died  about  1829— killed  by  a  cart  wheel. 

Daniel  Lord,     settled  on  Penobscot  river. 

Benjamin  Lord,     settled  at  Ale  wive,  Kennebunk — dead. 

a  Edward  Nason. 

Abner  Crediford,     died  as  early  as  1794. 

Dominicus  Lord,     settled  in  Kennebunk  after  the  war. 

^Samuel  Hutchins,    died  near  1820. 

John  Patten,     died  in  1802. 

Benj.  Downing,     died  about  1825. 

a  Jacob  Merrill. 

a  Nathan  Thompson. 

Silas  Abbott,     dead. 

a  Daniel  Huff. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  291 

Privates. 
Noah  Clough,     wounded   in   the  attack   on   Quebec— dead. 
Abel  Merrill,     died  early  in  1837. 

*Asa  Hutchins,  taken  prisoner  at  Quebec— joined  the  British. 
John  Stone,     died  in  service  at  Lake  Champlain,  1776. 
Andrew  Stone,     lost  at  sea  after  the  war. 
Joseph  Towne,     died  in  the  army  at  Lake  Champlain. 
Joseph  Smith,     removed  to  Hollis. 
Dagger  Mitchell,     an  Irishman— dead. 
Daniel  Goodrich,     dead. 
William  Adams,     died  in  the  army. 

Benjamin  Wildes,     in  Capt.  Daniel  Clark's  company  in  1780. 
a  Samuel  Smith,     under  Capt.  Noah  M.  Littlefield,  1775. 
Thomas  Huff,     settled  in  Kennebunk — dead. 
Eliakim  Bickford,     lost  at  sea  after  the  war. 
Jonathan  Walker,     impressed  on  board  a  British  man-of-war, 

and  died. 
Robert  Towne,     son  of  Lieut.  Amos— died  1829,  aged  G7. 
Rufus  White,     killed  in  Penobscot  expedition. 
James  Gould,     removed  to  Limerick. 
Jonathan  Thompson,     committed  suicide  since  1800. 
George  Walker,     died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
Joseph  Whitten,     died  in  Lyman,  1797. 
Shadrach  Avery,     dead. 

William  Cleaves,     removed  eastward  after  the  war. 
a  Thomas  Boston,    entered  the  service  from  Wells. 
a  Shibbuel  Boston,     service  uncertain  where. 
James  Cleaves,     in  Col.  Frost's  regiment  in   1776,   at  North- 
river,  N.  Y. 
Josiah  Huff,     dead. 
a  Benjamin  Thompson. 
Israel  Burbank,     removed  to  Brownfield. 
John  Rhoads,     dead. 

Benj.  Rhoads,  lost  in  privateer  out  of  Portsmouth,  about  1782. 
Nicholas  Downing,     died  about  1800. 
Dudley  Stone,     died  in  1827. 
Jeremiah  Lord,     son  of  Capt.  Tobias,— died  about  the  close 

of  the  war. 
James  Deshon,     died  in  service  at  Lake  Champlain,  1776. 
Daniel  Walker,     died  April,  1819. 

Stephen  Dorman,     settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  the   state. 
Stephen  Drown,  entered  the  service  from  Wells :  died  in  1835. 
Harrison  Downing,  dead. 
Bartholomew  Lassel,     died  in  Biddeford. 
Israel  Dorman,     died  in  1836. 
Charles  Huff,     died  at  sea  about  1800. 
Amos  Hutchins,     died  in  service  at  Lake  Champlain,  1776. 
Jonathan  Smith,     removed  to  Ohio — dead. 
Nathaniel  Wakefield,    died  in  1836. 


292  HISTORY    OF 

Privates. 

Benj.  Littlefield,     stationed  at  Portland  1775,  died  in  1835, 

Charles  White,     settled  in  Parson  sfi  eld. 

John  Deshon,     dead. 

Stephen  Fairfield. 

Samuel  Whitten,  jun.     removed  to  the  eastward. 

Ephraim  Dormau,     died  in  service. 

John  Wildes,     died  in  the  army. 

*Abner  Dassence,     not  known  sinee  the  war. 

*  Joseph  Denew,     died  in  service. 

*Caleb  Lassel,     settled  in  Waterborough. 

# Joseph  Lewis,     died  in  service. 

*Wilburn  Chatman,     dead. 

*David  Clark,     not  known. 

John  Jeffrey,     died  in  Halifax. 

Levi  Hutchins,  jun.     settled  in  Alfred,  and  died  there. 

Enoch  Hutchins,     died  hi  the  army. 

George  Emmons,  do. 

Pierce  Murphy,  jun.    settled  in  Lyman,  and  died  there. 

a  Abraham  Rideout,     removed   from  Brunswick   to  Arundel, 
after  the  war. 

a  John  Millet,     came  from  Gloucester,  Ms.  after  the  war. 
Dominicus  Davis,     died  in  the  army. 

*Thomas  Dorman,     so  found  on  rolls — correctness   doubted. 
Abraham  Currier,     came  to  Arundel  from  Wells  about    1817. 
a  John  Bragdon,     came  to  Arundel  from  York  about  1810. 
Roger  Hammond,     came  to  Arundel  from   Rochester,   Ms. — 

died  1834. 
John  Sutton,     removed  to  the  eastward. 
a  James  Fisher,     entered  service  in  N.  Carolina — settled  here 

since  the  war. 
Benjamin  Stone,     died  in  1826. 
Moses  Rhoades,     settled  in  Waterborough. 
Nehemiah  Stone,     died  soon  after  1800. 
a  Jonathan  Stone. 

Jacob  Burnham,     died  March,  1828,  aged  81. 
Daniel  White,    father  of  Rums— dead. 
Israel  Whitten,     dead. 
Joseph  Hutchins,     removed  to  the  interior. 
Jacob  Wildes,  jun.     son  of  Jacob, — died  at  Salem,  1785. 
Andrew  Sherburne,     naval  service,  removed  to   Ohio — dead. 

The  annexed  copies  of  drafts,  found  among  other  old  docu- 
ments of  the  times,  taken  in  connection  with  the  preceding 
list,  will  throw  additional  light  upon  the  subject.  They  do 
not  appear  to  be  official,  but  are  believed  to  be  substantially 
correct  as  far  as  they  go.  Many  of  these  names  were  in  oth- 
er services  and  will  be  found  in  the  preceding  list  ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  a  portion  of  these  might  have   procured   substi- 


KENNEBUNK    PORT. 


293 


tutes,  or  been  excused  from  the   service  for  which  the   draft 
was  made. 


James  Cleaves, 
Peter  Deshon, 
Lemuel  Walker, 
Benjamin  Greene, 
William  Smith,  jun. 
Charles  Smith, 
John  Jeffries, 
Levi  Hutchins, 
Thomas  Perkins,  jun. 
Dea.  John  Hovey, 
Daniel  Smith, 


"  John  Springer, 

Israel  Burl  tank, 
.    Stephen  Fletcher, 

Daniel  Huff, 

Thomas  Perkins, 

Samuel  Wildes, 

Eben.  Huff, 

Gideon  Merrill, 

John  Murphy, 

James  Huff, 

Miles  Rhoads, 

Israel  Stone." 
This  list  is  marked  on  the  margin, 

"  Drafted  October  1776." 

It  is  known  that  Daniel  Huff  and  James  Cleaves,  whose 
names  are  in  the  above  list,  were  drafted  into  the  company 
commanded  by  Capt.  James  Perkins,  for  three  months,  in  the 
regiment  commanded  by  Col.  John  Frost,  which  marched 
from  Maine,  December,  1776,  to  Pitts  Kills  in  the  state  ot  New 
York.  It  is  probable  that  the  others  were  drafted  for  the 
same  service,  and  in  the  same  company.  The  officers  of  this 
regiment  were,  Col.  Frost,  of  Kittery  ;  Edward  Grow,  of 
York,  was  Lieut.  Colonel  ;  Joseph  Prime,  of  Berwick,  Major  ; 
Andrew  P.  Furnald,  of  Kittery,  Adjutant  ;  John  Grant,  late  of 
Kennebunk,  then  of  Berwick,  Quarter  Master  ;  Daniel  Sew- 
all,  of  Kennebuuk,  then  of  York,  Quarter  Master  Sergeant. 
"  Drafted,  October  7,  1777. 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.  Joseph  Smith, 

Benjamin  LAti\efiek\,  paid  fne,      Eliakim  Bickford, 

Bartholomew  Lussel,  paid  fine, 

James  Gould, 

Josiah  Hutchins, 

Elijah  Littlefield, 

Israel  Huff, 

Stephen  Seavy, 

Joseph  Emery, 

William  Grant, 

This  list  is  marked  at  the  bottom, 

»  Drafted,  October  1777" 

William  Grant  was  in  Capt.  Joshua  Nason's  company, 
Col.  Joseph  Storer's  regiment,  at  the  taking  of  General  Bur- 
goyne's  army  in  October,  1777.— It  is  probable  that  all  of  this 
list  were  drafted  for  the  same  service,  and  were  in  Capt.  Na- 
son's company. 

"  The  men  drafted  for  Cambridge,  March  10th, 
Daniel  Goodwin, 

Z  z 


Samuel  Whitten, 
Israel  Whitten, 
Benjamin  Seavy, 
William  Gutridge, 

Sargent  Paul  March, 
Israel  Burnham, 
Charles  Huff,  jun. 
Wheelwright  Stevens." 


1778. 


John  Emmons, 


294  HISTORY    OF 

Elijah  Littlefiekl,  Joseph  Gould, 

Daniel  Smith,  Joseph  Fletcher,  not  go. 

John  Walker,  jun." 

"  May   12th,   1778. — The  men  hired  for  the   continental 

service,  for  nine  months,  by  the  first  company  — 
Andrew  Stone,  £70,  Joseph  Clough,  £70, 

Noah  Clough,       70,  Benjamin  Jeffery  had  30  pounds." 

"  To  go  to  Fish  kills." 

"  May  12,  1778.— The  men  drafted  for  eight  months,  to   go  to 
the  Pecks  kill,  by  ye  first  company. 
Benj.  Seavy,  Nicholas  Weeks, 

John  Emmons,  jun.  Joshua  Murphey." 

"  July  1,  1778.— The  men  drafted  for  Providence,    intitled   to 
14  pounds  bounty. 
Thomas  Demcey,  Robert  Towne, 

Charles  Smith,  Lemuel  Walker." 

"  July  4,  1778. — The  men  drafted  for  Cambridge. 

John  Huff,  Benjamin  Burbank,  jr." 

"  The  above  men  procured  by  the  first  company  in   Arun- 
del. (Signed,)  Wm.  Smith,  Lieut." 

"  Bartholomew  Lassel,  James  Gould, 

Thomas  Perkins,  Esq.  John  Perkins,  jun. 

Josiah  Hutch  ins." 
"  The  above  men  detached,  paid  a  fine   of  fifteen  pounds, 
agreeably  to  the  resolve  Aug.  15,  1777." 

Joseph  Perkins,  Nehemiah  Stone, 

Mark  Baiter,  John  Jeffreys,  jun. 

Robert  Stone,  Samuel  Robinson, 

Samuel  Huff,  Daniel  Smith, 

Robert  Towne,  Joseph  Fletcher, 

Capt.  Jacob  Wildes. 
This  list  marked  on  the  margin, 

"  Drafted  agreeably  to  a  resolve   of  Court   of  June    10th, 
1778.     Paid  10  pounds  fine." 

"  John  Fletcher,  Thomas  Perkins, 

Joseph  Washburn,  Gideon  Merrill. 

These  paid  20  pounds  fine." 

"August  10, 1779.— John  Emmons  paid  a  fine  of  thirty 
pounds" 

"  Drafted  agreeably  to  a  late  resolve  of  the   General   Court. 
March  15th,  1780.  • 

Charles  Smith,  gave  a  note,  forty-five  pounds  ;. 
Benjamin  Seavey,  promises  to  pay  his  fine  ;. 
John  Rhoads,  at' Falmouth  : 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  295 

Paul  Whitten,  held  as  a  soldier  ; 

Daniel  Dislion,  paid  his  fine,  sixty  pounds,  00  0  0 

Ebenezer  Bmmons,  held  as  a  soldier  ; 

•Joshua  Murphey,  paid  his  fine,  thirty  pounds,      30  0  0 

Josepfa  Avril,  paid  a  fine  of  sixty  pounds,  GO  0  0 

James  Lewis,  paid  a  line  of  sixty  pounds,  GO  0  0 


£210  0  0 

lid  of  the  fines  to  Lieut. 

Amos  Towne, 

£36  0  0 

Adam  McCulloch, 

7  G  0 

Stephen  Fairfield, 

102  0  0 

115  6  0 

64  4  0 

The  following  sketches  of  the  services  of  some  of  the  revo- 
lutionary officers  and  soldiers  from  Arundel,  selected  promiscu- 
ously, may  not  he  uninteresting  to  the  reader,  and  is  evidence 
of  the  variety  of  duties  which  the  spirit  of  the  age  and  times 
required. 

Captain  Tobias  Lord  commanded  a  company  stationed  at 
Falmouth  [now  Portland]  in  1776  ;  he  had  five  sons  in  the  ar- 
my at  different  periods  of  the  war.  One  of  them  was 
wounded  and  died  at  Quebec. 

Capt.  Jesse  Dorman  commanded  a  company  in  Col. 
Scamman's  regiment  at  Cambridge  1776.  He  was  not  with- 
out perils  in  war  or  in  peace.  In  1793  a  violent  tornado  un- 
roofed his  house,  and  he  with  his  bed  and  bedding  were 
blown  several  rods  from  it.  Three  of  his  sons  were  in  the 
army.  He  was  a  Lieut  in  the  old  French  war,  and  wounded 
intlie  battle  of  Lake  George  1758. 

Capt.  Joshua  Nason  was  at  the  capture  of  Burgoyne's  ar- 
my. He  commanded  a  company  in  Col.  Storer's  regiment  at 
White  Plains  and  Saratoga.  Three  of  his  sons  were  in  the 
same  service  ;— one  of  them  a  commissioned  officer. 

Capt  James  Perkins  commanded  a  company  in  the  regi- 
ment commanded  by  Col.  John  Frost,  on  the  North  river,  in 
1776-7. 

*JoshQa  Murphey  appears  to  have  been  excused  from  paying 
more  than  thirty  pounds  fine  in  consequence  of  the  following  recom- 
mendation : — 

"  To  Capt.  William  Smith.  Sir — Wo  give  it  as  our  opinion, 
that  Mr.  Joshua  Murphy  oujrht  to  be  cloared  from  the  draft  to  go 
to  Falmouth,  for  thirty  pounds. 

(Signed,)  Tobias  Loro,   ) 

Asa  Btrbank,  >  Selectmen. 
Jona.  Stone,    ) 
Arundel,  June  the  25,  1780." 


296  HISTORY    OF 

Capt.  Daniel  Merrill  was  in  Col.  Scamman's  regiment, 
at  Cambridge  in  1775,— in  Col.  Finney's  regiment  in  1776; 
and  commanded  a  company  in  Col.  Brewer's  regiment  in 
1777-8-9.  He  was  in  the  retreat  from  Ticonderoga,  and  it  is 
said  owes  the  preservation  of  his  life  to  the  intrepidity  of  T. 
L.Bickford— a  sergeant  in  his  company  ;  was  in  the  battle  of 
Hubbardstown,  and  the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne's  ar- 
my, in  1777  ;  and  in  service  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

David  Durrell  was  a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Noah  M.  Little- 
field's  company,  raised  for  defence  of  the  seaboard  in  1775  ; 
was  at  Portland  under  Capt.  Tobias  Lord  in  1776  ;  and  at 
Saratoga,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  under  Capt.  Joshua  Na- 
son,  in  1777. 

Edward  Nasox  was  in  Col.  Scamman's  regiment  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1775  ;  in  Capt.  Goodrich's  company  in  Arnold's 
expedition,  by  way  of  Kennebec  river  to  Quebec,  in  1775-6  ; 
and  in  Col.  Baldwin's  regiment,  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyne,  in 
1777. 

Robert  Hanscom  entered  the  service  in  1781  ;  served  in 
Capt.  Fox  and  Capt.  Prichards's  company,  in  Col.  Mellen's  reg- 
iment. His  services  were  principally  in  the  state  of  New 
York  ; — discharged  at  West  Point  in  1783. 

Nathan  Thompson  was  in  Capt.  Hooper's  company,  rais- 
ed for  the  defence  of  the  seaboard  1n  1 775  ; — at  Portland  in 
the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Tobias  Lord  in  1776; 
and  in  the  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Daniel  Clark,  sta- 
tioned at  the  same  place,  under  General  Wordsworth  in  1780. 

William  Grant  was  a  substitute  for  Robert  Cleaves,  in 
Capt.  Smith's  company,  Col.  Francis's  regiment. — He  bought 
a  gun  of  John  Cleaves,  son  of  Robert,  to  ©any  with  him.  In 
1779  he  was  in  Capt.  Joshua  Nason's  company,  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  army. 

William  Goodrich  is  believed  to  have  been  in  several 
services  in  the  course  of  the  war.  The  following  is  the  only 
authentic  account  of  any  of  them.  "  To  Benjamin  Downing, 
Treasurer.  Sir— please  to  pay  Capt.  Jacob  Wildes  five  hun- 
dred and  ten  pounds,  it  being  for  a  cow  he  delivered  the  six 
months  soldiers,  also  thirty  pounds  he  paid  William  Good- 
rich towards  his  bounty  for  six  months  services  in  the  army, 
and  the  same  shall  be  allowed  you  out  of  the  town's  money. 
(Signed,)  Tobias  Lord,  ^ 

Jonath.  Stone,       I  Selectmen. 
Asa  Burbank, 
Thomas  Perkins,  J 
Arundel,  Dec.  13,  1780." 

Abel  Merrill  was  in  Capt.  Jesse  Dorman's  company  in 
Col.  Scamman's  regiment  at  Cambridge,  1775.    In  1776  un- 


KENNEBUXK    PORT. 


297 


tier  the  command  oTCapt  Eliphalet  Daniels,  at  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.  In  1777  in  Col.  Storcr's  regiment  at  Stillwater  anil 
Saratoga. 

Benjamix  Wh-des  was  in  the  company  commanded  by 
("apt.  Daniel  Clark,  in  Col.  Prime's  regiment,  stationed  at 
Portland  in  J  780. 

Robert  Towne,— son  of  Lieut.  Amos,~at  sixteen  years  of 
age,  in  1778,  ]  aid  a  fine  often  pounds  to  be  excused  from  a 
draft  to  go  to  Providence— and  immediately  after  was  drafted, 
and  joined  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cousens's  company,  in  the  Penob- 
scot expedition.  He  is  said  to  have  been  in  other  service  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  war. 

Simeon  Hutchins  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Hitchcock's  com- 
pany, Col.  Brewer's  regiment,  in  the  first  three  years'  service, 
and  in  other  services  during  the  revolutionary  war. 

Benjamin  Thompson,  in  1775,  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Salter's 
company  at  Portsmouth,  N.  II.  In  177G,  in  Capt.  Tobias 
Lord's  company  at  Portland  ;  in  the  company  commanded 
by  Capt.  James  Perkins,  of  Col.  Frost's  regiment,  at  West 
Point  ;  and  in  1777,  in  Capt.  Joshua  Nason's  company  at  Sar- 
atoga. 

Jonathan  Stone  was  in  Capt.  Richard  Rogers's  company 
at  Cambridge,  in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Gerrish, 
in  1778,  and  in  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cousens's  company  in  the 
Penobscot  expedition  the  same  year; 

Daniel  Huff,  in  Capt.  Noah  M.  Littlefield's  company,  rais- 
ed for  defence  of  the  seaboard  in  1775  ;  and  in  Capt.  James 
Perkins's  company  on  the  North  river,  1776. 

John  Burbank  was  in  the  company  of  Capt.  N.  M.  Lit- 
tlefield,  before  named,  in  1775  ;  a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Eliphalet 
Daniels's  company,  stationed  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  in  1776  ; 
entered  on  board  the  privateer  Dalton,  and  was  carried  pris- 
oner to  England  in  1777  ;  enlisted  in  1779  as  master-at-arms  on 
board  the  Bonne  Homme  Richard,  and  was  in  the  battle  with 
the  Serapis  and  Countess  of  Scarborough,  in  September  of 
that  year,  under  John  Paul  Jones.  He  was  censured  by  Jones 
for  letting  loose  the  prisoners,  although  the  ship  was  known 
to  be  sinking. 

James  Thompson,  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Daniel  Merrill's  com- 
pany, Col.  Patterson's  brigade,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  in 
17  77  and  1778  ;  and  in  Capt.  Luke  Hitchcock's  company,  of 
Col.  Brewer's  regiment,  in  1771).  He  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  Burgoyne's  army,  and  was  discharged  at  Fish  Kill, 
on  the  North  river,  in  1780. 

Ephraim  Wildes  was  stationed  at  Portland,  under  Capt 
Tobias  Lord,  in  1776— and  was  a  sergeant  in  Col.  Frost's 
regiment,  on  the  North  river,  in  1777. 


298  HISTORY  OF 

Nathaniel  Wakefield  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Josiah  Da- 
vis's company,  Col.  Prime's  regiment,  stationed  at  Portland  in 
1780. 

John  Deshon. — The  principal  intelligence  of  his  services 
is  derived  from  the  following  : — "  To  Mr.  Benjamin  Down- 
ing, Treasurer.  Sir — please  to  pay  Thomas  Perkins,  jun. 
five  hundred  and  ten  pounds,  it  being  for  a  cow  delivered 
John  Deshon,  for  six  months'  services  in  the  continental  army, 
last  campaign,  and  the  same  shall  be  allowed  you  out  of  the 
town's  money. 

(Signed,)  Tobias  Lord,  } 

Asa  Burbank,  >  Selectmen. 
Asa  Durrell,  ) 

March  7,  1781." 

Israel  Dorman  was  in  Col.  Francis's  regiment  in  1776, 
and  attached  to  Col.  Putnam's  and  Col.  Nicholson's  regi- 
ments in  1778. 

Jacob  Merrill  was  in  Capt.  Eldridge's  company  at  Dor- 
chester in  1776  ;  soon  after  in  Capt.  Daniels's  company,  under 
Col.  Long,  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  ;  in  Capt.  Holbrook's  compa- 
nv  at  Danbury,  Conn,  in  1777,  and  in  Col.  Brewer's  regiment, 
1778. 

Lemuel  Miller  was  a  sergeant  and  clerk  of  Capt.  Dorman's 
company  at  Cambridge,  in  1775.  He  was  in  service  during 
most  of  the  war  ;  a  lieutenant  under  Col.  Brewer's*  12th 
Mass.  regiment. 

Thomas  L.  Bickford  was  a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Daniel  Mer- 
rill's company  in  1776.  He  was  wounded  at  Hubbardstown, 
where  Col.  Francis  fell,  in  the  retreat  from  Ticonderoga.  He 
was  in  the  first  three  years'  service,  and  subsequently  killed 
in  attempting  to  board  and  quell  an  insurrection  of  British 
prisoners,  on  board  one  of  the  guard  ships  in  Boston.  He 
was  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  tall  and  elegant  in  his 
person,  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  distinguished  for  his 
bravery. 

Joshua  Nason,  jun.  was  in  Capt.  Luke  Hitchcock's  com- 
pany, in  the  three  years  service,  and  a  commissioned  officer 
at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  army  at   Saratoga. 

George  Walker  was  probably  in  the  company  command- 
ed by  Capt.  Daniel  Clark,  under  Col.  Prime,  in  1780.  Some 
intelligence  of  him  is  derived  from  the  following  order,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Treasurer  :— "  Sir  :  please  to  pay  George 
Walker  forty  eight  pounds  twelve  shillings,  out  of  the  town's 
money,  in  full,  for  eight  months'  services  at  Falmouth. 
(Signed,)  Jonath.  Stone,      } 

Tobias  Lord,         >  Selectmen. 
Thomas  Perkins,  ) 

Arundel,  April  10, 1780." 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  299 

Nathaniel  Davis  was  a  soldier  in  the  old  French  war  ;  a 
sergeant  in  Col.  Scamman's  regiment  at  Cambridge,  in  1775  ; 
was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  ;  in  Col.  Brewer's  regiment, 
at  White  Plains  and  Saratoga,  in  1777  ;  and  was  in  service  at 
the  close  of  the  war. 

Noah  Cluff  was  in  the  old  French  war  ;— is  said  to  have 
been  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  hill  ;  he  was  in  the  expedition 
under  Arnold  up  the  Kennebec  in  1775-6  ;  was  wounded  in 
the  attack  on  Quebec  under  Montgomery,  and  made  prison- 
er ;  was  in  other  services  after  his  exchange,  and  had  a  pen- 
sion granted  him  at  the  close  of  the  war,  as  an  invalid. 

Jacob  Wildes,  jun.  was  in  the  company  commanded  by 
Capt.  Silas  Wildes,  in  Col.  Finney's  regiment,  at  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  in  1776.  Sick,  and  accustomed  to  a  sea-faring  life,  he 
soon  became  tired  of  the  camp,  and  Noah  Clough,  now  re- 
covered of  his  wound,  was  procured  to  take  his  place. 
Wildes  subsequently  became  master  of  the  privateer  Grey- 
hound, fitted  out  of  Salem,  and  sailed  from  Cape  Porpoise 
harbor,  April,  1781.  Samuel  Wildes,  jun.  was  one  of  the 
crew.  She  made  a  number  of  prizes,  some  of  which  were  re- 
taken. One  brig,  a  prize  to  the  Greyhound,  arrived  in  Salem, 
which  divided  sixty  three  pounds  sterling,  prize  money,  to 
each  share.  The  captain  had  seven  shares,  or  about  1958 
dollars.  The  Greyhound  was  captured  and  carried  into  Hali- 
fax, and  the  crew  exchanged  and  sent  to  Boston.  Another 
privateer  of  the  same  name  was  fitted  out,  of  which 
Capt.  Wildes  was  master.  He  made  other  prizes  ;— was 
lost  at  sea  about  1785.  Samuel  Wildes,  jun.  removed  to  Ken- 
nebec. 

Nathaniel  Davis,  jun.  was  in  service  during  most  of  the 
war.  He  is  believed  to  have  been  with  his  father  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  hill  ;— was  in  the  three  years'  service,  in 
Col.  Brewer's  regiment,  in  1778,  and  in  other  services.  In 
the  war  with  England,  in  1812,  he  was  a  soldier  in  Col. 
Lane's  regiment,  and  died  at  Plattsburg  in  the  state  of  New 
York. 

Enoch  Clough,  it  is  believed,  was  in  Col.  Scamman's  reg- 
iment at  Cambridge  in  the  early  part  of  the  war,  if  not  in  the 
expedition  to  Quebec,  under  Arnold.  His  name  is  subse- 
quently found  on  the  rolls  of  Capt.  Hitchcock's  company  in 
the  first  three  years'  service,  in  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Col.  Brewer,  on  North  river,  at  White  Plains  and  Saratoga. 
Clough  was  hired  for  this  service  by  a  class  of  the  town,  and 
received  nine  cows  extra  pay.  Capt  Tobias  Lord,  grand- 
father of  Nathaniel  and  Tobias,  jun.  late  of  Arundel,  paid  one 
cow  as  his  part.  These  cows  were  let  to  the  individuals  who 
paid  them,  to  be  doubled  in  four  years  ;— so  that  in  one  year 
after  the  expiration  of  his  services,  Clough  received  eighteen 
cows.    He  died  immediately  after  the  war. 


300  HISTORY    OF 

Andrew  Sherburne  was  in  the  Naval  service,  on  board 
the  U.  S.  ship-of-war  Hanger,  Capt.  Stirnpson,  in  1779  and 
'80.  In  1781  he  was  taken  in  one  of  the  recaptured  prizes  of 
the  privateer  Greyhound,  and  sent  to  Mill  prison  in  England. 
He  entered  the  service  from  New  Hampshire  ;  settled  in  Ar- 
undel after  1800,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Ohio. 

Tobias  Lord,  son  of  Capt.  Tobias,  resided  at  Moulton's 
Mills,  and  was  drafted  from  Sanford.  He  was  a  Lieutenant 
in  Capt.  James  Littlefield's  company,  of  Col.  Storer's  regi- 
ment, at  the  capture  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  army  at  Saratoga  in 
1777.     He  died  at  Kennebunk  in  1808. 

James  Burnham  was  drafted  as  Lieutenant  in  a  company 
commanded,  as  is  believed,  by  Capt.  Hans  Patten,  and  sta- 
tioned below  Providence,  R.  I.  in  1778,  under  the  command 
of  General  Sullivan.  He  was  in  this  service  a  few  months 
only,  but  was  afterwards  a  captain  of  militia,  and  killed  in  an 
attack  on  an  English  brig  of  war,  in  Cape  Porpoise  harbor, 
Aug.  8,  1782.  Samuel  Wildes  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
same  time. 

Amos  Towne  was  in  the  service,  in  1775  ;  probably  in  the 
corps  raised  by  the  government  ot  Massachusetts  for  the  de^- 
fence  of  the  seaboard,  or  in  Col.  Scamman's  regiment  at 
Cambridge.  In  February,  1776,  before  Lord  Howe  left  Bos- 
ton, he  was  a  Lieutenant  in  Capt.  John  Elden's  company  at 
Dorchester  heights,  and  the  same  year  an  officer  in  Capt. 
Samuel  Leighton's  company,  in  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Col.  Francis.  Gen.  Clement  Storer,  late  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
was  a  corporal  in  this  company.  In  1780  Lieut.  Towne  wTas 
in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Prime,  stationed  at  Fal- 
mouth, now  Portland.  His  father,  Amos  Towne,  was  in  the 
old  French  war,  in  the  expedition  under  Sir  William  Pepper- 
ell  in  1746. 

Abraham  Rideout  was  four  years  and  three  months  in  the 
continental  army.  He  enlisted  from  Brunswick  and  joined 
Capt.  Daniel  Merrill's  company,  in  Col.  Brewer's  regiment,  at 
White  Plains,  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He  served  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  in  Capt.  Bullock's  company,  under  General 
Greene,  and  was  discharged  at  West  Point  in  1782. 

John  Millet  was  a  during-war's  man.  He  entered  the 
service  at  Cape  Ann  ;  was  in  Col.  Cilley's  regiment  of  the 
New  Hampshire  line,  in  the  division  under  Gen.  Arnold,  at 
the  battle  of  Stillwater,  and  capture  of  General  Burgoyne's 
army  in  1777.  He  joined  General  Washington's  army  at 
Valley  Forge  ;  was  sick  and  left  the  army,  about  the  time  of 
the  battle  of  Monmouth,— was  not  present  at  that  engage- 
ment. He  was  afterwards  taken  in  one  of  the  recaptured  priz- 
es of  the  privateer  Hibernia  and  sent  prisoner  to  Halifax,  where 
be  remained  until  nearly  the  close  of  the  war. 


KENNEBUNK    PORT.  301 

Sketches  of  the  services  of  others  might  be  given,  but  the 
preceding  list,  imperfect  and  deficient  as  it  is  known  to  be,  is 
sufficient  to  show  the  intense  interest  manifested  by  all  classes 
of  the  people  of  Arundel  to  throw  off  the  government  of  the 
mother  country,  and  establish  the  independence  of  our  own. 


List  of  Seamen  and  Soldiers  known  to  have  been  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  in  the  war  with  Great  Britain 
of  1812,  called  the  war  of  Impressments. 

In  the  Navy—  Stephen  Seavy,  Israel  Huff,  George  Wilson, 
John  March.  These  men  were  attached  to  the  U.  S.  ship  Ad- 
ams, under  the  command  of  Capt.  Morris,  at  the  time  of  the 
destruction  of  that  ship  at  Hampden,  on  the  Penobscot  river, 
when  the  British  took  possession  in  September,  1814.  Wil- 
liam Avery  and  John  Rhoades  were  also  in  the  Navy.  Many 
others  were  in  the  privateer  service,  and  suffered  as  prisoners 
at  Halifax  and  in  England.     Seavy  died  in  1836. 

Solomon  Co  it  was  a  midshipman  in  the  U.  S.  Navy,  on 
the  Lakes,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  and  before  the  close  of  it 
commanded  the  privateer  Mars,  out  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  and 
was  lost. 

Henry  Flanders  was  a  seaman  on  board  the  LT.    S.  sloop- 
of-war  Wasp,  and  lost  with  that  ship  before   the   conclusion 
of  the  treaty  of  peace. 
In  the  Army- 
Jonathan  Freeman. 
George  Goodwin. 

Nathaniel  Davis,  jr.     died  in  the  army  at  Plattsburg. 
Jesse  L.  Smith,     Col.  of  militia  since  the  war. 
Joseph  H.  Osgood,     came  to  Kennebunk  after  the    war. 
Their    services   were   on  the  Canadian  frontiers — mostly 
about  Lake  Champlain. 

Major  Simon  Nowell  commanded  a  detachment  of  mili- 
tia, detailed  from  the  first  brigade  of  the  first  division,  and 
stationed  at  Fort  McLary,  near  the  Navy  Yard  at  Portsmouth, 
V  II.  towards  the  close  of  the  war. 


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