Captain Benjamin Burton Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. 6 August September October 1918 No. 2 page 48-54 Captain Benjamin Burton By CHARLES M. STARBIRD The St. Georges Region The territory bordering on the St. Georges River has a history of particular interest. No evidence of an Indian settlement has ever been found, but the country belonged to the Wawenocks until con- quered by the Tarratines in 1615. The Indian name for the St. Georges was "Secohquet", for Pleasant Point in Cushing "Saw- quid" The fact of George Weymouth's visit to these shores has been generally accepted. Some historians have attempted to place his landing on the Penobscot or Kennebec rivers. However the major- ity and perhaps the most authentic agree on the St. Georges. The Plymouth Company came into possession of this territory in 1616, when the English possessions in America were divided be- tween the Plymouth and London Companies. On March 23, 1630, the company granted to John Beauchamp of Boston, England, that strip of land extending from the seaboard between the Penobscot and Muscongus river so far north as would, not interfering with any Other patent, embrace a strip equal to 30 miles square. The pro- proprietors established a truckhouse on the eastern bank of the St. Georges. Nearly a hundred years later the grant came into the hands of General Samuel Waldo and is henceforth known as the "Waldo Patent." The Waldo grant is too well known to require any atten- tion here. Several attempts at settlement were made during the next few years but no permanent settlement was made until about 1719. In 1719-20, the Waldo proprietors had a fort erected and a garrison Of 20 men under Capt. Westbrook was placed in charge. At the same time the proprietors built a sawmill and about 30 frame-houses. On June 15, 1722, a party of 200 Indians burned the proprietor's sloop, killed one man and took six prisoners. The sawmill was burned as were also some of the houses. An attack was made upon the garrison but the resistance was so determined that the Indians were forced to withdraw; on the 24th of the following August an- other attack was made. A large body of savages commenced to undermine the fort but the earth, made soft by heavy rain, caved in and the siege was abandoned. Several white men were killed and five were taken prisoners but were released. The next attack came on Dec. 25, 1723, when the savages laid siege to the fort and persisted with desperate resolution for thirty day's. Col. Westbrook finally arrived and put the red skins to flight. Again, in 1724, minor attacks were made at different times with no serious results. Peaceful times followed and in 1730 "there were between Muscongus and Kennebec about 150 families, pro- bably 900 or 1,000 inhabitants". The territory was divided into two townships. The lower part which was known as the "Lower Township of St. Georges", later became the town of Cushing. The greater part of the settlers were Scotch emigrants from the north of Ireland . Between 1725 and 1745, the settlers were at peace with the east- ern Indians and advantage was taken of this time to build up and strengthen the settlement. truckhouses were built for trade with the Indians. Sawmills were also constructed. The tireless efforts of General Waldo brought 4o German families from Brunswick and Saxony. Beginning with the war with France in 1745 the his- tory of this region is, for the next few years, the history of one man-Captain Burton. . THE BURTON ANCESTRY The Burton family originated in old Wales. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in that part of the British Isle's and, served in Cromwell's army when he reduced the Irish to obedience under the Commonwealth. He embarked for America in 1736 with his son Benjamin, induced to migrate here by General Waldo's Proclamation. The father never reached this state, dying on the passage. BENJAMIN BURTON Benjamin Burton was born in Wale's about 1715. Early in his youth he went to Ireland where be married Alice Lewis.' Coming to this country in 1636, he landed in Boston where he remained for some years. Little can be found of his stop there. Captain Burton had eleven children." 1. Rebecca reared and died in Boston, 2. Agnes died in Boston in 1829. 3. Mary reared in Halifax, Nova Scotia and married Capt. Thomas Carey. 4. Alice reared and died in Boston. 5. Benjamin born in the blockhouse at Thomaston. Dec. 9. 1741. He went to Boston and took part in the famous "Boston Tea Party." Benjamin enlisted in the Continental Army and was commis- sioned lieutenant in Sept. 1776 and captain in Col. Thurburn's Regt. in Rhode Island in 1777. He was taken prisoner in 1781 and was held in company with General Peleg Wadsworth who had also been made prisoner. Burton finally escaped. When the militia was reorganized he was chosen a Lieutenant Colonel. Benjamin married Hannah Church of Bristol, R.I. They had seven children. Mrs. Burton died Aug. 21, 1834, and the Colonel died in Warren, Me., May 24, 1835. A memoir of Col. Burton is published in the Maine Historical collections series 1, Vol. VII PP. 3-25-335. 6. John died at the age of about 19. 7. Sarah born in 1753; married Nehemiah Eastman of Gilmantown, N. H., and died at Montpelier in June, 1835. 8. Elizabeth married Hon. Edward Killeran of Cushing. 9. Thomas reared in Calais. He married 1st Betsey Barber, and 2d, Susan McCobb. He died at Calais in 1837 or 1838. 10. William reared in Cushing. He married 1st Jane Robinson, and 2d, Chloe Bradford. 11. Jane married Moses Robinson of Cushing and died in Feb., 1803. Captain Burton enlisted and took part in the famous expedition against Louisburg. He was made a lieutenant and served with considerable distinc- tion." After returning from Louisburg, Burton was placed in charge of the blockhouse in the present town of Thomaston. At this time Capt. Jabez Bradbury was in command of the fort and acted as truck-master. In August, 1745, war was declared against all the Indian tribes. In Sept. of the same year, a large party of Tarratines encamped in the vicinity of the fort and sent four of their principal sagamores to procure ammunition, Captain Bradbury gave them ammunition and ordered them to return to their party immediately or they would be shot. The men left, but either because of fatigue or the intemperate use of intoxicants, they lingered on the way, en- camping on the bank of Mill River. Captain Burton learned of their position and, with Lieut. Proctor and a band of men set out in pursuit. The party came upon the Indians in their camp. Burton severed the head of Captain Morris, one of the sagamores, from his body with a single blow of his sword. Captain Sam, another chief, was killed and Col. job was taken to Boston where he died in con- finement. The fourth chief happened to be down at the river at the time and escaped. Some people criticized Capt. Burton for the deed but more praised him. It is certain that the death of Morris brought great relief to the settlers for "he had been a great, terror. In 1750, or 1751, Burton moved to the present town of Cushing but did not build the blockhouse, which he occupied, until 1753." The blockhouse was known as " Burton's Fort." While in Cushing. Captain Burton gained his livelihood by tilling the soil. Clam-flats were near at hand and the river furnished an abundance of fish. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1754, a large, pack of Newfoundland dogs was secured. These dogs were trained, to keep the distance of a gun shot from parties going out from the fort and the savages were thus unable to ambush the de fenders. No party left the blockhouse without taking some half-dozen dogs with them. There are many stories told of Burton's courage and resourceful- ness. Many of these, no doubt, are mere legends, but the following is reasonably true. At one time, Burton together with his wife and four children were some distance from the fort when one of the dogs gave an alarm. Taking one child on his back and one under each arm, while his wife carried the fourth, the fort was reached in safety . On June 10, 1755, the General Court declared war on all the east- ern Indian tribes except the Tarratines. the Tarratines continued to come to the fort and Capt. Bradbury showed them all kindness. But the settlers made little discrimination between the tribes. A redman was to be hated and killed wherever found and to whatever tribe he might belong. The attitude of Bradbury toward the Tarra- tines gave rise to many suspicions and rumors that he was carrying ** negotiations with them. Captain Burton was among the number disturbed by his conduct. The following letter of Burton is found in the Massachusetts Archives." "To Capt. Thomas Proctor Jr. Boston neer the Orange tree." "St. Georges June 6th, 1755 "Dr. Brother "Yesterday about nine of the Clock we heard about 15 guns fired, and after that Capt. Bradbury fired an alarm; upon which three men went up to the fort to hear what was Doing- "and there is two Scotch Lads Killed or taken: but we suppose Kiled-- they were Brothers-there Sir names is Brown-there was three more up the river the same Time; but at Sum Distance from them-viz. Mr. Lamond, Archbald Gamble & Son, but got safe home--those are our good friends the penobscots, So Ezstold by our B: the Commander here I hope the Government Will now Doo Sumthing to, prevent Ruin by a Savage Enemy. I remain your Loveing Brother till Death Benja. Burton." In June, 1756, war was formally declared against France. The St. Georges district was especially hated by the Indians. On March 24, 1756 a large company attacked Burton's fort killing two of his men and scalping a third. The exact number of men in the fort at that time is not known but certainly must have been small. The at- tacking party was finally beaten off. There were scattering depre- dations made afterward. At the beginning of the year 1757, the garrison consisted of Capt. Bradbury at 4 per month: T. Fletcher, Lieut., at 13 and Benja- min Burton ditto, with 36 other men. No action of importance took place this year." The year 1758 found six men stationed at Burton's blockhouse. They were: Benjamin Burton Sergeant, at 1 10s per mo. Thomas Carney, Christian Power, Joseph Andrews, John Burton, Cornelius Thornton and John Greene, centennials at 24s per mo. In August, the last stand of the Maine Indian tribes was made when with their French allies, forming a party Of 400 men, the fort at St. Georges was attacked. The arrival of Governor Pownal about 36 hours be- fore the attack, with a powerful company of defenders, probably saved the St. Georges settlements from complete destruction. The war was soon over but Burton remained at his garrison tilling the soil until his death. There is some dispute over the date of Burton's death. Those au- thorities that place- the date as March 21, T763, rather than March 21, 1762, appear to be mistaken. Such authorities as Williamson, Sylvester, Me. Historical Collections series 1, Vol. VII say 1762. Eaton in Annals of Warren, p. 123', says, "On March 20th of this year (1763) Capt. Benjamin Burton, who ten years before erected the stone Blockhouse and commanded the garrison there died in his float on the river. He had been up at the fort, but having some dis- pute with Capt. North, refused to stay there, and set off for home in a very cold night. The recently formed ice prevented his landing; he was seen next morning opposite McCarter's and people went to his assistance but found him froze to death. The loss of Captain Burton was great to the community. He had proved himself a worthy, upright man, honest in his dealings with his fellow men and sound in judgment. He had been of great assist- ance in defeating the savages in Eastern Maine. Although not a professional Indian killer, he was feared by the Penobscots as per- haps no other man was feared. To him went the honor of having killed a chief, an awe striking feat in the eyes of the savages. Maine may well cherish the memory of this mighty defender of her early eastern settlements. 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