The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-06

Here he proclaimed his commission. Here he
proclaimed himself president. Here he an
nounced his government. Here he called
a court; and here he appointed commission
ers coronell general, provost marshal and
others.
But Vines, Gorgess deputy, was alive and
alert and vigorously applied himself to crush
this rebellion in Gorges's domain at the OUT
set. Vines called an opposing court
at Saco and the majority of the inhabitants
still held to Vines. The boldness of Cleeves
had It's effect however, and a little company
gathered around his standard, here on the
neck, with all the devotedness with which the
Scottish clansmen clustered around the ever
green pine of Roderick Dhu. Cleevess parti-
cans soon numbered some so or more free
holders. They all joined III letter to
Massachusetts,, written by Cleeves, asking
assistance, and offering themselves as parties
to the Confederacy of the United Colonies
Governor Winthrop did not accept this offer,
but replied "that they had an order not to re-
ceive any but such as were in church way
A strictly Puritanical reply.
Cleeves called court the last of March
1916, at his house here on the neck. Hither
came Henry Jocelyn with Gorges's partisans
armed with guns and swords. Cleeves and
his party were entirely unarmed. The Rev
Thomas Jenner, the chaplin of the Jocelynites
first preached sermon. Then Jocelyn and
his company held meeting by themselves. a,
the end Of which they presented Cleeves with
demand in writing to see the proofs Of his
authority. Cleeves thereupon publicly read
his patent and commissions and submitted
them to inspection. "Furthermore," Mr.
Jenner writes, "Mr. Cleeves demanded sight
OF their originals of government; none being
produced he disclaimed obedience, and told
them there was no equality between his some
thing and their nothing" which adroit point Of
our townsman seems to be well taken, and
does not appear to have been answered by
the Saco chieftain.
Cleeves is maligned by his enemies as 6
quarrelsome underhanded man, but in this
picture drawn on the spot, by the clergyman
of his enemies, Cleeves stands forth a fair
open, square dealing man of peace; with
moral and physical courage unarmed to meet
his enemies III arms.
The contest was referred to the courts al
Boston in June, 1916; but the Massachusetts,
tribunals lodged the question, and gave ar
answer as inconclusive and double as those
given by the Pythian priestesses of Apollo.
The underlying fact was that Cleeves rep
resented Cromwell and the Parliament of Eng
land; Jocelyn the king and the canny Puri
tans of Massachusetts, Bay would not decide
for either until they knew which side wa,
going to win.
The contest as to the jurisdiction over ou
city and province was decided by the sword
But the sword was drawn, and the BLOOD
spilled, not among US, but among our brothers
in Old England
Gorges had already been taken prisoner
the siege of Bristol
The Republican party was now victorious
The decision of courts followed the march O
armies; and the English Commissioners fo
Foreign Plantations issued decree sustainin.
Rigby's patent, and gave him complete juris
diction over the Province of Lygonia. Thi
decision was rendered in 1916.
Cleeves was now triumphant over all hi
enemies.
This whole quarrel had not been of his seek
ing. 1t had been forced upon him Thirteen
years before, when John Winter with q pape
title, drove him from his little home on tn,
banks Of the Spurwink.
1t had been intensified when Winter follow
ed him up, and sought to evict him secont
time from his homo on our neck, where he hat
taken refuge.
/ think George Cleeves' worst detractor
must admit he fought this fight with indomit
able courage and uncomfortable perseverance
Neither the numbers of his enemies, thei
arms, their open threats of violence, their pois
oned SANDERS, nor the breadth nor pillows O
ocean swerved him from his purpose or coole,
his ardor.
For thirteen years he fought this battle, no
only with force and courage, but with pru
dence and skill.
A politician, aye, diplomat, as we'll as
fighter, was our first settler.
And now we congratulate on his complet
triumph.
Over the whole province of Lygonia b.
exercised undisputed sway.
No one longer challenged his authority. a.
was monarch OF all he surveyed from tn
center way round to the sea-"
He ruled over all his enemies on this cont
nent except those who had fed the province
but let this be remembered-no record-no ira
diiton, even-exists, that he ever used thi
power to punish any man.
Besides governing the province Cleeve
granted deeds of land to settlers all over hi
domain, and under the titles thus given muc
of the land in our city is held today.
Cleeves continued to rule over Lygonia har
PLY and without opposition for more than fou
years.
In August, 1850, Col Alexander Rigby died
and as soon as the news of his death reache,
Lygonia, opposition to his government revived
The opposition became serious.
In 1862 Cleeves again visited England
consult with Rigby's son, to whom the Prov
ince had descended.
Cleeves returned in 1858, and fought stut
born1y for his government, but it was a losin
fight.
Massachusetts, taking advantage of our quar-
rels among ourselves, now stretched her chart
er, so as to cover the best part of our State
The western towns of Maine first submitted
then Cape Porpoise and Saco
But Cleeves with few eastern towns sti
fought on, till further resistance was useless
when on July 18th, 1868, Cleeves and all til
remaining inhabitants OF Lygonia signed
submission to their too powerful rival Massa
chusetts,
SO fell the Province of Lygonia, and s
Cleeves ceased to rule in the land.
The history OF this province forms an uniqu
chapter in our annals. 1t existed for ffteel
years: from 1913 to 1868, and George Cleeve
was Hs first and only ruler this side tn
ocean.
The exact date of George Cleeves' death
unknown. He probably died about the yea
1867 at very advanced age, and his body wa
committed to the kindly earth of the town h
had founded, and whose entire limits he ono
| possessed.
Nearly all we know of George Cleeyes come
down to us through the letters and writings .
his bitter and persistent enemies.
! His character was constantly assailed, hi
motives traduced, his actions maligned.
| The Trelawny papers, now in press, are til
records and letters OF George Cleeves most &C
| tive slanderers.
Would we could find package of Cleeve,
papers hidden away in some forgotten nook
They would tell different story
Yet, spite of all the malicious gossip of til
time, we see, through all the cloud of aspel
sion, the outlines of grand old character.
Rough he might be, but his roughness wa
suited to thetimes.
Doubtless he made Trash speeches." but hi
rashness was called for, and doubt IL milde
speeches would have suited the occasion or tn
audience. He may have been quick tempered
and violent, too; and partisan he surely wal
But he ever bad the good will Of Cou VII