A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

1744.] WILLIAM VAUGHAN. 65Vaughan was born at Portsmouth in 1703, and graduatedat Harvard College nineteen years later. Hisfather, also a graduate of Harvard, was for a timelieutenant-governor of New Hampshire. Soon afterleaving college,the younger Vaughan — a youth ofrestless and impetuous activity — established a fishingstationon the island of Matinicus, off the coast ofMaine, and afterwards became the owner of most ofthe land on both sides of the little river Damariscotta,where he built a garrison -house, or wooden fort,established a considerable settlement, and carried onan extensive trade in fish and timber. He passed fora man of ability and force, but was accused of aheadstrong rashness, a self-confidence that hesitatedat nothing, and a harebrained contempt of everyobstacle in his way. Once, having fitted out anumber of small vessels at Portsmouth for his fishingat Matinicus, he named a time for sailing. It was agusty and boisterous March day, the sea was rough,and old sailors told him that such craft could notcarry sail. Vaughan would not listen, but went onboard and ordered his men to follow. One vesselwas wrecked at the mouth of the river; the rest,after severe buffeting, came safe, with their owner,to Matinicus.Being interested in the fisheries, Vaughan wasstreet. In the Public Record Office there is a letter from Bradstreet,written in 1753, but without address, in which he declares that henot only planned the siege, but " was the Principal Person in conductingit," — assertions which may pass for what they are worth,Bradstreet being much given to self-assertion.VOL. II. 6