PENTAGOET-PENOBSCOT-MOUNT MANSEL-MOUNT DESERT-PEMATIQ. HISTORICAL NOTES. Pentagoet was the ancient name of the Penobscot River and Bay and also of the country adjacent. In some descriptions of it it included Mount Desert, and even Pemaquid. Champlain, in his voyage along the coast in 1604, says the savages guided him to the river of Pentagoet so called by them.t The French applied the name to the peninsula of Castine and the English gave it the name of Penobscot.t Charlevoix, Vol. I, page 206 to 210 says the Pentagoet river in the most ancient accounts was called "Norimbagua.” Martin Pring came here in 1603 and arrived on our coast June 7, among a multitude of islands in the waters since called Penobscot Bay¶ located between 43 and 44 degrees of north latitude. seers. THE PILGRIMS AT PENTAGOET. In pursuance of their policy of trade with the Indians the Plymouth Pilgrims established a trading house at Pentagoet, 1626-7. Isaac Allerton, Edmund Ashley and Thomas Willett were the agents and overThis appears to have been the first attempt to sit down at Pentagoet, unless this is the point where the French built their forts in 1613. By the Treaty of Saint Germain March 29, 1632 Acadia was yielded to France. The Pilgrims, however, remained until they were driven away by D'Aulney in 1636, who took their property against their protest. After awhile, having consulted their neighbors, the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at Boston, who gave them sympathy but no aid, they chartered a ship and employed Capt. Gilling, with Miles Standish to assist. They came to Pentagoet but did not agree and accomplished nothing. Standish took the ship back to Plymouth. Again the Pilgrims went to the Puritans and invited them to make common cause with them in regaining their property from the Frenchmen. The Puritans refused but wished them "success in the Lord." Meanwhile to the great disgust of the Pilgrims they found that the Boston inen had been furnishing the Pentagoet Frenchmen with powder and shot. And thus ended the English occupancy of Pentagoet for that time. In 1635-40, De Aulney de Charnissey was at Pentagoet, and built fortifications not far from a good harbor which was well sheltered by islands, and from which large ships might ascend forty miles. • Belknap's Biographies, Vol. 2, page 252, † Ante, Vol. 2, page 229. Judge John E Godfrey. Maine Historical Society Reports, Vol. 7, page 4. See Ante Vol. 5, page 223. 12 Pentagoet, Penobscot, Mount Mansel, Mount Desert, Pematiq. Judge John E. Godfrey says that the first fort was erected at Castine by D'Aulney, 1630-50*. In 1635, De Aulney attacked Pentagoet and drove off the Plymouth Colony trading houset. De Aulney had a farm house six miles above the fort. He remained. at Pentagoet until 1651, when he was driven away by La Tour. The French kept possession of Mount Mansel, now Mount Desert (?) until 1627, when King Charles made another grant of the country to Sir William Kirk and his brother. These men fitted out at their own expense an armament, and took 18 French vessels and 135 pieces of ordnance which were intended for fortifications there and at Quebec. The whole country was taken by the Kirks from the Crown of France, and Alexander Kirk was make governor. -Sullivan's History of Maine, p. 275. In the "Geographical History of Nova Scotia" printed in London, 1749, it is said, page 53: "In 1613, a new project was formed in France to get possession of Pentagoet, a river which lies 30 leagues southwest from St. Croix. With this view a colony duly furnished with missionaries was transported thither." John Palairet in his description of English and French possessions in North American Edition, 1755, says: "In 1613, the French established a fort at the mouth of the river Pentagoet, and Argal drove them away.‡" John Ogilby¶ in his "Geography of the World," 9 volumes, London, 1671, says: "Two Jesuits excommunicated Pouirincourt's son, gained a party in France, received arms, brass guns &c. from Louis XIII became masters of Port Royal, and began a fort at Pentagoet." Pierre Charlevoix, a French traveller, born Oct. 29, 1682; died Feb. 1, 1761. He was a missionary of the order of Jesuits. He ascended the Saint Lawrence, traveled through the country of Illinois, and descended the Mississippi to its mouth. He printed "Histoire de la Nouvelle France," in which he says, page 209, "that Saint Savior was at Pentagoet." Sullivan's History of Maine 1795, page 276 says: "The Jesuits about this period (1613) began to gain influence. The Duke (Duchess) of Guercheville who was the favorite of Louis XIII was in their interest. They promised him a share in the new plantation, and he caused them to be amply supplied with what they needed. By this means they made themselves masters of Port Royal and began a fort at Penobscot but Argal put a stop to their proceedings." John Johnston, L.L.D., in his history of Bristol, page 19, says that at this time forts were erected as far west as the mouth of the Penobscot." Maine Historical Society, vol. 8, page 330. + History of Castine, page 19. Williamson's History of Maine, vol. I, page 290; also Ante vol. V, page 223. FORT PENTAGOET IN 1670.* This fort (built by the French) at what is now Castine, had been for some time in the hands of the English, but by the Treaty of Breda in 1667, was to pass over to the French. Accordingly August 5. 1670, Capt. Richard Walker, Deputy Governor surrendered it to the French governor, Chevalier de Grand Fontaine. In the Act of Surrender the forts and contents are described or scheduled, in substance as follows: "1. One fort with four bastions, well flanked, which bastions are sixteen feet. 2. A Guard House, 13 paces by 6, built of stone. 3. A Magazine, with another of equal size and strength, 36 paces by 12, built of stone. 4. A House same size as the guard house, built of stone. 5. A Chapel 8 paces by 6, built of timber with mud walls, with steeple and bell, 18 pounds. 6. A garden in which there were 70 or 80 fruit trees. 7. Cannon; 18 in number, weighing from 925 pounds to 3,200 pounds each." Who built and for what purpose this fort, is as yet unsettled. It is said that the French built it but where is the evidence of the fact? Who planted the So fruit trees in the garden? The writer of this can not answer these questions but trusts that some delver in history may yet solve them. HOME OF THE BASHABA. CONTRIBUTED BY REV. H. O. THAYER, OF LIMINGTON, ME. Early explorers on the coast of Maine, told of a noted personage among the native tribes. They called him "the Bashaba," and understood him to be a chieftain of superior rank and extensive authority. Under him were subordinate chiefs, which were styled Sagamos, (or Sagamores). Diverse opinions obtain, whether Bashaba was a title of rank or only a native name. Hon. J. E. Godfrey in an article in the Maine History Collections, vol. 7, discusses the matter, adduces citations from old writers and favors the opinion that Bashaba, (or Bessabes, or Betshes) was simply the name of a prominent chief. The early English writers evidently believed otherwise, but French authorities quite as intimately acquainted with the native tribes, speak as if Bashaba or Betsaches, was a personal name, not of official rank. Mr. The home of this chief was usually assigned to some locality upon the Penobscot, but not definitely determined even in latter years. Godfrey mentions opinions of some that upon the Brimmer Flats in *History of Castine, p. 256 from Plantation office, Whitehall, England, in memorial of the English and French Commissioners in Nova Scotia or Acadia, London, M. D. C. C. L. V. p. p. 606 to 610 in the library of Boston Athenæum. Brewer was the head-quarters of the Eastern tribes. Hence by inference it would be the seat of Bashaba's power. Confirming the conclusion in a degree is an authority which he failed to examine and which does quite definitely locate the Bashaba. The original statement is worthy of notice for its precise determination of the fact. It will be found in the account by the Jesuit missionary, Pierre Biard of his visit to the Penobscot in Oct., 1611.-[vide Cavayon, Letters Inedits.] The passage is here appended as a contribution to the history of the Penobscot and its chief city. EXTRACT FROM BIARD'S LETTER FROM PORT ROYAL, 31, JANUARY, 1612. Translated by Miss Annie M. Thayer. "Pentagoet may perhaps be compared to the Garsonne of France. It discharges itself into the French Gulf, (Bay of Fundy) and has several isles and rocks, at the right of its mouth; so that if not ascending very far, one thinks that it is some great gulf or bay of the sea; yet there the channel and course of the river may be recognized. Its width at forty-four and one half degrees from the equator is about three leagues. One cannot imagine what is the Norumbega of the ancients if it is not this, for otherwise both the others and myself having inquired concerning that name and place have never been able to learn anything of it. We then having advanced into the current of that river, three leagues at most, found another beautiful river called Chiboctous, which from the northeast flows into the great Pentagoet. At the confluence of these two rivers, was the finest community of savages I had yet seen. There were eighty canoes and one shallop, eighteen cabins and as many as three hundred souls. The principal sagamore was called Betsabes, a man discreet and very sedate; and, in truth, one recongizes in those savages, virtues, natural and political, which would make anyone blush, who is not shameless, when in comparison they consider a large part of the French who come into the region." COL. JOHN CRANE, OF WHITING, MAINE. Col. John Crane was the son of Abijah and Sarah (Field) Cranet of Milton, Mass. ; born there Dec. 2, 1744. In 1759, the father was drafted as a soldier into the French war, but being a sickly man the son then fifteen years old took his place and was commended for his bravery. In 1767, he went to Boston, where he lived on Tremont, opposite Hollis street, 18 (?) years. In 1773, he was one of the "Boston Tea Party," and the only man wounded in the affair. The same year he went to Providence, See Ante Vol. v. page 223. + History of Milton, Mass., page 108. R. I., to work at his trade, house wright. He was a private in Major Adino Paddock's famous Artillery Company of Boston. In 1775, he and Ebenezer Stevens, afterward a celebrated Artillery officer of the Revolution, raised a company of artillery in Rhode Island, and marched with troops from that State to assist in the seige of Boston, and joined Gen. John Thomas' forces at Roxbury. He had a well equipped battery. June 24, he attacked the British forces at Boston Neck and drove them. General Heath in his diary June 24, 1775, says: "Major Crane fired seven shots into the British works on the Neck and drove the regulars precipitately*." Major Crane had the entire command of the Massachusetts Artillery throughout the seige of Boston, at Cambridge, Roxbury and Dorchester Heights. He was ordered with his command to New York in 1776, where in August he was at the battle of Brooklyn. In September, he lost a portion of one foot by a cannon shot from the British frigate Rose, in East River, and came near dying from lock-jaw. In December, he was ordered back to Boston to superintend the erection of powder mills,† in the vicinity of Boston, probably Canton. January 1, 1777, he was appointed Colonel of the new Massachusetts Regiment, re-organized from Gen. Knox's old regiment. He was at the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, Germantown and other battles. In 1780, he took part in the unsuccessful pursuit of Benedict Arnold. Colonel Crane was probably the most expert artillerist in the American army, during the Revolutionary war. Upon every occasion when the state of the powder supply would admit he was constant in his practice, and became remarkable. So wonderfully keen was his vision, that, from the instant the ball left the cannon and until it reached its destination his eye followed it, and his skill as a marksman was felt and acknowledged by the enemy. In 1783, he was appointed Brigadier-General. Col. Crane and Major Lemuel Prescott went to Quoddy in • History of Roxbury, p. 275-273. The late D. T. V. Huntoon. Esq., in New England Geneological and Historical Register, vol. 31, page 276, says it was Major Thomas Crane who had charge of the Powder Mills at Canton, but query. |
