A look back at Biddeford

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In 1606, a second voyage, more particularly directed to explore the coast of Mavoshen was performed by Captain Pring, this time under the patronage of Chief Justice Popham. The description of the region is further refined: 

“Mavoshen is a countrey lying to the North and by East of Virginia between the degrees of 43 and 45. It is fortie leagues broad, and fiftie in length, lying in breadth East and West, and in Length North and South. It is bordered on the East side with a countrey the people whereof they call Tarrantines; on the West with Epistoman, on the North with a great wood called Seneglecouna, and on the South with the mayne ocean and many islands. In Mavoshen it seemeth there are 9 rivers….” 

“…Seven daies journey to the South west of Ashamahaga there is another river that is sixe fathoms to the entrance: this river is named Shawakotoc, and is halfe a mile broad; it runneth into the lande 50 daies journey, but foure daies journey from the entrance it is so narrow, that the trees growing on each side doe so cross with their boughs and bodies on the other as it is permitted not by any means to pass with boates that way. “

“… At the Head of this River Shawakotoc, there is a small province which they call Crokemango, wherein there is one town. This is the westernmost river of the Dominions of Bashabez” (G. Folsom, 12-13)

The estimated distances of “days” (Interesting spelling, eh?), and their numbers, seems to indicate that they didn’t explore the river much, but rather interviewed the natives… they weren’t there 50 days, so I guess that’s a reasonable assumption. At that time, a “Day” of “Journey” was about 4 miles… 200 miles is the estimated distance of the river… not an unreasonable estimate, I think. The Europeans hadn’t actually penetrated much beyond the mouths of the rivers themselves… They weren’t too well equipped to deal with the rigors of the wildnerness - they let the Natives tell them what was in there instead.

The “Big Chief”, or sachem, who governed the native country of Mavoshen, and bore the title of “Bashaba”, was repeatedly noticed by the first voyagers to the coast, and is said to have resided near the Penobscot. The subordinate chiefs, somewhat like the Barons and Lords of the English, exercised a separate authority over their respective tribes. The province of Crokemago, seems to be near Fryeburg, and the lakes there, such as the Upper Kezar, is about 15 miles in length, and about 2 miles in width, and contains two islands. The Great Ossippee, a principle branch of the Saco, terminates here, and on this river was a large Indian village.

Also, The Shawakotoc seems to have been pronounced “SHAWK-O-toc”… in 1614, when the region was inspected, and later described to the king by the infamous Captain Smith, he writes the name “Sawocotuck” on a map he draws up of “New England”, so called to bring prestige to himself and to bolster the pride of the King. On that map, the Saco is given the name “Ipswich”, with “Sawocotuck” in parens. The other rivers are given English names as well, co-labelled with their Indian names… the Kennebec gets “Edinboro River”, for instance… it was, thankfully, the local names that stuck, partially because the novelty of it all within the Court of the King.

Smith returned from his expedition to Maine with 11,000 beaver furs, 200 martin and otter furs, and 47,000 dried fish, all of which was garnished from the Monheagan Island area in a circle of less than 20 leagues… a trading house was shortly established on the island, to process furs and other loot, which remained open until 1626 when it was broken up in an apparent storm.

Over the course of time, the “tuck” was dropped from “Sowocotuck” for brevity… The Saco is named.