| Ballad of Bloody Fight Point |
SEACOAST POEMS
What if they gave a war and nobody fought? It happened here early in the 17th century. The first white settlers in the Piscataqua region almost had a big battle over who owned what land. The battle almost took place at what is now Hilton Point in Newington, NH. THe name is ironic, and there is even a marker on the spot. The poem is by our old buddy BP Shillaber. (Continued below)
Originally titled “The Ballad of the Piscataqua” this 19th century poem may be obscure to modern readers, but it is based on an historical event. It is one of many poems written in the 19th century about the PiscataquaRiver. – JDR
MORE ON BP Shillaber
The Ballad of the Piscataqua
Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber
[a slight affectation of the antique.]
In the younger days of the colonies,
When minions of the king held sway,
Ere the towns in pride began to rise
By swift Piscataqua,
Beside its ever-restless tide
Lay two plantations fiar;
A fertile point did them divide,
Of excellence most rare.
Then out spoke Captain Wiggin, bold,--
Captain Thomas was he hight,--
“This point is goodly to behold,
With richest worth bedight;
“And here I’ll plant the yellow grain,
And here the axe shall sound,
And golden crops shall crowd my wain,
And plenty aye abound.”
Then up spake Captain Walter Neal—
“Now, by my faith, not so!
To weapons dire I’ll make appeal,
Ere onward thus thou ‘lt go.
“For unto the Lower Plantation
Doth this fair point belong,
And I, for its full possessions,
Will battle long and strong.”
Then stoutly spoke Captain Thomas,
For a gallant man was he:
“When you’re able to take it from us,
To yield it I’ll agree.”
Then Captain Neal turned deadly white,
Brim full was he of rage;
He ground his teeth in fearful spite,
And threatened war to wage.
And Captain Thomas Wiggin, he
Looked stern and very wroth,
And vowed a fight he’d like to see,
For combat nothing loth.
Great woe did seize good people then,
Such sad thing for to see,
As two so gallant gentlemen
Thus sorely disagree.
And interposed did their word,
The discord to allay;
And peace again their bosoms stirred,
Before so fierce for fray.
Then “Bloody Fight Point,” that spot was hight;
Not from its hue, I ween,
Nor yet for its ensanguined fight,
But of blood it might have seen,
Had Captain Wiggin and Captain Neal
There met in mortal fight,
And the arbitration of biting steel
Had settled their quarrel right.
Now Bloody Fight Point is a peaceful spot,
On Newington’s tranquil shore,
And Neal and Wiggin are both forgot,
Save in history’s musty lore.
Author’ s Footnote:
A severe contest arose between the agents of the two plantations (now Dover and Portsmouth) respecting the settlement of a point of land which extended into the river from the south-western shore, and which was equally convenient for both plantations. Wiggin began to make improvements upon it; Neal ordered him to desist. Wiggin persisted, and threatened to defend his right by the sword; Neal replied in the same determined manner, and they would have proceeded to extremities, if some more moderate persons had not persuaded them to refer the dispute to their employers. From these circumstances the contested place was called “Bloody Fight Point,” and still retains that name.—Adams Annals of Portsmouth
As seen on SeacoastNH.com