Where the Rideouts Settled
Placenames from "Rideouts in America":
In regard to the place names in the Golda Soffe book "Rideouts in America": I have been searching and searching to find some real idea of the places that Abraham and his earliest children called home once arriving in the colonies. I also have wanted to try to find the graves or burial places of Nicolas or Abraham.
The Soffee book is
perhaps the
best at giving a clue. I think she is in the ball park, but not totally
accurate. Some place names that she mentions are [Ancient Fort]
Augusta, Georgetown, Falmouth, Back Cove, Small Point, Sagadoe
(Scituate) and Mill Pond or Mill Pool.
Living in Massachusetts, not far from Scituate, I was curious as to the
history of Scituate, so did some research. I've found no early name of
Sagadoe in reference to Scituate. However, and see below, there is a
Sagadahoc county in Maine, where Back River, Small Point and Mill
Pond are part of.
As an added note here, back in the fall of 2004, I visited the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, Maine, and found an ancient map (1600s I believe). On that map, was showing the Brunswick area with the name Scituate on the top. I inquired about it to the curator there, who had no idea that the area had ever been called Scituate. Her response was that the map could have been referring to something that was 'scituated' there. I don't believe that is true, because it appeared to me that the map was titled Scituate.
For the longest while, I thought simply it must have been in the Portland (then Falmouth) area, where Back Cove can be found to this day. I have an early map of Falmouth (called 'Ancient Falmouth'), and it clearly shows land plots around Back Cove in the late 1600s. There are several Ingersoll plots in that area.
As we know, Nicolas married Mary Hunt Ingersoll. I'm thinking that possibly, Abraham was familiar with the Ingersoll family while in England, or possibly that he may have worked for him upon arriving here. In regard to the shipbuilding on Back Cove, I've been unable to find any older maps that show any Rideout shipyards or wharfs. I do not believe that the earliest Rideouts were building ships at Back Cove, Falmouth.
Anyway, let me move on to other possible places. Golda mentions Back Cove, Mill Pond (Pool) and Small Point. I don't think she is correct with her Back Cove reference, as there is a Back River that runs by Small Point, in the Bath/Georgetown/Arrowsic area. That, combined with the reasons below, I think Back Cove is really Back River, which is part of the Small Point Harbor area.
I have recently obtained a deed for land purchase by Nicolas Rideout that I've come across, there are several names associated with this area that I've found. Click here to see the deed. McCobb (one of the land sellers to Nicolas) family members were from Georgetown, which is where Nicolas was purchasing land on the coast, near the Great Salt Marsh (as the deed states). This McCobb is buried in this area, at the Dromore Cemetery with his family, in Sagadahoc County, ME. In addition, the person who signed the deed, a Mr. Samuell Denny, a town official, was from that area as well.
Georgetown:
Part of the confusion can be a result of the fact that the name for many of these places falls under the larger umbrella of the name 'Georgetown'. Georgetown was incorporated in 1716, quite possibly about the same time that our Rideout ancestors were coming onshore. In order to get a clear view of the place names in Golda Soffe's book, it is important to remember that references to early Georgetown basically made up all of Arrowsic Island, Georgetown, Bath, Woolwich and West Bath.
Back River:
With it's current coming in part from the Kennebec River, is the long body of water that separates modern Georgetown from Arrowsic Island. There is considerable salt marsh in the south and north of this area. The land deed to which I have previously given reference, indicates that part of the land purchase spanned to one of these salt marshes, in this case, the southern marsh, in the deed called the 'Great Salt Marsh'. There are also four small ponds in this area.
[Ancient Fort] Augusta:
It is said that after the majority of the early Popham Colonists had returned to England after the first year, that there were approximately 45 men who stayed on in this area. Some say that they settled westward of where they were originally, and the area they settled was eventually known as Augusta. I don't know if that is true or not, but what is known is that it had been settled, abandoned, and resettled several times before it was left for good. It was the scene of many early Indian attacks. I have not come across any documents that show the exact location, or if there are any archaeological researchers working on finding it. The only map that I have found that shows only the approximate location is noted below. In the same book that the following information has come from, it reads: "Mountfort's map of the Township of Augusta, 1737, shows streets laid out, at the Fort Augusta site, reaching up to North Creek. In Small Point Harbor is shown Webber's Island where Thomas Webber settled, while directly west of it is designated as Mill Point where mills were build using tide power. Mill Point may be located as on the north tip end of Hermit Island today." It continues, "Tradition says that Indians attacked the fort early in the morning, shooting a man on his way to the well, located outside the fort, after which they shot arrows with burning birch bark onto the roof, from Lombard Ledge, setting the fort on fire. The settlers retreated to vessels moored in the harbor and sailed away." No water supply was provided within its walls and when a few years later Indians attacked with fire arrows, the defenders found themselves helpless.
Findings in an early map
Click here to view an early map on the Barton Family Genealogical Page
On a map that I have obtained from a book on the history of Small Point at the Patten Free Library in Bath, Maine, several of the above named and following place names appear, giving us an indication as to the approximate location that Abraham, Mary and Nicolas began their years in the new country.
[Ancient Fort] Augusta:
The map shows that on the north end of Small Point Harbor, where Cape Small Harbor joins, is a place called Goose Rock. Just to the east of that, the map is marked 'Augusta, 1716'. See the above notes about Augusta.
Small Point:
This map shows Small Point Harbor, which sits on the western edge of the peninsula. A stone fort was built "by the ingenious Dr. Belcher Noyes, at his own charge," who also "undertook a Fishery, sufficient to employ twenty vessels at a time." Not far to the east (or to the right on the map) is Cape Small Harbor, and there sits a place named 'House Point' (at Small Point Hill), and a nearby school is marked. Here, is an arrow with the name 'Rideout, 1761' written. This is obviously Nicolas Rideout, who purchased the land from McCobb and others.
The Great Salt Marsh:
If you continue eastward on the map, from House Point, you next come to the Great Salt Marsh, which goes as far north as where the current Popham Road is (route 209), and continues as far south as the ocean at Sea Wall Beach (which extends eastward to Fort Popham). To the east of the Great Salt Marsh sits Morse Mountain. On old records, this is also known as Mt. Ararat and Lookout Hill.
Mill Pond:
Continuing eastward from the Great Marsh, you cross Little Marsh, and then the Morse River (which appears to empty into Spirit Pond). There is a note written on the map stating that on 'ancient deeds', Spirit Pond is called 'Mill Pond'. This basically sits just after where Route 209 makes it's final 'right' turn towards Fort Popham. So, I'm inclined to believe that the place names mentioned in Golda Soffee's book may not be entirely accurate. For example - Back Cove in old Falmouth - but was actually Back River (or a cove thereon). Small Point, although accurate, is near this Back River, not Back Cove. Mill Pond, name is accurate, but it is not at Back Cove, it is near Back River. Sagadoe is truly Sagadahoc in the same parts of ME as above. Confusingly enough, there is a place closer to Fort Augusta, and closer to House Point, called Mill Point in the above reference material. In a book entitled "The Rivers and Marshes of Small Point", by Emma D. Sewall, it says: "The pond [sic. Spirit Pond] is called in a deed given in 1656 the Mill Pond. Very early in the nineteenth century it was called Whalen's Pond, from John Whalen, who had a saw mill at it's outlet and is said to have carried on a thriving business…" This book continues: "Traditions say that the first one [sic. Mill] was built by some of the 45 Popham Colonists who did not return to England with the others in 1608; also, that there was an early settlement at the mouth of the river, but of this there is no record."
Cemeteries on the Map:
There are at least seven cemeteries listed in the portion of the map that I have described above. At least 3 of these are very close to where the Rideout mark is shown at House Point. Here is a link to the above map from the 1800s that has these same place names:
Click here to view an early map on the Barton Family Genealogical Page
As an added note here, back in the fall of 2004, I visited the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, Maine, and found an ancient map (1600s I believe). On that map, was showing the Brunswick area with the name Scituate on the top. I inquired about it to the curator there, who had no idea that the area had ever been called Scituate. Her response was that the map could have been referring to something that was 'scituated' there. I don't believe that is true, because it appeared to me that the map was titled Scituate.
For the longest while, I thought simply it must have been in the Portland (then Falmouth) area, where Back Cove can be found to this day. I have an early map of Falmouth (called 'Ancient Falmouth'), and it clearly shows land plots around Back Cove in the late 1600s. There are several Ingersoll plots in that area.
As we know, Nicolas married Mary Hunt Ingersoll. I'm thinking that possibly, Abraham was familiar with the Ingersoll family while in England, or possibly that he may have worked for him upon arriving here. In regard to the shipbuilding on Back Cove, I've been unable to find any older maps that show any Rideout shipyards or wharfs. I do not believe that the earliest Rideouts were building ships at Back Cove, Falmouth.
Anyway, let me move on to other possible places. Golda mentions Back Cove, Mill Pond (Pool) and Small Point. I don't think she is correct with her Back Cove reference, as there is a Back River that runs by Small Point, in the Bath/Georgetown/Arrowsic area. That, combined with the reasons below, I think Back Cove is really Back River, which is part of the Small Point Harbor area.
I have recently obtained a deed for land purchase by Nicolas Rideout that I've come across, there are several names associated with this area that I've found. Click here to see the deed. McCobb (one of the land sellers to Nicolas) family members were from Georgetown, which is where Nicolas was purchasing land on the coast, near the Great Salt Marsh (as the deed states). This McCobb is buried in this area, at the Dromore Cemetery with his family, in Sagadahoc County, ME. In addition, the person who signed the deed, a Mr. Samuell Denny, a town official, was from that area as well.
Georgetown:
Part of the confusion can be a result of the fact that the name for many of these places falls under the larger umbrella of the name 'Georgetown'. Georgetown was incorporated in 1716, quite possibly about the same time that our Rideout ancestors were coming onshore. In order to get a clear view of the place names in Golda Soffe's book, it is important to remember that references to early Georgetown basically made up all of Arrowsic Island, Georgetown, Bath, Woolwich and West Bath.
Back River:
With it's current coming in part from the Kennebec River, is the long body of water that separates modern Georgetown from Arrowsic Island. There is considerable salt marsh in the south and north of this area. The land deed to which I have previously given reference, indicates that part of the land purchase spanned to one of these salt marshes, in this case, the southern marsh, in the deed called the 'Great Salt Marsh'. There are also four small ponds in this area.
[Ancient Fort] Augusta:
It is said that after the majority of the early Popham Colonists had returned to England after the first year, that there were approximately 45 men who stayed on in this area. Some say that they settled westward of where they were originally, and the area they settled was eventually known as Augusta. I don't know if that is true or not, but what is known is that it had been settled, abandoned, and resettled several times before it was left for good. It was the scene of many early Indian attacks. I have not come across any documents that show the exact location, or if there are any archaeological researchers working on finding it. The only map that I have found that shows only the approximate location is noted below. In the same book that the following information has come from, it reads: "Mountfort's map of the Township of Augusta, 1737, shows streets laid out, at the Fort Augusta site, reaching up to North Creek. In Small Point Harbor is shown Webber's Island where Thomas Webber settled, while directly west of it is designated as Mill Point where mills were build using tide power. Mill Point may be located as on the north tip end of Hermit Island today." It continues, "Tradition says that Indians attacked the fort early in the morning, shooting a man on his way to the well, located outside the fort, after which they shot arrows with burning birch bark onto the roof, from Lombard Ledge, setting the fort on fire. The settlers retreated to vessels moored in the harbor and sailed away." No water supply was provided within its walls and when a few years later Indians attacked with fire arrows, the defenders found themselves helpless.
Findings in an early map
Click here to view an early map on the Barton Family Genealogical Page
On a map that I have obtained from a book on the history of Small Point at the Patten Free Library in Bath, Maine, several of the above named and following place names appear, giving us an indication as to the approximate location that Abraham, Mary and Nicolas began their years in the new country.
[Ancient Fort] Augusta:
The map shows that on the north end of Small Point Harbor, where Cape Small Harbor joins, is a place called Goose Rock. Just to the east of that, the map is marked 'Augusta, 1716'. See the above notes about Augusta.
Small Point:
This map shows Small Point Harbor, which sits on the western edge of the peninsula. A stone fort was built "by the ingenious Dr. Belcher Noyes, at his own charge," who also "undertook a Fishery, sufficient to employ twenty vessels at a time." Not far to the east (or to the right on the map) is Cape Small Harbor, and there sits a place named 'House Point' (at Small Point Hill), and a nearby school is marked. Here, is an arrow with the name 'Rideout, 1761' written. This is obviously Nicolas Rideout, who purchased the land from McCobb and others.
The Great Salt Marsh:
If you continue eastward on the map, from House Point, you next come to the Great Salt Marsh, which goes as far north as where the current Popham Road is (route 209), and continues as far south as the ocean at Sea Wall Beach (which extends eastward to Fort Popham). To the east of the Great Salt Marsh sits Morse Mountain. On old records, this is also known as Mt. Ararat and Lookout Hill.
Mill Pond:
Continuing eastward from the Great Marsh, you cross Little Marsh, and then the Morse River (which appears to empty into Spirit Pond). There is a note written on the map stating that on 'ancient deeds', Spirit Pond is called 'Mill Pond'. This basically sits just after where Route 209 makes it's final 'right' turn towards Fort Popham. So, I'm inclined to believe that the place names mentioned in Golda Soffee's book may not be entirely accurate. For example - Back Cove in old Falmouth - but was actually Back River (or a cove thereon). Small Point, although accurate, is near this Back River, not Back Cove. Mill Pond, name is accurate, but it is not at Back Cove, it is near Back River. Sagadoe is truly Sagadahoc in the same parts of ME as above. Confusingly enough, there is a place closer to Fort Augusta, and closer to House Point, called Mill Point in the above reference material. In a book entitled "The Rivers and Marshes of Small Point", by Emma D. Sewall, it says: "The pond [sic. Spirit Pond] is called in a deed given in 1656 the Mill Pond. Very early in the nineteenth century it was called Whalen's Pond, from John Whalen, who had a saw mill at it's outlet and is said to have carried on a thriving business…" This book continues: "Traditions say that the first one [sic. Mill] was built by some of the 45 Popham Colonists who did not return to England with the others in 1608; also, that there was an early settlement at the mouth of the river, but of this there is no record."
Cemeteries on the Map:
There are at least seven cemeteries listed in the portion of the map that I have described above. At least 3 of these are very close to where the Rideout mark is shown at House Point. Here is a link to the above map from the 1800s that has these same place names:
Click here to view an early map on the Barton Family Genealogical Page
Posted by Linda | April 4, 2008
