MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS,
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY.
BY GEORGE ADDISON EMERY.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, March 11, 1897.
MORE than one hundred years ago the following
agreement 1 was made.
Whereas, Jeremiah Hill, Esq., Doct. Aaron Porter and Mr.
Matthias Cobb, all of Biddeford in the County of York and Com-
monwealth of Massachusetts :
Have purchased a small piece of land at Saco Falls in said Bidde-
ford and have erected an House thereon suitable and convenient for
an Academy and now propose to give it to the public for that pur-
pose on condition the General Court of said Commonwealth will
grant a corporation for that purpose with such other endowments as
they have given other Academies in this County or Commonwealth
or as they in their wisdom may think fit : Therefore we, the
subscribers to encourage such a laudable undertaking do hereby
engage to pay the said Hill, Porter and Cobb the sums set against
each of our names respectively on the condition and for the pur-
pose aforesaid which sums are to defray the Expenses of Building said
Academy and the remainder as an endowment thereof.
Biddeford Oct. 30, 1792.
Jeremiah Hill, fifteen pounds.
Aaron Porter, fifteen pounds.
Matt'w Cobb, Fifteen Pounds.
Nicholas Smith, Syx pounds.
Nath'l Webster, six pounds.
This was probably the first attempt to establish an
academy in the vicinity of Biddeford and Saco. If the
1 This agreement is in the handwriting of Jeremiah Hill, Esq.
VOL. X. 2
r
2 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Commonwealth had granted a corporation to Bidde-
ford, the Society would not hear this account of the
old Saco Academy.
Two academies would not be established in adjoin-
ing towns.
But in 1811 the following petition was presented in
the Massachusetts Legislature :
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled :
January, A. D. 1811.
The Subscribers respectfully represent that the establishment of an
Academy in the town of Saco in the County of York, for the instruc-
tion of Youth in Science, literature and morals, would be of great
public utility and largely contribute to the happiness of the rising
and future generations : And as they are taught by the constitution
of this Commonwealth, that "Wisdom and knowledge as well as vir-
tue, diffused generally among the body of the people, being neces-
sary for the preservation of their rights and liberties : and as these
depend on spreading the opportunities and advantages of education
in the various parts of the Country, and among the different orders
of the people, it shall be the duty of Legislatures and magistrates, in
all future periods of this Commonwealth, to cherish the interests of
literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them : "
Therefore the Subscribers respectfully solicit, for the purposes afore-
said, that an academy may be incorporated and established in the
town of Saco, with such powers, privileges and immunities, as have
usually been granted to similar institutions : & with endowment
from the Commonwealth, in aid of the funds subscribed by individ-
uals, as has been commonly bestowed, and such as is contemplated
by the constitution aforesaid, and such as the dignity of the Com-
monweath demands : And as in duty bound will ever pray :
Thos Cutts.
Thos G. Thornton.
Cyrus King. Jona. Cleaves.
Wm. Moody. Ichabod Jordan.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY.
Rich A. Mannus. Wm Freeman.
Daniel Granger. George Thacher.
Daniel Cleaves. Samuel Merrill.
Reub H. Green. John Pike.
J. Spring. William Todd.
Saml Moody, Benjamin Patterson.
Danl Cole. James Gray.
Saml Hartley. James Carlisle.
Joshua M. Cumston. Samuel Dennett.
James Ross. Noah Hooper.
Sherburne Tilton. Stephen Fairfield.
David Buckminister. John Smith.
Benjn Pike. Moses Bradbury.
Joseph Leland. Edm'd Perkins.
Samuel Gillpatrick. Tristram Hooper.
Nicholas Scamman.
(Filing) Petition of
Thos. Cutts, Esq. and others
for
an Academy
in Saco.
on Academies
23 Jan.
The committee reports that the petitioners have leave to bring in
a bill.
Accepted 2 Feb:
The committee accordingly presented the following
bill:
Whereas the encouragement of literature in the rising genera-
tion has ever been considered by the wise and good as the basis upon
which the safety and happiness of a free people ultimately depend,
and it is made the duty of legislatures and magistrates by the con-
stitution of this Commonwealth to afford such encouragement : and
whereas Thomas Cutts, Esq., and others have petitioned this court
4 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
for the establishment of an academy in Saco, in the County of York,
for that purpose
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives in General Court, assembled, and by the authority of the
same, That there be, and hereby is established in the town of Saco,
in the County of York, an Academy by the name of Saco Academy,
for the purpose of promoting piety and virtue, and for the education
of youth, in such languages, and such liberal arts and sciences as the
trustees hereafter provided shall order and direct.
Section 2. Beit further enacted that Thomas Cutts, Esq., Thomas
G. Thornton, Esq. Cyrus King, Esq. Daniel Granger, Esq. Daniel
Cleaves, Esq. Joseph Leland, Esq. Hon. Richard Cutts, James
Gray, Esq. Foxwell Cutts, Esq. William Moody, Esq. Dr. Richard
C. Shannon, Capt. Samuel Hartley, Capt. Ichabod Jordan, Major
John Spring and Mr. Jonathan Tucker, be, and they are hereby nom-
inated and appointed Trustees of said Academy and they are hereby
incorporated into a body politick, by the name of the Trustees of Saco
Academy, and they and their successors shall be and continue a body
politick and corporate by the same name forever.
Section 3. Be it further enacted, That the said Thomas Cutts and
others, the Trustees, aforesaid, and their successors be, and they
are hereby made the Visitors, Trustees and Governors, of the said
Academy, in perpetual succession forever, to be continued in the way
and manner hereinafter specified, with full power and authority to
elect such officers of the said Academy as they shall judge necessary
and convenient, and to make and ordain such laws, orders and rules,
not repugnant to the laws of this Commonwealth, for the good gov-
ernment of said Academjr, as to them shall seem fit and requisite.
Section 4. Be it further enacted, That the said Trustees and
their successors shall have one common seal, which they may break,
change and renew, from time to time, as they shall see fit : and they
may sue and be sued, in all actions, real, personal and mixed, and
prosecute and defend the same to final judgment .and execution, by
the name of the Trustees of Saco Academy, and may appoint an
agent or agents to prosecute or defend such suit or suits.
Section 5. Be it further enacted, That the number of the Trus-
tees aforesaid, shall not at any time be more than fifteen, nor less
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 5
than nine, five of whom at least shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum for transacting business.
Section 6. Be it further enacted, That when one or more of the
Trustees aforesaid shall die, or resign, or in the judgment of the
major part of the Trustees, shall be rendered incapable by age or
otherwise, of discharging the duties of his office, the Trustees then
surviving may elect one or more persons to fill the vacancy or
vacancies.
Section 7. Be it further enacted, That the Trustees aforesaid and
their successors be, and they are hereby rendered, capable in law,
to take and hold by gift or grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, any
lands, tenements, or other estate, real or personal, which have been
heretofore given or subscribed, or which may hereafter be given or
subscribed for the purpose aforesaid. Provided, The annual income
of said real estate shall not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars,
and the annual income of said personal estate shall not exceed the
sum of five thousand dollars, 1 and all deeds and instruments which
the said Trustees may lawfully make, shall be sealed with their seal,
and bind the Trustees and their successors and shall be valid in law.
Section 8. Be it further enacted, That there be and hereby is
granted to the said Trustees and to their successors forever, for the
use of said Academy, one half township of six miles square, of the
unappropriated lands belonging to this Commonwealth in the Dis-
trict of Maine (excepting the ten townships on Penobscot River,
lately purchased by the Commonwealth of the Indians, and except-
ing likewise the land lately contracted to be sold to Jackson & Flint :
and which contract is now rescinded) to be laid out and assigned by
the Commissioners for the sale of Eastern lands, under the restric-
tions and reservations made in similar cases, on condition that the
Treasurer of said Trustees shall within three years from the passing
of this act, certify to said Commissioners that the sum of three thou-
sand dollars has been actually raised, and secured : for the endow-
ment of said Academy and appropriated to the use thereof.
Section 9. Be it further enacted, That Thomas Cutts, Esq., be
and he is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint the time and
place for holding the first meeting of said Trustees, and notify them
thereof.
1 This limit was repealed, February 12, 1895.
6 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The records of the House of Representatives read as
follows :
Monday, Feb. 4, 1811,
Bill establishing an Academy in the town of Saco and County of
York, by name of Saco Academy,
Read a third time and on the question whether the bill shall be
passed to be engrossed, a motion was made by Rev. Mr. Foster
of Lyttleton that that section of the bill be stricken out which
makes a grant of land for the endowment of said Academy.
The question being put shall this section stand part of the bill it
was decided in the affirmative, 69 63.
It was therefore passed to be engrossed. Sent up for concurrence.
February 9, 1811, the bill was passed by the Senate to
engrossed, and it was approved by the governor (B.
Gerry), 16th Feb'y, 1811.
If Representative Foster's motion had prevailed, in
all probability the academy would never have been
opened as there would have been no special induce-
ment to raise $3,000, but fortunately the efforts of
Thomas Cutts and his associate trustees succeeded.
The trustees whose names are mentioned in section
2 of this bill were men of distinction.
Col. Thomas Cutts, the first petitioner and incor-
porator, was one of Saco's best citizens. When a very
young man he was the trusted clerk of Sir William
Pepperrell. He came to Saco in 1757, when about
twenty-one years old with only one hundred dollars,
borrowed of his father, which he repaid as soon as he
was able. He commenced trade in a small store, but
was soon obliged to enlarge his quarters, and by
economy, honesty and strict attention to business
1 Edmund Foster.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 7
became one of the most eminent merchants in Maine.
He foresaw the advantages of a location on Indian
Island, and bought a small portion and established his
store there. He purchased a large tract of Sir William
Pepperrell and small tracts of others, until he owned the
whole island (which was afterwards called " Cutts'
Island "), and maintained bridges so that people could
go through Saco and Biddeford without using the ferry.
This directed the tide of travel by his store and his
business increased rapidly. He gradually became
largely interested in shipping, and built a mansion on
high ground on the island (which is still standing) from
which he could see his many vessels coming and going
to all parts of the world. He also owned lumber and
grist mills, and with Josiah Calef, Esq., built an iron
manufactory in which cut nails were made. This was
the first nail factory in Maine, and the first factory on
the island where the York mills now are. Before this
time only wrought nails were made, one at a time, by
blacksmiths. He also owned many farms and large
tracts of land, and it was said he could go to Canada
and sleep in his own house every night. To facili-
tate this large and varied business he, with associ-
ates, organized Saco Bank, and was its first president
When he died he had one hundred and eighty shares
in this bank. He was appointed by the major part of
the Council of Massachusetts Bay, first major of the
third regiment, February 14, 1776, and June 9, 1778, he
was appointed colonel of the same regiment. The
Colonel employed a large number of people to carry on
his enterprises. Many of the old ship captains were
8 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
masters of his vessels. The Colonel was not only a
good business man, but was, as I said, a good citizen.
He was selectman, 1767-69; chairman of the board, 1771;
town treasurer, 1772-94; representative to the Gen-
eral Court, 1780; overseer Bowdoin College, 1794-97;
councillor of Massachusetts, 1810. Col. Cutts gave
to the First Parish, when the meetinghouse was built,
a bell, weighing one thousand pounds. He was very
kind to the unfortunate, and when he laid down a bar-
rel of beef or pork for himself, prepared another for
the poor. The Colonel's real estate in this state was
appraised at $96,626.* He had also thousands of acres of
land in New Hampshire, that he had purchased
of that state. His French claims amounted to $90,000
and his personal estate was $46,165.16 including
one hundred and forty-eight notes at face value.
He advanced to his children, in his lifetime, $83,241.
The Colonel's name must have added great weight to
the petition for the academy, for he was justly held in
high esteem by the General Court of Massachusetts.
He married Elizabeth Scamman, August 24, 1762. He
died January 10, 1821, aged eighty-four years, nine
months and five days.
Dr. Thomas G. Thornton, the second trustee, came
to Saco from Ipswich, in 1791, bearing a letter
of recommendation from Dr. John Manning to Col.
Thomas Cutts. November 26, 1793, he married Sarah,
daughter of Col. Cutts and after a time engaged in mer-
cantile pursuits. He was born, August 31, 1769. His
father was Timothy Thornton of Boston. In 1795,
1 From inventory.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 9
1796, 1798 and 1803, he was a representative in the
General Court of Massachusetts. He was appointed
United State marshal for Maine in 1803, and discharged
the duties of that office till his death, March 4, 1824.
He died the very day his commission as marshal ex-
pired. He was candidate for Congress at the election
on the first Monday in April, 1823. Neither candidate
was elected at that time and he withdrew his name from
the contest. William Burleigh of South Berwick was
then elected. He was a good friend to the academy
and assisted at a critical period in its history. When
Col. Cutts resigned the presidency of Saco Bank, Mar-
shal Thornton became president in 1811, and continued
in that office till he died. He had a large house in
Saco. President Monroe and Lafayette were enter-
tained at this house. This mansion was converted
into a hotel known as the " Thornton House," after his
death, and was burned January, 1851. This was located
at the corner of Main Street and Thornton Avenue.
Cyrus King, born September 6, 1772,- the first
regular attorney in Saco, was a member of the famous
King family of Maine. His brother, William King,
was the first governor of Maine. He was the son of
Richard King of Scarboro. He attended Phillips Acad-
emy at Andover, entered Columbia College, New York,
in 1790, from which he was graduated with the highest
honors of his class. He commenced the study of law
with his brother, Senator Rufus King in New York,
and on his being appointed minister to Great Britian,
went with him as private secretary. He returned home
the next year, and finished reading law in the office of
10 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Chief Justice Mellen, at Biddeford, and was admitted
to the bar in 1797. He was a brilliant advocate, a pol-
ished orator and also a "safe counsellor." He married
October, 1797, Hannah, eldest daughter of Capt. Seth
Storer. Mr. King was elected in 1812, representative
to Congress, defeating Hon. Richard Cutts, the seventh
trustee. He served with distinction four years, return-
ing home March 3, 1817, and died suddenly at Saco,
April 25. He lived in the house on Main Street now
occupied by Mrs. Horace Woodman. Mr. King was
major-general of the sixth division of Massachusetts
militia and was buried with military honors in Saco.
In the funeral procession, led by the Buxton light in-
fantry, marched the trustees, scholars and preceptor
of the academy.
Daniel Granger, was born in 1760 or 1761, mar-
ried, 1792, Mary, daughter oi Col. Tristram Jordan.
He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution was
collector of customs in Saco, 1809-29, town treasurer
1822, 1823; school committee, 1816-24; overseer of
the poor, 1810-14 and 1817-20 ; agent of school dis-
trict 1799-1805 and 1806-10, 1813, 1816, moderator
1802-05 and 1815, director of Saco Bank 1812-25. He
was the second collector of the port of Saco, Jeremiah
Hill, Esq., being the first.
He was a merchant and lived in the house now
occupied by Charles W. Shannon, on Main Street. He
removed to Eastport in 1839, and died there, aged
ninety-one years.
Daniel Cleaves, born May 28, 1771, the next
trustee, came from Danvers, in 1790, with a small stock
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 11
of goods. He formed a partnership with Jonathan
Tucker, the last trustee, which lasted for sixteen years.
He was one of the most successful merchants in this
section. He was a candidate for Congress but was
defeated by Richard Cutts, another trustee. He mar-
ried Sarah, daughter of Parson John Fairfield, April 28,
1795. He was a model treasurer for the academy and
by his persistent efforts procured more than the amount
required by the charter ($3,000), to secure the grant
of land. He obtained $3,825 from eighty-three sub-
scribers. Others were on the committee, but the vote
of the trustees to give Daniel Cleaves seventy-five dol-
lars, indicates that he did most, if not all, the work.
This seventy-five dollars, Mr. Cleaves gave the precep-
tor to purchase maps, etc., for the school. He wrote
a beautiful hand and his accounts are accurately kept.
He died December 9, 1817, aged forty-six years, six
months and eleven days.
Joseph Leland, Esq., the sixth trustee, was for many
years a merchant in Saco. He was born in Mas-
sachusetts, December 30, 1757. He was an ensign
and lieutenant in the Revolutionary war and was in
the battle of Bunker Hill. He was a member of the
Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. After the war
he came to Phillipsburg, now Hollis, where he carried
on a heavy lumbering and merchandise business at
Right's Landing on Saco River. He afterwards moved
to Saco, and bought some of the confiscated lots of Sir
William Pepperrell on Main and Middle Streets. He
built the large mansion now occupied by B. F. Hamil-
ton and Mrs. Annie 0. Dennett on Main Street, also
12 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the brick house on Middle Street, occupied by John S.
Locke, Esq., in which latter house he died. He mar-
ried December 28, 1786, Dorcas, sister of the third
trustee, Cyrus King. He died, May 29, 1839. On his
tombstone is inscribed " A true patriot, An honest
man."
Hon. Richard Cutts, the fifth child of Col. Thomas
Cutts, was born June 28, 1771. His father sent
him to Andover Academy, and he was graduated from
Harvard College in 1790. He read law, then went
abroad in one of his father's vessels and by study and
travel completed his education. In 1801, when twenty-
nine years old, he was elected a member of Congress
and held office twelve years when he was defeated by
Cyrus King, the third trustee. In 1804 he married
Anna Payne, sister of President Madison's wife. June
1813, he was appointed superintendent-general of mil-
itary supplies and served till the war closed. He was,
1817, appointed second comptroller of the treasury un-
til 1829. He died April 7, 1845. 1
James Gray was born October 9, 1765. He grad-
uated from Harvard in 1786, was town clerk 1796-
1809, and 1824 till his death, November 14, 1833.
He was selectman 1797-1803 and 1807 and overseer
of the poor 1815 and 1816. u Gray's Court," in Saco
is named for him.
Foxwell Cutts, Esq., born April 7, 1765, was the
oldest son of Col. Thomas Cutts. He was largely
engaged in navigation previous to the war. " His large
and costly ships were profitably employed in freighting
1 Rev, Dr. Burrage, in first article in Second series, Vol. VIII, Maine Historical
Quarterly, gives an excellent account of Richard Cutts.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 13
large cargoes to various parts of the world." Mr. Cutts
built at that period the large mansion house afterwards
occupied by Marshal Thornton. His first wife was
Sarah Scamman. After she died he married Hannah
Dustin Page. 1 He died June 6, 1816.
Col. William Moody was born July 10, 1770, He
attended the common district school, but the death
of his father when he was seventeen years of age,
obliged him to go to work as joiner or carpenter. Not-
withstanding his limited education, he represented Saco
in the Legislature eight years, from 1804 to 1812 and
in the Senate from 1812 to 1819 inclusive, and "he
became by' force of native intellect alone, without the
benefit of early education, a prominent and highly use-
ful member of that body. In the convention by which
the constitution of Maine was formed, having been
elected one of the delegates from Saco, Col. Moody
often took part in the debates and was distinguished
for the ease and clearness with which he expressed his
views. He was returned a member of the first Senate
of Maine and presided over its deliberations after the
resignation of Gen. Chandler. About the same time
he was appointed sheriff 2 of York County. His death
occurred suddenly, March 15, 1822, while he was in
the midst of life and usefulness and was universally
lamented." 3
Dr. Richard Cutts Shannon was graduated from
Harvard, 1795. Studied medicine with Dr. Jacob Kit-
tredge of Dover, N. H., and was for a time a surgeon
1 A direct descendant of the heroine Hannah Dustin.
2 If Col. Moody had not accepted the office of sheriff he would have been the sec-
ond governor of Maine, as Governor King soon resigned.
4 Tolsom : History of Saco and Biddeford.
14 . MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in the Navy. He resigned and settled in Saco in the
fall of 1800. He took a great interest in the
academy and in the summer of 1819, James W. Brad-
bury, afterwards the president of this Society, boarded
in his family while attending the academy. Mr. Brad-
bury in his delightful address at the dedication of the
new academy says he was u a Christian gentleman."
Dr. Shannon died suddenly, April 19, 1828. During a
period of nearly twenty-eight years he was the princi-
pal physician in Saco.
Captain Samuel Hartley was born in Boston, in
1770, and came to Saco about 1786. He married
Hannah, daughter of Parson John Fairfield, February
14, 1799. He was a famous shipmaster. Before the
war of 1812 he made foreign voyages, after that time
he confined himself to coasting trade. His voyages
were made quickly and safely, and he was noted for his
integrity, promptness and activity. He never lost a
vessel and never was shipwrecked. He was a trustee of
Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution from 1827 to
1849, director of Saco Bank 1811 and also from 1814
to 1843. He lived in the house on Main Street lately
occupied by his sons, Captain Richard and Hon. John
F. Hartley. The large and valuable field in iront of
his house purchased at the sale of confiscated Pepper-
rell property was owned by him. He died March 3,
1857.
Capt. Ichabod Jordan, born September 24, 1770,
at Saco, died in the same house where he was born,
May 20, 1865. He married February 5, 1797, at Saco,
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 15
Mary, daughter of James Coffin. In early life he went
to sea and, by skill and energy, became master of a
ship when he was about twenty-one years old. He was
honest, a thorough sailor, and had good business
talents. He could sail a ship to any part of the world.
He made many foreign voyages in early life. In 1805,
he commanded the American ship, Ocean, which was a
large vessel for that time, and went to Stockholm,
Sweden. President Jefferson gave Capt. Jordan a
paper allowing him to depart with the ship, Ocean, two
hundred and forty-six tons burden or thereabouts
loaded with ashes, cotton, coffee, cheese, oil, logwood,
pepper, sugar, etc. This was the first arrival of a
United States ship in Stockholm, and the event was
celebrated by the city, and the king and queen came
on board and dined. In the war of 1812, Capt. Jordan
was a prisoner on the Boxer at the time of the engage-
ment with the Enterprise. He was collector of customs
under President Polk's administration and representa-
tive from Saco in 1806.
Major John Spring, afterwards colonel, was born
May 16, 1782. He was Representative in 1824 and
1825 and sheriff of the county in 1830. He mar-
ried in 1804, Olive, daughter of Capt. Seth Storer.
Spring's Island was named for his father, Capt. Seth
Spring. He died August 17, 1858.
Jonathan Tucker was born March 13, 1776. He
was in business with Daniel Cleaves, fourth trustee
who was his cousin, under the firm name of Cleaves &
Tucker. He married Hannah, daughter of Nathaniel
16 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Scamman, April 21, 1821. He was president of the
Manufacturers Bank 1825-32, representative to the
Legislature 1840 and 1841. He lived in the house now
occupied by John Berry at the corner of Main and
School Streets. He died February 9, 1861.
The trustees organized at Cutts Hall near the new
meetinghouse in Saco, with Hon. Cyrus King, secre-
tary, Col. Thomas Cutts, president and Daniel Cleaves,
Esq., treasurer, March 25, 1811.
Jonathan Tucker and Major John Spring with the
treasurer of said trustees were appointed a committee
to solicit donations for the academy.
Thomas G. Thornton, Wm. Moody and James Gray,
Esqs., were elected a committee to draw and report at
an adjourned meeting a suitable plan for the academy :
and report a suitable situation for the building and of
what materials it ought to be constructed and whether
the same ought to be built by contract or otherwise.
At the same meeting the treasurer was requested
to receive notes payable to the trustees, one-half on
the first day of July next, and the other half on the
first day of October next, of those subscribers to said
academy who do not pay in advance for the amount of
their respective subscriptions.
At an adjourned meeting March 30, the committee
on building and location submitted a plan of a house
forty-two feet long in front, and thirty feet wide, one
story, twelve feet in the clear with a cellar under the
same, said house or academy to be built of wood and
accommodate fifty-six scholars or more if necessary,
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 17
with two chimneys or fireplaces. Fora more particular
description they refer to a plan which I am unable to
find.
They also report that " having considered the diffi-
culties of building said house by contract, in conse-
quence of disappointing those subscribers who may be
best accommodated by supplying materials and labour
and thereby exclude those who may yet be induced
to appropriate labour or materials, they are of
opinion that sd. Academy ought not to be built by
contract/'
They also say " they are of opinion the most
suitable situation for said Academy is on the Northeast
side of the road leading from the post road to the old
meetinghouse, on land given to town of Saco by the
State, if the same can be obtained without purchase &
that sd. house or academy have its front and. face to
the Northwest with a projection from the house to
admit a door on the Southwest side of the same, &
serve as a base for a balcony."
Jonathan Tucker was appointed a committee to
obtain of the town of Saco and secure to said incorpo-
ration the situation for the academy reported by said
committee and that the same person be authorized to
build said academy agreeably to the plan reported
with the alte rations mentioned in the acceptance of
said report, in such time and manner as he shall think
most for the interest of said institution and of the sub-
scribers thereto.
Joseph Leland, Esq., and Col. Win. Moody were
appointed a committee to advise with Mr. Tucker.
VOL. X. 3
18
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The academy building was erected as the committee
planned near the place where the Unitarian vestry
now stands on Pepperell Park.
On November 23 and November 30, 1812, the trus-
tees met to determine " when said academy shall be
ACADEMY BUILDING, BURNED 1848.
opened & what is necessary to be done preparatory
therefor." The following votes were passed :
Voted : That the tuition & expense for scholars to pay at the
Saco Academy be at present fixed at $3 per quarter, pay-
able in advance quarterly to the Treasurer of sd. Trustees.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 19
Voted : That as soon as forty scholars can be engaged for one quar-
ter at least each, a suitable person shall be immediately hired for a
Preceptor.
Voted : That the salary of the Preceptor of said Academy shall at
the present be five hundred Dollars, payable from the tuition &
other funds, quarterly : with an understanding that sd. salary shall
be increased if the Preceptor should prove useful & the Academy
should flourish under his care.
Voted: That a Committee of three be appointed to receive sub-
scriptions for scholars : first from subscribers, secondly, from non-
subscribers in Saco & Biddeford, thirdly elsewhere. That the
number of scholars at present to be rec'd. into said Academy shall
not exceed forty, and the Committee aforesaid shall judge of the age
& qualifications of the scholars to be received into said Academy.
That sd. Committee engage the Preceptor to continue so long as he
shall prove useful & as the funds of sd. Academy shall permit.
Voted : That if sd. Committee should succeed in obtaining a uf-
ficient number of scholars, they make every necessary arrangement
for opening the Academy for instruction soon as may be : and that
they prepare and lay before the Trustees suitable rules and regula-
tions for the government and conducting said Academy & from
time to time determine what books it may be proper to introduce
therein.
Rev. Jona Cogswell, Cyrus King and Daniel Granger
were appointed committee and were authorized to pro-
cure a bell by donation or otherwise. 1
On the twenty-eighth of December, 1812, " It was
voted that there shall be 4 vacations in each year,
one week at the end of each quarter, and the Sec'y.
be directed to post up notifications informing the sub-
scribers whose children are expected to enter sd.
Academy, that their children are requested to attend
for that purpose on Monday next at one of the clock in
1 The bell cost seventy-eight dollars, including hanging, etc.
20 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the afternoon : and also that any who shall not be fur-
nished with Books & Stationery may be supplied at
the Academy by paying therefor & that they come
prepared to pay their quarters advance to the Treas-
urer."
Joseph Leland, Esq., was authorized to buy twenty
cords of wood [at two dollars per cord] for the academy
this winter, for the two fireplaces.
Capt. Samuel Hartley was authorized to furnish "lit-
tle necessaries " as the committee may find convenient
for the academy.
The trustees then adjourned to Monday, January 4,
A. D. 1813, at 9 o'clock A. M., at the office of Hon. Cyrus
King, Esq. At this meeting the following rules and
regulations reported by the committee were accepted,
to wit:
1. The Academy shall be opened and closed with prayer every
morning.
2. A portion of the Scriptures shall be read in the morning by
the Preceptor & in the evening by the scholars.
3. During six months of the year including the Winter season, the
hours of study shall commence at 9 o'clock A. M. and at 1 P. M.
making six hours at least: And in the Summer season, the hours of
study shall commence at 8 o'c. A. M. & at 2 o'c. P. M. making six
hours at least.
4. If a member of the Academy be habitually profane or disobe-
dient to the Preceptor, negligent in his attendance at the Academy,
or in any other respect an improper member he or she shall be cut
off from its privileges.
5. No scholar shall be allowed to whisper or leave his or her seat
during the hours of study, except to speab with the Preceptor or by
his permission.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 21
6. It shall be the duty of the male members of the Academy to
take care of the fires and ring the Bell : and of the females to sweep
the house.
7. No scholar shall be allowed to write more than one hour pr.
day.
8. All the scholars shall recite a lesson every Monday morning,
from the historical part of Scripture.
9. The scholars shall be examined by the Trustees at the end of
every quarter.
10. Among other branches of education to be taught at sd.
Academy, that of public speaking or declamation, shall be particu-
larly attended to by all the scholars, except such as the Preceptor
may see fit to excuse.
11. If a scholar unreasonably neglect to furnish himself with the
necessary books & stationery he or she shall not be allowed to con-
tinue.
12. If any scholar shall injure or deface the building, out build-
ings or fences belonging to said Academy, or without permission
shall take, injure or destroy, any book or other article belonging to
the Preceptor, or another scholar, the damages or expense of
repairs shall immediately be paid by the parent, master, or guardian,
and a certificate thereof by the Preceptor : or the scholar having
committed the offence may be expelled from the Academy.
At this meeting it was voted that not more than
one child, or scholar, be introduced from the family of
a non-subscriber.
This shows that the trustees were fearful they
would have more scholars than they could accommo-
date and when the academy opened they did have a
full school.
The records do not state how the academy was
opened as a school, but I find in a Massachusetts Regis-
ter of 1813, in the handwriting of Dr. Thomas G.
22 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Thornton, this memorandum, " Jan. 4, Academy ded-
icated and opened," and in the newspaper, The Weekly
Visitor, of January 9, 1813, u published on Saturdays,
by J. K. Remich, opposite the Meeting House in Ken-
nebunk," I discovered the following :
COMMUNICATION.
Dedication of Saco Academy.
Nothing can be more gratifying to the Philanthropist and Patriot
than the reflection, that notwithstanding the general distress of the
times and the gl oomy prospect before us [this was in the time of the
1812 war] schools of learning continue to be established for the bene-
fit of the rising generation.
On Monday last was dedicated Saco Academy : the performances
which were in the Meeting house, were introduced by a prayer from
the Rev'd. Mr. Cogswell which was peculiarly impressive and appro-
priate to the occasion : and was followed by an address from the
Rev'd. Asa Lyman, the Preceptor of the Academy, which for ease
and elegance of style and uniform good sense, is seldom exceeded.
After the performances were ended, the scholars, Trustees, Pre-
ceptor &c. marched in procession to the Academy, where the schol-
ars and Preceptor were addressed by the Hon. Cyrus King, Esq. in
his usual strain of eloquence and pathos, the whole of which was
concluded by a prayer from the Preceptor.
From the valuable address of Mr. Lyman it would be difficult to
select any portion as the best, yet, from its frequent application, we
would suggest one idea of his, and that is the u necessity of a per-
fect understanding and mutual cooperation between the parent and
guardians of children and their Preceptor, in order to their happiness
and advancement in learning." "Which idea cannot be too strongly
impressed on the minds of parents and especially mothers who are
too apt to suffer their filial affection to get the better of their sense of
duty and, by taking the part of their children against their instructor,
not only to turn their respect for them, but encourage them in further
disobedience."
"L."
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 23
One of the objects of the academy being to promote
piety and virtue, a minister was secured for the first
preceptor, Rev. Asa Lyman just mentioned. He was
born in 1776 at Lebanon, Connecticut, and graduated
from Yale College,1797. After he graduated, he remained
in New Haven, keeping the college buttery and study-
ing divinity with President Dwight. In about two
years, he was licensed to preach and supplied some
vacant pulpits in the vicinity of New Haven. In Sep-
tember, 1800, he was ordained at Hamden, and installed
pastor of the Congregational church and society in
that town. In this situation, he continued about
three years, when he was dismissed. On the first of
January, 1806, he became pastor of the church and
society in Bath, Maine, where he continued until March,
1808, when he was dismissed in consequence of ill
health. On the thirtieth of November, 1809, he was
again settled in the ministry at Windham, Maine, but
he remained there only six months, leaving on account
of poor health. He was next a publisher and vender
of books on a small scale in Portland. From Portland
he came to Saco. His salary at first was five hundred
dollars, afterward eight hundred dollars," provided the
income is sufficient," as the records say. He had fifty
scholars, the youngest eleven, the oldest twenty-seven
years old.
Forty-seven scholars were introduced by subscribers,
three by non-subscribers.
He left November, 1817. From Saco, he went to
Kennebunkport where he opened a private academy.
He afterwards went to New York, and became a book
24 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and map agent. He afterwards resided in Newark, New
Jersey and in Buffalo and Skaneateles, New York, mak-
ing the business of teaching alone, or with the aid of his
daughters, his principal employment. He then moved
to Clinton, to educate his sons in Hamilton College.
He died there in 1836.
Mr. Lyman married about the time of his settlement
in Hamden, Miss Benedict of Middlebury. She, with
two sons and several daughters, survived him. The sons
were both ministers of the Episcopal church in Mary-
land. Mr. Lyman was one of the overseers of Bowdoin
College from 1806 to 1813.
Ezra Haskell, the second preceptor, commenced
teaching October 10, 1814. He was born, March 12,
1781, in New Gloucester. He entered Bowdoin Col-
lege, 1811, but did not graduate. After leaving Saco
he taught a number of years in Boston, until failing
health caused him to relinquish teaching. He " took
up commercial life" and moved from Hopkinton, Massa-
chusetts to Dover, New Hampshire, in 1835, but fre-
quently in later years taught private schools for a term
or two, always maintaining a lively interest in educa-
tional matters. He was a member of the Congrega-
tional church fifty years. Four of his sons entered
the ministry. He died in Dover, New Hampshire,
March 27, 1858, aged seventy-seven years. He was
a good penman and fine instructor. He finished teach-
ing in Saco, November, 1817.
Joseph Fowler, the next preceptor, was born in Mil-
ford, Connecticut, October 7, 1798, and graduated from
Yale College in 1817. He commenced teaching in the
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 25
academy December 8, 1817, when nineteen years old,
and taught two terms. He never married and died in
Milford in 1825.
Benjamin Hale was an excellent teacher. He taught
one year in Saco, was then tutor in Bowdoin College,
his Alma Mater, 1818, and afterwards become famous
as president of Hobart College, filling the position
with honor, and taking any department which did not
have a teacher as well as his own and, with little or no
salary at times, succeeded in making the college re-
spected and successful. He married the daughter of
Hon. Cyrus King, M. C., who was the first secretary of
the trustees of Saco Academy.
In The Weekly Visitor of September 2, 1820, this
notice appears :
SACO ACADEMY.
The Trustees of this institution respectfully inform the public that
the term will commence Monday the llth of September next.
Their funds having been lately increased by the liberality of individ-
uals they have engaged as a permanent instructor Rev. Phineas
Pratt, a gentleman every way qualified for so important a trust.
Students can be accomodated with board in respectable families at
the moderate price of $1.75 per week.
T. G. Thornton. ^
R. C. Shannon. E- Com.
Seth Storer, Jun. )
Saco, Sept. 1, 1820.
Mr. Pratt was born May 23, 1789, at New Ipswich,
New Hampshire. He graduated from Bowdoin Col-
lege in 1817, and pursued theological studies with
Rev. Jona Cogswell of Saco. He received a license to
preach but infirm health soon compelled him to give
26 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
up preaching. After he left the academy he engaged in
lumbering. In 1843 he removed to Gardiner.
Respected as a citizen he held municipal offices which
he discharged with characteristic care and accuracy.
He was a just, sober and religious man. He married
Miss Batchelder of New Ipswich. He had no children
and died December 9, 1865. Mr. Pratt was a trus-
tee of the academy from December 21, 1822, to August
17, 1829, when he resigned.
JamesFurbish succeeded Mr.Prattin 1826. He was
born in Wells, Me., April, 1796 graduated from Har-
vard College in 1825. He taught in Concord, Massa-
chusetts, having Thoreau and Hoar among his pupils.
He came to Thornton Academy 1 from Concord, in the
fall of 1829. In the fall of 1827, he came to Portland
to take charge of " a female academy."
Afterwards he was the preceptor of Westbrook Acad-
emy. In personal appearance Mr. Furbish resembled
Edward Everett, for whom he was often taken. He
filled Prof. Longfellow's place as instructor in modern
languages in Bowdoin College, while the latter was in
Europe. He was one of the most accomplished edu-
cators of his time. His powers of teaching were some-
thing wonderful. He was especially distinguished for
his thorough knowledge and accurate pronunciation of
the French and Spanish languages. He married the
youngest daughter of Reuben Morton of Portland. He
died at Old Orchard, June 3, 1878. Rev. Dr. J. T. G.
Nichols attended his funeral.
Mr. Furbish in his letter to the'trustees of the acad-
emy asking to be released from his engagement so that
Name changed to Thornton Academy, January 25, 1822.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 27
he can take the academy in Portland, says, " When you
consider that a gentleman of honorable experience, as
an instructor, stands ready to fill the vacancy I hope
you will come to the conclusion to release me," this
gentleman of honorable experience was perhaps
George Folsom, the next preceptor. He taught one
term. He was born in Kennebunk, May 23, 1802. He
died in Rome, Italy, March 27, 1869. He read law
with Ether Shepley, afterwards chief justice of Maine.
In 1830 he published the History of Saco and Bidde-
ford, one of the most reliable local histories we have-
He was afterwards prominent politically, was United
States minister to the Netherlands, traveled abroad
and was interested in historical societies at home.
Duncan Bradford, born August 5, 1804, son of Alden
Bradford, LL. D., secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, was the eighth preceptor of the acad-
emy. He graduated from Harvard College in 1824.
He had a private school in Charlestown, and also taught
at the navy yard. He wrote a work on mathematics
or astronomy, I am not certain which. Mr. Bradford
conducted an evening school while in Saco.
The standing committee after Mr. Bradford left sent
this letter.
Saco, Aug. 13, 1828.
Mr. Hezekiah Packard, Jur.
Dear Sir : Being in want of a Preceptor for Thornton Academy,
and understanding that you are a candidate for such an employment,
we take the liberty of applying to you to take charge of that Institu-
tion for one year to commence on the eighth day of September next,
and for your services for said year we are willing to pay you the
sum of Five Hundred Dollars, in quarter yearly payments, or if
28 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
convenient to us, one half of each quarter in advance. Please say on
the back of this proposal whether you accede to it or not.
Very respectfully your Obt. Servts.
J. Spring. 1 Com.
John Fairfield. [ of
Henry B. C. Green. ) Trustees.
This letter came back with this reply :
I accept of the above proposals.
Hezekiah Packard.
Mr. Packard was born the seventeenth of October,
1805, and graduated from Bowdoin in the famous class
of 1825, with Longfellow, Hawthorne, James W. Brad-
bury and others. He was a brother of Prof. Alpheus
Packard of Bowdoin College. Mr. Packard taught
one year then resigned.
On the twenty-first day of August, 1829, it was
Voted : that the Committee be authorized to engage Mr. John
F. Hartley as Preceptor for one year, and to offer him for his ser-
vices a sum not to exceed one hundred & forty dollars & all the
tuition fees.
Mr. Hartley attended Saco Academy as a scholar
with Hugh McCulloch of Kennebunk, and both were
associated together in the United States Treasury
Department many years.
Mr. Hartley was born in Saco, June 13, 1809, and
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1829, "With very
high honors and excelled as a debater." He was in
Washington thirty-seven years when he resigned,
moved to Saco and lived in the house in which he was
born. He died October 20, 1897. s
Mr. Packard had given up teaching because he did
not know the French language. He took lessons of a
THE OLD THOKNTON ACADEMY. 29
French instructor in 1829 while Mr. Hartley was
teacher and returned as preceptor in 1830.
In his reply to the standing committee Mr. Packard
says, after stating that he has acquired a knowledge of
French :
Be pleased then, Gentlemen, to state to the Trustees that I am willing
to take charge of the Academy as a permanent Instructor if a stated
salary of $600 shall be ensured to me, with a promise that it shall
be increased, whenever the number of scholars or the state of the
funds will admit of such increase. I, on my part, promise 1o use
my utmost exertions to advance the interest of the Institution, and to
make myself useful to those who attend it for the purposes of instruc-
tion. If after a sufficient trial, I find that the Institution will not
flourish while in my hands, and that there will be no probability of
my receiving a competent support, I should of course wish to have
the privilege of releasing myself from this engagement.
The academy evidently flourished for six years as
Mr. Packard remained till 1836, when he resigned.
One of the most accomplished teachers ever in Saco
took his place in 1836 : Samuel Adams. I have obtained
from one of the assistant teachers at the old academy,
Martha A. P. Shannon, this account of Mr. Adams.
Samuel Adams, who succeeded Mr. Packard as prin-
cipal of Thornton Academy and who held the position
four years, was born at Rochester, New Hampshire,
January 18, 1804, and died at Jacksonville, Florida,
November 12, 1841. He graduated with honor at Har-
vard College in 1827. He was fitted for college at
Greenland and Exeter academies. On the paternal
side he belonged to the distinguished Adams family.
On the maternal side, his great-grandfather was Dr.
Lemmon of Marblehead, a graduate of Harvard of the
30 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
class of 1735. The historian says he was a distin-
guished surgeon and a man of great repute.
His grandfather was Hon. John Prentice oi London-
derry, New Hampshire, a graduate of Harvard Col-
lege of the class of 1766 ; a brilliant lawyer at the
Rockingham bar, New Hampshire ; speaker of the
House for fourteen years ; subscriber to his state's
declaration to resist Great Britain, m et armis ; state
attorney, and appointed judge of the Supreme Court
of the United States. His heredity therefore was of
the best American type.
As a boy his tastes inclined him to study and he
was early ambitious for a classical course. With
scholarly instincts, strong in his convictions yet gener-
ous to whose who differed from him, he won the con-
fidence and respect of his classmates and was ever a
favorite with all. I have before me a letter, in which,
December 24, 1894, Dr. William Wellington of Cam-
bridge writes: "Adams and I were classmates and
room-mates, during the four years of our college life at
Harvard. He was an admirable man and we were the
best of friends. I loved and respected him. I hope
the Saco people will do something to keep his memory
green." Dr. B. Cotting, curator of the Lowell Insti-
tute, was another warm college friend. Only a few of
the class remain.
Before his graduation he was invited to take charge
of the academy at Cambridgeport where, immediately
after, he entered upon his duties. He remained there,
till he assumed the charge of Thornton Academy, being
influenced to make the change by his brother George
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 31
H. Adams, a prominent business man in Saco. The
board of trustees in Cambridgeport gave him up with
regret, and his pupils presented him with a beautiful
token of their love and esteem.
As preceptor of Thornton Academy he achieved
success. Some of his pupils have told me, that he,
above all others, had inspired them with high ideals
and impressed them with the value of sound learning,
that his faculty of imparting knowledge was phenom-
enal and that none knew him but to love and admire.
He was a man of fine tastes. He loved poetry and his
contributions to the press received high commendation.
He was enthusiastic in the study of the natural sciences
and his knowledge of these was exact and comprehen-
sive. He loved Nature and she revealed to him, as she
always does to her votaries, her secrets. He knew the
hiding-place where the first spring flower opened its
petals to the sun, all unseen by another. In politics
he was a Democrat, in religion a Unitarian, and while
reticent as to his religious experience, the beauty and
consistency of his life showed he held filial relations
with the Father of us all. In the social circle his cour-
teous manners and fine presence made him a welcome
guest. As a son and brother his unselfishness and
devotion were beyond all praise.
In estimating a character so well rounded, one
is embarassed by the completeness of the details
and to a stranger much of what is said may seem
mere eulogy. Haying submitted this sketch to one
of his pupils, the reply was, "You have not told
the half of his virtues and gifts, and this would
32 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
be the criticism of every one who knew Samuel
Adams."
March 7, 1836, while Mr. Adams was preceptor, sev-
enty-five scholars applied for admission, but only fifty
could be received. The trustees accordingly voted to
enlarge the building, and three hundred dollars was
appropriated for that purpose, and a recitation room
built on.
It became necessary then to have an assistant.
George Payson Hayes was engaged for one term. He
was born in Saco, June 6, 1817, was a non-graduate of
Bowdoin College, class of 1837, and was the son of
Deacon Joseph M. Hayes.
Miss Sarah Osgood Stevens succeeded Mr. Hayes.
She taught seven or eight terms. Then resigned and
opened a school in the brick building known as the
Beatty store, at the corner of Main and Pleasant
Streets. She afterwards went South to teach.
Samuel Weston Coburn, a brother of Governor Abner
Coburn, succeeded Mr. Adams. He was born July 14,
1815, and graduated from Waterville College in the
class of 1841. His sister Mary was his assistant. He
commenced teaching, September 20, 1841, and closed
December 9, when there was a public examination.
He became a merchant, manufacturer and finally a
farmer. Mr. .Coburn died at Skowhegan, July 30, 1873.
William Allen came next in 1841. Commencing
school December 27. His widow has sent me the fol-
lowing account of his life.
William Allen, son of Barzillai and Lucy (Baldwin)
Allen, died at East Bridgewater, Massachusetts,
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 33
February 19, 1895, in the same house in which he was
born, September 27, 1815. This house was built by
his father eighteen years before Mr. Allen's birth and
he was always attached to it and the small farm con-
nected with it, which had many interesting associations
with the town and had been in ownership of his ances-
tors for two hundred years.
Circumstances called him to pass many years of his
life in other places, but his heart turned fondly to this
as his home and the rest of his declining years. He
was prepared under private tuition of Rev. Baalis San-
ford of East Bridgewater, for Phillips Academy, Exe-
ter, New Hampshire, where he fitted for Harvard
College. After going through the four years' course
he was graduated in the class of 1837.
His first school after leaving Cambridge, was in Con-
cord, Massachusetts, where he found a pleasant home
during his stay with the family of his classmate, H. D.
Thoreau. His next school was an academy in Barn-
stable, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In the winter of
1841-42 he took charge of Thornton Academy, Saco,
Maine, in which school he continued until the close of
the summer of 1846, when he returned to his native
town, teaching the academy there for fourteen
years.
After the establishment of a public high school he
gave up teaching. He represented the town in the
Massachusetts Legislature during the winter of 1860-61.
During this winter he materially influenced an appro-
priation from the state in favor of Professor Louis
Agassiz's museum of natural history, and later,
VOL. X. 4
34 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
received a kind note of acknowledgment of this ser-
vice from Professor Agassiz. During this winter, also,
the town of Greenfield petitioned to have a part of the
neighboring town of Deerfield joined to their town.
The majority of Deerfield's citizens were opposed to
such a measure. Mr. Allen's sympathies were strongly
aroused for them. He went to all the committee
hearings on the question and by a speech before the
House, so influenced the vote, that Deerfield retained
her ancient boundaries. On his visiting Deerfield
sometime later, the citizens showed their appreciation
of this service by giving Mr. Allen a public supper, at
which they presented him with a handsome cane, made
of oak from the " Old Indian House/' so called, because
it was the only house strong enough to resist the
onslaught of the French and Indians at the time they
sacked Deerfield.
In the spring of 1861, Mr. Allen was appointed an
inspector in the Boston custom house, where he
remained over four years. After an interval of several
years he was appointed to a clerkship in the custom
house and served between seven and eight years.
After losing this position, he retired from active occu-
pation.
He was a person of strong friendships and never
failed to take a warm interest in the old places where
he dwelt and in his former pupils. While in Saco, he
was connected with the Second Parish (Unitarian) and
worked with enthusiasm in the church and Sunday-
school of which he was superintendent during a part of
his stay in town.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 35
Mr. Allen was one of the earlier members of the
lodge of Odd Fellows in Saco, and continued his con-
nection for many years after returning to East Bridge-
water, and then was transferred to Massasoit lodge,
Brockton, Massachusetts, of which he was a member at
the time of his death.
He left material for a history of his native town, but
had not had leisure to arrange it for publication. His
last illness was short and the end although sudden, was
a peaceful close of a well spent life.
He married February 23, 1845, in Saco, Amanda
Catharine, daughter of David H., and Pamela
(McArthur) Cole. Their children are two daughters,
who, with their mother survive him.
Mr. Allen procured the bell for the Unitarian meet-
ing-house. One of the subscribers to the bell fund
insisted that it should be heavier than any other bell
in town. A bell was cast but when weighed was found
wanting, so another was cast and now hangs in the
Unitarian belfry.
Mr. Allen was a famous football kicker. Sometime
ago a stranger came into my office and hearing some
mention of the academy, said he used to attend school
there. He was unable to remember when and could
not recollect the name even of the preceptor, but said
he taught the scholars to walk lightly and when they
tramped heavily and scuffled with their feet in coming
in, would send them out, directing them to come back
without making a noise, and said he had always made
it a point since then to walk on his toes upon entering
any assembly. He also said the teacher could kick a
36 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
football over the meeting-house. I knew tRen it was
Mr. Allen. Mr. Edward R. Bradbury, oi Saco, says Mr.
Allen could kick a football over the steeple of the
Unitarian church and he had seen him do it.
Mr. Allen was assisted by Miss Martha Ann Prentiss
Stevens (the Martha A. P. Shannon, who wrote
the beautiful memorial of Samuel Adams). She
had previously attended the academy as a stu-
dent. In her gentle way she controlled the roughest
and wildest students without any apparent effort on
her part and exercised a good influence over the whole
school. She commenced December 27, 1841, and
resigned in November, 1843.
Miss Cordelia Haines took her place. She was a
Southern lady. After teaching three terms she opened
a school for girls in the King Building, where Charles H.
Cleaves has now a marble shop.
When Mr. Allen left, the trustees
Voted : That the thanks of the Trustees be tendered to William
Allen for the fidelity with which he has uniformly discharged the
duties of Preceptor of our Academy with the assurance that our good
wishes attend him for his health and prosperity wherever he may go.
Jonas Burnham, born May 11, 1798, in Kennebunk-
port, a graduate of Bowdoin in the class of 1823, an
uncle of Hon. Edward P. Burnham of Saco, taught in
1846. He taught many years, even before he entered
college, and had private scholars when very old at his
house. His niece told me he closed one eye when he
drove and the other when he read. He was a faithful
instructor. He died March 9, 1889.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 37
The next teacher took charge of the academy when
nineteen years old. His brother furnishes this record.
James William Hanscom, was the fourth of seven
children of Alpheus and Mary (Libbey) Hanscom, of
Eliot, Maine. He was born October 22, 1827. His
father was a school teacher, usually teaching the win-
ter school in some district of his town, during most of
his business life, and working upon his farm in the sum-
mer seasons. In his youth he was for a time a student
at Phillips Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire. When
James was about twelve years old his father, in com-
pany with others interested in the higher education of
their children, erected a building and started an acad-
emy in their town. The first preceptor of the Eliot
Academy was Israel Kimball, then just graduated from
Bowdoin College.
Under his tuition James fitted for college and entered
the freshman class at Bowdoin in 1842, graduating in
1846. In the meantime, his father being disabled from
business, he was dependent mainly upon his own efforts
to defray his college expenses. He was the youngest
of his class and graduated with its highest honors.
So deeply was he impressed with his ideal of the
" true scholar," who" needs no motive to self-culture
but his own intrinsic love of knowledge and excellence,"
that he spurned the prevalent college " ranking sys-
tem," as unworthy the ambition of the true scholar
and consented to fill the position in the graduating
exercises to which he was entitled, only on condition
that he be allowed to make his oration a criticism of the
ranking system. This was allowed him and his oration
38 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
was a severe arraignment of the system of ranking in
college and a feeling and eloquent presentation of the
nobler aims of the true scholar. The address was very
attentively listened to by a crowded audience, and elic-
ited the highest commendation from those best qualified
to appreciate it.
Prominent friends of education in Portland, who had
made his acquaintance and who had heard him at
Commencement, immediately offered him a situation
as an assistant instructor in one of the high schools in
that city. He accepted the offer and taught there dur-
ing the fall and winter of 1846. In the spring of
1847, he was offered the preceptorship of Thornton
Academy, which he accepted and entered at once
upon its duties.
Near the close of the summer term, which had been
somewhat protracted in order to make the vacation
fall at a convenient time, he was attacked with dysen-
tery and after a week's sickness, died at the house of
his brother, Alpheus A. Hanscom, then publishing the
Maine Democrat, at Saco.
He had, during his brief service in Saco, made many
friends, who along with his pupils, sincerely lamented
his death, which occurred August 22, 1847. His father
died three days later (August 25), and in the same week
their remains were interred in the family graveyard in
Eliot.
In the Union of 1847, this advertisement appears :
THORNTON ACADEMY.
The Fall terra of this Academy will commence on Tuesday the
7th day of September next. The Trustees have engaged the ser-
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 39
vices of Mr. Pike of Brunswick as Preceptor, whose high reputation
as a scholar and a teacher warrants the hope that this Institution
will continue its career of usefulness under the most favorable aus-
pices. Terms as usual : $4.00 for languages, $3.00 for common
English studies.
Moses Emery. ~)
G. Tucker. V Com. of Trustees.
Thos Cutts. }
Aug. 30, 1847.
Alfred Washington Pike, son of Joseph and Lois
(Tenney) Pike, was born at Rowley, Massachusetts,
March 21, 1791, and died in Boston, September 6, 1860,
aged sixty-nine. He was graduated from Dartmouth
College. He became a teacher of acknowledged
ability : at Hampton one year; Newburyport six
years ; Framingham three years ; Newburyport again
three years ; Woburn two years, Boston four years ;
Topsfield one and one-half years ; Newburyport a third
time, Winthrop, Maine, two years ; Hallowell two
years ; Brunswick, Maine, six years ; Saco, one year ;
Kennebunk, Maine, one year; Dover five years and
finally at Milford, Massachusetts.
He married Martha, daughter of Rev. Gilbert Ten-
nent Williams of Newburyport, Massachusetts, in May,
1816.
Mr. Pike lived in the James B. Thornton house, after-
wards owned by Charles Hill on the present academy
lot. His son " Sam John," who was graduated from
Bowdoin in 1847 and was at one time tutor in college,
was his assistant. Mr. Pike was the last teacher in the
old academy.
The one-half township of land granted by the Com-
monwealth gave the trustees much trouble. At one
40 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
time it was voted to buy the other half, if it could be
obtained for twenty-five cents per acre. This was
July 18, 1814.
In July, 1820, a committee was appointed to make
inquiry and agree upon the best plan for settling and
increasing the value of the academy lands. In August,
1820, the committee reported that it was best to sell if
three thousand dollars can be obtained. In October
1820, the committee were authorized to sell the land
at private sale for not less than twenty-five hun-
dred dollars, ten per cent, to be paid down and the
balance to be secured by mortgage.
In December, 1822, the treasurer was directed to
advertise the land for sale, and ascertain what can be
procured for it.
March 20, 1824, the treasurer was authorized to sell
and convey all right, title and interest to one-half
township of land for twenty-five hundred dollars, ten
per cent, down and ten per cent, annually with interest
and to take a mortgage back for security.
September 11, 1824, the same vote was passed
authorizing the new treasurer, Reuben H. Green, to
sell. March 4, 1830, voted to convey to Nathaniel Has-
kell of Westbook, one-half township except three lots
conveyed by said Haskell to said trustees, dated Nov-
ember 7, 1828, being same one-half mortgaged by Has-
kell to trustees, September 14, 1824, for twenty-five hun-
dred eighty-four dollars and ninety-two cents, that being
thf> sum estimated to be due trustees from said Has-
kell on condition he pays, or causes to be secured to
be paid that sum to the trustees.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 41
September 2, 1835, George Thacher was authorized to
sell and convey the lands belonging to the academy,
lying near Moosehead Lake at a price not less than
three dollars per acre.
January 27, 1843, voted to sell lot No. 4, Range 6,
in the town of Greenville to Frederick Young for one
dollar and fifty cents the acre (three hundred dollars
for the lot).
September 1, 1847, voted that Gideon Tucker be
agent to sell and convey all the lands which belong to
this academy in the town of Greenville.
April 24, 1854, at a special meeting to see what
action trustees will take on application made for lot of
land in Greenville, no action is recorded.
This land was located near Moosehead Lake under
the name of Haskell's Plantation. When it became a
town the name was changed to Greenville.
The treasurer's books show that on February 12,
1826, Nathaniel Haskell paid a note and interest,
four hundred sixty dollars and ten cents and costs twelve
dollars and forty-three cents. Haskell was subse-
quently sued again, an execution obtained, which was
renewed in 1829 and again in March, 1830. In 1830,
July 6, the treasurer paid for recording deed of Has-
kell to the trustees. 1836, October 6. the treasurer's
inventory mentions as part of the property of the
academy, Nathaniel Haskell's deed of six hundred acres
of land. In 1847-48, the treasurer received of Young
for land in Greenville, three hundred dollars and inter-
est. Therefore, according to the records, the total
amount received for the one-half township including
42 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
interest was nine hundred seventy-one dollars and ten
cents.
Three thousand dollars was required by the charter
to be raised and secured for the endowment of
the academy before the land was granted. Thirty-
eight hundred and twenty-five dollars was con-
tributed by eighty-three persons, a very large amount
in those hard times. Nearly all the contributors gave
notes payable one-half in July, and one-half in October,
1811.
The contributions ranged from two hundred down to
five dollars as will be seen by the following list. The
contributors were called subscribers.
Subscribers June 1811.
Cyrus King $100 Thos Cutts, Jr. $ 50
Joseph Leland 100 Thos G. Thornton 100
Daniel Granger 50 Jonathan Tucker 100
Foxwell Cutts 100 Jonathan Cleaves 100
James Ross 20 Samuel Hartley 150
Israel Lassell 100 Jere Bradbury 20
Abner Sawyer 100 Daniel Stone 25
James Gray 50 Joshua M. Cumston 40
Samuel Gilpatric 50 David Buckminster 20
Samuel Merrill 50 Josiah Stimson 30
William Moody 50 Benjamin Pike 50
John Pike 50 William Todd 25
Capt. Ich'd Jordan 75 Moses Bradbury 100
John Cleaves 25 Moses Jacobs 100
Noah Hooper 20 Daniel Cleaves 200
Col. Thos. Cutts 200 Elisha Hight 20
Joseph M. Hayes 20 Geo Thacher 15
Richd. C. Shannon 100 Jas Coffin 10
Reuben H. Green 50 William Sawyer 10
Jas Carlisle 50 Jere Hill, Jr 10
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY.
43
Daniel Cole 75
John Spring 100
Daniel Townsend 10
William Benson 5
Simon Emery 5
Joseph Foss 10
Ichabod Jordan 10
Jonathan King 20
Thomas Smith 15
Stephen Sawyer 20
Mark Fernald 10
Samuel Dennett 20
John Smith 10
Benj Simpson 10
Sherburne Tilton 20
Nicholas Scamman 20
Jere Staples 20
James Curry 20
Tristram Hooper 30
Dominicus Cutts 30
Stephen Fairfield 10
Sam'l Pierson, cash, 50
Sam'l Moody 30
Geo Chapman 10
Capt. Ich Jordan, deed of
1-3 of an acre of land in
Portland, estimated at 140
Wm. H. Hutchins 40
Nath Goodwin 50
Luke W. Brooks 30
Solomon Hopkins 10
James Donnell 25
Wm Freeman 100
Wm P. Preble 30
Dr. Ezra Dean 30
Seth Storer, Jr. 20
Nathl. Scamman, Jurir. 30
John Emery 50
Joseph M. Hayes, second sub. 20
Josiah Calef 30
John Bourne 25
Hugh McCulloch 25
Ichabod Fairfield 30
Arthur Milliken 20
Benj Patterson 10
John Tarbox 15
The school could not be carried on by using the
income of so small a fund, and from time to time con-
tributions and donations were made by the trustees and
others.
October, 20, 1820, " Widow Cleaves" (as appears
on the records) gave five hundred dollars in cash.
She was the widow of Daniel Cleaves the first treasurer,
and the daughter of Parson John Fairfield.
November 21, 1821, a committee was appointed to
draw up a subscription paper and obtain fifteen hun-
dred dollars to increase the funds of the academy.
44 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Dr. Thomas G. Thornton, then United States mar-
shal of Maine, gave ten shares Saco bank stock valued at
one thousand dollars and thirty-one others contributed
six hundred and forty- three dollars, as follows :
Joseph Leland $40 Saml Moody $18
Moses Bradbury 40 R. C. Shannon 20
Danl Granger 25 Saml Pierson 25
Wm Moody 25 Benj Pike 10
Andrew Scamman 30 Jno Chad wick 10
Saml Hartley 50 Enoch Goodale 15
Jonathan Tucker 50 Geo Scamman 10
R. H. Green 20 Thos Warren 10
G. Thacher, Jnr. 30 Jonas C. Bradley 5
H. W. Eaton 20 Asa Andrews 5
Jona Spring 20 Nathl Burbank 5
Wm Cutts 30 Danl Deshon 5
Saml White 30 Jas Rounds 5
Saml Merrill 25 Francis Woods 5
Isaac Emery 25 Jona Cleaves 10
Ezra Dean 25
In consequence of Thomas G. Thornton's gift, the
Legislature of Maine passed
An Act to change the name and style of Saco Academy in the
County of York.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in
Legislature assembled, that from and after the passing of this act,
the name and style of said Saco Academy shall cease, and the said
academy shall henceforth be called and known by the name and style
of Thornton Academy, any law to the contrary notwithstanding : and
nothing in this act contained shall be constituted, to impair any of
the rights or liabilities of said corporation. (This Act passed January
25, 1822.)
The first recorded appraisal of the property of the
academy was made January 10, 1822. There were
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 45
many small notes, the largest from Jonathan Tucker
for one hundred and nineteen dollars and eighty-seven
cents, the smallest E. Right's, one dollar and sixty-two
cents, amounting in all to fifteen hundred forty-
two dollars and fifty cents ; also three hundred seventy-
two dollars and three cents in notes " in Storer's hands "
(probably for collection) and twenty-one bank shares
valued at twenty-one hundred dollars. Chemical appa-
ratus, seventy dollars ; four maps of four-quarters of the
globe, twenty-two dollars, one map of Maine, six dol-
lars ; one timepiece, thirty dollars ; one thermometer,
three dollars. The value of all being forty-one hundred
eighty-five dollars and fifty-three cents.
Forty-six volumes of books, one-third acre of land in
Portland, one-half township of Eastern Lands, academy,
bell and stove, were mentioned but not appraised in
this list.
While Mr. Pike was preceptor, on Saturday, July 29,
1848, at half past nine o'clock in the evening, the
academy building was discovered to be on fire. The
first half of the term had hardly expired. It was, Mr.
Pike says in his register, the work of an incendiary as
no fire has been kindled in the room for more than two
months.
The trustees offered fifty dollars reward, the select-
men of Saco the same amount, for the detection of the
culprit, but without success. The school was discontin-
ued for want of a room. If the term had continued
uninterrupted the thirty-sixth year of school would
have been completed in the old academy. This loss
must have been considered a great misfortune, but it
46 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
was probably the best thing that ever happened, as
matters have turned out.
The Saco high school soon took its place. The
academy notes were collected and all the funds
carefully invested. On July 25, 1863, John C. Brad-
bury was elected treasurer.
April 3, 1889, this vote, prepared by Hampden
Fairfield, president of the board, was passed unanimously
by the trustees.
Whereas on the 25th. of July 1863, our fund was $15,663.40 and
on the 1st. day of April 1886, the market value of the same was
$91,000, an increase of 581 per cent, in 23 years, during which tim e
the only expenses charged to the fund were 83c for "express on
bonds " and fifty-six cents for " record of deed," during these years
John C. Bradbury of Saco was Treasurer and had sole management
of the investments :
Resolved, That the above be put on our records in recognition and
appreciation, that the wonderful growth of the fund is the result of
the judgment, wisdom and fidelity of our Treasurer.
The following is a list of those who have served as
trustees (omitting those named in the charter).
1812, Nov. -18 18, Rev. Jonathan Coggswell.
1812, Nov.-1826, Capt. Moses Bradbury.
1816, July-1821 ) T
. 1836-1838. jJosiahCalef.
1817, June-1826, Seth Storer, Jr.
1817, June-1834, Reuben H. Greene.
1818-1858, Joseph Dane.
1821-1836, George Thacher, Jr.
1822-1829, Phineas Pratt.
1824-1834, Andrew Scamman.
1826-1836, Dr. Henry B. C. Greene*
1826-Dec., 1847, John Fairfield.
1826-1842, Samuel P. S. Thacher.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 47
1829-1859, Dr. Ezra Dean.
1829-1836, Rev. Sam'l Johnson.
1834-1840, Amos G. Goodwin.
1834-1837, Joseph M. Hayes.
1834-1871, Apr. 7, Sam'l White.
1836-1863, Seth S. Fan-field.
1836-1856, Rufus Nichols.
1837-1838, Jonathan King.
1838-1842, Dr. George Packard.
1838-1845, Sam'l Moody.
1840-1863, Gideon Tucker.
1840-1857, Thomas Cutts.
1842-1856, Henry S. Thacher.
1843-1845, Rev. Samuel Hopkins.
1845-1849, Samuel Bradley.
1845-1883, Edmund Perkins.
1856-1879, July, Richard M. Chapman.
1856-1894, Feb. 22, Seth Scamman.
1856-1869, Feb. 1, Thomas M. Hayes.
1856-1892, John C. Bradbury.
1857-1879, May, Dr. John A. Berry.
1859-1884, June, Charles Twambley.
1859-1862, John W. Fairfield.
1859-1893, Joseph Hobson.
1863-1865, Daniel Cleaves.
1863-1897, Richard F. C. Hartley.
1868-1888, April, Tristram Scamman.
1868, April-1881, Dec. 20, Cornelius Sweetser.
1868, April- , B. F. Hamilton.
1868, April-1882, Edward Eastman.
1882, Apr. 5-1889, Sept., Ira H. Foss.
1882, Apr. 5- , Eustis P. Morgan.
1882-1891, George F. Calef.
1882- , Hampden Fairfield.
1882 , George A. Emery.
48 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1883, Apr.-1892, Jan., Joseph G. Deering.
1883, Apr.- , Calvin F. Gordon.
1883, " -1884, Dec., John Chadwick.
1886, Apr. 7- , Franklin Nourse.
1886, " 7- , Sumner C. Parcher.
1889, Apr. 3- , Dr. Walter T. Goodale.
1891, Apr. 1- , James G. Garland.
1892, Apr. 6- , Joseph W. Symonds.
1892, Apr. 6-1898, Jan. 14, Col. Charles C. G. Thornton.
1892, Apr. 6- , George A. Carter.
1893, Apr. 5- , Hartley Lord.
1894, Apr. 4- , Abram E. Cutter.
1898, June 16- , Mrs. Annie C. Thornton.
1898, June 16- , Harry P. Garland.
Among these trustees were Joseph Dane member of
Congress ; Cornelius Sweetser, who in 1881 bequeathed
ten thousand dollars to the academy, and also provided
that the income of ten thousand dollars more should
be expended for its library, and Col. Charles C. G.
Thornton who provided in his will for a manual train-
ing department in the academ}' leaving fifty thousand
dollars for that purpose.
The following have been officers of the board of
trustees :
Presidents :
1811, Col. Thomas Cutts.
1812, Joseph Leland.
1821, Thomas G. Thornton.
March 1824, Jonathan Tucker.
August 1824, Daniel Granger.
1839, Ezra Dean.
1845, John FairfieldA
1848, Jonathan Tucker.
1 John Fairfield was representative to Congress, governor, United States senator,
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 49
1859, Moses Emery.
1882, B. F. Hamilton.
1891, H. Fairfield.
1892, Joseph W. Symonds. 1
Treasurers :
1811, Daniel Cleaves.
1814, Samuel Hartley.
1816, Daniel Granger.
1817, Josiah Calef.
1821, Reuben H. Green.
1828, George Thacher.
1836, Joseph M. Hayes.
1837, Seth S. Fairfield.
1863, John C. Bradbury.
1892, Sumner C. Parcher.
1895, George A. Emery.
Clerks or Secretaries.
1811, Cyrus King.
1817, James Gray.
1834, S. P. S. Thacher.
1841, Thomas Cutts.
1857, John C. Bradbury.
1892, George A. Emery.
Librarian :
July 7, 1820, Josiah Calef.
Fourteen hundred and sixty-seven students attended
the old academy and although they had few of
the advantages of the present day many have become
noble men and women, and all, so far as I can learn,
have retained their love for their Alma Mater.
Among this number were the Hon. James W. Brad-
bury, Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Judge Joseph Howard,
Hon. George F. Emery, Gov. John Fairfield, Judge
George F. Shepley and many other noted men.
1 Joseph W. Symonds, LL. D. (Bowdoin), was judge of Supreme Court, Ma ine.
VOL. X. 5
50 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
A large lot of land (eight acres) was purchased in
1886, and a modern academy building erected in
1888-89, and opened September 9, 1889, for instruction
and is now in successful operation.
At the dedication of the new academy Hon. George
F. Emery, delivered an address, John S. Locke an his-
torical sketch, Hon. James W. Bradbury and James G.
Garland reminiscences (all members of this Society).
Hampden Fairfield presided.
The following persons attended the dedication exer-
cises who were pupils in the old academy :
James W. Bradbury, John C. Bradbury, Joseph
Buckminister, George F. Calef, George F. Emery,
Hampden Fairfield, James G. Garland, Mrs. Elizabeth
L. P. (Adams) Garland, Mrs. Harriet (Nichols) Fairfield,
Mrs. Sarah (Fairfield) Hamilton, Joseph H. Moody,
Albert H. Gilman, Mrs. Mary L. (Wakefield) Moody,
Mrs. Kate (Jordan) Hill, Mrs. Eunice (Butler) Gowen,
Mrs. Ann E. (Barrows) Scamman, William P. Moody,
Albert G. Thornton, Mrs. Ethelinda (Berry) Leavitt,
Mrs. Nancy T. (Littlefield) Hill.
It may be interesting to compare the first year in the
old academy and last year in the new :
The expense of the school in 1813 was about,$600, in 1896, $7,564.41
The number of scholars " " " 50, " " 184
The number of teachers " " " 1," " 10
Library fund " " " $00," " $10,000
Amount of fund " * " $3825, " " $68,713.23
Including lot and building, " " $105,073.44
Library " " vols. 00, " " 2600
A globe, presented by Mrs. Sarah Fairfield Hamilton
is the only thing in the new that was used in the old
academy.
THE OLD THORNTON ACADEMY. 51
In volume VIII, page one hundred and seventy-four
of the Collections of this Society, the following state-
ments are made :
Saco Academy was incorporated February 16, 1811, and a half
township granted in the charter, on condition that three thousand
dollars was raised for its endowment within three years.
The building was erected and the school opened January 4, 1813,
with forty-nine scholars, under the charge of Asa Lyman as pre-
ceptor. From 1815 to 1819, Ezra Haskell appears to have been
preceptor, and in 1820 P. Pratt, with a salary of $700 a year.
In 1822, T. Gr. Thornton gave the academy ten shares of the stock
of the Saco Bank, and the name of the institution was changed to
Thornton Academy. The school is no longer in operation, and its
funds, amounting to some fifty thousand dollars, remain idle in the hands
of the trustees, and which, it is said, by the will of Mr. Thornton,
revert to his heirs if they give up their trust. If this be so, and they
cannot profitably employ the funds there in promoting the education
of youth, there ought to be an enabling act procured of the Legis-
lature, by which they may be surrendered to some other institution,
or institutions, which will so employ them.
There are a few errors in this account.
1st. The number of scholars is incorrect.
2d. Mr. Haskell did not teach so long as stated.
3d. Marshal Thornton did not make a will.
4th. The funds could not in any event revert to his
heirs, as his gift was made and perfected nearly two
years before he died.
5th. The fund did not amount to $50,000 at the
time that paper was read. If it had, it would not have
been sufficient to buy a suitable lot, erect a modern
school building, furnish it and maintain a school of high
rank for any great length of time, so the trustees acted
wisely in increasing the fund.
In other respects the account seems to be correct
and the criticism just.
52 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S
CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGIMENT.
BAGADUCE EXPEDITION, 1779.
BY NATHAN GOOLD.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, October 27, 1898.
THE expedition organized by the Americans in June,
1779, to dislodge the British who had occupied the
point where is now the town of Castine, Maine, as a
base of supplies and a naval station, has been known in
history as the Bagaduce expedition, but at that time
was called " The Expedition to the Penobscot." The
arm of the sea now called Bagaduce River was in former
times called Matchebiguatus, an Indian name meaning
at a place where there is no safe harbor. At the time
of the Revolution it was known as Maja-Bagaduce,
which was contracted into Bagaduce and hence the
name of the expedition.
The fact that the campaign was a disastrous fail-
ure has probably deterred historians from the prep-
aration of a full history of the affair ; but as it was one
of the most prominent events in Maine's Revolutionary
history, it seems proper that the service, with the com-
pany rolls of the men who composed the regiments,
should be recorded. The men were in no wise respon-
sible for the results, and no doubt acted as well as they
could under the circumstances in which they found
themselves placed.
/.- ./ jtf.toy.,!,-./- >" .<- ,.JSI.<. nf t
/T4,; C4'ft-S9*,.rlf*f S,*i,.71t.
<?zSte/:x%A%!. *ss.-
^7^fe;.<>:.:-r^,.tr/
^xuj^^S^^tat
<**.<.., j,
c^^irr^^-
*-'--*.Ay. fc
* 7 v &^.-r^ ^ -/i/ Sr_"; *t72 *T:1" "
r *&#*&
+\.*&r.
r frJfjt A;
,,*. " ' : &
Jfc..*..*
^ Q*,,
^
MAP OF BATTERIES.
(FROM THE BRITISH PLAN.)
From Wheeler's "Castine Past and Present."
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 53
It is not the intention to give a complete history
of the expedition, but it will be necessary to give
some facts to show the magnitude of the undertaking
which the government of Massachusetts did not then
realize.
June 24, 1779, Gen. Charles Gushing, of Pownalbo-
rough, sent a letter to the Massachusetts General Court
advising an immediate expedition to dislodge the
British before they had time to entrench themselves.
They had already given consideration to the subject,
and June 25 gave the Board of War directions to
engage all state or national armed vessels that could be
prepared to sail in six days. They were also directed
to charter or impress all private armed vessels avail-
able, with a promise to the owners of a fair compensa-
tion for all losses and damages they might sustain, and
the wages of the men were to be the same as paid
in the Continental service. The Board was also to pro-
cure the necessary outfit and supplies, and the follow-
ing were said to have been furnished : Nine tons of
flour and bread, ten tons of salt beef, ten tons of rice,
six hundred gallons of rum, six hundred gallons of
molasses, five hundred stands of arms, fifty thousand
rounds of musket cartridges with balls, two eighteen-
pounders with two hundred rounds of ammunition, three
nine-pounders with three hundred rounds of ammu-
nition, four field-pieces, six barrels of gun powder, with
a sufficient quantity of axes, spades, tents and utensils
of all kinds.
The fleet when ready consisted of nineteen armed
vessels and twenty-four transports, all carrying three
54 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
hundred and forty-four guns. The flag-ship was the
Warren, a new thirty-two gun Continental frigate. The
fleet was under the command of Dudley Saltonstall
of New Haven, Connecticut, whose obstinacy out-
weighed his ability as a commander of a fleet. On
board, beside the sailors, were between three and four
hundred marines, also about one hundred Massachu-
setts artillery-men under the command of Lieut. Col.
Paul Revere of Boston.
Gen. Gushing of Lincoln County, and Gen. Samuel
Thompson of Cumberland, were each ordered to detach
six hundred men from the militia for two regiments,
and Gen. John Frost was to detail three hundred of the
York county militia to complete a sufficient number of
men for the service to be performed. This would have
made a total of fifteen hundred men, but in reality
there were furnished less than one thousand or about
the number of the enemy. 1
The resolve provided that such men as had been
previously ordered to be raised in the above named
counties, as a part of the state's quota of the Conti-
nental army, should be considered part of the said
detachment and in case the expedition was carried
into effect, the counties were to be exempted for nine
months from raising men for the Continental service.
It was a Massachusetts undertaking, and a draft was
made on the state treasury for 50.000, to defray the
expenses. The merchants of Newburyport and Salem
supplied six of the fleet with v provisions for two
months.
1 There are indications that more men joined the expedition from Lincoln
ty after the arrival of the fleet in the Penobscot.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 55
The commander of the land forces was Solomon
Lovell, 1 of Weymouth, a brigadier general of the
Suffolk County militia. He was a man of courage,
but with no experience in actual warfare. The next
in command was General Peleg Wadsworth, of Dux-
bury, who had seen service at the seige of Boston and
in Rhode Island. After the war he settled in Portland,
where he was a most useful and honored citizen. He,
without doubt, was the best officer of the expedition.
At that time he was thirty-one years of age. He
was the grandfather of the poet, Henry W. Longfellow.
The militia for the expedition was collected with
considerable difficulty. The reason given was that
there was a misunderstanding of the meaning of the
orders among the officers. Parson Smith, of Falmouth,
records under date of June 30, 1779 : " People every
where in this state spiritedly appearing in the present
intended expedition to Penobscot, in pursuit of the
British fleet and army there." Adjt. Gen. Jeremiah
Hill testified at the investigation that " the troops
were collected with the greatest reluctance so that I
recommended martial law. Some were taken and
brought by force, some were frightened and joined
voluntarily, and some skulked and kept themselves
concealed. So upon the whole I collected by
return four hundred and thirty-three rank
and file." Adjt. Gen. Hill reported to Gen.
Thompson the situation in Cumberland County and
in reply, he said, " If they will not go I will make the
county too hot for them." Brigade Major William
1 For the journal of General Solomon Lovell, with a sketch of his life, see
Weymouth Hist. Soc. Coll, Vol. I, page 14-116.
56 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Todd said that he marched to Casco Bay, July 14,
with one hundred and thirty York County men, " sev-
eral of which were brought with force of arms." He
arrived at Falmouth the seventeenth, and found the
transports waiting, and he testified at the investiga-
tion that there were " too many boys and aged "
among the soldiers.
Col. Jonathan Mitchell's regiment was Cumberland
County's contribution to the Penobscot Expedition.
The rolls of the companies and the history of their
service in that campaign are of interest to our state,
especially to the people of that county where they
lived and to the descendants of those who were engaged
in the expedition.
Col. Mitchell entered the service July 1, when he
proceeded to collect and organize the men of his regi-
ment. Their first parade together was July 8, and
July 11, Parson Deane records that he " preached to
the troops." Three days after Gen. Thompson wrote
the following letter, probably to the Board of War :
FALMOUTH, July 14, 1779.
Agreeably to your orders of the 26th of June last, I have
detached out of my brigade 600 men, formed them into a regi-
ment and appointed proper officers to command, viz : Col. Jona.
Mitchell, Lt. Col. Nathan Jordan, Jacob Jordan first, and Nathan-
iel Larrabee second major. On the 6th inst. received orders from
Genl Lovell to cause said troops to repair to Falmouth to be received
by Major Hill who informed me he should be there the 8th, and on
the 9th they would arrive at Falmouth and the greater part have
been waiting ever since, except those who living near by had leave
to return home for want of provisions.
SAM THOMPSON, Brig.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 57
General Samuel Thompson then lived in Brunswick,
and was the brigadier-general in command of the Cum-
berland County militia. He was a resolute, energetic
and sincere patriot of the Revolution, who for his early
devotion to the cause of our independence, and his
faithful public services, should be revered by the county
of which he was then a citizen.
The following is the roster of the field and staff
officers of the army, also that of Colonel Jonathan
Mitchell's Cumberland County regiment :
THE FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS OF THE LAND FORCES.
Commander-in-chief Brigadier-General Solomon Lovell of Wey-
mouth, Mass.
Second in Authority Brigadier-General Peleg Wadsworth of
Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Surgeon General Eliphalet Downer.
Brigade Majors Capt. Gowan Brown of Boston, and Capt.
William Todd.
Adjutant-General Capt. Jeremiah Hill of Biddeford, Maine.
Secretary John Marston, Jr., of Methuen, Massachusetts.
Quarter Master General Col. John Tyler.
Commissary of Ordinance G. W. Speakman.
Deputy Quarter Master Benjamin Furnass.
Dept. Com. of Ordnance J. Robbins.
Commander of Train of Artillery Col. Paul Revere of Boston,
Massachusetts.
Commissary of Supplies Joseph McLellan of Falmouth, Maine.
Joseph McLellan, the commissary, was a Falmouth
Neck man. He was the son of Brice and Jane
McLellan and was born in Falmouth, in 1732. He
58 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
married in September, 1756, Mary McLellan a daugh-
ter of Hugh McLellan of Gorham, Maine, and died July
5, 1820, aged eighty-eight years. He was one of the
committee to prevent the landing of the rigging for
Coulson's ship, at Falmouth, March 2, 1775, commit-
tee of inspection, commissary of the Bagaduce Expe-
dition, when he was appointed a captain of a company
of carpenters. He was a lieutenant in Capt. Joseph
Pride's company in Colonel Joseph Prime's regiment
at Falmouth, in 1780, and commanded a company from
December 6, 1780, until May 1, 1781.
Capt. McLellan was first a mariner then a merchant.
He was a selectman ; county treasurer twenty-seven
years, 1777-1803, and was a committee to build the
court-house in 1787. He was a prominent and respected
citizen of Portland. His two sons, Hugh and Stephen
McLellan were Revolutionary soldiers and became prom-
inent merchants of Portland.
ROSTER OF COL. JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT.
Field and Staff Officers 1779.
Jonathan Mitchell, Colonel, North Yarmouth
Nathaniel Jordan, Lieut. Colonel, Cape Elizabeth
Jacob Brown, First Major, North Yarmouth
Nathaniel Larrabee, Second Major, Brunswick
Rev. Thomas Lancaster, Chaplain, Scarborough
Dr. Nathaniel Jones, Surgeon, Cape Elizabeth
Benjamin Jones Porter, Surgeon Mate, Topsham
Gideon Meserve, Adjutant, Scarborough
Enoch Frost, Sergt. Major, Gorham
Nathaniel Hinkley, Quarter Master, Brunswick
Ezekiel Loring, Q. M. Sergt., North Yarmouth
Total, 11 men.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 59
Capt. Peter Warren's Company.
Peter Warren, Captain, Falmouth
Daniel Mussey, 1st Lieut., "
Peter Babb, 2d Lieut., "
Total, 57 men.
Capt. Joshua Jordan's Company.
Joshua Jordan, Captain, Cape Elizabeth
Dominicus Mitchell, 1st Lieut., "
Lemuel Dyer, 2d Lieut., "
Total, 53 men.
Capt. Nehemiah Curtis' Company.
Nehemiah Curtis, Captain, Harps well
Isaac Hall, 1st Lieut., k '
Ebenezer Stanwood, 2d Lieut., Brunswick
Total, 73 men.
Capt. Nathan Merrill's Company.
Nathan Merrill, Captain, Gray
Edward Anderson, 1st Lieut., Windham
Peter Graffum, 2d Lieut. , New Gloucester
Total, 58 men.
Capt. Benjamin Larrabee's Company.
Benjamin Larrabee, Captain, Scarborough
Josiah Libby, 1st Lieut., u
Lemuel Milliken, 2d Lieut., "
Total, 64 men.
Capt. William Gobi's Company.
William Cobb, Cuptain, Falmouth
Moses Merrill, 1st Lieut., "
Joshua Stevens, 2d Lieut., u
Total, 70 men.
Capt. Alexander McLellan's Company.
Alexander McLellan, Captain, Gorham
Ebenezer Murch 1st Lieut., "
Joseph Knight, 2d Lieut., "
Total, 67 men.
60 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Capt. John Gray's Company.
John Gray, Captain, North Yarmouth
John Soule, 1st Lieut., "
Ozias Blanchard, 2d Lieut., "
Total, 66 men.
Commissioned Officers, 34
Noncommissioned Officers and Privates, 485
Total, 519 men
July 16, Col. Mitchell's men were embarking on
the transports awaiting at Falmouth Neck, now Port-
land, and by the nineteenth were ready for departure,
when Capt. Abner Lowell fired from the battery, a
gun as a signal for the fleet to set sail for its destina-
tion. The transport on which Capt. Peter Warren's
Falmouth company was quartered was the sloop Cen-
turion, eighty and one-third tons, Capt. William McLel-
lan of Falmouth Neck. She carried three men for a
crew beside the captain. Among the stores sent on
board for the use of the crew were seven gallons of rum.
This sloop was destroyed with the others, and was
appraised at twenty-nine hundred pounds for the settle-
ment with her owners.
Col. Mitchell's regiment arrived at Townsend Har-
bor now Boothbay Harbor, the rendezvous of the expe-
dition, in the evening of July 19, having sailed from
Casco Bay in the morning. Gen. Lovell made his
headquarters at Rev. Mr. Murray's house, where the
returns of the regiments were examined by him on the
twenty-first. The next day the troops were reviewed
by the commander-in-chief, which must have been un-
satisfactory to him as the men had had no opportunity
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 61
to learn discipline, and but few had any knowledge of
the manual of arms. The twenty-third there was an
unfavorable wind and the expedition remained in the
harbor, waiting for a favorable opportunity to sail.
July 24, the whole expedition set sail for Penobscot
Bay. The fleet made an imposing appearance as it
sailed out of Boothbay Harbor along the coast into the
Penobscot. The men on board were in high hopes of
success. The fleet came to anchor under upper Fox
Island that night. Here they were joined by a party
of Penobscot Indians, who reported that Gen. McLean,
the British commander, had tried to tamper with them,
but to their honor it can be said that they remained
true to their promise made in 1775. Our commanders
soon learned that the British were entrenched at Bag-
aduce, and had three sloops of war in command of
Capt. Henry Mowat, so well remembered in the history
of Portland.
The next day, July 25, found the Americans in range
of the guns of the enemy, who commenced firing from
the shore, whereupon our armed vessels fired several
broadsides at their forts. The British, however, pre-
vented the landing of our boats that night, but the next
dav, July 26, the vessels warped in, and about noon an
attempt was made to land. This was also unsuccessful.
About six o'clock that afternoon, while putting off from
Nautilus Island where the Americans had made a land-
ing, a boat was struck and Major Daniel Littlefield of
the York detachment and two men were drowned.
July 28, about two hundred of the militia and a lit-
tle over that number of marines were ordered to land
62 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. -
under the guns of the fleet, and the movement was
begun about half an hour before sunrise, when the
British in ambush opened a galling fire upon the Amer-
icans, killing several, among whom was Major Welch
of the marines. Our troops replied with effect. A
landing was made on the shore under the steep bluff
now called " Trask's Rock," at Castine, on the western
side of the point. This bluff is one hundred and fifty
to two hundred feet high or more at some points.
Castine Past and Present says : " Where the
marines made their ascent was quite precipitous for
some thirty or forty feet and after that the ground is
still rising for some distance and was covered with
boulders." The marines and militia divided themselves
into three parties, when a most gallant assault, without
order or discipline, each man dependent on his personal
courage, was made on the enemy above, against a most
destructive fire, which they were in no position to return.
In twenty minutes our troops were at the top occu-
pying the British ground. The first company to reach
that point was Capt. Peter Warren's Falmouth com-
pany. During this time our fleet was bombarding the
enemy's forces. Gen. Lovell wrote in his journal :
When I returned to the shore it struck me with admiration to see
what a precipice we had ascended, not being able to take so scruti-
nous a view of it in time of battle ; it is at least where we landed
three hundred feet high and almost perpendicular & the men were
obliged to pull themselves [up] by twigs and trees. I don't think
such a landing has been made since Wolfe.
Our loss in this assault is variously stated, Gen.
Lovell gives fourteen killed and twenty wounded, while
TRASK'S ROCK.
WHERE THE AMERICANS LANDED.
From Wheeler's " Castine Past and Present.'
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 63
Gen. Wadsworth says it was about one hundred,
which is repeated in most of our histories. The
marines suffered the most. It has been truly said
that this was the bright spot in the expedition and
" that no more brilliant exploit than this was accom-
plished by our forces during the whole war." It was
a trying ordeal to the undisciplined and untried militia
and marines, but they exhibited the resolute courage
of the American soldier. If the whole expedition had
been successful, our histories would have resounded
the praises of Gen. Lovell and his men.
Soon after the Americans reached the top of the
bluff, they threw up entrenchments so that they
might be able to hold the ground they had so hero-
ically gained.
Immediately after this engagement a council of war
of the American land and naval forces was held. The
officers of the army were in favor of demanding an
immediate surrender, but Commodore Saltonstall and
some of his officers were opposed to it. Then the
army was for storming Fort George, but because the
marines had suffered so much in the assault, the com-
modore refused to land any more and even threatened
to recall those already on shore. Then it was that it
was decided to send to Boston for reenforcements,
which resulted in the starting of Col. Henry Jackson's
Continental regiment for their relief.
July 29, the enemy shelled the Americans who
maintained their position. In the early morning of
the thirty-first a party of soldiers under Gen. Wads-
worth captured a redoubt with but a small loss, taking
64 MAINE HISTOKICAL SOCIETY.
several prisoners. It was here that Major Samuel
Sawyer, sometimes written Sayer, was mortally
wounded. He was " a brave and worthy officer," arid
belonged in Wells, Maine.
August 2, Rev. John Murray, of Boothbay, then Town-
send, who had been induced to join the expedition as
the chaplain of Col. McCobb's regiment, volunteered
to carry despatches from the general to the govern-
ment at Boston. August 6, Major David Bradish, of
Falmouth Neck, also started for Boston with despatches.
He was on a visit to the army at the time and not
connected with it. The next day, two men of Col.
McCobb's regiment were punished for desertion by
riding a wooden horse twenty minutes, with a musket
attached to each foot.
There was more or less fighting along the line until
the seventh, but no general assault was made. On
that day a detachment of Americans advanced against
the enemy's position to draw them out, but without
success. August 9, an attempt was made by our sol-
diers to land on Hyannis Point, but with no success.
August 13, an effort was made to bring on an engage-
ment with the British, which was also unsuccessful.
Then it was that our troops actually took the rear of
Fort George, but did not get possession. The delay
gave the British every advantage.
The next day came the startling news that a British
fleet was at the mouth of Penobscot Bay with reen-
lorcernents. Upon the approach of the fleet, Commo-
dore Saltonstall formed his vessels across the bay
in the form of a crescent, to check their advance
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 65
sufficiently to allow the land forces time to make their
escape. The British commander, Sir George Collier,
feeling such entire confidence in the superiority of his
fleet, advanced without hesitation and poured a broad-
side into our vessels, whereupon they crowded on all
sail in an attempt at an indiscriminate flight. The
Hunter and Hampden were taken and the balance of
the fleet was burned or blown up by their crews.
Gen. Lovell in his journal said :
The Transports then again weigh'd Anchor, and to our Great
Mortification were soon follow'd by our fleet of Men of War persued
by only four of the Enemy's Ships, the Ships of War passed the
Transports many of which got a Ground & the British Ships coming
up the Soldiers were obliged to take to the Shore & set fire to their
Vessells, to attempt to give a description of this terrible Day is out of
my Power it would be a fit Subject for some masterly hand to describe
it in its true colours, to see four Ships persuing seventeen Sail of
Armed Vessells nine of which were stout Ships, Transports on fire,
Men of War blowing up, Provision of all kinds & every kind of
Stores on Shore (at least in small Quantities) throwing about, and
as much confusion as can possibly be conceived.
The destruction of the vessels engaged in this expe-
dition was the end of Massachusetts separate naval
force and reduced the national navy of the United
States to the very lowest terms.
Our commodore had stubbornly refused to cooperate
with the land forces at the proper time and the result
was a terrible disaster to the Americans. The army,
with the men of the fleet, retreated up the river with
little order. Each one looked out for himself and his
own safety. They fled to the woods and carried scanty
provisions which lasted but a few days, w r hen the men
VOL. X. 6
66 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
were obliged to subsist on whatever they could find on
the way, until they reached their homes. Some fell by
the wayside and perished from starvation and exposure,
and many who returned home filled premature graves
as the result of the hardships they were obliged to
endure. Many of the men said little about their sad
experience in this retreat, because it revived unpleas-
ant memories of a service which was a great disap-
pointment to them and for which they were in no way
to blame. 1
The following returns of the army at Bagaduce have
been preserved :
July 20, 873 men fit for duty.
" 31, 847 " " "
Aug. 4, 762 " " "
" 7, 715 " " "
Another return was made with no date which gave
nine hundred and twenty-three men fit for duty, but at
least two more companies had joined the army and
probably more.
Williamson says of the retreat :
Guided by Indians they proceeded in detached parties suffering
every privation. For, not being aware of the journey and fatigue
they had to encounter, they had taken with them provisions altogether
insufficient, and some who were infirm or feeble actually perished in
1 Standing on this battlefield a few years since, alter making the ascent
of the bluff where the brilliant assault was made, and while looking out over the
surrounding country and bay, I was carried back in my mind to the summer of 1779
when the events that made that ground historic occurred. Not one was then living
to tell the tale. An aged uncle had told me that when a little boy his grandfather
had said to him that he was a soldier in that expedition. I was now at the place
where my grandmother's father, Stephen Tukey, had fought to drive the
British trom our state of Maine. There were hundreds of grandfathers there and
in justice to their patriotism and loyalty to their country, this history is written
that their names may not be forgotten, but be preserved to receive the reverence of
their descendants and a grateful people.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 67
the woods. A moose, or other animal, was occasionally killed which
being roasted upon coals was the most precious, if not the only mor-
sel, many of them tasted during the latter half of their travels.
The Bagaduce expedition was such a subject ot
obloquy and remark that the General Court appointed
a committee of investigation into the cause of its fail-
ure. Gen. Artemus Ward was the president of that
committee. Col. Jonathan Mitchell of this regiment
stated before them that it was not in the power of
Gen. Lovell at any time, with his army, to have
reduced the enemy while they were on the ground.
He also said that if the British shipping had been
destroyed and the land forces had been aided by men
from the fleet, armed with muskets, they could have
destroyed the enemy. He thought that the British
fleet could have been crushed any day before they
were reeriforced.
In regard to the retreat Col. Mitchell said :
About one o'clock in the morning of the 14th, I went to Gen.
Lo veil's marquee. He ordered me to get my regimental baggage
and camp equipage to the shore and have my men ready for march-
ing. I did so and at break of day was ordered to march, and at
about sunrise embarked them on board transports and proceeded up
river above the old forts. There received orders from Brig. Wads-
worth through the adjt gen. to repair to a certain height,
there to receive and retain as many of the army as came that way.
I repaired to the spot myself but I found no men there but the
matrossis and Capt. Gushing with them, from the time of our retreat
to this time. I had not issued any orders to my regiment not to dis-
perse or to repair to any particular place but only to go up river. I
tarried till about sunset and no men came that way, then I went
into the woods to look up my regiment. On the sixteenth about
nine in the morning I set off for home, but without leave from any
superior officer. The eighteenth I arrived at the Kennebec River ;
68 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
on the twentieth, at night I reached home ; and on the twenty-first,
went to Fort Weston (Augusta) without any men.
Adjt. Gen'l Hill said of the soldiers of the expedi-
tion : " If they belonged to the train band or alarm
list they were soldiers, whether they could carry a
gun, walk a mile without crutches or only compos
mentis sufficient to keep themselves out of tire and
water." The " soldiers were very poorly equipped,
the chief of them had arms but many of them were
out of repair and very little or no ammunition. Most
of the officers, as well as the men were quite unac-
quainted with any military maneuvers and even the
manual exercises."
The night before the assault of July 28, the soldiers
had no sleep. Adjt. Hill said that " Col. Mitchell's
officers were so terrified at the idea of storming that
they found fault with the colonel's nominations and
absolutely drew lots on the parade who should go to
take command of the men and included those then on
guard, and relieve them if it fell to any of their turns."
He also stated that " the troops behaved with spirit
as far as carne to my knowledge, but without any
order or regularity and it was with great difficulty
that we got them into any order or form of defense
after we got to the heights."
August 10, Gen. Lovell called for six hundred vol-
unteers, to test the temper of the troops. Col.
Mitchell's regiment was the only one that filled its
quota, which was two hundred. Adjt. Hill said that
" Col. Mitchell got his 200 with great difficulty,
including boys, old men and invalids." The men got
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 69
the impression that these volunteers were for a general
assault on the British works, the principal of which
was Fort George. The other regiments had even
more difficulty. At the same time, Col. McCobb could
get but one hundred and forty-six volunteers from his
Lincoln County Regiment, and Major Cousins had
twenty men desert from his York County battalion,
and it took so many men to pursue them that he
could not furnish his quota. Of a muster of six hun-
dred ordered, only four hundred were secured, which
was all the officers said they could find fit for duty.
One half of these were from Mitchell's regiment.
The committee after hearing the testimony of the
general and regimental officers, and the commanders
of the armed vessels, pronounced as their opinion, that
" the principal reason of the failure was the want of
proper spirit on the part of the commodore." He was
blamed for not " exerting himself at all in the time of the
retreat by opposing the enemy's foremost ships in pur-
suit." They also stated "that Gen. Lovell throughout
the expedition and retreat acted with proper courage
and spirit, and had he been furnished with all the men
ordered for the service or been properly supported by
the commodore he would have probably reduced the
enemy." Also " that the naval commanders each and
every one of them behaved like brave experienced
officers during the whole time." Then they said that
" Brigadier Wadsworth, the second in command
throughout the expedition, in the retreat and after,
till ordered to return to Boston, conducted with great
activity, courage, coolness and prudence."
70 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
After hearing the whole report, from which the
above are but quotations, the General Court adjudged
"that Commodore Saltonstall be incompetent ever
after, to hold a commission in the service of the state
and that Generals Lovell and Wadsworth be honorably
acquitted."
Gen. Wadsworth in a letter to William D. William-
son, dated January 1, 1828, said of the Penobscot
Expedition of 1779 :
In the first place the want of a sufficient land force was a prob-
able cause of the failure. We had less than 1000 men, where
1500 were ordered by the State authority ; whose fault this
was I know not ; but so it was. This was just about the Number
of the Enemy ; but they were disciplined Troops & fortified with a
simple redoubt, which was good however against a simple assault.
Our Troops were entirely undisciplined, having never been paraded
but once, on their passage down, being put in to a harbour by head
Wind ; I think at Townsend, nor had these Men ever had the chance
for discipline that our western Militia had ; however they were
generally brave & spirited Men. Each in his own opinion willing
to encounter two of the Enemy, could he have met them in the bush ;
and would our numbers have justified an Attack, I have no doubt
but that they would have given the Enemy a brave Assault. Al-
though our numbers were small our Fleet had an imposing
appearance, I think the Enemy must have reconed upon at least
3,000 men from the appearance of our Transports.
The same Morning of our Landing a Council was called of officers,
both land & naval. Some of the land officers were for summon-
ing the fort, giving them honorable Terms, whilst others disuaded
from the Measure alledging that in case of a non complyance We
should be in in a bad predicament ; the Commodore and the naval
Officers were generally against the Measure ; as his officers were
chiefly commanders of Privateers bound on a Cruize as soon as the
seige was over. The Commodore also refused to lend any more of
his Marines in case of Assault and was about to recall the 200
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 71
marines which he had lent on our first landing. They had
suffered great Loss in the landing. This seemed to put the Ques-
tion of Storming the Fort out of the Question. The next Question
was, what then shall be done? & it was concluded to send off two
Whale Boats to the Gov'r & Council with the intelligence of our
situation and request a reinforcement while we kept our possession
in the face of the Enemy & trust to the event of a reinforcement to
the Enemy & of ourselves. In the meantime we reduced our out
Posts & Batteries, destroyed a considerable Quantity of Guns,
spiked their cannon in all their out works & gave them fair oppor-
tunity of Sallying if they chose it.
In the meantime we were employed daily, or rather Nightly in
advancing upon their Fort by Zigzag intrenchments till within a
fair gunshot of their Fort so that a man seldom shew his Head
above their Works. Whilst thus lying upon our Arms It was urged
upon Genl Lovell to erect some Place of resort up the River at the
Narrows, in Case of Retreat so that the Troops might have a place
of resort in case of necessity & also to have some place of Opposi-
tion to the Enemy should He push us thus far but the Genl would
hear nothing of the kind ; alledging that it would dishearten our
Army & shew them that we did not expect to succeed & forget-
ting the good old Maxim " to keep open a good Retreat."
Had the Genl and Commodore kept upon a good understanding
with each other & had they co-operated with each other they would
have probably stormed and carried the Enemy's Post ; & been off
before there was any danger of the arrival of the Enemy's reinforce-
ments. Here we may see the policy of securing a place of Retreat.
The Fleet might have been saved, the Army kept together and
marched in a body wherever wanted, instead of scattering,
starving, &c.
Here we had been laying upon our Arms almost inactive 14 days
when our Spy Vessels bro't the news of a Large Fleet approach-
ing, which might be expected the next day, if the South wind should
prevail. Genl. Lovell was now on board the Warren, Commodore's
Frigate and sent his Orders to me to retreat with all possible dis-
patch, which was effected without leaving a canon or a pick axe
behind, the Enemy's Fleet in full view standing up with full sail &
72 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
much superior to ours in Appearance. As soon as the Troops, the
Cannon and all our implements of War, with the Hospital, were on
board, the Transports stood up the River O, then how we wished
for a place of rendezvous, the Transports might have been saved.
Our Fleet soon persued the Course of the transports, but soon went
theirs, forcing their way through the Narrows against a strong tide
with Oars & Studen sails all sett, whilst part of our Transports had
run on Shore just at the foot of the Narrows. The troops landed,
the flames bursting forth from the midst of them, set by their own
Crews. The Emeny persuing to within Cannon Shot, but unable to
persue farther against a strong tide, left those that would be persuaded
to enter the Transports & rescue a small Quantity of provisions for
the retreat & to collect and embody themselves for their own safety.
Three or four Companies were thus kept together with which I
marched the next morning for Camden, where they arrived the sec-
ond day & made a stand. The rest of the Troops went up the River
in the Vessels of War & Transports landing as they saw fit & then
Genl Lovell under the guidance & Assistance of the Indians made
his way from the head of the Tide in the Penobscot over to the Ken-
nebec ; & in about a fortnite arrived at Townsend when was the first
that I had seen or heard from him since Ordering the Retreat. That
part of the Fleet that got up the River ahead of the Enemy were
either burnt or destroyed by their own crews making their way thro
the. woods for the Kennebec in a starving condition. Had Genl
Lovell been furnished with the Number of Militia which was at first
proposed, or had He been appointed to sole command of both Army
& Navy, I think it highly probable that he would have reduced the
Enemy for He was a Man of Courage & proper Spirit, a true Roman
Character, who never would flinch from Danger ; but He had not
been accustomed to the Command of an Expedition in actual service.
The Commodore did not feel himself so much engaged in the Cause.
Not that he was, in my opinion, a Coward, but willful & unaccom-
modating, having an unyeilding will of his own. Genl Lovell was
a very personable Man, I should judge about 50, of good repute in
the Militia as well as Senate, a Farmer by profession & I believe
lived in Weymouth. Commodore Saltonstall about the same age, of
New Haven, Ct. Report said that he fought a very good battle
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 73
afterward in a large Privateer which shew him to be a Man of
Courage. The command of a Fleet did not set easy upon his
shoulders tho he could fight a very good Battle in a single Ship.
Here it may be not improper to mention that the Action at our
landing on Bagaduce might have been called brilliant, had the event
of the Enterprise been fortunate. But let military Men not talk of
glory who lack success. It was on the dawning of the third day after
our arrival (the second was prevented by the surf occasioned by a
brisk south wind) . The morning was quite still but somewhat Fogy.
The Vessels of War were drawn up in a Line just out of reach of
Musket Shot & 400 Men (viz. 200 of Militia & 200 Marines) were
in Boats along side ready to push for the Shore on Signals. The
highest Clift was prefered by the commander of the Party, knowing
that his men would make the best shift in rough ground. The fire
of the Enemy opened upon us from the top of the Bank or Clift, just
as the boats reached the Shore. We step'd out & the boats immedi-
ately sent back. There was now a stream of fire over our heads from
the Fleet & a shower of Musketry in our faces from the Top of the
Cliff. We soon found the Clift unsurmountable even without Oppo-
nents. The party therefore, was divided into three parts, one sent
to the right, another to the left till they should find the Clift practi-
cable & the Center keeping up their fire to amuse the Enemy. Both
parties succeeded & gained the Height, but closing in upon the
Enemy in the Rear rather too soon gave them opportunity to escape,
which they did, leaving 30 kill'd, wounded & prisoners. The con-
flict was short, but sharp, for we left 100, out of 400, on the
shore & bank. The marines suffer'd most, by forcing their way up
a foot Path leading up the Clift. This Action lasted but 20 Minutes
& would have been highly spoken of, had success finally crowned
our Enterprise.
The valuable letter, from which the above is quoted,
was written to Mr. Williamson while he was preparing
his history of Maine, which was published in 1832.
Gen. Wadsworth was then nearly eighty years of age,
and the events happened over forty-eight years before.
74 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The letter was contributed by Dr. John S. H. Fogg
and published in the Maine Historical Society Collec-
ions, Vol. II, Series II, FoL 153.
Gen. Peleg Wadsworth was a member of Congress
fourteen years, 1792-1806, and retired at his own
request. He built the first brick house in Portland,
in 1785 and 1786, then of but two stories, now known
as "Longfellow's Home." He removed to Hiram,
Maine, in 1806, where he died in 1829, aged eighty-
one years. His sons, Henry and Alexander Scammell
Wadsworth, were gallant officers of the American navy.
In justice to the Penobscot Indians who served in
the expedition, it should be stated that they acted
with fidelity and friendship towards the Americans.
Some of the tribe lost their lives. Lieut. Andrew
Gilman commanded a company of forty one Indians in
the campaign.
The total cost of the expedition is said to have been
1,739,174 :lls.4d., and it came at a time when the
finances of the colonies were at a very low ebb, and
there was very little prospect of the independence of
the country.
The occupation of Penobscot Bay by the British
caused great uneasiness at Falmouth, and as early as
June 20, 1779, Parson Smith records in his journal:
"We are in a sad toss : people are moving out. Never
did I feel more anxiety." August 17, came the first
news of the American defeat, which was confirmed the
next day.
Col. Enoch Freeman sent the following letter to the
Council at Boston, August 18. For the first five years
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 75
of the Revolutionary war Massachusetts was governed
by a committee of the Council.
FALMOUTH, Aug. 18, 1779.
SIR : The invasion of the Penobscot under a very considerable
force of the enemy, their progress there and the ravages committed
by them in other places at the Eastern part of this State make us
apprehensive that they have a design to cut it off from the other
part of the State and either annex it to the Province of Nova Scotia,
or form it into a separate government under the British Admin-
istration.
Under such apprehensions, a number of gentlemen from most of
the towns in this County, this day assembled in Convention in this
town, to consult what is proper to be done for our safety and
defence.
We think that the Harbor here would be of such importance to
the enemy, in the execution of what we judge to be their grand
design, that they will not much longer neglect to attempt to possess
themselves of it, and make it a place of Rendezvous for their troops
and ships of Force. And we are sorry to inform your Honors that
such is the state of our fortifications and such the weakness of our
Force, that unless some measures are immediately entered into for
our protection and defence, we fear we shall fall a prey to their rage
and malice. We therefore humbly pray that your Honors would
take our case into your serious consideration and order that such
steps may be taken as will put us in a good position of defence.
We have recommended to the several towns in this County to
raise immediately their respective proportions of one hundred men,
to repair the forts here and build others in such places as a Com-
mittee (whom we have appointed for the purpose) shall best judge,
and we trust the General Court will make provisions for paying
them for their services.
And we would request that the Honorable Council would appoint
and send as soon as possible, some experienced faithful engineer to
take the oversight of the work.
We would further pray that at least two hundred men might be
ordered here from the County of York or some other County to the
76 MAINE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY.
southward of us, to increase our strength, which is already much
reduced.
We also think it necessary that a number of cannon and a suit-
able quantity of military stores should be procured and sent here to
be placed in such Forts as may be erected, and also field pieces,
(two we think necessary) And as provisions are extremely scarce
here and it would be almost impossible to collect on an emergency
as much as might be wanted, we think it absolutely necessary that a
Magazine thereof should be provided and placed in a proper part of
the town, to be used when an alarm should require it.
I am, in the name and behalf of the Committee, Your Honor's
most obedient and humble serv't
ENOCH FREEMAN.
We have this minute received advice (by the bearer who hands
you this and who will communicate to you personally) of the unhap-
py loss of our fleet at Penobscot.
To the above the Council sent the following reply :
COUNCIL CHAMBER (BOSTON), 26th Aug. 1779.
SIR : Your letter of the 18th inst was received and the Council
have so far complied with your request as to order Col. Jackson's
regiment to be stationed at Falmouth for the present and have
ordered the necessary stores to be forwarded for their use without
loss of time.
J. POWELL President.
Col. Freeman.
Hon. Jeremiah Powell 1 lived at North Yarmouth,
Maine. He was born June 3, 1720, married Sarah
Bromfield, September 15, 1768, and died September
17, 1784, aged sixty-four years. They were buried
in the Powell tomb, now unmarked, in the cemetery
"under the ledge," at what is now Yarmouth. This
tomb is back of Deacon Jacob Mitchell's tomb.
1 For the Powell family and their history, see Maine Historical Society Collec-
tion, First Series, Vol. VII, Page 233 and Old Times in North Yarmouth, Page 1163.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 77
Col. Powell was lieutenant colonel in Col. Samuel
Waldo, Jr.'s, regiment in 1762, eleven years in the
General Court, twelve years in the Provincial Council,
first president of the Massachusetts senate under the
Constitution, and nineteen years judge of the Court
of Common Pleas, from 1763 to 1781. He was a
zealous patriot of the Revolution and lived only to see
his country start on the basis of liberty. His grave
should be marked by some memorial calling attention
to him, his virtues, and his distinguished services to
his country.
The Rev. John Murray, the chaplain, 1 wrote from
Brunswick to Jeremiah Powell. Esq., under date of
August 21, 1779:
Our case is very bad. Hundred of families are now starving in
the woods, their all left behind them, all will despair and the
majority will quit the country and the rest will revolt if something
vigorous be riot done to protect them from the insolence of the tri-
umping foe who are carrying fire and desolation wherever they come.
A large reinforcement of men, intrenching tools, cannon, ammuni-
tion and provisions is absolutely necessary to save us. Not a
moment is to be lost. A very little delay will put us beyond
remedy, but if we are immediately relieved this little disaster need
not discourage us. It will, if we act with proper spirit, issue in
our good.
In the latter part of August, Col. Mitchell's regiment
had reached Falmouth Neck, but arrived there in a
disorganized and demoralized condition. Three com-
panies were retained for a garrison and twenty men
of Capt. Curtis company were stationed at Harpswell.
All others were discharged.
iThe original letter is in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. CXLV, Page 140.
78 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Col. Henry Jackson's Continental regiment, which
had been ordered from Rhode Island to reenforce the
expedition, learned of the disaster off Kittery while on
their way. They went into camp at that place. It
was then thought that the British, elated at their suc-
cess, would proceed to Casco Bay and attempt the cap-
ture of Falmouth Neck. This of course caused much
alarm at that settlement. Col. Jackson's regiment was
ordered to march to Falmouth, from Kittery, and
arrived there the twenty-seventh, and went into camp
on Munjoy Hill, above the Eastern Cemetery, much to
the relief of the inhabitants. This regiment had four
hundred well uniformed and equipped men and had
then participated in the battles of Mon mouth and
Quaker Hill. This was probably the only fully
uniformed and equipped regiment the people of Fal-
mouth saw during the war.
Col. Jackson wrote the next day after his arrival :
I find this town and harbor is by no means in a state of defence
as but a few of the cannons are fit for any long service. To make
this post defencible it will be necessary to have a number of heavy
cannon immediately sent here : the militia are exceedingly destitute
of arms, ammunition and accoutrements as I find by enquiry that
not more than one-half are armed or accoutred.
The committee of safety of Falmouth addressed the
following letter to the Council :
Falmouth, 30 August, 1779.
Sir : The Committee of Safety &c for Falmouth would inform
the Honorable Board of their embarresments and beg their direction.
The return of the seamen from Penobsoot in the greatest distress
imaginable has obliged us to act as commissary, quartermaster, &c,
&c. To furnish them with necessary provisions and to relieve their
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 79
distresses we have been obliged to issue some impress warrants :
some provisions we have purchased and some we have borrowed.
We have observed the strictest economy and order that necessary
confusion would admit of; the men returned without officers, without
orders.
We shall transmit an account of our doings as soon as the men
have been done returning.
Col. Jackson applies to us for some assistance where he has not
proper officers to supply them. This however gives us but little
trouble : but the militia who have returned from Penobscot are
ordered to this place : they are not properly attended with their offi-
cers and those who do attend them have not proper directions what
to do with their men : they apply to the Committee. The Commit-
tee know of no business they have with them ; here we are much
embarrased. We have also frequent applications from expresses for
assistance, or sometimes are obliged to send off expresses ourselves
New appplications of various kinds are daily made to us and new
difficulties arise. In short, affairs here are in the wildest confusion.
We wish for the direction and assistance of the Hon. Board.
We are &c
The Committee of Safety &c for Falmouth,
Stephen Hall, Chairman.
Hon. Jer. Powell,
Pres. of Council.
Col. Jackson's regiment started on their march to
Boston, September 7, as all danger of an attack seemed
to be over; but a portion of Col. Mitchell's still
remained.
The selectmen and the committee of the town sent
the following letter to the Council :
FALMOUTH, SEPT. 13, 1779.
To the Honorable Council of
State of Massachusetts Bay.
The Selectmen and Committee of Safety at Falmouth beg leave
to inform the Honorable Board of the reeeipt of their letter of the
80 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
3rd inst. The enclosed directed to Brig'r Thompson was immedi-
ately forwarded. It is now seven days since, but we have not
heard of his taking any measures towards raising the three hundred
men to be stationed at Falmouth.
The letter from the Hon. Council to Col. Jackson in his absence
we took the liberty to open : in answer to which we would inform
your Honors that the Regt. from Penobscot was ordered by Gen'l
Lovell to FalmoutH to guard from this place to Harpswell and to be
under the direction of the Committee of Safety at Falmouth.
As a greater part of these were destitute of arms and accoutre-
ments, the Committee thought proper to discharge five of the com-
panies except 20 of the company commanded by Capt. Curtis of
Harpswell, who are kept guard at that post. The remaining three
companies which were best armed and accouted are now stationed
at this place and at Cape Elizabeth.
We esteem it a duty incumbrent on us to inform your Honors that
the militia in this County are at present in a situation incapable of
defending us in the case of an attack, principally owing to their igno-
rance and neglect of some of the principal officers of the Brigade.
A convention of this County is to be held next Friday when pro-
per representation of the state of the militia will be made to the
Hon'ble Court. We are with sentiments of respect
Your Honors most obed't serv't,
By order in behalf of the Selectmen,
Benjamin Titcomb.
And Committee of Safety
Stephen Hall Chairman.
P. S. A number of small arms and cartridges has lately been
received, also a quantity of ordinance goods, adressed to Col. Jack-
son by the Board of War a particular return of which shall be made
by the first opportunity.
In Council, Sept. 22, 1779. Read and sent down.
John Avery D. Secr'y.
[To be concluded.]
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 81
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY: THE
WISCASSET TRAGEDY.
BY REV. HENRY O. THAYER.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, Oct. 29, 1896.
THE welfare and peace of the American colonies lay
in close touch with statecraft in Europe. France in
1744 cast in her counterpoise to England's alliance
with Austria, and at once from Canso to the Alleghanies
the game of war began, of which the stake was suprem-
acy in America. The French equipped, often officered,
savage allies and sent them down upon the English
frontier. In little bands vengeful or eager for spoils,
like fierce beasts of prey ranging forth from their lairs,
these merciless foes prowled around the settlements.
Ambush, stealthy attack, burning of a village, assault
upon a lonely house, seizure of farmers at work or a
child in sight of its home, were characteristic methods.
During four years the horrid work went on. Skulking
warriors, belted with scalps or convoying captives, took
the trail back to Canada to the markets of human life.
Hostilities ceasing abroad in the summer of 1748,
the colonies were freed from these pestilent marauders.
The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October opened the
way to complete the transient pacification. At Fal-
mouth, in October, 1749, the envoys of the Eastern
tribes renewed engagements of amity and once more
were dispelled the wrathful clouds that had cast gloom
and threatening over New England.
VOL. X. 7
82 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Not ten weeks had passed when a dastardly deed
broke in on the existing sense of security and new hos-
tilities seemed imminent. Motives for the wretched
crime can not now be clearly discerned, but plainly
some malicious intent united with the wicked readiness
of a crew of sailors delayed in port to go gunning for
Indians.
A party of Indians roving in their customary way
and gaining subsistence by hunting and fishing and
trade in free visits to the settlements, were bivouacked
unsheltered by any camp in the forest a mile from
Wiscasset Point. Here and near was a settlement of
about fifty families. The recent pledges of friendliness
given at Falmouth, entitled these natives to a sense of
security as they plied their vocation. A violent and
deadly assault was beyond their thought. Yet in the
darkness of a December night a band of armed men
came upon them, and with sure aim discharged their
guns with murderous effect. In the lack of details,
the circumstances must be imagined : a stealthy
approach and surprise perhaps, or an open advance
upon the unsuspecting watchers who knew not the pur-
pose of the visit till belching guns revealed it;
women and children aroused from sleep fleeing hither
and thither among protecting forest trees as a flock of
partridges after the sportsman's shot shrieks into their
midst ; the wounded getting themselves away as fast
and far as able ; one left behind, a chief, dead by the
winter's campfire ; these are main lines in a picture of
shameful crime. Then the miscreants with intent
to conceal their execrable deed, dragged the murdered
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 83
man, a man though an Indian, to a near brook and
thrust the body beneath the ice and went their way.
The assailants were all, or perhaps one excepted,
sailors, part of the crew of a ship lying in the harbor,
" Mr. Quinceys " probably hailing from Lynn or Salem.
There were seven who fell under suspicion whose
names appear in the subsequent proceedings ; a part
were at fault mainly in getting into bad company.
Obadiah Albee, Jr., was regarded the leader and the
chief criminal. His father was a recent settler at Wis-
casset from Mendon, Massachusetts. Samuel Ball had
been a soldier in the recent war, and shared in Col.
Arthur Noble's disaster at Mines. Benjamin Ledite 1
was the third in the list, and had also been in the war.
Four others, Richard and Benjamin Holbrook, Benja-
min arid Unity Brown were involved in the affair. The
Holbrooks were relatives of the Albee family, with
which they and the Browns had acquaintance in
Mendon.
Some regarded the Albee family as the respon-
sible originators of a the crime, while the others were
induced to share in the sport of frightening off Indians
or were wickedly ready to indulge their race hatred,
or private enmity. Ball's father had been a victim of
Indian hostility; and experiences of both himself and
Ledite in the war could engender vengeful readiness
to seek more victims. Not a word suggests the source
of Albee's vindictiveness, but it seems that more than
a spirit of madcap adventure led him into this wicked
assault. Indeed if in our times with their broader
1 Written Ledyte, also Dite, Dighe.
84 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Christian views of race brotherhood and humanity, so
many have cried out for Indian extermination in the
United States, what could then be expected when
recurring savage wars during three-quarters of a cen-
tury heightened in horror by frequent massacre and
atrocity, had desolated settlements and with names of
the dead and the captive filled in the calendars of dis-
tressing years.
The Indians, a wretched company by their fright
and wounds and fears, certainly made speedy depar-
ture from so ill a place. By their canoes, they hasted
down the Sheepscot River to some part of Parker's
Island, at the least ten miles and perhaps fifteen from
Wiscasset.
How soon the crime committed in the night of the
second of December became known, is not indicated,
but as in the view of many the killing of an Indian
was of no great consequence or commendable for
diminishing by one a perfidious brood, the night's ad-
venture would soon have private mention or even be
boasted by reckless men. Three days went by. On
the sixth of December two squaws went from their
camping-place on Parker's Island to Samuel Denny,
Esq., the leading magistrate of Georgetown, living on
the adjacent island of Arrowsic, and told him what
had occurred. On the same evening two men and the
the Deputy Sheriff, Captain Samuel Harnden, came like-
wise to inform him and gave the names of six sus-
pected persons. Evidently the .crime slowly gained
the public ear at Wiscasset, yet so guardedly that no
stir was made till the fourth day, sufficient to require
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 85
the cognizance of officers of the law. Then a messen-
ger went through the woods to Deputy Harnden, eight
miles distant at the Kennebec. Esquire Denny at
once issued warrants for arrests and thoughtfully sent
Captain McCobb to provide for the outraged and suffer-
ing parties. The next morning, with the energy of a
zealous magistrate, well known as a terror to evil-
doers, he went to Wiscasset to represent in person
the law and to be at hand to order further steps as
should be required.
He found an excited community, a portion in full
sympathy with the accused and riotously proposing to
resist their arrest. As Denny stepped on shore from
his boat, an armed mob, disguised by blackened
faces, assaulted and threw him down, inflicting slight
injuries. Undaunted and resolute, the justice and
sheriff confronted the lawless and turbulent crowd
and in the end put under arrest five men, and a sixth
subsequently. Young Albee, regarded the chief
offender, escaped. Kis father took means to slip him
on board a Marblehead schooner that day sailing, even
admitting to the captain the fear that his son was con-
cerned in the murder. On the voyage Albee privately
owned that he was one of the party and snapped his
gun, thereby disclosing that he had no conscience about
shooting Indians.
Details of events subsequent to the arrests are lack-
ing, but there was an inquest over the body found in
the brook, examination of the suspected persons.
Only two men, Ball and Ledite, were held for trial.
The two Holbrooks were put under bonds fifty pounds
86 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
each for their appearance as witnesses. The Browns
were released.
Messengers were sent express to Boston to report
this startling affair to the governor. Esquire Denny
wrote the first details of events on the ninth instant :
this was delivered and read in General Court on the
twelfth. Not till the fifteenth did the sheriff set out
with the prisoners for York jail. The party tarried
for the night in Falmouth, at the house of Mr. John
Thorns, two miles from. the town (near Merrill's Corner
as now known). Here the officer lost his prisoners,
who were helped to take to the woods. An outcry
was raised against Harnden that he was remiss in
duty ; even had willingly lent himself to a plot, pop-
ularly ascribed to Mr. Gowen Wilson, who was pres-
ent, to allow the men to get free. The General Court
ordered their arrest and examination. Captain Harn-
den reported himself to the authorities in Boston ; his
statement of the affair was read in the House on
January 2, evidently removing all grounds for suspect-
ing him delinquent in duty. ' Nine years later when
savages had struck a murderous blow into his own
family, with more reason might he have been accused
of readiness to thwart the hand of justice.
The escape of the prisoners was due to a plot of
unknown men of the vicinity. Jabez Fox, Esq., wrote
to Lt. Governor Phips that a mob at eleven o'clock at
night entered the house and released the men, in spite
of the sheriff and assistants, who made pursuit without
avail, thick snow falling hindering their endeavors.
Harnden at once reported the escape to the magis-
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 87
trate, Mr. Fox, who sent warrants to adjacent places
ordering search and arrests of those engaged in the
rescue. Thirteen persons were examined two days
after, but evidence was lacking to hold them for trial.
The prisoners afterwards told that they had no thought
of making escape, but while asleep a party of men
awakened them, took them out and told them to go
about their business.
A report came that the rescued men had been seen
in Gorham. An officer with armed guard searched
every house in vain. But two men answering the
description did enter Gorham and must have been
harbored and concealed. Justice Fox expressed his
sorrow that such a spirit prevailed, solicitous to secure
murderers from justice. He issued a proclamation offer-
ing reward for arrest of Ball and Ledite. Some days
after it was reported to the General Court that the
fugitives had been seen in the town of Needham
evidently a mistake. On December 26, a reward of
fifty pounds each was offered for their apprehension,
and twenty-five pounds for any who aided in their
escape. Descriptions of the fugitives point out Ball,,
"middling stature, light complexion, had on blue cloth
jacket, blue stockings, an old hatt "; .and more impor-
tant than raiment, which could be changed, " he wears
his own hair." They kept concealed and evaded
apprehension for three weeks, perhaps in Gorham, but
in traveling westward they were taken by Captain
Jonathan Bean, commander of the Saco River block-
house. 1 They had examination before Justice Jeremiah
1 Situated in the present town of Dayton.
88 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Moulton of York, and were committed to the
county jail, January 10, 1750. A guard of nine men
watched the jail day and night, against a second
rescue. Indeed the jail was regarded insecure and a
proposition was made in the House for their removal
to Cambridge.
The schooner in which Obadiah Albee fled from
Wiscasset made a slow voyage to Marblehead, arriving
December 21. The captain, Thomas Lewis (Lovis?),
then first learning of the reward offered for his pas-
senger, hastened to secure it. He obtained the proper
warrant of Joseph Blaney, a justice of the town ; but
the officer to whom he applied to serve it, " would
not have anything to do with it." Meanwhile Blaney
hastened cunningly to use the information officially
obtained, ferreted out Albee the same evening, and
made the arrest, securing his prisoner in Salem jail.
Thus he forestalled the skipper, who lost his legitimate
game. Both petitioned for the reward, Lewis on the
ground that he furnished the information which
Blaney successfully used, while Blaney claimed that
by the delay caused by the officer's refusal, Albee
would have escaped if he had not thus promptly acted.
Which got the fifty pounds, I have not learned.
The first report of the infamous deed sent a thrill
of anxiety through the province. Governor and legis-
lators perceived they had to deal with a matter of
tremendous import. A cloud larger than a man's hand
and portentous of war was rising from the Sheepscot
and covering the colonies with gloom. Would retali-
ation prompt and terrible follow? Would another war
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 89
so soon spring out of this wanton and malicious assault ?
Esquire Denny wrote Governor Phips, " People are
much concerned and afraid, and are forward to assist all
they can." The sound, thoughtful portion of the inhab-
itants well knew to what the event might grow. Their
aid and countenance to such resolute leaders as Denny
and Sheriff Harnden speedily overcame the mob as
reckless of consequences in resisting the course of jus-
tice, as the miscreants in shooting down inoffensive,
peaceable Indians.
The officers of government applied their most assid-
uous endeavors to the alarming situation. Denny
used means to delay intelligence of the murder reach-
ing the several tribes, then sent provisions to the
distressed Indians. The party had consisted of fifteen ;
now when one man was killed, and two severely
wounded, fourteen persons were in a pitiable plight,
having no food but the clams which the squaws could
dig along shore in the wintry weather. The General
Court ordered that the best care be taken of them,
and doubtless they fared more sumptuously than ever
before. A surgeon also attended the wounded men,
named Andrew and Captain Job. The wounds were
regarded very severe and fatal results were feared but
careful treatment ensured recovery.
The critical posture of affairs among the incensed
tribes required skilful and wise effort to quiet and con-
ciliate. As the Kennebec was frozen up and transpor-
tation by water was necessary for the comfort and
safety of the wounded men, they were taken some
time in January to Penobscot, i. e., the settlement in
90 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the vicinity of St. George. The corpse of the mur-
dered chief was taken to the Kennebec and carried up
to u the Jesuit's habitation," doubtless Norridgewock,
the " old point'' station where Rally's life and evil
political scheming had ^o tragically ended. Capt.
Lithgow then in command at Fort Richmond reports
giving a blanket to the widowed squaw and another to
bury the dead in, according to their custom. The
victim had borne the half-anglicized name " Saccary
Harry," or in the Indian tongue, Hegen. It appears,
though statements are not decisive, that he belonged
to the Wawenock tribe, while Capt. Job was a Nor-
ridgewock and Andrew an Androscoggin.
Common justice and treaty stipulations urgently
demanded the execution of the law designed for such
cases. The government immediately took the matter
in hand, Opinions of legislators and officers declared
a speedy trial necessary. By law one annual session
of the Superior Court of judicature was held in the
county of York, in the month of June. But an act of
1713 authorized the governor with the advice of the
council in emergencies to order a special court. It was
proposed to take the benefit of this act and at the
very outset of consideration of the case, it was voted
December 14, that the governor order a special court
to be held at York, as soon as may be for this trial.
The governor gave his official consent to the measure ;
but on the twentieth he sent a message to the House of
Representatives declaring that the plan would involve
great and general inconveniences, and also the judges by
reason of age and infirmities might fail in attendance
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 91
to make a quorum. Nevertheless the plan was sus-
tained and the order given for a court to be convened
on the twenty-second day of February following.
The prosecuting attorney in behalf of the state was
Mr. E. M. Tro wbridge. Unable to attend to the details
of the case he sent Mr. Daniel Farnham a rising law-
yer of Newbury to Wiscasset to gather evidence and
take the recognizances of the witnesses for appearance
at the court. At the date of the session, Judges Sal-
tonstalland Sewallwere present, but the third required
judge was detained by illness. The special court failed,
verifying the governor's fears. No other judge could
then as now be summoned by telegraph, no trial could
be had. The attorney, Trowbridge, believed that a
speedy trial was very desirable, even if by transfer to
another county, but he could not so appoint, and could
only bind over the witnesses to the regular June term.
Whether Albee was remanded to Salem jail or com-
mitted with Ball and Ledite at York, I do not learn.
In April the House believing nine men to guard the
jail unnecessary, and in view of expense, voted to have
six dismissed. The council modified the proposal, but
the House adhered to its former vote ; the council would
not concur. The House, however, found a way to win ;
it had control of the strings of the public purse, so it
voted pay and rations for three men only to guard the
the jail. The six then could continue to watch if they
choose.
In this period of strained relations and anxiety the
conduct of the Indian tribes concerned was highly
commendable. They waited very patiently for the
92 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
English to do them justice by execution of the laws.
Capt. Lithgow at the Kennebec reports in February
his endeavors to repress any rising resentment, to dis-
arm their discontent. He emphasized treaty stipula-
tions in regard to private revenge, the agreements to
have recourse to law in all grievances or quarrels,
showed the strenuous efforts of the government to
apprehend those offenders, and its abhorrence of such
crimes and sincere wish to do justice. The position of
officers Lithgow and Bradbury and others on the Maine
frontier was a delicate and trying one, and their judi-
cious services were of high value in conciliating the
Indians and preventing hostile demonstrations. When
three months were gone and no execution of the law
against those whom they esteemed murderers, when the
trial was postponed three months further they began
to reveal their discontent. The white man's legal ma-
chinery moved very slowly and they became uneasy
lest it might fail ; nor were it strange if they should
suspect that nothing would be done to redress the
wrong. A letter of April 9, from Capt. Bradbury in
command at St. George fort, near which I conclude
were or had been the' wounded men and families,
expresses the general surprise at the delay in the trial.
He gives his opinion, if there must be further delay,
the Indians need immediate satisfaction or there will
be ill consequences. The House returned reply direct-
ing him to show the Indians the reasons for the delay
and that the trial would occur in June. Then Loran,
the Penobscot chief, sends a letter to the governor
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 93
indited at St. George, April 17, revealing the state of
feeling in his tribe, and making an appeal for justice
in a manly, moderated, self-possessed tone which does
him honor. He says, " The man that did the mischief
and consequently broke the league between us we
would have brought down here ; " a hint of a suspicion
that justice will not be meted out to Albee, because
he is confined far away in Massachusetts. He con-
tinues, " It was you that struck us and you have the
power. We think they that did the mischief was set
on by those who had command in that place. If they
are brought down here then that affair may be deter-
mined. We have waited patiently ever since and as
you told we should have justice done us so we expect
you will really do it." There is pathos in this simple
appeal for justice by confessed weakness to manifest
power. The Indian had been learning his real impo-
tence in comparison with the forces of the province.
He could annoy and terrify, could take here and there
a scalp or burn a house, could be an ally of the stronger
power, France, could retard the onward movement of
settlements, but alone how weak to resist or make
demands. Yet as a man he asks justice. Loran's
opinion that those who committed the crime had been
set on by those in command is a hint that personal
retaliation was a motive in the case, for it may be
recalled that Capt. Jonathan Williamson of Wiscasset,
was seized by a party of Indians in 1747, and carried
to Canada, and had been restored about a year previous
to this murderous assault. The Indian chief thinks
94 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the white man, as well as he, can be actuated by
revenge. Such an interpretation of his meaning is
reasonable, however baseless the suspicion.
The Superior Court of Massachusetts sat in York
County for its annual session on June 12, 1750.
Early in the session "Obadiah Albee, Jr., 1 of Wiscasset,
laborer," was arraigned for the murder of Saccary Harry
alias Hegen. It is probable that Mr. Trowbridge who
had come in February to manage the case was now
present for the prosecution. Who appeared in behalf
of the prisoner is not shown. There is no hint of the
character of the evidence presented, nor what defense
was made. After a full hearing as the records state,
the jury by their foreman, Job Banks, brought in their
verdict, "not guilty." Hence it was ordered "that
Obadiah Albee go hereof without day." The verdict
was astonishing, judged by the common knowledge
and expectation. The trial was brief for it terminated
before the fifteenth as on that date Parson Smith of
Falmouth enters the result in his journal "Albee
was acquitted to the great surprise of the court. This
unhappy affair gives the county an ill name, and it is
feared will bring on war." Williamson 2 wrote,
" The Court were quite dissatisfied with the verdict/'
1 He is not styled " seaman " and there is doubt if lie was one of the ship's crew
though Esquire Denny's first report said all were sailors. It is a curious coincidence
that at the Court of Sessions for York as it sat in January following the murder,
four English sailors bound over to this term by Esq. Denny failed to appear and
their recognizances were declared forfeited and proceedings instituted against
their bondsmen who were Wiscasset men. Still nothing indicates their offense,
or any connection with this case. There were James Richardson of Scotland,
sailor, William Pain of London, shipwright; John Moore of London, gunner,
Thomas Willard of Old England, sailor. We knoV S. Frost met in Lynn several
sailors who had left Quincey's ship at Wiscasset and were on the way to Boston,
who told him details of the occurrence.
History of Maine, Vol. 2, p. 267.
1
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY, 95
Nevertheless the highest tribunal of the state to which
all must look for justice had declared young Albee free
from the law's demands in respect to the alleged
crime.
While public attention had been turned expectantly
or anxiously to the coming trial, a voice from the Ken-
nebec spoke sharply the impatient demands of the
irritated tribes. From Richmond Fort, Asserimo, alias
Sawwaramet, chief of the Wawencocks, to which the
murdered man belonged, sent a letter, the message of
his tribe to the governor. He refers to the treaty at
Casco, not nine months previous, to the agreements
against private revenge, the appeal to the laws in all
quarrels, and saj T s t " We liked it well : soon after
these promises your people went out of the path we
then had made and killed our brother and wounded a
Norridgewock man and one of the Arsegunticook men.
We have waited long for justice. Now, brother, we
would, and our young men would, .have you be quick
in putting those murderers to death within a month, to
cover the blood that now lies on the ground, which we
desire covered or else all will not be well."
This letter of June 9, uttered for the tribe their
worn out patience, their indignation, their covert
threats. It had a firmer, even fiercer tone than
Loran's from St. George. Written on the Saturday
previous to the sitting of the court at York,
it could not have been transmitted and made
public till Albee's trial was ended. It should not have
influenced the course of justice even in earlier reception;
but it did show that this aggrieved tribe, yet loyal to
96 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
treaty stipulations and restraining the native spirit of
retaliation, was crying out for legal redress and the
penalty of the law upon their assailants. A few days
later, in the white man's high court of justice, after
an impartial trial in a presumed plain case, a jury
under oath say " not guilty," and the accused mur-
derer goes free. One may compare the verdict of the
chief and of the jury, the sentiments of the tribes, the
judges, and the public, and feel confident that a true
administration of justice failed in this case. Yet it is
notorious that seldom or never did a jury convict a
white man for high crime against an Indian. Still
present opinions must be held with caution in respect
to the fairness of the jury. We know almost nothing
of the evidence, how precise and conclusive. It seems
certain that one of three men fired the fatal shot.
But unless testimony was very direct to the point,
might not an unbiased jury hold a reasonable doubt
if certainly Albee's gun sent the bullet which struck
down the Wawenock chief ?
The letter of Asserimo was laid before the Council
and House on June 23. It was a spur to action. It
meant plainly : give the Indians due satisfaction ; the
failure will be your peril. Also the result of the trial
itself demanded a new course of action. It became
manifest to bench, bar and spectators in the court
room at York, when young Albee was acquitted, that
for the ends of justice it would be of slight avail to
proceed to the trial of Ball or Ledite. They must
be held in strict custody and the wisdom of the wise
applied to the situation.
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 97
The General Court at once evolved its plan of action,
comprising two particulars; the early trial of the two
remaining prisoners in another county than York;
invitation to chiefs and relatives of the deceased to be
present at the trial. Action went forward along these
lines, but not smoothly. On the twenty-sixth of June,
a bill was brought in to transfer the trial to the county
of Middlesex, since it could then occur in August,
otherwise must be deferred in York a whole year, and
could not there probably be impartial. In the considera-
tion, Boston, in Suffolk County, was substituted, and then
at the third reading in the House the bill was nega-
tived. The removal of the two prisoners from York
was included, but as the bill failed, it is not learned if
they were transferred for sake of security, and prob-
ably were not, though a separate vote was passed to
that end. Investigation was ordered into the law for
convening special courts on extraordinary occasions,
that its intent and scope might be explained. Evi-
dently objections existed in legal minds and hesitation
to employ this provision of law to secure the desired
trial at an early date in York County. As a result of
this inquiry, the law was modified and the objection-
able features removed in the following year. But all
efforts and expedients proved abortive, and nothing
was done to give the irritated Indians immediate satis-
faction. Asserimo's stern demand had startled for a
little, but no fitting response could be made.
Governor Phips, however, early in July, sent a
a letter in reply to the Indians. He mentioned the
postponed trial caused by sudden sickness of a judge;
VOL. X. 8
98 .MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the acquittal of Albee, after an impartial trial ; informs
that there was not time for trial of the others ; shows
the expenditure of some thousands of pounds in the
affair in efforts to do them justice ; invites some of
them to come to the trial to learn the sincere inten-
tions of the government ; and adds compliments of
peace and good-will. But did the native mind appre-
hend clearly such action of government machinery, so
easily stopped, so poor a product of its working ? was
it not a puzzle or a fraud that it let a criminal go
free ? that it gave so little justice at so large cost ?
Now the policy of conciliation was employed ; the
widow, relatives of her deceased husband, the wounded
men, several chiefs, were invited to Boston. Captain
Sanders, in the government sloop, sailed in July, and
on return trip from St. George and Richmond brought
these guests of the governor and the city. Received
in the council room, they were officially and kindly
welcomed on August 3. The governor expressed his
gratification at their presence, mentioned the recent
sad events, the trials, his desire to do everything
possible to secure a good understanding hence this
invitation to a friendly conference. At a second meet-
ing, the chiefs declared their wish for "a good agree-
ment," but also asked that the blood shed should be
" covered," yet said they did not wish the life of him
who spilt it. On being questioned, they explained
that in the past they had accepted a present as an
atonement, and they prosposeql that in this way the
blood should be covered. They told that their council
had determined that no squaw should go to Boston,
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 99
and hence the widow was not there, but they wished
some present to be sent to her. Other matters were
considered, and the interviews terminated with drink-
ing healths, salutations, and seeming cordial relations
established. Presents were dealt out to them, tokens
of good-will and especially equivalents for their griev-
ances and sufferings. To Toxus was given a blanket
a shirt, stockings, and the pride and joy of the simple
Indian, a laced hat ; for the widow also a blanket, a
shift, a pair of stockings, and a brass kettle ; to the
wounded men and the brothers of the deceased and to
five children, various useful and pleasing articles, with
clothing and money ; to all was furnished a generous
supply of food and better still, considerable quantities
of that much coveted article rum. Imagination must
detail the other enjoyments of this privileged excur-
sion party, some thirteen, stoically taking in the
wonderful things of the big village of eighteen thou-
sand inhabitants, viewing houses, shops, markets,
church spires, forts and their big guns, soldiers on
parade, tall masts and piles of merchandise at the
wharves, the drive of business in Dock Square and
State Street, the elegant dwellings in Cornhill, Beacon
and Tremont.
Again the good sloop Massachusetts swung out her
main boom, set topsail and jib and bore the party to
the Eastern forests again, honored, enriched, gratified,
perhaps satisfied to call the account settled. Still from
Umbagog and Rockamecook to Kenduskeag and Cas-
tine, many who had not visited Boston held unyieldingly
the bitter or angry question if any proper satisfaction
100 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
would be made to their claim for justice. They who
retained most of the old savage spirit, the younger,
the irritated, the hot-headed, would not allow English
wheedling arid gifts to stand as the price of blood.
Now repressed resentment ripened into action and a
cry of fear and foreboding startled the disturbed prov-
ince, for again the stealthy foe is abroad, and there are
desolated homes and empty seats by the evening fire.
Then followed a degree oi quiet with vigilance and
strengthening of defenses. The winter passed and on
April 4, 1751, the House of Representatives consider
" what shall be done with the prisoners in York jail."
Again removal of the trial to another county is pro-
posed, but nothing is effected. Soon the month of June
brought the annual session of the Superior Court for
York County. Eighteen months have passed since the
tragedy at Wiscasset and one year since the disappoint-
ing trial of Albee. Now his associates, Ledite and
Ball, are arraigned for their part in the deadly assault.
First, Benjamin Ledite of Wiscasset is called to answer
to the indictment for " being present with Albee aiding
and abetting" in the murder. On this charge he was
adjudged "not guilty." Again Ledite is charged with
" assault on Job and Andrew with intent to kill, hav-
ing a gun charged with gun powder which he did dis-
charge and did shoot at Job and Andrew, and did ma-
liciously shoot Andrew in the left part of the back
with a bullet, and wounded him grievously, and Job in
the right groin with two swan shot, so that their lives
were dispaired of." The jury by Joseph Chadbourne
foreman, rendered the verdict " guilty." Sentence was
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 101
at once pronounced : " That you Benjamin Ledite
sit on the gallows with a rope about your neck one
hour, and be whipt under the gallows twenty stripes
on the naked back, and stand bound to keep the peace
three years in the sum of <100, and pay the costs."
The records say " Ledite with Samuel Ball " was
arraigned on this second indictment, as if the two were
tried together as associates in the crime, but further
omits the name of Ball in separate indictment, verdict
or sentence, and so leaves us in doubt of the action of
the court concerning the accused man. At the least
he and his companion had eighteen months in jail,
and if Albee had been held in confinement an equal
period that would have been nearer his deserts than
the earlier trial which gave him feedom. In March,
1751, Samuel Ball and another prisoner broke out of
York jail by displacing the iron grating and digging
away the brick and stone wall. Perhaps he was not
captured and hence escaped the trial.
After so long delay the administrative processes of
law in respect to this wretched felony were at an end.
The governor told the Indians when they disclaimed
the wish for any one's life but were willing to compound
the felony and their grievance by presents, " by our
laws they must be brought upon trial and if they are
found guilty justice must be done." The speaker
replied, that as it was the custom of the nation, " You
must do as you are obliged to." Here possibly they
gained an idea of the jurisprudence of civilized nations,
an idea dim, doubtless, of laws as supreme above the
pleasure of individuals, so that they must be enforced
102 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in exactness or severity or sometimes restrained by
mercy, though the aggrieved or injured are satisfied
in other ways.
When the result of the trial was made s known to
the tribe perhaps they were content, perhaps smiled or
sneered at such a penalty a rope and a whipping per-
haps discerned an intent to do justice, though the
methods seemed so slow and faulty, or indeed, cared
not at all for ^already had they pronounced sentence
and executed it, as will be further shown.
From materials gathered out of official papers and
records has been drawn this narrative of a wanton
crime. Disastrous consequences followed in its train
and only wise management warded off a general war.
This unfortunate affair at Wiscasset, has been treated
by historians as if occurring in a street wrangle or
angry encounter. 1 Certainly the official papers have
not a suggestion of such a cause of the crime. It has
been written, "A violent quarrel between several
white men and some Indians." Truly " a quarrel,"
such as the wolves and sheep have when the forme r
raid the fold : such " an affray " as sportsmen and the
deer have when stealthily the guns belch death into a
sleeping herd. The squaw told the story of- the assault
to Esq. Denny, and if clearly incorrect he would not
have sent an unmodified report to the governor. Some
ill speech or repelled insult on a previous day, stirring
bad blood is possible, but is discredited by all the
1 Williamson's History of Maine, Vol. 2, p 266. Willis's History, Portland, p. 424
and note in Smith's journal, p. 142. North's History, Augusta, p. 32. Eaton's
History of Warren, p. 86; and elsewhere.
A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY. 103
records and the circumstances. The Indians in letters
and complaints charge the breach of the peace upon
the whites. The governor in reply, in addresses and
at conferences with them freely admits it, and has not
a word referring to any antecedent condition to orig-
inate or excuse the crime. Beyond question the das-
tardly midnight assault was no hasty impulse of a
moment's anger, rather a deliberate plan, coolly exe-
cuted for jovial adventure or in wicked intent to do
the Indians harm.
Other manifest errors in several histories should be
noted ; as, " Albee and the Holbrooks confined at
Falmouth, escaping after a few weeks:" not one of
these, but instead Ball and Ledite were at Falmouth ;
the escape was in the single night's tarry on the journey
to York jail, and not in Wilson's, but in Thorns' house ;
also, no trial was held in Middlesex County, though
proposed ; nor was Albee there convicted of felony,
but his associates were the next year at York ; the
names of the Holbrooks, have in some way displaced
those of the real criminals. Nor did " the culprits
surrender themselves." Albee was hunted out and
arrested in Lynn ; Capt. Bean's report indicates that
he recognized and arrested Ball and Ledite as they
were traveling towards the western towns.
104 MAINE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY.
HALLOWELL RECORDS.
EOMMUNICATED BY THE LATE DR. W. B. LAPHAM.
[Continued from Page 434, Vol. IX.]
William Henry Page, son of Benjamin Page, married Sally,
daughter of Joshua Wingate. Their children are as follows, viz. :
Lucretia, born Sept. 27, 1811; died March 19, 1850.
Adelaide, born Feb. 7, 1813.
William Henry, born July 12, 1818; died July 1871.
Michael Morrison, son of Morrison, was born in New-
buryport, December, 1773. Married Paulina Chipman of the same
place. Their children are as follows, viz. :
Henry, born 1796.
Paulina, born May, 1799.
WyatSt. Barb., born Jan., 1801.
Mrs. Paulina Morrison died, and Mr. Morrison married Anna,
daughter of William Hackett of Newburyport. Their children are
as follows, viz. :
Michael James, born Apr. 9, 1813.
William Albert, born June 29, 1815.
Paul Stickney, son of Thomas Stickney, married Pemela, daugh-
ter of John and Therasa Stratton of this town. Their children are :
Mary Gage, born Aug. 12, 1819.
John Henry, born Dec. 7, 1830; died Nov. 20, 1833.
John Henry, born Apr. 13, 1836.
Winthrop Morse, son of Elisha Morse and Patty Howe, his wife, was
born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, September 7, 1793. Ordained as
a Baptist minister in Hallowell, September 9, 1818. Married Emily,
daughter of Ephraim Parkhurst of Framingham. Their issue :
Martha Elizabeth, born Dec. 19, 1819.
Mr. Morse removed from this place August, 1820.
James Branscomb, son of Arthur Branscomb and Mary Hill, his
wife, was born in Newmarket, state of New Hampshire, February
HALLOWELL RECORDS.
105
28, 1787. Came to this town with the family of Jonathan Longfellow,
1798. Married Clarissa, daughter of Simeon Hilton of Falmouth,
now Westbrook. Their children are :
Mary Elizabeth, born June 6, 1815.
Arthur Henry, born July 16, 1820.
James Preble, son of Benjamin Preble and Joanna Bean, his wife,
was born in York (Maine), May 16, 1777. Came to this town
February 11, 1811. Married Nancy, daughter of John P. Egan of
this town. Their children are :
Joanna, born Dec. 28, 1813.
Katharine, born June 11, 1818; died Apr. 5, 1842.
Harris Newall, born Dec. 27, 1822.
Oliver, born Feb. 11, 1826; died March 2, 1847.
Asa White, son of William White, married Sally Davis of this
town. Their children are :
Mary, born May 17, 1819.
Lydia, born Dec. 22, 1821.
Rebeca, born Sept. 8, 1824.
Rufus, born Feb. 27, 1826.
Octavia, born Nov. 7, 1828.
Jesse Atwood was born in Ware, state of New Hampshire.
Married Polly Ladd. Their children are :
Jonathan, born July 1, 1799.
Thompson, born Sept. 28, 1800.
Samuel, born Aug. 4, 1802.
Nancy, boru Apr. 28, 1805.
Daniel, born Apr. 24, 1807.
Betsey, born Nov. 5, 1810.
Larkin, born July 22, 1812.
Ruth, born Dec. 5, 1814.
George, born Sept. 11, 1817.
George Wales Carr, son of Thomas H. Carr and Bethiah, his
wife, was born in Hallowell, July 6, 1815.
Nathaniel Wing, son of Barney Wing and Hannah Berry, his
wife, was born in Harwich (now Brewster), December 25, 1768.
Married Polly, daughter of Samuel Crosby, of the same town, who
106 MA INK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
was born June 26, 1774. Came to this place with his family
Si-ptiMiihor 17, 171)9. Their children are:
Nathaniel, born Deo. IT. 17W: diod lYb. 27, 1833.
Lovan/.;i. born ,lum> 11, ISO'J.
John, born May 28, I80tt.
Mary, born HIT. -J;5, isos.
Froeman, born Juiu- :.'<>. 1S12.
Hiram, born May 11, ISlti.
Charles, born Dec. s>, IS IS.
Mr. Nathaniol AVing diod Xovombor 30, 1834.
John Kenn, son of Timothy Koan was born in the county of Clare
in livland. June 24, 1750. Came to America in 1760. Came to
this town 1794. Married Margaret Forrester of Pownalborough.
Their children are :
.John, born Feb. 5, 17SI.
* born June 12, 17SS
, born Nov. 10, 1790.
Jane, bom Deo. 18, 1792.
Harriet, born Sept., 1705.
Margaret, born Juno :il. 17s>.).
John Keau, son of the above, married Hannah Robinson of Bath.
Their children are :
Susan, born Jan. 26, 1812.
A..ibolla. born, Apr. 3, 1818.
Margaret, born Feb. 10, 1815.
Hannah, born 1817.
Mary, born May 3, 1810.
Mr. John Kean died August 26, 1848.
James Kean, son of John Keau, married Isabella Turner of Bath.
Their children are :
Mary Ann, born May 15, 1818.
Sarah, born Juno 17, 1820.
John McKay, son of , married Mary, daughter
of John Keau. Their children are : *
James Henry, born Sept. 24, 1809.
William, born IKv. 24. 1810.
I! AI.LOWKLL lllWi >K I)S.
107
Margaret, born Aug. 24, 1812.
Daniel, born Oct. 10, 1814.
John, born Jan. 18, 1817.
Peter, born Aug. 17, isuo.
Mrs. McKay died July, 1825.
Mr. McKay married Mary R., daughter of Levi Greenlief. Their
children are :
Caroline P., born March 16, 1880.
Anna, born Aug. 5, 18:52.
Thadosia, born July 18, 1834.
Josiah Rollins was born in Newcastle, Maine, August 26, 1769.
Married Huldtih Richards of the same town. Came to this town
July, 1818. Their children are : -
William, born Feb. 1, 1808, )
Mary, born Apr. 4, 1S10, [ in Jefferson.
Betsey, born Aug. 11, 1812, )
Sally, horn Fob. 21, 1815, / . .- .
Hannah, born July 7, 1817, \ m Mttlta '
Luoinda, born June 24, 1820, in Hallowell.
Nancy Train, daughter of the above named Huldah, by a former
husband, born August 25, 1804, in Newcastle. Eleanor Robinson,
daughter of the above Josiah, by a former wife, was born February
22, 1802, in Jefferson.
Mr. Josiah Rollins died March 3, 1851.
Eliphalet Rollins was born in Newcastle, Maine, November, 1759,
Married Mary Jones of said town. Their children are :
Joseph, born Sept. 11, 1790.
Abigail, born Sept. 4, 1799.
Alexander, born Apr. 18, 1801.
Lydia, born Nov. 8, 1803.
James, born March 5, 1807.
Paul, born March 27, 1810.
Samuel Winter, son of Samuel Winter and Alice Sturwich his wife
was born in Purborough, county of Sussex in England, May 10,
1776. Married Jane Stringar of the same town. Came to this
town May 31, 1820. Their children are :
108 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Fanny, born, Sept. 20, 1805, )
William, born May 9, 1807,
Eliza, born March 6, 1809,
Jane, born Oct. 21, 1810,
o^ 1010 > i u Purboroush in England.
Charles, born Sept. 26, 1812,
Mary, born June 24, 1814,
Samuel, born June 24, 1814,
Ellen, born Sept. 26^818,
Thomas, born Mar. 5, 1821, ) . Tr allowpll
George, Feb. 2, 1824,, f in
John Goodwin, son of Andrew Goodwin, married Nancy, daugh-
ter of William Springer of this town. He was born January 25,
1784. Their children are :
John Andrew, born Dec. 17, 1815.
Mary Springer, born July 2, 1817.
James Oscar, born Dec. 2, 1818.
Greenleaf, born Mar. 17, 1820.
Hannah Springer, born Aug. 21, 1821.
Edwin Springer, born Aug. 21, 1821.
Charles Frederick, born June 8, 1822.
George Franklin, born June 8, 1822.
William Henry, born June 17, 1823.
Eugene Augustus, born Apr. 10, 1833.
Thomas Philbrook, born Feb. 3, 1835.
William White, son of Benjamin White, married Lydia, daughter
of Ezekiel Page. Their children are :
Timothy, born July 25, 1785.
William, born Nov. 5, 1787.
Asa, born Aug. 15, 1790. Died.
Stephen, born Oct. 12, 1794.
Freeman, born Oct. 8. 1797.
Kufus, born Apr. 28, 1800.
Joshua Tayler, May 16, 1802. Died.
Levi, born Aug. 7, 1805.
Timothy White, son of the above named William, married Han-
nah Davis of this town. Their children are :
Warren, born March, 1812.
Sena.
Emelirie.
Timothy.
HALLOWELL RECORDS. 109
William White, son of the above named William White married
Charlotte Lovell of this town, formerly of Starks. Their children
are:
James Madison, born Feb. 19, 1809.
Clarrissa, born Dec. 6, 1812.
William, born June 13, 1814.
Henry Sumner, bora Aug. 19, 1816.
Sophronia, born Aug. 28, 1822.
Alonzo Russell, born Feb. 19, 1829.
Olive Jane, born June 19, 1831.
James Atkins, son of James Atkins and Content Lander, his wife,
was born in Sandwich, May 4, 1764. Married Hannah Nye, of
the same town, who was born January 17, 1769. Their children
are :
Hannah Nye, born Aug. 21, 1791.
Thomas Nye, born July 8, 1794.
James, born Apr. 20, 1797.
Harriet, born Sept. 28, 1799.
Celia, born Nov. 9, 1801.
Eliza, born Aug. 4, 1805.
Rebecca Freeman, born Jan., 1809.
Mr. James Atkins died February 2, 1819.
John Jones, son of James Jones and Huldah Hancock, his wife,
was born in Madison, December 3, 1784. Married Hannah,
daughter of Jones, of Sydney ; came to this town 1808. Their
children are :
Mary, born Sept. 8, 1810.
John, born July 2, 1812.
Augustus, born Aug. 15, 1814.
Harriet, born Mar. 5, 1817.
Caroline, born Aug. 15, 1831, adopted a daughter of Mrs. Jones.
Mrs. Hannah Jones died November 11, 1849.
Alexander Medee, son of Thomas Medee, was born in Ipswich,
Massachusetts, June 27, 1790; married Charlotte Brown, of the
same place ; came to this town October, 1815. Their children
are :
Mary, born Sept. 7, 1816.
Thomas, born Mar. 2, 1820.
110 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Frederick, born Oct. 6, 1823.
Alfred, born Dec. 12. 1825.
Stephen, born Oct. 16, 1828.
Lucy, born Mar., 1835.
Charlotte Medee, born Mar., 1830, adopted child.
James Brown, son of Joseph Brown and Charlotte Tinges, his
wife, was born April, 1782. Married Hannah, daughter of Thomas
Medee, of Ipswich. Their children are:
Hannah, born Aug. 22, 1804.
Thomas, born Mar. 20, 1807.
James Warren, born Feb 7, 1809.
David, born June 16, 1811.
John, born July 15, 1814. Died.
George, born Sept. 30, 1815.
Lucy, born Mar. 2, 1820.
Charlotte, born Sept. 4. 1824. Died Sept., 1827.
Eliza Ann, born Sept. 4, 1827.
Gideon Barker, said to be of this town, married Lavinia, daugh-
ter of Joseph Brown, of this town. Their issue is one son, named
Abijah, born September 10, 1812.
Mr. Barker died and his widow married John Morgan, of
Pittston. Their children are :
Abigail, born Sept. 26, 1818.
William, born Aug. 12, 1820.
NOTES.
AN AUTOGBAPH OF JOHN HOLMES.
MB. Noah Brooks sends to the secretary of the Maine Historical
Society the following note:
To the Secretary.
THE AEK, CASTINE, MAINE, OCTOBEB 4, 1898.
Dear Sir : The enclosed autograph of John Holmes, once senator from
Maine, and several times Representative in Congress from the district of
Maine, might possibly be valued by the Maine Historical Society.
As you will see it was addressed to the publishers of the National
Intelligencer, Washington, and gives the announcement of the death of
his father.
PROCEEDINGS.
Ill
Senator Holmes' first wife was the sister of my father, the late Barker
Brooks. His second wife was Caroline Swan, a daughter of Gen.
Henry Knox.
Tours sincerely,
NOAH BROOKS.
The enclosure to which the above note refers is as follows:
Died in Kingston, County of Plymouth, Mass tts , on the nineteenth, Mr.
Melatiah Holmes, father of Mr. Holmes of the U. S. Senate, aged 83
years. He died at his residence on his farm which he had occupied
about 60 years. His ancestors were among the first settlers who landed
at Plymouth. Please to insert for
J. Holmes.
In the July number of the Quarterly, sixteen lines from the bottom of
page two hundred and ninety-one, the name Kenniston is a mistake; it
should read, "her sister Eunice [Beath] Fullerton adopted the babe."
The author of this article has had letters from members of the Society
asking for the name of William Fullerton's wife. William Fullerton 1
married Jennet Beath 1 , a sister to Walter Beath 1 , and consequently John
Beath 2 and Margaret Fullerton 2 , who were married in 1739, were cousins.
The author desires an answer to the following queston: " Was Jennet
Gilmore the name of the mother of Walter Beath 1 and Jennet Beath 1 ? "
PROCEEDINGS.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1898.
THE fall meeting of the Society was held in the
Library Hall, Portland, and was called to order at 2.30
P. M. by the President, Mr. Baxter.
A report of the accessions to the Library since the
Annual Meeting was read by the Librarian, Mr. Bryant,
who also read some extracts from the early records of
Windham, Maine, contributed by Mr. Samuel T. Dole.
At the conclusion of the paper, remarks were made by
Mr. George F. Talbot upon its various points of interest.
112 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Rev. Dr. Barrage read an abstract from a paper
contributed by him on Captain John Wilson and some
military matters in Maine during the War of 1812.
This paper contains the military orders which Captain
Wilson received during the War of 1812, contributed
by Mrs. A. W. Pendleton, of Topsham, daughter of
Captain Wilson.
Mr. George F. Talbot read abstracts from his histor-
ical address on Washington Academy of East Machias,
delivered at its centennial anniversary in 1892.
Mr. Talbot' s paper called forth extended remarks of
appreciation of the work accomplished by Washington
Academy, from Professor Henry L. Chapman and Rev.
Dr. Asa Dalton.
At the adjournment of the afternoon session an in-
formal reception was extended to the venerable Hon.
James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, who was present
throughout the meeting.
At the evening session Mr. Nathan Goold read a
paper on Colonel Jonathan Mitchell's Cumberland
County Militia Regiment in the Bagaduce Expedition
of 1779.
Mr. J. H. Drummond presented for the Archives of
the Society a genealogical paper containing some
further , facts concerning the Rogers families of
Georgetown.
Adjourned.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD.
113
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD,
THE APOSTLE OF PEACE.
BY JOHN WITH AM PENNEY.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, February 24, 1898.
THE first comprehensive plan for organized effort
for the promotion of peace in this country, and per-
haps in the world, was promulgated by Doctor Benja-
min Rush, in about 1790, while we were engaged in a
frontier war with the Indians. In sentiment and
scope his plan is not very much unlike the constitu-
tion of the American Peace Society of to-day. It is
true that William Penn, the great Quaker peace-
maker, in 1693-94, in a season of almost universal war,
published in London, England, a plea for eternal
peace among the nations, which he calls, " An Essay
towards the Present and Future Peace of Europe, by
the establishment of an European Dyet, Parliament,
or Estates." Dr. Rush's scheme, however, has the
merit of more detail and is rather a plan than an
essay.
Doctor Rush was born in Pennsylvania in 1745 and
died in 1813. At the age of about fifteen he was
graduated at Princeton College, and early in life
became eminent as a physician. Later in life he was
honored for his medical works, and greatly esteemed
for his wide philanthropies. He was an ardent patriot
and took an active part in the Revolution ; was a
member of the Congress of 1776, " the time that tried
VOL. X. 9
114 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
men's souls"; was a signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and served in the Revolutionary war as
surgeon-general and physician-general. At the time
of his death he was serving as treasurer of the United
States mint at Philadelphia.
Doctor Rush's plan anticipated the formation of
peace societies in this country and Europe by about
twenty-five years, and of a national (the American
Peace Society) by thirty-eight years. The Massachu-
setts Peace Society was organized December 26, 1815,
being the first in the United States. This was fol-
lowed by the Maine Society, organized January 31,
1817. '
The following is an abstract of Dr. Rush's plan :
Art. 1st. Let a Secretary of the Peace be appointed to preside at
this office, who shall be perfectly free from all the present absurd
and vulgar European prejudices on the subject of government : Let
him be a genuine republican and a sincere Christian, for the princi-
ples of republicanism and Christianity are no less friendly to univer-
sal and perpetual peace than they are to universal and equal liberty.
Art. 2nd. Provides for the maintenance of free schools and the
principles of the Christian religion, for it belongs to this religion ex-
clusively to teach us, not only to cultivate peace with all men, but to
forgive, nay more, to love our enemies.
Art. 3rd. Provides for the free distribution of the Bible at the
public expense.
Art. 4th. Let the following sentence be inscribed, in letters of
gold, over the doors of every State and Court house in the United
States: "The Son of Man came not into the world to destroy
men's lives, but to save them."
Art. 5th. Provides for the repeal of sanguinary laws.
Art. 6th. To subdue the passion of war, which education,
added to human depravity, have made universal ; a familiarity with
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD.
115
the instruments of death, as well as all military shows, should be
carefully avoided. For which reason, military laws should every-
where be repealed, and military dresses and military titles should be
laid aside. Reviews tend to lessen the horrors of battle, by con-
necting them with the charms of order : Militia laws generate
idleness and vice and thereby produce the wars they are said to pre-
vent. Military dresses fascinate the minds of young men and lead
them from useful and serious professions ; were there no uniforms
there would probably be no armies. Lastly, militia titles feed van-
ity and keep up ideas in the mind, which lessen a sense of the follies
and miseries of war.
Art. 7th. In the last place ; let a large room, adjoining the fed-
eral hall, be appropriated for transacting the business and preserv-
ing all the records of this office. Over the door of this room let
there be a sign, on which the figure of a lamb, a dove, and an olive
branch should be painted, together with the following inscription, in
letters of gold : " Peace on Earth Good Will to Men. Ah, why
will men forget that they are brethren ? " This article also provides,
for ornamenting this room with appropriate emblems and pictures,,
and the performance of " Odes and Anthems in praise of the bless-
ings of peace."
In order the more deeply to affect the minds of the citizens of
the United States with the blessings of peace, by contrasting them
with the evils of war, let the following inscriptions be painted on the
sign which is placed over the door of the war office :
1. An office for butchering the human species.
A widow and orphan making office.
A broken bone making office.
A wooden leg making office.
An office for creating private and public vices.
An office for creating public debt.
An office for creating speculators, stock jobbers and bank-
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
rupts.
9.
An office for creating famine.
An office for creating political diseases.
10. An office for creating poverty and the destruction of liberty
and National happiness.
116 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
In the lobby of this office let there be painted representations of
all the common military instruments of death ; also human skulls,
broken bones, unburied and putrefying dead bodies, hospitals
crowded with sick and wounded soldiers, villages on fire, mothers in
besieged towns, eating the flesh of their children, ships sinking in
the ocean, rivers dyed with blood, and extensive plains without tree
or fence, or any other object but the ruins of deserted farm houses.
Above all this group of woful figures, let the following words be in-
serted in red characters, to represent human blood :
National Glory.
Thus from the fertile brain of Doctor Kush ema-
nated the pioneer scheme for the promotion and dis-
semination of the principles of a perpetual peace. He
did not live to see the establishment of his scheme or
the man who in the fullest sense could be called his
successor. Forty years had passed when, in 1819,
Captain William Ladd stood by the death-bed of Doc-
tor Appleton of Bowdoin College, where, says Elihu
Burritt, " It may have been the first time that he had
ever heard of such societies." Mr. Burritt also says :
" The first address that seemed to introduce him to
the public as a speaker of great force was delivered in
Portland, in 1824, before the Peace Society of Maine."
William Ladd was of a family for generations prom-
inent. He was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, May
10, 1778, and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
April 9, 1841. He was the oldest son of Eliphalet
Ladd, an eminent merchant, who removed to Ports-
mouth, New Hampshire, about 1795, and died there
in 1806.
William Ladd was graduated from Harvard Univer-
sity in 1797, at the age of nineteen years, and received
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 117
his degree of A. B. Instead of entering the medical
profession, as designed by his parents, he went to sea
as a common sailor in one of his father's vessels. At
the age of twenty he sailed from Portsmouth as com-
mander of one of the largest ships that had ever sailed
from that port, and soon became one of the most
highly esteemed sea captains of New 'England. Amass-
ing a fortune, he abandoned the sea in a few years
and settled in Savannah, Georgia, as a merchant, but
soon removed to Florida, where he engaged in the
cultivation of cotton, employing both free and slave
labor, with some crude emancipation scheme in view
for the abolition of slavery.
His scheme, tinctured with the inconsistency of
Whitefield's " Orphan Asylum " - a charity supported
by slave labor soon fell through, and a large portion
of his fortune with it. Then, upon the death of his
father in 1806, he returned to Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, and again trod the quarter-deck, visiting
many foreign lands, the war of 1812 bringing his sea-
faring life to a close. It was on one of his voyages to
England, when at the age of twenty-one, he was united
in marriage with Sophia Ann Augusta Stidolph, of
London. This marriage, like many another, has its
romance, all the more bewitching because of the veil
of secrecy that has let only now and then a vague hint
escape. She was a lady far below him in mental
endowment, and in those excellencies of mind and
soul that distinguish the patrician in character from
the plebeian. But she was always honored as his wife,
and treated with the utmost respect and kindness,
118 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
accompanying him in all his voyages at sea, where
she once saved the vessel and cargo by crying out,
as they were being boarded by pirates, " Yellow
fever, yellow fever ; the captain's sick with yellow
fever." This circumstance, it is said, she once used
with effect as an illustration in a lyceum argument
at Minot, on the affirmative side of the question, "Is
it ever justifiable to lie?" She died at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, December 29, 1855, aged seventy-
five. They had no children.
The Cumberland County Registry of Deeds shows
that Captain William Ladd bought, in 1813, of James
Jewett of New Durham, New Hampshire, what was
called the " New Farm" in the town of Minot, Maine,
for which he paid seven thousand, seven hundred and
fifty dollars. This seems to be a round sum for a
farm at the time that a hostile British fleet stood in
the offing of Portland harbor, and Munjoy Hill was
covered by the state militia, and especially as said
farm was in " a poor little backwoods' town," as Cap-
tain Ladd says of Minot in one of his letters written
in 1828. This so called " New Farm" is located on
the plateau of one of those majestic hills, that fall
little short of the dignity of mountains, known as
" Center Hill," in Center Minot, of which there are
many in what once comprised Bakerstown, of which
Minot was a part until 1802.
The locality has many interesting historical associa-
tions. Here, on this hill, lived and died Moses Emery,
and here in the old churchyard reposes his dust and
that of his wife, they being among the few first settlers
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 119
of Bakerstown whose places of burial are known.
He was the first settler of what is now Minot Corner,
the author of the name, "Poland," for the town of
Poland at its incorporation in 1795, and the furnisher
of a large portion of the data from which Captain
Ladd compiled the Annals of Bakerstown, Poland
and Minot, for the Maine Historical Society,
found in volume second of its publications. Near
here was organized the first church of Bakerstown in
1791. The first minister, Rev. Jonathan Scott, set-
tled near here in 1793, and the first church was
erected in 1794. Here, on this picturesque hill and
its environs, settled many of the representative men of
ancient Bakerstown, sturdy, religious and determined.
Minot's first town hous$ stood on the so called "New
Farm," near the Jewett homestead.
Captain Ladd had serious thought of entering the
navy, his long sea service having done much in quali-
fying him for such a position. But the great turning-
point in his life was his choosing the quiet and
uneventful vocation of a farmer, and his settlement in
the rural and sparsely settled town of Minot. Here,
surrounded by the quiet and peaceful beauties of nature,
and scenes bucolic, he was led by a peculiar train of
providential circumstances into a path that led directly
adverse to that which he was pursuing, and which
ultimately led him to the high and honorable distinc-
tion of world-wide recognition as a philanthropist,
and the American Apostle of Peace.
Here amid the grandeur of hill and dale, moun-
tain and lake, he engaged with all the ardor of an
120 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
enthusiastic agriculturist in improving, enlarging and
beautifying his Minot summer home. He usually
passed the winter in Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
which, in time, to use his own words, became " his
paradise." He added farm after farm until he became
the owner of more than six hundred acres. Six large
barns were needed to hold his immense crops of hay
and grain and his numerous herds of cattle, horses
and sheep, which were all of the choicest breeds. His
extensive operations required a large employment of
labor, over which, as overseer, presided, outside of
the house, Reuben Merrow; while within, Miss Ann
Tappan held the scepter of domestic affairs, reproduc-
ing into the ear trumpet of Mrs. Ladd the sum and
substance of what w r as uttered inside the walls of the
mansion.
The house unfinished when it came into his posses-
sion, he enlarged and fitted up to correspond with his
style of living in all its amplitude of embellishment,
with now and then a nautical reminiscence, such as
the cabin stairs that reached from the attic to the ob-
servatory on the roof, where, with his glass he could
see the masts of the shipping in the harbor of Port-
land, observe his workmen on a distant part of his
farm, and the imitation of a rope, running around in
the finish of the ceiling of the large parlor, wherein
was a sideboard, supplied from the securely locked
w T ine cellar in the basement, whose generous stock of
choice old Burgundy, says Captain Ladd, "I sipped, and
my ministerial friends sipped." That he was an enter-
tainer of great hospitality there is ample proof. The
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 121
view from his library, where the most of his literary
work was done, is a magnificent one, stretching away
west and north in illimitable landscape of hill and dale
to the Alps of New England, the Presidential Range.
Order, system and adornment were everywhere visible
on the estate of the opulent retired sea-captain-farmer
of Center Minot. The grounds about his mansion
were laid out with taste and elegant design. On
the northwest side ran an avenue, otherwise called
the " Bridle road," leading to the Jewett farmhouse,
which was beautified on each side its entire length, by
rows of Lombardy poplars. The vegetable and berry
garden adjacent was not without its share of embel-
lishment of well-ordered walks and rows of plum and
cherry trees, but it fell far short of the attractiveness
of the flower garden on the southeast side, where
flourished in great profusion and variety flowers, vines
and shrubbery, delighting the senses with their beauty
and perfume.
In this garden, shadowed by a large horse chestnut
tree, stood an elegant summer house, a creation of his
own design, and until within a year, the almost soli-
tary fanciful relic of its resourceful builder.
Trees of every native variety embowered the well-
graveled walks and lent their grateful shade. Faced
walls along the highway bespoke the substantial char-
acter of the whole. It is probable that in 1820 there
was not another country estate in the county of Cum-
berland its equal in size and elegance, or that could
show greater evidences of intelligent and scientific
husbandry.
122 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY..
He was the inventor of several agricultural appli-
ances, the first power-threshing machine seen in the
town being one of them, and the initial of a threshing-
machine manufactory established at Minot Corner,
where he was interested in mercantile pursuits, the
manufacture of linseed oil, and other industries. His
public spirit is made prominent by the interest he
manifested in the organization of the first shoe manu-
facturing company of Minot, now West Auburn, in
which he appears as a stockholder. He was the power
behind the throne that brought about its establishment
and incorporation on January 2, 1835. Its officers
were, Asaph Howard, president; Eliphalet Packard,
clerk and treasurer; Charles Briggs and Nehemiah Pack-
ard, directors. Foremost in promoting the moral and
intellectual interests of his adopted town, he engaged,
with all the ardor of his exuberant nature, in church
work, as a Sunday-school teacher; in temperance as a
lecturer; and in the lyceum as a debater. His sym-
pathies for the unfortunate and distressed were large,
and his benefactions to the poor were generous and
timely. He was fertile in expedients to help the
poor, to make their lot cheerful, to incite them to
habits of thrift and industry. Emphatically, as says
a contemporary, " There never was such another man
in Minot."
It is true that when in 1814 Captain Ladd first set-
tled -in Minot, and for a few years following, he trod
his broad acres with a lordly step, and with the abso-
lute authorit} 7 that pertains to the quarter-deck, lead-
ing the casual observer to infer that he was arbitrary,
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD.
123
domineering, coercive and dictatorial a brusque,
wealthy, retired sea captain, whose path it was not
safe to cross, and whose majestic physique commanded
profound respect. His ship's cutlass and pistols had
the same significance that pertains to such instru-
ments of blood letting, and by a strange irony his
sword remains to-day a prized relic of the great
Apostle of Peace.
But by all contemporary testimony he was one of
the most gentle of men. Of imperturbable temper, a
gentleman always, generous, neighborly, benignant
and overflowing with humor, the spirit and life of the
community in which he moved, the leader of every
good word and work. His learning, travels and
fluency of speech qualified him for an entertaining
lecturer. He gave the first Fourth of July oration
probably delivered in the town, and frequent lectures
on temperance and kindred topics. In 1816 he was
elected by the Federalists a representative to the Gen-
eral Court, and also chosen a delegate to attend the
convention at Brunswick to draft a constitution for
Maine, if the requisite five-ninths of votes were cast
for a separation.
In 1817 he united with the Second Congregational
church of Center Minot, whose house of worship stood
just across the street from his own. He was at once
chosen clerk, entering his own admission on the
records, July 20, 1817. He served as clerk for about
six years, or until the union of the First and Second
churches and the settlement of the Eev. Elijah Jones
in 1823.
124 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
There seems to have been an " apple of discord,"
" an irrepressible conflict," between Mr. Ladd and his
first pastor, Rev. William Pidgin, and through his
instrumentality the pastorate was dissolved. Mr Pid-
gin was installed over the Second church in 1811, and
dismissed in 1819 " without a recommendation."
Where a principle was involved Mr. Ladd was as im-
movable as a mountain, and it appears that some-
thing of this character was the occasion of the "root
of bitterness" that sprang up between them. Mr.
Pidgin has left some evidence indicating that there
was no reconciliation.
There is no record or tradition known to the writer
of any other case of contention between Mr. Ladd
and any other person. On the contrary, there are
many notices, in his memoirs by Mr. John Heinmenway,
of his forbearance and gentleness towards those of
whom he had justly a cause of complaint. Between
him and Rev. Mr. Jones there sprang up a most inti-
mate and cordial friendship, that lasted during life.
Mr. Jones declined a settlement on a three-hundred-
dollar salary, without a parsonage. Captain Ladd
made the settlement possible by furnishing a parson-
age (the Jewett house) free, "with other privileges."
This he did for a number of years, or until Mr. Jones
built a parsonage house for himself.
Captain Ladd seems to have received his first serious
religious convictions about a year before uniting with
the church, and they came by way of a rebuke. Being
in Portland in the tin shop of Nathaniel Cross, a dea-
con of the Third Congregational church, he offered
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 125
that gentleman a bank bill in payment for some
article, and was immediately informed that it was
worthless, as the bank had failed. "Damn the bank,"
was the probable retort of Captain Ladd. The Deacon
remembering, perhaps, the proverb of Solomon,
" Reprove a wise man and he will love thee," cour-
ageously let fly : " Remember, you will have to give
an account of every idle word you speak." This was
an opportune shaft that went straight to his heart,
leading ultimately to his conversion, and a life-long
friendship between the rebuked and the rebuker.
His attitude toward the Christian religion up to this
time, though always respectful, was only nominal.
Now a marked change was observed and thencefor-
ward his life was an exemplification of applied
Christianity, growing brighter, more expansive and
intelligent, exhibiting a broader comprehension of the
great truth contained in the second commandment,
and a world embracing philanthropy, whose high
ideal was a universal peace among all nations of the
earth. To this end, in later life, all the exuberant
energies of his great soul were made subservient.
His time, talents, wealth and physical powers were
devoted without reservation to this one absorbing
object.
In 1837, he obtained a license to preach, the better
to reach the public ear. Was he called to preach a
sermon, lecture on temperance, slavery, or address a
convention, his sermon, whatever the text might be,
lecture or address, was sure to end in an impassioned
peroration on the horrors of war and the blessings of
universal peace.
126 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Indicative of the thoroughness of Captain Ladd's
conversion is the promptness with which he discarded
those social habits of the times, which were not only
allowable in the best of society, but also in the sacred
desk. He was not a man to halt between two opin-
ions. When convinced of a wrong course of conduct, it
was abandoned forever, with such alacrity and prompt-
ness, that the moral force of the act was not lost.
Mention has been made of his wine cellar, with its
generous stock of old Burgundy and Tokay. Its end
was as sudden as unexpected. He was giving a tem-
perance lecture in Minot, and as he says, " Made the
best temperance speech of my life, used up all the
objections of opponents, and sat down with the thought
that the appeal I had made could not be withstood."
Suddenly up jumped a little blear-eyed, wizen-faced
man, with gin blossoms on his nose, and squeaked out :
" Ha, Squire, if you will give us some of your good
wine we won't drink any more nasty rum and gin."
This was an unexpected shot, an assault upon an
unfortified side of the pseudo, self-sufficient, temper-
ance lecturer, that brought him down from his high
pedestal of temperance reform for his neighbors,
abashed and vanquished. To him now, for the first
time, his inconsistent course was revealed. Springing
to his feet, with real nobility of soul, he confessed his
fault in tears, with all the pathos and artlessness of a
child, and the handicap wine cellar was abandoned
forever. Soon after, one of his hired men was re-
ported drunk on hard cider, and, as he says, " On my
cider, too." With characteristic promptness, he
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 127
ordered his cider mill converted into oven wood.
The fragrant Havana and the quid were eschewed
and he became a clean temperance man, a teetotaller
in principle and practise. This self-denial, like bread
cast upon the waters, after many days came back to
him a hundred-fold in the form of a letter written by
an educated Hawaiian, who had been redeemed from
his low estate through the agency of the money for-
merly spent for wine and tobacco, now devoted to this
purpose. A gentleman of Auburn, Maine, now living,
recites the incident of his reading the letter in a
public meeting, with tears of joy flowing from his eyes.
Of the many incidents connected with his farm life,
illustrative of his character, one may be permitted
here. A young black man, who had formerly been in
his employ, came to his home sick, poor and disconso-
late, and as it proved, to die. Mr. Ladd took him in
and ministered to him in his own home, comforting
him in his anxiety about payment, and soothing his
dying hours with the assurance that he should not be
buried by the roadside, as he expected, but with the
white folks in the cemetery. And in the sunset cor-
ner of the old churchyard, unmarked save by the
gentle hand of nature, " with blossom'd furze unprofit-
ably gay," brier and wild rose, may be seen the lowly
grave of the son of Ham, Richard Dawes, in whose
funeral train as chief mourners were Captain Ladd and
his wife.
The war spirit of the old world was transported to
the new, and before the Puritans of Massachusetts
Bay had fairly laid the corner-stone of a democracy
128 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
or built the first meeting-house, they received an
invoice of the implements of war, "Ordnance, muskets
and powder, a present from Godly people in England,
who began now to apprehend a special hand of God in
raising this plantation."
For more than two centuries from the founding of
Jamestown our country, excepting short intervals of
peace, stood with drawn sword, either in defensive or
offensive war of some kind, and war's handmaids,
famine, pestilence and fire, have ever been present as
the grim background of the picture of desolation and
destruction.
Our second war with the mother country was prac-
tically barren of results to both nations ; says Ridpath,
" The only significance of the treaty of Ghent, was
that Great Britain and the United States, having been
at war, agreed to be at peace. Not one of the distinc-
tive issues, to decide which the war had been under-
taken, was settled or even mentioned."
From this war to the war with Mexico, " The most
unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker
nation," says Gen. Grant, occurred the longest inter-
val of peace, from 1815 to 1846, in the history of the
nation up to the latter date. Both countries were
eager for the peace of Ghent. England received the
news of the treaty with the utmost satisfaction. In
the United States it was received with a delight bor-
dering on madness. Before the terms of settlement
could be known, the people broke forth in universal
jubilee, and Federalists and Democrats embraced each
other in the ardor of their joy that the war was over.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD.
129
The "era of good feeling" followed. Many states,
including Maine, were admitted to the Union, and the
grand " Monroe Doctrine " was evolved. Washington
Irving compelled the old world to acknowledge that
we had a literature. The arts and sciences flourished.
The telegraph was invented and steamships began to
cross the Atlantic. It was an epoch of peace and
prosperity. Napoleon's star had set at Waterloo and
the old world even had rest from war. Probably at
no former period of our national existence was the sen-
timent of peace so prevalent. The ground as never
before was fallow for the seed of peace.
The hour was come, and with it rose the man
Ordained of God, and fashioned for the hour.
It appears that Captain Ladd was for several years
deeply pondering the principles of a universal peace
among all nations, before he finally committed himself
to its advocacy. Says Rev. Thomas C. Upham, D. D. :
"Walking with him in one of his beautiful fields, he
pointed to a cluster of trees at a little distance, and
said, 'It was beneath those trees that I solemnly con-
secrated myself in prayer to this one work of impress-
ing upon the minds of men the principles of peace/ '
Continuing, Dr. Upham says : " He fully believed
that God had inspired within him that central idea,
around which the labors of his life turned; and those
who knew him intimately could hardly fail to be im-
pressed with a similar conviction. He was the means,
under God, of giving an impulse to the cause of peace,
which is felt throughout the world." It was his con-
ception of putting an end to war throughout the world
VOL. X. 10
130 MAINE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY.
by means of a Congress of Nations, which should have
power to establish an international code, and also a
high court of nations, which was to be a permanent
body, like our Supreme Court, and to hold periodical or
occasional sessions for the adjudication of all questions
between two or more nations, that could not be settled
by ordinary negotiation. And his scheme, with per-
haps some slight modification, stands before the world
to-day as the best thought of the century for bringing
about a perpetual arid universal peace among all
nations. Not only in the United States was he recog-
nized as the foremost advocate of peace, but his scheme
and methods were adopted by the great peace con-
gresses of England, France and Germany, and thus, by
common consent, he became known specifically as the
"Apostle of Peace."
Recognizing that " the pen is mightier than the
sword," he at the commencement of his work em-
ployed this instrumentality with a vigor and persis-
tency that never waned so long as his hand could
wield a pen ; and there emanated from that little study
on " Center Hill," in Minot, a peace literature more
comprehensive and voluminous than that of any
predecessor, and probably not exceeded since by any
other writer. Scattered far and wide in this country
and Europe, like the leaves that " were for the heal-
ing of the nations," they found a place in the palaces
of kings and princes, and in the homes of the rich and
the poor. A Minot soldier, during our Civil War,
found one of Captain Ladd's essays on peace in a
southern home.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 131
In 1824 he finished his first series of thirty-two
essays on " Peace and War," which were first pub-
lished in the Christian Mirror at Portland, Maine, and
subsequently collected in a volume. The following
are some of his numerous publications : A Solemn
Appeal to All Christians in Favor of Peace ; The
Sword, or Christmas Presents; Howard and Napoleon
Contrasted; The French Soldier; A Brief Illustra-
tion of the Principles of Peace ; A Dissertation on a
Congress of Nations; The Hero of Macedon; On
the Duty of Females to Promote the Cause of Peace ;
The Pulpit Stairs of Rurutu.
Besides these volumes he wrote many essays and
numberless newspaper articles on the subject of peace.
But that which will longest endure and perpetuate his
memory was his plan for a Congress of Nations, to con-
stitute a permanent international high court for the
settlement of disputes. He induced the American
Peace Society, which he had been the means of or-
ganizing, and of which he was the first president, to
offer a prize of one thousand dollars for the best essay
on the subject of international peace. Aboutforty dis-
sertations were submitted to a committee, consisting of
Joseph Story, William Wirt and John C. Calhoun, who
did not agree upon a successful competitor, but advised
the publication of the five best essays. A. second
committee, composed of John Quincy Adams, James
Kent and Daniel Webster, failing to agree as to the
best essay, the society chose a committee of their
own body to select the five best productions for pub-
lication, to which Mr. Ladd was instructed to add the
132 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
sixth. This resulted in the publication, in 1840, of a
large, handsome volume of seven hundred pages, the
largest volume on the subject of peace that had ever
been published on either side of the Atlantic. It
attracted much attention, and was judiciously distrib-
uted in this country and among the crowned heads
and statesmen of Europe.
Mr. Ladd's essay developed the scheme of a Con-
gress of Nations more perfectly than any of the
others, and stands, as has been observed, the best
exponent and argument on the subject.
He says :
My claim to originality in this production rests much on the
thought of separating the subject into two distinct parts, viz. :
1st. A Congress of Ambassadors from all those Christian and civ
ilized nations who should choose to send them, for the purpose of
settling the principles of international law by compact and agree-
ment, of the nature of a mutual treaty, and also of devising and pro-
moting plans for the preservation of peace, and meliorating the
condition of man.
2nd. A Court of Nations, composed of the most able civilians in
the world, to arbitrate or judge such cases as should be brought
before it, by mutual consent of two or more contending nations ; thus
dividing entirely the diplomatic from the judicial functions. I con-
sider the Congress as the legislature, and the Court as the judiciary,
in the government of nations, leaving the functions of the executive
with public opinion, the Queen of the World. This division, he
adds, I have never seen in any essay or plan for a Congress or diet
of independent nations, either ancient or modern ; and I believe it
will obviate all objections which have been heretofore made to such
a plan.
Dr. Edward Everett Hale, in an address delivered
at an arbitration conference at Mohonk, New York, in
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 133
1895, emphasizes this thought of a permanent court
or tribune, and says: "The public opinion of the
world would confirm the opinion of that court."
Immediately following the organization of the Amer-
ican Peace Society, in 1828, was begun the publica-
tion of the Harbinger of Peace, a monthly magazine
of twenty-four pages, which was edited by Mr. Ladd
for three years in his sanctum at Minot, on "Center
Hill," and published in New York. As first president,
general agent, and also corresponding secretary of the
American Peace Society, he may well call it, "his
only very, very, dear beloved daughter," to whose
service he gave all the energies of his intensely active
life, time, affections, talents, prayers, labors and prop-
erty. By personal interviews with the President of
the United States, and statesmen, he urged upon their
attention the consideration of international peace.
To the rulers of Europe he wrote with glowing zeal in
the advocacy of an universal peace among all nations,
and by his indefatigable labors and masterly presenta-
tion of the subject of peace, he drew around him a
coterie of many of the ablest men of the nation.
Such men as Elihu Burritt, William Lloyd Garrison,
Rev. Dr. Humphrey, president of Amherst College,
Rev. George C. Beckwith, Rev. Thomas C. Upham,
D. D., Charles Sumner, and many others, acknowledged
him their peer, and sat as disciples at his feet in his
lofty conceptions of the principles of a perpetual
peace among the nations of the earth.
Mr. Ladd, in forwarding an elegant volume of the
Essays on a Congress of Nations to Queen Victoria,
134 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
addressed a letter to her, in which he alludes to
the " Madawaska " incident. The following is an
extract :
May it please your Majesty :
The American Peace Society, encouraged by the gracious recep-
tion which a letter from them to your Majesty's illustrious predeces-
sor and uncle, William the Fourth, met with from him, now
venture to approach your Majesty on the same important subject.
A Congress of Nations for the settlement of the principles of interna-
tional law, and the organization of a Court of Nations, to determine
all cases which may be brought before it, has been the object of the
Peace Society ever since its organization. It is not to be expected
that in the compass of a letter the details of the plan can be devel-
oped ; therefore, the American Peace Society has taken the liberty
to present to your Majesty a volume of Prize Essays on this subject.
The peculiar position of Great Britain and the United States,
which threatens a war between two of the most enlightened nations
of the world, for an inconsiderable portion of wilderness, calls aloud
for the examination of a plan calculated to remedy forever such a
state of things.
By order of the American Peace Society,
WILLIAM LADD, President.
The Queen's reply, through her Foreign Secretary,
was as follows :
FOREIGN OFFICE, Sept. 3, 1840.
Sir:
I have laid before the Queen the address to her Majesty, which,
on behalf of the American Peace Society, you placed in my hands
some time ago : and I am to acquaint you that her Majesty was very
graciously pleased to receive the said address, and the volume of
Prize Essays which accompanied it.
With reference to the objects of the society, as developed in your
letter, and in the Prize Essays, I beg to assure you that her
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD. 135
Majesty has nothing more at heart than the preservation of peace
and the promotion of harmony and friendship among nations.
I am sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
PALMERSTON.
WILLIAM LADD, ESQ.,
Minot, State of Maine.
Mr. Ladd left the impress of his individuality and
untiring zeal in the cause of peace on the hearts of
his contemporaries, as is evidenced by the following
extracts from letters in the compilation made by Mr.
John Hemmenway, his biographer, in 1872. They
are but a few of the many tributes to his memory ;
From Rev. Elijah Jones, of Center Minot, Maine :
As a writer, perhaps no person among us has wielded a more
powerful pen. His writings all bear marks of intrinsic excellence.
. . . The name of William Ladd will stand in history among
the benefactors of our race.
From Hon. William Lowell, West Minot, 1870:-
He spent much of his energies and property in the advocacy of
peace, and to avoid the calamities of war, which, if carried out by a
Congress of Nations, as he labored to establish, would be the per-
petuation of a cause that would rank among the most philanthropic
and to him who instituted it an imperishable name.
From Rev. Thomas C. Upham, New York, 1871 :
He was the Philanthropist of the nineteenth century
From Hon. John Neal, Portland, Maine, 1871 :
He was one of the best men I ever knew ; honest, faithful and
sincere in whatever he did or said. With large views, a subdued
enthusiasm, and a generous heart, he was calculated to do great
good and he did it for mankind and his Master.
From his namesake, Rev. William Ladd Jones,
California, 1871 :
136 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
His memory is blessed. Among the privileges of my early years,
I count it by no means one of the least that I knew William Ladd.
From Rev. Samuel J. May, Syracuse, New York,
1871:-
He was one of the most genial, lively men I ever knew, full of
useful information and pertinent anecdotes. . . . He was never
daunted by opposition, nor disheartened by indifference under the
most discouraging circumstances.
From Rev. Howard Malcolm, D. D., president of the
American Peace Society, Philadelphia, 1871 :
My only recollections of him are, his fine personal appearance,
his admirable simplicity of manner in his public addresses, and his
disinterestedness. He received nothing as pay, worked hard, and
wonderfully roused up the public.
From William Lloyd Garrison, Boston, 1871 :
Amiable and winning in social intercourse hopeful, enthusiastic,
indefatigable in the pursuit of his object, ... I dedicated to
him the following Sonnet, which was printed in the first volume
of The Liberator :
The conquerors of the earth have had their day
Their fame lies weltering in a bloody shroud ;
As Crime and Desolation haste away,
So fade their glory and their triumphs proud.
Great Advocate ! a fairer wreath is thine,
Base Envy cannot soil, nor Time destroy ;
Thou art enlisted in a cause divine,
Which yet shall fill all earth and heaven with joy.
As a lecturer and organizer of peace societies, he
was an unwearied and persistent laborer. Possessed
of a remarkable personality, a magnetism, subtile as the
odor of a flower, and as indescribable, he was a power
to be felt. The charm of his utterances held great
audiences spellbound and carried them away captive
to his fervid eloquence.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM LADD.
137
[o city was too large or town too small for the
organization of a peace society, and in his own town of
Minot such a society was formed and a list of seven-
teen subscribers secured to the peace organ of the
national society.
His field of operation was mainly in the New Eng-
land states, New York and Pennsylvania. A Western
tour was in contemplation when his further philan-
thropic labors were suddenly brought to an end by
the hand of death, just as he had begun to see some
of the fruits of his arduous and unremitting efforts of
eighteen years in the cause of peace, and when he
thought that the sentiments that had so absorbed his
heart were becoming more fully understood and
accepted in this, and the nations of Europe.
Returning from an extended lecture tour of intense
labor, speaking sitting, or on his knees, when he could
not stand on his feet, he reached his winter home at
Portsmouth in the evening of April 9, 1841, and
almost immediately expired, at the age of sixty-three
years.
The moss-embellished marble, erected by the society
he founded, in the old south cemetery, of that " old
town by the sea," Portsmouth, New Hamphire, marks
the resting-place of Captain William Ladd, Philan-
thropist and Apostle of Peace. His " very, very dear
daughter," the American Peace Society is still alive,
vigorous and active.
The war sentiment is noisy, demonstrative, persis-
tent. It demands more war ships, more fortifications,
more guns, more soldiers. But never since man began
138 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to inhabit the earth has there been so world embrac-
ing a philanthropy as now, so much intelligent
Christianity and clear conception of the brotherhood
of man.
THE ROGERS FAMILY OF GEORGETOWN.
NO. II.
BY HON. JOSIAH H. DRUMMOND.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, October 27, 1898.
IN my former article, l I said :
From all the evidence, I conclude that this Rogers family " came
over " in 1720 or 1721, probably with the Crombies and Cochranes,
and settled at Londonderry, New Hampshire ; that some of the chil-
dren went to other places in quest of employment ; and the old peo-
ple moved to Georgetown in 1737, with the most of their family.
I based my conclusions as to the time when they
went to Georgetown, upon the town records, which
began in 1738. 1 was not then aware that there had
been a town of " Georgetown on Arrowsick Island,"
that had had a record which had been lost. The exis-
tence of such a record before 1738 destroys the pre-
sumption upon which my conclusion was based.
Further than that, Rev. Henry 0. Thayer has
kindly called my attention to certain deeds and court
records, which show that this family came to George-
town (as it was in 1738) soon after their arrival in
this country in 1720 or 1721.
Royall and Tyler, April 2, 1720, sold to " Thomas
Rogers of Arrowsick Island, merchant," two hundred
1 Maine Historical Society Quarterly, Volume VIII, pp. 96 and 193.
THE ROGERS FAMILY OF GEORGETOWN. 139
and fifty acres of land out of a tract bounded southerly
on land of Sylvanus Davis. York Deeds, Book
X, p. 43.
On April 4, 1722, one Ayers, a deputy sheriff, com-
plained to the court at York, that he had been threat-
ened and abused, while in the performance of his
official duty, by eight persons named, among whom
were Samuel Rogers and William Rogers.
York C. C. P. Records, Volume VII, p. 45.
And in July following, "Samuel Rogers, formerly a
resident of Georgetown," with another, was fined ten
shillings for threatening a deputy sheriff. Ibid, p. 52.
It is very certain that this Thomas and this Samuel
were not sons of George 1 9 for they were too old. I
have found no allusion to Samuel in any later record
pertaining to Georgetown ; and, except the record of
the deed by which he conveyed his real estate in
1726, the same is true of Thomas. Whether either of
them was a brother of George l is a matter of pure
conjecture, unless the fact that George 2 and Wil-
liam 2 each named a son Thomas may be evidence.
Whatever may be the fact as to relationship, they dis-
appeared from Georgetown.
By deed dated November 24, 1726, " Thomas
Rodgers of George Town, merchy conveyed to
" George Rodgers of George Town, farmer," the two
hundred and fifty acres of land " situate in Kennebec,"
which he (Thomas) bought of Royall and Tyler on the
second day of April, 1720. This deed is signed,
" Tho s Rodgers," is witnessed by Patrick Rodgers and
Samuel M Cobb (quite certainly Samuel McCobb),
140 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and was recorded June 27, 1729. York Deeds, Book
XIII, p. 64.
The history of this lot of land has much interest.
It was owned by John Parker, who purchased on the
west side of the Kennebec.
On January 30, 1684-85, John Parker of Kennebec,
fisherman, with the consent of Margaret, his wife, in
consideration of love and affection for Sarah, his
daughter, " now wife of William Baker of sd Kenne-
bec, House Carpenter," and for her dowry, conveyed to
said William and Sarah a tract of land, described as
already laid out, and bounded southerly by land of
Capt. Sylvanus Davis. York Deeds, Book IV, p. 73.
On May 20, 1719, John Baker conveyed one-half of
the same land by precisely the same description to
Royall and Tyler to be divided and they to have
" which halfe they please." Book IX, p. 190.
No deed is found from William and Sarah Baker to
John Baker ; and he must have obtained his title as
their heir.
Royall and Tyler conveyed, April 2, 1720, to
" Thomas Rodgers of Arrowsick Island, merchant,"
two hundred and fifty acres out of their half of this
land, as they " shall agree, or to be set out by indif-
erent persons.'' Book X, p. 43.
Then in 1726, Thomas Rodgers conveyed it to
George Rodgers.
In August, 1727, George Rogers, with another, was
arrested and held to answer for not appearing to
testify on S. Denny's presentment.
York C. C. P. Records, Vol. VII, p. 137.
THE ROGERS FAMILY OF GEORGETOWN. 141
George Rogers and William Rogers, farmers, "of a
place called Augusta," now Phipsburg, are among the
grantees from Arthur Noble, June 10, 1736, of half an
acre of land at Pleasant Cove for a meeting-house,
" for none other use or uses but for the public worship
of God, according to the form of dissapline used in the
Church of Scotland."
William Rogers was appointed, November 3, 1737,
on a' committee to lay out roads.
These records settle conclusively that George
Kogers 1 was living in Georgetown as early as 1726 ;
and as William 2 was there in 1722, and Patrick 2 as
early as that, we must conclude that the family came
there about 1721.
As William 2 married his wife in Londonderry about
1728, the presumption is that there was an acquaintance
between his family and the Londonderry families;
other marriages indicate the same thing : all the cir-
cumstances point to the conclusion that George
Rogers 1 and his family came with the Scotch-Irish that
settled in Londonderry ; and that instead of remaining
there some years, as I concluded when I wrote my
former article, they very soon came to Georgetown,
now Phipsburg, and settled there.
It would also follow that the first four children of Wil-
liam 2 (George 1 ) were not born in Londonderry as I
stated was probably the case, but, with the others,
were born in Georgetown.
I notice that exception has lately been taken to the
application of the term "Scotch-Irish" to these people,
with the claim that this term is a " misnomer." I do
142 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
not agree; the term has been too long in use and
ought not to be misunderstood. When we say that a
man is " English," we mean that he was born in Eng-
land. The people, to whom the term in question has
been applied, were born in Ireland, and would be
naturally called Irish : but they were of Scotch parent-
age or ancestry and so to distinguish them from those
of Irish ancestry, they were early called " Scotch-
Irish." Rev. Robert Rutherford received the degree
of Master of Arts in Glasgow University, March 9,
1708 ; in the record he is styled a " Scoto-Irishman."
The " Scotch-Irish Society of America," which has
already published eight volumes of its annual proceed-
ings, is composed of members from all over the
country, and no one of them has put himself on
record as objecting to the name. Its membership is
limited by its constitution to descendants of the
" Scotch-Irish," and I have never heard of a case in
which there was any uncertainty as to the meaning of
the term. I cannot, therefore, modify my former
article in this respect.
A log book has recently been discovered, containing
a brief autobiography of John Rogers 3 , William 2
(George 1 ). He states that his mother, Dinah (Rankin)
Rogers, died in childbirth, the child dying also ; he
says, also, that his step-mother had three children,
two of which died in infancy.
In other respects his account of the family agrees
with that which I have given. *
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 143
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S
CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGIMENT.
BAGADUCE EXPEDITION, 1779.
BY NATHAN GOOLD.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, October 7, 1898.
[Concluded.]
WILLIAM MOODY of Falmouth, kept a journal during
his service in Col. Mitchell's regiment, recording each
day the events that came under his observation. It is
worthy of preservation. Mr. Moody was the drummer
of Capt. Peter Warren's company. He had served in
Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st regiment of foot at
Cambridge in 1775, in Capt. Abner Lowell's Matross
company at Falmouth Neck in 1776, 1777 and 1778,
and in Capt. Joseph Pride's company in Col. Joseph
Prime's regiment at the same place in 1780. He was
in the service in the early part of 1781, and went on
a cruise in the privateer Fox, in April of that year.
Mr. Moody was the son of Enoch and Ann (Weeks)
Moody of Falmouth, and was born February 16, 1756.
He married Mary Young, in 1783, and had children,
Enoch, William and Nancy. He married for his sec-
ond wife, Rachel Riggs in 1804, and had a son,
Edward. He died February 16, 1821, aged sixty-five
years. His father, Enoch Moody, was the chairman
of the committee at Falmouth in the Revolution, and
his four brothers, Enoch, Jr., Benjamin, Nathaniel and
Lemuel, were Revolutionary soldiers.
144 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
William Moody was a thoughtful and observing
man to whom we should feel grateful for chronicling
his experiences for our instruction.
WILLIAM MOODY' S JOURNAL.
1779.
July 2. A detachment of 40 men to go to Major Bag aDuce.
3. Turned out as a Volunteer to go to Penobscot with Capt.
Peter Warren.
9. Turned out in the morning for Exercise.
10. Our Regt. paraded and arranged Capt. Warren's the first
company.
14. The transports with 2 brigs & a sloop, a prize with 10 guns,
arrived here to carry the Troops. Drew one day's allowance.
15. Drew 4 days' allowance.
16. Our Company embarked on board the sloop [Centurion]
and hauled off, Capt. [William] McLellan master. [He was a son
of Brice McLellan of Falmouth Neck.]
17. On shore to draw allowance and took it. Stayed all night.
19. I went on board of the Sloop Centurion [80^- tons] at sun-
rise. Embarked for Majibigwaduce. Weighed anchor at 8 oclock.
Capt. [Abner] Lowell fired an 18 pounder for all hands on board.
Arrived at Townsend [Boothbay] at 6 oclock.
20. Last night a soldier fired a gun and blowed his hand off,
died. The Hampden a 20 gun ship arrived.
21. Went ashore to prayers. Parson [Thomas] Lancaster
prayed and we sang. Between 30 & 40 sail of armed ships &
Transports at Townsend.
22. Regt. paraded ashore and Gen. [Solomon] Lovell reviewed
them.
24. Admiral [Dudley Saltonstall] fired a gun about 4 oclock,
the whole fleet under sail. Came to anchor at 9 o'clock at night
under the Upper Fox Island.
25. Made sail for Bagaduce at 8 oclock. Came to anchor in
Penobscot. The enemy fired from the shore with muskets. The
ships ran in by the Forts and fired many broadsides. Seven of our
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 145
boats that went to land got almost ashore. The enemy lay in
ambush and fired upon us and killed an indian.
26. Our vessels warped in. We embarked our boats at 12
oclock. Kept off and on till sunset. [It is stated that the time
was about 6 o'clock.] Come under the Admiral's [Frigate War-
ren] stern, then put off for an island [Nautilus] within point blank
shot of the enemy's fort. As our boats were going across, the
enemy sunk one boat by a (chain) shot and Major Daniel Littlefield
[of Wells] and two others were drowned.
28. At day-break had orders to land under cover of our guns on
board the shipping. Commenced landing half an hour before sun-
rise. The enemy lay in ambush and firing upon us killed 1 capt.
[probably Major Welch] of marines belonging to the Admiral and
several others. We took 3 prisoners and killed 7. Have posses-
sion of the ground and soon hope to have all their works. * 2 men
wounded, one lost his leg and the other his arm. Went over to
the Island after [Samuel] Knight. He was sick there.
29. The enemy throw shells. Loss and wounded in the attack
[of 28th] about 30. Lost 1 man this afternoon.
30. Hauled up on the hill [over the high bluff where they
landed] 2 eighteen pounders. A deserter came in from the enemy
last night ; he says the British force does not exceed 350. [This
was not one half of the number of their men.]
31. Two seamen wounded with a shell who belongs to the
Active. One of the marines belonging to the [frigate] Warren
deserted to the enemy. Last night went out with a detachment of
88 men. Marched on to the parade at sunset and kept under arms
till 2 o'clock [A.M.]. We then attacked one of the enemy's
redoubts which we carried with the loss of a few men. We killed
several of the enemy and took 18 prisoners. Capt. [Nathan] Mer-
rill of our Regt. took one prisoner, a corporal of the enemy.
1 The above was the gallant assault made by the four hundred marines and
militia over the precipitous bank at " Trask's Rock," and which was over in
twenty minutes. The large granite boulder on the shore, now called " Trask's
Rock," was named for a flt'er-boy named Israel Trask, who took shelter behind it,
playing his fife while his comrades made the ascent. It was said that he did not
lose a note of the tune he was playing during the -whole time. Capt. John
Hinkley of Georgetown, of Col. McCobb's regiment, was killed while standing
on this rock urging on the men.
VOL. X. 11
146 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Sunday, Aug. 1. Major [Samuel] Sawyer of the York
[county] forces mortally wounded. He died this day.
2. Mr. Wheeler Riggs [of Falmouth Neck] was killed this
afternoon. One of the train badly wounded. Buried Mr. Riggs
very decently. [He was stooping over fixing a gun carriage when
a cannon ball hit a tree near, glanced and struck him on the back of
his neck. He was the only Falmouth soldier killed in the expedi-
tion.]
3. Gen. Lovell sent a flag to the lines to enquire after a Lieut,
of Marines belonging to the Vengence who was missing after the
battle of Sunday last [Aug. 1] . The answer returned was that the
Lieut, was wounded in battle and died yesterday.
Wed. 4. Three of Capt. [Nehemiah] Curtis' men deserted.
William Harper had a musket ball shot through his coat by the
enemy while on picket guard.
5. An indian killed by the enemy, one taken prisoner. Capt.
[David] Bradish from Falmouth to see us.
6. Capt. Bradish and his crew left us. [He was sent to
Boston.]
7. Smart cannonading. Marched down towards the fort of the
enemy about three o'clock. A party of about 100 sallied out.
Gen. Lovell ordered a retreat to draw them out, but they imme-
diately ran back to their entrenchment. One man belonging to Col.
[Samuel] McCobb's Regt. wounded.
Monday, 9. Attempted to land on Hyannis Point, opposite the
enemy, but were prevented by the annoyance of the enemy in
ambush.
11. Last night [10th] 20 of Major (Nathaniel) Cousins' Regt.
deserted. One of the enemy deserted.
12. Major Cousins' men brought back last night.
13. Made another demonstration upon the lines of the enemy,
but could not bring on an engagement. Capt. Woodman slightly
wounded. [It is not known who he was. Perhaps the writer
made a error in the name.]
14. News that the fleet of the enemy are at the mouth of the
the [Penobscot] Bay. We began our retreat about one o'clock.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 147
Ran with our Ships and Transports to Fort Penobscot and called on
the Commissary for provisions. The enemy in sight and under
cloud of sail. Some of our Ships are taken and some are run
ashore. I took the boats and went on board the Centurion for
provisions and then put ashore, landed it and then took off the men.
Our people set fire to the shipping and then took to the woods. Our
company [Capt. Peter Warren's] encamped in the woods. Took
what provisions we could carry. Had 4 prisoners to guard.
Sunday, 15. Took up our line of march at daybreak, lost our
way and came across about 200 of our Regt. and sailors and
marines. Went across a large meadow ; struck a road in the woods
and kept on till 7 o'clock ; took breakfast and proceeded on to
Belfast where we arrived at 12 o'clock. Exceedingly warm.
Came to a river and crossed in canoes. Capt. Warren purchased 2
sheep and paid 18 dollars for them. Took dinner. Arrived at a
fine plantation and had a good dish of tea. Gen. [Peleg] Wads-
worth and Capt. [Ebenezer] Buck supped with us. Had a fine
barn to sleep in and rested comfortably.
16. Marched early through marshes, beaches and thick woods,
over mountains and valleys to Ducktrap [Northport] where we
arrived, the sun an hour high. P. M. One of our prisoners
deserted this morning.
17. Set off early and traveled by the shore. Halted by Gen.
Wadsworth's orders. Arrived at the westerly part of Camden at 1
o'clock. The place called Clam Cove. [Went to] Headquarters
and drew an allowance of fresh beef. Turned out a Sergeant's
Guard and took possession of a large barn for our barracks.
18. Heard that Gen. Lovell and Admiral Saltonstall were taken
by the enemy. [A rumor only.] Capt. [William] Cobb and his
company arrived here at 12 o'clock. [Daniel] Mussey started for
Falmouth.
19. Mr. [Somers] Shattuck and Stephen Tukey arrived this
morning, says Woodbury Storer was taken on board the Hampden.
Mr. Shattuck and Houchin Tukey started for home. Order for
Capt. Warren to march to West Shore South West Gigg. [Stephen
Tukey was the son of John and Abigail (Sweetser) Tukey of
148 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Falmouth Neck, and was born July 6, 1754, married, in 1780,
Hannah Gushing, and died July 8, 1826. He was the writer's
great grandfather. Houchin Tukey was his brother.]
20. Marched to Col. [Mason] Wheaton's, 6 miles. Set a cor-
poral's guard. Here is a double saw mill and grist mill.
Sunday, 22. Lieut. [Peter] Babb set off for home or Falmouth
with some four men because we had no provisions. [Zach.] Baker,
[John] Clough, Thomas Harper, [Benjamin] Mussey and myself
[William Moody] started for St. George between 11 and 12
o'clock.
24. Arrived at New Meadows and put up at one Capt. Curtis'
where we were hospitably entertained.
26. Capt. Warren arrived home, [and probably the whole
company] .
Among the curious facts concerning the Bagaduce
Expedition worthy of attention, are the bills of Thad-
deus Broad and Joanna Frost, two famous Falmouth
tavern keepers of the time, " for victualling" the
retreating soldiers and sailors. Broad's account
amounted to eighty-nine pounds, fourteen shillings,
and Mrs. Frost's was for one hundred and eighty-six
meals at twelve shillings each, amounting to one
hundred eleven pounds, twelve shillings.
Sir John Moore, who was killed at Corunna, Spain,
in 1806, made famous by his funeral ode, was a
lieutenant in the Eighty-second regiment of the
British Army, and was on the British picket line
when the attack was made.
It was from under one of the Bagaduce batteries
that Commodore Edward Preble a then a young lieuten-
ant on the Winthrop, later in the war made that
brilliant capture of the British brig.
GEN. PELEG WADSWORTH.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 149
Fort George, at Castine, is now one of the best pre-
served forts of the Revolutionary period, from the
fact that it was restored for use in the war of 1812.
There were seven additional batteries erected by the
British on Bagaduce Point during the Revolutionary
war. It was from Fort George that Gen. Wadsworth
made his celebrated and remarkable escape in June,
1781, which is fully recorded in President Dwight's
Travels in New England, the facts no doubt coming
from the General himself.
Probably the remarkable success of the militia in
the Louisburg Expedition, in 1745, had much to do
with the assurance of the people in embarking in the
hastily formed Bagaduce Expedition, in 1779. Many
of the veterans of the siege of Louisburg were then
living, and their sons thought themselves no less
gallant than their fathers. In fact, the success at
Louisburg had much to do with the assurance of the
colonists that they could gain their independence
from England and no doubt stimulated them, espec-
ially in New England, to make the attempt.
The next year after the Bagaduce expedition, Gen.
Wadsworth was placed in command of the Depart-
ment of Maine> and with Col. Joseph Prime's regiment
of our state guarded .our coast and Penobscot Bay.
No further attempt was made to dislodge the British
at Castine, and there they remained until December,
1783, when they evacuated the place, as peace had
been declared and the war was over.
The following are copies of the original pay-rolls
that are now on file in the State House at Boston.
150 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
OFFICERS OF THE ARMY.
"A Pay Abstract of the Genl and Staff Officers of the Penobscot
Expedition for the Con'l pay, 1779."
Entered Service. Wages per Month.
Solomon Lovell, Brig. Genl, July 2 37 lOsh.
P. Wadsworth, do. "8 37 10 "
Eliphalet Downer, Surg. Genl., " 8 22 10 "
Go wen Brown, Brigade Major, " 2 22 4 "
William Todd, do. " 2 22 4 "
Jeremiah Hill, Adjt. Genl. "2 15
John Marston, Secy. "2 15
John Tyler, Q. M. Genl. "2 22 10 "
G. W. Speakman, Corny of Ord., " 8 15
Benja. Fill-ness, D. Q. M., " 2 12
J. Bobbins, D. C. of Ord., " 8 12
And 3 servants as privates 2
The originals of the above pay-roll are in the Massa-
chusetts Archives, Vol. XXXVII, Pages 93 and 131.
COL. JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT.
" A Pay Roll for Field and Staff officers in a Regiment of militia
Raised in the County of Cumberland, commanded by Jona. Mitchell
Esq., in the service of the United States against the enemy at
Penobscot in 1779, for Continental Pay."
Entered service. Discharged. Wages.
Jonathan Mitchell, Colo., July 1 Sept. 25 45
Nathaniel Jordan, Lieut. Colo., "6 "25 40
Jacob Brown, 1st Major, " 6 " 25 35
Nathaniel Larrabee, 2d Major, " 6 " 25 35
Thomas Lancaster, Chaplain, " 6 Aug. 10, at Penobscot, 40
Nathaniel Jones, Surgeon, " 6 died, Sept, 4 40
Benja Porter, Sr., Surgeon's Mate, " 6 Sept. 4 30
Gideon Meserve, Adjutant, " 6 " 25 30
Enoch Frost, Sergt. Major, " 6 " 25 30
Nathaniel Hinkley, Qr. Master, "6 "25 25
North Yarmouth, Dec. 10, 1779.
JONA. MITCHELL, Colo.
The wages are as given on the last roll, evidently a
corrected one. The original rolls are in the Massachu-
setts Archives, Volume XXXVII, pages 103 and 137.
COLONEL JONATHAN MTTCHELL's KEGIMENT. 151
COL. JONATHAN MITCHELL.
Col. Mitchell was from North Yarmouth, and had
served in the French and Indian War. He was an
ensign in Col. Samuel Waldo, Jr.'s, regiment in 1762,
and later a lieutenant. At Falmouth Neck he was
prominent in the Revolution, and March 29, 1776,
was chosen colonel to succeed Gen. Joseph Frye in
command there. He was also colonel of the Second
Cumberland County militia regiment, besides com-
manding this one at Bagaduce.
Jonathan Mitchell was the son of Deacon Jacob and
Mary .f Rowland) Mitchell and was born in 1724. He
was a blacksmith, came from Kingston about 1743,
and married Sarah Loring. They had several children.
LIEUT. COL. NATHANIEL JORDAN.
Lieut. Col. Jordan was a son of Maj. Dominicus and
Joanna (Bray) Jordan, and was born at Spurwink,
December 24, 1718; married, August 2, 1740, Hannah
Woodbury of Beverly, and had nine children.
He served in the French and Indian War, serving as
ensign in Capt. Dominicus Jordan's Snowshoe com-
pany in 1744, in the same captain's Training Company
in 1757, and was first major and lieutenant colonel of
the 1st. Cumberland County militia regiment in
1776, and later, and served in this regiment in 1779,
also commanded the militia at Falmouth Neck after
the discharge of this regiment.
1ST MAJOR JACOB BROWN.
Major Brown was from North Yarmouth and mar-
ried, July 13, 1743, Lydia Weare, daughter of Capt.
Peter and Sarah (Felt) Weare.
152 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
He was a lieutenant in Col. Samuel Waldo, Jr's.
regiment in 1764, enlisted, April 24, 1775, as major
in Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, in
the 18th Continental regiment in 1776, and in this
regiment in 1779.
2D MAJOR NATHANIEL LARRABEE.
Major Larrabee was the son of Capt. Benjamin and
Mary (Eilthorpe) Larrabee of Brunswick, and was born
in Fort George, December 23, 1729, married, in 1758,
Elizabeth Harding, and was town clerk and selectman
of his town for many years. He commanded a com-
pany on the seacoastat Falrnouth in 1775, was a major
in the 2d. Cumberland County militia regiment in
1776 and served in this in 1779. The following
is a copy of his appointment in Col. Mitchell's
regiment.
Major Larrabee :
Sir : I have orders to rase a Regement out of my Brigade to go
to penobscot in order to Dislodge the Enemy there, I do therefore
appoint you Second major of Said Regemeut and expect you will
hold yourself In Readyness to march at the shortest notice.
SAMUEL THOMPSON Brigdr.
To Major Nathl. Larrabee.
CHAPLAIN THOMAS LANCASTER.
Chaplain Lancaster was a native of Rowley, Massa-
chusetts, and was the son of Capt. Thomas and Dorothy
(Northend) Lancaster, having been born, January
24, 1743. He graduated at Harvard College, in 1764,
settled at Scarborough as minister of the First church,
November 8, 1775, where he was pastor for fifty -five
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 153
years. His first marriage was to Lydia Jones, a daugh-
ter of Dr. Benjamin and Mary (Woodbury) Jones of
Beverly, Massachusetts, and she was a sister to Sur-
geon Nathaniel Jones of this regiment. His second
marriage was to Esther (Libby) Libby, the widow of
Mathias. He had Sally, Sewall, Thomas, Jr., Mary,
Dorothy, who died when a young lady, and several
children who died in infancy. He died, January 12,
1831, aged eighty-seven years.
SURGEON NATHANIEL JONES.
Surgeon Jones went from Cape Elizabeth. He was
born February 8, 1743, and was the son of Dr. Benja-
min and Mary (Woodbury) Jones of Beverly, Massa-
chusett. He married, in 1766, Sarah Dodge of Ipswich
and had seven children. He moved to Cape Elizabeth
in 1765, and lived there near the ferry landing, be-
coming one of the leading patriots of the town. He
was a committee of correspondence and delegate to
the Cumberland County Congress. He died from ex-
posure in the retreat with his regiment from
Bagaduce, September 4, 1779, aged thirty-six years.
SURGEON'S MATE BENJAMIN JONES PORTER.
Surgeon's Mate Porter went from Topsham. He
was the son of Capt. "Billy" Porter of the llth Mas-
sachusetts regiment from Beverly, Massachusetts. He
married Elizabeth L. King, daughter of Richard King,
and practised medicine in Scarborough, Westbrook and
Portland. He was " a man of rare conversational
powers and great suavity of manners," was a member
154 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of the governor's council and senator from Lincoln
County. He removed to Camden in 1829 and died
August 18, 1847, aged eighty-four years.
ADJ. GIDEON MESERVE.
Adj. Meserve went from Scarborough, and was the
son of Deacon Daniel and Mehitable (Bragdon) Me-
serve. He was born June 31, 1749; married, about
1775, Elizabeth Fogg, and had eleven children.
SERGT. MAJOR ENOCH FROST.
Sergt. Major Frost went from Gorham. He was a
retailer there and married, April 24, 1780, Alice
Davis, and had Rufus, who died in infancy, Cyrus,
Rebecca, Polly, Mason, Coleman, Nathaniel Bowman,
Patty and Cyrus for children.
QUARTERMASTER NATHANIEL HINKLEY.
He went from Brunswick, and was, perhaps, son of
Samuel and Sarah (Miller) Hinkley.
He served in Capt. Richard Mayberry's Company in
Col. Ebenezer Francis' Regiment at Dorchester in
1776 and also in this regiment in 1779.
CAPT. PETER WARREN'S COMPANY.
This company was raised at Falmouth Neck, now
Portland.
Capt. Warren came from Somersworth, New Hamp-
shire, and was a cordwainer. He married first, April
16, 1775, Thankful Briggs of Falmouth, and had a
daughter who married Capt. Jonathan Tucker. Mrs.
Warren died February 27, 1777, aged twenty-five
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 155
years. He married second, December 30, 1778, Anne
Proctor, daughter of Benjamin, and lived on Fore
Street between Market and Silver Streets, called now
the Market Lot. He had by this marriage seven
children, and she died November 9, 1811, aged fifty-
six years. He married third, Eunice Libby and moved
to Waterford, where he died in 1825, aged seventy-
four years. He was a prominent man at Portland and
was selectman for four years. He was sergeant in
Capt. Joseph Noyes' company at Falmouth six months
in 1775, captain of this company in 1779, and also in
Capt. Sam'l McCobb's regiment in 1781.
First Lieut. Daniel Mussey was the oldest son of
Benjamin and Abigail (Weeks) Mussey. His father
was a prominent patriot at Falmouth Neck, in the
commencement of the troubles with England. Daniel
Mussey married April 25, 1782, Betsey Baker, who
died November 25, 1835, aged seventy-seven years.
He died August 31, 1828, aged seventy-three years.
Both are buried in the Eastern Cemetery. They lived
in a story and a half house on the east corner of
Brown and Congress Streets, Portland, and the prop-
erty is still [1898] owned by his descendants. Mr.
M ussey served as third corporal in Capt. David Brad-
ish's company, in Col. Phinney's 31st regiment of
foot in 1775, at Cambridge.
Second Lieut. Peter Babb married, January 24,
1760, Ann Haskell. He was a private in Capt. John
Brackett's company in the Lexington alarm, second
lieutenant in Capt. Joseph Pride's company in Col.
Reuben Fogg's Cumberland County militia regiment,
156 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
chosen December 9, 1776 ; also in Capt. John Star-
bird's company in 1st Cumberland County regiment,
commissioned February 1, 1777; also in this regiment
at Bagaduce in 1779.
"A Pay Roll of Capt. Peter Warren's Corapy in the Battallion o'f
Malitia Commanded by Jona Mitchell, Esq. on an expedition against
Penobscot."
Falmouth, Sept. 25, 1779.
Date of Enlistment.
Peter Warren, Captain, July 1, 1779
Daniel Mussey, First Lieut., do.
Peter Babb, Second Lieut., do.
John Dole, Sergt., do.
Stephen Tukey, Sergt., do.
Isaac Mirick, Sergt., do.
Micah Sampson, Sergt., do.
Hugh McLellan, Corp., do.
John Clough, Corp., do.
Josiah Bayley, Corp., do.
Samuel Knight, Corp., do.
William Moody, Drummer, do.
William Harper, Fifer, do.
PRIVATES.
Benjamin Mussey, July 1, 1779.
Daniel Cobb, do.
David Warren, do.
Daniel Green, do.
Ebenr Owen, do.
Elijah Ward, do.
Ebenr Gustin, do.
Eleazer Whitney, do. Not joined after the retreat.
Houchin Tukey, do.
Isaac Randall, do.
Isaac Larrabee, do. Not joined after the retreat.
John Fogg, do. do.
Joseph Morse, do.
John Hans, do.
John Masury, do.
Jonathan Sawyer, do.
James Hans, do.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 157
John D. Smith,
Joseph Stanford,
Josiah Shaw,
Joseph Thomas,
Jeremiah Brackett,
John Small,
Josiah Walker,
John Roe,
James Rand,
Joseph Johnson,
Henry Waite,
Lemuel Cox,
Moses Brazier,
Nathl Moody,
Nathl Libby,
Peter Kelley,
Paul Dyer,
Richard Codman,
Richard Fassett,
Robert Poage,
Somers Shattuck,
Samuel Larrabee,
Thomas Gustin,
Woodbury Storer,
July 1, 1799
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Wheeler Riggs, do.
William Maxwell, do.
Zach Baker, do.
Total, 57 men
The wages and terms of service were as follows:
Not joined after the retreat.
Not joined after the retreat
do.
(Appointed clerk to the
Adjt. Gen.) Aug. 1.
Killed ye 7th August, 1779.
Captain, $40.00 per month, 2 n
First Lieut., $26f " " 2
Second Lieut., $26| " " 2
Sergeants, $10.00 " " 2
Corporals I #71 2
and Musicians [
Privates, $6f " " 2
Cumberland, Ss., Dec. 3, 1779, Captain Peter Warren and Daniel
Mussey made oath to the Truth of the foregoing Pay Roll for their
Company in the Expedition against Penobscot under the command of
Jonathan Mitchell, Esq., and that the several Persons borne on Said
Roll served the Time thereon mentioned.
CORAM ENOCH FKEEMAN, Justo Pads.
25 days service
25 "
25 "
18 "
18 " "
18 "
158 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The original of this roll is in the Massachusetts
Archives, Vol. XXXVII, Page 102.
CAPT. JOSHUA JORDAN'S COMPANY.
This company went from the town of Cape
Elizabeth.
Capt. Joshua Jordan was the son of Nathaniel and
Dorothy Jordan, and was born at Spurwink, in 1736.
He married March 24, 1763, Catherine Jordan, a
daughter of Richard and Katherine (Hanscom) Jordan.
They had eight children, and he died at Richmond
Island. Capt. Jordan was a training soldier in Capt.
Dominicus Jordan's company, in 1757, captain in Col.
Peter Noyes' militia regiment, November 20, 1778,
and served in this regiment.
First Lieut. Dominicus Mitchell had a wife, Anne,
and they acknowledged the covenant in the First
Parish church, Falmouth, September 7, 1766. He
served as lieutenant in Samuel Whitmore's company,
in Col. Reuben Fogg's regiment, and is said to have
gone to Peekskill, New York.
Second Lieut. Lemuel Dyer married Sarah Jones,
in 1782. He was licensed a retailer in 1783, and may
have had other service than that in this regiment.
"A Pay Eole For the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and
soldiers in Capt. Joshua Jordan's Company in Col. Jonathan Mitchell's
Regt. in an Expedition against Penobscot From the 7th of July to
the 25th of Sept. 1779- in the Continenal service."
Joshua Jordan, Capt.
Dominicus Mitchell, v 1st. Lieut.
Lemuel Dyer, 2d Lieut.
Tristum Jordan, Sergt.
Peter Sanborn, "
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 159
John Thorndick,
Sergt.
Soloman Jordan,
Abner Fickett,
Corp.
Josiah Black,
M
Dan'l Roberson,
Ebenezer Sawyer,
l(
Abraham Jordan,
Drummer.
Robert Thorndike,
Fifer.
PRIVATES.
Moses Hanson Thos. Cummins
Zachariah Leach Ebenezer Shaw
Lemuel Dyer, Jr. John Hall
Thomas Jordan David Sanborn
Joseph Maxwell Benjamin Swett
Samuel Jordan Joseph Chace
James Jordan Jacob York
John Maxwell Robert Row
William Maxwell Saml Batchlor
James Miller Richard Pierce
Zebulon Ficket John Strout
David Parker Wm. Freeman
George Strout Mark Dyer
Nath'l Cash Jacob Sawyer
Richard Wescott Ezekiel Sawyer
Enoch Strout James Mitchell
Samuel Crockett Patrick Irish
Elkeny Dyer John Fickett
John Orion Batholemo Jaxson
Eli Jaxson Isaac Dyer
Total, 53 men.
The original pay-rolls of this company are in the
Massachusetts Archives, Volume XXXVII, pages
85 and 126.
CAPT. NEHEMIAH CURTIS' COMPANY.
This company was raised in the town of Harpswell.
Capt. Nehemiah Curtis was the son of David and
Bethia Curtis, and was born in Hanover, Massachusetts,
160 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in 1733. He was a prominent man at Harpswell,
and served the town as selectman several years, and
during the Revolutionary War was a committee of
safety. He lived near Center Harpswell. His death
occurred December 26, 1816, at the age of eighty-
three years. In the old graveyard, near where he
lived, he was buried, and from his gravestone I copied
this epitaph.
A true Patriot, commanded the Militia before and during the
revolutionary war, discharged with honor & fidelity the several
offices he held & hath left an imitable pattern.
First Lieut. Isaac Hall was probably the son of
Isaac and Abigail Hall of Harpswell. His wife's name
was Joanna and he was probably the ferryman at
Sebascodegan Island.
Second Lieut. Ebenezer Stanwood belonged in
Brunswick and was a licensed innholder, 1771-1785,
and a retailer in 1793.
"A Pay Roll for Capt. Nehemiah Curtis' Company in Col. Jonathan
Mitchell's Regt in the Service of the United States in the Expedi-
tion at Penobscot from the 7th day of July to the 25th day of
September inclusive, 1779."
Nehemiah Curtis, Capt.
Isaac Hall, x 1 st Lieut.
Eben'r Stanwood, 2nd "
Marlboro Svlvester, Serg't.
Elnathan Hinkley, "
Kingsbury Eastman, "
Wm. Dunning, "
David Given, Corp.
Wm. Tarr, "
John Spear, "
Caleb Curtis, "
Ezekiel Brown, Drummer.
Daniel Webber, Fifer.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT.
161
PRIVATES.
Samuel Stanwood
Kobert Stanwood
Isaac Chase
Josiah Clark
Daniel Booker
Wm. Mallet
John Blake
James Barstow
Isaiah Booker
ISTehemiah Ward
Wm. Wilson
Joseph Ewing
Wm. McLellan
James Ross
David Doughty
Nathl Ham
John Andross
Calvin Cowen
Thos. Morgareidge
Swanzy Wilson
Nehemiah Ward, Jr.
Joseph Webber
John Ferrin
Joseph Tompson
Lemuel Rament
Mathew Martin
Joseph Webber
Peter Williams
John Crawford
Thos. Ham
Total, 73 men.
Josiah Clark, Wm. Mallet, Isaiah Booker and David
Johnson were allowed two months and eight days'
service, Joseph Ross, two months and fifteen days, and
all others, two months and eighteen days. The men
were allowed seventy-six miles travel in marching
home. Three of this company deserted, August 4,
and the History of Harpswell says some of the men
VOL. X. 12
Wm. Getchell
Stephen Rideout
Fields Coombs
Wm. Curtis
Hezekiah Coombs
Phinehas Thomson
Asa Coombs
John Jordan
James Chase
Benj. Getchel
Robert Purington
Hudson Bishop
John Linscot
Benj. Sleeper
Joseph Woodward
David Dunning
John Dunning
Abraham Rideout
Jedediah Allen
Wm. Woodside
Wm. Starboard
Hugh Dunlap
Silas Kemp
James Bibber
David Johnson
Joseph Ross
John Larrabee
Saml Hunt
Asa Millar
Abner Purington
162 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
never received any pay. There are two original pay-
rolls in the Massachusetts Archives, one in Volume
XXXV, page 251, and another in Volume XL,
page 120.
CAPT. NATHAN MERRILL'S COMPANY.
This company was raised from the towns of New
Gloucester, Windham, Gray, Poland and Turner.
They were credited with two months and seventeen
days service.
Capt. Nathan Merrill belonged in Gray and, in
1776, served as first lieutenant in Capt. Winthrop
Baston's company at the seige of Boston, in Col.
Jacob French's regiment. He was also a captain in
Col. Mitchell's regiment in 1779, and took a British
corporal prisoner at Bagaduce, July 31. He prob-
ably went from Fal mouth to Gray, and from there to
New Gloucester.
First Lieut. Edward Anderson went from Windham.
He was the son of Abraham Anderson and was born
May 10, 1753, married August 4, 1774, Mary May-
berry, a daughter of Capt. Richard and Martha
(Bolton) Mayberry ; she was born November 10, 1756,
and died May 20, 1846. aged eighty-nine years. They
had eleven sons and one daughter, and he died May
17, 1804, aged fifty-one years.
Lieut. Anderson settled at the foot of Windham
Hill, where he built a house and saw mill. He was
the first postmaster of the town, selectman and was
a colonel in the militia. His service in the army was
as lieutenant in Capt. Samuel Knight's company, July
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 163
1, 1775, and served at Falmouth six months and six-
teen days, also was second lieutenant in Capt. Thomas
Trott's company of 4th Cumberland County militia
commissioned in September, 1777, besides his service
in Col. Mitchell's regiment at Bagaduce in 1779.
Second Lieut. Peter Graffam was a son of Caleb
and Lois (Bennett) Graffam, of Windham, and was
born at Falmouth, April 3, 1742. He married, Feb-
ruary 16, 1764, Mary Wilson, and settled in New
Gloucester before 1770, where he had a sawmill. He
was a housewright and died about 1784. We know of
no other service in this army than that in Col.
Mitchell's regiment in 1779.
" Muster Koll of Capt. Nathan Merrill's Company of Militia Raised
in the County of Cumberland for the expedition against the Penobscot,
For the Service of the United States and served in a Detachment Com-
manded by Col. Jonathan Mitchell."
Marched July 8, and were discharged Sept. 25, 1779.
Nathan Merrill, Capt.
Edward Anderson, 1st Lieut.
Peter Graff urn, 2d Lieut.
John Elder, Sergt.
Richard Haden, "
Thos. Mabury, "
John Marshall. "
Asa Libby, Corp.
John Hodge, "
Joseph Elder, "
Francis Bennit, "
Isaac Cummings, Drummer
John McGuyer, Fifer
PEIVATES.
James Mabury, Saml N/evens,
Benj. Trott, Edward Ryon,
Thomas Chute, James Noyes,
Nathl Chase, Isaac Eoly,
164 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
John Mugford, Thomas Millett,
Samuel Lord, Zeptha Benson,
Samuel Toben, Joshua Strout.
George Knight, Aaron Davis,
Joseph Roberts, Job Denning,
Nemiah Allen, Saml Morgan,
Samuel Todd, Wm. Cordwell,
Samuel Bradbury, Jona Saunders,
James Allan, Wm. Libby,
Stephen Row, Job Young,
John Harris, Amos Hobbs,
Benj. Witham, Nathan Noble, Jr.
David Paul, Daniel Knight,
Joshua Clark, Benj. Jones,
Joseph Collins, Mark Andros,
James Stevens, Moses Merrill,
Samuel Tarbox, Abner Phillips,
John Chandler, Joshua Lain,
Nathl Stevens.
Total, 58 men.
The original pay-roll is in the Massachusetts Ar-
chives, Vol. XXXVII, Page 120.
CAPT. BENJAMIN LARRABEE'S COMPANY.
This company was raised in the town of Scar-
borough.
Capt. Benjamin Larrabee was the son of Benjamin
and Sarah Larrabee of Scarborough, and was born
March 23, 1740. He married, June 28, 1778, Hannah
(Hasty) Skillings, the widow of Capt. -John Skillings
of the llth Massachusetts regiment, and died April 17,
1829, aged eighty-nine years. Capt. Larrabee com-
manded a company at Falmouth Neck in October and
November 1775, served in Col/Reuben Fogg's militia
regiment, and in 1779 in Col. Mitchell's regiment.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 165
After the war, he was a colonel in the militia and
a representative to the General Court.
First Lieut. Josiah Libby was the son of Josiah and
Anna (Small) Libby of Scarborough, and was born
February 16, 1746. He married first, in 1769, Eunice
Libby; second, in 1776, Elizabeth (Parcher) Foss; and
third, Mary (Chase) Jones. He died March 1, 1824, aged
seventy-eight years. Lieut. Libby served in Capt. John
Wentworth's company, Col. Aaron Willard's regiment
in 1776 and in Col. Mitchell's regiment in 1779.
Second Lieut. Lemuel Milliken was the son of
Edward and Abigail (Norman) Milliken, of Scarbo-
rough, and married January 18, 1770, Phebe Lord.
They had at least seven children, Abraham, Mary,
Susan, Margaret, Samuel, Phebe and Jacob.
Lieut Milliken served as a sergeant in Capt. John
Rice's company in Col. Phinney's 31st regiment of
foot in 1775, and Col. Mitchell's regiment in 1779.
"A Pay Roll of Benjamin Larrabee's Company belonging to Col.
Mitchell's Regiment in ye Expedition against Penobscot."
"All marched July 9th. Discharged Sept. 12th."
Benjamin Larrabee, Capt.
Josiah Libby, 1st Lieut,
Lemuel Milliken, 2nd Lieut.
Robert Hasty, Sergt
Seth Libby,
Isaac Davis, "
Nathl Milliken,
Joseph Hodsdon, Corp.
Humphrey Hanscom, "
William McLellan, "
William Shule, "
John Martin, Drummer
Jeremiah Banks, Fifer
166
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
FBI V ATE S.
Kobert Edgscom,
Ebenr Sevey,
John Andrews,
George Newbegin,
Thos. Berry,
Simeon Beal,
Samuel Libby,
Eleazer Bria'nt,
Joel Harmon,
Elias Harmon,
Nathl Kice,
John Meserve,
George Moses,
Lemuel Jordan,
Jona. Harmon,
Joseph Waterhouse,
Increse Graffum,
David Burnam,
Levi Morrill,
Nathan Kimball.
Ezekiel Foster,
Abnor Ltint,
John Watson,
Danl Libby,
Joseph Tyler,
David Hasty,
Nathan Moses.
Daniel Stone,
Chas Runn els,
Martin Jose,
Thos McKenney,
John McKenney,
Mark Libby,
William Mars,
Joseph Brown,
John Bragdon,
Wm Gilford,
Samuel Plummer,
Joseph Ring,
Joshua Hutchins,
Soloman Larrabee,
Moses Libby,
William Mitchell,
Gibeon Plummer,
James McKenney,
Nathan Larrabee,
Simeon Fitz,
Wm Fenderson,
Roberd McKenney,
Ebenr. Boothby,
Thos. Thurston,
Thos. Tompson,
John Molton,
Samuel Holms,
Total, 64 men.
The men of this company were allowed two months
and three days service. The original pay-roll is in
the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. XXXVII, Page 89.
CAPT. WILLIAM COBB'S COMPANY.
This company was raised in Old Falmouth, on the
Presumpscot River. On the retreat they arrived at
Camden, August 18.
Capt. William Cobb was the son of Samuel Cobb,
a shipbuilder, and prominent in the affairs of Old
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 167
Falraouth in his time. He married, March 2, 1778, Eu-
nice Quimby, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Quirnby.
He became a colonel in the militia and built the large
brick house in Market Square in Portland, which was
altered into the American House and burned in 1852.
Capt. Cobb served as first lieutenant in Capt. Jesse
Partridge's company in Col. John Greaton's 3d Mas-
sachusetts regiment, eight months in the army on the
Hudson River in 1778, and as captain in Col. Mitchell's
regiment at Bagaduce in 1779.
First Lieut. Moses Merrill belonged in Old Falmouth
and married, in 1777, Jane Hutchinson. He was a
private in Capt. Samuel Noyes' company in Col.
Phinney's regiment, in 1775, and first lieutenant in
Col. Mitchell's regiment in 1779. He was alive in
1835, aged ninety years.
Second Lieut. Joshua Stevens married February
5, 1767, Susannah Sawyer. He was a sergeant in
Capt. John Brackett's company in Col. Phinney's 31st
regiment of foot in 1775, and second lieutenant in
this company in Col. Mitchell's regiment in 1779.
Ensign Nathaniel Tompson lived in Falmouth. He
was the son of Joseph Tompson and had brothers,
Edward and Joseph.
Muster Eoll of Capt. William Cobb's Company of Militia Raised in
the County of Cumberland for an expedition against Penobscot. For
the service of the United States and Served in a Detachment com-
manded by Col Jona Mitchell."
All marched July 8, and were discharged Sept. 25, 1779.
William Cobb, Capt.
Moses Merrill, 1st. Lieut.
Joshua Stevens, 2nd "
168
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Nath'l Tompson,
Amos Noyes,
Amos Merrill,
Moses Noyes,
Wm. Brackett,
James Merrill,
Josiah Lock,
Peter Cobb,
Bcnj. Mclntire,
Josiah Berrey,
Joshua Whitney,
Ensign.
Sergt.
Corp.
Drummer.
Fifer.
PRIVATES.
Nath'l Wormwell
Joseph Wormwell
Josiah Clark
Joseph Davis
Jona Knight
Benja Moody
Amos Knight
Moses Blanchard
Tobias Goold
Thos. Merrill
Israel Merrill
James Merrill, Jr.
Jona Sawyer
Nathl Tripp
John Thurlo
Nathl Patrick
Jos. Stapels
James Roberts
Stephen Dodd
Wm. Titcomb
Benj. Pettengell
David Underwood
Wm. Dodd
John Brackett
Thos. Doughty
Edmund Merrill
Edmund Merrill
James Frank
Total, 70 men.
Jr.
Ephrm. Lunt
Zachr. Merrill
James Noyes
Josiah Noyes
Nathan Lunt
Moses Adams
Robert Morrison
John Proctor
Joseph Pride
Isaac Sawyer
John Sawyer
Charles Walker
Stephen Knight
Joseph Merrill
Mark Knight
Thos. Knight
Joshua Dunn
Jona Sawyer
Amos Knight
John Merrill
Nathl Noyes
Joshua Brackett
Nathl Gordon
Saml. Swett
Peter Hammond
Page Tobey
John Brown
John Plummer
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 169
There are two original pay-rolls of this company in
the Massachusetts Archives, Volume XXXVII, pages
117 and 135.
CAPT. ALEXANDER MCLELLAN'S COMPANY.
This company was raised in Gorham, and it is said
they suffered severely in their retreat of eighty or
ninety miles through the wild and uncultivated
country and that several perished on the way.
Capt. Alexander McLellan was the son of Hugh and
Elizabeth McLellan of Gorham, and was born about
1741. He married, October 21, 1765, Margaret John-
son, a daughter of James and Jane Johnson, of
Stroudwater; she was born in 1739. Their children
were Jenny, died young ; James, died young ; Isaac,
William, Nelly, Alexander, James and Jenny. Capt.
McLellan, from overexertion, anxiety, and exposure
in the retreat from Bagaduce, was seized with a fever
and died October 4, 1779, aged about thirty-eight
years. His widow married for her second husband,
April 15, 1781, John Miller of Gorham. Rev. Elijah
Kellogg, a grandson of Capt. McLellan's sister Mary,
wrote that he was one "who was a very devil for grit."
First Lieut. Ebenezer Murch of Gorham, married in
1763, Margaret Phillips of Pepperrellboro, now Saco,
and had Joseph, Jeremiah, Isaac, John, Lydia, Moses,
Aaron, Sally, Betty and Ebenezer, Jr.
Second Lieut. Joseph Knight lived in Gorham near
South Windham, where he purchased land in 1767.
He erected a sawmill and carried on the lumbering
business. He married January 10, 1760, Lydia Libby,
170 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
a daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Libbj ofScar-
boro, who was born June 5, 1743. He was drowned
while working about his mill September 9, 1797, aged
sixty-two years. They had Lydia, Phebe, Nathaniel,
Daniel, Joseph, Nabby, Joseph, Samuel, Morris,
Winthrop and Benjamin.
"A Pay Roll for Capt. Alexander McLellan' s Company in Col.
Jonathan Mitchell's Regt. in the Expedition against the Enemy at
Penobscot it being for the pay from the Massachusetts State 1773."
All entered service July 7 and were discharged Sept. 25, 1779.
Alexander McLellan, Capt.
Ebenezer Murch, 1st Lieut.
Joseph Knight, 2nd Lieut.
Thomas Irish, Sergt.
George Strout, "
Stephen Whitney, "
John Emory, "
Daniel Whitney, Corp.
Jeremiah Hodsdon, "
Samuel File, "
Joseph McDonald, "
John Lakeman, Drummer.
PRIVATES.
Edmund Phinney, Jr. Charles McDonald
Benjamin Haskell Joseph Irish
Moses Hanscom William Meserve
John Blanchard Uriel Whitney
John Gamman Joseph Jones
Joseph Gamman Seth Harding
Samuel Murch Gershon Davis
John Phinney Daniel Whitmore
Nathl. Bacon Abner Jordan
Wm. McLellan Moses Jordan
Lazarus Rand John Elwell
James Murch William Irish
Richard Lombard James Stubbs
Prince Hamblen John Davis
John Parker Samuel Rounds
Josiah Swett William File
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 171
Peter White Joshua Davis
Daniel Whitney William Wood
Joseph Brackett Abel Whitney
John Meserve Stephen Powell
Wm. Murch Asa Thurlo
Edward Wilson John Hermon
Zachariah Weston James Huntress
John Akers Samuel Whitney
Benjamin Stevens Isaac Chase
Ebenezer Whitney James Watson
Renjamin Roberts Stephen Sawyer
John Smith
Total, 67 men,
The wages in this pay-roll are given as follows :
Captain, 30 per month
Lieutenants, 24 " "
Sergeants, 23 " "
Corporals, 22 " "
Privates, 21 " "
The original pay-roll is in the Massachusetts
Archives, Volume XXXVII, page 83, and there is
another on page 128.
CAPT. JOHN GRAY'S COMPANY.
This company was raised at North Yarmouth.
Capt. John Gray was the son of Andrew and Phebe
(Chandler) Gray and was born November 29, 1732.
He married in November, 1755, Sarah Mitchell, a
daughter of Deacon Jacob and Rachel (Lewis) (Gush,
ing) Mitchell, who died May 27, 1796, aged sixty
years. He died December 27, 1796, aged sixty-four
years. They had five boys and seven girls. He was
a shipmaster and farmer and lived at North Yarmouth.
First Lieut. John Soule was the son of Barnabas
and Jane (Bradbury) Soule and was born March 12,
172 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1740. He married first, November 30, 1763, Eliza-
beth Mitchell, a daughter of Benjamin and Mehitable
(Bragdon) Mitchell. She was born September 29,
1747, and died December 26, 1794. He married sec-
ond, October 10, 1795, Elizabeth Stanwood of Bruns-
wick, who died April 26, 1800, and he married third,
April 17, 1814, Chloe Josselyn, who died September
26, 1831. His children were Mehitable, Dorcas, Cor-
nelius, Benjamin, John, Elizabeth, Bradbury, Joanna,
Rufus, Joseph and Barnabas. He was a sea captain.
Lieut. Soule was a lieutenant in the militia at North
Yarmouth in 1776, also in Col. Mitchell's regiment in
1779, in the Bagaduce .Expedition.
Second Lieut. Ozias Blanchard was the son of
Nathaniel and Hannah (Shaw) Blanchard, and was born
in Weymouth, Massachusetts, July 31, 1742. He
married in 1769, Mercy Soule, the daughter of Barn-
abas and Jane (Bradbury) Soule, and, therefore, a sis-
ter to Lieut. John Soule of this company. She was
born November 27, 1749. They had Samuel, Jere-
miah, David, Reuben, Daniel and Olive.
Lieut. Blanchard was a sergeant in Captain George
Roger's company of the 2d Cumberland County mili-
tia regiment, and served six days fortifying Falmouth
Neck in November, 1775. He was second lieutenant in
Capt. John Worthley's company in Col. Reuben Fogg's
militia regiment, December 9, 1776, also commissioned
January 14, 1777, in Capt. John Gray's company in
the militia, and served in CoK Mitchell's regiment in
1779, two months and six days at Bagaduce. He
was a lieutenant colonel in the militia in 1792.
COLONEL JONATHAN MITCHELL'S REGIMENT. 173
" A Pay Roll for Capt. John Gray's Company in Col. Jonathan Mitch-
ell's Regt. of Militia in the Service of the United States in the Expedi-
tion at Penobscot from the 7th of July to the 12th of Sept. inclusive,
1779."
John Gray,
John Soule,
Ozias Blanchard,
Joseph Ludden,
James Pittee,
Robt. Anderson,
James Rogers,
Ezekiel Loring,
Samuel Talbot,
James Crocker,
Calvin Carver,
John Winslow,
Jacob Brown, Jr.,
Davis Woodward, Jr.,
Capt.
1st. Lieut.
2nd. "
Sergt.
Q. M. Sergt.
Corp.
Drummer.
Fifer.
Wages.
12
8, 2 sh.
8, 2 "
2, 8 "
2, 8 "
2, 8 "
2, 8 "
discharged, Aug. 23.
2, 4 sh.
died Sept. 25.
2, 4 sh.
2, 4 "
2, 4 "
2, 4 "
2, 4 "
PRIVATES.
Joe Sweetser
Seth Blanchard
Richard Stubbs, Jr.
Jonathan True
John Davis
Benj. Winslow
Saml. Lawrence
Amos Harris, Jr.
Wm. Buxton
James Pomroy
Wm. Ring
Wm. Bradbury
Josiah Wyman
Barna Soul
Joseph Humphrey
Danl. Worthley
John Oakes
Ephm. Brown
Isaac Royal, discharged Aug. 23.
Amaziah Delano
Josh Lake
Joseph Brewer
Jas. Anderson, Jr.
Edward Parker
Geo. Bartol
Danl. Carter
Burrel Tuttle
Nath. Weeks
Abner Dennison, Jr.
Tho. Sylvester
Moses Roberts, discharged Aug 25.
Levi Marston
Josiah Reed
N/athan Aldridge
Jacob Merrill
Tho. Burrows
John Drinkwater, Jr.
Edmond Titcomb, Jr.
Wm. Soul
Benaiah Fogg
174 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Nathl. Mitchell, discharged Aug. 23.Zebulon Tuttle
Danl. Mitchell, Jr. Josiah Dill
Peter Weare John Lee
Comfort Videto Wm. True
Thos. Pearson, Jr. Joseph Davis, discharged Aug. 23
Soloman Williams Ezekiel Hacket, " " "
Total, 66 men.
The privates' wages were 2 per month, and the
original pay-roll of this company is in the Massa-
chusetts Archives, Volume XXXVI, page 18.
The people of America are appreciating more and
more, each year, the value of the services of the suf-
fering soldiers of the Revolution. Their victories
were few and their defeats many, but their resolute
devotion to a cause which they believed just, and time
has proved it so, commands the admiration and respect
of all lovers of liberty. The regiments that suffered
in defeat and disaster were a part of the noble army
of men that gained for us our independence, and will
always be honored for what they attempted to do
towards that end.
" The contest was long, bloody and affecting.
Righteous heaven approved the solemn appeal, victory
crowned their arms, and the peace, liberty and inde-
pendence of the United States of America was their
glorious reward."
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW MARBLEHEAD. 175
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW
MARBLEHEAD.
BY SAMUEL T. DOLE.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, January 28, 1897.
ONE important condition of the grant of New Mar-
blehead, now Windham, was that the proprietors
should build a convenient meeting-house for the pub-
lic worship of God within five years of their admission.
Accordingly, at a meeting held in the parent town,
June 9, 1737, they voted to comply with this condi-
tion, and chose a committee to report " the dimen-
sions and form " of the proposed edifice. At the
adjourned meeting, June 23, the committee reported
as follows : " That it was their opinion that a meeting-
house suitable for said township at present, be about
forty feet long, thirty feet wide, and ten feet high
from the bottom of the sill to the upside of the plate,
with a sufficient roof so as to make convenient accom-
modations, the building of which will cost near one
hundred pounds." Whereupon, says the old record,
they "voted to build according to the report/'
At the same time they "voted that the meeting-
house be built on the westermost corner of the ten-
acre lot, to be laid out, and belonging to the ministerial
lot."
This was home lot, No. 33, in the first division of
ten-acre lots in the new township. It appears that
176 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
they soon entered into a contract with Nathaniel
Cogswell, one of the grantees, to build the house as
soon as possible. It also appears that he shortly after-
wards came here and commenced work, but in conse-
quence of the threats and menaces of the Indians who
claimed the land on both sides of the Presumpscot
River, from the lake to the sea, the workmen were
driven away, and all work was suspended for the time.
However, a treaty of some kind was made, and the
work proceeded slowly. After some time had elapsed
the building was partially finished and opened for
religious service. It was a rude and comfortless affair,
and appears to have been destitute of doors or win-
dows; but such as it was, the few settlers occupied it
as a place of worship until 1744-45, when, in conse-
quence of the Indian war, they were compelled to
take refuge in their fort, where they remained until
peace was declared.
In 1746, we find that the inhabitants petitioned the
proprietors for leave to demolish the meeting-house
and use the material to strengthen their defenses, but
so far as can be learned no action was taken on the
petition or answer returned to their request. In
the meantime, however, by the advice of their pas-
tor, Rev. John Wight, they proceeded to pull down
the building and make use of the material for the
desired purpose. This unwarranted action on their
part appears to have given offense to the proprietors,
for we find that \\hen the wax was over, and the set-
tlers were desirous of building a house of worship and
petitioned for aid, the proprietors flatly refused any
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW MARBLEHEAD. 177
help whatever, and coolly informed them, that inas-
much as they had demolished the house without per-
mission from that august body, if they wanted another
they might build it themselves.
Their first minister, Rev. John Wight, who was
settled December 14, 1743, had accompanied them to
their stronghold, and shared with his flock all the
dangers and privations incident to savage warfare
until the return of peace, and it is asserted that divine
worship was regularly maintained during their sojourn
in the old block-house. After his death, which took
place May 8, 1753, they were destitute of a settled
minister for about ten years, and no attempt to build
a meeting-house was made during that time. Finally,
after considerable effort on their part, and some help
from the proprietors, they were able to settle their
second pastor, the Rev. Peter Thacher Smith. He was
ordained here September 22, 1762, the services being
held in the fort and, during his pastorate of more
than twenty-eight years, religious service was con-
stantly held within its time-hallowed walls.
During this period several attempts were made by
the inhabitants to build a more convenient house of
worship, but for many years they were unsuccessful in
their endeavors. The first attempt was at a town
meeting, held in the old fort on May 19, 1767, when
it was "voted that Mr. Abraham Anderson, Capt.
Caleb Graffam and Mr. Thomas Mayberry be a com-
mittee to lay out a convenient place to build a meet-
ing-house in said town for the public worship of God."
The next year, or on March 30, 1768, the committee
VOL. X. 13
178 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
reported that they had laid out " a convenient place
for the purpose named on the northeast end of home
lot No. 15, in the first division of ten-acre lots." This
lot was about one-half mile north of the fort, and had
been originally drawn by Capt. Peter Colman, a mas-
ter mariner of Old Marblehead, and one of the
grantees of New Marblehead. It appears, however,
that the spot laid out was unsatisfactory to many, and
so far as can be learned nothing more was done until
January, 1770, when it was voted "that a meeting
house should be built, all the outside to be paid for by
a rate made and collected the same as other town
rates." At the same time it was also u voted, that the
house be sixty feet in length, forty-eight feet wide,
and twenty-feet posts," but owing to the poverty of
some, and a most decided opposition from others, it
was found impossible to carry these votes into effect ;
and after a vast amount of ill feeling was engendered,
if we are to believe the old traditions, the whole mat-
ter was abandoned.
About this time several families moved into town
and settled on a division of hundred-acre lots which
had been laid out some years before, and many argued
that the meeting-house should be located so as to
accommodate the newcomers, while others stoutly
contended for the original site, and so the war raged
with unabated vigor for some time. Also several
Quaker families came here and located. These, ac-
cording to their peculiar tenets, sturdily opposed the
building of what they termed " steeple houses," or in
any way contributing to a paid ministry. Then, too,
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW MARBLEHEAD. 179
began to be heard the indistinct mutterings of that
war cloud, which finally culminated in the separation
of the colonies from the mother country.
Nevertheless, our ancestors, or a part of them, at
least, were determined to have a decent place of wor-
ship, but nothing more appears to have been done
until August 27, 1773, when the assembled wisdom of
the town met in the fort and left on record for the
edification (or otherwise) of all generations the fol-
lowing manifesto : " Voted, that the meeting-house
shall not be built near the corner of the lott Mr.
Thomas Trott has in his possession before the
Widows Doore." A well-known antiquarian once
wrote me for some of the most interesting votes
passed by the inhabitants of my native town, particu-
larly those of an early date. Among others I sent
him the foregoing, and in a short time I received a let-
ter in which he stated that he was at a loss to under-
stand what it meant, and hinted at a possible mistake
on my part. My reply was to the eflect that I had
depended much on his well-known ability to unravel
profound mysteries, and was greatly disappointed at
his not being able to cope with this one, assuring him,
however, that I had made no mistake in transcribing,
but that we might console ourselves with the fact that
this vote had puzzled wiser heads than ours, and was
quite likely to do so in all future time. Whatever its
true meaning was, it appears to have disgusted at least
one of a committee previously chosen to build a house
of worship, as we find that at an adjourned meeting,
held September 10, 1773, John Bodge positively
180 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
refused to act in that capacity, and that Capt. Graffara
was chosen to fill the vacancy. At the same time and
place it was " Voted that the sum of one hundred
pounds, lawful money, be raised by the inhabitants of
this town to build a meeting-house, and the above-
mentioned sum be raised or gathered by a tax laid on
the inhabitants of said town, by the constable of said
town, and if each man's share is not delivered to the
committee, in lumber by the tenth day of October
next then the above sum is to be collected by the col-
lector or constable, and paid to the Treasurer, to be
laid out in building said meeting-house as soon as
possible."
The spot they decided on was home lot No. 21, and
but a few rods from where the original church build-
ing had formerly stood. Tradition asserts that in spite
of all opposition a frame was erected and partly
boarded, and for a while everything appeared to favor
the enterprise, but in time the enthusiasm of the pro-
jectors cooled, the building was never finished, and
was subsequently taken down.
No record of any further action in the matter is to
be found until May 25, 1781, at which time they
voted to build a house of worship " at the mouth of
the road that comes from Mr. Ezra Brown's into the
main road." This was on one of the hundred acre
lots, and the road mentioned joined the main, or river
road, at a point midway between the dwelling houses
of the late William Brown, Esq., and Edward S. True,
but has long been closed to public travel. From what
I can learn, this locality appeared to be satisfactory
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW MARBLEHEAD. 181
to the majority, and preparations were made for
building at once ; but as the poet tells us, " The best
laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft a-gley." So it
was in this case, for when the owner of the land came
to be consulted, he positively refused to give or sell
the land for the desired purpose, and the enterprise
had to be abandoned, much to the disgust of all
concerned.
Their next attempt to build a meeting-house was
on January 28, 1783, when they voted to build on the
ministerial lot No. 5, in the first division of one
hundred acre lots. They also voted to raise two hun-
dred and fifty pounds for building purposes, chose a
committee to oversee the work, and decided to have
the house sixty feet long, and forty-eight feet wide.
These resolutions met with so much opposition from
those living in " old dominion," or extreme part of the
town, that it was deemed impracticable to build on the
lot selected. So, on February 10, 1783, they voted to
build on " Mr. Osgood's hill " and also to reduce the
appropriation from two hundred and fifty pounds to
one hundred and fifty ; also to have the house smaller,
viz. : fifty feet long and forty wide. These concessions,
however, failed to satisfy certain disaffected ones, who,
among other objections, argued that the town was too
poor to expend money on a meeting-house ; that the
old fort was good enough for all who cared to attend
divine worship ; hinted that the place was quite as
good as the preaching they heard when there, and
that the money had better be expended for some more
useful purpose, while several knowing ones stoutly
182 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
contended that all votes heretofore passed in regard
to a meeting-house were illegal. In short, the meet-
ing became so uproarious that it was thought best to
adjourn for two days, which was accordingly done.
At the adjournment, February 12, 1783, they again
met, and the following is a true copy of the proceed-
ings of that convocation : " Voted that all other votes
in the former meetings concerning the meeting-house
be reconsidered. Voted to build a decent meeting-
house in said town. Voted to see if the place might
be on Mr. Osgood's hill, but negatived. Voted to see
if the place might be on Mr. Joseph Blaney, Esqr/s
hill, but negatived. Voted to see if the place might
be on the ministerial lot, but negatived. Voted to
have the meeting-house built on Mr. Osgood's hill on
the main road. Voted to see if the house be fifty feet
long, and forty feet wide, but negatived. Voted to
see if the house be forty-five feet long and thirty-five
feet wide, but negatived. Voted to raise a sum of
money to build the meeting-house, but negatived.
Voted to dismiss all the other articles in the warning.
Voted to dissolve the meeting. Richard Dole, Town
Clerk."
An old tradition tells us that notwithstanding all this
opposition, the few who favored the movement erected
a meeting-house fr<une on Esquire Blaney's hill and
partly boarded the walls, but went no further with the
undertaking, and afterwards sold it for other purposes.
This locality was on the farnT now (1897) owned by
the heirs of Stephen Webb, and the building stood a
few rods north of the present dwelling-house. At a
THE MEETING-HOUSE WAR IN NEW MARBLEHEAD. 183
town meeting held on April 8, 1784, the following
votes appear on the old records : " Voted that there
shall be a decent meeting-house built for the worship
of God. Voted to see if the house should be at Mr.
Joseph Blaney, Esqr.'s hill, but passed in the negative.
Voted that the place for a rneetirig-house shall be on
the land that Mr. Joseph Blaney, Esqr., Mr. Paul Little
and Mr. Thomas Barker purchased of Mr. Thomas
Millions for that purpose. Voted that the house be
fifty feet long and forty feet wide. Voted that two
hundred pounds be raised for building purposes.
Voted that if any man should advance more than his
part of the tax towards building the meeting-house,
he shall be repaid out of the sale of the pews."
From some cause these votes were not carried into
effect, and at their next town meeting, held Septem-
ber 26, 1787, they voted to build the house by sub-
scription, but it passed in the negative. Voted to
build on the lot purchased by Esquire Blaney and
others, and that the house be forty-six feet long and
thirty-six feet wide. "Voted that if any person or
persons have a mind to make an addition to said house
it shall be their private property." Now if any good
feeling had heretofore existed, this last vote utterly
destroyed the last vestige, and Esquire Blaney, Capt.
Barker and other influential men were most soundly
berated and accused of all manner of misdemeanors,
chief of which was a plan to get possession of the par-
ish property and convert it to their own use. So the
whole affair resulted in a total failure to build a house
of worship.
184 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
About this time the war took on a different aspect.
So while we find no record of any attempt to erect a
meeting-house for the next two years, the records
abound in resolutions in regard to the calling of coun-
cils to settle differences of opinion between the people
and their pastor, which culminated at an ecclesiastical
council, held in the old fort, October 8, 1790, when
the connection which had so long existed between
Rev. Mr. Smith and the people here was dissolved.
At the same time the council frankly told the people
that in order to promote their religious edification it
was necessary for them to build a house for the public
worship of God, but nothing appears to have been
done in regard to the matter until December 10, 1794,
when they voted to see if the town would agree on
a spot for a meeting-house near Mr. Paul Little, Jr.'s,
but passed in the negative. This spot was the one so
often referred to as " Mr. Osgood's hill." At the same
meeting they voted the spot should be near Mr.
Robert Millions', after which they adjourned.
In the course of the year 1795, this troublesome
affair, which had lasted for more than thirty years,
was finally settled, and a ineeting-house was erected
on the lot before referred to as the one purchased by
Joseph Blaney and others for that purpose, and no
more beautiful location could have been decided upon
within the town limits. It contained two acres on the
summit of a noble elevation of land from whence an
extended view of the surrounding country was visible
on all sides. The house was built according to the
vote, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, two stories
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 185
high, with a double row of windows, and was finished
throughout in the same severe style of Orthodox
churches, then common in New England. It remained
the principal center of religious interest in the town
for about forty years, or until 1834, when a church
edifice was erected at Windham Hill, but as some of
the church members still lived near the old taberna-
cle, services were held there a part of the time for
several years. After these had joined the silent ma,-
jority the old church stood deserted and alone until
1861, when it was sold, and now (1897) does duty
as a barn in the south part of the town.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF
JUSTICE.
THE SEQUEL TO THE WISCASSET TRAGEDY. 1
BY REV. HENRY O. THAYER.
Bead before the Maine Historical Society, February #4, 1898.
OF the North American Indians, our historian,
Bancroft, remarks, that their forms of government
grew out of their passions and their wants; that in
the lack of public justice each man was his own pro.
tector and became his own avenger.
As with barbarous peoples generally, the principle
of their jurisprudence was the lex talionis, blood for
blood, harm for harm ; yet the severity of this law was
sometimes mitigated, whether by mercy or by greed,
1 Vide p. 81, ante.
186 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and substantial property equivalents were allowed
to atone for injuries, and a sufficiency of gifts was
applied to cover the blood of the slain.
When from the Superior Court for York County
Obadiah Albee, Jr., went out free from the law, the
aggrieved tribes had reasons to be surprised and indig-
nant. The white man's justice seemed a failure, his
execution of law required by the treaty, a fraud.
When the chiefs and the relatives of the dead and
wounded men returned from Boston, the presents they
bore were not by all esteemed equivalents for injuries
under mortal assault, nor adequate atonement for the
great wrong. The chiefs had spoken to the Council
their kindly word at parting : " We hope your Honors
will teach your young men better and not to be active
in such ill practises, and we shall endeavor to per-
suade our young men to do nothing ill for the future,
now this affair is so well made up." Their promises,
hearty and sincere, could not remove angry feeling in
the wigwams and hunting-grounds of Maine. The
fiercer, intractable spirits in the tribes did not regard
the blood on the ground as yet covered by the gifts
and fine speeches at Boston. These, in their sharp
resentments, in belief that no justice could be expected,
in their restlessness, in their native love of raids and
plunder, and under malign influence of the French,
found motives to administer justice according to
Indian methods.
A band is marching through the wood
Where rolls the Kennebec his flood ;
The warriors of the wilderness,
Painted, and in their battle dress ;
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 187
And Whittier's honored pen might as well have
joined these lines to another theme, and enshrined in
verse the grievous tale of the Whidden-Noble captiv-
ity in the month of September, 1750, hardly twelve
weeks after the acquittal of Albee.
Lying between the two channels of the cleft Ken-
nebec was Swan Island l a range of high lands joined
with graded slopes and rich meadows. It had been
the reputed home of the chief, Kennebis. It early
attracted settlers ; was named Garden Island. Against
the northern end across the channel was located Fort
Richmond, the only fortified post then maintained on
the river. Some three miles below on the southern
part of the island was the home of James Whidden.
It stood near the eastern channel on what was then
called Indian Point. With him dwelt his son-in-law,
Lazarus Noble. The two families, with house and farm
help, numbered sixteen. The Indians who set out to
execute their unwritten law, representing the Nor-
ridgewock and St. Francis tribes, chose Fort Richmond
and vicinity for their exploit. About sixty in number,
a part struck the intended blow at this home on Swan
Island, the rest ambushed the fort.
Captain Whidden's petition to the goverment, now
extant in the Massachusetts Archives, recites the main
features of the surprise :
May 29, 1751. The memorial of James Whidden of Swan Is-
land in Merrymeeting Bay, Humbly Sheweth That in the late
Excursion of the Indians on the Eighth day of September last, early
in the morning his House was surrounded with a Party of Indians
1 For map and descriptions, vide Maine Historical Collections, 1894, p. 129.
188 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to the Number of Twenty or therabouts, who in a hostile manner
did enter into his House, destroying and plundering all his Furniture
and carried away all they could of any Value ; Your Memorialist
with his wife saved themselves by getting down the Cellar which
they had but time to do without putting on their Cloaths to cover
their Nakedness. That your Memorialist had two sons carried into
Captivity and sold in Canada. 1 ....
He adds that his daughter and husband, with seven
children, three sons and four daughters, ages from
fourteen years to eight months, were taken and also
two servants, Jabez Chubb and Hannah Holmes.
Lazarus Noble presents the same facts when
returned from his captivity he petitions for state aid
to deliver his remaining children. He states that
the assaulting party was sixteen, and being in their
custody was able to tell correctly.
When we recall the atrocities of former wars as
at Deerfield, Dover, York, Falmouth we may admit
consideration or mercy in this case. But mercy was
policy; conditions had changed; captures at Quebec
were more valuable than scalps; the Indians could
retaliate sufficiently without bloodshed and be the
richer by the sale of the prizes of this venture. Yet,
how pitiful the facts : a whole family, parents and
seven children, driven from their beds in a comfort-
able home and immediately set on the march for
Canada ; and one, a little babe, too young to know its
wretched lot, while on older brothers and sisters fell
the terror and hardship in the dread passage of the
wilderness ; and then to be separated, a family torn
apart, even the babe from the mother's arms, not all
1 Massachusetts Archives, Vol. Ixxiv, p. 13.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 189
ever to meet again, but to be scattered here and there
in the French domain by the great river.
Samuel Denny, faithful magistrate, at once reports
the occurrence to the governor, and adds an incident,
that Mr. Whidden and wife, while in the cellar, able to
listen to all that occurred, heard their oldest grand-
daughter ask the enerny to let her go into the house
for a bottle of milk for the baby.
The next stage in this raid of retaliation is shown
by the report of the commander at Fort Richmond,
Captain William Lithgow. He writes that at ten
o'clock, Captain Whidden hailed the fort from the
island, and when brought over with his wife, told of
the sacking of their home and of thirteen captives
already several hours onward in their foreboding
journey. Lithgow at once fired the customary alarm ;
an answer came back in the yells of savages who were
in ambush about the fort, hoping to surprise it. The
heavy gun signified discovery, and now openly they
began their hateful work, killing cattle and firing on
the fort. After three hours they desisted from their
hopeless siege and departed. They had burnt the
house and haystacks of Widow Wey mouth, living
near, and gotten one prisoner, Philip Jenkins, who
had gone out of the fort in the early morning. The
fort was then poorly manned, only seven soldiers. A
few families residing near must have taken refuge
within it, adding a few men to the number. Also,
fortunately, Mr. Samuel Goodwin, directing the sur-
vey for the company of the Kennebec Purchase, had
190 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
come in with his party on the previous evening and
added eight men to the defense. A rumor had pre-
vailed of a threatened Indian invasion from the north.
Rev. " Parson " Smith of Falmouth wrote on Septem-
ber 8 :* "An alarm in the night. ... an express
from Richmond that an Indian had told that in 48
hours the Indians would break on us and that sixty
Canada Indians had come to reinforce them." Two
days later he wrote : " We hear that on Saturday
[8th.] all Kennebec was in a blaze firing guns." It
is evident a warning had been given on Friday after-
noon, which brought into the shelter of the fort all the
people but those who had no confidence in the
friendly Indian's report. It proved true the next
morning, and Commander Lithgow estimated his
assailants at about forty. The other party at Swan
Island would carry the whole number to some sixty.
French reports support this number.
On the next day they extended their incursion to
Wiscasset itself, sweeping along the Sheepscot and
into the adjacent sections. Denny, of Arrowsic,
wrote the governor on the tenth : " No doubt the
settlements at Wiscasset was attacked yesterday by
the number of guns heard ; " and then set out a zeal-
ous leader of fighting men for the place where nine
months before he had gone a peaceful magistrate in
the name of the law. Details of those days of terror
are not preserved. William Ross and son were cap-
tured at Sheepscot, an abandoned garrison burned,
while reckless mischief in injuring property marked
3 Journal, page 144.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 191
the track 1 of the marauders. On the tenth of Sep-
tember John Martin was seized at Brunswick and
made one of this company of captives. Harrassing
fear laid its scourge upon the hearts of the people as
they recalled Asserimo's threat, that " all will not be
well." The avenger had now come. He swept through
the district where his people had suffered ; he in-
tended no bloodshed ; he laid his hand severely here
and there, and the cowering prisoner followed his
haughty master into the forests of the north. The
savage had appealed for justice ; he has now answered
his own appeal ; he has administered law by his
ancient method; he has exacted the penalty due to
crime ; he will be content.
There was no doubt of the meaning of this incur-
sion. A month later, October 10, Lieutenant Brad-
bury, in command at St. George's Elver, wrote
that two Penobscots had made him a visit, and told
him that the Indians who took those at Swan Island
and elsewhere are gone satisfied, as they say, and will
hunt us no more. A few months later, the captive
Martin returning from Canada, reported the Indians*
reason for the bitter foray "because the English
made war first by firing on their men and killing one
and wounding one." The charge was indeed true ;
1 The conflict occurring at this tfane offers the most probable origin of the legend
of Hockamock, whatever that event was. By the advance of Capt. Denny's com-
pany from the south and a pursuing party from Wiscasset at the north, a few-
Indians, evading both, might be turned and driven upon that noted peninsula.
There, hemmed in by valiant men, they must fight or swim. Brought to bay on
that precipitous height, an Indian, hopeless of escape, might have chosen in self-
immolation rather to leap into the Sasanoa's flood than to be taken. Two guns
found there one some twenty -five years ago, declared to be of French construc-
tion, such as Indians were likely to have' give evidence of a hostile meeting at
some time. The leap with despairing, superstitions cry, O Hockamock, is within
the limits of probability.
192 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the governor in several messages to them acknowl-
edged "the rashness and folly of some of our young
men in killing one of theirs." The reckless assault at
Wiscasset cast upon the English the imputation of
having begun war. Nor did this reprisal near a
score of captives heal the breach. They wished
excuse for raiding and plundering; they now had it;
they could regard treaty stipulations void ; and
impelled by their own restlessness and French insti-
gation were eager to harass the English.
The spring of 1751 opened with fresh incursions :
near the end of May three boys were captured in
North Yarmouth, and in June a man was killed in
Falmouth; then only twenty days after the trial of
Ball and Ledite, for which now they doubtless cared
little, a party assailed Fort Richmond, killed cattle,
terrorized the people, and not two weeks later seized
seven men at New Meadows one killed in escaping.
In thirteen months following the disappointing trial
of Obadiah Albee, at least two men were killed, two
captives died, and twenty-four were consigned to that
repellant prison as many regarded it Canada.
In this way did the Indian testify to his resentment
for wrongs suffered. He destroyed property, and laid
perturbing fear upon farmer, woodsman, traveler,
housewife. The active but ambushed hand of the
skulking enemy caused the paralysis ot business,
increased military vigilance and expenditure, anxiety
in the governor and his officers ? and the repression of
enterprise busied in laying foundations for a state.
Such was the train of evils evolved by one wanton
crime.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 193
The Swan Island captives fairly represent in subse-
quent fortunes the hundreds who likewise suffered in
the last wars. The prizes of their forays the Indians
customarily sold to such as would buy. Generous
French residents in pity rescued the captives. Some
in that way found servants at low price. Some cap-
tives were allowed to work out their redemption, as
early New England immigrants paid their passage
money. Some were able to borrow the needful
amount, and usually obtained freedom for the price
paid the captors. There were those who became
greatly attached to their new homes and friends and
refused to leave them. Some, mostly young persons,
were adopted by the Indians, who became strongly
attached, and refused to part with them. A portion
of the captives how many, none may say were
really "lost" ; no word nor trace ever told their fate.
Negotiations were carried on with the French gov-
ernment for the release of the captives, and in April,
1751, notice came from Quebec that a party would be
sent to Crown Point in May. I have found no names
of those then redeemed, but conclude Lazarus Noble
and wife and four children were in the list, and the
young man and woman who had been in their employ-
ment, Jabez Chubb and Hannah Holmes. Mr. Ross
and son of Sheepscot were probably released at this
time. Theirs was a pitiable case, for four years after
Mr. Ross and two sons were sold again in Canada. Of
Mr. Whidden's sons young men evidently Timo-
thy was sold at Three Rivers, and there by Captain
Phineas Stevens, agent for seeking captives, furnished
VOL. X. 14
194 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
with money for his purchase and journey to Boston,
where he arrived early in April. He and a compan-
ion in those tribulations, Hannah Holmes, by mar-
riage September, 1751 became companions for
life. Solomon Whidden, the brother, escaped from
his captors, and reached Quebec. The governor
would not return him to them, but declared him free,
and gave him liberty to work, yet advising him to
keep clear of the Indians. But, attacked by sickness,
he died in hospital, November, 18, 1750. Philip
Jenkins, taken near Richmond Fort, was another to
succumb to disease, and died about a month after
arrival.
An original record by Quebec officials furnished
the agent, Captain Stevens, has further information
respecting the Swan Island raid and its victims. 1
A List of the English Prisoners which the Abenakis Indians have
brought to Quebec.
The St. Fran9ois Indians to the number of forty have struck near
Richmond Fort to Revenge the death of an Abenakis chief which
the English have killed near Boston & have brought in this City
the Prisoners following which they have sold to the French who was
willing to buy them.
The Sieur Chalour has bought one named
Lazarus Noble, 200
ret. 3 For cloaths for 40
240
The S. Revolt has bo't Jabez Chub, 200
ret. for cloaths for 80
280
The S. Turpine has bo't John Ross, 150
ret. for cloaths for, 50
200
1 Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXXIV, page 57.
2 This marginal check-mark shows the captives who at that date were returned.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 195
Mrs. Decouagne has bo't [Mrs.] Abigail Noble for 260
for cloaths for 122.15
382.15
Mrs. Dupere has bo't Anna Homes for 200
ret. for cloaths for 50
250
The S. Bazin has bo't Philip Jenkins, 150
for cloaths for 100
250
This man died at the hosp. 28th Oct. 1750. ,
Those which follow have been taken by the Becancourt Indians
and bo't of them.
The Cadet bo't John Martin, he has obtained permission of the
Governor General to return to N. Eng. and passed his note to the
S. Cadet 1 for 260.
ret.
Mrs. Fornel has bo't
ret. Wm. Ross, 124.10
ret. John Noble, 150
ret. Maria Noble [i. e. Mary] 184.10
for cloaths for 100
559
Ten Algonkins of the same party has bo't &
sold to the S. Amiol, Mathew Noble 86
for cloaths for 130.15
216.15
One named Solomon Whitney [Whidden] made his escape from
amongst the Indians to whom the Governor General was not will-
ing to give him back again, he died at the hospital 18th Nov. 1750.
Seth Webb )
Joseph Noble } are at St ' Fran ois -
Frances Noble at Mountreal with Mr. St. Ange.
Bought for 300
ret. Benj. Noble is at La Prairie with Du May
bought 200
1 Without doubt Joseph Cadet, commissary-general, made the richest man in
Canada by traud and peculations. At Paris, 1761, with other conniving rascals
committed to the Bastile, and on trial forced to disgorge six million francs. Se
Parkman's Montcalm and Wolfe, Vol. II.
196 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ret. 1 Abigail Noble at Becan Court
Timothy Whitney [Whidden] bo't & paid 315
This account taken from Capt. Stevens List Feb'y 1st, 1752.
N. WHEELWRIGHT.
[Endorsed.] A List of Captives bo't by French at Canada, their
cost and cloathing. 2
In June, 1752, Phineas Stevens and Nathaniel
Wheelrightj who doubtless had been the commission-
ers of release the previous year, were sent for the
same purpose to Canada ; were kindly received and
accorded every facility to prosecute search for cap-
tives. They regained eight only. Of these were Lom-
bard (Lambert) and Whitney, taken at New Mead-
ows, and Samuel Webb of Windham. Their report
showed thirteen others remaining, so far as they
made discovery. 3 Six of these chose to stay ; the
owners of three would give them up in exchange for
slaves. They include also, " Joseph Noble, Daniel
Mitchell, John Forster, taken by the Abenakis of St.
Francois, who are obstinately set on keeping them
whatever solicitation Mons. Rigaud de Vaudreuil could
use, they having adopted them." Likewise Solomon
Mitchell, the elder of the two sons of Mr. Mitchell
of North Yarmouth, "about twelve years old, abso-
lutely resolved to stay at Mountroyal with Sieur Des
Pins and Mons. Longeuil did not think he ought to
force him away against his will."
1 This checkmark, ret., was manifestly misplaced and designates the wrong
Abigail. No. 4 in the foregoing list is Mrs. Abigail Noble, but this is the little child
that never returned.
2 The prices paid are reckoned in livres. The French livre was then valued at
nearly 10| pence sterling. The usual price of adults, 200 livres, was therefore 8,
15s., or in early New England currency, about $29.
3 Massachusetts Archives, Vol. LXXIV, p. 62. French copy, Vol. V, p. 542.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 197
'The return of the commissioners brought a heavy
disappointment to the Noble family. Three of the
dear flock still remained in hostile hands under the
French flag. Persistent in hope and strenuous en-
deavor, Mr. Noble proposed in conjunction with Mr.
Mitchell, to go himself to search and regain his own.
Provided with money for expenses granted by the
General Court, and Gov. Phips' passport, in the sum-
mer of 1753, they set out by way of Albany and
Crown Point. At Montreal they gained an immediate
interview with the commandant, had a cheering recep-
tion and were dismissed to their lodgings with instruc-
tions to hasten to procure the children. On that first
day happily Mr. Mitchell discovered one son, and their
interpreter saw a daughter of Mr. Noble. At six
o'clock the next morning came an officer bearing an
order for them to depart at once. In an attempt to
see the commandant and learn the reasons for the
changed treatment, they were denied an interview
and with threat of imprisonment if delaying were
sent instantly out of the city and across the river.
Certainly in a sense of a rude and cruel blasting
of blossoming hopes, the amazed and heart-stricken
fathers made their journey home. Governor Phips
returned a vigorous remonstrance against such inhu-
man and dishonorable treatment of persons on a
merciful errand, bearing credentials from the highest
authority of the Province. The reply 1 December 1,
1753, from the commander, Du Quesne, was courteous
to Governor Phips and expressive of true sympathy
1 Massachusetts Archives, Vol. V., p. 558.
198 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
for the distressed fathers. His explanation relieved
the case somewhat. He declared that their inter-
preter, Anthony Van Schaick of Albany, was a sus-
pected person liable to arrest, who had on entering
the city, at once put on insolent airs and by his con-
duct made himself very obnoxious, and that he would
have been put in prison if he had not quickly departed.
Du Quesne avowed his sincere interest in these
anxious men and that in his desire to aid them he had
summoned Mitchell's son and reproached him with
his bad temper in refusing to return with his father.
But in answer, the boy, bursting into tears, declared
absolutely that he would not leave his master. Strange
that two years in a boy of twelve should have so oblit-
erated regard for his father and desire for his lost home.
Presuming Du Quesne's explanation sincere, yet
one will ask why not expel the interpreter alone, dis-
close the facts to the men and aid them? But a
haughty governor would not stoop very much, yet he
seems needlessly harsh, even cruelly despotic, to drive
them from his house without explanation. Van
Schaick also, if knowing or inferring the reasons for
the stern order, could keep his employers in the dark
and save his credit. So there was no appeal, no
relief ; their hopes were crushed on the very threshold
of success. Nathaniel Wheelwright carried back the
governor's protest and demand, and to him Du Quesne
with compliments delivered two children held by the
French, but declared he had no control over those
held by the Indians for they were not prisoners of
war but truly " slaves fairly sold " and could only be
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION or JUSTICE.
199
obtained by treaty and ransom. Further, he affirmed,
" Nothing so difficult as to get slaves from them,
especially when they have distributed them among
their wigwams to make up for their dead."
Agents and diplomacy proved of no avail ; Lazarus
Noble and wife still mourned their lost, and the years
went by can we say without hope? Joseph, a boy
of eight at capture, grew in his wild surroundings to
become thoroughly Indian, attached to his new friends
and mode of life. Abigail, the little babe adopted and
cherished by an Indian mother, was never restored,
and in after years the family gained intelligence of
her death.
One other of this broken family was Frances or
"Fanny." She came into the care of a fine family
at Montreal and remained in captivity eleven years.
After the fall of Quebec, the provincial governments took
measures to recover all prisoners. In 1761, Captain
Samuel Harnden, the sheriff in the Wiscasset affair,
made a journey to Canada to search out two grandsons
who had been in captivity three years. He also
applied his efforts in behalf of other afflicted parents,
and did obtain Fannie Noble. An interpreter privately
discovered her, in the care of Mons. St. Toise, but in
a nunnery for her education. Harnden, acting with
shrewdness and vigor, obtained " a sight of the girl,"
and on the next day, August 24, as his journal of the
service tersely adds, " I took her out of the nunnery."
The day following he embarked for Quebec, and after
detention there by a broken arm of a grandson, they
arrived in Boston, October 4.
200 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Some seventy-five years ago was published a brief
account of the Swan Island incursion joined with a
detailed narrative of Fanny Noble's captivity. 1 It was
drawn from her own recollections when nearly seventy
years of age.
The particulars of the capture were laid up in
memory only from what was told her a dozen years
after, and as the story took shape in that generation.
The Whidd en-Noble family was in a house pro-
tected by a stockade ; boys, in the morning, left the
gate unfastened. If a reliable account, the " boys "
must have been Captain Whidden's sons, going out
early and seized abroad ; then entrance for the wait-
ing crew was easy. Mr. Noble fired upon the assail-
ants and wounded one. It is a wonder that his life
was spared, yet the man would be worth more than
his scalp in the market. The captors were very kind
to the children, expecting a large ransom. The In-
dians were reported to be ninety, one of the variable
numbers of the traditions ; the hired man and two
boys escaped ; but there could have been only one
that escaped. An old man Pomeroy was taken on the
island, and, on account of his feebleness, was killed on
the march ; but this man, William Pomeroy, was
killed in 1758, when a son and grandson were made
captives.
Still does the narrator make very engaging, even
pathetic, with lines of romance, the story of Fanny's
childhood, as a little flower growing by the Kennebec
1 Farmer and Moore's Historical Collections, Volume I, pp. 1.16-123; Narrative of
Mrs. Shute's captivity. Also in Drake's Tragedies of the Wilderness.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 201
was rudely torn from native soil and transplanted in
the ancient city by the St. Lawrence.
A dirty, unkempt child, by viler hands offered for
sale, in hunger picking fragments from the kitchen
floor ; at the entrance of the mistress of the house, see-
ing a motherly face, seizing her dress and bursting
into tears so was the lady's heart won, and the
little girl taken into the place of a daughter, who had
died ; such is the tale of those terrible days. For
her the Indians exacted three hundred livres, a larger
sum than for her mother or others of the captives.
This was the home of Mons. St. Ange Chaily, 1 a
wealthy, generous merchant the one who told Cap-
tain Stevens, when recovering captives, that none
should be left behind for lack of money, for he would
furnish it.
In this home she became truly a daughter, was bap-
tized by the name Eleanor, trained, of course, in the
Romish faith and forms, educated in the nunnery at
Montreal, and for one year at an Ursuline school at
Quebec. Her mother, when ransomed, visited her,
only to be coldly repulsed ; a strange man, one day at
the window, looked at her and beckoned with strange
words, from whom she fled in terror. It was her own
father, 2 when he came for his children and was driven
back. She barely escaped being taken home by Mr.
Wheelright, who gained possession of her, but at
Three Rivers where he sought others, she was stolen
1 There is an unexplained difficulty in the names. Capt. Harnden found the
captive in the care of Mons. St. Toise, as she had been when her father sought her.
The aged woman gives this name, St. Ange. Her memory may have confounded
the two, giving him who befriended captives the chief place.
2 Or his agent, the interpreter.
202 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
away by a cunning squaw, secreted for a time, frus-
trated in an attempt to escape, then returned to her
foster parents for a new ransom. She was a few times
visited by her brother, Joseph, decked out in richest
Indian dress and adornments. He was finally pur-
chased from the Indians by Mons. St. Ange and educated
at Montreal, but protested to his sister not to tell where
he was when she returned, lest he too should be forced
away. Search was still made for him in after years,
and it was believed by his brothers that he became
a priest, and by change of name was effectively
concealed.
It was a day of alarm and anguish when the strange
man, Harnden, 1 made demand for her, having, as the
story shows, a file of soldiers at the door. No eva-
sions or delays by the nuns would avail; trembling
and wretched she was forced away. Yet a visit to her
foster parents was permitted, who, grievously pained
by the separation, bestowed on her money and cloth-
ing, with an affecting farewell. On arrival in Boston,
Fannie Noble was one month less than fourteen years
old. The party had gratuitous passage from Quebec
in the brigantine Triton, commanded by Capt. George
Wilson. After twelve days' waiting, a vessel was
found sailing to the Kennebec, and the long-mourned
captive was restored to her island home, October 20,
1761. But disappointment attended the joy of the
family, for Abigail, the little babe when carried away,
did not also come. That she v had already died in
1 In thia narrative given the name Arnold, a strange perversion, but very fre-
quent in books and records of that century.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION or JUSTICE. 203
her Indian home is an inference from Mrs. Shute's
narrative.
To learn to speak English was Fanny's first regard ;
then by an English education to supplement attain-
ments gained in the nuns' school at Montreal. She
spent some time in Capt. Wilson's family in Boston, pre-
sumably in her schooldays. She engaged in teaching,
also rendered assistance in the families of friends, and
was married in 1776 to Jonathan Til ton. A second
marriage followed in 1801 with John Shute of New-
market, New Hampshire, where she resided till death,
in 1819, aged about seventy-two years.
Notice also must not fail of a narrative of the Swan
Island raid, written by Rev. Jacob Bailey, "The Fron-
tier Missionary." 1 It can safely be asserted that he
drew the materials of his sketch from memory and
gave it shape by traditions prevailing more than a
score of years after the event when the chief sufferers
by it were dead. They had been in his parish to
which he came in 1760, and had he made memoranda
of their statem ents his account would have been more
trustworthy. He writes : " Seventy Penobscot In-
dians," but these were friendly and Mr. Noble had
declared the party to be Norridgewocks. He tells that
one hundred and fifteen Indians assaulted the fort.
Captain Lithgow estimated them forty. He tells that
the Whidden family, with some neighbors, were at
the time engaged in a frolic ; yet it was at day-
light on a September morning and a savage incursion
1 Copied from Ms MS. history and published in the Eichmond Bee, April 12, 1895,
by Mr. Charles E. Allen of Dresden.
204 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
threatening ; also what became of those neighbors ?
He says that Mr. Noble in firing on the assailants " did
no execution " ; also " one fellow at the barn for eggs
escaped." This one, therefore, with Whidden and wife
made up the three saved, for Mr. Goodwin wrote, that
thirteen out of sixteen were taken. Mr. Bailey intro-
duces a ridiculous story without comment, that the man
sent over the river at Captain Whidden's call to take
him from the island became so excited at the intelli-
gence given, that he hastened back alone and reported
Captain Whidden and all his family killed, for he heard
it from Whidden's own mouth. He tells that Jenkins,
the captive, was a religious enthusiast and believed
God would protect him, and went out of the fort
against advice ; also he assigns this man's death to " a
French prison," not the hospital. He tells that two
thousand dollars were offered to Mr. Harnden by her
foster parents if he would allow Frances Noble to stay
at Montreal. He writes that the captive,' Joseph
Noble, settled in Canada and married. This must
have been a guess, for Fannie had not learned it when
she was restored, and afterward his brothers searched
for him in vain. By evident lack of discrimination
in his materials he lowers the tone and worth of his
narrative, which in main features agree with fact.
Further details respecting this distressed family are
desirable to supplement the story of the captivity.
James Whidden represented a New Hampshire fam-
ily, and was in command of state troops in 1745-46 at
Louisburg. He became owner of Swan Island by
deed of April 15, 1750, and is therein styled "of
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 205
Portsmouth, N. H. gentleman." If in the Indian trade,
as Mrs. Shute's account suggests, he may have gone
to the island in a previous year, but evidently only
with that spring did the two families remove to the
new home. The house of the former owner received
them. But enterprise and hope fell in cruel wreck
before they fully gathered a first harvest from that
" Garden Island " of the Kennebec. When the au-
tumn grew sere and bare Captain Whidden and wife
were alone and desolate in their ravaged home.
This purchase also came at an unpropitious period.
The strong, grasping Plymouth Company was about
to lay claim to all Kennebec lands. The demand was
pressed on him, and from it and threatened suits at
law he only freed himself by accepting, in 1756, their
grant of about one-quarter of the island three hun-
dred and twenty-five acres and surrendering the
rest. After the settlement he sold a portion and con-
veyed other portions to his son and daughter. Mrs.
Shute's narrative should be correct, that he returned
to New Hampshire, to the town of Greenland. Cer-
tainly his death occurred before 1770. His wife, Mary,
was living in 1758.
On the tract, eighty acres, given Mrs. Noble by her
father, a house was built, in which the family was
dwelling when the deed was written, October 7, 1758.
Taught by bitter experience, Mr. Noble now sought
security by a protecting stockade. Mrs. Shute implies
that Capt. Whidden's dwelling was thus protected
at the assault. A doubt arises. The distinction be-
tween a " garrison " and an ordinary house was
206 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
nearly always observed. Three deeds term it a "house/'
also his report to the government has only "my
house." A plan of the survey 1 exhibits both dwell-
ings, designates Noble's as a " garrison-house/' gives
outlines of the stockade, but shows Whidden's as
simply a "house." Doubtless the later garrison
misled Mrs. Shute's memory.
Capt. Whidden's house and barn were situated at
"Indian Point" as then termed, and the evidence by
the plan of survey can hardly fail to place them at a
point nearly over against "Beef Rock" in the river.
But aged people of the passing generation quite con-
fidently name this one, Sandy Point, and the next
below, Indian Point. 2 Some change of name has oc-
curred in one hundred and fifty years ; or relief of
difficulty may be found in the view that the whole
extended promontory pushing eastward upon the river
held originally the name, " Indian Point," and subse-
quently making localities more exact, a new name
was applied at the northern angle, and the old carried
down to the southern angle of the promontory, and
the two names, Sandy and Indian, gotjmooring four-
score or more years ago, as the witnesses avow.
1 It is thus subscribed :
This plan is a copy .... of Land laid out on the South End of Swan Island
in Kennebeck River & granted to Capt. James Whedden by the Proprs. of the
Kennebeck Purchase. . . . Nov. 3, 1756. . . .
Divided by sd. James Whedden into three Tracts & conveyed: . . .
1. 80 ac. to Mrs. Abagiel Noble, Oct. 7, 1758.
2. 50 ac. to Mr. James Wyman, Oct. 9, 1758.
3. All the rest to Mr. Timothy Whedden, Oct. 10, 1758.
Attest, James Whidden,
In presence of
Wm. Macclenachan
Joshua Bickford.
2 Careful inquiries made and much aid rendered in regard to the topography by
Mr. W. H. Sturtevant of Richmond.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 207
REDUCED PLAN OF SURVEY ON RECORD IN REGISTRY OF DEEDS OF
YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
A Timo. WMdden's Land. B Abagail Noble's Do. C James Wyman Do.
D River Flats covered at high water. E Capt. James Wbidden's House and Barn.
F Lazarus Noble's garrison house and barn. S Sandy Point. I Indian Point. KK
Kennebec River, E & W channels.
208 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The point the northerly, over against " Beef Rock,"
reveals depressions indicating cellars formerly, and a
little above were graves now obliterated. The home
of the Noble family was three-fourths of a mile below,
near a gully and a marsh, which make in northerly
from the river. Here still appear signs of cellars and
a well, where unvarying tradition has located the
Noble house, in full agreement with the features of
the old survey. One tradition asserts that a block-
house once stood on the present Indian Point, where
now is an ice-house. The story may have arisen by
misplacing the site of Noble's "garrison," but if it
had any value, it will best be satisfied by the earlier
occupation, 1715-1722, when for a time soldiers were
stationed on the island. 1
It is presumed that the Noble family, broken and
diminished, continued their home on the island for
many years. Mrs. Noble was living in 1758, and her
son's sale of land in 1770 mentions his mother, "lately
deceased." Lazarus Noble died before February, 1767,
as then an administrator on his estate was appointed.
But Frances chose a guardian, January, 1764 (unless
the date is an error) which furnishes strong presump-
tions though not final evidence, that her father was
then already deceased. Rev. Mr. Bailey tells that at
Frances' return from Canada he was " melancholy and
distracted, lived in a miserable hovel, surrounded with
wretchedness and poverty " a story much exag-
gerated, it seems, for how had the garrison house
become a hovel, and his sons, were they not able, and
did they not assure him a comfortable home ? Indeed,
1 Maine Historical Collections, 1893, p. 250-251, 1894, p. 132.
THE INDIAN'S ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 209
his property, not real estate, by the inventory was
twenty-one pounds, twelve shillings, four pence. One
statement, unverified, tells of his return to New
Hampshire after the captivity, but all else learned of
him supports the opinion that he and his wife contin-
ued in their island home till death, and that after a
troubled life, their mortal remains were laid to rest in
that burial place at Sandy Point. An aged woman
now living, found many years ago among the evi-
dences of a graveyard, a broken gravestone bearing
the name Noble.
Of the son Matthew, who returned from captivity,
I have discovered no further trace, and an early death
must be presumed. The daughter Mary by a con-
veyance of her right of heirship in Mrs. Noble's estate,
is shown to have married Caleb Goodwin.
Two sons remain lor notice, Benjamin and John.
Conveyances of land in the island and vicinity to
them and by them in the years 1763, 1766, 1769,
1770, indicate their residence there in that decade, and
their final disposal of rights by heirship to their
mother's estate. They removed to Pittston about
1770 ; but later became first settlers of the town of
Fairfield, their residence for the remainder of their
lives. Marriage intentions were entered in Pownal-
borough (which comprised Swan Island) 1782, Febru-
ary 15 " Benjamin Noble of on Kennebeck River and
Sarah Doe." Doubtless he was now resident in Fair-
field. His age suggests this was a second marriage.
Family tradition tells that John married Tamar Chase,
probably at Pownalborough ; also that he had but two
VOL. X. 15
210 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
children, while ten were numbered to Benjamin. De-
scendants are now residing in the state and abroad,
whose family lines cannot here be traced. 1
Timothy Whidden, to whom his father conveyed
his house and a large part of his land, in the course of
years became very poor and solicited, as Rev. Mr.
Bailey's papers show, charity from the Episcopal
church funds. His widow became the second wife of
Jonathan Emery, the first settler in the town of Fnir-
field. Rev. Peter Coffin, in his diary of missionary
tours, 2 writes that Mrs. Emery told him the story of
the captivity and describing the hard fare, said, " When
musquash was the diet she was forced to fast."
The ages of part of the Noble children are shown ;
the others can be quite nearly inferred, if we notice
the order of names in the foregoing list of captives,
which seems to be from the adults downwards, accord-
ing to age. We know the eldest was fourteen and
can assign the place to John or Mary. Joseph was
eight, and the little one, Abigail, six months, while
Frances lacked one month of fourteen in October, 1761.
Heuce this list, probably correct within less than a
year. Mathew and Benjamin may need to change
place, or perhaps Mary and John.
John, born in 1736; Mary, 1738; Matthew, 1740; Joseph,
1742; Benjamin, 1744-45 ; Frances, November, 1747; Abigail,
March, 1750.
In the " Noble Genealogy," p. 743, this family is
given a place, but without connection with any other
1 Letters of Dr. Alfred I. Noble, Worcester, Mass., and others.
2 Collections Maine Historical Society, Vol. IV, p. 380.
YORK NECROLOGY. 211
family, nor tracing descendants. Evidently it was
drawn from Mrs. Shute's narrative, as the incorrect
date of the captivity and the age of Frances are re-
peated. It presumes that Lazarus Noble was of
Scottish descent. From another source it is learned
that the family history reveals a Lazarus Noble in
1660 at Portsmouth, N. H., who was probably the
grandfather of the unfortunate settler on Swan Island
in the Kennebec.
YORK NECROLOGY.
COPIED from "A Book of Mortality" in possession
of Mr. J. H. Moody, parish clerk, York, Me., consist-
ing of four sheets of letter paper inscribed as above.
The paper is yellow with age, and the name of the
writer is not given, although after the name of Mr.
Abram Lunt are the words " my ho. father," (a sub-
sequent entry) and a later death is recorded as "my
hon'd mother." The fourteen inside pages are closely
written and the deaths are numbered in chronological
order, commencing with number 82 in 1775 and clos-
ing with number 494 in 1804. On the two outside
pages are recorded the deaths of nine persons in 1806
and 1807, .also the deaths of five negroes, between 1789
and 1807. For convenience of reference this copy is
arranged alphabetically.
MAKQUIS F. KING.
Adams, Abigail, April 7, 1798, an aged maiden.
Adams, Abram, November 12, 1801, at West Indies.
Adams, Miss Hannah, January 29, 1800.
212 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Adams, Mr. Nathaniel, Oct. 15, 1799.
Adams, Mr. Thomas, January, 1799.
Austin, the wife of Benjamin, August 26, 1794.
Austin, Mrs. Ichabod, October 26, 1803, very suddenly.
Austin, Mr. Joseph, March 4, 1779.
Austin, Joseph, April 12, 1785.
Austin, Mr. Mathew, October 21, 1776.
Austin, widow Mercy, January 15, 1802.
Austin, widow Olive, January 16, 1791.
Austin, Tabitha, July 14, 1783.
Babb, Mr. William, January 14, 1800.
Baker, Mr. Itachar, December 2, 1804, age 93.
Baker, Mr. Joseph, November 1, 1793, age 80.
Baker, Stephen, December 3, 1776, drowned off the bridge.
Baker, Miss Tabitha, November 11, 1801.
Baker, Mr. Thomas, November 5, 1801.
Baley, widow, June 29, 1794.
Bane, widow Abigail, September 6, 1778.
Bane, Mr. Ebenezer, April 6, 1803, consumption.
Bane, Mr. Daniel, December 14, 1794.
Bane, Capt. Jonathan, December 6, 1777.
Bane, Mr. Lewis, May 30, 1776.
Bane, widow Mary, May 25, 1795, consumption.
Bane, widow Mary, January 21, 1794, small-pox.
Banks, Betty, October 3, 1782.
Banks, the wife of John, January, 1781.
Banks, John, February 5, 1788, coming from West Indies.
Banks, John, son of Pet, June, 1799.
Banks, widow, April 3, 1785.
Banks, widow, January 11, 1791, age 94.
Beal, Jenny, January 4, 1788.
Beal, Mr. John, June 24, 1800.
Beal, Mr. Richard, May 29, 1804.
Beal, Mr. M. Warren, November 20, 1781.
Beal, widow, February 15, 1803, suddenly.
Beal, wife of the aged Mr. Samuel, January 6, 1789.
Beal, the aged Mr. Samuel, March 9, 1789.
YORK NECROLOGY. 213
Bicham, William, October 8, 1782, drowned.
Bicham, widow, November 21, 1793.
Beedle, the wife of Ithamore, February 7, 1798.
Beedle, Mr. Ithamore, March 7, 1803, of palsy, aged 84.
Bell, Mr. John, April 18, 1801, at sea.
Berry, Mr. James, October 13, 1783.
Berry, widow, November 19, 1789.
Black, widow, April 18, 1780.
Blaisdell, deacon, May 22, 1799.
Blaisdell, the aged widow, August 1, 1804.
Booker, widow, April, 1783.
Booker, the wife of Jacob, September 24, 1797.
Booker, the aged widow, February 13, 1801.
Bracy, Mr. Joseph, November 27, 1776.
Bracy, Mr. William, June 26, 1800.
Bradbury, the wife of Cotton, April 27, 1798.
Bradbury, Hon. John, December 3, 1778.
Bradbury, the wife of Hon. John, September 28, 1787.
Bragdon, widow of Charles D., October 7, 1792.
Bragdon, Capt. Daniel, March 6, 1791, age 86.
Bragdon, Henry, son of Capt. T., December 24, 1804.
Bragdon, widow Mary, July 7, 1791.
Bragdon, the aged widow Mercy, September 1, 1797.
Bragdon, Mary, widow of Thomas, January 3, 1785.
Bragdon, Miss Mercy, November 19, 1803.
Bragdon, the wife of Thomas, March 22, 1787.
Bragdon, William, son of Samuel, May 19, 1793.
Bridge, the wife of Benjamin, December 27, 1790.
Bridge, Mr. Benjamin, December 17, 1795.
Bridges, Mr. Edmund, November 28, 1794, age 86.
Bridges, widow, December 22, 1800.
Bowden, Abram, December 23, 1786.
Bowden, widow Mary, April 21, 1790.
Burrell, Humility, January 28, 1776.
Came, the wife of Samuel, July 8, 1778.
Card, William, December 25, 1776.
Carlile, Mr. Alexander, April 13, 1792.
214 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Carlile, George, April 15. 1795, consumption.
Carlile, Mr. John, October 10, 1779.
Carlile, the wife of Mr. John, July 18, 1797.
Carlile, widow, Margery, December 28, 1793.
Carlile, widow Mary, September 11, 1784.
Carrol, Shasper, October 11, 1803, negro.
Castle, Mary, April 20, 1783.
Caswell, Mr. William, January 22, 1802, aged 90.
Caswell, the wife of William, January 25, 1802, age 80.
Ceaser, negro, October 27, 1800, drowned himself.
Chase, Edward, third son of Josiah, February 26, 1793, occa-
sioned by a stick of wood falling upon his head.
Chase, the aged widow, October 23, 1799, at her son's.
Chatman, widow, May 3, 1802, at I. Ingersol's.
Clark, widow Dorothy, February, 1780.
Clark, Mr. Daniel, August 15, 1795, of fever.
Clark, Samuel, September 17, 1778.
Clark, Samuel, October 19, 1786.
Clements, widow Sarah, May 16, 1785.
Caning, 2nd wife of Dr. Oliver, December 31, 1806.
Coyer, the wife of Edward, April 19, 1786.
Coyer, Mr. Edward and his son Edward were drowned coming
into the harbor from the Shoals, Sunday, February 25, 1788.
Crosby, Mr. Stephen, July 19, 1780, coming from the West
Indies.
Darby, Ebenezer, March 11, 1781.
Darby, Mr. Silas, December 23, 1782.
Demsey, James, February 28, 1785.
Demsey, widow, February 20, 1789.
Donnell, Capt. James, July 31, 1784.
Donnell, Mrs. Jemima, April 27, 1786.
Donnell, Mr. Jeremiah, August 29, 1804, of consumption.
Donnell, Mr. Jonathan, October 27, 1898.
Donnell, widow Mary, January 27, 1789.
Donnell, Nathaniel, Esq., February 9, 1780.
Donnell, Mr. Nathaniel, October 28, 1783.
Donnell, the wife of Samuel, September 13, 1788.
YORK NECROLOGY. 215
Donnell, Mr. Samuel, May 27, 1799, age 82.
Donnell, Mr. Timothy, July 28, 1802, dropsy.
Downs, Joseph, son of S., April 1, 1789.
Downs, the aged widow, November 14, 1791.
Dunning, Mr. William, June 13, 1783.
Elingwood, widow, November 28, 1788.
Emerson, the wife of Edward, May 14, 1793.
Emerson, the wife of Edward, February 28, 1799.
Emerson, Edward, Jr., Esq., October 13, 1803, shot himself.
Emerson, Ruthy of Newburyport, died at York, September 27,
1782.
Farnham, Mr. Jonathan, December 18, 1800.
Fletcher, Mr. John, August 23, 1793.
Foster, widow, June 14, 1776.
Freethy, Mr. Samuel, June 2, 1800.
Frost, Timothy, Esq., September 26, 1783.
Furlong, Mrs. Lucy, daughter of Mr. Grant, December 6, 1804.
Gilman, widow, January 8, 1780.
Goodwin, the wife of Ameziah, March 2, 1778.
Goodwin, the aged widow, April 24, 1797, aged 98.
Grant, the wife of Daniel, July 21, 1779.
Grant, Daniel, April 4, 1784.
Grant, Mr. Joseph, September, 1778.
Grant, the wife of Mr. Joseph, November 4, 1792, soon after
child birth.
Grant, a son of Joseph, August 17, 1798.
Grant, widow Mary, April 12, 1784.
Grant, widow Mercy, May 1, 1793.
Grant, Olive, July 14, 1787.
Grant, Mr. Peter, May 15, 1780.
Grant, the wife of Stephen, November 28, 1802, of consumption.
Grow, Col. Edward, May 5, 1785.
Grow, Capt. William, February 2, 1796.
Grow, Capt. William, November 3, 1797.
Harmon, the wife of John, jr., August 20, 1795.
Harmon, the wife of Capt. John, May 9, 1802.
Harmon, Mr. Nathaniel, January 7, 1797.
216 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Harmon, Capt. Thomas, June 11, 1800.
Harmon, Theodore, October 4, 1801.
Harmon, Mr. Zebulon, jr., September 14, 1798.
Harmon, the wife of Zebulon, December 4, 1804.
Harris, Joannah, July 10, 1797, of fever.
Harris, Capt. Samuel, November 22, 1793, age 72, found dead
in the pasture, supposed to have died in a fit.
Hains, the wife of Thomas, May 28, 1801.
Hayues, widow Mehitable, April 13, 1786.
Hayse, widow, November 6, 1789, age 84.
Hicks, widow, March 8, 1801.
Hill, the wife of James, February 5, 1778.
Hill, Nathaniel, March 10, 1797.
Hill, widow Rebecca, February 6, 1800.
Hill, widow, April 4, 1779.
Hill, William, January 15, 1778.
Hilton, a daughter of Eliakim, December 22, 1793.
Hilton, Mr. Eliakim, July 26, 1799.
Holt, Joseph, jr., August 5, 1783.
Holt, Capt. Joseph, May 9, 1784.
Holt, widow Jerusha, September 6, 1802.
Horn, widow, February 12, 1782.
Horn, Mr. Joseph, September 8, 1795.
Horn, widow, July 2, 1799.
Howell, Arthur, May 26, 1779, of small-pox.
Hunt, Mr. William, May 4, 1801.
Ingersol, the wife of George, September 15, 1793.
Ingersol, the wife of George, April 25, 1802.
Ingraham, Mr. Edward, at Kittery, March 6, 1807.
Jacobs, Woodman, May 8, 1781, of small-pox.
Johnson, the wife of Benjamin, March 4, 1799.
Johnson, the wife of Daniel, July 7, 1804.
Junkins, Alexander, October, 5, 1782.
Junkins, Mr. Daniel, May 13, 1792.'
Junkins, Capt. John, March 3, 1783.
Junkins, Mr. Samuel, February 7, 1791, of cancer.
Keeting, Richard, July 10, 1783.
YORK NECROLOGY. 217
Kerswell, the wife of William, late Abigail Varrell, August 3,
1795, of fits.
Kimball, Mrs. Abigail, November 27, 1802, of consumption .
King, Mary, June 22, 1799.
Knox, General at Thomaston, October 26, 1806, age 57, occa-
sioned by his swallowing a chicken bone.
Langdon, the wife of Rev. Samuel, May 4, 1776.
Langdon, Rev. Samuel, December 19, 1794.
Langdon, widow, December 21, 1802, age 82.
Larrabee, widow, May 13, 1790, at J. Main's.
Leavitt, the wife of Dea. Jer'y., January 2, 1793.
Lewis, Lydia, June 13, 1797.
Lewis, Mr. Nathaniel, December, 1781.
Lindsey, Capt. John, November 12, 1801, at West Indies.
Lindsey, widow, November 10, 1776.
Lindsey, Polly, November 6, 1791, of consumption.
Linscott, Mr. Jeremy, December 22, 1798.
Linscott, Mr. Samuel, September 19, 1802.
Littlefield, Josiah and Levi, jr., May 16, 1807, drowned attempt-
ing to land at Ogunquit.
Lord, Mr. Jeremiah, December 11, 1801, drowned at Cape
Nedick.
Low, Mr. Joseph, jr., August 17, 1806, at Mr. Thomas Louis'.
Low, Timothy, son of T., May 18, 1804.
Low, William, November 3, 1799.
Lovell, widow,, May 25, 1784,
Lunt, Mr. Abram, January 9, 1783, my ho. father. My
honored mother, January 17, 1796, age 83.
Lunt, Abraham, November 12, 1801, at West Indies.
Lunt, the wife of Henry, August 4, 1788.
Lyman, Dick, April 12, 1807.
Lyman, Dr. Job, March 29, 1791.
Lyman, Ruth, June, 1785.
Mahone, the wife of Thomas, November 26, 1778.
Main, Mr. John, May 26, 1802.
Main, widow of Joseph, December 9, 1797, age 89.
Mclntire, Capt. 'Alexander, May 9, 1786.
218 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mclntire, Mr. Alexander, July 20, 1804. i
Mclntire, Mr. Daniel, December 23, 1787.
Mclntire, Mr. Ebenezer, April 4, 1796.
Mclntire, Capt. Jno., February 19, 1785.
Mclntire, the wife of Samuel, January 9, 1799.
Mclntire, Samuel, July 24, 1801, of cancer.
Mclntire, Tobias, April 12, 1797, of small- pox.
Milbery, Elder, September 26, 1777.
Milbery, George, son of Capt. Samuel, October 16, 1788.
Milbery, Capt. Samuel, November 12, 1795.
Millins, widow, December 27, 1801, suddenly.
Morse, Elizabeth, wife of Humphrey, at Newbury, November
2, 1806, my sister.
Moody, the wife of Elias, May 23, 1802.
Moody, the wife of Joseph, September 23, 1797.
Moody, the wife of Samuel, June 5, 1788.
Moody, Mr. Samuel, December 17, 1795, at Exeter.
Moody, the wife of Thomas, jr., March 31, 1802.
Moore, Mrs. Sarah, at J. Grant, December 20, 1804.
Moore, Mr. Thomas, February 21, 1804, age 84.
Moore, Mr. William, December 25, 1781.
Moore, the wife of William, January 12, 1782.
Moore, William, son of John, December 25, 1807, drowned going
to the West Indies.
Moulton, Capt. Abel, March 4, 1784.
Moulton, the wife of Daniel, Esq., June 22, 1796.
Moulton, Capt. Daniel, October 29. 1798.
Moulton, widow of Capt. Daniel, November 23, 1798.
Moulton, Dorcas, September 16, 1777.
Moulton, the wife of Ebenezer, February 4, 1777.
Moulton, widow, Elizabeth, May 17, 1801, age 91.
Moulton, George, October 3 or 4, 1787, drowned on his way
from St. Peters.
Moulton, Jemima, August 10, 1777:
Moulton, Col. Jeremy, July 16, 1777.
Moulton, Mr. Jeremiah, January 9, 1786.
Moulton, Capt. Jonathan, at Newburyport, February 24, 1807.
YORK NECROLOGY. 219
Moulton, Mr. John, April 28, 1803, of consumption.
Moulton, the wife of John, October 4, 1800.
Moulton, the wife Col. Johnson, August 4, 1782.
Moulton, Col. Johnson, June 13, 1793.
Moulton, widow of Col. Johnson, December 23, 1794.
Moulton, Jotham, Esq., May 12, 1777.
Moulton, widow Judith, December 30, 1794.
Moulton, Lydia, daughter of John, May 6, 1802.
Moulton, the wife of Thomas, February 26, 1803.
Moulton, the wife of Samuel, January 3, 1789.
Moulton, Capt. Samuel, September 11 or 12, 1803, on his pas-
sage from the West Indies.
Moulton, the wife of William, September 6, 1786.
Muchmore, the wife of Jefry, December 27, 1782.
Muchmore, Elizabeth, widow of Jacob, March 25, 1797.
Norman, Mr. John, March 18, 1793, of palsy.
No well, Mr. Abram, December 24, 1790, of cancer.
Nowell, Joel, son of Joseph, July 22, 1802.
Nowell, Col. John, October 12, 1791.
Nowell, John, 3d son of Thomas, January 19, 1793.
Nowell, the aged widow Mary, August 6, 1802.
Nowell, Mr. Thomas, December 8, 1801.
O'Neal, Mr. James, June 7, 1802.
Paine, Mr. Daniel, May 25, 1803.
Parsons, Mr. Elisha, July 26, 1799.
Parsons, Dea. John, February 14, 1778.
Parsons. Mr. Joseph, December 4, 1781.
Parsons, widow Miriam, February II, 1791.
Paul, Mr. Jeremy, October, 1779.
Paul, the wife of Jeremiah, July 29, 1800.
Paul, Capt. Samuel, December 17, 1793.
Paul, widow, Mr. H. Sargent's mother, May 6, 1795.
Perkins, the wife of Samuel, March 7, 1782.
Perkins, Samuel, July 13, 1788.
Perkins, William, died of his wound, being shot November 2,
1781.
Philbrook, Mr. John, February 9, 1777.
220 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Philbrook, the aged widow, February 12, 1796.
Phillips, the aged Mr. Henry, January 24, 1801.
Plaisted, Joseph, November 2, 1781, being wounded by a gun.
Pottle, Mr. Christopher, December 25, 1781.
Preble, Mr. Caleb, April 12, 1791, age 62.
Preble, Mr. David, February 21, 1802.
Preble, Mr. Ebenezer, February 18, 1777, of small-pox.
Preble, Mrs. Hannah, December 17, 1793.
Preble, widow, Hepsabeth, September 17, 1785.
Preble, Mr. Joseph, December 8, 1791.
Preble, Mrs. Lydia, December 7, 1792.
Preble, Paul, February 11, 1779.
Preble, Mr. Peter, May 29, 1790.
Preble, the wife of Samuel, January 13, 1801.
Prentice, widow, November 13, 1790.
Quin, Darby, January 24, 1797.
Ramsdell, Daniel, February 4, 1796.
Ramsdell, the wife of Nathaniel, Sen., May 4, 1790.
Ramsdell, Mr. Nathaniel, March 2, 1800.
Raynes, Benjamin, son of Robert, November 19, 1791, drowned
in the eddy.
Raynes, widow, February 17, 1788, age 99.
Raynes, the wife of Deacon, March 12, 1798.
Raynes, the wife of Nathaniel, June 26, 1795, of cancer.
Raynes, Mr. Nathaniel, September 19, 1802, of lockjaw.
Raynes, widow of Nathaniel, May 22, 1797.
Raynes, Capt. Robert, November 5, 1793.
Raynes, Sally, May 19, 1799, of cancer.
Ritchie, the wife of Matthew, November 8, 1779.
Safford, the wife of Moses, June 30, 1776.
Sargent, Andrew, November 4, 1795, age about 20.
Sargent, Daniel, November 9, 1799.
Savage, the wife of John, January 9, 1792.
Savage, Mr. John, October 28, 1798.
Savage, Rachel, December 20, 1790.
Savage, Sally, August 27, 1791.
Sayward, the wife of Ebenezer, January 14, 1781.
YORK NECROLOGY. 221
Sayward, Mr. Ebenezer, April 8, 1783.
Say ward, widow Elizabeth, August 27, 1791.
Sayward, Daniel, March 3, 1803, consumption.
Sayward, Mr. Henry, November 20, 1788.
Sayward, the wife of Jonathan, Esq., September, 12, 1775.
Sayward, Elder J., May 8, 1797, age 84.
Sayward, Mary, daughter of Capt. William, October 9, 1803.
Sayward, Prince, negro, February 3, 1789.
Sayward, Sarah, daughter of Bethular, August 15, 1790.
Sayward, William, jr., May 10, 1801.
Sellers, Ebenezer, October 3 or 4, 1787, drowned on the way
from St. Peters.
Sellers, Martha, April 26, 1804.
Sellers, the wife of William, January 6, 1795.
Sewall, the wife of Hon. David, May 28, 1788.
Sewall, widow Hannah, July 6, 1799, age 86.
Sewall, Mr. Henry, November 2, 1792.
Sewall, the aged widow of Henry, July 27, 1797.
Sewall, Mr. Joseph, December 12, 1782, of cancer.
Sewall, Joanna, October 4, 1775.
Sewall, King, negro, June 8, 1794.
Sewall, Lucy, daughter of Capt. S. S., September 3, 1802.
Sewall, the aged widow, Sarah, February 3, 1790.
Sewall, the wife of Storer, January 14, 1800.
Shaw, Mr. Joseph, December 30, 1802.
Sholes, George Perkins, November 22, 1781.
Simpson, Abigail, December 21, 1776.
Simpson, the wife of Capt. Ebenezer, October 15, 1804.
Simpson, the widow Eliza, December 22, 1799.
Simpson, the widow of Henry, September 22, 1778.
Simpson, the widow of Henry, September 22, 1784.
Simpson, the widow of Joseph, July 14, 1781.
Simpson, the wife of Capt. Joseph, December 10, 1786.
Simpson, Elder Joseph, November 24, 1798, age 86.
Simpson, Capt. Joshua, June 9, 1801.
Simpson, widow, December 13, 1802, age 96.
Simpson, Mary, July 18, 1777.
222 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Simpson, the wife of Capt. Timothy, October 5, 1799.
Simpson, Miss Olive, January 24, 1800.
Simpson, William, December 25, 1777.
Smith, the wife of Capt. Edward, December 21, 1804.
Smith, Lydia, March 13, 1797.
Smith, widow Sarah, December 8, 1787.
Stone, widow Abigail, August 30, 1784.
Stone, the wife of Josiah, October 27, 1797.
Stone, Mr. Josiah, October 23, 1804.
Stover, Mr. Isaac, August 3, 1788.
Stover, Mr. John, January 24, 1796, suddenly.
Stover, Richard, son of Joseph and Huldy, October 14, 1788.
Swett, John, Esq., June 18, 1790.
Swett, Capt. John, April 17, 1797, of fever.
Swett, Mr. Joseph, August 29, 1776.
Swett, Mr. Nathaniel, March 19, 1792.
Swett, Sarah, an idiot, July 16, 1787.
Talpey, the wife of Richard, Esq., September 27, 1778.
Talpey, Richard, Esq., May 19, 1793.
Thompson, Mr. Daniel, May 19, 1800.
Thompson, Dodivah Curtis, May 22, 1807.
Tilton, Abram, December 25, 1786.
Toppan, widow, July 18, 1783.
Trafton, Mr. Joseph, May 15, 1790.
Trafton, Mr. Jotham, November 13, 1804.
Trafton, widow Lydia, December 30, 1784.
Trivett, Capt. Richard, July 1'2, 1793.
Tucker, Joseph, Esq., September 8, 1804.
Walton, the wife of Mark, April 1 1, 1785.
Walton, the wife of Mark, March 4, 1790.
Weare, Mr. Elias, June 29, 1790.
Weare, the wife of Mr. Joseph, September, 1778, of small-pox.
Weare, the wife of Jeremiah, May 14, 1801.
Weare, Mr. Joseph, October 18, 1791.
Weare, the wife of Joseph, December 19, 1804.
Webber, Gershon, May 4, 1797.
Webber, the wife of Nathaniel, October 6, 1782.
YORK NECROLOGY. 223
Webber, wife of Nathaniel, September 26, 1789.
Webber, Mr. Nathaniel, June 11, 1791.
v Weeks, Mr. Josiah, January 19, 1801.
Welch, Mr. Benjamin, February 17, 1804.
Welch, Miss Mary, found dead December 12, 1801.
Welch, widow, April, 1782.
Welch, the wife of William, June 9, 1791.
Whitefield, Mr. George, preached at York, September 27, 1770,
and died at Newbury, September 30, Sunday morning.
Whitney, the aged widow, January 15, 1795.
Whittum, widow Anna, May 5, 1793.
Whittum, Hannah, November 12, 1802.
Whittum, Peter, November 17, 1786.
Whittum, the wife of Reuben, January 30, 1800.
Wilson, Mr. Joseph, April 1, 1803.
Wilson, Dea. t Michael, April 26, 1785.
Wilson, widow, February 10, 1790.
Wise, the wife of Theodore, September 15, 1786.
Witham, February 23, 1785.
Wood, Elizabeth, May 7, 1801.
Woodbridge, widow Ann, December 12, 1783.
Woodward, Margaret, March 4, 1801.
Young, widow Abigail, March 23, 1790.
Young, Mr. Beniah, February 2, 1779.
Young, Elizabeth, September, 1778.
Young, the wife of Jabez, April 15, 1804.
Young, Mr. John, January 11, 1803, age 83.
Young, Mr. John, Jr., March 21, 1797, in consequence of his
swallowing a number of pills, as was supposed, and laid out all night.
Young, the wife of Jonathan, June 26, 1800.
Young, Mr. Joshua, October 14, 1803.
Young, Mrs. Mary, May 21, 1804.
Young, Mr. Masterson, June 16, 1795.
Young, Mr. Roland, February 9, 1782.
Young, Mr. Roland, December 7, 1800.
Young, the wife of Samuel, Jr., January 22, 1802.
Young, Mrs. Sarah, August 21, 1797, of cancer.
224 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
PROCEEDINGS.
JANUARY 26, 1899.
SESSIONS of the Society were held in the Library
hall and were called to order by the President, Mr.
Baxter.
The first paper in order was Some Account of the
Ministry on the Kennebec During the Indian War?
read by Rev. Henry 0. Thayer.
Mr. Nathan Goold read a paper on Captain Johnson
Moulton's Company, the First from the District of
Maine, in the Revolution.
Mr. Charles S. Fobes read a communication from
Mr. Edwin S. Drake on the changed condition of
affairs in the South since the Rebellion.
At the evening session the President read a paper
on the Genesis of New England.
Adjourned.
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN.
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN.
BT RICHARD WEBB.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, February 2S, 189$.
THE public career of William Pitt Fessenden covered
the period from 1854 to 1869, from the rise of the
Republican party to the close of Johnson's administra-
tion. With the exception of about eight months, when
he was Secretary of the Treasury, he was, during all
this time, a member of the Senate. He entered that
body as the slavery question was reaching a crisis, and
in the momentous events which followed he bore a
leading part. In many respects this period of our
history, from the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill
to the first inauguration of President Grant, is the
most important. It witnessed the rise and suppression
of a great rebellion, the abolition of slavery, the re-
construction of the South and the impeachment of a
president. At no former period had the necessity for
the highest order of statesmanship been greater, and
this necessity developed in many of our public men
the qualities and abilities which the occasion demanded.
Many who then occupied important positions and
wielded large influence seem to have been now for-
gotten, save, perhaps, in the localities where they
lived, or by those who were in some sense their con.
temporaries. Lincoln and a few others have already
achieved immortality, but there were many more
whose names are now rarely heard, but whose services
VOL. X. 16
226 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to the Republic merit at least remembrance. Such a
one was Fessenden. As an apostle in the antislavery
crusade, and, for many years, as a leader in the Senate,
he exhibited those qualities of mind and character
which mark the statesman ; and especially as Secretary
of the Treasury, as Chairman of the Joint Committee
on Reconstruction, and in daring to vote against his
party for the acquittal of Andrew Johnson, his services
were most important.
No sketch of Fessenden, however brief, would be
complete without some reference to his father, Gen.
Samuel Fessenden, for from him were inherited in
marked degree the intellectual traits which made the
senator distinguished. Samuel Fessenden was a son
of William Fessenden, the first minister of the first
parish in Fryeburg, Maine, and was born at Fryeburg
in 1784. His early education was obtained at the
Fryeburg Academy, the principal of which during the
latter part of his course was Daniel Webster, then a
recent graduate of Dartmouth College. A warm
friendship sprang up between teacher and pupil which
continued during life, and it was doubtless due to
Webster's influence that Samuel Fessenden went to
Dartmouth, where he was graduated in 1806. He
studied law in an office in his native village, and was
admitted to the bar in 1809. He began practise in
New Gloucester, Maine, and remained there until 1822,
when he moved to Portland, and formed a partnership
with Thomas Amory Deblois. v This firm continued for
many years, and from the beginning had a large and
important practise. The early volumes of the Maine
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 227
Reports show that Fessenden & Deblois appeared in
more cases before the Law Court than any other law-
yers in Cumberland County, and it is said of Gen.
Fessenden that probably no other lawyer in Maine
ever argued so many cases to the jury. As a lawyer
he was successful, and won a reputation at the bar as
a safe counsellor and an able and eloquent advocate.
For many years he was president of the Cumberland
Bar Association, which position he held at the time of
his death. He was not only well read in the law, but
was also a man of scholarly and literary tastes. In
1828 he might, perhaps, have been elected president
of Dartmouth, had he not declined to be considered a
candidate. In 1848 he received from Bowdoin the
degree of LL.D. For many years before Maine was
set off as a separate state he represented the town of
New Gloucester in the General Court of Massachusetts,
serving in both the House of Representatives and in
the Senate, and it was on account of his legislative
services that he was elected, in 1818, a Major-General
of the militia, thereby receiving the title by which he
was commonly known.
In politics he was a pronounced and ardent Fed-
eralist so long as Federalism had life. He then became
a Whig, but his extreme antislavery views soon
alienated him from that party, and finally and nat-
urally drew him into the Republican party. He was,
therefore, during the greater part of his life a member
of the minority. Maine was a Democratic State from
the time of its organization until the rise of the Re-
publican party. Except in the memorable election of
228 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1840, when Edward Kent was chosen governor, no
Whig was ever elected by the people to that office,
and except in the same election, when William Pitt
Fessenden was elected to Congress, the seat for the
Portland district was regularly filled by a Democrat.
Had General Fessenden lived a little earlier so that
his prime of life might have come when the Federalist
party was dominant, or had he lived a little later, so
that his prime might have come during the Rebellion,
he would doubtless have been a man of national posi-
tion and reputation. He lived in both periods, but
Federalist supremacy had ceased before he was of age,
and the success of the later Republican party found
him an old man nearing his eightieth year. In this
respect his career was unfortunate. He was naturally
drawn toward public life, and battled with keen zest
in behalf of principles which he believed to be right.
He did all he could for the negro when it cost some-
thing to befriend a slave. He received colored people
at his house, visited them himself, and aided them in
their attempts to attain position in society. The un-
popularity of such a course did not deter him. He
entered into the antislavery cause from sincere con-
viction, and gave to it the best efforts of his mind and
heart. He was a man of great strength of character,
of intellectual force and of firm convictions. He died
at Portland, Maine, March 19, 1869, aged nearly eighty-
five years, preceding his distinguished son to the grave
by only about six months.
William Pitt Fessenden was the eldest son of Gen.
Samuel Fessenden, and was born at Boscawen, New
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 229
Hampshire, October 16, 1806. The name which he
received is indicative of his father's political opinions,
as Pitt, then at the height of his power and reputation
as premier of England, was the idol of the New
England Federalists. His childhood was spent at his
father's home in New Gloucester. He was early stu-
dious and unusually precocious. In 1819, before he
was thirteen years old, he entered Bowdoin College,
and was graduated there with honors in 1823. Frank-
lin Pierce, who afterwards became president, was in
college at the same time, being a member of the class
of 1822, while in the class of 1825 were Longfellow
and Hawthorne.
While Fessenden was in college his father had moved
from New Gloucester to Portland, so that when his
college course was completed he came to his father's
new home, and began to study law in the office of
Charles S, Daveis, at that time one of the leading
lawyers in Maine. He was a law student for four
years, part of the time in the office of his uncle Thomas
Fessenden in New York, and in 1827, being then
twenty-one years old, he was admitted to the Cumber-
land Bar. He had received an excellent drill, especially
in equity, then a new branch in the jurisprudence of
Maine. After his admission he opened an office in
Bridgton, Maine, where he remained about two years.
He then returned to Portland, and became a member
of his father's firm, but this arrangement not proving
satisfactory he went to Bangor, where he stayed until
1832, when he again returned to Portland, and for the
rest of his life made his home in that city. He was
230 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
married on the year of his return to the youngest
daughter of James Deering.
Fessenden soon took high rank at the bar, and
developed much of the true spirit of the lawyer. He
was fond of the profession, and in many respects pre-
ferred it to holding public position. He enjoyed a
large although not specially lucrative practise, and
long before his election to the Senate he was recog-
nized as one of the leading lawyers of the state.
He early took an interest in politics. In 1827, when
only twenty-one years of age, he delivered to the
young men of Portland a Fourth of July oration, in
which he clearly showed the bent of his mind toward
public affairs. In 1832 he was elected to the Legisla-
ture as a Whig, having been offered and having
declined the Whig nomination for Congress. It may
be that this latter nomination was declined because
there seemed to be slight prospect of election, or it
may be that he did not consider it wise at the very
beginning of his professional career, and before he had
established a practise, to afford the time necessary for
a Congressional term. Service in Congress does not
seem to have been then considered the honor it has
since become. An appointment to the bench was
much-preferred, and on two separate occasions seats
in the United States Senate were resigned for positions
on the Supreme Court of Maine. In 1840, however,
he accepted the Congressional nomination and was
elected ; but service in the House of Representatives
did not seem to suit his tastes and although renorni-
nated he positively declined to run. Ten years later,
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 231
in 1850, he was again elected to Congress, but lost his
seat through an error in the returns.
In 1843 and 1845 the Whigs in the Legislature gave
him their votes for the senatorship, and in 1853, when
the term of James W. Bradbury, who was a Democrat,
expired, he again received the support of his party. But
the Legislature of 1853 failed to elect, no candidate re-
ceiving a majority of the votes cast, and adjourned leav-
ing the vacancy to be filled by the Legislature to be
elected in the coming fall. Now in the political cam-
paign of that year a serious split occurred in the Dem-
ocratic party so long dominant in Maine. A considerable
faction, calling themselves " Independent Democrats,"
bolted the regular nominations and supported, as their
candidate for the governorship, Anson P. Morrill.
There was no election of governor by the people,
and it fell, therefore, upon the Legislature which met
in January, 1854, to elect both a governor and a sen-
ator, with the balance of power resting in the handful
of members who were the supporters of Mr. Morrill.
Mr. Fessenden had been at all times a consistent
Whig, and was the most prominent man of that party
in the state. Besides his brief experience in Con-
gress, he had served many terms in the Legislature,
had been a delegate to several national conventions,
and had before been the regular candidate for the
senatorship. For these reasons his friends claimed for
him the united support of the party. But he was a
pronounced antislavery man. While he had not fol-
lowed his father's example in breaking with the Whig
party, he was at all times in favor of vigorous and
232 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
constitutional opposition to the slave power. These
views commended him to the " Independent Demo-
crats/' who had broken with their own party on the
slavery question, but riot to several members of his
own party of pro-slavery proclivities who called them-
selves "Strict Whigs," and who were willing to vote
for him as the party candidate so long as there should
be no prospect of his election, but who would not vote
for him if he were to receive the support of anti-
slavery Democrats. Any open combination was
therefore impossible, and Mr. Fessenden's election was
brought about by a ruse secretly planned by Mr. Mor-
rill and shrewdly executed by his followers. It was
reported and not denied that the "Independents"
would support as their senatorial' candidate ex-Gov.
Hubbard. On the day of the election they circulated
ballots for him, and then they all voted for Fessenden.
So well had the secret been kept as to what the "In-
dependents" would do that the Whigs were completely
deceived, and as all the Whigs had voted for Mr.
Fessenden, he was, to their great surprise, elected on
the first ballot.
At the time of Mr. Fessenden's election to the
Senate the great debate on the Kansas-Nebraska bill
was in progress. This bill for the organization of the
two territories of Kansas and Nebraska provided for
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and its passage
by Congress broke up the Whig party, consolidated
the antislavery men of the North into the new
Republican party, and impelled the South toward
secession. Its importance may warrant a brief review
WILLIAM PITT FES8ENDEN. 233
of the political history of the slavery question up to
this time.
Of the original thirteen states seven were free and
six were slave. Up to 1850 seventeen new states had
been added to the Union, and of these eight were free
and nine were slave. So that at that date the Union
consisted of thirty states equally divided between
freedom and slavery. Moreover this equality which
then existed had been maintained from the beginning,
for, with the single exception of Louisiana, which was
admitted in 1812 with no corresponding state from the
North, it had been so arranged that states were ad-
mitted regularly one from the North and one from the
South. Thus Kentucky and Vermont, Tennessee and
Ohio, Mississippi and Indiana, Alabama and Illinois,
Missouri and Maine, Arkansas and Michigan, Florida
and Iowa, Texas and Wisconsin came into the Union
in pairs, not indeed at precisely the same moment in
every case, but always with reference each to the
other in the order named. The constitutional equality
of all states in the Senate gave to each section, there-
fore, equal representation in that body, and although
in the House of Representatives and in the Electoral
College the free states predominated because of their
more rapid growth in population, the slave states were
always able to defeat in the Senate any hostile legisla-
tion which might have passed the House, and to refuse
to confirm any nomination made by the President
which they considered inimical to their interests. A
tie vote, to be sure, cannot carry measures, but it can
always defeat them, and any combination of votes that
234 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
possesses the negative power will in the end direct
and control the positive action of the body to which it
belongs. It was, therefore, of the highest importance
to the South, or, at least, it was believed to be so by
the Southern leaders, that this balance of power in
the Senate should be maintained. It was for this
purpose that the Mexican War had been fought, result-
ing in the acquisition of the long stretch of southern
territory extending to the Pacific from which new
slave states might be carved to balance the free states
which might grow up in the Northwest.
But the far reaching plans of the South were sud-
denly and most unexpectedly disturbed through the
discovery of gold in California, in 1848. The enormous
and unprecedented rush to the Pacific coast soon gave
to this region a large population, and it was a popula-
tion in which the South had but few representatives.
Slavery there had no status. Within two years after
the discovery of gold, California applied for admission
as a free state, without having previously been through
the territorial period. This territory was acquired
through the active exertions of the South, and its
acquisition was bitterly opposed by the North. The
avowed purpose and expectation of its acquisition had
been to strengthen the South. The unexpected result
was to strengthen the North. The strenuous efforts
of the South to maintain the balance of power had in
this instance served to most rudely disturb it. Fierce
and bitter was the contest which ensued. Secession
was angrily threatened, and a disruption of the Union
WILLIAM PITT FE88ENDEN. 235
seemed imminent. In this crisis Henry Clay brought
forward a compromise which was finally adopted and
which became known as the Compromise of 1850. On
behalf of the North it was provided that California
should be admitted as a free state and that the slave
trade in the District of Columbia should be abolished,
while the South was appeased by provisions that ten
million dollars be given to Texas for the payment of
its war debt, that the remaining territory acquired
from Mexico be organized without prohibition or per-
mission of slavery, and that the Fugitive Slave Law
be enacted. These measures were hailed far and wide
as the final settlement of the slavery question. Reso-
lutions of both parties adopted at the conventions of
1852 referred to them as an adjustment of the whole
controversy. Attempted secession was really only
deferred, but the danger of it was believed to be over.
It soon became evident that the settlement was one
in name only, and that a truce, not a final peace, had
been obtained. The harsh provisions of the Fugitive
Slave Law, which denied right of trial by jury to one
accused of being a runaway slave, and gave him no
right of appeal from the decision of a United States
Commissioner depriving him of his freedom, were so
at variance with the spirit of liberty pervading the
common law, that the law was most unpopular and
most difficult of enforcement throughout the North.
Moreover the rule or ruin policy of the South began
to be more clearly seen and understood, and there
grew and became fixed in the Northern mind a deter-
236 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
mination to make no further concessions. On the
other hand the South realized that it had lost its
power in the Senate, and that an effort must be made
to regain it. Arizona and New Mexico, which were
the only remaining Southern territories available, gave
little promise of being able to support populations
large enough for state organizations, while in the
North there was territory sufficient for many more
states whose admission would give the North power to
outvote the South in both the House and the Senate,
and this power the South conscientiously believed
would be used for the abolition of slavery and for the
political degradation of the Southern states. There
seemed to the leaders of the South but one thing to
be done. The measure was desperate but it was their
only hope. They must break through the line of the
Missouri Compromise. This line was the southern
boundary of Missouri, and when that state had been
admitted as a slave state in 1820, Congress had
enacted that no more slave states should be admitted
north of th-it line. This was the compromise which
had allayed the antislavery agitation of that time,
and for over thirty years it had been acquiesced in by
both sections. The acting generation had grown to
manhood with profound respect and even reverence
for it, and had come to regard it almost as sacredly as
though it were part of the organic law of the Republic.
It was now proposed in the bill for organizing the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska that this compro-
mise be repealed "that the citizens of the several
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 237
states shall be at, liberty to take and hold their slaves
within any of the territories." The North was fairly
stunned by this proposition. Had it been proposed to
abolish the Constitution itself the surprise could
scarcely have been greater. No previous antislavery
excitement bore any comparison to that which spread
over the North as the discussion progressed. The
proposal did not merely call forth opposition, it pro-
duced almost a frenzy of wrath on the part of thou-
sands, irrespective of party, who had never before taken
any part whatever in the antislavery agitation.
When Mr. Fessenden took his seat in the Senate on
February 23, 1854, the debate on the Kansas-Nebraska
bill was at its height, and into this debate he plunged
at once, delivering his first speech on the evening of
March 3. This speech bears no evidence of careful
literary preparation. It was delivered without notes
and upon the inspiration of the moment, but it was
clear, logical, forcible and consistent. The frequent
interruptions and questions of such veteran debaters
as Cass, Douglas and Butler of South Carolina, did not
disconcert him. Having come directly from the peo-
ple, he voiced the popular indignation which this bill
had aroused, and having been elected by a democratic
legislature, although he himself was a lifelong Whig,
his presence in the Senate was an example of how this
slavery question, so suddenly and unexpectedly re-
opened, had made men forget past political differences.
His speech won from his fellow senators their im-
mediate recognition of him as a debater of more than
238 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
usual ability, and drew public attention to himself as
a new and fearless leader of the small band of anti-
slavery men then in Congress.
But the Missouri Compromise was repealed. In a
Senate of sixty-two members only fourteen voted
against the bill. As had so often happened before the
demands of the South were granted. Instantly the
Republican party sprang into being, taking for its
creed opposition to the extension of slavery in the
territories, while "popular sovereignty" became the
rallying cry of the Democrats. The old issues were
forgotten, and slavery became the one political ques-
tion. The Whig party was dead, and although many
Whigs became Democrats, many Democrats joined
their old opponents in becoming Republicans. Then
came the fierce and bitter struggle for the possession
of Kansas fought out largely in hand-to-hand en-
counter upon the soil of that new territory, the attempt
to fraudulently force a slavery constitution upon the
Kansas people, the final defeat of the pro-slavery
party and the admission of Kansas as a free state.
As the Southern leaders saw power slipping from their
grasp, and realized that not only the balance of power
never could be restored, but that the time was at hand
when the control of the government in all its branches
would pass to enemies of Southern institutions, angrier
and more arrogant grew their demands, and firmer
and more determined became the Northern resistance.
The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott decision,
John Brown attempted to capture Harper's Ferry,
Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency, the
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 239
Southern states passed ordinances of secession, and
active preparations for war began.
Mr. Fessenden's first term in the Senate was there-
fore crowded with exciting and momentous events,
and in all the legislative struggles of the time he bore
a conspicuous part. The prominent position he had
assumed at the beginning he held to the end as the
little band of champions for freedom grew greater.
He spoke frequently in the Seriate, making notable
speeches on the Lecompton constitution and the Dred
Scott decision, but it was as a debater rather than as
an orator that he shone. In debate he was always
ready. Nobody could match him in immediate and
incisive reply, and his words were swift and sharp. In
sentiment he was thoroughly antislavery. It was his
inheritance and he was faithful to it. In all demands
of slavery for recognition and protection his opposition
was inflexible. When to be antislavery was to be
anti-American, he was antislavery; when his party
would compromise, he dissented ; when, on the eve of
rebellion, conference and concession were proposed, he
would have no participation in it and would yield no
assent ; and when war came for separation and inde-
pendent slave power, he saw in it the nation's oppor-
tunity. The growth of the antislavery sentiment, the
moulding of public opinion and the solidifying of the
North to resist secession were due to many things of
which men and events each had their share; but the
fearless, determined and uncompromising stand taken
by such men as Fessenden in Congress had an effect
which cannot well be overestimated.
240 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
When the Republican party came into power, to
Mr. Fessenden was assigned the difficult and important
position of chairman of the finance committee. Here
he was most conspicuous in sustaining the national
credit during the war. He prepared and carried
through the Senate all measures relating to revenue,
taxation and appropriations, and so much confidence
was reposed in him, and so great was his influence,
that his bills almost always became laws substantially
as he had reported them. As declared by Sumner
" all that our best generals were in arms, he was in
the financial field.'* In one important instance he was
outvoted. He objected to the Legal Tender bill, and
he stated his objections in one of his ablest speeches.
He disputed the contention that such action was
necessary. Although the credit of the government
had been impaired, it was still strong, but a measure
of this kind would further injure it as being practically
a confession of bankruptcy. It would be in bad faith,
for it would compel one to take in payment of a debt
that which he would not otherwise be willing to re-
ceive, and what would probably not be full payment.
It would encourage bad morals by enabling men to
pay their debts at a discount. It would inflict a stain
upon the national honor in compelling foreign cred-
itors to receive their debts in depreciated paper. It
would change the values of all property. Instead of
using gold and silver as the measures of value, a new
measure would be adopted, which would be constantly
fluctuating, and, although passing nominally at par,
gold would go to a premium, and all other kinds of
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 241
property would also appreciate. The heaviest loss
would fall upon the poor. The constitutionality of
the act was at best doubtful. The correctness of these
views was soon apparent after the passage of the bill.
All his predictions were fulfilled, and to the evils of a
civil war were added the misfortunes of a depreciated
and fluctuating currency.
At the darkest hour of the war, in June 1864, Sec-
retary Chase resigned the portfolio of the Treasury.
To fill the vacancy, David Tod, of Ohio, was nominated,
but he immediately sent a telegram to the President
declining the office. The nomination of Mr. Fessen-
den was then sent to the Senate, and was at once
confirmed. Mr. Fessenden was completely surprised.
He was at the White House conferring with the Pres-
ident upon the situation of affairs in the Treasury
Department when Mr. Lincoln told him that his own
nomination was on the way to the Capitol. He at
once hastened to the Senate Chamber to protest
against it, but the nomination had been confirmed
before he arrived. He sought, however, to decline,
but the President insisted that he must accept. In-
fluential senators and members of the House promised
to aid and support him with such financial legislation
as he might wish, and public opinion, so far as it was
made manifest in resolutions of chambers of commerce
and boards of trade and in the editorials of leading
party newspapers, called upon him to take the office.
So he resigned his seat in the Senate, and became
Secretary of the Treasury. This act showed greater
political courage than those who urged him to it could
VOL. X. 17
242 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
realize. No one knew better than he the desperate
condition in which the finances of the country then
were. Credit seemed to be exhausted, paper money
was very much depreciated, no new and untried source
of revenue was apparent, and the demands for funds
for prosecuting .the war were increasing every day.
Successful administration of the Treasury might well
have seemed to him impossible, and yet upon him
would fall the responsibility of failure, even although
such failure be caused by policies adopted by his
predecessor or by circumstances beyond his control.
In the Senate his position was secure. In entering
the Cabinet he staked his entire reputation and all his
political prospects upon what must have seemed to be
the most desperate chances.
Mr. Fessenden's career as Secretary of the Treasury
has been too often referred to in a parenthesis, yet
during the eight months that he held this office he
quietly and unostentatiously performed the most im-
portant public services of his life up to that time.
When he assumed the office on July 5, 1864, the con-
dition of affairs was, as he afterwards modestly
described it in his report to Congress, " peculiarly
embarrassing." There was a cash balance on hand of
about $18,000,000. The internal revenue averaged
about three-quarters of a million a day, and the revenue
from customs, which was payable in gold, had been
pledged to pay interest on outstanding bonds. It had
been the policy of the Treasury to issue to government
creditors, whom it was not convenient to pay, certifi-
cates of indebtedness which were substantially prom-
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 243
issory notes payable in one year with interest at
six per cent. At this time $161,000,000 of these
certificates were outstanding, and they were coming
due daily in amounts more than sufficient to absorb
the current revenues. Furthermore in the summer
of 1861, when it was believed that the war would be
of short duration, a loan had been negotiated for three
years, and these bonds, amounting to $110,000,000
were coming due in August and September of 1864.
Pay to the army and current expenses generally were
greatly in arrears. The unpaid requisitions upon the
Treasury amounted to $92,000,000. It had been de-
cided to increase the army by five hundred thousand
men, and Grant had given notice that he should fight
it out on the line chosen by him if it took all summer.
This meant that the expense of prosecuting the war
was about to be increased from two and one-quarter
millions to three millions a day. To meet these enor-
mous requirements money must be had immediately,
else the government was bankrupt, the Union cause
was lost, and, as the Democratic party that summer
declared in convention, " the war was a failure."
There were three courses open to the Secretary.
First, he might issue further certificates of indebted-
ness. This at best would be but a temporary
expedient. The amount already issued exceeded the
limit of safety, and they were selling on the market
at several points below par. Second, he might increase
the issue of legal tenders, but this he at once deter-
mined not to do if he could possibly avoid it. His
original opposition to the Legal Tender act had been
244 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
strengthened and confirmed by the results of that act.
There were then outstanding about $600,000,000 legal
tenders, of which $431,000,000 were greenbacks and
the balance treasury notes bearing interest, and gold
was at 285. Third, he might borrow money through
the sale of bonds. But the bonded debt of the govern-
ment was then $816,000,000. Just before resigning
Secretary Chase had attempted to dispose of the com-
paratively small amount of $33,000,000, but his ad-
vertisements for bids, which were published on June
25, were withdrawn a week later, since it appeared
that the loan would not be taken upon terms which it
would be for the interest of the government to accept.
Of these three courses, each thus beset with diffi-
culties, the Secretary at once discarded the first two
as impracticable for furnishing permanent relief, and
determined to try to dispose of a new issue of
bonds. Bonds which had heretofore been issued had
been sold in most instances to banks, capitalists and
syndicates, and by them placed upon the market, but
it now appeared that this market would take no more
except at a ruinous discount. Mr. Fessenden realized,
however, that another market for government securities
might well exist outside the stock exchanges of the
great cities, in which market the people themselves
might deal directly with the government without the
intervention of brokers and middle men. In the peo-
ple of this country he had full confidence. He firmly
believed in their determinati6n to put down the re-
bellion at any cost or sacrifice. He knew too that the
people had faith in the government. They were
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 245
determined to win and they believed that they would.
He therefore determined to offer as a great popular
loan, the " seven-thirty " bonds which had just been
authorized by Act of June 30, 1864. If the people
should be made to understand the financial necessities
of the government, he believed their patriotism would
induce them to assist the government with their
means ; and as they had confidence in the ultimate
success of the Union cause, he believed that the gov-
ernment bonds would appear to them as a safe and
desirable form of investment. But to successfully
carry out the plan which he had in mind would re-
quire a large and well organized corps of assistants
such as the Treasury Department did not possess and
had not time to obtain. So the Secretary called to
his aid Mr. Jay Cooke who had before assisted the
department in placing the "five-twenties." Mr. Cooke
had organized in his own business an immense and
most thorough system of advertising, and arrange-
ments were made so that in every city, village and
hamlet of the North the people should be thoroughly
informed of this new loan. Local newspapers were
furnished with full, accurate and carefully prepared
information. Circulars and personal letters were sent
out by the thousands, and in every way then known
to the science of modern advertising these bonds were
placed before the public. Opportunities were given
to every one to subscribe, and that the bonds might
be within the reach of people of humble circumstances,
they were issued in small as well as in large denomi-
nations. The plan proved a pronounced success, and
246 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the " seven-thirtys " became very popular almost im-
mediately. Money flowed into the treasury in a
constantly increasing stream, and the financial em-
barrassment of the government was soon relieved.
A most gratifying incident in connection with the
sale of these bonds was the alacrity with which they
were taken by the soldiers in settlement of the arrears
of pay due them. The soldiers were not compelled to
take the bonds. They were offered their pay either
in money or in bonds as they might prefer, and over
$20,000,000 in bonds were taken by them. The
spectacle of soldiers in the ranks not only fighting the
battles of their country, but also loaning the govern-
ment money to carry on the war is believed to be
without historical parallel.
When Mr. Fessenden left the Treasury in March,
1865, to again take the seat in the Senate to which
the Legislature of Maine had reelected him, the clouds
of eight months before had disappeared. Threatened
bankruptcy had been averted, and the financial affairs
of the government had been conducted to a position of
safety. The empty coffers had been filled, the obliga-
tions of the government had been met, and its badly
shattered credit had been restored. To these results
the victories of the Federal armies contributed in no
small measure, for no financial policy could have been
long successful in the face of continued military defeat.
But on the other hand, the firm will, the clearly de-
fined and well sustained policy and the unflinching
constancy of the Secretary which had been solely
directed to rescuing the Treasury from its position of
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 247
embarrassment and danger, had to no small extent
made Union victories possible, for no campaign of any
importance could have been conducted to a successful
termination without the " sinews of war."
For his services in the Treasury Department Mr.
Fessenden has never had the full credit that was his
due. His predecessor has received unlimited praise
for meeting the financial requirements of the first
three years of the war requirements that were
without precedent. But when Secretary Chase re-
signed, the financial necessities of the government,
great as they had been before, were greater than ever
then. Secretary Chase raised by loans in three years
and four months $816,000,000, or about $20,000,000
a month, and of this $110,000,000 had to be met by
Secretary Fessenden at the most embarrassing period.
Mr. Chase also issued $600,000,000 of legal tender
paper and $162,000,000 of certificates of indebtedness.
Secretary Fessenden raised by loans in eight months
$450,000,000, or $56,000,000 a month, and did not
increase the issue of paper. Mr. Fessenden's suc-
cessor has been given great credit for supplying
without embarrassment the immense sums needed to
pay off the troops when they were finally discharged,
and for his success in refunding the " seven-thirty "
loan. But Secretary McColloch in the one case had
to merely pay out money from a treasury which he
found overflowing and from which no further war ex-
penses were to be paid, and in the other to exchange
for a maturing obligation worth only par one worth a
premium of ten per cent and constantly appreciating.
248 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
While Mr. Fessenden held office few knew the serious
condition of the Treasury, or could appreciate the
measures taken for its relief. Great events were hap-
pening elsewhere, and the people were watching the
armies. Generals had been produced at last who
could and would fight, and those who led the Northern
arms to victory received from the people all the credit
and all the glory for the salvation of the Union.
The most difficult political problem of the century
was perhaps that of reconstruction. Upon the sur-
render of her armies the South was prostrate before
the power of the North. What should be done with
her? The Union had been saved, how should it be
preserved ? Slavery, which had been the curse of the
republic, was dead, what should be the status of
the freedman ? The problem was complicated at the
outset by a controversy between the executive and
legislative branches of the government as to which
branch had the constitutional power of seeking and
applying a solution. First President Johnson at-
tempted to solve it alone. When he came into office
in April, 1865, upon the death of Lincoln, instead of
then calling an extra session of Congress to deal with
the many questions presented by the cessation of
hostilities, he thought best to proceed without legisla-
tive assistance or hindrance. He therefore had until
the following December for carrying on his experi-
ments. At the beginning of this brief space of time
he was in favor of harsh and severe measures in deal-
ing with the South, and talked vehemently of punish-
ment; at the end he was warmly sympathizing with
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 249
the Southern people and was their protector against
Northern oppression. He had, therefore, sought to
restore the Southern states to their former position in
the Union as quickly as possible. First a proclamation
of general amnesty was issued, excepting from its ben-
efits only certain classes. Those excepted in the
proclamation, however, were practically promised a
full pardon if they would apply for it in person, and
over fourteen thousand availed themselves of this
privilege. Conventions were then held in the different
Southern states for revising the state constitutions and
providing for the reorganization of the state govern-
ments, and the people were soon called upon to elect
state officials and members of Congress. Before Con-
gress met, reconstruction according to the President's
plan was practically completed. New state govern-
ments had been organized, and United States senators
and members of Congress had been elected. If the
President's acts were valid there was nothing for
Congress to do in the matter except to admit to their
seats those claiming to represent the states lately in
rebellion, and to proceed with the ordinary affairs of
legislation as if the war had never taken place.
To Congressmen returning to Washington in De-
cember, 1865, after a nine months' absence, a strange
spectacle was presented. When Congress had adjourned
in March the war was still in progress, the Confederate
armies were in the field, and battles were still to be
fought. When in December members returned for
the first session of the next Congress, they found there
many of the most prominent leaders of the Rebellion
250 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
coolly demanding the seats in the Senate and House
of Representatives to which their various "sovereign
peoples " had elected them. They had come to Wash-
ington not as petitioners, but as claimants, not as
representatives of a defeated people to sue for mercy,
but as if they themselves were victors, to dictate terms
of peace. In March they were attempting to over-
throw the Constitution, in December they were pre-
pared to construe it to its defenders. The power of
the government which they had failed to overthrow
they now claimed to share.
The successive acts of the President which had
ended in bringing about this anomalous condition had
been watched with surprise and indignation at the
North, and the President soon found that he had almost
entirely lost the support of the Republican party which
had elected him Vice-President. When Congress met
members were in no temper to listen to these claims
for Southern representation. They were hardly pre-
pared to be even civil to the President who had, as
they believed, assumed the functions of Congress. It
was at once decided to appoint a special joint commit-
tee on reconstruction, a resolution to this effect passing
the House even before the President's message was
read, and to this committee should be referred all the
questions and all proposed legislation relating to the
restoration of the late Confederate States. This was
the famous " Committee of Fifteen." It numbered
among its members the leading men of both parties,
and its chairman was Senator Fessenden.
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 251
In the appointment of this committee Congress had
practically disregarded, as of no legal validity, the
various steps taken by the President and by the South-
ern people under his direction. Johnson regarded this
as a challenge, which he accepted with alacrity, and
publicly and privately encouraged the South to insist
upon its demands. Utterly lacking in tact and discre-
tion, and blind to the gathering storm of disaffection
in the party which had elected him, he obstinately
persisted in the course upon which he had started.
Around him was gathering a party largely made up
of office holders and flatterers, soon to lose, however,
all but an insignificant number of the Republicans,
but to be reenforced by practically the entire Democ-
racy. Congress was overwhelmingly Republican in
both branches, and the members were early assured of
the support of their constituencies in their opposition
to the President. On the one hand was the North,
angry and excited at the prospect of losing the legiti-
mate fruits of its dearly bought victory ; on the other
was the South, as arrogant as before the war, as defiant
as before defeat. It was evident that the peace, which
had been hailed so joyously in the spring, had not yet
come. The country was still in a state of war. Only
the field of operations and the method of carrying on
the contest had changed. How could the contest be
ended ? Upon what terms could a real and lasting
peace be secured ? These were the questions for the
committee to answer, and the excited state of the
public mind and the open and growing hostility be-
252 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
tween the President and Congress made them almost
hopelessly complicated and difficult.
The report of the committee, which was made after
a thorough and careful examination into the condition
of the Southern states, was anxiously awaited in the
belief that it would shed light upon the darkness, and
would point out the true path leading to a reunited
nation. The report was written by Mr. Fessenden,
and it has been said of it that with the possible excep-
tion of the Proclamation of Emancipation it is the
ablest state paper of the period. With perhaps the
same exception it is the most important. Clear and
lucid in its style, admirable in its composition, faultless
in its logic, convincing in its argument, thorough and
complete in its treatment of the subject, and wise in
its recommendations, it is a document upon which
Mr. Fessenden may well rest his reputation for broad,
intelligent, patriotic and wise statesmanship. The in-
fluence of the report was immense. It became the
creed of the Republican party, and the settlement of
the question therein proposed was considered through-
out the country as reasonable, practicable and just.
The committee's plan of reconstruction was through
the Fourteenth Amendment which should be ratified
by the Southern states as a condition of readmission.
The Fourteenth Amendment was accordingly adopted
by Congress in accordance with the suggestion of the
committee, and in nearly the same form in which the
committee had drafted it. It v was at once ratified by
the Northern states and also by Tennessee, and that
state was promptly readmitted to representation. But
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 253
as the other Southern states rejected the amendment
some other measure was necessary, and in March,
1867, ten months after the committee had presented
its report, the reconstruction bill was passed, by the
terms of which the South was placed under military
government, which was to continue until the conditions
previously offered should be accepted. This bill made
loyalty to the government the sole requirement for
suffrage, thereby enfranchising the negroes while dis-
enfranchising all unpardoned rebels. Under these
circumstances the conditions imposed by Congress
were soon complied with, and the South came back
into the Union through the votes of its former slaves.
In thus granting suffrage to the negro, which grant
was made perpetual by the Fifteenth Amendment, a
grave error was committed. It may be said that the
negro who had been constantly loyal to the govern-
ment and had fought in the Union ranks ought to have
as much right to vote as the white man who had been
but recently pardoned for disloyalty and rebellion ;
but it was surely an error to grant the negro such
right and not protect him in the exercise of it. By
means of bulldozing, terrorizing and fraud the negro
vote was promptly suppressed just as soon as the Fed-
eral troops were withdrawn. The Fifteenth Amend-
ment has been and is openly disregarded and defied
not by states acting through their legislatures, but by
individuals, and Congress has been powerless to inter-
fere. Instead of a boon to the colored man, suffrage
has been a hindrance. Instead of diminishing the
power of the Southern white man the Fifteenth
254 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Amendment has largely increased it, for the Southern
states have been increased in power in the House of
Representatives and in the Electoral College by count-
ing the colored men as voters, and this power has been
wholly exercised by the whites. By forcing negro
suffrage upon the Southern states, the Republican
party placed in their hands the means by which its
own overthrow was to be accomplished.
Mr. Fessenden, although he had from his earliest
days been an opponent of slavery, and had always
been a true friend to the colored race, was not in favor
of negro suffrage as a condition of reconstruction.
When the proposed Fourteenth Amendment was before
the Senate it was most forcibly attacked by Mr. Sumner
because it did not grant universal suffrage, and Mr.
Fessenden in his reply contended that it was in all
respects better to leave the question of suffrage wholly
to the states, holding out to them, however, the pros-
pect of increased representation whenever they should
make suffrage universal. Negro suffrage might there-
by appear as for the interest of the South, and the
negroes would in time be enfranchised by act of the
states themselves. Had the negro received the right
from the state, he would have been much more likely
to have been protected in its exercise.
Mr. Fessenden was now at the height of his power
and influence and was the recognized leader of his
party in the Senate. He had the respect of his oppo-
nents, and calumny and slander had spared him. Had
death here ended his career the mourning would have
been far more general and sincere than that which
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 255
actually occurred two years later, and his memory
would have been far more warmly cherished by his
contemporaries than has been the case. But another
great public service remained for him to perform to
vote " Not Guilty " on the impeachment of Andrew
Johnson. By so doing he forfeited all his popular sup-
port, lost the greater number of his political friends,
and ceased to be a partj r leader. For the first time in
his life he was subjected to general and unmitigated
abuse, much of it coming from those who had long
looked to him for leadership.
It would be beyond the limits of this paper to re-
view, even briefly, the acts of the President which so
aroused against him the antipathy of the Northern
representatives, and led them to seek his removal from
office. Prominent among these acts may be mentioned
his vetoes, his exercise of the pardoning power, his
appointments and his messages to Congress. Many
of them merited, doubtless, the severe criticism which
they received ; but such offenses, if any, as were here
committed were political, and could not properly sub-
ject him to impeachment. But these were what had
raised against him the most enemies, and could he
have been legally impeached for them, he would not
have held office longer than the time necessary for a
fair trial. In his exercise of the powers of the presi-
dential office he had antagonized opinions as to public
policy which were overwhelming at the North, and
the argument that in so doing he had acted strictly
within his constitutional right could have little weight
with the mass of the people who desired his removal,
256 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and were unused to legal distinctions. In his speeches
and public addresses he had often shocked and even
outraged good taste, and had been unmindful of the
proper dignity of his office. In desiring his removal
for this cause it was forgotten that Congress had no
constitutional right to set itself up as a school for
manners. The North desired his removal, and this
desire was based upon acts and opinions of his for
which he could not be impeached ; but long before he
was put upon his trial before the Senate he had been
tried and condemned by public opinion at the North,
so that when the Impeachment cam* the people in-
sisted and demanded that he be adjudged guilty re-
gardless of the truth or falsity of the charges actually
preferred against him in the Articles of Impeachment.
Among the leading political opponents of the Presi-
dent was Senator Fessenden. No two men could be
more unlike. In education, character, intellect, habits
of thought, manner and political opinions they were
in pronounced and unreconcilable opposition. They
had practically nothing in common, and for Johnson's
character Fessenden had a supreme contempt. Yet
while the Senate was sitting as a court of Impeach-
ment, Mr. Fessenden realized that his duties were then
judicial and not political, and that he must base his
decision upon the articles presented and the testimony
offered in support of them, not upon anything outside
of the record. Personal and political considerations
must be wholly disregarded. *
The charges brought against the President were in
themselves not serious. The gravest of them was that
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 257
he had attempted to remove a member of his cabinet,
Secretary Stanton, without the advice and consent of
the Senate. This, it was contended, was a violation
of the';Tenure of Office Act. If this were so, the vio-
lation was technical. The act alleged to have been
violated was of doubtful propriety, and was in fact
soon after repealed. Of course that a law is unwise is
no excuse for its violation. But had President Lin-
coln or President Grant disregarded the provisions of
this law in precisely the same way that it was charged
President Johnson had done, there would never have
been a thought of impeachment. In Johnson's case,
however, it offered an opportunity which had long
been waited for, and the incident was seized upon as
furnishing means by which really the President might
be punished for sins which in themselves could not be
directly reached.
But even on the question here presented, as to
whether the President in removing Mr. Stanton had
acted outside of his constitutional and legal rights,
there was a grave difference of opinion among those
equally competent to judge. Able and learned con-
stitutional lawyers maintained that the law had been
violated, and lawyers no less able and no less learned
maintained the contrary. Mr. Fessenden was one of
those who held the latter view, and believed that the
President had a legal and constitutional right to re-
move Mr. Stanton in the manner and at the time that
he did. The certainty of public disapproval to follow
his acting upon this view did not deter him, and in
his opinion, filed in the case, he thus referred to it :
VOL. X. 18
258 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
To the suggestion that popular opinion demands the conviction
of the President upon these charges, I reply that he is not now on
trial before the people, but before the Senate. In the words of Lord
Elden, upon the trial of the Queen, "I take no notice of what is
passing out of doors, because I am supposed constitutionally not to
be acquainted with it." And again, " it is the duty of those upon
whom a judicial task is imposed to meet reproach and not court
popularity." The people have not heard the evidence as we have
heard it. The responsibility is not on them, but upon us. They
have not taken an oath to "do impartial justice according to the
Constitution and the laws." I have taken that oath. I cannot
render judgment upon their convictions, nor can they transfer to
themselves my punishment if I violate my own. And I should con-
sider myself undeserving the confidence of that just and intelligent
people who impose upon me this great responsibility, and unworthy
a place among honorable men, if for any fear of public reprobation,
and for the sake of securing popular favor, I should disregard the
convictions of my judgment and my conscience.
The consequences which may follow conviction or acquittal are
not for me, with my convictions, to consider. The future is in the
hands of Him who made and governs the universe, and the fear that
He will not govern it wisely and well would not excuse me for a
violation of His law.
The vote of the Senate was thirty-five for conviction
and nineteen for acquittal, Mr. Fessenden voting with
the minority, and since the necessary two-thirds had
not voted "Guilty," the President was not convicted.
A change of a single vote given for acquittal would
have changed the result. Seven Republican senators
voted " Not Guilty/' and upon them was at once
poured the vials of public wrath, since any one of
them might properly be said to have prevented what
the vast majority of people so ardently desired.
Among the members of the House who voted for
Impeachment was Mr. Elaine, and he has since said :
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 259
Sober reflection of later years has persuaded many who favored
Impeachment that it was not justifiable on the charges made, and
that its success would have resulted in greater injury to free institu-
tions than Andrew Johnson in his utmost endeavor was able to
inflict.
But Mr. Fessenden did not live until " sober reflec-
tion of later years " could persuade his detractors that
they had been unjust to him. Before the anger which
his action had aroused had subsided, he died at his
home in Portland, Maine, September 8, 1869. For
the last ten years of his life he had not been well. In
1858 he had been one of the victims of a mysterious
sickness which broke out among the guests of the Na-
tional Hotel in Washington, from the effects of which
he never fully recovered. In the onerous duties im-
posed upon him he had doubtless overworked. So
that when his final illness came, although at first
thought to be not serious, it proved more than he
could bear, and in about a week after he was first at-
tacked he died. The suddenness of his death espec-
ially shocked the community in which he had lived,
and there at least recent animosities were at once
forgotten in the universal effort to do honor to his
memory. The funeral services which took place in
the First Parish church, where he had been a constant
attendant, were largely attended, crowds waiting on
the steps from early morning until the church should
be open. The streets were lined with people as the
funeral procession passed. All flags were at half-mast
both in the city and on the shipping in the harbor, all
the bells of the city tolled, and minute guns were fired
from the fort and arsenal. That the mourning was.
260 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
wide-spread and sincere was self-evident. Portland
had lost her greatest citizen, the greatest man who
had ever lived within her walls.
Mr. Fessenden was not what is called a popular man,
that is, he did not have that quality best described,
perhaps, as "personal magnetism," such as was pos-
sessed in such marked degree by that other distin-
guished son of Maine, who soon after occupied his seat
in the Senate-^Mr. Elaine. The people believed in
his integrity, had confidence in his judgment, and
admired his ability, but they were not inspired with a
feeling of personal loyalty and of intense and unques-
tioning devotion to himself and his fortunes. His
character did not appeal to their emotions. It was
not their love he won. He appealed to their con-
sciences and to their common sense, and they followed
him because they were convinced that he was right.
He was reserved and dignified in manner, and was,
perhaps, somewhat aristocratic, had little patience with
those whom he considered bores, cared nothing for
the patronage of his position, and was often short and
sharp with office seekers. He had a supreme contempt,
which he took no pains to conceal, for those who were
in politics for what they could make, and expected
reward for political services. These traits naturally
made him unpopular with certain classes, and gave
him a reputation for being cold and unapproachable,
but to those admitted to his personal friendship he was
a most genial companion, and was by them held in
such close affection as to prove such reputation unde-
served. No man had warmer friends, and they knew,
WILLIAM PITT FESSENDEN. 261
as perhaps others did not, that a truer, kinder heart
than his beat in no human breast.
Fessenden exercised in private life the same virtues
that made his public career conspicuous. He had no
private vices, such as dim the luster of the fame of
Clay. He was always a perfect gentleman, courteous
and refined. He was slight in figure, with erect and
dignified carriage, and his face, finely cut and attract-
ive, without being handsome, bore an expression of
shrewdness and sagacity that did not suggest cunning.
During the later years of his life he was so engrossed
in public affairs that he had little time and less incli-
nation for social life, and except to a few intimate
friends he was essentially a public man.
He often seemed indifferent to public opinion. He
was, perhaps, too much so. Yet he was peculiarly
sensitive to praise and censure, the more so, doubtless,
because he was unwilling to purchase the one, or seek
to conciliate the other, by concessions which he re-
garded as venal. He was not the man to feel the
public pulse before making up his own mind. He was
governed by principle, not by policy. But in the ap-
plication of principles no one was more practical. He
was not a theorist, and while believing that moral
principles should underlie legislation, he realized that
perfect righteousness is not always attainable in this
world, and that what may be theoretically right is
sometimes beyond the power of human legislatures to
enact. He was remarkably modest. He never dis-
tributed copies of his speeches, and he made no collec-
tion of his works for publication. He underestimated
262 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the importance of his public services. He had self-
confidence, but not self-assurance ; self-respect, but not
self-conceit.
His speeches are models of English style in the
purity of their language and in the clearness of their
composition. There are in them no metaphorical or
other figurative expressions, no classical allusions
or poetical quotations. They appealed to the reason
and the common sense, not to the passions or the im-
agination. His was not an eloquence to move the
masses, nor to win the applause of the galleries, but
was most effective in bringing senators to his point of
view. To him the Senate was a legislative body, an
assembly convened for business, not an audience for
oratorical display. He spoke not to win applause, but
to win votes. Consequently it was as a debater, not
as an orator, that he excelled, and in the parry and
thrust of general debate he was without a peer. The
ponderous orations of Sumner, which fill many volumes
of his published works, held the Senate spellbound
with their matchless eloquence, but the debates in
which they were delivered were often influenced more
by the five minute speeches of Fesseriden, now buried
in the columns of the Congressional Globe, than by
the learned essays of his fellow Senator, so carefully
preserved for an admiring posterity.
Fessenden was vigorous and strong in intellect, keen
and sagacious in judgment, practical in striving for re-
sults, but the great overshadowing elements of his
fame and character were an integrity of purpose yield-
ing to no temptation, persuasion or circumstance, and
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 263
a moral and physical courage which no threatened
disaster could shake. Utterly indifferent to danger,
he trod only the straight path of rectitude.
Maine never had a son before of whom she was
so proud. The Senate of the United States never bore
upon its long distinguished roll a name deserving more
honor. A model senator, with a character that was
Roman in the highest sense, inflexible, yet courteous,
pure without ostentation.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. PERIOD
OF THE INDIAN WARS.
BY REV. HENRY O. THAYER.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, January 26, 1899.
THE immigrants to New England were in the main
a thoroughly religious people. No hamlet or settle-
ment on the border of the vast wilderness remained
long without services of worship or a stated ministry,
if the inhabitants could find the means to provide
them. At the Kennebec, almost the farthest eastern
bound of occupation, pioneer ministers were welcomed,
as shown in previous papers concerning Robert Gutch
and Ichabod Wiswall. 1
After the wreck of Philip's war, recovery and growth
went forward for ten years, 1679-89, though dis-
turbed and weakened by alarm and savage threats.
The beginning and nucleus of the new settlement was
1 Collections Maine Hiatorical Society, Vol. VIII, page 289; Vol. IX, page 113.
264 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
on the southern part of Arrowsic Island. Here was
the protecting fort and business center, a local seat of
town government. Here duty to religion was not
omitted. Threescore years subsequently an aged
woman, giving testimony concerning former residents
and lands, incidentally designated this town center as
the place " where the people went to meeting.'* How
permanent the services were, nothing can disclose.
The fort ofiered the sufficient audience room. The
garrison houses were usually for a time not only sanc-
tuaries of refuge but sanctuaries of worship. I have
not discovered one name of any who ministered in holy
things for a single Sunday. Occasional preaching by
clergymen visiting the East is probable, or even brief
terms of missionary labor, or simple services conducted
by laymen. All is blank, save the one line of testi-
mony disclosing customary religious worship at New-
town. Before an established ministry could be enjoyed
came the ruin arid woe of the second war, and eastern
Maine was again swept clean.
A quarter of a century went by, then enterprise
again entered the Kennebec and occupied the lands.
A compact defensible settlement with outlying farms
projected for forty families overlaid the desolations
of Newtown. It gained incorporation, though in
veriest infancy, on May 1, 1716, and in honor of the
new king, took the name Georgetown. Then orderly
town existence, according to usage and law, included
services of religion. Action of the town respecting a
gospel ministry is unknown, as the records of the early
period long ago disappeared. This waif of fact, how-
MINISTEY ON THE KENNEBEC. 265
ever, has been found : Rev. Hugh Adams resided at
Arrowsic Island during a part of the year 1716. 1 Grad-
uated at Harvard in 1697, he spent several years in
the South, and returning, was settled in the ministry
at Brain tree, Massachusetts, in 1707, but removed to
Chatham in 1711. In April, 1717, he entered on an
engagement with the people of Durham, New Hamp-
shire, and there gathered a church in the following year.
Upon these facts can be based the presumption that in
the intervening year, 1716, he was similarly employed
at Arrowsic; that he went in the hope to become the
minister of the new town, but failed to gain favor. It
is quite improbable that he was chaplain to the soldiers.
Ministers and chaplains on the frontier were often
versed in the healing art, and unto Mr. Adams the
noted Jesuit, Sebastian Rale applied for some ailment.
In view of the cure effected, Mr. Adams hoped for the
Norridgewock missionary's gratitude and favor there-
after to the English. In this he was disappointed,
and holding views and sentiments trenching closely
upon fanaticism, he put forth some strange prophecies
regarding Indian wars.
Though Eliot and the Mayhews labored successful-
ly among the Indians, Massachusetts was dilatory in
organized missionary work. Taught harsh lessons by
savage wars, she made the attempt in the interests of
peace as well as religion, but then it was too late and
ended mostly in failure. A report of French opera-
tions on the Maine coast, sent to the government in
1694, tells that Thury, the Jesuit at Penobscot, found
1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. Ill, paj?e 322.
266 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
his work embarrassed, as he had learned that a minis-
ter had come to Pemaquid fort in order to teach the
little savages to read and write. This must refer to
Rev. John Pike, appointed chaplain to the newly built
fort, who served there two and one-half years. I do
not learn from any other source that Mr. Pike at-
tempted missionary labor in any form, yet some
endeavor is probable. His presence there was not at all
pleasing to M. Thury, who had fears for his young
charges, lest they be seduced from the faith.
A resolution by the House of Representatives in
1700 declared the need to send able, learned, orthodox
ministers to the eastward Indians, and to those on the
Merrimac ; it was proposed that they reside among
them, instruct and win them to Christianity ; that they
should not engage in trade ; that they should have
,120 yearly ; that application should be made to the
Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts,
to aid in the plan. Duty, prudence, a commendable
purpose were manifested, yet not carried into execu-
tion, as I can learn, by a single messenger sent to the
eastern tribes. Soon peaceful relations were ruptured,
and ten years of Queen Anne's war prohibited the
missionary.
When again at Arrowsic, Brunswick and vicinity,'
settlements were renewed, the former project was re-
vived. Yet it seems that Massachusetts was awaked
first by the Indian's voice. In November, 1716, a
message from them went up to the government from
Brunswick, requesting that a small house for their
worship be built. The intent of this plan is not clear.
MINISTKY ON THE KENNEBEC. 267
Were any already proselytes to the Protestant faith ?
Or was it duty and devoutness inculcated by the
teachings of Sebastian Rale*, and hence they wished a
place for the rites of their customary and required
worship ? Still the application came from the Andro-
scoggins, a tribe not brought under Rale's influence to
the same extent as the Kennebecs. The request
aroused the people. At once a committee of the
House reported: "Inasmuch as Providence seems now
to give us a more favorable opportunity 'than hereto-
fore of offering to instruct the Eastern Indians in Re-
ligion and Learning, which has been one professed
intention of our ancestors settling in this land, and is
the surest way to fix them in our interest that it be
earnestly recommended to the House to project a
method for effecting the same.'' Another report, on
November 22, presented a plan which was accepted:
" To provide some ordained minister to go to Fort
George, Brunswick, to learn the language, to visit the
Indians, to insinuate himself into their friendship, to
promise them a meeting-house for the worship of God
if they will attend it." An annual salary of .150 was
proposed ; a young scholar was to be sent to learn the
language and be assistant and schoolmaster; a sum of
20 was provided to purchase " curiosities " for the
children as stimulus and reward ; the Foreign Society
was to be invited to aid in the work. 1
For such an undertaking Rev. Joseph Baxter was
selected. Graduated at Harvard in 1693, he was
two years later called to the ministry in the town of
1 Journal of Massachusetts House of Representatives.
268 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Medfield. Evidently there were then fastidious and
exacting parishes, for thirty-two candidates had sought
the acceptance of this people, but this stripling, not yet
nineteen, disclosed qualities and attractiveness which
gained for him the honor. Even then he was regarded
too young for ordination, and the people waited for
him to grow older, and perhaps wiser then in
April, 1697, accorded to him the full rights of the
ministry when he lacked a few months of twenty-one
years of age. He proved a man of ability and gained
distinction ; was also an enterprising business manager
and accumulated property.
An invitation was extended to him in June, 1717.
It represented public authority, was virtually a call
from the people by their legislators to enter on this
charitable, though difficult and delicate task. What-
ever his personal reluctance, he expressed willingness
to go for six or twelve months, if his town could be
provided with a minister. Arrangements were effected
that permitted his release. He sailed for the Kenne-
bec in the retinue of Gov. Shute, when he went to the
conference with the Indians at Arrowsic, August, 1717.
In the colloquy, the missionary and the Bible were
offered to them. The reply by the chief Wiwurna was
diplomatic yet clear : they wished to be excused in
regard to the Bible ; they received as from God and
loved the ministers who had already taught them;
it would be wrong and displeasing to God to turn from
that teaching; also they were not capable of judging
about religion. 1 But in fact, capable or not of judging,
1 Collections of Maine Historical Society, Vol. Ill, page 367.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 269
they deliberately chose and would stand by the priest
and repel the Protestant.
The official reply was adverse, a manifest repulse,
yet the missionary went forward with the plan, ap-
plied himself to the language, made acquaintance with
such as he could, and seems to have gained the general
good-will. He had conversation with many, at public
services had points of his sermons interpreted to them,
and in four months seems to have been able to preach
in their language.
Meanwhile Mr. Baxter was a minister to the Kenne-
bec people. He preached, as his journal shows, 1 chief-
ly at Georgetown, a few times at Brunswick, and once
at Small Point. He mentions the burial of six persons
and baptism of six children. A visitor, Mr. Elmore,
aided him by preaching at an afternoon service in
October. He returned to Boston in November, mak-
ing report of his work, and for a few weeks visiting
his home and church. His wife the third, married
the previous year had been with him till this time.
Nothing appears to show the direct results of his
mission, which continued till the middle of the follow-
ing May. Still it was sufficiently hopeful to be
extended. A committee of the House conferred with
him, and made report on June 27, (1718). They men-
tion Mr. Baxter's modest sense of his own capacity for
such service, and his readiness to enter on it again if
his church would allow. They, however, were not
willing. A letter from the officers of the church of
Medfield gives details. 2
1 New England Historic-Genealogical Register, Vol. XXI, pages 45 to 59.
2 Massachusetts Historical Collections, SewalPs Letter Book, Vol. II, page 95.
270 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
They say a request formerly was made to dismiss
their minister to go and instruct the eastward Indians.
They had objected for reasons given the conditions
in their town and church. The request was renewed
for them to release him six months for an experiment.
To this they had acceded in their desire to please ; but
his absence proved to be nine months. Now, they say,
your honors send again, as by a letter of July 20, 1718.
They in reply state their difficulties in the way of a
release, the sincere discussion by the church and the
decision that they had no call of God to dismiss their
pastor, and no one voted to do so.
The church and people of Medfield had chosen and
settled the young man as their minister; a score of
years had proved his worth ; they expected a life
tenure of his office. The accepted view of the minis-
terial relation gave them rights in the matter. They
knew they had a valuable man, and were selfish no
doubt in holding him fast. A broader view might
have required to subordinate the apparent interests
of a single church to the general interests of religion :
a larger missionary zeal might have discerned a Mace-
donian call to yield their appreciated minister when
by personal fitness, knowledge of the language, ac-
quaintance with the natives, he had become so well
equipped for the desirable work which the State had
undertaken. The decision of the Medfield church
seems to have ended Mr. Baxter's mission at the Ken-
nebec, 1 nor do I learn that any' one went to take his
*A longer mission is indicated in some works 1717-21. His journal shows
that in the latter year he made a voyage in the company ofland proprietors to the
projected settlement at St. George, calling at Small Point and Arrowsic on the
way, but he was in no way engaged in missionary work.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 271
place. Indeed in a year's time the era of good-will
was disturbed by the restiveness and threatening atti-
tude of the Indians. The three year's war or
Dummer's war which followed, really six years of
hostility, forbade missionary endeavor.
Rev. Mr. Baxter had been more than a missionary,
had furnished the inhabitants in good measure for the
frontier with the privileges of the stated ministry. In
the decade following those privileges largely failed.
At Brunswick, Rev. James Woodside preached eleven
months from November, 1718, and had then lost the
confidence of the people. In July, 1721, Rev. Isaac
Taylor entered on a year's ministry, which Brunswick
and Topsham shared equally. Rev. Jonathan Pierpont
preached at Richmond one Sunday, at least, in June,
1723. This raises the question if he did not for a
time, at Arrowsic or Brunswick, serve as chaplain or
minister. Still I find no names of any ministering in
Georgetown in that decade, though believing there
must have been brief terms or an occasional Sabbath's
supply. But in the autumn of 1728 a Mr. Cleverly
(Clewly ?) completed an engagement at Arrowsic, and
another minister was sought. By the depletion of the
war, there were then but sixteen families at the island
and vicinity, and these proposed to give thirty-two
shillings a week to ensure a minister. Evidently at
the Kennebec in this period there was neither hea-
thenism nor indifference, but the alarms of war, the
weakness of the settlement, the lack of suitable men,
denied the greatly desired ministrations.
Massachusetts maintained its policy of missions
among the Indians. In 1726, at the close of the
272 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
war, the House considered the practicability of sending
some one to the eastern tribes, and took action again
in 1732. At this date, probably earlier, Rev. Stephen
Parker began missionary labor, and was stationed at
Richmond fort. I find no names of others previously
employed. Chaplains were now more constantly pro-
vided for the forces which guarded the frontier, as at
Brunswick in 1730, and at Richmond, Mr. Parker till
1737, and Rev. Mr. Pierpont, 1739-42.
A notable increase of immigrants to the Maine set-
tlements in 1728-30 strengthened religious institutions.
Soon in the district in which Arrowsic was central a
church was formed. Only so much is known concern-
ing the fact as derived from original members was
drawn from the memory of Deacon Joshua Philbrook,
about 1820, when he was above ninety years of age.
He simply states that " Rev. Mr. McClanethan was or-
dained over a church in Georgetown in 1734." It has
therefore been presumed that the church was then
organized, though he does not say it, yet this is the
sole authority for the date. 1 Rev. Mr. Greenleaf 2 doubts
a proper pastoral relation, and thinks that this minis-
ter, previously ordained an evangelist, was engaged
by the church. His narrative implies that the records
of the presbytery are silent. Deacon Philbrook's
memory furnished a list of thirty male members of the
church, of whom the larger part were assuredly Pres-
byterian. Indeed, two years after, a house of worship
was erected 3 and made strictly* Presbyterian, and the
1 MSS. of Hon. M. L. Hill. Ecclesiastical Sketches, p. 75.
3 York County Deeds, Vol. XX, folio 46. Collections Maine Historical Society,
Vol. VIU, pages 110 to 113.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 273
ownership vested in about thirty men, two-thirds of
whom are named in the previous list. Other names
of prominent residents omitted were manifestly Con-
gregationalist. A fragment of a church of this order
remaining from an organization in the flourishing
period before Dummer's war is not improbable. Dif-
ficulties arose in the following years between the two
denominations, in respect to providing ministers, but
fraternal endeavors to harmonize show that the princi-
ple of interdenominational comity took early root in
Maine, though it withered subsequently.
The ministry of Reverend Wm. Macclenachan, 1 be-
gun in 1734, continued about four years. Yet the
journal of Reverend Thomas Smith tells that this man
was installed at Cape Elizabeth, November 15, 1736,
when the Falmouth pastor " had a clash with him."
Upon such an authority, apparently the best, this state-
ment has been widely copied as a fact in the history
of the man and the town. Yet it is manifestly error.
One of his yearly manuscript journals had no date, and
the editor was in doubt, but judging by internal evidence
assigned it to 1736. But Mr. Willis, after the publi-
cation of his edition of Smith's and Deane's journals, ob-
tained an almanac of 1736, having entries by Mr.
Smith plainly inconsistent with those in the one pub-
lished. In an interleaved copy 2 he affirmed Mr. Free-
man's error and his belief that the one introduced
belonged to 1739, and he so entered the date of the
installation in his history. 3
1 His form of writing his name, as shown by an autograph in my possession,
and copies elsewhere.
2 Willis Room : Portland Public Library. 3 History of Portland, page 385.
VOL. X. 19
274 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Completing evidence comes from Georgetown. The
wife of Mr. Macclenachan was Ann, daughter of James
Drummond, a parishioner. It is assumed that he mar-
ried soon after entering upon his ministry there, for in
a few years he took steps to provide a home. In Oc-
tober, 1736, Thomas Westbrook, in a grant of land,
terms him, " now minister in the meeting-house stand-
ing near the house of Lieut. Arthur Noble." 1
In August, 1737, Macclenachan purchased two par-
cels of land in the vicinity of that meeting-house, 2
and a record shows that in November a road was laid
leading to it, and by " the house he was then build-
ing." This evidence shows beyond question the con-
tinuation of his residence at Georgetown through 1737.
Something, however, intruded upon the hopeful pros-
pect of his ministry and his home, for in February,
1739, the town record reveals plans to obtain a minis-
ter, and supplies for the pulpit since the previous
September. A court record also mentions Mr. Mac-
clenachan as a resident pf Falmouth, in 1739. These
facts comport precisely with the assignment by Mr.
Willis of the misplaced journal to that year. Hence
all future writers dealing with our ecclesiastical his-
tory, should make November 15, 1739, the date of the
installation at Cape Elizabeth, with a probable candi-
dacy of some months or a year.
In the year 1738 the municipality sometimes called
"Georgetown on Arrowsic Island," was extended to
circumjacent territory. The Presbyterian house of
1 Vide Mr. Wm. Goold's article and note, Collections Maine Historical Society,
Vol. VIII, pages 111 to 113. York Deeds, Vol. XX.
2 York Deeds, Vol. XX : folio 2.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 275
worship erected previously, largely by the favor of
Colonel Noble and the Pejepscot proprietors near the
northern bound of the present Phipsburg, was nearly
central and became the meeting-house of the new
town. 1 A candidate to succeed Rev. Mr. Macclena-
chan was found in Rev. James Morton. Having served
a few months, he was, in December, 1739, engaged to
continue till the end of May. In March a proposition
was made for his ordination and settlement But the
people were Presbyterian and Congregationalist, the
former probably now the stronger, and the two de-
nominations did not coalesce. Yet in a considerate
and fraternal spirit they sought a settled peace and
harmony," desired strongly the maintenance of the
gospel in town, also that each party u should enjoy the
free exercise of their religion, and that neither might
compel the other to support the gospel contrary to
their profession." As a result of a conference by lead-
ing men, it was determined that each " persuasion "
should endeavor to settle its own minister; it was
stipulated what salary each should have if two were
obtained, and what if only one ministered in the town ;
in the latter case, upon his death or departure, the
other denomination should have the right of prece-
dence in choosing another minister. This an adjust-
ment was reached as amicable and fair as could well
be with persons tenacious of their own views of church
order.
The Presbyterian people, in July, 1740, gave Mr.
Morton a call, which he then declined, offering to
1 " The meeting-house on Pleasant Cov-e." Records of Town.
276 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
leave at once, or to remain till spring and then to
leave if he could not accept, if the people still desired
it. Mr. Morton continued and his people took no action.
The Congregationalists do not appear to have had any
candidates and they temporarily accepted Mr. Morton.
However, in October, they sought to know their asso-
ciates' intentions with regard to him, but could get no
definite statement. The Presbyterians seem disposed
to let matters drift as they were. The Congregation-
alists therefore believed that in fidelity to the mutual
agreement they had no right to obtain a minister of
their choice, so they continued in the drift with their
brethren.
A blank page of the records shuts from view further
particulars, but payment of salary makes probable the
stay of Mr. Morton till May, 1741.
In this period the meetings were held at three
places: during four winter months at Nequasset
(Woolwich) and the meeting-house ; at the latter place
and Southern Arrowsic for the rest of the year, alter-
nating as would best suit the tide. Subsequently all
were at the meeting-house.
After Mr. Morton's departure, it is not known what
steps were taken by the two parties: the mere entry of
a name seems evidence that one George Thompson was
a transient supply. Likewise the payment of salary
to Rev. Robert Rutherford shows that he preached not
more than five or six Sabbaths at an uncertain date,
which can best be assigned to he autumn of 1741, or
the following spring. 1
1 Not in 1743 as Greenleaf and others write. In that year he was paid a sum
" formerly voted."
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 277
Now destitute of a minister, the minds of the people
turned again to Eev. Mr. Macclenachan. There was
much of brilliancy and attractiveness in this man, and
it is safely presumed that he was widely welcomed in
Georgetown. His second term of service is quite
clearly shown; from May, 1742, to July, 1744.
There must have been visits of negotiation, or absences,
or devious movements by this " ardent and impulsive "
man, since the committee claim recompense "for
fetching him and family several times from Casco."
However, two years suffice, and he is gone, was a
teacher in Brunswick a while, then in 1748 was
preaching in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Next follows a
surprising step, for in 1755 he returned to the Kennebec
valley equipped with new views and a new ordination
laid on him in England, to serve as an Episcopal mis-
sionary. Again he appears on the scene of former
labors at Georgetown, and conducts worship after the
forms of the Church of England. For a time in 1756
he went regularly from his station at Frankfort (Pow-
nalboro) to Georgetown on each third Sabbath, and in
that period of peril was attended by a file of soldiers.
Bereaving circumstances also fell on him harsh and
terrible ; a daughter, in 1752, on an eastward voyage,
had been drowned in the vessel's wreck at Cape Ann.
Now a son is accidentally and instantly killed while in
a gunning float at Eastern River, October 19, 1756.
Two days after, the tide swept boats and attendants
with the body down the river for burial in the Pres-
byterian kirkyard at Georgetown. Time has ever
been a ruthless vandal, slowly crumbling and sweeping
into ruin the memorials of the dead of the long ago ;
278 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
but here rapidly, for perhaps threescore years had
passed when that burial place was overlaid by barns
and barnyards, and marking stones were cast out to
ignoble uses, and sometimes the desecrated soil would
be crushed in by the feet of brutes to mingle with the
ashes of the dead. Rev. Mr. Macclenachan continued
the mission work about three years and removed to
Philadelphia.
Not a name appears even of a transient supply at
Georgetown from 1744, when Mr. Macclenachan left,
to 1747. In the summer and autumn of this year,
Daniel Michel preached several months. He had been
graduated at Edinburg, and licensed by the Boston
Presbytery. The duty to obtain a minister had been
laid on Samuel Denny, Esq., who should take the advice
of six Boston ministers : afterwards three only were
allowed to be a sufficient board of recommendation.
The right now belonged to the Congregationalists whom
Esquire Denny represented, but they seem to have
waived their privilege in favor of the Presbyterians.
In the summer of 1748 (July?) Mr. Alexander
Boyd, a young Scotsman, made an engagement for
three months. The people were interested to retain
him, and sent Thomas Stinson, of Nequasset, a leading
elder, to Londonderry ill October, to prevail with the
Presbytery to send him for a year or even a less time.
The same duty was laid on Elder Stinson in the follow-
ing March. In July a call to Mr. Boyd was voted,
but discovey of an irregular marriage contracted in
Scotland by Mr. Boyd, and concealed, brought him
under rebuke, yet in view of penitence, his licence
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 279
was not revoked. The people seem to have regarded
this young man as a prize, and in the three succeeding
years endeavored to secure him permanently, renew-
ing the call which he accepted previous to March, 1752.
They proposed ordination in Boston at the hands of
the Presbytery. Again, early in April, 1753, they
preferred request, now desiring that the ordination
occur in town. The Presbytery conditionally agreed,
yet hindrances not to be discovered prevented the
settlement. During the negotiations, Mr. Boyd
preached in town a part of the time, and though the
question was determined before June, it is probable
he supplied the pulpit somewhat during the summer.
In the following year he made a permanent location
at Newcastle, where he had occasionally ministered
for several years.
After the summer of 1753 the ministry in George-
town, even transient supplies, almost failed. The name
of Ephraim Clark shows his labor for a Sabbath : he
was soon installed at Cape Elizabeth. An invitation
was given to Reverend [John] Morehead, a leading
Presbyterian of Boston, to preach a Sabbath or two,
while on a visit eastward. Episcopal services were
held occasionally, which evidently were privileges ac-
ceptable to but few. There must have been more
than a lack of ministers, even a low tide in religious
affairs. The anxieties caused by the French war, the
raids of Indians, soldiers furnished, garrisons manned,
were no sufficient excuse for the existing " dearth in
hearing the word of God"; but with the dawn and full
day of peace came a quickened pulse of church life.
280 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The foregoing outlines of religious movements ex-
tend to 1760. It is fitting to add a brief statement
concerning new houses of worship. In the closing
decade Georgetown fell apart into three sections. A
new parish (now Bath) projected its house of worship
in 1754, but did not begin the erection till 1760, nor
make it available for use for two or more years.
Nequasset (Woolwich) erected its sanctuary in 1757,
which modernized, still (1899) well convenes the
church and worshipers. Also for the lower Kennebec,
one was built on southern Arrowsic in 1761. These
were provided under the prevailing parish system for
the common use of all the people.
The Episcopal sentiment fostered by the mission of
Rev. Mr. Macclenachan and successors required sanc-
tuaries. A chapel at Fort Richmond, previously con-
structed for the convenience of soldiers and settlers,
perhaps in aid of the mission of Rev. Mr. Parker, con-
vened the congregation, as did suitable dwelling-houses
elsewhere. The building of the court house on the
east side in 1761 furnished better accommodations.
The proceedings at Georgetown have excited in-
quiry. The records of the missionary society show
that in 1757 there was no church, and that in 1761
" the people had begun to build one which was then
in great forwardness." But in 1769 the missionary
who had been there only a year writes that " his peo-
ple have erected the frame of a church since his com-
ing." 1 It is now well assured 'that the first church
mentioned was erected on Arrowsic on the east of the
river, and near Fiddler's Reach, upon a farm owned
1 Collections Maine Historical Society, Vol. Ill, pages 276 to 277.
MINISTRY ON THE KENNEBEC. 281
by James Drummond, probably the father of Mrs.
Macclenachan. However, it was never completed, nor
services held in it, for unknown reasons was aban-
doned, sold, and removed. Its site, disclosing lines
of foundation stones yet remaining, was visited by a
delegation of the Field Day party of the Historical
Society in 1891. The second church was built just
across the river, and near or upon the very site of the
Scottish Presbyterian kirk of 1736. The latter by
cessation of Presbyterian worship, had with the Land
reverted to the heirs of Col. Noble, and was now pos-
sessed by Major Wm. Lithgow. Evidently much out
of repair and unsuitable, it gave place to the new
church properly consecrated to the rites of the Church
of England. Doubtless it had been used previous to
tbe new structure by the several missionaries. These
several churches formed the equipment for succeeding
years.
NOTE. After the former paper, " Robert Gutch the Pioneer," was published, I
was much gratified to obtain information concerning his ancestry, by the favor of
a representative of one branch of the ancient family, Mr. Wilfrid Gutch, of Lon-
don. He exhibits the " probable ancestry," which appears to be certified as the
real by extracts from public records.
1. Will of Magdalen Gutch, widow, ot Glastonbury, Somerset, dated October 15,
1668, mentions " the children of my son, Robert Gutch, in case my son Robert be
living at the date hereof " ; also " my daughter Lidiah, the wife of my son, Robert
Gutch."
2. Will of John Gutch, husband of the above Magdalen, dated 9 October, 1662,
makes bequests to " my son Robert "; " my son Robert, his now wife"; "to his
son John " ; " to the rest of his children.' '
3. Will of Clement Gutch, of Glastonbury, 1632, has bequest to "AJandlen, my
son John, his wife"; " Robert, their son."
The line of ancestry lor five generations will be :
5. Robert of Kennebec.
4. John ^and Magdalen), of Glastonbury.
3. Clement, of Glastonbury.
2. John, of Tisbury, Wilts.
1. Clement, of Tisbury, died 1565.
The register of the parish of St. John Baptist, in Glastonbury, has the entry:
" 1617. Robert, the son of John Gutch, baptized ye 5th day of April."
Hence at his untimely death by drowning, " the pioneer minister of the Kenne-
bec " lacked some months of fifty years.
282 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
THE FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS
OF SACCARAPPA FALLS ON THE
PRESUMPSCOT RIVER, NOW
WESTBROOK.
BY LEONARD B. CHAPMAN.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, March 25, 1896.
ANY person who changes his place of abode, partic-
ularly from an old settled country to a new, or to a
place where there is not a settlement, may be truly
called an adventurer.
The time from the date at which the inhabitants
were last driven from the soil of Old Falmouth, till
the time of the permanent settlement, was so long
that all who came here then can, therefore, truly be
called adventurers. Many, it is true, who came at the
time of the last settlement were descendants of former
occupants, but most were drawn hither by fairy tales
and from a love of gain, or, in other words, gratifica-
tion of a commendable desire to carve from nature a
home unaided.
Land at that particular period was obtainable at first
for the mere asking. The mast-tree, the pine, less
commanding in appearance, but of the finest quality
for mill-logs, other kinds of trees, and game were here
in plentiful quantities. Mill privileges were here, too,
in proportion to the mill-trees, and grain-producing
qualities of the soil. And the mill streams were read-
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 283
ily utilized. No price, however, was put upon them,
for they were incentives to an industry that was for
the time a necessity to livelihood. But I do not in-
tend in this paper to indulge in assertion, or imagery.
Documentary evidence, upon which every historical
statement should be founded, is my forte at this time,
and constructed from material obtained from careful
research.
In the old Falmouth records, Vol. I, page 258, I
find as follows :
Accordingly there met again on July ye 9th 1728. The Free
holders and other Inhabitants and persons to the officers of sd
meeting.
Voted also that Samuel Proctor John Perney Simond Armstrong
have the privilege of a stream granted them upon condition they find
it within the bounds of ye Town of Falmouth that is not already
Granted or appropriated by any others to build a saw mill upon,
they to make choyce of and to make the Return of ye streeme so
choosen unto the select men in three months Ensuing and to build
said mill on said streem In Eighteen months after ye report be
Brought as above said, and to pay ye usull custome for sawing of
Boards and timber to ye Town &c and to saw for any person that
Bring Timber for them and Houses and Buildings to ye halves.
Voted also that Benjamin Ingalls, Robert Perce, Benjamin Larra-
bee and John Bailey have the privilege of a streem Granted them to
build a Saw mill on, on ye same condition and consideration as Ex-
pressed In ye above vote Relating to ye Mill Streems.
Voted also that all Streemes Granted by ye Town to Build mills
upon shall have the priviledge ye ffalls and Landing for a conven-
ience of laying their Timber & Boards on, upon each side of the
fFalls where the mill is built.
In Vol. II, page 21, 1729, is a record of which the
following is a copy :
284 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
According to ye vote of ye Town wee ye subscribers do choose ye
Falls ye third falls in presumscot River and Known by ye name of
Sacerape so called by ye Indians.
This Report to ye Selectmen of Falmouth .
Benj Ingalls
as witness our hands Robert Pearce
this 12th day of July, 1728. Ben] Larrabee Jr
John Bailey.
In the same volume and page 20 is a record that
reads as follows :
Laid out to Benj Ingalls, John Bailey, Benj Larraby & Co., ad-
joining on ye falls called Sacrape being the third falls on Pre-
sumpscot River in ye town of Falmouth for the privilige of Laying
there timber and boards on, a certain tract of land on each side of
falls and is bounded as follows
Begining att a white oak tree on the north Easterly side of the
River and thence E. 36 deg S. 13 Rod to a tree, (E) and thence E.
41 dg S. 15 Rod to a tree and thence S. 29 dg W. 19 Rod to a
tree Standing by the side of ye River, and thence begining on
on ye South west side of ye River at a white pine tree standing too
Rods from ye River West 30 degrees south and thence south 35
degrees West 15 Rod to a tree and thence south 12 degrees West
twenty-two Rod to a tree and thence East 28 degrees South thirty-
four Rod to a tree, and thence East 11 degrees north sixteen Rod
to a tree standing by ye river.
Benj Larrabee ~) Committee
Laid out by us. Samle Cobb [ Falm. DC, 3
Samll Proctor ) 1729.
On page 71 of the 1849 printed edition of Smith's and
Dean's Journal may be found the following entry,
which is wrong as I have shown from the records just
presented :
In 1729, December 2, Saccarappe Fall were granted to Benjamin
Ingersoll, Joshua Bailey and Benjamin Larrabee Jr. & Co. for a
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 285
saw mill. This was the commencement of lumbering operations
on the Presumpscot, which were continued for more than one
hundred years affording liberal return for capital and industry
employed.
In this note John Bailey is called Joshua, and the
name of Robert Pearce does not appear at all.
On the fourth of December, 1732, the Proprietors'
committee laid out to one Daniel Godfrey, on the
southwesterly side of the Presumpscot, thirty acres of
land commencing the bounds ten rods up the river
from the falls.
On the thirty-first day of March of the same year there
was laid out to John Tyng a hundred acre lot on the
southerly side of the river, beginning bounds at Sac-
carappa Falls and running down the river one hundred
and twenty-six and one-half rods, and from the two
points southerly the same distance as indicated in
the foregoing.
On the tenth day of May, same year, there was
" laid out to the right of James Simpson ten acres of
land beginning at the South east side of Daniel God-
frey's thirty acre lot and run down Presumpscot river,
bounded upon Sackerapy mill yard till it meets with
the John Tj'ng's 100 acres at the lowermost part of
ye Falls, and then run back into the woods the same
course of Tyng's and Godfrey's lots, till ten acres are
made up."
The northeasterly corner of the Simpson lot and
the northwesterly corner of the Tyng lots met at what
is now Bridge Street, where the street joins the iron
bridge structure.
286 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Upon the southwesterly side of the Simpson lot,
there was granted to Moses Pearson, July 17, 1738, a
fifty acre lot, the same length of the Simpson lot.
On the northerly side of the river the Cooper claim,
so called, covered nearly the whole territory, com-
mencing at and including what is now known as Cum-
berland Mills' mill privilege a well-worn plan, which,
bearing date of 1742, may be seen in the old Proprie-
tor's Records deposited in the Cumberland Registry
of Deeds, at Portland.
To Hon. Fabius M. Ray, of Westbrook, I am, in
common with the public, indebted for much historical
information, his gracefully guided pen having furnished
many articles read with feelings of both pleasure and
profit. He has written much relative to the early
history of Saccarappa. In the Deering News of June
1, 1895, appears the following, first appearing in the
Westbrook Globe-Star, a journal of that city:
There is a prevailing impression based upon, I know not how
strong, traditional authority that the first sawmills were soon after
erected upon the northerly shore of the " Island," where Dana's
mill now stands, and as soon as possible put in operation. An in-
dustry of so much importance, in the midst of a virgin forest, could
not fail to call in a considerable number of workmen who would
naturally bring along their families and erect themselves dwellings
in the immediate vicinity. But to Joseph Conant, born in Beverly,
on the 9th day of November, 1701, tradition ascribes the honor of
having made the first permanent settlement in Saccarappa, and
probably the first within our present corporate limits. Too often
traditions are entirely baseless and misleading, and should, there-
fore, always be received with great caution. But this one I am
disposed to credit as an historic verity ; for it has always been ac-
cepted in the old families of the village and repeated, each time that
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 287
I have heard it during a residence here of more than thirty years,
with little or no variation.
Now I am obliged to differ with the writer of the
above, and feel that when I have stated the facts in
my possession, he will agree with me. A dwelling
upon leased land, or in other words, the owner of a
building who does not own the land under it, very
frequently makes for himself, as well as the public,
much trouble. This was the case with the Conant-
Haskell domicile, to be noticed further on in this
connection.
When the grant to the falls at Saccarappa was sur-
veyed, which survey bears date of December 3, 1729,
a plan was made thereof by Phineas Jones, and dated
January 10, 1729, but was not put on record in the
Proprietors' books till December 8, 1758, the plan on
page 288 being a facsimile of the original :
Upon the southwesterly side of the large island
shown upon the plan here presented, Messrs. Ingalls,
Pearce, Larrabee, and Bailey built their sawmill. It
is shown as being at this place by a plan made on the
28th day of April, 1742, by Win. Pote Jr., (a copy of
which may be seen in the Registry of Deeds office,
Vol. XXIII, folio 81, York County), not, however, to
show the location of the rnill ; but the Simpson ten-
acre grant. But the strain upon Pearce was too
severe for his purse, and the sheriff disposed of his
interest in the mill enterprise, which fell to the lot of
Rev. Thomas Smith, of Portland, and from Smith
Joseph Conant obtained some sort of a title to the
privilege which was then questionable, but is now
288
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
good. Volume XXI, folio 275, of York Deeds, bear-
ing date 1739, shows, however, that he, Conant, made
a purchase of John Bailey of " part of a mill and
streem of water, for which he agreed to pay .150."
This /s "the. Plan of <Sacsr3p/oy fells being
iho. H-itrd f&//3 on PrG.sumpGc.oi-r!\/G.r which
KWS granted -f-o Gciy'frm/n Ingalls, Robe
in Lyrraby anc/ (John Bailey ant/
r ec/ by Phinct.us </o/7.e
loth 17?.$'
Then came the turn of Benjamin Larrabee to dis-
pose of his interest, which he did on the 24th day of
January, 1739, to John Bailey, tailor, and Joseph
Bailey, a cordwainer, the last named residing where
the Mussey Block stands on Middle Street in Portland,
and a brother to John Bailey, the record of the tran-
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 289
saction showing there was a mill at that period " fitted
for four iron crows and eight iron dogs and two saws."
(For a record of Joseph Bailey see Portland Daily
Argus of March 15, 1889.)
In 1740, Daniel Godfrey, who had the thirty-acre
grant westerly of Saccarappa, and ten rods above the
falls, who did not marry, and whose will was made in
1750 and is on record at Alfred, built a mill on the
northerly side of the small island which appears in the
Pote plan. From Godfrey's title came the Titcomb
title, from which privilege came the privilege upon
which the paper mill was built between the years of
1795 and 1798, which mill went to Messrs. Partridge
and Tower and was burned in the year 1813, an ac-
count of which fire may be seen in the file of the Port-
land Eastern Argus of that time.
Soon after the Tyng and Simpson grants were made,
both lots were purchased by Gen. Samuel Waldo, who
owned the land on the northerly side of the river, so
the mill privilege lot was surrounded by Waldo's land,
except on the westerly side, which was owned, as I
have shown, by Daniel Godfrey.
As I have said, Joseph Conant obtained liberty from
Rev. Thomas Smith to use the water of the Presump-
scot for mill purposes, but he could not obtain land for
a house lot, and so he bridged the river for the pur-
pose, and built himself a house on the northerly side
thereof. But how do we know this? From the man-
uscript records, I say, and taken in connection with
the plan here presented, makes the early history of
Saccarappa much plainer to the public than ever
VOL. X. 20
290 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
before. And where can the records be found ? Among
the court files at Alfred in a suit of Waldo vs. Haskell,
and here are two copies of depositions, made from the
originals :
Joseph Conant of Falmouth in the county of York aged Fifty
Eight years testifys and Says that in or about the Month of May
1739 he built and finished a Saw Mill at Saccarabegg Falls on the
South West Side of Pesumpscut River, where not having convenient
Land of his own to build a House on near the said Mill, where his
constant Attendance was necessary, and there being no Other Land
that the Deponent could procure that was Scituated more commodi-
ously therefor, than a certain Tract on the North East Side of said
River, which he the Deponent understood was owned by Coll .
Thomas Westbrook, and Samuel Waldo of Boston Esq, which was
Called by some people by the Name of Coopers Claim, and by
Others the Town Right that he understood the said M r Waldo was
then in England, and that Coll Westbrook and said M r Waldo
were interested together in divers Tracts of Land in s d Falmouth,
and that Coll Westbrook had for Several years before the Year
afore mentioned employed his Workmen in Masting thereon, and in
the Neighbouring Woods, That he the Deponent apply'd to said
Westbrook for Leave to build a Small House at Saccarabegg Falls
on the North East Side of the River, who told him he might, but at
the same Time asked the Deponent if he intended to keep the Pos-
session to which he answered no, but that he might have it again
when he pleas'd ; upon which said Westbrook told him he might
build and live there and welcome.
That hereupon the Deponent on the 18 th day of December in the
Year 1739 began to build said House on the North East Side of
Saccarabbegg Falls, having hired John Thomes Nathan Winslow,
Jeremy Riggs & Thomas Haskell to do the same, and they the said
Thomes, Winslow Riggs and Haskell, together with the Deponent
rais'd and inclos'd said House in the five Succeeding working Days,
from the Time they began abovementioned the Deponent then dis-
charg'd the three first mentioned Workmen, and retained Thomas
Haskell only to assist him, to cover said House and to do some
I
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 291
inside Work, which took him four Days and an half more, and then
he discharg'd said Haskell, and then or some Time afterwards paid
him for said nine Days and an halfs Work. In avery Short Time
after said Haskell's Discharge, this Deponent with his Workmen
went to live in said new House, and Continued there in quiet and
Peaceable Possession thereof Several Months then next following,
without the least Interruption from any person whatever, untill by
an Alarm and Intelligence of Mischief being done by the Indians in
the neighbouring Frontier Settlement called Gorham town at the Dis-
tance of about Six Miles from his the Deponents House aforemen-
tioned, which Alarm was about Seventeen or Eighteen Years ago,
as near as he can remember, That upon the Alarm and Intelli-
gence afore mentioned the Deponent with Thomas Haskell and
divers other persons got together in Order to go up to s d Gorham-
town to bury the Dead (as they heard they were all destroy'd) and
did go part of the Way there, leaving behind him in his House
afore mentioned what Goods and Furniture he had there That find-
ing the Indians had done no Mischief at Gorhamtown afores d they
return'd and this Depon* when he came to his House afores d found
that the Wife of the said Thomas Haskell and his Family
had taken Possession thereof and upon his Enquiring into the Cause
of so extraordinary a Proceeding She told him twas best to be all
together in Time of Warr, and that s d Deponents House was a good
Place for a Garrison. And this Deponents Affairs requiring his
Residence at Saccarabegg Falls near his s d Mill finding he could
not persuade s d Haskell to move out of s d House, and being poorly
able to pursue him in Law, and not having any Title to the Land
himself, upon s d Haskells Wife's promising to dress his Victuals for
him was necessitated as well as he could to accommodate himself in
said House with the said Haskell whom he had before hired and
paid for his Labour in assisting to build the Same ; but he received
such Treatment from s d Haskells Wife as soon made his Life very
uneasy, insomuch that he was Obliged to quit the said House in
a short time.
This Deponent also testifys and says that he well remembers
Coll Westbrook was imploy'd by s d M r Waldo in providing
Masts for his Majesty's Navy, and that for several Years before the
292 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Year 1739, said Westbrook for the Accommodation of his Work-
men, had a Store House and Shed built at Saccarabegg Falls on
the North East Side of Presumpscut River, and further saith not
Joseph Conant
York ss. Falmouth Dece r 26 1758
Joseph Conant the aforegoing Deponent Living att
Falmouth & More than thirty Miles from York the
place where the Action to which ye foregoing Deposi-
tion Relates is to be try d first being Exam d &
Cautioned to Speak y e whole truth made Oath to
y e Truth of the foregoing Deposition by him Sub-
scribed ; the Adverse party viz. Thorn 8 Haskall was
Notifyed but not present.
Sworn before me Mpses Pearson Justice peace.
John Stevens of a Place called New Marblehead in the County of
York Farmer aged 46 years or thereabouts testifieth & saith that on
or about the first of April Anno Domini One thousand seven hun-
dred and forty, the Deponent with his Family removed from a place
called Back Cove in the Township of Falmouth, to a place called
Saccarabegg within the said Township, and there by agreement
with M r Joseph Connant of said Falmouth he lived in one End of
a House, which s d Connant had then lately built on the North East
Side of Saccarabegg Falls within a certain Tract called and well
known by the name of Coopers Claim, and remained with his Fam-
ily many Months in the same but how many the Deponent doth not
remember, the first part of which time and according to the best of
the Deponents remembrance near one half thereof, he quietly and
peaceably enjoyed the part of the House aforementioned and the
said M r Connant in like manner held and enjoyed the other part of
the s d House.
That the Deponent further saith that upon an Alarm and a rumur
of a Number of People being 'killed by the Indians at a place in the
Neighbourhood called Gorhamtown at about 5 or 6 Miles distance
from s d Connants House, in the absence of him the said Connant,
and in the absence of the Deponent, who was then employ'd in the
Woods, the said Deponents wife being then in New Hampshire,
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 293
Thomas Haskell of Falmouth aforesaid took the advantage thereof,
and entered into the Possession of the said House, as the Deponent
in his return from the Woods found ; that hereupon the Deponent
demanded of said Tho 8 Haskell the reason thereof, to which he the
said Thomas or his Wife answered, that the fear of the Indians was
the only cause thereof.
And the Deponent further saith, that he himself being in the
said House on Courtesy, he us'd no Violent Means to turn out the
said Thomas & his Family, and the Deponent being destitute of any
other Accomodation for himself or family remained the other part
of the Time aforementioned in the said Joseph's aforesaid House
with said Tho s Haskell & his Family, and the Deponent further
saith that during the whole of which time, neither the said Haskell,
his Wife or any of the Family, made any pretence of Claim or Title
to the said House or to any Lands adjoining thereto, that the De-
ponent heard of, but presisted in the first Pretence, that the Fear of
the Indians brought them thither, and occationed their Continueance.
And the Deponent further saith that the particular Circumstances
or manner of Jos : Connants resentment of this Invasion of his the
s d Connants Property the Deponent was not acquainted with, but
as said Connants Business required his Residence at Saccarabegg
and his having as the Deponent understood no lawfull Right or Title
to the Land his House stood upon, he submitted to the Inconven-
iency of such Company till he could otherwise provide himself. The
Deponent further saith that he removed into a small House near
adjoining said Connants, which was built on the same Claim called
Coopers Claim, by one Isaac Winter a Logger & Sawyer, who
made no pretence of Right or Title to the Land where the said
House or Cottage Stood, or any other Land adjoining, but built the
same as he said for a then present Accomodation in being near the
Saw Mills at said Saccarabegg Falls, and the Deponent purchas'd
the Priviledge of s d House of the said Winter, and paid him Twenty
pounds old Tenor for the same. And the Deponent further saith
that he liv'd peaceably & quietly in the said purchased House about
three Years, within which time Viz* on the 21 st April 1742 Samuel
Waldo of Boston Esq r then lately arriv'd from Great Brittain came
to the Deponents said House or Cottage, and on his acquainting the
294 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Deponent of his Claim, which the Deponent had long before heard
of, he the Deponent declar'd his Readyness to give up the Possession
to said M r Waldo, who instead of removing the Deponent from the
said House, continued him in the possession thereof, and of a Gar-
den Spot of about three Rods of Land for a Term to expire the
25 th March then next following, on a Consideration of Five shillings
only to be paid for Rent of the premises.
The Deponent further saith that one Samuel Bean had possession
of a small House or Cottage on the same side of the River on the
Claim aforesaid called Coopers, who on the Day last mentioned, or
within a few days thereof, told the Deponent, that he had made
Terms for Rent with said M r Waldo, which agreement the Depo-
nent hath this day seen in the hands of said Mr. Waldo. And the
Deponent also testifieth & saith, that in the beginning of the late
French War, after the news of Canso being taken by the French,
being in the year 1744 this Deponent removed from Saccarabegg
for the security of himself & Family, to a place called Stroudwater
in the aforesaid Town of Falmouth, and left behind him in his
House last mentioned Sundry Household Goods, and a Weavers
Loom to the Value of at least Fifty pounds Old Tenor, and that in
his the Deponents absence from his said House about fourteen Days
after his leaving the same, the aforementioned Tho 8 Haskell his
Wife & Sons pulled down the said House, and ruined many of his
Goods to his the Deponents great Loss, this the Deponent was able
to prove and comeuced a Lawsuit against the said Thomas Haskell
for the Damages the Deponent received thereby which was after-
wards Submitted to an Arbitration, and further saith not
John Stevens
York ss. Falrn Dece r 26 1758
John Stevens the above Deponent .(living att a place
called New Marblehead more than thirty miles from
York y e place where the Action to which the forego-
ing Deposition Relates is to be tryed) ; first being
examined and Cautioned to speak the Whole Truth
made Oath to the truth of the Above Deposition by
him Subscribed, the Adverse party viz Thomas Has-
call being Notifyed but not present
Sworn Before Me Moses Pearson Justice peace.
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 295
On page 127 of the 1849 printed edition of Smith's
and Dean's journals under date of April 14, 1747 ap-
pears an entry, as follows :
We are all in alarm to-day. Everywhere Indians are seen. They
took "W. Knights and two sons at Sacaribig.
Among the papers of the file from which the accom-
panying copies of depositions were made, is one from
Knights, and the location of his house is shown on the
Pote plan, but he says nothing of his capture.
But who was John Bailey ?
He and wife and several children came from New-
bury, Massachusetts, and on December 14, 1727, was
admitted as a citizen of Falmouth. January 29, he
paid the <10 admittance fee, and January 21, 1728,
both he and wife were admitted to the church.
They had eight children. John was the eldest.
Then came Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Rachel, Elizabeth,
William, and David, the youngest, born October 28,
1739, who resided and died at Saccarappa, opposite
the Stroudwater road, on land his father gave him.
Dea. John Bailey was then published to Jane Curtis,
of Gorham, September, 29, 1741, and had one child,
Benjamin, born 1746, married 1773, Mary Blake. He
died September 26, 1812. She died August 24, 1817,
aged sixty-two years, four months. He made a will
September 18, 1812; and they had fourteen children.
The Alfred records of 1743, show that Jane was the
widow of John Curtis, and left children : William,
James, and Daniel.
In the year, 1731, for a consideration of 45, Dea.
John Bailey purchased of Joshua Brackett three acres
296 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of land " where the sd Bailey's house now stands, as
the same is now fenced and improved, being part of a
tract of land which George Cleeve sold Michael Mitton,
which is bounded as follows : " The bounds of the
three hundred acre Mitton lot are then stated in the
deed. Vol. XXV, folio 50, York Deeds.
Relative to this lot, George Knight and wife, Esther,
of the town of Gray, in the year of 1807, testify and
say, as follows :
I George Knight, seventy-two years of age next May, testify and
say that forty years ago, (1767), I bought an old house of John
Bayley, of Falmouth, standing near Anthony Brackett's orchard in
Falmouth, and tore it down, and made use of some of the material
in helping to build me a new house near where the old wind mill
stood in Falmouth, and at the time when I was taking said old
house away, said Anthony Brackett's sons approved of my doing it ;
said they were glad I had bought it. I further say I never heard
any person dispute John Bayley's title to the old house, or to a piece
of land that had the appearance of an old wall round it whereon
said house stood until within these four days past.
Taken at the request of John McLellan, merchant, and Thomas
Bailey, gentleman.
Taken at Gray.
(Vol. LI, page 297, Cumberland County Registry of Deeds.)
I, Ester Knighte, wife of George Knighte, testify and say, am
sixty years of age. My father, John Boatman, moved my mother,
with myself and five other children, from Purpoorduck side over into
a house standing near Anthony Brackett's orchard, called John
Bailey's house, and by his leave we lived in it about six months ;
then my father moved us back again. Said moving was in conse
quence of fear of Indians. I further say that forty-three years ago
my present husband, George Knight, bought the house of John
Bailey and took it down.
Given at Gray, February 14, 1807. (Recorded as above.)
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 297
Jane Bailey sold to Anthony Brackett the three-acre
lot purchased by John Bailey in 1731, to which the
foregoing has reference. (Vol. LV, page 288, 1770,
Consideration 16 .)
In the year 1732 there was a seventy-nine-acre lot
laid out to John Bailey at the " Narrows of the Neck/'
with other lots, which event Parson Smith notices.
The bounds thereof commenced at the westerly corner
of John Thomes' lot, and that corner was where Ed-
ward M. Thomes resides at Libby's Corner, Deering,
at the present time. (Vol. I, page 87, Proprietors'
Records.)
The lot next westerly of the Bailey lot that was
assigned to Rev. Thomas Smith, John Bailey purchased
in 1735. (York Deeds, Vol. XVII, folio 256.)
In the year 1735 Deacon Bailey was chosen tax
collector of Falmouth.
In the year 1750, when the bridge at Stroudwater
over Fore River was made a toll bridge by an act of
the General Court of Massachusetts, he was chosen
collector of the toll.
August 18, 1750, Dea. John Bailey, "in considera-
tion of divers good causes," gave to his "well beloved
son, John Bailey, of Falmouth," who was his eldest
son. "a gore of land adjoining on the north west end
of fifty acres that I have given my sun John by will."
Of this gift "by will" there is no public record, but
the northerly line of the Elisha Higgins estate forms
the northerly boundary line of the fifty-acre gift,
which extended southerly as far as the property of
Mr. Sumner Libby, and from the county road on the
298 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
west to Grant Street on the east, through which Spring
Street was run in 1749, all in what is now Deering.
The dwelling now standing on Spring Street, opposite
the head of High Street, and occupied so many years by
the late John Newman, deceased, every , record points
to as the home-place of John, the eldest son of Deacon
John Bailey, born in Newbury, Massachusetts, October
30, 1722, married Jane Brady, January 3, 1749, died,
according to Parson Smith's journal, March, 1776.
They were the parents of twelve or thirteen children.
Jane Bailey, his widow, sold in 1785 to Capt. Jesse Part-
ridge, who married Jane's youngest daughter named
Lydia, (Partridge built and died in the so-called Moses
Quinby house at Stroudwater, and his memorial grave-
stone may be seen in the old cemetery), the fifty acres
with buildings, Partridge sold to Rev. Thomas Brown,
thirty acres, and the heirs of Capt. Jesse sold the remain-
der with buildings to Isaac Adams, Adams sold to Elisha
Higgins, nine acres, with buildings, Elisha Higgins, jr.
in 1834, sold to John Newman.
When the Stroudwater parish was organized in
1764, Deacon Bailey became the clerk thereof and
held the position till his death. He lived in a one-
story house, to which a story was added by his son
Benjamin, and is now standing on the northerly side
of Congress Street, between Libby's Corner and Brad-
ley's Corner, Deering, and occupied by Miss Helen M.
Bailey, the descent being from Deacon John, to son
Benjamin, grandson Jeremiah/ great-grandson Capt.
Francis H., died September 26, 1893, now his only
sister, Miss Helen M. Bailey.
FIRST OCCUPANCY BY EUROPEANS OF SACCARAPPA FALLS. 299
I have alluded to a thirty-acre grant of land made to
Moses Pearson in 1738, at Saccarappa. In 1771, Jane
Bailey, widow of and administratrix on the estate of
Deacon John, deceased, made claim to it, and a writ
of ejectment was issued. From the records in Port-
land it appears she was successful, but an appeal was
taken and the case transferred to Boston courts. By
the Portland record it appears Deacon Bailey made a
will, February 20, 1770, and died, August 26, 1770, in
possession of his Saccarappa mill property, which he
ordered divided after his decease among his heirs. A
part of the lot then in dispute, Judge Fitch, of Port-
land, sold Capt. Isaac F. Quinby, of Saccarappa.
In the will of Benjamin Bailey, made September 18,
1812, appears a clause that reads as follows: "Reserv-
ing, however, one quarter of an acre for a public
burying-ground, which quarter of an acre shall be and
adjoin on the place where some bodies have been
already buried." (Case of Cobb et. al. vs. Bailey. 1819.
Supreme Judicial Court Records. Cumberland County.)
This has reference to the small burying-place, lo-
cated on the southerly side of Mitchell's Hill, Deering,
where it is conjectured that the earthly remains' of
Deacon John Bailey lie interred. Benjamin, his son,
was a bricklayer, and built the tomb upon the lot.
In Volume DXCVIII, page 370, Cumberland County
Registry of Deeds, 1883, may be found further men-
tion of the lot here noticed.
The facts here presented are the result of pains-
taking research. I have found pleasure in exhuming
record after record of events, and now I trust others
300 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
will be pleased to read what I have written when
printed. Mr. Ray has done much to preserve records
of early events of the now flourishing village of Sac-
carappa, located within the city limits of Westbrook,
and I feel assured he will cheerfully accept my humble
contribution to his labors.
CAPT. JOHNSON MOULTON'S COMPANY.
THE FIRST TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT OF MAINE IN
THE REVOLUTION.
BY NATHAN GOOLD.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, Jan. 26, 1899.
The clash of arms at Lexington,
Awoke the martial fires
That slumbered in the sturdy hearts
Of our New England sires.
MAINE, having been a part of Massachusetts during
the period of the Revolutionary War, has had her his-
tory, in those trying times, overshadowed by that of
the mother commonwealth. In justice to our fore-,
fathers our state's history should be preserved inde-
pendently for their descendants, that they may know
the services of their ancestors in the struggle for our
independence.
Those who early took decisive action are of especial
interest in the history of those critical hours, and will
always be the pride of the towns where they lived.
CAPT. JOHNSON MOULTON's COMPANY. 301
They were the heroes of the hour and deserve to have
their names revered by the generations that will come
after them.
The old town of York, without doubt, has the honor
of having sent the first company of soldiers out of our
state to the relief of their suffering countrymen. The
Hon. David Sewall, of that town, stated in 1794, which
was repeated by Williamson, in his history of Maine,
that the news of the battle of Lexington was received
at York at nine o'clock in the evening of April 20,
1775, and that although no minute men had been
formed in that town, a company of over sixty men
were enlisted, fixed out with guns, ammunition and
haversacks, with provisions for some days, and actually
marched the next day, the twenty-first, and had
crossed over the Piscataqua River into New Hampshire
before night. They were soon sent back because their
services were not then needed.
The night of the 20th of April was a stirring one in
the coast towns of York and Cumberland counties. In
the early evening the post rider entered old Kittery
alarming the people as he passed along. It was the
story that the Americans had been shot down at Lex-
ington the day before.
You know the rest. In the books you have read,
How the British Regulars fired and fled
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farmyard wall,
Chasing the redcoats down the lane,
Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road,
And only pausing to fire and load.
302 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
It was not fear that aroused the people of Maine
as the news was carried from town to town, but it was
their intense indignation that England would not rec-
ognize their just rights, that she had struck the
first blow and had spilled the blood of their country-
men to enforce her unfair laws. The watchfires of
liberty were lighted on many a hearthstone that night,
in old Maine, as the rider was heard, above the clat-
tering of his horse's hoofs, shouting " To arms ! To
arms! Avenge the lives of your brothers who have
fallen at Lexington!" The ride of that courier from
Kittery Point to Falmouth Neck, where he arrived
before the dawn of day of the next morning, was as
historic to Maine as that of Paul Revere, made famous
by our Longfellow, was to Massachusetts. It fired our
ancestors to action and those watchfires burned
brightly until the glorious peace of 1783.
Many towns, besides York, sent forward companies
of earnest patriots, ready for any service, but not liv-
ing near the border of the state did not get into New
Hampshire before they were turned back. They are
all entitled to lull praise for their spirit and patriotism,
but Capt. Moulton's company must be given the honor
of being the first to go beyond the boundaries of our
state.
Old York was a patriotic town. As early as Decem-
ber 28, 1772, the inhabitants, assembled in town meet-
ing, protested against any infringements on their rights
by England, and, in January, 1774, they entered an-
other protest. On the twenty-fourth of October, of
that year, those patriots contributed to the poor of
CAPT. JOHNSON MOULTON'S COMPANY. 303
Boston 106 buvshels of potatoes, 57 sheep, 4 quintals
of fish, 23 cords of wood, and 1 4s. in money. On
June 5, 1776, at a town meeting, they voted that
should the Continental Congress declare the colonies
free and independent, they would pledge their lives
and fortunes to the maintenance of that declaration.
Such was the spirit of the people who went themselves,
and sent their sons, at the first call heard from
Lexington.
The names of those gallant men of old York have
been preserved for us, and although, at this time, they
served but four days before they were sent back, they
are entitled to our everlasting gratitude for their spirit
and resolution. Most of these men enlisted soon after
their return in Col. James Scamman's 30th Regiment
of Foot, and served at Cambridge in Gen. Washing-
ton's army at the siege of Boston.
The original pay-roll of Capt. Johnson Moulton's
company, after nearly one hundred and twenty-four
years, is in a good state of preservation, and from
which the following was taken.
Pay Eoll of a Company Raised by the Town of York and under the
Command of Capt. Johnson Moulton Esq., April 21, 1775, as Minute
Men in the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Johnson Moulton, Capt,
Samuel Darby, 1st Lieut.
James Donnell, 2nd "
John Trevett, Serg't.
Joshua Trafton,
Josiah Parsons, "
Edward Low,
Joseph Parsons, Drummer.
Benjamin Leigh, Fifer.
304
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
BANK AND FILE.
Amos Main
William Grow, Jr.
Josiah Moore
Ebenezer Moulton
Eliakim Hilton
Thomas Tolpy
Storer Sewall
Elisha Horn
David Treble
Joseph Stanley
Theodore Sayward
Abraham Sawyer
Amaziah Goodwin
Daniel Raynes
Joshua Grant
Joshua McLucas
Jonathan Farnham
Roger Plaisted
Shubual Nasson
Joseph Harris
Joseph Simpson
James Dempsy
Norton Philips
David Grant
Daniel Lunt
Joshua Bridges
Spencer Perkins
Total 63 men.
Thomas Haynes
Richard Dean
Henry Sayward
Jotham Harris
Benjamin Cole
Jotham Donnell
John Young Junr.
Arthur Bridges
Daniel Grant
John Nowell Junr.
Elisha Boyce
Robert Bredeen
Benja. Rogers
Ebenezer Mclntyer Junr.
Joseph Garey
Samuel Welch
William Linscott
Arthur Bragdon
Jonathan Welch
John Kingsbury, Junr.
David Davis
Samuel Garey
Thomas Welch
Reuben Freeman
Abram Moore
Jotham Harris
Cesar (Negro)
Johnson Moulton, Capt.
The date of enlistment of the entire company is
given as April 21, 1775, all were from the town of
York, and each man was allowed four days' service.
The original pay-roll is in the Massachusetts Arch-
ives, in Vol. XIII, page 10.
Capt. Johnson Moulton was prominent in York and
by trade was a joiner. He had been a captain in the
French and Indian war, and had a brother Thomas and
a sister Deborah, and they were children of Ebenezer
CAPT. JOHNSON MOULTON'S COMPANY. 305
Moulton, of York, who had land granted him by that
town and had died before July 5, 1768. Capt. Moul-
ton's first wife died August 4, 1782, her name and
age, to me, unknown. He entered his intention of
marriage to Mary Bragdon, October 11, 1783, whom
he married, and she outlived him, dying December 23,
1794. His death occurred June 13, 1793. He left
children, Johnson, jr., Elizabeth Woodbridge, and
Mary. His homestead he bought of James Sayward
in 1763.
Johnson Moulton made a will October 11, 1791, and
said "being weak in body and not knowing how few
days remains to me in this world" etc, and speaks of
his " beloved wife Mary." The will was probated
June 27, 1793, and the inventory of his estate was
dated July 15, 1793, and amounted to 580-0-1,
with a list of notes amounting to over 120. John
Frost, of Kittery, was his executor, and for his and his
horse's services he charged but six shillings per day.
Among the articles that appear in the inventory were
"gun and bayonet 12 shillings, 1 pair pistols 6 shill-
ings, 1 pair spurs 3 shillings, 1 pair old ditto 1 shilling,
hanger (sword) 3 pounds, and an espontoon (a kind of
halberd or pike used in the British army) 4 shillings."
Capt. Moulton, after his return from the Lexington
alarm, enlisted May 2, 1775, as lieutenant-colonel in
Col. James Scammon's regiment, although, he had
been recommended by the militia officers of his county
for the colonelcy. His commission was dated May 29,
1775, and he served with that regiment at Cam-
bridge that year. He served in the same capacity in
VOL. X. 21
306 MAINE HISTOKICAL SOCIETY.
Col. William Prescott's (he of Bunker Hill fame) 7th
Continental regiment during the year 1776, serving
through the siege of Boston, and then joined Gen. John
Nixon's brigade in Gen. Nathaniel Greene's division,
and took part in the Long Island campaign. After the
war he was Sheriff of York county and served several
years. In 1784 he was paid for keeping four British
prisoners.
Capt. Moulton is now forgotten in the town where
he lived and died. His name was barely mentioned
in the vital records of York, and but for the deeds of
his land, and the probate records, we might have
known little of him.
First Lieut. Samuel Darby, the name became Derby,
after his service in this company, raised one for Col.
Scamman's regiment, enlisting May 2, 1775, serving
through that year. He commanded a company in
Col. William Prescott's regiment in 1776, and joined
Col. John Bailey's 2d Massachusetts regiment Janu-
ary 1, 1777. He was commissioned major in Lieut.
Col. John Brooks' 7th Massachusetts regiment Novem-
ber 1, 1778, and afterwards served in Col. Michael
Jackson's 8th Massachusetts regiment. He command-
ed a York County company at Valley Forge through
the memorable winter of 1777-78, and saw much hard
service. He died intestate, and Reuben Derby was
appointed the administrator of his estate July 7, 1807,
which was probably soon after his death. His wife's
name was Mary.
Second Lieut. James Donnell entered Col. Scamman's
regiment, with Capt. Darby, as his first lieutenant,
CAPT. JOHNSON MOULTON'S COMPANY. 307
and January 1, 1776, joined Col. Edmund Phinney's
18th Continental regiment, with the same rank, in
Capt. Tobias Fernald's company, and was promoted
to captain November 13, 1776. He enlisted January
1, 1777, as captain in Col Samuel Brewer's 12th Mas-
sachusetts regiment and resigned from the service
July 5, 1779, after over four year's service.
James Donnell served at the siege of Boston, and
marched to Fort Ticonderoga in August, 1776. His
company was on the fleet at Lake George in June,
1777, and was in the retreat from Ticonderoga July 7,
1777, finally arriving at Saratoga August 1. They
took part in the battle of Stillwater, then at Saratoga,
October 7, and witnessed Burgoyne's surrender ten
days later.
Capt. Donnell's company joined Washington's army
near Philadelphia and spent the winter at Valley Forge,
where James Dempsey, who was a soldier in this com-
pany, broke his arm felling a tree. On June 28, 1777,
they fought at Monmouth and crossed the Hudson
River at King's Ferry, July 14. In August the regi-
ment marched to Danbury, Connecticut, to guard the
stores there, where they remained several weeks. In
the latter part of November, under Gen. Putnam, they
marched back to the Hudson River, at West Point, but
the regiment was at Peekskill when Capt. Donnell re-
signed. His service covers the whole period of the
activity of the northern army in the war, and his reg-
iment was always to the front in every emergency.
The old town of York has much interesting history,
but none shines out more brilliantly than the deeds of
308 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
her gallant sons during the war of the Revolution.
Their names should be blazoned on the history of our
state, that their heroic sacrifices may never be
forgotten.
They felt the justice of their cause ;
And when the tempest broke,
Though tyrants made the wrongful laws,
God made their hearts of oak.
No weight of years their feet could stay,
Nor tender age restrain,
When foreign musketry blazed forth
O'er Concord's hallowed plain.
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS
OF WINDHAM.
BY SAMUEL T. DOLE.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, October 27, 1898.
WINDHAM was incorporated the sixteenth town in
the District of Maine, June 12, 1762. From its set-
tlement in 1737, to its incorporation, it had been
known as New Marblehead, and all meetings having
reference to its business, temporal and spiritual, had
been held in old Marblehead, according to a vote of
the proprietors. Being a frontier town and exposed
to danger from Indian attacks; its growth was ex-
tremely slow, and several times the settlers seemed
ready to abandon their grants and return to their
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF WINDHAM. 309
former homes. A few, however, made of sterner ma-
terial, still determined to remain, hoping for better
times. During this period they had sirffered much,
and made many sacrifices; had been compelled to
build a fort, in which they dwelt for many weary
years; had seen their farms laid waste by the savage
foes, and had wept together over the beloved form of
their first minister, the sainted Wight, who had been
their guide and counselor for ten years, and whose
faithful ministrations had relieved the monotony of
their long imprisonment in the old Block House.
One of their most active and influential men had been
killed and another cruelly wounded in a battle with
the Indians, yet the remaining few had never faltered
in their devotion to the homes they had reared in the
wilderness. They were few in numbers but of ster-
ling qualities, men of sublime faith and pure lives, of
whom their descendants have a right to be proud.
At the time of incorporation the township contained
thirty-nine heads of families, and fortunately for us,
the second minister, Rev. Mr. Smith, records their
names in the church book. They were as follows :
Caleb Graffam, John Mayberry, Eleazer Chase, Na-
thaniel Evins, Robert Mugford, Thomas Bolton, Wil-
liam Bolton, Hugh Crague, John Stevens, William
Elder, Isaac Elder, Zerubbabel Hunnewell, Abraham
Anderson, Hate Evil Hall, Stephen Manchester, John
Farrow, William Mayberry, Richard Mayberry, Ste-
phen Lowell, Simon Noyes, Samuel Webb, Thomas
Trott, Curtis Chute, Micah Walker, Joseph Starling,
James Bayley, Gershom Winship, Robert Miller,
310 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
William Knight, Thomas Mayberry, Thomas Chute,
William Campbell, John Bodge, Ephraim Winship,
William Maxfield, Eli Webb, John Manchester, Wil-
liam Knight Jun., and William Stinchfield.
Immediately after the act of incorporation had
passed, these few petitioned Stephen Longfellow, one
of His Majesty's justices, for a warrant to call a town
meeting. The request was granted, and the following
is a copy of that old-time document which marks the
point of time when Windham became a distinct
municipality :
[SEAL] Pursuant to warrant directed to Mr. Thomas Chute,
Gentleman, Greeting, You are hereby Requested in his Majesties
name to notify and warn the Inhabitants duly qualified to Vote in
Town affairs to convene at the Province Garrison House, in Wind-
bam, on Monday the fifth day of July next at 10 o'clock in the
fore noon, to choose proper officers as the Law directs.
Stephen Longfellow, Justice Peace.
No date appears to the above save the year, 1762.
The following is the record of the meeting held by
virtue of the warrant :
July 5, 1762. The Freeholders and other Inhabitants being duly
Notified as the Law directs and in concurrence with the Province
orders, voted, viz. :
1 st Mr. Abraham Anderson, present, Moderator for s d meeting.
2 d Voted Thomas Chute, being present, Clerk.
3 d Voted Caleb Graffam, Lieut. Thomas Mayberry and Mr.
John Farrow, select men for said town this present year.
4 th Voted Abraham Anderson, Town Treasurer for this present
year.
5 th Voted William Elder, be Constable this year ensuing.
6 th Voted that Simon Noyes be sealer of waits and measures.
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF W1NDHAM. 311
7 th Voted that Mr. Caleb Graffain and Joseph Starling shall be
wordens and Tythingmen this present year.
8 th Voted that John Bodge and John Stevens shall be fence
viewers this present yr.
9 th Voted that Stephen Manchester and Hugh Crague be field
drivers this present year.
10 th Voted that Thomas Trott will be a Hog Reef this present
year.
11 th Voted Caleb Graffam shall be a Surveyor of Lumber this
year Ensuing.
12 th Voted that Curtice Chute and John Stevens will be survey-
ors of highways this present year.
Thorn 3 Chute, Town Clerk.
From the above record which is copied verbatim
from the old book, it is presumable that the thirty-
nine legal voters of the town were present at this first
meeting, and we find that fourteen were chosen to
office, leaving but twenty-five to represent the rank
and file. At their next meeting, held March 28, 1763,
" It was voted that Rev. Mr. Smith may fence across
the Rhoad leading to presumpscut river, to make a
pasture. Voted that Mr. Curtice Chute, be field driver
and hog reave. Voted that William Bolton be field
driver. Voted that thirty-five pounds Lawful money
be raised for Mr. Smith's salary and other town
charges." From this time until late in the present
century, the offices of hog reave and fence viewer were
filled annually ; tradition says by the men who had
recently entered the married state. To these offices
were added, after a time, that of tythingman. At a
meeting held October 7, 1765, " Voted that a school
be kept in said Town of Windham till next annual
meeting, and that twenty-six pounds be allowed to
312 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
pay a school master till March meeting next." This
is the first record of money raised for school purposes
to be found on either town or plantation records, al-
though doubtless a school had been in operation before
the incorporation. March 26, 1766, it was voted
among other things " that the swine go at large this
year." We may presume that this was a decided de-
parture from the old order of things, caused perhaps
from an idea that the officers heretofore elected to
this important station had been dilatory, or neglectful,
and so had failed to earn their salaries. However,
that the duties attached to these offices were onerous
is confirmed by the fact that three men, viz., " Mr.
Curtice Chute, Mr. John Mayberry, and Mr. Thomas
Manchester were chosen as hog reaves this year.*'
Just what the duties of a hog reave consisted in I have
never been able to ascertain, but somehow these quad-
rupeds entered largely into the economy of the good
old days.
" Voted that Mr. Thomas Mayberry's account for
Mr. Smith's ordination Be fifteen pounds old tenor.
Voted the Exceptance of the Committees Return of
their settling Mr. Abraham Anderson's account for
Mr. Smith's ordination, being eighteen pounds old
tenor. Voted the Committe's settling Capt. Graffam's
account which is eight pounds, thirteen shillings, be
allowed in old tenor. Voted Mr. John Farrow's ac-
count be allowed for ordination charges, eighteen
pounds old tenor." Now if Mr. Mayberry received
his pay, then the cost of settling their second minister
was fifty-nine pounds, thirteen shillings old tenor.
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF WINDHAM. 313
March 26, 1767, at a meeting held in the Block
House, two new offices were created, viz., surveyors
of lumber and pound keeper, and William Knights,
Jun., Isaac Elder and Hate Evil Hall were chosen as
surveyors, while the unruly neat cattle were looked
after by Thomas Trott. On June 18, 1767, a special
meeting was called when it was " Voted that Peter
Cobb be a select man in the room of Curtice Chute,
who was killed by lightning on June the fourth, at
Falmouth. Abraham Anderson, Town Clerk." Mr.
Chute was the only son of Capt. Thomas Chute, our
reputed first settler, and his sudden death was a mis-
fortune long remembered. He was a man of good
abilities, and was highly respected by all who knew
him. March 28, 1771, at a legal meeting held on this
date, " Voted that John Stevens and Nathaniel Evans
be Enformers of Dear and Moose this Present year."
This was a new office created at the above meeting,
and for several years after men were chosen annually
for the above named purpose, whatever it was. An-
other new departure from the established order of
things was adopted at this meeting. " Whereas the
swine had heretofore run at large without let or hin-
derance, It was Voted that the swine go at large yoked
and ringed as the Law directs this present year."
Up to this time the affairs of the town had gone on
in a peaceable manner, but now a disturbing element
appears to have gained a foothold in the quiet munici-
pality. This was nothing less than a Quaker invasion.
Several families of these people, a few years previous,
had purchased land here and became permanent
314 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
settlers, and according to their religious creed stoutly
refused to pay the ministerial tax. Their action created
a large amount of ill will, and caused our fathers no
end of perplexity; finally, after the matter had been
thoroughly investigated, at the annual meeting held
March 28, 1771, the town's ultimatum was delivered
in the following language: "Voted that the people
called Quaker and Anabaptists shall not be Exempt
from Paying Minister's Kates Except they bring Cer-
tificates as the Law directs." This peremptory action
seems to have produced the desired effect, as the fol-
lowing persons exhibited certificates of membership in
the ostracized church, viz., Benjamin Winslow and
sons, Stephen Morrell, Daniel Hall, Isaac Allen, Jim.,
William Hall, Jedediah Hall, Andrew Hall, Jonathan
Hanson, Elijah Hanson, Nathaniel Hawkes, Peltiah
Allen, Ebenezer Hawkes, Amos Hawkes, Chase Stevens
and Daniel Cook, and were excused from paying the
tax.
March 31, 1774. This year not contented with the
existing law in regard to swine, it was " Voted that
the swine go at large being well yoaked and ringed
this present year." And we find that the exact words
of this vote were used for several years after, or until
1785, when they added " as the Law directs," which
formula they continued so long as any votes were
passed relating to the matter.
1775. This year in expectation of the war for na-
tional independence, our fathers did not intend to be
caught napping, so at a meeting held March thirtieth
of that year the following votes were passed:
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF WINDHAM. 315
Voted that Twenty seven Pounds be Raised as Soon as Possible
to Provide a Town Stock of ammunition for this Town.
Voted to allow interest to any man that will let the Town have
the money to Purchase a Town stock of ammunition.
Voted to choose a man to fix up the great gun and Swivels.
Voted that Capt. Caleb Graffam be the man to fix up the Great
Gun and Swivels as soon as Possible.
The great $un was an iron nine pounder, which,
with two smaller pieces, had been purchased by the
proprietors for the settlers during the Indian wars;
unfortunately these relics of antiquity have been dis-
posed of arid destroyed.
January 22, 1777, the following record appears on
the town book :
This may certify that I, Margaret Mayberry, Hath received
twenty pounds of my negro man named Lonnon, it being the sum of
his appraisal of Mr. Thomas Mayberry's Estate, and I hereby cer-
tify the The above named Lonnon is free and his own man, as wit-
ness my hand,
Margaret Mayberry, Administratrix.
Witnesses, Richard Dole, Joseph \\5peks.
Richard Dole, Town Clerk.
The colored man above named was Lonnon Rhode,
a slave to William Mayberry, the second settler in
Windham, who at his death gave him to his son
Thomas. Lonnon, after he purchased his freedom,
enlisted in the Continental army and died at Valley
Forge in the fall of 1777, leaving a widow, Chloe, and
four children.
During the war for independence numerous town
meetings were held, and every call made by the Con-
tinental Congress, whether for men or money, was
316 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
promptly honored by the people of this town, and we
nowhere find that the least opposition was raised to
any measure tending to strengthen the men battling
for liberty, and the descendants of those men have a
right to be proud of the loyalty and devotion to a just
cause.
At a meeting held in the Block House, April 14,
1778, "Voted That Richard Mayberry, Blacksmith,
be turned over to the Town of Salem, provided that
they keep him and his family from being Chargable
to this Town, for time to come and time past." This
vote has caused considerable speculation among the
members of the family in recent times, and some have
thought it must mean Richard, son of William the
emigrant settler, but the fact that he was then in
command of a company in the service renders the
supposition untenable. Most probably the man here
mentioned was a brother of the first William, who had
learned what appears to have been the family trade,
and was doubtless employed by the authorities of Sa-
lem in public work on vessels or fortifications during
the war.
December 9, 1781, " Voted that there be forty shil-
lings in Silver money paid out of the Town Treasury
to any person, per head for killing wolves," and the
next year the same sum was voted for a like purpose.
"May 19, 1783, Voted to give the powder that was
spent in the day of Rejoicing for Peace." I presume
our fathers meant by this not to make any charge for
the gunpowder burned on that eventful day, and had
it not been for a vote passed at the same meeting we
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF WINDHAM. 317
might have been left to infer that they were generous
in the extreme, but in the same breath they " Voted
to send Mr. Thomas Barker, Representative, the
Present year, on the Conditions that he will Endeavor
to do all the service that lays in his Power to serve the
Town and that he will not ask the Town any wages,
Except the Town please to allow him something for
his services, and that he will give his obligation to the
select men of the Town." As Mr. Barker's name does
not appear among those who represented Windham in
the " Great and General Court," it is to be presumed
he felt that under the existing circumstances his tal-
ents were not duly appreciated. March 22, 1784,
" Voted two pounds for a wolfs head this year. Voted
one pound for a wild cat's head this year/' In 1786,
the same amount was voted, but I do not find that any
claim was ever presented for the destruction of the
animals.
March 6, 1795, "Voted to set Hannah Starbird up
at Vandue to the lowest bidder, per month, till the
Town can find out some other Town she Properly be-
longs to, and that the above written vote be allowed,"
also " voted that John Robertson be allowed six shil-
lings per month for keeping Hannah Starbird for the
future." This individual was doubtless a pauper whose
legal status was not clearly defined, but who evidently
gave the tax payers of Windham considerable annoy-
ance, as the next year it was " Voted that the Select
Men make Enquires about Hannah Starbird and make
report at the adjournment of this meeting." It is
evident that this committee made some kind of report,
318 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
as at the adjournment it was " Voted to allow Nathan-
iel Mugford two dollars for keeping Hannah Starbird."
April 2, 1798, the following record appears: "Mr.
Thomas Crague, bid off Hannah Starbird for three
shillings per week and is to find said Hannah sufficient
Victuals, and to keep her Clothes as good as they now
are as long as she Tarrys with him." April 1, 1799,
" Voted not to allow William Mayberry, Jun.'s Ac-
count for keeping Hannah Starbird/' Who she was,
or what became of her I have in vain tried to ascer-
tain, but with the above vote she disappears from
public view.
April 5, 1802, " Voted not to let the hogs run at
large this year." April 4, 1808, " Voted five hundred
dollars for schools this year. Voted Col. Thomas Chute,
Abraham Anderson and Ezra Brown be a Committee
to tak kear of the school money this year." April 5,
1814, u Voted to Build a Town House for to do the
Town's business in. Voted to let the hogs run at large
being yoaked and ringed according to law." April 7,
1817, '-'Voted that Nathan Goold Esqr. William Brown
and Timothy Hanson be Overseers of the poor. Voted
that the Poor be put up to vandue and to be struck off
to the Lowest Bidder." At the adjournment of this
meeting, May 5, 1817, "Voted that Luce, a negro girl
be put up at vandue to be struck off to the lowest
bidder," and was struck off to Doctor James Merrill,
he being the lowest bidder, for thirty-six dollars.
" Voted that Abigail Trickey, *a white woman, be put
up to vandue to be struck off to the lowest bidder,"
and was struck off to Jonathan Hanson for sixty-one
EXTRACTS FROM THE OLD RECORDS OF WINDHAM. 319
dollars, he being the lowest bidder. "Voted Thomas
Barker and Family be put up to vandue to be struck
off to the lowest bidder, and was struck off to Timothy
Hanson, for one hundred and fifty dollars, he being
the lowest bidder." May 4, 1818, " Voted that the
Selectmen purchase or hire a piece of land for William
Young and family. Voted that Thomas Barker his
wife and five children be put up to vandue and was
struck off to Timothy Hanson for one hundred and
sixty-nine dollars, he being the lowest bidder. Voted
not to accept any part of the land of Nod road."
November 2, 1818, there appears to have been a spec-
ial meeting called, and the following is a true copy of
the proceedings :
Voted that the Overseers of the Poor build John Mugford a house
on the land said Mugford now lives on. Voted the Selectmen re-
pair John Chase's house and chimney. Voted to dissolve this
meeting.
John Grallison, Town Clerk.
April 5, 1819, " Voted that the Select men disposes
of Thomas Barker and his family. Voted Luce a Ne-
gro woman be put up to vandue and was struck off to
Robert Estes for thirty-eight dollars. Voted that
Abigail Trickey be put up to vandue, and was struck
off to Thomas Millins for ninety dollars. Voted that
the Selectmen put the rest of the poor to the best ad-
vantage for the town/' " April 10, 1820, Voted that
Charles Johnson, Josiah Chute and Jonathan Andrew
be Tything men. Voted William Mugford, Thomas
Hall, Moses Little, John white and George Winslow,
be field drivers and Hog Reaves. Voted to put Black
320 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Luce up to vandue and she was struck off to John
Mayberry for thirty-eight dollars, he being the lowest
bidder." She was a daughter of Lonnon Rhode and
his wife Chloe, of whom I have previously given a
brief account. After the town purchased a farm as a
place to care for their unfortunate poor, Lucy was
carried there and died about 1839.
At the above meeting it was " voted to refer Thomas
Barker to a committee," but what action was taken in
the premises I know not, as I find no further reference
to him on the town book. It is said that Abigail
Trickey died before this meeting was assembled and
nothing further is known of her. It was also " voted
that Nathan Goold, Esqr., be a Committee to send for
the Proprietors' Book of Records." Mr. Goold attend-
ed to the matter at once, and this same old book in
its quaint parchment covers, and valuable records, has
been deposited for safe keeping in the vaults of the
Maine Historical Society.
AT THE MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC
DURING THE REVOLUTION.
DEPOSITION OF WM. WYMAN, MARCH, 1850.
I, William Wyman of Phipsburg, County of Lincoln, State of
Maine, of the age of Eighty-Eight years, do testify on oath and say
that I have always resided in what is now Phipsburg, once George-
town. I was well acquainted with William Sprague. That I lived
AT THE MOUTH OF THE KENNEBEC IN THE REVOLUTION. 321
within one mile of his residence, when I lived with father : that said
Wm. Sprague always had his residence in Small Point so called
in said Phipsburg, until his death which was some twenty years ago
or thereabouts. I knew that he was elected a Lieutenant some-
where about the time that the Colonies were declared independent by
the Continental Congress : That I belonged to his company ; that
in the spring & summer of the year of 1777 we were stationed
at Hunnewell's Point in said Phipsburg with orders to watch the
enemies vessels, called shaving mills and other plundering crafts
which infested the Kennebec River and the harbors and bays around
on both sides of Cape Small Point in said Phipsburg. Hunnewell's
Point is situated at the mouth of the Kennebec River. Lieut.
Sprague, commanded us the while we were on said duties as Capt.
James McCobb who was our captain was seldom present. We
had our regular hours of drill an'd exercise and drilled day after day
on the plat of ground generally where the Fort now stands. We
were stationed here that season from the time the river was clear of
ice in the spring till it closed in or near December in said year.
Our rations were brought to us by our friends (for we had to fur-
nish our own rations) some three or four miles from our homes in
Small Point. In the winter we were allowed by Lieut. Sprague to
go to our homes by turns, but all to be ready at an hour's warning
from Lieut. Sprague to resume our duties. Thus passed the spring
and summer and fall of the year in which Gen. Burgoyne was taken
and the winter following.
In the spring of the year 1778 we resumed our duties at the
same places with the same rations as the year before, under Lieut.
Sprague. This year we drove out of the river quite a large
schooner of nearly 100 tons which was piloted by one Carleton a
tory from what is called Woolwich in this County. Carleton was
shot after getting clear of the river in passing Small Point by one of
our men the ball putting out both of his eyes. 1
The winter following was passed similar to the preceding of 1777,
and the spring of 1779 brought us again on our old station. In the
fall of this year we had the good fortune to protect and save a
1 The aged man's memory mistakes the time of John Carleton's death, which
did not occur till some three or more years later.
VOL. X. 22
322 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
schooner loaded with supplies of provisions and clothing for the men
on the Expedition to the Penobscot river or Bagaduce as it was
called. Said schooner was chased by a British privateer and took
shelter above HunnewelPs Point in the Kennebec river under
Cock's Head. Lieut. Sprague commanded the detachment which
was composed of men belonging to Capt. Jas. McCobb's Company,
Col. Saml. McCobb's Regiment, 1780, '81 & 82 to watch at
Hunnewell's Point and the Horse Shoe Beach and was on duty
about the mouth of the river and Small Point day after day to my
certain personal knowledge as I myself was one of his command
from 1776 till 1780. We had a lookout on Cock's Head and
Morse's Mountain, so called, where we could see for leagues around
seaward.
Lieut. Sprague was after the war elected captain. I was well
acquainted with Mrs. Merriam Sprague, wife of Lieut. Sprague,
having been at their house a great many times, some of his chil-
dren being of my age or thereabouts.
Mrs. Sprague was left a widow several years and was not mar-
ried after the death of Capt. Sprague as he was afterward called,
and died a widow. There never was any other Merriam Blethen
than Mrs. Sprague. William Sprague, a son of Lieut. Sprague
done service in the Revolution as a private and drawed a pension
therefor, but is now deceased.
[Signed] WM. WTMAN.
Sworn to before John F. Meserve, Just. Peace, March, 1850.
HALLOWELL RECORDS. 323
HALLOWELL RECORDS.
COMMUNICATED BY THE LATE DB. W. B. LAPHAJVf.
[Continued from Page 110.]
Joseph Brown, son of Nathaniel Brown and Abigail Coles worthy,
his wife, was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 23, 1752.
Married Charlotte Tinges, of Boston. Came to this town with his
family, April, 1786. Their children are as follows, viz.
Henry, born December 21, 1775.
Joseph, born Sept. 26, 1777.
Elizabeth, born May 13, 1780.
James, born Apr. 14, 1782.
Charlotte, born Aug. 23, 1784.
Nathaniel, born Oct. 10, 1786.
Nancy, born Dec. 28, 1788.
Mary, born July 7, 1791.
Lovina, born June 1, 1793.
William, born Dec. 27, 1795.
Philena, born Mar. 31, 1799.
Sylvester Roulstone was born in Canaan, State of Connecticut.
Married Abigail Longfellow, of this town, who was born in New-
market, State of New Hampshire. Their issue was :
Harriet Ann, born May 13, 1809.
Oliver Moulton, son of William Moulton and Lucy Bradbury, his
wife, was born in York, Maine, June 9, 1788 ; came to this town
with his mother's family, October, 1802. Married Salome, daugh-
ter of James Laplane, of Pittston. Their children are :
Samuel, born May 15, 1818.
Andrew Goodwin was born in Berwick, county of York, January
1, 1751. Married Hannah, daughter of Stackpole, of said
Berwick. Came to this town about 1781. Their children are as
follows, viz. :
Martha, born Apr. 18, 1777.
Hannah, born Sept. 14, 1778.
James, born Feb, 22, 1780.
324 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Polly, born Feb. 15, 1782.
John, born Jan. 25, 1784,
Joseph, born Feb. 7, 1786.
Betsey, born Oct. 20, 1787.
Aaron, born Apr. 4, 1790.
Mrs. Hannah Goodwin died, and Mr. Goodwin married Patty,
daughter of Easty, of Sharon. Their children are :
Belinda, born Sept. 5, 1797.
Keuel, born Jan. 29, 1799.
Laurenda, born Dec. 29, 1800.
Levi, born Oct. 7, 1802.
Lucy, born Mar. 14, 1805.
George, born May 7, 1807.
Henry Martin, born Jan. 17, 1810.
Orrin Greely, born July 21, 1811.
William Harrison, born Mar. 21, 1813.
Robert Caleb Norcross, son of Philip Norcross. Married Phi-
lena, daughter of Joseph Brown, in 1818. Their children are :
Oliver Hussey.born Apr. 14, 1819. Died Apr. 21, 1835.
George Albert, born Dec. 11, 1821.
Henry C., born May 1, 1827.
John Kimball, son of John Kiraball, was born in Exeter, New
Hampshire, August, 1767 ; came to this town 1815. Married
Nancy, daughter of Gilman, of said Exeter. Their children
are:
Betsey, born Nov., 1792.
Dolly, born Jan., 1794.
John, born June 14, 1796.
Nancy, born July 26, 1798.
David, born Aug. 3, 1800.
Thomas, born June 21, 1804.
Charles, born May 14, 1808.
Hiram, born Jan. 1, 1813.
Timothy Page, son of Ezekiel Page. Married Nancy, daughter
of James Cocks. Their children are :
Lucy, born Dec. 7, 1783. Died Jan. 23, 1867.
Nancy, born Mar. 3, 1785.
Betsey, born Nov. 17, 1787.
Timothy, born July 16, 1791. Died March 9, 1865.
HALLOWELL RECORDS. 325
John Cocks, born Oct. 28, 1793,
David, born Nov. 28, 1795.
Lydia, born Mar. 3, 1798.
Mabala, born Nov. 22, 1801.
Holman, born Apr. 1, 1804. Died Mar. 3, 1865.
Jesse Kimball, married Hannah, daughter of James Cocks.
Their children are :
Mary, born Apr., 1799.
Olive, born May, 1802.
Robert, born Feb. 13, 1805.
Mrs. Kimball died, and Mr. Kimball married Betsey, daughter
of Timothy Page. Their issue :
George Moody, born Jan. 7, 1815.
Mr. Kimball died May 7, 1818.
Alexander McCausland, son of Andrew McCausland, was born in
Hallowell, November 30, 1792. Married Sally, daughter of Wil-
liam Nash of Gardiner. Their children are :
Hiram, born May 27, 1813.
Mary Ann, born Nov. 16, 1814.
Andrew, born Oct. 7, 1816.
Kezia, born Aug. 25, 1818.
George Couch, son of John Couch. Married Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of John Phinney of Augusta. Their children are :
Hiram Bemeut, born Nov. 1, 1816.
Helen Rosetta, born Sept. 18, 1818.
Mira Ann, born Sept. 21, 1820.
Mrs. Elizabeth Couch died November 17, 1825, and in Febru-
ary, 1828, Mr. Couch married Elizabeth Wilson. Their children
are :
Mary Elizabeth, born June 4, 1828.
Lettier Jane, born Jan. 31, 1831.
Clarissa Margaret, born Oct. 31, 1832.
George Everett, born May 31, 1834. Died Nov. 15, 1848.
Mrs. Elizabeth Couch died January 21, 1851.
William Bachelder, son of Bachelder, was born in Kings-
ton, state of New Hampshire. Married Elizabeth, daughter of
326 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Andrew Greely of said Kingston. Came to this town 1790. Their
children are :
Enoch, born July 16, 1785.
Nathan, born August 5, 1787.
Polly, born Aug. 26, 1791. Died May 4, 1794.
Inzlbeth, (born June 18, 1795.
William, born Apr. 15, 1798.
Elizabeth, born Mar. 26, 1800.
Joanna, born Apr. 2, 1803. Died Apr. 11, 1803.
Joanna, born Oct. 26, 1805.
Mrs. Bachelder died February 27, 1810.
David Cutler, eldest son of David Cutler of Boston, and Abigail
Belknap his wife, was born April 19, 1738. Married Abigail,
daughter of William Atkins, Esq., of Newburyport. Removed to
this town July, 1794. Their children are :
William, born July 9, 1769,
Abigail, born Oct. 18, 1771.
Sarah, born July 20, 1777.
Joseph, born Aug. 16, 1779.
Ann, born Dec. 12, 1781.
Samuel Gott Taylor, son of John Taylor and Annah Gott, his
wife, was born in Starks, October 4, 1788. Married Huldah,
daughter of Eliab Shaw of Augusta. Came to this town April,
1818. Their children are :
John Franklin, born July 20, 1815, in Augusta.
Dolphin Davis, born June 5, 1817, in Augusta.
Sandford, born June 30, 1819.
James Harlowe, son of James Harlowe and Hannah Bagnell his
wife, was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, May 16, 1781. Mar-
ried Martha, daughter of Fitts of Bath. Came to this town
with his family, January 9, 1819. Their children are :
Almira Spears, born June 18, 1808, in Bath.
James Madison, born Nov. 25, 1809, in Bath.
Maria Antoinette, born Feb. 8, 1811, in Bath.
Benjamin Woodward, born Feb. 21, 1814, in Bath.
Harriet Terasa, born Aug. 20, 1815, in Bath.
HALLOWELL RECORDS. 327
George Whitefield, born Apr. 23, 1818, in Bath.
Martha Alice, born July 18, 1820, in Hallowell.
Simeon F., born Aug. 7, 1822.
Olivia B., born Sept. 16, 1824.
Ephraim L., born May 9, 1828.
Abisha Handy, son of Richard Handy and Mary Wing his wife,
was born in Sandwich, County of Barnstable, October 22, 1777.
Came to this town 1802. Married Zipporah, daughter of John
Laughton of Norridgewock. Their children are :
Samuel Merrick, born Jan. 23, 1808, in Norridgewock.
Martha Ann, born Aug. 9, 1809.
Henry Vaughan, born Mar. 15, 1813.
Sanford Kingsbury, born Jan. 3, 1816.
William Oliver, born Apr. 9, 1817.
Robert Gardiner, born Jan. 23, 1820.
Frances Elizabeth, born Oct. 17, 1822.
Mr. A. Handy died May, 1849.
Joshua Orne LeFevre, son of John and Lydia LeFevre, was born
in Marblehead, county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, December 19, 1785. Came to this town July 20, 1816.
Was married to Susan, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Day of this
town, December 3, 1818. Their children are :
Caroline Augusta, born May 29, 1821.
Malviua Amanda, born Sept. 18, 1822.
Mrs. LeFevre died January, 1848.
George W. Stanley, son of Peter and Cressenda Stanley of Win-
throp, was born March 11 r 1800. Married Mary Dearborn of said
Winthrop. Came to this town in 1821. Child :
George D., born May 11, 1822.
Isaac Leonard, brother to Artemas, was born at Raynham,
County of Bristol, Massachusetts, August 14, 1790. Married
Julia Washburn of said Raynham, July 5, 1819. Came to this
town in 1810. Their children are :
Frederic Washburn, born Mar. 31, 1820.
Isaac Eugene, born April 8, 1822.
Julia Maria, born July 3, 1826.
328 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
George Pollard, son of Jonathan P. Pollard and Hannah Luf kin
his wife, was born in Billerica, Massachusetts, county of Middle-
sex, March 14, 1790. Came to this town 1815. Married Rebecca
Punchard (who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, county of Es-
sex, August 27, 1792), June 25, 1820. Their children are : -
Eliza Punchard, born Apr. 14, 1821.
Ellen Rebecca, born June 9, 1822.
Susan Eveline, born May 3, 1824.
Mrs. Rebecca Pollard died December 22, 1824, and Mr. Pollard
married Hannah Adams in October, 1826. Their children are :
Hannah Adams, born Aug. 16, 1827.
Sarah Ann, born Dec. 13, 1828.
George Adams, bora Aug. 14, 1830,
Mary Caroline, born Aug. 19, 1832.
Charles Porter, born Sept. 9, 1834.
Samuel Adams, born June 4, 1836. Died Oct. 6, 1836.
Henry A., born July 24, 1839. Died Dec. 14, 1840.
Mrs. Hannah Pollard died August 10, 1846. Mr. George Pol-
lard died January 1, 1849.
The children of James Porter and his wife (Irish) :
William, born May 24, 1820.
Lester, born July 24, 1821.
James and John, born Nov. 12, 1823.
James Lakeman, son of Thomas Lakeman, married Lucinda
Calvert (daughter of Richard Calvert and Abigail his wife, who
was born in Pittston, now state of Maine, August 31, 1803) Feb-
ruary 14, 1822. Their children are :
Harriet Calvert, born Feb. 6, 1823.
Harriet Ann, born Sept. 28, 1824.
John Lakeman, sou of Thomas Lakeman, married Abbey Calvert
(daughter of Richard Calvert and Abigail his wife, who was born
July 23, 1795) at St. John's, New Brunswick, November 17, 1819
Came to this town in the last part of the* same year. Their chil-
dren are :
Calista Ann, born Apr. 15, 1820.
Abigail Calvert, born Jan. "2, 1822.
HALLOWELL RECORDS. 329
Charlotte Elizabeth, born Oct. 27, 1823.
John Alvan Hayward, born March 16, 1825.
Sarah Sprague, born Oct. 8, 1826.
Emily Caroline, born Jan. 17, 1834.
Eliza Ellen, born Dec. 7, 1835.
Samuel Kenne, son of Henry Kenne and Mary his wife, was
born in Belgrade, county of Kennebec, January 31, 1799. Came
to this town as an apprentice to John Gaubert Baker. Married
Henrietta Nye, 1822, who was born April 8, 1803. Their children
are :
George Henry, born Jan. 24, 1823.
The children of Sarson Butler jr. :
Phebe, born May 20, 1816.
Alanson Gancelo, born Dec. 30, 1817.
Mary Jane, born June 30, 1822.
Caroline Aurelia, born AUK. 30, 1824.
Ann Elizabeth, born Apr. 30, 1827.
The children of John Williams and his wife Joanna :
Mary, born Apr. 27, 1809.
George, born July 11, 1811.
Julia Ann, born July 22, 1814.
Charles, born Feb. 2, 1817.
Seth, born Dec. 26, 1819.
Mr. John Williams died January 29, 1849.
Hiram Wells, son of Solomon Wells, married Julia Ann Cox,
daughter of Gershom Cox. Child :
Mary Samantha, born Aug. 14, 1824.
Andrew Masters, son of Dr. John Masters and Elizabeth his
wife, was born in Newmarket, state of New Hampshire, May 17,
1793. Removed to this town April 14, 1815. Married Sarah P.,
daughter of William Livermore, October 14, 1821. Their chil-
dren are :
William Andrew, born Jan. 24, 1823.
Sarah Elizabeth, born Aug. 10, 1824.
Caroline Parker, born June 8, 1827. Died May 28, 1828.
Caroline Parker, born Nov. 13, 1829. Died 1840.
Mary Louisa, born May 25, 1836.
330 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
William Morse, jr., son of William Morse and Tryphena Whit-
tier his wife. Married Mary G. Palmer, daughter of Moses Palmer
and Hannah his wife. Their children are :
Louisa M. P., born Sept. 10, 1823.
Ann 7 E< } born Jan> 16> 1825 '
Julia Louisa, born May 17, 1827.
Henry Bodwell, born Apr. 23, 1830.
Emily Melville, born May 10, 1833.
The above-named William Morse died January 14, 1837, of
consumption.
William Frederic Laine, son of James Laine and Deborah Fol-
som his wife, was born in Pittsfield, state of New Hampshire,
October 1, 1795. Came to this town October, 1816. Was mar-
ried to Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Perley, December
31, 1820. Their children are :
Henry Perley, born Oct. 23, 1821.
Mary Louisa, born Jan. 1, 1824.
George Frederic, born Feb. 21, 1826.
Richard William, born Sept. 10, 1828.
Mrs. Laine died April 28, 1844.
Timothy Dix Wiggin,.son of Noah Greely Wiggin and Matilda
his wife, was born in Amherst, state of New Hampshire, Septem-
ber 25, 1801. Came to this town July, 1820. Was married to
Elizabeth, daughter of James and Mary Partridge, May 20, 1823.
Their children are :
Frances Ellen, born Mar. 11, 1924.
Joseph Partridge, born Nov. 15, 1825.
Stephen Springer, son of Job Springer of Augusta. Married
Mary Hinkley, daughter of Elijah Hinkley. Their children are :
Cyrus Lewis, born Sept. 6, 1815. Died 1849.
Hannah Lucretia, born Dec. 24, 1816.
Mary Jane, born Nov. 24, 1818.
Charlotte Phedoria, born June 6, 1820.
Frances Elizabeth, born Nov. 10, 1821.
Stephen Sutnner, born July 30, 1823.
George Allen, born Dec. 18, 1825.
PROCEEDINGS. 331
William Clark, born Feb. 16, 1828.
Benjamin Franklin, born Oct. 19, 1829.
Ann Augusta, born Aug 16, 1831.
Charles Henry, born July 30, 1833.
Susan Rebecca, born Dec. 24, 1834. Died Sept. 18, 1837.
Susan Rebecca, born Oct. 6, 1836.
Capt. Stephen Springer died July 27, 1847.
Elijah Couch, son of John Couch, married Mary Hinkley.
Their children are :
Mary Jane, born July 8, 1821.
Adaline Thompson, bora Jan. 5, 1826. Died Jan. 17, 1841.
William James, born Apr. 6, 1828. Died Aug. 5, 1844.
Hannah Holmes, born Jan. 17, 1831.
Catharine Ellen, born June 23, 1835.
Olive, born Feb. 17, 1842.
Otis Whittemore, married Susan, daughter of Philip Lord.
Their children are :
Sarah Jane, born Jan. 24, 1823.
Ann Elizabeth, born Aug. 22, 1825.
Abby Amelia, born Mar. 20, 1828.
PROCEEDINGS.
MARCH 31, 1899.
A MEETING of the Society was held at the Library
Hall, in Portland, and was called to order by the
President at 2.30 P. M.
A paper on the Old Smith Burying Ground at South
Windham was read by Mr. Samuel T. Dole.
A paper on Colonel James Scamman's York County
Regiment in the Revolution was read by Mr. Nathan
Goold.
332 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Peleg Tallman, Seaman of the Revolution, Master
Mariner and Member of Congress, was the fttle of a
paper contributed by Mr. Walter H. Sturtevant, of
Richmond, Maine, and read by Rev. Henry O. Thayer.
Rev. Dr. Burrage read a paper contributed by Rev.
Everett S. Stackpole, of Augusta, entitled Extracts
from an Old Journal Kept by Lieut. John Stackpole.
Adjourned.
ANNUAL MEETING, 1899.
The Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the
Cleveland Lecture Room, at Brunswick, Wednesday,
June 21, 1899, and was called to order at 2 P. M., the
President in the chair.
The members present were:
Messrs. Allen, Baxter, John Marshall Brown, H. H. Burbank,
E. P. Burnham, H. W. Bryant, A. M. Card, H. L. Chapman, E.
S. Drake, J. L. Douglas, D. W. Fellows, Charles J. Gilman, J.
M. Glidden, Nathan G-oold, Herbert Harris, George W. Hammond,
F. H. Jordan, Geo. T. Little, J. M. Larrabee, P. C. Manning,
H. K. Morrell, Geo. D. Rand, Joseph Williamson and Joseph
Wood.
The report of the last Annual Meeting was read by
the Recording Secretary, and was approved.
The annual report of the Librarian and Curator was
read and approved, to be placed on file.
The annual report of the Corresponding Secretary,
Mr. Williamson, was read by him, and it was approved,
to be placed on file.
The annual report of the Treasurer, Mr. Jordan,
was read by him in detail and it was accepted, to be
spread upon the records.
PROCEEDINGS. 333
The annual report of the Biographer, Mr. William-
son, was read by him, and it was accepted, to be placed
on file.
The annual report" of the Standing Committee, which
embraced also the doings of the Publication Commit-
tee, was read by the Recording Secretary, and it was
accepted to be placed on file. The Secretary also
read reports which he had received from the Secreta-
ries of the Lincoln County, Knox County, Kennebec
County and Sagadahoc County Historical Societies,
and they were accepted, to be placed on file.
It was voted that the Recording Secretary commu-
nicate with the County Societies and solicit copies of
the papers which had been read before these Societies
for our Archives.
General John M. Brown read a communication from
Rev. Dr. Burrage, chairman of the Publication Com-
mittee, setting forth some facts concerning the quar-
terly publication, also regarding the advisability of
suspending the quarterly on the completion of the
present or tenth volume, also regarding the importance
of the Farnham collection of copies of original docu-
ments relating to Maine.
General Brown endorsed Dr. Burrage's communica-
tion, and upon his motion the following vote was
passed :
Voted that the publication of the Quarterly be suspended on the
conclusion of the current volume, and that the Standing Committee
be requested to proceed at once to make arrangements for the publi-
cation of the Farnham MSS. so called, presented to the Society for
that purpose, in quarterly form, and in an edition of as many copies
334 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
as they may deem desirable, the same to be distributed to members
of the Society under the rules, and sold to individuals and libraries
who may subscribe for it in advance.
It was voted that the President appoint a committee
to nominate a board of officers for the corning year,
and he accordingly appointed General John M. Brown,
John M. Glidden and Edwin S. Drake as such commit-
tee, who retired, and shortly after reported that they
had agreed to nominate the same board of officers, and
on motion the Secretary was authorized, no one object-
ing, to cast the ballot declaring the following board
elected :
President James P. Baxter.
Vice President Rufus K. Sewall.
Corresponding Secretary and Biographer Joseph Williamson.
Treasurer Fritz H. Jordan.
Recording Secretary, Librarian and Curator H. W. Bryant.
Standing Committee Rev. Henry S. Burrage, Portland; Prof.
Henry L. Chapman, Brunswick ; Gen. John Marshall Brown, Fal-
mouth ; Hon. Edward P. Burnham, Saco ; Hon. Samuel C. Belcher,
Farmington ; Capt. Charles E. Nash, Augusta ; Col. John M. Glid-
den, Newcastle.
The ballot for resident members was then distrib-
uted, and twenty-two ballots were cast for the follow-
ing, who were declared elected:
William W. Brown, Portland ; Alfred Cole, Buckfield ; George
S. Hobbs, Portland; Weston Lewis, Josiah S. Maxcy, Gardiner;
Willis B. Moulton, M. D., Portland; Edward C. Reynolds, So.
Portland; Rev. Everett S. Stackpole, Augusta; Albert R. Stubbs,
Portland ; Robert H. Gardiner, Gardiner ; William H. Stevens,
Portland.
At the request of the Standing Committee expressed
by the President, the name of Hon. John H. Stiness, of
PROCEEDINGS. 335
Providence, was added to the list nominated as corre-
sponding members. The ballots were then called for,
and twenty ballots were cast for the following, who
were declared elected :
Col. John P. Nicholson, Philadelphia ; Victor H. Paltsits, New
York; James E. Seaver, Taunton ; John H. Stiness, Providence.
Col. Glidden, of Newcastle, called the attention of
the meeting to the recent movement of the Pemaquid
Monument Association, of a transfer of its property
to the State for a reservation in perpetuity, so that the
old fort at Pemaquid will be a standing monument of
the events of 1690 and thereafter, and expressed the
appreciation of the Lincoln County Historical Society
of the action of the legislature in accepting the grant,
and especially to Gen. Brown for his activity in the
matter at the capitol.
General Brown made a few remarks extolling the
action of the Pemaquid Monument Association and the
Lincoln County Historical Society.
Mr. Gilman, of Brunswick, spoke in reference to the
Great Charter of 1606, and proposed a conference of
the Virginia Historical Society and the Maine Histor-
ical Society, and on his motion the matter was referred
to the Standing Committee for any action they might
see fit.
The matter of a regular annual due to be collected
from each resident member was brought up by Mr.
Burnham, of Saco, and was discussed by Messrs. Brown,
Drake, Gilman, Douglas, Jordan, Chapman and Glid-
den. Finally, on Col. Glidden's motion, it was
336 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Voted, that the question, being one of annual dues, be re-
ferred to the Standing Committee, whose duty it shall be to bring
in an amendment to be voted upon at the next annual meeting, such
amendment to name a rate of from $3.00 to $5.00, according as the
requirements of the Society shall warrant, and an amount for Life
Membership $35.00 to $50.00.
On motion of Mr. Charles J. Gilman, it was voted
that the President, Mr. Baxter, confer with the United
States Government officers as to the proper and final
disposal of the granite block, with its inscription con-
cerning the site of Fort St. George of the Popham
Colony, now at Fort Popham.
The question of the Annual Field Day Excursion
was brought up, and on. motion of Mr. Burnharn, the
entire matter was left with a committee of three to be
appointed by the Chair, and the following were ap-
pointed a committee to select locality and make
arrangements :
Rev. Henry S. Barrage, Prof. Henry L. Chapman, Charles E.
Allen, Esq.
The President also appointed as Auditors of the
Treasurer's account, Messrs. Franklin R. Barrett and
Henry Deering.
Adjourned, sine die.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 337
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT
OF FOOT, 1775.
BY NATHAN GOOLD.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, March 31, 1899.
COLONEL JAMES SCAMMAN'S 30th Regiment of Foot,
the first to leave the District of Maine in the war of
the Revolution, was from York County. It was
raised in answer to a resolve passed by the Second
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, April 23, 1775,
four days after the battles of Lexington and Concord,
to raise thirteen thousand six hundred men " immedi-
ately," in the colony. April 26, the Congress voted
that the regiments authorized should consist of ten
companies of fifty-nine men, each to be commanded
by a captain and two subalterns. It was a time of the
most intense excitement. The rebellion against Brit-
ish tyranny had begun, and the enemy's army must
be driven out of Boston, which was the work to be
assigned for this army to do. The force was increased
to thirty thousand by the other New England colo-
nies. The minute-men, then under arms, had assem-
bled during the Lexington alarm, most of whom soon
returned to their homes to become regular soldiers in
the service of the colony. The situation at Cambridge
at that time is given by the following letter of Gen.
Ward :
Head Quarters, April 24, 1775.
G-ENTLEMEN : My situation is such, that if I have not enlisting
orders immediately I shall be left entirely alone. It is impossible
VOL. X. 23
338 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
to keep men here, excepting something to be done. I therefore
pray that the plan may be completed and handed to me this morn-
ing, that you, gentlemen of the Congress, issue orders for enlisting
men.
I am gentlemen, yours &c
A. Ward.
To the Hon. the Delegates of the Provincial Congress.
American Archives, Volume II, page 384.
The plan was completed, and men thought best fit-
ted for such work were given "beating orders" to
raise companies all through the Massachusetts Colony.
The following are copies of the "beating orders" sent
out by the Committee of Safety from Cambridge :
In Committee of Safety, Cambridge, April 24, 1775.
To Captain of in the County of
...... greeting:
SIR : You are hereby empowered immediately to enlist a com-
pany, to consist of 56 able-bodied and effective men, including ser-
geants, as soldiers in the Massachusetts service, for the protection
of American liberty, and cause them to pass muster as soon as
possible.
Jos. Warren, Chairman.
Samuel Freeman, Secretary, P. T.
Cambridge, April 24, 1775.
Whereas, you have this day received orders for enlisting 56 sol-
diers, including a sergeant, for the Massachusetts service for the
protection of the liberties of America, you are hereby acquainted
that the commission of a captain in said service shall be made out
for you as soon as you have completed the said enlistment ; and you
will also be allowed to nominate 2 subalterns to serve under you,
who will receive commissions accordingly, if the committee shall
approve of them.
By order of the Committee of Safety
Joseph Warren, Chairman.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 339
These two orders having been received the several
captains proceeded with their enlistments, and, in
some towns, more men came than were wanted. In
a little over two weeks from the first enlistment, Col.
Scamman's regiment was on its march toward Cam-
bridge, as well fitted out as the times and the condi-
tions of the people would admit, and with the neces-
sary field and staff officers. Some of the men came
from towns where there was no military organization
until after the Lexington Alarm. This prompt re-
sponse was the result of the intense feeling of indig-
nation of the inhabitants at the attack on their coun-
trymen at Lexington and Concord, on the memorable
nineteenth of April. Then our government was but
a skeleton, and had little organization. Independence
had hardly been thought of, but our forefathers proved
themselves equal to the self-imposed task that devel-
oped in the progress of events. The people were
self-reliant, and rebellion against oppression was ram-
pant in our land. It was success or death. The unsel-
fish devotion of those Revolutionary patriots will
command the admiration of the students of our coun-
try's history for all time, therefore the smallest details
should be welcomed to the story of the nation.
The Committee of Safety adopted, April 21, 1775,
the following form of enlistment for the army :
I, A B, do hereby engage and enlist myself as a soldier in the
Massachusetts service, from the day of my enlistment to the last
day of December next, unless the service should admit of a dis-
charge of a part or the whole sooner, which shall be at the discre-
tion of the Committee of Safety ; and I do hereby promise to submit
340 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
myself to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully
to observe and obey all such orders as I shall receive from my supe-
rior officer.
At first the regiments were to be of nine compan-
ies with seventy privates each, but April 24 they
were changed to ten companies with fifty-nine men
each, including the three commissioned officers. In
the instructions to recruiting officers in July, 1775,
they were not to enlist any deserter from the British
Army, negro or vagabond, or any person under eigh-
teen years of age. They were not to enlist any per-
son not American born, unless such person had a wife
and family and was a settled resident of the country.
All recruits were obliged to be provided "with good
arid complete arms." Afterward negros were enlisted
in the army and did gallant service, as they have later.
Peter Salem, a negro, was thought to have killed Major
Pitcairn at Bunker Hill.
While the York County regiment was being raised
a meeting of the county militia officers was held to
select who was, in their opinion, best fitted for the
command of the regiment. Their recommendation
was Johnson Moulton for colonel, James Scamman for
lieutenant-colonel, and David Wood for major. Capt.
Moulton, as he was then, went to Cambridge, and with
him took the following letter of introduction to Gen.
Artemas Ward, then the commander of the army.
Kittery, May 5, 1775.
SIR : Captain Johnson Moulton, the bearer hereof, who has
been a number of years in the service of this Province in the last
war, and performed to general satisfaction of all parties and it ap-
341
pearing by the disposition of our men, who are acquainted with
him in the service, that he will be the most likely to raise a regi-
ment of good effective men, therefore do recommend him to your
Honour (if you think proper) for a Colonel's commission.
And am your Honour's assured friends and humble servants
James Gowen
Benj Chadburn
Nathan Lord Jr.
N. B. There is a considerable number of good men enlisted al-
ready, with a view of said Moulton being their Colonel.
The Honorable Artemas Ward, Esquire.
American Archives, Volume II, page 515.
Hon. James Gowen was a prominent man at Kittery
in his time and had served in the General Court and
as one of the Governor's councilors. He had been a
captain and commanded a company in Col. Jedediah
Treble's regiment, in the army of Gen. Abercrombie, in
the attack on Fort Ticonderoga, in 1758, when Lord
Howe was killed.
It seems evident that James Scamman had already
been given orders to raise the York County regiment,
but from the representations made to them, the Com-
mittee of Safety at Cambridge had become convinced
that the command should have been given to Johnson
Moulton, Esq., therefore they sent to Col. Scamman
the following letter :
In Committee of Safety, Cambridge
May, 7, 1775.
We are informed by the Field Officers of the First and Second
regiments, together with a number of gentlemen of note in the
County of York, that it would be most agreeable that Captain John-
son Moulton should have the command ot the Regiment to be
342 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
raised in that County. The Committee taking these matters into
their most serious consideration, and the necessity of an Army be-
ing formed as soon as possible, as the salvation of the Country
must depend (under God) on our union and exertions ; and notwith-
standing, sir, you have received orders for enlisting a Regimant,
with a prospect of having the command of the same, yet we flatter
ourselves that you will, when you view the importance of completing
the Army, the delay that might arise in your quarter should you
not consent to come under Mr. Johnson Moulton, you will cheer-
fully comply and rest satisfied as we conceive it is the interest of
your Country you aim at, and not any emolument or honours that
may respect you as an individual. We doubt not, from these con-
siderations, you will be actuated by that zeal and ardour in the
cause of your Country that shall promote its truest interest, and that
we shall soon be informed that the Regiment intended to be raised
in the County of York is completed to the satisfaction of officers
and men.
We are &c.
To Colonel James Scamman.
American Archives Volume II, page 524.
James Scamman became the colonel of the regi-
ment, but, in the light of subsequent events, it would
probably have been better had he withdrawn in favor
of Johnson Moulton. This was no doubt the begin-
ning of the lack of harmony among the officers which
existed in the regiment through its service, but there
may have been other reasons which may never be
known.
There were other difficulties encountered in the or-
ganization of this regiment. James Sullivan, after-
wards a governor of Massachusetts, then a lawyer at
Biddeford, urged the government to appoint as major
Alexander Scammell of Durham, New Hampshire, then
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 343
a student in the law office of Gen. John Sullivan, his
brother. That Scammell was not a resident of York
County was probably the only reason of his failure
to receive the appointment.
Alexander Scammell entered the army June 12,
1775, as brigade major of the New Hampshire regi-
ments at Cambridge, and subsequently had a brilliant
career, ending his life October 6, 1781, at the seige of
Yorktown, when he was shot by a Hessian dragoon
after he was captured. He was a most intimate friend
of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, they having been college
classmates.
James Sullivan gave Scammell a letter of introduc-
tion to Dr. Joseph Warren (president of the Commit-
tee of Safety), dated May 21, 1775, in which he stated
that the bearer was the gentleman whom he had rec-
ommended for major of the York County regiment.
In the same letter Sullivan said that the Cumber-
land County regiment (Col. Edmund Phinney's) would
have but one gun to three men and that it was ex-
pected that the Province would arm them. This
letter has been preserved in the Massachusetts
Archives.
The following letter was written to the Committee
of Safety at Cambridge from Berwick six days before
Sullivan's :
Berwick May 15, 1775.
GENTLEMEN : this day our waiting on Majr Wood on his march
to Head Quarters we are informed that one Alexander Scammell is
appointed major of the Regiment now Raising in the County of
York. Mr. Scammell Lives in New Hampshire and has no proper-
344 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ty in Berwick or the County of York. We being military Officers
in said County of York not attending the County meeting in advis-
ing to the field Officers do approve of the Choice at said meeting
that is Johnson Moulton first Colo., James Scamman Lt. Colo.
Danl Wood Majr
We are Gentlem with esteem yours &c
Joseph Prime
Jona Hamilton
Joseph Pray Jr.
Mark Lord
the Committee of Safety
at Cambridge &c. &c. &c.
The original of the above letter is in the Massachu-
setts Archives, Volume CXLVI, page 63.
Daniel Wood of Berwick was appointed major of
the regiment, which was t but justice, although there
is no question but what Scammell would have been a
most efficient officer.
May 4, the Congress passed a resolution granting
an advance payment of twenty shillings to the non-
commissioned officers and privates who should enlist.
Four days later they established the following oath to
be administered to the Massachusetts army. Later
this oath was simplified :
I, A. B. swear I will truly and faithfully serve in the Massachu-
setts army, to which I belong, for the defense and security of the
estates, lives and liberties of the good people of this and the sister
colonies of America, in opposition to ministerial tyrany by which
they are or may be oppressed, and to all other enemies and oppos-
ers whatsoever ; that I will adhere to the rules and regulations of
said army, observe and obey the generals and other officers set over
me ; and disclose and make known to said officers all traitorous
conspiracies, attempts and designs whatsoever which I shall know
I
COL. JAMES sc AMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 345
to be made against said army or any of the English American colo-.
nies, so help me God.
May 20, Gen. Artemas Ward was sworn and re-
ceived his commission as the commander-in-chief of
the army, and commissions were issued to some other
officers. The organization of the Massachusetts army
was entered upon at this date, although troops had
been in the service since the nineteenth of April.
John Thomas was the lieutenant-general.
By the order of the Committee of Safety at Cam-
bridge the following letter was sent to the colonels of
the several regiments :
Cambridge May 10, 1775.
SIR : As we are meditating a blow against our restless enemies
we therefore enjoin you as you would evidence your regard to your
country, 'forthwith, upon the receipt of this order, to repair to the
town of Cambridge, with the men enlisted under your command.
We are &c.
This was the order to march, and within a few days
Col. Scamman's regiment was on its way to join the
army. They were at least four days on the road and
were in camp the twenty-third, with all but three
companies full to the limit, the regiment then having
five hundred and forty-seven men, as is shown by the
following return :
RETURN OF COLONEL SCAMMAN'S REGIMENT, CAMBRIDGE,
MAY 23, 1775.
This return gives one each, colonel, lieutenant-
colonel, major, adjutant and quartermaster present.
The company returns were as follows :
346
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Capt. Samuel Darby's Co.,
" Tobias Fernald's Co.,
u Ebenezer Sullivan's Co.,
" Samuel Leighton's Co.,
" Samuel Sawyer's Co.,
" Jeremiah Hill's Co.,
" Joshua Bragdon's Co.,
" Philip Hubbard's Co.,
" Jonathan No well's Co.,
u Jesse Dormand's Co.,
Total,
Capt.
Lieut.
Ensign. 1
lank ai
1
1
I
56
1
1
1
56
1
1
1
56
1
1
1
56
1
1
1
56
1
1
1
56
1
1
1
38
1
1
1
37
1
1
1
45
1
1
1
56
10
10
Line Officers,
Staff "
Total,
10
512
30
5
547
Original return in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
CXLVI, page 163.
May 24, " Col. Scamman having satisfied the Com-
mittee [of Safety]- that his regiment was nearly full,
a certificate was given him thereof, and it was recom-
mended to the Provincial Congress that his regiment
be commissioned accordingly." The following is the
record for the commissioning of Col. Scamman's regi-
ment by the Provincial Congress.
"Watertown, June 2, 1775.
Ordered that commissions be given to the officers of Col. Scam-
man's regiment (except those captains who have already received
their commissions) agreeable to the above list.
Samuel Freeman
Secretary.
Some commissions issued were dated June 2, 1775.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 347
The following is a copy of a commission given to
one of the captains of Col. Scamman's regiment:
In Congress. The delegates of the United Colonies of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New Castle,
Kent and Sussex, on the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Car-
olina and South Carolina, to Samuel Leighton Esquire. We repos-
ing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct
and fidelity, do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be
captain of a company in the Thirtieth Regiment, commanded by
Col. Scammon, in the army of the United Colonies, raised for the
defense of American liberty and for repelling every hostile invasion
thereof. You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge
the duty of Captain, by doing and performing all manner of things
thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all
officers and soldiers under your command to be obedient to your
orders as Captain, and you are to observe and follow such orders
and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this or
a future Congress of the United Colonies or Committee of Congress,
for that purpose appointed, or Commander-in-Chief for the time
being of the army of the United Colonies, or any other your supe-
rior officers, according to the rules and discipline of war, in persu-
ance of the trust reposed in you. This commission to continue in
force until revoked by this or a future Congress.
By order of the Congress,
John Hancock,
Attest July 1st, 1775. President.
Chas. Thomson, Secretary.
Col. Scamman's regiment had been in camp about
four weeks when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought.
In a return of June 9, the regiment is given as having
three hundred and ninety-six men fit for duty, and
was in an army that was but a motley crowd of men.
Drake says :
348 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Imagine such an army, without artillery or effective small arms,
without magazines or discipline, and unable to execute the smallest
tactical maneuver should their lines be forced at any point, laying
siege to a town containing ten thousand troops, the first in the
world. It was, moreover, without a flag, or a commander having
absolute authority until Washington came. Picture to yourself a
grimy figure behind a rank of gabions, his head wrapped in an old
bandanna, a short pipe between his teeth, stripped of his upper gar-
ments, his lower limbs encased in leather breeches, yarn stockings,
and hob-nailed shoes, industriously plying mattock or spade, and
your provincial soldier of '75 stands before you. Multiply him by
ten thousand, and you have the provincial army.
The story of Bunker Hill has been ably told by
Frothingham and others. The movements of Col.
Scarn man's regiment, during the battle, have not been
clearly stated in our Maine history. They took no ac-
tive part in the fighting that day, and it is not prob-
able that any Maine organization did. Frothingham
says, in his account of the battle June 17 : " Col.
Scamman was ordered to where the fighting was and
went to Lechrnere's Point (East Cambridge). Here he
was ordered to march to the hill, which he understood
to mean Cobble Hill (McLean Asylum), whence he
sent a messenger to Gen. Putnam to enquire whether
his regiment was wanted. This delay prevented it
from reaching the field in season to do any good/'
also " James Scamman's regiment from Maine did not
advance nearer the battle than Bunker Hill ; and its
colonel was tried for cowardice and acquitted," and
" Col. Scamman with a part of his regiment reached
the top of Bunker Hill, but immediately retreated/'
It must be kept in mind that the battle was fought on
Breed's Hill, now called Bunker Hill.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 349
Narrow Pass. Bunker Hill. Breed's Hill. Moulton's Point
Where the Ameri- The farthest point Where the hattle
cans passed over. reached by Col. Scam- of Bunker Hill
man's regiment in was fought.
its advance.
VIEW OF CHARLESTOWN IN 1775 BY TRUMBULL.
All that Frothingham says is true of this regiment,
but still their movements are not satisfactorily stated.
The American army had no supreme commander and
but little organization at that time. There was great
confusion caused by the knowledge that the British
were making a forward movement. Col. Scamman
supposed they were to land at Lechmere's Point, and
marched his regiment there. Col. Whitcomb, act-
ing as a general officer, ordered him, as he supposed,
to Cobble Hill to observe the movements of the float-
ing batteries, and while there the battle was at its
height. Col. Scamman despatched two sergeants to
Gen. Putnam to find if he was needed, and before
their return hurried his regiment forward, but before
they reached the top of Bunker Hill the American's
were in full retreat from Breed's Hill. During the ad-
vance the British bullets fell thick and fast among
them. Col. Scamman when urging on his men shout-
ed : " Come, my Yorkshire lads, now let us show our
bravery." Meeting the retreating soldiers Scamman's
regiment went with them, as would be expected. The
Journal of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress
says Hon. John Whitcomb was elected " a general of-
ficer" February 15, 1775, and was appointed a muster
master May 6, 1775, but " on account of his various
350 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
vocations could not accept," and Asa Whitcomb was
elected in his place May 9. Col. John Whitcomb was
elected the first major general June 13, 1775, and
Gen. Joseph Warren was the second. In reply to his
notification Gen. Whitcomb said he would remain in
the service until the army was regulated and properly
encamped and then would ask his discharge. The
committee were ordered by the Provincial Congress
to fill up a commission for Gen. Whitcomb, and June
26 voted to date it June 21, 1775, and the president
was desired to administer to Gen. Whitcomb the oath
of the general officers of the army and deliver him
his commission. This shows that Gen. Whitcomb sup-
posed he had authority to act as a general officer
June 17.
Perhaps Col. Scamman should have pushed forward
when he first reached Cobble Hill, but under the cir-
cumstances he evidently was justified in acting as he
did. Four weeks after the event Gen. Whitcomb did
not remember of giving the order, but officers and
men of Scamman's regiment heard it, and so testified
at the investigation.
The time of the battle of Bunker Hill from the first
fire of the musketry until the last was about one hour
and a half. The general battle, with small arms, be-
gan about half-past three and ended about five o'clock.
General Washington says that the number of Ameri-
cans engaged at any one time was about fifteen hun-
dred, but the authorities conflict in their statements as
to numbers engaged on both sides.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 351
Charges were preferred against Col. Scamman for
disobedience of orders and for not showing the proper
spirit during the battle. A court martial was con-
vened for his trial, July 13, before which those who
had knowledge of the facts testified, and after hearing
all the evidence, the Court, on the seventeenth, re-
turned the verdict that " Col. Scamman is not guilty
of the charge brought against him." This should
have settled the matter, but it did not. There was ill
feeling against the colonel which did not subside.
Some time after the battle Dr. Church published a
letter in which he reflected on the conduct of Col.
Scarnman on the seventeenth of June, in answer to
which Scamman sent the following letter and docu-
ment for publication :
Mr. Hall,
I have observed when you published Dr. Church's letter,
that my name was mentioned to my disadvantage : therefore, in
justice to my character, I am constrained to request that you would
give the proceedings of a General Court Martial, held at Headquar-
ters, in Cambridge, by order of his Excellency George Washington
Esq., General and Commander-in-chief of all the American forces,
(with some remarks upon the deposition then taken) , a place in your
useful paper ; that the public may judge how far I deserve the defa-
mation given by the said Doctor. In granting this request, you will
oblige many of your constant readers, and in particular
Your humble servant
James Scamman
The following is the report of the court martial,
which is no doubt the best evidence extant of the
movements of Col. Scamman's regiment during the
progress of the battle of Bunker Hill.
352 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
(Minutes of the Court, with Comments by Colonel Scammans.)
General Court Martial held July 13th, 1775.
Col. Nixon, President ; with one Lieut. Colonel, one Major, and
ten Captains.
William Tudor, Judge Advocate.
The Court being duly sworn, proceeded to the trial of Col. Scam-
mans of the Massachusetts forces, who was bro't before the Court,
and accused of disobedience to orders and backwardness in the exe-
cution of his duty, in the late action on Bunker's-Hill at Charles-
town, on the 17th of June last.
The prisoner being arraigned on the above complaint, pleads not
guilty.
The Court postponed the examination of the witnesses to Friday
14th of July, at eight of the clock, to which time the Court was
adjourned.
Friday, July 14th. The Court being met according to adjourn-
ment ; present all the members as yesterday.
Lieut. James Donnell deposed, about noon we marched to Lech-
mere's-Point, where we remained one quarter of an hour. Going
from the Point, Charlestown was set on fire. Whilst at the Point
General Whitcomb ordered Colonel Scammans to march to the hill.
The deponant understood the Hill meant was Bunker's-Hill. Col.
Scammans then marched to a small hill, about a mile distant from
Bunker's-Hill. Col. Scammans sent two Serjeants to Bunker's-Hill,
to know if his regiment was wanted. We remained on the small
hill three-quarters of an hour, during. all which time there was a
smart fire on Bunker's-Hill, from small arms and cannon. After
three quarters of an hour we marched to the hither edge of Bunk-
er's-Hill, where the shot flew very thick. Before we got to the top
of the hill, Col. Scammans ordered a retreat ; immediately there
was a general retreat of our regiment. Every one made the best of
his way off. We were no time that day near enough to engage the
enemy. The witness does not know any distinction between Bunk-
er's- and Brewer's-Hill. \_Let it be observed, that this and the fore-
going deponent belonged to Old York."]
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 353
The above comment was probably intended to have
been inserted after the testimony of the next witness,
and was probably put here by mistake.
Ensign Joshua Trafton deposed, about two of the clock (after-
noon) we marched from Cambridge to Lechmere's-Point, where we
found Gen. Whitcomb who expressed much surprise at finding Col.
Scammans take post there. We remained on the Point fifteen min-
utes and then marched to a small hill below Prospect-Hill. We
continued on the small hill about half an hour or more ; during
which time Col. Scammans sent two Serjeants to Bunker's-Hill, to
know if his regiment was wanted. We took the nearest road to
Bunker's-Hill, as I suppose ; and before we got to the top of the
hill. Colonel ordered a retreat. I cannot say whether the breast-
work was forced or not at that time. We saw many men retreating
down the hill who said they had spent all their ammunition ; some
told us that the enemy had retreated and begged us to push on. As
we turned off the small hill, a regiment marched by us towards
Bunker's-Hill. As we marched from Cambridge we heard the reg-
ulars were landing at Lechmere's Point and at Charlestown. Col.
Scammans made the greatest despatch from the small hill to Bunk-
er's-Hill. I saw no other instance of backwardness in Colonel
Scammans, except his long stay at the small hill, which appeared
to me unnecessary. As we retreated a number of men advanced up
in an irregular manner.
Ensign Nathan Lord deposed, we were one quarter of an hour
near Lechmere's Point ; we then marched to a small hill below
Prospect-Hill, where we tarried a quarter of an hour, then marched
to Bunker-Hill, the nearest way and with as much despatch as we
could go. We staid 20 minutes on the small hill, whilst the fire
continued on the further part of Bunker's Hill we got to the top of
Bunker's-Hill ; After which Gen. Putnam came up, and ordered
the regiment to advance, within hearing of Col. Scammans ; part of
the regiment then advanced, but the deponent does not know if Col.
Scammans was with them. I heard several persons, whom I took
to be officers, order a retreat before Col. Scammans did. After we
got over Charlestown Neck, going up Bunker's-Hill, Col. Scammans
VOL. X. 24
354 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
cried, Come my Yorkshire lads, now let us show our bravery ; the
deponent does not know the distinction between Bunker's and Brew-
er's-Hill.
Major Daniel Wood deposed, we marched from near Lechmere's-
Poiiit, to a small hill, nearly opposite to Prospect Hill, where we
remained near three quarters of an hour, during most of the time,
we were on that Hill, there was a smart fire on what I take to be
the easterly part of Bunker's-Hill. [Remarks, That the Major
could not say any more upon the case, for he was not so happy as
to reach Bunker's-Hill for the whole day.~\
Capt. Ebenezer Sullivan deposed and said, we continued on the
small hill half an hour ; some considerable part of the time we were
there, there was a heavy fire from the further part of the hill in
Charlestown. After we retreated, Col. Scammans encouraged the
men to advance. The regiment was not near enough to engage the
enemy.
Capt. Philip Hubbard deposed, the reason of our going to Lech-
mere's-Point was, because we met expresses, who told us the regu-
lars were landing at that place ; when we got to Lechmere's-Point,
Gen. Whitcomb told Col. Scammans, he had better go and watch
the floating batteries, arid then marched to the small hill, where we
staid half an hour. As soon as Col. Scammans discovered Charles-
town meeting-house on fire he marched the regiment with all
possible dispatch, towards Bunker's-Hill, we met great number's
retreating down. The confusion was so great before he got to the
top of the hill, it was impossible to form. I saw nothing of irreso-
lution or backwardness in Colonel Scammans anytime of the day.
Lieut. Cuzons deposed, that at Lechmere's-Point, Gen. Whitcomb
told Col. Scammans he had better go to that hill, meaning, as the
deponent took it, the small hill, which they marched to, and watch
the motions of the floating batteries. As soon as Colonel Scam-
mans heard the firing of the small arms, at the hill in Charlestown,
he said he would stay there no longer, and ordered the regiment to
march for Bunker's-Hill, which he dicj. I know nothing of Col.
Scamman's behaviour at Bunker's-Hill.
Lieutenant Morgan Lewis deposed and said I saw nothing of cow-
ardice or backwardness in Col. Scammans that day.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 355
Lieut. Thomas Cutts in substance as Lieut. Lewis.
Serjeant Amaziah Goodwin agrees with Lieut. Cutts.
Serjeant Samuel Goodale deposed, that General Whitcomb or-
dered Col. Scammans from Lechmere's-Poiut to take possession of
the small hill, and watch the motions of the floating batteries ; I
was sent by Col. Scammans to General Putnam, to know if his
regiment was wanted ; and before I got back, Col. Scammans was
on his march towards Bunkers'-Hill. I saw Colonel Scammans two-
thirds of the way up the hill, but knew nothing of his conduct there.
John Littlefield deposed, that as we marched down, we heard the
regulars were landing at Lechmere's-Point. I know nothing of Col.
Scamman's behaviour.
Jonathan Love deposed and said, when we were upon Buuker's-
Hill, an officer ordered iis to retreat as the enemy had forced the
entrenchment, after which Col. Scammans ordered us to retreat.
Joseph Parsons, drummer, deposed and said, we were three-quar-
ters of an hour on the little round hill, and the firing of the small
arms lasted half-an-hour, when we marched off towards Bunker's-
Hill. I know nothing of Col. Scammans's behaviour at Bunker's-
Hill.
The Court then called on Col. Scammans to make his defence,
upon which the following evidence was produced :
Capt. Jeremiah Hill deposed and said that down by the bridge
near Lechmere's-Point we met Gen. Whitcomb, who told Col.
Scammans that he was sufficient to guard that Point and told Col.
Scammaus that he had better go round to the little hill and watch
their motions there, we accordingly went and stayed there half-
an-hour.
Col. John Whitcomb, who is styled by the foregoing deponents
General, deposed and said, I met Col. Scammans with his regiment
about fifty rods from Lechmere's-Point. I asked him what brought
him there, he replied by asking me where he should go. I told
him where he could do the most service. I am positive I never
ordered him to the little hill, if my memory serves me, because
men could be of no service in such a place except in the night.
[_N. B. Colonel W/iitcomb then acted as a general officer, and as
there was then no general officer that commanded on Bunker' s-Hill,
356 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
was it not his duty to have been there f We may also observe^ that
he is positive if his memory served him, which (by the deposition of
others) did not.~\
The Court then adjourned till Saturday morning, 8 o'clock.
Saturday A. M. The Court met according to adjournment.
Col. Scammans begged liberty to produce the four next witnesses,
who were admitted and sworn accordingly.
Henry Foss, drummer, deposed, that as we marched down Cam-
bridge road, we met two men on horseback, who told us the regu-
lars were landing at Lechmere-Point. We then marched very fast,
towards the point where we met Gen. Whitcomb, who told Col.
Scammans to go round to the hill, which hill I understood to mean
the little round hill, we marched to. I was within ten feet of Gen-
eral Whitcomb, when these orders were given.
Ichabod Smith deposed and said I was about ten feet from Gen.
Whitcomb, at Lechmere's-Point, when I heard him desire Colonel
Scammans to march round, and observe the motions of the floating
batteries which lay near the little hill. We marched to the little
hill and continued there about twenty minutes. As soon as Col.
Scammans found out where the firing of the small arms was, he
immediately marched the regiment towards Bunker's-Hill, with the
utmost dispatch.
Samuel Hubbard deposed and said, I was within ten feet of Gen.
Whitcomb, and heard him order Col. Scammans to go to the hill.
But the deponent does not know what hill. I heard Colonel Scam-
mans ask the General if he could go across the marsh, which was
the nearest way to the little hill. Gen. Whitcomb replied, that he
could not, but must go up, and round by the roads.
Frethy Spencer agrees with Hubbard exactly, being close to him
during the conversation between General Whitcomb and Col.
Scammans.
Adjutant Marsden was sworn at the desire of the complainants
and deposed that we were three-quarters of an hour on the little
hill and continued about twenty minutes >after we heard of the firing
on the hill in Charlestown. I went half-way up Bunker's hill with
Col. Scammans when I left him and went to the breastwork, where
I got before the enemy forced it ; the confusion was so great when
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 357
we got to Bunker's-Hill we could not form the regiment. \_It is
observable that the Adjutant would insinuate by his deposition that the
regiment arrived at Bunkers-Hill lime enough to reinforce the breast-
work before it was forced by the enemy, but if the public will only
consider that those regiments which were stationed only two miles dis-
tance, did not arrive seasonable enough, and that the deponent had
heretofore perjured himself by his desertion from the enemy, and by
his common deportment discovers no regard to the Deity, his deposition
will have but little weight with them.^\
The prisoner then made a few remarks on the evidence and
withdrew.
The Court being cleared, entered upon the examination of the
evidence collectively, and after debate, adjourned to Monday 17th
July, eight o'clock A. M.
[Monday] July 17. The Court being met according to adjourn-
ment, and resumed the consideration of the case of Col. Scammans,
and have duly weighed the allegations and proofs brought against
the prisoner with his defence and evidence, are of the opinion that
the said Col. Scammans is not guilty of the charge brought against
him.
A true copy of the proceedings,
Attest John Nixon, President.
William Tudor, Judge Advocate.
The above report is as published in the New Eng-
land Chronicle or Essex Gazette in 1776, which was
reprinted in The Historical Magazine, Volume III,
Second Series, page 400, verbatim et literatim. The
remarks within the brackets, in italics, were inserted
by Col. Scam man. What is printed in the testimony
as Brewer's Hill evidently meant Breed's Hill, where
the battle was fought.
The Dr. Church letter referred to was the traitorous
one dated July 23, 1775, which was published in the
New England Chronicle or Essex Gazette January 4,
358 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1776. What he said in referance to Col. Scamman was,
when writing of the Americans defeat at Bunker Hill,
"which together with the cowardice of the clumsy Col.
Gerrish and Col. Scamman were the lucky occasion of
their (the Americans) defeat." The newspaper was
published at Cambridge in 1776, by Ebenezer and
Samuel Hall, Samuel retired and Ebenezer disposed
of his interest before June of that year, he being
succeeded by Edward Eveleth Powers and Nathaniel
Willis. Dr. Benjamin Church was banished from the
country a few months after the date of the letter for
his treachery to the patriots of the early days of the
Revolution.
From one of the remarks made by Col. Scamman
in the foregoing report it is quite evident that he
expected unfavorable criticism from some of the offi-
cers of his regiment, especially those from the town
of York. He was not himself free from all appear-
ances of enmity toward them. The reason for the
feeling of the York officers was probably the fact that
Scamman did not withdraw from the colonelcy at the
formation of the regiment. Then perhaps Scamman
may have been favorable for Scammell to have been
the major, instead of Wood, as James Sullivan, who
recommended Scammell, was from the same locality
as Col. Scamman, whose remark in the report shows
ill-feeling against Major Wood. Probably this feeling
may have had some influence in preventing Scamman
from obtaining another commissi6n to command a reg-
iment. Most of the other officers were again commis-
sioned in the army.
I
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 359
Henry Dearborn, who was a captain in Stark's reg-
iment, in the battle of Bunker Hill, wrote, in 1818, of
the battle :
Nothing like discipline had entered at that time. No general
officer except Putnam appeared in sight, nor did any officer assume
command, undertake to form the troops, or give any orders that I
heard except Col. Stark, who directed his regiment to reserve their
fire on the retreat of the enemy until they advanced again. Every
platoon officer was engaged in discharging his own musket and left
his men to fire as they pleased, but never without a sure aim at
some particular object, which was more destructive than any mode
which could have been adopted with troops who were not inured to
discipline and never had been in battle, but were still familiar with
the use of arms from boyhood, and each having his peculiar man-
ner of loading and firing, which had been practised upon for years
with the same gun ; any attempt to control them by uniformity and
system, would have rendered their fires infinitely less fatal to the
enemy. Not an officer or soldier of the Continental troops engaged
was in uniform, but were in the plain and ordinary dress of citizens,
nor was there an officer on horseback.
Frothinghanvs table of the American losses in the
battle of Bunker Hill gives two men wounded in Col.
Scamman's regiment, when and where is not stated,
but probably it was when they marched up Bunker's
Hill in their advance toward the battlefield.
Gen. Washington took command of the army at
Cambridge, July 3, and the following is an extract
from his order organizing the regiments into an army.
Headquarters, Cambridge, July 22, 1775.
Regularity and due subordination being so essentially necessary
to the good order and government of an army, and without it the
whole must soon become a scene of disorder and confusion. The
general finds it indispensably necessary, without waiting any longer
3t)0 MAINE HISTORICAL. SOCIETY.
for despatches from the general Continental Congress, immediately
to form the army into three grand divisions, and of dividing each of
jhose grand divisions into two brigades.
According to the above order the army was organ-
ized into six brigades, and they into three divisions.
Col. Scam man's regiment was assigned to Gen. William
Heath's brigade, which was assigned to Gen. Israel Put-
nam's division, which formed the center of the army.
The regiment was stationed at Cambridge, and manned
Fort No. 1, and the redoubt on the flank of Fort No.
2, where Col. Edmund Phinney's 30th Regiment of
Foot, which was in the same brigade, was stationed.
Fort No. 1 was on the Charles River, in Cambridge,
and was south of Fort No. 2 and Cambridge Village.
Cambridge Common was the grand parade ground of
the army. On July 10, the aggregate strength of the
troops in Cambridge was a little over eight thousand.
In those days the soldiers' guns were not stacked
but were rested on wooden horses for the purpose,
and in wet weather were taken into their quarters.
Offenders against military law were generally punished
by lashes on the naked back, the number given being
according to the crime committed. Incorrigible
offenders were drummed out of camp. There was no
attempt made for the uniformity of the clothing of
the army until the coats were issued in the fall ot
1775. The undyed cloth coats, with facings of the
same material, that had pewter buttons with the num-
ber of the regiment upon therri, are what the " Coat
Rolls," so often mentioned in the records of the Rev-
olutionary soldiers of 1775, have reference to. Those
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 361
coats were furnished the army in the fall of 1775. If
a soldier had a coat suitable to keep him comfortable
he was not required to take the one from the govern-
ment, but was allowed to draw twenty-five shillings
from the treasury instead.
To distinguish the rank of the officers, an order was
issued to the army about Boston, as early as July 23,
1775, for the officers to wear the following marks :
Field officer Red or pink cockades on their hats.
Captains Yellow or buff, on their hats. Subalterns
Green on their hats. Sergeants Stripes of red
cloth sewed on the right shoulder. Corporals
Stripe of green on the right shoulder.
On November 4, 1775, Congress voted that the cloth
for the army should be dyed brown, and the distinc-
tion of the regiments was to be made in the facings.
The idea was that the soldiers should wear waistcoats,
knee breeches, and stockings which were covered with
leggins in winter, haversacks made of duck, and
wooden canteens. Each man was to carry a toma-
hawk. The poverty of the colonies prevented the
uniforming of the army until the latter end of the
war. Most of the soldiers were thankful for any kind
of comfortable clothing.
The Committee of Safety at Cambridge voted, July
7, 1775, " that it be and is hereby recommended to
his Excellency General Washington that an order be
issued to suppress retailers of spirituous liquors within
or near the camps in such manner as to him seems
meet." This was done because a number of soldiers
had been " observed to be much disguised with
362 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
spirituous liquors." They said effectual measures
should be taken to put a stop to this, as " not only
the morals and health, but also the lives and liberties
of this people will be endangered."
In the journal of the Committee of Safety of the
Provincial Congress, is the following record of the
delivery of guns to Col. Scamman's regiment, June
30, 1775:
Fifty-one small arms were delivered Col. James Scamman, for
the use of his regiment, amounting, as by appraisement, to ninety-
seven pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence, for which guns a
receipt was taken in the minute book.
July 7, 1775, forty more were delivered, which were
valued at seventy-four pounds thirteen shillings and
four pence.
Th e following was the formation of Col- Scamman's
regiment on the first of August :
THE ROSTER OF COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S 30ra REGIMENT OF FOOT
AT CAMBRIDGE, 1775.
Colonel, James Scamman, Pepperrellboro (Saco)
Lieut. Col., Johnson Moulton, York
Major, Daniel Wood, Berwick
Adjt., George Marsden, Londonderry
Chaplain, Jacob Foster, Berwick
Quartermaster, Samuel Nasson, York
Surgeon, John Crocker, Richmond
Surgeon's Mate, Jacob Baron, Plymouth
Total, 8 men.
CAPT. SAMUEL DARBY'S COMPANY.
Captain, Samuel Darby, York
Lieutenant, James Donnell,
Ensign, Joshua Trafton,
Total, 66 men.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 363
CAPT. TOBIAS FERNALD S COMPANY.
Captain, Tobias Fernald,
Lieutenant, Thomas Cutts,
Ensign, Parker Foster,
Total, 59 men.
CAPT. EBENEZER SULLIVAN'S COMPANY.
Captain, Ebenezer Sullivan,
1st Lieut., Thomas Butler,
2d Lieut., Nathan Lord, 5th,
Total, 64 men.
CAPT. SAMUEL LEIGHTON'S COMPANY.
Captain, Samuel Leighton,
Lieutenant, William Fernald,
Ensign, William Frost,
Total, 47 men.
CAPT. SAMUEL SAWYER'S COMPANY.
Captain, Samuel Sawyer,
1st Lieut., William Cossens,
2d Lieut., Jeremiah Littlefield,
Total, 66 men.
CAPT. JEREMIAH HILL'S COMPANY.
Captain, Jeremiah Hill,
Lieutenant, Samuel Merrill,
Ensign, Peter Page,
Total, 60 men.
CAPT. JOSHUA BRAGDON'S COMPANY.
Captain, Joshua Bragdon,
Lieutenant, Morgan Lewis,
Ensign, Moses Sweet,
Total, 57 men.
CAPT. PHILIP HUBBARD'S COMPANY.
Captain, Philip Hubbard,
1st Lieut., Jedidiah Goodwin,
2d Lieut., James Roberts,
Total, 64 men.
Kittery
Berwick
Kittery
Wells
Biddeford
Buxton
Pepperrellboro
Wells
Sanford
Berwick
u
4;
364
MAINE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY.
CAPT. JONATHAN NOWELI/S COMPANY
Captain, Jonathan Nowell,
Lieutenant, Thomas Nowell,
Ensign, Edward Low,
Total, 50 men.
CAPT. JESSE DORMAN'S COMPANY.
Captain, Jesse Dot-man,
Lieutenant, Daniel Merrill,
Ensign, Jacob Curtis,
Total, 60 men.
SUMMARY.
Field and Staff Officers,
Capt. Samuel Darby's Company,
" Tobias Fernald's "
" Ebenezer Sullivan's "
" Samuel Leighton's "
" Samuel Sawyer's "
" Jeremiah Hill's "
" Joshua Bragdon's "
" Philip Hubbard's "
" Jonathan Nowell's "
" Jesse Dorman's u
Total,
York
u
Arundel
8 men
66 "
59 "
64 "
47 "
66 "
60 "
57 "
64 "
50 "
60 "
601 "
The service of Col. Scamman's regiment at Cam-
bridge, after the arrival of Gen. Washington, was not
an eventful one. There were no battles. The firing
between the lines was desultory, and the encounters
with the enemy were in the nature of skirmishes.
The American army was in a destitute condition to
maintain the siege of Boston, and confront the British
regulars. Washington, realizing his weakness, only
hoped that the British would not make an attack on
his lines until they could be strengthened, but from
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH EEGIMENT OF FOOT. 365
what source help was to come he then could not tell.
As this regiment was in the same brigade with Col.
Edmund Phinney's 30th Regiment of Foot, the details
in their history, 1 in relation to the events from day to
day, are equally as interesting in the service of these
men, for their service was the same.
Col. Scamman's regiment served until December 31,
1775, and that army is known as the eight month ser-
vice men at Cambridge, in 1775. Col. Scamman re-
turned home at the expiration of his term of service,
but most of the other commissioned officers reenlisted
January 1, 1776, in the Continental army, for that
year, in Col. Phinney's 18th Continental and Col.
Prescott's 7th Continental regiments, while others
joined different companies in the service of the colony.
Probably nearly all of the men of Scamman's regi-
ment entered the service again sometime during the
struggle for our independence.
Col. Scamman's regiment did its duty. The misfor-
tunes at the battle of Bunker Hill were something
that might be liable to happen to any regiment simi-
larly situated, at such a time, in an army without a
commander and little organization and with no disci-
pline, as now understood. No insinuation has ever
been made that the men of this regiment were any-
thing but brave patriots of the Revolution. In the
subsequent campaigns they showed their gallantry,
and the records of these sons of York are found in the
histories of all the important battles of the Revolu-
tionary War. Maine cherishes their memory.
1 For the history of Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot, see Volume
VII, Second Series, page 85.
366 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Old York County has an enviable war record. In
the early Indian wars, her sons, with her Major Charles
Frost, and others, drove back their savage enemies.
They were at Louisburg, with their own Pepperell, in
1745 ; at Ticonderoga, with Abercrombie and Lord
Howe in 1758 ; through the seige of Boston with
Washington ; in the battles of Long Island, Hubbard-
ton, Still water and Saratoga, and witnessed the sur-
render of Burgoyne's army. They spent that winter
at Valley Forge, and were at Monmouth, Quaker Hill,
and other battles, following the fortunes of the army,
and saw the surrender at Yorktown in 1781. Since
we became a nation they have never been found want-
ing in their devotion to their country. It has been
the same with our whole state. Our troops in the
Rebellion were the peer of any in the army. One of
our regiments was engaged in the greatest number of
battles and another had the highest percentage of loss
in a single battle. In the late Spanish war no more
earnest and willing soldiers left any state. They
begged to be put in the forefront of the battle where
would be the greatest danger. They were of our best,
and left their homes and vocations without a murmur,
to battle for the liberty of an oppressed people, that
they might enjoy with us the blessing of liberty.
The history of the sons of Maine is something for us
to be proud of.
The following muster rolls, taken from the originals
in the Archives of Massachusetts, give the names of
the men who composed Col. Scamman's regiment,
August 1, 1775.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 367
A Muster Roll of the Field & Staff Officers Commanded by Col.
James Scammans from the Day of Engagement to the 1st Day of
August, 1775.
Enlisted.
1775
James Scamons, Col., Pepperrellboro, April 26
Johnson Moulton, Lt. Col., York, May 2
Daniel Wood, Major, Berwick, "
George Marsden, Adjnt., Londonderry, April 29
Jacob Foster, Chaplain, Berwick, May 3
Samuel ISasson, Qt Master, York, " 2
John Crocker, Surgeon, Richmond, " 13
Jacob Baron, Surg'n's Mate, Plymouth, June 3
Original Roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XXVI, page 251.
Col. James Scamman was born in Saco, March 16,
1742, and was the son of James Scamman, who was
born August 1, 1721, and died in 1753. His mother
was married in 1741, and she was Hannah Plaisted,
a daughter of Col. Elisha and Hannah (Wheelwright)
Plaisted, and was born at Berwick, May 20, 1725.
She married (2) July 4, 1754, Major Ebenezer Ayer
from Haverhill, and had by him six children. By
James Scamman she had two sons and three
daughters.
Col. Scamman married about 1761, Hannah Page, a
daughter of Joshua and Hannah (Dustin) Page, who
was born in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, February
20, 1742, and died at Saco, January 24, 1821. She
was a great granddaughter of the famous Hannah
Dustin of Haverhill, Massachusetts. They had the
following children :
1. James, born January 30, 1763 ; married December 20, 1785,
Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Fairfield, and had two sons. He
368 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
died October 4, 1789, and his widow married May 19, 1793, John
Storer of Wells, and had four daughters.
2. Daniel, sea captain, born December 12, 1764; married Sep-
tember 10, 1790, Sarah Nason, who had one son and one daughter;
both died unmarried. His widow married (2) May 18, 1796,
Ichabod, son of Rev. John Fail-field, and had seven children, the
oldest being Gov. John Fairfield of Maine. Daniel Scamman died
at Demerara of yellow fever April 25, 1795.
3. Nathaniel, sea captain, born March 3, 1767 ; married in
Scarboro, February 19, 1795, Abigail, daughter of Solomon Burn-
ham, but had no children. He died March 23, 1810, aged 43 years.
His widow married (2) January 3, 1811, Shubal Woodman and
died February 27, 1853.
4. Sarah Andrews, born October 16, 1768 ; married August 2,
1789, Foxwell Cutts, a son of Col. Thomas and Elizabeth (Scam-
man) Cutts, and died August 1, 1806. She had no children.
5. William, born September 17, 1770, and died January 2,
1788. In Rev. John Fairfield's dairy under date of March 23,
1788, he says : " call d between meetings to Col Scammans, he at
Boston had news of ye death of his Son W m fr. W. Indies on B d
his Schooner, Nathl. Commander."
The Scamman pedigree was Humphrey 1 , Capt. Humphrey 2 ,
James 3 , Col. James 4 .
It is thought Col. Scamman early went to Haver-
hill, Massachusetts, as he was of that place July 9,
1764. In the Biddeford town records is the follow-
ing :
This Indenture of Agreement made & concluded upon 7th of
Jan. A. D., 1771 by & between Jas. Scamman & Nathl Scamman
witnesseth That whereas the said Jas. Scamman & Nathl Scam-
man have sold sundry goods from the 2 nd day of Ap. last to this
7 th day of Jan. aforesaid it is agreed by the said Jas. & Nathl. that
they do enter into joint Partnership from said date & do mutually
agree to make & discharge all debts in equal halves until they
agree to dissolve said Partnership, that it is to be understood the
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 369
said James & Nathl are jointly concerned in all the trade they
may carry on together in Pep (now Saco) & not to extend to any
trade or business the said Jas. does or may carry on in Haverhill
where the said James now dwells it is further agreed that if the
said Jas does not remove to Pep the next Spring ensuing to assist
the said Nathl in carrying on said trade as aforesaid then the said
Jas. does agree to allow the said Nathl annually for his services
in doing the whole of said business to the time &c &c.
The above indicates that James Scamman came to
Saco about 1772, and was on the Committee of Cor-
respondence there November 9, 1774, also in 1782.
After the war service in 1775 he is thought to have
returned to Pepperrellboro and entered into trade,
again with his brother, Nathaniel. He was a represen-
tative from Saco in 1781-83. and 1787. From 1790 to
1796 he lived at Buxton, where he was engaged in trade,
but returned to Saco, where he died October 11, 1804,
aged sixty-two years. The following was his epitaph,
written by the Hon. Cyrus King :
A man of infinite jest ; of most excellent fancy.
This stone to strangers may impart,
The place where Scamman lies ;
But every friend consults his heart,
For there he never dies.
Col. James Scamman enlisted April 26, 1775, with,
no doubt, the distinct understanding that if he suc-
ceeded in raising a full regiment, he should be com-
missioned its colonel. That there was strong opposi-
tion to him there is no question, but there seems to
have been no fault with his personal character, and he
is spoken highly of by those among whom he lived.
VOL. X. 25
370 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Folsom, in the History of Saco, said " he was well
fitted to shine in the military profession ; possessing
vigor of mind and body, and a gaiety of temper which
secured the good-will and attachment of all such as
were under his command. We have been assured by
persons who served with him that his bravery could
not be justly questioned, and yet a misdirection of his
regiment on the memorable 17th of June has been
made the occasion of reproach." Then he said :
"Attempts were, however, made to injure his reputa-
tion by individuals who aspired to his commission,
&c." "
Col. Scamman, after the expiration of his term of
service, returned to private life, but he felt keenly the
injustice done him. When the three years' regiments
were being formed, in the fall of 1776, he applied for
permission to raise one of them with which he might
vindicate himself before his countrymen. The follow-
ing is a copy of his original petition to the General
Court:
" To The Honorable the Council and House of Representatives of
the State of the Massachusetts Bay
Humbly shews James Scammau that whereas his conduct has
been called in question respecting the Battle of Charlestown in June
1775 wherein the Disposition made was such as could render but
Little prospect of success and he being willing to shew his Country
that he is ready at all Times to risque his Fortune and Life in de-
fence of it would readily engage again in the service thereof and
begs leave to inform your Honours that he has no doubt that he can
raise a Regiment immediately for the ^service of the Continent and
therefore prays to be indulged with a Commission for that purpose
and this he does not with a view to any emolument but for to take
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S .SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 371
off any objection now resting in the mind of any of his Country-
men against him & he will ever pray &c
JAMES SCAMMAN
Pepperrelboro
Nov 14th 1776.
The original is in the Massachusetts Archives. The
petition was written by some other person, but signed
by Col. Scamman.
The above application shows no lack of spirit or pa-
triotism. The question suggested to the minds of
his countrymen is whether it might not have been better
for the regiment and himself had he consented to have
been the lieutenant colonel, as he was asked to be at
the time, instead of the colonel in the face of such op-
position.
Col. James Scamman was deputy adjutant general
on the staff of Maj. Gen. Goodwin in the militia, in
1788, and several years after. He was a successful
man in business and left considerable property to his
heirs. His name is one that will always be connected
with the history of those times in Maine, and will
receive the reverence it justly deserves.
Lieut. Col. Johnson Moulton of York was a captain
in the French and Indian war, and at the reception
of the news from Lexington raised a company in his
town, which was into New Hampshire before the next
night, armed and equipped. This was the first com-
pany out of the province of Maine in the Revolution.
He enlisted May 2, 1775, and was appointed lieuten-
ant colonel of Col. Scamman's regiment, although he
had received the recommendation of the militia officers
372 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of York County for the colonelcy. His commission
was dated May 29, 1775. After his services in this
regiment, he was the lieutenant colonel of Col. Wil-
liam Prescott's (he of Bunker Hill fame) 7th Conti-
nental regiment, in 1776, serving through the seige of
Boston, and then joined Gen. Nixon's brigade in Gen.
Nathaniel Greene's division, and took part in the Long
Island campaign. After the war he was the sheriff of
York County and served several years.
Lieut. Col. Moulton was the son of Ebenezer Moul-
ton of York, where he was probably born. His first
wife died August 4, 1782, her name and age to me un-
known. He married for his second wife Mary Bragdon
(intention October 11, 1783), who died December 23,
1794. He died June 13, 1793, and left children,
Johnson, jr., Elizabeth Woodbridge and Mary.
Johnson Moulton made a will October 11, 1791, and
said, " being weak in body and not knowing how few
days remains to nie in this world " &c, &c. Among the
articles that appear on the inventory of his estate were
a " gun and bayonet, 1 pair pistols, 1 pair spurrs, 1
pair old ditto, a hanger (sword), and an espontoon,"
a kind of halberd or pick used in the British army.
Col. Moulton's name should be revered in the town
whose Revolutionary history he aided so much in
making illustrious.
Major Daniel Wood enlisted from Berwick, May 2,
1775, and is said to have raised the company that was
commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Sullivan. He served
in Scarnman's regiment in 1775, and, January 1, 1776,
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 373
joined Col. Loarnmi Baldwin's 26th Continental regi-
ment and served through that year. He served
through the seige of Boston and was in the Long-
Island campaign in Gen. James Clinton's brigade, in
Gen. Putnam's division.
Major Wood was living in Shapleigh, in 1793, where
he made a will in 1811, which was probated in Sep-
tember, 1819, in which he mentions his wife, Mary,
and children, Daniel, jr., his executor, Job, Enoch and
Elias, who had died.
Adjt. George Marsden of Londonderry was, accord-
ing to a remark of Col. Scamman, a deserter from
the British army. He enlisted in this regiment, April
29, 1775, and served through the year. January 1,
1776, he enlisted in the same capacity in Col. William
Prescott's 7th Continental regiment, serving until their
term expired. He became first lieutenant in Col.
Henry Shurburne's Additional Continental regiment
October 1, 1777, and resigned, August 10, 1778.
Chaplain Jacob Foster of Berwick, where he was
ordained in 1757, and preached twenty-one years, en-
listed as the chaplain of this regiment, May 3, 1775,
and served through the year. He joined Col. Edmund
Phinney's 18th Continental regiment, January 1, 1776,
and resigned, February 28, 1776.
Quartermaster Samuel Nasson of York enlisted, May
2, 1775, in this regiment and was an ensign and quar-
termaster in Col. William Prescott's 7th Continental
regiment from January 1 until December 31, 1776.
He served through the siege of Boston and took part
374 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in the Long Island campaign. He was the town clerk
and a selectman of Sanford for several years.
Samuel Nasson married, first, Mary Shores, daugh-
ter of Peter, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and
second, Joanna, widow of. Jotham Moulton, March 3,
1778. He moved to Sanford after his second mar-
riage, where, it is said, he had four children. He had,
at least, Samuel, born October 12, 1760, died young;
G. Hodgkins and Samuel, twins, born October 15,
1761; Peter, born April 15, 1766; William, born
August 15, 1767 ; Susannah, born November 6, 1768,
these by first w r ife and there were probably others. It
is said he died in Ballston Spa, New York, in 1800,
where he went for his health.
Surgeon John Crocker of Richmond enlisted May
13, 1775, in this regiment, and was also the surgeon of
the brigantine Hazard, commanded by John Foster
Williams, having been commissioned June 29, 1778,
and was discharged April 20, 1779. As early as May
7, 1775, the Committee of Safety recommended to the
Provincial Congress to allow the colonel of each regi-
ment to nominate the surgeon, and he his mate, unless
there were some material objections made against
them.
Surgeon's mate, Jacob Baron, of Plymouth, joined
this regiment, June 3, 1775, and was probably the
same person who was the surgeon of the brig Free-
dom, commanded by Capt. John Clouston. He was
commissioned September 4, 1777, and was captured
by the British and exchanged for Dr. Joseph Mills of
the s
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 375
the ship Maesgwin, on a list of prisoners, dated
February 24, 1778.
CAPT. SAMUEL DARBY'S COMPANY.
Capt. Samuel Darby of York, afterwards called
Derby, was the first lieutenant of Capt. Johnson
Moulton's York company, enlisting April 21, 1775,
which was the first out of the province of Maine in
the Revolutionary war, and served four days. On his
return he raised this company, enlisting May 2, 1775,
and served through that year. He was a captain in
Col. William Prescott's 7th Continental regiment in
1776, serving through the siege of Boston, and took
part in the Long Island campaign. On January 1,
1777, he joined Col. John Bailey's 2d Massachusetts
regiment, and spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley
Forge. He was commissioned major in Col. Ichabod
Alden's, afterwards Lieut. Col. John Brook's 7th Massa-
chusetts regiment, November 1, 1778. Col. Alden
was killed in the Cherry Valley massacre, in Novem-
ber, 1778. Afterward he served in Col. Michael Jack-
son's 8th Massachusetts regiment and served to the
end of the war on the Hudson River, near Peekskill
and West Point. He acted at one time as brigade in-
spector and was on furlough by Gen. McDougall from
December 3, 1781, to March 1, 1782. His record is a
certificate of his gallantry.
Major Darby died intestate, in 1807, and Reuben
Derby was appointed administrator July 7, 1807. His
wife's name was Mary.
376
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Captain
Samuel Darby in Colonel James Scamman's Regiment to the first of
August, 1775."
Enlisted, all 1775.
Samuel Darby,
James Dunnell,
Joshua Trafton,
Joshua Grant,
Abraham Pray,
John Kingsbury,
Benjamin Lee,
John Tinney,
Jotham Webber,
John McCasline,
Jotham Donell,
Joseph Parsons,
Willm Conway,
Privates.
James Austing,
John Beal,
Stephen Baker,
Arthur Bi'idges,
Joshua Bridges,
Samuel Baker,
Daniel Bain,
Nehemiah Booker,
Edmund Bridges,
Mathies Bail,
Obediah Donell,
David Davis,
James Dempsy,
Richd Dean,
James Fitzgerald,
Rubin Freeman,
Jonathan Farnum,
Daniel Grant,
Peter McGee,
Jesper Grant,
Cornelius Hill,
Elikam Hilton,
Thomas Horn,
Daniel Lunt,
Capt,
Lieut.,
Ensign,
Sergt.
Corp.
Drummer
Fifer
York,
Barwick,
York,
May
t<
u 4
u
" 4
((
" 4
" 4
(4
" 4
U
" 4
u
" 3
II
" 4
t(
" 4
u
July 21
II
May 4
(
" 4
l(
" 4
II
" 4
u
" 4
11
U O
( ;
" 4
M
" 3
Georgetown,
" 5
York,
" 5
v
" 3
II
" 4
u
" 4
u
" 4
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 377
Joshua McLucas, York, May 3
Theodor Love joy, " "4
Tarrance McMehone, Georgetown, " 5
Josiah Moore, York, u 3
Ephriam Moore, " "4
Richard Morris, " "3
Amos Maine, ' "3
Peter Nowill, " " 3
Shubal Nasson, " "5
Paul Nowell, " " 5
Spencer Pirkins, " " 3
Jeddieh Pribble, " " 4
David Pribble, " " 4
Edwd Pribble, " " 4
Nathaniel Ramsdell, " " 5
Joseph Standley, " u 5
John Sutton, " 4
William Sergeant, " "5
William Simpson, " " 4
William Worster, " " 4
Eliphet Trafton, " "4
Daniel Webber, " "4
Samuel Welsh, " " 3
John Young, " " 3
Seasor, a Negro, " "3
Josiah Parsons, " "3
John Davis, " "3
James Sellars, " " 3
Jeremiah Holt, u "8
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XIV., page 74. Total, 66 men. All supplied them-
selves with guns and equipments. Those from York
were allowed 80 miles travel and Georgetown 180.
CAPT. TOBIAS FERNALD'S COMPANY.
Capt. Tobias Fernald of Kittery was the son of
Tobias Fernald, and was born February 1, 1744; mar-
ried, in 1780, Dorcas Mclntire of York, Maine, and
had two daughters, Harriet and Julia. His widow
378 MAINE HISTOKICAL SOCIETY.
married Capt. Richard Rogers of Kittery, a Revolu-
tionary soldier. He died August 15, 1784, aged forty
years.
Capt. Fernald enlisted in Scamrnan's regiment May
3, 1775, and was commissioned June 2. He entered
Col. Phinney's 18th Continental regiment January 1,
1776, and served until November 6, 1776, when he
was appointed major of Col. Samuel Brewer's 12th
Massachusetts regiment, promoted to lieutenant-colo-
nel of Col. Michael Jackson's 8th Massachusetts reg-
iment, March 6, 1779, transferred to Col. Thomas
Marshall's 10th Massachusetts regiment January 1,
1781, and retired January 1, 1783. He lived on land
now occupied by the navy yard at Kittery.
Capt. Tobias Fernald's regiments served through
the siege of Boston, reenforced the Northern army in
the fall of 1776, and was at Stillwater and Saratoga,
witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne's army, spent
the winter at Valley Forge, where he signed the oath
of allegiance, and fought in the battle of Monmouth.
The balance of his service was probably spent on the
Hudson River.
"A Muster Koll of the Company under the Command of Captain
Tobias Fernald in Colonel James Scamman's Regiment to the first of
August 1775."
Enlisted, all 1775.
Tobias Fernald, Capt., Kittery, May 3
Thomas Cutts, Lieut., " " 3
Parker Foster, Ensign, " " 12
John Chase, Sergt., * " "3
Nathan Coffin, " "3
Thomas H. Lewis, " " " 12
John Pray, " " " 16
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 379
William Cole,
Noah Cutts,
Timothy Remmick,
Benjamin Akerman,
James Mclntire,
Jeremh Grover,
Privates.
Soloman Staple,
Josiah Brooks,
Charles Fernald,
Joseph Beal,
John Kelley,
Samuel Brooks,
Cato Black,
Elisha Hamman,
James Fernald,
Isaac Moore,
John Stacy,
George Fernald,
Enoch Davis,
William Wherren,
David Rogers,
William Brooks,
Andrew Lydstone,
William Welch,
Amos Paul,
John Caverly,
Nathaniel Staple,
Peletiah Hanscom,
Lawrence Ellis,
Benjamin Fernald,
Thomas Spoaksfield,
Nathl Hooper,
Joseph Fernald,
John Main,
Moses Willson,
John Smart,
Joseph M. Fitsgerl,
Rubin Spinney,
Simon Libby,
Ebenezer Clarke,
Corp.,
Kittery,
May 3
u a
" 8
" Portsmouth,
" 15
Drummer, Boston,
July 3
Fifer, York,
" 23
Kittery,
May 3
ii
" 3
ii
" 3
ii
" 3
ii
" 3
"
" 3
ii
" 3
" 3
"
" 3
u
" 3
ii
" 3
it
" 3
" q
(t
o
" 8
u
" 24
u
" 8
II
" 8
" 8
u
" 8
Portsmouth,
" 8
Kittery,
" 8
" 8
" 11
ii
" 3
a
" 12
II
" 13
Cl
" 13
York,
" 13
Kittery,
" 14
"
" 14
Portsmouth,
" 15
Kittery,
" 15
"
June 11
Pepperrelboro,
" 11
380 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Phillip Davis, Durham (1ST. H.), June 18
Moses Amee, Kittery, " 23
Daniel Dell, " " 23
John Gunnison, Portsmouth, July 2
Noah Hutchins, Kittery, " 2
James C. Benson, " " 2
George Spinney, " " 2
Abraham Senter, Portsmouth, " 2
Daniel Pribble, York, " 2
Kubin Hauscom, Kittery, May 22
Thomas Knight, " " 22
Isaac Staple, " " 22
Tobias Fernald, Capt.
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XIV, page 90. Total, 59 men. Those from Kittery
were allowed 70 miles travel, Portsmouth 65, York 73
and 74, and Pepperrellboro 110. All had guns and
cartridge boxes, but six had bayonets, which they sup-
plied themselves.
CAPT. EBENEZER SULLIVAN'S COMPANY.
Capt. Ebenezer Sullivan, of Berwick, was commis-
sioned June 2, 1775. It is said that he was in the
Northern army in 1776, and later served in Rhode
Island, rising to the rank of major, also that at one
time he was a prisoner of war. He was an aide-de-
camp to Maj.-Gen. Goodwin in the militia in 1788 and
1792. It is stated that he commanded a company
against the Indians in the West.
Capt. Sullivan was the son of Master John Sullivan,
of Berwick, and a brother to Benjamin, Gen. John,
Gov. James and Capt. Daniel Sullivan. He had a
sister Mary, who married Theophilus Hardy, and had
a distinguished posterity. He was at Berwick in 1795
and was a justice of peace. Willis says, "He was one
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 381
of the earliest lawyers in Berwick, and the only one
there for several years. His inordinate use of ardent
spirit diminished his practise, and he left the state,
went to New York city, where he died shortly after."
A man who knew Ebenezer Sullivan said, " He was a
man of a very fine frame and figure, straight, and
about six feet high, and his walk, looks, speech, and
every motion of him were indications of being an
active, energetic military commander."
"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Capt. Eben-
ezer Sullivan in Colonel James Scamman's Regiment to the first of
August 1775."
All enlisted May 5, 1775, unless otherwise specified.
Ebenezer Sullivan,
Thomas Butler,
Nathan Lord, 5th,
Richard Yeaton,
Thomas Hardison,
Eliphalet Jones,
Daniel Grant,
Simeon Chadbourn,
Wentworth Lord,
John Scates,
Stephen Frost,
Noah Goodwin,
Philip Worster
Privates.
John Abbot,
Elisha Andros,
John Bracket,
Joseph Bracket,
John Butler,
James Butler,
Francis Brock,
Scamman Chadbourn,
William Chadbourn,
David Cook,
Daniel Cook,
Capt.,
1st Lieut.,
2d
Sergt,
Corp.,
Drummer,
Fifer,
Berwick
Somersworth
Berwick
Somersworth
Berwick
Berwick
Lebanon
382
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
David Farnham,
Caleb Frost,
Jacob Chadwick,
Ephriam Goodwin,
Abraham Hodsdon,
James Hamilton,
John Hardison,
Stephen Hardison,
Benjamin Guptil,
Samuel Jones,
John Jeames,
Nathan Libby,
Jeremiah Libby,
Stephen Nock,
Nicholas Nock,
James Nock,
Zachariah Nock,
Joshua Quint,
Samuel Pray,
William Pierce,
Love Roberts,
John Rankins,
Jeremiah Roberts,
George Ricker,
Thomas Rines,
Gabril St e,
Mark Tate,
John Witherwell,
James Whitehouse,
Miles Thompson,
Miles Ford,
Nathan Lord,
Enoch Whitehouse,
Benjamin Evans,
Ebenezer Guptail,
Jonathan Ross,
Benjamin Heard,
Nathan Bracket,
Nathaniel Butler,
Ezekiel Ricker,
Lebanon
Berwick
Somersworth
Lebanon
Berwick
Somersworth
Berwick
Somersworth
it
Lebanon
Berwick, Enlisted June 20, 1775
Somersworth
Berwick
Enlisted July 17, 1775
do.
do.
do.
" N. B. The Town & the Captain Billeted the men up to Head
Quarters, which amounts to 19 16s Id."
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 383
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XVI, page 44. Total, 64 men. This roll returns 36
cartridge boxes and 4 guns furnished by the prov-
ince. The men had been advanced on their pay
2 each.
CAPT. SAMUEL LEIGHTON'S COMPANY.
Capt. Samuel Leighton was born in Kittery, March
16, 1740, married, in October, 1767, Abigail Frost,
daughter of John Frost, and they had nine children.
She was born Oct. 5, 1744, and died Nov. 30, 1826.
He died suddenly, Feb. 27, 1802, aged 61 years.
Capt. Leighton enlisted May 3, 1775, and was com-
missioned in Col. Scamman's regiment, June 2, 1775,
serving the year out with him. He was the captain
of the York County company in Col. Ebenezer Francis'
militia regiment, who served in the garrison at Dor-
chester Heights from August until December, 1776,
about three months. He was the captain of the seventh
company in the 2d York County militia regiment, in
1776, and was commissioned second major in the same
regiment, under Col. Ichabod Goodwin, June 10, 1778.
Capt. Samuel Leighton was a son of Lieut. John
Leighton, and his mother was Mary, a daughter of
Major John Hill, of Berwick. Capt. Leighton was a
prominent man and possessed of considerable property,
being the largest tax-payer in the town in 1780.
"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Captain
Samuel Leighton in Colonel Scamman's Regiment to the first of
August 1775."
Enlisted, all in 1775.
Samuel Leighton, Capt., Kittery. May 3
William Fernald, Lieut., " " 3
384
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
William Frost,
Ensign,
Kittery,
May 3
William Cole,
Sergt.,
"
" 3
John Johnson,
it
" 5
Josiah Paul,
(i
" 3
Thomas Savage,
"
Portsmouth,
" 5
Enoch Meloon,
Corp.,
"
" 5
Moses Witham,
(i
Kittery,
" 14
Stephen Nason,
u
II
" 3
Joshua Fernald,
"
u
" 5
Henry Foss,
Drummer,
Portsmouth,
" 5
John Frost,
Fifer,
Kittery,
" 14
Privates.
Tobias Leighton,
Kittery,
" 3
Simon Frost,
a
" 3
Samuel Neal,
ii
" 3
Robert Patch,
n
" 3
Daniel Adams,
John Ferguson,
Jonathan Nason,
Daniel Green,
Pelatiah Wittum,
Stephen Ferguson,
Charles Frost,
John Manley,
Joshua Emery,
John Goold,
Daniel Lord,
Charles Caverly,
Tobias Hanscomb,
John Chick,
Ebenezer Hammond,
John Witelock,
James Remick,
Alexander Goold,
Lemuel Smith,
James Emery,
John Jordan,
Charles Sergant,
James Smart,
William Nutter,
Frederick Paverly,
Zebedee Sears,
Sanford,
Kittery,
it
" 3
u
" 3
u
" 3
u
" 3
II
" 3
tl
" 3
((
" 3
It
" 3
Berwick,
' ; 3
Portsmouth,
" 3
Kittery,
" 5
a
" 5
i
" 6
u
" 5
II
" 5
u
" 5
II
u 7
II
" 3
Portsmouth,
" 5
u
" 5
Kittery,
" 5
Portsmouth,
" 5
u
" 5
York,
June 10
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 385
Thomas Mehaney, Kittery, July 4
James Davis, Sanford, May 4
William Goold, Kittery, " 3
Jeremiah Wittum, Berwick, Aug. 1
" Cambridge Decmr 1775
Samuel Leighton Capt."
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XV, page 54. Total, 47 men. Each man had a gun,
and nearly all cartridge boxes. Only eight had bayo-
nets. Those from Kittery were allowed from 70 to 72
miles travel, Portsmouth 65, Sanford 100, Berwick 76,
and York 70. Shirts were charged at 5s. 6d., and
shoes at 6s. 8d.
CAPT. SAMUEL SAWYER'S COMPANY.
Capt. Samuel Sawyer, then written Sayer, of
Wells, was the first lieutenant in Capt. Noah M. Little-
field's company in the Lexington alarm, where he
served five days. He enlisted in Col. Scamrnan's reg-
iment, May 3, 1775, and was commissioned June 2,
serving until December 31. He was a captain in Col.
John Patterson's 15th Continental regiment in 1776,
who after the siege of Boston, marched to New York,
where they proceeded on transports up the Hudson
River to Albany, and helped reinforce the Northern
army, then near Lake Champlain. He was a captain
and then major of the York County battalion in the
Bagaduce Expedition in 1779. He enlisted July 7, 1779,
and was reported as died August 3, 1779. He, accord-
ing to Moody's journal, was wounded July 31, and died
the next day. Gen. Solomon Lovell, the commander
of that expedition, wrote in his journal that Capt.
Sawyer was " a brave and worthy good man." The
VOL. X. 26
386
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
History of Wells says his " loss was deeply felt
throughout the town." He married Mary Littlefield,
April 21, 1768.
"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Capt. Sam-
uel Sayer in Colo James Scamman's Regiment to the first of August
1775."
Samuel Sayer,
William Cossens,
Jeremiah Littlefield,
Samuel Stevens,
George Jacobs,
John Littlefield,
Samuel Goodwell,
Joel Stevens,
Jonathan Low,
Stephen Jonson,
Nathan Kimbal,
Joshua Tayler,
Joseph Kilgore,
Privates.
Abraham Barnes,
Jonathan Banks,
Timothy Boston,
Jonathan Boston,
Timothy Barrens,
Danl Chaynea,
John Cram,
Robert Day,
Nathaniel Day,
William Jillison,
Paul Goodwin,
Zachariah Getchell,
Abner Fisk,
Francis Hatch,
Abraham Hatch,
Joseph Horn,
Jonathan Jacobs,
Hezekiah Kimball,
Ebenezer Loward,
Nason Lord,
Ebeuezer Littlefield,
Capt.,
1st Lieut.,
2d Lieut,
Sergt,
Corp.,
Drummer,
Fifer,
Wells
Sanford
Wells
(4
Sanford
Sanford
Wells
Sanford
Wells
All Enlisted May 3,
1775, unless other-
wise specified
Sanford
Wells
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 387
Josiah Morrison,
Benjamin Morrison,
John Morrison,
Willra Dialing,
John Mitchell,
John Muldram,
Aler Perry,
Joseph Stevens,
Reuben Stuart,
Ebenezer Storer,
Abraham Storer,
Henry Tibbetts,
Elephilet Tayler,
John Trow,
Seth Tayler,
James Wormwood,
Francis Winn,
Ely Wormwood,
Thomas Goold,
Pelitiah Penny,
Simon Chace,
Joseph Wilkins,
Stephen Annis,
Samuel Williams,
William Gowen,
Josiah Credetor,
Peletiah Penny Jr.,
Stephen Andros,
Gideon Hatch,
Edmund Welch,
Joseph Welch,
Sippo, Black,
Wells
Sanford
Wells
Sanford
Wells
enlisted July 5, 1775
" " 5, "
5,
" 5, "
f 5, "
5, "
" 5, "
" 5, "
5, "
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XVI, page 27. Total, 66 men. All had guns and
cartridge boxes. Those from Wells were allowed from
87 to 97 miles travel, and Sanford 98.
CAPT. JEREMIAH HILL'S COMPANY.
Capt. Jeremiah Hill, of Biddeford, was born April 30,
1747, and married, September 6, 1772, Mary Emery,
388 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
born March 26, 1752, the daughter of Obed and Sarah
(Dyer) Emery, of Biddeford. This is a correction in
his wife's name, as given in the History of Col. Phin-
ney's regiment. Capt. Hill was the son of Jeremiah
and Mary (Smith) Hill, and died June 11, 1820, aged
73 years.
Capt. Hill, beside his service in Scamman's regiment,
was a captain in Col. Edmund Phinney's 18th Conti-
nental regiment and January 1, 1777, was commissioned
as captain in Col. Joseph Vose's 1st Massachusetts reg-
iment, and resigned November 4, 1777. He was com-
missary of prisoners in Rhode Island, in 1778, and was
the adjutant general of the Bagaduce Expedition in
1779. His service covered the siege of Boston, the
march to Fort Ticouderoga in the fall of 1776, the
Saratoga campaign, in Rhode Island, and at Bagaduce
served until the eighth of October. He lost his com-
mission in that retreat and applied for another. He
was town clerk, a representative to the General Court,
a justice of peace, and was the first collector of Saco,
1789 to 1809. He had the honorary degree of A. M.
from Harvard in 1787. He was the first Master of
Saco Lodge of Masons, 1802-1806, and again 1808-
1810.
"A Muster Roll of the Company under the Command of Captain
Jeremiah Hill in Colonel Scamman's Regiment to the first of August
1775."
Enlisted, all in 1775.
Beating
Orders.
April 24, 1775
May 3,
Jeremiah Hill,
Capt.,
Biddeford,
Samuel Merrill,
Lieut.,
Buxton,
Peter Page,
Ensign,
Pepperrellboro,
Wad Eddy,
Sergt.,
Buxton,
John Treworgy,
it
Biddeford,
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 389
Simeon Goodwin, "
Phineas Towle, "
John Elden, Corp.,
Daniel Townsend, "
Mathias Redlon, "
John Foss, u
Mathew Richardson Fifer,
Privates.
John Davis,
John Cole,
Nathan Woodman,
Samuel Merrill,
Robert Brooks,
William Andros,
James Redlon,
Ezekiel Bragdon,
Samuel Woodsom,
John Sands,
Micah Whitney,
Jonathan Fields,
Levi Foss,
John Kennick,
Nicholas Davis,
Robert Williams,
Timothy Rolfe,
Mathew Phillips,
Aaron Gray,
David Crage,
Ebenezer Sawyer,
James McCormick,
James Uran,
John Lee,
Joseph Goodwin,
Joseph Plaistard,
Jonathan Norton,
Robert Martin,
Robert Arnold,
John Carll,
Anthony Starbird,
Peltiah Ross.
Nehemiah Goodwin,
James Scamman Jr.,
Pepperrellboro,
3,
Buxton,
" 3,
"
" 3,
Littlefalls,
" 4,
Buxton,
" 3,
Pepperrellboro,
" 3,
Woburn,
June 6,
Biddeford,
May
5
Buxton,
u
3
ii
II
3
u
II
3
u
It
8
II
II
8
u
II
8
II
"
3
II
"
3
u
"
3
Pepperrellboro,
" 4
u
u 4
Littlefalls,
" 4
Mast Camps,
" 5
Biddeford,
' 5
Deer Warden,
" 5
Biddeford,
" 5
"
" 5
ii
" 5
Deranged (discharged)
Buxton, "
Pepperrellboro,
Buxton,
Pepperrellboro,
390
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Joseph Carll,
Elijah Littlefield,
Simeon Tibbetts,
Daniel Bradbury,
Daniel Hill,
John Richardson,
Daniel McNeuiarra,
Aaron Randall,
Phillip Goldthwait,
Edward Nason,
Jesse Pene,
John Roak,
Edward Cumpston,
Langdon,
[<
" 3
Biddeford,
" 5
Pepperrellboro,
" 3
"
" 3
Biddeford,
July 13
Woburn,
June 25
Cambridge,
May 26
Pepperrellboro,
" 3
n
" 3
it
" 3
u
" 3
Biddeford,
" 5
Pepperrellboro,
" 3
Cambridge,
June 3
'All Errors excepted
Jeremiah Hill, Capt."
deserted June 12
deserted May 30
entered in ye Train
May 21
do.
died Aug. 5th
discharged June 21
"Langdon comes in
Compston's room"
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XV, page 28. Total, 60 men. Those from Biddeford
were allowed 100 miles travel, Buxton 120, Pepper-
rellboro (Saco) 110, Little Falls 117 and Woburn 8.
Col. Scamman supplied twelve of the men with guns
and forty-four cartridge boxes were reported.
CAPT. JOSHUA BRAGDON'S COMPANY.
Capt. Joshua Bragdon, of Wells, went from York
there before the Revolution. He was an enterprising
man and a shipbuilder. He was on a committee at
Wells who, on March 28, 1774, in relation to the crisis
then impending, reported the following as their first
resolution.
Resolved that freedom is essential to the happiness of a State,
which no nation can give up without violating the laws of nature,
reason and religion, ruining millions, and entailing the deepest
misery on posterity.
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 391
Capt. Bragdon enlisted April 21, 1775, in the Lex-
ington alarm, and served five days. On his return he
raised a company for Scamman's regiment. He re-
signed August 19, 1775, and returned home. His
commission was dated June 2, 1775. In J778 he was
chosen by the town of Wells u to prosecute traitors to
the confederation." After the war he was a selectman
several years, and, in 1785, was a representative
to the General Court. The town's history says that
he " was an efficient laborer in all war measures, was
a man of courage and resolution " and that he was " a
solid temperate man."
Joshua Bragdon made a will April 4, 1792, and said
he had " apprehensions of approaching death." It was
probated November 30, the same year. The children
mentioned were Joshua Jr., his executor, Thomas,
Daniel, Hepzibah, wife of Josi-ah Clark, and Hannah
and Martha, then unmarried,
Lieut. Morgan Lewis, of Sanford, became captain of
the company after the resignation of Capt. Bragdon.
He served as selectman, 1774-1779, and was a major
in the militia, beside his service in Col. Scamman's
regiment.
Capt. Lewis' wife was named Sarah, and she died
December 28, 1819, aged 79 years. He died Novem-
ber 17, 1784, aged 47 years, and they both were
buried in the Alfred village cemetery. He was the
first person buried there. In the inventory of his estate,
which amounted to <838, 2s., 2d., were two cartridge
boxes, 3 shillings, and a powder horn, 8 pence. Their
children mentioned then were Jeremiah, the oldest
392
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
son and administrator, Daniel, the second son, Morgan,
Jr., the " third son now living" in 1792, John, who
died before 1792, Sarah, eldest daughter and wife of
Jeremiah Trafton, Doras, wife of David Bean, Kathe-
rine, wife of Benjamin Trafton and the third daughter,
with Patience, Abigail and Dolly.
the Company under the Command of Captain
"A muster Roll of
Joshua Bragdon."
Joshua Bragdon,
Capt.,
Wells,
Morgan Lewis,
Lieut.,
Sanford,
Moses Sweet,
Ensign,
"
Abraham Barens,
Sergt,
Wells,
Enoch Hale,
"
Sanford,
William Patton,
Wells,
Jedidiah Pebody.
it
Sanford,
Simeon Hatch,
Corp.,
Wells,
Samuel Cluff,
; i
Sanford,
Peter Cram,
(i
Wells,
Ephriam Gile,
(i
Sanford,
Joseph Thompson,
Drummer,
"
Josiah Harmon,
Fifer,
"
Privates.
John Adams,
Jonathan Adams,
William Banks,
Nathan Butland,
William Boston,
Elijah Boston,
Daniel Boston,
Richard Blabon,
John Clarke,
Isack Coffin,
John Emons,
Pendleton Emons,
Nathaniel Edwards,
Steven Edwards,
Daniel Eastman,
James Ford,
(dis. Nov. 30)
(dis. Sept. 19)
Sanford,
Wells,
Sanford,
Wells,
Sanford,
Wells,
Sanford,
Wells,
Enlisted, all 1775.
April 21
May
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
July 2
" 2
May 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
June 25
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 393
Samuel Harmon, Sanford,
Teamo Hall,* (dis. July 5) Wells,
Joseph Hibbard, Sanford,
Isac Jones, "
Thomas Jepson, Wells,
Saml Jelson, Sanford,
Charles Jellson, Berwick,
Abram Kimble, Sanford,
Joseph Knight, Berwick,
Jedediah Low, Wells,
John Lord, Sanford,
Thomas Neenly, Wells,
Abra Pribel, Sanford,
Moses Pettey, "
William Powers, "
Jeremiah Smith, "
Jeremiah Steward, Wells,
Masters Treadwell, (dis. Sept. 27), "
Nathaniel Treadwell, "
Samuel Whitehous, "
Charles White, Sanford,
George Whales, "
Nathl Folsum York, "
Paul Giles, "
Daniel Giles, "
Israel Smith, "
Noah Merrill, Wells,
Israel Hilbon, Sanford,
May
July
May
July
May
July 1
May 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
1
1
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XIV, page 9. Total, 57 men. Those from Wells were
allowed 93 miles travel, and from Sanford 100 and 106.
All had guns, all furnished by themselves but two, arid
39 had cartridge boxes.
CAPT. PHILIP HUBBARD'S COMPANY.
Capt. Philip Hubbard lived in South Berwick and
was born in 1718. He married in 1740, Hannah
Plummer, by whom he had fourteen children, namely
* Perhaps James.
394 MAINE HISTORICAL, SOCIETY.
Philip, Jr., Benjamin, Mrs. Elizabeth Neal, John,
Mrs. Hannah Hodsdon, Mrs. Abigail Goodwin, Moses,
Aaron, Mrs. Sarah Goodwin, Richard, Jonathan, Eben,
Ichabod and Stephen. His home farm was that of his
father and grandfather, and after him came his two
sons, John and Ichabod. At least seven generations
of his family have lived in that neighborhood.
Capt. Hubbard was the eldest son of Philip Hubbard
and Elizabeth Roberts. His father died in 1723. and
was supposed to have been killed by the Indians. His
mother came from Dover, N. H., and she was the
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Roberts. His pa-
ternal grandparents were Philip Hubert, as the name
was then written, and Elizabeth Goodwin ; she was a
daughter of Daniel Goodwin, of Kittery. His grand-
father Hubert was the emigrant to what has since be-
come South Berwick, the locality is about a mile from
what is now the Eliot line, and he was the son of Jean
Hubert of the parish of St. Savior, in the Isle of Jersey.
The family were Norman French.
Philip Hubert, the emigrant, was granted twenty
acres of land in old Kittery, May 16, 1694 3 fifty acres
May 24, 1694, and fifty acres May 10, 1703. The
twenty acres were laid out to him January 10, 1710,
at the u Beaver Dam " and the one hundred acres were
laid out November 21, 1700 at "ye Great Lot, Nine
Notches." The Hubbard loghouse was called " Hub-
bard's Garrison," and was standing as late as 1826,
when it was taken down and a* frame house built in
the rear of the site of the garrison. The family bury-
ing ground, where Captain Hubbard was buried in
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 395
1792, at the age of seventy-four years, is in the field
opposite where the old garrison stood. This was also
the field of the emigrant, Philip Hubert, or Hubbard,
which he bought of James Emery, January 25, 1697,
for <120, and was described as forty acres, more
or less, with buildings, fruit trees and all other
appurtenances.
Capt. Philip Hubbard made his will November 13,
1787, in which he said "Being in sound health," etc.,
which was probated September 8, 1792. His sons,
John and Ichabod, were the executors. He left an
estate of .1031, 18s., 8d., in which were a gun and bay-
onet valued at 20 shillings, an old sword at 4 shillings,
and a cartouch box 2 shillings. He owned land also
in the town of Shapleigh. Thirteen children were
named in his will, but evidently Philip, Jr., and Eben
died before that date.
Capt. Hubbard was a prominent man in his town,
serving as moderator and selectman, also on important
committees. A marble monument has lately been
erected at his grave, but the original split stone, with
his initials cut upon it, was left as his most fitting
memorial. His life work was such that his " memory
is held in the greatest respect by all his descendants,"
as one of his posterity writes. Who can hope to do
more ?
Capt. Philip Hubbard was commissioned Jui>e 2,
1775, in Col. Scamman's regiment, and the commission
is still in existence. Besides that service, he was the
captain of a seacoast company at Kittery Point and
York in 1776. When he joined Scamman's regiment
396
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
he was about fifty-seven years of age and no doubt
had seen service in the French and Indian wars.
" Muster Roll of the Company under the command of Capt. Phillip
Hubbard in Colo Scamman's Regiment to the first of August 1775."
Phillip Hubbard,
Jedidiah Goodwin,
James Roberts,
Simeon Lord,
Joshua N"ason,
Richard Plummer,
Tristram Fall,
Samuel Hubbard,
Freethy Spencer,
Samuel Worster,
Joseph Hubbard,
Samuel Stevens,
Privates.
Moses Hubbard,
Aaron Goodwin,
Moses Spencer,
John Shorey,
Benjamin Row,
Daniel Lord,
Stephen Wood,
Daniel Hubbard,
Jeremiah Lord,
William Stone,
Daniel Grant,
James Wentworth,
Richard Pirkins,
Benjamin Horsham,
Elisha James,
William Davis,
Benjamin Goodwin,
James Grant,
Daniel Wadlin,
Bartholomew Nason,
Ichabod Smith,
Abel Getchell,
Capt., Berwick,
1st Lieut.,
2d " "
Sergt.,
Corp.,
Drummer, Lebanon,
Berwick,
Rochester,
Lebanon,
Berwick,
Lebanon,
Berwick,
Enlisted, all 1775
May 2
' 2
" 2
" 5
" 5
" 5
11 20
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 20
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 5
" 8
" 8
COL. JAMES sc AMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT or FOOT. 397
Walter Abbot,
Morrel Hobbs,
Benjamin Weymouth,
Theophilius Abbot,
Daniel Abbot,
Simeon Lord Junr.,
Aaron Hubbart,
Moses Couson,
Dodifer Garland,
Jonathan Garland,
Nathaniel Blewet,
Daniel Hodsdon,
Moses How,
John Davis.
Ralph Farnum,
Thomas Downs,
Landras Heast,
John Pugsley,
Francis Pierce,
James Smith,
Ichabod Downs,
John Cousens,
Jonathan Burrows,
Paul Welch,
John Pierce,
Joseph Goodwin,
Gilbert Perkins,
Silas White,
Moses Lord,
Philip Hubbard Jr.,
Berwick,
Lebanon,
Rochester,
ii
Berwick,
Lebanon,
Berwick,
Lebanon,
Berwick,
ii
ti
Lebanon,
c t
Berwick,
May 8
" 8
" 8
" 8
" 8
14 8
" 15
" 15
" 15
" 15
" 8
" 15
" 15
" 15
" 15
" 8
" 20
" 20
" 20
" 20
" 20
" 20
" 20
" 20
June 28
Aug. 12
July 11
u 20
" 20
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XV, page 33. Total, 64 men. All had guns, all but
six supplied by themselves. Only 24 cartridge boxes
returned in the company and no bayonets.
CAPT. JONATHAN NOWELL'S COMPANY.
Capt. Jonathan Nowell, of York was commissioned
in Col. Scamman's regiment June 2, 1775, was a captain
in Col. William Prescott's 7th Continental regiment
398
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in 1776, that served through the siege of Boston
and took part in the Long Island campaign. He
became brigade major of the York county militia
March 7, 1780. His wife was named Elizabeth, and
he died Jan. 5, 1821, aged 74 years. He was a
pensioner.
"A Muster Koll of the Company under the Command of Captain
Regiment to the first of August
Jona Lowell in Colonel Scamman'
1775."
Jonathan No well,
Thomas Nowell,
Edward Low,
Edward O'Brion,
Job Winchell,
John Frost,
John Haley,
Moses Wey mouth,
William Tripe,
Francis Weymouth,
Aulden Warren,
Simeon Whitham,
Roger Plaisted,
Capt.,
Lieut.,
Ensign,
Sergt,
Corp.,
Drummer,
Filer,
Privates.
Joseph Welch,
Arthur Bragdon,
Nathaniel Brackett,
Thomas Perkins,
Amos Hasty,
Jotham Booker,
Thomas Welch,
Warren Bragdon,
Daniel Jacobs,
Lemuel Pierce,
William Nasson,
Nathaniel 5Toung,
Thomas Shepard Jenkins,
David Merry,
Aaron Abbott,
Eliphalet Kingsbury,
York,
Berwick,
ii
York,
Berwick,
Sanford,
Berwick,
it
York,
York,
Georgetown,
York,
u
Berwick,
York,
Kittery,
Enlisted, all 1775
May 2
" 2
" 2
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
it, 3
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 4
" 3
" 3
" 3
" 4
" 4
" 3
" 3
" 3
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S BOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 399
Josiah Trafton,
John Freeman,
William Murphy,
John McLucas,
Edward Clarke,
Curtis Pierce,
John Perkins,
Edward Paskins,
John Tuttle,
James Randall,
tham Ricker,
Caleb Ford,
Alexander Jillison,
Jonathan Thompson,
Able Thompson,
Edward Moore,
Joseph Jones,
Ebenezer Gubtail,
Peter Nason,
Jonathan Welch,
Pharaoh, !N"egro,
" Errors Excepted.
York,
Mount Desert,
a
York,
i
Berwick,
u
u
It
II
York,
Berwick,
York,
Cambridge Jany 20th 1776."
May
" 3
" 3
" 3
June 10
May 5
" 4
" 4
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XV, page 83. Total, 50 men. All had guns, but 34
furnished their own, and 19 had cartridge boxes.
Shirts were charged the men 8s. 3d. each. Those
from York were allowed 80 miles travel, from Berwick
the same, excepting Caleb Ford, who was allowed two
miles more. Those from Sanford 100 miles, George-
town 150 and Mount Desert 230.
CAPT. JESSE DORMAN'S COMPANY.
Capt. Jesse Dorman, of Arundel, was the son of
Jabez Dorman, who came from Boxford, Massachu-
setts, to Arundel, now Kennebunkport, about 1715.
Capt. Dorman's wife was Eunice Averill, a daughter
of Samuel and Ruth (Watson) Averill. Her father
400
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
was cast away on Mount Desert and drowned in 1747.
Their eleven children were Josiah, Israel, Elizabeth,
Daniel Towne, Abiel, Daniel Shackley, Stephen, Jede-
diah, Sarah, Jesse, Jr., and Thomas. Three of his sons
served in the army. In 1793, a violent tornado un-
roofed his house, and he with his bed and bedding
were blown several rods from the house. He died
about the year 1800
Capt. Dorman was a lieutenant in Gen. Abercrom-
bie's army at Lake George when Lord Howe was killed
and the army met with a crushing defeat, in 1758.
He was then in command of a company, and was struck
in the breast by a musket ball, the force of which was
checked by a silk handkerchief which he had placed
inside of his vest for convenience in wiping his face.
He enlisted in Col. Scamman's regiment May 3, 1775,
and was commissioned June 2. His name appears
among the soldiers at Louisberg, in 1745, with Sir
William Pepperrell.
"A Muster Koll of ye Company under ye Command of Capt. Jesse
Dorman in Collonell James Scammons Regiment To the First of
August 1775."
Jesse Dorman,
Daniel Merrill,
Jacob Curtis,
John Goowin,
Abner Credeford,
Ezekiel Wakefield,
Joseph Cluf,
Lemuel Miller,
Nathaniel Daviss,
Richard Thompson,
Ephriam Wilde,
Moses Blaisdell,
John Hubbard,
Capt.,
Lieut.,
Ensign,
Sergt.,
Corp.,
Drummer,
Fifer,
Arundel,
Wells,
Arundel,
Wells,
Arundel,
Wells,
Enlisted, all 1775
May 3
" 3
12
12
8
8
12
8
12
12
12
COL. JAMES SCAMMAN'S SOTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 401
Privates.
Pierce Murphy,
Noah Cluf,
Harrison Downing,
John Woster,
Easman Huchings,
Nathaniel Lord,
Josiah Dorman,
John Watson,
Benjamin Lord,
Abell Merrill,
Asa Huchings,
Benjamin Rhodes,
Israel Murphy,
Mark Goodwin,
William Fellows,
Benjamin Nason,
Joshua Nason,
Enoch dough,
Forest Burnham,
Richard Michell,
Thomas Bickford,
Moses Stevens,
Seth Peobody,
James Smith,
Francis Yarney,
Edmond Littlefield,
Richard Shackley,
Simeon Huchins,
Edward Nason,
Andrew Stone,
Samuel Smith,
Jeremiah Bettess,
Roger Smith,
Joel Jones,
Abijah Woomwood,
Moses Drown,
Stephen Webber,
Daniel Meader,
John Fisk,
Joseph Dennet,
Moses Norton,
Samuel Bickford,
VOL. X. 27
Arundel,
May 8
"
" 8
a
" 8
a
" 8
a
" 8
" 8
u
" 3
(i
" 8
(I
" 8
" 8
u
" 8
(1
" 8
u
" 8
u
" 8
Biddeford,
" 8
Arundel,
" 8
14
" 8
it
" 8
u
" 8
II
" 8
((
" 8
(1
" 8
Wells,
" 8
K
" 8
" 8
" 8
"
" 8
Arundel,
" 8
Biddeford,
(i
Conetticut,
Wells,
Arundel,
12
12
8
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
402 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Dudley Stone, Arundel, May 12
Alexander Inglish, " "12
Benjamin Miller, " " 3
Ephriam Dorman, " "8
John Baxter Car, " " 8
Original roll in Massachusetts Archives, Volume
XIV, page 75. Total, 60 men. Those from Arundel
were allowed 110 miles travel, Wells 108, and Bidde-
ford 117. Fifty-five had guns and 7 bayonets which
they furnished themselves, and 49 had cartridge boxes.
Shoes were charged to the men at 6sh. 8d. and they
had 2 advance wages.
The story of the regiments of the period of the re-
bellion against England in the Revolutionary war,
gives us to-day a lesson in the indignation felt by our
patriot forefathers against the mother country for her
injustice to them as colonists. They felt the justice of
their cause and believed, sooner or later, it must pre-
vail. Trusting in Providence, they buckled on their
armor, and with little money and but a quarter of a
pound of powder to a man, they began what then ap-
peared an unequal contest. Events forced them to
declare their independence, and through many a long
month and year, they struggled on and on, exhausting
their resources more and more, passing through many
periods of despair, until their heroic efforts were
crowned with success. The records of nearly every
town meeting show their solicitude for the approval of
their posterity. No people have had more noble and
unselfish ancestors than ourselves, so let us emulate
their examples and make our country what they in-
tended it to be, a paradise of freedom.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 403
CAPT. JOHN WILSON AND SOME
MILITARY MATTERS IN MAINE
IN THE WAR OF 1812-15.
BY REV. HENRY S. BURRAGE, D. D.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, October 27, 1896.
THE war of 1812 was not regarded with favor by
the people of Maine, especially in the seaport towns.
They gave to the national government loyal support,
however, and held themselves in readiness at all times
to defend the more important points along the ex-
tended coast line of the state.
Some of the military papers of Capt. John Wilson
of Topsham, who was stationed with his company at
the mouth of the Kennebec on alarm occasions, during
the years 1812-15, have been placed in my hands
by his daughter, Mrs. A. W. Pendleton of Topsham ;
and as these give us a glimpse of the military opera-
tions on the lower Kennebec at this period of our his-
tory, I have transcribed them, adding such additional
facts as I have been able to gather. 1
1 When the earliest fort 011 the present site of Fort Popham was erected is not
now known. In the Frontier Missionary, by William S. Bartlett. page 233, it is
stated : " An apology for a fort near the mouth of the river, armed with one can-
noil, which had been an alarm gun at Frankfort, was the only hindrance to a British
fleet that might see fit to sail to the head of navigation." Mr. Bailey says that
this fort was " a wooden blockhouse, with one gun, a four-pounder." Nor have I
been able to learn, even from government officials, when the old fort at Hunne-
well's Point, replaced by the present Fort Popham during the Civil war, was
erected. That there was a fortification on this spot as early as 1809 is indicated in
a letter written in March of that year by Capt. John Bering on taking command of
old Fort Edgecomb, erected 1808-9, to guard the harbor of Wiscasset. In this letter,
writing at Wiscasset, Capt. Bering said: "I have command at the mouth of the
Kennebec River twenty-six miles west of Wiscasset, and on the Damariscotta,
east twelve miles. I occasional^ visit these forts." From a copy of this letter
furnished by R. K. Sewall, Esq., of Wiscasset. This fort was known as " The Fort
at Phipsburg."
404 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Capt. John Wilson was a grandson of Thomas Wil-
son, who came from Ireland to Boston about the mid-
dle of the eighteenth century. He was about fifteen
years of age when he reached New England. Evi-
dently he came of good stock, and in making his way
to our shores he brought with him a resolute purpose
to make the most of himself. In some way his atten-
tion was directed toward the wilds of Maine, and in
1752 he made his way to Topsham, where, as a settler,
he took up a large tract of land, on the banks of
the Androscoggin. When the Indian War opened he
returned to Boston. After the restoration of peace,
however, he again made his way to his home in
Maine, and here he continued to reside until his death.
Thomas Wilson married Ann Cochrane of London-
derry, N. H., a town settled by Scotch Presbyterians
from the northern part of Ireland. Their children
were as follows :
I. William, born in Boston in 1741. He married
in 1769, Mary, daughter of Robert Patten, of Arundel,
afterward Kennebunk, and died in Topsham, April 15,
1826, aged eighty-four years. The children of Wil-
liam and Mary Wilson were: first, Robert (married
first Margaret Owen, second Mary Preble) ; second,
Lettice (married David Owen of Wayne) ; third, Actor ;
fourth, Ann (married Actor Patten, mother of John S.
Patten) ; fifth, Thomas (unmarried, lived in Bowdoin-
ham); sixth, Isaac, of Strong; seventh, Mary (married
Josiah Sandford, selectman of Topsham) ; eighth,
Rachel (married Joel Thompson of Lisbon) ; ninth,
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 405
Adam, a graduate of Bowdoin College, class of 1819,
and founder and first editor of Zion's Advocate.
II. James, born in 1744. His wife was Ann, a
daughter of James Henry of Providence, R. I., who re-
moved to Harpswell and thence to Topsham. James
Wilson built the Wilson homestead, still standing in
Topsham, selecting himself every stick of timber in it.
From the land which he received from his father he
gave the land for the county buildings in Topsham,
then the shire town of Lincoln County. " I well re-
member the court-house," writes Mrs. Pendleton, " and
the ringing of the court-house bell when the court
was in session in the busy, bustling court week." The
lot given to the county was one of the finest in the
village. James Wilson was one of the selectmen of
Topsham from 1782 to 1788, inclusive, and again in
1798. He died in Topsham in June, 1803, and his
widow March 3, 1840. Their children were: first,
Henry, born September 25, 1775. He was a mer-
chant in Topsham and died unmarried in 1813; second,
Thomas, born January 14, 1778. He was engaged in
mill operations and died unmarried in 1810 ; third,
John, who commanded the force at the mouth of the
Kennebec in the war of 1812. He was born April 8,
1780, and married in 1818, Eunice, daughter of Alex-
ander Thompson of Topsham, a Revolutionary sol-
dier. He died February 6, 1832. Mrs. Eunice Wilson,
widow of Gen. Wilson, died in Topsham in December,
1878, aged ninety years and nine months. Fourth,
Hannah, born January 6, 1783 ; fifth, Charles, born
406 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
December 15, 1785, and died unmarried July 8, 1812>
while a member of the junior class in Bowdoin Col-
lege. " He was a young man of promising abilities,
amiable manners and correct habits." Sixth, James,
born July 30, 1789, and died in Topsham, October 17,
1880, in the ninety-second year of his age.
III. Thomas. He went to sea and never was
heard from. He was unmarried.
IV. Lettice, who married Martin of Bruns-
wick, and died about a fortnight after marriage.
V. Margaret, who married first John Hunter and
second Alexander Rogers, father of George R.
VI. Mary, who married June 18, 1776, John Sand-
ford.
VII. Elizabeth, who married November. 1772, Wil-
liam Porterfield.
John Wilson, the third son of Jarnes Wilson, spent
his youth on his father's farm, assisting his father in
the care of the farm, and attending the village school.
In the division of his father's property he received a
farm about two miles from Topsham village, and
he not only busied himself with the care of his
farm, but he was engaged also in lumbering occupa-
tions. The farm was on the Androscoggin River road
to Lisbon. On this farm, on a pleasant site, he erected
a two-story dwelling house, now owned by Henry
Harley. He left two children, Ann H. and Theodosia
W. Ann H. married Rev. A. B. Pendleton, a Baptist
clergyman. Theodosia W. was a teacher of public and
private schools in Topsham and Brunswick about
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 407
thirty-four years. In the History of Brunswick, Tops-
ham and Harpswell it is said of her: " She was well
known in the community as a successful and expe-
rienced teacher, as well as an accomplished and es-
timable lady." Mr. Wilson was highly esteemed by
all classes of people. He was six feet or more in
height, and his personal appearance was commanding.
He had military inclinations from his earty years. In
1809 he was sergeant of a company of artillery in the
Third Regiment, First Brigade, Eleventh Division of
the Militia of Massachusetts. Daniel S. Wilder was
at that time captain of the company. He was suc-
ceeded December 18, 1809, by John Wilson, whose
commission signed by Gov. Gore of Massachusetts and
William Tudor, secretary of the commonwealth, bore
date February 2, 1810.
At the beginning of the war of 1812, in order that
the Maine troops might be ready for any emergency,
orders were issued, and the following were found
among Capt. Wilson's papers :
DIVISION ORDERS.
BATH April 30, 1812.
The orders of the Commander in Chief under date of the 25th in-
stant directing a detachment from the Division of six hundred &
ten men including officers are now handed down. The Major Gen-
eral expects the most prompt attention to this order & requests the
Brigadier Generals in their returns to state particularly the day that
the Commanders of the different Regiments make their returns as it
will be noticed hereafter in further Division orders. Lt. Col.
Charles Thomas will command the regiment detached from this Di-
vision. Lt. Col. Denny McCobb at present commanding the first
408 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Brigade of this Division will detail one major & apportion the com-
pany officers & detach two hundred fourteen men from the Infantry
officers including men from the Cavalry & twenty-one from the
Artillery including officers. Brigadier General Pay son will detail
one major apportion the Company officers, & detach three hundred
& thirty six men from the Infantry including officers twenty from
the cavalry & ten from the artillery including officers.
The commanding officers of Brigades, Regiments, & Battalions
will give orders for filling up all vacancies that now do or may exist
in the respective Brigades, Regiments & Battalions the present year.
The several Regiments composing the first Brigade will be pa-
raded the present year either in Regiments or Battalions of Regi-
ments, Regard being had to the scattering situation of the Troops for
inspection & discipline at such times in the month of September or
October as the Commanding officer of the Brigade shall determine of
which he will give seasonable directions embracing the cavalry and
artillery. The several Regiments comprising Gen. Payson's Bri-
gade will asse mble the present year within the month of September
for Review, Inspection & discipline at such times as the Brigadier
General shall order, who will give seasonable directions embracing
the Cavalry and Artillery within the Brigade. By order of Maj.
General King, commanding the llth Division. Joseph F. Wingate,
aide de camp orderly officer of llth Division.
BRIGADE ORDERS.
April 30th 1812.
The commanding officers of the several Regiments & Battalions
in the first Brigade, 11 Division, will use the most speedy & ef-
fectual means to carry into effect the foregoing Division Orders for
detaching two hundred and fourteen men officers including the In-
fantry, nine men from the Cavalry, 21 men from the Artillery officers
included, agreeable to the schedule hereunto annexed, to be formed
into three companys of Infantry (the Cavalry & Artillery will re-
main a minor corps) They are to be organized and equipped agree-
able to the present Militia Law, and held in readiness to assemble
& march at a moments Warning, conformable to the General Orders
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812.
409
of the 25th instant herewith transmitted. Major Andrew Reed is
detailed to command the aforesaid Battallion when formed.
Schedule of Officers, non commissioned officers, musicians & men
to be detached from the first Brigade, 11 Division agreeable to
Division orders.
Coin. Officers of
Regt & Battal.
Capt.
Lt.
Ensn.
Comd.
Staff
Officers.
Non-
Comid
Staff
Offi'rs.
Sergt.
Mus.
Rank
&
File.
Total.
D McCobb....
1
1
1
IQr.Mast.
4
2
49
61
Chas. Thomas
Abel Merrill..
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 Sergt....
1 Adjt
1 Qr.M.
4
2
60
71
70
81
Sam 1 ! ISevy
1
Serjt...
2
2
16
21
Bfiij Ames
1
8
9
242
One Col., one Major as above 2
244
The Adjutants will use due exertions to collect lists of the detach-
ments of their Respective Regiments & Battalions & transmit them
in an orderly manner to the commanding Officer of the Brigade.
DENNY McCoBB, Sen. Officer
1 Brigade llth Division
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
TOPSHAM May 1, 1812.
The commanding officers of the several companys in the third
Regiment first Brigade & Eleventh Division will detach eighty-one
men officers included agreeable to the schedule hereunto annexed to
be armed and equipt agreeable to the present Militia Law & held in
readiness to assemble and march at a moment's warning Conform-
able to General Orders of the 25th of April last Division and Bri-
gade orders of the 30th of April last past herewith transmitted. The
commanding officers of the several Companys in the third Regiment
will use the most speedy & effectual means to carry into effect the
above order without delay.
410
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Schedule of Officers Non-Commissioned Officers, Musicians &
Men to be detached from the third Regiment first Brigade llth
Division
Names of Officers command-
ing Companies.
Capt.
Lt.
Ens'n.
Serjt.
Musi-
cians.
Rank
&
File.
Total.
Stephen Whittnore . ..
1
1
9
11
Joseph C Colley
6
James Fulton, Jr
,
7
8
John Will son Jr ( l )
1
8
9
Peter Whitney
5
5
Lt. Thomas Hewey
7
8
Nath'l McLellan . . .
1
8
9
Lieut. Henry Snow
1
1 fife
7
9
Ensign Elijah Hatch
1
9
10
Thomas Sandford
5
5
One Quartermaster Sersrea
1
ut.,
1
1
4
2
71
80
1
Abel Merrill, Lt. Col. Com'd. 3 Regt., 1st Brig. 11 Division.
81
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
TOPSHAM May 12, 1812
Captain John Wilson, commanding officer of a company of mili-
tia in Topsham, will notify and warn said company to meet & as-
semble at the Court-house in Topsham on Thursday the 28th day of
May instant at one of the clock in the afternoon then & there to elect
one ensign for the aforesaid company, at which election Captain Wil-
son will preside & make return thereof.
ABEL MERRILL, Lt. Colo. Comma d 3 d Regt.
1st Brig d ll th Division.
BRIGADE ORDERS IST BRIGADE 11 DIVISION.
BATH July 30, 1812
In obedience to Division Orders of the 30th of April last order-
ing the Regiments and Battalions of Regiments in this Brigade to
assemble in Regiments or Battalions of Regiments for Inspection &
Discipline the present year at such times in the months of September
or October as the Commanding officer of the Brigade may appoint
1 TheJ r . was doubtless added to his name in order to distinguish him from
another John Wilson in the town. He himself used the designation.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 411
the Brigadier General orders that Col Charles Thomas assemble the
Regiment under his command on Monday the 28th of September
next at 9 oclock A. M. for Inspection & Discipline Col Abel
Mer [rill or] 1 ill assemble the Regiment under his com [mand ] on
Tuesday the 29th of September next at [ k] A. M. if in Reg-
iment or on the 29th & [30th as many of the ] Battalions of
Regiments as he may [deem ] expedient for Inspection & Disci-
pline. [ AJndrew Reed now commanding the first Regi-
ment will assemble the Regiment on Mond [ay the] 5th of October
next at 9 o'clock. A. M. if in [ Regim ]net [ent] or on the 5th
& 6th if in Battalions of Regiments as he may think expedient for
Inspection & Discipline. Major Benj a Ames will assemble the
Battalion of Cavalry under his command on Wednesday the 7th of
October next at 9 oclock A. M. for Inspection & Discipline. Col.
Samuel Sevey will assemble the Battalion of Artillery under his com-
mand on Thursday the 8th of October next at 9 o'clock A. M. for
Inspection, Discipline, & experimental Gunnery. The Commanding
officers of Regiments & Battalions will give seasonable notice to the
Brigade Major of the time & place of their assembling their
respective Regiments & Battalions who will inspect them it is
expected with strict scrutiny & it is expected that every officer &
soldier will punctually attend completely armed and equipped. At
the present momentous crisis the Brigadier General earnestly recom-
mends to the officers of his Brigade a close attention to the discipline
of their respective commands, that the provisions and instructions
of the Militia Law be strictly attended to & carried into effect.
Major Eben Clap has been appointed & commissioned Brigade
Major & Inspector of the First Br [igade llth] Div of which
all officers [&] Soldiers will [take noti]ce & govern themselves ac-
cordingly. The Colonels & [comma] nding Officers of Regiments &
Battalions [in the first] Brigade 11 Division will fart [her take no-
tice [ ] Brigadier General will in full transmit a [ ] &
make all communications [ ] them throng [h the] medium of
his Brigade Major [and] recommend [the]m to make their commu-
1 Where the manuscript is defaced I have endeavored t supply the deficiency
H. S. B.
412 .MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
nications to him through the hands of their adjutants or orderly
officers to the Brigade Major.
By order of Brigadier General McCobb
Commanding 1 Brigade 11 Division
EBEN CLAP Brigade Major.
A Copy
Attest Chas Thompson Adjutant 3 R, 1 B, 11 Div.
DIVISION ORDERS.
HEAD QUARTERS BATH April 14, 1813.
The Commanding officers of Brigades , Regiments, and Battalions
will give orders for filling up all vacancies that do now or that may
hereafter exist in their respective Brigades, Regiments and Batta-
lions the present year.
The Major Genl expects the Brigade inspectors to do their duty
and that the soldiers of this division having arms, ammunition and
accoutrements as the Law directs will be reported accordingly.
The several Regiments composing Genl McCobb's Brigade will
be assembled the present year within the month of September for
review, inspection and Discipline at such time as the commanding
officer shall order, who will give seasonable direction embracing the
Cavalry and artilery within the Brigade.
The Brigade commanded by Gen. Payson will be assembled the
present year either in Regiments and Battalion of Regiments regard
being had to the local situation of the Troops at such times in the
month of September as the Brigadier Genl shall direct of which he
will give seasonable notice embracing the Cavalry and Artillery.
The Major Genl in concluding cannot refrain from observing that
the extent of the maritime frontier of the Division is such & such is
the situation of our Enemy on the ocean that every soldier should
be prepared to do his duty and that the least neglect or inattention
on the part of any officer will be particularly noticed in after orders.
By order of Major Gen. King
JOSEPH F. WINGATE aide de camp & orderly of-
ficer of 11 Division.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 413
BRIGADE ORDERS 1 st BRIG 11 th DIVISION.
BATH August 14 th 1813
The Comman d of this Brigade devolving on the Colonel of the 2 d
Reg* in the absence of the Brigadier General he being the Officer
next in grade & in commission. The Officers therefore & all those
under their respective Commands in the several Reg* and Battalions
within the Brigade will take notice thereof and govern themselves
accordingly Agreeable to the Division Order of the 14 th of April
last directing the several Regiments composing the 1 st Brigade
embracing the Cavalry & Artillery within the month of Sep 1 for
Review Inspection & Discipline. The Colonel of the 2 d Reg* at
present commanding the Brigade Orders That Col Abel Merrill
assemble the 3 d Reg 1 under his command on Tuesday the 14 th day
of Sep 1 next at 9 Oclock A. M. for Inspection Review & Discipline
& that he give immediate notice of the place of parade to Major
Ames commanding the Battalion of Cavalry who will order out
Cap 1 Sam 1 Jack Company of Cavalry to parade with said Regi-
ment Also give immediate notice of the place of parade to Cap* Al-
den at present commanding the Battalion of Artillery who will order
out Lieu Walkers Company of Artillery to parade also with said
Regiment That Major Phinley Crawford assemble the 2 d Reg* at
present under his command on Wednesday the 15 th day of Sep* next
at 9 Oclock A. M. for Inspection Review & Discipline and that he
give immediate notice of the place of parade to Major Ames com-
manding the Battalion of Cavalry who will order out Cap* Boyntons
Company of Cavalry to parade with said Reg* Also give immediate
notice of the place of parade to Cap* Alden at present commanding
the Battallion of Artillery who will order out Lieu* Eastman's Com-
pany of Artillery to parade with said Reg 1 That Col. Andrew Reed
assemble the 1 st Reg 1 under his command on Thursday the 16 th day
of Sep 1 next at 9 Oclock A. M. for Inspection Review and Disci-
pline And that he give immediate notice of the place of parade to
Cap* Aldin commanding the Battalion of Artillery who will order
out Cap* Nath 1 Spragues Company of Artillery to parade with said
Reg*. That Major Benj a Ames Commanding the Battalion of Cav-
alry give the necessary Orders to Cap 1 Sam 1 Jack that he assemble
the Company of Cavalry under his Command on Tuesday, the 14 th
414 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
day of Sep fc next at 7 Oclock A. M. with the 3 d Reg* the Com-
mander there of giving seasonable notice of the place of parade And
als to Cap* Abel Boynton that he assemble the Company of Cavalry
under his command on Wednesday the 15 th day of Sep 1 next at 9
Oclock A. M. with the 2 d Reg 1 the Commanding t Officer there of giv-
ing seasonable notice of the place of parade. That Peter O. Alden
commanding the Battalion of Artillery give the necessary orders
to Lieut Walker that he assemble the Company of Artillery under
his command on Tuesday the 14 th day of Sep 1 next at 9 Oclock A.
M. with the 3 d Reg* the Commanding Officer there of giving sea-
sonable notice of the place of parade Also to Lieu 4 Eastman that
he assemble the Company of Artillery under his command on
Wednesday the 15 th day of Sep 1 next at 9 Oclock A. M. with the
2 d Reg" the Commander there of giving seasonable notice of the
place of parade And also to Cap 1 Nath 1 Sprague that he assemble
the Company of Artillery under his command on Thursday the
16 th day of Sep 1 next at 9 Oclock A. M. with the first Regiment
the commanding Officer there of giving seasonable notice of the place
of parade The Commandiers of the several Regiments will give at
least sevendays notice to the Brigade Major of the places of their
respective Parades that he may attend and inspect them & the Bri-
gade Major will give seasonable notice of the time & places of
Parade of the several Regiments to the Major General that he may
be present and Revew them.
By Order of Col Charles Thomas at present
commanding 1 st Brigade 11 th Division
FPTTW PT AP I Brl Ma J r
P | & Inspector
Copy Attest
Charles Thompson Adjutant
BRIGADE ORDERS.
BATH, April 20 th 1813
The Commanding officers of the several Regiments and Batta-
lions 1 Br. 11 Division will see that the Genl Orders of 24 March
1813 & the Division order of 14 of April iust herewith transmitted
are carried into effect without delay.
By order of the Brigadier Genl of 1 Br. 11 Divs.
E. CLAP, Br. Major.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 415
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416 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
TOPSHAM April 23 1813.
The Commanding officers of the several companies within the
third Regiment will see that the Division orders of April 14 inst
herewith transmitted are carried into effect immediately.
ABEL MERRILL
Lt. Colo. Comdg 3 R, 1 B, 11 Divis.
DIVISION ORDERS ELEVENTH DIVISION.
BATH, May 16, 1814.
The Commanding officers of Brigade, Regiments & Battalions
will give orders for filling all vacancies that now or may hereafter
exist the present year within their respective Brigades, Regts &
Battalions. The several regiments composing Gen. Payson's Bri-
gade will be assembled the present year within the month of Sep-
tember for review, inspection & discipline at such times as the
Brigadier General shall order who will give orders accordingly
embracing the Cavalry & artillery within the Brigade.
The Brigade commanded by Genl McCobb will be paraded the
present year either in Regiments or Battalions of Regiments at such
times in the month of September as the Brig. General shall deter-
mine who will give orders embracing the cavalry & artillery of the
Brigade. The present situation of the Batteries erected for the de-
fence of our ports & harbors within the limits of this Division
must be well-known to the officers generally. Such works without
munitions of war officers to command & men to execute must be
considered useless. To defend therefore this position of our mari-
time frontiers from invasion must be the business of the soldiers of this
Division. In case of either a threatened or actual invasion the officer
first receiving information will govern himself by the orders of the
commander in chief under date of July 3, 1812, & will give imme-
diate information to the Major General of such means as may have
been adopted. That no soldier of this Division may be ignorant of
a duty which in the course of the present year he may have to per-
form, the Major General orders the 24th Section of the Militia
Laws to be read to every company of this Division. A particular
report is expected from the captains of such companies as may be
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 417
assembled to oppose either a threatened or actual invasion of the
names of all the soldiers borne on these rolls, naming such as were
absent and their decision in all such cases.
By order of Major Genl King
Jos. F. WINGATE A. D. C. &
orderly officer of the llth Division.
BRIGADE ORDERS 1 BRIG. HTH DIVISION.
BATH May 17, 1814.
Agreeable to the Division Orders of the 16th of May inst the
Commanding officers of the several regiments & Battalions compris-
ing this Brigade including the Cavalry and artillery within the same
will give the necessary orders for carrying 2d Division orders into
effect excepting so far as as sd orders relate to mustering Regiments
& Battalions for review inspection & discipline in the month of Sep-
tember next which will be the subject of a future Brigade order. The
commanding officers of Regiments & Battalions of this Brigade will
cause complete rosters of their respective commands to be made to
the Brigade on or before the 20 of June next without fail and will
not fail to see that the returns of their respective commands are
made by the time required by Law as every neglect will be made
the subject of inquiry.
By order of Brigadier Genl McCobb
Commanding 1st Brig. 11 Division.
EBEN CLAP, Brig. Major of 2d Brigade
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
3d Regt. 1st Brig. 11. Division.
May 20, 1814.
The several officers having command of companies within the s d
Regiment will see that the Division order of May 16, also Brigade
order of May 17, inst are carried into effect without delay.
ABEL MERRILL,
Lieut. Col. Com. 3d Regt. 1 Brig. 11 Div.
The foregoing are copies of Div. orders of May 16. Brig of May
17, & Regt of May 20
ALBERT CHARLES THOMPSON Adjutant.
VOL. X. 28
418 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
June 20, 1814, the British frigate Bulwark, 74
guns, anchored off Seguin, and sent some of her boats
up the Sheepscot. The country was alarmed. Maj.
Gen. King, at Bath, received an early notice of the
approach of the enemy. The alarm spread through
the surrounding country.
Some of the citizens of Bath met at the Lincoln
Bank in that place on the twenty-fourth of June, and
deeming the situation still serious, petitioned Gen.
King to detach one hundred militia for the defense of
the place. He accordingly issued the following
order :
REGIMENTAL ORDERS 3o REG. 1 BR. 11 DIVISION.
DIVISION ORDERS 11 DIVISION.
HEADQUARTERS BATH June 24th 1814.
Brigadier General McCobb will detach from his Brigade one
Company of Infantry for the defence of the town of Bath and the
vicinity and station at such place or places as he may think best to
be continued in service until the pleasure of the Commander in
Chief is known.
By command Jos. F. WINGATE
A. D. C.
BRIGADE ORDER IST BR. 11 DIVISION.
BATH June 24, 1814.
In obedience to the foregoing Division Orders, Col. Charles Thomas
will detach immediately one Captain, two Sargt. two Corporals, and
one Drummer & twenty-six Privates. Col. Abel Merrill will also
immediately detach one Lieutenant one Ensign two Sargents two
Corporals, one fifer & thirty eight Privates all to be immediately
armed & equipped for active service & to report themselves on Mon-
day, the 27th day of June instant by 1*2 o'clock in the forenoon
without fail. The necessary requisitions for subsistence & transpor-
tation of Baggage for the troops detached must be made on the
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 419
selectmen of th e several Towns from whence the Troops are
detached. By Command
EBENEZER CLAP Brigd. Major.
TOPSHAM, June 24, 1814.
Agreeable to the within Div & Brigd orders Lieut Alonzo ( ?)
Purinton & Ensign Jesse Richardson are detached to do duty in the
Company therein mentioned.
The Commanding officers of the Several Companies in Said Regt
will forthwith detach forty three non-commissioned officers, musi-
cians and men included viz.
Capt. John Wilson will detach four privates from his Company.
Capt. Nath McLellan will detach 5 Privates from his Company.
Capt. Peter Whitney will detach 2 Privates from his Company.
Capt. Samuel True will detach 3 privates & one Corporal from
his Company.
Capt. David Haynes will detach two Privates from his Company.
Capt. H. Hatch will detach three Privates & one Corporal from
his Company.
Lieut. George H. Patten will Detach two Privates & one fifer from
his Company.
Lieut. Hugh Gatchell will detach four Privates from his Company.
Lieut. Humphrey Purinton will detach three Privates and one
Corporal from his Company.
Sergt. Chapman Jennings will detach three privates from his
Company.
Capt. Charles Rogers will Detach two Privates from his Com-
pany, all to be armed, equipped & Provisioned according to the
present militia Law for active service and report themselves to the
Lieut. Col. at the Court House in Topsham on Monday the 27th
inst by seven of the clock in the forenoon & from thence to the Brig.
Genl at Bath by 12 of the o'clock on said day.
By order of Abel Merrill, Lieut. Col. Comdg
CHARLES THOMPSON Adjutant
Capt. John Wilson seems to have been put in com-
mand of this detachment. The records in the Record
420
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Office at Washington show that Capt. Wilson, of Mer-
rill's Third Massachusetts Militia was in service three
days during the month of June, 1814.
In July following it seems to have been regarded as
necessary again to call out a part of the militia force
for active service.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS 2o REGT. 1 BRIG. 11 DIVISION.
TOPSHAM, July 26, 1814.
Pursuant to General orders of the 18th inst. Divis. & Brigd orders
of the 25th inst, the commanding officers of the several companies in
the 3d Regt. are directed to detach immediately the number of Sar-
gents, Musicians, Corporals and privates as are specified and named
in the anexed schedule and to assemble at the Court House in Tops-
ham on Monday the first day of August next at six of the clock in
the forenoon completely armed and equipped as the Law directs.
Hereof fail not and make return of the same to me immediately after
the services are performed.
ABEL MERRILL, Lieut. Col. Comd
3dR. 1. Br. 11 Div.
CHARLES THOMPSON Adjt.
Schedule of Sergts. Mus. Cor. & pri. to be detached from the 3d
Reg. 1 Br. 11 Div. viz.
Names of Comd. Officer of Compy.
Serg-
eant.
Drum-
mer.
fifer.
Corpo-
Pri-
vates.
Total.
Capt. Jno. Wilson Co
1
1
o
o
2
Peter Whitney Co
o
o
1
o
i
2
Nath'l McLellan Co
o
o
1
3
4
Samuel True Co
o
o
o
o
4'
4
Eben Hatch Co
()
o
o
3
3
David Haynes Co,
o
o
o
2
2
Geo F. Patten Co
1
o
o
o
\
2
Hucrh Gatchell Co
o
o
o
o
3
3
Lieut. Humphrey Purinton Co..
Capt. John White Co
o
o
o
1
3
3
2
Eus. Abel Curtis Co
o
-
o
o
5
5
2
1
1
2
26
32
CHARLES THOMPSON, Adjutant.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812.
421
REGIMENTAL ORDERS SD REG. IST BRIG. 11. DIVISION.
TOPSHAM July 26, 1814.
Captain John Wilson is detatched from the Regiment agreeable to
Division & Brigade orders of the 25 instant and will appear at the
Court House in Topsham on Monday, the first day of August next
at six of the clock in the forenoon.
ABEL MERRILL, Lieut. Col. Comd. 3 Regt.
1 Brig. 11 Div.
Charles Thompson Adjutant of said Regiment.
Papers in the Record Office at Washington show
that Captain Wilson of Topsham was in command of a
detachment of infantry and artillery (militia) from
August 1 to November 3, 1814, " at the fort at the
mouth of the river," or "at the fort at Phipsburgh,"
as it was sometimes called.
The following roll is from the records on file in the
office of the Adjutant General, State House, Augusta.
Sergeants
Samuel S. Gumming
Benjamin Owen
Joseph Jack
Benj'n Thompson
Hugh Rogers
Adams Daniel
Beal Ebenezer
Bassett Lewis
Brown Matthew
Coombs Thomas
Coombs Joseph
Coombs Asa Jr.
John Wilson,
Moses M. Marsh,
Corporals
Matthew Hinkley
Dean Kimball
John McManus Jr.
Davis Hanniford
Isaac Hopkins
Privates
Hinkley John
Hinkley Samuel "W.
Hinkley Edmund
Haley James
Hodgkins Sam'l B.
Hanniford William
Jordan Benjamin
Capt., Topsham
Lieut.
Musicians
John Dearborn
Rollins Joseph
Rollins Joseph
Ridley Mark
Rackliff Henry
Stanwood James
Stinson Samuel
Smith Benjamin
422 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Dunlap Martin Kilgore William Smith Jeremiah
Danforth Isaac Kilpatrick Joseph Sanborn Bradbury
Eaton Abel Lane William Spinney Ephraim
Foster John Maxwell Thomas Toothaker Gideon
Erasure James McDaniel Major Weymouth Archibald
Gammin Samuel Morrison Nath'l Wilson James
Gatchell John Mitchell Ammi Huff Samuel
Go well Charles Mclntosh Nathan Oliver John
Gardiner John Oliver James Dunlap Isaac
Hall William Osgood Hazon
Halet Avory Pettingill Sumner
Harwood Otis Fay Edmund
EXTRACT OF DISTRICT ORDERS.
The commanding officer at the U States Fort 1 at Phipsburgh will be
held accountable for the proper use of all the Ammunition & ord-
nance stores in his Garrison and to prevent waste he will deliver out
not more than ten rounds of cartridges to a man unless particular
circumstance require it such as the immediate approach of an enemy
& will hold these men accountable for all cartridges unneccessarily
expended and all damages not occasioned by unavoidable accidents .
JAMES PERRY
Capt 40 Inf.
John Wilson Jr. Capt
Comd Fort at Georgetown.
The following papers belong to this period :
BATH Augt. 3, 1814
To Capt. John Wilson, Jr.
Reed Welch having been detached from the Artillery of this Bri-
gade & Asa Coombs Jr. appearing as a substitute in his place has
been inspected & the sd Coombs is ordered to join the Artillery now
under your command & to report himself to you without delay.
E. CLAP, Brig Major
1st Brig. 11 Division.
1 This shows that the fort at the mouth of the Kennebec occupied by Capt. Wil-
son, was the property of the United States.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 423
BATH Aug. 4, 1814
To Capt. John Wilson, Jr.
Eliphalet Osgood being detached from the Battalion of Artillery
of the 1st Brig 11 Div. to complete the detachment ordered by the
Division & Brigade orders of the 25 ultimo & having procured
Nathan Mclntosh as a substitute who has been inspected & is or-
dered to report himself to you for orders without delay.
E CLAP Brig. Major 1st Br. 11 Div.
A " morning report of Capt. John Wilson's Com-
pany in the U. S. Servis, Phipsburgh Fort, August 8,
1814," signed by Orderly Sergeant S. S, Cummings,
gives the strength of the infantry as one officer and
thirty-three men, and of the artillery as one officer
and thirty-one men. The morning report of August
21, 1814, is signed by Benjamin Thompson, 0.
Sergeant.
U. S. FORT EDGECOMB, Aug. 24, 1814.
Sir : The troop in the Garrison under your command will be
mustered and inspected on the last day of this present month, and it
is expected that they will appear clean and in a soldier like manner,
their guns and Equipments in complete order. You will please have
your muster rolls filled up in due form in Alphabetical order.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON, JAMES PERRY,
Comg Capt. 40th Infty Comg
September 10, 1814, Gen. King returned from the
east with information that the British had left Castine
with seven ships, and were proceeding westward. He
ordered out the brigade for duty in the defense of
Bath and the approaches of the Kennebec.
The following is copied from the records on file in
the office of the Adjutant General at Augusta.
424
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Roll of Captain John Wilsons Company of Militia in Lieut. Col.
Abel Merrill's Regiment raised in Topsham and in service at Bath
20th to 22nd June and 10th to 28th September 1814.
September service was under Lieut. Nath'l Sandford.
Nathaniel Sandford, Lieut., Topsham
Samuel Veazie, Ensign, Topsham
Sergeants
Thomas Wilson
Hugh Patton
Daniel Tucker
Akley William
Baron Charles
Bunker Nathan
Cole James
Doughty Elijah
Dunlap John
Eaton Charles
Fall Stephen
Ferrin William
Ferrin John
Ferrin Ebon 2
Fuller Constant
Gray Solomon
Privates.
Haley John
Haley Peletiah
Hinkley Samuel
Higgins Jeremiah
Hewey Johnathan
Hamblin Samuel
Jameson John
Lord John
Libby Nathan
Marrs John 2
Melcher Abner
Metcalf Benjamin
Pennell Joshua
Patten William
Perkins Levi
Roberts Mark
Thompson Samuel
Farr Clark
Varney Enoch
Whitten Joseph
White Elijah
Wilson James
Wilson Humphrey
Wilson John H.
Wood Samuel
Work William
Military District No 1 .
Head Quarters Boston, 28 Sept. 1814.
DISTRICT ORDERS.
Colonel Denny McCobb of the 45 Reg. of Infy will take com-
mand of all the troops in the service of the United States at Wis-
casset and its dependencies including all of Capt. Perry's command
and Eastwardly, until further orders. Otfe thousand and eight hun-
dred Militia from the District of Maine are to be detached for the
service of the United States, and placed under his command, which
he [will] organize, muster and inspect agreeably to the regulations
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 425
from the War Department, and forward his muster rolls and in-
spection returns, to the inspector G-en'l office, District No. 1,
Boston. He will consult Maj. Genl King of the Massachusetts
Militia as to the distribution and employment of said military force.
By order
GEN. P. P. PETERS
Copy Asst. Adjt. Genl.
teste
S. SYLVESTER
Lieut. 45 Inf.
Capt. Wilson
Will report himself to Col. McCobb, tomorrow and obey his
orders accordingly.
By command
SAMUEL SYLVESTER
Lieut. Act. Adjt 45 Inf.
Bath Oct. 1, 1814.
SUB. DIST. ORDER.
HEAD QUARTERS BATH Oct. 6, 1814
Major Joseph F. Wingate having been appointed Ast. Dy Qr M.
Genl, & ordered to report himself to Colo. Denny McCobb, he is
to be respected and obeyed accordinly.
The Commanding officers of the Garrisons and Posts at Wiscasset
and its dependencies will make their requisitions on the Ast. Dy Qr
Master Genl for they may be in want of from the Qr Masters
Department.
The Asst. Dy Qr Master Genl will make return of all public
property within this Dist. as soon as practicable. All persons in
possession Qr Masters stores or of other articles belonging to that
Department will make report of the same to the Asst. Dy Qr Master
Gen without delay.
By Command of Colo. McCobb
Signed SAML SYLVESTER
Lieut. Act'g Adjt. 45 Infy
MAJ JOSEPH F. WINGATE
A Dy Qr M. Genl
426 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
BATH, Oct 10, 1814
Capt. John Wilson
Commang of
U S Garrison at Phipsburg
Sir:
In obedience to the foregoing order, I have to request that you
will make return of all the public property therein alluded to at the
post under your command with as little delay as practicable, and
you will hereafter be pleased to make your requisitions for supplies
from the Qr Masters Dept upon me. I have understand that a
quantity of wood had been purchased recently at your post at the
rate of three dollars per cord. You will permit me to observe that
that it cannot be expected that this price will be allowed for wood
at Phipsburg when at the same time they are bringing it from that
place and disposing of it here at one half of the sum. I trust there-
fore you will not be surprised if an act of this kind is not allowed
when presented. It is my duty to consult the public interest so
long as I am acting as an agent of the Govt and I trust if any bar-
gain has been made for wood at the price above named you will
decline taking it, and advise me of the quantity required without
delay.
Respy Yours,
JOS. F. WlNGATE,
A. D. Qr M. Genl.
BATH, Oct. 10, 1814
Sir:
Enclosed is a letter for Capt. John Wilson commanding U. S.
Garrison at the mouth of the Kennebec, which I have to request
you will be so obliging as to forward to Capt. Wilson immediately
on receipt of it and much oblige your obt. Servt. & friend
Jos. F. WING ATE
A. D. Q. M. Gen'l
Capt Russell,
Commang
Cox's Head.
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 427
The following are specimens of soldiers' receipts :
TOPSHAM, January 12, 1815
Reed of John Wilson, Jr., my full pay for three months service
in the drafted Militia in the service of the United States at the
Garrison at Phipsburg clothing money excepted.
MATTHEW HINKLEY.
TOPSHAM, January 12, 1815
Reed of John Wilson Jr. pay in full for John Oliver and James
Oliver for three months service in the drafted militia in the service
of the United States at Phipsburg clothing excepted.
JAMES B. OLIVER.
A treaty of peace between this country and Great
Britain was signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814, and
the same was laid before Congress by President Madi-
son, February 18, 1815. The following orders, also
from the Wilson papers, are of interest in this
connection :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
General Orders.,
HEADQUARTERS, BOSTON, June 17, 1818.
On the 15 inst. the following Order of Council was passed viz :
In Council, June 15, 1815.
The Committee of Council to whom was referred a resolve of the
Legislature of the 13 instant, requesting his Excellency, the Gover-
nor, with advice of Council, to discharge from further service such
Volunteer Corps as have been raised for the defence of the Com-
monwealth, by virtue of a resolve passed the 12 day of February,
one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and to direct the return
of all ordnance arms and munitions of war with which they have
been furnished, to the Quarter Master General, respectfully report
u That his Excellency be advised to issue his order for the discharge
428 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of all the Volunteer Corps raised for the defence of the Common-
wealth, under the resolve of 12th February, 1814, and directing the
return to the Quarter Master General of all ordnance, arms and
munitions with which they have been supplied by the Common-
wealth" :
By virtue, therefore of the powers vested in him, His Excellency
the Commander in Chief hereby discharges from further service all
the Volunteer Corps raised for the defence of the Commonwealth,
under the resolve of the 12th of February, 1814 ; and directs all
officers and others, who may have received from the Commonwealth
ordnance, arms or munitions of war of any kind, for the use, or on
account of any of these Corps, to cause the same to be forthwith
returned to the Quarter Master General, at Boston, who is author-
ized to pay all reasonable charges for transporting the same. The
generous, patriotic and voluntary tender of services for the defence
of the Commonwealth, at the most threatening period of the late
war, and the assiduity and zeat displayed by those Corps, in train-
ing themselves for usefulness on the field, without expense to the
State, highly merit the public approbation and gratitude, and
receive, as they claim, the cordial thanks of the Commander in
Chief.
By His Excellency's Command
J. BROOKS, Adjutant General
DIVISION ORDERS 11 DIVISION
BATH June 28, 1815
The Major General hands down the Genl Orders of the 17th inst.
and directs that a copy of the same be furnished each field officer
and each captain or commanding officer of a company within the
llth division the Brig. Genls have been respectively furnished with
printed copies of these orders for the above purpose.
By Command of Major Genl King
Jos. F. WINGATE A. D C
CAPT. JOHN WILSON IN THE WAR OF 1812. 429
BRIGADE ORDERS IST BRIGD HTH DIVISION
BATH, July 6, 1815
In obedience to the foregoing Div. orders the Brigr. Gen'l here-
with hands down the Genl orders of June 17th 1815 which will be
duly respected.
By Command
Z. HYDE Brig'e Major & Inspector
1st B. 11. Div.
REGIMENTAL ORDERS 3 REGT IST BRIG. 11. Div.
TOPSHAM, Aug. 31, 1815
Agreeable to Divis. & Brige. Orders of which the above are
copies herewith are handed down the Genl Orders of the 17th of
June last of which all officers within said Regt will take notice and
govern themselves accordingly.
By order of Lieut. Col. Merrill
CHARLES THOMPSON, Adjutant.
It should be added to this account of Capt. John
Wilson's services in the war of 1812 that he was
elected lieutenant colonel of the 3d Regiment, 1st Bri-
gade, llth Division, August 5, 1816. Brig. Gen.
Wingate resigned in 1820, and at an election held in
Brunswick, July 29, 1820, Lieut. Col. John Wilson was
elected brigadier general to fill the vacancy. He
resigned March 7, 1822.
430 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
PELEG TALLMAN,
SAILOR OF THE REVOLUTION, MASTER MARINER AND
MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
BY WALTER H. STURTEVANT.
Read before the Maine Historical Society, March SI, 1899.
PELEG TALLMAN was born at Tiverton, Rhode
Island, July 24, 1764. He was of the fourth genera-
tion 1 in descent from Peter Tallman, who went from
New York to Newport, Rhode Island, about the mid-
dle of the seventeenth century, and was general
solicitor of the colony of Rhode Island, at Portsmouth,
in 1661. Peter Tallman was the first of the name in
America of whom the writer has any record, but may
not have been the immigrant, who, tradition says,
came from Holland. Tallman is said to be a Dutch
name.
The parents of Peleg Tallman were Peleg and
Sarah (Soule) Tallman. His grandparents were Ben-
jamin and Elizabeth (Gorton) Tallman, of Portsmouth,
Rhode Island, and Jonathan and Elizabeth (Gifford)
Soule, of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Beside those of
the Tallman name, he numbered among his ancestors,
George Soule, who came in the Mayflower, and
that unique personage, Samuel Gorton, one of the
founders of Warwick, Rhode Island, and included
among other ancestral names those of Briggs, Collins,
Durfee, Gifford, Hall, Perry, etc., well known in
1 Peleg 5 , Peleg 4 , Benjamin*, Benjamin 8 , Peter 1 . Austin's Genealogical Dic-
tionary of Rhode Island, and Arnold's Vital Record of Rhode Island.
PELEG TALLMAN. 431
Ehode Island and the adjacent county of Plymouth,
in Massachusetts.
An unconfirmed tradition in the family has it that
Peleg Tallman, senior, was a ship carpenter, and, dur-
ing the Revolutionary War, was sent to " the lakes "
(perhaps Lake Champlain), to assist in building vessels
for the colonies. His wife having died shortly before
that, the home was broken up, and Peleg, junior, was
left, at the age of twelve years, to shift for himself.
The boy soon shipped on board a privateer, a career
which he continued to follow during the war, with
varying fortunes, as will be hereafter related in his
own words, until captured and confined in prison, to
be released only after peace was declared.
Up to the time he left home, he had probably had
few, if any, educational advantages. In later years
he often used to say that he had had but six weeks'
schooling in his life which perhaps was an under-
statement and added, that anybody who had indus-
try would get an education for himself, but to one
without industry education would do no good. " In-
dustry " was one of his pet words, apparently. His
" six weeks of schooling " were probably those spent
at a school in Boston, after the war. It is said that he
learned to read and write while confined in prison.
Quite likely he had received previous instruction dur-
ing the time spent in the hospital. That he made
good use of his opportunities is shown by his account
book, started soon after his return to this country from
captivity. The writing is plain and easily read. The
first entry, under date of August 20, 1783, is " Paid
432 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Wm Crosswill for schooling. 1:4: 0." A similar entry
occurs October 12th, of the same year, and though
there are frequent charges for books and instruments,
no further payments for tuition are entered.
An early entry notes that he was " at Kennebeck,"
in May, 1785. A common tradition in Woolwich, Maine,
corroborated, in 1891, by his son, states that his friend,
Dr. Joseph Gardner, sent him to Woolwich to have
oversight of Dr. Gardner's business at the latter's farm
at Tuessic Neck, and particularly to take charge of
the potash works, which were carried on there for
years.
Not long after that he resumed his nautical career,
and was " at St. Eustatia" (probably St. Eustatius,
West Indies) in May, 1786. From then until his re-
tirement from the sea, in 1801, he was constantly in
command of vessels, voyaging to various ports in the
United States, West Indies, Europe, Cape Verde
Islands, and to Madras, India, and the Island of
Mauritius.
June 15, 1790, he was united in marriage, by Rev.
Josiah Winship, to Eleanor Clarke. She was born in
Boston, March 24, 1774, and was a daughter of John
Clarke, a native of Boston, England, and his wife,
Maria Theresa Larck 1 , of Vienna, Austria. They
came to Boston, Massachusetts, from London, in
the year 1772. It is related that Captain Tallman
first saw his future wife while she and her mother
were visiting the hospital, in Boston, where he was re-
covering from the wound, received in action, which
1 Or Larch, or Loerch.
PELEG TALL MAN. 433
deprived him of his arm. Ten children were the fruit
of the union, viz. :
James Clarke, born in Bath, Me., June 12, 1791 ; died June 13,
1804.
Scott Jenckes, born in Vassalborough, Me., Apr. 13, 1795 ; died
in Bath, Nov. 8, 1853; married (1) Nov. 20, 1821, Salome Water-
man, who died Sept. 22, 1822. (2) Apr. 13, 1824, Mary Ann
Waterman. She died January, 1870.
Henry, born in Woolwich, Feb. 19, 1797 ; died there, Sept. 14,
1801.
Maria Theresa, born in Woolwich, Mar. 24, 1799 ; died in Boston,
Mass., Dec. 21, 1881; married, Dec. 15, 1818, Thomas Tileston,
who died Jan. 22, 1864.
Benjamin Franklin, born in Woolwich, Apr. 30, 1800 ; died in
Richmond, Me., Dec. 30, 1893 ; married, Sept. 26, 1822, Alice
McKown, who d. Feb. 26, 1861.
Eliza Sophia, born in Woolwich, Jan. 26, 1802 ; died in Phila-
delphia, Pa., Feb. 25, 1863 ; married, (1) Sept. 21, 1824, Horatio
Smith, who died Oct. 21, 1833 ; (2) Sept. 8, 1835, William Pat-
ten, who d. Aug. 15, 1871.
Caroline Ann, born in Woolwich, Jan. 26, 1802 ; died from
burns, Oct. 19, 1810.
James Clarke, born in Woolwich, July 28, 1804 ; died in Boston,
Oct. 21, 1853 ; married, Feb. 28, 1828, Jane R. Green, who died
Nov. 22, 1863.
Henry, born in Bath, Aug. 2, 1806 ; died there, May 4, 1885 ;
married, (1) 1833, Sarah Fitz, who died July 26, 1856 ; (2) Oct.,
1857, Mrs. Elizabeth C. (Brown) Wilkinson.
Caroline Ann Appleton, born in Bath, Sept. 9, 1809 ; died in
Boston, May 26, 1874; married, Oct., 1832, George H. Gardiner,
who died March 31, 1864.
Scott, Maria, Benjamin, Eliza and Henry left descendants, now
living.
Capt. Tallman and family lived, at different times,
at Bath, Vassalborough and Woolwich, Maine. The
VOL. X. 29
434 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
first piece of real estate that he owned was a farm at
Vassalborough, on which he lived for a short time.
He removed from there in April, or May, 1796, to the
farm on Tuessic Neck, in Woolwich. This farm was
large and included the land lying between the Kenne-
bec River on the west, Nequasset Bay and Tuessic or
Back River Creek on the east, and running to the
"Gut," or Sasanoa River on the south. It was known,
at different periods, as Tuessic, Baxter's, Gardner's, or
Tallman's Neck. Record of a transfer of this farm is
found as early as 1673. 1 Many years later, apart was
held by Rev. John Gardner, of Stow, Mass., in the right
of Mary his wife, daughter of Rev. Joseph Baxter.
Her son, Dr. Joseph Gardner, of Boston, bought out
the rights of the several heirs, improved the farm, and
by will left it to his nephew, John Gardner. From him
Captain Tallman purchased it in 1796. 2 The farm
buildings stood near the " river road," on a sort of
plateau, not quite a half mile above the present Saga-
dahoc ferry. The eastward travel from the ferry
crosses the neck, and then the wide marsh by the " dike
road," first laid out and built, as well as the creek
bridge, by Tallman. In 1878 the farm, sold by his son
Benjamin, then owner, passed from the family name.
The buildings were soon after demolished.
Captain Tallman also acquired real estate in Bath.
Here he had a home, which he occupied as the fancy
seized him, alternating between it and the Woolwich
farm. He had the unpleasant v habit of announcing
1 Maine Historical Society Collections, Documentary History, Second Series,
Vol. IV, p. 336.
2 Rev. H. O. Thayer, to whom the writer is indebted for generous assistance.
PELEG TALLMAN. 435
that the family would remove, at short notice, from
one place to the other, according to where they hap-
pened to be living at the time. His wife submitted
until patience ceased to be a virtue, and then declared
she would not move again. After that they lived in
Bath. The dwelling-house stood where the flag- pole
is, on the land now used for the park in that city, the
city having purchased the land for that purpose, after
the death of Mrs. Tallman. The land was formerly
owned by Mrs. Tallman's father, John Clarke, from
whose son Captain Tallman bought it. The house, a
large three-story building, was removed to the east
side of Front street, near Oak street, and is now used
for stores and tenements.
From the time he began his business career, after
his short term at school, Captain Tallman appears to
have prospered in his undertakings. He acquired
property in shipping, real estate and otherwise, until
he remarked to a friend that he had all the property
he wanted, a statement the friend afterward said he
never heard from any other man. During the latter
part of his life Captain Tallman spent a large part of
his time in Boston, attending to his business affairs in
that city and making frequent trips to Rhode Island
and other places where his various investments were
located.
Immediately after retiring from the sea, in May,
1801, he entered political life and was a member of
the Massachusetts House of Representatives, from
Woolwich in 1801, 1802, 1803 and 1804, and from Bath
in 1806 and 1807. He was a member of the twelfth
436 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Congress, from the Lincoln District, 1811-1813, having
been elected in 1811, and served in the Senate of Maine
in 1822 and 1823. 1 As a Senator, in the first session
of the Second Legislature of Maine, he was chairman
of several important committees. Of his other legisla-
tive and congressional service but few records have
been obtainable, but the story is told that when in the
legislature, one season, his energy and fiery push drove
business along and secured a short session.
In common with the majority in New England, in
1812, he was opposed to a declaration of war, as the
following letter will show :
Washington, June 6, 1812.
Hon. W King,
D r Sir:
Congress has been three days with closed doors.
The business which occupied the house was finished last evening.
You know I cannot communicate its nature, but you will naturally
conjecture, knowing nearly what to expect. The house runs 79 to
49. I am a minority man.
The S enate have closed doors this day, & no doubt is entertained
but they will concur with the house.
You well know what my fears have always been, a very few days
will show you with what degree of propriety I entertained them.
What will this change bring us to !
Respectfully
Your Ob* Serv 1
Peleg Tallman.
War was declared ten days later. Nevertheless, his
name appears, for $25,000, among those who sub-
scribed toward the ten million dollars war loan, ac-
cepted by the government May 2, 1814, 2 a loan
1 Journal of the Senate of Maine.
2 " Incidents in the Lifeot Jacob Barker," p. 54.
PELEG TALLMAN. 437
strongly opposed by those who desired to cripple the
administration.
Williamson's History of Maine states that, in Sep-
tember, and later, in the year 1814, the British having
control of the territory east of the Penobscot, "all in-
tercourse between the eastern and western sides'' of
that river " was studiously prevented, excepting what
was indispensable to the local condition of the border-
ing inhabitants Mr. Hook, the collector,
opened a custom-house office at Hampden, for the
entries and clearances of all neutral vessels; and the
Swedish being of that character, was entitled to the
privilege, and Peleg Tallman, of Bath, was accredited
as Swedish Consul." 1
During the interesting period of his history, embrac-
ing his political career and mature and vigorous man-
hood, but little is found in the before-mentioned account
book to throw any light on the part he took in the
events of that time. From 1804 to 1816 the account
contains no particulars, his expenses having been esti-
mated in a lump sum, for each year, evidently done at
the time he resumed entering the items of expense.
Probably his many business affairs and other duties
prevented the attention to details that was given
before and after the dates mentioned. Sundry entries
for rum for " the Malitia Company of Woolwich the
4th of July Training," and for various individuals, at
the time he was representing his town at the General
Court, may, perhaps, be considered as expenses "for
campaign purposes." No other entry pertaining to
1 Vol. II, pp. 653, 654.
438 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
his legislative career is discovered than the purchase
of a copy of the Laws of Massachusetts, in May, 1801.
It is told that when he was a candidate for Congress,
he gave a big dinner, inviting the whole town, setting
out roast pig and other attractions. He was then a
resident of Bath. In 1831 Bath celebrated Indepen-
dence Day in an elaborate manner. A prominent
feature of the festivities was a dinner served to a large
company in " a grove of beautiful oaks, near the man-
sion house of Hon. Peleg Tallrrian," who was president
of the day. A number of the " survivors of the days
of '76 " were present. Many toasts were drank, among
them one to " Peleg Tallman our generous host ; one
of the few who can now say, I have bled for my
country." 1
In personal appearance Peleg Tallman measured
about six feet in height, was strongly built and very
powerful, stout, but not corpulent, and weighed, when
in his prime, two hundred and six pounds. His eyes
were light blue, or gray, and his hair, in later life,
was light and thin. No portrait of him exists. It was
one of his boasts that he " never had his picture taken
and never went to night meetings." He was not a man
of piety, though helping to sustain the churches in
Woolwich and Bath. He was instrumental in obtain-
ing the bell for the old " North Meeting-house," in Bath,
and his name is on the subscription list for a generous
amount toward its purchase.
In his family he was not an ideal man. He was
naturally proud, and his early education or lack of
1 Maine Enquirer, July 6, 1831.
PELEG TALLMAN. 439
it, rather tended to make him rough. He was not
given to making any display of his affections, but was
reserved in that respect. Stories are told of his arbi-
trary ways and tyrannical methods, in part perhaps the
result of early training in the rough schools of priva-
teers' forecastles and British prisons, and from habits of
command acquired during the years he was master
of vessels.
He was sometimes called a "hard man," a term not
always accurately applied, as the following incidents
will testify : A family lived in one of his houses a
small one in Bath, and had neglected to pay any rent
for a considerable time. At length Captain Tallman
sent one of his sons to turn the family out. The son,
upon investigation, found them very poor, unable to
pay the rent, and destitute, and not having the heart
to evict them, reported the circumstances to his father,
who pulled a sum of money from his pocket, handed
it to the son, and said, " Here ! give them that and tell
them to stay there as long as they want to." At
another time, a man owed Captain Tallman a sum of
money, but being poor, could not pay. Finally Cap-
tain Tallman set him at work straightening nails that
had been taken from some old building, at which occu-
pation the man was kept employed a number of days.
When the job was completed, Captain Tallman, finding
the man was willing to work, and was remiss in dis-
charging his debt only because he had no money, not
only paid him for his work straightening the nails, but
canceled the debt.
440 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Doubtless other instances of a similar nature might
be related. His account book contains frequent entries
of sums of money given away.
He was full of anecdotes and had a story for every
occasion. One of the few remembered by his grand-
children was of "a man who never thought but once
a week, and then he thought he wouldn't go to
meetin' " not an unnatural conclusion, under the
circumstances.
Captain Tallman is said to have been the possessor
of the first chaise and umbrella owned in Bath. He
was a subscriber for several of the leading newspapers
of his day, and accumulated a library of several hun-
dred volumes, which, as shown by a catalogue now in
existence, was composed of standard works of the first
class.
Until within a few months of the end of his life,
Captain Tallman's writing shows but few indications
of the encroaching years. The last entry in his cash
account was made January 20, 1841. He died March
8, 1841, at the age of nearly seventy-seven years.
He was buried at Bath, from whence his remains were
removed to Forest Hills cemetery, near Boston, where
they now repose.
Interesting reminiscences of " Life on the Tallman
Farm, Woolwich," are related in a manuscript, entitled
" Recollections of Seventy Years," by Mrs. Eliza Sophia
Hatch, late of Perkins, Maine, a grand-niece of Captain
Tallman, who passed a portion of her childhood in his
family. The following extracts are from her narrative :
PELEG TALLMAN. 441
The house was large and two-story, facing the south, with a
garden in front surrounded by a high board fence painted yellow.
Large English cherry trees formed a row along the garden fence.
The garden itself was quite a field ; had currant bushes on two sides,
of the white and red varieties, an asparagus bed . . . and there
were choice kinds of apples. The orchards were four in number; 1
one was of greenings, another of greenings and pippins .
The apples were kept in boxes in the apple cellar, on one side of
a ledge, and often there were a hundred bushels to sell in the spring,
usually bringing a dollar a bushel.
The first out-building was the work house, then the carriage
house, the meat house, and the corn house, running south, form-
ing three sides of a hollow square with the house and garden fence.
Uncle Peleg built a schoolhouse at the northwest of the dwelling
house, and hired a teacher for his children, after his daughter
Caroline was burnt to death in a school building at Bath. In after
years another story was added and a dwelling house was made of it. 2
The kitchen was a large room, and in winter I always dreaded
making up the fire, a ceremony which always took place before
supper. First Old Russell would walk in the backlog, a huge
section of a tree, which lasted the twenty-four hours. The
fire was taken apart, filling the room with smoke ; the back log was
laid on the great andirons, behind, and the forestick put in front,
and a roaring fire made up which kept till the next night.
They were living on the farm when uncle was president of the
Bath bank 3 , and I remember seeing him seated at a table covered
with sheets of bank notes, putting his signature on them. Some of
the family assisted him in cutting the bills apart .... During
the war of 1812. there were some fears of the English coming up
the river to Bath, so the money was taken from the bank and put up
in nail kegs, which were sent over to Woolwich for safe keeping. 4
1 The trees were brought from Rhode Island and set out about the year 1800.
2 This building in later days was called " The Academy."
3 The Lincoln Hank of Bath, Maine, incorporated June 16, 1813. William King
was the first president, followed, in 1815, by Samuel Davis. Peleg Tallman was
president from sometime previous to 1820 to 1826, when he was succeeded by
Jonathan Hyde. Massachusetts and Maine Registers.
4 In September, 1814, (during the war of 1812,) after the British had captured
Castine, tlampden and Bangor, and gained control of the territory east of the
442 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
A brief outline of his career in the Revolution and
subsequently, as given by him in the last year of his
life in a letter to an old shipmate, is here printed. 1
Bath, November 4, 1840,
, Esquire,
My dear and much respected sir :
Your favor of the 21st ult. has been received with
great satisfaction, and is now before me.
In reply to your inquiries : when I went on deck from the gun
room, by the permission of Mr. Starr, he immediately put me to the
two after guns on the gun deck. They were then commanded by
Mr. Adams, the purser, who was wounded early in the action ; how
bad, I don't recollect, but I saw the blood flow freely from him, and
he was immediately relieved and went below, after which I saw him
on deck no more during the action. Mr. Starr then, after the re-
tiring of Mr. Adams, put me as captain of the gun. This circum-
stance of being appointed captain after Mr. Adams, I should have
noticed before, but it did not occur to me. I continued at the gun,
and I believe she was as well fought as any in the ship during the
action, till the very last. Mr. Starr, who frequently was near us,
appeared to be well satisfied with our management
The first time I went to sea I sailed out of your port, or city,
in the sloop Beaver, privateer, commanded by Captain Havens,
which vessel I think you must have known. I was on board of her
about four months. We cruised in the Sound, off Long Island,
both sides, and occasionally off New York, and made many captures
Penobscot, it was feared the enemy designed to extend his conquests to the banks
of the Kennebec, .... The specie was removed from the vaults of the Bath and
Wiscasset banks. Williamson's History of Maine, VoL II, p. 649.
At that time Captain Tallman was probably ' First Director " of the bank. Had
the British appeared, the farmhouse across the river would hardly have been
suspected as the hiding place for the treasure. These kegs set about in the wood-
house and were supposed to contain nails.
1 This letter was introduced into the Kecollections of the Early Life of an Aged
Sailor, which appeared in the People's Advocate, a newspaper published in New
London, Connecticut. This sketch included a valuable account of the engagement
between the American frigate Trumbull and the British letter of marque Watt,
and of officers and men who suffered in the action; all of which must be omitted.
PELEG TALLMAN. 443
of moderate value. I next went in the privateer Rover, Captain
Wm. Dennis ; we were taken by the Reasonable, 64. l I was re-
tained in the prize and carried to Halifax. The prize master, who
was an under lieutenant in the British navy, took me on board the
man-of-war with him. After some months he was turned over on
board a frigate went to Penobscot and took me with him, where,
after some time, I found means to leave, 2 and with considerable
labor and fatigue I made my way to Boston and Rhode Island.
The next April I went on board the Rattle Snake, we have spoken
of, commanded by Capt. Freeborn. I having by this time had some
experience on board of armed vessels, being constantly on board of
them, of different sorts, gave me a high standing with almost a
totally green crew on board the Rattle Snake. This very probably
induced Capt. F. to give me a situation much like a midshipman
in a public vessel, for which I was to have a deserving share. We
sailed from Newport, I think, in April ; and the third day out were
run ashore at Barnegat by two British men-of-war, and having taken
nothing, but got burnt, my half share came to but little. I jumped
overboard and swam to the shore, about a mile, with three others,
one of whom, the gunner, did not reach the shore. But before the
English could get the crew out she beat over the bar and drove up
to the shore head foremost her jibboom over the beach, so that
they all got out except one. The British then burned her, and the
crew went different ways some to Philadelphia, some to New
London. I took the road to New London and went on board the
Trumbull. As you know concerning my fate in her I need say
nothing. 8 I was hauled up, wounded, a long time in Boston, but
as I got repaired so that I could carry easy sail I went to sea again
1 Without doubt in the ill-fated Bagaduce expedition, August 14, 1779. The
Rover, a privateer sloop of ten guns, was one of the American fleet, and the
Eeasonable, 64, was one of the British men-of-war that routed the Americana.
The Rover was captured. Williamson's History of Maine, Vol. II, p. 469, et seq.
2 It is related that he was sent ashore with a party to cut hay for the animals on
boani, and took the opportunity to make his escape.
3 It is regretted that he omitted details of what befell him in that hotly contested
action, by which he was taken out of the fight by a shot that cost him his left arm.
The ball supposed to have been a grape shot from the enemy, shattered
the shoulder-blade, passed through the upper part of his body, and destroyed
the shoulder-joint, necessitating amputation at the shoulder.
444 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
in a privateer brig of sixteen guns. After being at sea three months
without any success, we were taken by a frigate and carried into
St. Johns, Newfoundland, and put on board a prison ship. At
length, we were sent from thence to Boston. I then went on board
another privateer of twenty guns, Capt. Rathbone, then late of the
Navy. After being at sea between three and four months without
any success, we were taken by the frigate Recovery, and carried
into Kingsale, Ireland, and hove into a loathsome prison, where the
survivors ot us remained thirteen or fourteen months. About half
our number died with the small pox and other disorders. At length
we were sent over to England and put into Fortune prison. We
were there about thirteen months, and until the peace in 1783, in
April. 1 The prison was then cleared of its contents, and we were
sent over to Havre, in France, and there landed naked as we were.
We had no means of getting to America from there. I, with six
others, walked through France, down to Nantz I believe about
four hundred miles. We there got a passage on board a ship bound
to Philadelphia, and there pray, sir, look at my condition I
was landed in the rags I stood in, without friends, and only one
arm, and knew not where to get a meal of victuals. My friends
and relations were all dead or out of my reach. I, however, made
the best of my way to Boston, and called on my old friend, Dr.
Gardiner. After a short time he took me by the hand sent me to
a mathematical school some months but my wishes were for the
sea. He after a time built a brig 2 and put me in master, with a
nurse, as I was young and without much experience. I commanded
her about three years, and until the death of the Doctor. Then I
was enabled to buy one-half of her, which continued me in command.
At length I sold out in '91. I had got in command of the largest
Bengal ship out of Boston. I was in her and various other employ-
ments till '99. In October Mr. Secretary Stoddard sent me a com-
1 The periods of service on board the several vessels, and of his confinement in
prisons, as stated in his letter, would, if added together, extend beyond the time of
his release. His letter, written fitty-seven years, and more, after the events trans-
pired, doubtless contains a few inaccuracies.
2 Built at Woolwich, or Bath, according to statements of Captain Tallman's son
and others, though no vessel of corresponding class and conditions is mentioned
in a printed list of vessels built in the District at that time.
PELEG TALLMAN. 445
mission as Lieutenant in the Navy, 1 but I then commanded a fine
letter of marque ship of twenty guns, the John Adams, bound to
Liverpool. I considered this the best business of the two, and
therefore did not accept but returned the commission. I took a few
trips in this ship and then left her and the seas altogether, since
which I have been engaged in various mercantile pursuits, and have
been twelve years in various Legislatures. In 1822, being in the
Senate of this State, I found attending Legislatures materially in-
terfering with my business, which had become considerable. I
retired from public life with a determination never to engage in it
again. I have met with various success in business sometimes
lost and sometimes made. ......
I have written this, to you, uninteresting sketch of myself, in
detail, for which I pray your excuse, that you may see how a poor
invalid of the Revolution, with one arm, might with hard labor and
watching make his way through the world among two-armed people.
You may wonder then why I apply for augmentation of my pen-
sion ? 2 Why, sir, because I think I deserve it, and am ashamed to
receive from the office the small pittance which they vouchsafe to
give me, and my friends are continually pressing me so to do.
I am, with the most friendly regard,
Your obedient servant,
Peleg Tallman.
1 , Navy Dept 17th June 1799
Capt. Peleg Tallman
Bath, Kennebeck
Sir,
The President having app^ you a Lie ut^ in the Navy, I enclose your Commis-
sion.
You will be pleased to take the enclosed oath and return it to this office; &
repair immediately to Boston, where you will make application to Capt Talbott to
know whether your services are required on board the Frigate Constitution under
his command, & govern yourself accordingly.
Your Pay and Emoluments will commence from the date of your letter of
acceptance.
I have the honor to be,
Sir
Y r obd Serv*
Ben Stoddert
* He was pensioned in March, 1786, at the rate of $51 per year. In 1816 this was
increased to $81.60, which was continued until his death, and afterward granted to
his widow. After his pension was increased he expended it in the purchase of
silverware for the table and sideboard. The increase to which he refers in the
above letter, was not granted, evidently.
446 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The writer of the newspaper sketch completes it
with these remarks:
He spent much of the time he was confined in the hospital and
in prisons in acquiring that education which insured his prosperity
in after life, and made use of his misfortunes in early life to secure
the means of enjoyment in old age.
The letter, of three closely written pages, is believed to be in his
own hand, and signed by himself in the strong, open handwriting of
the old school. To this signature there is no trembling, no uncer-
tainty or unsteadiness it is characteristic of the man.
Allow me to call the attention of our young men to the life of
Peleg Tallman. Let them view him, landed friendless and penni-
less upon th e wharves of Philadelphia, brave his course through
difficulties and suffering, to a very high standing among the merchant
princes of the East in affluence to the legislatures of the States of
Massachusetts and Maine, then taking his place among the honor-
able men of the nation in the hall of the representatives of the people
of the Union, and closing his days with the reputation of being " a
kind friend and father an example of industry, prudence and
perseverance."
FIELD DAY EXCURSION.
THE Annual Field Day Excursion was taken Sep-
tember 6, 1899, by railroad to Pine Point, thence by
carriages to the site of the ancient ferry at the mouth
of Scarborough River, thence to Blue Point Hill,
where a fine view was had of the surrounding coun-
try, from the Saco River to Richmond's Island. The
route was then taken through Dunstan's Corner, pass-
ing the homesteads of Richard King, Robert South-
gate and others ; thence by the turnpike over Oak
FIELD DAY EXCURSION. 447
Hill to Front's Neck, where a dinner was enjoyed at
the Checkley House.
After dinner a meeting was held on the portico of
the hotel, and Hon. George F. Talbot took the chair,
and introduced Hon. Augustus P. Moulton, who read
a brief and instructive paper on the early history of
Scarboro, calling especial attention to the points of
historic interest visited in the drive from Pine Point.
At the close of Mr. Moulton's paper remarks were
made by the chairman and others, and a vote of
thanks was tendered to Mr. Moulton for his paper, and
a copy requested for the Archives of the Society.
The thanks of all present were passed to Mr. Moulton
for his guidance of the party on their historic jaunt.
The following ladies and gentlemen, members of
the Maine Historical Society, and guests, were
present :
Rev. Dr. H. S. Burrage and wife, James G. Garland and wife, John
S. Locke and wife, Dr. Dana W. Fellows and wife, Hon. A. F. Moul-
ton, Mrs. Mary E. Baxter, Miss Sarah C. Moulton, Miss Stock-
bridge, Hon. George F. Talbot, Rev. Edward G. Porter, Col.
Robert G. Carter, Dr. A. K. P. Meserve, Hon. Marquis F. King,
George A. Norwood, Marshall Pierce, Samuel T. Dole, John W.
Penney, George W. Hammond, Andrew Hawes, George F. Emery,
George A. Emery, Frank C. Deering, Isaiah P. Milliken, James
M.Larrabee, Leonard B. Chapman, Ira S. Locke, Winslow Homer,
Hubbard W. Bryant.
448 MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
In accordance with a vote of the Society at the an-
nual meeting in Brunswick, the publication of papers
read before the Society will be discontinued for the
present, and, commencing with the January number of
the Quarterly, the publication of Miss Mary Frances
Farnham's "Documents Relating to the Territorial
History of Maine " will be commenced. The compila-
tion of this important work was made by Miss Farnham
under the direction of Prof. A. B. Hart, of Harvard
University, and its publication cannot fail to be a
matter of interest and value to the members of the
Society. The number of volumes required for the
completion of the work cannot as yet be estimated.
Each volume, it is expected, will contain four hundred
and forty-eight pages. The work will be issued in
quarterly parts, but any member of the Society, who
prefers to receive in a bound volume the four numbers
issued each year, can make arrangements for the same
with the publishers, The Thurston Print, Portland,
Maine. This, of course, should be done at once.
HENRY S. BURRAGE,
HENRY 0. THAYER,
HUBBARD W. BRYANT,
Publishing Committee.
F Maine Historical Society
16 Collections
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