Regis et Reginæ Guilielmi et Maria, Angliæ, &c. Primo. S. BRADSTREET, Gov. Past in Council. Attest, Isaac Addington,* Secr." "By the Commissioners of the Colonies of the Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut, for managing the present war against the common enemy. Instructions for Major BENJAMIN CHURCH, Commander in Chief of the Plymouth forces, with others of the Massachusetts, put under his command. In pursuance of the commission given you, for their Majesties' service in the present expedition against the common Indian enemy, their aiders and abettors; reposing confidence in your wisdom, prudence and fidelity in the trust committed to you for the honour of God, good of his people, and the security of the interest of Christ in his churches, expecting and praying that in your dependence upon him, you may be helped and assisted with all that grace and wisdom which is requisite for carrying you on with success in this difficult service; and though much is and must be left to your discretion, as providence and opportunity may present from time to time in places of attendance; yet the following instructions are commended unto your observation, and to be attended to so far as the state of matters with you in such a transaction will admit You are with all possible speed to take care that the * Mr. Addington was one of those who took a very active part in opposition to the tyrannical measures of Andross. On the accession of William and Mary he was appointed Secretary, which office he discharged with integrity for some time. It seems that in those days, as well as at the present, office seekers were not entirely unknown, but, "the emolu ments of that office were small, compared with the duty, and so he was in less danger of a competitor." He belonged to the council for many years, and was respected as a justice of the peace for wisdom and industry. He died in 1714. Plymouth forces, both English and Indians under your command, be fixed, and ready, and the first opportunity of wind and weather, to go on board such vessels as are provided to transport you and them to Casco, where, if it shall please God you arrive, you are to take under your care and command, the companies of Captain Nathaniel Hall, and Captain Simon Willard, who are ordered to attend your command, whom, together with the Plymouth forces, and such as from time to time may be added unto you, you are to improve in such way as you shall see meet, for the discovering, pursuing, subduing and destroying the said common enemy, by all opportunities you are capable of; always intending the preserving of any of the near towns from incursions, and destruction of the enemy; yet chiefly improving your men for the finding and following the said enemy abroad, and if possible to find out and attack their head quarters and principal rendezvous, if you find you are in a rational capacity for so doing. The better to enable you thereto, we have ordered two men of war sloops, and other small vessels for transportation to attend you for some considerable time. You are to see that your soldiers' arms be always fixed and that they be furnished with ammunition, provisions and other necessaries, that so they may be in readiness to repel and attack the enemy. In your pursuit you are to take special care to avoid danger by ambushments, or being drawn under any disadvantage by the enemy in your marches. keeping out scouts and a forlorn hope before your main body, and by all possible means endeavouring to surprise some of the enemy, that so you may gain intelligence. You are to suppress all mutinies and disorders among your soldiers, as much as in you lies, and to punish such as disobey your officers, according to the rules of war herewith given you. You are according to your opportunity, or any occasion more than ordinary occurring, to hold cor respondence with Major Swaine, and to yield mutual assistance when, and as you are capable of it, and you may have reason to judge it will be of most publick service, and it will be meet, [that] you and he should agree of some signal, whereby your Indians may be known from the enemy. You are to encourage your soldiers to be industrious, vigorous, and venturous in their service, to search out and destroy the enemy, acquainting them, it is agreed by the several colonies, that they shall have the benefit of the captives, and all lawful plunder, and the reward of eight pounds per head, for every fighting Indian man slain by them, over and above their stated wages; the same being made appear to the commander in chief, or such as shall be appointed to take care therein. If your commission officers, or any of them should be slain, or otherwise incapable of service, and for such reason dismissed, you are to appoint others in their room, who shall have the like wages, and a commission sent upon notice given; you [are] to give them commissions in the mean time. You are to take effectual care that the worship of God be kept up in the army; morning and evening prayer attended as far as may be, and as the emergencies of your affairs will admit; to see that the holy Sabbath be duly sanctified. You are to take care as much as may be, to prevent or punish drunkenness, swearing, cursing or such other sins as do provoke the anger of God. You are to advise with your chief officers in any matters of moment, as you shall have opportunity. You are from time to time to give intelligence and advice to the Governour and council of the Massachusetts, or commissioners of the colonies, of your proceedings and occurrences that may happen, and how it shall please the Lord to deal with you in this present expedition. If you find the vessels are not likely to be serviceable to you, dismiss them as soon as you may. Captain Sylvanus Davis is a prudent man and weli acquainted with the affairs of those parts, and is written unto to advise and inform you all he can. Such further instructions as we shall see reason to send unto you, you are carefully to attend and observe; and in the absence of the commissioners, you shall observe the orders and instructions directed unto you from the Governour and council of the Massachusetts. Given under our hands in Boston, Sept. 18, 1689. THOMAS DANFORTH, President ELISHA COOKE, SAMUEL MASON, WILLIAM PITKIN, THE FIRST EXPEDITION EAST. BEING ready, Major Church embarked with his forces on board the vessels provided to transport them for Casco.* Having a brave gale at southwest, and on Friday about three o'clock, they got in sight of Casco harbour. And discovering two or three small ships there, [and] not knowing whether they were friends or enemies, whereupon the said commander, Major Church, gave orders that every man that was able should make ready, and all lie close; giving orders how they should act in case they were enemies. He, going in the Mary sloop, together with the Resolution, went in first, being both well fitted with guns and men. Coming to the first, hailed them, who said they were friends; presently manned their boat, brought to, and so came along the * What was since included in the towns of Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Portland, was called Casco. It is situated on Casco bay. This bay at its entrance between Cape Porpoise and Cape Elizabeth is about 40 miles wide. Sullivan's Hist. Maine, 13. In Philip's war depredations were committed here by the savages and many were killed. &c. Ib. 199, side of [him.] [They]2 gave the said Church an account, that yesterday there was a very great army of Indians, and French with them upon the island," at the going out of the harbour, and that they were come on purpose to take Casco fort and town ;† likewise informed him that they had got a captive woman aboard, (Major Walden's‡ daughter, of Piscata1 [them.] 2 [who] * There are about 300 islands in Casco bay. What the name of this was I have not learned. Is this the "body of 600 Indians," mentioned by Belknap, N. H. I, 267, that were going to attack Casco? I do not find any thing like it in the place it should be. He cites "Church's memoirs, 104," perhaps he used the first edition of this history, as no mention of any thing of the kind is seen in the second. In touching upon the operations under Church in 1704, he says, "while they were at Mountdesert Church learned from 9 of his prisoners" of the body of Indians just named. It will be seen in the Fifth Expedition, that Lafaure's son informed Church at Montinicus, of some French and Indians "that were to go westward to fight the English," but nothing of the kind took place at Mountdesert, nor any information from "9 prisoners," or that the expedition was to attack Casco. Waldron is now the correct way of writing this name Hubbard wrote it as our author does, but more frequently with an r after the e. Some other historians put the r before the e, so we are at a loss how the name was originally spelt. Major Richard Waldron was a native of Somersetshire, England, and was one of the first settlers at Cochecho, now Dover, Newhampshire. The tragical death of this noted man is given by Dr. Belknap, Hist. N. H. I, 197, 198; but as that excellent work is not in the hands of many, it may be proper to give the particulars in this place. At the close of Philip's war, many of the western Indians fled to the eastward. Some of them, with others of Pennacook and Pigwocket, had assembled at Major Waldron's with whom they had lately treated. Captains Syll and Hawthorne, being despatched by the Massachusetts' government against the Indians on the Kennebeck, arrived there with their men, under orders to seize all Indians that had been concerned in the war. They were about to execute their orders by seizing these Indians, but Maj. Waldron formed the design of taking them in a sham training, which he had invited them |