tive about things in Religion, and I had a great deal of discourse with him who gave an account likewise of an Apparition y the Jesuit at Nerridgewock saw who Lying alone in his wigwam, awaked in ye night and saw a great Light as if his wigwam had been on fire, whereupon he got up, and went abroad, and after some time he returned to his wigwam, and went to sleep again; and after awhile he waked, and felt as it were a hand upon his Throat y' almost choaked him, saw a great light again, and heard a voice saying it is in vain for you to take any pains with these Indians, your children, for I have got possession of them, and will keep possession of them. The Jesuit likewise said y there was a Letter brought to him which was written in ye name of an Indian yt was dead, wherein he declared yt He was now burning in a most terrible fire. He showed this Letter to the Indians, but first tore off the name yt was subscribed, and did not Let them know who he was. The Letter was written in ye Indian Tongue. This Apparition he said was about forty days ago. April ye 26th, an Indian came to desire me to go to his squaw who was very sick, and Like to die, accordingly I went to her with Capt" Giles, and discoursed with her about ye state of her soul, and directed her how to get prepared for death, and she seemed to be very well pleased with what was said to her. April ye 27th, I preached at Brunswick. April ye 28th, I came down to G-Town, and there I heard yt Stratton who set sail for Boston the week before had like to have been castaway. April 30th, I received a Letter from ye Nerridgewock Jesuit. And the next day sent a letter to him. May 2, Co': Tailor, Co': Winthrop, Co': Hutchinson, Doctor Noyes* and Co': Minot, arrived at George Town in ye Pejepscot sloop. May 4th, I preached at George-Town. May ye 12th, I came from G-Town in ye Pejepscot sloop for Boston. May ye 14th, we arrived at Boston. May 16th, I went from Boston to Medfield, and found my family in health, and under comfortable circumstances. Praised be y name of the Lord. May 18th, I preached at Medfield. On Friday, August 4th, 1721, we went on board ye sloop Sea Flower of which Capt" Peet was commander, about Five of y° clock in ye afternoon, Capt. Westbrook setting out by land for Piscataqua. As we were coming out of y° Harbour we met, &c. We had a fair wind till about nine, or Ten a clock at night, and then there came up a sudden, and violent squall which was something surprising, and while y' were haling down the main sheet it took the master of the sloop and carried him overboard with the Tiller which broke off short in ye Rudder, He being at ye Helm and Steering, and there he perished in ye water between Marblehead and Capan to the great sorrow and amazement of all y' were on board. But we were all beside the Master carried along safely (through the great goodness of God) and the The Rev. Nicholas Noyes was born Dec. 22, 1647, in Newbury, Mass.; H. C., 1667. Settled over the 1st Church in Salem, Nov. 14, 1683, and died Dec. 13, 1717. V. "Amer. Quarterly Register," vol. 7, p. 253. He published a poem on the death of Joseph Green, of Salem village, 1715. next day we arrived at New castle, in Piscataqua River, about three of ye clock in ye afternoon, and there I staid till Monday Morning, and then I went with ye Rev. Mr. Shurtleff* and divers others up to Portsmouth, and in ye evening I went up to Mr. Adams'st at Newington. Tuesday August 8th, it was foul weather and the wind against us, and so I continued at Newington. Wednesday Aug: 9th, it continued foul weather, and the wind continued against us, and so I remained at Newington. Thursday Aug: 10th, it continued foul weather, and the wind was against us; but it did not rain so much as it did on ye foregoing days, and then I went with Mr. Adams as far as Exeter, and lodged there that night. The next day Aug: 11th, the weather cleared up, and the wind came fair for us, and then I returned to Portsmouth and visited Mr. Emmerson, who was sick, and had buried his eldest Daughter, and had 3 Daughters more very sick. That evening we went down to new-castle, viz.: Capt Westbrook, and Capt" Sherbourn (who supplied the place of Capt" Peet) and myself, and in ye night we sailed out of Piscataqua River. The next Day which was Saturday, Aug: 12, we had a good wind, and towards night we arrived at Casco-Bay, where we met with Mr. Hilton, of Muscongus in a small vessel with his cattle and Hogs on board, removing to ye westward, who informed us yt all the People were gone from Muscongus upon ye rumours they had heard about the Indians. That evening we went ashoar to Capt" Moodey's and there met with Col1 Wheelright who was going to Arrowsick as a Commissioner from ye Governour, and Council, and was to meet with divers others to treat with ye Indians about ye disturbance they had made at Arrowsick, and other places. The next, viz.: Aug: 13th, Collonel Wheelright came on board our sloop early in the morning, and then we sailed out of Casco-Bay, and having a good wind we arrived about noon at Small Point where we landed Col: Wheelright in order to his going to Arrowsick. And in landing that Gentleman at Small Point we had an affecting sight of a Good Fort, and several Good Houses y' were totally deserted and left empty. Then we sailed for St. George's River, and as we passed by Damarascove there came out Two men and a Boy in a Boat to speak with us, and enquire what news, who told us y' They had removed ye woman and children y' had been on that Island for fear of the Indians. The evening after we arrived at Mun-Hegan where we found several The Rev. William Shurtleff was born in Plymouth, Mass.; H. C. 1817; ordained at Newcastle, N. H., 1712; installed at Portsmouth, Feb. 21, 1733, and died May 9, 1747. Ante, v. 16, p. 60 (note). + The Rev. Joseph Adams was born in Braintree, Mass., Jan. 1, 1689; H. C. 1710; and was ordained pastor of the church at Newington, Nov. 6, 1715. He remained pastor of this church for the remarkable period of 68 years, and died May 26, 1783. No pastorate in New Hampshire had then exceeded his in duration. V. "The New Hampshire Churches," p. 100. John Wheelwright was the son of Samuel, of Wells, and grandson of the Rev. Samuel, of Exeter. He was of great service to the State in defending it from the assaults of the French and Indians. He held the office of Judge, as well as that of Colonel, Fishermen, and some Families yt were removed from Muscongus,* for fear of ye Indians. On Monday morning Aug: 14h, we sailed from Mun-Hegan, taking aboard several Families which removed from Muscongus. That Day we were becalmed, and got along very slowly. And at the mouth of St. George's River there appeared a Canoo with Three Indians in it, who came on Board our sloop, and talked very friendly. One of them shewed us a writing which He had of Capt" Gyles at Brunswick, which signified that This Indian was one with whom said Capt" Giles had formerly kept, and was one who desired to live always in friendship, and Brotherhood with the English, and yt He was one of the Chiefe of ye Indians of St John's River. His name was Maccoller, . and the names of the Two other Indians yt were with him were Mijaiel, and Phrosseay. They were all kindly, and civilly entertained by Capt Westbrook,† and after some discourse with them they went away leaving Two skins on board to assure us y' They would come to us again the next Day at the House in St. George's River. When the sloop was entered a little way in the River a Great Gun was fired to give notice to ye People in ye Fort y' we were coming, whereupon there came down Three men in ye Boat to meet us, and Mr. Lebbey the Head-man in Capt" West-Brooks absence being one of them, informed yt the People at y° Fort were all well, and had been in good health all ye time of Capt" West-Brook's absence, and had followed their business ye most of ye Time: but hearing rumours about ye Indians, they had been some of them as far as Saggadehock to enquire how things were. Mr. Lebby likewise informed yt there had been Indians with him at 2 several times at ye Block-house while Capt" West brook was absent, who desired to come into ye house, but were not permitted. They talked as though they wondered at y Peoples removing away from their Habitations in several places as they did. Some of them were some of ye chief of the Penobscot Indians, and said that they would come again w" Their Brother Westbrook returned. That night we arrived late at ye Block-House, being necessí: to * Muscongus Island is the southerly island in Broad bay, towards the western shore, Muscongus Bay being on the east and Muscongus Sound on the west of the island. It contains more than 900 acres of land, and has several fine farms. Muscongus with other islands in the bay belongs to the town of Bristol, in Lincoln county, which embraces the ancient Pema quid. Josselyn, in 1674, speaking of Muscongus, says, it was then " all filled with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen, had plenty of cattle, arable land and marshes." See Josse lyn's Voyages, p. 200-205. The proprietors of the territory, here, erected two block houses, built a double saw mill, bought a sloop to transport their people and effects to the place, employed other vessels and men, brought in neat cattle and erected near thirty frames for houses. They were making more complete arrangements towards settling the place, and were about engaging the services of a young clergyman named Smith to preach to them. At this interesting moment in the affairs of the settlement the Indians disputed the right of Madockawando to dispose of their lands, as they termed them. The natives resorted thither, daily, in great numbers, "and oft-times threatened those employed in building and clearing the land, who used several stratagems to get them from off those lands." The result was that the company put under command of Capt. Thomas Westbrook, one of the "twenty associates," a garrison of twenty men, which they maintained here for more than twelve months, and furnished with " great and small Artillery to defend themselves and the workmen." See Eaton's Hist. of Thomaston, i. p. 31. This movement on the part of the Indians may be considered the nucleus of "Lovewell's war." In 1722, Capt. Westbrook was promoted to the command of St. George's Fort on the river of that name. In 1723, Col. Walton was displaced, and Col. Westbrook was made Commander in Chief of the forces in that quarter. He died Feb. 11, 1743-4. tow ye sloop up ye River. And the next day a little after noon there came up to us Two of the Three Indians yt were on board our sloop ye evening before, according as they said yt They would, and They brought with them a squaw, and a Pappoose, and then we had a great deal of Discourse with them. Capt Westbrook shewed them the Letter yt was sent to our Governour by the Jesuit, and told them yt He wrote in ye names of all ye Indians, and how insultingly He wrote, and threatened to burn ye Englishmen's Houses, &c.: whereupon they said yt Patrahans, i. e. the Jesuit Lied, and he was very wicked, &c. and yt They desired always to live in friendship and Brotherhood with the English. That afternoon we went up to ye Mill by water and viewed That, and as we were going up we went on shoar on ye other side of yo River, and viewed ye land there, where we found extraordinary good land, and when we had viewed ye mill which we found in a good forwardness we returned to ye Block-house by Land, and saw a great deal of Good land. Wednesday Aug: 16th, was foul weather but not raining very hard, we went up ye River in a Boat as far as yo Falls and as we went and returned we went ashoar in some places and saw good land, and a Body of Pine timber, and a great many pieces of good marsh. Thursday Aug: 17th, it continued foul weather, and was more Tempestuous then the Day before yt we could not stir abroad. Friday Aug: 18th, The storm continued and encreased, it was more rainy, and Tempestous then the Day before yt we could not stir abroad. Saturday August ye 19th. The storm continued, but.not so bad as the Day before: so y' some thing was done towards finishing ye Blockhouse down by the River. Sabbath Day August 20th. The storm was over tho something showery. The forenoon we met together in ye Lower Block house, to attend on the worship of God, and in ye Afternoon we met in yo upper Block-house. Monday Aug: 21st, was a fine Pleasant Day, and all Hands went briskly to work, to finish y log-work in y° Lower Block-house, to dig y Trenches between yo Two Houses and to get stockado's to wall in y yard, and to get y° shop in a readiness to defend ourselves against ye Indians if they should assault us. Tuesday Aug: 22a, was a fair Pleasant Day and the men went on briskly with their work, endeavouring to finish ye yard between yo Block-Houses, and fit ye sloop, &c. : Wednesday August 234, was a fine pleasant day, and all hands were employed to get up ye fortification between y Block-Houses, &c. Thursday Aug: 24th, was cloudy, and like to rain but yet it rained very little so yt all hands were briskly employed in getting up yo fortification between ye Block-houses, &c. : On this Day about noon we heard some guns over towards Wesseweshheag* at some distance, which made us conclude y' there were Indians coming near us: but because they gave us such warning of their coming by firing at a distance, we concluded y' they were coming in a friendly manner, and so all hands kept to their work, unless a few y' were upon ye look out round about to observe how things were every way. Towards night The Wessaweskeag River is in the southerly part of South Thomaston. there appeared some Indians at ye carrying place over against ye Block-house towards Wesseweshheag who fired several Guns, and set up a white flag, whereupon Capt" Westbrook ordered a Great Gun to be fired, and a white flag to be set up, and soon after there came a canoo to ye sloop in which was nimquid, and another Indian who were courteously received, and entertained by Capt" Westbrook, and they carried themselves very friendly, saying y they desired to live in love and friendship with ye English, and they said yt Perixus, and Hundra y Saggamores and divers other Indians were on ye other side of y Bay, at y carrying-place. After a while these Two went away to the Rest, and Capt Westbrook went wth Them to ye Saggamores who received him very courteously firing several Guns when He came to them, and also w" he left them. There were at that place fifteen Indians, and one French-man. Friday August 25th, in y morning came nimquid, and 2 more Indians aboard ye sloop, and informed yt ye Indian Saggamores would come by and by, and in a little time went away. After a while came Perixus, and Hundra on board with nine Indians more, and a Frenchman. After ye usual greeting of them they sate down. And Capt" Westbrook informed them y' He had acquainted Governour Shute with y conferences He had with them in July, and the Governour was well pleased with their good behaviour. And the Captain delivered them a Letter yt was sent by the Governour. They asked whether it was written in French or in English. They said y they had sent to ye Governour to desire yt when He wrote to them He would write in French bec: They had none among them yt understood English. Capt Westbrook told them yt perhaps the Letter was written before the Governour had received that message from them. Then They opened the Governours Letter, and desired y' it might be read to them. And accordingly it was read, and interpreted to them, and they seemed to be well pleased with it. Then Capt" Westbrook showed them a copy of the Letter yt was sent by ye Indians to Governour Shute, wherein They threatened y they would plunder and burn ye Englishmans Houses if they did not move off their lands, &c. and some of the most Threatening expressions in it were read and interpreted to them. The Indians said the Penobscot men are good men, and would not hurt the English. Then they were shewed yt Penobscot Indians as well as others had signed that Letter. The Indians said They had come away from Manashoak while the Letter was writing and could not tell what was in it. They were asked if none of them signed that Letter. They said they did not know that any of them did. They were asked if They desired to Live in love, and peace with ye English. To this They did not readily answer, but desired time to consider it. And about an hour after desired to speak again. And then They said It is now seven years since we have lived in peace with y English, and we desire to do so always. The King of England, and the King of France are brothers, and we desire y' the English and Indians may live as Brothers, and we will never hurt them if They do not break the Peace first. And after a while They went away in a friendly manner. |