Old Houses in Scarborough – 89-9307

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Don Taylor

Henry Jocelyn’s at Ferry Rock.

A cheerful air hath this house, tis here come night, that the gentlemen do assemble for to sip mulled wine, spiced and tasty, or to drink deep draughts of warm ale, feasting on carroway comfits, a-discoursing on the politics which do afflict this Province. The young folk preferred nuts and cider betwixt their games of forfeits

Tis a big room, this kitchen. On the right hand is a vast chimney, on the left, a dresser stored with ware and pewter. In the corner, a cupboard. Other furnishings be an oaken chest, a settle, a scrutoire, sundry high-back chairs and the family-board ever ready and never too strait for another guest. Great logs do blaze in the chimney, cheerful to behold and none too warm for these nipping winter nights. Candles of bay-wax there be, fragrant and fair. By day the sun strives to enter through window-panes of waxen paper. Little need have we for arms or bannerets, for deer’s antlers with Henry’s fowling-piece and powder-horn adorns the walls. Strings of red peppers, dried apples, and comely quarter-moons of yellow pompions do depend from the rafters. On the mantel piece ever sits the tinder-box with flint and steel, ready for instant use.

Sept. 15, 1644.

Touching this town, it groweth apace. Why, we could count half a score of families within the borders of Black Point, even now. Likewise, a brisk trade in fishes is afoot. The drying stages they be ever laden, and the procedure itself, is well worth trouble to witness. Tis ever the same order, -catching, curing, drying, packing, shipping.

Somewhile ago ’twas agreed for to remove from the ’’Ferry Rocks” to a more convenienter dwelling. Hither came we, master and mistress, man and mayde, as also sundry beasts and cattle, -’tis now better than three months back.

[Page 2]

Old Houses In Scarborough

Tis nobly situate, this habitation. Conceive a pretty peninsula of no great size, begirt by a fair bay which doth oven its arms to the sea only on its southernmost Quarter. Across the bay, among the trees, sits the settlement of Blue Point, and behind that, the mountains. This residence itself, stable and commodious, doth overlook a pretty cove where the water laps in with soft soughing by night and by day. Tis not nigh so bluff nor so boisterous as the Ferry Rocks, but comfortabler, by odds. The ferry’s a good two mile distant.

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Francis Neale – Jocelyn’s Nephew – 89-9388

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Don Taylor

Mr. Francis Neale — Jocelyn’s Nephew.

Mr.Francis Neale must have been a nephew of Esquire Jocelyn, whose half-sister Elizabeth married Francis Neile of London, gent., 25 May 1625, and had children Francis, John, and Mary. Francis Neale, gent. about 30 years since (circa 1653) went to live near Casco Bay”-presumably came to his uncle’s house at Scarborough-according to his own deposition given at Boston 17 Nov. 1683. he was about 27 years old when he came. In a letter dated 9 Aug. 1686, Rev.John Higginson, in endorsing him for appointment as clerk to record vital records at Salem, classed him a gentleman born and bred and referred to his experience as clerk of courts at Casco. The young man soon found a wife, Jane Andrews, stepdaughter of Mr.Arthur Mackworth of Falmouth Foreside, where he settled. Despite his affiliations by blood he seems to have adhered at times to his uncle’s opponents. Much inclined to politics and clerical employment, his course would be hard to analyze. Fe served as Secretary under the younger Gorges’ first movement, yet apparently opposed his second attempt, although included in the commission. His petitions to Mass. are extant. When Massachusetts came in in 1668 he was made an Associate; in 1670 he was Deputy from Falmouth.

He was a refugee to Salem, in Philip’s War, and perhaps by the aid of his uncle’s influence was given a land grant in New York; he did not return to Maine but continued at Salem, employed as conveyance, schoolmaster, and otherwise. His will dated 1 Aug.1695 was not proved, but administration was granted on his estate 2 Jan.1696-7.

(Page xvi, Maine Province and Court Records Vol. I, State Lib.)

[Probably written by Dorothy Shaw Libby.]

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New Camera Display, Updated Digital Collection & Updated Masonic Display

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Don Taylor

Thanks to the efforts of Director Jan Makowski and Volunteer Betty McKown, we have a new display showing historical/vintage cameras. The collection includes Polaroid One-Step, Kodak Model C box, several viewfinder cameras, folding cameras, and even a Brownie camera still in the box with flash and bulbs. How many of them have you owned over the years?

The Digital Collection continues to grow. It includes nearly 8000 images that are indexed and organized. It is a fantastic resource if you are researching (or reminiscing) Scarborough people or places.

Finally, the curator, Becky, has updated the Masonic display with many new items.

Visit the museum and see all of the displays. We are open every Tuesday and the second Saturday of the month from 9 AM to Noon.

New Camera Display. Photo by Don Taylor

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89-9306 – “Henry Jocelyn”

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Don Taylor

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

—– The apparent next page is missing from the file —–

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

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History Walk at Pleasant Hill Preserve

Posted on September 10, 2022 by Don Taylor

September 29 @ 4:oo Pm – 5:30 pm

Join SHS past president Rodney Laughton for a history walk at Pleasant Hill Preserve sponsored by the Scarborough Land Trust.

Learn about the general history of the area and what the people who lived on farms in Scarborough would have been doing at this time of year.

Rodney Laughton is a Scarborough native who for over 40 years has collected, studied, and documented Scarborough history. He is the author of two books in the Images of America Series: Scarborough and Scarborough in the Twentieth Century. [Both are available at the museum.]

Registration Required: See the Scarborough Land Trust website for details and to register.

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