THE KENNEBEC VALLEY- SAGADAHOC COUNTY. S. H. Whitney 1887 Augusta: Sprague, Burleigh & Flynt, Printers to the State. 1887 pages 44-58 SAGADAHOC COUNTY. Sagadahoc County is the southern county in the valley. It embraces territory lying upon each bank of the river as far north as Richmond. The Sagadahoc tribe once owned and occupied a portion of this section. This county was formerly a part of Lincoln County, from which it was set off and incorporated in 1854. This county contains ten towns, having a population of nineteen thousand two hun- dred and seventy-six. Phipsburg, Bath, Topsham, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Rich- mond are upon the western shore; and Georgetown and Woolwich are situated upon the eastern bank; while Arrowsic and Per- kins are small islands in the Kennebec River. We will give a brief compendium of their history. Phipsburg. This town is situated upon the western bank of the river and is the south- ern town in the Kennebec valley. It was the site of the early settlement under Sir George Popham, in 1607. This was the first settle- ment that was made by the English in the valley; the settlement was made thirteen years before. the landing of the Pilgrims at New Plymouth and at that time was the only set- tlement of Europeans north of Jamestown, Virginia. Lord John Popham, the leading member of the Plymouth Association, was a man of wealth and great ability. Imbibing the spirit Of discovery that was raging in England, at that time, he obtained permission of King James to plant a colony at any place be might choose upon the coast of New England. Accordingly, in the spring of 1607, two Ships were fitted for a voyage to this region having on board one hundred colonists. One of these ships was called the "The Gift of God" and placed under the command of Sir George Popham, a brother of Lord John Popham. Raleigh Gilbert, a nephew of John Pop- ham, was given charge of the other, which was called "The Mary and John." Besides the, colonists a large supply of provisions and needful tools was taken. Some writers claim that there were three vessels in the expedi- tion. It left Plymouth, England, the 31st of' May, 1607, for a country that was inhabited only by the uncivilized savage; little did Cap- tain George Popham restive as he sailed from England that before another New Year's sun should rise be would be laid beneath the sands of a foreign shore. On the morning of the 4th of August, they came in sight of a headland which they thus described; "The cape is lowland, showing white sand; but yet it is all white rocks and a strong tide goeth in there." [Abbott.] We think that this headland was Cape Small Point, which is the extreme southwestern terminus of the town of Phipsburg. Keeping outside of this point of land they took a course from Monhegan Island and cast anchor near Pemaquid Point. After explore- ing this section and finding no convenient place to locate, Captain Popham decided that they had better enter the Kennebec. Ac- cordingly they made sail for the mouth of the river and about the middle of August, 1607, Popham's expedition entered the Kennebec River and cast anchor near the upper end of Spinney's Island. It was evening; the sun was sinking below the western horizon, and the passengers aboard the vessels began to prepare for a night's rest, intending the next morning to look for a place where they might locate and begin to make preparations for the coming winter. The next morning was bright and clear and Captain Popham with thirty men and Cap- tain Gilbert with about the same number as- cended the river in small boats in search of a place to locate. During the day they explored the river as fat as Merry-Mecting Bay, and finding no place which they judged more convenient than the one berets them upon Phipsburg shore they returned to the vessels. The next morning all hands went on shore, and went to work with a will. Besides building about fifty log cabins, they erected a fort, a store-house, and built a small vessel, which they named "The Virginia of Sagadahoc." This was the first vessel built by Europeans in New England. Captain George Popham was elected Governor of the settlement, which took the name of "The Sagadahoc Colony." Winter came at last and storms of sleet and snow swept down upon the little colony; their cabins were not as warm as they should have been, they had nothing but green wood to burn, and having a scanty supply of provis- ions, they suffered much from cold and hun- ger during the winter. Disease came in among them, slid among its victims was Gov- ernor Popham; his last words were, "I die content. My name will be always associated with the first planting of the English race in the New World. My remains will not be neglected away from the homes of my fathers and my kindred." [Abbott.] No loving hand conveyed his remains to his native land; his body was laid beneath the sands of the ocean shore, and after the lapse of nearly three hun- dred years we look in vain for his sepulchre or resting place. There was no one left in the little colony capable of filling Governor Popham's position and, becoming discouraged, they returned to England the following spring. In the year 1716, there was a settlement of fishermen established upon the site which was chosen by Governor Popham for his colony. This second colony was founded by one of the proprietors of the "Pejepscott Pur- chase" to which Phipsburg belonged. This settlement was named Augusta. It was broken up and several of the inhabitants were killed by the Indians in the summer of 1722. The first permanent settlement was made in the town about the middle of the eighteenth century. The first meeting-house built in town was at Phipsburg Center. Parson Emerson was the minister. The men would take their loaded guns to church in those days for fear of being surprised by parties of Indians that were prowling about through the forests. William Butler was among the early set- tlers of the town. Phipsburg was named in boner of Sir William Phipps, who was appointed Governor of Massachusetts in 1692. Phipps was a resident of the town of Woolwich. Bath. This town is situated upon the western bank of the Kennebec River; Phips- burg's northern line is the southern boundary of Bath. This town was visited in 1605 by Captain Weymouth. The historian gives the following descrip- tion of this section at that time: "In our march we passed over very good ground, pleasant and fertile, fit for pasture, having but little wood, and that oak. Upon the hills grew noted trees, masts for ships of four hundred tons," [Abbott.] Such was the appearance of the site of the city of Bath, two hundred and eighty years ago. As early as 1640, Elder Robert Gutch, Alexander Thwart and Christopher Lawson settled in the town. Bath was the first town that was incorpo- rated under the royal charter of Massachu- setts. Bath has been styled "The City of Ships." It received a city charter in 184:7, and became the shire town of Sagadahoc County in 1854, when the county was incorporated. Bowdoinham. This town lies open the western shore of the Kennebec River and with the town Topsham, was claimed by Whatnot, as belonging to his purchase. In 1656, Alexander Thwart moved from Bath to this town. There was a small settle- ment at this time in the town, which was do- populated in King Philip's War. The town was resettled about the time that Fort Rich- mond was built. In 1774, Paul and Jethro Hatch purchased eight hundred acres of land in this town. The town was named in honor of William Bowdoin, by whom it was owned, at one time. A noted sachem of the Kennebec tribe once lived in this town; the name of this great warrior was Abbigadassett. He was asso- ciated with Kennebis or the Bashaba in sell- ing land to the English; and in 1667, they sold Swan Island to Humphrey Davie. Richmond was formerly a part of this town. Richmond. This is the northern town in the county, upon the western shore of the river. It was incorporated in 1823, and named the same as the fort which was built in the town in 1719. Fort Richmond was built about one mile above Richmond village upon the bank of the river. This town was called "White's Landing" in its earlier days. At the time Richmond was incorporated the vil- lage contained seven dwelling-house, a small store and a blacksmith shop. Some of these old buildings are standing, though some of them have been moved from their original lo- cation and used for other purposes. Fort Richmond stood at the terry above the village; this place was called "Parker's Ferry" in those days. Soon after the fort was built Governor Shirley met a number of the sachems of the Kennebec tribe at this place. The chief speaker among those defeated warriors thus addressed the governor: "Here is a river which belongs to us. You have lately built a new garrison here. We now only ask that you will be con- tented to go no farther up the river than this fort. We live wholly by this land and live but poorly. The Penobscot Indians hunt on one side of us, and the Canada Indians on the other. Therefore do not turn us off this land. We are willing that you should bold possession of all the lands from this fort downward to the sea." [Abbott.] The governor would not listen to the pled of the poor Indian, but simply gave them to understand that the English claimed all the land in the Talley of the Kennebec. The population of the town in 1880 was about two thousand and a half. Georgetown. This is the southern town in the Kennebec valley, upon the eastern shore of the river. It is an island nine miles long and about two miles wide. John Parker purchased the island of an Indian sachem by the name of Robinhood, in 1650; for payment be gave the dusky warrior one hogshead of rum and a few pumpkins. The Indian name of the island was "Rascohegan" Phipsburg, Bath, Woolwich and Arrowsic, were formerly embraced in this town. Set- tlements were made in this town as early as 1623, but were broken up in the Indian wars. The first permanent settlement in this town was made in 1730. Reverend Ezekiel Em- erson resided in this town in its early history. He was one of the first preachers of the "Gospel" in the Kennebec valley. He died in 1815, after a long and faithful ministry. Mr. Emerson was a man of marked ability, a living example of Christianity, and loved and respected by all who knew him. His descendants are found among the busi- ness men of the valley. It was upon the western shore of this town that the ruler of the Kennebec tribe landed when on his visit to Popham's Colony, which was upon Phips- burg shore, and upon invitation of the Gov- ernor, the ruler crossed over. It was upon these shores that Captain Weymouth captured the Indian braves; but forgetting all this, the ruler of the tribe bade Popham and his friends a hearty welcome. In the early history of the town a great many fishermen resided along its borders, but at present it is mostly given to agriculture. Woolwich. John Brown and Edward Bateman began a settlement in this town as early as 1638. They bought the land of Robinhood, who dwelt in this town. The early inhabitants suffered much from the hos- tilities of the natives. Upon one occasion, a man by the name of Preble and his wife were killed by the Indians, and their children, three in number, were taken prisoners and carried to Canada, but later they were returned to their grandfather, who lived in the town. Sir William Phipps was born in this town in 1650; he was the youngest of twenty-six children. In 1692, he was appointed Gov- ernor of Massachusetts. The plantation name of the town was Nequasseag. It was incorporated in 1759. Arrowsic. This historic spot is an island in the Kennebec River. Woolwich lies upon the eastern shore, and Phipsburg and Bath upon the western shot-, while Arrowsic lies between them, encircled by the waters of the river. Tradition says that upon one occa- sion an Indian sachem lay dying from the effects of a wound caused by being bit by a poisoned arrow; when asked what was the trouble, the dying warrior replied, "I am arrow-sick," and in this answer originated the came of the town. It was at the head of this island that Captain Weymouth cast anchor when he explored the surrounding region. About the middle of the seventeenth century, Thomas Clark and Roger Spencer purchased the island of Robin hood. A block- house was built by them, and a few settlers gathered around it. During the Indian war of 1675, the settlers were all driven from the island and the build- ings were laid in ashes. It was re-settled in about 1700, and upon the breaking out of Lovell's war with the Indians there were about twenty-six families upon the island. In the spring of 1722 there was a band of sol- diers stationed upon this island to protect the inhabitants against the hostilities of the In- dians. To the fall of the year of 1722, the Indians made an attack Upon Arrowsic; the people took refuge in the block-house or fort and the Indians after setting fire to the houses left the island. The ruins of the old fort may be seen to- day. There are about two hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town at the present time. Perkins. This town is also an island, or rather it embraces two small islands in the river, about four miles north of 'Merry-Meet- ing Bay. The largest one is about five miles long and one mile in breadth. It will be bet- ter known as Swan Island. The other one contains about forty acres, and is noted as being the place chosen by the rulers of the Kennebec tribe for their abode; this spot we will also call Swan-island, but if the reader will notice, when reference is made to this spot it will be written as follows: Swan-island, when reference is made to the main island or Perkins proper, we will write it Swan Island. Swan-island lies about twenty-five miles from the sea. The first mention of this island that we find is in connection with the early settlement of Popham's at the mouth of the river, in 1607. The Bashaba upon learning of the landing of the English upon Phipsburg shore decided to make them a friendly visit, and if possible live peaceably with them. After the little colony had got nicely set- tled 'in their new home, this great ruler, ac- companied by a large body of armed warriors, went down the river to wait upon Governor Popham. The Bashaba, with his retinue, landed upon the bank of the river directly opposite the settlement and sent two of his chief attendants across the river to request an interview with Governor Popham. The chieftain was invited over, and received with all honors due his position. After spending a day at the settlement, this great ruler re- turned to his abode upon Swan-island. It is said that this ruler was ever afterwards a friend to the English. It is supposed that Captain Smith visited this ruler in 1814. In his account he is mentioned as Kennebecca. in 1692, Captain Church had a battle with the Indians upon Swan-island, but they were obliged to leave the island. Church pursued them as far as Taconnet, but upon arriving at this point he found it vacated. The ter- ror- stricken Indian bad taken to the forests which at that time lined the banks of the river above Waterville. The site of this ancient palace of the Bashaba upon Swan-island can be seen to- day. It has been described in the first chap- ter of this book. And now we will take our leave of the home of Kennebis, and notice the early history of Swan Island, or the town of Perkins. This island is in reality the town of Per- kins. It was a part of the Kennebec Pur- chase. There were a few families located upon the island about 1750. The name of one family was Noble; they were taken to Canada by the Indians during the French War. About 1760, the father of Jacob Barker settled upon the lower end of the island and built a famed house which is standing to-day in good condition. Previous to 1796, Goo. Harward, a wealthy resident of Massachu- setts, purchased Barker's claim upon Swan Island and gave it to his grandson, Geo. Harward, who was at that time about twenty- one years old. Young Harward settled upon the island in 1796, and lived upon the island nearly seventy years. The Harwards are among the leading citizens of Bowdoinham and Richmond. In the year 1800, Paul Hatch settled upon the island. About the same year Holder Tallman came from New Hampshire and set- tled in the town. The population of the town in 1880 was seventy-eight. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Me GenWeb Kennebec County Site ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ************************************************* * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.