In I640, Sir Ferdinando sent his young cousin Thomas Gorges, age 22, as Deputy Governor to Bristol (Agamenticus) in the Province of Maine. Once settled in his new home, Thomas wrote letters periodically to his father which he copied into the blank pages of a commonplace book. Remarkably, this book has survived, painstakingly transcribed and published by Professor Robert Moody of Boston University.
Thomas’s life in Maine, his frustrations, daily life, and his hopes for the future are wonderfully depicted in the following letter (Moody, 1972, pp. 47 – 50):
“… I have now bin these three weeks at Accomenticus where I was a welcome guest to all sorts of people. I found Sr. Fard: house much like your Barne, only one pretty handsome roome & studdy without glasse windowes which I reserve for myself. For the household stuffe only one crocke, 2 Bedsteads and a table board. For his feild without fence, for his miles [mills] without reparation and of cattle only 2 yearlinge and one calf. House hold stuffe I will shortly provide. In the meanwhile I have use of all the Tenants who with his wife are very godly people & I have a great comfort in there company.
I brew beer one day and ’tis good stale beer by the next day and we drinke it till we have mayde an end & then we drinke water till we can get more. This we must doe for there are but few vessels … In the meantime I am better contented than ever I was in England. Hither my diet is beef & pease, butter & cheese, fowl & fish. At winter I intend to get Bacon & poultery soe that I cannot see without good judgment the want of anythinge. Hitherto I have imployed my men about the house, now I intend to set them to mowing … And at winter they shall prepare pale to fence the feild which is 7 or 8 acres. For springe, Chris: Rogers I intend to put into the grist mill as soone as I shall have it a little repaired, which mill & the saw mill with a little cost if they be well mended, as I hope they shall, will bringe in 200 li per an. to Sr. Fard: at the least. As yet he hath but halfe the profit.
Likewise the smiths mill will bringe in a good round sum, & in the interim he works it & will be every day cominge. Likewise the Rents of the Province will amount to a good round sum in time. Some now pay 10s per an., some 5s. some more, some lesse. At the next Court (4) we intend to confirm all theyr leases & have exact account of expences [?arrears?]. At my landinge in the Bay [torn] begun in the Province & at my arrival here [2] [torn] brought me all theyr proceedings, & I protest I admir’d to see so excellent way of orderinge all thinges. They doe it with grand & pety Juries & the officers of a court as they do in Ingland & all the fines goe to Sr. Fard:. About 8 weeks hence we have a 2d wherin my commission (5) is to be published & Mr. Champernoun & rnyselfe are to take our oaths, & then I intend to have my lease of 4000 acres (6) registered, which giuft of Sr. Fard: is not to be contemned for I know what benifit by Gods blessinge accrue of it. I could wish I had my law books I left in England, for I studdy Law & have more<need to use> of it then ever I had. I will direct you shortly some means for the conveyance of them to me. I pray Sr. intreat God to endow me with a wise heart that my actions may tend to his glory, to the advancement of the church and commonwealth, with a faythful heart towards Sr. Fard: & with a dutiful & obedient heart towards you & my mother, as I hope in God you shall finde …
The great Sagamour hath bin with me to welcome me to his country. I find them very ingenious men only Ignorant of the true wisdome. I told him I pittied his case that he was soe Ignorant of God. He answered me he knew his great God Tanto, that he lives westward in a great city & feeds uppon pidgeons & they that doe well shall goe to him to the west country, & the naughty men shall go into the east cold country, & with those that dy they bury theyr bows & arrowes, money which they call wanpumpeage & theyr other thinges bee: they shall have need of it where they goe. Truly I take great delight to discourse with them … Thus with my duty remembered yourselfe, my ever lovinge mother, my brothers & sisters & all my friends in general, I rest.”
Illustration: A 17th-century colonial home (Craven, 2023).
Bibliography:
Craven, J. (2023) Guide to Colonial American House Styles From 1600 to 1800. Ancient World History. https://www.thoughtco.com/guide-to-colonial-american-house-styles-178049
Moody, R. E. (1972) A letter from Thomas Gorges letter book. Maine History 12: 46–50.
Turmoil in Dawnland 