Page 1079, Stated in a petition in July, 1677 that “the good and pious report that was spread abroad into our Native Land of this country, caused your petitioner to come for this land 47 years ago, where he hath ever since continued.” If this statement is literally true, he came to this country in about 1630, but it is believed that his landfall occurred somewhat later. John Libby was in the employ of Robert Trelawny at a trading post on Cape Elizabeth for four years, from the summer of 1635 to the summer of 1639, at five pounds a year paid to him, and another and probably larger amount paid for the support of his wife whom he had left in England. in 1640 he took up residence on the neighboring mainland. On what has since been called Libby river, in Scarbough. He probably devoted a good deal of his time to fishing until he could prepare the place for agricultural processes. January 1, 1663 he received from Henry Joscelyn a grant of land, and finally became one of the principal planters of Scarborough. In 1664 he was constable, and his name stands first on the four selectman in a grant made in 1669. In King Philip’s war he lost everything except his plantation. In the late summer of 1675 he was compelled to leave his homestead. In October 1676, Black Point Garrison was deserted, and most of the inhabitants fled to Boston. He and his wife and younger children were still in Boston July 10, 1677. He died at about 80 years of age. His will dated February 9, 1682, and his inventory May 5, 1683. The value of the property enumerated in the latter was 118 pounds 6 shillings. From proceeding record in the probate court in 1720, it appears that he left 100 acres of upland, 9 acres of fresh meadow, and 100 acres of salt marsh.40
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