THE MALTA WAR IN COURT. MAINE has suffered and survived no men, representing himself and the proprie less than eleven wars within her bor tors, were on September 8th, 1809, engaged ders. Eight of these were bloody and de in its survey. While the surveyors were structive, and three were more or less farcical. fixing the topography of a brook, Choate The one under view in this article occurred walked a short distance ahead, when he was in 1809. It arose from an attempt at accu surprised by several armed men, in the dis rate and equitable adjustment of lines in the guise of Indians. A pistol was placed at Patent of the Plymouth Colony in Maine. his breast, and his silence ordered on pain The territory embraced in this patent was of instant death. fifteen miles in width on each side of the The band then formed in line; and a few Kennebec River, from Swan Island (just moments later, Paul Chadwick, of Malta, one above the junction with the Androscoggin) of the chain-bearers, appeared in view. At to the great westward bend of the river. the words from one of their number, " Fire What land remained undisposed of in 1789 low," three guns were discharged, and Chad was in that year released by the General wick fell. These savages then gathered Court to the " Fifty Associates; " the con about their victim, made taunting remarks, dition being that they released their claim then departed. The wounded man was to all exterior lands, and quieted settlers taken by his companions to a house in the within the limits. vicinity, where he died two days later. Many settlers under the colony and under Choate and the victim had recognized purchase from the Duke of York's territory three of the band, and the others were adjoining on the east, together with squat soon found out. They remained concealed ters and purchasers of lots from the Indians in the woods, where they were fed by at the eastern border, had mixed their lots their friends, for a few days, but were up in a most irreconcilable manner; and the finally persuaded by them to give them courts of Kennebec and Penobscot counties, selves up. Accordingly, a week after from this time forth, for years, echoed with the murder, all except one — who had ab the voices of the rival claimants. To avoid sconded — appeared before a justice for ex threatened civil disorder, the government of amination. They were repentant, even to the Commonwealth, in 1808, enacted a law tears, and each confessed to have been pres called the Betterment Act, for the relief of ent when Chadwick was shot. All were mis-located residents. This measure, how committed to wait the action of the grand ever, was not regarded by the settlers as jury at the next regular session of the court adequate to the conditions; and secret as on the 3d of October. v sociations were formed to prevent the ser Now that they were in jail, their friends vice of precepts, and to drive away all sur began to regret their surrender, viewing with veyors. At Warren, in the county of Lincoln alarm the preparations for their trial, and (now in Knox county), a military force was the strength and strictness with which their summoned to assist the sheriff in his duty; place of confinement was guarded. Then but the parties came to terms, and the escort rumors of an attempt at their rescue began was not required. to reach the authorities; and it was reported that a large number of armed men disguised In Malta, adjoining the east line of Au gusta, four miles from the Kennebec, lived as Indians had been seen in the woods be Aaron Choate, who had agreed to purchase tween Augusta and Malta, who, it was stated, the lot he had been occupying; and three were preparing to rescue the prisoners, burn
