The following is from "Ancient History of Kennebunk Written in 1831" by Edward E. Bourne
"... At the time when the last war with the natives commenced [c1754], the principal places of their residence in this town, were the tract of land on the upper side of Gooch's creek, near where it enters the Kennebunk river and Great hill and Grandfathers neck. At the former place, were about twenty wigwams; at the latter, six or seven. There were also three, about twenty rods below the house of John Freeze on the Mousam river. ... The whole number, who lived in this town was about one hundred and sixty. They were not all of the same tribe. The king of one part of them lived on Great Hill. His name was Tom Wawa. The chief personage of the others, of what rank I do not know, was Captain Jo, who lived in one of the wigwams on Mousam river."
... they subsisted for the most part upon clams ... found here in great abundance, and could readily be obtained when they had been unsuccessful in the pursuit of game. Though living by the sea, and having numerous canoes, they were not in the habit of taking fish beyond the mouths of the rivers. During the spring, they obtained large quanties at the falls, when they were ascending the stream. Immense quantities of clam shells are still to be found under the ground about the places where their wigwams were located.
"... during the colder part of the season, the indians retired to the interiour of the country. A portion of them spent the winter at Pigwacket; some of them at Norridgewock - others went as far back as Canada."
"They [Indians] were as well known to our ancestors who lived in their vicinity, as any of their more civilized neighbours. Those who have survived untill within a few years, could recount the names of all the Indians who lived within their neighbourhood, with as much familiarity and certainty, as those of their own kinsmen or friends. They were perhaps as intimate with the savages, as with others, who lived about them."
"... But it was their invariable rule, and they were never known to depart from it, to give notice, when the white people should regard them as their enemies. This notice was given in the following way. Whenever they returned, or came in, from their expeditions, they erected near their wigwams a pile of stones, in a conical form, two or three feet high. So long as the pile remained, they were at peace with the whites. But whenever war was to be resumed, the pile was thrown down. ... the pile of stones would be again raised, and the Indians soon at the houses of their old friends with apparently as good feelings as if nothing had happened in the interval. ... Almost the first thing which they seemed to think of was, music and dancing with those, with whom they had just been at war ..."
"Amberuse, living in one of the wigwams near Mr. Larrabees settlement, ... was never known to engage in the war against the whites. ... Whenever his companions deserted their wigwams to engage in their savage barbarities, he remained at home, continueing on friendly terms with our people, and associating with them in the same manner, while the pile of stones was prostrated, as during peace.
[Sullivan writes about the history of So. Berwick around 1752] There came to that town, "an Indian named Amberuse, with his wife. He said that he hated war, and only wanted to live where he could make his brooms and his baskets and live in peace." He remained there for several years and then removed to the Kennebec.
"Agawamum ... lived just below the house of John Freeze" ... He had for a long time been observed to watch the serjeant [Stephen Larrabee], keeping his eye upon him whenever he went abroad from the garrison. ... It would not do for the serjeant always to be thus harrassed. ... Agawamum was it the habit of going ... early in the morning, to his traps ... carrying with him his gun. ... and when he was stooping down to take a beaver from his trap, [Larrabee] fired and killed him dead on the spot. But as it was a time of peace, and therefore he might be subjected to the penalties of the law, before he returned he burried the indian with his gun, at the bottom of the gully.
"Wawa was a distinguished warrior, ... driven ... to acts of the most relentless cruelty, yet occasionally he was known to manifest more of the feelings of civilized man, than was exhibited by his companions."
Important Facts About This Place For Researchers
Date
Fact
Notes
c1652
first settled
1652
York Co.
1820
Incorporated
from Wells
local names
Creascent Surf Bartletts Four Corners Great Hill Kennebeach Old Road Forks
