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Our family story in North America begin with a man named Brigadier General Samuel Waldo who had money, power and lots of land (by 1753 he owned all of the land area known as the Waldo Patent). He needed people, lots of people. You can learn more about Waldo story here:
Wikipedia contributors, "Samuel Waldo," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samuel_Waldo&oldid=1252020569 (accessed March 5, 2025).
And
A presentation by Joseph Williamson on Page 75 of a book I’ve uploaded: “Collections of the Maine historical society by Maine Historical Society”
When you need people, what do you do is you advertise, so he did :
“TERMS OFFERED BY SAMUEL WALDO Esq. to people willing to settle upon his Lands on the great river St Georges, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in the Colony of New England.
The said Lands, being the Property of Samuel Waldo Esq'r, now in London, consist in Extent of about Fifteen Hundred Thousand Acres, lying chiefly upon and adjacent to the great River St George, with in the County of York, in Said Province, and Colony, and Fifty Leagues North East of the City of Boston, in the Latitude of 43. Deg. 40 Min. North.
It has been many years a Private Property, held originally by Patent from The Crown of Great Britain, dated 1629, and by a Purchase from the Indians in 1695. (Both with were confirmed by his present Majesty in 1732. Since which, Several Settlements have been made therone, from Germany, the inland Park of New-England, and the North of Ireland. The Climate of the Part of North America, is as wholesome and Safe for British Constitutions to live in, as any Part what ever of South or North Britain. There is commonly hard Frost and Snow for about three Months every Winter; which helps to enrich the Soil, and make it most productive of Grass and Corn, for the ensuing part of the season:
During the Frost, the sky is commonly so Serene, that the Wheather is Never prejudicial to Health; So that the People are free from those Agues, Ailments, and Fevers, which are incident to Strangers, or othr Inhabitants Settling upon the more Southern Provinces of North America. The soil of this Colony is as fertile, especially when properly managed, as most Lands in South or North Britain; being commonly black Mould, with a Bottom of blue or yellow Clay; The lands are not so high as those in South Britain, nor is any of the highest Land very barren; The Ground is capable of producing plenty of Indian Corn, Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Beans, pease, Hemp, Flax and Roots of all Kinds; and for raising a flock of Black Cattle, Swine and Sheep, No part of North America affords better advantages.
The Summer Feeding in the woods being very extensive, and good, and the Country abounding with Natural Meadows, the whole Summer Season being commonly fair Wheather, and rather warmer than that of South Britain, great provision of Hay may be made and Secured early with Small Expence to the Husbandman. The Woods or Timber growing on those Lands Beech, Maple, Ash, Elm, Birch, and all Sorts of Fir or Pines; all of which are in constant Demand at Boston and other Maritime Towns, for building of Ships and Houses, and for Fuel; So that the Prices paid for this Timber and Fire-wood do more than pay the Expence of clearing the Grounds, and a great Proportion of the said Wood or Timber Suitable for making Pot and Pearl Ashes.
The Rivers and Sea Coasts are generally Stored with Fish, viz, Cod, Haddock, Salmon, Sturgeon, Mackeral, Eels, Smelts, Bass, Shads, Oysters, and Lobsters, and there is yearly Some Whale fishing not far to the Eastward of this River; and the Sea Shore, Rivers and Woods abound in good Wild-fowl of various Kinds.
There is also fine opportunity of Hunting, As the Land abounds in large Moos Deer and Bever, hunting, fishing and shooting being free to the Settlers, who have also Liberty of raising what Lime stone from off The terms upon which Mr. Waldo proposes to dispose of the above Lands to such People as shall transport themselves and Families thither, upon their own proper Expence, are as follows, viz'h. He gives, Grants or perpetual or irredeamable Rights, for the Quit rents or Few Duties following viz'h. The Purchaser shall pay to M'r. Waldo and his Heirs, at the Expiration of the first Nineteen Years, Ten Shillings, Sterling, yearly, for each hundred Acres forever. (nothing being payable for any of said first nineteen years). And if the payment do not commence until the expiration of Two nineteen years, then the Same is proposed to be Twenty Shillings Sterling yearly, for each hundred acres forever; and if the Purchaser does not choose to pay any until the Expiration of Three Nineteen Years, in that case, he is to pay yearly, Forty Shillings Sterling for each hundred acres for ever. And this Few or Quit-rent, is to be in full of all other Kind of rent, Cess, and all impossion whatsoever, on the Part of the said M'r Waldo the proprietor, and his Heirs; only it may be observed, that for the Support of the Colony, all the Inhabitants, M'r. Waldo's property that their Occasion for building of Houses and dressing their Lands may require. according to what their circumstances, may be are subject to a small Tax payable in to the Province Treasury; also a small Contribution is raised in Towns, and laid on by the Majority of the Voices of the Inhabitants, to be applyed to the support of the Ministry, School--Masters, Poor, &c.
Mr. Waldo shall also assist the Settlers at their Landing, by his Friends and Doers in the Colony, to Purchase Black Cattle, Horses, Grain, with all necessary Vicutual, Seeds, and whatsoever else is Needfull, that the Colony can afford, at the prime Cost; so that they shall not be imposed upon. He is also willing to give Suitable Encouragement To House and Ship Carpenters, and Blacksmiths, Masons, Lime burners, Brick makers, and to ingenious Mill-wrights, particularly to Such of those as have Experience of making wooden Dams a-cross Rivers; and for People of the above handy Crafts, Mr. Waldo is willing to transport them at his own proper Expence, and to imploy them in his Service for a Number of Years abroad upon Such Terms as he, by his Correspondents in Glasgow, and they can best agree. The Religion of this Province is chiefly Calvinistrial or Presbyterian; and all Sorts of Christians, except Papists, are allowed the free Exercise of their Religion. The Colony is governed by a Body of Laws, made by its General Court or assembly, consisting of a Governour, Council, and Representatives of the People, which by its Charter are not to be repugnant to the Laws of Great Britain; The laws are best adapted to the Circumstances of the Colony, and in any Instance, where these Laws are Silent, the Laws of Great Britain take Place.
UPON THE WHOLE, Here an opportunity offers to Such as are difficulted to procure/possession of Lands for reasonable Rents at Home, and whereby if embraced, they be furnished with as Sufficient Lands for Crop and Stock as in most Parts of Britain, to be possessed heritably forever by them and their Posterity, for less Money than our ordinary Yearly land Tax or less in Scotland; and as there are constant trading betwixt the Colonies on the Main of North America, and the West India Isles belonging to Britain, and a Voyage commonly performed to them in about three weeks; this also is a circumstance that promises well for the Young Folks and Children of the Settlers. If any People Inclining to transport themselves and Families to the above Colony, be any way diffident of what is above related, they may easily be informed of the Facts from Many Persons in Glasgow, and the Most of the Seaport Towns upon the west of Scotland. And moreover, M'r Waldo is willing to agree with them, or any or them, that in Case, on their arrival in New England, every Thing he has here published is not verified, he will refund or pay back the Passage they have paid, bring them back again at his own Expence, and pay them for the Time they have lost by entering on this Scheme.
WHATEVER Particulars else the undertakers may Judge Necessary for themselves to learn or know, or Partion to be made with M'r Waldo, not here insert, or the Method and expence of Imbarkation, they may be informed of the same by corresponding with Messrs. Robert Finlay one of the present Magistrates, John Wilson Writer, Lachlan McLean Merchant or John Hall, Printer, all in Glasgow. N. B. Whoever Sends Post Letters are desired to pay the Postage.”
"Terms Offered By Samuel Waldo", Not Dated (recorded 13 Aug. 1763), Lincoln Records Of Knox County, Book 6, Page 19, Knox County Registry of Deeds, Rockland, ME
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Wow, that last post was long. So we have a large land proprietor, needing people with an advertisement in the form of a broadside (a large sheet of paper printed on one) posted in key locations around Glasgow, Scotland as well some other cities.
Now this next document is what I think is the most important testament to our family’s immigration to North America. It will make you go to the DMV to have your surname changed on your Driver’s License (just kidding, maybe).
I’ve uploaded it to a file called “Note - Williaw Greenlly to S Waldo1.pdf”. This a photo of the document your ancestors signed to secure passage to “Waldo Settlement “, I have transcript it to modern English for ease of reading but please download it to take a close look:
“Greenock in North Britain August 1st, 1753
We William Grinlay, Jonathan Grinlay and William Grinlay, Junior all of Glasgow, do hereby, jointly and severally promise and oblige ourselves to pay to Samuel Waldo of Boston in New England at present in Greenock England or to by Order in New England forty eight pounds, lawfull money of Great Britain Value received witness our hands to two of this tenor and date one being accomplished the other to be void.
Ja: Beveridge Witness William Grinllay
John Wright Witness Jonathen Grinlay
Willem Grinlay
You can clearly see this document was created on August 1st, 1753 in what the English called Scotland (North Britain). Mostly importantly it was created in Greenock, Scotland just before the family departed Scotland. William, Jonathan, William Jr Greenlaw were all from Glasgow, Scotland and could sign their own names. They promise to pay Samuel Waldo of Boston forty eight pounds in New England. The witness “Ja: Beveridge” was a fellow passenger to “Waldo Settlement “ (Annals of the Town of Warren, in Knox County, Maine, 1877,Page 92). Lastly, two of these documents were created and one given to each person. When the money was paid Waldo’s copy would be given back to the family.
I will address the name changing from Grinlay to Greenlaw in a later post.
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OK, so we have Waldo advertising for people and indenturing William Grinllay and family for the passage to “Waldo Settlement “in Massachusetts for 48 pounds. In the next two documents you can see that William Grinllay witnessed the note from John Dicke (fellow passenger) to Waldo in which he paid 10 pounds. John Dicke had a wife and a baby on the way. If we use that fee structure, William Grinllay paid Waldo for 9 and a half passages for the trip to Massachusetts (Charles Greenlaw was a boy). (“Annals of the Town of Warren in Knox …” – 1877, Page 87 – 94)
“Greenock in North Britain August 1st, 1753 I John Dick of Said Greenock Laborer do hereby promise and oblige sayself to pay Samuel Waldo of Boston in New England and in Greenock England onto his orders the sum of ten pounds lawful money of Great Britain, value received witnessed my hand to two of this tenor and date one being accomplished and the other being void.
Witness William Grinllay John ED Dick
His mark
Tho: T A Anderson
His Mark
To get all his new settlers to their new homes, Waldo had to hire an ocean-going ship to make the journey. Glasgow did not have deep water port that could support this type ship so he looked for a one in the town of Greenock, Scotland. Waldo or most likely his agent found an advisement from a Captain Hugh Coulter. He was waiting at Greenock for someone to hire him:
“The Brigantine J O A N N A,
Hugh Coulter Master,
Now lying at Greenock, will be ready to take in
Goods By 1ft, and clear to fail by the 15th of
July, for New England. Any who incline to take
Passage, or ship Goods, for Boston or New Lon-
don, may apply to James Johnston or William Mac
Kenzie, Merchants in Glasgow, or the Master at
Greenock.”
(The Glasgow Courant, From Monday, July 9, to Monday , July 16, 1753, Page 4, Col. 1, Par. 3 found at the The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7DN
The Glasgow Journal, From Monday, June 11, to Monday , June 18, 1753, Page 4, Col. 2, Par. 9 found at the The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7DN)
Now that he had a ship, he needed to notify the passengers when and where they would be leaving on their trip. So he put an ad in the newspaper:
“The Passengers that have engaged or agreed to proceed to Mr. Wadlo’s Settlement on St. George’s River in New England, are desired to have their Chests and Baggage, &c. the Beginning of this Week on board the Joanna, Capt. Hugh Coulter Commander, now lying at Greenock. N. B. For the Conveniency of the said Passengers a Gabart is freighted to carry their Baggage from the Key of Glasgow to the ship, and they are desired not to delay sending the same.”
( The Glasgow Courant, From Monday, July 16, to Monday , July 23, 1753, Page 4, Col. 2, Par. 3 Found at the Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7DN)
I’d like you to take note that the ship was named “JOANNA” with a captain named ” HUGH COULTER” not Captain Cooter and the Brig Dolphin as Cyrus Eaton stated on page 92 of his “History of St. George's, Broad Bay, and the Neighboring Settlements on the Waldo Patent…,1877”.
The family now at Glasgow, Scotland got on a gabart (barge) with all their belongings and sailed approx. 20 miles up the Clyde River to Greenock, Scotland. They boarded the Brigantine JOANNA and on August 11, 1953 they sailed for "Piscataqua" (now Portsmouth in New Hampshire):
GREENOCK, Aug. 11
…
Sailed
…
the Joanna, Coulter, for Bofton with bale goods
…”
(The Glasgow Courant, From Monday, August 7, to Monday , August 11, 1753, Page 4, Col. 3, Par. 8 found at the Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7DN)
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The Master of the Brigantine Joanna, Hugh Coulter, was a very experienced captain and was involved in the tobacco trade between Virginia and Scotland. In his last voyage he had lost a vessel called the “Ship Thistle “on the “Rye Bar” (not sure if Rye Bar is off the English Coast or New England Coast). This made the relatives of the passages on board the Joanna very apprehensive of their journey. After he arrived at the Port of Piscataqua, the Master sent this letter on a return ship back to Scotland.
GLASGOW COURANT, Nov. 26.
By a Letter from Capt. Coulter of the Joanna of this Place, dated the 28th of Sept. ult. in Piscataqua Bay in New England, we are advised of his safe Arrival, in said Bay in 6 Weeks from Land to Land, all well on board; and that all Passengers, being about 60 in number, were then in perfect Health and good Spirits, and having got a Pilot, were ready to proceed to the River St. George, at the distance of ten or twelve Hours sailing, where the said passengers are to settle upon Brigadier Waldo’s Lands. As there was a groundless Report sometime ago spread among the Friends of the Passengers, as if the Ship had been in Danger or lost, makes it the more necessary to publish the above, that all concerned may with Certainty be informed of the safe Arrival and good Condition of their Friends, who are now in a more promising and comfortable Situation than any of the same Rand they have left behind them in Scotland.”
(The Aberdeen Journal, Volume # 308 dated December 4, 1753)
From the Captain’s letter we know that the journey took 60 days, he had 60 Passengers on board and 8 or 9 of them were our Greenlaw family. From the statement in the Glasgow Courant in the my last post, the we know the Brigantine Joanna departed Glasgow on August 11, 1753 and arrived 6 weeks later which would be September 22, 1753. The arrival was well covered in the newspapers of the time and Waldo may have misrepresented the number of passengers. He was under great pressure to populate his lands as we will see in a later post.
"We hear from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, that last Thursday arrived there a Vessel from Scotland, with 200 Passengers, who intend to settle at the Eastern Parts of this Province.1
"We hear from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, that last Thursday arrived there a Vessel from Scotland, with about 200 Passenger, who intend to settle at the Eastern Parts of this Province.2
"We hear from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, that last Thursday arrived there a Vessel from Scotland, with about 200 Passenger, who intend to settle at the Eastern Parts of this Province.3
"We hear from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, that last Thursday arrived there a Vessel from Scotland, with about 200 Passenger, who intend to settle at the Eastern Parts of this Province.4
The Boston Gazette,or,Weekly Advertiser, October 2, 1753, p. 3, col. 2, Library Of Congress, Wasington D.C.
The Boston Weekly News-Letter,October 4, 1753, p. 2, col 1, Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
The New York Mercury, October 8, 1753, Number 61, p. 2 col. 2, par. 8.
The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 11, 1753, Number 1294, Boston Section
To expand on how and when they took the next leg of their journey we have to talk about a parallel journey of Germans to the Piscataqua Bay in my next post.
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Waldo had in the works a parallel journey of a group of sixty families from the domains of the Count of Nassau-Dietz-Idstein, Germany heading for his vessel the “Ship Elizabeth”, Captained by Pendock Neale being refitted in Menden a suburb of Amsterdam. The ship had to stop at the Cowes on the Isle of Wight for customs clearance of the German passengers then on to Portsmouth NH. This took two mouth and they arrived in mid-September probable just after the Brigantine Joanna. Captain Pendock had navigation experience along the Maine coast so they moved the Scottish passengers on to the Ship Elizabeth which was a much bigger boat.
(“ History Of Old Broad Bay and Waldoboro ..”, Vol 1, Jasper Jacob, Page 186-196) 8 October 1753.
In my most recent post you will find a map (I hope, I’m having problems uploading it) entitled “Coast of Maine from Rockland Harbor to Pemaquid Point 1776” from the library of Congress. Looking at the map, if you follow the Georges River to the point in turns into two branches you will see a fort Icon. It is labeled “St Georges Ft now in ruins. ”Our ancestors landed here sometime around October 8, in what is now Thomaston, Maine. Warren (Maine) is just up the left branch of the river. If you want to learn more check out the ”History of Fort St. Georges by Tom Seymour." Their arrival was well covered in the newspapers of the day:
8 October – October 12 1753
“ ? Fortnight ago, a Ship arrived at St. George’s at the Eaftward,
with about 400 Germans, who intend to fettle in that Part of the Province.” 1
“Last Week a Ship arrived at St George’s at the Eastward, with about 500 Germans, who intend to settle in that Part of the Province.” 2
“Last Week a Ship arrived at St. Georges at the Eastward, with about 400 Germans, who intent to settle in that Part of the Province.” 3
The Bofton Evening-Poft, Monday, October 22, 1753
The Boston Gazette or Weekly Advertiser, Tuesday, October 16, 1753
The Boston Weekly News-Letter, Thursday, October 18, 1753.)
They had landed six months before the “Battle of Jumonville Glen” under Colonel George Washington that started the “The French and Indian War.”
PLEASE check out our Facebook files page to find referenced documents. And do follow Jim's genealogy posts on our Facebook page.
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