University of Virginia Library

Agamenticus, August ye 18th.

The Weather being clear and the heate great, last
week Uncle and Aunt, with Rebecca and myself, and
also Leonard and Sir Thomas, thought it a fitting time
to make a little journey by Water to the Isles of
Shoals and the Agamenticus, where dwelleth my Uncle
Smith, who hath strongly pressed me to visit him.
One Caleb Powell, a sea-faring man, having a good
new Boat, with a small Cabin, did undertake to convey
us. He is a drolling odd Fellow, who hath been in all
parts of the World, and hath seen and read much, and
having a rare memorie, is not ill companie, although
Uncle saith one must make no small allowance for
his desire of making his Hearers marvel at his Stories
and conceits. We sailed with a good Westerlie wind
down the River, passing by the great salt Marshes,
which stretch a long way by the Sea, and in which
the Town's people be now verie busie in mowing and
gathering the grass for Winter's use. Leaving on our
right hand Plum Island, (so called on account of the
rare Plums which doe grow upon it,) we struck into the
open Sea, and soon came in sight of the Islands of
Shoals. There be seven of them in all, lying off the
Town of Hampton on the main land, about a League.
We landed on that called the Star, and were hospitably
entertained through the day and night by Mr. Abbott,

an old inhabitant of the Islands, and largely employed
in Fisheries and Trade, and with whom Uncle had
some Business. In the afternoon Mr. Abbott's son
rowed us about among the Islands, and showed us the
manner of curing the Dun-fish, for which the place is
famed. They split the fishes, and lay them on the
Rocks in the Sun, using little Salt, but turning them
often. There is a Court-house on the biggest Island,
and a famous School, to which manie of the Planters
on the main land doe send their children. We noted a
great Split in the Rocks, where, when the Indians came
to the Islands manie years ago, and killed some and
took others captive, one Betty Moody did hide herself,
and which is hence called “Betty Moody's Hole.”
Also, the pile of Rocks set up by the noted Capt. John
Smith, when he did take possession of the Isles in the
year 1614. We saw our old acquaintance Peckanaminet
and his wife, in a little Birch Canoe, fishing a
short way off. Mr. Abbott says he well recollects the
time when the Agawams were well nigh cut off by the
Tarratine Indians; for that earlie one morning, hearing
a loud yelling and whooping, he went out on the point
of the Rocks, and saw a great Fleet of Canoes filled
with Indians, going back from Agawam, and the noise
they made he took to be their rejoicing over their
Victorie.

In the evening, a cold easterlie Wind began to blow,
and it brought in from the Ocean a damp Fogg, soe that
we were glad to get within doors. Sir Thomas entertained
us by his livelie account of things in Boston, and
of a journie he had made to the Providence Plantations.
He then asked us if it was true, as he had learned from
Mr. Mather, of Boston, that there was an House in
Newbury dolefullie beset by Satan's imps, and that
the familie could get no sleep because of the doings of
Evil Spirits. Uncle Rawson said he did hear something
of it, and that Mr. Richardson had been sent for
to praye against the mischief. Yet as he did count
Goody Morse a poor silly woman, he should give small
heed to her story; but here was her near neighbour,
Caleb Powell, who could doubtless tell more concerning
it. Whereupon, Caleb said it was indeed true that there
was a verie great disturbance in Goodman Morse his
house; doors opening and shutting, household stuff
whisked out of the Room and then falling down the
Chimnie, and divers other strange things, manie of
which he had himself seen. Yet he did believe it
might be accounted for in a natural way, especiallie
as the old couple had a wicked, graceless Boy living
with them, who might be able to doe the tricks by his
greate subtiltie and cunning. Sir Thomas said it
might be the Boy; but that Mr. Josselin, who had

travelled much hereabout, had told him that the Indians
did practice Witchcraft — and that, now they were
beaten in Warre, he feared they would betake themselves
to it, and soe doe by their devilish Wisdom what
they could not do by force; and verilie this did look
much like the beginning of their Enchantments. “That
the Devil helpeth the Heathen in this matter, I doe myself
know for a certaintie,” said Caleb Powell; “for
when I was at Port Royal manie years ago, I did see
with mine eyes the burning of an old Negroe Wizard,
who had done to death manie of the Whites, as well as
his own People, by a Charm which he brought with
him from the Guinea countrie.” Mr. Hull, the minister
of the place, who was a lodger in the House, said
he had heard one Foxwell, a reputable planter at Saco,
lately deceased, tell of a strange Affaire that did
happen to himself, in a Voyage to the Eastward. Being
in a small Shallop, and overtaken by the Night, he
lay at anchor a little way off the Shore, fearing to land
on account of the Indians. Now, it did chance that
they were waked about midnight by a loud Voice from
the Land, crying out, Foxwell, come ashore! three
times over; whereupon, looking to see from whence
the Voice did come, they beheld a great Circle of Fire
on the Beach, and Men and Women dancing aboute it
in a Ring. Presentlie they vanished, and the Fire was
quenched also. In the morning he landed, but found
no Indians nor English, onlie Brands' ends cast up by
the Waves; and he did believe unto the Day of his
Death that it was a piece of Indian sorcery. “There
be strange stories told of Passaconaway, the Chief of
the River Indians,” he continued. “I have heard one
say who saw it, that once at the Patucket Falls, this
Chief, boasting of his skill in Magick, picked up a dry
Skin of a Snake, which had been cast off as is the wont
of the Reptile, and making some violent motions of his
bodie, and calling upon his Familiar, or Demon, he did
presentlie cast it down upon the Rocks, and it became
a great black Serpent, which mine informant saw crawl
off into some Bushes, verie nimble. This Passaconaway
was accounted by his Tribe to be a verie cunning
Conjuror, and they doe believe that he could brew
Storms, make Water burn, and cause green leaves to
grow on trees in the Winter; and, in brief, it may be
said of him that he was not a whit behind the Magicians
of Egypt in the time of Moses.

“There be women in the cold regions about Noraway,”
said Caleb Powell, “as I have heard the sailors
relate, who do raise Storms and sink Boats at their
will.”

“It may well be,” quoth Mr. Hull, “since Satan is
spoken of as the Prince and Power of the Aire.”

“The profane writers of old time doe make mention
of such Sorceries,” said Uncle Rawson. “It is
long since I have read anie of them; but Virgil and
Apulius doe, if I mistake not, speak of this power over
the Elements.”

“Do you not remember, Father,” said Rebecca,
“Some verses of Tibullus, in which he speaketh of a
certain enchantress? Some one hath rendered them
thus:—

Here Sir Thomas laughingly told Rebecca, that he
did put more Faith in what these old writers did tell
of the Magick Arts of the sweet-singing Syrens, and
of Circe and her Enchantments, and of the Illyrian
maidens, so wonderful in their Beautie, who did kill
with their Looks such as they were angrie with.”

“It was, perhaps, for some such reason,” said Rebecca,
“that, as Mr. Abbott tells me, the General
Court manie years ago did forbid Women to live on
these Islands.”

“Pray, how was that?” asked Sir Thomas.

“You must know,” answered our host, “that in the
earlie settlement of the Shoals, Vessels coming for Fish
upon this Coast did here make their Harbor, bringing
hither manie rude Sailors of different Nations; and the
Court judged that it was not a fitting place for Women,
and soe did by law forbid their dwelling on the Islands
belonging to the Massachusetts.”

He then asked his Wife to get the Order of the
Court concerning her stay on the Islands, remarking
that he did bring her over from the Maine in despite of
the Law. Soe his Wife fetched it, and Uncle Rawson
read it, it being to this effect — “That a Petition
having been sent to the Court, praying that the Law
might be put in force in respect to John Abbott his
Wife, the Court doe judge it meet, if no further Complaint
come against her, that she enjoy the companie
of her Husband.” Whereat we all laughed heartilie.

Next morning, the Fogg breaking away earlie, we
set sail for Agamenticus, running along the coast and
off the Mouth of the Piscataqua River, passing near
where my lamented Uncle Edward dwelt, whose Fame
as a worthie Gentleman and Magistrate is still living.
We had Mount Agamenticus before us all Day —
a faire stately Hill, rising up as it were from the
water. Towards Night a smart Shower came on, with
Thunderings and Lightenings such as I did never see

or hear before; and the Wind blowing, and a greate
Raine driving upon us, we were for a time in much
Peril; but, through God's mercie, it suddenlie cleared
up, and we went into the Agamenticus River with a
bright Sun. Before dark we got to the house of my
honored Uncle, where, he not being at home, his Wife
and Daughters did receive us kindlie.