John Libby came to Maine as a fisherman in the employ of Robert Trelawny, a Plymouth merchant who held a large grant of coastland at Cape Elizabeth where, on Richmond Island, he had established an active fishing industry. John came over on the Hercules" which brought the family of John Winter, Trelawny's Maine manager, and many other fishermen and servants and arrived in port at Richmond Island on 13 February 1636/7, leaving his wife in England (he sent for her to join him here about 1640.
It is suspected that John came from the area of Cornwall and that he was born about 1614 even though in 1677 he signed a petition to the governor and council of Massachusetts Bay stating that he was then seventy-five years of age. It seems more likely that he exaggerated his age in an appeal for sympathy and assistance.
In the history of Scarborough, he is said to have been "for many years one of the town's principal planters." He was constable in 1664 and his name stands first of the four selectmen in a town grant bearing date 1669. In King's Phillip's war (1675) he lost everything he had except his plantation. Captain Joshua Scattow's diary says; "Eight of nine deserted houses belonging to Libby and his children "were burned by the Indians 7 September, 1675."
John did not "colonize" Scarborough. ME. He, and his numerous family members, were very influential in the establishment of Scarborough. It wouldn't have existed without the dogged determination of the Libby's, Larrabee's, and several other families who recognized the value of the area and sacrificed a lot (including family members who gave their lives) to make it what it became. But, he didn't hold the "Patents" or "Grants" that were used for colonization.
Family links:
Children:
Matthew Libby (1663 - 1740)*
*Point here for explanation
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