The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-28
l7ae-Falmoutn After iss Re-sestlemens


Falmouth After it's Reinstatement
-1746.
Several months since we found a lot OF old
papers that to us were very interesting. His
torians and others have sought in vain for
them, and concluded that they did not exist
From these we learn much OF Back Cove, Ca
pisic Presumpscot Falls, and Strondwater, in
the years intervening, between 1928 and 1746
The papers were not examined BY Willis nor
By Freeman, when he edited Smith q Deans
journal.
We find that the "neck" now Portland, had
about fifteen families; that in point OF bust
ness Portland did less in comparison, than Pre-
sumpscot Falls does compared with Portland
at the present day. We sec no indication that
Portland had a wharf, although several loads
OF wood had been cut off Of the Munjoy tract
and carried TO Boston In the interest OF the
heirs. They beached their small vessels near
the present railroad yard opposite Fore street.
Most of the timber suitable for slaves, and
for frames Of buildings, had been cut. Very
little land had been cleared suitable for Eng
lish grass, and in other respects Portland was
nsar the state Of nature, as when George
Cleeyes and Richard Tucker made plan OF 1t
and its surroundings, to place before Sir Ferd
Gorges for the purpose OF securing title either
By deed or lease. Well might the Indians In
clude this spot under the general name Of ma
cbigonne" as they did that of Martin Point
Above Middle street, near India, was spring
surrounded with swamp, the outlet OF which
led into Clay Cove; also several other brooks
We locate pond about the space occupied by
j. NJ. Woods garden, another about the site OF
the PRESS office, with swamp extending near
~ to Temple street, also other frog ponds, one
Of which was on Munioy. another In the vicin-
ity Of Willow street, near Congress street. A
swamp was located near South street and 9TH
ers, which / will not mention, all of which did
not serve to make the place attractive for farm
ing purposes Portland's situation made it
more convenient for the settlements above
named to meet at church than at the Point In
Cape Elizabeth, as the rivers formed the high
way for the settlers Capisic had a grist and
saw mill; Stroudwater paper and saw mill;
Presumpscot fulling and saw mill
At all these places were the proper appli-
ances for loading lumber and mast ships Whom
loaded they dropped down 10 Simonton's or
Bangs, on the Purpooduck side, took in their
stores and usually some ventures of salt fish.
George Berry, afterwards o captain in the
company, scouting for Indians, was ship car
penter and built small crafts at Back Cove,
where he resided. Lieut.. Skillings aided John
Trott, a boat builder at Peaks Island, in pre-
curing ship timber We also find in these settle
ments Messrs. Dodge, Elder, Motley, (the an
cestor OF the historian Scammon, Trickey aud
ais, whose descendants remain with us.
Our bashful and fastidious moralists, now on
the stage, can find here, that some OF their an
cestors we're engaged In that traffic which, we
some years since, tainted our southern neigh
bors with, worse than slavery, the slave trade.
One OF these papers "a ship account of q
voyage 10 Africa" which had apparently been
used In litigation, says this vessel was owned
or controlled by one, Smith, who conveys the
impression as 0eing one Of the first men In
town. She was loaded with lumber at Pre-
snmpscot Falls, dropped down to Simonton's.
took In some fish, sailed for the West Indies,
exchanged her cargo for rum and nicknacks,
and from thence sailed TO the coast OF Africa.
There these goods were exchanged for negroes,
who were brought back to Boston and sold.
One was retained forsSimonton. AS there were
considerable many slaves owned In Falmouth,
infer that this was the source from which
they were secured.
10 US Of the present day this bill looks curl
ously. But 1t has other than curiosity at
tacbed TO It. 1t Is o silent witness Of those
early days.
A part OF these papers we have copied, and
the Others we shall copy as soon as we can de-
| vote the time, when they will be laid away
| and If do not have occasion to write them up
| others perhaps may. 3. Z. MAYBERRY.