History of Saco and Biddeford; With Notices of Other Early Settlements, and of Proprietary Governments, in Maine, Including the Provinces of New Somer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 Excerpt: ... Scarborough above Dunston landing, and from Scarborough unto Falmouth, every town marking out their own part within their own extent." Under this order, Page and Gibbins were appointed by the townsmen 'to lay out the upper way to Dunston', and Maj. Phillips 'to mark out the way to Henry Sayward's mills.' Travellers crossed Saco river near its mouth, where a ferry was regularly kept, distinguished in later times as the lower ferry, when another was established near the Falls. The first ferryman was Henry Waddock, who was licensed in 1654, and probably earlier also, 'to keep an ordinary, to entertain strangers for their money, ' and allowed 'to receive 2d. from every one he set over the river.' The last renewal of his license was 1672, the year before his death. Mr. Booth was also permitted to keep an ordinary, on the other side of the river. Thomas Haley, on the same side, succeeded Waddock as ferryman. He was ordered by the court of 1673, "for the more secure transportation of travellers, for men and horses, to provide a good sufficient boat fit for carrying persons and their horses, large enough to carry over three horses at one time." Humphry Scamman, who purchased Waddock's estate a few years after his decease, took charge of the ferry and entertained travellers. Complaints were still brought against the town for the want of good roads. In 1687 we find the following order of the court: "Whereas the townsmen of Saco being summoned to answer for their not keeping a sufficient highway from high ferry to the town of Cape Porpoise, Roger Hill appearing in behalf of said town, it was ordered that the old foot-path on the western side of Saco river be the King's highway, to be laid out and fenced at the charge of the town." It would see...