The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-27
The Chute Family.
The First Settler of windham and His
Descendants.

"a Paper Read Before the Maine Historical Society
by the Hon William Goold)
Thomas Chute, the first settler of windham,
was born in London $780, and emigrated to
Msrblebead, Mass. previous to 1725. The first
charge in his carefully kept book of accounts
bears that date. He notes that he raised his
house on the 20 of Feb. 1929. He kept house
of entertainment, and sold all kinds of drinks
today, wines, Zip, and the like, and often
charged his customers for melting his pewter
pots. There was very little money then in cir
culation which COMPEL &c the charging Of the
smallest articles which were finally paid for in
barter. The wealthiest people did not hesitate
to have grog score in the public house in what
Chute called his "drink-book" and when it be-
came large enough 1t became a debtor item
in his account book. He also dealt In other
kinds of merchandise, hardware, dry-gools and
crockery. He was also tailor, making up his
own clothes and those brought to him by his
customers. He also made suits of colors for
vessels, and has on the cover of the book the
quantity of bunting of each color required for
an ensign, and for a suit, British of course
Chute soon became the owner of buildings
which he rented. In 1880 barber is charged
with half years shop rent, six pounds, and on
the opposite page is credited with the touring
of his wig" and half years shaving 10
shilling" also. for "a wig for his SON. and
shaving his head to receive it. He also had
horse to let often double" that was for two
persons to ride on his back at the same time.
He sometimes let's bis chaise go TO Boston.
This was a pleasure vehicle that was very rare
in those days
In 1888 Mr.. Chute was appointed Deputy
Sheriff by Benjamin Marston, High Sheriff of
Essex county-here we have his original com
mission. A large part of his book is taken no
with charges for the service of writs. The
High Sheriff was entitled to share Of the
fees, which compelled the deputy TO Keep
book separate, with the sheriff, in which each
writ is entered--we have that also. from which
we learn that in the four years which he held
the office he saved nearly 200 writs, besides
other precepts. Mr. Chute served writs for
VIM. Shirley, who was after appointed govern
or of the Province. The first charge to HIM is
in 1913. His biographers have it that he did
not come from England until two years later.
James Bowdoin. subsequently Governor of
the State, Brigadier Waldo and Andrew and
Peter Faneuil, are charged with the service of
writs in Essex county. In the book the name of
Faneuil is spelt Funel-the same as it is on the
family tomb in the Granary burying ground
By his book Chute seems to have served oc-
cssionally as an attorney as we'll as deputy
sheriff, and did not hesitate to treat the jury
and witnesses. The following charges were
made in 1876:
ALEXANDER WATTS, Mariner. DIR.
Dec. To my attending the court three
NJ days at Salem, Is per day. 6 shillings.
10 cash gave to TT eat the jury. 10 shiilinss.
We got our case-Hines appeals
AT the review of the case he charged again:
"l736, May Court. To cash paid Mr..
Gridley, ye lawyer ......,.......1 pound
This was Jeremiah Gridley of Boston, who
afterwards became the Kings attorney. One
pound for attending court at Salem and max
ing plea seems at this time a very small fee
for one of Gridley's ability and celebrity. The
next charge is:
"To cash to treat We jury after they
gave ye cause in favor of you. 10 shillings
AT the Ipswich term in the following Octe-
Der, in another case for the same client there
is similar charge for treating the Jury, and
another for treating ye aoitnesSeS.
In 1888 Sheriff Marston is charged, for cash
paid for whipping John Barnor and for nut
ting him in jail.
Soon after the treaty with the Indians in
l727, 1t was decided by the Provincial govern
ment to survey second or back tier of town.
ships, between Salmon Falls river and the An
droscoggin, and offer them to settlers on very
easy terms. For nearly century the old towns
mad formed single line between the ocean
and the wilderness, and never were a people's
prudence and heroism more severely tried bv
the Indian enemy. -Four new townships were
granted; one OF which was New Marblehead
now Windham. on the petition of inhabitants
OF old Marblehead in Essex county
Ihomas Chute was one of the original gran
tees OF the township, and was chosen one Of a
committee OF three to accompany the commit
tee of the General Court in the location and snr.
vey of the township, which was begun in
April 1875. In the distribution of lots Chute
drew home lot No. II. He soon decided to
make himself home in the new township.
After closing his business in Essex county he.
with his family, came to Falmouth in the
spring of 1887. The last entry in his book in
Marblehead is under date April 25th He did
not immediately go to the new township, but
remained in falmouth, where he commenced
ms old business of keeping house of enter
tainment and working at his trade His book
contains charges against many of the leading
men OF the town. Rev Mr.. Smith, Col Thorn
as Westbrook, Moses Pearson, for whom in
1913 he made "a plush coat and britches
trimmed with silver lace" From his account
we learn that Mr.. Pearson kept an indian boy.
who wore red jacket, and negro, both of
whom wore leather b. eeches. The church rec
ord OF the first parish in Falmouth, in Oct
1913, has this entry: Thomas Chute, Mary,
his wife, and ADagail. their daughte., being
regularly dismissed from Marbehead church
admitted tn the
While living at Falmouth Chute had been
preparing for new home in the new town
ship, ten miles off. The precise date of his re-
movai to New Marblehead is not known. His
4rst charge IN the book there is against Rev.
John Wight, the first minister of the town. for
~ weeks board. He was ordained and settled
IN the town in Dec, 1743 and Chute and his
family were dismissed from the Falmouth
Church and recommended to that at New Mar
blehead
Mr.. Chute in his new home became the first
settler OF the township. His house was near
the shore OF Presumpscot river, which was the
best highway to Saccarappa, three miles off,
where his nearest neighbors lived. The set
tiers In the new tier of towns were really pick
ct sentinels for the coast towns-sure to be at
tackled first in the event of an Indian war In
l743, in expectation of French and Indian
war, the General Court of the Province ap-
proprlated 1900 pounds for the defence of the
eastern settlements of which 100 pounds was
pended by Committee of the Legislative Coun-
Gil IN building fort of square timber two sto-
RES high and fifty feet on the Sides with flank
ers OF IL feet square at the two diagonally oppo.
site corners. These fankers each contained a
mounted swivel gun, furnished by the proprie-
tors OF the township, and a long nine pound
gun was mounted in front of the fort to fire as
an alarm gun. This was furnished BY the Prov
ince and the whole work was enclosed by a
palisade. This fort was built in February and
March, 1743. In the same book already quoted
Mr. Chute charged for the labor of himself
his son and his hired man, on the fort to the
amount of 16 pohnds, 6 shillings, and in De-
cember OF the same year, he credited the Prov
ince by the hands of the committee $50 pounds
old tenor, to balance the charge OF 16 pounds,
10 shillngs lawful money. Mr.. Chute con-
tinued his habits of thrift in the new town,
Besides the clearing of his farm be hauled
masts to the river, and furnished the settlers
with goods of different kinds, made their
clothes and entertained them with drinks.
His neighbors probably gathered at his house