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Mrs. Martha Preble died at Falmouth, on the 10th of March, 1753, and was buried on the 12th-Stephen Longfellow, the grandfather of the poet Henry W. Longfellow, officiating as one of the pall bearers.*

On the 9th of May, 1754, Jedidiah Preble was married for the second time, by the Rev. Thomas Smith, to Mrs. Mehitable Roberts, the childless widow of John Roberts, Jr., a daughter of Captain Joshua and Mehitable (Clarke) Bangs, then of Falmouth, but who originated in Harwich, Cape Cod. At the time of this second marriage, Captain Preble was 47 years of age, and Mrs. Mehitable about 26. The fruits of this second marriage were five sons and two daughters, viz.:

Martha, born November 18th, 1754.
Ebenezer, born August 15th, 1757.
Joshua, born November 28th, 1759.

Edward, born August 15th, 1761, who was a Commodore in the
United States Navy.

Enoch, born July 2d, 1763, who was President of the Portland
Marine Society thirty-one years.

Statira, born January 3d, 1767.

Henry, born January 24th, 1770, who was for many years a
Consul for the United States at Palermo and other ports

of Europe.

In 1753 and 1754, General (then Captain) Preble represented the town of Falmouth in the General Court, and from 1766 to 1773 inclusive he filled the same office-eight successive years; being generally chosen with little or no opposition. His commission as a Captain of Infantry in Col. Samuel Waldo's Regiment, signed by Governor Shirley, bears date June 5th, 1746. He received another Captain's commission signed by Charles Knowles, Governor of the Island of Cape Breton, and also by Governor Shirley with the seals of both Governors, which is dated November 1, 1747. Louisburg capitulated on the 17th of June, 1745, and it is probable, from the date of these commissions, that our Captain was a subaltern at that time, and received his promotion to a company in reward of his services.

In 1748 the war ended with the Peace of Aix la Chapelle, and Preble, who had hitherto been styled "coaster," "husbandman or

FALMOUTH, 12th March, 1753.

* DEAR SIR-If you will be so good as to accompany your friend and my dear deceased wife to her grave this afternoon as a bearer you will perform the last act of friendship you ever can to her, and show respect to your undoubtable

Stephen Longfellow, Esq., Falmouth, Mass.

Friend and Humble Servant,

JEDIDIAH Preble.

On the 15th of February, 1777, Brig. Gen. Preble officiated as one of the bearers at the funeral of Mrs. Longfellow.

yeoman " of York and Wells, "coaster of Wells," &c., purchased land of Col. Waldo in Falmouth, and is thenceforward styled "Jedidiah Preble, Esquire, of Falmouth."

From 1748 to 1754, we find him purchasing lands and houses in Falmouth. April 23, 1754, he received from Governor Shirley a commission as the Lieut. Colonel of a Regiment to be raised for an expedition. intended to be carried on upon the Eastern frontiers of the province for the defence thereof, "of which John Winslow is Colonel." The following account of this expedition is taken from the Boston Gazette, dated Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1754.

"On Saturday last, John Shirley, Esq., son of His Excellency our Governour, arrived here from Falmouth in Casco Bay, by whom we have the following account, viz: That the forces under General Winslow set out from Teconnet* with something more than 500 men and 15 battoes, on the 8th of August past: but after proceeding two days up the river, the General was taken so ill, that he was obliged to return, leaving the command, with the instructions to him, with Col. Prebble, who on the 10th at 9 in the morning, proceeded with 13 battoes, one half the men on one side, and the other half on the other side of the river, and on Tuesday the 13th arrived at Norridgewalk, which is 31 miles above Teconnet; beautifully situated, near 400 acres of clear land on which the grass is generally five or six feet high : here they found 6 Indian men, 3 squaws and several children, who appeared at first surprised to see such a number of men and battoes. so far advanced into their country, but after they were told by Col. Prebble that they had nothing to fear from him, that none of his men should hurt the least thing they had, nor go into their houses, and that Governor Shirley had ordered they should be treated with civility and kindness; they appeared well satisfied and were kind and friendly: and Passequeant, one of their chiefs, presented him with two fine salmon, and some squashes of their own produce, and were all very free in drinking King George's and Governor Shirley's health, and told him he was welcome there.

"They camped that night half a mile above the town, and the next day leaving the battoes there with a detachment sufficient to guard them, they proceeded on their march to the great carrying place be tween Kennebec and the River Chaudiere, where the French were said to be building a fort, and arrived there on the 18th, which is 38 miles and three-quarters above Norridgewalk, a few miles below which they met three birch canoes with eight Indians in them, who had lately come over the carrying place, and as they supposed from Canada; the

* Present Waterville.

Indians were much surprised on discovering the party, and endeavoured to return up the river with their canoes, but the rapidity of the stream prevented their speedy flight, on which they run the canoes ashore on the opposite side of the river, catched one of them up and ran off into the woods, leaving the other two on the spot, and made their escape to the carrying place, and so returned to Canada to carry intelligence, as Col. Prebble supposed, for he track'd them in his march across the said carrying place; the course of which from the head of the Kennebec river is due West, and the distance three miles, three quarters, and twenty-two rods, to a pond about two miles long and one and a half mile wide; beyond that there is another carrying place of about one mile which leads to another Pond, that runs into the Chaudiere.

"They returned from the first mentioned Pond the same day, and came to Norridgewalk the 21st of Augt. early in the day, where they found Capt. Wright, and the detachment under his command all well, and 35 Indians old and young, who upon their knowledge of Col. Prebble's return dressed themselves up in their way very fine, by pulting on clean shirts and painting, and decorating themselves with wampum, they saluted him with a number of guns, and three cheers, and then a number of them waited on him at the camp, welcomed him back, and seemed to express a good deal of satisfaction at his return. After drinking King Georges and Governor Shirleys healths, they invited him to their houses, and ten or twelve of their Chiefs desired a short conference with him, and having cleared the house of Young men, who diverted themselves meanwhile playing ball &c. told him that he had passed and repassed thro' their country, they were glad to see him come back and he was heartily welcome: and they had told him before he went, there was no French settlement at the carrying Place, and since he had been there, and found it so, hoped he would. now look upon them as true men: and that we were now all one Brothers; and if their young men should get in liquor and affront any of the English, hoped we would take notice of it, that they were determined to live in Friendship with us: and if the Canada Indians had any design to do any mischief on our Frontiers, they would certainly let us know it; and if any disputes arose betwixt the French and us they were determined for the future to set still and smoke their pipes.

"The Colonel told them the resolution they had taken would be very pleasing to Governor Shirley, and as long as they kept their faith. with us they might depend on being treated as Friends and Brethren and be supplied with all necessaries at Teconnet: which would be much more convenient for them than at Richmond, all which they told

they liked very well; and were sorry they had no Liquor to treat them with, but desired he would see their young men dance and they ours, which they said was a Token of Friendship, and was accordingly performed.

"Next morning on the Colonels taking his leave of them, they wished him safe to Teconnet, and saluted him with 30 or 40 small arms as fast as they could load and discharge.

"The army arrived at Teconnet on Friday the 23d of August at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, having been 16 days on the march.

"As to the course of the River into the Country it must be refered, untill a plan of the same which has been taken by a skillful surveyor, shall appear.* The soil for the most part is extremely good, and appears to be fertile. There are many beautiful Islands in the river, some of which contain near a thousand acres of Intervale: but the land is not plentifully stored with timber. The navigation to Norridgewalk is considerably difficult by reason of the rapidity of the stream, and riffling falls, but 'tis likely will be much casier when the water is higher. There is but one Fall above Teconnet Falls, that it is necessary to carry the Battoes around before we come to Norridgewalk, betwixt which and the carrying place the navigation is vastly better than below, there being only two Falls to carry round, one of which notwithstanding a mile in length, there is a plain beaten Path; the other is not above thirty or forty rods."

This account is curious and interesting, from its describing the events attendant upon one of the first, if not, as it is believed to be the very first penetration of a British armed force into that wild and savage region.

The following year Colonel Preble accompanied Winslow on his celebrated expedition for the removal of the French Acadians; the distress arising from which has been so beautifully pictured by Longfellow in his Evangeline. He was wounded, as appears from the following extract from Col. Winslow's journal, before Fort Beau Séjour :

"June 12, 1755. Col. Scott, Maj. Preble, and Capt. Sprittle, was detached with five hundred men to possess the ground that I had twice before taken and to keep it until evening in order to entrench for battering, who proceeding in the execution of these orders were opposed by a large party of French, who disputed the ground an hour, fired incessantly, but at length quitted the ground. We had two men wounded and killed, &c." "Major Preble slightly wounded but badly bruised."

Two of Prebble's letters from Fort Cumberland to Winslow are here

Query, What has become of this plan?

given. I will premise, Fort Cumberland was a fortress which had been built by the French, on the north side of the Massaquoche, on the Bay of Fundy. The Isthmus at that point is hardly fifteen miles. wide, and formed the natural boundary between New France and Acadia. On the 15th of June preceding these letters, the fort was invested by 300 English regulars and 1500 provincial troops, and, weakened by fear, discord and confusion, in a few days was surrendered. By the terms of capitulation the garrison was sent to Louisbourg, and for the Acadian fugitives amnesty was stipulated. The Fortress thus captured received the name of Cumberland, named after the King's brother, who was the soul of the regency.

Fort Cumberland, 25th August, 1755. DEAR SIR, I embrace this opportunity with pleasure to let you know that these leave me and all friends, as I hope they will find you. in good health, and we rejoice to hear of your safe arrival at Minas and am well pleased that you are provided with so good quarters for yourself and soldiers, and as you have taken possession of the friar's house, hope you will execute the office of priest. I am tired of your absence, and long for nothing more than to be with you; here is Capt". Proby and eight transports arrived last Wednesday; Captain Taggart arrived this morning, and a sloop from New York with provisions for the Troops. The news has not yet come on shore, our troops remain in good health and long to follow you. To Col. Winslow

Commanding at Minas.

Yours &c.

PREBBLE.

Camp at Cumberland, 5th Sept. 1755. DEAR SIR,-I received your favor from Captain Nichols of the 23d Aug. and rejoice to hear that the lines are fallen to you in pleasant lands and that you have a goodly heritage. I understand you are surrounded by good things of this world, and having a sanctified place for your habitation; hope you are prepared for the enjoyment of a better; we are mouldering away our time in your absence; which has rendered this place to me worse than a Prison; we have only this to comfort us, that we are as nigh Heaven as you are at Minas, and since we are denied the good things in this world, doubt not we shall be happy in the next. It is with grief I inform you, that on the second instant, Major Frye being at Shepondic where he was ordered to burn the buildings, and bring off the women and children, the number of which was only twenty-three, he had sent them on board, and burned 253 buildings and had sent fifty men on shore to burn the mess house and some other buildings, which was the last thing they had to do, when about three hundred French and Indians came suddenly upon them and killed Doctor Marsh, shot Lieut. Billings through the body,

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