I read a story about a resident of Georgetown, and it impressed upon me the hardships of the early days and what people endured to get to the new world. The story was written by a friend of hers as taken from lips of Mrs. Sarah Porterfield. The full story can be found in “The Early History of New England” by Rev Henry White.
“I was born in Ireland, in the county Donegal, in the parish of Raphe, in the year August 13, 1722. When I was nineteen, my father went to Pennsylvania, in America, and finding a plantation suitable for his family, he wrote over for my mother and children to take passage on the first vessel and come to Pennsylvania. My mother with three daughters, took passage on a large ship which was going with passengers to Philadelphia. On July 28th, 1741, we sailed from Londonderry, Captain Rowen being commander. For some time after we sailed, we had pleasant weather, and everything was agreeable, excepting the seasickness.”
“When we were about three weeks at sea, a mortal fever broke out and spread through the entire ship’s company. In this melancholy situation we were reduced to great distress. It is enough to make one’s heart ache, to think of our condition. No one was able to help another. My mother and children were preserved and restored to health. Thanks to God for such mercy, when so many were daily dying around us.
When we had been ten weeks at sea, we were visited by a violent storm, in which our ship was wrecked, and we were all very near being lost. The captain at the time thought we were near land and expected every day to make it and get into port soon. But God had different purposes in view. The violence of the storm drove us eastward. The sea raged greatly. Our masts gave way, and we were in a distressed situation, even at our wits end. At this time the captain thought it proper to put all hands-on allowance, as he did not know where the ship was, or how long we should be continued in our present situation. His reckoning was out, and he knew not where to steer his course.
One biscuit a day, a small portion of meat and a quart of water, was all our allowance. This continued for ten or twelve days; then we were put on half allowance except the water, which was not increased. The storm was not abated, and we were relieved from some distressing fears.
On October 28th we made land on the eastern coast, found it to be a desolate island, or neck of land, inhabited only by a few Indians. The ship was anchored, and we remained. The captain and the others took the longboat, and went hoping to find some French inhabitants, but returned without any success. We were then ordered to land on this island. Accordingly, many boatloads of people landed, and scattered around the island, without any provision. The number of people could not, I presume, be less than a hundred. We were told that the last boats should bring us some provisions but were disappointed. No provision was sent to us.
Oh, the distressed situation! Some crying, some almost distracted, not knowing what to do. Death seemed to stare us all in the in the face, and very soon marked out many for his victims.
After we landed, twenty or thirty of the passengers set out to look for inhabitants but were never after heard of. The captain, mate, and seamen left the ship and went in search of the Inhabitants. After a few days the ship sailed eastward, and they fell in land, and came to a place called Newharbor, about 30 miles east of Kennebec. Getting two small vessels there, they came back for the plunder of the ship, which had been cast upon a small island and broken into pieces. They tarried until they had collected what plunder they pleased to take, with which returned to Newharbor, taking with them a few servants and passengers that were on the island. These were sold for passage, but in this way delivered from their distressing situation. The rest of the passengers were left in melancholy circumstances; but a kind Providence furnished us with something to support nature. We found some muscles on the beach, which with sea kelp and dulce, we boiled in a pot we had brought on shore and were nourished by them. This was all the food we had for as much as two months. A distressing time! But God supported me even at that time, and gave me hopes of relief, which I ever maintained in the very darkest hour. Every day more and less died around us. It was noted that the men failed sooner than the women, and that a greater proportion of them died. There was scarcely one to help another, as everyone had sufficient to do for himself. The provision for the day was to be sought in the day, as the manna was in the wilderness.
The Indians soon visited us, and added much to our distress, robbing us, of all they could find, which we had brought from the ship. In a severe snowstorm, we hung our clothes on trees to shelter us. The Indians came and took them down. When I offered to resist them, one drew his Hatchet and attempted to strike me. I drew back and let them take what they pleased. Among other things, they took our pot, in which we boiled our muscles, which increased our distress. At length, I providentially thought of a saucepan, which some of the passengers had. I went and found it on the ground, the owners all being dead.
Some further particulars deserve to be mentioned. I landed in one of the first boats. As my mother and sisters were landing one of my sisters died. All being in confusion and trouble there was no one to bury her, but myself. I performed that service with great composure. I then had to take care of my mother and other sister, who were somewhat helpless. God gave me the strength so that I was enabled to do something for them, as well for myself. For some time, we appeared like a very thick neighborhood, being divided into separate companies. Our company consisted of nine persons.
When the boats were landing, as I stood on the beach, a child, about 2 years old, was put into my arms. I looked around to see who was to take it from me but found no one that would own it. I inquired, who takes care of this child? A little boy about twelve years old answered Nobody ma’am but I. O how I felt, knowing that this child’s parents had both died in the ship! I was obliged to lay down the child and leave it to the care of him who had care of us all. The boy and the child were soon after found dead, lying together. A most sorrowful night!
I went to see a cousin of mine, who lay at a little distance, in a feeble state, unable to rise. I asked her whether she had anything to eat. She said yes, her shipmates gave her muscles when they got any for themselves, but added, some boiled dulce, if she could any. I told her I would get her some tomorrow. On the morrow, returning to see her, I found her dead and several more by her. Walking along the shore, I found a boy, about seventeen years old, sitting very disconsolate with a book in his hand. I said to him What do you do here? He answered, “I am looking for the captain who is coming to carry me off the island”. I said to him, “Did he promise you that favor”? “Yes”, he said, Well replied I “don’t depend on it, for I don’t believe he will never come here again”. Upon this he wept bitterly, but I could not persuade him to give up his hope and do something for subsistence. In a few days he was found dead with his book opened under his head.
The people began to die very fast. There was no traveling anywhere, but dead bodies were found, and few were buried. All were so weak and helpless, that they had enough to do to keep life in themselves. In this distressing situation we remained until every person, of we had any knowledge, on the island was dead, excepting my mother, my sister, and myself. At this time our fire went out, and we had nothing to strike with. Several snows and fallen, but soon melted away. Another snow fell when we were in such distress for want of fire. This scene was of all the most hopeless, nothing to cover us but the heavens, and nothing to eat but frozen muscles. In about one day after our fire went out my mother died, and there she lay, a lifeless corpse by our side. We were not able to bury her or do anything with her. My sister began to fail very fast, and her spirits were very low. I laid me down beside a tree, to rest my head against it, but soon thought I must not lie there. I rose and went down to the beach and got some frozen muscles and carried them to my sister who ate them. We both sat down beside a tree. Now my courage began to fail. I saw nothing to expect but death yet did not wholly give up my hope of deliverance. There we were two distressed sisters, surrounded by dead bodies, without food or fire, and almost without clothing. I had no shoes on my feet, which were much swollen by reason of the cold. The ground was covered with snow and the season was fast advancing, it being nearly the middle of December, so we had every reason to expect that we should soon share the fate of our companions.
But at that time God mercifully appeared for our relief, and thus showed himself to be the helper of the helpless. To our great surprise we saw three men on the island, who, when they approached us, appeared no less surprised to find us living. I took courage and spoke to them. Having related to them our distress, one of them asked me if it were not better to be servants, than to die on the island. I said Yes. They then asked me several questions, which I answered as well as I could. They appeared pitiful, told us that they had come from New Harbor with two vessels for plunder, and offered to take us on board. We gladly complied with their invitation and were hurried to the vessel. As I was rising from the frozen ground, by the assistance of one of the men, I put out my hand to take a small bundle, which I had preserved through all of our difficulties, and which contained some clothes and books and especi8ally my bible. Seeing my attempt to take it the men promised to take care of it for me. Trusting to their honor, I left it with them and never saw it again. I also desired to see my mother buried before I left the island. They engaged to see it done but I have reason to believe they never performed the engagement. After we were on board, they treated us very kindly. The captain gave us a spoonful of spirit and half a biscuit. This was the first bread we tasted for two months When collecting the plunder, the people told us we should have whatever we claimed as belonging to us in the ship. This was more than we expected. After plundering the ship and stripping the dead, they sailed. Then I saw the last of my miserable abode. In five days, we arrived in New Harbor. Our new friends then appeared disposed to take advantage of us, and to sell us as servants to satisfy themselves for their trouble in saving our lives. This was a trail almost insupportable.
But to our great comfort, a man came on board, who was from the same place in Ireland from which we had come. He was kind and pitiful and endeavored to comfort us. God the appeared for us and raised up a friend who came and took us to his house an there tenderly entertained us, bidding us to be of good cheer, for he would not suffer such ruffians to take advantage of us. This gentleman gave us every consolation in his power and conversed with us in a very Christian manner which was affecting and comforting. He proved very punctual fulfilling his promises. We tarried with him, until we had so far recovered, as to be able to work for our living. This gentleman wrote to my father in Pennsylvania, informing him of our situation, and did all he could to forward the letter as soon as possible. This was about the last of December 1741. In the meantime, he provided a good place for us. My sister was sent to live with a friend of his at a place called Boothbay and was very situated. Soon after she went there, a happy revival of religion took place among the people. I trust that she was a subject of the work. I tarried at New Harbor through the winter.
The next spring, I came to this place Georgetown and was employed in a family where I enjoyed the privileges of religion, as well as very kind treatment. Both the man and his wife were professors of religion and were greatly animated by the good work which was going on in the place. Having no minster, the people met together every sabbath and frequently on other days, for the purpose of worshipping God in a public manner, by prayer, singing psalms and reading instructive books.
Sometime in the summer, my father came to visit us. He intended to take us with him to Pennsylvania, but before his arrival I had an offer of marriage which my situation seemed to urge me to accept. November 1742, I was married. My father tarried with us through the winter. The next summer he took my sister and returned to Pennsylvania where he spent the remainder of a very long life, as I trust in the service of God.
I lived very happily with my husband thirty years. We had eight children, two sons and six daughters. When I review God’s dealings with me, in various scenes of life, I am filled with wonder and amazement. Great has been his goodness and great unworthiness. I vie8w him as my covenant God, who foresaw these trials, and was graciously pleased to prepare me for them, by taking into covenant with himself.
Mrs. Porterfield was for many years an ornament to the church in Georgetown. Upon further research I found out some more very interesting information. In one article the name of the ship was “The Grand Design”. The actual name of the ship was “the Martha and Eliza” and the Grand Design was actually a scheme.
After writing this article I did some research and found an article from the Fishermen’s Voice of December 17th, 2017, and working waterfront Archives, about this story. I am adding this info.
The Grand Design was a scheme. In Northern Ireland, Scots Irish Presbyterians who had been “planted” there by the ruling English hierarchy in the 1600s were being persecuted for their “radical” views. Although they were Protestant, still they could not hold public office or own land and their marriages were not officially recognized. Resenting the English landowners and government policies that excluded them, they sought a better life. “God is the master of the Grand Design,” they agreed. Unlike their Catholic neighbors, they had the means and zealous theology that would allow them to pursue their beliefs. Their Grand Design was to hea2d for the American colonies, bringing these expatriates and their possessions to a new land for a fresh start. Pennsylvania was their destination, but caught in a gale, they were forced way off course to the east. Their ship, the MARTHA & ELIZA.
The ship was the Martha & Eliza, which was a 90-foot, 2 masted ship commonly used to transport passengers and goods from Ireland to Pennsylvania that was shipwrecked on Grand Manan, in the Bay of Fundy. The captain was Matthew Rowen, a scoundrel, bearing much of the blame for the loss of life. At that time, England was at war France and creditable captains were in short supply and no ships were venturing into the North Atlantic. Captain Rowen went on to be Governor of the North Carolina Colony in 1758.
The next spring Passamaquoddy tribal members came to Grand Manan Island for their annual harvest of bird’s eggs and tend to the graves of ancestors. The island was sacred to the Indians because they believed Dawn, the daughter of sea and sky deities, was pursued by a pack of wolves and ran into the sea where she was transformed into the present-day island. They were amazed to find a woman with an infant along with nine other women. The Indians were greatly impressed that they were all alive. The Indians believed that Dawn’s spirit protected the women and decided to against capturing them and selling the women to the French. So, the Passamaquoddy Indians took a letter from the survivors to asking for help, to and delivered it to the English at Fort St. George over 100 miles away in what is present day Thomaston. The woman with the infant baby was Isabel Galloway, (her maiden name was Asbell), who married Warren farmer Archibald Gamble with whom she had more children. Robert Galloway, the infant son, grew to boyhood but was lost at sea at the age of 17. Isabel is buried in the Old Warren Burial ground. It should be noted that Isabel remained friends with the Indians, while everyone else in town were afraid of them, because of the Indian wars. I visited the Georgetown Historical Society to find out more about Sarah and found out that she lived in Phippsburg between Cox’s Head and Little Cox’s head on Porterfield’s Creek, a small creek of tidewater running into land. Phippsburg was known as Georgetown back then.
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