The life of Sir William Pepperell, bart., the only native of New England who was created a baronet during our connection with the mother country

Front matter

THE LIFE

OF

SIR WILLIAM PEPPERRELL, Bart.,

Preface

The author, two or three years ago, received from a friend in New York, a paekaore of papers, which he was desired to use as materials for a Life of Sir William Pepperrell, the renowned " Hero of Louisburg." These papers had been exposed in an old shed on the Pepperrell estate, probably for half a century,, and were much stained and defaced. Indeed a part of them had become almost illegible, while others, on examination, proved to be of little value, being, in fact, mere business receipts, bills of lading, accounts, and memorandums. They were saved from total destruction by Colonel George Sparhawk, who, allied by marriage to descendants of Sir William, and living near the Pepperrell mansion, arranged them according to their dates, in a sequence of years from 1696 to 1759.

Among the few of any value to a biographer were rough draughts of letters to correspondents, and original letters from the same. But even these were in a measure unintelligible without their correlatives, which some light-fingered antiquary had purloined. vSome of the missing documents were, however, recovered by diligent search subsequently, greatly to the satisfaction of the author, as allowing him to relate incidents in the baronet's career, which would otherwise have been omitted.

A*

VI PREFACE.

But yet the materials, when collected from every source, were so scanty, as almost to lead to a determination to abandon the undertaking. In truth, I persevered only at the earnest solicitations of friends, who convinced me that the duty ought to be performed by some one, that every year of delay would increase the difficulties and perplexities which discouraged me, and that, while I might fail to write an interesting biography, I should at least rescue from oblivion many valuable facts for an abler pen at some future period.

It is to be remembered, that Sir William's avocations for the ten years preceding his memorable expedition to Louisburg, afford few events worthy of notice. He was one of the principal merchants of the day, and his time was engrossed by the building of vessels, the planning of voyages to Europe and the islands in the Caribbean Sea, the erection and operation of mills, and the purchase and sale of domestic and foreign productions. Meagre as are the records of his business, enough has been preserved to show that, as a man of trade, he was skilful beyond most, and that his success was not the result of what is commonly called "luck," but of untiring industry, nice calculation, and ability.

Such of the baronet's papers as illustrate the annals of his country, were consulted and relied on as the best possible authority by the Rev. Dr. Belknap, in writing his History of New Hampshire, and were deposited by him in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society, where they still remain. The accuracy of Belknap's concise and elegant work, so far as relates to the siege of the " Dunkirk of America,'^ is attributable to the materials thus obtained. As the professed historian of a single colony, he was particular to present to his readers all that seemed worthy of record touching the perils and services of its

PREFACE. Vll

people, rather than a detailed account of the whole enterprise ; hence the prominence given by him to the troops of New Hampshire. It is for the biographer of the Commander of the Expedition to supply omissions, and to state that his native " district," — or as Maine was then called, the "county of York," — furnished more soldiers in proportion to its population than any other section of New England, namely, upwards of one thousand, or nearly one third of the whole land force employed. And this, be it remembered, when the enrolled militia of Maine consisted of two regiments only.

Brief sketches of the siege and reduction of Louisburg are contained in the history of each New England province and of Nova Scotia, and in the more general histories of the times in both England and America. It was the greatest warlike enterprise in colonial history, and the crowning event in Pepperrell's life ; and his biographer is therefore bound to give, what has not hitherto been done, a detailed account of it from the most authentic sources, even at the risk of seeming prohxity. This he has attempted not by inferences from other historians, or by a web of his own weaving, but by spreading before the reader the authentic documents, written at the time and on the spot by Sir William and other chief actors in the scene, to estimate and decide upon their character and import for himself.

I designed to prepare an original plan of Louisburg, but after a personal inspection of the ruins of that city, and after an examination of several drawings of it and its fortresses, I became satisfied that the print which appeared in the early editions of the History of the Colonization of the United States admitted of no improvements ; and accordingly, by the kind permission of Mr. Bancroft, used his i)late instead of a new one.

My thanks are due to John Blunt, Esq., of New York ;

viii PKEFACE.

Dr. C. W. Parsons, of Providence ; J. Wingate Thornton, Esq., of Boston ; Colonel George Sparhawk, of Kittery ; George A. Ward, Esq., of Curwen's Journal; and to Hon. Lorenzo Sabine, author of the American Loyalists, for aid and suggestions, which have materially assisted me iu the performance of my labors.

PUOVIDENCE, R. L, May, 1855.

Chapter I

William Pepperrell, senior, Father of the Baronet. — Emigrates to the Isle of Shoals. — Marries Miss Bray, and settles at Kittery Point. — Pascataqua River. — Its Settlements and Early Trade. — Shipbuilding. — Indian Wars.

— Education of Children. — Purchase of Saco lands. — Appointed Judge and Colonel. — His Death. — Death and Obituary of Mrs. Pepperrell

page 1-19

CHAPTER n.

Birth of Sir William Pepperrell, junior, (the Baronet). — Limited Education and Early Employment in Trade. — Indian Cruelties. — Nature of Trade. — Rises in Military Stations. — Chosen Representative and Councillor. — ^larries. — Appointed Chief Justice. — Never imported Slaves. — Family Tomb.

— Will of his Fathei*. — Improves Military Disciphne. — Benning Wentworth appointed Governor. — Children of Pepperrell. — Marriage of his Daughter 20-40

CHAPTER HI.

Siege of Louisburg. — War with France. — Louisburg, its Situation in connection with the Canadas. — Its Strength. — Its Commander seizes Canseau. — Expedition against it projected and prepared. — Pepperrell appointed to Command. — Rapid Enlistment. — Shirley's absurd Instructions . 41-5&

CHAPTER IV.

Troops embark and arrive at Canseau. — Warren arrives there with Ships. — Landing of the Army at Cabai'us Bay. — Vaughn marches with four hundred Men and burns the Public Stores. — Grand Battery deserted. — Fascine Batteries erected, and Cannon drawn over a Morass. — Flag sent in to demand a Surrender. — Cannon found at Light-house. — Vigilant taken. — Island Battery Attack and repulse. — Plan of Attack on the City agreed on.

— Letter sent in from Marquis de la Maison Forte. — Order and Signals

X TABLE OF CONTENTS.

for storming the City. — Capitulation offered, agreed on, and signed. — Fepperrell marched into the City at tlie head of his Troops. — Official Reports of the Siege. — Public Rejoicings in Boston and other Cities. — Compliments from the King and Board of Admiralty. — Fepperrell made a Baronet, Warren an Admiral, and Shirley a Colonel. — Dr. Chauncy's Letter • 57-110

CHAPTER V.

Heavy rains set in after the Siege. — Letters of Drs. Chauncy and Flint. — Shirley requested to visit Louisburg. — On his return he compliments the Arxny to the Legislature. — Several rich Prizes taken. — Copy of a joint Letter to the Duke of Newcastle, giving Official Account of the Surrender

111-128

CHAPTER VI.

Ryan appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. — Bradstreet, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland. — ' Captain Piercy tried for Treason. — Lady Warren arrived. — Letter to Governor Wolcott. — Sickness. — Rhode Island Services. — Warren's Farewell to the Arm}'. — Complimentary Address from Massachusetts, and Pepperrell's Reply. — Warren and Fepperrell arrive in Boston; grand Reception. — Welcome of Speaker to Warren and Fepperrell, and their Replies. --Warren leaves for England. — Pepperrell's triumphant March to Portsmouth. — Concluding Remarks .... 129-145

CHAPTER VH.

French Forces sent under Duke D' Anville to destroy Sea-ports. — Great Preparations for Defence. — Dispersion and Loss of Fleet. — Projected Expedition against Canada, abandoned. — Bradstreet proposes to purchase Pepperrell's Commission. — Letter to Governor Wolcott about Recruits. — Ryan is detected in selling Commissions. — Is tried and cashiered. — Letter to Rev. Stephen Williams. — To Governor Wentworth about building a Frigate. — Prepares for second Visit to Louisburg. — Anson and Warren capture French Fleet. — Letter to Warren, and Recommendation of his Nephew

146-170

CHAPTER VIH.

Leaves Louisburg with Knowles for Boston, and encounters Tempest. — Tumult created by Impressment. — Letter from Waldo. — From three Subalterns, and Reply. — From five Subalterns. — Secretary of War's Construction. — Knowles's two Letters. — Letter to Governor Hopson. — Suits against Ryan, who escapes. — Mrs. Frost's Marriage to Dr. Colmau

171-191

TABLE OF CONTEXTS. XI

CHAPTER IX.

Andrew Pepperrell is engaged to Jkliss Waldo. — Correspondence of their Fathers and of Isaac Winslow. — Letter to Warren, and Answer. — Letter to Governor Hopson. — Forwards Bearing's Petition for Reprieve. — Shirley's Reply. — From Sir Peter Warren about Reimbursements, and the Amount. — Regiment is disbanded 192-209

CHAPTER X.

Sir William sails for London. — Sparhawk's Letters. — fleets Warren and Waldo. — Division of Parish in Kitter}'. — Stephen Minot's Letter to Andrew about Miss Waldo. — William Tyler's comical Letter. — Sir William returns to America. — Horses brought. — Writes to Willard and Warren. — Proposed Wedding of Andrew, and his Dismission . . . 210-229

CHAPTER XL

Letter to Richard Waldron; non-committal. — Style of Living. — Andrew's Death. — Letter to Boston IMinisters. — Andrew's Obituary. — Letter to Warren, and his Reply; to Kilby; Colonel Gorham; Secretary Willard; Henry Flint; to Governor Wentworth; Lady Warren. — Rev. Jonathan Edwards's Visit. — His Letter to Lady Pepperrell. — History of the Stockbridge Mission. — Edwards removed to Princeton College. — Willard's Letter; Replay. — Letter to Colonel Israel Williams .... 230-256

CHAPTER XH.

Sir William's Appearance and Dress. — Saco Bridge built. — Indian Council and Treaty. — Fort built at Duquesne, and Collision with Virginia. — Washington sent with Protest. — Letter to Secretary Willard from Governor Shirley, and Reply. — Indian Hostilities in Maine . . . 257-269

CHAPTER Xm.

Hostilities commenced. — Governor orders an Inspection of the Militia; PepperrelPs Report. — Sir Thomas Robinson's Letter. — Lord Halifax's Letter. — Sir William's Reply, and to Colcraft. — To Governor Belcher and to Lord Halifax. — Braddock's Defeat and Death. — Johnson and Lyman's Victory over Dieskau. — Pepperrell ordered to New York. — Expedition against Niagara and Frontinac ; Detention of Mercer and the Army at Oswego. — French Neutrals removed by Winslow, and their Dispersion. — Pepperrell promoted to a ^Major-General. — Sparhawk's Letters to him. — Letter to Lord Halifox. — Campaign of 1756. — Loudon, Commander-in- Chief. — Offered the Command of Crown Point. — Loss of Oswe;ro. — Cool-

Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS.

ness between Pepperrell and Shirley. — Shirley ordered Home. — Letter to Belcher, and Contribution to New Jersey College. — Commands Castle William. — Governor Pownall arrives. — Ke5's of Castle William presented. — Fruitless Expedition against Louisburg by Loudon. — Montcalm reduces Fort William Henry. — Great Alarm in New England. — Pepperrell marches to Springfield; his Letters and Eeturn. — Abercrombie. — Heavy Taxes. — Pitt appointed Mmister of War 270-309

CHAPTER XV.

Campaign of 1758. — Second Reduction of Louisburg. — Repulse of Abercrombie. — Bradstreet's Victory at Frontinac. — Forbes and Washington took possession of Pittsburgh. — Pepperrell promoted to Lieutenant-General. — Health fails. — Expeditions for 1759. — Capture and Defence of Fort Niagara. — Quebec taken. — Death of Pepperrell; his Character and his Benefactions 310-325

CHAPTER XVL

Revolutionary War. — Sir AVilliam's Legacies. — Estates lost by Confiscation. Present State of Cape Breton and Louisburg. — Descendants of Sir William in America and in England 326-341

Appendix

A. Abstract of Pepperrell' s Will 343

B. List of Army Officers at Louisburg 347

C. Brief Notices of some Oflicers at Louisburg 349

ERRATA

Page 1, line second, and page 209, line first, for Wales read Devon. 15, line fourteenth, for 1747 read 1750. 102, line fifth from bottom, for Massachusetts Historical Society, read State House

Library. 192, line tenth from top, for Nathaniel read John Sparhawk.

LIFE

OF

SIR WILLIAM PEPPERRELL.

CHAPTER I.

PARENTAGE AND EARLY YEARS.

The father of Sir William Pepperrell was a native of Ravistock Parish, near Plymouth, in Wales. At the age of twenty-two he emigrated to the Isle of Shoals, and after a residence there of four or five years he removed to Kittery Point, where he resided the remainder of his days, which terminated in 1734.

It is interesting and instructive to trace the rising steps of the Pepperrell family, from a destitute young fisherman to the princely affluence and exalted stations, civil, political, and military, to which the son arrived. It sheds light upon the history of the infant colonies, the character of the early settlers, the nature of their occupations, their commerce, the condition and relative importance of places of trade, and the influence of the times and events, in forming the character and shaping the fortunes of the illustrious subject of this memoir.

The name once so celebrated, has in America long since become extinct, and but for its record in the page of history, would ere this have passed into oblivion. To account for this curious fact, it will be necessary to give a more extended notice of the history of the family than would otherwise seem necessary. The name is variously spelt, not only by historians, and by correspondents who had occasion to address them, but even by themselves. It is sometimes spelt Pepperel, Pepperrel, Pepperrell, and Peprel ; but in official papers, and in the Herald office, it is spelt Pepperrell.*

The elder William Pepperrell was apprenticed, when a boy, to the captain of a fishing schooner employed on the coast of New England, and on the banks of Newfoundland, and having finished his term of service he earned a small sum, and embarked with it for the Isle of Shoals, near which he had formerly been employed in fishing. His education was very limited, his letters from bad writing and worse spelling being hardly legible. Tradition says that he spoke the broad Welsh, as Boll and Woll for Bill and Will.

His parents died early, leaving him and two or three sisters in destitute condition. One of the sisters, an invalid named Grace, lived to advanced age, unmarried. Being an invalid as well as destitute, she received assistance from the parish, and was buried at its expense. Another sister married a Phillips and had several children, three of whom visited their uncle William and were employed in his service as com-

* " William Pepperrells bear for their arms, argent a cheveron gules between three pine-apples, slipt verte. N. B. No crest is to be found to the above-mentioned arms, being an ancient coat before vests "were used." — Herald Office.

manders of small coasting vessels ; — two of them settled in Saco and are mentioned in the wills of both the William Pepperrells, who left them small legacies. Another sister married a Gilbert, and had children, among wiiom was a daughter named Mary, who married a Nichols. This Mary shared more of her uncle's affections than any other relative left in his native land. She wrote often and apprised him of the condition and changes of his kindred and acquaintances ; and it is from the letters which passed between them that the few facts relating to the early Pepperrell history have been gleaned.

At the Isle of Shoals the elder Pepperrell united in partnership with a Mr. Gibbons, of Topsham, England.* They invested their little stock of cash in fishing-boats and equipments, and let them to others on shares, and

* The Isles of Shoals lie nine miles southerly from Kittery Point. They were visited by Captain Smith in 1614, and for many years went by the name of Smith's Isles. Their whole number of acres is about six hundred, and the population varied, in the last two centuries, from two to six hundred persons. In early times they constituted one township, called Appledore, and sent two representatives to the General Court of Massachusetts, when a like number was sent from Kittery, York, and Wells. A portion of the islands now belongs to New Hampshire, and the rest to Maine. They afford a safe harbor to small vessels in stress of weather. The inhabitants were formerly more engaged in fishery than at present, and had many stagings and flakes for drying. It is here that the dun-Jish, so much valued by epicures, and which bring three times the price of common cod-fish, are obtained. They are said to be thicker than the common cod, and are caught and cured in the winter season, and named dun from their color. The character of the original islanders for sound morals, industry, and intelligence, has acquired for them great respect in the estimation of posterity. They supported an able ministry at the time of Mr. Pepperrell's residence there.

attended themselves to the curing of fish, on Star Island, and to the sale of them to merchants for Southern and European markets. They met with good success during three or four years, when Gibbons removed to the eastward, and purchased a right in the Muscongus or Waldo patent, including the present county of Waldo.

While upon the islands, Pepperrell had frequent occasion to sail to Kittery Point, for the purpose of traffic, and for the purchase and repair of boats. A shipwright there, named John Bray, supplied his wants, and in the course of their dealings welcomed him to the hospitalities of his house. Mr. Bray had arrived at the Pascataqua, from Plymouth, England, about 1660, bringing with him his family, among whom was a child named Margery, then only a year old. He purchased land at the Point, where the ancient Pepperrell mansion now stands, and was engaged in ship and boatbuilding during a long life. Margery had arrived at the age of seventeen when she first saw Mr. Pepperrell, who, smitten with her youthful charms, was not slow in making his impressions known. He probably expected to drive a bargain for her, with her father, with the same facility that he had often done for a boat. But her tender years were offered as an objection to the match, though it was conjectured that lack of the needful on his part had some influence. Time, however, served to lessen both objections ; she grew older, and he, by the first vessel he was able to send abroad, added much to his property; consequently, having passed through her teens, she obtained her father's willing consent to the alliance.

About the time of their marriage, Mr. Pepperrell changed his residence from the Shoals to Kittery Point,

PARENTAGE AND EARLY YEARS. O

where Mr. Bray gave him the site of the present Pepperrell mansion. The south part of this structure was built by the elder Pepperrell, and the north part by Sir William. It has recently been curtailed in its dimensions, by the removal of ten feet from each end of the building. Here was the birthplace of Sir William, and here dwelt "the two families, till the father's decease in 1734, which left the son's family sole occupants till 1759. It was in this period, of little more than half a century, that the largest fortune, then known in New England, was gradually accumulated. It was, however, increased by a legacy left to Mr. Pepperrell by his father-in-law, beside an estate in Plymouth, which also descended from Mr. Bray to Mrs. Pepperrell, and from her to her son (Sir) William.

The Pascataqua, which enters the ocean at Kittery Point, extends northerly, forty miles, to Wakefield, and is the boundary between Maine and New Hampshire. The territory on the east side of the river, from the Point to Lebanon, was called Pascataqua, and was changed to Kittery, which then included the present towns of Kittery and Elliot, and the Berwicks. Berwick was separately incorporated in 1723, and Elliot in 1810. There were local names given to districts along the shore, prior to any act of incorporation, as Kittery Point or Champernoon ; Sturgeon Creek, some eight or ten miles north ; and Newicheivannock at the head of tide-water in South Berwick, including Great-ivorks Falls. Above this was Quampegan, then Salmon Falls, and Toiv-ivoiv, or Lebanon. Opposite to Kittery Point, and near the New Hampshire shore, is Newcastle, an island, which, during the first century after the settlement, was the principal seat of commerce, especially of New Hampshire, and was fortified at an early period.

Two miles north of it was Strawberry Bank, now Portsmouth, which, as the savages disappeared and the country was settled, became a more convenient place of trade, and gradually absorbed most of that which had belonged to Newcastle. Near the south-west line of Portsmouth, a cove makes in and forms Little Harbor^ where the first emigrants pitched their tents and commenced fishing.

When Captain Smith arrived at Pascataqua, in 1614, there was a large Indian population, on both its shores, called Newichewannocks, whose sachem resided at Quampegan, (now South Berwick). Soon after a pestilential disease swept off a large portion of his tribe, and opened a space for English settlers.

The first house erected was by Thompson at Little Harbor, in 1623, and probably the next settlement was at South Berwick, where mills were erected in 1624, and immediately after, followed the settlements of Newcastle, Portsmouth, Kittery Point, Dover, Sturgeon Creek, and Exeter. Between all these places there was constant intercourse, and " some political connection." The proprietors of the soil. Gorges and Mason, employed as agent, on the Kittery side, Walter Neal, who dwelt part of the time at the Point. He had five associates in the various branches of trade, but until 1636 the fur trade, fishing, and lumbering, were the chief employments of the first settlers. About this time, a large number of families, some of them farmers, were sent by Gorges and Mason, and with them ample supplies of stock, provisions, and agricultural implements.

The number of mills increased on the small rivers, and lumber and ship-timber soon floated down in gondolas, to Kittery Point and Newcastle, and were shipped to various ports, European and American.

But the most lucrative, extensive, and durable business was the fisheries. It required small outfit, rarely failed of a good return, and a ready sale in American and foreign ports, or a profitable exchange at the South, for corn, tobacco, and naval stores ; in the West Indies, for tropical produce ; and in England, Spain, and Portugal, for dry goods, sails, cordage, wines, and fruit.

Although civil dissensions and political changes occurred to impede the general prosperity, yet population and wealth gradually increased, until the disastrous war of King Philip, in 1675, which lasted three years, and was attended with savage murders and conflagrations, and a suspension of trade and of agriculture. Mr. Bray, father-in-law of the elder Pepperrell, arrived at Kittery Point some fifteen years before this war, and at the close of it, had suffered less than those engaged in other occupations. Fishing-vessels and boats were indispensable, and yielded to shipwrights and owners a good profit. At the return of peace, therefore, Mr. Bray was able to extend his business upon a large and lucrative scale.

Ship-building was an early, and in time a very extensive branch of industry, on the Pascataqua and its tributary streams. Foreign merchants could supply themselves with vessels at a lower price than elsewhere. The Pepperrells built and sent many to the West India islands, laden with lumber, fish, oil, and live stock, to exchange for cargoes of West India produce for home consumption ; others to European markets, to exchange for dry goods, wine, and salt, or to sell both vessel and cargo. They also traded extensively in Southern colonial ports, exchanging cargoes of fish and West India goods for provisions and naval stores. But a much larger amount of business was done in the fisheries.

They sometimes had more than a hundred small vessels at a time on the Grand Banks, part of which they manned themselves, but more of them were let on shares. They also extended their business to other rivers. The following letter, written by the elder Pepperrell, in the year in which Sir William was born, illustrates the times. It was addressed to Captain John Hill, who commanded Fort Mary, at Saco, and acted as PepperrelPs agent.

Kittery Point, November 12, 1696.

Captain Hill,

Sir, — With much trouble I have gotten men and sent for the sloop, and desire you to despatch them with all speed, for, if all things .be ready, they may be fitted to leave in two days as well as in seven years. If you and the carpenter think it convenient, and the ground has not too much descent, I think it may be safer and better to bend her sails before you launch her, so as to leave immediately. But I shall leave it to your management, and desire you to hasten them day and night ; for, Sir, it will be dangerous tarrying there, on account of hostile savages in the vicinity, and it will be very expensive to keep the men upon pay. I send you a barrel of rum, and there is a cask of wine to launch with, (doubtless intended to treat female spectators). So with my services to yourself and lady, hoping they are all in good health, as I am at present, who are your humble servant at command,

William Pepperrell.

The launching of vessels was, in those days, attended by all persons of both sexes living in the vicinity, who expected an ample supply of good cheer, — rum for the men, and wine for the fairer sex. A barrel of each was the allowance on this occasion. The bottle was attractive and probably indispensable in all gatherings for mutual aid, whether log-rolling, corn-husking, rafting of timber, or raising of houses, and a militia company could drill only under the excitement of a treat from the captain. Even at ordinations the reverend divines must have a glass to quicken the fervor of their devotions. In a bill of expenses incurred on such an occasion, in the vicinity of Kittery Point, there are charged eight quarts of rum and two of brandy, for the clergy and council. And still worse, funerals were made an occasion for circulating the intoxicating cup, where the sighs and tears of sympathizing friends were awakened by the customary beverage, spiced rum. We have before us several bills for funeral expenses, incurred in the early part of the last century, in which this is mentioned. One of them specifies the ingredients thus : " Five gallons of rum, ten pounds of sugar, and half a pound of allspice, to make spiced rum." With such a network of ternptations spread over society, it is wonderful that any escaped — that all were not rendered confirmed inebriates ; but the Pepperrells, it is believed, always remained temperate.

The settlements on the Pascataqua River and its branches, were formed into distinct governments, so that in 1641 there existed four little republics, Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Pascataqua. But the three former were this year united to Massachusetts, and in 1652, the latter, which belonged to Maine, and had been incorporated, in 1647, as Kittery, was also added to that State, and in a short time the other settlements of Maine came under the Massachusetts government. With the exception of two or three years interruption.

under the administration of Andros, the province of Maine continued a constituent part of Massachusetts for more than a century, until it was finally erected into an independent State.

Kittery, which included the present towns of Kittery, Elliot, and the Berwicks, grew faster than any other town in Maine. The Point was accessible by water and convenient for ship-building, both as respects security against savage depredations, and facility for obtaining timber, by water, from the interior, and rigging and stores from Boston. In addition to this, sessions of the Supreme Court met here many years. In 1646 the town paid nearly one half of the amount of a tax assessed on the whole province of Maine.*

In 1671, the militia of the province amounted to 700, of whom 180 belonged to Kittery^ 80 to York, 100 to Wells, and 80 to Saco.f

*The following list of county rates, for tlie years 16G2, 1G88, and 1 734, shows the comparative valuation of several toAvns, and their relative increase in that time.

Kittery, York, Wells, Saco,

-f Fortifications on the Pascataqua were begun by the original proprietors, who sent over several cannon which their agents placed on the north-east point of Newcastle, at the north of the great harbor, and called Fort Point. They laid out the ground about a bow-shot from the water-side to a high rock on which it was intended, in time, to build a principal fort. In 1666, it was decided by commissioners to build a fort on the east side of Great Island, where the former one was built, and which was to inclose the great rock and all the easterly part of the island. The customs and imports on goods imported into the harbor w^ere to be applied to the maintenance of the