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From:
Subject: Re: [MAINE] Samuel Waldo & the German Settlers of Maine
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:27:06 -0400 (EDT)
References: <c6a.1b905b3a.34587a6c@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <c6a.1b905b3a.34587a6c@aol.com>


Hey Pat,

Do you know anything about the Lowell's of Bucksport, maybe 1800-1900 range?

My mother is a Lowell descendent, of the Sylvanus Lowell line...

-David Reed
Swanville, Maine
(as you can see, we haven't moved far!)




> Thank you for this posting of this little-known parcel
> of Maine history. I found reference to this settlement
> a few years ago when following my genealogy back
> through this region and time. My connection is through
> my mother's DEMUTH line, one of the original families
> settling present Waldoboro (Waldoburg) of which your
> excellent reference speaks. Others may be as thankful
> as I to learn there is an active group studying, locating
> and preserving information about this settlement
> and its descendants.
>
> OBBFHA Home Page
> The Old Broad Bay Family History Association
>
> Gratefully,
> Pat Smith Ranzoni
> Bucksport
>
> <<
> Subject: German Settlements 18th Century - Maine - and Samuel Waldo.
> Source: The German Element in the United States.
>
> p.247
> The German settlements of the 18th century in New England were not
> numerous,
> yet their history, though not of the same importance as elsewhere, is
> nevertheless of interest. The beginnings of German colonies in New England
> are
> associated with the name of Waldo.
> Jonathan Waldo, of Swedish Pomeranian nobility, came to
>
> The German Element.
> p.248
> Boston at the close of the 17th century as the agent of a Hamburg house.
> He
> rose to be one of the leading citizens of the city, and his business
> often
> took him to Germany & England. On one of these trips a son, Samuel
> Waldo, was
> born in London. Samuel Waldo when a young man was sent to Harvard College,
> and
> afterwards to Germany, to complete his education. Like Peter Muhlenberg, a
> generation later, Samuel Waldo was fascinated by a soldier's career, and
> entered
> the Hanoverian service.
>
> He was a member of the elector's body-guard when the latter ascended the
> English throne as George I, and advanced to the rank of a major in the
> English
> service, remaining in London until 1724, when his father's death called
> him to
> Boston to take charge of the paternal estate. On his departure from
> England,
> he was made a Colonel of militia of Massachusetts Bay and, residing in
> Boston,
> he soon gained the reputation for energy & enterprise in business affairs.
> Samuel Waldo became interested in a land speculation within the present
> state of
> Maine, which then was a part of the colony of Massachusetts. Ten
> proprietors
> - to whom later twenty associates were added - purchased lands on the
> Muscongus River, a tract situated in the present counties of Knox, Lincoln
> and Waldo,
> Maine. They could not get a clear title from the Crown, and therefore
> commissioned Samuel Waldo, persona grata at St. James's, to represent
> their interests
> in London. By "untiring application
> at court" Samuel Waldo was successful in adjusting the case, and as a
> reward,
> the 30 Proprietors
> surrendered to him one half of the Muscongus Patent.
>
> p.249 Samuel Waldo.
> Samuel Waldo had his land surveyed in 1732, and prepared to colonize it at
> once. The first settle-ment was made in 1736, principally
> by Scotch-Irishmen on
> St. George's River, but he wished to secure a larger agricultural
> population.
> In 1738, the enterprising merchant went to Germany to secure
> colonists. Circulars were distributed and arrangements made for
> transportation. In 1740 he
> succeeded in inducing forty German families from Brunswick and Saxony to
> accept
> his imposing offers to settle in the Broad Bay district of Maine. They
> founded
> Waldoborough (Waldoburg) on
> both sides of the Medomak River, but they led a wretched existence until
> larger numbers of German
> settlers joined them. They did not understand the art of fishing, which
> might
> have saved many of them, and they complained much of disappointment in
> their
> expectations; for even if the promises were "kept to the ear, they were
> broken
> to the hope."
>
> Samuel Waldo found his business affairs too engrossing to allow him much
> time
> for the colonists. He therefore employed an agent named Sebastian
> Zauberbuhler (Zuberbuhler) who had had some experience in other colonies.
>
> footnote: The most valuable contribution to the history of the Germans in
> Maine has been made by H. A. Rattermann, who visited the sites of the old
> colonies and studied their documentary history; published in Der
> deutsche Pionier,
> vols. XIV, XV, and XVI: "Geschichte des deutschen Elements im State Maine,
> deren
> Ursprung, Entwickelung u. Ver-fall, vom Jahre 1739 bis zur Gegenwart."
> The
> writer is deeply indebted also for suggestions and corrections, to the
> Rev.
> Henry O. Thayer, A.M., former secretary of the Maine Historicial Society
> and
> author of The Sagadahoc Colony, to whom the
> manuscript was submitted for revision.
>
> p.250 THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
> agent succeeded in inducing from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and
> sixty Germans, all that remained after exasperating and costly delays, to
> cross
> the Atlantic with him in August, 1742, with the object of settling on
> Waldo's
> land in Maine. They were well received at Marblehead, near Boston, and
> Waldo
> accompanied them to the Scotch-Irish settlement on St.George's River.
> They
> then sailed into the mouth of the Medomak River, where, on the bay-like
> harbor
> called Broad Bay, a few log huts or sheds marked the site of their new
> homes. Zauberbuhler remained with them until
> December, to help them in the selection of their lands, then went to
> Boston,
> never to be seen by them again.
>
> Waldoborough (Waldoburg) remained the name by which the settlement
> wasknown.
> School-master John Ulmer acted as preacher, and faithful leader of the
> colonists. The time of year for their arrival was badly chosen,
> for, though they saw
> the Maine forests in al lthe beauty of their autumnal foliage, and
> rejoiced
> in the experience and an Indian summer, a severe winter stood before them,
> destined to bring untold suffering. They could not sow until spring, and
> supplies,
> long awaited, had to be sent from Boston. Log huts were rudely constructed
> without windows or chimneys; unfamiliar hardships had to be endured before
> the
> settlement could become habitable. The few German colon-
> ists already located there could not give much assistance, needing help
> themselves and suffering from the fevers so common among first settlers.
>
> footnote: Sebastian Zauberbuhler, in Massachusetts official documents
> spelt
> Suberbuhler or Zouberbuhler - was of Swiss birth, and probably came over
> with John Pury, founder of Purysburg in 1732. The latter's example
> inspired him to
> similar ventures. After leaving Maine, Zauberbuhler appeared in Nova
> Scotia as
> magistrate of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He should not be confounded with
> the
> Rev. Bartholomew Zauberbuhler of Orange-burg, So. Carolina.
>
> p.251 GERMAN SETTLEMENTS IN NEW ENGLAND.
> When the spring came, the colonists were in such straits that it was
> impossible for them either to better their condition or migrate. They
> therefor
> petitioned Governor Shirley and the assembly of Massachusetts, setting
> forth their
> sufferings and begging that they be taken out of the country and be
> "employed in
> such business as they are capable of for the support of themselves, their
> wives and children." The General Court assembled, had the matter
> investigated,
> and their commission reported that the complainants, (Dr. Kast in behalf
> of himself and his Palatine brethren) hadsuffered
> greatly, and that, if not soon relieved, they might "stand in need of the
> compassion of this Government."
>
> But since Waldo was absent from Boston, a settlement of the matter
> was deferred until
> the next meeting of the Court. The committee of investigation then
> reported
> that each
> party had violated the contract, the Palatines in not paying the
> passage-money, Zauber-
> uhler in not providing shipping in due time, Waldo in not paying the
> officers' wages, etc., and recommended that some suitable person or
> persons be
> appointed to settle their accounts, and that "a sum of money be granted
> to be laid
> out in provisions and clothing to help them (the Palatines) through the
> winter."
>
> The report was read before the House and Council September 17, 1743, but
> was
> voted down
> and the colonists were left to shift for themselves. The second winter
> must
> have been one of even greater trials, since the supplies of Waldo failed
> them
> after October, his contract requiring him to serve them only the first
> winter.
> But this was only the beginning of their troubles, and it was shown here
> even
> more than elsewhere that the lot of early colonists was not a happy one.
>
> footnote: May 25, 1743. See Massachusetts Records (MS.) vol. 15 A., pp. 33
> ff. Printed in Der deutsche Pioneer, vol. xiv, 95-98 (Rattermann).
>
> p.252 THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
> In the following year (1744) war broke out between France and England,
> which
> drew into its vortex the colonies of the Western Hemisphere and
> threatened
> also the insecure foundations of the German settlement in Maine.
>
> In the spring of 1745, an expedition was made against the French
> Fort, Louisbourg, the "Gibralter of America," on Cape Breton Island, Nova
> Scotia. The
> force was under the command of William Pepperell. Samuel Waldo, brigadier
> general, was third in command of the New England forces, and rendered
> conspicuous
> service. A large German contingent was enlisted under the captaincy of
> Johannes Ulmer, "priest, prince, and military commander." Those of
> Waldoboro who
> did not accompany the expedition went for protection to the forts on the
> Pemaquid and St. George's Rivers, and after the successful termination of
> the
> campaign, returned to their settlements.
>
> The Indians, heretofore peaceable, had become dissatisfied because of the
> increase
> in the number of colonists and their taking possession of the territory
> above the Falls
> of St. George. For a time they were bought off with presents, and it
> seemed
> as if the
> German settlements, friendly to the red men, would be spared. But the
> quiet
> proved to
> be only the lull before the storm. The new war had changed conditions
> entirely, and
> the Indians were planning the extermination of the white settlers. On the
> morning of
> the 21st of May, 1746, they surprised the peaceful settlement of
> Waldoboro
> and destroyed it entirely, only a few of the colonists escaping, making
> their
> way to
> neighborhing blockhouse forts or to Louisbourg, where they remained until
> the end of
> the war. In spite of this terrible setback, the survivors returned in
>
> p.253 GERMAN SETTLEMENTS IN NEW ENGLAND.
> 1748, after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in order to build up their
> village
> again.
> Samuel Waldo made strenuous efforts to get new colonists. He succeeded in
> bringing
> about twenty or thirty families of German immigrants from Philadelphia,
> and
> thus in-
> fused new life into Waldoboro. Grist-mills and saw-mills were erected,
> and
> soon also
> a church spire pointed skyward to mark the progress of the colonly.
>
> About the same time the government of Massachusetts became cognizant of
> the
> advantages
> which other colonies, particularly Pennsylvania, had gained through
> German
> immigration.
> When Joseph Crellius, in 1750 presented a memorial to the General Court
> of
> Massachusetts, proposing to birng over German Protestants, providing they
> could be
> given sufficient inducements, Lieutenant Governor Spencer Phips used his
> influence
> in support of the plan, urging that "they (the Protestants) would
> introduce
> many use-
> ful manufactures and arts." In 1749, the General Court of
> Massachusetts
> appropriated
> four townships for the accommodation of foreign Protestants, two in the
> eastern and
> two in the western part of the province. Two of the townships were
> located
> in the ex-
> treme north-western part, near Fort Massachusetts, west of the
> Connecticut
> River, in
> what is now Franklin County, and extending into Vermont. The area
> included
> the present
> towns of Adamsville, Beaver Meadow, Bernardstown, Coleraine, Leyden,
> West
> Northfield,
> and Shattuckville. Adamsdorf, Bernardsdorf and Leyden are names that
> date
> back to the
> German settlements.
>
> The other two townships were to be located far east (in the extreme
> western
> part of
> Maine, the present Cumberland County) from "Sebago Pond to the head of
> Benirck."
> Crellius was to be granted a reserve of two hundred acres in each
> township,
> provided
> he imported and settled one hundred and twenty Protestants in each
> township
> within
> three years. He was not able to carry out the conditions, and therefore
> the
> grants
> were revoked, but he succeeded in bringing over a number of families who
> settled in
> various localities. None went to the Sebago Lake region, and not until
> after
> three
> years had elapsed did some settle around Fort Massachusetts. It is
> probable
> that
> Crellius had previously sold his claims in Maine to the Plymouth Company
> ("The company
> of the Kennebec Purchase").
>
> This report continues online with Google Books Online.
> Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth>>
>
>
>
>
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