their grass lands, their farms would have been far more valuable than they now are. They are beginning to perceive this, and a spirit of improvement is visible,

The productions of Wells are such as are common on the same soils through the country. The sea dressing, of which vast quantities are hauled on to the ground, enables the people to raise Indian corn, and in some cases grain, to good advantage. It is doubtful, however, whether a supply of corn and grain is raised in the town for the use of the inhabitants. The average crop of corn does not exceed twenty bushels from the acre; of wheat, six bushels from the sowing of one; of potatoes, one hundred and sixty bushels from the acre; and of other productions about in the same proportion. Clams in great abundance are dug from the flats.

TRADE. The difficulty attending the entrance into the principal harbor in the town has prevented the increase of trade at this place, although there have not been wanting those who have overcome all these difficulties, and rendered merchandising more or less profitable. The principal article of export from the town is wood, which has been sent to Boston, Salem, and Newburyport. It is estimated that not less than fifteen hundred cords of hard wood and fifteen hundred cords of pine are annually exported from Wells; one half of which is supposed to be cut in the town, and the remainder in the towns adjoining. Several of the largest vessels owned here are constantly employed in the West India trade. The total amount of shipping owned in the town is about six hundred tons. Considerable ship timber is cut in the town, and vessels of various sizes are built here from year to year.

Trade has increased considerably in Wells within ten years past. There are now in the town eleven stores, in several of which business is transacted to a very considerable amount. There are also in the town eight houses of public entertainment.*

*[The Portland, Saco, and Portsmouth Railroad, which crosses the northwestern part of the town, has made a serious diversion in the trade and hotels. Wood and lumber, now, instead of going to the shipping, are transported by rail, and the few travelers on the common roads, render tavernkeeping a profitless occupation. There is a large hotel on the beach, which is much patronized in summer by persons who are in search of sea air and bathing.-Ed.]

STATE OF LEARNING. Wells is divided into fourteen School Districts, in which schools are kept from two to six months in the winter season, and as much longer in the summer. The general character of the common schools is low.

There is not a person living in the town who has received a public education at any college, and it is not known that more than seven native inhabitants have ever been thus educated. Hon. Nathaniel Wells and Mr. Josiah Clark were educated at Harvard College, and were both of the class of 1760. Rev. Nathaniel Wells, now the minister of Deerfield in New Hampshire, was educated at Dartmouth College, and was of the class of 1795.

Samuel Morrill, M. D., of Boston, was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1821, and Mr. James Furbish completed his collegiate course at Cambridge in 1825.

Of the six ministers who have been settled in the town, five of them were graduates. Rev. Samuel Emery, Rev. Samuel Jefferds, Rev. Gideon Richardson, and Rev. Moses Hemmenway, D. D., were all educated at Harvard College, and were of the classes of 1691, 1722, 1749, and 1755. The Rev. Benjamin White was from Dartmouth College, and of the class of 1807. In 1792, Dr. Hemmenway received the degree of S. T. D., both from Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges.

HISTORY. The first settlers of Wells came from Exeter, in New Hampshire, but the precise date of their settlement is unknown. It is conjectured to have taken place about the year 1640. There is no evidence that the land was ever purchased of the Indians. One Wawwaw, a noted Indian Chief, lived in the town something more than eighty years, and pretended to claim this and some adjoining towns.

The original charter of the town is preserved in the town record, and is in the following words: "Whereas, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Needham, and some others of the plantation of Exeter, have been with me, Thomas Gorges, superintendent of the affairs of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, knight, lord proprietor of the province of Mayne, and have desired in behalf of themselves and others to take a certain tract of land lying between Ogunquitt river and Kennebunk, and for eight miles up in the country; but whereas

a part of the said land (as I heard) is claimed by Mr. Stratton and others, I cannot for the present give any farther answer than this: That all the right and interest Sir Ferdinando Gorges hath in the said land shall be freely granted unto them. Reserving to Sir Ferdinando Gorges five shillings for every hundred acres of land, as well as marsh and uplands that they shall maneur, and to me, Thomas Gorges, the priety of Ogunquitt river, of which I have desired a patent, which when I have received, I do promise to surrender upon reasonable demands any thing that may be beneficial to them, not doing myself any notable damage, in the mean while they have free liberty to build and take up any lands that are therein Sir Ferdinando Gorges' power to grant, to have and to hold them, and their heirs and assigns forever. Given under my hand Sept. 27th, 1643. THO GORGES."

Among the original settlers at Wells, was the Rev. John Wheelwright, who had been banished from Boston for holding Antinomian sentiments. He assisted in founding Exeter, but a dispute soon arose there between him and Capt. Underhill, as they said, respecting religion, but as others said, respecting which of them should be governor. Be this as it may, the contention was so sharp between them that they went asunder, and Mr. Wheelwright came to Wells. The Mr. Hutchinson, mentioned in the charter, was probably Mr. Edward Hutchinson, the husband or the son of the celebrated Ann Hutchinson, the sister of John Wheelwright, whose name stands conspicuously in the religious dissensions of that day.1

1Gov. Sullivan says this was the husband of Ann Hutchinson, but he states also that this same Mr. Hutchinson died in Rhode Island, in 1642. But the aforesaid charter is dated September, 1643, and if Sullivan's date of his death is correct, the person who came to Wells must have been his son, or perhaps some other relative. But it may have been the husband of Ann, and the date of his death as stated by Sullivan, may be correct. [The husband of the celebrated Ann Hutchinson was William, the eldest son of Susannah Hutchinson, who came over with her family to Boston in 1634, accompanied by Rev. John Wheelwright, who married her daughter Mary. The maiden name of Ann, the wife of William, was Marberry. The other sons were Richard, Edward, and Samuel. In the previous persecution of the Government against this family for their antinomian sentiments, these enterprising and valuable people were driven from the field which they would have cultivated and adorned. William and his wife went to Rhode Island in 1638,

About two months prior to the date of the charter, the following instrument was issued by Thomas Gorges for surveying the town:

"Witnesseth these presents that I Thomas Gorges, Deputy Governor of the province of Mayne, according unto the power unto me given from Sir Ferdinando Gorges, knight, lord proprietor of the said province, have for divers good causes and considerations in and thereunto moving, given and granted unto Mr. John Wheelwright, minister of God's word, Mr. Henry Boads, and Mr. Edward Rishworth of Wells, full and absolute power to alot bounds and sett forth any lott or bounds unto any man that shall come to inhabit in the plantation, themselves paying for any land they hold from Sir Ferdinando Gorges five shillings for every hundred acres they make use of, the rest five shillings for every hundred acres that shall be alotted unto them by the said Mr. John Wheelwright, Henry Boads, and Edward Rishworth. The bounds of the plantation to begin from the north-east side of Ogunquitt river to the south-west side of Kennebunk river, and to run eight miles up into the country, and in case differences arise between the said Mr. John Wheelwright, Henry Boads, and Edward Rishworth, concerning the admission of any man into the plantation, or of bounding any land, the said difference shall be determined by the agent or agents or Sir Ferdinando Gorges, to whom full power is reserved of admitting any one into the aforesaid limitt. Given under my hand and seal at Armes this 14th July, 1643. THO: GORGES."

and were the founders of that colony; he was chosen one of the first magistrates, and resided there until his death in 1642. Richard returned to England, and became a wealthy merchant in London. Edward also went back to England, and did not return. Samuel became a retired scholar in Boston, and died, unmarried, in 1667. The mother, Mrs. Susannah Hutchinson, died in Wells in 1642. The "Mr. Hutchinson" mentioned in Gorges' grant above quoted, was no doubt Edward, the son of William and Ann. He was born in England about 1608, came over in 1633, and was the nephew of Mr. Wheelwright's wife. He became a very prominent man in the civil and military affairs of the Colony of Massachusetts, firmly resisted the persecution of the Quakers, and was otherwise distinguished for manly qualities. He died of wounds received from the Indians in 1675, in a treacherous assault by them. It is not probable that he ever resided in Wells, but was desirous of speculating in land there, as he did in several places in the neighborhood of Boston.-Ed.]

The following instrument relating to the plantation of Wells has also been preserved, at the bottom of the above grant:

"Saco-Memo. at a court holden here the 14th day of August, 1644, this grant was here exhibited, and is by us allowed; for further confirmation we have hereunto sett our hands in court the day and year above written.

RICH. VINES, Dep. Gov.

HENRY JOCELINE.

RICH. BONIGHTON.

NICHOLAS SHAPLEIGH.

FRANCIS ROBINSON.
ROGER GARD."

The Mr. Rishworth, mentioned in the foregoing instrument, is well known in the ancient annals of Maine. It is, however, doubtful whether he was an inhabitant of Wells for any considerable time. Mr. Wheelwright resided in Wells for a few years, and was useful and active in promoting the settlement.' He received a grant of land in the town, known for many years by the name of "the Wheelwright farm." It extended from the neck of land south of the meeting-house to the Ogunquit river, and from the road then traveled to the sea. He had two deeds which covered the property. They are as follows:

"Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Gorges, deputy govr. of the Province of Mayne, according unto the power unto me granted from Sir Ferdinando Gorges, knight, proprietor of the said Province, being hereunto especially moved, for divers good reasons and considerations, have given, granted, bargained, sayled, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, enfeoff and confirm unto Mr. John Wheelwright, pastor of the church of Exeter, his heirs and assigns, a tract of land lying at Wells, in the county of Summersett, to be bounded as followeth, viz: all that neck of land next adjacent to the marsh on the north-east of Ogunquitt river, with sixscore acres of the said marsh, next adjacent to the said neck of land, being bounded toward the sea with a crick of Ogunkigg river, also two hundred and fourscore acres of upland, being next adjacent on the north-west of the said marsh, the said neck being

1 Rishworth married Wheelwright's daughter; he lived in York many years, and probably died there. [Farmer says he was living in 1683; he represented York in the General Court in 1679, the last year in which Maine had a representation in the Colonial Legislature.-Ed.]