between free democratic equality and aristocratic privilege. He left Boston on the evening before the battle of Bunker Hill; and, as every person suspected of being friendly to the patriots was forbidden by the British to leave the city, he was obliged to escape their vigilance in disguise, accompanied in his flight by his wife who concealed his weapons in the lining of her mantle. Though only a volunteer, not in commission, at that battle, "he was constantly exposed to danger in reconnoitering the movements of the enemy;" and in the immediate succession of events "his ardent mind was engaged with others in preparing those measures that were ultimately to dislodge the British troops from their boasted possession of the capital of New England." Of the different fortifications. constructed by the American army now closely besieging the British forces in Boston, the strong work crowning the hill in Roxbury was planned and superintended by Knox and Waters. But the almost total want of artillery was a serious impediment to the prosecution of the siege; and no resource appeared for supplying the deficiency. But the seemingly desperate scheme of procuring it from the Canadian frontier occurred to the mind of Knox; and, having obtained permission and instructions from the commander-in-chief, he started for Ticonderoga, almost unattended, in the depth of the winter of 1775-6. Young, robust, and vigorous, supported by an undaunted spirit and a mind ever fruitful in resources, he relied solely for the execution of his object on such aid as he might procure from the thinly scattered inhabitants of the dreary region through which he had to pass. His determined perseverence overcame every obstacle of season, roads,

*Whilst engaged in this service, it chanced that Knox was compelled to pass a night in the same cottage and even the same bed with the celebrated Major John Andre, who, as a prisoner of war, captured at the then recent surrender of Fort St. Johns, was on his way to Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Between these two there were many points of resemblance. "Their ages were alike; they had each renounced the pursuits of trade for the profession of arms, each had made a study of his new occupation, and neither was devoid of literary tastes and habits. Much of the night was consumed in pleasing conversation on topics that were rarely, perhaps, broached in such circumstances; and the intelligence and refinement displayed by Andre, in the discussion of subjects that were equally interesting to Knox, left an impression on the mind of the latter that was never obliterated. The respective condition of the bedfellows was not mutually communicated till the ensuing morning as they were about to part; and when Knox a few years later was called on to join in the condemnation to death of the companion whose society was so pleasant to him on this occasion, the memory of their intercourse gave additional bitterness to his painful duty." W. Sargent's Life and Career of Major John Andre, pp. 85 and 86.

*

of

and climate; and, in a few weeks, the heavy ordnance
that renowned fortress, drawn over the frozen lakes and moun-
tains of the north, were planted in the fortifications before
Boston. This service was duly appreciated by Washington
and by Congress, who, before Knox's return from the expedi-
tion, had appointed him to the chief command of the Artillery;
an office which he discharged with increasing reputation un-
der the successive ranks of Colonel, Brigadier General, and
Major General, to the end of the war.

"And now the strong Artillery claims its birth,
Terrific guardian of the trembling earth,
With voice of vengeance, and tremendous breath,
That wake the fiends of ruin, flight, and death:-
What daring arm directs its dangerous way!
What Chief beloved, ye brave Columbians, say!.
"Tis thine, intrepid Knox, on Glory's car
To shield the ranks, and guide the vollied war,
And thine the clime of Freedom's early boast,
Where the cold isthmus joins the stormy coast:-
What time thy much-enduring country draws
Thy active valor to her suffering cause,
Warmed at her call, in winter's dreary reign
Thy hardy step explored the northern plain;
1 see thee dauntless tread the trackless way,
Where frowning forests quench the glimmering day,
Through the bleak wild, and up the boreal steeps.
Where, wrapped in frost, the stilled artillery sleeps,
I see that arm its ponderous weight prepare
And call its thunder to the distant war."+f

* These were, 8 brass mortars, 6 iron mortars, 2 iron howitzers, 13 brass cannon, and 26 iron cannon, with 2300 lbs. of lead and a barrel of flints. Beacon Hill, a Local Poem, Historic and Descriptive, 1797. By Mrs. Sarah Morton.

CHAPTER VII.

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS AND INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

FROM this anticipation of time into which we have been led by the fascinating character of an ardent and patriotic young man, we return to 1774. A remarkable shower of hail and wind occurred here July 15th, and must have done considerable damage; some of the hailstones being found as large as the eggs of a hen.* Monday, July 14th, on the recommendation of the General Court at Boston, without the advice of the Governor, was observed as a day of Fasting and Prayer on account of the perilous state of political affairs; but of the manner in which it was kept in this settlement we have no record or tradition. In Meduncook, now Friendship, which was settled by the genuine sons of the Pilgrims, it was celebrated by meeting in the ministerial house and, after religious exercises, signing the Solemn League and Covenant, alluded to by Knox on a preceding page. This was a mutual pledge not to import, buy or use any British manufactures or other goods that shall arrive in America after the last day of August ensuing, and to break off all trade, commerce, and dealings whatever with the island of Great Britain and all persons who, preferring their own private interest to the salvation of their now perishing country, shall continue still so to import goods, or shall purchase of those who do import, "until the Port or Harbor of Boston shall be opened, and we are fully restored to the free use of our constitutional and charter Rights." It was signed at Meduncook by 55 adults, male and female, besides many of their children.

The passage of the act alluded to, called the Boston Port Bill, the news of which arrived at Boston May 10, 1774, interdicting as it did all intercourse by sea with that place, had caused a scarcity of provisions and proved a great interruption to the wood, lumber, and coasting business of the settlers here; whose trade was forced to Salem, Marblehead, and smaller places. Cord wood, the great staple from here, there found a less ready sale at greatly reduced prices; and its scarcity in Boston at the same time raised its price so high as to occasionally tempt a breach of the act by smaller craft, or

*James Fales's account book.

the safer introduction of it by means of special passes granted by the official authorities of the Port. The sloop Sally of 50 tons, of this river, under command of James Watson, whom many of my readers may recollect to have seen in his old age, having gone into Marblehead with a load of this article, was favored in this way, and duly cleared with a "Lett-Pass" at

the Salem office for Boston with 30 cords of wood on the 14th of December, 1774. This, according to a tradition in the Watson family, was the first cargo taken into Boston after the passage of the Port Bill. His Lett-pass with Cocket annexed, reads as follows:

"MARBLEHEAD IN THE PORT OF SALEM.

"Lett-Pass.

"In pursuance of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of His present Majesty's reign intituled "An Act to discontinue in such manner and for such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or Shipping of Goods, Wares, or Merchandise, at the town and within the Harbour of Boston," &c. SUFFER

Guns, nav

"The Sloop Sally, James Watson, Master, 50 tons, igated with men, plantation Built, registered at Boston, 13 Ap. 1774, to proceed to the town of Boston with Fuel, as per Cocket hereunto annexed, it having been certified to us by the proper Officers that the said Sloop hath been by them duly searched and examined. Custom House, Salem, the 14th of Dec. 1774, and in the 15th year of His Majesty's Reign.

"(Cocket.)

"Know ye That James Watson hath here entered Outwards for the use of the Town or Harbour of Boston, Thirty Cords Wood now on board the Sloop Sally, J. Watson, Master, bound for the Town or Harbour of BOSTON. Dated at the Custom House, Salem, the 14th Day of Dec. Anno Domini, 1774." These documents are sealed and signed in the margin, by R. Routh, Dept. Collector, C. Shimmen, Dept. Commissioner, and N. Taylor, Treasurer." *

This Capt. Watson continued to run the Sally, whenever it seemed prudent, as late as 1778, a part of the time, as appears from his book, in connection with Reuben Hall of Warren. It would seem, also, that he had been, occasionally at least, in the sloop Three Friends; as in the beginning of 1774 there are charges of wages paid Robert Young and others on board that vessel. Other vessels, mostly from the south shore of Massachusetts, were occasionally here; and one, name unknown, belonging to Capt. Mason Wheaton, with others above or below this place, were kept running awhile longer, as well as two or three from Wessaweskeag.

*See the originals in possession of Messrs. A: W. & E. Brown of Thomaston. An entry by Jas. Fales says, "Boston Harbor was blocked up by the British in June the 20, 1774.”

1775. But the time had now come when the commerce of the country and its affairs were to be subjected to other restrictions and to other authorities than those of the British parliament. During the interval between the legal authority of the Royal government, and the resumption of that of the Province in its own name, some authority had to be substituted; and Committees of Safety and Correspondence were organized on this river as in almost all other places in New England,-who, without much regard to the habeas corpus and other personal rights and immunities, undertook to inquire into the doings and designs of people in general, and to inspect, regulate, and in a measure control, all matters and transactions, as the public good in their judgment might require. There being as yet no incorporated towns here, the inhabitants of the different settlements on both sides of the George's and at Wessaweskeag, about 250 in number, held a meeting early in the season, and seem to have directed Capt. Samuel Gregg, of what is now Warren, to enlist a company of minute men for the defence of the place and enforcing the regulations respecting coasters. In consequence of the British Capt. Mowett's conduct at Falmouth, Townsend, and Fort Pownal, in taking away cannon and ammunition, seizing and killing cattle, and committing other acts of arbitrary power, a part of these minute men were called into actual service; and Capt. Gregg with 20 of his men well armed made a visit up the Penobscot to Fort Pownal, April 27th, to enquire of the commander, Thos. Goldthwait, the reason of his delivering up the cannon to the British, and also to request a supply of arms and ammunition for the defence of the settlers here. These were obtained to the amount of 7 muskets, 10 lbs. of powder, and 24 lbs. of ball, for which a receipt was given by Gregg, Robt. McIntyre, and Benj. Burton, as a committee from St. George's. But as Goldthwait afterwards complained, apparently with justice, that this place was better supplied than he was, it is probable these stores were taken as a precaution against the suspected treachery of that officer and the improper use he might make of them.

Another similar meeting of the people was held at the house of Micah Packard, on Tuesday, June 6, 1775, and, after choosing Mason Wheaton, moderator, and John Shibles, clerk, constituted the first Committee of Safety and Correspondence in the place of which we have any record; consisting of M. Wheaton, Haunce Robinson, George Young, Wm. Watson, Samuel Creighton, Moses Robinson, Thos. Starrett, Jona. Nutting, and Elisha Snow.