The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-28

since been removed, but the outline of the
foundation is plainly visible. And nearer his
own house Mr.. Laird pointed out the place
where the brothers Arthur and Francis Noble
were buried. No stone marks the spot, but un
doubted tradition has for more than century
and quarter kept its locality fresh in the
memory of the neighboring farmers. The man
ner OF Col. Mobiles death was so tragic and his
defence SO heroic, that an interest has been
kept alive in the history of his march over the
mountain Gas the farmers affirm without snow.
shoes}, and the events of that fearful night
when SO many were killed in their quarters by
the Indians, before they could defend them
selves, and find on investigation that the ira
dition OF the neighborhOO& is mainly correct.
A MIR. Avery who owns the adjoining farm
was at the time saw him eighty-six years old.
His father came there from Connecticut only
eleven years after the battle, so that the memo
ries of father and son reach back to the time
when the events of the battle were fresh, ana
the graves plainly marked-of course there can
be no mistake. If further evidence OF the loca,
ton of Col. Mobiles grave were necessary, hau
it from Mr.. Laird The two French apple trees
between which was the grave died many years
ago, but not long before my visit MIR. Lard re-
moved the stump OF the last one, and While 40
ing so it occurred to him to search for some EVIL
dence of the burial, when with his spade ne
threw up what was evidently human skull;
but he made no further search, as he considered
the tradition verified.
The view from this spot is very fine, overlook
ing the Grand Prarey, a dixie meadow without
division fences, two or three miles wide. Be-
You'd, rising in sublime grandeur is Cape Blom-
idon, an abrupt precipce of sandstone said to
be 500 feet high, being the eastern end of the
North Mountain, but overlooking it and also
the Minas Basin. In the foreground near the
meadow are remains of the French orchards
an occasional giant apple tree yet bearing
fruit, and rows of the mOnstrOus trunks of de-
cayed French willows yet covered with thrifty
sprouts These mark the margins of the lanes
that led through the village to the church and
to the meadows, as they were when Col Noble s
troops were fed and warmed at the Acadian
tiresi0es.
But the saddest thought of all ia that within
ten years after the simple-hearted Acadians en-
tertained this host of strangers, speaking an
other tongue, an army from the same New
England colonies, after performing the service
for which they were sent, by capturing fort at
Chignecto, and driving out a force of armed in
truders from Canada and Cape Breton. were
compelled by Gov. Lawrence at Halifax, to
force these honest Acadian people on board of
insufficient transports, to be exiled for life
among strangers, and to destroy their village
for no crime, but for fear that their increasing
numbers would lead them to commit one.
The crest borne on the seal of the Mobiles was
gray hound transfixed by an arrow, the mot.
to translated. was death rather than dishon-
or This was probably granted to some an
cestor for some gallant act. BY his refusal to
yield when summoned, and defending his quar-
tiers at great disadvantage, Col Noble we'll sus-
tanned the sentiment of his family motto. AT
the time of his death Col. Noble could not have
ably be learned of his eventful life. In this pa
per we have followed him to his unmarked
grave among strangers. 1t is natural to feel an
interest in his children and their descendants.
When about to take command of the expedi-
ton to Minas, Col. Noble executed will,
which commences thus: SIN the name of God,
Amen. I, Arthur Noble of Georgetown in the
county of York and Province of the Massach-
usetts bay in New England, ESQ.,, being in
sound mind and memory, but being bound on
an an expedition against the enemies of the King
To his well beloved brothers Francis and
James Noble he gave the sum of one shilling,
EACH" To his daughter Sarah Lithgoe, wife
of Mr.. VIM. Lithgoe the sum OF 500 pounds old
tenor and all 'her dear mothers wearing APP
parep'. "As to the rest of my estate, both real
and personal give and bequeath the same to
my we'll beloved son Arthur Noble and his heirs.
An do hereby nominate my we'll beloved
brother, James Noble, ESQ.,, and my good
friends Henry Deering, Esq, Captain Robert
Temple and Charles Apthorp, merchants. Ex-
ecutors Of this, my last will and testament"
This will was proved on the 18th of May, 1747.
These executors were among the first mer-
chants of Boston. Robert Temple came to
Boston from England in 1717 and founded an
Irish colony in the north part of Bath, Maine,
for the transportation of which he chartered
five ships He died in 1853. He has a mural
tablet to his memory on the wall of Kings
Chapel
1 have the official inventory of Col, Mobiles
personal estate comprising every article in
well appointed household of tie time besides.
SO ounces of wrought plate. 300 ounces of
silver coin. 5000 pounds in paper money. $50
pounds in bills of credit; part of two sloops;
scimeter. six fireocks and pistol with
bayonet. Also ga silver hilted sword, broken"
1t is not improbable that this was the sword
which Col. Noble wore at Louisburg and with
which he defended himself at the time he fell
in his own quarters, and which was broken in
that struggle. The value of the personal estate
was about 5000 pounds, Old Tenor.
William Llthgow to whom Col. Mobiles only
daughter Sarah was married, was the only
commander of Fort Halifax and afterward
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Lin
coin county when that county was established
in 1850. He had residence near Col. Mobiles
at what is now Pittston. Their descendants
are numerous and respectable.
Arthur Noble. the only son of Col. Arthur,
after the death of Captain James at Louisburg
became the heir of his uncle James, who was a
wealthy landholder living on Hanover street in
Boston, and owning all the lands joining
Damariscotta Pond and on both sides of the
river for six les down. and sawmills on both
sides Of the falls Also lands in New jersey
Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth He bequeathed
all his property after the death of his wife, to
his niece Sarah Litbgow, and his nephew,
Arthur Noble. His will was proved, Aug. IA ,1772.
Arthur Noble moved from Boston to Dam
ariscotta on the ''easterly side of Damariscotta
fresh falls in 1862. and had the care of his
uncle's large property. He lived there when
the town of marlborough was incorporated in
1888, and being the largest proprietor his uncle
being dead. he named the town in honor of his
father and his uncle james. He removed to
Boston in 1875 and lived on Friend street. He
died in 1907, aged q. He was buried in the
buryng ground adjoining Kings Chapel,
which place of worship he attended. He LETT
sons. land daughters. One daughter married
Thomas Capen of Boston; another married
Samuel Devens of Charlestown; another mar
ried Charles Devens merchant of Boston.
Their son. Judge Charles Devens, is now the
Attorney General of the United States.
There was son of Arthur Noble named
Francis, whose son Edward Noble now lives in
Canada. He has large family of children,
who are the fifth generation from Col. Arthur
Noble and are his only descendants bearing the
name of Noble.