Skip to main content

Full text of "A brief history of Winthrop, from 1764 to October 1855"

See other formats 


'^m^ii}^\} 


\%s\}iih\\mmim 


}^^ijm 


J' 


Pass  i~^%_ 

Book.      ^^_ 


A 


BRIEF 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP, 


FROM  1764  TO  OCTOBER  1855. 


BY  DAVID  THURSTON. 


"Call  to  remembrance  the  former  dav.^." — Bibk, 


PORTLAND: 
BROWN   THURSTON,  STEAM  PRINTER. 
18o5. 


'  d 


^ 

c, 

^ 


I^xb-ad  from  the  Records  of  the  Town  of  IVinthrop : — 

Voted,  That  Rev.  David  Thurston  be  invited  to  write 
and  publish  a  history  of  the  Town  of  Wiuthrop. 
A  true  copy. 

Attest  :  J.  M.  BENJAMIN,  Town  Clerk. 


WiNTHROP,  Sept.  23,  1854. 
Dear  Sir  :  At  a  town  meeting  holden  this  day,  the  vote 
above  written  was  unanimously  passed. 
Very  truly  yours, 

J.  M.  BENJAMIN. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  account  for  the  fact,  that  no  record 
of  any  meeting,  or  any  transaction  of  the  inhabitants,  while  they 
continued  a  plantation,  can  be  found.  Considerable  research  has 
been  made,  but  it  has  proved  wholly  unsuccessful. 

The  AVTiter  exceedingly  regrets,  that  this  work  had  not  been 
commenced  twenty  years  ago.  Doubtless  many  thrilluig  incidents 
of  early  times  might  have  been  saved,  which  are  now  irrecovera- 
bly lost.  Had  the  writer  anticipated  that  such  a  labor  would  de- 
volved upon  him,  he  might  have  accumulated  a  fund  of  informa- 
tion, from  which  a  more  accm-ate,  copious  and  valuable  history 
might  have  been  compiled.  But  no  regrets  will  aA"ail  to  call  back 
the  departed  mdividuals,  who  might  furnish  interesting  matter  for 
a  book,  or  bnng  to  Hght  the  needed  facts.  Some  pains  have  been 
taken,  by  conversing  with  some  of  the  oldest  descendants  of  the 
first  settlers,  and  written  communications  from  others,  to  obtain 
what,  not  only  might  be  curious,  but  interesting  and  j^rofitable. 
But  the  hope,  in  relation  to  this  matter,  has,  by  no  means,  been 
fully  realized. 

It  is  scarcely  to  be  expected  that,  in  transcribing  so  many  names 
and  dates,  no  mistakes  should  occur.  I  have  given  orthography 
to  some  words  and  names  different  from  the  town  records. 
AVhether  the  change  has  always  been  more  correct  than  the  orig- 
inal the  reader  must  decide.     For  instance,  where  I  found  "Life 


vii  PREFACE!. 

J'oster,"  I  have  A\Titten  Eliphalet  Foster.  For  *'  I.ear  Every/'  I 
have  written  Leah  Avery  ;  for  "Sessors,"  Assessors ;  for  "West 
Enda-rum,"  West  India,  &c. 

Some  may  suppose  the  pains  taken  to  collect  such  a  catalogue 
of  names  was  useless.  However,  the  labor  has  been  taken,  and 
no  small  amount  did  it  cost.  But  I  have  not  disregarded  the  ad- 
vice of  Paul  to  Timothy ;  for  I  have  not  "given  heed  to  fables," 
nor  "endless  genealogies,"  for  mine  end  "in  1800,"  and  sometimes 
in  the  middle  of  a  family.  Some  may  be  disappointed  in  not  find- 
ing the  facts  agree  with  their  tradition ;  and  others,  perhaps,  will 
be  as  much  disappomted  in  not  finding  their  ancestors'  names  at 
all.  But  as  far  as  the  records  and  reliable  tradition  have  given 
them,  they  have  been  faithfully  copied. 

The  compiler  tenders  his  very  gratefu^  acknowledgements  to  all 
those  who  have  generously  aided  him  by  gi\ing  dates,  names,  or 
facts  to  be  introduced  into  the  work.  He  would  make  particular 
mention,  among  these,  of  Mrs.  Metcalf  the  aged,  Dea.  Carr,  Mr. 
J.  M.  Benjamin,  the  Town  Clerk,  Mr.  Joseph  Pope,  Hon.  S.  P. 
Benson,  Mr.  JohnE.  Brainerd,  Samuel  Wood,  Esq.,  J.  B.  Fille- 
bro-vMi,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  James  Stevens. 

The  work  has  been  prosecuted  mider  some  disadvantages.  Pos- 
sibly had  more  time  been  exclusively  devoted  to  its  preparation, 
it  might  have  been  better.  Regretting  that  it  is  not  more  worthy 
of  the  subject  upon  wliich  it  treats,  it  is  respectfully  submitted  to 
all  such  as  feel  an  interest  in  the  history  of  Wmthrop. 

DAVH)  THURSTON. 


Corrections,  p.  15,  last  line,  felling  for  falling — p.  27,  near 
bottom,  inferior  for  interior — ^p.  32,  4006  for  00,00 — p.  40,  mider 
1810,  May  for^Mari'. — p.  after  1852,  Marrow  for  Morrow. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

•  PAGE . 

Location,         --.-------13 

Boundaries,  Early  Settlers, 14 

Grants  of  Land,       --------16 

Soil  and  Productions,  -        -        -        -        ■        "         1^ 

Social  Habits, 20 

Scenery,       .--------21 

CHAPTER     IJ. 

Other  settlers, ---23 

Chandler's  Grant, 24 

Incorporation  of  the  Town,        ------    25 

First  Town  Meetmg, 25 

Burying  Places,        --------26 

Town  Meetings,    --------27 

Gardiner's  Dam,       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        "2® 

Taxes, 30 

Provision  for  the  Poor    -------    33 


Vlil  CONTENTS. 

Bounties,      ---------33 

Valuation  of  Property,       -------33 

CHAPTER    in. 
Roads,         -         --------        34: 

Representatives,       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -38 

To-w-n  Officers, 38 

Moderators,     --*---  --38 

Town  Clerks, 43 

Select  Men, 44 

Town  Treasures,    --------47 

Constables,       ---------48 

ClIAPTERIV. 

Di>ision  of  the    To^vn,        ------        52 

Division  of  the  State,        -------53 

Agamst  jNIonopoly,        -------56 

Hardships  of  the  Early  Settlers,  -        -        -        -        -     61 

Patriotism,  --_.-_--        69 

Honorable  Confession,     -------74 

Politics,        ---------77 

CHAPTER  V. 

Standard  of  Weights,     -------83 

Pounds,  --------_     83 

Warning  out  of  To^vii,          -        -         .  -        -         84 

IManutacturcs  and  Mechanics,    -        -        .        -        -        -     85 
15ank», -        -        -        89 


CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Education,      - 90 

Graduates,            _.-.-*--        97 
Doctors, .*--98 

Physicians  who  have  practised  in  Winthrop,        -        •         100 
Lawj'ers,       __-«-----    104 

Lawyers  who  have  practised  in  Wmthrop,    -        .        -        105 
Preachers,      --------        -     107 

CHAPTER   Vn. 

Ecclesiasticgal  History,    -        -        -        -        -        -        -110 

Congregationalistfi,      --        -        -        -        -        -  110 

Friends, 124 

Episcopal  IMethodists,          ------  125 

Cahinist  Baptist   Church, 126 

Universalists,      .-.,---*  129 

Christian  Band, 132 

Freewill  Baptists, 132 

Houv^es  for  Worship,     -------  132 

-Ministerial  Tund,       -------  140 

-•       CHAPTER    Vin. 

Morals,          .---.-..,  143 

Winthrop  Society  for  the  promotion  of  good  Morals,    -  144" 

Temperanc' >.          --------  145 

Efforts  made  by  the  Town  to  effect  a  reformation  of  ISIorals,  148 
Temperance  Tavern,       -         -         -         -         -         -        -151 

Washingtouian  Society,      -        -        -        -        -        -  151 


X 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Watercure  Establishment,        ....        -        ^  168 

Marriages  and  Deaths,        -        -       <  -        -        -        -  169 

Genealogical  Register, 172 

Sons  of  Temperance,      -        -        -        -        -        -        -152 

Watchman's  Club, 152 

Anti-Slavery,  -        -         -        -        -        -        -        -153 

Society  for  Mutual  Improvement,        -        -        -        -  155 

Moral  reform  Society,    -------  157 

Agricultural  Societies,-        ------  158 

Kennebec  Agricultural  Society,         -        -        -        -        -  159 

Literary  Societies,        -        -        -        -        -        -        °  161 

Anderson  Institution,       -------  1G2 

Franklin  Society,        -------  165 

Lyceums,       ---------  165 


CONTENTS.  XI 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE    A. 

Deed  to  Early  Settlers,        ------        20 

NOTE    B. 
Act  to  Incorporate  the  Town  of  Winthrop,        -        -        -    215 

NOTE  C. 

Warrant  for  Town  Meetings,   1772,  -        -        -        -    219 

NOTE    D. 

Names  of  the  original  members  of   the  Congregational 

Chm-ch  and  the  Covenant,  -        -        -        -        -221 

NOTE    E. 
Vote  of  land,  &c.,  to  Rev.  David  Jewett,        -        -        ,    225 

NOTE    F. 

An  act  to  Incorporate  the  Town  of  Keadfield,        -        -        227 

NOTE    G. 
An  act  to  Incorporate  the  First  Congregational  Society  of 

WInthrop, 230 

NOTE    H. 
Account  of  ordination  of  Rev.  Messrs  Belden,  Thurston  and 
Sawyer, -•.-233 

NOTE    I. 

An  act  to  Incorporate  the  Methodist  Society,        -        «        236 


XU  CONTENTS. 

NOTE    K, 

Names  of  the  original  m*abers  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
ordination  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Ingraham,  Merriam  &  Powers,  230 

NOTE   L. 

Names  of  the  members  of  the  UniversaHst  Church,        -        241 

NOTE  M. 
Constitution  of  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  good  Morals      243 

NOTE   N. 
Constitution  of  Society  for  Mutual  Improvement,        -  246 


HISTOllY  OF  WINIHROP, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Location  —  boundaries  —  early  settlers  —  grants  of  land  —  soil 
—  timber — productions  —  scenerj'. 

Pond  Town,  as  Wintbrop  was  first  called,  was  includ- 
ed in  what  has  long  been  known  as  the  "  Plymouth 
Grant,"  or  the  *'  Kennebec  Purchase."  This  grant,  or 
purchase,  comprised  fifteen  miles  east  of  the  Kennebec 
River,  and  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  river  ;  beginning  south 
at  Merrymeeting  Bay,  where  the  Androscoggin  enters 
the  Kennebec  River,  and  extending  up  the  river  to  Skow- 
hegan.  The  south  line  of  Pond  Town  was  five  miles 
long  —  the  west  line  about  nine  miles  —  the  north  line 
seven  miles,  "more  or  less,"  —  the  east  line  had  two 
angles  and  its  length  is  not  stated. 

A  hunter,  by  the  name  of  Scott,  had  visited  the  ponds 
and  streams  in  Pond  Town,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 


14  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

fdr,  prior  to  the  settlement  of  any  family.  Others  had  al- 
so been  in  the  place  for  the  same  purpose.  Mr.  Scott  had 
erected  a  hut  for  his  shelter,  near  the  Cobbossee  Conte 
great  pond,  on  the  land,  which  the  first  settler  afterwards 
occupied.  Mr.  Timothy  Foster,  looking  out  a  place  for 
the  settlement  of  his  family,  met  this  Mr.  Scott  at  Cob- 
bossee, and  bought  his  cabin  &c.,  and  paid  him  thirty 
dollars,  but  took  no  receipt  for  it.  The  creditors  of  Scott 
hearing  he  had  sold  to  Mr.  Foster,  some  two  years  after, 
sued  Mr.  Foster  for  the  money  he  had  paid  to  Scott,  put 
him  in  jail  about  six  months  and  subjected  him  to  other 
expenses. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

According  to  the  best  information  I  can  obtain,  Mr. 
Foster  came  himself  in  1764,  and  brought  his  wife  and 
ten  children  in  1765.  He  pitched  his  tent  about  eight 
rods  from  the  great  pond,  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Jacob  Robbins.  Here  the  first  framed  building  was 
put  up,  and  is  now  the  porch  attached  to  the  house  where 
Hiram  Foster  lives. 

The  next  family  which  came  was  Squier  Bishop,  his 
wife  and  six  children,  in  the  Spring  of  1767.  They  were 
from  liehoboth,  Mass.  Families  by  the  names  of  Fos- 
ter, Fairbanks,  Stanley  and  Pullen,  came  from  Attle- 
borough,  Mass.  Though  several  kinds  of  game  were 
plenty,  the  early  settlers  did  not  come  to  be  hunters. 
They  had  other  designs  and  employments.  The  few  in- 
habitants came  into  the  wilderness  to  provide  for  their 
families,  for  whom  they  felt  a  lively  interest.  Had  they 
been  drones,  they  would  never  have  thought  of  coming 
to  Pond  Town  for  a  living,  nor  have  encountered  the  toils 
and  hardships  incident  to  such  a  situation.     They  evinc- 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  15 

ed  a  spirit  of  indomitable  resolution  and  perseverance  by 
their  efforts  to  rear  up  families  in  sucb  a  desert.  But 
coming  from  that  part  of  Massachusetts,  where  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  no  other  than  old  cultivated  farms, 
they  were  wholly  unprepared  for  the  process  of  clearing 
the  land.  They  seemed  not  to  know  that  corn  or  grain 
would  grow  on  unplowed  ground.  They  felled  the 
trees,  trimmed  off  the  limbs  and  burnt  them  as  much  as 
they  could  and  put  in  their  plow.  In  this  way  they 
obtained  very  light  crops,  and  had  it  not  been  for  their 
milk,  game  and  wild  fruit,  they  would  have  starved. 
How  many  years  they  pursued  this  course,  is  not  known. 
But  it  was  not  until  three  brothers,  Nathaniel,  William 
and  Thomas  Whittier,  came  from  New  Hampshire  to  that 
part  of  Pond  Town,  now  Readfield,  and  felled  twenty 
acres  of  trees  and  went  back.  The  next  Spring  they 
came  and  burned  their  fallen  trees.  It  made  a  tremend- 
ous fire  which  alarmed  some  who  had  never  seen  the  like. 
They  cleared  off  what  the  fire  had  not  consumed,  planted 
their  corn  and  returned  to  New  Hampshire.  Some 
thought  the  course  these  men  took,  bordered  upon  in- 
sanity. But  the  corn  sprang  up  and  grew.  The  report 
that  a  field  of  twenty  acres  of  corn  was  growing  and 
looked  promising  upon  land  that  had  not  been  plowed, 
awakened  no  small  degree  of  curiosity.  Not  a  few  went 
quite  a  distance  to  see  it.  In  the  autumn,  notwithstand- 
ing what  the  raccoons  and  bears  had  eaten  and  destroyed, 
they  harvested  a  good  crop.  From  this  experiment,  the 
emigrants  from  Massachusetts  learned  an  invaluable  les- 
son. They  were  taught  how  to  raise  corn  and  grain  on 
burnt  land.  I  have  heard  one  of  the  early  settlers  say, 
that  every  day's  work  in  falling,  burning,  clearing  and 


16  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

sowing,  yielded  him  a  bushel  of  wheat.  In  those  days, 
that  was  good  wages.  One  of  the  three  from  N.  H.,  it 
is  said,  brought  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  potatoes  upon 
his  shoulders  from  Hallowell  to  his  farm. 

GRANTS    OF    LAND. 

The  township  was  not  sold  to  a  few  proprietors  who 
might  speculate  and  defraud  individual  purchasers.  The 
Plymouth  Company,  or  as  they  were  then  called,  the 
"  Colony  of  New  Plymouth,"  granted  lots  to  individual 
settlers  upon  specified  conditions.  In  examining  the 
records  of  the  Plymouth  Company,  I  find  that  on  June 
11,  1766,  a  lot  of  land  was  granted  to  Timothy  Foster, 
*'  one  mile  long  and  one  hundred  poles  wide,  containing 
two  hundred  acres."  This  was  lot  No.  8,  as  delineated  by 
a  plan  made  by  John  McKecknie,  who  appears  to  have 
made  the  first  survey  of  the  town.  The  conditions  of  the 
grant  were,  "  that  the  said  Timothy  Foster  build  an  house 
not  less  than  twenty  feet  square  and  seven  feet  stud, 
clear  and  bring  to  ;  fit  for  tillage,  five  acres  of  land  with* 
in  three  years  from  the  date  hereof,  and  actually  live  upon 
the  premises  himself  during  said  term,  or  in  case  of  his 
death  that  his  heirs,  or  some  pergon  under  them  shall 
dwell  on  said  premises  during  said  term,  and  that  he  or 
they,  or  some  person  under  him  or  them  shall  dwell 
thereupon  for  seven  years  after  the  expiration  of  said  three 
years  ;  reserving  to  this  propriety  all  mines  and  minerals 
whatsoever  within  the  hereby  granted  premises,  with  lib- 
erty of  digging  and  carrying  ofi*  the  same." 

Squier  Bishop  had  lot  No.  17  granted  to  him,  the  same 
day,  on  the  same  conditions.  Eben.  Bly  had  lot  No.  18 
granted  to  him  the  same  day,  on  the  same  conditions. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  17 

Lot  No.  10  was  granted  to  John  Needham,  June  4, 1767, 
on  the  same  conditions.  Samuel  Scott  had  lot  No.  13 
reserved  for  him;  but  Sept.  14,  1768,  it  was  transferred 
to  Samuel  Needham,  on  the  same  conditions.  Oct.  12, 
1768,  Abraham  Wyman  had  lot  No.  12  granted  to  him 
on  the  same  conditions.  Nathan  Hall  had  lot  No.  11 
granted  to  him  same  day,  on  the  same  conditions.  Jan. 
11,  1769,  Robert  Waugh  had  lot  No.  98  granted  to  him 
on  the  same  conditions.  Timothy  Foster,  Jr.,  had  lot  No. 
5  granted  to  him,  April  12, 1769,  on  the  same  conditions. 
The  same  day  Phillip  Snow  had  lot  No.  30  ;  Nathaniel 
Stanley,  lot  No.  18  ;  Amos  Boynton,  lot  No.  29  ;  Peter 
Hopkins,  lot  No.  9  ;  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  lot  No.  6 ; 
John  Chandler,  lots  No.  51  and  52  —  all  granted  same 
day,  on  the  same  conditions.  Nathaniel  Floyd  had  lot 
No.  42  granted  to  him  the  same  day.  Stephen  Pullen 
had  lot  No.  56  granted  to  him  Dec.  14,  1768,  on  the 
same  terms.  Aug.  22,  1770,  Ichabod  How  had  lot  No. 
70 ;  Joseph  Chandler  had  lot  No.  78 ;  John  Blunt  had 
lot  No.  22  —  all  on  the  same  terms.  Aug.  27,  1770, 
Billy  Foster  had  lot  No.  7 ;  Aug.  12,  1772,  Jonathan 
Whiting  had  lot  No.  101  ;  Joseph  Baker  had  lot  No. 
213;  Samuel  Stevens  had  lot  No.  139;  Stephen  Jones 
had  lot  No.  14,  on  the  same  conditions.  July  14,  1773, 
John  Chandler  had  lot  No.  99  ;  Elisha  Smith  had  lot  No. 
134  ;  Squier  Bishop  had  lot  No.  55  ;  Unight  Brown  had 
lot  No.  64  ;  Jonathan  Whiting  had  lot  No.  200  ;  Richard 
Humphrey  had  lot  No.  83,  on  the  same  conditions. 

July  9,  1777,  lot  No.  247,  according  to  John  Jones' 
survey,  was  granted  to  the  minister,  who  should  be  first 
settled  in  Winthrop.     The   conditions  were,  "  that  he 


18  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

should  continue  to  preach  the  gospel  in  said  town  for  the 
term  of  ten  years  from  and  after  his  settlement,  unless 
the  said  minister  shall  be  removed  by  death  before  the 
expiration  of  that  term ;  provided,  nevertheless,  that  in 
case  a  gospel  minister  shall  not  be  settled  in  said  Town 
on  or  before  the  year  1780  ;  then  this  grant  is  to  be  void 
and  to  revert  back  to  this  Propriety."  This  is  the  lot 
upon  which  Mr.  John  Kezer  now  lives.  (See  Ecclesias- 
tical history.) 

Also,  July  9,  1777,  lot  No.  57,  Jones'  survey,  contain- 
ing about  200  acres,  was,  by  the  Proprietors  of  the  Ply- 
mouth Company,  "  Voted,  granted  and  assigned  to  the 
Town  of  Winthrop  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  said 
Town  forever."  (See  Vol.  5,  Plymouth  Colony's  Re- 
cords.) 

The  township  was  surveyed  by  William  McKecknie. 
It  was  laid  out  in  lots  one  mile  long  and  one  hundred 
poles,  or  rods,  wide.     (See  Appendix,  Note  A.) 

SOIL    AND    PRODIJCTIONS. 

The  soil  of  Winthrop  is  various.  Much  of  it  is  of  a 
superior  quality.  The  land  was  well  wooded.  The 
higher  parts  were  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  maple, 
beech,  birch,  hemlock  and  spruce.  There  was  some 
red  oak.  On  the  lower  land  there  was  some  pine,  fir, 
and  hackmatack.  In  the  swamps  was  some  cedar.  In 
the  meadows  were  the  native  grasses,  upon  which  they 
fed  the  few  cattle  they  brought.  The  greater  part  of  the 
land  is  arable.  It  is  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  differ- 
ent kinds  of  grasses,  the  different  grains,  and  all  the  cu- 
linary vegetables  to  which  the  climate  is  suited.     Pears 


HISTORY    OP   WINTHROP.  19 

and  grapes  are  beginning  to  be  considerably  cultivated. 
Apples,  many  of  the  choicest  kinds,  abound.  The  settlers 
began  early  to  provide  themselves  with  orchards.  The 
soil  was  very  congenial  to  their  growth.  About  every 
farm  has  a  good    share   of-  orcharding. 

The  first  cider  made  in  the  town  was  from  the  orchard 
of  Mr.  Ichabod  How,  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Moses  Hanson  and  Mr.  John  Stanley.  They  had  neither 
cider  mill  nor  press.  But  thirsting  for  a  beverage  to 
which  they  were  formerly  accustomed  as  almost  one  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  but  had  been  now  for  a  long  time 
without,  with  true  Yankee  ingenuity  they  pounded  a 
quantity  of  apples  in  a  sap  trough,  and  extracted  the 
juice  in  a  cheese  press.  In  this  way  they  obtained  a  few 
gallons.  All  the  neighbors  (and  that  included  a  long 
distance)  were  invited  to  come  and  j)artake  of  it  as  a  rare 
luxury.  Since  the  temperance  reformation  has  led  men  to 
quit  drinking  cider  so  generally,  very  little  has  been  made 
to  use  as  a  beverage.  The  practice  of  engrafting  choice 
fruit  has  changed  nearly  all  the  orchards.  Farmers  now 
find  the  avails  of  their  orchards  the  most  profitable  pro- 
ductions of  their  land.  Nearly  all  the  farms  are  small 
rather  than  large,  and  generally  well  cultivated  and  wa- 
tered. Ponds,  or,  as  some  of  them  might  with  more 
propriety  be  called,  lakes,  brooks,  and  springs,  afibrd  an 
abundant  supply  of  good,  pure  water  for  man  and  beast. 
The  Cobbossee  Conte  great  pond,  which  is  partly  in  Win- 
throp  and  in  Manchester  and  in  Hallowell  and  in  Litch- 
field, is  nine  miles  long.  Two  others,  one  north  of  the 
village,  extends  into  Readfield  and  is  about  six  miles 
long ;  another,  south  of  the  village,  extends  into  Mon- 
mouth^ and  is  about  five  miles  long.     Upon  the  stream 


20  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

wliicli  passes  from  the  north  to  the  south  pond  is  a  cotton 
manufactory,  a  tannery,  a  grist  mill,  two  saw  mills,  a 
woolen  manufactory,  and  a  large  establishment  for  con- 
structing horse  power  machines,  separators,  winnowing 
machines,  corn  shellers,  and  various  labor  saving  articles. 
The  number  of  ponds  partly  or  wholly  in  Winthrop  is 
seven.  These  waters  afford  a  variety  of  fish,  the  most 
valuable  of  which  now  is  the  pickerel,  of  which,  till 
within  a  few  years,  there  were  none.  Some  anglers  caught 
several  pickerel  and  put  them  into  some  of  the  ponds, 
and  they  have  become  quite  numerous.  It  has  been  said 
no  fish  of  this  kind  was  found  in  any  of  the  waters 
emptying  into  the  Kennebec  "River  from  the  west.  The 
early  settlers  found  the  streams  crowded  with  alewives 
efvery  spring ;  but  after  the  mill  dam  at  Cobbossee  Conte 
was  made,  the  fish  were  prevented  from  coming  up. 

SOCIAL    HABITS. 

The  first  settlers  in  a  ncAV  country  cultivate  the  social 
affections.  There  are  reasons  for  this.  They  leave  the 
greater  number  of  their  relatives  and  acquaintance,  so 
that  they  can  seldom  have  personal  intercourse  with 
them.  They  often  are  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
each  other ;  but  they  know  all  about  each  other's  affairs, 
and  have  a  lively  interest  in  each  other's  welfare.  When 
they  meet  at  each  other's  houses,  they  feel  entirely  at 
home.  As  an  illustration  of  this  principle,  the  following 
anecdote  has  been  related.  Mr.  Fairbanks  one  morning 
saddled  and  pillioned  his  horse  (for  they  had  no  other 
way  of  riding)  and  rode  up  to  Mr.  Wood's  and  says, 
"Mrs.  Wood,  I  came  to  ask  you  to  go  and  pass  the 
day  at  our  house."     Mrs.  Wood  says,  "Mr.  Fairbanks, 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP.  21 

I  cannot  go  to-day,  for  I  am  just  kneading  a  batcli  of  rye 
and  Indian  bread,  which  I  must  bake."  "Oh!  Mrs. 
Wood,  that  need  be  no  reason.  I  can  take  you  on  the 
pillion,  and  the  bread  trough  before  me,  and  you  can 
bake  at  our  house  just  as  well  as  here."  So  Mrs.  Wood 
decided  to  go,  and  soon  they  were  mounted  on  the  horse, 
Mrs.  Wood  upon  the  pillion  behind  Mr.  Fairbanks,  and 
he  took  the  bread  trough  containing  the  dough  before 
him,  and  they  went  safely.  Mr.  Fairbanks  heated  up 
his  oven,  and  Mrs.  Wood  baked  her  bread  very  nicely, 
had  a  very  sociable,  friendly  visit,  and  returned  at  eve  in 
the  same  way,  with  a  good  batch  of  bread.  But  what  a 
spectacle  it  would  now  present  to  see  a  horse,  saddled 
and  pillioned,  carrying  a  gentleman  and  lady  on  his  back, 
the  gentleman  having  before  him  a  kneading  trough,*'  in 
which  was  dough  for  a  batch  of  bread !  Yet  had  you 
lived  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  you  might 
have  witnessed  such  a  sight  in  Pond  Town. 

Such  were  their  privations  and  Avant  of  conveniences, 
that  a  lady,  in  order  to  make  her  soap  one  year,  had  to 
carry  her  materials  on  foot  a  distance  of  three  miles,  to 
a  neighbor's  who  had  the  necessary  utensils. 

SCENERY. 

Some  of  the  scenery  is  surpassingly  beautiful.     The 


*A  pillion  was  a  large  cushion  for  a  woman" to  ride  upon  behind 
a  man  on  horseback.  It  was  covered  with  a  cloth  of  sufficient 
size  to  keep  the  lady's  clothes  from  the  horse.  It  had  on  the  nigh 
Bide  a  stirrup  for  the  lady's  feet,  so  that  she  rode  side  foremost. 

Kneading  troughs  were  of  different  sizes,  from  two   to  three 
feet  in  length,  from  ten  to  fifleen  inches  in  width,  and   about  the 
same  height,  into  which  they  eifled  their  meal,  and  in  which  they 
kneaded  their  dough. 
2-^' 


22  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

liandsomc  sheets  of  water  render  it  very  pleasant.  The 
ground  rises  considerably  in  passing  north  from  the  great 
Cobbossee  Conte  pond.  From  several  residences  you 
have  an  extensive  view  of  that  charming  lake,  dotted 
with  islands  of  various  shapes  and  sizes,  which  is  exceed- 
ingly delightful.  The  scenery  in  the  region  of  the  nar- 
row's pond  is  very  fine.  Lovers  of  interesting  natural 
scenery,  who  have  visited  the  place,  have  always  spoken 
of  it  with  much  satisfaction.  There  are  a  few,  and  might 
be  many,  splendid  country  seats.  The  late  Hon.  Benja- 
min Vaughan  of  Hallowell,  who,  prior  to  coming  to  the 
United  States,  had  held  a  seat  in  the  British  Parliament, 
when  his  friends  from  New  York,  Philadelphia,  &c., 
visited  him,  was  accustomed  to  give  them  a  ride  to  Win- 
throp.  They  would  come  up  the  old  road  by  the  town 
house,  and  return  by  the  narrow's  pond.  I  have  heard 
him  say  it  was  the  most  interesting  scenery  he  had  found 
in  New  England.  From  the  hill  on  which  the  town 
house  stands,  when  the  air  is  favorable,  the  hills  in  Dix- 
mont,  seventeen  miles  west  of  the  Penobscot  River,  can 
be  seen,  and  a  section  of  the  White  Mountains  in  New 
Hampshire. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Other  settlers^Mr.  Chandler — the  first  road — first  mill — Incor- 
poration of  the  town — town  meetings — Dr.  Gardiner's  Dam — ■ 
taxes — paupers — bomities — acres  of  land  and  water — valuation. 

In  1766,  some  young  men,  among  whom  were  Stephen 
Pullen,  Nathaniel  Stanley,  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  and 
probably  Ebenezer  Ely,  came  to  the  place  ;  perhaps  some 
others.  In  1767,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks  came  and  passed 
the  summer,  and  returned.  In  the  spring  John  Chandler 
came  and  a  number  of  others.  Prior  to  this,  there  was 
no  road  from  Pond  Town  to  the  Kennebec  River.  The 
bushes  were  cut  away,  and  a  line  of  spotted  trees  was 
their  guide  through  the  dense  forest.  A  grist  mill  had 
been  erected  on  the  Cobbossee  Conte  stream,  in  what  is 
now  Gardiner,  by  Dr.  Gardiner  and  son,  of  Boston.  Tne 
people  had  to  go  all  the  way  to  Cobbossee  to  procure  the 
grinding  of  all  their  meal.  Nor  had  they  any  other  way 
of  conveying  it  except  upon  their  shoulders,  for  there  was 
not  a  horse  in  the  town,  and  there  being  no  roads,  they 
could  not  avail  themselves  of  the  labors  of  their  oxen. 
An  incident  has  been  related  as  having  occurred  during 
this  period  of  privation  and  trial,  which  may  interest  the 
ladies.  In  those  days  they  were  accustomed  to  all  sorts 
of  toil  and  hardship.     Mrs.  Foster,  wife  of  the  first  set- 


24  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

tier,  undertook  to  assist  her  hasband  by  going  to  Cob- 
bossee  to  mill.  '  Living  on  the  margin  of  the  great  pond, 
she  crossed  in  a  canoe,  to  save  distance,  and  the  boat  was 
taken  back.  By  some  means  she  was  detained  so  long, 
that  on  her  return  to  the  east  side  of  the  pond  it  was  so 
dark  that  she  could  not  find  the  horn  which  was  kept  to 
call  for  the  boat,  and  so  was  under  the  painful  necessity 
of  remaining  all  night  in  the  woods.  How  many  females 
in  these  days  have  either  the  strength  or  the  courage  for 
such  an  adventure  ? 

Mr.  John  Chandler  came  with  his  family  to  the  place 
in  1767.    He  had  considerable  property.     Amos  Stevens, 
then  a  young  man  eighteen  years  old,  came  with  him  as 
a  hired  man.     Some  two  or  three  years  later,  his  father, 
Joseph  Stevens,  removed  into  the  place  with  the  rest  of 
the  family.     They  were  from  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.     Mr. 
Chandler  was  also  from  the  same  place,  and  his  was  the 
fourth  family  which  settled  in  Pond  Town.     As  yet  they 
had  no  road  to  the  Kennebec  River,  and  there  being  no 
saw  mill  in  the  place,  they  dwelt  in  log  houses.     In  1768 
a  road  was  cleared  out  so  that  they  could  pass  with  oxen 
and  cart  wheels    to  the    Hook,   now  Hallowell.      Mr. 
Chandler  built  a  saw  mill  on  the  stream  where  the  cotton 
manufactory  now  stands,  and  in  the  course  of  this  year 
erected  a  grist  mill.     But  to  get  the  mill  stones  from  the 
river  was  a  great  achievement.     It  is  said  to  have  required 
*'  the  whole  strength  of  the  place,  both  in  men  and  oxen, 
during  nearly  a  week."     For  his  encouragement  to  settle 
and  build  these  mills,  he  had  the  grant  of  what  is  con- 
tained in  the  following  document  : 
Copy  of  the  conditional  grant  of  land  to  Mr.  John  Chandler, 
*'  We  the  Subscribers,  the  Committee  of  the  Kennebec 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 


25 


Purchase  from  the  late  Colony  of  New  Plymouth,  Do 
hereby  agree  that  Mr.  John  Chandler  shall  have  a  grant 
of  two  lots  of  land,  of  two  hundred  acres  each,  near  the 
mill  stream  in  Pond  Town,  and  also  one  other  lot  in  some 
other  place  in  said  Township,  upon  Condition  that  he 
gives  bonds  to  build  a  Saw  Mill  in  one  year,  and  a  Grist 
Mill  in  three  years,  and  make  one  settlement  on  the  said 
400  acres,  and  another  settlement  on  the  200  acre  lott, 
both  on  the  conditions  aforesaid. 
Boston,  June  11,  1767. 


INCORPORATION    OF    THE    TOWN. 

Pond  Town  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Winthrop 
by  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  the  26th  of  April, 
1771.  On  the  same  day  Hallowell,  Vassalborough  and 
Winslow  were  incorporated.     These  were  the  first  towns 


26  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

incorporated  within  what  is  now  the  County  of  Kenne- 
bec. James  Howard,  Esq.,  was  authorized  to  issue  a 
warrant  to  call  the 

riEST    TOWN    MEETING 

under  the  act  of  incorporation.  (See  Appendix,  Note  B.) 
The  warrant  is  dated  "the  sixth  day  of  May,  1771,  at 
Fort  Weston.  James  Howard,  Justice  of  the  peace." 
Under  this  warrant  a  meeting  was  "held  the  20th  of 
May,  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  the  house  of  Squier 
Bishop,  Innholder.  Ichabod  How  chosen  Moderator  to 
manage  said  meeting.  John  Chandler,  Timothy  Foster, 
Ichabod  How,  Robert  Waugh  and  Jonathan  Whiting 
chosen  Selectmen.  Jonathan  Whiting  chosen  Town 
Clerk.  Stephen  Pullen  was  chosen  Constable.  Ichabod 
How,  Gideon  Lambert  and  Jonathan  Whiting  chosen 
Assessors.  Jonathan  Whiting  chosen  Treasurer.  Gideon 
Lambert  and  Josiah  Hall  chosen  Wardens.  Abra- 
ham Wyman  and  Gideon  Lambert,  chosen  Surveyors  of 
highways."  The  leaf  upon  which  "  the  Warrant  "  and 
the  further  proceedings  of  the  first  town  meeting  were 
recorded,  is  torn  and  parts  of  it  lost. 

EURYINa   PLACES. 

At  a  town  meeting,  May  27,  1771,  the  Selectmen,  ac- 
cording to  instructions,  "  reported  a  burying  place."  The 
spot  which  they  judged  would  best  "  commode  the  pres- 
ent inhabitants,  lies  upon  the  highway  between  Mr.  Bish- 
op's and  Mr.  Cha  —  [record  torn  off,]  —  on  Mr.  Pullen's 
lot,  bounded  southerly  on  said  highway.  The  land  con- 
tains one  acre,  lying  in  a  square  form.  Timothy  Foster, 
Ichabod  How,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Selectmen." 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  27 

The  next  cemetery  was  laid  out  March  10,  1777.  Mi- 
cajah  Dudley,  John  Chandler,  Timothy  Foster,  Jamea 
Craig,  and  Hansford  Smith,  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  select  suitable  places  for  burying  the  dead. 

"  March  18,  1780,  Voted  to  accept  one  acre  of  land  for 
a  burying  place,  near  Mr.  Chandler's,  part  Mr.  Chand- 
ler's, and  part  Mr.  Lambert's,  and  part  common  land,  as 
it  is  bounded  by  the  committee."  This  is  the  cemetery 
at  the  village. 

June,  1795,  a  committee  of  nine  were  appointed  to  se- 
lect places  for  burying  the  dead,  and  to  see  on  what  terms 
suitable  places  could  be  had.  The  town  records  contain 
no  report  of  this  committee.  In  August,  the  same  year, 
the  town  chose  a  committee  of  three  to  see  on  what  con- 
ditions the  town  can  have  burying  places.  They  were 
instructed  to  purchase  three,  one  of  Mr.  Stephen  Pullen, 
one  of  Mr.  John  Chandler,  and  one  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fairbanks. 

There  are  now  five  places  for  the  interment  of  the  dead, 
in  the  town,  one  in  East  Winthrop,  one  in  the  south-east 
part  of  the  town,  another  in  the  Metcalf  neighborhood, 
which  was  the  first,  one  at  the  village,  and  another  west 
of  the  village,  near  Dea.  Stanley's. 

TOWN    MEETINGS. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  town  was  held  at  the  house 
of 'Squier  Bishop,  Nov.  17,1771,  and  among  other  transac- 
tions recorded,  "  the  town  ordered  John  Needham,  Gid- 
eon Lambert,  and  Ephraim  Lain,  [Lane,]  into  the  box, 
to  serve  as  petit  jurors  at  the  Interior  Court  of  Common 
Picas." 

They  also  voted  to  make  and  repair  their  highways  by 


28  HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP. 

a  tax,  and  to  grant  £50  for  that  purpose  the  ensuing  year. 
In  working  out  this  sum,  a  man  was  to  be  allowed  four 
shillings  per  day,  and  oxen  two  shillings.  "  The  Assess- 
ors, in  levying  the  money  for  the  highway,"  were  instruct- 
ed "  to  go  by  this  rule,  that  a  poll  shall  pay  equal  to  £15 
of  valuation." 

The  next  town  meeting,  as  far  as  can  be  gathered  from 
the  town  records,  was  held  at  the  same  place,  Monday, 
March  2d,  1772.  Mr.  John  Blunt,  Moderator,  Jonathan 
Whiting,  Clerk.     (See  Appendix,  Note  C.) 

Gardiner's  dam. 

Mr.  Gardiner's  dam,  at  Cobbossee  Conte,  was  a  great  an- 
noyance.    It  deprived  the  citizens  of  some  of  their  means 
of  subsistence,  as  well  as  a  source  of  income.     It  pre- 
vented the  fish  from  coming  up  into  the  brooks  and  ponds, 
as  they  previously  did  in  great  abundance.     It  is  not 
known  at  what  time  the  dam  was  built  across  the  Cob- 
bossee Conte  stream,  at  what  is  now  Gardiner.  The  waters 
of  the  various  ponds  and  brooks  in  town  find  their  way  to 
the  Kennebec  river  by  the  Cobbossee  Conte  stream,  at  Gar- 
diner.    The  dam  must  have  been  built  early,  because  the 
first  settlers  in  Winthrop  went  there  to  have  their  grain 
ground.     The  first  action  of  the  people  of  Winthrop  in 
relation  to  the  dam,  on  record,  is  at  a  meeting  of  the 
town,  Nov.  17,  1771,  when  they  chose  James  Craig,  Jon- 
athan Whiting,  and  Ichabod  How,  a  committee  to  solicit 
Dr.  Gardiner  &  Son  to  open  a  j^lace  through,  or  around 
their  mill  dam,  to  let  the  fish  up  for  the  benefit  of  the 
town.     In  the   warrant  for   the  meeting,   March,   1772, 
the  5th  article  was,  "  To  choose  a  committee  to  solicit 
Mr.  William  Gardiner  to  open  a  place  through  or  round 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  29 

his  mill  dam,  to  let  the  fish  up  for  the  benefit  of  the  town." 
August  30,  1773,  "  The  committee  made  a  verbal  report 
to  this  purport,  that  they  had  waited  on  the  Dr.,  and  de- 
sired him  to  open  a  suitable  way  through  or  round  his 
mill  dam,  for  the  fish  to  go  up  for  the  benefit  of  the  town, 
but  that  the  Dr.  wholly  declined  to  comply  with  their  re- 
quest. 

July  10,  1775,  chose  Joseph  Baker,  Ransford  Smith, 
and  John  Blunt,  a  committee  to  obtain  a  fish  way  through 
Mr.  Gardiner's  mill  dam  at  Cobbossee  in  some  lawful 
way. 

May  17,  1779,  they  appointed  "  Capt.  John  Blunt, 
Lieut.  Jonathan  Whiting  and  Mr.  James  Craig,  a  com- 
mittee to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to 
obtain  a  nsh  way  round  or  over  Mr.  Gardiner's  mill  dam, 
at  the  next  session  to  be  held  at  Pownalborough  in  June 
next,  and  to  pursue  the  afiair,  at  the  expense  of  the  town, 
as  they  in  their  judgment  shall  think  best,  till  they  obtain 
said  end,  or  shall  be  satisfied  it  is  not  attainable." 

May  3, 1784,  Capt.  John  Blunt,  Robert  Page,  and  Sam- 
uel Foster,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  a  fish 
Vay  through  Mr.  Gardiner's  mill  dam  if  possible.  April, 
1789,  Benjamin  Monk,  Squier  Bishop  and  David  Foster, 
were  a  fish  committee. 

March  1,  1790,  Samuel  Wood,  Joseph  Metcalf  and 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  were  a  fish  committee. 

April,  1791,  Jedediah  Prescot,  Jr.,  Reuben  Brainardand 
John  Chandler,  were  appointed  a  fish  committee. 

April,  1794,  John  Wadsworth,  William  Pullen  and 
Timothy  Foster,  were  appointed  a  fish  committee.  May 
following,  the  town  "  Voted  that  the  committee  proceed 
against  the  mill  dam,  at  Cobbossee  stream,  as  the  law  di- 


30  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

rects."  1796,  Samuel  Wood,  John  Wadsworth  and  Elijah 
Wood,  were  the  fish  committee. 

At  a  meeting,  Jan.,  1806,  the  Representative  to  the 
General  Court,  was  instructed  to  oppose  having  Cobbos- 
see  Conte  stream  exempted  from  the  fish  law  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. 

But  all  their  eff'orts  proved  unavailing.  No  fish  from 
the  river  came  into  the  ponds. 

TAXES. 

The  first  tax,  which  was  seven  dollars,  it  has  been  said, 
was  paid  with  the  head  of  a  wolf,  killed  by  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fairbanks.  He  received  that  sum  as  a  bounty  from  the 
State,  for  the  head  of  the  wolf.  Whatever  the  fact  in  this 
case  might  have  been,  there  is  probably  a  mistake  in  re- 
gard to  the  date.  For  Feb.  21,  1783,  is  the  following, 
*'  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same,  that  whosoever  shall,  hereafter,  within  this 
Commonwealth,  kill  any  grown  wolf,  or  wolf's  whelp, 
(other  than  such  as  shall  be  taken  out  of  the  belly  of  any 
bitch  wolf,)  and  bring  the  head  thereof  unto  the  constable 
of  said  town,  in  which  such  wolf,  or  wolf's  whelp  shall 
be  killed  —  the  constable,  in  presence  of  one  or  more  of 
the  selectmen,  shall  cut  ofi"  both  the  ears  of  the  same,  and 
cause  them  to  be  burned.  And  such  selectman  or  men, 
and  constable,  shall  give  the  party  a  receipt  for  the  said 
head,  expressing  whether  it  be  a  grown  wolf  or  a  whelp  ; 
and  upon  producing  such  receipt,  the  party  shall  be  paid 
and  allowed  by  the  treasurer  of  such  town,  out  of  the  town 
treasury,  the  sum  of  four  pounds,  for  every  head  of  a 
grown  wolf  by  him  killed,  and  the  sum  of  one  pound  for 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  31 

every  wolfs  whelp  ;  and  all  such  sum  and  sums  of  money 
so  paid  out  of  any  town  treasury,  in  manner  aforesaid, 
shall  be  paid  and  allowed  to  such  town  by  the  Treasurer 
and  Receiver  General  of  this  Commonwealth."* 

March  1,  1773,  in  town  meeting,  "Proposed  to  the 
town  that  the  Selectmen  petition  the  Great  and  General 
Court  to  exempt  this  town  from  Province  tax  for  five 
years.     Passed  in  the  affirmative." 

During  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  people  were,  in 
common  with  other  inhabitants  of  the  country,  subjected 
to  burdensome  taxes.  In  1778,  the  town  "  granted  £30 
to  procure  clothing  for  the  army."  They  also  voted  "  to 
give  six  dollars  a  pair  for  shoes,  five  dollars  a  pair  for 
shirts,  and  four  dollars  a  pair  for  stockings."  They  also 
"  voted  to  raise  260  dollars,  to  be  assessed  and  collected 
by  the  first  day  of  Jan.,  1779,  to  provide  clothing  for  the 
soldiers.  They  also  excused  those  who  were  in  the  army 
in  1775  from  paying  taxes.  1780,  "  Voted  to  raise  three 
thousand  pounds  to  hire  men  into  the  service,  and  that  it 
shall  be  assessed  as  soon  as  may  be."  They  agreed  "  to 
hire  men  into  the  service  this  year  by  a  vote,  when  they 
are  sent  for  by  lawful  authority."  Aug.,  1781,  "  Voted 
to  procure  2850  lbs.  of  beef,  agreeably  to  the  resolve  of 
the  General  Court  —  and  12  shirts  at  12  shillings  a  pair, 
12  pairs  stockings,  at  8  shillings  a  pair,  and  12  pairs  of 
shoes  at  9  shillings  a  pair." 

The  town,  many  years,  was  very  lightly  taxed  for  the 
support  of  the  poor.  For  there  were  very  few  who  needed 
their  assistance.  1 793,  Benjamin  Monk  acknowledged  the 
receipt  of  Si 9  for  keeping  the  widow  Joy  from  the  5th 


•  Perpetual  Laws  of  Mass.,  from  1780  to  1789,  p.  367. 


32  ,  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

of  May,  1790  to  Aug.  12,  1793  —  and  also  for  her  cloth- 
ing, £1  19s.  9jd.  She  died,  1797.  1798,  Ephraim 
Stevens  received  $40  for  keeping  Joseph  Stevens  32  weeks. 
Jan.,  1800,  Rial  Stanly  received  824,62  for  keeping  An- 
drew Nelson.  Feb.  20,  he  received  $22,38  for  keeping 
Andrew  Nelson  and  his  wife,  and  for  providing  snuff  and 
rum,  and  one  shirt.  This  man  belonged  to  Boston.  For 
the  bills  for  his  support,  amounting  to  $109,32,  Dec.  13, 
1800,  were  sent  to  Boston.     He  died  in  Dec,  1801. 

PROVISION    rOR    THE    POOR. 

In  1837,  an  amount  of  revenue  had  accumulated  in  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States,  beyond  what  was  needed 
to  meet  the  current  expenses.  It  was  proposed  to  dis- 
tribute this  surplus  in  the  different  States.  This  town 
received  as  their  share  of  the  surplus  revenue,  the  sum  of 
$000,00,  which  they  invested  in  a  farm  and  buildings, 
bought  of  Jesse  L.  Fairbanks,  for  $2,100,  for  the  support 
of  the  poor.  This  is  a  much  more  humane  and  Christian 
mode  of  ministering  to  the  necessitous  than  was  formerly 
practiced.  They  were  put  up  at  public  auction  and  bid- 
den off  to  the  person  who  would  keep  them  for  the  small- 
est sum.  By  falling  into  the  hands  of  unprincipled,  in- 
human persons,  the  poor  sometimes  actually  suffered  for 
the  necessaries  of  life.  But  now  they  are  well  provided 
for,  and  the  town  prospers. 

BOUNTIES,  &c. 

May  7,  1798,  the  town  offered  a  bounty  of  twenty-five 
cents  apiece  for  every  crow  which  any  person  should  kill 
and  carry  to  either  of  the  selectmen.      "  Said  bounty 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP  33 

to  continue  one  year  from  this  day  and  no  longer." 
1799,  the  bounty  for  killing  crows  the  same  as  last 
year.  1800,  May  5,  the  bounty  "for  old  crow's  heads" 
was  "  fifty  cents,  and  for  young  ones,  twelve  and  a  half 
cents,  for  two  months  from  this  day."  May  6,  1805,  they 
offered  a  bounty  of  twenty-five  cents  for  the  killing  of  old 
crows,  and  twelve  and  a  half  for  young  ones,  from  this 
day  to  the  20th  of  July. 

In  1840,  it  was  estimated  that  there  were  in  the  town, 
16,880  acres  of  land,  8,342  acres  of  water,  and  318  acres 
of  roads,  making  the  whole  number  of  acres  25,540. 

The  valuation  of  property  in  the   town  in  the    year 
1820,  was  $111,462,41.     The  number  of  polls  was  376. 
In  1830,  the  valuation  was  8244,532.     The  polls  325. 
In  1840,  the  valuation  was  $459,380.     The  polls  340.- 
In  1854,  the  valuation  was  $528,905.     The  polls  445. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Roads  —  Kepresentatives  —  Town  Officers. 

BOADS. 

Several  of  the  early  settlers,  from  the  spots  on  which 
they  located  themselves,  appear  to  have  deemed  the  ele- 
vated situations  the  most  eligible.  Apparently  without 
any  reference  to  the  convenience  of  making  their  roads, 
or  of  harvesting  the  productions  of  their  farms,  they 
pitched  their  tents  on  the  high  ground.  Their  method 
was,  to  clear  away  the  bushes  to  open  a  path  from  one 
habitation  to  another,  and,  with  their  ax,  cut  off  a  slice 
from  the  standing  trees,  at  short  distances,  which  was 
their  guide  through  the  woods.  They  called  this  spotting 
the  trees.  They  not  unfrequently  traveled  by  this  guide 
many  miles,  where  there  was  no  inhabitant.  "Without 
felling  the  trees  to  open  a  way  wide  enough  for  a  road, 
they  threw  small  logs  across  the  miry  places  and  the 
streams,  so  that  they  could  walk  over  them.  After  they 
began  to  have  oxen,  they  fell  the  trees  and  widened  their 
path  so  that  they  could  go  with  their  cart  wheels.  They 
would,  from  one  time  to  another,  repair  these  paths,  till 
at  length  they  became  permanent  roads,  of  course  they 
were  very  crooked  and  hilly.  The  town  has  been  at  great 
expense  to  render  them  more  level  and  straight. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  35 

The  first  statement  in  regard  to  roads,  on  the  records 
of  the  town,  is  dated  Nov.  17,  1771,  which  was  the  au- 
tumn after  the  town  was  incorporated.  "  We  the  sub- 
scribers, being  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Winthrop,  this 
day  laid  out  a  road  upon  the  height  of  land  above  Mr. 
Delano's,  between  the  lot  No.  4  and  No.  5,  and  running 
across  a  range  of  lots  into  the  highway,  a  little  west  of 
Nathan  Hall's  house,  the  road  being  about  three  poles 
wide,  and  the  trees  are  all  marked  upon  the  right  hand 
with  the  letter  W.  TIMOTHY  FOSTER, 

JOHN  CHANDLER, 
ICHABOD  HOW, 
JONATHAN  WHITING." 

The  records  are  defaced,  and  some  of  them  gone,  so  that 
it  is  not  practicable  to  give  a  correct  view  of  the  roads 
first  established. 

March  18,  1780,  "  Voted  that  sleds  used  by  the  inhab- 
itants of  Winthrop,  in  said  town  the  noxt  winter,  shall  be 
four  feet  and  a  half  wide,  from  outside  to  outside,  and 
all  those  who  presume  to  use  narrower  ox  sleds  in  said 
town  the  next  winter,  shall  be  liable  to  the  penalty  of 
three  dollars  for  each  offense.  Squier  Bishop,  Nathaniel 
Fairbanks,  James  Craig,  Francis  Pullen  and  John  Chan- 
dler, Jr.,  were  a  committee  to  see  that  this  regulation  was 
carried  into  effect." 

"  Voted  to  raise  two  thousand  pounds,  to  make  and 
repair  roads,  to  be  worked  out  at  twenty  dollars  per  day 
for  men,  and  fifteen  dollars  per  day  for  a  pair  of  oxen.'' 

March  12,  1781,  the  town  "  Voted  to  raise  £4000  law- 
ful money,  to  make  and  repair  roads,  and  that  men  shall 
be  allowed  twelve  pounds  per  day,  and  oxen  eight." 


36  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

KEPKESENTATIVES. 

The  following  persons  have  been  appointed  to  repre- 
sent the  town  in  the  General  Ct)iirt,  or  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  or  the  State  of  Maine.  The  town  records 
are  torn  and  some  gone,  for  some  of  the  first  years  after 
the  town  was  incorporated.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find 
any  record  of  Plantation  proceedings,  nor  choice  of  Rep- 
resentatives to  the  General  Court,  till  1775. 

1775,  Ichabod  How  was  sent  to  represent  the  town 
in  a  Provincial  Congress  held  at  Cambridge,  Feb.  5. 

1779,  Benjamin  Brainard  was  Representative  to  the 
General  Court.  He  was  directed  to  procure  a  town  stock 
of  powder  and  fire-arms. 

1780  and  1781,  (Record  illegible  from  bad  ink.) 

1782  and  1783  ,Jonathan  Whiting. 

1784  and  1785,  Robert  Page. 

1786,  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1787,  Joshua  Bean. 

1788  and  1789,  Capt.  Solomon  Stanley. 
1790  and  1791,  Jedediah  Prescott,  Jr. 

1792,  (Record  illegible.) 

1793,  Samuel  Wood. 

1794,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Delegate  to  a  Convention 
to  be  held  in  Portland  in  June. 

1795,  Jedediah  Prescott. 

1796,  None. 

1797, 1798, 1799, 1800  and  1801,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1802,  William  Richards. 

1803,  1804,  1805  and  1806,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Esq. 
1807,  1808  and  1809,  Samuel  Wood,  Esq. 

1810  and  1811,  Andrew  Wood. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  3T 

1812  and  1813,  Samuel  Wood  and  Dr.  Issachar  Snell. 
1814  and  1815,  Alexander  Belcher 

1816,  Alexander  Belcher  and  Samuel  Wood. 

1817,  John  May. 

1818,  None. 

1819,  Alexander  Belcher. 

1820,  Andrew  Wood. 

The  following  represented  the  town  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  after  its  separation  from  Massachusetts : 
1821  and  1822,  Andrew  Wood. 
1823,  Thomas  Fillebrown. 
1824  and  1825,  Nathan  Howard. 

1826,  Hon.  Thomas  Fillebrown. 

1827,  Isaac  Moore,  Jr. 

1828  and  1829,  Hon.  Thomas  Fillebrown. 

1830,  Andrew  Wood,  and  Hon.  Thomas  Fillebrown. 

1831  and  1832,  Samuel  Clark. 

1833  and  1834,  Samuel  P.  Benson. 

1835,1836,  1837,  1838  and  1839,  Dr.  Ezekiel  Holmes. 

1840  and  1841,  Nathan  Foster. 

1842,  Samuel  Wood,  Jr. 

1843,  None. 

1844,  Francis  Perley. 

1845,  None. 

1846,  Thomas  C.  Wood. 

1847,  None. 

1848,  James  B.  Fillebrown. 

1849,  None. 

1850,  Dr.  Ezekiel  Holmes.     1851,  None. 
1852,  Ezekiel  Bailey.     1853,  None. 
1854,  Benjamin  H.  Cushman. 


38  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 


TOWN    OFFICERS MODEHATOES. 

The  first  town  meeting  after  tlie  act  of  incorporation, 
April,  1771,  was  held  at  the  house  of  Squier  Bishop,  inn- 
holder,  May  27,  1771.  Jonathan  Whiting  was  chosen 
Moderator.  He  was  also  Town  Clerk,  Town  Treasurer, 
and  Selectman. 

1772.  John  Blunt. 

1773.  IchabodHow. 

1774.  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1775 — Five  meetings.  Jonathan  Whiting,  Squier 
Bishop,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Josiah  Hall  and  Joseph  Stev- 
ens. 

1776 — Four  meetings.     Ichabod  How,  of  all. 

1777 — Seven  meetings.  Josiah  Hall  of  the  first,  and 
Ichabod  How  of  the  other  six. 

1778 — Three  meetings.  Ichabod  How,  Gideon  Lam- 
bert and  Ichabod  How. 

1779 — Three  meetings.  John  Blunt,  Jonathan  Whit- 
ing and  Solomon  Stanley. 

1780 — Three  meetings.  Jonathan  Whiting,  Eliphalet 
Foster  and  Solomon  Stanley. 

1781 — Six  meetings.  Josiah  French,  John  Sleeper, 
Daniel  Marrow,  Benjamin  Brainerd,  and  Josiah  Hall, 
twice. 

1782 — Four  meetings.  Daniel  Marrow,  James  Craig, 
Jonathan  Whiting  and  Gideon  Lambert. 

1783 — Three  meetings.  Solomon  Stanley,  Jonathan 
Whiting,  Jr.,  and  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  39 

1784 — Three  meetings.  Solomon  Stanley,  Robert 
Page  and  Joshua  Bean. 

1785 — Three  meetings.  Joshua  Bean,  Solomon  Stan- 
ley and  Joshua  Bean. 

1786 — Six  meetings.  Solomon  Stanley  twice,  Josh- 
ua Bean,  Samuel  wood,  Solomon  Stanley  and  Robert 
Page. 

1787 — Six  meetings.  Ichabod  How,  Joshua  Bean 
twice,  James  Craig,  Samuel  Wood  and  Dr.  J.  Hubbard. 

1788 — Six  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Solomon  Stan- 
ley, Robert  Page,  Squier  Bishop,  Phillip  Allen  and  Dr. 
John  Hubbard. 

1789 — Two  meetings.     Solomon  Stanley  both  times. 

1 790 — Six  meetings.  Solomon  Stanley,  Capt.  Nathan- 
iel Fairbanks,  Solomon  Stanley  and  Nathaniel  Fairbanks 
three  times. 

1791 — Four  meetings.  Joshua  Bean,  Solomon  Stan- 
ley, Nathaniel  Fairbanks  and  Solomon  Stanley. 

The  following  were  Moderators  after  Readfield  was 
incorporated. 

1792 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Phillip  Allen 
and  Samuel  Wood. 

1793 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood  and  Joseph 
Metcalf  twice. 

1794 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Ephraim  Ste- 
vens and  Samuel  Wood. 

1795.     Samuel  Wood. 

1796 — Three  meetings.     Joseph  Metcalf,  and  Samuel 

Wood  twice. 

1797 — Three  meetings.      Samuel   Wood,  twice,  and 

Col.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 


40  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

1798 — Four  meetings.  Col.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  three 
times,  and  Ephraim  Stevens. 

1799 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Col.  Nathan- 
iel Fairbanks  and  Andrew  Wood. 

1800 — Five  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  four  times,  and 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1801 — Three  meetings.     Andrew  Wood. 

1802 — Four  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Nathaniel  Fair- 
banks, twice,  and  Samuel  Wood. 

1803 — Three  meetings.     Samuel  Wood. 

1804 — Two  meetings.     Samuel  Wood  and  J.  Metcalf. 

1805 — Two  meetings.     Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1806 — Six  meetings.  Wm.  Richards,  Samuel  Wood, 
t^vice,  Nathaniel  Kimball,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks  and  Sam- 
uel Wood. 

1807 — Five  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  three  times, 
and  Joseph  Metcalf,  twice, 

1808 — Five  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Nathaniel  Kim- 
ball, Joseph  Metcalf,  Samuel  Wood  and  Dudley  Todd. 

1809 — Five  meetings.  Elijah  Davenport,  Dudley  Todd, 
and  Samuel  Wood,  three  times. 

1810 — Three  meetings.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  John 
Man  and  Samuel  Wood. 

1811 — Four  meetings.  Capt.  Sylvanus  Thomas,  twice, 
Samuel  Wood  and  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1812 — Two  meetings.     Samuel  Wood. 

1813 — Two  meetings.     Samuel  Wood. 

181 4 — Six  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  twice,  John  May, 
Sylvanus  Thomas,  and  Samuel  Wood,  twice. 

1815.  Sylvanus  Thomas. 

1816.  Samuel  Wood. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP  41 

1817 — Four  meetings.  John  May,  Samuel  Wood, 
John  May  and  Enoch  Wood. 

181 8 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Daniel  Camp- 
bell, Esq.,  and  Samuel  Wood. 

181 9 — Four  meetings.  Sylvanus  Thomas,  twice,  Sam- 
uel Wood  and  Daniel  Campbell,  Esq. 

1820 — Four  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  John  May» 
Samuel  Wood  and  John  May. 

1821 — Four  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  Sylvanus  Thom- 
as, John  May  and  Samuel  Wood. 

1822 — Four  meetings.  Sylvanus  Thomas,  John  May, 
Samuel  Wood  and  Joseph  Metcalf. 

1823 — Three  meetings.  Samuel  Wood,  and  Thomas 
Fillebrown,  twice. 

1824 — Three  meetings.  Sylvanus  Thomas,  Levi  Fair- 
banks and  Thomas  Fillebrown. 

1825 — Two  meetings.     Thomas  Fillebrowm. 

1826 — Two  meetings.     Thomas  Fillebrown. 

1827 — Five  meetings.  David  Eastman,  Richard  Bel- 
cher, three  times,  and  Levi  Fairbanks. 

1828 — Four  meetings.  Rich'd  Belcher,  Hushai  Thom- 
as, and  John  May,  twice. 

1829 — Three  meetings.     George  W.  Stanley, 

1830 — Two  meetings.     Geo.  W.  Stanley  and  J.  May. 

1831 — Four  meetings.     George  W.  Stanley. 

1832 — Eleven  meetings.  George  W.  Stanley,  four 
times,  John  May,  twice,  G.  W.  Stanley,  Samuel  Benja- 
min, G.  W.  Stanley,  and  Samuel  P.  Benson,  twice. 

1833— Three  meetings.  G.  W.  Stanley,  Elijah  Wood 
and  John  Richards. 

1834 — Two  meetings.  G.  W.  Stanley  and  Gustavus 
A.  Benson. 


42  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

1835 — Five  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson,  twice, 
Moses  White,  Esq.,  twice,  and  G.  A.  Benson. 

1836 — Seven  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson,  three 
times,  Israel  Bonney,  Doct.  Ezekiel  Holmes,  Israel  Bon- 
ney  and  Moses  White. 

1837 — Six  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson,  three  times, 
John  May,  twice,  and  G.  A.  Benson. 

1838 — Three  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson,  twice, 
and  Ezekiel  Holmes. 

1839 — Four  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson,  twice, 
Elijah  Wood,  Esq.,  and  Francis  Fuller. 

1840 — Two  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson  and  Elijah 
Wood, 

1 841 — Two  meetings.  James  B.  Fillehrown  and  John 
Fairbanks. 

1842 — Two  meetings.    G.  A.  Benson  and  W.  H.  Parlin. 

1843.  James  B.  Fillehrown. 

1844.  James  B.  Fillehrown. 

1845 — Two  meetings.  James  B.  Fillehrown  and  Wil- 
liam H.  Parlin. 

1846 — Two  meetings.  Gustavus  A.  Benson  and  Al- 
exander Belcher. 

1847.     William  H.  Parlin. 

1848 — Three  meetings.  William  H.  Parlin,  twice, 
and  John  M.  Benjamin. 

1849.  William  H.  Parlin. 

1850.  James  B.  Fillehrown. 

1851 — Two  meetings.     W.  H.  Parlin  and  A.  Belcher. 
1852 — Two  meetings.     Wm.  H.  Parlin  and  Moses  B. 
Sears. 

1853,     Gustavus  A.  Benson, 

1854 — Two  meetings.     William.  H.  Parlin, 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  43 

TOWN    CLEEKS. 

1771,  1772  and  1773,  Jonatlian  AVhiting. 

1774  and  1775,  Ichabod  How. 

1776,  1777  and  1778,  Josiah  Hall. 

1779  and  1780,  Ichabod  How. 

1781,  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1782  and  1783,  James  Work. 

1784,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1785  and  1786,  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1787  and  1788,  Jedediah  Prescot,  Jr. 

1789  and  1790,  John  Hubbard. 

1791,  John  Comings. 

1792,  1793,  1794,  1795,  1796  and  1797,  Nathaniel 
Fairbanks. 

1798,  Samuel  Wood.  "  Sept.,  he  was  chosen  a  Dele- 
gate to  the  Convention  to  be  holden  at  Hallowell  on  the 
fourth  Tuesday  of  Octo.  next,  according  to  an  order  of 
the  General  Court,  to  agree  on  certain  lines  by  which  to 
divide  the  County  of  Lincoln." 

1799,  Moses  Wood. 

1800,  Joseph  Metcalf. 

1801  and  1802,  Silas  Lambert. 

1803  and  1804,  Joseph  Tinkham. 

1805,  John  May  was  Town  Clerk  until  1814,  inclusive. 

1815,  Samuel  Benjamin  was  Town  Clerk  until  1823,  in. 

1824,  Seth  May. 

1825,  1826,  1827  and  1828,  Cyrus  Bishop. 
1829,  1830,  1831  and  1832,  Samuel  Wood,  Jr. 
1833,  1834,  1835  and  1836,  Pliny  Harris. 

1837,  Samuel  Benjamin. 

1838,  1839,  1840,  1841  and  1842,  Edward  Mitchell. 


44  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

1843,  IP.44  and  1845,  Cyrus  Bishop. 
1846,  1847  and  1848,  Samuel  Wood,  Jr. 
1849,  r    0,  1851,  1852,  1853,  1854  and  1855,  John 
M.  Ber/      .in. 

SELECTMEN. 

1771,  Timothy  Foster,   Ichabod  How  and  Jonathan 
Whiting. 

1772,  Jonathan  AVhiting,  Ichabod  How  and  J.  Blunt. 

1773,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Gideon  Lambert  and  Icha- 
bod How. 

1774,  Jona.  Whiting,  Ichabod  How  and  Jos.  Baker. 

1775,  John   Chandler,   Timothy  Foster  and  William 
Armstrong. 

1776,  Jos.  Stevens,  Jona.  Whiting  and  John  Chandler. 

1777,  Ichabod  How,  Tim.  Foster  and  Stephen  Pullen. 

1778,  Josiah  Hall,  Gid.  Lambert  and  Eben.  Davenport. 

1779,  Ichabod  How,  Wm.  Whittier  and  James  Craig. 

1780,  Ichabod  How,  Benj.  Brainerd  and  Sol.  Stanley. 

1781,  Josiah  French,  John  Sleeper  and  Jona.  Whiting. 

1782,  Jas.  Work,  Soloman  Stanley,  Nat.  Whittier,  Jr., 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks. 

1783,  James   Work,   Nathaniel    Fairbanks,   Solomon 
Stanley,  Benjamin  Fairbanks  and  Benjamin  Brainerd. 

1784,  Nathaniel    Fairbanks,  Joshua  Bean,    Solomon 
Stanley,  Benjamin  Fairbanks  and  James  work. 

1785,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Benjamin  Brainerd  and  Wil- 
liam Whittier. 

1786,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Joshua  Bean,  Benj.  Brain- 
erd, Gideon  Lambert  and  William  Pullen. 

1787,  Jedediah   Prescot,    Jr.,   Robert  Page,    Phillip 
Allen,  Doct.  John  Hubbard  and  Samuel  Wood. 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP,  45 

1788,  Jcdediah  Prescot,  Jr.,  Doct.  Jolm  Hubbard  and 
Phillip  Allen. 

1789,  Doct.  John  Hubbard,  Amos  Stevens  and  Sam- 
uel Wood. 

1790,  Doct,  John  Hubbard,  Amos  Stevens  and  Joshua 
Bean. 

The  following  were  Selectmen  after  Readfield  was  in- 
corporated. 

1791,  John  Comings,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Jr.,  and  Sol- 
omon Stanley. 

1792,  Nat.  Fairbanks,  Sam.  Wood  and  Phillip  Allen. 

1793,  Nat.  Fairbanks,  Sam.  Wood  and  Phillip  Allen. 

1794,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Samuel  Wood  and  John 
Wads  worth. 

1795,  Nat.  Fairbanks,  John  Comings  and  Enoch  Wood. 

1796,  Sam.  Wood,  John  Wadsworth  and  Elijah  Wood. 

1797,  Sam.  Wood,  John  Wadsworth  and  Chas.  Harris. 

1798,  Sam.  Wood,  John  Kezer  and  Andrew  Wood. 

1799,  Andrew  Wood,  Moses  Wood  and  John  Kezer. 

1800,  Jos.  Metcalf,  Moses  Wood  and  Andrew  Wood. 

1801,  Andrew  Wood,  Silas  Lambert  and  Wm.  Richards. 

1802,  Silas  Lambert,  Wm.  Richards  and  Elijah  Fair- 
banks. 

1803,  Sam.  Wood,  John  Kezer  and  John  May. 

1804,  Sam.  Wood,  John  Kezer  and  Nat.  Kimball. 

1805,  Nat.  Fairbanks,  Nat.  Kimball  and  Thos.  Eastman. 

1806,  Nat.  Fairbanks,  Nat.  Kimball  and  Isaac  Smith. 

1807,  Sam.  Wood,  Dudley  Todd  and  Hushai  Thomas. 

1808,  Sam.  Wood,  Dudley  Todd  and  Hushai  Thomas. 

1809,  Sam.  Wood,  Dudley  Todd  and  Hushai  Thomas. 

1810,  Sam.  Wood,  Alex.  Belcher  and  Hushai  Thomas, 

1811,  Alex.  Belcher,  Jos.  Metcalf  and  Elijah  Fairbanks, 


46  HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP. 

1812,  Joseph  Metcalf,  John  May'and  Peter  Stanley. 

1813,  Joseph  Metcalf,  Peter  Stanley  and  John  May. 

1814,  Jos.  Metcalf,  Asa  Fairbanks  and  Peter  Stanley. 

1815,  Asa  Fairbanks,  Alex.  Belcher  and  John  May. 

1816,  Alex.  Belcher,  John  May  and  Samuel  Holt. 

1817,  Sylvanus  Thomas,  John  May  and  Sam.  Clark. 

1818,  Sylvanus  Thomas,  John  May  and  Dan.  Haywood. 

1819,  Alex.  Belcher,  John  May  and  Silas  Lambert. 

1820,  Samuel  Wood,  Benjamin  Perkins  and  Daniel 
Campbell, 

1821,  John  Morrill,  Benj.  Perkins  and  Andrew  Wood. 

1822,  John  Morrill,  John  May  and  Andrew  Wood. 

1823,  And.  Wood,  John  May  and  Wadsworth  Foster. 

1824,  Hon.  Thomas  Fillebrown,  John  Morrill  and  Levi 
Fairbanks. 

1825,  John  Morrill,  Nath.  Howard  and  David  Eastman. 

1826,  David  Eastman,  Levi  Fairbanks  and  Benjamin 
Dearborn. 

1827,  D  Eastman,  L  Fairbanks  and  Benj.  Dearborn. 

1828,  David  Eastman,  Benjamin  Dearborn  and  Francis 
Perley. 

1829,  John  Morrill,  Samuel  Clark  and  John  Richards. 

1830,  John  Morrill,  Samuel  Clark  and  John  Richards. 

1831,  John  Morrill,  John  Richards  and  John  May. 

1832,  John   May,   John  Richards  and  Thurston  W. 
Stevens. 

1833,  John  Richards,  Oren  Shaw  and  T.  W.  Stevens. 

1834,  John  May,  Benjamin  Robbinsand  John  Morrill. 

1835,  John  Morrill,  Benjamin  Bobbins  and  Sam.  Clark. 

1836,  Isaac  Bonney,  Moses  White  and  Oakes  Howard. 

1837,  Alexander  Belcher,  Oakes  Howard  and  Noah 
Currier. 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  47 

1838,  Moses  B.  Sears,  Noah  Currier  and  Francis  Fuller. 

1839,  Moses  B.  Sears,  Francis  Fuller  and  Thomas  C. 
Wood. 

1840,  M.  B.  Sears,  John  Fairbanks  and  T.  C.  Wood. 

1841,  John  Fairbanks,  T.  C.  Wood  and  Francis  Fuller. 

1842,  John  Fairbanks,  T.  C.  Wood  and  Francis  Fuller. 

1843,  Sam.  Benjamin,  Ezekiel  Bailey  and  T.  C.  Wood. 

1844,  Samuel  P.  Benson,  Francis  Fuller  and  Jonathan 
L.  Stanley. 

1845,  Samuel  P.  Benson,  Francis  Fuller  and  Jonathan 
L.  Stanley. 

1846,  Samuel  P.  Benson,  Francis  Fuller  and  Jonathan 
L.  Stanley. 

1847,  Samuel  P.  Benson,  Francis  Fuller  and  Jonathan 
L.  Stanley. 

1848,  Samuel  P.  Benson,  Francis  Fuller  and  Erastus 
W.  Kelley. 

1849,  Erastus  W.  Kelley,  Oakes  Howard  and  James 
B.  Fillebrown. 

1850,  Oakes  Howard,  F.  Fuller  and  John  Fairbanks. 

1851,  Francis  Fuller,  Oakes  Howard  and  M.  B.  Sears. 

1852,  Moses  B.  Sears,  Zelotes  A.  Morrow  and  Stephen 
Gammon. 

1853,  M.  B.  Sears,  Z.  A.  Marrow  and  Ste.  Gammon. 

1854,  John  May,  Moses  Bailey  and  Joshua  Wing. 

1855,  John  May,  Moses  Bailey  and  Joshua  Wing. 

TOWN    THEASTJEERS. 

1771  and  1772,  Jonathan  Whiting. 

1773,  John  Chandler  was  Treasurer  until  1784,  in, 

1785,  Stephen  Pullen. 


48  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

1786  and  17S7,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1788,  Samuel  Wood. 

1789  and  1790,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Jr. 

1791,  Benjamin  Fairbanks. 

1792,  John  Comings. 

1793,  Joseph  Metcalf  was  Treasurer  until  1798,  in. 
1799,  1800  and  1801,  Benjamin  Fairbanks. 
1802,  1803  and  1804,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks. 

1805  and  1806,  Barney  Haskell. 

1807,  Dean  Howard  was  Treasurer  untill823,  in. 

1824,  1825,  1826  and  1827,  Isaac  Bonney. 

1828  and  1829,  Albert  Haywood. 

1830,  Alex.  Belcher  Avas  Treasurer  until  1836,  in. 

1837,  Samuel  Clark  was  Treasurer  until  1846,  in. 

1847,  Gustavus  A.  Benson. 

1848,  1849,  1850  and  1851,  Alexander  Belcher. 
1852  and  1853,  David  Stanley. 

1854  and  1855,  Erastus  W.  Kelley. 

CONSTABLES. 

1771,  Stephen  Pullen. 

1772,  John  Chandler,  Timothy  Foster,  Hansford  Smith, 
Joseph  Brown,  Robert  Waugh  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks. 

1773,  John  Chandler. 

1774,  John  Blunt. 

1775,  Billy  Foster  and  Amos  Stevens. 

1776,  Squier  Bishop  and  Moses  Ayer. 

1777,  Josiah  Hall  and  James  Craig. 

1778,  Zebedee  Delano  and  James  Work. 

1779,  Timothy  Foster,  Jr.,  "  refused  to  serve,  and  paid 
five  pounds  fine,"  Gideon  Lambert  and  Henry  Wyman. 

1780,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Jr.,  and  John  Stain. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  49 

1781,  Jolin  Fuller  and  William  Whittier. 

1782,  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  and  Benjamin  Brainerd, 

1783,  Christopher  Turner  and  Nathaniel  Whittier. 
1784  and  1785,  Henry  Wyman. 

1786,  Daniel  Marrow. 

1787,  William  Sleeper  and  John  Comings. 

1788,  John  Comings. 

1789  and  1790,  Henry  Wyman. 

1791,  Samuel  Prescot. 

1792,  Squier  Bishop. 

1793,  1794  and  1795,  Benjamin  Allen. 

1796,  Amos  Stevens. 

1797,  Joseph  Matthews. 
1798  and  1799,  Moses  Joy. 
1800,  Enoch  Wood. 

1801  and  1802,  John  May. 

1803,  John  Harvey. 

1804  and  1805,  John  Comings. 

1806,  Benjamin  Fairbanks. 

1807,  1808  and  1809,  Andrew  Wood. 
1810  and  1811,  Ichabod  Foster. 
1812  and  1813,  Samuel  Johnson. 

1814,  Enoch  Wood. 

1815,  William  Richards . 

1816,  1817  and  1818,  Samuel  R.  Fowler. 

1819,  Cyrus  Bishop. 

1820,  Noah  Currier. 

1821,  Cyrus  Bishop. 

1822,  Noah  Currier. 

1823,  William  C.  Fuller. 

1824,  George  W.  Stanley. 


50  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

1825  and  1826,  William  C.  Fuller. 

1827,  Moses  White. 

1828,  William  C.  Fuller. 

1829,  Isaac  Bowles  and  George  W.  Stanley. 

1830,  Noah  Currier  and  Isaac  Bonney. 

1831,  Noah  Currier  and  George  W.  Stanley. 

1832,  William  C-  Fuller  and  George  W.  Stanley. 

1833,  William  C.  Fuller  and  Isaac  Bonney. 
1834  and  1835,  Asa  Fairbanks. 

1836,  Asa  Fairbanks,  Elias  Whiting  and  Cyrus  Bishop. 

1837,  Asa  Fairbanks,  Elias  Whiting  and  Cyrus  Bishop. 

1838,  Asa  Fairbanks  and  Thomas  Newman. 

1839,  Jonathan  L.  Stanley  and  Cyrus  Bishop. 

1840,  1841  and  1842,  Cyrus  Bishop. 
1843,  Erastus  W.  Kelley. 

1844  and  1845,  Oakes  Howard. 

2846,  1847,  1^48,  1849  and  1850,  Moses  H.  Metcalf. 

1851,  B  enj  amin  Thing . 

1852,  Benjamin  C.  Gardiner. 

1853,  Erastus  W.  Kelley. 

1854,  Josephus  Stevens,  Randall  Nevins,  Henry  Wood- 
ward and  Moses  B.  Sears. 

1855,  David  T.  Whiting. 

The  first  man  honored  with  the  commission  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  was  Jonathan  "VVliiting,  Senior. 

The  next  was  Robert  Page,  in  what  is  now  Readfield. 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks  and  Samuel  Wood  received  the  same 
commissions  at  an  early  period. 

Samuel  AYood  was  appointed  Coroner,  for  the  County 
of  Lincoln,  in  1789,  by  his  Excellency  John  Hancock, 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  51 

then  Governor  of  Mass.  Lincoln  County  then  included 
what  is  now  a  part  of  Waldo,  of  Sagadahoc,  the  whole 
of  Kennebec,  a  part  of  Franklin  and  the  whole  of  Som- 
erset, if  no  more.  He  had  the  commission  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace  prior  to  1798.  He  was  appointed  Session 
Justice  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  by  his 
Excellency  Caleb  Strong,  Governor  of  Mass.,  in  1814, 
and  was  constituted  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions by  his  Excellency  John  Brooks,  Governor  of  Mass. 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks  received  a  Captain's  commission 
from  his  Excellency  Governor  Hancock,  in  1788.  He 
was  the  first,  within  what  is  now  "VYinthrop,  who  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  a  Regiment.  Simon  Page  had 
previously  been  appointed  Lieut.  Colonel.  Col.  F.  was 
probably  commissioned  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  prior  to 
1796. 


CHAPTER  IT. 

Division  of  the  Town — division  of  the  State — against  monopoly 
—privations,  hardships,  &c.,— patriotism— -politics. 

DIVISION    OF    THE    TOWN. 

The  subject  of  dividing  the  town  began  to  be  discussed 
at  least  ten  years  before  it  was  effected.  Nov.,  1 781,  they 
agreed  to  "  divide  the  town  into  two  parts,  as  the  water 
divides  it,  i.  e.,  the  south  pond,  so  called,  the  mill  stream, 
the  mill  pond,  and  from  the  most  northerly  part  of  the 
mill  pond,  a  north  line  to  the  end  of  the  town." 

In  Sept.,  1787,  thej  voted  again  to  divide  the  town, 
by  an  east  and  west  line,  according  to  a  division  of  the 
town  into  two  parishes,  in  Jan.,  1785 ;  and  "to  send  by 
Mr.  Bean,  their  representative  to  the  General  Court,  to 
have  it  effected."  Dec,  1788,  they  again  voted  to  di- 
vide it  "by  an  east  and  west  line,  as  heretofore,  43  in 
favor,  and  none  against  it." 

At  the  town  meeting  at  the  house  of  Henry  Wyman, 
June  21, 1790,  "  Voted  to  divide  the  town  into  two  towns, 
by  an  east  and  west  line,  leaving  5-9  of  the  space  be- 
twixt the  north  and  south  line,  in  the  south  town,  and 
4-9  in  the  north  town.  Adjourned  to  the  green  at  the 
door.     Voted  to  take  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  meeting, 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  53 

(on  the  question  of  dividing  the  town,)  and  also  the  yeas 
and  nays  of  the  town  at  large.  Of  the  meeting,  there  were 
37  yeas  and  one  nay.  Then  adjourned  to  the  house,  and 
voted  that  the  Selectmen  prepare  a  petition  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  praying  for  said  division."  This  was  done, 
and  the  north  part  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Read- 
field,  in  March,  1791. 

The  subject  of  having  a  town  incorporated  so  that 
what  has  long  been  called  the  "  Forks  of  the  Road  "  should 
be  the  center,  began  to  be  agitated  as  early  as  1809.  It 
was  contemplated  to  take  a  part  of  Winthrop,  Read- 
field,  Augusta  and  Hallowell,  to  constitute  this  new  town. 
On  the  8th  of  Dec,  that  year,  the  town  voted  to  remon- 
strate against  the  petition  of  Jesse  Robinson  and  others, 
for  having  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  set  off,  58  to  18. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  Dec.  6, 1811,  they  *'  voted  that 
the  Selectmen  draft  a  remonstrance  against  the  prayer 
of  the  petition  of  William  Richards  and  others  for  a  di- 
vision of  the  town,  and  forward  it  to  the  Legislature  the 
present  winter  session." 

DIYISION    OF    THE    STATE. 

"  On  a  Thanksgiving  day,  Decemr.  15,  1 785,  by  virtue 
of  a  circular  letter  received  from  Hallowell,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  of  Winthrop  were  warned  to  meet  at 
the  house  of  Squier  Bishop,  on  Monday,  the  19th  day  of 
this  inst.,  at  one  o'clock,  to  try  the  minds  of  the  town 
respecting  these  three  easterly  counties  forming  them- 
selves into  a  separate  State."  The  meeting  was  held 
accordingly,  and  they  voted  in  favor  of  having  York, 
Cumberland  and  Lincoln  Counties  become  a  State  separ- 
ate from  Massachusetts.     They  appointed  Jonathan  Whit- 


54  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

ing  a  Delegate  to  attend  a  Convention  on  the  subject,  to 
be  holden  at  Falmouth  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  Jan., 
1786,  and  to  pay  the  delegate  for  his  attendance.  What 
was  done  at  this  Convention  is  not  known. 

"  Feb.  8,  1786,  Voted  to  have  paper  money  made  for 
currency  and  to  pay  rates." 

March  13.  This  year  Mr.  Joshua  Bean  was  chosen  a 
Delegate  to  attend  the  Convention  at  Falmouth  the  first 
Wednesday  in  Sept.  next.  At  this  meeting  of  the  town, 
they  "  took  an  exact  account  of  those  in  favor  and  those 
against  the  Convention,  and  there  were  80  in  favor,  and 
none  against  it."  This  Convention  was,  doubtless,  called 
to  deliberate  on  the  subject  of  having  the  three  Counties, 
which  included  the  whole  of  Maine,  made  a  separate 
State. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  May,  1794,  Nathaniel  Fair- 
banks was  appointed  a  Delegate  to  attend  a  Convention 
to  be  holden  at  Portland  next  month. 

April,  1795,  on  the  question  whether  the  town  is  in 
favor  of  having  the  Counties  of  York,  Cumberland  and 
Lincoln  formed  into  a  separate  State,  agreeably  to  the 
address  of  the  Portland  Convention,  there  were  75  votes 
in  favor,  and  2  against  a  separation.  1797,  on  the  ques- 
tion of  a  division  of  the  State,  the  votes  were  86  in  favor, 
and  1  against. 

But  in  the  lapse  of  years,  the  views  and  feelings  of  the 
people  in  Winthrop  underwent  a  great  change.  For 
when  the  question  was  taken  at  a  meeting  of  the  town 
in  April,  1807,  the  vote  in  favor  of  becoming  a  separate 
State,  was  36,  and  against  it  86. 

May,  1816,  the  votes  for  the  separation  were  77,  and 
against  it  81.     In  Sept.,  the  same  year,  the  votes  were. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  55 

in  favor,  76,  against  a  separation,  100.  Andrew  Wood 
and  Joseph  Metcalf  were  chosen  delegates  to  the  Con- 
vention on  the  division  of  the  State. 

May,  1819,  the  town  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  in- 
structed to  petition  the  Legislature  in  favor  of  a  separa- 
tion of  the  District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts  proper, 
at  their  next  session.  The  votes  in  favor  of  separation 
69,  and  45  against  it.  The  town  sent  the  following  pe- 
tition to  the  Legislature : 

"  To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  in  General 
Court  assembled,  on  the  fourth  Wednesday  of  May,  1819. 
The  undersigned,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Winthrop, 
respectfully  represent  that,  they  view  the  separation  of 
Maine  from  Massachusetts  proper,  as  one  of  those  events, 
which  in  the  course  of  things,  will  ere  long  take  place. 
Massachusetts  is  an  anomaly  in  the  Union  —  a  State 
whose  territory  is  disjoined  and  disconnected,  by  the  in- 
tervening territory  of  another  State.  In  a  State  consti- 
tuted of  territory  thus  situated,  the  interests  of  the  differ- 
ent sections  will  often  become  different,  and  in  some  cases, 
actually  at  variance  with  each  other.  Such  we  believe 
has  often  been  the  case  with  Massachusetts  and  Maine. 
But  Maine  is  now  so  far  advanced  in  wealth  and  popula- 
tion, that  she  is  well  able  to  support  a  government  for 
herself.  The  present  quiet  state  of  the  public  mind  on 
subjects  of  a  party  nature  is  peculiarly  favorable  to  the 
formation  and  establishment  of  a  constitution  and  govern- 
ment founded  on  those  principles,  which  have  been  sanc- 
tioned by  the  wisdom  and  experience  of  our  most  enlight- 
ened statesmen.     Add  to  this  the  peculiar  situation  of 


56  HISTOEY    OF   WINTHROP, 

the  District  of  Maine,  bordering  to  the  north  and  to  the 
east  upon  two  powerful  foreign  Provinces,  and  presenting 
to  the  south  an  extended  seaboard,  exposed,  in  time  of 
war,  to  hostile  invasion,  while,  in  times  of  peace,  a  local 
government  would  most  efficiently  promote  the  public 
welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine.  In  time  of  war,  it 
would  be  desirable,  even  in  a  national  point  of  view, 
that  there  should  be  a  local  government  within  the  Dis- 
trict, able  and  willing  to  command  the  resources  of  the 
country,  to  direct  the  energy  of  the  inhabitants,  and  vig- 
ilantly to  watch  over  the  general  safety.  So  far  as  we 
have  been  able  to  inform  ourselves,  the  decided  opin- 
ion among  the  people  of  Maine  seems  to  be,  that  the  time 
for  the  separation  has  now  arrived  ;  that  a  further  contin- 
uance of  our  present  political  connection  would  only  be 
productive  of  increasing  jealousy  and  discontent;  and 
instead  of  being  mutually  advantageous,  would  prove 
alike  injurious  and  vexatious  to  both. 

The  undersigned,  therefore,  respectfully  pray,  that  the 
Legislature  would  take  the  subject  into  their  considera- 
tion, and  give  their  assent  to  the  separation,  on  such  terms 
and  conditions,  as  shall  be  honorable  to  Massachusetts, 
and  just  and  equitable  to  Maine.  And  as  in  duty  bound, 
will  ever  pray." 

1819.  Alexander  Belcher  and  Daniel  Campbell,  were 
Delegates  to  the  Convention  for  forming  a  Constitution 
for  Maine. 

AGAINST    MONOPOLY. 

The  following  extract  from  the  records  of  the  town  will 
be  viewed  as  a  curiosity  in  legislation:  "  Agreeably  to 
the  powers  given  to  us,  the  subscribers,  Selectmen  and 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  57 

Committee  of  correspondence  of  the  town  of  Winthrop, 

by  an  act,  [probably  of  the  General  Court,]  entitled  an 

act  to  prevent  monopoly  and  oppression,  have  thought 

fit  to  set  the  following  prices  on  the  following  articles, 

which  are  to  be  the  prices  until  the  1st  day  of  March, 

1778. 

Farming  labor,  in  the  summer  season,  3s.  per  day,  and 

found  as  usual,  and  so  in  proportion  at  all  other  seasons 

of  the  year. 

Tradesmen  and  mechanics  in  usual  proportion  with 

farming  labor. 

Good  merchantable  wheat,  at  6s  8d  per  bushel. 

Good  merchantable  rye  at  5s  per  bushel,  after  rye  har- 
vest, and  5s  4d  till  rye  harvest. 

Good  Indian  at  4s  per  bushel. 

Good  sheep's  wool  at  2s  per  lb. 

Good  pork,  well  fatted  and  of  a  good  quality,  fresh  at  5d 
per  lb.,  and  salted  at  8d  per  lb. 

Good,  well  fatted  grass  fed  beef  at  3d  per  lb.,  and  good 
stall  fed  beef  at  4d  per  lb. 

Raw  hides  at  3d  per  lb. 

Good  calf  skins  at  6d  per  lb. 

Good  merchantable  West  India  rum  at  8d  per  gall. 

Good  merchantable  New  England  rum  at  5d  per  gall. 

Good  merchantable  maple  sugar  at  8d  per  lb. 

Good  new  milk  cheese  at  7d  per  lb.,  and  otlier  cheese  in 
proportion. 

Good  butter  at  8d  per  lb. 

Good  merchantable  peas  at  6s  8d  per  bushel. 

Good  merchantable  table  beans  at  6s  per  bushel. 


58  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

Good  Spanish  potatoes,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  at  Is  per 

bushel,  and  Is  6d  per  bushel  in  the  spring. 
Tanned  hides  Is  3d  per  lb.,  and  curried  leather  in  usual 

proportion. 
Homespun  yard-wide  linen  cloth  at  3  s  per  yard. 
Tow  cloth,  yard-wide,  at  2s  per  yard. 
Mutton,  lamb  and  veal,  at  4d  per  lb. 
Oxen  able  to  perform  a  good  day's  work,  at  2s  per  day. 
Horse  hire  at  3d  per  mile. 
Good  English  hay  at  Is  7d  per  cwt.     (i.  e.,   31  shillings 

and  8  pence  per  ton.) 
Meadow  hay,  in  the  meadow,  19js  per  CAvt. 
Good  merchantable  white  pine  boards  at  24s  per  thousand. 
Good  3-4  inch  merchantable  white  pine  boards  at  22s  per 

thousand. 
Good  merchantable  hemlock  boards  at  18s  per  thousand. 
Good  merchantable  oats  at  2s  per  bushel. 
Good  men's  shoes,  made  of  neat's  leather  of  the  best  kind, 

at  7s  4d  per  pair. 
"Women's  shoes,  made  in  the  best  manner  and  of  the  best 

leather,  at  5s  4d  per  pair. 
Good  merchantable  flax,  well  dressed,  at  1  s  per  lb. 
Good  tried  tallow  at  8d  per  lb. 
Good  3-4  yard  wide  tow  cloth  at  Is  8d  per  yard. 
Good  yard-wide  flannel  cloth  at  3s  per  yard,  and  striped 

or  checked  at  3s  5d  per  yard. 
Good  merchantable  tobacco  at  8d  per  lb. 
Woman's  labor  at  3s  per  week. 
Making  men's  shoes  at  3s  per  pair. 
Making  women's  shoes  at  2s  8d  per  pair. 
Good  English  turnips  at  Is  per  bushel. 
French  turnips  at  Is  4d  per  bushel. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  59 

Carrots  at  2s  shillings  per  bushel. 

Parsnips  at  3s  per  bushel. 

Good  vinegar  at  Is  6d  per  gall. 

ICHABOD  HOW,  )  Selectmen  of  the 

TIMOTHY  FOSTER,    }  town  of 

STEPHEN  PULLEN,  j        Winthrop. 

ABRAHAM  WYMAN,  1      Committee  of 
JOHN  CHANDLER,      [Correspondence  of 
JOSEPH  BROWN,         (       the  town  of 
JOSIAH  HALL,  J         Winthrop. 

A  true  copy,  Attest :  JOSIAH  HALL, 

May  30,  1777.  Town  Clerks 

At  a  meeting,  June  19,  1777,  Mr.  Ichabod  How  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General  Court  the 
ensuing  year.  "  He  engaged  to  do  all  the  private  bus- 
iness for  the  town,  and  to  bring  100  wt.  of  gun  powder, 
exclusive  of  any  pay,  except  his  pay  as  Representative. 
He  received  the  following  instructions,  viz.:  '  To  well  and 
truly  represent  the  town  in  every  circumstance,  and  to 
prevent  any  more  drafts  in  this  town,  on  account  of  our  be- 
ing a  frontier  town ;  to  enforce  an  act  entitled  to  prevent 
monopoly  and  oppression,  and  to  prevent  its  being  re- 
pealed ;  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  have  the  Representatives 
paid  by  the  State  ;  to  provide  a  sufficient  number  of  arms 
and  ammunition  for  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  ;  and  far- 
ther, in  a  private  way,  to  take  all  possible  pains  to  pro- 
vide a  young  gentleman  to  preach  with  us  three  months 
this  summer,  on  probation ;  to  secure  the  land  that  the 
Proprietors  promised  this  town  on  its  being  settled  ;  and 
to  stay  at  Court  no  longer  than  is  of  real  necessity,  and 
to  forward  some  suitable  form  of  government  in  this  State, 


60  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

which  may  conduce  to  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the 
good  people  of  this  State.'  " 

The  Constitution  which  the  General  Court,  (i.  e.  the 
Legislature,)  proposed,  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Winthrop.  For  at  their  meeting,  April 
20,  1778,  they  "  voted,  unanimously,  not  to  accept  of  a 
form  of  government  sent  to  this  town  by  the  General 
Court."  At  this  meeting,  they  granted  thirty  pounds  to 
procure  clothing  for  the  army;  and  to  call  in  all  the 
powder  delivered  out  of  the  town  stock,  and  authorized 
Mr.  John  Chandler,  Town  Treasurer,  to  demand  and 
receive  it.  They  manifested  their  patriotism  by  exempt- 
ing those  who  were  in  the  army  in  the  year  1775  from 
paying  taxes.  They  also  "  voted  to  make  up  to  the 
widow  Taylor  one  half  her  husband's  wages,  upon  her 
paying  four  shillings  a  bushel  for  Indian  corn  and  five 
shillings  a  bushel  for  rye,  reckoning  all  the  grain  she  has 
had  out  of  this  town,  and  the  selectmen  are  directed  to 
buy  the  grain  for  her  with  money  from  the  town  Treasury." 

Sept.  9,  1779,  they  adopted  the  measures  of  the  late 
State  Convention  regulating  prices.  They  chose  Mr.  John 
Chandler,  Mr.  Joseph  Baker  and  Mr.  James  Craig,  a 
committee  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  lower  the 
State  tax.  They  also  instructed  the  Selectmen  to  provide 
grain  and  beef  for  the  soldiers  that  are  in  the  service  with 
Capt.  Foster. 

1780,  the  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Safety  were 
John  Chandler,  Squier  Bishop,  William  Whittier,  Moses 
Chandler  and  Nathaniel  Stanley. 

"  Ap.  10, 1780,  James  Work,  Nathaniel  Stanley,  James 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  61 

Craig,  William  Pullen  and  John  Sleeper,  were  a  com- 
mittee to  make  an  average  in  town  respecting  service  done 
in  the  war.  Voted  to  hire  men  into  the  service  this  year 
by  a  rate,  when  they  are  sent  for  by  lawful  authority. 
Voted  to  raise  three  thousand  pounds  to  hire  men  into 
the  service ;  and  that  it  shall  be  assessed  and  collected 
as  soon  as  may  be.  Voted  to  empower  the  above  com- 
mittee to  hire  the  men  now  sent  for,  as  cheap  as  they  can." 
May  23.  "  Voted  to  adopt  the  new  form  of  government 
as  it  now  stands." 

HARDSHIPS    OF    THE    EAELY    SETTLERS. 

The  privations  and  hardships  to  which  the  early  settlers 
were  subjected,  were  such  as  those  who  have  always  been 
accustomed  to  convenient  and  comfortable  habitations 
and  well  supplied  tables,  can  scarcely  form  an  adequate 
idea  of.  So  great  was  their  destitution  of  the  necessa- 
ries of  life,  that  some  of  them  were,  at  times,  reduced  to 
the  verge  of  starvation.  Indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
wild  animals,  the  fish,  the  native  fruits,  and  the  milk  of 
their  cows,  some  of  them  would,  doubtless,  have  perished 
for  lack  of  food,  when  they  needed  meat,  some  of  the 
more  favored  ones,  would  take  their  guns  and  kill  a 
moose,  a  deer  or  a  bear,  with  nearly  as  much  ease,  as  our 
farmers  now  go  to  the  pasture  and  select  a  sheep  for  the 
slaughter.  But  all  could  not  do  thus,  nor  could  the 
most  favored  of  them  always  do  it.  As  a  specimen,  Na- 
thaniel and  Joseph  Fairbanks,  in  the  month  of  February, 
took  their  guns,  snow-shoes  and  dogs,  and  started  off  in 
a  western  direction,  on  a  hunting  excursion.  Having 
gone  a  long  distance,  the  dogs  went  up  a  hill  and  gave 
notice,  that  they  had  found  game.  This  hill,  they  sup- 
4 


62  HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP. 

posed  to  be  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Leeds.  The 
dogs  had  found  a  noble  moose,  which  the  hunters  soon 
killed  and  dressed.  But  the  day  was  so  far  spent,  they 
could  not  return.  They  therefore  buried  their  meat  in 
the  snow  and  camped  for  the  night.  The  next  day  they 
took  the  meat  upon  handsleds  and  brought  it  home.  This 
was  a  valuable  prize  indeed.  The  four  quarters  of  that 
moose  weighed  eight  hundred  pounds  ! 

Mr.  Gideon  Lambert  was  an  early  settler.  He  and  his 
family  had  to  subsist  one  season  from  planting  time  till 
rye  harvest,  on  milk  and  herbs.  During  this  time,  he  fell 
four,  and  some  say  six,  acres  of  trees,  and  prepared  them 
for  the  "  burn"  the  ensuing  spring.  He  had  been  a  sol- 
dier in  the  old  French  and  Indian  war.  He  aided  in  the 
defeat  of  the  British  army  under  the  command  of  Aber- 
crombie,  1758.  He  also  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution, after  he  came  to  Pond  Town. 

Some  families  were  so  destitute  of  provisions,  that  one 
at  least,  by  the  name  of  Delano,  subsisted,  for  a  time,  on 
boiled  beach  leaves.  Others  were  without  bread  from 
sowing  time  till  harvest.  Some  of  them  had  nothing  for 
themselves  but  milk  and  maple  sugar.  One  neighbor 
sustained  the  children  of  another  neighbor  on  skimmed 
milk.  A  woman  said,  the  day  after  the  birth  of  a  child 
she  dined  on  smoked  moose  meat  and  turnip  greens.  Her 
husband  had  gone  to  procure  them  breadstuff,  but  was 
gone  longer  than  was  expected.  She  had  finished  the 
last  of  their  provisions.  What  could  she  do?  Her 
neighbors  could  not  assist  her,  for  they  were  in  the  same 
predicament.  She  was  greatly  at  a  loss  what  course  to 
take  to  save  herself  and  the  child.  She  adopted  this  sin- 
gular method.     She  ate  salt ;  that  made  her  thirsty,  and 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP.  63 

slie  drank  more,  and  thus  procured  nourishment  for  her 
child,  till  relief  came.  The  neighbors  would  hunt  in 
company,  and  share  the  game  between  them ;  because 
there  were  times  in  which  they  could  obtain  provisions 
so  well  in  no  other  way.  Mr.  David  Foster,  in  the  month 
of  June,  was  very  destitute  of  food.  He  went  to  a  brook 
and  caught  a  sucker,  which,  while  it  was  broiling,  gave  a 
cheering  fragrance.  He  dug  up  some  of  the  potatoes  he 
had  planted  to  eat  with  his  fish ;  but  he  found  the  fish 
very  soft  and  the  potatoes  very  watery.  But  they  sus- 
tained life.  Mr.  Squier  Bishop  came  with  his  family  to 
Pond  Town  in  embarrassed  circumstances,  poor  and  in 
debt.  But  though  for  a  season  they  were  greatly  strait- 
ened, and  at  times  much  disheartened,  he  at  length  ac- 
cumulated property  sufiicient  to  enable  him  to  pay  his 
creditors  the  amount  of  their  claims.  Bev.  Mr.  Eaton 
once  came  to  "  preach  the  gospel  to  the  pooi,"  and  im- 
part the  bread  of  life  to  these  few  in  the  wilderness, 
called  on  Mr.  Bishop's  family  and  found  them  very  desti- 
tute. Mrs.  B.  went  to  the  pigeon  net  and  obtained  a 
competent  supply.  At  another  time,  Mr.  Bishop's  fam- 
ily were  out  of  provisions,  and  none  to  be  had  nearer  than 
Cobbossee.  Mrs.  B.  spoke  to  her  husband  about  going  to 
procure  something  for  their  sustenance.  He  was  much 
discouraged,  and  said  he  was  so  feeble,  that  he  could  not 
get  to  Cobbossee,  and  they  might  as  well  die  where  they 
were.  But  the  good  woman,  not  so  desponding,  resolved 
to  see  what  she  could  do.  "  Necessity  is  the  mother  of 
invention."  She  bent  up  some  pins,  procured  a  pole  and 
line  and  bait,  and  took  her  babe  in  her  arms  and  went  to 
the  pond,  which  was  at  no  great  distance,  and  soon  caught 


64  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

as  many  fish  as  she  could  conveniently  carry  with  her 
child.  On  returning  to  the  house,  she  heard  a  rustling 
in  one  of  the  trees,  and  looking  up,  saw  a  raccoon.  Now 
what  shall  she  do  ?  If  she  called  to  her  husband  to  come 
Avith  his  gun,  it  would,  doubtless,  frighten  the  animal,  and 
he  would  escape ;  or  if  she  went  and  told  her  husband, 
the  game  might  be  gone.  Perhaps  some  good  angel  sug- 
gested to  her  the  plan ;  which  was  this.  She  took  off 
some  of  her  clothes,  and  some  of  the  child's,  and  made 
such  an  image  as  she  could,  and  placed  it  at  the  foot  of 
the  tree  upon  which  the  animal  was,  and  hastened  to  the 
house.  She  said  to  her  husband,  "  the  Lord  has  sent  us 
a  'coon  ;  take  your  gun  and  go  and  shoot  him."  He  re- 
plied, "  he  will  be  gone  to  Boston  before  I  can  get  to 
him."  "  No,  he  wont ;  you  will  find  him  there.  The 
Lord  has  sent  him."  Mr.  B.  took  his  gun  and  shot  the 
raccoon.  They  fed  upon  the  meat  till  Mr.  B.  recovered 
strength  and  courage  to  procure  a  supply  of  food.  Thus 
providentially  their  lives  were 'saved. 

There  was  a  time  when  Jonathan  Whiting  had  grain. 
Several  other  families  had  none.  Lest  the  neighbors 
might  suffer,  his  wife  put  the  children  upon  an  allowance. 
He,  to  teach  them  to  be  economical  in  the  use  of  their 
bread,  would  sell  only  a  limited  quantity  to  any  one,  lest 
some  others  might  be  more  needy.  The  soundness  and 
strength  of  his  moral  principles  were  exhibited  in  another 
way.  During  this  period,  approximating  a  famine,  he 
might  have  had  almost  any  price  for  his  grain.  But  he 
affixed  a  reasonable  price,  and  no  consideration  could  in- 
duce him  to  take  any  more. 

An  aged  man,  now  deceased,  v;rote  me,  that  he  had 
heard  one  of  the  first  settlers  say,  he  had  lived  a  week  at 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  65 

a  time  on  smoked  Alewives  and  milk.  At  the  same  time, 
lie  was  under  the  necessity  of  laboring  hard. 

When  Mr.  Joseph  Fairbanks  and  wife  had  five  chil- 
dren, they  took  a  journey  to  Mansfield,  Mass.,  on  horse- 
back. The  mother  became  so  anxious  for  her  children, 
on  their  return,  that,  bad  as  the  roads  were,  she  traveled 
fifty-five  miles  !  Much  as  the  roads  are  improved,  there 
are  few  ladies  now  in  this  part  of  the  world,  who  would 
be  either  able  or  willing  to  perform  such  a  day's  ride. 
There  was  a  time  when  this  family  were  reduced  to  such 
an  extremity  by  the  oppressions  of  a  certain  man,  I  was 
about  to  say,  but  he  appeared  more  like  a  brute  than  a 
man,  that  they  had  nothing  to  eat  or  wear.  She  searched 
the  house  to  see  if  she  could  find  any  thing  eatable,  and 
discovered  a  quantity  of  bran.  She  attempted  to  knead 
it,  but  could  not  make  it  hold  together,  even  after  it  was 
backed.  They  ate  it,  however,  and  it  sustained  life  till 
he  obtained  something  better. 

The  men  had  to  roam  quite  a  distance  in  search  of  their 
game.  Mr.  Ichabod  Howf  one  winter,  went  into  the 
neighborhood  of  Livermore  Falls,  on  a  moose  hunt.  He 
started  three,  two  males  and  a  female.  He  followed 
them  until  they  came  near  the  hills,  where  Mr.  Nathan 
Kimball  now  lives.  There  was  a  crust  on  the  snow, 
which  bore  him,  but  was  not  sufficiently  hard  to  bear  the 
moose.  They  at  length  became  so  fatigued,  that  the  old- 
est male  turned  upon  him  ;  but  he  was  so  near  that  he 
could  not  discharge  his  gun  at  him.  So  he  stepped  be- 
hind a  tree,  as  the  moose  rose  upon  his  hind  feet  to  strike 
him  down  ;  but  the  tree  was  so  small  that  the  feet  of  the 
moose  brushed  his  arms  as  they  came  down,  but  without 
hurting  him.     He  found  himself  now  in  a  perilous  condi- 


66  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

tion.  The  moose,  however,  went  back  to  the  others,  and 
Mr.  How  shot  him.  By  the  time  Mr.  How  had  re- 
loaded his  gun,  the  younger  male  came  at  him,  but  the 
discharge  of  his  musket,  prostrated  him.  He  then  felt 
relieved,  for  he  did  not  fear  the  other,  and  soon  dispatched 
her.  He  cut  them  open,  filled  them  with  snow,  and 
returned  home.  The  next  morning  he  called  on  his 
neighbor,  Mr.  Gideon  Lambert,  and  informed  him  what 
he  had  achieved  the  day  before,  and  offered  to  give  him 
one  of  the  moose,  if  he  would  go  and  help  bring  them  in. 
To  this  Mr.  Lambert  readily  agreed,  and  he  and  his  sons 
Ebenezer  and  Paul,  accompanied  Mr.  How  and  brought 
home  the  venison.  Thus  the  families  were  provided  with 
meat. 

Mr.  Unite  Brown  and  his  son  Jeremiah,  went  to  hunt 
for  moose  late  one  autumn.  By  what  is  called  the  "  Great 
Bog"  they  found  and  killed  one.  But  the  day  was  so 
far  spent,  that  they  were  not  able  to  return.  The  father 
cut  wood,  kindled  a  fire  and  wrapped  his  son  in  the  skin 
of  the  moose,  and  encampqjd  for  the  night.  The  cold 
was  such,  that  the  father  had  often  to  renew  the  fire,  to 
prevent  their  freezing.  In  the  morning,  the  skin  was  so 
much  frozen,  that  the  father  had  no  small  difiiculty  in 
extricating  his  son  from  the  covering.  The  children  of 
the  early  settlers,  not  unfrequently,  went  barefooted  most 
of  the  winter,  if  not  the  whole.  They  might  often  be 
seen  walking  on  the  frost  and  snow  with  naked  feet. 

In  the  winter  of  1785,  as  Capt.  Timothy  Foster,  the 
first  settler,  was  cutting  a  tree,  it  fell  on  his  head,  and 
fractured  his  skull  so  that  he  became  speechless.  His 
son,  Stewart,  went  to  Falmouth,  now  Portland,  on  snow 
shoes,  for  a  physician.     But  he  could  not  leave,  and 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP  67 

sent  a  trepan,  doubtless  with  some  instructions  how  to 
use  it.  On  the  return  of  the  son,  the  indented  part  of 
the  skull  was  raised,  and  Capt.  Foster  roused  up  and 
spoke  rationally.  But  so  long  a  time  had  elapsed,  the 
inflammation  had  proceeded  so  far  that  he  died.  His 
remains  were  interred  near  where  Dea.  Metcalf  lived. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Fish,  came  from  Port  Royal, 
now  Livermore,  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks'  to  obtain 
some  leather.  It  was  growing  so  late  in  the  day,  and 
there  being  no  road,  and  only  spotted  trees  for  a  guide, 
he  was  urged  to  spend  the  night ;  but  he  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  stay.  He  took  two  bundles  of  leather 
and  left,  and  perished  on  his  way. 

A  ]Mr.  Button,  a  hunter,  had  a  line  of  traps  on  the 
streams  and  ponds  up  toward  the  Androscoggin  River. 
He  had  been  out  examining  them,  and  night  overtook 
him  ere  he  was  aware,  and  he  lost  his  way.  He  began  to 
call  for  help,  hoping  he  might  be  within  hearing  of  some 
habitation.  Mrs.  Bishop  thought  she  heard  a  voice. 
Her  husband  doubted  it.  She  insisted  that  she  heard 
a  human  voice.  At  length  he  went  out  and  listened,  and 
became  convinced  there  was  some  one  needing  assistance. 
Mr.  Bishop  called,  and  the  man  answered.  He  then 
went  and  brought  him  into  his  house.  All  habitations, 
though  but  log  cabins,  and  all  tables,  were  open  and 
free.  All  were  neighbors  and  brothers.  The  spirit  of 
caste  found  no  place  among  the  early  settlers. 

The  wife  of  Samuel  Wood,  Esq.,  was  fond  of  referring 
to  their  early  poverty.  The  first  pig  they  ever  owned, 
she  paid  for  by  spinning  linen. 


68  HISTORY  OP  "WINTHROP. 

The  early  settlers  did  not  cultivate  their  farms  as 
much  as  would  have  been  for  their  interest.  Too  many 
of  them  went  largely  into  the  business  of  lumbering,  and 
depended  upon  that  to  procure  their  bread  and  other 
provisions  from  Boston,  or  some  other  place  in  the  vicinity. 
After  the  war  commenced  in  1 775,  and  the  British  cruisers 
were  hovering  on  the  coast,  their  supplies  were  cut  off. 
In  the  spring  of  1776,  they  were  in  a  very  destitute 
condition.  Their  scanty  stock  of  provisions  was  nearly 
exhausted.  How  to  obtain  a  supply,  became  a  momentous 
question.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  requested  to 
meet  for  consultation  on  the  subject.  They  decided  to 
charter  a  small  vessel  and  send  to  Boston,  for  provisions. 
This  v/as  an  enterprize  of  no  small  danger.  But  they 
hoped,  that,  by  keeping  near  the  shore,  they  might  avoid 
the  large  British  vessels.  Through  the  good  hand  of 
God  upon  them,  their  little  craft  performed  the  voyage, 
and  safely  returned  with  a  cargo  of  provisions.  These 
were  distributed  among  the  people.  From  them,  through 
the  blessing  of  God,  they  derived  strength  and  courage 
to  put  an  abundance  of  seed  into  the  ground.  The  next 
year,  they  had  bread  and  meat  in  plenty.  They  thus 
learned  an  important  lesson.  Henceforth  they  cultivated 
their  farms ;  God  smiled  upon  them,  and  they  had  a  full 
supply. 

S,uch  was  the  scarcity  of  money  in  1784  or  1785,  a 
man  who  had  occasion  to  borrow  jive  dollars,  could  not 
obtain  it.  Some  of  his  neighbors  had  accumulated 
considerable  property,  had  a  good  stock  of  cattle,  but 
had  no  money.    Such  was  the  depreciation  of  the  currency 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHEOP.  69 

about  this  time,  that  Col.  Simon  Page  sold  a  pair  of  oxen 
for  ninety-eight  hundred  dollars!  The  real  value,  in 
present  currency,  was  about  seventy  dollars. 

The  people  were,  at  times,  somewhat  terrified  by  the 
Indians,  as  they  passed,  in  their  hunting  excursions,  from 
the  Kennebec  to  the  Androscoggin  rivers.  But  it  does 
not  appear  that  they  did  them  any  other  injury.  A  party 
once  came  to  Mr.  John  Fuller's,  when  he  was  absent,  and 
Mrs.  Fuller  and  two  children  had  no  others  with  them. 
The  Indians  had  "fire-water"  with  them,  and  began  to 
drink.  This  produced  considerable  alarm.  But  they 
delivered  up  all  their  knives  to  her,  and  charged  her  to 
keep  them,  till  they  became  sober.  They  did  this  to 
allay  her  fears,  telling  her,  they  were  afraid  they  should 
hurt  one  another.  They  were  certainly  much  more 
considerate  than  many  who  claim  to  be  greatly  their 
superiors. 

Other  instances  of  suffering  there  doubtless  were,  could 
all  the  facts  be  known.  Some  of  them  might  be  even 
more  grievous  than  any  here  related.  These  are  given 
as  a  specimen.  Well  may  they  awaken,  in  the  present 
inhabitants,  the  gratitude  they  owe  the  Allwise  Disj)oser 
of  events,  for  having  provided  so  much  "  better  things  for 
them." 

PATKIOTISM. 

The  inhabitants  of  Winthrop  gave  early  indications  of 
a  becoming  jealousy  for  their  rights.  They  would  not 
tamely  suff*er  the  mother  country  to  trample  upon  them. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  Jan.  12,  1773,  appointed  in 
part,  "  to  hear  a  pamphlet  sent  from  the  town  of  Boston, 


70  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

in  which  the  rights  and  charter  privileges  are  maintained, 
and  instances  wherein  they  think  they  are  infringed  [by 
the  mother  country ;]  with  a  letter  corresponding  with 
other  towns."  "  Said  pamphlet  being  several  times  read, 
considered,  and  deliberately  weighed,  it  was  proposed  to 
the  town,  1st.  Whether  the  rights  of  the  Colonists  were 
rightly  stated  in  the  pamphlet  ?    Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

2dly.  Whether  the  several  acts  of  Parliament  and 
measures  of  the  Administration  pointed  out,  are  subversive 
of  those  rights  ?     Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

3dly.  Whether  it  be  not  a  matter  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance to  us,  that  we  stand  firm  and  united,  as  stated  in 
said  pamphlet  ?     Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

4thly.  It  was  proposed  that  the  matter  of  these  our 
grievances  be  transmitted  and  referred  to  the  consideration 
of  the  Representatives  of  our  General  Assembly,  for  the 
redress  of  our  grievances,  and  the  recovering  of  our  charter 
privileges  ?     Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Voted,  that  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  proceedings  be 
attested  by  the  Clerk,  and  directed  to  William  Cooper, 
Town  Clerk  of  Boston."* 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held  Aug.  30, 
1773,  *'  the  1st  article  was  to  hear  and  proceed  upon  as 
the  town  shall  think  proper,  a  pamphlet,  the  substance 
of  which  contains  the  copy  of  letters  sent  to  Great  Britain 
by  his  Excellency  Thomas  Hutchinson,  the  Honorable 
Andrew  Oliver,  and  several  other  persons,  together  with 
the  Resolves  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  several 
other  papers ;  all  sent  to  this  town  from  the  Committee 

*  Town  Records.    The  pamphlet  is  not  to  be  found. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  71 

of  Correspondence  of  the  town  of  Boston."  At  this 
meeting  these  papers  "  were  read  in  part,"  but  no 
record  appears  of  any  action  being  taken  at  that  time. 

Unwilling  that  any  encroachments  should  be  made  upon 
their  imprescriptible  rights,  and  determined  to  have  their 
liberties    secured;   at  a  town  meeting,   Jan.  25,    1775, 
Ichabod  How  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  a 
Provincial   Congress,   to  be  holden  at  Cambridge,   the 
first  day  of  Feb.,  1775.     They  then  proceeded  to  choose 
"  military  officers  to  discipline  the  inhabitants,  agreeably 
to  the  directions  of  the  Provincial  Congress." 
Ichabod  How,  Captain, 
Jonathan  Whiting,  Lieutenant, 
Timothy  Foster,  Ensign, 
Josiah  Hall,  Clerk, 
Elias  Taylor,  1st  Sergeant, 
Gideon  Lambert,  2d  Sergeant, 
John  Blunt,  3d  Sergeant, 
Zebedee  Delano,  4th  Sergeant, 
Eliphalet  Foster,  1st  Corporal, 
Amos  Stevens,  2d  Corporal, 
Samuel  Stevens,  3d  Corporal, 
Daniel  Dudley,  4th  Corporal." 

Ready  to  defend  their  inalienable  rights  in  the  true 
spirit  of  warriors,  they  "Voted  to  raise  £13  6s.  8d., 
lawful  money,  to  be  immediately  assessed  and  paid  into 
the  Treasury  by  the  last  day  of  March,  next,  to  purchase 
a  town  stock  of  powder,  lead  and  other  necessaries." 
The  town  paid  Mr.  How  £5  6s.  8d.  lawful  money,  for  his 
expenses  in  going  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  bring- 
ing the  town's  stock  of  ammunition.  The  times  were 
now  becoming  very  alarming,  exciting  and  trying. 


72  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

The  war  of  tlie  Revolution  commenced.  April  19tli 
of  this  year,  the  battle  at  Lexington  was  fought.  The 
report  of  this  aroused  the  spirit  of  the  young  men  of 
Winthrop.  Not  long  after,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  (known 
for  many  years  after  as  Col.  Fairbanks,)  and  eighteen 
other  young  men  repaired  to  the  head-quarters  of  the 
Provincial  army,  at  Cambridge,  "  to  defend  their  beloved 
country."  Of  these  eighteen,  four  were  sons  of  the  first 
settler,  Capt.  Timothy  Foster ;  Billy,  Eliphalet,  Thomas 
and  John,  who  went  a  privateering,  and  did  not  return  to 
reside  in  Winthrop.  Elijah  Fairbanks  Vv^as  another. 
The  names  of  the  others  are  not  known.  Nathaniel 
Fairbanks  Avas  afterwards  in  the  Regiment  under  the 
command  of  Arnold,  of  infamous  memory,  on  an  expedi- 
tion to  Canada.  But  becoming  short  of  provisions,  that 
part  of  the  Regiment  to  which  young  Fairbanks  belonged, 
were  ordered  to  return. 

The  country  being  involved  in  an  unrighteous  war,  the 
new  settlements  were  much  exposed.  Their  utmost 
efforts  were  put  forth  to  provide  for  the  security  of 
themselves  and  the  public.  They  viewed  their  own 
welfare  to  be  identified  with  that  of  their  country.  At 
their  meeting,  March  17,  1775,  they  chose  Jonathan 
Whiting,  Joseph  Stevens  and  Ichabod  How  a  "  Committee 
of  Correspondence  to  meet  the  committees  of  other  towns 
in  the  neighborhood,  to  consult  for  the  good  and  safety 
of  this  eastern  country."  This  was  done  in  compliance 
with  a  letter  received  from  Falmouth.  The  29th  of  April, 
they  held  another  meeting,  and  "  chose  John  Chandler, 
William  Armstrong  and  Ichabod  How  a  Committee  of 
Safety  to  meet  the   committees  of  other  towns  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  73 

county  ,tD  consult  the  public  good  respecting  coming 
into  some  way  of  procuring  provisions  and  ammunition, 
and  other  necessary  stores,  and  that  said  Committee 
engage,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  any  sum  of  money  they 
may  think  proper  for  such  purpose."  The  constables 
were  directed  "  to  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  the  money  by  them  gathered  for  the  Province  tax." 

"  Mar.,  1776,  chose  Ichabod  How,  Joseph  Stevens  and 
Jonathan  Whiting  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  In- 
spection and  Safety.  For  officers  in  the  Militia,  Billy 
Foster,  Captain,  William  Whittier,  first  Lieut.,  Josiah 
Hall,  second  Lieut.,  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  Ensign." 
Who  the  other  officers  were,  the  record  does  not  say. 
Then  follows  a  copy  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
adopted  by  Congress,  July  4,  1776.  It  was  entered  upon 
the  records  of  the  town  by  order  of  Congress,  and  a 
printed  copy  sent  to  the  ministers  of  each  parish  of  every 
denomination,  "  who  were  severally  required  to  read  the 
same  to  their  respective  congregations,  as  soon  as  divine 
service  was  ended  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  first  Lord's 
day  after  they  shall  have  received  it."  Ministers  were 
not  then  as  much  afraid  of  having  any  connection  with 
politics  as  some  have  been  since. 

The  men  of  Winthrop  seemed  hearty  in  the  cause  of 
the  Revolution.  They  were  ready  to  adopt  the  closing 
sentiments  of  the  Declaration,  and  "  with  a  firm  reliance 
on  the  protection  of  Divine  Providence,  we  m.utually 
pledge  each  other  our  lives,  our  fortunes  and  our  sacred 
honor." 

Jan.  15,  1777,  Joseph  Baker,  Rainsford  Smith  and 
Amos  Stevens  were  added  to  the  Committee  of  Corres- 
pondence, Inspection  and  Safety.  March  10, 1777,  Lieut. 
4« 


74  HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP. 

Abraham  Wyman,  Lieut.  John  Chandler,  Mr.  William 
Whittier,  Mr.  Joseph  Brown  and  Josiah  Hall  were  chosen 
a  Committee  of  Safety,  Correspondence  and  Inspection. 
April  21,  1777,  Mr.  Ichabod  How  was  chosen  Delegate 
to  a  County  Convention  to  be  holden  at  Wiscasset.  "  He 
was  instructed  to  do  all  he  can  to  hinder  the  Convention 
from  sending  any  remonstrances  to  the  Great  and  General 
Court,  against  their  taxing  this  State ;  and  if  the  Con- 
vention get  a  vote  to  send  any,  to  join  with  the  disaffected 
part  of  the  Convention  and  remonstrate  to  the  Court 
against  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention ;  and  if  there 
is  any  other  business  of  consequence,  to  act  his  judgment 
as  he  shall  think  proper  for  the  good  of  the  County  and 
public." 

HONORABLE    CONFESSION. 

"  Winthrop,  Jan.  29,  1777. 

Whereas  the  subscribers,  by  declaring  ourselves  Friends 

to  the  King  of  Britain  and  talking  against  the  cause  of 

the  United  States,  have  given  cause  of  uneasiness  to  our 

neighbors  and  townsmen,  for  which  we  are  heartily  sorry, 

for  being  now  sensible  that  we  were  much  out  of  the 

way  and  humbly  ask  the  forgiveness  of  our  townsmen 

and  neighbors,  and  hereby  renounce  the  said  King  of 

Britain  and  all  his  laws   as  unjust,  and  promise  to  be 

good  subjects  of  the  States  of  America  for  the  future. 

JAMES    CRAIG, 

ROBERT  WAUGH. 
Witness,  ICHABOD  HOW. 

A  true  copy.  Attest :     JOSIAH  HALL,  T.  Clerk:' 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  Meeting  to  be  held  May  30, 
1777,  the  2d  article  was  "  to  consider  the  list  the  Selectmen 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  15 

may  lay  before  the  town,  of  the  names  of  persons  whom 
they  know  or  believe  to  be  inimically  disposed  towards 
this  State,  or  any  other  of  the  States  of  America,  and  to 
act  thereon  as  the  town  shall  see  fit ;  and  to  choose  a 
man  to  procure  and  lay  the  evidence  that  may  be  had  before 
the  Court,  in  order  to  support  the  charges  against  them." 
The  town  records  contain  no  account  of  any  action  on 
this  subject.  But,  May  6,  1783,  their  ardent  patriotism 
was  expressed  by  voting,  "  that  the  refugees  and  declared 
traitors  to  the  United  States  of  America,  ought  to  be  for 
ever  excluded  from  returning  among  us." 

June  19,  1780,  "Mr.  Jonathan  Whiting  was  chosen  a 
Delegate  to  represent  the  town  at  a  County  Convention 
to  be  held  at  Wiscasset,  in  order  to  apportion  the  abate- 
ment of  the  State  tax  on  the  several  towns  in  said  County 
of  Lincoln."  Here  the  town  Clerk's  ink  became  so  pale 
that  the  record  is  illegible.  The  next  proceeding  was, 
"Voted  to  procure  74  lbs.  powder,  250  lbs.  of  lead  and 
250  flints,  and  that  Mr.  Chandler,  (who  was  town  Treas- 
urer,) borrow  money  and  give  the  town's  security  for 
one  to  buy  the  above  articles ;  and  the  Selectmen  were 
authorized  to  procure  them." 

Feb.  2,  1781,  the  town  "voted  to  join  Vassalborough 
and  other  neighboring  towns  in  petitioning  the  General 
Court  for  some  abatement  of  taxes  laid  on  us ;  and  that 
Jonathan  "Whiting,  Benjamin  Brainerd  and  Josiah  French 
be  a  conmiittee  to  meet  the  committees  of  the  neighboring 
towns  and  to  agree  with  them  on  the  proper  measures  to 
effect  the  desired  purpose." 

The  records  contain  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting. 
May  7, 1781,  but  no  account  of  what  was  done.     August 


76  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

17,  1781,  they  "voted  to  procure  2856  lbs.  of  beef, 
agreeably  to  a  resolve  of  tlie  General  Court,  and  that 
John  Sleeper  be  employed  to  procure  it."  They  also 
"voted  to  procure  12  shirts,  12  pairs  of  stockings  and 
12  pairs  of  shoes ;  the  price  of  the  shirts  12  shillings, 
the  stockings  8  shillings  and  shoes  9  shillings."  They 
appropriated  £100  silver  money  to  procure  the  beef  and 
clothing.  They  agreed  to  have  this  sum  assessed  forth- 
with, and  to  have  it  paid  into  the  Treasury  "  by  the  middle 
of  Octo.  next."  For  services  done  the  town,  they  allowed 
William  PuUen  630  paper  dollars,  James  Work  1365 
paper  dollars,  John  Sleeper  £1  2s,  8d.  lawful  money, 
Samuel  Comings  one  bushel  of  rye,  and  to  Jonathan 
Whiting  £2  8s.  lawful  money." 

Sept.,  1837,  they  "Voted,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this 
town  that  Texas  ought  not  to  be  annexed  to  this  Union ; 
and  that  the  Selectmen  forward  a  copy  of  this  vote  to  our 
Representatives  in  Congress."  Upon  a  resolve  of  the 
Legislature  proposing  to  amend  the  Constitution  relating 
to  bail,  there  were  23  yeas  and  83  nays. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  Sept.,  1808,  "  Dudley  Todd, 
Esq.,  Dea.  Joseph  Metcalf,  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Esq., 
Samuel  Wood,  Esq.,  and  Major  Elijah  Wood,  were 
apppointed  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  to  suspend  the  operation  of  the  Embargo 
laws,  in  part  or  in  whole,  as  shall  be  most  conducive  to 
the  well  being  of  said  States  in  their  present  distressed 
and  embarrassed  condition."  The  committee  retired, 
prepared  a  petition,  which  the  town  accepted,  and  in- 
structed the  Selectmen  to  transmit  it  to  the  President 
immediately.     They  also  instructed  "  their  Representa- 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  77 

tive  to  the  General  Court  to  use  Ms  utmost  endeavors  to 
have  such  Electors  of  President  and  Vice  President 
chosen  as  shall  embrace  those  ideas  that  the  good  people 
of  this  Commonwealth  entertained  under  the  Administra- 
tion of  Washington." 

POLITICS. 

Something  of  the  politics  of  the  town  may  be  understood 
from  the  votes  given  for  the  public  officers.  I  find  no 
record  of  votes  for  State  or  County  officers  till  April, 
1783,  when  his  Excellency  John  Hancock  received  15 
votes  and  his  Excellency  James  Bowdoin  1  vote  for  Gov- 
ernor. His  Honor  Artemas  Ward  had  15  votes  for  Lieut. 
Governor.     William  Howard  had  23  votes  for  Senator. 

1784,  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.,  had  12  votes  and  John 
Hancock,  Esq.,  7  votes  for  Governor.  Thomas  Cushing 
had  15  votes  and  Artemas  Ward  1  vote  for  Lieutenant 
Governor. 

1785,  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing  had  11  votes  and  Hon. 
James  Bowdoin  12  votes  for  Governor.  Hon.  Tristam 
Dalton  had  15  votes  and  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing  9  votes 
for  Lieut.  Governor.  Hon.  William  Lithgow  had  23 
votes  for  Senator. 

1786,  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing  had  30  votes  and  Artemas 
Ward,  Esq.,  4  votes  for  Governor.  Charles  Cushing, 
Esq.,  had  2  votes  and  Artemas  Ward  32  votes  for  Lieut. 
Governor. 

1787,  John  Hancock  had  43  votes  for  Governor.  Thomas 
Cushing  had  21  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1788,  John  Hancock  had  40  votes  and  Elbridge  Gerry 


78  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

2  votes  for  Governor.     Natlianiel  Gorham  had  30  votes 
and  James  Warren  8  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1789,  John  Hancock  had  5 1  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel 
Adams  had  40  votes  and  Benjamin  Lincoln  1  vote  for 
Lieut.  Governor. 

1 790,  John  Hancock  had  45  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel 
Adams  had  44  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1791,  John  Hancock  had  69  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel 
Adams  had  60  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Geo.  Thatcher, 
Esq.,  had  40  votes  and  William  Lithgow,  Jr.,  24  votes 
for  Federal  Representative.* 

1792,  John  Hancock  had  55  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel 
Adams  had  41  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1 793,  John  Hancock  had  44  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel 
Adams  had  45  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Peleg  Wads- 
worth  had  52  votes  for  Representative  to  Congress. 

1794,  Samuel  Adams  had  48  votes  and  Stephen  Pullen 
4  votes  for  Governor.  Nathaniel  Gorham  had  20  votes 
Moses  Gill  5,  James  Sullivan  3,  James  Bowdoin  1  and 
Stephen  Pullen  1  vote  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Daniel 
Coney  had  42  votes,  Dummer  Sewall  7,  Nathaniel  Dum- 
mer  9  and  Samuel  Thompson  30  votes  for  Senator. 

1795,  Samuel  Adams  had  55  votes  for  Governor. 
Moses  Gill  had  57  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1796,  Samuel  Adams  had  59  votes  and  Increase  Sum- 
ner, Esq.,  85  votes  for  Governor.  Moses  Gill  had  37 
votes  and  Increase  Sumner  15  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1797,  James  Sullivan  had  60  votes.  Increase  Sumner 


*This  year  the  town  was  di^ided  by  the  uicorporation  of  Read- 
field. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  79 

15  and  Moses  Gill  3  votes  for  Governor.  Increase  Sum- 
ner had  25  votes,  Moses  Gill  12,  James  Sullivan  3, 
Nathaniel  Gorham  2  and  James  Bowdoin  1  vote  for 
Lieut.  Governor. 

1798,  Increase  Sumner  had  59  votes  for  Governor. 
Moses  Gill  had  29  votes,  Thomas  Dawes  4  and  Thomas 
Dawes,  Jr.,  8  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1799,  William  Heath,  Esq.,  had  60  votes  and  Increase 
Sumner  45  votes  for  Governor.  James  Bowdoin  had  41 
votes  Moses  Gill  36  and  William  Heath  3  votes  for  Lieut. 
Governor. 

1800,  Caleb  Strong,  Esq.,  had  74  votes,  Elbridge 
Gerry  34,  Moses  Gill  4  and  John  Blunt  4  votes  for 
Governor.  Nathaniel  Wells,  Esq.,  had  60  votes,  Moses 
Gill  1 1  and  William  Heath  5  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 
Peleg  Wadsworth,  Esq.,  had  22  votes  and  John  Chandler, 
Esq.,  11  votes  for  Representative  to  Congress. 

1801,  Caleb  Strong  had  77  votes,  Elbridge  Gerry  3  and 
Samuel  Phillips  2  votes  for  Governor.  Samuel  Phillips 
had  59  votes  and  William  Heath  30  votes  for  Lieutenant 
Governor. 

1802,  Caleb  Strong  had  70  votes  and  Elbridge  Gerry 
22  votes  for  Governor.  Edward  H.  Bobbins  had  50  votes 
and  William  Heath  20  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1803,  C.  Strong  had  85  votes,  C Strong  5,  Gov. 

Strong  1,  Elbridge  Gerry  17,   E Gerry  46,  James 

Bowdoin  59  and  Edward  Howard  Bobbins  95  votes  for 
Governor. 

1804,  Caleb  Strong  had  86  votes  and  James  Sullivan 
80  votes  for  Governor.  William  Heath  had  80  votes  and 
Edward  H.  Bobbins  74  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 


80  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

1805,  C.  Strong  had  97  votes  and  James  Sullivan  71 
votes  for  Governor.  Edward  H.  Robbins  had  84  votes 
and  William  Heath  68  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Na- 
thaniel Fairbanks  had  91  votes,  Nathan  Weston  73  and 
James  Bridge  1  vote  for  Senator. 

1806,  C.  Strong  had  117  votes  and  James  Sullivan  63 
votes  for  Governor.  Edward  H.  Robbins  had  103  votes, 
William  Heath  64  and  James  Bridge  1  vote  for  Lieut. 
Governor.  James  Bridge  had  103  votes  and  Thomas 
Fillebrown  68  votes  for  Senators. 

1807,  C.  Strong  had  112  votes,  James  Sullivan  67 
and  Elbridge  Gerry  1  vote  for  Governor.  Edward  H. 
Robbins  had  105  votes  and  Levi  Lincoln  69  votes  for 
Lieut.  Governor. 

1808,  Christopher  Gore,  Esq.,  had  125  votes,  James 
Sullivan  57,  William  Eaton  5  and  David  Cobb  2  votes 
for  Governor.  David  Cobb  had  120  votes  and  Levi  Lin- 
coln 55  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1809,  C.  Gore  had  151  votes,  Levi  Lincoln  56  and 
John  Q.  Adams  2  votes  for  Governor.  David  Cobb  had 
142  votes,  Levi  Lincoln  1  and  Joseph  B.  Varnum  58 
votes  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Thomas  Riel,  Esq.,  had  122 
votes,  Joshua  Cushman  58  and  Nathaniel  Dummer  24 
votes  for  Senators. 

1810,  C.  Gore  had  123  votes  and  E.  Gerry  74  votes  for 
Governor.  D.  Cobb  had  113  votes  and  William.  Gray 
73  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor.  Samuel  S.  Wilde  had  118 
votes  and  Joshua  Cushman  63  votes  for  Senators. 

1811,  E.  Gerry  had  75  votes  for  Governor.  C.  Gore 
had  105  votes,  William  Phillips  94  and  Yv^illiam  Gray 
76  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  81 

1812,  C,  Strong  had  150  votes  and  E.  Gerry  92  votes 
for  Governor.  AV.  Phillips  had  149  votes  and  William 
King  79  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1813,  C.  Strong  163  votes  and  Joseph  B.  Varnnm  75 
vptes  for  Governor.  W.  Phillips  had  159  votes  and  W. 
King  65  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1814,  C.  Strong  had  150  votes  and  Samuel  Dexter  82 
votes  for  Governor.  William  Phillips  had  136  votes  and 
William  Gray  73  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 

1815,  His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  had  153  votes  and 
Samuel  Dexter  79  votes  for  Governor. 

1816,  Gen.  John  Brooks  had  153  votes  and  Hon. 
Samuel  Dexter  93  votes  for  Governor. 

1817,  His  Excellency  John  Brooks,  Esq. ,  had  1 42  votes 
and  Gen.  Henry  Dearborn,  Esq.,  72  votes  for  Governor- 

1818,  His  Excellency  John  Brooks  had  122  votes  and 
Benjamin   Crowningshield,  Esq.,  59  votes  for  Governor. 

1819,  His  Excellency  John  Brooks  had  132  votes  and 
Benjamin  Crowningshield,  Esq.,  59  votes  for  Governor. 

1820,  This  year  Maine  became  a  State.  Hon.  Wm. 
King  had  79  votes,  Hon.  Samuel  S.  Wilde  9,  Ezekiel 
Whitman,  Esq.,  5  and  Elijah  Davenport  1  vote  for 
Governor. 

1821,  Hon.  Ezekiel  Whitman  had  95  votes,  Hon. 
Albion  K.  Parris  31  and  John  Cushman,  Esq.,  14  votes 
for  Governor. 

1822,  Albion  K.  Parris  had  98  votes  and  Ezekiel 
Whitman  94  votes  for  Governor. 

1823,  Albion  K.  Parris  had  147  votes  for  Governor. 

1824,  Albion  K.  Parris  had  123  votes  for  Governor. 

1825,  Albion  K.  Parris  had  58  votes  and  Joshua  Cush- 
man 4  votes  for  Governor. 


82  HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP. 

1826,  Enoch  Lincoln  had  51  votes  and  Ezekied  "Whit- 
man 26  votes  for  Governor. 

1827,  Enoch  Lincoln  had  96  votes  for  Governor. 
Nathan  Cutler  had  111  votes.  Rev.  Joshua  Cushman 
108,  Reuel  Williams  99,  Sandford  Kingsbury  59,  Edward 
Fuller  40  and  Joel  Wellington  23  votes  for  Senators. 

1832,  Daniel  Goodenow  had  137  votes,  Samuel  E. 
Smith  79  and  Moses  Carlton  22  votes  for  Governor.  Rev. 
Eliakim  Scammon  had  240  votes,  Jonathan  G.  Hunton 
238,  Timothy  Boutelle  239,  Alfred  Marshall  80,  Moses 
Springer,  Jr.,  79  and  Stillman  Howard  ^80  votes  for 
Senators. 

1837,  Edward  Kent  had  284  votes  and  Gorham  Parks 
93  votes  for  Governor. 

1839,  Edward  Kent  had  201  votes  and  John  Fairfield 
107  votes  for  Governor. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  82  1-4 

Votes  for  Governor  continued  from  the  preceding  page 
to  the  present  year,  1855. 

1840,  Edward  Kent  had  305  votes  and  John  Fairfield 
102  votes  for  Governor. 

1841,  Edward  Kent  had  243  votes,  John  Fairfield  113 
Jeremiah  Curtis  40  and  Scattering  3  votes  for  Governor. 

1842,  Edward  Robinson  had  166  votes,  John  Fairfield 
97,  James  Appleton  84  and  Scattering  2  votes  for  Gov- 
ernor. 

1843,  Edward  Robinson  had  157  votes,  Hugh  J.  An- 
derson 84,  James  Appleton  66  and  Scattering  13  votes 
for  Governor. 

1844,  Edward  Robinson  had  246  votes,  Hugh  J.  An- 
derson 94,  James  Appleton  68  and  Scattering  1  vote  for 
Governor. 

1845,  Freeman  H.  Morse  had  171  votes,  Hugh  J.  An- 
derson 64,  Samuel  Fessenden  62  and  Scattering  3  votes 
for  Governor. 

1846,  David  Bronson  had  203  votes,  John  W.  Dana 
69,  Samuel  Fessenden  69  and  Scattering  3  votes  for 
Governor. 

1847,  David  Bronson  98  votes,  John  W.  Dana  37, 
Samuel  Fessenden  41  and  Scattering  1  vote  for  Governor. 

1848,  Elijah  L.  Hamlin  had  136  votes,  John  W.  Dana 
60  and  Samuel  Fessenden  165  votes  for  Governor. 

1849,  Elijah  L.  Hamlin  had  145  votes,  John  Hubbard 
59  and  Geo.  F.  Talbot  68  votes  for  Governor. 

1850,  William  G.  Crosby  had  159  votes,  John  Hub- 
bard 83  and  Geo.  F.  Talbot  84  votes  for  Governor. 

1851,  No  Election. 

1852,  William  G.  Crosby  had  173  votes,  John  Hub- 


82  1-2  HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP. 

bard  178,  Anson  G.  Chandler  84  Ezekiel  Holmes  20  and 
Scattering  1  vote  for  Governor. 

1853,  William  G.  Crosby  had  160  votes,  Albert  Pills- 
bury  111,  Ezekiel  Holmes  70,  Anson  P.  Morrill  15  and 
Scattering  1  vote  for  Governor. 

1854,  Anson  P.  Morrill  had  217  votes,  Isaac  Reed  134 
and  Albion  K.  Parris  106  votes  for  Governor. 

1855,  Anson  P.  Morrill  had  282  votes,  Samuel  Wells 
141,  Isaac  Reed  94  and  Scattering  1  vote  for  Governor. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Standard  of  weights  and  measui'es — pounds — ^warning  out  of  to^vn 
— manufactiu'es — Banks. 

*'  A  standard  of  weights  and  measures,  by  order  of 
the  Selectmen,  were  provided  for  the  town  by  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Fairbanks,  in  the  year  1783,  and  delivered  to 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Sealer  of  weights  and  measures ; 
consisting  of  1  half  bushel,  1  peck,  1  half  peck,  1  gallon, 
1  quart,  1  fpint,  1  half  pint,  gill,  1  half  gill,  1  ell,  1 
yard,  2  pair  of  scales  with  steel  beams,  1  four  pound,  1 
two  pound,  1  one  pound,  1  two  ounce,  1  one  ounce,  1 
half  ounce,  1  quarter  of  an  ounce  weight. 

Attest :  NATHANIEL  FAIRBANKS, 

Town  ClerV 

May,  1789,  "Voted  to  build  2  pounds  30  feet  square 
of  sawed  timber  and  cedar  posts,  one  to  be  set  at  the  east 
end  of  Joel  Chandler's  homestead,  the  other  near  the 
bead  of  the  mill  pond  on  Joshua  Bean's  land,  both  to  be 
completed  by  the  1st  of  May  next.  Capt.  "William 
Whittier  bid  off  the  north  pound  for  £2  17s.,  and  with 
hewn  timber  if  he  chose.  Amos  Stevens  bid  off  the 
south  pound  for  £2  17s.,  to  be  built  to  the  acceptance  of 
the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being." 


84  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

A  law,  requiring  the  authorities  of  towns  to  warn  per- 
sons, who  came  into  a  town  to  reside  without  the  consent 
of  the  town,  to  depart  out  of  it,  began  to  be  put  in  force 
•n  1789,  as  follows: 

"  LINCOLN,  SS.     To  Henry  Wyman,  Constable  of  the 
town  of  Winthrop,  GREETING. 

[L.  S.]  You  are,  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  directed  to  warn  and  give  notice  unto  Sarah 
Follet,  in  the  aforesaid  County,  the  wife  of  James  Follet 
of  Hallowell,  who  has  lately  come  into  this  town  for  the 
purpose  of  abiding  therein,  not  having  obtained  the  town's 
consent  therefor,  that  she  depart  the  limits  thereof,  with 
her  children,  within  fifteen  days  ;  and  of  this  precept  with 
your  doings  thereon,  you  are  to  make  return  into  the 
ofSce  of  the  clerk  of  the  town  within  twenty  days  next 
coming,  that  such  further  proceedings  may  be  had  in  the 
premises  as  the  law  directs. 

Given  under  our  hand  and  seal  at  Winthrop  aforesaid, 

this  12th  day  of  Octo.,  1789. 

JOHN  HUBBARD,  )       Selectmen 
SAM'L  WOOD,        f  of  Winthrop^ 

"  LINCOLN,  SS.     Octo.  21,  1789. 

This  day  by  virtue  of  the  within  warrant,  I  have  given 
the  within  named  Sarah  Follet  with  her  children  notice 
to  depart  out  of  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Winthrop  within 
fifteen  days,  as  the  law  directs. 

HENRY  WYMAN,   Constable. 
A  true  copy,  Attest :  JOHN  HUBBARD, 

T.  Clerkr 

The  same  day,  "  Catharine  Scoot  was  warned  to  leave 
town." 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP.  85 

"LINCOLN,    SS.      To    Squier   BisHop,    Constable  of 
Wiiithrop,  GREETING. 

[L.  S.]  You  are,  in  tlie  name  of  the  Commonwealth, 
of  Massachusetts,  directed  to  warn  and  give  notice  unto 
John  Clark,  Fiddler,  a  transient  person,  who  has  lately 
come  into  this  town  for  the  pui'pose  of  abiding  therein, 
not  having  obtained  the  town's  consent  therefor,  that  he 
depart  the  limits  thereof  within  fifteen  days. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  seventh  day  of  Mar.,  1792. 

NATHANIEL  FAIRBANKS,  )  c.  7    , 
SAMUEL  WOOD,  )  selectmen. 

Report  says  Mr.  Bishop  once  warned  a  man  off  of  God's 
earth.  Perhaps  this  was  the  man  ;  for  who  has  less  claim 
to  a  dwelling  on  the  earth  than  a  traveling  fiddler  ?  The 
man  says,  "Where  shall  I  go?"  "Go?"  says  Mr. 
Bishop,  "go  to  Wayne  ! " 

MANUFACTUBES   AND    MECHANICS. 

During  the  last  w^ar  with  Great  Britain,  a  Copperas 
mine,  near  the  western  shore  of  the  Great  Pond,  was 
worked  for  a  season.  A  very  substantial  Spruce  Yellow 
was  also  obtained,  wdth  which  some  buildings  w^ere 
painted.  But  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the  price  of 
copperas  became  so  low,  that  the  w^orks  were  abandoned. 

Messrs.  Moses  &  Charles  M.  Bailey  have  an  Oil  Cloth 
Carpet  Manufactory  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
wdiere  they  manufacture  and  sell  annually  some  $200,000 
worth  of  their  goods. 

Messrs.  Bobbins  &  Hayward  erected  a  building  for  the 
manufacture  of  Oil  Cloth  Carpeting,  to  be  operated  by 
5 


86  HISTORY   OP   WINTHEOP. 

steam,  in  1854,  and  commenced  operations  in  Jan.,  1855. 
Messrs.  Craigs  established  a  Manufactory  for  making 
window-blinds,   sashes,   &c.,  in    1854,  and    are  doing 
considerable  in  that  line. 

There  have  been  craftsmen  of  various  kinds  from  an 
early  period.  Mr.  Gideon  Lambert  smote  the  anvil  and 
first  wrought  the  shoes  for  their  oxen  and  horses.  How 
long  he  labored  in  that  vocation  is  not  known.  It  was 
not  his  constant  employment ;  for  he  cleared  up  lands 
and  made  him  a  farm.  Mr.  Moses  Chandler  was  the  next 
blacksmith.  Then  Mr.  John  Cole  followed  the  business. 
In  another  part  of  the  town,  Dea.  Benjamin  Perkins,  and 
Dea.  Luke  Perkins  and  Capt.  Asa  Fairbanks  worked  in 
that  line.  Very  many  others,  at  different  times,  in  several 
neighborhoods,  have  been  thus  occupied. 

Col.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks  had  a  Tannery  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Dea.  Metcalf  at  an  early  period  after  the  first 
settlement  of  the  town.  He  afterwards  carried  on  the 
business  at  the  village.  Mr.  Timothy  Foster,  Jr.,  prac- 
ticed the  art  to  some  extent  in  another  part  of  the  town. 
Thomas  Eastman,  Esq.,  had  a  tanning  establishment 
at  East  Winthrop,  where  considerable  is  done  in  that 
department.  Capt.  Samuel  Clark  has  had  the  largest 
establishment  of  the  kind,  at  the  village.  It  is  now  in 
the  hands  of  his  son,  Mr.  E.  Miller  Clark. 

The  first  Shoemaker,  was  Mr.  Ebenezcr  Davenport, 
who  was  also  somewhat  of  a  hunter.  There  are  several 
pretty  extensive  Boot  and  Shoe  Manufactories.  A  con- 
siderable trade  in  this  line  is  carried  on  with  California. 

Dea.  Joseph  Metcalf  was  the  first  Cabinet  and  Chair 
maker.     Mr.  Charles  Robbins  and  Capt.  Samuel  Benja- 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  87 

min,  who  served  an  apprenticeship  with  Dea.  Metcalf, 
pursued  their  trade  at  the  village.  Mr.  Robbins  devoted 
much  time  to  the  study  of  music,  and  acquired  a  respect- 
able acquaintance  with  its  theory.  Capt.  Benjamin 
became  a  skillful  workman.  He  afterwards  engaged  with 
Mr.  Pitts  in  constructing  horse  powers  and  machines  for 
threshing  and  cleaning  grain.  Since  the  loss  of  his  shop 
on  the  stream  by  fire,  he  and  his  sons  have  erected  another 
near  the  Railroad  station,  in  which  they  operate  by  steam. 

Mr.  Paul  Sears  was  probably  the  first  Cooper.  Dea 
Charles  Harris  was  of  the  same  craft,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  His  son,  Mr.  Caleb  Harris, 
followed  the  business  for  several  years,  and  then  he 
removed  to  Mercer.  The  articles  made  by  the  Dea.,  were 
of  superior  workmanship,  as  were  those  also  of  his  son. 

The  House  Carpenters  have  been  somewhat  numerous. 
Among  the  earlier  ones  were  Messrs.  Nathaniel  Morton, 
Nathan  Howard,  Samuel  and  John  Morrill. 

Messrs.  Adin  Stanley  and  his  sons,  Lemuel  and  Morrill 
Stanley,  have  been  Wagon  and  Chaise  makers.  Their 
carriages  are  made  for  durable  service. 

:  A  Fulling  Mill  was  built  upon  the  stream  by  Mr.  Cyrus 
Baldwin,  in  1791,  where  the  wollen  factory  now  stands. 
Not  long  after,  he  sold  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Allen,  who  sold 
to  Mr.  Liberty  Stanley  and  he  to  Mr.  John  Cole. 

A  Blacksmith's  shop  with  a  trip  hammer  was  estab- 
lished by  Mr.  Cole. 

Maj.  Elijah  Wood  had  a  Wrought  Iron  Nail  shop,  from 
which  the  people  for  a  very  considerable  distance,  were 


88  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP* 

supplied  with  hammered  nails.  He  employed  20  men. 
After  this,  Mr.  Samuel  Reed  manufactured  Cut  Nails  for 
some  years,  and  then  went  to  Gardiner. 

In  1809,  the  Winthrop  Cotton  and  Wollen  Manufac- 
tory was  incorporated,  but  did  not  go  into  operation  till 
1814.  The  building  is  of  brick,  eighty  feet  long,  sixty 
feet  wide  and  four  stories  high,  with  a  basement  for  a 
machine  shop.  It  has  a  porch  which  is  sixty  feet  by 
twenty- three.  Their  weekly  average  of  cloth  is  1500 
yards. 

Since  the  removal  of  Mr.  Chandler's  mills,  a  Grist 
Mill,  two  Saw  Mills,  a  Wollen  Manufactory  and  two  large 
Shops  have  been  erected,  in  which  Horse  Powers,  Separ- 
ators, winnowing  machines  and  various  other  labor  saving 
machines  have  been  made.  These  shops  were  burnt  in 
Feb.,  1853.     Mr.  Luther  Whitman  has  re-built. 

In  the  year  1806,  Nathaniel  Perley,  a  lawyer  in  Hal- 
lowell,  opened  a  canal  from  the  North  Pond,  west  of  the 
stream,  upon  which  he  erected  a  Grist  Mill,  in  which,  for 
several  years,  considerable  business  was  done.  But  the 
Cotton  Manufacturing  Company  purchased  Mr.  Perley's 
establishment,  and  closed  the  canal. 

Jonathan  Whiting  had  a. Mill  on  the  stream  south  of 
his  house. 

Jedediah  Prescot,  Esq.,  had  a  Saw  Mill  and  a  Grist 
Mill  on  the  stream  passing  through  the  Snell  farm. 

Mr.  Squier  Bishop  was  the  first  Innholder  in  town. 
For  a  succession  of  years,  town  meetings  were  held  at 
his  house.     His  son,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bishop,  succeeded 


HISTORY  OP  WXNTBtROP.  89 

him  in  the  tavern.  He  erected  a  store  and  kept  quite  an 
assortment  of  goods.  He  afterwards  traded  many  years 
at  the  village.  Among  the  other  early  store  keepers, 
were  Mr.  John  Cole,  Maj.  Elijah  Wood,  Capt.  Barney 
Haskell,  Mr.  Joseph  Tinkham  and  Mr.  Samuel  Holt. 

Mr.  John  Avery  Pitts,  a  native  of  this  town  and  an 
inhabitant  until  a  few  years  past,  at  the  Paris  Exhibition 
in  France,  1855,  received  the  first  premium  for  his 
Grain  Thrasher  and  Winnower.  From  the  report  of  the 
trial  of  this  class  of  machines,  we  copy  the  following 
statement :  "  Four  thrashing  machines  were  tried,  and 
six  men  with  flails,  to  test  the  difference  of  the  labor. 
Pitt's  American  thrasher  "bore  the  bell"  among  them 
all.  The  six  men  thrashed  60  litres  of  wheat  in  thirty 
minutes,  Pitt's  machine  740  litres,  the  English  machine 
410,  the  French  machine  250,  the  Belgian  machine  150. 
In  these  trials  of  reaping  and  thrashing  machines,  America 
stood  preeminent,  and  the  effect  upon  the  thousands  who 
witnessed  their  operations  was  most  happy.  The  prac- 
tical and  useful  character  of  our  inventions  is  now  highly 
appreciated  by  the  most  distinguished  men  in  Europe." 

BANKS. 

The  Winthrop  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1824,  with  a 
capital  of  850,000.  As  it  did  not  meet  the  expectation 
of  the  Stockholders,  after  a  brief  trial,  they  called  in  their 
bills  and  closed  the  concern. 

The  Bank  of  Winthrop  was  incorporated  in  1853, 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  That  has  succeeded  so  well 
that  825,000  have  since  been  added.  Charles  M.  Bailey 
is  President,  and  David  Stanley  is  Cashier. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Education — schools — graduates — doctors — physicians  who  have 
practiced  in  Winthrop — ^preachers — lawyers. 

EDITCATION-. 

Some  of  the  first  inhabitants  must  have  had  considerable 
instruction  in  the  common  schools.  Some  of  the  town 
clerks  wrote  a  very  handsome,  legible  hand.  Their 
composition  was  quite  respectable.  They  sometimes 
violated  the  rules  of  syntax.  They  abounded  in  the  use 
of  capital  letters,  as  the  best  writers  did  in  those  days. 
Much  of  their  orthography  was  incorrect.     For  instance, 

"  Voted  to  Except  a  Road  three  Rods  wide."    were 

*'  chosen  Committee  to  enspect  The  Building  of  Said 
house."  "Eight  o'Clock  in  the  Four  Noon."  "Noti- 
fie  —  servis  —  leagul  —  chuse."  Some  of  them  spelled 
quite  correctly. 

The  young  children  of  the  early  settlers  had  very  small 
advantages  to  obtain  an  education.  But  few  families 
came  to  the  place  for  several  years.  Some  of  them  had 
not  the  means  to  pay  for  the  instruction  of  their  children. 
The  tradition  is,  that  the  first  school  was  taught  by  Mr. 
Benjamin  Brainerd,  in  the  porch  of  the  house  of  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF   WINTHROP.  91 

Benjamin  Fairbanks.  He  had  about  twelve  scholars. 
How  long  the  school  continued  is  not  known.  This  was 
doubtless  more  than  seventy  years  ago.  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fairbanks  was  the  next  school  teacher  in  his  own  house. 
Dr.  Moses  Wing  first  taught  at  the  Mills,  in  a  room  in 
Mr.  John  Chandler's  house.  Mr.  Phillip  Allen  also 
instructed  there  at  an  early  period. 

The  first  movement  in  regard  to  schools  on  the  town 
records,  is  in  the  warrant  for  a  meeting,  March  14,  1774, 
*'  to  see  if  the  town  will  hire  schooling  this  year,  and  how 
much."  The  record  does  not  state  that  the  town  took 
any  action  on  the  subject.  The  next  mention  of  the 
subject  is  in  the  warrant  for  a  meeting,  March,  1775,  "to 
so?  how  much  schooling  the  town  will  hire,  and  what 
method  the  town  will  take  respecting  the  school."  In 
the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  in  March,  1776,  was  an 
article  relating  to  schools,  upon  w^hich  they  "  voted  not 
to  raise  any  money  for  a  school,  nor  for  preaching,  nor  to 
defray  town  charges."  The  war  of  the  Revolution 
oppressed  them.  March,  1777,  the  article  in  the  war- 
rant "  To  see  if  the  town  wdll  come  into  some  meas- 
ures to  provide  a  school  the  year  ensuing,"  was  passed 
in  the  negative.  In  March,  1782,  the  town  appropriated 
twenty  pounds  for  schooling.  The  Selectmen  were  au- 
thorized to  divide  the  schooling  according  to  their  dis- 
cretion. 

The   town  was  divided  into  six   school   districts  by 

accepting  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  for  the 
purpose,  in  December,  1782.  In  1783,  and  in  each  of 
the  three  following  years,  the  town  voted  to  raise  thirty 


92  niSTORT   OP   WINTHROP. 

pounds,  lawful  silver  money,  to  support  schools.  In  1 787, 
they  voted  to  raise  fifty  pounds,  and  in  1788  they  added 
ten  pounds  lawful  money  to  the  fifty  pounds  of  the  last 
year. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  town  chose  a  School  Com- 
mittee of  three  in  each  district,  and  a  Collector  of  the 
money  for  schooling  in  each  district.  Generally,  but  not 
invariably,  one  of  the  Committee  was  appointed  Collector. 
In  1789,  thoy  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds 
to  build  school  houses  in  the  several  districts.  They 
appropriated  sixty  pounds  for  schools.  1790,  they  raised 
one  hundred  pounds  to  hire  school  teachers,  and  two 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to  finish  school  houses. 

April,  1791,  Readfield  was  incorporated  into  a  town. 

At  the  first  town  meeting  after  this.  Committees  were 
chosen  for  the  several  school  districts,  as  follows  : 

1st  district,  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  Timothy  Foster  and 
Elijah  Fairbanks. 

2d  district,  Stephen  Pullen,  John  Comings  and  Reuben 
Brainerd. 

3d  district,  Ebenezer  Davenport,  Charles  Harris  and 
James  Atkinson. 

4th  district,  John  Chandler,  Cyrus  Baldwin  and  Gideon 
Lambert. 

5th  district,  Phillip  Allen,  Solomon  Stanley  and  John 
Fuller. 

6th  district,  Arnold  Sweet,  Samuel  King  and  Henry 
Stanley. 

1792,  thirty-five  pounds  were  raised  for  the  support  of 
schools.     In  1 793,  sixty  pounds.     In  1 794,  sixty  pounds. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  93 

In  1796,  three  hundred  dollars.     In  1797,  three  hundred 
and  thirty-three  dollars. 

In  1797  or  1798,  the  interest  in  having  their  children 
instructed,  hecame  such,  in  one  district,  at  least,  which  is 
the  Snell  district,  that  after  expending   their  portion  of 
the  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  raised  by  the  i 
town,  individuals  subscribed  two,  five  or  ten  dollars  each 
to   have  the   school    continued.      They  were    generous 
enough,  not  to  make  it  a  private  school,  but  allowed  al 
the  scholars  in  the  district  to  attend,  whether  their  parents 
had  subscribed  any  thing  or  not.     They  thus  employed 
a  teacher  by  the  name  of  Burgin,  a  year  and  nine  months. 

In  1800,  the  town  raised  four  hundred  dollars  for  the 
support  of  schools.  In  1804,  six  hundred  dollars.  In 
1807,  seven  hundred  dollars.  The  same  sum  was  raised 
annually  for  many  years. 

April,  1807,  "  Samuel  Wood,  Dudley  Todd,  Esqrs., 
Capt,  Hushai  Thomas  and  Rev.  David  Thurston  were 
appointed  the  School  Committee,  and  were  also  requested  - 
to  draw  a  plan  for  the  instruction  of  the  youth  in  said 
town  and  report  at  the  next  town  meeting,  if  they  should 
be  of  opinion  that  they  can  make  any  improvement  of  the 
present  plan  of  schooling." 

May,  1807,  the  committee  chosen  in  April,  to  report 
any  improvement  in  the  mode  of  schooling,  offered  the 
following : — 

"In  our  opinion,  it  would  be  an  improvement,  if,  in 
all  the  districts  where  there  are  more  than  40  scholars, 
no  small  children,  who  cannot  read  in  two  syllables  so  as 
to  be  classed  with  others,  should  be  admitted  into  the 
winter  schools,  and  that  the  teachers  in  their  respective 


94  HISTORY   OF  WmiHROP. 

schools  should  be  the  judges  what  scholars  are  not  capable 
of  being  thus  classed ;  and  in  case  of  any  disagreement 
between  the  school  teachers  and  parents  or  guardians  of 
children,  it  shall  be  referred  to  the  School  Committee  to 
decide. 

SAMUEL  WOOD, 

DAVID  THURSTON, 
HUSHAI  THOMAS, 

DUDLEY  TODD. 

May  4,  1807." 

The  town  accepted  the  report. 

1822,  the  town  voted  to  raise  six  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  for  the  support  of  schools.  They  continued  to 
raise  this  sum  for  the  support  of  schools  till  1824,  when 
they  raised  seven  hundred  and  ninety  dollars.  In  1825, 
they  raised  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  In  1826,  they 
raised  seven  hundred  dollars.  In  1828,  they  raised  eight 
hundred  dollars.  They  raised  this  sum  annually,  till 
1833,  when  the  interest  on  the  Ministerial  Fund  was 
appropriated  to  support  primary  schools,  when  they  raised 
six  hundred  and  twenty  dollars.  In  1837,  they  raised 
six  hundred  dollars. 

For  many  years,  more  than  an  usual  degree  of  interest 
was  manifested  by  some  of  the  people  of  Winthrop  to 
have  their  'schools  answer  the  valuable  design  of  their 
establishment.  The  Superintending  Committee  have  been 
at  considerable  pains  to  have  the  money  appropriated  to 
the  purpose  of  education,  judiciously  expended.  Solicit- 
ous to  have  no  other  than  suitably  qualified  teachers 
employed,  a  sense  of  duty  compelled  them,  occasionally, 
to  withhold  the  required  certificates  from  applicants.    In 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  95 

their  visits  to  tlie  schools,  they  endeavored  to  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  the  pupils  the  value  of  their  privileges, 
and  their  duty  to  avail  themselves  of  them  in  laying  a 
good  foundation  for  an  education.  They  also  sought  to 
encourage  and  stimulate  them  to  be  thorough  in  every 
branch  of  study  to  which  they  attended.  Many  persons 
suffer  all  the  way  through  life  from  being  permitted  to 
pass  over  their  early  studies  in  a  superficial  manner. 
Habitually  to  recite  lessons  half  learned,  forms  a  perni- 
cious habit,  which,  at  length,  disqualifies  the  person  for 
ever  doing  any  thing  well. 

In  their  annual  reports,  which  they  began  quite  early  to 
make,  the  Committee  labored  to  present  the  responsibility 
of  parents  and  district  agents  in  selecting  suitable  in- 
structors for  the  rising  generation.  They  were  earnestly 
cautioned  against  the  wasteful,  insane  practice  of  seeking 
such  as  could  be  obtained  for  a  small  compensation. 
Much  stress  was  laid  on  having  teachers  of  sound  moral 
principles  and  correct  habits.  Parents  were  urged  to 
indefatigable  efforts  to  have  the  children  make  the  best 
use  of  their  time  and  opportunities.  Notwithstanding 
all  the  Committee  could  do,  it  was  sometimes  a  painful 
task  to  make  a  true  report  of  the  state  of  some  schools. 
The  effect,  however,  on  the  schools  was  highly  salutary. 
The  Committee  had  the  satisfaction  to  believe  that  their 
arduous  and  self-denying  labors  were  not  lost.  Their 
schools  have  had  the  reputation  of  being  better  regulated, 
better  instructed,  and  of  having  made  greater  proficiency 
in  their  studies  than  in  most  other  places.  They  have 
not  unfrequently   heard   this    opinion   from   competent 


96  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

judges.  May  they  ever  maintain  a  superiority  to  others 
in  intelligence,  morality  and  every  good  work. 

In  addition  to  the  town  schools,  private  schools  have 
been  kept  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  in  the  district  at 
the  village,  in  that  at  East  Winthrop  and  in  some  oth- 
ers. Of  late  years,  they  have  sometimes  had  a  quarter's 
schooling  in  the  spring  and  autumn.  A  respectable 
number  have  gone  abroad,  to  different  academies  and 
schools.  So  that  the  outlays  for  education,  beyond  the 
legal  assessments,  have  been  very  considerable. 

Rev.  John  Butler,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  East 
Winthrop,  instructed  quite  a  number  of  classes  of  young 
ladies  in  the  higher  branches  of  an  English  education. 
He  was  a  very  acceptable  and  successful  teacher.  His 
pupils  made  highly  creditable  proficiency  in  their  studies, 
particularly  in  Geography  and  Astronomy.  These  branches 
were  illustrated  by  the  use  of  Globes  and  an  Orrery. 
His  school  obtained  such  fame,  (nor  was  it  undeserved,) 
that  some  of  his  pupils  came  from  a  very  considerable 
distance.  His  school  gave  an  increased  impulse  to  the 
cause  of  female  education,  not  only  in  this  town,  but  in 
the  region  around  in  various  directions. 

The  whole  number  of  scholars  between  the  ages  of 
four  and  twenty-one,  in  May,  1804,  was  685.  In  Dis- 
trict No.  1,  there  were  133  ;  in  District  No.  2,  were  79  ; 
in  District  No.  3,  were  102  ;  in  District  No.  4,  were 
134;  in  District  No.  5,  39;  in  District  No.  6,  were  45;  in 
District  No.  7,  were  80 ;  in  District  No.  8,  were  31 ;  in 
District  No.  9,  were  42.  The  money  raised  that  year  for 
schools  was  six  hundred  dollars. 

The  whole  number  of  scholars  between  the  ages  of 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  "97 

four  and  twenty-one,  in  May,  1855,  was  777.  In  Dis- 
trict No.  1,  63;  No.  2,  76;  No.  3,  53;  No,  4,  304; 
No.  5,  79;  No.  6,  20;  No.  7,  57;  No.  8,  48;  No.  9, 
66 ;  No.  10,  11 ;  No.  11,  4 ;  No.  12,  4. 

Wintlirop  has  furnished  a  large  number  for  the  highly 
important,  but  by  no  means  duly  appreciated,  occupation 
of  teaching  common  schools.  Some  of  them  have  attained 
considerable  celebrity,  not  only  in  Maine  and  other  New 
England  States,  but  also  in  the  Middle,  Southern  and 
Western  States. 

GEADUATES. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  graduates  at  different 
Colleges,  from  Winthrop. 

Abisha  Benson,  brought  up  in  the  family  of  his  uncle, 
Dr.  Peleg  Benson,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College, 
Hanover,  N.  H.,  in  1812. 

SamuelJohnson,  sonof  Dea.  Samuel  and  Mrs.  Susanna 
Johnson,  was  born  in  Rowley,  Mass.,  but  came,  while  a 
child,  in  1802,  to  Winthrop.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin 
College  in  the  class  of  1817. 

George  Washington. Campbell  resided  with  his  brother 
Daniel  Campbell,  Esq.,  and  graduated  at  Union  College, 
Skenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  1820. 

Samuel  Page  Benson,  youngest  son  of  Dr.  Peleg  and 
Mrs.  Sally  Benson,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1825. 

Charles  Snell,  son  of  Dr.  Issacher  and  Mrs.  Mary  Snell, 
graduated  at  the  same  College;  the  same  year. 

Samuel  Lewis  Clark,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  and  Mrs.  . 
Susanna  Clark,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1826. 

William  S.  Sewall,  son  of  Rev.  Henry  and  Mrs.  Esther 

Sewall,  graduated  at  Bov/doin  College  in  1834. 
5* 


98  HISTORY    OP   WINTHROP. 

Thomas  Newman  Lord,  after  finishing  his  apprentice- 
ship with  his  uncle  Capt.  Thomas  Newman,  graduated  at 
Bowdoin  College  in  1835. 

Samuel  Elliot  Benjamin,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  and  Mrs. 
Olivia  Benjamin,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1839. 

William  Bradford  Snell,  son  of  Capt.  Elijah  and  Mrs. 
Abba  Snell,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1845. 

Luther  Sampson  Gibson,  son  of  Rev.  Zechariah  and 
Mrs.  Theodate  Gibson,  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall  College^ 
Princeton,  N.  J. 

Perez  Southworth,  son  of  Mr.  Benjamin  and  Mrs. 
Content  Southworth,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in 
1846. 

George  G.  Fairbanks,  son  of  Mr.  Elijah  and  Mrs. 

Fairbanks,  graduated  at  Waterville  College  in  1847. 

John  Walker  May,  son  of  Seth  May,  Esq.,  and  Mrs. 
Cynthia,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1852. 

Francis  Everett  Webb,  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  and  Mrs. 
Olive  Webb,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1853,  in 
which  he  was  tutor  in  Greek  one  year. 

Henry  Clay  Wood,  son  of  Major  Samuel  and  Mrs. 
Florena  S.  Wood,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1854. 

DOCTOES. 

Winthrop  has  raised  Physicians  for  several  other  places. 

Bezer  Snell,  son  of  Capt.  Elijah  and  Mrs.  Abba  Snell, 
went  to  Virginia  in  1818.  He  was  employed  as  a  teacher 
for  some  time.  He  studied  the  healing  art.  He  went  to 
Red-house,  Charlotte  County,  Virginia,  where  he  has 
since  been  in  the  practice. 

John   Calvin  Metcalf,  son  of  Dea.  Joseph  and  Mrs. 


HISTORY  OP  WmTHROP  99 

Olive  Metcalf,  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in  1823,  from 
the  Medical  Institution  in  Philadelphia.  He  has  been  a 
practitioner  in  Kentucky  since  the  year  1831. 

Gorham  Albion  Wing,  son  of  Ichabod  Wing,  Esq.,  and 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wing,  born  July  15,  1798.  Having  a 
feeble  constitution,  his  early  life  was  devoted  to  studies. 
After  he  left  the  town  school,  he  was  instructed  in  Read- 
field,  and  was  for  a  season  under  the  tuition  of  the  writer. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  commenced  teaching  a  town 
school.  In  1818,  he  went  to  Tancytown,  Maryland, 
where  he  taught  school  and  studied  medicine,  and  after 
five  years  he  returned,  attended  Medical  Lectures  at 
Brunswick,  and  in  1824  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  con- 
ferred upon  him.  He  returned  to  Maryland,  and  after 
practicing  medicine  one  year  in  company  with  Dr.  Heb- 
bard,  he  removed  to  Boxborough,  Person  County,  North 
Carolina  for  five  years.  He  then  went  with  a  company 
of  emigrants  to  Spring  Hill,  Maury  County,  Tennessee, 
where  he  remained  in  his  profession,  until  his  decease, 
May  31,  1854. 

Charles  Snell,  son  of  Dr.  Issachar  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Snell,  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  conferred  on  him  in  1825, 
and  after  practicing  some  time  in  Augusta,  he  went  to 
Bangor,  where  he  still  continues  the  practice. 

Samuel  Lewis  Clark,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  and  Mrs. 
Susannah  Clark,  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  conferred 
on  him  by  Jefl'erson  College.  Pennsylvania.  He  had 
acquired  a  very  respectable  degree  of  skill  in  the  healing 
art.  He  practiced  some  time  in  Winthrop,  but  princi- 
pally in  the  city  of  Bangor.  He  died  August,  1851,  in 
the  forty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

David  E.  A.  Brainerd,  son  of  Mr.  Reuben  and  Mrs. 


100  HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP. 

Fanny  Brainerd,  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin 
College  in  1828.  He  practices  medicine  in  the  town  of 
China. 

Nelson  Howard  Carey,  son  of  Capt.  Simeon  and  Mrs. 
Roana  Carey,  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  conferred  on  him 
at  Bowdoin  College  in  1828.  He  pursued  his  profession 
many  years  in  Wayne,  and  then  went  to  Yarmouth. 

George  Fillebrown,  son  of  Hon.  Thomas  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Fillebrown,  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at 
Bowdoin  College  in  1831,  and  at  Columbia  College, 
D.  C.  He  pursued  his  profession  in  Phippsburg,  and 
secured  the  confidence  of  his  patients.  He  died  in  1833, 
aged  39  years. 

Josiah  Harris,  son  of  Dea.  Charles  and  Melatiah  Harris, 
left  Winthrop,  April,  1830.  He  had  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
from  the  Medical  College  in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  He 
settled  as  a  physician,  in  Ohio.  For  several  years,  he 
held  the  office  of  Judge  in  that  State,  where  he  yet  lives. 

Lewis  Page  Parlin,  son  of  Capt.  Silas  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Parlin,  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin  College 
in  1834,  and  pursues  his  profession  in  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island. 

Daniel  Robbins  Bailey,  son  of  Mr.  Ezekiel  and  Mrs. 
Mary  R.  Bailey,  had  the  degree  of  ^.  D.  conferred  on 
him  at  Philadelphia.  He  practiced  some  time  at  Win- 
throp village,  and  then  removed  to  Fairfield.  After  some 
years,  he  returned,  and  is  practising  in  East  Winthrop. 

PHYSICIANS   "WHO    HAVE    PRACTICED    IN    WINTHKOP. 

Dr.  Michael  Walcott,  from  Attleborough,  Mass.,  was 
here  about  two  years,  the  first  regular  practitioner  in  the 


HISTORY  OP  WDTTHEOP.  101 

place,  at  a  very  early  period.  For  several  years,  after  lie 
left,  the  nearest  physician  was  the  late  Dr.  Cony,  of 
Augusta,  then  Hallowell. 

Dr.  Moses  Wing,  from  Sandwich,  Mass.,  was  some 
time  a  physician  in  town.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  John  Chandler,  Senior.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Wayne,  where  he  deceased  at  an  advanced  age,  July, 
1837.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
and,  by  the  recommendation  of  some  aged  ministers,  he 
some  times  preached  to  the  destitute. 

Dr.  Peleg  Benson  was  born  in  Middleborough,  Mass., 
December  14,  1766.  He  came  to  Winthrop  in  1792. 
On  his  way,  he  taught  a  school  in  New  Gloucester,  and 
practiced  the  healing  art  a  short  time  in  Brunswick. 
November  7,  1793,  he  married  Miss  Sally  Page,  daughter 
of  Col.  Simon  Page.  His  early  advantages  to  acquire 
medical  knowledge  were  very  limited,  compared  with 
what  young  men  now  have.  The  progress  made  in  the 
science  of  chemistry  and  the  establishment  of  Medical 
Schools,  have  rendered  very  important  aid  to  the  pro- 
fession. Dr.  Benson's  good  common  sense  and  sound 
judgment  secured  the  confidence  of  the  people.  From 
his  experience  and  observation  he  acquired  a  very  re- 
spectable share  of  skill  and  an  extensive  and  successful 
practice.  He  was  often  called  by  physicians  in  neighbor- 
ing towns,  as  a  counselor  in  difficult  cases,  particularly 
in  fevers  and  chronic  complaints.  He  continued  the  only 
physician  in  the  place  till  the  year  1806.  In  1842,  hav- 
ing continued  in  the  profession  for  half  a  century,  he 
advertised  his  friends  that  he  would  retire.     He  died  at 


102  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

the  good  old  age  of  eighty-one  years  and  ten  months, 
October  5,  1848. 

In  1806,  Dr.  Isgachar  Snell  came  from  North  Bridge- 
water,  Mass.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University 
of  1797,  and  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  conferred  upon 
him,  and  was  M.  M.  S.  Soc.  He  had  given  special  atten- 
tion to  surgery.  He  had  practiced  some  prior  to  his 
coming  to  Winthrop.  He  had  performed  the  difficult 
operation  of  Lithotomy  with  great  success.  He  soon 
gained  practice  in  town,  particularly  among  the  families 
who  emigrated  from  Bridgewater,  of  whom  there  were 
not  a  few.  His  success  as  a  surgeon  gave  him  much 
celebrity.  He  was  frequently  called  a  very  considerable 
distance  in  nearly  every  direction  from  Winthrop.  He 
became  eminent  in  his  profession.  To  the  deep  regret  of 
many,  he  left  the  town  and  removed  to  Augusta  in  1828, 
where  he  continued  in  the  practice  till  his  very  sudden 
death  in  October,  1847,  aged  seventy-two  years  and  five 
months. 

After  Dr.  Snell  left,  in  1827,  Dr.  Charles  Hubbard 
came  from  Concord,  Mass.  He  had  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
conferred  upon  him,  and  had  enjoyed  superior  advantages. 
He  was  "  a  Avell  read  physician  ;"  but  some  thought  he 
relied  too  much  on  his  books.  He  left  in  1830  and  went 
to  Lowell,  Mass. 

Dr.  Cyrus  Knapp,  of  Leeds,  came  to  Winthrop  in 
1827.  He  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  Bowdoin 
College  in  1825.  He  acquired  considerable  reputation 
as  a  physician.  But  in  1838,  he  went  to  Augusta,  and 
after  practicing  there  some  time,  he  was  appointed  Super- 
intendent of  the  Insane  Hospital.  From  thence  he  went 
to  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  103 

Dr.  Ebenezer  C.  Milliken  came  from  Farmington.  The 
Medical  degree  of  M.  D.  was  conferred  on  him  at  Bow- 
doin  College  in  1833.  He  practiced  creditably  in  Win- 
throp  from  1835  to  1837,  but  was  not  fond  of  the  pro- 
fession. He  then  removed  to  Boston  and  went  into  other 
business,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 

Dr.  Thomas  L.  Meguier  succeeded  Dr.  Knapp.  He 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1827, 
and  came  to  Winthrop  in  1836.  He  had  considerable 
practice.  In  1848  he  sold  his  stand  to  Dr.  John  Hartwell, 
who  left  in  1854,  and  has  since  died. 

Dr.  Daniel  R.  Bailey,  son  of  Mr.  Ezekiel  Bailey,  of 
this  town,  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  Medical 
School  in  Philadelphia.  He  established  himself  at  the 
village  in  1838,  where  he  practiced  some  time.  He  then 
left,  and  in  1849  returned  and  settled  in  East  Winthrop, 
where  he  still  remains  in  the  practice. 

Dr.  Samuel  Lewis  Clark  commenced  practice  here  in 
1838,  and  in  1842  went  to  Bangor  and  practiced.  He 
was  considered  a  skillful  physician.  He  remained  there 
till  about  the  time  of  his  death. 

Dr.  Ezekiel  Holmes  was  a  native  of  Kingston,  Mass., 
and  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  Providence,  R.  I.,  in 
1821.  He  had  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin  College 
in  1824.  His  health  not  proving  adequate  to  the  toils 
and  exposures  of  a  physician,  he  instructed  some  time  in 
the  Gardiner  Lyceum.  He  came  to  Winthrop  in  1832. 
In  January  following,  he  commenced  the  publication 
of  the  Maine  Farmer.  He  has  continued  to  occupy  the 
Editorial  chair  of  that  important  and  valuable  periodical 
to  the  present  time.     He  has  rendered  his  weekly  issues 


104  HISTORY   OF  WIN.THROP. 

higMy  popular  and  useful  to  husbandmen  and  meclianics. 
He  occasionally  prescribes  as  a  physician,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  is  called  as  a  counselor,  by  the  faculty.  He  was, 
for  1852  and  1853,  the  Free  Soil  candidate  for  Governor 
of  Maine, 

Dr. Brown  practiced  some  years  in  East  Winthrop, 

now  Manchester. 

Dr.  Albert  F.  Stanley,  a  native  of  Attleborough,  Mass., 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1822, 
and  practiced  medicine  several  years  in  Dixfield,  Oxford 
County.  He  came  to  Winthrop  in  1843,  where  he  still 
continues  the  practice.  He  is  a  cordial  laborer  in  the 
cause  of  Temperance. 

Dr.  Albion  P.  Snow  was  a  native  of  Brunswick,  where 
he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1854.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Winthrop,  soon  after. 

Dr.  E.  Small,  a  Thompsonian,  practiced  in  1844,  and 
left  in  1845. 

Dr. Palmer,  a  Homeopathist,  practiced  in  town 

in  1852  and  1853,  and  then  removed, 

LAWYERS. 

The  following,  who  have  been  admitted  to  the  bar  as 
lawyers,  were  either  born  or  brought  up  in  Winthrop. 

Abisha  Benson,  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Benson,  pursued  his 
profession  in  the  town  of  China.  In  1826,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Brigadier  General  in  the  militia.  He  deceased 
September  6,  1836,  aged  thirty-seven  years. 

Noble  Snell,  son  of  Capt.  Elijah  and  Mrs.  Abba  Snell, 
practiced  law  in  Virginia. 

Samuel  Page  Benson,  son  of  Dr.  Peleg  and  Mrs.  Sally 
Benson. 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP.  105 

Gustavus  Adolphus  Benson,  son  of  Dr.  Peleg  and  Mrs. 
Sally  Benson. 

Seth  May,  son  of  Col.  John  and  Mrs.  Esther  May. 

John  May,  son  of  Col.  John  and  Mrs.  Esther  May. 

Samuel  Elliot  Benjamin,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  and  Mrs. 
Olivia  Benjamin,  is  practicing  in  Patten. 

William  Bradford  Snell,  son  of  Capt.  Elijah  Snell, 
after  being  preceptor  of  Monmouth  Academy  for  some 
years,  has  established  himself  in  Fairfield,  as  an  attorney. 

Oliver  L.  Currier,  son  of  Mr.  Jonathan  and  Mrs.  Phebe 
Lambert  Currier,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Franklin 
County.  He  was  for  some  years  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education.  He  continues  his  profession  in  New 
Sharon. 

liAWYEKS    WHO    HAVE    PKACTICED    IN    WINTHKOP. 

The  first  regular  lawyer  in  the  place  was  Dudley  Todd, 
Esq.  He  was  a  native  of  Rowley,  Mass.,  and  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  College  in  1795.     He  came  to  Winthrop  in 

.     He  was  chosen  Town  Agent  in  1801.     He  served 

the  town  in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1809,  his  house  was  burned,  and  he  sustained  a  consid- 
erable loss,  and  removed  to  Portland.  But  several  of 
his  last  years,  he  resided  in  Wayne. 

The  next  lawyer  was  Daniel  Campbell.  He  was  a 
native  of  Chester,  N.  H.,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College  in  1801.  He  came  to  Winthrop  and  opened  an 
office,  and  in  1837,  he  went  to  Readfield,  and  after  prac- 
ticing some  years  there,  he  returned  to  Winthrop,  re- 
nounced the  law  as  a  profession,  and  became  a  preacher. 

Alexander  Belcher  came  from  Northfield,  Mass.,  to 


106  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

Winthrop  in  1807,  where  he  continued  till  his  very  sud- 
den death,  in  May,  1854,  aged  75  years.  Though  not 
distinguished  as  a  pleader  at  the  bar,  he  was  well  skilled 
in  the  principles  of  law,  and  was  a  judicious  and  able 
counselor. 

Alfred  Martin,  a  native  of  Hallowell,  graduated  at 
Bowdoin  College  in  1825.  He  opened  an  office  in  1827. 
His  health  declined,  and  he  died  in  August,  1831,  aged 
twenty-eight  years. 

Augustus  Alden,  a  native  of  Middleboro',  Mass.,  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  College  in  1802.  He  came  to  Win- 
throp, after  having  been  in  the  profession  several  years 
in  Norridgewock  and  Augusta.  He  removed  to  Hallowell, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was  a 
pious  man,  but  never  had  much  success  as  a  lawyer. 

Jeremiah  Lothrop,  from  Leeds,  established  himself  in 
the  profession  in  1828,  and  subsequently  went  to  Hal- 
lowell. 

Samuel  Page  Benson,  a  native  of  this  town,  graduated 
at  Bowdoin  College  in  1825.  After  practicing  law  a  while 
in  Unity,  came  to  this  town  and  opened  an  office  in  1829. 
During  the  political  years  1838  and  1841,  he  held  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State.  In  1853,  he  was  elected 
a  Representative  to  Congress  in  the  Kennebec  or  4th 
District. 

Seth  May,  a  native  of  this  town,  practiced  law  some 
time  in  "Wayne,  and  came  to  Winthrop  in  1832,  where 
he  still  remains.  In  May,  1855,  he  was  appointed  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Maine. 

Thomas  J.  Burgess,  a  native  of  Wayne,  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  this  town  in  1853. 

i 


HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP.  107 

John  Walker  May,  son  of  Judge  May,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  August,  1855. 

PEEACHEKS. 

Preachers  who  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

Robert  Page,  Jr.,  son  of  Robert  Page,  Esq.,  and  Mrs. 
Abigail  Page,  graduated  at  Bowdoin,  1810,  and  at  the 
Theological  Seminary,  Andover,  in  1815.  Though  his 
parents  resided  in  Readfield,  yet,  they  and  he  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Winthrop.  He 
preached  in  several  places  as  a  Missionary,  was  ordained 
pastor  of  a  church  in  Bradford,  N.  H.,  and  is  now  min- 
ister in  Lempster,  N.  H. 

Samuel  Johnson,  son  of  Dea.  Samuel  and  Mrs.  Susan- 
nah Johnson,  was  born  in  Rowley,  now  Georgetown, 
Mass.  His  parents  came  to  Winthrop  in  1802.  He 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1817,  and  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Alna,  November 
25,  1818.  He  was  dismissed  and  became  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church  in  Saco  in  1828.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  Maine 
Missionary  Society  in  1835.  In  this  vocation  he  labored 
till  his  death,  November,  1836.  He  was  a  man  of 
popular  talents,  an  evangelical,  interesting  and  useful 
preacher,  cut  down  in  the  midst  of  his  days,  in  the  forty- 
fifth  year  of  his  age. 

George  Washington  Campbell,  though  not  a  native  of 
Winthrop,  yet  became  an  inhabitant.  He  graduated  at 
Union  College,  Skenectady,  N.  Y.  in  1823,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  South 
Berwick,  November  17,  1824.  He  has  preached  in  sev- 
eral places  since. 


108  HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP. 

Daniel  Campbell,  a  graduate  of  Dartmoutli  College  In 
1801,  who  had  been  a  lawyer  for  several  years,  received 
the  approbation  of  the  Kennebec  and  Somerset  Associa- 
tion as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  in  May,  1824,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Union  church,  Kennebunk,  Dec, 

1827.  His  health  failing  him,  he  was  dismissed  Dec, 

1828.  He  gradually  recovered  so  much  health,  that  he 
officiated  as  pastor  of  the  west  church  in  Orford,  N.  H., 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  departed  life  there  in  October, 
1849,  aged  seventy  years.  He  was  sound  in  faith  and 
evangelical  in  spirit. 

William  May,  son  of  Col.  John  and  Mrs.  Esther  May, 
was  born  November,  1803.  He  was  educated  at  Bangor, 
and  was  of  the  class  of  1827.  He  was  ordained  pastor 
■t  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Winslow.  In  Sept., 
1833,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Strong.  Here,  July,  1842,  he  closed  his  labors 
and  his  life.  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord." 

William  S.  Sewall,  son  of  Rev.  Henry  and  Mrs.  Esther 
Sewall,  though  not  a  native  of  the  town,  was  residing 
here,  and  became  a  student  of  Bowdoin  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  1834.  In  September,  1839,  he  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Brown- 
ville,  where  he  still  continues. 

Thomas  Newman  Lord,  born  in  Newburyport,  Mass., 
August  19,  1807,  but  brought  up  in  this  town,  and  after 
closing  his  apprenticeship,  he  entered  Bowdoin  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  1835.  He  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  Topsham,  August,  1837. 
He  left  Topsham  in  July,  1842,  and  was  installed  pastor 
of  the  Second  Congregational  church  in  Biddeford,  and 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHEOP.  109 

left,    1853.     He   is   now  ministering   to   the   cliiirch  in 
Auburn. 

Caleb  Steadman  Williams,  son  of  ]\Ir.  John  and  Mrs. 
Eunice  Williams,  became  a  Licentiate  for  the  ministry, 
but  has  not  been  ordained. 

Luther  Sampson  Gibson,  son  of  JXqv.  Zechariah  and 
Mrs.  Theodate  Gibson,  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall  College, 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  was  Licensed  by  Presbytery.  He  was 
an  Agent  of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  and 
died  while  in  their  employ. 

Samuel  N.  Tufts,  son  of  Mr.  Samuel  and  Mrs.  Sally 
Tufts,  received  the  approbation  of  the  Union  Association, 
as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  September,  1843. 

Perez  Southworth,  son  of  Mr.  Benjamin  and  Mrs. 
Content  Southworth,  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in 
1846,  and  after  spending  some  time  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Bangor,  he  received  approbation  to  preach. 
He  went  to  the  South  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  and 
preached  a  few  weeks  in  Georgia.  In  passing  through 
Tennessee  on  his  way  to  Kentucky,  he  died  of  cholera, 
June  15,  1849,  in  the  27th  year  of  his  age.  A  mysteri- 
ous dispensation  of  God's  providence,  it  appears  to  us. 
He  was  a  youth  of  fair  promise,  had  struggled  hard  to 
qualify  himself  to  be  useful  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord, 
and  was  thus  suddenly  cut  down  in  the  morning  of  life. 

Francis  Southworth  and  Alanson  Southworth,  sons  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  and  Mrs.  Content  Southworth,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  in  the  course 
of  preparation  for  the  ministry. 
G 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Ecclesiastical  History  —  Meeting  Houses  —  Congregationalists  - 
Friends — Methodists — Calvinist  Baptists — Universalists — Cliris- 
tian  Band — Free  Will  Baptists — ]VIimsterial  Fund. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 

A  REVIEW  of  the  past  may  be  made  instructive  and 
useful.  God  repeatedly  enjoined  it  upon  his  people  to 
"  call  to  remembrance  the  former  days."  l^any  have 
found  it  interesting  and  profitable.  *'  He  established  a 
testimony  in  Jacob  and  appointed  a  law  in  Israel,  which 
he  commanded  our  fathers  that  they  should  make  known 
to  their  children  the  wonderful  works  that  he  had  done, 
that  the  generation  to  come  might  know  them,  even  the 
children  which  should  be  born ;  who  should  arise  and 
declare  them  to  their  children,  that  they  might  set  their 
hope  in  God,  and  not  forget  the  works  of  God,  but  keep 
his  commandments."  Ps.  78  :  4 — 7.  So  the  devout 
Psalmist,  77:  10, 11,  said,  "  I  will  remember  the  years  of 
the  right  hand  of  the  most  High,  I  will  remember  the 
works  of  the  Lord,  surely  I  will  remember  thy  wonders 
of  old."  The  history  of  the  past,  judiciously  reviewed, 
may  afford  valuable  materials  for  humiliation,  admoni- 
tion, Avarning,  direction  and  encouragement. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  Ill 

The  glorious  Redeemer  said  to  his  disciples,  "  Ye  are 
the  salt  of  the  earth ;  ye  are  the  light  of  the  world." 
Matt.  5:  13.  He  therefore  scatters  his  people  into  dif- 
ferent portions  of  the  land,  to  preserve  the  inhabitants 
from  moral  darkness  and  corruption.  What  preacher  of 
the  gospel  first  proclaimed  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Winthrop,  the  writer  has  not  ascer- 
tained. The  early  settlers  had  been  accustomed  to  attend 
upon  the  institutions  of  the  gospel.  They  could  not  fail 
to  perceive  that  they  and  their  families  needed  to  feel 
the  benign  influences  which  accompany  those  institutions. 
They  soon  began  to  make  arrangements  to  have  the  gos- 
pel preached  among  them.  But  what  measures  were 
taken,  prior  to  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  in  1771,  to 
have  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel,  I  have  not  been  able 
to  learn.  But,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1771,  in  a  legal 
town  meeting,  "  John  Chandler,  Timothy  Foster  and 
Jonathan  Whiting,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  hire 
preaching  for  eight  Sabbaths  the  ensuing  summer ;  and 
to  raise  twenty  pounds,  to  hire  preaching  and  defray 
other  necessary  charges."  Who  was  employed,  if  any 
one,  the  records  do  not  show,  but  it  was  probably  Mr. 
Thurston  Whiting.  The  town  annually  chose  a  com- 
mittee to  hire  preaching  for  two  or  three  months.  Mr. 
Whiting  had  preached  considerably  to  the  people  prior 
to  October,  1775.  The  town  then  "instructed  their 
committee  to  agree  with  him  for  three  months,  after  his 
other  engagements  are  out,  and  to  hire  him  one  day  in  a 
month  during  this  winter,  with  a  view  of  settling  him." 
The  instructions  some  times  given  to  the  committee,  were, 
*'  to  hire  a  young  gentleman  of  good  moral  character." 
There  were  special  reasons  for  such  instructions.     For 


112  HISTOBY  OF  WINTHROP. 

the  Province  of  Maine  was  the  "  city  of  refuge"  to  wHcli 
ministers  of  unsound  morals,  generally  fled. 

March  11,  1776,  they  "voted  not  to  raise  any  money 
for  preaching,"  or  for  schools,  or  to  defray  town  charges. 
The  reason  doubtless  was,  the  embarrassment  which 
the  war  occasioned.  But  they  "  voted  to  employ  Mr. 
Moore  ■^'  to  get  Mr.  Thayer  to  preach  in  this  town  four 
Sabbaths. 

About  this  time,  some  of  the  inhabitants  began  to  have 
scruples  in  regard  to  raising  money  by  tax,  to  pay  for 
preaching.  The  town,  September  9,  1776,  "  voted 
to  dismiss  Micajah  Dudley,  Stephen  Dudley,  Jabez 
Clough,  Moses  Ayer,  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  Timothy  Fos- 
ter, Jr.,  Stej)hen  Norton,  Daniel  Dudley,  from  paying 
any  ministerial  charges  in  this  town,"  on  account  of  these 
scruples.  "  Voted  to  meet  at  the  nearest  convenient 
place  in  the  center  of  the  town  for  public  worship,  and 
that  we  meet  half  of  the  time  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Henry 
Wyman,  and  the  other  half  of  the  time  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Squicr  Bishop,  till  the  committee  can  fix  upon 
a  place  in  the  center.  Voted  to  hiie  Mr.  Jeremiah  Shaw 
four  Sabbaths  more  than  what  the  committee  have  agreed 
with  him  for.  Voted  to  raise  £20  lawful  money,  to  defray 
ministerial  charges.  Voted  to  Mr.  Jeremiah  Shaw  four 
shillings,  which  he  paid  for  a  pilot  through  the  woods." 

No  records  can  be  found  from  which  it  can  be  ascer- 
tained how  much  preaching  the  people  had  enjoyed  prior 
to  this  time.  It  is  inferred,  that  Mr.  Shaw  had  preached 
there  a  considerable  time,  from  the  fact,  that  the  town 
"  voted  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Whiting  for  Mr.  Shaw's  board. 


*  Probably  Mr.  Moore  of  Pownalborough. 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  113 

£2  14s.,  and  for  keeping  Mr.  Shaw's  horse,  12s.  No 
mention  is  made  of  what  was  paid  the  minister. 

Several  persons  had  come  into  the  place,  who  were 
members  of  churches  in  Massachusetts  and  New  Hamp- 
shire. They,  with  some  others,  who  had  not  made  a 
public  profession  of  religion,  were  desirous  of  enjoying 
the  special  ordinances  of  the  gospel.  Accordingly,  they 
requested  an  Ecclesiastical  Council,  composed  of  the 
churches  in  Harpswell,  Pownalborough*  and  New  Castle, 
to  convene  for  the  purpose,  should  it  be  judged  advisable, 
to  organize  a  church.  In  compliance  with  this  request, 
Rev.  Samuel  Eaton  of  Harpswell,  Rev.  Thomas  Moore 
of  Pownalborough,  and  Rev.  Thurston  Whiting  of  New 
Castle,  assembled  in  Council,  Sept.  4,  1776.  Whether 
Delegates  were  present  is  not  known,  as  the  record  of  the 
Council  is  lost.  But  members  of  the  church  have  told 
me  that  after  the  examination  of  the  candidates,  and  they 
had  subscribed  a  covenant,  embracing  articles  of  faith  and 
practice,  the  Council  declared  the  covenanters,  (26  in 
number,)  to  be  a  church  of  Christ. f 

Mr.  Shaw  was  probably  preaching  here  when  the  Con- 
gregational church  was  organized.  On  the  22d  of  that 
month,  the  church  extended  an  invitation  to  him  to  be- 
come their  pastor.  On  the  7th  of  October,  the  town 
"  voted  to  give  a  call  to  him  to  settle  in  the  ministerial 
office ;  and  to  give  him  £60  lawful  money  salary  for  .the 
first  five  years,  and  then  to  add  £15  to  his  salary,  during 
his  public  administration  among  them.  Also  to  give  him 
200  acres  of  land  in  the  nearest  convenient  place,  in  the 


*  Now  Dresden,  or  Wiscasset,  for  Pownalborough  included  both, 
t  See  Ai^pendix,  Note  D. 


114  HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP. 

center  of  the  town,  that  can  be  obtained.  Mr.  Icbabod 
How,  Mr.  Jolin  Chandler  and  Mr.  Joseph  Baker,  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  wait  on  Mr.  Shaw,  and  to  present 
him  with  the  proceedings  of  this  day."  But  he  declined 
accepting  their  proposals.* 

Jan.  15,  1777,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  "hire  a 
young  gentleman  to  preach  three  months,  that  can  be 
well  recommended  as  a  preacher,  and  as  to  his  moral 
character  ;  and  that  the  committee  invite  the  neighboring 
ministers  to  preach  one  day  apiece  with  us  this  winter, 
gratis.^'  They  also  agreed  to  "  reward  Rev.  Mr.  Emer- 
son for  one  day's  preaching  last  winter,  and  Mr.  Whiting 
for  one  day's  preaching  last  summer. 

October  13, 1777,  the  church  and  town  extended  a  unari" 
imous  invitation  to  Mr.  Zaccheus  Colby,  a  young  preacher, 
to  become  their  pastor.  The  town  "  voted  to  give  Mr 
Colby  eighty  pounds  per  annum  for  his  salary  during  his 
ministry,  stated  at  corn  4s.  per  bushel,  rye  at  5s.,  and 
beef  at  5d.  per  pound,  and  what  money  he  receives  to- 
wards his  salary  shall  be  in  proportion  to  the  aforesaid 
articles  as  herein  stated.  And  to  prevent  all  misunder- 
standing of  this  vote,  it  is  the  true  intent  and  meaning 
of  the  same  that,  if  said  articles  should  fall,  that  said 
salary  should  fall  in  proportion,  but  that  his  salary  shall 
be  paid  in  pro23ortion  to  the  above  articles,  not  exceeding 
the  within  price."  Caj^tains  Timothy  Foster  and  Ichabod 
How  and  Mr.  Stephen  Pullen  were  the  committee  to 
present  these  proposals  of  the  town  to  Mr.  Colby.    "  Voted 

*  Mr.  Shaw  was  afterwards  many  years  pastor  of  the  chui'ch  in 
JMoultonborough,  N.  H. 


EISTOUY    OF  WINTHROP.  115 

to  raise  fifty  dollars  to  pay  for  preaching  and  the  expenses 
of  getting  Mr.  Colby  down  here."  He  also  returned  a 
negative  answer  to  their  call. 

Mr.  Colby  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1777."^ 
In  1811,  he  told  the  writer,  that  his  youth  and  inexperi- 
ence induced  him  to  decline  accepting  their  invitation. 
No  one  is  able  now  to  say  what  portion  of  the  time  they 
were  favored  with  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel. 

March  9,  1778,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  provide 
preaching,  and  also  March  8,  1779.  This  committee 
were  instructed  "  to  write  Mr.  Colby  not  to  preach  here 
unless  he  concluded  to  settle  here ;  and  not  to  employ 
any  gentleman  as  a  preacher,  unless  on  probation  of  one 
two  or  three  months,  as  they  may  think  best,  and  a  man 
well  recommended." 

May  17,  1779,  "Voted  to  divide  the  town  into  two 
Parishes  by  an  East  and  West  line  to  pass  in  the  center, 
as  lately  found  by  the  town  committee." 

March  18,  1780,  the  town"  voted  to  raise  six  hundred 
and  twenty  dollars  to  pay  Mr.  Sweat,  and  his  board  and 
horse  keeping."  Who  this  Mr.  Sweat  was,  is  not  known. 
Probably  he  had  been  preaching  on  probation,  but  for 
reasons  now  not  known,  did  not  become  their  pastor. 

They  still  remained  like  "  sheep  scattered  upon  the 
mountains  without  a  shepherd."  They  had  to  contend 
not  only  with  the  difficulties  and  hardships  incident  to 
all  who  establish  themselves  in  newly  settled  countries, 
but  some  privations  and  trials  which  were  peculiarly  griev- 

*  INIr.  Colby  was  many  years  pastor  of  the  chm-ch  in  Pembroke 
New  Hampslure. 


116  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

ous.  Surrounded  by  an  immense  wilderness,  far  from 
the  hal)itatio:^.s  of  civilized  men,  they  were  subjected  to 
many  serious  inconveniences.  The  E,evGlutionary  war 
prevented  intercommunication  by  water,  (nearly  their 
only  M'ay,)  with  the  older  settlements  at  the  West. 
This  greatly  enhanced  their  troubles.  Still,  they  were 
not  wholly  deserted  and  cast  off.  Through  the  good 
hand  of  God  upon  them,  they  were  brought  to  more 
prosperous  days. 

October  17th,  1781,  Rev.  David  Jewett,  wdio  had 
been  pastor  of  a  church  in  Candia,  N.  H.,  was  invited  to 
become  their  pastor.  The  19th  of  November,  he  signi- 
fied his  acceptance  of  their  proposals. '^''  The  same  day, 
the  ch^irch  and  the  pastor  elect,  agreed  to  send  to  the 
following  pastors  and  churches,  viz.  :     Rev.  Messrs.  Up- 

ham    of ,  Chad  wick   of  Scarboro',   Webster  of 

Arundel,  (now  Biddeford,)  Eaton  of  Harps  well,  Whiting 
of  New  Castle,  and  Moore  of  Pownalborough,  to  compose 
the  installing  Council.  January  2,  1782,  the  installation 
took  place.  But  who  of  them  attended  and  performed 
on  the  occasion,  is  not  known.  The  result  of  the  Coun- 
cil is  lost. 

In  about  fourteen  months  after  the  installation,  their 
pastor  was  removed  by  a  very  sudden  death.  Thus  they 
were  left  again  without  a  spiritual  guide.  During  the 
long  period  of  seventeen  years,  they  remained  destitute 
of  a  pastor,  and  much  of  the  time,  of  the  regular  minis- 
trations of  the  gospel.     It  was  no  marvel,  that  in  such  a 


*  See  Appendix,  Note  E. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  117 

state,  tlicy  sliould  have  to  encounter  many,  various  and 
sore  trials.  Internal  dissensions  rent  them.  When  the 
soothing,  benign  influences  of  the  preached  word  are 
removed,  what  else  is  to  be  expected  ?  If,  when  churches 
are  favored  with  all  the  salutary  appliances  of  the  gospel, 
the  members  should  disagree,  is  it  strange  that,  when 
they  are  withdrawn,  they  should  have  strife  and  envying  ? 
Some  of  them  dishonored  their  profession,  by  their  un- 
christian spirit  and  practice.  Other  denominations  made 
inroads  upon  them.  Some  removed  to  a  distance.  Others 
were  called  to  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  Their  number 
was  reduced  and  their  strength  weakened. 

They  were  not  left  utterly  desolate,  nor  without  some 
intervals  of  light  and  refreshing.  A  portion  of  the 
time  they  had  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  gospel.  The 
ministers  in  all  the  region  were  few.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Em- 
erson of  Georgetown,  now  Phippsburg,  and  Rev.  Samuel 
Eaton  of  Harpswell,  occasionally  visited  them,  to  advise, 
counsel  and  encourage  them,  and  brake  unto  them  the 
bread  of  life.  They  would  spend  a  Sabbath  and  consid- 
erable part  of  the  week  with  this  feeble,  destitute,  afflicted 
church. 

August  14,  1786,  the  town  voted  to  hire  Mr.  Jacob 
Cram,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  in  1782,  who  had 
been  preaching  with  them  some  time,  six  weeks  longer ; 
and  that  he  preach  half  of  the  time  in  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  and  to  raise  ten  pounds  to  pay  him.  They  also 
voted  to  build  a  porch  over  the  front  door  of  the  meeting 
house.  On  the  22d  of  September,  they  gave  Mr.  Cram 
a  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  "  by  a  large  majority^ " 


118  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

and  for  a  salary,  tliey  agreed  to  give  him  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  pounds,  to  be  paid  in  produce,  Indian 
corn  at  4s.  per  bushel,  rye  at  5s.,  beef  at  3d.  per  pound. 
Gideon  Lambert,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Robert  Page,  Esq., 
Benjamin  Brainerd,  William  Pullen,  Simon  Page  and 
Elijah  Fairbanks  were  appointed  a  committee  to  present 
the  invitation  of  the  town  to  Mr.  Cram. 

He  also  returned  a  negative  answer  to  the  call  of  the 
town.-'^  Why  it  was,  that  so  many  preachers  declined 
settling  in  this  town,  is  not  easy  to  explain.  They  cer- 
tainly needed  a  pastor. 

April,  1787,  "the  town  voted  not  to  choose  a  commit- 
tee to  provide  preaching."  They  allowed  "  Nathaniel 
Fairbanks'  account  for  boarding  Mr.  Cram  last  year,£4  Is." 

January  14,  1788,  Jonathan  V/hiting's  account  was 
allowed  of  £13  3s.  7d.,  which  he  paid  to  Bev.  Mr. 
Sweat,  for  preaching. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  meeting  of  the  towm,  March  24, 
1788,  the  "  5th  article  was  to  see  if  the  town  will  employ 
Mr.  Eliphalet  Smith,  or  some  other  man,  to  preach  with 
us  this  year  ;  which  passed  in  the  negative." 

May  5,  "  Voted,  that  Capt.  John  Blunt,  Doct.  John 
Hubbard  and  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  be  a  committee  to 
procure  some  labor  done  on  the  Ministerial  Lot ;  and 
instructed  them  not  to  clear  nor  to  employ  men  to  clear 
more  than  50  acres,  and  not  to  rent  said  land  for  more 
than  10  years  ;  and  to  have  said  land  cleared  as  reason- 
ably as  in  their  power." 

August  27,  1788,  they  declined  taking  measures  to 
have  preaching. 

*  Mr. Cram  was  afterwards  settled  in  Hopldnton,  N.  H. 


HISTORY  OP   WINTHROP.  119 

Rev.  David  Jewett  had  presented  a  large  folio  volume, 
containing  the  works  of  Rev.  Mr.  Flavel,  to  the  people 
in  Winthrop.  At  the  town  meeting,  March,  1790, 
"voted  that  Capt.  Fairbanks  take  care  of  said  Book." 

September  6,  1790,  "Voted  to  raise  sixty  pounds  to 
hire  preaching.  Voted  that  each  man  who  shall  wish  to 
be  exempted  from  the  above  sum,  shall  make  his  plea, 
and  that  the  town  vote  them  clear  or  not,  as  they  shall 
think  proper.  Voted  to  exempt  Jabez  Clough,  Benjamin 
Fairbanks,  Daniel  Marrow,  James  Craig,  Paul  Sears, 
Samuel  Stevens,  Steuart  Foster,  John  Gray,  Timothy 
Foster,  David  Foster,  Daniel  Wing,  Peter  Norton  and 
Joshua  Bean."  Jonathan  Whiting,  Esq.,  Capt.  Solomon 
Stanley  and  Jedediah  Prescot,  Jr.,  were  a  committee  for 
the  south  part  of  the  town ;  and  Capt.  William  Whittier, 
Robert  Page,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  John  Hubbard  for  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  to  lay  out  the  above  sum  of 
money  to  hire  preaching. 

March,  1791,  the  town  was  divided,  and  the  northern 
part  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Readfield.^'  The 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts  subsequently  authorized 
the  town  to  sell  the  land  given  by  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany for  the  support  of  the  ministry  in  the  town  of  Win- 
throp, and  to  divide  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  between  the 
two  towns,  and  to  appropriate  the  interest  of  the  money 
for  the  support  of  the  ministry. 

The  Ecclesiastical  history  from  this  period  pertains  to 
Winthrop  alone.     Hitherto,  Readfield  has  been  included. 

*  See  act  of  incorporation,  in  the  Appendix,  Note  F. 


120  HISTORY  OP  WINTHEOP. 

April  4,  1791,  *' Voted,  that  £40  be  raised  to  hire 
preaching,  to  be  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen,  or  a  com- 
mittee chosen  for  that  purpose."  May  9,  1791,  Amos 
Stevens,  Jedediah  Prescot,  Jr.,  and  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Fairbanks  were  chosen  a  committee  to  hire  preaching. 

May,  1792,  the  town  voted  not  to  apply  to  Mr.  Atkin- 
son to  preach  any  longer  in  this  town. 

May,  1793,  they  agreed  to  raise  thirty  pounds  to  hire 
preaching. 

April,  1797,  they  voted  not  to  raise  money  to  have  the 
ministrations  of  the  gospel. 

May,  1798,  "Voted  to  raise  one  hundred  dollars  to 
hire  preaching ; ' '  which  money  they  voted  to  have  assessed, 
collected  and  paid  in  to  the  town  Treasurer  in  six  months. 
Jedediah  Prescot,  Esq.,  Elijah  Fairbanks  and  Amos 
Stevens  were  chosen  to  ap23ropriate  the  money,  with 
discretionary  orders,  only,  the  town  voted  that  they  should 
*'  pay  none  of  said  money  to  any  person  as  a  preacher, 
unless  there  was  a  probability  of  his  becoming  the  settled 
minister  of  said  town." 

September,  1798,  they  voted  not  to  employ  Mr.  Steele 
any  longer.  There  are  no  means  of  knowing  how  long 
they  had  employed  him,  nor  why  they  did  not  wish  to 
retain  him.* 

September,  1798,  they  decided  not  to  hire  Mr.  Jotham 
Sewall,  or  any  other  candidate,  to  preach  among  them. 
May,  1799,  voted  not  to  raise  any  money  for  preaching. 


*  It  is  believed  that  this  Mr.  Steele  was  afterwards  settled  at 
Machias. 

6* 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  121 

December  30,  upon  the  article  in  the  warrant,  "  whether 
the  town  have  any  objection  to  the  incorporation  of  a 
Society  in  said  town,  (at  the  next  session  of  the  General 
Court,)  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  a  Religious  Congre- 
gational Society,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  public 
worship  in  that  order."  "  The  town  voted  unanimously, 
that  they  had  no  objection  to  the  incorporation  of  said 
Society,  at  the  next  session  of  the  General  Court." 

From  November,  1781  till  1800,  during  this  period  of 
nineteen  years,  seventeen  of  which  the  church  had  no 
pastor,  no  record  of  any  act  of  the  church,  nor  of  any 
baptism,  can  be  found.  The  Clerk  told  me  that  he  kept 
an  account  of  the  transactions  ;  and  when  a  pastor  was 
ordained,  he  transferred  the  records  to  him.  This  was  a 
season  of  great  moral  darkness  and  gloom.  Religion 
declined  ;  iniquities  abounded.  The  Sabbath  was  grossly 
profaned.  What  part  of  the  time  they  had  preaching, 
cannot  be  correctly  ascertained.  But  all  "  the  salt  had 
not  wholly  lost  its  savor."  Some  were  truly  grieved  for 
the  desolations  of  Zion.  Some  of  the  more  considerate 
persons,  without  the  pale  of  the  church,  became  alarmed 
at  the  prevalence  of  impiety  and  vice.  Convinced  of  the 
enlightening  and  reforming  tendency  of  the  ministrations 
of  the  gospel,  they  were  desirous  to  have  its  institutions 
among  them.  The  Christians  felt  a  very  tender  solicitude 
for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  rising  generation.  They 
saw  them  coming  forward  on  the  stage  of  life,  uninflu- 
enced by  those  means  which  God  has  appointed  for  the 
conversion  and  salvation  of  men.  "  They  wept  and  made 
supplication,"  they  besought  God  "  to  behold  and  visit 
this  vine."     He,  who,  in  faithfulness  chastens  his  people. 


122  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

but  never  utterly  forsakes  them,  heard  their  supplications. 
The  clouds  of  thick  darkness,  which  had  long  hung  over 
them,  began  to  disperse.  A  brightening,  gladdening 
prospect  opened  before  them.  But  so  various  were  the 
views  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  on  religious  subjects, 
and  so  divided,  that  they  could  not  act  as  a  town  in  the 
settlement  and  support  of  a  minister. 

Several  men,  though  not  members  of  the  church,  were 
decided  and  substantial  friends  of  religious  institutions 
and  order,  in  connection  with  members  of  the  church, 
obtained  from  the  Legislature  an  act  of  incorporation,  as 
a  Poll  ParisJi.'^'^  They  could  then  act  in  a  legal  way  to 
raise  money  to  support  religious  worship. 

In  the  winter  of  1799  and  1800,  Mr.  Jonathan  Belden, 
from  Weathcrsfield,  Conn.,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College 
in  1796,  and  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry,  came 
among  them.  His  labors  were  attended  by  the  special 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  season  was  memor- 
able, and  numbers  will  retain  a  very  grateful  remem- 
brance of  it  through  eternal  ages.  From  this  period  the 
cause  of  evangelical  religion  asssumed  a  new  and  brighter 
aspect  in  the  place. 

In  May,  1800,  the  church  unanimously  invited  Mr. 
Belden  to  become  their  pastor.  The  Parish  concurred 
in  the  invitation.  On  the  27th  of  August  following,  he 
was  ordained  their  pastor.f  But  the  pastor's  health  be- 
came impaired  and  at  the  expiration  of  five  years,  Sept. 
10,  1805,  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  "  unanimously  advised 
that  the  pastoral  connection  between  the    Pastor  and 


*  See  the  act  of  incorporation — Appendix,  Note  G. 
t  See  Appendix,  Note  H. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  123 

cTiurcli  be  dissolved  in  compliance  with  his  and  their 
wishes." 

In  1806,  the  Poll  Parish  was  dissolved  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature.  The  writer,  having  been  invited  to 
preach  a  few  Sabbaths  in  the  place,  came  in  the  begin- 
ning of  May,  that  year. 

In  June,  the  church  kept  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
in  reference  to  a  meeting  of  the  town  to  be  held  on  the 
11th,  to  see  whether  they  would  raise  money  to  support 
preaching. 

The  town  met  and  "  voted  to  raise  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  the  purjDose  of  supporting  a  preacher  of 
the  gospel.  Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  Nathaniel  Kimball 
and  Isaac  Smith,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  appro- 
priate the  above  sum."  They  engaged  the  writer  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit,  Nov.  10,  the  church  having  previously 
extended  an  invitation  to  him  to  become  their  pastor,  the 
town  "  voted  to  give  him  a  call  to  settle  in  said  town  in 
the  work  of  a  gospel  minister ;  and  to  give  him  four 
hundred  dollars  a  year,  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  our 
minister ;  and  also  voted  to  give  him  four  hundred 
dollars  as  a  settlement,  to  wit :  one  hundred  dollars 
yearly,  if  he  should  continue  our  minister  for  the  space 
of  four  years,  if  he  should  not,  then  his  settlement  to 
decrease  in  proportion  to  that  time,  and  so  in  that  pro- 
portion until-  the  four  years  have  expired."  Samuel 
Wood,  Esq.,  Dea.  Elijah  Snell  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Whit- 
ing, Jr.,  were  chosen  to  present  the  proposals  of  the 
town  to  Mr.  Thurston. 

In  January,  1807,  Mr.  Thurston  returned  an  affirma- 
tive answer  to  their  invitation  to  become  their  minister  ; 


124  HISTORY    OF   WINTHEOP. 

and  was  ordained  their  Pastor,  Feb.  18,  1807.*  The 
pastoral  relation  continued  until  Oct.  15,  1851,  when,  at 
his  request,  it  was  dissolved  in  accordance  with  the  ad- 
vice of  an  Ecclesiastical  Council.  During  his  pastorate 
327  were  added  to  the  church.  The  same  day  Rev.  Mr. 
Thurston  was  dismissed,  the  Rev.  Rufus  M.  Sawyer  was 
ordained  their  Pastor.^' 

The  first  Sabbath  School  in  town  and  propably  in  the 
State,  was  established  by  this  church,  Aug.  7,  1808.  It 
has  been  continued  in  different  forms,  and  with  various 
success,  until  the  present  time.  The  number  in  the 
Sabbath  School  is  one  hundred.  They  have  renewed 
their  Sabbath  School  Library  several  times  and  it  now 
contains  three  hundred  volumes. 

FEIEISTDS. 

A  few  individuals,  residing  in  the  Easterly  part  of  the 
town,  embraced  the  principles,  and  adopted  the  language, 
costume  and  habits  of  the  Friends.  Twelve  heads  of 
families  and  some  twenty-five  of  their  children  Avere 
organized  into  a  Society,  according  to  the  usage  of  their 
Denomination,  in  1792.  The  following  composed  the 
meeting  at  that  time,  viz.  Steuart  Foster  and  wife,  David 
Foster,  Ephraim  Stevens,  and  wife,  Samuel  Stevens  and 
wife,  (of  Readfield)  Daniel  Robbins  and  wife,  Josiah 
French  and  wife  and  Moses  Wadsworth.  They  erected 
a  house  of  Avorship  in  their  neighborhood  in  1798.  Not 
long  after  this  Ezra  Briggs  and  wife  came  into  the  place 
from  Dresden   and  united  with  them.     The  children  of 


See  Ai3pcndix,  Note  H. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  125 

Steiiart  and  David  Foster  did  not  remain  with  the  Friends, 
nor  did  some  of  the  other  chikh'en.  Several  removed  to 
other  places.  They  built  a  second  house  of  worship  in 
1843  and  a  larger  one  in  1853.  Their  present  number, 
including  children  is  about  seventy.  In  this  little  society 
are  some  very  enterprising  young  men.  They  have  gone 
extensively  into  the  Oil  cloth  carpet  manufacture. 

EPISCOPAL    METHODISTS. 

There  was  a  Methodist  class  formed  in  the  S.  E.  part 
of  the  Town  in  what  is  called  the  Fairbanks'  neighbor- 
hood, in  1794,  under  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  Philip 
Wager.  Of  what  number  the  class  consisted  cannot  now 
be  ascertained.  Nathaniel  Bishop,  and  Seth  Delano  were 
probably  the  only  men.  The  wives  of  S.  Delano,  Nathan 
Richmond  and  Daniel  Marrow,  were  probably  the  fe- 
males. 

In  1806,  7  and  8,  the  Methodists  preached  in  the  school 
house  in  that  neighborhood  once  in  two  weeks.  Subse- 
quently they  preached  there  but  seldom.  A  Methodist 
minister  had,  occasionally,  preached  in  the  Village,  but 
not  at  stated  times,  till  1825.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bishop  and 
his  wife  had  been,  for  many  years,  members  of  that 
communion.  He  had  formerly  been  a  local  preacher. 
From  the  date  last  named,  he  made  great  efforts  to 
introduce  local  preachers  from  the  neighboring  towns. 

He  projected  the  plan  of  having  a  Methodist  Chapel 
erected  in  the  Village.  The  plan  was  opposed  very 
considerably,  but  being  a  man  of  indomitable  persever- 
ance, he  succeeded.     He  and  several  others  obtained  a 


126  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

very  eligible  site,  and  on  the  "  24tli  of  June,  1825,  the 
corner  stone  was  laid ;  and  after  the  frame  was  raised,  but 
being  yet  uncovered,  on  July  3d,  Bishop  Soule  preached 
wdthin  it."  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Maine  Confer- 
ence at  Gardiner,  the  following  week,  Winthrop  was 
considered  a  station,  but  no  preacher  was  appointed  till 
the  next  annual  Conference.  Local  preachers,  however, 
regularly  preached  on  the  Sabbath.  The  chapel  was 
completely  finished  and  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God,  November  23,  1825.  Rev.  Stephen 
Lovell  preached  on  the  occasion  from  2.  Cliron.  7  :  15,  16. 
In  July,  1826,  the  Conference  appointed  him  to  take 
charge  of  this  station.  The  number  belonging  to  the  class 
at  this  station  then  was  twenty-one,  only  fifteen  of  whom 
were  members  of  the  church.* 

In  1854,  the  number  of  members  in  the  church  v:as 
reported  to  be  one  hundred  and  four,  and  eight  on  proba- 
tion. The  officers  and  teachers  in  their  Sabbath  schopl 
numbered  nineteen,  their  scholars  were  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  and  their  Sabbath  school  Library  contains  270 
volumes. 

CALVINIST   BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

From  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  Winthrop,  there 
were  some  of  this  denomination  in  the  easterly  part  of 
the  town.  They  were  connected  with  others  in  Read- 
field  ;  and  in  1792,  were  organized  into  a  church,  then 
called  the  Baptist  church  in  Winthrop,  But  having 
erected  a  house  of  worship  in  the  eastern  part  of  Ilead- 

*  See  Appendix,  Note  I. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  127 

field,  they  changed  the  name  to  "  the  Baptist  church  in 
Readfield." 

In  April,  1794,  after  the  outside  of  the  town  meeting 
house  was  finished,  the  town  voted  that  the  Baptists 
might  occupy  the  house  two  Sabbaths  out  of  five. 
Whether  they  availed  themselves  of  this  off^er,  I  can  not 
say.  Bev.  Abraham  Cummings  did  preach  some  time  in 
the  place,  prior  to  1 800.  He  was  an  open  Communionists 
and  often  supplied  Congregational  churches.  Whether 
he  preached  for  the  Baptists,  particularly,  or  for  the 
people  of  the  town,  is  not  known.  It  does  not  appear 
from  the  records  that  he  was  ever  employed  by  the  town. 

In  1809,  the  Baptists  asked  the  town  for  their  share 
of  the  money,  for  which  the  land  given  by  the  Plymouth 
Company  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  had  been  sold  ; 
but  the  town  voted  not  to  grant  it.  They  occasionally 
had  preaching  in  the  school  house  in  the  east  part  of 
Winthrop,  on  the  Sabbath  and  other  days. 

In  the  summer  of  1823,  they  erected  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  November  19, 
1823.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Bev.  Stephen 
Chapin,  Professor  in  Waterville  College,  and  Avas  pub- 
lished. Mr.  Phinehas  Bond,  a  licentiate,  preached  among 
them  with  much  success. 

June  22,  1824,  a  church  was  organized  by  an  Ecclesi- 
astical Council,  composed  of  the  following  Elders  and 
Delegates:  Elder  D.  Chessman,  Dea.  James  Hinckley 
and  Brother  William  Cross,  Hallowell ;  Elder  John 
Haines,  Brothers  Joseph  Anderson,  Abijah  Crane    and 


128  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

Jeremiah  Ricliards,  Fayette ;  Brothers  Asa  Axdell  and 
Ebenezer  Gilman,  Belgrade.  Elder  Titcomb  of  Bruns- 
v/ick,  Dr.  Chapin  of  Watcrville,  Elder  Nutter  of  Liv- 
ermore,  Elder  Wilson  of  Topsham,  Elder  Butler  and 
Professor  Briggs  of  Waterville,  and  Brothers  Phinehas 
Bond  and  Ezra  Going,  licensed  preachers,  being  present, 
were  invited  to  sit  with  the  Council,  and  take  part  in  the 
proceedings. 

Thirty  persons,  eighteen  males  and  twelve  females, 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Readfield,  but  residing 
in  Winthrop,  were  dismissed  to  be  constituted  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Winthrop.      (See  Appendix,  Note  K.) 

June  28,  twenty -four  males  and  yorZ?/-o?ie  females  were 
received  by  letters  from  the  church  in  Readfield.  Several 
had  been  baptized,  and  July  11,  1824,  seventy-four  were 
added  to  the  church,  twenty-seven  males  and  forty-seven 
females.  August  8,  twelve  more  were  added  to  their 
number,  four  males  and  eight  females.  At  the  close  of 
that  memorable  year,  the  church  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  members,  of  whom  fifty-one  were  males. 

Their  first  pastor.  Rev.  John  Butler,  was  installed 
May  1,1825;  and  continued  about  sere?!  years.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Samuel  Fogg. 

February  23,  1836,  Rev.  John  PI.  Ingraham  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  East  Winthrop 
and  Hallo  well  X  Beads,  (now  Manchester.)  April  13, 
1839,  at  his  request,  his  pastoral  labors  among  them 
ceased. 

From  September,  1839,  Rer.  Daniel  E.  Burbank  min- 
istered to  them,  till  his  health  failed,  and  he  deceased, 


HISTORY  OF  WIXTHROP.  129 

October  26,  1840,  aged  twenty- three  years.  Cut  down 
in  the  morning  of  his  days,  and  in  prospect  of  extensive 
usefulness. 

October  23, 1840,  Rev.  Franklin  Merriam  was  ordained 
their  pastor.*  He  continued  their  minister  till  some 
time  in  1848. 

January  24,  1849,  Rev.  Sampson  Powers  was  ordained 
their  pastor.-"'  He  remained  pastor  till  the  latter  part  of 
1852. 

Rev.  C.  W.  Bradbury  was  their  last  minister.  They 
have  no  settled  mrinister  now. 

Rev.  George  G.  Fairbanks,  a  member  of  this  church 
and  graduate  of  Waterville  College,  is  now  pastor  of  a 
Baptist  church  in  Somerville,  Mass. 

The  number  of  scholars  in  the  Sabbath  School,  at  the 
close  of  1854,  was  one  hundred.  Their  Sabbath  School 
Library  contains  575  volumes. 

UNIVEKSALISTS. 

Who  first  preached  or  professed  to  believe,  that  all 
men  would  be  finally  saved  in  this  place,  may  now  be 
difhcult  to  decide.  A  preacher,  by  the  name  of  Barnes, 
occasionally,  came  from  Poland  and  taught  that  senti- 
ment. At  his  meetings  at  the  school  house  at  the  Mills, 
a  number  attended,  among  whom,  at  times,  it  has  been 
said,  there  was  no  female.  They  did  not  have  stated 
ministrations,  until  the  year  1819.  "A  preliminary 
meeting  was  held  December  4,  1818  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  having  a  minister.  On  the  31st  of  March,  1818, 
Messrs.  Moses  Johnson,  John  Morrill,  Jacob  Nelson,  and 


*  See  Appendix,  Note  K. 


130  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

thirty -ei gilt  others  formed  themselves  into  a  Society 
denominated  the  Union  Society  in  the  towns  of  Winthrop' 
Readfield  and  Wayne."  This  Society  was  organized  into 
a  corporate  body  according  to  the  laws  of  Mass.  They 
employed  a  minister  by  the  name  of  Mace,  who  preached 
in  the  three  to^tns.  A  part  of  the  time,  they  had  preach- 
ing in  this  town  half  of  the  time,  sometimes  less  and 
sometimes  more.  They  were  supplied  by  different  min- 
isters. This  state  of  things  generally,  remained,  till 
their  number  had  increased,  so  that  August  26,  1837, 
they  organized  a  Society  in  this  Town.  In  the  Pre- 
amble to  their  Constitution,  they  say,  "  We,  the  sub- 
scribers, feeling  desirous  to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  do 
hereby  form  ourselves  into  a  Society  that  we  may  be  helps 
to  each  other  and  that,  by  our  united  energies,  we  may 
better  serve  the  purpose  of  religion  and  faith,  we  cheer- 
fully   accept    and  subscribe  the  following  constitution. 

Art.  1.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  first  Univer- 
salist  Society  in  Winthrop. 

Art.  2.  The  object  of  this  Society  shall  be  the 
promotion  of  truth  and  morality  among  its  members,  and 
also  in  the  world  at  large  ;  and  as  the  gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  is  calculated  above  all  other  truth  to  inspire 
the  heart  with  emotions  of  benevolence  and  virtue,  this 
Society  shall  deem  it  one  of  its  main  objects  to  support 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  according  to  the  society's 
ability,  and  to  aid  in  any  other  proper  way  of  spreading 
it  among  men. 

Art.  3.     Any  person  sustaining  a  good  moral  charac- 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  131 

ter  may  be  admitted  a  member  of  tbis  Society,  on 
application  to  that  effect,  by  a  majority  of  votes  at  any 
regular  meeting. 

AnT.  4.  It  shall  be  regarded  the  duty  of  every  member 
to  adorn  tbe  doctrine  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  a 
well  ordered  life  and  conversation  ;  to  contribute  accord- 
ing to  his  ability,  in  the  manner  determined  on  by  a 
majority,  towards  the  support  of  public  worship  and 
other  necessary  expenses  of  the  society ;  to  attend  upon 
the  exercises  of  the  sanctuary,  as  well  as  the  regular 
meetings  of  the  society  forbusinses.  A  habitual  neglect 
of  any  of  these  duties  shall  be  regarded  sufficient  reason 
for  striking  the  name  of  any  member  from  the  roll  by  a 
vote  of  the  majority." 

The  other  articles  provide  for  meetings  of  the  society, 
choice  of  officers,  their  duties  &c. 

About  fifty  men  have  signed  this  constitution,  some 
twenty  of  whom  have  either  deceased,  removed,  or  left 
the  society.  Many  others  have  been  voted  in  as  members, 
who  have  not  subscribed  the  constitution.  Between  1836 
and  1838,  Rev.  G.  Quinby  ministered  to  them. 

In  the  summer  of  1838,  they  erected  a  very  neat  and 
commodious  house  of  worship,  opposite  the  Methodist 
Chapel  in  the  western  part  of  the  village.  This  house 
was  dedicated  December  25,  the  same  year,  on  which 
occasion  Kev.  Mr.  Gardiner  of  Waterville  preached. 
Rev.  Giles  Bailey  came  Sept.  1839.  At  his  ordination, 
Rev.  Mr.  Willis  of  Mass.  preached.  A  church  was  or- 
ganized near  that  time  consisting  of  eighteen  members.  * 

*See  Appendix,  Note  L. 


132  HISTORY   OF  WTS^THROP. 

Mr.  Bailey  continued  with  them  until  tlie  autumn  of 
1842.  Rev.  Frederic  Foster,  a  native  of  Haverhill, 
Mass.,  and  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  of  1840,  was 
ordained  pastor  in  1842,  and  remained  about  two  years. 

Eev.  Geo.  W.  Bates  preached  with  them  all  the  time 
during  one  year,  commencing  in  1846.  Rev.  D.  T. 
Stevens  succeeded  Mr.  Bates,  and  supplied  them  more 
than  a  year. 

Their  present  minister,  Rev,  O.  H.  Johnson,  began 
his  labors  among  them  in  1853.  They  have  a  Sabbath 
school  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  members,  and  a  Sab- 
bath school  library  of  400  volumes. 

CHRISTIAN    BAND    CHURCH. 

Several  persons  in  the  south  west  part  of  Winthrop, 
united  with  the  Christian  Band.  They  had  a  house  of 
worship  just  beyond  the  bounds  of  this  town  in  Mon- 
mouth. But  that  house  has  been  removed  and  become 
a  dwelling  house. 

THEE    WILL    BArilSTS. 

The  Free  Will  Baptists  in  Winthrop  and  Wayne, 
erected  a  house  of  worship  on  the  line  between  the  two 
towns.  They  worshipped  there  a  few  years.  But  in 
consequence  of  erecting  a  house  of  worship  at  Wayne 
village,  the  one  first  named  was  deserted  and  has  since 
been  removed. 

HOUSES    FOR   WORSHIP. 

The  subject  of  erecting  a  house  for  the  public  worship 
of  God,  had  been  agitated  at  different  times,  but  no 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  133 

effective  measures  had  been  taken  to  accomplisli  so  im- 
portant and  desirable  an  object.  But  at  their  annual 
meeting  in  March,  1774,  they  appointed  "  Joseph  Baker, 
Ichabod  How  and  John  Chandler,  a  committee  to  build 
a  house  for  public  worship,  36  feet  long  and  30  feet  wide, 
and  to  set  it  on  lot  57,^*  in  the  nearest  convenient  place 
to  the  center  of  the  town  on  said  lot." 

At  a  town  meeting,  July  28,  1774,  "Voted,  that  the 
committee  to  build  the  meeting  house  shall  take  money 
of  the  town  rates  sufficient  to  buy  nails  and  glass  for  the 
house.  Voted  that  the  common  hands  that  work  on  said 
house  be  allowed  3s.  4d.  per  day,  if  they  nnd  themselves." 
*'  This  house  was  glazed,  liut  never  finished  inside  or 
outside,  "f 

October  19,  1775,  Jonathan  Whiting,  Joseph  Stevens 
and  John  Chandler  were  "  a  committee  to  effect  the  fin- 
ishing of  the  meeting  house  ;  and  tliat  this  committee 
enclose  the  h't  on  which  the  meeting  house  is  built,  as 
soon  as  may  be." 

"November  o,  1781,  the  town  was  divided  into  two 
parts  for  public  worship,  a.s  the  water  divides  it,  the 
south  pond,  so  called,  the  mill  stream,  the  mill  pond  and 
from  the  most  northerly  part  of  the  :;ull  pond,  a  north 
line  to  the  end.  of  the  towu.  So  loi.  -  =;  we  remain  one 
commonwealth,  the  preaching  is  to  be  in  equal  halves  on 
both  sides  of  the  tovsm."  They  agreed  to  build  two 
houses  for  worship.  "  Voted,  that  the  east  muetii'g 
house  shall  be  built  on  the  County  road,  near  Lieut. 
Abraham  Wyman's ;  and  that  the  dimensions  shall  be, 
55  feet  long,  45  feet  wide   and  24  feet   ppsts.     That  the 


*  This  is  the  lot  on  wliich  jMr.  M.  Haven  Metcah'  now  lives. 
t  Letter  of  Noah  Prescot,  Esq. 
7 


134  HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP. 

west  meeting  house  shall  be  built  on  the  height  of  land 
between  Ebenezer  Davenport's  and  James  Work's,  on 
the  side  of  the  Town  road  ;  and  that  the  dimensions  shall 
be,  50  feet  long,  48  feet  wide  and  23  feet  posts.  Voted, 
that  Jonathan  Whiting,  Benjamin  Brainerd,  Samuel 
Foster,  Josiah  French  and  Squier  Bishop  shall  be  a  com- 
mittee for  the  east  side  of  the  town ;  and  Solomon  Stanley, 
Amos  Stevens,  James  Work,  James  Atkinson  and  James 
Craig  shall  be  a  committee  for  the  west  side  of  the  town." 
Each  of  these  committees  was  "  instructed  to  provide 
materials  for  building  as  fast  as  they  can."  "  "Voted  to 
assess  £100  hard  money,  to  be  paid  in  money,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  town,  to  procure  nails  and  glass ;  and  to 
assess  £400  on  the  east  side  of  the  town  to  be  paid  in 
labor,  or  materials  for  building.  Voted  to  assess  £80 
hard  money,  to  be  paid  in  money,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
town,  to  procure  nails  and  glass ;  and  £320  to  provide 
timber  for  the  frame,  underpinning,  boards  and  shingles, 
and  people  are  to  have  liberty  to  work  if  they  will." 
Neither  of  these  houses  was  built. 

At  the  meeting  the  21st  of  January,  1782,  a  proposal 
was  made  to  re-consider  the  votes  passed  for  dividing 
the  town  into  east  and  west  divisions,  and  for  erecting 
two  houses  of  worship,  which  did  not  prevail.  They 
voted,  however,  to  repair  the  old  meeting  house  "so  as 
to  be  comfortable  to  meet  in  for  a  number  of  years." 
At  a  meeting,  March  1 1 ,  "Voted  to  grant  £30  lawful 
money,  to  be  laid  out  in  repairing  the  meeting  house,  at 
the  best  discretion  of  the  committee,"  who  were  James 
Craig,  Jonathan  Whiting  and  William  Pullen. 

November  21,  1782,  "Voted  to  move  the  meeting  for 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  135 

public  worship  from  the  meeting  house  to  Mr.  Chandler's 
and  Mr.  Whiting's  the  ensuing  winter,  every  other  Sab- 
bath at  each  place,  in  case  the  inhabitants  in  the  north- 
east part  of  the  town  do  not  desire  one-sixth  part  of  the 
preaching,  if  they  do,  it  is  granted  them ;  likewise  the 
north-west  part  of  the  town  is  granted  one-sixth  part  of 
the  preaching,  in  case  they  desire  it." 

January  10,  1785,  they  "Voted  again  to  divide  the 
town  into  two  Parishes,  by  an  east  and  west  line,  so  that 
the  north  part  shall  be  about  four  miles  wide  and  the 
south  part  about  five  miles."  William  Pullen,  Joshua 
Bean  and  Samuel  Foster  were  chosen  a  committee  to  sell 
the  meeting  house.  This  they  probably  did,  to  David 
Woodcock.^' 

May  13,  1786,  "Voted  that  David  Woodcock's  note 
for  the  meeting  house  be  given  up,  and  that  he  return 
the  nails  of  the  old  meeting  house  to  the  town." 

At  a  meeting.  May  8,  1786,  the  town  voted  to  build 
two  meeting  houses,  the  south,  on  a  spot  between  David 
Woodcock's  and  William  Pullen's.  Solomon  Stanley, 
Squicr  Bishop  and  Nathaniel  Fairbanks  were  aj)pointed 
a  committee  for  building  this  house.  William  Whittier, 
Josiah  Mitchell  and  Bobert  Page,  Esq.,  were  chosen  a 
committee  for  building  the  north  house.  They  also 
agreed  to  raise  four  hundred  pounds  lawful  money,  to  be 
expended  in  building  both  houses. 

July  3,  the  town  voted  to  "  build  the  north  meeting 
house  on  lot  No.  136,  between  the  highway  and  the  south 


*  Some  of  the  timber  of  the  old  meeting  house  is  said  to  be  now 
in  the  cider  mill  of  Mr,  Columbus  Fahbanks, 


136  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

line  of  said  lot,  about   70  or  80   rods  west  of  Samuel 
Taylor's  house." 

At  a  meeting,  June  12,  Amos  Stevens  and  Daniel 
Marrow  were  added  to  the  committee  for  building  the 
south  meeting  house ;  and  it  was  decided  that  the  house 
be  fifty  by  forty  feet.  The  Selectmen  were  to  procure  a 
convenient  site  for  the  house.  The  committee  were 
instructed  to  procure  timber  for  the  house,  and  to  proceed 
immediately  to  frame  and  raise  it ;  and  to  give  the  people 
opportunity  to  work  and  find  such  materials  for  the  house 
as  they  could  most  easily  provide  ;  and  that  they  should 
use,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  productions  of  the  country 
in  erecting  the  house. 

*'May  9,  1791,  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  pounds  to 
finish  the  outside  of  the  meeting  house,  and  to  build  a 
porch  over  the  front  door.  Capt.  Solomon  Stanley,  Amos 
Stevens  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks  were  chosen  a  committee 
for  this  purpose." 

May,  1792,  fifty  pounds  were  raised  towards  finishing 
the  meeting  house. 

At  the  town  meeting,  April,  1794,  the  committee 
appointed  to  finish  the  outside  of  the  meeting  house, 
reported  that  they  had  accomplished  the  object  of  their 
appointment,  and  the  report  was  accepted  by  the  town. 
The  town,  at  this  meeting,  "  voted  that  the  Baptists  may 
have  the  improvement  of  the  meeting  house  two  Sabbaths 
out  of  five,  and  to  begin  to  occupy  it  the  third  Sabbath 
from  this  date."^ 

April,  1800,  "  the  town  voted  to  dispose  of  the  meeting 
house  to  the  first  Congregational  Society,  on  conditions, 

*  This  is  the  house  which,  for  some  years  past,  has  been  used  as 
the  Town  House. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  137 

tliat  said  Society  will  finish  said  house  in  such  a  term 
of  time  as  shall  be  agreed  on  by  a  committee  this  day 
appointed  by  the  town,  viz :  Jedediah  Prescot,  John 
Comings  and  William  Richards,  and  by  a  committee  to 
be  appointed  by  said  Society,  and  selling  the  pew  ground 
to  any  persons  in  said  town  of  Winthrop,  who  shall 
choose  to  purchase,  at  public  auction.  The  town  reserv- 
ing to  themselves  the  privilege  of  said  house  for  a  Town 
House ;  provided  said  Society  will  give  as  much  for  said 
house,  (if  any  thing,)  as  three  disinterested  men,  viz : 
John  Hubbard,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Evans  and  Robert  Page, 
Esq.,  shall  judge  they  ought,  taking  into  view  every 
circumstance."  They  then  chose  Benjamin  Fairbanks 
and  Nathaniel  Fairbanks  a  committee  "  to  represent  the 
circumstances  relating  to  the  meeting  house  to  the  above 
referees." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  town,  May  5,  the  committee 
appointed  to  say  what  the  town  should  receive  as  com- 
pensation for  their  meeting  house,  should  it  be  conveyed 
to  the  first  Congregational  Society  in  said  town,  "  having 
examined  said  house,  do  report  that,  the  town  shall  con- 
vey said  house  to  said  Society  upon  conditions  that  said 
Society  shall  finish  said  house  and  continue  to  keep  it  in 
good  repair  for  the  use  of  said  town,  as  expressed  in  the 
vote  passed  at  the  April  meeting,  so  long  as  they  shall 
continue  a  Society  ;  and  if  they  shall  be  dissolved  as  a 
Society,  the  house  which  shall  then  be  standing,  shall 
revert  to  the  town,  as  their  exclusive  property. 

JOHN  HUBBARD,  \ 

JOHN  EVANS,         }    Committee. 

ROBERT  PAGE,      j 

Winthrop,  May  2,  1800." 


138  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

"  The  town  voted  to  accept  this  report  on  condition 
that  the  said  Society  will  reserve  four  pews,  or  seats  to 
that  amount,  on  the  lower  floor,  and  as  many  in  the 
galleries,  in  proportion  to  the  bigness  of  the  floor,  for 
the  use  of  the  town  :  said  jdcws  or  seats  to  be  in  as 
eligible  a  situation  as  the  pews  or  seats  are,  take  them 
together." 

The  house  was  finished,  and  although  the  first  Con- 
gregational Parish  was  dissolved  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  1806,  yet  the  Congregational 
Society  continued  to  occupy  the  house  until  August  7, 
1825.  A  solemn  and  affecting  farewell  was  taken  of  the 
house,  as  a  place  of  worship,  in  a  discourse  from  Deut. 
8:2.  There,  nearly  forty  years,  the  people  of  God  had 
been  accustomed  to  assemble  to  attend  on  his  worship 
and  ordinances,  to  humble  themselves  before  him,  to 
supplicate  his  mercy  and  celebrate  his  praise.  Taking 
leave  of  a  place,  around  which  so  many  hallowed  associa- 
tions clustered,  could  not  fail  to  awaken  strong  emotions. 
JN'umerous  reminiscences  of  the  most  touching  and  inter- 
esting character  were  called  up.  Few  were  the  bosoms 
which  did  not  swell  and  eyes  which  did  not  freely  weep. 

The  first  Parish  had  erected  a  house,*  decent  in  appear- 
ance, commodious  in  size  and  structure,  convenient  in 
location,  in  which  to  celebrate  divine  worship.  Three 
days  after  bidding  adieu  to  the  old  house  they  met  in  the 
new  one,  and,  with  appropriate  religious  services,  solemnly 
dedicated  it  to  Jehovah,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

On  that  occasion,  however,  the  gladness  and  joy  of 

*  That  which  they  now  occupy. 


HISTORY  OF   WINTHROP.  139 

having  succeeded  in  obtaining  what  had  been  ardently- 
desired,  were  mingled  with  very  mournful  and  distressing 
recollections  of  Avhat  occurred  at  raising  the  frame  of  the 
building  in  which  they  were  then  convened.  On  the 
ninth  of  June,  1824,  a  numerous  company  was  gathered. 
There  was  no  intemperance,  profaneness  or  noise.  The 
calmness.,  harmony,  dispatch  and  success,  which  attended 
the  enterprise,  until  more  than  half  the  rafters  were  in 
their  places,  were  unusual.  One  spirit  of  cheerful  antici- 
pation appeared  to  animate  the  whole  company  of  active 
laborers,  and  spectators.  But  suddenly  the  scene  was 
changed.  A  beam  broke,  the  shoring  not  being  suffi- 
cient, and  from  thirty  to  forty  men,  mingled  with  a  ton 
or  two  of  timber,  were  precipitated  a  distance  oi  twenty' 
six  feet  !  It  seemed  almost  miraculous  that  half  of  them 
were  not  killed  upon  the  spot.  Yet,  some  were  scarcely 
hurt,  others  slightly,  some  seriously,  and  three  mortally 
wounded.  But  the  scene  beggars  description.  The 
lamentations  of  neighbor  for  suffering  neighbor,  of  brother 
for  suffering  brother,  of  children  for  father,  of  fathers  for 
sons,  of  wives  for  husbands,  were  enough  to  melt  the 
heart.  But  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  were 
*ruly  agonizing.  One,  who  had  been  married  not  two 
full  months,  laid  speechless  and  unconscious  for  a  few 
hours,  and  yelded  up  the  ghost.*  Another,  lingered  in 
a  state  of  excruciating  distress  till  about  noon  the  follow- 
ing day,  and  died,  leaving  his  afflicted  widow  overwhelmed 
with  grief.f     Another,  for  whose  recovery  considerable 


*  Warren  Pullen. 
t  Paul  Ladd. 


140  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

hope  was  entertained,  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day 
after  the  fearful  catastrophe,  exhibited  symptoms  which 
awakened  the  most  alarming  apprehensions  among  his 
sorrow  smitten  friends.  Before  the  going  down  of  the 
sun,  the  lamp  of  life  was  extinguished. ^'-  Thus  another 
widow  and  three  fatherless  children  were  added  to  the 
group  of  unexpected  and  distressed  mourners.  *'  Shall 
there  be  evil  in  the  city  and  the  Lord  hath  not  done 
it  r "  Amos  3:6.  "  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 
Psalm  46  :  10. 

MINISTERIAL    FUND. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  town  took  any  action  in 
regard  to  the  lot  of  land  given  by  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  Winthrop,  after  the 
incorporation  of  Readiield  into  a  town,  until  their  meeting 
in  November,  1798,  when  they  "voted  to  instruct  Col. 
Fairbanks,  their  ag  jnt,  to  confer  with  the  select  men  of 
Readfield,  who  are  concerned,  and  if  they  and  the  town 
of  Readfield  consent,  to  apply  to  the  general  Court  for 
leave  to  sell  it."  This  they  did,  and  obtained  an  act  of 
the  general  Court,  Feb.  18,  1799.  The  sale  amounted 
to  $1576,60.  the  proportion  which  Winthrop  received 
was  «$840,  85.  -As  they  had  no  settled  minister  at  that 
time,  the  money  was  loaned  and  the  interest  added  to  the 
principal  until  about  1816. 

It  will  be  observed  that  for  some  years  the  town  had 
granted  no  money  to  sustain  the  institutions  of  the  gospel 
among  them.  From  1806,  when  they  began  again  to 
raise  money  for  this  purpose  by  a  tax,  several  individuals 

•  Francis  Hoyt. 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  141 

were  dissatisfied.  They  did  not  wish  to  pay  their  money 
to  aid  in  the  inculcation  of  religious  sentiments,  which 
they  did  not  believe.  Leading  men  in  the  town  main- 
tained, that  a  tax  could  not  be  legally  assessed  and 
collected,  unless  all  liable  to  be  taxed  were  assessed. 
The  town  were  willing  all,  who  desired  to  be  exempted 
from  being  taxed,  should  be,  provided  they  would  take 
measures  to  be  legally  exempted,  as  they  all  might  be. 

May  1798,  the  town  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  dollars 
to  hire  preaching  and  to  have  it  "  assessed,  collected  and 
paid  in  to  the  town  treasurer  in  six  months.  Jedediah 
Prescot  Esq.,  Elijah  Fairbanks  and  Amos  Stevens  were 
chosen  to  appropriate  the  money."  1799,  voted  not  to 
raise  any. 

"Jan.  20,  1800,  the  town  remitted  the  ministerial  tax 
voted  in  1798  in  the  bills  of  Moses  Joy  collector,  to  the 
following  persons  agreeably  to  their  desire  viz.  Benjamin 
Fairbanks,  William  Richards,  Samuel  Foster,  Joel  White, 
Seth  Delano,  Asa  Robbins,  Paul  Sears,  Ephraim  Stevens, 
Moses  Wadsworth,  Daniel  Robbins  Jr.,  David  Foster, 
Josiah  French,  Steuart  Foster,  Aaron  Wadsworth. "^^ 

Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town,  Jan.  8,  1810, 
"  they  voted,  that  Nathaniel  Bishop,  Benjamin  Fairbanks, 
Seth  Delano,  Elijah  Fairbanks,  Daniel  Foster,  Benjamin 
Fairbanks,  Jr.,  Elijah  Fairbanks,  Jr.,  Asa  Robbins,  Enos 
Fairbanks,  Eleazar  Robbins,  Rial  Stanley,  Nathan  F. 
Cobb,  and  Thomas  Jacobs,  may  be  incorporated  into  a 
regular  Society  by  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Society  in 
Winthrop."  At  a  meeting,  the  5th  of  Feb.  they  voted 
"  not  to  grant  liberty  to  the  Methodist  Society  to  poll 
to  and  from  the  said  society."     The  town  declined  acting 

*  Towiiireeords. 


142  HISTORY  OP  WIXTHROP. 

on  fne  request  of  tlie  Methodist  "  for  their  proportion  of 
the  ministerial  fund  given  for  the  support  of  the  ministry." 

Feburary  1811,  the  Methodists  in  town  were  incorpor- 
ated into  a  society,  and  according  to  the  laws  of  Mass- 
achusetts, the  remaining  inhabitants,  as  regards  ecclesias- 
tical concerns,  were  the  successors  of  the  town  and 
denominated  the  First  Parish.*  In  this  capacity,  they 
claimed  the  ministerial  fund.  In  1816,  "  the  First  Parish" 
proposed  to  pay  the  interest  of  the  ministerial  fund  to- 
wards the  salary  of  the  minister.  Many  thought  this 
would  be  a  perversion  of  the  money,  as  there  were  other 
denominations  in  town,  who  claimed  equal  right  to  a 
share  of  the  fund  to  support  their  ministers.  The  fund 
now  amounted  to  S2837.34. 

This  fund  now  became  a  source  of  very  unhappy  con- 
tention. The  Parish  sued  the  town  and  in  1819,  obtained 
a  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts,  that 
the  fund  belonged  to  them.  But  some  law  questions 
remained  unsettled,  until  Maine  became  a  separate  State 
in  1820.  The  case  was  then  brought  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Maine,  and  they  decided  in  the  same  way. 
But  that  did  not  settle  the  difficulty.  Many  of  the  in- 
habitants believed  they  had  a  moral  right  to  their  portion 
of   the  income  of  the  fund. 

In  Feburary  1832,  the  Parish,  in  order  to  allay  the 
unhappy  dissentions  which  had  so  long  prevailed,  agreed 
to  yield  up  the  ministerial  fund  to  the  town,  on  the  con- 
dition that  the  interest  arising  from  the  fund  should  be 
annually  appropriated  to  the  support  of  the  town  schools, 
provided,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  be  obtained  giving 
authority  thus  to  appropriate  it.  This  was  done,  and 
thus  the  contention  has  ceased. 


*  See  the  act  in  Appendix  Note  I. 


CHAPTEE   YIII. 

Morals — The  Wlnthrop  Society  for  the  promotion  of  good  morals 
■ — Temperance — Efforts  made  by  the  to-vsn  to  effect  a  reforma- 
tion of  morals — Temperance  tavern — Sons  of  Temperance — 
AVatchman's  Club — Anti-Slavery— Society  for  Mutual  Improve- 
ment— Agricultural  Societies — Kennebec  Agricultm-al  Society 
— Literary  Societies — Anderson  Institution — Franklin  Society 
— Lyceums. 

MOHALS. 

"  Siisr  is  a  reproach  to  any  people."  The  state  of  morals 
in  a  community  goes  far  towards  determining  the  degree 
of  estimation  in  which  they  are  entitled  to  be  held.  A 
people  free  from  vicious  principles  and  practices  deserves 
to  stand  higher  than  one,  in  which  a  laxness  of  moral 
principles  and  practice  prevails.  A  morality,  based  on 
the  principles  of  the  gospel,  gives  respectability  and  worth, 
to  any  place. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  present  century,  from  1800 
to  about  1850,  the  people  of  Wmthrop  were  distinguish- 
ed for  the  general  prevalence  of  sound  morality.  If 
their  morals  were  not  as  corrupt  as  some  others,  they 
certainly  were  not  as  pure  as    desirable.      Individuals 


144  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

Legan  to  feel  impressed   witli  the  duty  of  making  more 
direct  and  energetic  efforts   to  stay  tlie  progress  of  vice 
than  had  been  mavle.     The  preservation  and  improvement 
of  morals  in  a  community  have  ever  formed  an  object  of 
high  importance  in  the  estimation  of  all  wise  and  good 
men.     At  a  time  when  vice  prevails  to  such  a  degree,  as 
justly  to  occasion  grief  and  alarm  to  all  considerate  per- 
sons, it  is  especially  incumbent  upon  the  friends  of  order 
and  piety  to  combine  their  efforts  to  arrest  its  progress. 
Convinced  of  the  present  need  of  reformation,  and  be- 
lieving that  a  righteous  God  will  succeed  suitable  meas- 
ures   for    the    prevention    of  evils    alike    destructive  of 
domestic  and  social  enjoyment  and  of  the  eternal  welfare 
of  men,  and  for  the  promotion  of  good  morals,  a  number 
of   persons    in    Winthrop    deemed    it    advisable   that  a 
society  should  be  formed  for  the  purpose  of  attempting 
to  effect  a   reformation  of   morals  amonsr  us.     Articles 
proposed  as  the  basis  of  a  Constitution  had  been  signed 
by  upwards  of  forty  persons,  and  previous  notice  having 
been  given,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held,  March 
27,  1815,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  society,  which 
was  styled 

THE  WINTHROP  SOCIETY   FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  GOOD 

MORALS.*' 

The  following  were  elected  officers  of  the  society,  viz. 
SAMUEL   WOOD,  Esq.,  President. 
Rev.    ZECKARIAH  GIBSON,   Cor.  Se-Cy, 


See  Appendix  Note  M. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  145 

Rev.  DAVID  THURSTON,  Recording  Secretary. 

Mr.  DANIEL  HAYWARD,   Treasurer. 

Rev.  ROBERT  LOW,  '] 

Dea.  CHARLES  HARRIS,  I 

Mr.  SAMUEL  THING,  }■  Committee. 

Dea.  JOSEPH  METCALF,       i 

Mr.  CHARLES  ROBBINS,  J 

Resolved,  That  we  higlily  approve  the  efforts  which 
are  making  by  various  Associations  in  our  country  to 
arrest  the  progress  of  vice  and  raise  the  morals  of  our 
fellow  citizens,  and  that  we  pledge  them,  particularly  the 
*'  Massachusetts  Society  for  suppressing  intemperance" 
our  sincere  and  cordial  cooperation. 

Resolved,  That  we  will  afford  our  encouragement  and 
aid  to  the  tithingmen  in  this  town,  that  they  may  be 
enabled,  with  greater  effect,  discreetly  and  faithfully  to 
discharge  the  difficult  duties  of  their  office." 

The  Recording  Secretary  was  requested  "  to  procure 
fifteen  copies  of  the  Pamphlet,  published  by  the  Mid- 
dlesex Convention,  to  promote  the  better  observance  of 
the  Lord's  day,  for  the  use  of  the  tithingmen  in  this 
town."  At  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  October  2,  1815, 
' '  the  Standing  Committee  were  requested  to  procure  500 
copies  of  a  printed  Address  to  be  distributed  among  the 
youth  of  this  town,  upon  the  duty  and  importance  of 
more  generally  attending  public  worship  on  the  Lord's 
day." 

TEMPEEANCE. 

Dram  drinking  in  stores  was  becoming  an  appalling 
evil.     At  the  meeting  of  the  Society  March  25,  1816,  the 

Standing  Committee  were  instructed  to  take  such  meas- 
7* 


146  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

"ures  as  their  discretion  might  dictate,  to  prevent  the  evils 
resulting  from  the  present  mode  of  retailing  spirituous 
liquors  at  the  stores.  In  September  the  society  instruct- 
ed their  committee  to  circulate  the  Address  of  President 
Appleton,  D.  D.,  delivered  before  the  Massachusetts 
Society  for  suppressing  intemperance,  particularly  among 
the  members  of  this  society  ;  and  to  take  such  other 
measures  as  they  shall  deem  expedient  to  awaken  the 
public  mind  to  the  importance  of  reform  in  regard  to  the 
manner  of  retailing  spirituous  liquors.  At  the  meeting  in 
October,  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  was  discussed  and 
after  the  reading  of  a  very  interesting  circular  addressed 
by  the  committee  of  the  Bedford  Society  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  vice,  to  the  venders  of  spirituous  liquors,  it  was 

Resolved,  that  this  society  view  the  use  of  spirit- 
uous liquors,  except  as  a  medicine,  or  in  some  rare  cases, 
as  injurious,  and  that  in  the  present  state  of  things, 
civility  does  not  require  and  expediency  does  not  permit 
their  being  used  as  a  part  of  hospitable  entertainment 
in  social  visits.     Passed  unanimously. 

Much  pains  were  taken  by  personal  interviews  with 
the  store  keepers  and  by  printed  addresses,  to  prevail  on 
them  to  desist  from  the  practice  of  dealing  out  drams  to 
"  be  drunken  in  and  about  their  shops,"  and  they  were 
distinctly  told,  that  unless  they  ceased  this  dreadful  work 
of  making  drunkards,  it  was  "  the  fixed  determination  of 
the  society  to  have  the  law  regulating  the  sale  of  spirit- 
uous liquors  strictly  enforced  J  ^ 

At  the  meeting  of  the  society,  March  1817,  "a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consult  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court,  as    to   the   best   mode   of  preventing  the  sale  of 


HISTORY  OF  WIXTHROP.  147 

ardent  spirits  by  the  small  quantity,  i.  e.  by  the  glass,  or 
gill,  as  practiced  by  the  storekeepers  in  tbis  Town  and 
County.'* 

At  tlie  meeting  in  October  following,  the  committee 
reported  that  tliey  had  been  unsuccessful  in  their  labors 
with  the  storekeepers.  Rev.  Mr.  Gillet  of  Hallowell 
preached  a  very  appropriate  discourse  before  the  society 
from  James  5  :  20.  Various  plans  were  devised  to  pre- 
vent the  fearful  evils  of  intemperance  by  endeavoring  to 
prevail  on  men  to  use  intoxicating  drinks  only  moderately. 
But  just  as  long  as  moderate  drinking  was  countenanced, 
not  a  few  would  become  drunkards. 

In  March  1818,  the  society  altered  their  constitution, 
so  as  to  embrace  the  establishment  and  patronage  of 
Sabbath  Schools  as  a  means  of  promoting  correct  morals. 
At  the  same  meeting  the  society  resolved  to  attempt  to 
establish  a  Sabbath  school  in  each  school  district  in 
town.  Rev.  Mr.  Tappan  of  Augusta  was  invited  to  de- 
liver a  discourse  before  the  society  at  the  next  semi- 
annual meeting.  But  for  some  reason,  he  did  not.  At 
the  meeting  in  September  it  was  stated,  that  "  in  seven 
districts.  Sabbath  schools  had  been  commenced  and  con- 
tinued for  different  periods  and  with  various  success  ;  but 
in  all,  with  so  much  as  to  afibrd  encouragement  for 
future  exertion." 

In  April,  1819,  a  law  had  been  recently  passed,  mak- 
ing it  a  penal  offence  to  furnish  intemperate  persons  with 
spirituous  liquors,  gratis  or  otherwise  ;  and  "  every  vender 
of  spirituous  liquors,  who  shall  permit  any  minor,  tipler, 
common  drunkard,  or  gambler  to  remain  in  his  house  or 
store,  or  any  part  thereof,  exposes  himself  to   i  fine  of 


148  HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP. 

ten  dollars  in  addition  to  the  forfeiture  of  former  laws; 
and  if  he  furnish  any  such  person  with  any  kind  of  strong 
drink,  he  forfeits  his  license  and  the  privilege  of  having 
■^t  renewed  again  for  three  years." 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  post  the  names  of 
common  drunkards  in  all  public  places  in  town  where 
spirituous  liquors  were  sold,  forbidding  the  venders  to 
sell  to  any  such  person.^*  The  society  requested  the 
selectmen  to  post  tvv^o  individuals,  after  giving  them 
notice  that  they  should  do  it,  if  they  persisted  in  their 
present  habits.  The  selectmen  did  not  post  either  of 
them,  *'  as  one  of  them  had  not  frequented  the  stores  as 
formerly  and  the  other  had  been  more  regular."  From 
this  date,  the  principal  efforts  of  the  society  were  direct- 
ed to  the  organizing  and  maintaining  of  Sabbath  schools, 
till  the  close  of  1832,  when  the  society  was  discontinued. 
The  churches  had  adopted  the  institution  as  one  of  their 
instrumentalities . 

EPrOKTS  MADE  BY  THE  TOWN  TO  EFFECT  A  KEFOKMA- 

TioN  OF  mo:rals. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  April  6,  1830,  they  "  voted 
to  accept  the  following  Preamble  and  Resolve,  offered  by 
Samuel  Wood,  Esq. : 

Whekeas,  This  is  an  age  of  reformation  in  regard  to 
the  unnecessary  use  of  distilled  spirits,  and  inasmuch  as 
towns  in  their  corporate  capacity  should  do  something  to 
check  the  progress  of  this  alarming  evil,  some  efforts 
having  been  made  by  individuals  of  this  town  to  ascertain 

*  See  Appendix  Note  M. 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  149 

the  quantity  which,  has  been  annually  retailed  in  the 
village  in  thivS  town,  (exclusive  of  Innholders,)  and  it 
appearing  from  an  investigation  of  the  subject,  by  an 
actual  reference  to  the  bills  of  the  merchants,  who  have 
kindly  and  willingly  furnished  the  information  needed, 
with  the  exception  of  one,  who  declined,  for  reasons  best 
known  to  himself ;  but  the  quantity  which  he  sold  being 
estimated  during  the  time  he  sold,  on  an  average  with  the 
other  merchants  ;  that  the  enormous  quantity  vended  in 
said  village,  in  six  years,  commencing  January  1,  1824, 
and  ending  January  1,  1830,  amounts  to  23,159  1-4  gal- 
lons, which,  estimating  West  India  rum  at  $1,10,  New 
England  rum  at  42  cents,  gin  at  $1,25,  and  brandy  at 
$1,60  per  gallon,  which  is  calculated  to  be  their  average 
price  during  said  time,  amounts  to  the  consumers  to  no 
less  a  sum  than  $19,541,09,  or  annually,  $3,260,18; 
and  on  the  supposition  that  one  half  of  it  was  consumed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  it  is  believed  to  be  a 
very  low  estimate,  there  having  been,  generally,  during 
said  time,  one  store  in  the  v\'est  part  of  the  town  and 
another  in  the  east,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town  obtaining  their  supplies  from  other  tov/ns,  it  will 
appear  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  to"\v  n  have  paid  annu- 
ally for  the  articles  above  named,  an  amount  of  money 
but  little  short  of  all  their  other  money  taxes,  during  the 
same  term ;  and  the  town  of  Winthrop  has  always  been 
considered  a  temperate  town.  Notwithstanding  this  is 
undoubtedly  true,  as  to  a  very  large  portion  of  the  inhab- 
itants, yet  there  is  an  alarming  evil  stalking  among  us, 
which  is  believed  to  be  caused  in  no  small  degree  by 


150  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

licensing  so  many  to  retail  spirits  by  small  quantities, 
Vv^hich  renders  it  tlius  easily  obtained ;  and  inasmucli  as 
we  are  desirous  of  lessening  the  effects  of  this  serious 
evil,  and  are  also  desirous,  for  the  benefit  of  the  present 
and  rising  generations,  that  our  deliberate  opinion  on  this 
subject  may  be  entered  on  the  records  of  this  tovv^n; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  in  health,  or 
as  a  part  of  social  entertainment,  is  a  heavy  and  unneces- 
sary tax  on  the  community  and  destructive  to  the  morals 
of  society,  and  that  it  is  not  our  duty  as  a  town  to  tempt 
men  to  use  it  by  licensing  any  individuals,  except  Inn- 
holders,  to  sell  it  to  be  drunk  in  their  stores  or  shops, 
and  that  we  will  not  recommend  to  the  officers  of  this 
town  to  do  it,  or  pass  any  vote  authorizing  such  a  meas- 
ure." 

December,  1832,  the  town  "instructed  the  Selectmen 
and  town  Agent  to  discountenance  the  violation  of  the 
law  in  relation  to  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits,  and  to  take 
proper  measures  to  prevent  the  violation  of  said  law  in 
future,  and  also  to  carry  into  effect  the  law  with  regard 
to  posting  drunkards  and  tipplers." 

April,  1836,  "Voted  not  to  license  any  person  to  sell 
ardent  spirits  in  town  the  ensuing  year  in  a  less  quantity 
than  twenty-eight  gallons  ;  and  that  the  town  Agent  be 
directed  to  prosecute  all  violations  of  the  license  law." 

Several  other  temperance  societies  have  been  formed. 
Very  many  sermons,  addresses,  and  lectures  have  been 
given,  in  which  the  appalling  evils  resulting  from  the 
use  of  intoxicating  liquors  have  been  faithfully  portray- 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  151 

ed.  The  sinfulness  of  indulging  that  morbid  appetite 
has  been  shown.  The  constitution  of  the  first  society 
organized  on  the  principles  or  Total  Abstinence  from  all 
intoxicating  beverages  is  not  to  be  found.  It  was  adopt- 
ed early  in  the  progress  of  the  reform  and  a  very  respec- 
table number  kept  the  pledge. 

TEMPERANCE    TAVERN. 

The  first  tavern,  on  the  principle  of  total  abstinence  in 
the  town,  if  not  in  the  State,  or  the  country,  was  kept 
by  Dea.  Daniel  Carr.  This  was  a  thorough  total  absti- 
nence house.  It  was  not  like  many  others,  having 
out  the  sign  of  Temperance,  but  still  keeping  the  means 
of  making  drunkards  in  some  obscure  part  of  their  house. 
Many  travelers  were  in  the  habit  of  saying,  that  there 
"was  no  tavern,  in  which  they  could  not  obtain  intoxicating 
drinks.  But  they  could  never  find  it  at  Dea.  Carr's,  for 
the  very  substantial  reason,  that  it  was  not  there. 

WASHINGTONIAlSr     SOCIETY. 

The  Washingtonian  Society  was  formed  October  15, 
1841.     The  first  ofiicers  were, 

JAMES  C.  HOWARD,    President, 
AVADSWORTH  FOSTER,  \ 
LORING  FOSS,  \  Vice  Presidents. 

CALVIN  RICHARDSON,    ) 

ROBERT  L.  JACKSON,    Secretary, 
DAVID  STANLY,    Treasurer, 

EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

S.  Ley/is  Claek,  Moses  Jot. 

LiNGAN  Curtis,  John  Dorsett, 

E.  P.  Stevens,  John  O.  Wing, 

Ezra  Whitman,  Jr. 


152  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 


soTsrs  or    TEMPEiiA:^rcE. 

The  Sons  of  Temperance,  under  the  title  of  United 
Brothers,  Division  No.  44,  were  organized  October  16, 
1846.  Their  whole  number  was  88.  They  paid  to  sick 
members  during  their  existence  $214,00. 

watchman's  club. 

In  the  winter  of  1850  a  Watchman's  Club,  No.  71  of 
the  Order,  was  formed.  This  organization  was  commenc- 
ed in  Durham  in  this  State,  in  the  spring  of  1849.  The 
specific  object  of  this  association  was,  to  procure  the  en- 
actment of  a  stringent  prohibitory  law  against  the  sale 
of  intoxicating  liquors. 

The  Legislature  for  1851  was  elected  mainly  upon  the 
temperance  issue,  and  in  the  course  of  the  session  they 
enacted  a  law  for  the  suppression  of  "  drinking  houses 
and  tippling  shops."  This  enactment  embodied  some 
principles  of  organic  law,  which  had  never  before  been 
applied  to  the  temperance  cause.  It  produced  a  great 
sensation  in  this  State  and  in  other  States,  and  thus  came 
to  be  denominated  the  "  Maine  Law."  This  Law  greatly 
encouraged  the  hearts  of  temperance  reformers,  and  sent 
confusion  into  the  tents  of  the  traffickers.  The  AY.jtch- 
men  thus  early  having  obtained  the  object  of  their  desire, 
now  zealously  embraced  this  law  and  determined  to  see 
that  it  was  thoroughly  executed.  This  was  no  part  of  the 
duty  of  "  Divisions"  in  their  associated  capacity,  and  as 
it  was  not  judged  necessary  to  have  two  organizations  for 
a  similar  purpose,  the  Division  was  dissolved,  May  23, 
1851,  that  they  might  add  strength  to  the  Club.     "  Moral 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  153 

suasion,"  had  been  tried,  till  its  power  was  well  nigli  ex- 
hausted. The  necessity  for  a  judicious  and  faithful  ex- 
ecution of  the  Law  became  constantly  more  apparent. 
The  Club  set  themselves  in  earnest  to  stop  the  nefarious 
traffic  and  not  without  effect. 

There  have  also  been  organized  a  Marth  Washington 
Society — a  Division  of  the  Daughters  of  Temperance,  or 
the  Band,  The  Union  Temperance  Society,  and  a  Juvenile 
Temperance  Society.  All  of  them  have  rendered  valua- 
ble aid  to  the  cause  of   temperance. 

It  is  a  matter  of  just  lamentation  and  deep  grief,  that 
after  all  these  efforts,  a  drunkard,  or  the  means  of  making 
one,  should  be  found  in  the  place.  To  what  a  depth  of 
depravity  that  individual  must  have  reached,  what  a  per- 
fect wreck  of  all  the  sympathies  of  our  common  humanity 
must  he  have  made,  who  at  this  day,  in  this  place,  for 
the  paltry  gains  of  rumselling,  will  continue  to  gratify 
the  morbid  appetite  of  the  inebriate,  injure  his  health, 
destroy  the  domestic  peace  of  the  family,  demoralize  his 
character,  ruin  his  reputation  and  .thus  facilitate  his  pro- 
gress to  the  drunkard's  grave  and  the  drunkard's  eternity. 
What  employment  does  so  effectually  steel  men's  hearts 
to  such  a  degree,  as  the  liquor  traffic  ?  The  squalid 
poverty,  the  wretchedness,  the  tears,  the  agonizing  en- 
treaties of  wives  and  children  occasioned  by  it,  cannot 
prevail  on  those  engaged  in  it  to  desist, 

ANTI-SLAVEHY. 

The  first  An ti- slavery  sermons,  showing  the  inherent 
sinfulness  of  slaveholding  in  the  United  States,  and  the 


154  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

duty  of  immediate  emancipation,  were  preached  by  tKe 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  churcli,  November  21,  1833. 
An  Anti-slavery  Society  was  organized,  on  the  princi- 
ple of  immediate  abolition,  embracing  one  hundred  and 
seven  members,  March  4,  1834.     The  officers  were, 

Rev,  DAVID  THURSTON,  President, 

Dea.  JOSEPH  METCALF,  \  j..      p      . ,    , 
Dr.  EZEKIEL  HOLMES,    ]  ^^^^  ^residents, 

Mn.  STEPHEN  SEWALL,  Secretary, 
Mr.  SAMUEL  CORDIS,   Treasurer, 

The  Society,  at  their  meetings,  which  all  were  invited 
to  attend,  discussed  the  subject.  For  they  held  it  as  a 
sacred,  invaluable  right,  that  men  might  freely  discuss 
any  subject,  involving  the  principles  of  morality,  or  the 
innate  right  of  men,  as  men,  to  "  life,  liberty  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness."  They  purchased  and  distributed 
books  and  tracts  on  the  subject.  They  established  an 
Anti-slavery  Library,  and  observed  the  monthly  concert 
of  prayer  for  the  enslaved. 

A  Fomale  Anti-slavery  Society  did  worthily  for  the 
cause  of  the  oppressed,  by  their  instructions  and  contri- 
butions. 

A  Juvenile  Anti-slavery  Society  had  been  organized, 
and  was  addressed,  March  29,  1838.  The  object  of  the 
Society  was  to  inform  them  in  regard  to  the  character  of 
slavery,  that  they  might  be  convinced  of  its  sinfulness, 
so  as  never  to  become  slaveholders,  or  be  the  apologists 
of  a  system  fraught  with  such  dire  evils.  By  reading  the 
*'  Slaves  Friend,"  and  other  publications  on  the  subject, 
they  would  imbibe  such  views  and  receive  such  impres- 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  155 

sions  that  would  tend  powerfully  to  prevent  their  becom- 
ing slaveholders.  If  all  the  young,  in  the  New  England 
States  even,  had  been  suitably  instructed  and  trained  on 
the  subject  of  human  rights,  slavery  would  have  lost  one 
of  its  principal  supports. 

SOCIETY    FOR    MnUAL    IMPOVEMENT."* 

Although  this  Society  was  not  confined  to  "Winthrop, 
yet  a  report  of  the  first  Directress  to  Mrs.  Tappan,  then 
Secretary,  will  give  some  idea  of  what  the  females  in 
Winthrop  were  then  doing  for  benevolent  purposes. 
The  report  is  therefore  given.  The  following  were  the 
officers  of  the  Society  for  the  year  1837. 

•     1st.  Directress,  Mrs.  David  Thukstox,  Winthrop. 
2d.  Directress,  Mrs.  Benjamin  Tappan,  Augusta. 
Sec.  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Thomas  Adams,  Waterville. 

WiNTHKOP,  June  22,  1837. 
My  dear  Mrs.  Tappan  :■ — In  compliance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Constitution  of  the  Society  for  Mutual 
Improvement,  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  report,  that  our 
Maternal  Association  embraces  among  its  members  the 
greater  part  of  the  mothers  in  the  church.]  Our  meet- 
ings were  held  once  in  two  weeks,  and,  during  the  past 
year,  have  been  attended  with  a  good  degree  of  punctu- 
ality.    A  few  cases  of  hopeful  conversion  have  taken 

*  See  Appendix  Note  N. 

t  The  object  of  the  Association  was  to  assist  mothers  to  abetter 
understanding  and  more  efficient  performance  of  their  highly  re- 
eponsible  duties.  For  this  purpose,  they  met,  consulted  and 
prayed  together. 


156  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

place  within  the  year  in  the  families  of  some  of  the 
mothers.  There  is  also  a  female  prayer  meeting  attended 
every  other  week,  quite  as  numerously  attended  the  past 
year,  arnd  with  as  much,  if  not  more,  interest,  than  in 
former  years. 

The  female  Moral  Reform  Society  now  numbers  about 
one  hundred  members.  It  embraces  females  of  different 
denominations.  The  meetings  have  been  kept  up  once 
a  fortnight  without  any  abatement  in  interest.  Several 
copies  of  the  Advocate  of  Moral  Reform  are  taken  by 
the  Society  for  the  purpose  of  distribution.  A  degree 
of  assurance  is  felt  that  the  society  is  exerting  a  consid- 
erable influence  of   a  very  salutary  character. 

A  female  Anti-Slavery  Society  has  been  recently  or- 
ganized, including  some  of  different  denominations,  which 
promises  to  bo  a  valuable  auxiliary  in  delivering  from  that 
degrading,  soul-destroying  system,  by  which  more  than  a 
million  of  our  sisters  are  enslaved.  This  society  is 
calling  forth  an  increased  sympathy  for  those  of  our  sex 
in  this  land,  who  have  no  protection  for  their  persons, 
their  reputation  or  their  virtue. 

A  sewing  circle,  composed  of  young  ladies  who  meet 
once  in  two  weeks,  has  been  kept  up  with  a  good  degree 
of  interest.  Thoy  appropriate  the  avails  of  their  labor 
to' various  benevolent  objects  ;  and  have  accomplished  as 
much,  if  not  more  than  in  any  preceding  year. 

We  have  also  a  female  juvenile  society  which  meets 
once  in  three  weeks.  These  meetings  are  attended  by 
two  members  of  the  church,  one  of  whom  reads,  while 
the  other  superintends  the  work.  They  devote  the  avails 
of  their  labor  to  some  charitable  object.     One  prominent 


HISTOHY    OP   WINTHEOP.  157 

design  of  the  meeting  is  to  liave  the  members  early  ac- 
quire the  ha")it  of  doing  good. 

I  had  been  making  m.y  arrangements  and  fondly 
anticipating  the  pleasure  of  meeting  my  belove.i  sisters 
at  the  approaching  anniversaries,  but  the  providence  of  our 
heavenly  Father  calls  me  to  remain  at  home  to  watch  over 
the  sick.  Grateful  for  the  respect  shown  me  in  placing 
me  first  on  the  list  of  oflicers,  I  am  constrained  to 
request,  sincerely  and  earnestly,  that  some  other  may  be 
appointed  as  first  Directress. 

Praying  that  you  may  enjoy  the  presence  and  blessing 
of   the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  am  your  affectionate  sister, 

P.  B.  THURSTON." 

MORAL    REFOKM    SOCIETY. 

The  reading  of  McDowell's  Journal,  which  he  began 
to  publish  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1833,  awakened 
the  attention  of  several  of  the  good  women  in  Winthrop, 
to  the  prevalent,  soul-destroying  sin  of  lewdness.  Their 
sympathies  were  aroused.  The  dangers  to  which  the 
purity  of  their  own  children  was  exposed,  were  presented 
in  a  new  and  alarming  light.  They  met,  prayed,  consulted, 
and,  in  1833,  formed  the  "Female  Moral  Reform  Soci- 
ety." Besides  contributing  directly  to  the  Parent  Society, 
they  paid  for  several  copies  of  the  Journal,  while  that 
was  published,  and  then  for  a  larger  number  of  the 
"  Advocate  of  Moral  Reform,"  which  they  distributed. 
Notwithstanding  the  odium  attempted  to  be  cast  upon 
these  efforts,  they  have  been  productive  of  immense  good 
to  the  cause  of  moral  purity. 
8 


158  HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP. 

Several  otlier  Societies,  in  different  neighborhoods,  for 
the  promotion  of  objects  of  benevolence,  have  been  or- 
ganized. Missionary  Associations  have  rendered  impor- 
tant aid  in  providing  the  means  of  salvation  for  the 
destitute.  These  efforts  have  had  a  very  wholesome 
influence  upon  the  members.  To  practice  self-denial  for 
the  sake  of  doing  good  to  others,  directly  counteracts  the 
native  selfishness  of  the  heart.  It  expands  the  soul  and 
prepares  men  to  devise  liberal  things. 

If  the  people  of  Winthrop  have  not  been  renowned 
for  their  public  spirit  and  large  heartedness,  some  of  them 
have  been  liberal  and  have  done  well  for  the  various  ob- 
jects of  benevolence.  To  what  good  cause  have  they  not 
contributed  ?  To  what  benevolent  enterprize  have  they 
not  lent  their  aid  ?  The  funds  of  the  Bible  Society,  the 
Education,  Misssionary,  domestic  and  foreign,  the  Tract, 
Moral  Reform,  Anti-Slavery  and  Temperance  Societies 
have  all  been  increased  by  their  donations.  That  they 
have  done  as  much  as  they  should  is  not  pretended.  But 
if  the  people  in  all  other  towns  had  done  as  much  in 
proportion  to  their  means  as  those,  who  have  contributed 
in  Winthrop,  the  treasuries  of  our  eleemosynary  institu- 
tions would  have  been  far  better  replenished  than  they 
have  been. 

AGEICULTmAL    SOCIETIES. 

Prior  to  1818,  a  Society  had  been  organized  with  a 
view  to  improve  the  art  of  husbandry  and  to  elevate  the 
calling  of  the  husbandman.  Not  a  few  of  the  young  men 
were  beginning  to  look  upon  farming  as  rather  a  low 
employment.  They  were  aspiring  to  something  higher. 
Appearing  to  forget,  that  this  was  the  original  employ- 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  159 

ment  of  man,   and  that  those,  in  all  other  occupations 
are  sustained  by  it,  they  were  disposed  to  hold  the  tillers 
of  the  soil  as  not  in  a  very  honorable  position.     "  The 
profit  of  the  earth  is  for  all ;  the  king  himself  is  served 
by  the  field."     Ecclesiastes  5:9.     The  efforts   of  the 
Society  gave  such  promise  of  success,  that  they  obtained 
an  act  of  incorporation  from  the   Legislature  of  Mass., 
February  21,  1818.     Alexander  Belcher,  Peleg  Benson, 
David  Foster,   Charles  Harris,  Dean  Howard,  Nathan 
Howard,  Joseph  Metcalf,  Issachar  Snell,  Joseph  Tinkham, 
Enoch  Wood,  Elijah  Wood  and  Samuel  Wood,  were  the 
corporators.     The  first  meeting  under  this  act  was  held, 
July  4,  1818.     The  officers  then  chosen,  were, 
SAMUEL  WOOD,  President, 
NEHEMIAH  PIERCE,   Vice  President, 
JOSEPH  METCALF,  Corresponding  Secretary, 
ALEXANDER  BELCHER,   Treasurer, 

DAVID  THURSTON,") 
PELEG  BENSON,         | 
ISSACHAR  SNELL,    V    Trustees. 
JOSEPH  NORRIS, 
DAVID  FOSTER,        j 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  7, 1832,  that  the  Society 
might  conform  to  an  act  then  recently  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  Maine,  the  name  was  changed  to  that  of  the 

KEXNEBEC  AGKICULTTJEAL   SOCIETY. 

The  officers  for  that  year,  were, 

SAMUEL  WOOD,  President, 

GEORGE  W.  STANLEY,  Vice  President, 

ELIJAH  WOOD,  Corresponding  Secretary, 


160  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

SAMUEL  BENJAMIN,  Recording  Secretary, 
SAMUEL  CHANDLER,   Treasurer, 
WILLIAM  C.  FULLER,   Collector, 

SAMUEL  P.  BENSON,  ) 
ELIJAH  WOOD,  V    Trustees. 

NATHAN  FOSTER,       J 

The  efforts  of  the  Society  to  improve  the  art  of  hus- 
bandry were  very  successful.     Some  of  the  most  skilful 
cultivators  of  the  soil  among  us  entered  into  the  subject 
with  a  zeal  and  perseverance  which  gave  a  new  impulse 
to  the  important  and  noble  cause.     They  were  accustomed 
to  assign  tasks,  or  experiments,  to-  individuals,  in  order 
to  ascertain  what  kind  of  soils  was  best  adapted  to  specific 
crops.     Divers  experiments  were  tried,  and  their  results 
were  reported  and  discussed  at  the  meetings  of  the  Society. 
Thus,  much  valuable,  practical  information  was  gained, 
which  gave  considerable  celebrity  to  the  farmers  in  Win- 
throp.     The  Trustees  made  annual  reports   in  writing. 
Some  of  these  were  elaborate  productions,  which,  through 
the  press,  found  their  way  to  many  a  husbandman,  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  town.     The  influence  of  this  Society 
was  felt  in  the   adjacent   towns  ;  and  contributed  not  a 
little  towards  the  formation  of  other  Societies,  particularly, 
the  North  and  South  Kennebec  Agricultural  Societies. 
It  also  had  an  influence  in  the  establishment  of  kindred 
Societies  in  other  portions  of  the  State.     It  prepared  the 
way  for  the  introduction  of  the  Annual   Exhibition  of 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  products,  of  improvements 
in  the  implements  of  husbandry,  and  the  "  cattle  shows." 
On  all  these  occasions,  they  were  accustomed  to  have  a 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  161 

public  address,  wliich  generally,  was  printed  in  news- 
papers or  pamphlets.  The  present  officers,  chosen  Feb- 
7,  1855,  are, 

FRANCIS  FULLER,  Winthrop,  President, 
HOWARD  B.  LOVEJOY,  Fayette,  1st  Vice  Pres., 
.   JOHN  MAY,  Winthrop,  2d  Vice  President, 

OAKES  HOWARD,  Winthrop,  Sd  Vice  President, 

DAVID  CARGILL,  Winthrop,  Record' g  Secretary, 

EZEKIEL  HOLMES,  Winthrop,  Cor.  Secretary, 

RUSSEL  EATON,  Augusta,  Treasr  8f  Librarian, 

DANIEL  A.  FAIRBANKS,  Augusta,  ) 

S.  H.  RICHARDSON,  Readfield,        V    Trustees. 

DANIEL  TRUE,  Wayne,  j 

S.  N.  WATSON,  Fayette,  Age7it  Sf  Collector. 

The  Society  is  prosecuting  its  useful  labors  with  vigor- 
ous enterprise,  skill  and  success. 

lilTEKARY    SOCIETIES. 

Among  the  early  settlers,  were  some  very  inquiring, 
investigating  minds.  They  were  not  disposed  to  receive 
sentiments  on  trust.  They  often  met  and  discussed 
philosophical,  metaphysical  or  moral  subjects.  In  these 
interviews,  much  thought  was  elicited.  All  their  mental 
powers  were  called  into  vigorous  and  healthful  exercise. 
Their  minds  were  thus  expanded  and  strengthened. 
They  acquired  the  power  of  reasoning  with  consecutive 
force.  They,  indeed,  needed  some  one  more  "  thoroughly 
instructed  in  the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of 
God,"  to  throw  light  upon  their  inquiring  minds.  Some 
of  them  were  led  into  important  errors,  and  became 
skeptical  in  regard  to  revealed  religion.     They  narrowly 


162  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

escaped  making  "  shipwreck  of  the  faith  ;"  and  had  not 
God  graciously  interposed,  by  the  pouring  out  of  his  Spirit, 
in  1799  and  1800,  some  of  them  would,  doubtless,  have 
plunged  into  the  dark,  fearful  gulph  of  infidelity. 

The  Social  Library  which  they  established,  contained 
some  choice  reading.  Several  have  been  successively 
established  since,  in  different  sections  of  the  town.  But 
the  multiplication  of  periodicals  has,  to  some  extent, 
superseded  the  use  of  Libraries.  But  this,  instead  of 
having  expanded  and  strengthened  the  intellect,  or  im- 
proved the  heart,  by  rendering  its  moral  principles  more 
sound  and  strong,  has  rather  induced  a  superficial  mode 
of  reasoning,  and  laxness  of  moral  principle. 

Different  Societies  were  instituted  at  different  periods, 
d3signed  and  adapted  to  develop  and  strengthen  the 
intellect  and  to  correct  the  obliquities  of  the  heart. 
Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the 

AlSTDEUSOlSr    IJSrSTITIJTION. 

This  was  organized  March  20,  1827.  The  first  article 
of  the  Constitution  was,  "  The  object  shall  be  mutual 
instruction  in  the  sciences,  as  connected  with  the  mechanic 
arts  and  agriculture  ;  and  the  discussion  of  such  subjects 
as  are  of  a  jDractical  nature  and  have  a  bearing  on  the 
common  concerns  of  life."  Members  were  to  pay  to  the 
Society  two  dollars  annually,  except  minors,  who  paid 
one  dollar.  The  regular  meetings  were  held  monthly ; 
special  meetings,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Directors.  The 
payment  of  ten  dollars  at  a  time,  constituted  Life  Mem- 
bership. The  officers  were,  a  President,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  who,  with  two   others,  were  the  Directors. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  163 

They  were  elected   annually.     There  were  thirty-nine 
members.     The  first  officers  were, 

THOMAS  J.  LEE,  President, 

PLINY  HARRIS,  Secretary, 

SAMUEL  BENJAMIN,   Treasurer, 

ISSACHAR  SNELL,  )  t.,^.,,^^. 

JOSEPH  FAIRBANKS,    ]  ^^'"^'^^'^'^ 

April  3,  a  lecture  was  given,  on  the  first  principles  of 
astronomy,  by  Rev.  John  Butler.  This  was  repeated  on 
the  17th.  May  10,  there  were  philosophical  discussions 
in  writing,  by  the  members.  June  5,  there  were  verbal 
discussions,  and  remarks  by  the  President,  on  history  and 
the  use  of  terrestrial  globes.  August  7,  Lessons  were 
recited  in  Blair's  Philosophy.  At  the  next  annual  meet- 
ing the  offi.cers  elected,  were, 

THOMAS  J.  LEE,  President, 
SAMUEL  WOOD,  Jr.,  Secretary, 
SAMUEL  BENJAMIN,   Treasurer, 

Dh.  I.  SNELL,  )   Directors 

JOSEPH  FAIRBANKS,  ]  ^^^^^^^^^' 

A  public  address  was  given  by  Mr.  Charles  Snell,  and 
lectures  on  electricity  by  the  members.  They  had  lectures 
and  experiments  on  chemistry  and  electricity,  chemical 
affinity  and  chrystalization,  and  on  botany,  by  the  mem- 
bers and  others. 

1828,  June  27,  females  were  "  admitted  as  members, 
free  of  expense,  upon  condition,  they  attend  regularly  to 
some  studies,  such  as  they  may  choose,  Avhich  come  within 
the  objects  of  the  Constitution."  At  the  meeting  in 
July,  a  female  class  recited  in  Blair's  Philosophy. 


164  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

At  the   annual  meeting,   October,  1828,  the   officers 
chosen,  were, 

THOMAS  J.  LEE,  President, 
MARK  FISHER,   Secretary, 
SAMUEL  BENJAMIN,   Treasurer, 


JAMES  CURTIS,  ,    ^.      , 

Directors. 


IS,  ) 

NATHAN  FOSTER,    ] 


Generally,  during  the  winter,  the  ladies  had  recitations 
in  Blair's  Philosophy  and  Wilkins'  Astronomy.  Lectures 
were  also  given  by  members,  on  astronomical  and  phil- 
osophical subjects,  illustrated  by  experiments. 

October,  1829,  the  officers  were, 

SAMUEL  WEBB,  President, 

THOMAS  J.  LEE,   Secretary, 

SAMUEL  BENJAMIN,    Treasurer, 

DAVID  THURSTON,  )    ^. 
JAMES  CURTIS,  \    uirectors. 

At  the  meeting  in  November,  the  writer  of  this  gave 
an  address  "  on  the  object  and  advantages  of  the  Institu- 
tion." During  the  ensuing  winter,  there  were  lectures 
and  discussions,  by  members,  on  mineralogy,  botany, 
philosophy,  geography,  chemistry,  natural  history,  and 
recitations  in  chemistry,  astronomy,  philosophy  and 
botany. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  the  same  officers  were 
re-elected.  The  meetings  have  been  entertaining  and 
profitable.  But  the  interest  in  them  began  to  decline. 
The  meetings  were  neither  as  frequent  nor  as  fully  at- 
tended as  they  had  been.  What  a  tendency  in  human 
nature  to  degenerate  !  Almost  invariably,  attendance  on 
the  most  useful,  the  best  institutions,  at  length  decrease  s 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  165 

A  constant  effort  must  be  made  to  preserve  a  due  regard 
to  what  might  be  highly  beneficial.  Such  was  the  declen- 
sion, that,  December  26,  1831,  it  was  "voted  to  dissolve 
the  Institution." 

FRANKLIN    SOCIETY. 

In  1832,  a  debating  club  was  formed,  called,  "  The 
Franklin  Society."  The  object  of  this  Society  was,  "  the 
increase  and  diffusion  of  useful  knowledge."* 

LYCEUMS. 

Lyceums  have  been  repeatedly  established,  before 
which.  Lectures  have  been  publicly  given  on  various 
important  subjects.  Citizens  of  the  town  and  gentlemen 
from  abroad  have  been  called  to  the  service.  In  the 
winters  of  1852 — 3,  and  of  1853 — 4,  the  interest  in  these 
institutions  was  more  general  and  deeper  than  in  any 
preceding  seasons.  These  lectures  enlarged  the  sphere 
of  knowledge,  as  well  as  afforded  pleasant  amusement. 

Bacon  said,  "  Knowledge  is  power."  Hobbs  said, 
"  Wealth  is  power."  They  were  both  right.  Both  are 
believed.  Hence,  those  ambitious  of  literary  distinction, 
make  knowledge  the  all  absorbing  object  of  pursuit. 
They  are  seen  by  the  midnight  lamp,  "  studying  unto  pale- 
ness." The  others,  incessantly  plodding  how  they  may 
gain  the  most  and  expend  the  least,  are  seen  rising  before 
the  light,  and .  toiling  till  after  the  stars  appear.  No 
means,  which  promise  success  in  the  pursuit  of  wealth, 
are  left  untried.     Knowledge,  under  the  control  of  the 


*  The  A\i-iter  has  not  been  able  to  come  at  the  records  of  this 
Society,  or  to  learn  but  very  little  in  regard  to  it. 


166  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

gospel  of  Christ,  is  a  much  more  desirable  power  than 
wealth.  The  path  to  knowledge  now  lies  open  to  all,  in 
our  country,  except  the  enslaved.  Prior  to  the  reforma- 
tion, in  the  16th  century,  science  and  literature  were 
confined  to  the  cloister  and  the  university.  But  it  has 
been  truly  said,  that  "  more  has  been  done  in  the  last 
three  centuries,  by  the  Protestants,  in  the  profound  and 
comprehensive,  the  exact,  rational,  liberal  development, 
culture  and  application  of  every  valuable  department  of 
knowledge,  both  theoretical  and  practical,  with  a  view  to 
public  and  private  improvement,  than  has  been  done  by  all 
the  rest  of  the  world,  both  ancient  and  modern,  since  the 
days  of  Lycurgus."  Learning  need  not  now  be  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  the  few  professional  characters.  How  much 
more  rational  and  consistent  for  the  young  to  employ 
time  and  money  in  educating  the  head  and  heart,  than 
the  heels.  How  much  more  in  character  for  intelligent, 
accountable  beings,  to  spend  leisure  hours  in  the  well 
selected  Library,  or  the  well  conducted  Lyceum,  than  in 
the  ball  room,  the  billiard  saloon,  or  the  theater. 

"What  men  have  done,  men  may  do.  Cincinnatus, 
while  following  the  plow,  acquired  such  an  amount  0£ 
knowledge,  and  such  weight  of  character,  that  he  was 
appointed  Dictator  of  Rome.  Demosthenes  owed  his 
superiority  as  an  orator,  not  "  to  his  native  endowments," 
but  to  his  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance.  What 
attainments  the  Tinker  of  Elstow  made  by  meditation, 
study  and  prayer.  Franklin  was  a  printer's  boy.  By 
his  almost  unassisted  efforts,  he  rose  to  a  distinguished 
rank  among  the  philosophers  of  his  age.     Rittenhouse 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  167 

was  brought  up  in  the  healthful,  honorable  occupation 
of  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  By  economising  his  time,  he  be- 
came famous  as  a  mechanic  and  an  astronomer.  He  suc- 
ceeded Franklin  in  the  Presidency  of  the  Philosophical 
Society.  Roger  Sherman,  from  the  bench  of  a  cord- 
wainer,  rose  to  a  distinguished  seat  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States.  By  his  assiduity  and  integrity,  he 
became  a  renowned  statesman.  Think  from  what  humble 
and  obscure  poverty,  Bev.  Jonas  King,  D.  D.,  has  be- 
come the  famous  Missionary  at  Athens  in  Greece.  Be- 
member  Elihu  Burrit,  the  learned  blacksmith.  See  him 
mastering  the  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew  and  other  grammars 
from  books  fastened  to  the  side  of  his  shop  chimney,  as 
he  blows  the  bellows  to  heat  his  iron.  He  becomes,  a 
proficient  in  several  ancient  and  not  a  few  modern  lan- 
guages. He  is  now  laboring  to  prevail  on  the  nations  to 
"  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares  and  their  spears 
into  pruning  hooks ;  and  to  learn  war  no  more."  May 
the  God  of  peace  speed  him  and  all  his  coadjutors  in  that 
truly  benevolent  enterprise.  Let  others  imitate  such 
examples. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Water-Cure  Establishment — Marriages  and  deaths — Genealogical 

WATEK-CTJRE    ESTABLISHMENT. 


Register. 


Among  the  other  means  of  restoring  health  and  pro- 
longing life  in  this  town,  the  Hydropathic  Establishment 
of  Josiah   Prescott,  M.   D.,  holds   an   important   place. 
He  has  an  exceedingly  eligible  and   delightful   situation, 
easily  accessible   from  the   surrounding  country,   by  the 
Kennebec  and  Androscoggin  Rail  Road  and  stages.     He 
has  good  accommodations  for  patients.     In  addition  to 
his  long  experience  as  a  regular  practitioner,  he  has  had 
eight  or  nine   years  acquaintance  with  the  Water-Cure 
treatment.     Under  his  care,  many  invalids  are  annually 
expjriaixcing  the  restorative  and  invigorating  efficacy  of 
a  judicious   application  of  cold   water.     The  virtues  of 
this  simple  remedy  are  known  only  to  a  very  limited  ex- 
tent.    It  may  be  doubted  whether  one  half  of  them  are 
yet  understood      L'ke   other   principles   in   the   natural 
world,  which  we  are  just  oeginning  to  know  how  to  apply 
to  useful  purposes,  we  may  well  believe  that  the  pre- 
ventive and  healing  efficacy  of  water,  cold  and  warm. 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  169 

is  yet  but  very  imperfectly  known.  Experiments  will, 
doubtless,  continue  to  be  made,  until  it  shall  be  fully 
ascertained,  that  no  beverage  is  so  well  adapted  to  perfect 
the  human  constitution  in  health  and  vigor  as  pure  water 
distilling  from  the  cloulds,  or  issuing  from  the  crystal 
fountain.  No  lotion  is  to  be  compared  with  the  various 
kinds  of  water  produced  by  the  infinite  skill  and  benevo- 
lence of  the  Creator.  When  men  will  consent  to  use  His 
simple  preparations,  unmixed  with  narcotics  and  poisons, 
they  will  be  more  free  from  diseases  of  both  body  and 
mind.  Life  will  ba  lengthened,  and  will  pass  more 
peacefully  and  pleasantly,  and  will  be  far  more  useful 
and  happy. 

MARRIAGES    AND    DEATHS. 

Dea.  Enoch  "Wood  kept  a  record  of  the  deaths  in 
town  from  1802  to  1806,  inclusive.  He  made  the  num- 
ber about  three  times  as  many  as  were  entered  upon  the 
town  records.  The  number  of  deaths  prior  to  1802,  are 
from  the  records  of  the  town.  So  that  it  is  altogether 
reasonable  to  conclude  that  more  persons  died  than  is 
stated.  The  writer  made  a  record  of  the  deaths  in  town 
from  February  22,  1807,  to  November  21,  1851,  as  far 
as  they  came  to  his  knowledge.  It  is  not  improbable 
there  may  have  been  a  few  more,  but  very  few.  It  was 
generally  known  that  he  kept  such  a  record,  and  was 
accustomed  to  mention  the  names  of  the  deceased  in 
public,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  January,  each  year.  Those 
who  knew  of  deaths,  of  which  he  would  not  be  likely  to 
hear,  were  in  the  habit  of  naming  them  to  him. 
8* 


170 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 


Date. 

Marriages. 

Deaths. 

Date. 

Man-iages. 

Deaths. 

1769, 

0 

1 

1797, 

0 

5 

1770, 

0 

1 

1798, 

4 

5 

1771, 

0 

1 

1799, 

13 

3 

1773, 

0 

2 

1800, 

9 

2 

1774, 

1 

0 

1801, 

0 

7 

1775, 

0 

3 

1802, 

2 

13 

1776, 

1 

2 

1803, 

1 

16 

1777, 

1 

1 

1804, 

4 

15 

1778, 

4 

2 

1805, 

5 

16 

1779, 

2 

0 

1806, 

6 

12 

1780, 

1 

2 

1807, 

12 

12 

1781, 

10 

4 

1808, 

11 

8 

1782, 

4 

3 

1809, 

8 

14 

1783, 

1 

3 

1810, 

2 

15 

1784, 

0 

2 

1811, 

3 

15 

1785, 

6 

3 

1812, 

4 

12 

1786, 

2 

8 

1813, 

4 

11 

1787, 

3 

3 

1814, 

12 

37* 

1788, 

20 

1 

1815, 

12 

14 

1789, 

16 

2 

1816, 

12 

15 

1790, 

11 

4 

1817, 

24 

8 

1791, 

12 

3 

1818, 

20 

13 

1792, 

20 

8 

1819, 

12 

21 

1793, 

16 

1 

1820, 

11 

14 

1794, 

19 

4 

1821, 

8 

17 

1795, 

0 

2 

1822, 

13 

32 1 

1796, 

3 

2 

1823, 

16 

22 

*  This  year  was  memorable  for  the  prevalence  of  what  was  called 
"  the  cold,  or  spotted  fever,"  in  many  parts  of  New  England. 
Seventeen  persons  died  of  this  fever  between  February  4  and 
April  23. 

t  Seven  of  these  were  more  than  seventy  years  of  age,  and  one 
ninety-one  years  and  eight  months,  and  one  ninety-two  years 
This  year,  ten  died  of  cholera-morbus,  and  nine  of  dysentery^ 
This  mortality  was  supposed  to  be  occasioned  by  the  giving  way 
of  the  dam  at  the  outlet  of  the  pond,  south  of  the  village.    In  con- 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  171 


1824, 

15 

26 

1840, 

3 

35 

1825,  • 

15 

26 

1841, 

12 

24 

1826, 

16 

28 

1842, 

13 

27 

1827, 

17 

17 

1843, 

12 

22 

1828, 

11 

25 

1844, 

13 

32 

1829, 

6 

37 

1845, 

12 

29 

1830, 

11 

25 

1846, 

18 

26 

1831, 

23 

24 

1847, 

19 

30 

1832, 

8 

29 

1848, 

19 

32 

1833, 

1 

24 

1849, 

10 

38 

1834, 

7 

23 

1850, 

11 

37 

1835, 

2 

33 

1851, 

20 

22 

1836, 

4 

17 

1852, 

16 

11 

1837, 

7 

14 

1853, 

11 

34 

1838, 

2 

32 

1854, 

14 

19 

1839, 

1 

21 

Of  the  thousand  and  thirty -seven  deaths  of  which  the 
writer  has  an  account,  twenty-seven  died  between  the  ages 
of  seventy  and  seventy-five,  forty  between  the  ages  of 
seventy-five  and  eighty,  forty  between  eighty  and  eighty- 
five,  twenty  between  eighty-five  and  ninety,  five  between 
ninety  and  ninety-five,  one  ninety-five,  one  ninoty-six 
and  ten  months,  and  one  ninety-eight.  Thus,  in  forty=- 
four  years,  in  a  population  increasing  from  1 ,444,  accord- 
ing to  the  census  of  1810,  to  2,154,  according  to  the 
census  of  1850,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  lived  more 
than  three  score  years  and  ten. 

Nearly  all  the  early  settlers  lived  to  a  good  old  age. 
In  a  new  country,  abounding  in  hills  and  pure  water 

sequence  of  this,  a  considerable  quantity  of  low  ground,  usually 
covered  with  water,  was  laid  open  to  the  sun.  Thus  was  exhaled 
a  pernicious  miasma,  destructive  of  health.  All  these  cases  oc- 
curred between  July  8  and  October  5  j  and  the  persons  lived  in 
the  direction  in  which  the  southerly  wind  would  waft  the  noxious 
effluvia. 


172  HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP. 

gushing  from  perennial  springs,  is  much  which  conduces 
to  the  prolonging  of  human  life.  Their  food  and  dress 
are  simple  and  plain.  Their  labor  in  the  open,  unpol- 
luted air  of  heaven,  while  clearing  their  land  and  pre- 
paring it  for  the  plough,  is  greatly  promotive  of  a  health- 
ful, vigorous  state  of  the  muscular  system.  Their  work 
amidst  charred  Avood  is  exceedingly  salubrious.  For 
charcoal  is  among  the  most  effective  antiseptics.  In  the 
"  hill  country"  of  New  England  are  formed  the  most 
robust  and  athletic  bodies  and  minds. 

genealogiCx'll  register."* 

Benjamin  Allen,  married  Sally  Jennings.  Children. 
Josiah,  born  August  6,  1788,  died  January  2,  1794. 
John  Adams,  born  August  2, 1790,  died  August  19, 1790 
David  Lamed,  born  August  23,  1791,  died  September 
22,  1792.  Sally,  born  September  14,  1793,  married 
Cyrus  Smith.     Cordelia,  born  October  31,  1795. 

Philip  Allen,  m  Esther  Tisdale.  c  Benjamin  Mann, 
b  January  22,  1782.  Betsey,  b  January  3,  1785.  Lem- 
uel Craveth,  b  October  25,  1786.  Deodate  Tisdale,  b 
October  12,  1788. 

Daniel  Allen,  son  of  Edmund,  b  in  Franklin,  Massa- 
chusetts, m  Sarah  Delano,     c  Hannah,  b  May  4,  1783, 
d  May  19,  1793.     Cynthia,  b  April  10,  1784,  d  January 
1790.     Lucinda,  b  December  3,  1785.     Olive,  b  Nov. 


*  I  regret  not  to  be  able  to  make  this  Register  more  complete 
but  circumstances  have  rendered  it  impracticable.  The  following 
abbreviations  are  used  :  b  for  born,  m  for  married,  c  for  children, 
d  for  died. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  173 

22,  1787.  Hannah,  b  March  19,  1790.  Luther,  b  March 
8,  1792.  Eliab,  b  February  18,  1794,  m  Hannah  Jones, 
November  13, 1817.  Sally,  b  January  30,  1796,  Nabby, 
b  April  4,  1798. 

Oliver  Allen,  m  Lavinia .     c  Rufus,  b  December 

16,  1773,  m  Abigail  Fairbanks,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Fairbanks,  Sen. 

William  Armstrong,  m  Hannah .    c  William,  Jr., 

b  July  18,  1775,  d  April  10,  1777. 

David  Atkins,  m  Pamela  Evans,  c  Mary,  b  July  11, 
1787.  David,  b  September  30,  1789.  John,  b  January 
20,  1793. 

Thomas  Atkinson,  m  Lydia  Norris,  January  6,  1791. 

Moses  Ayer,  m  Sarah .     c  William,  b  December 

24,  1772. 

Josiah  Bacon,  m  Eunice  Mitchell,  d  November  16, 
1819.  c  Betsey,  b  June  15,  1793.  Josiah,  Jr.,  b  March 
18,  1795.  Warren,  b  October  31,  1796.  Joseph,  b 
November  22,  1800,  d  February  20,  1827. 

Joseph  Baker,  m  Dorcas .  c  Elisabeth,  b  Octo- 
ber 19,  1770.  Mary,  b  November  10,  1772.  Lemuel, 
b  September  16,  1774.     Joseph,  Jr.,  b  July  11,  1776. 

Ebenezer  Barrows,  m  Susanna  Cushman.     c  Andrew, 

b  May  30,  1777.     Susanna,  b  October  11,  1781,  m 

Harris.     John,  b  April  21,  1784,  m  Deborah  Perkins. 

Micah  Barrows,  m  Lucy  Miller,  of  Middleborough, 
Massachusetts,     c  Deborah  Morton,  b  May  24,  1799. 

Peleg  Benson,  b  in  Middleborough,  Massachusetts, 
m  Sally  Page,  b  Kensington,  N.  H.,  daughter  of  Simon 
Page,     c  Hannah,  b  August  10,  1794,  m  Abisha  Benson. 


174  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

Gustavus  Adolplius,  b  March  10,  1796.  Peleg,  Jr.* 
b  March  26,  1798,  m  Camilla  Snell,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Issachar   Snell.       Gustavus   Adolphus,   b   December  9, 

1799,  m  Hannah  Page,  and  Miss Legget.     Samuel 

Page,  b  November  28,  1804,  m  Elisabeth  Mann. 

Reuben  Besse,  m  Kezia .     c  Deborah,  b  October 

19,  1768.  Reuben,  Jr.,  b  July  24,  1770.  Abigail, 
b  Jan.  17,  1773.  Jonathan,  b  July  24,  1775,  m  Asenath 
Smith. 

Samuel  Besse,  m  Rebecca .     c  Alden,  b  February 

21,  1795.  John,  b  April  7,  1797.  Andrew  Blunt, 
b  August  11,  1799. 

William  Bickford,  m  Polly  Barden,  March  6,  1800. 
Jesse    Bishop,    son   of  Jesse    B.,    m  Patience   Titus, 
daughter  of  John  Titus,  September  22,  1799. 

Nathaniel  Bishop,  b  September  17,  1766,  m  Judith 
H.  Gilbert,  b  January  1,  1773.  c  Hiercy,  b  January  20, 
1792,  m  Sarah  Carlton.  Hannah,  b  February  15,  1794, 
m  Miller  Shaw.  Nathan,  b  December  13,  1796,  m  Mar- 
tha Wing.  Cyrus,  b  January  26,  1798,  m  Susan  Stanley 
and  Olive  Harris.  William,  b  November  23,  1800, 
m  Paulina  Tinkham.  Ransom,  b  January  9,  1803, 
m  Harriet  Wood.     Nathaniel  Cony,  b  January  21,  1805, 

m  Sarah  Lane.     Joseph  S.,  b  August  16,  1807,  m 

Brigham.  Rebecca  Jane,  b  July  14,  1810,  m  Joseph 
Stanley.    Drusilla,  b  April  24,  1814,  m  Elijah  Townsend. 

Squier  Bishop,  b  in  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  1732, 
m  Patience  Titus,  b  1729.  c  Patience,  m  Mathew  Bragg. 
October  30,  1776.  Mary,  m  Joseph  Philbrick,  January  3, 
1782.    Sq^uier,  Jr.    Waitstill,  m  Thomas  Whittier,  March 

22,  1781.     Amy,  m  John   Pullen. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  175 

John  Blount,  b  in  Sturbridge,  Massachusetts,  m  Re- 
becca Streeter,  and  Margaret  McCartha.  c  of  John  and 
Rebecca,  Mary,  b  February  19,  1772,  m  William  Atkin- 
son. Rebecca,  b  December  17,  1773,  m Besse.    c  of 

John  and  Margaret,  Naomi,  b  December  16, 1791.    John, 
Jr.,  b  June  27,  1793.    Martha,  b  March  18,  1795. 

Andrew  Blount,  son  of  John,  m  Merideth  Monk. 
c  Jerusha,  b  July  17,  1789.  Sophia,  b  March  6,  1791. 
Kezia,  b  March  31,  1793.  Bethinia,  b  April  13,  1795. 
Olive,  b  April  17,  1797. 

Beriah  Bonney,  m  Nancy  Pullen,  July  1,1798.  c  Lydia, 
b  October  7,  1798,  m Parmeter. 

Isaac  Bonney,  m  Hannah  Soule.  c  James,  b  January 
11,  1782,  m  Cynthia  Cole.  Hannah,  b  July  27,  1785, 
m  John  Jackson.  Isaac,  b  November  1,  1787,  m  Heph- 
zibah  Joy. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Bonney,  m  Silas  Lambert,  c  Jarvis, 
b  September  11,  1793,  m  Rebecca  Holland,  and  Hannah 
Holland.     Olive,  b  August  19,  1795,  m  Samuel  Webb. 

Benjamin  Brainerd,  m  Ruth  Delano,  December  14, 
1779.  c  Benjamin,  Jr.,  September  1,1780,  d  young. 
James,  b  April  17,  1783,  m  Sarah  Jameson,  and  Deborah 
Brainerd.  Molly,  b  August  21,  1784,  m  Samuel  Rich- 
ards. Sarah,  b  April  1,  1786,  m  Parsons  Smith.  Oren, 
b  March  3,  1788,  m  Sarah  Hearld. 

Reuben  Brainerd,  m  Fanny  Allen,  January  12,  1787. 
c  Susanna,  b  February  18,  1789,  m  Jonas  Packard,  April 
3,  1810.  Deborah,  b  November  28,  1790,  m  James 
Brainerd.  Fanny,  b  November  28, 1792,  m  Jonas  Pack- 
ard. Reuben,  Jr.,  b  February  6,  1795,  Asahel,  b  Feb. 
7,1797. 


176  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

Timothy  Brainerd,  m  Mehitable  Metcalf,  December 
31,  1779.  c  Joseph  Metcalf,  b  November  4,  1780, 
d  January  7, 1781.  Martha,  b  October  27,  1782,  m  Sam- 
uel Walton.  Nancy,  b  March  9,  1786,  m  Moses  B.  Gil- 
man.     Samuel,  b  August  3,  1796. 

Nathaniel  Brewster,  m  Betsey  Pullen,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Pullen,  November  29,  1792.  c  Stephen,  b  March 
31,  1793.    Lewis,  b  June  3,  1795.    Nancy,  b  September 

15,  1797,  m Dinsmore. 

Jeremiah  Brown,  son  of  Unite  Brown,  m  Mary  Daily, 
April  24,  1793.  c  Hannah,  b  February  7,  1794,  d  Jan. 
14,  1795.  Joseph,  b  November  26,  1795.  Abiel  Daily, 
b  March  5,  1798. 

John  Brown,  jr.,  m  Hannah  Oldham,  c  Elisabeth, 
b  September  30,  1796.      Hannah,  b  May  21,  1798, 

Joseph  Brown,  m  Mary .     c  John,  b  August  29, 

1774. 

Unite  Brown,  m  Rebecca  Arnold,  c  Rebecca,  m 
Thomas  Craig.  Jeremiah,  m  Mary  Daily.  John,  m 
Mary  Oldham.  Dorcas,  m  Alexander  Thompson.  Jo- 
seph,  d  young.     Mary,  m   Solomon  Towle.     William. 

m  Polly  Cochran,    March   25,    1800,  and Gazelon- 

Dolly,  m  Reuben  Ham. 

Ede  Hall  Burgin,  m  Elizabeth .    c  Joseph  Young, 

b  Mar.  26,  1773. 

Joseph  Butterfield,  m  Mary .     c  Calvin,  b  March 

31,  1797. 

Lemuel  Capen,  m  Michael .     c  Uriah,  b  Jan.  28, 

1790.     Hannah,  b  July  9,  1792,  m   Abraham  Pinkham. 
Dorcas,  b  A])n\  9,  1794.     Lemuel,  Jr.,  b  Sept.  4,  1798. 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  177 

David  Cliandler,  son  of  John,  sen.  m  Sallj^  Pullen, 
June  9,  1796.  c  William  Pidlen,  b  Marcli  9,  ISOO. 
Jacob  Chandler,  son  of  Jacob,  brother  of  John,  sen.  m 
Deborah  Chandler,  March  29,  1792. 

Joel  Chandler,  son  of  John,  sen.   b  Sept.  10,  1757,  m 

Deborah  Jennings,     c  Noah,  b  Dec.   28,  1784,  m 

Weeks.     Joel,  b  June  9, 1786.     Joseph,  b  Aug.  4,  1788, 
d  Sept.  17,  1812.     Susanna,  b  Sept.  21,  1790.     Fayette, 

b  Feb,  26,  1792,  m Weeks.     Deborah,  b  June  10, 

1794,  m  Enoch  Farnham,  July  6,  1817. 

John  Chandler,  m   Lydia .     c  John,  jr.,  b  Nov. 

17,  1754,  m  Hannah  Streeter.  Noah,  b  April  25,  1756. 
Joel,  b  Sept.  10,  1757,  d  April  19,  1794.  Lydia,  b  July 
5,  1759.  Kezia,  b  April  17,  1761.  Molly,  b  March  9, 
1763,  m  Dr.  Moses  Wing,  Sept.  1780.  Lucy,  b  March 
7,  1765.  Susanna,  b  July  22,  1766,  d  Jan.  7,  1771. 
Hannah,  b  Jan.  19,  1768,  m  Daniel  Marrow,  jr.,  Sept. 
20,  1786.  Rhoda,  b  Aug.  21  1769.  Susanna,  b  Sept. 
3,  1792.     David,  b  Jan.  6,  1775. 

John  Chandler,  jr.,  b  November  17,  1754,  m  Hannah 
Streeter,  b  March  15,  17 5-,  June,  1783.  c  Alfred, 
b  September  16,  1784,  m  Elioenai  Stevens.  John,  3d, 
b  August  9,  1786,  m  Julia  Harris,  September  17,  1817, 
d  June  14,  1821.  Levi,  b  November  14,  1787,  m  Cla- 
rissa Foster.  Milton,  b  March  31,  1789,  m  Nancy 
Thomas,  June  22,  1817,  d  October  10,  1833.  Tillotson, 
b  September  12,  1790,  m  Tryphena  Sears.  Samuel, 
b  April  16,  1792,  m  Deborah  M.  Shaw,  September  10, 
1823.  Hannah,  b  October  21,  1793,  m  Israel  Perley, 
November  3,  1817.     Lydia.   b  January  31,  1795,  m  Dr. 


178  HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP. 

Oliver  Prescot,  July  16,  1721.  Sophia,  h  April  12, 
1796,  m  Cornelius  B.  Morton,  November  3, 1817,  d  Sept., 
1850.     Daniel,  b  February  1,  1798,  d  December,  1804. 

Calvin,  b  October  13,  1799,  m Howard. 

Samuel    Chandler  m   Rebecca  .     c   Samuel,  jr., 

b  February  18,  1777.  Moses,  b  November  6,  1778. 
Jacob,  b  March  9,  1781. 

Timothy   Clement,   m   Lucinda  Pullen,    daughter  of 
James  Pullen,  January  5,  1800. 

Jabez  Clough,  b  April  20,  1752,  m  Mary ,  b  April 

27,  1755.  c  Elisabeth,  b  in  Hallowell,  March  24,  1775. 
Sarah,  b  August  8,  1777.  James,  b  September  3,  1779. 
Daniel  b  September  17,  1781.  Noah,  b  May  26,  1784. 
Dolly,  b  September  20,  1786.  Mary,  b  March  26,  1789. 
Richard  Colburn,  m  Prudence  Barnes,  April  14,  1796. 

John  Cole,  m  Anner .    c  Nathan,  b  May  3,  1786, 

m Pollard.    William,  b  November  13,  1788.    Lydia, 

b  August  7,  1790,  m  Thomas  Elmes.  John,  jr.,  b  April 
19,  1791.  Cyrus,  b  June  13,  1792,  d  March  4,  1814; 
Hiram,  b  December  9,  1793,  m  Lois  Young.     Susanna, 

b  January  31,  1796,  m Chase.     Lewis,  b  May  13, 

1798.     Morril,  b  December  16,  1799,  m  Dorothy  Joy. 

Samuel  Cole,  m  Lydia .     c  John,  b  May  2,  1793. 

Eunice,  b  December  30,  1794.  Hannah,  b  September 
29,  1796. 

John  Comings,  m  Ruth  White,  c  John,  jr.,  b  Jan. 
5,  1781,  m  Mercy  Barrows.  Sarah,  b  July  3,  1785. 
Jason,  b  October  25,  1787,  m  Anna  Miller.  Amos, 
b  October  12,  1789.  David,  b  December  24,  1791, 
d  January  31, 1792.    Zilpha,  b  January  24, 1793,  m  Rich- 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  179 

ard  Stewart.  Moses  Cass,  b  January  22,  1795,  m  Mary 
Murrey.  Susanna,  b  September  19, 1797.  Rutb,  b  Nov 
1,  1799. 

Thomas  Craig,  m  Rachel  Huntoon,  January  10,  1791. 

Jonathan  Currier,  m  Phebe  Lambert,  daughter  of  Gid- 
eon Lambert,  April  30,  1793.  c  Jonathan,  jr.,  b  Nov. 
27,  1793,  m  Polly  Sweet,  December  23,  1819.  Sally, 
b  February  9,  1796,  m  Daniel  Daily.  Franklin,  b  Nov. 
13, 1797,  m  Prudence  Luce.  Daniel  Searls,  b  December 
3,  1799. 

Dr.  Samuel  Currier  of  Readficld,  m  Patience  Stanley, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Stanley,  1799. 

Josiah  Cushman,  b  in  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  Feb. 

20,  1752,  m  Patience ,  b  in  Middleborough,  Mass., 

July  22,  1751.  c  Patience,  b  October  21,  1774.  Rufus, 
b  January  20,  1777.  John,  b  February  16, 1779.  Sarah, 
b  June  26,  1781,  d  April  27,  1782.  Josiah,  b  June  28, 
1783.     Sarah,  b  April  18,  1787.    Elias,  b  Dec.  20,  1789. 

Jonathan  Danielson  of  Phippsburgh,  m  Nancy  Gilbert, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  1799. 

Ebenezer  Davenport,  b  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts, 
m  Mary  Crane,  b  in  Milton,  Massachusetts,  c  Polly, 
b  April  10,  1768,  m.  Abiel  Walton.  Rufus,  b  July  8, 
1770.  Isaac,  b  December  17,  1771,  d  October  2,  1797. 
Elijah,  b  November  15,  1773.  Mercy,  b  July  10,  1775, 
m  Samuel  Humphrey.  These  were  born  in  Dorchester, 
Massachusetts.     Anna,  b  February  20,  1778,  d  April  24, 

1783.     Melatiah  b  January  23,  1780,  m Lawrence. 

Hannah,  b  June  27,  1782.  Ebenezer,  b  June  27,  1785, 
d  January  18,  1787.     Anna,  b  July   16,  1787,  m  Uriah 


180  HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP. 

Holt  Gray.  Ebenezer,  b  March  10,  1791.  Charlotte, 
b  March  12,  1793. 

Elijah  Davenport,  son  of  Ebenezer,  1st,  m  Mercy 
Towne.  c  Rufus,  b  November  8,  1796,  m  Anna  Stevens. 
Samuel  Wood,  b  September  30,  1798.  Jonathan  Belden, 
b  December  5,  1800. 

Isaac  Davenport,  son  of  Ebenezer  Davenport,  m  Susanna 
Walton,  c  James,  b  June  3,  1791.  Fanny,  b  Nov.  G, 
1793.     Philena,  b  Februaiy  9,  1796. 

Barzillai  Delano,  b  1756,  m  Elisabeth  Delano,  daughter 
of  Reuben,  c  Francis,  b  August  5,  1780.  Sophia, 
b  December  26,  1783.  Caleb,  b  November  25,  1785. 
Betsey,  b  November  23,  1787.  Mary,  b  April  10,  1790. 
Hannah,  b  May  11,  1792.  Julia,  b  December  11,  1793. 
Silvia,  b  May  17,  1796.  Barzillai,-  jr.,  b  May  1,  1798. 
Ruth,  b  June  4,  1800, 

Ichabod    Delano,    m    Lucy .     c  Lydia    Bartlett, 

b  March  20,  1798.     Beriah,  b  November  19,  1800. 

James  Delano,  son  of  Zebedee,  b  Mar.  6,  1758,  m  Polly 
.     c  Abel,  b  October  5,  1785. 

Seth   Delano   m   Lydia   Chandler,  and  Rebecca . 

c  of  Seth  and  Lydia,  Rachel,  b  April  9,  1777.  c  of  Seth 
and  Rebecca,  Hannah,  b  March  2,  1783. 

Zebedee,    son   of  John   Delano,  b  February  27,  1727, 

m  Sarah ,   b   May   21,  1729.      c  Seth,  b  November 

10,    1751,    m   Rebecca   .     Ruth,   b   April  6,  1755, 

m  Aaron  Stevens.  James,  b  March  6,  1758.  Jabez, 
b  May  7,  1760.  Sarah,  b  March  1,  1763.  Zebedee,  jr., 
b  October  25,  1767,  m  Abigail  Cottle,  March  17,  1791. 
Ebenezer,  b  April  8,  1771,  m  Nanc^  Titus,  October  24, 
1793. 

William  Dewey,  son  of  Rebecca,  b  March  25,  1793. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  181 

Constant  Dexter,  m  Rebecca  Billington.  c  Mary, 
b  January  20,  1796.     Lois,  b  February  20,  1797. 

Freeman  Dexter,  m  Polly  Thurston,  c  Nathaniel, 
b  in  New  Sandwich,  August  15,  1795,  m  Mary  Rich. 
Arvin,  b  January  15,  1797.  Freeman,  jr.,  b  December 
12,  1798,  m  Abigail  Harvey.     Sumner,  b  Oct.  26,  1800. 

Thomas  Eastman,  m  Sarah  Comins,  March  29,  1792. 

c  Edward,  b  June  1,  1793,  m  Coleman.     David, 

b  October  20,  1794,  m  Selinda  Wood.  Polly,  b  Sept. 
29,  1796,  d  April  12,  1798.     Sally,  b  Sept.  7,  1798. 

Ezekiel  Eldrige,   m  Mary .      c  Hannah,  b  March 

19,  1786.     Ezekiel,  jr.,  b  July  31,  1788. 

Solomon  Esty,  b  May  17,  1744,  0.  S.,  m  Hannah 
Leonard,  b  June  17,  1748,  O.  S.  c  Mary,  b  September 
15,  1770,  m  Benjamin  Reed.  Nancy,  b  November  28, 
1771,  m  Moses  Wood,  January  12,  1792.  Merideth, 
b  August  10,  1773,  married  Jos.  Matthews.  Hannah, 
b  May  21,  1775.  Lovina,  b  February  6,  1777,  d  March 
26,  1777.  Ebenezer,  b  March  27,  1778.  Leonard, 
b  September  9,  1780.  Lovina,  b  October  27,  1782, 
m  David  Fuller.  Solomon,  jr.,  b  November  20,1784, 
m  Dolly  Fifield.  Aaron  and  Miriam,  b  December  12, 
1786  ;  Aaron  m  Apphia  Coy,  and  Miriam  m  Daniel  Coy. 
Martha,  b  November  19,  1789.  Betsey,  b  March  7, 
1792,  d  December  22,  1812. 

Abijah  Fairbanks,  b  in  Medway,  Massachusetts,  Jan., 

1746,  m  Mary  Clark,  b  February,  1750,  came  to  Win- 

throp  in   1800.     c  Olive,  b   September,  1759,m  Joseph 

Metcalf.     Mary,  b  1773,  and  d  young.     Asa,  b  February 

24,  1779,  m  Hannah  Partridge. 

Benjamin  Fairbanks,  m  Keturah  Luce,  who  was  the 
9 


182  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

mother  of  liis  cliildren.     c  Joseph,  b  July  24,   1774,  m 

Eaton,  d  September  12, 1831.     Nabby,  b  February 

9,  1776.  Benjamin,  jr.,  b  March  20,  1778,  m  Lydia 
"White.  Betsey,  b  March  20,  1780,  m  James  Smith. 
Sarah,  b  January  6,  1782,  m  Joseph  Norris.  Lucy,  b 
November  29,  1785,  mBartlet  Allen.  Deborah,  b  Jan- 
uary 16,  1788,  m  Ich.abod  Foster.  Dennis,  b  April  16, 
1 790,  m  Hannah  Foster.    His  second  wife  was  Sally  Blue. 

Elijah  Fairbanks,  m  Elisabeth  Hopkins,  August  15, 
1781;  he  d  May,  1836,  aged  79,  and  she  d  July  28, 
1838,  aged  76.     c  Silvia,  b  August  9,  1781.     Elijah,  jr., 

b  December  18,  1782,  m Allen.     Polly,  b  Feb.  27, 

1785,  d  May  27,  1786,  Enos,  b  December  14,  1787, 
m  Olive  Allen.  Asenath,  b  April  5,  1790,  m  John  Har- 
vey. James,  b  September  12,  1792.  Jesse  L.,  b  Nov. 
19,  1794.  John,  b  May  26,  1797.  Hannah,  b  March 
6,  1800,  m  Nathan  Foster. 

Joseph  Fairbanks,  m  Sybil  Grover.  c  David,  b  July 
17,  1777,  m  Lydia  York.  Levi,  b  August  12,  1778, 
m  Hannah  York,  August  30,  1798.  Susanna,  b  Sept. 
8, 1779,  m  Gideon  Lambert.  Abigail,  b  January  2, 1781, 
m  John  Hanscom.  Joanna,  b  July  24,  1782,  m  David 
Moody.  Elias,  b  December  19,  1783,  m  Rhoda  Cram. 
Fanny,  b  May  11,  1785,  m  Enos  Jewel.  Polly,  b  Feb. 
5,  1787,  m  Daniel  Butler.  Sybil,  b  December  17, 1788, 
m  Alpheus  Drake.  Joseph,  b  December  17,  1790,  m 
Polly  Richmond.  Joel,  b  September  24,  1792,  m  Judith 
Bradford.  Pamela,  d  December  22,  1810.  Rufus,  b 
October  16,  1794.  Sally,  b  June  10,  1796,  m  Thomas 
Becket. 


HISTORY   OP  WINTHROP.  183 

Nathaniel  Fairbanks,  b  July  15,  1754,  m  Susanna 
Metcalf,  b  May  27, 1759,  m  October  21, 1778 ;  she  d  Sept. 
24,  1791.  c  Hannah,  b  Dec.  20,  1781,  m  Liberty  Stan- 
ley. Philo,  b  February  21,  1784,  m  Susan  Besse.  Cal- 
vin, b  August  5,  1789,  m  Hannah  Thompson.  His 
second  wife  was  Lydia  Chipman.  c  Columbus,  b  Nov. 
7,  1793,  m  Lydia  Wood  Tinkham.  Franklin,  b  June 
18,  1795,  m  Hannah  Gushing.  Susanna,  b  December 
15,  1796,  m  Rev.  David  Starret. 

Timothy  Farrington,  m  Sarah  Pullen  ;  he  d  February  1, 
1799.     0  Preston,   b  August  6,  1782.       Lydia,  b  Nov. 

11,  1785,  m Bragg.     Sarah,  b  December  14, 1786. 

Hannah,  b  May  3,  1789.  Rebecca,  b  May  20,  1790. 
Pliny,  b  June  3,  1792.  Roxana,  b  Feb,  1,  1795.  Jason, 
b  September  23,  1797. 

Ebenezer  Fisher,  m  Abigail .     c  Phebe,  b  Sept. 

6,  1784.     Reuben,  b  March   1,    1786.     Jesse,   b  April 

7,  1788. 

Daniel  Foster,  son  of  Timothy,  jr.,  m  Betsey  Cole, 
January  17,  1799.     c  Olive,  b  March  3,  1800. 

David  Foster,  son  of  Timothy,  sen.,  m  Melicent  How, 
daughter  of  Ichabod  How,  January  13,  1783.  c  Anna, 
b  December  11,  1783,  m  Thomas  Stevens.  Ichabod,  b 
June  9,  1785,  m  Deborah  Fairbanks.  Preston,  b  April 
30,  1788.     Clarissa,  b  August  6,  1790.     Lavinia,  b  July 

8,  1792,  d  November  5,  1792.  Freeman,  b  December 
30, 1793,  m  Lydia  White,  d  September  14, 1847.  David, 
jr.,  b  July  4,  1795,  m  Harmony,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Packard.  Nathan,  b  March  2, 1798,  m  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Elijah  Fairbanks.    John  Winthrop,  b  Feb.  12,  1800. 


184  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

Otis  Foster,  son  of  Timotliy,  jr.,  m  Lucy  Norris. 
c  Phebe,  b  September  18,  1800. 

Richard  Foster,  son  of  Timothy,  sen.,  m  Clarissa  Bar- 
ton, October  21,  1791.  c  Parthenia,  b  May  18,  1792. 
Ebenezer,  b  August  14,  1794.  Harlow  Barton,  b  Sept. 
12,  1798. 

Steuart  Foster,  b  April  8,  1757,  m  Jerusha  Wads- 
worth,  c  Wadsworth,  b  January  7,  1788,  m  Lucinda 
Snell,  Abigail  Kezer  and  L.  Hay  ward.  Oliver,  b  Aug. 
29, 1789,  m  Lydia  Perkins,  November  30,  1815.  Sibyl, 
b  July  21,  1791,  m  Benjamin  Robbins,  June  22,  1817. 
Moses,  b  November  10,  1793,  m  Temperance  Davis. 
Eunice,  b  January  4,  1796,  m  Isaac  Shaw,  jr.  Isaac,  b 
April  22,  1798,  m  Lois  Hoyt,  January  25,  1821.  Steu- 
art, jr.,  b  June  7,  1800,  m  Mary  Ames. 

Samuel  Foster,  b  June  26,  174-,  m  September  22, 
1764,  Leah  Avery,  b  in  Rumbouts,  N.  Y.,  May  22,  1749. 
c  Ebenezer,  b  in  Rumbouts,  Sept.  26,  1766.  Richard, 
b  at  Little  nine  Partners,  May  31,  1768.  Mary,  b  at 
Little  nine  Partners,  August,  1770,  m  Edward  Wash- 
burne.  Desii-e,  b  November  5, 1772,  at  Rhinebec,  N.  Y., 
m  Abraham  Fuller  of  Livermore,  1799.  Mercy,  b  at 
Wrentham,  Mass.,  November  7,  1775,  m  Timothy  Sweet, 
January  8,  1800.  John  Wilde,  b  at  Cumberland,  R.  I., 
December  29,  1778.  Eliphalet,  b  in  Winthrop,  October 
20,1780.  William,  b  October  6,  1782.  Benjamin,  b 
June  17,1784.     Michael,  b  April  5,  1786. 

Capt.  Timothy  Foster,  b  May,  14,  1720,  m  Sibler 
Freeman,  b  October  29,  1723 ;  he  d  April  3,  1785,  and 
she  d  December  8,  1813.     c  Timothy,  jr.,  b  March  21, 


HISTORY    OP  WINTHROP.  185 

1745,  m  Abigail  Allen,  d  August  1,  1825.  Billy,  b 
September  24,  1747.  Elipbalet,  b  July  27,  1749.  Su- 
san, b  April  15, 1751,mMicajali  Dudley.  DaYid,b  May 
26, 1753,  m  Melicent  Howe,  b  April  25, 1762,  d  January 
3,  1820.  Thomas,  b  May  23, 1755.  Steuart,  b  April  8, 
1757,  m  Jerusha  Wadsworth.  Jobn,  b  April  20,  1759. 
Oliver,  b  March  5,  1761.  Sibler,  b  April  27,  1763,  m 
Ephraim  Stevens.  Stephen,  the  first  white  male  child 
born  in  Winthrop,  b  Feb.  28,  1766,  m  Sally  Streeter. 

Timothy    Foster,  jr.,  b  March  21,  1745,  m  Abigail 

.     c  Otis,  b  May  8,  1773.    Daniel,  b  June  3,  1775. 

Elisabeth,  b  August  29,  1777,  m  Isaac  Perkins.  Molley, 
b  February  24,  1783.     Hannah,  b  November  17,  1786. 

John  French,  m  Elisabeth  Porter,  November  4,  1790. 
c  Nehemiah,  b  September  2,  1785. 

Moses  Frost,  m  Abigail  French,  c  Betsey,  b  June  18, 
1795.     Josiah,  b  May  23,   1797.     Moses,  jr.,  b  Dec. 

11,  1798.     Lydia,  b  December  11,  1800. 

Samuel  Frost,  m  Anna .     c  Aaron,  b  December 

14,   1767.     Moses,  b  March  3,  1770.     Lydia,  b  Feb. 

12,  1772.  Noah,  b  June  21,  1774.  William,  b  May  1, 
1777.     John,  b  August  3,  1779. 

John  Fuller,  b  on  Cape  Cod,  m  Anna,  b  in  Boston. 
0  Isaac,  b  Aug.  5,  1759,  m  Nancy  Whitaker.  Abraham, 
b  Dec.  19,  1771,  m  Desire  Foster,  daughter  of  Samuel 
F.,  1799.  Nathan,  b  Oct.  21,  1774.  Anna,  b  Sept.  16, 
1777,  d  Nov.  6,  1797.  John,  jr.,  b  Feb.  13,  1779. 
Lydia,  b  July  20,  1782.  Desire,  b  Apr.  2,  1785,  m  Hen- 
ry Caslin.  Thomas,  b  Sept.  26,  1787.  Addison,  b  Dec. 
27,  1790.  Nabby,  b  Dec.  13,  1793,  m  Henry  Hawkins, 
a  Methodist  preacher. 


186  HISTORY  OP   WINTHROP. 

Francis  Fuller,  m  Hannah .     c  Hannah,  b  Aug. 

19,  1773.     Mary,  b  May  1,  1775. 

Peter  Gale,  m  Jerusha  Rice,     c   Orpheus  Burgin,  b 
Jan.  16,  1799.     Eliza,  b  Apr.  21,  1800. 

Nathaniel   Gilbert,  m  Hannah  Hemps,     c  Rebecca,  b 
March  3,  1774,  m  Zachariah  Butterfield. 

James  Goud,  m  Joanna .     c  Margaret,  b  July  29, 

1772.  Rachael,  b  June  11,  1788.  James,  jr.,  b  June 
13,  1790.  Ezekiel,  b  Oct.  26,  1792.  William,  son  of 
James  and  Nancy  G.,  b  June  29,  1795.  Charlotte,  b 
April  30,  1797.     Nancy,  b  Feb.  14,  1799. 

Lazarus  Goud,  m  Lurania .    c  Betsey,  b  March  28, 

1786.  Rachel,  b  Dec.  18,1789.  George,  b  Jan.  28, 
1791.     Rahannas,  b  Jan.  27,    1793. 

Clarkson  Goud,  son  of  Patty  G.,  b  March  27,  1788. 

John  Gray,  m  Sarah .     William,  b  Jan.  30,  1774, 

in  Hallowell.  Frederic,  b  June  29,  1775,  in  Hallowell. 
Sarah,  b  June  13, 1787,  in  Hallowell.  John,  jr.,  b  June 
13,  1779,  inWinthrop. 

Seth  Greely,  m  Jane  — — .     c  Moses,  b  Nov.  27, 1777, 
in  Hallowell. 

Josiah  Plall,  m  Amiable  .      c  Nathan,  b  Jan. 

22,  1765.  Allen,  b  Jan.  29,  1767.  Abigail,  b  April 
13,  1769.  Mary,  b  Aug.  27,  1771,  d  May  23,  1795. 
Esther,  b  Jan.  4,  1774. 

Nathan  Hall,  m  Elizabeth ;  he  died  Oct.  26,  1775. 

c  Mary,  b  March  12,  1773.  Abijah,  b  Oct.  21,  1774. 
Betsey,  b  Feb.  26,  1776,  m  John  Shed. 

Preserved  Hall,  m  Abigail  — .     c  Josiah,  b  May  16, 
O.  S.,  1743. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  187 

Charles  Harris,  son  of  Obadiah,  b  in  Wrenthan, 
Mass,  m  Meletiah  Hawes.  c  Timothy,  b  Oct.  9,  1784. 
Harmon,  b  July  22,  1786.  Julia,  b  Sept.  10,  1788,  m 
John  Chandler  and  John  May.  Caleb,  b  June  15,  1790, 
m  Dorcas  Cole.  Pliny,  b  Feb.  20,  1792,  m  Lucy  Foster. 
Cynthia,  b  Feb.  21,  "1794,  m  Jacob  Cochran.  Obadiah, 
b  Nov.  18,  1795.  Mary,  b  Jan.  19, 1798,  m John- 
son.    Charles,  b  Jan.  17,  1800. 

John  Harvey,  m  Ruth .     c  Sally,  b  Dec.  27,  1796. 

Jonathan  Hilliard  m  Deborah  Chandler. 

David  Hinckley,  m  Huldah  Read,  Sept.  9,  1789. 
c  Reuel,  b  Nov.  18,  1790.  Hannah,  b  March  4,  1793. 
Alanson,  b  March  20,  1795.  David,  jr.,  b  April  21, 
17:7.     Cynthia,  b  March  18,  1799. 

Josiah  Hodges,  m  Tabitha  .     c  Benjamin,  b  Oct* 

7,  1797. 

Frederic   Howard,    m   Elizabeth .     c    Daniel,   b 

July  22,  1794.  Sarah,  b  Jan.  30,  1796.  Nabby,  b  Aug. 
4,  1797.     Elizabeth,  b  March  11,  1799. 

Ichabod  Howe,  m  Sarah .    c  Jonathan,  b  July  31, 

1760.  Melicent,  b  April  25,  1762,  m  David  Foster. 
Sarah,  b  March  15,  1766.  Stephen,  b  Dec.  9,  1768,  m 
Eleanor  Turner.  David,  b  Sept.  1,  1771,  m  Freelove 
Maxim.  Susanna,  b  April  13,  1774,  m  Joseph  York. 
Eunice,  b  Feb.  22,  1776,  m  Henry  Wood,  jr.,  Oct.  1, 
1800. 

Dr.  John  Hubbard,  b  Sept.  28,  1759,  m  Olive  Wilson, 
bJan.  23,  1762.  c  Olive,  b  March  1,  1786.  Sophia, 
b  Feb.  21,  1788.     Polly,  b  April  26,  1790, 

Richard  Humphrey,  m  Elizabeth .     c  William,  b 


188  HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP. 

Oct.  6,  1777.  Samuel,  b  Aug.  4, 1780,  m  MercyDaven- 
port. 

Thomas  Jacobs,  b  in  England,  m  Nancy .     c  Me- 

hitable,  b  Oct.  9,  1798,  in  Amcsbury,  Mass.  Robert,  b 
May  8,  1799,  do.  Elijali,  b  March  28,  1800,  in  Win- 
throp. 

John  Jewett.  m  Sarah .     c  John,  jr.,  b  April  2. 

1779. 

Moses  Joy,  mHuldah  Soule,  Oct.  1788.  c  Hartford, 
b  Dec.  15,  1789,  d  Nov.  9,  1811.  Huldah,  b  March  10, 
1792,  m  Hebron  Luce.  Mary,  b  June  5,  1794,  m  Daniel 
Carr. 

Jacob  Judldns,  m  Anna  Blunt,  c  Clarissa,  b  April  1 1 , 
1788.  Lorrain,  b  Feb.  4,  1790.  Rebecca  ,b  Feb.  16, 
1792.     Hannah  and  John  Blount,  b  June,  4,  1794. 

John  Kezer,  m  Apphia  Lancaster,  c  Mehitable,  b  Ap. 
21,  1786,  m  Isaac  French.  Apphia  b  Aug.  26,  1789,  m 
Nathaniel  Whiting.  Abigail,  b  Ap.  4,  1791,  m  Wads- 
worth  Foster.  John,  jr.,  b  Jan.  28,  1795,  m  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Waugh. 

Ebenezer  King,  m  Mehitable  Bobbins,  c  Amos  D. 
b  Oct.  18,  1790.  Jason,  b  July  10,  1792.  Clarissa,  b 
July  15,  1794.  Barnard,  b  May  10,  1796,  m  Jerusha 
Rice.     Darius,  b  Feb.  4,  1798.     Zenas,  b  May  10,  1800. 

Samuel  King,  m  Susanna  Brainard.  c  Samuel,  jr., 
b  Dec.  7,  1789,  m  Matilda  Rice.  Benjamin,  b  March 
24,  1791,  m  Olive  Rice.  Isaac,  b  July  2,  1792,  m  Mar- 
tha Esty.  Amasa,  b  March  7, 1795,  m  Mehitable  Jacobs. 
Sarah,  b  Jan.  18,  1797,  d  Apiil  15.  1814.  Susanna,  b 
Sept.  28, 1798,  m  Arnold  Sweet.  Polly,  b  Aug.  9,  1800, 
m  BenjaminC.  Joy. 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  189 

Gideon  Lambert,  b  in  Tisbury,    Martha's  Vineyard, 

came  to  Winthrop  1770,  m  Susanna .     c  Ebenezer, 

b  May  8,  1761.  Paul,  b  July  16,  1763.  Silas,  b  Oct. 
15,  1765,  m  Hannah  Soule  Bonney.  Beulah,  b  Jan.  1, 
1768,  The  above  were  b  in  Tisbury.  Susanna,  b  Sept. 
24,  1770,  m  Samuel  Pease.  Phebe,  b  May  20,  1774. 
Gideon,  jr.,  b  June,  11,  1777,  m  Susanna  Fairbanks. 

Paul  Lambert,  son  of  Gideon  and  Susanna  Lambert' 
b  July  16,  1763,  m  Mercy  Texter,  Nov.  25,  1790.  c 
Dennis,  b  Oct.  7,  1791.  Ebenezer,  b  April  6,  1793. 
Samuel,  b  Feb.  3,  1795.  Polly,  b  Jan.  28, 1797.  Paul, 
jr.,  b  March  7,  1790. 

Silas  Lambert,  son  of  Gideon  L.,  m  Hannah  Soulo 
Bonney.  c  Jarvis,  b  Sept.  11, 1793,  m 2  sisters, (Holland.) 
Olive,  b  Aug.  19,  1795,  m  Samuel  Webb.  Silas,  b  May 
7,  1798,  d  Sept.  8,  1818. 

James  Lane,  m  Eunice .     c  Anna,  b  May  3,  1782. 

Abraham  Chase,  b  July  19,  1784.  Serena,  b  Dec.  6, 
1786.     James,  jr.,  b  May  2,  1789. 

Joseph  Lawrence,  m  Joanna .     c  Abigail,  b  June 

10, 1794.  Noah,  b  June  3, 1796.  Sally,  b  May  9,  1798. 
Francis,  b  Dec.  19,  1799. 

Nathaniel  Lovering,  m  Jerusha  Follett.  c  Nathaniel, 
jr.,  b  Feb.  23,  1793.  Jerusha,  b  Oct.  31,  1895,  m  Al- 
bert Hayward.  John,  b  Jan.  4,  1799,  m  Bathsheba 
Wood. 

Daniel  Marrow,  b  in  Medway,  Mass.,  m  Elizabeth 
Harding,     c  Reuben,  b  May  14,  1780. 

Daniel  Marrow,  jr.,  m  Hannah  Chandler,  c  Luther, 
b  Aug.  20,  1787.  Hannah,  b  Aug.  28,  1788,  m  James 
Wheeler.     Achsah,  b  March  17,  1790,  m  Peasley  Hoyt. 


190  HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP. 

Lewis,  b  Nov.  19, 1791,  d  Dec.  25, 1791.  Alice,  b  March 
14,  1793.     Daniel,  3d,  b  Nov.  28,  1794.     Lois,  b  June 

19,  1796.     David,  b  June  12,  1798.     Khoda,  b  March 

20,  1800,  m  Ebenezer  Keen. 

Ebenezer  Marrow,  son  of  Daniel  M.,  m  Abigail  Fisher, 

Jan.    5,    1792.     c    Milton,   b   Oct.    25,    1792,  m   

Lambert.     Clarissa,  b  April  8,  1795,  m Longfellow. 

Zelotes  Augustus,  b  July  27.  1797.  John  Broadhead, 
b    Oct.  22,    1799,    m    Lydia    L.   Lambert. 

Samuel  Marrow,  m  Chloe  Titus,  c  Pamela,  b  Aug. 
27, 1798.     Lewis,  b  Sept.  17,  1800. 

Nathaniel  Marston  m  Elaenor  Nelson,  c  Polly,  b  Nov. 
19,  1799. 

Josejih  Matthews,  m  Merideth  Esty.  c  Joseph,  jr.,  b 
Dec.  29,  1796. 

Joseph  Metcalf,  b  March  30,1765,  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  m 
Olive  Fairbanks,  b  Sept.  5,  1759,  in  Wrentham,  Mass., 
m  June  17,  1790.  c  Isaac  Newton,  b  April  24,  1791,  d 
Oct.  23,  1804.  Susan,  b  Aug.  2,  1792,  d  Jan.  21, 1823, 
Almira,  b  Feb.  28,  1794,  m  Cephas  Thomas.  Joseph 
Addison,  b  Dec.  25,  1795,  m  Chloe  F.  Adams,  he  died 
June  17,  1845.  Olive,  b  Jan.  2,  1798,  m  Samuel 
Wyman.  Moses  Haven,  b  Nov.  22,  1799,  m  Elizabeth 
D.  Hamilton  and  Eliza  Baker. 

Josiah  Mitchell,  m  Eunice .     c  Betsy,  b  Nov.  25, 

1774.  Lydia,  b  April  25,  1777.  Molly,  b  Dec.  3,  1780. 
John,  b  June  15,  1783,    . 

Ebenezer  Moore,  m  Eunice  Norton,  of  Kittery. 
c  Oliver,  b  Feb.  16,  1796.  Infant,  b  Jan.  22,  1798,  d 
next  day.  Polly  Crocker,  b  Jan.  22,  1798,  d  Jan.  30, 
1798.     Joanna,  b  Dec.  25,  1798. 


HISTORY  OF  WINTHROP.  191 

Ebenezer  Morton,  b  in  Middleborougli,  Mass.,  m  Martha 
Wood  and  Nancy  Adams,  c  Samuel,  b  July  24,  1782- 
son  of  Martha.  John,  b  Dec.  16,  1794,  d  July  24,  1811. 
Ebenezer,  Jr.,  b  Dec.  6,  1797,  sons  of  Nancy. 

Livy  Morton,  b  in  Middleboro',  Mass.,  m  Hannah  Daily, 
March  13,  1788.  c  Daniel  Oliver,  b  Dec.  21,  1788, 
graduated  at  Middlebury  College,  Vt.,  ordained  pastor 
of  Congregational  Church,  Shorcham,  Vt.  Joseph  War- 
ren, b  Aug.  25,  1793.  Lendall,  b  March 22,  1796.  The 
family  returned  to  Middleborougli  in  1798. 

Nathaniel  Morton,  m  Christina  Ling,  c  Silvanus.  b 
Sept.  2,  1791.  Cornelius  Bennett,  b  Jan.  14,  1793,  ni 
Sophia  Chandler,  daughter  of  John  C,  jr.  Theodate 
Bennett,  b  April  5,  1798.     Polly,  b  Nov.  19,  1799. 

Andrew  Nelson,  m  Anna — .    c  James,  b  Sept  11,  1786, 

Elias  Nelson,  m  Deborah  Barrows,  c  Sarah,  b  1794. 
Deborah,  b  May  31,  1798,  m  Leonard  Norcross.  Lot 
Packard,  b  June  18,  1800.  They  removed  to  Mon- 
mouth, and  Mr.  Nelson  became  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  Jay. 

Joseph  Norris,  m  Sally  Fairbanks,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min F.,  Nov.  24,   1785.     c  Velina,  b    Feb.  26,  1800. 

Amos  Perley,  b  in  Boxford,  Mass.,  m  Sally  Smith. 
c  Frederic.  Israel.  Sally.  Fanny.  Olive,  b  April  28, 
1793,  d  Sept.  1850 

Benjamin  Porter,  m  Molly  Barton,  d  Jan.  10,  1786. 
c  Betsey,  b  Sept.  13,1779.  John,  b  Dec.  25,  1780. 
Benjamin,  Jr.,  b  July  17,  1782,  m  Pamela  Barton. 
Polly,  b  May  10, 1788. 

James  Prescott,  son  of  Jedediah,  Senior,  b  Feb.  23, 
1767,  m  Policy  Owen,  b  Dec.  20,  1767.  c  An  infant  d 
June  3,  1790.     John,  b  March  17,  1791.     Susan,  b  July 


192  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

9,  1792.  Lewis,  b  Aug.  17,  1793.  Sally,  b  Jan.  25, 
1795.  Yfilliam,  b  July  17,  1796.  Amasa,  b  Nov.  1, 
1797. 

Jedediah  Prescott,  jr.,  b  in  Deerfield,  N.  H.,  Sept.  22, 
1746,  m  Sarah  Morrill,  b  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  March  28, 
1752.  c  Noah,  b  Dec.  1, 1773,  m  Betsey  French.  Mary, 
b  Feb.  19,  1776,  m  Daniel  Matthews.  Ruth,  b  Jan.  10, 
1778,  m  Caleb  Brown.  Sally,  b  Sept.  27,  1779.  John, 
b  Dec.  7,  1781,  m  Anna  Drake.  Betsey,  b  Sept.  30, 
1783,  d  aged  4  years  ;  these  were  born  in  Deerfield.  Josiah, 
b  Sept.  2,  1782,  M.  D.,  m  Mary  French.     Lois,  b  April 

25,  1788.  Levi,  b  March  22,  1790.  James  Bowdoin,  b 
March  19,  1792.  Betsey,  b  March  31,  1794.  Jedediah, 
3d,  b  May  2,  1797.  Hannah,  b  Sept.  8,  1800.  c  of 
Jedediah  1st — Jesse,  Jedediah,  jr.,  Samuel,  James,  Elijah. 

Odlin  Prescott,  son  of  Benjamin,  m  Elizabeth . 

c  Elizabeth,  b  Aug.  12,  1773,  m  Ichabod  Wing.  Ruth 
Stevens,  b  June  5,  1781,  m  Christopher  Ripley.  Benja- 
min Rowe,  b  Feb.  22,  1785,  m  Betsey  Emery. 

Samuel  Prescott,  son  of  Jedediah,  senior,  m  Betty 
Whittier.     c  Benjamin,  b  April  24,  1782.     Samuel,  jr., 

b  Sept.  4,  1783.     Betty,  b  April  9,  1785,  m Baker. 

Mary,  b  Dec.  11,  1788.     Anna,  b  Nov.  18,  1790. 

Jesse  Prescott,  son  of  Jedediah,  senior,  m  Polly  Whit- 
tier.    c  Hannah,  b  April  13,  1785. 

John  Pullen,  m  Amy,  daughter  of  Squier  and  Patience 
Bishop,  Jaiie  24,  1785.  c  Abigail,  b  March  31,  1786. 
Parthena,  b  April  20,  1788,  m  — —  McPherson.  Phebe, 
b  Aug.  11,  1790.  Lydia,  b  March  9,  1793.  Olive,  b 
Sept.  28,  1795,  m  McPherson.     Cynthia,  b  Nov. 

26,  1797,  d  Nov.  28,  1797.'  John.  James.  Sally  B. 
b  Dec.  15,  1798. 


HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP.  193 

Jonathan  Pullen,  son  of  Stephen  P.,  b  Feb.  9,  1771, 
m  Silva  Bonney,  March  5,  1794.     c  Cyrus,  b  Sept,   19, 

1794.     Lois,  b  July  11,    1796,   m    Hinckley. 

Sullivan,  b  March  30,  1798. 

Jonathan  Pullen,  son  of  James  P.,  m  Lucy  Barrows, 
Aug.  5,  1800. 

Oliver  Pullen,  m  Abigail .  c  Sargent,  b  Jan.  9, 

1784. 

Stephen  Pullen,  m  Mercy  Blackington,  d  Sept.  14, 
1815,  aged  72.  c  Abigail,  b  Aug.  30,  1769,  d  Feb.  22, 
1770.  Jonathan,  b  Feb.  9,  1771,  m  Silva  Bonney. 
Stephen,  jr.,  b  Jan.  12,  1773,  d  Feb.  25,  1773.  Betsey, 
b  Dec.  7,  1773,  m  Nathaniel  Brewster.  Stephen,  jr.,  b 
Nov.  6,  1775.  Mary,  b  Jan.  25, 1777,  m  Amos  Stevens, 
jr.     George  b  Feb.  5,  1779,  m  Harriet  Gilbert.    Nancy, 

b  July  20,   1781,  m Harvey.     Lydia,  b  May  1, 

1783,  m    Caleb   Parmenter.     James,   b  Jan.    22,  1786, 

m  Sally  Harvey.     Elioenai,  b  April   21,  1788,  m 

Harvey.     Lois,  b  April 21,  1788.     Greenleaf,  b  July  10, 

1790,  m  Mary  Hanscom. 

George  Pullen,  son  of  Stephen  P.,  m  Harriet  Gilbert, 
Oct.  n,  1798.  c  George  Washington,  b  Dec.  31,  1798. 
John   Adams,  b  Dec.  31,   1798. 

"William  Pullen  and  Patience  Bishop,  c  William,  jr., 
b  Jan.  21,  1774.  William  Pullen,  senior,  m  Sarah  Fair- 
banks, c  Sally,  b  July  2,  1779,  m  David  Chandler. 
Leonard,  b  July  18,|1781.  James,  b  July  31,  1783,  d 
Oct.  17,  1784.  Clarissa,  b  May  11,  1786,  m  Dexter 
Pullen.     Philena,  b  Oct.  21,  1789. 

Benjamin  Bead,  m  Mary  Easty.     c  Leonard,  b  Oct.  13, 

1791.  Polly,  b  March  12,  1793.     Perrin  and  Perinthy, 


194  HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP. 

b  June  17,  1796.     Martha,  b  Aug.    16,  1798.     Joseph, 
b  July  9,  1800. 

Joseph  Eice,  m  Olive  Allen,  June  12,  1787.  c  Joseph. 
Isabel,  m  Isaac  Nelson.  Matilda,  m  Samuel  King,  jr. 
Olive,  m  Benjamin  King.  Jerusha,  b  Nov.  9,  1797,  m 
Bernard  King.     Betsey,  b  Feb.  17,  1800. 

Joseph  Richards,  m   Sarah  .     c  Samuel,  b  Nov. 

3,  1783. 

William  Richards,  m  Joanna  Whiting,  daughter  of 
Jona.  W.,  May  6,  1785.  c  Anna,  b  April  27, 
1786.  Susanna,  b  April  7,  1788,  m  Benja.  Packard. 
John,  b  Oct.  28,  1789,  m  Mary  Craig.  William,  jr.,  b 
Nov.  13,  1791.  Pliny,  b  Sept.  25,  1793,  d  Sept.  24, 
1797.  Elioenai.  b  Jan.  31,  1796.  Joanna,  b  Jan.  6, 
1799,  m  Rev.  Josiah  Houghton. 

Nathan  Richmond,  b  Middleboro,  Mass.,  m  Mary 
Streeter.  c  Abigail,  b  Jan.  24,  1787,  m  Joseph  Dow 
Leonard,  b  Jan.  25,  1789,  m  Nancy  Sweet.     Warren,  b 

Sept.  27,  1790,  m Jones.   Mary,  b  May  7,  1792,  m 

Joseph  Fairbanks.  Reliance,  b  Jan.  30,  1794,  m  Joseph 
Additon.  Huldah,  b  June,  16,  1796,  m  Alson  Lothrop, 
Nathan,  jr.,  b  Feb.  14,  1799,  m  Rhoda  Lothrop.  Salmon, 
b  same  date,  m  Silva  Merrill. 

Asa  Robbins,  b  May  5,  1759,  m  Olive  Clark,  b  July 
13,  1762.  c  Benjamin,  b  Aug.  2,  1789,  m  Sybil  Foster. 
Asa,  jr.,  b  July  28,  1791,  m  Hannah  Shaw.  Oliver,  b 
April  11,  1793,  m  Asenath  Wing.  Cyrus,  b  Nov.  29, 
1796,  m  Orpah  Packard.  Olive,  b  Aug.  21.  1800,  m 
William  Huse. 

Daniel  Robbins,  b  in  Walpolc,  Massachusetts,  August, 
1722,   m  Mary  Kingsbury,   b  August,  1732.     c  Mary,  b 


HISTORY   OP   WINTHROP.  195 

1752,  m Fisher.     Hannah,  b  1754,  m  Peter  Lyon. 

Daniel,  jr.,  b  February  27,  1757,  m  Mary  Clark,  and 
Eunice  Wadsworth.  Asa,  b  May  5,  1759,  m  Olive 
Clark,   came   to  Winthrop,  1781.     Azubah,   b  April  7, 

1761,  m  David  Morse.     Abigail,  m Fisher.     Elea- 

zar,  b  July  16,  1762,  m  Mchitable  Ladd.  Kezia,  b  Mar. 
29,  1766,  m  David  Manter.  Mehitable,  b  November  7, 
1797,  m  Ebenezer  King.     Deborah. 

Daniel  Robbins,  jr.,  m  Mary  Clark,  c  Aquilla,  b  Nov. 
2,  1784.  Clark,  b  April  9,  1786.  His  second  wife  was 
Eunice  Wadsv/orth.  c  Jerusha,  b  July  18,1 792,  m  Rob- 
ert Goddard,  d  October  14,  1844.  Hannah,  b  February 
6,  1795,  m  Ezekiel  Bailey,  d  July  28,  1828.  Mary,  b 
November  7,  1797,  m  Ezekiel  Bailey. 

Eleazar  Robbins,  son  of  Daniel,  sen.,  b  July  ]6,  1761, 
m  Mehitable  Ladd.  c  Mary,  b  October  14,  1797.  Bet- 
sey, b  April  30,  1799. 

Benjamin  Sanborn,  m  Lucy  French,  1799. 
Paul  Sears,  m  Mercy  Stevens,  daughter  of  Jos.  S.,  1st, 
January  27,  1778.     c  John,  b  September  3,  1778.    Moses, 
b  December  3.  1779.     Paul,  jr.,   and  Mercy,  b  July  5, 

1781 ;  Paul,  jr.,  m  Susan  Billington,  and  Mercy  m 

White.  Silas,  b  March  17,  1783.  Alice,  b  October  22, 
1785,  m  Nathaniel  Whittier.  Thomas,  b  February  15, 
1788,  d  October  4,  1790.  Charlotte,  b  November  27, 
1791,  d  September  13,  1814.  Tryphena,  b  October  21, 
1793,  m  Tillotson  Chandler,  son  of  John,  jr. 

Abraham  Shaw,  m  Hannah  Miller,  c  Samuel,  b  Feb. 
18,  1785,  m  Martha  Briggs.  Sally,  b  October  5,  1786, 
m  Edward  Starr.     Abraham,  jr.,   b  December  6,  1789. 


196  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

Abishai  Miller,  b  January  17,  1791,  m  Hannah  Bishop, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  B.  Oren,  b  March  26,  1793,  m 
Eunice,  daughter  of  Adin  Stanley.  Ebenezer,  b  July 
10,  1795,  m  Fanny  Belcher.  Hannah,  b  July  26,  1797, 
m  Asa  Robbins,  jr.  Susanna,  b  July  15,  1799.  John, 
b  October  28,  1800. 

Isaac  Shaw,  b  in  Middleborough,  Mass.,  m  Deborah 
Wood,  daughter  of  Moses  W.,  Jan.  15, 1790.  c  Lydia,  b 
March  2, 1791.  Isaac,  jr.,  b  October  17, 1792,  m  Eunice 
Foster,  daughter  of  Steuart  F.  Earl,  b  December  1, 
1794,  m  Caroline  and  Prescilla  Thomas,  daughters  of 
Silvanus  Thomas.  Samuel  Wood  and  Phebe  Wood,  b 
April  15,  1798 ;  hed  August  6,  1725. 

Elisha  Smith,  m  Susanna .    c  Beulah,  b  September 

19,   1769.     Abigail,  b  December  8,  1771.     Susanna,  b 
July  17,  1775.     Hannah,  b  September  13,  1777. 

Jacob  Smith,  m  Rebecca  Hopkins,  c  Dorothy,  b  April 
21,  1788.  Jane,  b  October  28,  1790.  Greenleaf,  b 
August  29,  1792.     Lydia,  b  June  27,  1797. 

Matthias  Smith,  m  Comfort .     c  Charles,  b  Aug. 

28,  1777.     Matthias,  jr.,  m  Temperance  Blossom,  Nov. 
24,  1785. 

Ransford  Smith,  m  Mary .     c  Abijah,  b  January 

3,  1771.     Mary,  b  February  24,  1776. 

Adin  Stanley,  son  of  Jacob  Stanley,  m  Silence  Packard, 
c  Lemuel,  b  October  29,  1784,  m  Mehitable  Oilman,  and 
Lucy  Benjamin.  Dexter,  b  July  8,  1787,  died  Sept. 
3,  1807.  Morrell,  b  January  15,  1791,  m  Polly  An- 
drews, and  Charlotte  Oilman.  Eunice,  b  November  9, 
1793,  m  Oren  Shaw ;  he  d  April  7,  1844. 


HISTORY   OF  WINTHROP.  197 

Henry  Stanley,  son  of  Jacob  Stanley,  m  Joanna  Smith. 
c  Sewall,   b   September  29,    1799,  m  Lucy  Philbrook, 
daughter  of  Charles  P. 

Nathaniel  Stanley,  m  Abigail  Hall,  c  Nathaniel,  jr., 
b  July  4,  1772.  Patty,  b  November  21,  1775,  d  August 
19,  1787.  Nathan,  b  April  13,  1777.  They  removed 
early  to  Belfast. 

Peter  Stanley,  son  of  Solomon  S.,  m  Criscinda  Rico. 
c  George  Washington,  b  March  1800. 

Ptial  Stanley,  b  March  11, 1759,  m  Abigail  Fairbanks, 
b  Jan.  20,  176-.  c  Martha,  b  September  5,  1783,  m 
Nathan  F.  Cobb.  Fanny,  b  October  3,  1785,  m  Barney 
Haskell.  Waterman,  b  March  10,  1788,  m  Polly  Rich- 
ardson. Abigail,  b  May  16,  1791,  m  Fred.  Lecrois. 
Jonathan  Lee,  b  November  6,  1794. 

Solomon  Stanley,  m  Patience  Perry,  c  Patience,  m 
Dr.   Samuel    Currier.      Liberty,  b  1776.     Solomon,  jr., 

b   September   15,  1780,  m Hay  ward.      Abigail,  b 

March   19,  1782.     Peter. 

James  Stanley,  m  Grace  Tupper,  April  3,  1793. 

Amos  Stevens,  son  of  Joseph,  b  July  16, 1749,  m  Mary 
Whiting,  daughter  of  Jonathan  W.,  sen.  c  Amos,  jr., 
b  April  30,  1775.  John  Whiting,  b  October  10,  1777, 
d  October  11,  1778.  James,  b  January  17,  1779.  Asa, 
b  May  2,  1780,  d  March  26,  1783.  John,  b  March  18, 
1783.  Whiting,  b  May  25,  1784.  Levi,  b  April  3, 
1787.     Philena,  b  September  12,  1788,  m Butler. 

Amos  Stevens,  jr.,  m  Polly  PuUen.  c  Susanna,  b 
March  18,  1796.  Sumner,  b  February  10,  1797.  Bet- 
sey, b  June  23,  1798.     Polly,  b  December  17,  1799. 

Daniel  Stevens,  b  January  23,  1763,  m  Rachel  Hilliard, 


198  HISTORY   OF   WINTHROP. 

b  May  15,  1770.  c  Hannah,  b  March  8, 1789.  Rachel, 
b  March  26-  1791.  Benjamin  Hilliard,  b  June  10, 1793. 
Elisabeth,  b  April  12,  1795.  Daniel,  jr.,  b  May  17, 
1797.     Sally,  b  October  18,  1799. 

Ephraim  Stevens,  son  of  Joseph,  sen.,  b  June  29, 
1758,  m  Sybil  Foster,  c  Hannah,  b  January  6,  1783, 
Thomas,  b  May  29,  1784,  m  Anna  Foster.  Aaron,  b 
February  26,  1786,  m  Ruth  Delano.  Ephraim,  jr.,  b 
March  17,  1788.  Eliphalet,  b  April  11,  1790.  Sybil,  b 
March  15,  1792.  Joshua,  b  March  21,  1794.  Anna,  b 
January  20,  1796. 

James  Stevens,  son  of  Amos'S.,  m  Abigail  Stanley, 
daughter  of  Solomon  S.     c  James,  jr.,  b  Nov.  5,  1800. 

Joseph  Stevens,  b  in  Billerica,  Massachusetts,  October 
20,  1720,  m  Elisabeth  Emery,  b  in  the  same  place,  in 
1723 ;  he  d  October,  1791,  and  she  d  February  28, 1798. 
c  Elisabeth,  b  October  10,  1744.  Joseph,  jr.,  b  April 
8,  1746,  d  1747.  Joseph,  jr.,  b  October  31,  1747. 
Amos,  b  July  16,  1749,  m  Mary  Whiting,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  W.,  February  14,  1774.  Samuel,  b  April  28, 
1751.  Mercy,  b  November  23,  1752,  m  Paul  Sears. 
Abel,  b  April  27,  1755.  Esther,  b  October  6,  1756,  m 
James  Work.  Ephraim,  b  June  29,  1758,  m  Sybil  Fos- 
ter. William,  b  July  4, 1760,  m  Susan  Whiting,  daughter 
of  Jonathan  W.  Jonas,  b  April  20,  1763,  m  Sarah  Wy- 
man.  c  of  Jonas  and  Sarah  W.  Stevens,  Jonas,  jr.,  b 
May  27,  1786,  m  Sarah  Sprague.  Sarah,  b  January  27, 
1788.  Zachariah,  b  June  12,  1790,  and  d  young.  Nan- 
cy, b  July  1,  1792,  d  young.  Jonas,  sen.,  also  m  Elis- 
abeth Marrow,  c  Timothy,  b  August  29,  1704,  m  Cath- 
arine S.  Potter,  in  N.  Y.  city.     He   sailed  from  N.  Y., 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  199 

master  of  a  ship,  and  was  never  heard  of.  Philemon,  b 
August  8,  1796,  m  Fidelia  Smith.  Benjamin,  b  January 
5,  1799,  m  Camilla  Howard. 

Joseph  Stevens,  jr.,  m  Kachel  — — .  c  Lucy,  b  Feb. 
17,  1774.  Betty,  b  March  3, 1776.  Joseph,  3d,  b  Feb. 
16,  1778.  Abel,  b  February  20,  1780.  Rachel,  b 
April  7,  1762. 

Samuel  Stevens,  m  Lois  Allen,     c  Lois,b  January  15, 

1775,  m Kendall.     Samuel,  jr.,  b  March  11,  1777. 

Eunice,  b  Jan.  19, 1779.     William,  b  Sept.  23, 1780. 

William  Stevens,  b  July  4,  1760,  m  Susanna  Whiting, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Whiting,  Esq.  c  Asenath,  b  July 
11,  1784.  Susanna,  b  October  19,  1785.  Martha,  b 
May  31,  1787.  Elioenai,  b  February  17,  1789.  Jane, 
b  December  20,  1790.  John,  b  September  22,  1793. 
Joanna,  b  March  31,  1795.  William,  jr.,  b  July  28^ 
1797.     Bathsheba,  b  November  2,  1799. 

John  Streeter,  m  Mercy .     c  Nancy,  b  September 

13,  1786.  John,  jr.,  b  December  18,  1788.  Rhoda,  b 
August  15,  1791.  Clarissa,  b  September  27,  1793. 
Melinda,  b  April  2,  1796. 

Arnold  Sweet,  m  Polly  Bonney,  March  9,  1789,  d 
March  25,  1798.  c  Nancy,  b  May  2,  1791,  m  Leonard 
Richmond,  son  of  Nathan  R.  Arnold,  jr.,  b  March  21, 
1793,  m  Susan  B.  King,  Aug.  2,  1818.  Polly,  b.  Aug^ 
30,  1796,  m  Jona.  Currier,  jr.  Florena,  b  Feb.  1  0,  1798. 
m  Samuel  Wood,  jr. 

Ellis  Sweet,  m  Polly  Fuller,  c  Loren,  b  Aug.  7, 
1796. 

Jesse  Sweet,  m  Deborah  Bonney.  c  John,  b  July  23, 
1800, 


200  HISTOBY    OP  WINTHROP. 

Alexander  Thompson,  m  Dorcas  Brown,  Feb.  22, 1789. 
c  Zilpha,  b  Dec.  20,  1790.  Rebecca,  b  Jan.  26,  1793. 
James,  b  Jan.  1,  1794.  Ira,  b  Dec.  30,  1798.  Aaron, 
b  Feb.  12,  1799. 

Benjamin  Tibbets,  m  Betsey .     c  Joseph,  b  Jan. 

10,  1800. 

John  Turner,  m  Rachel  .     c  Nancy,  b  Jan.  18, 

1753.  Sarah,  b  June  5,  1785.  John,  jr.,  b  Nov.  24, 
1788.  Thomas,  b  June  24,  1791.  James,  b  Feb.  1, 
1794.     Catharine,  b  July  13,  1796. 

Aaron  Wads  worth,  m  Lucy  Stevens,  c  Aaron,  jr.,  b 
Feb.  11,  1796.  James,  b  July  26,  1797.  Susanna,  b 
May  2,  1799. 

Edward  Washburn,  m  Polly  Foster,  daughter  of  Samuel 
F.  c  Hannah,  b  May  3, 1791.  Polly,  b  March  31, 1793. 
Cynthia,  b  Dec.  23,  1794.  '  Olive,  b  Jan.  19, 1797.  Ab- 
ner  Waterman,  b  Oct.  19,  1798.  Asenath,  b  July  3, 
1800. 

John  Wads  worth,  m  Hannah  Crane,  c  John,  jr..  b 
Feb.  5,  1789,  m  Abigail  Smith.  Mary,  b  March  5,  1791- 
David,  d  Feb.  18,  1799.  Hannah,  b  March  16,  1792,  d 
April  13,  1792.  Isaac,  b  June  10,  1793,  m  Rebecca 
Hewins.  Stratton,  b  Sept.  30,  1795,  d  Nov.  21,  1814. 
Alva,  b  Aug.  18,  1797.     Sally,  b   Dec.  7,  1800. 

Moses  Wadsworth,  m  Hannah .     c  Daniel,  b  May 

15,  1799. 

Samuel   Wadsworth,    m  Abigail    .     c   Abigail, 

b  June  23,  1791.  Hannah,  b  June  10,  1793. 
Samuel,  jr.,   b  May   31,  1795.     Olive,  b  Sept.  6,  1797. 

Robert  Waugh,  m  Elizabeth .     c  Robert,  jr.,  b 

March  25,  1707,  m  Sally  Smith,  March  22,  1791.     John, 


HISTORY  OP  WINTHROP.  201 

b  Aug.  14,  1770.  Samuel,  b  July  27,  1772,  m  Betsey 
Page,  1799.  Elizabeth,  b  May  10,  1774.  George,  b 
Jan.  12,  1777,  m  Nancy  Turner. 

Benjamin  White,  m  Mary .     c  Polly,  b  Sept.  14, 

1785.     Ebenezer,  b  Oct.  14,  1786. 

Joel  White,  b  Jan.  16,   1764,  in  Dedham,  Mass,  m 

Mella .    c  Moses,  b  Jan.  29,  1788,  m  Mary  Low^ 

daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Low.  Joel,  jr.,  b  July  24, 1790, 
m  Sarah  Keen.  Lewis,  b  Dec.  17,  1792.  Mella,  b  Feb. 
5,  1795,  m  Jonathan  Whiting,  3d.  Eliza  b  May  6, 1797. 
Sarah,  b  March  16,  1799. 

John  White,  m  Jennette  .     c  Benjamin,  b  May 

13,  1790.  Milley,  b  April  7,  1792.  John  Randall,  b 
Jan.  1,  1792.  Ambrose,  b  April  19,  1796.  Sewall,  b 
April  15,  1793.  Thomas,  b  Aug.  3,  1800,  d  Aug.  22, 
1800. 

Jonathan  Whiting,  m  Elioenai,  daughter  of  Rev. 
David  Thurston,  Wrentham,  Mass.  c  Elias,  d  May  3, 
1775.  John,  d  Dec.  10,  1775.  Thurston,  Mary,  Susan, 
Joanna. 

Jonathan  Whitiug,  jr.,  m  Sarah  Whittier,  Sept.  16, 
1778,  and  Betsey  Davies.  c  Sarah,  b  Aug.  24,  1779,  m 
Richard  Kidder.  Betsey,  b  June  9,  1781.  Elioenai,  b 
May  29,  1783,  m  Edmund  Frost.  Hannah,  b  Jan.  17, 
1785,  m  Abijah  Joy.      Jonathan,  3d,  b  Nov.  7, 1786,  m 

Susan   Hathorn,  Amelia    White,    and   Richards. 

Nathaniel,  b  Aug.  20,  1792,  m  Apphia  Kezer  and  Abi- 
gail Slack.  Miriam,  b  Feb.  1,  1795,  m  Asa  W.  Soule_ 
Elias,  b  June  24,  1800,  m and  Marinda  Hale. 

Thomas  Whittier,  m  Waitstill  Bishop,  daughter    of 


202  HISTORY    OF   WINTHROP. 

Squier  B.     c  Porter,  b  Oct.  17,  1781.     Benjamin,  b  Aug. 
21,  1783.     Lois,  b  Dec.  2,  1785. 

Williana  Whittier,  m  Betsey  Hankerson.  c  John,  b 
May  25,  1775.  Hannah,  b  Dec.  10,  1776.  Sarah,  b 
Aug.  13,  1778.  Dorcas,  b  March  30,  1780.  Polly  Porter, 
b  March  6,  1782.  Betsey,  b  Jan.  6,  1784.  Miriam,  b 
Nov.  11.  1785. 

Eliphalet  Wight,  m  Abigail  Besse.  c  Salome,  b  Sept. 
10, 1795.     Mary,  b  Jan.  20,  1 797.    Kezia,  b  Feb.  7, 1799. 

Timothy  Wight,  m  Sarah  Fisher,  c  Sarah,  b  Jan  30» 
1778.  Jonathan,  b  Dec.  11,  1780.  Benjamin,  b  Mar.  23, 
1783.  Joseph,  b  Mar.  9,  1787. 

Ichabod  Wing,  m  Elisabeth  Prescot,  daughter  of  Odlin 
P.  c  Lucy  B.  b  July,  24, 1793,  m  Lewis  Rowe.  Leafy, 
b  Sept.  15,  1795,  m  Cyrus  Weston.  Gorham  Albion,  b 
July,  15,  1798,  M.  D. 

Andrew  ¥/ood,  b  in  Middleborough,Mass.  m  Mary  Camp. 
c  John,  b  July  23,  1790,  m  Hannah  Ward  and  Dolly 
Stevens.  Armida,  b  Mar.  21,  1782,  m  AmasaTinkham. 
Polly,  b  Feb.  26,  1794,  m  Jeremiah  Smith.  Christina, 
b  Mar.  20,  1796,  m  Mordecai  E.  Morton.  Andrew,  Jr., 
b  May  1,  1798,  m  Lydia  Dole.  Sumner,  b  Oct.  12, 1800 
m  Mary  Andrews. 

Elijah  Wood,  b  in  Middleborough,  Mass.,  m  Salley  Clif- 
ford, c  Samuel,  b  Dec.  1  1790,  m  Florena  Sweet.  Trux- 
ton,  b  Dec.  28,  1799,  m  Submit  Biaisdell. 

Enoch  Wood,  b  in  Middleboro',  Mass.,  m  Priscilla 
Camp,  c  Hannah,  b  Jan.  26,  1793,  m  James  Pullen. 
Alonzo,  b  Feb.  6,  1795,  m  Abigail  H.  Branch.  Selinda, 
b  July  18, 179G,  m  David  Eastman. 


HISTORY    OF  WINTHROP.  203 

Henry  Wood,  jr.,  son  of  Moses,  senior,  m  Eunice  Hoav, 
daughter  of  Ichabod  H.,  Oct.  1,  1800. 

Moses  Wood,  jr.,  m  Nancy  Esty.  c  Moses,  3d,  b  July 
15,  1798. 

Isaiah  Wood,  m  Rebecca  Perley,  Jan.  6,  1799. 

Jason  Wood,  m  Desire .     c  Elizabeth,  b  Aug.  18, 

1798. 

Phinehas  Wood,  m  Jedidah .     c  Theodata,  b  Sept. 

4,  1794.     Polly,  b  Dec.  1, 1797.     Lucy,  b  April  27, 1800. 

David  Woodcock,  m  Mary  Pullen,  and  Sarah  Bragg, 
c  of  David  and  Mary.  Liberty,  b  1776.  William,  b 
September  13,  1780.  Hannah,  b  September  16, 1782. 
Azi,  b  September  13,  1784.  David,  jr.,  b  February  17, 
1787.  Polly,  b  May  30,  1789.  James,  b  October  24, 
1792,  m  Polly  Monk.  Josiah,  b  April  2,  1794,  d  July 
27,  1816.  Matthew,  b  November  22,  1796,  m  Sukey 
Mo^,  d  June  10, 1836.  Gustavus  Adolphus,  b  April  10, 
1799. 

William  Woodcock,  m  Lucy  Buzzel,  daughter  of  Jon- 
athan B.     c  Melinda,  b  October  9,  1800. 

James  Work,  m  Esther  Stevens,  c  Abel,  b  August 
14,  1778.  Polly,  b  April  28,  1780.  Sally,  b  March  22, 
1782,  m  John  Lake.  John,  b  July  13,1785.  Levi,b 
July  17,  1787.  James,  jr.,  b  June  26,  1789.  Lucy,  b 
February  1,  1792.     Joel,  b  July  1,  1794. 

Abraham  Wyman,  m  Dorothy -.     c  Abraham,  jr., 

b  March  9, 1768.  Thomas,  b  August  9, 1 770.  William, 
b  April  11,  1774.  Luther,  b  July  7,  1778.  Luther,  b 
September  9,  1780.     Betsey,  b  February  25,  1785. 

Daniel  Wyman,  m  Kuth  Wing,  c  John,  b  November 
23,  1778.     Daniel,  jr.,  b  September  5, 1780. 


APPENDIX 


TO  THE 


HISTORY    OF    WINTHROP. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE    J^. 

That  posterity  may  know  tlirougb.  what  a  long  and 
formal  process  tlie  early  settlers  had  to  pass,  just  to  obtain 
a  valid  security  to  their  lands,  the  following  Deed  is 
copied ; — 

To  all  to  wJiom  these  Presents  may  come.     Greeting. 

Whereas  his  late  Majesty  King  James  the  First,  for 
the  Advancement  of  a  Colony  and  Plantation  in  New- 
England,  in  America,  by  his  Highness's  Letters  Patents 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  bearing  Date  at  West' 
minster,  the  Third  day  of  Novemher,  in  the  Eighteenth 
Year  of  his  Highness's  Reign  of  England,  &c.  did  grant 
unto  the  Right  Honourable  Lodoivick,  late  Lord  Duke 
of  Lenox,  George  late  Lord  Marquis  of  Buckingham, 
James  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  Thomas  Earl  of  Arundle, 


208  APPENDIX. 

Rodert  Earl  of  Wai^wick,  Sir  Ferdinando  Georges,  Knt. 
and  clivers  others  whose  names  are  expressed  in  the  said 
Letters  Patents,  and  their  Successors,  that  they  should 
be  one  Body  Politick  and  Corporate,  perpetually  consist- 
ing of  forty  persons,  that  they  should  have  perpetual 
Succession,  and  one  Common  Seal  to  serve  for  the  said 
Body,  and  that  they  and  their  Successors  should  be 
incorporated,  called  and  known  by  the  Name  of  the 
Council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the  County  of  Devon, 
for  the  planting,  ruling,  ordering  and  governing  of  New- 
England,  in  America :  And  further  also  did  grant  unto 
the  said  President  and  Council,  and  their  Successors  for- 
ever, under  the  Reservations  in  the  said  Letters  Patents 
expressed ;  All  that  Part  and  Portion  of  the  said  Country 
called  New-England,  in  America,  situate,  lying  and  being 
in  Breadth  from  forty  Degrees  of  Northerly  Latitude 
from  the  Equinoctial  Line,  to  forty-eight  Degrees  of  the 
said  Northerly  Latitude  inclusively,  and  in  Length  of 
and  in  all  the  Breadth  aforesaid,  throughout  the  Main 
Lands  from  Sea  to  Sea,  together  also,  with  all  the  firm 
Lands,  Soils,  Grounds,  Creeks,  Inlets,  Havens,  Ports, 
Seas,  Rivers,  Islands,  Waters,  Fishings,  Mines,  Minerals, 
precious  Stones,  Quarries,  and  all  and  singular  the  Com- 
modities and  Jurisdictions,  both  within  the  said  Tract  of 
Land  lying  upon  the  Main,  as  also  within  the  said  Islands 
and  Seas  adjoining:  To  have,  hold,  possess  and  enjoy 
the  same  unto  the  said  Council  and  their  Successors  and 
Assigns  forever,  to  be  holden  of  his  Majesty,  his  Heirs 
and  Successors,  as  of  his  Manor,  of  East- Greenwich,  in 
the  County  of  Kent,  in  free  and  common  Soccage,  yield- 


APPENDIX.  209 

ing  and  paying  therefor  to  the  said  late  King's  Majesty, 
his  Heirs  and  Successors,  the  fifth  Part  of  the  Ore  of 
Gold  and  Silver  as  in  and  by  the  said  Letters  Patents, 
amongst  other  Privileges  and  Matters  therein  contained, 
more  fully  and  at  large  it  doth  and  may  appear. 

And  Whereas  the  said  Council  established  at  Plymouth 
in  the  County  of  Devon,  by  their  Charter  and  Deed  of 
Affeofment  bearing  Date  the  Sixteenth  Day  of  January^ 
A.  D.  One  Thousand  Six  Hundred  and  Twenty-Nine, 
by  Virtue  and  Authority  of  his  said  late  Majesty's  Let- 
ters Patents,  and  for  and  in  Consideration,  that  William 
Bradford,  and  his  Associates  had  for  these  Nine  Years 
lived  in  New-England  aforesaid,  and  there  inhabited  and 
planted  a  Town  called  by  the  Name  of  Neio-Flymouth, 
at  their  own  proper  Cost  and  Charges  ;  and  seeing  that 
by  the  special  Providence  of  God,  and  their  extraordinary 
Care  and  Industry,  they  had  increased  their  Plantation 
to  near  three  Hundred  People,  and  were  able  to  relieve 
any  new  Planters,  or  other  His  Majesty's  Subjects  upon 
that  Coast ;  granted  and  assigned  unto  the  said  William 
Bradford,  his  Heirs,  Associates  and  Assigns,  all  that 
Part  of  New-England  in  America  aforesaid,  and  Tract 
and  Tracts  of  Lands  that  lie  within  or  between  a  certain 
Rivulet  or  Rundlet  there,  commonly  called  Coahasset, 
alias  Conaliassett,  towards  the  North,  and  the  River  com- 
monly called  Narragansett  River,  towards  the  South, 
and  the  great  Western  Ocean  towards  the  East,  and 
between  and  within  a  straight  Line  directly  extending 
up  into  the  Main  Land  towards  the  West,  from  the 
Mouth  of  the  said  River,  called  Narragansett  River,  to 


210  APPENDIX. 

the  utmost  Limits  and  Bounds  of  a  Country  or  Place  in 
New-England  commonly  called  Pocanacutt,  alias  Sawam- 
set,  Westward,  and  another  like  straight  Line  extending 
itself  directly  from  the  Mouth  of  the  said  River  called 
Coahasset,  alias  Conahassett,  to  the  West,  so  far  up  into 
the  Main  Land  Westward,  as  the  utmost  Limits  of  the 
said  Place  or  Country  commonly  called  Pocanacutt,  alias 
Saiva?nset,  do  extend,  together  with  one  half  of  the  said 
River  called  Narragansett,  and  the  said  Rivulet  or  Rund- 
let  called  Coahasset,  alias  Conahassett,  and  all  Lands, 
Rivers,  Waters,  Havens,  Creeks,  Ports,  Fishings,  Fowl- 
ings,  whatsoever,  situate,  lying  and  being,  or  arising 
within  or  between  the  said  Limits  and  Bounds,  or  any 
of  them. 

And  FOR  xiS  MUCH  as  they  had  no  convenient 
Place  either  of  Trading  or  FISHING  within  their  own 
Precincts,  whereby  after  so  long  Travel  and  great  Pains 
so  hopeful  a  Plantation  might  subsist,  as  also  that  they 
might  be  encouraged  the  better  to  proceed  in  so  pious  a 
Work,  which  might  especially  tend  to  the  Propagation  of 
Religion,  and  the  great  Increase  of  Trade  to  his  Majesty's 
Realms,  and  Advancement  of  the  public  Plantation ; 

The  said  Council  further  granted  and  assigned  unto 
the  said  William  Bradford,  his  Heirs,  Associates  and 
Assigns,  ALL  that  Tract  of  Land,  or  Part  of  New-Eng- 
land in  America  aforesaid,  which  lieth  within  or  between, 
and  extendeth  itself  from  the  utmost  limits  of  Collise- 
conte,  alias  Comaseconte,  which  adjoineth  to  the  River  of 
Kennebeck,  alias  Kenehekike,  towards  the  Western  Ocean, 
and  a  Place  called  the  Falls,  at  Neguamkike,  in  America 


APPENDIX.  211 

aforesaid,  and  tlie  space  of  fifteen  English  miles  on  eacli 
side  of  tlie  said  River  commonly  called  Kenneheck  River, 
and  all  the  said  River  called  Kenneheck,  tliat  lies  Avithin 
tlie  said  Limits,  and  Bounds  Eastward,  Westward,  North- 
ward or  Southward  last  above-mentioned,  and  all  Lands' 
Grounds,  Soils,  Rivers,  Waters,  Fishings,  situate,  lying 
and  being,  arising,  happening  or  accruing  in  or  within 
the  said  Limits  and  Bounds,  or  either  of  them,  together 
with  all  Rights  and  Jurisdictions  thereof,  the  Admiralty 
Jurisdiction  excepted,  in  as  free,  large,  ample  and  benefi- 
cial Manner,  to  all  Intents,  Constructions  and  Purposes 
whatsoever,  as  the  said  Council  by  virtue  of  his  Majesty's 
Letters  Patents  might  or  could  grant. 

TO  HAVE  AND  TO  HOLD  the  said  Tract  and  Tracts 
of  Lands,  and  all  and  singular  the  Premises  above-men- 
tioned to  be  granted,  with  their  and  every  of  their  Ap- 
purtenances to  the  said  William  Bradford,  his  Heirs, 
Associates  and  Assigns  forever,  to  the  only  proper  and 
absolute  Use  and  Behoof  of  the  said  William  Bradford, 
his  Heirs,  Associates  and  Assigns  forever,  yielding  and 
paying  unto  our  said  Sovereign  Lord  the  King,  his  Heirs 
and  Successors  foreyer,  one  fifth  Part  of  the  Ore  of  the 
Mines  of  Gold  and  Silver,  and  one  other  fifth  Part  thereof 
to  the  President  and  Council  which  shall  be  had,  pos- 
sessed and  obtained  within  the  Precincts  aforesaid,  for 
all  Services  whatsoever,  as  in  said  Charter  may  more  fully 
appear. 

And  whereas  the  said  William  Bradford  and  his  As- 
sociates, afterwards  assigned  over  and  surrendered  up  to 
the  late  Colony  of  New-Plymouth,  the  aforesaid  Tract  on 


212  APPENDIX. 

Kennebeck  River,  together  with  other  Lands ;  and  the 
same  Colony  afterwards,  viz.  on  the  Twenty- seventh 
Day  of  Octoher,  A.  D.  1661,  being  seized  of  the  whole 
Tract  aforesaid  on  Kennebeck  River,  and  also  the  Lands 
on  both  sides  the  said  River,  upwards  to  Wisserunscut, 
alias  Wesserunskick,  by  their  Deed  of  Bargain  and  Sale 
of  that  Date,  for  and  in  Consideration  of  the  Sum  of 
FOUR  HUNDRED  POUNDS  Sterling,  sold  all  the  said 
Lands  on  said  River  to  Antipas  Boyes^  Edivard  Tyng^ 
Thomas  Brattle  and  John  Winslow,  their  and  every  of 
their  Heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  as  by  the  said  Deed 
registered  in  the  Records  of  said  Colony  may  more  fully 
appear.  And  the  Lands  last  mentioned  in  said  Deed  by 
a  Release  and  Confirmation  were  afterwards  confirmed  to 
the  said  John  Winslow  and  his  Partners  aforesaid,  their 
Heirs  and  Assigns  forever,  on  both  Sides  of  said  KennC' 
heck  River  as  far  up  as  the  upper  or  most  Northern  Part 
of  Wesserunskick  aforesaid.  KNOW  YE,  That  we, 
the  Heirs  and  Assigns  of  the  said  Antipas  Boyes,  Edward 
Ti^ng,  Thomas  Brattle  and  John  Winslow,  of  and  in  all 
said  Lands  on  Kennebeck  River  aforesaid,  and  legal  Pro- 
prietors thereof,  at  our  Meeting  held  at  Boston,  this 
Twelfth  Day  of  April,  A.  D.  1769,  called  and  regulated 
according  to  Law,  have  voted,  granted  and  asssigned  to 
JOHN  CHANDLER,  of  a  place  called  Pond  Town,  in 
the  County  of  Lincoln  and  Province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  in  New-England,  yeoman,  his  Heirs  and  Assigns 
forever,  a  lot  of  Land  in  said  Pond  Town,  being  one 
mile  long  and  one  hundred  poles  wide,  and  containing 
two  hundred  acres,  and  is  lot  Number  forty-eight,  as  per 
plan  of  said  Township  will  appear,  but  upon  the  follow- 


APPENDIX.  213 

ing  conditions  viz.  That  tlie  said  John  Chandler  build  an 
house  not  less  than  twenty  feet  square  and  seven  feet 
stud,  clear,  and  bring  to,  fit  for  tillage,  five  acres  of 
land  within  three  years  from  the  date  hereof,  and  actu- 
ally live  and  dwell  upon  the  premises  himself  during  said 
term ;  or  in  case  of  his  death,  that  his  heirs,  or  some 
person  under  them  shall  dwell  thereupon  for  seven  years 
after  the  expiration  of  said  three  years  ;  also  work  upon 
the  Ministerial  lot,  or  in  building  the  House  for  the 
public  Worship  of  God,  two  days  in  a  year  for  ten  years 
to  come,  when  required  by  the  Standing  Committee  of 
this  Propriety,  or  their  agent ;  also  Uvo  days  in  a  year 
upon  the  Public  Lands  until  said  Lands  shall  be  incor= 
porated  into  a  Township,  and  also  that  he  submit  himself, 
relating  to  all  Town  affairs,  to  what  shall  be  Voted  by 
the  major  part  of  the  settlers,  (of  said  Pond  Town,)  at 
any  meeting  duly  called.  Reserving  to  this  Propriety 
all  mines  and  minerals  whatsoever  within  the  hereby 
granted  premises,  with  liberty  of  digging  and  carrying 
off  the  same. 

AND  for  the  better  perpetuating  the  aforesaid  Vote 
and  Grant  of  said  Lands  to  the  said  John  Chandler,  his 
Heirs  and  Assigns  for  ever,  "We  the  said  ^Proprietors  at 
our  said  Meeting  have  further  Voted,  that  the  Clerk  of 
this  Propriety  for  the  Time  being  be,  and  he  hereby  is 
directed  and  authorized,  at  the  Request  and  Cost  of  the 
above-named  Grantee,  unto  our  said  Votes  and  Grant  of 
the  Lands  aforesaid,  to  affix  the  common  Seal  of  said 
Propriety,  and  as  Clerk  as  aforesaid,  to  acknowledge 
before  any  Justice  in  said  Commonwealth  the  said  Votes 
and  Grant  to  be  the  Votes  and  Grant  of  said  Proprietors 


214  APPENDIX. 

for  the  purpose  above-mentioned,  and  tlie  Seal  hereto 
affixed,  to  be  the  common  Seal  of  said  Propriety. 

HENRY  ALLINE,  Jhk'k,  {  .J'fJ'Ji.^y, 

SUFFOLK  ss,     Boston,  The  twelfth  Day  of  May,  A.  D. 

1769. 

[L.  S.]  THIS  Day  personally  appeared  HENRY 
ALLINE,  Jtjn'k,  Clerk  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Ken- 
neheck  Purchase  from  the  late  Colony  of  New-Plymouth, 
and  acknowledged  the  above-mentioned  Votes  and  Grant 
to  be  the  Votes  and  Grant  of  said  Proprietors  to  the 
within  named  John  Chandler.  And  the  Seal  hereto  by 
him  affixed  as  Clerk  as  aforesaid,  to  be  the  Common  Seal 
of  said  Propriety. 

Before  tne,  JOHN  HILL,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

LINCOLN,  ss.  Received  Septem'r  27th,  1774  and  re- 
corded with  the  Records  for  Deeds  in  said  County, 
Lib.  2d,  Fol.  236. 

•     Att'st :  JONA.  BOWMAN,  Reg. 

All  the  first  settlers  had  Deeds  similar  to  this. 


APPENDIX.  215 


NOTE   B. 


Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgia  Tertio  Undecimo* 

ACT    OF    INCOEPOEATION. 

Whereas,  the  Inhabitants  of  a  certain  Tract  of  land 
called  Pond  Town,  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Kennebec 
River,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  are  desirous  of  enjoy- 
ing the  Privileges  that  will  arise  to  them  by  being  incor- 
porated into  a  town, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  House  of 
Kepresentatives,  that  the  Tract  of  land  aforesaid,  butted 
and  bounded  as  follows,  viz  :  Beginning  on  the  west  side 
of  Cobbesseconte  great  Pond,  at  the  easterly  end  of  the 
southerly  line  of  a  two  hundred  acre  lot  numbered  one  ; 
from  thence  to  run  a  west-north-west  course  five  miles  ; 
from  thence  to  run  a  north-north-east  course  about  nine 
miles,  until  it  meets  a  line  running  west-north-west  from 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  town  of  HaUowell;  from 
thence  to  run  east-north-east  on  the  last  mentioned  line 
seven  miles  more  or  less,  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
said  town ;  and  from  thence  to  run  southerly  on  the  west 
line  of  said  town  as  far  as  the  northerly  end  of  Cobbes- 
seconte great  Pond ;  from  thence  to  run  westerly  on  the 
northerly  end  of  said  Pond  to  the  west  side  thereof| 


216  APPENDIX. 

thence  to  run  southerly  on  the  westerly  side  of  said  Pond 
to  the  first  mentioned  boundary  ;  containing  also  the  said 
Pond  as  far  south  as  the  boundary,  be  and  hereby  is  en- 
acted into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Winthrop ;  and 
that  the  Inhabitants  thereof  be  and  hereby  are  invested 
with  all  the  Powers,  Privileges  and  Immunities  which 
the  Inhabitants  of  any  of  the  Towns  within  this  Province 
do,  or  by  law  ought  to  enjoy. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,  that  James  Howard,  Esq^ 
be  and  hereby  is  empowered  to  issue  his  warrant  directed 
to  some  principal  Inhabitant  in  said  Township,  requiring 
him  to  notify  and  warn  the  Inhabitants  in  said  Township^ 
qualified  by  law  to  vote  in  Town  affairs,  to  meet  at  such 
time  and  place  as  shall  be  therein  set  forth,  to  choose  all 
such  officers  as  shall  be  necessary  to  manage  the  affairs 
of  said  Township. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,  that  the  freeholders  of  the 
said  Town  shall  be  and  hereby  are  empowered,  at  their 
first  meeting,  to  proceed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  Reg- 
ister of  Deeds,  and  also  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  said 
County  of  Lincoln,  qualified  according  to  law ;  and  the 
votes  for  such  Register  and  Treasurer  shall  be  at  the 
same  time  sealed  up  by  a  Constable  of  said  Town,  who 
may  then  be  chosen  and  sworn,  and  by  him  returned  into 
the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  to  be  holden 
in  June  next,  at  Povv^nalborough,  for  the  said  County,  in 
the  same  manner  as  is  provided  by  law  in  like  cases  for 
other  Towns  within  this  Province  ;  which  Court  is  hereby 
authorized  and  required  to  receive  the  said  votes,  Avhich 
votes  with  the  votes  of  the  other  Towns  of  said  County, 
shall  be  opened,  sorted  and  counted,  as  the  law  di  rects, 


APPENDIX.  217 

for  the  determining  the  choice  of  such  Register  and 
Treasurer,  and  such  choice  shall  be  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  valid  and  effectual  in  law. 

And  he  it  further  enacted,  that  if  by  reason  of  sick- 
ness, or  any  other  means,  the  said  James  Howard,  Esq. 
shall  be  prevented  from  performing  the  business,  (or  any 
part  thereof,)  to  which  he  is  appointed  by  this  act,  then, 
in  that  case,  William  Gushing,  Esq.  shall  be  and  hereby 
is  empowered  to  transact  the  whole,  or  any  part  of  said 
business,  as  fully  and  effectually  as  the  said  James  How- 
ard is  by  the  several  clauses  of  this  act,  empowered  to 
transact  the  same. 

April  26,  1771. — This  bill  having  been  read  three 

several  times  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  passed  to 

be  enacted. 

Thomas  Gushing,  Speaker. 

Aphil  26,  1771. — This  bill  having  been  read  three 
several  times  in  Gouncil,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

Thomas  Flucker,  Sec''y, 

April  26,  1771.— By  the  Governor.    I  consent  to  the 

enacting  of  this  bill. 

T.  HuTCHiisrsoisr. 

Attest :         Wm.  Tudor,  Secretary  of  the  State. 

The  leaf  of  the  Town  Records  containing  a  copy  of 
the  Vv^arrant  for  the  first  To^vn  meeting,  is  torn,  and  part 
of  it  lost.     The  date  and  signature  are  as  follows :  — 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  the  sixth  day  of  May, 
1771,  at  Fort  Western,  James  Howard,  Justice  of 
Peace.'''' 


218  APPENDIX. 

From  the  fragments  of  the  Town  Hccords,  it  is  in- 
ferred, that  this  warrant  was  directed  to  Mr.  John  Chan- 
dler, who,  in  obedience  to  instructions,  warned  a  meet- 
ing of  the  inhabitants  to  be  held  on  the  20th  of  May. 


APPENDIX.  219 


NOTE   O. 


It  may  gratify  tlie  curiosity  of  some  to  know  the  an- 
cient formalities  of  calling  a  Town  meeting. 

Febkuaet,  ye.  3d.  A.  D.,  1772. 
"  The  select  men  met  and  ordered  the  Town  Clerk  to 
issue  his  warrant  to  Stephen  Pullen,  Constable,  to  warn 
the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Winthrop  duly  qualified  by  Law  to  vote  in  Town  affairs, 
to  meet  at  the  house  of  Squier  Bishop,  Innholder,  in  said 
Town  on  Monday  the  second  day  of  March  next,  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  then  and  there,  if  the  Town  see 
cause,  to  act  upon  the  following  particulars,  viz  : 

Then  follows  an  enumeration  of  six  particulars.     The 

town   Clerk's  warrant  was  as  follows  : 

Lincoln,  ss.  To  Stephen  Pullen,  Constable  of  the  town 
of  Winthrop,  loiihin  the  County  of  Lincoln,  Greeting  : 
In  his  Majesty's  name  you  are  required  to  warn  the 
Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Win- 
throp duly  [qualified  by  Law  to  vote  in  town  afiairs  to 
meet  at  the  house  of  Squier  Bishop,  Innholder,  in  said 
Town  on  Monday  the  second  day  of  march  next  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  then  and  there,  if  the  Town  see 
cause  to  act  upon  the  following  articles. 


220  APPENDIX. 

I.  To  choose  Town  Officers  to  serve  tlie  town  tlie 
year  ensuing. 

II.  To  hear  the  Heport  of  the  Selectmen  respecting  the 
highways  they  have  laid  out  the  year  past  and  to  con- 
firm the  same  if  they   shall   see  cause. 

III.  To  pay  the  Town's  just  Debts. 

IV.  To  order  such  names  into  the  Box  asthe  Town 
shall  think  proper,  to  serve  as  Petit  Jurors  at  the  inferior 
court  of  Common   Pleas. 

V.  To  choose  a  Committee  to  solicit  Mr.  Gardiner 
to  open  a  place  through  or  round  his  mill-dam  to  let 
the  fish  up  for  the  benefit  of  the  Town. 

VI.  To  see  if  it  be  the  minds  of  the  Town  to  make 
and  repair  their  highways  by  a  Tax,  and  if  so  to  raise 
money  for  the  same. 

Hereof  fail  not  and  make  a  return  of  this  warrant 
with  your  doings  hereon  at  one  hour  before  the  time  set 
for  the  meeting. 

By  order  of  the  Selectmen, 

JONATHAN  WHITING,  Town  Clerk, 
Winthrop,  Feb.  ye.  3d,  1772." 


APPENDIX.  221 


ISrOTE   ID. 


Names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Congregational 

Church,  organized  Sept.  4,  1776. 

Jonathan  Whiting,  Nathaniel  Stanley, 

Elias  Taylor,  Josiah  Plall, 

Joseph  Stephens,  Ransford  Smith. 

Nathaniel  Floyd,  Mary  Taylor, 

Samuel  Frost,  Elizabeth  Stevens, 

John  Chandler,  Sarah  Floyd, 

Pease  Clark,  Abigail  Stanley, 

Thomas  Allen,  Sarah  Delano,  ,i 

Jonathan  Davenport,  Abigail  Hall, 

Amos  Stevens,  Dorcas  Baker, 

Ebenezer  Davenport,  Mary  Stevens, 

Gideon  Lambert,  Anne  Hall, 

Joseph  Baker,  Susanna  Lambert. 

Covenant  adopted  by  the  Congregational  Church,  at 
their  organization,  Sept.  4,  1776. 

"  We,  being  distant  from  any  neighboring  church,  and 
desirous  of  having  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  occasion- 
ally administered  among  us,  till  settled,  which  we  hope 
will  be  soon,  do  enter  into  a  church  estate  ;  and  in  the 
fear  of  God  and  under  a  humiliating  sense  of  our  own 
unworthiness  to  transact  with  the  glorious  God  ;  and 
with  a  humble  dependence  on  the  grace  of  God,  covenant 
with  Him  and  with  one  another  as  followeth,  viz  : 

First  of  all,  we  do  solemnly  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah, 


222  APPENDIX. 

Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  for  our  portion  and  chief 
good  ;  and  give  up  ourselves,  bodies  and  souls,  to  Him,  to 
be  his  servants,  promising  by  his  aid  and  assistance  to 
love,  fear  and  trust  in  Him,  and  yield  obedience  to  Him 
in  all  things,  all  the  days  of  our  lives. 

And  whereas  the  Son  of  God,  in  our  nature,  is  exalted 
as  a  Prince  and  Saviour,  the  only  Mediator  of  the  new 
covenant  and  means  of  coming  to  God,  we  do  therefore, 
through  grace  accept  of  Him  according  to  the  tenor  of 
the  gospel  offer,  that  is  to  say,  of  Prophet,  Priest  and 
King  of  our  immortal  souls,  purposing  and  promising  to 
attend  his  teaching,  his  word  and  Spirit,  to  lean  upon 
his  merits  and  intercession  with  the  Father,  as  the  only 
way  for  the  obtainment  of  the  pardon  of  our  sins,  the 
favor  of  God  and  continuance  therein,  and  finally  the 
subduing  of  all  our  enemies,  and  working  all  our  works 
in  us  and  for  us. 

And  further,  whereas  there  are  different  apprehensions 
in  the  minds  of  the  great  and  wise  men,  even  in  the  doc- 
trines of  religion,  we  do  declare  our  consent  to  them,  as 
held  forth  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  or 
Shorter  Catechism,  apprehending  in  our  judgments  and 
consciences,  that  they  are  agreeable  to  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures. 

Again,  whereas  God  has  promised  to  be  a  God  unto 
his  people  and  their  children  after  them,  we  do  therefore 
dedicate  our  children  to  the  service  of  God  in  Jesus 
Christ,  promising  that  we  will  seasonably  bring  those  of 
them,  that  are  unbaptized,  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  ;  and  as  they  grow  up  in  years  of  un- 
derstanding, instruct  them  into  the  nature,  use  and  end 


APPENDIP.  223 

of  that  ordinance,  and  in  the  principles  of  the  christian 
religion  so  far  as  need  is,  that  we  will  set  good  examples 
of  piety,  righteousness  and  sobriety  before  them,  restrain- 
ing them,  as  we  are  able,  from  being  carried  away  with 
the  temptations  of  their  age  and  time,  endeavoring  that 
they  may  be  prepared  for  the  enjoyment  of  Christ  in  all 
his  ordinances  ;  and  finally  be  much  in  prayer  for  their 
conversion  and  sah^ation ;  and  we  further  engage  to 
watch  over  all  the  children  of  the  covenant  growing  up 
with  us,  that  they  be  obedient  to  the  rule  and  govern- 
ment of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

We  promise  that  we  will,  by  the  help  of  God,  avoid 
all  the  superstitions  and  inventions  of  men  in  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  as  derogating  from  the  sovereignty  and 
wisdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  supreme  Head  of 
the  Church  ;  that  we  will  not  slanderously  absent  our- 
selves from  any  part  of  the  instituted  worship,  but  do 
what  in  us  lies  to  prepare  ourselves  for,  to  uphold  and 
improve  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  to  the  spiritual 
benefit  and  advantage  of  our  souls,  leaning  upon  that 
promise,  that  God  will  meet  those  that  rejoice,  work 
righteousness  and  remember  Him  in  his  ways. 

We  promise,  by  the  help  of  God,  that  we  will,  with 
as  much  frequency  as  may  be,  read  or  cause  the  word  of 
God  to  be  read  in  our  families,  that  so  the  word  of  God 
may  dwell  richly  in  us,  seasonably  and  constantly  up- 
holding the  worship  of  God  there  and  attending  the 
same  with  sincerity  and  affection. 

And  whereas  we  have  given  ourselves  unto  the  Lord 
and  unto  one  another  in  the  Lord,  we  propose  and  prom- 


224  APPENDIX. 

ise  that  wo  will  live  together  in  this  holy  fellowship,  in 
all  holy  watchfulness  over  each  other  to  the  prevention 
of,  or  recovery  from  any  scandalous  evils,  that  through 
the  temptations  of  satan  or  the  corruptions  of  our  own 
nature,  we  may  at  any  time  be  overtaken  with,  that  we 
will  be  as  speedy  as  may  be  in  making  up  any  difference 
that  may  arise,  in  some  orderly  way,  endeavoring  also 
the  spiritual  and  temporal  good  one  of  another. 

We  promise,  that  by  the  help  of  God,  we  will  have 
respect  to  all  the  duties  of  the  second  table,  as  being 
necessary  parts  of  a  right  ordered  conversation,  and  par- 
ticularly, bo  true  and  faithful  to  all  our  civil  contracts 
and  agreements  vdth  one  another  and  all  men  that  we 
have  to  deal  with,  so  that  none  may  have  occasion  to 
speak  evil  of  our  profession. 

And  finally,  whereas  there  is  a  strong  propensity  in 
our  nature  to  what  is  evil  and  sinful,  we  purpose  and 
promise  that,  by  the  help  of  God's  Spirit,  we  will  keep 
our  hearts  and  mortify  those  lusts  that  dwell  in  us,  avoid- 
ing all  such  temptations  as  our  sinful  hearts  are  wont  to 
be  drawn  aside  withal ;  and  that  we  may  keep  this  cov- 
enant inviolable  for  ever  in  all  the  branches  of  it,  we 
desire  to  deny  ourselves,  not  trusting  in  our  own  wis- 
dom or  strength,  humbly  and  believingly  depending  n2)on 
God  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  presence  of 
his  Holy  Spirit  with  us,  and  where  we  come  short,  there 
to  wait  upon  Him  for  pardon  and  healing  for  his  name- 
sake. 


APPENDIX.  225 


ISTOTE   E. 


Oct.  17,  1781,  the  town  voted  as  encouragement  to 
Rev.  David  Jewett  to  settle  with  us  to  give  him  the  grant 
of  a  two  hundred  and  sixty  acre  lot,  and  sixty  pounds 
lawful  money  the  first  year,  and  the  said  salary  to  in- 
crease yearly  as  our  interest  increases,  until  it  arrive  to 
eight]/  pounds,  the  same  to  be  estimated  at  Rye  at  5s 
per  bushel,  Indian  corn  at  4s,  and  beef  at  3d  per  pound, 
what  money  he  shall  receive  towards  his  salary  shall  be 
in  proportion  to  the  aforesaid  articles  as  herein  stated. 
And  to  prevent  all  misunderstanding  of  this  vote,  it  is 
the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  same,  that  if  said 
articles  shall  fall,  the  salary  shall  fall  in  proportion,  but 
that  his  salary  shall  be  paid  in  proportion  to  the  above, 
said  articles  not  exceeding  the  within  price.  The  town 
voted  to  raise  and  pay  Mr.  Jewett  £12  lawful  money, 
probably  for  his  services  prior  to  his  settlement. 

Rev.  David  Jewett' s  answer  to  the  call  of  the  church 
and  people  of  Winthrop  to  become  their  Pastor. 

"  And  now  Gentlemen  of  the  town  of  Winthrop  re- 
specting your  grant  for  the  support  of  a  public  Teacher, 
you  have  done  honorably  and  well ;  and  have  even  exceed- 
ed my  most  sanguine  desire.  I  therefore  most  cheerfully 
donate  and  refund  one-twentieth  of  my  annual  salary 
during  my  ministry  among  you,  for  the  support  of  a 


226  APPENDIX. 

scliool,  and  to  be  distributed  at  tbe  discretion  of  the  Se- 
lectmen of  the  town  ;  only  shall  expect  to  be  absent  two 
Sabbaths  in  a  year  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  my  friends 
at  a  distance  ;  should  I  occasionally  be  absent  longer 
than  that  term  shall  expect  to  refund  it  out  of  my  year- 
ly salary,  sickness  only  excepted.  "Wishing  you  the 
blessing  of  God,  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and 
the  consolations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  I  am  your  affection- 
ate Friend  and  most  humble  servant. 

DAVID  JEWETT. 

Dated  at  Winthrop,  Nov.  16,  1781. 

Whether  a  school  was  supported  by  this  donation  of 
Mr.  Jewett  is  not  known. 


APPENDIX.  227 


]>«^OTE    F. 


An  act  to  incorporate  the  north,  part  of  the  Town  of 
"Winthrop,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  with  the  inhabi- 
tants thereon,  into  a  Town  by  the  name  of  Readfielcl. 

Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the 
authority  of  the  same,  That  all  the  lands  in  the  town  of 
Winthrop,  lying  north  of  the  line  hereafter  described, 
viz  :  Beginning  on  the  south  line  of  lot  number  thirty- 
two  in  said  Winthrop,  where  the  west  line  of  Hallowell 
crosses  said  lot,  from  thence  running  west-north-west, 
on  the  range  line  to  Chandler's  pond ;  then  westerly 
across  said  pond  to  the  south-east  corner  of  lot  number 
two  hundred  and  twenty ;  then  westerly  on  the  south 
line  of  said  lot ;  to  south-west  corner  of  said  lot ;  then 
northerly  to  the  north-east  corner  of  lot  number  sixty- 
six  ;  from  thence  west-north-west  on  the  north  line  of 
lots  number  sixty-six,  ninety-three,  and  one  hundred  fifty- 
six,  to  the  westerly  line  of  said  town,  with  all  the  in- 
habitants thereon  living,  be,  and  hereby  are  incorporated 
into  a  separate  town,  by  the  name  of  Readfield,  with  all 
the  powers,  privileges  and  immunities,  that  towns  within 
this  Commonwealth  have,  or  do  enjoy. 

Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Read- 


228  APPENDIX. 

field  shall  be  subject  to,  and  pay  all  rates  and  taxes  here- 
tofore assessed  upon  them,  while  they  belonged  to  the 
town  of  Winthrop,  in  the  same  manner  as  though  this 
act  had  not  been  passed;  and  shall  also  be  subject  to 
pay  their  proportionable  part  of  all  debts  due  from  said 
town  of  Winthrop,  at  the  time  of  their  separation,  and 
also  shall  receive  their  proportionable  part  of  all  public 
lands,  and  of  all  other  public  property  whatever,  that 
did  belong  to  said  town  of  Winthrop,  at  the  time  of 
their  separation. 

Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted  that  the  said  town 
of  Readfield  shall  take  and  support  their  proportionable 
part  of  all  the  poor,  that  did  belong  to  said  town  of  Win- 
throp, at  the  time  of  their  separation,  according  to  their 
last  valuation ;  and  provided  any  person  or  persons 
have  removed  from  said  town  of  Winthrop,  and  shall  be 
hereafter  returned  as  the  poor  of  said  town ;  then  and 
in  such  case  the  said  town  of  Readfield  shall  take  and 
support  as  their  poor  all  those  who  immediately  before 
such  removal  were  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the 
town  of  Winthrop,  which  is  now  Readfield. 

Sec.  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  that  until  the  said  town  of  Readfield  shall 
have  a  sufficient  number  of  inhabitants  to  entitle  them 
to  send  a  Representative,  they  shall  assemble  and  meet 
with  the  town  of  Winthrop,  and  in  town  meeting  alter- 
nately at  Winthrop  and  Readfield  shall  join  in  choosing 
a  Representative  to  serve  in  the  General  Court  of  this 
Commonwealth . 

Sec.  5.    And  be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid. 


APPENDIX.  229 

that  Jonathan  Whiting,  Esq.,  be,  and  he  hereby  is  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  issue  his  warrant  to  some 
principal  inhabitant  of  the  said  town  of  Readfield  requir- 
ing him  to  notify  and  warn  said  inhabitants  to  meet  at 
some  convenient  time  and  place  in  said  Readfield,  to 
choose  all  such  officers  as  other  towns  by  law  are  re- 
quired to  choose  in  the  month  of  March  or  April  annu- 
ally. 

This  act  passed  March  11,  1791. 
11 


230 


APPENDIX. 


TSTOTE    Gr. 


An  Act  to  incorporate  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Winthrop  into  a  religious  society  by  the 
name  of  the  First  Congregational  Society  in  Winthrop. 

Sect.  1.     Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House   of 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the 
authority  of  the  same,  that — 
Samuel  Wood, 


Joseph  Metcalf, 
Nathaniel  Fairbanks, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Moses  Frost, 
Nathaniel  Morton, 
John  Chandler,  Jr., 
Micah  Barrows, 
Reuben  Brainard, 
Noah  Morrill, 
Isaac  Smith, 
Jonathan  Whiting, 
Jonathan  Whiting,  Jun., 
James  Prescott, 
Solomon  Esty, 
John  White, 
John  Kezer, 
Henry  Wood, 


Elijah  Davenport, 
Amos  Perley, 
Samuel  Morrell, 
Jonathan  Currier, 
John  Turner, 
James  Atkinson, 
Solomon  Towlc, 
David  Chandler, 
John  Streeter, 
Jonathan  Thurston, 
Richard  Gower, 
Zebediah  Sweet, 
Peleg  Benson, 
Henry  Stanley, 
Josiah  Bacon, 
Moses  Joy, 
Peter  Stanley, 
Solomon  Stanley, 


APPENDIX. 


231 


Enoch  Wood, 
Joseph  MattheWvS, 
Barzillrti  Delano, 
Adin  Stanley, 
Simon  Page, 
Simon  Page,  Jun., 
Odlin  Prescott, 
Elijah  Wood, 
Sampson  Davis, 
Jonathan  Pullen, 
Peter  Gale, 
John  Cole, 
Josiah  Cushman, 
Benjamin  Read, 
Livy  Morton, 
Ebenezer  Morton, 
Charles  Harris, 
Ebenezer  Moore, 
Jenness  Towle, 
Amos  Stevens, 
Amos  Stevens,  Jun., 
Daniel  Stevens, 
Unite  Brown, 
William  Brown, 
Jonas  Stevens, 
William  Stevens, 
Ebenezer  Davenport, 


Thomas  Ladd, 
Nathaniel  Fellows, 
Jeremiah  Brown, 
Andrew  Wood, 
Nathaniel  Marston, 
Jonathan  Hilliard, 
John  May, 
Silas  Lambert, 
William  Pullen, 
Mordecai  Morton, 
Gideon  Lambert, 
Moses  Wood, 
Jesse  Sweet, 
Nathan  Eichmond, 
Daniel  Marrow,  Jun., 
Jonathan  Pullen,  Jun., 
Josiah  Tilton, 
Isaac  Shaw, 
James  Pullen, 
Elijah  Prescott, 
Ebenezer  Barrows, 
John  Pullen, 
Liberty  Stanley, 
Obed  Leach, 
Abiel  Smith, 
Squier  Bishop,  and 
Stephen  Pullen, 


together  with  their  polls  and  estates,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  incorporated  into  a  Society  by  the  name  of  the 
First  Congregational  Society  in  Winthrop,  with  all  the 


232  APPENDIX. 

privileges,  powers  and  immunities,  to  wHcli  Parishes  are, 
by  law,  entitled  in  this  Commonwealth. 

Sect.  2 — described  the  way  of  becoming  members. 

Sect.  3 — authorized  Samuel  Wood,  Esq.  to  issue  his 
warrant  to  call  the  first  meeting,  &c. 

Passed  January  31,  1800. 


APPENDIX.  233 


]N'OTE   H. 


EEV.    JONATHAN    BELDEN. 

The  Ecclesiastical  Council  who  ordained  Mr.  Belden, 
were  Rev.  Messrs.  Ezekiel  Emerson,  Georgetown ;  Sam- 
uel Eaton,  Harps  well ;  Eliphalet  Gillet,  Hallo  well ;  Jon- 
athan Ward,  New  Milford,  (now  Alna;)  Jotham  Sewall, 
Chesterville.  Delegates,  Benjamin  Dunning,  Mark  Lang- 
don  Hill,  Henry  Sewall,  Jonathan  B.  Balch,  James  Rowe, 
Isaiah  Wyman,  Dummer  Sewall,  James  Gow.  Rev.  J. 
Sewall  led  in  the  first  prayer,  Rev.  E.  Gillet  preached, 
Rev.  E.  Emerson  led  in  the  ordaining  prayer,  Rev.  S. 
Eaton  gave  the  charge.  Rev.  J.  Ward  gave  the  right 
hand,  Rev.  S.  Eaton  led  in  the  closing  prayer.  More 
than  forty  had  been  members  of  the  church,  but  probably 
at  this  time,  the  number  was  less  than  twenty.  Some 
forty-three  were  added  during  Mr.  Belden's  ministry,  of 
five  years.  He  was,  after  this,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Bristol  for  several  years. 

After  leaving  Bristol,  he  was  not  pastor  of  any  church. 
He  was  employed  in  several  places,  as  a  Missionary, 
and  died  some  years  ago.  He  was  "  a  man  who  feared 
God  above  many." 

REV.    DAVID    THURSTON. 

The  members  of  the  Council  who  ordained  David 
Thurston  to  the  pastoral  ofiice,  were,  from  the  church  in 


234  APPENDIX. 

Hallowell,  Eliphalet  Gillet,  pastor,  Henry  Sewall  and 
James  Gow,  Delegates  ;  from  the  churcli  in  Byfield,  Mass., 
Elijah.  Parish,  pastor,  Joseph  Pike  and  Solomon  Stick- 
ney.  Delegates ;  from  the  church  in  New  Castle,  Kiah 
Bayley,  pastor  ;  from  the  church  in  Penohscot,  Jonathan 
Powers,  pastor  ;  from  the  1st  church  in  Bath,  Asa  Lyman, 
pastor,  David  Trufant  and  Henry  Sewall,  jr..  Delegates  ; 
from  the  church  in  Bucktown,  (now  Bucksport,)  Mighill 
Blood,  pastor;  from  the  church  in  Sedgwick,  David 
Thurston,  sen.,  Delegate ;  from  the  church  in  New  Mil- 
ford,  Joseph  Richardson,  Delegate.  Rev.  A.  Lyman 
offered  the  introductory  prayer,  Rev.  E.  Parish  preached 
from  2  Cor.  2:15,  Rev.  J.  Powers  offered  the  consecra- 
ting prayer.  Rev.  E.  Gillet  gave  the  charge.  Rev.  M. 
Blood  gave  the  right  hand,  and  Rev.  K.  Bayley  offered 
the  concluding  prayer. 

KEY.    E.    M.    SAWYER. 

The  Ecclesiastical  Council  at  the  ordination  of  Rev. 
Rufus  Morrell  Sawyer,  were,  from  the  church  in  Augusta 
South,  Bro.  G.  H.  Jones ;  Bridgton  Center,  Rev.  J.  T. 
Hawes  ;  Gardiner,  Rev.  W.  L.  Hyde  ;  Hallowell,  Rev. 
J.  P.  Skeele,  Bro.  Paul  Stickney ;  Litchfield,  Rev.  T. 
Davis,  Dea.  Isaac  Smith ;  Otisfield,  Rev.  J.  P.  Richard- 
son, Bro.  L.  M.  Sawyer  ;  Richmond,  Rev.  P.  F.  Barnard, 
Bro.  G.  C.  Waterman;  Searsport,  Rev.  S.  Thurston, 
Dea.  Benjamin  Gould  ;  Waterville,  Rev.  R.  B.  Thurston, 
Bro.  S.  R.  Dennen.  Also,  Rev.  B.  Tappan,  D.  D.,  and 
Rev.  Prof.  Shepard.  The  parts  at  this  ordination,  were 
performed  as  follows  :  Invocation  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Hawes, 
reading  the  Scriptures  by  Rev.  R.  B.  Thurston,  introduc- 


APPENDIX.  235 

tory  prayer  by  Rev.  P.  F.  Barnard,  sermon  by  Prof. 
Shepard  from  Acts  14  :  1,  consecrating  prayer  by  Rev.  J. 
P.  Richardson,  charge  to  the  pastor  by  the  former  pastor, 
right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Skeele,  the  con- 
cluding prayer  by  Rev.  S.  Thurston. 


236  APPENDIX. 


NOTE   I. 


"An  act  to  incorporate  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Winthrop  into  a  religious  society  by  the 
name  of  the  Methodist  Society  in  the  town  of  Win- 
throp. 

Section  1. — Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assemlled^  and  hy  the 
authority  of  the  same,  that 

Nathaniel  Bishop,  Alfred  Chandler, 

Thomas  Jacobs,  Daniel  Marrow, 

Benjamin  Fairbanks,  Timothy  Foster, 

Rial  Stanley,  Enos  Fairbanks, 

Asa  Bobbins,  David  Fairbanks, 

Eleazar  Bobbins,  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  jr., 

Otis  Foster,  Jonas  Allen, 

Daniel  Foster,  Elizabeth  Lake, 

Nathan  F.  Cobb, 
together  with  such  others  as  have  already  associated,  or 
may  hereafter  associate  with  them  and  their  successors,  be, 
and  hereby  are  incorporated  into  a  separate  religious  socie- 
ty by  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Society  in  Winthrop, with 
all  the  powers  and  privileges  and   subject  to  the^same 


APPENDIX.  237 

duties    with    other  religious  societies,  according  to  the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Provided^  however,  that  all  such  persons  shall  be 
holden  to  pay  their  respective  proportions  of  all  moneys 
legally  assessed  for  parochial  purposes  in  the  Parish  or 
religious  society,  to  which  he  or  she  formerly  belonged. 

Sec.  2.  —  Be  it  enacted  4*c.,  that  any  person  belong- 
ing to  another  religious  society  in  said  town  of  Win- 
throp,  who  may  desire  to  join  with  the  said  Methodist 
Society,  shall  declare  such  intention  in  writing,  deliver- 
ed to  the  minister  or  clerk  thereof,  and  also  a  copy  of  the 
same  delivered  to  the  town  clerk,  or  to  the  clerk  of  such 
other  society  (as  the  case  may  require,)  and  if  such  per- 
son do  produce  such  a  certificate  signed  by  the  minister, 
deacon,  or  clerk  of  the  said  Methodist  Society,  that  he 
or  she  has  united  with,  and  actually  become  a  member 
thereof,  such  person  shall,  from  the  date  of  said  certifi- 
cate, be  considered,  with  his  or  her  polls  and  estates,  as 
a  member  of  said  Methodist  Society. 

Sec.  3.  —  Be  it  enacted  Sfc.^  that  when  any  member  of 
said  Methodist  Society  shall  see  cause  to  secede  there- 
from and  to  unite  in  religious  fellowship  with  any  other 
religious  society,  shall  give  notice  of  such  intention  in 
writing  to  the  minister  or  clerk  of  the  said  Methodist 
Society,  and  deliver  a  copy  of  the  same  to  the  clerk  of 
the  town  or  to  the  minister  or  clerk  of  such  other  soci- 
ety, (as  the  case  may  be,)  fifteen  days  before  the  annual 
meeting,  and  shall  produce  a  certificate  of  admission, 
signed  by  the  minister  or  clerk  thereof,  such  person  with 
his  or  her  polls  and  estate  shall,  from  the  date  of  such 
certificate,  be  considered  as  a  member  of  the  society,  with 
which  he  or  she  has  so  united." 


238 


APPENDIX. 


Section  4  contains  directions  for  calling  a  meeting  and 
organizing  the  Society. 

*'  This  act  passed,  Feb.  27,  1811. 

Methodist  Preachers   who   have   officiated    since    the 
building  of  their  Chapel. 
1826,  Rev.  Stephen  Lovell.   1841,  D.  B.  Randall. 


1827, 

1828,  J.  B.  Husted. 

1829,  Moses  Hill 
1830, 

1831,  E.  Crooker. 

1832,  G.  Greely. 

1833,  D.  Fuller. 

1834,  A.Caldwell. 
1835, 

1836,  C.  P.  Bragdon. 

1837,  E.  Hotchkiss. 
1838,A.  P.  Hillman. 

1839,  Abel  Alton. 

1840,  J.  Cleaveland. 


1842,  E.  Robinson. 

1843, 

1844,  A.  F.  Barnard. 

1845, 

1846,  George  Webber. 

1847,  Charles  W.  Morse. 

1848,  " 

1849,  Moses  Hill. 
1850, 

1851,  Parker  Jaquis. 

1852,  " 

1853,  C.  Munger. 

1854,  '* 

1855,  J.  H.  Jennie. 


APPENDIX. 


239 


NOTE    K. 


Names  of  persons  who  were  organized  into  the  first 
Baptist  Church  in  Winthrop. 


Enoch  Wood, 
Benjamin  Packard, 
Joseph  Wingate,  Jr  , 
Ebenezer  Packard, 
Francis  Fuller, 
Luke  Perkins, 
Benjamin  Perkins, 
Joshua  Smith, 
William  Jamerson, 
John  Wadsworth,  Jr., 
Joseph  Wood, 
William  Hughs, 
Joseph  Packard. 
Liberty  Woodcock, 
Samuel  Shaw, 


Ebenezer  Blake, 
Isaac  Wadsworth, 
David  Eastman, 
Nancy  Smith, 
Elizabeth  Swift, 
Nancy  Packard, 
Zeruiah  Packard, 
Hannah  Easty, 
Sarah  T.  White, 
Sarah  B.  Pullen, 
Zeruiah  Matthews, 
Joanna  Richards, 
Clarissa  Richards, 
Amelia  Whiting, 
Lucretia  Richards. 


Males,  18;  Females,  12;  Total,  30. 
The  same  day  "Brothers  Joshua  Smith,  Enoch  Wood, 
and  Luke  Perkins  were  chosen  Deacons,  and  ordained  by 
prayer  and  imposition  of  hands." 


KEV.  J.  H.  INGRAHAM. 


At  the  ordination  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Ingraham,  Feb.  23d, 
1836,  the  services  were  as  follows  :  "Invocation  by  Bro. 


240  APPENDIX. 

Case.  Reading  the  Scriptures  by  Bro.  Robinson.  Ser- 
mon by  President  Babcock.  Consecrating  prayer  by  Bro. 
Low.  Charge  to  the  Pastor  by  Bro.  Drinkwater.  Right 
hand  of  fellowship  by  Bro.  S.  F.  Smith.  Concluding 
prayer  by  Bro.  Barrows.     Benediction  by  the  Pastor, 

REV.    F.    MERRIAM. 

The  exercises  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  F.  Merriam 
were  as  follows  :  Invocation  and  reading  the  Scriptures 
by  Bro.  O.  B.  Walker.  Introductory  prayer  by  David 
Thurston.  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  Nott.  Ordaining  prayer 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Grant.  Charge  by  Rev.  S.  F.  Smith.  Right 
hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Mr.  Williams.  Charge  to 
the  churoh  and  people  by  Rev.  Mr.  Adlam.  Concluding 
prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Piper.     Benediction  by  the  Pastor, 

KEV.    MK.    POWERS. 

The  exercises  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Powers  were  as 
follows  ;  Reading  of  Scriptures  by  Rev.  Mr.  Merriam. 
Introductory  prayer  by  Father  Case.  Sermon  by  Rev. 
D,  N.  Sheldon,  D.  D.  Ordaining  prayer  by  Rev.  A. 
Drinkwater.  Right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev,  S.  W. 
Field.  Charge  to  Pastor  by  Rev.  A.  Kallock.  Address 
to  the  church  by  Rev.  William  Tilley.  Concluding 
prayer  by  David  Thurston.     Benediction  by  the  Pastor. 


APPENDIX.  241 


NOTE    L. 


Names  of  the  members  of  the  Universalist  diurch. 

Rev.  Giles  Baily  and  wife, 

Eev.  Comfort  C.  Smith  and  wife, 

Nathan  Howard  and  wife, 

James  Bowdoin  Fillebrown  and  wife, 

Mrs.  Nancy  Richmond, 

Shepherd  Bean, 

Mrs.  Oliver  Bean, 

Noah  Currier, 

John  Elliot  Snell  and  wife, 

Benjamin  Perkins  Briggs  and  wife, 

Mrs.  Lewis  Wood, 

Mrs.  Lewis  Cobb, 

Mrs.  Sophronia  Chandler, 

Lucy  Chandler, 

Azel  Perkins  and  wife, 

Francis  Perley, 

Nathan  Fisher  Cobb  and  wife, 

Benjamin  Bobbins  and  wife. 


242  APPENDIX. 

Jerusha  Robbins, 

Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin  Robbins  and  wife, 

Hiram  Pitts, 

George  G.  Fairbanks, 

Mrs.  Polly  Stanley. 

Of  late  they  have  not  had  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
supper  administered  to  them. 


APPENDIX.  243 


isTOTE  m:. 


CONSTITUTION. 

Article.  1 .  This  society  shall  be  styled  the  Winthrop 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Good  Morals. 

Art.  2.  The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  promote 
good  morals  and  discountenance  vice  universally,  partic- 
ularly to  discourage  profaneness,  idleness,  gross  breaches 
of  the  Sabbath,  and  intemperance. 

Art.  3.  If  any  member  of  this  society  shall  be  guilty 
of  those  immoralities,  which  it  is  the  intention  of  this 
society  to  reform,  he  shall  be  reproved  by  the  society,  and 
puon  a  second  conviction  of  similar  conduct,  his  name 
shall  be  erased  from  the  constitution,  as  unworthy  a 
standing  in  the  society. 

Art.  4.  Any  person  who  shall  subscribe  this  consti- 
tution and  pay  annually  for  the  purchase  of  suitable  tracts 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  above  object,  shall  be  a 
member  of  the  society. 

Art.  5.  The  stated  meetings  of  the  society  shall  be  on 
the  last  Mondays  of  March  and  September  annually,  at 
the  Meeting-house,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  Seven  mem- 
bers shall  constitute  a  quorum,  with  power  of  adjournment 
to  any  time  not  specified  above. 

Art.  6,  At  the  meeting  on  the  last  Monday  in  March 


244  APPENDIX. 

or  September,  there  shall  be  elected,  in  such  manner  as 
may  be  agreed,  a  President  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  pre- 
side in  all  meetings  of  the  society,  a  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary, a  Recording  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  a  Com- 
mittee of  five  persons  to  receive  and  communicate  infor- 
mation, to  arrange  the  business  of  the  society  at  their  sev- 
eral meetings,  and  to  report  from  time  to  time  the  result 
of  such  measures  as  shall  have  been  taken. 

Art.  7.  The  Committee,  when  notified  by  their  chair- 
man, shall  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  he  may  appoint, 
to  consult  on  the  general  objects  of  the  society,  and  to 
carry  into  execution  any  of  its  regulations. 

Akt.  8.  Each  member  shall  consider  himself  bound  to 
endeavor  by  counsel,  persuasion  and  warning,  and  by  oth- 
er kind  and  prudent  methods,  to  reclaim  the  vicious.  He 
shall  likewise  prudently  endeavor,  by  his  own  example 
and  advice,  to  discourage  the  improper  use  of  ardent  spir- 
its within  the  sphere  of  his  influence,  and  duly  to  restrain 
his  children  and  those  under  his  care  on  the  Lord's  day. 

Art.  9.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  at  either  of 
the  stated  meetings  by  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

Art.  10.  Every  meeting  of  this  society  shall  be  opened 
and  closed  by  prayer. 

The  Society  were  conscious  of  their  insufficiency  to  ef- 
fect the  reformation  they  desired.     Their  dependence  was 

on  God.  They  therefore  sought  Him,  at  the  opening  o^ 
their  meetings,  that  he  would  guide   them  to  adopt  the 


APPENDIX.  245 

right  means  ;  and,  at  their  close,  that  he  would  give  suc- 
cess to  the  means  they  employed. 

POSTING    TIPPLERS    &C. 

An  act  for  the  regulation  of  licensed  houses,  passed 
Feb.  28,  1789. 

Section  16.  Be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  that  the  Selectmen  in  each  town  shall  cause  to 
be  posted  up  in  the  houses  and  shops  of  all  taverners, 
innholders,  and  retailers,  as  aforesaid,  in  such  towns  or 
districts,  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  persons  reputed  com- 
mon drunkards,  or  common  tipplers,  or  common  game- 
sters, misspending  their  time  and  estate  in  such  houses. 
Every  keeper  of  such  house  or  shop,  after  notice  given 
him  as  aforesaid,  that  shall  be  convicted  before  one  or 
more  Justices  of  the  peace,  of  entertaining  or  suffering 
any  of  the  persons  in  such  list,  to  drink,  or  tipple,  or 
game  in  his  or  her  house,  or  any  of  the  dependencies 
thereof,  or  of  selling  them  spirituous  liquors  as  aforesaid 
shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  thirty  shillings. 


246  APPENDIX. 


NOTE  isr. 


A  copy  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Society  for  Mutual 
Improvement. 

Art.  1.  This  society  shall  be  called  The  Society 
FOR  Mutual  Improvement. 

Art.  2.  Every  member  of  this  society  pledges  herself 
to  consider  the  import  of  those  commands  given  to 
christians  to  come  out  from  the  world  and  be  separate, 
and  spend  a  part  of  every  Saturday  evening  as  a  season 
of  meditation-upon  the  various  duties  that  belong  to  the 
wife  of  a  minister,  and  also  to  ask  the  blessing  of  God 
upon  the  efforts  of  this  society. 

Art.  3.  As  women  professing  godliness,  the  members 
of  this  Society  engage  to  guard  against  the  "  Lust  of  the 
eye  and  the  pride  of  life,"  and  to  retrench  in  articles  of 
dress,  furniture,  and  table  luxuries,  so  as  to  come  nearer 
to  the  requisitions  of  the  gospel,  and  to  use  their  influ- 
ence in  accordance  with  these  principles. 

Art.  4.  It  shall  likewise  be  the  duty  of  every  mem- 
ber of  this  Society  to  make  efforts  for  the  establishment 
of  Maternal  Associations,  and  to  connect  with  these  as- 
sociations endeavors  for  the  best  good  of  domestics  and 
dependents  as  well  as  children  —  to  encourage  female 
prayer  meetings,  to  interest  herself  in  Sabbath  School 


APPENDIX.  247 

instruction,  and  in  all  the  various  benevolent  societies 
that  call  for  the  aid  of  the  churches,  and  make  an  annu- 
al report  of  her  labors  to  the  secretary. 

Art,  5.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  be  a  first  and 
second  Directress,  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  lady 
who  holds  the  two  last-mentioned  offices,  with  the  first 
and  second  Directress,  shall  constitute  a  Board  of  Man- 
agers. 

Art.  6.  Any  clergyman's  wife  may  become  a  member 
of  this  Society  by  subscribing  to  these  articles. 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


0  013  995  889  5     0 


^^m 


Hi-