Ne-Do-Ba   (Friends)
Exploring & Sharing the Wabanaki History of Interior New England
A Maine Nonprofit Corporation - 501(c)3 Public Charity

 Home > Places > Maine > Bethel              Skip Content x

Bethel, Maine
(Sudbury Canada)

Last Updated Dec-2008

Wabanaki Family Names Known Here

Wabanaki Events That Occurred Here

  • unknown or not yet researched

Bits & Pieces from Books, news-clippings, etc.

  • See Henry Tufts on this web site
  • Indians continued to hang about Bethel after the first settlers came, and Jonathan Keyes left his two sons with them for a whole winter [abt. 1776], when the nearest white settlement was Fryeburg. It is said that one of these sons, Francis Keyes, learned something of the Indian language, and became quite proficient in the use of the bow.
  • Later [aft.1796] a number of Androscoggin Indians lived in Rumford, Bethel and Canton.
 

In the fall [1780], we concluded to spend the winter in this place [Bethel], which we did. The Indians here appeared very friendly towards us. They employed themselves in hunting; and we could barter with them, for corn and sugar, and for which we received wild meat, tallow, and fur; and hence we lived quietly and comfortably with them. We labored to live in good friendship. However, we had many difficulties to encounter, as is always the case in settling new countries. We had no roads; we went by marked trees, and hauled in our necessaries on hand-sleighs. We had no neighbors settled near us; and there being but very few families in this place, it was for our interest and safety to cultivate peace and a good understanding with the savages of the wilderness.
The Indians were often in among us, and appeared very friendly. We sold them corn, and other things, for meat, fur, etc. In the first of this season, they appeared very friendly towards us, which we labored to cultivate; and they were pleased in trading with us. ... On the 3d day of August, 1781, there came six Indians from Canada; I knew one of them, named Tomhegan, for he had been often at my house. ...

source: Nathaniel Segar to Rev. Daniel Gould around the year 1825

Ne-Do-Ba Comment - - - On this day, Nathaniel Segar and two other men were taken captive and carried to Canada, while 3 men were killed and scalped by Tomhegan's party. This was during the Revolutionary War when the Abenaki living at St. Francis were compelled to fight for the English. Bounties had been offered by the English for American scalps and prisoners. This event was the last Indian raid to take place in Maine.

General Items of Interest to Researchers

  • 1796 Incorporated as Sudbury Canada
  • Located in Cumberland County
  • 1805 Moved to Oxford COunty
If you find our website useful. Please consider making a TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to our organization. Use PAYPAL or mail to
Ne-Do-Ba, 1093 Main Street, Lewiston, ME 04240 - Thank You
Content © Copyright Ne-Do-Ba 1997-2012
Permission granted for nonprofit educational use. Commercial use prohibited without prior written agreement. Permission granted for others to link to our pages. Hijacking of our content is strictly prohibited by copyright - if you want to use our content PLEASE LINK to the appropriate page of our website!
This web site hosted by HostGator.com
Privacy Policy