The monument erected at the site of the grave of Father Sebastian Rasle, Jesuit missionary, 1652 - 1724, who served the Abenaki Indians as their spiritual advisor. He lived with them over a quarter of a century and compiled a dictionary of their language which is now at Harvard University.
Father Rasle was killed (1724) during an English raid on the village at Norridgewock. The Arnold expedition passed through the site fifty-one years later.
The Norridgewock Indian Village
as observed by participants on the march.
"…, at Norrigwalk, is to be seen the ruins of an Indian Town, also a fort, a Chapel, and a large tract of Clear Land …"
Capt. Henry Dearborn, Oct. 4, 1775
"… At Norridgewalk are to be seen the vestiges of an Indian fort and chapel, and a priests grave. There appears to have been some intrenchment, and a covered way through the bank of the river for the convenience of getting water. This must have been a considerable seat of the natives, as there are large Indian fields cleared. …"
Major Return J. Meigs, Oct. 3, 1775
"Oct. 2. This Day we saw an alter constructed by the Indians, and the remains of a Roman Chapel, where they paid their devotions. Their Curate, or Friar, named Francisco [sic] was killed about 40 years ago, at the time when the Provincials drove back the indians. His remains lie buried here with a cross over them, as is customary in France, Spain, Italy and all Roman Catholic countries, when their clergy Die. This place was remarkable formerly for being the Indian’s Headquarters."
Capt. Simeon Thayer, Oct. 2, 1775
Calvert, Mary R., Black Robe on the Kennebec, 292 pp., 1991, The Monmouth Press, Monmouth, ME 04259