History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot

Front matter

HISTORY Ol* BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL, MAINE, INCLUDING THE ANCIENT TERRITORY KNOWN AS Jjejepssot. BY GEORGE AUGUSTUS WHEELER, M.D., AND HENRY WARREN WHEELER. "Histories make men wise." — Bacon. BOSTON : ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS. 1878. Copyright : Bt GEORGE A. AND henry w. wheeler. 1877. TO Wt)Z JWemorj of THE ESTEEMED CITIZEN, AND FAITHFUL AND EARNEST HISTORICAL STUDENT, THE LATE M\ McKeen, Esquire, WHOSE RESEARCHES IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE PEJEPSCOT REGION JUSTLY ENTITLE HEW TO OUR GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE, *ari)fs Volume fs UIBc'Ofcatc'O.

Preface

. TnE labor os compiling a local history, though not necessarily requiring a very high order of talent, does require a careful and conscientious examination of a large amount of miscellaneous material. The difficulties attending a compilation of this kind are numerous and, many of them, not easily to be anticipated In the words of Sterne, " When a man sits clown to write a history, though it be but the history of Jack Hickathrift or Tom Thumb, he knows no more than his heels what lets and confounded hindrances he is to meet with in his way." So much is said by way of apology for the unavoidable errors that may, perchance, be discovered in this volume. The undertaking itself needs no apology, as the value of such compilations, not only to the writers of general history, but also to the public more immediately interested, is now everywhere admitted.

The aim of the compilers has been to furnish a work which should be valuable rather than merely entertaining. They have endeavored to give a faithful and complete history of the three towns, and although they have tried to make the volume more interesting by the introduction, when proper, of nar ratives and traditions, yet this they have considered of secondary importance. The methodical arrangement of a work of this kind, so as to embrace all that is desired and at the same time to avoid frequent repetition, is involved with difficulties, and is, after all, somewhat a matter of taste. In this work the arrangement by the topics into which the subject is most naturally divided has been adopted as, on the whole, the best. Each division of the subject has, however, been arranged in chronological order, and for further conve nience of reference full indexes have been appended.

It is proper, in this place, to acknowledge the assistance which the com pilers have received, in various ways, in the prosecution of their work. Their very great indebtedness to the labors of the late John McKeen, Esquire, has already been shown, and is still further shown by the frequent reference to him throughout the book ; but they desire also to acknowledge the kindness of Miss Frances A. McKeen in furnishing them with the private papers of her father. The name of the late Moses E. Woodman, Esquire, is also entitled to be held in grateful remembrance for the work he did in collecting and tracing the genealogy of Topsham families. Much interesting information has also been obtained from notes made by the late James McKeen, M. D. VI

PREFACE.

. It is proper also to acknowledge to the public the great obligations of the compilers to the late Doctor John D Lincoln, both for the material assistance rendered by him, and for his steadfast encouragement in their undertaking, from its very inception up to his last hours. The thanks of the compilers are also especially due to Mr. A. G. Tenney, for his personal help and advice, as well as for the great assistance afforded by his file of the Brunswick Telegraph, and for the many courtesies extended by him ; to Professor A. S. Packard, for valued advice and assistance, and for his kindness in affording unusual facilities for examining the books and papers in the historical and college libraries ; to General Joshua L. Chamberlain, Hon orable Charles J. Gilman, Professor Stephen J. Young, and Professor George L. Vose, for valuable advice and assistance; to Reverend Elijah Kellogg, for his manuscript lecture on the history of Harpswell; to Messrs. Charles J. Noyes, Stephen PuriDton, Edwin Emery, Professor Henry Carmichael, Rever end George T. Packard, and Doctor Asher Ellis, for assistance in the collection and preparation of material for the work ; and to the many others who have, in one way or another, assisted them, the compilers return their sincere thanks.

The various illustrations given in the book will, it is hoped, be satisfactory to the public. The portraits were furnished by and inserted at the expense of the friends of the persons whom they represent. The Pejepscot plan of the Brunswick and Topsham lots was made from two of the original plans, and was reduced aud engraved by the photo-lithographic process, by J. H. Bufford's Sons, Boston. The map of Brunswick and Tops ham villages in 1802 was compiled from a written description of Brunswick by the late John McKeen, Esquire, and from verbal descriptions of Topsham by Mr. James Wilson and the late Mrs. Nathaniel Green. All of the maps and most of the illustrations are from drawings made by Mr. Charles G. AArheeler, Bowdoin, Class of 1876. Whatever praise or censure may be due the authors for the manner in which they have executed their work should be equally divided between them, as it has been a joint production, in which they are themselves unable to specify their respective claims of authorship.

In conclusion : To the citizens of the three towns, and more especially to those of Brunswick and Harpswell, whose interest in the work has been so fully shown by their liberal appropriations iu aid of its publication, this vol ume is offered with gratitude and respect, and its favorable reception will be deemed an ample remuneration for their labors by The Authors. CONTENTS.

Part I. Chapter

pAGE I. Aboriginal Inhabitants « 1 II. Pejepscot Purchase and Prior Settlements 7 III. Doings op the Pejepscot Proprietors and Settlements under them 27 IV. Period op the Indian Wars 49

Part II

I. Boundaries and Notable Features 75 II. Municipal History op Brunswick 104 III. Harpswell 155 IV. Topsham 180 V. General and Social 205 VI. Fires and Fire Companies 257 VII. Courts and Trials, Crimes and Criminals, Lawyers . . 277 VIII. Taverns and Public Halls, Mails, Newspapers, etc. . . 290 IX. Diseases and Accidents, Freshets 311 X. Stages, Railroads, Navigation, Telegraph, etc 323 XI. Burial-Places and Epitaphs 339 XII. Ecclesiastical History op Brunswick . 352 XIII. Topsham 406 XIV. Harpswell 436 XV. Educational History of Brunswick 456 XVI. Topsham 482 XVII. Harpswell 493 XVIII. Bowdoin College and Medical School op Maine ... 498 XIX. Public Lands, Roads, Bridges, etc 521 XX Commercial History op Brunswick 552 XXI. Topsham . ■ C03 XXII. Harpswell 618 XXIII. Forts, Garrisons, Churches, etc., Brunswick CONTENTS. VIII PAGE

CHAPTER XXIV.

Forts, Garrisons, Churches, etc., Topsham and Harpswell 651 XXV. Interesting Relics 670 XXVI. Military History of the Three Towns 676

Part III

I. Biographical Sketches 709 II. Family Histories 827 ' APPENDICES.

Appendix

I. List of Early Settlers 865 II. List of Soldiers in the Indian Wars 875 III. Revolution 880 IV. War of 1812-14 887 V. Rebellion 896 VI. List op National and State Officers from these Towns 916 VII. Town Officers 919 Genfral Index 937 Index of Names in Biographies and Family Histories ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of John McKeen, Esquire Frontispiece. PAGE TnE Stocks, Brunswick 281 Tontine Hotel, " 295 President Allen's Academy, Brunswick 476 Franklin Family School, Topsham 489 Bowdoin College in 1821 498 Androscoggin Bridge and Falls in 1828 549 Old Hay-Scales, Topsham 613 Fort George, Brunswick 627 Town House, " 636 First Meeting-House, Brunswick 637 Third Meeting-House of First Parish, Brunswick 641 Cornelius Thompson House, Brunswick 646 Court House, Topsham 657 Old Hunter Tavern, Topsham 658 Walker Homestead, " 661 Interior of Old Meeting-House, Harpswell 664 Andrew Dunning House, " 668 Joseph Orr House, " 669 Portrait of Rev. George E. Adams, D.D 710 Phesident Appleton 714 Prof. Parker Cleaveland 719 Ebenezer Everett, Esquire 740 Mr. Joseph Griffin 746 Gen. John C Humphreys 754 Dr. Isaac Lincoln 760 Dr. John D. Lincoln 761 President McKeen 763 Major Nahum Perkins 785 Mr. AVilliam S. Perry 786 Mr. Francis T. Purinton 797 Prof. William Smyth 803 Mr Charles Thompson 810 Rev. A. D. Wheeler, D.D 820 MAPS AND PLANS. Pejepscot Company's Plan of Brunswick and Topsham . . . Cover. PAGE Settlements in 1752 40 Brunswick and Topsham Villages in 1802 72 Koads in 1765

Part I

" This is the place, — stand still, my steed, Let me review the scene, And summon from the shadowy past, The forms that once have been ! " Longfellow, A Gleam of Sunshine. HISTORY OF Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell.

Chapter I. Aboriginal

inhabitants. The Indian race, formerly occupying the territory now embraced bjthe State of Maine, was divided, as most authors state, into two considerable nations, called the Etechemins and the Abenafkis. The former nation occupied the region east, and the latter that west, of the Penobscot River.1 The Abenaki nation was composed of four principal tribes, viz 1. The Sokokis, who had their principal encampments upon the Saco River. 2. The Anasagunticooks, who occupied the entire valley of the Androscoggin River. 3. The Canibas, who dwelt upon the Kennebec, from its tide waters to its source. 4. The Wawenocks, who reside between the Sagadahock and the river St. George, and upon the latter.2 The Anasagunticooks were, at the first advent of Europeans, a very numerous, powerful, and warlike tribe.

The Pejepscot Indians were, in all probability, a sub-tribe of the Anasagunticooks. They had cus tomary places of resort, if not permanent places of residence, at the Brunswick Falls, at Maquoit, and at Mair Point. It is now considered probable, from the remains and relics found there, that the latter was the place of one of their villages in the sixteenth century.3 Like most of the native tribes, the Anasagunticooks were, at first, 1 Willis, Maine Historical Collection, i, p. 96. Vetromile, The Abenakis, p 17. 2 Kidder, Maine Historical Collection, 6, p. 235 Williamson and others. zjohn McKeen, Manuscript Lecture. ■2 HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL. probably friendly to the whites. At least, our settlers are represented as living with them upon the most friendly terms up to about the time of King Philip's AVar.1 They soon, however, became extremely and inveterately hostile to the settlers upon their domain, and until their extermination by disease and by the aggressions of the whites, they continued to exhibit their animosity by frequent attacks upon isolated settlements and habi tations and by lying in ambush for individuals or small parties.

The plague which broke out among them about the year 1615 or 1616 so reduced them that, in the latter year, they numbered only 1,500 warriors.2 They were still further reduced in number by warfare and other causes, so that there were, according to one authority,3 on November 24, 1726, only five Indians in the tribe over sixteen years of age. John Hegon was their sachem at this time. Twenty-five 3-ears later there were one hundred and sixty warriors in the tribe.4 Tbis is a large increase in number, but yet it shows how weak the tribe had become. The most celebrated sagamores of this tribe were Darumkin, Wo rumbo, and Hodgkins, — called sometimes Hawkins. Of the former but little is known, except that he was the father of Terramugus, and on several occasions served as orator for the tribe. Worumbo is better known on account of his deed to Richard Whar ton, July 7, 1684, confirming to him the lands formerly conveyed to and possessed by Thomas Purchase.

Hodgkins (or Hawkins), whose Indian name was Kankamagus, was, in reality, a sachem of the Pennacooks, but he joined the Andros coggins about 1684, and lived with Worumbo. Mugg is thought to have been another of their sachems.5 although by some authors he is supposed to have belonged to the Penobscot tribe.6 He was very conspicuous in the Indian war of 1676-77. On October 12, of the former year, he assaulted Black Point, now Scarborough, with one hundred men, and captured it. In 1677 he again besieged that garrison for three days, and killed three men and took one captive. He was himself killed, May 16 of that year. Prior to this war he had lived for some time with the English, and had been veiy friendly to them.7 1 McKeen, MSS. Lecture. Woodman, Manuscript History of Pejepscot. 2 Williamson, 1, p. 483. 3 Gyles' s Statement, Maine Historical Collection, 3, p 357. 4 Williamson, 1, p. 483.

E Drake. Book of Indians, 3, p. 110. 6 History of Pemaquid, p 122. ' Drake, Book of Indians, 3, p. 110. ABORIGIN-iL INHABITANTS. 3 This chief must not be confounded with Mogg, — generally known as Mogg Megone, — who was killed at the time of Rasle's death (1724', and who belonged to the Saco Indians. Another of their sagamores was Philip Will, originally a Cape Cod Indian ; he was captured by the French, at the siege of Louisburg. when only fourteen years of age. Remaining with the Abenaki In dians, he became, eventually, a chief of this tribe. Will was brought up in the family of a Mr. Crocker, in which he was taught " to read, write, and cipher." He prevented, for many years, the final extinc tion of his tribe. He was six feet three inches in height, and* possessed a good development.1 The fact that the lands occupied by the whites were duly purchased of and conveyed to them by the Indians themselves, and that the earlier settlers in this region endeavored to conciliate and make friends of them, seems to have had but little effect in restraining the savage disposition of the natives.

After the first outbreak, they rarely lived on really peaceable terms with the settlers, and when there were no actual hostilities going on, they were continually strolling about and annoj-iug the inhabitants,2 and even isolated acts of friendship on the part of individuals amongst them were comparatively rare. Tlie settlement of the region occupied by this tribe, subsequent to the time of King Philip's War, presents continual scenes of carnage and destruction, midnight massacres and conflagrations, until the tribe itself became extinct. The language of the Abenaki nation has been carefully studied by manjcompetent students, but the difficulties in the way of thoroughly understanding the different dialects are so great that much uncer tainty still exists, both as to the correct pronunciation aud derivation, and also as to the meaning, of very many of the names formerly applied to localities.

The Indian names, and their signification in English, of some of the more important places, will, nevertheless, prove interesting, and are therefore given in this connection. Abagadusset River and Point. — The original name of the point was Nagusset.3 At a later day it was called Point Agreeable. Abagadusset, or Bigadusset, one of its forms, means "to shine," the reflection of the light from the waters of the bay probably giving the name.4 This river and point is not included within the present territory of either of the three towns, but was within the limits of* the Pejepscot tract as originally claimed, and reference to it is often made. i Williamson, 1, p. 481. *. We Keen. MSS. Lecture. s Pejepscot Papers. 4 Dr. Ballard in the United States Coast Survey Report, 1868, p. 246. Ah-me-lah-cog-netue-cook, which means a place of much game, of fish, fowl, and beasts, was the Indian name for Brunswick near the Falls.1 Androscoggin. — The river now known as the Androscoggin, and from which the tribe inhabiting its shores received its name, was variously called the Anasagunticnok, the Anconganunticook, Aniasa qunntt-g, and Amascongan.

The latter is the original of Androscog gin, as appears by the deposition of the Indian Perepole.2 The name has been written in some sixty different forms, as its sound was received by the ancient hunters, owners, and settlers. There seems to have been a disposition to make it conform to known words in the English usage. The name " Coggin" is a family appellation in New England ; and it was easy to place besore it, according to each man's preference, other familiar names, and to call the stream " Ambrose Coggin," "Amos Coggin," "Andrews Coggin," "Andros Coggin," and " Andrus Coggin."3 Vetromile4 says that Coggin means " com ing"; that Ammascoggin means "fish coming in the spring," and that Androscoggin means " Andros coming," referring to the visit of a former governor of the province. But the visit of Governor Andros was not made until 1688, while the river is called Andros coggin in an indenture, made in 1639, between Thomas Purchase and Governor Winthrop.5 Another authority 6 says the word means " the Great Skunk River."

By another,7 it is said to be derived from naamaS (fish), kees (high), and auke (place), and to mean "the high fish place." According to Reverend Dr. Ballard,8 its derivation is from the word namas (fish), abbreviated, as is the frequent practice, b}' dropping the first letter, and Skaughigan (Skowhegan), a fish-spear. The name may therefore be translated the Fish Spear, or Fish Spearing. The name, as furnished by Perepole, with his description, marked the part of the river above the Amitigonpontook — ,that is, the " Clay -land Falls " at Lewiston, — upward to " Arockamecook," that is, the "Hoe-land," at Canton Point. The rips and shallows in this portion were favora ble for spearing fish beyond any part below. Bunganunganock, commonly shortened to Bunganock, is the name 1 Pejepscot Papers. ?

Maine Historical Collection, 3, p. 333, taken from the Pejepscot Papers. s Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey, 1868, p. 247." 4 History of the Abenakis, p. 24. 6 See next chapter. 6 Willis, Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 115. ''Potter. Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 189. 8 R«porl of the United States Coast Survey, 1868, p 247. ABORIGINAL INHABIT-1NTS. 5 of a small stream flowing into Maquoit Bay. It runs at the bottom of a deep ravine, suggesting the name of Bunganunganock, which means the " High-bank Brook." l Cathance River, pronounced by the Indians Kat-hah-nis, is said by them to mean bent, or crooked? Maquoit means the " bear-place " or " bear-bay." Merriconeag. — This name was originally applied only to the In dian "carrying-place" at the upper end of Harpswell Neck, but finally denoted the whole peninsula.

The word in full would be Mer rucoonegan, from merru (swift, quick), and oonegan (portage), mean ing the " quick carrying-place."3 Pejepscot. — That portion of the Androscoggin Eiver extending from Brunswick^Falls to Merrymeeting Bay, and the adjacent land upon the south, was called Pejepscot. The word was originally applied to the water, and meant " crooked, like a diving snake." 4 Quabacook, meaning "the duck water place,"5 was the Indian designation of Merrymeeting Bay. The English name of this bay, according to one, and the most probable, tradition, had its origin from the meeting of the waters of five rivers. According to another account, the name was due to the meeting of two surveying parties, and their enjoyment of the occasion upon its shores.6 Sawacook, as the land upon the north side of the river where Top sham is situated was called, signifies, according to one authority,7 "the burnt place"; according to other authorities it means either " a tree forking in man}- branches," or else it means " the place to find many cranberries."8 Sebascodegan is the Indian name of the Great Island in Harpswell.

This name is supposed to be derived from k'tche (great) and t'basco degan (measure), and this solution of the name shows that the na tives had taken some means of measuring the island and had found it great.9 There are other Indian names of localities in the vicinity of Bruns wick, Topsham, and Harpswell which have been preserved by tradi- "flj*. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Report for 1868, p. 248. 2 Ibid. sDr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Report for 1868, pp. 248, 258. 4 Willis, in Maine Historical Collection, 4, p. 108. 6 Pejepscot Papers, Perepole' s Deposition. Also, Dr. True, in Brunswick Tcleyraph, 1864. « Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Report for 1868, p. 253. ■>D>: N. T. True, of Bethel. ■*• Potter, Maine Historical Collection, i,p. 191. -Dr. Ballard in United States Coast Survey Report for 1868, p. 258. tion, but those that have been mentioned are the best known.

The others hardly require particular mention in this connection. The Indians, iu their travels from place to place, went by water whenever possible. The places where the}- were obliged to leave the water, either to go around falls and rapids or to cross from the salt water to the fresh, or from stream to stream, were called carrying places, because at these places thejwere obliged to leave the water and carry their canoes. The paths they made from one carrying-place to another were called trails. The principal carrying-places were in Harpswell, at Condy's Point, Sebascodegan, the trail leading across the point, and at Indian Point Landing, on the northeast corner of Sebascodegan. There was also one across the upper end of Merri coneag Neck. In Brunswick, the chief carrying-places jvere : The Upper Carrying- Place.

This was at the bend of the river above the falls, and was the place where the Indians left the river on their way to Maquoit. The name was given to distinguish it from the lower or Stevens's Carrying-Place. The latter was at the narrow neck of land between the New Meadows River and Merrymeeting Ba}-. The land was owned in 1673 by Thomas Stevens, hence its name. Wigwam Point, a small point of land extending into the New Meadows River, a short distance above the dike or bridge at the foot of Ham's Hill, though not strictly a carrying-place, was a landing-place of the Indians, who probably had a wigwam there. It was once called Indian Town. In Topsham, the chief carrying-place was at the Androscoggin River, above Merrill's, and the trail led to Cathance Pond. It is probable there was another carrying-place at the head of Muddy River, with trails leading to the Androscoggin and Cathance Rivers.

After Lovewell's war, the Indians dwelling on the Androscoggin, finding the}- were too weak to protect themselves either from the set tlers or from other tribes, moved to Canada and joined the Saint Francis tribe. Even the bones of their ancestors are no longer to be found, and naught but a few names remains to remind us ofthe exist ence of this once powerful tribe.

Chapter II

the pejepscot purchase, and prior settlements, 1605-1714. The earliest voyage of discovery made to the immediate vicinity of the Androscoggin River was possibly that of Captain George Wey mouth, in the spring of 1605. He is supposed to have come up to the falls.1 That it was the Sagadahoc River, and not the St. George's or the Penobscot, which Weymouth visited, has not, however, been fully settled. [1607.] He was followed in the year 1607 by Captain George Popham, who arrived near Monhegan, July 31, in two vessels, the " Gift of God " and the " Maiy and John," carrying one hundred and twenty planters. From Monhegan the}- went to Cape Small Point, and built a fort on Atkins Ba}-. This fortification was named Fort Saint George. Though the place was abandoned the next summer, it was intended to be a permanent settlement, and was occupied suffi ciently long to establish its claim to be called the first English settlement on the New England coast. [1620.]

In the year 1620 a charter was granted by King James I to forty " noblemen, knights, and gentlemen," constituting them a body corporate, called the Council of Plymouth. Their territorial limits extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth parallel of lati tude, and from sea to sea. The Council of Plymouth, in addition to the grant to the Plymouth Company of New England, granted patents in the Piovince of Maine to the Kennebec (or New Plymouth) Company, the Muscongus (or Waldo) Company, and to the Pemaquid Company. [1632.] They also, June 16, 1632,2 granted a patent to Thomas Purchase and George Way. By some this patent is thought to have emanated directly from King James.3 The patent itself was lost,4 and no record of it has been found. It is known to have existed from the frequent references to it in old deeds and other documents.5 1 McKeen, Maine Historical Collections, 5. p. 335. 2 Willis, History of Portland, p. 64. 8 Pejepscot Records, Statement of Title. 4 Very likely when Purchase's house was burned. - , a. y ...

At — - "* 6 "A Patient for a Plantation att Pechipscot," is recorded in the " Cattalogue of such The Thomas Purchase above named was undoubtedly the first individual to settle in this region of the Androscoggin. He came about the year 1628, before the issue of the patent, therefore, and located himself somewhere within the limits of the present town of Brunswick. Whereabouts he established his house is a matter of doubt. The question is discussed at some length in the Pejepscot Records.1 Abram Whitney, who lived at Little River in 1796, Samuel Wilson, Symonds Baker, a Mr. Tebbetts, and Andrew Dun ning all testified, about 1796, that according to common report, prevalent during their childhood, Thomas Purchase lived at the Ten- Mile Falls (Little River) , and that they had seen there an old chimney and a cellar, which the aged people called Purchase's cellar.

John Moulton, Gideon Hinkley, and Richard Knowles testified in 1794, Thomas Thompson aud James Hunter, of Topsham, in 1795, to the effect that they had been told by their parents aud other aged people that Purchase formerly lived at New Meadows River, at a place after wards known as " Stevens's Carrying- Place." A great many others testify, on one side or the other, and a certain number of them to the effect that his residence was at the Pejepscot Falls.2 The opinion has been expressed by some that Purchase, on first settling down as a trader with the Indians, dwelt at what was subsequently known as Stevens's Carrying-Place, and that when the English settled in somewhat near proximity to him, he, in order to monopo lize, as much as possible, the trade with the natives, moved up to the Pejepscot Falls, and subsequently to the Ten-Mile Falls.

Since it is known, however, that he very early went into the fishing business, it would seem quite as probable that he first settled at the falls, and afterwards, when too old to carry on the fishing business, took a farm at New Meadows. There is, probably, no reasonable basis for the supposition, entertained by some, that there were three individuals of the same name, situated near each other.3 Nothing has been found to show that George Way was ever settled in this vicinity. At the time the patent was issued Way lived in Dorchester, England;- and though his widow and sons afterwards resided in Hartford, Conn., it is not known, with certainty, that he himself ever came over to this country. Pattentes as I know granted for making Piantacons in New England," No. V\, Vol 2, Colonial Records, in the Public Record Office, London (See Maine Historical Collections, Memorial Volume, p. 124 ) 1 Statement of Title. 2 There are said to be nearly one hundred depositions in the Pejepscot Records, in ref erence to the residence of 1'homas Purchase. 3 See Sketch of J'urchase in Part The grant to Purchase and Way was not very extensive.

It is defined as "certain lands in New England called the river Bishops cotte, and all that bounds and limits the main land adjoining the river to the extent of two miles" only.1 The river called Bishops cotte is undoubtedly that portion of the Androscoggin known as the Pejepscot.

The old patents were apt to be indefinite, and oftentimes conflicted with one another, but this grant seems unusually definite as to its width, and tallies well with the following indenture, between Thomas Purchase and Governor Winthrop : — "This indenture, made the 22,h day of the 5th M", @ 1639, betweene Thomas Purchas, of Pagiscott, gentleman, of the one parte, and John Winthrope, Esq : Governo1* of the Massachusets, on the behalfe of himselfe, the Governor & Company of the Massachusets, on the other parte, witnesseth, that the said Thomas, for divers good causes & con siderations him therevnto moveing, hath given & granted, & by these prsents doth give & grant, vnto the said John Winthrope & his suc cessors, the Governo' & Company of the Massachusets, forever, all that tract of land at Pagiscott aforesaid, vpon both sides of the ryver Androscoggin, being four miles square towards the sea, wtb all liberties & priviledges therevnto belonging, so as they may plant the same w'h an Inglish colony when they shall see fit, and shall have as full power to exercise iurisdiction there as they have in the Massachusets ; provided, that the interest & possession of such lands as the said Thomas now vseth, or shall make vse of, for his owne stock, & improvement w,h in seaven yeares next ensuing the date hereof, shall bee & remaine to the said Thomas & his heires & assignees forever vnder the iurisdiction aforesaid ; and as well the said Thomas himselfe, & his family, & his heires & assignes, as all other the inhabitants vpon said lands, are forever to bee vnder the due ptection of the said Gov ernor & Company, by order of the Generall Court, as other inhabitants of the same iurisdiction are : This grant by approbation of the said Generall Court to bee recorded and exemplified vnder the comon seale, or otherwise to be voyde — In witnes whereof the parties above said have herevnto interchangably set their hands & seales the day & yeare first above written.