The Portland daily press., 1897-05-22

At the beginning of the war there was
great anxiety felt lest the British agents
should influence the Penobscot Indians
against the colonists. Steps were taken
early to secure them to our cause. capt
John Lane of Buxton, was selected as a
discreet and suitable man to consult and
enlist them in our behalf. In May, IT'S,
the Provincial Congress sent the tribe a
letter in which they said Our liberty and
your liberty are the same, we are brothers
and what is for our good is for your good
and we, by standing together, shall make
those wicked men afraid and overcome
them and all be free men. Capt Goldth-
wait has given up Fort Pownal to our
enemies. We are angry at it and we hear
YOU are angry with him and we don't
wonder at it,"
Four Penobscot chiefs left Fort Pownal
with Capt. John Lane June 10th. On
June 14th, Samuel Freeman wrote from
Watertown to his father, Enoch Freeman,
at Falmouth Neck, "I can't help think
ing but that they (the Indians) should
be well treated, justice done them respect
ing their lands, etc., by which they now
and forever be secured to the interests of
the country" Capt. Lane was then here
at Falmouth with Chief Orono, Joseph
Pease, Poveris and one more, bound for
Cambridge to the Provincial Congress-
They.were entertained and a chaise was
provided to take them to their destina-
ton. Gen. Jedediah Preble, chairman of
the committee, sent with them letter
to Joseph Warren in which he said that
he had furnished money to pay their ex-
penscs and that Corona, the chief man,
seems to be sensible man and hearty in
our cause" also, "We gave them assur-
ances that they might depend upon being
provided for while there as well as on
their return back again, wished them a
pleasant journey and that the event might
be happy for them and u.s. In 177S,
Joseph Mcclellan of Falmouth was voted,
by the General Court, seven pounds for
injury done his chaise by Capt. Lanes
Indians. This damage was no doubt
done in 1775.
Drake says, "Only two days after the
battle of Bunker Hill (June 19th) there
arrived in Cambridge, a deputation of
Penobscot Indians of whom the celebrated
Orono was chief They went before the
Congress and among other things said
that they had large tract of land which
they had a right to call their own and
had possessed it many years. These lands
had been encroached upon by the English
who had for miles, on the ends, cut much
of the good timber. They also said that
they had been much imposed upon by
traders, and desired such evils be prevent
ed, also requested that provisions, pow
would buy at reasonable prices.
June 21st the Congress recognized their
claim to the land at the head of the tide
on the Penosbcot, extending six miles on
each side of the river Gen. Washington
and the Congress both promised them
that they should ''enjoy the country and
told them that If anybody was to take
their lands from them or if they heard of
anything being done against them they
would let them know of it,
The following letter was probably writ
ten by Andrew Gilman, the interpreter,
for the four chiefs after their return to
Falmouth Neck from Cambridge, al
though their names, as he wrote them,
are different from what has come down to
us.
Falmouth, July 4, 1775
"Sir: We have been here five days and
did expect to go home with the supplies
for o11r twill, IN c1n R,1t fold
Captain John Lane must return to Water
town before supply can be sent, we have
agreed to go home in our canoes, though
we should rather go in said sloop. We
beg leave to let you know it is our desire
that Captain Lane be appointed truck
master, with full power to redress any
insults we may receive from the white
may depend on our friendship and assis-
lance if required.
"We are your humble servants.
"Olenah,
ssMesshall
tsJoseph,
''Pooler
"Andrew Gilman, Interpreter
The above letter is testimonial to the
patriotism fidelity and honesty of John
Lane, through whose efforts much was
done that secured the friendship and aid
of the Penobscot tribe to our forefathers
in the Revolutionary war.
The Provincial Congress resolved, July
Sth, ITS, to supply the Indians of the
Penosbcot with goods not to exceed in
value, three hundred pounds and to take
furs and skins in exchange.
In September, 1775, the chiefs of the Pc
nobscots and the st. John Indians held
a conference and resolved ''to stand to-
gether with our brethren of Massachusetts
and oppose the people of Old England
that are endeavoring to take our lands
and liberties from US
Capt John Lane raised a company for
the army and in it enlisted five Penob-
scot Indians, S0ncier, Eneas, Sebatis,
Metagone and Sewanockett. When Ar
nold's expedition marched UP the
Kennebec, in the fall of 1775, three of
Capt. Lanes Indians went as guides
Encos or Eneas and Sebatis went with
Mr.. Jaquith on a secret errand, in adj