The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive. With an appendix and general index

Front matter

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Preface

An authentic History of this State has been long and much desired. Maine is a corner-pillar in the American Republic. Its territory equals one half of New-England, — its natural resources are great and various — its climate is good — its population now considerably exceeds 400,000, — and only two individual States have a greater extent of seaboard or more shipping. Several settlements have existed within its limits, more than two centuries ; through which period, as plantations have spread and multiplied, it has been the destiny of successive generations to struggle with wars and difficulties reiterated and uncommon, and to wade through suffering? deep and indescribable. The last age, however, particularly since the American Revolution, has been a period of remarkable prosperity, apparent in the improvements, wealth and numbers of the people.

_ To present, in a general historic view of such a State, the circumstantial details of facts and events, so as to meet with universal acceptance, cannot be anticipated. Approbation, or censure, often springs from the motive of perusal ; nay, what alfords entertainment i.0 one, may be more than toil to another. All are never equally pleased with the same repast, for men as often differ in taste and opinion, as in feature and character. — As to parts and arrangement, it is presumed the Introductory Sections need no apology for their length, AS they give a history of nature, little less entertaining than that of culture and society. Should any one raise objections to the long Narratives of Indian Wars interspersed, it is believed, he must, on reflection and review, be fully con\inred, that any considerable abridgement of them would occasion an unsatisfying void ; — so much have the fortune and fate of the country, depended upon the amity or hostilities of the natives. Nor bv any means could t\w early history of this State possess the attribute of perspicuity, without frequent allusions to the annals of Nova Scotia ; as the political affairs and current events in that Province, and in the eastern parts of Sagadahock, were for a century, blended too entirely and perpetually, to be kept separate and distinct. The topographical notes up»?n Towns contain fact? which could not with propriety be incorporated with the text, and yet were thought too valuable to

PREFACE.

be lost ; for descriptions of these municipalities are not only interesting to their respective inhabitants, — they are collectively the local chronicles of the State itself.

This production, though it has cost the Compiler many years' unremitting labor, is presented to an enlightened community, with great diffidence : For he is sufficiently aware, that the arrangement, the style and the correctness, are to pass in review before many invidious bystanders, disposed to censure rather than to commend ; while the more alloyed parts are to be severely tested in the crucible of the critic. Nor perhaps ouglit any one in the present age to expect a better destiny, who relates facts for the public eye, — designed for the perusal of all classes, under the responsibility of his name. The Historian, in short, is the devoted recorder of truth ; authentic annals are his stories ; and facts monumental as marble are the only materials allowed in his employment. It is a departure from duty and an imposition upon his readers, to give reins to his imagination and freedom to his pen — permitting them to play with figures, flowers and phantoms in the fields of fancy.

The Compiler's research for materials has been thorough, in the Libraries of the Capitol at Washington, the Boston Athen^um, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Massachusetts' Historical Society. He has also made extracts from more than twenty volumes of the Massachusetts' Public Records, and from letters of 150 correspondents, residing in different parts of the State. The works of the oldest and best Authors have been carefully consulted ; — a list of whose names will be submitted. — Availing himself of all these and some other sources of information, he has written, with great care and assiduityj a General History of the State ; and the Public will determine, whether any expression appears, inconsistent with what is chaste and correct in religion, sentiment or fact, — or whether such an amount and variety of matter, distributed through a period of 200 years, could have been judiciously compressed within a narrower compass. The plan chosen may not have been the best ; for like surveyors and settlers in all new Countries, he has been obliged to traverse an unexplored region, where the footsteps of no predecessor to any considerable extent could be traced. Should the work possess the humble merit of being a useful compilation, he will not have labored in vain ; for man subserves the purposes of his moral existence, when he does what is a real benefit to his Country.

Bansor. March 1S32.

LIST OF AUTHORS CITED IN THIS HISTORY.

A.

Allen 'William) Biographical and Historical Dictionary, eri 1809.

American and British Chronicle of War and Politics, from A. D. 1773 to 1783.

Annual Register from A. D. 1776 to 1702.

B Barton (Benj. S.) New Views, &c. of the Triljes in America. Belknap (Jeremy) History of New-Hampshire, 3 vols.

American Biography, 2 vols. ed. 1694-8.

Bigelo'.v (Jacob) American Medical Botany, 3 vols. ed. 1817. Eoiichette (Josepli) Topographical Description, &.c. of Canada, ed. 1315. Bradford (Alden) History of iVIassachusetts, 2 vols. ed. 1822. British Dominions in North America, from A. D. 1497 to 1763, ed. 1773. British Empire in America, 3 vols. [J. Oldmixon.]

C.

Chalmers (George) Political Annals of :he United Colonies to A. D. 1686, ed. 1780, 4to. Charlevoix ^Pere de) Historie et Disc. Gen. de la Neuville France, &,c. from A. D. 1504 to 1731. 6 vols. 12mo. Paris ^i. 1744. [In 4th vol plates and dcscri:)tioii of 93 plants. See remark in vol. 5 upon M. r,'Escarbot, S Champlain, J. de Laet, M. Denys and Baron la Flontaii, as authors.] " " Travels in North America, ed. 1 763.

Champlain (Sieur de) Voyages, &,c. dc la Canada, [from 1603 to 1629, j Pans ed. 1632. Chnrch (Benjamin,) 5 E.xpeditions Eastward, in second Indian War. Cleaveland (Farker) Treatis* on Mineralogy and Geology.

Collections of Mass. Historical .Society, 10 vols. — 2d series, 5 vols. — 3d series, 3 vols,

Mtjssrs. Farmer &. Moore, New-Hampshire, 2 vols.

New-Hampshire Historical Society, 2 vols, [for 1324-6.]

Maine Historical Society, ed. 1832.

D.

Denys"(M.) Geog. and Hist. Discription of North America, and Natural History of the

country, 2 vols.

Delaplaine (Joseph) Repository — Biog'aph. of Ariierican Character!, with plates. Douglass (William) Summary , of British Seltiuments in North America, 2 vols. ed. 1749.

E.

Edwards (Dr. Jonathan) Observations, SsC. on the Mubhekaneew Indians, ed. 17SG. Eliot (John) Biographical Dictionary, ed. 1809. European Setilcmenis (Account of) in America, ed. 17G0.

F.

Folsor-! (George) History of Saco and Biddeford, ed. 1830.

G.

Gordon (William) History of the United States, 3 vols. ed. 1789. Greenleaf (Mo^es) Survey of the State of Maine, Statistics, &c. ed. 1829.

(Jonathan) Sketches of tiie Ecclesiastical History of Mairie, ed. 1921. Gorges (Fcrdinando) Description of .New-England, ed. 1639.

H.

Halliburton's History of Nova Scotia, 2 vols. Hazard (Ebenezer) Historical Collections, 2 vols. 4to. ed. 1792-4. Heckeweldcr (John) Writing,? as to the Indians, Sic. A. Phil. Soc. Philadol ed. 1819. Holmes (Abiel) American Annals, 2 vciU,

LIST OF AUTHORS.

Hubbard (William) Genera) History of New-England, ed. 1815.

Narrative of the Indian Wars, Sfc. A. D. 1607 — 77, Worces. ed. 1801 Hutchinsoi. (Thomas) History of Massachusetts, 2 vols. ed. 1795. Collection of State Papers, ed. 1769.

J.

Jeffreys (Thomas) History of the French Dominions in N. ^ S. Ainer. ed. 1760, folio. JoEcelyii (John) Account of two Voyages to New-England, ed. 1674.

L.

Laet (John de) Novua Orbis, sen Des, in. Occ. ed. 1633. La Honir.n (Baron) New Voyages to America, 2d ed. 1706, 3d ed. 1735.

Letters, from 1683 to 1696, 2 voir Laws of Massachusetts, Colonial, Provincial, — State, General and Special, and Charters, 10 vols.

L'Escarbot (Mark) History, 8vo. A. D. J 609.

M.

Mather (Cotton) Magnalia, or History of New-England, 2 vols. Hartford ed. 1820. Memoirs of the War, &c. from A. D. 1744 to 1748, Treaty of Aix laChapelle, ed. 1758. Minot (George R.) Continuation of the History of Massachusetts, 2 vols. Moll (Herman) Geography, 3d. ed. 1700.

Morse (Jedidiah) American Universal Geography. Morton (Nathaniel) New-England Memorial, ed. 1772.

N.

Neal (Daniel) History of New-England, ed. 1742.

O.

Ogilby (John) America ; or Description of the New World, London ed. 1671, folio.

P.

Palairet (John) Description of the English and French Possessions in N. A. ed. 1755. Penhallow (Samuel) History of the Indian Wars, A. D. 1703 to 1713. Prince (Thomas) Chronological History of New-England, ed. 1736. Purchas (Samuel) Pilgrimage.

R.

Records, Resolves, and Journals tif Massachusetts Government, 30 vols. Remembrancer, from 1775 to 1784.

Rcynal (Abbe) Historic Phil, et Pol. .^c. 5 and 6 Tome, ed. Hague, 1774. Translated

ed. 1782.

Rouchefoucault Liancourt (Duke de la) in United States and Canada, 1795-7. Rogers (Robert) concise account of North America, 1 vol.

S.

Sketches of New Brunswick. [Chubb and Sears] ed, 1825. Smith (John) History of North and South Virginia.

(Thomas) Journal of Falmouth, fyc. A. D. 1720 to 1787, ed. 1821. Sullivan (James) History of the District of Maine, ed. 1795.

T.

Trumbull (Benjamin) History of Connecticut, 2 vols. ed. i813. (Henry) History of the Indian Wars, ed. 1819.

U.

Univer.sal History,— vols. 39, 40, 41, ed. 1763-4.

W, Willis (William) History of Portland.

Williams (Samuel) History of Vermont, 2 vols. ed. 1809. Winthrop (John) Journal from 1630 to 1645, ed. 1790. Wynne's History of the British Empire in America to 1763, 2 vols.

Y.

Young ('V A : His-.DTv oi North and South America, 2 vols. 12mo.

s

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

INTRODUCTION. Page 10 to 182.

Sec. 1. The limits of the Stale; 2d, its Geography; 3d, its Climate; 4th, its Vegetable Productions ; 5th, its Native Animals ; and 6th, its Minerals.

1602-3. Gosnold's and Pring's voyages to this country.

1603-4. Ue Monts' Patent of Acadia, and his visits to St. Croix.

1605. Weymouth's, Chalons' and Hanham's voyages to our coasts,

1606. North and South V^irginia Patent granted. 1607-8. Sagadahock Colony commenced and terminated.

CHAPTER II. p. 204—219.

1609-lC. French settlements at Port Royal, Quebec and Mount Desert. — South Virginia and Newfoundland plantations. R. Vines' visits to Saco river.

1611-12. Voyages of Argal, Somers and Harlow noticed.

1613. Eastern French subdued by Argal.

1811. Smith's and Hunt's visits at Sagadahock. Smith's Map and History of New-England.

1615. Attempts to effect settlemfjuts in Maine.

1615-18. Wars, famine and plague among the Indians of New-England.

Ifll7-19. The designs of Vines, Smith, Rocroft and Dermer, to effect plantations, unsuccessful.

1620. Naw-Plymouth Colony planted.

CHAPTER ITl. p. 220—244.

1620. The Council of Plymouth, in England, established, and the Grand

Patent granted. 1621-2. Mariana, Nova Scotia, Laconia — Patents granted. Monhcgan

peopled.

1623. Saco, New-Hampshire, Sagadahock, an! Pem.iquid settled. Rob-

ert Gorges, Governor of New-England, arrives. Sir Ferdinando defends the Grand Patent,

1624. Settlement of Agamenticus and patents there.

1625. King Charles' marriage with a French Princess, — the occasion of

subsequent evils to this country,

1626. Monhegan purchased by Elbridgeand Aldsworth. Trading house

at Penobscot erected. 1627-8. Keunebeck and Massachusetts' Patents granted ; the Kirks take

Canada. 1629-30. New-Hampshire— Cammock's—Kennebeck — Saco— Lygonia and

Musconffus Patents obtained from the Plymouth CouDciI. IS31. Pemaquid Patent granted— settlements on the Eastern coasts.

XII CONTENTS.

A. D.

1677-83. The measures of Gov. Andros at Sag-adahock, He is succeeded by Mr. Dung-an, Gov. of that Province and New- York.

1685-6. Death of Charles II. and accession of James II. who reappoints Dungan, Gov. of N. York and Sagadahock. His measures of administration under Palmer and West, in the Duke's Province.

1683. March, — Dung-an superseded by E. Andros, Commander-in-Chief over New-Eng-land, including Sag'adahock, New- York and the Jersies. The grievances of his administration. He seizes upon Penobscot, and orders the fort at Pemaquid to be rebuilt. His eastern expedition. He establishes in Sagadahock and Maine, eleven garrisons or forts.

1689. April. — Gov. Andros and his adherents seized and thrown into

prison, A Council of Safety formed. The Gen. Court of Massachusetts convened under the Colony Charter. James II. abdicates the British throne, and William and Mary proclaimed. The administration of President Danforth reestablished and his Council named. The command of the eastern military given to Col. Tyng and Maj. Frost. War between England and France.

1690. Conquest of Nova Scotia by Sir W. Phips. Unfortunate expedi-

tion against Canada. First paper money issued.

1691. Charter of William and Mary granted — embracing Massachusetts, New-Plymouth, Maine and Sagadahock.

CHAPTER XXIII. p. 604—650.

1688. King William's or the 2d Indian War. Its causes. The Saga-

mores mentioned. North-Yarmouth assailed. New-Dartmouth and Sheepscot destroyed — also Dover, in New-Hampshire.

1689. English captives first sold in Canada. Pemaquid burnt. 1st East.

Expeditionof Maj. Church. Defeats the enemy at Falmouth.

1690. Berwick destroyed. Falmouth laid waste. The garrisons at Pur-

pooduck, Spurwink and Scarborough, retire to Saco, and thence to Wells. Church's 2d E. Expedition. Visits Androscoggin.

1691. Attacks on Wells ; and Cape Neddock laid in ashes.

1692. Feb. — A great part of York burnt. Wells attacked. Church's

3d E. Expedition. Fort William Henry erected at Pemaquid.

1693. A stone fort built at Saco-falls. A truce.

1694. Attack on Kittery. Indians seized at Saco and Pemaquid.

1695. A parley at Rutherford's Island — not far from the new fort.

1696. July. — Fort William Henry surrendered to the enemy by Chubb.

Church's 4th E. Expedition. He ascends the Penobscot, then proceeds to Passamaquoddy and the bay of Fundy.

1697. Maj. Frost killed. A skirmish at Damariscotta. Treaty of Rys-

wick negotiated. 1698-9. Indians sue for peace. Treaty of Mare-point. Losses.

Appendix

No. 1.— Patent of Acadia to De Monts : Nov. 8, 1603. Page 651

2 Patent of Nova Scotia to Sir W. Alexander. Sept. 10, 1621. 655

3. — Narrative of Mrs. Hannah Swarton's Captivity, 1690-5. 657

Introduction

GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF MAINE.

In perusing the History of a country, it is desirable to have a previous acquaintance witli its geography and natural productions. A view, therefore, is now to be taken of this State under the following arrangement of particulars : —

Sec. I. The situation, extent and boundaries of Maine.

II. The face of the country, seacoast, rivers, mountains and soils.

III. The air, climate and seasons.

IV. The natural growths — trees, shrubs, plants, roots and

vines.

V. The native animals — beasts, birds, fishes, vermes, reptiles, and insects.

VI. INIinerals.

Our remarks upon these several subjects are intended to relate exclusively to this State ; and in exploring such difficult and untrodden grounds, facts and fidelity, without perfect descriptions, are all which ought reasonably to be expected.

SECTION I. Situation, extent and boundaries

The state of Maine is situated between 43° 4' and 48'' 6' north latitude; and 60 50 and 70* 53 west longitude from London ; Lntinuip and or between 6 15', and 10 18', east longitude from the capitol °"^'" "' at Washington.*

* Maine was called Mavesken or ^^lavooshen, by ancient voyagers and writers. In Purchas' Pilgrims, Mr. Hakluyt describes it to be "a country lying to tlie north and east of Virginia, between tlie degrees of 43 and 45. It is 40 leagues broad and 50 in length, lying in breadth cast and west and in length north and south. It is bordered on the east side with a couatrj', the people whereof they call Tarrantines; on the west with Ephistoma; on the north with a great wood, called Senaglecouna ; and on the south with the main ocean, sea, and many islands. In MaTooshen it seemeth there are nine rivers— the westernmost of which is Shawacotoc [Saco]. Vol. I. 2

10 BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT [Introduc.

Extent. The southwesterly extremity of the State is Kittery point, on

the eastern bank of Piscataqua river at its mouth, in latitude 43° 4' and in longitude 78' 34' west from London. Its western line from that point, which separates it from New-Hampshire, is 148 miles in length ; its northern line, which divides it from Canada, is about 290 miles long, in a direct course ; its eastern line, beginning at West-Quod dy-head, the southeastwardly corner of the State, in latitude 44' 43' north, and in longitude 66° 60' east from London, and extending thence to the northeast corner of the State, is about 234 miles long, and divides Maine from New- Brunswick. Its southerly line from Kittery point to West-Quoddy-head, in a direction of N. E. by E. and in a straight course, is about 220 miles.

Area. Its area has been variously estimated : Some have supposed it

embraced a territory equal to 200 miles square, and consequently to contain a surface of 40,000 square miles, or 25,600,000 acres in land and water ; but by investigation, the State includes a terraqueous surface of about 35,000 square miles.* Of this it has been said one sixth part may be deducted, being covered with water.

Boundaries. But in giving an exact description of the extent and boundaries of Maine, it is necessary to go into particulars.

As we find its western line laid down in Gorges' charter, A. D.

Western 1539^ j^nd in that of William and Mary, A. D. 1691, it runs, me or bounds. « f|-om the entrance of Piscataqua harbour up through the same into the river Newichawannock and through the same into the farthest head thereof, and from thence northwestwards, till one hundred and twenty miles be finished."

Massachusetts and New-Hampshire had a long controversy about this line ; — to settle which, a comimission was issued, April 9, 1737, under the great seal of England, to twenty colony councilors, selected from New-York, New-Jersey, Rhode-Island and

At the head of this river — to the northwest, there is a small province which they call Crokeinago, wherein is one town" — probably the Indian Peg-waket, 10 Purchai' Pil. chap. 1. A Description of the Counb-y of J)Iavooshen, discovered by the English in the years 1602, 3, 5, 6, 7, S and 9.

* Geographers have estimated the residue of New- England at 32,232 square miles, thus, Vermont 10,237 ; New-Hampsliire 9,491 ; Massachusetts 6,250 ; Rhode-Island 1,580, and Connecticut 4,G"4 square miles. Jlr. Greenleaf, in his survey, states the contents of Maine to be 33,223 square miles, or 21,263,000 acres, as estimated "under the head of grants and sales of lands."

Nova-Scotia ; of whom any five were to constitute a quorum " for settling, adjusting and determining the respective boundaries line. of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire in dispute."

Seven of them after holding a session in Hampton, New-Hampshire, and hearing the parties, made their determination, September 2, 1737, — " that the dividing line shall pass up through the mouth of Piscataqua harbour and up the middle of the river into the river Newichawannock, part of which is now called Salmon Falls, and through the middle of the farthest head thereof, and from thence north 2" westerly, until 120 miles be finished from the mouth of Piscataqua harbour aforesaid, or until it meets with his Majesty's other governments ; that the same dividing line shall part the Isles of Shoals and run through the middle of the harbour between the Islands, to the sea on the southerly side ; and that the southwesterly part of the said Islands shall lie in and be accounted part of the Province of New-Hampshire and the northeasterly part belong to JMaine." But the parties, not being satisfied, had a hearing before the king in council ; and on the 5th of March, 1740, he settled and estabhshed the line, "north 2° west, true course, or nortli 8' east by the needle."*

Still the contending Colonies could not agree on a surveyor to run and mark the line ; and therefore New-Hampshire in 1741, expnrte , employed Walter Bryant to perform that service. Accordingly, he began in that year at the mouth of the harbour, and run up the river in a north-northwest course through the river Newichawannock and Salmon Fall river, to its most northerly head, which is a pond partly in New-Hampshire and partly in Maine, about forty miles as the river runs, from the mouth of Piscataqua harbour. It is now called Lovell's pond, and is fed by two streams, viz. the easterly and westerly branches ; " the former of which was found to be the largest and to vent the most water."

Bryant thence proceeded north, 2'' west, in conformity to the royal determination, 30 miles, and marked the line as he surveyed it ; but it being in March, and the snows melting, he was obliged to stop there, leaving 60 miles of the line unsurveyed.

Massachusetts objected, that Bryant had taken the wrong

♦See table of variation of the compass at Boston, Portland, and Penobscot, from A. D. 1672 to ISOO, by Professor John Winthrop. 16 Silliman's travels, p. 63.

Westerly line.

Northwest corner.

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT [InTRODUC.

branch ; and in 1767, applied to New-Hampshire upon the subject. But it had no effect, for the latter, regardless of the objection, appointed one Isaac Rindge, the next year, to complete the survey. — He began where Bryant left off, and ran and marked a line on the same course, by the compass, 35 miles farther, to a point about sixteen miles northward of Androscoggin river, and six below lake Umbagog. But, because the needle then in fact traversed westerly less than it did when Bryant surveyed, Rindge's line had a westerly inclination, still more than that of his predecessor.

The next survey was undertaken after the definitive treaty of 1783, by Messrs. Cramm and Eames, whom New-Hampshire, in 1789, appointed surveyors, to complete the line. They pursued the same course by the needle as Bryant and Rindge had done, without regard to its perpetual traverse eastwardly. and thus gave their line a still further inclination westerly. They made their report in January, 1790. It seems they began below where Rindge left the line, at a point 16 miles and 240 rods south of Umbagog lake ; thence to it and across a branch of it 54 rods wide ; thence a mile and 3-4ths on the east side of the lake ; thence 4 miles and 3-4ths, over the lake to its northerly edge ; thence 2 miles and 226 rods to Magallaway river, ten rods wide, a branch of Androscoggin ; and thence to the high lands, 54 miles from the N. E. corner of Shelburne, where they began ; that is, 37 miles and l-4th north of the southerly edge of Umbagog lake, and 148 from the mouth of Piscataqua harbour.

At that place they marked a large birch tree, which stands on those highlands, thus, " N. E. 54 m. New-Hampshire, 1789;" and consequently this is reputed to be the northwest corner of Maine. Its west line is thus 28 miles longer than that expressed in the charters either to Gorges or to the Massachusetts Province.

From this monument the northerly line of Maine is nearly a N. E. general course, passing along the highlands (where are found the sources of the streams which run northwardly into the Chaudiere and southwardly into the Kennebec) 50 miles to a noted monument called " Mile Tree," on the height of land. It is a large birch marked with marking irons ; and 20 other trees thereabouts are marked in a similar way, with the names of persons, or with the initials of their names. This conspicuous place, in lat. 45° 48', is on the road from Kennebec to Canada, distant about 44 miles from the crotch, or mouth of Dead River, as the road runs. South of east from Mile Tree is Bald mountain, a lofty height near a league in length.

The residue of the northerly line of Maine being unsettled, and in controversy, it is proper to consider the other boundaries which are established, before we proceed with this.

The southerly boundary of the State begins at a point in a line Snuiherly S. S. E. from " the entrance into Piscataqua harbour," 60 miles distant, and thence extends northeastwardly along the Atlantic waters of the coast, enclosing all the Islands within twenty leagues of the main land, to Passamaquoddy bay.*

All the country east of the State, till the year 1785 was called ,1',^^]*"'^ JVova-Scotia : and the partition or boundary line which divides it from Maine or New-England has been the subject of repeated controversy. The English and French long contended about it ; nor did the treaty of Utrecht, 1713, by which the latter ceded the country to the former, settle the dispute. Commissioners, of whom Gov. Shirley was one, attempted in 1751 to settle it, but • in vain : — it only ended in the conquest of Canada, to be revived by the English and Americans after the treaty of 1783.

By the Charter to Sir WilUam Alexander, Sept. 10, 1G21, Nova-Scotia extended westward " to the river St. Croix, and to *' the fartiiest source or spring which first comes from the west to " mingle its waters with those of that river ; from thence by a " straight imaginary line crossing the lands or running towards " the north as far as the first bay, river, or spring which runs into " the great river of Canada, and from thence continuing eastward " to the sea, along the shores of the river of Canada, to the river, " bay, or latitude of Gaspe.f

On the 7ih of Oct. 1763, the new Province of Quebec, was erected, and its southern boundary was a line " passing along the

* Gorges' Cliarter says " witliin ^»e leagues ;"— and the Charter of

William and Mary swys within <tn leagiirs, directly o|)|>osite to the main land ; bill in the Treaty of Sept 3, 1783 "all Islands within <u:en<i/ leagues of any part of the shores" are embraced. Art. II.

t In the Commissions of Montague Wilmot, dated October, 1763, and Francis Legge, dated 1766, the Governors of Nova-Scotia, we find that Colony and their jurisdiction to be limited, and — "bounded on the west- " ward by a line drawn from Cape Sable, across the entrance of the bay of " Fundy, to the mouth ot' the river St. Croix ; by the said river to its source, " and by a line drawn due north ; from thence to the southern Boundary " of our Province [Colony] of Quebec."

BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT

[Introduc.

" highlands which divide the rivers that empty themselves into the " river St. LawTence, from those which fall into the sea :" — And the Act of Parliament, Oct. 7, 1774, for governing that Province, draws the line " from the bay of Chaleur, along the high- " lands which divide the rivers that empty into the St. Lawrence, " from those that fall into the sea, to a point in 45' of N. latitude." With these data and Mellish's map before the American and British Commissioners, who negociated the treaty of peace, signed Sept. 3, 1783, they in the 2d article, described the boundary to be " from the northwest angle of Nova-Scotia, viz. that angle " which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of " St. Croix river to the highlands ; along the said highlands which " divide those rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Law- " rence, from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the " northwesternmost head of Connecticut river."

Afterwards doubts arose what was the river intended by the name " St. Croix,^^ mentioned ; and hence, pursuant to the 5th article of the treaty, signed Nov. 19, 1794, Commissioners were appointed, by each government, to determine that question. They first met at Halifax, and ultimately made their report Oct. 25, 1798, by which it was settled, that the intended river, "St. Croix," had its source in the head of a stream called Cheputnetecook, [Schoodic,] at a stake near a certain yellow birch tree, about 5 miles and 3-4ths of a mile north of the point where that stream empties into the Schoodic lake ; and there they established a Monument, in lat 45° 48 , which is a yellow birch tree, hooped with iron and marked " S. T. and I. H. 1797, called the " Eastern Monument."*

Yet, there were three islands in the Passamaquoddy bay, at the mouth of the Schoodic, near the western shore, viz. Moose Island, Dudley Island and Frederic Island, which being occupied and claimed by the Americans, were seised upon in the late war by the British, and not surrendered till John Holmes and Thomas Barclay, Commissioners appointed under the 4th article of the treaty of Ghent, decided, Nov. 24, 1817, that they belonged to the

* Samuel Tilcomb and John Harris were the surveyors.— Thomas Barclaj', David Howell, and Egbert Benson, were the Commissioners.— In 1817 the siirTeyors under the treaty of Ghent erected a new monument, a few feet north of the former, consisting of a large cedar post with large rocks about it, marked July 31, 1817. Jos. Bouchctte and John Johnson, surveyors. — Grcenlcaf.

United States; and that allother Islands in Passamaquoddy bay, including Grand-Manan, belong to bis Britanic Majesty, according to " tbc true intent of article 2d in the treaty of 1783."

The eastern boundary line therefore of Maine, which divides i^a^iem it from New-Brunswick, passes from Wcst-Quoddy-head, up the channel on the east side of these Islands, through the middle of Schoodic river, and Schoodic lake, to the mouth of Cheputnetecook stream, and thence to its source at the Eastern Monument ; which is distant from West-Quoddy-head, in a direct nortiiwesterly course, about 90 miles. The line however if followed as the lakes lie and river runs, would considerably exceed 100 miles in length.