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The military services of Sir William's father during the first few years of his residence here were performed at the fort on Great Island. A garrison-house was first maintained near his house at Kittery Point, to which families might resort when threatened by sudden assaults from Indians, and as early as 1700 a fort was erected which bore his name. Williamson says:—' The celebrated warrior, Col. Church, in his eastern expedition in 1704, with 500 men, had orders to send his sick and wounded to Casco, (now Portland,) or to Pepperrell's fort at Kittery Point. A breastwork was erected northerly of the point, and a platform laid for six guns, of which Capt. Pepperrell had command. He finally rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel."

The son, our future hero, at sixteen bore arms and was on patrol duty. Savage warfare was rife in those days; neighbors had been captured and killed; the Lady Ursula Cutts, after providing hospitably for her friends, the Waldron family, was attacked by lurking Indians and slain, together with her laboring men; more than a score had been killed at Rye, some three miles distant, and another party came there and killed fourteen, captured four, burnt the village, and fled. Besides these there were massacres at Salmon Falls, Cocheco, and Oyster River.

In this school was fostered the martial spirit of the younger Pepperrell, which, at a subsequent period, shed such luster upon the arms of the colonists, and prompted exertions which resulted in transcendant advantage to New England and our mother country.

During the entire period of youth he was attached to his father's counting-house, and therefore his education was exclusively practical. Upon becoming of age he was taken into co-partnership by his father. At times they had hundreds of fishing vessels on the banks and at the shoals. Timber was rafted down the rivers for their ship-building, which was their greatest source of wealth. The proceeds of vessels and cargoes sent abroad were remitted to their bankers in England, who accepted their bills for merchandise required at home. Naval stores and provisions were received from the Southern colonies in exchange for fish.

The value of their estates was greatly enhanced by the purchase of extensive tracts of land. The towns of Saco and Scarborough were included in one of these purchases, upon which improvements were at once commenced. Mills were erected, and contracts inade for building vessels on the Piscataqua and Saco Rivers.

In 1715, the elder Pepperrell was appointed a judge of the Common Pleas, and continued on the bench for many years-his son served as clerk of the court during the latter part of his minority.

A Congregational church was organized at Kittery in 1714, over which the Rev. John Newmarch was pastor, and in latter life was assisted by the Rev. Benjamin Stevens. Col. Pepperrell and wife were members of it from the beginning, and their son was admitted to communion on the decease of his father in 1734, at which period he seems to have received strong religious impressions, which happily influenced all his after life.

To this church the father bequeathed sixty pounds for church plate, and one hundred and ten pounds for the poor of the parish.

The ascendency which the Pepperrell firm enjoyed over every other mercantile house in New England gave it a large agency in the transactions of the pecuniary affairs of the Provinces with the mother country. This branch of the business was conducted by the junior partner, and as

it brought him in contact with the public men at Boston it tended to render his manners courtly, and favored his advancement in political and military life. He had no sooner passed through his minority than he was commissioned a justice of the peace and captain of a company of cavalry. Soon promoted, he was at the age of thirty a colonel, and commanded all the militia of Maine.

On the 16th of March, 1723, he led to the altar Mary Hirst, a daughter of Grove Hirst, and grand-daughter of Chief Justice Sewall, of Massachu-, setts. This happy union was dissolved only by the death of Sir William at the end of thirty-six years. Two of their children only survived childhood; Elizabeth, born December 29, 1723, who married the Hon. Nathaniel Sparhawk, and Andrew, born January 4, 1726, who died unmarried. Sir William remained at the homestead of his father, after his marriage, large additions having been made for his accommodation. In 1726, he was elected a representative to the General Court, and the next year was appointed a member of the Council of Massachusetts, which commission was annually renewed to the close of his life, eighteen years of which he was its president.

He was appointed chief justice of the Common Pleas in 1730, in which office he also continued through life. He had imported a law library in order to qualify himself by study for the performance of the duties of the office. Dr. Stevens says:- "Here it was, that being intrusted with the execution of the laws, he distributed justice with equity and impartiality; and although he was not insensible to the necessity of discountenancing vice by proper punishments, yet the humanity of his temper disposed him to make all those allowances which might be alledged in extenuation of the fault."

In 1727, a new tier of towns in the rear of those on the seaboard, extending from Salmon Falls to Androscoggin River, was surveyed, and offered to settlers on the most favorable terms. This was done to protect the old towns that had suffered so much by Indian depredations, and also to provide farms for those who fought in the Indian wars, or who had suffered heavy losses by fire and the tomahawk. Agents were appointed by the General Court to convey these lands to such claimants and to other settlers. Phillipstown (now Sandford) was assigned to the agency of Col. Pepperrell, who signed the deeds of conveyance.

Col. Pepperrell never refused any public service he was called upon to perform, and by early rising, economy of time, and punctuality to engagements, (in which he was also scrupulously exacting of others,) he was ready to embark in all new enterprises, both public and private, that promised a favorable result. A war was now approaching between Great Britain and France. These rival nations could hardly over-estimate the importance to their American possessions of the Islands of Cape Breton and Newfoundland, as between these two sentinels all supplies and intercourse must pass (through the St. Lawrence) between France and the Canadas. Both were engaged in the fisheries on the Banks near Louisburg. The trade of the British colonies was of great importance to the mother country, and amongst other advantages, it supplied ship-timber for the navy.

Armed vessels, during war, fitted out at Louisburg, could intercept the colonial trade of the rival nation, and destroy its fisheries-and from the earliest settlement it was contended for, and alternately passed into the

hands of one or the other, as success or defeat attended its arms in other quarters. At the treaty of Utrecht, Nova Scotia proper was ceded to Great Britain, while Cape Breton was retained by France.

Soon as the war of 1744 was declared by France against England, the commander of Louisburg dispatched a force of 900 men to the British garrison at the Island of Canso, which was captured, and the prisoners conveyed to Louisburg before news of the war had reached the British colonies. A like expedition against the fort at Annapolis-royal failed, in consequence of the arrival of a reinforcement of troops from Boston.

The Indians of Nova Scotia aided the French in these attacks, which caused a declaration of war against them. Col. Pepperrell was at the head of a commission sent to the Penobscot tribe to test their fidelity, requesting the Sagamores to furnish their quota of warriors, according to the terins of a former treaty. They replied that, "their young men would not fight against their brethren of St. John's and New Brunswick."

Through the autumn of 1744 it was a conceded topic that Louisburg must be wrested from the French. From the prisoners taken at Canso in the spring, and which had lately returned to Boston by exchange, an accurate estimate of the strength of the fortifications was obtained, and gave to Governor Shirley the idea of taking it by surprise before succours could arrive from France. The plan was submitted to the Legislature of Massachusetts by the Governor and finally agreed upon. A variety of circumstances concurred to render the expedition feasible. Many fishermen, thrown out of employment by the war, were ready to enlist as soldiers. The preceding season had afforded an abundant harvest, which made provisions plenty. The winter following was mild, the rivers and harbors were open, and the inhabitants unmolested by savages. Happy incidents drew the naval force of England, employed to guard the shores and islands of America, to Louisburg, whilst adverse circumstances to the French prevented the arrival of succours. The number of troops voted, was, by Massachusetts, 3,250; Rhode Island, 300; New Hampshire, 300; and Connecticut, 500. The whole number of armed vessels was fourteen in the provincial fleet, carrying about two hundred guns.

There were no military officers at that time in New England experienced in European tactics and warfare from whom a commander-inchief of the expedition could be selected. Few only had been engaged in skirmishes with the Indians, but none had served in any siege or pitched battle.

Col. Pepperrell was, on the 31st of January, 1745, chosen commander. He was extensively engaged in the fisheries and known throughout New England; was popular in manners, and wealthy, besides being the largest subscriber to the loan for carrying on the enterprise. He had also long held the highest office in the people's gift, the Presidency of the Council. He hesitated about accepting the appointment, until Governor Shirley assured him that his influence was indispensible, and after consulting his friends, amongst them the famous preacher Whitefield, he, with diffidence, concluded to accept, much to the joy of his fellow colonists.

The popularity of the general secured a rapid enlistment of troops in every quarter, and from the town of Berwick, adjoining Kittery, the two militia companies belonging to it, of fifty each, turned out to a man.

Louisburg, on the Island of Cape Breton, is thus described by Dr. Belknap, the historian:-"It was two-and-a-half miles in circumference,

fortified in every accessible part, with a rampart of stone upwards of thirty feet high, and a ditch eighty feet wide; a space of two hundred yards was left without a rampart, on the side next the sea, and inclosed with pickets. The sea was so shallow at this place that it made only a narrow channel, inaccessible from its numerous reefs to any shipping whatever. On an island at the entrance of the harbor, which was only four hundred yards wide, was a battery of thirty cannon, carrying twentyeight pound shot, and at the bottom of the harbor, directly opposite to the entrance, was the grand battery of twenty-eight 42's, and two 18's. On an eminence, opposite the island-battery, stood the lighthouse, and at the northeast part of the harbor was a magazine for naval stores. The entrance to the town was at the west gate over a drawbridge, which was protected by a circular battery of thirteen 24's. These works had been twenty-five years in building, and cost more than six millions of dollars. This place was, in peace, a safe retreat for French ships bound home from the East and West Indies, and, in war, a place most favorable for privateers to seize fishing and coasting vessels and British merchantmen."

The Rev. Dr. Burroughs, of Portsmouth, thus describes this expedition, the most remarkable in our history:

"The French had built a city and fortress on the Island of Cape Breton, which, in honor of their king, was called Louisburg. Their fisheries in the seas in its vicinity produced one million four hundred thousand quintals annually, and they annoyed the colonial fishermen so much that the fishing interest of Massachusetts and New Hampshire resolved on the destruction of Louisburg and the expulsion of the French from the fishing grounds.

The colonies south of New England declined to aid in so mad an enterprise though urged to do so; and Dr. Franklin, as if forgetting that he was "Boston born," ridiculed the project in one of the wittiest letters he ever wrote. The spirit of New England was up. A feeling something like that which caused the Crusades prevailed among the people. Religion shouted Popery, and even Whitefield made a recruiting house of the sanctuary, and he not only preached delenda est Carthago, but furnished the following motto for Pepperrell's flag, nil desperandum Christo duce, and one of his followers joined the troops as a chaplain and carried an ax on his shoulder with which to hew down the Catholic images in the churches of the fated city."

The orders of Governor Shirley to General Pepperrell were, to proceed with his hundred armed vessels and store-ships to Canso, there to build a block-house, deposit his stores, and leave two companies for a guard. Thence to sail with the fleet and army to Cabarus Bay, (within three miles of Louisburg,) where he was to arrive in the evening, and anchor under cover of darkness, forth with to land his men and commence an attack without delay!! These were preposterous ideas of the lawyergovernor-that a hundred sail could arrive at a given point at a precise time; that the weather and winds would be favorable; that the rocky ridges pointing the shores and the ice and fog were to be avoided by all; that a certain harbor was to be made at night-fall in an unexplored bay; that a landing was to be effected immediately, amidst a heavy surge; and then the soldiers to take up a march in the dark, through a ravine, bog, and woods, and, after travelling three miles, to commence pulling

down pickets with grappling irons, and scale walls thirty feet high with ladders, all in the space of one short night!!

On the 24th of March the fleet and transports of Massachusetts troops sailed from Nantasket Roads. They harbored for three days at Sheepscot, and arrived at Canso on the 1st of April. The New Hampshire troops had previously arrived, and the Connecticut portion came in some ten days after. On the 23d of April, Commodore Warren's squadron of three ships of the line arrived at Canso to co-operate in the attack. The ice which had detained them being removed, the entire army embarked on the 29th, intending to arrive at Cabarus Bay in the evening, but the wind having subsided prevented their reaching it until the next morning. This was the first intimation to the garrison and city of Louisburg of the intended invasion, and it greatly alarmed the troops and inhabitants. About half the forces were landed on that day, and the remainder, with the provisions, on the two next succeeding days. Their encampment was so near the enemy's works that shot from their guns reached them.

Gen. Pepperrell lost no time in commencing a siege. Alarmed by the appearance of so large a force, the enemy abandoned the grand battery the next day, which was taken possession of by a body of our troops under command of Lieut. Colonel Vaughan. The French, upon discovering their mistake, sent a hundred men in four boats to retake it, but Vaughan resisted until a reinforcement came to him, when the enemy retired, leaving the Royal Battery in his possession. This battery consisted of twentyeight 42's, two 18's, besides two hundred and eighty shells, and other munitions of war. The siege was now conducted with great spirit to the end. On the 15th of June, the fleet, comprising eleven ships of from forty to sixty guns, anchored in a line near the city, making an imposing spectacle. The general ordered six hundred provincials on board to augment their crews. Commodore Warren came on shore, and the troops being paraded, the general and commodore exhorted them in stirring speeches to exhibit their bravery and skill during the designed attack.

The governor, Duchambou, now hopeless of averting the impending storm, his batteries being sadly damaged, and many of his guns dismounted, the houses mostly demolished, and his troops worn out by the seven weeks siege, besides the strong force surrounding him by sea and land, could not do otherwise than surrender. Accordingly, terms of capitulation, honorable to both parties, were entered into on the 16th of June, 1745, and the keys of the city and stores were delivered to the victors. On the 17th, the provincial army marched into the fortress and paraded in a line in front of the French troops who were drawn up to receive them. Salutations being exchanged, formal possession was taken, and a banquet prepared, by order of General Pepperrell, for the officers. By the foregoing account it will be seen that the original plan of attack was by no means observed, yet, to the surprise of all, the fortress and city fell.

The loss of the provincials was 130, and of the French, 300 killed within the works; which, with the shattered condition of the city and fortifications, proved that the 9,000 cannon balls and 600 bombs thrown into them had done execution. By the capitulation, 4,130 prisoners engaged not to bear arms against Great Britain or New England for a year. They were embarked on board fourteen cartel ships and transported to Rochefort, in France; 76 cannon and mortars fell into the hands of the