Androscoggin River
1686 -- Depositions collected Richard Wharton in 1686 to substantiate his
title to land along the Androscoggin River acquired from Thomas Purchas.
Deposition of John Reding:
"John Reding about 30 years, maketh oath, that ever since the Deponent
can remember Mr. Purchas lived at Pejepscot and that he had heard his Father
say, that for many years he lived upon Mair point, by sufferance of Mr.
Purchas, and his said Father had served him in sundry employments; and that
the land both sides of Androscoggin river for many miles, and down Kennebec
river as far as Merrymeeting and to Maquoit in Casco Bay were the said Mr.
Purchas.' And the Deponent saith that about three years before the Indian
War the Deponent was employed with Mr. Lawson and others upon the salmon
and sturgeon fishing below the falls near Mr. Purchas' home, and that they
saved in about three weeks about 39 bbls. of salmon, besides what they spoiled
for lack of salt, and about 90 kegs and many bbls. of Sturgeon, and that
if they had been fitted with salt, and apt and skillful men, they might
have taken ... [page missing].
"The Indian Perpole's Deposition
I Perepole of Lawful age testify and say that the Inden name of the river
was Pejepscook from Quabacook what is now called Meremeeting bay up as far
as amitgonpontook what the English call Harrises falls and all the river
from Harrises falls up was called ammoscongon and the Largest falls on the
river was above Rockamecook about twelve miles, and them falls have got
three pitches, and there is no other falls on the river like them and the
Indens yousd to catch the most Salmon at the foot of them falls, and the
Indens yousd to say when they went Down the river from Rockamecook and when
they gat Down over the falls by Harrises they say now come Pejepcook."
Source: Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Vol. III. 1853. Published
for the Society. Portland, Maine. pp. 329-333.
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