Heroes of Old
"Capt. Moses Pearson's Company at Siege of Louisburg in 1745"
"Fragments of Portland's Early History Reviewed by Mr. Nathan Goold."
The Massachusetts Historical Society has lately
published the papers of Sir William Pepperrell they
have in their possession. In the volume are some
items of interest to the history of Portland, as relating
to the Louisburg expedition of 1745. We sent Capt.
Moses Pearsons's company. In Hon. M. F. King's First
Parish Records, page 165, is given a copy of a roll of
that company which is in the possession of Hon. Andrew
Hawes of Stroudwater, a descendant, which shows forty
men and that perhaps may be the full roll, although it has
been stated to have had about fifty men.
The fortress at Louisburg, Cape Breton, had cost the
French about six million of dollars, and Maine has reason
to be proud of its part in the capture. The expedition was
proposed by Col. William Vaughan of Matinicus and
Damariscotta, it was comanded by Gen. William Pepperrell
of Kitttery and Maine sent two entire regiments with their
officers. Com. Edward Tyng, who at first was appointed
to command the fleet, but afterwards was put under the
orders of Com. Warren of the royal navy, and particularly
distinguished himself during the siege, was a Portland
born boy. The first document is a letter from Capt.
Pearson under date of Feb. 27, 1744, which was, no doubt,
intended for 1744-5, as the war was not declared by France
against England until March 15, 1744, and the surender of
Louisburg took place June 15, 1745, after a siege of forty
six days. The letter is as follows:
Falmouth Feb. 27th 1744.
Hon'd Sir,-in obedience to your Honor's command. I
take this, being the first, opportunity to let you know I
got home the 25th instant; since which I have inlisted
twelve able-bodyed men. My being from home, Cpt. Nobel,
Cpt. Moody, and Cpt. Cuter with some others rolling people
I got a full company at Newbury and did not intend to
return to Falmouth, but proceed to Boston, induced number
of whom I most depended to list with the sd Captens, so
that men are not plenty; but I hope within 4 or five days
to make up the number thirty or more, and take the first
oportunity to Boston. I am Yr. Honours most obedient
humble ser't.
MOSES PEARSON
Pos. Scrip Colonal Waldow at Bideford informed me
Cpt. Cuter wold have no commision and incuredge me I
had opertunity to take the men he inlisted at Falmouth.
If so I shall be able to raise up a company in a short
time. I am, Hond Sir,
Yours,
MS. PEARSON.
The Capt. Noble mentioned was James Noble who
commanded a company in Col. Samuel Waldo's regiment
and was commissioned February 8, 1745. Capt. Moody
was in command of a company in the same regiment
and was commissioned the next day after Noble. Capt.
Cutter was Ammi Rumah Cutter, a captain in Col.
Moulton's regiment. He preached at North Yamouth in
1720 but afterward was chief surgeon at Louisburg where
he died in March, 1746. He wanted to go as the chief
surgeon of the expedition but was unable to secure the
position so raised a company of about sixty men and was
made their captain. Moses Pearson was the captain of
the Tenth company in Col. Pepperrell's First regiment
and was commissioned Feb. 6, 1745. George Knight,
of Falmouth Neck, was the first lieutenant and James
Springer was the ensign. Capt. Pearson remained at
Louisburg until 1746 and was the agent of his, and the
treasurer of the nine regiments employed in the siege,
to receive and distribute the "plunder money." Several of
the men's receipts for this money are among the Willis
papers in our Public Library. Being a joiner, he was
employed in superintending the building of barracks and
repairing the fortification. Before the Revolution he
lived on Fore street about opposite our Custom House. He
left no sons, but six daughters who were the wives of
Benjamin Titcomb, Josph Wise, Timothy Pike, Dr. Deane,
Daniel Dole and Joshua Freeman.
Lieut. George Knight came here from Newbury about
1733 and probably lived at what is now called North
Deering. His farm of 60 acres was a mile westerly of the
Presumpscot River. He became one of the proprietors of
Pearsontown, now Standish, and gave his share to his
grandson, Zebulon Knight, in 1775, a short time before
his death.
Lieut. Knight was a great grandson of John Knight
who came from Romsey, England, in the ship James, in
1635, and settled at Newbury. The old saying "blood will
tell" is illustrated in the case of George Knight. His
son, George Jr., was a Revolutionary soldier, Amos was
a soldier, Samuel was a captain in the Revolution and
the daughter Hannah, married Capt. Joseph Pride, of
Pride's Bridge. Capt. Samuel Knight's sons, Stephen,
Zebulon and Samuel, Jr., were soldiers of the Revolution
and the daughter Mary married Joseph Pride, Jr., another
soldier. Stephen went to Otisfield and his son, Samuel,
marched in the Otisfield company to Portland in the war
of 1812. He was on the staging at Stage Island, in 1825,
when it gave way and Abner Lowell was killed. They fell
54 feet and struck on the rocks. Mr. Knight had his spine
dislocatd and ever afterwards was bent over. He afterwards
fell 20 feet, but he lived until he was 75 years of age.
His son, Zebulon Knight served three years in the First
Maine Cavalry and a grandson, Samuel W. Knight died
in the 30th Maine Regt. and his brother George H. Knight,
after serving two years in the 10th Maine Regt. in the
Rebellion joined Custer's famous 7th U.S. Cavalry and for
five years was in the Indian campaigns in the Northwest,
leaving the service just before the massacre when Gen.
Custer and his men lost their lives. He is living at
Otisfield caring for his aged father, Benjamin W. Knight,
who is in his eighty-sixth year, who within a year has
sent a contribution to the PRESS. How many more of
Lieut. Knight's descendants have served in the army I
cannot tell, but this is a sample line.
The following document is of considerable interest to
the descendants of those named:
"List of men in Moses Pearson's company now in
Louisburg, the places of their abode and circomstances,
Sept. the 17th., 1745.
Ensign James Springer, Falmouth, has a wife and
several small children, ye oldest very young.
Sargent Axel Roberts, Falmouth, an old man, unfit for
duty.
Sargt. Phillip Hodkins, Falmouth, a large family of
young children, his two sons with him.
Sargt. Joshua Illesley, Falmouth, a single man, his
affairs require him to be at home.
Corll. Jon. Emerson, Falmouth, infirm and unfit for
duty.
Corll. David Woodman, Falmouth (missing words)
Joshua Simpson, Falmouth, Ebenezer Lincoln, these
three with J. Illsley all come out of one house
and belong to one famley.
Samll. Clark, Falmouth, his wife and childen in poor
curcomstances.
James Gilkey, Falmouth, Jos. Thorn, Falmouth, these
two out of my famley.
J. Thorn, my servant and Gilkey by the year.
John Ayer, Falmouth, infirm and not fit for duty.
John Anderson, Falmouth, a single man.
Jacob Cliffod, Falmouth, sickly and unfit for duty.
Moses Gould, Falmouth, apprentice, his master lives
in the woods, exposed to the enemy.
Moses Hodkins, Falmouth, Samll. Hodkins, Falmouth,
sons of Phillip Hodkins above.
Samuel Graves, Falmouth, a very man. His poor father
(John) wants him very much at home.
A true copy
MOSES PEARSON
Non (Com.) Officers 5. Private men 12."
Moses Gould was born Dec. 10, 1727, and was then but
17years, 9 mos. His father was named Moses also, and he
was a soldier under Col. Thomas Westbook through the
winter of 1724-5. The father was elected a field diver
here March 8, 1727, and was made one of the proprietors
of the town May 11, 1730, it is thought he lived near
Presumpscot Lower Falls as he owned land here. He died
before 1738. The son, Moses, was one of the proprietors of
Pearsontown in 1752. He had five sisters and one brother.
Aaron Gould, who married Sarah Starbird in 1757, and that
year was a soldier in Capt. Saml. Skillings' Company. I
have never found a descendant of this Gould family.
Of the above list of soldiers, Capt. Pearson, James
Springer, Philip Hodkins, Saml. Clark, John Anderson,
Jacob Clifford, Moses Hodkins, Saml. Hodkins, and Saml.
Graves also became proprietors of Standish for their
services at Louisburg.
Among the Pepperell papers is a short roll of Capt.
Pearson's company, six months after the surrender, they
were then the sixth company, and the following is a copy:
-Dated Nov. 15, 1745.
"Capt. Moses Pearson.
Sergt. Philip Hodskins.
Sergt. Thos. Illsley
Corp. David Woodman.
Privates Jeremiah Simson, Ebenezer Linkhorne (Lincoln),
James Gilkey, John Anderson, Moses Hodskins, Samuel
Hodskins, Jno. Ayers, Abiah Crosby, Jno. Thorn, Saml.
Clark Sergts. 2. Copl. 4, Dumr. Pivates 10.
Second Lieut. James Springer of Capt. Pearsons
company was among those whose affairs required their
going to New England, Oct. 17, 1745.
Saml. Hodgskins name is among those who voluntered
under Capt. Glaizer to attack the Island Battery at the
mouth of the harbor of Louisburg in May, 1745, and they
stated that they would be ready on a half hour warning.
These fragments of our history interested me and
perhaps some others may wish to know of their existance.
They tell their own story.
N. G.
Source: Microfilm 2:48, p. 239, at the Maine Historical Society.
(Portland Daily?) Press, July 29, 1899
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