BRACKETT +, Mary

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Taken captive by indians along with parents in 1676 but escaped

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Captured but escaped from Indians in 11 Aug 1676 attack. Killed in 21 Sep 1689 attack.

Notes:

Became a wealthy man with 400 acres, livestock, and a slave. His farm was located along Back Cove from the area of Deering Oaks and extending up into the University of Southern Maine campus and out towards Capisic. His house was situated near where Deering
Avenue and the interstate cross.

The story of Ann Mitton Brackett and her family during the turbulent times of King Philip's War in Maine is a tale of survival and resilience. In August 1676, the war, which had ended in Massachusetts, was still raging in Maine. The Native Americans, incited by Simon the Yankee Killer, were seeking revenge against the English settlers for various grievances, including land disputes and the confiscation of their guns.

The Brackett family, living in Casco (now Portland), Maine, found themselves in the midst of this conflict. Anthony Brackett, a wealthy landowner, and his wife Ann Mitton Brackett, along with their five children and a slave, were living on a farm along Back Cove. The area, a beautiful landscape of marshland and tidal estuaries, was also home to other colonists who had settled around Back Cove and the Presumpscot River.

The tensions escalated when neighboring Indians killed one of Anthony Brackett's cows. Simon, pretending to help Brackett find the culprits, arrived at the Brackett home with a war party. The Indians ransacked the house, confiscated guns, and bound the family, taking them captive. Ann's brother, Nathaniel Mitton, who was visiting, resisted and was immediately killed.

The war party continued their raid across the area, attacking homesteads, killing settlers, and taking captives. The local militia, spread thin and unprepared, could not mount an effective defense. The settlers, realizing the gravity of the situation, began to flee to safer areas.

The Brackett family, along with other captives, was taken northeast of Casco. At some point, the Indians who had taken the Brackett family got distracted by other raids, leaving the family behind. Seizing the opportunity, Ann, using her needlework skills, repaired an abandoned canoe they found. Despite the rudimentary tools and materials available, Ann managed to make the canoe seaworthy.

The family embarked on a perilous journey across Casco Bay, eventually reaching Black Point. From there, they found a vessel bound for Piscataqua and made their way to safety. This escape was a remarkable feat, considering the circumstances and the limited resources at their disposal.

Tragically, Ann Mitton Brackett passed away the following year, in 1677, and was buried at Sandy Beach in Rye. Her death, possibly due to childbirth, was a significant loss to the family. Anthony Brackett remarried and returned to Casco with his new wife, Susannah Drake, and had five more children. He continued to serve in the local militia and was involved in the community's defense efforts.

However, the peace was short-lived. In 1689, Anthony Brackett was killed in another attack, highlighting the ongoing conflicts and dangers of the frontier life during that era. The story of the Brackett and Mitton families during these tumultuous times is a testament to their courage and determination in the face of adversity.

Capt + MITTON, Anne. Anne (daughter of MITTON, Michael and CLEEVES, Elizabeth) was born about 1638 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA; died in 1677 in Sandy Beach, Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Received 100 acres in her grandfather's will (George Cleeves); taken captive by indians but escaped

Notes:

In the tumultuous era of King Philip's War, a period marked by violent conflicts between Native American tribes and English settlers, the story of Ann Mitton Brackett and her family stands out as a remarkable tale of resilience and survival.

Ann Mitton, a granddaughter of George Cleeves, one of the earliest settlers and founders of Portland, Maine, then known as Casco, was married to Anthony Brackett. They lived on a farm along Back Cove, near the area that is now home to Deering Oaks and the University of Southern Maine campus. This picturesque region, with its abundant natural resources, was also a flashpoint for the escalating tensions between the English settlers and the Native American tribes.

The Bracketts, like many settlers, were caught in the crossfire of these growing hostilities. Their lives were upended in August 1676 when Simon, known as "the Yankee Killer," a Native American who had escaped from captivity in Massachusetts, led a war party in a surprise attack against Casco. The Brackett family, including Ann and Anthony, their children, and a slave, were captured during this raid.

The capture of the Brackett family was a harrowing experience, but it was Ann's ingenuity and skills that turned the tide. Known for her adeptness in needlework, Ann played a crucial role in their escape. She skillfully repaired a damaged canoe, which the family then used to navigate across Casco Bay. This daring escape was a testament to Ann's resourcefulness and determination to save her family from captivity.

After a perilous journey across the bay, the Brackett family reached Black Point. There, they found a vessel bound for Piscataqua, which offered them safe passage and a route to freedom. This escape was not just a physical journey but also a symbol of the resilience and courage that many settlers had to summon in the face of adversity.

The story of Ann Mitton Brackett and her family is set against the backdrop of King Philip's War, a conflict that had far-reaching consequences for both the Native American tribes and the English settlers. The war, characterized by its brutality and the profound sense of fear it instilled in the communities, marked a significant chapter in the history of New England.

Ann Mitton Brackett's story is a poignant reminder of the individual struggles and acts of bravery that occurred during this turbulent period in American history. Her actions not only ensured the survival of her family but also left a legacy of courage and resilience that continues to be remembered and honored.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Killed by Indians in what is known as the Brackett Massacre; The Great Migration; Immigrant; First familiesof NH
• Great Migration: Yes, but no GM profile
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brackett-109
• Immigration: 1639; Yes
• Probate: 11 Sep 1691, New Hampshire, USA

Notes:

Died:
Killed by Indians in what is known as the Brackett Massacre

Anthony married (POSSIBLY PRICE), Eleanor Unknown in 1635 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Eleanor was born on 24 Jun 1613 in England; died on 28 Sep 1691 in Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Killed by Indians in what is known as the Brackett Massacre; The Great Migration; Immigrant
• Immigration: Yes

Notes:

Birth: unknown
Death: Sep. 29, 1691

. . . . . . . . . .
As recorded by H.I. Brackett in 1907 . . . The blow fell on Tuesday, September 28, 1691. On that day were killed Anthony Brackett and his wife; also, on that day were made captives two children of his son, John Brackett.
. . . . . . . . . .
AKA . . .
:: Often referred to as Eleanor, possibly due to misinterpretation of something in the will of Anthony Brackett.
:: NOT Elizabeth Cleeve, who is actually her son's mother-in-law
:: NOT daughter of George Cleeve, who is actually the grandfather of her daughter-in-law
:: NOT daughter of Michael Mitton, who is actually the father-in-law to two of her sons
:: NOT Susanna Drake, who is actually her daughter-in-law
. . . . . . . . . .


Died:
Killed by Indians in what is known as the Brackett Massacre

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: The Great Migration; Immigrant
• Great Migration: Michael is thought to have come to New England from England with George Cleeve. Mitton is first is found in Maine in 1637. In 1640, he was appointed Constable for Casco, Maine.
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mitton-2
• Residence: Maine, USA
• Birth: 1616, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
• Residence: 1637, Peaks Island, Cumberland, Maine, USA; Leased to Michale Mitton by George Cleeves for 60 years
• Death: 25 Aug 1660, Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA

Michael married CLEEVES, Elizabeth in 1637 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of CLEEVE, George and PRICE, Joan) was born on 14 Dec 1619 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England; died in 1681 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: The Great Migration; Immigrant; Father was founder of Portland, Maine
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cleeves-1

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Founder of Portland, Maine; The Great Migration; Immigrant
• Historical Importance: Founder of Portland, Maine
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cleeve
• Web Address: https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/rd/12107/383/235175320
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cleeve-50
• Occupation: England; Vintner
• Immigration: 1630, Maine, USA
• Residence: 1633, Portland, Cumberland, Maine, USA; Founding of Portland
• Travel: 1636, England; Back and forth from Maine to England
• Travel: 1643, England; Back and forth from Maine to England

Notes:

George Cleve; Cleeve; Cleaves; CleevesComment:Esquire, as designated in the patent of Gorges to him 27 Jan. 1636, came to New England about 1630. Settled at Spurwink, built a house, planted, etc. having a promise from Gorges of 200 acres of land, as he claimed. In 1632 he bought a share in the patent which Richard Tucker had purchased of Richard Bradshaw. John Winter, as agent of Robert Trelawney, ejected him from the land in 1633, and seized upon his houses. [Testimony in Maine court at Saco June 25, 1641.] He had a lawsuit in court at Saco 25 March, 1636. He visited Boston in 1643 with Mr. Rigby, "a lawyer and a parliament man, wealthy and religious," who had purchased the "Plough Patent"; they sought to obtain the help of Mass. in establishing the claims of that patent; desired to join "the consociation of the United Colonies." [W.] He petitioned the Gen. Court of Mass. 5 (3) 1645, "on behalfe of the people of Ligonia," asking protection against the claims of Mr. Vines and others, basing his claims on the Rigby patent. [Mass. Arch. 3, 179.] As agent of "Collonell Alexander Rigby, President and proprietor for the province of Laconia," he leased lands in 1651. Took oath of allegiance to Mass. govt. 13 July, 1658. As deputy president of the Assembly of Lygonia, 22 (7) 1648, he was chairman of the committee to sit at Richmond Island and report on the estate of Winter.

He deeded 20 May, 1658, to his grandchild Nathaniel Mitten, land adjoining that formerly granted to his father Michael M. Was sued by Robert Jordan in 1659, and his goods attached in a rough manner; bed and clothing taken from his sick wife, then 87 years of age.

Nathaniel Mitten was alleged by "Richard Powssley of ffalmouth" in 1687, to have been a grandson of Cleve.

See also Bradshaw, Bucknall, Jordan, Macworth, Moses, Tucker, Winter.


George Cleeve was a vintner in England . George emigrated to what is now New England in 1630, settling first in Spurwink, Maine (near today's Cape Elizabeth), and at Falmouth (today's Portland) in 1633. In 1637, Sir Ferdinando Gorges granted George and associate Richard Tucker 1,500 acres at Machegonne (Portland Neck) that included the area of today's downtown Portland. George is known as the father of Portland, and a statue is erected in modern Portland commemorating this. His career was both contentious and litigious, engaged in frequent land disputes and vying with Gorges' Province of Maine for jurisdiction over the area north of Cape Porpoise. In a letter to Governor John Winthrop from a contemporary, he was described as"a firebrand of dissension and hath set the whole Province together by the ears."

He married Joan Price in England in 1618; George made several trips back and forth to England during his career and it is unknown on which trip she emigrated. Even before he left England, George was involved in a suit against his father-in-law, John Price. Not muchy is known of Joan's life but she is a docoumented "Gateway Ancestor" to royalty.

The early records of Maine are filled with less than admirable descriptives of his nature. His hatred for Ferdinando Gorges, and others of the titled class, was pronounced, and he attempted every coercion possible to defame those who stood in his way, or to misrepresent his aim to others in order to pursue his own gain. That he was initially, to those who knew nothing of his character, persuasive and charming, is apparent, but it was not long before he had alienated every person of power in both Maine and Massachusetts.

George married PRICE, Joan on 7 Sep 1618 in St Chadds Church, Cheshire, England. Joan (daughter of PRICE, John and JOAN) was born in 1584 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England; died on 29 Sep 1662 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Royal gateway ancestor; The Great Migration; Immigrant
• Historical Importance: Gateway Ancestor