89-9306 – “Henry Jocelyn”

Henry Jocelyn

Henry Jocelyn son of sir Thomas Jocelyn of Kent,Eng. was sent over by ’Capt. Mason to make “a more complete discovery” and examination of bis grant.

He arrived at Piscataqua in the summer of 1634  but did not long remain. Aft the death of Mason, in 1635, he became a member of the new government established by Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Following the death of Capt. Thomas Cammock, in 1663, Jocelyn married his widow, Margaret, and succeeded to the Cammock Patent at Black Point. Upon the departure of Sir Richard Vines for Barbados, in 1665, Jocelyn became Deputy Governor. Later on, 165$, when the jurisdiction of Mass, had extended over the people east of the Saco River, “Our right trusty Henry Jocelyn Esq.” was appointed a commissioner with full power “for the trial of all causes without a jury within the liberties of Scarborough and Falmouth no exceeding the value of £50,” and with Jordan and Shapleigh, Rishworth and Abraham Preble was invested with “magistratical powers throughout the whole county of York.”

The situation of the garrison at the neck, overlooking the bay as well as Blue Point, made it one of the strongest on the coast. During the summer and fall of 1676 disaster followed disaster. Many of the settlers were killed and others were captured, while others were homeless. At this time the Indians killed several people among them was Ambrose Boaden. Henry Jocelyn was in command of the garrison at Black Point and now he was an elderly man and he felt he had seen enough fighting so he agreed to meet the Indian chief Mugg, outside the garrison and talk over peace terms. Mugg told Jocelyn that if he would surrender the garrison he and his friends would be allowed to depart in safety and take their things with them. Jocelyn said he would talk it over with his people and then would tell Mugg what they decided.

Returning to the garrison Jocelyn found, to his great surprise, that all except his own family and servants had taken their belongings and food and put off in boats for Richmond’s Island. Jocelyn surrendered and was kept with his family as captives all that winter. The surrender of this garrison was

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Although unauthored, this article was likely written by Dorothy Shaw Libby.