York County, Maine Archives / Registry of Deeds - Alfred, ME
February, 2025
York County’s ongoing effort to catalog and share its historical records has unearthed a remarkable document—one that offers a direct link to a dramatic chapter in North American history.
Among our discoveries is a 1748 deed in which John Davis of Biddeford sold his rights to the spoils of war. Recorded in York County (then part of Massachusetts) in 1749, the document details Davis relinquishing any claims to “land, buildings, or fortifications” from the famed expedition to Louisbourg. This siege was not just a military campaign—it was a turning point in colonial history.
The story of Louisbourg begins in 1713, when the French established the fortified settlement on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to counter growing British naval power. By 1740, the town’s defenses had become some of the most formidable in North America. But war was brewing. When King George’s War—part of the larger War of Austrian Succession—broke out in 1744, Louisbourg became a key battleground.
In a bold early strike, French forces raided the English settlement of Canso, capturing over 100 prisoners. However, the victory was short-lived. The added strain on French resources and mounting discontent among unpaid troops weakened the stronghold. When the captured English soldiers were paroled and sent to Boston, they revealed just how vulnerable Louisbourg had become. Their reports set the stage for a bold New England offensive.
In 1745, Massachusetts Governor William Shirley organized a colonial force of over 4,200 New Englanders under the command of William Pepperrell of Kittery. Supported by 90 ships, these men set out to do the unthinkable—lay siege to the mighty fortress. Against the odds, after weeks of battle, they succeeded in capturing and occupying Louisbourg. The victory was a moment of triumph for the colonists, though their prize was later handed back to the French as part of a peace settlement—much to their frustration.
John Davis was one of the men who took part in this historic expedition. In 1748, he sold his rights to any potential land, buildings, fortifications, or bounties he might have been entitled to as a result of the campaign. The buyer? Christopher Bradbury, who purchased Davis’s wartime claims for £100—a sum that speaks to the perceived value of the spoils of war.
This deed serves as a tangible reminder of how global conflicts shaped the lives of everyday people in York County. It is a direct link to the soldiers, merchants, and landowners whose fates were tied to the shifting tides of colonial power.
As we continue uncovering York County’s rich history, documents like this remind us of the extraordinary stories hidden in our archives—stories of war, survival, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity.
