The Conquest of Maine. ince, by virtue of sundry patents and other wise, have for these twenty years been under the power and guidance of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who had these parts assigned to him for a Province. But he, being dead, and his son, by reason of heavy losses sus tained, taking no care of our political wel fare; and most of the charter Councillors, or Commissioners, having died or departed the Province, we were under the necessity of combining together for the purposes of government and self-protection, according to the laws of the realm. It is our humble prayer, therefore, that our confederative union may be confirmed." This petition is signed " Per me, Edward Godfrey, Gov., in behalf of the General Court" of New Somersetshire. Sir Alexander Rigby, proprietor of the Lygonia patent, was also dead; and Cleaves, who occupied a position in its territory similar to that of Godfrey under Gorges, spent much time, at this period, in personal solicitation of the authorities in England against the action of the Bay government. Three several times the latter sent com missioners to settle the government and to quiet the opposition in Maine; the first of these (1651) consisting of Simon Bradstreet, a venerable councillor; Daniel Dennison, commander-in-chief of the militia; and William Hawthorne, speaker of the House; a delegation of eminent dignity. Before the close of 1652, a sufficient num ber of the inhabitants having subscribed to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, the terri tory was formed into the county of York shire, and courts established and proper officers appointed. During the Protectorate of Cromwell set tlements in the province of Maine increased, the settlers flourished, and all went well. Soon after the restoration a different influ ence reached America. Edward Gorges procured the assistance of Charles II for securing the restoration of the government of the Province to himself, now proprietor
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by inheritance; and the heirs of Rigby, also, began to obtain some advantages over the Bay government. Before the overturn was wholly accom plished, however, a new element was intro duced in the affairs of Maine. On March 12, 1664, the King granted to his brother, the Duke of York (later James II), besides territory on the Hudson, a large region east of the Kennebec, extending to the St. Croix. Col. Richard Nichols, commander of the force sent to dispossess the Dutch on the Hudson, was soon after sent to Maine, in association with Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, commis sioners, " to settle the controversies there, to hear all complaints, right all wrongs, and to regulate several other matters." Instead of "settling" anything, they un settled everything; "righting all wrongs" by ignoring all rights; for they transferred everything to the king or to the Duke of York, — so far as their term of office per mitted. The Bay government in Maine was scarcely more disturbed than that of the other parties who had been attempting to maintain control. The General Court, ignoring the govern ments of the king's commissioners, in May, 1665, passed an order to the effect that "a county court will be holden at York as in previous years; and all civil officers will continue to exercise and perform their duties; and the inhabitants will show, as for merly, due obedience to the colony admin istration." All this was done as ordered, except when the king's commissioners in terposed their authority on the spot, — no force being used against them by the Bay authorities. The government under Rigby's patent was permanently ended, and that un der the Gorges charter was not established, while the force of all patents within the Gorges charter was weakened. At the close of the year 1665, the official career of these commissioners was terminated, and they troubled the Bay government no more.
