The young people's history of Maine; from its earliest discovery to the final settlement of its boundaries in 1842

Front matter

.Oc cJ>.

THE

YOUNG PEOPLE'S

Preface

In this little volume I have endeavored to present faithfully and clearly the beginnings of our State, what manner of life the early residents led, and what notable events have marked the progress of its affairs.

Though the book is devoted wholly to setting forth the deeds of the people of Maine, it has not been my purpose to foster state above national pride, neither to prolong any bitterness toward those whom our forefathers met in mortal strife ; but, by exhibiting the excellent record of the Pine Tree State, to furnish grounds of justification for that regard which all would like to entertain toward their native region, or the home of their adoption.

I have endeavored so to treat the subject as to make the lessons of our brief history useful to the youngest readers, without descending to such trivial details or trifling manner as would prove unj^leasant to those more mature. The proj^er limits of the volume would not admit so much fulness of incident as might be desired by some; and in making a selection I have preferred such as best illustrate their time and are also closely connected with the movement of affairs; and in this respect I think my work will be sustained by those accurately conversant with our historical records. As the nature of this history does not require it, I have avoided burdening its pages with references to authorities. In

PEEFACE. VII

regard to dates, new style exclusively has been used, as avoiding all confusion.

For those desiring a more complete record of early times, I am happy to recommend the "Beginnings of New England," by R. K. Sewell, Esq., of Wiscasset, together with those learned and exhaustive volumes of the "Documentary History of Maine," by Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., L. L. D.

My thanks are due for courtesies and valuable aid, to Reverend Professor A. S. Packard, D. D., the accomplished librarian of the Maine Historical Society, as well as to its late president, the lamented Judge Bourne ; also, to Hon. J. W. North, the historian and biographer of Augusta, and to J. G. Elder, Esq., of the Lewiston public library.

It would be unjust to close without acknowledging that this volume has proceeded from a suggestion of the desirableness of such a work, by Hon. Nelson Dingley, Jr. — a gentleman widely known in connection with the educational interests of this State.

At the suggestion of friends long familiar with schools I have added a few questions at the close of each chapter, giving the work a special adaptation for use as a text book. Where it is not deemed best to make the history a subject of formal recitation, it may be used for reading lessons — when the questions will be found useful in fixing the essential points of the narrative upon the mind of the pupil.

With these remarks I leave the book in the hands of a generous public, hoping that my efforts will meet with a kind approval.

Brunswick, Me., Nov. 15th, 1873.

Chapter I. The Coast Explored

Cabot's Discovery. Visits of the Northmen, French, Spanish and English. Gosnold on the coast of Maine. Pring's voyage. Fox Islands. Pring trades with the natives. Weymouth discovers Monhegan. Crystal Hills. The garden at Pentecost Harbor. Sagadahoc or Kennebec. Indian men, women and children. Drinking tobacco. Catching savages. The embassy. A French colony. To Cape Cod and back. Port Royal founded.

CHAPTEE 11.

THE FIRST COLONY OF NEW ENGLAND.

The North and South Virginia Company. The Popham colony. Monhegan. Skidwarroes. The first sermon. Escape of Skidwarroes. The vessels at Sagadahoc. Description of Sabino. The colonists disembark. Building a village. The first English vessel. Explorations. The Bashaba. Indians at the x>lantation. Indian opinion of the Englishman's religion. The trick with the cannon. The storehouse blown up. Death of Popham. Departure of the colonists.

CHAPTER in.

EARLY EVENTS ON THE COAST OF MAINE. The Jesuit colony at Mt. Desert. Argal destroys* it. Capt. John Smith explores Maine. The Bashaba overthrown. Pestilence. Gorges' colony at Saco. Rocrof t. Dermer. The Frenchman's prophecy. Samoset and the Pilgrims. Samoset and Capt. Levett.

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER lY.

COLONIES AND COLONISTS.

The New England Charter. Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Laconia. The Pilgrims at New Plymouth. Earlier settlements. First general government in New England. The Kennebec Patent. Puritan trading houses. The Lygonia, or Plough Patent. Muscongus grant, or "Waldo Patent. Pemaquid Patent. Sheepscot, or the garden of the East. Massachusetts Bay Colony. New Scotland ceded to the French. Sir William Alexander's right acquired by La Tour. Plunder of English trading houses and vessels in Acadie. The first Pirate. D'Aulney at Biguyduce.

CHAPTEE Y.

POLITICS, PROPERTY, AND CIVIL AFFAIRS.

Maine divided into four provinces. New Somersetshire. Its government. Drunkenness. Oppressions by the king. The Province of Maine. Rights of the proprietor and of the king. Divisions and government of the province. Legal decisions. Agricultural products. Manufactures and commerce. City of Gorgeaua. The Plough Patent revived. ' Religious freedom. Death of Gorges.

CHAPTEE YI.

COUNTIES, CUSTOMS AND CHARACTERS.

Six governments in Maine. John Alden. Homicide on the Kennebec. Thomas Purchas. Elasticity of the Massachusetts Bay Charter. Gorges' government dissolved. John Bonython. Western Maine becomes the County of Yorkshire. Courts. The militia. Musketeers and pikemen. The boys' training. The stocks, pillory, whipping-post, and ducking stool. Other penalties. Religious oppression. Rev. John Brock.

CHAPTEE YIL

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS.

Fears of war with the Indians. The conquest of Acadia. Sir

X HISTORY OF MAINE.

Thomas Temple. Grant to the Duke of York. The king's commissioners. County of Cornwall. New Scotland again ceded to France. Governor Nichols' warning. The Conquest of Maine. Purchase of Gorges' right. The County of Cornwall becomes the County of Devonshire.

CHAPTEH VIII.

THE INDIANS OF MAINE.

The Abuakis. Anasagunticooks or Androscoggins. * Canibas. Etcchemins. Tarratincs. Openangoes. The Bashaba. Oyster shell mounds. Cannibals. Personal description of the natives. Dress. Labors. Wigwams. Hunting. Canoes, Bows and Arrows. Hooks, nets and weirs. Food and cooking. Domestic utensils. Little Indians. Merrymakings. Indian belles. AVeddings. Sports. Smoking. Diseases. Pow-wows. Religion. Government. Councils. Language.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIRST INDIAN WAR COMMENCES.

The French fraternize with the Indians. They become Roman Catholics. AVrongs of the Indians. They become hostile to the English. Decrease in the numbers of the Indians. Passaconaway. His prophecy. The petition of Rowles. Squando's child drowned. Squando has revelations from the spirit world. King Philip's war. Mo-ho-tiwormet's treaty. The Androscoggins plunder the settlement of Thomas Purchas. The slaughter of the Wakely family. The captive girl, John Bonythou warned. Attack on Phillips' garrison at Saco. The battle at Winter Harbor. Attack on Berwick. A noble girl. A fast. Death of Lieut. Plaisted. The cannon shot at Portsmouth. Retreat of the savages. Losses. The treaty. Return of Elizabeth.

CHAPTER X.

FIRST INDIAN WAR CONTINUED.

Forebodings of war. Seizure and sale of Indians for slaves. Abraham Shurte. Demands of the Indians. Death of King

C0>'TEXT5. S-

Philip. Simon, the Yankee- killer. Mr. Brackett's cow. Attack on Casco Neck. The massacre at Georgetown. The flight of a girl. The surprise of Arrowsic. Escape of Capt. Davis. Destruction of the eastern settlements. The Attack on Peaks' Island. Waldron's Ruse. The stone house on Peaks' Island. Capture of Fryer's crew at Richmond's Island. Pluck in Wells. Winter expedition against the Sokokis. Mugg's treaty. Captives restored, 3Iugg's treaty a sham. Waldron meets the Indians at ilare Point. Ruse of the Tarratines. The 3Iohawks in Maine. The Indians aroused- Their successes. The fight at Black Point. Death of Mugg. Savages turn sailors. The fort at Pemaquid rebuilt. The war closed. Terms of peace. Losses of the war.

CHAPTEE XI.

THE FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

Baron Castine. The Dutch at Castine. Andros' treaty with the Indians. Attack on North Yarmouth. Death of Walter Gendell. Jamestown at Pemaquid destroj'ed. Abdication of James IL and overthrow of Andros. The people's government revived. Indian revenge on Major Waldron. Capt. Swaine. 3iIajor Church meets the Indians at Falmouth Neck. Berwick destroyed. A flotUla of canoes. Indians camp in Falmouth. The surprise on Munjoys HiiL The massacre on Falmouth Neck.

CHAPTEE XII.

FIRST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CONTENTED. Sir WiUiam Phipps. He builds a vessel at Woolwich. Raises the treasure from a Spanish wreck. Takes Acadia from the French. Unfortunate expedition against Canada. First palmer money. 3Iajor Church routs the Indians on the Androscoggin. The sagamores regain their wives and make peace. Settlements destroyed. A vUlage of blockhouses. Wells attacked by 3Ioxu5. Cape Neddock destroyed. King's exi)edition eastward. Fatal attack on York. (Generosity. Persistent attacks on WeUs. The scout's trick. Bravery of Capt Converse. The enemy retire. The torture of a prisoner. Phipps appointed gOTemor. Builds a fort at Pemaquid.

XII HISTORY OF MAINE.

Church's expedition up the Penobscot. Fight with the Indians on the Kennebec. Converse builds a fort at Saco. The Indians afraid of the Mohawks, and mal^e peace with the Englisli. Tlie treaty brol^en and Cocheco destroyed. Capt. Chubb seizes the bearers of a flag of truce. Chubb surrenders the fort at Pemaquid to Iberville. Major Church goes eastward again. IMajor March's skirmish with Indians at Damariscotta. The war closed. Losses in the war.

CHAPTER XIII.

WITCHCRAFT, PIRACIES AND AN INDIAN TREATY.

The Witchcraft Delusion. Governor Phipps' wife accused. The governor's eyes opened. Phipps succeeded by Bellamont as governor. Pirates. Bellamont succeeded by Dudley. Another war expected. A new treat}'' with the Indians. Capt. Simmo. The Two Brothers. Outrage on Castine, the younger.

CIIAPTEE XIV.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.

Queen Amie's war commences. Simultaneous attacks on the settlements. Ruse of the savages at Fort Loyal. The fort besieged, Capt. Southwick attacks the Indian fleet. Troops of Horse. Expedition to Ossipee and Pigwacket. Nineteen men shot down. Plunniwell, the Indian killer. Major March at Pigwacket. A bounty for Indian scalps. The Mohegans and Pequots at Berwick. Col. Church goes eastward again. Norridgewock burned. French privateers. Col. Hilton surprises eighteen savages. Col. March goes against Acadia. Exploit of the Indians in Winter Harbor. Acadia conquered by Gen. Nicholson. Castine, the younger, guides Major Livingston through the wilderness. Col. Walton scouts along the coast. The Indians intrude at a wedding. Another treaty. Moxus' pretentions.

CHAPTER XY.

LOVEWELL'S WAR COISOIENCES.

Increase of settlements. Indian deeds. English missionaries to the

CONTENTS. XIII

Indians. False teaching of the Jesuits. An Indian speech. Threats of the Indians against the settlers of Sagadahock. Another expedition to Norridgewock. Settlements on Merrymeeting Bay destroyed. Another attack on the fort at St. George's. Brunswick burned. Night attack on the Indians in Topsham. Deering's garrison surprised, and children captured. Mohawks on the Kennebec. The Micmacs and St. Francis Indians at Arrowsic. Col. Westbrook burns the Indian fort near Bangor. Another expedition to Norridgewock. The fight on St, George's River. Death of the brave Captain Winslow.

CHAPTEK XYI.

THE DESTRUCTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK.

Final expedition against Norridgewock. Description of the village. The engagement. Death of Mogg. Death of Ralle. Account of the missionary. An Indian's mistake. A writing. The Jesuit's deceptions. Estimate of Ralle's character. Indian Old Point. Burning of the village by the Mohawk. Results of the expedition.

CHAPTER XYII.

LOVEWELL'S FIGHT.

Capt. Lovewell at Winnipesaukee. Lovewell starts for the Sokokis. The fort on Ossipee Pond. Pigwacket. Lovewell's Pond. An Indian discovered. The packs left on the plain. Capt. Lovewell wounded. An ambush, A close fight. Lovewell's men retire to the pond. Chaplain Frye. Chamberlain and Paugus. Wyman and Paugus. Indians draw off. English retreat. Kies escapes in a canoe. Frye and Far well left. Jones reaches Biddeford. Arrival of the men at Ossipee Pond. Fort foimd deserted. Col. Tyng visits Pigwacket and buries the dead. The Pig^^ackets disappear. Capt. Heath goes up the Penobscot. Indians want peace. Governor Dummer's treaty.

CHAPTER XVni.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. The desolation of the wars in Maine. Easier times for the old

XIV HISTORY OF MAINE.

settlements. About immigrants. The king's woods. Masts and knees for the royal navy. The king's surveyors and the lumbermen. The king gives Col. Dunbar the province of Sagadahock. The Scotch-Irish. Lutherans. Dunbar and his friends throw Gov, Belcher out of office. Whitefield, the evangelist, visits Maine. Anecdote of Whitefield and Ben Franklin. The eccentric Mr. Moody. Puritan ministers. The "Puritans" become "Congregationalists." Form of worship. Meeting houses. IIow the congregation kept warm. Ministers. Boys and girls at meeting. The tythingman. Singing. Sunday regulations. Schools. Social amusements. IIow houses were built. Pork and pumpkins. Furniture. Spinning wheels. Hand looms. Dress. Social customs. Heir looms. Noble names.

CHAPTER XIX.

KING GEORGE'S WAR.

Louisburg, the Dunkirk and Gibraltar of America. An expedition against it. Sir William Pepperell. Whitefield gives a motto for the expedition. Col. Vaughn burns up the wine and brandy. The English build batteries in the dark. Tyng captures a French vessel. A flag of truce. Dismay of the French. A grand discharge of artillery. The city surrendered. Strong fortifications. Prizes. British claim all. Rejoicings. The Tarratines. Mischief. The young warriors pant for glory. Fort at St. George's assaulted. North Yarmouth surprised. The savages at Flying Point. Outrages at other places. Bounties for Indian scalps.

CHAPTER XX.

KING GEORGE'S WAR CONTINUED.

Attack upon Gorham. Massacre of Bryants' family. Destruction of Waldoboro. Dogs. French attempt to capture Louisburg. The fleet scattered. Fever. Death of D'Anville. Suicide of the vice-admiral. Western Maine swarms with Indians. Another French fleet. Attacks on Pemaquid and St. George's. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Indians talk peace. The St. Francis Indians on a raid. Wiscasset attacked. A canoe upset. In-

CONTENTS. XV

dian depredations westward. A hunter shoots a chief. French forces. The Indians make peace.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SIXTH AND LAST INDIAN WAR.

French outrages. George Washington. French fortresses extended. English forts. French offer bounties for English scalps. Braddock's defeat. Siege of Beau-sejour. Acadians removed from Nova Scotia. Capt. Cargill kills friendly Indians. Manchester kills Poland, an Indian chief. Distresses. Gen. Wolfe. Indian outrages cease. Fort Pownal. Death of General Waldo. Successes. The swinging scalps at St. Francis. Rejoicings. The French nation atones by Lafayette.

CHAPTER XXn.

THE DAWN OF THE REVOLUTION.

Peaceful times. Maine all border. The heroism of the settlers of Maine. Two new counties. Gov. Pownal. New towns east of the Penobscot. Drought and fire. British oppressions. Taxation without representation. A new tax, Boston Massacre . First act of rebellion in Maine. The Boston "Tea Party." Gen. Gage governor of Maine. First American government.

CHAPTER XXm.

EARLY EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.

Captain Mowatt dismantles Fort Pownal. English missionaries. Indians true to America. Battle of Lexington. Companies set out from York and Falmouth. Col. Scammon's regiment. The affair at King's dock in Bath. Captain Mowatt captured. Battle of Bunker Hill. Capture of the Margrauetto. Cap- . ture of the Diligent. Mowatt burns Falmouth. A war vessel frightened off.

CHAPTER XXIV.

ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION AND THE WAR IN THE EAST. Arnold's force ascends the Kennebec. Bombazec Rips. Dead

XVI HISTOEY OF MAINE.

River Carry. Col. Enos returns. The Chandiere. Flagstaff Plantation. Mt. Bigelow. The accident. Bear broth. The troops meet cattle. Defeat. Post offices. Maine a grand military division. Independence declared. Colonel Eddy's expedition. Colonel John Allan. His boys held as hostages. British attack on Machias. Surrender of Burgoyne.

CHAPTER XXY.

EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION ON SEA AND LAND.

Terrible fires. Hon. John Adams and Commodore Tucker. Three British ships pursue the Boston. Tacker saves "that egg." Capture of the Thorn, A French fleet. Maine made a District. British at Biguyduce, or Castine. Americans besiege Castine. The embargo. The British on the Kennebec. Capture of Gen. Wadsworth. His escape. More troops. Capture of Cornwallis. More raids of the Canada Indians. The treaty. Boundaries. Independence acknowledged.

CHAPTER XXVI.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

Customs and dress of the wealthy. Of farmers and mechanics. Of their waves and daughters. Indian dress, new style. New settlers. Big pine trees. First American flag. Exports regulated. First newspaper. The Bingham Purchase. Germans, Scotch and Irish. Commercial districts. Governor Hancock. Bowdoin college.

CHAPTER XXYH.

THE MALTA WAR.

The Muscongus Patent. Major Gen. Knox. Lucy, his wife. The old patents in new hands. Squatters. Murder of Chadwick. Augusta invaded. The trial.

CHAPTER, xxyni.

THE WAR OF 1813.

Impressment of seamen. Little Belt. Commerce of Maine. Com. Preble. Battle of the Enterprise and Boxer. Other successes. Increase of manufacturers. The British at Eastport.

CONTENTS. XVII

The treasury notes. The Drovers. Com. Tucker captures the Crown.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT.

Castine captured by the British. Preparations for defense at Hampden. The engagement and retreat. Leading citizens imprisoned. A bond and other exactions. The enemy at Bangor. Robbery of stores. The town threatened by fire. Saved by a bond. Flames in the night. Hampden rifled. Alarm on the Kennebec. The militia at Wiscasset. They march to harass the enemy. A part of Maine declared territory of Great Britam. Expedition against Machias. Capture of a party of the enemy. Commerce on the Penobscot. Treaty at Ghent. The British evacuate Maine.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS.

Results of the war upon society. How the evil was met. Depression of manufactures. The Ohio fever. Affairs improve. Separation voted. Slavery delays the admission of Maine to the Union. Maine the twenty-second State. Gov. King. Acts of first Legislature. Waterville College. Maine Wesleyan Seminary. Religious and other societies. Statistics of Maine. No carriages. How people traveled. Mail coaches introduced. Steamboats arrive. Lafayette's visit.

CHAPTER XXXI.

MEN AND AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION.

Governors Parris, Lincoln, Hunton and Smith. Northern boundary of Maine. King of the Netherlands award. Removal of the Capital. The State House. Governor Dunlap. Madawaska settlements. Maine census officer arrested by the British. Claims of Maine territory by the British. Appearances of war. Disturbances in Canada. Burning of the Caroline. Military road through Aroostook. Conflict with a slave state. Governor Kent. Representative Cilley falls in a duel. Scientific survey.

XYI HISTOEY OF MAIXE.

Eiver Carry. Col. Enos returns. The Chaudiere. Flagstaff Plantation. Mt. Bigelow. The accident. Bear broth. The troops meet cattle. Defeat. Post offices. Maine a grand military division. Independence declared. Colonel Eddy's expedition. Colonel John Allan. His boys held as hostages. British attack on Machias. Surrender of Burgoyne.

CHAPTER XXY.

EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION ON SEA AND LAND.

Terrible fires. Hon. John Adams and Commodore Tucker. Three British ships pursue the Boston. Tucker saves "that egg." Capture of the Thorn. A French fleet. Maine made a District. British at Bigu3^duce, or Castine. Americans besiege Castine. The embargo. The British on the Kennebec. Capture of Gen. Wadsworth. His escape. More troops. Capture of Cornwallis. More raids of the Canada Indians. The treaty. Boundaries. Independence acknowledged.

CHAPTEE XXYI.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

Customs and dress of the wealthy. Of farmers and mechanics. Of their wives and daughters. Indian dress, new style. New settlers. Big pine trees. First American flag. Exports regulated. First newspaper. The Bingham Purchase. Germans, Scotch and Irish. Commercial districts. Governor Hancock. Bowdoin college.

CHAPTER XXYH.

THE ]\IALTA WAR.

The Muscongus Patent. Major Gen. Knox. Lucy, his wife. The old patents in new hands. Squatters. Murder of Chad wick. Augusta invaded. The trial.

CHAPTER. XXYin.

THE WAR OF 1812.

Impressment of seamen. Little Belt. Commerce of Maine. Com. Preble. Battle of the Enterprise and Boxer. Other successes. Increase of manufacturers. The British at Eastport.

CONTENTS. XVII

The treasury notes. The Drovers. Com. Tucker captures the Crown.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE BRITISH ON THE PENOBSCOT.

Ca&tine captured by the British. Preparations for defense at Hampden. The engagement and retreat. Leading citizens imprisoned. A bond and other exactions. The enemy at Bangor. Robbery of stores. The town threatened by fire. Saved by a bond. Flames in the night. Hampden rifled. Alarm on the Kennebec. The militia at Wiscasset. They march to harass the enemy. A part of Maine declared territory of Great Britain. Expedition against Machias. Capture of a party of the enemy. Commerce on the Penobscot. Treaty at Ghent. The British evacuate Maine.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE SEPARATION AND ATTENDANT EVENTS.

Results of the war upon society. How the evil was met. Depression Ox manufactures. The Ohio fever. Affairs improve. Separation voted. Slavery delays the admission of Maine to the Union. Maine the twenty-second State. Gov. King. Acts of first Legislature. Waterville College. Maine Wesleyan Seminary. Religious and other societies. Statistics of Maine. No carriages. How people traveled. Mail coaches introduced. Steamboats arrive. Lafayette's visit.

CHAPTER XXXI.

MEN AND AFFAIRS AFTER THE SEPARATION. Governors Parris, Lincoln, Hunton and Smith. Northern boundary of Maine. King of the Netherlands award. Removal of the Capital. The State House. Governor Dunlap. Madawaska settlements. Maine census oflicer arrested by the British. Claims of Maine territory by the British. Appearances of war. Disturbances in Canada. Burning of the Caroline. Military road through Aroostook. Conflict with a slave state. Governor Kent. Representative Cilley faUs in a duel. Scientific survey.

XYIII HISTORY OF MAINE.

CHAPTEE XXXII.

THE AROOSTOOK WAR, AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF BOUNDARIES.

The British trespass on our timber lands. Two hiindred men sent to eject them. Capture of the land agent. Sheriff Strickland's ride. Sir John Harvey announces that possession will be retained by force. The eastern militia ordered out. A draft ordered. Action of Congress. General Scott arrives. Capture of the British land warden. Gen. Scott opens negotiations. Troops dismissed. The Great Pacificator. The Webster and Ashburton treaty. Gov. Fairfield. Important measures. The Washingtonians. Conclusion.

CHAPTER I.

1. My young friends will remember that Clmstoplier Columbus made liis famous voyage of discovery in 1492. I have never forgotten it myself since learning the little rhyme :

"In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus crossed the ocean blue."

2. On this voyage he discovered islands only, and did not reach the great Ave stern continent until his third voyage, which was made in 1498. But John Cabot and his son, Sebastian, were before him here ; for they had sailed along the coast from Newfoundland to Albermarle Sound the year previous. They took possession of the country in the name of the English sovereign ; but England soon became so busy with affiiirs at home that she made no attempt to settle the new country for nearly a hundred years.

3. Yet I should here tell you of other visits made long before this time. There have been certain marks found on the rocks of Monhegan Island and at one or two points on the mainland, which are thought by some to show that the Norwegians, who peopled Iceland and Greenland, also visited the coast of Maine about the year nine hundred and ninety, and later. It is also said that our coast was seen by Yerrazzani, a French navigator, in 1524; by Gromez, a Spaniard, in 1525; and by an Englishman named Rut, in 1527. Again in 1556 a Catholic priest named Andre Thevet sailed in a French ship along the whole coast ; spending several days in Penobscot Bay, where he held conferences with the natives. Yet all these belong to the ancient period, and nothing came of any of them.

4. It was in 1602, the last year of the reign of the "Grood Queen Bess," that Bartholemew Gosnold sailed along the coast of Maine ; and, though he did not give any exact account of his voyage, we know that he touched at the Isles of Shoals, and at other points northward. He came at last to a long, bending arm of land stretching out to sea, where he caught many codfish, and therefore called it Caj^e Cod. The next year^ just a few days after the death of Queen Elizabeth, Martin Pring started from England wnth two vessels, bound on a trading voyage to America. One of his vessels was named "Speedwell," and carried thirty men and boys ; the other was the "Discoverer," carrying only thirteen men and one boy. Early in June they sailed into a bay wliich contained many islands ; and beyond it was "a higli country full of great woods." It was Penobscot Bay. They found here good anchorage and plenty of fish. Some of the company went ashore at the islands, seeing on one of them some silver-gray foxes ; so they gave this group the name of Fox Islands, wliich it bears to this day. Captain Pring had brought a stock of bright colored clothing, with hatchets, knives, kettles, brass and silver bracelets, rings, and other cheap and showy ornaments, such as savages hke, in order to trade Avith the natives. Not meeting with any of these about the Penobscot, he sailed southward, passing through Casco Bay, and ascending Saco river six miles. The companies were delighted with the many fine groves and strange animals they saw, but found no Indians until they came to l^arragansett Bay. Here they exchanged their merchandise for furs and sassafras, and went back to England with a valuable cargo.

5. Then Idling James sent out Captain George Weymouth in the ship Arcliangel ; who, in May, 1605, anchored his vessel on the north side of an island, now known to be Monhegan. The long boat was lowered, and Captain Weymouth went on shore and took pos-

1G05 Tjjj, COAST EXPLORED. 15

session in the name of his sovereign. He named the island St. George ; also setting up a cross in token that he meant to establish there the Cln*istian religion. They found ashes and coals, showing where a fire had been only a short, time before ; and they knew by this there were human beings near. Close by the fire, too, were the shells of eggs — bigger than those of a goose; and they saw many sea fowl about the place — some of them large enough to have laid the eggs. They also caught from the vessel thirty large cod and haddock. A number of small mountains were in view from here, while away to the west were the grand White Mountains of J^ew Hampshire, which these voyagers called the "Crystal Hills." Then, sailing tow^ard these hills, they quickly came to a fine haven in the mainland, which Captain Weymouth named Pentecost Harbor, because they entered it on that day of the Christian year. This is supposed by some to be Townsend Harbor in Boothbay, though others believe it to have been George's Island Harbor, which is a httle to the east. Here they staid for several days, resting themselves from their long voyage. Some planted a garden, and sowed barley and pease ; while others explored the rivers, harbors and islands. In sixteen days from the planting of their garden some of the vegetables had grown to eight inches in height. These were the first fruits of English culture on the shores of Kew England.

6. Though Captain Pring found no Indians here, Captain Weymouth met with a great number ; and they brought many furs to exchange with him for trinkets. There was no hair on the face of these Indians, and that on their heads was black, coarse and straight. It was cut short over the forehead, and the remainder tied up in a single mass, which hung over their backs. Theu' skin was of a dark copper color, where it was not painted ; and the only clothing they wore was a short coat about the waist. At one time several women and two hoys came down the shore to look at the white strangers and their ship. The boys were only two or three years old — fat, lively Httle fellows ; but all naked except that they wore leathern bnskins laced nearly to the knees, and held in place by strings running up to a belt about their waists ; and this belt was hung full of little round pieces of copper.

7. One day the natives met the EngHsh, as they came ashore, with more than usual politeness, and led them to some fires around which many others of the Indians sat laughing and -talking, wliile puffs of smoke rose from their mouths. Probably these sailors had never before seen any one smoke, for tobacco was an American plant, then but httle known in Europe. The English were seated on deer-sldns ; and the pipe, made of a lobster's claw, was passed to them ; and they sucked the smoke into their mouths just as the dirty natives did. Doubtless it made them feel quite sick, but they pretended that it was good. They called this operation "drinking tobacco."

8. Xot long after, the EngHsh and Indians grew suspicious of each other ; and both parties were quite cautious in their intercourse. When Captain Weymouth was nearly ready to leave the place, two canoes came to the ship, with three Indians in each. Two of them from one of the canoes chmbed on board, and they were immediately thrust below deck. The one who had been left in the canoe pretty soon put ashore, having heard, probably, the outcries of his imprisoned companions. Those in the other canoe did not come on board, and a dish of pease was given them where they were. They went ashore to eat them ; and when these were finished they sent a brisk young fellow back with the bowl. So the sailors caught hhn ; and then seven or eight of them went in a boat which they called the "light horseman," to capture the other savages, taking with them another dish of pease, — an article of which the natives were very fond. They

1605 T2J, COAST EXPLORED. 17

went to tlie fire the savages liad kindled; but the one who had been frightened ashore ran away into the woods. The other two remained; and when well occupied with the viands, they were seized and forced down to the shore. It was as much as the eight men could do to get them into the boat ; for their clothing was not sufficient to hold them, and they had to be dragged on board by their topknots. This act of Captain Weymouth was no doubt wrong ; but it must be remembered that the ideas of personal rights in that day were not as clear as ours ; besides, he intended to liave them instructed in his language and rehgion, which, certainly, would be a benefit to them and their brethren, as well as to the Enghsli merchants and colonists.