Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-20


| and attended by some of the most noted
chiefs, arrived in Georgetown. The chief
at once repaired to the garrison COM
manded by Capt Penhollow. and pre-
sented a letter addressed to the Governor
in which it was declared that it the set
tiers did not remove in three weeks, they
would return and kill them all, destroy
their cattle apd burn their houses. Early
in the morning Of September tenth, seven
| teen hundred twenty-five. a body of
| four to five hundred Indians fell upon
| Georgetown, determined to reduce the gar
rison and destroy the town A discharge
| of musketry by a small guard, which Were
protecting the husbsndmen while gather
| ing corn, alarmed the Inhabitants, and
| safe retreat was made into the garrison,
| with much of their effects. The sava ges
then killed fifty head Of cattle, and burned
| twenty-six houses. A renewed assault on
| the fort effected nothing, and reinforce
ments arriving in the night the Indians
| retired up the river At this encounter
only one man was killed he being shot
through loop hole in the fort. Two years
later the fort was again beset, but SO Wig
orously was the attack resisted, that the
| savagcs suddenly turned away, taking
| three persons captive5 whom they sur
prised in the vicinity, and killing great
many cattle. Although the succeeding
years were filled with anxiety and dis
tresS in many ways there appears to have
been no general outbreak until the French
and Indian war of seventeen hundred
fOrty-fve which continued for five long
tedious years. Long after peace was de
clared, marauders from various tribes
continued to kill and destroy. As late as
seventeen hundred fifty the garrison at
Georgetown was again attacked, but suf-
fered no loss. At this time an attack was
made upon dwelling house, the savages
cutting through the doors with their toma-
hawks. After stout resistance the in
mate escaped by a window, so closely
pursued that he was forced to take to the
water of the dividing stream. Hn was
holly pursued by two Indians in canoe,
but when he was oyertaken, by dexter
Gus manmuvre he Overset their canoe, and
in their struggle for life be triumphantly
swan to Arrowsic and escaped His
house and barn, however, was reduced to
ashes. We now come to period which
greatly interests us here today. At this
time Or probably earlier, there appears on
the arena one John Clary, the date of his
entry into this world of ours does not
appear neither do we know very much of
his social relations, nor from whence he
juurneyed hither. We know this, how
ever that as part of the savage tribes
we're still at war with the white people,
especially those tribes that frequented the
coast of Maine, that his life, durin these
years, must have been one of unremitting
toll and harassing fears The spring
and summer of seventeen hundred fifty
eight witnessed some of the most inhuman
acts of savage butchery and destruction.
In June of this year one of his neighbors
was attacked, the father and mother slain
and their six children carried into captiv-
ity. Eight years before this, viz, in Oct
1850, we find that Mr.. Clary takes up the
duties of a father in the nourlshing and
caring for his first born child,a daughter
We here today, do not cannot feel the
weight Of care and responsibility then
resting upon him. We imagine him
vigorous man toiling increasingly on
through summers heat and winters cold
wrestling from earth, air and water a
scanty susbsis tence for himself and
family, always spurred on by accumulat-
ing cares, and the laughter and prattle of
always harasscd by the thought, that the
clutch Of the unreienting savage may next
DO laid on the throats of his own dear
ones, or that the bullet from the ambush
may be sent crashing through his own
brain. On the tenth day of June, seven
teen hundred fifty three, to him son
was born. Notwithstanding the troublous
times then prevailing, no doubt regarded
az o., How,
circumstances even to the present day
name was thought necessary, what better
chan the father could be given-John,
he was therefore called. We do not know
that be was chrstened with water dipped
from golden chalice, or that he was
assisted through the delicate mazes and
labyrinths of infancy by retinuc of
physicians and nurses Indeed, we think
it more probable, that aided by vigorous
constitution, the fathers stalwart arm
and the mothers unceasing tender care,
he grew to young manhood, the pride Of
his fond moth and his fathers joy. AS
the clear Saxon sound of that honored
name comes down to Us today, through
the lapse of one and one-half centuries,
we find ourselves all aglow with zeal to
know more of him, whose descendants
we are. W are not aware dt what age
his first born sou was deprived of his
mothers care, or his fathers counsel
tradition has it, that the father was
drowned near the settlement founded by
John Watts in TIA, and that his remains
were buried within mile of where we
now sit OF him, and his faithful com
panion, we can only say,
They loved. but the story we cannot unfold;
They scorned but the heart of the naughty
is cold;
They grieved, but no wall from their sIumber
viii come;
They oyed, but the tongue of their gladness
is dumb.
In commemoration of the family tree
they so firmly planted, to renew associa-
tions already formed, and to form new
ones, and 20 gather what knowledge and
inspiration we may be able from con
sideration of our common ancestors, we
are met here today. We regard this as
no idle and unworthy purpose. 1t seems
eminently fitting, that this gathering.
initial in many respects, should be held
here, where passed the scenes and struggles
of our common ancestors. Accustomed as
we are, to have for the asking, all the
necessities and Injuries attendant upon
Our modern civilization we can know