The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-08-20
3.
4 SHOT AND A CRY.
BY GEO. ]. vARNEY.


the stream until he found locality that
would suit him. upon which to settle.
When he came to Sandy river (Penob-
squism-q m-quis-sebou) he concluded that he
could mot find better spot for farm,
and here selected his ground, for he was
the FIRST man there.
The farm lies nearly opposite Old
Point, in Norridgewock, and when first
seen by young Waugh, was already
cleared, being filled with traces of the
cornhills of the Indians. a large part
of it was flowed every year by the
spring freshets, which deposited rich
sediment; and though no dressing was
applied, seed-time never failed to be
followed by a bounteous harvest. In the
words of the owner, THAT land never
told lie''
When discovered, the growth of ma
tive grass was so luxuriant, that tall
man standing in the field could tie the
ends of the stalks together above his
head.
Mr.. Waugh went back to the settle
ments; but in the following spring he
returned with Capt. Fletcher, and his
two sons. They erected bullet proof
camps, and planted a crop.
Having gathered the harvest they re-
tnrned and spent the winter in Clinton.
Here the three young men found three
good industrious girls and were married.
In the spring the four men returned to
Sandy river with their wives, and the
settlement from this time became per-
manent.
On the breaking out of the Revolu
tion, Mr.. Waugh's neighbors became
quite fearful of the Indians, who were
as "plenty as red squirrels" they said;
and the whooping they made at night,
and their movements in the day, caused
so much alarm, that the women were
sent to Fort Halifax, thirty or forty
miles down the river. The men, how
ever, remained to attend to their crops
and thus also, to hold their claims to
their farms.
For long time they worked together,
each with dog at his side, a gun near
by, and a powder-horn and a bullet
pouch ove- the shoulders.
In 1777 young Waugh was appointed
sergeant and authorized to enlist six sol
diers; for the British in Canada were
employing the Indians to fight the
Amenicans, and offering bounties for
captives.
1t is not certainly known that any in
habitant of Maine had been killed by
the Indians in this war, but during the
winter of 1776, tracks of three Indians
and two white men were discovered near
the Kennebec, going in northerly di-
rection. Soon after, it was found that
two men were missing.
So block house was built, adjoining
Capt. Fletcher's dwelling, and both were
enclosed by posts eight feet high, set in
the ground, and to this place all the wo-
men living within four miles were re-
moved.
In the neighboring town of Canaan
was a small sawmill, where one Ephraim
Brown was at work, having his camp
near by. An Indian named Sabbatis
was seen lurking about the camp in
Browns absence, and on his return,
Brown found that several articles had
been stolen from his chest.
The Indian was seized and taken to
the house of "Senior Peter Haywood,
ESQ.," for trial.
While waiting for the trial, Sabbatis
managed to get against scythe which
hung in a snath across the fence, and
with it cut the handkerchief that bound
his hands. Before Brown knew what
had happened, or was suspicious of dam
ger, Sabbatis attempted to kill him by
wringing his neck, in savage style. But
Brown struggled so violently as to throw
the Indian of, and then ran to the
Squire's kitchen for gun. The Indian
escaped.
1t was at length thought necessary by
the military authorities of the Kennebec
that there should be more effective
means of defense established; and the
appointment of young Waugh as ser
geant was a step in fulfillment of this
purpose. Here is an exact copy of an
order issued to him which has been pre-
served:
ORDERS:
To Mr.. james Waugh, Commander Of the
: Scouting Party on Kennebec Rirer.
You are to proceed up said river with
your Party, to the Great Carrying
Place, then divide the Party equally,
send three to the crotch of the Main
: river, or as far as Moose Ponds on the
Eastern Branch of said river. The
other three are to cross the Great Carry
ing Place to the Dead river and Seven
Mile Brook. Keep a faithful account
of your proceedings, and advise me by
all opportunities, of the Discoveries
: you make of the Enemy-Till furtheI
r orders.
< WILLIAM HOWARD, l.. Col.
HaLlo,0eN, hug. 2, 1777.
t The scout went up the river several
t times, but discovered no Indian; yet the
: fear of them did not subside for a yeal
e after.
n Seven Mile Brook was SO named from
J. being seven miles from the point il
t, Norridgewock, near which were tn,
i chief settlements. In the spring of 178'
a several families settled at the Brook
e Late in the season as no tidIngs haC
n been received from them, the Norridge
e wock people became alarmed lest the!
e had been attacked by Indians. Accord
e ingly meeting Of the men was called
y and it was decided to send a party o
= men to the Brook to ascertain the caus
is of the long silence
9 Three men named Wilson, Smith ant
f. Western. volunteered for the service
,r They set off in canoe, under the direc
A tion of Sergeant Waugh. The ligh