1701: Around this time Robert Elliot married, as his second or third wife, Sarah Fryer, Daughter of Nathaniel Fryer.

1703: Third Indian Wars. Further attacks at Falmouth, including Spurwink where 22 Jordans were either killed or captured and taken to Canada. Falmouth settlements were once again deserted until peace was signed in 1713.

1705, Aug. 13:  Nathaniel Fryer dies in Boston. His will was made on Feb. 10, 1705, but isn’t proved until July 2, 1715. Inheritors are second wife Dorritey, daughter Sarah & husband Robert Elliot, grand children Abigail Elliot & Nathaniel Fryer, son in law John Hincks (married to Elizabeth Fryer). I have not see a copy of the will, but Robert & Sarah Elliot must have inherited N. Fryer’s ‘half of Cape Elizabeth’, giving them full possession of the property.

1707: Robert Elliot’s daughter Jane (b.1684 from an earlier marriage to Margery Batson) married Andrew Pepperrell (b.1681), first son of William Pepperrell & Margery Bray of Kittery.

Children :
Sarah Pepperrell (b.1708 d.24 Jan 1791) married 12 Sept. 1723 Charles Frost III
Margery Pepperrell (b.25 March 1712, d.1748 New Castle N.H.) married 2 Oct. 1729 Capt. William Wentworth (b.10 Dec.1705 d.15 Dec. 1767)

After Andrew Pepperrell died at only aged 32 in 1713, his widow Jane (Elliot) Pepperrell married Lieut. Charles Frost II on 25 Nov.1714, and Jane’s daughter Sarah Pepperrell married Charles Frost’s son (Charles III) in 1723.  Jane Frost bore Charles several children, most of whom died young, and she d.1749.

1718, Feb 8:  From the moment the first settlers arrived, there were continual disputes over conflicting land grants and deeds. Then several  Indian Wars completely destroyed many early homes with their contents, including deeds etc., and cleared all the settlements north of Kittery for several years. This led to the courts, beginning around 1715, collecting evidence to decide the validity of disputed land claims; this evidence is preserved as The Book of Eastern Claims.  The following is the only mention I found, prior to Charles & Abigail Peabbles, of anyone actually living in Alewife Cove, although it appears Joseph Page’s claim was unsuccessful, no doubt because his father was on Trelawny land with the consent of agent John Winter. Thomas Page, a tailor, was a juror in a 1640 court case between John Winter & George Cleaves, and gave bond for John Winter in 1641.

Claim: Joseph Page, son of Thomas Page, sometime inhabitant at the Eastward of Alewife Cove, Deceased. Claims a certain considerable quantity of land lying on the Eastward side of Cape Elizabeth at the going in to Casco bay, which his said father did possess and enjoy in his own right and liue and dwell upon, at a place called Alewife Cove, on the Southerly side of Alewife Cove Brook about thirty five years ago; and said Thomas Page dyed in possession of said land, and his widow and children did possess and enjoy the same after him till they were driven away by the Indian Enemy, as per the oaths of Michael Webber & William Paine before Mr John Newman Justice of Peace. Feb  8th 1718

1718, July 5: Robert Elliot sets up a trust (trustee John Frost) for the future of his grandaughters Sarah (aged 10) & Margery (aged  6) Pepperrell leaving them equal shares in ‘Cape Elizabeth’ including his marsh & pond marsh, which they inherit when they reach the age of eighteen, or are married. Reserving 200 acres at Spurwink with adjoining marsh for his granddaughter Sarah Greenough.

1718, Nov. 10: Robert Elliot writes his will, confirming his trust to his grandaughters Sarah & Margery Pepperrell for ‘approx. 1000 acres of Cape Elizabeth’ including his marsh & pond marsh, reserving 200 acres at Spurwink with adjoining marsh for his granddaughter Sarah Greenough.

1722-5: Forth Indian Wars including skirmishes at the Spurwink Garrison in 1724 with the death of two men, including Solomon Jordan; two others were captured.

1723, Sept 12: Sarah Pepperrell, aged 15, marries Charles Frost.

1724, March 24: Robert Elliot dies aged 82.

1729, Oct. 2: Margery Pepperrell, aged 17, marries Capt. William Wentworth.  Margery & Sarah, now both married (before the age of 18!), inherit their grandfather Robert Elliot’s trust and are new joint owners of ‘Cape Elizabeth’.

1735, March 1: Deed of agreement between Charles & Sarah Frost and Margery & Wm. Wentworth to equally divide Sarah & Margery’s 1000 acres of Cape Elizabeth. Margery’s share was the Northwesterly Part which included Alewife Cove; Alewife Brook was still the western boundry.  The wording of the old deeds, which frequently used trees, ditches and stone walls as boundry markers, makes it difficult to determine the exact boundries of the division, and no maps are included.

1748, March: Margery Wentworth dies in New Castle N.H., aged 36, shortly after the birth of her daughter Margery on March 11th 1748. Her property in Cape Elizabeth passes to her husband William Wentworth.  William remarries in 1750 to Mary Hall Winthrop.

Back to the Index

Advertisement